[R18] Global College Entrance Examination – “Global College Entrance Examination” Chapter 161 [English]

Chapter 161 The smoke has cleared┃It’s the lights of thousands of houses and the hustle and bustle of the world.

Outside the gate, separated by a wall, more than four thousand people were cheering and cheering. Everyone thought they had succeeded.But You Huo and Qin Zhu’s expressions changed – this was different from what was expected.

It is expected that when the main control center is damaged to 100%, the building will turn into ruins, leaving only the core main console.

The core console is impregnable, and defense holes will only appear at the last 1% critical point.If you seize those few seconds and blast open the main console, the most vulnerable parts of the system will be exposed.

It should be something similar to a chip, which is difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. It is similar to what was placed in Youhuo’s eyes back then. It is called the core of the system.

At this moment, you have two choices.

Or, use a correction program to interfere with the “core”, forcing the system to produce self-correction awareness and fall into a self-destructive state.And before self-destructing, according to the rules, it will throw everyone out.

Or, they can wait for the S group to disappear completely and get the main control of the system.Just one command can set everyone free.

But now, the main control center is disintegrating, and they have neither obtained main control nor seen the core.

The sound of the system suddenly rang again, intermittent as if there was a bad connection:

【Warning!warn!The main control center suffered irreversible damage, and Group S’s emergency response failed!The main invigilator’s hosting program has been blocked, and all control will be taken back within 10 seconds.】

[The main control center is abandoned… and the self-cleaning process has been activated.】

[Countdown, 10——]

The sudden change stunned the cheering people, and everyone stopped in a daze and looked at each other.

“What’s going on? Isn’t it about to end?”

“What does self-clearing mean? Self-destruct?”

“No way!”

“Then what should we do? Shouldn’t we go out first?”

Amid the noisy discussion, someone said: “You can’t get out, can you?!”

Those words were like a nuclear bomb that exploded among thousands of people.

【9——8——】

The system’s countdown hung above their heads. Every time a number was counted, it exploded, causing everyone’s brains to buzz and go blank.

The sky was full of gray and yellow, and dust and fog hung overhead.Outside the thick fog, there was something like a warning light that blinked with the countdown, flashing a faint red light, like a reminder.

Just as it was counting down and flashing to the 4th time, there was a rustling sound on the radio, and another voice forcibly replaced the system:

[Boss, A, I am 154.】

The moment 154 took control, the red light stopped and the countdown stopped. Everyone’s hearts were hanging in their throats.

For You Huo and Qin Zhu inside the building, the sound of 154 came from the main console in front of them.

“154? Can you hear us?” Qin Zhu went straight to the point: “We blasted the main console, but there is no nuclear, so it is empty.”

[I know, while the main control center was destroyed, I have been fighting for control.I’ve seen everything that just happened here, but I haven’t been able to speak.】

[I will remind you of two things when I come.】

[First, what the members of Group S just said are not entirely true.I took over the system’s historical information database a minute ago and saw everyone’s past information.As far as I know, all the initial proctors are real people entering the system, which is similar to opening an intersection between two dimensions with the help of magnetic fields and various conditions.Only after that did the system change its approach, especially after it was severely out of control. Only a small part of them were real people, such as you, the boss, and the vast majority were thought entries.Maybe the system realizes that the disappearance is too noticeable, and illness, shock, and brain death are considered normal.】

154’s tone was rare and a little anxious: [So don’t believe those nonsense, I’m afraid that you two will start to have no inhibitions once you hear that they are not in the flesh.If you die, you will really die!】

“I know.” Youhuo said.

In fact, half a minute ago, the moment he heard those words, he almost really believed them.

But just now, when Qin Zhu opened the “curtain” and walked to him, he suddenly remembered something – earrings.

If he here is really just a projection of his mind, it is impossible for this earring to stay in his ear from the system to reality.

【It’s good to know.】

154 breathed a sigh of relief.

[The second thing is the core of the system. If it is not here, it must be hidden——]

He’s words were suddenly cut off. In the distance outside the thick fog, the red warning light flashed again, and the system’s cold voice took over again, continuing its countdown:

【7——】

Before everyone could digest what 154 said, they fell into a new round of panic.

Qin Jiu pinched his eyebrows hard, trying to stay rational and clear-headed under the pressure of the countdown: “154 means that the system has hidden the core. The question is where it is hidden.”

【6——】

“Since the main control center can be destroyed as long as it is destroyed, it must not be in any corner here. Where else can it be hidden?” Qin Jiu looked around, “Is there any place where it can be safely placed?”

“A place that seems absolutely safe to it.” Youhuo licked his dry lips.

These small actions are enough to show that even he begins to feel anxious and nervous.

【5——】

What is an absolutely safe place?

Either it is a place that I would never think of, or it is a place that I would not touch rashly if I thought of it.

The system is very proud to a certain extent, and it is impossible to put the core in the corner. No matter what, it will never really leave the center.

