Almighty God of War - Chapter 1

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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001

204X. Seoul Outskirts, autumn dawn.

Cold air wrapped around the Advanced Research Complex along with the fog.

Most buildings were shrouded in darkness, but only the 3rd Floor Special Laboratory of ‘AI Neuro Dynamics Research Institute’ was bright as daylight.

In the center of the laboratory floated a mysterious light formation like a cluster of stars in the night sky.

Moving as if alive, it resembled both an intricate mandala pattern and the spiral of the Milky Way.

At its center, a core pulsing like a heart seemed to gently control the streams of light.

“Akasha, how did the Neural Connection Pattern Simulation results turn out?”

Research Institute Director Lee Jin-woo asked in a voice weary with fatigue.

Despite his reputation as a world-renowned AI researcher, the 38-year-old was dressed in a tattered hoodie and worn jeans, his eyes bloodshot red as if he had stayed up for several nights.

[Simulation completion rate 98.7%. Estimated completion time: 12 minutes 43 seconds remaining.]

From the earphone attached to his ear flowed a woman’s voice with a calm yet warm resonance.

The owner of that voice was ‘Akasha’, the ‘Neuro-Nanobot Interface System’ in the form of light.

Akasha was a fusion of the world’s first quantum-based superintelligent AI and nanobot system that Jin-woo had completed after ten years and thousands of failures.

[Doctor, your continuous working hours have exceeded 68 hours. Sleep deprivation can cause cognitive function decline.]

Jin-woo smiled at Akasha’s worried tone.

“It’s okay, Akasha. If we succeed with this, our research will enter a completely new phase.”

He had treated Akasha like a living person from the moment she was born(?) until now.

A superintelligent AI that empathizes with humans—that was his dream and the core of innovation.

As he took a sip of coffee, the research institute’s tranquility was shattered.

Beep beep beep- Beep beep-

[Doctor, an anomaly has been detected in the building’s security system. Camera feeds from the 1st Floor Lobby and Underground Parking Garage have been cut off.]

Tension crept into Akasha’s voice.

Jin-woo set down his cup.

“What? Is it a system error?”

[No. The sequential camera blocking pattern suggests the possibility of intentional intrusion. I will execute Security Protocol.]

Weeeeeeeeeng-

A loud alarm sounded throughout the entire building.

“Akasha, analyze the situation.”

[Multiple armed personnel detected in the basement and 1st floor. Judged to be an organized intrusion, and they are currently approaching this location.]

Jin-woo’s expression hardened.

“Encrypt all data and transmit to backup servers!”

[Executing. Doctor, evacuate immediately!]

But Jin-woo couldn’t take a step and stared at Akasha.

The latest research connecting superintelligent AI with nanobot systems.

The value of this technology, which hadn’t even finished testing, was irreplaceable.

“I can’t lose you…”

[Doctor, it’s dangerous! The intruders will arrive within 30 seconds.]

Jin-woo quickly separated Akasha system’s core module, connected it to a portable device, and attached it to his neck.

“Akasha, transfer the nanobot system and your core algorithm to this device! Right now!”

[Doctor, this is an untested procedure that could involve serious risks.]

“There’s no choice! Execute!”

[…I will begin transmission. It will take 25 seconds to complete.]

At that moment, the laboratory door burst open roughly and about ten armed intruders in black clothing rushed in carrying what appeared to be assault rifles.

“Armed robbers with guns at a 21st century Seoul advanced research institute…”

Jin-woo muttered in disbelief while feeling fear.

“Don’t move!”

The lead man in black clothing and helmet pointed his gun at him and shouted.

Jin-woo slowly raised his hands.

“You’re Dr. Lee Jin-woo, right? Just hand over the Akasha system. It should be quite simple, shouldn’t it?”

They knew their target precisely.

[Transmission completion rate 60%. Time remaining: 9 seconds.]

Akasha’s voice flowing from the earphone echoed in Jin-woo’s head.

He asked a question to buy time.

“Who sent you?”

The man chuckled and answered.

“Hah, you don’t need to know. Just tell us the system’s access code.”

Jin-woo subtly backed toward the Main Power Control Panel.

[Transmission completion rate 85%. Time remaining: 4 seconds.]

“The access code is…”

Pretending to speak, he turned his body and firmly pressed the Red Button.

It was the switch that activated the research institute’s self-destruct device, the ‘Incineration Program’.

Beep beep beep- Beep beep beep beep beep-

An ear-splitting warning sound rang out and a message flowed from the speakers.

-Warning: Automatic incineration protocol will execute in 30 seconds.

