chsdbacks Page 10
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Or... some deeper, more fundamental structure related to "anomalies" or "containment" itself?
In his dream, Zhang Su felt a bone-chilling cold, not from temperature, but from the mental pressure brought by pure matter and geometry.
He wanted to escape, but his feet felt frozen to the smooth, cold gray ground.
The countless dark "windows" on that massive concrete structure, like countless emotionless eyes, seemed to turn and focus on him simultaneously.
A silent, pure sense of scrutiny, based on absolute scale and materiality, locked him in place; he was like a speck of dust about to be unintentionally crushed by this colossal object…
Book 1: Chapter 9: Identity and Power
Faced with this concrete behemoth, Zhang Su didn't want to just stand there admiring it.
He wanted to go inside; he wanted to know what it was, what was inside, and how it was related to his mysterious power.
He strode toward the massive structure that seemed so close at hand.
He walked very fast, even jogging, but no matter how fast he walked or how far he ran, the distance between him and the concrete core building never decreased.
The space between them seemed to be fixed by some invisible rule, and would never change.
It remains so massive it's almost overwhelming, with details like the rough wood grain on the walls and the dark windows clearly visible, yet it always feels "so close, yet so far away."
He felt like he was running in vain on a giant treadmill, with the target constantly hanging in front of him, unattainable.
"What the hell is this? Am I running in place?" Zhang Su wondered, but he didn't stop.
Just then, that familiar voice, without the slightest ripple, resounded directly from the depths of his mind:
[Warning: Your current access level and power reserves are insufficient to enter the 'Foundation'. Please meet the entry requirements before attempting again.]
Zhang Su abruptly stopped, slightly startled: "Authorization? Power? What do you mean? How do I obtain it?"
He desperately needed answers, because he knew that this eerie building was clearly connected to everything that had happened after he traveled through time.
The mysterious force—or rather, the clear and cold response that guided consciousness:
[Access permissions: This refers to the level of identity authentication. You need an identity identifier recognized by the 'Foundation' itself, and only after obtaining its authentication can you have the basic permissions to enter.]
[Power: Refers to your own reserves of accessible supernatural power, excluding basic abilities (containment protocols, contamination immunity). Current status: Only one anomalous object, 'Greedy Chest (incompletely revived state),' has been contained and preliminarily associated. Its power has been recorded, but the reserve is insufficient.]
[Additional Explanation: A special 'existence field radiation' exists within the 'Foundation'. Any organism entering its range will experience continuous analysis and reconstruction pressure from this field, resulting in irreversible damage. This must be offset by a protective force field formed by a stable and sufficiently strong supernatural power output. Your current connection to a single anomalous entity is insufficient for effective and sustained protection. Estimated minimum requirement: You must connect to and stably control the power of at least two more anomalous entities of the same (or higher) level to potentially offset the pressure from the foundational field.]
After hearing this detailed explanation, Zhang Su fell silent.
He stood there, gazing up at the cold, colossal structure that he could never approach, his brow furrowed as he pondered.
"Identity verification, which sounds like some kind of 'key' or 'identity card,' sounds relatively easy to implement."
As for power reserves? He needs to collect at least two more anomalies of the same level as the Greedy Chest, which is no easy task. He doesn't think he'll have the 'good' luck to encounter anomalies of the same level again.
It's not like a roadside stone, which can be found everywhere.
And what exactly is this "foundation"? Why is there a protective field inside that sounds extremely dangerous, like some kind of radiation contamination zone...?
After a long while, he asked again in his mind, "What exactly is the Foundation? And what... are you?"
After a brief pause, the cold voice provided the answer that made his blood pressure rise again:
[Insufficient current access level to access information about the nature of 'Foundation'.]
[Insufficient current access level to access information about the nature of the 'Guide'.]
Please prioritize upgrading your access control level and power reserve level.
"..." Zhang Su was completely speechless. Insufficient permissions again!
