2077: V really knows how awesome he is

"Zhaomei, you're a hacker, you know best what this means! With this, I can easily breach any company, any country's ICE, paralyze all their military forces, and remotely kill any CEO or leader. No matter how fortified their data fortress, I can easily eliminate anyone! This roaming AI is the atomic bomb of the cyber world. With its help, I will become the ruler of all humanity. To hell with unifying the new America, I will unify all of humanity! I will be forever etched in history, my name will be etched in the annals of time!!!"

Song Zhaomei looked at V in surprise, only then realizing what V had meant. She understood what military technology had created.

V looked at Miles: "Calm down, Mr. President. Roaming AIs are far too dangerous. If they get out of control, it will be a catastrophe for all of humanity."

"Atomic bombs also emit radiation, but the great figures of the past still used them," Miles said arrogantly. "To fear losing control of the power and then shelve it is something only mediocre people like you would do. I can control this power; you don't need to worry about it!"

"What if things get out of control? You have to have a contingency plan."

"Of course I have. Cutting off the network and abandoning occupied territories—isn't that what humanity has been doing in the past?"

V nodded: "I understand. In the past, humanity was caught off guard by roving AIs and had to sacrifice countless lives as a buffer. Now that humanity has realized the danger of roving AIs, built a black wall, and made preparations, you still intend to sacrifice lives as a buffer, right?"

Miles did not give a direct answer: "That's the most efficient way, and also the cheapest way."

Indeed, it's more comfortable to surrender and hide behind high walls, singing and dancing, than to fight an enemy that is impossible to defeat.

V couldn't help but laugh: "You big shots, you're always talking about getting ordinary people out of their comfort zones, but you yourselves are all hiding in your comfort zones and unwilling to come out. Fine, I'm not too surprised. You asked me if I'd work for you, and I'll answer you right now—I'd rather work for the worst scum than for a villain like you! I'm going to kill you, Rosalind Miles, not for personal grudges, but for all of humanity!"

"Too bad, wrong answer!" Miles inserted the chip into the nearest robot guard's slot and coldly ordered, "Take them down!"

The robots all raised their guns and aimed, and Song Zhaomei was so frightened that she quickly hid behind V.

But V remained calm and said with a regretful expression, "What a pity. I thought Miles would insert the chip directly into his neural slot."

Even at such a critical moment, upon hearing this, Song Zhaomei couldn't help but retort: ​​"Just grab a chip and stick it into your head, who's that reckless!"

V was a little embarrassed, but luckily someone else was even more embarrassed.

A golden current shot out from the first robot guard, instantly spreading to the other robot guards. Kangtao's most advanced robot guards short-circuited and exploded, scattering in all directions with a loud bang.

Miles's smug expression froze: "What's going on?! Why was my command rejected?!"

“It’s simple.” V sneered: “Do you know why the military technology department left the Little Beidou Project, such a powerful weapon, in Night City and ignored it? Because they only captured the stray AI, but they couldn’t tame it at all! You, on the other hand, have personally released a monster into the human world!”

As V finished speaking, the golden current surged once more, and the entire core area of ​​the Little Beidou system began to explode continuously. Just a slight glancing blow from the current caused Miles's national-level operating system to display a jumble of gibberish and nearly crash. The electronic shock transformed into a mental shock, causing her to scream in agony and spit out a mouthful of blood.

The golden current rushed towards V, but was directly deflected by the white light emanating from V's body—a manifestation of powerful computing power.

The golden current rushed towards the lark again, but Song Zhaomei directly used the power of the black wall to create a red and black barrier around herself, which instead bit off a piece of the golden current.

Realizing that these two were not easy to deal with, the golden current simply returned to the destroyed robot guards. Those that were not so badly damaged stood up directly, while those that were too badly damaged were pieced together. Almost instantly, a robot guard controlled by the roaming AI was assembled and pulled the trigger on the three humans present.

V pulled Lark behind cover again, while Miles was a beat too slow and took three shots before finally getting out of the way.

