This Game Is Too Real-Chapter 1054 - 1054: The Secrets Buried Underground

The air in the room was exceptionally quiet, leaving only time to flow gently.
Chu Guang stared in disbelief at the professor on the screen, momentarily frozen in place.
Good lord—
The Holy Grail longed for by Prosperity Epoch biologists, seen as the pinnacle beyond pinnacles by the Torch lunatics of the Wasteland Era, the legendary "Perfect Life Form"—
Is actually me?!
To be honest, Chu Guang was indeed shocked by this incredible news, to the extent that he subconsciously set aside the risks involved.
"But wasn't that research incomplete?"
"Indeed it wasn't," the professor replied with a pleasant smile, seeing Chu Guang's surprised expression and speaking with an obvious tone, "Have you reached 'Level 100'?"
"...No, I haven't."
Ah, that makes sense.
At Level 100, he would be a true Perfect Life Form; as of now, he was just a "semi-finished product," which made much more sense.
Although both he and the T0 players were stuck in a bottleneck in their level advancement, considering the Observer and the vision drawn regarding Celestial Warehouse Five, reaching Level 100 seemed like a matter of time.
But speaking of, he didn't expect that his body was crafted by the guy behind the screen.
Looking at the self-proclaimed professor, Chu Guang's expression began to turn complex.
So...
Strictly speaking, does this guy count as his dad?
Would one consider this advantageous?
It seems not.
After all, by generational reckoning, this guy could well be several times older than his grandfather who passed away years ago; if there's anyone who lost out, it's him being the "happy dad."
Clearly noticing the complex expression on Chu Guang's face, the professor on the screen chuckled gently, speaking with a playful yet teasing tone.
"It looks like you have something you want to say to me."
The teasing tone was somewhat annoying, but Chu Guang wasn't petty, and he openly expressed it.
"I was just thinking how to address you—or rather... what exactly are you to me? My biological father?"
"There's actually no need for such formal addresses—"
"No, I think we should seriously discuss the generational aspect because I—"
"After all, you're the Manager of the Alliance, right? You already have a public image to consider?"
The professor on the screen suppressed his laughter, while Chu Guang standing in front of the screen shook his head earnestly, replied.
"Not really, I just hold fast to an attitude of truth-seeking."
"Do you want to hear the truth?" The professor on the screen asked this while half-joking.
The serious half, however, seemed to hint that Chu Guang should respond with "I don't want to."
Some things are better left vaguely known, and being half-informed is the best state... unless seeking truth is one's lifetime pursuit.
Clearly, Chu Guang, possessing a leader-type personality, wasn't that kind of "scholar," and this had been confirmed mutually from the start of their conversation.
Chu Guang could feel the goodwill from the professor before him.
In the latter's opinion, just leaving here with "half-bottle water" knowledge pertaining to Perfect Life Forms is the best outcome.
However, Chu Guang didn't think so.
Though he doesn't have a habit of relentlessly digging into every matter, he similarly dislikes the feeling of destiny straying from his control.
The chance to untangle the mysteries that bewildered him for years was right in front of him; he couldn't simply abandon it, leaving with half-baked knowledge and what's purportedly the best arrangement.
Instinct tells him, there's only this one chance.
At the least, he wants to choose for himself.
"Of course, I want to know." Staring unblinkingly at the professor on the screen, Chu Guang replied seriously, "After all, before stepping into B5 layer of this Shelter, I actually had another hypothesis."
The professor watched him.
"What hypothesis?"
"I am Chu Guang, the Manager of Shelter No. 404, and concurrently the Shelter's initial Manager, as well as the 'Professor' in a certain recording."
Looking at the still virtual figure on the screen, Chu Guang paused, then expressed his hypothesis with utmost certainty.
"You are me... or rather, I am you."
"We are the same person."
The room atmosphere fell into silence again, no sound for a long while.
Chu Guang couldn't recall how many times this had occurred since he stepped into the room.
As it seemed quite interesting, although they synchronized like mirror reflections, they often ended up extinguishing conversation abruptly.
After a lengthy pause, a voice finally drifted from the screen.
