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墨書 Inktalez
He put down his coffee cup, interlaced his fingers under his chin, and gazed off into the distance, seemingly lost in thought. After a long while, he took a deep breath, as if he had made a decision, and his expression gradually became resolute.
"I refuse." Li Ran's voice was low and firm, without a hint of hesitation.
Zhao Kai suddenly looked up, staring at Li Ran in disbelief. "What did you say?"
"I said, I refuse to participate in the competition." Li Ran met Zhao Kai's gaze directly, enunciating each word clearly. "I will not return to the past, nor will I have anything to do with music again."
"Li Ran, you..." Zhao Kai tried to persuade him further but was interrupted by Li Ran raising his hand.
"Enough, Zhao Kai." Li Ran stood up, his tone icy. "I am no longer the Li Ran of ten years ago, and neither are you."
With that, Li Ran turned and walked out of the café without looking back. He didn't want to hear anything more about music, about Wei Ziyang, or about the past. He just wanted to be alone for a while, to lick his wounds in solitude.
Li Ran wandered aimlessly down the bustling street; everything around him felt like it was shrouded in a thin mist, appearing so unreal. He didn't know where he was going or what he wanted.
A maglev train whizzed past him, and Li Ran suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking up at the train's destination—No Man's Land.
No Man's Land, as the name suggests, is a desolate area rarely visited by people. There are no tall buildings or bustling crowds, only endless stretches of desert and Gobi.
By some strange impulse, Li Ran bought a ticket to No Man's Land. He wanted to escape this city, flee from all the familiar faces and things, and go somewhere no one knew him to start anew.
As the train slowly departed from the station, Li Ran stared out at the scenery rushing by outside the window, his expression vacant and lost.
Upon arriving at No Man's Land, Li Ran found it even more desolate than he had imagined. The sun blazed overhead, and yellow sand swirled around; occasionally a gust of wind would rise up, kicking up clouds of dust.
Carrying a simple backpack and braving the scorching sun, Li Ran wandered aimlessly through the desert.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, he suddenly spotted an abandoned building in the distance. A glimmer of hope ignited within him as he quickened his pace towards it.
As he got closer, he realized that the building appeared to be a laboratory. The walls were weathered and worn; the door was tightly shut, and the glass in the windows was shattered beyond repair, exuding an air of desolation and eeriness.
Li Ran tried pushing on the door; it creaked open slowly with a groan. He cautiously looked around before stepping inside.
The laboratory was in complete disarray, with various instruments and equipment scattered everywhere, tables and chairs overturned, and documents lying all over the floor.
Li Ran discovered a strange device among the clutter. It looked like a helmet, but it was far more complex than an ordinary helmet, covered with various wires and sensors.
Curiously, Li Ran picked up the helmet and examined it closely. He noticed an interface on the side of the helmet that seemed to connect to something.
Following the wires from the interface, he eventually found an old Host tucked away in a corner. The Host looked quite outdated but still emitted a faint glow.
Li Ran attempted to connect the helmet to the Host, and suddenly, the Host lit up, displaying a line of text on the screen: "Welcome to the 'Metaverse.'"
Li Ran was taken aback; he never expected to find a device capable of connecting to the "Metaverse" in this desolate No Man's Land.
The "Metaverse" was a virtual world created after humanity's technology reached a certain level. In this world, people could break free from the constraints of reality and experience all sorts of impossible things.
Li Ran had once been a devoted player of the "Metaverse," but ever since that incident, he had not stepped into this world again.
"Is this my destiny?" Li Ran murmured as he gazed at the device before him.
He had a premonition that this device might help him realize his true dream of creating a world without pain and regrets.
Taking a deep breath, as if making a decision, he put the helmet on his head.
A slight sensation of electric current coursed through him, and soon after, a bright white light appeared before his eyes. When he opened them again, he found himself standing in a vast square. The square was bustling with people dressed in all sorts of eccentric outfits, and above them was a massive virtual screen displaying various advertisements and news.
"Is this the Metaverse? It's just as lively as before."
Li Ran closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Fifteen minutes later, without looking back, he left the resting area and walked toward the exit of the square.
Li Ran began an almost frenzied training regimen. He locked himself in the training room every day, practicing operational skills over and over again and studying tactical strategies. It was as if he wanted to make up for all the time wasted over the past decade. Wei Ziyang watched with concern; her heart ached for him as she silently supported Li Ran, cheering him on and preparing his meals.
The days of training were monotonous and tedious, but Li Ran found joy in it. He relished this feeling of striving hard and enjoyed fighting alongside his teammates. It felt like he had returned to ten years ago when he was that passionate and dream-filled young man.
On the stage of the finals, the lights shone brilliantly, and the crowd was roaring. Li Ran and his teammates stood in the center of the stage, receiving cheers and applause from all directions. They had fought their way through numerous challenges and finally reached the ultimate battleground.
The competition was exceptionally intense, with both teams evenly matched, and the score fluctuated back and forth. The cheers and sighs from the audience rose and fell like waves. At a critical moment, Li Ran showcased his extraordinary skills and calm demeanor, leading his team to victory by a narrow margin.
When the final whistle blew, the entire venue erupted in excitement. The audience stood up, cheering wildly for this young team. Li Ran removed his headset, a look of relief spreading across his face. He knew he had finally overcome his past and conquered himself.
Zhao Kai stood among the crowd, watching the spirited Li Ran on stage, feeling a mix of emotions. He had once mocked Li Ran and looked down on him, but now he had to admit that Li Ran had far surpassed him.
"Li Ran, congratulations," Zhao Kai said as he approached Li Ran, his tone complex.
Li Ran looked at this former friend without a trace of resentment, only calmness. "Thank you."
"I'm sorry; I was wrong before," Zhao Kai said, lowering his head with guilt and regret in his voice.
Li Ran patted Zhao Kai's shoulder and replied lightly, "It's all in the past."
The lights on stage continued to shine brightly as Li Ran and his teammates raised their trophy, savoring their moment of glory. He knew this was just the beginning; there were broader skies ahead waiting for him to soar.
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