Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Sea Without Light 02

Kui Xin huddled on the bed, her eyes fixed on the glowing screen of her mobile phone.

It was well past midnight, but she had no inclination to sleep.

The events of the day felt somewhat peculiar, leaving her feeling uneasy and unable to rest.

Throughout the day, Kui Xin had been refreshing forums and reading posts from beta testers. She did not quite understand foreign languages, so she decided to take screenshots and use translation software, only to be notified that the website prohibited screenshots. Reluctantly, she copied all the words onto paper and took photos before translating them.

The number of registered users on the forum was increasing, as was the number of posts. Many individuals shared the same confusion as her, with inquiries already made about the six-point announcement for players and the blood-curling one hundred thousand survival count displayed at the top of the forum.

Some beta testers also began receiving silver cards. They were like Kui Xin; they had never filled in their address information online, yet the card arrived accurately at their dwellings.

Kui Xin tapped into the thread with the most replies.

[Original Poster]: Although in the era of big data, people’s privacy is virtually non-existent, does it not seem excessive for the game officials to do this? If the officials do not respond regarding how they acquired the addresses, I am not against resorting to legal action for my rights.

Below this post, there were many supporting comments.

But someone replied immediately, saying, “I think something’s not right about this. It feels supernatural. I live in the countryside, where deliveries are only made every few days, but can you guess how they delivered my game card? My cat went out and returned carrying something without knowing what it was, only for me to find out it was my game card, which had my real name and forum ID on it! This is downright outrageous!”

[Reply 24]: I live in the countryside as well. I found my card while searching for eggs in the chicken coop; it almost gave me a heart attack…

[Reply 36]: I ordered some appliance online, and when I opened the box, I found a package inside. I initially thought it was a promotional gift, but it turned out to be my game card!

This whole situation felt not only absurd but also eerie.

The IDs were assigned based on the order of forum registrations, and producing card game cards would require some time. How could they be produced instantly upon a person registering and then immediately delivered? Moreover, the delivery methods varied, creating an inexplicably strange atmosphere.

Kui Xin exited the thread and opened a post displaying the player cards.

The poster blurred their real name and player number on the card before showing it.

There were slight differences in the cards displayed by the poster compared to Kui Xin.

The front depicted scissors rather than a mechanical hand. The scissors appeared sharp and menacing.

Kui Xin’s card included the prefix “Remover,” but the poster’s version referred to as ‘Proxy’ instead.

What was the difference between the two? Why were these terms different?

Kui Xin frowned, perplexed.

After browsing more of the forum, she noticed a pattern: all displayed cards bore the prefix “Proxy.” None of them resembled her card being marked as the “Remover.”

Kui Xin retrieved her card from the bedside table; it emitted a faint silvery light. Her true name and ID were engraved on it, as if it were a form of identity proof. Yet, the meaning behind “Remover” still eluded her.

The day’s events left Kui Xin in a haze of uncertainty.

She glanced at the time, noticing it was 23:59. Less than a minute until midnight when the official beta test was due to begin. Kui Xin sighed with fatigue, rubbed her temples, and prepared for sleep, despite having plans to search for a summer job tomorrow…

The life of a poor individual was simple yet monotonous.

Just before she put down her phone, it vibrated. She looked carefully and read the forum announcement:

“Detection of one million beta testers fully registered. Game identity cards have been issued.”

“Beta testing this time offers a non-chargeable format with no content deletion. There are no shortcuts in the game. Remember the six instructions. Explore your own destiny.

“Wishing you a pleasant gaming experience. The game begins now.”

“The game starts?”

Kui Xin, caught off guard, experienced shock as she noticed her surroundings changing before she could react.

Her hands suddenly empty, the weight of the phone disappeared, and she was no longer lying on the side of the bed. Instead, she stood in a boundless darkness where she couldn’t see or hear anything.

The old house with peeling walls, the window with a faint streetlight glow, the whirring fans—all vanished, leading to an eerie silence.

The darkness enveloped Kui Xin gradually, swallowing her inch by inch. Her instinct to call for help failed her, much like a drowning person’s inability to scream.

Finally, she lost consciousness.

—

“You have entered a new world.”

“Please check your identity settings in this world.”

“Name: Kui Xin

Sector: Federation – Resistance Army

Identity: Elite member of the Organization ‘Mechanized Dawn,’ probationary patroller security officer for the Federal Investigation Bureau’s 7th Squad, federal first-class wanted criminal, undercover in the Resistance Army.

