“Agree? No way I am agreeing to whatever it is you’re suggesting! Let me out of here and I won’t report this to the police!”

[???: The police? The host sure knows how to tell jokes. As expected from a former broadcasting idol. Unfortunately, this system finds no humour from it.]

Shen Jiayi grits his teeth and clenched his hand into a tight fist. He looked around, trying to find the source of the voice, but no matter how he hears it, he can only feel that the voice is speaking directly into his mind.

[???: Host, your time is running out. Do you agree or do you not agree?]

“You’re not even explaining to me what I am agreeing to!”

 [???: Due to the time constraint, I shall explain it as simple as possible. Disagree, and it means eternal death. Agree, it means that the host will have a chance to re-live moments before his death. In fact, there is a chance of host changing his fate.]

 “Eternal death…” Shen Jiayi muttered the word softly. If he disagreed, then he will die. That was what the system had said.

 He then remembered about the mangled body from before as well as the monster that was in the hallway. “That monster from before, what are those?”

 [???: Monster? I don’t know what the host is talking about.]

 “Don’t act stupid! It's that thing that chased after me until I got here!” Shen Jiayi felt that his patience is running thin, and his sanity is slowly slipping away. “That monster had killed someone before. What is it?”

 [???: This system truly does not know what the host is talking about. This system has only just come into being not too long ago. Now then, host. This will be the last time I ask you. Do you agree or disagree?]

 “Fine! I agree!”

 [???: Excellent choice, host. Then, allow me to introduce myself. The host can call me Survival System Number 8885444. If that is too long, then the host is allowed to call me ‘Xiao Si’.]

 “Can I call you with another name? Such a name is very ominous. Do you want to curse me?!” Shen Jiayi asked. “Since 5 is the unique number in your system number, I’ll call you Xiao Wu.”

 [???: Whatever that makes the host feels comfortable.]

 [Xiao Wu: Now then. Since the host agreed to the deal that was given to the host, there are several matters that the host need to understand.]

 [Xiao Wu: From now on, the host will enter several worlds, and complete a few tasks. There is only one main task in each world but there will be several smaller tasks given at a certain time.]

 [Xiao Wu: Survival points will be calculated depending on the number of tasks the host has completed, and the length of time the host survived. If the host can survive until the end, the higher the survival points you can get.]

 [Xiao Wu: But there is one thing that the host need to keep in mind. In each world, there is a certain passing grade for the number of tasks completed. If the host failed to pass, then it can only mean one thing.]

 [Xiao Wu: Punishment.]

 Shen Jiayi did not interrupt the system as it explains to him what he had just gotten into. Apparently, he only needed to complete a task and every time he did he can get survival points. ‘But… what are the points for?’

 [Xiao Wu: The points can be used to buy items that may, or may not help the host in his next world. The host can also convert the points into time.]

 The sudden answer surprised Shen Jiayi as he did not expect that the system would be able to read his mind. ‘No, this also happened before when I thought I went crazy.’

 [Xiao Wu: Once again, the host’s sanity level is green. The host has not gone insane.]

 [Xiao Wu: Is there anything else that the host wished to ask? The host can ask them now. In the future, who knows if there is such a chance again.]

 “Alright. Then the first question, I can convert the points into time. What does this mean?” Shen Jiayi asked.

 [Xiao Wu: When the time comes, the host will know.]

 With such an obscure answer, Shen Jiayi suddenly felt suspicious. It was like borrowing from an illegal loan shark, and you asked about a specific clause but they refused to give out a straight answer. “Fine. Second question… You said that points can be used to buy items that might be helpful ‘in the next world’. Does that mean I can only buy before going into the next world?”

 [Xiao Wu: Indeed. The host can assume that this place is a resting hub for you in between worlds. Of course, you are not allowed to rest here indefinitely.]

 “Then, the ‘buying time’ from before is related to the time I can use to rest here?” Shen Jiayi immediately caught on, or at least he thought he managed to figure out something because once again, the system answered him in a very dodgy manner.

 [Xiao Wu: The host are correct, but that is not all that ‘time’ can do.]

