Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 738 - 737: Overflow

The anomalous fluctuations in the mind network stirred a sense of caution in Gawain’s heart.

Although this mind network was created by the Eternal Sleepers, one of the Three Great Dark Sects, and is considered "evil" by ordinary standards—with its construction indeed tainted by blood and taboo—a fact cannot be denied: Gawain still needs it for now.

A great number of Cecil Clan’s research projects are influenced by it.

Of course, Gawain has been promoting the harmlessness and self-development of the mind network for a long time, and some results have been achieved so far.

On one hand, Kamel and other experts have verified through a combination of Immersion Capsules and the Magic Web that his initial conjecture was correct, that the operation of the mind network does not necessarily require "Brain Servants" as sacrifices. Essentially, it should be a "cloud network" supported by numerous nodes, and the so-called "Brain Servants" are likely a byproduct of another plan by the Eternal Sleepers; on the other hand, Cecil’s domestically produced Immersion Capsules and the continually improving Magic Web are rapidly developing, and sooner or later, when Cecil’s node number is sufficient, Gawain will be able to create his own mind network, forming an Origin Space without having to leech flow from the Eternal Sleepers.

But all these require time.

The Immersion Capsule is the Empire’s cutting-edge technology. Currently, its production costs and mass production difficulties remain high, and the number of capsules in use is still limited to a few research departments in the Empire’s capital, totaling no more than a hundred sets. According to Kamel’s calculations, at least two thousand to three thousand "brain nodes" need to connect simultaneously to the network to form a relatively stable mind network, creating a "mind image world" similar to the Eternal Sleeper’s dream city. This goal is not easy to achieve.

It is said that the biotechnology found in the Oblivion Association’s lair helps break through bottlenecks in artificial nerve cords, but... can the mind network really sustain until then?

Perhaps driven by instinct, Gawain always felt that the anomalies appearing in the mind network this time were extraordinary, and if not handled well... something major might happen.

"My lord," Daniel looked at Gawain, who had been silent for a long time, and couldn’t help but ask nervously, "have you thought of something?"

Gawain glanced at Daniel.

Indeed, the mind network cannot fail for now—if only because if the network collapses, how is Daniel supposed to maintain contact?

This old mage was a Dark Hand he painstakingly cultivated, significant in his arrangements concerning the Eternal Sleepers and the Typhon Empire—since the War of Southern Unification, the original 25th Production and Construction Brigade had been disbanded, becoming a proper production and construction team, yet Office Number Twenty-Five in the Administrative Office continued to operate, affiliated with the Intelligence Agency. Its main task now is to analyze various intelligence sent back by Daniel and formulate various plans against Typhon and the Eternal Sleepers. No matter from which perspective, Daniel is the core of this team, and this connection can absolutely not falter.

"No matter what, the mind network cannot disappear now," Gawain said sternly to Daniel, "I need it."

Daniel immediately accepted the command: "Understood, I will do everything in my power to ensure its continuity."

Finally, after such a long time, the Eternal Sleepers’ Chief of Network Security decided to take network security seriously...

"If I’m not mistaken, the Eternal Sleepers’ Pope and Archbishops should soon consult with you," Gawain nodded, "You’re the Chief of Security, and although I suspect the current network issue stems from deeper causes, possibly unrelated to external intrusion, your expertise in the field of mind network technology has already gained recognition from the upper echelons of the evil-cult. They might seek your help in solving the issue. When that time comes, do your best, but remember to promptly pass the intelligence to me.

"Also, pay more attention to those believers who have shown anomalies after long connections to the network. Although the examination conclusion says they are perfectly normal, I always feel things are not that simple—they might be seriously affected in their subconscious, it’s just that the problem hasn’t erupted yet.

"Be careful when doing this, don’t show enthusiasm beyond your identity, avoid arousing suspicion."

"Rest assured, my lord," Daniel broke into a confident smile, one that could only belong to the uncrowned king designated by Office Number Twenty-Five in the Intelligence Agency, "I’ve become quite adept in this area."

...

Dream City, on the borderland.

A semi-transparent, vague barrier enveloped the district where leaves danced in the wind; from the outside looking in, this area situated on the border of Dream City remained peaceful and serene, merely being isolated by a "restricted access" barrier while internal maintenance and reconstruction were underway.

But inside the barrier, the distorted and unusual scenery was entirely different from the normal district just a short distance outside.

The clear, bright sky was shrouded by a layer of turbid and chaotic lights and shadows, as if a disturbed water surface and cloud layers mingled together were floating above the city. The ground was covered by undulating hexagonal-shaped structures, with large areas of the structures fading in color, presenting a dreary gray or unsettling deep black sheen. Originally magnificent and splendid palaces stacked in the outer district at the end of the street; balconies, corridors, and staircases were all twisted and entangled together, forming a structure resembling a mass, and numerous shadowy figures staggered around this chaotic district, resembling specters or ghosts.

A serene lady, dressed in a white gown with golden edges, stood at the edge of this chaotic district, quietly gazing at the geometrical forms erroneously combined on the street and the distorted colors already present. The surroundings were airless and still, yet her hair gently fluttered in the air, as if winds from another space were brushing against her forehead, or as if she was merely a specter standing here, with her true self residing elsewhere.

At her feet, a circular band of noise wavered unsteadily, as if the surrounding disordered space was attempting to erode the position where the lady stood, yet was blocked by a stronger force.

A figure clothed in a thick, black robe, wearing an Owl Mask, approached from the side. A muffled voice emerged from the mask: "Archbishop Gelfen, the area of erosion has stabilized, but the border of the area extended outward to Dream City’s exterior by approximately one-tenth—there, a very bizarre street has formed, sampling it is impossible to approach."

