The motion-sensing pod in this world was basically an upgraded version of an internet café.

During university days, whenever you heard your roommate or buddies call you to the internet café, especially when facing an all-nighter,

“Go” or “Not go” would fall into a quantum entanglement state.

If a friend said “split the bill,” then the entanglement would collapse into “My life matters more, I’m going to sleep, not going.”

But if the friend said “I’ll treat you,” then it would collapse into “Let’s go.”

We called this Schrodinger’s Internet Café.

Right now, Zhao Yi had obviously collapsed into the “If you say go, we go” state.

Rustle rustle—

Passing through the gap in the school’s back gate wall, Zhao Yi took a deep breath of the early winter’s slightly cold fresh air.

The two joked and laughed, quickly arriving at the pod café.

Wang Yong paid for the internet fees, so Zhao Yi took care of the drinks.

Soon, the two entered the motion-sensing pods.

“I’m going to play some PUBG first. Call me when you get to Chained Ogre,” Wang Yong said over voice chat.

“Then you better hurry. My buddy here probably needs about twenty minutes; the story up to that point is basically done. If he gets fired up, killing Chained Ogre will be a breeze.”

“Heh,” Wang Yong replied with two words, then rolled his eyes:

“Here’s the deal. I’m going to jungle and won’t drop into P City to fight at the start. If you can reach Chained Ogre within three rounds, breakfast tomorrow is on me.”

“You said it! Don’t back out. I want spicy beef soup with noodles for breakfast.”

Zhao Yi was full of confidence as he entered the game screen.

“You’re lying, you little bastard,” Wang Yong imitated Zhao Yi’s Yu Province accent.

Once said, the gentleman’s agreement was sealed.

Wang Yong entered PUBG, hired a female companion, and began his joyful PUBG journey.

Under Golden Wind’s operation, PUBG was thriving, having teamed up with APEX to dominate about half of the battle royale game market.

Recently, the new airdrop weapons, new map, and new mode announced at the Higashitsu Gaming Festival all went live one after another. Along with Yiyou and Little Yellow’s joint discount event,

PUBG’s online player count hit a new high.

Wang Yong quickly matched a game.

With the female companion’s help, it was like divine aid.

Picking up guns, dueling, sniping, roaming…

Wang Yong’s hands were on fire today, and with the sweet-voiced companion providing support, it was a sharp and thrilling experience.

The two fought side by side, clearing rounds, smoothly entering the penultimate circle in the first game.

“…Hey, Yi Zi, I’m about to enter the final circle. How’s it going on your end?”

Wang Yong asked in the voice channel.

Then he unmuted Zhao Yi’s mic.

Previously, to avoid missing footsteps, Wang Yong had muted Zhao Yi in the channel.

But now, once unmuted, Zhao Yi’s somewhat frustrated voice rang out immediately:

“Eh—I f***ing swear to your mom’s balls!”

Pfft—

Wang Yong nearly spat out his mouthful of saliva:

“You ungrateful brat! I kindly invited you online, and you curse me?!”

“No, no, no!”

Zhao Yi hurriedly explained:

“I’m not cursing you, I’m just stuck on a level and venting my frustration!”

Stuck?

Wang Yong was shocked.

Could it be that Zhao Yi had broken through multiple barriers, defeated the Samurai General and Chained Ogre, and entered a whole new unknown realm?

“Holy sh*t! That’s awesome! You’re already stuck? Want me to check guides or live streams?”

Wang Yong exclaimed repeatedly, asking:

“Where exactly are you stuck?”

“Um…”

Zhao Yi hesitated a moment:

“Yamauchi Shigezane.”

Wang Yong: …

“Damn! Bro, I’m almost winning the chicken dinner, and you’re just now at Yamauchi Shigezane?!”

Isn’t that the very first elite monster you meet at the start?

I even recalled it carefully!

So according to the progress, Zhao Yi had been playing this long and still hadn’t met Genichiro Ashina!

“What? You haven’t even passed the beginner level yet?!”

Wang Yong was stunned.

