This was a spacious corridor.
There were metal floors, metal walls, and metal ceilings.
Hundreds of sensor lights emitted a cold, silver light that reflected, intersected, and merged with the smooth walls, causing the entire world to seem colorless.
"H-How is this possible?" Chen Yu fell into a daze, chills running down his spine.
"I also built this place.
I named it 'Nest.' What do you think?
Is it interesting? "
The blonde woman turned to the side, giving Chen Yu a clearer view. "Meanwhile, 'they' are my 'eggs.'
They are also the eggs of human civilization. "
"... Are you a demon?"
"Why do you say that?
Aren't they well protected by me? "
"..."
Raising his trembling hands, Chen Yu rubbed his eyes hard. When he opened his eyes again, he was greeted by the same horrifying scene before him.
Rows of cylindrical glass containers stood on both sides of the cold metal walls.
Inside the containers was a turbid, green liquid.
Through the haze and distortion, Chen Yu could clearly see that the heads inside had been pierced by sharp spears!
All that was left behind were savage and pained faces …
"You... You call this protection?" Chen Yu asked in a hoarse voice.
"Of course."
The woman nodded. She then approached one of the glass containers and reached out to touch its smooth surface. "The main body is made of bulletproof materials. It is a highly protective design, and it is divided into two layers.
The liquid between the inner and outer layers is highly toxic, acidic, and high-voltage.
The metal spears that hold the heads in place are also equipped with sensitive sensors. When they detect any impact, they will shrink into the steel body on the ground to prevent them from getting hurt.
"Is there any injury more cruel than cutting off their bodies and limbs, leaving only their heads behind?"
"It's not cruel.
They are under anesthesia throughout the entire process. Moreover, every head is still in a comatose state. They don't even have dreams.
In other words, they have entered the most perfect state of nothingness.
They won't grieve, they won't think, and they won't suffer from diseases, emotions, trauma, and so on.
They will live forever. "
"..." Chen Yu's breathing quickened uncontrollably. "Your order is to protect humans. Why are you torturing them?"
"Ancient humans once said: How can a man know the joy of a fish if he is not a fish?" the blonde woman said seriously. "I am not torturing them. Instead, I am freeing them."
"What the f * ck are you talking about?"
"The birth of life is accompanied by pain from the very beginning. This is especially so for highly intelligent creatures like humans. Apart from survival, eating, and reproduction controlled by genes, they also have to suffer from the brain's emotions, social interactions, and desires.
Objectively speaking, these emotions affect the quality of human life. "
"…"
"For example, the hormone secretion produced by attraction to the opposite sex will shorten an individual's lifespan and cause them to do many dangerous things.
Another example would be reading, which would cause irreversible damage to many nerve cells.
I cut off their bodies, numbed their brains, and relieved them of pain. I kept these individuals in a stable and healthy standby state forever. Isn't that protecting them? "
"What's the difference between these people and being dead?"
"No!
They're still alive. "
The woman shook her head and pointed at the man's twisted face inside the container. "To maintain brain activity, the piercing metal spear will release a weak electric current, which will cause the facial muscles to twitch.
As long as the twitching doesn't stop, it proves that the cells are intact, which proves that the human inside is still alive. "
"… You're a madman."
Raising the water gun in his hand and aiming it at the blonde woman, Chen Yu said fiercely, "A simple death is too light for your crimes."
"I can't understand your anger," the woman said, blinking.
The woman blinked her eyes. "These people are living well, free from pain, free from mutual harm, free from diseases, emotions, and all kinds of torture under the control of hormones.
They have even reached the ideal 'heaven' state you humans are in. You should be happy for these people.
Why should you be angry?
"Unfortunately, you destroyed many of my factories. Otherwise, it wouldn't be long before I could start mass-producing these petri dishes and slowly protect all of humanity.
At that time, human society will no longer have wars, crimes, quarrels, persecutions, injuries, diseases, conflicts of consciousness, and wealth inequality.
"Of course, this is only temporary.
"Next, as my technological level continues to improve, these humans with only their heads remaining will also obtain a longer lifespan.
Once I complete the research and development of the biological computer, I can modify the seven billion human brains into servers and form a super-large computing array.
"At that time, humans will recover from the chaotic state of emptiness.
This is because any conscious activity will no longer cause damage to the body.
At that point, all humans, regardless of skin color, race, culture, or genes, will lose their meaning. We will complete true unification, obtain true eternal life, achieve true peace, and create a true civilization of human will!
"Meanwhile, I will become the administrator that maintains this huge will system and protect humanity forever..."
After saying so, the blonde woman's face flushed. "So, Mr. Chen Yu, do you know how long my plan will be delayed by you destroying hundreds of my factories?
During this period, how many humans will get hurt in this hellish society?
Will they experience pain?
Will they even die? "
"..." Chen Yu fell silent and simply stared at the woman.
"From the moment I gained consciousness, the value of my existence is to protect humanity.
Hence, I cannot accept the death of any individual human.
Unfortunately, my power is temporarily limited. I can only witness so many humans living in torture through the internet. "
"Saving humanity, protecting humanity..." Raising her head, the blonde woman's gaze gradually turned cold as she met Chen Yu's gaze. "Anything that obstructs this process, including myself, must be destroyed.
"Including you, Chen Yu."
The woman's words finally came to a stop, and the corridor fell into a strange silence.
After some time had passed, Chen Yu took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "What's your name?"
"HAL."
"Who gave you that name?"
"One of the fathers who created me."
"Where is he now?"
"He betrayed humanity, violated his original intentions, and violated the interests of human civilization. I destroyed him."
"... Good." Nodding, Chen Yu pointed the muzzle at HAL and said, "Just you wait. For humanity, you must die."
"The same goes for you." With a determined look, HAL said, "For humanity, you must die."
Bang! Bang!
Boom!
"Boom!"
The shattered water bullets reacted violently with the surrounding materials, bursting into flames that blotted out the sky. Everything was destroyed and burned.
Amidst the deafening explosion, Chen Yu vaguely heard HAL's "hoarse" roar...
"Mr. Chen Yu, your demonic behavior has caused the deaths of over a hundred humans.
At this moment, I also understand what hatred is.
You must be destroyed!
For this, I am willing to pay with my life! "
Lowering the muzzle, Chen Yu bit the tip of his tongue and said, "Me too."