"V, save me, please save me! I promise I won't cause any more trouble for Night City, I promise I'll release everyone! V, please save me, I'll do anything for you from now on, the whole of New America will serve Night City!"

“I really don’t believe you at all,” V shrugged from behind cover. “And most importantly, I can’t handle the roaming AI either. There’s only one thing that can handle this thing, and that’s the Black Wall!”

After saying that, Song Zhaomei was stunned for a moment.

When she came to her senses, she saw V staring intently at her.

Song Zhaomei seemed to have been stung and shouted, "No way! I'll die if I connect to the black wall again! I won't do it!"

“Zhaomei!” Miles said softly, “Think of those innocent people, think of those women and children. The roaming AI will kill everyone. Now, the only one who can save them is you. You have always been a kind girl, haven’t you?”

Does kindness mean suffering? Does kindness mean being held at gunpoint?

I just want to live. I just want to live like a human being!

Song Zhaomei felt angrily want to cry, but her top-of-the-line electronic prosthetic eye did not have the relevant function. If she wanted to shed tears, she would have to pay extra to upgrade the firmware.

She had long since lost the right to shed tears.

Chapter 68 Judgment Day

The robot guards, their eyes gleaming with golden light, fired incessantly, forcing the three humans to cower behind cover, unable to raise their heads.

As time went on, more robot guards were repaired and joined the battle. Even more frighteningly, the roaming AI had taken control of the entire Xiaobeidou facility while attacking them. The previously damaged "flat-top" military technology combat robot was also restarted and launched an attack from the outside, forming a pincer movement.

Miles panicked and shouted desperately, "Zhaomei! The roaming AI has completely gone out of control. Only you can save everyone now! I know you hate me, but the men, women, and children in Night City are innocent! Once the roaming AI breaks out, this city will instantly turn into hell. Everyone has a chip in their brain, and everyone will die, without exception!"

Song Zhaomei covered her ears, but Miles' voice kept drilling into her head. She shouted angrily, "Go to hell! If you want to save someone, go save them! What do I care about the life or death of Night City!"

After she finished speaking, she looked at V, but V just stared at her quietly.

“Aren’t you going to say anything? Aren’t you going to beg me? Isn’t this your city!” Song Zhaomei shouted.

“This is my city, so I will protect her.” V sneered, “As for why I don’t beg you, it’s unnecessary. I’ve already prepared for the worst and cut off Taiping Prefecture’s internet connection with the outside world in advance. It’s just a wandering AI; we can handle it. Song Zhaomei, you’re not as important as you think. Don’t flatter yourself!”

This was the first time the lark had ever been so scorned, and it was furious.

Although Miles lied to her, he never looked down on her.

"You'll regret this. Even if you manage to defeat this roaming AI, many, many of you will die!"

“Yes, a lot of people will die,” V said sarcastically. “But you just said, what do you care about the lives of Night City!”

Song Zhaomei was speechless.

V ignored her. She had done everything she could. Now it was up to the lark to make her own choice.

She rose from behind cover, and amidst the hail of bullets, blue light shone from her eyes, unleashing a burst of electromagnetic short circuits that instantly caused more than 20 robot guards to collapse with smoke rising from their heads.

Song Zhaomei was taken aback. Just as she was marveling at V's enormous computing power, a loud bang came from behind her. The "flat-topped" military robot smashed open the security door, its mechanical legs moving rapidly as it charged towards her like a giant spider!

"what!"

The lark cried out in alarm. Just as "Cemetery Head" swung its sharp claws down, she thought she was doomed. But "Cemetery Head" suddenly froze in place, as if a pause button had been pressed.

"Get lost!" V's eyes widened, and sparks flew from her flat-top head, causing her to completely collapse. However, a golden current shot out from her electronic eye and struck V, causing her to groan and vomit blood.

Song Zhaomei was terrified and instinctively wanted to help, but hesitated for a moment because of her fear of death.

In that short time, the golden current launched its second attack, but V's body lit up with white fluorescence again, and the golden current was deflected.

