Prologue

In 3 BCE, during the reign of Emperor Ai of Han, a great drought plagued the land. Mysterious events began to occur in the regions east of Hangu Pass. The common people fell into collective panic, abandoning their fields and tools. They all held stalks of grain, calling them the Queen Mother of the West's divine implements, which had to be delivered to the imperial palace. Some with disheveled hair, others with bare arms and feet, they traveled day and night, rushing through roads, fields, and wilderness, passing the stalks amongst themselves. Local officials tried to stop them by arresting, suppressing, or beating them, but to no avail. Ultimately, thousands of grain stalks and leaves traversed twenty-six commanderies and kingdoms, finally arriving at the capital and being placed before Emperor Ai of Han.

Afterward, the people sang, danced, recited scriptures, and worshipped the Queen Mother of the West in the alleys and fields until that autumn, when they finally awoke from their great dream.

— Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 34.

In 1518 CE, the "Dancing Plague" broke out in Strasbourg, France, in Europe. It began when a woman suddenly started dancing ecstatically in the middle of the street, drawing onlookers. Soon, others joined her, dancing along without rest. After one day, the dancers numbered 34; after three days, there were over 400. Local officials consulted physicians, but they were powerless. Several doctors and soldiers even joined the dancing, dancing for days until they died from exhaustion. Within a month, nearly half the city's population had died from the frenzied dancing.

In 1960, the Scarecrow Incident occurred in Massachusetts, United States. A scarecrow appeared in a wheat field in the New England Highlands; its maker was unknown. Anyone who looked into the scarecrow's eyes became frozen on the spot, with vacant expressions and rigid bodies. Those who witnessed people affected by it also developed similar symptoms, which spread to their surroundings. Within a day, it had spread throughout the entire city and state. The army and state police were mobilized, but the outcome is unknown.

In 2005, during lunchtime at a middle school in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, students collectively dreamed of red-eyed spiders, causing panic. Afterward, students began exhibiting symptoms such as contorted limbs, crooked eyes and eyebrows, and tangled hands and feet. Experts who studied the phenomenon called it mass hysteria leading to muscular spasms. The next day, a gas explosion occurred at the school, destroying several buildings. The number of casualties and survivors is unknown!

In 2030, the Crimson Moon incident occurred!