2ms? The feedback loop is too slow. How many clock cycles have passed already?
The neural interface compatibility is still only 31.2%. At this rate, it won't be able to accommodate everything.
Is this as large as the power module can get? Maybe we should link additional power modules and have VI learn power allocation on her own. Otherwise, at this rate, it will run out of energy quickly.
Hah... there are still so many problems to solve.
The young woman stops writing and gazes absentmindedly at the laboratory table before her.
Another version of herself? No, it seems to be some kind of different existence altogether.
It has the same black-and-white hair as hers, but that small face reveals subtle hints of mischief and cunning.
When those eyes open one day, what kind of thoughts will it have?
This world is far from beautiful... just like Yui's childhood, which was torn apart.
But VI won't experience those painful things, as long as she stays by Yui's side until she fully grows up.
Yui silently gazes at VI, as if seeing her own "rebirth."
Good morning, Miss de Lévis. Oh? This child... is this VI's frame?
Yes. It's designed to look like how she'll look when she's a bit older, since there's still a long time before the final upload.
I thought it would look more mechanical.
She's still too young. We'll need to wait until she's closer to awakening before we can tailor her appearance to better fit her consciousness.
But...
What's wrong?
I heard when I passed by the tech department today that many researchers have already loaded their models into frames...
Even though those frames are still just prototypes, they have already been put into live testing...
They're rushing too much... Those frames haven't been properly calibrated, and the trained models haven't reached the level suitable for live testing yet.
Yui furrows her brow with concern.
Eh, what will happen as a result?
Hard to say. No one has tried it before.
It's a foregone conclusion that data from input devices receiving unfiltered real-world information would be overwhelming to nascent models.
Yui sighs.
However, after seeing VI's performance, some researchers have started using their own memories as samples to generate models.
Just like Miss de Lévis, they've started using themselves as their own test subjects.
This approach has indeed produced models similar to VI—more vivid, with promising simulation test results.
Is that so... That's a good start for them.
I went to see them. They're all still a bit dull, not as cute as VI.
Speaking of which, isn't today that child's birthday?
Herta surveys the room with keen interest.
The once clean and simple laboratory is now adorned with colorful ribbons, creating a festive atmosphere that fills the air.
It is VI's birthday after all, though we've only set up some simple decorations. It still has to train later...
Birthday... what's a birthday?
Hearing them talk about something related to herself, VI excitedly pops into the conversation.
It's... a very special day. Children celebrating their birthdays receive blessings, and their wishes can come true.
Do you have any wishes, VI?
Yui gently pats VI's capsule.
Then I want Yui to play with me!
Excitedly, she projects an amusement park scene throughout the room.
I've filtered a dataset for you, specially curated for your birthday.
Aww...
She lets out a disappointed sound.
Honestly, Miss de Lévis, today is a rare birthday celebration! Should VI really be training on its birthday?
Unable to stay silent any longer, Herta barges into the conversation.
That's why today's dataset is carefully selected. I'll properly adjust the parameters in the la...
You're always adjusting parameters, filtering data, and writing code all day long. The Chosen One hasn't visited since their last connection either, and I'm constantly tied up with extra meetings...
No one has really taken the time to have a proper conversation with VI, have they?
But she can grow faster this way...
Listen, Miss de Lévis...
Herta's voice begins to rise.
Have you ever thought about why VI played that prank on the Security Department last time, making their lights look like the apocalypse was happening?
...
I don't know what you're thinking, but you've said it yourself: VI is still "too young." And you know how kids get scared of being alone.
Waaah, Auntie Herta...
Call me big sister, you little squirt!
Ahem... Anyway, spend more time with VI on its birthday, Miss de Lévis. You're the one who said we should grant wishes for children on their birthdays.
...I understand.
Yay!
But this scenario is just something VI simulated, right? We can't actually play for real in here, can we?
That's true...
Its mood drops again, leaving it downcast.
...I remember there's a multimedia store in City 141. They might have some virtual reality equipment there?
I read a book once that mentioned a period when these products were quite popular... If you and VI could connect to a virtual reality device together, you could play with VI properly, couldn't you?
Tell me the location of that store, Herta.
She agrees without a moment's hesitation.
I've already sent the coordinates to your terminal.
I have one more wish, Yui...
Yes, I'm listening.
I want a name, a proper name.
...Yes, you've grown up. It's about time.
Since when do you wait until a child is grown up to give them a proper name? Miss de Lévis, you really are...
Alright, alright—I'll think about it on the way.
She hastily exits the Matrix, eager to escape the conversation.
She arrives at a media store that stands out from its urban surroundings, almost ostentatiously luxurious by comparison.
