1.39 First Filming

Organisms in nature can mostly be categorized macroscopically by the simplest geometric shapes. However, the "giant complex" before their eyes presented a molecular structure unique to the microscopic world. The advantage of this approach was obvious: compared to a one-to-one linear structure, a complex-shaped assembly resembling molecules within a unit volume could connect significantly more prosthetic organs.

The four wheeled drones that had arrived earlier were carefully circling the massive complex, conducting a deep scan.

The four armored female warriors guarded the AE86, parked at the stadium exit sheltered by the ruins, receiving the transmitted data to construct a 3D structure of the target.

"Master, the complex has been alerted." As the smart core spoke, the gigantic complex quietly opened its pair of unimaginably huge prosthetic eyes.

Only then did Wu Chen realize that the giant prosthetic eyes featured an insect-like compound eye structure. Compound eyes are composed of thousands or even tens of thousands of ommatidia; for instance, a housefly's compound eye consists of 4,000 ommatidia, while those of butterflies and moths can have up to 28,000. Their advantage lies in the ability to precisely calculate the position and distance between themselves and observed objects, facilitating rapid judgment and reaction. Generally speaking, each ommatidium can form only a single image point, and the compound eye combines the image points of numerous ommatidia into a complete image. If the image points were replaced with pixels, the imaging principle of an insect's compound eye would closely resemble a digital LCD screen.

Yet, completely unlike the ommatidia in an insect's compound eye, which can only form a single image point, every single ommatidium within the complex's massive compound eyes was a human prosthetic eye. In other words, every ommatidium of the complex possessed visual imaging entirely on par with, or even far superior to, that of a human.

"The human eye is actually a 'super camera' with a resolution as high as 576 megapixels, a refresh rate between 200 and 400 Hz, and color depth between 32 and 48 bits." The smart core continuously refreshed the imaging metrics of the compound eyes: "However, the human brain is incapable of 'reading' super 3D imaging at the 576-megapixel level, and often applies 'fuzzy processing.' Therefore, the advantages of a prosthetic brain are obvious..."

Even as the smart core calculated at high speed, the complex was also sizing up the wheeled drones circling it in a continuous loop.

When all the prosthetic eyes displayed real-time footage of the drones, the complex gently blinked its giant compound eyes. Like pressing a shutter button, an intensely strong electrical signal roared forth. As it propagated along the complex belt, it simultaneously generated a powerful electromagnetic pulse in the surroundings.

Whatever it passed over was like wind blowing through a wheat field. Centered on the complex, the prosthetic remains fused into the complex belt stirred up layers of electric arcs.

"Master, watch out! The prosthetic remains are being activated!" the smart core hastily reported.

Through the front windshield of the AE86, fragmented and incomplete prosthetic remains could be seen struggling to crawl out of the complex belt, closing in on the wheeled drones from all directions.

"So this is 'electronic summoning.' It can awaken the surrounding cybernetic living corpses." Wu Chen took immediate action: "While the complex is distracted by the drones, I'll attempt to take a picture."

"Understood." Bypassing the Motorcycle Terminator's A.I., the smart core directly took control of the wheeled drones to draw the complex's attention.

Wu Chen stomped on the accelerator, and the AE86 shot forth like an arrow leaving the bow, heading straight for the complex.

The moment the massive complex entered the viewfinder, Wu Chen slammed down the shutter button.

Snap—

A flash of white light illuminated the scene. The complex, captured by the Polaroid camera, suddenly turned its gaze back. In the countless prosthetic eyes rapidly capturing the AE86, malevolent intent surged violently.

"Three frames unlocked." Wu Chen swept his gaze across the camera; the Polaroid had already provided feedback.

"So the master needs to take three more pictures." The smart core calculated rapidly: "According to the coffee shop owner, the first two are exclusive abilities, and the final one is a close-up of the facial features. Only in this way can it be remembered by the guardians of the world and the 'giant complex' be sealed into a memory to be brought back to the Shattered City!"

"More or less." Wu Chen quickly grasped the key point: "That 'electronic summoning' move just now should be the giant complex's exclusive ability."

"Let it use it again." The smart core understood.

