ZZZ: Book Immersion System

After finishing the final touches, Chao Yu wiped his sweat with a smile. He looked proudly at the finished building that would become his bookstore.

[Thank you for completing the mission "Build a bookstore"]

[Reward: A new system function "Story Immersion"]

[A new story has been added "Apocalyptic trial"]

A series of notifications appeared in the corner of his eyes, and he nodded in curiosity before clicking the floating panel to examine the explanation of the new system function.

[Story Immersion: Let the host become a part of the story provided by the system and certain books scattered around the world, explore the world, and obtain these books or wait for the system to give newly generated stories. *The host is highly recommended to explore the world once in a while to keep a healthy body and collect the scattered books.*]

[Stories available: "Apocalyptic trial" (New!)]

[Apocalyptic survival: You are a normal citizen who had been suddenly transferred to a hollow, without a carrot to guide you, your only hope is to encounter a hollow investigator team. But before looking for any people find any means necessary to heighten your chance at escaping the hallow alive, scavenge old medical facilities for anti-ether medicines, craft a weapon from nails and scrap for self-defense, it is survival of the fittest and you are the weakest prey.]

" How interesting! I'm sold!" The concept of living in a story excites Chao Yu so much, that he wastes no time entering the store and sitting at the front desk.

"Story immersion, start!"

~~~

Slowly opening his eyes a low groan and a throbbing headache woke him up.

Chao Yu found himself amidst the ruins of an old town that had been swallowed by the hollow. 

["W-why am I here!"] Chao Yu unconsciously said in panic, or rather the body Chao Yu possessed said so. Chao Yu figured it was just to increase immersion and shrugged it off.

He examined his body, he wore an office suit that was covered in dust, as he moved he felt several points of his body burning with pain and discovered bruises on them.

"Roar" A distant roar could be heard startling Chao Yu.

["H-Hollow beasts! I better hide." ]

[New Mission has been issued.]

[Objective: Survive]

Chao Yu suddenly felt a wave of dread as Deja Vu kicks in.

'What am I thinking, I'm sure the system won't hand out impossible mission... right?'

"Roar!" The sound of the roars became more prominent and heavy footsteps shook the ground.

"Sh*t" Chao Yu frantically scanned the area and found an old abandoned house.

Quickly hiding himself among the cracked walls the footsteps came closer and closer and before long each step shook the very bones within him.

Though fearful curiosity overtook him and took a peek from the broken door. In the middle of the street, an Ethereal the size of a small house, its forelegs were as thick as logs, each step that it took, a heavy thud came that shook the ground, its head was nothing but a floating black ball as if a mini blackhole has replaced it's head.

"Grrrr" A low and slow growl ignited a primal fear within him. His heart became frantic as fear gripped his very being, a fear of death. After several minutes the hollow beast finally lost interest in the area and went away.

As the figure slowly disappeared from Chao Yu's sight, he still froze in place as the rapid beating of his heart was the only thing he heard.

After several minutes Chao Yu finally calmed down. 'What a surreal experience'

'Each touch, each breathing, every dirt felt so real that he could not differentiate it from reality, truly this system was an all-powerful hum hum' Chao Yu nodded inside his mind.

Looking at the mission, the first objective is still present which made him assume he would complete it by escaping the hollow entirely.

["I-I need to find anti-ether medicine, or else I'll turn into an Ethereal!"]

[Objective: Find and scavenge an old hospital for anti-ether medicine]

[ether corruption: 09:58]

Chao Yu's eyes widen 'I just survived a heart attack damn it! You're not giving me any chance to adapt!'

[Host remember, this is a realistic simulation in the case of an individual classified as "individuals non-adaptable to either" suddenly being swallowed into a hollow, please do not throw false accusations as the system is doing as it has programmed.]

"I know! But that doesn't prevent me from complaining!" Chao Yu shouted out loud.

"Roar!" Several growls came from outside as several close footsteps were rushed towards him.

A hollow beast the size of a person appeared from the doorway and looked his way, before he could react the Ethereal thrust its spear-like arm piercing his chest.

"!!" A heart-wrenching pain filled his chest as Chao Yu screamed in pain before collapsing from heart failure.

[Objective failed]

[Cause of death: Heart failure]

[Try again?]

Chao Yu bolted from his chair in a cold sweat clutching his chest from the phantom pain.

"Huff, huff, Immersive story, that is not a joke." Chao Yu felt as if the word 'Immersive' became more prominent.

"I'll... take a break" Feeling stressed, he decided to go outside and finally familiarize himself with Sixth Street.

Getting out of his store, he locked the door behind him and explored the populated street.

"Civilization... People." Unknowingly the story apocalyptic trial put a lot of pressure on him, the ability to unable to distinguish it from reality had instilled fear in him and made him wish deep down to see other people again... other normal people.

"Chao Yu! You seemed distraught, did something happened?" As he walked a voice called him from the noodle store.

Turning to the source, he saw General Chop, the shop owner of the Waterfall noodle.

"Ah. General Chop its nothing I just had a bad dream that's all." Chao Yu scratched his head and took a seat on one of the empty chairs.

"I see, well I'm glad nothing bad happened, anyway you hungry? a new batch of goods just came in so I guarantee all the menu will be served fresh." General Chop flashed a friendly smile.

"I am a bit hungry, so I'll take red chili meat noodles." Chao Yu nodded and replied.

"red chilli meat noodle coming right up!"