Chapter Four: Kill the Boss

[In the world of the Travelers, the resurrection of corpses in the New Capital is a rare occurrence. Ordinary people might be terrified, yet your superior has already stepped onto the path of madness. He no longer harbors any fear of deathly silence; the axe in his hand is restless, eager to experience once more the pleasure of killing you!]

[Hint: If someone’s level does not exceed yours by five, you can view their attribute panel by clicking on their name or title.]

Chen Qi immediately tapped the words “superior.”

[Known Information:
Name: Ford
Level: 4
Profession: Night Watch Captain
Alignment: Blade Shadow
Wage: 1 silver coin per day
Status: Deranged (induced by drugs and calamity)
Strength: 23
Agility: 16
Inspiration: 11
Spirit: 0
]

Life and death in this game were intricately tied to his own fate. Chen Qi dared not be careless and quickly scanned the information. The situation was grim—the most direct indicators of combat ability, strength and agility, were both inferior, especially strength.

He exhaled deeply. According to the game’s hints, he had three lives in total, and one had already been sacrificed for a talent. Now, only two remained. Moreover, he had no idea how resurrection worked; whether it was at a spawn point or right on the spot, he would likely die again instantly.

A foreboding sense of disaster rose in his heart. If the character died in the game, according to previous text, he would die as well.

He could not just sit and wait for death!

As the game progressed, several special buttons appeared above the minimalist text interface: the basic character panel, equipment and inventory, a log of previous text messages, and a dedicated button for the Morningstar talent.

Chen Qi glanced rapidly at his equipment and inventory. Apart from the newly acquired dagger and two silver coins, he was utterly destitute—nothing helpful for combat.

He quickly checked the message log to confirm previous information. Unlike in other games, the New Sun Game did not pause for him to think!

Scarlet text flashed again.

[You gaze at the blood-red axe. The terror of being killed by your superior surges once more in your heart. Will you flee or fight? Please make your choice (time remaining: 3 seconds).]

Fight!

Chen Qi made his decision. His agility was no match for Ford’s, and according to the log, there was only one exit from the dungeon. Escape was unwise.

[Murderous intent sparks in your eyes. Seeing the cold gleam, Ford grins and lunges at you, swinging the crimson axe!]

[You try to dodge and counterattack.]

[The axe gashes your left shoulder; blood spurts, you take 5 points of damage. 15 health remaining. You are bleeding.]

Pain—

Chen Qi touched his left shoulder. The sensation was faint but real—he felt as though he’d actually been wounded.

[The axe slashes your left arm, but your dagger’s tip cuts Ford’s wrist, triggering the weapon trait Shadow Pierce, dealing 15 damage!]

[Shadow Pierce travels through Ford’s body. Blood and dark spikes burst from him; his life drops to 40%. He is gravely wounded.]

Beautiful!

Chen Qi clenched his fist and smiled. Thank goodness his talent had granted him a weapon at the start.

[Ford is skewered by the shadow spike. His body falters, but he pauses and, recalling old times, smiles at you:

“Night Watchman, from the moment you came under my command, you were meant to serve me! Fight for me! Your blade, your deaths and resurrections, your struggles—they are but the first trial on my ascent to the heavenly border!”]

[Ford activates “Shadow Beast Transformation.” His body turns pitch black; his nose and eyes are shrouded in inky rain. His agility soars. He becomes one with the shadow beast.]

The first boss and already a second phase?

He gritted his teeth, realizing how limited his actions were in this calamitous text game. He could only rely on his game self.

However, the Shadow Dagger was tailor-made to slay shadow beasts, and now his enemy had willingly become one—

[Ford feels unprecedented power, cackling as he charges you again!]

[You fight through the pain, risking all in battle. Trusting your intuition, you hurl the dagger, striking Ford’s heart first.]

[Ford grins, but his axe cleaves into your abdomen, dealing 10 damage! 25% health remains; you are gravely injured! Treat your wounds promptly!]

Chen Qi gritted his teeth, his whole body trembling. The next moment, the text jumped again.

[Weapon trait triggered: Shadow Pierce, 12 + 15 fixed damage dealt! Enemy health: 0%.]

[“Why?!” Ford sees the dark spike shredding his newly empowered flesh, clawing his own body, howling in pain!]

[With agonized screams, the Night Watch Captain who oppressed you for so long collapses, his body erupting in black water, never to rise again!]

[Experience gained: 12. Blade alignment bonus: +2. 15 more experience needed to level up.]

