ASAKU® X Dragon Life
Part.1
All 13 chapters in this book.
Original author:Mingkun Liu
Translator: Claudia Liu @ fanyi4life
Preface: Outline of ASAKU X Dragon Life
In year 36722 on Epic Calendar...
On the surface in the Epic World, green Mirror Cores started to appear on Humans Continent, Fairies Continent, and Phantom Continent. The location differed every time it happened. Meanwhile, the center was pouring out little guarding monsters. In 24 hours, the green core would turn red and release energy of Reversal Impact in radius of one kilometer, to turn back the time. The energy released would bring even more powerful monsters, together with the supreme core monster. One Mirror Core would cause one Reversal Impact which would turn animals or monsters around berserk as well.
The Mirror Cores emerged one after another, with the intervals of three to seven days. Currently, there was no way to destroy it. Once a Reversal Impact took places, the time within the range would be turned back, as well as the lives and scenery would be restored to the previous condition. In other words, people might become younger, but those who haven’t outlived the time reversed would disappear. Things would be restored to normal once they leave the range.
When Reversal Impact happened, not only time was turned back, but plenty of monsters would pour in to protect the core. People that once lived in the time that was reversed would be brought back as well, but appeared like a reanimated corpse without a soul. Yet for others who still remembered them, it would be a moment to look forward to.
Since the time reversed could not be estimated, no one dared to risk inside the range and fight against the monsters. When the Reversal Impact took place, whoever was inside the range could do nothing but evacuate as soon as possible.
On the surface of the Epic World, the Fairies were the only ones that were invulnerable to Reversal Impact, which also explained why the Mirror Core would not be found on the Fairies Continent. The Fairies were shielded from the danger of the Reversal Impact. We were not entirely sure of the reason why the Fairies were protected, but they did not hold the power to destroy the core. The only solution the Fairies could propose was to seal the core, to stop the monsters from flooding in our world.
Delegated by Oudelos, the Fairies King, Asaku, as the Seal Priest from the Light race, led his partners to explore the world. With the Compass of No Return, which could locate the Mirror Core and calculate the time turned back, Asaku would seal the core to stop Reversal Impact and the inundation of monsters.
Chapter One: Asaku the Seal Priest
At three o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, August 12th, year 36722 on the Epic Calendar...
In the Village of Eden, part of the Kingdom of Phil and located on the south-west of Humans Continent, a Mirror Core appeared and villagers started to evacuate. Troops dispatched by the Kingdom of Phil were engaged in a hard fight against monsters to ensure a safe evacuation of villagers. In the last thirty minutes when the core started to turn red, the military retreated and set up a line of defense in a safe zone outside village. Once the Reversal Impact started, the monsters would no longer be limited. All of a sudden, in front of the troops popped up a Folding Corridor from which a young magic knight walked out. The magic knight was dressed in blue with a white cloak, equipped with the Seal Knife and followed by a clown puppet and a winged lion. There was also an adorable little girl, walking with the trio toward the village. Some soldiers saw them and tried to stop them. The magic knight turned around and said, “Per order of Oudelos, the Fairies King, I am the delegate to seal the Mirror Core. My name is Asaku, the Seal Priest from the Light race. You are all useless here, so just run.”
Soldiers said, “How insolent!”
Hearing this, the little girl standing by Asaku punched him on the shoulder and said, “Asaku, that is just rude!”
Then she turned around and saluted the soldiers, saying, “My name is Ellia, and I am the animal trainer from the Soil race. Asaku is my brother, and I apologize for his attitude. May I ask: who is the general leading the troops?”
The human general stepped ahead, replying respectfully, “We appreciate assistance from the Fairies. This is General Stalul. Please kindly seal the core to prevent even more damage.
Ellia asked, “Have all villagers evacuated?”
General Stalul replied, “Yes, we have sent everyone to a safe place.”
Upon hearing this, Asaku said, “Great! So now I can do anything I want freely!” Then he rushed into the village with the clown puppet and the illusion lion, in the direction where the core was with all the monsters.
Ellia saluted General Stalul again and explained, “I am here to investigate the reason why monsters have gone berserk. Even the generally gentle monsters are turned violent by the core. Please proceed with caution.” Then Ellia ran into the village and caught up with Asaku.
Facing assault of countless monsters, Asaku fought back with the Seal Knife. Those monster who were injured by the Seal Knife were sealed and frozen. Meanwhile, this knife absorbed and stored power of monsters. What’s more, it could also soak up power of attributes from the Nature. For example, if the knife came in touch with stone, it took in the power of soil.
When Asaku cast magic, he had the three-star matrix magic on his left hand, the reversed matrix magic on his right hand, so all he had to do was to take in the power, based on its nature, and use it on the matrix magic to initiate an attack. When swamped by monsters, Asaku could use the reversed three-star matrix magic to amplify the magic power; to focus fire, Asaku could zero in on the three-star matrix magic for a fatal blow. The more power the rituals absorb, the more potent the magic will be.
Ellia used the Love Racket to purge the monsters. Ordinary monsters would be pacified and become passive. Some of them would even help Ellia in combat.
The closer they were to the core, the more powerful the monsters were. Determined to dash into the core, Asaku put away the Seal Knife and yelled at the clown puppet, “Come, Ghost Card Uda, transform into the Sun Sword!" Uda then transformed from a clown puppet into a sword as shining as the sun. Asaku chopped his way toward the core with the Sun Sword. However, where the sun didn’t shine, the sword lost its glow and power as well. Uda said, “Asaku, seriously, I don’t have power without the sun. And the sun is setting soon. So chop chop, wrap it up now!”
Asaku replied, “Yea, roger that. I’ll finish the fight as soon as possible!” Then he hopped on the illusion lion, and dashed toward the core.
Soon Asaku and his partners arrived at the core that was about to turn red, but a baby’s crying caught everyone’s attention. Looking for where the crying was from, Asaku found a young mother holding a baby, hiding in a corner nearby. Asaku shouted but there wasn’t time. Without second thought, Asaku flew to the woman and grabbed her. Ellia held the baby tightly and hoped to take the mother and her baby to safety. At that moment, Reversal Impact happened!!
A strong wave of ripple dispersed and things around started to change. The young mother turned into ashes and disappeared, yet the baby in Ellia’s arms survived unharmed like a miracle. Shocked, Ellia held the baby and screamed, “You said everyone was evacuated, everyone!”
Checking on the Compass of No Return, Asaku learned that the time was turned back eighty years. Ghost Card Uda reminded Asaku to seal the core and prevent more loss.
Asaku asked Ellia to take the baby to safety, but once the baby left Asaku’s arms, he started to cry. No one but Asaku could calm the baby down. The baby clutched Asaku. In the end, Asaku carried the baby on his back and returned to combat to seal the core. Ellia even teased Asaku about the baby.
Irritated, Asaku yelled, “Shut up!!”
The yelling woke up the baby and he started to cry. At the same time, both Asaku and Ellia put a finger in front of the mouth and said, “hssssss” to hush the baby.
Asaku said, “The supreme demon has showed up. Let’s go knock it down, get it done and go home!”
The supreme demon for this core was a giant cannibal flower, spitting poison at Asaku and lashing him with its vines. Dodging with Flying-n-Leaping, Asaku chopped all vines he could but failed to get close to the demon for a direct strike.
Strange to say, but the baby Asaku carried stayed composed through the fight. He was so quiet, unusually quiet.
Ellia rode on a mountain pig she just calmed, trying to assist Asaku in combat. Yet the demon was too powerful, so all she could do was flee.
By then, the sun set completely. Ghost Card Uda shouted, “Oh no! The sun…” then it turned back into the clown puppet.
Without the Sun Sword, Asaku could only fight with the Seal Knife.
Asaku thought, “Seriously, the Seal Knife can’t do the monster much harm because the power it absorbs is not enough. I need a blaze to burn it!”
Then Asaku turned around and shouted at Samoyed, the illusion lion, “Cast three fire bolts at me!”
With one turn over, Samoyed jumped into distance and spat three enormous fire bolts to Asaku.
Asaku lifted his left hand, fingers spread out, and a three-star matrix magic appeared on his palm and took in the fire bolts. Jumping high, Asaku dashed back into the cannibal flower’s mouth with his left fist clutching and the fire bolts amplifying.
Asaku stepped forward, letting go of his left fist, “Three-star matrix magic, Fire Tornado!"
The wave of fire burned the cannibal flower into ashes. Asaku hurried to the Mirror Core with a transparent cube of crystal in his hand, the Holy Crystal Cell with inscription on it. Before Asaku successfully cast the ward and sealed the core, numerous monsters still fought on. Thanks to Samoyed, the illusion lion protected everyone.
With one flash, the ward was complete and the core was sealed. All monsters were gone right away, but the surroundings remained the same. Everything was the way they had been eighty years ago.
When it was safe, Asaku approached the villagers and wanted to hand over the baby to them. Unexpectedly, all villagers panicked. They were convinced that the baby was the son of Demon. Asaku learned that the mother gave birth to the baby without a known father, so no villager was willing to adopt the baby. Besides, the baby wouldn’t let go of Asaku. Without an option, Asaku carried the baby on his back and returned to the Fairies Continent with Ellia, who said goodbye to her new mountain pig friend, through Folding Corridor.
Chapter Two: A Trojan Horse
At eleven o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, August 13th, year 36722 on the Epic Calendar, a meeting was held in the Fairies Empire Meeting room with the presence of Fairies King Oudelos, General Alga, Priest Harp, Fairies Princess Jiefulo, Asaku, Ellia, and the human baby.
Asaku got down on one knee and updated the Fairies King Oudelos the current situation in the Village of Eden, while the human baby slept peacefully in the cradle tended by Ellia.
Asaku ended the report, “My King, this is the update of the event in the Village of Eden.”
The Fairies King Oudelos dismissed Asaku and turned to General Alga, saying, “My General, may I have your thoughts on this?” General Alga was red in the face, and the King yelled at him, “Seriously, you two got drunk this early in the day?”
