My Players Are So Fierce

One was 【Flight Expert】.

This was an extension of Tobacco Mulberry’s real-life profession.

In reality, he was an instructor at a civil aviation school. Before becoming an instructor, he flew special aircraft for a while, the kind used for crop dusting, firefighting, and cloud seeding.

The second trait was even more impressive, called 【Danger Intuition】.

The trait description stated that he could sense impending danger and prepare for it. According to Tobacco Mulberry himself, this might also be a special result of his career.

“Think about it, flying planes sounds cool, but the chances of surviving when things go wrong are minuscule. In our line of work, you need to be bold yet cautious, and when necessary, dare to take risks.

I’m not bragging, but in the past few years of flying, I’ve encountered several dangerous situations, all of which I managed to turn around through some extreme maneuvers.”

In the last carriage of the convoy departing from the Administrative building, Tobacco Mulberry was boasting about his past career to Meow King’s group of six.

You have to admit, in reality, you don’t often meet such “special talents”. After all, flying planes is indeed a technical job that most people can’t handle.

“Ah, but doing this job for too long makes you scared, not just yourself, but your family too,” Tobacco Mulberry said, pounding his knee and sighing:

“After that time when I had to free-fall from 2,000 meters and eventually had to parachute to escape, my family wouldn’t let me continue no matter what. I could only switch careers and open a school to train young successors, as the country is also opening up in this area.

The business is barely enough to make ends meet, but sometimes I still want to fly again.”

“That’s simple, why don’t you just transform into a vampire?” Led More Than Three to Five Pecks, who had been listening to his boasting with enjoyment, interjected:

“Not only can you fly, but you can fly on your own, with wings. Isn’t that awesome?”

“I’m planning to become a vampire, but to be honest, flying with wings is different from flying a plane. It feels different,” Tobacco Mulberry said, shaking his head:

“Anyway, we’ll see when the time comes. My flying skills are no joke, whether it’s falling leaf maneuvers or cobra maneuvers, they’re all a piece of cake for me.”

“Old brother, can you introduce me to a flight attendant?” Black Stockings Under the Keyboard joked: “You must know quite a few as an insider in the industry.”

“Pfft, they all look pretty, but if you really had a flight attendant girlfriend, you’d be in for a headache. Just the irregular work hours alone would drive you crazy. To be honest, there are quite a few scandals in this industry. It can’t be helped, with the pressure of flying back and forth every day.

The handsome guys and beautiful girls need some way to relax, you know.”

Tobacco Mulberry said with a grimace: “Besides, I used to fly special aircraft, not commercial flights. How would I have so many channels to meet flight attendants? But now that you mention it, come to think of it, several of my ex-girlfriends ended up becoming flight attendants.

Maybe they were influenced by me and fell in love with the feeling of flying back and forth?

How about this, let’s set up a time to meet offline, and I’ll see if I can get you some phone numbers or something. It’s rare for us brothers to hit it off, so I’ve got to help a brother out.”

“You’re a real brother!” Meow King gave a thumbs up.

He felt that this brother in front of him was really interesting, with quite a free-spirited style. Playing with someone like this would surely not lead to any troublesome situations.

Most importantly, they had a common interest!

So, joining the “Big Bird Spin Spin Spin” team was naturally “destined”. In more poetic terms, wasn’t this a fated encounter?

“Let’s grind some gnolls on the way,” Meow King said to the people in the carriage:

“Although we definitely can’t get the top spots on the individual or team leaderboards anymore, since it’s a main quest, we can’t just let it go. There are gnolls along this route too, so as long as it doesn’t delay things, we can still do our part.

Old Tune, go out and take a look around, find a small gnoll nest.”

“I’m already here, and you still want my brother to scout physically? You’re really underestimating us Detection Spirit Mages,” Tobacco Mulberry, sitting opposite him, snorted and casually cast the basic detection spell he had learned from his mentor Helu, albeit not very Proficiently.

