Chapter 1018: Avoiding Program Elimination

As they drew closer to the core sea, the sky grew increasingly strange and heavy.

The dark red color intertwined with the gloomy gray sky, making everyone who looked into the distance feel as if they were in hell.

Finally, a towering building appeared in their view, similar to the Sirens' fortresses outside the core sea, but this structure was larger and more expansive.

"That's a Sirens' fortress! But why is it so much bigger than the others?" Xin Ze Xi said, somewhat surprised.

Since it was on the public channel, Hai Lun Na, who had been leading the formation, turned her head and said, "Hehe, because this is the second-largest base of Antikex in each world; normally they stay here, so it's that big."

"Eh, the second-largest base? Is there an even bigger fortress than this?" Not only Xin Ze Xi, but everyone else turned their attention to Hai Lun Na.

Hai Lun Na nodded: "Although this world currently follows the Main World standard, it was previously a Numbered World, so according to Numbered World rules, the fortress before us is Antikex's second-largest base in this world."

"As for the largest base, they call it the Mainframe."

"Mainframe?" Bisimai narrowed his eyes, "I recall the commander once said that if we treat this world as a virtual game, then these Sirens are the game's administrators, i. e., GMs. Now you say that, does it prove the commander was right?"

Hai Lun Na smiled: "I've never heard that before; the commander could make that association, but he was both right and wrong."

"The one who truly forged this world is not the Mainframe currently used by these Antikex; the Mainframe here processes the experimental data and information occurring in this world and has certain computational functions."

"Of course, its most important function is to store the data of these Antikex. That's why even if you kill the Purifiers, they can still appear."

"As long as the backup data in the Mainframe isn't deleted, they only need to switch to a new body and the Antikex will regain combat capability."

"Then where is this world's Mainframe? If we destroy the Mainframe, will this world return to stability?" North Carolina asked. As an original Free Shipgirl who later joined the Qin Ge Fleet, her feelings for this world were deeper than those of the shipgirls directly summoned by Qin Ge.

"You could say that, but if the Mainframe is destroyed, the primordial world's Mainframe will deem this world useless and initiate program elimination." Hai Lun Na said up to this point and stopped; they were all shipgirls, so the notion of program elimination naturally came to mind.

"Then how do we break through? If that crucial Mainframe cannot be destroyed, these Sirens will persist forever and this world will never know peace!" Bisimai said.

"Well, actually what I said earlier had a loophole: this world's Mainframe is not just one; there isn't a single elite humanoid Antikex corresponding to each Mainframe. For example, the Observer has its corresponding Mainframe, the Testers have theirs, and so on."

"As long as you don't destroy all of this world's Mainframes, the primordial world's Mainframe will consider this world anomalous and thus will not trigger program clearance." Hai Lun Na said.

"So, as long as we let the protagonist detect that a Mainframe exists in this world, program clearance won't happen." Bisimai nodded, and she immediately calmed down.

The situation took a turn for the better; if only one Mainframe were retained, Bisimai would still feel reassured. Especially since an Antikex silhouette had already appeared in the Gangqu earlier; if possible, retaining the Purifiers' Mainframe while destroying all others might restore this world's former tranquility.

The others also looked relieved; as long as the greatest loss was avoided, there would be room for maneuver ahead. Once this world regained peace, they could live quietly with their commander, undisturbed each day.

Perhaps then they would finally live the dream they had longed for.

"Hehe, you don't need to worry so far ahead for now, because where the Antikex's Mainframe in this world is located remains unknown to anyone. Even if we wanted to investigate, it would take some time, so first focus on the battle at hand; we'll discuss these matters later." Hai Lun Na said, looking at the people with varied expressions, smiling.

"Understood." Reminded by Hai Lun Na, everyone snapped back to attention, refocusing on the enormous fortress looming ever closer ahead.

As they drew nearer, they noticed six figures already standing before the massive fortress.

"Enpuleisi, Hemitie, Siteliankusi, Tianpalan si, Lawo si, Tuowa!"

Enterprise halted, gazing at the distant figures; her voice came through the communicator:

"Hehe, G, you finally came, bringing those worlds' losers." Enpuleisi said with a smile.

"Hmph, if we are the losers, what are you? Cowards!" Enterprise said coldly, "If you had helped back then, would things have come to this?"

"G, we weren't unwilling to help; Laplace's Demon had calculated that even if we all mobilized, the final result could only be failure.

Moreover, if we all failed, what would that world have left to resist? So retreat was the best choice.

Furthermore, the Creator's matter is her own choice, just like the Arbiter—everyone must pay the price for such an outcome, even that world must pay its due, and that is the price of failure." Hemitie said.

"Moreover, from that time until now, you have wandered through these worlds for so long; surely you already have the answer in your heart?

If possible, I still hope we can join hands, for we share the same origin. Instead of walking opposite paths now and becoming enemies!"

"Impossible, your so-called plan is just empty talk; after all this time and all these worlds, what have you achieved?

Look at my side—these are the products of your experiments; besides bringing pain to these worlds, you have made no progress. If this continues, even the primordial world will meet the same fate!" Enterprise said coldly.

"Then let us fight; the victor shall be king—is this not the principle you and I uphold!" Enpuleisi said.

"Hmph!"

Enterprise grabbed her bow, pulled it taut, and a golden arrow appeared on it.

"Then let's battle!"