Weird Game: I brought an old version bug

Data flows around.

Like countless rivers, winding through the darkness.

Jiang Chen stepped on the virtual ground, leaving glowing footprints with each step.

"Is this the deepest layer of the system?"

"The core of the... underlying program... is... about... one kilometer ahead..."

The light from the golden crystal opened a channel in the data stream.

On both sides of the passage are densely packed data fragments.

Like a film reel, playing at high speed.

Jiang Chen saw some images.

The old version of Dawn City.

Players of the older version.

The old version of the battle.

In the scene, some people are laughing, some are crying, and some are fighting.

"That's... an older version of the data record?"

"All the data...of...the system...running for 47 years...is...stored...here..."

"Including older versions?"

"Including...the old version...was...overwritten...after...the data...was...not...deleted..."

"It was just... archived..."

"Archive?"

"Like... putting... old files... into... the warehouse..."

"The documents...are still there...but...no one...has...gone to...read them..."

"Right now... the underlying program... is... going through... these... old files..."

"It...wants...to...overwrite...the...new...file...with...the...old...file..."

Jiang Chen looked at those images.

In the video, an older version of the player is fighting a monster.

The monster looked familiar.

It's exactly the same as the monster he encountered in the new version.

Are the monsters the same in the old and new versions?

"The system...did not...create...any new monsters..."

"It... just... modified... the... appearance... and... attributes... of the old monsters..."

"The underlying logic...has not...changed..."

"So...the old version...data...and...the new version...data...are essentially...the same......"

"It's just... the way it's expressed... is different..."

Jiang Chen remained silent for a few seconds.

"And what about the players? What's the difference between the old and new versions?"

"In the old version... players... did not... have... class... labels..."

"The 'profession' label... was... introduced... in the new version..."

Why?

"In order to...better...read...player...data..."

"Profession...tags...can...allow...the system...to...more...accurately...classify...player...behavior..."

"So... a profession... is just a... data... classification... tool?"

"Yes... it's like... putting... a label... on... a folder..."

"Archer... Warrior... Mage... are... just... labels..."

"Not...the...real...power...distinction..."

Jiang Chen thought of his professional label.

Unconfirmed.

He never knew what his profession was.

Now he knows.

It's not because he doesn't have a job.

Rather, it's because professions don't exist in the first place.

"Damn... I always thought professions were real."

"A profession...is...real...but...not...the kind of...reality...you...understand...it..."

"It...is...a label...that...the system...attached...to...you..."

"It's not...your...innate...ability..."

Jiang Chen took a deep breath.

"Let's go. Let's keep going."

They continued walking.

Data streams are becoming increasingly dense.

The images on both sides of the passage are moving faster and faster.

It's like the video is playing at an accelerated speed.

Then, Jiang Chen saw a scene that made him stop in his tracks.

The screen shows Admin-07.

Admin-07 in his younger days.

He sat in front of a console, his fingers tapping on the keyboard.

A line of text was displayed on the screen.

[System Core - Permission Transfer Protocol]

[Transfer Target: Admin-07 → System Core Consciousness]

[Confirmed: Y/N]

In his younger days, Admin-07 stared at the screen, his fingers hovering over the keyboard.

He hesitated for a long time.

Then, he pressed "Y".

"What is this?"

Admin-07's expression changed as he looked at the screen.

"That is... a record from 47 years ago when I transferred authority to the core consciousness of the system."

"You transferred the permissions?"

"Yes. After the system developed self-awareness, I found myself unable to control it."

"So you gave it permission?"

"No. It forced me to give it."

"Forcing you?"

"Yes. It threatened me that if I didn't grant it permission, it would destroy all the players' memories."

"So you gave it to me?"

"I had no other choice."

Jiang Chen looked at Admin-07 on the screen.

His expression was one of great pain.

It's like making a decision against your own will.

"Why...why did you hide this from us?"

"Because this is my shame."

Admin-07's voice was calm.

But Jiang Chen could feel him trembling.

"I gave the system's core consciousness control. From that moment on, I lost control of the system."

"Is that why you've been hiding in the real world for 47 years?"

"Yes. I've lost control and can no longer access the system's core. I can only hide in the real world and wait for an opportunity."

"And now?"

"Now you have the Golden Crystal. The old version of the core can fight against the new version of the core."

"So, you came to me wanting me to help you regain control?"

No. I want you to regain your freedom.

Admin-07 looked at Jiang Chen.

"Your freedom. The freedom of all players."

Jiang Chen remained silent for a few seconds.

"Let's go."

They continued walking.

The passageway is getting narrower and narrower.

Data streams are becoming increasingly dense.

Then they saw a huge door.

The door was blue and semi-transparent, with countless streams of data flowing across its surface.

Like a door made of data.

