CHAPTER 84: FIRST FIGHT?

"Wait... Natalie actually climbed the cliff that smoothly?"

"She’s too strong!"

"Seriously, does she have secret climbing skills she has hidden?"

The viewers were stunned. To them, Natalie always looked like a delicate streamer, yet here she was climbing with surprising ease.

"Huff... huff... this is really hard!" Natalie gritted her teeth, her voice coming out in broken breaths that sounded almost dramatic. "But for the sake of letting everyone see what happens next in Sekiro, even if this game is brutal, I’ll endure it for you all!"

"Yes! Natalie is amazing!"

"I’m actually moved right now..."

"Same here. Why am I getting emotional over this?!"

"Brothers, flood the chat with support!"

Seeing Natalie work so hard for them, the viewers felt a mix of admiration and excitement. The live chat instantly filled with cheers.

Finally, after much effort, Natalie pulled herself over the edge and landed safely on solid ground.

"Ahh... I made it!" she said, wiping the imaginary sweat from her forehead. "Everyone, I did great right?"

The chat exploded with streams subs from touched viewers. Natalie’s spirits lifted, and she pressed onward.

Soon, another cliff appeared. The gap stretched a daunting ten meters wide, yet this time no handholds were in sight.

A system prompt appeared on the screen.

[Please use your skills and jump across.]

"Alright!" Natalie backed up, took a running start, and leapt.

Whoosh!

She soared through the air, clearing the gap with a single bound, and landed steadily on the opposite ledge.

"What the, she just jumped ten meters?!"

"That’s insane!"

"Don’t forget, this is a martial arts master we’re talking about. That’s what a true master looks like!"

From there, Natalie continued experimenting: jump + climb, double jump + climb, sprint jump into a cliff grip. One after another, she nailed each movement. Both she and the viewers quickly became familiar with the wolf’s agility.

This wasn’t just a matter of pressing keys, it felt like truly embodying a martial arts master who could scale walls, leap across rooftops, and move unhindered. It was the kind of freedom players had always dreamed of.

Step by step, Natalie drew closer to the Moon Viewing Tower at the cliff’s edge. After scaling a sheer wall and slipping through a broken section, she finally entered the building.

Inside was a dimly lit room, messy with scattered books across the floor. At the center sat a child, hunched over a table, reading by oil lamp.

The boy, or girl, it was hard to tell, looked around eleven or twelve, with neatly trimmed bangs, a luxurious purple robe, and bare feet dangling from the stool.

"Oh! That must be the wolf’s master!"

"Such big round eyes... adorable!"

"Is the master a boy or a girl? Can’t tell, but way too cute!"

The viewers were instantly taken in. The game’s design was astonishing, even a child character felt like someone pulled straight out of a fairy tale.

Noticing Natalie’s arrival, the child’s face lit up. He jumped down from the stool and ran over, but halfway there he slowed, remembering his dignified role, and straightened into a calm, graceful walk.

"It has been a long time, Wolf," the child said softly, his voice delicate but carrying a strange maturity.

"I have come, my lord," Natalie’s character answered in a low, respectful tone.

The child gave a small nod, then went to the corner and opened a box. Inside was a long sword wrapped in yellow cloth. He lifted it with both hands and presented it solemnly.

"Wolf, this is your blade, Kusabimaru. From this moment, continue to honor the covenant between master and servant. Be loyal to me with your life."

"Yes..." The wolf’s gravelly voice replied.

Natalie’s eyes lit up. "Finally! I’ve got a sword!" she shouted excitedly as she drew the blade.

The weapon gleamed cold and sharp, the polished edge reflecting the lamp’s glow with a faint, dangerous aura.

A system message appeared.

[Kusabimaru: A blade passed down within the Hirata family, gifted to Wolf by his young master, Kuro. The sword can be equipped on your waist or back. Weight adjustment available for player comfort.]

"What?! I can even change the weapon’s weight?" Natalie exclaimed.

"Wow, the dev really thought of everything!"

"See? Sometimes he isn’t trying to torture us!"

"Respect where it’s due."

Grinning, Natalie immediately tried adjusting the sword’s weight. Out of mischief, she cranked it up to maximum.

The moment she equipped it, the blade became impossibly heavy. With a loud thud, she dropped it straight to the floor.

The young master flinched in surprise, his small frame staggering back a step with wide eyes.

"Pfft, Natalie, what was that?!"

"You scared the poor kid half to death!"

"Look at his face! He’s terrified!"

