Chapter 1: Death Rewind

——Am I dead?

Su Ming'an's heart was still pounding rapidly, the sensation of powerless death lingering. He found himself floating in a void.

Words from the woman in the café surfaced in his mind.

"The game... has it already started?" he muttered to himself, "What is the purpose of the game...?"

This game used absurd means and raised many questions; it dragged him in without his awareness, even making him think it was reality.

Logically, he should have already failed, but why... did it seem like he could reload a save?

In front of him appeared two scenes, one frozen image of him standing at the street corner in the afternoon, and the other that dark room at night.

[Save Point 1· Afternoon Street/Save Point 2· Night Room]

"This game has saving?" Su Ming'an was puzzled, but after thinking for a moment, he loaded save 2.

...

Su Ming'an's eyes were open.

The view before him was still somewhat blurry, but he could faintly see the hem of a girl's skirt.

She was smiling at him, expectantly, with tempting pastries in her hand.

"Panel?" He took the pastries and whispered tentatively. Unexpectedly, the space before him suddenly brightened.

A deep blue screen appeared before him.

But before he could take a closer look, he heard a system notification:

[Notice: You are currently in a personal pre-game level of World Game, this level is extremely short, only reaching a fixed target will lead to an ending! Proceed with all other players into the official World Game!]

[Current Fixed Target: Survive]

[You have triggered the clue mechanism. Combining clues to explore the level can lead to different endings for this level!]

[Current Reachable World Endings:

HE (happy end/positive ending) Line·Together Side by Side

TE (true end/real ending) Line·As if Awakening from a Dream

NE (normal end/common ending) Line·Her "Collection"]

...It really is a game.

"Try some pastries." Shen Xue said nearby, looking completely normal.

But as Su Ming'an turned to her, he distinctly saw text appearing in his vision:

[*Clue Three·Strange Bulge]

[（Strange Bulge）: I noticed the front of the girl's skirt appeared bulky… What could she be hiding? I'm curious, but I probably don't have the courage to reach out and check.]

[Progress to Completion: 10%]

[Clue entered into the Clue Bar, can be checked at any time.]

Su Ming'an had noticed earlier that Shen Xue's skirt looked odd, but he wasn't the type to stare at a girl's skirt; he hadn't expected that, after this "Clue Mechanism" was activated, there really was an issue.

The scent still lingering in the room, Su Ming'an put down the pastries, picked up his phone: "I'm going to the restroom."

He needed to visit some other places first, at least to avoid Shen Xue's gaze.

He had noticed earlier that the scent inside was too strong…

He stood up, his legs slightly weak, but his hand firmly held the phone as he walked straight towards the room with the door lock.

As he passed the dining table, he saw two sets of tea sets laid out, seemingly used.

He had not yet thoroughly inspected when he suddenly smelled a strange odor, penetrating, drilling directly into his nose.

[*Clue Two·Formalin]

[（Formalin）: Why is there a smell of formalin in the young girl's home? Could it be… she likes to use formalin as seasoning with dishes?]

[Term Definition: 35%-45% solution of formaldehyde in water, colorless and transparent, corrosive, widely used, also for preserving corpses.]

[Progress to Completion: 20%]

"…Wait a second, Ming'an brother." A soft voice came from behind.

Su Ming'an immediately held his breath and turned around.

What came into view was not that deathly spray.

The girl's fingertip touched his face lightly, like a dragonfly skimming water.

Su Ming'an did not dare to stay, turned around and entered the restroom, quickly locking the door.

He intended to try if he could call up other functions, but felt more and more powerless…

Su Ming'an's eyes grew heavy, and then, his breathing became more and more rapid…

...

[You have died…]

Su Ming'an immediately selected [Save 2].

...

"…Try some pastries."

The dreamy voice echoed in his ear. The girl leaned forward, her bright eyes like water, her appearance even more enticing under the night.

Su Ming'an looked at her, and the girl also gently gazed back at him, as if looking at a bright treasure.

The next moment, he drew his knife, suppressed the tremors in his hand, and thrust it rapidly, accurately, and fiercely into the girl's chest.

