End of Days Game: I'm the Only One Who Can See the Hidden Cues

What lay before him was an enormous gate. The light streamed through a narrow crack at the top of the door, casting faint illumination over the surrounding space.

Jeremy didn\'t immediately step through the gate.

His instincts told him that whatever lay beyond was bound to be even more dangerous.

Jeremy reasoned that he hadn\'t fully entered the Abyss instance yet.

The area he had just traversed was merely an expanded zone behind the entrance, not the true heart of the instance.

Only by pushing through this massive gate could he officially step into the depths of the Abyss instance.

Taking a few deep breaths to steady his nerves, Jeremy finally made up his mind.

With a determined shove, he pushed the heavy gate open.

As the doors swung wide, an overwhelming flood of sunlight poured over Jeremy, momentarily blinding him.

When his eyes adjusted, Jeremy found himself staring at an idyllic landscape—a sunlit field stretching out before him.

In the distance, he could make out a quaint, fairytale-like village.

For a moment, Jeremy froze in astonishment, his face betraying his disbelief.

"Is this supposed to be the Abyss instance? Why does it feel more like a Fairytale instance? How could such a sunny, peaceful, and picturesque place possibly be called \'The Abyss\'?"

His initial shock quickly gave way to speculation.

Jeremy surmised that neither the military headquarters nor the more powerful Apocalypse Game players had managed to delve into the true depths of the Abyss instance.

As a result, their understanding of the instance\'s interior was based purely on the ominous, abyss-like appearance of its surroundings.

In fairness, the external area of the Abyss instance did bear a striking resemblance to a literal abyss.

"It seems this instance may have little to do with The Hanged Man after all. There\'s a good chance this entire setup is a trap created by The Person in the Mirror just for me."

Resolving to move forward, Jeremy headed toward the distant village.

The sunlit field was vast and empty, with no signs of activity except for the small settlement ahead.

If Jeremy wanted to uncover clues to clearing the instance, visiting the village was inevitable.

As he approached the village, he noticed the temperature around him was steadily rising.

The power of the sun within the instance was overwhelming, far beyond what he had anticipated.

Despite the serene and picturesque landscape, Jeremy couldn\'t shake the feeling that a deeper danger lurked just out of sight.

Jeremy could almost feel the Sun itself glaring at him from a short distance away, its oppressive presence an inescapable weight.

"This feeling is unbearable! I\'m exposed in plain sight, while the enemy hides in the shadows. They could strike at any moment, and I can\'t even detect their presence right now."

He surveyed his surroundings cautiously, his eyes scanning for anything unusual.

There was no way Jeremy believed he could clear such a high-level instance—rated at a daunting level 70—without facing significant danger.

As he walked along the narrow dirt path through the field, it wasn\'t long before he encountered a farmer carrying tools.

The farmer, upon seeing Jeremy, appeared visibly confused.

"What are you doing here? You don\'t look like someone from the village. Are you an outsider?" the farmer asked, frowning as he studied Jeremy\'s appearance.

Jeremy nodded slightly.

"You\'re right; I\'m not from the village. I arrived here due to... unforeseen circumstances. I\'m hoping to leave as soon as possible. Could you give me some guidance or clues?"

Hearing Jeremy\'s response, the farmer\'s furrowed brow gradually relaxed. A warm smile spread across his face.

"It\'s been ages since we\'ve had an outsider visit the village! Since you\'re here, don\'t be in such a hurry to leave! Everyone in the village is kind and welcoming. Come with me, and I\'ll introduce you to the others."

The farmer\'s sudden enthusiasm only heightened Jeremy\'s unease.

Instinctively, he wanted to decline. But just as he opened his mouth to speak, he realized something horrifying—he couldn\'t say the words he intended to.

He had planned to refuse the farmer\'s offer, but the words that came out of his mouth were entirely different:

"Of course, no problem! I\'ve been looking forward to meeting everyone in the village. If there\'s a chance to play a game with them, that would be even better!"

Jeremy\'s tone was cheerful and filled with excitement, completely at odds with his internal thoughts.

As he listened to his own words, an intense sense of danger washed over him.

"I\'ve even lost control over my own body! This must be due to the rules of the instance! I need to tread carefully from here on out. I absolutely cannot trigger any more restrictions!"

While Jeremy hadn\'t encountered such a situation in his previous instances, he recalled stories from other Apocalypse Game players. They had mentioned that certain instances came with unique rules, some of which could exert control over a player\'s actions.

Left with no other choice, Jeremy followed the farmer into the village.

With every step he took, the ominous air of the instance seemed to grow heavier, and Jeremy\'s resolve to uncover the truth about this strange place only deepened.

The town, though not particularly bustling, was filled with lively energy as the townsfolk warmly welcomed Jeremy\'s arrival.

