Chapter Text
If You Huo knew that there would be an apocalypse while in Korea, he would have opted to stay back on base with Qin Jiu.
To be honest, he couldn’t even tell if this situation was Wen Yuan, Qin Jiu, or Chu Yue’s fault.
Being one of the top countries in technology and innovation, Wen Yuan was actually in Korea on some “official” business; to upgrade the scene simulator, and to generally ensure that everything would run smoothly.
It was relatively new and complex technology, after all, and while Wen Yuan was one of the most qualified members of the Design team, and Operation and Maintenance team, he wanted to make sure that they had sufficiently stabilised the core disk that they had salvaged from the previous System.
Wen Yuan’s other goal was to find out if there was a way to open this supposed “black room” that was hidden deep within the core disk.
Theoretically, when the time was right, that room should reveal itself and open on its own, but considering who was trapped within the confines of that black room… You Huo had no problems with Wen Yuan trying anything to speed the process up, and free 154 from this supposed “limbo” state that he was stuck in after the destruction of the System that sustained his existence.
With the simulator up and running smoothly for a year already, and having just finished the regular inspection and maintenance that took place every two months, everyone thought that it was a good idea for him to take a small break as well.
And that was where Chu Yue came in. She had been bugging him and Qin Jiu to finally take some time off, and had even roped Old Yu, Yu Wen, and even Di Li, in on that idea during one of their monthly dinners.
And since Wen Yuan was already going to Korea on a “business” trip, she thought it would be a good idea for the duo to accompany him. If not for Wen Yuan’s sake, then for their unofficial dear little brother who was still trapped within the confines of his digital prison.
As for Qin Jiu… well, he just wanted to spend some time with You Huo. Even though the S Brigade’s base was relocated right next to You Huo’s special training grounds, due to their busy schedules, they didn't really have time to meet up, unless they counted the few minutes when their paths happened to cross…
Needless to say, Qin Jiu was very interested in the idea of taking a small break with You Huo, especially without the trainees tiptoeing around them and trying to figure out the relationship between the Chief Instructor and the leader of the S Brigade.
Sure, it was fun to play with them, but sometimes, Qin Jiu just wanted to lie down with You Huo by his side, and maybe give him some head scritches and annoy You Huo to the point where he slaps his hand away.
You Huo was just tired of Chu Yue's constant bugging, and eventually agreed. With Gao Qi and 021 taking over in their absence, he didn't think there was anything to worry about anyways… and that's how he found himself on a Korean subway, accompanied by Qin Jiu and Wen Yuan.
… So, it wasn't really anyone's fault at all, You Huo supposed.
His golden eyes trailed towards Wen Yuan, who was tapping away on his phone with one hand while using the other to hold onto the handrails. While he was away from the base, he still wanted to send his daily greetings and messages to the core disk, in the hopes that they would get some reply from the soul of 154 that resided within.
Before he had left, Wen Yuan had set up some program that allowed him to transit his greetings from his phone to the core disk instead of getting someone else to carry on his messages instead.
…
He still remembered how the entire base thought that Wen Yuan was possessed from the way he shrieked and ran around, looking for 021, 078, Gao Qi, Chu Yue, Zhao Jiatong, and even You Huo and Qin Jiu, after receiving a “922?” message from the core disk,
You Huo knew how much Wen Yuan missed 154. He probably thought that everything he wanted to tell to the little program was a bit too private.
"Are we there yet?" Qin Jiu was tapping his feet, gazing out the window as the subway entered a tunnel.
From the glint in his eyes, You Huo could tell that he was getting a little antsy. After escaping from the System, they thought they could finally live normal lives, but as it turned out, they couldn’t get used to living boring, civilian lives.
It was the main reason why they continued to stay in the military despite the trauma from the System, and yet… It seemed like even just standing around and taking the train without doing something like reloading weapons or breaking examination rules was something that was too monotonous for them; it was just hard to sit still and do… nothing.
“Soon. We’re just a few stops away.” Wen Yuan replied.
…
You Huo felt that if they had to wait any longer, the itch to just hijack the train, or just rent a car and drive to the destination themselves, would grow stronger.
“Where are we going, anyways?” Qin Jiu asked, wrapping an arm around You Huo’s waist as the subway suddenly lurched to one side.
“Somewhere with good food, Boss.” Wen Yuan finally looked up from his furious texting, “078 said he tried it once a few days ago, when we just touched down, and the food was really good. He’ll be meeting us there, by the way.”
Unlike 021, who had stayed to work directly under You Huo, after the abolishment of the System, 078 had decided to branch out a little, and had taken to learning to drive other military vehicles like jets and helicopters.
He was actually the one who had flown them to Korea in one of the military’s private jets, since Wen Yuan was technically here on a “business” trip.
You Huo hoped that the food was as good as 078 claimed; while he wasn’t a picky eater, something about being temporarily turned into a Mirror Human seemed to have permanently changed something in him, and just thinking about food when it was close to dinner time was already making him feel a bit hungry.