Mission: Steal secret investigation intelligence, win the trust of the Investigation Bureau, provide intelligence support for covert operations within the Mechanized Dawn.”

Fuzzy electronic voice came closer in the dimness. As her vision flickered, she seemed to catch glimpses of text flowing past—

Kui Xin gasped painfully, feeling as if a hammer was splitting her head.

It felt like pieces of her brain were exploding.

“Sutures,” a man nearby said. “Need to stitch up her wounds. And give her another shot of painkillers; she won’t last long otherwise.”

She was on an operating table? Kui Xin couldn’t open her eyes, but her consciousness remained startlingly lucid.

She felt a sharp needle enter her arm, delivering medication that quickly eased her pain.

This wasn’t a dream. She knew nothing brought such clarity as this.

Kui Xin realized that nothing around her was normal at this moment. Her experiences were beyond reason. Perhaps she had encountered what could only happen in fantasy novels or films—travel through time.

She had jumped from her small, worn-out living space to an unknown location.

The injection she received helped alleviate her physical discomfort, enabling her to think clearly. Though she was anxious and frightened, those emotions wouldn’t assist her.

She must remain calm.

The prelude to the beta test of ‘Crimson Soil’ declared the beginning of the game. Immediately afterward, she was transferred elsewhere.

Kui Xin suspected she had crossed over to ‘Crimson Soil’s’ gaming world.

In this new world, she possessed a different identity.

Focusing intently, a bright screen appeared out of the darkness, flashing the identity configuration she had heard.

—”Core member of the Mechanized Dawn Organization, probationary patroller security officer for the Federal Investigation Bureau’s 7th Squad, federal first-class wanted criminal, Resistance Army spy.”

Kui Xin: “Ah this… I seem to have a very complex identity.”

After reading it repeatedly and meticulously, she felt overwhelmed.

She did not understand what the Mechanized Dawn was but the term ‘core member’ suggested a significant position. Moreover, the Federal Investigation Bureau… likely a government entity. More distressingly, she held the status of a federal level fugitive, making things even more complicated. Being a double agent had a perilous future…

Being a double agent meant no future!

Having watched countless spy movies, she knew that becoming an undercover agent rarely resulted in good outcomes. The grim future seemed to beckon at her.

The sound of medical equipment echoed as Kui Xin could faintly sense the stitches being made on her flesh.

Her heartbeat gradually stabilized from its frantic pace after regaining consciousness. As her thoughts became clearer, she moved closer to a state of calm.

After some time, Kui Xin felt she could control her eyelids. Anesthesia was dissipating.

The surgeon continued, “The effects are wearing off; she should wake up soon enough.”

Kui Xin gave up pretending to be unconscious and allowed her eyelids to slowly open.

The intense light made her uncomfortable, and a silver light kept moving in front of her eyes.

Struggling momentarily, Kui Xin adapted to the light and discovered the flash was from surgery glasses reflecting light, not the lighting itself.

Moving her head slightly, turning her eyes, she saw the doctors and nurses circling the operating table.

“You’re awake?” The doctor wearing glasses nodded at Kui Xin. “The surgery was successful.”

Determine to feign ignorance, Kui Xin mustered all her acting skills. “Wait, how did this happen to me?”

The doctor sympathetically looked at her and said, “It’s unfortunate. You, in training, encounter armed criminals for the first time and get into a head injury… Oh, without catching any criminals, your skull got fractured…”

“Skull… fractured?” Kui Xin pretended to be bewildered, inwardly exhilarated.

A skull fracture; this was severe enough for her to convincingly pretend amnesia! She came without the original memories and a slip-up might ruin everything.

“Yes, fractured skull, big hole in your head, blood spurting everywhere,” the gentle doctor said. “But don’t worry, it’s not permanent! Out with the old, in with the new!”

“What out with the old, in with the new?” Kui Xin was puzzled. “Sorry, it seems like I forgot a lot of things…”

“It is normal to feel disoriented shortly after anesthesia. It will get better though. Your skull fracture was pretty serious, making repairs difficult. We had to replace part of your skull,” the doctor cheerfully added, “Cutting-edge tech here, super-lightweight alloy skull, ensuring you won’t suffer such an injury anytime you’re out there fighting criminals!”

Kui Xin: “???”

Is this the legendary iron skull? Awesome!

The next time she fights, a hit to the head will make the other guy dizzy!

Author’s Note:

Players will cross back and forth between two worlds.

If you notice inconsistencies or plot holes, they may not be bugs, but intentional seeds for later.