"Why are you thinking so much? Is this typical human thinking? So old-fashioned." The adventurer shook his head. "Humans initially used stones to record information, then switched to paper, and later computers. Young man, times are changing, so why care about the constantly changing containers?"
“We can’t rely on those old methods to carry our new civilization.” The adventurer pointed to himself. “I am still me, a more perfect me. Would you rather live forever as data, or turn to dust in a few decades?”
Do you understand what I'm saying?
“To put it another way,” Jiang Ran replied, “you first need to figure out whether your current self is the same as your previous self. If the answer to this question is no, then the question becomes whether you want to die decades from now or die right now!”
"Stubborn fool!" The adventurer's gaze began to turn dangerous. "You're already standing here, are you still trying to desert?"
“Hey, don’t try to pin this on me—” Jiang Ran leaned against the windowsill, looking down without even glancing at the adventurers. “I never said I was going to accept this so-called ascension. I just came here to see what you call eternity is. But it seems like it’s not very interesting.”
"Are you looking down on us?" the adventurer approached. "You're just a weak human; even the weakest weapons in the city could easily tear you apart!"
"I'm just stating the facts." Jiang Ran turned around, smiling as he met the adventurer's gaze. "Besides, how can you be considered 'perfect'?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like when I entered this place yesterday, it was completely empty. This proves that you can't project images all the time, right?"
"Hmph, ignorant!" the adventurer scoffed. "The terminal will arrange the worlds we want for us, and we spend most of our time in them. External projections are just a way to reminisce about the past. What we have is far richer than you can imagine!"
"You have quite a rich virtual world to choose from, don't you?"
"That's the truth for us!"
"Real? Is it?" Jiang Ran took a step forward. "Then let me ask you, after becoming like you now, have you ever truly stepped out of the deserted city? Even in this state? No, right? Don't you feel at all that you're in—"
"Like a cage?"
"Watch your mouth! Don't forget where you are!" the adventurer roared. "We've all genuinely accepted our current identities! No one rejects this place! Your attempts to sow discord are futile!"
"What a beautiful roar. Are you trying to show me once again that you have feelings?" Jiang Ran stepped forward again, but the adventurer remained standing, not retreating. "What a pity. Everything about you is controlled by the terminal, isn't it?"
"Then—even altering your emotions, or even your memories, would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?"
"Nonsense!"
"Don't rush to refute me. Think about it first: are you saying these words sincerely, or is it something that the higher-ups want you to say?" Jiang Ran spread his arms. "See? You don't know, and I don't know either. Do you want me to be something I can't even control?"
"Is it the terminals that serve you, or you that serve the terminals?"
"Looks like there's no need for us to discuss this!" The adventurer waved, and gun barrels instantly appeared in the wall. "I'll give you two choices: one, join us; two, die here!"
"Is there a difference between these two options? Look, didn't you just start refuting me without even thinking? — Forget it, what's the point of talking to a bunch of data? With so many instruments here, would you dare to fire a gun?"
Jiang Ran walked straight forward and grabbed one of the gun barrels.
"If you don't dare to fire a bullet, the gun becomes a useless toy."
The adventurer frowned but did not take any further action.
"If you don't want to, you can leave now!"
"How can I guarantee that you won't turn your guns on me after I leave?" Jiang Ran smiled. "Don't be so hasty. Are you calculating my possible next move? You can't predict it. Hmm... let me think, why do you insist on having me as one of you? One more or one less makes no difference, right?"
"Because we initially wanted to bring you along on your glorious evolution! Unfortunately, you rejected us!"
“Don’t joke around—” Jiang Ran wiped the barrel of his gun. “Without a human brain, you have already locked down the path of progress. All technological advancements are based on calculations of existing memories. How long has it been since you added any new members? If I join you, you will get all my memories, including recent developments in the outside world and the technologies I may possess.”
"So-called ascension is nothing but imprisonment. But you guys are a little better than that guy on the other side. At least you can barely be called 'immortal,' right? Well, barely."
"We've sacrificed so much for this evolution! And you dare to dismiss it with a single sentence! It's unforgivable!"
[Rule 8: If you are in the deserted city, please do not damage any electronic devices. Please do not bring up any topics related to "gods" in the deserted city. You are free to move around the city during the day. Once night falls, please refer to Rule 6.]
"You're working so hard—" Jiang Ran leaned closer, "are you trying to get closer to 'God'?"
"God...God?! What nonsense are you spouting?!"
The adventurer trembled, and the entire tower began to shake!
"That kind of thing! That ethereal and intangible thing! How can it be compared to us!"
"This is a miracle from the [Armed]!"
Jiang Ran smashed the window and, pulling Gwen and Alice, leaped into the air!
A flying vehicle appeared, carrying three people!
Amidst the thunderous roar of artillery fire, Alice unleashed a net in the air to defend against the barrage!
The entire city was on high alert, and countless tracking missiles flew toward the location of the three, but the number was meaningless; these things were not enough to break through Alice's defenses!
"Then hurry up!"
Jiang Ran quickly descended to a lower altitude and broke through a first-floor window!
These projected thoughts could do nothing, and once Jiang Ran entered the giant tower, all the defensive weapons were unable to pursue him over a large area, and were restricted everywhere!
"bring it on--"
Jiang Ran shattered the bottom cover with a single shot. What he meant by not damaging electronic equipment was nothing more than attracting a city-wide manhunt. Other ghost storytellers might be afraid, but Jiang Ran wasn't!
"The cards I have determine how I should play them!"
Jiang Ran arrived at the very bottom of the giant tower!
A huge device appeared before his eyes!
This is—the terminal!
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