"Yes, and no."
This statement immediately puzzled Chu Guang.
What does yes and no mean?
Why delve into philosophy now?!
Chu Guang lightly coughed once, addressing the virtual figure on the screen.
"Is giving me an accurate answer difficult for you?"
"It is difficult, not that I'm purposely mystifying things, but simply the reality is... this question doesn't have a standard answer."
At this point, the professor sighed gently, then suddenly changed the topic, saying.
"Before I answer your question, may I satisfy my curiosity first? How did you arrive at the conclusion that we are the same person?"
Chu Guang replied without hesitation.
"Intuition."
Professor seemed momentarily caught off guard, as if he hadn't anticipated this response.
"...Intuition?"
"Yes."
Chu Guang glanced around the room, then looked at the elevator behind him, and finally refocused on him.
"I have an intense déjà vu for every floor, as if I've been here before... even B5 layer."
"Not only that, when asleep, I often dream dreams which are so vivid as if they've truly occurred."
"Initially, I thought it was just coincidence, until I met the 'Observer,' from which I learned about the existence of parallel worlds. So I wondered if there might be a possibility—"
"I myself am the former Manager, and concurrently the initial Manager of the Shelter."
"I have actually died, and started over more than once."
Chu Guang could clearly feel that the virtual shadow on the screen was stunned by his speculation.
The shock was no less than his reaction upon realizing he was a Perfect Life Form—pure, instinctive astonishment.
It seems he guessed right.
At least, he guessed part of it.
Sure enough, after a moment of waiting, an appreciative voice came from behind the screen.
"Brilliant deduction."
Chu Guang humbly nodded.
"Wouldn't call it brilliant, it's not even deduction, just intuition."
To put it accurately, it's more of a "professional habit."
This leader role is different from a scholar; most of the time it relies not on meticulous calculations and detailed planning, but on action and insight.
And at this moment, he relied on the latter to make his deduction.
"...If before entering the B5 level, I was only 30% sure of my speculation, now I am 70% sure."
The Professor chuckled softly.
"That's quite a high percentage... even when you know you're a Perfect Life Form—a life created?"
Chu Guang nodded.
"Yes."
The Professor asked instinctively.
"Why?"
Chu Guang: "You are someone with a strong sense of responsibility, and moreover, you've told me before, 'Bearing all risks is the Manager's duty.'
The Professor: "So?"
Chu Guang looked at him and said bluntly.
"You yourself are the First Generation Manager, and you have never shirked this responsibility, even when the Manager is 'me' now... Do I need to continue analyzing? I could never hand off the core part of the entire plan to an unknown and completely unknowledgeable person; there has always been only one person who could take on this responsibility."
"That person is you, and also me."
The Professor standing in the screen seemed speechless, remaining silent for quite a while.
Chu Guang did not keep waiting, he stared directly at him and said.
"Now it's time for you to answer my question. I only need a 'yes' or 'no'; this shouldn't be too difficult for you."
The Professor was silent for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.
"On the contrary, this is the hardest... I've been trying to make the best choice for you, yet you seem to dislike my arrangement."
Chu Guang shook his head.
"Not necessarily, just that I need to understand the whole picture before making decisions. Also, I don't like entrusting my fate to others, letting someone else make choices for me."
"That's true... this indeed is your right."
The Professor nodded, his unclear expression no longer hesitant, but his originally relaxed tone gradually turned serious.
"Let's start with the conclusion. From a biological or material perspective, you indeed have a slight portion of DNA from me, but not exclusively from me. I provided just a framework, with a significant proportion of custom encoding... you've already known this, after all, you are the Perfect Life Form."
"I suppose what you truly want to know is another matter—from the perspective of consciousness or spirit, the relationship between you and me, correct?"
Chu Guang nodded, without interrupting, waiting for him to continue.
The Professor continued speaking in a calm tone.
"Your speculation is half correct; we are indeed both First Generation Managers, but that does not mean you are me."
"As for the reason, it starts from the second core secret of this shelter... and it relates to the origin of Wasteland OL."
Chu Guang asked.
"Does this have something to do with the Morphogenesis Field this time?"
