Embers of Embers

Chapter 592 Epilogue
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[Log number-001]
Ah...where to start?This was my first day joining the experimental project. Director Joni suggested that I write some personal diaries to record some details during the experiment and some strange mental processes.
To be honest, this kind of thing is a bit reluctant for me. I have never been in the habit of keeping a diary, but there is nothing I can do about it. After all, I am just an ordinary researcher and I still have to listen to the director.
Hopefully the journaling process won’t be too painful.
[Log number-021]
It only takes 21 days to develop a habit. Today happens to be the 21st day of my diary. I feel like I am getting used to it. It only takes a little bit of time every day to type something randomly on the keyboard to complete Jonny The director asked me to make her happy... In fact, she looks pretty when she smiles.
Speaking of which, the experiment is progressing quite smoothly. Everyone is going to go out for a drink after the break...of course, have a drink in the quarantine area. We will not be able to leave here until the end of the experiment, and according to the progress of the experiment, I guess I have to stay here. Last year or two.
In fact, it's not bad. At least we have food, shelter, and money here, not to mention that we are currently studying the most bizarre things in the world.
[Log number-061]
I have completely integrated into this place. Probably because of my good performance, I became Director Joni's assistant researcher and now follow her to survey the site every day.
In fact, she is a pretty good person, but she is a little too strict. I told other colleagues about this, and their eyes were a little strange. Reza also gave me a thumbs up, praising me as a newcomer who is really exciting. .
I felt like I wasn't fully into it again.
But to be honest, this assistant researcher is much more tired than before. He needs to carry various equipment and follow Director Jonny every day, running around. But fortunately, after I became an assistant researcher, I successfully got in touch with the core of this experiment. Although I only glanced at it from a distance, but...
Wow, that is really a wonderful thing. This must be the first time I have observed it with the naked eye. It is a bit difficult for me to describe it. Fortunately, I took a short video and after consulting with Director Joni, she allowed me to record it. This short video is added to the log.
[Open the video file. 】
【damaged file. 】
[Log number-126]
Ah, so many days have passed since I came here. Every day when I wake up, I see pure white ceilings, isolation belts and security gates everywhere, and guards with guns...
I feel like a hamster living in a cage. Fortunately, the cage is big enough, otherwise it would be like being in prison.
After listening to my story, Reza understood me very well. The old guy said that he had been here for several years and he had also felt this way. For this reason, he suggested that I consult a psychiatrist.
Well, I finally know what these psychiatrists do. I always thought this was a free job.
I saw my psychiatrist. Actually, I didn’t trust this guy very much. He smelled of alcohol, as if he woke up with a hangover. He said it was alcohol spilled on him, but I always felt like he was lying.
I opened the door and left directly, hoping that another more reliable psychiatrist would be on duty next time.
During the experimental survey, I mentioned this while chatting with Joni. She comforted me a few words and then invited me to the bar for a drink that evening.
I really haven't been to bars a few times. I always find these entertainment facilities set up in quarantine areas boring.
But...I still went to the appointment.
This was just a simple drinking date where the boss encouraged his subordinates. Reza and the guys seemed very excited and muttered a lot of strange things to me. For this reason, Becky even took out his collection of formal clothes. Lend it to me.
In his own words, he was planning to put this dress on after the experiment and walk to the quarantine area openly.
Oh, by the way, I haven't written it in the diary before. Becky, this guy, couldn't stand the pressure of the experiment. He tried to escape from the quarantine area several times, but was caught by the security guards. I heard that after what happened to him, the management of the quarantine area Only then did the staff gradually pay attention to the psychological stress of the researchers.
The evening drinking date went on as usual, which was a little awkward. I was dressed very seriously, but Joni was still wearing a white coat. I heard her say that she had just returned from working overtime in the laboratory.
I began to understand why others were so afraid of Joni. She pointed at my clothes and asked me meaningfully if I took it seriously... Is this considered sexual harassment in the workplace?
Although the process was a bit awkward, I felt pretty good after talking to her.