Selena Gerfen nodded slightly, looking into the distance.

She could see that strange street, situated at the end of this chaotic district, with its peculiar architectural style; various figures traversed the street, beyond which lay an endless grey-white void, but carriages and people flowed back and forth along that faint boundary, as if the street led to some unseen yet tangibly existent world.

Selena knew where that "street" came from—it came from Sandbox World One.

Now, no one knows what happened in Sandbox World One, no one knows what kind of things are brewing in that self-contained operating world, and even... no one knows how long time has passed inside that world. Is it a thousand years? Or ten thousand years? Or even longer...

The Archbishops only know one thing—

"Sandbox One is still overflowing," Selena Gerfen said softly, "These overflowing data are polluting the normal network... This area can no longer be repaired, it can only be completely reset."

"Yes, Archbishop."

The Eternal Sleeper wearing the Owl Mask took the order and retreated, preparing to execute the reset on this block. Meanwhile, another figure appeared out of thin air near Selena. It was a young man in a white robe, tall and thin, with black hair, wearing scholarly monocle glasses, looking calm and slightly bookish.

"Archbishop Selena," the man with black hair spoke, "Block Two overflow has been reset."

"I’m about to execute the reset here as well, Archbishop Yuri," Selena nodded, "It can’t be repaired, this is the only way."

"...If I may speak frankly, madam," the young Archbishop, who was called Yuri, slightly bowed his head. Although his position in the sect was equivalent, he seemed to have less seniority than Selena, hence a hint of respect in his words, "Merely resetting these blocks can only temporarily alleviate the problem—we should still find a way to stop Sandbox One."

"I know, His Holiness the Pope also knows, but almost all emergency stop means are ineffective. Sandbox One is still running, even gradually merging with all other sandbox worlds," Selena sighed slightly, "After increasing the time iteration multiplier to its limit, Sandbox One self-enclosed within minutes, perhaps during those brief minutes, it nurtured something capable of opposing us. And that thing... does not wish for its history to end."

Archbishop Yuri hesitated for a moment and said softly, "...Archbishop Magnan proposed the emergency cut-off plan, which has been submitted to His Holiness the Pope."

"I know, but His Holiness the Pope will not agree with this plan—it is essentially no different from the sandbox severing plan, and it is useless except for increasing the number of brain-death sacrifices," Selena Gerfen shook her head, "Besides... things are not at their worst yet."

"Are you referring to... the ’Retarder’?"

"Yes, the ’Retarder’ has taken effect. Through reverse time iteration, Sandbox One’s operating speed has been reduced to the normal time flow rate, and we are on the same level as that thing. We still have time to continue testing more secure and stable solutions," Selena’s tone was gentle but seemed to carry an undeniable and irrefutable power, "Project Zero has been running so far, we’ve invested too much in it... Until the last step, His Holiness the Pope and I will not give it up lightly."

A strange humming suddenly sounded in the air, interrupting the conversation between the two Archbishops.

Selena looked up and saw all the buildings and the ground in the block quickly covered by a grid pattern. Then, the distorted buildings were deleted in patches, the altered ground was swiftly reformed into a basic plane, and the watery sky and clouds were decomposed into chaotic light particles. A few seconds later, the normal houses, streets, ground, and vegetation began to rapidly regenerate in this space.

The reset of the block was complete.

In the blink of an eye, the chaotic city area became orderly again, as if nothing had changed. The deadly overflow data and network pollution were cleaned up completely.

Selena and Yuri, the two Archbishops, stood on the edge of the street that had returned to normal, each silent for a moment.

"I’m afraid some of our compatriots’ short-term memories will have to be erased again," Archbishop Yuri suddenly sighed, "Resetting always comes with a price."

Selena frowned, "I hope this is the last time."

"Archbishop Selena, regarding the Chief of Security I mentioned at the last meeting... what do you think?"

"Daniel...," Selena Gerfen thought for a moment and nodded, "I have indeed been paying attention to him... He is a talented mage and scholar, with unique insights into the technologies of the Mind Network and the concepts of network operation... It’s a pity that his talent was buried before our network was officially put into use, almost wasted."

"The security system and technologies like network addressing and multi-database he developed have been proven to be immensely useful," Archbishop Yuri nodded in deep agreement and continued, "Some of these technologies are even used in Project Zero. I and a few other Archbishops believe that this person may play a significant role in the crisis we currently face."

"His current rank is Bishop, but he was just recently promoted...," Selena Gerfen pondered, "But for talented people, we need not adhere too rigidly to these rules. Archbishop Yuri, do you personally believe that Daniel is reliable enough?"

"I believe he is reliable," Yuri said without hesitation, "I have investigated him. He joined the sect twenty years ago, with sufficient seniority. His external contacts in the real world are clear and reliable. He is a scholar-type fellow loyal to the sect and dedicated to research. In fact, if he weren’t reliable, he couldn’t possibly have become the Chief of Security—you know the importance of this position, Archbishop Selena. From my personal perspective, I believe Bishop Daniel is very reliable, loyal to our cause, outstanding in ability, and extremely concerned about the Mind Network."

"Very well, then you shall make contact," Selena nodded, "But don’t rush, observe for a cycle, as this involves Project Zero. We need to prepare to promote that Daniel to ’Archbishop’."

"I understand."

(Recently, some readers have encountered so-called premium groups, internal groups, VIP groups, claiming that you can read XX Chapter drafts in advance by paying to join. I hereby declare that I do not have any form of paid VIP group. Any paid group is fake, and there is no internal group that can read XX Chapter drafts in advance—I don’t even have that many drafts myself...)