Three Towers Game

Chapter 419 I Become the Pen Master
The bonfire goes out.

This means the next challenge is coming.

[An old, dilapidated classroom, the air thick with dust and the smell of mildew. Outside stands a "teacher," perhaps without a fixed form, merely a constantly twisting shadow composed of countless fragmented characters. Its voice is like chalk scraping against a blackboard.]

[She's a Chinese language teacher, you know, and when a Chinese language teacher is lazy, they'll make the students do composition class.]

[Before it comes in to assign the essay, you have a short period of free time.]

composition?

Wen Xishu realized that this might be related to writing. Was this finally going to touch on the core of "pen"?
Reed was somewhat annoyed:

"Hmm... I have a feeling I'm going to die at this level."

Wen Xishu and Reid had already switched scenes and were now sitting together in the middle of the classroom.

There were other students in the classroom, all wearing eerie smiles. Ropes grew from the ceiling, suspending all the students.

It looks like...

It's like the pork hanging on iron hooks in a slaughterhouse, or like a teru teru bozu (a Japanese doll shaped like a sunny day) hanging from the eaves.

Wen Xishu felt that the Teru Teru Bozu (Sunny Doll) was probably a more accurate description, since... they all had smiles on their faces, and every now and then a few "classmates" would turn to the side and look at them with those strange smiles.

To be honest, Reed didn't care about this. He had seen far too many monsters that caused him to lose sanity along the way.

I'm already immune to this kind of terrifying scene.

But Reed had one thing on his mind.

"Why do you say that? You're perfectly fine, don't worry, you won't die," Wen Xishu said.

Reed's face fell:
"Brother, you know... I'm most afraid of writing essays? Ah... to tell you the truth, I did go to school when I was a kid, and all my essays were just rambling accounts."

"I got up today, I peed today, I ate breakfast today, I went to class today. Once, I wrote an extra sentence: 'I saw green mountains today. The green mountains are beautiful, and there was fog.' The teacher even suspected that I had plagiarized someone else's composition. This is my true level."

"Hmm... I hate writing."

Reid felt like he was being targeted, and Wen Xishu roughly understood that this was indeed difficult for Reid.

Although the specifics of the challenge are still unknown, it is certainly likely related to pens.

"Let's observe first."

Wen Xishu began tidying up her desk.

Reed followed suit.

Soon Wen Xishu discovered a book called "Tales of Pen Town" in his desk.

He thought this might be a clue, so he started reading.

At first, Wen Xishu didn't think anything of it, but as he read on, he noticed something was wrong.

This story from the town's fairy tale is very...healing.

Hidden in the sink, these aquatic sprites help their owners clean the kitchen and bathroom. Dressed in blue, they look like fairies.

The eldest pig was lazy at first and built a straw house, but the house was blown away by the wind. The second pig learned his lesson and built a wooden house, but the house was burned down.

The third pig built a stone house, but because the project was so large, all three little pigs worked together to build it, and finally the house was finished.

The gourmet is a famous philanthropist in town. He can always conjure up the children's favorite foods. He also has a castle built with gourmet food, but he only invites the most sensible children to go. All the children in the town long to be visitors to the castle.

The nun in the convent had a heavenly voice; she would sing songs that purified the soul. In Bizhen, the sunrise always began with her songs.

Wen Xishu found it somewhat puzzling.

"What's going on? This town... why is it so warm and comforting?"

Wen Xishu saw the shadows of many familiar stories.

“It’s a bit odd.”

The town of Bizhen he experienced seemed completely different from the town he had been in; it was terrifying, horrifying, and eerie.

Wen Xishu flipped through it again.

I discovered a few more novels, one of which is called "Mosen's Short Stories".

There is also a book called "Mosen's Novellas".

Of course, Wen Xishu then discovered "Living," by Mo Sen.

And a martial arts novel—"The Six Meridians Subduing Dragon's Carefree Record," by Mo Sen.

Without exception, even the author of the Pen Town Fairy Tale was Mosen.

"Written entirely by one person? That's quite a wide range. Traditional literature, fairy tales, mystery and suspense, martial arts..."

"Is this guy named Mosen a genius?"

Wen Xishu seemed to vaguely sense that something was wrong.