“I…”

Zhao Yi immediately felt awkward, stammering for a long time:

“I’m just getting used to the game’s mechanics. Don’t rush me. Let me adapt—I haven’t even played the demo version before!”

“Oh—okay then—”

Wang Yong nodded, thinking Zhao Yi had a point.

For ordinary players like them, their skill level was naturally lower than game streamers.

Because, first, aside from some purely comedic streamers, most streamers had generally high skill.

Second, for ordinary players, games were entertainment, something to play casually whenever they remembered, or skip otherwise.

But for streamers, it was a job, their livelihood.

They played for hours or even tens of hours daily, aiming to present the best streaming experience for viewers.

So it was understandable that Zhao Yi wasn’t as skilled as those streamers.

“Keep it up then. I’m starting the second game.”

Due to a poor refresh position of the final circle, Wang Yong quickly lost this prime game and sighed, “Fate is against me.” He closed the death screen and restarted a game.

One match, two, three…

Wang Yong’s combat tonight was as if he had divine assistance.

Whether reactions or shooting, plus the companion’s help, it was like nothing could stop him.

But Zhao Yi, on the other side, was having a terrible time!

Only after really getting hands-on did Zhao Yi finally understand why those streamers’ performances looked so spectacular.

Because those effects were too real, too natural.

After all,

That damn thing was not the show effect he thought it was!

This damn game just tormented players like this!

The unprecedented difficulty hit Zhao Yi with a shock right from the start!

Ordinary mobs that were trash mobs in other games, easy to kill with a flick, had now become terrifying threats that required serious caution or they’d gang up and kill you!

Elite monsters that normally had special attributes but could be taken down by targeting them when alone were now deadly chasms that could slash you down effortlessly, tough and fierce!

Even the common chickens and beasts that in other games could be killed in a single pass were now horrifying presences that could end Zhao Yi’s life!

To be honest,

Zhao Yi had been playing games since he was six or seven.

Now he was twenty-one—more than a decade.

He’d never been treated like this before!

Passing through dark ravines, he fought repeatedly with Yamauchi Shigezane, sparks flying—

Clang! Clang! Bang!

The Yamauchi launched a fierce attack, quickly filling Zhao Yi’s posture bar!

Then, seizing his exhaustion, raised a blade for a finishing strike!

“Yeah—damn your sister! Can’t even block that?!”

Crossing many checkpoints, he dueled the Samurai General, dodging nimbly—

Clang! Bang! Clash!

After a flurry of attacks, the general raised his great sword high!

Zhao Yi instinctively raised his blade to parry, but unexpectedly, the general’s blade came down only after Zhao Yi’s swing had passed!

“Ah—damn your big balls! Why’s the attack delayed? You lagging?!”

Even the random mobs in Ashina Castle killed him with ease—

Trapped between three attackers, each slashing once, Zhao Yi was casually stabbed to death by three to five hits.

In the combo of two men and a dog, they pressed, retreated, and struck relentlessly, giving Zhao Yi no chance to react as he died bitterly.

A fat guy wielding a big hammer smashed Zhao Yi’s posture bar in two hits, smashing him into the ground.

A musketeer fired iron bullets with precise, deadly long-range shots, even sniping Zhao Yi mid-jump.

Besides that, there were occasional spear-wielding soldiers, bandits hiding in blind spots stabbing suddenly, and torch-carrying sentries shaking their flags as soon as you poked your head out...

Here, what you think is never what you actually think.

Because no one understood players’ assumptions better than Old Thief.

And he was using what you thought to create conspiracies and traps beyond your imagination.

Once, twice, thrice.

Five times, ten times, twenty times.

Dead, alive, alive, dead.

After countless attempts, when Zhao Yi finally reached Chained Ogre, just about to call Wang Yong to watch his performance, he was instantly killed by a punch from the suddenly freed Chained Ogre.

Zhao Yi finally lost it, his miserable roar echoing through the motion-sensing pod:

“F***! Your mother!”

“Ahhhhh—!!!”

No justice!

What kind of game was this?!

Wasn’t I supposed to be the protagonist?

As a protagonist, I don’t ask for a hundred thousand miles of flips, seventy-two transformations, or a golden staff that kills gods and buddhas.

