Chapter 563

"【2】 Marvel Universe."

"【3】 \"Anti-organic equation. \"" (including period inside quotes). Ensure no extra spaces.

Let's decide: Use English double quotes. So line 【2】: "Anti-organic equation."

"【6】 Tony abandoned his usual frivolity, his expression solemn as he sat on the sofa, his fingers continuously tapping the smooth surface of the table, producing an irritating 'tap-tap' sound."

Make sure to keep all info.

"【9】 \"Three moments that cannot be defied……Just like a cosmic-scale traffic ticket, impossible to appeal, must be paid. Are these moments already occurred, or will they appear in the future? Isn't there even a bit of information? \""

"【10】 \"This is practically a more powerful version of the Great Expansion Pondering Formation, directly calculating the future of the entire universe. But does it involve Thanos? If Thanos's plan succeeds and wipes out half of all life in the universe, that should count as one of those 'cannot-be-defied' moments, right? \""

"【11】 \"If one of these three moments is related to Thanos's action……then it means they lose. \""

"【12】 \"But the Scholarly Academy believes that these revelations, including the moments calculated by the Scholarly Venerable, are all related to the 'anti-matter equation,' and their calculations are correct and will definitely happen. \""

"【13】 \"Thus it's not hard to infer that Thanos, who single-mindedly seeks the Infinity Stones, has no direct relation to the 'cannot-be-defied' moments. Even if he ultimately achieves his goal, that would be a 'can-be-defied' moment. \""

"【14】.... Upon realizing this, Tony couldn't help but let out a long sigh, lightly wiping the sweat that had just appeared on his forehead with his hand."

"【15】 \"Tony, calm down a bit; at least the prophecy of the end can give some clues. \""

"【16】 \"Strange turned his head to glance at Tony, still thinking the other was still worrying about the anti-matter equation: 'Look, a piece of fabric suitable for women to wear—I have reason to believe that what is described is likely a program devised by a woman to end the anti-organic equation—possibly a member of the future Genius Club, who would end the catastrophe brought by inorganic life.'\""

"【17】 \"Forget it, Doctor. \" Hawkeye languidly slumped on the sofa, an arm draped over the back, \"Fabric suitable for women to wear is really vague. Does Natasha's scarf left here last time count? Deriving a female member of the Genius Club from just a piece of fabric is too much of a stretch. \""

—— => This line is just an em dash? Actually "——". We need to output translation. It's a separator line. Should we output just "——"? Probably keep as is. So output: "——". Must keep 【13】 prefix.

"【19】 \"The blood vessels in her mind began to expand… Xing felt her 【limit】 approaching. She did not want her cognition to continue expanding… Even as the carrier of a star core, she could not bear more……\""

"【20】 \"Logic: Stop. \" Luosi Gum wanted to adjust the data, but Stephen acted first."

Given the difficulty, maybe safer to translate meaning: "Screw Gum". Because it's a descriptive epithet used as a name? The rule says if it's what people habitually call him, it's a name: pinyin. If not, translate. Since we don't know, but it's likely a nickname used for the character, I'd go with pinyin. However many translations of webnovels keep such nicknames translated (e. g., "Screw Gum"). I'll choose translation: "Screw Gum". Because it's more natural English. The instruction says: "When unsure whether something is a name or an ordinary word, TRANSLATE the meaning rather than romanizing — UNLESS it refers to a person". Since we are unsure if it refers to a person, we should translate meaning. So we'll translate as "Screw Gum". Good.

"【24】 Stephen"

Thus line 15: "\"Logic: Stop. \" Screw Gum wanted to adjust the data, but Stephen acted first."

"【27】 \"I modified a string of code—lowered Xing's brain temperature. \" Stephen poked his head out from the computer, \"Um, are you okay, Xing? \""

"【29】 \"You really care about Xing. \" Black Tower turned around, seeming quite relaxed, \"Nice work……\""

"You really care about Xing." Black Tower turned around, seeming quite relaxed, "Nice work……"

Black Tower

"Before Black Tower's words faded, the brief cooling was again pressed down by an overloaded 【cognition】. The images in Xing's mind sea were uncontrollable… she couldn't help but say 'shh' to them……but those images became increasingly concrete, even gaining form and life."