General Alga explained, “Well, we are not to blame. Priest Harp brews the best wine ever, which is perfect to wake me up in the morning.”
Priest Harp argued, “Alga, I thought we were friends! And I even saved the goodies for you.”
“Ahem…” the King coughed to stop the fight, and then everyone fell silent. The King reached out his hand, and Priest Harp presented the King the wine. Bottom up and the King yelled, “Woot! Great wine indeed!” Then he turned around to Asaku and said, “All right, now we can continue.”
Seeing this, Princess Jiefulo said to the King angrily, “Father, really? You have business to attend to. How could you drink with them so early?”
King Oudelos said, “Awww it’s nothing, my honey. It’s quite peaceful on the Fairies Continent.”
Hands on her hips, Princess Jiefulo said, “Oh my… Some sense of danger, please?”
Scratching his head, Asaku said in a hopeless tone, “Do you old things really care about this Mirror Core?”
General Alga said, “We fairies do not interfere whatever happens outside the Fairies Continent. It was the Holy Dragon King who brought us an order from the Gods, stating that only the fairies can fight against the Reversal Impact, so the King is commanding you to handle the core in the Village of Eden.”
Asaku said, “The Holy Dragon King, you mean the conspirator? Why do we have to listen to him?”
Fairies King Oudelos replied, “Because this is an order from Gods, we have to comply.”
Asaku snorted.
Priest Harp walked toward the human baby and said, “This is a remarkable baby. He completely waves off the influence of Reversal Impact.”
Ellia pulled the baby’s blanket, and found on the blanket it said “Adam.” Surprised, Ellia even saw a birth mark of emblem of rainbow on the baby’s back.
The birth mark seemed to be quite weighty. Both the King and General Alga went to the baby to take a closer look at the baby.
Slowly, the Fairies King spat out, one word after the other, “Rainbow… Savior..."
General Alga said, “So the kid is the new successor of Rainbow Savior. His name is Adam."
Priest Harp said, “I suppose it was part of their plan to send Asaku off to the Village of Eden. We are set up!”
Asaku said, “So what now? This baby is so needy and wouldn’t let go of me. If he wakes up and I’m not around, he’s going to cry like there’s no tomorrow. Nuh-uh, I’m not babysitting anyone.”
General Alga asked, “Wait a second, Asaku, you know where the two cores were previously?”
Asaku replied, “Yes, they were in the Time Library on the Elves Continent and Hugilus Desert, south-east of Kingdom of Phil on the Humans Continent. But when I got there, Reversal Impact had been completed on the cores. When I went to the Eden Village, per the King’s order, I should’ve been able to seal the core and stop everything, but the kid was in the way.”
Priest Harp asked, “Both cores happened near Kingdom of Phil on the Humans Continent? Something doesn’t add up here.”
Abruptly, the Fairies King Oudelos stood up and yelled, “General Alga, rally the guards and prepare for war!” Immediately, General Alga dashed out of the meeting room and alarmed the guards!
Asaku asked, “What’s going on?”
Princess Jiefulo said, “Protect the baby with all you can.”
Hearing this, Ellia grabbed Adam who was sound asleep in her arms tightly.
Priest Harp yelled, “This is a scheme plotted against us! The core in the Time Library was to fabricate the history, while that in the Hugilus Desert was to restore the mirror in the lake. The baby was left there on purpose because they knew he wouldn’t be influenced by the Reversal Impact. In the end, you returned to the Fairies Continent through the Folding Corridor with the baby. Your tracks left behind granted access to those who cannot enter the Fairies Continent through the reflection of mirror.
At that moment, a tremendous crash was heard, which shook the whole Fairies Empire. Priest Harp said, “I will put the baby into deep sleep, so his crying wouldn’t attract the mobs. Ellia, please take care of Adam. Asaku, go defend us!”
Ellia replied, “Yes, Priest Harp, I will protect the baby with all my might.”
Asaku yelled, “The situation is dire. I’m right on it! Ghost Card Uda! Samoyed!”
Asaku summoned two escorts and the three rushed to where the loud noise was from.
Right above the Fairies Empire Hall appeared a crack of time and space, from which poured in lots of monsters! General Alga led the Royal Guards to fight!
Seeing this, Asaku yelled with surprise, “What is this all about!”
The next second, Asaku transformed the Ghost Card Uda into the Sun Sword and joined the fight.
Soon, the King and Princess Jiefulo came to the Fairies Empire Hall, heavily protected by the Royal Guards.
Out of the crack, a phantom fox with nine tails appeared in the middle of the hall.
The phantom fox said in an exciting tone, “Woot! You guys are here to welcome me, the gorgeous and graceful me, right? Show me your love~”
Asaku yelled, “You high or what? What did you just smoke!?”
Then a fairy soldier who was responsible for space defense reported to the King, “My King, a Mirror Core just popped up on the Fairies Holy Land!”
Hearing this, the king instantly ordered that General Alga guard the holy land, Asaku take care of the monsters to stop them from approaching, and commanded some royal guards to stay and assist Asaku.
Witnessing the depressing situation, Princess Jiefulo said, “I’ll stay and defend the empire with Asaku.”
The King replied in a serious tone, “No! You have to go to the Holy Land with General Alga.”
Through the corridor behind the hall, the King led General Alga, Princess Jiefulo, Ellia and others to the Fairies Holy Land.
All the monsters in the hall were decimated by Asaku and the royal guards while the phantom nine-tailed fox remained still, as if it had been watching a show, until everyone was killed but the fox.
Bursting in laughter, the fox yelled hysterically, “Now the spotlight is on me and only me~ I’m the center of everything like a superstar!”
When the fox was done talking, it waved its paw, creating an enormous shocking wave. In order to protect the royal guards, Asaku dashed to the front, dressed in Shadow Lion Armor and glowing, and blocked the attack of the phantom nine-tailed fox.
Equipped with the Sun Sword, transformed by Ghost Card Uda, and Shadow Lion Armor, transformed by the illusion lion Samoyed, Asaku was ready for combat.
Once ready, Asaku said to the remaining guards, “Go protect the holy land, and leave the monsters here to me.”
“Thank you, sir!” the royal guards replied and then retreated to the holy land.
The phantom nine-tailed fox said, "I am the Darkmirror General VI from the Mirror Continent. My name is Phantom Nine-Tailed Fox. Awww you can also call me Fox Nine-Nine, you know, cuter~”
The fox continued, “So you are Asaku, the one that has gained the power of Gods, the combination of Gods and Fairies, and that makes you a real… goof, you know, god plus fairy, so goof.”
Asaku shouted back, “You goof! What is this with your stupid nickname, Fox Nine-Nine? I don’t have time for this. I’m going to knock you out now!”
Fox Nine-Nine said, “Awww you think you can beat me? Muahaha~” He blinked to Asaku at once and initiated an attack!
The Fox was rather fierce, so Asaku was having a hard time fighting even with the Sun Sword and the Shadow Lion Armor. Meanwhile, Asaku cast matrix magic to absorb the Fox’s magic. Thanks to the Shadow Lion armor, most of the damage was mitigated.
Moving and attacking, the Fox laughed hysterically, “Hahahaha oh my my~ becoming one with god at the price of fairy power? So you can never cast any elemental magic and… now you can only attack by taking in power first? Awww that is hilarious… hahahaha!”
Asaku said, “Why do you look into my history?”
The Fox replied, “Awwww that’s because I love you, silly~ Muah!”
Asaku yelled, “OH MY GOD that is soooo disgusting!!”
Next, the Fox’s nine tails all spread out, looking all appealing and alluring. The Fox said, “Asaku~ this is going to be my mightiest blow, as powerful as my love for you~”
Even with bare eyes, Asaku could see tremendous power compile on the Fox. He knew, this assault would decide the ending of the fight.
On his mind, Asaku was talking to Uda and Samoyed, “We have to use that skill.”
Ghost Card Uda said, “Are you sure, Asaku? You haven’t mastered the power of God, and this strike will exhaust you. We don’t know when you’d recover.”
Samoyed argued, “But this is the only way out now. I cannot take any more attack from the Fox. We have to knock him out first. We will guard you, Asaku.”
By then, the Fox took in enough energy. He shouted, “Multiple Foxes Explosion!”
Turning over, a pair of angel’s wings and a pair of fairy’s wings grew out on Asaku’s back. The Keys of Seven Attributes flew around Asaku. Glowing, the light around Asaku turned into seven huge swords. Asaku shouted, “Take that, God’s power is with me. Seven Keys Comet Impact!”
The fatal strikes from both parties collided. The Fox was too late to dodge the attack and was gravely injured, so he fled into the crack back to the Mirror Continent. What’s more, Asaku’s potent attack almost wiped the Fairies Empire clean.
Ghost card Uda and the Illusion Lion Samoyed broke away from Asaku, while the latter collapsed on the ground. He was still conscious, but couldn’t move even one finger.
Samoyed carried Asaku on his back and took Uda to the Fairies’ Holy Land. By then, the Fairies Continent that had remained intact for thousands of years was officially intruded.
Arriving at the Holy Land, Asaku saw the Mirror Core on the altar in the center of the holy land. The King was leading fairies to fight against the monsters. Feeling hopeless, Asaku tried to put himself together and asked, “How come Priest Harp hasn’t sealed the Mirror Core?”
Chapter Three: Freeze Froze Frozen
At two o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, August 13th, year 36722 on the Epic Calendar.
A Mirror Core was placed in the most important holy land on the Fairies Continent, while Priest Harp didn’t even bother sealing the core; instead, he was only fighting against monsters.
Brought to Priest Harp by Samoyed, Asaku asked Priest Harp why he hadn’t sealed the core in the Fairies Holy Land. After all, it was Priest Harp that gave him the Holy Crystal Cell.
“Holy Crystal Cell was brought back from the God’s Continent by Holy Dragon King. Only you could use the crystal, which is why you were assigned this job.” Priest Harp explained to Asaku.
Upon hearing this, Asaku turned depressed and said, “But I’m too weak to activate the Holy Crystal Cell. So there is nothing we can do but to witness our holy land being destroyed by the Reversal Impact?”
