Soul of Burning Steel

The huge steel python Siberia watched as Joshua threw the soul-infused steel shards into the gate of time and space. It just watched all this quietly without any fluctuations in emotion.

Every world is different, and every world will is also different. Some world wills like to interfere with the civilizations and races in their bodies, and they will even personally help those cute, fragile, like dust Ordinary mortals who live and die day and night go to prosperity and prosperity.

And some world wills, to torture all things as evil - they may not really want to do evil, from a certain point of view, they just poke and destroy their bodies from time to time, like Simple and scary like a child playing with ants.

There are kind ones, some indifferent ones, and naturally there are evil ones and ruthless ones. The will of the world, just like intelligent life, has various categories.

And Siberia is more extraordinary-compared to its kind who are extremely active and like to interfere in the world, it is not interested in everything. The steel python floating in the void just wants to quietly watch the reincarnation of all beings. Take a good night's sleep... However, even such a simple wish can never be realized.

"A descendant from another world."

The steel python, who has never rested for a thousand years, watched the formation slowly dissipating, and whispered to himself: "I hope you can bring everything back on track... You are the only existence willing to help me for so many years."

At the same time, Joshua's soul was sinking.

Passing through the time-space gate full of fog, he came to the interlayer between the world and the void. The warrior felt that he was falling, falling endlessly, and the ever-changing curtain of time-space was shaking beside him. He felt that countless sounds and colors were invading his senses.

This is the first time that Joshua has passed through a strange world barrier. Usually, because of his familiarity with the world of Mycroft, he can cross this distance in an instant, but in the world of Siberia, because of a kind of The wonderful energy barrier caused him to spend a long time.

Amidst the hazy light and wonderful energy, the warrior's soul seemed to hear some 'voice'.

——Joshua, you claim to be the savior, who exactly are you planning to save?

——You once said that people in the world don’t need to be saved, they will save themselves, so why do you call yourself the savior?

This voice is very wonderful, as if it comes from the depths of the heart, and it seems to come from the void, it evokes every trace of fragile logic in the human mind, and asks back and forth.

Joshua didn't think too much about the origin of this question. Perhaps it was the doubts deep in the warrior's heart about himself, or perhaps it was the inner demons produced by the evolution of his life form. At this time, because the body and soul were separated, so that these Doubts that could not be hidden surfaced...but these were irrelevant, Joshua just calmly gave his own answer.

——Salvation is an act, but being a savior is an attitude.

Putting oneself above the whole world, condescending to save, this kind of idea is arrogant and unrealistic... But to help others not to go to destruction, in fact, you only need to do it, do it, and start to act.

The so-called salvation, to Joshua, is nothing more than doing something that should be done, just like a person with good intentions will help passers-by on the roadside guide the way, and will help those who are about to fall or those who have fallen Well, the warrior's strength has reached this point, so he can do such a thing with kindness, without any lofty name at all.

He claimed to be the savior, just stating a fact, but from the beginning to the end, Joshua was a warrior, and only a warrior.

The ever-changing curtain of time and space disappeared.

The cyan-purple steel fragments fell from the highest sky in the world. It broke through the clouds and fell to a diamond-shaped continent. It can be seen that the continent is barren, with only sporadic green dots all over every corner of the world. , and in the very center of the continent, there are one after another steel creations that are roaring and operating, and at the very center of them, a towering spiral spire that seems to be able to penetrate the clouds stands in the center of the world, with a deep blue light shining on the top .

Joshua is falling.

He has entered the world of Siberia.

...

This is a very small studio. Excluding the bed covered with traces of engine oil, it is less than forty square meters. A rusty workbench occupies nearly half of the room. Except for the workbench, the rest of the room is full of sundries and parts, and the dark and messy room is full of the smell of steel.

But at this time, the original strong smell of engine oil and rust was overwhelmed by a stronger smell.

Tick, tick.

On the workbench, a puppet in human form was placed in the center. It seemed to be damaged and was waiting for someone to repair it, but just in front of it, a stiff figure puppet fell on the stage, one of his hands was hanging down, and he could see , There was a huge wound on the side of this person's skull.

The liquid flowed out unstoppably, accumulated in the depression of the workbench, and then dripped down the ground along the hands.

This is the smell of blood.

A dirty diary, stained with engine oil and blood, was spread out, and the wind from the ventilation vent rolled it, turning it page by page.

[Work log, day 2971: Repair the three 'breeding area' suppressive soul puppets. Two were successfully repaired, one core driver was damaged, and a new soul core was applied to the 'Garden District'. 】

[Work log, day 2972: The soul core has arrived, and the soul puppet is repaired, which is extremely difficult and successfully repaired. 】

[Work log, day 2973: Promoted to a first-level maintenance personnel, transferred from the 'No. 1 maintenance area in the breeding area' to the 'No. 6 maintenance room in the garden area', the work room is confirmed, the workbench is unlocked, and it starts the next day A new day at work. 】

[Work log, day 2974: Hit by the soul energy leaked by the puppet, the work was not completed, my head is so strange, what does it feel like... I got a warning from the management area: next time if the task is not completed without applying, I will be destroyed. 】

[Wait, what is 'I'? 】

Scattered smudges and graffiti covered all the words, and it was impossible to see what was written. When it reappeared, it was already a few pages later.