A blurry mirror composed of spirit energy was projected before everyone’s eyes, like a bird’s-eye view from the sky, constantly changing perspectives under Tobacco Mulberry’s poor control of details.

A bird’s-eye view sounds cool, but Tobacco Mulberry’s control was so bad that the image looked like it had been pixelated ten times over. However, they could at least see some black dots representing moving creatures.

After about ten seconds, they spotted a group of gnolls wandering around, poking their heads out in a forest outside an abandoned village ahead.

“Let’s go for them,” Meow King quickly decided on the target. He asked, “Tobacco Mulberry, how far are these guys?”

“Hmm, wait, let me calculate first. The projection formula for this detection spirit energy is a bit complicated. No wonder they say people who are bad at math can’t learn spirit energy well. Even the most basic detection spell requires calculating projections and applying two formulas.”

Tobacco Mulberry complained as he took out a piece of paper, scribbled on it for about ten seconds, then scratched his head and said:

“Probably, possibly, maybe 3-5 kilometers away? This is my first time using it, and I used a bit too much spirit energy earlier, so my head’s a bit dizzy now.”

“That far?” Meow King’s group of six were suddenly surprised. He exclaimed, “You’re using a basic detection spell, right? And it can reach as far as 3 kilometers? Then wouldn’t an advanced detection spell cross tens of kilometers?”

“Tsk, you’re underestimating the spirit energy spells of this world,” Tobacco Mulberry explained, rubbing his head and leaning against the carriage wall:

“According to my unreliable mentor, the honorable Helu, when he uses detection spells with the assistance of a Computation Bead, he can easily detect detailed situations of predetermined targets within a 30-kilometer range and make some spirit energy marks that only he can perceive.

He said that when they were executing ‘D-Plan’ at Pioneer Fortress before, the detection spell for Kadman City was operated by him and several of his fellow disciples together.

That was over 300 kilometers in a straight line!

And those Spirit Masters’ detection techniques can even cross half a continent, like directly observing the terrain of Transia from the White Cliffs and so on.

Of course, that level of detection spell often requires the assistance of some powerful spiritual items.

What bothers me is this point.

If they can see things tens of kilometers away, why can’t they develop a spell that can see through clothes? This should be a piece of cake in theory.”

“Perhaps it’s due to the ethics and decorum of Spirit Mages?” Old Tune next to him said quietly: “After all, using spirit energy spells for such things sounds odd, what’s the difference between this and using a cannon to shoot mosquitoes? It’s completely unnecessary.”

“If he won’t teach you, why don’t you develop it yourself?” Black Stockings Under the Keyboard said with a rather peculiar smile, patting Tobacco Mulberry’s shoulder: “When you develop it, don’t forget to teach me.”

“Nonsense! Do you know how difficult it is to create your own spirit energy?” Tobacco Mulberry complained: “One of the hard requirements for advancing to Spirit Master at Circle Tower is to create your own spirit energy technique. I’ve been learning from Helu these past few days, and I’ve only managed to learn this eagle eye spell and another prying eye spell. This stuff is much harder than Spirit Blast.

I’ve sneaked a look at Helu’s spell book, and even a mid-level spirit energy spell there requires memorizing over four formulas and mentally calculating some data. Even with the assistance of a Computation Bead, I can’t handle it.

I’m here to play a game, not to receive re-education!

I think my Detection Spirit Mage profession is wasted. Luckily I still have two profession slots, I’ll have to study carefully later. I’m going to take a nap now, wake me up when we get there.”

“Whoosh”

A vampire-style short-handled staff was thrown to Tobacco Mulberry by Meow King.

The latter caught it and took a look. This Masterwork Veteran-grade midnight secret energy staff made his eyes widen. Then he saw Meow King grin at him and say:

“I used this before, now it’s yours. Consider it a gift for joining the team. Our team is going for elite status, everyone is a brother. Your detection spell will be very useful, so make sure to practice well.