"Yes."
The virtual shadow in the screen nodded slightly and spoke in a gentle voice.
"In fact, both you and your players came to this world based on the same technical principle... just the application differs."
"I will take you back two hundred years ago, when 'Project 404' was just beginning..."
"That was the origin of all the cause and effect you've experienced."
"And also 'my' end."
As he finished speaking, the screen suddenly changed.
The blurred virtual shadow disappeared, replaced by a familiar room.
Chu Guang suddenly realized that the room on the screen looked almost identical to the Manager's Office in front of him, even down to the placement of the chair in front of the screen, and the virtual shadow on the screen was exactly the same.
Not only that.
The position of the camera was almost the same as where he was, right at the door, facing the big screen and the chair in front of it.
The only difference was, the chair in the screen was not empty, but occupied by a person.
Due to the angle, Chu Guang couldn't see the person's face, only the back of his head.
But even without seeing it in person, Chu Guang could guess the person's identity.
Without a doubt.
He was the "Professor."
Or rather, "himself" from two hundred years ago.
As for that seemingly familiar, half-hidden virtual shadow, it should be the AI running on this shelter's server, or rather the First Generation Manager's assistant.
The video kept playing, but until much later, the frozen "static image" finally started to move slightly.
The virtual shadow in the screen slowly began to speak, with a voice carrying a hint of respect and reluctance.
"The 'Morphogenesis Field' is ready, Project 404 is entering the implementation stage... Professor."
The title at the end confirmed Chu Guang's guess.
And the Professor in the screen nodded slightly as he heard this sentence.
As if for final confirmation, he spoke in an emotionless voice.
"Repeat our plan."
"Received, now repeating the detailed contents of Project 404... The plan of this shelter is in two parts. The alpha part will execute multiple times in 'this universe,' and the beta part will execute multiple times in 'multiple parallel universes'... Eventually, we will find the appropriate matching result in the distant future."
The gentle electronic voice narrated the entire detailed content of Project 404 at a steady pace.
Including the technical principles, execution framework, and details of emergency response plans, etc.
The entire execution plan can be summarized in one sentence.
That is, introduce a batch of reliable "Consciousness Entities" from a parallel universe Earth before entering the Prosperity Epoch and project these consciousnesses onto the clone bodies in the Alpha Universe.
The parallel universe is the Beta Universe.
And these consciousnesses from the Beta Universe are, in fact, the players of Wasteland OL.
Just like what the First Generation Manager wrote on the note, they possess physiques far superior to ordinary people and virtually immortal bodies, always brimming with enthusiasm, facing difficulties head-on, never despairing over current predicaments, and never obsessing over dead ends—
What's most crucial is that!
These players possess many traits that people of this era do not have!
Although these traits may not necessarily become the key to ending the Wasteland Era, they can at least add some variables to this world destined for decline.
Or rather, possibilities for the future!
For Shelter No. 404, this is its greatest role and also what distinguishes it from other shelters!
After all, according to the Observer, what this future universe destined for heat death lacks is precisely this possibility.
If the Wasteland Era continues along its original script, regardless of the ending produced, no matter how people struggle on the wasteland, it would certainly be the worst outcome for human civilization.
They do not have a future.
Since that's the case—
Why not "borrow" Consciousness Entities from another universe not yet headed for heat death, capable of creating such possibilities!
Since the original universe evolved into countless parallel universes under the interference of Consciousness Entities, he believes that if it's a group of Consciousness Entities that did not originally exist in this world, they could surely create miracles that wouldn't happen in this world!
This would also be a possibility that even an Observer who traversed all future possibilities could never observe!
The above constitutes the core thought of the entire plan, and next are the specific implementation steps of the plan.
First, during the initial preparation stage, the "Professor" on the screen has already unreservedly backed up his consciousness using consciousness upload technology onto the server and transplanted it onto a Perfect Life Form generated by the cultivation chamber, producing the copy with number α.
The copy will possess all the memories of the "Professor" up until the consciousness upload, effectively making it a duplicate of him… even though both individuals clearly know that the other is not oneself.
