Chapter Twenty-Six: Eating Cake

There was only one cake, but there were countless ways to eat it. Ash naturally chose the most comfortable method. As the saying goes, when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits; Ash was not foolish enough to lead his companions into the fray, nor would he sit idly by while the Giant Tree Research Institute gradually turned their advantage into victory.

Thus, after careful consideration, he quickly established a strategy: leveraging their own strengths to balance the powers at play, much like the gray-skinned werewolf devising a nightmare challenge. If they were to feast, then they would feast upon it all.

"Your approach is quite ingenious!" After hearing Ash's explanation, Wine Grows Rich couldn't help but praise him. Little Bob's intelligence was sufficient to fully grasp Ash's tactical thinking, so the three immediately reached consensus and began to execute Ash's battle plan.

"Ten o'clock direction, advance about twelve meters." Little Bob’s vision pierced through the darkness and instantly provided guidance for the two players who lacked sight. Ash raised his arm shield and led Wine Grows Rich swiftly forward. Sure enough, they spotted a skirmish: a knife-wielding warrior from the Giant Tree Research Institute was about to deliver a deadly blow to a patrolling guard. Wine Grows Rich immediately fired a critical bolt, then retreated under Ash’s protection.

At the same time, an enormous explosive fireball whistled past them. From the muffled sound in the air suppressed by the darkness, Wine Grows Rich received a kill notification.

[Notification: You participated in killing the "Giant Tree Swordsman" and have gained a large number of contribution points!]

"It worked!" Watching her contribution bar soar, Wine Grows Rich’s sparkling eyes danced with delight. She flashed Ash a sweet, satisfied smile and, feeling a bit embarrassed, said, "At this rate, I really might surpass your level..."

"That doesn't matter. At least during the beta, a temporary loss in contribution isn’t as important as you think." Since the beta caps at level ten, Ash wasn’t worried. As long as he could secure this assessment, his contribution points would soar, and he might even obtain another [Basic Evolution Reagent]. Compared to the fixed level cap everyone shares, such rare and fortuitous upgrades were what truly whetted Ash's appetite.

Their successful strike invigorated Ash. After reuniting with Wine Grows Rich and Little Bob, he immediately shifted their position, avoiding enemy contact while waiting for cooldowns and searching for their next target.

"No one’s chasing us! The Giant Tree Research Institute is in turmoil, but the Patrolling Guard is restraining their movements." Little Bob scanned the battlefield and reported with delight. Ash slapped his thigh and laughed aloud, "Exactly!"

Upon learning the Giant Tree Research Institute and the Patrolling Guard were embroiled in battle, Ash instantly saw their greatest advantage.

Wide vision!

Intense firepower!

Excellent positioning!

Little Bob’s six-point perception was practically a cheat code in this world of darkness. With a range of twenty-two meters—ten more than Ash and Wine Grows Rich—Little Bob could attack without fear, while the enemies saw only explosive fireballs, never his silhouette.

Ash crafted a strategy around this: Little Bob would select targets, then Ash and Wine Grows Rich would quickly position themselves. Both ranged attackers would unleash their skills simultaneously. Even if they couldn’t kill a fully healthy member of the Giant Tree Research Institute, picking off the wounded was straightforward. Sometimes, Wine Grows Rich didn’t even need to act; Little Bob’s doubled-effect explosive fireballs were enough to secure the kill.

"Wow, the perception effect is terrifying!" Successfully ambushing and relocating again, Wine Grows Rich couldn’t help but exclaim to Ash, "I’m even thinking of changing my class!"

"Six points of perception—you know what that means! Besides, Little Bob’s case is special. That bloodvine necklace boosts magical effects, probably increasing not just power but range as well. Don’t doubt your path just because others are strong. You have more game experience than I do, right? And no matter how powerful vision is, there’s always a counter. You, playing a ranged physical class, have your own advantages."

"Are you lecturing me?" Wine Grows Rich’s gaze turned dangerous. "And stop calling me ‘Grows Rich Beauty’! I have a name!"

"I wouldn’t dare. I just think your name is too long. Mine’s only two syllables—short, strong, and stylish."

"Can’t you just call me Wine or Rich?"

"Wine is awkward, Rich doesn’t flow."

"..."

Wine Grows Rich ran out of patience. She was about to retort when Little Bob, after firing another explosive fireball, frowned and sighed, "Missed. The Giant Tree Research Institute has abandoned their combat formation and is pulling back their defenses. What should we do next?"

"No worries. Four hits out of four attempts is just what I expected. Now, we wait. If the Giant Tree Research Institute wants to flee, let them. If they want to fight, we’ll play along." Ash was satisfied with the outcome. Out of six actions, they’d secured four victories, essentially balancing the strengths of the Giant Tree Research Institute and the Patrolling Guard. The former had seven members left, facing nearly triple their number in the Patrolling Guard, losing their combat advantage completely. Consolidating their formation was the only option. If, at this point, the Institute’s commander had no countermeasure, Ash wouldn’t hesitate to send them all on their way.

"Keep an eye on the spoils. If anyone dares touch anything on the ground, hit them hard!" Since the melee began, nine from the Giant Tree Research Institute had fallen, and nearly half the Patrolling Guard had been lost. Determined to take the cake, Ash was not about to let anyone else have a piece. So, when Little Bob issued a warning, Ash led Wine Grows Rich out at speed. The moment they spotted someone hurriedly searching a corpse, Wine Grows Rich, under Ash’s protection, fired a critical bolt.

However, the Giant Tree warrior, having chosen to loot, was already alert—especially since his perception level surpassed both players’. He had ample time to use a prepared defensive item, blocking Wine Grows Rich’s critical bolt.

The Giant Tree warrior, easily thwarting the attack, smirked at Ash and Wine Grows Rich. Their forces weren’t enough to both withstand the Patrolling Guard and eliminate these unwelcome outsiders from the Paradise World, but taking all the loot was not difficult. The repeated ambushes had led the Institute’s commander to realize the third party was clearly short-handed.

Thus, the Giant Tree warrior began searching bodies openly, ignoring the Paradise guests completely.

If you can, keep attacking me!

I’m at full health, and I have defensive items. Even if you hit me with an explosive fireball, I’ll only be half-damaged!

You Paradise humans always look down on us natives, don’t you?

Fine!

Today, I’ll show you the strength of a native!

The Giant Tree warrior’s arrogance was clear to Ash and Wine Grows Rich, but neither was angered. When Wine Grows Rich’s third bolt finally shattered his defensive item, Little Bob, standing behind, swung his arm and launched two colossal explosive fireballs. The Giant Tree Research Institute members who saw this turned pale and frantically warned the looting warrior.

Yet, intoxicated by his own pride, the Giant Tree warrior shrugged off their shouts.

One fireball could kill me? Then what future do I have?

Even if your fireball is as big as a Great Explosive Fireball, you can’t one-shot me!

Wait...

Why is it so bright?

Why is it so hot?

Finally turning around, the Giant Tree warrior saw two enormous fireballs before him—so dazzling they resembled Great Explosive Fireballs.

Could it actually... one-shot me?

Facing death, the Giant Tree warrior managed a single thought before being obliterated by the "Dual Explosive Fireball." The deafening explosion and blinding fireworks struck terror into the Institute’s commander, who hastily led his subordinates in a frantic retreat, abandoning all hope of claiming the scattered loot.

Meanwhile, the Patrolling Guard, already fixated on vengeance, relentlessly pursued the defeated foes from the Institute. In the blink of an eye, the battlefield was left littered with corpses and bloodvine accessories, too many to collect.