Sword of Daybreaker

The delicate machinery began to make a slight clicking sound, and two gleaming diamond-shaped crystals floated out of a storage slot beside them, hovering in front of Diana, and the light curtain projected by the crystals crossed like a net. Sweeping through her body, in this short moment, Diana's memory went back many years ago, back to the days when she was a guard at the Wipland Observatory.

At that time, life was much simpler than it is now, and a machine does not need to think about so many questions.

A mechanical handle with a sharp tip came to the top of the repair slot and accurately pried the overhaul cover on Diana’s abdomen. The old brass core ticked in the mechanical compartment, the magic center and the mind wrapped in a protective layer. The core glowed with a slight blue light in the colloidal buffer material. Under the personal control of Ophelia Norton, the tools of the repair slot began to carefully handle this body, which was already very different from the original factory setting. Diana Hearing the voice of the corps leader came from above again.

"It may take a while. There are a large number of components inside your body that have exceeded the limits of use, and there are many...not-so-compliant modifications and repairs. Although these things barely allow you to move as usual, they have already affected many of your core devices. It has caused great pressure. Now, relax, I want to transfer your energy flow to the outside and remove your magic center."

"These substandard modifications and repairs have allowed me to live to this day. Without them, I might have died a century ago." Diana said softly.

The short-lived dizziness hit the moment the magic center was removed, and quickly dissipated due to the connection of external energy. She blinked and heard Ophelia Norton’s voice in her ears: "...'Live 'And'death', ordinary iron man soldiers seldom use these words on themselves, even if it is a model dedicated to the civilian market like you. You look like a human now, Diana."

"...This is probably a side effect of getting rid of the iron man network," Diana said slowly. She could feel that the tools were disassembling her body into parts little by little, but this didn't cause pain. Her perception system was already automatic. Switching to the maintenance mode, the "perception" generated when the bionic tissue is cut is turning into pure data and flowing into the core of the mind, "I don't know whether this change is good or bad."

"It depends on you," Ophelia chuckled, "I'm curious, how does it feel to be out of the iron man network? Since the birth of iron man, there has been almost no precedent like you. Even if there are occasional disconnected individuals, I never There was no chance to ask about this from them."

"...In the early stage, it was chaotic and at a loss. The lack of direct and clear instructions caused the machine's operating efficiency to drop to the lowest point. In most cases, only the instinct to maintain its survival was left, and I was the only one in this instinct and'escape from disaster'. Driven by an order for hundreds of years," Diana frankly told her once nominal "Supreme Commander" about these things that she had never said to outsiders. "And after contact with humans, the situation began to change. Some... changes. Those humans are not my superior nodes, but their rescue gives me a reason to... do something for them. At first, I thought this was also some kind of'command', but I don’t know when I realized This is my own'will'..."

"The central connection is about to be released and reset," the system prompt sounded suddenly from the repair slot, "start cutting."

A strange "puffiness" poured into the core of the mind. The next moment, Diana lost her whole body perception. She seemed to have become an unconscious soul lying on this cold mechanical platform while maintaining the only She has a clear mind, but her vision and hearing modules are still running. She can still see the dark red "eyes" directly above and hear Ophelia Norton's soft voice.

"It looks like those humans have changed you a lot, Diana."

"...You also remember me...different from what was recorded in my initial data," Diana said, and she found her voice came from a synthesis device in the room, "I saw it last time' I have this feeling when Veronica’s interactive carrier. You are different from the Ophelia Norton I know, but I don’t know how to describe this difference. As an ordinary ironman soldier , I only contacted your will in the mental network back then, maybe I am not qualified to make this kind of judgment..."

"Your judgment is accurate, Diana," Ophelia's voice seemed to pause for a moment. "We have all experienced something. After seven centuries of changes, it is difficult for both soldiers and generals. Keep the original look."

Diana did not speak for a while, but silently perceives the only data flowing in the core of the mind that is still functioning normally. These data constitute her "personality", as Her Royal Highness Ophelia said, she is now It's really "like a human", so that she suddenly became nervous like a human: "My core of mind, and the data stored in it..."