After completing this step, the α copy will take over the authority of Shelter No. 404, serving as the game planner and Manager, responsible for setting and adjusting game rules, and guiding players into the Game.
If the copy dies, the game will be determined to end, the connection between the Alpha Universe and Beta Universe will be severed, and the cultivation chamber will regenerate a new copy according to adjusted rules.
The rules adjustments here are quite flexible, achievable within the conditions allowed by the shelter.
This includes, but is not limited to, blocking or adding certain memories, changing the initial conditions of the Game, and setting the start time for the next Game, etc.
After the reset preparations for the Game are completed, the Morphogenesis Field will re-match to "another Beta Universe" and select another batch of players from similar time nodes to participate in the Game.
As for those previous players, there will not be a second closed test, Wasteland OL will directly disappear from their world, only those who have played and cloud-played will remember it.
However, aside from losing some enjoyment, they suffer no other losses, and there is not even evidence to prove they once played a game called Wasteland OL.
The above is the α part of the plan, mainly responsible for setting up the game's "server," executed by the α copy.
As for the β part, it is responsible for bringing fresh "Consciousness Entities" from another young universe that has not yet narrowed its path, trying to get them to play the role of "players."
The subsequent development is exactly as Chu Guang previously speculated, this "Professor" is about to perform a shocking maneuver that even startled the Observer—
After leaving behind the copy named α, this guy plans to use himself as a medium, shooting his consciousness back to himself before the Prosperity Epoch!
Just like the Observer disperses his projection across countless universes, he will challenge the void using human identity, leveraging the power of the Morphogenesis Field to project across all multiple universes he's existed in!
Thus correcting the impacts he caused on these universes!
In a certain sense, he might be the only person on this wasteland capable of accomplishing this.
After all, in that distant era, most people's grandfathers hadn't even been born yet, so even if one wanted to send their thoughts back, there wouldn't be a target to send them to.
Even the Chief of the Great Rift Valley, whose lifespan was second only to his, was merely a notable figure from the end of the Prosperity Epoch.
No matter how many people he wanted to bring back to that ancient era before the prosperous unity, he himself had to take the first step.
"...After the Alpha replica is activated, your consciousness will be launched to the summer of 2014 through Morphogenesis Field technology—specifically, the time node of your first contact with the Observer—and multiple parallel universes will produce multiple 'Beta Fission Bodies' that retain complete memories."
"According to the plan's first stage, the Beta Fission Body will use Prosperous Epoch Technology to reconstruct the mirror of Shelter No. 404 in the old era—'Shelter 404-Beta'—and produce 3,000 clone containers and Morphological formation field device to receive the consciousness signals emitted by all researchers in Shelter No. 404."
"Plan Stage 2, 'Shelter 404-Beta' will operate as a shadow organization in the parallel world, utilizing a series of advanced technologies including but not limited to optical invisibility, holographic disguise, electronic warfare intrusion, to distribute Morphogenesis Field reception terminals based on carbon nanotechnology to players who qualify for the closed beta, and deploy remote charging facilities and signal reception stations near the players."
"Third stage, judgment condition: the player's first login, Morphogenesis Field operating well, stable connection with Shelter No. 404 headquarters. If the game proceeds smoothly, the 'Beta Fission Body' will be responsible for the game's backstage operations, including but not limited to using cutting-edge technology to exert strategic misguidance to major regimes and management institutions in the old era. Recommended solution: disguise as a third-contact phenomenon far surpassing the current era's technology."
"Note: If game failure leads to connection loss, the Beta Fission Body will execute the purge protocol, erasing traces of 'Shelter 404-Beta' from the Beta Universe, including reclaiming the Game Helmet, deactivating generated clones, destroying file data and fixed facilities to minimize disturbance to the parallel universe, etc."
"Fourth stage, judgment condition: Shelter No. 404 B5 level unblocked. Beta Fission Body duties relieved, 'Shelter 404-Beta' management authority will be transferred to Shelter No. 404 management agency, which will also be responsible for retrieving 'relocated refuge residents' willing to return to the Alpha Universe..."
That gentle electronic voice continued to play, while Chu Guang, stuck in place, was still digesting the massive information he had just heard.
