All Ronan needs to know is the memory of "Brother Qiang", whose full name is "Hong Qiang", and all other elements are to serve this purpose and provide corresponding stimulation.
Because it is sorted out by "Mirror Mirror" and bound by its essential rules and order, the information presented by the "rising memory bubble", even the surging emotions at the time, is laid out in a logical and orderly manner, and more
A very clear thread is around the most critical information of "shelter", which is automatically sorted according to time and event development.
After the bubble of the first memory bursts, there is the second one.
Hong Qiang endured the burning pain in his head and face and looked down at the mechanical arm that had just been installed to replace his flesh and blood body. The workers around him clumsily comforted him: "None of us can escape this. Nearly twenty people died in this wave. You just have to
An arm is already a blessing among misfortunes. I asked you, when the pulp bubble exploded, how did you think of jumping forward?"
"I'm also disfigured... maybe it's a 'shelter'?" Hong Qiang was still in a daze and slowly stated, "I felt that the world suddenly slowed down. It was like laying bricks for a 'shelter'.
It was in good condition, and then I saw the excavator over there, which can be used as a bunker. Yes, it is a 'shelter'. Without it, I would die... maybe, it would be better to die?"
"Don't talk nonsense, you still have to live." The fuzzy face of the worker couldn't tell whether it was comfort or envy, "It seems you are talented."
"Really? Even at my age, do I still have talent?" Hong Qiang stretched his metal arm, was disfigured, lost part of his flesh and blood limbs, and escaped death. The complex emotions aroused by the comfort and praise of others were tangled together, but it seemed
There is a light shining inside.
Another round of bubbles exploded and rose, and the scene changed again.
Hong Qiang is studying seriously and strenuously. He looks similar to him in front and back, and he is a slave miner who worked hard in a dark mine, changed his appearance beyond recognition, and survived to this day. They are already the best in the group, so they received the invitation
, come and listen to the intermediate and advanced courses.
"We need to be clear that 'shelter' is a mutual aid tool. What is the key word here? It is 'tool'. We must make use of it, constantly improve it, and at the same time disenchant it. Even though we often use it now
We must rely on it and cannot live without it, but you must understand the core of this: we rely on our own strength and the strength of the collective.
"This kind of power is accumulated little by little in our daily life, and it is completely our own. Therefore, we must always think about the homework of 'laying bricks', do it every day, form a habit, and completely internalize it into instinct. And what we really pursue is,
What needs to be internalized is actually the 'sanctuary'. Everyone has a 'sanctuary' in him. Even if the version changes, even if it is completely destroyed, as long as the 'sanctuary' in us is still there, there is still the possibility of reconstruction.
"
Hong Qiang couldn't help but raise his robotic arm: "Teacher, where is the 'shelter' on your body? How can you sense it?"
The teacher, who was also unrecognizable, laughed: "You are the one who 'lays bricks' every day and does your homework. The 'shelter' must first work on you before it can be projected into the public domain. It's just that you don't have the ability to do it."
We need everyone to reflect each other in order to gain clarity."
"Uh, teacher, can you make it more clear?"
"I'm sorry, I can only impart public experience. Personal experience can only be experienced by yourself when you reach a certain stage. I know this is too illusory, but conditions are limited. In this environment, we do not have the energy and resources to do targeted exercises.
And strengthening, we can only start with visualization, rely on talent and resilience to forge a way... I look forward to the day when we can have in-depth communication, but it is probably no longer in this form."
Hong Qiang didn't quite understand, but he understood one thing: I do still have some talents, in the field of "shelter".
The fourth group of bubbles rose up, and the color became darker.
Hong Qiang was bent over, panting, and marching awkwardly in the narrow passage. He wore a patchwork, old and weird exoskeleton, but he was already a rare elite in the cult, and so were his companions. But they
But like a dog, he was chased by those modified human hawks, dogs and giant machines, and the sharp and desperate hissing of his stragglers could be heard in his ears.
Someone made a quick and trembling voice: "Let's go separately, you won't be able to escape."
"We can't escape even if we separate. They can sense the 'sanctuary' and follow the clues to find us... Even resetting the soul frequency band will not work."
"Let's disconnect!"
"What the hell are you talking about!" Hong Qiang joined in with a hoarse voice filled with emotion, "Without a 'shelter' we can't even control the exoskeleton..."
"But we already have 'panels'."
"Wouldn't they hunt me down if I had a 'panel'?"
"Try it, you should try it! This exploration mission is destined to fail, but one of us should go back and say something."
The scream suddenly changed its source, getting closer. The already scattered team was instantly broken through their psychological defenses, and everyone quickly fled. The "shelter" of the same group was connected one after another.
One was broken, and Hong Qiang walked in fear and confusion, completely disoriented.
When the collective collapses, what should he rely on?
That ridiculous talent? That illusory, self-owned "shelter"?
Where is it?
The fifth group of bubbles finally surged up, cascading and fine, but stained the darkest and deepest.
Hong Qiang's body was firmly fixed and paralyzed by drugs, leaving him no room to function. He could feel the hole above his head and watched as his skull was cut by a machine, lifted up, and presented before his eyes. Then there was a round
There is no pain in this brain separation operation, but it is filled with despair. All he can do is struggle, curse, and howl in the deep sea of despair.
At this time, he discovered the "sanctuary": it hung quietly in the limit area of his consciousness. It was aloof, but it gave him the most basic support, preventing him from collapse, making him more awake and more desperate.
