Starfall World.
After New Cassini, Neon Harbor, the second city Wei Shan had made arrangements for, got on track.
The preliminary test of the agent model left him very satisfied.
The two cities also had fundamentally different production models.
New Cassini was defined by its struggle to survive.
In this city, left half in ruins after the End Dharma Race's invasion, residents opened their eyes each day to energy shortages and scarce supplies.
Their surroundings forced them to endure an apocalypse every day.
At heart, they challenged the Nightmare Trial Grounds to survive.
To earn rewards and secure clean water and food for themselves and their families, they gritted their teeth and suffered through the instances.
That resolve to risk everything for survival was like a natural suit of armor.
With the cruelty of reality already upon them, the terrifying experiences in virtual scenes actually yielded fewer Shock Points.
But there were advantages too.
The mechanism for redeeming rewards kept residents' participation steady.
They would not abandon a challenge easily and would face their inner fears as best they could.
The disadvantage was that forcing themselves to endure for survival greatly diluted the purity of their fear.
They were like a group of survivors in a desert, pushed to the limits of hunger and thirst. Even salt water would draw them in droves, since it could at least temporarily ease their current suffering.
So New Cassini's overall Shock Point output was considerable, but its individual output was low.
Neon Harbor's model was completely different.
Untouched by war, this city was materially abundant but spiritually impoverished.
Young people's thirst for excitement had long since sunk into their bones.
They entered the Nightmare Experience Hall in pursuit of more thrilling experiences too.
Coming for vanity and excitement left them far less tolerant