Chapter 242: The Internet and the Soul Forge
Beside the Stellar Forge within the Spear of Adun, the energy drawn from the Solarite was continuously melting the wraithbone captured from Craftworld Kholor. Even the massive Wraith-constructs were slowly melting under the heat emitted by the miniature star within the Arkship.
The Spear of Adun possessed the relevant production technology for the Purifiers. Using the molten wraithbone and the Protoss's reconstruction and manufacturing techniques, Karax had already successfully created several prototype Purifier units called Vindicators. However, the Protoss were temporarily unable to manufacture wraithbone themselves. Fortunately, the amount of wraithbone accumulated within Craftworld Kholor was more than enough to meet the current consumption needs of the Protoss.
Cawl was also studying these mechanical bodies at the side. In the conversation between Cawl and Karax, both sides had gained a great deal. After hearing Karax describe the operating mechanism of these Purifiers, Cawl's first reaction was that the essence of these mechanical lives was like the Abominable Intelligence that the Imperium was most opposed to.
Uploading data... isn't that the same as the weak AI avatars I created myself! And the Purifiers were full-fledged strong AIs.
What Cawl found most incredible was that the Protoss actually accepted the existence of these Purifiers.
"Do you not worry that these beings called Purifiers will rebel against you, their creators?"
Although Cawl was not as opposed to Abominable Intelligence as the tech-priests of other cults, he was well aware of its dangers. His own secret research on artificial intelligence was also carried out with great caution.
"In the history of the Protoss, there was indeed a Purifier rebellion. But in the era of Hierarch Artanis, we coexist harmoniously with these Purifiers."
"Harmonious coexistence? But they are ultimately machines, combat weapons created in your image. There is still a fundamental difference between you."
"Machines... are we ourselves not also machines, composed of a machine called flesh and blood? If you simply treat the Purifiers as tools and consumables, then why would they not resist? Just like you, Cawl. How much of your body is still made of flesh and blood? Or perhaps you no longer consider yourself human? Every Purifier that has undergone the data upload is a completely new individual. They can no longer be regarded as the supplier of the data and memories."
"In the Imperium, it is difficult to find someone with ideas like yours. I think we will have more in common to talk about."
Looking at the Purifier before him, Cawl was already fascinated by it. He did not want to create this kind of special artificial intelligence unit like the Protoss. Although many people suspected that he was conducting forbidden technological research, and he was indeed doing so, he could not bring it completely into the open. However, other Protoss technologies, like the ability of the Purifiers to self-destruct in battle and then be reconstructed to rejoin the fight, could give his own Skitarii Legions a qualitative leap in combat effectiveness.
And Lucan, looking at the Purifiers on the side, was not just thinking about their combat power. Although the Purifiers were artificially made, they seemed to have a kind of obsession with restoring the normal characteristics of the Protoss. The Purifiers could not have the Khala, but they had created a Purifier network similar to it. This was a purely technological product. Purifiers made of non-wraithbone materials could not use psychic energy. And this artificial Khala was equivalent to the Purifiers' internet.
What Lucan was thinking was to use this technology to build an internet for humanity as well. And the tech-priests of the Cult of the Holy Machine, whose heads had also been modified, were the best test subjects. They would abandon their original inefficient cogitators and wetware, and integrate knowledge and resources in a more efficient way. After the experiment with the tech-priests was successful, it would then be popularized in the current conventional administrative departments and political systems of the Imperium.
Once the Cult of the Holy Machine was widespread and the Purity Seals could be produced on a large scale, humanity would no longer need to worry about Chaos corruption and could connect the entire economic and data systems of the Imperium together. The factors that had always limited the development and management of the Imperium were the efficiency of information transmission and the instability of warp travel. The existence of quantum communication and the jump engine could just make up for these problems.
And the inefficient administrative methods meant that a single decimal point error by the Administratum could cause the destruction of a planet or a star system. Although this internet system would certainly not be able to avoid errors, its accuracy and efficiency would be much higher than the current system. The lag in information and the existence of the warp made this empire, which radiated across the galaxy, seem as if it were still in the feudal era, collecting physical taxes from the planets belonging to the Imperium in the most backward form.
Although many sectors had their own currencies, and they were even all called Throne Gelt, the value of the Throne Gelt in each sector was different. Even a single warship would have its own independent economic system. Once you left a star system or sector, others would not recognize your currency. The most common form of trade was still the barter of technology, population, and resources. It could be said that the entire economic system of the Imperium was extremely distorted.
If the internet was successful, it could also strengthen the government's ability to supervise and influence the various planets, and even avoid the tragedies caused by the conventional physical tithe. But the premise was that the central government had to be strong enough and have enough credibility. Lucan believed that this problem would be slowly solved later.
The Protoss, who had the Khala, had a very poor understanding of the internet in this respect, so Lucan also invited Cawl to join this project. And Lucan would also use the Koronus Expanse as a pilot area to verify its feasibility.
Bringing his thoughts back, Lucan walked straight toward the Stellar Forge. He knew that there were more important things to do now.
"Cawl, have Karax help record the data on the side!"
As Lucan activated his machine portfolio, pure warp energy permeated the entire chamber. Cawl's detectors continuously sounded alarms. All the surrounding mechanical creations seemed to be operating at super-power. And at this moment, the Stellar Forge also underwent a different kind of change. The originally fixed structure of the forge was changing.
Lucan was standing in front of the Stellar Forge. The divine power of machinery manifested as one tentacle after another, extending from his body and piercing into the forge. And the power he had seized from Vashtorr was also transforming it.
Karax and Cawl did not disturb Lucan, but silently recorded all the data before them. Both worlds had the existence of "gods," and this opportunity to directly experience the power of a god was rare. Both, who prided themselves on being scientists, wanted to realize the great power of a god through scientific means. Even if it was difficult, it could not stop their desire to try.
The purified energy from the warp was continuously injected into the Stellar Forge, and the flames within it became more and more dazzling. And at this moment, the Stellar Forge also seemed to have a life of its own.
Lucan opened his eyes. Creating his own Soul Forge was not an easy matter. He was not yet very proficient in the mastery and control of this power. But the result was good. Looking at the connection that had formed between the Stellar Forge before him and himself, he knew that he had succeeded.
Seeing Lucan, who had temporarily finished his work, Cawl and Karax also came to his side.
"Lord Lucan, can you really ensure that this technology will not be eroded by Chaos? This is, after all, a power from the warp," Cawl couldn't help but ask with concern.
"No problem. This is, after all, a power from me. No one knows it better than I do. Later, have the tech-priests cover it with Purity Seals. Even if Chaos tries to invade, I will be able to sense it."
After speaking, Lucan looked at Karax again.
"Prepare the manufacturing materials. As per my request, do your best to compress the wraithbone and increase its strength. As for the appearance... let's go with this. Cawl, transmit the model's appearance to Karax."
And when Karax finished receiving the data, what he saw was the appearance of a human male, almost identical to the Primarch of the Iron Hands, Ferrus Manus.
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We've officially reached our 1200 Power Stones goal! 🎉
As promised, here's your well-deserved bonus chapter for the week.
Thank you all for the amazing support—let's keep the momentum going!