Priest Harp said, “Rest, Asaku, and restore as much health as possible.”
At that moment, Ellia ran toward Asaku, crying, “A guy in a black cloak took Adam away… I was no rival to him… it was my fault…”
Asaku comforted her, “No, it wasn’t your fault. Don’t cry, Ellia…”
Priest Harp said, “I suppose kidnapping Adam was part of the plan.”
General Alga led the Royal Guards to set up a formation of attack, fighting against the monsters around the core. The Fairies King stood right above the core, trying to smash the core with magic of thunder but in vain.
A strong dark light emitted from the high tower of the holy land, creating a gap of time and space. From the gap, a knight riding on a dark dragon flew out. In a voice as loud as thunder, the knight said, “I am General Philips, the Darkmirror General II. Now, authorized by the Mirror Continent, I officially declared war against the Fairies Continent.”
The knight on the dark dragon emitted a unique magic power, which froze all monsters.
Sensing the power, both Asaku and General Alga blurted out, “It’s the power of Salu, the missing fairy of the wind race! Why would fairies’ power pour out from him?”
General Alga added, “Not exactly. This is something more potent, combining fairies’ power of wind attribute and dark power.”
“I can’t think of anyone on the Fairies Continent that can compete with him.”
The Fairies King fell silent.
General Philips waved, and the dark dragon spat out a super tornado that blew away the fairies troops. Some fairies cast defense for protection. Then everyone noticed that the wind did no harm to Princess Jiefulo.
The King commanded, “Take shelter behind Princess Jiefulo.”
The entire troops all hid behind Princess Jiefulo and they followed her wherever she went.
Princess Jiefulo asked, “Why are you guys staying behind me? I’m gonna teach that General Philips a lesson.”
Once she said these words, she moved to General Philip’s direction. The troops were begging her not to move, so they could stay where they were.
General Philips noticed this as well and he showed strong emotion. The next second, he darted to Jiefulo.
While everyone was trying to protect Jiefulo, General Philips grabbed Jiefulo and kissed her. Everyone stopped and so did the furious tornado.
Turning red, Princess Jiefulo pushed Philips away angrily and slapped him hard. “You crazy psycho! How dare you kiss me like this? Who do you think you are?” she shouted at him.
Soothing his cheeks, General Philips seemed disappointed and said, “You’ve forgotten all about…”
Then the dark dragon came take Philips away.
Seeing Philips leave, Jiefulo felt her heart beating fast. She touched her lips that Philips just kissed and burst into tears. She wondered, “What is wrong with me that I feel so sad and sorrowful?”
General Philips rode the dark dragon to the front of the fairies troops and taunted, “Send your best to challenge me.”
General Alga jumped into air, summoned his mount, the griffon, and accepted Philips’ challenge. “This is General Alga,” Alga said, “I am the strongest guardian on the Fairies Continent.”
General Philips said, “I have been waiting for this moment, to finally challenge you to a duel.”
General Alga asked, “Can you answer me one question?”
General Philips interrupted him and said, “I can tell you directly what you want to know. First of all, I am Salu, the missing fairy of the wind race. Secondly… the Salu you know are actually two people. One is on the Fairies Continent and the other is on the Mirror Continent. My real name is Philips.”
General Philips looked at Asaku who was still trying to restore his strength, saying, “Just like Asaku, we both have double masks.”
General Alga gasped, “Double what?!”
Still powerless, Asaku thought, “What does it mean exactly, double masks?”
Then Uda saw Philips’ weapon and said to Asaku, “He has the Moon Sword!”
Asaku replied, “No way. That's not possible.”
Uda explained, “I know I’m right. Moon Sword and I are two ghost cards, and we are connected. How did he get it?”
General Philips said, “Well, time for diplomatic courtesy is over, so I’m going launch an attack~ To begin with….”
Once General Philips snapped his finger, the core was turning red and Reversal Impact was imminent, which shocked Asaku and all the other fairies.
Asaku said, “I can’t believe that he could’ve sped up the time for Reversal Impact. I’m going to seal the core!”
Pity that Asaku was still too weak to even get up. All he could do was lie on Samoyed.
Asaku said to Samoyed, “Get closer, so I can touch the core.”
Samoyed moved closer to the core, and Uda helped Asaku put his right hand on the core. Suddenly, the turning slowed down, leaving Asaku in excruciating pain.
Priest Harp said, “Asaku, you can’t seal the core like this. You are only delaying the inevitable. If you continue like this, you will die from exhaustion.”
Asaku said, “Even this is to buy a bit more time… this is the only thing I can do now.”
Hearing this, Ellia put her hands on Asaku’s, and said,
“I want to guard the Fairies Continent as well.”
Asaku lowered down his head and nodded.
Riding on the griffon, General Alga initiated an attack at Philips. The crash of the two most potent powers in the whole world created a ripple that froze the fairies troops and monsters completely.
As time went by, the combat was heating up, and Asaku couldn’t hold it any more.
All of a sudden, Philips turned to the Fairies King and said, “My King, allow me to tell you: the time set on the core is 1000 fairies’ years, roughly 41 human years. That would be the time of the Eight Races for the fairies!”
Upon hearing this, all fairies appeared shocked and scared.
General Alga said, “I will never ever allow you to turn back the time to 1000 fairies’ years ago. That was a chaotic time, which will cause devastation in the Epic World at this moment!”
Just when General Alga was preparing to launch his most powerful attack, Compressed Air Cannon, General Philips unexpectedly attacked with the same strike!
General Alga said, “You are my student that I’m proud of, and you are Salu from the Fairies Continent!”
Smiling, General Philips remained quiet...
While the two were about to crash, the core glowed in red, the Reversal Impact was triggered and Asaku couldn’t hold it anymore!
At that moment, the Fairies King Oudelos shouted, “As your King, I will not allow the fairies to perish here. Race of Air, assembly to initiate the teleportation ritual!”
Just as the Race of Air was casting the spell, the King said to General Alga and Priest Harp, “Guard the Fairies.”
Quickly, General Alga retreated to the King, together with Priest Harp who yelled at Asaku, “Go! Run as fast as you can!”
The Fairies King then drew a special magic sigil on his hand, which turned into an eagle that dived into the ground.
The King nodded at General Alga and Priest Harp, and the trio shouted, “The supreme sealing magic of the Fairies, Frozen Seal!”
That was the time the Reversal Impact starting to affect the surroundings and the Race of Air launching the teleportation ritual.
General Philips said, “Dang! You even thought of freeze the whole Fairies Continent. Nuh-uh, I’m not going to be trapped here.” Then he opened the gap of time and space but didn’t leave without taking a second look at Jiefulo.
The Reversal Impact was stopped by Frozen Seal, so was the teleportation ritual which wasn’t fast enough to save all fairies. Asaku was lucky, as he was sent away. Right before he was teleported, he heard Priest Harp, saying, “Find the Fairies Queen Aranda… only she can save the Fairies. You are our only hope, Asaku.”
Tears in his eyes, Asaku was sent into the teleportation tunnel and he lost consciousness.
The time on the Fairies Continent stopped. No one could enter, nor anyone could exit.
Chapter Four: Tear of the Mermaid
At ten o’clock in the morning on Monday, August 19th, year 36722 on the Epic Calendar...
Waking up but still dizzy, Asaku heard familiar voices and they were Uda, Samoyed and Ellia. The three were excited to see Asaku. “Woot! Finally, you’ve come to yourself!” said Uda.
Ellia leaned over to Asaku and said, “I was so so worried about you, Asaku… Thought I’d lost you.”
Asaku said, “I’m good. So where are we now?”
Uda replied, “We were sent to the Mermaid Kingdom on the Phantom Continent. The Mermaid Queen arranged accommodation for us here. You slept for almost a week!”
Asaku looked around, and found himself in a small, warm room showered in sunshine reflected by water. “It seems to be a girl’s room,” said Asaku.
Uda said, "Because there are only girls in the Mermaid Kingdom.”
Asaku was surprised, and he saw the room was filled with flowers, so he asked,
"What are these flowers about?”
Shrugging, Uda grinned, “The flowers are from your fans. The whole kingdom knows about you, and all girls are crazy for you. They’ve been sending flowers here, together with their greetings. The Mermaid Queen even promulgated to address you as the Sleeping Prince Charming of the Fairies…”
Samoyed turned around and giggled...
Footsteps were heard outside the door, so Uda told Asaku to fake sleep. If people knew he was awake, the fans would inundate the house immediately.
So Asaku lay down to fake sleep, and then about ten mermaids entered the room with flowers and gifts. Samoyed turned invisible, and Uda transformed into a clown puppet. Nothing could stop these girls --- they all kissed Asaku on the cheeks and wished him the best. It took them quite a while to have all the fun and leave.
Asaku got out of bed, with his hands on the cheeks that were just kissed. All smiling, Asaku blushed.
Ellia looked away, pouting unhappily.
Uda knocked on Asaku’s head and said, “Wake up!”
Asaku said, “I don’t want to stay here like a caged animal. I’m going to sneak out and look for some intel.”
“But Asaku,” Ellia said, “you can’t just go out like this. As the Sleeping Prince Charming of the Fairies, you will create a chaos. Let me dress you up.”
The Mermaid Kingdom is located under water, protected by a ward deep in the ocean. In the kingdom, one can breathe as freely as they can on the land.
On the street, there was a mermaid dressed in a maid’s outfit with a weird hairstyle and makeup, and a clown puppet on “her” shoulder. That was Asaku. Ellia dressed up as a mermaid as well, following Asaku. Samoyed turned invisible and stayed at their side.
Asaku asked, “Why do I have to go out in a maid’s costume? This is so silly! The skirt… it’s so cool down there and that feels so… weird!”
Laughing, Ellia replied, “Told you to wear some panties.”
“Nuh-uh,” Asaku said, “no girls’ panties for me!!”
Uda said, “But people would recognize you without the costume! That’d be trouble if they knew who you are. Thousands of mermaid girls would surround you to show you their love.”
