RNP Page 2
Page 2
This message is one of the pieces of information that comes with Ama-9's appearance—his design is flawed, he cannot achieve true immortality, and because he has been confined to a life support pod, most of his time has been wasted.
There are only about 7400 days left, which seems like a large number, but in terms of years, it is only 20 years.
Twenty years—an incredibly long time for an elderly person nearing the end of their life, but a very short time for a newborn child.
Ama-9 could not accept that she only had a lifespan of 20 years, which was no different from premature death for humans!
If Columbia's technology could cure me, then cooperating with them in experiments wouldn't be a loss. But based on my observations over the past few days, they can't even analyze me, let alone cure me.
Therefore, Ama-9 must take control of its own destiny.
[Project Originium Level 1 Access: Originium Recompilation Technology, Originium Information Conversion Technology, Originium Guiding Technology...]
[Equipped Modules: Ansetta Simplified Program, Heaven's Pivot Contact Port, Deep Blue Tree Contact Port.]
Currently, Ama-9 feels that he has unlimited potential, but he is not yet able to test what his abilities actually look like.
Ama-9 was quite lucky. Before long, the researchers couldn't wait to begin experiments on Originium. During this time, they conducted various tests. Because Ama-9 was newly born, the person in charge had given up on the idea of obtaining the vast amount of information, such as "technical data," from him.
However, there are still many areas where we can boldly imagine an artificial life form, the most important of which is its adaptability to Originium.
Perhaps his development goal was to create something completely immune to Oripathy.
Originium is the foundation of Terra civilization. From energy to magic, from lethal weapons to electronic circuits, it can be said that once you master Originium, you have the ability to master Terra.
Therefore, all the top technology gatherings in Terra have set up projects to conquer Originium. However, even with countless scholars working tirelessly, humanity's understanding of Originium remains insufficient, and its application is only at the most superficial level.
"Ama-9, this is the Originium I've been talking about—try it and see if you can react to it."
The person in charge had told Ama-9 about the existence of Originium long ago. Because he did not have any Originium in his body, theoretically, he could not develop Originium Arts like the Terrans.
So, let's give it a try. What exactly can level one access do?
Ama-9 reached out and aimed at the orange-yellow crystal, and something unexpected happened: the Originium began to emit light—light and heat are usually signs of Originium activation, and the activation of high-purity Originium often comes with huge risks!
"No! Stop right now!"
The person in charge exclaimed, and the personnel who had been observing outside the room immediately activated the emergency plan in an attempt to prevent the situation from escalating, but all of this was no longer relevant to Ama-9, whose consciousness had already entered the Originium.
Chapter 4 Containment Failure
Ama-9's consciousness sank into a mystical realm. The boundaries of time and space dissolved there, leaving only an endless sea of stars, countless specks of dust flickering in eternal darkness. He instinctively reached out to grasp—but only grasped emptiness.
So he looked back. A faint halo flickered in the darkness, as if it might vanish completely at any moment. Compared to the vast starlight, it was nothing more than a firefly's glow.
That was the Originium floating before Ama-9. As his consciousness descended further, the past carried by the Originium surged towards him like a tide—how it was assimilated from ordinary rock strata by other Originium into Originium ore, how it was stripped from the depths of the rock by a pickaxe, and how it underwent purification to finally arrive here. Even more incredible was that Ama-9 did not perceive it through shallow media such as words or images, but rather "personally recreated" it all.
“Amazing… this is Originium?” a whisper echoed from the depths of his consciousness. “A new language that reinterprets the universe…”
Ama-9 has already glimpsed some of the true extent of the Originium Recompilation technology—its limits.
Consciousness returned to its place. Under the silent command of Ama-9's will, the Originium, which had been on the verge of activation, suddenly froze. The light and heat vanished instantly, and the orange-yellow crystal became even clearer and more restrained—it was abnormally docile, unlike a dangerous mineral containing violent energy, but rather like a warm pebble in a child's palm.
"What...what's going on?!"