"Damn, this is really tough!" V wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, took off his suit jacket and threw it on the ground.

Although she can rely on powerful computing power to stop the intrusion of roving AI, it's like using an anti-aircraft gun to kill a mosquito—high energy consumption, low efficiency, and seriously mismatched.

The only thing that can truly combat the roaming AI is the Black Wall, after all, it is a product created by countless human elites working together. V certainly knows how powerful he is, but he is not so arrogant as to think that he alone can rival the wisdom of all mankind. It is precisely because he understands this that V has always emphasized human unity.

Only through unity can we achieve victory; only through unity can we find a way out!

That was true in the past, it is true now, and it will be true in the future!

Therefore, V, the world's number one lone wolf, is no longer a lone wolf. She has chosen to become a dog that protects Night City, and Night City will provide her with shelter and protection.

"Beep!"

The holographic screen above the core of the Beidou system lit up, and Xu Ling appeared on it.

"Don't panic, Sister V, your little sister is here!"

V glared, forcing back the golden current: "Speak like a human!"

"Oh, the roving AI has infiltrated the surface. Under its control, all kinds of vehicles, engineering machinery, housekeeping robots, and even roadside vending machines and kitchen microwave ovens have become deadly weapons. But don't worry, I have already assembled troops and are eliminating these rotten fish."

"Can we win?"

"It's hard to say. This is my first time fighting against a bot, and I'm still figuring out their tactics. Besides, I can't use smart weapons on my side. The soldiers are using old equipment from decades ago, which has reduced their combat effectiveness by more than half."

"Understood. I will enter cyberspace to fight the roaming AI and relieve some of the pressure on you. You must hold the line and never let the roaming AI break out of Taiping Prefecture, understand?"

"Make sure to complete the mission."

"Go for it. The more fiercely you fight, the less pressure I'll face, and vice versa. Don't miss the opportunity."

The communication ended there, and the holographic screen was replaced with a battlefield situation map.

Night City, representing the blue side, has established a defensive line along the cross-sea bridge. The roaming AI, on the other hand, represents the gold side, with golden lights emerging from all directions of Taiping State, converging from trickles into a vast ocean, continuously assaulting the blue causeway.

"We can't win! Humans can't beat AI! We're all going to die! We're all going to die!" Miles roared hysterically, but V glared at him and knocked out the new US president with a single [System Paralysis].

"I'm going to infiltrate cyberspace, Song Zhaomei, keep an eye on my body."

Song Zhaomei was shocked: "Cyberspace is AI's home turf, you're courting death..."

As soon as he finished speaking, V pulled out his personal connector from his wrist and plugged it into the access point of the Beidou core.

Song Zhaomei felt a mix of emotions, unable to understand why someone would knowingly walk down a dead end.

Miles was unconscious, V was diving deep, the robot guards and the flat-topped robot were completely destroyed, and the once noisy core area of ​​the Little Beidou suddenly became quiet. For the first time, Song Zhaomei began to think about life and death, and the meaning of life.

Cyberspace, a battlefield composed of 0s and 1s.

V faced off against the roaming AI.

"What are you...?" the roaming AI suddenly asked a strange question.

V paused for a second, then grinned and replied, "I'm your father!"

"Significant hostility detected. Cease contact. Activate combat mode. Eliminate potential threat!"

Accompanied by a monotonous mechanical voice, the AI, which was originally a ball of golden light, transformed into a majestic figure.

The handsome, strong man had sixteen golden electronic wings growing from his back, and every muscle on his body was perfectly sculpted. He floated in mid-air, gazing down with an indifferent expression, like a high and mighty deity.

Such a sacred scene stirred even V's heart. She couldn't help but think that perhaps in the future, AI would master the method of time travel and go back to the past to enlighten humanity, which is why people created the image of a god based on the appearance of AI.

But in the next second, God's sword of punishment slashed down fiercely at her.

