[Evil Spirit Instance opening soon. Chosen participants, please prepare!] [This instance: Evil Spirit Amusement Park. Difficulty: beginner]
An abrupt mechanical voice rang out in the minds of every human.
People around the world shuddered and hurried to their computers, opening their respective countries' evil spirit websites.
But with the players still preparing, the screens remained pitch-black, showing nothing.
During the lull, viewers from Dragon Country began chatting.
"It's only been a month since the last instance opened. I never expected another one so soon. Thank goodness I wasn't picked."
"Don't get complacent, person above me. The instances are opening more and more often. Sooner or later, it'll be your turn."
"Getting picked isn't necessarily a bad thing, is it? If you clear the instance, the rewards are pretty good."
"Dream on! Do you think that 99.99 percent death rate is just for show?!"
"Exactly. Over the past twenty years, at least a hundred million people worldwide have been chosen, but only a few tens of thousands have cleared an instance!"
"Stop. Just thinking about it terrifies me. When will this nightmare end?"
Reading that comment, the viewers sitting before their screens couldn't help feeling weighed down.
But just as they sank into gloom, the livestream suddenly lit up, and a line of striking, blood-red text appeared before them.
[Evil Spirit Instance opening. Connecting to livestream...]
The blood-red text then faded, and the screen flickered, accompanied by shrill laughter.
The players entering this Evil Spirit Instance appeared on a screen divided into nine squares.
Some knelt in prayer, while others made phone calls seeking help.
Without exception, every face was filled with despair and terror.
But the player in the bottom-right corner made every viewer freeze.
"Why... is there a toddler in there???"
"That's too cruel! That little kid looks only three or four, right? She's younger than my daughter!"
"This is insane! The moment that child enters the instance, the evil spirits will devour her without leaving even a bone!"
"No, I can't watch this. The thought of such an adorable little girl dying horribly makes my chest tighten."
"Sigh... that's her fate. Once the instance picks someone, nobody can stop it. I just hope she doesn't suffer too much when she dies."
Looking at the toddler on-screen, with shoulder-length hair, a ponytail sticking straight up, and chubby cheeks, the viewers all felt pity and distress.
Yet the little girl herself was staring blankly at the dark-red character for "evil" that had suddenly appeared on the back of her hand!
"What's this? Tiantian, do you know?"
Tang Xiaoling held the back of her hand out toward the little yellow cat beside her and asked curiously.
Strangely, a flash of viciousness suddenly crossed the eyes of the yellow kitten with a white head when it saw the character.
But its eyes went blank for a moment, then it became languid again, lying on the bed and licking its paws.
Just then, a cold mechanical voice sounded in Tang Xiaoling's mind.
[Evil Spirit Instance participant: Tang Xiaoling. Age: four. Occupation: stay-at-home adorable little troublemaker...] [You will enter the Evil Spirit Instance in three minutes. Please prepare!]
"Evil Spirit Instance?"
Tang Xiaoling's chubby little face instantly turned pale.
Young as she was, she understood how terrifying the Evil Spirit Instances were.
Twenty years ago, a mysterious power had descended upon Blue Star, bringing the Evil Spirit Instances into existence.
Every year, instances opened at unpredictable times, randomly choosing one or more people to struggle for survival within them.
And those chosen had no way to refuse!
From that point onward, humanity had entered its darkest hour, living in fear every day.
But as some chosen participants successfully cleared instances, earned abundant rewards, and reached the pinnacle of life, people gradually began to regain their spirits.
Though the odds were minuscule, that possibility became their only source of hope.
Yet that extraordinarily high death rate also became an inescapable shadow looming over everyone's hearts!
"Sakura Country: yoshi, has Dragon Country run out of people? They're even sending in little kids!"
"Stick Country: it must be karma! They stole so much of our civilization and forcibly claimed our giant pandas. Serves them right!"
"Britain: this child is about to enter an instance. Where are her parents? Did they run away out of fear?"
"India: very likely. But low-caste slaves have plenty of children. They wouldn't care if this one died."
"Eagle Sauce Country: something this cruel would never happen in a free country like ours. The parents would risk their lives to protect their child!"
Some foreign viewers had bypassed the firewall to enter Dragon Country's evil spirit website.
After seeing Tang Xiaoling, they all seized the opportunity to mock the country.
The comment from the Eagle Sauce Country viewer, in particular, drew a torrent of curses from Dragon Country's viewers.
But inwardly, they were also cursing Tang Xiaoling's parents.
Your child is about to enter an instance. How can neither of you adults be anywhere in sight?
Although everyone knew this was certain death, they could at least comfort their child before she left!
Instead, only a little yellow cat was keeping her company. Just thinking about it was pitiful.
But as everyone felt sorry for Tang Xiaoling, a phone suddenly rang.
The viewers perked up. They watched Tang Xiaoling answer the phone, and a deep, rich male voice came through:
"Lingling, it's Daddy. Have you been good at home?"
Hearing that the call was from Tang Xiaoling's father, the viewers sighed inwardly. At least the child's father had some sense of responsibility...
"I've been really good! I even made noodlies for lunch all by myself."
Tang Xiaoling's childish voice made the viewers' hearts ache.
Noodlies? She must mean noodles, right?
The child was so young, still growing and at an age when she needed someone to care for her.
Yet these irresponsible parents not only made her cook for herself, but left her with nothing to eat except noodles!
This little girl was only four or five, not even as tall as the stove. She probably couldn't even tell whether they were cooked. Sigh...
"Lingling, you're amazing! How about Daddy buys you some candy as a reward when I get back?"
Tang Xiaoling's father spoke with unmistakable affection.
Even so, it did nothing to improve the viewers' poor impression of him.
Tang Xiaoling, on the other hand, happily jumped off the bed and said as she bounced around:
"Yes! I want candy! I want milk candy!"
Seeing how innocent she was, many viewers sitting before their screens found their eyes reddening.
Such a good child. What a shame...
But just then, Tang Xiaoling suddenly stopped bouncing and said in a small, aggrieved voice:
"But... but I'm scared I won't get to eat any. Daddy, I've been picked to go into an Evil Spirit Instance."
"When Daddy comes back, you might never see Lingling again!"
By the time she finished, Tang Xiaoling had burst into loud sobs.
Seeing her so upset, the viewers whose eyes had reddened finally couldn't hold back either, and their tears fell along with hers.
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