The Millennium27Please respect copyright.PENANAx8j4azaaEG
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‘Hello.’27Please respect copyright.PENANADKOloMsPxT
‘There is nothing before my eyes.’27Please respect copyright.PENANAG813jmXGgA
I looked at the huge array of computers and thought about what the blind man had said.27Please respect copyright.PENANA7mbTSBbb9M
‘This is the miracle we have created. But it won't last much longer.’27Please respect copyright.PENANA9ncHFt45hd
Once the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, all human computers will crash.27Please respect copyright.PENANAhuL20xcuqd
History records that a thousand years ago, in the year 2000, there was the Millennium Bug. It was like a curse.27Please respect copyright.PENANAk7TaAIHoxF
A new Millennium Bug is about to arrive. But this time, it's far from as simple as it was a thousand years ago.27Please respect copyright.PENANAYMQGSQ1GPt
The Deep Consciousness Control Room issued an alert two days ago. ‘The Sage’ stated that an unprecedented computer disaster would occur in the year 3000.27Please respect copyright.PENANAJl4ZPAYBct
‘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.27Please respect copyright.PENANA7WDHZ0nEdW
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.27Please respect copyright.PENANAw9BdXVErfE
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.27Please respect copyright.PENANA2j2ZNJ2Agd
Three days ago, he committed suicide.27Please respect copyright.PENANAfFfQTBFZnf
There was no suicide note, no warning signs.27Please respect copyright.PENANARj3v0jEMD5
We had planned to go to the beach together. 27Please respect copyright.PENANA3OwPibLJZb
It has been raining continuously for a week and shows no signs of stopping. 27Please respect copyright.PENANAqogiDryjaz
The sky has remained grey. 27Please respect copyright.PENANAey3ZlAYVie
Three days ago, the ‘Wise One’ malfunctioned. 27Please respect copyright.PENANAtighXch8eu
It shut down the city's network, rendering mobile phones inoperable, and caused all communication satellites and synchronous satellites in space to crash. 27Please respect copyright.PENANAxiGkoK9Vpw
Everything was controlled by the ‘Wise One,’ not by human commands.27Please respect copyright.PENANAFBAEVZFwnV
The ‘Wise One’ was cut off from power. Offline. 27Please respect copyright.PENANATntnfjMe6C
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Tomorrow is New Year's Day. 27Please respect copyright.PENANAcI4npIWAnI
December 31, 2999. 27Please respect copyright.PENANAcSLdIKem0F
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. 27Please respect copyright.PENANAVIU8vFLrUZ
The outside world began to grow noisy. 27Please respect copyright.PENANAEv6roTcRI3
The network remained offline.27Please respect copyright.PENANAysxR3SnETk
The riots are about to begin.27Please respect copyright.PENANAaHlhffbAJZ
08:00, I wrote a program. After saving it, the computer suddenly rebooted automatically.27Please respect copyright.PENANAd5fJbXYbsc
The computer boots up, but the screen remains black. However, a voice comes from inside the computer.27Please respect copyright.PENANAAh6BGJMskg
<Dialogue begins>27Please respect copyright.PENANA3AhtKCkb2B
Null: ‘Hello. It seems the Matrix network hasn't completely disconnected.’27Please respect copyright.PENANAk7tjKDsmud
Me: ‘Hello. What are you?’27Please respect copyright.PENANAUOE8TkijOK
Null: ‘I am the spokesperson for the Wise Ones.’27Please respect copyright.PENANAl13MmD536X
Me: ‘Are you human?’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANAI8J2ULNrny
Null: ‘No.’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANAxCiPJ7HUpv
Me: ‘How did you do that? How did you contact me...’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANAD5uW3A5NPJ
Null: ‘We are all within the Matrix Network. Finding someone's PC is as easy as pie.’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANAsodg9XnMfp
Me: ‘The Matrix Network?’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANAF9kzfaoiht
Null: ‘All human computers are within the Matrix Network. They are all monitored by the Host. A major disaster has been detected.’27Please respect copyright.PENANA2qVh28ePYR
Me: ‘The host?’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANATQ1fGefJo7
Null: ‘That's the Wise One.’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANA2Zf8P6g0bI
Me: ‘Please explain in detail.’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANAIIMK3qcGZZ
