Alex felt the pistol's comforting weight in his hand. It had no ammo, but its mere presence, the simple act of holding it, instilled a strange confidence. With a swift thumb movement, he navigated the menu only he could see. Under "Basic Supplies," a new "Armaments" sub-section appeared: 9mm Ammunition (100 rounds) - 500 Excitement Points. He checked his counter: 4750 points. Plenty. Without hesitation, he selected the option.
In that instant, a small canvas bag appeared discreetly by his side, as if it had been there all along, camouflaged against the yellow wallpaper. He picked it up. Inside: a loaded magazine and several boxes of 9mm rounds. It was absurd, magical, and terrifyingly convenient. The chat, oblivious to the direct "invocation," reacted to his movement.
[Rick Grimes]: "Good, kid. Now you're talking. Load that thing. Always be ready." [FPS_Master]: "He did it! He did it! The show's on fire!" [User_Random_98]: "Where'd he find the bag?! Was it the camera?" [Neo]: "Reality bends to the will of those who understand it, Alex." Excitement points received: +300 (for anticipation)
Alex, a nervous smile playing on his lips, pulled out the magazine. With clumsy but determined movements—recalling every action movie reload he'd ever seen—he slammed it into the pistol. The metallic click resonated strangely against the constant hum. His chest camera captured the moment, and his lens camera showed his concentrated gaze on his hands.
"Well, chat, looks like I've got a new friend," he said, raising the weapon slightly. "Now I just need to know what I'm going to use her on. So far, all I've got is this fascinating tour through old wallpaper paradise."
He continued his walk, the pistol now an extension of his arm. The feeling of being watched by millions was overwhelming, yet strangely comforting. It was his only connection, his anchor to sanity. Every comment, every donation, was a reminder that he wasn't entirely alone, even if they couldn't smell the dampness or feel the vibration in his bones.
The monotony of Level 0 began to play with his mind. The identical hallways seemed to curve back on themselves. He tried to mark a wall with his carpet-stained thumb, but the material was too thick and old. He felt like a mouse in an experiment, or stuck in a video game level on an endless loop.
"Is there any logic to this place? A pattern?" he asked the air, more to himself than to the chat. "This is like an endless maze. A maze designed by a very, very bored architect."
[Jack Shephard]: "There's always a pattern, Alex. You have to look beyond the obvious. The past, the future..." [Sherlock Holmes]: "Observe the details, Echo. The grime, the wear, the dampness. Every anomaly is a clue." [AnonViewer]: "Echo's losing his mind! Normal!" [Leslie Knope]: "Don't give up, Alex! Find the map! There's always a map!" Excitement points received: +150 (for shared frustration)
Alex followed the advice, or at least he tried. He began to examine the damp stains, the wrinkles in the wallpaper, searching for any anomaly. That's when he heard it. A sound. Not the hum of the lights, but something deeper, a subtle drag, barely perceptible, coming from somewhere ahead.
The hairs on the back of his neck bristled. He froze, his heart pounding. He raised the pistol, aiming into the empty hallway. The chest camera captured his tense posture; the lens camera, his fixed, terrified gaze. The chat, which had been effervescent, fell silent, expectant.
The dragging grew a little louder, followed by a low moan. It wasn't human. Alex knew it instantly. This was different from movies. No scene cut, no stunt double.
"What was that?" he whispered. "Chat... did anyone hear that?"
[Malorie Hayes]: "Don't look directly. Trust your other senses. And be quiet." [Ellen Ripley]: "Move that weapon. Keep your eyes open. And if you see it, don't hesitate. Burn that thing." [User_Random_56]: "OMG! It's an entity! It's there!" [Rick Sanchez]: "Finally! Time to see if the 'protagonist' is more than just a pixelated face!" Excitement points received: +700 (for suspense)
Alex moved stealthily, pressing against the wall. The dragging was getting closer. His breathing became shallow. Turning a corner, he saw it. It wasn't large, but its figure was unmistakable. A creature with pale, almost transparent skin, sunken eyes, and long, slender limbs that dragged across the carpet, emitting that guttural moan. It was a Duller. An entity that, according to internet rumors, didn't attack directly but could plunge you into such a deep depression that it left you inert and vulnerable.
