Abyssal Wanderer.

Why did I suddenly lose connection with Jim?
On the other side, Jiang Zhou, once again alone, felt extremely uneasy.

Is it that the Janus program does not allow itself to connect with beings that have reached the limits of human intelligence, or is it being interfered with by some external entity—just like what happened to Ye Qian back then?

However, Ye Qian's success that time was due to the special deep-sea interface in the Mirror Nord resettlement area, coupled with the fact that he happened to be watching Janus's message at the time, and the universal printer was printing the goddess's body. With all the right conditions in place, he was able to temporarily interfere.

There aren't so many coincidences this time...

A deep sense of unease enveloped Jiang Zhou, so he simply closed his eyes.

The "Zen"-shaped implant in the deep-sea submersible activated instantly.

With the help of the goddess of the underworld, he is still connected to the dark web of the abyss.

With just a thought, Jiang Zhou's substitute program returned to the City of Sages.

The surrounding cityscape remained dilapidated and decadent, but Jiang Zhou didn't have time to take a closer look. He directly entered his mandala code and opened the Janus program interface.

He urgently needed to confirm Jim Ritter's current condition.

It's important to understand that Jim's ability to skip four levels to reach Depth 7 was largely due to Jiang Zhou's exceptionally stable mental index. Whether Jim's status as a "perfect superman" will actually help him remains to be seen.

Without a connection to himself, if Jim's mental state were to collapse, he would be doomed.

"Please... don't let something like what happened to Liao Qi happen again, okay?"

As the Janus program loaded, Jiang Zhou kept praying to himself in this way.

As the ancient two-headed god symbol appeared, the interface of the Janus program unfolded before him.

[Calculate the current adjustment depth; recommended number of controllable features to connect: 1/2]

The first thing that catches the eye is this data—the one that has been connected is Hecate, the goddess of the moon, which means that Jim is indeed currently disconnected from him.

Jiang Zhou quickly confirmed this, then continued to look down...

[Currently available number of selectable and controllable elements: 35 (34)]

Damn it!

Upon seeing this message, Jiang Zhou immediately cursed out loud.

There were originally 66 entities available for connection in the Nord resettlement area, but after so many recent disasters, it is normal that there are only 35 left.

However, when the list of potential candidates was opened, Jim Ritter's name, just like when Liao Qi had his mental breakdown last time, turned into a warning red.

Although Jiang Zhou didn't know what red meant, it was definitely not good news.

"Damn it, red text it is..."

Jiang Zhou gritted his teeth and directly chose to "ignore the risks and continue the connection".

If Jim's mind completely breaks down due to adjustments, modifications, or some other reason, then he should simply take over and complete the unfinished business of the previous man.

however……

[Connection request sent, please wait for the subject to make a selection]

This entity possesses a contract with a death warrant level of authority; please carefully assess the risks involved after connecting.

[Time remaining until body adjustment and modification completion: 8:45]

The three pop-up windows that suddenly appeared brought Jiang Zhou's previously ignited passion to a screeching halt.

Waiting for the subject's own choice?

In other words, Jim still has the sanity to make a "choice" and has not completely lost his mind.

After all, when he connected with Liao Qi's mind last time, all of the Sun Chaser's mental activities turned into bizarre fragments like a dream, and there was no possibility of "choice" at all.

Jiang Zhou analyzed it this way.

And what is a "last will contract"? What risks are inherent in this type of contract?
"Could his last words... be related to Nyx's last wish?"

Jiang Zhou muttered to himself, then began to complain about why the Janus program didn't include any clearer annotations.

Does this mean that Jim, like himself, also inherited the legacy left by the will? And what choices does he need to make regarding it?

"I'd like to ask a question."

Just then, a somewhat familiar voice sounded from behind him.

Jiang Zhou suddenly turned his head, and a man who looked somewhat like Liao Qi and had a pair of burning wings on his back appeared behind him at some point.

"Icarus."

Jiang Zhou looked at the man and said his "name".

He confirmed the other party's identity through the Sage's City access log.

"I have a feeling that the Icarus Liberation Front itself will eventually give birth to a meme entity that truly belongs to them. It would seem inappropriate for me to use this name again at that time."

The man chuckled as he spoke, then said seriously:
"This place isn't entirely the Dark Web of the Abyss, but rather inside the Styx Firewall, a place that should be inaccessible... And previously, in the database of 'Number One,' I also discovered another being beyond the limits of human intelligence interfering with reality from here. There aren't many forces capable of reaching the interior of the Styx. I'd like to ask, are you also affiliated with that organization called 'Fire Stealers'?"

