章 1: First Entry
Gazing at the starry sky, people occasionally wonder whether death is the end of life or the beginning of something different.
Those who haven't experienced death can't provide an answer.
Those who have died can't offer an answer either.
Shen Yi stood at the top of a high-rise building, looking out to see a hazy cluster of buildings.
In the center of these buildings stood a tower so tall it seemed to pierce the sky like a sword.
Further away, Shen Yi could see mountains and waters, shrouded in a light mist.
This was a city nestled between mountains and rivers, a city so quiet it was chilling.
There was none of the bustle and noise of the mundane world, not even a trace of human presence.
He had woken up a minute ago and found himself on the rooftop of a building, which strangely had no entrance leading downwards.
Around him lay dozens of men and women, still in deep slumber.
This greatly puzzled Shen Yi.
Could this be hell? If so, it seemed too modern.
He checked himself.
Everything he had in life, including his gun, was gone.
His seventeen bullet wounds had also disappeared.
Everything seemed like a dream, but he didn't know whether he was currently dreaming or had just woken up…
"What is this place?" A pleasant female voice came from behind.
Shen Yi turned to see a young girl with big eyes and long hair sitting up from the ground.
"Bloody City," a deep voice suddenly rang out.
Shen Yi and the girl both looked towards the source of the voice.
A middle-aged man stood not far away, his face fierce and intimidating, with a slanted scar across his face, making him look as if his head had been split in two and then stitched back together.
"Who are you? How did I suddenly end up here?" the girl asked loudly.
The scar-faced man snorted coldly: "You'll know soon enough, but before that, let's wait for the others to wake up. I don't want to repeat myself for no reason."
The girl was unyielding: "You better explain yourself now. What is this place? Your actions suggest kidnapping. I demand…"
Shen Yi suddenly said, "You'd better listen to him."
The girl turned and glared at Shen Yi, her already large eyes becoming even more striking: "And who are you? Why should I listen to you?"
"Because three seconds ago, he wasn't there," Shen Yi coldly said, looking at the scar-faced man: "Just a moment ago, there were only seventeen people here, now there are eighteen… in the blink of an eye."
The scar-faced man looked at Shen Yi with a hint of surprise. It was rare to find someone who could so quickly grasp their surroundings after waking up.
"Are you joking? How is that possible?" the girl clearly didn't believe it.
"Two minutes ago, I was a dead man, as dead as one could be. If a dead man can get up and talk, then nothing is impossible," Shen Yi replied with a smile.
Facing the barrel of a gun, he had always remained calm. A man who isn't afraid of death, why fear life?
The girl was stunned.
People around them were gradually waking up.
They looked around, completely unaware of what had happened or where they were.
Finally, when the last person woke up, the scar-faced man shouted, "Quiet! If you want to know about your current environment, shut up first."
"Who do you think you are?" A young man, looking like a thug with tattoos all over his body and large gold earrings, stood up and yelled at the scar-faced man: "You better explain yourself. What is this place? Did you bring me here? Do you know who you're messing with?"
The scar-faced man smirked, emitting a low chuckle: "Interesting, why is there always someone like you among those brought here? In my view, the only purpose of people like you here is…"
He didn't finish his sentence. Suddenly, a gun appeared in his hand.
With a single shot, he hit the tattooed thug's left hand. The thug screamed in agony, trembling with pain as blood flowed down his arm.
The scar-faced man put the gun away and coldly said, "The only purpose is to set an example and establish authority."
All the noise and cursing stopped.
In the face of real death threats, all pride and dignity became meaningless.
But Shen Yi narrowed his eyes at the scar-faced man. He was sure the man hadn't had a gun before.
His gun, like him, appeared suddenly.
After a cold glance at the others, the scar-faced man sneered, "I know you have many questions, but unfortunately, I don't have much time or patience for chit-chat. As for what this place is and who I am, you might want to think about it. A
lot of information is already in your heads."
Shen Yi closed his eyes and thought, indeed finding new memories in his mind.
This place was called Bloody City.
It didn't belong to any known corner of the Earth but possessed power beyond ordinary imagination.
It had everything Earth had to offer.
The most luxurious cinemas, the largest amusement parks, the top entertainment clubs, the most bustling malls, and supermarkets. Here, one could buy the most expensive sports cars, the largest diamonds, the finest Swiss watches, and enjoy top-tier cuisine.
Whatever you desired, if you asked the city and were willing to pay the price, it could be provided.
