Idk if there's a group of ppl who have read the murderbot diaries and are danmei readers, but if there are, consider: an infinite flow type AU. Like the novels are giving some infinite flow vibes already!
Popular Western novels nowadays: We have enemies to lovers! And sex! With a hot guy!... What more do you want?
Popular Asian webnovels: What if MC was transported into these crazy horror games where he can really die in real life? And what if real life is just another game? What if MC and the villain are the same person but not the same person? And the love interest is also two people but actually the same person? You're interested? Yeah, that's what I thought. You're going to stick around for this 1million word count
Essential Elements of an Unlimited/Infinite Flow Story
As someone attempting to write my own Unli Flow, I thought I’d take note of the different elements so I can have a guide I can always refer back to.
I’ve explained what Unli Flow means many times before, but in case you missed it: Unlimited/Infinite Flow is a genre in Chinese web novels that feature characters entering multiple “instances” where they have to complete a challenge and/or solve a mystery. Failure in doing so would lead to consequences, most often death.
There’s also this definition by AshuraYami from the NovelUpdates Forum:
Unlimited Flow/Infinite Flow is a genre originating from the CN novel Terror Infinity. The genre mainly revolves on world hopping involving fictional works (anime, comics, movies, games and novels) and/or original worlds created by the author. Infinite Flow, as it’s ‘infinite’ namesake suggests, can accommodate all other genres, be it fantasy, sci-fi, horror, romance, etc. Representative works are Terror Infinity (origin of genre), Reincarnation Paradise (most chapters and word count), The Ultimate Evolution (promoter of data flow, an infinite flow derivative that is more game-like litRPG) and Thriller Paradise (most famous horror infinite flow).
With the definition out of the way, let’s goooo
[This post will also serve as a rec list of sorts, since I’ll be giving examples of each element from different danmei novels.]
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1. The Authority
The entity/system in charge of the Unlimited Flow system as a whole. Most stories just chalk it up to the Unli Flow being some kind of otherworldly being/extremely advanced AI that just likes to mess with people.
Examples of The Authority
(based on what I remember, at least… Also, beware of spoilers)
The Earth is Online: The Universe
Mist: I forgot what it’s called, but that high tech system in charge of all the Time Traveling stuff...
High Energy QR Code: That black and white cube thing
Surprise! The Supposed Talent Show was Actually—?!: … The TV station...
From left to right: Tang Mo from The Earth is Online and Wu Jin and Wei Shi from Surprise! The Supposed Talent Show was Actually—?!
[Spoilers End]
From having read numerous Unli Flow stories, I conclude that crucial to a great, not just good, Unli Flow story is a well-defined Authority. The explanation behind the Authority’s existence and motives is the foundation to the entire story.
You can have a very fancy building (cool instances, well-developed characters, an exciting enemies to lovers couple, etc.), but if the foundation is flimsy, the building’s value would plummet in your eyes. You can still appreciate the building, of course, but you will never be content with it.
Examples of some novels that are good in almost everything else except The Authority (in my opinion): [spoilery]
Supernatural Movie Actor App: It was too profound with not enough groundwork laid for it, resulting in The Authority feeling detached from the main story.
I Upended Yet Another Campus Urban Legend: The Authority was not exactly bad; it was just inadequate. The justification of the Unli Flow existing became unconvincing because of this.
Escape the Infinite Chamber: THE AUTHORITY IS SO FUCKING RIDICULOUS THAT IT’S ABYSMAL. And the entire thing was explained in just one scene and from one extra??? SO MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING AND THAT’S THE ONLY EXPLANATION WE GET??? HORRENDOUS!
[Spoilers End]
From left to right: Book covers of I Upended Yet Another Campus Urban Legend and Supernatural Movie Actor App
2. Instances
Also known as “copy.” The other world/dimension where players have to face the different challenges.
The Authority may be the foundation, but the Instances are the defining aspect of the Unlimited Flow.
A lot of novels, however, are quite perfunctory when it comes to instances, just using it to further the main couple or as a mere stepping stone to the overarching plot. Or, if they’re not being perfunctory, then the Instances are just plain boring.
