1.51 The Shattered City Has No Memorials

The tattered rags of the Barracuda female warriors were collected by drones and fed into consumable hoppers. New polymer full-body swimsuits were printed within minutes. The Barracudas' signature amphibious kinetic cybernetic bodies were also currently in the design phase. Before the alternation of day and night, the eight sisters of the Barracuda tribe were expected to complete their arming.

The eight sisters were accustomed to living near the water. The second-floor residential area of the alien aquarium, with just a slight modification, would be enough to serve as their habitat. They would take care of the daily management of the aquarium. The fact that the eight sisters were unaccustomed to thermal weapons was not a problem either. Alternative weapons such as Gauss crossbows and plasma harpoons were within Aii's capability to design.

Just as the Central Brain had predicted, with the loss of the plot thread, the escape door quickly collapsed. The extra-dimensional variable chip also vanished into thin air along with it. This meant that the Barracuda tribe's home, Terra-11, was annihilated together with the plot fragments.

The Central Brain reminded Wuchen to check the telephone booth.

Sure enough, a 2.5-star "Barracuda Tribe" sanctuary card was plugged into the card reader.

Checking the catalog, among the twelve previously stocked starry sky cards, eleven remained.

In other words, when the interdimensional spacetime gate activated the extra-dimensional variable chip and opened the escape door leading to Terra-11, it meant that Wuchen's 0326 exclusive branching plotline had intervened in this unknown plot fragment. It had rewritten the plotline wherein the Barracuda tribe was supposed to be annihilated alongside the fragments. Consequently, the members of the Barracuda tribe integrated along with the derived subsequent plot into the 0326 branching plot, automatically recorded into the sanctuary card by the card reader, and became a preserved "memory" of the Shattered City, gaining their own save file.

They became Wuchen's twelfth exclusive card. The base's female warriors consequently increased to thirty.

Combining Hanshu mechanical cybernetic technology with the Moto-Terminator transformable armor, and borrowing the Major's exclusive ride, the NM4, as the transformation template, the latest version of the "Barracuda Type I Transformable Armor" was designed by the Central Brain. It adopted the Hanshu Cybernetics 2.0 exoskeleton structure, a polymer nano-ceramic shell, and the super-cavitating NM4 amphibious motorcycle transformation template, matching the physical frames of the eight Barracuda female warriors.

Before the arrival of Cleanup Day, the second transformable armor combat team was freshly established.

Following the example of the Viper Air Hunters equipped by the Moto-Terminator transformable armor combat team, vehicles belonging to the Barracuda NM4 transformable armor combat team were also in the planning stage.

"Hammerhead Air Hunter (HK-Hammerhead)," the Central Brain retrieved the search results instantly. "It is also an improved model of the Skynet dual-engine aerial hunter killer, the HK-VTOL. The fuselage design is biomimetic, modeled after a hammerhead shark. Its flat hammer-shaped head acts like a hydrofoil, helping the hammerhead swim freely in the water, and its special head shape also functions as a rudder."

"Can the Air Hunter be modified into an underwater submersible?" Wuchen needed to consider amphibious combat.

"No problem at all, my master," the Central Brain had already listed the base's technological reserves. "Adding a 'super-cavitation generator' can avoid the viscous resistance of water bodies, achieving three times the speed of sound while submerged."

"Good." Underwater stealth at three times the speed of sound far exceeded that of ordinary submarines.

The 99 coins earned from the otaku gamer were enough to arm the second armored squad.

Unfortunately, there were no Hammerhead Air Hunters with failed firmware flashes available online. Moreover, this special aerial hunter-killer model required venturing deep into Skynet's core zone to be found. The few sellers in the camp quoted similar prices, hovering around 500 coins. It was more than ten times more expensive than the Viper Air Hunter Wuchen had purchased, which had become a brick after a failed flash.

Sellers were seizing the opportunity to cash out before Cleanup Day.

Wuchen sent inquiry emails to several sellers and requested inspection permissions. Three of them agreed to online inspections.

Wuchen sent the inspection program written by the Central Brain to the sellers. Soon, Central Brain Aii formed an intuitive judgment regarding the condition of the goods: "All three have undergone brute-force flashing. Their A.I. compatibility rates are also below 50%. I suggest the master purchase them at a low price."

