The Holographic Age: Mystery of the Shan Hai World

The Holographic Era is a holographic ecosystem launched in 2030 by New Era, a leading technology company. It took the world by storm upon release and, in less than five years, had permeated every aspect of human life. Users need only have a tiny chip implanted and pass facial recognition to receive their own digital avatar and enter the Holographic Era, where they can enjoy a range of smart services and enhanced sensory experiences provided by the holographic network. In addition, based on the information users authorize it to access, the System automatically assigns them a digital pet modeled on a divine beast from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. In 2040, on the tenth anniversary of New Era's founding, the company launched “Shanhai Realm,” the first immersive game in its holographic ecosystem. The game takes divine beasts from the Classic of Mountains and Seas as its totems and the Thirty-Six Stratagems as its narrative framework. Groups of ten enter the “Shanhai Illusion” and embark on the “Shanhai Labyrinth,” a series of ten dungeons. The game's main appeal is that each dungeon presents a different story, set of tasks, and solution depending on who takes part, delivering a fresh, guide-free experience in which “heaven and humanity become one” in every round. Before entering the game, participants must sign a voluntary wager agreement. If they clear the game, the Holographic Era will grant them one wish. If they fail, they will be sacrificed: all their private information will be transferred to the Holographic Era and used to nourish its computational matrix. The closed beta is now underway. Participants from all walks of life are welcome. Ten desperate souls, each consumed by an obsession, accept the invitation for various reasons and enter “Shanhai Realm.” From that moment on, they embark on an abyssal journey of stolen senses, battles of human nature, and life-or-death crises.