Chapter: New Arrivals
Rubbing her eyes, she was finally wide awake, though now in an unfamiliar place. The last thing they all remembered was the bell ringing… ghosts running away… the man with the grin… bats, and then darkness.
Observing their surroundings, they realized they were held in a white room decorated with red hearts, diamonds, aces, and other poker signs. Sounds came from above, reverberating through the walls.
Creak.
The door opened. It didn't even look like a door—more like a wall with some hidden mechanism. Either way, it opened to reveal a man with pale white hair and red eyes, dressed elegantly in half white and half black, wearing a mask that was half smiling and half frowning.
"Greetings. I am D1, and I'm the one in charge of your present lot."
The crowd of over twenty people stood stunned, staring at the strange man. Naturally, no one dared to speak.
"Do not be afraid and save your strength," he chuckled softly. "You'll need it."
"Line up and try not to get lost."
Everyone followed as if hypnotized—everyone except one. She had the same hair color as the man; one could think they were siblings. Seeing the crowd move, she joined, blending in while still standing out.
The man led them through turn after turn until they reached a large door, the smell of burnt flesh wafting from it. Along the way, they joined other groups and encountered others like D1.
On the door was written something in a foreign language: "Gateway to …" — the last part scratched off. Beside it stood two large statues.
D1 began, "This place will lead you all to the trial ground. You'll have one minute to eat, drink, and equip yourselves."
Walking away, he chuckled, "Interesting, truly."
Two people in front tried to open the door and died on the spot.
The only movement afterward was the statue returning to its place.
Screams filled the hall as people at the front were torn apart in seconds, their blood staining the door.
After a hundred victims were claimed, the door opened with a whistle of smoke, like an oven after baking bread.
They hesitated, not wanting to be next.
But the door, as if sensing their fear, tempted them.
The smell of food, drinks, wine, and sweets drifted out.
After a brief discussion, they entered. The crowd moved ahead, leaving Yunxia behind in the dark hall. She bent down to examine the blood on the floor, holding back nausea and fear. She was still human—still innocent.
Standing near the statue, she observed everything she could, her mind working rapidly.
Inside, she ate bread and drank water, unlike others who drank wine and stuffed themselves with meat. She also noticed the few weapons behind the door, grounding her suspicions.
There was the smell of burnt blood and flesh. The bodies—where did they go? The spearhead still had chunks of flesh, even strands of hair. D1 only told them to eat, drink, and equip themselves in one minute, but that was impossible. This ruled out ritual use. She thought of dungeons… and of a race from the novels Mei loved.
Vampires.
I'm in deep sht if I'm right.*
Only seconds had passed in reality, yet she was now donning armor, two daggers at her waist, arrows on her back. Others noticed her but ignored her, focused on food.
Ten minutes later, D1 returned with a woman dressed similarly. She introduced herself as D2.
Soon, the once-luxurious hall turned into a volcano.
Someone screamed, "The floor is lava!"
Screams followed as people scrambled for safety.
Two people already melted their bodies dissolving.
Yunxia stood on a small stone slab that connected to others like a bridge.
The door was shut—no escape. Luckily, she was still near the weapon rack.
She aimed an arrow at D1, who hovered calmly, black wings keeping him aloft. Using the chaos as cover, she fired—but D1 caught it without even turning.
Assassination wasn't an option.
She grabbed a rope, tying it to an arrow, but paused when she noticed others with weapons were also on the stones.
From thousands, only a few hundred remained—and even then, some were fighting.
"This is my slab! Get off!"
If more than one person stood on a slab, it collapsed. If no one stood on it, it disintegrated.
Yunxia had moved back to the weapon area, unnoticed. Even if others saw her, they couldn't reach her—except D1, who was now aware of her.
Only when a quarter of the people remained did the lava vanish, the scent shifting into something smooth.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
"You all did well," D1 said cheerfully. "Listening and obeying. Very good. Now, let us move to the next area."
Everyone vanished.
When they woke, it felt like a dream—hard to remember, easy to trigger.
They were now in a forest. Above them, someone wearing a crow mask and a black coat flew. He had golden eyes and no wings.
"Be snappy. Wake your friends," he complained.
"Your task is simple. Carry one bag from the cart—forty kilograms each. Run to the stream before sunset. Anyone who doesn't make it… begin."
People rushed forward. Fear lingered. To survive, many shoved, stabbed, and attacked—calling it self-defense to ease their guilt.
Yunxia kept a steady pace. The load weighed forty kilos; she weighed fifty-six. She was basically carrying herself through swampy ground.
Screams erupted from behind. A massive whip descended on the slow ones.
They ran faster.
Too fast-drained stamina. Too slow meant punishment. Too fast also meant no time to think.
"Eek—what is that?!"
The burly man ahead shouted, unable to slow down.
People stopped, but those behind kept pushing, sending many into the swamp.
Snakes.
Yunxia searched for weapons—none. No one had any.
Her mind raced, but she was running out of time.
Breaking away, she climbed a tree.
Others followed.
"Humans," the crow mask muttered, writing notes. "Social creatures. Alone, only a few survive. Together, they stop thinking and rely on one mind."
He watched without emotion.
"Polish the gems," he said softly.
"And discard the stones."