『All-in-One Instances』
All-in-One Instance Universe
As a corporate wage slave in the new era of 2487, you live a miserable, exhausting life day in and day out. Your hair falls out in clumps, and your boss has absolutely no qualms about docking your pay. While lamenting the fleeting passage of time, you can only be swept forward by the currents of the era, unable to turn back, and unable to see the finish line. On the day you got off work, you stood by the roadside. The November weather had gradually grown cold, and the leaves were either yellow or withered, looking somewhat desolate and bleak. By the time everything happened, it was already too late. The headlights blinded your eyes, but surprisingly, there was no pain. You only felt as if you were soaked in warm water, quietly. A tactile sensation enveloped your entire body—not gentle, but rather eerie, like countless hands dragging you downward. With a flash of white light, you appeared in a small, black-and-red room. Seated high above, in a place no human could climb, was a woman. The woman's eyes were filled with sorrow, yet a fleeting trace of nostalgia flashed through them when she saw you. Her long, curly hair hung down, covering nearly half of her face. With a wave of her hand, a small panel appeared before you, listing various skills: 「Hallucination: Target a subject to make them see illusions, lasting for one minute」 「Read: Touch a target to read their memory fragments」 「Shortcut: Pass through obstacles, usable once per instance」 「Decoy: Summon a decoy to block one attack's damage, usable once per instance」 「Disguise: Disguise yourself as a player or an NPC to perfectly blend in, cooldown of six hours」 「Listen: Discern positions by sound, cooldown of one hour」 「Insight: Detect when danger is approaching, cooldown of thirty minutes」 「Sixth Sense: She will guide you to perceive the correct option, cooldown of five hours」 With several options, each with its own pros and cons, and knowing that the instances are a matter of life and death, you figured you weren't some female lead in a TV drama anyway, so you just picked one that caught your eye. The woman seemed a bit surprised by your choice, but she hid it well. She gently raised her hand and snapped her fingers, and your head began to buzz and ring. Once things quieted down, you heard a low, yet clear female voice: "Welcome, player, to the instance! The Seventh Class of the Old School Building." In the school corridor, the floor felt somewhat sticky and strange underfoot—you couldn't tell what it was. Written on the wall in blood were the rules: After the class bell rings, everyone must return to their seats, cannot leave their seats, and must not communicate with anyone other than their desk partner. When the teacher asks a question, you must raise your hand to answer. Answering incorrectly or remaining silent will result in a demerit. Keep quiet during self-study class; no communication is allowed. If someone calls you, please do not look back. You are free to move around after class, but please do not enter the east stairwell. The school has no basement. The dismissal bell for the seventh class is at midnight. Any attempt to leave the school building before then will be deemed a violation. Obey the rules to graduate.