 Shen Jiayi stayed quiet, thinking that the system would finally explain but unfortunately, it was only his wishful thinking. “Xiao Wu?” he called out, wondering if the system had left because the system did not say anything for a while.

 [Xiao Wu: Yes, host? Are you ready to enter your first world or is there any other question you wished to ask?]

 “More questions! I still don’t understand what happened here,” Shen Jiayi quickly said, afraid that the system would suddenly push him down into a new world.

 [Xiao Wu: Then please ask them and do not waste time.]

 Shen Jiayi who were admonished: …

 “Are the worlds… dangerous?” Shen Jiayi asked after a while.

 [Xiao Wu: The host will find out soon.]

 The answer alone already told Shen Jiayi that the world might be dangerous. He wondered if he even made the right choice by agreeing. ‘But compared to dying, isn’t it better to live?’ he thought to himself.

 “What about the punishments?”

 [Xiao Wu: You have not yet started and you already knew you will fail?]

 The system’s voice sounded as if its mocking Shen Jiayi.

 [Xiao Wu: The punishment is for the host to play a small game with my master.]

 “Just playing a game?”

 [Xiao Wu: Yes. But if the host loses, it would mean eternal death.]

 ‘So it’s a death game! Just say it out straight and don’t use such a roundabout way to say it!’ Shen Jiayi felt anger bubbling up within himself as he felt that he was being toyed by the system and the system’s master.

 Shen Jiayi tried to ask several more questions, hoping to see if the system would slip and tell him something important but unfortunately, it was to no avail. In the end, Shen Jiayi could only sigh as he told the system: “Alright. I am ready. What do I do to get to the new world? Is there a door I should go through?”

 [Xiao Wu: Before we begin, host… please look at these.]

 After the system said this, three card-shaped items suddenly appeared in front of Shen Jiayi, floating in the air. On each one, there was only one image with a single letter.

 On the left, was an image of a skull. The middle one, it has an image of a wolf. As for the last one on the right, it shows an image of a house. As for the letter, all of them shows the same English alphabet ‘E’.

 [Xiao Wu: Please choose one.]

 Shen Jiayi eyed each card in front of him. His instinct was telling him that he should choose carefully or else, he would regret it. ‘Out of the three images, the house looks the least dangerous but what if this was reverse psychology?’

 Shen Jiayi hesitated for a while. He didn’t know what he should choose. “Xiao Wu, can you explain to me what these are?”

 [Xiao Wu: …]

 “Xiao Wu?” Shen Jiayi called again when the system did not respond.

 [Xiao Wu: The question and answer sessions has passed. The host can only move forward now.]

 ‘So you’re not going to answer any more questions from me? Fine! Who’s afraid? Even if your ancestor came, I’ll make them kneel and call me father!’ Shen Jiayi grumbled as he took the card in the middle in his anger.

 [Xiao Wu: The world has been decided.]

World Level: E

Main Task: ???

Side Tasks:

1. ???

2. ???

3. ???

 Shen Jiayi saw that the tasks were filled with ‘?’ and couldn’t help raising a question to the system.

 [Xiao Wu: Do not worry. Once the host entered the world, the task will reveal itself.] 

[Xiao Wu: Now then, host. I shall begin the transfer in a while. You might end up dizzy and even pass out. Don’t worry, that is normal. Before I proceed, here is a message from my master to you.]

 Hearing this, Shen Jiayi was surprised. He thought that maybe, Xiao Wu’s master would give him a word of encouragement, or even give him hints.

 [Xiao Wu: Do not disappoint me, little rabbit~]

 The moment the message was heard in Shen Jiayi’s mind, his face turned pale. It wasn’t Xiao Wu’s robotic voice at all, and instead, it was the same voice that belongs to the monster outside.

 [Xiao Wu: That is all my master said. Now, the transfer process is ready. Wish you the best of luck, host.]

 “Wait! Your Master is—!”

 Shen Jiayi didn’t get to finish his sentence when a blinding white light filled his visions, forcing him to close his eyes.