Players Invade Cyberpunk

The serial killer lifted a leg and stepped on the sand at the edge of the beach, surrounded by the constant echo of the tides, and the fine, soft sand underfoot gave him a strange sense of comfort.

The body was out of control...

This wasn't what he wanted to do, yet the body instinctively did it. What was going on?

This subtle feeling of disconnection between body and will lingered on the serial killer's mind. The super-dream he was experiencing now was completely different from the super-dream used in training by players before.

It felt as if he were hidden inside another person's body, experiencing all of their senses.

However, the atmosphere brought by the surrounding environment was indeed very soothing, making one unable to resist relaxing and sinking into it.

This was far more shocking than the previous training super-dream experience.

"Depression is a disease of prefrontal neurons. Prolonged depression and melancholy lead to the secretion of a large amount of cortisol, disrupting the body's emotional regulation, inhibiting serotonin synthesis, and damaging the hippocampus and amygdala. Conventional drugs are difficult to treat this."

"So I thought, since the super-dream can mobilize the human brain to actively control emotional secretion, why not use pleasant events or memories to replace drugs, to readjust the brain hormone generation? Maybe it could restore the neuroendocrine system to normal."

"However... haha, ERO said it still needs some biological treatment for damaged neurons and receptor proteins to work."

"He also wants us to help develop a super-dream to quit drug addiction, but right now we have no clue..."

Speaking of this, Arturo felt a bit embarrassed, having been here for quite a few days, but so far he still couldn't think of any super-dream that could help in quitting drugs.

Drug rehabilitation...

How is that possible?

The relapse rate for drug addicts is as high as 98%, it almost becomes a physiological reaction for them. The rest aren't truly rehabilitated either, but are instead cut off from access to drugs. Once encountered again, it's hard to say if they can control themselves.

But considering the game already allows uploading human consciousness onto the internet, and with technology like super-dream which is almost akin to real tactile sensation, it's not hard to imagine the possibility of curing drug addiction.

The serial killer, despite being shocked, somewhat understood why the mission prompt led him to seek out Arturo.

"Can you make any scene here?"

"Not necessarily, most of the time my material library can suffice, but it gets tricky when it involves personal privacy. For instance, if you want to include a relative or friend in the super-dream, you'll need to show me their photo and tell me your specific requirements..."

Listening to Arturo's explanation, the serial killer gradually started to understand what these super-dreams were about. They were somewhat similar to games created using public material libraries.

If that's the case, maybe he could try it. He took off the headband and solemnly said to Arturo

"I'd like to customize a super-dream, one set on a corn farm..."

————

Li Guoyu's life, before the age of twelve, was like spring.

He had a happy family, both parents alive and well and treating him kindly. They weren't wealthy, but there were no worries about food and clothing. Li Guoyu also did well in his studies. Although elementary school grades weren't very significant, his parents often took him on trips, and life could be considered carefree.

If he followed the current life trajectory, even if his future wasn't bright, it wouldn't be too bad either.

Until a car accident sent his life into winter.

His legs suffered comminuted fractures, leaving his lower body paralyzed, never to stand again.

Since that day, all words related to beauty became unrelated to Li Guoyu. The vivid colors of his life turned to grey.

His parents tried everything, traveling across the country to various hospitals, but it was all in vain.

Emotions couldn't rewrite reality, nor could they break the limits of medicine. Their son would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Because of this, Li Guoyu's temper became eccentric, irritable, often smashing things at home, even inflicting self-harm for a long period.

Until he found a world that didn't require legs.

The internet, and video games

There, he could vent his negative desires without restraint, spewing malice at others indiscriminately.

But games were not reality. The screen was too close to reality. When he lowered his head, he still had to face his crippled legs and reality, which made him even more irritable.

That day, his mother returned home early as usual, only that day, there was a courier box at the doorstep.

Was the package bought by her son?

The mother opened the door, carrying the box into the house

"Guoyu, is this something you bought?"

But what responded to her was an overwhelming burst of profanity

"What the Q! Q! Why not Q?"

"I fuck your mother!"

"People like you are in the late stage of brain cancer, do you know that?"

The mother looked at Li Guoyu, who was facing the gray-white screen, spewing insults, without turning back. She silently placed the box in the corner of the room and retreated without saying more.

She had become accustomed, at least when her son was playing games, he would still curse, which was stronger than being speechless and lifeless.

After the open bedroom door closed again, Li Guoyu took off his headphones, maneuvered his electric wheelchair to turn around, and looked at the box his mother placed beside the bed.

He couldn't recall ordering anything online in recent days.

Could it be...

He quickly pressed the forward button, the electric wheelchair brought Li Guoyu to the bedside.

He tried hard to reach for the box, but without the cooperation of hip muscles, he couldn't bend down.

Li Guoyu kept trying, his face turning red. As his fingertips got closer to the box, he ultimately lost his balance due to excessive effort and fell from the wheelchair onto the ground.