Why is my journey to the world of anime a strange tale of rules?

There is no way to go back.

The narrow cave is winding, and you can grip the rock wall to move forward, but going backward is almost impossible, because you can't look back at the rock wall structure behind you, and it's also difficult to find a place to grab onto.

call……

Gao Hai struggled, trying his best to retreat, but he could only retreat a little distance, moving extremely slowly.

call……

The breathing sounds ahead were getting closer and closer, so close that he could almost feel the other person's breath on his cheek.

call……

He definitely felt it.

There is someone, something, lying face to face in front of you.

I can't see that person's face, I can't see that person's appearance.

But the cold breath on his face described the person's appearance so clearly to Gao Hai, describing the figure right in front of him.

Reach out.

Slowly, stretch your hand forward, extending it little by little.

call……

The breath gently caressed Gao Hai's skin.

His fingers ultimately touched nothing but the air and the cold rock walls on either side.

There was no one else present.

He was the only one there.

The person inside this suffocatingly narrow cave was all alone.

tick-

The next moment, with the sound of dripping water, Gao Hai slowly opened his eyes.

The sunlight outside the window is still there.

Pedestrians strolled slowly along the street, chatting about their plans for the new day, living a life no different from yesterday.

Gao Hai sat up in bed, touched his ear which wasn't scratched, then looked at the calendar on the wall, at the days he had crossed off, and finally stopped at the remaining few days.

He stretched out his hand, counted, and found that the remaining number was 3.

This means there are three days left until the next mission begins.

After the transaction ended that day, nothing much happened in the days that followed.

Zhenfei and he had gone on dates and shopping together a few times, but perhaps because she had been taken advantage of before, the girl was now much more wary. She would only hold hands and that was the limit; she was even reluctant to let him kiss her.

Kaguya would occasionally go out and organize tea parties for the three of them, but I always felt that the way she looked at me had changed, as if she was somewhat wary of me.

I don't really understand girls' minds. In short, there hasn't been any progress for the rest of the month.

It's worth mentioning that Maki managed to get Takami and Kaguya into a private shooting range run by upper-class individuals, where they hired professional instructors to teach them how to use and maintain firearms. Considering the environment of the next instance, Maki obtained two standard-issue pistols and made some modifications to better suit the damp, sandy environment of the cave, but the exact results will only be known after they actually use them.

No, it's best not to know. After all, guns are for fighting against other players. If such weapons are used, it only proves that there is competition and conflict among the players in the instance. And Gao Hai, who has been through the ordeal with Lao Guo and the traitorous woman, hates this kind of infighting among players the most.

There were already several unread messages on his phone: a message from Kaguya informing him of the meeting place three days from now, a greeting from Maki, and another message from Maki after he stopped replying: "Lazybones, wake up!"

Gao Hai stood up, picked up the black pen on the bedside table, crossed out a day on the date, then turned and left to wash up.

Everything has been inventoried.

Adventure clothing, cut-resistant gloves, helmet, knee pads, hiking boots, searchlight, casual clothes to disguise as tourists...

To prepare for any possible scenarios, the three have made contingency plans.

Amidst the rushing water, Gao Hai had already washed his face.

I took a towel and gently wiped the water off my face.

tick-

The sound of water dripping from the faucet made Gao Hai pause slightly in surprise.

Have you become overly sensitive lately?

He recalled the dream that he had repeated for the third time.

Climbing through narrow caves, hearing something following you, only to discover in the end that it was all a dream you had all by yourself.

A repressive, deep, and terrifying nightmare.

That might be some kind of omen.

But Gao Hai couldn't bring himself to give up the tickets he had already secured because of this omen.

Regardless, this is still a ticket to the Twilight level, a known entry ticket that allows players to obtain a lot of information and clues about the instance in advance.

If he chooses to give up, he will have to face the prospect of separating from Kaguya Maki and entering a completely unknown world alone, which is clearly not a good choice.

"..."

Gao Hai stretched out his hand and blocked the water outlet of the faucet with his fingers. He stood in front of the sink without saying a word for a few minutes before turning around and leaving.

Nothing happened today either.

I don't know how many times I've had to check the equipment.

Waiting for time to move forward step by step, waiting for the next day to arrive.

Gao Hai seemed to vaguely understand the meaning of the word "torture" for the players.

No matter what he thinks, that day will eventually come.

3 days, 2 days, 1 day...

Until the day the game begins.

"Are you ready?"

When he pushed open the door and entered the small private room that Maki and Kaguya had booked in advance, the two girls had already arranged their equipment and placed it beside them.

"Is it too late for me to say I'm not ready?"

As he said this, Gao Hai put his equipment in his backpack and sat down next to Zhen Fei.

The entry ticket for the instance has already been obtained.

None of the three said anything more.

Only their breathing and the oppressive atmosphere in the small room could be heard spreading.

"It'll be fine."

Finally, it was Princess Maki who spoke first, addressing the two people beside her with an affirmative tone.

"Once inside, if you are separated, reunite as soon as possible."

Kaguya then spoke, her icy demeanor cracking the instant she opened her mouth. Clearly, even with Kaguya's composure, she couldn't maintain a calm mind as she faced a new and bizarre game.

"Ah."

Not knowing what to say, and feeling that it would be inappropriate not to speak, Gao Hai finally nodded slightly and hummed in agreement with the current atmosphere.

Then, they waited for that time to arrive and experienced the countdown reaching zero, a countdown that ordinary people could not know.

hum-

The admission tickets in the hands of the three people spontaneously combusted without any wind at that moment.

And that eerie sound immediately echoed in everyone's minds.

Welcome to the "Sacrifice Game"

The game level you are about to participate in is: Twilight.

May you witness the end of all things amidst true fear.

The moment the sound faded, all senses were engulfed in darkness.

Next, the first thing that reached Gao Hai's ears was the clear echo of a water droplet falling to the ground.

tick-

Chapter 1: Welcome to the Red Nut Grotto Tourist Attraction

tick-

A cold drop of water landed on Gao Hai's nose.

He opened his eyes, but all he could see was darkness; he couldn't see anything.

It has the smell of sand and rocks.

The air was slightly damp.

tick-

The clear sound of dripping water echoed, as if I were in a cave.

Where is this place?

Consciousness seemed to be in a state of vague confusion.

He got up from the ground and stood up straight.

Then I saw a faint light in the distance.

The staggered rock walls were illuminated by the light, which also illuminated a large box, about one meter high and wide, located at the foot of the rock wall.

Gao Hai reached out in the darkness and touched the rock wall beside him.

This is a cave.

It was an extremely dark cave, with no end in sight, a completely dark underground cave.

This is not a place where he should be.

It shouldn't be the cave entrance or the attraction entrance area outside the cave that he should normally appear at the start of this instance.