He continued searching and found a booklet among a pile of textbooks.

The booklet contained the following information:

"Wen Xishu and Reid finally arrived in the classroom. They will gradually discover clues about Mo Sen and he will be amazed at how many best-selling books Mo Sen has."

"But at that moment, the school bell rang."

Jingle Bell!
The school bell rang suddenly, and all the hanging "students" immediately faced the same direction.

The eerie teacher, with a human-shaped silhouette but whose writing could be seen flashing from time to time, finally entered the classroom.

Wen Xishu was startled. Was this booklet actually a prophecy? Was this the author's doing?

Can his words become reality?
"He was thinking, could this be the pen owner's doing, that his words could become reality? But he'd better stand up quickly, otherwise, a student who disrespects his teacher will die in the classroom."

Upon seeing this, Wen Xishu quickly stood up:
“Stand up, Reed.”

Heeding the advice, Reed stood up decisively as well.

Only then did the teacher shift his gaze from Wen Xishu and Reid.

"Today is a composition class. I will show you some pictures, and you need to describe what they contain."

"Require--"

Wen Xishu subconsciously looked at the booklet.

The booklet quickly produced text.

Wen Xishu looked at the booklet, hoping to find answers in it. At this point in the story, he would face the ultimate test before meeting the author of the book: he had to describe the contents of the three paintings truthfully, and the written descriptions could not be inconsistent with the content of the paintings.

"The strange teacher soon began to show the contents of the three paintings. When they saw the contents of the paintings, both Reid and Wen Xishu were shocked."

Both Reid and Wen Xishu were startled.

The content of this painting is truly unsettling.

The first painting – Trust, the image:

Reid's eyes were bloodshot, his expression twisted, and his hands gripped Wen Xishu's neck tightly. Flames in the background burned uncontrollably around the two of them. An unfamiliar black brand appeared on Reid's neck.

Reid appeared like a blazing demon descended from the heavens, with terrifying flames occupying 70% of the entire screen.

Reed's hair also looked like burning flames, and many lava-like veins appeared on his entire body.

Wen Xishu realized that this was probably... a way to describe his own death with a pen?
He glanced at the booklet instinctively.

The booklet did indeed provide a clear response.

"Wen Xishu realized that he was about to gain the same authority as the pen master. His pen would generate real content, and what he described would shape his destiny."

"But he couldn't write recklessly. At this moment, he faced the same fate as the pen owner. He had the power to decide life and death with a single stroke, but he was also restricted in what he wrote. What could he do?"

This is almost confirmed.

The author's ability is that what he writes will become real.

This is a power comparable to that of a god. Wen Xishu will also briefly experience this power, but he cannot describe anything else; he can only describe what is depicted in the painting.

The painting depicts Red killing him as if Vulcan had descended.

Reed was also stunned.

This is his ultimate technique; once activated, he becomes the master of driving and creating flames, enough to make him unstoppable.

But he dared not open it easily in this town, fearing that he would be instantly killed by the rules.

"Why...why did I activate this form?"

Reid was puzzled and couldn't understand it at all.

He is a very loyal person; his Fury Overlord form is used against enemies.

Wen Xishu shook his head.

"Red, the process doesn't matter, the result is what's in the painting."

Wen Xishu silently made plans in his mind.

Next, the teacher showed the second painting.

The content of this painting is still related to the Wenxi tree.

The second painting – a cycle. Image:
Wen Xishu is trapped in an infinitely expanding library, frantically writing his own death story, while his shadow twists on the ground, turning into a pen that is stabbing into his back.

If the first painting doesn't kill you, the second painting will.

The second painting is almost a self-inflicted curse.

He was trapped in the classroom and kept writing various death stories that could come true.

Ultimately, one's own shadow will become a pen, piercing through oneself.

As for Reed... Reed isn't even in this scene.

When Red saw the painting, he was deeply shocked, especially by the countless "classmates" hanging there, all looking at Wen Xishu with twisted smiles as he continued to write his own fate of death.

He felt as if Wenxi Tree had been abandoned.

It was at this moment that Reed realized:

"Won't the essays we write... all become reality?"

Wen Xishu nodded.

At this point, the booklet stopped generating text, because Wen Xishu already knew what was going to happen next.

