Chapter 285: The Game That Broke the Fourth Wall!
Chapter 285: The Game That Broke the Fourth Wall!
“Many people have already done a good job summarizing the game’s difficulty.”
“This is a hardcore game with a very high level of difficulty. Most casual players struggle a lot in the beginning, and the experience can be quite painful. But for those who enjoy challenging themselves, conquering this game brings an unparalleled sense of accomplishment.”
“But… do you really think that’s all there is to this game?”
“Do you really believe this game was only made for a few elite players—abandoning the less skilled ones entirely?”
“You couldn’t be more wrong!”
“In fact, the developers left another path open for ordinary players—the one everyone now knows as the ‘cheat device’: Pudu!”
“Many of you might be wondering, how did anyone even discover this hidden weapon, which only appears after dying six times to the old monk?”
“Was it pure luck?”
“No, no, no—absolutely not!”
“The developers deliberately left clues behind. They wanted players who might not be mechanically skilled, but who loved digging into the story, to be able to find it!”
“In the Turn Back Before It’s Too Late official novel, you’ll notice the old monk appears quite frequently. His descent into madness is, in my opinion, one of the most touching parts of the story.”
“Originally, this old monk was supposed to be a strong elite enemy, but in the actual game, he’s much weaker—even weaker than some common mobs.”
“Why is that?”
“Obviously, this is a deliberate hint from the developers. Curiosity would drive players to investigate the old monk, and after dying to him a certain number of times, he regains his sanity and gifts the player the divine weapon Pudu.”
“In this way, even less skilled players can obtain a weapon to help them beat the game.”
“It provides a stage for skilled players to showcase their prowess, while also giving weaker players a chance to ‘cheat’ their way through. Therefore, Turn Back Before It’s Too Late is a game made for everyone—not just a niche hardcore title!”
Pei Qian could feel a cold sweat running down his back.
No wonder it got discovered so quickly! So that’s where the slip-up came from—the official novel!
The game Turn Back Before It’s Too Late was developed based on the official novel, which is why the old monk was initially designed as an elite enemy.
But Pei Qian, wanting to make Pudu harder to find, deliberately weakened the old monk so that players would be less likely to die to him—which, in turn, greatly reduced the chances of Pudu being revealed.
However, after modifying the monk’s stats, he forgot to update the novel!
It’s not entirely Pei Qian’s fault, who could’ve foreseen something like this?
Finally understanding how Pudu was exposed, Pei Qian rubbed his chest to calm his pounding heart and continued watching.
“But… do you really think that’s all there is to this game?”
“Do you really think the developers just wanted to give casual and hardcore players different ways to clear the game—and that’s it?”
“Wrong again!”
Hearing this next twist from Qiao Liang, Pei Qian felt like his heart was about to give out.
Why is it wrong again?!
Your video is already full of overinterpretation! I never even intended for players to discover Pudu in the first place!
And now you’re twisting my intentions even further???
In the video, Qiao Liang’s distinctive voice continued its dramatic narration.
“Everyone has noticed that Pudu, as a so-called ‘cheat weapon,’ can only be used effectively against certain specific enemies—not all of them.”
“Many players criticized this, claiming the developers did it on purpose just to mess with people.”
“They’re wrong.”
“The developers did do it on purpose—but not to annoy players. There’s a much deeper meaning behind it!”
“After running detailed tests, I discovered that Pudu can only be used to defeat enemies related to the monk’s storyline—specifically those tied to the Six Paths of Reincarnation ending in the first playthrough!”
“Why did the developers make this choice?”
“Based on my attempts,” Qiao Liang continued passionately, “the game currently has at least three main endings.
“First, there’s the Vengeful Spirit Ending—where you storm into the Yanluo’s Hall and slay every judge and warden of the underworld.”
“Second, the Reincarnation Ending—where you enter the Six Paths of Reincarnation and are reborn into a new life.”
“Third, the Self-Sacrifice Ending—where you descend into Avici Hell, defeat the now-insane Warden, and sacrifice yourself to suppress the restless souls of the damned.”
“Of course, certain choices made at the Stone of Three Lifetimes or the Bridge of Helplessness can influence the story, creating minor variations.”
“But in general, those three are the main endings.”
“However, aside from these… there is one more hidden ending.”
“The ‘Turn Back Before It’s Too Late’ Ending!”
Pei Qian was utterly dumbfounded.
The first few endings—sure, those were his doing. Fine.
But what the hell was this ‘Turn Back Before It’s Too Late’ Ending supposed to be? Since when did his game have such a thing?
How could Qiao Liang just make up an ending out of thin air?!
At that moment, Qiao Liang’s voice grew increasingly fervent.
“This ending doesn’t actually exist within the game—it exists outside of it.”
“‘The sea of suffering is boundless—turn back before it’s too late.’”
“This phrase originally carries a positive meaning. But in this game, it becomes a relentless whisper urging you to give up.”
“From the very beginning, every player knows this will be a journey filled with endless pain. You escape the village, reach the town, leave it behind, step through the Ghost Gate Pass, cross the Yellow Springs Road and the Bridge of Helplessness… until finally, you arrive at the Yanluo’s Hall, or even the depths of Avici Hell.”
