A wave of sound seized them, spreading insidiously across the mountain.
The suddenness and intensity of the shrill noise plunge the moment into momentary chaos.
The disciples present freeze, some in fear, others in confusion, while the sect leader, already exhausted by recent events, collapses under the weight of the auditory assault.
The GM, usually talkative, seems to be giving Shoi-Ming his freedom of action this time without forcing him to make a choice. His character's knowledge tells him that a spiritual barrier should be erected quickly.
Shoi-Ming covers his ears as he feels a shiver run down his spine.
Again? Leave him alone, he's just an NPC, all this is for qualified people!
Instinctively, he bends down to help the sect master.
Shit! Shit shit shit!! Have some dignity! You're the sect leader! You must remain impassive and stand firm! You are the example to follow! If your disciples see you in this state, they will lose hope, too!!
And the other one, where is he again?! Why does he have to call him to take care of his shixiong, huh?! He's supposed to run to him to take care of him, that's how it works!
"Kuan qianbei!!"
Looking around as he grabs the other man's arm to help him to his feet, he catches himself with a more authoritative voice, giving no hint of his panic. Shit. When he arrives, he whispers not to disrespect his shixiong:
"It is best to rest him, but the situation is serious, if you could transfer some of your Qi to him to help him recover faster, that would be greatly appreciated."
He can't, so consider yourself lucky to be able to do it, why does he have to suggest it when it's so obvious! Do your job!
"GM! Is the timer still running? How much time do I have left?"
Grimacing, his expression darker, he grumbled inwardly that he'd had nothing of what was said in the description. No clue, this GM is unreliable!
Now the best thing to do is the meeting, but he'll come back to his sect with nothing. Sighing, he nearly has a heart attack when the GM suddenly comes to life with an urgent warning!
[ /!\ New Timer /!\ 5 minutes : You will lose consciousness if you don't protect yourself against the spiritual assault. ]
"What?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!"
It's enough to make you tear your hair out!
"And how do I protect myself, huh? I...I don't have anything to do that!!"
He's useless useless useless!!! Look at him, running like hell to escape the scene, covering his ears. What? Yes, that's the best he could come up with!
As Shoi-Ming sets off on a mad dash, despair tinged with a hint of anger at the GM who seems to have abandoned him completely, the noise becomes unbearable, invading every corner of his mind.
His attempts to cover his ears are in vain; the sonic assault is relentless, a merciless force that seeks only to break his will.
The countdown continues relentlessly, each second bringing him inexorably closer to the inevitable.
In a last desperate effort, he cries out against the injustice of his situation, against a GM who seems more inclined to see him fail than to help him.
[ /!\ System alert /!\ Tutorial quest failed. You lose consciousness. ]
The world around him becomes a blur, his legs give way under the weight of exhaustion and defeat. Blackness engulfs him, the silence after the chaos.
[...]
When Shoi-Ming regains consciousness, he finds himself lying on a bed in what appears to be his own room at the Ethereal Clouds Sect.
The game isn't over?
The room is quiet, a welcome contrast to the turmoil he has just experienced.
There is no time to gather his thoughts. The GM gives him no peace, even in this moment of vulnerability.
[ All your points (except luck) have been reset to zero following the failure of the tutorial quest. ]
It was as if everything he had accomplished up to that point had been erased, a cruel and unforgiving return to square one.
Before he had time to process this information, a familiar voice spoke up, soft and full of concern. Zi Xuan was standing by his bed, looking at him with an expression that was a mixture of worry and relief.
"You're finally awake. How are you feeling? Someone found you unconscious on the Mountain of Three Hundred Fans and brought you here. Everyone was very worried about you."
It was a tutorial quest and he failed? What will the others be like? It's pathetic.
Running a hand over his face again, he sits up, leaning against the wall.
It's... it's not possible. He has to play another character, otherwise he'll never get out of this. He won't be able to do anything. His points... reset? He's so disgusted.
Defeated, he doesn't even dare to look at Zi Xuan, already imagining the disappointment on his face.
Yet when he hears his say that people were worried about him, he lets out a slight chuckle. Yeah, right. Who would worry about him? Shitty GM! He's not playing anymore!
He's going to pack his bags, go on vacation, and if anyone asks, he no longer exists. He'll force the GM to find him someone else to play.