Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yang Ying watches a demo of the horror game "Skyhill."
• A terrifying chase ensues as a player is pursued by a Bandage Woman Monster.
• The player uses color-changing lenses to see ghosts and evade a little girl ghost and a Corpse Man with a chainsaw.

Character Developments

• Yang Ying, a fellow horror game developer, experiences the game's demo and is deeply impacted by its horror elements and innovative mechanics.

Significant Themes

• The horror of the unknown and being pursued.
• The use of color to represent different ghostly entities.
• The tension of not knowing what's coming next.

Character Interactions

• Yang Ying interacts with the game's demo, experiencing the tension and fear alongside the in-game character.
• The in-game character communicates with an NPC via a phone call, receiving guidance on how to evade monsters.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The author's first chapter has 598 initial subscriptions, falling just short of 600.
• The third chapter's subscriptions reach 636, surpassing the first chapter's total.
• The author learns that the minimum average subscription requirement for a Qidian published book is 500.

Character Developments

• The author realizes the significance of initial subscription numbers and understands the publishing platform's standards.
• The author expresses gratitude and commitment to readers, promising to maintain a consistent writing schedule.

Significant Themes

• The importance of initial subscription numbers for a book's success and potential publication.
• The author's dedication to their craft and appreciation for their readers' support.
• The challenges and milestones in the process of writing and publishing a book.

Character Interactions

• The author interacts with another author in a newbie group, who provides clarification on subscription requirements.
• The author engages with readers, expressing gratitude and promising to maintain a consistent writing schedule.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The live demo of "Skyhill" gains immense popularity and attention, with over 1 million views, 710k likes, and 190k shares within four hours.
• The demo showcases a survival-horror game with a unique lens-to-see-ghosts mechanic, adding a new layer of complexity to gameplay.
• A mysterious code, D-5671, and cryptic dialogue between two doctors hint at a complex background story involving human experiments and life evolution.

Character Developments

• The protagonist is revealed to have undergone a life evolution experiment, potentially leading to sequelae and causing him to see false worlds.
• The two doctors in the demo's dialogue are suspected to be part of a mysterious organization conducting these experiments.

Significant Themes

• The blurring of reality and falsehood, as seen through the protagonist's experiences and the potential consequences of the life evolution experiments.
• The exploration of new gameplay mechanics and innovation in the horror genre, as demonstrated by the lens-to-see-ghosts feature.

Character Interactions

• The interaction between the two doctors provides crucial information about the game's background and the protagonist's past.
• Players interact with the game through the lens mechanic, engaging with the environment and ghosts in a new way.

Additional Notes

• The game's popularity leads to marketing accounts re-uploading the demo with added BGM and narration, further increasing its visibility.
• Players begin to speculate about the game's background and setting, with some theories suggesting a collapse of space or dimensional invasion.
• The creator, Shuo Guang, teases upcoming content by announcing a four-chapter update on the following Saturday.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shuo Guang reveals that "Skyhill"'s scene design is heavily based on Yingshan Psychiatric Hospital, a real-life location with a dark history.
• Players express shock and worry, as they hadn't expected the game to be so closely tied to reality.
• The game receives high scores from major foreign gaming media, indicating its remarkable quality.
• The game's store page goes live on the Cyber Platform, with pre-orders starting three days before release.

Character Developments

• No significant character developments in this chapter, as it focuses on the game's production and reception.

Significant Themes

• The blurring line between reality and fiction in horror games.
• The impact of real-life locations with dark histories on game design and player experience.

Character Interactions

• Players interact with each other through comments on Shuo Guang's posts, expressing their shock, worry, excitement, and speculation about the game.
• No direct character interactions occur in this chapter, as it is primarily focused on the game's production and the players' reactions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• "Skyhill" pre-orders reach 670,000 copies, with global support.
• Developers arrange pre-launch preview streams on major platforms to boost attention and sales.
• Streamers go live, with Zai Zong being one of them.
• Zai Zong enters "Skyhill," experiences an immersive menu, and starts the prologue.

Character Developments

• Zai Zong, a top streamer, is initially casual but becomes serious after seeing a highlight comment worth 50 bucks.
• Xin Xin, another streamer, is mentioned but not yet introduced.

