NOVEL NEXT Chapter 345: Final Deconstruction
"This is..." Regret let out a slight sigh in response to the question, "To tell you the truth, we're not very clear on that either. After all, each of us, including your thoughts, can easily expand to infinity. It's precisely because of this reason that we're able to possess such power. Conversely, the complexity of thoughts also makes it difficult for us to easily peek into them."
"Uh... So, you mean that you don't know either?"
"Mm... I can't deny that," she said: "Regarding the person known as Rule Zero, we can also say that we hardly understand him, even though he was created by us, we still know very little about him."
"Created with your own hands?"
"That's right... The people of Earth Civilization gave us the authority as the 'Blue Sky Appearance,' but didn't impose any restrictions on us. There weren't even any rules on how to stimulate the growth of the Power of Change, instead, they let us decide... Such actions made us feel uneasy."
"Why would you feel uneasy? I thought having such freedom would be rather nice?"
"It is precisely because of such freedom that we feel uneasy," she explained: "We know that with such Power, if not restricted, it could lead to total destruction, which is what we are most afraid to see. After all, after destruction, there would be no more change to speak of. Therefore, we created Rule Zero with our own hands and endowed him with the power to constrain our Powers."
"I see..." Xiao Yi nodded and then asked: "So, what use is that? I need information on why he would do such a thing. You guys... can't be without a single clue, right?"
"No... If it's about clues, we do have some. Rule Zero's thoughts reflect in his actions... In fact, now that I think about it, his behaviors have been off since the very moment we arrived on this planet."
"From the beginning?"
"Yes, in fact, we decide the trials that will trigger the growth of the Power of Change based on the different circumstances of each civilization, so the content of each trial is different. And this time, the trial content for Blue Star, which you know as the Analog Horror live streaming system, was proposed by Rule Zero."
She paused, then continued:
"At first, we all disagreed, because the format was too inefficient and simple. However, he argued that the so-called Analog Horror had briefly been popular in the past Earth Civilization, so we didn't say much and just started to establish a basic system in that format, moving on to create instances for the trials."
"Having said that..." At this point, the Seventh Rule could not help but interrupt: "But in fact, almost no one took the term 'horror' seriously, except for me. Everyone was just doing as they pleased."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi briefly recalled the instance content he had experienced and realized that indeed, very few of them had anything to do with horror.
"Getting back to the point," Regret continued, "in addition to that, Rule Zero had once conducted an action that was a bit suspicious. He... once made a request to me, which was to change the reward given to Blue Star into an Artificial Intelligence that he prepared himself, which he called a strong Artificial Intelligence. Initially, I didn't understand his intentions and agreed just to avoid haggling, but now it seems that strange action must have had a special purpose."
"...Strong Artificial Intelligence?" Xiao Yi also immediately thought of the mysterious Artificial Intelligence, also known as the Tower.
From this, Xiao Yi began to suspect something.
"I see, so that's what's going on..." Xiao Yi nodded pensively.
"How about it? Understand anything?"
"I might... perhaps have some idea," Xiao Yi said: "But, I still need more information. Maybe... it would be better to confront him in person."
"Really? Then go ahead. We will be waiting here with anticipation for the good news of your victory..."
"... Eh?" Xiao Yi was startled, "Wait, you're just letting me go like that?"
"Hm? Is something amiss?"
"No... How should I put it? Usually, after going through the trouble of bringing me all the way here, you should give me some useful item or something, right?"
"Nope," she said: "I've already mentioned it, Rule Zero is what we created to restrain ourselves from going too far, to limit us, so naturally, we are now severely constrained. Assistance in action, providing restraining items, we can't do these things, you're on your own in this matter."
"Uh..." Xiao Yi speechlessly pointed to himself, "You're really just letting me go fight him? Seriously? The opponent is the 'Blue Sky Appearance,' I don't think I can win without any preparation..."
"It'll be fine..." However, she said: "You have already possessed the Power of Change, the rest is for you to strive for."
"Already possessed it?" Xiao Yi was still somewhat perplexed, but he had no chance to complain any longer.
For in the next moment, Xiao Yi was whisked away by a strange suction force, and the last thing he heard before leaving was...
"Alright, enough chit-chat, better to get on your way quickly. Anyway, it's all up to you now... After everything is done, you can have whatever you wish for."
...
"You actually came back?"