Samoyed turned invisible so only his voice was heard, “Don’t count on me. I can’t stop all of them~”
Asaku said, “What is wrong with this place? The air is so stuffy. It just feels wrong, and the wind is not blowing at all.”
Uda replied, “The Mermaid Kingdom is quite exclusive. They are particularly hostile against the Beast Kingdom on the Phantom Continent. Both Samoyed and I are citizens of the Beast Kingdom, so we can never ever be found here. People say the Mermaid Kingdom enjoys a pleasant relationship with the Fairies Continent, so maybe this is why you are sent here.”
Ellia loved pets and she was talking to the angel fish roaming on the road. Asaku asked her, “Why are you talking to a fish?”
“I can talk to all living creatures~” Ellia replied, “and I want to befriend with all the cute ones.”
Asaku shrugged and said, “I can only understand Uda and Samoyed.”
At the time, a dowager walked by with a group of maids. The dowager gazed at Asaku, which made both Asaku and Ellia nervous.
Completely ignoring Ellia, the dowager said to Asaku, “Huh~ aren’t you a pretty one~ a little bit too flat-chested but no matter. What is your name? Who do you work for?”
Asaku tried to reply with a higher pitch, “Bonjour, Madam! My name… is Eklia, and I am the maid for Mrs. Mel.”
Upon hearing this, the dowager flipped and yelled, “What a waste!! You are adorable and you work for that crazy hag, Mel!?”
Then she took ten pearls from the bag and handed them over to Asaku, telling him, “This is the down payment. You go back and dissolve the contract with that hag, and report to Duke Vitalis Castle tomorrow.”
Once she was done talking, she led the maids and took leave. Asaku and the rest were left behind, startled.
Asaku complained, “Who is she and how can she call me flat-chested…”
Ellia laughed and said, “Eklia… my dear brother… that is awesome! You were hit on dressed up as a girl!! And that Lady Mel is real, too!”
Samoyed laughed so much it almost rolled on the floor.
“That is not funny!” Asaku said, “We still have business here. We’ve lost track of the core for one week, and Priest Harp said I have to find the Fairies Queen to save the Fairies Continent. How can I waste even one more minute here to be someone’s maid?”
Just then Asaku’s stomach rumbled, so he looked at the restaurant on the road and decided to dine in there.
By the entrance, Ellia said goodbye to the angel fish and entered the restaurant with Asaku. They chose a table in the corner to avoid attention.
“What!” Asaku screamed when he read the menu, “One set costs one pearl!”
Uda stopped Asaku immediately, “Quiet, Asaku, if you don’t want to pay, we can go back to the accommodations the Queen arranges for us.”
“Nuh-uh,” Asaku refused, “No way!”
Blushing, Asaku said, “I do enjoy being so popular though…”
Ellia punched Asaku on his shoulder, “Asaku, you are terrible!”
Then the waitress dropped by, asking, “What can I get for you today?”
Asaku gave a gesture of four fingers and said, “Four set meals, please.”
“Are you sure,” the waitress asked, “that you can eat so much?”
Asaku replied, “Sure, no problem at all.”
The waitress replied, “All right, four pearls then. The food will be served right away.”
When the food came, Asaku devoured everything in front of him, while Uda and Samoyed hid in the corner and ate quietly.
Asaku said, “I think we should leave the Mermaid Kingdom as soon as possible for the Beast Kingdom where I can ask help from an old friend, King Brad.
Samoyed said, “But it is forbidden to use the Folding Corridor in the Mermaid Kingdom, so we have to go through the connected tunnel to the Beast Kingdom above water.”
“But the tunnel is guarded," Samoyed continued, “no one is allowed to pass without the permission from the Mermaid Queen.”
“Besides,” Ellia said, “it is rude to leave without saying goodbye. We should at least thank the Queen for her kindness to take us in.”
Uda said, “It is true that the Mermaid Kingdom does maintain a good relationship with the Fairies Continent, but the Mermaid Queen made it official that Asaku is the Sleeping Prince Charming of the Fairies… that just doesn’t sound right.”
Asaku, “But if we don’t go back, we need to make money.”
“Asaku," Ellia said while she laughed, “ you have to support us all by working as a maid then!”
Both Uda and Samoyed nodded.
Holding his head, Asaku grumbled, “Why am I always the one that does all the work?”
While Asaku and his friends were talking, they had no idea that they had been surrounded by mermaid soldiers.
Politely, a girl mermaid soldier said to Asaku, “Friend from the Fairies Continent, our Queen would like to speak to you in Her Majesty’s Castle.”
Asaku said, “Ah… you’ve caught me…”
The mermaid soldiers took Asaku and his friends to the Castle where the Mermaid Queen resided. On the way, the road was full of fans who were crazy for Asaku. They screamed his name and more, “Asaku, my Sleeping Prince Charming of the Fairies… I love you~~”
At night in the castle , Asaku was taken to the Throne Hall where the Mermaid Queen sat on her throne. Both Asaku and Ellia took a bow, and Asaku addressed to the Queen, “Your Majesty, my name is Asaku, and I am from the Fairies Continent. We do not mean to intrude, as our presence here is nothing but an accident. We sincerely beg for your kindness and forgiveness.”
The Mermaid Queen replied, “I am the Mermaid Queen Kamina. You can tell your two escorts to show themselves.”
Hearing this, Uda and Samoyed turned visible and got down on one knee, asking for forgiveness.
Queen Kamina said, “I am fully aware of the situation. The rest of you can leave now.”
The Queen’s entourage took leave and only the Queen and Asaku and his friends remained.
“Follow me.” The Queen said once they were left alone.
The Queen led Asaku and his friends to the Royal Garden, hid them in a concealed corner. She then told them to stay quiet and asked Asaku to play along no matter what happened. Though confused, Asaku concurred.
Shortly, a young woman walked into the garden, with a fairy man, whose hair is white and elegant, flying in the air. The couple looked at each other deeply in the eyes, and the man took out a flower made of seashells and crystal.
The white-haired man said, “Mermaid Princess Yulia, I want to hold your hands in mine forever. Will you marry me?” The young woman shook her head and replied, “No, Fluffy… It has to be my Mother who can make the decision.”
Fluffy held the woman by her hands and said, “Then let’s elope!”
Yulia refused and said, “As much as I love you, such behavior is not allowed.” Then the man tried to leave with the woman, while the Mermaid Queen walked out between them and Asaku and his friends still hid in the dark.
The Queen reprimanded, “How insolent! Release my daughter and leave now!”
The white-haired man talked back, “I have no fear to whatever queen, including you, Your Majesty. If I snap, no one in your kingdom is capable of taking me down.”
The Queen said, “You are indeed contemptuous, but we do need a powerful man to be our King and to protect our people.”
The white-haired man laughed, saying, “So~ Your Majesty has agreed to our marriage then?”
The Queen continued, “But only the most powerful and the most beautiful man can be our King.”
Fluffy replied, “Awww thank you, Your Majesty, for all the kind words.”
The Queen interrupted Fluffy, “No, you are not the only one that is qualified here. Recently, the Sleeping Prince of the Fairies has visited us. He is even more beautiful than you and well-loved by the whole kingdom.”
The Queen then pointed at Asaku who had no choice but to show up, and the latter played along, “I am the Fairy Prince that is truly qualified to be the King. Leave now, before it turns even more humiliating.”
Fluffy yelled, “I will challenge you to a duel! Don’t be so sure you’ll win, Asaku from the Fairies Continent.”
Asaku was surprised, asking, “How do you know who I am? Have we met?”
Fluffy just looked at Asaku without saying one more word.
The Queen clapped and said, “Quiet down, both of you. As the Queen, I shall be fair and just. I will hold a Joust for a Spouse and the winner can marry Princess Yulia and become the future King of the Mermaid Kingdom!”
Asaku yelled in surprise, “What?!”
Fluffy said, “Deal! When will that be?”
“Three days from now," the Queen replied, "and it will be held in the arena.”
“Mother, how could you make such a decision…” Yulia cried while she ran away.
Fluffy was full of confidence and he said, “I’ll show you what I’ve got!” before disappearing in the night.
At the same time, Asaku, Uda, and Samoyed said, “It’s a set up…”
The Queen looked back at Asaku, nodding and smiling…
Back to the Throne Hall, Asaku sat on the corridor, pouting.
The Queen explained, “I understand it was really rude to set you up like this, but the situation called for it as we do not have enough arms to deal with this phantom.”
“Phantom?” Asaku asked, “Fluffy is a phantom?”
The Queen nodded and replied, “Yes, he is a fox from the Illusion Tribe of the Beast Kingdom on the Phantom Continent. We mermaids will never ever marry a beast.”
Samoyed concurred, “The three kingdoms on the Phantom Continent are quite hostile against each other. It is a great mercy that Uda and I can remain free here.”
“But are the arms here so weak?” Asaku asked, "Besides, if they truly love each other, why would Your Majesty have to stand by the rule and separate them?”
The Queen stood up, pointing her scepter at the ceiling right above the throne. The ceiling broke and there was a…
“Mirror Core!” Asaku yelled, “And it is red, so the Reversal Impact occurred already!”
Then Asaku took out the Compass of No Return to confirm the time reversed, but only figured out there was no difference in time. The Mermaid Kingdom wasn’t sent back in the past during the Reversal Impact. What was this all about?
Before Asaku could have a better understanding of what was going on, lots of monsters flooded from the core. Asaku and his friends prepared for combat. One monster dashed toward the Queen, and Ellia screamed, “Watch out, Your Majesty!”
To everyone’s surprise, the monster went right through the Queen.
The Queen said, “Don’t worry about me. Asaku, could you please seal this Mirror Core, first?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Asaku replied.
Covered by his friends, Asaku reached the core and sealed it by performing Holy Cell. With the core sealed, the Mermaid Kingdom was freed, and the air refreshed and flew again.
The Queen sat on her throne, and started to explain from the beginning, “About six months ago, the core occurred here. Even with all the arms we could afford, we could not resist it, and then the Reversal Impact took place.”
