Chapter 34: Black Hole Experience

I was about to say something more when my subconscious suddenly told me it was time to sleep. I glanced at my phone and saw that it was already past 10 p.m. Without realizing it, I had been chatting all afternoon until evening. Time really flies. There were several messages from friends and family on WeChat that I hadn't replied to yet.  

I said to Buweiro: "Thanks again for keeping me company all afternoon. I've taken up so much of your time. My body clock is telling me it's time to rest."  

"Alright, Brother Ji Wufan. Rest well, and don't be so polite next time. You can call me anytime tomorrow," he replied. Since we'd become quite close, Buweiro didn't bother with formalities this time and left.  

After he left, I felt homesick and turned the surrounding scene into the scene of my home. I lay comfortably on my bed and replied to everyone who sent me messages on WeChat today, and asked my parents if anything happened at home. After waiting for a while, there was still no reply from my mother, it seemed that they had already gone to bed.

I still didn't feel sleepy, so I thought about trying something new on my own. Recalling how sci-fi movies often depict hyperspace consciousness, I asked Xiaomeng if he could let the Universal Energy Field input the images I wanted into my consciousness, so that I could experience something that was impossible in real life.  

Xiaomeng quickly assured me "No problem" and even mentioned that I could have a semi-real sensory experience. Delighted, I asked to first visit the ocean and then explore its depths.  

Xiaomeng instructed me to lie down, close my eyes, and relax completely. Suddenly, I felt a cool sensation, and then I couldn't tell whether I was in reality or in my mind. Wearing a performance suit, I found myself standing on a refreshing beach. The salty and damp smell of the sea hit me instantly. The sun was shining brightly, and the beach was lively with foreign tourists dressed lightly for the warm weather.  

I won't go into too much detail about this sensory experience. With humanity's technological advancements, this kind of immersive experience might be available in every household within a decade or so.  

That night, I had an exhilarating time. I started with an underwater adventure in the ocean's depths, then traveled to various countries and famous landmarks on the Earth. Finally, I boarded a spaceship and ventured into outer space.  

When I first arrived in space and looked around, I almost scared myself to death. Fortunately, all these years of training were not in vain, otherwise I would have let down my parents' upbringing and my unit's cultivation.  

At some point, when I had gotten used to the spaceship, I didn't know how much time had passed before I flew to the edge of the solar system and actually saw a stable miniature black hole. This discovery was far beyond my comprehension.

In this virtual consciousness, I flew through space and soon flew out of the Oort Cloud of the Solar system. I wanted to take a closer look at our solar system, but when I looked back, everything behind me was pitch black. I couldn't see anything—not even the light of the Sun.  

Looking around, I could only spot planets and stars in other directions. Watching stars from space gave me a clearer view, though they didn't twinkle like they do from the Earth. The sight overwhelmed me, and I was dazzled by the sheer beauty of the cosmic display.  

After the novelty wore off, I asked Xiaomeng: "If I want to see a black hole, do I have to go deep into the center of the Milky Way? I assume that in this realm of consciousness, distance isn't a limitation, so I should be able to get there quickly."  

Xiaomeng replied that it wasn't necessary to go so far. The closest black hole to our Solar system is called Gaia BH1, located just 1,560 light-years away. It's a stable, vortex-like celestial body without the terrifying gravitational pull that devours everything. Furthermore, due to the overall gravitational balance of the Milky Way, Gaia BH1 poses no threat to distant stars, meteors, or even the Solar system, with which it coexists peacefully.  

After hearing this explanation, I decided to go take a look. Soon, I felt the spaceship begin a series of instant movements. Xiaomeng explained that the ship was space-jumping, covering one light-year per jump. In 1,560 seconds, we'd arrive at the black hole—an approach designed to let me better experience space travel.  

At first, I felt fine. But as the jumps grew continuous and faster, I started to feel dizzy, weak, and nauseous. When it became unbearable, I quickly asked the spaceship to stop. After recovering, I restarted the jumps, but the symptoms reappeared soon after.  

That's when I truly understood why astronauts are chosen from among millions and are the absolute elite. Ordinary people simply cannot handle this kind of work, even those trained as firefighters for years. At the same time, I developed a deeper admiration for astronauts who risk their lives to traverse the skies for humanity. They are unquestionably deserving of the title "great heroes".  

After four rounds of jumping and stopping, I finally arrived at the edge of a space that appeared empty and vacuum-like. Using the instruments aboard the spaceship, I could faintly detect an endless gravitational vortex in the distant spacetime ahead. This must be the black hole, but it really didn't look like much. There was nothing to see—nothing visible at all.  

