#egoitsharu theory

[egoitsharu]

Theory: The True Secret Behind Time Travel Through Photos in Link Click

From the beginning of Link Click, Cheng Xiaoshi's ability to travel to the past through photos seems like a well-established mechanic: when he touches a photo, he can take over the body of the person who took it for up to 12 hours, while Lu Guang can see the events of that timeline and help him avoid straying too far.

But how is it possible that a simple photo allows time travel? My theory is that photos are not just images of the past but fragments of consciousness trapped in a moment of time, and accessing them means merging with the memory of the person who took them.

1. Photos Are "Anchoring Points" of Consciousness

In the series, Xiaoshi does not physically travel to the past; instead, he takes control of someone else's body at the exact moment the photo was taken. This suggests that he is not transporting his body to the past but that his consciousness is jumping into a past version of another person.

This implies that photos are not just static images but store more information than they appear to. In some way, they preserve fragments of the consciousness of the person who took them, and Xiaoshi can access these fragments, absorbing the thoughts and emotions of the subject at that specific moment.

If this is true, then each photo is an anchoring point in the flow of time—a node where a person's consciousness was recorded strongly enough to allow someone else to temporarily inhabit it.

This would also explain why Xiaoshi can only stay in the past for a limited time: his own consciousness is struggling against that of the person he inhabits, and eventually, he will be expelled back to his original timeline.

2. Time Travel Is Not Based on the Image, But on the Emotional Connection

If photos truly store fragments of consciousness, then the ability to travel through time is not just about the image itself but about the emotional weight of the captured moment.

This would explain several strange aspects of the series:

The most powerful photos seem to be tied to strong emotional events. For example, photos filled with suffering, happiness, or fear appear to be more "potent" for time travel.

When Xiaoshi enters a photo, he does not just see what was happening at that moment—he can also feel the thoughts and emotions of the person who took it. This indicates that he is accessing more than just visual memories; he is immersing himself in the photographer’s mind at that instant.

If the emotional bond is not strong, the travel might not work properly. Perhaps this is why Xiaoshi cannot simply choose any random photo and enter it.

3. Photos Not Only Capture the Past but Also Create Alternate Realities

If each photo stores a fragment of consciousness and allows access to a past timeline, then every time Xiaoshi enters a photo, he is actually creating a new branch in time.

This would mean that:

When he changes something in the past, he is not altering his own timeline but generating a new reality where things unfold differently.

Photos could serve as "gates" between timelines. If Xiaoshi could learn to control his ability better, he might be able to re-enter a photo he has already visited to see how things have changed.

If someone took a photo in the future and Xiaoshi managed to enter it, he could theoretically travel forward in time, not just backward.

This leads us to an even more terrifying possibility:

4. The Real Danger: What If Xiaoshi Is Not the Only One Who Can Use This Power?

If photos truly contain fragments of people's consciousness, then anyone with Xiaoshi’s ability could potentially access those memories and inhabit them.

This presents several dangers:

Someone else could enter the same photos as Xiaoshi and change events unpredictably.

The antagonist of the Bridon Arc may have discovered how to access photos without restrictions, allowing him to manipulate multiple timelines at once.

If Xiaoshi stays too long inside a photo, his consciousness could become permanently trapped, merging with the mind of the person he inhabits.

This could mean that the greatest risk for Xiaoshi is not just changing the past but getting lost within the timelines and becoming an entity trapped in time, unable to return to his own body.

5. Possible Implications for the Future of the Series

If this theory is correct, then the ending of Link Click could explore several intriguing concepts:

The discovery that photos can be used to travel to alternate realities, not just the past.

The existence of other people who can use this power, some with dangerous intentions.

The moment when Xiaoshi must decide whether to continue using his abilities or risk getting trapped inside a photo forever.

The possibility that Lu Guang has a deeper understanding of how this power truly works and is hiding information to protect Xiaoshi.

Perhaps the true purpose of Link Click is not just to solve mysteries and help people but to uncover what photos really are and why they have the power to connect consciousness across time.

Conclusion: What If the True Mystery Is Not Time, But Memory?

More than a story about time travel, Link Click could be a story about the nature of memory and human consciousness.

Photos are not just simple images but fragments of the mind and soul of those who take them. When Xiaoshi enters them, he is not merely seeing the past—he is reliving it from within someone else’s mind.

If this is true, then the key to understanding his power is not in time itself but in how memories shape reality and how emotions can alter the course of destiny.