The first instance, especially, tend to be the most boring. Authors often use this to dump all the information about how their unli flow works. This usually gets better by the time the 2nd or 3rd instance comes around....
Upon successful completion of an Instance, players will then be rewarded with either points, special abilities, magic items, etc.
Examples of novels with GREAT instances (based on logic, thrill, horror, etc. Again, all in my own opinion):
I Became a God in a Horror Game: The horror is present all throughout. I can still remember the fear I felt while reading about the statues in the first Instance. Each instance/arc also emotionally impacts you, an effect that most Unli Flow writers don’t really aim for or just generally tend to fail at. (This is also my favorite unli flow novel at the moment~)
The Earth is Online: (same author as Fourth Perspective, which I’ve posted a lot about before) What I love about Mo Chen Huan, the author, is how they write intelligent MC’s but without making them seem too OP. And this is because she actually shows us the MC’s thought process, inviting us to think along with them and figure out how to solve the challenge, and not just make her characters say “aha!” This is what makes the Instances in TEIO great and memorable.
High Energy QR Code: The story could make use of more showing than telling, but I actually love the Instances in this novel. You know how good stories are often described as a well-made tapestry in that every little thread contributes to the big beautiful picture? That’s how each Instance reads in this novel. (Absolutely love the Instance about the town where everybody lies.)
Fu Wendou, the male lead of The Earth is Online
3. NPCs
A gaming term which stands for “Non-Player Character.” Refers to characters who live within Instances and act in such ways that further the plot or challenge presented by the Instance. They may go against players or assist them. May or may not have a will of their own.
Examples of NPCs:
Xu Beijin, the protagonist of Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game
Lu Chu, the protagonist of Insider.
The iconic Mosaic from The Earth is Online
The male leads from Escape the Infinite Chamber, I Became a God in a Horror Game, Killing God with Junk Cards, etc. (Most danmei ML are special!NPCs 😩)
From left to right: Book covers of Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game and Killing God with Junk Cards
4. Player Hall
A space outside of instances where different players can gather and exchange information. Most of the time, this is in a space still separate from the real world. Players are often prohibited from using their powers in this space.
In some novels, Players have no choice but to live here, completely cutting them off from the real world. In this case, accommodation quality will depend on the Player’s level or points.
5. Personal System
The Personal System issues challenges to the player and keeps track of their current attributes, physical and mental states, etc.. It also calculates rewards and punishments for the player. First and foremost in service to The Authority. (If they aren’t, then they’re most likely the Love Interest in disguise. If not, the Player had somehow swayed it to their side).
6. System Store
The points earned from the different Instances serve as the Players’ currency, and they can use it to buy things from the System Store. The Store may sell weapons, medicine, magical items, or even special abilities. Basically, any item that can help the Player during Instances. Of course, it may also sell non-magical items, like food and everyday items, at a much lower price than special items.
7. Player’s Goal/Wish
In some novels, the Goal is simply to clear all the Instances and leave the Unli Flow for good. But in others, the Unli Flow allows Players to exchange their points for a Wish. The more difficult the Wish, the more points are needed, and the more Instances are needed to be cleared.
Examples of a Goal/Wish:
Supernatural Movie Actor App: Xie Chi wants to give his second personality a body of his own.
I Became a God in a Horror Game: If I’m remembering it correctly… Bai Liu just wants to have lots of money.
I Upended Yet Another Campus Urban Legend: Lin Yi wants to learn the truth about his parents.
Thriller Tour Group: Wei Xun wants to find the truth about his family’s disappearance… and his Wish is to uhh… feel pain?
After the Little Crybaby Enters the Nightmare Cycle: Chi Nan’s Wish is to regain his vision, stop crying and get his memories back.
Death Spiral: To uhh… figure out what the voice in the Elevator is trying to tell them? To regain their memories? [The actual Wish is a big spoiler, so I won’t mention it here.]
From left to right: Book covers of After the Little Crybaby Enters the Nightmare Cycle, Thriller Tour Group, and Death Spiral
Aaaand there you have it! I was hoping to list 10 elements, but I can only think up to 7 😔
Although I said this post is a rec list of sorts, the quality of the novels I mentioned actually varies. I’m just listing whatever novel would be good as an example (and also what I can remember and have more or less completed, since many of the Unli Flow novels I’m reading are currently on-hold).
