Hundreds of people shoved and clamored like rolling waves to reach the train while others held back, hesitant of what could potentially emerge. Feiyu was casually inspecting the clean cut in the wall from my sword, tapping the ground with his long blade. I held onto Amelia tightly as she buried her head into my shoulder before thrusting my sword at the train door, trying to pry it open.

Whoever would enter the arc first would have the benefit of ending early—although it sounded miniscule, it ensured that any alerts or items after the arc could be gathered first.

The train skidded to a halt when I finally managed to crack the door open. With the nod of my head I gestured for my party to follow, but as I took the first step in, a strange barrier shoved me back.

My back pressed into it as I held my breath, straining to enter, but it shoved me back with equal strength.

“Sorry, Peijin,” Feiyu called out, easily maneuvering around the crowd that shrunk in his presence, “But my party has already claimed the first car.”

I gawked as he led his party into the train, other characters I created eyeing me as they passed by. “But this car just opened…?”

However, when I peered inside, forcefully pressing the side of my cheek against the invisible barrier, a small black figure at the very front of the train slowly turned to meet my gaze. Shrouded in darkness, I was unable to make out any discernible features. When did that figure get in, and how did they do it without me noticing?

“Nice one,” Yue called out, rolling her eyes. “You can’t even enter the arc properly.”

Yang promptly elbowed her in the side which caused her to reel over for a moment before cursing. The sign in front of the car quickly changed to Feiyu’s party name.

My eyes widened as I read the words that slowly formed in black ink before me.

“Major Arcana.”

Hindsight activated!

Unlike the first time, the words seemed more like an invitation. When the Major Arcana initially hijacked the system and changed the blue boxes, it came off as a warning—no, more like a threat. This time, it almost seemed monotonous or as if it was beckoning someone.

The figure in the train was calling out to the Major Arcana.

I shook my head, getting rid of the thought. Was I a hired detective or something? Why the hell would I care about any of this? Quite frankly, as long as I was rich and I didn’t die, life was good.

The cabin door shut as the train shifted, the next one opening with the sound of scraping metal. I jumped in along with my party members and entered our party name.

“Peijin’s World Dominion.”

“More like tyranny…” Yue muttered under her breath before quickly sitting on one of the cushioned rows of chairs.

In retrospect, what I had considered a dungeon in Surviving my First Run wasn’t actually a dungeon. Honestly, it didn’t have anything to do with dungeons, but I figured it would get me more clicks—and therefore money. In all honesty, I was very reliant on my Paytron account.

That wasn’t to say I completely strayed from the concept of a dungeon. It would start out similar, but as it progressed, the rooms would shift into intricately crafted horrors that wouldn’t even resemble dungeons. I had already explained this to Athena and Chang in order to make myself appear as a god of fortune and fate; however, if they asked for any specific details, they would quickly discover me to be a fraud.

I needed to convince the other disciples that I was a god, even if I was a fake. But, words and promises were more convincing to the gods—man, however, would only consider a display of power as truth. I needed to become a stronger disciple before declaring I was a god.

My gaze slowly shifted over to Wei; it was clear to any onlookers that he was… beyond strange. He resembled a cosplayer if anything. For him, this arc would instead rekindle lost memories.

If things went awry, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill him here.

“Do you have to argue with everything Peijin does?” Yang sighed, peering up at the posters on the wall.

Wei gently took Amelia from my arms and sat down with her on his lap, holding her still in case the train was to start moving.

“Don’t worry about it, Yang,” I replied in a cheery tone. “Everything she says is either wrong or stupid. When she disagrees with me, it reassures me that my decision is the right one.”

“The hell? Are you sure you’re older than me? You act like a child!” Yue spat back.

I shrugged as Yue continued to yell at me. To my side, Wei covered Amelia’s ears and made a hand puppet that seemed to blabber incessantly.

“Wait, Yue, how old are you?” Yang asked, seeming to be entranced as he stared at the posters lining the windows of the train. They were large and elaborate, detailing countless scenes with small plaques below them.

Yue huffed as she crossed her arms, turning her head to the side. “What a rude question to ask a woman.”

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Yang then turned to me, jerking his chin up to signal for me to answer the question if Yue wouldn’t.

Noticing his gesture, Yue quickly chimed in before I could respond. “I’m twenty-two.”

Yang’s gaze then shifted to the next poster, his hand tracing the strange embossed plaque below. “And Peijin is twenty-four… Amelia, how old are you?”

