The Millennium11Please respect copyright.PENANAujpOs3Qqix
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‘Hello.’11Please respect copyright.PENANAeANKDpWnJo
‘There is nothing before my eyes.’11Please respect copyright.PENANApC8ZE0HpBj
I looked at the huge array of computers and thought about what the blind man had said.11Please respect copyright.PENANAMv4PRBX4hN
‘This is the miracle we have created. But it won't last much longer.’11Please respect copyright.PENANAz7wkXF08WI
Once the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, all human computers will crash.11Please respect copyright.PENANAJc9W81stD4
History records that a thousand years ago, in the year 2000, there was the Millennium Bug. It was like a curse.11Please respect copyright.PENANAGGJLuMo84Q
A new Millennium Bug is about to arrive. But this time, it's far from as simple as it was a thousand years ago.11Please respect copyright.PENANAAVmtdqDYEk
The Deep Consciousness Control Room issued an alert two days ago. ‘The Sage’ stated that an unprecedented computer disaster would occur in the year 3000.11Please respect copyright.PENANAcBumuOFPjB
‘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.11Please respect copyright.PENANAGOyyo32Myu
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.11Please respect copyright.PENANAaNF7pl30vP
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.11Please respect copyright.PENANA0pKBnhJM5R
Three days ago, he committed suicide.11Please respect copyright.PENANA9oUSS05q3V
There was no suicide note, no warning signs.11Please respect copyright.PENANA1hN8q0dtQT
We had planned to go to the beach together. 11Please respect copyright.PENANANnXfrv9XXd
It has been raining continuously for a week and shows no signs of stopping. 11Please respect copyright.PENANAKXwgvRN5Wg
The sky has remained grey. 11Please respect copyright.PENANAkzNht5dTbV
Three days ago, the ‘Wise One’ malfunctioned. 11Please respect copyright.PENANArsriLHVt9R
It shut down the city's network, rendering mobile phones inoperable, and caused all communication satellites and synchronous satellites in space to crash. 11Please respect copyright.PENANASSVVlxIBst
Everything was controlled by the ‘Wise One,’ not by human commands.11Please respect copyright.PENANAozcHLFfHw6
The ‘Wise One’ was cut off from power. Offline. 11Please respect copyright.PENANAr97RaC7KFd
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Tomorrow is New Year's Day. 11Please respect copyright.PENANASuENofD41f
December 31, 2999. 11Please respect copyright.PENANAs1hiiQp8NK
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. 11Please respect copyright.PENANAGwwcwNBgTN
The outside world began to grow noisy. 11Please respect copyright.PENANAJXF2Ial4kO
The network remained offline.11Please respect copyright.PENANAhsY6kXjs2H
The riots are about to begin.11Please respect copyright.PENANA2hvU0M4mMK
08:00, I wrote a program. After saving it, the computer suddenly rebooted automatically.11Please respect copyright.PENANAiqMIBRfI9b
The computer boots up, but the screen remains black. However, a voice comes from inside the computer.11Please respect copyright.PENANAyr1ZC9LUh5
<Dialogue begins>11Please respect copyright.PENANAOrVsepqf1m
Null: ‘Hello. It seems the Matrix network hasn't completely disconnected.’11Please respect copyright.PENANALzHKneEVZF
Me: ‘Hello. What are you?’11Please respect copyright.PENANAAWnOKHiMtw
Null: ‘I am the spokesperson for the Wise Ones.’11Please respect copyright.PENANAIT2nHVlGCO
Me: ‘Are you human?’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANA5VuaSu4w0a
Null: ‘No.’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANA4ANmSXm21Q
Me: ‘How did you do that? How did you contact me...’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANABMzoC178CO
Null: ‘We are all within the Matrix Network. Finding someone's PC is as easy as pie.’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANAz8bHdynzLp
Me: ‘The Matrix Network?’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANAYGUV4bsu8p
Null: ‘All human computers are within the Matrix Network. They are all monitored by the Host. A major disaster has been detected.’11Please respect copyright.PENANACY12gwuntF
Me: ‘The host?’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANADsJgpwd64h
Null: ‘That's the Wise One.’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZXc246BJ1
Me: ‘Please explain in detail.’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANASOKcD2JUG0