There is no internal hierarchy within the tiers themselves aka if it's in S, then it's S. These are only numbered to help ease the genre segregation down the lane.
TMI: all of these have been fully translated(fan pr official) and are HE or HEish(ur gal can't handle BEs)
Tier S:
Mist (Unlimited)
Heaven Official’s Blessing
Descent From an Altitude of 10,000 Meters
The Seventh Year the Demon King Captured the Holy Monarch
Tier A+:
24 Frames Per Second
I Upended Yet Another Campus Urban Legend
Four O’Clock Flower
First-Class Lawyer
The Daily Life of the Reborn Adopted Son of a Wealthy Family
Bottom A, Top O
Thriller Trainee
Tier A-:
Golden Stage
Surprise! The Supposed Talent Show Was Actually–?!
Exclusive Rights to an Online Voice Actor
After the Little Crybaby Enters the Nightmare Cycle
FOG
New Times, New Hell
I Can Do It
The Founder of Diabolism/MDZS
Kaleidoscope of Death
Global Examination
Peerless
Record of the Missing Sect Master
Suddenly Trending
Panguan
Unseen Immortal of Three Hundred Years
Silent Reading
Tier B+:
Dinghai Fusheng Records
After I Possessed the Tmall Genie of the School Adonis
I Have Amnesia, Don’t Be Noisy!
His Tail Feathers Case Report/How to Use His Feathers
Tier B-:
I’m Completely Clueless About Sockpuppet Accounts Being Unmasked
Bite Your Fingertips
How to Survive As a Villain
Cherry Blossoms Upon a Wintry Sword
The E-Sports Circle’s Toxic Assembly Camp
Mr. Melancholy Wants to Live a Peaceful Life
Replacing the Evil Way
Transmigrating into the Reborn Male Lead’s Ex-Boyfriend
As a fan of some infinite flow horror bl novels and having recently realized the dp fandom, I had the sudden epiphany that a very liminal/dead Amity Park + full Eldritch ghost Danny Sam and Tuck would be a good horror instance
As an explanation: infinite flow horror is basically a "game" of sorts where participants are dropped into horror worlds wherein they must fulfill an objective. That objective is usually survive or find out the mystery behind this world etc
Drop in the giw and Fenton parents that went mad after their son was "killed" by a ghost?
--
The glowing neon green goo should be a comical sight, yet seeing it ooze out of a living teenager's chest as they are strapped down and cut open made it feel more grotesque than the usual crimson blood.
And the teenager who just a few hours ago was bounding about showing them around had eyes that glowed the same green, staring straight at them.
The participants are substitute school teachers after the previous teachers all mysteriously disappeared. Their objective was to find out the sequence of incidents that led the town to become like this.
Someone breaks off from the group to the side and starts dry heaving, having not eaten since the start of this world due to fear of the glowing green food and how it sometimes comes back to life.
The students were all strange, sometimes showing them all inhuman features or abilities. Naturally, they assume these students will slowly kill them off if they don't solve everything soon.
They all tread warily around the students, especially avoiding whoever this Phantom they speak of is assuming him to be the boss of this instance. This all comes to a head when the giw managed to prove a student is ecto contaminated and drags them away to be cut open for examination
Which in turn leads to the scene before them.
They all follow the clues back to the Fenton house, during this time both the giw and Fenton parents start going crazy and dragging anyone who even slightly rings on the ecto radar back to be cut open
Meanwhile Phantom continuously sneaks in and rescues the captives, sometimes too late but most of the time in time. They try working with him but their goals just don't align. At most the dudes a good info source or someone they can trust not to kill them, a support NPC if anything
At this point a few of the participants have also been cut open
Eventually they clear the instance and just never look back. But the thoughts linger
Cuz. In this one, humans had been the villains. The humans had been the ones who were killing everyone and not the ghosts like usual.
Edit: adding
Compared to the inhuman students who could run faster than anyone else, the ghosts who could control plants and technology as well as the monster made of ice and starlight, somehow it is the malice and madness in ordinary human hearts that is the most terrifying
