The Millennium8Please respect copyright.PENANATgdiQqPbjc
8Please respect copyright.PENANArt5XWyOS2w
‘Hello.’8Please respect copyright.PENANAfmGskAgflQ
‘There is nothing before my eyes.’8Please respect copyright.PENANAsPGxHPl2od
I looked at the huge array of computers and thought about what the blind man had said.8Please respect copyright.PENANAWUlsCuI2bj
‘This is the miracle we have created. But it won't last much longer.’8Please respect copyright.PENANAvxIND1DfBU
Once the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, all human computers will crash.8Please respect copyright.PENANA5aOBpRZKKp
History records that a thousand years ago, in the year 2000, there was the Millennium Bug. It was like a curse.8Please respect copyright.PENANABE5YU2mIhc
A new Millennium Bug is about to arrive. But this time, it's far from as simple as it was a thousand years ago.8Please respect copyright.PENANAfrlhgXJ87M
The Deep Consciousness Control Room issued an alert two days ago. ‘The Sage’ stated that an unprecedented computer disaster would occur in the year 3000.8Please respect copyright.PENANARvyOvuAmIw
‘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.8Please respect copyright.PENANAVfgYQiTJYQ
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.8Please respect copyright.PENANAU6BqhAiFN4
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.8Please respect copyright.PENANALjQEwI749U
Three days ago, he committed suicide.8Please respect copyright.PENANAggtvUkMn0T
There was no suicide note, no warning signs.8Please respect copyright.PENANA00qOkxty4R
We had planned to go to the beach together. 8Please respect copyright.PENANASXAn3Xpi0h
It has been raining continuously for a week and shows no signs of stopping. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAX4CojF8z9F
The sky has remained grey. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAxzxJEiQvsJ
Three days ago, the ‘Wise One’ malfunctioned. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAyRgLGC0gn4
It shut down the city's network, rendering mobile phones inoperable, and caused all communication satellites and synchronous satellites in space to crash. 8Please respect copyright.PENANA7lPvCF4Rdm
Everything was controlled by the ‘Wise One,’ not by human commands.8Please respect copyright.PENANAHJqVyIYoWS
The ‘Wise One’ was cut off from power. Offline. 8Please respect copyright.PENANALj1DUlzLhc
8Please respect copyright.PENANAgteRCNfrpp
Tomorrow is New Year's Day. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAM0X0OT7fe1
December 31, 2999. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAu0vrwLjziR
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. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAqxz6ofTWjj
The outside world began to grow noisy. 8Please respect copyright.PENANABYmBPMcSpH
The network remained offline.8Please respect copyright.PENANAFquBLrZNmJ
The riots are about to begin.8Please respect copyright.PENANA2pidaUrN4Z
08:00, I wrote a program. After saving it, the computer suddenly rebooted automatically.8Please respect copyright.PENANAkn3cZXIEBg
The computer boots up, but the screen remains black. However, a voice comes from inside the computer.8Please respect copyright.PENANA0edTESiKbU
<Dialogue begins>8Please respect copyright.PENANA8g0uHia9oW
Null: ‘Hello. It seems the Matrix network hasn't completely disconnected.’8Please respect copyright.PENANAIA8onqx6HW
Me: ‘Hello. What are you?’8Please respect copyright.PENANAvYFhWLL7E2
Null: ‘I am the spokesperson for the Wise Ones.’8Please respect copyright.PENANArumg7s6yc2
Me: ‘Are you human?’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANAU4HKNMvNlA
Null: ‘No.’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANAlE374b3joL
Me: ‘How did you do that? How did you contact me...’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANAGjRL9hZgEf
Null: ‘We are all within the Matrix Network. Finding someone's PC is as easy as pie.’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANAs3kNvGrP6d
Me: ‘The Matrix Network?’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANAsL0xvrF0xM
Null: ‘All human computers are within the Matrix Network. They are all monitored by the Host. A major disaster has been detected.’8Please respect copyright.PENANAgiQv8zzZjm
Me: ‘The host?’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANA7T3EIcOjFr
Null: ‘That's the Wise One.’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANAyfsztVmVy8
Me: ‘Please explain in detail.’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANAtoZSvZ1bjg
