The Creators: From Night City

Page 310

But it's not quite ready yet.

He then submerged his consciousness back into cyberspace.

As the most brilliant achievement of the behemoth that is network surveillance, the Black Wall Gateway is powerful enough to be called a cyber nuclear bomb. After all, it single-handedly blocked the new network and the old network, keeping countless necromantic AIs, wandering AIs, and network entities behind the wall.

It is constantly subjected to massive data surges. Its data throughput and computational load every second are terrifying. It has the most comprehensive, extensive, and massive server support in the network. Its computing power is unparalleled in the world, and the network attack methods it can mobilize are also among the best in the world.

After all, it is essentially an AI, an intelligent AI that can continuously learn from attackers.

Therefore, internet surveillance pays special attention to the "Great Firewall".

All research that attempts to break through the wall, utilize the black wall, study the black wall, or even imitate the black wall will be ruthlessly suppressed by them.

At best, they'll be permanently disconnected from the internet and spend their lives in internet surveillance jail; at worst, they'll simply disappear from the world.

The irony is that the study, utilization, and countering of the 'Black Wall' are essential subjects for every major power.

The main reason why Lark received so much attention from Rosalind Miles was that, in a sense, through the prosthetic modifications NASA made to her, she could become one with the Black Wall.

In other words, what makes her special is that her unique physique is highly compatible with the black wall.

According to Lark's description, she was originally modified in connection with the Black Wall as an "Old Net Technology Fisher". NASA's initial plan was to allow her to have limited access to the Black Wall so that she could still receive the Black Wall's protection when she was operating behind it.

NASA succeeded, and it succeeded far too much.

They discovered that Song Zhaomei's neural structure was remarkably compatible with the Black Wall, a feature not possessed by the hundreds or thousands of other hackers who were 'sacrificed'.

Rosalind Myers was aware of Song Zhaomei's health condition, as was NASA.

They had been silently observing her, observing this rare specimen.

Every routine physical examination and every psychological consultation is actually for research purposes.

In fact, NASA researchers had already prepared research proposals regarding Song Zhaomei's personality being completely corrupted by the Black Wall, turning her into a puppet of the Black Wall.

As for death, that came after that, but even after she was completely dead, she still couldn't escape being dissected and studied.

The reason she can still move freely is mainly because NASA needs her to move freely and needs her to maintain her free will as much as possible before the Black Wall completely erodes her, so that they can collect valuable experimental data on the conflict and fusion between human consciousness and the Black Wall.

These data are incredibly valuable, after all, there is likely only one Song Zhaomei, and only one personality or soul of Song Zhaomei.

This is the underlying tone of the cyberpunk world.

The objectification of people has long been taken to its extreme by various forces. The reason why it is not fully revealed to the public is simply to keep the lower classes obediently within their circles.

She had exhausted herself in life, and even in death she could not find peace. This was the truth behind Song Zhaomei's defection, a terrifying truth she had never told anyone before, hidden deep within her heart.

This is also the truth behind why Rosalind Myers values ​​Song So-mi so much and why she insists on seeing her alive or dead.

Because compared to her 'cyber nuclear bomb' identity, Song Zhaomei herself, or rather, her remaining brain, is more important.

So as long as she's there as bait, there's no worry that Rosalind Miles won't take the bait.

Rosalind Miles has taken the bait, but not firmly enough; she hasn't invested enough or thoroughly.

Jiang Bing wanted more than just Rosalind Miles and New America to suffer losses; he wanted military technology to completely lose credibility in Night City and abandon all of Night City's plans.

So he wants to increase his bet.

Who is Boss Jiang? He is a male lecturer who is well-versed in human nature. He has at least nine ways to make Rosalind Miles reluctantly continue to increase her investment and keep pouring her savings into the vortex of Dogtown.

At least nine!

So, while following the Black King's Apostles who had already completed their 'dimensional' armor through 'Heimul' to the battlefield, he focused his mind on the data cube in his hand.

This is a backup of the Black Wall feature data extracted from Song Zhaomei. Jiang Bing brought her out for no other reason than to disguise his upcoming actions.

Rosalind Miles wants a lark, so give her a lark. As for whether the bird is made of flesh and blood or a bionic titanium alloy, that's none of your business.

Inside the cyberspace, Jiang Bing ceremonially crushed the projection of the data cube in his hand onto the cyberspace, transforming the already analyzed data into a pitch-black robe that he draped over his body. The next second, the golden flames that ignited on his body were suddenly twisted into pitch-black flames, exuding an ominous aura.

As Jiang Bing's thoughts stirred, the information representing His existence leaped over countless gateways and arrived in the public cyberspace connecting Dogtown and Night City.

