Only I Walk Alone

Su Xiaoyu’s phantom disappeared behind the energy shield. Since the shield could block psychic energy, Fox Immortal’s magic couldn’t probe what happened inside the shelter. Fortunately, they learned how to enter the shelter.

The Fox Immortal said, “Go ahead, the last human on Earth, it seems that your ancestors left this shelter for you.”

“Colonizer?” Wu Ge was puzzled by the term. He approached, sliced his finger with a dagger, and smeared his blood on the shield.

Quickly, the shield reacted, seemingly analyzing the genetic material in the blood. Moments later, it spoke in human language: “Welcome home, Colonizer 4, the 36,598th generation colonizer.”

The shield opened a passage, allowing Wu Ge, Fox Immortal, and a robot equipped with an intelligent chip to enter.

Xiao Chao advised, “The shield blocks electronic signals. Everything happening inside will be recorded in the robot accompanying you. Once the shield closes, I won’t be able to assist you, please proceed with caution.”

The shield closed, silencing Xiao Chao’s voice and bringing sudden quiet.

Wu Ge pondered and then asked, “Two hundred years ago, a human girl came here. What happened to her?”

After a moment, the shield responded, “Checking requester’s authorization… Not within authorization scope. Please visit the shelter’s main control room for appropriate authorization.”

“Where is the main control room?” Wu Ge inquired.

“Requester lacks authorization,” the shield replied.

“What authorization do I have?” Wu Ge asked.

“Requester is authorized to reside in Living Area 3 and receive medical treatment,” the shield informed.

“If I have this authorization, then Su Xiaoyu must have had it too. She might have entered Living Area 3,” The Fox Immortal speculated.

Wu Ge nodded and asked, “Where is Living Area 3?”

Particles emitted from the shield formed a yellow arrow pointing in a direction.

Following the arrow, Wu Ge and company moved forward, with the arrow guiding them.

Wu Ge marveled, “What level of technology is this shield? Quite impressive.”

The shield explained, “I am intelligent particles, responsible for controlling the shelter’s facilities and defending against enemies.”

“Intelligent particles? So, there’s a machine controlling all particles, combining them into any object?” Wu Ge inquired.

“Not exactly. Each particle contains an intelligent chip, capable of functioning independently. Multiple intelligent particles can combine into any known material,” the intelligent particles clarified.

Wu Ge was astonished. Each particle containing a chip was unfathomable, let alone operational. Controlling particles theoretically allowed for the creation or dissolution of any material.

Reaching Living Area 3, they found a massive high-rise residential area. But it was more like a colossal bookshelf, with pathways as shelves and long, movable residential buildings as books, capable of housing many residents.

This part of the shelter was underground, protected by an eggshell-like barrier of particles, isolating it from the outside world for millions of years.

Wu Ge observed the massive Living Area 3, “This shelter could indeed house at least a hundred thousand people, but it seems unused.”

Two hundred years had passed, and Su Xiaoyu, unable to live forever, wouldn’t have survived two centuries, even if she had remained in the shelter and avoided alien abduction.

“How can I gain more authorization?” Wu Ge asked.

“To become the manager of Living Area 3, you can unlock certain permissions,” the intelligent particles replied.

“And how can I become the manager?” Wu Ge inquired.

The intelligent particle said, “Initiate the election process. Once more than two-thirds of the residents elect you as the manager, you will become the manager with a term of one year.”

Wu Ge was stunned. It was a democratic election. Since he was the only person, then that means…

Wu Ge said, “Start the election process!”

The intelligent particle replied, “The election process has begun. Please start voting.”

Wu Ge said, “I vote for myself.”

The intelligent particle stated, “Voting complete. Number of participants: 1. Total votes: 1. The 36,598th generation colonizer of Colonizer 4 has received all the votes and is successfully elected as the manager of Residence 3.”

The Fox Immortal was a bit confused, “Don’t I need to vote?”

The intelligent particle answered, “Pets do not have the right to vote.”

The Fox Immortal: ???

I am a pet?

Seeing the Fox Immortal about to erupt, Wu Ge quickly interjected, “Alright, what privileges does a manager have?”

The intelligent particle said, “The manager of Residence 3 has the authority to manage Residence 3 and also has the privilege to become the shelter manager. The method to become the shelter manager is through a voting election. Once receiving two-thirds of the votes from the entire shelter’s population, one is elected as the shelter manager.”

Wu Ge was somewhat speechless, “Going around in circles, it’s the same strategy. Anyway, I’m the only one in the entire shelter. Speaking of which, these so-called intelligent particles aren’t very smart. Is it because the intelligent chip is too small?”

The intelligent particle replied, “To prevent the emergence of a mechanical civilization, the intelligence of intelligent particles has been locked.”

Wu Ge understood. So the intelligence was locked. He didn’t waste any more time, “Initiate the election for the shelter manager. I vote for myself.”

The intelligent particle stated, “Voting complete. Number of participants: 1. Total votes: 1. The 36,598th generation colonizer of Colonizer 4 has received all the votes and is successfully elected as the shelter’s manager. All privileges will now be open to you.”

Wu Ge immediately asked, “Two hundred years ago, a human girl entered here. Where did she go?”

The intelligent particle said, “She was the 365th generation shelter manager. She boarded the Colonizer spaceship numbered 8997 and then left Earth. Currently, it is impossible to make contact with her.”

Wu Ge was stunned. Su Xiaoyu indeed used the same method to become the shelter manager, and she even left Earth aboard that only Colonizer spaceship. He asked, “You say it’s impossible to make contact. Do you think that she, is still alive?”