The fluorescent lights buzzed back on, casting a green-yellow glow over the kopitiam. Blood was smeared across the floor and chunks of meat splattered across plastic chairs. The stench of burnt oil, blood, and bile clung to the kopitiam like skin. Mo Yu's breath trembled in his chest as a chunk of bone sat quietly near his foot. No one dared move.
The Grotesque Host sat upright again, skin glistening with sweat and slime. Its tongue lolled from its mouth, slapping once against its chin, visibly green smoke permeated out. The air curdled with rot, as it then dragged its putrid tongue across the table, clearing away the mess like a waiter after a shift. As if the death of a man was nothing more than just a dirty napkin. Turning its grease-slicked face to them, jowls jiggling as it spoke.
"供品."
Offerings
Its voice was wet, full of phlegm. It looked at the players one by one. The word hung heavy in the air as Mo Yu tensed. The Host tapped its spoon on the table once, then again.
* CLINK CLINK
"你最快乐的记忆."
Your happiest memory
"献上来."
Offer it up
The girl across the table was the first to react. Her hands shook as she pulled a lanyard from her jacket pocket—frayed and faded.
"这是我... 初恋给的."
This is... from my first love
She said it in a rush.
"我们以前每天一起搭地铁..."
We used to take the subway together every day...
She placed it on the table, eyes darting up, glancing at the host. It stared back, then moved its focus onto the item. Now visibly angered, it tilted its head, then snarled. And lunged.
"啊——!!"
Ah—!!
With a grotesque motion, it bit down on her left hand, tearing it clean off with a single, sickening
* CRUNCH
Blood sprayed the table. She screamed, falling backward with a *THUD, cradling her stump in agony.
* DRIP DRIP DRIP
From its tongue, something began to emerge. It was clearly hers, but also not. It was a beaded bracelet, child-sized, Pink and white. The monster draped the bracelet on the table gently.
Delicately. Like it understood exactly what it had done. Her voice cracked through the air.
"不! 那是我妹妹的! 你不能碰!"
No! That's my sister's! You can't touch it!"
Fueled by pain and rage, she charged forward, one hand still bleeding. She tried to snatch the bracelet off the table.
"还回来!"
Give it back!
"别冲动!"
Don't be impulsive!
Yan Ning Shouted
"冷静点, 拜托!"
Calm down, please!
Mo Yu Shouted
Yan Ning and Mo Yu grabbed her, pulling her back. She sobbed uncontrollably, tears mixing with the blood down her arm.
"我已经没有她了! 你还要我连她的东西都失去吗?!"
She's no longer here! Do you want me to lose her things too?!"
"你还有她的记忆!"
You still have her memory!
Mo Yu's voice was low.
"如果你死了... 她会真的消失的."
If you die... she will really disappear
The monster growled behind her with its tongue out, ready to snap the girl in half if the bracelet were to be stolen. She froze. While shaking, she looked at Mo Yu with a pained expression, sobbing from the option she was forced to choose. She eventually let go of it. The Grotesque Host, looking satisfied, tapped its spoon on the table.
* CLINK
Light shone on the bracelet and a few seconds later, it disappeared. Next was Yan Ning. He took a breath, then pulled out a silver coin from his wallet.
"阿公的."
"他说这是平安符."
My grandpa's
He said it's a peace talisman
He set it down.
* CLINK
Light shone again. Mo Yu was last. He opened his wallet in search for something, and then, pulled out a photo. One with four people, smiling stupidly, all sunburnt. He had looked at it so many times that it had begun to fade.
"我最快乐的... 就是和他们在一起的日子."
My happiest... was the time spent with them
* CLINK
Light shone for the last time. The Host sat back on his seat as its flesh folded into itself. The table began to clear away, spilled dishes faded into ash and blood vanished into the tile. Slowly it disappeared too, leaving a creepy and horrific laughter, fading and echoing away.
[SYSTEM INTERFACE]
★ card –饭桌餵魂 (The Hungry Table)
Mission: Completed
Duration: 00:14:52
Reward: 600 Wen
★★★★ Reinforcement Card
Time remaining: 00:01:00
The system prompt faded. For one minute, the space held its breath. The three surviving players sat in silence, blood and memories still fresh in the air. The girl, pale and trembling, clutched her injured arm and walked into the dark, distancing herself from the duo. Mo Yu was still breathing heavily, adrenaline crashing hard into confusion. He turned to Yan Ning sharply.
"这到底是怎么回事? 这里是什么? 游戏? 梦?"
What is going on? What is this place? A game? A dream?
