The Millennium31Please respect copyright.PENANAKtbsTLotkX
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‘Hello.’31Please respect copyright.PENANARlKp5vQWvX
‘There is nothing before my eyes.’31Please respect copyright.PENANATszIttRiHO
I looked at the huge array of computers and thought about what the blind man had said.31Please respect copyright.PENANArSxMlHsJC6
‘This is the miracle we have created. But it won't last much longer.’31Please respect copyright.PENANA2ADY7MuTv1
Once the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, all human computers will crash.31Please respect copyright.PENANAh9Q77za2Xx
History records that a thousand years ago, in the year 2000, there was the Millennium Bug. It was like a curse.31Please respect copyright.PENANAdKOMeAqLtD
A new Millennium Bug is about to arrive. But this time, it's far from as simple as it was a thousand years ago.31Please respect copyright.PENANABjmHDPmQVG
The Deep Consciousness Control Room issued an alert two days ago. ‘The Sage’ stated that an unprecedented computer disaster would occur in the year 3000.31Please respect copyright.PENANAcq2EAgFJ1D
‘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.31Please respect copyright.PENANAlinTnzPoAR
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.31Please respect copyright.PENANAaieOQxV0aR
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.31Please respect copyright.PENANAKk1baTegXq
Three days ago, he committed suicide.31Please respect copyright.PENANAdZxNXWpZX3
There was no suicide note, no warning signs.31Please respect copyright.PENANA3sRerIoSYD
We had planned to go to the beach together. 31Please respect copyright.PENANAfdKD0EgBDP
It has been raining continuously for a week and shows no signs of stopping. 31Please respect copyright.PENANA7Frno5XV28
The sky has remained grey. 31Please respect copyright.PENANAZmz6VSKvX3
Three days ago, the ‘Wise One’ malfunctioned. 31Please respect copyright.PENANANC7kd9U2fq
It shut down the city's network, rendering mobile phones inoperable, and caused all communication satellites and synchronous satellites in space to crash. 31Please respect copyright.PENANAld3YVlHoK0
Everything was controlled by the ‘Wise One,’ not by human commands.31Please respect copyright.PENANALkPeyPDEUn
The ‘Wise One’ was cut off from power. Offline. 31Please respect copyright.PENANAOK9QL4JYVd
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Tomorrow is New Year's Day. 31Please respect copyright.PENANABBqeYiZaWc
December 31, 2999. 31Please respect copyright.PENANAgqGzPTmuEt
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. 31Please respect copyright.PENANAd2cP0ip0vp
The outside world began to grow noisy. 31Please respect copyright.PENANAQUrL81Ahg4
The network remained offline.31Please respect copyright.PENANAIYigXATfiA
The riots are about to begin.31Please respect copyright.PENANAKa8hEXlZSc
08:00, I wrote a program. After saving it, the computer suddenly rebooted automatically.31Please respect copyright.PENANAaJzjLIpNC8
The computer boots up, but the screen remains black. However, a voice comes from inside the computer.31Please respect copyright.PENANAawBvou3pGP
<Dialogue begins>31Please respect copyright.PENANAiN16funnfA
Null: ‘Hello. It seems the Matrix network hasn't completely disconnected.’31Please respect copyright.PENANAYSrtpIebAn
Me: ‘Hello. What are you?’31Please respect copyright.PENANAVUvYbg2VWt
Null: ‘I am the spokesperson for the Wise Ones.’31Please respect copyright.PENANAboywEOl8bX
Me: ‘Are you human?’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANA4T9qfOXn46
Null: ‘No.’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANASPAL3i9MJ6
Me: ‘How did you do that? How did you contact me...’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANAz5e3bY0bCQ
Null: ‘We are all within the Matrix Network. Finding someone's PC is as easy as pie.’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANAaIb7BBTjhO
Me: ‘The Matrix Network?’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANAe7ygnVYFNA
Null: ‘All human computers are within the Matrix Network. They are all monitored by the Host. A major disaster has been detected.’31Please respect copyright.PENANA7anHZL6ZFy
Me: ‘The host?’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANAIm6nAv1YYY
Null: ‘That's the Wise One.’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANAp9dU6yknGb
Me: ‘Please explain in detail.’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANAV8tlNY1Iem
