Chapter 788: The Foundation

Chapter 788: The Foundation

A2, a humanoid robot with mechanical parts...

T6, a spider-like creature the size of a small house with a mountain of brains wrapped in spider silk on her back...

K9, a humanoid figure towering at four meters with two raven heads and draped in a trench coat...

O5, an old dog hovering in mid-air with numerous growths shifting and squirming constantly on its body...

N8, a bloated, portly humanoid tightly bound with iron wires...

V3, or rather Pede, the two massive beings riddled with holes of varying sizes and had three giant eyes each...

Lastly, there was the massive, translucent skull—the central computer—hovering in midair.

There were also other figures behind them, and every single one of them had a unique, bizarre appearance. Undoubtedly, they were members of the GK Council.

Charles stared blankly at them. His mind began to race as he tried to decipher their decision. Why were they so intent on giving him this final chance of survival? Was this some sort of scheme?

Did they perhaps plant some sort of virus in me?

The central computer's indifferent words interrupted Charles' thoughts. "Charles, you've won. No matter what forces you've made use of, you still emerge victorious.

"Perhaps the path we envisioned all along had been wrong. Perhaps, under your leadership, humanity will be able to forge a new and different path."

Though Charles wasn't afraid of death, it was better news that he didn't have to die. He pondered for a brief moment before he parted his lips. With feigned sincerity, he said, "Alright, if you get me out of here, I'm willing to take over the torch."

As soon as Charles' words fell, K9's four raven eyes narrowed as he stepped forward. After a moment, K9 turned to the central computer and declared, "He's lying!

"Judging from his micro-expressions and body language, he's only saying this to make use of us to get out! He's just a selfish piece of trash! Anyone would be a better choice than him!"

Evidently, unless Charles genuinely agreed with the Foundation's principles from the bottom of his heart, K9 could easily discern the truth behind his words.

However, the central computer said nothing else; its translucent body began to emit a soft, ethereal glow.

A purely mechanical tone sounded, "Energy decomposition initiated. Self-authorization complete. All energy directed to (+)—2—RY transmission tunnel. Target: one male human. Destination: Shattered Heart Isles. AI Omega, signing off."

With those final commands, the central computer's translucent form dissolved completely. The next moment, a nearby wall melted away to reveal a black hole. A fierce, howling wind erupted from within, and the hole opened into a shimmering, ethereal gray space.

Suspended in the air, Charles struggled violently to no avail. He shouted in agitation, his voice a raw cry of defiance, but his words were blown away by the relentless wind. Helplessly, his body swiftly floated toward the black hole.

The GK Council's final glimpse of Charles was his face contorted in fury, seemingly shouting as he lifted his half-flesh, half-metal prosthetic arm and defiantly pointed them a middle finger before vanishing into the vortex.

K9's two raven heads twitched sharply before he exhaled a breath of frustration. "Even until the very end, his attitude remained unchanged."

T6 walked up toward him and placed a massive spider leg on K9's shoulder as a comforting gesture. "No. On the contrary, I believe that such an extreme reaction indicates a higher possibility of doing it.

"Besides, we've done all we could. Even if he chooses not to take up the torch, we can still rest in peace knowing that we did our part."

Just then, the ground beneath them trembled violently. Every living being aside from the GK Council members exploded in a gruesome spray of flesh and blood. The very fabric of space and time around them began to tremble violently; their bodies also started to disintegrate.

The members of the GK Council all lifted their gazes upward at the gaping hole in SITE 6's roof. The opening had been covered with a layer of sinister, slithering scales. The scales undulated ominously as the entire structure of SITE 6 began to blur and fade from reality.

It was 004. Under Its influence, the GK Council members felt their memories and wills being rapidly overwhelmed. A primal fear that transcended even the fear of death gripped their hearts. Before such an overwhelming god, any resistance would be utterly futile.

T6 summoned every ounce of strength in her to stand up. The brains encased in spider silk on her back began to burst one after another, and azure fluid began to seep out of her dozen red spider eyes.

Her vision was gone, but T6 turned her eyes defiantly at 004 above them. As her venomous mandibles trembled, her usual calm voice was laced with intense emotion for the first time. A human's cry, filled with unyielding determination, sounded from the spider.

"We fight in the dark so people can live in the light! We fight to protect mankind from anomalous entities!"

"They say our experiments are cruel and inhumane, but our endeavors are necessary for mankind's survival!"