Beta Universe, 2014, summer.

"boom--!"

The piercing sound of gunshots echoed in his ears, suddenly awakening the boy who was unconscious due to heatstroke.

At this moment, he was in a pure white space.

However, this is not a hospital.

He subconsciously raised his index finger and touched his temple. The memory of the bullet piercing his skull was so vivid that cold sweat broke out on his back unconsciously.

I really don't want to experience that feeling again.

However, he felt relieved when he thought that the clones far away in the α universe might have died over and over again.

No matter how many times Beta from the parallel universe dies, it all happens in multiple parallel universes.

Standing here, he only needs to die once more...

And at the same time, a translucent floating window appeared in front of him.

Lines of text gradually appeared from the screen.

[This system is dedicated to improving the level of aboriginal civilization. Regarding the secrets of this system, holders are asked to explore on their own...]

It's still that familiar feeling.

Looking at the nostalgic words, a faint smile curled up at the corner of his mouth, and his clear eyes held a calmness and composure that did not match his age.

As if he is not 20 years old.

But 200 years old...

"We meet again, Observer."

The text on the screen stopped, as if the show was running out of time and could no longer continue.

The being hiding behind that screen obviously didn't expect to hear his name here.

It didn't even expect to see an acquaintance here.

"...It's you? But, how is this possible... It should be 2014 now... Wait a minute -"

For a moment, it fell into confusion and panic, but that was only a moment.

There is no concept of time in the void.

Its projection can appear in any universe, even the universe it once gave up.

And just at that moment, it had already traversed multiple universes and recollected information that it had originally deemed to have no observational significance.

And at this moment, it was completely shocked.

Unprecedented branches appeared in multiple universes.

Part of it is still the same as before. The young man in front of him received the "system" gifted by him just as he expected, but he made different choices in the process of becoming a boundary breaker.

The other part of the universe was eroded by the fission consciousness from a certain universe, and the "Shelter 404-β" that could not have existed was born on the timeline, replacing his own interference!

Seeing the surprise that hit his face through the screen, the man smiled lightly and teased.

"You seem surprised?"

After waiting for a long time, the observers expressed heartfelt emotions.

"Incredible... you have actually opened up a future that I have never seen. I must admit that even in the face of the massive samples I have seen, the miracles you have created are rare and rare."

After feeling sincerely, it continued without stopping.

"Although I don't want to be sarcastic, for you in the β universe, what you are about to do may be meaningless... According to your plan, the α universe will repeat countless experiments and fail countless times, and finally be able to match

There is only one beta universe!"

"In other words, your probability of success is only one in infinite! Everything you do in this universe has an infinite probability of paving the way for a failure in the α universe! Or in other words, for a failed experiment.

Run with me!"

"To spend more than ten years doing something that has a high probability of being meaningless...don't you think such a fate is too desperate for you?"

come back.

Return to the normal timeline.

Although the observer did not say it clearly, the man standing here did hear the persuasion behind the voice.

really.

It's not too late to turn back now.

The person standing here is not a professor, but a fission body numbered β. The setting is to bring the memories and experiences of the next 200 years back to the period when the system was first obtained.

He only needs to leave the responsibilities of the original world behind, return to the track arranged by the observer, learn lessons and act step by step, complete the task when it is time to complete it, and disappear when it is time to disappear...

Although the world that has declined cannot be saved, at least the human civilization in this universe can avoid entering the wasteland era, and he can eventually become a boundary breaker.

This may not be a good ending.

But on the other hand, Project 404 was also cancelled.

So that's a choice he would never make.

And he also believed without a doubt that in the infinite beta universes, the one who pointed the gun at his own head and finally stood here at the cost of death would definitely make the same choice.

That bullet not only ended the professor's life, but also ended the possibility of countless branches!

And the observer's reaction was just right, and his guess was correct——

This guy has traveled through all the universes, but still can't find a future where he standing here has wavered, or even made a compromise decision.

So it was anxious.

"...There is no point if you don't do it, and you will definitely not succeed if you don't do it."

"But what about the people of this world? Have you thought about the possible consequences of your interference?"

"Are you embarrassed to say this to me? Have you ever thought about this problem yourself? Isn't the Wasteland Era the result of your failure after intervention?"

The professor chuckled, and his pointed rhetorical question left the observers speechless for a moment.

He did not pause, but continued speaking word by word.

"Every universe I interfere in is the universe where you chose me as the boundary breaker and interfered. My interference only replaces your interference. If I fail, I will naturally change my interference from this world.

Erase it from the universe and pretend that you and I have never been here."

"At that time, their fate will be in their own hands, and there will be no and no need for an outsider to be responsible for them. I think this is not necessarily a bad outcome for humans in this world."

The observer is still unwilling to give up and is still trying to make a final effort.

"Even if it means that your efforts in this universe have an infinite probability of being in vain?"

Looking at the observer who tried his best to persuade him, the man smiled faintly.

he knows.

What the observer really cares about is not him, nor humans, just like he doesn't care about the bacteria on a certain leaf, let alone whether the latter's efforts will be in vain.

What this guy really cares about is the Boundaries that stitch the universe together.

It is worried that it will ruin its good deeds.

This kind of thing is indeed possible, and it can even be said that it is bound to happen.

Once it replaces its interference, it will completely lose control of the situation. Even if it can find other consciousnesses to exert influence, it will only happen in other universes or long after its own death.

There are boundaries for the observer's interference. Unless there are special circumstances, it is almost impossible to establish contact with two independent consciousness bodies in the same universe.

Each of its interferences corresponds to a new universe, and this was decided at the moment the original universe exploded.

It is precisely for this reason that it will persist in trying to dissuade him and try to make him change his mind.

but--

What does that have to do with him?

Rather than the heat death of hundreds of millions of years, what he cares more about is the world he once lived in, where everyone he knows lives in continuation. If they cannot continue, his existence will be meaningless.

He is different from those guys floating in the void. He is a living person living in that world, not an ethereal projection!

He won't just slap his butt and say "It's all your fault for not executing well" after screwing up everything and leave!

"Since you have seen the shot I fired, you should have guessed how I will answer you. Why would you ask such a stupid question?"

"Before I came here again, I was prepared to die."

"This game will start with my death, and my end will become a new beginning——"

"Give up, I won't look back, and there is no way out!"

The pure white space began to collapse, and the endless boundaries gradually turned into the walls of the ward.

All the noise fell silent at this moment.

It's gone.
To be continued...