The lab director remained slumped on the ground, utterly disheveled. As a scholar secluded in his ivory tower, rather than a seasoned warrior, the primal fear of death had nearly overwhelmed him. However, his almost pathological thirst for truth ultimately triumphed over the fear. He forced his trembling body to its feet and staggered towards Ama-9, attempting to discern the drastically altered form of the Originium.
“As you can see,” Ama-9’s voice was calm and composed, “my Originium Arts seem to resonate with it.”
From that moment on, Ama-9's "life" was completely reshaped. Originium ore, crystal clusters formed after natural disasters, refined pure Originium, and even Originium dust left behind by the explosion of infected... were continuously sent into this secret laboratory. The person in charge meticulously designed one experimental plan after another, attempting to use Ama-9 as a key to unlock the deeply locked secrets of Originium.
But Ama-9 had no intention of relinquishing his value. Under his deliberate guidance, the experiment's progress remained stagnant—merely superficial observations like "Originium purity affecting resonance intensity," which were hardly meaningful.
The researchers were not oblivious, yet they maintained a tacit silence. Their attitude towards Ama-9 had drastically changed. The initial caution and any remaining respect for life had vanished. In their place came increasingly radical, high-intensity experiments, and even several obviously unsafe plans were forcibly approved—for example, having elite casters directly activate Originium Arts in front of Ama-9 to observe whether it would produce a new resonance effect.
This project itself is a massive Originium Arts reactor; if not handled carefully, both the caster and Ama-9 will be reduced to dust.
Subsequently, they even conducted fusion experiments directly with Originium using blood samples taken from Ama-9's routine lab tests—an extremely risky move that yielded a frenzied "result": Ama-9's blood did not fuse with the Originium. Did this mean he was naturally immune to Oripathy? Or… did he possess the ability to purify Originium?
If blood separated from the body can have such an effect, what level can the whole body achieve?
The "secret of Originium" has, like the sweetest poison, completely bewitched their minds. Ah, in Terra, Originium permeates every aspect of life, from birth to old age, sickness, and death, casting its shadow everywhere. To master its secrets—absolute power, endless energy, immortal life… the temptation is so deadly! No one can resist the possibility of becoming a "god."
Ultimately, with the covert encouragement of those in charge, they crossed the line—ignoring the ironclad rule from above to "absolutely guarantee the integrity of rare experimental subjects."
A syringe filled with orange solution was brought to Ama-9 by a doctor in a white coat. The person in charge still wore that usual, gentle mask that made people lower their guard, as if he was just there to give him a basic introduction to Terra.
“Ama-9, do you know?” The person in charge’s voice carried a false sense of pity. “Originium is the cornerstone of Terra civilization, but it is also the most terrifying curse on this land. A scratch, an accidental inhalation of excessive dust… can all cause you to contract Oripathy. Your flesh and blood will be slowly and painfully eroded and replaced by Originium, until… bang! You explode like a human bomb.”
“How terrifying,” Ama-9 responded calmly, as if he cared nothing for the curse. “It’s like a miniature version of some kind of natural disaster. You mentioned that disaster clouds might be a carrier of Originium. So, compared to the unpredictable nature of natural disasters, wouldn’t the countless individuals scattered across the land be a more efficient… medium of transmission?”
He casually threw out this chilling conclusion, and his unique perspective even caused a strange glint to flash in the eyes of the person in charge—if his purpose for the day had not already been set, he would have liked to sit down with this artificial life form and discuss this unconventional insight.
Unfortunately, there is no "later".
“Ama-9, so… you must be the salvation that God has bestowed upon this land.” The person in charge sighed, slowly piercing Ama-9’s bare arm with the needle in his hand.
“You once mocked the Lateran people’s beliefs, their unwavering faith in science and the absence of gods. But… I regret to inform you—” Ama-9’s voice suddenly turned cold, as piercing as the icy wind blowing across the Sami snowfield.
"God exists. And He has already punished the foolish people of the world."
Before the needle even touched the skin, the counterattack had already begun.
