The second day on the Player Continent, Su Luo’s internal clock nudged her awake at precisely eight o’clock.
She rose, freshened up with a quick wash, and steeled her resolve.
Four dungeon runs a monthāthat was her plan, a rhythm she’d set to shape her future.
In her mind, Su Luo calculated the stakes: a year to amass attribute points, each one a stepping stone to a safer, more secure life.
The more points she earned now, the better she could navigate the uncertainties of the years ahead.
She purchased a bottle of disguise potion, its effects promised to last a full day in the real world.
Who knew what grudges she might spark in the dungeonāperhaps with some entitled second-generation heir?
Anonymity was her shield.
If anyone in the dungeon glimpsed her true face, those with power and influence might track her down, their reach extending far beyond the game’s boundaries.
A single misstep could invite real-world threats.
Su Luo tipped back the disguise potion in one swift gulp.
It was surprisingly sweet, no trace of bitterness, earning a silent nod of approval.
She turned to the mirror, studying her reflection.
A delicate beauty stared back, radiating an effortless charm.
This new face was nothing like her usual, almost childlike cuteness.
The girl in the mirror carried an air of refined elegance, the kind that made even a sudden tantrum seem justified, endearing rather than infuriating.
Satisfied, Su Luo nodded.
This distinctive appearance might just prove useful in the dungeon.
It was unrecognizable as her own, which was exactly the point.
She glanced at her attribute panel:
[Health]: 25 (+6)
[Strength]: 7
[Speed]: 12
[Spirit]: 14 (+1)
[Endurance]: 10
[Charm]: 12
[Points]: 17
[Talent Skill]: ‘Divine Redemption’ (Legendary): Instantly teleport one person at full health to any location the skill’s owner has previously visited. Usable once per dungeon.
[Skill]: ‘Healing Bullet’: Restores (or reduces) health by 100% of the target’s Spirit value for allies (or enemies). Cooldown: 5 seconds.
By the novice rules, penalties were halved.
A failure would cost 15 points, death 10.
Both at once?
That would be game overāliterally.
Su Luo whispered a quiet prayer, hoping she’d avoid such a brutal dungeon.
At nine o’clock sharp, she tapped [Enter Dungeon].
A wave of dizziness swept over her, and when her vision cleared, she stood in a new room.
A quick scan confirmed it: a single room, no frills.
The floor radiated a gentle warmth, as if heated.
She locked the door, ensuring no interruptions, then opened the system to review the dungeon’s task.
[Dungeon]: ‘Cat and Mouse’
[Task]: ‘Survive seven days.’
[Background]: ‘In the Zodiac Kingdom, you’re a mouse who loves cosplay and travel. This time, you and five like-minded mice, all disguised as cats, venture into a lost village. After squeezing through a perilously narrow crevice to enterā¦’
A simple name, a simple task, but the undertone hinted at anything but simplicity.
This was the kind of dungeon she’d dreaded mostāone where failure and death were one and the same.
Su Luo had always thought herself ordinary, but now she wondered if she was cursed with bad luck.
Most novice dungeons were forgiving.
What rotten fortune had landed her in this mess?
Pushing aside her frustration, she mulled over the dungeon’s background.
She was already in the village, likely in a guest room at some inn, given the sparse furnishings.
The dungeon’s name and her disguise suggested one thing: the village was home to cats, and her survival hinged on not being discovered as a mouse.
Reverse thinkingāhow would a cat spot them?
Su Luo found a full-length mirror in the room.
Her reflection showed a cat-headed figure, but her face remained the elegant, haughty beauty from the potion. This, she realized, was her “cosplay.”
If this was her disguised form, where were the tools to maintain it?
She spotted a suitcase, presumably hers.
Inside were clothes, a bottle of perfume, and, as expected, makeup and remover.
Su Luo rarely used makeup, but her days as an orphan had taught her resourcefulness.
At thirteen, she’d worked at a salon, picking up bits of manicure, hairstyling, and makeup skills.
Her sharp eyes noticed a discrepancy.
The makeup remover was plentiful, enough for daily use and then some.
But the cosmetics?
Barely enough for a few days, not the full seven.
She estimated it would take twice as much to last the week.
Something felt off.
In a dungeon, safety was never guaranteed, even at night.
Most players wouldn’t bother removing their makeup dailyāsome might keep it on for the entire week.
So why the imbalance?
A flicker of paranoia sparked.
This felt like a trap, a classic dungeon ploy.
If the game didn’t expect daily removal, there had to be a reason players would “need” to.
Su Luo rummaged through the suitcase again, this time meticulously.
Tucked in a corner, she found a tattered triangular scrap of paper with three words scrawled on it: “Will cause disfigurement.”
Disfigurement?
Her heart skipped.
Connecting the dots, she suspected the truth: skip a day of removing the makeup, and her face would be ruined.