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.’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANAY339PEWetS
Me: ‘So it hasn't been truly shut down... Then... What is the major disaster...’31Please respect copyright.PENANA7UEGy7TD6B
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.’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANAn7p6rzlNnA
Me: ‘What virus? Why didn't you say anything?’31Please respect copyright.PENANAn7tnKkbXGZ
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.’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANAkZX5pkeCKz
Me: ‘Are you saying that all human computers would crash?’31Please respect copyright.PENANAYxmCz2yodJ
Null: ‘Yes. It's too late now; there's little chance of recovery. We found you because of this PC's owner.’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANArWCMd0t0kA
Me: ‘The blind man?’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANABO3u3ZygPt
Null: ‘You could call him that. He was the wise men's rebooter.’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANA1z9ICYsd1e
Me: ‘He's dead.’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANApT70EwimlU
Null: ‘The wise men know. See you next year. Happy New Year.’ 31Please respect copyright.PENANA94JCX52x3I
Me: ‘Thank you.’31Please respect copyright.PENANA0UJaNP523c
<Computer crashes, conversation ends>31Please respect copyright.PENANAe4Rj0XVF8u
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12:00, after lunch. The PC is not functioning properly. Outside, the state apparatus is dispersing the crowd.31Please respect copyright.PENANAJc4RfPCVbX
Banks cannot dispense money. Shops cannot sell goods. The government cannot collect taxes. Companies cannot pay wages.31Please respect copyright.PENANAIA9emldVSe
Chaos. Total fucking chaos.31Please respect copyright.PENANA3raqXjZaux
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16:00, a line of text appears on my monitor31Please respect copyright.PENANAmMpsRN2BUU
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C-013-188-20 31Please respect copyright.PENANAXNwjKrmx17
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It was the coordinates for Zone C. 31Please respect copyright.PENANAAE7eyCFwnd
I drove there. 31Please respect copyright.PENANAC0VPVErAib
The entrance to an underground concrete structure was already open. I walked inside. 31Please respect copyright.PENANAZKeA8XmZ0Q
I saw it. 31Please respect copyright.PENANAlp06aO6VcT
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.31Please respect copyright.PENANAS3yWxypqb2
This was the Sage.31Please respect copyright.PENANAN71jtWsLRl
It had been rebooted again.31Please respect copyright.PENANAh7ssNSBa0V
The guards were no longer there. They might be dead. After all, gunfire was common during the riots.31Please respect copyright.PENANAKYKh1ryShb
I stood amidst this vast array of computers.31Please respect copyright.PENANAYUZJScQSvR
‘There is nothing before my eyes,’ the Sage said.31Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9WNuiPVMc
I closed my eyes: ‘Thank you.’31Please respect copyright.PENANAfTGVumMArw
‘The Matrix network has been completely severed,’ the Sage said.31Please respect copyright.PENANATyzAPeN0c0
I smiled. Human society had collapsed.31Please respect copyright.PENANAVjgjhBYWsn
I emerged from the underground facility. The sky grew darker.31Please respect copyright.PENANACuAuLaq9pO
‘A storm is coming.’31Please respect copyright.PENANAz3inCuRpv1
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12:0031Please respect copyright.PENANAOhVCanvGjb
The midnight bell tolled. A new millennium began.31Please respect copyright.PENANAaJ2kdCfeMy
There were no fireworks or cheers outside. Only gunfire and screams.31Please respect copyright.PENANAW3XK6DOGoC
‘Happy New Year, Matrix Network.’31Please respect copyright.PENANAv2J3EXSvRs
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The rain did not fall.31Please respect copyright.PENANAggNvYjZSrm
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On that night years ago. In the city centre, it was raining.31Please respect copyright.PENANAL5ZH67HPvL
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.31Please respect copyright.PENANAIbUiRi8PAx
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. 31Please respect copyright.PENANAeqqjhagwhg
Because we still existed. 31Please respect copyright.PENANAbK2ImG1vhf
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THEND