Chapter 54 - 23: "The 500 Million Year Button

Chapter 54: Chapter 23: "The 500 Million Year Button

Yu Xian looked at the flashing "Confirm" button before him, pondering his next move.

According to the fourth article of the protocol, the next step would likely let him set a habit he wanted to form.

’What kind of habit should I set to help me explore the contents of my parents’ paper?’ he wondered.

’The first problem I have to solve is forgetting the dream. Otherwise, what’s the point if I forget everything I discover after I wake up? I’ll just be stuck in an endless loop.’

’Since this dream’s mechanism is so effective and domineering, could I maybe use its own rules against it? Fight fire with fire?’

’Use its rules to fight it... fight magic with magic?’

’For example, what would happen if I set the habit I want to form to "immediately record the dream upon waking"?’

At this thought, he no longer hesitated. He gently touched the "Confirm" button. It instantly shattered, dissolving into countless points of light that vanished into the void.

Yu Xian took a deep breath, though he had no real sensation of "breathing" here. He waited for the follow-up prompts to set up his "habit formation."

However, the expected interactive interface and questions never appeared.

Instead, the text of the TDI Dream Net Protocol that had been floating before him began to expand, filling his entire field of view.

Then, that voice—his own—began to speak, its tone calm and flat:

"First-time user login detected. Login key is Session1."

"To ensure the safety of the experiment, in accordance with Article 3 of the Protocol, ’Memory Protection Mechanism,’ the objective for this dream entry has been adjusted to: Memorize the entire content of this protocol."

Yu Xian was stunned for a moment. ’So, the goal of my first time in the dream is just to memorize the Protocol?’

’But on second thought, that’s reasonable. It would prevent me from forgetting what to do next after I wake up. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to go to the official website, download the new audio file, and log in a second time.’

’But isn’t this "memory" ability supposed to be a built-in "function" of the TDI project?’

’So why does it need to be set as an objective? Can’t it just be directly "stored" in my memory?’

Before he could even process it, a line of large, bright red words was superimposed directly over the protocol articles, like a seal had been stamped on them. ℴ

"Current Task: Read the full text of the TDI Dream Net Protocol aloud"

"Repetitions Remaining: 9999"

’What is this?’

Yu Xian’s mind hadn’t even had time to react before the voice in his head began the first recitation.

The voice was steady, calm, and devoid of any emotion, like a pre-programmed recording.

"Article One, Dream Net Login Rules. The audio file used to guide the login is called a Session Key. This key is valid for a single use only. Therefore, you will need to use..."

The voice finished the first reading and slowly faded, the world falling silent.

’Is that it? What now?’

Yu Xian stared at the blood-red words before him. It still read, "Repetitions Remaining: 9999".

He waited for a moment, but nothing happened. The words and numbers remained motionless.

Tentatively, he tried reciting the content he had just heard: "Article One, Dream Net Login Rules..."

The red number flickered.

"Repetitions Remaining: 9998"

Yu Xian’s heart clenched.

’Do it once, and the count goes down by one?’

’What is this supposed to be?’

’A compliance test?’

Looking at the number, an immense sense of absurdity washed over him.

’Ten thousand times?’

’Based on the length of this protocol, it would take about a minute to read it once at a normal pace.’

’Ten thousand times is ten thousand minutes, which is...’

’166 hours. A full seven days and seven nights?’

’And that’s assuming I don’t sleep, eat, or drink.’

’Are you kidding me?’

’Don’t tell me this task means I have to stay here and recite these tedious words nonstop for a whole week?’

This was insane.

’If I don’t want to recite it, can I just exit this dream?’

He looked out at the white world, posing the question to the void.

There was no response.

’What does this mean? Am I going to be trapped here until I complete the task? Is that the only way I can wake up?’

’Have I... been kidnapped by a dream?’

How comical. How absurd.

A sudden thought occurred to him. ’It’s fine. My cousin has to come home eventually. If he sees me sleeping this long, he’ll definitely wake me up.’

’His shift is only a day or two at most. He won’t be gone for seven days.’

But suddenly, a question surfaced in his mind—

’Time in this dream... it’s the same as in the real world, right?’

If he were in reality, a cold sweat would already be breaking out on his back.

He was reminded of the classic story, "A Dream of Nanke."

It tells of a drunkard who, one day, got drunk and took a nap under a tree. In his dream, he entered a place called the Great Huaian Kingdom, married a princess, became the Governor of Nanke County, and enjoyed every possible luxury, as if he had lived a whole lifetime.

Upon waking, he discovered that the Great Huaian Kingdom was nothing but an anthill under a locust tree. In reality, he had only slept for a short while, but in his dream, he had lived an entire life.

’Could it be... that I’m just like that drunkard? Trapped in this place where time doesn’t pass, where I have no physical sensations, where I can’t even kill myself... trapped until the end of time?’

’Trapped until my will collapses, until I start reciting that protocol over and over again like a slave?’

He gritted his teeth, trying to resist.