Chapter 436: 436
Under the Blast Tunnel…
The fight of the century was still continuing. Facing the wrath of the Leader of the Demons, ROOT was calm and showed no fear. Each of their moves could destroy the world. Thankfully, they were fighting underneath the Blast Time. With this tear in the dimension, most of the savage energy would be sucked into the dimensional hole. If not, most of the city would be ruined already.
“Looks like it’s almost over…” After a few rounds with the Leader of Demon, ROOT said airily, “Your remaining energy is less than 6 percent, it is about time for you to give up…”
“Hmph… You can see even things like that?” The leader’s tone was as arrogant as ever. From the surface, his status looked no different from when the battle started. The dark energy was still dancing around him; the bloodlust in his four eyes were more savage than before. But what the Anomaly saw was something else…
“You are strong, indeed much stronger than I initially calculated.” ROOT continued, “But… you are still within the range of correctable data.”
ROOT’s appearance though had changed. She had abandoned the appearance of a normal human and turned into a mercury-like liquid metal person. In this condition, even if she was splashed into a puddle, she could reconstructed herself within seconds, she was practically invincible. “If we’re in the inner world, I could have wiped you out in a minute.” ROOT said coldly, “But here I have to expand more energy than that…” She slowly raised her right hand and extended a finger. A white energy ball gathered at the tip of her finger. “So far, you have ‘killed’ me six times. Or rather… you have successfully delivered six fatal blows on me.” At this point, ROOT paused for 2 seconds. Her simple face that was mercurial floated a smile. “But… I believe you must have noticed as well that after such an attack, I would become stronger.”
With a flick of her finger, the energy ball shot out like a cannon, blasting a white path in its way, rushing in like a concentrated whirlpool towards the Leader of Demons. The next second, the demonic energy gathered and the demonic flame swallowed the ball of light. The Leader of Demons raised his hand, and with a clamp of his hand, the light ball was vanquished in his grasp.
ROOT looked at the god standing in the flames with an icy gaze. She scoffed… before continuing in a calmer tone. “I’ll be direct with you… To come to this dimension, I have ‘evolved’ about 15 times. Each evolution… will make me slightly weaker than my ‘original’ form.” She paused. “After these 15 times, my power level is only about 3 times as strong as a level 1 Anomaly. Because of that… I can enter places beyond the inner world and do not trigger any reaction from the system.”
ROOT said as she stepped towards her opponent. “As a controllable data, you managed to make shed 6 of my forms with your own power, that indeed surprises me, but that… is the end.” Her voice appeared to take on an invisible force. “The current me might not be stronger than you in terms of damage, speed and strength… but even if you use all of your remaining energy, you won’t be able to deal any fatal injury on me.” ROOT hadn’t stopped moving. She sauntered to the spot 5 metres before the Leader of Demon. She pushed her arms forward and her ten fingers pierced forwards like metal spikes.
The Leader of Demons did not move from this ambush and took it head on. The black armor on his body was not a normal item, it did not damage from the impact of the metallic spikes. The collision rang again and again, creating black sparks.
…
“If I didn’t say anything, you’ll never stop talking is it… Anomaly.” Even though the Leader of Demons did not budge from his spot, the light in his eyes darkened a few more degrees. “You really think… I have used all of my power.”
At that moment, even ROOT’s expression shifted.
“I merely used the latent energy in this dimension to toy with you and you got so conceited in your own power…” A wicked smile appeared on the leader of demons’ face. His four eyes darkened like they were advent of something horrible. But this was not a gathering of strength but…
“Since you are so confident, then why don’t you stand there and let me unleash my real power and kill you another 18 times?”
Xie—
Suddenly, a blind of light shot from the side, cutting between ROOT and the Leader of Demons. This hit was not strong but it was enough to make the two stop and pay the newcomer attention.
“Please don’t act too recklessly… Master.” A shrill male voice said. The leader of Demons glanced at the newcomer and said without turning his head around, “Why have you followed me?”
“Naturally it’s to stop you from doing things that you might regret at moments like this…” The man replied.
ROOT turned to look at the man.