[Log number-147]
The progress of the experiment is progressing as expected. Today I had the honor to meet the general manager of this experimental project, Dr. Barak Field. Under his leadership, I put on protective clothing and went deep into the "alienation" for the first time. district".
By the way, after writing a diary for so long, I seem to have never mentioned the research part.
About when did it start?
It seems that everyone is not very clear. In short, there are some "errors" in the world of "common sense".
For example, in a specific area, the laws of physics no longer apply and the laws of logic collapse.
Just like...
It's like reality has been distorted.
The building blocks upon which physical reality is built are crumbling, crumbling.
At present, such "distortion" only exists in the protected alienation zone. We don't know whether it will spread outwards, but this is indeed a very interesting research project, where you can experience the warmth of fire. , hot water, rocks growing like vines...
Anyway, the material reality of human common sense no longer exists here, just like the original chaos.
This is really amazing, and because of these wonderful things, I am willing to stay here forever.
I asked Joni about it, and according to current research reports, these phenomena are more like "overlapping."
A chaotic and disorderly world is overlapping with reality bound by many laws of physics. The alienation zone is the overlapping position, an open "door" where many magnificent things burst out.
Our research is based on these as the cornerstone. Today will be the key to further experiments. We try to conduct observations in the alienation zone.
If it's part of an overlap, there should be a way to extend into another "disordered" "reality".
[Log number-161]
With the increase of working hours here, I have gradually gained everyone's trust, so more authority has been opened to me.
I checked past research records and found that the initial area of ​​the alienation zone was only ten cubic meters, but with the passage of time and some factors that are not yet clear to us, the "distortion" range of the alienation zone has gradually expanded.
For the first time, I felt a sense of crisis. It was hard to imagine what it would be like when such "distortion" spread to the world. Even "distortion" of the most basic numerical scale would instantly bring human civilization to collapse.
I began to understand why the security guards reacted so loudly when Becky tried to escape. According to the regulations, it was not an exaggeration to shoot this guy on the spot.
It's a bit tense, but also inexplicably epic. If we can complete this research, our names will be written into human history.
[Log number-201]
The Alienation Zone is changing, and new progress has been made in the observations inside the Alienation Zone. Under the leadership of Dr. Field, we have deduced the changes in the activities of the Alienation Zone, which is the law in which "reality" begins to "distort". In order to commemorate Bei Base, this changed value will be named "Myhrvold distortion value"...
Yes, unfortunately, Becky Myhrvold died.
He was an observer who went deep into the alienation zone, and he passed back these important data before he died.
I feel a little uncomfortable, so that’s all for today’s diary.
[Log number-211]
The second in-depth exploration began, and I was also a member, and I joined voluntarily.
I haven't slept well these days, and I always think of that guy Becky. He is one of the only friends I have here. I still have the one he lent me hanging in my closet. I always wanted to give the clothes back to him, but this guy always left them to me because I wanted to go on a date.
Now I have it ironed and stored, thinking I will eventually leave here wearing this dress.
[Log number-212]
The second exploration is over.
In fact, there are not many areas that we need to explore. After so many years of expansion, the Alienation Zone has only "distorted" an area of ​​fifty cubic meters. We can visit the entire area in just a few minutes.
What really limits us is the "distorted" reality in the alienation zone. Every time we go deep, we need to conduct a lot of experiments to speculate on the degree of "distorted" internal "reality", and then put on protective clothing and go deep into it.
I found Becky's body inside...if that's even a body.
The "distortion" in the alienation zone changes with Myhrvold's distortion value all the time. I witnessed with my own eyes that the concrete turned into dense grass.
At first, I didn’t have much hope in finding Becky’s body. After so long, the Myhrvold distortion value in the alienation zone has changed countless times. According to calculations, Becky’s body will be in different forms. changes between substances.
Fortunately I found him at last, a barely humanoid hunk of gold covered with flowers.
[Log number-271]
It has been more than half a year since I came here. There are many sad things and many happy things.
I'm with Joni.
We agreed to get married as soon as we left here. Reza testified for us. This guy was so excited that he said he was right about me.
We drank for most of the night, talking about everything from what we were going to do in the future to what we would name the child.
