Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game

So Beijin, what are we going to do in the Tower?

Bored, Lin Qin asks.

With everyone sleeping and inside the Ultimate Nightmare, the entire Tower is silent, vast and lifeless. Itd make hairs stand on end.

Not for Lin Qin, though, as hes still inside X Beijins bookstore, chatting with him about how they dont have to enter the Ultimate Nightmare.

Wait X Beijin replies, let me do something first.

What is it?

Starting the stream.

Lin Qin blinks in confusion, asking, stream?

Yeah X Beijin explains how he has been livestreaming in Nightmares before, and says, I have to use this stream to get some information out.

Lin Qin wonders what it is. Whats the message? To whom? Why through the stream?

But he doesnt ask to interrupt, knowing it must be important.

X Beijin does explain, though, asking for help from the outside.

Help? Lin Qin thinks about it, and asks, wont it be blocked?

Hes also quite aware of humanitys plight now, perhaps even more so than many humans here.

This is mainly thanks to X Beijin having to explain the Fyecas to him in order to talk about his memories.

Although he doesnt really feel like he was part of what happened to humanity, but knowing that X Beijin has apparently went through this is enough to anger Lin Qin greatly.

So X Beijin ends up having to calm him down instead.

X Beijin didnt tell anyone else this complete version of the truth, neither to the Missiontakers or even the Tower residents.

One, the enemy is too powerful. Knowing them is enough to demoralise any resistance.

Two, the Fyecas probably stopped caring about what theyre doing a long time ago, but if the humans start to repeatedly mention the Fyecas

Recall that, once, X Beijins livestream comment barrages would have censored words.

X Beijin suspects that Fyeca is the word thats being censored.

Therefore, X Beijin was also always slightly worried they would notice; while explaining everything to Lin Qin, he also gave a pseudonym to refer to them instead.

So hearing that X Beijin is going to ask for help on the stream, Lin Qin is confounded.

Those behind this game must have its internet traffic scoured. Can the stream really pass the information on successfully?

X Beijin replies, its highly possible, because this game is able to stream to the outside world.

Lin Qin cant understand.

X Beijin tries to explain it so that Lin Qin can understand, did you know, that this game that has humanity trapped, isnt unique?

Not unique? Lin Qin repeats the phrase, you mean, there are many?

Yes, possibly a lot, and some streamers are able to enter these games and stream, almost like streaming animal fights. They have most of their imprisoned subordinate species trapped in games and similar media.

Lin Qin asks, why games?

X Beijin narrows his eyes and says, with a rather suggestive and serious tone, its because, thats their forte, data connection, virtual worlds its their territory.

Lin Qin thinks about it, then moves on to the next thing on his mind, so who do you plan to

Though he thinks he might have a vague answer in his mind already.

X Beijin answers, its still all too early to say. Just wait there, I have to open the stream.

Lin Qin says alright.

Opening the stream, X Beijin feels a little emotional.

It hasnt been that many days, of course; the viewers were there to chat around when he was in Xie Jis Nightmare, too.

In less than a week, the situation here has already changed drastically.

And he is also in a vastly different place compared to when he first obtained this streaming system.

Overall, he is thankful for the appearance of this streaming system, and the rather jumpy and hilarious audience.

yo Beibei!

Beibei is still the handsome Beibei! licky licky!

help there are pervs here

go away! Beibei belongs to the little apple!

wheres little apple? Beibei, you didnt point at him immediately! youve changed!

X Beijin is relaxed and amused.

Hes let the camera focus on the scenes in the Ultimate Nightmare, which he now has access to stream through the partial, temporary authority from NE. He can both monitor the situation inside, and stream its contents.

All substantial changes brought about by the unexpected stance NE took.

Thinking so, X Beijin subconsciously looks out his window, then hangs his head low and chuckles once.

NE is still NE. The AI never betrayed. The damned artificial intelligence is always watching, monitoring humans from on high.

Just as the Missiontakers always suspected, NE is an accomplice of the ones behind all this.

Then X Beijin sighs and turns his attention back to the Ultimate Nightmare. He has to check on the conditions of the humans inside, before doing what he needs to do with Lin Qin.

And hes also watching the comments of the viewers closely.

The viewer IDs are only ones he knows. There isnt any unfamiliar ones yet.

Slightly disappointed for now, he knows hes only just started livestreaming. Itd be a great coincidence if it was so timely.

Derisively smiling at himself, he looks at the stream.

This time in the Ultimate Nightmare, there are truckloads of people. X Beijin doesnt actively choose where the camera goes, letting it settle on a complete stranger.

A complete stranger standing on top of a rooftop, yelling, looking like hes moments from jumping.

The viewers are understandably confused.

whats going on?

is this a new nightmare?

Beibei! paging Beibei! explain this nightmare at once!

Beibei hasnt streamed for quite a while now, im sure the detective dalao cant wait any longer

you think the detective dalao is? then what about you?

i know my own smarts all too well [sad emoji]

Seeing these comments, X Beijin thinks and explains the Nightmare thusly, were close to the ending of this game itself.

The viewers seem quite astonished.

ending?!

holy hell, I feel like we havent even seen each other much yet but the game is already ending? and isnt this some open ended multiplayer game? theres an ending?

oh, maybe its those that lets you start over fresh after the end

Im sure its because this is a riddle-solving, detective noir type of game. Mysteries will run out, and the ending will come.

what the detective dalao says makes sense!

X Beijin watches the comments roll by and continues, according to the games setting, humans entered a safehouse named the Tower after the Apocalypse. The management of this Tower is handled by an artificial intelligence

He quickly goes over the basic setting of this game.

The audience appear impressed.

Then X Beijin moves on to this Ultimate Nightmare hes streaming to them, all the players have entered the Ultimate Nightmare, whether they were an Actor or Missiontaker.

Hes glossed over both himself and Lin Qin here; the viewers would probably assume theyre both in the Ultimate Nightmare somewhere and not still in the Tower.

X Beijin explains, in the Ultimate Nightmare, people would be sent back to the start of their Apocalypse. They will make a choice there will they continue to trust the AIs judgment and stay in the Tower, or abandon the AI, and choose to fight the harsh, post-Apocalyptic conditions outside?

Their choice in this Ultimate Nightmare would affect what the AI management of the Tower outside decides.

Because the AIs sole function is managing the Tower, if all surviving humans make the same choice to abandon the AI, then it will be stripped of the responsibility.

The choice needs to be an informed and rational decision; when humans faced the Apocalypse and needed immediate intervention, the designer of the Tower and its AI spared no effort and, with great sacrifice, established this safehouse.

This is a rushed response to the Apocalypse, therefore, humans will, after adapting, face the choice once more after experiencing the Apocalypse anew. If they would still insist on freedom, just as they did before entering the Ultimate Nightmare, then the AI will shut down.

This is what the players experience in Nightmares are leading up.

X Beijin explains the games ultimate choice a binary selection.

Should, or should they not, abandon the AI?

This question also has the viewers of the stream sharply divided.