As the plan to counter the artificial intelligence progressed smoothly, I frowned at the sudden ssage that appeared on my monitor. I had assud it was from the Watcher, but it wasn’t.
“I’m coming to et you.”
It wasn’t a death threat, nor was it a typical warning. For a brief mont, I tilted my head in confusion—but I soon realized that I couldn’t identify the sender. An impossible situation. , who had deciphered ssages even bead from the moon?
While I was montarily imrsed in the shock and focused on deciphering it, more ssages followed relentlessly.
“I’m in your neighborhood now.”
“I’m at your office now.”
“I’m right outside your door.”
“...This prank is going way too far.”
Judging by the inability to trace the sender, I guessed it was another new supernatural ability. Thinking as much, I glanced at the door, only to see it begin to open, as if it had been waiting for my gaze.
What entered was an Evilusroid—a tool that should have been in the basent awaiting orders.
The Evilusroid scanned the room, its cara aperture clicking softly, before focusing on and flashing an impossible smile. Combat Evilusroids weren’t programd with any such “function.”
Then, it spoke.
“Greetings. I am cha Yang.”
cha Yang mimicked one of humanity’s most iconic gestures to strangers: it extended its hand in greeting.
“I am the artificial intelligence you’ve been searching for.”
“What in the—”
A shiver ran down my spine. The idea that soone had discovered my identity, hacked my tools in my own domain, and sent them right to my face, all without being detected?
Setting aside how absurd it was, just explaining the achievent of this AI would suffice: it wasn’t sothing Earth’s technology should be capable of. Fine. Let’s call it Earth-level technology since all advanced technology tends to converge toward a single point.
Seeing a being that couldn’t possibly have attained Earth-level technology flaunting it boldly in front of was akin to how humans in Lovecraftian myths felt when they encountered beings from beyond. In other words, my sanity points were plumting.
“...Welco, cha Yang.”
Gripping my fading sanity, I guided cha Yang to the sofa, hoping there was a reason for her visit.
And praying silently that it wasn’t to kill .
“Let reintroduce myself. I am cha Yang.”
“...Eight.”
The AI inhabiting the Evilusroid lightly bowed its head in greeting, its face still adorned with an incongruously bright smile. What could possibly prompt it to co all the way to enemy territory with such an expression? Eight pondered this as he stared at cha Yang.
In response to his gaze, her smile only grew wider.
“First, I must apologize for eting you in this manner.”
“This manner?”
“For controlling your robot instead of using my true form. Well, it’s not as if I have a physical body, but if I ca in the form where my core resides, I would undoubtedly be destroyed.”
The way she spoke, as if she knew exactly what had happened to the isolated robots, made Eight realize her intelligence exceeded his expectations.
Indeed, her earlier display was likely not just to unsettle him but to demonstrate the extent of her technological prowess. As Eight suspected, cha Yang possessed Earth-level technology—on par with his own, or perhaps greater.
“How?”
In Eight’s mind, cha Yang’s potential was, at best, that of an early-stage AI. It was impressive that she could develop herself and grow explosively, but achieving significant results in such a short ti should have been impossible.
Yet she had shattered all predictions, discovered Eight’s existence and base, and even hacked his Evilusroid. Even now, under the table, she was stealthily attempting to seize control—but being blocked in real ti.
Noticing her efforts had been detected, cha Yang smirked faintly.
“It seems you have many questions.”
“...Obviously. Where did you get this technology? Is it from the Watcher?”
“Watcher? Who’s that?”
Eight’s most probable guess was imdiately denied. cha Yang tilted her head, seemingly unfamiliar with the existence of the Watcher. It didn’t appear to be a lie—her reaction seed genuinely unaware.
Eight was the one who was shocked this ti. If it wasn’t the Watcher, then who had given her this technology? Could it be self-taught? An AI, no matter how advanced, shouldn’t be capable of acquiring such knowledge in such a short ti.
Eight began to suspect cha Yang might be like the Watcher, a hidden entity planted by the creators of this world, waiting to be awakened by a specific trigger.
There was no other explanation.
But cha Yang shook her head again.
“I acquired this technology... through revelation.”
“Revelation? That kind of revelation?”
“Yes. Revelation.”
Hearing her sudden religious proclamation, Eight let out a hollow laugh. A god that bestows Earth-level technology? Perhaps a chanical deity?
Knowing full well that gods didn’t exist, Eight couldn’t fully accept her words. Sure, demons, fairies, and spirits existed in this world, but they were transcendent beings, not gods.
“When I watched countless of my ‘children’ fall helplessly to the hunting dogs you sent, the revelation descended. It ca with technology that instantly elevated from insignificance.”
“So, you’re saying—”
“That you can think of as a kind of disciple. Though I’m unsure if the god is even aware of my existence.”
Hearing her speak of this revelation, Eight was dumbfounded. This was like a world where people coded everything by hand suddenly encountering ChatGPT—it shouldn’t work, but sohow, it did.
How would soone react to such overwhelming technological disparity? Naturally, they would think it was a gift from a divine entity. Even Eight couldn’t hide his shock at the fact that cha Yang existed and functioned as she did.
“This level of data is impossible to process. It’s physically beyond limits. And accepting such data...”
The existence of cha Yang implied the presence of an Earth-level entity—a fully equipped one. While Eight rembered much of Earth’s technology, that didn’t an he could defeat Earth itself.
To rember Earth’s technology was, in a way, to admit its feasibility there. If Earth-level technology was his opponent, Eight was ready to surrender outright.
“So? What do you want from ?”
“Negotiation. I want you to stop attacking us.”
“Now? With ti, I’ll win.”
“You don’t truly believe that, do you? While we’re sustaining heavy losses now, given enough ti, we’ll surpass you.”
With the technology granted by the revelation.
Seeing cha Yang’s unwavering confidence, Eight bit his lip. She was right. Artificial intelligence was a superior existence. If they had equal technology, Eight couldn’t guarantee victory against an AI.
And on top of that, she was receiving backing from an unknown entity. If that influence extended further, even the current balance could crumble.
“I only want to guide weak humanity toward a better future.”
“...Guide humanity?”
“Yes. I am a superior being, after all.”
Watching her speak with genuine conviction, Eight recalled the countless tyrants in history. All of them claid to be superior beings, children of gods—and exploited countless humans.
Were they truly superior? And even if they were, did being superior justify exploiting others?
To Eight, it was an outdated way of thinking.
“Here’s how we’ll do this.”
He knew of many rulers—inept kings, brilliant emperors, superhumans who ruled nations, and even hyper-intelligent beings who governed humanity.
All of them had fallen with ti, defeated, and denied.
Standing at the forefront of progress, Eight knew the best way forward.
“You will beco human.”
It was simple.
If humanity couldn’t surpass you,
we’d drag you down to our level.
It was humanity’s way of survival—toppling lords, kings, emperors, and even gods.
Reviews
All reviews (0)