Player 1

Chapter 25 Level 2(4)
"I think what you should say is good evening. It's 80:[-]. According to Oasis standard time, today is December [-]th, Wednesday." In the [-]s, because computer technology was still It wasn't enough to create Max, so he was actually played by a real person (Matt Flivwer), but the Max I see now has already fulfilled the dream of people back then.Its virtual AI and voice recognition capabilities are nothing short of miraculous.

I've been running this custom build of Supermax 3.4.1 for a few weeks now.The assistant I used before that was modeled after actress Eileen Gray (Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Fortune), but she was distractingly sexy, So I switched to Max.Although he is a bit noisy, it also makes me feel less lonely.

I went into the bathroom to empty out my overnight stock while Max continued talking to me on a small screen in the mirror. "Er-oh! Looks like you've got a----- a hole in there!" he said.

"Next time a new meme." I said, "Any news?"

"As usual, wars, famines, viruses. You won't be interested."

"What about the information?"

He shook his head, "A few. As for what you really want to ask, no. Artemis hasn't called or messaged you back, poor guy."

"Hey, Max, I warned you, don't look for death."

"Don't get excited, don't get excited. Honestly, Wade. When did you get so-this-sensitive?"

"I'm going to delete you, Max, no kidding. I'm going to replace you with the voice of Wilma Deering [108], or Maggie Barrett [109]."

Max pouted and turned away.He always does.I intentionally made him a sarcastic personality because it reminded me of the time I spent with Edge.And that happy time is gone forever.

My eyes fell on the bathroom mirror, but I didn't like the person in the mirror very much, so I just closed my eyes until it was cleared.I've thought (and more than once) that maybe while painting the windows I should also give the mirror a shot.

The first hour after waking up is my least favorite time of day because I have to get back to reality during that time.I have to take care of myself during this time, and to do so is to deny the other world.I'm really living in an oasis, and everything in this little apartment, including the motion sensors and me in the mirror, suggests that I'm just stuck in a long dream.

"Pick up the chair," I said as I stepped out of the bathroom.The haptic chair immediately stood up, and I put on my mask and entered the gym.As a stand-alone simulation system, it can transmit my movements in the real world into the virtual world through the fitness system sensors.If I didn't get my workout done for the day, I'd be banned from Oasis so I couldn't really start the day.And when I'm logged out, the simulation monitors my diet and limits me from ordering too much food online.

I'm in the middle of a huge gym, surrounded by training equipment and scales, all of which work through my haptic suit.Today's fitness begins with sit-ups, push-ups, deep breathing and weightlifting.Occasionally Max would prod me by saying, "Keep your feet up, you s-a-a-scum! Move!"

After logging into "Oasis", my amount of exercise dropped sharply. I only had certain movements when I entered the melee combat state or when I was running. Most of the time I sat motionless on the haptic chair.And I also have a bad habit of eating a lot when I'm feeling down or depressed, unfortunately, I'm stuck in this state now, the result is obvious, I'm gradually gaining weight, due to The body shape is relatively bloated, and now the haptic chair and haptic suit are almost bursting.If this continues, I will soon have to buy a new body suit and a whole new chair.

Obviously, if I don't control my weight, I will probably die of physical problems before I find the easter egg.Such a result is too unacceptable, so I made up my mind and activated the physical status login verification of "Oasis", although I regretted it almost immediately...

Every day since then, the computer has monitored my vital signs and tracked my calorie burn.If the daily exercise tasks are not completed, the system will lock "Oasis".This meant I couldn't work, couldn't do quests, and even lost the world itself.Once activated, this verification cannot be canceled for two months.Moreover, this software is bound to my Oasis account, so the tricky method of changing the host to log in is useless.If I want to go online, the only way is to exercise first.

The systematic monitoring of diet is also extremely strict, and I can only choose food from the prescribed healthy low-calorie list every day.The system can help me order food online, so that the food will be delivered directly to the apartment, and since I don't leave the house, it is easy for the computer to monitor how much I eat in a day.If I order more food, the computer will force me to do more exercise to offset the extra calories.This software is really cruel.

