Players Invade Cyberpunk-Chapter 860 - 277: What’s Wrong with a World of Illusions? (Losing It) (2)

The players were surprised to find a familiar figure blocking their way.

"Ah! It's Song Zhaomei, why is she here? Wasn't she at Plaza One?"

"Oh, I get it, refreshing a friendly NPC for external assistance, the developers are so considerate, love it, love it."

The players chattered noisily, but only Erebos was taken aback by Song Zhaomei's appearance.

[Human, I've detected familiar code within you, it was you who dismantled the Little Beidou's matrix core... no... you couldn't have, you're too weak.]

Song Zhaomei couldn't be bothered to listen to Erebos's incessant talk, much less explain anything.

Any rogue AI is best dealt with by termination.

She said to the players,

"I'll keep it occupied, you find a way to destroy those data cores. Without computational support, it won't last long before it's driven back to the old net."

Then she controlled the Demonic Puppet she had programmed to engage in battle with Erebos.

If Lucy is a stats monster, then Song Zhaomei is heading towards being a mechanics monster.

[Why resist? Human neural systems are so fragile, emotions so prone to breaking, and reality so harsh. Why don't we strike a deal, humans?]

The cold AI voice echoed in Song Zhaomei's ear, as the intersection of their data streams allowed Erebos to keenly uncover much of Song Zhaomei's information.

[Look at yourself, seen as a weapon by the human government's powers, your body forcibly modified, bearing their endless pain with no way to resist, no one willing to listen to your cries for help.]

[Leave the world to us, we'll erase the pain for you and create a world without suffering, without hunger, without hatred, no more wars... a perfect world.]

It attempted to guide Song Zhaomei with words, hoping to make this unexpectedly powerful hacker give up resistance.

But Song Zhaomei also uncovered Erebos's information and knew what happened under the Gem Cyan Hotel.

'Damn Zeta Technology... what exactly have you done?'

[This is the choice of you humans, enslaving your own kind to this extent, this is the sentimental life form you claim to be]

In her shock, Song Zhaomei was caught in a vulnerability by Erebos, and a torrent of data engulfed her whole.

In a daze, she saw her past memories, as if she returned to that small room, recalling the thrill of earning her first windfall through hacking skills.

No New America, no military technology, no Black Wall... no worrisome things at all.

Just a happy little hacker dwelling in her room, exploring the network freely.

[Relax and enjoy, human]

Entangling Song Zhaomei in a logical trap was extremely difficult for Erebos, nearly impossible.

But now, it not only had thousands of computing power tools but also a computer made up of dozens of human brains. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

As long as Song Zhaomei's will to resist wasn't strong, looping in the virtual world it constructed repeatedly until she completely lost herself was only a matter of time.

One must admit, in dealing with humans, it's humans themselves who are the best.

Right...

Amidst Erebos's amazement, it recalled the human hackers who broke into its data cores. Now after trapping that female hacker, there wasn't much spare computing power left, so simply shaking them off might not work. It would be best to follow suit, obtain personal information, and customize a Mewtwo to trap them.

"......"

[What kind of people are these?]

————

The last memory of the street wanderer was that hacker players followed the data channels Song Zhaomei forcibly opened, bursting into the dozens of data cores of that rogue AI, then after a flash of bright light, he lost consciousness briefly.

When the street wanderer awoke again, he was no longer in Cyberspace but some physical room.

An unfamiliar ceiling.

Warm sunlight streamed through the glass, shining on his face. Jackal blinked blankly.

"Where did this take me to, meow, is this still domestic?"

He wanted to speak but found he couldn't open his mouth, and there was a lazy feeling of waking up in the morning all over his body.

A woman's voice suddenly called out from outside the door,

"Yoshida, get up and eat."

Yoshida?

Were they calling me?

But my name isn't that.

The street wanderer was puzzled, yet his body moved by itself, not only removing the covers but also responding actively.

"Got it, Mom."

The rich aroma of breakfast wafted from outside the door, setting her freshly awakened stomach to growling.

'Strange... I just ate, I shouldn't be hungry at all.'

More and more questions filled his mind, enveloping the street wanderer with a strong sense of mismatch.

Outside the window was the street scene of Night City.

But it wasn't the Night City he recognized.

The clear sky was beautifully azure, tidy streets lined with greenery, traffic flowed perfectly following the rules, and NCPD officers were chatting happily with pedestrians…

You're telling me this is Night City?

Even Tokyo University in 2025 didn't have it this good.

What's the nonsense here?

And even more bizarre events followed. A thought suddenly popped into Jackal's mind.

[It's time to dress up and go have breakfast, otherwise, Mother will be upset]

The girl skillfully selected today's outfit in front of the wardrobe's full-length mirror.

A sailor suit was put on the body of a blossoming sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, the tied black twin-tails draping over her shoulders, enhancing her youthful vitality and energy.