Face it all.
The world has become twisted and absurd.
So, with incredible sobriety, Hong Qiang watched "himself" become two.
Both sides are in a state of confusion, driving distorted and ugly modified bodies that are actually not that familiar, like wandering souls wandering in the "abandoned mining area isolation" zone. What's funny is that the two of them have different positions: one is still a miner in the Deep Blue World
, a member of the Soul Cult, stumbled to find a way through the "Thirteenth District" to the outside world; but one of them has become a modified human hawk dog, hunting down and killing his former miner companions.
He should be awake, but he was implanted with an irresistible "motive" by his enemies, and quickly developed into a false but dominant personality. The original personality took a back seat, and he watched helplessly everything he created.
"Eagle Dog Hong Qiang" is not me, and "Miner Hong Qiang" is not me either... They are just tools used by terrible enemies to hunt and fish.
So, where is the real Hong Qiang?
Even if it echoes in the memory, this is still an absurd and twisted nightmare. But at the edge of this nightmare, the life habits that have been accustomed to in the past few years are driving Hong Qiang... The two "Hong Qiang",
They all continued to lay bricks for the 'shelter' every day.
In other words, the "two Hong Qiang" built a "shelter" together.
At this time, the torn and twisted "self" happened to have the energy and resources that it had dreamed of before. So at a certain stage, when "Miner Hong Qiang" and "Eagle Dog Hong Qiang" accidentally came into close contact, they suddenly had
A flash of light split the shackles.
Then, "Miner Hong Qiang" and "Eagle Dog Hong Qiang" fought together, one of them devoured the other, but there was no winner, only the original, the real "Hong Qiang", from this stall of machinery and rotten meat
"Rebirth" in the combination.
It turns out that the real "Hong Qiang" has always been in his "sanctuary".
This is his most authentic experience that cannot be taught or replaced by others.
Fine bubbles burst continuously, and Hong Qiang finally broke out of the darkest and most absurd hell. However, the kingdom of heaven ahead was not an instant relief. A doubt was solved, but the road ahead was full of hardships and was difficult to explain.
"Shelter" is protecting me and guiding me. I really see "Shelter".
I am the shelter!
But I am still fragile...
A person’s “shelter” is not enough, so what should I do?
Who can teach me?
Another round of bubbles bubbles in the deep sea of memories and dreams.
This time there was no clear picture, only a gray and misty blurry vision, like thick fog or rolling sand. There were also sounds of wind, howling, and shouting, layer upon layer, forming a background of omnipresent and indistinguishable noise. Other than that,
, but there was still a faint whisper, echoing vaguely.
It was still unclear at first, but the whispers kept coming back, like gentle and patient communication, again and again, round after round, without boredom or fatigue. Gradually, Hong Qiang’s hoarse voice joined in:
"What should I do?"
"So what?"
"Is this okay?"
“Perhaps the design could be tweaked?”
Question after question, question after question, answer after answer, the outline of the world began to become clear.
At this time, the explosions, roars, and screams of the real world also reached my ears.
Hong Qiang finally opened his eyes, and there was a "wall" made of metal and rock in front of him. It looked completely irregular, but he was very familiar with it, because this was the guide he followed in his ears and heart.
Piece by piece, it takes shape.
“This is the ‘sanctuary’… the ‘sanctuary’ we create together.”
Hong Qiang turned his head and faced behind him as he fled here in embarrassment. Seeing his companions who were almost collapsed at the end of the road, he grinned: "It appeared from nothingness. We can only choose to believe in it, respect it in return, and even be pious -
Because we made it together!”
Having said that, regardless of whether Lao Gu behind him or not, Brother Aka understood it or not, he took the lead towards the rough "wall" in front, slowly touched it with his metal forehead, and then blended in. Behind him were the pursuers that they could not resist at all.
So Lao Gu, Brother Aka and others also did the same.
Their eyes turned dark, as if they had melted into shadows. The roar of machines rang in their ears, the stiff and repetitive broadcasts rang, and the hoarse and desperate cries of countless people. But behind all the background sounds, there was always the sound of that sound.
A ethereal whisper, continuous and gentle.
The most brilliant bubble exploded.
People stumbled out of the shadows, facing the soft rock formations and the magma bursting out of them. They were stunned at first, then alert, and then at a loss. After a while, they finally understood what had happened. Those ugly things were destroyed by this
Damn the twisted world, people cheered, hugged, and danced in the lava regardless. Even if the lava burned their flesh, they still refused to stop.
Because here, they are truly freed from endless abuse and pursuit. At least they have room to move around and a chance to breathe freely.
Hong Qiang looked at this scene, grinning his ugly mouth, laughing silently, and then began to pray more devoutly. Not for the god in nothingness, but for the "shelter" that had created miracles; for the whispers inside to help him.
"companions".
"Shelter", the only visible hope, the true savior of the world, the path to heaven that can be climbed!
I should strengthen it, perfect it, let it play a greater role, and rescue those who are still in hell, at all costs, even if I give up this inhuman body...
Being a human being is no longer fun, so what is the value of the fate of an insect?
There is only "shelter". My talent is here and I am already in it. Why should I give it up?
Boiling thoughts and emotions eventually have an end.
Hong Qiang naturally broke away from the dream, fell into a deeper sleep, and entered a state of deep integration with the "sanctuary".