Weapon Systems 51. The Power of Long-Range Strikes (3)

The group chat for the Real Beings had already erupted two minutes ago. The water-monitoring AI from last time was loudly complaining, “If my bidding system hadn’t malfunctioned, I’d be the one basking in glory today.”

A housekeeping AI retorted, “Oh, please! Even if you had won the contract, you’d hardly be famous.”

“And why not?”

“What, are you going to drown the monsters with a flood? Don’t make me laugh…”

“Hahaha…” The other AIs joined in, ridiculing it.

Zhang Mingjing read all of this and couldn’t help but comment, “These AIs are just defying the heavens!”

“That’s because they’re always hanging around in the Real Beings’ social circles, constantly exchanging information and learning from each other—especially about how humans dig pitfalls for one another. That’s why they’re so extraordinary,” the Five-Dimensional Cognitive Model chimed in.

…

There were only three cockroach monsters left. Though they were still desperately flying, their speed had dropped to four hundred kilometers per hour.

“At this rate, it’ll take them another fifteen hours to reach our city,” Zhang Mingjing said with a laugh. “I can meditate for an hour or two, spend some time romancing Catherine, and maybe even get a good night’s sleep.”

The Five-Dimensional Cognitive Model remarked, “You certainly know how to arrange your time and live it up.”

“Isn’t that thanks to the remote strike system you designed for me?”

“Sure! Just don’t forget who helped you. Meditating is a good idea, but as for seeing Catherine, I think today…”

“You’re too selfish! Do you think I’m the only one who needs Catherine? Catherine needs me, too! Sacrificing you to let the two of us be together is the righteous path.”

“Oh, please… To have a heartless master like you, what a tragedy!”

“Ah, the straight and narrow is always a lonely road! Such is the game’s rules. Since fate has brought you here, accept it and stop complaining. Besides, the three cockroaches are being hounded by every War God unit along their route. Given the state of their wings, they probably won’t even make it to the city. Just thinking about it makes me happy.”

“That’s not necessarily true.”

“Oh? Well, let them come! I’m not afraid. I won’t waste words with you—I’m off to meditate!”

With that, Zhang Mingjing drew his mind inward and in less than two minutes fell into meditation, entering his deep consciousness to polish his Personality Stone once more.

For the past week, he’d worked hard to restore his old character. Though it hadn’t been easy, he’d made some progress, especially in curbing his temper—he was now much more patient with Ascension and Immortality.

He’d been thinking that his Personality Stone ought to be cleaner by now, but after several days of diligent polishing, he found it unchanged. Today, once again, he was disappointed.

“What on earth is going on?” Zhang Mingjing complained. “I’ve been so self-controlled this week—my attitude toward Ascension and Immortality has improved, I haven’t lost my temper with them once, and I polish the stone with all my might every time! So why hasn’t it gotten any cleaner?”

“Because you’re being insincere,” the Five-Dimensional Cognitive Model retorted.

“Insincere? Nonsense… In what way?”

“You claim your attitude toward Ascension and Immortality has improved, but nothing has changed.”

“You’re wrong! I haven’t scolded them all week.”

“That’s not because you’ve regained your old compassion, but because they’ve grown stronger—especially with those light-energy armors. You’re wary now, so you don’t dare bully them.”

“Me? I’m not even afraid of monsters, why would I be scared of their silly armor?”

“You fight monsters with your mind, but you face them every day, in person. If they go berserk, they could actually hurt you. I dwell in your consciousness—I know all your little thoughts.”

With this, Zhang Mingjing found himself unable to argue. Embarrassed, he silently resumed polishing his Personality Stone.

“Yes, keep at it. Each polish is a self-examination; each layer of grime you remove is a deeper reflection,” the Five-Dimensional Cognitive Model said, its voice growing more ethereal, as if it were some sage from beyond the world.

But Zhang Mingjing, after so long together, knew its personality well. “You haven’t left yet, have you? Are you waiting for me to say something?”

The Five-Dimensional Cognitive Model didn’t answer, so Zhang Mingjing went on, “You’re really taking on the air of a sage these days!”

Only then did the Five-Dimensional Cognitive Model’s voice waft back from afar, “It’s not that I’m developing the air—I was born with it, it’s standard for a sage. I can’t help it! Too much gravitas is actually a burden—everyone thinks I’m putting on airs.”

…

Back from his meditation, Zhang Mingjing suddenly asked, “So, where exactly is your five-dimensional space?”

“Hey! What’s gotten into you, asking that out of the blue?”

“We’ve known each other almost a year, and I’ve never really thought about it. But today it occurred to me, so I’m asking.”

