Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

It didn’t take that long before Cloud was able to hack through the door and open it.

Soon, the massive metallic door slowly opened, revealing a vast chamber hidden deep within the First Citadel. Unlike the corridors they had passed through earlier, there were no weapons waiting for them on the other side, nor did any defensive mechanism activate as they entered.

Instead, a stream of cold air flowed from within the chamber...

Shane stepped inside first, followed closely by the others.

The sight that greeted them immediately made everyone slow down.

The chamber looked more like an advanced medical facility. Numerous metallic operating tables had been arranged throughout the enormous space, each one surrounded by complicated machinery and mechanical arms.

There were at least a dozen humanoid Medical Automatons standing beside the tables, completely motionless as though they had been waiting there for a patient.

Their bodies were noticeably different from the War Automata they had encountered earlier. They were slimmer and more refined, with several mechanical arms extending from their backs and shoulders.

Each arm ended in a different instrument or medical equipment. Some carried long surgical needles, others possessed thin mechanical blades, while several contained strange energy devices that Shane couldn’t even identify.

”They’re Medical Automatons,” Tieria said after slowly examining one of them. ”Or at least, that’s what they appear to be.”

Shane didn’t answer immediately.

His attention had already been drawn toward the far side of the chamber.

Several enormous transparent capsules stood there in a row, each one large enough to contain a human body.

He also noticed thick cables extended from the upper sections of the capsules into the ceiling, while numerous tubes connected to their lower sections disappeared into the floor. The inside of every capsule was empty, but the sight alone was enough to make everyone realize what they had been designed for.

Cloud immediately scanned them.

[ Confirmed. These are biological preservation capsules. They are designed to maintain living organisms in a controlled state for extended periods. ]

Travis pushed his glasses up as he stared at them.

”Then they were probably used to store test subjects.”

”Or prisoners,” Tundra added.

Shane slowly walked toward one of the operating tables.

There were still faint traces of dried biological material on its surface.

His expression gradually became darker.

”Cloud, search the laboratory records.”

[ Understood. ]

Cloud immediately connected to the nearest terminal.

For several seconds, nothing happened.

Then the ancient screens scattered throughout the laboratory suddenly lit up to life.

A series of diagrams appeared across them.

Everyone immediately gathered around.

The first image showed a humanoid body with its internal organs displayed in detail. Mechanical components had been drawn over the biological structure, showing how the two systems were connected.

Shane stared at the diagram as Cloud began explaining what they were seeing.

[ The Bloodforged Automatons are created by combining biological regeneration with mechanical reinforcement. Their biological tissues are modified first, allowing them to withstand the integration of mechanical components. The artificial blood vessels are then connected directly to the mechanical systems, allowing energy and nutrients to circulate throughout the body. ]

Another diagram appeared.

It showed the nervous system.

Unlike the other parts of the body, the brain remained almost entirely biological.

Shane’s eyes narrowed.

”The brain wasn’t replaced.”

[ Correct. The original procedure appears to have been designed to preserve the subject’s brain. The mechanical systems were connected directly to the nervous system rather than replacing it. ]

Minerva looked toward the Bloodforged Automatons standing nearby.

”Then they were still human after the transformation?”

”Biologically, yes,” Cloud answered. ”However, there is another problem.”

The screen changed.

This time, it displayed a series of neural patterns.

[ The final stage of the procedure involved modifying the subject’s neural structure. Combat instincts, motor functions, and responses to external commands were retained, while memories and personality-related neural patterns were removed. ]

The entire group became silent.

Shane’s expression hardened.

”You’re saying they erased their memories?”

[ That is the most probable explanation. ]

Cloud continued scanning the records.

Then two files appeared on the main screen.

SUBJECT: SANDARA

SUBJECT: SYLAS

They actually managed to get their names.

Shane’s breathing became heavier and there was no longer any doubt.

The laboratory had not merely been used to create Bloodforged Automatons.

This was the place where Sandara and Sylas had been transformed.

They even found the complete recording on how the two were carefully operated in such a crude but effective way... It was a sight that not many of them wanted to see.

”They were alive throughout the entire process,” Travis finally muttered.

Shane nodded. He couldn’t bring himself to look away.

At the end of the recording, both subjects were placed inside preservation capsules.

Then the final stage began.

A strange energy device was positioned above their heads.

Cloud immediately paused the recording.

[ This is the memory extraction system. ]

Shane’s expression became cold...

”Can you reverse it?”

Cloud remained silent for several seconds.

[ I do not know. However, I may be able to access the mechanical systems integrated into their bodies. ]

Shane immediately turned around.

”Try.”

[ I will attempt to establish a connection. ]

Cloud’s connection traveled through the laboratory’s network as it began analyzing their neural systems.

[ I have successfully removed the external combat directives. They will no longer attack you unless they are given a new command or perceive you as a threat. ]

”And their memories?”

There was another pause.

[ I have examined their neural structures as thoroughly as possible. Their brains remain functional, but the memory-related patterns have been completely erased. ]

Shane sighed as he heard this... ”At least they’re alive...”

”But they don’t remember anything.” Tundra muttered.

[ That is correct. ]

Shane remained silent for a long time.

He had hoped that once Cloud regained control of their mechanical systems, Sandara and Sylas would immediately return to normal. At the very least, even if their bodies were transformed, they might still become the same person.

Unfortunately, even with Cloud’s assistance, it was impossible.

”Then we’ll find a way to restore their memories. Or if not, we’ll make new memories for them.”

His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable determination behind it.

”Until then, they’ll stay with us.”

He glanced toward the dozen Medical Automatons and the enormous laboratory surrounding them.

There was still much more to discover.

If the First Citadel had possessed technology capable of completely erasing and reconstructing memories, then perhaps somewhere inside this ancient facility there was also a way to reverse the process.

Shane looked at Cloud.

”Search everything.”

[ Understood, Master. ]

This time, Shane wasn’t exploring the First Citadel for its technology.

He was searching for a way to bring two of his people back. Even if they failed, they decided to take this technology with them and study it thoroughly...

However, as this was all happening, Shane soon noticed a private message from Fiona through the System.

[ Fiona: Shane! Your grandfather was ambushed, but he’s okay. He even felt stronger for some reason. Anyway, he’s going there right now! ]

As soon as he read this message, Shane felt the whole First Citadel tremble!