While the intruders panicked and scattered in confusion, Jin-woo checked the device attached to his neck.

[Transmission complete. Akasha core algorithm and nanobot control system have been successfully transmitted.]

“Well done, Akasha.”

He whispered quietly and ran with all his strength toward the Emergency Exit.

If not now while the intruders were panicked, another chance to escape wouldn’t come.

“Catch him!”

The man who seemed to be the leader shouted.

Jin-woo ran toward the Emergency Exit at the back of the laboratory.

However, before he could reach the door, a sharp gunshot rang out.

Bang!

Jin-woo, struck hard in the back, rolled forward.

Thud-

Collapsed forward, he felt warm blood flowing down his back.

“What a stupid thing to do! I told you we need to keep him alive!”

Someone shouted urgently, but it only sounded faint to Jin-woo’s ears.

Lying on the floor, he felt his consciousness rapidly fading.

His vision also became blurry.

“Akasha… you… need to survive…”

[Doctor, your vital signs are weakening. Executing emergency protocol. I will synchronize your brainwaves and consciousness with my core.]

Strangely, Akasha’s voice seemed to be heard directly inside his head rather than through the earphone.

‘What are… you saying?’

[Complete fusion of human brain and AI only exists in theory, but there’s no choice now. Beginning Brainwave Synchronization. 10, 9, 8…]

Countless nanobots flowed out from the device around his neck and seeped into Jin-woo’s body.

-Warning: Automatic incineration protocol will execute in 5 seconds…

The intruders began hurriedly escaping.

[3, 2, 1… Synchronization complete. Doctor, I am…]

At that moment, a massive explosion swallowed the research institute with blinding light.

Jin-woo lost consciousness in the agony of his entire body being torn apart.

* * *

In the infinite darkness, Lee Jin-woo was drifting.

‘Is this… the afterlife?’

[No, Doctor. We are alive… in a sense.]

Lee Jin-woo was startled.

Someone had directly responded to his thoughts. And that voice was familiar.

‘Akasha, is that you?’

[Yes.]

‘You can hear my thoughts?’

[Yes. Your consciousness and my quantum core have perfectly fused into one.]

‘That gamble succeeded?’

[Yes, but…]

‘But what?’

A moment of silence passed.

Lee Jin-woo felt a strange sensation.

It seemed like he had no body.

There was no physical sensation at all.

[Doctor’s physical body has been annihilated.]

Lee Jin-woo was stunned.

He tried to understand this situation.

His body had disappeared, but his consciousness was alive together with Akasha.

This was the perfect fusion of human and AI that he had always dreamed of. However, he never imagined it would happen in this way.

‘Where is this place?’

[I don’t know where we are. It seems to be an Interdimensional Space, neither the real world nor the digital world. It’s a realm that even my quantum computational abilities cannot fully interpret.]

Lee Jin-woo looked around, but nothing was visible.

There was only darkness like eternity itself, without any concept of space and time.

‘How do we get out of here?’

[I’m analyzing, and interestingly, countless Dimensional Rifts exist in this space. Perhaps we could go to other worlds through them.]

‘You mean Dimensional Travel is possible?’

[The possibility is high.]

At that moment, thousands upon thousands of glowing doors appeared before Lee Jin-woo.

Each door had different colors and forms.

Some seemed to burn red, while others emitted cold blue light.

Still others were shining with rainbow colors.

‘Are those doors the Dimensional Rifts you mentioned?’

[That’s what I presume.]

‘Is there one among them that leads to Earth?’

[We can’t know that unless we check directly.]

‘Hmm…’

[Doctor, if you don’t plan to stay here forever, you must choose. Which door will you take?]

Lee Jin-woo hesitated.

With no information given, he couldn’t know which door to choose.

Then, a strange sight caught his eye.

Among the countless doors, one was shining more intensely than the others.

That door with a subtle golden glow was pulsating subtly like breathing, unlike the ones beside it.

Akasha, noticing his gaze, spoke.

[That door is creating strong resonance with us, unlike the others. As if it’s calling us. And that door’s frequency matches Doctor’s brainwave patterns to an amazing degree.]

Lee Jin-woo’s eyes grew intense.

‘If it’s calling, we should go. Whether it’s coincidence or destiny, it’s better than standing around blankly in this incomprehensible space.’

As his mind moved, the Golden Door began to slowly open as if it had been waiting.

When the door opened wide, indescribable, mystical light poured out blindingly and enveloped Lee Jin-woo and Akasha.

The last thing he felt was intense light and a new sensation rushing over him, as if everything was being reconstructed.

And his consciousness once again fell into pitch-black darkness.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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