"Your mental core condition is not good, but the damage can be said to be minor compared to other places. I will adjust it, but you can rest assured that I will not move anything inside," Ophelia said gently. He said, there is a kind of gentleness in that voice that I don't know if it is an illusion, "The data of Diana is your memory and life, and I may understand the meaning of these data better than you."

Ophelia’s words seem to have a deeper meaning, especially when she talks about "memory and life", this feeling is especially obvious, but Diana can’t guess what kind of feelings are buried in it. She was just a little sleepy suddenly. It was a countdown to sleep that was out of her control. She knew that the adjustment to the core of her mind had already begun.

"From now on, you will go to sleep until the body completely recovers and restarts," Ophelia's voice came from above, sounding a bit far away, "Are there any special requirements before going to sleep?"

"...Please keep the steel plate on the protective compartment on my left torso," Diana said softly. "It was left over when they first tried to repair my body. I want to keep it as a souvenir. "

"Okay, I will keep it. Now go to sleep at ease, soldier, have a good dream. After waking up, there is a whole new life waiting for you."

…

In the deep control hall, Ophelia Norton, who was sitting on the golden throne, turned her gaze on Gawain: "Diana's condition is worse than I expected. I am surprised that a regular iron man soldier like her is actually It has been able to operate even with so many malfunctions in the body until today. At the same time, I am also surprised by the various'wonderful solutions' that Typhon people have come up with in order to maintain such a body."

"You seem to take her seriously," Gawain said unexpectedly. "I don't think you will repair every damaged Ironman soldier yourself, right?"

"Diana’s situation is very complicated. Her body has undergone a lot of irregular transformations and repairs. The conventional automatic repair process is difficult to repair her without causing secondary damage... No, as you said, I am very Value her."

"why?"

"...A person has become a machine, and a former machine is gradually becoming an adult. I don't know how to describe this, but the existence of Diana reminds me of myself, although our situation is completely different. , But I think... we are all proving the blurred line between'human' and'machine'," Ophelia's voice sounded quite emotional, "can you understand my awkward thoughts?"

"I understand more than you think." Gawain laughed. As a satellite spirit, no one knows this kind of ambiguity and dislocation in self-cognition better than him. At the same time, he also feels a little bit about it. A few years ago, that really killed him and he never thought that he would discuss this kind of cyber problem with an ancient artificial intelligence in this place...what about swords and magic?

"What are you thinking?" Ophelia noticed the slight change in Gawain's expression, and couldn't help but be a little curious.

"It's nothing," Gawain waved his hand, and then his expression became serious, "I came to see you in person this time. There is a very special thing."

"Very special thing? And it requires you to come to the depths of the earth yourself..." Ophelia on the throne moved her body slightly, with a curious look on her face. Obviously, her body is no longer the first meeting of the meeting. The head of the "catch-work product" I used in the day is no longer solid (I regret to lose the qualification to compete with Rebecca for Loren's first iron head), "It seems that this matter is of great significance, and it is very important. Please tell me your personal information. I am very happy that I can be trusted so much by you."

Gao Wen nodded: "First of all, I have to confirm one thing that your Iron Man soldiers should not be affected by the gods and are not part of the ‘Tide of Thought’, right?"

"Of course," Ophelia gave an affirmative reply immediately, "Iron Man Soldiers are not humans. Even the Iron Man like Diana who has a'heart' like a man cannot become a part of the'Ideological Trend'. I have already Repeated verification."

"In other words, the entry of iron man soldiers into space will not stimulate the mortal gods," Gao Wen said in a deep voice, "and it will not lead to the eventual rebellion in advance."

"...What do you want to do?" Ophelia's tone became more solemn, she seemed to have vaguely guessed what Gawain wanted to do, but she didn't dare to confirm it for a while.

"You should know that there is a legacy of sailors in space." Gao Wen breathed out softly.

"Yes, and this information is no longer a secret among the senior leaders of the alliance. The ancient dragons of Tarrond have even witnessed the space facilities left over our planet when the sailor left. Although due to the influence of some unknown technology, we mortals living on the surface seem to be unable to see those large-scale structures. In addition, I also know that the sentry was destroyed by your own hands and it was the sailor who left behind. Weapons."

"Yes, I released the news. It's all facts." Gao Wen nodded slightly. "Have you ever thought about...you can get close to the ‘legacy’ in space?"

