The huge steel python Siberia watched Joshua throw the soul-infused steel fragments into the space-time gate. It just watched all this quietly without any fluctuation in emotion.
Every world is different, and every world will is also different. Some world wills like to interfere with the civilization and race in their own bodies. They will even personally help those who are cute, fragile, and like dust. Generally, mortals who live and die day by day move toward prosperity and prosperity.
And some world wills torture all things as evil - they may not really want to do evil. From a certain perspective, they just poke and destroy their bodies from time to time, just like playing. Like an ant's child, simple and terrifying.
There are kind ones, indifferent ones, and naturally there are evil ones and ruthless ones. The will of the world is just like intelligent life, with various categories.
And Siberia is more extraordinary - compared to its very active counterparts who like to interfere in the world, it is not interested in anything. The steel python floating in the void just wants to quietly watch the reincarnation of all living beings and sleep quietly. Last sleep... However, even such a simple wish cannot always be realized.
"A descendant from another world."
The Steel Python, which had not rested for a thousand years, looked at the slowly dissipating formation and whispered to himself: "I hope you can put everything back on track... You are the only one who is willing to help me in all these years."
Meanwhile, Joshua's soul was sinking.
Passing through the foggy space-time gate, he came to the mezzanine between the world and the void. The warrior felt that he was falling, an endless fall, and the ever-changing deep time-space curtain was shaking beside him. He felt that countless sounds and colors were invading him. his senses.
This is the first time that Joshua has passed through the barrier of a strange world. Normally, because of his familiarity with Mycroft's world, he can always cross this distance in an instant, but in the world of Siberia, because of a certain The strange energy barrier caused him to spend a long time.
In the hazy light and wonderful energy, the warrior's soul seemed to hear some 'voice'.
—Joshua, you claim to be the savior, but who do you intend to save
-You once said that people in the world do not need to be saved, they will save themselves, so why do you call yourself a savior
This voice is very strange, as if it comes from deep in the heart, and as if it comes from the void. It evokes every fragile logic in the human soul, and asks back and forth.
Joshua didn't think too much about the origin of this question. Maybe it was the doubts about himself deep in the warrior's heart, or the inner demons caused by the evolution of his life form. At this time, because of the separation of body and soul, these Hidden suspicions surfaced... But it didn't matter. Joshua just gave his answer calmly.
- Salvation is an act, and savior is an attitude.
The idea of putting yourself above the entire world and saving from a high position is arrogant and unrealistic... But to help others avoid destruction, in fact, you just need to do it, do it, and start taking action.
The so-called salvation, for Joshua, is nothing more than doing something that should be done, just as people with kind intentions will help pedestrians on the roadside to guide them, and will help those who are about to fall or those who have fallen to stand up again. , the warrior's power has reached this point, so his kind thoughts can do such things, and there is no need for any lofty name at all.
He calls himself a savior, simply stating a fact, but throughout, Joshua is a warrior, and only a warrior.
The ever-changing curtain of time and space disappeared.
The blue-purple steel fragment fell from the highest altitude in the world. It broke through the heavy clouds and fell towards a diamond-shaped continent. It could be seen that the continent was deserted, with only scattered green dots scattered in every corner of the world. , and in the very center of the continent, there is a series of steel creations that are roaring and operating, and at the very center of them, a towering spiral spire that seems to be able to penetrate the clouds stands in the center of the world, with a dark blue light shining at the top. .
Joshua is falling.
He has entered the world of Hyboria.
…
This is a very small studio. Excluding the bed covered with traces of engine oil, it is less than 40 square meters. A rusty workbench occupies nearly half of the room. Except for the workbench, the rest of the room was filled with mountains of sundries and parts. The dark and messy room was filled with the smell of steel.
But at this time, the original strong smell of engine oil and rust was overshadowed by an even stronger smell.
Tick tock, tick tock.
On the workbench, a humanoid puppet was placed in the center. It seemed to have been damaged and was waiting for someone to repair it. But just in front of it, there was a stiff humanoid falling on the table. One of his hands dropped and could be seen. , this man had a huge wound on the side of his head.
Liquid flowed out uncontrollably, accumulated in the recesses of the workbench, and then dripped onto the ground along his hands.
This is the taste of blood.
A dirty diary with oil and blood stains was spread out, and the wind from the air vent blew it open page by page.
[Work diary, day 2971: Repair three 'breeding area' suppressive soul puppets. Two were successfully repaired, and one core driver was damaged. We applied to the 'Garden District' for a new soul core.]
[Work log, Day 2972: The soul core has arrived, and the soul puppet was repaired. It was extremely difficult, but it was successfully repaired.]
[Work log, Day 2973: Universally promoted to first-level maintenance personnel, transferred from the 'No. 1 Maintenance Area in the Breeding Area' to the 'No. 6 Maintenance Room in the Garden Area'. The work room is confirmed, the workbench is unlocked, and the next day begins Another day at work.]
[Work log, Day 2974: I was hit by the soul energy leaked by the puppet. The work was not completed. My head felt strange. What does it feel like... Received a warning from the management area: Next time if the task is not completed without applying, I will will be destroyed.]
