novelraw Chapter 78: Artificial Souls - (5)
Chapter 78: Artificial Souls - (5)
Surviving Population: 9,200.
When Kui Xin returned to the First World, the surviving population count was still 9,201.
Upon clicking open the death list, as expected, a new line had been added at the end.
“Proxy No. 8033 died on August 3rd.”
There was no mention of who killed this Proxy.
If an ordinary person had usurped a player’s status, the count of surviving individuals on the forum should have increased by one. With one addition and one subtraction, theoretically, the overall number of survivors should remain unchanged. However, the survivor count has now decreased without increasing.
Kui Xin waited for ten minutes, repeatedly refreshing the page, but the survivor count never went up.
From this observation, Kui Xin derived two possible hypotheses. Firstly, ordinary people who forcibly obtained game access can only register on the forum and enter the Second World once the second closed beta phase begins. Secondly, the individual who gained game eligibility has not yet accepted the official invitation from the game developers for the closed beta.
The first hypothesis doesn’t require much explanation; with the initial closed beta already underway, allowing someone to abruptly join mid-course does seem somewhat illogical, though it could be understood.
Kui Xin’s second hypothesis was based on factual evidence.Initially, participation in the game’s closed beta required pre-registration. Only players who filled out their identity forms online were eligible to receive an invitation. Additionally, the closed beta invitations explicitly stated that elderly individuals and minors were prohibited from participating in the game.
Initially, from any perspective, “Crimson Earth” appeared to be just another ordinary game. The game system didn’t abruptly manifest itself either; even the distribution of invitations was done via email.
It wasn’t until players accepted the Closed Beta invitation that things began to take a peculiar turn. Silver identity cards mysteriously materialized; everyone collectively transitioned to the Second World at midnight; and an enigmatic game system loaded into their minds.
Kui Xin believed this was actually a clear screening process.
During this selection phase, elderly individuals and minors lost their eligibility to enter the game. Moreover, middle-aged people bearing life’s pressures, those with military backgrounds, or those holding significant government positions typically lack the time and energy to participate as beta testers for a game not yet officially released. Consequently, they wouldn’t fill out the closed beta application forms. Most gamers tend to be young, specifically those who face minimal life stress and have ample free time.
As a result, these selected young individuals entered the Second World War.
Kui Xin observed that throughout “Crimson Earth,” the game consistently presented players with subtle choice dilemmas.
When Kui Xin received the game’s closed beta invitation, she received an email from the game’s official team. Only after agreeing to all the attached documents could she obtain the beta access code.
Before registering on the game forum, not only was there a “Six Pieces of Advice for Players” issued by the game officials but also a pop-up alert stating: “You have one and only one chance to exit.”
“You have one and only one chance to exit!”
This clearly frames it as a choice. If someone chose to exit at this step, they could continue their lives peacefully as ordinary individuals without having to confront the bloodshed in the Second World.
At the very least, it indicated that the game officials would not forcibly compel people to participate.
By refusing involvement in the game at the first step and rejecting becoming a player, one loses the privilege of traversing the Second World but gains a stable existence instead.
Although the game’s official team did not explicitly disclose the true nature of the Crimson Earth game world, they indeed provided some subtle hints, even outright indications.
Unfortunately, most players disregarded this, clicking through without a second thought, including Kui Xin herself.
Perhaps fate’s cruel joke was just like this.
Once entering the game and receiving quests in the Second World, the game system still provides choices.
When a quest is triggered, players can choose to accept or decline it. Declining a quest incurs no penalties, nor does failing one. Upon completing a quest, the rewards given by the game system are not skill upgrades or tangible items but rather “Invitation Letters.”
Kui Xin could select one person and invite them to join the game.
Although she had not yet used an Invitation Letter, Kui Xin guessed that its usage rules should be consistent with when she received her closed beta invitation.
Kui Xin could invite the person to either refuse or accept.
The term “Invitation Letter” implies flexibility, allowing for both acceptance and rejection. Otherwise, the word “invitation” would lose its intended meaning.
Kui Xin hadn’t decided whom to give this Invitation Letter to yet.
She was careful not to use it on anyone. She didn’t want to reveal her identity to others, nor did she wish for someone unwittingly accepting the invitation only to become fodder for the Federal Government and dark organizations of the Second World.
Kui Xin exited the pinned thread, noticing that numerous new posts had already appeared on the forum.
She briefly scanned them and found that surprisingly, the warning post from last night was still floating on the homepage, accumulating close to a thousand replies. Some subsequent comments shared additional information they knew, but compared to “Lucky Goose’s” intelligence, these contributions were minimal.
Due to the overwhelming number of replies and some information scattered across other threads, it became difficult to find specific details. Consequently, someone started a dedicated thread to consolidate all the gathered intelligence for easier reading. Additionally, players proficient in foreign languages began translating reports from international gamers.
The discussion about the new rules was fervent, with most people’s theories aligning closely with Kui Xin’s conclusions.
Everyone believed that someone must have activated these rules, prompting the Game System to issue the forum announcement.
