The plum rain fell in sheets as howling winds carried the moldy scent of damp wood and faint metallic tangs. On the unmanned vessel, thirteen scattered teenagers swayed with the waves.  

    "You're finally awake!" Yu Yi turned to see a gaunt boy curled against the gunwale. Chestnut bangs framed large obsidian eyes that sparkled with relief.  

    Yu Yi clutched his throbbing head. "Is this the afterlife? Why does hell have so many people?"  

    — "Host, you've entered the instance world." An electronic voice jolted through his skull.  

    _'When did this thing appear!?'_  

    — "I am your symbiotic system."  

    "Apocalypse……systems……instances……Has my life become web fiction!?"  

    "Going home? Earth's already destroyed T_T" Melancholy seeped into Yu Yi's bones.  

    — "Complete the mission to return and rebuild Earth Online."  

    "Are you okay, Yu Yi?" The boy offered pills, interrupting his thoughts. "Seasickness medication. I kept some for you."  

    "Thanks." Yu Yi accepted automatically, studying the boy's features that strangely echoed Lin Yi's—  

    _'How does he know me?'_  

    — "Character data implanted upon instance entry." The system responded instantly.  

    _'This thing's clingier than a ghost……'_  

    — "Initiating character profile."  

    A blue interface materialized mid-vision:  

    [Key Figure: Rhine  

    Gender: Male  

    Personality: Emotionally unstable, psychologically fragile  

    Ability: Peerless physique, limitless potential, special trait: ageless body  

    Background: Raised by grandparents, parents missing]  

    "Such cliché golden finger settings?" Yu Yi scrolled through holographic text.  

    "Sticking with protagonists never fails." He suddenly flashed Rhine a radiant smile, receiving bewildered reciprocation.  

    _'System, as main cast, I must have impressive settings too?'_  

    — [Host Role: NPC1008  

    Gender: Male  

    Personality: Unrecorded  

    Ability: Unrecorded  

    Background: Parentless, grew up in Rhine's household, zero presence]  

    "……" Yu Yi's eye twitched.  

    "Even NPCs deserve proper backstories……"  

    The system fell pointedly silent.  

    His gaze swept the decaying vessel. Faded banners clung to rusted poles, crimson sediment dripping like bloodied hourglass sand. Most passengers chanted psalms with fanatical fervor, their ecstatic expressions raising goosebumps.  

    "Feels like a cult……"  

    In shadows crouched a gray-robed figure. Sapphire butterfly studs glinted on hidden ears, catching Yu Yi's attention.  

    "System, profile check."  

    — [Character: Su Luan  

    Gender: Female  

    Personality: Solitary, low-key  

    Ability: Moderate spiritual perception, poor memory  

    Background: Orphaned]  

    Ordinary details, yet something felt wrong. That butterfly jewelry……  

    "Data never errs," the system declared with mechanical certainty.  

    Cold eyes suddenly locked onto Yu Yi from the shadows. He tilted his head, fingers waggling in playful greeting. "Hellooo~"  

    The figure jerked their hood lower.  

    _"She's definitely suspicious……"_ Yu Yi's fingers bled as he scrolled through profiles. Why did "Su Luan" feel familiar?  

    The ship groaned against rotting docks. Crimson beacons pierced fog-shrouded towers ahead.  

    "Poseidon summons us." A black-haired leader pressed weathered Bible to chest.  

    [Character: Shi Yi  

    Gender: Male  

    Personality: Traditional, orderly, eccentric  

    Ability: High-tier summoning  

    Background: Family blessed by sea gods]  

    Runes twisted across blast doors until a rabbit-headed steward materialized. Its velvet ears twitched under red lights, tailcoat impeccably tailored with mandala collar pins.  

    "Welcome to the sanctuary."  

    As the group entered fluorescent-lit corridors, the system flashed:  

    — [Instance Activated  

    Genre: Fairy Tale  

    Setting: Island nation under Poseidon's protection. Children undergo state upbringing at 10. Four flawless 15-year-olds chosen for "blessing" during Siren's Song.  

    Difficulty: F  

    Objective: Help Rhine obtain divine blessing  

    Warning: As plot enforcer, abnormal behavior triggers erasure.]  

    Barbed wires hummed overhead when a scoff echoed. A pixie-cut girl leaned against corroded pipes. "Since when do we trust beast-headed freaks?"  

    "Finally, a sane person," Yu Yi mentally noted.  

    "He Zhi, silence!" A cadaverous man hissed. His greasy hair framed sunken eyes glowing with unhealthy zeal.  

    "Brother……" The girl shrunk under his glare.  

    "Well, well." Orange curls bounced as a smirking youth approached. "Trash clan daring to approach holy ground?"  

    [Character: San Yin  

    Gender: Male  

    Personality: Bully, arrogant  

    Ability: Mid-high perception  

    Background: Prestigious family]  

    He shoved the trembling siblings. Yu Yi sighed at the teenage drama when cold steel kissed his neck.  

    "Retreat slowly." The blade trembled against his skin.  

    Through peripheral vision, golden strands gleamed on the dagger.  

    "Su Luan……?"  

    The assailant froze. Yu Yi seized the moment, twisting to grip the blade barehanded. Blood cascaded between them.  

    "Hello, Su Luan." He smiled through pain, crimson rivulets staining both their hands. "I'm Yu Yi."  

    Her breath hitched. "I didn't mean……"  

    "Now," he tightened his bleeding grip. "How did you mask your identity?"  

    The dagger clattered as the system blared:  

    — [Test Subject 3008: Instance One Commenced]