Chapter 861 Continental War Is Now Online! (1/2)
”By the way, Zero Three—I got you a gift.”
Joshua strolled into the room without alerting anyone, not even the maids in side his Residence. ”Do you still remember what I told you when I took you away from Karlis?” He asked slowly.
”Eh? What gift?”
Zero Three, who had awkwardly turned her head aside, unsure how to continue the conversation was quickly surprised. She appeared happy, but could not hold back the delight despite her attempts to do so.
Nonetheless, Joshua's question prompted the Artificial Intelligence girl to comb through her memory. She found it swift, and that was when Joshua smiled. ”I've said that I would tear apart Chaos and Evil Gods for you—now I am to do so, and have accomplished that.”
”It's almost ten years, but I have achieved what I've sworn to do then, and it's my gift even if it had been empty promises once.”
It was certainly a delightful gift.
Ten years. Even if she was an AI, Zero Three had to deliberately search her own memories or she would not at once recall her conversation with Joshua then. The fact that the warrior had actually kept it at heard moved her, and she tilted her head away, embarrassed to level her gaze at him.
However, aside from feeling stirred, Zero Three sharply noticed that something was not right with Joshua then. After all, from what she knew about him, Joshua never had the emotional quotient to say something so corny… something that made others blush!
”I'm really happy… but Joshua, didn't you already kill another Evil God last time?” She asked puzzledly at the thought. ”We have celebrated for some time when you returned after slaying the Evil God of Wither, and for once you've even let loose, bringing all of us along for a trip around Mycroft's stratosphere.”
It was just a typical suspicion at first—considering that the Evil God of Death was infinitely more powerful than the Evil God of Wither, the trouble itself was resolved over half a year ago, with the nervousness and direness that emanated then diminishing entirely, the strife that engulfed the galaxy becoming the past… Zero Three certainly believed that it would not be a problem to host another great ceremony to celebrate Joshua's return, but she was unsure why Joshua did not mention this then, only to emphasize it now.
It was a question that could have been skimped through. Zero Three's own question was asked out of instinct and she did not expect any answer, but Joshua's ensuing long silence left her even more perplexed and panicking.
”…”
Joshua did not say anything to answer Zero Three, but his eyes were flickering in a crimson divine light that left others sweltering and terrified—it was after several minutes that he finally answered like an old machine after resolving latency, heavily mouthing each word, ”The one before, the Evil God of Wither, doesn't count. It's just an entity, recently escaped its seal…”
”Actually, this one doesn't count either. The Evil God of Death was never born—it is still gestating, though powerful, it was completely destroyed, by us.”
The bizarre and machinelike words and the clearly abnormal behavior left Zero Three earnestly jarred. It was clearly something worth being happy about, something to be rejoiced for or even cheered loudly, but Joshua's unusualness left her in the dumps.
Is he being corrupted by Chaos?
But there is no Chaos presence!
Just as Zero Three and Joshua leveled their gazes at each other, the warrior suddenly lifted her projection and put her on the desk as he himself settled into the chair in front of it. Then, he slowly continued, ”those two together, count as, one Evil God.”
It was on the desk that Zero Three finally saw a sparking redness in the black-haired warrior's scarlet eyes. The AI herself felt a powerful effect upon seeing it too, as if she suddenly wanted to destroy something, and break anything within reach down to ashes.
However, when the God of the Sky's Legacy and the processing force of the Mana Net's main server quickly dispelled Zero Three from that influence, she also finally realized what caused the warrior's unusual behavior.
”I would definitely see through my promises,” Joshua said then, as if to himself. ”Whatever it takes, I would fulfill my oath.”
The warrior's words were simply not intended for Zero Three; he was speaking them as if for some kind of assurance.
As if something had dawned upon her, Zero Three, who had always been gentle—especially to Joshua—promptly clenched her right fist, tightening her brow as she glared at the warrior who seemed to be normal in his expression. ”Alright!” She forced herself to yell menacingly, ”Now I know what you need!”Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click visiting.
”Joshua, you have to get treatment now!”
At that, mana gathered. The symbol of the God of the Sky appeared behind Zero Three as every bit of magical energy adrift in the Liege's Residence and the Inner City appeared to be summoned, surging wildly into the Residence at the call. In that instant, a power that exceeded even typical Supreme champions converged on the AI's illusory arm, and she swung it with all her strength and clapped it on Joshua's head!