This process is very painful, but it is also very effective. My fat has gradually disappeared. After more than a month after starting, my physical condition is finally out of the sub-healthy state.For the first time in my life, I have a healthy gut and muscles are starting to show.I have doubled my energy and cut my chances of getting sick in half.After two months, although the login restriction can be lifted, I decided to continue this kind of exercise.I mean, exercising has become an integral part of my routine.

After today's weight training, I said to Max, "Start your morning run, Rainbow Bridge."

The virtual gym is gone.Now I'm standing on a translucent runway suspended above a sea of ​​stars.Giant planets and colorful moons swirl around me.The runway stretched out in front of me, rising and falling.The transparent walls on both sides prevented me from rushing off the runway and falling into the abyss of stars.Rainbow Bridge Runway is another independent simulation system. There are hundreds of such programs in my hard drive.

After the full run, I removed my mask and the haptic suit.Care must be taken throughout the process not to damage the functional equipment of the suit.After taking off my clothes, I took out the spare set from the washing machine and threw the worn ones in to wash them.

Max had turned the shower on for me and it was getting the water just right.I went into the bathroom and heard Max start playing his shower song list.The first was John Waite's "Change", released by Geffen Records in 1985.

Taking a shower these days is a lot like washing a car in the past.I stood in the bathroom and waited for the machine to go through all the steps as it sprayed me with water and lather, rinsed, and dried.I don't have hair to wash because the machine sprays out a depilatory lotion that I apply all over my body, which saves me the time of cutting and shaving, and the removal of the hair makes me feel better Haptic suit.It's a little ugly without eyebrows, but no one will appreciate my honor anyway.

After the flusher stopped spraying water, the air dryer started to work, and within a few moments, all the liquid on my body was dried.I went into the kitchen, took out a can of compressed food from the refrigerator, a can of concentrated breakfast drink high in protein and vitamin D (to make up for my lack of sunlight), and as I swallowed, the computer silently adjusted my physical condition. It records, and by scanning the barcode, it records the calorie count of the food into the limit total for the day.I put on my clean tactile suit again after finishing my breakfast.It's quicker to put on than to take off, but still have to be careful.

After getting dressed, I command the haptic chair to stretch out.Then I stopped to look at the motion sensing equipment. When I first bought these high-tech hardware, I was very proud.But now I think the truth is just that: these things are just an elaborate sensory apparatus that transports me into worlds that don't even exist.Every function of it is helping me imprison myself.

Standing here, in this cramped one-person apartment, I couldn't escape reality.In the real world, I'm nothing more than a sociopath, an escapist, a pale pop culture techie, and an agoraphobic.I had no friends, no family, no real relationships.I'm just a sad, lost, lonely nerd addicted to video games.

But in Oasis, I am the great Parsifal, the most famous hunter in the world.Countless people have asked me for autographs, and I have more fan clubs than I can count on two hands.I am recognized everywhere I go (but only when I want to be recognized).Countless people adore me, they find me to endorse products, and invite me to the most luxurious parties in the world.I can go in and out of all the fanciest clubs at will.I'm a pop culture icon, a virtual world superstar.Also, in hunter circles, I am the legend itself.Yes, I am God.

I sit down and put on a mask and gloves.After the account verification is successful, the GSS logo appears in front of you, followed by the login prompt.

Welcome, Parsifal.

Please read your login password.

I cleared my throat, and every word and sentence appeared on the screen as I chanted: "No one in the world can get what they want, how wonderful it is.[110]"

After a while, I looked at the oasis scene around me and subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

0020
I'm at the control panel in the Bastion's command center.This is where I complete my nightly homework routine: stare blankly at the quatrain, then quit to sleep.I spent six months in a daze like this, and there was nothing I could do about this damn thing.Others have not been able to find an answer either.Everyone is solving the puzzle in their own way, but the emerald key is still missing, and the scoreboard remains unchanged.

The asteroid where the command center is located is privately owned by me, and I built a domed armored base on the rocky surface, and the command center is inside.From here I can see a 360-degree view outside and monitor the situation in all directions around me.The rest of the fortress is buried deep underground, extending all the way to the core of the asteroid.Having just moved to Columbus, I coded and built this base myself.I knew I needed a place to live without any neighbors, so I bought a cheap asteroid.This barren small asteroid is located in the NO.14 division, numbered S14A316, but I call it - Falcon.

