Volume One: Entering the City Chapter Two: Stepping into the World of Trials

“You have successfully entered the Trial World.”

“Trial Participant Number: 373598
Name: Lu Yi
Aptitude: Average
Physique/Bloodline: To be evaluated—Demon Eye (Dormant, Symbiotic State).”

“For a detailed attribute list, summon Mist City on your wristwatch to check.”

Once the dizziness passed, Lu Yi realized he was lying askew on a sofa in a living room. As he propped himself up, he noticed something new in his hand. At the same time, a woman’s startled cry came from another room.

“Transmission complete. All trial participants must arrive at the East City Bus Station by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow. Board the bus according to your ticket and sit in the assigned seat.” The cold, mechanical voice sounded in Lu Yi’s mind once again, the same information displayed in bold letters on the glowing screen before him.

“A bus ticket?” Lu Yi raised the ticket to his eyes. It was a ticket for a bus departing at 8:35 the next morning. According to the ‘script’ provided, this was to be a graduation trip for Lu Yi and seven others. “An eight-person mission?” Lu Yi couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Though he’d read some novels and had a rough idea of his situation, there was no way to know whether a group of eight meant high or low difficulty. The bizarre vision before transmission only deepened the shadow in his heart.

As two doors opened, two girls emerged from different rooms. They glanced at Lu Yi and noted the identical wristwatch on his arm, then silently sat together, hugging pillows without saying a word.

Clearly these two knew each other. According to the script, one was Lu Yi’s younger sister, Lu Ningyu, and the other was his cousin, Li Xinran, who boarded at his home for school.

The three exchanged a few bland questions before lapsing into silence. Lu Yi took a deep breath. “In that case, let’s rest early. Tomorrow is when it truly begins.”

The next morning, Lu Yi woke the other two. Judging by their expressions, they hadn’t slept well either. After washing up, they arrived at the station at 7:50. Guided by a strange sensation, they passed through a transparent membrane and entered a hemispherical light dome.

“Well? New faces? You’re pretty early,” a young man lounging on a chair raised his hand lazily in greeting.

Lu Yi noticed the identical wristwatch on the young man’s wrist. Lu Ningyu hurried forward and asked, “You called us new—so what about you?”

The young man nodded and twirled his finger. “I don’t like repeating myself. Wait till everyone’s here, then ask your questions.”

Before long, more trial participants trickled into the dome. As the clock neared eight, an unkempt, middle-aged man with a beer belly and a look of terror stumbled in.

With the middle-aged man’s arrival, the dome subtly changed, and some of the world’s natives began to enter the waiting hall.

Seventeen people! There were seventeen participants in this mission. The thought made Lu Yi’s throat tighten, remembering his suspicions about the nature of the task.

The first young man whistled, clicked his tongue, and slipped over to the middle-aged man, throwing an arm around his neck. “Didn’t want to come, did you? Think wanting to stay away means you can?”

The man’s face was ashen. “You… I, why?” Clearly, he’d experienced something horrifying—he couldn’t utter a full sentence.

“How would I know? You think Mist City is playing games with you?” The young man pressed down hard on the man’s head, making him stumble.

“Mad Blade, don’t frighten the newcomers,” said a scholarly young man in a long robe, his voice calm.

Mad Blade snickered coldly and leaped backward, landing lightly to one side—clearly not on the same side as the scholarly youth.

His display had indeed startled the crowd. After a brief silence, many newcomers looked at the scholarly young man and his three companions with excitement.

“Hello, my name is…” One participant hurried to him, and soon eight people clustered around, chattering away.

The scholarly man frowned, then slowly raised his right hand. Instantly, an ice spike burst from the ground and exploded, scattering the eight.

He swept the group with a cool gaze. “I don’t care about your names or what you did before. You’re only here by chance, doing the same task as us. We might never meet again, and surviving this round is by no means guaranteed.” At his words, a muscular companion stepped forward, a wild aura radiating from him.

Seeing everyone silent and uncertain, the scholarly man smiled faintly. “Of course, if you’re smart enough not to hinder our mission, I don’t mind helping those among you who show potential.”

“That’s more like it,” muttered a bespectacled man on the periphery, who then joined Mad Blade’s group.

“Now, share your thoughts on this mission.” The scholarly man regarded the twelve newcomers.

Silence settled again—whether from lack of ideas or searching for words was unclear.

Mad Blade snorted dismissively and leaned against a pillar.

