Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 879: Chapter 878: Got on the pirate ship and still want to get off?

”Bang!!”

With a shattering sound, the massive Withered Elite turned into a series of data fragments and vanished into the air. At the same time, a treasure chest emitting a faint radiance appeared in front of Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng opened the treasure chest, then casually reached in...

”It’s a shield.”

Fang Zheng raised the shield in his hand and waved it at everyone, then looked at Aoba.

”It’s yours.”

”Huh...huh huh huh!?”

Seeing the shield handed over by Fang Zheng, Aoba cried out immediately. She stared wide-eyed in surprise and looked nervously at Fang Zheng.

”B-but...I didn’t do much...I just helped Miss Black Cat and Miss Asuna fend off some small mobs, this shield, Mr. Fang Zheng, you should keep it for yourself...”

”I use a Two-Handed Sword, this shield is of no use to me. Ester and Restia can’t use it either, you’re the only one here who needs a shield.”

”But...”

Aoba looked troubled as she glanced at Restia and Ester, then looked to the Black Cat beside her for help, but the Black Cat shook her head.

”I still prefer the Scimitar...a shield is just a burden to me.”

”Well then...”

Hearing the Black Cat’s answer, Aoba looked at Asuna, but this time, before she could speak, Fang Zheng interrupted her.

”She’s not in the party, she can’t get the equipment.”

”...........”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Asuna snorted discontentedly and turned her head away.

”Then...then I’ll take it, thank you, Mr. Fang Zheng.”

”You’re welcome.”

Fang Zheng opened the inventory and handed the shield to Aoba, waving his hand.

”Although your skills aren’t the highest among us, your basics are decent. If skills aren’t enough, then gear makes up for it, that’s the logic of online games.”

However, looking at Fang Zheng’s back, Restia slightly shook her head and whispered to Ester.

”Ester, this is the eighth time the master has opened a Withered Elite’s chest, right?”

”Yes.”

”...But still no Two-Handed Greatsword...even though our equipment is almost complete...yet the master hasn’t gotten anything himself...”

”...Cough cough.”

Fang Zheng coughed, interrupting the murmuring of the two behind him. Don’t rub salt in the wound, okay? It’s one thing to have bad luck and not get good items, but he opened the chest eight times in a row, and all the gear was for others. Rapiers, Longswords, leather armor, boots... He thought maybe this time it was his turn.

But it was a shield...

Am I destined to do good deeds?

This reminded Fang Zheng of his time playing Demon Beast World before his rebirth. As a Hunter, he always got Mage gear, almost completing a set in one instance run, earning him the nickname ’Mage’s Friend’ from the team’s Mage girl...

MMP!

Next time, it’s better to let Ester try. That girl is pure white European from head to toe, she should be able to get good items...

Currently, both Ester and Restia were using the Rare Blue Weapons from the Withered Elite Chests, but Fang Zheng was still using a plain grey weapon. Hmm, this Two-Handed Greatsword was something Fang Zheng had to buy from a blacksmithing profession person in the Starting Town because he couldn’t get any gear...

Otherwise, he’d be stuck fighting elites with the starting weapon, which would be too embarrassing.

”Alright, now let’s talk business.”

After handing the shield to Aoba, Fang Zheng coughed to bring the topic back, seriously gazing at the three girls in front of him before speaking.

”Now you can make a choice, join my team or leave?”

”I’ll join.”

The Black Cat decisively raised her hand first, then flashed an ’evil smile’.

”I can sense our destinies are intertwined, it’s our fate from a past life... We’re meant to meet here, so let’s follow this destiny and fight together!”

”I... can really join?”

Compared to the confident Black Cat, Aoba felt anxious. She clutched the shield, looking lost and uneasy like a stray puppy.

”I don’t have the strength of Miss Black Cat and Miss Asuna...”

”Everyone has their own strengths, and I’m not only looking for warriors like them.”

Fang Zheng waved his hand.

”I plan to form a guild once we have enough numbers, but right now...we don’t even have the minimum number. You should know, not everyone in a guild will be fighting. We need a lot of talents, and your performance earlier was much better than you imagined. As long as you’re willing to work hard, you’ll surely improve.”

”Then... I’m willing!”

Hearing this, Aoba made up her mind and nodded firmly.

As for what happens next...

”......”

Fang Zheng looked at Asuna, who avoided his gaze, but she finally gritted her teeth.

”I want to join.”

”Welcome to the team.”

Hearing Asuna’s response, Fang Zheng’s lips curled into a strange smile.

”But there’s something I have to say upfront. I think everyone knows, our goal is to clear all 100 levels and leave this world. For that, we need to put in a lot of effort... You all understand this, right?”

”Of course.”

Although they didn’t know why Fang Zheng was saying this, the three nodded, and upon seeing their reaction, Fang Zheng’s smile became even more ”enthusiastic”.

”Then, I’ll start a series of training for you to ensure you have enough strength to face and meet challenges. The process might be tough, are you willing to accept it?”

”I am!”

This time, Asuna was the first to answer. She lifted her head, staring firmly at Fang Zheng.

”As long as it makes me stronger, I’ll do anything!”

Good, girl, you asked for it.

Hearing Asuna’s reply, Fang Zheng shrugged.

”Be careful what you wish for, Miss Asuna, I hope you won’t regret it.”

”I won’t regret it.”

Asuna clearly had no intention of heeding Fang Zheng’s advice. She clenched her fists and bit her lip.

”I want to become stronger, much stronger, I will never let this world, this game beat me!”

”Very well.”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly, showing a strange smile.

”Let’s hope so.”

Asuna was indeed confident. To her, she had overcome the toughest times alone in the wild before, what could be harder than that now?

But soon, Fang Zheng would show her through actions—she underestimated it.

In fact, Fang Zheng’s training focused on only one thing, leveling up.

In this game, a player’s health is tied to their level, which means the higher your level, the more health you have and the higher your tolerance for errors. Maybe someone else would be one-shotted by the boss, while you could take two hits. Don’t underestimate the difference in those two hits; it could mean the difference between Hell and Heaven.

And so, from that day, Asuna’s nightmare...began.