Data analysis:
–Breaking through firewall…
–Downloading information…
–Initiating counter tactic…
Appearance recognition database initiating, downloading, inputting/ correcting / inputting/ inputting.
Name: Talim
Forces: Leader of the Demons
Race: proselytizer
Level: 359
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 60 kg
Fighting Style: Chaotic Curses
Possessed Skills: ??
Danger Level: ??
Voice Recognition: Constructed.
Current Location: X-044
Tracing triangulation: Unachievable
Control Status: Not controllable
Battle Strategy Option: ???
“Another one…” ROOT mumbled. “Hmph… but the result will never change…”
Talim crossed his legs, sitting on the side of a building talking to the two. He was dressed in a black robe embroided in flashy cape. He looked like a human but his cheekbones were much higher than a normal human and his eyes had two pupils in them. Other than that, Talim’s skin was pure white in color…
“Master, you have had your fun right? How about… we stop now?” Talim suggested. Even though his term was referential, his tone was chiding.
“Do you think your king will lose?” When the Leader of Demon asked that, a pressure fell around Talim.
“It’s not that…” Talim quickly shook his head. “I just wish to remind Master that… if you unleash your whole energy here, this dimension will be over.” He shrugged. “If we reach that point… then you wouldn’t be able to claim this territory and you’ll never hear the end of it from the other three deities. Furthermore… killing this Anomaly benefits you in no way….” He pointed at ROOT. “Obviously, this Anomaly’s purpose is not to conquer this place, so… why don’t you follow me back to the land of Chaos for now. After the battle between the Anomalies and the travellers from the other world is over, we will return. Whatever happens during the period when we’re away, the only victims will be the time wardens, juries and the 9 phantoms, Master, you will lose nothing.”
Talim’ strategy was correct. As the mind in the Leader of Demons’ inner circle, the proselytizer had done his duty well. He considered everything for his master.
“he is not wrong.” ROOT surprisingly agreed with Talim and instantly pulled back the battle stance. “Continuing this fight benefits neither of us.”
Different from ‘controllable’ data like the four Pillars of Divinity, AI like ROOT knew how to compromise. At certain moments, her reaction would be no different from a normal player.
This was not a difference in ‘intellect’ but a superiority in thought. To use an example between the dimensions, Anomaly was the existence between players and NPC. Players could ignore everything that happens in this game dimension, including the end of the world; while the NPC had a set personality, belief and stance, they had to follow the worldview given to them and ‘live’ in this dimension; and the Anomalies… they were a unique product. They were like enlightened figures who could never escape from the fatality of a destined death. Even if they had a consciousness that is greater than the dimension that traps them in, they are bound to this world of dust and data.
At that moment, as a higher AI, ROOT naturally would not risk the danger of ‘destroying the whole dimension’ to continue the fight with the Leader of the Demon. Any factor that might affect her final goal, she would avoid it as much as she could.
…
At the same time, inside Golden Maggot No. 1.
“Hey… you are not lost are you?” Matcha Cookie narrowed her eyes to ask.
“Well, I never did say I know the way…” Xiao Tan replied, “I was merely going down a single direction…” He added, “But… 10 minutes ago, I was thinking this place looks familiar…”
“Then why didn’t you say anything then!” Matcha Cookie roared. “We’re probably trapped in some kind of dimension, aren’t we?”
“Erm… is this some haunted dimension?” Xiao Tan asked in panic.
Matcha Cookie saw Xiao Tan’s expression through the rearview mirror and sighed. “By the way, Brother Kuang, how come whenever something like this happen, you will naturally go towards the ghostly and supernatural?” She added, “Couldn’t you try to come up with a more scientific answer?”
“You mean like Penrose Stairs?” Xiao Tan said, the man did have a quick wit.
“Erm…” Matcha Cookie continued, “Actually, I was thinking perhaps we have fallen into some trap or skill.”
“Did you say that because you have no idea what I just said?” Xiao Tan’s instinct was razer sharp.
“Stop wasting time! No matter the reason… as the driver, you have to be responsible!” Matcha Cookie said angrily.
“Stop arguing… You’re like needle on a clock, turning in circle.” Suddenly a strange voice came from the top of the truck and joined their conversation, “You will never escape if you don’t find the person who cast the spell…”