Outside the Inner Door

There once existed an avant-garde art collective composed of extraordinarily talented writers. They organized a creative technique exchange, with this collision of ideas flowing from their pens as ink. Ideas converged into the invisible current of thought that gave birth to countless magnificent imaginary worlds and unforgettable stories. As time passed, the participants in this creative endeavor felt their obsession grow, as if enchanted by the words they wrote, rushed forwards by this torrent of thought to ink the next stroke to paper. One day, they all gathered together, claiming they would explore "the ultimate nature of consciousness," then entered a mansion together and shut themselves away from the world.

At first, people assumed this was merely an ordinary creative retreat. For eccentric and talented writers, this was nothing unusual. But from the day they entered the mansion, its doors never opened again… Their servants, friends, and family members visited out of concern, yet not one of them could pry open the mansion's doors. Several weeks later, the mansion doors suddenly creaked opened on their own. However, what emerged was not the writers, but a true torrent of consciousness. Every area it touched was transformed into a bizarre and surreal scene! By then, that door had become an Anomaly passage connecting reality to the "World Beyond the Door," spreading out of control. Fortunately, it was contained by an independent Anomaly Hunter group before its influence could spread further. After changing hands several times, it is currently held by the Ebisu Auction House.

Outside the Inner Door, designated R-3407(Ob), appears as a door composed of stained glass panels. The other world it opens to, which we call the World Beyond the Door, is a chaotic space formed from its creators' wild imaginings. When this Anomaly is opened, a surging "torrent of consciousness" flows out in an instant, sweeping through the area. Everywhere it extends through gradually becomes part of the World Beyond the Door, eroded by maddened consciousness. It becomes a zone where gravity acts abnormal, space becomes fragmented and twisted, and creatures that should not exist in reality manifest freely. The range of this Anomaly expands rapidly, and historical observation records show no limit to its expansion. If left unchecked, the World Beyond the Door will become large enough to devour an entire city in approximately eight to nine months.

Once opened, due to spatial displacement, Outside the Inner Door manifests as multiple doors as its area of influence expands. Only one of these doors, the final one, is the true form of this Anomaly. The doors are connected by the "torrent of consciousness," which also serves as the primary means of movement between the fragmented spaces of the World Beyond the Door. As long as all the doors are closed, Outside the Inner Door will maintain the appearance of an ordinary door. Therefore, in theory, following the "torrent of consciousness" and closing each door one by one should allow for the containment of this Anomaly. However, it should be noted that the essence of the "torrent of consciousness" is a maddened consciousness. Anyone submerged in it will inevitably be affected, experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations, or developing more severe mental issues. During the containment process, one must watch for another relatively inconspicuous substance in the World Beyond the Door: the "droplets of reason." Like the "torrent of consciousness," these appear to be liquid in form, but unlike the ceaselessly surging torrent, they are often stationary spheres of water. Touching the "droplets of reason" will reduce the mental contamination suffered during the containment process, and also stabilize the surrounding "torrent of consciousness" to some degree, allowing passage with less risk to one's sanity.

Touching the "droplets of reason" is not without a price, however. Outside the Inner Door was born from the wild imaginings of writers, and reason is like poison to them. Touching the "droplets of reason" will provoke retaliation from the Anomaly. This retaliation is sometimes in the form of Surge Anomaly attacks, sometimes sudden hallucinations, or attacks fabricated by the consciousness within the unstable "torrent of consciousness"… The longer you take, the more difficult this Anomaly becomes to resolve.

Every era has great minds that attempt to transcend their limits. Some are called geniuses; others are dismissed as madmen. Their ideas may seem too bizarre to ordinary people, even touching the edge of madness, but they are equally captivating. Their wildest ideas may never normally become reality, but Anomalies have the power to make the impossible possible. Outside the Inner Door gives us an opportunity to glimpse a corner of their unknowable minds.

· This Anomaly appears as a large door made of stained glass panels. Behind the door is a World Beyond the Door that does not follow the rules of reality.

· When this Anomaly is opened, a water-like "torrent of consciousness" surges forth. Everywhere it passes is eroded by the World Beyond the Door and becomes disordered. The erosion range expands over time.

· Multiple doors appear within the affected area of the World Beyond the Door, interconnected by the "torrent of consciousness." One can move through the "torrent of consciousness."

· Immersion in the "torrent of consciousness" causes hallucinations and mental issues. Touching the spherical "droplets of reason" can alleviate symptoms but will also provoke hostility from the Anomaly.

Close all doors connecting reality to the World Beyond the Door.

Medium.

Guaranteed by the Ebisu Auction House.

The closed Outside the Inner Door can be stored in any space large enough to accommodate it. Considering that opening the door is the trigger for an breach, it is recommended to lay it flat on a solid surface.