Jiang Zhou was unsure how to answer this question, so he simply shook his head.

Having received a negative answer, Icarus did not press the matter further, but his expression instantly relaxed considerably.

"That's good, that's good... I thought the source that gave birth to me was actually an elaborate hoax."

Icarus said so.

Jiang Zhou instantly understood what the other person meant—he was worried that Liao Qi's sacrifice was just a drama staged by the Fire Stealers.

"For entities like us, born from memes, those legendary crystals can be either an inexhaustible source of power or an Achilles' heel that can cripple us in one blow... If a legend is built on a false lie, then when the lie is exposed, the power that the human heart brings us will also disappear."

Icarus went on to explain.

Jiang Zhou nodded—it seems that to deal with memetic entities, excluding forced brainwashing like the "Dionysus virus," the key is still to rely on a war of public opinion to determine the outcome.

Silently noting down this information, Jiang Zhou was about to ask some more questions when he didn't expect Icarus's body to gradually become transparent.

"The time has come."

Icarus was also taken aback for a moment, then said with a relieved expression:

"Although there are still many things I want to say and ask, the leader of that cult has begun to suppress us after his body was rebuilt... We will probably meet again when the Dionysian structure has fully surfaced."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhou's heart stirred.

When would that be?

He quickly asked.

At this moment, Icarus's body was so transparent that it was about to disappear completely, but he still spoke:

"It will be soon, after 'Paradise' completes its ascension."

After saying that, the man with fiery wings on his back completely disappeared from the City of Sages.

Even though he disappeared, his name still appears in Jiangzhou's city register.

This seems to suggest that... in the algorithm of the Theseus path, this meme entity is also considered a "person".

Thinking this through, Jiang Zhou reopened his eyes and returned to the base reality.

There were still more than eight minutes before Jim finished the adjustments and modifications. Since there was no way to intervene directly through the Janus program, he decided to go there himself.

Standing on the top floor, gazing at the flickering lights in the direction of the geothermal power plant, Jiang Zhou thought to himself.

Just then, Christie sent another message.

At this moment, the electromagnetic environment on the seventh basement level of the resettlement area is still in a chaotic state after the nuclear explosion. Heaven knows how this cheap boss managed to contact him.

Stop pretending, I know you can receive messages. If you're still alive, reply now!!!

The three exclamation marks indicate a real urgency. [They're still alive and kicking, but only one of the six puppets I brought is left. Also, the anti-lithium bomb you gave me earlier was incredibly useful; thank you so much!]

Jiang Zhou replied in this way.

At this moment, his gaze shifted from the distant geothermal power plant to the strange group that had not yet gone far.

Approximately a thousand people lined up, carrying various lighting devices, and walked towards the geothermal power station.

Those men and women all had incredibly calm expressions, their eyes filled with an empty void.

Their walking postures were almost identical.

Jiang Zhou spotted several familiar faces in the group.

Wang Ying had a resolute expression, while Ji Mu looked like he was about to cry.

Duanmu Youxue looked somewhat sad, and Lin Yuan Huili had a creepy smile on her face.

As the group passed the building where Jiang Zhou was, all but Wang Ying and Ji Mu looked up at him at the same time.

Imagine the eerie feeling of thousands of empty, lifeless eyes staring at you simultaneously under the illumination of handheld lighting equipment.

Jiang Zhou felt goosebumps rising on his back.

However, these people only gave him a warning look and did not do anything else.

In fact, if they wanted to, a thousand completed Supermen could simultaneously surround this building. Jiang Zhou, with his escape route completely blocked and his puppets and ammunition depleted, would have no chance of survival.

Even if I immediately ask Christie for help, she probably won't be able to get there in time.

However, these superheroes did not do that.

why?
Do you not consider yourself a threat?

It should be noted that Hayashibara Eri already knew about her connection with Janus. Considering the fundamental contradiction between the first and second wishes, these guys had no reason not to kill her.

Jiang Zhou was somewhat confused.

Or did they decide that going to the geothermal power plant was a more important matter?

Just as Jiang Zhou was thinking this, Christie sent him a message.

[If you're still alive, immediately evacuate to the tenth floor of the resettlement area and board an Olympus Order flight to leave this place.]

[I just received news that the Jupiter Group has confirmed the launch of its second major attack!!!!]

There are still three exclamation marks.

…………

"What?! With you, me, and Theta working together, isn't it just a matter of time before we take back this multi-function printer? Why do we need to launch a second Thunderbolt?"

