Nicole personally escorted a new player to the front desk, and after finalizing the room transfer, Eric signaled that he had another piece of news for the Women's Mutual Aid
Society.
"Come with me."
Nicole led Eric upstairs, with Natalie following close behind. The three entered Nicole's private room.
Eric disclosed everything he had learned about the items. Nicole's pupils constricted as she murmured, "I knew it... After experiencing several supernatural instances, I had
my suspicions. I didn't expect such items to truly exist. Eric, thank you—truly. You've done a great service to the Women's Mutual Aid Society. On behalf of everyone, I
thank you."
As she bowed in gratitude, Eric quickly stopped her.
"The society hasn't been around long—I'm only the second to lead it. We don't have many instance reports. If you don't mind, I'll make a copy and have Vivi deliver it to
you."
"Then I'll gladly accept."
When their conversation ended, Nicole invited Eric to join her for a meal.
"No one knows when this thick fog outside will clear," Natalie said as she glanced out the window, worry etched on her face.
"Don't fret—it'll be gone within the hour," Nicole replied, unfazed. "You're still new here, so you might not know: every so often, the Transfer Station is shrouded in
white fog. Once it lifts, new buildings or shops appear—like the nail salon at the end of the street. It's essentially an update."
Eric had a sudden realization—that explained everything.
"There's no danger in the fog, but it's best to stay inside while it lasts. You don't want to be targeted by players with ill intentions."
After bidding farewell to Nicole and Natalie, Eric returned to her lodging.
Sarah's door was shut, but Eric could hear her humming inside.
Justin was still absent. Eric showered and tended to her wounds. Opening the window, she noticed the fog thinning. By the time she finished a bottle of milk tea, the remaining
mist rapidly receded, revealing the street once more. Curiosity led her eyes to the far end of the road—what new shop had emerged this time?
But she would soon learn the true nature of this "update."
Someone came dashing down the street, laughing maniacally:
"Ha... Hahaha! Hahahahaha!!"
His laughter was tinged with utter despair, drawing attention from all directions. Eric stepped off the treadmill and moved to the window, watching as a growing number of
players converged toward one direction. A foreboding sense gripped her, and she hurriedly put on her shoes and left.
"Something's happened outside. Want to check it out together?" Sarah emerged from her room.
In the elevator, Eric explained the fog. Sarah nodded, already informed:
"I've seen it twice. But this time... something's off. The street feels strange."
They descended to the lobby, which was nearly deserted. Their original plan to head for the far end of the street changed when they noticed the crowd moving toward the center.
They followed.
The path led to the Task Hall.
Outside, a dense crowd had gathered, the air thick with confusion and unease.
"This update affected the Task Hall?" Sarah tiptoed to get a better view but saw nothing.
Growing anxious, Eric asked another player nearby, "Do you know what's going on in the Task Hall?"
"No idea! Just heard something happened! But what *can* go wrong in there? Hey, you up front! Can someone explain what the hell's happening?! This is killing us!"
The crowd was noisy, chaotic. Inside, the Hall was just as tumultuous. Eric picked up fragments of heated conversations, barely audible over the din.
"The instance portals are merging! They're merging!"
What?!
Eric was stunned.
The Task Hall had always held two portals—one for normal instances and one for supernatural ones. Players could choose freely between them.
One could spend their entire time doing standard instances or dare to enter the supernatural ones.
But with the portals merged, could players still choose their difficulty?
The players clustered at the entrance were collectively shocked, and after a brief, stunned silence, voices erupted with even greater intensity.
"What does this mean?! Merged portals? How are we supposed to choose difficulty now?!"
"Someone's already tried going in—we'll know soon enough!"
"This is outrageous! This undermines players' autonomy!"
"Can someone *please* explain what's happening?!"
Panic swept through the crowd. New players, overwhelmed, stood frozen in confusion.
Eric felt Sarah's hand grab hers—her palm was slick with sweat. Eric didn't pull away; she allowed her to hold on silently.
Time dragged on, though only minutes passed in the Transfer Station. Soon, the first wave of players who had tested the merged portal returned.
The hall erupted once more. People surged forward, pressing in.
"Everyone, stay calm."
