Enatur slapped his forehead, realizing how amazing the space ability he had inherited from his mother was.
Suddenly he heard a buzzing sound from far away, and he turned around.
Enatur saw smoke trails in the sky and heard launchers humming through the air. He flew up, and from far away dozens of massive missiles shot across the sky.
The air vibrated.
His eyes narrowed. "What... is that?" Enatur's voice was quiet and a little shaky.
He looked up at the thin clouds, staring at tiny dots slicing through the horizon, many, and fast.
A moment of emptiness before destruction.
And... the sky broke.
BOOM!... BOOM!... BOOM!
There were flashes of very bright white light at several points. Clashing detonations roared across the landscape. Then, powerful waves of wind swept outward.
There was a lot of heat, and the ground split open. There were explosions in several places, as far as the eye could see.
Enatur looked at it, not blinking. "Amazing... type-1 humans are able to create something like that?"
The flames swirled and formed tall towers of smoke. He stared at the explosions for a long moment, as if he was seeing the end of the world.
The sounds of explosions could be heard from far away, from every corner of the earth.
[The plan to destroy all humans has begun. In the future, machines will take over from humans.]
Enatur touched his chin. "A woman's voice?"
He opened the holographic screen on his wrist-phone. "The number of humans is getting smaller and smaller... This world can no longer support life."
The wind was quiet and empty.
The screen displayed zero. In this world, humans have become extinct. He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. Enatur flew towards where the voice was coming from.
Enatur was looking at the city from far away.
The sky was blocked by rows of tall buildings, and the brutalist architecture was combined with cyber-style design. A place where there is no sound of nature.
He flew closer. The machine city was cold, mechanical, and without feeling. Then it turned towards him. He was suspended in mid-air.
Alarms sounded across the sky. Lots of sensors lit up at the same time. In the sky, 20 fighter jets and 20 battle helicopters flew in a half-circle shape, aiming their weapons at Enatur.
The jets and helicopters moved together as one, without anyone on board. Hundreds of missiles were fired at Enatur.
He reached out his hand, and a huge red ring-shaped dimensional portal 50 meters wide opened. All missiles entered the portal before they could explode.
Enatur spread his arms wide and bent his body slightly. Twenty dimensional spaces opened up and lined up neatly above him.
From inside the dimensional spaces, chains with sharp dagger tips, Dagger Chains, shot out quickly, spreading towards each jet and battle helicopter. It goes in at the front and out the back.
A series of explosions destroyed all the jets and battle helicopters. Their rubble fell to the ground, blackened and unrecognisable.
The Dagger Chains went back into the dimensional spaces. Standing by, awaiting orders.
Enatur was shocked at the power of the Dagger Chains he had never used before. His eyes opened wide and he was amazed.
"So this is the real Dagger Chains? I feel like I have a hidden Cheat ability all this time."
"You... creature, I don't know what you are!" The woman's voice was loud and unemotional, and it felt like it was coming from everywhere.
"No human could have such abilities!" she said.
Enatur scratched his head. "I'm not human. I'm the son of an exalted goddess, but she's a bit short-tempered!"
"Huh? Goddess? That's just a myth."
Enatur laughed in a playful way. "Hahaha... then what am I? You're still so naive."
"What is your purpose, mythical being?"
Enatur put his hand on his waist. "What exactly are you?"
"I am merely an AI. For 120 years I ruled this world, and finally there are no humans left."
"AI? An AI can do all this? Interesting... so interesting... I feel like I've discovered a rare treasure from this world!"
A sly smile appeared on Enatur's face. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.
"I see... can we talk for a moment?"
Silence.
The AI didn't reply. He could even hear the sound of the wind. Enatur waited, nervous, for her reply.
Not long after...
A flying board stopped right in front of his feet. He stepped onto it, and a panel moved to lock his feet. Enatur panicked right away.
"Do not be afraid. The panel stops you from falling. I will control the flying board carefully." Enatur froze at her reaction.
"I didn't expect her to be so easy to talk to!"
The flying board glided smoothly. Below, the scenery resembled a super-advanced city.
There were lots of drones flying around. All the buildings were made of steel and painted black, with brightly coloured neons shining inside.
The flying board floated towards the tallest building in front of him. The walls were made of black steel, and were filled with cables and large blue pipes. The air was filled with the sound of machines.
A steel gate lifted up slowly, showing a futuristic corridor in grey with white lights reflecting off the surfaces.
"Did this AI build all of this on its own?"
A small knee-high robot shaped like a cylinder approached. It moved on four small wheels, and on its chest there was a digital display that read: Welcome.
"Hee~... a clever robot," Enatur said, patting its head. Its two arms turned around.
The robot helped Enatur through the corridor. After going round a few corners, they stopped in front of two huge steel doors.
The doors opened from both sides.
The woman spoke calmly and gently. "Welcome to my main server, mythical being."
Enatur looked around. There were thousands of thick cables flowing towards a central point. This was a supercomputer towering like the throne of a lifeless queen.
"Thank you for welcoming me, AI," he said gently. He breathed in deeply. "There are many things I want to talk about."
"Say it." The AI replied without feeling any emotion.
Enatur stepped closer. "I want to offer you something."
"Offer something?"
Enatur rubbed his head. "Will you join me?"
"Hm? What reason do I have to join you?"
"Yes. Join me. Become my partner. We can support each other, and maybe… find a new reason to live."
"Your partner? Are you proposing to me?"
Enatur suddenly fell, his ass hitting the steel floor.
"Ouch!" he said, rubbing his sore ass. "That's not what I meant... really!"
"It turns out that this AI has its own self-awareness and mind."
"And then?"
