"Is this the end of the space?"
"We need to find the puzzle fragments now. That Puzzle Gentleman opened the door to the exit."
Guinaifen steadied herself and focused on the in-game objective. The two fragments had scattered to the left and right rooms. She headed to the left first—a cozy toy room, complete with the soothing background music of a safehouse.
Lines of text floated into view:
[This is the origami bird I folded for you...]
[Mikhail, take it!]
[It will protect you from harm.]
The right room was an empty guest chamber, patrolled by lingering Dreamjolt Troupe members. Guinaifen carefully avoided them and retrieved the second fragment.
[I'll protect it no matter what.]
[I promise, Mikhail...]
[So... you have to protect yourself too...]
The white words hovered like ghosts. Though she'd grown accustomed to these "monologues" along the way, they still sent a chill down her spine.
"It's fine, it's fine... We're almost at the exit~"
With the puzzle completed, a door materialized out of thin air. She approached, interacted—and as it swung open, a long corridor stretched ahead. The further she walked, the dimmer the lights grew. The atmosphere turned instantly eerie.
Another door opened to reveal a new room—pitch-black, save for a single spotlight illuminating a chest at the center.
"Wait... is there some amazing loot inside?"
"Never mind. I've lost all hope in chest rewards at this point..."
Guinaifen had no idea what was coming.
The moment she opened the chest—No reward prompt. Just a sudden screen blackout.
"DING DING DING DING—!"
A shrill alarm blared as lights flooded the room, exposing its true appearance. Guinaifen jumped.
"W-Wait... Why is the BGM even spookier now!?"
"It's like something's lurking around... What the hell is this tone shift!?"
Clunky old CRT TVs were piled in the corners. But the real horror? Every wall was lined with identical doors.
Guinaifen licked her dry lips and checked the quest prompt:
[Find any door to escape.]
Panic set in. She rambled to herself, trying to diffuse the tension.
"This isn't the same kind of horror as Fyxestroll Fortress..."
"There's no direct threat, but the subtle dread and absurdity... Ugh!"
She picked the topmost door, swapped to Fu Xuan, and activated a shield before sprinting—channeling her experience from the Space Station's lockdown segment.
Just as she neared the exit—
"ZZZT!"
The screen glitched with a deafening static screech.
Guinaifen's fingers twitched, nearly yeeting her controller.
"WHO TAUGHT YOU TO MAKE GAMES LIKE THIS!?"
"I signed up for a space comedy! Why is this a horror game now!?"
"That flash almost killed me... Holy shit!"
Chat erupted:
["This music is TERRIFYING!"]
["Even watching GuiGui play is nerve-wracking!"]
["STOP SCARING ME AAAAAH!"]
["It's midnight here—I just yanked my feet back under the blanket!"]
["This... this is a ghost loop!"]
Guinaifen groaned. Exiting the door just led back to the same room. The only difference? Some TVs had flickered to life, displaying staticky snow screens.
White text oozed from the screens:
["Help me..."]
["Save me..."]
Re-entering intensified the BGM. The ticking of clock hands sped up—faster, louder. Guinaifen's scalp prickled. Everything screamed one thing:
Something terrible is about to happen.
And she had no choice but to push forward.
Why? Fast travel was disabled. All prompts were garbled code.
"...What the hell is going on!?"
"I'm trapped in a godforsaken nightmare!"
"Chat, HELP MEEEEE—!"
"DING DING DING DING—!"
The alarm shrieked again. Now, every door made her heart skip a beat.
Tears welled. "Yu Ling, why aren't you making horror games!?"
"This goddamn atmosphere is too immersive!"
["Please help..."]
["I don't want to die..."]
March's voice cut through: "The TV glare is blinding... Be careful. Something's here—"
THUD.
THUD.
A heartbeat sound echoed. The snow screen on one TV suddenly cleared—revealing a single, eyeball-like object.
Then—every screen lit up with the same violet, unblinking eye.
The Trailblazer whipped out their bat, shielding March.
Above them, a purple streak slashed through the air—
And the eyes manifested into reality.
A clawed hand crawled out of the darkness, its palm and arm studded with those same eyes. Loose eyeballs drifted around it, all upside-down, all staring at the duo below.
Guinaifen gaped. Her dialect slipped out:
"SWEET HOLY GRANDMA—"
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT THING!?"
"It's evil! It's WRONG!!!"
[Entering Combat]
Ironically, Guinaifen calmed slightly. Seeing the monster was less terrifying than the unknown.
She steadied her breath and analyzed its weaknesses.
"Wind... Fire... Imaginary... Okay, okay!"
"Good thing I brought Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae!"
"Doesn't matter what you are—TASTE MY DRAGON STRIKE!"
Chat roared:
["Dan Heng: My specialty."]
["Ruan Mei: Fascinating. Let me dissect it."]
["This is WILD! A monster like this in Clockie's home!?"]
["Is this the secret the Family hid!?"]
["SCREW THIS! If this is in the Dreamscape, I'd pass out on the spot!"]
Then—the Rememberance Phantasm ["What Death Foretold"] took its turn.
A prompt flashed:
["Setting Sun" stacks: 3]
"THUD."
The monster vanished into shadows—only to reappear above Ruan Mei.
Its claw plunged down.
Guinaifen stared.
"WHAT!?"
"My full-health Ruan Mei just got one-shot!?"
"HOW IS THIS THING SO OP!?"
"AND IT STOLE HER SOUL!?"
---
Penacony - The Reverie (Dream's Edge) Hotel Lobby
Every watching player froze.
Earlier, most had accused the Family of false advertising—hiding the Dreamscape's dangers. A minority argued it just added thrills. After all, you couldn't truly die in a dream.
But now? This monster shattered all delusions.
"WHAT KINDA DREAM SPAWNS THIS ABOMINATION!?"
The Dreamjolt troupe was fine, but this... One glance and my SAN drops to ZERO!"
"I regret everything..."
"FAMILY, EXPLAIN THIS SHIT!"
"LISTEN TO ITS NAME— 'WHAT DEATH FORETOLD'! Even Yuli gave it a terrifying title!"
"Thank god I stayed in reality..."
---
Across the Dreamscape
Screens broadcasting the scene terrified tourists and players alike.
"NOPE! I'm OUT of this dream!"
"RUN!"
"Back to reality—I'm suing the Family for emotional damage!"
To be continued…
Advance 100 Chapters are up on my Patreon!
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