A clear female voice rang out above the noise.
"Please stop pushing—there's a risk of stampede. I'm Pamela, from the Rebirth Mutual Aid Society. We were the first to enter after the change. Most of our members have
returned—we're currently compiling data and will share it shortly. Please be patient!"
Rebirth Mutual Aid Society? The name was familiar.
Though Eric hadn't intended to join any group, the Society's reputation was widespread. It was known for its large membership, generous benefits, and especially its
welcoming stance toward newcomers—a haven for fresh players.
Eric had once seen them in action, a hundred members marching into the same light circle in the Stone Pillar Forest—a sight she hadn't forgotten.
Pamela's calm words soothed the restless crowd.
Ten minutes passed. Pamela's voice returned:
"We sent thirty players into the merged portal. Twenty-nine returned. Seventeen entered supernatural instances, twelve entered standard ones. The portal now assigns instance
difficulty *at random*."
Gasps of disbelief tore through the crowd.
This couldn't be happening!
Many players in the Transfer Station had built their survival around standard instances. How would they endure now?
Pamela's announcement was like a bucket of ice water poured into a boiling pot—the crowd exploded with agitation.
"Let's go." Sarah tugged at Eric's hand. They squeezed their way out and headed back.
In the elevator, Sarah's expression was grim. Eric herself felt weighed down.
Random difficulty. What if she was thrown into supernatural instances again and again?
If only she had a few more months—enough time to adjust to a daily supernatural pace—this change wouldn't be so destabilizing.
But life was unpredictable, indifferent to one's preferences.
From another angle, she'd been fortunate. She already had two weeks' experience. For new players just entering, this change must be devastating.
The Transfer Station descended into chaos.
Justin returned just after 7 p.m.
"I entered three instances. All three were supernatural."
His words left Eric and Sarah speechless.
"You—Justin—" Sarah was stunned, at a loss.
Eric looked at his pale, drawn face and couldn't help but admire him. What nerve. What audacity.
Respect, shock, even awe—her impression of Justin shifted once again.
She had thought him a steady, meticulous veteran. Now she realized he had the soul of a daredevil.
"It was beyond my limit. I need to sleep. Be careful, both of you." With that, he retreated to his room.
Sarah signaled for Eric to join her in her room.
Inside, she lowered her voice:
"We're all tied to the same fate now. We still don't know Justin's motive for recruiting us. If you figure anything out, let me know. We can analyze it together. This
portal change... really unsettles me."
Eric nodded. Even without Sarah's reminder, she'd been keeping an eye on everything.
Back in her room, Eric gazed at the Transfer Station's street. It lay empty in the dark, with only shadowy things flickering at the edge of perception.
What instance would she enter tomorrow morning?
At dawn, Eric rose and began her daily training.
After two hours of exercise, she washed, ate, and went downstairs. The others were still asleep.
Outside, the atmosphere was heavy. Many players wore anxious expressions. The Task Hall was still crowded—Eric had to push her way in.
Sure enough, the two portals that once stood apart had now fused. Inside was a single Stone Pillar Forest.
Many players hesitated within, wandering aimlessly. Eric recognized several familiar faces—players she often saw in the standard instance zone.
Choosing a circle, Eric stepped forward.
She emerged on a coastline.
The sea again.
She immediately left the beach, crossed a patch of forest, and found a luxurious hotel beside a shimmering pool. Sunbathers lounged nearby.
She entered the hotel, found a room key in her pocket, and used it to access a third-floor suite.
Inside, everything seemed normal.
Was this a standard instance or a supernatural one?
She couldn't tell yet—so she stayed still, cautious.
Taking a phone she had stolen from a tourist, she tried to search for information about this world—but there was no signal.
"What? No network?" She tried several times. No data, no calls.
This must have just happened. Outside, she could hear tourists complaining to hotel staff.
"I'm streaming—fix the damn Wi-Fi!"
"I have a meeting soon! What kind of hotel is this?!"
Eric gripped the phone. Her eyes, however, turned toward the beach.
Something was wrong.
A blink—and yes, she hadn't imagined it.
A dense mist had begun rolling in from the shore. The once-colorful umbrellas faded from view, swallowed by the creeping fog.