Chapter 37: Novice Dungeon

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Novice Dungeon

Eight o’clock arrived silently.

Seraphina Sinclair had just finished cooking a pot of instant noodles and was about to take a bite when familiar text appeared before her eyes.

[Congratulations, survivors. Your novice protection period is about to end!]

’This is... the same text I saw the day I first came to this godforsaken place.’

Seraphina Sinclair froze, focusing on the words before her. The line quickly vanished, and the next one immediately appeared.

[Now, We shall bestow upon you a commendation.]

’We?’

’What kind of cringey, self-important way to talk is that?’

Seraphina Sinclair tried to hold back her amusement but failed. She opened the regional channel and saw that almost every message was mocking the term.

"Hahahaha! ’We’!!! HAHA!! The last time I heard that was when I was an edgy middle schooler!"

"You can tell the system is trying to get closer to humans. Yep, it’s trying really hard. Let’s not be so critical, everyone."

"Seriously, ’We’? It’s just the system, right? Did nobody tell it that we humans don’t talk like that?!"

"I’m laughing so hard I’m rolling on the floor, almost rolled right out of my shelter."

Seraphina Sinclair: "..."

’It’s not *that* dramatic, is it?’

Perhaps it was analyzing the survivors’ data in real time, because the system’s next words were much more normal.

[To increase the survival rate of all survivors, we have specially prepared a completely safe novice instance for you to familiarize yourselves with instances in advance! You may experience death once for free within the instance!]

[Attention: This instance is about to begin! There is no risk of death in this instance! Participation in this instance is voluntary!]

[Survivors who wish to participate may sign up within ten minutes. After ten minutes, the instance will officially begin!]

After the last line of text disappeared, a ten-minute countdown timer appeared in front of Seraphina Sinclair.

She only hesitated for a moment before choosing to participate.

’Even though the system called it a chance to experience death... it’s a commendation, isn’t it?’

’Since it’s a commendation, it must have some purpose.’

Seraphina Sinclair was a person who loved adventure and new experiences. In any case, it was free. It’d be a waste not to take it!

The moment she made her choice, a solid gold, rippling door appeared in her room, and another line of text followed.

[Please enter the door before the last 30 seconds of the countdown. You cannot exit after entering. Please prepare in advance!]

’It’s clearer now... What is this...?’

Sunflower’s thoughts echoed again. Seraphina Sinclair paused, finally understanding what it was talking about.

’It must be asking what this golden door is.’

’Could it be... that this thing was placed in every mobile cabin at midnight?’

Seraphina Sinclair couldn’t see it, but Sunflower could perceive it.

’This is a good thing.’

’In the future, if there are more instances, I’ll be able to know in advance.’

Nine minutes left.

Now things felt a little urgent.

Seraphina Sinclair took a deep breath and checked her gear.

Her military knife was tucked behind her waist just in case, her dagger was in her hand, and over twenty Fire Drawing Runes she had made were in her pocket.

’I’m well-protected.’

Seraphina Sinclair patiently waited for time to pass.

Her mindset was pretty good; she could still spare some attention to look at the regional channel.

The regional channel had already exploded over the news!

"Experience death? What kind of commendation is that?!"

"It’s completely contradictory! Stop embarrassing yourself and go learn how to talk properly!"

"Should we participate or not? The system said it’s a commendation, so maybe there’s another reward?"

"Isn’t the reward just experiencing death once? What’s the use of that?"

"Exactly, the people joining are just M’s, right? Rushing to get in on this!"

Seraphina Sinclair: "..."

’If they don’t want to participate, fine, but why attack those of us who do?’

’They must be jealous.’

’Jealous of the participants’ courage, jealous of the potential rewards, while they themselves, rats hiding in the gutter, lack the guts to do it!’

Seraphina Sinclair sneered and continued reading.

"Actually, isn’t it better to participate? The system said it’s a chance to get familiar with instances. Why is everyone so hung up on the ’experience death’ part?"

"Because most people are short-sighted and can only see what’s on the surface. The truth is only held by a few."

"Look at you, showing off, huh? Brother Truth."

The next message was also from this Brother Truth: "It’s a fact. But if I say it like this, they’ll definitely attack me."

"Hahaha, those two messages were sent at the same time. Why are you acting like a prophet?!"

"Kill him, kill him! Next!"

"Brother Truth is absolutely right. And hey, no one actually thinks ’Brother Truth’ is an insult, do they?"

This seemed to persuade quite a few people. Many on the regional channel began to say they were willing to participate in the instance.

But there were still plenty of people hurling insults.

"Yeah, yeah, you’re so perceptive! The system kidnapped us and brought us to this godforsaken place, so how can it be anything good? And you’re expecting a real reward from it? Naive!"

"What Brother Truth? More like Brother Full-of-Himself. Thinks he’s so great, but really you’re just this (thumbs-down.jpg)"

These two groups were firm in their stances, arguing back and forth relentlessly. It was the fence-sitters caught in the middle who were really suffering.

"Seriously... can someone just give me a straight answer? Should I join or not? I give up. One second I read this and think I should join, the next I read that and think I shouldn’t."

There were also trolls fanning the flames.

"Hurry up and argue. I’ll listen to whoever wins. Five minutes left, you can do it."

’It’s really... a microcosm of humanity.’

Even so, Seraphina Sinclair’s decision wouldn’t be changed by these comments.

That was probably one of her rare, valuable traits: once she made up her mind, it was set.

People like her were, in the end, a minority.

Seraphina Sinclair’s private messages suddenly pinged.

[Pretty Guardian]: Boss, do you recommend participating?

’Why ask me?’

Seraphina Sinclair found it strange. She glanced at the message and immediately closed it.

’Whether they participated or not was none of my business. Why should she be the one to make the decision for them?’

Seraphina Sinclair never wasted her energy on things that weren’t her problem.

’Yes, that’s another one of my good points.’

Seraphina Sinclair’s lips curled into a smile. Even she had to admit, she was pretty damn charming!

The countdown quickly reached one minute. Seraphina Sinclair didn’t wait any longer. She stood up, dusted herself off, and with a determined expression, stepped into the golden gate.

A new line of text suddenly popped up in front of her.

[Please bring your Sunflower.]

’Oh?’

’It’s not enough for just me to go, the Sunflower has to come too?’

’Interesting.’

Time was getting tight. Seraphina Sinclair jogged over, scooped up the Sunflower, and rushed toward the gate again.

This time, she wasn’t blocked and passed through the door smoothly.

In that instant, Seraphina Sinclair felt a strange sense of weightlessness, as if she had been thrown into an endless tunnel.