But it was 078; while he was as brainless as Wen Yuan at times, he also liked good food.
Pushing away the feeling of hunger to the back of his mind, You Huo’s eyes trailed across the subway cabin as the train stopped at a station.
He could see a teenager, maybe around Yu Wen’s age when they were forced to complete exams within the System, with white hair. Hmm… perhaps he had dyed his hair, like Di Li had?
There was another kid, with a small box of insects around his neck. As for what those insects were… You Huo couldn’t really see from his vantage point.
There was also a man in a business suit who was staring at his phone so intensely that You Huo thought he wanted to get sucked into his mobile device, and it appeared like someone else also had the same idea.
“Oh, my, at this rate, you might get sucked into your phone.”
You Huo wasn’t fluent in Korean, but he could understand it just fine.
The man looked up as a lady, who presumably knew the business man, sat down next to him. Apparently, this lady, who was called Sangah, usually commuted by bicycle, but it had been stolen by someone.
“What’s going on?” Wen Yuan spoke quietly, curious at the lady’s dark expression, and You Huo replied curly in Chinese, “Bike was stolen.”
Wen Yuan muttered something about how rude it was under his breath… before You Huo blinked when he suddenly heard the lady abruptly asking the man, named Dokja, to give her some money… while speaking in Spanish?
…
Oh, she was just learning Spanish.
You Huo pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. He couldn’t help but just pick up on odd details like that. He really wasn’t suited for a life of normalcy.
Qin Jiu just chuckled, “Agitated, Big Invigilator?”
You Huo nudged him.
“Don’t worry. I feel the same.” Qin Jiu admitted, his expression turning serious, “Like… a chill down my spine. I can’t help but feel that… something is going to happen.”
You Huo snorted. It was a rather normal feeling after living such an exciting life…
“If only 154 were here.” Wen Yuan lamented, “I still can’t get the hang of Korean. He always was good at learning new things…”
Because he was a program. He could literally just download an entire foreign language dictionary into his head, went unsaid.
…
You Huo huffed.
That little program had taken it upon himself to kick-start the quest of destroying the System, despite knowing that he would likely be wiped out in the process.
At least he was still safe and sound inside the scene simulator’s core disk. They’ll find a way to get him back, and they could go back to chatting, joking, and dissing Wen Yuan’s stupidity…
Just as You Huo was thinking this, the subway lights turned off, and the inside of the train became dark.
You Huo, Qin Jiu, and Wen Yuan shot to attention.
“What’s going on-”
Kiiiiiiik-!
The subway train shook loudly and let out a metallic screeching sound. Wen Yuan grasped onto the handrail, as Qin Jiu tightened his grip on You Huo’s waist, preventing him from falling.
There was wild screaming and yelling from all the other commuters as sparks flew past the windows, but You Huo, Qin Jiu, and Wen Yuan kept their cool, already ready to analyse the situation and take appropriate actions once the train stopped moving and they wouldn’t trip over anyone.
After all… this was nothing new to them. It was just like another death exam in that horrid System they had escape from three years ago.
Finally, the train came to a stop, and some commuters used their phones to try and see in the dark.
Some were trying to pry open the doors, but You Huo didn’t think that it was a good play. He didn’t mind resorting to brute force, like when he and Qin Jiu had just pried open the deck and demolished a ship during the Sea Coachmen History exam, but he wanted to consider the other option first.
If this really was a terrorist attack, like what some other passengers were screaming about, opening the door might just get themselves killed.
An announcement blared out.
「Telling all the passengers on the train. Telling all the passengers on the train-」
Everyone quietened, calming down, waiting for the announcement to continue, including You Huo. If this was something as simple as a train malfunction, or a suicide attempt, like that Dokja guy had tried to reassure Sangah with… then they didn’t have to do anything at all, and just follow the instructions.
You Huo didn’t like following instructions… but if it really was that simple, it wasn’t worth wasting his energy on.
「-E-Everyone run away… Run…!」
There was a beeping sound, and the broadcast turned off.
…
Okay then.
Wen Yuan didn’t understand Korean, so he turned to the two great masters, as the rest of the train car erupted into chaos. But before Qin Jiu could translate for him, a bright light flashed from the front of the subway train, catching their attention.
Then, a loud drumming sound rang out, and with a pop, another announcement rang out.
[The free service of Planetary System 8612 has been terminated.]
You Huo, Qin Jiu, and Wen Yuan could feel their hearts dropping.
[The main scenario has started.]
…
Not this fucking bullshit again!
“Don’t you just love disembodied voices telling you to do shit for survival?” Qin Jiu asked in a joking tone, but it was clear from his eyes that he didn’t find this funny at all.
The electricity finally returned to the train, and with a pop, a white fluffy creature around the size of a football with two horns and a tattered garment appeared out of thin air.
…
You Huo wanted to kick it out of the window.