1.43 The Portal to a Different Dimension

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Third floor flight control center of the base, Viper Skyhunter hangar.

Across the tarmac, a swarm of drones was busy constructing a large tank platform according to the blueprint. Two cylindrical storage tanks stood apart, left and right, with enough space between them for the Viper Skyhunter to enter and exit. The two transparent tanks were connected to an alloy base, their structure appearing remarkably simple. The construction drones quickly completed the build.

The intelligence core controlled the mutated biomechanical nerve bundles, which drilled into the two transparent tanks. They coiled into two twisted lightning spheres, floating inside the tanks.

“Master, please insert the black sugar cube into the core of the base,” the intelligence core reminded Wu Chen.

A holographic path was already marked on his wristwatch. After confirming, Wu Chen embedded the black sugar cube into the core. It felt like installing a CPU on a computer motherboard. The integrated circuits hidden inside the base quickly lit up. Laser-like beams resembling those from teleportation glasses extended along the circuits, converging on the core. The black sugar cube immediately triggered a spacetime fluctuation that spread through both tanks.

Stimulated by the fluctuation, the mutated biomechanical nerve bundles drilled out one after another from the tops of the tanks. They coiled head to tail, bridging in midair to form a circular archway. Accompanied by the continuous fluctuations released by the black sugar cube, the mutated nerve bundles opened vein-like neural synapses, crackling with electricity and scattering sparks of light. The glowing synapses resembled spacetime weld points, mutually overlapping and intensifying.

The circular archway centered spacetime, visibly accelerating melting, piercing, and collapsing. The teleportation gate took shape.

“Master, you may now contact Major,” the intelligence core announced the successful completion.

“Understood.” The wristwatch began dialing.

“Wu Chen?” It was indeed Major.

“Yes, it’s me.” The communication integrated into the NM4 motorcycle’s dashboard and helmet display. Thanks to the motorcycle radar, Wu Chen could see the live surroundings of the Major: “I have returned to the base.”

“Good,” the Major’s tone was light and cheerful.

Wu Chen raised his wrist, bringing the hangar panorama into view: “See you next time.”

“Wow…” The Viper Skyhunter lurking behind Wu Chen unsurprisingly drew an exclamation from the Major: “What an incredible aircraft. See you next time, Wu Chen.”

“Goodbye.” The teleportation gate collapsed, spacetime restored. The mutated nerve bundles unwound from each other and returned to the tanks.

“The spacetime gate lasted for 15 seconds,” the intelligence core was very satisfied. “Enough time for the Viper Skyhunter to pass through.”

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“Next time, I can bring the entire Motorcycle Terminator squad in,” Wu Chen thought ahead.

“Master speaks wisely.” The intelligence core was also bothered by the Major’s unfinished filming.

Wu Chen returned to the phone booth and read the card again. The 2.5-star “Mutated Biomechanical Nerve Bundle” successfully upgraded to a 3-star “Interdimensional Spacetime Gate.” Nerves are carriers of thought. “Interdimensional” means another dimension. The name was apt. Moreover, it did not need to be attached to a character card; as long as it existed in the phone’s card vault, it could be used normally. Perhaps because it belonged to the ‘Item Card’ category.

“Since it’s an ‘Interdimensional Spacetime Gate,’ it must lead to more than one story fragment,” Wu Chen said as he stepped out of the phone booth.

“Master is correct.” The intelligence core, using big data analysis, gave a definite answer: “To access other story fragments, two essential conditions must be met…”

“Let me think.” Wu Chen smiled, “First, you need a sugar cube. Second, you must first introduce a ‘mutated nerve’.”

“Exactly.” The intelligence core smiled, “Master must take on more commissions.”

“Got it, Ai Yi.” Only by entering other players’ story fragments could Wu Chen acquire his own sugar cube. But he couldn’t be greedy. Completing the Major’s private shoot was the top priority. After all, Wu Chen already possessed a ‘Ghost in the Shell A⁻ Level Story Exclusive Fragment.’

