Lu Yunfei's gaze remained fixed on the mine ahead, a single question echoing in his mind: "Why does a mine exist here? In a virtual world, all wealth and assets should be digitized, without any tangible value. So, what exactly is being mined here?" He murmured softly, his curiosity deepening with every passing second.
Li Yecheng glanced at him and responded calmly, "Could it be similar to the mines in our real world? Digital currency, mining, and virtual worlds—these concepts make sense together."
Lu Yunfei nodded, his thoughts deep in contemplation. "I never imagined mining would be such a literal activity." He took a deep breath and turned his focus back to the eerie mining area ahead.
The four of them soon arrived at the site. The car bumped along the muddy road for what felt like hours. The area didn't resemble an ordinary workplace—it was more like a tightly guarded prison. Barbed wire fences loomed high, watchtowers stood at each corner, and guards patrolled vigilantly. The mine exuded a stifling, oppressive atmosphere, like stepping into a realm devoid of humanity.
They hid their car in a thicket and crept into a pile of grass to observe the mine from a distance. Through the gaps in the barbed wire, they saw a chaotic scene. Groups of people were bound by mechanical locks around their wrists and necks, moving sluggishly with lifeless expressions. Their movements lacked any sense of agility, as if they were performing a mindless task. What stood out most were the uniformed guards, armed and pacing back and forth as they monitored the enslaved workers.
"What are these people?" Lu Yunfei frowned deeply. "They don't look like NPCs. Their emotions are far too vivid. NPCs are usually stiff in their reactions, but these people's eyes are filled with confusion and pain, occasionally even anger or despair."
Li Yecheng observed quietly for a moment and whispered, "They don't seem like ordinary NPCs. Their emotions are too complex, beyond what we understand about virtual characters."
Farmer Mike interjected, his voice heavy with emotion. "I've seen many broken experiment subjects. These people… they're likely part of the experiment." He paused, his gaze darkening. "They were once selected as test subjects for some unknown project. During the experiments, their minds experienced severe collapse, leaving them mentally shattered and utterly lost."
"And those mechanical locks," Mike continued, "are tools used to control the broken subjects. The locks are actually programmed devices that issue specific commands and algorithms to the subjects, forcing them to comply. Even if they resist, they can't fight back. These people in the mine are coerced into performing tasks, their every move dictated by these locks."
Lu Yunfei was shaken, finding the scene before him hard to believe. "So, they're not doing this willingly? They don't have any choice in what they do?"
Mike nodded solemnly, his gaze heavy. "No. They're failed experiments, their spirits destroyed, reduced to 'walking corpses.' The mechanical locks are the only thing keeping them alive—they suppress their consciousness and force them to follow programmed instructions."
"No wonder their expressions are so vacant," Li Yecheng murmured. "Their consciousness seems trapped, completely beyond their control."
A wave of deep sorrow washed over Lu Yunfei. These people, who were once living beings, had their wills stripped away, reduced to tools, and turned into unfeeling laborers. Their pain and despair stemmed not only from physical suffering but also from their inescapable fate.
"These mechanical locks," Lu Yunfei whispered, "what secrets are hidden behind them? Why are there so many broken experiment subjects? How does this world truly operate?"
He pulled out his handheld operating system from his backpack, its screen filled with lines of code and program interfaces. His fingers moved lightly across the screen, his focus unyielding, as if he had entered an entirely different dimension. While on the outskirts of the mine, he carefully studied the system's structure, searching for a way to break through. His goal was clear—to unlock these mechanical locks and free the enslaved test subjects.
As he operated, he gradually uploaded the mine's map into the system. A detailed layout of the area appeared on the screen, with every corner of the mine marked. The subjects bound by the mechanical locks were highlighted as bright dots, while the prison gate was marked as a prominent obstacle.
"This is the entry point I've been looking for," Lu Yunfei murmured, his fingers flying across the virtual keyboard. His thoughts and the system's interface seemed almost instantly synchronized. He understood that this operating system wasn't an ordinary program—it allowed him access to the core of the virtual world, enabling him to manipulate the environment in unique ways.
After a flurry of rapid inputs, Lu Yunfei finally identified a weak point. He began unlocking the mechanical locks one by one, following the system's guidance to gradually disable the equipment throughout the mine. His heart raced, a mix of anxiety and excitement coursing through him. With a soft "beep," he successfully unlocked the first mechanical device.
