Chapter 400 The Players’ Abilities

Chapter 400: The Players' Abilities

"That's a really useful ability," Su Bai crouched down, watching the straw doll pacing in circles on the ground with great interest. "Although in this game, the rule against harming 'family members' restricts it, in most games, a moving decoy that can self-destruct with a big blast is a real lifesaver. Plus, since Miss Liang feels she'll soon be able to make a second straw doll, you might become a very powerful puppeteer someday."

"Really?" Liang Yuyan's expression showed surprise, and the way she looked at Su Bai also changed.

Perhaps due to the effect of her talent "Prone to Meeting the Wrong People," Liang Yuyan ran into way more people with malicious intent than good ones, so her way of viewing strangers differed from most, often seeing the world in a bad light.

Previously, Liang Yuyan hadn't been too fond of Su Bai for a bunch of reasons. Now, watching Su Bai crouch before the straw doll, extending a finger to playfully tease the little guy, Liang Yuyan's expression brightened up a bit.

"Yes, players' abilities can always grow stronger under the Red Moon. Even the most ordinary physical-enhancement players, after pushing their bodies to the limit, may discover new paths to power, especially an ability as special as Miss Liang's?"

As Su Bai spoke, Zhi Yuan, who had been keeping his presence to an absolute minimum, studied Su Bai carefully as he got up from the floor.

"Miss Liang could even consider finding items with more space in the future, then making vessels taller and tougher than the straw doll to use this ability. Then, no matter what kind of people Miss Liang meets in the real world, there will always be a fiercely loyal guardian by her side." Su Bai looked at Liang Yuyan and smiled.

In that moment, Liang Yuyan's expression seemed to say that while she knew Su Bai was good-looking, she had never realized he possessed such a friendly, charming appeal.

And Su Bai's words weren't just simple flattery; they were ideas Liang Yuyan could use for her future ability evolution.

"The consultation function on the forum is actually useful?"

Hearing that Liang Yuyan had used the forum to confirm she had a really practical ability with great potential, Ai Qing's face showed astonishment. "I always thought that was just a regular forum customer service, as useless as any other real-world online help desk."

"If I had known that experienced players were really answering the questions, maybe I could have..." Ai Qing's expression looked somewhat regretful. Clearly, he already possessed an ability that mutated from his talent, and he was evidently dissatisfied with it.

Unfortunately, once an ability takes form, changing it at its core is next to impossible.

"Can you tell us what ability you have now? It might be very useful later on." When Tan Ying asked, she noticed Li Feiwen, standing nearby, take out an antique-style pocket watch. It didn't look like a simple accessory but more like some kind of tool for telling time within the Nightmare World.

This would keep them from having to worry about when the Sacred Flame goes out.

"My ability... is related to 'sound,' so it probably won't be of much use in this game," Ai Qing lowered his head. "If I scream loudly, it can cause some damage to the surrounding Eerie Entities. But the hurt I can put on ghosts is still pretty small, and this game doesn't allow harming those ghosts, so I might not be much different from an ordinary person."

"Don't worry, there still might be some special situation where your ability comes in handy," Tan Ying calmly comforted him, then glanced at Li Feiwen. "And you might find someone to protect you."

Ai Qing also took the opportunity to move closer to Li Feiwen again. Presumably, he was well aware he had no advantage in this game, hence his efforts to stay near Li Feiwen. Whatever rumors or feelings were between them, the bond probably wasn't all that strong.

"I became a player not long ago and have been thinking about what kind of ability my talent could turn into. After hearing what the big sister said, I feel that if I can clear this game, I really need to seek help from the Relevant Authorities on the player forum." Wen Wen, who introduced herself next, sounded relieved, as if Liang Yuyan's words made her glad she hadn't settled on her ability too early.

"Indeed, the player forum's development is surprising. At first, I thought the Relevant Authorities would just leave that forum to its own devices. I didn't expect it to become more and more useful." Tan Ying smiled and patted the young newcomer Wen Wen's shoulder, reassuring her not to stress too much about her ability not being mature yet.

"Mr. Liu's ability, we already know." Tan Ying had learned about Liu Yongzhi's ability during the meeting in the lobby last night. "Could the others briefly describe what they can do in this game?"

Tan Ying looked towards Zhi Yuan, Wu Hang, and Su Bai.

"My ability has been in use all along," Zhi Yuan's expressionless statement was hard to believe. "If no one has noticed me using it, that might mean it's not doing much right now. What I can say is, I've been preparing for the end of this game from the very start."

The other players couldn't help but scrutinize Zhi Yuan. No matter how they looked, he seemed like an ordinary, bespectacled middle-aged man. Although his appearance seemed somewhat scholarly, the feeling he gave off was aloof and indifferent. Beyond that, there was no sign of him using any ability.

"Could it be the incantation you've been muttering from the start?" Li Feiwen recalled that this man named Zhi Yuan had been closing his eyes and continuously murmuring something since the beginning.

"Who knows?" Zhi Yuan simply closed his eyes again, clearly unwilling to say more.

Neither Tan Ying nor Li Feiwen were the leaders of this team. They had no power to command all players to detail their abilities; they merely hoped to know who in the group could help in an emergency.

So, when players didn't want to explain, there was nothing they could do.

"My ability is similar to Miss Tan's," Chi Yan didn't hide it, as he had already used his ability to control Liu Yongzhi in yesterday's game. However, unlike Tan Ying's control over shadows, whether Chi Yan's ability is just control or something more mysterious related to psychic power is unknown.

"My body is rather special," Wu Hang's hoarse voice came from beneath his cloak. What he said didn't give much away either, at most suggesting he might be an ordinary physical enhancer.

Su Bai, meanwhile, looked thoughtfully at Wu Hang, pondering his meaning.

Previously, when Tan Ying used her ability on all players in the lobby, her shadow couldn't touch Su Bai's shadow because the entrance to the "Evil Ghost Puzzle" existed within it. Touching his shadow was like touching the entire Evil Ghost Puzzle, terrifying to ordinary players, so Tan Ying's ability chose to "retreat."

But Su Bai always felt he wasn't the strongest player present. Yet, another player he highly suspected was easily dragged away by Tan Ying's shadow.

Could it be related to his body being special?

"My ability?" When Su Bai snapped back to attention, the others' gazes were already upon him.

Fragments of the abilities possessed by the puzzle pieces flashed through Su Bai's mind, making it hard to choose.