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For the same Nightmare, if different people remember it differently and causes a conflict, what would happen?
Wu Jian gives a simple answer, “then it should be based on the Nightmare owner’s memories? Since it is their Nightmare.”
“No, that can’t be it,” Fei shakes her head and points out, “if it would go so far as to reference other’s memories, it can only be to ensure authenticity.”
Ye Lan furrows her brows a little, though, and says, “but we couldn’t see this gap earlier…”
Then Fei suddenly comes to a realisation and says, “exactly!”
Shen Yünjü adds, “because the Nightmare owner does not remember this gap, so it would be weird for them to see this gap in the Nightmare.”
Looking at the obvious gap there, A-One says, “it’s still strange. This is so obvious, and almost right next to the entrance, too. Will everyone really miss this when they were quality checking?”
He Shujün suggests, “though maybe the gap is actually how it appeared before, when we couldn’t find a thing? That would be what the traitor would have wanted it to be.”
Mu Jiashi chimes in all of a sudden, “that’s why, it’s a bug.”
The Missiontakers’ chatter die down and many of them fall into thought.
Mu Jiashi says towards Xü Beijin, “you said it’s a bug, so was it what you made us do cause it to end up appearing like this?”
XĂź Beijin is smiling a little, and nods.
He explains, “correct, we have to trigger the bug, so that you can leave.”
Hearing that makes Mu Jiashi relieved. He is probably half-blinded at this point, and he’s dizzy. Being able to leave this place behind would be a godsend.
Though he then notices the word Xü Beijin used is ‘you,’ and it rather puts a damper on his joy.
After the brief silence, he asks, “are you unable to leave this place yourself?”
Xü Beijin says, “I will, but not through the same way you do.”
Before Mu Jiashi could say anything else, he says, “as soon as Lin Qin and I enter the gap, you will be forced out of my Nightmare.”
Mu Jiashi’s eyes quickly widen, like he’s hearing the most unbelievable thing ever.
Xü Beijin says, “a Special End, triggered by utilising the bug.”
And he adds in his mind – also, the only way to force a way out of his Nightmare.
If he couldn’t verify before that this bug wasn’t fixed, then Xü Beijin would never have let the Missiontakers in his Nightmare no matter what, nor himself for that matter… unless he’s lost all hope and is going to kill himself.
Of course, the situation is far from being so grim and dire. They still have a fighting chance.
But for Mu Jiashi, it almost sounds unreal.
Looking at the gap that spans just about 30 centimetres, and looking back at the two big, grown men Lin Qin and Xü Beijin, he’s clearly confounded.
Then XĂź Beijin decides it might be better to explain a little more.
He asks, “have you played video games before?”
Mu Jiashi slowly but firmly nods.
“Back at its golden age, the screen shown to us in-game, relied upon different graphical assets.
Through different types of models and images, they build up the world of the game.
Higher resolution images and builds make the game more realistic; of course, cheaper, lazier ones save on costs but also make the game appear rushed or ‘last-gen’… These were the video games of Earth.
The same thing applied to this game, ‘Escape.’”
While saying, Xü Beijin can’t help but think how ridiculous it is that NE is even allowing him to name the game ‘Escape’ out loud. What in the world? Is he really so desperate right now…
He’s confused, but regardless, the mentioning of how graphics are handled on Earth has enlightened those who were avid gamers among the Missiontakers here.
For example, A-One, who looks at the black gap, exclaiming, “so this is a game’s graphical glitch?!”
He’s astonished.
This game they’re in, the Tower that is practically indistinguishable from reality, also features such ridiculously rudimentary bugs?
Though it’s simply A-One vastly overestimating what this game was. It’s only a video game, constructed artificially.
Any programmer knows you can never squash all the bugs. It’s simply that they haven’t encountered any by luck.
Speaking of bugs in a game, they’re often entirely unexpected, in a way even the game developers would find absurd.
For example, this graphical glitch here, which Xü Beijin doesn’t really know exactly how it got there either.
Maybe, while forming the game, the modelling was based on memories of the Nightmare owner, but then the actual shiny coloured blocks followed some average of everyone’s memories? It’s one possible way to generate such a discrepancy here.
Who knows how it got there. But the good news is that, this is helpful.
This bug can be taken advantage of.
Xü Beijin says, “Lin Qin and I will enter this via… some means. Inside, is a…” he tries to scour for a suitable word, and says, “shortcut,”
Shortcut?
The Missiontakers had no time to react before Xü Beijin finishes his sentence, “… to the top floor of the Tower.”
The top floor of the Tower?!
Mu Jiashi’s expression changes dramatically, and he asks desperately, “the top floor? What is there? Is there the key to the Ultimate Nightmare what you said?”
“No,” Xü Beijin shakes his head, and explains, “I’m going to go see NE.”
Mu Jiashi is at a loss for words. Again.
He realises he doesn’t know what he should ask. Xü Beijin knows so much, and they, so little.
And making Xü Beijin explain himself here, feels like wasting everyone’s time.
So, after being silent for a while, he moves aside, to give him a way.
The Missiontakers all follow suit, allowing XĂź Beijin a straight way to that gap.
Something about this touches Xü Beijin on the inside. Maybe, it’s the trust and support these Missiontakers are vesting in him. Maybe, it’s because he’s finally about to meet NE… Maybe…
So many things, make him want to say something right here, right now.
He thinks for what feels like a really long time, and he finally says, “we can succeed.”
Everyone’s gazes are trembling a little.
XĂź Beijin feels like, this is an atmosphere where he is sure what he should say.
It’s like he’s using so much time to think of what to say before he can say it. He slowly tells them, “I will see NE, open the Ultimate Nightmare, and… freedom will be there at last.”
He doesn’t specify for whom.
Though the Missiontakers didn’t need him to specify either, as they are already overjoyed hearing all that.
XĂź Beijin stands there, looking at them, and also, breaks out into a smile.