Surprised, Asaku asked, “But the time remains the same?”
The Queen replied, “The Reversal Impact turned back the time to 130 years ago, when the Mermaid Kingdom was an island above water, instead of deep in the ocean. Our Kingdom didn’t sink into the water until thirty years ago.”
“So the Reversal Impact brought back the Mermaid Kingdom 130 years ago!” Uda said.
The Queen said, “That is correct.”
Asaku asked further, “But what about the Mermaid Kingdom that was influenced by the impact…?”
The Queen replied softly, “Disappeared. We have all disappeared. Everything you see now is a reflection of our thought. We keep on living like this.”
Then the Queen took off an earring in the shape of a drop of water from her left ear, and she gently continued, “This is our beloved treasure, the Mermaid Tears. When the Reversal Impact struck us, the grave fear and sorrow from all our people triggered the Mermaid Tears.”
Trying to hold back tears, Asaku said, “So Your Majesty, and all the people I have seen in the kingdom are reflection of thoughts, protected by the Mermaid Tears.”
Ellia couldn’t hold it anymore, and she just cried out loud.
The Queen continued, “Asaku, you understand this, don’t you… Yulia cannot marry Fluffy, even with my blessing. Once Yulia is married to Fluffy, she, together with the whole kingdom, will realize that we are gone, no more. Could you keep this secret between you and me, please?”
The tears wouldn’t stop from falling, and both Asaku and Ellia nodded.
“Even it’s just an act,” the Queen said, “please do beat Fluffy, marry the princess, become our new King. Please, Asaku… give my people new hope. By then, we will no longer need the Mermaid Tears, and we can disappear with happiness. Could you please do us one last favor?”
Without saying a word, Asaku nodded. Ellia cried so much even the angel fish could swim in her tears.
Three days later, people started to swarm into the arena. The whole kingdom was there to witness the Joust for a Spouse held by the Queen.
Ready and set, Asaku slowly walked into the arena, to keep his promise.
Chapter Five: A Happy Smile
At ten o’clock in the morning on Thursday, August 22nd, year 36722 on the Epic Calendar...
Almost all the citizens of the Mermaid Kingdom gathered at the arena, the cheers were deafening as today would be the day, a new king would be elected. The champion could also win the hand of Princess Yulia, and the game started!
Both Asaku and Fluffy entered the arena, gazing at the other. The atmosphere totally changed.
Fluffy would like to charge in and attack Asaku immediately, while the latter looked at the Queen with so much sadness in his eyes. The Queen nodded at Asaku, with the crying Princess Yulia on her left side, and Ellia on her right side.
The horn was blown, which could be heard miles away. The game officially started!
On his hand, Fluffy attacked with a spear bursting of energy, and Asaku fought back with Uda and Samoyed, both transformed into his most trustworthy gear. Asaku’s Sun Sword clashed with Fluffy’s Shine Spear. Sparkle could be seen everywhere. As the fight intensified, Fluffy cast Magic Light Sword to attack Asaku, which shocked Asaku who tried to block it with the shield on his left hand.
Surprised, Asaku yelled, “Did I see it right? That was my Magic Light Sword?”
Samoyed replied, “You are right. That is your magic.”
Fluffy asked, “Hey Asaku, aren’t you a master of magic attack? Since when you have switched to a sword? Where is your magic?”
Asaku kept quiet, “Tsk…”
Uda said, “Asaku, this seems like a deja vu. I’m sure we know this Fluffy from somewhere.”
Fluffy yelled, “Woot! This is fun! I’m holding nothing back!”
Casting Light Sword Magic, Fluffy charged in to Asaku and attack!
Reaching out with his left hand, Asaku absorbed in the power with the three-star matrix magic. The matrix magic could take in power of three attacks only, so Asaku was still harmed. On his right hand, Asaku blocked the attack of Shine Spear with his Sun Sword.
Rolling over, Asaku released Aurora Impact! The three-star matrix magic seemed to take Fluffy by surprise. While Fluffy tried to dodge the attack, Asaku pushed further with the Sunshine Impact. Both impacts hit Fluffy hard and Asaku was winning.
“I never knew you could attack like this,” Fluffy shouted, “but your light magic doesn’t hurt me much as I also master light magic. You can’t beat me by absorbing my magic power!”
All of a sudden, the white-haired fairy turned into an enormous white fox, together with a bunch of small white foxes.
Asaku yelled, "... I... I hate foxes…”
The crowd started to scream and tried to run away. Princess Yulia was so scared that she wept, and the Queen explained to her this is who Fluffy really was. Princess Yulia cried even louder for being lied to.
Then Fluffy attacked with its enormous body and tail, while casting Meteor Shower at Asaku. The bunch of small white foxes were attacking with their super adorable paws, which made it even harder for Asaku to defend.
to be continued~
Google play book search 『ASAKU X Dragon life』
the hard problem of consciousness 在 Cherprang BNK48 Facebook 的最讚貼文
Oh~
สรุปการดีเบต แจ็ก หม่า vs อีลอน มัสก์ ในงานประชุม World AI / โดย ลงทุนแมน
ลงทุนแมนรับรองว่าเป็นเรื่องน่าสนใจที่สุดในช่วงนี้
เมื่อไม่กี่ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา
มีการคุยกันระหว่างแจ็ก หม่า กับ อีลอน มัสก์
โดยหัวข้อเรื่องคือความคิดเห็นต่อ AI ในด้านต่างๆ
เรื่องนี้น่าสนใจอย่างไร
ลงทุนแมนจะสรุปให้ฟัง
เริ่มจาก อีลอน มัสก์ กล่าวว่า ตอนนี้ทุกคนกำลังประเมิน AI ต่ำไป
ให้นึกถึงว่าตอนนี้ลิงชิมแปนซีเข้าใจมนุษย์ไหม (ทำไมมนุษย์ต้องมีรถยนต์ ทำไมมนุษย์ต้องสร้างตึก)
เรากำลังเป็นอย่างนั้น ในอนาคตเราอาจไม่เข้าใจเหตุผลที่ AI ทำในเรื่องต่างๆ
แล้วเราจะทำอย่างไรกับสถานการณ์นี้
คำตอบคือ ถ้าเราไม่สามารถชนะมันได้ ก็ร่วมมือกับมัน ซึ่ง Neuralink (โครงการของ อีลอน มัสก์) ตอบโจทย์นี้ได้
สิ่งที่ Neuralink ทำก็คือ การสร้างช่องทางการสื่อสารขนาดใหญ่ (High Bandwidth) เชื่อมต่อเข้าสมอง
สิ่งนี้เหมือนกับเป็นไซบอร์ก แต่จริงๆ ตอนนี้เราก็เป็นไซบอร์กไปแล้ว
ทุกวันนี้เราใช้คอมพิวเตอร์ โทรศัพท์เป็นเครื่องมือขยายความสามารถ จากร่างกายของเรา
ถ้าเราขาดโทรศัพท์ ความสามารถของเราจะลดลง
แต่ bandwidth ที่เราใช้กันอยู่นั้นต่ำมาก
โดยเฉพาะ การส่งข้อมูลเข้าเครื่อง (input)
จริงๆ แล้ว input ต่ำลงจากคอมพิวเตอร์สมัยก่อนด้วยซ้ำ
เพราะเราต้องพิมพ์ด้วยนิ้วโป้งสองนิ้ว แทนที่จะเป็นสิบนิ้ว
เมื่ออีลอน มัสก์ พูดจบ
แจ็ก หม่า ก็กล่าวว่า เขาไม่ได้เชี่ยวชาญด้านเทคโนโลยี
สิ่งที่เขาคิดเกี่ยวกับชีวิต (Life)
AI กำลังเปิดศักราชใหม่ของสังคม ให้เราเข้าใจตัวเราเองดีขึ้น
และเขาคิดว่า AI เป็นสิ่งที่ดี ไม่ได้เป็นสิ่งที่มาคุกคาม หรือเป็นสิ่งที่เลวร้าย
อีลอน มัสก์ แย้งว่า AI น่ากลัวกว่าที่ทุกคนคิด
ยกตัวอย่างเช่น วิดีโอเกม เมื่อก่อน มีแค่บล็อกๆ ไว้เล่น ตอนนี้วิดีโอเกมทำภาพให้สมจริงได้
โลกนี้เกิดขึ้นมาแล้ว 4,000 ล้านปี
อารยธรรมมนุษย์เพิ่งเกิดขึ้น 70,000 ปี
มีเหตุการณ์ผันผวนมากมายในช่วง 70,000 ปีนี้
สิ่งที่เกิดขึ้นในตอนนี้ที่มีเทคโนโลยีมากมายเป็นแค่จุดเล็กๆ ของทั้งหมด
มันจะเกิดอะไรขึ้นก็ได้ให้เรากลับไปเริ่มต้นใหม่อีกครั้ง
แจ็ก หม่า เปลี่ยนเรื่องบอกว่า เรามาคุยเรื่องสนุกกันดีกว่า
คุณต้องการไปดาวอังคาร
อะไรจะเกิดขึ้นกับชีวิตบนดาวอังคาร
แต่ผมสนใจว่าอะไรจะเกิดขึ้นบนโลกมากกว่า
อีลอน มัสก์ ตอบว่า
ผมคิดว่าดาวอังคาร สามารถทำให้ความนึกคิด (consciousness) ของเรายังคงอยู่ต่อไปในอนาคตได้ ทั้งนี้ก็เพื่อให้ยืดเวลาให้เราสามารถเข้าใจจักรวาลนี้ได้ดีขึ้น
การมีชีวิตอยู่บนดาวหลายดวง (Multi planet species) จะทำให้อารยธรรมของเราไม่ถูกทำลาย
และนี่เป็นครั้งแรกในรอบ 4,000 ล้านปี ที่มีหน้าต่างเปิดให้เราพอที่จะสามารถทำอะไรแบบนี้ได้
คำถามคือหน้าต่างบานนี้จะเปิดไปอีกนานแค่ไหน ก่อนที่มันจะปิดอีกครั้ง ถ้าเราไม่รีบทำอะไรตั้งแต่วันนี้
แจ็ก หม่า แย้งว่า
เราไม่จำเป็นต้องคิดเรื่องพวกนั้น
การทำให้โลกของเราที่มีคนอยู่ 7,000 ล้านคน ดีขึ้น ยั่งยืนขึ้น น่าจะเป็นสิ่งที่ดีกว่า
ไม่เกี่ยวอะไรกับว่า อารยธรรมเราจะผ่านมานานแค่ไหน
แต่พวกเรามีชีวิตได้อย่างมากก็ 100 ปี
เราไม่จำเป็นต้องแก้ปัญหาทั้งหมดในอนาคตด้วยตัวเราเองคนเดียว
สิ่งที่เราควรทำคือ การรับผิดชอบต่อโลกในตอนนี้
ถ้าเรารู้ตัวเราเองดีขึ้น เราสามารถทำให้โลกนี้ดีขึ้นได้
มันดีที่มีฮีโร่แบบคุณ อีลอน มัสก์ ที่จะพามนุษย์ไปนอกโลก
แต่เราต้องการฮีโร่แบบพวกเรามากกว่า
ฮีโร่ที่ทำงานหนักบนโลก และพัฒนาเรื่องต่างๆ ทุกวันให้โลกนี้ดีขึ้น
อีลอน มัสก์ แย้งว่า
การไปนอกโลก ใช้ทรัพยากรน้อยมาก น้อยกว่า 1% ของการใช้ทั้งหมดในเรื่องต่างๆ บนโลกนี้ ไม่ว่าจะเป็นการผลิตเครื่องสำอาง การผลิตของอื่นๆ ที่จำเป็นน้อยกว่า
สำหรับหัวข้อต่อไปที่คุยก็คือ AI จะเข้ามาแย่งงานหรือไม่?