“In Mist City’s provided vision, a gust of wind blows a maple-leaf bookmark onto a lamp, igniting a book and starting a fire. The burning cabinet door then falls and jams the exit—a series of coincidences, with the strange flickering lights. I believe this is the world of ‘Final Destination,’ or at least something similar,” said the bespectacled man.

The scholarly man nodded. “Correct.”

“Also, last night I checked the bus route—it passes over a suspension bridge under repair.” The bespectacled man displayed a map and smiled. “I’ve confirmed there’s roadwork there, so we can use the fifth film as a reference.”

Lu Yi stared at him in disbelief, cursing himself for not preparing more thoroughly.

“Well done. Quick thinking and preparation—impressive. What’s your name?” The scholar’s tone was appreciative.

“Fang Hao,” replied the man, neither meek nor arrogant.

“Aohuang, if we depart at 8:35, when do we reach the bridge?” The scholar’s teammate consulted the map.

“Between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.,” Fang Hao answered before anyone else could calculate.

With his words, excitement rippled among the newcomers.

“You’re all insane. Going there is suicide. If you want to take this trip, go ahead,” grumbled the middle-aged man who’d arrived last, turning to leave.

“Hah, you didn’t want to come, but here you are,” Mad Blade drawled behind him.

The man spun around, glaring. “Was it you?”

“We don’t have that kind of power. It’s Mist City’s doing. Any bolded instruction is mandatory, even if you resist,” Mad Blade replied with a cruel smile.

“Mist City is merciful, in a way. The first two missions for new participants rarely end in outright erasure—even if you finish with negative points, the score is only forced back to zero. But deductions are still enforced, aren’t they? You’ve already received yours, haven’t you?” The man’s uneasy expression confirmed Mad Blade’s words.

Ignoring his obvious fear, Mad Blade grabbed him by the collar, pulling him off balance. With a sinister grin, he rasped, “Let me tell you a secret, newcomers. The city’s harshest punishment isn’t erasure. For those who’ve already died once, your soul will be torn apart and scattered as native residents across multiple trial worlds.”

His face grew more chilling. “Imagine, when you’re on your deathbed, realizing your world is just a trial for another participant—perhaps even sensing fragments of yourself in other worlds.”

Lu Yi and the others shuddered. At that moment, a book floated before Aohuang. With a flick, pages turned and a fierce wind swept the group. “Enough, Mad Blade. Are you trying to terrify the newcomers?” Aohuang’s face was expressionless. “Don’t worry. As long as you participate earnestly, such punishments are rare.”

Relief swept over the group. Mad Blade, still mocking, leaned on his pillar, clapping slowly. “Exactly. As long as you perform well, you can rest in peace under the yellow earth.” He straightened, a wicked grin on his lips, and pointed at each newcomer. “That is… if you don’t mess up.”

“Mad Blade!” Aohuang’s displeasure was obvious. Mad Blade snickered, turning to face him. “Want to fight? Do you think you can take me?”

Aohuang’s refined features twisted in anger. As the tension mounted, a woman in a white robe stepped forward from his side. “Captain, it’s almost time to board. Even if you fight now, there’ll be no winner—and you’ll only attract native attention.”

Aohuang drew a deep breath, then snorted coldly and strode toward the bus. Mad Blade rolled his neck, whistled, and followed.

A little embarrassed, the woman forced a smile for the newcomers. “Hello, my name is Xia Rong. You’re probably already familiar with the mission system in the city.”

Seeing Lu Yi and the others nod, her expression grew serious. “Now, I’ll tell you some details about theater-style missions—listen carefully.”

Everyone perked up. Xia Rong continued, “Though these are called ‘theater’ missions, you won’t always be given a script. Most of the time, you’ll be off-camera. As long as you don’t interfere unreasonably with the ongoing script, you can do as you wish.”

Her words eased the tension considerably.

Fang Hao adjusted his glasses. “Anything goes? Maybe we should prepare some firepower.” He mimed a gun, and some newcomers brightened. “Yeah, and get some cash, set up a safe house.”

Xia Rong smiled. “None of that is forbidden by the city.” Before anyone could get too excited, she added, “However, you’ll be responsible for any consequences in this world.” The group’s enthusiasm wilted.

Seeing their disappointment, Xia Rong encouraged them. “Don’t be discouraged. As new participants, the city’s demands are very low. As long as you don’t go against the script, even the worst acting or awkward line delivery is fine.”

“And the reason experienced trial participants are here with you is to offer support,” she added, glancing at the time. “Now, let’s make our way over.”