Urban Legends: The Legacy of Ancient Civilizations

"There seems to be something outside the temple that is controlling the remnants of the ancient ruins. It seems you can't do anything about it, right?"

Without responding to the topic of leaving, Bai Ning changed the subject and directly mentioned the core management outside.

Faced with this sudden problem, the smile on Gogol's face became a little distorted. The overall feeling was more like a split-brain phenomenon originating from the depths of his soul.

Is it a communication between the core of the illusion and Gogol, or has the conflict become serious?

Regarding the AI ​​form of the core of fantasy, it may also be a form of application of the soul law. During the integration process with Gogol's soul, certain problems have arisen.

"Bai Ning, you are still so smart, you can get to the core of something just by looking at it.

It seems that it was not a coincidence that you were able to leave the Illusion Maze, nor was it because the Illusion Core was assisting you.

The thing outside is also part of the core of the illusion, but due to the long years of independent evolution and its incomplete functionality, the two can no longer be completely integrated.

The core of the illusion can only live in this temple, just like me who was imprisoned in the maze of illusion. "

It smells like Gogol from the moment he opens his mouth, arrogant and powerful, as if he is the master here.

Previously, Illusion Core said that Gogol's soul was partially suppressed by the black pillar. It seems that this is just a one-sided statement by Illusion Core, or it is just because the mechanism of Illusion Core is not perfect and cannot completely define the state of Gogol's soul. .

"I didn't expect that after your soul was extracted, you could still retain your self-awareness.

However, the existence of this kind of self-awareness should be gradually dissipating with the passage of time, right? "

Existing in the soul state, but still able to retain consciousness, this shows that the core of the illusion has carried out certain special processing for Gogol's consciousness.

This kind of separate consciousness may exist in a special illusion labyrinth, but if it wants to be exposed through the soul, it may even be related to the special mechanism of the black pillar.

After all, the body is the most fragile link compared to consciousness and soul.

If the existence in ancient ruins can permanently preserve human consciousness and soul, then in a sense it is equivalent to eternal life.

The black pillar may be able to ensure the survival of the soul to a certain extent, but the subjective consciousness that follows it will surely slowly dissipate.

Gogol definitely didn't want to be slowly annihilated like this, let alone slowly annihilated in a state that was almost imprisoned.

"Being too smart is not always a good thing, but it's nice to talk to smart people.

You are right, my consciousness is slowly and unstoppably dissipating. Dying here is really meaningless. I need you to carry my body here. "

The soul can still return to the body after leaving the body. This has been proven countless times in various near-death cases. Bai Ning was not surprised by Gogol's response.

The only thing that puzzled Bai Ning was whether the Illusion Core would cooperate with Gogol's request. You must know that the attitude of the Illusion Core just now was still actively suppressing Gogol's soul.

"Let's not talk about where your body is now. Even if I transport it here, will the illusion core help you complete this process?

Furthermore, there is a management core outside the temple that is eyeing me. How should I avoid its overall threat?

Also, a large number of people led by Ivan have already come to the temple, and some of his men also died here. You couldn't have just ignored death, right? "

Bai Ning mentioned various difficulties and even clearly clarified the situation of Ivan and others, just to get more information from Gogol.

After asking this series of questions, Gogol suddenly fell into a state of silence. He didn't know whether he was weighing Bai Ning's various problems or re-fighting with the core of the illusion to regain control here.

"Why are you so stupid?

Does it mean what he said?

Even I can't control the peripheral functions of the central totem. How can he, a soul trapped here, know so many things.

He wanted to leave here, but it was just based on an established obsession and he couldn't take it seriously.

But, again, I can really get you out of here. "

The uncanny valley effect appeared again on Gogol, and most of the responses were in denial of Gogol. However, it repeatedly mentioned the topic of leaving here, which already made Bai Ning confused.

What benefit will it bring to the core of the fantasy world if Bai Ning and others leave here?

It is an immortal existence, a special life form without the slightest mundane desires. What can it want from him, Bai Ning?

Could it be that the core of fantasy actually needs Gogol's soul? If Gogol's soul is lost, perhaps the core of fantasy will lose its most core support foundation.

