1.26 Chun-Li is Unrivaled

As far as Wu Chen knew, when story characters loaded into cards are re-scanned after completing equipment or attribute upgrades, it is for the purpose of saving a new file.

The flat-panel base, which serves as the carrier for a player's exclusive sanctuary’s high-dimensional attributes, is also said to be "saved once a day," recorded by the guardians of the world. Therefore, in this sense, continuing one's existence is equivalent to continuing one's memory. To be remembered by the guardians is the proof of a player's existence.

From this, it is clear that the importance of original items is extraordinary.

Wu Chen had already asked the seller. There were only ten Terminator motorcycles available. However, there was a surplus of T800 parts filling an entire shipping container. The seller asked if Wu Chen needed any more, offering a discount of up to 70% off.

Based on past experience, stocking up on parts for repairs and replacements was always better. However, the core rule of the City of Fragments is the "save file." Whether it is a player, a story character, or even a story-based creation, as long as they possess memories, they can be completely restored through reloading (please note). No repairs or even medical treatment are needed. Therefore, to Wu Chen, the seller's container of T800 parts, even at 30% of the price, was all trash—completely worthless.

Of course, all of this is predicated on the player surviving the "Day of Cleansing," continuing the fragmented memories hosted by the flat-panel base.

If the widely circulated player theory of "saving once a day" holds true, it means that every player entering the City of Fragments has a maximum of 12 save slots. Once all 12 slots are filled, the Day of Cleansing will wipe them all out at once. If a player fails to survive, they will have no files left to reload. The guardians of the broken world—the colossal shadows in the void—will no longer have any memory of that player, and the player will be completely "forgotten" by the world.

Existing and continuing one's own exclusive branching storyline can be seen as the "collective memory" of all players in the City of Fragments. The sum of all players' exclusive branching storylines constitutes the Four-System Spiral, which is also the memory of the entire City of Fragments.

Returning to the shelter, Day 6.

With one save per day, not a single day can be wasted. Yet there is no need to be so busy that one’s feet never touch the ground. As the ancients said, "There is a way of tension and relaxation, of taking and giving." One must remember not to try to handle everything at once. Focusing on the main storyline first is what matters most.

For Wu Chen, surviving the first Day of Cleansing is today’s main task. Seeing that Sanctuary Coins are running low, making money has naturally become a top priority.

Wu Chen is set to begin the delivery commission for the female player today.

The AE86 is indispensable. The original Rock motherboard could provide power for three days. The Tidal sub-board comes with a small emergency power station to ensure power for the aquarium. When the brain-computer components were assembled, optimization was completed. Even if the AE86 detaches, the base can still maintain normal power supply. Because they must traverse the Spiral Zone with its uncertain future, his three followers—Kotal Vetriss, Lin Baiyu, and Kugui Kikuko—are all coming along.

The AE86’s second gear has been upgraded to a flying vehicle. The four wheels fold downward, becoming variable turbine engines. Control is handed over to the onboard AI, A.I., for automatic navigation. Lin Baiyu is the primary driver, with Wu Chen in the passenger seat. Kotal Vetriss and Kugui Kikuko escort them on the left and right, riding the Terminator motorcycles. The motorcycles’ wheels can also transform into turbine engines. The motorcycle A.I. is constantly linked with the onboard AI. A.I. also possesses administrative privileges over the motorcycle A.I., allowing it to take control, or even modify or override the motorcycle A.I. in case of emergency. This is a necessary contingency measure.

The route has been planned in advance. After uploading the access key and passing the camp's firewall, the group is now on the Seaside Highway. The giant skyscraper on the left is exactly 105 Seaside Highway. The city’s roads are like multi-layered overpasses. A single road can have multiple vertically stacked surfaces, which players call "road levels," similar to how an elevator displays floors. Each intersection, cross-street, and roadside skyscraper has specialized elevators to transport vehicles or pedestrians between different road levels. From bottom to top, rail transit, flying vehicles, drone swarms, aerospace planes, and spaceships form the City of Fragments’ three-dimensional traffic network. Player vehicles are even more diverse. Especially in the Sci-Fi Spiral Zone, classic cars from every era converge on the lanes, and the unique aesthetic created by mixing and matching popular elements from different worlds can only be fully appreciated by veteran players who have been immersed in it for years.

In a word, "Eleven Punk."

Wu Chen’s AE86 is inconspicuous.

The female warriors are also stepping out for the first time. The three of them have never seen the full scope of the City of Fragments, so their shock is understandable. The technological level of the story worlds they originally came from was far behind that of the City of Fragments. When scenes they had only glimpsed in sci-fi movies and games appeared before them with such vivid reality, they felt as if they were in a dream. This is also a way to cope with the mental shock and preserve one's self.

The massive scale of the city also makes individual humans feel incredibly small and humble.

"Master?" Lin Baiyu has a question.

"What is it?" Wu Chen knows well that having left their familiar social circles and conventional worldviews, jumping into the City of Fragments has caused not just their knowledge, but their entire worldview to expand rapidly.

"Why is it called the City of Fragments?" Lin Baiyu asks. In such a prosperous future city, there is not a single sign of decay.

"The term 'fragments' doesn't refer to the decay of the city. It refers to the fact that this city before us is pieced together from countless shards of different (story) worlds," Wu Chen offers his explanation.

"Shards from different worlds..." As a former famous streamer, Lin Baiyu expresses her understanding: "It’s like a broken mirror being pieced back together, shard by shard."

"A mirror is just a flat surface, after all. You can think of it as a shattered 'crystal ball' being pieced back together. And these shards come from different worlds; they aren't even from the same crystal ball," Wu Chen continues her train of thought, providing a more vivid answer.

"So that's how it is," Lin Baiyu understands: "In that case, I am also a 'shard' from a different world."

"That's right," Wu Chen smiles and replies: "We all are."

"Then why are you my Master? And what is the relationship between us?" This is Lin Baiyu’s question regarding their hierarchy.

This is a mandatory question that almost every citizen of a sanctuary is asked, and Wu Chen has his own reflections: "We are all 'memory units' of this fragmented world before us. In terms of proving our existence and continuing our memories, there is no difference between us. The bond between a Master and a follower might just be a 'tether of memory'."

"What happens if we forget?" asks Kugui Kikuko. Through the internal channel of Base 0326, everyone can communicate.

"To forget is to be erased by the world," Wu Chen replies.

"Then, everyone, please remember each other well," Kugui Kikuko says with a light tone.

Lin Baiyu asks softly with a smile: "Who is the Master’s most profound memory?"

"Chun-Li," Wu Chen replies with a smile.

"Master answered so quickly, it’s quite suspicious," Kugui Kikuko interjects again.

"Not at all," Wu Chen smiles faintly. His master, Die Wu, had passed the fire ten times. In every character setup, Chun-Li was a mandatory choice. This time is no exception. When it comes to deep memories, in Wu Chen’s heart, no one can surpass Chun-Li.

The Xuanhuan, Fantasy, Magic, and Sci-Fi spiral zones intertwine and swirl toward the pinnacle of the city. Between the four-system spirals, one can clearly see a boundary line. This is known as the "Spiral Edge," a chaotic zone that players from all systems try their best to avoid.

Although it is fraught with danger, there are always those willing to take the risk. "Edge Smuggling" has emerged as a result. There is only one item smuggled: Sanctuary Coins.

The method of smuggling is simple: players carry them along.

The reason is simple: Sanctuary Coins are the only currency that transcends factions and is used by all players.