Black Raven Prison (1) The Shortest Inmate

[Welcome to the Dead Man’s Game! Complete the clearance conditions to pass the level. Please note that death in the game offers no chance of revival, so cherish your life and strive to survive until you clear the stage.]

[Rest assured, players, we are a kind-hearted and benevolent game! We never trap the elderly or children in the game, so please remain at ease!]

[Randomly selecting your dungeon instance…]

*Beep!* Congratulations, player! You have drawn the S-rank newbie dungeon—Black Crow Prison.

All players must obey prison rules: leaving your cell outside of free time is forbidden. Escape attempts will be met with consequences you wouldn’t want to know about.

Wishing all players a colorful life behind bars!

As the cold, sinister electronic voice finished its broadcast, a blinding light surged forth. When Mu Xinning opened her eyes, she found herself standing before the entrance of a massive building.

Behind her, the prison gates were wide open! Yet, despite this, rows of cameras simultaneously reminded her that she was still under surveillance.

Glancing around, she saw a group of young and middle-aged people wearing various outfits, all shackled at the wrists and clutching different objects.

Some held spoons, others mice or phones; one even gripped a cooking pot.

It seemed the game transported not only the players but also any inanimate objects they had in hand.

Mu Xinning hugged her doll tightly, carefully observing the expressions around her.

Some faces were terrified, others relatively calm.

“Where is this place?!”

“Why am I chained? Let me go!”

“I want to go home…”

On this small open space before the prison, the crowd gathered; some tried to unlock their shackles, others shouted loudly.

Finally, one man lost his composure. Seeing the gate wide open, he recklessly bolted outside.

But the moment he stepped beyond the threshold, an invisible force crushed him instantly into a bloody pulp on the walkway.

No chance to scream, no warning—he was utterly obliterated.

“Ah!!!”

“He’s dead! He’s dead!”

Fearful screams erupted. After witnessing this, no one dared attempt to leave.

Upon reflection, it was obvious: locked up like this and with a dungeon named Black Crow Prison, their identities were prisoners.

Anyone foolish enough to try escaping before even entering the prison was courting death. Cameras covered every corner—once an escape was detected, the consequences were as brutal as this.

“Foolish,” Zhou Kui sneered. “Newbies are always green. It’s a pity these guys hit the jackpot with an S-rank dungeon right out of the gate. In my opinion, this newbie group is doomed to perish entirely.”

Zhou Kui wore a black tank top and looked to be in his thirties. His muscular build spoke of training, and his confident tone marked him as a veteran player.

“Brother Zhou, what do we do now? There are so many of them, and hardly any veterans among us. I shouldn’t have taken this mission!” whispered a subordinate uneasily.

Others eager to understand the game flocked to Zhou Kui, seeking guidance.

They casually tossed aside the objects they held, as Zhou Kui declared them useless anyway.

Mu Xinning stood apart, not joining in. She pondered that in her past life, those who drew an S-rank dungeon right away were considered lucky. Now, in this new run, she had earned that dubious honor.

This so-called Black Crow Prison was rumored to be one of the five “Newbie Killers,” with a fearsome reputation as the deadliest dungeon—no one had ever survived it.

Everyone said drawing this dungeon meant certain doom. And Zhou Kui—who knew which guild had sent him?—should have been aware of the legend.

Newly selected players had no say in which newbie dungeon they drew. They had no choice but to accept their fate.

Mu Xinning was curious to see what kind of dungeon could have claimed every soul who entered.

“Enough noise! You’re in front of a prison and still making a racket—are you tired of living?! Line up for me now! From shortest to tallest, a single file. Hurry up!”

A burly man in a prison guard uniform emerged, eyes fierce, barking orders at the crowd.

No one dared disobey, fearing punishment. Movements became swift as they lined up, with Mu Xinning, the smallest of them all, naturally at the front.

Leading the line, she followed the burly guard inside the prison, where a squad of uniformed officers stood watch. Their vigilance was strict.

They first arrived at the front desk.

The burly guard then unlocked each prisoner’s shackles one by one. Freed, Mu Xinning shook her hands and hugged her doll tighter before stepping to the desk.

“Register your names here. Once done, head to the yard and wait. Someone will assign you cells. Behave yourselves!”

Mu Xinning was first. She scanned the form quickly, finding nothing unusual, and obediently filled in her name before going to wait in the yard.

As people trickled out from the front desk, the crowd grew in number, ensuring a wait.

During this time, Jin spoke in her mind: “I smell something delicious! There’s prey here I want to eat!”

They began conversing silently.

“You’re a top predator. Is there really food here in this newbie dungeon that interests you?”

She could only think that the reason no one survived this dungeon might be because a high-level alien creature lurked within.

“I sense this creature’s location—it’s probably on the second floor of this building. When you get a chance, go there. I’ll cut it up for dinner!” His voice tinged with excitement.

“I’m still unfamiliar with the prison layout. We’re currently on the underground floor. When I arrived, I guessed the building had at least five or six levels?”

“Do whatever you want, but don’t forget—you promised to feed me! I want lots and lots to eat!” Jin was like a greedy child, focused on eating.

“All right, all right. I’ll indulge you,” she appeased him.

After a while, everyone finished registration. The burly man’s voice rang out again: “Number 1 Feng Xuanyuan, 2 Zhang Dafu, 3 Mu Xinning, 4 Zhou Kui! When you hear your name, line up immediately!”

Had the cells been assigned?

Her luck seemed abysmal.

She saw a middle-aged man in his forties, a young woman in her twenties, and Zhou Kui in his tank top. Then she joined the line before the burly man.

The four were led to Cell No. 1 on the first floor. The moment they stepped inside, their clothes transformed into black-and-white striped prison uniforms.

Short-sleeved shirts and pants, paired with black slippers. Each back bore their prisoner number.

After locking them in, the burly man instructed, “Rules and schedules are posted inside. Follow them carefully. Understood?”

“Understood,” they replied individually.

The cell was quite spacious, furnished with two bunk beds. The door stood centered between the two beds.

Due to the large space, the beds were set some distance from the door.