Chapter One: The Descending of the Bizarre Era
1615 Words
"There's only one day left in the countdown."
"Dear residents of Linjiang City, please believe that we will have a bright future!"
"It's just a game..."
"When the countdown ends, what we are welcoming is not the end, but a new beginning."
"Everyone must have hope and strive to live on!"
In Linjiang City, everyone opens their eyes at seven o'clock every morning to the familiar sound of broadcasting.
at this time.
Anyone looking out the window will see a crimson inscription hanging in the sky above—
[23:59:59!]
The blood-red characters, like a dark cloud about to collapse, pressed down on the entire Linjiang City, like a sword of judgment about to fall and pronounce everyone dead!
"Ah, yes, yes, yes!"
"The day after tomorrow, you'll open your eyes and see this deadly thing!"
"A new beginning? Does it mean everyone is going to heaven?"
In a small rented room of only about 30 square meters, Chen Ye crossed his legs, faced the computer in front of him, and shook his head with a smile.
The screen displays a simple text document, similar to a timeline, recording recent important events.
On October 31, 2004, a virtual reality game called *The Age of the Strange* officially launched its open beta. With its eerie theme, stunning CG graphics, and revolutionary gameplay, it became a global phenomenon!
[On December 1st, 2024, the Black Sun event occurred. An island in the East China Sea was within the range of the Black Sun's rays, and the entire world disappeared! This is the very first scene of the CG trailer for the game "The Strange Era".]
On December 3, 2004, CG scenes from "The Age of the Strange" began to appear in reality, officially ushering in the Age of the Strange. Approximately one-third of the population disappeared, causing global panic.
On December 15, 2004, a blood-red countdown appeared in the sky above Linjiang City, cutting off the entire city from the outside world. Media such as the internet and telephone were limited to the urban area.
Linjiang City descended into chaos, and after a month of turmoil, it barely managed to restore order.
Apart from this, all contact with the outside world has been completely severed, and the situation in other parts of the world remains unknown.
[April 1st, 2025, the countdown reaches its final day!]
The case file ends here.
The last line of text
These were the words Chen Ye had just typed up today.
He stared at the blood-red characters in the sky and murmured to himself:
"Is it finally starting?!"
Today is the last day of the bloody countdown.
Many experts have made various speculations about this, but when the countdown finally ends, no one knows what it will all be like.
Life's growth always begins with parting, and we have to face countless "last moments".
The moment the blood-red countdown began, everyone in the city felt that their last moment had arrived. They were devastated and desperate. The world was ending, there was no hope, and the entire city was in chaos, with everyone going mad.
But so much time has passed, and this countdown has unknowingly accompanied the people here for nearly four months.
Many people have gotten used to this.
Order in Linjiang City is gradually returning to normal.
People discovered that in addition to being unable to contact people outside the city, a huge barrier, like a boundary, had appeared in the city, covering the entire sky and earth, making it impossible for even airplanes and rockets to leave...
However, by mobilizing the entire city, order was maintained and daily life was relatively secure.
We can manage to get by.
At least, I won't die for now; I can still live!
From the apocalyptic turmoil that began at the start of the countdown, to witnessing the chaos throughout the city, and then to calm...
In just a few months, Chen Ye witnessed almost every aspect of human life.
Now, he quietly watched the countdown reach its final day, his heart at peace.
It felt like countless days and nights, facing that desperate countdown, knowing that there was no hope left in life.
This state may seem overwhelming at first, but you gradually get used to it and your heart is no longer troubled.
The only regret is...
Chen Ye is not a local of Linjiang City, but a recent college graduate.
He was addicted to virtual games, had little contact with his classmates, and rarely had friends in the real world. He spent almost all his four years of university alone, living a nomadic life, only occasionally returning home to reunite with his family during the Chinese New Year.
However, Chen Ye, who had just graduated, was planning to go home to visit his parents whom he hadn't seen in a long time when the countdown began!
