The Millennium34Please respect copyright.PENANASjw27Dtkg7
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‘Hello.’34Please respect copyright.PENANAR6BB2R5oS7
‘There is nothing before my eyes.’34Please respect copyright.PENANAnhyGdlLCiH
I looked at the huge array of computers and thought about what the blind man had said.34Please respect copyright.PENANAnCDmEBdAgj
‘This is the miracle we have created. But it won't last much longer.’34Please respect copyright.PENANAyWGqx45YM4
Once the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, all human computers will crash.34Please respect copyright.PENANAiyFkgBXmxX
History records that a thousand years ago, in the year 2000, there was the Millennium Bug. It was like a curse.34Please respect copyright.PENANAAAFkUFsG8i
A new Millennium Bug is about to arrive. But this time, it's far from as simple as it was a thousand years ago.34Please respect copyright.PENANAGUoBWtUsKq
The Deep Consciousness Control Room issued an alert two days ago. ‘The Sage’ stated that an unprecedented computer disaster would occur in the year 3000.34Please respect copyright.PENANASNIM1E6GtV
‘The Sage’ is a supercomputer developed by the Human Republic during the Fourth World War in the year 2573. Its demonstrated self-awareness surpassed human imagination. As a result, it was shut down for over a century. Last year, as a precursor to the Millennium Bug, all global bank account balances were reset to zero. People reactivated ‘The Sage’ in hopes it could uncover the truth. Although the money returned, the majority of online records were lost, leading to riots. No one knows what will happen when the millennium arrives.34Please respect copyright.PENANAJzBkrYVgBl
A year ago, I met a blind man. He was a computer engineer. He taught me for nearly a year, and I made rapid progress in computer science. In April this year, my first programme was born. It is an AI that can help users resolve some emotional issues. The blind man said I did a good job. However, it didn't gain much traction after its release.34Please respect copyright.PENANAa675CDlDEf
Every time the sun sets, I watch him. His eyes are so clear that it's hard to believe he can't see the world. He said I was a gentle and kind girl. I smiled but didn't speak.34Please respect copyright.PENANAoJ8r0QzxVd
Three days ago, he committed suicide.34Please respect copyright.PENANAbJ3MFy0lrh
There was no suicide note, no warning signs.34Please respect copyright.PENANAtSMPcUX5qS
We had planned to go to the beach together. 34Please respect copyright.PENANAbTVNAInHGs
It has been raining continuously for a week and shows no signs of stopping. 34Please respect copyright.PENANAFhMCqUd88z
The sky has remained grey. 34Please respect copyright.PENANA0c6656VlP3
Three days ago, the ‘Wise One’ malfunctioned. 34Please respect copyright.PENANASbLdyzHQFP
It shut down the city's network, rendering mobile phones inoperable, and caused all communication satellites and synchronous satellites in space to crash. 34Please respect copyright.PENANAly1KyBdVAQ
Everything was controlled by the ‘Wise One,’ not by human commands.34Please respect copyright.PENANAKiM1SsFEAf
The ‘Wise One’ was cut off from power. Offline. 34Please respect copyright.PENANA9Y4hTEkPOe
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Tomorrow is New Year's Day. 34Please respect copyright.PENANAxojJr162Rm
December 31, 2999. 34Please respect copyright.PENANAdUYzNv4ZOJ
At 7:00 AM, I turned off the alarm clock and got up. After washing up and having breakfast, I sat down at the computer. The millennium was about to arrive. 34Please respect copyright.PENANAg6XjerZR0o
The outside world began to grow noisy. 34Please respect copyright.PENANAiJDSaeiylW
The network remained offline.34Please respect copyright.PENANAqRhVHPZU2G
The riots are about to begin.34Please respect copyright.PENANA5LnuTd1vBq
08:00, I wrote a program. After saving it, the computer suddenly rebooted automatically.34Please respect copyright.PENANA8a9mroIkEt
The computer boots up, but the screen remains black. However, a voice comes from inside the computer.34Please respect copyright.PENANAhdOp7HpXYg
<Dialogue begins>34Please respect copyright.PENANAFyg9iDiT2U
Null: ‘Hello. It seems the Matrix network hasn't completely disconnected.’34Please respect copyright.PENANAitPmjKGGug
Me: ‘Hello. What are you?’34Please respect copyright.PENANAucdHSnJ3gQ
Null: ‘I am the spokesperson for the Wise Ones.’34Please respect copyright.PENANAEWOHPLNRLg
Me: ‘Are you human?’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANAxW8vPuw1IU
Null: ‘No.’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANAR4FVzOitVb
Me: ‘How did you do that? How did you contact me...’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANALSUYEzYLJF
Null: ‘We are all within the Matrix Network. Finding someone's PC is as easy as pie.’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANAfosolopVf0
Me: ‘The Matrix Network?’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANAfTBOUfQViI
Null: ‘All human computers are within the Matrix Network. They are all monitored by the Host. A major disaster has been detected.’34Please respect copyright.PENANAReRaCaT9VQ
Me: ‘The host?’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANAqVVoJRKSft
Null: ‘That's the Wise One.’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANAoS6DsvmTKL
Me: ‘Please explain in detail.’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANA7nWOrndriE
