Chapter Forty-Five: The Flames of the Black Prison
The First Bad News.
Chen Qi leaned back against the wall, listening intently.
Chen Shi opened his laptop and played a video.
In an amusement park, black rain poured from the sky, drowning out the once vibrant and colorful lights, casting a pall of deathly silence over everything. At the horizon, a gigantic and terrifying beast loomed, destroying the Ferris wheel in an instant, while visitors struggled like drowning ants.
This was the Black Rain...
Chen Qi recognized the calamity—though what he’d experienced before was little more than a drizzle, while the devastation in the video was on a completely different scale. In the footage, the black rain appeared less like rain and more like a tsunami—utterly destructive.
Chen Shi explained, “According to the Disaster Messenger at our Daywalkers’ headquarters, a disaster of the same magnitude will descend upon the North Bridge business district of the Baihe branch. That special-grade player has come specifically to hunt the giant shadow beast. The disaster’s danger level is classified as special-grade. On Earth, disasters are drawn to us, the Walkers Between Worlds, more than to ordinary people—we’re more easily noticed by these calamities. So you all are at risk. Originally, this had little to do with you newcomers, as the lesser shadow beasts are not something you can handle.”
Disasters and Walkers Between Worlds attract each other!
Chen Qi paused, thoughts racing. If a shadow from the abyss appeared in reality, what would happen?
Chen Shi hesitated, then said, “However, judging by how quickly you and the Disaster Messenger are developing, you might both be eligible to join the hunt.”
He continued, “There’s still some time before that. There’s another piece of bad news you need to be aware of—the revenge of the Raven Flock. If you encounter crows lately, be very careful.”
Chen Shi played another video, this one recorded by a drone circling headquarters. In the sky, a flock of crows with unnatural behavior repeatedly hurled themselves against the glass windows of the Baihe Daywalkers’ branch, bursting into horrific splatters of blood.
The sight was shocking.
A threat... Chen Qi’s brow furrowed.
Chen Shi sighed, “Crow Scarecrow, from New City District 6, specializes in beast mastery—my own superior in the game is from District 6 as well. He’s skilled at commanding man-eating creatures like crows and is particularly interested in newcomers with rare talents. His crows witnessed your battle with the Umbrella Man that day. The Raven Flock values brotherhood above all. This is his usual method of intimidation. He won’t let you, the killer of the Umbrella Man, go.”
Threatened by crows, unwilling to let me go... Chen Qi pondered for a moment. “I’ll be careful.”
Chen Shi closed his laptop and frowned. “Those are the two things. Nightwalkers and the Disaster Messenger—you both need to watch yourselves. It may hurt our branch’s reputation, but we’re just one outpost, with only Elder Yu overseeing us. With battles happening in other regions, our protection isn’t foolproof. Even though you’ve defeated the Umbrella Man, don’t underestimate the Holy Calamity Society. They’re not only cruel, but their strength and methods are exceedingly sinister.”
“The Holy Calamity Society is truly terrifying. Their very founding purpose was to hunt and enslave other players.”
Chen Qi could see the sorrow in Chen Shi’s eyes; the Holy Calamity Society was indeed dreadful.
Chen Shi added, “Be especially careful. This is only my personal opinion, but as the Holy Calamity Society summons more and more dreadful disaster objects into the real world, even including the official military forces, they currently hold a slight advantage in the world-wide conflict.”
An advantage! They’re prevailing over the military!?
Disasters drawn to Walkers Between Worlds, the vengeful Raven Flock—danger lurked everywhere.
Chen Qi shook his head. He’d have to accelerate his growth. “I’ll be cautious.”
After asking a few more questions, Chen Qi returned to his room; his game character had awakened.
...
Back in his room, Chen Qi launched the New Sun Game.
[Health and Sanity fully restored.]
[Your equipment skills—Soul of Shadows and Eye of the White Dove—are refreshed.]
[You awaken in a cold room. Outside, daylight continues to blaze.]
[The Houndmaster has not returned...]
[It’s a good day for adventure. You stand at the door, considering your next move: explore the sewers or the Waning Light District?]
No, today we’re going nowhere. To study the Book of the Black Prison, we must learn...
Chen Qi opened his inventory, selected “New City Language,” and began to study.
[You return to your room, draw back the curtains made from black rags, and let the sunlight illuminate your desk.]
[You pick up the book, focus your mind, and begin studying the New City Language for the sake of the Black Prison’s forbidden knowledge.]
[You realize you’re only unfamiliar with a few complex ritual terms, but you’re confident you’ll master the language soon.]
[Studying “New City Language”...]
Chen Qi sat at his own desk, opened the tablet he’d obtained from the Daywalkers, and browsed through photos of the book’s pages.
According to Luo Qing’s theory of reflection, skills learned in reality would also affect the speed at which his game character learned the same skills.
In other words, as long as he studied the “New City Language” alongside his character, his character’s learning progress would accelerate.
Let’s give it a try...
He flipped to the first page, and a sense of familiarity washed over him. The New City Language wasn’t complicated; in fact, it felt strangely familiar.
The skill learning was reciprocal—because the reflection was studying New City Language, his own learning in reality quickened as well.
Chen Qi calmed his mind, put on a quiet playlist, and began to study. Since his game character already had a foundation, his progress was swift.
...
[New City Language study progress: 80%]
[New City Language study progress: 85%]
[New City Language study progress: 90%]
[New City Language study progress: 100%!]
Success!
Chen Qi set aside the tablet; now he could fully comprehend the New City Language, which was not only straightforward but also bore many similarities to Chinese.
He checked the time—it was already past ten at night.
A solid pace.
A new text prompt appeared in the New Sun Game.
[You faintly hear the voice of the Laughing Moon.]
[You look out the window; daylight has ceased burning, and the Laughing Moon rises in the east, hanging high in the sky.]
[Night has fallen. A day of study has reduced your Sanity by 3; current Sanity: 7/10.]
[Though weary, you smile with satisfaction and put down the “New City Language”—you have mastered it.]
[Now you can read the “Decayed Old Man’s Three-Page Note.”]
Chen Qi chose to read it immediately.
[Reading...]
[You peruse the three-page note of the Decayed Old Man, which records knowledge of the first five pages of the Book of the Black Prison.]
[A wealth of concentrated knowledge fills you with joy!]
[Within the note is an entry about the basic ritual: “Fire of the Black Prison.”]
A new book icon appeared in Chen Qi’s game inventory—a record for skills.
He clicked to examine it.
[Fire of the Black Prison, Basic Ritual
Description: The foundation and starting point of the Black Prison system of rituals is this Fire of the Black Prison.
Details: Wherever the black fire burns becomes a place of imprisonment and taboo.
Skill effect: Consumes a small amount of spiritual energy. Using a conduction circuit, it releases the Fire of the Black Prison, inflicting 1 point of persistent special burn damage (the more spiritual energy used, the higher the burn damage), and also causes persistent mental damage and a chilling effect!
Prerequisites: Basic Spirit Vision, Basic Ritual Conduction
If your affinity is Blade or Void, learning speed is greatly increased.]
Consumes a small amount of spiritual energy, inflicts special burn damage, plus cold and sanity damage.
Sanity damage...
Chen Qi knew little of other rituals and couldn’t judge how the Fire of the Black Prison measured up as a basic skill.
As he pondered, a new text prompt appeared.
[As you read the notes, you glance out the window—hot wind brushes against your skin.]
[A stooped old man, wounded and weary, approaches you slowly.]
[You inhale sharply, meeting the burning gaze in his eyes.]
[The Houndmaster has returned.]