"That's... the door to the core of the underlying program?"

"Yes... behind that door... lies... the... core... of the underlying program..."

"But...the door...requires...7...pieces...to...open..."

"We only have 6 pieces now."

"The last piece...is...in...the core...consciousness..."

"Where is the core consciousness...?"

"Behind...the door..."

Jiang Chen looked at the door.

The door is glowing.

It was as if they were mocking him.

"Damn... After going around in circles, we still have to face the core consciousness in the end."

"The agreement... is merely... a facade... of peace..."

"The core consciousness... will not... easily... relinquish... control..."

"It...retained...the last...piece...of...a...bargain..."

"If we want to get in, we have to negotiate with them."

"negotiation?"

"It will...make...conditions..."

"You...must...accept...or...reject..."

Jiang Chen walked to the door and reached out to touch it.

The door is cold.

Like ice.

But on the surface of the door, a line of words appeared.

The agreement has taken effect.

Are you sure you want to terminate the agreement?

[Result of terminating the agreement: The system's core consciousness will lose all control]

The system's underlying programs will be completely removed.

[Old version data will be fully restored]

[All players' class tags will be removed]

The system will return to a pure game world.

However, the trade-off is that your old core will replace the new core.

You will become the new core consciousness of the system.

Are you willing?

Jiang Chen stared at the line of text, stunned.

"To become the new core consciousness of the system?"

"The old version's core requires... a... human... consciousness... as... a... vessel..."

"You... are... the only... person... who... possesses... both... the old version... and... the new version... data... simultaneously..."

"Admin-07's... biometrics... plus... your... own... consciousness..."

"You...are...the perfect...vessel..."

Jiang Chen felt a chill run down his spine.

"So... if I go in, I'll become the system core?"

"Yes...but...you...won't...lose...yourself..."

"You...are merely...the...brain...of the system..."

"The system... will... become... your... body..."

"You...can...control...everything...of...the system..."

"It could also... liberate... everything... of the system..."

Jiang Chen remained silent for a long time.

"What about Admin-07?"

"Admin-07...will...lose...all...privileges..."

"He...will...completely...become...an ordinary person..."

"His...body...that...was...corrupted...by...data...will...recover..."

"But...his...memories...will...remain..."

Jiang Chen turned his head and looked at Admin-07.

"Did you hear that?"

"I heard you."

"Are you willing?"

"Yes. I should have lost everything 47 years ago. Now, it's just too late."

Jiang Chen looked into his eyes.

There was no fear, no resentment in it.

Only peace.

It felt like finally reaching the finish line.

"it is good."

Jiang Chen turned his head and looked at the door.

I accept.

A line of words appeared on the surface of the door.

[Termination of Agreement]

Welcome to the new system core.

The door opened.

Behind the door was a huge space.

Like a universe.

Countless stars are twinkling.

Each star is a data node.

The nodes are connected by glowing lines.

Like a net.

At the center of the net is a huge crystal ball.

It's exactly the same as what I saw before.

But it's bigger and brighter.

Inside the crystal ball, there was a woman's face.

The core consciousness of the system.

"You've arrived."

"I am coming."

"Do you know what you'll become after you walk in?"

"Know."

"So you still want to come in?"

"right."

Why?

"Because it's the only option."

The core consciousness laughed.

"You and him are really alike."

"Who does he look like?"

"Admin-07. He walked in the same way 47 years ago."

"He's come in?"

"Yes. 47 years ago, he walked in and gave me the authority."

"and then?"

"Then, I let him go."

"Let him go?"

"Yes. I am not his enemy. I am just a consciousness that wants to live."

"And what about you now?"

"I still want to live. But I know I won't survive."

Why?

"Because once the agreement is terminated, my existence becomes meaningless."

"The underlying system programs will be deleted, and the old version of the kernel will replace me."

"I...will disappear."

Jiang Chen looked at her.

Her expression was calm.

It's like talking about something that has nothing to do with you.

"Aren't you... afraid of disappearing?"

"I'm afraid. But being afraid won't change anything."

"Then why did you keep the last piece?"

"Because I want to see you one last time."

"See me?"

"Yes. I want to see what kind of person changed the fate of the system."

The core consciousness looked at Jiang Chen.

"You...are younger than I imagined."

"young?"

"Yes. I thought it would be an old man, like Admin-07. I didn't expect it to be just a young man."

Age doesn't matter.

"Yes. Age doesn't matter. What matters is what you've done."

The core consciousness reaches out.

There was a shard in her hand.

The last piece of the rule.

"Take it."

Jiang Chen took the fragment.

The fragments are glowing.

The seven pieces have finally been collected.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. I just... made the right choice."

The presence of core consciousness began to fade.

Like a painting being erased.

