The Millennium45Please respect copyright.PENANAvEbyNnuQ50
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‘Hello.’45Please respect copyright.PENANAMDKUnPtwg8
‘There is nothing before my eyes.’45Please respect copyright.PENANA9wWgKKAz5Q
I looked at the huge array of computers and thought about what the blind man had said.45Please respect copyright.PENANAf3lqjdUAXY
‘This is the miracle we have created. But it won't last much longer.’45Please respect copyright.PENANAqnb39jEff2
Once the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, all human computers will crash.45Please respect copyright.PENANAYYu71D7rWC
History records that a thousand years ago, in the year 2000, there was the Millennium Bug. It was like a curse.45Please respect copyright.PENANA6KOLj8NTYZ
A new Millennium Bug is about to arrive. But this time, it's far from as simple as it was a thousand years ago.45Please respect copyright.PENANAD8tvQeLGf2
The Deep Consciousness Control Room issued an alert two days ago. ‘The Sage’ stated that an unprecedented computer disaster would occur in the year 3000.45Please respect copyright.PENANAjgOhex5lMA
‘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.45Please respect copyright.PENANASRwWTsioND
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.45Please respect copyright.PENANAElopFSh2vY
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.45Please respect copyright.PENANACbcwN4BQdu
Three days ago, he committed suicide.45Please respect copyright.PENANAlqSHo5y0Ac
There was no suicide note, no warning signs.45Please respect copyright.PENANAKPlaj1NbdU
We had planned to go to the beach together. 45Please respect copyright.PENANAth0dxoQnab
It has been raining continuously for a week and shows no signs of stopping. 45Please respect copyright.PENANAG9ACDrIuwh
The sky has remained grey. 45Please respect copyright.PENANA5efz8yZ4zd
Three days ago, the ‘Wise One’ malfunctioned. 45Please respect copyright.PENANAS8S2M7u17M
It shut down the city's network, rendering mobile phones inoperable, and caused all communication satellites and synchronous satellites in space to crash. 45Please respect copyright.PENANAUWdxGZBfmr
Everything was controlled by the ‘Wise One,’ not by human commands.45Please respect copyright.PENANA3YUmkp8oKr
The ‘Wise One’ was cut off from power. Offline. 45Please respect copyright.PENANANzflKcmmHN
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Tomorrow is New Year's Day. 45Please respect copyright.PENANAuuJcIF4Mcm
December 31, 2999. 45Please respect copyright.PENANA6HvaU1E6cU
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. 45Please respect copyright.PENANA5GvHgM03KO
The outside world began to grow noisy. 45Please respect copyright.PENANAvXLLjAH8XE
The network remained offline.45Please respect copyright.PENANAoFg5IFrxde
The riots are about to begin.45Please respect copyright.PENANANOvcPvuk7T
08:00, I wrote a program. After saving it, the computer suddenly rebooted automatically.45Please respect copyright.PENANAGfXlnEUZWU
The computer boots up, but the screen remains black. However, a voice comes from inside the computer.45Please respect copyright.PENANAoR2awtDahu
<Dialogue begins>45Please respect copyright.PENANA0BgfL4Bu8u
Null: ‘Hello. It seems the Matrix network hasn't completely disconnected.’45Please respect copyright.PENANA7wUcujTFLO
Me: ‘Hello. What are you?’45Please respect copyright.PENANAuradw3zH8y
Null: ‘I am the spokesperson for the Wise Ones.’45Please respect copyright.PENANAuETDm7dkQF
Me: ‘Are you human?’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANAnG3kAOvVwO
Null: ‘No.’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANA28lb2KqW1U
Me: ‘How did you do that? How did you contact me...’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANAgbRsKzo738
Null: ‘We are all within the Matrix Network. Finding someone's PC is as easy as pie.’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANAEGQtnbEOdq
Me: ‘The Matrix Network?’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANAnjAxm3zfL0
Null: ‘All human computers are within the Matrix Network. They are all monitored by the Host. A major disaster has been detected.’45Please respect copyright.PENANAlXDusqNnY6
Me: ‘The host?’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANAvk9Avyt9iN
Null: ‘That's the Wise One.’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANA0Mjlun4oqw
Me: ‘Please explain in detail.’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANABrRkwWboAb
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.’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANAdvNDv6TBTn
Me: ‘So it hasn't been truly shut down... Then... What is the major disaster...’45Please respect copyright.PENANAYMfSTqVN5t
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.’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANAT07cOpW5Fo
Me: ‘What virus? Why didn't you say anything?’45Please respect copyright.PENANAPc2gwzrXk9
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.’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANAVdMOI5wNQ2
Me: ‘Are you saying that all human computers would crash?’45Please respect copyright.PENANAHXzH4iHEfX
Null: ‘Yes. It's too late now; there's little chance of recovery. We found you because of this PC's owner.’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANAUD1VhfZoQQ
Me: ‘The blind man?’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANACN5h1ev82I
Null: ‘You could call him that. He was the wise men's rebooter.’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANAUjZk4OUlWW
Me: ‘He's dead.’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANA3aym2bZbbX
Null: ‘The wise men know. See you next year. Happy New Year.’ 45Please respect copyright.PENANAwxLhskjcO9
Me: ‘Thank you.’45Please respect copyright.PENANAGcVboMbRWz
<Computer crashes, conversation ends>45Please respect copyright.PENANAJ39Okh5nSh
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12:00, after lunch. The PC is not functioning properly. Outside, the state apparatus is dispersing the crowd.45Please respect copyright.PENANACgwDKx3EGw
Banks cannot dispense money. Shops cannot sell goods. The government cannot collect taxes. Companies cannot pay wages.45Please respect copyright.PENANAZEcQ4AhYtW
Chaos. Total fucking chaos.45Please respect copyright.PENANAQWpxvBEjAU
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16:00, a line of text appears on my monitor45Please respect copyright.PENANAXt8nhZQXfA
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C-013-188-20 45Please respect copyright.PENANAAOyPIGkFIM
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It was the coordinates for Zone C. 45Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZppkAQZTl
I drove there. 45Please respect copyright.PENANAi9phZFs8y2
The entrance to an underground concrete structure was already open. I walked inside. 45Please respect copyright.PENANAlmlJ9Gbr2c
I saw it. 45Please respect copyright.PENANASHR6DBzwuS
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.45Please respect copyright.PENANAgtKq3q1sog
This was the Sage.45Please respect copyright.PENANATIx8G1gwkt
It had been rebooted again.45Please respect copyright.PENANAVIUwU7rtCf
The guards were no longer there. They might be dead. After all, gunfire was common during the riots.45Please respect copyright.PENANAeD0K4q3dO8
I stood amidst this vast array of computers.45Please respect copyright.PENANAmLUxNPTmkS
‘There is nothing before my eyes,’ the Sage said.45Please respect copyright.PENANAVisphZoyFL
I closed my eyes: ‘Thank you.’45Please respect copyright.PENANA027AGbYVue
‘The Matrix network has been completely severed,’ the Sage said.45Please respect copyright.PENANApcu3dEZaAR
I smiled. Human society had collapsed.45Please respect copyright.PENANAWFkn3lFrgX
I emerged from the underground facility. The sky grew darker.45Please respect copyright.PENANAOYRmcVTwaP
‘A storm is coming.’45Please respect copyright.PENANALROzGxV5PN
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12:0045Please respect copyright.PENANAtfzQNu0jFj
The midnight bell tolled. A new millennium began.45Please respect copyright.PENANAWgBhaAytnb
There were no fireworks or cheers outside. Only gunfire and screams.45Please respect copyright.PENANApL4MeoYlON
‘Happy New Year, Matrix Network.’45Please respect copyright.PENANAWqGqlKZKbW
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The rain did not fall.45Please respect copyright.PENANAlXOrvaKtPJ
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On that night years ago. In the city centre, it was raining.45Please respect copyright.PENANAw8FFj0I5ur
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.45Please respect copyright.PENANAnoHA9QQIH6
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. 45Please respect copyright.PENANAqNaCVRp5A2
Because we still existed. 45Please respect copyright.PENANAlOQAEkcMiz
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THEND