On the tenth floor of the resettlement area, Number One spoke with considerable anger after hearing the information.

Even though the Nyx Factor is now almost entirely gone, after obtaining the new body created by Number One, Theta is still able to suppress the rampaging emotions of those infected with the Dionysus virus on her own.

Theta's work greatly weakened the power of the memetic entity, Fear Incarnation. Faced with the entity that was materialized in the base reality by the universal printer, the combined attack of Coordinators One and Christie, both Depth 7, instantly reversed the situation on the battlefield.

Right now, it's completely the two of them who are dominating the other. If it weren't for the concern about collateral damage to residents caused by heavy weapons, Christie would have already snatched the multi-function printer back.

Even if the two of them are holding back like this, it's only a matter of time before they take back the multi-function printer.

Meanwhile, above the Nord resettlement area, Hecate, the goddess of the moon, after replenishing the last seven grams of antimatter, deflected the "Great Thunder" completely with her shield.

As the dazzling blue light outside the resettlement area window faded, Nord finally weathered the long night and ushered in the true dawn.

Without the countdown threat posed by the Incarnation of Fear, even if Jim Ritter ultimately fails to advance to Depth 7, given enough time, Theta will be able to gradually and completely correct those infected with the Dionysus virus.

But just when everything seemed to be heading in a positive direction, the Pluto Deep's board of directors sent Christie an urgent message.

[The second Great Thunderclap is charging. Take Theseus and leave the Nord settlement immediately.]

This doesn't sound like a joke.

In response to Number One's question, Christie sent a warning message to Theseus via the tachyon receiver she had secretly installed in his communication device, while replying:

"Because meme entities are only a small part of the threat posed by the Nord Resettlement Area. The real trouble is the tens of thousands of superhumans that have already been created here... According to Jupiter, in order to completely eradicate those superhumans, they plan to plow through the land within a hundred miles of the Nord Resettlement Area."

"Is it really necessary to be so ruthless?"

Upon hearing such ruthless methods, Number One was stunned for a moment before speaking.

Christie did not answer the question, but continued:
"The second Thunderbolt is currently charging and will be launched immediately once fully charged. Moreover, this time, they certainly won't choose such a gentle method as directed energy."

At least they wouldn't choose a method that the Goddess of the Underworld could withstand.

As he said this, Theseus, who was on the seventh basement level, replied to the message.

How long does it take for the Great Thunder to recharge?

Why is this kid asking this?
Thinking this to herself, Christie replied:

The base charging time is eight minutes and twenty seconds, and the subsequent charging time varies depending on the type of attack. However, regardless of the type of attack, the charging time will not exceed fifteen minutes. If you don't want to be reduced to ashes, you'd better hurry.

After this reply, Theseus fell silent again.

About half a minute later, he replied.

[We have enough time. For your safety, you should leave now. I'll stay and see if I can resolve the issue here.]

"That unlucky kid..."

Seeing such a dismissive reply, Christie couldn't help but curse.

…………

There is enough time!

After replying to the message, Jiang Zhou thought to himself.

Even based on the basic charging time of eight minutes and twenty seconds, Jim is now less than five minutes away from completing the adjustment and modification.

According to the information obtained from the Janus program, if Jim is indeed directly related to the Second Will because of his identity, then he should be able to change something instantly after completing the Depth 7 adjustment.

At least this possibility made Jiang Zhou willing to risk his life to believe it.

Although it is not yet clear what kind of test the second will will present to Jim, given Jim's character, he would certainly not stand against the free will of all mankind.

The time Jiang Zhou spent mentally connected with Jim, and the adventures they went through together, all convinced Jiang Zhou of this point.

But then, did those Supermen line up like on a pilgrimage just to stop Jim's promotion?
Jiang Zhou thought to himself.

No...impossible.

Although they are called superhumans, their physical bodies are only at the strength of ordinary people, and they don't carry any heavy weapons. Once Jim ascends to Depth 7, these people will have no chance of fighting a near-inhuman being.

besides……

As Jiang Zhou walked downstairs, something inexplicably came to mind.

The basic charging time for Thunder is eight minutes and twenty seconds.

Eight minutes and twenty seconds... This time seems a little familiar.

…………

At the same moment, on a star called the Sun, 1.496 million kilometers away from Earth.

In a space that is extremely small when compared to the surface of a star, but extremely vast when compared to Earth, a translucent membrane flashes past through the folds of space.

In the instant it appeared and disappeared, it intercepted an extremely large amount of energy and projected it as a beam of light toward a space station above Earth.

This is the Great Thunder. (End of Chapter)