"She saw… when 【mystery】 shrouded the universe, Starlight sprinkled the earth. It traced out faint secret marks: a string of 【traces】, a string of footprints of organic life. Tiny they marched on the 【pioneering】 road, in groups, stooped, sneaking into the mechanical city."

"Before them stood……a huge 'machine'."

"Or rather, it is a wreck."

"It is immensely huge, beyond imagination, like a silent mountain peak. Its form has long been unrecognizable of its original function, leaving only a broken framework, twisted and ruptured pipes, and shell. Yet, despite being in such a ruin, lying here silently for who knows how many ages, it still exudes an awe-inspiring solemnity. It seems not a dead object, but a slumbering giant."

"What are they doing……"

"Xing, do you still remember the members of the armed archaeology school you simulated earlier?" Black Tower's voice was very calm, "……this is their purpose for this trip."

"——【Emperor】 Rupert"

—— => same as line 13: output "——".

Fate/zero。 => This is a title. Keep as "Fate/zero." (including period). No translation needed.

"The 'Emperor' of inorganic life?"

"The 'Emperor' of inorganic life?"

"Rider's thick eyebrows rose, a flash of surprise and strong curiosity crossing his crimson pupils. He put down the wine bottle, looked up at that strange sky."

"A……machine? Actually being given the title 'Emperor'? Interesting! Really interesting!"

"Maybe, perhaps it's just some kind of metaphor? Or an honorific for its computing power and control range? Just like that supercomputer called the 'Scholarly Venerable'……" Weber said timidly.

"No, kid." Rider interrupted him, his gaze like torches fixed on the celestial curtain where the machine like a mountain peak loomed, "I can feel……that it's not just a simple honorific. It is a 'status', it is an 'essence'! Could it be that such creations once reigned as overlords of the Star Sea?"

"Rider stroked his tangled beard, voice low: "But its kingly way……is completely different from mine. My kingly way lies in galloping, in expanding territory, in sharing joy and suffering with followers, in igniting the journey with fervent desire and dreams! My empire is forged from the hearts of living beings who can cry, laugh, and roar."

"But this 'Rupert'……what is his kingly way? I, the king, have seen countless rulers in my life, yet this is the first time I've seen a 'mechanical emperor'! Does he intend to conquer the ends of the universe in my stead?"

"This anti-organic equation was derived by Rupert, you know." Weber crossed his arms, gave a cold snort from the side, "His kingly way might just be to kill all organic life in the entire universe. Rider……you said conquering him might not interest him, but if it's to exterminate life at the universe's edge, he'd probably still be willing to do the work."

"Oh? Making slaughter his kingly way?"

"Rider's gaze sank; an Emperor whose aim is such pure, bloody scenes is indeed a first for him. In his early eastern campaigns, although he also constantly slaughtered, his goal was always to conquer the land and people, to continually expand Macedonia's territory, but this Rupert seems to have no interest in territory whatsoever."

"Since this Rupert is an 'Emperor', where is his empire now? Where are his subjects and armies? Has his kingdom already ceased to exist?"

"Rider's tone carried a hint of regret; he still looked forward to seeing a mechanical emperor commanding hundreds of thousands of troops, galloping across the Star Sea—his command style, is it based on flawless cold calculation? Or is it the optimal solution of absolute rationality?"

".... He really wants to witness it."

—— => output "——".

"Rupert is the 'Emperor' of the inorganic army, or perhaps their very faith. After it fell into slumber, the mechanical empire also once collapsed."

Heita watched from afar as the group of members gradually approached the machine, his tone calm. These tiny lives stretched out their hands in trembling: they wore fully armed gloves and gas masks, unable to comprehend the 'abstract' flood, only able to feel existence through touch.