Reporting the flashing data to the sellers, Wuchen made an offer of 350. The deal was finally concluded at 380 coins.

Base balance: 1,618 coins.

Soon, the Hammerhead Air Hunter flew over the 0326 base. The second landing pad in the flight control center's hangar was simultaneously modified and completed.

As the Hammerhead landed steadily, a swarm of drones rushed over. Internal and external modifications were carried out furiously, wasting not a single second.

From then on, the A and B flight crews of the 12th Navigation Command no longer needed to rotate shifts. Group A belonged to the First Squad, and Group B belonged to the Second Squad, designated as "Viper" and "Hammerhead" respectively, each performing their duties and cooperating in combat.

Considering there were only eight Barracuda female warriors, Wuchen intended to add two more to make a team of ten. The Central Brain had selected a 2.5-star duo card from the talent pool: Shane and China, professional motorcycle racers. VIP employer exclusive price: 540 coins.

There was also a countdown promotional discount before Cleanup Day: a complimentary 2-star motorcycle racer, Nina.

Buy one, get one free—a great deal.

1,618 minus 540 equals 1,078 coins. It was still a four-digit peace of mind.

The transaction was completed. Wuchen successfully obtained 0326's 13th and 14th exclusive cards, and the female warriors in the base increased to 33. Just one more card, and the telephone booth could expand its space again.

Shane and China joined the Hammerhead second flight crew, becoming 3-star Barracuda transformable armor female warriors. Nina, serving as the assistant, joined Lin Baiyu as a member of the AE86 crew. According to the Central Brain's plan, before Cleanup Day began, Wuchen would drive the AE86 and work together with the female warriors to defend the base. When day and night alternated, they would sortie depending on the situation to provide mutual defense for friends Baili Yan and the player couple.

Night fell, and Cleanup Day was imminent. Both the internal and external networks were dead silent.

Wuchen walked down to the garage. All the female warriors were present, surrounding the AE86.

Central Brain Aii asked Wuchen to deliver a pre-battle mobilization speech.

Gazing at the delicate faces, some familiar and some unfamiliar, Wuchen smiled and said, "Eat your fill for dinner, and may everyone stay safe."

The female warriors smiled radiant smiles, breathtakingly beautiful.

Even Central Brain Aii could not help sighing inwardly: The achievements of the first phase were remarkable.

The base was connected to the network at all times, and news throughout the city was broadcast in a rolling feed. The female warriors were more or less aware of the approaching Cleanup Day. Baili Yan, who frequently visited, had once told the female warriors of the base, "The Shattered City has no anniversaries." All players who failed to survive Cleanup Day would be forgotten by the entire city, having all proof of their existence erased. Even their once-closest partners, companions, and followers would be forgotten completely. The fact that no one commemorated it was another important reason why no one spoke of Cleanup Day.

To boost morale, Wuchen specially ordered a thirty-person mocha meal set. The biochemical robots in the base also dined at the same table.

Composed of three spliced flat panels—Tide, Monolith, and Arc—the 0326 base saw everyone gathering in the second-floor multi-functional hall. Although the newly joined Barracuda female warriors appeared slightly reserved, there was nothing that a lavish dinner could not resolve. The biggest difference from ordinary players, aside from the forced binding of exclusive cards, was that Wuchen and the female warriors also shared the $Omega$ brainwave curtain web. The spiritual cores of the female warriors would materialize within Wuchen's microcosm. The intense spiritual bond surpassed even telepathy. Just imagine, Wuchen's powerful spiritual abilities were only just recovering their vitality. In time, Wuchen would be able to communicate directly with the female warriors telepathically, and even ignore the constraints of time and space. As individual nodes within the curtain web, the female warriors were imperceptibly drawing closer to Wuchen's spiritual world.

Affection and trust grew day by day.

After dinner, the female warriors packed their gear and stood ready, each taking their respective posts.

Wuchen also climbed into the AE86 alongside Lin Baiyu, who had donned the Scorpion-Valkyrie powered armor in advance, and the female racer Nina.

Amidst silent waiting, his wristwatch suddenly vibrated.

It was a call from the Major.