Brant’s skill growth in the Mingchao world, on the surface, is the continuous strengthening of combat power, but in fact it reflects the survival status of individuals in our reality under social pressure and inner struggle. This is not only a battle narrative of a virtual game, but also like a mirror, reflecting the anxiety and confusion of modern people in the gap between material and spiritual.
The setting of the “resonance loop” is very ironic, releasing treatment and shields after accumulating “applause” layers. Applause, which should be the recognition and support of individuals by the outside world, has become a necessary condition for Brant’s survival-without applause, there is no shield and no self-healing. In reality, are many of us also constantly consuming ourselves in the pursuit of external recognition? Those false praises and envy are actually just a thin protective film that covers the fragility and loneliness of the heart. Brant’s skills are a metaphor for the survival situation of modern people: the fragility of the human heart needs the affirmation of the outside world to persist.
The “resonance liberation” skill, the response to life when released, is more like a brief awakening and self-healing of the spirit. In Lu Xun’s writings, human life is often oppressed by heavy social reality, and occasional recovery is just a respite for a small boat in the sea of suffering. Brent’s self-healing cannot last long, and its setting reveals a kind of helplessness: when the pressure from the outside world reaches a certain level, the individual can only rely on his own fragile strength to repair the damage, but is destined to be unable to truly escape the cage of fate. This kind of treatment is not a complete relief, but a temporary respite, which is the “little happiness in suffering” described by Lu Xun.
The “Immortal Route” of the Swift Blade strengthens the attack, just like the helpless acceptance of violence and struggle by people in society. In this long struggle for survival, the increase in attack power does not come from the strength of the heart, but from self-defense under the pressure of the environment. Lu Xun used sharp strokes to reveal social contradictions and the distortion of human nature. Brent’s Swift Blade is a symbol of this distortion: he has to become stronger and more aggressive in order to survive in the dark. This “attack” is the helplessness of self-protection, and it is a “self-defense” shaped by the social environment, rather than pure justice or light.
The attack power bonus provided by the “Courage without Fear of Waves” of the Sound of the Corpse Set is nothing more than a reproduction of the power game. In a cruel environment, the strong survive and the weak are eliminated. This is a ruthless tide. Brent’s dress and enhancement are the shell of her struggle in this ruthless tide, and the superficial “courage” covers the fear and hesitation in her heart. Lu Xun has long pointed out that the so-called “courage” is nothing more than resistance under the oppression of the times, and it is also a forced compromise.
The cooperation between Changli, Jinxi, and Zhezhi in the team seems to be an ideal collaboration, but in fact it is also a reflection of the relationship between people in reality. Behind the cooperation, there are various schemes and interests; everyone carries his own calculations and pain. Brent’s growth benefits from his partners, but this is not pure warmth, but an exchange of interests in complex social relations. The characters in Lu Xun’s works are often bound by this complex relationship, with sincerity and betrayal coexisting, and trust and suspicion intertwined.
The arrangement of the order of skill upgrades reflects the individual’s caution and helplessness in survival strategies. First improve defense to ensure basic survival, then strengthen attack and strive for initiative. This is not only the rules of the game, but also the silent struggle of modern people in the real society. It reveals the cruel law of survival: without a safe chassis, all attacks are out of the question. In Lu Xun’s world, survival has always been the first priority, and attacking is just to survive.
Overall, Brent’s skill growth is a metaphor for the mental state of modern people and a microcosm of the cruel pressure of real society. Behind the shining skill halo in the game are the struggles and helplessness of countless individuals in reality. If Lu Xun were alive, he might use more sharp language to expose the deep darkness behind this layer of brilliance, reminding people to face the hidden pain and confusion. Brent’s growth story is not only a game strategy, but also a microcosm of modern people groping for survival in suffering.