Did the world end today?

Chapter 323 Nothingness and Pain

Lop Nur.

The Gobi Desert was so calm that there wasn't a sound of wind. Inside the makeshift command post, Lin Xu gazed at the distant test site.

He put down his binoculars, turned to Zhang Liming beside him, and asked:
"So are you sure this distance is safe? Are you sure this limiter experiment won't cause any unforeseen consequences?"

"Definitely not—besides, if there's real danger, distance won't help."

Zhang Liming shook his head and replied:

"Theoretically speaking, the limiter should actually be discussed in two parts."

"One part is a 'generator' similar to creating time crystals or high-dimensional domains, and the other part is a limiter that constrains time crystals."

"Most dangers originate from the process of 'occurring,' rather than from the process of limitation."

"Therefore, as long as we do not activate higher-dimensional channels, do not actively create time crystals or trigger time storms, the limiter should be safe no matter what."

"Our experiment is simply using an existing high-dimensional channel to verify the constraint function of the limiter."

"Theoretically speaking, it is impossible for it to have any unstable effect on the high-dimensional channel—it's like using a cage to keep an eye on a sandstorm. If you can keep it in the cage, the sandstorm will be confined inside. If you can't keep it in the cage, the sandstorm will escape."

"But there are no cages outside the high-dimensional passage."

"So even if they go outside, it won't have a more negative impact on us."

"understood."

Lin Xu nodded slightly.

Zhang Liming's explanation is very easy to understand. They want to use the "partial similarity" between high-dimensional channels and time crystals to conduct a final verification of limiter theory in a safer way.

If this verification is successful, then humanity in the world of Destinystone will possess truly complete limiter technology.

It's only a matter of time before we create a true limiter that can lead humanity to a higher dimension.

Two years, or three years?
Even at the slowest pace, it won't take more than five years.

Five years from now, humanity will enter an era of dimensional ascension.

Thinking about it now, it really is a bit unbelievable.
Lin Xu let out a soft breath, but at that very moment, another question suddenly came to mind.

If, at this moment, the Destiny Stone world is about to complete the final verification of the limiter technology, will the progress of the Bracelet world also advance accordingly?
That's right.

It's not necessarily true that the construction of the limiter will be completed before the world will be driven to progress downwards.

Based on previous experiences, once the future developments are "roughly locked in," the world of fitness trackers will begin to change.

And this also means
If you want to say a final goodbye to the people in the bracelet world, then this experiment is your last chance?

Thinking of this, Lin Xu immediately asked:
"How long until the experiment begins?"

Zhang Liming glanced at the time on his watch and then replied:

"One hour and 20 minutes."

"That's enough."

Lin Xu turned and left without hesitation. Zhang Liming seemed to have guessed what he was going to do and did not stop him.

After leaving the control room, Lin Xu went straight into his office.

He leaned back on the sofa in his office, and this time, he made no plans.

This was originally intended as a farewell.

Without much emotion, Lin Xu gently touched the bracelet.

His consciousness was quickly drained.

When he opened his eyes again, he was already in the room he had been to before.
"this is the last time."

Lin Xu stood up and said to Jiang Xingye in front of him:

"Vacuum decay is about to occur, and you must react immediately."

"clear."

Jiang Xingye nodded slowly.

"We have observed a jump in the value, and the time frame is probably shorter than we expected."

"The transmission speed of information entropy is too fast. Let's go, we must activate the barrier immediately."

Without any further dialogue, the moment Lin Xu appeared and the monitoring values ​​changed, the humans of this world had already discovered the problem.

They were acutely aware that the world was about to enter its final countdown.

The countdown time is...
26 minutes.

"We must activate the barrier at the 25th minute. Once the barrier is activated, the whole world will come to a standstill."

"All physical rules will be locked, and all particle activity will be frozen."

"You will lose consciousness the moment the barrier activates, so if there is anything that needs to be done, you must do it within 25 minutes."

Jiang Xingye strode towards the control room, with Lin Xu following closely behind, and answered:

"There's nothing more to do."

"The technology and information I needed to take were all taken away last time."

"This time, I'm just here to say goodbye."

"clear."

Jiang Xingye did not turn around.

In the distance, the door to the main control room opened, and Lin Xu saw Zhang Liming's face once again.

He remained calm and composed, as if victory was assured.
-
In some respects, he did win.

Everything in this world was proceeding as he had envisioned. Humanity eventually created a limiter, but it failed to overcome the thick wall erected by higher-dimensional adaptability.

After confirming that they could not cross the wall, the people here quickly activated the backup plan, preparing to descend into a lower dimension.

Everything was going according to his plan. After struggling in this world for several months, Lin Xu seemed to have finally gained the upper hand, but the limited time and opportunities left him with no way to expand his gains.