Excited chatter surrounded him as the townspeople crowded around, eager to ask him all sorts of questions.

Jeremy found himself overwhelmed. Unable to respond to everyone at once, he opted instead to maintain a polite smile, letting their words wash over him. Find exclusive stories on empire

"All right, all right! Don\'t crowd our esteemed guest! He\'s just arrived and can\'t possibly answer all your questions at once!" the farmer exclaimed, stepping in to disperse the enthusiastic townsfolk.

With some effort, the farmer managed to shoo the crowd away, giving Jeremy a moment of respite.

"To properly welcome our honored guest," the farmer announced in a booming voice, "I\'ve decided to invite the Mayor to join us! The Mayor will surely know the best way to make our precious guest feel right at home!"

As soon as the farmer mentioned the Mayor, the crowd erupted into cheers.

"Mayor!"

"Mayor!"

"Mayor!"

The word was chanted repeatedly, echoing through the village like a mantra.

Although the townspeople wore warm and friendly expressions, and the atmosphere of the village seemed lighthearted and cheerful, Jeremy felt an increasingly heavy pressure bearing down on him.

Deep down, he was certain that this Mayor everyone was so eager to see would pose a significant threat to him.

Amid the thunderous cheers, the central structure in the village—the Mayor\'s residence—began to ring with the sound of bells.

One chime, then another, until a total of twelve solemn tones reverberated across the village.

When the twelfth bell tolled, the grand doors of the Mayor\'s residence swung open with deliberate grandeur.

Through the open doors emerged a massive carriage drawn by six imposing horses.

The carriage moved slowly but steadily, its presence commanding the attention of everyone present. The townspeople\'s eyes followed its every movement as it made its way to Jeremy.

Jeremy stood frozen, his senses heightened, carefully observing the carriage as it approached.

Without warning, one of the carriage\'s windows creaked open. From within, a single scarlet eye locked onto Jeremy, staring with an intensity that seemed to pierce through his very soul.

"So, you are the esteemed guest, are you?" A voice, twisted and grotesque, rang out from within the carriage. It was a sound that could unravel even the strongest of minds—warped, maddening, and otherworldly.

Jeremy did not reply. He merely maintained his polite smile, choosing silence as his shield.

He had learned his lesson earlier. Since anything he said could be twisted or turned against him, it was safer not to speak at all.

Unfortunately, his silence did little to protect him.

The farmer beside him was quick to interject, answering on his behalf.

"Mayor, you\'re absolutely right! He is indeed the honored guest I brought here."

The scarlet eye remained fixed on Jeremy, ignoring the farmer entirely despite his response.

"In that case, let the celebration begin immediately! Every esteemed guest deserves a grand celebration!"

That grotesque, repulsive voice echoed once more from inside the carriage.

As the words sank in, Jeremy felt his stomach churn violently, as if he were on the verge of vomiting. At the same time, he noticed a strange sensation in his mind—a subtle shift that made him feel as though something had changed within him.

The Mayor\'s declaration seemed to excite the townsfolk immensely.

All of them, including the farmer, eagerly began preparing for the upcoming celebration.

Jeremy, however, had no intention of simply standing around and waiting for the event to unfold. He knew deep in his gut that this so-called celebration could very well end in his death within the instance.

"What exactly is this celebration? Why are all the townsfolk so enthusiastic about it?"

Jeremy pondered his question for a long while before carefully speaking it aloud. He was acutely aware of the risk that his words could once again be twisted into something entirely different.

Thankfully, this time, the instance didn\'t distort his question.

The farmer, upon hearing Jeremy\'s inquiry, smiled warmly and responded, "The celebration is, of course, something that every villager holds close to their heart! It fills each of us with pure joy, a happiness that radiates from deep within. Surely you\'re looking forward to it as well, aren\'t you?"

The farmer\'s answer was immediately followed by a question directed back at Jeremy.

Jeremy didn\'t reply right away. Instead, he deliberated over what response would be safest and most advantageous to him.

After a long pause, Jeremy finally said, cautiously, "Perhaps."

He kept his response deliberately brief, offering only the bare minimum of information. Jeremy knew that the more details he provided, the greater the risk of the instance twisting his words.

The farmer, however, didn\'t seem to mind Jeremy\'s vague reply.

With an expression of uncontainable excitement, he joined the other townsfolk in their frenzied revelry.

Despite the supposed preparations for the celebration, the villagers weren\'t doing anything practical. Instead, they simply leapt and danced wildly through the streets of the town.

The atmosphere was undeniably lively, yet there was an underlying strangeness that made the scene deeply unsettling.

Jeremy watched the chaotic scene unfold, his expression growing darker and more serious with each passing moment.

The cheerful chaos, combined with the eerie undertone of the situation, heightened the sense of danger looming over him.