“Explosive Chain!”
Jeanne D’Arc’s six-person team split into two groups of three. Three melee fighters engaged the Chimera, while the three ranged attackers prepared their assault. This second display of teamwork began with Alisa taking the lead.
“Suppress!”
“Five-Strike Swift Slash, Rushing Thunder!”
“Five-Strike Swift Slash.”
“Five-Strike Swift Slash!”
The three consecutive Swift Slashes, launched from the front, forced the Chimera to retreat, directly into Alisa’s waiting magic.
“Rising Gust!”
As Luoge unleashed her magic, a cyan magic circle materialized beneath the Chimera, lifting it into a state of suspension.
Boom!
A barrage of five explosive fireballs slammed directly into the Chimera. Yet, the assault was far from over.
“Holy Sword Art: Calibur!”
Jeanne D’Arc temporarily sheathed her Red Lotus Holy Sword, then executed her most potent move, cleaving downwards with a vertical strike.
“Resonate, Lone Star Spear!”
Luoge unleashed her sacred artifact simultaneously with Jeanne D’Arc’s ultimate move. The Chimera, having endured both attacks, was undoubtedly in a terrible state.
The Chimera collapsed to the ground, its consciousness utterly extinguished. Yue Wu descended from the sky, a hint of dissatisfaction still lingering on his face.
“While your individual strengths are commendable, your coordination leaves much to be desired. The duration of your combined efforts is too short. It might suffice against slightly stronger opponents, but what if you faced an S-rank and numerous A-ranks like today?”
“Since you’ve passed, I won’t dwell on it. Before you begin your training, I’ll teach you a practical spell, one well-suited for team combat.”
“Time is limited, however. The spell is contained within these scrolls.”
Yue Wu produced six scrolls, handing one to each of them. These scrolls contained the magic of telepathy, allowing communication through mental power.
“Next, allow me to introduce the instructors for your month-long training.”
“The Spellblade, Chilian.”
“The Mage, Harry Potter.”
“The Swordmaster, Coco.”
“The Summoner, Wenwen.”
“The Knight, Uncle.”
Upon seeing the six former members of the Ten Rings of Authority, Yue Wu’s face softened into a smile of relief. However, they were merely thought-forms, conjured by his magic and simulated from his memories. In terms of strength, they possessed half of Yue Wu’s own power level. Their existence was time-limited, for the system couldn’t allow them to persist indefinitely without cost. Yue Wu also had to supply them with magic. In essence, he would have to expend six times his usual magic daily. Fortunately, his reserves were sufficient to sustain five thought-forms for an entire month.
Yue Wu addressed Shavier, “Shavier, you are suited for the Spellblade path. You may train with Chilian.”
Shavier nodded. “I understand.”
“Shana, you will train with Coco,” Yue Wu continued. “Coco is an incredibly strong Swordmaster, and I believe you’ll appreciate her style of combat.”
Shana simply hummed in affirmation.
“Alisa, you will diligently study magic under Harry Potter.”
Alisa’s eyes lit up. “Understood, Brother Yue Wu!”
“Windy, you will follow Wenwen. Whether you learn anything or not will be entirely up to you.”
Windy stammered, “I… I will try my best.”
“Jeanne D’Arc,” Yue Wu said, turning to her, “I am confident you will learn a great deal from Uncle.”
Jeanne D’Arc declared, “I will not disappoint you, Brother.”
“As for you, Luoge, I have a question.”
Luoge replied, “This concubine will cooperate.”
“What kind of presence do you believe you are within your team?” Yue Wu asked.
“What kind of presence?” Luoge echoed, clearly puzzled.
“In other words, what is your role within the team?” Yue Wu clarified.
“This concubine does not know,” Luoge admitted.
“Every individual in a team has a distinct role and different responsibilities.”
“Chilian, for instance, used to be the vanguard of our team. Her task was to launch relentless attacks against the enemy, by any means necessary.”
“Harry Potter was our ranged damage dealer. Ninety percent of his energy was dedicated to offense, unleashing massive bursts of damage upon our foes, while the remaining ten percent focused on assessing the shifting battlefield and his teammates’ positioning.”
“Coco was a composed Swordmaster and the primary damage core of our team. Her role was to swiftly penetrate the enemy’s formation and target their core.”
“Wenwen, a brilliant Summoner and a prodigy in elemental research, served as our team’s defensive fortress. She was responsible for securing our rear.”
“Uncle would coordinate with the frontline members to launch attacks, serving as a vital distraction.”
“And what about you all? What are the roles of each of you six within your team?”
After Yue Wu’s words, Jeanne D’Arc and the others were left speechless. He was right; none of them had truly grasped their individual roles within the team.
“Then you will ponder this thoroughly during your month of training. As for you, Luoge, I have already identified a suitable instructor for you.”
“Enter now. I will open the space again in one month.”
A staff materialized in Yue Wu’s hand, which then opened six distinct spaces. The five thought-forms entered different spaces, and Jeanne D’Arc’s group of six followed them inside.
****
Once the spaces closed, Yue Wu found a random spot to sit, lost in thought, his gaze distant. Xiao Qing, meanwhile, paced restlessly around him.
‘This world feels so dull,’ he mused. ‘There’s nothing to do; every day stretches on like a year.’
‘Should I perhaps pursue a romance in this other world?’
‘If Sister Fei Fei knew, would she ignore me?’
‘How is Sister Fei Fei doing now? I wonder about her physical condition.’
‘Is there still a chance for me to return?’
‘This must be a soul transmigration, right? What happened to my body in the real world?’
As these thoughts swirled, Yue Wu shifted from sitting to lying down, watching the clouds and birds drift across the sky. The chirping of birds filled his ears, and the gentle breeze caressed his skin with such vivid realism that it felt as if this world itself were truly tangible.
Back when he was a shut-in, Yue Wu spent nearly twenty hours a day tethered to his computer, his phone, and TEW—a groundbreaking new global game system that pioneered virtual reality gaming. Though its world was modeled after Earth, its history diverged entirely, resembling another world whose civilizations were fragmented and then reassembled.
Every day, Yue Wu would log in promptly to check official news, solo dungeons, clear new areas with a team, and embark on treasure hunts. That period was the most peaceful and joyful time of his life. Yet, those bygone days had now faded into memories, becoming a mere segment of his life’s long river of history.
‘I wish I had a phone.’
‘I want a desktop computer, preferably with the highest specifications.’
‘System, can you give me a phone and a computer? If so, please throw in some super-strong Wi-Fi too.’
[…]