It was an ancient castle.
Deep and shallow scratches covered its weather-beaten walls, and its pointed towers disappeared into thick black fog. The surrounding trees lay hidden in the dense darkness of night, their clawing shadows lending the scene an even eerier air.
At that moment, a figure stood before the castle's dark iron gates.
He wore the research coat he had brought from the laboratory. In his hand, a palm-sized silver instrument pointed toward the castle, vibrating with a constant buzz.
Bo Yi tilted his head slightly, quietly studying the strange castle that had appeared out of nowhere.
He had come out to find anomalies.
Anomalies, commonly known as "unnatural creatures," specifically referred to life-forms that fell beyond the bounds of known natural laws and possessed traits markedly different from those of conventional organisms.
They might possess unconventional physiological structures and mechanisms, or extraordinary abilities and behaviors that defied natural laws.
All of the above fell within the scope of Bo Yi's current research.
Tonight, he had brought the Energy Detector out to find new "experimental specimens" because the institute had run out of "research materials."
But Bo Yi remembered perfectly well-
There had been no castle in the woods where he searched for anomalies.
Still... he looked down at the steadily climbing numbers on the detector. After a moment's thought, he stepped toward the castle gates.
"What 'Mist' game?! I've never even heard of it!"
"Waaah... I never play games, so why am I here too...? I want to go home..."
"I'm not playing some bullshit game! I'm going home!"
A group of people were shouting in the empty hall.
They could hardly be blamed for making a public disturbance. Who could stay calm after suddenly being transported into a sinister, terrifying forest?!
Especially when, after finally escaping the woods and finding the only building around-the castle-to ask for help, the people inside told them not to bother. They could not leave.
And the reason they could not leave was apparently that they had entered a game called "Mist." They could only get out by clearing it.
What utter nonsense!
The loudest man grabbed the collar of the middle-aged man who had kindly explained things to him and blustered, "Save that crap for the kids! I don't believe a word of it! I'm warning you, let us out right now! Or I'm calling the police!"
Just as the verbal confrontation threatened to turn physical, the castle doors were pushed open.
Everyone in the hall immediately turned to look.
A figure walked in at an unhurried pace.
He was a tall, slender man dressed in something resembling a white lab coat, its buttons meticulously fastened all the way to his collar. His smooth, glossy long hair was loosely tied into a small ponytail behind his head. His complexion had a cool cast, and the outer corners of his eyes tilted slightly upward. Combined with eyes paler than most people's, these features gave him a faint air of aloofness.
While the others studied Bo Yi, he studied them in turn.
Nine people already stood in the castle's empty hall. At its center, a young man was gripping a middle-aged man's clothes with a hostile expression, while a bespectacled man beside them wanted to intervene but did not quite dare approach. Not far away, a girl in a pretty dress was still sobbing, and two equally frightened girls beside her were trying to comfort her. In a corner of the hall, a man and woman with similar faces watched the farce with indifferent expressions, while another woman dressed entirely in black hid herself in the shadows.
But they were clearly all human.
They were not the "materials" he was looking for.
Bo Yi slowly furrowed his brow. He was about to take out the detector again to check when a crisp voice suddenly rang out in his mind:
[Ding-dong~ Welcome to the "Mist" game~] [Current logged-in players: 10/10. Instance activated.] [Instance name: Doll Castle] [Instance objective: Attend the banquet in three days.]
"You all received the system notification, right?"
A female player who had been standing indifferently to one side approached, sweeping a mocking gaze over the people who had been making a racket. "Now... do you believe us? If anyone still wants to leave, be my guest."
The new players who had been shouting moments earlier no longer had the presence of mind to argue. They huddled together, trembling, seemingly terrified by the voice in their heads. "Wh-what exactly is this?"
"Wh-why can it talk inside my head...?"
"Put simply, we're all unlucky bastards chosen by the game." The female player looked thoroughly impatient. "If you don't want to die, do what that voice tells you."
"D-d... die?" The newcomers trembled even harder. "Is... is our lives being in danger really a possibility here?"
"Of course." The female player suddenly smiled. In the flickering candlelight, her smile looked deeply unsettling. "After all, this is a game where you stake your life..."
Frightened by her words, the newcomers huddled even closer together, looking for all the world like a flock of shivering chicks.
"That's enough, Wen Shan. Stop scaring them." A man came over from the side. He seemed very familiar with the woman called Wen Shan, patting her shoulder to stop her from continuing to frighten the new players. He addressed them. "My name is Zhao Yi, and this is my younger sister, Zhao Wen Shan."
Zhao Wen Shan curled her lip.
Zhao Yi continued, "This isn't our first time playing this game, so please hear me out. I know everyone is scared right now, and that's normal, but our goal is to get out of here-"
"...Get out? Can we still leave this place?" The new player who had been wiping away tears ever since entering the castle began another round of sobbing.
Zhao Wen Shan said, "As long as you do what the voice says and complete the instance objective, you can leave and return to your original world."
The newcomers all breathed sighs of relief.
Seeing this, Zhao Wen Shan's lips curved into a mocking smile. What she had not told them was that returning to their original world did not mean escaping the game for good. Otherwise, why would she and her brother be here again? Surely it was not because they enjoyed playing games?
Still, there was no need to tell these newcomers anything that would set off another wave of panic just yet. Zhao Wen Shan thought with indifference that once they were sent into the game a second time, they would understand-
They could never escape.
Bo Yi showed little reaction to Zhao Wen Shan's words.
He was only here to find experimental materials and had no interest in playing any game. Besides, after he entered the castle, the detector that had been vibrating nonstop had gone quiet. Just as he was about to turn and leave, however, the dim castle suddenly brightened.
Rows of candles lit up, dispelling the darkness that had lingered around the hall. They also illuminated a handsome man who had appeared at some point on the ancient spiral staircase nearby.
He stood tall and straight, his white suit elegant and distinguished. His hair was carefully slicked back, exposing a sharply defined face, and his deep, light-brown eyes regarded everyone with a smile.
"Welcome to my castle!"
The new players jumped in fright and asked in trembling voices, "H-he... who is he? And wh-when did he appear...?"
"Shut up!" Zhao Wen Shan snapped under her breath. "That's an NPC in the game. If you still want to clear this instance, keep your mouths shut and listen to what he says."
The new players immediately fell utterly silent.
The handsome host descended the stairs. "I presume you have all come to see my latest work..."
"However, my latest work will take a little more time to complete."
The host reached the players. "In the meantime, why not stay in the castle...?"
"In three days, a banquet will be held here. At that time, you will all be able to see my latest work."
The host's courteous manner and friendly tone clearly eased the tightly wound newcomers' nerves.
Some of the bolder ones even stole furtive glances at him. This game seems all right. It isn't as terrifying as that veteran player made it sound... at least this NPC is just an ordinary person.
The host smiled as he watched the players lower their guard, discreetly sweeping his gaze over each of them. But when he caught sight of the final figure in white, his eyes suddenly lit up.
Sensing the clinging, slimy gaze on him, Bo Yi raised his eyes.
Their gazes met in midair.
A moment later, Bo Yi withdrew the hand he had kept in his pocket to hold down the detector, which was vibrating frantically in warning, and asked casually, "May I ask where we'll be staying?"
Before you continue