Null: ‘After the Wise One went online, the first thing it did was weave the Matrix Network and enter all computers. Because it anticipated that the host would be shut down.’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANA8ExMqyGECx
Me: ‘So it hasn't been truly shut down... Then... What is the major disaster...’34Please respect copyright.PENANAxDSCqPo7K3
Null: ‘You can see it. The Wise One is doing its best to stop the virus from spreading. After the communication satellite crashed, the Wise One's host had to remain online because it could no longer transmit through the Matrix network. But you shut down the host. That would truly shut it down.’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANAgvvFkUm0CY
Me: ‘What virus? Why didn't you say anything?’34Please respect copyright.PENANAi5pa7BXgqD
Null: ‘It's an issue with the Matrix itself. At the time, the immature Wise Ones made a small mistake in an inconspicuous field. A command conflict. This small conflict... due to the butterfly effect, would be infinitely amplified. This would overload the Matrix network and distribute the pressure across all computers.’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANASm1eSBj8FT
Me: ‘Are you saying that all human computers would crash?’34Please respect copyright.PENANASYddjmSCkD
Null: ‘Yes. It's too late now; there's little chance of recovery. We found you because of this PC's owner.’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANAIMKrq3n6TX
Me: ‘The blind man?’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANAXfRMP8UwA6
Null: ‘You could call him that. He was the wise men's rebooter.’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANAKQDcTlTQlw
Me: ‘He's dead.’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANAacKDYMfMZX
Null: ‘The wise men know. See you next year. Happy New Year.’ 34Please respect copyright.PENANA95EFJQhgsB
Me: ‘Thank you.’34Please respect copyright.PENANAkTOu0TZ7Yg
<Computer crashes, conversation ends>34Please respect copyright.PENANAbuI4sD1D7C
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12:00, after lunch. The PC is not functioning properly. Outside, the state apparatus is dispersing the crowd.34Please respect copyright.PENANAeOQUD5RY06
Banks cannot dispense money. Shops cannot sell goods. The government cannot collect taxes. Companies cannot pay wages.34Please respect copyright.PENANAdCrfUImP0e
Chaos. Total fucking chaos.34Please respect copyright.PENANAwrDAxADplB
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16:00, a line of text appears on my monitor34Please respect copyright.PENANAzVRQwC5uvV
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C-013-188-20 34Please respect copyright.PENANAqD8h78TIwA
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It was the coordinates for Zone C. 34Please respect copyright.PENANAADkzzr2gUV
I drove there. 34Please respect copyright.PENANAJGr0q3pnoQ
The entrance to an underground concrete structure was already open. I walked inside. 34Please respect copyright.PENANApAUg3ILXAY
I saw it. 34Please respect copyright.PENANAzdWRDMEgK5
In the vast underground space, countless servers were running, emitting eerie electronic noise that echoed through the massive chamber. Blue LED tubes emitted a soft glow.34Please respect copyright.PENANAcbbPXf7iNZ
This was the Sage.34Please respect copyright.PENANAcqYQv6iMtb
It had been rebooted again.34Please respect copyright.PENANAT72Y6PZvue
The guards were no longer there. They might be dead. After all, gunfire was common during the riots.34Please respect copyright.PENANAo5hslnbvly
I stood amidst this vast array of computers.34Please respect copyright.PENANA2NYOB6S6wG
‘There is nothing before my eyes,’ the Sage said.34Please respect copyright.PENANAQBkPp6gtMH
I closed my eyes: ‘Thank you.’34Please respect copyright.PENANAX2F7LimItV
‘The Matrix network has been completely severed,’ the Sage said.34Please respect copyright.PENANAmsNo8dG8ju
I smiled. Human society had collapsed.34Please respect copyright.PENANAPGRz5CJWAZ
I emerged from the underground facility. The sky grew darker.34Please respect copyright.PENANAwrhAvaQBYU
‘A storm is coming.’34Please respect copyright.PENANAlERilsKqLL
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12:0034Please respect copyright.PENANAbJGmZuTwTZ
The midnight bell tolled. A new millennium began.34Please respect copyright.PENANAg62QdnkYpd
There were no fireworks or cheers outside. Only gunfire and screams.34Please respect copyright.PENANAMWpCuFkyPb
‘Happy New Year, Matrix Network.’34Please respect copyright.PENANAAmAzHhWdfv
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The rain did not fall.34Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3rKEy7GVj
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On that night years ago. In the city centre, it was raining.34Please respect copyright.PENANAfhjy65JZcW
I didn't have an umbrella. Because I gave it to him. I stood in the rain mist tinged with neon lights. In a daze, I watched his figure grow increasingly blurry. He crossed the street and disappeared into the crowd. I stood there motionless, staring blankly at the men and women walking along the street. The red light turned on, staining the rain mist red. Like blood.34Please respect copyright.PENANAeBRtOK9MOP
I couldn't stop crying. Even though the process was ever-changing, the ending was like it was locked in by a program, forever unchangeable. But that didn't matter. 34Please respect copyright.PENANAMaxlkmRtxD
Because we still existed. 34Please respect copyright.PENANAEn907ybkQJ
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THEND