The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human? Chapter 1: Bloody Restaurant

"Character Card generation in progress..."

"ID: Liu Zheng (modifiable)"

"Level: lv1"

"Strength: 14"

"Constitution: 12?"

"Spirit: 11"

"Perception: 10"

Staring at the character panel hovering in front of him, Liu Zheng felt a wave of confusion wash over him.

He'd just filled in a simple survey, and suddenly Hell's Game had dragged him in.

Were the Main Gods recruiting players so casually these days?

Even pyramid scheme hustlers would bother to ask about a recruit's family situation first.

"Instance will begin in one hour, please prepare accordingly."

The mechanical voice echoed once more, as a countdown timer materialized on the panel.

"Throwing a guy with ALS into an instance— isn't that too cruel?"

Liu Zheng muttered in disbelief.

He had only months left to live; this outing was meant for selecting his final resting place.

He'd already settled on his preferences.

Plenty of room, north-south orientation, and best if the neighbor was a nineteen-year-old JK girl.

"Player has signed a betting agreement; you must abide by the game rules."

The system announced coldly.

"What betting agreement?"

Liu Zheng glanced back at the survey, stunned to see it had morphed entirely.

"Name: Betting Agreement

"Type: Item"

"Quality: ???"

"Effect: The user's completion rewards will be automatically replaced with ones related to their wish until the wish is fulfilled. The user will be forcibly transformed into a player, and must not receive a completion rating lower than A before the wish is fulfilled, or else they will be eradicated."

"Note: Where there are kids crying every day, there are gambling dogs losing every day."

What was that wish of his?

Liu Zheng rubbed his head, memory jogging back.

Health and a long life.

A bold demand for someone battling a deadly disease.

"Alright then."

He let out a sigh.

Short sharp shock beat lingering agony; instant erasure beat rotting away slowly.

What could one squeeze into an hour?

Catch a flick, devour a feast, pen a testament, throw a party...

Yet Liu Zheng did none of it. He merely fired up the car stereo and queued up "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Then.

He observed the timer hit zero.

"Instance Name: Bloody Restaurant"

"Instance Type: Novice Trial"

"Instance Player Count: Solo"

"Objective: Survive 72 hours"

With the system announcement, black flames erupted, swallowing him whole as he vanished from the train car.

Liu Zheng recovered from the vertigo to find himself at the entrance of his residential complex, clutching an extra letter.

He eyed the complex gate; the "Splendid New Garden" sign bore flecks of rust, stone pillars scarred by weathering.

Peering deeper into the complex, buildings stood in place, but any close scrutiny turned them hazy and vague.

Simultaneously, a sharp pang pierced his skull.

"Warning, rationality declining."

The system's alert chimed.

Liu Zheng swiftly averted his gaze.

Forbidden to even glance, stepping inside was impossible.

Thus, he lifted the envelope.

The next step's hint lay within.

Liu Zheng ripped it open, revealing a creased A4 sheet.

Unfolding it exposed a formal notice.

"Dear human citizen:"

"We regret to inform you that you have been unemployed for two months. Please follow the guide to the designated place for an interview. Failure will result in the loss of your citizenship and entry into the processing program."

"City Hall Department of Employment Security and Promotion."

No job, no citizenship—this Hell's Game sure matched the era's vibes.

Hold on, human citizens?

A curious detail jumped out.

If humans qualified as citizens, non-humans must exist too.

Pair that with the "processing program," and dread deepened instantly.

"Intriguing."

Excitement stirred in Liu Zheng.

This twisted, bizarre realm was precisely what he craved.

Flipping the notice revealed a map.

Five red markers dotted it: one pentagram, four plain dots.

Instinct screamed the pentagram was the key destination.

The dots likely hinted at follow-ups or optional quests.

A playful gamer might detour to those dots first.

But Liu Zheng, true to form, beelined for the main target.

Map in hand, streets lay deserted—no walkers, no critters, buildings sealed tight.

Still, Liu Zheng sensed myriad eyes tracking him secretly.

Figures huddled in door cracks, window slits, building shades, holding breaths.

