Times flew by, and a few days later, Pyradine City was no longer calm. The quiet indifference that had once greeted the West District had been replaced by a localized hurricane of gossip.
"What? A shop where you can step into another world?"
"I heard you can fight monsters and come back to life!"
"They say you get stronger every time you die!"
"Nonsense! That's obviously a scam to drain your spirit crystals!"
Rumors spread like wildfire, jumping from the steam of teahouses to the grit of the marketplaces. They traveled from the whispers of beggars to the ledgers of wealthy merchants, and finally—inevitably—to the ears of those who loved trouble the most.
The once-empty shop was no longer empty.
"MOVE! It's my turn!"
"Get in line, you ox!"
"Why is that guy still inside? He's been in the chair forever!"
"Shut up! If you rush me, I'll come out of this trial and beat you personally!"
A chaotic crowd had formed outside the Origins Dungeon Hall. Some stood on tiptoe, crane-necked, trying to catch a glimpse of the "magic seats." Others argued loudly over the definition of a 'line.' One poor fellow was pressed against the exterior wall so hard he looked like a human pancake.
At the center of the storm sat Yuan Bi. He remained behind the counter, sipping tea with the serene composure of a man watching a distant sunset.
"…Business is booming," he muttered into his cup.
Beside him, Wu Feng leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, looking as if he had transcended mortal concerns. Lu Dong, however, was in the thick of it, shouting at a persistent customer: "I saw it first! That seat is mine by divine right!"
Bai Fan sighed, adjusting his robes. "You said that about the last three seats, Lu Dong."
"I mean it this time!"
"…You said that last time, as well."
The Entrance
"I heard someone killed ten monsters in there!" a man whispered dramatically to his neighbor.
"Ten?! That's impossible! Even a body-tempering cultivator would tire."
A third added, "No, no—I heard a guy died twenty times and still went back in immediately!"
"…That sounds less impressive."
"But infinitely more insane."
Right then, a loud, grating voice cut through the noise. "MAKE WAY!"
The crowd parted instinctively. A young man in excessively luxurious robes stepped forward, his chin raised so high he appeared to be addressing the clouds. Behind him followed two stone-faced guards. His aura screamed a very specific kind of trouble.
"I am Zhao Tianlong!" he announced, his voice echoing off the rafters. "Young Master of the Zhao family!"
The shop fell silent. No one responded.
"…Ahem," he coughed into his hand. "You should all be honored by my presence."
Still nothing. Finally, someone in the back whispered, "Who?"
"I don't know."
"Never heard of him. Is he a merchant?"
Zhao Tianlong's smile twitched. His face reddened, but he quickly masked it with a sneer. He slammed a heavy pouch of crystals onto the counter. "I heard this place was 'interesting.' Let me see if it's worthy of a Zhao's time."
Yuan Bi didn't even look up from his tea. "Seven crystals."
"…You dare charge me?"
"Yes."
"…Do you have any idea who I am?"
"Yes."
"…And you still charge me?"
"Yes."
Lu Dong snorted from the sidelines. "First time meeting him, Zhao? He treats everyone the same."
Wu Feng nodded. "Equal opportunity apathy."
Bai Fan added, "A master of impartial shamelessness."
Yuan Bi: "…"
Zhao Tianlong scoffed and shoved the crystals forward. "Fine! I'll play your little game!" He sat down dramatically, donned the helm, and vanished into the trial.
Five Seconds Later
"AHHHHHHH—!!!"
The scream shook the dust from the ceiling. Zhao Tianlong shot out of the chair like a launched arrow. He stumbled backward, tripped over a low stool, and fell flat on his back.
"…Ghost!" he shrieked, pointing at the empty air. "There's a walking corpse!!"
The shop went deathly quiet. Then, Lu Dong burst out laughing, doubling over. "HAHAHAHA! You lasted five seconds! New record!"
Wu Feng shook his head, looking at his watch—if he had one. "The old record was ten. Truly, a genius of the Zhao family."
Bai Fan corrected him, "Technically, the lowest record is still a record."
Zhao Tianlong's face turned a violent shade of green. "You… YOU SET ME UP!"
Yuan Bi sipped his tea. "You went in yourself. Nobody pushed you."
"Again!" Zhao Tianlong roared, refusing to accept such a pathetic defeat. He jammed the helm back on.
This time, he clenched his fists. "I am not afraid," he muttered to himself. "I am Zhao Tianlong! A future powerhouse of the Empire!" He turned a corner in the dark mansion. A zombie slowly rotated its head, its jaw clicking. Their eyes met.
"…Mother."
"AHHHHHHH—!!!"
He ripped the helm off again. This time, he didn't just fall; he crawled backward across the floor like a frightened crab. "IT LOOKED AT ME! IT HAS EYES!"
Lu Dong was practically on the floor. "Of course it looked at you! You're fresh meat! High-quality ingredients!"
As the day progressed, more people entered. More screams followed in a chaotic symphony of panic.
"WHY WON'T IT DIE?!"
"IT BIT ME!! OH GODS, IT BIT ME!!"
"MY ARM! MY ARM—oh… wait, it's fine…"
"I DIED AGAIN?! THAT'S NINE TIMES!"
Outside, the screams only served to make the citizens more curious. Inside, the players experienced the horror and became instantly addicted. A man rushed to the counter, sweating. "Boss! Another hour!"
"Pay first."
"Here! Take it all!"
Another shouted, "Let me in! I want revenge on that faceless thing!"
"Line up."
"I've been in line for two hours!"
"Then wait for the third."
Meanwhile, in a quiet corner, Zhao Tianlong sat silently. His hair was a mess, his eyes were bloodshot, and sweat dripped from his chin. "…I can't lose," he muttered to his knees.
Lu Dong peeked over. "Still alive, Young Master Zhao?"
"I killed one," Zhao Tianlong said hoarsely, his voice cracking.
Wu Feng raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Actually made progress?"
Zhao Tianlong clenched his fists, his eyes burning with a dark, newfound determination. "…It took me six tries. But it's dead. I felt its skull crack."
Bai Fan nodded approvingly. "Progress is the only truth."
Zhao Tianlong looked up, his gaze intense. "I will conquer this dungeon. I don't care how many times I have to die."
Lu Dong whispered to Wu Feng, "He's gone."
Wu Feng nodded. "Completely lost to the abyss."
Bai Fan concluded, "Another satisfied victim."
Behind the counter, Yuan Bi watched the chaos, the screams, and the burgeoning obsession. He smiled faintly into his tea. "…Good."
Outside, the rumors continued to swirl. Inside, the players continued to fall—and rise again, sharper than before.
End of Chapter 6