Ring of the World

Chen Chuan lowered his gaze, picked up the agreement, and flipped through its contents. It was filled entirely with non-disclosure regulations regarding this conversation. Yet the restrictions were not absolute. Depending on specific circumstances, limited disclosures could be made to the signatory's own relatives, though they too would have to sign non-disclosure agreements, and the number of people was capped at two. The document had many clauses, covering practically every angle. Furthermore, looking at the nearly imperceptible pattern at the bottom of the page, he suspected that some formal esoteric ritual had likely been applied to it. Employing such binding measures meant this was definitely no trivial matter; it surely concerned the true secrets underlying Center City. He had come this far, testing into Center City in far less time than others, partly to seize whatever advantages might be available. Now the information hidden behind the curtain was within arm's reach. The door stood right in front of him, requiring only a push of his hand to open, and he certainly was not going to let the opportunity pass. Without the slightest hesitation, he set the agreement down, picked up a pen from the side, and signed his name. And at that very moment, he felt a sensation. Ignoring it, he looked up at the two people across from him. Seeing that Chen Chuan had signed the agreement, the woman stepped forward and picked it up. She scanned it first with her boundary credential, seemingly recording it, before handing it to Commissioner Liang. After taking and reviewing it, Commissioner Liang handed it back to her. The woman walked to the side and sealed the document in a metal case prepared beforehand. Commissioner Liang looked at Chen Chuan, his expression turning solemn. "Enforcement Officer Chen, since you have chosen to sign the agreement, please listen carefully to what I am about to tell you." He paused briefly. "An immense crisis is brewing in our world..." He said slowly, "Another world is gradually drawing closer to us." Chen Chuan's gaze sharpened slightly. "Another world?" Commissioner Liang nodded. "Yes, another world. Our understanding of that place can currently only be summarized with the word 'world.' In truth, although we have contended with it for a long time, our knowledge remains extremely limited. "And now, the two worlds are attracting and pulling each other, slowly drawing closer." Chen Chuan suddenly thought of something from when he had achieved... He pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Commissioner Liang, what is this 'world' like? And when did it begin approaching our world?" "Actually, this world did not simply appear there out of nowhere," Commissioner Liang said. "Since ancient times, it has made contact with us more than once." "More than once?" "Yes. To make an analogy, the two worlds are like two celestial bodies in close proximity, orbiting and exerting gravitational pull on each other. Sometimes the distance between us is farther, and sometimes closer. When far, its influence on us is weaker, but when close, that influence runs deeper." Commissioner Liang said in a deep voice, "The rise and fall of dynasties and the ebbs and flows of civilizations in the old era were closely tied to this world's influence on us. "When it draws near, we refer to it as the 'Period of Flux,' and when it moves away, we call it the 'Period of Cold Silence.' "Yet somehow this situation changed. Today, that world is getting closer and closer to ours, and the Period of Flux is elongating indefinitely, as though it will never come to an end..." At this point, his tone grew exceedingly heavy and deliberate. "According to our observations, if things continue like this, one day that world might collide fully with ours. "We do not know what will ultimately happen when that time comes, but it will unquestionably be an unprecedented crisis. Therefore, we have provisionally named it... the Great Collision." "The Great Collision..." Chen Chuan felt a slight chill in his heart. From the name alone, he could already imagine what kind of scene that would be. Turning his thoughts over, he asked again, "Commissioner Liang, may I ask how much time remains before the Great Collision arrives?" Commissioner Liang said in a low voice, "It is difficult to give an exact timeframe, but at least two hundred years ago, we had already surpassed the historical limits recorded for any Period of Flux. "Based on our prolonged observations and deductions, if nothing is done, it could occur in as little as two to three years; if longer, perhaps ten to twenty. It all depends on our own efforts." "Does Commissioner Liang mean that we can find a way to remedy this situation?" Chen Chuan asked. "Crisis also brings opportunity," Commissioner Liang replied. "Intersecting with that world has also caused unprecedented changes to continually take place in ours. "To maintain their rule, the empires of the old era poured immense resources into exploring and researching this convergence of worlds. But they never imagined it would trigger an entirely different outcome, sparking transformations in the span of just over a century. "Over the past hundred years, technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. The emergence of high-energy algae and the outbreak of the algae oil revolution repeatedly reshaped the geopolitical landscape. Several empires