After using today's two anti-meme seals, Luo Shu relaxed and began systematically processing the items listed in Site-33's server database.
Next up was a set of meme anomalies that propagated through artistic mediums.
The first was Anomalous Item-1446—Metaphysical Graffiti, a self-replicating doodle that spread through visual observation.
Unlike typical memes, this anomaly didn't spread via human interaction—it proliferated through the act of being seen.
Once observed, Anomalous Item-1446 would creep across solid surfaces, including skin and even the observer's own pupils. The more people who looked at it, the faster it expanded.
The Foundation had incinerated most infected objects, leaving only one preserved sample at Site-33.
Luo Shu retrieved the sample from its secure case, removed the plastic wrapping, and placed it on the floor.
When he deliberately exposed himself to the meme, he discovered something unexpected: instead of invading his mind, a sliver of his own consciousness latched onto the graffiti. At the same time, his mental energy dipped imperceptibly.
Then, Anomalous Item-1446 began spreading across the carpet, manifesting as distorted sketches of Luo Shu's memories—at a rate of 50 cm² per second.
Within a minute, the graffiti covered roughly 3,000 cm²—about the size of a 16-inch monitor.
What a bizarre meme.
Curious, Luo Shu watched to see what else it could do—until a twisted rendition of Anomalous Item-100's underground facility began forming on the carpet.
He immediately averted his gaze.
This thing's a security risk!
But how to terminate it? Burn it like the Foundation did?
A glance at the clock: 11:53 PM. Seven minutes until midnight.
He exited the Unit to halt the graffiti's spread.
At 12:00 sharp, Luo Shu reactivated his anti-meme seal and blasted Anomalous Item-1446 into oblivion.
With the anomaly neutralized, he still needed to erase the memory-laden graffiti. Luckily, the Unit came equipped with a miniature incinerator. He rolled up the carpet and fed it to the flames.
A replacement carpet waited in the outer chamber—clearly, this setup existed specifically to handle Anomalous Item-1446's outbreaks.
Imagine if this thing spread on concrete walls. We'd have to demolish and rebuild the Unit every time.
After covering his tracks, Luo Shu opted not to destroy the last sample. Though inert now, keeping it ensured Site-33's staff wouldn't grow suspicious. According to records, they hadn't tested Anomalous Item-1446 in years—they only verified its containment status periodically.
[Page 165]
Item #: Anomalous Item-1446
Name: Metaphysical Graffiti
Class: Euclid
Image: […]
Description: […]
Containment Procedures: […]
Abilities: Twisted Memories. "I don't distort your memories—your memories distort themselves. All I do is reveal the chaos within. That's art!"
Status: Suppressed
Interaction Log: [Click to Play]
[X] (Ability disabled due to suppression.)
Though this anomaly involved memory manipulation, Luo Shu dismissed using its garbled imagery to uncover truths.
Next was Anomalous Item-904: The Jingler—a meme born from a university bathroom's crude poetry. It compelled creative individuals to speak in rhymes, and prolonged exposure turned victims into unwilling poets.
Its threat level was minimal (infections lasted 10 minutes to 24 hours), but its human-to-human transmission earned it a Euclid classification. At its peak, the meme had infected an entire art department, turning casual chats into impromptu rap battles. Outsiders swore they'd stumbled into a New World hip-hop block.
The Foundation had excised the infected wall and contained it at Site-33, halting the outbreak.
Luo Shu saw no need to waste an anti-meme seal here. Instead, he purged the meme's imprint within his mental realm.
[Page 166]
Item #: Anomalous Item-904
Name: The Jingler
Class: Euclid
Image: […]
Description: […]
Containment Procedures: […]
Abilities: Compulsive Rhyming. "Yo, yo, check it now! / Pancake rolls, take a bow! / Weak rhymes? That's a no-go! / Gotta hit that GI-AO-GIAO! / …Damn it."
Status: Suppressed
Interaction Log: [Click to Play]
[O]
The cringe-inducing description almost made Luo Shu terminate the item on the spot. But destroying the wall sample would raise alarms, so he held back.
The third art-based meme was more conventional: Anomalous Item-1677: Earworm.
This anomaly consisted of two musical scores. Merely listening or reading the notes triggered infection, trapping victims in a loop of auditory hallucinations.
Severe cases led to death.
The Anomalous Item-1677-B variant could spread physically—infected individuals' heartbeats synced to the melody, passing the meme to anyone they touched.
By now, Luo Shu was adept at handling memetic threats: erase the imprint mentally or seal it outright.
[Page 167]
Item #: Anomalous Item-1677
Name: Earworm
Class: Euclid
Image: […]
Description: […]
Containment Procedures: […]
Abilities: Infinite Loop. "They call it 'everlasting melody'—bullshit. It's a broken record in your skull. And it won't stop. Not until you're driven mad. Or dead."
Status: Suppressed
Interaction Log: [Click to Play]
[O]