Thriller Paradise

Feng Bujue stepped into the cabin and logged in the game again, using non-sleep mode. (Non-sleep and sleep mode have different servers. Those two servers are not interoperable.)

He selected the game at the login space, and this time, there were no pop-up notifications. The screen displayed only the menu and its options. For example, the social communication, which were the friendlist and blacklist. Besides, there were many other introductions about the game. If players didn’t have time to read the homepage, they could take a look here. If one consider about the time ratio, reading introductions here could help them save half of the time needed.

Feng Bujue searched for Wang Tanzhi’s ingame name, added him, and sent a party invite to him.

When Wang Tanzhi joined the party, a list appeared on Feng Bujue’s screen, which displayed their characters’ names and levels.

[Feng Bujue, level 2.]

[Wang Tanzhi, level 1.]

[Please select game mode for your party.]

There were options on the screen, namely, ‘Single-Player Training Mode’, ‘Multiplayer Training Mode’, and ‘Single-Player Survival’ (Normal). Since they were in a party, two options for single-player were gray, which meant they couldn’t choose them.

"Jue-Ge, we can only choose the ‘Multiplayer Training Mode'," Wang Tanzhi spoke to Feng Bujue through the screen. From his login space, he could see the same information with what was displayed on Feng Bujue’s screen. However, only the captain could select the options.

"Yeah… just get in there first," Feng Bujue replied then selected the option.

[You’ve selected ‘Multiplayer Training Mode’. Please confirm.]

[Confirmed... Nervous connection adjusting… Generating scenario…]

[Loading… Please wait.]

Feng Bujue’s elevator booth started to move downwards.

Then, a description appeared in front of him together with the system’s reminder.

"You are about to enter the scenario with other players. This is the first time you have joined a multiplayer game, be sure you’ve read the following contents."

[A. Besides Fighting Mode, all attacks towards other players in other modes will be restricted. Player’s intentions will not be interpreted into your character’s actions. In scenarios of all modes (including Fighting Mode), all attacks towards your party members will be restricted. Player’s intentions will not be interpreted into your character’s actions.]

[B. Any word that the system considers sensitive will be deleted. For example, politician’s names, cursing or using names of animals, plants or other items in special contexts.]

[C. Harassing behaviors such as mouthing, hand-gestures, words or drawings will be restricted. Player’s intentions will not be interpreted into your character’s actions.]

[D. To any genders, all behaviors that the system considers sexual harassment, including all acts with this purpose or intentions, mentioned at Article B and C, will be restricted. Player’s intentions will not be interpreted into your character’s actions. Players will be forced to quit if such behaviors are repeated several times. Players’ ID numbers will be listed in the system’s blacklist and subjected to the top-priority surveillance.]

[E. Any behaviors that the system considers discrimination will be treated in accordance with Article D. Accounts of Players who have violated Article D and E for several times will be deleted forever. Their ID numbers will also be locked, and they will never be able to use our products again. Considering the degree of the case, players’ serious behaviors will be systematically recorded and submitted to the Police Department. For more information, please refer to the Network Public Safety Laws and Derivative Regulations.]

At this point, you may need some further explanations. Feng Bujue lived in 2055, in some sort of a parallel universe. In his world, sexual harassment and discrimination (to disable, minor ethnic and disadvantaged people) would be treated very strictly. Although it wasn’t too bad that it deserved the death sentence, ID numbers of those who had violated the rules would be put in the blacklist of other social bodies. They would also receive proper punishments before that.

Feng Bujue had chances to play many games, some with the helmet nervous system connection too. Basically, they all had the same regulations. As the Optical Computing Technique was thriving constantly, fewer players could hack or violate the regulations. One could say that their intentions were choked to death before that.

[Loading completed. You are now in Multiplayer Training Mode.]

[In this mode, the system will not provide introductions on plots, Weltanschauung, or quests.]

[Rewards for this Mode include only EXP, no given Skill Value, and game coins.]

[Rewards for this Mode does not include completion rewards or bonus from Fear Value.]

[Game has started.]

After the reminder had finished, the doors slid open. Almost at the same time, he could hear the low, scary rumbling of something. This time, it was a male screech. "Welcome to Thriller Paradise."

The evil laughter that he brought afterwards could scare the sh!t out of the players.