แจ็ก หม่าตอบ
ทุกครั้งที่มีปฏิวัติทางเทคโนโลยี ทุกคนจะกังวล
เมื่อ 200 ปีก่อนที่มีการปฏิวัติอุตสาหกรรม ทุกคนกังวล แต่สุดท้ายมีงานเกิดใหม่มากมาย
และจริงๆ แล้ว เราไม่จำเป็นต้องมีงานเยอะ เราอาจจะทำงาน 3 วันหยุด 4 วันก็ได้
มนุษย์ในอนาคตจะมีเวลาสนุกกับการใช้ชีวิตความเป็นมนุษย์มากขึ้น
ปู่ของผมมีโอกาสได้ไป 3 เมืองในโลกนี้
พ่อของผมมีโอกาสได้ไป 30 เมือง
ส่วนตัวผมได้ไปมาแล้ว 300 เมือง
สิ่งที่สำคัญคือเราต้องเตรียมพร้อมกับยุคที่เราใช้ชีวิตได้นานขึ้น ซึ่งอาจจะนานถึง 120 ปี เราจะใช้ชีวิตอย่างไร ถ้าเราอยู่ได้นานขนาดนั้น
สำหรับหัวข้อนี้ อีลอน มัสก์ ตอบสั้นๆ ว่า ในอนาคต AI อาจจะมาแทนที่มนุษย์ทั้งหมด มนุษย์เป็นเพียงแค่คนเขียนโปรแกรมให้ AI
หัวข้อต่อไปคือ การศึกษาในยุคนี้ควรสอนเด็กอย่างไร?
แจ็ก หม่า ตอบว่าหลักสูตรการศึกษาในปัจจุบัน เหมาะสมสำหรับเด็กในยุคอุตสาหกรรม
สอนให้ท่องจำ
แต่ตอนนี้เราไม่จำเป็นต้องจำ เพราะหุ่นยนต์จำได้ดีกว่า
สิ่งที่เราควรสอนคือ จะทำอย่างไรให้เด็ก สนุกกับชีวิตของเขา
อีลอน มัสก์ ตอบเรื่องการศึกษาว่า ควรให้เด็กเรียนรู้ให้มากที่สุด มากพอที่จะสามารถคาดการณ์อนาคตได้ โดยผิดพลาดน้อยที่สุด นอกจากคาดการณ์แล้วก็ต้องสร้างอนาคตด้วย
ต่อไป Neuralink จะทำให้มนุษย์สามารถอัปโหลดทักษะเข้าไปในสมองโดยตรง
การศึกษาในปัจจุบันยังถือว่ามีประสิทธิภาพต่ำมาก (Low Bandwidth)
แจ็ก หม่า ตอบว่าเขาไม่กลัวความผิดพลาด เกิดความผิดพลาดแล้วต้องแก้ไขเป็นเรื่องปกติ
มนุษย์ลองผิดลองถูกเสมอมา
และเขาคิดว่า หายนะทางด้าน AI ในอนาคตก็ไม่ได้เกิดจาก AI แต่เกิดจากความผิดพลาดของมนุษย์เอง
ซึ่งเขาก็เชื่อว่ามนุษย์จะมีกระบวนการที่สามารถแก้ไขสถานการณ์นั้นได้เอง
สิ่งสำคัญคือ เราจะสอนเด็กอย่างไรให้สมองสามารถสร้างสรรค์ได้มากกว่าเดิม
มนุษย์ไม่สามารถสร้างสัตว์หรือสิ่งอื่นที่ฉลาดว่ามนุษย์ได้
อีลอน มัสก์ แย้งเรื่องนี้ว่า เราสามารถสร้างสิ่งที่ฉลาดกว่าเราได้
ยกตัวอย่างมนุษย์ในยุคเริ่มต้นเราแค่กินอยู่ในป่า
แต่ตอนนี้เรามีสิ่งอำนวยความสะดวกต่างๆ มากมาย
เราฉลาดกว่าเมื่อก่อนมาก
และตอนนี้เราก็ไม่ได้ฉลาดที่สุด
อนาคตมนุษย์จะฉลาดกว่านี้อีก
แจ็ก หม่า ท้าให้ อีลอน มัสก์ ยกตัวอย่างสัตว์ที่ฉลาดกว่ามนุษย์บนโลกนี้ที่มนุษย์เคยสร้างมา
อีลอน มัสก์ ตอบว่า ตอนนี้หุ่นยนต์ได้ฉลาดกว่ามนุษย์ในบางเรื่องไปแล้ว
ทั้งหมากรุก ทั้งการแข่งโกะ มนุษย์แพ้การแข่งโกะให้ Alpha Go และ Alpha Go ก็แพ้ให้ Alpha Zero ในที่สุดแล้วหุ่นยนต์จะนำเราไปไกลมาก
แจ็ก หม่า แย้งว่า คำว่า หุ่นยนต์สามารถฉลาดกว่าได้ (Clever)
แต่มนุษย์จะยัง Smart กว่า เพราะมนุษย์มีประสบการณ์
เราสร้างคอมพิวเตอร์ได้ แต่คอมพิวเตอร์ไม่สามารถสร้างคนได้
เรื่องการแข่งโกะ
โกะสร้างเพื่อที่ มนุษย์จะเล่นกับมนุษย์
มนุษย์โง่เองที่จะแข่งกับคอมพิวเตอร์ในเรื่องโกะ
ไม่ต่างอะไรที่มนุษย์จะไปวิ่งแข่งกับรถยนต์
มีบางเรื่องที่มันออกแบบมาให้หุ่นยนต์ทำได้ดีกว่ามนุษย์
มนุษย์ไม่จำเป็นต้องแข่งกับหุ่นยนต์ในเรื่องเฉพาะเหล่านั้น
มนุษย์มีหน้าที่สร้างเครื่องมือต่างๆ ที่จะทำให้ฉลาดขึ้น
แต่ AI ไม่สามารถสร้างเครื่องมือเหล่านั้นได้ด้วยตนเอง
อีลอน มัสก์ กล่าวตอบว่าเรื่องนี้เกี่ยวกับ ระดับความเป็นอิสระ (Degree of freedom)
เริ่มจาก หมากรุก ต่อไปเป็น โกะ ที่ซับซ้อนขึ้น และอนาคตหุ่นยนต์จะทำอะไรที่ซับซ้อนได้มากขึ้น
และอีลอน มัสก์ ยังกังวลว่าสิ่งหนึ่งที่เป็นอันตรายต่อมนุษยชาติ ก็คือ “อัตราการเกิด”
อีก 20 ปี ประชากรเราจะหายไปอย่างที่ทุกคนคิดไม่ถึง
แจ็ก หม่า เห็นด้วยกับเรื่องนี้ และเสริมว่า ในอีก 20 ปี ประชากรจะเจอปัญหานี้
และอัตราการเกิดจะลดลงเป็นอัตราเร่ง (Accelerate)
สิ่งสำคัญคือ ประชากรจีนที่เกิดมา 18 ล้านคนในแต่ละปี เราต้องใช้เวลากับเด็กพวกนี้ให้ดีที่สุด
ถ้าเป็นเรื่องการทำตามขั้นตอน แบบซ้ำๆ ที่เป็นตรรกะ AI จะทำได้ดีกว่า
แต่ถ้าเป็นเรื่องที่ไม่ใช่ตรรกะ เช่นความรัก คนจะทำได้ดีกว่า เพราะมันไม่มีเหตุผล
ในอนาคต มนุษย์จะไม่จำเป็นต้องมี IQ หรือ EQ แต่เป็น LQ หรือ Q of Love
หัวข้อคำถามสุดท้ายก็คือ มนุษย์จะมีชีวิตยืนยาวในโลก แบบยั่งยืนได้อย่างไร
อีลอน มัสก์ กล่าวว่าถ้า Neuralink สำเร็จ ก็จะทำให้เราสามารถบันทึกสถานะของสมองได้ (save state) เหมือนเซฟวิดีโอเกม
หรือสิ่งที่จะยืดอายุได้ก็คือการเปลี่ยนแปลง DNA เหมือน หยุดนาฬิกาของ DNA แต่คำถามก็คือมนุษย์จะยินยอมไหมในการทำเรื่องนี้
สำหรับแจ็ก หม่า ตอบเรื่องความยั่งยืนว่า
ในอนาคต AI จะทำให้เราเข้าใจตัวเราเองดีขึ้น
คนฉลาด รู้ว่าเราต้องการอะไร
คนฉลาดกว่า จะรู้ว่าเขาไม่ต้องการอะไร
และจะทำให้โลกนี้น่าอยู่ขึ้นในที่สุด
แจ็ก หม่า กล่าวปิดท้ายว่า
เขาอยากให้โฟกัสที่โลก
การที่เราจะเอาขยะออกจากมหาสมุทร ยังยากกว่าการไปดาวอังคาร
ไม่ใช่แค่อายุยืน แต่ใช้ชีวิตอยู่อย่างไรให้มีสุขภาพดี
ไม่ใช่แค่ใช้ชีวิตที่มีสุขภาพดี แต่ใช้ชีวิตอย่างไรให้มีความสุข
สุดท้าย มนุษย์ต้องโฟกัสที่คุณค่า มนุษย์ต้องมีความฝัน
ไม่ใช่เทคโนโลยีที่จะเปลี่ยนโลก แต่เป็นความฝันที่อยู่เบื้องหลังเทคโนโลยีที่จะเปลี่ยนโลก
เราต้องเชื่อในตัวเราเอง เราต้องเชื่อในความเป็นมนุษย์ เราต้องเชื่อในมนุษย์รุ่นต่อไป
เราควรรับผิดชอบสิ่งที่เป็นอยู่ในปัจจุบัน มากกว่าการอยากแก้ปัญหาทั้งหมดของโลกในวันพรุ่งนี้
มันเป็นเรื่องดีที่มนุษย์จะผิดพลาด
มันเป็นเรื่องดีที่มนุษย์จะเรียนรู้จากความผิดพลาด
และ มันเป็นเรื่องดีที่มนุษย์จะตาย
ปิดท้ายด้วยคำพูดของ อีลอน มัสก์ ที่กล่าวปิด หลังแจ็ก หม่า พูดจบ
“Fight for the life of consciousness”
จงต่อสู้เพื่อให้ความนึกคิด มีชีวิตอยู่ในจักรวาลนี้ต่อไป..
