Thriller Paradise

Feng Bujue crawled back into the gaming hub and used the non-sleeping mode to log into the game. The servers used by sleeping and non-sleeping modes were different, and the servers did not cross.

He came to the log-in lobby and clicked on the game. This time, no notification came up. All he had was a list of selectable game options like social, which led to friend list and blacklist, as well as more introduction to the game. If the player had not read the introduction online, they could read it now, considering the time ratio, players could save twice the time reading here.

Feng Bujue found Wang Tanzhi's IGN, added him as friend, and sent him a team request. After Wang Tanzhi joined the team, the team list appeared on the screen next to Feng Bujue, and it showed the team members' IGNs and levels.

"Feng Bujue, Level 2; Wang Tanzhi, Level 1. Please select the game mode your team wishes to join."

Three options appeared on-screen, Solo Training Mode, Team Training Mode, and Solo Survival Mode (Normal). Since they were in team mode, the two solo modes were blocked off for them.

"Brother Jue, our only option is the Team Training Mode." Wang Tanzhi had unlocked the option to communicate with Feng Bujue through the screen. In his log-in space, he could see the information on Feng Bujue's screen, but the power to make the final decision was still in the leader's hands.

"Hmm… Let's try that then," Feng Bujue replied.

"You have selected the Team Training Mode, please confirm.

"Confirming, adjusting nerve connectivity, generating the scenario…

"Please wait for a moment. Downloading."

The elevator started to move, and like before, it was falling downward. At the same time, a notification appeared before his eyes, and the system audio said, "You will be joining the scenario with another player. Since this is your first time attempting a team mode, please familiarize yourself with the following.

"A. In non-PVP mode, all offensive behavior toward other players will be limited by the system, and your intention will not be translated into actual character behavior. In a scenario where PVP is possible, all offensive behavior toward teammates will be limited by the system, and your intention will not be translated into actual character behavior.

"B. All comments that are categorized by the system as sensitive terms will be silenced. This includes names of political figures, curse words, and so on.

"C. Attempts to use hand signals, mouth shapes, words, or drawing to harass other players will be limited by the system, and your intention will not be translated into actual character behavior.

"D. Any actions or intentions that are characterized by the system as sexual harassment, regardless of gender, will be limited by the system, and your intention will not be translated into actual character behavior. Repeat offenders will be forcibly removed from the server, and the player's ID will be added to the system blacklist for life and put on the watch list.

"E. Any actions or words that are categorized by the system as discrimination will be treated the same way as clause D. Repeat offenders of Clause D and E will have their account permanently removed, and their ID will be barred from using Dream Inc.'s products in the future. Serious offenders will have their actions recorded and transferred to local law enforcement. For further details, please refer to the Internet Public Safety Act and its pertinent laws."

Feng Bujue was living in the year 2055 of a parallel universe. In his world, sexual harassment and discrimination were heavily censured. While the latter would not be slapped with a criminal lawsuit, their citizen ID would be blacklisted by various enterprises and organizations; serious offenders of the former could be tried under criminal law.

As an avid gamer, Feng Bujue had tried virtual reality games before, so he was familiar with the rules. As the photon computer continued to upgrade, those who dared challenge the system drastically decreased. Those two actions were stemmed at their nascent stage.

"Download complete. Currently, you are attempting Team Training Mode. This mode does not provide scenario descriptions, missions, or world-building. Completion of this mode will reward you with EXP but not Skill Points or Game Coins. Completion of this mode will not reward you with loot or additional rewards from terror rating. Game start."

After the announcement finished, the elevator door opened. At almost the exact same time, another creepy voice began. This time, it was a shrill male voice. "Welcome to Thriller Paradise."

When he was done, he even coupled it with a creepy laugh.

It was again another corridor outside the elevator, but the corridor looked larger than the previous one. The floor was tiled, and the walls on the sides were painted white. One side of the walls had three doors that were currently closed, and the lights on the ceiling were running normally.

Feng Bujue immediately walked out from the elevator, and as he did, the door behind him closed. Then the image of the elevator started to twist and disappear before it turned into a dead end. He turned to look, and there was another elevator behind him to the right. It was parallel to his own elevator.