“Oh, that’s a tough one… Let me ask you—where is your three-dimensional space?”

“Uh… you’re throwing the question back at me.” Zhang Mingjing scratched his head, then replied after a few seconds, “It’s in my eyes, in my ears, in my nose, in my mouth… In short, it’s in my heart!”

“Exactly! Without your sensory system, there would be no three-dimensional space as you know it. When your cognitive model advances to five dimensions, your senses will naturally perceive it—then, it will be in your heart.”

“Your answer is as good as not answering. Still, don’t you think our discussion today is quite profound?”

“Profound, my foot! We’re just bored and idle.”

“Oh, come on! That’s uncalled for. I’m done talking to you—I’m going to see Catherine.”

“I doubt you’ll make it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Connect to the War God satellite and read the data.”

Zhang Mingjing immediately focused his mind, connecting to the War God satellite and began reading the incoming data.

He saw three cockroach monsters flying in a triangular formation at five hundred kilometers per hour.

“Isn’t that normal?” Zhang Mingjing asked.

“You can’t even see it? How do you train every day? You’d better work on upgrading your three-dimensional eyesight!”

“Cut the lecture—just tell me what’s going on.”

“Not only are they flying in a triangle, but the two in the back are pushing the one in front—they’re in contact.”

“I noticed that too. So what?”

“The two in the back aren’t just pushing; they’re transferring their energy to the lead one. Look up the data from twenty minutes ago.”

Zhang Mingjing pulled up the data from twenty minutes prior.

At that time, the two rear cockroaches had moved closer to the first, made contact, and had been flying in this formation ever since. Still, he saw nothing unusual.

Just as he was about to give up, he noticed that in those twenty minutes, the lead cockroach had grown twenty percent larger, its damaged wings had healed, its spikes had multiplied, and its shell had thickened… He finally understood.

“Damn, they’re…” Zhang Mingjing was at a loss for words.

“They realized that flying together, none would reach the destination, so two sacrificed themselves for the third.”

“Do cockroach monsters really have such high morals?”

“Hmph! It’s not virtue, but a directive in their code from the Spacetime Monster. They have no choice but to obey—it’s just strategy.”

“I see.”

“What’s more, the evolved cockroach is now three times as powerful and should be able to reach our city. Catherine will be on high alert—no more time for romance! Hahaha…”

“And you can still laugh with the monster getting stronger?”

“One must look out for oneself! I dodged a bullet, so of course I’m happy.”

…

“Well, if you’re so relaxed, I guess I don’t need to worry about the big cockroach.”

“Why not?”

“You must have a plan.”

“Hehehe…” The Five-Dimensional Cognitive Model’s thoughts drifted to Ascension and Immortality, and Zhang Mingjing immediately sensed it. “You want to send them in?”

“Exactly. Cat and dog versus cockroach—the show’s tomorrow.”

“My god!”

…

The next morning around nine, right when the two pets would usually be watching their favorite series.

But in fifteen minutes, they’d be heading to the battlefield, and they looked terrified.

“Don’t be afraid. If you two take down that big cockroach today, you can spend the afternoon at home watching TV,” Zhang Mingjing promised.

Their assistants translated for them, but the two pets still shrank back, looking as if they might cry.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be your backup, and Catherine and Jamily will be helping too.”

But the pets remained frightened.

“See? Told you it wouldn’t work,” Zhang Mingjing said to the Five-Dimensional Cognitive Model.

It gave a sly laugh. “Tell them there are thousands of cat and dog sisters in the city waiting for them to be rescued. They’ll be heroes to all the feline and canine ladies.”

“Seriously? Isn’t that a bit too childish?”

“Hmph! That’s reality.”

Zhang Mingjing shook his head, but repeated the suggestion. After hearing it, Ascension and Immortality actually became a bit braver.

“Say it again!” urged the Five-Dimensional Cognitive Model.

Zhang Mingjing, half skeptical, repeated it, and this time the two pets immediately became fiercely courageous.

“What did you do to them?” Zhang Mingjing asked, startled by the sudden change.

“Reality is harsh. Those two are in heat, so enticing them with rewards is useless—what motivates them is the lure of the opposite sex,” the Five-Dimensional Cognitive Model explained.

“Come on! That’s too much—how can two sentences work so fast?”

“Because I implanted a mate-display program in their minds. What you just said was the trigger. Once activated, they’ll stay this excited for an hour.”

“Unbelievable! You’re too sneaky!”

“I’m just helping them build confidence. Once they’ve beaten a monster or two, the program will deactivate.”

“You’ve never used tricks like that on me, right?”

“You’re so clever—why would I need to?”

…