I propped my hands against the worn-out mattress, using the momentum to push myself up. Once the initial dizziness subsided, I began to scan my surroundings. It was a bizarre space. Many people were here, yet the air was thick with a suffocating sense of despair. Some sat huddled with their knees to their chests, trembling in fear, while others collapsed on the stone floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
Amidst the chaotic crowd, a girl approached me. I observed her: she had shimmering sky-blue hair that stood out sharply against this dull, gray backdrop. Her features were delicate, radiating a gentle and approachable aura. She gave a slight wave, a faint smile playing on her lips.
-"My name is Qing Yashu. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Seeing her friendly intent, I forced myself up and returned the gesture with a polite, social smile.
-"Hello. I am Zhao Tianxia."
-"That's quite a powerful name," Yashu remarked, her eyes flickering with a hint of surprise at my calm demeanor. This person seems like a newcomer, she thought to herself, but he's remarkably composed.
I didn't pay much attention to her internal reaction. My eyes were busy scanning the others around us as I lowered my voice.
-"Could you tell me... where exactly is this place?"
Yashu hesitated for a moment, looking at me with sympathetic eyes. "This is the Demon Gate."
-"Demon Gate?" I repeated. The name itself didn't sound like it promised anything good.
-"Precisely. To put it simply, we've all been pulled into this Eerie World for unknown reasons. This place contains 'Demon Gates'—they are life-and-death missions that all Reincarnators are forced to undertake. If you fail to complete a single Gate within five months, the price is... total erasure."
Yashu paused, gauging my reaction. Perhaps she expected me to panic or freeze under the weight of such information, so she added softly, "It sounds insane, I know. But it's the reality here. This is already my second Demon Gate."
Contrary to her expectations, a strange sensation welled up inside me. Demon Gates? It sounds like those survival movies I used to watch... It's terrifying, but also... oddly stimulating. I need to find out more.
I adjusted my mindset and continued to probe for information. "Are there rules within these Gates?"
-"Of course. Each Demon Gate is guarded by Eeries, Wraiths, and Anomalies. Each type has its own set of rules. If you violate their 'hidden laws,' death comes very swiftly."
-"Is there a difference between Eeries, Wraiths, and Anomalies?"
-"In terms of danger, Eeries are the weakest, followed by Wraiths. The most terrifying of all are the Anomalies," Yashu explained thoroughly.
I nodded slowly, realizing that this would be the first Trial of the Demon Gate I would have to face. --"If we pass, do we get to return to the real world?"
-"No. We go to the Eerie World to rest. You can do whatever you like there; it's quite similar to our modern world."
I silently thanked Yashu for the useful information. Looking around, she was clearly the only "normal" person here. Everyone else had gloomy faces; some even had dried bloodstains on their clothes, their eyes sharp with extreme vigilance as if they wanted to devour anyone who dared get close. It was best not to disturb them.
My gaze was suddenly drawn to a colossal door standing in the center of the hall. It was massive and menacing, with jagged spikes protruding around its rim like the fangs of a monster.
I wonder what it feels like to step through that door? A poorly timed curiosity flickered in my heart.
Suddenly, whispers from a group nearby reached my ears:
-"I swear to God, I cut that female Eerie's head off with my own hands!"
-"Stop bragging. Without that Guardian Gem, you'd be dead without a corpse to bury."
-"Yue Ni is right. Use your Gems more wisely next time. They're rare treasures, not trash you find on the street."
Gems? I caught the key term.
Perhaps those were the weapons used to fight against those supernatural entities.
Noticing my curiosity, Yashu explained as if reading my mind.
-"Ah, what they're talking about are crystals collected within the Demon Gates. They are rare items, each with its own function: some are used for suppression, others for direct attacks. You should find a way to obtain them if you want to survive for long."