Mingchao, the latest five-star resonator in this game, Xiakong, has a dazzling array of growth trajectories and the materials she needs, which are so complicated that it almost seems like an endless journey. Perhaps for most players, this is just a “leveling strategy” in the game, but for me, it is more like a metaphor of modern society, about loneliness, about pursuit, and about us swinging between virtuality and reality.
Xiakong grows from level 0 to the full level 90, and the materials required are as many as dozens, and the number is even more in the dozens. The low-frequency, medium-frequency, high-frequency and even full-frequency “tide erosion sail cores” sound like the beat of some electronic music, but they are indispensable in the game world. Behind each material, there is real time and energy that players must travel through countless maps and challenge many enemies to finally collect.
Can you feel a slow and endless climb? This reminds me of those lonely days, like the streets of Tokyo at three in the morning, with cold loneliness in the air. Just like we keep searching for ourselves in reality, longing to be understood and connected, but find that every step is full of invisible obstacles. These materials in the game are like countless unknown difficulties on the road of life, forcing people to keep paying and moving forward.
“Burning Phosphorus Bone”, what a symbolic name. You can only get it by defeating the ancient dragon of sighing. It is like the unfathomable inner demon that must be faced and conquered before you can move forward. In reality, who doesn’t have his own “ancient dragon”? Maybe it’s the pressure of the workplace, maybe it’s the anxiety of life, or it’s the loneliness that can’t be relieved deep in your heart. Like players, we face countless “Bosses” and fight again and again, both for growth and trying to find peace of mind.
The existence of “Golden Fleece” makes me feel a little sad. In ancient mythology, it is a rare treasure and a distant dream. But in the game, it is limited to the number of purchases, fifteen per week. This artificial limit makes the dream unattainable. The ideals we pursue in reality are often bound by the limitations of reality. Money, time, and opportunities are strictly calculated and limited by the system, just like “shell money”. In such a world, we have learned to compromise and to expect.
The recharge discount code, a three-percentage-point discount, seems insignificant to some extent, but it implies the temptations and traps in modern life. We seem to always be looking for that “cheap” opportunity, expecting to exchange more happiness for less cost, but unknowingly fall into the trap of consumerism. Just like people who drink alone late at night, knowing that this is just a temporary anesthesia, but still can’t extricate themselves.
Xia Kong’s resonance circuit material is meticulous to the consumption of each level, which reminds me of our demanding self-growth in reality. It seems that only by continuous accumulation and continuous “upgrade” can we gain a real sense of existence. But this endless pursuit also makes people feel tired and empty. Many times, our hearts do not desire more “equipment”, but desire to be understood, loved, and truly free.
The name of the “Condensate Field·Confession Abyss” in the game itself is like a baptism of the soul, where players challenge dungeons and gain growth. In reality, each of us is also experiencing our own “confession abyss”, perhaps a reflection on the past, or perhaps confusion about the future. The game gives us a virtual space to release pressure and fulfill those wishes that are difficult to fulfill in reality.
The material collection and cultivation system of Mingchao Xiakong is entertainment on the surface, but it is actually a portrayal of the mental state of modern people. It reflects the loneliness and anxiety in our hearts, and also reveals how we find a moment of comfort in the virtual world. Perhaps, we are all like Xiakong, carrying a heavy burden, but still choose to move forward, because there is always a beam of light waiting for us ahead.