Chapter 2 Packaged as a Game

Over an hour later, Meng Yuan emerged from the first Trial Illusion, deep in thought.

Shen Shang asked with concern, "How did it go?"

In fact, as the guide, she could enter the Trial Illusion to observe, but to avoid putting too much pressure on Meng Yuan and affecting his performance, she chose to wait outside.

Meng Yuan didn't say a word and entered the second Trial Illusion.

Nearly two more hours passed before Meng Yuan left the second Trial Illusion and turned to enter the third Illusion Realm.

This time, in less than half an hour, he left again to enter the fourth Illusion Realm.

Then, after approximately an hour, Meng Yuan came out of the last Trial Illusion.

Shen Shang immediately came up full of expectation, "How was it; did you pass them all?"

Judging by the time spent, Meng Yuan had been in the four Trial Illusions for quite a while. Five hours in reality were the equivalent of fifteen hours in the Illusion Realm.

The original host would have cleared it by this time.

If Meng Yuan really had the exceptional talent as previously speculated, he should have smoothly passed by now.

After a long silence, Meng Yuan asked in a tone doubting life itself, "Are you sure these trials are meant to be passed by humans??

"Passing four trials? I couldn't even get through one!

"I had no clue what I was supposed to do in the first two trials, and I died like a dog in the last two!"

Shen Shang's brow furrowed slightly, "How can you not know what you are supposed to do? You seem to have normal intelligence..."

A twitch appeared at the corner of Meng Yuan's mouth, "Hey, some thoughts can remain unsaid, it's okay!"

Shen Shang examined Meng Yuan carefully for a while before realizing, "Could it be that you know nothing about the history of this world?"

Meng Yuan looked surprised, "Does that have an impact on passing the trials?"

Shen Shang sighed silently, "Of course it does. Whether it's the Trial Illusion or historical slices, they're all highly related to history. How can you pass without knowing anything about history?

"As for the last two realms... well, it seems you don't have any combat talent either.

"Doesn't that mean you have absolutely no qualifications to become a Returner?

"... The world is finished, let it be destroyed."

The little girl felt defeated, and Meng Yuan felt even more so.

What happened to the chosen one's script?

I got a trash start but that's alright!

But, usually, trash protagonists come with an old man to back them up. I don't have an old man, just a little girl, and more importantly, this little girl doesn't seem reliable at all. She can't help me get stronger!

Both looked at each other, lost for words.

After a moment, Meng Yuan's eyes lit up as he struck upon a new idea.

"What if there's a possibility...

"That I could coax people with real talent from the real world to come here and complete the task of the Returner for me?"

Shen Shang looked surprised, "Have people from the real world complete the mission of the Returner for you?

"That is...

"As a Returner, you can indeed share your powers with people from the real world.

"There have been precedents of Returners entering historical slices with their assistants."

"The key problem is, battling demons requires extremely firm willpower, which most people simply can't sustain."

Meng Yuan was somewhat taken aback, "There must be quite a few people with strong willpower among ordinary people."

Shen Shang shook her head, "The 'strong willpower' you're thinking of isn't the same thing.

"Demons are a special existence; they silently influence people's spirits. All the negative emotions in a person's heart, including avoidance, fear, self-blame, guilt, and so on, would be amplified continuously.

"When ordinary people realize that their every action could determine humanity's fate, it's difficult for them to remain rational for a long time.

"The reason Returners can remain rational is because they are protected by special abilities and are unaffected."

Shen Shang raised some sharp questions.

It seemed that all the previous Returners had reasons for fighting the demons upfront and seldom sought help.

But Meng Yuan didn't have that option now.

With his current weak combat abilities, even with the powers of a Returner, he'd probably only be able to use a tenth or less, and going into historical slices would be like serving himself up on a platter to the demons.

What's more, demons might appear in the real world in seven days, and time was pressing.

Mobilizing ordinary people to help was indeed fraught with difficulties, but it was the only solution Meng Yuan had left.

He pondered for a moment, "Then... what if ordinary people have no idea that they are fighting against demons?"

Shen Shang was stunned, as if she had never considered such a possibility before.

After a while, she said, "That could work; not knowing they're demons, they wouldn't generate too many negative emotions for the demons to amplify...

"But how would you manage that?

"Ordinary people entering historical slices vastly different from reality, even fighting directly with demons, how could they not know what they are doing?

"Not to mention, the matter of the Returners has already been exposed in the real world, and in seven days, all will be verified.

"Do you plan to erase the memory of all related personnel? That's not something you or I, in our current weak state, could do."

Meng Yuan shook his head, "No need to erase their memories, just cleverly redirect them in another direction, that should be enough."