The Fifth Challenge
After completing the four standard escape rooms designed for new players, Yi Zhen anticipated being transported back to the Player Hall in Player City. He had easily dominated each challenge, setting records in every room. As he waited for the usual transition back, a cold, mechanical voice interrupted his thoughts.
**"Player Yi Zhen, you have successfully completed all four standard escape rooms and set new records in each. An optional challenge is now available. Do you wish to proceed?"**
Yi Zhen's eyes narrowed. An optional challenge? Intrigued, he silently confirmed his acceptance.
**"This challenge is the fifth type of escape room. It is a combination of all previous escape rooms: crime scene analysis, problem-solving, word puzzles, and number puzzles. The difficulty level is significantly higher. Should you succeed in breaking the record, you will receive an A-Class prop. You may choose from three A-Class props generated by the system."**
An A-Class prop was a rare and valuable reward, something that could significantly enhance his abilities in future dungeons. The chance to obtain one was too good to pass up.
**"I accept,"** Yi Zhen said aloud, his voice firm with determination.
The room around him shifted instantly. The transition was seamless, with the previous escape room dissolving into a new environment. Yi Zhen found himself in a large, dimly lit chamber. The walls were lined with ancient-looking stone bricks, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth. The atmosphere was far more ominous than the previous rooms, signaling the increased difficulty he would face.
At the center of the room was a single, large table covered in various items: a blood-stained knife, a stack of documents, several photographs, and a clock that had stopped at a specific time. Scattered around the room were pieces of paper with cryptic notes, a whiteboard with complex equations, and several bookshelves filled with dusty tomes.
The MAIN SYSTEM's voice echoed again:
**"Objective: Solve the crime, decipher the word puzzles, and calculate the number sequences within the time limit. Time limit: 2 hours. Current record: 2 hours. Begin."**
Yi Zhen immediately got to work. The combination of different puzzles meant that he had to use every skill he had developed over the years. The first task was to solve the crime—a murder that had taken place in the room. The clock on the table was stopped at 11:15 PM, and the knife had traces of blood and fingerprints on it.
Yi Zhen moved swiftly, his eyes scanning the room for clues. He noticed a trail of blood leading to a corner of the room where a cabinet stood slightly ajar. Inside, he found a torn piece of fabric, a key, and a small diary. Flipping through the pages of the diary, he quickly discovered that it belonged to the victim and contained details of a planned meeting that night with someone named "S."
**"11:15 PM,"** Yi Zhen muttered, analyzing the clock again. **"That's the time of death."**
His mind raced as he pieced together the clues. The fingerprints on the knife, the fabric in the cabinet—it all pointed to a confrontation that took place shortly after the victim's meeting with "S." But who was this "S"?
He examined the photographs on the table. They were of three individuals: a middle-aged man, a young woman, and an older woman. Each photo had a name written on the back, but there were no other obvious connections between them. Yi Zhen studied the man's photo closely and noticed a faint mark on the back of his hand in the image. A small scar shaped like an "S."
**"So, the killer is the man in the photograph,"** Yi Zhen concluded. **"He must have confronted the victim at 11:15 PM, leading to the murder."**
With the crime solved, Yi Zhen turned his attention to the word puzzles. The scattered notes contained fragments of sentences and jumbled words. He quickly rearranged them in his mind, forming coherent statements.
**"The key to the bookshelf lies within the clock's mechanism,"** he read aloud as he deciphered one of the notes. Without hesitation, Yi Zhen approached the clock, removed the cover, and found a small key hidden inside. This key unlocked the bookshelves, revealing a hidden compartment that contained the final pieces of the word puzzles.
The last word puzzle was more complex, requiring him to match ancient symbols to modern letters. He worked swiftly, his fingers dancing across the paper as he made the necessary connections.
**"Solve the equation to open the final door,"** the MAIN SYSTEM's voice instructed as Yi Zhen completed the word puzzles.
The whiteboard was covered in complex mathematical equations. The numbers and symbols seemed random at first glance, but Yi Zhen's sharp mind quickly discerned the pattern. It was a Fibonacci sequence mixed with algebraic expressions.
**"1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8...,"** Yi Zhen murmured as he filled in the missing numbers and balanced the equations. His calculations were precise, and within moments, the final door of the escape room creaked open.
