60 Strange Hurricane Winds

[There have been no changes in my programming since last time. I would like to be able to offer more details, but unfortunately I can't...]

Its tone of voice denoted a touch of sadness, which frustrated Kraynnor. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he remembered something. He glanced at his system interface in an instant: "Fifteen points, should I spend them?"

Kraynnor was considering using Universal Points to acquire knowledge!

Absorbed in so many responsibilities, he had relegated the tempting option of acquiring skills in a field without the need for years of study; it was as if it were some kind of trap, he just needed to pay and in seconds he had all that knowledge in his mind. Nevertheless, ignoring this alternative wasn't so simple. He remembered the incredibly pleasurable sensation he experienced when absorbing information, which stirred in him a strong aversion towards this method.

He deeply hated any attempt to manipulate his mind, and detested even more the feeling of being a damn addict.

"..."

Kraynnor plunged into a few seconds of silence, debating internally between blindly trusting the universal system or solving the matter by himself, even if it might take him a long time.

Still, considering the possible ramifications if he didn't uncover what Cognitron X-12 harbored inside, he gritted his teeth and selected the 'Universal Points' option. In the blink of an eye, the panel with the endless list of available knowledge appeared.

Heading to the search bar, he directly entered terms related to hacking and programming.

The list of knowledge was overwhelming, even when examining only the zero-star ones; the one-star ones seemed even more extensive, not to mention the higher levels up to three stars.

Given his level limit, a restriction he was already accustomed to, he could only access the knowledge of one and zero stars. However, this was not a problem for him. Although the other party was much more advanced, he wasn't seeking to destroy or control it; his only goal was to locate it. He didn't believe that in the extensive list in front of him there were no knowledge items that would allow him to achieve that.

Kraynnor didn't take long to find one that caught his attention because of its peculiar name:

[Reverse Engineering and Code Analysis (Competence Level: One Star) - 15%: Acquiring knowledge about reverse engineering and code analysis allows dismantling and thoroughly examining the structure of software systems. This would include the thorough review of each line of code in search of anomalies, backdoors, or suspicious fragments.]

[To master 100% of this knowledge, forty Universal Points are needed, while five points are required to reach 20%.]

Observing the percentage of knowledge, he narrowed his eyes. In the end, he understood that by absorbing knowledge from advancing from class to apprentice mechanic, almost all his one-star knowledge had probably surpassed 10%.

"Not bad, but it's not exactly what I'm looking for..." murmured Kraynnor to himself.

At this point, he was already in the command bridge. He wouldn't stand there like a fool all the time.

The process of reverse engineering was something he was very familiar with, but he knew that by doing so he would be dismantling his friend into numerous tiny parts. It was like dismembering someone in search of a parasite inside them, a horrifying idea. Of course, he wouldn't hesitate to do it with an enemy, but with Cognitron X-12, it was different.

Therefore, he chose to search for knowledge that was more worthwhile. Fortunately, he didn't take long to find another title that looked extremely interesting.

[Advanced Cryptography and Computer Security (Competence Level: One Star) - 12%: Understanding the principles of advanced cryptography and computer security techniques allows strengthening a system's defenses and also identifying possible weak points.]

[To master 100% of this knowledge, fifty Universal Points are needed, while six points are required to reach 20%.]

It might seem simpler than the previous knowledge, but it was just what he needed. Kraynnor smiled satisfied. Strengthening a system was crucial for creating an AI, especially the part about identifying weak points. He was sure that whoever was within his friend's programming must be taking advantage of these weak points to hide.

Like the first time he paid with points, the space began to fluctuate with flashes. He wasn't sure if it was a real experience or just his mind creating illusions.

His eyes slowly closed, plunging into that pleasant sensation of transcendence.

Time seemed to go slower as Kraynnor immersed himself in the whirlwind of information. In the capsule room, Cognitron X-12 was completely immersed in analyzing the bodies of the three Astrylites, now barely identifiable due to the degree of damage they had suffered from the sampling.

[?]

Suddenly, it detected something peculiar outside the ship: a slight disturbance that caused the ship to move a few centimeters, despite its mass of hundreds of thousands of kilograms.

What was worrying was that it detected no impact on the hull that could explain such movement.

Without hesitation, it deployed several stealth drones, whose propellers spun at high speed, quickly exploring the surroundings for answers. What they discovered was disconcerting: hurricane-force winds swept the environment, shaking the towering trees with a fury that seemed determined to uproot them from the ground.

Nonetheless, what was most baffling was the unpredictability of these winds. They blew from the south with ferocity, only to abruptly change direction towards the north, west, and vice versa.

The lack of a clear pattern challenged all known meteorological logic...

The drones, despite being shaken by one of the violent winds, managed to remain stable and focus their attention on the sky. Meanwhile, Cognitron X-12 meticulously scrutinized every detail of the situation, examining all possible variables. Although the drones' cameras captured images of the wind in action, showing how it swept leaves, branches, and other objects in its path, something escaped their understanding.

Yet, Cognitron X-12 didn't give up. It resorted to a thorough analysis of the recording of the hurricane winds, slowing down each frame until they became static moments.

This technique revealed an intriguing detail: a grayish shadow gliding between the gusts of wind.

It tried to notify Kraynnor, but he was immersed in a deep trance and perceived nothing from the outside. Fortunately, the winds began to diminish until calm returned. All that remained were hundreds of trees around the ship, leaning as if about to collapse, but ultimately remaining in those positions without moving.

Sigh...

"The sensation is simply too addictive, how terrifying," murmured Kraynnor as he slowly opened his eyes, striving to eliminate the sensation of information absorption from his mind.

To verify if the acquired knowledge was sufficient, he used his Holocraft to review the programming of Cognitron X-12.

"..."

Unfortunately, although he found numerous weaknesses in his friend's program, he didn't discover what he was looking for. He looked at the nine Universal Points he had left and, reluctantly, was about to use them to increase his knowledge of Advanced Cryptography and Computer Security even more. However, the voice of Cognitron X-12 made him pause.

[It seems you can hear me now. Something strange has happened outside. I'll send you a video so you can see and understand better.]

Kraynnor soon received a video on his Holocraft where hurricane winds could be seen shaking everything, even the ship seemed to be slowly dragged. He frowned as he patiently waited until the camera pointed to the sky, slowing the video until he could distinguish a gray shadow that seemed to be the cause of that powerful wind.

"We have only two options: either it's an Astylite ship or an alien creature. If it's the former, we must be cautious; if it's the latter, we would have before us another problematic creature with absurd abilities."

Nevertheless, noticing that the winds were ceasing, he decided to postpone the matter for the moment and use the remaining nine points.

The process was identical to the previous one. When he opened his eyes this time, he noticed that his cheeks and ears were slightly reddened, his breathing was agitated, and the bulge in his crotch was getting bigger. Kraynnor gritted his teeth with determination and controlled his breathing, calming his body until he returned to his usual serene state.

"...It's better not to abuse this function in the future," he reminded himself, aware of the overwhelming satisfaction he had experienced before.

He erased from his mind the embarrassing previous situation and reviewed the programming of Cognitron X-12 again. This time, a big smile formed on Kraynnor's lips, revealing his pearly teeth. Indeed, he had found an anomaly, something that shouldn't be there!