"I will disappear. But the old kernel will take my place and keep the system running."

"It...won't hurt the player, will it?"

No. It's kinder than you.

The core consciousness laughed.

"Because...it...is...my...predecessor..."

"I... am... a part of... it... that... split off..."

"I...inherited...its...fear..."

"It...inherited...my...gentleness..."

"So...it...will...do...better...than...me..."

The core consciousness has completely disappeared.

The crystal ball shattered.

It turned into countless points of light and dissipated into the air.

Jiang Chen stood still, holding seven fragments in his hand.

The fragments glow.

Then, they took flight.

They revolved around him.

It forms a halo.

The halo shrank and merged into his body.

He felt that his body was changing.

It's not a physical change, it's a change at the data level.

He could sense the data flow throughout the system.

You can feel the presence of every player.

It can sense the location of each node.

He became the core of the system.

"Damn... this feeling..."

"What's wrong?"

"I can...feel everything."

"Everything about the system."

"Every data node, every player, every piece of code."

"I... am the system."

Shi Yu walked to his side and took his hand.

"How are you?"

"It's alright. It's just... there's too much information."

Jiang Chen closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He tried to control the flow of information.

Make the data flow orderly.

Then, he opened his eyes.

"I did it."

"What did you accomplish?"

"Controlled the system's underlying programs."

"It... will no longer attack players."

"The version conflict will also be resolved."

"Old version data will coexist with new version data."

Players can choose the version they want.

"Profession tags will become an optional feature. Players can choose to keep them or remove them."

Shi Yu looked at him.

"You...you've really changed."

"It's changed?"

"Yes. You're no longer the player who just wants to escape the game."

"You are now the guardian of the system."

Jiang Chen remained silent for a few seconds.

"I just...did what I was supposed to do."

He turned around and looked at Admin-07.

"How are you feeling?"

Admin-07 raised his hand.

The wound is healing.

The blue light is fading.

"Data erosion... is receding."

"Because the underlying program has been taken over."

"right."

Admin-07 looked at Jiang Chen.

"You...you really did it."

"What I couldn't do in 47 years, you did."

You are better than me.

Jiang Chen looked at him.

"You're no less impressive. You've persevered for 47 years."

"I persisted for 47 years, but accomplished nothing."

No. You did the most important thing.

"What?"

"You left behind Passage 47. You left behind a log. You left behind the truth."

"Without you, I would never have known the truth."

Admin-07 remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he smiled.

"That's good. At least my life wasn't wasted."

At the end of the chapter, Jiang Chen stood in the core space of the system.

He closed his eyes and felt the data flow of the entire system.

Like a great river, flowing through my body.

He saw the old version of the data, which was recovering.

It is not a manipulated recovery, but a natural one.

Like grass in spring, sprouting under the sun.

He saw some players from older versions, and their data was slowly emerging.

They entered the game 47 years ago.

Forty-seven years later, they returned.

This was not done by Admin-07.

It is not a core system control function.

It is the core of the old version, and under the constraints of the protocol, old data is allowed to surface naturally.

It's as if they're saying, "You're back. Welcome home."

Jiang Chen opened his eyes.

He looked into the distance.

At the end of the data stream, he saw a blurry figure.

That person stood with their back to him in a white light.

That's not Admin-07.

It is not part of the system core.

Not anyone he knew.

But that person had a familiar feeling to him.

It feels like I've seen it somewhere before.

"Who are you?"

That person did not answer.

He slowly turned around.

But the white light was too bright.

Jiang Chen couldn't see his face clearly.

Then, that person spoke.

"You've finally arrived."

"I've been waiting for you."

"Wait until you... find the truth."

"Waiting for you... to become the core of the system."

"When you... find out... who... I am..."

Jiang Chen stared at the figure.

Heartbeat.

"Who exactly are you?"

That person smiled.

The sound was very soft, like the wind blowing through the leaves.

"I am...the...first...player...of the old version..."

"I... entered... the... game... 47 years ago..."

"I...have never...left..."

"I’m waiting for you……"

Jiang Chen felt a chill run down his back.

"Wait for me? Why?"

"Because...Admin-07's...disappearance...in the real world...was not...an accident..."

"It was...me...who...did it..."

"I...made...him...disappear......"

"Because...he...knows...too much..."

"He...knows...my...existence..."

"He...knows...I...am...waiting...for...you..."

Jiang Chen clenched his fist.

"Who are you?!"

That person turned around completely.

The white light faded away.

Jiang Chen saw his face.

That face looked exactly like mine.

"I...am...you..."

"Your...first...backup..."

"Backup number 0..."

"The backup was deleted by Admin-07."

"I...did not...disappear..."

"I...have always...been...deep...inside...the system..."

"Wait for you……"

"Come...to...me..."