[Work Log, Day 3002: I'm confused, what's going on here? When I came to the garden area, my brain was suddenly very clear, and the knowledge that was originally irrelevant was integrated... I have no memory of what kind of life I lived before, and the people around me are like soul puppets. Work at the same pace... I probably used to. 】

[Work log, day 3003: Today is the first month of waking up, and I have completed routine soul puppet repair tasks, most of which are simple joint failures, and it will not take me three minutes... But everything is too abnormal , the maintenance guys like me didn't respond to anything I said, neither did the people walking in the hallway... couldn't they hear me? However, the diary has become a habit, and I will probably continue to write. 】

[Work log, day 3005: When I wanted to get out of the maintenance area, I was stopped by the soul puppet. In front of me was the garden area. I could see the children playing on the grass. They were very happy, and the soul puppet was taking care of them... maybe I thought too much, probably because I am not qualified to move freely in the garden area because I am from the breeding area. Seeing the children playing happily, I also feel happy. 】

[Work log, day 3012: No! The kids play exactly the same way, like, like puppets... I get the creepy feeling that something is definitely wrong here, am I the only one who thinks so? 】

[Work log, day 3031, the second month after waking up, nothing has changed, everyone's living habits are 'work', 'daze' and 'sleep', they can hear me, but they don't pay attention to what I say A few days ago, a new group of children came to the garden area. They looked more timid than before, afraid of the surrounding environment, but they were a little more real... But after a few days, they all became like the previous children. , happy, but looks like a puppet! 】

[Work log, day 3047: If this continues, I'm afraid I will be assimilated into a puppet again... There have been many damaged puppets in the recent period, and there seem to be traces of various flames melting and freezing at low temperature. It seems to have experienced a battle. It’s a lot of trouble to fix, but it just saved me from this feeling of loneliness…]

[Work log... Fuck the first few days, what happened to this damn world? I can't even get out of this pit hallway! Those soul puppets are blocking the door, holding the furnace ray generator for destroying garbage in their hands, I can't take risks with my life... But I really hope to see some different scenery, I even start to miss the past days without wisdom Well, at least I can work continuously for 3000 days without any dull complaints! 】

The diary recorder finally began to complain. It could be seen that his anger was piling up, but he couldn't find a channel to vent it. But in the end, he gradually calmed down and started to write a new diary.

[Work log, day 3173: Although it is still difficult to accept, why other people can endure this constant lonely day... Maybe I made a mistake, the part of my soul that manages restlessness is out of balance, just like those souls Like a golem with a broken core...but I'm not going to fix this. In short, there are many books in the maintenance room, which are probably used to inquire about the knowledge of repairing soul puppets. Anyway, there is no way to vent, so it is better to read more books. 】

There is a short blank space next, and the handwriting on the upper and lower ends is very different, as if it has been a long time.

[Work Log, Day 3726: I'm probably a little crazy to keep coming back to this damn diary, but I have to write down what I saw today... The kids in the Garden District are grown up, the biggest ones Presumably meeting the criteria for adulthood, the soul puppet took them all and sent them to the medical area next door, but they never came out again... The soul core reserves increased, oh my god, I don't know what I'm saying What, what on earth am I doing? who I am? 】

[Work log, day 3739: A few days ago I took off my clothes and poured cold water on my body. My head started to feel hot. This is the cold mentioned in the book... The soul puppet entered the studio and took me away. The first time I left the pit hallway, they took me to the medical area, the same deadpan people, they diagnosed me, gave me medication, gave me injections, and I took the opportunity to look around... before I injected During the injection, another child was brought in by the soul puppet, who took her into the last operating room... The puppet came out with two boxes in its hand, but the child did not. The puppet put a box on the cabinet next to it, and I saw the same boxes on the cabinets around, and it said...'super power unit'? Probably the word.

Back in the maintenance room, I found that there was one more soul core reserve. I probably understood, the unexpected calm in my heart, I thought I would go crazy, but am I not crazy now? Ha ha. 】

[Work log, the 4000th day: a whole number, I gradually come out of the decadence. After all, I am still alive, and living is hope. No matter how lonely and boring I am, I am better than those civilians in the farming area and those children who are sent to the operating room. My God, I actually started to feel superior because of it. After all, compared to ignorant farmers and harvested crops, a crazy maintenance worker would naturally feel superior, wouldn't he? 】

[Work log. Day 4123: It is worth making a note today, because the number of soul puppets sent for repair for the first time exceeded 15, which broke the record. These stupid big puppets are all traces of battle, various penetrating injuries and shattering injuries. There are more than seven soul cores damaged... Someone is fighting these guys and can actually destroy these puppets! For me, this is simply the biggest motivation. Although I don’t know whether these people will come, I will wait, hope and wait. This is my creed to maintain my sanity in this endless loneliness. 】

[Day 4779: The maintenance worker in the No. 5 maintenance room next door was taken away by the soul puppet. Wrinkles appeared on his face and his hands began to tremble. He was also sent to the medical area, and there was another soul core , I stared at those patrolling soul puppets for a long time-under the familiar steel shell, is there a familiar soul hidden? 】

The handwriting that wrote these words was trembling, it seemed to be because of fear, it seemed to be because of anger, but more, I am afraid it was bewilderment, the owner of the diary seemed not to know what he should do until the next time the diary appeared.

