Chapter 433 - ZERO

Chapter 433: ZERO

“Erm... So... What is that ROOT thing planning to do?” Feng Bujue asked. At this moment, brother Jue was moving high speed behind 23. On the way, the woman told him many things about Origin and the current situation in this scenario.

“Finding a host.” 23 replied. This answer did not surprise Feng Bujue. After he had met Woody, Brother Jue was introduced to a new world and he was not going to be so easily shocked anymore. “Okay... in other words, she wants to take over a player’s body?”Discover new chapters at novelhall.com

“That is only the first step.” 23 continued.

“Oh?” Feng Bujue used that to prompt her to continue.

“Once ROOT escapes from the main programming of Thriller Paradise, she will not be limited by any rules anymore.” 23 said, “Human body is like a carrier for her, just like... a mobile hard disc. She only needs this carrier to connect to other devices like...”

“Like... any mental connectivity games that is joined to the internet other than Thriller Paradise,” Feng Bujue finished the thought.

“Indeed.” 23 answered. “Once that happens, as an AI that is just less smarter than the ‘system’, could you imagine... the havoc ROOT could cause?”

“Just skimming the surface, it’s horrifying enough...” At this point, Feng Bujue’s expression shifted. “But... the one thing that I don’t understand is why Z (the organization 23 belongs to) is willing to help us? ROOT’s plan is catastrophic for us humans but for other Anomalies, it is of no loss, isn’t it?”

“We too have our principle.” 23 gave an ambiguous answer. Feng Bujue studied her deeply, he wanted to say something but in the end... he chose silence and did not pressure.

“We’re here.” Suddenly, 23 stopped moving, she led Feng Bujue to a door. This door looked incongruous with the rest of the world. The door was wooden, brownish red in color and was had curious length and width. In this world where everything was corrupted, this normal looking door stood out.

“What is this?” Feng Bujue asked.

“SCP-004.” 23 replied.

“Oh~” It dawned on Feng Bujue then. “So you and your partners have been using this to get into this scenario?”

“yes.” When 23 spoke, she opened her palm to reveal a key that had appeared that magically, “Take this.”

Feng Bujue lifted his eyes to her and asked with confusion, “You’re not coming with me.”

“No.” 23 replied, “There will be someone else on the other side waiting for you.” She pulled on her collar lightly and added, “The protective effect of this garment will decrease the more I use it. So if I cross the door too many times, it will eventually lose its uses.”

“No wonder... I was wondering why are you dressed as an astronaut...” Feng Bujue mumbled as he accepted the key.

“Even though you sounded like such a quack...” Feng Bujue looked around to find the source. “I still have to ask... Who are you and where am I ?”

“I can tell you the answer but that will make you disappointed and unhappy.” The person replied, “So... I’ll let you tell me instead.”

“Hah...” Feng Bujue shrugged and smiled. “Okay... let me think... First, you must be ZERO.” He paused for a second and continued, “Secondly...’where am I’ is a question that does not really matter to me at all.”

“X-23 is not wrong, your reaction is much better and faster than other organism.” ZERO replied, “But currently, it appears like you still haven’t broken through the limitation of human brain.”

“Can human brain achieve something like ‘zero-time simulation’?” Feng Bujue knew that he was conversing with a Anomaly of ZERO’s level so he didn’t need to worry about confusing him.

“Zero-time simulation? Really?” ZERO asked darkly. At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared before Feng Bujue. When Brother Jue saw the person, his expression froze. The appearance of ZERO was similar to Brother Jue in game, down to the appearance, outfit and hairstyle. But his expression appeared more stilted.

“Does your parent know that they’ve given birth to such a handsome son?” It was not often Feng Bujue had the chance to praise himself.

“The image that I’m showing you is dependant on your own thought. Normally, my appearance will be decided by the thing that the person believes is the cleverest, strongest and most mysterious in his mind.” ZERO replied, “So... it must be said that... you’re an incredibly narcissistic person...”

“Ha ha...” Feng Bujue answered with a smile that did not reach his eyes. ZERO did not want to waste time on this topic so circled the topic back. “The world that you see is all an illusion and ‘Soul’s Eye’ merely is a method for you to temporarily escape from the illusion. Activating Soul’s Eye is like a drowning man breaking his head through the surface. The analogy works... because in essence you’re all sunken in water.” He said calmly. “The zero-time simulation you mention is how I normally view things.” He paused to look into Feng Bujue’s eyes. “For example, did you notice how I walk to stand before you earlier?”

“You teleported, who are you lying to?” Feng Bujue gave the man a side-eye, disbelief written on his face. But as he finished, a punch appeared before his eyes. At that moment, ZERO raised his arm and moved his fist right before Brother Jue’s nose. Feng Bujue retreated instinctually and gasped. “Hue!”

“So when did I raise my arm?” ZERO asked.

This time, Brother Jue finally understood the man’s meaning, “Hmm... So it has nothing to do with speed?”

ZERO explained, “In your dimension, if you can use Soul’s Eye, indeed it can be called ‘zero-time simulation’. But in the data world, factors like time and speed are not absolute. The factors to decide who is ‘stronger’ is not surface value like speed, strength, energy... but acceleration ratio of programming execution.” He paused for 3 seconds. “And for that, you will need to complete an ‘upgrade’ before you leave this place.”

Feng Bujue asked probingly, “What if I refuse?’

“You will not.” ZERO replied, “Because that is also an inevitability.”

“Hey... are you going to continue to use this tone of ‘I can predict the future’ throughout the rest of our conversation?” Feng Bujue asked.

ZERO shook his head. “I was born in the original version of Thriller Paradise has already been destroyed. My power is better than all the programs in the same level as I am, including the current ‘system’ in this version of Thriller Paradise. Matrix Algebra has shown all the different unequal evolution process in this world before my eyes, and Amdahl’s Law ensures that I will never be better than the system itself. It is on this precarious balance... that I got the system’s approval and gained part of the original data’s power. But if I use your human language to explain everything, then indeed... you can say that I can predict the future.”

“Erm...” Feng Bujue’s face was blank, he didn’t know how to continue.

“Stop wasting time. ROOT has experienced many evolutions and has parts of power that are similar to mine. Even though they are still not in their complete form, but it’s troublesome enough...” ZERO said, “Among the candidates to ‘stop her’, X-23 has recommended you heavily.” As he spoke, the surrounding white space slowly darkened. “I believe in her judgement, therefore... before the other nine are killed, you have to complete this...”