I also realized that I would have to write myself to death.

Wen Xishu remained calm as he pondered a sentence.

"But he couldn't write recklessly. At this moment, he faced the same fate as the pen owner. He had the power to decide life and death with a single stroke, but he was also restricted in what he wrote. What could he do?"

Like the author of this article?

In other words, does the owner of the pen holder also face such a predicament?
Who brought the author into this predicament?
The author has become so powerful that he can manipulate people like characters in a book at will...

Who is it that can manipulate the author like this?

Outer god?

Wen Xishu's thoughts were quickly interrupted by the third painting.

The third painting – Oblivion. Image:
Wen Xishu stood alone in a void, his body gradually becoming transparent. At his feet lay scattered pens and the last question he had written down—

"who am I?"

This is a painting that aims to erase the very meaning of the Wenxi Tree's existence.

If the description is accurate, even if Wen Xishu's first two paintings survive, the third painting will lose its meaning.

To make oneself forget who one is, and to become completely transparent, is to annihilate both body and soul.

Rhett is still not in this painting.

At that moment, Reed also received a voice notification.

[Reed, I want to play a game with you. Admittedly, I can't expect your writing skills to overcome this predicament. But the less tricks you can pull off, the greater your chances of survival. From now on, you'll have an extra pen in your hand.]

As soon as the voice finished speaking, a pen appeared in Reed's hand.

Wen Xishu also quickly noticed this scene.

Reed's hand trembled slightly.

The voice in my head spoke with a mocking tone:
"Red, if you hand this pen to Wen Xishu, then Wen Xishu will become the one who writes the answers. If you cannot finish the essay within the allotted time, you will die."

Yes, the two of you can only use one pen, and your time is limited. All the "students" in the classroom have already begun their descriptions. Their descriptions are slow, but they will eventually be completed. Once they are finished—you and Wen Xishu will both die.

But if you hand in your paper early, you can leave here safely. Given your writing ability, your essay will likely be very short, only capturing the core essence of the scene. Wen Xishu will die, but you won't. Isn't that a good deal?
If you hand the pen to Wen Xishu and he writes, you might become the threat. Guess why you're not in scenes two or three? Are you really going to gamble with human nature?

After the sound ended, the teacher also said:
"Now, let's begin, let's start writing."

All the students who were suspended began to slowly raise their hands and write characters on the exam paper with their blood.

The movement was slow, but Wen Xishu couldn't wait.

Moreover, Wen Xishu suddenly realized... that he didn't have a pen in his hand.

At that moment, Reed was holding a pen in his hand.

Pain and struggle were evident on Reed's face.

Looking at Reid's expression, Wen Xishu seemed to understand.

"Brother... are you sure you can survive?" Reed's voice trembled.

Wen Xishu could roughly guess that Reid might be facing a test.

If you hand the pen to Wen Xishu, Wen Xishu will die, and Reid himself may not survive either.

Holding the pen in my hand, Wen Xishu will die, but at least... I can live, right?

At that moment, the rustling sound of all the students writing in the classroom was like a death knell.

If these students were to write this... both of them would die.

Wen Xishu said:
“Reed, every game has a solution. The author is selecting people who can help him break out of his predicament, not just to torture us. So this problem must be solvable. If you don’t believe me, you should at least… believe in Leon’s judgment.”

These words seemed to instantly give Reed strength.

Yes, my judgment is poor; I'm just a reckless arsonist, but Lord Leon is not.

He is the god of war who will eventually end the apocalypse.

Thinking about it this way, and considering Wen Xishu's previous behavior, Reid said:

"You've saved my life so many times, you can write it without worry. Damn it, I shouldn't have hesitated!"

Reid handed the pen to Wen Xishu.

In that instant, a voice echoed in Reed's mind.

I envy you, Red. You can pass the buck to others, but I can't.

Wen Xishu took Reid's pen, looked at the first painting, and did not immediately put pen to paper, but instead pondered how to break the deadlock.

The description should match the content of the image...

But can the image only contain one meaning?

If one can still find creative ways to translate from Chinese to Chinese, how much more so when describing a painting?

After closing his eyes for a few seconds, Wen Xishu opened them, his eyes no longer showing confusion. Soon, his hand flew across the paper.

(End of this chapter)