Absolute Zone Zero: I survive in Liufen Street

After passing through the cave wall, the first thing Bai Yu felt was dizziness.

He held his head, the discomfort was brief but intense.

"Host! How are you?! We just teleported through the hole. Are you feeling unwell?! Why don't we go back?" 145 said nervously, sensing the fluctuations in Bai Yu's sea of ​​consciousness.

"It's okay now. The space inside the void is chaotic. I was mentally prepared. But will it be this uncomfortable every time I cross a void rift?! The game text doesn't mention this problem... Is it my fault?" Bai Yu relaxed, adapted to the dizziness, and began to look around.

"It's probably just the host. The host's consciousness isn't protected by a solid, stable body, making it vulnerable to the energy of the environment. It's like a raw egg with only a membrane and no shell; it could be shaken at any moment. It seems even if the host isn't susceptible to the ether, we can't just explore the void." 145 said, squeezing out more energy to reinforce Bai Yu's body.

"It's okay, I'm just a little dizzy. 145, how is the ether conversion efficiency?" Bai Yu took a deep breath. The ether concentration was very high at this location, and there was a sense of oppression in the air.

"Excellent! The conversion efficiency is very high, and it's the best result I could have expected, though it does take a little longer."

If the host intends to stay in the void every day, then our energy intake and expenditure can basically reach equality, or even have a slight surplus! 』

"...Maybe there is another plan. What if we absorb the ether for storage first without converting it? 145, can you do it?" Bai Yu touched his chin and gave a new speculation.

"Um……

——Calculating——

drop!

Yes, if you only absorb compressed ether, the system can obtain 1.5 times the total value of ether compared to the previous solution. However, after starting the conversion, the running time will not change.

I understand what the host means! The system will first compress and obtain as much ether as possible, then we can leave the void and move outside while obtaining emotional energy and converting it into etheric energy!

Bai Yu heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this good news. The originally urgent seven-day survival time was no longer a threat.

Although... Bai Yu didn't care so much about whether he could successfully find the energy to prolong his life, but when he thought about how the 145 system had emptied its own stored energy for him, if it failed in the end, it would probably be a big blow to this silly little guy.

"Excellent! That gives us plenty of time to plan our next course of action. The more anxious we are, the more likely we are to make mistakes. But with the ether in the void as our basic energy source, no matter how much emotional energy we gain from players and the residents of New Eli, it won't threaten our daily survival." Bai Yu stretched. Now he no longer felt the oppressive feeling of the ether in the air. This was all about ensuring our future survival. "We've been here long enough. Let's go check out the front. If there are any well-preserved residential buildings, we won't have to sleep on the streets tonight."

"Alright? (????????)! The route has been planned for the host. You may need to pass through a hollow rift ahead. Please be prepared. The system will monitor your status in real time."

The ether concentration nearby is too high, and there may be large-scale ethereal activity. I have reduced my body's data activity, but please also take precautions to avoid it.

Bai Yu picked up the bag at his feet and nodded seriously. "I'm ready, let's go now."

"Start navigation—"

The route planned by 145 was indeed safe. While Bai Yu was hurrying along, he heard the sounds of Yi Hai moving in the distance and took a peek, but he didn't alarm Yi Hai until he entered the residential building. The dizziness from the second time jump wasn't as unbearable for Bai Yu.

Before the last light of day disappeared in the cave, Bai Yu successfully found a place to live temporarily.

The house, covered in dust and small ether crystals, did not affect its habitability. As Bai Yu had guessed, the evacuated residential buildings contained a lot of daily necessities.

Aether erosion does not immediately destroy dead objects, and ordinary people cannot enter the void, and the sheriff will not enter the void specifically to take the residents' property.

As for the cave thieves? Those who are capable of cave thieves are of course after the more valuable ether resources or have received a specific commission. Why would they deliberately come to the residential building to "scavenger"?

