1.18 Omega Awakening of the Cerebral Wave Screen Network

The Artificial Intelligence first isolated the stubborn code segment with a firewall before attempting to decode and execute it.

"Strange, it seems to originate from..." The AI delved deeper into the core fields of the code, gradually uncovering a clue: "A 'tablet memory' that cannot be overwritten, modified, or erased."

If Wu Chen still had his energy-body perspective, he would have been far more direct than running the code: "What do you mean?"

The AI immediately switched to a language Wu Chen could understand: "This is a core code fragment of a Tides Tablet. Although the tablet’s previous owner, Player 0716, had modified its functions, they could not eliminate the tablet’s original core code. Therefore, I can conclude that 0716 was not the original owner of the Tides Tablet."

"I see." Wu Chen confirmed this during a call with Fat Otaku, who noted that the Tides Tablet had also been resold to him. According to Fat Otaku, the original owner had vanished without a trace, rumored to have perished during the last "Cleanup Day," forgotten by the Guardians.

In reality, this stubborn code did not affect the tablet's operation, and most players would find it difficult to even discover this insignificant, inert remnant.

However, Wu Chen was deeply curious about this "tablet memory" that could not be cleared. Unfortunately, times had changed; the tablet had passed through many hands and had been continuously modified by successive owners. The core source code had been repeatedly tampered with and overwritten, leaving little behind. The only known way to restore it to "factory settings" was to roll back the data.

The player building in the camp that provided this service was called the "Tablet Repair Center," similar to the service stations on the 404 Road of Destruction. Any "Shelter Artifact," "Original Object of the Fragmented City," or "Plot Memory Fragment" could be rolled back or advanced in version for a fee in Shelter Coins. The cost varied depending on the plot progress. For Wu Chen to restore the Tides Tablet to its initial save file, the price would certainly be steep. As for where this stubborn code—which was neither a virus nor an obstacle to future saves—came from, tomorrow's rollback would reveal the truth.

As it happened, Wu Chen also needed to perform a second version advancement for his AE86. Combining the two tasks would save time and effort.

After booking the repair time online, the day’s events were settled.

The Fragmented City is a gathering of fragments, possessing high-dimensional properties akin to the "Shelter Starry Sky." For instance, the flow of time in the Fragmented City is much slower than in plot worlds. What players refer to as a "daily settlement" can be viewed as "saving one file per day." All events occurring within a single day are stored by the Fragmented City as memories. As long as a player—the "memory carrier" of the Fragmented City—is not purged, they retain the memories of this world. Even if they suffer heavy damage, they can be restored via rollback in minutes. However, if they are unfortunately purged, it means their exclusive branch plot line has ended, and there is no coming back.

"Memory carrier," as the name implies, is the vessel for memory. Everything a player experiences in the Fragmented City is recorded as an exclusive branch plot line. Players from various factions carry their respective branch lines to jointly construct the "Fragmented Spiral," the four spiral zones that make up the Fragmented City. The Traveler’s Camp where Wu Chen resided, though crowded with low-level VIP players, was at best just a "fragment" within the Sci-Fi Spiral. Generally speaking, most players camping here would move out and establish their own base once they finished all version advancements and successfully loaded into their exclusive shelters.

Wu Chen heard from Baili Yan that the owner of the Imperial Star Destroyer skyscraper at 9 Nathan Road had once been a member of the Traveler’s Camp. Thus, the camp could be seen as the sci-fi novice village of the Fragmented City. Wu Chen asked himself how much further he had to go before he could leave this village.

134 + 69 + 80 = 283. A daily cost of 1 coin meant he could survive for 283 shelter days. This greatly boosted Wu Chen's sense of security, and his female companions in the base were in high spirits as well.

After dinner, he washed up and went to bed. The watch he never parted with lit up again: "Master?"

"What is it?" Wu Chen was not yet asleep.

"The commission task for 99 coins and 1 star card is also worth attempting."

This was one of two tasks the AI had carefully selected for Wu Chen. It required delivering the client's package to a designated location in the city. The client had warned that it would require entering the Fantasy Spiral zone.