"Gogol wants to leave here, but you want me to leave. Is it because you occupy Gogol's soul?"

Bai Ning asked this question directly, which caused the core of the illusion to reveal a twisted and stiff smile again.

"The Ivan you are talking about is being besieged by a group of wild beasts. If you want to rescue them, you can leave now.

Among the tunnels you dug before, there is a tunnel leading to the underground level. Through there, you can reach the area of ​​Ivan and others more quickly. "

The core of the illusion did not answer Bai Ning's question, but suddenly stated the current situation of Ivan and others, seemingly to force Bai Ning to make a choice.

"First of all, Ivan is just a migrant worker to me, and I have no certain obligation to control his life.

Secondly, there is a dangerous person hiding in Ivan's team who wants to pry into the secret of eternal life. If I rescue him, he may come back to bite me.

Finally, there are only three of us now, and the weapons and equipment in our hands are crude. Even if we rush over in time, it may not have any effect. "

Faced with the Illusion Core's eagerness to drive people away, Bai Ning just laid out three disadvantages for saving Ivan, and then said nothing.

Faced with Bai Ning's rebuttal, the smile on the core of the illusion's face became even more distorted, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

“You really can’t save them, but you can lead them into a safe passage.

That passage is your only way out of this ancient ruins.

In addition, this temple is not an absolutely safe place. The beasts that leave here will eventually be affected by their minds and return here to bite everything that exists here. "

The response from the core of the illusion was simple and clear, as if it went straight to the core.

Currently, Bai Ning has one and only one choice, which is to obey the arrangements of the core of the illusion and leave here in time.

All that was sacrificed was an unknown Gogol.

"I have no interest in Ivan, and I have no interest in Gogol either. I am only interested in this ancient ruins.

If you can tell me the core secret here, I can leave now. "

Seeing that the time was ripe, Bai Ning directly revealed his ultimate purpose of coming here.

This is a place where you can peek into the secrets of the soul. Whether it is using the energy hidden in the soul, or using the conceptual laws of the soul to create a central totem, their research on living bodies has surpassed humans by far.

Being able to glimpse the greatness and secrets of this ancient civilization is the basis for supporting Bai Ning's life beliefs.

"The core secret?

What's the secret? Is anyone deliberately hiding something? "

The discordant smile at the core of the illusion is slightly stiff, but what comes out of the conversation is indeed quite philosophical.

The so-called secret is nothing more than an illusion set by the pursuer. It is an artificial purpose to make his pursuit more meaningful.

"Humans are animals of meaning after all, and this may be something you can't understand.

Or, because you have no desire in your heart, you have no interest in the known or the unknown.

We humans usually like to define unknown things as secrets. "

Bai Ning's response was very general, as if he was having a conversation with another creature from a different dimension.

Facing Bai Ning's response, the smile at the core of the fantasy seemed even more exaggerated and weird, as if it was experiencing an unprecedented happiness.

Happiness is a human emotion. Even if an AI-like creature can imitate it, it lacks basic empathy.

"You want to know some secrets, and I seem to have some secrets here.

If you want to hear it, I will tell it to you. Anyway, they are some old things. Perhaps, using your human words to describe them, they are just some past events that have been forgotten in the dust of history.

You came here because of the ancient ruins here. As for how old it is, I don’t know.

After all, time is a man-made concept. After being buried in the soil for so long, who knows how many times the earth has revolved around the sun.

Using the concepts in Gogol's consciousness, we can only make a rough summary at best. Only God knows how old he is. "

The core of the illusion kept chattering for a long time, not knowing whether he was talking to himself or sorting out the relevant data in his memory.

Bai Ning was not in a hurry, just waiting quietly.

"The history of civilization that you currently have written records is too short, and is more of a guess about past history. It uses five stages of civilization to describe the development of mankind. I think this method is very naive.

The so-called five major civilizations are nothing more than a summary of the five representative cultural phenomena.

A very common recording method. History always belongs only to the victors. This is indeed an eternal truth.

According to what you said, the ancient ruins where I am belong to the fourth civilization. "

Another rambling monologue, like a contemptuous criticism, but also like a helpless teaching.

The core of the illusion was incomplete, and Bai Ning only thought that its data extraction process was not very smooth.