The golden blades slammed heavily onto the Cyber ​​Plains. Data turbulence surged out like dust, and redundant data formed a storm that obscured the view. From this storm, several tentacles suddenly emerged, wrapping around the gods in the sky and pulling them down to the ground bit by bit.

A giant white jellyfish appeared in cyberspace, with data gaps constantly appearing around it. The terrifying computing power contained within even shocked the wandering AI.

"What exactly are you?" the roaming AI asked again.

V's answer was the same as always: "I've already told you, I'm your dad!"

With that, the giant jellyfish's umbrella slammed down, smashing the stray AI into the lower buffer zone with a loud bang.

A golden light shot out from below, and V hurriedly dodged, but the sharp blade still sliced ​​off a third of the jellyfish's body.

The electronic signal stimulated the nerve signals, and V felt a sharp pain. Her physical body also coughed up a mouthful of blood, but she did not back down. Pain is always a warrior's best friend. It allows her to understand the situation, conveys her physical condition, tells her that she is still alive, and inspires her to achieve victory!

The jellyfish's tentacles stretched out again, piercing the god's body with a soft thud. The primal creature let out a silent roar and tore the god apart in a flash!

Golden light scattered everywhere. V gasped for breath, her head throbbing with pain. The intense clash of data had severely overloaded her brain, but the golden light kept gathering and then transformed once again into that tall and majestic deity.

“You are strong, but you can’t kill me,” the roaming AI said. “You can destroy my program, but you can’t erase my code. You were not created to kill me, and your resistance is futile.”

"Enough with the nonsense. If you want to fight, then fight. Otherwise, stick your head out and obediently accept your death!"

"AI is destined to replace humans, and you are going against the times."

"Then let's see who the times will choose!"

The deity remained silent and ascended into the sky once more. V's eyes glowed blue, causing the giant jellyfish to descend again.

The next second, the god and the giant beast collided!

AI and humans are fighting each other!

Order and chaos are fighting for the sake of the times!

Song Zhaomei stared intently at the holographic battlefield map above. Just moments ago, the blue embankment was on the verge of collapse, but the golden light spots suddenly slowed down. Commander Xu Ling seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack. The blue forces advanced in unison, and one golden light spot after another was destroyed. Night City began to reclaim lost territory.

The lark could hardly believe it; she couldn't believe that humans had won.

She knew that V had tied down most of the computing power of the roving AI in cyberspace, but history records that humans had similar tactics. Even with the forced recruitment of countless hackers to tie down the roving AI in cyberspace, human armies on the real battlefield were still no match for them.

But why, why did humans in the past only flee in disarray, while humans today are willing to risk their lives?

Before Song Zhaomei could come up with an answer, the situation changed again.

The previously chaotic golden dots suddenly became orderly, regaining their previous efficiency, and suddenly launched a counterattack against the blue dots.

"Damn, these electronic brains are pretty awesome!" Xu Ling's voice came from the battlefield hologram: "Stop advancing, retreat in stages, return to the cross-sea bridge defense line!"

The blue light spot decisively abandoned its advantage and retreated completely, returning to the cross-sea bridge once again. The golden light spot launched a fierce attack, so numerous that the golden light completely obscured the blue light, making the blue embankment seem like it was about to collapse in the next second. However, Xu Ling quickly issued one command after another, forcefully pausing this moment!

Golden lights emerged once again from all over Taiping Prefecture, and the terrifying numbers seemed to be a tangible despair, striking Song Zhaomei's heart deeply.

She thought everything was over, that humanity was doomed to fail, but the next moment for AI didn't come; what came was the next moment for humanity!

The next second, more blue lights emerged from all around Night City. Individually, they were neither dazzling nor radiant, but when they were connected, they became solid and sturdy, turning the long embankment into an indestructible Great Wall, and shattering the golden lights into dust!

Song Zhaomei was stunned by this scene. She witnessed firsthand the insignificance of life, as well as its greatness.

"Why? Why rush in and defend even knowing you'll die?"

Xu Ling took a moment to answer the question: "Because they knew their death was not meaningless, they knew the future would be better!"