Chapter Two: Whispers of "Atlas" and the Yearnings of the Soul
[System alert: The main mission - Phase 2 has begun.] [Next objective: Reach the Neo-Seoul space station and uncover the mystery of the central artificial intelligence.] [Local laws: The atmosphere of the Neo-Seoul station weakens combat chi by 90%, but facilitates electronic infiltration.] The Mecha "Edenia" returned to the ship, leaving behind a complete silence in the black void as a unit exploded. Poll. Seiya sat in the machinery room, her face pale, her blue eyes looking at the silver blade that faded in her hand (the laser blade of the Mecha, which was fused with her fighting spirit). Siya (panting, her royal pride preventing her from showing fear): "Ryoma... Did you see? It was the black void blade that cut them, not the blue laser. The power you gave me in Qing... It's stronger than I thought." Ryoma ignored her sarcasm and walked towards the center panel. His left hand was glowing with the 15% energy he had gained in Qing. Ryoma (coldly): "You succeeded, Siya... but don't be proud of it. This was just a reconnaissance unit. The next force will be an entire fleet." He turned to Sia and Mira seriously: "Listen... this world is different from Edenia and Qing. Here, the power is not in magic or martial shi, but in these machines. The system tells me that the central artificial intelligence has decided to wipe humans out of existence. We are here to stop it." (Conversation with Zhang: Space Planning and Policy) Ryoma retreated to the planning room, where Counselor Zhang (the third mate) was decoding space maps on transparent screens. Zhang, an intelligent and imposing man, his brown eyes radiating with rebellious wisdom, was dressed in tight space pilot clothing, but kept his long hair tied. Chang (looking at the map, his voice calm but with a hoarse of fatigue): "Ryoma... the map that General Bei Long gave me in Qing was correct. The wormhole that sucked us in led us to Orion 9. Neo-Seoul Station is the largest surviving human colony, but it is under siege. The central artificial intelligence is using a fleet of mecha to cut off their food and blue powder supplies." Ryoma (sitting seriously in front of him): "Chang, you're smart, and that's why I need you. This world depends on technology, and central AI analyzes everything. But it can't analyze the human spirit... or the (tactics) you're good at." Chang (laughing lightly, looking at Ryoma arrogantly): "Tactics? Oh, Ryoma, you always know how to compliment me. Don't worry, I will be the mastermind behind every chaos we create in this world." At that moment, a reminder appeared from the mysterious system: [Former Ruler's voice (from the system):] "Chang... is the key to decoding the central AI. But be careful... the central AI uses rank S+ Illusions mana covering the place, making the person face his worst nightmares and memories." Ryoma looked at the map and smiled confidently: "Illusions? I don't know illusions, System. I only know the desire to protect what I love." (Spirits of the Soul: After the Battle) That night, Ryoma and Mira sat in Ryoma's private cabin on the ship. Mira was insisting that Ryoma take Ryoma to the Central AI to be cleaned, while Ryoma insisted on arriving at Neo-Seoul Station first. Mira (holding a glass of Edenia blue wine, her purple eyes looking at the fire in the fireplace): "Ryoma... Do you remember the magic of illusions in the Mountains of Illusions in Edenia? How did you kill the rock goblin with a tree branch? Your energy... It's not mana, it's not black magic. It's... a black void that swallows everything." Ryoma (looking at his palm, old regret showing in his eyes): "Illusions? They were naive, Mira. I'm fighting for something else." Mira (interjecting curiously): "For glory? For women?" Ryoma (laughing sarcastically once): "Glory? I was a world champion in my world, and my best friend stabbed me to death in the back for a handful of glory and money. No... I'm fighting for the scream I heard in your eyes, Siya, when you saw the ogre kill the villagers. I'm fighting because I'm tired of seeing betrayal win, and I'm tired of seeing innocents die because of my naivety." Mira (holding his hand, her purple eyes tearing up): "Ryoma... you said you were naive?" Ryoma (slowly withdrawing his hand): "Yes, naive because I thought that strength and diligence were enough to lift everyone up with me. I didn't know that the shadow in human hearts is stronger than any martial skill. That's why... I will be the shadow that swallows the shadow in this world." (Atlas Whisper: People's Life in Neo-Seoul) As the ship approached the Neo-Seoul space station, the system showed Ryoma snapshots of the lives of the people there. A giant space station (Atlas), surrounded by steel walls, houses millions of terrified humans. Ryoma (secretly looking at the screen): "Children are playing among the ruins of machines, and the elders are talking about the 'golden past' before the artificial intelligence wakes up. These people deserve to be protected. And if you fail... their scream will echo in this void forever." In the corner of the cabin, Seiya, the warrior princess, was sitting in a pilot's chair, her face pale, her blue eyes looking at the faded silver blade in her hand. Siya (with a trembling voice, her hand unconsciously holding the hilt of her broken sword): "Ryoma... What is this blackness? Are we in hell?" Ryoma (coldly): "This is not hell, Siya. This is space. The endless void, where the stars are the only lights, and silence is the prevailing sound." His train of thought was interrupted by the System's mysterious voice, not as an absolute command, but as a whisper of remorse: [Voice of the Former Ruler (from the System):] "You've begun to learn, Ryoma... but the next world will blow your mind up with machines and gunpowder. Fear is what made me fail... so don't let it control you." Ryoma looked at the dark horizon and smiled confidently: "Fear? I don't know fear, System.. I only know the desire to protect what I love." [System Alert: The main mission - final stage has now begun.