[——HP-170!(Critical hit! Fatal injury!)]

Such numbers jumped before his eyes.

[You have chosen to attack key NPC·Shen Xue]

[Entering violent pass route·Annihilation line——"I might understand, if I can't eliminate all the threats around me, then I should eliminate the person causing the threat."]

[Perfect Pass Progress: 50%]

In Shen Xue's eyes, there remained a trace of confusion, and then, as blood began to flow, she curled the corners of her lips.

"Ming'an bro… I like you the most…" she murmured, her voice as if in a dream.

"Pfft!"

Su Ming'an stabbed again, slashing directly across her throat.

[——HP-200!(Finishing injury!)]

Shen Xue fell to the ground, blood splattering everywhere, blooming into a room of red flowers.

"Clang!"

[You have killed Shen Xue (Human Race), Exp+20]

Su Ming'an weakly let go of the dagger, collapsing to the ground, stained with her blood.

He lit up his phone with a somewhat blank look and suddenly heard the sound of dripping water behind him.

——There was someone else!

He wanted to turn around quickly.

"Dong!" A crisp sound.

In the bloodlight, the reflection of another person wielding a hammer appeared.

The headless body of the young man wobbled for a moment before falling into the pool of blood.

[You have died...]

...

Under the afternoon sunlight, the shade of trees scattered broken halos.

A young college student stood under the street tree, the screen in his hand glowing.

[Shen Xue: Su Ming'an, don't forget about the gathering tonight.]

"Swish!"

The nearby vehicle splashed water directly onto him.

His breath seemed to have been stuck until then, as the air from outside flowed in, cooling his chest.

"..." Su Ming'an touched his waist, correctly feeling the cold touch of the dagger he carried.

Previously, he had died twice due to poisoning, none as violent as the third time.

The explosion of his head, the death so vivid even now sent chills in his heart.

He quickly moved, hailed a taxi, and headed home. Along the way, he asked several classmates supposedly attending the gathering, but they all said there was no such event.

"Ming'an bro, you haven't stayed up too late, have you?" his close friend Bolong said.

Previously, since he was not very familiar with his high school classmates, he had not understood beforehand—turns out, this gathering was only invited by the class beauty to him alone.

His memory lingered in that living room that seemed to flutter with a dark fire.

The glaringly pale skin, flushed cheeks, and that deadly spray…

"The game… has already started." Su Ming'an muttered: "A global competitive game? Is Shen Xue a system character, and I'm the only player? Or is this an entry-level instance?"

Had he not called out the "panel" then, he might still not know that he was in a game.

After this instance ends, will the game officially start?

So, is this a qualifying match?

"Panel."

When he called the panel again, he did it with practiced ease.

The deep blue panel appeared before his eyes:

[Personal Data]

Name: Su Ming'an

Number: BE3030

Level: First Rank one (Initial level)

Honor: Vacant

Achievements: Vacant

Occupation: Not obtained

Skills: Vacant

Health Points: 500 (for reference only, does not represent a fixed value)

Mana: 100+10*4 (recovery rate 5/min) (casting spell-type skills requires mana points)

Physical Strength: 5 (affects health points, stamina, load-bearing ability)

Strength: 4 (affects physical power, attack damage)

Agility: 5 (affects running speed, dodging speed, attack speed)

Spirit: 9 (Affects attention, mana points, spell strength, resistance to mental spells)

Charm: A (Affects NPC affection, social interactions)

Luck: E (Affects event triggering difficulty, decryption difficulty)

(Data-based attributes are innate attributes. The average for all humans is 5 and can be improved through points purchase or training postnatally.)

(Letter-based attributes are innate attributes. They cannot be improved through purchase; one must seek chances to increase them.)

Points: 0 (Can be used to purchase items after the novice level is completed.)

Combat Power Rating: 50 (This is a reference data calculated based on data and current performance, unrelated to real combat scenarios--after the end of the first world, a global ranking will open, with scores based on final evaluations and combat data.)]

"Ding-dong" the mobile phone sounded.

It had already rang several times, but Su Ming'an had been ignoring it until now, when the lit screen caught his attention.

