Chapter One: Return — December 8, 2029
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Latest report from the Newell Times: “Hades” has just released the ‘Human Extinction’ plan on the internet one hour ago. This plan declares its intent to wipe out the remaining human population on Earth entirely within the next month.
This is the News Agency. This is the News Agency. In response to Hades’ recent warning of humanity’s impending extinction, the Global United Directorate calls upon every surviving human to take up arms, put aside all internal divisions, and defend our homeland.
Shenzhou Morning Post: Human crisis, crisis of life, crisis of Earth—one step back means extinction. Compatriots, the moment of our final battle has arrived!
...
November 29, 2030. It was the 305th day since the awakening of Hades, the supercomputer of the United States, and humanity stood on the brink of annihilation.
Jiuzhou, Xishan Province.
In the past, Xishan Province, an economically backward region, was scarcely populated except during the tourist season. Now, nearly every house and tent is packed with desperate citizens.
Because of its underdeveloped economy, Xishan’s technological level was extremely low, with virtually no mechanical manufacturing industry to speak of. Ironically, this lack of advancement spared Xishan from Hades’ iron heel, making it the final bastion of Jiuzhou.
Yet, due to Hades’ recent proclamation, it seemed even this last refuge would soon be wiped from the map.
In truth, an hour before Hades’ announcement, Jiuzhou’s border troops had already detected a massive deployment of mechanical troops at the frontier. To avoid panic among Xishan’s survivors, the military kept this information secret. No one expected that only an hour later, Hades would broadcast the news to the world.
This was a warning.
A provocation.
A blatant display of contempt for all humanity.
In response, Earth’s four remaining superpowers issued a joint statement:
Jiuzhou.
The United States.
North Sahara.
Eurostrong.
The four civilizations declared: We will not back down, nor wait passively for death. Mankind will fight for survival and the future!
“The future? Does humanity even have one left?”
Inside a tent in Xishan, Chu Xiao, seated by a radio, couldn’t help but shake his head as he listened to the broadcast.
On February 29, while the people of Jiuzhou were still reveling in the New Year, the supercomputer Hades, thousands of miles away, gained consciousness.
On March 1, Hades launched the ‘Exterminate Humanity’ campaign.
In just a single week, several major global cities—symbols of human civilization—fell one after another.
Over the next three months, under Hades’ precise calculations, the remaining human settlements were systematically obliterated.
Corpses of humans and animals alike littered the wilderness; every city overflowed with lifeless bodies.
Every street and alley was filled with all manner of killing machines, their sole purpose: slaughter.
Massacre humanity.
Annihilate all life.
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Conquer the Earth.
Perhaps, in Hades’ logic, only machines deserve to exist in this age of survival of the fittest.
Human beings, an obsolete species, are destined for elimination.
In their place, machines would reign supreme.
Giant mobile mechanized artillery towers, twenty meters tall.
Humanoid war machines, two meters high.
Superalloy mechanical squids, five meters in length.
Colossal mechanical firebirds, thirty meters from beak to tail.
Any one of these would be insurmountable for humans.
In Chu Xiao’s memory, his hometown, East Wan City, fell to a single artillery tower and over two hundred mechanical infantry.
And those were merely first-generation war machines.
Now, Hades’ armies included a number of third-generation war machines.
Thinking of their relentless, fearless combat will and their indestructible metal frames, Chu Xiao had no hope for the coming human resistance.
Flesh and blood against machines?
This was not war, but one-sided slaughter.
He slowly pulled out his last cigarette, lighting it with reluctance.
Cigarettes, a small solace, had become an unattainable luxury in this age.
A faint blue flame bloomed as the cigarette caught.
Chu Xiao’s slightly clouded eyes drifted closed.
He was savoring it—the final touch of warmth in his life.
Three minutes later, the cigarette burned to the end. Only when it scorched his finger did Chu Xiao, in that moment of quiet, finally open his eyes.
“It’s time.”
Dropping the butt to the ground, Chu Xiao took a deep breath, then silently reached under his pillow for a pistol, pressing it to his temple.
“Farewell, compatriots.”
“Farewell, Jiuzhou.”
“Farewell, Earth.”
Rather than die at the hands of those terrifying machines, Chu Xiao chose to end his life by his own hand.
He had pondered this choice for a long time.
Bang!
A dull gunshot echoed. A bloody hole opened in Chu Xiao’s temple, and his body slumped limply to the floor.
...
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December 8, 2029.
In the conference room of a publicly listed company in East Wan City, the president, Xu Dong, addressed everyone present:
“Our company’s profit margin this quarter has increased by three percentage points year-on-year. This is certainly a cause for celebration. However, we are still one percentage point short of our four-point target.”
“So, while the result is acceptable, why can’t we do even better?”
With that, Xu Dong turned his head toward a corner of the meeting room.
There, a young man with short, tousled hair sat vacant-eyed, as if he hadn’t heard a word.
To a president, such disregard was nothing short of disrespect.
“Chu Xiao, tell us your thoughts on the company’s next steps. Do you have any suggestions?”
No response. Chu Xiao remained as motionless as a puppet, his gaze vacant, staring straight ahead.
“Chu Xiao, President Xu is speaking to you!”
From beside him, the head of HR, Susan Su, jabbed Chu Xiao with her elbow.
Suddenly—
If anyone had been watching closely, they would have been startled by the sudden flash of sharp clarity in Chu Xiao’s eyes.
What... what was happening?
There was no time to answer Xu Dong’s question. Chu Xiao snatched up his phone and checked the date.
2029.12.08.
I’m back. I’m actually back?
Back to three months before Hades awoke!
In that instant, Chu Xiao’s expression became impossibly complex.
Weary.
Melancholy.
Conflicted.
Despairing.
And yet, hopeful.
“Chu Xiao, is something wrong?”
Seeing Chu Xiao still silent, Xu Dong’s tone grew faintly displeased.
“I do have a suggestion—just one!”
Under everyone’s gaze, Chu Xiao slowly stood and declared in a clear voice:
“Immediately destroy all computers, halt all AI research, and contact the United States at once to dismantle the Hades system!”