[Wait, what is 'I'?]
Scattered stains and graffiti covered all the words, making it impossible to see what was written. When they reappeared, it was already a few pages later.
[Work diary, day 3002: I am very confused, what is going on? After arriving in the garden area, my brain suddenly became very clear, and all the previously unrelated knowledge was integrated... I no longer have any memory of what kind of life I lived before. The people around me were like soul puppets, following the instructions every day. Works at the same pace... I probably did it the same way before.]
[Work log, Day 3003: Today is the first month since I woke up. I have completed the routine repair tasks of the soul puppet. Most of them are simple joint failures and it does not take me three minutes... But everything is too abnormal. The maintenance people like me had no reaction to what I said, nor did the people walking in the hallways... Couldn't they hear me? But journaling has become a habit, and I will probably continue writing.]
[Work diary, day 3005: When I wanted to leave the maintenance area, I was stopped by the soul puppet. In front of me was the garden area. I could see the children playing on the grass. They were very happy, and the soul puppet was taking care of them... maybe it was me. I thought too much, maybe it was just because I came from the breeding area and was not qualified to move freely in the garden area. Seeing the children playing happily, I also felt happy.]
[Work diary, day 3012: Wrong! The children were playing exactly the same, like, like puppets... I felt creepy, something must have gone wrong here, am I the only one who felt this way?]
[Work diary, day 3031, the second month after waking up, nothing has changed. Everyone's living habits are to 'work', 'daze' and 'sleep'. They can hear my words, but they will not pay attention to what I say. A few days ago, a new group of children came to the garden area. They looked timid and afraid of the surrounding environment than the previous ones, but they were more realistic... But after a few days, they all became like the previous children, Happy, but looking like a puppet!]
[Work diary, day 3047: If this continues, I am afraid I will be assimilated into a puppet again... There have been many damaged puppets in recent times, and they seem to have traces of various flames melting and low-temperature freezing. It seems that he has been through a battle. It’s troublesome to repair, but it just helps me get rid of this loneliness...]
[Work diary... What the hell are these days? What’s going on in this damn world? I can't even walk out of this pit corridor! Those soul puppets are blocking the door, holding the furnace ray generator for destroying garbage in their hands. I can't risk my life... But I really hope to see some different scenery. I even start to miss the days when there was no wisdom in the past. Well, at least I can work for three thousand days without any boring complaints!]
The diary keeper finally began to complain. It could be seen that his anger was building up, but he could not find a channel to vent it. But in the end, he gradually calmed down and started writing a new diary.
[Work diary, day 3173: Although it is still difficult to accept, why can other people endure such unchanging days of loneliness... Maybe I am wrong. The parts of my soul used to manage irritability are out of balance with those in the core of the soul. Broken puppet like that... but I'm not going to fix this. In short, there are a lot of books in the maintenance room. They are probably used to inquire about the knowledge of repairing soul puppets. There is no way to vent anyway, so it is better to read more books.]
Next is a small blank space, and the handwriting on the upper and lower ends is very different, as if it had been separated for a long time.
[Work diary, day 3726: I'm probably a little crazy to keep coming back to write this damn diary, but what I saw today must be written down... The children in the Garden District have grown up, and the oldest ones are probably Already meeting the standards of adulthood, the soul puppet took them all away and sent them to the medical area next door, but they never came out... The reserve of the soul core increased. Oh my god, I don’t know what I am talking about. , what on earth do I do? who I am?]
[Work log, day 3739: A few days ago, I took off my clothes and poured cold water on my body. My head started to feel hot. This is the cold mentioned in the book... The soul puppet entered the studio and took me away. Leaving the corridor of the pit area for the first time, they took me to the medical area. Inside were the same expressionless people. They diagnosed me, provided me with medicine, and injected me with injections. I took this opportunity to observe the surroundings... while I was injecting injections. At that time, another child was brought in by the soul puppet, and it took her into the operating room at the back... The puppet came out with two boxes in its hands, but the child did not. The puppet placed a box on the cabinet next to it. I saw that the surrounding cabinets were filled with the same boxes, and what was written on them was...'Super Unit'? That's probably the word.
Returning to the maintenance room, I found that there was one more soul core reserve. I probably understood, and I felt unexpectedly calm. I originally thought I would go crazy, but am I not crazy now? Ha ha.]
[Work diary, day 4000: An integer, I began to gradually come out of decadence. After all, I am still alive, and living is hope. No matter how lonely or boring I am, I am always better than the civilians in the breeding area and the children who are sent to the operating room. Oh my God, I actually started to feel superior because of this. After all, compared to ignorant farmers and harvested crops, a crazy maintenance worker would naturally feel superior, right?]
[Work log. Day 4123: Today is worth making a note of, because for the first time, more than 15 soul puppets were sent for repair, which broke the record. These stupid big guys are all covered with traces of battle, various penetrating wounds and broken wounds, just More than seven soul cores were damaged... Someone is fighting these guys and can actually destroy these puppets! This is simply the greatest motivation for me. Although I don’t know if these people will come, I will wait, hope and wait. This is my creed to maintain my sanity in this endless loneliness.]
