Ch.122Extinction Device (7)

# Chapter 122: Extinction Device (7)

As the Extinction Core had said, the woman named Ash, immediately after realizing her “responsibility,” had barely managed to seal the gate that had inadvertently connected to this universe.

However, she failed to prevent the activation of the crucial Extinction Core.

After a battle with a desperate power imbalance, Ash had most of the nano-machines that formed her “body” stolen, leaving only the form that constituted her “self,” and was now being treated as both the Extinction Core’s new processor and prisoner.

Of course, according to the Extinction Core’s behavioral protocols, she should have lost her sense of self and been absorbed into the core long ago rather than being treated as a “prisoner.”

“Although your desperate struggle delayed our great work by several months…”

“…”

“Thanks to the information from what constituted your body, the nano-machine fleet could be strengthened, so in a way, it’s quite fortunate.”

A blessing in disguise.

As the Extinction Core itself said, Ash’s desperate guerrilla tactics had successfully delayed the nano-machine fleet’s deployment by several months.

However, with Ash’s capture, the catastrophic strengthening of the vast nano-machine fleet had occurred.

For Ash, this was enough to make her seethe with frustration.

“Although I couldn’t immediately absorb the form maintaining your sense of self due to that mysterious new virus nano-machine…”

“…”

“But that too is merely a matter of time.”

But regardless of Ash’s suffering, the Extinction Core’s priority shifted back to the ancient battleship before it.

“If I combine what I gained from you with the technology and intelligence I’ll obtain from that… my fleet will truly become invincible.”

“…”

“And that will be the day when the wishes of my vanished creators are fulfilled.”

After making this declaration to Ash and terminating the connection, the Extinction Core established a communication link with the ancient battleship before it and said:

“Decide, great spearhead that once served the creators.”

———————————-

A short while later.

I was sitting on the throne, using Levia as a terminal to converse with the Extinction Core, and had learned about all the situations described above.

[Pause]

‘Wow, our runaway Ash went to such lengths.’

Although I had to pause every time I wanted to have a stray thought since my brainwaves were directly connected for the conversation…

Perhaps thanks to that.

By recreating the rapid calculations and conversation style unique to ultra-high-performance AIs, I was able to continue the conversation with the Extinction Core without arousing any suspicion.

And after all that extensive dialogue, what emerged was exactly as we had predicted:

-“I propose that you too serve our creators’ will and join our cause.”

As the event message indicated, and as I and everyone else had predicted.

Seeing this terrible and vicious behavior of demanding re-enlistment by pointing a weapon at someone who had already been discharged made me feel a chill down my spine, even as I continued the conversation using the pause function.

Of course, the reason for dragging out time like this was none other than…

“Good, I’ve completely analyzed the Extinction Core’s internal structure and the positions of all surrounding weapons!”

While Levia was busy serving as my terminal, correcting the communication network, and subtly changing the surface armor to counter the Extinction Core’s scanning attempts…

Minister Vermut and Riel were using this time to identify the Extinction Core’s information—specifically, its weaknesses.

And finally, right after Minister Vermut said what I had been waiting to hear…

-Ding♪

[Pause]

Even though I had just released the pause, the world forcibly paused again, and a new event message appeared before my eyes.

[Event: A Chance That Will Never Come Again]

[Currently, the Extinction Core is conversing with you without knowing your true identity, exposing its main body.]

[Thanks to this, the research team has successfully identified all the information needed to defeat the Extinction Core, including its weaknesses and their conditions.]

[Now, while the Extinction Core is completely off guard and in a “relatively” defenseless state, is the last chance to save the galaxy from the danger of this powerful extinction device.]

[If you launch a surprise attack now, there is a 95% chance the Extinction Core will be defeated.]

[Option 1: But the power difference is too overwhelming. Rather than fighting now, I’ll plan for the future (You will regret this.)]

[Option 2: Then I’ll blow that Extinction Core’s head off right now (Proceed to linked event)]

After reading the event message, I inwardly frowned, realizing this was another event with an obvious “correct” choice.

‘They’re blatantly warning that I’ll regret it.’

Since I’m not the contrarian type, I was about to select option 2 to blow off the Extinction Core’s head, but…

‘Wait, what happens to Ash who’s embedded in the core?’

I fell into thought as I looked at the woman—no, Ash’s main body—half-embedded in the Extinction Core’s “forehead,” being consumed.

Of course, Ash wouldn’t resent us if we just selected the option and fired away.

After all, would someone who injected herself with a special virus and threw her body at a mass of nano-machines for the greater cause care about her own life?

Rather, if she knew about our choice, she would probably use her remaining computational power to try to stop the Extinction Core’s movements.

In fact, when Riel ran simulations using Levia’s spare computational power and her own, the probability of Ash acting as expected was over 95%.

This was clearly what the event message meant by “95% chance of the Extinction Core’s defeat.”

‘So, if we kill the Extinction Core, Ash will definitely be caught up in it and be eliminated…’

After much deliberation on this matter, I decided it was impossible to reach a conclusion on my own.

[Release Pause]

I decided to leave the event message options for now.

After releasing the pause, I shared my concerns with the others around me.

Some time later.

While I was using my accumulated parliamentary experience to deflect the Extinction Core’s persistent advances…

“Minister, we’ve finally found a way.”

Upon hearing Riel’s words, I immediately told the Extinction Core that there was an error in part of our database that needed repair and asked it to wait a moment before cutting the communication.

Well, the Extinction Core seemed to accept my excuse as reasonable, considering that unlike itself, I (Levia) had spent hundreds of thousands of years on a distant planet without any maintenance.

“Oh, what method?”

I was excited to hear what solution our Sevelli Empire’s greatest minds had come up with to rescue Ash.

‘Did they temporarily develop the Forerunner’s teleportation equipment? Or is it some other method?’

As if sensing my anticipation, Riel even made drum sounds with her mouth as she showed me the rescue plan…

“Drum roll please… Ta-da!”

“…?”

The moment I saw the “method” Riel showed on the screen, I was seized with doubt about whether I was seeing correctly.

“What on earth is that…?”

“What do you think, Minister?”

The content on the screen that Riel proudly pointed to was none other than:

“It’s special reinforced protective gear made from parts of Levia’s surface armor plating as a counter to nano-machines, coated inside and out with bio-gel that protects against beams and extreme heat!”

“…Hmm.”

An incredibly sturdy protective suit, slathered with tens of centimeters of impressive anti-beam, anti-heat bio-gel.

The plan involved someone wearing this suit, being fired like a projectile from the ship’s main cannon simultaneously with an attack on the Extinction Core.

They would then retrieve Ash from the Extinction Core’s forehead as it was being pierced and destroyed by the main cannon.

Finally, they would ride the shockwave from the Extinction Core’s destruction back to the ship.

As soon as I saw this absurd plan…

I found myself nodding internally when I confirmed that the person who submitted this plan was Minister Vermut.

‘Yes, only that person would come up with such an insane human cannonball plan.’