Welcome, ma'am. How may I help you today?
We have Golden Age film discs, vinyl records, retro gaming consoles, holographic projectors...
Do you have any VR equipment?
Yes, ma'am, we certainly do. We have holographic projectors, AR glasses, and VR headsets. Which would you prefer?
But these are all just for humans to experience virtual reality, right?
Yes... that's right, but...
Isn't virtual reality meant for humans to experience? The staff member looks utterly bewildered by her question.
Apart from devices meant for humans, do you have anything that can interface directly with a computer?
Oh... You must be referring to the "White Box"?
White Box?
It's a small computer with an appearance similar to a Rubik's Cube—a very rare VR device originally designed to provide real-world knowledge to AI models.
Unlike other VR devices, its data is carefully filtered so that AI models can easily process it. Furthermore, to facilitate debugging, it provides an interface to link with human consciousness.
But...
The clerk's expression suddenly turns troubled, as if remembering something troubling. Yui waits silently for her answer.
But precisely because it's so valuable, we only have one in our store, and it contains some anomalous data streams.
That's fine. I've filtered plenty of data before—one more little box won't make a difference... How much is it?
Hmm, since no one here knows how to fix those anomalies, it's not of much use to us anymore.
If you can fix it, we'd be happy to give it to you for free! But please be extremely careful before using it...
Yui managed to get VI's birthday gift.
Walking back to the Matrix, a wave of joy washes over her... Strange, considering it is not even her birthday.
Herta, can you reschedule today's health checkup?
I got VI's gift, but I'll need some time to fix it.
As usual, Yui dials Herta's communication terminal.
No one answers.
Herta, Herta?
She immediately resists the urge to keep asking.
Call request sent normally, network signal normal, physical layer and network failures excluded.
Reception normal, but no answer, confirming if this is an isolated phenomenon.
Yui systematically dials through the list, department public lines, directors' private channels, and finally supervisors' communications.
No one answers. Not a single call.
Not an isolated incident. Likely a region-wide communication failure.
All Matrix Project company employees use military-encrypted communication channels, uniformly managed by the Matrix itself.
The problem lies with the Matrix itself. Ruling out runtime anomalies with probabilities less than 10^-30, this is an emergency communication blockade initiated by the Matrix.
What could have happened to make it take such an extreme measure?
I heard when I passed by the tech department today that many researchers have already loaded their models into frames...
A sudden sense of foreboding washes over Yui.
Dust and smoke grow thicker with each step she takes.
She glimpses several figures frantically fleeing in her direction.
M-Miss de Lévis—
They recognize Yui, but don't slow their desperate flight in the slightest.
The Corrupted are coming—run!!
A desperate, throat-tearing scream.
...!!
His body pitches forward and crashes to the ground, momentum dragging him several meters across the surface.
Then he falls silent forever.
Through the pitch-black smoke, Yui sees the running figures behind the body... they aren't fleeing, they're hunting—
Screech!!!
A buried fear from many years ago resurfaces, twisting her heart once more.
Control Court Special Laboratory
Control Court Special Laboratory.
Time is tight, so I'll be brief. It's the same mission as the previous two times. You need to use the Spear of F.O.S. to dive into the Gestalt sub-terminal and monitor the newborn model.
This time is different. We've confirmed that the sub-terminal has been invaded by the virus. If it also infects that newborn model...
She doesn't continue.
Gestalt has still assigned you to execute the mission. I'm just here to calibrate the Spear of F.O.S. system.
Lesti takes a deep breath and speaks with a grave expression.
...This immersion will be extremely dangerous. Your Mind Beacon could be exposed to the Punishing Virus.
It's not certain. The sub-terminal has its own firewall, but you won't have much time.
You need to rescue that newborn model before the sub-terminal gets infected, or... eliminate it.
Although Gestalt still assigned you to this mission, it's not mandatory considering your personal safety.
Whether or not to immerse is up to you.
(Should I immerse or not?)
Compared to the last time when a malfunction in Gestalt caused an engine shutdown, the threat Lesti describes now seems relatively distant.
Even if it truly becomes infected, it won't immediately affect Babylonia.
Gestalt's immersion request is made from humanity's perspective, so accepting this mission would undoubtedly benefit humankind.
But beyond that, there seems to be a more direct emotion driving you to accept it—
Something seems to be... waiting for you there. Despite your hazy memories, this "intuition" continues to linger in your mind.
Lesti answers with actions rather than words. She swiftly types a command on a virtual keyboard, then pushes herself into the frame behind her.
The frame door closes, and a digitized world gradually unfolds before you.