"Alright, next is the gate," Lu Yunfei said tensely, his fingers once again darting across the screen.
As the system displayed one "lock released" notification after another, the mine's main gate slowly began to open. With a heavy metallic groan, the gate swung wide, as though unleashing a long-caged beast. The guards panicked, quickly drawing their weapons, but they seemed unsure where to aim. The sudden chaos left them disoriented, as if they had lost their sense of control.
Lu Yunfei took a deep breath, watching the commotion unfold. Yet he didn't leave immediately; instead, he continued to monitor every detail of the mine. What surprised him was that despite the mechanical locks being removed and the gate wide open, the imprisoned workers remained motionless. They stood where they were, confused and vacant, their empty eyes betraying no sense of purpose.
"Why aren't they moving?" Li Yecheng asked in shock, staring at the unresponsive crowd.
Mike sighed deeply, his voice tinged with sorrow. "Now you see it. Broken experiment subjects struggle to survive. Unlike us awakened NPCs, their cores have completely collapsed. Their consciousness has disappeared. Their bodies may still live, but their souls are already gone."
"They can't survive," Mike said grimly, his words striking Lu Yunfei like a hammer. He looked at the people standing motionless, their empty gazes fixed on nothing, and a deep sorrow welled up inside him. These were once living beings, now reduced to hollow shells, unable to awaken from their nightmare in this virtual world.
"I can't just stand by and watch," Lu Yunfei said, gripping his operating system tightly, his eyes resolute. "They shouldn't be trapped like this. They're human beings, like us, and they deserve the right to choose their own fate."
"What are you planning to do?" Li Yecheng asked, his voice laced with concern. "Their consciousness is already broken. The only thing we might be able to do is set them free—permanently."
Lu Yunfei fell silent for a moment, taking a deep breath. "I understand, but no matter what state they're in now, we can't abandon them. One day, their consciousness might be restored. We can't let them remain lost in this virtual world forever."
He turned to Mike. "Can you help me find a way to release them from this mechanical control? They deserve a chance to reclaim their consciousness."
Mike shook his head with a heavy sigh. "Their programs are deeply embedded in their minds and bodies. What we've undone is just the external lock, but their inner cores have already collapsed. Unless we can find a special method to rebuild their mental structures or recover their consciousness cores, their suffering won't end."
Lu Yunfei lowered his head, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on his chest. This wasn't just a simple act of unlocking mechanisms; it was a grueling battle against an entire system. Every person in the mine, and perhaps every test subject in this virtual world, was trapped by a destiny they couldn't escape.
As he stared at the still figures in the mine, a thought struck him. His operating system was capable of interfacing with the virtual world's core—it might hold the key to restoring these broken consciousnesses. But it would be an uphill battle, requiring both time and resources he didn't yet possess.
"These people… we can't save them yet," Lu Yunfei said, his voice trembling slightly with suppressed frustration. "But we can't let them remain in this state either. I'll find a way—whatever it takes."
Mike regarded him with a mix of admiration and pity. "It's not easy to fight against the system. Many before you have tried and failed. But if you're determined, I'll do what I can to help."
"Thank you," Lu Yunfei replied softly. "For now, let's ensure they're safe. We need to get them out of here, even if they can't act on their own."
Li Yecheng looked at him and nodded, determination gleaming in his eyes. "Whatever your plan is, I'll stand by you."
The group moved quickly, using the confusion in the mine to their advantage. With Mike's help, Lu Yunfei accessed the security system and rerouted the guards' patrol routes. Meanwhile, Li Yecheng and the others guided the broken test subjects toward the now-open gate, though progress was slow due to the subjects' unresponsiveness.
As they worked, Lu Yunfei's mind raced. The people here weren't the only ones suffering—there were likely countless others in similar conditions throughout the virtual world. If he could uncover the system's true purpose, he might find a way to change everything.
But for now, his mission was clear: to lead these people to safety and protect them from further harm. Even if their souls were lost, their lives still mattered.
As the last of the test subjects crossed through the gate, Lu Yunfei turned back to the mine one final time. The sprawling facility loomed in the distance, a grim reminder of the system's cruelty. He clenched his fists, a fierce resolve burning within him.
"This isn't over," he muttered under his breath. "Not until every chain is broken and every soul is free."