The wheels of the four wheeled drones underwent a strange transformation. The tires turned into gear teeth, revolving in a cutting motion. Sparks flew instantly in all directions, and shrapnel burst forth. As the prosthetic bodies along the path were ruthlessly crushed by the four wheels, they were simultaneously chopped to pieces by the churning blades. The four wheels roared, pushing their speed to the terrestrial limit, trailing a wake of sparks and lightning. Seeing that the prosthetic remains had been completely swept away by the wheeled drones, the complex repeated its old trick, preparing to unleash the electronic summoning technique once more.

"Master!"

Right before the blink of an eye, Wu Chen pressed the shutter.

Snap—

A flash of white light flared, and the complex glared with wide-open eyes. The electromagnetic pulse instantly spiraled out of control, its power far exceeding the previous one. The skyscrapers surrounding the circular stadium were all caught in the blast wave.

The dim and lifeless neon signs lit up one by one from bottom to top. The skyscrapers, which had suffered a power outage for a long time, were regaining electricity level by level. Electronic noise, imperceptible to humans, stirred up countless pixels of visual static on the front windshield of the AE86, even briefly interfering with the smart core's control over the drones.

Bang! Bang! Bang—

The exterior glass curtain walls of the skyscrapers shattered in succession. Fragments of prosthetic remains plummeted from the sky. Surrounding the circular stadium, an endless rain of living corpses began to fall!

"Armored warriors, attack." At Wu Chen's command, the four female warriors immediately opened fire.

A barrage of Gauss machine gun fire erupted. Chasing the falling prosthetic remains, they fired upwards from the ground into mid-air. High-energy alloy projectiles tore countless prosthetic bodies to shreds in mid-air, exploding into a rain of fire across the sky.

After all, this was the first actual combat for the four female warriors. A single salvo completely emptied the 800-round ammunition drums mounted on their backs.

"Plasma cannon defensive fire." Squad leader Vithrice reacted swiftly, adhering to the lessons learned from the simulated battlefield.

"Understood," the female warriors responded in unison, switching to plasma cannons to blast the swarming enemies. The four wheeled drones had already returned automatically, extending articulated mechanical arms to retrieve spare ammunition drums from the smart towing racks at the rear of the vehicles, reloading their respective transformable armor units. The ammunition capacity on the female warriors' head-mounted displays returned to the 800-round mark.

"Point-blank suppressive fire." Wu Chen drove the AE86 in a circle around the complex, searching for the optimal photography opportunity.

"Yes!" The female warriors immediately switched back to the Gauss machine gun attack mode. The transformable armor's onboard A.I. had already simulated the lethality values, calibrating for auxiliary targeting. Wherever the line of fire passed, prosthetic remains situated along the same ballistic trajectory exploded in strings. Moving in tactical combat postures, the female warriors protected the AE86 while fighting on the move. The transformable armor's onboard A.I. automatically activated a multitude of intelligent programs to fight in coordination: attack warning, electronic warfare, dynamic formation, auxiliary evasion, posture adjustment, and more.

Seeing that large numbers of prosthetic bodies were being destroyed, the complex resorted to its old trick and blinked its eyes once more.

However, the powerful electromagnetic pulse failed to materialize.

"Master, it has lost its ability!" The smart core could not hide its amazement: "It seems the 'electronic summoning' ability has been sucked into the card."

"So, it has 'forgotten' its own ability." Wu Chen understood.

"The master is right," the smart core concluded. "Perhaps skills that are 'forcibly sucked' into a card are naturally forgotten."

"Therefore, I am also looking forward to seeing what its second skill is." Wu Chen slammed hard on the accelerator, and the AE86 accelerated in a straight line. Its super-alloy body plowed through everything in its way. Right before crashing into the spectator stands, Wu Chen simultaneously stomped on both the accelerator and brake pedals, smoothly spinning the steering wheel.

The long-absent AE86 drifted through the turn. Countless prosthetic bodies were swept beneath the vehicle body, producing a flurry of flying sparks before being crushed into a scatter of debris across the ground.

It was much like a heavy slap across the face, reducing flies and mosquitoes to utter pulp.

Unbeknownst to him, the branched storyline belonging exclusively to Wu Chen had begun to make a powerful, deep intervention, triggering a chain reaction.

At this critical juncture, the countless prosthetic eyes of the complex fixed their gaze upon the AE86, their pupils suddenly diluting and expanding outwards.

"Under cybernetic hacker intrusion," the smart core immediately sounded the alarm.

This was the second skill of the giant complex!