"I can't linger out here."

Danger's whisper urged him to hasten.

After thirty minutes of tense strides through silent avenues, he arrived.

A lone three-story Western building, buffered by a hundred meters from neighbors.

That watchful sensation faded as he crossed into its zone.

"Bloody Restaurant"

Liu Zheng's pupils contracted at the massive sign.

Not painted letters—limbs formed the name.

Arms for long lines, fingers for shorts.

Rusty nails pinned them to boards, limbs writhing endlessly, as if greeting him.

"Warning, rationality is declining."

System warning blared anew.

Liu Zheng dropped his gaze fast, shunning the sign.

"What is rationality?"

He shifted focus with a query.

"Hidden attribute, when rationality decreases to a certain level, symptoms of intelligence decline, spirit being dazed, unconsciousness and even temporary insanity may occur."

"What if rationality reaches zero?"

"Permanent insanity or..."

Liu Zheng missed the tail end.

"Those crazies in asylums—they can't all be zero-rationality players, right?"

He quipped lightly.

Predictably, silence from the system.

Liu Zheng exhaled and pushed into the restaurant.

"Snap snap snap"

Crisp snaps trailed him—fingers clacking away.

Unclear if welcoming a newbie or toasting some event.

Inside, the lobby stunned him, far from hellish visions.

Spotless, well-lit, opulent decor screamed luxury.

Faint aroma wafted, soft piano notes drifted unheard from any player.

"Is anyone there?"

He called.

"We haven't started serving yet, please come back later."

A cool voice replied.

Liu Zheng glanced up; a woman in high-neck liner under white wool coat stood on the second floor, appearing from nowhere.

Hair in elegant bun, face calm and refined, like a Republican-era lady from old films.

Teardrop blue gem dangled along her pale neck, vanishing into mysterious cleavage.

Beauty to captivate any man instantly.

Yet Liu Zheng sensed only a chill creeping in.

"I'm here for the job interview."

Liu Zheng held up the notice.

"The City Hall is throwing its trash my way again."

She furrowed her brow.

Her words stirred no offense in him.

He'd endured harsher barbs.

"I am Si Xue, the owner of this restaurant. There are three positions available now, which one are you applying for?"

She eyed him and asked.

"May I know what the three positions are?"

Liu Zheng inquired courteously.

"Delivery, kitchen help, waiter."

Si Xue answered flatly.

Waiter seemed least risky of the trio.

Kitchen evoked gore and mayhem, delivery demanded outside treks.

His safe journey here was surely plot armor.

Yet Bloody Restaurant's lavish setup suggested elite patrons.

Real-world rich were pains; these otherworldly ones worse.

"Boss, I'll do whatever you assign me. With your insight, the position you assign to me must be the most suitable."

Liu Zheng pondered briefly before replying.

"Interesting, a piece of trash with a bit of cunning."

Si Xue's lips twitched into a smile, its sudden glow nearly blinding him.

Liu Zheng steadied his breath, quelling the emotional rush.

One grin almost undid him—perilous.

No doubt, she wasn't human.

"Then go and do deliveries."

Si Xue's smile evaporated, face icing over, making him question the prior dazzle.

"Okay, boss."

He nodded.

Fine by him—he had delivery chops.

"Niu Ma, take him for the handover."

Si Xue commanded coolly, then retreated down the hall step by step.

"Yes, boss."

A deep, rumbling voice answered as an ox-headed horse-bodied beast lumbered from hiding.

Horse frame, ox skull, horns gleaming slickly.

A genuine ox-horse hybrid.

"What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen an ox-horse?"

It grumbled irritably.

"I'm sorry, I've never seen such a handsome ox-horse. I was caught off guard for a moment."

Liu Zheng pulled back his astonished stare and apologized swiftly.

"You have good taste. I forgive you."

Niu Ma snorted approvingly.

Clearly thrilled by the praise.

"The boss was right. For a human, you are indeed clever."

Niu Ma lifted a forehoof, clapping his shoulder.

"Work hard, human, don't make me eat you."

It parted thick lips, baring saw-toothed fangs.