However, the seemingly vicious blow dispersed the instant it touched the warrior's hair. Luminous specks of magical energy crumbled into pale golden flakes that wafted… it was not simply because magical projection could not touch solid forms, but because the Steel Barrier in each hair on Joshua's kept him immune from most supernatural attacks.
A single drop of his blood would crumble mountains, a strand of his hair would cut through whole lands. It was not an exaggeration, for it was reality to Joshua.
Be that as it may, Zero Three accomplished her objective—by using substantial mana to stimulate a reaction from the Steel Strength in Joshua's main body, she seized the opening to deliver the Steel Strength Joshua himself left with her!
***
[Spirit Backup]
A long time ago, when Joshua had still been troubled by divinity, he replicated a part of his own spirit when he was normal, keeping it in Steel Strength that he handed to Zero Three for keeping. Through Zero Three's presence, he could always determine if his spirit was affected and flawed by the discreet effects of divinity.
The plan for a Spirit Backup ensures the warrior's consciousness remained healthy. However, Joshua had almost suppressed the combat divinity—it grew incessantly, but Joshua himself grew much quicker and hence did not fear that strength, leaving the plan almost moot.
Now, however, Joshua was clearly acting unusually. Understanding that, Zero Three quickly restarted the plan and began studying the warrior's present spiritual issue.
”Heavens!”
Soon, Zero Three's wings slumped with the results of her comparison. Shocked, she looked up at the warrior who remained entirely calm, her eyes bulging as she exclaimed in surprise, ”Joshua, what have you done?! Your spirit deviance is more than 90%, and you're like an old patient who had gone insane over thirty years!”
No wonder Joshua was so weird today! And here I was thinking why, with that attitude of his, would he mention something ten years ago!
And she had thought that Joshua was being forward…
Zero Three ceased that trail of thinking since there was no such luxury and because was not the time to fool around. 90% deviance was not merely serious—it was unthinkable!
The spirit deviance rate was a cumulative value combining various aspects of thought that reflects a person's usual choice and perception under various scenarios. The ordinary deviation rate was 5%, since normal humans would change their usual behavior out of emotional shifts, be it from extreme happiness or anger.
Likewise, a deviation rate of more than 10% meant that normal beings had went insane—with typical examples being a mage who had changed into a Lich. Due to negative energy and undead alteration, his cognition would change, and though he was the same person, he would be a far cry compared to who he had been.
Divinity erosion was naturally slightly more severe since it was a problem that troubled even the gods. Even so, during the last occasion when Joshua had a more severe case, the deviation rate was only 15% to 25%... At this stage, Joshua's own will would become so unusually aggressive and bloodthirsty to the point that he would go against his own instinct and principles and unconditionally provoke some friendly being that he would have kept himself from challenging.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Zero Three quickly mustered magical energy again and extended her hand to press it on Joshua's head again. Naturally, the warrior suppressed the reflexive retaliation of Steel Strength this time, and while he said nothing, he was being cooperative.
Like a waterfall, mana information flashed through the AI girl's eyes, with runic flickering even on her sky-blue hair. Zero Three mostly understood why Joshua would quietly return and seek her out at once—it appears that he knew that he was not his right self and he needed help from others despite having a deviation rate of 90%. Zero Three, who holds his spirit backup was hence the best choice.
Before that, if he met others, Joshua would have no assurances that he would not suddenly go amok and give someone a beating… on his return journey, there may already have been unknown victims.
The 90% spirit deviation rate would leave a person unable to communicate or think normally. Just think about it: ninety percent of the human brain's composition, even the synapse flow in nervous system would flow and transmit erratically. At that thought, Zero Three thought that it was a complete miracle for Joshua to escape the Vortex of Creation alone!
The AI tried her hardest to use the backup to correct the warrior's present spirit, but it was clear that the Steel Strength he left behind back then was simply not enough compared to the warrior's true form. The deviation rate kept drifting between 89% and 92%, and appear to have no actual effect.
However, her hard work bore fruit: as she stealthily borrowed the processing power of the main Mana Net server, the red sparks in Joshua's eyes diminished while the warrior himself seized the chance to reclaim some lucidity.
”Thanks.”
The first thing that the warrior did when he returned to normal was look up at Zero Three, who was so focused that even her mana projection was missing in certain parts. ”I definitely chose correctly,” he grinned. ”You definitely helped me, Zero Three.”