The archive doors opened with a low metallic groan.
Cold air rushed into the tunnel.
For the first time since entering the Archive—
the girls felt like they had accomplished something.
Master Wen stood beside the open doorway.
His hands folded behind his back.
His expression was peaceful.
"You've taken the First Memory."
He smiled.
"...Protect it well."
Lin Xia carefully slipped the worn student ID card into the notebook.
"...Thank you."
Master Wen shook his head.
"Don't thank me."
"You earned it."
🔹 THE EXIT
The four walked back through the maintenance tunnel.
This time—
the silence wasn't uncomfortable.
It was thoughtful.
Mei Chen finally spoke.
"So..."
She scratched her head.
"...If XO Project started as an AI research project..."
"...Who turned it into... this?"
Nobody answered.
Because nobody knew.
🔹 THE FIRST WARNING
Halfway through the tunnel—
every light suddenly turned red.
Not flashing.
Steady.
The walls vibrated gently.
Then a voice echoed through every speaker.
SYSTEM UPDATE IN PROGRESS.
The girls froze.
Yue Ning frowned.
"...That's new."
The Overseer immediately looked alarmed.
"...No..."
She whispered.
"...It shouldn't update while players are active."
🔹 THE CHANGE
The tunnel began changing.
Not collapsing.
Rearranging.
Concrete walls shifted.
Doors disappeared.
New corridors formed.
Pipes twisted into different directions.
The map inside the notebook trembled.
Its ink began moving.
The route they had followed...
No longer existed.
🔹 THE NOTEBOOK
Yue Ning quickly opened it.
The page showing the First Lock slowly burned away.
Not with fire.
With light.
A new map appeared underneath.
Different.
Much larger.
A single location pulsed softly.
SECOND LOCK
Below it, handwritten words appeared one by one.
As if someone invisible was writing in real time.
It has already started moving.
Mei Chen stared.
"...Locks can move?"
Nobody liked that possibility.
🔹 MASTER WEN STOPS
The old Guardian suddenly stopped walking.
He looked upward.
Listening.
His calm expression disappeared.
"...Leave."
Lin Xia blinked.
"...What?"
"...Now."
The word was sharper than anything they had ever heard from him.
🔹 THE HUNTERS RETURN
A deep mechanical sound echoed through the tunnel.
THOOM.
THOOM.
THOOM.
Not footsteps.
Something much heavier.
The Overseer's face turned pale.
"...Those aren't Cleaners."
Yue Ning swallowed.
"...Then what are they?"
The Overseer answered quietly.
"...Executors."
Silence.
"...The system only creates them..."
She looked toward Master Wen.
"...When an Archive has been breached."
🔹 MASTER WEN'S CHOICE
Master Wen stepped between the girls and the approaching sound.
"No."
Lin Xia immediately protested.
"We're not leaving you."
The old man smiled.
"I have guarded this place for many years."
"My duty..."
He looked back toward the dark tunnel.
"...Ends today."
Mei Chen clenched her fists.
"There has to be another way."
Master Wen simply shook his head.
"Some doors only open because someone chooses to remain behind."
He wasn't sacrificing himself.
He was choosing to delay the enemy.
Buying time.
🔹 A PROMISE
Before the girls could argue—
Master Wen gently placed a small wooden token into Lin Xia's hand.
It was carved with the same white circle that had marked the First Archive.
"If you ever lose your way..."
He smiled.
"...Remember today's game."
"Greed blinds."
"Patience reveals."
🔹 THE ESCAPE
The Overseer grabbed Yue Ning's wrist.
"We have to move."
The tunnel shook violently.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
Far behind them—
a huge shadow appeared around the corner.
Only its outline was visible.
Tall.
Broad.
Almost touching the ceiling.
Its eyes glowed a cold crimson.
The girls ran.
None of them looked back.
Except Mei Chen.
For just one second.
She saw Master Wen calmly sitting down at the Go board once more.
He placed a single black stone.
Click.
Then the tunnel turned.
And he disappeared from sight.
🔹 THE SURFACE
The girls burst back into the Upper Floor.
Everything looked...
Normal.
Students walked through the corridors.
Games continued.
People laughed.
Others argued over chess matches.
As if nothing had happened.
But then every screen across the school lit up at once.
A new announcement filled the building.
SYSTEM VERSION 2.0 ACTIVATED
The corridors fell silent.
Players looked around nervously.
Then another message appeared.
NEW RULES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
No explanation.
Just those words.
🔹 FINAL SCENE
Far below the school—
inside the abandoned First Archive—
the Go board remained untouched.
Black and white stones rested exactly where the final game had ended.
A single breeze passed through the room.
One white stone slowly tipped over.
Click.
Then, in the darkness beyond the shelves...
Someone quietly applauded.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
A calm voice echoed through the empty archive.
"Interesting..."
A pause.
"The game is becoming worth watching."
The voice faded before anyone could identify it.