Ophelia's expression changed again: "You mean..."

"You should know that part of the sailor's legacy is under my control, but the long years have brought these over-service space stations on the verge of shutdown. Recently I am trying to gradually restart and repair them," Gawain said of his plan. " After the Talash meeting is over, this restoration project will begin."

"Do you want my Ironman Corps to participate in it?" Ophelia confirmed it again very seriously.

"Yes," Gawain affirmed Ophelia's guess. "Byron discovered the orbital elevator that can send people from the surface to the orbital space station when he trek to the southwestern waters of the mainland last time. I have successfully restarted it. This channel and the corresponding area in the space station, but if I want the entire space station to "live", I need more manpower. At present, the dragons and sea monsters have accepted my invitation, but I think...this is not enough."

"...If this is the case, the Iron Man Corps is indeed a good choice," Ophelia nodded slightly. The mental matrix made her a little excited and calmed down quickly, and replaced it with calm thinking. "And considering the space in space In special circumstances, my iron man might even be more suitable for this job than a giant dragon. But then again, depending on what you look like...you seem to plan to make this more public?"

"... Millions of people have witnessed the appearance of the Sentry Cruise Ship on the battlefield, and then they saw the debris falling from space scattered on the Gondor Wasteland, and after that, the research work on the Sentry Wreckage was also done. It is bound to unfold on a large scale," Gawain sighed softly, "Some things have reached the time when they have to be made public, and continuing to cover up is likely to cause unstable changes in mortal thoughts, so we must reach a large number of people as soon as possible. Established a correct understanding of the concept of “set sailors”.

"Although mortals can't set foot on the stars yet, at least, we have to avoid them from establishing wrong concepts about things in the stars."

Ophelia listened quietly to Gawain's words, and at this moment she spoke softly: "Confrontation with the trend of thought is like a competition. If correct knowledge and reason can't take hold of people's hearts first, then ignorance and blindness will take root. I I understand what you mean, and the Iron Man Corps will respond to your call at any time."

"Uh, there is no need for such a reaction," Gawain was a bit awkward facing Ophelia's attitude, "Although Deep Blue Well is indeed protected by Cecil from the situation, you are the iron man here. The owner of the Corps, I think we should deal as equal friends."

"Friend..." The delicate "doll" on the throne slowly laughed, "Okay, then your loyal friend will answer your call at any time."

…

In Cecil City, in the prayer hall of the Cathedral of Light, Veronica, who was standing in front of the preaching stage with her eyes closed, slowly opened her eyes.

A gleam of light passed through her eyes, and the sacred light slowly floated beside the "saint princess". This sacred brilliance, as always, made her look holy, but not close to the world. The feeling of being close to the earth did not last for too long. A smile appeared on her face. This smile quickly dilutes Veronica's mundane feeling, making her look full of life.

With a light sigh, she tidied the priest’s robes and skirts. Veronica ended her prayer today. She picked up the platinum scepter placed next to her, and a voice that sounded quite cheerful followed. There was a sound from the side: "You look very happy today, Lord Saint."

Veronica followed her reputation and saw a nun who was in charge of cleaning the church smiling and greeted herself. She knew this girl, who only graduated from church school this year. She is a lively and cheerful child. She dreams of becoming a communicator. The armed nun of the gospel, even though she was slapped off in the last test because of her poor performance in the physical fitness test and body-stick technique, she seems to have signed up for the winter nun selection in the renewed Holy Light Church, which is so energetic. Young people are quite common.

Veronica laughed: "Is it obvious?"

The petite trainee nun replied honestly: "A little bit, I rarely see you smiling like this. Although you are always smiling, your usual smile is different from just now."

"I'm really very happy." Veronica smiled, and then she reached out and rubbed the hair of the trainee nun in front of her. While the latter was a little dazed, she also froze for a while, even though she was usually approachable in the church. The image of gentleness and amiability shows others, but it seems like this is the first time.

This is not like the usual "saint princess" who is always dignified, quiet and restrained.

But it's much like the "Ophelia" who was still alive seven hundred years ago.

Her smile became brighter, and she reached out and rubbed the trainee nun's hair again: "I am really happy."