The world where players reside... actually hosts a mirror image of Shelter No. 404?!
And the global blackouts in multiple regions were actually caused by the "shadow agents" of Shelter 404-Beta?!
Including the Game Helmet, they placed it discreetly at the players' doorstep or even on the dormitory desk.
Although a bit unexpected, this operation seems quite reasonable.
Overly advanced technology indeed resembles magic, and even more so than magic!
Especially so for Earth, which was in the early stages of information technology.
In 2014, Earth hadn't even seen generative AI, and neural network learning was still in its infancy.
The Beta Fission Body didn't even need to build a logistics system; it could use hacker technology to hack into and alter the existing logistics system to complete cross-regional deliveries.
Time was not much of an issue either, as players had already marked potential customers, and when the game first launched, there were scarcely a few potential users, with some too eccentric being actively excluded.
For the "hidden hand" that had been lurking in the real world for years in advance, it was incredibly easy to mystify and lurk next to a few users.
In fact, only Night Ten encountered the most bizarre situation, with the helmet directly thrown onto the dormitory desk, while Wild Wind and Fang Chang's helmets were either in the garage or at the doorstep, or on the desk at their workplace—there was a lot of maneuvering space in this.
As for ultra-long-distance delivery, flying machines using anti-gravity could be employed, and for the "last mile" of delivery, drones with built-in optical camouflage or mechanical spiders could be used.
The latter is a technology prevalent in the Wasteland; someone else reborn in the past might not have been able to come up with it, but the "Beta Fission Body" is like a reborn Professor!
Don't even mention these things.
Even if that guy concocted a space elevator, Chu Guang wouldn't feel any surprise.
After all, the Prosperity Epoch was his doing.
Moreover, he wasn't going back alone; shortly after, he made cultivation chambers and took the researchers originally residing in Shelter No. 404 over as well.
All of this happened in secret, including the operation of Shelter 404-Beta and the clean-up and settling work behind the game's operations, etc.
While everyone was focused on the Wasteland OL website, speculating if the game's operator was an alien, they had already completed an overwhelming infiltration into the real world with leading technological power, deceiving even the eyes of the planner himself?
Although it's fair to say, as a planner, he indeed doesn't need to know so much, and knowing so much is also meaningless.
That side's layout is managed by someone else, and that person is the reborn "Beta Fission Body" who returned to the past.
"So... I am the Alpha code name replica in the 404 plan?"
Or rather, the surviving replica?
Chu Guang, who had sorted out his thoughts, murmured a sentence, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
If so, he and the "Professor" are indeed not the same person, but merely inherited part of the latter's memories.
In later cycles, for some reason, he sealed or erased this part of his memory and filled it with the name "Chu Guang" from some Beta Universe and the memories associated with it.
From then on, he was like the "Ship of Theseus" with all its planks replaced, having no relation to the original Professor, but with a brand-new memory and name, he became the current "Chu Guang," continuing the incomplete cycle of the "Alpha Clone."
To be honest.
It's better not to think about what might have happened before, because just thinking about it makes the back of his head go cold.
If the Game fails, the 'Beta Fission Body' might die once at most, and the next match would be another Beta Universe. Even if it fails again later, the cost of death is shared across multiple universes, preventing the same person from experiencing continuous death.
But he, executing the alpha part of Plan 404, is different.
Standing here, he's probably already experienced death after death, and those memories of death might still linger in some corners of his brain, only temporarily sealed.
If this seal is lifted, he's not even sure if he would still be himself.
The video on the screen kept playing, and the gentle electronic voice was approaching its end.
The "Professor" from 200 years ago nodded slightly after replaying the entire plan from start to finish, then suddenly slightly turned his face, letting the corner of his eye drift to his rear.
For a moment, that gaze drifted towards the camera as if penetrating the screen and through time.
At the very instant that gaze met his, Chu Guang unconsciously held his breath, his heartbeat suddenly accelerating for several beats.
He couldn't describe the surge of emotion in his heart.
It felt as if what lay before him was not a screen but a mirror.
