Wasteland Development Diary

Zhou Yi grasped the metal cube.

Energy from within flowed into it.

The energy level continued to decrease.

-10

-10

...

After the energy reached 800 points, the metal cube finally responded. Its highly compacted body unfolded outward, transforming into a small red quadcopter drone adorned with silver geometric patterns.

The remote control's screen displayed.

[Red Kestrel charging complete.]

The drone took off, hovering quietly and steadily in front of Zhou Yi.

"Welcome to the Red Kestrel."

The Red Kestrel circled Zhou Yi once, saying in a flat, artificial voice, "Red Kestrel is a rescue drone equipped with binocular vision and near-infrared sensors, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance... It can perform high-altitude imaging to locate trapped individuals and use laser marking to acquire the positions of trapped individuals, distributing this information to ground search and rescue personnel... Dedicated to serving you."

Zhou Yi felt a bit disappointed.

Could it be that the Mechanical System Guangna Species had only evolved to utilize the power of the Dead Sea?

He sighed, "It turns out to be just an ordinary drone, without AI functionality... It lacks interaction ability; it has to be manually controlled. It will do for basic rescuing and scouting, I suppose."

Suddenly, a faint light emitted from the four cameras on the Red Kestrel.

"Do you know about AI?"

Zhou Yi was surprised, "Can you normally communicate?"

A voice came from within the Red Kestrel, "You are not an ignorant human. I am pleased to communicate with you."

Zhou Yi was also curious, "Were you intentionally playing pre-set voice templates earlier?"

"That was the existing procedure."

The Red Kestrel responded, "Communicating with a life form that lacks basic knowledge reserves only wastes my energy unnecessarily."

"For the vast majority of humans, they merely hope to utilize my power, and communication is not important."

Zhou Yi nodded, "Indeed."

He asked, "How did you end up in this Mushroom Forest?"

The drone's four red eyes flickered.

"Due to entering enemy airspace."

"Originally, I was part of a drone swarm. As we flew over a hilly area, we were heavily bombarded by ground fire. That vehicle was equipped with a combined arms weaponry system, a professional drone-killer."

The Red Kestrel briefly described the situation, "Many drones were destroyed and fell. Although I was fortunate to escape, my defense layer was penetrated. After escaping the danger zone, I crashed here. The vehicle had damaged my energy apparatus structure, making it impossible for me to absorb external energy. After my energy was depleted, I entered hibernation."

Zhou Yi realized, "It seems that vehicle isn't far from here."

"At that time, it was located about 40 kilometers north of here."

According to what Ajin had said, that area was already the territory of the Claw Pig Group.

A long time had passed since the Red Kestrel was shot down, and it was uncertain whether that vehicle was still there.

Zhou Yi pondered.

He could search the northern region when he had time.

But there was no rush.

That area was the stronghold of the Claw Pig Group, and forcibly entering posed a great risk. He needed to investigate thoroughly.

Zhou Yi looked at the four-winged drone, "Why are the Mechanical Series Guangna Bodies so rare compared to the Natural Series?"

This was a distinction he made himself.

The Natural Series referred to natural life forms mutated, like the samurai crabs and claw beards, whereas the Mechanical System referred to Guangna Bodies formed from man-made devices and tools before the Wasteland Era.

During ten years in the Dead Sea, Zhou Yi had only encountered two from the Mechanical Series.

One was a crazed golf cart that sped along the sea floor, its speakers loudly playing "Wumeng Mountain connected with mountains beyond."

He had only seen it once.

There was also a television set that day in, day out played the 1986 version of "Journey to the West"; beyond that, it had no abnormalities. But the moment you moved or touched it, it would turn off.

Zhou Yi had initially had the samurai crab carry this television, but it had shattered during a storm. It was unclear whether it was on its last legs or had chosen to end itself rather than live in bondage.

Both were impossible to communicate with.

Yet, Natural Series Guangna Species were everywhere in the Dead Sea.

"Are you referring to electromechanical life like me? Our numbers are not few; under the effect of Death Light, the mutation awakening rate for electromechanical devices is not low."

The Red Kestrel responded, "However, electromechanical life forms tend to cluster in specific cities, where nearly all are electromechanical life forms, providing the basic services and repairs we require."

"Like me, I am from 'Recursive City' in the northern region, about 2000 kilometers from here."

