Chapter 8, After the Apocalypse

Later

Of course, it cannot compare to the City of Bliss, which is the jewel of the Sea of Decay, the last remaining great city in the wasteland, and the final bastion of human civilization

Rogge said calmly

Please tell me more about these robots

Faster firing rate, better cooling performance, greater precision, and easier maneuverability

Which faction is pursuing you? Was that robot sent by them as well? Why? Are they also searching for the Star Array?

I am not considered a good person

You previously mentioned that all your understanding of the star formations comes from another explorer, who informed you of the existence of other worlds and guided you to the desert to search for the star formations

According to Roger, in each city-state, there are large-scale thinking and connection systems that can construct virtual reality spaces in the mind

It resembles an old-style rugged motorcycle, the kind with long handlebars, where a high-performance battery pack continuously supplies energy to the front and rear dual motors, providing ample power.

Thirty-two

The design of the dual tracks at the front and rear allows for exceptionally smooth movement across the desert, yet the absence of the noisy fuel-powered engine leaves Jiang Xia feeling somewhat unaccustomed

Those damned bastards

Perhaps he has already left this damned world

Rog explained that

Now ... ...

No, what they are looking for is not the star array

This oasis is located in the heart of the desert, and the influence of the Eternal Life Society has not yet spread here; the nearest robotic factory is over 100 kilometers away

Unfortunately, not all those who survived the nuclear war share the same civilized spirit as my grandfather

The target detection program relies solely on optical, infrared modules, and frequency band search positioning for brainwave chips

This name is quite well chosen

You said fifty years ago, you weren't born yet? Then how old are you this year

Rog shook his head and said

It is not very convenient, but it is powerful, so it can be used for self-defense and to bolster one's courage

The nearby signal towers have all been destroyed by us, information transmission has been severed, and the Free Citizens' City is merely a small city-state with limited resources

It is the kind that he used before to blow up the robot's head

Unfortunately, Jiangxia does not have a chip and is unable to connect to the locomotive operating system, thus can only sit in the motorcycle's cargo area as a passenger

Everything has an explanation

It already has the flavor of future punk

The second leader of the Brotherhood spoke earnestly to Jiang Xia:

Jiang Xia inquired further

Jiang Xia said

Armor-piercing depleted uranium rounds, even if made to bullet specifications, should not be intended for use against people given their penetrating power

I actually admire you, explorer, for daring to wander in the desert without wearing a radiation protection suit, without implanting a chip in your brain, and without undergoing any cybernetic modifications

That should be the destination

Jiang Xia said

On the hood of the car in front of him, there was a heavy machine gun with a three-barrel rotary design

However, without the premise of mutual trust, such demands are likely to transform into something terrifying

In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, what is there to say about freedom and citizenship? It is clearly a hypocritical place.

You explorers are a group of very free individuals, as he mentioned, he roams across various worlds among the stars, seeking knowledge and the like

Our research direction with the Immortal Society has encountered a slight 'conflict', and after being expelled, we had no choice but to seek out these relics left over from the nuclear war

In just one year, billions of people died, and when everyone finally calmed down, the world ceased to exist

A very cool car

They need to conduct research, so they cannot unleash destructive power to attack the oasis

When I encountered him, he was planning a journey across the wasteland, with the destination being the City of Bliss

Sending a few old, rigid hunter robots is already the limit; these robots possess powerful firepower and heavy armor, representing the first generation of combat robots from the Eternal Life Society

The brainwave chip cannot cease operation except in the event of death

Nuclear War

The implantation of a chip in the brain is akin to carrying a portable computer, which can synchronize with the prosthetic body to adjust the body's bioelectricity, thereby isolating weak radiation

Rog threw out a number, and sensing Jiang Xia's peculiar gaze, he said

Jiang Xia gave a thumbs up and gestured to Rog.

At that time, I had not yet been born; I only heard it from my grandfather. Overnight, chaos erupted around the world, conflicts quickly escalated into war, and the war evolved into mutual nuclear strikes

Chips are truly convenient

Jiang Xia took the circuit board and examined the area above Roger's ear, where there was a tiny blue indicator light that blinked on and off. Not only Roger, but the other warriors of the Black Hand Society also had the same device in the same position.

Even in a sandstorm, this cool vehicle remains silent, with only the unique hissing sound of electricity and the agitation of the wind and sand striking against its exterior

The current predicament of the Illuminati clearly indicates that they possess chips, continuously emitting information waves, which serve as a beacon for robotic assassins to lock onto them

It was previously unnecessary

On this wasteland, debts may not need to be repaid, but grievances must be avenged

However, it is a pity that if this continues, that city will soon be lost

But I still have my bottom line, so after my grandfather's mysterious death, we fell out. There is no need to elaborate on what happened next; initially, there were more than 100 people in the organization.

Jiang Xia keenly captured a key word, and he straightforwardly asked:

Grandfather's greatest ideal is to enable us, the remaining humans, to live better, continue, and rebuild civilization through biological modification

They are looking for us

Rog laughed heartily and said

Look.

Moreover, we do not wish to escape

You just mentioned the City of Free Citizens, what kind of place is that? Is it a post-war new civilization?

