The portal shimmered like a broken mirror, its edges pulsing with rainbow static. One step through, and everything changed.
They were no longer on asphalt. No prison, no thunder. Just a cracked carousel slowly turning under a cotton candy sky… and laughter. Endless, distorted laughter echoing from nowhere and everywhere.
[ Welcome to Tier 4 – "The Carnival of Fractured Realities" ]
> Genre: Fantasy / Horror / Psychological
Tier: 4
Level: 2
Warning: "In this world, perception is not truth. Stay grounded, or lose yourself."
Special Rule: "Laugh or Be Consumed" – Emotion resistance is required.
Jayce's grin was unusually serious.
"I've read about this world in my past life. It's where the veil between thought and reality thins. If you think you're dying, you do. If you believe a clown is real, it becomes very real."
Demist scoffed. "Great. Insanity world."
Lian stayed alert. "So what's the goal?"
Jayce tapped the glowing quest icon with a theatrical bow.
Main Quest: Anchor of Sanity
> Objective: Recover the three Reality Anchors hidden across the Carnival
Optional: Avoid Eye Contact with Laughing Mirror Entity
Reward: Exit Gate + 1 Random High-Tier Vehicle Part
"Three anchors," Jayce said. "Scattered across illusion zones."
Suddenly, the sky above cracked like glass.
[ World Challenge Initiated: Fractured Ride Begins ]
The ground beneath them spun—literally. A massive carnival ride erupted from below, twisting the land into a Ferris wheel maze.
A voice like a thousand circus hosts boomed from the clouds:
> "Welcome Riders! Let's see who laughs last— and who laughs themselves into nonexistence!"
---
Zone 1: House of Mirrors (Anchor 1)
Each mirror showed something twisted:
Lian: A world where he chose greed, sitting on a throne made of broken friends.
Jayce: Alone. Nobody laughing. Just silence.
Demist: Himself… but weak. Always afraid.
They felt reality pull at them, tugging their minds into the mirror.
"Focus!" Lian growled, clenching his fists. "We're not those people."
He used his Fate Diver ability to bend probability. One mirror cracked—then all of them did.
The anchor, a silver orb floating in the center, revealed itself.
[ Anchor of Sanity 1/3 Acquired ]
---
Zone 2: The Endless Parade (Anchor 2)
Clowns. Uncountable clowns. Marching, screaming, juggling chainsaws and whispering secrets.
Jayce laughed first—not out of joy, but defiance.
He cranked his ice cream truck's speakers and blasted a remix of circus music and dubstep. The parade faltered. Confused.
Jayce stood on the roof and shouted, "If you're gonna make me crazy, I'll go out dancing!"
Demist flanked from the side, knocking down jugglers like bowling pins. Lian dashed forward, snagged the glowing orb from the parade float, and retreated.
[ Anchor of Sanity 2/3 Acquired ]
---
Zone 3: The Audience of You
A stadium of beings sat in silence. Every one of them looked like Lian, Jayce, and Demist.
They applauded.
Then booed.
Then laughed.
Each emotion echoed like a psychic bomb. Demist clutched his head. "They're trying to overwrite us!"
Lian activated Coin Battery, channeling his stored coin energy into a golden aura.
Jayce whispered, "Don't feel what they want. Feel what's real."
Lian thought of his parents, of Earth. Of the quiet moment before the universe collapsed.
That moment anchored him.
The crowd shattered like porcelain.
[ Anchor of Sanity 3/3 Acquired ]
---
[ Main Quest Complete – Gate Opening… ]
[ Bonus Objective Complete – Mirror Entity Successfully Avoided ]
[ Vehicle Upgrade Earned: Reality Reinforced Glass – Reduces illusion damage by 50% ]
As the gate opened, Lian looked back at the Carnival. The laughter faded into wind.
Jayce wiped a tear. "This world… always gets me. Feels too close to home."
Demist placed a hand on his shoulder.
Lian smiled. "Let's keep going. One world closer to figuring out who brought all this down on us."
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