Martin looked seriously at Novikov and said in a warning tone, "Ho, old man, do you think this young man is a fool? If your invention is useful, why don't you keep it for yourself? Or use it to achieve your own goals? ... I'm afraid I'd rather refuse your offer."

Novikov's expression changed, his eyes filled with sorrow and regret, before he replied in a weak voice, "Young man, you don't understand... This old man is finished already, and there's no hope in destroying this thing. All we can do now is sacrifice... I've sacrificed everything I could already... I'm sorry..."

At that moment, Novikov prepared to make a small gesture with his hand, perhaps to activate something. But before he could finish his words, Martin had already drawn his gun and aimed it directly at the old man's chest.

Novikov's eyes widened in sheer terror as he cried out in a strained voice, "Wait! No...!"

*Bang! Bang!*

The sound of gunfire tore through the silence, and the bullets struck Novikov's chest directly. In a horrifying instant, dozens of filthy rats burst from his body, as if they had been hiding inside him, and scattered frantically in all directions.

Novikov collapsed to his knees, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. With a desperate expression, he looked up at Martin as if witnessing an immense horror approaching. In a faint, regretful voice, he muttered, "Medved... everyone... I'm sorry... It seems I made a big mistake..."

Then he fell lifeless to the ground, as coldness gradually seeped into his corpse.

Martin stood over Novikov's body with a cold gaze and muttered, "Old man... everything was fine, you shouldn't have forced me..."

Then Martin turned and walked away, leaving the scene while the rats began to gather around the frozen corpse. Perhaps it was the terror of taking a life or the tension that gripped him, but he failed to notice the small chip that Novikov had dropped earlier. The chip quietly leaped toward Martin's body and latched onto the back of his neck.

Suddenly, an excruciating pain surged through his body, causing him to scream in agony amidst the piles of scattered scrap metal: "Aah! Please stop... this hurts so much!"

Martin began writhing in pain, rolling on the ground back and forth. His eyes turned white from the sheer intensity of it, and his fingers started clawing at the asphalt violently. His nails and fingers began to tear apart from the fierce scratching, but he didn't feel the external pain; the internal torment had taken full control of him.

After five minutes of painful screaming, the agony finally began to subside until it stopped completely. Martin slowly got to his feet, panting heavily, and quickly glanced at his skin, now covered in scars and wounds. He then turned toward Novikov's corpse, grabbed his gun again, and started firing at the old man's head in a fit of rage.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

He kept firing until his magazine was empty. Staring at the cold corpse, he muttered in a voice filled with anger, "Damn you, you rotten old man..."

Still panting heavily, Martin looked around cautiously, realizing he needed to leave quickly. He rushed to his car, driving back to his apartment building, trying to erase the memories of that cursed night.

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2 AM,

Bay Area . California.

Martin parked his Volkswagen in the dark alley near his apartment building. The streetlights were dim, and the area was eerily quiet, with only the sounds of the cold wind whispering through the trees. He got out of the car slowly, as if each step was heavier than the last. The day had been long and exhausting, but the pain he felt wasn't just physical; there was a weight on his soul, a feeling of unease, as if something inevitable was drawing closer to him.

When he entered his apartment, he found Emily already asleep in bed. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. The peaceful expression on her face brought him a sense of calm, but he knew he couldn't lie down beside her tonight. He quietly closed the door behind him, careful not to make a sound that might wake her, and then headed directly to the attic, the place where he would sit when he needed to think, away from the noise of life.

He sat by the small pool, which reflected the faint moonlight. He stared at the still water, as if it mirrored all the turmoil inside him. Slowly, he pulled out the first aid kit and began to bandage his wounds. His fingers were severely injured, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the anxiety that gripped him.

"Damn it... this will be the last time I help anyone..." Martin muttered to himself in a low voice. He continued wrapping the bandages around his fingers, trying to distract his mind from the thoughts racing through his head.

But the thoughts wouldn't quiet down. "What do I do now? How do I get rid of this cursed thing? Should I go to the hospital?" His questions found no answers. "But what if they make me a test subject? What if those big government crocodiles get involved? Even my father wouldn't be able to protect me then..."

As Martin sank deeper into these dark thoughts, a sudden headache struck him, as if something was piercing through his mind. He closed his eyes and clutched his head with both hands. Suddenly, strange sounds echoed in his ears, as if some system was being activated inside him.

*Ding... Ding...*

"'Aegis' has been linked to the host..."

"Host memory simulation complete..."

"Soul and blood fusion in progress..."

Martin slowly opened his eyes, his hand still on his head. The headache was gradually subsiding, but he wasn't prepared for what came next. His phone, which was lying next to him, suddenly vibrated, and its screen lit up, revealing a new app—an app he had never seen before. He stared at the phone, trying to comprehend what was happening. The app was called "Aegis," and it seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Even stranger, the app bypassed all the security and protection settings on his iPhone as if they didn't exist.

Curiosity drove him to open the app, and as he began exploring it, he felt as though things were getting beyond his understanding. The app had only two functions: "Cleaning" with a side question mark, and the camera feature.

A new message appeared on the screen:

"After 'Aegis' simulated the host's desires, it decided to delve into his deepest hidden wishes and developed the Cleaning feature."

"Cleaning is a feature that allows the host to build the perfect society he has always dreamed of..."

Martin read the message slowly, as if it was trying to uncover something deeper within himself.

To activate Cleaning, the host needs three main steps:

First: Know the target's full name.

Second: Capture a clear photo of the target using the phone's main camera.

Third: The host must give the death command.

Martin's hand trembled as he held the phone, his eyes fixed on the words written before him. He was breathing slowly, but he felt his heart pounding rapidly. "Could this... really be real?"

Sweat suddenly started to bead on his forehead, and he felt immense pressure on his chest. "Should... should I try it?" The thought scared him, but it was also tempting.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Then, slowly, he set the phone aside and decided to turn on his laptop. He needed to research, to understand what was happening to him.