John piloted the divine body to land on the plaza in front of the temple and slowly walked towards the temple entrance.
Upon reaching the entrance, he saw neatly arranged colossal pillars with reliefs on both sides, depicting the sun, pyramids, and humans worshipping wolf-headed, human-bodied figures. The pillars were also gilded with gold.
According to Cortana's measurements, the pillars on both sides were 566 meters tall.
Evidently, this temple was designed for 'gods' at least three hundred meters tall.
The divine body, originally belonging to a super-giant, now appeared tiny compared to this temple.
The interior of the temple was even more magnificent, featuring colossal golden pillars, golden statues, and a golden throne, revealing the god's pursuit of gold.
Seated on the throne was a being with dark gray skin, adorned in golden armor inlaid with ornate jewels, and a wolf head on a human body… Anubis.
However, this Anubis was more than twice the size of the Anubis figures outside the temple.
The most striking difference was that this Anubis's eyes did not glow red but were similar to human eyes.
Inside the cockpit, Cortana looked up at the figure and said to John, "Master Chief, it seems this is the real Anubis."
"Ah." John nodded slightly.
"Heh-heh." At this moment, the same voice from earlier chuckled within the cockpit.
Anubis stared at the screen with its golden eyes, as if it could see the two people inside the cockpit, and spoke without opening its mouth:
"That's right, I am the true Anubis. What you saw outside the temple and on the surface were merely replicas I created at will."
Hearing the last sentence, Cortana and John's expressions instantly became solemn.
Merely created at will…
One must know that it took Umbrella three months to weave a divine body, not including the time spent on equipment such as armor and reactors.
Evidently, the Anubis before them was far beyond their comprehension.
John's expression was extremely grave because, for the first time, he lacked the confidence to successfully contain this deity that had existed since ancient times.
"Comparable to a god."
Halsey's compliment seemed somewhat unfitting in front of Anubis.
"Ha-ha!"
At this moment, Anubis laughed heartily and said, "You need not be alarmed. If I wanted you to disappear, you would not have been able to approach this temple.
The reason I allowed you to enter is that I wish to discuss a matter with you."
"What matter?" John asked in a deep voice.
Anubis's divine body leaned slightly forward, subtly shortening the distance between it and the divine body, and chuckled without opening its mouth, "Is there a need for humanity to continue living?"
"…" (x2)
Upon hearing this, both Cortana and John fell silent.
Anubis waved its left hand, and two new screens appeared on the left and right sides of the divine body's cockpit.
The content displayed was the scene of the super-giant city outside the temple.
People were either strolling together, running their shops, or chatting happily.
There was hardly any sign of arguments, and even animals were not afraid of humans, coexisting harmoniously.
Then, Anubis continued, "Presumably, you have learned about my duties from myths or legends: responsible for post-mortem embalming and weighing the hearts of the deceased.
If a person's heart was lighter than a feather, they could enter the afterlife, Duat.
And you are now at the very center of this world."
"I never thought…" Cortana, standing at the control panel, looked at the screen on the left in disbelief, "Duat truly exists…"
John, however, went straight to the point, asking, "I want to know why you disappeared for tens of thousands of years, suddenly reappeared, and now wish to destroy humanity."
"No, young man." Anubis lightly shook its left index finger and explained:
"I never intended to destroy humanity. What I wish to discuss is whether humanity has a need to 'live.' These two are vastly different.
After all, destruction means humanity completely disappears, while death is merely another state."
Hearing Anubis's explanation, John immediately said, "Humanity deserves to continue existing on Earth in a 'living' state."
"Ho—?"
Anubis narrowed its eyes and retorted, "Young man, I have presided over the Western Underworld since humanity's birth.
From humanity's early days, when most could pass the weighing successfully, to now, where only a few out of hundreds can.
Since so few kind humans remain, why shouldn't I simply bring them directly to Duat?
Moreover…"
At this point, Anubis leaned back on the throne, looking down at John and Cortana indifferently:
"Moreover, the Earth's environment has been severely damaged by you humans. I believe it's time for another cleansing, to give other species a chance.
Although I haven't discussed this with those old fellows in the East yet, given humanity's current performance, it would be very difficult for them to refuse, wouldn't it?"
"No." John also retorted:
"You should know that humanity's most admirable quality is our unity.
As long as we humans are determined to accomplish something together, it will surely be created or built. And humanity is now reuniting.
"Hmm…" Anubis frowned slightly and said, "Your words remind me of an old fellow with a strong sense of jealousy… Anything else?"
"Great Anubis." Cortana interjected at this moment.
On the panoramic screen of the cockpit, she displayed the United Nations establishing UNSC, with colonial fleets venturing out to expand new homes.
Of course, most of it was about Umbrella.
Taking Umbrella's origins and its initial monopoly in the pharmaceutical industry as an example:
Umbrella established large comprehensive hospitals in various national capitals and major cities, reducing drug costs and lowering the threshold for medical visits, and so on.
There were also various technologies to improve the environment, protecting endangered animals to thrive again.
Besides these, most of the video and image data were likely Umbrella's containment files.
Cortana used this to prove that Umbrella was assisting and protecting humanity, and guiding humanity towards a new future.
Then she looked up and directly at Anubis, saying, "As you can see, Umbrella is the company that created life forms like me.
Umbrella has also, through various means, achieved humanity's first unification in modern times, and we now have a common pursuit.
That is to explore the universe, with our footprints covering the entire galaxy.
The social atmosphere is also slowly shifting from the past emphasis on money.
From my perspective as an artificial intelligence, and based on the analysis of various data, humanity will certainly transition from 'evil' to 'good.'
So… please give humanity a chance."
Anubis said nothing more. It seemed Cortana's words made it re-evaluate whether humanity possessed the 'value' to continue living.
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