Yi Zhen didn't hesitate. He stepped through the door and into a small chamber that contained a single pedestal. On the pedestal was a button labeled "Complete." He pressed it without a second thought.
The room brightened, and the MAIN SYSTEM's voice announced:
**"Challenge complete. Time taken: 59 minutes. New record set."**
Yi Zhen exhaled slowly, a smirk playing on his lips. Despite the increased difficulty, he had not only completed the challenge but had also set a new record, shaving over an hour off the previous best time. He had proven himself once again, and the rewards were sure to be worth it.
**"Player Yi Zhen, as a reward for breaking the record, you may choose one of the following A-Class props,"** the MAIN SYSTEM continued.
A holographic display appeared before Yi Zhen, showcasing three different A-Class props:
1. **Time Dilation Device**: Allows the user to slow down time for a short period, providing a significant advantage in high-pressure situations.
2. **Phantom Cloak**: Grants the user temporary invisibility and the ability to phase through solid objects, making it ideal for stealth missions and escaping traps.
3. **Mind's Eye Pendant**: Enhances the user's perception and intuition, allowing them to see through illusions and detect hidden traps or enemies.
Yi Zhen's eyes gleamed with interest as he examined the options. Each prop was incredibly valuable, but he knew exactly which one would benefit him the most in future dungeons.
**"I'll take the Phantom Cloak,"** he said decisively.
The selected prop materialized in his inventory, a sleek, dark cloak that shimmered faintly with an ethereal glow. Yi Zhen could already envision the numerous ways he could use this cloak to his advantage in future challenges.
As the final reward was secured, the environment around Yi Zhen began to shift once more, signaling the end of the challenge. This time, he knew he would be returning to the Player Hall, but not as just another new player. He would return as a record-breaking player whose name was now known throughout Player City.
The transition completed, and Yi Zhen found himself standing in the bustling Player Hall, surrounded by players of all levels. He could feel their gazes on him, a mix of curiosity, admiration, and perhaps even envy. But Yi Zhen remained calm and collected, his expression betraying nothing of his thoughts.
The MAIN SYSTEM's voice echoed one last time, announcing his latest achievement to the entire Player City:
**"Player Yi Zhen has successfully completed the fifth escape room challenge, setting a new record of 59 minutes."**
The announcement reverberated through the Player Hall, and Yi Zhen's smirk returned. He had made his mark, and this was only the beginning. The path ahead was long and fraught with danger, but Yi Zhen was ready. With his newfound strength, experience, and the powerful A-Class prop in his possession, he was more than prepared for whatever the Oblivion Cascade Realm would throw at him next.
---
Despite the announcement reverberating through the Player Hall, drawing whispers and speculation, Yi Zhen moved through the crowd largely unnoticed. He was just one of many new players, and his name, though now recognized for its record-breaking feats, was not yet tied to a face.
Groups of players gathered in corners, discussing the new player who had seemingly come out of nowhere to shatter records in the Newbie Escape Rooms. The consensus was one of cautious admiration—whoever Yi Zhen was, he was clearly someone to watch. But with no face to put to the name, the discussions were more abstract, filled with speculation rather than concrete recognition.
**"Did you hear? Some new guy named Yi Zhen broke four records in a row, including the fifth challenge. That's unheard of!"**
**"I know, right? And that fifth challenge isn't even mandatory. Only a handful of players ever take it, and he smashed the record by over an hour."**
**"I wonder what he's like. Probably some genius prodigy. But why haven't we seen him yet?"**
Yi Zhen listened to the whispers as he moved through the hall, his presence unremarkable amidst the sea of players. He blended in effortlessly, a shadow among shadows. His anonymity was an advantage he intended to keep, at least for now. There was no need to draw unnecessary attention to himself so early in the game.
For now, he was content with the knowledge that his reputation was growing, even if no one knew the face behind the name. In this vast and dangerous realm, being underestimated could be just
as powerful as being recognized. And Yi Zhen was more than willing to let others continue underestimating him—until the moment he chose to reveal his true strength.
As he walked through the bustling Player Hall, Yi Zhen's mind was already on the next challenge, the next dungeon. The Oblivion Cascade Realm was vast, filled with opportunities for growth and power. And he intended to seize every single one of them.
For Yi Zhen, this was just the beginning of a long and perilous journey. And in the end, it wasn't just about survival—it was about conquering the realm and bending it to his will.