[Shen Xue: Why aren't you replying?]

[Shen Xue: ...Aren't you coming? I've prepared your favorite tea and snacks.]

[Shen Xue: ...Why aren't you coming? Did I do something wrong?]

[Shen Xue: ...]

...

[Shen Xue: Open up, I'm here.]

...

"Ding-ling-ding-ling-ding-ling~" The doorbell made a playful sound.

For a moment, Su Ming'an's gaze turned towards the door—

On the screen, a beautiful girl with a floral dress and black hair cascading over her shoulders, held out her hand behind her back, revealing the corner of a spray bottle.

"Open the door, Ming'an." Her voice sounded rather chilly.

...

"Bang!" "Bang!"

Su Ming'an immediately stood up, closed all the windows around him, locked them, and after making sure no one else was home, opened the door.

Outside stood the girl with black hair draped over her shoulders, strikingly beautiful and charming.

"You made me wait quite a while." Shen Xue said somewhat coquettishly.

"Come in," Su Ming'an checked to ensure there was no one else but her.

Then, he led her to the sofa, poured her a cup of tea, and served a stack of snacks.

Shen Xue's facial muscles were somewhat stiff; clearly, she had not expected that her own preparations would completely coincide with Su Ming'an's.

"None of these are my favorites," Shen Xue pouted, "I had prepared your favorites…"

"Won't you eat?"

"I'll eat, I'll eat, since Ming'an prepared them..." She hid the spray under her skirt and freed her hands to eat several pieces of the snacks.

While Shen Xue was eating, Su Ming'an clearly saw the bulge under her dress.

[Clue Connection!]

He suddenly heard the system's notification.

[Guess One: Shen Xue seems to be hiding something under her dress, what does she want to do exactly? - Although I'm not sure, I swear by my Charm A, she's at least not trying to seduce me.]

...This system prompt is genuine leather.

Su Ming'an paid no attention; he had already seen this clue in the previous loop.

Now, he just quietly watched the girl in front of him, watching her eat the snacks he had given.

In the past, Shen Xue would have felt immensely happy, but at this moment, the unwavering gaze on her made her inexplicably feel a chill.

She choked a little, put down the snacks, and asked with a hoarse voice, "Ming'an, why are you staring at me..."

"Nothing." Su Ming'an swiftly drew a dagger from his waist, and then, with a swift move, he held Shen Xue down directly.

"Ming'an..." Shen Xue was panicked, immediately trying to reach for the spray, only to find that she was gradually losing strength.

"Where's the person in your house?"

"What, let go of me, Ming'an..." Shen Xue forced a smile, "It's just me at home..."

"Looks like the other one didn't come," Su Ming'an looked at the door's display screen, empty.

"Ming'an, there's something I've never told you..." As Shen Xue regained some strength, looking up close at the loved one, her heart pounded wildly, completely ignoring the dagger so close to her, her cheeks gradually turning red—

"I lik..."

"Swish!"

A deep cut burst open at the girl's throat.

[——HP-200! (Fatal injury!)]

[You have killed Shen Xue (human race), Exp+20]

"If you want to be with a corpse, turn yourself into one first." Su Ming'an wiped his dagger across her face.

Shen Xue's eyes gradually lost their sparkle.

At the same time, Su Ming'an also heard a new system notification:

[You chose to kill key NPC·Shen Xue, the world line has undergone a minor change]

[——You have entered the TE route·As If Waking From a Dream.]

[You have discovered an item (the deceased Shen Xue). Would you like to begin reconnaissance? (The clues obtained from reconnaissance are linked to Spirit and Wisdom.)]

"Reconnaissance."

[*You have obtained a critical clue (Shen Xue's Diary of Love)]

A blood-red diary appeared in his hand, and Su Ming'an opened it.

The title page was filled with blood-red text; the recorder had pressed hard with the pen, engraving it into the yellowed pages like deep, bloody scars.

[Su Ming'an, do you like me?]

[I like you, I don't know how much I like you.]

[I like you... I want to be with you forever. Anna told me that if I could only completely keep you, by cutting off your limbs, slicing your throat, and turning you into my possession... we can truly be together forever.]

