Lin Xian stared at the empty screen.
The blinking cursor felt like an executioner tapping its fingers impatiently, waiting for him to fail.
He swallowed.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitating. His thoughts were a jumbled mess. What should I even write?
A sigh escaped his lips.
He typed a few words.
"The sky was dark—"
Pause.
He frowned. Too generic.
Backspace.
The words vanished.
Try again.
"In a world where—"
Delete.
His hands trembled slightly.
His heart pounded.
This is stupid.
The same fear from his past life clawed at him. The rejection emails. The dismissive responses from publishers. The exhaustion of pouring his soul into something only for no one to care.
What if no one reads it? What if it flops? What if I'm just wasting my time again?
His breaths grew uneven. His mind whispered, Just quit now. Save yourself the disappointment.
Just then, a soft chime rang in his head.
> [Ding! System Notice: Inspiration Space Available for 15 Points.]
[A place that immerses the user in limitless creative inspiration, tailored to their subconscious.]
Lin Xian blinked.
"...Inspiration Space?"
His first instinct was to scoff.
15 points? What a rip-off.
His survival balance was already hanging by a thread, and now the system wanted him to spend points on… inspiration?
Wasn't that supposed to come naturally?
He bit his lip, staring at the option. His fingers hovered over the purchase button.
Seconds passed.
He exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Screw it."
> [15 Points Deducted.]
[Initiating Inspiration Space…]
The world around him shifted.