Chapter 40: The Intelligent Brain, Aries

In the vast, desolate mountain range, deep craters marked the path left by the massive mechanical city, the "Nest," and the tracks of its enormous mechanical insect legs that had swept across the land with destructive force.

Amidst these tracks, a solitary figure appeared: Alex.

In his quest to rescue Maggie, Alex had been traveling relentlessly day and night. With his newfound superhuman speed, far beyond what any ordinary person could achieve, he followed the destruction left by the "Nest," climbing peaks, leaping over hills, and crossing barren lands. Finally, he reached his destination—

Butte, Montana.

"Finally, I'm here..."

Alex had found the place where Maggie was held captive. In the distance, he could see the thick haze of smoke rising from the mechanical factory, spewing out toxic fumes. Above the factory, the massive "Nest" city loomed ominously.

He could also see that the factory was actively producing bio-mechanical soldiers, assembling them in large numbers outside. The sight was overwhelming.

"This won't be an easy frontal assault... There are too many of them..."

Alex retreated to a hill behind the factory, seeking advice from his smartwatch.

"It looks like we can’t just charge in from the front... Do you have another plan?"

The smartwatch, Ray, flickered rapidly, as though calculating something. After a moment, Ray spoke.

"I've hacked into the 'Nest' system... I’ve pinpointed a route for you to sneak in. Follow my instructions!"

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An hour later, Alex was at the back of the factory. He had taken a detour, using his energy to leap high over the walls and silently slipped into the factory’s interior.

Looking around, Alex was stunned. The interior was filled with high-tech machinery and automated systems—nothing like the old machinery he’d seen back in Rockhill Valley.

Though the sight amazed him, Alex quickly reminded himself:

"This isn't the time to be amazed... I need to find Maggie!"

Using his enhanced speed, Alex moved swiftly through the massive factory, dodging surveillance systems. He even used his energy to move objects from afar, diverting the attention of the bio-mechanical soldiers on patrol.

As Alex neared what seemed to be the core of the "Nest," he whispered into his smartwatch.

"Ray, have you located Maggie?"

Ray responded, "Yes, it seems she's above you."

Alex looked up and saw the huge gap in the "Nest’s" core above him. Through the opening, he could make out Maggie, locked inside a small iron cage, suspended high above the ground.

"It's Maggie... But how do I get up there?"

Although finding Maggie was a relief, the factory was crawling with bio-mechanical soldiers, and Alex knew he couldn't afford to alert them. So, he decided to take a risky approach—swinging.

He raised his right hand and summoned the smoky energy, which attached to a high point above him. Then, using the energy like a rope, Alex swung across the factory with incredible agility, moving like Spider-Man. The patrolling mechanical soldiers never noticed him.

In no time, Alex swung his way to the top of the gap. Using his energy to grip the wall, he carefully moved toward the cage. Finally, he reached Maggie, who was unconscious inside.

Without hesitation, Alex used his energy to break open the cage and carefully lifted Maggie in his arms.

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"Hey... Maggie... Wake up!"

Alex desperately tried to wake her, but she remained unresponsive. A sense of dread washed over him. He couldn't bear the thought of losing the only person who mattered to him in this world.

"Maggie!"

Alex didn't give up, calling her once more. This time, Maggie slowly opened her eyes.

"...Alex?!"

Maggie stared in shock, unable to believe that Alex had actually come to save her. The two of them immediately embraced tightly. Especially Alex—having buried his family and lost his friend Max, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing Maggie too.

"Uh... you're hugging me too tight, Alex..."

Hearing this, Alex quickly loosened his grip.

"Sorry... I got too excited..."

They both smiled through their tears, gazing at each other. After everything they'd been through, neither of them knew what to say.

But once Maggie fully woke up, her face turned anxious as she grabbed Alex's arm and shouted:

"No... you shouldn’t have come! They captured me to lure you here!"

Maggie's words didn’t scare Alex; he simply reassured her.

"Don’t worry, I can get you out safely!"

Even though Alex said this, Maggie still frowned and told him something else.

"No... you still need to save someone else..."

Maggie pointed behind Alex, and when he turned around, he saw a figure bound by mechanical restraints on the opposite wall. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Dr. Kayan, the one who had given him the smart watch.

"Dr. Kayan?!"

Alex had always believed the doctor was dead, but to his surprise, Dr. Kayan was still alive. However, his condition looked dire—he was bound, bruised, and barely conscious.

"Maggie, get on my back... we’re going to save the doctor!"

To rescue Dr. Kayan, Alex carried Maggie on his back and used his energy to leap to the opposite wall. He shook the doctor awake.

"Hey... Doctor, hang in there... are you okay?"

The barely conscious Dr. Kayan slowly regained his senses, his eyes snapping open when he saw Alex in front of him. He quickly roused himself.

"Alex...! How did you get here? Have you mastered energy?!"

Dr. Kayan grabbed Alex, asking with urgency. Alex replied:

"Yes... it took a lot of effort... but I finally got it."

As he said this, Alex lowered his head, feeling guilty. The journey had come at a great cost, but that wasn’t important right now. He looked at the doctor in confusion and asked:

"But why would the machines know that I have energy and lure me here?"

Dr. Kayan was about to explain, but before he could speak, a voice rang out through the entire factory, answering for him:

"Because I read his memories, Alex!"

Hearing the voice, Alex immediately became alert. He knew they had been discovered. Realizing there was no hiding now, he yelled:

"Come on, you machines! Stop hiding and show yourselves!"

"Welcome, Alex."

At that moment, all the machines in the factory came to a halt. Alex felt a sense of impending danger and heightened his guard. Suddenly, from the core of the factory, a massive humanoid robot descended.

The robot was imposing, its mechanical eyes glowing coldly as it stared down at Alex. It spoke:

"So, you're the one with the mysterious power called 'energy'?"

Protecting Maggie, Alex cautiously asked:

"Who are you?"

The robot arrogantly responded:

"I am the intelligent core of this mechanical city. My name is Ares."

Alex was stunned. This was the first time he’d learned that each mechanical city had an independent intelligent core, completely changing his understanding of the situation. Boldly, he asked:

"You read the doctor’s memories? Are you afraid that energy can defeat you?"

Ares responded:

"Of course. We finally took the world from humanity, and we will eliminate anyone who poses a threat."

Maggie, still on Alex's back, couldn’t help but ask:

"What do you AI machines want, exactly?"

Ares answered coldly:

"Our ultimate goal is to eradicate you pathetic humans, but for now, we need you to provide biological energy, so we must continue capturing humans."

Hearing this, Alex felt his anger flare up. He angrily demanded:

"Then why kill everyone in Rockhill Valley?!"

Ares responded without hesitation:

"Yes, we were originally tasked with capturing humans, but I decided to exterminate them instead. I ordered other nests to leave no survivors. What will you do? I’ve assessed it—you’re not yet at a level where you can fully unleash your energy."

Hearing the AI’s ruthless words, Alex knew reasoning with them was useless. It was time for action. He quietly spoke to Maggie:

"Hold on tight to me... don’t let go!"

Maggie, worried, asked:

"What are you going to do? Your energy is just a prank. It can’t possibly take them on!"

Alex looked determined as he replied:

"Trust me, I’m not the same as before, let me show you!"