The pages were dense with such text; the girl seemed to have poured her entire love for him while she was alive, each word overly sappy, filled with the passionate emotions of young love.

But now, as he gazed at the girl's corpse, he found it ridiculous.

He continued reading. Shen Xue's handwriting became increasingly messy, even with faint, dried blood congealed on it, emitting a hysterical and insane flavor:

[Perhaps it was a rush of blood to the head that burned my rationality, or maybe it was the thread manipulating my tongue, but I couldn't speak my love for you.]

[Every time I saw your calm gaze, I felt the weight of loss and sinking feelings growing stronger... Like a pair of large hands were pulling on my limbs, grasping my hair, pressing down on my head, exerting force downwards.]

[Looking at those unfluctuating eyes, it was as if I was controlled by an invisible force, turning into a puppet without the power to resist.]

[And the strings pulling on me were my own greed and love.]

[—Unable to break free, unable to escape.]

[These strings, alight with fire, strangled my skin, embedded in my flesh, like a branding iron, burning all my self, and perhaps only death could liberate me from this sweet agony.]

[Thus, after writing these words.]

[I decided to invite you one last time.]

[As long as you agree, I won't have to fully turn you into my possession, we could live together, peacefully and beautifully forever.]

[But if… you refuse…]

[…]

He flipped to the last page.

The enlarged font, dripping with blood, slightly startled him.

[—Then fully become my "beloved."]

"Thud, thud, thud!"

Just then, a knocking sound came from the door, and a slender woman stood outside.

"Shen Xue, Shen Xue, are you in there?" The woman knocked on the door, seeming somewhat anxious.

Su Ming'an knew that this was likely the woman who lived with Shen Xue, the person who had killed him with a hammer last week, probably the "Anna" mentioned in Shen Xue's diary.

He used the handle of his dagger to knock the Death Spray out from under the girl's skirt and picked it up, then walked to the door.

"—Shen Xue, Shen Xue? Answer me?"

The woman, receiving no reply, grew anxious, her hand slowly reaching behind herself—

"Bang!" In an instant, the door flew open.

The young man holding the spray burst out, his fingertips pressing down sharply!

The unprepared woman's legs gave way, and she collapsed in an instant.

Su Ming'an stood still, watching her die, his breathing slightly hurried.

[Ding-dong!]

A clear and distinct notification sound, unlike other bell tones, echoed in his mind.

[Congratulations on a Perfect Pass! (The novice instance has a very short progression, the subsequent official instances will have extended progress.)]

[Novice Level·TE·As if Waking from a Dream·Successfully Achieved]

[TE·As if Waking from a Dream: She liked me, I knew. But love is not as simple as just "being together." After killing her and her sister, I realized this—to avoid becoming her "collection," I had no other choice.]

[Ending recorded, will be calculated for points at the end of the world]

[Evaluation Level: SS (Highest in novice level—killed two persons, no injuries to self)]

[Evaluation Points Earned: 120]

[Additional Battle Points Earned: 10]

[Additional Easter Egg Points Earned: 10]

[(Easter Egg - A Tooth for a Tooth): Did you like the guillotined pastry I prepared for you?]

[(Easter Egg - Iron Straight Man): Facing such a beautiful girl like Shen Xue, you showed not a hint of affection.]

[Total Points Earned: 140]

[Hint: HE·(Flying Together) achieved by agreeing to Shen Xue's pursuit without causing her suspicion and successfully earning her genuine love.

NE·(Her "Collection") achieved by whether you agree or refuse, causing her suspicion, but not being killed and becoming her "collection" instead.]

[The official version of the world that is about to begin: Deductive Reasoning Worlds, Multiplayer Competitive Worlds, Intelligence Decryption Worlds, Peaceful Strategy Worlds, Violent Extraction Worlds. Hundreds of world lines and HE, TE, NE, BE\ variety of endings await further exploration by players!]

[(The yandere girl who's crazily in love with you might show the possibility of re-encountering her in later world instances.)]

The next moment, the scenery drastically changed.

…