Well done!

It was a narrow victory, but at least he’d kept one life.

[You are victorious, but gravely wounded. Choose your next action:]

[1. Flee immediately; Ford may have accomplices.]
[2. Search the abandoned cell for money. Your superior may have deceived you, but you still haven’t been paid.]
[3. Search the room for something to bandage your wounds. Treating injuries comes first.]

Three—search for bandages.

Chen Qi glanced at his status: the bleeding was severe—he’d bleed out in half an hour.

[You search the cell and find medical supplies left behind by your superior.]

[Acquired: White Bandage x3 (for treating wounds).]

[Bandaging…]

[Your wounds are bandaged. Bleeding stopped. Your stamina begins to recover.]

My game self survived.

Chen Qi wiped the sweat from his brow. According to his phone’s clock, he was just in time to complete the third trial of the Traveler King.

The countdown ended—3, 2, 1…

[Congratulations, Traveler, you have completed the Traveler King’s third trial.]

[Both your real self and reflection survived.]

[Trial rating: Perfect.]

[You may now draw the Traveler King’s final gift. Due to your outstanding performance, the blessing’s rarity will be at least “Rare,” with a high probability of being Epic.]

[Click to draw.]

Chen Qi swallowed, his index finger twitching. Unlike the first time, this simple button now seemed as dangerous as a self-destruct mechanism.

The result of the draw would greatly influence his future in the game. If he could start with two high-grade talents, he might surpass the “players” who entered earlier!

Please, let it be good.

After much hesitation, he pressed the button.

[Drawing…]

[Draw complete!]

[Your trial talent is: Prophetic Dream (Rare, exclusive to the Lamp alignment).]

[Description: In moments of confusion, you have learned to close your eyes; a lamp appears in your mind, dispelling the dark fog of the future.]

[Effect: Once per day in-game, you may use Prophetic Dream to glimpse a vague result of a future choice connected to your fate.

Note: Usage refreshes every morning at the disappearance of the Laughing Moon.]

Chen Qi read the effects of “Prophetic Dream,” his eyes lighting up.

A very useful support talent!

It would help him eliminate one wrong choice—a crucial edge in this text game where a single misstep could mean total defeat.

An excellent talent!

Glancing around, Chen Qi found himself at a suburban bus stop. The image of the shadow beast’s gaping maw still lingered in his mind. He decided to leave quickly.

He headed home while playing.

[The blessing of fate ends here, Traveler. From now on, your path is yours to explore. Remember, even with blessings, the road ahead is strewn with thorns.]

A simple text map appeared at the top right of the game interface.

By clicking the map, Chen Qi now had two options: immediately leave with an umbrella, or search the area.

He checked his talent panel. He was still under the “Black Rain” calamity. Leaving rashly was unwise.

Moreover, with the Morningstar’s Search talent, if there were any treasures, he’d find them without wasting time.

He spent 2 Spirit to activate his talent and search.

[Searching, guided by the Morningstar…]

[You find 50 Moon Silver Coins beneath the bench.]

Moon Silver Coins?

He opened the inventory to check their details.

[Moon Silver Coin:
Currency of the New Capital. Whether it’s fleeting peace or power you seek, money is crucial.
In District 8 of the New Capital, people prefer the tactile feel of coins.
1 Moon Silver Coin = 1 Moon Silver Note = 100 Star Copper Coins = 0.01 Daylight Coin]

He triggered [Morningstar’s Search] again but found nothing else of value.

He opened his inventory.

To his surprise, besides the usual discard, view, and give options, there was a special button: [Send to the Real World].

[Send to the Real World: Spend one second to transfer items from the New Sun World to your world. No “attachments” can be sent back to the New Sun World.]

[Reminder: If you modify an item from the New Sun World, it may be damaged during transfer. Do not randomly alter items taken out.]

He selected a Moon Silver Coin. Instantly, countless fragments formed in his palm, condensing into a dim, silvery coin.

Amazing—even though he’d expected it, he was still in awe.

He examined the coin; the material was unimpressive, but the intricate silver moon design in the center gave it a mysterious, ancient feel.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated—something new had happened.

Apparently, the phone would vibrate to alert him if something special occurred in the game and he wasn’t looking.

He hadn’t granted any permissions, yet the game was this aggressive and intelligent.

Chen Qi checked his phone at once.

[An unexpected event: A young man wearing a dog-eared cap and an ugly black dog have entered the underground cell.]

[The young man wears a heavy gray wolfskin coat, sniffing the air for scents.]