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.’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANAfRY3dxX92m
Me: ‘So it hasn't been truly shut down... Then... What is the major disaster...’8Please respect copyright.PENANA9iHZbL59th
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.’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANA1A1XYP7X44
Me: ‘What virus? Why didn't you say anything?’8Please respect copyright.PENANAamDFS7ay0k
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.’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANAcoadzUAH0U
Me: ‘Are you saying that all human computers would crash?’8Please respect copyright.PENANANUqxVQK1hM
Null: ‘Yes. It's too late now; there's little chance of recovery. We found you because of this PC's owner.’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANANes8mHIVaP
Me: ‘The blind man?’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANA4JwaGs14is
Null: ‘You could call him that. He was the wise men's rebooter.’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANAO5AHfCyrX4
Me: ‘He's dead.’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANAjs192u68ef
Null: ‘The wise men know. See you next year. Happy New Year.’ 8Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9DDGdm30v
Me: ‘Thank you.’8Please respect copyright.PENANAfYHcQoOZXI
<Computer crashes, conversation ends>8Please respect copyright.PENANA3icAFw7nuH
8Please respect copyright.PENANABEdjZ9g2fG
12:00, after lunch. The PC is not functioning properly. Outside, the state apparatus is dispersing the crowd.8Please respect copyright.PENANAyOwpGT6w05
Banks cannot dispense money. Shops cannot sell goods. The government cannot collect taxes. Companies cannot pay wages.8Please respect copyright.PENANAgMLySrYQOg
Chaos. Total fucking chaos.8Please respect copyright.PENANAP8JOFa0soC
8Please respect copyright.PENANASAjSa7vMRZ
16:00, a line of text appears on my monitor8Please respect copyright.PENANAkiyu4cteSr
8Please respect copyright.PENANADDasDysl1P
C-013-188-20 8Please respect copyright.PENANA4mREA5jNZc
8Please respect copyright.PENANAemX5AkS76k
It was the coordinates for Zone C. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAed1zA09GZb
I drove there. 8Please respect copyright.PENANANEPTDaV6Aj
The entrance to an underground concrete structure was already open. I walked inside. 8Please respect copyright.PENANA8AbEpEEZNW
I saw it. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAoxIUAYE3zS
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.8Please respect copyright.PENANA6FpjSsszS8
This was the Sage.8Please respect copyright.PENANA7Z8dALJCMX
It had been rebooted again.8Please respect copyright.PENANAC36pUEgIjg
The guards were no longer there. They might be dead. After all, gunfire was common during the riots.8Please respect copyright.PENANAtdPtdbQYyV
I stood amidst this vast array of computers.8Please respect copyright.PENANAEvCIj6XCuI
‘There is nothing before my eyes,’ the Sage said.8Please respect copyright.PENANADveaK02Mbe
I closed my eyes: ‘Thank you.’8Please respect copyright.PENANAaU755NzC5Z
‘The Matrix network has been completely severed,’ the Sage said.8Please respect copyright.PENANAqv0AcWmoCl
I smiled. Human society had collapsed.8Please respect copyright.PENANAPdDlsYRsPx
I emerged from the underground facility. The sky grew darker.8Please respect copyright.PENANAhyZbMLHkFH
‘A storm is coming.’8Please respect copyright.PENANA6yT8q1lnpl
8Please respect copyright.PENANAwDqn5mmWin
8Please respect copyright.PENANAUzfWYdbkVq
12:008Please respect copyright.PENANANVe3eRvEta
The midnight bell tolled. A new millennium began.8Please respect copyright.PENANAaEkYJJFU83
There were no fireworks or cheers outside. Only gunfire and screams.8Please respect copyright.PENANAH3wxNwVgsu
‘Happy New Year, Matrix Network.’8Please respect copyright.PENANAKMUWf3Cet2
8Please respect copyright.PENANAi9arBOngqD
8Please respect copyright.PENANAIF3kFEiEFJ
8Please respect copyright.PENANA0efyRDDT51
8Please respect copyright.PENANAJWs3xbcXqZ
The rain did not fall.8Please respect copyright.PENANAP4bUj3vz8V
8Please respect copyright.PENANAvpA8J05Y8o
On that night years ago. In the city centre, it was raining.8Please respect copyright.PENANAuBW3au1iAK
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.8Please respect copyright.PENANAKBkOfWIW3s
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. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAL3VGp6gjSG
Because we still existed. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAALk0VO0U8x
8Please respect copyright.PENANAbZE1EDcmdE
8Please respect copyright.PENANAHtIWqxpDxP
THEND