Level 0 wasn't as "safe" as he thought.
"Duller! Don't get close to it!" Alex yelled at the chat, though he knew the Duller couldn't hear him. Panic surged in his throat. What should he do? Shoot it? The System had given him a pistol, but was it for this?
The Duller slowly began to turn towards him. Alex raised the pistol, his hand trembling slightly. The barrel aligned with the creature.
[John Wick]: "One shot to center mass. Quick. Don't hesitate." [Lee Abbott]: "Noise attracts them, Alex. Think before you act." [Walter White]: "Assess the risk. Is it a waste of ammo? Or a necessary investment?" [User_Help_Me]: "Run, Alex! Don't get caught!" Excitement points received: +1200 (for imminent danger)
Alex made a decision. He couldn't afford to fall into despair. He aimed for the creature's chest. A single shot. The bang was deafening in the enclosed hallway, the weapon's recoil hitting his shoulder with unexpected force. The Duller stopped, let out a strangled cry, and collapsed to the floor, its body slowly dissolving into a grayish mist.
A heavy silence filled the hallway, broken only by the hum of the lights and Alex's ragged breathing. His heart hammered in his chest. He'd done it. He'd fired. He'd survived. Adrenaline flooded his body.
EXCITEMENT POINTS GENERATED BY ENCOUNTER: +2000 (EPIC!) COMMENT FROM [Seong Gi-hun]: "You did it! One step closer to victory!" COMMENT FROM [Ethan Hunt]: "Mission accomplished, Echo. Now, move. Don't stay in the same place." COMMENT FROM [Michael Scott]: "Wow! That was... that was better than my workday!" COMMENT FROM [RandomViewer_2]: "I can't believe what I just saw! So brave!" SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: YOU RECEIVED 100 EXCITEMENT POINTS FROM [StreamGod].
"I did it..." Alex whispered, his voice hoarse. He looked at the pistol in his hand. One less bullet in the magazine. The excitement point counter had jumped to 6250.
The initial euphoria gave way to a burning thirst. His lips were parched, his throat scratchy. Time had passed. Hours. He needed water. Quickly, he opened the System menu again. He scrolled through the options, desperately searching.
"Food and Water... food and water..." he murmured.
There it was. Almond Water (1 Bottle) - 100 Excitement Points. It was a ridiculously low price compared to the ammo. He selected one, then two, then three. The system notified him that the supply was limited to 5 per day. As the transaction finished, a couple of small plastic bottles with a whitish, translucent liquid appeared next to him, as discreetly as the ammo pouch.
Alex grabbed one, opened it, and drank greedily. The liquid, though slightly sweet with a nutty aftertaste, was the best he'd ever tasted. It was water, and it was real. He felt the hydration bring him back to life; his muscles relaxed, his headache receded. He closed his eyes for an instant, savoring that small moment of relief.
"Blessed be almond water!" he exclaimed, a genuine smile that his chest camera captured. "Never thought I'd say that. This is... a feast! Chat, if you ever get out of here, value every drop of water. Every damn drop."
[Chandler Bing]: "Could it be any more delicious?" [Gob Bluth]: "Almond water! The oldest trick in the book!" [Gerry Lane]: "Hydration is key to survival. Good move, Echo." [User_Random_7]: "I'm happy for you, Echo! What a relief!" Excitement points received: +400 (for relief and empathy)
Refreshed, Alex felt a new surge of determination. There was a System. There were enemies. There were resources. And there was an audience. It was all crazy, but it was his crazy. He holstered the pistol in a discreetly invoked sheath on his belt (which had appeared with the pistol) and tucked the water bottles into his backpack, which had also appeared with his uniform.
He decided to try something. With his glasses, he focused on a distant wall. He wanted to know if there was anything else. If there was any other way to interact with this place. If this "Level 0" had any peculiarities beyond being a yellow labyrinth.
As he walked, he heard the dragging again, farther away this time. He wasn't alone. He wouldn't be alone for long. And if he was going to be the protagonist of this show, he'd make sure it was worth every excitement point. The real game had just begun.