The theme once again returns to the Jade Fox Mask. If this strange thing could appear on its own, maybe I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble.

"For real, are you really flawless?" I couldn't comprehend as I picked up the mask and carefully examined it.

Clearly, apart from the ominous and chilling aura it emitted, it was no different from an ordinary mask.

And also...

"If this is some kind of activation switch, will wearing it be of any use to me?" I tried putting it on my face and pressed my index finger against my forehead!

However... it seemed to have no effect.

I didn't arrive in a mysterious world as I had imagined; instead, I remained where I stood, bewildered, holding the mask in my hand.

Little did I know, at the very moment I picked up the mask, the world... had already undergone a change!!!

In the following period of time, I continuously investigated the events happening around me, because here, the game rules blend into life. If you want to find the answers quickly, it's absolute fantasy!

Time quickly passed, and I remained idle throughout this process, until one year later...

Many changes occurred during this year. Ever since the appearance of the Jade Fox Mask, the entire world underwent significant changes in its setting, and even some individuals began displaying erratic behavior.

But they weren't the typical mutated zombies; instead, they became a more formidable presence than zombies—an Evil Entity!

As the name suggests, Evil Entity is a manifestation of evil sentiments originating from within humans. They may seem insignificant, but their numerical advantage is enough to give anyone a headache.

During this period, I left my long-time home, abandoning the warm and comfortable bed, and moved to a communal dormitory.

It was here that time began to change. In the blink of an eye, the world underwent a massive transformation!

I woke up early in the morning on an unfamiliar bed and turned on the television in the corner of the dormitory to see what was on.

Hiss... Other than the piercing static, there were no other programs.

"No television stations at all?"

Suddenly, words appeared on the black screen: "Yesterday night, the Eastern Wall of the Western Alliance was breached. If there are any survivors, please dial the rescue hotline..."

Haha, what's the use of those hotlines? I scratched my head, thinking how boring these people were.

Two years had already passed in the game, but I still didn't know what had happened and hadn't triggered any useful plot or information.

Just as I began feeling confused, I even started to suspect whether the system had encountered a fatal flaw or error, resulting in this situation?

But speaking of which, I was rather thirsty. If there was no water left to drink, my body values would become imbalanced.

Thinking of this, along with the ordinary residents and users, I felt quite fortunate that at least there were still living people here.

However, the tranquility in the dormitory didn't last long. Soon, Evil Entities surrounded the place, bringing disaster with them!

Certain people residing in the dormitory hallway were shocked, losing their composure as they shouted, "Isn't it supposed to be over? What about my parents?"

"Yukari sis..."

I was about to say something when my head suddenly cleared up.

"What's going on? Everyone..."

In my blurred and sometimes clear vision, the dormitory building had been engulfed by raging flames, leaving behind only me, standing there alone, unsure of how to respond.

"Damn it... me..."

I tried to escape with my exhausted body, but I was too weak to move quickly.

And so, I finally returned to the mundane, with a helpless and self-mocking expression on my face.

"Hehe, I've already... No, my memory is a bit confused?"

An address appeared on the TV screen, instantly filling me with hope.

Elena Shelter, the last sanctuary.

In the depths of my consciousness, I felt someone dragging me from behind, and they were saying something to me.

However, even my final consciousness didn't allow me to see her face clearly. Perhaps it was just an illusion... Yukari, sister?

"Juxi, wake up!!!"

In the last moment before I closed my eyes, I saw Yukari's anxious face, and I...

With a thud, I lost consciousness.

I felt my world turning dark, though I could still remember my own existence and hadn't lost my senses. But things were becoming less smooth because I slowly realized that I could no longer distinguish what was real.

Memories can deceive, even the feeling of déjà vu is no longer present.

This time, I remained unconscious for a long time...

It was another scorching summer, and although the end of the summer vacation was approaching, the school suddenly announced that the postponed school festival would be held on this day, making it quite inconvenient for us...

"Ah-choo!"

On the playground, a group of boys from the soccer team were sleeping in the shade.

Sigh, I have already entered the darkest and deepest valley of my life, and what awaits me is an abyss of no return, because...

"Why is it like this?"

I struggled to drag the boy who fainted in the squirrel mascot costume and brought him into the infirmary, but the boy used his last breath to plead with me.

"Please!"

In the instant I turned around to leave, the boy grasped my hand with all his strength and begged me with his last ounce of energy.

"Young brother, our arduous mission is now in your hands... (or something like that)"

In short, I accepted everything and had to complete everything I could do!

So many things have happened these two days, and I never expected that Elena, who I worked so hard to escape, would just willingly come back.

"What a silly boy, you can even mistake the restroom at this age!" (Boy)

"Yeah, yeah, you must have wanted to take a peek in there, right?" (Boy)

"Ew, such a pervert!" (Girl)

That's just how messy and unwelcome I am.

Now that I have left the Allied Forces, I am no different from an ordinary troublemaker!

"But even so, do you really need scum like me?"

I couldn't believe their words, considering it was them—the Elena—who caused those destructive experiments.

And now, they have gone to great lengths to find me, which shows that it wasn't easy.

"What is it?"

A man wearing a gray wolf head mask appeared before me, accompanied by a group of men in black, and someone in black formal attire followed closely behind.

They walked in front of me and blocked my path, not looking like ordinary guys who came to chat...

I stopped and looked up at the neon sign, which was the name of the apartment building where I lived.

"No need to say anymore, I understand, I understand!"

I pretended not to see them, preparing to walk past them.

"Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to tell you something."

I deliberately acted as if I didn't see them and told them everything about my current situation without reservation.

"I already have my own team and teammates. If you are dumb enough to risk your lives, go find someone else!"

I had no intention of pretending I didn't see, but those people couldn't pretend not to see. Since they had found me, they would certainly not let me go!

It was already late at night, and the residents of the building and the people nearby had long gone to bed. Since the government announced the energy-saving measures, the streetlights had not been turned on at night, and even vehicles dared not drive on the roads.

"You must be Tsubaki Kujikuji, am I right?"

The masked man in the lead looked like he was ready to fight me to the end. I think he must have already understood everything by now.

Sure enough, he knew all my information beforehand, which is why he dared to be so confident.

"By the way... how did you find this place? This is clearly the territory of the Alliance Army, and are you not afraid of trouble for suddenly barging in, Elena?"

"We are not afraid, that's why we said not to trust anyone around you... even your closest friends!"

He gently took off his mask, revealing a face that surprised me. Of course, I would only be shocked if I didn't know anything.

"Oh, you forgot about me so soon? I'm really hurt, brother."

I walked past Yuanhui without looking back, but his two black-clad men blocked my way, indicating that they were ready to fight me to the death.

But he still remembered my existence, could it be...

"Brother, have you regained your memory?"

"Hehe, you still like to doubt others, don't you, Shura? Don't you think it's a pity that the Hope Badge has not fully unleashed its power on you?"

He placed a hand on my shoulder, as if threatening me.

"Do you know? This is such a waste of a valuable item!"

"I'm just wondering, did you come to talk to me... or to start a fight?"

I had a strong dislike for this Yuanhui. I always felt that he was up to no good.

After all these years, he finally came, and he came to provoke me in this way. Is he asking for death?

"No, fighting in the safe zone will make you become a public enemy. I just wanted to remind you of one thing."

"Oh?"

I suddenly became interested. If that was the case, then I should still have a third choice.

"The third choice is..."

Yuanhui reached out greedily with an expression on his face.

"Hand over the Hope Badge, and you can go live your so-called happy life as an ordinary citizen. What do you think?"