Chapter 21 - Black City(1)

[Player 50001, congratulations on successfully completing the derivative script <Train>, the system is in transit ... ]

[Transfer is completed, rewards are being settled ... ... ]

[1. Successfully completed the horror script <TRAIN (C)(Low Magic)(Upgraded Copy)> with 87% completion rate and obtained gold (A)rating;

Successfully cracked the horror script <The Truth(C) (Low Magic)(Upgraded Copy)> With a cracking rate of 93% , Gold (A)rating;

3. Find out the truth about the deaths on the train, Escape before the train reaches the station;

4. Find the imposter and escape ;

5. Other; rewards are as follows:

Pseudo-spiritual Script Completion (Personal Mission) (Low magic)( Gold level), 75 world coins;

Conductors Playing Cards (Rare) (low magic), Black treasure chest (low magic);

Mary's Widow Doll (Player Drop); (1/3 Uses Left)

The Conductors Pet;

Conductors Letter;

30 World Coins;]

[Evaluating Performance...]

[Comprehensive Rating C+]

[Instance Evaluating....]

[Damage to Copy <(Low Level)(0%)>}

[NPC Comprehensive Rating, Silver (B) Rating.]

[Final Evaluation Gold (A) Rating]

[Because player 50001 participates in the script task for the first time with a comprehensive rating of (B) ,World Coins will not be deducted. ]

[Player 50001 physical condition: slightly injured.]

[Player 50001 completes the first derivative script <Train (Low Magic)(C)>, rewards 30 world coins and a black iron treasure chest (low Magic)

[No.50001 player derivative script <Train (Low Magic)> has a completion rate of 87%, a cracking 92%, a gold evaluation, and a reward of 12 contribution points; the physical fitness is improving ... the improvement is completed. ]

[Player 50001 successfully completed the first initial mission, awarded: the title of Prepatory Player; task bar open; storage bar open; chat function closed; friend circle closed; system push closed; trading system closed; private park closed; game park closed; shopping mall closed; player forum open; auction field open; practice field closed ... ]

[No. 50001, reserve player Chu Yi, the horror script <Train (Low Demons)> is settled, please continue to work hard to guide the game, see you next time! ]

Next is the storage bar. The storage bar has a total of 50 cells, including: Conductors Playing Card(Summoning Card), , Black treasure chest (low magic), Madman's Sword,(untradeable)(Natal soul-killing weapon (unnamed), The Conductors' letter, Mary's Widow doll, as well as 105 World coins and 12 contribution points.

At the top of the storage column is the "Achievement" column. Inside is a gray screenshot of <Doll House>, covered with a Gold Medal of "Gold Evaluation".

Below the "Achievement" column are the character attributes:

Name: Chu Yi

(Prepatory Player); Number: 50001; Title: None (available for official players); Race: Human; Physical State: Good; Physical Fitness: Excellent

[Congratulations of completing your first Shuttle]

[You can find your home in the provided zone, House 45, Zone BC 12]

With a bright flash of light, Chu Yi opened his eyes on a large standing platform. All around him came dazzling glares of light as one by one the platform was filled with people.

Some immediately collapsed to the floor in a heap of tears, others stood numbly, utterly suspended from reality, most were confused and disoriented, while the rest, immediately picked up and walked off the platform.

It was easy to seperate the newbies from the veterans as they stepped away from the mass hysteria on the stand, not wanting to waste a minute.

Some of the more calmer newcomers, followed them off, hurrying down the steps on the sides in haste.

Chu Yi followed along, attracting looks from all sides . In the nightmare shuttle there were loads of different players; exotic superstars, sucessful executives, ordinary white collars but amongst them Chu Yi definitely stood out from the lot. Bright eyes narrowed into a glare, darkening to a saffron red, pursed pink lips, lithe frame, it was obvious that he was annoyed at being the center of attention but at this moment Chu Yi had no thoughts of starting a fight. The sharp pain in his indescribable parts as he walked, was enough to deter him from making any big moves.

Following behind the veterans, they eventually came upon a large 8 story tower. It was rustic and strangely built and was entirely painted with black. On the sign outside, was engraved

'Life Tower '

One of the newcomers gathered up the courage to talk with one of the veterans and although he sounded slightly annoyed still explained it to the clueless bunch,

"The life tower is the place to heal wounds and purchase system props and items."

He didnt need to go on because most of the people here had seen RPG games, this was just like the in-game store of the game, where you'd level up and get stronger in order to beat the levels.

Whereas in this case, you did it to survive through the horrors.

With an extra pep in their step, the group hastened into the tower.

On the first floor, of the semi decrepit hall, there was a large map to show all the important areas.

On the second and third floor, was the medicine hall, 4th to 5th floor was the System Store and Exchange Window , 6th to 7th was the Casino and the 8th floor was a forbidden area marked out with a bloodied 'X'.