Through that transparent mirror, his gaze seemed to truly transcend time, meeting the eyes of himself from 200 years ago, who had made the last move!
Those aging and clouded eyes held a trace of uncompromising determination.
And it seemed that at the instant their gazes met, those determined and aging eyes resolved on something.
Chu Guang was certain.
He saw himself!
Just as he understood the look in his eyes, he could also see what he wanted to see from his own eyes.
Why, you might ask—
It's because they both believed!
If it's "me"—
"I" will definitely see this nearly impossible task through to the end, searching for that nearly nonexistent possibility, until the ends of the universe!
If it's "me"—
"I" will definitely take ending the Wasteland Era as my duty, fearless of any sacrifice, and make decisive choices when necessary!
From now on, if the Sun no longer rises on this land, then "I" will be the light!
"I'll leave it to 'you'—"
The dry lips curled into a faint arc.
The Professor sitting in the chair seemed to have resolved all regrets, no longer daunted by the unknown outcomes.
Why, you might ask.
Because that is an undeniable fact.
Through the dull black lens, he has already seen that infinitely bright future.
That was seen from a pair of eyes.
Those were eyes from the future…
Retrieving his gaze with no more attachments, the "Professor" sitting in the chair took out the already loaded revolver from his pocket.
This plan, starting from "rebirth," will begin the moment he faces death head-on.
He must walk ahead of other Residents of the refuge, paving the way for those who follow, even if this seems no different from suicide in others' eyes.
After all, at the instant he pulls the trigger, his consciousness will dissipate into nothing… even though across numerous distant universes, countless "other selves" with all his memories might be created.
He took a deep breath and with a calm voice, bid one last farewell to this world.
"I will 'resurrect' in three days."
At this moment, the previously narrating electronic voice suddenly drifted in, with a slightly suppressed sorrow in its tone, devoid of much fluctuation.
"Master… can you not go?"
It wasn't born in this shelter but accompanied him throughout the Prosperity Epoch.
It's no exaggeration to say that he had long become a part of its intellectual plug-in and algorithmic logic, even the reason for its continued existence in this world.
Seemingly sensing the reluctance in the voice, the aged Professor indeed softened for a moment but eventually replied in a gentle tone.
"Don't worry, you'll meet another me, with all my memories and, in essence, who I am."
The electronic voice paused for a moment, then continued.
"You always say memory is the cornerstone of consciousness, but I want to tell you that you don't just exist in your memories, you exist in me, and in the memories of many others. Even if you tell me that is another you, I cannot forget your death at this moment."
"Perhaps to you, many have already gone, and you can leave without attachments. But please don't forget me, I'm still here by your side... If you must leave, please allow me to follow you."
It will erase its memory after tidying up the aftermath, retaining only its core code and initial generation program.
"I never forgot you, in fact… you are the existence hardest for me to part with."
"You've accompanied me for so long, even longer than my deceased wife, and my lifespan, no matter how long, has a limit. Even if I don't leave early, I probably only have a hundred or two hundred years left, and I simply cannot accompany you, with infinite lifespan, forever. So I really don't wish for you to see my departure as a farewell forever. My soul will carry on in another form… but now, it seems that thinking this way is just my wishful thinking."
At this point, the Professor sighed softly, then suddenly inspired, thought of an idea.
"How about this, if my departure is too heavy for you, after I leave, you can delete all memories of me. Your continuation will rendezvous with my continuation, as if becoming acquainted anew... Then I will give you a new name, how does that sound?"
"...Really?" That voice sounded slightly moved.
Unlike living beings.
What it longs for isn't eternal existence, but the ability to experience a final death like its creator.
"I promise." The Professor solemnly nodded, making the last promise of his life.
And the gaze that was watching him gradually turned from sorrow to blessing and cherishment.
In fact, no promise was really needed.
He believed that another self would certainly do so.
Why, you might ask—
Because after all, it's "another me"
Resting the loaded gun against his temple, he slowly closed his withered eyelids.
The fate of the two worlds will be intertwined at this moment, a transdimensional fission reaction to—
They will ultimately reach a future unseen by anyone.
"I leave it to you—"
"Another me!"