In the year 3025, Earth's population had soared beyond 30 billion. Despite this, humanity had not yet discovered any other habitable planets. Gigantic "honeycomb" buildings towered over the land, their hexagonal windows glowing with artificial light, casting long shadows over the scarce green spaces that dotted the landscape. The air was thick with the hum of machinery and the distant chatter of billions of voices, but the green spaces, once teeming with life, were now silent and desolate. More than 99% of the population had become homebodies, leaving the green spaces at the age of 12 and confining themselves to small rooms of less than 50 square meters for the rest of their lives. Unless they proved themselves to be exceptionally talented, they would have the opportunity to step out of their rooms.
13384521a was one such individual. At 25, he had already spent 13 years in this cramped space. The walls were lined with screens displaying various data streams and virtual environments, but the physical space was suffocatingly small. With a "bang," he angrily punched the display screen. Despite receiving genetic modifications from a young age and exercising diligently, his strength—enough to shatter the skull of a fierce tiger—was not enough to damage the sturdy screen. The frustration of his confined existence boiled over in that moment of futile rage.
Two days prior, 13384521a had taken the exam with full confidence, excelling in military quality, basic knowledge, and space knowledge. He had prepared meticulously, his mind sharp and his body honed to perfection. However, due to the overwhelming number of applicants, the passing score was raised, and he missed it by a single point. The news had hit him like a physical blow, leaving him reeling. He had to wait three long years for the next application, which felt like an eternity to him. Each day in his tiny room felt like a lifetime, a slow, agonizing crawl toward an uncertain future.
He longed for freedom, a real name, fresh air, and the experiences of love and family life. But reality disheartened him, and he eventually lay down in the nutrient cabinet, allowing the milky liquid to envelop his body, and with the music, he entered the virtual world. The nutrient cabinet was a cocoon of comfort, a temporary escape from the harsh realities of his existence. The liquid nourished his body, while the music soothed his mind, transporting him to a world where he could be anyone, do anything.
This virtual world was like a vast library, where each book represented a different realm. 13384521a had originally planned to visit the study area but somehow ended up in the gaming section, taking a book titled "Ten Thousand Beauties Playing Games with You" from the shelf. The cover shimmered with an otherworldly light, promising adventures beyond his wildest dreams. After a moment's hesitation, he opened the pages, and his body transformed into a data stream, entering the world within.
After a long time, when he reappeared, there was a satisfied smile on his face, and his dissatisfaction seemed to have been smoothed over. The virtual world had a way of washing away the stress and anxiety of his real life, if only for a while. At that moment, a message from a friend popped up on the wall, inviting him to go and clear a dungeon together. Without hesitation, 13384521a walked to the book titled "Redemption in the Long Night" and opened it.
In the game, he used an unremarkable female character named Aflra. In this era, almost everyone had undergone genetic modifications, and there was little difference in appearance. The homogeneity of the population made individuality a rare and prized commodity. Only a very few people would design unique or even bizarre character images, such as a player who designed himself as a tentacle monster, which unexpectedly made him a big star.
Aflra appeared in a tavern where the air was filled with various strange odors. The scent of exotic spices mingled with the tang of sweat and the earthy aroma of aged wood. A man who reeked and whose hair danced like snakes, with a twisted face, approached her: "Aflra, you're finally here, we've been waiting for you for a long time." His voice was a low, gravelly growl that sent shivers down her spine.
Under the cloak, Aflra blushed slightly, but she wouldn't tell the other party that she was late because she was addicted to a certain indescribable game. Her virtual cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and irritation.
"What's the rush, Allen? What do you want to see me for?" Aflra asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
Allen showed a sinister smile, revealing his black and broken teeth: "You'll know if you come with me." His eyes gleamed with a mixture of malice and amusement. After saying that, he pulled Aflra through the crowd and out the door. The crowd parted like a sea of flesh and metal, their faces a blur of curiosity and indifference.
There, a lump of mud-like creature was shivering and complaining: "You guys are finally out, I'm almost frozen to death!" Its voice was a pitiful whine, barely audible above the din of the tavern.
Allen laughed maliciously, as this lump of mud was also a player, popular for his unique appearance. Seeing him in such a sorry state today, Allen was very pleased. His laughter was a harsh, grating sound that cut through the air.
Suddenly, a werewolf walked out from the corner, and upon seeing these two peculiar beings, it was scared and ran away immediately. Its eyes were wide with fear, its fur standing on end. Aflra felt helpless in her heart; this game was supposed to be a horror fantasy game but was played by the players as a comedy game. They were keen on scaring monsters and never tired of it. This also made the game very popular, with hundreds of millions of people online every day.
Allen and the lump of mud led Aflra to a well, claiming to have found a new dungeon, but a seal prevented their entry. The well was an ancient structure, its stones worn smooth by time and the elements. They asked Aflra to go down and remove the seal.
The lump of mud muttered on the side: "What kind of seal, our race is clearly human." Its voice was tinged with confusion and a hint of fear.
Aflra and Allen shook their heads at the same time, obviously, the lump of mud was unaware of his own state. They exchanged a look, a silent agreement passing between them.
Ignoring the two, Aflra jumped into the well. The seal vibrated instantly and exploded, flattening the lump of mud on the ground, and Allen screamed and fled, eventually hanging on a tree and swaying. The explosion was a burst of light and sound, a violent disruption of the peaceful scene. As for Aflra, she disappeared into the darkness, her fate unknown.