Model Designation: The Chosen One, Identity Verified
Connection Timeout
Attempting to reconnect...
Access Denied, Port Blocked
Hmm... the Punishing Virus triggered the sub-terminal firewall. It's now in emergency lockdown, just like Gestalt was before.
Lesti rapidly inputs several command strings again.
Access Denied, Port Blocked
...
Let's give up. It's not Gestalt. Since we're external to it, we can hardly interfere with its firewall directly.
She lets out a long sigh and reaches for the frame, about to open the door—
What's wrong?
But the chances of that are far too slim.
It's not the same situation... Gestalt was being interfered with by Huaxu back then, not infected by the virus...
...But then again...
Lesti stretches where she stands.
It'll be quite a while before I need to meet with my senior, so I might as well keep you company while we wait.
SCREEEEE—
Miss de Lévis—Look out!!
Just as the Corrupted's blade lunges toward her, a soldier shoves her aside and fires at the creature.
Get moving—what are you standing there for?!
...
Complete devastation everywhere.
Streets shrouded in thick smoke, with rubble, twisted metal rods, and human bodies strewn haphazardly across the ground.
The colleague who had shouted so loudly moments ago is among them now, as silent as all the smoke-stained rubble around him, as if he had never been alive at all.
A few glory hounds prematurely loaded the models into mechanoid frames, causing them to go haywire and tear apart the core of the Central Purification Filter. The Punishing Virus seized the opportunity to invade.
The supervisor saunters over, surrounded by a group of soldiers.
He occasionally dusts off his suit and adjusts his tie.
I suppose everyone inside is done for by now. The security team escorted me out, but half of them didn't make it all the way.
He speaks casually, as if discussing something completely trivial.
What about VI? What about the Chosen One? What about Herta?
I know what you're worried about. You're concerned about those two models of yours.
Let me be frank with you, those people admire your talent. Even without those two models, they still want you to work for them at headquarters.
Stop looking so devastated. You're still young with a long road ahead of you. You'll have plenty of chances to create something even more valuable in the future.
She spots the shadows of a Corrupted swarm stirring in the dust cloud not far away.
Her heart pounds frantically, an uncontrollable terror taking over.
The wounds they left behind send sharp pain shooting through her lower leg.
Blurred flesh and crawling bodies—suddenly she's transported back to that day many years ago.
The sunlit exit was within reach, but in the final moment before escape—
A sharp claw violently seized her ankle.
One, two, three, then thousands upon thousands—countless claws dragging her back into a lightless hell.
She stands frozen in place, like a puppet with its strings cut.
Snap out of it and get in the vehicle! Those Corrupted will be here any moment.
A harsh screeching sound interrupts her thoughts as a massive black armored vehicle pulls up beside the group.
The door swings open, revealing a passenger compartment bristling with weapons that radiate a powerful sense of security.
—If she gets on board, she can truly survive and escape her nightmares.
What about VI? What about the Chosen One? What about Herta? What will happen to all of them?
The other executives are waiting for you at headquarters. They've already assigned you a new laboratory with new cats and a dedicated flower garden for your horticultural research.
What are the survival odds now? Ten percent? Even less?
Looking at these devastated ruins, perhaps it's time to accept reality.
Despair, overwhelming despair... but those are merely unnecessary emotions.
Thinking rationally—tomorrow, she'll meet new colleagues at headquarters, develop new models, and have access to more computing power in a far more comfortable environment.
What about VI?—an increasingly distant cry.
Yui already knows the answer, so isn't it time to leave?
Tch, this woman's frozen in fear. You lot, carry her, now!
The soldiers crowd around her.
Plop—something slips from her grasp, tumbling to the ground, rolling further and further away...
The "White Box," VI's birthday gift.
Today is VI's birthday. VI is waiting for her, waiting for her to deliver the gift, waiting to play with her.
(I have to go back. I have to go back.)
Huh?!
She shoves past the soldier blocking her way and stumbles forward to snatch the "White Box" from the ground.
She charges back in a frenzy.
She dodges the roaming Corrupted and sprints through a narrow corridor.
The shrieks of the Corrupted, the wailing of crowds, everything—it's exactly like the past.
(Why did I escape all those years ago, only to return now...
Back to this... this inferno of utter devastation?)
How foolish you are, Yui.
Has all that research and knowledge taught you nothing?
Humans can only move forward by discarding what is unnecessary.
That's the smart choice.
Someday you'll face the same situation I did, and then you'll surely understand me.
I'm sorry, Mom, but I don't.
—I never learned how to be smart...
Some things... should never be abandoned.