So where?

Invigilation area?Resting place?

Is there any place that they dare not move?

It seems not, after all, they are so crazy that they even dare to ride in.

【4——】

Suddenly, Youhuo’s expression changed.

The concept of “self” reminds him that other people’s lives may be safer than the two of him, especially friends and companions.

Friends and Companions…

A thunderclap sounded in his mind.

At the critical moment, the radio rustled again.

154 once again seized control. This time he didn’t even say hello, but spoke quickly:

[Time is tight, we must first find out where the system hides the core.In addition, the correction program is in your hands. If it is hidden outside the main control center and cannot be reached by you, then you have to——]

154 paused.

He seemed to swallow back what he was about to say, and changed his words: “I have to think of another way.”】

After he said this, he did not receive the expected response.The two people next to the main console suddenly fell into silence for some unknown reason.

【Boss?】

【A?】

【Are you listening?】

“Here…” Youhuo looked at the main console.

Neither he nor Qin Jiu were distracted, they just suddenly thought of an answer——

Chu Yue.

Suddenly there was a thin sound on the radio, as if someone suddenly stood up.

Then, a very soft female voice sounded from the side: “154.”

The moment she spoke, she could not conceal her confusion, but the next second she calmed down, as if she had made up her mind, “I have something to tell you.”

When he heard this sentence, Youhuo’s expression changed.

He wanted to say wait a minute and tell Chu Yue not to be impulsive.But the next second, the broadcast went silent, and even the background sound stopped abruptly…

***

In the abandoned apartment in the second rest area, 154 watched the paused broadcast and heard Chu Yue take a deep breath and say: “The core of the system should be hidden here with me.”

“Like A, I had something implanted in my eyes. You know that, right? I think the nucleus is probably hidden inside.”

In fact, she has felt that she is luckier than Youhuo for a long time.They are also learning objects and special existences within the system, but their experiences are very different——

The one whose voice was simulated was Youhuo, the one who was watched closely 24 hours a day was Youhuo, the one who was promoted to a high position and kicked out of the system was Youhuo, and the one who had his memory and past erased was Youhuo.

In contrast, she has hardly experienced any major ups and downs, and has not received any harmful punishment. Even the things in her eyes are more peaceful than those of You Huo. Once she is shut down, there is no movement.So much so that she even occasionally forgets that there is such a thing always following her.

A long time ago, a colleague once said to her: “Obviously you and A are both invigilators, why do you feel that the system is a little biased towards he? On various occasions, A is the one who gets the emphasis, and you always seem to be downplayed and forgotten.”

She replied at the time: “You got it backwards, I might be the one being biased.”

She spent a lot of time wondering why this bias exists.

Until today, she finally understood…

Because the system hides the most important things in her and doesn’t want others to notice her.

It firmly believes that this is the safest place, because A cannot harm her rashly.And as long as A doesn’t move, other he people are not a threat.

But unfortunately, it also left out one person—she herself.

Chu Yue pointed at her eyes and said: “They have all done what they should do, except for the last one, 154, please do me a favor.”

***

Above the wilderness, the countdown stopped abruptly in the last two seconds, and even the dust and fog stopped at that second.

After a long period of silence, the system’s voice changed its tone:

[Self-clearing program interrupted.】

[Correction detected.】

[Kernel self-test is enabled.】

【mistake.】

【mistake.】

【mistake.】

…

Countless “mistakes” were repeated mechanically, like a long road with no end in sight.

Until a certain moment, this repetition finally stopped, and the system’s voice changed from calm to rough to distorted, like baked ice. It said:

[The self-test is completed, the system failure level is S, and the exam is completely terminated.】

[This operation lasted for a total of 6 years, 1 month and 7 days, with 26,921 reference personnel and 11,582 existing people.All personnel will be cleared from the system within 5 minutes.】

[The self-destruct program is officially launched.】

The moment the words fell, the wind blew high and the dust and mist billowed.

The 12,822 independent examination rooms began to fall apart. All that had happened on these honeycomb-like lands, life and death, love and hate, joys and sorrows, would no longer exist from this moment on and would remain forever.

Some cried, some laughed, some were confused, and some screamed.

Chu Yue blinked in the unprovoked noisy background, and the unfamiliar darkness swept towards her. In the darkness, there was a vaguely familiar figure coming straight towards her.

She remembered what 154 said not long ago, and he asked her before taking action: “Are you afraid?”

She said there was nothing to be afraid of, she had friends she could trust with her life, and no matter what, they would never abandon her.Just like she will never let each other down.

From then on, they were free.

It was strange, it was obviously something to be happy about, but for a moment, she wanted to cry.

Finally, she saw You Huo and Qin Zhu at the end of her field of vision, as well as the night sky not far away after the smoke cleared, with stars dotted and vague bright colors stretching to the horizon.

That is a scenery that can never be seen in the system, it is the lights of thousands of houses and the hustle and bustle of the world.