[You recognize him: a professional Tracker.]

[In the New Capital, many people vanish daily. Most missing persons are never found; their fates and causes of death remain unknown.

Most people don’t care, but some still seek the truth behind death.

Thus, the profession of Tracker was born.]

[The Tracker’s job is to search for missing persons and corpses. Their fees aren’t cheap—certainly not for a Night Watchman like you.]

I’m poor even in the game... Chen Qi grimaced, feeling mocked by the text.

[Evidently, he is looking for “you.” Black River Prison won’t let a fugitive, whether prisoner or deranged staff, escape.]

[The Tracker surveys the scene and grasps what happened.

He stands, gazing at you in disbelief. With your frail body, survival is a miracle—yet you killed the madman Ford!]

[He bends down, requesting you accompany him as a witness.

After all, Ford’s body, now a puddle of black water, cannot be taken back. The Tracker has a way to shield you from the Black Rain’s calamity on your journey.]

[A wild wind rushes into the dungeon; a storm of Black Rain is coming. Make your choice:]

[1. Agree, follow the Tracker back to Black River Prison.]
[2. Refuse, leave alone.]

Chen Qi stroked his chin. Choosing the first option, he had no way of knowing if the Tracker would betray him. But with the second, his health was low and he wasn’t sure he could survive the Black Rain alone.

Now, both options had a [Prophetic Dream] symbol beside them.

It was a tough choice. After a moment’s thought, Chen Qi resolutely used his new Prophetic Dream talent.

He foresaw the second option.

[You close your eyes, and in a haze, see the future.]

[Prophecy begins]

[You refuse the invitation and set off for the prison alone.

But a sudden deluge of Black Rain draws a tide of shadow beasts. You are devoured by the horde.

In your final moments, you see the Tracker trying to drive the beasts away with fire, but before this black flood, he is powerless.]

[You are consumed by the shadow beasts. Prophecy ends.]

“...”

Chen Qi was speechless. To think a single choice could lead to death—this calamitous text game was indeed perilous.

He selected the first option, following the Tracker back to prison.

[The Tracker sizes you up, licks his lips, and, finding nothing of value on you but coins, pulls an umbrella from the black dog’s pack. The umbrella, when opened, flares with fire—under its glow, black raindrops evaporate instantly.]

[You follow the Tracker back to prison.]

[In transit; destination: Black River Prison Night Watch Headquarters.]

[Travel time: half an hour (actions unavailable)...]

Thankfully, not both choices were traps.

Chen Qi tried a few buttons. Aside from the option to attack the Tracker, he could do nothing else.

He resisted the urge to play the villain—this was no ordinary game.

He took out a handkerchief, wiped his face, and stowed away the Shadow Dagger.

With a shush, the dagger retracted into his hand, leaving only a faint dagger mark, no visible wound.

As Chen Qi walked a fair distance down the street, leaving the suburbs, everything became familiar again.

So familiar...

Bright streetlights, cars speeding by, a couple selling barbecue at a roadside stall, laborers chatting on the curb outside an auto shop with their coworkers...

And, in the distance, that familiar shared apartment building...

Everything returned to normal, as if the “shadow beast” was just an illusion.

Chen Qi glanced at his phone again.

On every major platform, there was not a single mention of “New Sun Game.” It was as if this terrifying phenomenon didn’t exist.

Except in the “New Sun Game Support Group” on QQ, where he’d received the game.

The chat was actually active!

Chen Qi was still full of questions.

How many players are there now? How many disasters are there on Earth? Why distribute activation codes through group chat? How many hidden talents exist? Is the recent bizarre weather related to this game?

Many answers could only be found in this chat group.

He took out his phone, leaned against a wall in a street corner, and prepared to check the group chat.

Just then, a new message popped up—a friend request from the group.

Chen Qi’s eyes brightened—it was from Luo Qing, the vice-admin of the “New Sun Game Support Group”!

From his lurking in the group, Chen Qi knew Luo Qing was the most active member, always marked as the “Dragon King” and “Group Fire.”

In the group, Luo Qing was listed as female, her avatar a default icy blue icon—cultured, patient, and polite. No matter how outlandish the question, she’d answer thoughtfully (for a price, of course).

But the internet is the internet; Chen Qi had no idea what Luo Qing was like in real life.

He accepted the friend request.

[Notification: You are now friends with Luo Qing. You can begin chatting.]

Luo Qing: May I ask—are you dead yet?

“?”