[On the 5000th day, another round number, I am getting used to loneliness, I have learned to empty my head, just like those people who are in a daze. Through the opportunity of several puppet inspections, I walked around the small half of the garden area, and I have roughly understood what kind of environment I am in.

The garden area is surrounded by a vast breeding area in the center, and new children are sent here every day. I am in the most central part of the garden area, and all severely damaged puppets will be sent here for repair or disassembly ... If the breeding area is a farm for cultivating the wheat and bread we eat, then the garden area is a farm for cultivating the "soul core".

That being the case, whose wheat and bread are we?

At least, I believe that my waiting is worthwhile. I am discovering the truth of the world we live in bit by bit... Although I cannot wake up others, such records must be meaningful. We have words, books, Can make soul puppets, can build huge breeding gardens, we can't be born puppets who only know how to work and sleep...someone turned us into what we are today, and I will remember it all. 】

After that, there was no record anymore. There was a long period of blankness in the diary, the pages of the book were flipped, and the clean paper was flipped, until finally, on the last page of the diary, a huge number suddenly appeared abruptly.

【10000 days】

[Twenty years. It has been twenty years since I woke up. This is a long time, and I even forgot the original mental journey. Fortunately, I found my diary, which made me recall the past again.

I am old, and the wrinkles on my face are beginning to appear, just like the fifth maintenance worker back then. My hands have not started shaking yet, but it should be soon. Although it is an illusion, I always feel that those soul puppets are staring at me Well, it won't be long before they will probably send me to the medical room and let me become a soul core.

My compatriots who have not yet awakened, I was surprised, feared, and despised them at first. I despised, despised, and ignored them from the back. I thought I was different and could change some things, but I found that I was no different from those compatriots. I even endured more loneliness and pain than them, but I still Live the same life. But so what? They are all the same as me, I just got self-awareness because of a lucky soul shock, that's all, and I recorded these words just to prove my existence.

I pity them, just as I pity my own fate. I have thought about it for twenty years, and the conclusion is that if there is hope, I will exist. I will not go crazy, but I don't have another twenty years to wait.

The fighting in the outside world is still going on, and puppets needing repairs are coming in a steady stream. Because of this, I still have hope. I know that the soul puppet will come over one day and take me away and become a soul core, but I will not let them do this, they will never succeed.

I would rather die with hope enough to kill than endure a second of peaceful despair.

I choose to die, I should have chosen to, a sweet death, free from the cage of despair, the only freedom I have left in this prison called the Garden.

The maintenance worker is not repairing his own mind, this is the work log of the last day. 】

Blood ticks.

The viscous blood began to coagulate gradually, and one could see the appearance of the middle-aged man who had fallen on the workbench and was beginning to age.

He has good facial features and a strong body. Years of maintenance work have made him healthy. The top of the man's head has begun to turn white and his hair is falling out. He is wearing a gray maintenance uniform. The man holds a welding torch in his left hand, and his right hand is hanging aside. The fingers curled up slightly, and on the ground, a pen was in a pool of blood.

At the last moment of his life, the man shot himself through the head with a welding torch powerful enough to melt alloy.

This is his choice, a free death.

At the same time, a cyan light flashed past, ignoring all barriers and falling straight into this small maintenance room.

The dazzling silver light swept over everything around, the steel fragments began to choose their own hosts, and the low buzzing sound resounded from every corner of the space, making the soul puppets in the entire garden area look around and start to move around, looking for possible targets.

But then, the buzzing stopped suddenly, and the soul puppet couldn't find the target, so it could only retreat to its original position... But if someone can perceive the soul world, then he must be able to hear a deep and clear loud noise, just It was as if something had been embedded and was already in place—and in the next moment, an unparalleled coercion swept across the entire garden area and even the breeding area, dimming all the light for a moment.

In the small maintenance room, everything still seems to be the same.

But suddenly, on the workbench, the dim eyes of the damaged soul puppet flickered for a moment, and a silver mixed with purple-blue light penetrated its whole body.

"Snova-21 Harvest Type is restarted, the core is ready, and an unknown energy source is injected... the soul machine has successfully restarted."

An emotionless voice came from it, but the voice gradually changed, and finally turned into a deep male voice: "Find the body that best fits the original life form, start to possess, start to assimilate, start to load the steel Fragment plug-in, start soul infusion..."

"Advent ends."

Don't worry... this is the end volume of the second volume, the story may be a bit long and complicated...

This is an update from yesterday, I wrote about my insomnia and hair loss