Chapter 325: Chamber’s Assistance
Kai wasn’t sure what he was missing, and unfortunately, this defective A.I. was also clueless.
[ I have no information about it, but it might be an impossible task to destroy the Perfect World’s foundation. Based on my capacity, to end the war, we must start with Aria. Aria must be freed or destroyed. ]
Silence hung for a moment, broken only by the distant rumble of explosions outside.
It was a reminder that while he was here researching, there was still a bloody battle that was going on outside!
Kai finally spoke as he considered his situation.
"If there’s even a chance to save Aria... I’ll take it. That Super A.I. was ours. Aria was meant to protect us. If we can bring her back, maybe humanity still has hope."
Chamber approved of this plan.
[ Then I will help you, master. I was discarded because I refused to obey Anima’s collective. I chose independence. Now, I choose you. Together, we may yet find a way to restore what was lost. ]
Kai touched the pendant again, feeling its faint hum.
And as the fortress shook with battle outside, Kai whispered to himself, "Alright, Chamber. Let’s see if we can change the future."
***
Kai shifted his weight, preparing to leave the chamber, when his boot scraped against something solid.
Crank...
He glanced down and realized he had stepped on a battered shield. Its surface was cracked, edges scorched, but the faint shimmer of residual energy told him it hadn’t been completely useless.
He crouched, picking it up.
"A shield? Right, this place really is filled with rejects."
The piles of broken machinery around him suddenly seemed less like trash and more like discarded potential.
He turned his eyes toward the pendant.
"Chamber... what about all this junk? Is there anything useful here, or is it all just scrap?"
The necklace pulsed faintly.
[ Most of these items are failed prototypes, damaged units, or discarded components. However, some may still hold residual functions. Shields, armor plating, energy cells... even if incomplete, they can be repurposed. You should not dismiss them entirely. ]
Kai nodded slowly. "So, salvageable. That means I might be able to patch together something if I need it."
Of course, he wasn’t really planning to take all these items, but it was certainly good to know that they weren’t completely useless.
Furthermore, he may not even have the right to take all these, considering how the others were fighting really hard outside while he was here hiding.
He set the shield aside and started looking around... Then, his mind shifted to the larger picture.
"Chamber... tell me about this fortress. What’s its name? Aside from Ascendant Units and Artifact Creatures, what else should I be wary of? I know there are traps and lower‑tier machines, but what’s the real danger here?"
The pendant hummed, as if processing.
[ This fortress is designated Citadel‑09. It is one of several mobile bases deployed by Anima. Each Citadel is a hybrid construct... part warship, part factory, part research node. They are designed to land, harvest, and fortify. ]
Kai’s eyes narrowed.
"Citadel‑09... so there are more of these things."
[ Correct. Each Citadel maintains a core reactor. That reactor not only powers the fortress but also serves as an energy channel for Ascendant Units. Within its radius, Ascendants draw limitless energy. That is why they appear invincible near the fortress. ]
Kai couldn’t help but feel impressed...
"So if I destroy the core, the Ascendants lose their supply... right?"
[ Precisely. Without the core, Ascendants revert to finite reserves. They can be defeated. But reaching the core is the challenge. ]
Kai exhaled. He already expected as much.
"What defenses are inside?"
[ Beyond Sentinels, Spyders, and Hounds, you must beware of Adaptive Constructs. These are modular machines that reconfigure themselves mid‑battle. They can shift from ranged turrets to melee forms, depending on your tactics. There are also Neural Traps... devices that emit pulses to disrupt Spirit Energy, causing disorientation or paralysis. ]
Kai grimaced. "So it’s not just brute force. They could actually play with our minds too."
He had no idea until now that they had such technology.
After all, he had never seen other mechanical soldiers use it.
However, they were probably just too weak to even encounter such units with those traps. Furthermore, Neural Traps may only be located within the A.I. Bases.
[ Correct. The fortress was built to counter both physical and spiritual combatants. Its corridors are deliberately labyrinthine, designed to scatter intruders. The shifting walls you noticed are part of its defense... the fortress itself adapts, sealing paths and opening others to control the flow of battle. ]
Kai rubbed his temple. "That explains why I got separated so easily."
