Hua Hualong felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information he’d received today.
The chaos of it all made it impossible to sort things out in a short time.
Just as he was about to reply, someone else messaged first.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: Did Cat-bro tell you about the Dark World?
(Private Chat 1) [BookletNa]: No, I’ve only met Cat-bro once. He let me in, but didn’t say anything else.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: …
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: You’re screwed.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: Listen closely.
Don’t trust anything anyone says — especially those two who were called out alongside you this time.
(Private Chat 2) [Spirit of the Wind]: Hey, you listening? I’m telling you, first time playing this — don’t buy items.
You can’t guess what map you’ll enter, so don’t waste points on items.
Buy a character.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: This time from our QQ group, there are three people: you, sinAmaterasu, and LeftHandForFriendship.
No matter what they say, don’t believe a word.
Because—
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: You may become enemies in a moment.
They might come at you with a knife, and you might need to kill them with one too — only then can you survive!
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: If they message you privately, do not believe anything they say.
Especially if they suggest buying a character — do not follow their advice.
(Private Chat 2) [Spirit of the Wind]: I’m a total veteran at this — trust me, buy a loli.
Especially pink-haired ones.
Aren’t pink-haired lolis the cutest?
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: Especially pink-haired characters — absolutely do not buy them!! There’s a “pink hair turns yandere” meme — it’s a joke in the Surface World, but a deadly taboo in the Dark World.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: When the game has a “must-kill” rule, pink-haired characters are always the first to die.
This isn’t a joke. It’s an unspoken rule.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: Do not reveal your appearance. Anyone trying to learn what you look like through QQ — don’t tell them.
(Private Chat 2) [Spirit of the Wind]: If you make it through, how about giving me 100 points as a consultation fee?
(Private Chat 2) [Spirit of the Wind]: Or, if you don’t want to spend points, you can just buy some self-defense items. If your appearance is okay, you don’t even need to buy a character. Like, if you’ve got a totally forgettable face.
Send me a pic and I’ll see if your look passes.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: I forgot to tell you the most important part.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: From the moment you joined this QQ group, you stopped being an ordinary person.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: This QQ group is basically a gateway to another world. At any time — day or night — the group owner, Shenzhu, might issue a “name call” announcement like the one you just saw.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: When your name is called, and the time is announced, everyone selected will be transported into the Dark World to play a game.
But don’t think it’s just some kids’ game of make-believe.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: I’m telling you — people die in there. Even a game like Rock-Paper-Scissors can be fatal. The loser’s head might explode like a watermelon hit by a bullet — brains splattered everywhere, you can see it all.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: There are many game modes: team battles, free-for-all, solo. If it’s a group battle…
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: Did you notice our QQ group is called “Hamster Squad”? There are many groups like this one.
If the Dark World game is team-based, then everyone in the same QQ group becomes teammates — allies. If it’s an inter-group war, then everyone in our 81-member group will fight against another entire QQ group. Finally, there’s the solo mode…
(Private Chat 2) [Spirit of the Wind]: You there? Time’s almost up — did you hear me?
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: Solo mode means no teammates. Everyone could be your enemy. But watch the game rules — sometimes admins will assign temporary teams.
For example, 4 players might be split into red and blue teams, 2-on-2.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: But team assignments are unreliable. In solo games, even your QQ group members could become enemies.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: That’s why people often try to gather info on others: learn your appearance, understand your personality, figure out how you operate.
In the game, you could die just because of what you’ve revealed.
Even something like being left-handed could be fatal if it’s exposed.
So do not share any personal information with anyone.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: Every newcomer starts with 100 points. You can buy lots of things — guns, bulletproof vests — but here’s the thing: you can’t bring those into the Dark World directly. You can only replace items once you get a similar one in the game.
Like, if you buy an AK-47, and then pick up an assault rifle in the Dark World, you can switch it for your AK-47. Same for other gear. Sometimes you can even swap a handgun for your AK — it’s up to the system.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: And the most important thing — buying a character. Be extremely careful.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: This is essentially “creating a person.” You can design one based on your preferences.
The first time costs 100 points.
But every time after that, the price increases tenfold. Second time is 1,000 points.
Third time — 10,000. So don’t waste your chance. Many people only use their first character.
Most can’t afford a second, and wouldn’t dare — unless they’re truly desperate or trying to disappear after doing something horrible.
Or someone who wants to become young again.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: Buying a character comes with a lot of strategy. You can create someone like Schwarzenegger — a tough, muscular guy — or one of those delicate anime-style girls.
The maximum age range you can shift is ten years.
Meaning, if you’re 20, the oldest character you can create is 30, and the youngest is 10.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: You might think, “If I can choose, I’ll just make a tall, strong man, right?” Some people do that. Usually, those people fall into two categories: the truly badass… and the ones pretending to be.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: If you end up in a free-for-all game with no teammates — say, ten people in total, all enemies — players tend to team up temporarily to eliminate the biggest threats first.
One of those is the pink-haired character.
The other? A Schwarzenegger-type muscle tank.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: So creating a character is a thinking game.
Sure, you can make a powerhouse, but that’ll just paint a target on your back.
That’s why I recommend creating a girl between the ages of 20 and 25.
Her looks shouldn’t be too plain — being too plain gives off the feeling that you’re deliberately trying to stay low-key, and people tend to target those types too.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: The idea of making a girl character is to appear non-threatening.
Especially that frail, delicate type — it gives enemies the illusion they can easily take you out, which could actually help you turn the tables.
But you shouldn’t actually be fragile — that’s why I suggest the 20–25 age range.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: Are you still listening? Why do I feel like I’m the only one here talking?
(Private Chat 1) [BookletNa]: I’m here, senior. Thank you for your guidance.
(Private Chat 1) [Fortress Lieutenant Communications Officer]: Just so you’re clear — buying a character doesn’t mean you’re buying a bodyguard.
The character you create is for you to use.
Don’t get it twisted. It’s like building your own avatar for the game.
Also, after clearing each stage, you’ll earn at least 500 base points.
Depending on the game rules, there could be extra bonuses too.