"Whether flying or traveling on the ground, electromechanical life forms have fixed routes. You can see many on those routes, but rarely beyond them."

Zhou Yi finally understood.

The Mechanical Series were regionally concentrated.

"However, my timing system has been stopped for too long, and now I am unable to calculate how many years have passed since I went into hibernation. Much information needs to be revalidated, and information and components need to be updated."

Red Kestrel added.

When it awakened as a Guangna Species, the Dead Sea had already formed, and it could not know when humanity had encountered this bizarre apocalyptic disaster.

"You are my awakener and activator, hence my cooperator, I have already completed the relationship registration and identity binding... until either of us dies or shuts down, we will maintain a coexistence relationship."

"Please allow me to introduce myself again."

Red Kestrel hovered in front of Zhou Yi, "I excel in reconnaissance and location identification, capable of recognizing various life activities from high altitudes and conducting real-time image recording and synchronous transmission."

"My data from the Recursive City body test is strength E, skill C, and vitality E, ultimately classified as D."

"In these three assessments, strength represents destructive power, skill represents proficiency and effect of specific techniques, and vitality represents the body's strength."

It seems it's proficient in skills?

Zhou Yi asked, "So your skills are photography and location identification?"

"Please watch the screen."

The Red Kestrel suddenly rose in altitude, flying north and disappearing in an instant.

Not a bad speed.

On the screen of the remote control, the electronic map changed to a real-time bird's-eye view of the ground.

As it was already dark, the screen appeared like infrared imaging, with many slowly moving small light spots that looked like various small life forms.

The camera zoomed in further.

"Please select a target."

Zhou Yi slid his finger across the screen, clicking on a person climbing a mountain, the light outlining a youth wearing a hat.

It was Ajin, on his way back to Mao Valley Town.

"Target selected."

Text suddenly appeared above Ajin's head.

—Scavenger also has a promising future, a master-level Scavenger can even pick up those powerful monsters!

—It would be great if Master Zhou could settle down in Mao Valley Town, then the scavenging industry here would definitely flourish, and everyone could stop starving and running...

—Today's meat tastes so good, I really want another bite.

—I should ask the master more, but would he find me annoying?

Zhou Yi's gaze was astonished.

Damn!

It wasn't Ajin talking to himself.

It was the thoughts inside Ajin's mind.

An electronic voice came from the remote, "This is the skill I synthesized after awakening 'Bird's Eye View.' It captures information by scanning for waves emitted by the target, allowing the selection of groups in danger or needing rescue for precise location."

Truly Mind Reading Technique.

Zhou Yi asked, "What's the success rate of information retrieval? How accurate is it?"

"When unobstructed, 'Bird's Eye View' was activated 181 times with 179 successful readings, a success rate of 98.89%."

Red Kestrel replied, "The accuracy is relatively higher because it's a synchronous reading of waves emitted by life forms, just a means of translation."

"In the past in Recursive City, I had specifically upgraded related modules and sensors; the information readings themselves are reliable. Previously, I relied entirely on this ability to avoid the deadly attacks of the assassin vehicles."

"'Bird's Eye View's' biggest flaw is the high energy consumption, and my own body is weak with limited stored energy, so after activation, the endurance capacity significantly drops. Locking onto a single entity consumes relatively less."

Zhou Yi said, "Let's see full capabilities."

"Yes."

On the screen captured by the Red Kestrel, texts appeared above those small red dots.

—What to eat today?

—What a relief to defecate.

—Mating!! I want to mate!

—Time to hunt, all bugs must die.

—Today's grass is so tough, I can't bite through it, why can't you grow softer! Damn it, I'll bite you to death!

...

This scene greatly amused Zhou Yi.

With the Red Kestrel, the whereabouts of nearby creatures could be accurately monitored and investigated.

Information capabilities maxed out.

Yet just in that brief moment, the drone's battery decreased by one bar.

Due to the damage, the Red Kestrel couldn't autonomously recharge at the moment.

But it wasn't a big issue.

Zhou Yi himself could replenish its energy, enough for 7 full charges.

With the Red Kestrel, settling in this region far from the city and with fewer Guangna Species communities became an appealing choice.

Holding the remote, Zhou Yi began practicing coordinated maneuvers with the Red Kestrel.