Significant Themes

• The game's immersive and realistic graphics and sound effects.
• The anticipation and hype surrounding "Skyhill."
• The use of pre-launch streams as a marketing tactic.

Character Interactions

• Zai Zong interacts with his stream audience, answering their questions and sharing his thoughts about the game.
• Zai Zong plans to collaborate with Xin Xin for a co-op stream after they both complete the prologue solo.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist arrives at Skyhill Hotel and is treated like a VIP.
• The game reveals the producer's name, Meng Shu, in a real-time cutscene.
• The protagonist reaches the 100th floor, revealing a luxurious suite with a breathtaking view of the city.
• A sudden announcement warns guests to return to their rooms and activate the biological defense system.
• A missile strike hits the city, causing a massive explosion and earthquake.

Character Developments

• Zai Zong, the player, becomes immersed in the game's realism and enjoys the VIP treatment.
• The protagonist is caught off guard by the sudden disaster and collapses.

Significant Themes

• Realism in gaming and the blurring of lines between game and reality.
• Sudden shifts from calm to chaos, foreshadowing the horror survival aspects of the game.
• The contrast between luxury and danger, and the fragility of human-made structures.

Character Interactions

• Zai Zong interacts with the game through the protagonist, experiencing the events firsthand.
• The protagonist has no interaction with other characters in this chapter, as it's a real-time cutscene.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist wakes up four hours after the mysterious explosion, finding himself in a luxurious suite on the 100th floor, now in ruins.
• He attempts to make phone calls but fails due to a city-wide power outage. He receives a chilling text message from an unknown sender named 'Me', warning him to wake up.
• The protagonist decides to leave the suite and explore downstairs, finding the elevator unusable and needing repair.
• Zai Zong, the player controlling the protagonist, opens the suite's door to the staircase leading down, hearing disturbing sounds and a female voice saying, "So hungry... not enough. I want more, more tender. Meat..."

Character Developments

• The protagonist remains calm and resourceful, attempting to repair the suite's power and fix the elevator.
• Zai Zong, the player, shows signs of fear and hesitation, despite being an experienced streamer.

Significant Themes

• Survival and desperation in an unknown, hostile environment.
• The protagonist's resourcefulness and determination in the face of adversity.
• The eerie and unsettling atmosphere, emphasizing the unknown and the supernatural.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist interacts with the game's environment, attempting to repair and use various objects.
• Zai Zong, as the player, interacts with the game's interface and controls, experiencing the story and events firsthand.
• The protagonist receives a text message from an unknown sender, creating a sense of unease and mystery.

Key Plot Points

• Zai Zong, a livestreamer, enters a dark staircase in a game called "Skyhill," hearing an eerie, devouring sound.
• He descends the stairs, terrified but determined, until he reaches the landing where the sound is loudest but sees nothing.
• He concludes that there might be overlapping spaces, and he needs a mini camera to see the unseen entities.

Character Developments

• Zai Zong shows courage despite his fear, facing his fears to continue exploring.
• He demonstrates analytical thinking, trying to understand the game's mechanics to explain the phenomena he encounters.

Significant Themes

• Fear of the unknown and the psychological terror it brings.
• The theme of exploration and discovery, both in the game and in understanding its rules.

Character Interactions

• Zai Zong interacts with his livestream audience through bullet comments, expressing his thoughts and feelings, and receiving their support and theories.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zai Zong starts playing a game called "Skyhill," receiving cryptic text messages from an unknown sender.
• He enters the game and finds himself on the 99th floor, which is dimly lit and in disarray due to a recent explosion.
• He attempts to explore but is greeted by a real-time cutscene showing a gruesome scene in Room 9905, with a disembodied head and a mysterious, sinister presence.
• The game turns into a chase sequence, with Zai Zong (as the protagonist) fleeing back to his suite on the 100th floor.

Character Development

• Zai Zong: Initially skeptical and dismissive of the game's mysterious messages, he becomes increasingly alarmed and frightened as the game progresses, demonstrating his vulnerability and humanity.

Significant Themes

• The theme of reality and perception is introduced, with the sender of the messages questioning the existence of the game world and the protagonist's identity.
• The game explores the theme of fear and the unknown, using the horror genre to create suspense and tension.

Character Interactions

• Zai Zong interacts with the game's protagonist, whose actions and reactions mirror his own, creating a sense of immersion and shared experience.
• The mysterious sender of the messages is introduced, but their identity and intentions remain unclear, creating intrigue and anticipation for future interactions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A mysterious knocking at the door terrifies the protagonist, Zai Zong.
• A woman's voice pleads for help from outside the door, claiming to be from Room 9905.
• The protagonist communicates with the woman through an intercom, learning she's a resident of Room 9905 with a missing child.
• The woman describes finding her room in disarray and covered in blood, with her child missing.

Character Developments

• Zai Zong: Initially terrified, he becomes cautious and suspicious of the woman outside, refusing to let her in despite her pleas.
• The Woman: Desperate and distressed, she pleads for help, revealing she found her room in a state of chaos with her child gone.

Significant Themes

• Trust and suspicion: Zai Zong's reluctance to open the door highlights his mistrust of the woman, despite her pleas for help.
• Fear of the unknown: Both characters are driven by fear—Zai Zong fears the unknown entity that chased him, while the woman fears being alone and the fate of her child.

Character Interactions

• Zai Zong and the Woman: Their interaction is tense and guarded, with Zai Zong questioning the woman and refusing to let her in, despite her desperate pleas for help.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist chooses not to open the door for the woman outside, but she begs to be let in, claiming she's lost her child.
• The protagonist tries to call the police, but the call doesn't go through due to no signal in the building.
• The woman's demeanor changes when asked to show her hands, revealing she's not human and attacks the door.
• A monster, previously a woman, is now revealed and tries to break into the suite.
• A scream is heard from downstairs, distracting the monster, which leaves to investigate.
• A voice from the hotel security room contacts the protagonist, offering guidance to survive.

Character Developments

• The protagonist shows initial sympathy but later displays caution and suspicion towards the woman, demonstrating growth in judgment.
• The woman outside is revealed to be a monster in disguise, showing a shift from vulnerability to aggression.

Significant Themes

• Deception vs. Truth: The woman's true nature is hidden until revealed by the protagonist's suspicion.
• Trust vs. Caution: The protagonist initially wants to help but later becomes cautious, highlighting the importance of discernment.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist interacts with the woman outside, initially trying to help but later becoming suspicious and defensive.
• The protagonist communicates with the hotel security room, indicating potential cooperation for survival.

In the combined chapters, Zai Zong descends to the 97th floor, guided by the Broadcast Man's instructions. He finds Room 9720, retrieves the Stereo Camera and Walkie-Talkie, and learns about the game's mechanics and the Broadcast Man's motives. After completing the prologue, Zai Zong discovers that all 100 floors are open for exploration, and he witnesses an NPC father attempting a daring feat on the 96th floor.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zai Zong retrieves the Stereo Camera and Walkie-Talkie from Room 9720.
• The Broadcast Man reveals he is a Religious Merchant and explains the importance of the Stereo Camera.
• Zai Zong completes the prologue and unlocks online mode.
• Zai Zong discovers that all 100 floors are open for exploration.
• Zai Zong witnesses an NPC father attempting to cross the ventilation gap on the 96th floor.

Character Developments

• Zai Zong learns about the game's mechanics and the Broadcast Man's motives.
• The NPC father on the 96th floor shows bravery and concern for his children.

Significant Themes

• The game emphasizes freedom and terror, with no limits except the player's imagination.
• The Broadcast Man's motives and the power of the Stereo Camera hint at the paranormal nature of the game's world.

Character Interactions

• Zai Zong interacts with the Broadcast Man through the Walkie-Talkie.
• The NPC father on the 96th floor interacts with his children, showing concern and bravery.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zai Zong witnesses an NPC family in danger on the 96th floor.
• A monstrous, long-necked crone emerges from the depths, attacking the family.
• Zai Zong attempts to save them but misses the opportunity due to hesitation.
• The family is killed, and Zai Zong realizes he can't reload to change the past.
• He decides to take on every random quest event he encounters.