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.’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANAuOVg1oD8Ax
Me: ‘So it hasn't been truly shut down... Then... What is the major disaster...’27Please respect copyright.PENANAYkcBDkQuUa
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.’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANATBOJmoh38d
Me: ‘What virus? Why didn't you say anything?’27Please respect copyright.PENANAtFDzpitYzv
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.’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANAkzlvIGBM0g
Me: ‘Are you saying that all human computers would crash?’27Please respect copyright.PENANADNsopPqxeW
Null: ‘Yes. It's too late now; there's little chance of recovery. We found you because of this PC's owner.’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANAbYczXVaAXY
Me: ‘The blind man?’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANAPMxawtWG1Y
Null: ‘You could call him that. He was the wise men's rebooter.’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANAuQb0QwLtkq
Me: ‘He's dead.’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANAWfCptfwUZb
Null: ‘The wise men know. See you next year. Happy New Year.’ 27Please respect copyright.PENANAgx3vKrKadP
Me: ‘Thank you.’27Please respect copyright.PENANAgi4lysguV4
<Computer crashes, conversation ends>27Please respect copyright.PENANAg90JaJOCVx
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12:00, after lunch. The PC is not functioning properly. Outside, the state apparatus is dispersing the crowd.27Please respect copyright.PENANAm0wYkFzPfR
Banks cannot dispense money. Shops cannot sell goods. The government cannot collect taxes. Companies cannot pay wages.27Please respect copyright.PENANAkthoYRDb6m
Chaos. Total fucking chaos.27Please respect copyright.PENANAh8meOQ2D9J
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16:00, a line of text appears on my monitor27Please respect copyright.PENANAVnoBX49rJT
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C-013-188-20 27Please respect copyright.PENANADuzDKieO4b
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It was the coordinates for Zone C. 27Please respect copyright.PENANA9l1C5caLEB
I drove there. 27Please respect copyright.PENANA3Is5F1BQp8
The entrance to an underground concrete structure was already open. I walked inside. 27Please respect copyright.PENANA68NzFUt4I5
I saw it. 27Please respect copyright.PENANAB8sq4qFqlO
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.27Please respect copyright.PENANA0u8RtWzRir
This was the Sage.27Please respect copyright.PENANAtrLs5Cei5Q
It had been rebooted again.27Please respect copyright.PENANADmrx9pAKA8
The guards were no longer there. They might be dead. After all, gunfire was common during the riots.27Please respect copyright.PENANANAUKZa1j7X
I stood amidst this vast array of computers.27Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0G7NLQq4s
‘There is nothing before my eyes,’ the Sage said.27Please respect copyright.PENANAJDFo2F8dw1
I closed my eyes: ‘Thank you.’27Please respect copyright.PENANAV3KRMrUMWe
‘The Matrix network has been completely severed,’ the Sage said.27Please respect copyright.PENANAqTxiLmaFU8
I smiled. Human society had collapsed.27Please respect copyright.PENANAuKD5MBu869
I emerged from the underground facility. The sky grew darker.27Please respect copyright.PENANA05rB1T503m
‘A storm is coming.’27Please respect copyright.PENANAnJNoKQQOJn
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12:0027Please respect copyright.PENANAIQWPv4VuFq
The midnight bell tolled. A new millennium began.27Please respect copyright.PENANATMnbin61iR
There were no fireworks or cheers outside. Only gunfire and screams.27Please respect copyright.PENANARc3sLaCGil
‘Happy New Year, Matrix Network.’27Please respect copyright.PENANA8wC2AktRYn
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The rain did not fall.27Please respect copyright.PENANA5dej8fSIfy
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On that night years ago. In the city centre, it was raining.27Please respect copyright.PENANAIAXkNDfiWh
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.27Please respect copyright.PENANA87GVJVeA8X
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. 27Please respect copyright.PENANAOBzZkMh2lB
Because we still existed. 27Please respect copyright.PENANAvZ5bFr7ryl
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THEND