Feng Bujue walked to the door and poked his head in to take a look. Once he did, he heard the frightened scream of a man.

"What's wrong with you?" Feng Bujue asked.

Wang Tanzhi gasped for air. "I was trying to go out when your head suddenly reached in. You scared me."

"Wait a minute, how high are your Terror Points after being scared by me?" Feng Bujue was curious. Wang Tanzhi looked to the menu, and from Feng Bujue's perspective, it merely appeared like his friend's eyes had gone out of focus. He returned to normal after a few seconds.

"Now that I've calmed down, the Terror Points are hovering around three percent," Wang Tanzhi answered. "But I have no idea how high they soared during that particular moment."

"Ah… the points fluctuate. They go high when you're scared and drop after you calm down," Feng Bujue commented. "By the way, what is the color of the Terror Points bar?"

"Erm… it's bright red."

"Oh, okay."

"Brother Jue, your illness… does this mean you have been maintaining your Terror Points at zero percent?" Naturally, Wang Tanzhi knew about Feng Bujue's illness, but as a medical intern who had just graduated, there was nothing he could do for his friend. Then again, it was because of his medical study that he knew that Feng Bujue's illness was really dependent on luck. If he was lucky, he could survive just fine for thirty years, but if he was unlucky, he might just drop dead.

"Yes," Feng Bujue admitted calmly.

"Then, you're my hope… If anything happens, you have to help me," Wang Tanzhi said.

Feng Bujue did not promise the man anything, but he did say, "The preparation time before the scenario starts is only three minutes. If you don't come out soon, the system will kick you out of the scenario."

Wang Tanzhi heard that and quickly walked out. Before the elevator disappeared, Feng Bujue retrieved a rock from his backpack and passed it to Wang Tanzhi. "Take this and lead the way."

Wang Tanzhi accepted the stone, looking at its attributes, and his lips twitched. "Brother Jue… Even if you picked this up from your tutorial, there is no need for you to hang onto something like this for so long, right?"

"All I can hear is your envy," Feng Bujue shamelessly countered.

Without wasting time, Wang Tanzhi tossed the stone away and grabbed a fruit knife about five inches long from his own backpack. "Mine is better."

"Why do you have that‽" Feng Bujue grumbled. On the phone earlier, Wang Tanzhi had said that his terror rating for the tutorial was Trembled with Fright. There should not be additional rewards for the rating based on the information on official website.

"I picked it up from the tutorial," Wang Tanzhi said.

"Let me take a look," Feng Bujue requested.

Wang Tanzhi shrugged and passed him the knife.

———

Item Name: Fruit Knife

Item Type: Weapon

Quality: Poor

Offense Points: Slightly Weak

Elements: None

Special Effect: None

Can be taken out of the scenario: Yes

Remark: At least you can cut something with this.

———

Feng Bujue gave the knife back to Wang Tanzhi and lamented, "How is this fair? None of the items I picked up in my tutorial could be brought out."

"Then the stone earlier…"

"That was from the lucky draw after completing the scenario with a high rating," Feng Bujue said. "Good, aren't I?"

"Yes…"

"Now, lead the way!"

Wang Tanzhi sighed. He grabbed the knife and walked ahead. The game had just started, and he was already feeling unsettled. After all, he was just a normal person. No matter how someone gloated about their fearlessness in everyday life, there was no one that would not be afraid when they were playing horror games. Fear was a normal reaction. On top of that, Thriller Paradise was a virtual reality game. The fear induced was authentic and real.

There was a turn in the corridor about twenty meters ahead of them. Between them were three doors, and they were all on the right-hand side. The left-hand side was just an empty wall, not even decorated with pamphlets, floor plans, and doctor's information as was common in hospitals.

They walked five meters, and suddenly, before even passing the first door, a creepy laugh echoed down the hall. It sounded like the giggling of a girl. Many bloody handprints surfaced on the white wall on their left. It filled up the whole wall and extended to the end of the corridor.

At the same time, both of them saw a black shadow flash into the distance as it turned around the corner.