The Millennium46Please respect copyright.PENANAc83GCYx7pV
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‘Hello.’46Please respect copyright.PENANAY5AoFROE28
‘There is nothing before my eyes.’46Please respect copyright.PENANA88P0jgnIvR
I looked at the huge array of computers and thought about what the blind man had said.46Please respect copyright.PENANAFnDv08wZPQ
‘This is the miracle we have created. But it won't last much longer.’46Please respect copyright.PENANAYxpT1Q174n
Once the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, all human computers will crash.46Please respect copyright.PENANAqzJARDJoxm
History records that a thousand years ago, in the year 2000, there was the Millennium Bug. It was like a curse.46Please respect copyright.PENANANOzNQJhNGa
A new Millennium Bug is about to arrive. But this time, it's far from as simple as it was a thousand years ago.46Please respect copyright.PENANA5C7IJRIyo8
The Deep Consciousness Control Room issued an alert two days ago. ‘The Sage’ stated that an unprecedented computer disaster would occur in the year 3000.46Please respect copyright.PENANAnN32e4B6K0
‘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.46Please respect copyright.PENANAFC6nCBVQvO
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.46Please respect copyright.PENANAWv5Mk42IaJ
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.46Please respect copyright.PENANALfswdJ00FR
Three days ago, he committed suicide.46Please respect copyright.PENANADhxnwSkMyK
There was no suicide note, no warning signs.46Please respect copyright.PENANAUECef5CgEG
We had planned to go to the beach together. 46Please respect copyright.PENANAONXGf1HwtM
It has been raining continuously for a week and shows no signs of stopping. 46Please respect copyright.PENANAjCWNXyd8RN
The sky has remained grey. 46Please respect copyright.PENANAilYb9pogTV
Three days ago, the ‘Wise One’ malfunctioned. 46Please respect copyright.PENANAEJ4OwBT3RV
It shut down the city's network, rendering mobile phones inoperable, and caused all communication satellites and synchronous satellites in space to crash. 46Please respect copyright.PENANA9dQQT63h1t
Everything was controlled by the ‘Wise One,’ not by human commands.46Please respect copyright.PENANArdR99MPrV0
The ‘Wise One’ was cut off from power. Offline. 46Please respect copyright.PENANA55jQyPXdbg
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Tomorrow is New Year's Day. 46Please respect copyright.PENANAWWV6aVUAEl
December 31, 2999. 46Please respect copyright.PENANABo4oDYWjXk
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. 46Please respect copyright.PENANA6yItwggXgs
The outside world began to grow noisy. 46Please respect copyright.PENANAEQrUDj88r9
The network remained offline.46Please respect copyright.PENANAcsMjrt8jAX
The riots are about to begin.46Please respect copyright.PENANAlV1m3rsYKV
08:00, I wrote a program. After saving it, the computer suddenly rebooted automatically.46Please respect copyright.PENANAngeSoOeDmr
The computer boots up, but the screen remains black. However, a voice comes from inside the computer.46Please respect copyright.PENANAsah4rM2Jbd
<Dialogue begins>46Please respect copyright.PENANA2gSRYuyyv3
Null: ‘Hello. It seems the Matrix network hasn't completely disconnected.’46Please respect copyright.PENANALlb32HtBf7
Me: ‘Hello. What are you?’46Please respect copyright.PENANArujJojmzq3
Null: ‘I am the spokesperson for the Wise Ones.’46Please respect copyright.PENANALqz51ScIk6
Me: ‘Are you human?’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANAsnKLbxIC6l
Null: ‘No.’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANAYnGk18u0Bb
Me: ‘How did you do that? How did you contact me...’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANA9KgZ3OWuZS
Null: ‘We are all within the Matrix Network. Finding someone's PC is as easy as pie.’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANAdy1Dx0eCpn
Me: ‘The Matrix Network?’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANA9SvictAWbh
Null: ‘All human computers are within the Matrix Network. They are all monitored by the Host. A major disaster has been detected.’46Please respect copyright.PENANAjHUb4SpAH8
Me: ‘The host?’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANAwVCHQ3djcO
Null: ‘That's the Wise One.’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANA9j2mwTHMU8
Me: ‘Please explain in detail.’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANAWIIvEOQeiv
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.’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANAXPRObyz1r3
Me: ‘So it hasn't been truly shut down... Then... What is the major disaster...’46Please respect copyright.PENANAjg7j3AanZ2
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.’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANAi3GhgcnBmU
Me: ‘What virus? Why didn't you say anything?’46Please respect copyright.PENANAnQoKJcBpXq
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.’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANAjznTUmMcnz
Me: ‘Are you saying that all human computers would crash?’46Please respect copyright.PENANAA5cVJyvxFG
Null: ‘Yes. It's too late now; there's little chance of recovery. We found you because of this PC's owner.’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANA5uPScSXVeK
Me: ‘The blind man?’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANAuAbWE1Pcnq
Null: ‘You could call him that. He was the wise men's rebooter.’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANAgJGqR30zHu
Me: ‘He's dead.’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANAelc092ZuAX
Null: ‘The wise men know. See you next year. Happy New Year.’ 46Please respect copyright.PENANAmToDIweNyR
Me: ‘Thank you.’46Please respect copyright.PENANA3oTVPuPZWC
<Computer crashes, conversation ends>46Please respect copyright.PENANA81rwYT7iSA
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12:00, after lunch. The PC is not functioning properly. Outside, the state apparatus is dispersing the crowd.46Please respect copyright.PENANALo56RBxcXf
Banks cannot dispense money. Shops cannot sell goods. The government cannot collect taxes. Companies cannot pay wages.46Please respect copyright.PENANA6bueZfxhbk
Chaos. Total fucking chaos.46Please respect copyright.PENANAuUOMtI3Bnp
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16:00, a line of text appears on my monitor46Please respect copyright.PENANAahdDROlP6z
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C-013-188-20 46Please respect copyright.PENANAxesxXFiRRj
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It was the coordinates for Zone C. 46Please respect copyright.PENANABgn6PP2Bud
I drove there. 46Please respect copyright.PENANA7uAIFbsVX0
The entrance to an underground concrete structure was already open. I walked inside. 46Please respect copyright.PENANAXGW27DeKuQ
I saw it. 46Please respect copyright.PENANApetwROMymQ
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.46Please respect copyright.PENANAhkPrFlRjtj
This was the Sage.46Please respect copyright.PENANAePRlHuAuu2
It had been rebooted again.46Please respect copyright.PENANAvnaaxhxYKb
The guards were no longer there. They might be dead. After all, gunfire was common during the riots.46Please respect copyright.PENANAH3ZG1gtv5k
I stood amidst this vast array of computers.46Please respect copyright.PENANArdGDtSl3Fq
‘There is nothing before my eyes,’ the Sage said.46Please respect copyright.PENANAHc3iW7WqTh
I closed my eyes: ‘Thank you.’46Please respect copyright.PENANAgKDRW4wukM
‘The Matrix network has been completely severed,’ the Sage said.46Please respect copyright.PENANAhSqyQVmgvC
I smiled. Human society had collapsed.46Please respect copyright.PENANA2YY7yHhEUX
I emerged from the underground facility. The sky grew darker.46Please respect copyright.PENANABR3K0fweFU
‘A storm is coming.’46Please respect copyright.PENANA1yVHkqrK2K
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12:0046Please respect copyright.PENANAEkqvehLY2B
The midnight bell tolled. A new millennium began.46Please respect copyright.PENANAsLtgnKAOSm
There were no fireworks or cheers outside. Only gunfire and screams.46Please respect copyright.PENANAXAYTTckbg1
‘Happy New Year, Matrix Network.’46Please respect copyright.PENANASfcaRxP6ae
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The rain did not fall.46Please respect copyright.PENANA4fem16qHXn
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On that night years ago. In the city centre, it was raining.46Please respect copyright.PENANA37OAuy1ESv
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.46Please respect copyright.PENANAi2q59icvDd
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. 46Please respect copyright.PENANABPbIXAeZbz
Because we still existed. 46Please respect copyright.PENANA44nHTQEU4A
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THEND