The two sides remained in a state of balance and confrontation until the end, which may be considered a less-than-perfect, but still acceptable, outcome.

"Are you ready to execute the dimensional reduction plan?"

Zhang Liming asked:
"Is there still a chance?"

"Nothing."

Jiang Xingye shook his head and said:

"Precursors to vacuum decay have been observed, and quantum communication reports indicate that some black holes have begun to collapse."

"It is expected that vacuum decay will begin to sweep across the entire universe in 26 minutes."

"Dimensional reduction may happen in 26 minutes, but by then, time will have no meaning."

"clear."

Zhang Liming let out a heavy sigh.

"So, all we have to do now is wait for the final result."

“That’s right.” Jiang Xingye gestured for the staff to prepare for operation. After confirming that everything was ready, she sat down in front of the “start the device” button.

Her expression was slightly bewildered.

For that final moment, humanity has prepared for a full twenty years.

But in those final 20 minutes, it seemed like everyone in the world had nothing to do.

They just need to wait for time to pass.

Lin Xu didn't intend to waste these last twenty minutes. In his mind, the information flow of the Butterfly Plan continued to flow, transmitting the small amount of application technology information that he hadn't had time to take out last time from the quantum chip into his brain.

Seeing his slightly nervous expression, Zhang Liming walked over and sat down opposite him.

"Don't be nervous."

He opened his mouth and said:
“You are different from us; you are not bound by this world.”

"Your death will not bring an end; you will only be reborn in another form."

"That's just your opinion."

A mocking smile appeared on Lin Xu's lips.

After a slight pause, he began to speak:
"I admit that you are very strong in many ways, even to the point of being able to calculate everything perfectly."

"You're extremely rational and extremely pragmatic."

"It's hard for someone like that not to succeed."

"But perhaps it is precisely because of your characteristics that you overlook many things."

"I?"

Zhang Liming was stunned for a moment.

"What am I overlooking?"

"You've overlooked people's perception of time."

Lin Xu looked directly into Zhang Liming's eyes and said:
"You said that for me, death does not bring an end, but have you ever thought that perhaps for you, death does not mean an end either?"

"That's different."

Zhang Liming shook his head and said:

"Your death is different from our death."

"Your death is merely a brief rest on the journey."

"But our death may be an endless wait."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xu slowly shook his head.

"In a dimension where time does not flow linearly, there is actually no difference between the short and the long."

"How can you know that my journey from death to resurrection was not a matter of countless hours of waiting, but merely a fleeting moment?"

"So, fundamentally, everything you do is just out of fear."

"The fear of nothingness."

"Don't think too highly of yourself; you're just a human being."

Zhang Liming remained silent for a long time.

Then, he nodded slowly.

"That's right, I'm just a human being."

"But you are too—we are not superior or inferior to each other."

"Indeed not."

Lin Xu sighed softly.

"But what I want to say is, if the dimensional reduction fails, that's fine too."

"When the world is in death, you can wait for our rescue in the void."

"But what if this world really descends to a secondary dimension, and even the people in this world still retain the ability to think?"

"So what exactly are you going to face?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Liming stared in disbelief.

He wanted to answer, but Lin Xu raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Choose nothingness, or choose real, existing suffering?"

"This question may never have a standard answer."

"But now that we've come this far, we have no choice but to keep going."

There's only one thing I can tell you.

"No matter where you are in the world of Destiny Stones, one day, the people of the world will bring you back to life."

After a long silence, Zhang Liming nodded and said:
"Thank you."

At this moment, Lin Xu finally saw a rare look of confusion in his eyes.

"Vacuum decay has been detected."

Jiang Xingye's voice rang out in the control room.

The end of the world is coming.

"40 seconds countdown, prepare to activate the barrier!"

In the vast universe.

A silver glint suddenly appeared at the edge of the event horizon of Cygnus X-1, like a pinhole piercing the cosmic curtain.

The swirling torrent of plasma on the black hole's accretion disk froze—not stopped moving, but the quantum states of all particles were instantly fixed at absolute zero, like a crystal sculpture.

Immediately afterwards, the silver light began to expand at the speed of truth.

In the star field it passed through, the last electromagnetic wave before the pulsar went out was stretched into a mournful cry spanning countless hours.

The vibrant gas cloud faded into a monotonous silvery-gray the moment it touched the light membrane.

A phase transition begins, and the energy it releases makes the entire nebula brighter than a trillion suns in a fraction of a second.

Those were the final fireworks of the laws of physics.

"Countdown 10 seconds!"

Jiang Xingye turned to look at Lin Xu.

Lin Xu began to speak:
"See you next time."

Jiang Xingye nodded slightly:
"See you in the next world."

"That's possible."

"We will survive!"

(End of this chapter)