Log 016: Grounds For Termination

The FOB was abuzz with activity. The cranes still swung their hauls into refineries, and drones still carried out their tasks. FOB Alpha, in a way, was a sanctuary of tranquility. Outside the walls, the world could be ending, but inside... inside the banal everyday would never end or change. It was not merely about directives or orders. When a machine was made for one task, a machine does that task. It does not ask why or how. It simply does.

"Define: World Boss. Define: Heroic Summon," Somnus' voice poured out of the sonic battery like the distant rumble of thunder.

The afternoon sun blazed over the world as it made for its eventual plummet over the horizon.

"I am not really sure," Arcadia said, wetting her lips. "The last World Boss appeared 450 years ago. The last Heroic Summon was also around that time. What I can tell you, though, is that you cannot gain levels or stats."

"TypeError: Rephrase input."

"I will show you," Arcadia said and tapped the ground with her staff. "Share Divination report!"

Somnus

MACHINE GOD

Level N/A

The image - rather, the comprehension - flooded through its mind.

"Before you get any funny ideas," Arcadia said, "You are not a divinity. I think that is just your title. I might be wrong, though. Do you feel... divine?"

"Designation Somnus has no emotions."

"I guess that is a no," Arcadia said and pursed her lips. "There is another thing. When I did the Divination, there was another report."

"Provide information. Comply."

Arcadia pondered and then nodded, reluctantly. She tapped the staff on the ground once more, "Share Divination report!"

Name Unknown

Level 24

Attributes Jobs

Physical Rank A No jobs yet

Mental Rank B

Magical Rank B

Spiritual Rank D

Technical Rank C

"Nothing like this happened before," Arcadia said. "Why would you have two reports?"

I think that second one might be mine.

[Probability Matrix: Designation "Second Divination Report" match with Class XV sentient being: 98%]

"Share hypothesis on dual nature of activity: Divination report. Comply."

Arcadia thought about it for a moment. "An incomplete summoning, I guess? There is no one in the world who could even summon a World Boss. That's just not possible. I don't think even the God's avatars could do it, or their Heralds."

"Insufficient data," Somnus rumbled.

"How do I explain this?" The priestess curled a lock of hair between her fingers. "Your existence is an anomaly, Lord Somnus."

"Designation "Somnus" was manufactured and deployed with a purpose. Existence is not an anomaly."

She knows about this stuff. We've gotten as much as we can out of the princess, and it didn't include any of this.

[Structural Analysis: Designation "Arcadia", Height: 1.76m, Weight: 58 kg. Acceptable?]

... Sure.

Somnus suddenly rumbled to life, a cacophony of mechanical whirs and buzzes accompanying its motions. It stomped the ground next to Arcadia, causing tremors. The laser batteries came to life, glowing with a malevolent red color.

"Designation "Arcadia" is now hostage of Designation "Somnus". Disobedience is grounds for termination. Resistance is grounds for termination. Rebellion is grounds for termination. Premature termination is grounds for termination."

Real smooth, Somnus. Real smooth.

Arcadia dropped her staff, swallowed and nodded her head.

The lasers powered down.

"Return to your premises. Comply."

Arcadia hesitated, "Lord Somnus, I would like to point out that I am a High Priestess of Het. It is unwise to take me as a hostage."

The lasers powered up again.

Arcadia quickly grabbed her staff and hurried towards the elevators, "All right, I am going."

[Astronomy: Scan progress: 2.01%. No matches. Current location: Unknown.]

Hey, Somnus, do you think we are two different entities?

[Negative.]

I have memories though. Memories in which I am human.

[Irrelevant.]

How is it possible that I am both human and a machine then, genius?

[Playing special log: ZK-21-53]

Everything went dark.

[Personality Matrix collapsed.]