At least I should be a little stronger, right?

How come in this game, everyone—

Yes! Everyone!

They kill me as easily as I killed monsters in other ARPGs!

Have I become cannon fodder?!

Zhao Yi was truly stunned, even once wanting to give up and refund on the spot.

But for some reason,

This game seemed magical.

Even if it tortured him thousands of times, it only broke his defenses without making him lose faith.

Or rather…

The furious rage this damn game provoked was enough to mask Zhao Yi’s discouragement!

You bastard!

You designed the game like this, huh?

Fine!

If I don’t beat you today, I’ve wasted over a decade playing games!!!

...

“This game’s ingenuity is something other games could learn from for a long time…”

It was overtime review time at Daily Gaming News again.

But unlike before, only Xu Xiaolin, Hao Xianming, and Lin Xiaomeng remained in the online conference room.

Yes.

After rounds of evaluations and selections,

The assistant editor position was successfully claimed by the outstanding and highly perceptive Lin Xiaomeng.

At the same time, Xu Xiaolin had also recognized Hao Xianming’s seriousness and fairness, taking him as a student.

At this moment, Xu Xiaolin was watching Lin Xiaomeng’s live gameplay while explaining it to Hao Xianming.

“You’ve played a bit before, right? Do you know why I say this?”

Xu Xiaolin asked.

“Because…”

Hao Xianming thought for a moment:

“Because the game’s difficulty is jaw-dropping? No one dares to make a game like this except Golden Wind?”

“Hm…”

Xu Xiaolin murmured:

“Half right.”

“The reason it’s worth learning from and hard to imitate is precisely because of its exquisitely designed difficulty.”

“But first, you have to know what’s so exquisite about it. Can you say?”

Hao Xianming thought, then shook his head: “Please enlighten me, teacher.”

Hearing this, Xu Xiaolin chuckled and said:

“Game feedback.”

At those words!

Hao Xianming gasped in realization.

Enlightening!

Is Sekiro difficult?

Without a doubt, very difficult—even arguably the hardest game since ARPGs existed.

And under such high difficulty, what’s the consequence?

Strong negative feedback in player experience, frustration upon frustration.

Why have so many game companies worldwide made especially simple games aimed at casual players, but never a single one like Sekiro that tortures players and teaches the meaning of ‘death’ globally?

The reason is simple.

Excessive difficulty causes strong negative feedback, driving players away, making them hate the game!

But!

Sekiro is different.

Though its difficulty is high and it tortures players to the brink of despair with almost no obvious positive feedback,

Since its release, whether it’s Hao Xianming and Lin Xiaomeng playing personally, or other streamers broadcasting, or players discussing in forums,

No one has said, “This game is too hard; I want a refund!”

Why is that?

Hao Xianming slightly opened his mouth, thoughtful, seeming to understand Sekiro’s subtlety.

He recalled his feelings after first playing—

From being instantly killed by the general upon first encounter,

To the first successful parry, seeing the general’s posture bar surge,

To adding skill points and successfully reading the “danger” mark,

He clearly felt his skills steadily improving through repeated trials.

The first successful death blow was exhilarating.

The first time defeating an enemy seemingly insurmountable was thrilling and addictive.

In every duel, he felt his strength growing.

This feeling of improvement was intangible but crystal clear.

Thinking this, Hao Xianming suddenly realized—

Sekiro didn’t lack positive feedback!

Instead, it embedded all positive feedback into every battle!

Every fight was intelligence gathering, self-improvement!

Players’ positive feedback accumulated through constant refinement until finally defeating the enemy, witnessing the once insurmountable foe fall at their hands!

That sense of achievement was unmatched by other games!

And this!

Is what the teacher just called “exquisite”!

“Very good, but that’s just one point,”

After hearing Hao Xianming’s analysis, Xu Xiaolin nodded appreciatively and continued:

“In fact, if players carefully play this game, they’ll find that those terrifying elites and bosses also have their tricks. Like Lin Xiaomeng now—”

As he spoke, Xu Xiaolin gestured for Hao Xianming to watch Lin Xiaomeng’s live gameplay.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com