Jiang Xiao bought a holographic pod.
It cost him half a semester’s living expenses.
When his roommate walked in, Jiang Xiao was assembling the pod unit, following the instructions. The internal structure was delicate and couldn’t handle impacts, so he’d bought the self-assembly model.
“Whoa!” His roommate spotted the unmistakable game logo on the pure black shell and nearly bit his tongue off in shock. “Isn’t that the pod for Shattered Star? Where’d you find the time to game lately? Aren’t you rehearsing for the graduation play?”
Still looking for a small part, Jiang Xiao didn’t look up, just smiled. “There’s always a bit of spare time. Help me find part T012, will you?”
After assembling all morning, Jiang Xiao’s eyes were blurry. The roommate helped search for the part, his expression a mix of envy and confusion. “That game is so expensive! How could you even afford it?”
“Couldn’t afford it.” Jiang Xiao’s eyes were downcast, his lashes long. His profile, bathed in the dim light of dusk, showed a face that was strikingly superior even in a film academy full of beauties. But soon, he lifted a hand and rapped a knuckle against the game’s info card, his tone light. “But if I clear the highest difficulty, I’ll be rich, won’t I?”
There wasn’t a college student around who hadn’t heard of Shattered Star. This high-realism, full-dive suspense game had swept the globe in under a month since its launch. A casual scroll through social media would turn up posts recommending it or begging for walkthroughs.
It differed from the shallow dating sims flooding the market. Its main storyline revolved around various suspense elements, with players integrating into roles, seeking out killers, or finding exits. The variety was rich, co-developed by a renowned company, so the quality was guaranteed.
His roommate had been eyeing it for ages but was put off by the steep price. Full-dive tech, launch price… he was planning to wait for a price drop.
He never imagined Jiang Xiao would just buy it without a word.
The roommate thought for a moment, even more startled. “You’re going to try the highest difficulty? I’ve seen players say even easy mode is hard… that’s not easy money to earn.”
They fussed over it for most of the day, finally finishing the pod’s assembly.
“Thanks.” Jiang Xiao said. “If you wanna play, you can use my account.”
“Daddy! I love you!” The roommate’s eyes welled up. “No, Your Majesty! Is there anything else you need from your servant? I’d climb a mountain of swords or swim through a sea of fire for you, no questions asked!”
Jiang Xiao waved a hand. “You are dismissed.”
Jiang Xiao lay back into the pod, and the lid closed automatically, the last sliver of light vanishing from his sight.
The moment the pod activated, after a sharp “beep,” the wind outside, the fluttering curtains, the little bird pecking rice on the windowsill, and the roommate about to sit back down on his bed—all were paused as if by a freeze-frame. The Shattered Star logo on the pod body shifted from a luminescent blue to a bloody crimson. The characters flickered, and when they reappeared, a few more words had been added—
Shattered Stars: Alienated Edition
The setting sun was a silent, blood-like smear.
Every inch of space touched by this ominous blood-red hue silently fissured, shattered…
And ultimately crumbled into dust.
“…Bzzzt… Welcome back…”
Fragmented, unclear noise surfaced near his ear. Jiang Xiao gradually came to. He felt like his consciousness had just short-circuited. Was it because he wasn’t used to it yet?
[Dear Player, welcome to Shattered Star. Please select your desired difficulty.
Easy Difficulty
Hard Difficulty
Hell Difficulty (Choose with Caution)]
The last line of text was different from the others—as blood-red as fresh gore, it seemed to almost writhe if stared at long enough, yet a second glance would prove it was merely an illusion.
Probably because no one had ever cleared Hell Difficulty. Hence the announcement—the first to clear it would receive a substantial cash prize.
Jiang Xiao didn’t hesitate for long. If he was playing, he’d play the hardest! He unhesitatingly chose [Hell Difficulty]. Immediately after, the other options blazed scorchingly before his eyes, then faded into nothingness.
[Dear Player, you have entered Shattered Star: Hell Edition. This version features standalone gameplay, and your Points have been reset. During gameplay, please properly act out your designated role. The following are Game Notices:
1. You cannot leave an uncleared Instance;
2. You will receive a Novice Gift Pack provided by the game;
3. You cannot switch game difficulties;
4. It is strongly advised you do not develop feelings for in-game NPCs, lest they kill you;
5. This game does not have an Intimacy Lock. If you encounter issues you cannot resolve, please resolve them yourself;
6. You cannot exit after entering the game. There is no save mechanism. You have only one life. Life is precious, please treat it with care.
7. All rights of interpretation belong to the game.]
“Wait, what do you mean, ‘cannot exit’?” Jiang Xiao subconsciously searched for an exit button, then discovered—there really was no exit button!
A sudden jolt of terror.
He’d never heard of a bug like this. Although he was usually unlucky, surely not this unlucky!
Yet a cold voice in the depths of his heart told him:
If someone truly couldn’t get out, they probably couldn’t tell anyone about it either.