It feels like facing a safe with a hundred combination locks and even comes with a riddle-solving manual.
He couldn't help but think to himself: Is this some kind of riddle game for me? Leveling up, fighting monsters, and unlocking maps, is it?
He shook his head, temporarily giving up on pursuing those two ultimate questions.
Since the core problem was unsolvable for the time being, he decided to solve a more practical, smaller problem first.
He cleared his throat, though the action was meaningless in the dream, and asked tentatively, "So what should I call you? I can't keep calling you 'Mysterious Power' or 'Hey,' can I? That's too informal."
The cold voice seemed utterly unmoved: "I currently have no pre-set title. The right to name me lies with you, the user. You can give me any title you deem appropriate."
"Anything is fine?" Zhang Su was taken aback, then smiled mischievously. "Then can I call you Xiao Ai?"
[Command confirmed. From this moment on, my identification number is 'Xiao Ai Tongxue'. Obeying your will.] The voice remained flat, as if accepting the name "Xiao Ai Tongxue" was no different from accepting a random number to it.
"..." Now it was Zhang Su's turn to choke. This thing actually accepted it? Without any temper at all?
He imagined himself yelling "Xiao Ai, analyze it quickly!" in a life-or-death situation or while exploring anomalies. The image was too vivid to bear.
He quickly shook his head: "Never mind, I was just kidding. This name is too out of place, it doesn't match your aloof and mysterious vibe at all. I'll think of a better one for you."
He stroked his chin, his gaze sweeping once more over the cold, massive concrete core structure, imbued with the violent aesthetics of geometry, and then he thought of his own core of power, known as the "Foundation," and the existence of this guide, who was like the central nervous system of his brain.
A name gradually became clear in his mind; it needed to combine mystery, core, power, and a hint of inhumanity.
“How about…” Zhang Su’s lips curled into a smile, with a hint of seriousness, “we’ll call you ‘Source Pivot.’ The ‘source’ of all things, the ‘pivot’ of operation, meaning ‘place of origin’ or ‘core archive.’ How about that? Better than ‘Xiao Ai’s’, right?”
[Command updated and confirmed. From this moment forward, my identification codename is 'Source Pivot'. Obeying your will, user.] The voice called "Source Pivot" still seemed cold, but upon accepting this new name, Zhang Su felt an extremely faint, indescribable...sense of connection?
Maybe it's an illusion.
He looked up again at the massive concrete core structure known as the "Foundation".
The distance was still far away, but this time, he knew his goal and the path—to obtain an identity verification and gather power.
The road ahead is shrouded in mystery, but at least he now has a formally named companion by his side—Yuan Shu.
At this moment, the space of the dream seemed to ripple slightly. Under the leaden sky, the cold geometric behemoth stood silently, its dark windows like countless eyes, quietly watching the tiny figure below and the "Source Pivot" he had just named.
Yuan Shu's explanation made him understand the threshold of "authority" and "power", but "identity authentication" was still like a fog.
He asked Yuan Shu again, "'Identity'... what exactly is that? Yuan Shu, can you explain it more clearly? What kind of 'identity' do I need to gain the approval of this concrete monster?"
Yuan Shu answered: [Analysis of Identity Authentication Levels: Identity is the anchor point of an individual's existence in the real world; it is a total mapping of their social network and role positioning. It is not a single label, but a multi-dimensional complex.]
[Examples: In the family dimension, identity can be husband, father, or son; in the economic production dimension, identity can be shop owner, craftsman's apprentice, or company employee; in the community dimension, identity can be neighbor, guild member, or citizen. Individuals typically hold multiple identities, which together constitute their position in the world.]
[Current Identity Status Analysis: There are two main identity anchors currently recorded and identified by 'Foundation':]
1. 'Transmigrator': A core state of being defined by your own perception and experience, possessing uniqueness and origin. The foundation has been recorded.