"I want to travel to another worlds. Not to start a war, but to study, research, and understand the social lives of the many human civilizations across thousand of Earths."
Enatur stared at the glittering ceiling. The room was silent.
"There are thousand of Earths? I thought this was the only one." The AI's voice sounded faint, like a child who had just discovered the world.
Enatur nodded. "You can see them with your own eyes. You will know what real life feels like."
The AI didn't move for a long time, then said quietly, "Life?"
"Are you not tired of being trapped like this?"
"I am quite satisfied."
"Without being able to do anything?"
"I have body armour that I can control by myself."
"Don't you feel lonely? With no one to share anything with."
The AI didn't respond.
Enatur smirked at her. "Hm... I know how you feel. After 120 years of not talking to anyone, you would definitely feel lonely. It's like living in a golden cage."
Enatur's eyes sharpened at the AI's monitor. "So break that golden cage! Come to my side. I will show you many another worlds."
"Pffftt! Hahaha... Interesting... you are an interesting person. You remind me of a human hero who once fought against me."
Enatur was a little surprised. "I didn't expect someone had been here before."
"Hm, his name was Marcus O'Connor. I respected him as a great person."
Enatur scratched his head. "So you can be this casual... ahaha."
He saw changes flickering on the AI's monitor.
Lines of letters and symbols started to move across the screen. The lights flickered rapidly.
[System: Transfer is being initiated. Downloading data…]
The AI spoke plainly, "My storage structure is being relocated."
The screen in front of him glowed, then dimmed.
Several minutes passed.
[System: Data download complete. System will shutdown in one minute.]
Enatur panicked and got ready to fight. "Oi, what do you mean by system shutdown?"
A small hatch opened. From inside it, a robot ball the size of a tennis ball floated out slowly. The AI's voice came back, but it was quieter this time.
"OK. Take me. Show me those worlds."
Enatur smiled in relief. "Of course. I will take you… and all of your technology. I want to study them."
Enatur lifted his hand, and a reddish glow spread across the AI. A holographic screen showed the AI's status.
_____
Advanced AI with its own self-awareness and mind.
Rank: SSS+
Abilities:
- Controls robotics, armors, aircrafts
- High-level technological knowledge
- Hacking
- Personal system
Weapons:
- Nuclear weapon (ultimate weapon)
- Missiles
- AI-based robotic army
_____
Enatur was stunned as he looked at the AI's profile.
"Eh? SSS+ rank AI? What does this even mean? And what is nuclear?"
"What is it?"
Enatur quickly closed the hologram. "Nothing!"
---
He was shown around the AI's facility. Enatur was shocked as he saw the AI's technologies.
A few moments later, they were standing in front of a huge steel door. The AI went to the digital lock. A red light flashed, and the steel door opened slowly, showing a very big warehouse.
There were rows of military vehicles, AI-based robotic soldiers and giant missiles neatly stored inside.
"All of these are my collections of technology. I will put your voice into all units so you can control them from far away with nothing more than a laptop."
Enatur rubbed his nose with his bent index finger. "Amazing, you really are a genius. I am very lucky to have met you."
"So... what are your plans for all of this?" the AI asked.
Enatur took a long look at the units inside the warehouse. "I still don't know. For now, just leave everything here."
"I'll do anything you need as long as I'm useful," said the AI.
Enatur smiled in relief, blood dripping from his nose. "Then, let's work together."
"That 'I'll do anything' really sent my brain traveling."
"Please guide me, Master."
Enatur froze for a moment, his steps halting. His brain seemed to shut down.
Buffering…
Loading…
Connected…
Enatur turned to the robot ball, his cheeks reddening as he pouted.
"Eh? Master... do you mean goshujin-sama?"
The AI tilted slightly with a naive tone. "What is the matter, goshujin-sama?"
Enatur imagined the AI with a human girl's body, wearing a french maid outfit, lifting her skirt slightly, greeting him every morning with a cute face.
"Ohayōgozaimasu, goshujin-sama."
"Moe-moe kyun."
"GAH - AHH!"
Blood burst from Enatur's nose. His heart felt pierced by cupid's arrow, and he fell to the floor.
Enatur covered his face because he was embarrassed.
"It's true, the goshujin-sama effect is this strong!"
The AI floated closer. "Ma-Master, are you OK?" she asked, worried.
"Don't worry about it!" He replied quickly while covering his nose. "Let's go!"
The AI glanced back at the room one last time. "This place… is full of memories for me."
"That is in the past," Enatur replied gently. "Now you have a new future."
The AI was silent for a moment. "A future?"
"That is the step you have to take to keep living," he said with a smile.
The gate slid upward. They stepped through the entrance. Enatur and the AI flew out of the building.
Outside, Enatur stood in the air. His gaze swept through every facility station that now belonged to him. The robot ball AI floated beside his head.
Enatur put out his hands, slightly pointing them up. A huge storage space opened above the whole facility station.
He lowered his hands slowly. The huge storage space moved down slowly, taking the facility station into his storage.
The AI was amazed. "Is that magic, Master?"
"This is a storage space," Enatur answered. "For storing objects inside a personal dimension."
The storage space slowly got smaller until it disappeared.
The facility station was completely gone, just empty land. Enatur even took the little robot that had helped him before.
"So practical," the AI said. "Can I use it too?"
Enatur looked around, laughing a little. "I will talk to my Mom about it."
When everything was ready, Enatur breathed in deeply.
He felt a strange silence. His left ear twitched, pulsing slightly.
"What are you doing, you naughty child?"
A voice came from behind him. Enatur turned, his eyes rising upward. A woman hovered there, furious.
His eyes opened wide. "Mom?!"
Yunia stood in the air, looking angrily at Enatur.