Chapter 65 Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland 28
"Brother Tong, immediately conduct the highest level of self-inspection!"
"Disconnect all non-essential external data interfaces and immediately activate physical isolation mode!"
Zhou Jue's voice, in the empty driver's cabin, carried a metallic coldness.
She realized what was happening.
That unknown virus was actually a lurking super Trojan horse.
It infects the network through invisible signals, and then through the network, it infects everything connected to it—including the human brain!
The central computer at the Kyoto base had already been compromised.
Just now, it tried to use the drone as a springboard to hack into her personal system via the data link!
[Received. Enforcing the highest security protocol.]
[Self-check process initiated... Latent data stream detected... Cleaning up...]
[Cleanup complete.]
All external data interfaces have been shut down, and the system has switched to stand-alone operation mode.
The system's voice returned to its mechanical calm, but Zhou Jue felt a fine layer of cold sweat seep into his back.
It was so close.
Her greatest trump card for survival in this apocalyptic world was almost breached from within.
She immediately recalled the Hummingbird drone, and without any hesitation, formatted it and threw it directly into the recycling corner of the Starry Sky Box.
Until the principles behind this information virus are fully understood, any device that needs to exchange data with the outside world must be sealed off.
Physically disconnecting from the internet is the only safest approach.
Losing network support means she can no longer easily access map information or crack any electronic access control systems.
It was as if overnight, she had regressed from a high-tech hacker back to a primitive survivor.
Fortunately, the system's core functions, the Starry Sky Box's storage capacity, body data monitoring, and task modules were all independent units bound to her soul and were not affected.
Zhou Jue looked up at the massive steel tomb before him. The fear born of the unknown slowly subsided and transformed into a cold, resolute decision.
She understood.
The so-called "sleep talking syndrome" and "whispers of God" are nothing more than "mental noise" continuously played into people's brains after the network of the base members was infected by a virus.
Infrasound, or psychological suggestion, gradually evolved into mental pollution.
Ultimately, everyone in the base was assimilated and controlled by this noise.
Those who disappeared did not evaporate.
They may have become "carriers" or "nests" of this nanovirus.
This base is now a giant, dormant beehive.
She needed a completely safe place to get through the next 72 hours.
What place could be more suitable than this military fortress with its defenses maxed out and currently "unmanned"?
She needs strength.
Power armor!
Manufacturing must begin immediately!
Without further hesitation, Zhou Jue stepped on the gas, and the off-road vehicle, like a black arrow, rushed straight into the open gate of the base. Based on the functional area planning map of the base, she quickly locked onto her target—the Vehicle Maintenance and Engineering Department.
It has a huge space, complete equipment, and, more importantly, an independent backup power supply system, making it a perfect factory for precision manufacturing.
The hydraulic gate to the engineering department was tightly closed.
Zhou Jue got out of the car and tried it; the power to the electronic lock had already been cut off.
Without wasting any time, she took out a small piece of plastic high-energy explosive from the Starry Sky Box and precisely attached it to the most vulnerable structural connection of the door hinge.
"boom!"
With a dull thud, the heavy alloy door was blasted open, leaving a twisted gap large enough for one person to pass through.
Zhou Jue slipped inside.
The sight inside made her pause in her breath.
The huge space is fully equipped with gantry cranes, CNC machine tools, laser welding arms, material cutting tables, etc., and piles of metal materials and spare parts are stacked up as high as mountains along the walls.
This place is practically the heart of an industry.
She took out the silver briefcase—"Portable Power Armor Manufacturing Plant"—and placed it on the most open floor in the center of the workshop.
The moment the suitcase touched the ground, countless metal segments stretched, deformed, and reconstructed like flower petals. In just one minute, a precision manufacturing platform covering ten square meters was assembled. In the center of the platform, a dark blue holographic projection lit up, displaying a complex and beautiful three-dimensional structure of the power armor, which slowly rotated in the air.
[The portable manufacturing plant is now operational; please provide the necessary materials.]
With a wave of her arm, Zhou Jue sent the energy core and ten pieces of rare alloy that were emitting a faint glow, which were rewarded by the system, precisely flying into the designated entrance of the manufacturing platform. She also mobilized 500 units of conventional metal materials from her space.
Time is life; every minute earlier the armor is built, the greater the chance of survival.
She planned to take all the machine tools and parts in this room back with her!
The materials have been confirmed to be correct.
[Energy core connected.]
[The manufacturing process for the initial power armor 'Guardian Type 1' has been initiated.]
Estimated time remaining: 71 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds.
A scarlet countdown appeared in the corner of the holographic projection.
It's done.
Zhou Jue's tense shoulders finally relaxed for a moment, and she let out a long breath. For the next three days, she only had one thing to do.
Hold this place.
She immediately sprang into action, using several thick steel plates and a welding machine to completely weld the damaged door shut from the inside.
She then set up simple yet deadly traps at every possible entrance, including the ventilation ducts in the ceiling.
After doing all this, she found a corner with the best view, sat cross-legged, and while recovering her depleted strength, she listened alertly to any movement from the outside world.
The low hum of the manufacturing platform was the only sound in this deathly silence.
Three hours later, his spiritual energy was fully restored, and he broke through one level to reach the second level of Qi Refining. It seems that it is true that it is easier to break through after the spiritual energy is used up!
"Brother Tongzi, can you remotely control the console in the 'Grass Platform' lobby?"
[Yes, host. You have the highest privileges. I've left a backdoor inside, so you can control it remotely.]
"Okay, leave them a message. I'll be away for a few days. I'll have the four team leaders temporarily manage the 'makeshift platform,' and the gate access will be temporarily delegated to Wang Yong and Chen Shuqi."
[Okay, host, message left, authorization granted]
Zhou Jue temporarily stopped thinking about the "makeshift platform," ate a simple meal, and continued his cultivation.
The first day went smoothly.
The next day, everything remained calm.
However, Zhou Jue's unease grew stronger with time. She knew this was just the calm before the storm.
The unknown entity that controls the entire base could not possibly fail to discover this massive, continuously operating energy source within the engineering department.
It is observing.
Testing the waters.
Waiting for the perfect moment.
In the early hours of the third day, when there were only eight hours left in the countdown to manufacturing.
An unexpected change occurred.
Inside the base, the long-silent broadcast system suddenly crackled with a piercing buzzing sound.
Immediately afterwards, a hollow, eerie "chorus," composed of the distorted and mixed voices of countless men, women, and children, echoed eerily in every corner of the entire base.
"An intruder has been discovered..."
"Eliminate...threats..."
"For...unification..."
With this inhuman announcement, the entire base came to life.
Heavy, orderly, and uniform footsteps echoed from all directions, approaching from afar.
The sounds were dense and numerous, like a silent army of steel awakening from its slumber and slowly advancing towards the engineering department.
They've arrived.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com