The System offered four words: “Literal meaning.”
“Then how do I return to reality?” Jiang Xiao asked again.
“Clear the game to return to reality.”
Jiang Xiao had read related forum posts. This game had a massive number of instances, and everyone seemed to encounter different ones. Even inside multiplayer instances, each person’s Tasks were different, let alone finding guides.
Easy Mode required clearing six stages. Hard Mode required eight.
By that logic, Hell Difficulty had to be at least…
“Ten stages?”
The System’s reply was still ice-cold:
[Please explore on your own, Player.]
Jiang Xiao was about to ask more, but before he could speak, the System’s voice sounded again.
[About to enter the Novice Dungeon. Please prepare yourself, Player.]
“Wait, I still have questions!” Jiang Xiao’s words were swallowed by darkness. In its place, his body felt like it was sinking into the deep sea, his eyelids uncontrollably growing heavy. When he opened his eyes again, five large, blood-red characters blazed against a pure black background with a piercing glare:
Hotel Night of Terror
In the deep silence of the chilling darkness, a voice spoke again. This time, it wasn’t the cold, mechanical tone from before, but a different kind—deep, indifferent, yet exceptionally pleasing to the ear, a distinctly masculine voice.
[Your Novice Gift Pack has been randomly drawn. The item you received is: Lucky Star]
Before Jiang Xiao could even question why the System could automatically open his gift pack, a card had already appeared in his hand.
Name: Lucky Star
Grade: Six Stars
Description: When this item takes effect, the Player’s Luck value skyrockets. Activation Probability: 5%
The dazzling, brilliant gold nearly blinded Jiang Xiao. He probably hadn’t been this lucky in his entire life, and it was in a world he might very well never return from.
Even if the probability was a little low and he couldn’t control the activation time, Jiang Xiao decided to let the System’s automatic unpacking slide. He asked curiously, “So, have we switched from automated service to speaking with a real person now?”
“…”
“Why’s it starting already? Doesn’t this game have a character creation phase? It didn’t even ask for my name. And seriously, is this a bug or not? If your game’s trying to scare players, can’t you find another way? What if I need to use the bathroom later…”
[Your Identity Card has been drawn.]
The System had already moved on to the next phase. As the words fell, Jiang Xiao saw a flurry of cards spin before him. A card with a red heart flew out and landed right between his fingers.
[Walking Hormone]
Identity Description: Second-year Acting Department student.
Character Setting: A playboy who loves them and leaves them, with countless romantic debts and numerous ex-boyfriends.
Tip: This identity has negative effects (Ex-boyfriends’ starting Favorability is negative).
“You drew for me again?” Jiang Xiao wanted to fish for more information from this customer service agent. He glanced casually—and his gaze suddenly froze.
The character “Ex-Boyfriend” made him think he’d read it wrong. This persona didn’t seem like a good guy either.
“Wait a minute,” Jiang Xiao was still in disbelief, “So in this instance, I am a…”
“Homosexual?”
“…” The System said, “Yes.”
“I apply to redraw,” Jiang Xiao immediately stated firmly. “There should be an option like one free change, right?”
The System: “You are about to enter the instance. Countdown: three seconds.”
“Three, two, one…”
[On the day of the birthday banquet, a blizzard traps everyone in the hotel. Yet on the very first night, someone dies. The killer is among you.]
[Prologue Plot imported.]
Along with the System’s voice, Jiang Xiao’s weightless body and mind were thrown as if into a vortexing washing machine. After an intense wave of vertigo that lasted who-knows-how-long, perhaps seconds, maybe minutes, he finally felt solid ground.
Jiang Xiao’s chest heaved several times, and he steadied himself.
He had entered the instance.
The damp air, heavy with frost and snow, weighed upon his skin, mingling with an indescribably gloomy aura. The crackling of burning wood scraped at his fragile nerves. But most importantly—he couldn’t see anything.
What was going on… Were the lights not on?
For some reason, this unfathomable situation felt like an ominous omen, a venomous snake coiling around his heart, ready to strike at any unknown moment.
Jiang Xiao cautiously moved a step forward, wanting to find the light switch. But he hadn’t expected the next step to be into empty space. He pitched forward, completely out of control!
Jiang Xiao’s pupils contracted. Instinctively searching for a handhold, his waist was caught by someone’s arm, pulling him back to safety.
Jiang Xiao’s heart had nearly jumped out of his chest. He breathed rapidly. Combined with the disorientation of just entering the instance and the ringing in his ears, he subconsciously said, “Thanks.” It was a moment before he heard the System’s voice.
[Hell-level Instance built-in debuff drawn]
[This debuff is: Blindness]
[Deactivation Condition: Unknown]
“…”
This game never intended to let him leave alive!
“Thank your ass,” the person who had helped him spoke up, his tone fierce. He grabbed hold of Jiang Xiao’s wrist as if afraid he’d run off. “Let me ask you, you invited so many people to your birthday. Why didn’t you invite me?”
