C15 Empty City Strategy

"Snatch the Bamboo Shoots!" I couldn't help but laugh. It's the first time I've ever seen a spirit get played like that. When I got pulled into this survival game, I watched so many of my teammates fall to spirits. The streamer can't possibly go too far in dealing with them!

I hereby declare myself a die-hard fan of streamer number 869 from now on!

Xiao Hao skimmed over the virtual game panel, silently observing the spirit's departure. He was acutely aware that this was only a brief respite. Once it had fed or healed its wounds, the spirit would inevitably return.

With the guidance of the chat's running commentary, Xiao Hao ventured out to battle monsters, prioritizing the solitary ones. The Spirit Beads they dropped were scant; after several hours, he had managed to collect only 70. He was keen to continue farming for more when the chat alerted him to the spirit's return. With no other option, Xiao Hao retreated to the Shellfish House.

Glancing at his phone, it was right on the dot of seven. This wild monster was punctual like a night-shift worker, clocking in on time. But unlike them, it wasn't after money—it was after lives.

As he scratched at the glass window, something felt off to Xiao Hao. A look at the magic meter confirmed his suspicion: each scratch drained over 30 L of magic power. His eyes widened in shock. If it were just 20-something L per scratch, he was confident he could stall it again, but over 30 L? That shook his confidence.

He quickly activated a Slow Card. Before he could voice his question, the chat beat him to it. "You know, the host probably isn't aware that a ghost-type wild monster's abilities get amplified at night."

Why would that be? The sea is shrouded in darkness regardless of the time. Why would the ghost's condition change?

"Because you're a noob."

What?

The pros are all adept at energy control. A noob, naturally, wouldn't be in the know. Even beneath the sea, daylight still manages to suppress dark energy. That's why creatures of darkness are weakened during the day but empowered at night, basking in the surge of dark energy.

Xiao Hao was intent on continuing his viewing, but the charm of the bullet screen lay in its seamless transition from topics like boosting energy to enhancing combat strength, and then to amplifying sexual prowess...

He couldn't help but feel his eye twitch occasionally.

The "exotic flair" of the comments gave Xiao Hao a headache.

Left with no choice, he deployed his Shadow Hippocampus to siphon blood.

Even a Guardian couldn't sustain skill use indefinitely.

Xiao Hao had the sea horses' shifts organized with crystal clarity.

Capitalists themselves would nod in approval of his expertise.

Xiao Hao had planned to distract the ghost with his trash talk, but the ghost preferred to claw at its own ears rather than listen to him.

He watched in stunned silence as the ghost's Sickle Finger stabbed into its ear canal, emerging with a gory mix of blood and flesh.

The bullet screen erupted in laughter, leaving Xiao Hao questioning his life choices.

Hahahahaha...

I'm dying here! How powerful is the host to drive a ghost to this point?

Host, you should write an Encyclopedia of Trash Talk—I'd buy it in a heartbeat!

...

He didn't even say much!

Despite the ghost's self-mutilation being oddly satisfying, Xiao Hao couldn't shake a feeling of being wounded.

This ghost wasn't giving him any breaks!

Well, it can scratch away. I'll just keep doing my thing.

"Boss, is that video for real?"

"Wow, a wild monster with intelligence that can act? That's terrifying!"

"I'm doomed. My Guardian is just a level 1 fish. If a wild monster attacks my Shellfish House, I'm finished."

"Boss, need any more accessories?"

"Boss, looking for more disciples?"

"Have you no pride? Can't you be as resolute as me? Dad, do you need another son?"

"Talk about being resolute."

"That 'Dad' was called with some real conviction."

"Note to number 869: If you get a Spirit Bead, don't rush to level up. Wait until your Shellfish House's magic is nearly depleted before upgrading. It'll save you some magic."

"Got it!"

"Good advice is as satisfying as a good meal."

"Thanks, boss!"

"Boss, I'm in your debt!"

With time on his hands, Xiao Hao would often share survival tips on the forum.

We're all human, and Xiao Hao didn't mind lending a hand when it didn't put him at a disadvantage.

Besides, the more survivors there were, the more... well, let's not get sidetracked.

Two hours later, Xiao Hao reluctantly upgraded the Shellfish House to level 7.

He wasn't eager to use the Maintenance Card or the Shield Card.

That's because with each upgrade, the Shellfish House not only fully restored its mana but also bolstered its defenses.

So, the higher the level of the base, the more bang for your buck when using these cards.

Three hours on, the mana cap of seven thousand had dwindled to just about a hundred.

Yet, Xiao Hao still held off on using the cards.

His plan was to offload the plethora of supplies in his space at rock-bottom prices in exchange for Spirit Beads.

Three days in, any player still in the game likely had some Spirit Beads; otherwise, a level 0 Shellfish House would've run dry long ago.

As Xiao Hao braced himself to list the supplies on the trading market, the phantom's assault ceased.

Watching Xiao Hao's fingers flit through thin air, the spirit bared its teeth in frustration.

How long had it been clawing away!

How could this guy still have Spirit Beads for upgrades!

Xiao Hao's tapping stopped, and he turned to face the phantom that had ceased its window scratching.

