The potential of humankind is limitless, a statement whose origin remains unknown.
It is undeniable that, as the most intelligent of creatures, humanity harbors untapped potential that far exceeds the imagination of many.
In ancient lore, there is a tale of a tribe in Africa, where a young boy's coming-of-age ritual required him to venture alone into the savannah, hunt a lion, and return with its tail. Failing this feat meant he would forfeit the right to marry or bear children within the tribe. Over time, as the population of the tribe grew, the lions of the savannah were eventually driven to the brink of extinction.
This demonstrates that humans are the most dangerous creatures on Earth; lions and tigers are mere shadows in comparison!
As a modern-day Chinese university student, Wang Qiu lacked the courage of those African youth who hunted lions. Furthermore, in his first internship with the city management team, he had not yet acquired the skill to wield tools with the dexterity of seasoned Mongolian herders, skillfully using iron tongs to capture dogs. Yet, when faced with an attack from a pack of wild dogs, Wang Qiu let out a final, primal roar, and his martial prowess and combat abilities surged beyond normal bounds. It was as if he had been fueled by some inexplicable power, his brain and willpower transforming into a violent frenzy, and his fighting skills increasing by 300%.
How should I describe this? Wang Qiu, now nearing his senior year, had been working hard for higher credits and a chance at a scholarship. Though lacking in direct combat experience, he had spent two years in his university's self-defense class as a human target, receiving more blows than he dealt. Nonetheless, he believed himself to be at least above average by general standards. But… was there an underlying sadness here?
While others may avoid fighting women, Wang Qiu, on the other hand, was subject to a weekly barrage of harsh blows from a group of women…
Despite his vast potential, Wang Qiu's personal combat ability was still limited.
After a fierce battle, where he managed to break one dog's spine and incapacitate another with a taser, Wang Qiu, though victorious, was left battered and bruised. His pants were torn to shreds, and the taser had fallen out of his grasp. Now weaponless, he found himself backed into a narrow alley, grasping a rusty melon knife he had picked up from the roadside, breathing heavily as he faced the bloodthirsty, wild dogs.
Under the scorching summer sun, the heat had already left him dizzy. After battling the dogs in a suffocating alley with no breeze, he was drenched in sweat, his hands trembling with pain, and his eyelids growing heavy with exhaustion. Still, he gritted his teeth, for if he succumbed to heatstroke now, it wouldn't just be a matter of losing consciousness—it would likely mean death at the jaws of these crazed dogs.
Even if death is inevitable, to perish at the mouths of dogs would be a disgrace, wouldn't it?
Where was the rescue that Old Sun had called for?
As his mind, muddled by the heat, drifted, he finally heard the sound of his phone ringing.
He eagerly fumbled for his phone with his left hand and pressed it to his ear. "…Is that you, Old Sun? Why is the rescue taking so long? I'm currently…"
He never finished his sentence. The voice on the other end wasn't Old Sun's hoarse voice, but that of a stranger—a woman.
"…Do you wish to know the meaning of life? Do you truly wish to… live?"
The words sent Wang Qiu into a fit of rage, and he sighed heavily into the phone, muttering irritably, "At a time like this, you're calling with some kind of advertisement? How unlucky… making me think help was on the way… Whatever you're selling, whether it's a pyramid scheme or insurance, just help me get rid of these damn dogs!"
But the woman's voice continued, undeterred, in an even, monotonous tone.
"…Since the listener did not reject, it is considered as tacit consent… now initiating the transfer…"
In an instant, the world before Wang Qiu went black…
And in the next moment, his form disappeared from the filthy, broken alley…
After what seemed like a fleeting moment, or perhaps an eternity, Wang Qiu slowly awoke from his daze.
He could hear a clear voice, speaking in perfect Mandarin.
"…Nightmare on Elm Street 1 takes place on Yew Tree Street. Many years ago, a man named Freddy was released after being found not guilty of murdering children. The parents of the victims took matters into their own hands and burned him alive. Years later, Freddy returned as a ghost to seek revenge. His power lies in entering others' dreams and killing them in the most brutal ways possible, with the wounds appearing on the victim's real body… The protagonist, Nancy, is a girl living in the town. One day, she and her friends dreamed of a strange man. One by one, her friends were killed in their sleep by this man, and she discovered that the only way to defeat him was to stay awake at all costs…"
This strange monologue filled Wang Qiu with an ominous feeling. He opened his eyes and sat up.
He found himself on a foreign town street, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, both male and female. They appeared to be fellow Chinese, judging by their clothing and age, with students, soldiers, construction workers, and professional women among them. Yet, they were all gathered around an elderly man with a kind expression, who was narrating the details of an American horror movie.
What was strange, though, was that despite occupying nearly half of the busy street, no one seemed to notice their presence. It was as if an invisible wall separated them from the outside world. The situation seemed utterly bizarre and left Wang Qiu feeling increasingly uneasy.
"…Finally awake? It seems you are the one with the least promise among all of us," a cold voice rang out.
Wang Qiu turned to see a middle-aged soldier, a cold smirk on his face. He wore a pistol at his side and bore several scars on his face, giving him a sinister and terrifying aura. The soldier extended his hand toward Wang Qiu with an indifferent expression, saying:
"…Welcome to the infinite space filled with danger and death, newcomer. I wish you luck in surviving a little longer…"
From that moment on, Wang Qiu's once peaceful and serene life was gone forever.