Other pursuing systems didn't know what had suddenly possessed them, as they actually attempted to capture System 001 the moment the world was about to be detached.
Fortunately, System 001 was quick enough to escape with Wen Bai, narrowly avoiding capture.
Logically, when transitioning from one world to the next, System 001 should have had ample time to prepare.
However, based on its experience in various worlds, System 001 deduced that the systems pursuing it had detected its trace while it was still in the robot world, but for some unknown reason, they had never made a move.
There was something fishy going on, so this time, System 001 did not linger in the world's void with Wen Bai.
To evade the other pursuing systems exploiting the pause in the world's void, System 001, without even a moment to catch its breath after detaching from the original world, decisively threw Wen Bai into the next world.
Where System 001 had disappeared from the original world, the pursuing systems erupted into a fierce dispute.
System 999 watched the direction in which System 001 had vanished.
A mechanical voice, devoid of emotion, emanated from nearby: "System 999, didn't you say you understood it thoroughly? That this method was foolproof? Several of us followed your plan and remained inactive within the world, so tell me, why did System 001 slip away so quickly?"
Another mechanical voice chimed in: "I suspect System 999 was deliberately stalling."
System 999 began to speak, feigning innocence and helplessness: "Oh, my dear brothers! I'm just a laggard. Look at my name, look at my ranking! I'm dead last!"
System 999 adopted a pitiable demeanor: "I only wanted to help you brothers resolve your worries, so I offered my advice and tried to share your burdens. But when it comes to execution, you all know my capabilities are lacking~"
System 999 flattered them: "If my execution skills were even one-thousandth as strong as yours, I wouldn't be ranked last~ Brothers! System 999 only wishes to follow you brothers and gain a little bit of points, even just a tiny bit. Please, brothers, do not abandon me."
Having been so praised, the other systems found it difficult to speak harshly. Since the deed was done, they had to look forward.
After all, all the systems pursuing System 001 had begun to divide into small groups, and they were among the first to catch up, putting them far ahead.
The leader of these few systems, after a series of "beeps," responded mechanically: "Stop arguing. I am already initiating internal scans to determine System 001's movements in the next world. We must capture System 001 next time."
-
In a transition of about ten seconds, mere moments ago, Wen Bai was still feeling the sensation of his palm dissolving.
Those frenzied emotions still lingered and swirled within Wen Bai's body.
The next instant, Wen Bai's entire world turned pitch black, and he was unceremoniously thrown into darkness.
Wen Bai had a dream, and he knew it was a dream, yet he couldn't wake up.
In Wen Bai's dream,
He returned to a world filled with children his own age and many adults dressed in white.
Wen Bai opened his eyes, lifted the thin blanket, and sat up from the bed.
This time, everything in the dream became exceptionally clear.
The faces of everyone were no longer a hazy white fog, and the scenes were no longer so blurry.
Next to Wen Bai's small, makeshift bed, a child was curled up on their side, facing Wen Bai. That child had the exact same face as Wen Bai.
The children who were now awake, the children running on the ground, the children playing on the floor, and some children who were still asleep, wrapped tightly in their blankets on their beds – all these children looked remarkably similar.
Some bore a resemblance to Wen Bai of seven or eight parts, while others were only three or four parts similar.
And more often, they were clustered together in twos and threes, appearing almost identical.
The child on the bed next to Wen Bai suddenly opened their eyes.
Seeing Wen Bai looking in their direction, the child stared at Wen Bai for a few seconds, then rubbed their eyes and sat up.
Barefoot, the child walked to Wen Bai's bed and extended a hand to him, saying, "Eat."
Just as on every previous occasion, Wen Bai reached out and placed his hand in the other's.
Here, children who looked more alike were closer, and they preferred to stay together.
Wen Bai was led by the other child to where the children were lining up.
Here, everyone received the essential green liquid in transparent tubes—nutrient solution.
Wen Bai stood behind the other child, received his nutrient solution, and sat aside, quietly opening the cap and slowly swallowing.
He didn't like it much, so he swallowed very slowly.
He noticed the face that looked exactly like his was now staring at him blankly, holding an empty tube.
The expression seemed a little pitiful.
Wen Bai paused and held out the remaining half tube of nutrient solution he hadn't finished to the other child.
Unexpectedly, the other child not only refused it but also sternly slapped Wen Bai's small hand with their hand.
"Drink it all. Don't give it to others," the child said expressionlessly in a childish voice.
After being reprimanded, Wen Bai, though he didn't understand, obediently finished the remaining half tube of nutrient solution in his hand.
They shared the same face, slept together, woke up together, acted together, and even grew taller together.
Yet, the child who looked most like Wen Bai, after Wen Bai discovered numerous needle marks on their body, was taken away the next day.
This time, they were not brought back...
Wen Bai sat on his small bed, looking at the empty bed beside him. After the lights were extinguished, he refused to sleep.
At that time, the young Wen Bai was simply persistent in waiting, and could only wait persistently.
But now, suddenly, Wen Bai felt a suffocating pressure in his heart. He wanted to go find him.
It was like water boiling, the kettle lid about to be flipped by the hot water and surging steam, with scorching vapor erupting from the gaps around the lid, making everything uncontrollable...
This feeling of oppression was unprecedentedly strong.
Accompanying it was an extremely intense sense of nausea for Wen Bai, both emotionally and physically.
The young Wen Bai jumped off the bed. He had to go find him.
As his small feet touched the ground...
Then, Wen Bai opened his eyes.
He saw the child lying in front of him, a child who looked remarkably like him. That face was just as he remembered it, except this time the child's hair was very long, as long as a girl's.
The next instant, Wen Bai closed his eyes again.
After waiting a few seconds, Wen Bai slowly opened his eyes again.
That face had not disappeared. It was still in front of him, just as it had been when the child hadn't been taken away and had not been separated from the young Wen Bai.
However, the difference was that this time, the other child spoke.
Wen Bai heard the other child say, "Gege, you're awake."