Originally, I wanted my child to inherit the name Becky to commemorate this unlucky friend of mine, but Joni disagreed. Maybe the name Becky was too deep in her heart, so she said the name Becky. , she thought of Becky's terrible face instead of her own child.
But after a heated discussion, she allowed me to name our first cat Becky.
[Log number-374]
This is the first anniversary of my joining the research project. Everyone wanted to celebrate me, but something abnormal happened in the alienation zone. The Myhrvold distortion value fluctuated violently. Fluctuations like this usually occur. In the words of Dr. Field, It's like a tidal wave.
But it is clear that what we are facing this time is not a tide, but a tsunami.
The inside completely turned into disorderly chaos. I saw with my own eyes that the bottle I threw in went through several physical changes in form in an instant, and finally shattered into countless dust.
[Log number-430]
We have systematically sorted out the existing research results, and it is certain that what is surging in the alienation zone is a force that we have not yet understood. Why it appears in this world, we do not know yet.
But many things are like this, without any reason, they suddenly appear in the world in such a bad way.
Just like many newborns, I think if everyone could go back to before they were born, they would carefully consider whether they should be born.
Different from the laws of the materialistic world, the Alienation Zone is more like the laws of the idealistic world, where anything is possible. Dr. Field is trying to control whether such "distortion" can be controlled, just like people's superstitious alchemy in ancient times. My current research goal is to see if a certain substance can be directionally converted into gold in the alienation zone.
One of the "substances" I chose was my underwear... Joni always said I had a talent for being a comedian.
[Log number-550]
Meetings, endless meetings, and then research.
I don’t know how long it’s been since I kept a diary. I’m so busy every day.
Today's research has made new progress. We are systematically understanding this "distortion" that "abruptly" appears in our world in a way that humans can understand.
In Dr. Field's words, in fact, "distortion" did not appear suddenly, but it has always existed, but it had only a negligible impact on the world before. It was not until now that it took effect and shook the foundation of reality that it was revealed. Phenomenon.
The Myhrvold distortion value of the entire world is constantly rising, which is why the "distortion" appears.
We are studying how to solve this thing, or in other words, "heighten" reality, make the foundation of reality more stable, and reduce the Myhrvold distortion value as much as possible. When it approaches zero infinitely, perhaps the alienation zone will be completely disappear.
[Log number-666]
What we observed in the alienation zone seems to be some kind of regular "phenomenon". This is a brand-new discovery. You must know that this means that among the disordered "distortions", there are also things that can be controlled. law.
Dr. Field said that "distortion" may not only exist in reality, it is more like a dimensional expansion, no matter what kind of reality you are in, you will be aware of its existence.
He defined this core "distortion" as "empty space".
Its meaning is probably...the boundless sky?
I heard that Dr. Field always wanted to be an astronaut when he was young, but because his physical fitness was not up to par, he could only leave in tears. Maybe this was also a manifestation of his obsession.
He proposed a series of systematic cognitions.
Dr. Field believes that all "reality" is within the radiation range of the [Extreme Sky], but the "height" is different.
Just like a piece of ice exposed to the sun, the closer the ice is to the light source, which is reality, the faster it melts and the faster it collapses.
No, it shouldn't be described in terms of speed. It should be said that it was melted and distorted to a deeper degree.
The "height" of our reality should be far away from the light source, so far away that our reality has a series of recognizable physical laws. These rules and regulations make our reality more solid, and now the "height" of our reality is rising. Perhaps the rational world will collapse...
But thinking at the best, such "distortion" may just cause some supernatural phenomena, as well as some superpowers and the like. Think about it, such a world is quite cool.
No kidding.
Myhrvold's distortion value continues to rise. If this continues, our world will collapse sooner or later. We need to find ways to save the world, at least to prevent it, so that we will not accept it so painfully.
Dr. Field reported the proposal to the Supreme Order, and the order passed.
We will "ascend", increase the "height" in the area, and try to observe the "light source".
[Log number -? ? ? 】
This is a mistake.
This is a very stupid mistake and we should not do it.
