Rust - Chapter 868



Only Krnovel

RUST -868

As the wolf’s howl echoed through the silent city skies, Maru’s airship, perched at the edge of the troposphere, was silent.

‘I’m getting used to this as I keep doing it.’

Maru had become quite accustomed to the inconvenience of having to manually operate all the devices and drive the airship herself. Strictly speaking, before artificial intelligence became widespread, these were all things that had to be done directly by people.

In just a few years, we have come to feel uncomfortable without AI, so the change has been rapid. In response to this rapid change, Ki-soon and PD argued that AI must be kept in check.

‘You could be helpless against someone with electronic abilities.’

‘As AI expands its scope, it will affect various mental activities, including belief.’

The faith that PD was talking about was not a simple matter of belief. Trust was also a matter of faith, and judgment was also a matter of trust.

The PD’s argument was that if we accept information selected by artificial intelligence without criticism, human judgment will become subordinate to artificial intelligence.

‘It is dangerous if AI manipulates information.’

Even if it was a simple program, there was a risk of hacking. What if the ability to infiltrate the program was developed even without hacking? What if the AI ​​malfunctioned the device or disrupted the sensor information?

Even without that, it was dangerous to trust AI 100%. Those with the ability to interfere with electronic devices appeared, and mutant monsters were also using biological EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse).

‘The AI ​​used in our kingdom is not just a simple AI, but an AI that has reached artificial consciousness. I think it is more dangerous because it is an AI with a kind of personality.’

Being similar to humans meant that something similar to human emotions and feelings could arise at any time. That’s why it’s dangerous, according to PD and Ki-soon.

Fortunately, the core AIs, Diana and Samantha, recognized Maru as king. Furthermore, the auxiliary AIs also accepted Maru as their leader, as he was granted the right to preserve data.

In Maru’s view, the Holy Kingdom was not in a position to exclude or restrain artificial intelligence. Even Detroit, the capital of the Holy Kingdom, was like that.

The city with the highest crime rate and murder rate was Detroit. After the incident, various criminal forces including gangs were overflowing, and the city barely returned after all of them were eliminated.

In Canada, anti-Asian hate has exploded due to the mutant virus outbreak and cannibal incidents, and crimes targeting Asians have skyrocketed as public safety has collapsed.

In order to restore law and order in Canada and restore administrative power in a short period of time, an assistant AI was needed. Without the help of an assistant AI, it would have taken at least 10 years to restore the administrative system.

AI was needed not only to manage the city but also to manage the stronghold forts built in northern Canada. By introducing auxiliary AI in all areas such as supply, patrol planning, and automatic defense, stability was quickly achieved.

The introduction of AI meant that people in administrative, supply, security, finance, and clerical positions would disappear. This was one of the reasons why people supported the Free Canadian League.

Maru shook his head, shaking off his lingering thoughts.

[Set up camp before the wolves gather.]

The image of Kim Yang conducting with a clear voice appeared on the monitor.

[Here. Here. Set up your position here···.]

I feel proud and proud at the same time, as I see General Kim commanding a force of over 100,000 soldiers.

Kim Yang dug trenches out of snow and ice, and similarly used snow and ice to build obstacles and walls, and then built makeshift bunkers behind them. The first priority was to protect the soldiers.

‘I thought I’d start by testing the power of the new firearm…’

Awwwwwww—-

A sound that resonates as it returns, as if responding to a howl spreading from afar.

Awwwwww—-Awww-

Awwwwww—-Awww–

‘The howling is strange.’

Maru intuitively felt that the wolves’ howls were not simple cries. Perhaps it was the hunter’s intuition.

hmm—

It was right to just watch for now. That way, it will become flesh and blood.

‧

‧

‧

Monster wolf?

In the eyes of Kim Yang, who had experienced all kinds of battles in the air, he was not a dangerous opponent.

‘What if I shoot from far away?’

Even if they approached, it was the same. Even with teeth and claws that could tear through reinforced concrete, it was not easy to tear through the new core armor and the armor of the exosuit.

The only weak points were the helmet and neck. So, as long as you were careful about your head in close combat, you wouldn’t be pushed around by wolves.

‘If we concentrate our firepower while the core armor and exosuit hold out, it will be over in no time.’

huh.

The ice fortress made using -60 to -70 degrees Celsius was sturdy.

‘It doesn’t work.’

Kim Yang tilted his head. He tried to lure the wolves with long-range sniping, but the wolf bitches were not lured. Instead, it seemed like they were waiting for the bitter cold to weaken their fighting power.

‘Huh- what should I do?’

We set up a defense game-like position at the entrance where the moose herd had passed through, but the wolves were not coming out.

‘Are they trying to buy time? Would buying time give the wolves any advantage?’

There was no reason to go into the city and engage in street fighting with wolves. Just bam! Bam! You want to bomb them, but you won’t be able to gain experience that way.

With the breached wall as a starting point, a standoff ensued between the human army and the wolves, each hoping the other would get in.

‧

‘What is this?’

A week passed and the wolves did not come out. Despite constant provocation using long-range sniping, the wolves did not come out.

Aren’t beasts weak to provocation?

Even though you say you’ve become smarter, you’re still putting up with being beaten up unilaterally?

Kim Yang’s eyes narrowed.

I remembered when I worked at a company. There were many tiring situations, but if I had to pick the one where I saw the most blood, it would be when I was dealing with a well-disciplined enemy.

‘To endure while being hit means to follow the order to endure.’

Across the collapsed wall, wolves were hiding and hiding like people. Their numbers were at least three digits.

Whether intentional or not, a small area of ​​secondary mutated wolves gathered, causing a biological EMP. It was no longer possible to observe the wolves’ actions up close using stealth drones.

