Ch. 13 - No Escape
Starting the Game with Godlike VisionThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
Notes
Happy weekend from Sean and Antonis! Another chapter for your imagination!
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
Happy weekend from Sean and Antonis! Another chapter for your imagination!
Ultimately, Zuo Chengan allowed the young boy to guide him on a tour.
Through their conversation, he learned the boy's name was Yu Le. Despite his sharp, high-pitched voice, Yu Le's youthful appearance was unmistakable.
What surprised Zuo Chengan even more was the boy's background—Yu Le had been born and raised within the game. Both of his parents were players, and, apparently, children like him were not uncommon in Safe Zone 7.
Zuo Chengan mentally calculated the timeline.
The real-world mass disappearances had occurred only two weeks ago. That brief period was insufficient for pregnancies, births, and the upbringing of children as old as Yu Le.
This discrepancy left two unsettling possibilities: either the game had existed for over a decade, or time flowed much faster within the game than in reality.
Yu Le, born and bred in the game, often wondered why so many adults were desperate to leave when the game seemed to provide everything a person could need.
"Big Brother, you came from the real world, right? What's it like over there?"
Zuo Chengan considered his answer carefully, framing it in terms the game's inhabitants could understand. "The real world is like this place in many ways, but people earn money to buy food without risking their lives."
"Oh, so that's how it is," Yu Le said, nodding as realization dawned on him.
In the game, points served as the sole currency.
While players could transfer points to one another, the primary method of earning them was through dungeons—a dangerous endeavor, even with the best guides.
Zuo Chengan's curiosity was piqued. "Haven't other newcomers told you about this before?"
Yu Le shook his head. "Yesterday was my 10th birthday, and the game kicked me out of the welfare home. You're my first customer."
In the game, children under 10 and pregnant women were housed in welfare centers. These centers exempted them from dungeon challenges, providing safety, sustenance, and care but little freedom.
"Ah, we're here—the Dungeon Hall," Yu Le announced as they stopped in front of a massive, egg-shaped building at the heart of the safe zone.
He eagerly began to explain, "Every player over ten has to enter a dungeon at least once a week. If you want to skip, you have to pay 100 credits."
Inside the Dungeon Hall, Yu Le led Zuo Chengan through the bustling crowd.
"Be careful not to step into any of the glowing circles on the ground. If you do, the game will register it as you agreeing to enter a dungeon, and there's no backing out after that," he warned.
The Dungeon Hall resembled a busy train station, but instead of departure gates, large screens dominated the space.
Each screen displayed information about specific dungeons, including names, difficulty levels, and the number of participants required. Promotional videos looped on the screens, enticing players to make their selections.
One screen in particular caught Zuo Chengan's attention. It showcased a luxurious cruise ship bathed in the golden hues of a breathtaking sunset.
The promotional video highlighted opulent amenities: lavish banquets, sea-view suites, private theaters, bars, and even a golf course. Everything exuded safety and comfort.
The title, however, painted a starkly different picture: [3-1588: No Escape]. It was a high-level dungeon requiring 100 participants to enter.
The number "3" indicated its tier, while "1588" served as its unique identifier. The name and promotional imagery were cryptic clues about the dungeon's true nature—whether it was a survival dungeon, where the objective was simply to stay alive, or a task-oriented one requiring specific objectives to be completed.
Noticing Zuo Chengan's interest, Yu Le quickly cautioned him.
"Brother, don't be fooled by how nice it looks. This is a brand-new Stage 3 dungeon—no one's cleared it yet, so there's no guide available. Everyone's waiting for the big guilds to tackle it first and release walkthroughs.
"It's way too risky for someone new who hasn't even ascended the Heavenly Tower yet. Without enough stats, you might not even scratch the monsters in there."
Zuo Chengan nodded thoughtfully. He hadn't been swayed by the idyllic promotional video. The title "No Escape," combined with the isolated cruise ship setting, suggested the dungeon's sinister nature.
As Yu Le continued explaining the hall's layout, a commotion erupted near the entrance.
"Holy crap! That's the Dawnmoon Guild! Are they going for the Stage 3 dungeon?"
"Isn't their leader already at the 4th Heavenly Ascension? Look at them—they're on a completely different level."
"Look, there's the Tidal Surge Guild, too!"
"No way—are those two guilds actually cooperating on this run?"
Two prominent guilds, Dawnmoon and Tidal Surge, entered with well-coordinated groups, their players exuding confidence and power.
Each member had reached either the peak of the 2nd Heavenly Ascension or the 3rd.
They marched straight to the glowing circle for No Escape, filling the counter from 0/100 to 100/100 in moments.
As soon as the required number was reached, the 100 players vanished, teleported into the dungeon.
The screen for No Escape immediately changed, displaying another dungeon: [2-0873: Grandma Blue Hat's Circus].
A lower-level dungeon requiring 20 participants, it was well-explored and reputed to yield rare items.
Excitement rippled through the crowd. Players began shouting offers for guides.
"B-tier evaluation guide! Full collection! Get Grandma Blue Hat's hidden rewards with this guide—Dawnmoon Guild-approved!"
"Step-by-step walkthrough for stealing the Blue Hat artifact without a scratch!"
"Follow my guide, and you'll make it out with all your limbs intact!"
The walkthroughs varied in detail and price, catering to different player needs.
Before long, 20 players secured their chosen guides and stepped into the glowing circle. Their figures vanished, and the screen displayed yet another dungeon.
This time, while it remained a Stage 2 instance, its identifier was significantly higher. Though large guilds had already cleared it, walkthroughs hadn't yet circulated, deterring most from entering.
Meanwhile, Yu Le, still sticking close to Zuo Chengan, continued sharing his insights, "Dawnmoon, Tidal Surge, and Kilohunt are the top three guilds in Safe Zone 7.
"If you manage to join one of their guilds, your life changes completely. With experienced veterans guiding you through every dungeon, it's way safer.
"And the benefits? Amazing! A thousand walkthroughs, Big Brother!
"At the minimum requirement of one dungeon a week, you wouldn't have to touch an uncharted one for 20 years. No risk, no unnecessary danger—just smooth sailing all the way!"