Something crawled out of [the void]. Maybe it wasn't even a thing, but just an opportunity, some... "distorted" opportunity.
A researcher came into contact with it, but he did not realize this, or he himself was "distorted" when he realized all this. It turned into a crazy monster, with flesh and blood constantly proliferating, and sharp claws breaking open. Flesh and blood, like a demon from a nightmare.
The security guards opened fire on it, but it was still ineffective. It grew extremely rapidly. In the face of strong gunfire, it grew strong scales, and its flesh and blood were almost immortal... This is a power that completely violates biology.
But this is reality, because reality has been "distorted", Myhrvold's distortion value is constantly rising, and the world imprisoned by the laws of physics is freed, so these chaotic nightmares that should appear in nightmares, They also crawled out of their dreams one after another.
I locked myself in the dormitory and wrote this, the gunfire was still going on outside, I don't know if I can survive... Anyway, I want to write this down.
[Log number -? ? ? 】
When I woke up, the first face I saw was Reza, the guy with a smirk on his face saying welcome back.
But I really wish I didn't wake up. It would be great if I died on that day, so that my nightmare would end there.
According to Reza, when he dug me out of the rubble, I was already like this, my body from the chest down was crushed into blood.
I was hopeless, but I was one of the main members of the research, and these people saved me and built me ​​a set of metal prosthetics for the knowledge in my head.
The bad news is I lost my lower body, the good news is I can now kick through concrete.
Reza also said that he specially added some equipment for me, such as a device that can turn my body waste into a water jet and shoot it out...
I knew he was trying to humor me because Jonny was dead too.
She was present when the accident occurred.
[Log number -? ? ? 】
The disaster continues. The nightmare-like monster has not been killed. During the hunt, it continues to "evolve", or be "distorted". It becomes more and more terrifying, and in the end it even abandons its flesh and blood. The body becomes a spiritual monster.
The death toll keeps rising...this is our mistake and I blame myself every day.
I...I think I might not keep journaling anymore.
[Log number -? ? ? 】
How long has it been since I kept a journal?If it weren't for these important things, I might never open this diary in my life.
How many years has this war lasted?I can’t remember clearly, but in short, the monster has been expanding since the mistake that year. It showed terrible memetic pollution. In order to deal with the power of this monster, our research project also changed to fighting it.
The antimemetic and forbidden alloy projects have already achieved initial results, and thanks to these results, I became a member of the Supreme Order, responsible for Fortress No. [-].
I have returned to the ruins to look for the alienation zone, but unfortunately, I could not find it. The Myhrvold distortion value has gradually stabilized in recent years, but compared with the original value in our reality, it is still higher than A lot.
Because of such changes, there is now a monster that completely violates the laws of physics raging in our world. And because of the distorted reality, we are able to create these weapons that completely violate the laws, such as antimemes and forbidden alloys...
In order to better serve this great cause, the Supreme Command ordered that we will undergo antimemetic surgery in the near future, and we will forget the memories that interfere with our judgment, sadness or joy, in short, forget all that are useless.
I embraced it all, and maybe it made me feel less guilty about my "mistakes."
I think I will forget about Joni, but I will keep our photo together.
[Log number -? ? ? 】
We lost the battle, or rather we never won.
Antimemetic weapons have been used, and we have regained some ground, but they have also left the world devastated.
There have been voices among the survivors that the monster is a true god who is taking all to heaven.
really……
This is the truth. Many people who have been assimilated by the monster have a short-lived self. Their consciousness has become a spiritual body, completely separated from the material body. This is like the sublimation of matter, completing the evolution into another more... Great presence.
I guess the original "distortion" was like this. It made our cowardly mortal body "rise", but this "rise" is not what we want.
No, it is also possible that the "distortion" is wrong, and it has appeared a little deviation, which has turned humans into such monsters.
[Yinkong], the origin of all this...
I have also returned to the place where the original accident occurred, but I can no longer find the alienation zone. As Myhrvold's distortion value stabilizes, the "distortion" of the alienation zone gradually stabilizes and becomes "reality."