Gazing at the ever-shifting cyber battlefield, at the data streams, materialized as galaxies, relentlessly bombarding the data barriers of the Netherhounds and the Voodoo Gang within cyberspace, and at the projected stars in the sky representing the connection between modern military technology and Netherhound soldiers in cyberspace, Jiang Bing transformed the BENH data stream (a bioelectric/neural interface "handshake" protocol, a method of identification deeply bound to the user's biometrics, almost equivalent to a part of their "digital soul," extremely difficult to imitate, or rather, "almost" impossible) that best represented Song Zhaomei's identity into a thin veil and draped it over his body, preparing to begin his performance.

In a higher dimension, a tiny fraction of the 'information' representing Jiang Bing, the 'forger,' suddenly collapsed under the transformation of the 'ethereal furnace,' transcending the mortal world and descending into cyberspace with Jiang Bing in cyberspace as the anchor point.

The next moment, a bright light suddenly shone in the eyes of New America, military technology, the Ghost Dogs, the Voodoo Gang, and all the numerous hackers watching with their own agendas.

A 'black sun' descended upon the battlefield.

Chapter 625 Finally Entering the Game

Once the black flames appeared, they spread in all directions like ocean waves.

Wherever it goes, it corrodes and assimilates everything in cyberspace, much like aqua regia.

The entire cyberspace turned into a childish coloring game.

Atlanta, thousands of miles away.

From a national perspective, hackers can no longer be called hackers; that would seem unprofessional. They must be called cybersecurity departments.

The hackers working here can't call themselves cyber hackers; they have to call themselves cyber technical agents.

This makes it look more formal.

But no matter what they are called, it cannot stop the fact that they were chased by death and embraced by darkness.

"Damn it, disconnect the internet!"

A new American cybersecurity agent lying in a specially designed hacker cooling chamber suddenly opened his eyes, reached behind his head and yanked off the thick network cable, struggling and shouting at the staff on duty beside him.

But it was all too late.

Like an endless black solar neutron waterfall erupting, all the equipment in the huge cybersecurity center suddenly burst into a large number of sparks.

All equipment was destroyed by the power of the 'Black Wall' at the same time. All network technicians were like fish in a pond that had been electrified, their backs arched high, their bodies like out-of-control robot puppets, stiff but violently convulsing, twisting, and rolling, but they could not stop death from coming.

In just a few seconds, all the networked personnel of Group 13, Division 7 of the New United States Cyber ​​Security Department were declared dead.

However, this is just the beginning.

Dogtown.

In front of an abandoned building, soldiers of the New United States were entrenched inside, suppressing the Ghost Hounds opposite them. With reinforcements, although they were still somewhat lacking in heavy firepower compared to their opponents, their numerical advantage was already evident.

In a battlefield environment where it's impossible to use heavy firepower like missiles to bombard the ground, the advantage of having more people becomes obvious.

As the enemy's defensive line teetered on the brink of collapse, and the soldiers of the Ghost Hound were on the verge of disintegration, everyone suddenly felt a certain fluctuation spreading from the network layer.

The dramatic change happened in an instant.

All the networks seemed to be electrified with black high voltage, and sparks erupted instantly from the brains and prosthetic bodies of all the connected new American soldiers.

To the other ghostly hound soldiers who were also connected to the network but were 'lucky' enough to remain uncorrupted, these sparks appeared to be shrouded in an ominous blackish-red mist.

Large numbers of new American soldiers cried out as they dropped their weapons, their limbs convulsing as if they were having an epileptic seizure, their bodies contorted as if they were being slowly sliced ​​to pieces, as if they were in the deepest hell, suffering unspeakable torment.

Fortunately, their suffering soon came to an end.

The forty-odd new American soldiers near the building struggled for only a few seconds before collapsing in unison, stiff as wheat cut down by a sickle.

The scene suddenly became eerily quiet.

Within seconds of the outbreak spreading, a large number of onlookers learned the 'truth'.

"Black Wall!"

Mr. Blue Eyes remained motionless on the sapphire-blue balcony, but his blue prosthetic eye had now turned into a mix of blue and purple.

"Sabur, what on earth are you up to?"

Although he didn't know what his ally was planning, the thought of the other party's past 'misdeeds' was already giving him a headache.

Rosalind Miles had a slight headache, but she was mostly excited.

A white-haired cybersecurity technician standing next to her reported what had just happened.

"Are you sure that's Song Zhaomei?" The new US president's first question, as usual, was not about the casualties of the soldiers, but about the intelligence on Song Zhaomei, the ultimate target.

To some extent, this kind of personality—unconcerned with sacrifice and focused solely on completing the mission—is truly suited to be a general.

Rosalind Miles did indeed serve as a general.

"Confirmed, Your Excellency. Multiple personnel on our side detected the BENH data stream characteristics of Agent Song Zhaomei from the 'Black Wall' surge that just erupted. She is currently in Dogtown."

