Anomaly

] ### "Congratulations! You have become a beta tester for the Great Era of Anomalies. You now have the right to face the Anomalies and Ill Omens of All Heavens!!"

"Starting today, if countless tentacles suddenly sprout from your head, three eyes appear on each side, your body grows fat and becomes covered in scales, and enormous claws grow from your limbs, please don't panic."

"Your blood vessels will boil and burst at any moment. The beating of your heart will become a captivating death drumbeat. Countless strands of your hair will suddenly transform into mandrake snakes. Your brain matter will make countless anomalous creatures drool with hunger. Your desperate, agonized screams will become your requiem."

"Perhaps you can also let go of all your old ties and grudges, all your past grievances and resentments. You will forget pain. You will forget unease. Everything that has lived must wither. No one should have to endure eternal sorrow. Please listen quietly to this funeral song, born of an ending, and let it help you escape this fate (though perhaps the ending is inevitable)..."

"The Great Era of Anomalies is about to descend."

"Master It and become It. Devour It, or die!!!"

Late at night.

Linjiang No. 1 Middle School.

The school dormitory.

Chen Yu was listlessly listening to music and chatting when his expression turned strange.

A heap of text had abruptly appeared on the screen. The font alternated between a ghastly white and a vivid red, while the background showed countless skulls baring their teeth and claws against a terrifying crimson backdrop. It gave off an oppressive, murderous atmosphere.

"What the hell? What is this weird mobile game ad pop-up now?"

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Yu tapped it. He was pretty interested in horror and supernatural games, and he was bored on the toilet anyway, so he figured he might as well take a look.

But no matter how many times he tapped the phone screen, it didn't respond at all.

"What the hell's going on? A stupid game ad pop-up froze my phone?"

He furiously tapped the screen for a while, then tried to force the phone to shut down. It was all useless. The phone seemed to have turned into a completely dead brick.

"Fuck, I just bought this Apple 14 Pro Max!"

Chen Yu was helpless. After fiddling with it for a while, he gave up and shoved it into his pocket, then went back to sitting on the toilet.

"Chen Yu, are you still not done? The homeroom teacher just told us to go to the classroom! Sounds like we're having class!"

His roommate shouted to Chen Yu from outside.

Chen Yu froze.

What time was it? It was almost midnight. Why were they suddenly being told to go to class?

Wouldn't they have announced it during the day if they were adding another evening study session?

"Okay, coming, coming!"

His roommate put on his shoes and called out, "You're the only one left! Everyone else already went. I'm heading out too—I'm going to the convenience store to buy a Coke."

After that, the dormitory fell completely silent.

"You son of a bitch, would waiting a little longer kill you?"

Chen Yu shouted in exasperation, but no one answered. He could only grumble, "Unbelievable. Are you rushing off to put out a fire or something?"

Muttering to himself, Chen Yu wiped his butt and stood up. Annoyed, he glanced again at the phone, whose screen was still frozen, then went to the sink to wash his hands.

After washing, Chen Yu casually dried his hands on the towel and was about to head to class.

But just as he was leaving, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror above the sink.

His heart jumped, and he stopped. Then he stepped closer to take a careful look.

In the mirror, his left eye was completely blood red.

"What the hell? Did I get pinkeye?"