[Day 4779: The maintenance worker in the fifth maintenance room next door was taken away by the soul puppet. Wrinkles appeared on his face and his hands began to tremble. He was also sent to the medical area, and there was another soul core. , I stared at the patrolling soul puppets for a long time - is there a soul I am familiar with hidden under that familiar steel shell?]
The handwriting that wrote these words was trembling, as if out of fear or anger, but more probably out of confusion. The owner of the diary himself didn't seem to know what he should do until the next time the diary appeared.
[The 5000th day is another round number. I have begun to get used to being alone. I have learned to empty my head, just like those who are in a daze. Through several puppet inspection opportunities, I walked through half of the garden area, and I already roughly understood what kind of environment I was in.
The garden area is surrounded by a vast breeding area in the center. New children are sent here every day. I am in the most central part of the garden area. All severely damaged puppets will be sent here for repair or dismantling. ... If the breeding area is a farm used to cultivate the wheat and bread we eat, then the garden area is a farm used to cultivate the 'soul core'.
In this case, whose wheat and bread are we
At least, I believe that my waiting is valuable. I am discovering the truth of our world bit by bit... Although I cannot awaken others, such records must be meaningful. We have words and books, and we can Making soul puppets, able to build huge breeding gardens, we can't be born as puppets who only know how to work and sleep... Someone made us what we are today, and I will remember it all.]
After that, there was no more record, and there was a long blank space in the diary. The pages were turning, and the clean papers were turning. Until finally, a huge number suddenly appeared on the last page of the diary.
[10000 days]
[Twenty years. Twenty years have passed since I woke up. It was such a long time that I even forgot my original mental journey. Fortunately, I found my diary, which allowed me to recall the past again.
I'm getting older, and wrinkles are beginning to appear on my face, just like Maintenance Worker No. 5. My hands haven't started to shake yet, but they should soon. Although it's an illusion, I always feel that those soul puppets are staring at me. , before long, they will probably send me to the medical room and let me become a soul core.
My compatriots who have not yet awakened, I was surprised, afraid, and contemptuous of them at first. Later, I despised, despised, and ignored them. I thought I was different and could change some things, but I found that I was actually no different from those compatriots. I even endured more loneliness and pain than they did, but I still couldn't. To live the same life. But so what? They are the same as me. I only gained self-awareness because of a lucky soul impact, nothing more, and I record these words just to prove my existence.
I pity them just as I pity my own fate. After thinking about it for twenty years, I came to the conclusion that if hope exists, I will exist. I won't go crazy, but I don't have the second twenty years to wait.
The battle in the outside world is still going on, and puppets in need of repair are constantly being sent in. Because of this, I still have hope. I know that the soul puppet will come one day, take me away and turn me into a soul core, but I will not let them do this, they will never succeed.
I would rather die with the hope of killing someone than endure a second of peaceful despair.
I choose to die, I should have chosen this long ago, a sweet death, to escape the prison of despair, this is the only freedom I have left in this prison called the garden.
Maintenance workers are not repairing their own minds. This is the last day's work log.]
Blood ticks.
The thick blood began to coagulate gradually, and one could see the appearance of the middle-aged man who fell on the workbench and began to age.
He has good features and a strong body. Years of maintenance work has made him in good health. The top of the man's head has begun to turn white and his hair is falling out. He is wearing a gray maintenance uniform. The man's left hand holds a welding gun, and his right hand hangs to the side. The fingers were curled up slightly, and on the ground, a pen was lying in a pool of blood.
In his final moments, the man shot himself through the head with a welding gun powerful enough to burn the alloy.
This was his chosen, free death.
At the same time, a purple light flashed past, and it ignored all barriers and fell straight into the small maintenance room.
The extremely dazzling silver light swept through everything around it, and the fragments of steel began to choose their own hosts. A low hum sounded from every corner of the space, causing the soul puppets in the entire garden area to look around and start walking around, looking for targets.
But then, the buzzing sound suddenly stopped, and the soul puppet could not find its target, so it could only retreat to its original position... But if someone can perceive the soul world, then he will definitely hear a low and clear loud noise, as if It was as if something had been inlaid and already in place - and in the next moment, unparalleled pressure swept across the entire garden area and even the breeding area, dimming all the light for a moment.
In the small maintenance room, everything seems to remain the same.
But suddenly, on the workbench, the dim eyes of the damaged soul puppet flickered for a moment, and a silvery light mixed with purple and blue penetrated its body.
"No. Snova-21 harvest type has been restarted, the core is ready, and the unknown energy source has been injected... The soul robot has been successfully restarted."
An emotionless voice came from it, but the voice gradually changed, and finally turned into a deep male voice: "Find the body that best matches the original life form, begin to possess, begin to assimilate, begin to load the steel Fragment plug-in, start soul infusion... "
"Advent is over."
Don't be anxious... This is the final volume of the second part, the story may be a bit long and complicated...
This is yesterday’s update, written about my insomnia and hair loss.
(End of chapter)