A player’s exclusive shelter comes with affinity immunity. However, the AE86 was not Wu Chen’s complete exclusive shelter, meaning there were bound to be loopholes in the rules. If he drove the AE86 into the Fantasy Spiral and rashly intervened in the plot, he would certainly provoke an attack from fantasy-class players. Yesterday, the AI had assessed the risk as extremely high, but after a re-evaluation today, the AI recommended trying it.

What had made the AI change its mind? After a moment of thought, Wu Chen realized the key: "Is it that 1-star card?"

"Yes," the AI explained. "Master’s Omega Brainwave Screen is not only related to the star rating of the cards but also to the quantity of cards. It’s like networking; the more nodes, the stronger the capability."

"So, every fragment (card) is a memory node. The more nodes, the stronger the power." Wu Chen understood. The "Omega Brainwave Screen" was his unique high-dimensional shelter ability. It could encompass humans, spirits, and digital life—nearly all intelligent beings in the shelter. It could also activate a powerful 6-star demigod-level psychic ability, and if necessary, even directly devour energy spirits.

"Exactly." Thanks to the AI’s massive data analysis, Wu Chen, who had lost most of his shelter memories, had found the most correct path in the shortest time and at the lowest cost.

"Tell me about that 1-star card." Wu Chen was swayed by the AI.

"It has the same affinity as the destination of the commission. This card also comes from a fantasy-style plot world," the AI replied. "Master can ask the client about the specific attributes."

"Very well." Wu Chen immediately dialed the client’s encrypted call.

"Hello, I am 0326, Wu Chen."

"Hello, I am 0427, Ren Shifei."

"I wanted to ask about the reward card for the commission."

"What would you like to know?"

"Can you tell me its specific attributes?"

"It is a plot character card. As you can see, I am also a sci-fi player. So, I am not very clear on the specific attributes of this card," the female player replied softly.

"Where did you get it?"

"I obtained it during the last Cleanup Day."

"I see." Although he hadn't yet experienced a Cleanup Day himself, Wu Chen could already guess the origin of the card. It must have been the relic of some player: "So, you have never activated this card."

"That is correct," the female player admitted openly. "It conflicts with my affinity."

Does it not conflict with mine?

The female player seemed to sense Wu Chen’s hesitation across the distance: "If you decide to accept the commission, I can pay you the card first. Once the commission is completed, I will transfer the shelter coins to you."

"Alright, let me consider it."

"It was a pleasure speaking with you, 0326."

"Likewise, 0427." Wu Chen disconnected the call.

Using the "plot exploration" commission Wu Chen had completed today as the latest reference, the AI performed a fuzzy calculation based on big data and suggested accepting the commission from the player 0427. In short, the risk was within Wu Chen’s controllable range.

"What is the third commission on the list?" Wu Chen asked.

"Recruiting a private photographer," the AI brought up the commission.

"A private photographer?" Wu Chen was taken aback.

Private photography is popular in the real world, usually involving a small, closed circle of enthusiasts and fixed models, unknown to outsiders. An open recruitment online was rare. Therefore, the "private photography" referred to by camp players must not be what Wu Chen was thinking.

"Yes, Master," the AI stated matter-of-factly. "It requires entering a 'specific' plot fragment according to the client’s request and performing 'specified' photography. Equipment must be provided by oneself. Reward: 68 coins and 12 Starry Sky Cards."

"Starry Sky Cards?" Wu Chen was puzzled.

"Cards belonging only to the Shelter Starry Sky," the AI explained. "They are blank cards that have not yet been used."

"A private photographer, twelve Starry Sky Cards..." Wu Chen seemed to realize something: "Could this be a 'card-making commission'?"

"I am thinking the same as you, Master." The AI displayed the relevant information it had gathered: "Every 12 days, there is a Cleanup Day. And a player’s existence in the Fragmented City is also measured by the day. Therefore, every 12 days counts as one stage. If you pass, you are saved; if you don't, you perish."

"Passing 12 small stages (Cleanup Days) consecutively means you will inevitably encounter a major stage (Major Cleanup Day)." Wu Chen understood.