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Summary of Debet Jack Ma vs Elon Musk in World AI / By Investing Man
Investing man is the most interesting thing these days.
A few hours ago.
There was a conversation between Jack Ma and Elon Musk.
The topic is opinion of AI in various aspects.
How interesting is this story?
Investing man will summarize it.
Starting with Elon Musk said now everyone is underestimating AI
I think that Chimpanzee monkey understands humans. (Why do humans have cars, why do humans have buildings?)
We are being like that in the future. We may not understand the reason AI does things.
So what do we do with this situation
The answer is, if we can't win it, cooperate with it. Neuralink (ELON Musk's project) meets this problem.
What Neuralink does is create a large communication channel (High Bandwidth) connecting to the brain.
This is like a cyborg, but we're actually a cyborg now.
Nowadays, we use computer, phone as a tool to expand our body's ability.
If we lack a phone, our ability will decrease.
But the bandwidth we are using is low.
Specifically, sending information to the engine (input)
Input was actually low from computer in the past.
Because we have to type with two thumbs instead of ten fingers.
When Elon Musk finishes talking
Jack Ma also said he's not tech-savvy.
What he thinks about life (Life)
AI is opening a new era of society for us to understand ourselves better.
And he thinks AI is good. Not a threat or a bad thing.
Elon Musk argues that AI is scarier than anyone thinks.
For example, video games were just blogged to play. Now video games can make realistic images.
This world has happened for 4,000 million years.
Human civilization just happened 70,000 years
Lots of volatile events during these 70,000 years.
What's happening now with so much technology is just a small point of all.
What can happen? Let us start again.
Jack Ma changed the story. Let's talk about fun.
You want to go to Mars
What will happen to life on Mars
But I'm more interested in what happens on earth.
Elon Musk replied
I think Mars can make our thoughts (consciousness) continue in the future, so that we can understand the universe better.
Living on many stars (Multi planet species) will unbroken our civilization.
And this is the first time in 4,000 million years that there is a window open for us to be able to do something like this.
The question is how long will this window open before it closes again if we don't do anything from today
Jack Ma argues that
We don't need to think about them.
Making our world 7,000 million people better, standing up would be a better one.
Nothing to do with how long our civilization has passed.
But we have lived so much 100 years
We don't have to solve all the future problems by ourselves alone.
All we should do is take responsibility for the world now.
If we know ourselves better, we can make this world better.
It's good to have a hero like Mr. Elon Musk to take humans outside the world.
But we need more heroes like us
A hero who works hard on earth and develops everyday things to make the world better.
Elon Musk argues that
Going out of the world uses less resources than 1 % of the total use of things on this planet, cosmetic production, production of other things that are less necessary.
For the next topic discussed, will AI come to steal the job?
Jack Ma answered.
Every time there is a technological revolution, everyone worries.
200 years ago there was an industrial revolution, everyone worried, but at the end there were many emerging events.
And we actually don't need a lot of work. We might work 3 days off 4 days.
Future humans will have time to enjoy living more humanity.
My grandfather had a chance to go to 3 cities in the world.
My dad had a chance to go to 30 cities.
Personally, I have visited 300 cities.
What matters is that we must be prepared for the age we live longer, which may be 120 years. How can we live if we live that long?
For this topic, Elon Musk briefly said that in the future, AI might replace all human beings. Human beings are just programmers for AI.
The next topic is how should education in this generation teach kids?
Jack Ma answered that current education course is suitable for children in industrial age.
Teaching you to memorize.
But now we don't have to remember because robots remember better.
What we should teach is how to make a child enjoy his life.
Elon Musk answers education that children should learn as much as possible to predict the future at least. In addition to prediction, we have to build a future.
Next Neuralink will allow humans to upload skills directly into the brain.
Current studies are still considered very low performance (Low Bandwidth)
Jack Ma said he wasn't afraid of mistakes, mistakes, mistakes, then fixing is normal.
Human beings have been wrong, always been right.
And he thinks the future AI disaster is not due to AI, but by human error.
He also believes that humans have a process that can fix that situation.
The important thing is how we teach kids to be more creative.
Humans can't create animals or other things that are smart as humans.
Elon Musk argues that we can create something smarter than us.
For example, humans in the beginning of the era. We just eat in the forest.
But now we have many amenities.
We are much smarter than before
And now we ain't the smartest
Human future will be smarter than this.
Jack Ma challenged Elon Musk for an example of an animal that is smarter than human beings on this planet ever created.
Elon Musk replied that robots are now smarter than humans in some things.
Both chess and human race lost. Alpha Go and Alpha Go and Alpha Go lose to Alpha Zero. Finally, robots will take us very far.
Jack Ma argues that the word robot can be smarter (Clever)
But humans are more smart because humans experience it.
We can build computers but computers can't build people.
About the racing.
Ko made for humans to play with humans.
Stupid human to compete with a computer in Ko.
It's no different that a human would run a car race.
There's something designed for robots to do better than humans.
Humans don't need to compete with robots in those specific things.
Human beings have a duty to create tools to make smarter.
But AI can't build those tools by itself.
Elon Musk says this is about level of freedom (Degree of freedom)
Starting from chess, next to a more complex and future robots will do more complicated things.
And Elon Musk is concerned that one thing that harms humanity is ′′ birth rate
In another 20 years, our population will be gone as everyone cannot think about it.
Jack Ma agrees with this and reinforces that in 20 years, the population will face this problem.
And the birth rate is reduced to accelerate (Accelerate)
The important thing is that the Chinese population born is 18 million each year. We need to spend the best time with these kids.
If it's a logical recurring process, AI will do better.
But if it's not logical, like love, people will do better because it doesn't make sense
In the future, humans will not need cảpĕn t̂xng or EQ but LQ or Q of Love.
The topic of the last question is how can humans live in a sustainable world?
Elon Musk said if Neuralink succeeded, it would allow us to record the state of brain (save state) like a video game save.
Or what it takes to age is DNA change like DNA stop a DNA clock. But the question is, will humans agree to this?
For Jack Ma to answer about sustainability
In the future, AI will make us understand ourselves better.
Wise people know what we want
A wise man knows what he doesn't want.
And will make this world a better place eventually
Jack Ma said the end
He wants to focus on the world.
It's harder to take garbage out of the ocean than going to Mars.
It's not just a longevity, but how to live healthy.
Not just living a healthy life but how to live a happy life
Finally, humans must focus on values. Human must have dreams.
It's not technology that will change the world, but it's the dream behind technology that will
We must believe in ourselves. We must believe in humanity. We must believe in the next generation of humans.
We should be responsible for what is present, rather than wanting to solve all the problems of the world tomorrow.
It's a good thing humans can go wrong.
It's good that humans learn from mistakes.
And it's a good thing that humans will die.
Ending with the words of Elon Musk that shuts down after Jack Ma's finish.
“Fight for the life of consciousness”
Fight to keep your thoughts alive in this universe..
