Rules of the Strange: Shattered Rules

September 15, 2024, 11:47 p.m.

Xiri Lintian takes off his VR headset and rubs his sore eyes. A game announcement has just popped up on the screen: Public beta for Rule Domain begins in 13 minutes.

"Another game claiming to offer 'endless possibilities,'" he mutters. His voice sounds especially hollow in the cramped rental apartment.

The room is only twelve square meters. There's a bed, a table, an old computer, and a stack of instant noodle boxes piled in the corner. Outside the window, neon lights blur in the rain. The whole city is soaked in September's night rain, giving off the mixed smell of damp metal and dust.

Lin Tian checks his mobile banking balance: 327.5 yuan. Two weeks remain before next month's rent is due, and he's been unemployed for three months. When his former company went under, the boss ran off with the money, leaving more than thirty employees without even their final month's pay.

An ad for Rule Domain suddenly appeared on every platform a week ago. There was no information about the developer and no promotional video, just one line: "Your talent will determine your fate. No level cap. Break the rules yourself."

At first, Lin Tian thought it was some kind of new scam. But that night, a pure-black envelope appeared under his door. Inside was a card with an unusual texture, printed with the words: "Xiri Lintian, talent awaiting awakening. Public beta: September 15, 11:59 p.m."

Now that card is stuck to the edge of his computer screen, its edges glowing faintly with a cold light.