"Welcome, Host Cheng Na from the Daxia District, to the Rules of Strange Tales game!"

"Please, every game host must abide by the above rules. However, not all rules are correct. Hosts should carefully distinguish and avoid being dragged into darkness by them."

I opened my eyes and found myself in the world of the Strange Tales game. The empty room had blood-like wallpaper, and there was a window next to the bed. Outside was pitch black, with heavy rain pouring down. Lightning flashed and thunder roared, obscuring the distant view.

Such an environment is truly oppressive. In any case, I must survive first!

Suddenly, I heard a dripping sound coming from my wrist—it was a black smartwatch.

The watch allowed me to see the situation of other participants in different areas who were also participating in the game. The screen of the watch was constantly filled with bullet comments.

"Wow, is this the inside of the game? The flashing lights are so terrifying!"

"Daxia District will definitely win, mighty!!!!"

"We must persist until the end. We don't want to die!"

While turning off the sound of the watch, I heard footsteps coming up the stairs outside the door. The footsteps were slow and heavy, making the wooden stairs creak and squeak.

Instinctively, I held my breath.

Who knows what kind of thing is coming up!

The footsteps stopped at the entrance of the room, and suddenly, a middle-aged woman's loud voice rang out, "Nana, have you woken up after sleeping for an afternoon? Come down quickly and have dinner!"

This voice sounded just like my real-life mother, and I subconsciously wanted to respond.

She vigorously pounded on the room door, with such force that it seemed like she wanted to break it down.

"Speak up! Are you awake or not!"

I didn't answer, tightly sealing my lips. The first rule of the strange tales is that when staying in the bedroom, you must not respond to anyone who calls you!

The "person" outside the door pounded on it for a while, but seeing that I still didn't answer, they grumbled and left. Heavy footsteps echoed in the dim corridor.

I wiped away the cold sweat and slowly resumed my breathing.

The watch on my wrist lit up with a red light; another participant in the game had been eliminated.

The Rules of Strange Tales game is a 24-hour non-stop live broadcast, and the small screen of the watch was filled with bullet comments.

"Damn it, I almost peed myself. I thought the door wouldn't hold!"

"Whatever's outside, it's definitely not human! That voice really sounded like my mom. I thought she was going to burst in and beat me up!"

"Protective shield against bullet comments, unintentionally opened."

I glanced at the replay of the eliminated player's death. It was a participant from a neighboring country, and she was also a girl like me.

The girl stayed curled up on her bed in fear. When she heard her mother's call and the crazed knocking on the door, she resisted for a while but eventually answered softly. Immediately, all the sounds outside the door ceased.

The flickering lights in the bedroom went out, and in the darkness, numerous tentacles squeezed in through the gap under the door. She didn't have time to hide, let out a scream, and was dragged into the dark depths of the corridor.