Category: In the Cage

Chapter
Chapter 11 – The Panopticon I
by Salted Fish — He removed the external neural interface device and blinked, the white wall before him gradually coming into focus. Squinting, he turned his head sideways—the light outside the window was too intense. He quickly raised a hand to shield his eyes, and in doing so, noticed the intravenous port on the back of his hand. He pulled it out and tried to stand up. At that moment, the loudspeaker issued the command again: "No. 0416, exit the pod immediately!" Bracing himself against the chair, he struggled to…
1. In the Cage
  103.8 K Words • Completed
5.8 K Aug 22, '25 Salted Fish 0
Adult A
Chapter
Chapter 2 – Island of Saints β
by Salted Fish — Along the dark and rugged corridor, he walked forward. The black stone walls were slick with dampness, covered in a thin layer of frost. Patches of dark green moss grew between the cracks, glistening under the faint firelight from the lamp troughs, dripping tiny beads of dew. From every wall, from every crack in the stone, came the undulating sound of hymns and the continuous Mass: He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the…
1. In the Cage
  103.8 K Words • Completed
6.0 K Jun 4, '25 Salted Fish 0
Adult A
Chapter
Chapter 13 – The Panopticon III
by Salted Fish — The fifth floor of the Central Tower, the conference room. Ten men still sat in a circle. Officer A crossed his legs and gestured at The Swordsman with the spine of his notebook: "Same order as last time. Let's begin." The Swordsman glared at him, his eyes brimming with the rebellious defiance of youth: "Everyone already spoke last time. Why make us do it again?" "Last time," A replied with the cold arrogance of a high-ranking Party member, "you talked about your roles on the Island of Saints. This…
1. In the Cage
  103.8 K Words • Completed
5.1 K Aug 22, '25 Salted Fish 0
Adult A
Chapter
Chapter 3 – Island of Saints γ
by Salted Fish — The Listener walked along the dark and rugged corridor. The air was damp and cold, the rough hemp robe itching against his skin. At the fourth narrow fork in the path, he turned right. He had "died" again. Though it was just a game, the sensation of death was real—the suffocation before dying, the fleeting relief as his pupils dilated, and the boundless darkness that swallowed him in the end. He had experienced it all countless times, each as vivid as the last. After hearing The Penitent's secret,…
1. In the Cage
  103.8 K Words • Completed
5.3 K Jun 4, '25 Salted Fish 0
Adult A
Chapter
Chapter 14 – The Panopticon IV
by Salted Fish — 0416 stood outside Cell 0777, watching as Officer A cautiously handcuffed the person inside. He flexed his limbs and muscles, uneasily instructing, "Be quick to react. If the situation gets out of control—" "Relax," A glanced at him and opened the airlock. "I won't leave." 0416 stepped inside. B had mentioned someone had played as The Elder. At the time, 0416 feigned surprise: "Wasn't that an NPC?" B shook his head: "It was The Convert." He crushed his cigarette on the crystal ashtray, and…
1. In the Cage
  103.8 K Words • Completed
5.0 K Aug 22, '25 Salted Fish 0
Adult A
Chapter
Chapter 4 – Island of Saints δ
by Salted Fish — Throat discomfort. The sensation of having his throat slit by an iron plate was too real. Even after forty-eight hours, The Listener still found himself instinctively clutching his neck, forced to relive the dull pain simulated by the system. This awful feeling didn't fade even after Morning Prayer ended. He stood up from the small stool and walked into the crowd. The Penitent was talking to The Flagellant and The Ascetic, while The Mute held a large basin, preparing to distribute bread. Not far…
1. In the Cage
  103.8 K Words • Completed
5.7 K Jun 4, '25 Salted Fish 0
Adult A
Chapter
Chapter 5 – Island of Saints ζ
by Salted Fish — "And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.…" The Listener sat on a small stool. As soon as the prayer he had heard dozens, if not hundreds, of times ended, he immediately stood up and walked into the crowd. Ahead, beneath a pillar, stood The Convert,…
1. In the Cage
  103.8 K Words • Completed
6.0 K Jun 4, '25 Salted Fish 0
Adult A
Chapter
Chapter 16 – Mount Luoji (Part One)
by Salted Fish — The mountain wind blew from the west as Naigu, carrying his knife, bent forward and climbed the slope. He had beautiful brown skin, large eyes, and a fierce, eagle-like nose with sharp cheekbones. The hair on his temples was shaved clean, revealing a bluish scalp, while the rest of his long hair was tied into a topknot. A large round earring dangled from his left ear. When he glared in this direction, he looked as valiant as the heavenly soldiers described by the Bimo Bimo: priest. He wasn't wearing…
1. In the Cage
  103.8 K Words • Completed
5.9 K Jun 4, '25 Salted Fish 0
Adult A
Chapter
Chapter 6 – Island of Saints η
by Salted Fish — After the Morning Prayer, The Listener rose from his small stool and walked into the crowd. Leaning against a pillar ahead was The Convert, a beautiful silhouette. As if by agreement, he turned his face, locking eyes with him in a scorching gaze. Each time felt like the first—they would gaze deeply into each other's eyes before tacitly and abruptly looking away. The Listener headed toward the corner where The Thief in black robes was curled up. Nearby, The Swordsman and The Archer were arguing.…
1. In the Cage
  103.8 K Words • Completed
5.8 K Jun 4, '25 Salted Fish 0
Adult A
Chapter
Chapter 18 – Mount Luoji (Part Three)
by Salted Fish — When Datie was holding the puppy whose ears had just perked up and feeding it chunks of meat, the chief steward bent at the doorway to report, "Chieftain, Eluo Xiaogui has arrived, and he's brought Naigu with him." Datie's hands loosened, and the puppy jumped out of his palms, circled around with its tail tucked between its legs, whimpering and trembling. "Eluo Xiaogui?" Datie repeated blankly, waving his hand at the chief steward, signaling him to bring the guest in. Meanwhile, he stood up from…
1. In the Cage
  103.8 K Words • Completed
5.5 K Jun 4, '25 Salted Fish 0
Adult A
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20 Results in the "In the Cage" category

Chapter 11 – The Panopticon I

Chapter 2 – Island of Saints β

Chapter 13 – The Panopticon III

Chapter 3 – Island of Saints γ

Chapter 14 – The Panopticon IV

Chapter 4 – Island of Saints δ

Chapter 5 – Island of Saints ζ

Chapter 16 – Mount Luoji (Part One)

Chapter 6 – Island of Saints η

Chapter 18 – Mount Luoji (Part Three)

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