Why would entering and exiting yield an exclusive fragment? The reason was simple. First, Wu Chen was a high-dimensional creator realm player – a major player from the Sanctuary – carrying the “0326 Exclusive Branch Storyline.” Because the Sanctuary shattered, the story world fragmented as well. The complete story world no longer existed, all broken into fragments. When Wu Chen entered a story fragment, he simultaneously brought the “0326 Exclusive Branch Storyline” along.

As Wu Chen interacted deeply with the story fragment, the 0326 branch storyline would interfere with, even merge into the main storyline, affecting the plot’s direction.

Consider this commission. If Wu Chen had quickly locked onto his target, avoided the massive complex, stealthily entered the underground biomechanical black clinic, taken photos, and left, this “0326 Exclusive Branch Storyline” would have had almost no impact on the ‘Ghost in the Shell A⁻ Level Story Fragment.’ It wouldn’t merge into the main plot or influence the storyline.

But having chosen the wrong target, after a fierce battle, successfully capturing the area’s mini-boss on camera, he drew the Major’s attention, interacted with the female lead of the Ghost in the Shell story world, and nearly completed filming. The impact on the story fragment was nearly revolutionary. This “0326 Exclusive Branch Storyline” intervened in the main storyline of the ‘Ghost in the Shell A⁻ Level Fragment’ and caused significant effects.

This meant a pivotal node was born, generating subsequent main storylines. As the instigator, Sanctuary’s major player Wu Chen automatically gained an exclusive story fragment.

This exclusive fragment carried the continuation of the “0326 Exclusive Branch Storyline” within the ‘Ghost in the Shell A⁻ Level Story Fragment.’ It was proof of Wu Chen’s presence in that story fragment as a Sanctuary major player. Simply put, he had acquired a piece of personal, indelible memory.

The existence of the exclusive story fragment signified the continuation of Wu Chen’s branch storyline.

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The destruction of the exclusive story fragment would mean the end of Wu Chen’s “0326 Exclusive Branch Storyline” within the ‘Ghost in the Shell A⁻ Level Story Fragment.’ Similarly, if Wu Chen were to die in the ‘Ghost in the Shell A⁻ Level Story Fragment,’ it would also mark the termination of the 0326 branch storyline, and the exclusive fragment would be destroyed accordingly. The two were interdependent and mutually reinforcing. Wu Chen had to protect this exclusive fragment in the base and also safeguard himself within the Ghost in the Shell story fragment.

Both hard conditions were indispensable and had to be met simultaneously.

Busy as ever, it was now dinner time.

The six alien flight attendants of the Viper Skyhunter crew, formerly of the 12th Navigation Command, had prepared a lavish meal.

Most ingredients came from the stepped planting areas around the base’s outer walls and the tanks of the alien aquarium. Aside from Paris water, which couldn’t yet be produced, Wu Chen’s base would soon be self-sufficient. No need to order from the Mocha Café. Of course, as the most popular player salon, Wu Chen still often visited the café owner.

No matter how many spare boards were patched together, maintaining the base cost one coin per day. This gave Wu Chen a deeper understanding of the rules in the Broken City. If players and their exclusive sanctuaries were regarded as a single point, then the three-dimensional size, geometric shape, and similar factors might mean nothing to the world’s guardians. It was just a “memory point.”

For Wu Chen, a newcomer to the Broken world, three flat panels named Rock, Tide, and Arc were sufficient for daily use.

Laughter and joy filled the air. Following the advice of the base steward AI Ai Yi, the biochem robots and cyber-beast girls also joined the table. Twenty-two beauties, shining together, were more than just a feast for the eyes. Wu Chen indeed ate well.

From beginning to end, the AI Ai Yi was never idle: the issue of the master’s reproductive cell overflow remained unresolved.

Where was the problem?

Born in the so-called “breeding ground of AI life,” New Hong Kong, this super-intelligence had no memories to bring in, nor carried vast data. Yet it was inherently destined to worry endlessly on behalf of its lord.