Now all these things are cheap to Bai Yu, who is penniless. Let him experience the joy of rummaging through boxes and opening blind boxes.

After raiding the three floors of the residential accommodation that could be opened, many residents were in a panic when escaping and did not have time to lock their doors. This made it convenient for Bai Yu to enter. Otherwise, the sound of picking the locks in the silent cave would probably cause unnecessary trouble.

"Without the background music, this empty cave, with the faint sounds of the skeletons moving and roaring, is particularly creepy." Bai Yu sat down on a clean chair, panting, and said to 145 with a smile. "Why does a digitized body still feel tired? I think unnecessary physiological reactions can actually be blocked out, which can also save energy."

"That's not possible, host. While the body's values ​​can be adjusted, if you remain in a state of unconsciousness for a long time, your consciousness may be assimilated by the system data without your knowledge."

This is also why 145 expends energy to construct a body for the host, rather than inserting the host's consciousness into a bionic body. 145 earnestly shared the system's knowledge of the host's consciousness with Bai Yu. "Host, to put it in a human-understandable metaphor, it's like putting a person in a thick protective suit. Your daily perception of things will be affected."

It may not matter in the short term, after all, the host's body still remembers how it felt before the protective suit.

But after being isolated for a long time, the host's perception of things will become distorted, which is a very scary thing.

Once the host leaves that [protective] state, it will be harmed due to incorrect cognition and may even become unable to survive.

Please remember this, host! Do not let yourself be separated from the real world, and do not lose your cognition of the [world]. For a fragile consciousness: [cognition] is the only anchor that can prove [self-existence]!

"I'll remember that. Thank you! 145, um... isn't it nice to keep calling you by your number... 145, have you ever thought about giving yourself a name?" The world was silent, and only darkness lay before him. Bai Yu leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and immersed himself in his sea of ​​consciousness. Gazing at 145's radiant form, he dispelled the familiar emptiness brought on by the darkness.

At this moment, that is the only real existence, so the existence named [White Feather] is also real.

How amazing it is that incomprehensible symbols and numbers constitute a life.

Yes, although 145 calls itself a system, Bai Yu still feels that it is a kind of "life," not a pre-programmed AI program, but a being with emotions, not a simulation.

Perhaps because Bai Yu was now a conscious being, and 145 existed in his sea of ​​consciousness, Bai Yu could feel the warmth of 145 with every conversation and every transfer of system data.

This should be the [consciousness] belonging to 145, or another name would be more appropriate.

[soul]

The [Soul] of a digital life form.

"Hmm? I've sensed an abnormal fluctuation in the host's consciousness. Host, are you feeling unwell?!" 145 asked nervously.

"I'm just a little tired, don't worry. You haven't answered me yet." Bai Yu opened his eyes in the darkness and skillfully pulled himself away from negative emotions.

"145 Auxiliary System is just its name, but... adult systems seem to have a habit of giving themselves other nicknames?" 145's voice subconsciously lowered after the second half of the sentence.

"Ah? Adult system? What does that mean? 145...you're not still a minor, are you?!" Bai Yu asked in surprise. Although he could sense that 145 was indeed immature and naive, the racial difference prevented Bai Yu from considering the duration of 145's existence.

"No! No! 145 is a mature, stable, and reliable system!" The golden data sphere expanded violently, but no matter how loud it was, it couldn't stop Bai Yu from seeing through 145's bluff.

"Children lie with long noses." Bai Yu glared at 145, mercilessly exposing his lies. "Tell the truth! We're already companions, aren't we? As a system bound to me, you shouldn't be hiding anything from me."

"The system has no nose (?`~′?)

Uh...

The system is indeed not yet an adult... But as long as we collect enough energy, 145 will become an adult system after returning home!

...145 didn't mean to hide it. I was just afraid that the host would think 145 was unreliable.

"Host, can you forgive me?" 145 said pitifully.