Xiaomeng explained that the terrifying gravitational pull of a black hole traps even light itself, making it impossible for the human eye or technology to perceive the black hole directly. All we could observe was the gravitational pull around it, where the surrounding space twisted and contorted as it was swallowed by the black hole.  

At first, the phenomenon seemed terrifying, but as I watched, a sudden surge of curiosity filled my heart. I couldn't help but ask Xiaomeng: "If I wanted to experience what it feels like to be pulled into a black hole, would my consciousness 'die' in this scenario, and could my real self end up dead too?"  

"Not at all, my guest," Xiaomeng replied simply, devoid of the emotions that Buweiro might have displayed. "What you're experiencing now is purely a sensory and consciousness simulation. No matter what happens, your physical body is completely safe."  

"I get that my body isn't at risk," I clarified. "I know this is like the most advanced form of immersive gaming. But what I mean is, this pitch-black, terrifying black hole is scary enough to look at. If I actually experienced being sucked in, my consciousness might get so scared that it dies. Would the 'real' me outside also end up dead?"  

I asked Xiaomeng again, clarifying whether this kind of extreme game could scare me to death. In real life, many people die from sheer fright or through psychological self-suggestion, ultimately leading to their own demise. I've encountered such cases often in my work as a firefighter—rescuing people, some of whom break down mentally and end up contemplating suicide.  

"It's unlikely, dear guest. Various alien species frequently experience this type of game, and no incidents have ever occurred. Even if your situation becomes dangerous, the Interstellar Alliance will help you recover. No matter how severe, as long as the death time isn't too long, they can bring you back to life." Xiaomeng replied.  

Xiaomeng's explanation left me speechless. Clearly, the Alliance's medical technology was incredibly advanced—almost godlike.  

"Alright, since you're saying that, I'll give it a try. It's not easy to come here, and I might never get the chance again. I have to seize this opportunity to experience it to the fullest. Notify the Universal Energy Field that if anything happens to me, it must rescue me immediately."  

After much thought, I decided to go for the thrill. Opportunities like this don't come often. As a firefighter, I'm used to risking my life in blazing infernos, so ordinary extreme games no longer excite me. After I leave here, I may never get another chance like this.  

"Understood, dear guest. I've arranged your journey. Wishing you an enjoyable experience," Xiaomeng replied emotionlessly, leaving me slightly exasperated. Still, I nodded, steadied myself, and prepared for this ultimate adventure.  

After signaling that I was ready, the spaceship carried me into the gravitational pull of the black hole. At first, it felt like nothing special, but as we moved deeper, I sensed an irresistible, immense gravitational force seizing the ship. No amount of power seemed enough to resist it. The pull grew stronger, and the ship accelerated uncontrollably into the massive vortex. I couldn't help but scream loudly.  

Crack... crack... crack. I heard the ominous sound of the ship breaking apart. Before I could panic, an unbearable discomfort swept through me—far worse than anything I'd experienced before. Barely holding on, I pleaded with Xiaomeng:  

"If this continues, the ship will disintegrate before I even reach the black hole's edge. Can you guide my consciousness to observe the black hole instead?"  

"Of course, dear guest," Xiaomeng replied. Immediately, I felt a protective energy envelop my body, significantly easing the agony I'd been enduring.  

Crack, crack, crack... whoosh!  

At that moment, I watched as the spaceship disintegrated into dust, which then vanished entirely. I was left alone, adrift in the terrifying gravitational vortex of the black hole.  

"Aaaahhhh..." I let out a heart-wrenching scream while being sucked, though it seemed I was the only one who could hear them. At the same time, my head grew heavier and heavier. If I were to say "Game Over" to Xiaomeng now, all this suffering would instantly vanish, and I'd return to my previous state of consciousness. But I didn't want to give up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Pain, discomfort, danger—haven't I faced plenty of that before?  

Whoosh! "Ah! My body!" Just as I gritted my teeth and persisted, I suddenly felt my body being entirely sucked by the black hole. Yet, I still retained my consciousness and thoughts. Carefully sensing my state, it seemed that my awareness—or perhaps my soul—was now wrapped in an energy field and continuing to be pulled deeper into the vortex.  

The speed increased exponentially, beyond any description, and the pain intensified drastically. "Whoa...!"  

I don't know how long it lasted. As I gritted my teeth and held on for what felt like eternity, the last impression I remember was seeing an endless, indescribable, twisted, black, sucking celestial body.  

Then, an intense burst of pain swept through my consciousness. This time, I couldn't hold on. My nerves jolted, my awareness faded, and I felt as though I had died.  

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