The orange, highly concentrated Originium concentrate—which should have been in its most stable form—suddenly erupted! Shattered containers and gushing Originium liquid scattered everywhere, bursting forth with dazzling yet deadly flames! The first thing to appear was the all-consuming light and heat; the surging flames, carrying the astonished supervisor, slammed him against the reinforced wall! The laboratory's highest-level protection mechanisms failed to activate; its built-in Originium circuits resonated fatally with Ama-9's magic—a bone-chilling cold instantly erupted from within the walls, violently clashing with the raging flames!
The shockwave from the explosion sent the researchers flying like rag dolls. Highly trained security personnel reacted swiftly; these were elite, handpicked soldiers equipped with Colombia's most advanced technology and weaponry, confident they could even rival the legendary enemies spoken of by Colombian veterans.
Yet now, the very technology they relied on had become the noose that strangled them. Under Ama-9's control, the Originium drastically changed form, transforming into countless sharp crystal clusters that pierced their flesh like living things. These crystals, under a specific "programming," had edges comparable to the sharpest alloy blades!
"Thank you all for the demonstrations, which have enriched my database. Therefore, I have delivered the most perfect answer."
The raging flames, however, now acted like the most nimble fingertips, gently licking and melting away the cold restraints binding Ama-9. He slowly rose from the small space that had imprisoned him for who knows how long, stretching his stiff limbs. His joints made a soft, awkward cracking sound.
"My bones feel so relaxed; that's probably the benefit of freedom."
Chapter 5 Mark Max
Such violent energy fluctuations could not escape the surveillance network that spanned the laboratory. Even if Ama-9 overloaded and destroyed the Originium circuits in the relevant area as quickly as possible, the mere loss of visibility into this critical area was enough to sound the highest level of alarm for the monitors.
The security forces intervened swiftly. Heavily armed soldiers were rapidly advancing towards his location. Ama-9 was prepared to engage—he had to eliminate everyone with the most ruthless methods before they could fully analyze his ability patterns. This was not a pipe dream for him. Even though he had never received military training, and his hand-to-hand combat skills were inferior to those of street thugs, his "divinely bestowed" power was enough to crush any mortal obstacle.
The Terrans have trapped themselves, embedding the most dangerous Originium deep within the fabric of their civilization. If civilization itself is likened to a living organism, then this body is already terminally ill, on the verge of Oripathy—it only needs the right stimulus to completely collapse.
Ama-9 blends into the shadows; his cold visual modules ignore the darkness that terrifies even the most instinctive creatures, which ironically becomes his perfect disguise.
With all core computing power unleashed, it fully drives the "Originium Recompilation" technology. Everywhere his vision extends, any Originium becomes an extension of his will. The only thing he needs to fear is the fully formed spells unleashed by enemies from a distance—those flames or frosts that have detached from their Originium form and transformed into pure energy, which he cannot interfere with.
However, before the new enemy could arrive, a sudden change occurred!
Intense gunfire erupted from the depths of the dark passageway, followed by the simultaneous and complete extinguishing of all lights—clearly, someone had precisely severed the laboratory's energy core.
Clang! Bang!
The deafening clang of metal clashing, the angry roars, and the brief screams of agony mingled together, only to abruptly cease a few minutes later, returning to deathly silence.
Ama-9 couldn't determine the source of the change, but the situation had clearly exceeded expectations. He could no longer wait passively; he had to take the initiative.
In the shadows, a gray figure darted past like a ghost. The Lupo's agility allowed him to perfectly conceal his presence in the darkness.
Having never stepped out of the cage, Ama-9 naturally didn't know the way and could only barely deduce the designer's layout logic based on the room numbers and the direction of the passage.
Unfortunately, he ultimately underestimated the thorough preparations of the visitors.
Several heavily armed soldiers had firmly sealed off the key exit. Beneath their feet lay the lifeless bodies of several researchers, silently proclaiming the ironclad rule of "no passage."
The night vision goggles on the soldier's helmet instantly pierced the darkness and precisely locked onto Ama-9's position.
"Target confirmed! Located at Exit D3!" the lead officer reported in a deep voice into his chest radio, making no attempt to conceal his presence. Ama-9's keen hearing picked up on this crucial information.
Stab it--!
The intention to disrupt communications was achieved, and a blinding spark erupted from the walkie-talkie—the precision instrument, which had passed through layers of selection in the Colombian arms bidding process, was rendered unusable.
