Chapter 13: Synchronizing with Reality [Please Add to Favorites]

In an instant, Tang Shen, who had been exhausted just moments before, suddenly felt invigorated, his entire body brimming with strength. He even had the sense that his physical condition was better than when he was at his peak—where before he had been sub-healthy, now he was in perfect health. This distinct sensation radiated from his body straight to his mind.

Tang Shen found it incredible. Simply allocating attribute points could bring about such a tangible enhancement to his constitution; the feeling was so wonderful that his mind began to crave it, almost as if he were becoming addicted. Clenching his fists, he could feel his strength had grown, his state better than ever before.

At the same time, the very moment Tang Shen assigned his attribute point to constitution within the game, something strange happened outside the game as well. Tang Shen, lying flat on his bed in his room, was completely unaware as, at that instant, a type of special ion, undetectable to the human eye and still unknown to humankind, began permeating the air around him. Centered on Tang Shen, these special ions slipped through his pores without the slightest sensation, flooding into his body in great numbers, coursing through his channels, and ultimately converging into a stream of pure ionic fluid. This stream began to automatically flow through the extraordinary meridians of his body, clearing out blockages and impurities as it went. Gradually, these impurities were expelled through his pores, bit by bit. After several cycles, a small portion of the ions merged with his muscles, while most fused into his bones.

Of course, Tang Shen remained oblivious to all of this.

...

Inside the game.

Tang Shen had long planned to invest his points in constitution. Now, with Intermediate Draw Sword Technique and a refined steel sword in hand, although he had not yet encountered a Level 2 beast, according to Kuina, with his current strength, as long as he seized the right opportunity, a single fatal strike to a vital spot would be enough to kill. This was the power of Intermediate Draw Sword Technique. For now, mastering this skill was sufficient; the real bottleneck in leveling up was his constitution. After two strikes, his stamina would be depleted—this was his greatest weakness.

For this reason, Tang Shen did not hesitate to allocate his points to constitution, resolving to build up his stamina first—this was the most beneficial strategy for him.

The more Tang Shen interacted with this world, the more he understood. The beasts here were different from those in traditional online games; if struck in a vital spot like the heart or brain, they died instantly, not just losing HP like in other games. This world approached reality, was grounded in it, and operated by its rules. Players, too, could be instantly killed if struck in a vital area.

Tang Shen had some suspicions in his mind, but he would need to gather information and log off to verify them.

It had taken him all afternoon to reach Level 1. Although he could kill monsters instantly, finding the fanged rabbits and roasting their meat took time. His constitution had recovered somewhat, but his mind remained fatigued after an afternoon of tense concentration.

"Let's head back. You've been with me all afternoon; you must be tired too," Tang Shen said.

He glanced at Kuina, who had quietly stayed by his side the entire afternoon, always protecting and helping him roast meat, never once relaxing or showing the slightest impatience. Where could one find such a good disciple? Tang Shen felt a surge of gratitude.

"I'm not tired. I've learned so much just by staying near you, Teacher," Kuina replied earnestly.

“Haha—what a truthful thing to say! But don’t keep such a serious face all the time. You’re still young; you should smile more. Look how cute you are.” Tang Shen chuckled, pinching Kuina’s slightly chubby cheeks. The flattery made him beam with delight.

What’s more, Kuina’s sincere expression told him she truly meant it. Even if it was unintentional on his part, the result and influence were all positive.

Kuina’s face darkened, and she glared at Tang Shen in exasperation. She thought her teacher was wonderful in every way except that he was shameless. When they first met, he’d praised her looks repeatedly. Although she was indeed attractive, she’d never met anyone so effusive in their compliments. Worse yet, he bullied her for being short, pinching her cheeks—an act she detested. Was it a crime to be cute?

She was annoyed but had to suppress her anger and force a smile—after all, she hated people touching her face.

Despite his mental fatigue, Tang Shen's spirits were high enough for a stroll. Walking with Kuina toward the Isshin Dojo, he was curious to see what the renowned dojo looked like in this online world.

With his strength improved, even his mood was lighter. As they walked, he chatted with Kuina, probing for information about this world. However, Kuina was still young and knew little beyond her daily sword practice; much of what she shared, Tang Shen already knew.

There was one thing that surprised Tang Shen: Kuina knew he was a Chosen One, someone from the outside world. The inhabitants of this world had known, long before players arrived, that outsiders would come, and even understood that they could resurrect after death. That explained why Kuina wasn’t surprised when Tang Shen produced items directly from his system inventory.

However, their understanding was limited—just a vague impression. For some reason, they naturally accepted it without question. Tang Shen found this setting odd and suspected the game had subtly influenced their thoughts.

As they were about to leave the forest and enter Frostmoon Village, a green-haired brat suddenly dashed out from the side, running at full speed—panting and huffing, yet full of fierce energy. But as he neared the forest's edge, he abruptly changed direction and ran off to the side. In Tang Shen and Kuina’s gaze, the green-haired kid made another sharp turn and ended up back on their path, this time heading straight toward them.

Watching the green-haired brat charge forward, Tang Shen felt as if he were seeing a wild beast—fiercer even than the fanged rabbits. He ran like a little wild boar, a blade of grass clamped between his teeth, sweat streaming down his face as if tireless. With a mighty presence, he barreled past Tang Shen and Kuina once more.

"Is he training? The forest is dangerous, but I don't think I've seen him in the village before," Kuina remarked curiously.

Tang Shen chuckled, a flash of surprise in his eyes. He recognized that green hair instantly—one of the most distinctive characters in the world of pirates. Even though this was his childhood form, Tang Shen had no trouble identifying him. That mysterious sense of directionlessness was one of his trademarks.

Anyone else might make a mistake, but not Tang Shen. With the same ambition to become the world’s greatest swordsman as Kuina, this was her lifelong rival: Roronoa Zoro.