Character Developments

• Zai Zong shows empathy and determination to help NPCs, even if it means risking his own life.
• The NPC family demonstrates desperation and helplessness in the face of danger.

Significant Themes

• The game's realism blurs the line between game and reality for Zai Zong.
• The importance of timely action and decision-making is emphasized.
• The theme of player choice and its consequences is introduced.

Character Interactions

• Zai Zong interacts with the NPC family, attempting to save them.
• The NPC family interacts with the monster, showing fear and desperation.
• Zai Zong interacts with his livestream viewers, discussing the game's mechanics and his decisions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xin Xin joins Zai Zong's game via co-op, expecting a shared experience, but starts as a new survivor on a random floor (Room 8907) with a new identity (a wife waiting for her husband).
• Xin Xin and Zai Zong plan to meet up by moving towards each other (Xin Xin going up, Zai Zong going down).
• Zai Zong's walkie-talkie starts emitting static, then broadcasts room numbers, hinting at an approaching threat.
• An axe strikes Zai Zong's door, and a chilling voice says, "I. See. You."

Character Developments

• Xin Xin: Shows curiosity and courage, deciding to explore despite the danger.
• Zai Zong: Becomes more cautious and concerned for Xin Xin's safety, trying to protect her despite the challenges of co-op.

Significant Themes

• Unpredictability: The game's random events and new survivor identities add depth and unpredictability to gameplay.
• Cooperation: Co-op mode encourages teamwork but also presents unique challenges, such as meeting up and sharing resources.

Character Interactions

• Xin Xin and Zai Zong: They communicate and strategize, trying to meet up and survive together despite the difficulties posed by the co-op mechanic.
• Zai Zong and the unknown threat: Zai Zong's walkie-talkie hints at an approaching threat, increasing his tension and alertness.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xin Xin encounters a blind woman in Room 9110 who needs help.
• Xin Xin decides to help the woman, but the woman turns out to be a monster.
• Xin Xin is pulled into the room and falls from the 91st floor, causing her to remove her VR headset in fear.

Character Developments

• Xin Xin: Shows empathy and willingness to help others, but is also timid and easily frightened, especially by heights.
• The Blind Woman: Initially appears to be a helpless NPC in need of rescue, but is later revealed to be a monster.

Significant Themes

• Appearances can be deceiving: The blind woman's true nature is hidden until the moment she reveals herself as a monster.
• The consequences of one's actions: Xin Xin's decision to help the woman leads to her own fall from the building.
• The importance of caution: Xin Xin's initial caution in approaching the random event is later validated when she encounters the monster.

Character Interactions

• Xin Xin and Zai Zong: They communicate throughout the event, with Zai Zong providing guidance and support to Xin Xin.
• Xin Xin and The Blind Woman: Xin Xin initially tries to help the woman, but their interaction turns hostile when the woman's true nature is revealed.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xin Xin's character dies and respawns as a survivor on Floor 87, with the identity of an assassin.
• The assassin's room contains three firearms (two silenced handguns and one sniper rifle) and a military knife.
• Xin Xin and Zai Zong decide to meet at the staircase to team up.

Character Developments

• Xin Xin overcomes her initial fear and decides to be more resilient in the game.
• Zai Zong shows concern for Xin Xin's well-being, despite his initial discomfort with comforting others.

Significant Themes

• The game's extreme randomness and unpredictability, which keeps both players and viewers on edge.
• The introduction of firearms changes the dynamics of the game, adding a new layer of strategy and tension.

Character Interactions

• Xin Xin and Zai Zong continue to support each other, with Zai Zong providing comfort and Xin Xin sharing her new character's details.
• Viewers in the livestream chat discuss the game's innovations and express excitement or skepticism about the new gun element.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xin Xin encounters and defeats a Mummy Monster on the 90th floor using a gun.
• She meets Zai Zong on the 91st floor, and they decide to explore the upper floors together.
• They discover an old television in Room 9110 broadcasting a live feed of their actions in the stairwell.