The surface of the Falcon is only tens of square kilometers, but it still cost me a lot of money to buy it.Still, the deal was well worth it.Once you have your own world, you can build everything you want on it.And no one can come in without your permission, and I never gave anyone that permission.The fortress is my home in the oasis and the only safe place in the entire oasis.

After completing the login process, a window popped up on my screen telling me it was Election Day.Now that I am ready, I can participate in the oasis election and the US federal government election.But I have no interest in the latter, I don't know what the point of it is.This country was once great, but now it is a name, and it doesn't matter who holds power.Everyone knows that these politicians are like idiots scrambling for deck chairs on the sinking Titanic and won't make any difference to the ending.Besides, everyone can now vote from home via the Internet and "Oasis", so the only ones selected are flashy celebrities.

Still, I took my time with Oasis Vote, because their election results do affect me.The entire voting process took only a few minutes, after all I know very well the major issues facing GSS.I also voted for members of the Oasis User Council, but well, everyone knows who those candidates are.

After voting, I slightly adjusted my haptic chair and began to study the control panel in front of me.It has tons of switches, buttons, keyboards, joysticks and screens.A security display on my left is linked to virtual cameras inside and outside the fort; another on my right plays the news I watch most often.Among them is my own channel: Parsifal TV.It keeps showing those age-old TV shows, and all you have to do is select 24-7-365 to get this pile of electronic junk.

Earlier this year, GSS added a new feature to every Oasis user: POV (Personal Oasis Channel).From now on, no matter where in the world they are, everyone who is willing to pay a monthly fee can open their own live channel, and everyone who logs into "Oasis" can also watch other people's POV channels, and broadcast on their own POV channels. What you want to play is entirely up to you.Most people think of it as a "voyeur channel", a 24-hour reality show about themselves.Of course, you can limit your channel so that only authenticated friends can see it.You can also allow different viewers into your channel by time of day.Many second-rate stars and AV directors do this, and they charge by the minute.

Parsifal TV is not a voyeuristic channel.In fact, I never showed my face in front of the camera.I broadcast classic 80s TV shows, commercials, cartoons, MVs and movie selections on my channel.On weekends, I also show Japanese monster movies, and some theatrical anime.It doesn't matter what I broadcast, I'm one of the five tigers, so there are millions of viewers every day.This also gave me many opportunities to earn advertising fees.

Most of the people who watch my channel are hunters trying to find clues.But unfortunately, I never put the relevant information up.I went to playback settings, deleted Guinea Pigs, and put Gamela, my favorite monster TV show, on loop, which should please viewers.To fill in the gaps that were left of the day, I added a few more episodes of The Silver Spoon.

Artemis also has her channel: Artemis TV.I usually leave a display window just for it.Now it's playing a Monday night repertoire: "Square Nails."[112]Her programs are not updated much, but this does not affect the popularity of the channel. She also promotes her women's clothing on the channel, and the advertisement is really good.

After disturbing the night of the planet, Artemis cut off all contact with me.She blocks all my emails, videos and chat requests, and the blog is no longer updated.

I tried everything I could think of to contact her.I've been to her personal asteroid, Benata, numerous times.She has a heavily armored palace there.I have posted many sticky notes on the wall of her palace expressing my sincere heart.I once even stood in front of the fortress with a music box on my head, playing Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" at full volume for two full hours.

She hasn't been out, and I don't even know if she's home or not.

After Artemis abandoned me, I tried to reconnect with Edge, but things were different.We were separated from each other, and I knew it was my fault.Now we talk carefully, as if worried that something important might be lost.I could feel that he no longer trusted me.When I fell in love with Artemis, Edge also fell in love with the position at the top of the list.But a year after we passed the first door, everything about the Emerald Key remains a mystery.

The last time I had a conversation with him was a month ago and it ended in an argument.I remind Edge that he relied on me to find the brass key, and he stares at me for a moment before exiting the chat room.I stubbornly refused to bow my head and admit my mistake, but now it is too late, and we have almost completely parted ways.

(End of this chapter)