Fifteen years ago, Earth was suddenly covered by a mysterious dark cloud, plunging the entire world into darkness. At first, humanity thought it was just a strange natural phenomenon. Then a cold, mechanical voice rang out in everyone's mind at the same time:
[The System is inviting Earth's civilization...]
[12%...]
[36%...]
[59%...]
[82%...]
[99%...]
[100%...]
[The Infinite Game System has connected to Earth's civilization]
[The System will randomly select suitable candidates to enter game instances]
[Players who fail will be erased or transformed into NPCs]
[We wish all players an enjoyable game]
Twenty seconds later, the clouds covering Earth dispersed, and the world returned to daylight. But every social media platform was flooded with reports: everyone on Earth had heard that voice, no matter where they were or what language they spoke.
From that day on, people began mysteriously disappearing from Earth. At first, the cases were investigated as ordinary disappearances, but then dozens or even hundreds of people vanished without a trace every day. Some disappeared right in front of surveillance cameras, walking along one second and gone the next. These baffling cases sparked panic around the world, forcing global leaders to pay attention to that inexplicable mechanical voice.
Various countries sent high-ranking officials to form a research institute for paranormal phenomena, but they made little progress. Just as the investigation reached a dead end, the first "returnee" appeared.
He was a university student from Melbourne, Australia. Two months after disappearing, he suddenly appeared in the middle of Times Square in New York, USA. The two places were 16,900 hectares apart, and no one could explain how he had gotten there. He was covered in blood, and for the first few seconds after he appeared, green vines were growing from his back. When reporters interviewed him, he shouted hysterically, "I cleared four instances! The System gave me a reward, and I drew an early clearance ticket! Hahahahahaha!"
The returnee's appearance marked a huge breakthrough for the institute. The government had already sent people to bring him in for research.
A week later, the institute published its findings in a worldwide video:
1. When entering the game System, players will be assigned to different spaces.
2. Each player will receive a letter rating: S, A, B, C, or D.
3. Before each game begins, the System will announce the rules.
4. Every game will have a "lurker."
5. If a violation occurs, an "arbiter" will inspect the game.
6. If a violation is confirmed, an "enforcer" will carry out the System's orders.
Theme: Humanity's interests come before all else.