When we reconnaissance using high-altitude airships and crows, we found that they do not move during the day and only move stealthily at night.

‘Did you notice that I was doing reconnaissance?’

Mr. Kim’s head tilted slightly.

This feels like fighting an army, not a bunch of wolves.

‘Hmm – I don’t like sticky street fighting.’

Her brow furrowed slightly.

There’s nothing I can do.

If a wolf thinks like a human, you should treat it like a human.

These wolves were worthy enough to taste human malice.

“Did you find the wolf’s den?”

Kaaaaaaah. (I found a place with tight security.)

Caw, caw, caw. (I don’t know if this is a wolf’s den.)

“It doesn’t matter. Just go as deep inside as you can and drop the nuclear grenade.”

Caw? (Nuclear grenade?)

The crow flapped its wings.

“Yeah. Nuclear grenade.”

······.

In general, high security meant there was something to protect. Organizations were like that. In places with high security, there were safes, drugs, and contraband. Or, it was a place where the executives’ lovers or families were.

What do wolves value?

Aren’t you all curious about what’s going on that warrants such strict security?

Kim Yang’s eyes were clear and pure.

The crow, who felt a chill at the sight of those transparent eyes, flapped its wings again.

Foodduck-

Kaaaak? (Do you know what’s inside?)

She looked at the crow with clear eyes and gave another order.

“So. Tell me.”

If there’s something precious inside, it will react.

Foodduck- Black feathers fell from the sky. The crows that had risen toward the sunset sky were clutching in their talons a miniature nuclear grenade with a separate detonator.

After a while.

Several huge buildings collapsed with a series of resounding explosions.

Aaaa …

A gut-wrenching howl. It was too desperate and angry to be called a howl.

As if a howling loud enough to make even the dark sky tremble was a signal, movement was detected on the other side of the collapsed wall.

[There is movement.]

[The stratospheric surveillance airship’s sensors have detected multiple movements.]

[It is a homeothermic animal. It moves on four legs. Its size is about 1m to 1.2m.]

[Movement speed is very slow.]

[Numbers. 3 thousand and above.]

[It keeps increasing.]

[Over 4 thousand.]

Kim Yang’s eyes sparkled brightly. It’s finally coming.

“To battle positions!”

[All combat positions.]

[Prepare to fire!]

[Shoot the head.]

[Aim for the head only!]

[Don’t aim at the wrong place and lose the effect.]

[All right.]

[Just do as you were trained to do!]

[ancient.]

If they were ordinary new recruits, they would have been trembling and nervous, but the regeneration and growth units didn’t have that.

[Coming.]

[?]

[?]

[!]

[Didn’t you say it was quadrupedal walking?]

[That’s···.]

[oh my god.]

What it looks like through night vision goggles.

It wasn’t a wolf swarming in the darkness.

[It’s a person!]

[People are crawling.]

Thousands of people were crawling on all fours like dogs.

“······.”

Kim Yang’s sharp eyes looked at the monitor.

[Civilians are coming out!]

[What should I do?]

“Prepare to fire.”

[yes?]

Her gaze was not on people, but was fixed only on the backpacks they were carrying.

“Prepare to fire. Remove night vision goggles. Prepare to fire flares.”

[Old. Prepare to fire.]

[Take off your night vision goggles.]

[Close your eyes and adapt to the dark.]

[Prepare to fire!]

[Fire flare!]

Boom-boom- A flare exploded in the sky, driving away the darkness. The faces of the people pouring out of the breached walls were a mixture of desperation and fear.

“Please save me!”

“Save the people!”

“They took my family hostage!”

“They are devils!”

“It’s not a wolf, it’s a monster!”

Kim Yang’s order was given to the people crawling forward.

“firing!”

[···firing!]

A new type of firearm. A 10-shot semi-automatic. The power of the coil + gunpowder composite propellant rifle was terrifying. Dozens of people were pierced with just one shot.

A series of powerful flashes of light and explosive sounds erupted among the people, who were making the sound of leather balloons popping one after another, as if they had been hit by a 20mm Vulcan cannon.

Flash- flash-

Flash- flash-

[It’s a flash grenade!]

[Bow your head!]

[Close your eyes!]

[The view is blocked.]

[Do as you were trained!]

The damage could have been greater if Ms. Kim had not taken off her night vision goggles.

“Claymore blast!”

[Claymore blast!]

As steel balls and debris swept across the front like a tornado, people were turned into minced meat as if ground in a blender and scattered in all directions.

[People keep coming in.]

“Shoot! There’s a bomb.”

bang!

A chain of explosions began as one of the backpacks the people were carrying exploded. Thick smoke rose into the dark sky, blinding the surveillance craft and the crow patrols.

Krrrrrr-

As if they were trying to blind me, the wolf formations spread out in a wedge shape and rushed forward. Then, Kim Yang’s defense formation, which had been waiting for the wolf’s charge, began work.

‧

The story goes that his family was taken hostage and had no choice but to carry a backpack.

The story goes that he put on a backpack and went outside, believing that he could escape the monster wolf.

He even pleaded that he didn’t know it was a bomb. If he had known it was a bomb, he wouldn’t have set it up.

Anyway, nothing changed.

Kim Yang ordered them to shoot everything that came out of the city.

A bag containing flashbangs.

A backpack containing bottles filled with priest napalm.

That wasn’t something a wolf could have made. In other words, it was evidence that humans had helped the wolf.

It didn’t matter to Kim Yang whether it was a human or a wolf who planned to send the person carrying the bomb bag first and then charge in during the gap.

Because her defense was aimed at annihilation.

Awww—-

bang-

The wolf came out. The head of the last wolf in the pack that charged in a wedge shape exploded.

“Secure the entrance. Advance.”

Soldiers emerging from the trenches and bunkers headed toward the entrance to the collapsed city.