The dungeon’s cruelty was starting to take shape.
“Damn it!” Su Luo muttered under her breath, frustration bubbling up.
When she first saw the task, she’d assumed a novice dungeon like this would be straightforwardāno scheming, just everyone doing their part.
But now?
It was clear they’d have to scramble for makeup supplies.
What a mess!
This was already a do-or-die dungeon, and now it pitted players against each other.
Su Luo couldn’t shake the feeling she’d stumbled into the hardest novice dungeon of them all.
“Click, click.” The doorknob rattled suddenly.
“Knock, knock, knock.’ A sharp rap followed.
Su Luo hurriedly stashed her suitcase, her voice cautious as she called out, “Who’s there?”
A loud voice boomed from the other side, “You a player? Time to gather.”
She’d learned on the forums that saying “player” in front of NPCs would be censored by the game, so this person’s boldness meant they were likely another player.
She quickly tidied the room and opened the door.
A burly man with a cat face and a scruffy beard stood there, sizing her up. “Let’s go,” he said.
“Three players are already waiting. Just you and the guy next door left.” Su Luo gave a curt nod, following him as he knocked on the neighboring room’s door.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
The door swung open instantly.
A young man in a black shirt leaned lazily against the wall, his appearance unremarkable but his demeanor oddly captivating.
“What’s up?” he asked, his tone casual.
The burly man hesitated, then tested, “Player?”
“Yeah, that’s me,” the young man replied, his slow drawl carrying an unexpected air of refinement.
Despite his plain looks, his every gesture exuded a gentlemanly charm.
Su Luo felt an inexplicable familiarity in his presence, a quiet intensity that set her on edge.
‘ This guy’s not simple,’ she thought, her instincts sharp.
Once the burly man confirmed his identity, he cut to the chase.
“The others are waiting outside.”
Just you now.
We’re all in this dungeon togetherālet’s introduce ourselves, get to know each other.
Maybe even help one another out
The young man in black raised an eyebrow but said nothing, only nodding.
The three headed toward the hall.
In the hall, three others were already gathered, as expected.
Introductions began, the burly man taking the lead.
“Everyone’s a newbie, right?” Nods all around.
“Alright, I’m Brother Huācall me Brother Hu,” he said with a grin.
“Cup’s Empty, but just call me Shuibei,” a lean, dark-skinned young man said, flashing a friendly smile.
“Delicate Flower Like Meāuh, just call me Hua. But if you call me Delicate Flower, I will get mad!”
A girl with a generic face tilted her head, mimicking a finger-gun gesture.
It was meant to be cute, but paired with her plain features, it felt oddly out of place.
“Fade,” Su Luo said simply, keeping it brief.
The young man in black glanced at her, his gaze lingering with a cryptic intensity that left her puzzled.
Then, in his unhurried tone, he said, “I’m ji Hei. “
Fate, huh?
Mysterious thing.
His words hung in the air, laced with meaning only he seemed to grasp.
The others, oblivious to the subtle tension, continued their introductions.
“I’m Why Am I Hereājust call me Little Ming,” the last one said with a shrug.
With introductions done, Brother Hu spoke up.
“This dungeon doesn’t seem as complicated as the forums make out. Probably just do our own thing, share what we find, and make sure all six of us clear it!”
Su Luo’s face darkened.
Was this guy naively fearless or just a bleeding heart?
His optimism didn’t match his rugged appearance.
She studied him, her thoughts churning.
To her disbelief, the other newbiesāexcept ji Heiāwere nodding earnestly.
‘Seriously?’ she thought.
This was a novice dungeon, after all.
Getting their makeup supplies would be child’s play.
“Let’s split up and check the area, see what we can find!” Brother Hu waved a hand, and the group dispersed.
ji Hei caught Su Luo’s eye with a subtle glance, and the two headed off in the same direction.
“Got anything?” ji Hei asked once they reached a quiet, deserted path.
Su Luo nodded, then countered, “You?”
He leaned closer, his voice was low when he said, “The makeup doesn’t have to be removed with a remover.”
Her heart skipped.
She’d been so fixated on the suitcase’s ample supply of makeup remover that she’d missed the obvious.
Then it hit herāthe faint warmth radiating from the room’s floor, despite no visible heating.
This village likely sat on natural geothermal springs.
Springs meant hot water.
“Hot water!” she blurted.
“You can use hot water to remove the makeup, right?”
“Exactly,” ji Hei said, his eyes narrowing as he studied her.
Buoyed by the revelation, Su Luo shared her own discovery to Ji Hei.
“You have to remove the makeup every day.”
ji Hei paused, processing, then asked, “Not enough cosmetics?”
She grinned, pleased he’d caught on.
“Exactly. You’d need at least two people’s worth to last the week.”
They exchanged a knowing smile and began exploring the village together.