All the luxuries you yearned for on Earth but couldn't have, you could find here.
But this didn't mean it was paradise.
Living here meant abiding by its rules.
The rules of Bloody City were simple: every month, the city would issue a task. Those living here had to complete these tasks to earn Bloody Points.
Bloody Points were the currency here, the key to survival. Food, drinks, even housing - everything you wanted could and had to be bought with Bloody Points.
Of course, the most important thing was that Bloody Points could be used for enhancements, making you stronger to face more dangerous tasks.
This was a place inhabited by those living on the edge of death, a city with urban functions but an adventurous nature.
The memories in his mind were vague and sparse. The details of Bloody City's existence were unclear, but these memories alone showed Shen Yi countless cries of the dead.
He saw many struggling and fighting desperately in different worlds, facing the tasks set by Bloody City, fighting to the death.
He saw many die, and each time, only a few survived.
In different worlds.
Then, the city would bring in new people to replace the dead.
Usually, as many as died were replaced.
Bloody City always maintained a population of around thirty thousand.
But the dead... were a hundred times more...
People struggled in the worlds of tasks, then lived in a dreamlike state in the world of Bloody City.
This was Bloody City.
Awakening from his memories, Shen Yi saw the scar-faced man's cold smile.
The memories informed Shen Yi that the man was a guide for newcomers in Bloody City and also a resident. This role involved answering questions for newcomers, advising them on tasks, and earning extra Bloody Points for these services.
"So, you all know where you are now, right? I guess I don't need to explain any further," the scar-faced man said.
"As long as you're standing here, you ought to say something to justify your existence," Shen Yi replied. "Bloody City sent you here for more than just shooting at newcomers, right?"
The scar-faced man chuckled. "Actually, my primary role isn't to guide newcomers, but to demonstrate the reality of this place. If it was just an addition to your memories, no one would take it seriously. But when someone steps up to demonstrate it, the nature changes."
Pausing, he continued, "But as you said, since I'm here, I should do something. So, let me add to what you need to know. Before I do, remember, I don't like being interrupted. Anyone who dares to interrupt me will regret it. Don't ask unnecessary questions, I'm not interested in answering anything beyond my duties. My task is to explain some unwritten rules and essential points and to open the gate for your tasks."
Pointing at the black wristwatch on his left wrist, he added, "This is called the Bloody Emblem. It's how Bloody City commands us. I consider it a collar, put on dogs. It directs us where to go. Defiance... means death."
His serious tone sent a chill down everyone's spine.
"The Bloody Emblem has many functions, which you need to discover on your own. Whether you like it or not, believe it or not, once you're here, there's no going back. Abandon all unrealistic fantasies and face the tasks realistically. If you have any attachments, best to let them go."
"Lastly, as you are newcomers, you must undergo a beginner's task before officially entering Bloody City. Only those who pass the beginner's task can become official citizens of Bloody City. This task is the simplest and offers the richest rewards..."
Someone shouted, "Can we die in the beginner's task?"
The scar-faced man glanced at the speaker, swiftly kicked him in the chin, and then smashed the butt of his gun on the man's head, causing a bloody injury.
Shen Yi observed the swift and fierce attack. This self-proclaimed guide was more formidable than the cruelest underground boxers on Earth.
The scar-faced man returned to his spot, his movements almost too fast to follow.
"I said, don't interrupt me!" he stated firmly.
Everyone was petrified.
"Now, do you all understand what I said?"
"We understand," came a scattered response from the crowd.
"Then, to answer your question, yes, you can die if you're not careful. So, everyone should be alert and prepared for the risks ahead. Anyone who disregards my words, like the man just now, will meet an ugly end in the task."
Pressing his Bloody Emblem, a light door appeared before everyone.
The emergence of the light door left everyone speechless.
"Now, enter this door. It will take you to different worlds. You can choose to do the task alone or in a team. The Bloody Emblem will issue your beginner's task once you enter. Remember, don't be misled by the familiar scenarios in these worlds; danger is the essence!"
Pressing the Bloody Emblem again, he said, "Newcomer guidance task complete, requesting return."
Another light door appeared behind him.
"Please wait!" Shen Yi suddenly called out.
The scar-faced man turned around, glaring at Shen Yi, "I said no unnecessary questions!"
"I'm not asking anything, just making a request," Shen Yi quickly replied. "I want your gun."
The scar-faced man was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting such a bold request from Shen Yi.