He noticed its ten Sickle Fingers glowing red-hot, with blisters bubbling up at the tips.

Clearly, after five hours of relentless scratching, it was nearing its limit.

The Shellfish House's reflective damage, coupled with the Shadow Hippocampus' Dark Corrosion, took their toll.

It must be said, this phantom truly lived up to its big boss status; the sea horses had been depleting their health in shifts for five hours, yet the Deep Sea Phantom seemed as vigorous as ever.

A level 10 mantis shrimp could barely last 20 minutes, but this phantom had endured five hours – utterly preposterous!

Even with only a quadruple rate of health depletion, it was still outrageously exaggerated!

With the phantom's scratching at a halt, Xiao Hao no longer felt the need to rush the sale of his materials.

The time had come to play his part!

I'm out of Spirit Beads.

But I can certainly act like I do!

The ghost's piercing stare seemed to interrogate Xiao Hao: How do you still possess a Spirit Bead?

Xiao Hao grumbled to himself, "I could explain where the Spirit Bead came from, but you wouldn't hear a thing..."

Unexpectedly, the ghost appeared to reply with a mournful "Wu..."

Xiao Hao was now vexed.

Had he known it could still hear, he could've toyed with its emotions!

Admitting to having a Spirit Bead would surely trigger the ghost's doubts.

Xiao Hao's mind whirred with thoughts, yet he coolly denied, "No, I don't have a Spirit Bead."

As expected, his denial only deepened the ghost's suspicions.

No Spirit Bead?

In the morning, as the Shellfish House neared destruction, he pointed at the unseen void, and the Shellfish House ascended to level 6.

At night, on the brink of being torn apart again, another tap on the void, and the base camp hit level 7.

Now, facing another potential breach, he pointed once more.

Though invisible to it, the ghost was aware of the player's interface within the void!

Without anything there, his tapping would be futile.

Yet, each tap on the interface seemed to herald misfortune!

Either a card would appear, or an upgrade would occur!

And now this sly old fox was insisting he had no more Spirit Beads!

Then why not remove your finger from the interface?

His gesture clearly indicated he was biding his time, waiting to upgrade once more after the Shellfish House took more damage, rendering all its efforts useless!

And then, he'd have the last laugh at its expense!

The ghost appeared torn, so Xiao Hao decided to stoke the fire.

"Eh? You're not scratching anymore?"

The ghost shot him a resentful glance.

What was with this look of anticipation?

"Just 100L more, a few more scratches, and the Shellfish House will crumble."

Why on earth would a player actively encourage it to scratch?

A few more scratches wouldn't have mattered.

But Xiao Hao's words seemed to mockingly play with the spirit!

Caught in its indecision, Xiao Hao put his acting skills to the test.

As adversaries, both sides relished the challenge of going head-to-head.

Xiao Hao planned to capitalize on this very fact.

"Don't give up now. Persistence is the key to victory. See, the room's magical energy is down to just 99L!"

Xiao Hao's prodding turned the spirit's face into a scowl of disgust.

"Just a few more scratches and the room will crumble. Come on, faster, scratch away."

Suppressing its rage, the spirit gave a resentful scratch.

Mana left: 66L.

"Yes! Just two more hits to go!"

One slash.

Mana left: 35L.

Xiao Hao's eyes sparkled as he placed his finger on the ethereal panel, coaxing, "That's it, be a good spirit. Quicken the pace. I'm a bit obsessive-compulsive, just one more to go. Hurry!"

To avoid going too far, Xiao Hao's finger hovered over the "Protective Barrier Card" button, ready to tap.

The game panel could be manipulated by thought alone, but Xiao Hao preferred the tactile approach, using his finger to subtly guide the spirit.

The spirit's raised arm suddenly fell limp.

It was tired of being manipulated.

The opponent clearly had confidence.

It had witnessed countless dying players, most of them hysterical. Even those who appeared strong were betrayed by the fear in their eyes.

But this human was different—calm, collected, not a hint of fear.

It meant he truly possessed the Spirit Bead and was simply biding his time for one more scratch before upgrading the Shellfish House.

The spirit couldn't stand the thought of being commanded to attack the Shellfish House, only for it to be upgraded at the brink of destruction.

It felt like a toy, a pet being played with.

The spirit didn't rage as usual, nor did it leave in a tantrum.

This time, it silently turned and drifted away.

It would no longer underestimate this player.

It was taking things seriously.

Watching the spirit depart, Xiao Hao's lips twisted into a smile, which slowly took on a twisted edge.

The empty city ruse had worked.

Xiao Hao seemed to peer into its thoughts.

Serious, was it?

What did it matter if it was serious?

No matter how earnest, intelligence was its Achilles' heel. It failed to grasp the principle that "even when hunting a rabbit, one must give it their all."

This was a matter of survival.

Caught in the throes of the game, swayed by emotions, it's no surprise that such intelligent beings end up dying at the bottom of the sea, turning into ghosts.

Tactically, he respected the enemy, but strategically, he scorned them.

Xiao Hao's disparagement of the ghost was a way to alleviate his inner anxiety.

Next time he faced the ghost, he would still give it his all.