"Wolf... what’s going on?" the boy asked with a puzzled expression. "Why can’t you even hold your sword?"

Natalie scratched her head awkwardly, laughing at her own blunder.

"I’m sorry, that was an accident." Natalie hurriedly explained. She quickly adjusted the blade’s weight, picked it up again, and slid it back into its sheath. The weapon clung neatly to her waist, almost as if it were magnetized, convenient and secure.

"Wolf, you seem injured. You couldn’t even hold your sword just now... here, take this." Kuro held out a small gourd. "Inside is medicine. Drink it to heal your wounds."

Natalie accepted it and immediately checked the description.

[Healing Gourd: Restores vitality. The contents refill after resting. Crafted by a disciple of the famed physician, Dougen.]

"Ohh... so this is basically a red potion with auto refills!" she muttered. The gourd’s corner displayed a [1], meaning only one use was currently available.

Without hesitation, Natalie raised the gourd and took a long swig. Cool liquid surged through her body. Her HP bar shot from near empty to completely full in an instant.

"Yes! This thing’s a lifesaver, though sadly, only one charge..." she said, exhilarated.

At that moment, Kuro’s voice rang out again, "By the way, Wolf... after that night... is your body alright?"

The stream chat exploded.

"?? Wait, what the hell kind of line is that?"

"Did he just ask about that night?? Bro, the implications..."

"What are you making us play, huh??"

"Calm down, calm down! Don’t overthink it, he’s just a kid!"

Even Natalie herself froze. "...Eh? What night?"

Kuro blinked in surprise. "You don’t remember? Forget it. I’ll explain later. For now, escaping Ashina is most important."

He lowered his voice, speaking with rare solemnity. "I once overheard Lord Isshin say there’s a secret passage beneath the moat bridge. Wolf, you must find it. Once you do, signal me with the reed flute. I’ll come find you."

"Understood..." the Wolf replied, his voice calm and deep.

Natalie, on the other hand, groaned. "Ahhh, so now he’s playing riddles with me! Fine, fine, I’ll go look for your secret tunnel."

She pushed open the attic door. The screen widened into a view of the cliffside path. But only a short distance away, a soldier with a massive broadsword was patrolling.

"Crap, a guard already?" Natalie squinted. No bushes. No hiding spots. Nowhere to sneak.

The chat ignited.

"Finally, the first real fight!"

"Natalie, let’s gooo! Don’t be scared, it’s just a tutorial grunt."

"Practice time! No way the dev makes the first mob impossible, right?"

Her throat tightened. "Okay... okay... let’s do this." She drew Lanqie, the sword gleaming coldly in her grip. Her heart raced.

The game blurred into reality, the sensation of holding a blade, facing another human who also wielded a blade. A life or death duel.

The patrolling soldier suddenly noticed her. A yellow exclamation flashed over his head, instantly turning red.

"Who goes there?!" he roared, charging full speed with his sword raised.

The calm background shattered as battle music surged.

"Holy crap, he’s sprinting at you!"

"Don’t freeze, Natalie, MOVE!"

"Damn, his rush looks terrifying!"

Even through the screen, the soldier’s ferocity made hearts pound. Natalie panicked, spun on her heel, and bolted straight back into the attic! She slammed the door shut, leaned her whole body against it, and held her breath.

"Damn, that was too real, my heart almost stopped!" she gasped.

The chat erupted in laughter.

"LOL she ran before swinging once!"

"I don’t blame her. If some big dude charged at me with a sword, I’d run too!"

"This is New World at its finest, forcing players to confront their own fear!"

For several tense seconds, nothing. No banging on the door. No shouting. The battle music faded away. Relief washed over her.

But then Natalie realized, Kuro was still standing behind her. The boy’s wide eyes stared at her in sheer disbelief, confusion, and maybe... disappointment.

The stream went silent for a moment.

"Pfft, that awkward stare between master and servant..."

"Hahaha! Poor Kuro, his loyal wolf just ran from the very first soldier!"

"Wolf’s face is gone, Natalie ruined it for him!"

And then, out of nowhere, Kuro spoke softly but seriously. "...Wolf. Have you... been possessed?"

The chat lost it.

"HAHAHA the dev actually coded in a roast for coward players!!"

"This is pure gold! Instant easter egg!"

"Of course Natalie would trigger it first try!"

Red-faced, Natalie slapped her face. "Alright, alright! This time, no running! I’m going all in!"

1550 Words.