Many of the people that managed to survive come out, more less with injuries to diffrent degrees, therefore most of them made a beeline for the medicine hall.

The air was diffused with the familiar smell of bleach and disinfectant, typical stoic white walls and squeaky clean floors.

Although there were hundreds of people walking through the halls simultaneously, the space seemed to be expanding infinitely to accommodate them, therefore no one felt crowded or rushed.

In a straight albeit infinite line, stood NPC's in nurse and doctor uniforms.

[Would you like to spend 5 world coins to heal your wounds?.]

Many of the newcomers faces turned green at that question, it was evident how important coins was to saving their lives and if for everytime they were injured they had to pay , it wouldn't be long before they would be met with a situation where they were severely injured yet unable to seek treatment.

But the system wasn't humane enough to understand their inner turmoil and only the NPC's cold robotic voice repeated the question firmly.

The veterans on the other hand took the coins out with practiced ease, evidently having gotten used to this scene over time.

With a flip of his wrist a stack of coins appeared sitting in his hands.

It was a large copper coin the size of half his palm, with the picture of a steaming shuttle on the front and a mysterious pattern on the back.

The nurse NPC took the coins from him indifferently, and with a wave of its hand, a golden yellow light shrouded Chu Yi's figure.

He cold feel something warm roaming though his veins, repairing and healing the torn muscles and blood vessels. It stopped particularly long at Chu Yi's back acupuncture, and even though he knew it wasn't a sentient thing, he still felt a light dusting of a blush rising onto his cheeks.

It dissipated slowly after a while, leaving Chu Yi feeling refreshed.

It was definitely worth its price per say but the others still felt a tinge of regret watching their hard earned money flying away like that.

But there were other important matters at hand,

The store.

With hastened steps, all the newcomers immediately made their way to the second floor, as no one wanted to be left behind and possibly miss out anything.

The veterans who now had the leisure to pay attention them, only watched with derision at their scurrying backs, as if waiting to see a big joke.

They didn't have to wait too long because not even a minute after climbing up the stairs, there came a cacophony of angry curses above them.

These prices were bullshit.

Many of the newcomers had at most 100 coins in their possession, but the price of even the cheapest item in the system store was almost 500 coins. Who the fuck could afford that.

With unabashed smirks, one the experienced players politely pointed them to a tiny corner of the large screen exhibited in the room.

[Newcomer Items]

[Mystical flashlight (Low Level)]

Quality: Common

Use: 40 watt light, only shines when faced with evil spirits.

Danger level: 0

System Remarks: But it just be your last light before death

Cost: 20 coins.]

[Corpse Talisman (Low Level)]

Quality: Common

Use: To ward of the undead. Must be activated 2 minutes before undead arrives.

Danger level : 10

System Remarks: <Pretty useless considering you probably won't have time to paste anything anyways> .

Cost: 68 coins.]

[Widow Spider (Low Level)]

Quality: Common

Use: To warn of any danger

Danger level: 8

System Remarks: <Might end up alerting the danger instead>

Cost: 55 coins]

The items were pretty much useless and the foreboding note at the end of each description reeked of cruel mockery.

No one said anything, the items were not only useless but expensive too. At most they could by one of the items on the list. They still had to keep some just in case, they end up falling into the negative after performing badly in an instance.

[Saints Bloodline (Legendary)]

Use: Inherit the blood of the Pope and be clouded in the blessings of god.

Wards away any evil spirits, exercises ghouls and wraiths and be provided with burning stamina in the presence of the sun.

Danger level: 67

Note: It's exactly what it said it is.

Cost: 1545 coins]

The items on the 3rd floor was also way above the second floors and the prices were equivalent to 10 instances with exemplary performances. Without a hitch, the newcomers could only walk back dejectedly.

It was at this point, came the recruitment.

The veterans having watched the entire farce play out began to encroach on the disillusioned newbies.

The general gist of it was,

"You've seen how expensive the items are, right? and you can't just not buy it. If you keep on not insisting then sooner or later you'll die tragically in the instance."

"Only by joining 'yada yada' organization will you be able to survive. We'll buy the items for you and the only thing you have to do is pay a set fee each week. We'll even send other experienced shutters to take you threw the instance. With a fee of course but imagine...."

First scaring them into tears, then enticing them with benefits.

A typical carrot and stick strategy.

Some of the recruiters made to approach Chu Yi, but before they could go up to entice the smiling beauty, he had already started walking out the halls.

No one knew better than Chu Yi, how limited his patience was, and even though they tried to disguise it cleverly, he could still detect the traces of lust and desire in their filthy eyes.

In such a world, where limitations are removed, the demons in people hearts festered and grew like an parasite.

He had better things to do than starting bloodshed in unfamiliar territory. That would have to wait

He needed some sleep because unfortunately for Chu Yi, his legs still felt damn weak.