There was a corridor again, however, this corridor looked spacious. The ground was covered with enameled tiles, and the walls were painted white. Besides, there were three other closed doors. The lighting system on the ceiling worked well, and it brightly illuminated the surroundings. The air was filled with the scent of disinfectant, and together with the decoration, it looked like a hospital.

Feng Bujue walked out of the elevator booth, and the doors behind him closed immediately. Then, the image of the booth was twisted before it disappeared, leaving only a white wall. When he turned around, he saw another elevator that looked exactly like the elevator that he had just stepped out.

Feng Bujue walked to that booth and peeped in; he suddenly heard a terrifying scream.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh."

"Are you sick?" Feng Bujue asked.

Wang Tanzhi gasped. "I’ve just decided to walk out and you sneaked in, that freaked me out."

"Hey, can I ask you something? You’ve just gotten frightened, how is the Fear Value now?" Feng Bujue was really curious.

Wang Tanzhi then looked at his menu. In Feng Bujue’s eyes, this was as if Wang Tanzhi was staring at some particular point in the space and he returned just several seconds after that.

"I’m calmed down now. The Fear Value has fluctuated at 3%," Wang Tanzhi replied, "but I don’t know what it had hit at that time."

"Oh, is that because the Fear Value had increased then reduced instantly?" Feng Bujue muttered, "Hey, what is the color of the Fear Value bar?"

"Hm… bright red."

"Oh, that’s it."

"Brother Jue, your illness… is your Fear Value always 0%?"

Of course, Wang Tanzhi knew that Feng Bujue was sick, but he had just graduated, so his hands were tied in this case. Also, it was because he was a doctor that he understood that Feng Bujue’s disorder could only count on his fortune for now. If he was lucky, he could live for several years more, but if he had bad luck, he could die in just three minutes.

"Right," Feng Bujue deliberately replied.

"Then I have to count on you. If something happens, you have to protect me," said Wang Tanzhi.

Feng Bujue didn’t answer him and just continued, "Before the scenario starts, we only have three minutes to prepare. If you don’t get out of the elevator by now, the system will force you then."

As Wang Tanzhi heard him said that, he hurried to step out of the booth.

Before the elevator vanished, Feng Bujue suddenly hauled out a stone from his bag then gave it to Wang Tanzhi. "Take it and lead the way."

Wang Tanzhi took the stone. After checking the item’s properties, the corner of his mouth twitched. "Jue-Ge, even if you got this out of the Tutorial, there is no reason for you to keep it and bring it to the login space…"

"You’re just jealous of me," Feng Bujue answered without feeling ashamed at all.

Wang Tanzhi didn’t speak to him anymore; he just threw the stone to the ground and hauled out a fruit knife about five inches from his bag. "This one has better properties."

"How did you get equipment?" Feng Bujue screamed. During their call, Wang Tanzhi had told him that after he had finished the Tutorial, he had been assessed as "Freaked out." The introduction on the website said that this level wouldn’t receive any bonus.

"I picked it up in the scenario," Wang Tanzhi said.

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

Wang Tanzhi shrugged his shoulders then passed the knife to him.

[Name: Fruit knife]

[Type: Weapon]

[Quality: Rubbish]

[Attack power: Feeble]

[Attributes: None]

[Effects: None]

[Being able to be brought out of the scenario: Yes]

[Remarks: At least this stuff has a blade.]

Feng Bujue handed back the knife to Wang Tanzhi then sighed sadly. "It’s karma. Stuff in my scenario were all things I couldn’t bring out of there."

"So your stone is…"

"Bonus after every calculation for rewards is done," Feng Bujue added, "scary?"

"Yeah…"

"Lead the way!"

Wang Tanzhi had no choice; he took the knife and walked forward.

When the game began, he felt a little bit scared. He was just an ‘ordinary person’ after all. And if one is an ordinary person, no matter how big their guts are, no one dares to be sure that they wouldn’t get frightened. Fear is a normal reflex. Moreover, Thriller Paradise was a game based on the nervous system connection, as it made the feelings more real.

There was a turn twenty meters in front of them, and on this path, all three doors were on their right. The wall on their left was white, blank and smooth. None of the familiar items, like the doctors’ information, the layout of the building or basic health knowledge were hung on the wall.

When they had just walked for five meters, not even having reached the first door, a baby girl’s laughter arose. Then, numerous bloody handprints appeared on the white blank wall on their left and covered the entire wall to the other end of the corridor. Suddenly, they saw a shadow flash and slide into a corner far from them.