They seek help from themselves

Rog said

It cannot load the remote command module, the range of free action is limited to a maximum of twenty kilometers, it can only act according to established commands, and issues commands with a rigid set of permissions

Very good

It is highly unlikely that she is the naive type. Jiang Xia can be fairly certain that when everything settles, the cooperation between both parties will most likely come to an abrupt end

Therefore, there must be manipulators within the oasis

It is both an individual and a whole, having constructed a perfect "new world" upon the harsh and devastated reality of the world through data

Although this desert was not the battlefield of a nuclear war back then, and the radiation levels here are not lethal, you, with your pure flesh and blood, cannot survive in this place

He concluded with a curse, which confirmed what Jiang Xia had in mind, the strange taste beneath the sand, the bizarre numbness of his own wound, and the oddly flavored filtered water.

He spoke as he took out a delicate purple circuit board from the storage compartment of the motorcycle and handed it to Jiang Xia, saying

I do not have a deep understanding of the history of your world. Has there been a nuclear war in this world? How long ago did it happen?

After a brief rest, we set off again

However, this time, Jiang Xia no longer needs to measure this desert with his own feet

However, the City of Free Citizens is merely on the fringes of the wasteland, close to this vast desert

Where is he now

Jiang Xia remained silent, merely holding tightly to the pulse rifle in his arms. At this moment, only this cold weapon could provide him with a semblance of security.

The appearance closely resembles a certain model of heavy machine gun that Jiang Xia once promoted as a special industry salesman in various parts of the world, although its internal components have evidently undergone technological modifications suited to this wasteland world

However, its program has long become outdated, and the fire control system is also very behind.

Because immortality will

By replacing this circuit board on the artillery control panel, I will be able to take over the defense through the brainwave chip

The blood of those companions flows here, while my grandfather's body is still left in the City of Free Citizens, and the blood feud between both sides has yet to be resolved

The swirling sand and dust around seemed to have lessened somewhat, and visibility improved. With the help of goggles equipped with a distant viewing function, he could vaguely see, at the edge of the sand and dust, a faintly discernible building.

However, he soon discovered another problem

The nuclear war of that year did not have much impact here, so although it is a remote and impoverished area, the living environment is much better than that of other city-states

There is yet another reason for our collaboration, how wonderful it is

This is the standard configuration for wasteland dwellers

We only wish to utilize the star array to establish a base in another world, to recuperate and gather strength; we never intended to escape, and we will return.

Facing the issue of Jiangxia, he chuckled softly and said

He sat in the cart, gazing at the approaching oasis, various thoughts flashing through his mind

Jiangxia generally complains:

This causes these fugitives to be like fireflies in the night, unable to hide themselves effectively

When my grandfather was still alive, he often said that there is neither freedom there nor are the inhabitants citizens; however, it is indeed a city

With a face like yours, unkempt and full of wrinkles, one could easily believe you are seventy years old. It seems that the environment in your world is indeed quite harsh.

Rog's attire is similar, with a tightly wrapped leather coat and goggles on, exuding an air reminiscent of a wasteland gang leader.

But that was already a year ago

More than a year ago, we, the Black Hand, were still researchers in the Free Citizens' City, and at that time, there was no need for us to take to the battlefield

Rog's tone became somewhat somber, clearly indicating that this was not a good topic to discuss

The members of the Brotherhood are all survivors of a relentless pursuit

Jiang Xia gently touched the ammunition belt in the box and said to Rog, who was driving beside him

However, this thing is not entirely beneficial

He has acquired a new mode of transportation

The Brotherhood was established by my grandfather, who was a biologist before the nuclear war. After the technological explosion that followed the war, he found some inspiration and continued his research in biotechnology

You have ambition! I am starting to like you, keep it up

Civilization is no longer present; today, this world resembles a loose confederation of tribal city-states. I was born in that city, and so was Su.

Well said

What surprised Jiang Xia the most was that the bullets used by this gun were supplied in a magazine, bright yellow-orange in color, very heavy, each one being as thick as a thumb and nearly a palm's length long

I do not know either

The oasis is that big, so this task is very simple

The front end is sharp, and there are special symbols on it

They need Jiangxia, this pure outsider, to help them reclaim the oasis. In this context, Jiangxia's presence is irreplaceable, which is why both parties can cooperate so smoothly

The thoughts of tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of people, interact with one another within it

He paused for a moment before speaking

It is about the same

The immortals, those scoundrels, seek the knowledge within our minds, as well as the database left by our grandfather, to serve their nefarious plans

Only we, the former researchers who were forced to take up arms, remain

More than fifty years ago

As he drove through the pitch-black sandstorm, Jiang Xia not only wore goggles and a headscarf but also brought along an old helmet made of polymer material, which made his speech somewhat muffled.

In the dim sandstorm, he turned his head to look at Rog and then glanced at the few motorcycles that were faintly visible behind him

Is there any problem

In the current situation, placing the last hope of survival on the integrity and morals of these wasteland warriors is undoubtedly foolish

What kind of enemies do you usually fight against that requires such a ruthless thing

So you want to escape to another world

Their weaknesses, their detection range, and your action plan

His complexion also turned rather unpleasant. It seemed that Roger sensed Jiang Xia's mood. Amidst the sound of the sand and dust being stripped away, he said softly:

It is also possible to use chips to establish communication within small teams.

It is essential to make some preparations in advance

This is a vehicle that all men like

We have established our base in the oasis, utilizing resources brought from the city to set up defensive turrets. Your task is to infiltrate while we draw the fire of the hunters, eliminate the operator, and restart the turret program

He said

Jiang Xia asked: