Chapter Four: Two Zhou Jibais

“What are they?” “Measurements. It's learning how to copy a commander completely.” Before cutting the channel, he added, “The Zhou Jibai in your reality isn't my counterpart. He's residue from a failed overwrite.” When Shen Yan returned to his apartment, dawn had not yet come. His phone held a new recording, timestamped 12:41 a.m.—while he had been competing in Arclight. His own voice spoke calmly from the speaker. “If you're hearing this, then you weren't the one using this body tonight.”