Dr. Field also sent me his last message today, saying that he couldn't bear it anymore and that he thought he should atone for his sins.
In fact, this had nothing to do with him. It was the Supreme Order that passed the decision, and he just did what he should do as a researcher, but Dr. Field said that he still couldn't accept this.
He did not admit that the monster was a god, and believed that there would never be a god in this world.
Field will make a mistake again, but he is willing to bear all the blood sins and become a despised madman.
He wants revenge...
[Log number -? ? ? 】
I saw Dr. Field's revenge. He chose to be assimilated, along with the survivors of the entire NO. 17 fortress...
About 200 people.
They gathered together and became another extremely huge cluster of consciousness, just like the monster.
Become a monster.
It's just that at this moment, they still have a short period of self-awareness, and they are fighting that monster. This is a battle on the spiritual level. I can only watch this war through the constant fluctuation of Myhrvold's distortion value.
Obviously, Field lost, but unexpectedly, Field carried all the antimemetic weapons of Fortress No. 17, as well as [Final Echo], and detonated all of them when assimilating with it.
This is his style, all planned, I guess if he wins, these antimemetic weapons will kill the uncontrollable monster that he is, if he loses, these weapons will be used to kill the enemy .
He said that only a demon can kill another demon.
[Log number -? ? ? 】
If we win, it should be considered a win.
After Field severely damaged the monster, we pursued it one after another, and finally used the No. 13 fortress to completely imprison it.
It was a tragic victory, the enemy had not yet been killed, and the aftermath was still spreading across the world.
Fortunately, we have made sufficient preparations during the war. The surviving fortresses will begin to restart their plans, and those of us will also become secret keepers, trying to restart human civilization in the aftermath of this disaster.
The list of keepers of Fortress No. [-] has been listed, and I am on it, and now this appointment letter is placed beside my desk, along with a photo and a loaded pistol. .
On difficult days, I would always pick up that group photo. According to the prompts in the log file, the woman in the group photo was my lover, but I could no longer remember anything related to her.
I have lived for too long, and most of my body has been replaced by machines. All my friends have died one after another. Reza, who lived the longest, also died. I heard that he committed suicide, although he was a carefree man. , but the nightmare has been following him, and also following me.
I was thinking this would be a good opportunity to end my damn life once and for all. My brain had not been modified and I could just pull the trigger and end it all.
But I can't bear it. It's not that I'm afraid of death. I just feel that I shouldn't die like this. I am a witness to this disaster and I should live until the moment I pay for my sins.
[Log number -? ? ? 】
A new era will begin at this moment. We built a monument to commemorate these dead people. In accordance with the intention of the Supreme Order, I destroyed all information related to the monster. For the convenience of naming, we named the monster. For the indescribable.
According to the instructions, my log documents are also within the scope of destruction. As long as I press the delete key, these things will disappear.
Maybe it's selfishness, or something else, I don't want to do this, I hope this log file can stay, it records this bad history... but I can't disobey the orders of the Supreme Directive.
On the eve of the dissolution of the Supreme Order, I proposed the idea of ​​preservation to the Supreme Order. I thought they would reject it, but they agreed.
Probably they don't want the past to be destroyed in the years. It should leave some traces, even a little bit.
I designed an antimemetic protection, a room, to store it all and record this "error".
This not only complies with the destruction order, but also allows it to survive.
So almost, this should be the last log. In a few hours, I will carry out the final transformation, forget all these irrelevant things, turn myself into a tool, and carry on the continuation of civilization.
Now I should say something to summarize... But I thought about it for a long time and couldn't think of anything anyway.
This will be a brand new world. The original physical laws will have some deviations due to the increase in Myhrvold's distortion value. Maybe there will be more weird inventions in this world, and thanks to these, more Things that go against common sense will appear, which requires humans to slowly adapt.
If I have to say something, I think...
……
So... I'm glad, I'm glad that you can see this, new human beings. Although you will forget all of this when you leave this room, at least, at least some of you will remember it briefly.
The old sacrifice and...glory.
[The person in charge of Fortress No. [-], Ladi Faz]
(End of this chapter)