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.’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANA7Lp5ztg4mv
Me: ‘So it hasn't been truly shut down... Then... What is the major disaster...’11Please respect copyright.PENANA9iIeXZTH8l
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.’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANAC6HxbH4tRY
Me: ‘What virus? Why didn't you say anything?’11Please respect copyright.PENANA2aqYt2wbij
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.’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANAw4xuuB2lKZ
Me: ‘Are you saying that all human computers would crash?’11Please respect copyright.PENANAp2uwathKYG
Null: ‘Yes. It's too late now; there's little chance of recovery. We found you because of this PC's owner.’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANA39VsKtTxUT
Me: ‘The blind man?’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANA6JnhYfCrPZ
Null: ‘You could call him that. He was the wise men's rebooter.’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANAYFedHQUC7F
Me: ‘He's dead.’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANAzve74qMRST
Null: ‘The wise men know. See you next year. Happy New Year.’ 11Please respect copyright.PENANAjD5JMOPs4n
Me: ‘Thank you.’11Please respect copyright.PENANAALW1aQveOd
<Computer crashes, conversation ends>11Please respect copyright.PENANAjg8HEuGJpa
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12:00, after lunch. The PC is not functioning properly. Outside, the state apparatus is dispersing the crowd.11Please respect copyright.PENANAEIs38w6U5G
Banks cannot dispense money. Shops cannot sell goods. The government cannot collect taxes. Companies cannot pay wages.11Please respect copyright.PENANA2GsP3xsfyS
Chaos. Total fucking chaos.11Please respect copyright.PENANApwEGZ5hpl1
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16:00, a line of text appears on my monitor11Please respect copyright.PENANA8cQG7sI03N
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C-013-188-20 11Please respect copyright.PENANAsWSwQHxicE
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It was the coordinates for Zone C. 11Please respect copyright.PENANA0VUxZQwnVK
I drove there. 11Please respect copyright.PENANA7obxPx19Go
The entrance to an underground concrete structure was already open. I walked inside. 11Please respect copyright.PENANAMuXM8ZZA8H
I saw it. 11Please respect copyright.PENANAt1h7QdC125
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.11Please respect copyright.PENANAB5CENLOjdT
This was the Sage.11Please respect copyright.PENANAlB3NRZ6mcQ
It had been rebooted again.11Please respect copyright.PENANAzDeuJEhJJI
The guards were no longer there. They might be dead. After all, gunfire was common during the riots.11Please respect copyright.PENANANBPjcIDQY0
I stood amidst this vast array of computers.11Please respect copyright.PENANA3VrNjosYCq
‘There is nothing before my eyes,’ the Sage said.11Please respect copyright.PENANABMZiplxTr5
I closed my eyes: ‘Thank you.’11Please respect copyright.PENANAcuBKnwsn2h
‘The Matrix network has been completely severed,’ the Sage said.11Please respect copyright.PENANALXmxyZoY7w
I smiled. Human society had collapsed.11Please respect copyright.PENANAFDlIifBYpn
I emerged from the underground facility. The sky grew darker.11Please respect copyright.PENANALIqk7fJUGH
‘A storm is coming.’11Please respect copyright.PENANAPUjQosivhI
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12:0011Please respect copyright.PENANAKZGdu9dUj3
The midnight bell tolled. A new millennium began.11Please respect copyright.PENANA9o8yN7oopA
There were no fireworks or cheers outside. Only gunfire and screams.11Please respect copyright.PENANA88YCJKuYeV
‘Happy New Year, Matrix Network.’11Please respect copyright.PENANAsfaBkYJzYo
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The rain did not fall.11Please respect copyright.PENANAum7xWr5RGx
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On that night years ago. In the city centre, it was raining.11Please respect copyright.PENANA1NGdmwRcI0
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.11Please respect copyright.PENANAnoBc2wgsgu
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. 11Please respect copyright.PENANAuVYnTJeCG9
Because we still existed. 11Please respect copyright.PENANATNjZk1FTP6
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THEND