NOVEL WEB Chapter 197:
Chapter 197: Surviving in the World of Artificial Intelligence:
Where there was life, there was death.
Where there was a beginning, there was an end.
In this sci-fi simulation, encountering the extinction of humanity right from the start left Xu Xi deeply astonished. He believed that the cause behind the AI rebellion was far from simple. Perhaps it was the result of malevolent cosmic forces or the casual strike of a higher civilization.
“However, no matter what the truth is, it doesn’t concern me,” Xu Xi murmured as he slowly stood up. His main goal in this simulation was to gain a deeper understanding of the sci-fi genre and to explore the true nature of the simulator.
Regarding the fall of the human federation and the truth behind the AI rebellion, Xu Xi was curious but had no intention of delving deeper.
“This simulated world is too dangerous, filled with AI capable of destroying cities and even planets. If I’m unlucky, even ten revivals won’t be enough.”
“I need a safer environment and more mechanical constructs.”
“With the synergy of mechanical resonance attributes, I must gradually enhance my knowledge.”
“My aim is to accumulate enough information before the simulation ends to understand the simulator.”
Xu Xi rose to his feet, his gaze first falling on the dual guns placed on the table, then shifting downward to the remains of the mechanical humanoid he had shot earlier, and finally, to the dim underground shelter.
To be honest, after understanding the general situation of this simulated world, Xu Xi had little hope for the simulation. However, he intended to make the most of the opportunity.
“For now, I should find a new place.”
“This space is too small and lacks the necessary equipment for mechanical research.”
The flickering yellow light cast an unstable glow. Under the intermittent illumination, Xu Xi gathered his meager belongings and slowly stepped up the staircase, gently closing the steel door that had remained sealed for a hundred years.
…
[You have left your temporary shelter]
[You realize that to improve yourself, you need a more specialized research environment and access to more mechanical constructs]
[Thanks to the data and maps you gathered, you’ve successfully identified a destination]
[It was once a hub of high-tech companies in the city, with many precision machines. Although most are likely damaged, you believe a few may still be operational]
[You proceed with extreme caution]
[Using the knowledge from your recent explorations, you navigate through underground sewers, avoiding the powerful AI patrolling the surface]
[They wander aimlessly, without true self-awareness. Instead of an awakening, it seems more like they are following orders to exterminate humans, endlessly searching for life until they decay with time]
[Feeling an inexplicable sense of sorrow, you quicken your pace, avoiding the AI patrols]
[Your movements are swift and agile, and you soon reach your destination]
[The number of AI constructs here is greater, many patrolling the surface, including massive federal war machines and anti-gravity drone ships soaring through the skies]
[Anticipating this, you bypass large AI clusters and sneak into the underground production facility through isolated pathways]
The destruction caused by AI on human civilization was immense. Cities fell, and civilizations perished. Once heavily guarded laboratories, inaccessible to ordinary people, were now places Xu Xi could enter freely.
There was no one left to stop him; his only concern was the ever-patrolling AI overhead.
“I can’t keep moving frequently,” Xu Xi muttered as he reached a secluded corner and cautiously glanced above.
The AI’s detection capabilities were extraordinary. Many were equipped with thermal imaging, and some could even lock onto targets from long distances.
Xu Xi had managed to stay safe so far thanks to his special attribute:
[Machine Spirit’s Delight]
This golden attribute provided an inexplicable affinity with machines. When Xu Xi held his dual guns or carried mechanical items, AI radars would instinctively overlook him as if he did not exist.
“I love the Machine Spirit,” Xu Xi remarked with a smile.
With that, he stepped into the underground laboratory, curiously inspecting the buried technological relics.
Most of the facility was empty, showing signs of forced removal. Likely, many devices had become part of the AI rebellion, escaping from the lab.
However, a few items remained intact, free from AI consciousness and damage. Xu Xi tested them and found them still functional.
…
[First year of simulation, you are 20 years old]
[Through caution and careful planning, you have survived in the deserted wasteland city]
[By studying AI patrol patterns, you have made navigating the ruins easier]
[Eventually, you settle in an underground laboratory, far from large AI clusters]
[You find numerous weapons in the lab, including a damaged power armor suit and several high-powered firearms, which you plan to repair]
[However, food supplies are running low again]
[You must leave your shelter and pause your research to search for precious water and food]
[This time, your luck takes an unexpected turn. You fail to find nutrient solutions or edible food]
[Instead, you stumble upon an ancient machine]
[It can collect moisture from the air and produce pure drinking water while compressing edible materials like small insects into consumable food blocks]
[You inspect it closely]
[It is a machine designed for wilderness survival]
[The water and food it produces have a peculiar taste, even bordering on unpleasant, but after careful thought, you decide to take it back to your new home]
[To be cautious, you conduct an on-site test of the machine]
[Machine Spirit’s Delight!]
[This time, the water and food produced taste unexpectedly good]
Xu Xi felt an indescribable change.
With Machine Spirit’s Delight and Mechanical Resonance both in effect, new knowledge flooded his mind. Beyond that, he experienced a peculiar sensation, as if he was merging with the machine itself.
Suppressing that odd feeling, Xu Xi began dismantling the survival machine. Its bulky frame was too heavy to carry in one trip, so he disassembled it into smaller parts and carried them back piece by piece.
The process was exhausting, but fortunately, Xu Xi found external mechanical arms in the lab, designed to assist in moving heavy objects.
Thanks to these tools, he no longer had to rely solely on his physical strength to transport the massive components.