As she spoke, the operator's orange-yellow prosthetic eye flashed, and the holographic terrain projection in front of Rosalind Miles immediately flipped, finally settling on the vicinity of the high wall in the southwest of Dogtown.

"Should we withdraw the soldiers back, Your Excellency? Before Agent Song Zhaomei's cybernetic overload, the soldiers who have not been enhanced by 'Protocol Seven' are powerless against the 'Black Wall' surge."

"Moreover, the Netherhound has now seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack."

However, Rosalind Miles could not retreat; to do so at this moment would undoubtedly mean the failure of the operation.

She rose from a soldier in military technology to the new President of the United States, relying on her never-give-up attitude and her willingness to take risks.

She stood up, gazed at the smoke-filled Dogtown, and made a decision after a moment.

"Notify the ABCT (Armored Brigade Fighter Team) at sea to have Sean O'Shaughnessy bring his men over."

"Your Excellency, doing so would undoubtedly be a blatant violation of the Alvin Agreement. Please..."

“Do as I say!” Rosalind Miles’ voice was not loud, but the firmness and insistence it contained were unmistakable.

"Yes, Madam President!"

Surrounded by the 'Black King's Apostles,' Jiang Bing, stationed in the Known Territory Technology Park in the southwest of Dog Town, was surfing the Void Network. The moment a message was sent from West Wind Manor, a smile of prey taking the bait appeared on his lips.

He had long since withdrawn the power he had deployed into cyberspace, making the 'Black Sun's' bloom only a fleeting moment.

This also fits Song Zhaomei's character, since if she could use the power of the Black Wall without restraint, it wouldn't be a cyber nuclear bomb, but a cyber star destroyer.

Since Rosalind Myers has already taken the bait, there's no need for her to continue acting.

Modern warfare is no longer an era where numbers alone determine victory or defeat.

As early as 100 years ago, powerful ships and cannons had already proven to mankind that technological advancements had largely eliminated the advantages and disadvantages of human numbers.

When the new US president decided to take Dogtown at all costs, there was virtually no force in Southern California that could stop her.

Even Arakasaka is not an option right now.

Just as the soldiers of the Ghost Hounds were celebrating their victory, a sharp-eyed soldier spotted a large number of unidentified flying objects rapidly approaching Dog Town from the direction of Westwind Manor in the northwest.

"Air raid!!"

A piercing wail officially marked the beginning of the new America's counter-offensive.

Although the rotorcraft helicopter has been replaced by the airborne vehicle as the dominant force on the battlefield, it does not mean that it has disappeared from the stage of history.

At the very least, it is still in use by regular military forces.

Chapter 626 Tonight, [Anti-Entropy] Joins the War

As an ultra-large combat drone, its high adaptability to harsh weather conditions and relatively low price make it popular with the military.

A swarm of Griffin combat drones, resembling a flock of pigeons, almost blotted out the sky, escorting several Manticore airborne vehicles carrying military technology as they moved forward.

Underground, four trackless, vector-engineered military-grade Lizard IV heavy armored tanks, capable of traversing mountains, forests, and streams, hovered lightly like swallows skimming the ground.

Dozens of Scorpion armored personnel carriers rushed to the high walls of Dogtown early on, hovering five or six meters in the air and opening their hatches. A large number of regular soldiers wearing full sets of exoskeleton combat armor and centaur powered armor jumped out of the cabins, formed ranks, and stood ready for battle.

But the first thing to come was a missile strike.

Even though the Dogtown counter-missiles authorized by Bennis were deployed in full force to intercept them in the air, one of the four cruise missiles still managed to land on the gates of Dogtown.

In an instant, this armed outpost, constructed of reinforced concrete to military standards and equipped with enough firepower to riddle any cyber madman with bullets in seconds, was destroyed in a burst of flames.

The dozens of Netherhound soldiers at the gate, except for a few lucky ones at the edge, were all instantly vaporized in the towering flames.

You can say military technology is bad, but you can never say it's incompetent.

When military technology is taken seriously, it will show everyone how it overcame both external and internal troubles to fight the war of unification all the way from Atlanta to the West Coast.

The flames surged dozens of meters into the air, illuminating Hanz's fake face, who was watching the game from afar in the club, deep in thought.

"God above, what is New America trying to do? Is it preparing to start the fifth corporate war?"

This cruise missile not only struck at the gates of Dogtown, but also struck the hearts of everyone in Dogtown.

It not only leveled the gates of Dogtown, but also the will to resist of the vast majority of its inhabitants.

When the four Lizards drove directly into Dogtown from the ruins of the town's gate and began bombarding the buildings on both sides of the road to clear obstacles for the rear troops, Mr. Hanz finally decided to pack up his buckets and run away.