“If you already knew how old Peijin was, why were you acting like you were going to ask her?” Yue quizzed, her brows furrowed.

“Because that’s the only way to get you to do something,” Yang replied nonchalantly.

“I really hate you guys.”

Wei had uncovered Amelia’s ears and quietly repeated the question for her.

“I’m nine,” she replied, her voice still quiet and reserved.

“That’s strange,” Yang whispered under his breath, still staring at the posters. “All of these posters have our corresponding year of birth under them… Wei, how old are you?”

“I’m twenty-six, why?”

“Your poster... it's not here.”

Yue quickly scooted up behind, peeking around him to stare at her own posters. Her face immediately drained of color, turning a ghostly pale as she looked at what was depicted on her poster. “What the hell…”

The poster displayed a girl that shared a shocking resemblance to Yue herself. She was reeled over in agony, screaming in an empty white room as dozens of black swords, spears, and staffs pierced through her abdomen, black blood leaking out and pooling beneath her. Behind her, the distinct silhouettes of people loomed over her, watching the scene take place but not doing anything.

Amelia let out a choked gasp at the sight of her own poster. It was the first arc, a large sea serpent roaring as it hovered over a bridge. Wei quickly tightened his grip around her and shifted his weight to block her view.

“What do you mean my poster isn’t here? I’m eighteen. Just look for my year.”

“There’s only one other poster,” Yang said, pointing all the way at the end of the car. “And it’s dated back to twelve hundred years ago.”

Wei quickly stood up, gently passing Amelia to me before rushing up to Yang. He stared at his poster; it depicted an absolutely stunning ancient Chinese temple, with curved, red tiled ceilings and a golden bell in the center. Countless floral trees surrounded it, disguising the cliff edge. Out of all of the posters, it was the only one not outwardly horrific in its appearance.

“I…” Wei trailed off, his eyes repeatedly darting between the written year and the poster in front of him.

I watched Wei, glancing up his sleeve and noticing the band around his arm beginning to slither against him, slowly pulling away from his arm and into the outer fabric of his sleeve.

“Are you hiding something from us?" Yue questioned Wei, her voice pressing. “The posters match for the rest of us. Why would yours be any different?”

Wei put both his hands in the air as if surrendering. “I swear, I’m not! Believe me! I really am twenty-six. Do you want my autobiography?”

Disciple Yue has activated 'Lie Detector!'

Yue was constantly surprising me despite me being her creator. She was gaining key skills left and right, and although they weren’t anything major to her character, her growth was unparalleled. The system truly rewarded people who shifted right into what it wanted.

Disciple Wei is telling the truth.

Both Yue and Yang’s face contorted into mixtures of confusion, speculation, and hesitancy. My hand gripped suspended strap from the ceiling as I readjusted my hold on Amelia.

Yue’s eyes tracked my movement. “What are you holding on for? We’re not even mov—”

A surprised cry left Yue’s mouth as the train lurched forward, sending her flying into Yang. Yang quickly steadied her, grabbing her shoulders and holding her still as the lights flickered out, sending everyone into pitch blackness.

Observer 'Socrates': Jia Li, you already know what's happening. Why aren't you explaining it to them? You're making Wei anxious

I felt my way along the wall until I brushed against loose, flowy robes. “Wei,” I whispered quietly into his ear. “Calm down. I believe you, but the last thing you should do is get overwhelmed right now. That’s what the gods want to see.”

Divinity ‘Supreme Commander of the Heavenly Hosts’ is filled with a deep sense of dread.

The slithering on his arm seemed to calm for a moment as I could hear his breathing slow down. The lights soon flickered back on and the clinical interior of the train greeted us once more, but the doors were open now. The sight of a rundown and cracked dungeon appeared before us, stretching out from the train platform.

As my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, I pointed at Yue and burst out laughing, reeling over as waves of laughter took over me. She was fearfully hanging onto an awkward Yang, his eyes wide and pleading and lips pressed into thin line.

“Shut up!” Yue cried, quickly moving to the other side of the dungeon.

Observer 'Nipon23': Good luck, Jia Li. You'll need it this time. Even if you pretend it doesn't exist, you saw your poster, and you know exactly what it means.

ARC #2

DUNGEONS OF GREAT TURMOIL

Difficulty D Task Survive the ensuing onslaught of monsters, beasts, and insects. Half of the remaining human population must die within the time frame. TIme 20 minutes Reward All items collected from dungeons and 10,000 stars per party member. Failure Death