The Millennium17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4HFAKHE3H
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‘Hello.’17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJRRqGbGuE
‘There is nothing before my eyes.’17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopU4h1hXin
I looked at the huge array of computers and thought about what the blind man had said.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03MD8O2HK2
‘This is the miracle we have created. But it won't last much longer.’17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eI4cjWyX6
Once the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, all human computers will crash.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lh24eAc56
History records that a thousand years ago, in the year 2000, there was the Millennium Bug. It was like a curse.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWk3ALZPso
A new Millennium Bug is about to arrive. But this time, it's far from as simple as it was a thousand years ago.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1kKWVI6tq
The Deep Consciousness Control Room issued an alert two days ago. ‘The Sage’ stated that an unprecedented computer disaster would occur in the year 3000.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HP53HsH9G
‘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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPvEcmoxc2
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlYO7tCsWq
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGXGcZHRPF
Three days ago, he committed suicide.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXhGSV3zJi
There was no suicide note, no warning signs.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6ScPJqItp
We had planned to go to the beach together. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o0YU3jnnl
It has been raining continuously for a week and shows no signs of stopping. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hTKDt23tr
The sky has remained grey. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwUhMaJlVl
Three days ago, the ‘Wise One’ malfunctioned. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5ttXKRC6g
It shut down the city's network, rendering mobile phones inoperable, and caused all communication satellites and synchronous satellites in space to crash. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcxmxcIH8L
Everything was controlled by the ‘Wise One,’ not by human commands.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRsLvX11YO
The ‘Wise One’ was cut off from power. Offline. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODhET2FAQH
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Tomorrow is New Year's Day. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7rleV6Qo2
December 31, 2999. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk154iH9oLG
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. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgARPSMwDzW
The outside world began to grow noisy. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoTSqgf2Ds
The network remained offline.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCM33ou26Kb
The riots are about to begin.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKN0j74Af9
08:00, I wrote a program. After saving it, the computer suddenly rebooted automatically.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aVH8aOGmV
The computer boots up, but the screen remains black. However, a voice comes from inside the computer.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkK9aYzU6e
<Dialogue begins>17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnssK09TIc
Null: ‘Hello. It seems the Matrix network hasn't completely disconnected.’17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Xa41BF6Dz
Me: ‘Hello. What are you?’17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvMYzaj16q
Null: ‘I am the spokesperson for the Wise Ones.’17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEN7DpmU36l
Me: ‘Are you human?’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9tH7o2O5q
Null: ‘No.’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiXCWEadOa
Me: ‘How did you do that? How did you contact me...’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswXCKCBGK9
Null: ‘We are all within the Matrix Network. Finding someone's PC is as easy as pie.’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwROdfEb3fQ
Me: ‘The Matrix Network?’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXx3YLSXayF
Null: ‘All human computers are within the Matrix Network. They are all monitored by the Host. A major disaster has been detected.’17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNR9KayW2b
Me: ‘The host?’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWC3ENQ8Hi
Null: ‘That's the Wise One.’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOSOK1bS9u
Me: ‘Please explain in detail.’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVqMlMromY
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.’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F7Y9ZikrU
Me: ‘So it hasn't been truly shut down... Then... What is the major disaster...’17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKmtLuSBNw
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.’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhL4PLPtIL
Me: ‘What virus? Why didn't you say anything?’17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS0g289D9u
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.’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtS0pUFouYe
Me: ‘Are you saying that all human computers would crash?’17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HjoaG3iMV
Null: ‘Yes. It's too late now; there's little chance of recovery. We found you because of this PC's owner.’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6XEvKY1J4
Me: ‘The blind man?’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L9NUcdeTq
Null: ‘You could call him that. He was the wise men's rebooter.’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2tdJAu0WF
Me: ‘He's dead.’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCbRkfP0YO
Null: ‘The wise men know. See you next year. Happy New Year.’ 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3ZqJCqM9Z
Me: ‘Thank you.’17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡie5Hg1oSWO
<Computer crashes, conversation ends>17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwk4Qzzv4L
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12:00, after lunch. The PC is not functioning properly. Outside, the state apparatus is dispersing the crowd.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzn1duPmAp
Banks cannot dispense money. Shops cannot sell goods. The government cannot collect taxes. Companies cannot pay wages.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzceKHe4ik7
Chaos. Total fucking chaos.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjr6CPWTm4
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16:00, a line of text appears on my monitor17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCzqZXH2a5
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C-013-188-20 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQ7NH7m8d2
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It was the coordinates for Zone C. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4j0yNq6rU8
I drove there. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoY3TMJfj7
The entrance to an underground concrete structure was already open. I walked inside. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXWLoZnVZ9
I saw it. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiS5hC8R9TF
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilICCmSVj0
This was the Sage.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBK8rDuZUy
It had been rebooted again.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQsKK08q1u
The guards were no longer there. They might be dead. After all, gunfire was common during the riots.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTN1SF7PwSB
I stood amidst this vast array of computers.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvCNYPJ8RH
‘There is nothing before my eyes,’ the Sage said.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotheFLFgKi
I closed my eyes: ‘Thank you.’17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMP2D999dG
‘The Matrix network has been completely severed,’ the Sage said.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7nTvMK8lv
I smiled. Human society had collapsed.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmv15Lvl6Fg
I emerged from the underground facility. The sky grew darker.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpo53609VC
‘A storm is coming.’17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuveHEwrua
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12:0017Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdabxyjEHE
The midnight bell tolled. A new millennium began.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMlvGMpCCZ
There were no fireworks or cheers outside. Only gunfire and screams.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a1V9HaKfx
‘Happy New Year, Matrix Network.’17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24eVZfl7sy
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The rain did not fall.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30HDqfqNQL
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On that night years ago. In the city centre, it was raining.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjdw9JE2tQ
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaY89zf3k5Y
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. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4XBgO2dJm
Because we still existed. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYxSsoGRID
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THEND
Penana
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