From now on, you’ll be the ‘all-seeing eye’ of our Big Bird Spin Spin Spin team.”

“Damn! I’ve heard people say that you old players who entered the game first are all rolling in wealth, now I see it’s true!”

Tobacco Mulberry’s headache was gone, his chest no longer felt uncomfortable. He leaned on the thick, hard, and stylish crimson staff in a very “peculiar” up-and-down rubbing motion. Patting his chest, he grinned and said:

“Brother Meow is generous. Next time we go out to have fun, it’s my treat! None of you are allowed to fight me for it.”

——

“Team One, fall back! Retreat slowly, lure those gnolls chasing you out for me.”

“Team Two, prepare to charge! Shield bearers in front, melee in the back! Don’t mess up.”

“Team Three, everyone except the archers, get your grenades ready. Wait for my command, remember to delay three seconds before throwing them out!”

In a hilly woodland area of the Baroness of Shadows’ domain, Onboard Joy Stick, flapping his wings and observing the battlefield from the air at dusk, grabbed his Computation Bead and issued commands from time to time.

20 meters below him on the ground, the players of the “Crimson Hammer and Sickle team”, whom he had divided into three teams, were following his orders to encircle a medium-sized gnoll camp.

They were far outnumbered by the enemy but remained calm in the face of danger. It had been five days since the mission to exterminate the gnolls was issued, enough time to hammer the green recruits into soldiers who knew how to follow orders.

Of course, expecting players to be as obedient as soldiers was impossible, but Joy Stick was very satisfied with the current situation.

At the very least, they would advance strictly according to his instructions, neither rashly charging in to die nor cowardly throwing down their weapons and fleeing. This point alone made Joy Stick extremely gratified.

At this moment, flying in the air, Joy Stick felt that the ground before him was like a “chessboard”, with the players moving according to orders as his chess pieces. He, the chess player, was surveying the overall situation from an excellent vantage point.

He saw over 30 gnoll barbarians howling and chasing after the retreating 9 members of Team One, hacking and slashing wildly. But the Tiger Leopard Rider brothers were already battle-hardened veterans.

They used their shields to protect their bodies, retreating unhurriedly out of the gnoll camp’s range, like bait used to lure hungry fish, enticing the frenzied barbarians away from their main formation with the temptation of delicious prey.

The enemy gnoll barbarian leader seemed to realize the danger as well.

It shouted and roared, ordering its soldiers to come back! But this strange roar instead exposed its position, allowing Joy Stick in the air to pull out the large-caliber hunting rifle from his back, flap his wings to hover in the air for aiming, and then pull the trigger.

“Bang”

The fired bullet hit the barbarian leader’s chest armor, causing it to stumble and fall. Chaotic arrows flew into the sky, but Joy Stick had already increased his altitude, letting the wind from his flapping wings swat away the arrows that had no killing power at this height.

The barbarian leader wasn’t dead, only bleeding from a non-fatal wound.

But it no longer had a chance to save its subordinates!

“Team Three! Throw!”

Joy Stick shouted in the team communication. Those assigned to Team Three were all new players.

Their levels were low and their weapons and equipment were average, but they remembered their orders well.

Although there were two idiots who threw the grenades as soon as they lit them in their excitement, the remaining eight people mentally counted to three before using all their strength to throw the round grenades into the midst of the 30-plus gnolls ahead.

These things exploded on impact, immediately blasting four or five unfortunate ones into the air. Then Team One changed formation and counter-charged, while the melee fighters of Team Two also charged out from all directions guided by the piercing sound of the charge horn.

Within a few minutes, over 30 gnolls were cut down, with Joy Stick’s battle group unscathed.

There were only 50 to 60 gnolls in this medium-sized camp in total. Losing half of them in one go immediately crushed the enemy’s morale, leaving the few barbarian leaders and their chieftain shouting and yelling but unable to turn the tide.

At this point in the battle, it was impossible for any further twists to occur.