Unfortunately, it was too late. The message had already been sent.
"Is my target?! Damn it... I should have destroyed the communication node immediately!" Regret flashed through Ama-9's mind.
The swarming reinforcements quickly filled all possible evacuation routes. Cold gun barrels and wary eyes were all focused on Ama-9.
He concentrated all his computing power, preparing to gamble everything—detonating all the Originium components on the soldiers' equipment to create a devastating chain reaction; this was his last trump card to turn the tide.
"That was... a truly magnificent demonstration. Ama-9. Or should I call you—a fellow countryman?"
A mature and magnetic voice, tinged with a playful smile, suddenly rang out amidst the grim atmosphere of the military formation. The well-trained soldiers, as if guided by an invisible hand, neatly parted to make way for them.
A middle-aged man from Liboli, dressed in a well-tailored suit, walked out slowly. His gray hair was neatly combed, and his shiny leather shoes made a crisp sound on the cold ground. The large and gleaming badge on his chest indicated his prominent social status.
However, the meaningful words did not come from his own mouth, but from the seemingly comical feathered beast on his shoulder.
With a jet-black beak, round, mechanical eyes covered in strangely textured blue feathers, and bright red claws gripping the shoulder pads of a suit, it would be almost indistinguishable from an ordinary feathered beast, except for its slightly larger size, were it not for the pair of small metal horns on its head and its tailor-made miniature suit.
"It seems your database is incomplete, otherwise you wouldn't be so unfamiliar with me." The winged beast opened and closed its beak, uttering clear human language, its tone elegant yet with inhuman precision.
"Well then, allow me to introduce myself. I am Mark Max. Like you, I am an exquisite creation. Of course, in terms of design ingenuity, I may be slightly inferior." Its tone carried a hint of self-deprecation, yet it also seemed to be stating an objective fact.
“…Is that so?” Ama-9’s response was icy. His senses scanned rapidly, but he failed to detect even a trace of Originium aura belonging to Terran beings—like himself, this was a being from a previous civilization.
More importantly, another database of "time travelers" contains records about this guy: the president of Colombia, whose goal is to unify Terra through technological superiority.
Therefore, considering the other party's objectives, the purpose of this operation is quite clear.
"Are you also planning to study my structure like these guys?"
“Wrong.” Mark Max’s tone was firm and decisive.
“That’s the most primitive and inefficient path. Even if we could analyze your structure, Columbia’s current technological capabilities are far from sufficient to reproduce it. I’ve come here seeking cooperation.” It tilted its head slightly, its mechanical eyes gleaming with a ghostly light. “I can fill in the gaps in your database and grant you a social status commensurate with your abilities. Isn’t that the optimal solution for you to achieve your core program goals?”
"What do I need to give in return?" Ama-9 didn't press for details about the "program target"—he hadn't found any relevant instructions in his database. Since the other side had been misled by incorrect intelligence, he might as well take advantage of this "advantage."
Upon hearing Ama-9's words, the Führer did not respond. Instead, his stand-in, the Liberian elite, answered by pointing a miniature projector at the dark wall. The projector displayed a video of Ama-9 manipulating Originium over the past few days and completely destroying a laboratory just over ten minutes earlier.
Their angles were clearly not from surreptitious filming, but rather from the laboratory's own cameras, which had been secretly hijacked and turned into someone else's eyes and ears.
“This is exactly what I need—Originium. Even in the ruins of pre-civilizations, there isn’t much information. The potential you’ve shown is Columbia’s opportunity.”
Originium is the most mysterious and unpredictable among the many legacies of pre-civilizations. Even Mark, as a "creation," cannot match this near-divine power. Therefore, Columbia's progress in Originium technology is far less rapid than in other technology trees, relying instead on the arduous collaborative efforts of numerous technology companies.
If Ama-9 is willing to open his "deal" to Colombia.
So—the Columbia tank, powered by Originium, will completely crush the entire continent of Terra within twenty years!
Chapter 6 Mutual Threats
"So, what if I... refuse to cooperate?"
