30: Chapter 30 Awakening and Choice

The light of the Consciousness Channel was like a sword tearing through illusion, shining brightly under the clear virtual sky. Lin Fan's body turned into countless blue specks of light, slowly rising along the channel's pull. Victor's desperate roar before dissipating still echoed in his ears, and the burnt smell of annihilated code seemed to linger at the tip of his nose.

Just then, two familiar figures burst through the permeating dust and sprinted toward the channel.

It was Franklin and Trevor.

Franklin's trench coat was slashed in several places, and his face was stained with dust and blood. His speed was astonishing, as if he completely disregarded his already exhausted physical strength. Trevor followed behind him, limping; one leg was clearly injured, but his gaze remained sharp, staring fixedly at the channel in mid-air that was about to close.

"Lin Fan!" Franklin's roar shook the heavens. He reached out, trying to grab the drifting specks of light, but only caught a handful of cold air.

Lin Fan's consciousness condensed into a blurry phantom. He looked at the two running towards him, a hot bitterness welling up in his throat. He wanted to say something but found he couldn't make a sound, only able to watch helplessly as the two drew closer.

Franklin finally reached the bottom of the channel. He suddenly stood on his tiptoes and grabbed the wrist of Lin Fan's phantom. The sensation was faint, like holding a wisp of cloud, but he gripped it tightly, refusing to let go.

"You're fucking leaving?" Franklin's voice carried a trace of imperceptible trembling. His eyes were red, but he forced back the tears that were about to well up. "Leaving without even saying goodbye to me?"

Trevor also arrived, staggering. He leaned against a nearby broken wall and looked at Lin Fan in mid-air, a rough smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Kid, you've got guts. You didn't let us work for nothing."

Lin Fan's phantom swayed slightly. He looked at the two, his eyes full of reluctance. He could feel the pull of the channel growing stronger; the aura of the real world was frantically tugging at his consciousness. If he didn't leave now, he might never be able to go back.

As if seeing through his thoughts, Franklin suddenly exerted force and gave Lin Fan's phantom a hard push toward the channel.

"Go! Don't be so fucking sentimental!" Franklin's roar carried a hint of a sob. "Someone is waiting for you in the real world! Don't dawdle here!"

Lin Fan's phantom stumbled and drifted toward the depths of the channel. He looked back at the two and saw Franklin with his back turned, shoulders trembling slightly, and Trevor waving at him with a smile of relief.

Just then, countless blurry phantoms suddenly appeared at the edge of the channel. These figures included men and women, old and young—all NPCs of this virtual world. Their figures were faint, as if they could dissipate at any moment, but their faces all bore the same gentle smile.

One of the phantoms was Michael.

He looked at Lin Fan, his eyes full of gratification and tenderness, exactly as in his memory.

"See the real world for me." Michael's voice was very light, like a gust of wind scattering in the air.

The other NPC phantoms also spoke up, their voices intertwining like a gentle lullaby.

"See for us what the real sky looks like."

"See for us if the real sunlight is warmer than in the virtual world."

"For us... live well."

Lin Fan's consciousness trembled violently. He looked at those phantoms and the relieved smiles on their faces, an indescribable emotion suddenly surging in his heart. He suddenly remembered that this virtual world was not just Victor's cage, but also the home of these NPCs. They were born here, grew up here, and experienced joys and sorrows here. They were also living beings and should not vanish with Victor's destruction.

The pull of the channel grew stronger, and the silhouette of the real world was faintly emerging at the other end. He could see Kate's figure, hear her breathing, and feel the warmth of her palm.

With just one more step, he could return to reality, reunite with Kate, and escape this damn virtual world.

But he couldn't leave.

Lin Fan's phantom suddenly stopped in its tracks.

Franklin and Trevor noticed his unusual movement and looked up, their eyes full of confusion.

"Lin Fan, what are you doing? Go!" Franklin shouted anxiously.

Lin Fan didn't answer. His gaze swept over the smiling NPC phantoms and across this virtual land that had just regained its peace. A look of determination gradually appeared in his eyes.

Deep in his consciousness, a faint hum suddenly sounded. It was the fluctuation of Administrator Privileges.

Although Victor had been destroyed, the core code of the Administrator Privileges still remained in his consciousness. It was the privilege he had exchanged his life for, and the last thing he could do for the NPCs of this world.