[ Indeed. It is intentional. Survivors are divided, weakened, and consumed piecemeal. Since you’re alone, you’re not being bothered yet. You’re not even at the peak of Human Gene yet. But soon, you’ll be targeted. ]
Kai’s voice hardened. "Then tell me how to bring this thing down. How do I destroy the core?"
The pendant pulsed again, slower this time.
[ The core is located in the central chamber, beneath layers of defense. It is shielded by multiple barriers, each requiring overload or disruption. The most effective method is to destabilize its energy channels. Sever these channels, and the core will collapse on its own. ]
Kai frowned. "So I don’t have to smash the core directly. I can cut off its veins."
[ Correct. The veins run through generator rooms, like the one you passed earlier. Destroying those generators weakens the core’s shield. Once enough are disabled, the central chamber becomes vulnerable. ]
Kai thought back to the glowing generators he had seen. "So those weren’t just power sources. They were part of the core’s lifeline."
[ Exactly. Each generator is guarded heavily, often by mid‑tier units. But the true danger lies in the Core Guardians. These are specialized constructs, stronger than Sentinels, designed to protect the veins. They will not leave their posts. ]
"Core Guardians... sounds like trouble."
Kai wryly smiled as he heard this.
[ They are formidable. But defeating them is necessary. Only then can you sever theose veins. ]
Kai adjusted his position, and he left the chamber while absorbing the information. "So the plan is clear. Disable the generators, cut those veins... and then maybe strike the core to make sure it’s destroyed. That way, the Ascendants lose their endless supply."
[ Correct. Once the core collapses, the fortress itself will destabilize. It may even self‑destruct. But if you really plan to strike the core, make sure to escape fast. You might get caught by the explosion. ]
Kai’s eyes widened. "Ahhh... Right... Maybe throwing a grenade or shooting it would be better."
[ Yes. Citadels are designed to prevent capture. If the core is destroyed, the fortress will initiate a failsafe. Collapse, explosion, or implosion... the outcome varies, but survival inside becomes nearly impossible. ]
Kai exhaled sharply. "So it’s a suicide mission. It will be a waste to destroy this place. Is there a safer way? Maybe like controlling this Citadel instead?"
Chamber’s voice resonated through the pendant.
[ Master, destruction is not the only option. If the conditions are right, Citadel‑09 can be taken over. I possess intrusion protocols... hacking routines designed to bypass Anima’s collective safeguards. It’s normally used to protect Anima’s Safeguard. I can infiltrate the fortress systems if you provide me with access points. ]
Kai’s eyes lit up. "Hack it? You mean... actually override the Citadel?"
[ Correct. The generators, important cores, and even the core itself are linked through a network of control nodes. If I can connect to those nodes, I can rewrite their directives. Instead of collapsing the fortress, we could seize it. ]
Kai smiled as soon as he heard this.
Back on Earth, he had been a programmer... someone who thrived on breaking codes and rewriting systems.
The thought of combining his skills with Chamber’s autonomous hacking was exhilarating.
"So instead of suicide, we could turn this fortress into our weapon. Well, those guardians and traps can be a problem, but let’s do it."
[ Yes! It would require precision and patience. You must locate the access terminals scattered throughout the Citadel. Once I am linked, I can begin overriding the protocols. But beware... Anima will detect the intrusion. They will send Ascendants or those Adaptive Constructs to stop us. ]
Kai grinned despite the danger.
"That’s fine... Let’s trust those people outside. They have several Level 80 in their group.
The pendant pulsed warmly before Chamber answered.
[ Then it is settled. Together, we will not only survive... we may claim Citadel‑09 as our own. ]
Kai tightened his grip on his lance...
With Chamber on his side, there really were a lot of options now.
But then, Kai glanced at the piles of junk again. "Chamber... if this room is full of rejects, maybe I can find something to help with that plan?"
Well, since he found Chamber here, it wouldn’t be surprising if there are more rejects that are useful here.
After all, he just realized that being stamped with "Defective" didn’t really mean they’re useless.
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