Who was the deceased player? And who was the ordinary individual who usurped the Closed Beta participant’s identity?
Amidst the chaotic discussions, several viewpoints stood out as particularly thought-provoking.
“Perhaps after witnessing this series of events, many will perceive the Second World as too dangerous and frightening, eager to leave it behind. However, let us not forget that within that world lie countless hidden treasures.”
First Floor: Yes, treasures. This idea has been proposed before—transferring the technology and scientific achievements from the Second World to the First World. However, most players are ordinary individuals; memorizing even a single multi-page research paper is quite challenging, let alone comprehending complex scientific principles and formulas for practical application.
But experts and scholars are different. If they gained access to the Second World, each additional day spent there would allow their minds to absorb more knowledge. Bringing just a few civilian technologies from the Second World to the First World could potentially save us decades of struggle in related fields.
If we could introduce advanced technological achievements into the First World, it would undoubtedly pave the way for its transition into a cyberpunk-like high-tech information society.
Some of our fellow citizens have faced numerous dangers in the Second World, causing many of us to shy away from it. It seems that most people only focus on the perils, overlooking elements capable of bringing about significant transformations. These include the scientific advancements and the enigmatic superhuman abilities found in the Second World.
The second World is both a treacherous pit filled with thorns and an enticing treasure trove. The treasures lie waiting, beckoning individuals to seize them, and those driven by greed may resort to wicked actions in pursuit of these riches.
We are still too insignificant and weak. Our capabilities are limited, as we can perceive. Amidst the waves of the era, there’s a sense of helplessness.
3L: What I’m worried about now is whether ordinary people, after learning these benefits, might start hunting us down to obtain access themselves? Let’s think broader—could it be possible that once the government agencies of the First World uncover this information, they would dispatch their own “experts” mentioned by OP to the Second World for technology transfer?
4L replying to 3L: At present, to gain access, one must kill players and seize their qualifications… I feel like this is something the neighboring Lighthouse Country could do. Betraying their own citizens, killing players, and replacing them with their own people—it aligns with how their capitalists have always disregarded ordinary individuals.
16L: I work for a climate monitoring organization overseas. I’d like to say that concealing the invasion from the Second World may not last much longer. Shortly after the mirages appeared, our weather aircraft conducted atmospheric measurements. Based on the conditions at the time, it should have been impossible for such mirages to occur, yet they manifested globally.
The unusual situation was so conspicuous; people weren’t blind or foolish. If ordinary individuals across various countries could see it, how could their respective governments remain unresponsive? I believe some stronger nations will swiftly take action, and the arrest of players is just a matter of time. Classic cases of being shot from behind yet ruled as suicide will soon resurface.
17L: The previous post must be referring to the United States, where such deranged actions wouldn’t seem out of place at all.
18L: I’m already feeling panicked. Most people’s superhuman abilities aren’t strong enough to directly resist firearms. If targeted, couldn’t we easily be eliminated upon confrontation?
25L: For now, all we can do is wait—wait for the game’s official announcement regarding the second batch of closed beta testers. We were part of the first batch, but there might be subsequent batches, like a second or even third round. If the game promptly initiates the second batch, it could somewhat alleviate the precarious situation for players. We could avoid being hunted, allowing those who wish to enter the game to do so through legitimate closed beta channels instead of resorting to murder. However, if the game developers stubbornly withhold access without opening applications, those eyeing Second World resources may turn on us.
26L: But there’s still one issue. Even if there is a second batch, how many slots will be available? Can we guarantee that applying will lead to selection? Without these assurances, our danger persists.
33L: I thought that after playing survival games in the Second World, returning to the First World would allow me to live peacefully. Never did I expect that even the First World would turn into a survival game.
34L replied to 33L: This was all foreshadowed long ago. From the moment the game system followed us back to the real world, we should have anticipated this day. Two worlds, two survival games. The First World is temporarily in Normal Mode, while the Second World operates in Hell Mode.
Kui Xin twisted her stiff neck, then leaned back onto the bed and continued browsing the forum.
In each province, there were only a few dozen players—a low density—resulting in limited intelligence exchange within the real world. Players primarily relied on the forum for information gathering, so Kui Xin found herself compulsively scrolling through posts like a phone-addicted teenager.
She skipped over discussion threads and focused her attention on educational posts.
In the Second World, Kui Xin’s movements were severely restricted, making it challenging to freely search for information. Consequently, the educational posts shared by other players on the forum proved valuable to her.
These educational posts covered a wide range of topics, from how to use identification documents for accessing public places, navigating transportation options, managing banking transactions, using electronic menus at restaurants, to disassembling mechanical prosthetics.
“An Overview of Mechanical Prosthetic Disassembly, Maintenance, and Energy Replacement.”
First Floor: Regardless of whether you’re using an old or new model mechanical prosthetic, its disassembly switches should be located at the armpits, behind the knees, and on the inner thighs. These areas will have an orange marking symbol. Open the metal casing where the orange symbol is present, and you’ll find a button inside. Pressing it once will automatically disconnect the prosthetic from your body.