2. 'Unknown Mysterious Organization Member': You claim this to the human individual 'Kurokawa Sigri' and, through effective actions (sequence analysis, containment of anomalies), gain their deep conviction (high level of cognitive solidification), thereby partially accepting them within the real-world information field and feeding back to the Foundation. The Foundation has been recorded.
Conclusion: The cornerstone has recognized your current identity complex, but determined that its 'weight' and 'status' are insufficient to meet the authentication standards for entering the core area. This identity set has failed to provide sufficient 'passport'. Therefore, the spatial distance locking mechanism remains in effect.
"In the end..." After listening to Yuan Shu's explanation, which was even more rigorous than a textbook, Zhang Su was stunned for a few seconds, then suddenly realized and couldn't help but mentally complain, "Isn't this just looking down on people?!"
"They think my current 'status' is too lowly to be worthy of entering this 'high-class club'! So, I need to acquire an even higher, more prestigious status that would command respect from even this giant rock before they'll open the door for me?"
[The logical summary is accurate. The core requirement of Cornerstone for identity authentication lies in 'recognition,' meaning that the identity must possess sufficient 'existential weight' or 'information field weight' to cross its set entry threshold. The specific form is not limited, as long as Cornerstone recognizes the value of its 'passport.']
"Alright, I get the logic." Zhang Su rubbed his temples. "Then... Yuan Shu, give me some constructive advice? Where should I get such a prestigious identity? I can't exactly go to the entrance of the True God Church and shout 'I am THE ONE' or 'The Destiny,' can I?"
"We don't know if the cornerstone will buy into this then."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Shu fell into a brief silence. After a few seconds, it responded again, its reply now clearly directed:
Based on a subtle perturbation analysis of the current information feedback flow from the Cornerstone, it was detected that the Cornerstone shows a significantly higher level of "attention" and "analysis tendency" towards your existing "unknown mysterious organization member" identity anchor point than towards your "transmigrator" identity. Due to its mystery, power correlation, and effective influence on real-world individuals (as confirmed by Kurokawa), this identity label has a higher potential for increased "weight" within the Cornerstone's evaluation system.
[Strategy Recommendation: Deepen and expand the identity construction of 'member of a mysterious organization'. Explore the possibilities of this identity, giving it more specific connotations, broader influence, or stronger real-world anchors. This move has a high probability of elevating the 'status' of this identity, bringing it closer to the cornerstone certification threshold.]
“Members of a mysterious organization…” Zhang Su murmured repeatedly, then entered a state of deep thought.
Yuan Shu's suggestion was like a pebble thrown into a lake, instantly creating ripples in his mind.
A vague but highly promising plan began to rapidly take shape in his mind—perhaps the lie he told Kurokawa was not only to save his life, but might also inadvertently become a key to unlock the door to the "foundation".
The key lies in how to transform this fictional identity into a "real" power and understanding...
Just as he was about to speak, pressing Yuan Shu for details about the specifics, feasibility, or potential risks of this identity construction—
Swish!
A burst of pure, unexpected white light suddenly exploded in his field of vision!
The light was so intense that it instantly engulfed the leaden sky, the cold ground, and the massive, oppressive concrete core structure.
Zhang Su didn't even have time to raise his hand to shield himself before he was completely engulfed by the white light.
The next moment, he suddenly opened his eyes.
The blinding sunlight streamed through the gaps in the delicate lace curtains of the hotel room, forming a bright beam of light in the air, within which dust particles danced.
He was lying on the soft, comfortable bed in room 301 of the "Moby-Dick and Anchor" hotel, covered with clean, sun-kissed bedding.
The disorientation from the sudden shift between dream and reality left him momentarily dazed. He instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes, adjusting to the light of the real world.
My gaze swept across the room and finally landed on the antique-style wall clock with its brass gear frame—the hands clearly pointing to nine o'clock.
