Easy Mode serves as a tutorial and introduction to Threshold Simulation. It does not feature any branching Story paths, going from one Story node to the next with various Battle nodes in between. Once the player has reached and successfully beaten the Last Node, Hard Mode will unlock.

Intro

A Perilous Journey

Following your command, the Agents pushed into the rapidly expanding Hollow.
As you surged forward, just about to reach the next planned destination, your most trusted Supreme Assistant, Fairy, reached out to you telepathically.
"Master, I've detected a high-risk Corrupted ahead. If you're not going to take care of it now, I'll start recording from the next sentence and have it stored in the database as your final words."

How thoughtful, truly worthy of being your Supreme Assistant! Deeply moved, you ordered her to allocate some additional processing power and instantly draft a "Why AI Should Always Be Present" post before publishing it to Inter-Knot...

But wait! You couldn't help but remind her:
"Fairy, quit running pointless simulations. Electricity isn't cheap."
"Too bad. The prior action has been suspended. I'll keep recording your simulation choices and refine the exploration experience until you feel completely immersed."

...Just as these words fell, the entire Hollow suddenly began to expand violently, quickly diverting your attention.
The terrifying Corrupted arrived before you faster than imagined, like a hungry beast eager to devour its prey. But not to worry — you know you're the hunter here.

Battle 01

Story 01

A Fateful Encounter

Your Agents, sharp and disciplined, cleared out the interference and managed to scavenge some supplies along the way. Among the haul is a can of soda past its prime... but who cares? With a good shake, it becomes a makeshift short-range concussion weapon.

Your brilliant idea earned praise from your Agents... The probability of an encounter has increased.
You threw the expired carbonated drink in a perfect arc onto the Ethereal's head... The probability of an encounter has increased.
You retrieved the drink can that hit the Ethereal to avoid polluting the Hollow... The probability of an encounter has increased.
You're walking, you're breathing...
But anyway, the probability of an encounter has increased.

Amid the chaos and complexity of the Hollow, you may find yourself face-to-face with all manner of horrifying threats.

I'm ready for this destined encounter

A man from New Eridu, formerly known as the Lord of the Outer Ring. Height: 8 points. Appearance: 8 points. Primary form: humanoid. Occasional form: motorcycle. Assets: one supercritical Ether Heart.
His ideal type is a Proxy who would personally enter the Hollow.

"Fairy, humans don't typically abbreviate 'ideal food type' as 'ideal type'; and stop using that format when logging Corrupted being files. The Hollows have never doubled as a dating venue."
"Understood, Master. I will record your behavioral preferences and continue to improve the exploration experience until you feel fully immersed."

...You knew it would come to this.
After all, in the Hollows, the only ones willing to endure every hardship just to see you are the Ethereals.

But you also realize that nothing can stand in the way of your conquest of the Hollow's mysteries. He has to be taken care of quickly.

Battle 02

Story 02

Malicious Ambush

You bid farewell to the former Overlord of the Outer Ring in a life-or-death showdown - perhaps this too was fate.

But there's no time for regrets now. The Hollow's expansion is about to break through the Zenless Limit, like a giant beast opening its maw, ready to devour the city at any moment.
Yet you know all too well... at such crucial moments for humanity's survival, it's usually humans themselves who get in the way — you've been ambushed! Fortunately, your reliable Agents are by your side, and no one can harm you.

Your attackers are a band of mutinous soldiers who couldn't care less about the consequences of leaving this Hollow untreated. Lost in their own delusions, they're just looking to collect their "toll" from you, a stranger in their midst.

There's bound to be more... you suspect there must be more ill-intentioned traps ahead. But that's fine, you've got no shortage of tricks and strategies.

Make the captive step into the trap instead of you

Crisis Averted

The rebels, prisoners guilty of countless crimes, had no choice but to march ahead, clearing the way of mines for you... Yet when a massive heavy mech dropped from the sky, the fear on their faces twisted into unrestrained fanaticism.

You knew this was the next trap the rebels had prepared for you, and you successfully drew it out ahead of time.

You couldn't help but marvel at how you were truly a brilliant Proxy, the legendary "Phaethon", and... the perfect master of the AI Fairy!

"Fairy, didn't I tell you..."
"Understood, Master. But according to statistical data, if I remained silent, this mechanical creation's appearance rate would exceed mine."
To maintain your Supreme Assistant's status, you decided to quickly eliminate this eyesore of a behemoth in front of you.

Battle 03

Story 03

Exalted Voice

You've successfully defended the appearance rate of the Supreme Assistant!
As a reward for your wise decision, the path of Hollow exploration fast-forwards, countless scenes rewinding past you in a blur.

...In short, after enduring many hardships and dangers, you've reached the depths of the Hollow — here, the Miasma surges with unusually high activity.
You even came across several friends you recognized, yet when you looked again, they appeared to have been remolded into unfamiliar forms.

You're certain you've uncovered the secret behind the Hollow's strange disturbance...

It's all the Exaltist's fault!

Zealot

The journey nears its end, and there in the Miasma-stained crimson sky, your final enemy looms above.
Overseer Mevorakh whispers to the despairing mortals, tempting them to kneel before the Creator's blessing.
But you couldn't care less about that. As the most experienced freelancer on Inter-Knot, you hate clients who keep their commissions vague.
Together with your most trusted Agents, you'll crush their schemes to dust.

As the exploration draws to a close, you finally see it — the Overseer Mevorakh appearing in the distance...

Head to Showdown

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