If you’re using cheap prosthetics obtained from the black market, this method may not work. Cheap prosthetics are typically made from recycled discarded parts found in junkyards, making them inexpensive but non-standardized, difficult to repair, and with varied structures.
For regular mechanical prosthetics, there’s generally only one way to get repairs—by renewing the warranty annually and extending the coverage period each time. Higher-tier warranty contracts require more payment, ensuring specialized technicians will come to perform repairs when the prosthetic breaks. If you pay less, you opt for a lower-tier warranty contract, meaning that after a breakdown, you must personally visit the authorized service center for repairs.
As for the energy batteries powering mechanical prosthetics, they need replacement approximately every month. Each time, you must go to the authorized store to purchase a new battery. In reality, companies in the Second World have the capability to improve mechanical prosthetics significantly, creating models with longer-lasting batteries and wireless charging capabilities. However, this would impact their profits greatly.
What you may not know is that for these companies selling mechanical prosthetics, only approximately twenty percent of their annual revenue comes from the actual prosthetics themselves. The remaining eighty percent stems from collecting warranty fees and selling batteries. The majority of their income comes from battery sales!
Even more infuriatingly, when you purchase a brand-specific mechanical prosthetic, you’re required to buy batteries exclusively from that same brand. Different brands’ prosthetics and batteries are not interchangeable. Without compatible batteries, how would your prosthetic continue functioning? Your only option is to buy their batteries repeatedly. Once you have a prosthetic, batteries become an absolute necessity, allowing these companies to endlessly exploit consumers and force you to foot the bill.
This is the trickery of capital—extracting blood once isn’t enough; they must continuously siphon wealth from ordinary people. Warranty fees follow the same scheme. In the Second World War, mechanics needed to obtain certification before engaging in prosthetic repair work. The government strictly enforces this, making it illegal to practice without passing the governmental review—a violation akin to unauthorized business operations.
Tsk, gaining some eye-opening insights here, Kui Xin thought.
Her political science textbook had taught her: “Capital, since its emergence, drips with blood and filth from every pore.”
Kui Xin scrolled further down and came across another informative post.
“The Origins and Current State of the Anti-Mechanical Prosthetics Movement.”
First Floor: Some people might not have even heard about this movement before, haha.
Just like there are environmental protection movements and anti-war movements in our world, similar political movements exist in the Second World. Interestingly, the government does not heavily suppress these movements; I strongly suspect that their leniency is to avoid a strong backlash if they crack down too harshly.
The Anti-Mechanical Prosthetics Movement began several decades ago when mechanical prosthetics were just gaining popularity, coinciding with the maturation of information technology. A segment of the population believed that machines were unreliable and susceptible to hacking.
There was a notable extreme case where a hacker took control of his rival’s robotic arm, causing it to malfunction and ultimately strangle its owner to death. Although an exceptional incident, it exposed the inherent security risks associated with mechanical prosthetics.
Following this event, the Anti-Mechanical Prosthetics Movement gained momentum. Some individuals vehemently opposed the installation of mechanical prosthetics, distancing themselves from all forms of information and smart devices. In more extreme cases, certain advocates yearned for a return to primitive society, believing this would prevent them from being controlled by machines and becoming slaves to technology.
It sounds somewhat humorous, but I couldn’t bring myself to laugh at all. What people were genuinely worried about wasn’t the betrayal of machines… but rather the Federal Government itself. They feared that the Federal Government would use machines to manipulate the populace.
15L (Original Poster): Just went for dinner, continuing from where I left off.
Mechanical Neural Interface Technology—this term is likely unfamiliar to most of you, isn’t it? It’s a relatively new development, researched only within the last couple of years.
The old technology involved connecting mechanical devices directly to human nerves. By transmitting neural signals, control over mechanical prosthetics was achieved. However, its drawback was a slight delay in signal transmission, measured in microseconds. The new technology takes it a step further, achieving true zero-delay operation. To accomplish this, an additional signal transceiver must be implanted in a person’s brain, allowing direct transmission of brain signals to the mechanical prosthetic, thereby controlling it.
Now you understand, right? With the old technology, there was no need to tamper with a person’s brain; simply attaching the prosthetic sufficed. However the new technology requires intervention in the brain itself, which naturally raises concerns. Recently, anti-mechanical prosthetic movements have gained popularity. In several major cities, citizens gather, displaying electronic banners and staging sit-ins beneath large corporations’ buildings to protest…
I must interject here; it’s no surprise that these naive and easily manipulated inhabitants of the Second World would struggle to achieve anything significant!
The Second World is like an unfathomable pool, with the Federation, financial elites, clandestine forces, and ordinary citizens engaged in a chaotic tug-of-war. The Federation and financial elites are aligned, holding absolute dominance, while the weak common people can only become sacrificial pawns.
Just as Kui Xin was about to continue reading the informative post, she suddenly received a call from Yuan Lu.
“Kui Xin, we’ve decided to post an alliance thread on the forum,” Yuan Lu said. “It will be anonymous, ensuring all members’ identities remain confidential. We’ll hold periodic gatherings for intelligence exchange.”