Chen Shi's eyes snapped open.
He sat in the pews of a European church.
The air smelled of copper and blood.
The lights were blindingly bright.
Yet the church was riddled with shadows.
And they... seemed to be writhing.
Beyond the skylight lay pitch-black.
Not even the moon was visible.
Where am I?
Chen Shi clutched his throbbing head.
A wave of disorientation washed over him.
A faint fragrance drifted past.
Then came a seductive female voice:
"Welcome to Rule-Based Horror Instance 10086:"
"The Eight-Foot Lady's Manor."
Rule-Based Horror?!
Memories surged into Chen Shi's mind.
In 2045, the Eldritch awakened on the Blue Planet.
Otherworldly entities bled into reality.
They caused catastrophic casualties.
The Eight-Foot Lady, Sadako, Siren Head.
Dolls that sprinted to twist your head off.
And other unspeakable horrors.
Then, the monsters vanished.
Replaced by a deadly game:
The "Rule-Based Horror."
It drafted "Chosen Ones" from every nation.
Victors earned rewards and superpowers.
Their countries gained land and tech.
Losers met a gruesome end.
Their nations suffered eldritch invasions.
The average survival rate was a mere 10%.
Chen Shi's pupils contracted.
He was selected to represent the Dragon Kingdom.
...
Dragon Kingdom Livestream:
[Our new Chosen One is here! Come look!]
[Hope he pulls his weight...]
[We lost the last few games.]
[Several provinces are wiped off the map.]
[Huh? Why is it some pretty boy?]
[Fuck, no, why not a Special Forces operative?]
Dragon Kingdom Command Center:
Top brass stared at Chen Shi's dossier.
They were locked in heated debate.
[Player: Chen Shi]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 22]
[Profession: Relationship Coach]
[Personality: Slick, stable, high EQ]
[Ability: Business-minded, decisive]
[Physical Fitness: Above Average]
"Emotional stability is a core advantage."
The Director of Security crushed out a cigarette.
"Panic destroyed past casualties."
"A clear head is the foundation of survival."
"Understanding human nature is a plus,"
The Chief of Staff tapped the screen.
"He can rapidly weigh pros and cons."
"Maybe even forge alliances to survive."
The main screen split.
It listed the other "Chosen Ones."
Bald Eagle Nation: Retired Navy SEAL.
Cherry Blossom Nation: Active-duty ninja.
Germanic Nation: High-IQ physicist.
Sighs rippled around the table.
"A SEAL handles physical threats."
"A scientist deconstructs anomaly logic."
A general glared at Chen Shi's file.
"What can he do? Counsel the Eight-Foot Lady?"
"This has nothing to do with survival."
The command center fell silent.
The weight of a nation rested on an ordinary man.
...
Chen Shi steadied his racing heart.
His gaze swept his surroundings.
The room was packed with Chosen Ones.
An Asian teenager buried his head in his knees.
He clamped hands over his mouth.
A burly man in a vest dripped cold sweat.
His fingers dug into his armrests.
A Caucasian woman sat perfectly upright.
She silently sized up the room.
Chen Shi withdrew his gaze.
A heavy dread settled in his gut.
The others were commandos, ninjas, scientists.
He was a relationship coach.
How the hell was he supposed to survive?
By giving female ghosts therapy?
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in his head.
[Host detected. System bound.]
[Goal: Conquer high-tier female anomalies.]
[Conquering and impregnating yields rewards.]
Chen Shi froze.
In this nightmare world, heads rolled easily.
His mission was to get ghosts pregnant?
[Novice Starter Pack distributed:]
[1. Absolute Luck: Luck +100%]
[2. Eye of Intel: Probe target intel.]
[3. Moon Star: Heals anomalies, boosts power.]
[4. Dragon's Seed: Enhances fertility.]
Chen Shi stared at the pale blue screen.
His gaze hardened, his heartbeat leveling out.
Fear stems from a lack of firepower or chips.
Now, he had room to maneuver.
Why was this "Dragon's Seed" so indecent?
Click, clack, click.
The staccato of high heels rang out.
A tall figure emerged from the shadows.
She wore a black-and-white nun's habit.
Her face was divine yet glacially cold.
The loose robes couldn't hide her figure.
The fabric across her chest stretched taut.
With every step, the curves of her hips swayed.
The skirt hem lifted occasionally.
It revealed long thighs in tight stockings.
She kept her chin slightly raised.
Her expression remained undisturbed.
Her gaze swept the crowd with icy indifference.
Ah, the look of someone staring at trash.
Chen Shi's pupils dilated.
He had never seen a woman so beautiful.
Or so profoundly erotic.
The pale blue panel popped open again.
[Target: Ghost Nun Annie]
[Rank: S-Class]
[Height: 175cm]
[Weight: 63kg]
[Measurements: 100-65-104]
[Danger Level: ★★★★★ (Extremely Lethal)]
The data was cold and visceral.
Chen Shi swallowed hard.
S-Class.
Taking her down meant immense rewards.
But five red stars hovered like a guillotine.
A single misstep guaranteed a gruesome fate.
"I am Annie, staff of the Manor."
Annie scanned the room.
Her voice was alluring but devoid of emotion.
"Listen carefully to the manor's rules."
"Rule one: Obey the staff's instructions."
A faint smirk tugged at her lips.
"Rule two: Pray at the church at midnight."
"Do not open your eyes."
"Do not make a single sound."
Annie pointed a slender finger at the clock.
The second hand ticked onto twelve.
"The prayer begins. Close your eyes."
"Whatever you do, do not make a peep."
Snap!
The blinding lights bled into crimson red.
Panic set in. They clamped their eyes shut.
Terror filled the frigid air.
Only stifled panting remained.
Amidst the silence, the teenager swallowed.
He abruptly choked on his own saliva.
"Cough!"
The sound was magnified in the church.
Annie smiled.
A soft sneer escalated into a piercing shriek.
Hysterical laughter echoed beneath the dome.
The boy's eyes snapped open.
He screamed: "I didn't make a sound!"
Whoosh—
Air ripped in the void above.
A rusted iron axe plummeted.
It cleft him from skull to crotch.
Squelch!
His body split in two.
Blood and viscera splashed the people nearby.
They kept their eyes screwed shut, trembling.
They didn't dare wipe the flesh away.
Ground starts moving.
Wet, crunching sounds echoed from below.
Slop, crunch, slop.
The corpse chunks vanished.
A sweeter stench of gore remained.
Like a flower made of blood, shining in the dark~