“It’s nine o’clock…” Zhang Su muttered to himself, then fell silent. “Oh, this world is also a 24-hour system. That’s convenient.”
He sat blankly on the bed, the images from his dream—the colossal structure that could never be approached, Yuan Shu's cold and clear explanation, and the plan that had flashed into his mind—surging like a tide, forming a stark contrast to the quiet hotel room in front of him, filled with a Victorian-era mixed steampunk style.
The sense of reality gradually overwhelmed the lingering effects of the dream, and my mind recovered from that strange state of exploration.
He habitually called out in his mind, "Yuan Shu, are you still there?"
"I've always been here." Yuan Shu's signature, emotionless voice immediately resonated deep within his mind, as clear as if it were right next to his ear, proving that everything in the dream was not an illusion.
Zhang Su opened his mouth, and countless questions about identity construction, foundation, and collection of anomalies were about to spill out.
But he stopped himself from saying it.
He looked out at the bright sunshine, felt the comfort of the soft mattress beneath him, and felt a slight hunger pang in his stomach.
“Forget it…” He shook his head slightly, a self-deprecating smile on his lips, and said to the air, or rather to the source in his mind, “I’ve only been in this world for a day and a half, and I haven’t even figured out which way the gates of Muyun Port open. Why rush to solve those ultimate mysteries? Anyway… there’s plenty of time.”
He threw back the covers, stepped barefoot onto the thick, warm carpet, and looked out at the sun-drenched world through the window, adding in a much more relaxed tone, "Good morning, Yuan Shu."
【Good morning, user.】Yuan Shu also responded to him.
"Hmm." Zhang Su stretched out a big yawn, his bones making a slight cracking sound.
He turned and walked towards the small, separate washroom, turned on the brass faucet, and prepared to wash away the last trace of sleepiness with the cool water.
The water was splashing loudly as Zhang Su washed his face.
At this moment, the hustle and bustle of the city outside the window begins; the second day after the time travel begins.
Volume 1: Chapter 10: The Black Sea Investigation Report
The Church of Poseidon, branch in Twilight Harbor, bishop's office. (The remaining text appears to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.)
Bishop Salem sat behind a large oak desk, the room filled with a faint scent of incense and parchment.
The morning light of July shines through the stained glass windows inlaid with the emblem of waves and the sea god, casting bright and slightly scorching spots of light on the polished dark wooden floor.
The air was somewhat stuffy, and the faint sounds of the harbor's morning hustle and bustle and the cries of seagulls could be heard outside the window.
A sheet of paper, still smelling of ink and metal, lay open in front of him—a report he had just typed out using the Hercules-VII mechanical typewriter with its exposed brass gears and intricate design on the corner of the table.
The typewriter keys still held the warmth of his fingertips, glistening faintly in the summer morning light.
The report heading is clear and formal:
Internal Investigation Report of the Sea God Church in Twilight Harbor (Classification: Deep Blue)
Event codename: "Black Sea" pollution incident
Investigator: Bishop Salem Valentine (Sequence 7 - Raging Tidebringer)
Date: 12 July, 1173 AD
Event overview
于圣历1173年7月11日傍晚约18:30，教会“深渊之眼”徽章侦测到港口区（泊位7-C）存在高强度、未登记异常污染残留。调查组立即响应。涉事船只“黑海号”（注册船长：黑川·西格里，野生超凡者-海行者途径-序列9-渊海潜行者）被发现严重损毁，船体呈现大面积强酸腐蚀痕迹及未知生物组织残留（已惰化）。
Of the 29 crew members, all but the captain and one ordinary sailor were confirmed dead (cause of death: physiological collapse due to highly distorted contamination and combat death).
Investigation process:
Preliminary investigation: The contamination residue was confirmed to have a combination of "activation/distortion" and "greedy inducement" characteristics, and the intensity was assessed as "moderate risk (not fully recovered)".
The source has been removed, and the residue is being purified.