Having completed an excellent command, Joy Stick breathed a sigh of relief. He waved his hand in the air, and the 40 new recruits of the Kadman People’s Army, who had been pre-positioned in the woods behind the camp, finally received the order to charge out at this moment, cooperating with the players to begin a pincer attack on the scattered gnolls.

As for the elite boss and a few elite barbarian leaders, they were naturally prey for Joy Stick and his Tiger Leopard Riders.

They switched to blunt weapons and entered the fray, intending to capture these elites alive to sell to the Fight Club for money.

An elite barbarian was worth 50 gold coins, an elite spellcaster 70. These were good ways to earn extra money. Even ordinary Black Iron rank gnolls could fetch a price, but only 2 gold each, mainly sold in bulk, almost given away.

Anyway, they were just cannon fodder used to warm up the arena when sent to the gladiator fights.

In these five days, just by selling elite monsters, Joy Stick had earned about 1,000 gold coins. Although he had to share with his team members, it still made him sigh that war was indeed the most profitable business.

“Brother Stick! I’ve reached level 10, save a tough elite for me to pass the trial!” a player shouted from the crowd.

This guy’s personal image was very eye-catching, with his bald head being quite distinctive. He also carried a strangely shaped large sword on his back that looked very fierce, but embarrassingly, his current strength couldn’t even lift this thing, so he could only carry it as a “cosmetic item”.

Yes.

This was the slightly crazy “Kind-Face Giant Shark Uncle” that Joy Stick had met earlier.

The person was indeed a bit crazy.

But he did have some talent in combat and also had the dumb luck to receive a Hidden Quest from Lord Kudel to transform into the rare monk class. He was already one of the fastest leveling among this batch of 70 players.

“Give him a better set of armor, Giant Shark’s current equipment obviously can’t withstand the attacks of gnoll elite barbarians,” Joy Stick said to Tiger Leopard Rider – Lin beside him as he flapped his wings and landed.

The latter nodded, went over and gave Giant Shark Uncle a set of veteran equipment he had previously used. The recipient thanked him profusely, then the players formed a circle to watch him duel a battered elite gnoll barbarian.

Joy Stick now had no interest in such “simple battles”.

He was more concerned about whether there were any spoils of war in this camp that could quickly make him “rich”.

As the team leader, his goal was to equip his 30 team members with Veteran-grade armor and weapons by the time the next phase of the gnoll extermination war began, and if possible, to help his carefully selected team members quickly pass the Black Iron trial.

“Brother Stick, there’s something I want to discuss with you,” a request popped up in Joy Stick’s communication just as he was waiting to inspect the spoils of war. It was from Lumina on the girls’ team side. After connecting, he heard Lumina say:

“We’ve discovered a large gnoll nest on our side, occupying a small mountain. Niuniu and Sister Pomegranate went in to scout, there are at least 400 gnolls inside! This is definitely the largest bandit nest in the Baroness of Shadows’ domain.

The Blood Rat Gang has even put out a bounty on the leader and bosses of this bandit group.

This target is too big for us to handle alone. Are you interested in joining forces?”

“Sure! It’s rare for you girls to think highly of me, of course I’ll help!” Joy Stick laughed heartily, then changed his tone and said:

“But I want 40% of the profits!”

“We’ll give you 20%, we’re not just asking you,” Lumina bargained:

“Sister Pomegranate asked Lord Maxim to lend us troops, which also requires payment. 20% is already the limit.”

“30%!” Joy Stick agreed immediately, saying:

“And I want priority in selecting the spoils! If possible, I can bring my people over now. Including Brother Mao and his five, I have 15 Black Iron rank fighters on my side.”

“Oh oh oh! Indeed, I, Giant Shark, am a once-in-a-century talent!” A hoarse roar interrupted Joy Stick’s words. He glanced back, then grinned and said:

“Now I have 16 Black Iron warriors. I think we’re worth this price! What do you say?”