Ama-9's chilling question froze the air like a cold front. Mark Max seemed to have anticipated this.
“Unfortunately.” The winged beast’s beak opened and closed, its voice calm and unwavering. “Given the extremely high level of danger you have displayed, Columbia cannot tolerate you becoming an enemy. Rest assured, as a fellow countryman, I will still provide you with the best possible conditions—exquisite food, reasonable entertainment, and comprehensive medical care. The only price is… necessary supervision.”
An elaborate cage. First, imprison them, then soften their will with time and resources—the subtext is self-evident.
“Then you should have prepared more thoroughly, instead of... rushing in so rashly.” Ama-9’s eyes suddenly blazed with intense data, and its core computing power poured out without reservation!
hum-
The soldiers surrounding him instantly activated their sophisticated equipment, all equipped with Originium circuits or energy cores, with blinding warning lights! This was a harbinger of Originium energy spiraling out of control and heading towards overload and destruction! Once these high-purity industrial Originium, already integrated into the cores of the equipment, collectively went berserk, the chain reaction of energy would be enough to completely level the entire underground laboratory along with the structure above!
“Calm down, compatriots.” Mark’s voice remained steady, as if stating a given fact. “Even if you wipe us all out here, the outcome will not change in the slightest. They are Colombia’s most loyal guardians, and death cannot shake their duty. As for me—my will has long been one with Colombia. Even if you are lucky enough to survive this destruction, you will never be able to leave Colombian territory.”
This standoff was tilted to the brink of despair from the very beginning. A fish in a jar, a prey in the palm of one's hand—these two phrases perfectly describe Ama-9's predicament. He awoke too late, with no time to build any external support. And Colombia, under Mark Max's will, had already been transformed into a meticulously functioning state machine. How insignificant is the power of an individual before such a massive, unstoppable tide of power.
But—this is Terra. The laws of Originium Arts prevail over all. Even though the legends have long since faded, the terrifying feats of the Witch King, who single-handedly destroyed cities and armies, still linger in the dreams of all tower warlocks who thirst for power.
So Ama-9 decided to give it a try.
The blinding light emanating from the soldier's equipment quickly dimmed, and the terrifying heat that had been scorching his skin dissipated. It was as if Ama-9 had withdrawn its power.
Mark showed no mockery—in his view, this was the inevitable result of logical deduction. Tools, in the end, must serve the will of their masters; they serve their creators, and so does Ama-9; personal honor and disgrace are insignificant before such ends.
Rumbling—even the laboratory with the highest level of soundproofing could hear the sound outside, the roar of rolling thunder.
Thunder? According to the meteorological and natural disaster observation departments, Trimont will have excellent sunny weather today. In this morning's news, the host even encouraged everyone to engage in appropriate outdoor exercise, enjoy a healthy life, and urged office workers to take a break from their busy work.
"Your Excellency, it's an emergency!" A near-distorted roar came from the communicator on Vice President Liboli's chest. "An unprecedented natural disaster cloud! It's gathering over Trimont at an incomprehensible speed! Neither the disaster messengers nor any observation systems issued a warning! The city blocks are being urgently dismantled and moved... but... but the progress is far behind schedule! Trimont... the losses are incalculable!"
Almost simultaneously, piercing natural disaster sirens ripped through the city's tranquility! Panic spread like wildfire, instantly scattering the leisurely crowds on the streets. The heart of Colombia was facing a sudden "natural disaster"!
"How are you feeling, Mark Max?" Ama-9's voice carried a cold mockery. "An unexpected natural disaster has struck Tremont, and the heart of Colombia will be devastated. Think about it—how many top scientists will be wiped out? How much cutting-edge technology will be destroyed? And... will your good neighbors knock on your door and ask if you need any help?"
He brazenly displayed his decisiveness—with just a thought, Colombia's proud capital would be reduced to scorched earth!
"..."
Mark fell silent. This wasn't out of despair, but because its powerful core was reassessing and calculating at an unimaginable speed. It was this almost precognitive computing power that had led the remnants of the Colombian army to repel the formidable enemy, Victoria, at the height of its power.
But this time, He doubted His calculations and chose to restart the calculations.