Chapter 1:The Haunting Dimension, A Fatal Beginning
995 Words
A cluttered room.Yellowing walls.Blood, hair, and severed limbs littered the floor...
The pungent stench of blood jolted Dorian awake. Gasping, he struggled to rise, his hand trembling as he stared at his palm in disbelief.
“Where am I?”
Dorian scanned his surroundings, his pulse racing. An icy, mechanical voice pierced the silence.
“Welcome to the Haunting Dimension. Remain cautious and calm—your survival depends on it.”
A violent shiver ran down Dorian's spine, his heart pounding in his throat. “I... I’ve entered the Haunting Dimension?”
This wasn’t the world he knew. This was a dimension controlled by an otherworldly entity. Every so often, the Haunting Dimension abducted a group of people from different nations, forcing them into horrific challenges. They would fight for survival, representing their homeland. If they failed, the monstrous creatures of the Haunting Dimension would invade their countries.
Dorian’s throat tightened, sweat dampening his palms. His mind raced, still struggling to grasp his new reality.
“Calm down... Breathe...”
He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. Dorian had lived in the land of Zhenguo for twenty years, a place he had come to love deeply. He couldn’t let it fall, not like this. For his country, for his family, he had to survive.
Straightening up, Dorian inhaled deeply. Just as he began to regain his composure, that same cold, detached voice echoed in his mind again.
“New adventurer detected. First-time entry into the Haunting Dimension qualifies you for a free talent draw. Would you like to proceed?”
His breath caught. A talent draw?
Every adventurer who entered the Haunting Dimension for the first time was granted a random talent. These talents could mean the difference between life and death—some enhanced physical abilities, making it easier to escape dangerous encounters. Others strengthened the mind, helping adventurers resist the terror of the dimension’s monstrous inhabitants.
It was widely known that talents improving physical prowess were the most practical. In many of the dimension's scenarios, survival often hinged on one thing—running away.
Dorian’s initial panic had caused him to forget about the talent draw entirely, but now, with the voice reminding him, hope flickered inside him.
“Draw the talent.”
A faint chime rang in his ears.
“Congratulations, adventurer. You have drawn an SSS-tier talent—[Limitless Simulation].”
“[Limitless Simulation] allows the adventurer to foresee potential future outcomes. Each simulation consumes mental energy. Simply think 'begin simulation' to activate. Simulations are instantaneous and will not affect real-time events. However, memories and psychological trauma from the simulation will be retained. Stay calm and use your talent wisely.”
“Mental energy: 50/50.”
Dorian’s eyes lit up. He didn’t fully understand the specifics of [Limitless Simulation], but the fact that it was ranked SSS-tier—a one-in-a-million chance—was enough to boost his confidence.
The last adventurer who awakened an SSS-tier talent had cleared five whole scenarios, while the average adventurer struggled to survive even one or two.
Before Dorian could analyze his newfound power, the world around him shifted once more. His body felt heavy, moving on its own like a marionette. He was lying on a hospital bed, unable to move. His ears were filled with the cold, robotic voice again.
“Scenario initiating. Adventurers, prepare yourselves.”
Scenario Name: The Doctor’s Secret.Scenario Description: Every night, the patients around you disappear, one by one. But when you ask about them, no one seems to remember they existed. Fear grips you, as you wonder if you’ll be the next to vanish...
Clear Conditions:
Perfect Clear: Uncover the truth behind Cresthill Hospital and capture the “Unnameable.”
Excellent Clear: Successfully escape Cresthill Hospital.
Basic Clear: Survive for one month in Cresthill Hospital.
The oppressive pressure lifted from Dorian’s chest as he regained control of his body, but instead of getting up immediately, he shut his eyes and whispered silently to himself.
“Begin simulation.”
(Simulation Start!)(This is your first time using the talent. You feel nervous and excited.)(You get out of bed and scan your surroundings. The room is a private ward, with a bed against the wall and a small bedside table cluttered with random items. The floor is littered with clothes, and there's an empty cardboard box.)(You approach the window and open it.)(Thick iron bars cover the window, far too strong to break. Escape through the window is impossible.)(You search the room for clues.)(The door is locked from the outside. You check under the bed but find nothing. You open the first drawer of the bedside table—there are only some pills and random junk inside.)(Suddenly, a knock echoes from the door. A voice asks if you’re awake.)(You remain silent.)(The door creaks open. A doctor and two nurses enter, all wearing strange bird-like masks.)(The doctor glances at you, checks the first drawer, and then removes his mask. Beneath it, his face morphs into a grotesque, monstrous form.)(Your vision turns red as the creature lunges at you.)(You die.)
“Ah!”
Dorian jolted awake, a gasp escaping his lips. The simulation had been too vivid, too real. Even the sensation of the creature’s claws tearing into him felt genuine. He had experienced a true, agonizing death.
His first simulation, and he hadn’t even managed to leave the room. Dorian hadn’t uncovered a single useful clue before being killed by the monstrous doctor.
“What did I do wrong? Why did I die so quickly?”
His mental energy had dropped to 40/50—each simulation cost 10 points. That left him with only four more chances to figure things out.
The only thing he knew for sure: the hospital's doctors weren’t human, but monsters. He had missed something vital, some hidden trigger that led to his immediate death.
“Stay calm. I must’ve overlooked something important. Let’s try again... Begin simulation!”
- Writer
