"Damn... it actually responded..." Martin opened his eyes, not expecting it to be this easy. He had anticipated every possible scenario, even that Aegis would drain his blood to death. But, fortunately, things went smoothly.
"Aegis... explain your function, what exactly are you?" Martin asked, seeking to understand the entity he was dealing with.
"Ding... I am 'Aegis,' an advanced artificial intelligence system that forms a genetic compatibility, designed to assist users in a wide range of tasks. I can analyze data, provide information, and was developed to collect the soul and blood to form an eternal heart..."
"The primary function is activated according to the host's initial desires... The host's desires are determined based on the initial scan." It continued, "The regulatory function has been developed according to the initial scan..."
"Alright, I understand now..." Martin replied, trying to digest all the information. "I want a more comprehensive understanding of the initial scanning function you developed. One of the killing operations failed; what caused that?"
"Ding... In response to the host, the soul capture failed because the target was outside the soul capture range... The host is advised to upgrade the soul capture range..."
"Soul capture range? What is that? Can you elaborate further? And what is my current range?" Martin asked seriously.
"Ding... In response to the host, the current range is 1,000 square meters. 'Aegis' uses the range as a unit to express its ability to draw in and control the target's soul."
"Then how can the range be expanded? Do you have any additional functions that can be unlocked?" Martin asked again.
"Ding... In response to the host, the initial range of 'Aegis' was 50,000 square kilometers, but it was significantly weakened due to the forced integration with the host and the host's resistance to cellular transcendence..."
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Martin smiled bitterly, "What about additional functions and how can the range be upgraded?"
"Ding... In response to the host, the system can be upgraded by giving the command to absorb the human blood essence and soul essence. Each blood essence equates to one square kilometer, and each soul essence equates to ten square kilometers."
"Damn, does that mean I have to kill more than 40,000 people to cover the area of California?" Martin asked, his face showing signs of horror.
"Ding, in response to the host's request, the area of California is 423,970 km², so fully covering the state would require the blood and soul essence of 54,273 healthy humans."
Martin felt a chill run down his spine. "To kill such a large number of people without attracting global attention or triggering an investigation, you'd need to start a real war."
"I understand now what that old Russian man was talking about. The Russian-Ukrainian war makes sense now..." He thought aloud. "But to develop the range... it seems achieving my goal will be a bit more complicated," Martin thought, his face clouded with complex expressions.
"Aegis, is there no way or solution or additional functions to upgrade the range?" he asked, emphasizing his growing anxiety.
"Ding... In response to the host, Aegis has not currently developed any additional functions for range enhancement." Then added, "Ding... In response to the host, there are currently no additional functions to serve the host other than the basic functions of the AI." It concluded, "Ding... The host is encouraged to absorb more blood essence and soul essence to upgrade more functions."
Martin glanced at his phone with a complicated look before starting to think about the solutions currently available to him.
Suddenly, without noticing, Martin felt the doubt in his heart about his goal and what it would cost him begin to disappear entirely. It was as if his desire was growing without him realizing it, his desire for a world free of sin, lower forms of life, and the scum of society...
At that moment, the plan for purification began to grow in his mind.
"Aegis, in your opinion, what is the easiest strategy to collect the required essence to expand the range to 400,000 square kilometers?" Martin asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
"Ding... In response to the host, the easiest suggestion suitable for the host's current situation is to assist in fostering sectarian conflicts in third-world countries and exploit the dead to collect essence."
"Starting a civil war..." Martin considered, knowing that this option, given his current situation, his father's connections, and the information he had, would indeed be difficult but not impossible. At that moment, without realizing it, Martin began to abandon his caution and develop a relationship of trust with Aegis.
He turned on his laptop and began planning his next step.