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╚═════════════════╝Translated
the hard problem of consciousness 在 歪畸 Facebook 的精選貼文
我相信相信當年死於無情槍火與坦克下的學子
想見到的不是大家每年只有哭喪著臉的悼念而無理性深切的反思
若大家只哀悼他們的死亡,而忘記他們當初所抱持的信念,這樣實在是白費了他們的犧牲
紀念六四不應只是一種點蠟燭、喊口號的儀式
紀念六四應有的態度是以八九民運的勇士為榜樣:對公義和自由有一份應有的執著,對暴政強權有奮身反抗的勇氣,對自己的家園有願意付出的精神。
同時,我們必須緊記中共的邪惡,對於這個殘暴且無恥的政權,我們絕對不能妥協退讓;對於一切向其獻媚的奸佞之徒,我們也絕對不能容忍。
所謂「愛國」或「建設民主中國」,對於港人而言只是華而不實的煽情之談,對於香港的前途毫無禆益,反而令香港的民主進程裹足不前,在地抗爭、自立尋生才是港人的出路
當然,獨立自決不能一蹴而就,除了實際參與各種抗爭行動之外,大家還可以在改變議會、捍衛言論自由、對抗洗腦教育......等議題上盡一分力:做助選義工也好,傳揚民主思想也好,就政府各政策的諮詢去信表達意見也好......有很多事情是我們可以做、應該做的
就算未能像當年的勇士般置生死於度外,至少也要犧牲一點享樂的時間為香港做點事,讓自己對得起這片土地、對得起下一代
共勉之。
愛國盡頭乃殘民赤禍 痛悟前非當自立尋生
香港大學學生會六四宣言
廿七年前的春夏之交,中國翻起巨變,人人以為民主、自由即將降臨。可惜事與願違,一場波瀾壯闊的民主運動,最後以血腥鎮壓告終,無數市民學子魂斷於國家機器之下,遭秋後算帳而身陷囹圄、痛遭刑劫者亦不計其數。學生以愛國之名掀起學潮,豈料國家卻早已遭殘民以逞的共匪竊去。墨寫的謊話,掩不住血色真相。縱然身處相對自由的國度,本着良知與公義,港人一直未有遺忘八九年的這段歷史。可惜,在一河之隔的中國人民,卻似乎早為獨裁者的巧言令色矇蔽,沉醉於暴發戶式的中國夢當中,除極少數的維權份子以外,根本無人願意直視政權之非人暴行。廿七年後再回首,六四屠城無疑標誌着中共錯失最後一個自我完善的機會。六四以後,中國與民主正式話別,民權不彰而黨政威權當道,公權力無限膨脹,貪污腐敗無所制約,優良文化日漸消亡,社會自此走上一條不歸之路。
六四屠城不獨是中國的轉捩點,更是港人主體身份建立的一個分水嶺。一方面,它扼碎了港人對中國改革開放的幻想,催生香港本位主體意識;另一方面,卻又矛盾地將港中兩地人民的命運混為一談,扼殺主體意識。多年來,維園六四集會與愛國主義互相捆縛,已成不可割裂的雙胞胎。今日,我們提出重鑑六四屠城的歷史意義,無非是要告訴各位,在愛國的囈語以外,更重要是肯定人民對自由、民主的美好追尋。而談論自由、民主,最後必然會踏上建立主體的道路,亦即今日年輕人高喊的自主自決。尤其當我們認清「黨即是國,國即是黨」之本質後,就會發覺愛國與民主兩者之間存在根本抵觸,是以「建設民主中國」斷無理由成為香港之政治議程。以愛國情懷為基調的悼念方式,亦應劃上句號。一如世界各地,中國的民主理應由在地人民爭取,港人無理要承受這份強加的責任,更不應廉價地遙距「建設民主中國」以期自保。否定港人「建設民主中國」之責任,絕不等同主張兩地公民社會斷絕來往。正如港台兩地之公民互動,香港大可與中國治下受壓迫的人民交換經驗,惟動機非出於一份不存在的「責任」。
六四,絕不只是每年一次點起燭光、哭喪哀嚎。某些政黨、政客口口聲聲說要結束一黨專政,平日卻受制於「愛國緊箍咒」,對中共政權誠惶誠恐,奉若神明,甚至為見京官而扭盡六壬,絲毫不敢挑戰中共之主權合法性。香港的政治問題從來只有一個,就是關於代價的承受。第一次前途問題時,大部分港人以至政客皆未有汲取六四教訓,欠缺對香港主體性及主體的想像,欠缺當家作主的勇氣加上誤信中共「港人治港,高度自治」的糖衣毒藥,香港民主進程因而一再耽誤。可惜歷史沒有如果,只有教訓。往日不可諫,來日猶可追,我們絕不能重蹈覆轍!
從今以後每年六四,我們遙祭六四死難者之際,請同時為被出賣的香港默哀,更要矢志為2047前途自決鞠躬盡瘁。有人說,中共奉行帝國主義,中國因素無遠弗屆,香港難以偏安一隅。今日新世代主張港人自決,決非要掩耳盜鈴,而是知其不可為而為之。面對中共壓境,香港自決與獨立運動應運而生,我們比任何潑冷水的人都要清楚當中現實考量與限制,但我們更清楚:民主必須站着爭取,而非跪着乞求。民主,從來都是自我充權、自我實現的過程,是故我們必須將身份認同轉化成抗爭武器,對抗強權壓迫,為自己、下一代謀取更大政治權利。
短短數年光景,在部份人眼中曾是無稽之談的本土思潮,今日已進入主流政治議程。的確,無人能夠斷言,本土思潮必然會引領港人走向救贖,但在時代的分岔口之上,一邊通往汪洋大海,另一邊卻是通往赤紅的地獄。對此,我們作出一個明確的抉擇:即使航向未知的前方,亦不與魔鬼打交道。同時,我們更要高聲告訴獨裁者,服從絕非毫無條件之事。香港,我們必定會拚死守護。
Patriotism only ends in hardship and panic,
We repent to misdeeds to cling on to our lives
Declaration of the Hong Kong University Students’ Union on the Tian’anmen Massacre
Twenty-seven years ago, China underwent a change in the midst of spring and summer, looking forward to the emergence of democracy and freedom. In contrary, the striking democratic movement ended only in suppression and bloodshed. Countless citizens and students deceased under the state apparatus. Those who were latterly reprised and put in jail or tortured were also hard to number. Starting the student movement in the name of patriotism, students would have never imagined their country to have been taken over by communist evil who harmed people for their own doing. Lies written in black and white can never disguise the bloody truth. Even though Hongkongers live in a slightly freer place, we, with conscience and justice, have never forgotten this history of 1989. Unfortunately, on the opposite shore of the river, the Chinese seem to have long been blinded by the dictators’ fine words and actions, drowning in the nouveau-riche Chinese dream. There is no one who combats the regime’s atrocity, except very few rights defence protesters. In retrospect twenty-seven years later, the Tian’anmen Massacre marked the last chance for the Chinese Communist to improve itself, which it had missed. After the Massacre, China bid her final goodbye to democracy. Human rights was ruined amid the heyday of the party authoritarian. While the authority expanded infinitely, corruption and collusion were out of limit. As the respectable culture was undermined, society reached a point of no return.
The Tian’anmen Massacre is not only a turning point for China, but also a watershed in Hongkongers building of sense of identity. On one hand, it destroys our fantasy towards China’s Reform and Opening Up, sparking the Hongkonger’s subjective consciousness; on the other, it, paradoxically, muddles up the destiny of Hongkongers and Chinese, knocking the subjective consciousness back down. Over the years, the Victoria Park vigil and patriotism have been chained up to be an inseparable pair of twins. Today, revisiting the historical meaning of the Massacre is to tell everyone that it is more important to recognise the pursuit for freedom and democracy, than the absurdity in patriotism. As we debate over freedom and democracy, they must lead us to a new subjectivity, which is exactly the self-determination that youngsters are now chanting for. As we have realised the truth of China being nothing but a party state, ‘patriotism’ and pursuit of democracy and freedom actually contradict one another fundamentally. ‘Building a democratic China’ shall thus not be included in Hong Kong political agenda. Commemoration based on patriotism shall also be put to an end. Similar to anywhere in the world, Chinese democracy should be fought for by no other but their own people. Hongkongers have no reason to take up such forced duty, let alone ‘building a democratic China’ from afar at such a cost in order to protect ourselves. Denial of the responsibility of ‘Hongkongers building a democratic China’ never means an end to interaction between civil societies of the two nations. Just like the interaction between citizens of Hong Kong and Taiwan, of course Hong Kong can share our experience with Chinese suppressed by the Communist. But the aim of such action must not be based on a non-existent ‘duty’.
The fourth of June should never be only about wailing and whining amid candlelight once every year. While some political parties and politicians keep on proclaiming their ideal to end the one-party dictatorship, they are yet bounded by the ‘Patriotic incantation of Golden Hoop’ day in, day out. They fear and worship the Communist regime. They do whatever it takes to meet officials from Peking, never even challenging a bit of the Communist legitimacy on our sovereignty. Hong Kong is always bothered by only one political problem. It is the cost that we can take. In face of the first Future of Hong Kong discussion, most Hongkongers and even politicians had failed to learn the lesson from the Massacre, lacking the imagination towards Hong Kong subjectivity, let alone the courage to take charge of our homeland. Together with the sugar-coated poison of ‘Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong, High degree of autonomy’, Hong Kong democratisation was only delayed. Unfortunately, there is never ‘what if’ in history, but only lessons. We may not be able to alter our past, but we still have a say in our future. We shall never make the same mistake twice.
On every 4th June since today, while mourning the deceased in the Massacre from afar, we pay our silent tribute to Hong Kong, a place which has long been betrayed, pledging our strong will for self-determination towards the future after 2047. Some may argue that the Chinese Imperialism shall only make Chinese factors ubiquitous and Hong Kong can never remain uninfluenced at this small piece of land. The new generation upholding Hongkongers’ self-determination is never an attempt to deceive, but to do something that is known to be unlikely to succeed. As a result of the Communist encroachment, revolt in self-determination and independence movement in Hong Kong begin. We are more than well-informed of the realistic considerations and limitation than anyone who only douses us with cold water. Yet, it is more than clear that: for democracy, we must stand and fight, but never kneel and beg. Democracy is always a process of self-empowerment and self-realisation. We therefore must turn our sense of identity into our weapon in protests. We must struggle against the regime and seek for the most political rights for ourselves, and our next generation.
Only a few years may have gone by, but the localist ideology which was once a farce in most people’s mind has already entered the major political agenda. Indeed no one can be sure that such localist ideology can usher Hongkongers into salvation. But at this fork of our age, one way is towards the deep blue sea, and the other is towards the bloody red hell. For this we make a clear decision: we may navigate to the uncharted, but we never mix with the evils. In the meantime, we must shout at the dictators that they must pay the cost if they wish for our compliance. Hong Kong, we must protect it with our lives.