“The further you go, the stronger the monsters become!”
“The entire journey feels like an endless sea of suffering. A voice inside you keeps whispering: Turn back before it’s too late. Stop. There’s no need to keep going.”
“And the developers constantly reinforce that inner voice—through gravestones scattered across the world, and even subtle reminders right before the refund window expires.”
“At that moment, if you listen to your inner voice and decide to quit the game, congratulations—you’ve achieved the ‘Turn Back Before It’s Too Late’ Ending.”
“You’ve given up. You’re free. You’ve escaped the sea of suffering.”
“But what about the character you played in the game?”
“To him, it may seem like he’s saved from his suffering—but in truth, he’s forever lost the chance to change his world. Just like the wandering ghosts along the Yellow Springs Road, soulless and hopeless, he too will sink eternally into the abyss.”
“Do you feel it? The boundary between player and game—shattered?”
“Yes, the protagonist suffers, and you suffer with him. Every death he endures, you feel it too. When you give up, thinking you’ve escaped, you’ve actually abandoned your only chance to save that world.”
“Now, do you understand where this game’s immersion truly lies?”
“But… do you really think that’s all there is?”
“Do you really think it ends here?”
“You’re wrong again!”
Pei Qian pressed a hand to his forehead, utterly drained.
He couldn’t even begin to imagine what Qiao Liang would say next.
He couldn’t even predict it anymore…
“Earlier, I mentioned that Pudu lets you ‘cheat’ your way through the game—but it only works for the Reincarnation route. In truth, that so-called Reincarnation Ending… is a false ending!”
“In the Reincarnation Ending, the protagonist believes he’s escaped the despair of that world, but in reality, he’s merely re-entered the same cycle again.”
“The proof lies in the dying elder at the starting village—the one you must kill to follow his soul into the Yellow Springs Road.”
“But if you achieve the Reincarnation Ending and start a New Game+, you’ll discover that the old man is holding the same weapon and wearing the same clothes as you.”
“That old man… is you.”
“Everyone, pay attention,” Qiao Liang continued with mounting excitement, “even without obtaining Pudu, players can still reach the Six Paths of Reincarnation ending—it’s just that the number of enemies increases, and the overall difficulty rises sharply.”
“Pudu was designed specifically for the Reincarnation ending. With it, you can skip certain sections of the game and defeat the bosses of that route more easily.”
“To acquire Pudu, a player must die six times—symbolizing the experience of passing through the Six Paths of Reincarnation, achieving enlightenment on the seventh death, and beginning a new life.”
“Everything seems so coincidental—and yet, so perfect, doesn’t it?”
“Players might feel that by using Pudu, they can ‘cheat’ their way through the game, avoid suffering, and still complete the story. It feels good—even more satisfying than the normal Reincarnation ending.”
“But that’s just self-deception.”
“Only by letting go of Pudu, by relying on your own strength to endure suffering and defeat the final boss of Avici Hell, can you truly unlock the real ending—and truly end the world’s suffering.”
“At this point, you should understand, right?”
“Turn Back Before It’s Too Late breaks the boundary between game and reality! Its extreme difficulty creates a deep spiritual resonance between the player and the in-game protagonist!”
“If you shrink back, choose to give up, or request a refund—then congratulations, you’ve achieved the ‘Turn Back Before It’s Too Late’ ending. The protagonist gives up on himself, sinking forever into the sea of suffering.”
“If you use Pudu to ‘cheat,’ defeating only the easier bosses and reaching the Reincarnation ending, then you’re merely deceiving yourself—your character has still failed to escape the endless cycle.”
“Only by abandoning Pudu—by facing the pain head-on alongside the protagonist, enduring every hardship and refining your skill through blood and tears—can you achieve the true ending. Only then does your character truly save the world.”
“That’s why I say—ironically, this game suits unskilled players the most.”
“Because those ‘gaming gods’ can never truly feel the protagonist’s struggle in this world of despair. They can’t break the fourth wall; they can’t empathize with such suffering.”
“But only the less skilled players—those who fight their way forward step by step through sheer effort and perseverance—can achieve a true rebirth, a spiritual transcendence! Only they can understand this world… and grasp the true meaning behind the game’s philosophy!”
“So yes, many people say this game is too hard, that it drives players away—and they’re right.”
“It is hard. But that’s exactly why conquering it brings a greater sense of fulfillment!”
“No one pays attention to a small hill.”
“But Mount Everest? Countless climbers dream of conquering it.”
“So to those who are hesitant—I say, give it a try!”
“To those who already bought the game—don’t rush to refund it just because you hit a wall.”
“Overcome yourself, and you’ll gain a sense of achievement no other game can ever offer.”
“Conquer this true masterpiece—don’t let your gaming life end with regret!”
Qiao Liang’s impassioned voice, paired with the perfectly timed background music, stirred the blood of every listener—making them want to grab a sword, charge into battle, and fight for glory.
But Pei Qian… felt his hands and feet grow cold, his blood freezing solid in his veins.
“How… tragic…”
He looked up at the ceiling, speechless and on the verge of tears.
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