He laughed eerily, "Brave! But why should I give you my gun?"
"Because you don't care about it," Shen Yi swiftly answered. "I've handled guns. Though it seems simple, there's a strict standard to actions like drawing a gun, disengaging safety, cocking, aiming, and firing. Sorry, but I didn't see any signs of professional training in you. And from your earlier attack, even without a gun, you could kill everyone here. So, the gun is just for intimidation. After all, a gun's deterrence is far greater than fists. Lastly, you don't seem to care about this gun. A true gun enthusiast would cherish their gun and never use it as you did, which could damage it. So, I believe this gun isn't much to you. That's why I need to try and get it from you, even if it means getting beaten up."
The scar-faced man was taken aback, "Beaten up? Aren't you afraid I'll just kill you?"
Shen Yi smiled, "You are a guide, not an executioner. I don't believe a guide can kill at will. Otherwise, you would have killed us from the start."
After a moment of scrutiny, the scar-faced man said, "Fine, kid. But just because I don't care about this gun doesn't mean I'll just hand it over. After all, it cost me 150 Bloody Points..."
"Fivefold repayment," Shen Yi interrupted.
The scar-faced man looked at Shen Yi in astonishment. "What did you say?"
"Give me your gun. If I come back alive, I'll give you 750 Bloody Points. Isn't the newbie task the most rewarding?" Shen Yi said earnestly.
"And if you die?" the man asked.
"If I die, consider it your bad luck. A 500% return rate, the highest in high-risk investments. Aren't you willing to take this risk? Marx said that a 300% profit is enough to make a capitalist take risks," Shen Yi smiled.
The scar-faced man stared at Shen Yi for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Alright, alright, you're tough, kid. You've got potential." Surprisingly, he threw his gun to Shen Yi. "The bullets are on me. I'm betting on you, kid."
As Shen Yi caught the gun, he heard a beep from his Bloody Emblem. Information appeared on it: "Type 92 newbie gun obtained, 150 Bloody Points value. No kinetic enhancement, 1 shot/second fire rate, effective range 50 meters. Ordinary bullets, 100-round capacity, 99 remaining, 7 base damage, 1.5 Bloody Points value. (All gun properties are reset here, Type 92 is just the model.)"
The Bloody Emblem activated its storage function, creating a void space on Shen Yi's wrist. So, that's how the scar-faced man conjured the gun.
He also threw a small mirror to Shen Yi. The emblem indicated: "Heart Protector Mirror, a one-time item, blocks a fatal strike, reducing damage by 50%, usable only in beginner difficulty, 50 Bloody Points value."
"I got it from a previous task, it's of no use to me. I planned to sell it, but I'll give it to you," the scar-faced man said.
Shen Yi quickly replied, "1000 Bloody Points total. If I return alive, I'll pay you."
The man nodded, "Let's sign an agreement then."
The Bloody Emblem had a contract feature that automatically executed upon the completion of its conditions, ensuring no one could default on their debts.
After signing, the scar-faced man turned to leave. Someone else called out, "Wait, please."
A young man looking like a student gathered his courage to speak, "I also want to borrow something and am willing to pay five times in return."
"You?" the scar-faced man sneered. "Most newcomers lack the mental strength to face danger, leading to an over 80% death rate in newbie tasks. Even if you survive, can you guarantee 1000 Bloody Points? Remember, if you can't fulfill the agreement, the city will judge you as having negative points and eliminate you. I don't care about your survival, but I do care about my investment. Most of you aren't worth investing in."
He then walked towards the light door, which vanished with him as if he had never been there.
Everyone on the rooftop looked at each other in silence, unsure of what to say.
Only Shen Yi, still holding the gun, seemed to understand something. The scar-faced man had seen his potential, his calmness in the face of danger. For a seasoned adventurer, investing in a newcomer was a risky business, but a promising one was worth the gamble.
As Shen Yi was pondering, he sensed movement behind him. Turning quickly, he aimed the gun at the person approaching – the beautiful girl with big eyes and long hair. She stepped back in surprise, "I didn't mean any harm, I just wanted to..."
"Shut up," Shen Yi said coldly. "I may not be as capable as the guide, but I can be more ruthless. I don't know you, and any threatening move can provoke an extreme reaction from me. Your action just now was enough reason for me to shoot."
The girl remained silent.
"I'll complete my task alone. Nobody else should follow me," Shen Yi said, then walked through the light door.
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