Yan Ning exhaled slowly, looking more tired than afraid now.
"你不是第一个问这些问题的."
You're not the first to ask those questions
"我两个月前开始进来的. 那时候... 也是忽然被卡片拉进去的."
I came in two months ago. Back then... I too was suddenly pulled in by a card
"没有提示, 没有解释."
No hints, no explanations
Mo Yu's eyes narrowed, his heart pounding.
"你... 你一直都一个人?"
You... you were alone this whole time?
"也不是."
Not exactly
"一个月前... 我们四个."
A month ago... it was the four of us
"现在呢?"
What about now?
"只剩一个还活着."
Only one is still alive
"那! 那... 她的手!?"
Then! Then... her hand!?
Mo Yu stuttered. Yan Ning gave a faint smile and subtly nudged Mo Yu with his elbow, nodding in the girl's direction. Mo Yu turned just in time to see it. The necklace around her neck—previously dull and hidden beneath her collar—suddenly pulsed with a soft green glow. The light spread, shimmering outward in threads of emerald energy. It wrapped gently around her severed arm like silk threads weaving bone and flesh.
*WHIRRR—TSSHH
Within seconds, the wound vanished. No blood. No scar. The skin was smooth, unbroken. Mo Yu blinked.
「真的假的...她的手,恢复了?」No way… her arm—it's completely healed?
The girl flexed her fingers experimentally, eyes widening. Then she laughed—half relief, half disbelief.
"没事的啦!哈哈,还好我买了那个恢复护符."It's fine now! Haha, good thing I bought that regenerative amulet
Mo Yu glanced at Yan Ning, who simply shrugged.
"欢迎来到游戏世界."Welcome to the game world
The girl looked down at her healed arm once more, then turned to Mo Yu and Yan Ning, her eyes misted with emotion.
"谢谢你们救了我."
Thank you for saving me
Her voice was soft—shaky, but sincere. Mo Yu offered a small nod.
"你没事就好."
As long as you're alright
Yan Ning didn't say much, just gave her a thumbs-up and turned away, but there was a warmth in his usually sharp eyes. She bowed lightly, clutching the glowing necklace at her chest.Then, with one last glance back, she whispered,
"那我先走了."
I'll be going now
"好的后会有期."
Alright, until we meet again
And with that, she stepped into the dark corridor beyond the kopitiam— Her silhouette fading, Footsteps echoing against tile. Until the shadows swallowed her whole.
"所以... 我们要怎么做才能结束这个... '游戏'?"
So... what do we need to do to end this... 'game'?
"我不知道. 也没找到出路."
I don't know. I haven't found a way out
"我只知道一件事——"
I only know one thing—
"想活着... 就得继续玩下去."
If you want to live... then you have to keep playing
He looked directly at Mo Yu.
"每完成一次任务, 系统就会给予奖励, 不论是金钱还是道具. 这些奖励能在你之后的任务中帮到你."
Every time you complete a mission, the system gives you a reward, whether it's money or items. These rewards will help you in your future missions
"但如果你失败了, 死亡将在现实生活中找你."
But if you fail, death will find you in the real world
Mo Yu remained silent as he took in all of these information.
"你的商店界面打开了吗? 如果打开了, 先等我, 我会告诉你该买什么!"
Has your shop interface opened? If it did, wait for me, I'll tell you what to buy!
"好的."
Okay
The space around them began to ripple again and a countdown blinked faintly above.
00:00:10
Yan Ning faintly smiled, one full of warmth with a brotherly look.
"一出去, 联系我."
Once you get out, contact me
Mo Yu nodded silently.
"我会的."
I will
The void folded—And everything went dark. When Mo Yu opened his eyes, he was back in his flat. The fan spun overhead and the cold floor pressed against his palms. Floating in front of him was a new card. He caught it instinctively. It read, ★★★★ Reinforcement Card.
★★★★ Reinforcement Card used – 援手三影 (Three Shadows of Aid)
Mission: Reinforcements have been summoned.
All selected allies will receive a card.
The mission will begin only when all players are gathered and holding their card. Please do so before the time limit.
Time Limit: 02:23:59:58
Failure: ???
Reward: ???
Curious as to who his allies would be, he inspected the card. What had been excitement just moments ago twisted into horror in an instant. Mo Yu froze at the image etched onto the back of the card. It was the same photo, the same one he had just sacrificed. Him, Ren Jie, Yu Fei and Ling Ling. The allies that was 'given' to him were his best friends.
"不... 不可能... 为什么!?"
No... it can't be... why!?
His hands shook and the Red Thread on his wrist pulsed once.