Lin Fan's phantom slowly raised his hand, a faint blue light condensing at his fingertips. That blue light carried the ultimate command of the Administrator Privileges—[Salvation Mode].

He had just triggered this mode deep within his consciousness. Activating it would seal the consciousnesses of all NPCs in this virtual world into an independent code space, waiting for a chance to be reawakened in the future.

The price was that he needed to burn his last conscious energy as fuel to activate the mode.

Once activated, his consciousness would completely dissipate, and he would never be able to return to reality.

Franklin finally sensed something was wrong, his face instantly turning pale. "Lin Fan! Are you crazy?! What are you doing?!"

Trevor's eyes also widened. Looking at the blue light at Lin Fan's fingertips, he seemed to understand something and suddenly rushed toward the channel. "Kid, stop! Have you lost your damn mind?!"

Lin Fan looked at Trevor rushing toward him, at Franklin shouting anxiously below, and at the smiling NPC phantoms. A gentle smile slowly curled on his lips.

He softly spoke two words.

"Goodbye."

As the words fell, he pressed down with his fingertip.

The blue light erupted instantly, like a newborn sun, illuminating the entire virtual world.

Countless beams of soft light overflowed from the blue light, wrapping each NPC phantom. Michael's phantom waved at him, his smile full of relief. The other NPC phantoms also bowed to him, as if expressing their most sincere gratitude.

Franklin's roar stopped abruptly. He watched the blue light in mid-air grow brighter and brighter, and Lin Fan's phantom bit by bit become transparent. His eyes finally turned completely red, and tears gushed out.

Trevor stopped beneath the channel. He looked at the blue light and Lin Fan's phantom, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh. Blood dripped from between his fingers, but he was completely oblivious.

Lin Fan's consciousness was rapidly dissipating. He could feel his body turning into countless specks of light, merging into the blue light of the Salvation Mode. He took one last look at the real world on the other side of the channel, where Kate's figure was, and the new life he longed for.

He gently closed his eyes, a satisfied smile on his lips.

At least, he hadn't let down those who trusted him.

At least, he had left a glimmer of hope for this world.

The blue light gradually receded, turning into a brilliant speck of light that sank into the core depths of the virtual world. The light of the channel also gradually dimmed, finally closing completely and disappearing under the clear sky.

Franklin slumped to the ground, letting out a suppressed sob. Trevor leaned against the broken wall, looking up at the sky, a heavy sigh escaping his throat.

The virtual world regained its peace. Sunlight spilled over the land, warm and gentle. No one knew what a heroic sacrifice had just taken place here, nor did anyone know where the future of this world would lead.

Meanwhile, in the real world.

The laboratory was a mess; the wreckage of the console was scattered everywhere, and the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and blood. The Security Captain's corpse lay nearby. Kate leaned against the wall, covered in injuries, already in a semi-conscious state.

Her hand was tightly holding Lin Fan's.

Lin Fan lay on the experimental table, eyes tightly closed, his face as pale as a sheet of paper. His body was connected to various instruments. The vital signs curve on the screen was so weak it was almost invisible, looking as if it could become a flat line at any moment.

After an unknown amount of time, a very faint sensation suddenly came from Kate's fingertips.

She snapped her eyes open, her gaze fixed on Lin Fan's finger.

She saw Lin Fan's finger twitch slightly.

Immediately after, the vital signs curve on the instrument screen suddenly jumped violently, changing from a weak flat line into undulating waves.

"Lin Fan..." Kate's voice was so raspy it was almost inaudible. She reached out a trembling hand to stroke Lin Fan's cheek. Warm tears instantly gushed out, sliding down from the corners of her eyes and dripping onto the back of Lin Fan's hand.

Her lips trembled as she repeated those words over and over again.

"Welcome back."

Just then, a long-forgotten backup terminal in the corner of the lab flashed. On the screen, a line of tiny code was slowly pulsing—[Salvation Mode successfully activated. A new world is being nurtured...]

The hidden threads were like dormant seeds, quietly planted: where would the sealed NPC consciousnesses go? Would the independent code space nurture a brand-new virtual dimension? After Lin Fan woke up, how would he face the ties between reality and the virtual world? A brand-new chapter of rebirth and exploration was slowly beginning.