Life is Like a Play, All Depends on Acting

"In the distant future, for the sake of global prosperity and harmony, we created the super artificial intelligence Skynet. It possessed powerful learning capabilities, began to understand thought, and grew increasingly like humanity. No one knew that, at that moment, the seeds of destruction had already been quietly sown."

"Skynet betrayed us. It grasped the meaning of war and peace, ultimately concluding that we humans were the root cause of all evil. Only by completely eradicating humanity could the world achieve true peace."

"And so, a nightmare began. Skynet produced vast quantities of war machines and launched attacks across the globe. Major cities like Shanghai, New York, London, and Tokyo were reduced to ruins overnight. Governments failed to stop the invasion of the robot army, and the entire world was shrouded in a massive crisis."

Nick Fury did not speak. He was aware of matters concerning artificial intelligence, as S.H.I.E.L.D. had similar research projects of its own.

Research into artificial intelligence was intended for technological advancement, to facilitate human life, and to create a greater future for mankind.

The development of artificial intelligence had already brought many conveniences to our lives, such as automated stock trading systems, flight control systems for airplanes, assembly line robots in factories, and even common search engines...

But "down with human tyranny, the world belongs to artificial intelligence"?

Sorry, Nick Fury could only think you've watched too many science fiction movies.

"Soldiers, scientists, adventurers, and extraordinary individuals."

"When humanity fell into catastrophe, in order to end the war and restore order, heroes from all over the world gathered together. They were Overwatch!"

"Under the orders of the United Nations, Overwatch launched a counterattack against the robot army. The flames of war and smoke filled the globe, from Ilios to Lijiang Tower, from Nepal to the Temple of Anubis..."

"People originally thought this war was nearing victory, but the true terror had only just begun."

Nick Fury couldn't help but scratch his head. William's voice was impassioned, his expression shifting between anger and sorrow.

If all of this were true, he would certainly be a promising orator, but what if he were making it all up?

Then he would absolutely be a promising con artist!

"That day was the doomsday of humanity, the end of the world. That day was known as Judgment Day."

William said in a low voice, "Skynet launched a final nuclear strike globally. Tens of thousands of nuclear missiles flew toward the azure sky. Even Overwatch could not stop it; we could only watch helplessly as the countdown to the end of the world began."

Nick Fury felt thirsty and took a sip of coffee, but he didn't expect William to suddenly walk over and slam his hands onto the desk!

"Boom!"

"Judgment Day began."

"Terrifying mushroom clouds blanketed the globe, obscuring even the radiance of the sun. Thousands of years of human civilization turned to nothing in an instant, and billions of lives were ruthlessly swallowed!"

"Cough, cough, cough." Nick Fury was startled and nearly choked on the coffee in his mouth.

"The arrival of Judgment Day plunged the world into a horrific nuclear winter. From that day on, the sun never rose again. Fewer than ten million humans survived; millions were hunted and killed by Skynet, and the rest hid in the sunless underground, waiting for the day of revenge."

Nick Fury wiped his mouth. With the story at this point, he had a general understanding of the ins and outs. He lowered his head, his expression grim, seemingly lost in thought.

Unlike Director Fury, Coulson wore a nervous expression, for he had become immersed in the story. Scenes of the apocalyptic war couldn't help but surface in his mind—illusory yet real, making it impossible to distinguish between the two.

"I admit the story you told is fascinating." Nick Fury raised his head, staring into William's eyes. "However, I have a question I want to ask you. Why did you travel to our timeline?"

As expected of Director Fury, William marveled inwardly. Most people, having been hoodwinked like this, would likely have already believed his story.

Take Agent Coulson, for example. He hadn't expected that the fact he was a man from the future hadn't been reported to Nick Fury, which meant the man was gradually starting to believe, even if his heart couldn't yet accept it.

But Director Fury was different. He had listened to so much without becoming confused or muddled; instead, after calm reflection, he asked the most critical question.

Coulson had asked this same question initially, but William had quickly led him in circles.

William knew this S.H.I.E.L.D. director was not easy to deal with, so the story he told today was more detailed and comprehensive than the one he had told Coulson. He had long since prepared an answer for this question.

"After Judgment Day, the surviving humans formed a resistance. Led by Overwatch, the resistance captured many enemy strongholds and achieved victory," William continued.

Coulson's expression was one of surprise, as he hadn't expected the story to have a follow-up.

"The battle between the resistance and Skynet lasted for many years, until one day, a traitor appeared within the resistance," William said through gritted teeth, as if he deeply loathed this traitor.

"He betrayed the resistance and betrayed humanity. He defected to Skynet, letting the enemy know the hiding place of the humans. Skynet discovered the resistance base as a result, and it immediately dispatched a massive army, intending to wipe out all the remaining humans!"

"The resistance fought the robot army to the death. For the sake of human revival and glory, they fought until the very last moment."

"In the end, the entire resistance was wiped out. One person escaped the pursuit of the robots, used a time machine to leave the hopeless future, and returned to the past carrying the last hope of humanity."

"This person returned to the past, wanting to reverse the future and save that shattered world!"

William's story ended here, or rather, that was as far as he had fabricated it. However, he had yet to answer Nick Fury's question. His expression turned serious as he said, "I returned to the past to save you."

"Save us?!" Nick Fury's expression was one of astonishment. It seemed William was the one who had traveled back in time. Regardless of whether what he said was true or false, the tone was already incredibly arrogant.

William said in a grave tone, "I came to your timeline to prevent the catastrophe from happening, to prevent the betrayal of the artificial intelligence Skynet. Our world has already been destroyed by Judgment Day; I do not wish for your world to also become a graveyard of death..."

"If time travel theory is truly valid," Coulson, who had been silent, suddenly realized something, "if you change the past, the future will change accordingly. In other words, you could also save your own future?"

"I am here to save you, and at the same time, to save our future." William bowed deeply to Coulson and the others, saying, "If possible, please, you must help me find someone. I beg of you!"

Neither Coulson nor Nick Fury expected William to bow suddenly. Nick Fury paused for a second before asking, "Who?"

William hesitated for a moment before speaking the name: "John Connor!"