that had ruled the world for centuries, or even a millennium, collapsed one after another, and the fruits of that research were inherited by the subsequent nations established across the globe. "Immediately following that was the arrival of the new era. The various nations and corporations that overthrew the old empires established the Grand Alliance. "To confront the impending crisis, we concentrated our resources at the points of connection and leakage between the two worlds to build cities and defensive strongpoints, aiming to capture what arrived with the worlds' convergence..." Accompanying Commissioner Liang's voice, a map of the entire world appeared around him and across the expansive curved wall. The outlines of every continent were clearly visible, followed by points of light emerging one after another, dotting the globe. "Those are the Center Cities—the guides and anchors between the two worlds, as well as the frontlines and bastions of our resistance. And the Jibei Circuit Center City where we stand right now is one of them." Chen Chuan gazed at the bright points displayed across the map. The Republic of Great Shun was undeniably one of the world's primary powers, holding more than a fifth of the Center Cities worldwide, which matched the scale of the nation. Commissioner Liang turned around and looked at the points of light, speaking with a touch of regret. "Regrettably, the Grand Alliance lasted less than thirty years before disintegrating. Now it exists in name only, serving merely as a communication platform to maintain dialogue among nations and major corporations." Chen Chuan watched for a moment before asking again, "What is that other world like?" Commissioner Liang replied, "No one can describe it clearly. The things there are different from the material world we are accustomed to. Well, you know of anomalous phenomena, right?" "I do," Chen Chuan said. The official designation of anomalous phenomena included urban legends as well as the entities and phenomena leveraged by esoteric rituals, all simplified into a single category. Commissioner Liang said, "Some of them arise from the mutual influence between the two worlds, while others are manifestations of that other world itself. Perhaps this can help you understand what the other side looks like." Chen Chuan thought it over and found he could grasp the idea to some extent. Commissioner Liang's voice grew heavy. "As I said earlier, our understanding of that world remains insufficient. Perhaps when the Great Collision arrives, we will be able to understand it more deeply—though I truly have no wish to see that day come." Silence fell over the room. None of the three spoke, leaving only the points of light on the map still flickering. After a long while, Commissioner Liang turned back around. "Well, now that Enforcement Officer Chen understands the situation, let us speak about you—or rather, the constraints and responsibilities placed upon your group." His expression turned exceptionally grim. "As that world draws nearer, an intermediate zone has formed at the convergence between the two worlds, which can also be regarded as a transitional boundary. Perhaps due to their mutual influence, the material world becomes particularly loose and frail there. "Through sustained observation, we have verified that weakening the erosion from the other side can, to a certain degree, delay the arrival of the Great Collision. Furthermore, technological advancements have provided us with more means to combat the unprecedented upheaval ahead. "Today, we have used technology to establish a barrier there known as the 'Ring of the World'—though some also call it the 'Veil of the World'—to delay the Great Collision and keep out certain entities from the world opposite. "Yet this barrier is not entirely solid. The collision between the worlds constantly exerts pressure on it, and things from the other side infiltrate from time to time. "And... "Therefore, first of all... "At the same time, fighters like you who have signed the agreement and learned the truth must answer the call of conscription whenever the country has need. What specifically you will be tasked with depends on the organization and institution each individual serves." Looking at the contemplative Chen Chuan, he added a reminder: "There is one thing I should mention. At your current limit, certain special cultivation medicines cannot be found outside. Only fighters who participate in and obey the defense system of the Ring of the World, and who have accumulated sufficient merit and contributions, are permitted to receive them. "Hence, we do not force every single fighter to actively participate. How to proceed is entirely up to your own discretion." Pausing briefly, he continued, "Very well. What needed to be told to you, Enforcement Officer Chen, has been told. Our conversation for today ends here. "Enforcement Officer Chen, you may head back." The woman stepped forward with a courteous, professional smile. "Enforcement Officer Chen, this way, please." Chen Chuan took one more look at the world displayed around him before finally turning his eyes to Commissioner Liang. "I have not yet inquired about your official identity, sir?" Commissioner Liang said in a deep voice, "Special Ring of the World Representative from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Great Shun, Commissioner stationed in Jibei Circuit Center City—Liang Guanghai."