He was silent for a moment, then took out his phone and tried to send a text message one last time:
"Dear Mom and Dad, I am your most precious son, Chen Ye. A strange era has descended upon the world, and information from Linjiang City cannot be sent out. I have been unable to contact you and do not know if you are still alive."
"Now, Linjiang City is in the midst of a countdown event, and many people are in despair."
"But so far, I am in good health, and since I was a beta tester of 'The Strange Era' and have played the game, I am not afraid of the game's events coming to life."
"I'm even quite confident that I can beat this crappy game!"
"If you are all alright, please don't worry about me."
After typing the message, Chen Ye carefully checked it several times before clicking the "send" button.
After a brief countdown, the message was transmitted...
A bright red exclamation mark appeared.
Sending failed!
In response to this.
Chen Ye's gaze was calm. Since the countdown incident, all communication methods in Linjiang City had been unable to transmit to the outside world.
This was my last attempt, but I still couldn't get my message across.
But Chen Ye felt lucky.
He has witnessed too many separations in the past few months.
At least……
Even after cutting off contact with the outside world, one can still feel in their heart that their parents are still there and that there is still hope for the future.
Chen Ye suppressed unnecessary negative emotions, and his calm gaze revealed a stronger sense of determination.
He wasn't afraid of the countdown ending. Many experts had previously analyzed various information and intelligence to conclude that when a region fell into the "Strange Era," the people there were actually still alive.
Because once a region is trapped in the "Strange Era," it will float in the sky and become a giant screen projection.
Like the blood-red script, people can see the images on the giant screen as soon as they look up.
Some people who had previously gone missing have shown signs of activity on screen.
Therefore, many people speculate that when the countdown ends, people may not die, but instead enter the game "Strange Era".
But this game is no longer virtual reality; it's real reality!
There is no exit button for players.
Chen Ye felt more excited and expectant about this.
During his four years of university, he eliminated all useless social time and spent almost all of it in virtual online games, becoming a well-known online gaming expert.
A year before the open beta of "Strange Era", Chen Ye was given a spot in the closed beta.
There are only a few hundred spots available!
He is one of the few cheaters in the world, apart from the staff who developed the game "Age of the Strange".
They have more intelligence sources than others.
Chen Ye knew that this game was a strategy game that focused on selection, collection, and conquering dungeons.
Players need to collect the characteristics in "The Age of the Strange" to become increasingly powerful strange beings, thereby strengthening themselves and gaining a greater space for survival.
Of course, to increase randomness, each player will have very different initial identities, items, and talents.
Developing a strategy based on the acquired identity, items, and talents, and steadily progressing is the secret to surviving and leveling up!
"If I can beat this game, maybe I can leave this place and even gain the ability to protect my family!"
Chen Ye thought to himself.
at this time.
He closed his eyes, recalling the various details of "The Strange Era" in his mind.
The sheer scale of the system, the complex application of its features, and the strategic routes...
They continuously transformed into fleeting images, flashing before my eyes like a kaleidoscope.
When I opened my eyes again.
The sky had completely darkened.
That string of blood-red text had only a few minutes left.
[Countdown:]
[3 minutes!]
[2 minutes!]
[1 minute!]
【0……】
Just then, the crimson characters in the sky suddenly burst forth, transforming into a crimson curtain that instantly covered the entire city.
Suddenly, all vision went dark.
It seemed to have become a "land without light".
Nothing can be seen!
In the darkness.
Chen Ye suddenly felt a violent downward pull on his body, accompanied by countless wails and screams in his ears. His consciousness gradually faded away, and finally seemed to vanish into nothingness...
I don't know how much time has passed.
Finally, a ray of light pierced the darkness, and consciousness returned.
In a hazy state, Chen Ye saw a blood-red character slowly reflected in the center of the light screen—
Welcome to the Bizarre Era!
- Writer