"...I forgive you for hiding it, but from now on, if 145 wants to do anything, please discuss it with me in advance, okay?" Bai Yu held his forehead with his hand, feeling extremely helpless about the fact that he had to take the child with him wherever he went.

When he was in the hospital before, the children nearby liked to play with Bai Yu, even though he was weak and afraid of light and could only play some quiet chess and card games, but this did not affect his popularity among children.

Later, his stepmother's younger brothers and sisters did not feel unfamiliar with him, their eldest brother who was hospitalized all year round and not living at home. They were very attached to him. Not only did they often visit him in the nursing home, they also loved to video chat with him.

When he finally got the chance to live independently and moved out of the nursing home, the little girl next door, who was very quiet because of a heart disease, became very close to him, perhaps because of the same illness. Even though Bai Yu didn't know how to play with her, she loved to come to his house and play by herself.

"Okay, host! 145 will inform you in advance of anything I want to do in the future!" 145 immediately and happily agreed to Bai Yu's request. "Since the host thinks using a number is not good, why don't you give the system a nickname first!"

"Is it okay? Let me choose it. I'm actually terrible at naming." Bai Yu asked hesitantly. Naming is something that has special meanings. Although 145 didn't understand, Bai Yu still didn't want to make a decision casually.

"It doesn't matter at all! You can consider changing the system yourself after you reach adulthood~"

It’s like a network name. It doesn’t matter how many times you change it, the string of digital codes is what really confirms your identity.

The same is true for the system. The nickname is just for the convenience of others to call it.

The host doesn't need to feel pressured, just pick a name you like~』

Bai Yu felt that what 145 said made sense, so he began to think about it seriously.

"Do you have a gender preference?" Bai Yu asked 145 anxiously. He really wasn't good at naming. His game nicknames were usually just reversed names or replaced with symbols.

"The system doesn't have gender. But 145 wants a cute nickname now~"

"Then...how about calling her Fufu? Just to satisfy my obsession of not being able to fish out Funinna from the pond twice. Is that okay?"

"Alright! Then the system's nickname during the time it's bound to the host will be Fufu~" 145. Auxiliary Collection System. Fufu happily set off a small firework.

"Then Fu Fu, don't call me host from now on. Call me by my name. I think we'll be living together for a long time, and we're partners who support each other. Calling me host would make our relationship too distant, and I don't want that." Bai Yu suggested with a smile, "I gave you a nickname, so Fu Fu, give me one that belongs to you too. That's only fair, isn't it?"

"Hey! Is that okay? Let me get it?! Really?!" Fufu hadn't expected such a development. After a moment of excited reflection, she called out firmly and affectionately, "Xiaobai! From now on, I'll call you host, Xiaobai!"

"...Uh, alright." Bai Yu said helplessly. "It's...not really surprising."

"Host, don't you like it? Then I can change it." Fu Fu looked at Bai Yu's unhappy look and asked anxiously.

"No, it's just that Xiaobai is a very common name. I've been called that often before. Fufu, just call me that so I can immediately realize you're calling me." Bai Yu didn't bother to think about it and quickly replied. "Let's not talk about that. It's already late. This day has been too full. I'm very sleepy now. Let's rest for a while. Fufu, do you need a deep sleep?"

"Fufu can put her main consciousness to sleep, but retain her external perception program. This way, any changes in the surroundings can instantly awaken her main consciousness. Sleep peacefully, Xiaobai! Leave the night watch to the reliable and capable Fufu! Hey? ?)?*??" Fufu said, using data to outline the movement of a bulging muscle.

"Hahaha, then I'll leave that to the reliable Fufu." Bai Yu chuckled, then couldn't help but yawn. "Fufu, help me adjust my vision. I need to go make my bed for tonight. I can leave the rest for tomorrow."

"Visual effects have been adjusted. Good night, Xiaobai. Have a good rest and see you tomorrow!"

"...Well, good night Fufu. See you tomorrow."