Character Developments

• Xin Xin gains confidence and improves her combat skills by using a gun.
• Zai Zong demonstrates resourcefulness by crafting an elevator cable to facilitate their exploration.

Significant Themes

• Survival and adaptation in a dangerous environment.
• The importance of teamwork and cooperation.
• The mysterious and eerie nature of the Skyhill Hotel.

Character Interactions

• Xin Xin and Zai Zong reunite and decide to explore the upper floors together.
• They encounter a mysterious and unsettling phenomenon in Room 9110, which tests their courage and resolve.
• Their interaction is primarily cooperative, with both characters contributing to their shared goal of survival and exploration.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zai Zong and Xin Xin find themselves in Room 9110 after turning around, with the staircase they entered from vanished.
• They see a black-and-white TV playing footage of the staircase, now empty.
• Upon turning around, they find the staircase outside the room, realizing they've been transferred inside.
• The door to the room slams shut, trapping them inside.
• They hear the sound of running and voices outside the door, suggesting an NPC event.

Character Developments

• Zai Zong and Xin Xin are shocked and frightened by the sudden transfer into Room 9110.
• Xin Xin is terrified and wants to escape, while Zai Zong tries to remain calm and assess the situation.
• Zai Zong speculates that the event might be a performance to enrich the game's atmosphere.

Significant Themes

• The eerie and unpredictable nature of the game, with sudden scene changes and locked doors.
• The fear of the unknown and the dread of being trapped in a dangerous environment.
• The blurring of the line between game and reality, with NPCs behaving in unexpected ways.

Character Interactions

• Zai Zong and Xin Xin work together to try and escape Room 9110, with Xin Xin panicking and Zai Zong attempting to stay calm and rational.
• The voices outside the door interact with each other, revealing their confusion and fear about being trapped on the 91st floor.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zai Zong and Xin Xin hear noises and find two pairs of shoes outside Room 9110.
• They see a man and woman on the TV screen staring into the room.
• The man and woman on the TV turn and smile eerily, then walk into the room.
• Zai Zong and Xin Xin realize the danger is inside the room, not outside.
• They escape the room and run up the stairs, pursued by the man and woman's laughter.

Character Developments

• Zai Zong maintains a shred of calm and tries to protect Xin Xin.
• Xin Xin is terrified but follows Zai Zong's instructions.
• The man and woman in the game exhibit supernatural, horrifying behavior.

Significant Themes

• Fear and psychological horror.
• The blurring of reality and illusion.
• The game's presentation exceeding players' comprehension.

Character Interactions

• Zai Zong and Xin Xin work together to face the threat, with Zai Zong taking the lead.
• The man and woman in the game interact with Zai Zong and Xin Xin through the TV screen and their physical presence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zai Zong and Xin Xin reach the 92nd floor and repair the elevator.
• Xin Xin scavenges nearby rooms for supplies while Zai Zong repairs.
• Xin Xin encounters a terrifying nursery rhyme event with three little girls in white dresses.
• Zai Zong and Xin Xin reunite, but Xin Xin is silent, and the elevator starts rising uncontrollably.
• Zai Zong discovers Xin Xin is dead, and the person behind him is not her but a ghost in disguise.
• The elevator is filled with blood water, and the ghost prepares to attack Zai Zong.

Character Developments

• Xin Xin shows bravery and initiative in scavenging supplies.
• Zai Zong demonstrates resilience and determination in repairing the elevator.
• Xin Xin's death highlights the game's unpredictable and dangerous nature.
• The ghost's disguise reveals its cunning and manipulative nature.

Significant Themes

• Trust and deception: The ghost's disguise challenges the players' trust in their teammates.
• The game's unpredictable nature: The random events and dangers keep players on edge.
• The consequences of carelessness: Xin Xin's death serves as a reminder that players must always be vigilant.

Character Interactions

• Zai Zong and Xin Xin work together to repair the elevator and scavenge supplies.
• Xin Xin's silence and the ghost's disguise create tension and mistrust between Zai Zong and the supposed Xin Xin.
• The three little girls in white dresses interact with Xin Xin, creating a chilling and eerie atmosphere.