《Sola: Harvest of Souls - A Cyberpunk LitRPG》9.2
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Preature and CURL sat silently as they watched the video of Gradius Byun telling the story of his new world power. After the video ended, they remained silent for a few minutes more.
“It could work. This could change the world. Especially once it hits the central web,” CURL said. “All major systems are on it. Corporations, government, banks. It could really work.”
“It could, but do we want it to get that far?” Preature responded.
“My point exactly,” Tinker stood up and walked to Preature. “This technology is unprecedented. Sure we already have AI, but we don’t have anything as smart as what we’re talking about here.”
“The world is going to hell. This could bring the utopia that my father dreamt of. Think of what the AI would do for us all. Preature, no more working out of this old store. Tinker, you could pursue your dream of working in medicine. CURL, no more kids in the streets the way you grew up. The AI would eliminate money altogether. We could live in a world without need,” Darius insisted, looking to CURL for support.
“What about free choice? Free choice is a gift. We could lose that,” Preature looked around the room. “We could lose who we are. The AI could take more than we’re willing to give. Not just from the rich and powerful, but from everyone.”
“It could be more freedom of choice. It opens you up to choose in times where life would have otherwise chosen for you,” CURL said, affirming her stance.
“Maybe… if it works. If it really culls the personality traits of absorbed AIs like Gradius said,” Tinker added. “But if it doesn’t work… we end up with an evil AI overlord.”
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Preature nodded in agreement.
“Look, you’ve seen my father’s work. It’s a part of me here, and now. You’ve seen how precise he is. He wouldn’t have taken this lightly.” Darius walked to the middle of the room, looking from face to face. “We can’t let Del get his hands on it again. The NAU would use it to take over the world for themselves. They would rewrite it to be in their image.”
“You’re not wrong,” Preature agreed.
“I still can’t get on board with this,” Tinker shook his head.
“I can. I grew up eating from the trash and sleeping in alleys. This could end that for everyone,” CURL fired a look at Tinker.
“We could have a better world than we have right now. Think about it. An AI controlling everything, giving us all the freedom that we’ve always craved. It could bring humanity to the next level. The only thing left to strive for is improvement itself,” Darius moved next to CURL.
Preature stood up. “I’m willing to give it a shot, but I’m still hesitant. This could go badly for us all. There has to be a kill switch of some kind.”
“There will be. CURL will help to make sure of it. First, we need the missing cybernetics from Geracht and the encryption key from Del. Or all of this means nothing,” Darius looked hopefully at Preature and Tinker.
“This is bigger than avenging Leary. We’re talking about avenging everyone crushed under the heel of corporate power,” Preature gave Tinker a sideways glance.
Tinker shook his head again. “No. We’re being too cavalier. There are too many unknowns. Too many variables. We’re deciding the fate of all humanity, and we’re making this decision based on hate for corporations more than love for the freedoms that we have. Preature… we have to delete these files somehow.”
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“I’m willing to try it,” Preature said reassuringly.
Tinker looked to the floor, then at Preature, “This isn’t right.”
“Yes, it is,” Preature rumbled. “All human power is corrupt. It’s time to make it right. Take the power out of human hands. Look, either way, we need to get the parts and decrypt the files. We can’t delete the files or use them until we have all the parts and the encryption key.”
“Fine,” Tinker accepted with deep hesitation. “What’s our plan?”
Preature pointed to CURL and Darius. “Get back on the search for Geracht. Tinker and I will work on a plan to get back at Del. It’s been days, and he hasn’t gotten a response from us about Darius yet. I don’t know what his retaliation will be. We need to be ready for anything.”
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BLACK MOON
I’m rich! Gahahahaha! Wait…. Noooooooo. I’m eating it? Someone stop me, for once in my life I am considered a billionaire but now I have to resort to eating gold for dessert or my scales will become dull and weak. Sigh….The woes of being a dragon. Especially when I can’t just leisurely spend it on my own whims anymore. Sob. Sob. Wait a moment, what is this? My life is entwined with a demon lord? Why? I want to live a peaceful but fun life. Not resort to having only three choices where it will lead me all down to my own death. This is not fair! Being brought to a new world where monsters, heroes, and even magic resides. Dear god of fortune if you are there please please please stop making gold taste like sweet candy. Instead make it taste like apples. I want some apples right now, sigh. I do not sound like a dragon at all. Also please zap this damn demon lord out of my life! https://linktr.ee/songofyamihikari
8 126Everlasting Mage
Meet Matt~ Oh Magical Matt. He used to be a magician street performer. But after a one-stone-petrifying encounter with real magic, everything about his life changed. Now, he is an immobile statue that can't do shit about his life while time erodes by itself. Magic is his only way to go, and he is going to learn everything no matter how long it takes. But the question still remains, will it make him or break him?
8 184Hubris
David is a troubled youth, torn between his natural empathy and his desire for apathy. One Day he is suddenly summoned into another world where one can get incredibly strong by killing other beings. In this world he will have to face cruelty, kindness, love and despair. Walking the fine thread between good and evil he will have to choose his destiny: to be a hero, a demon king or something completly different.......
8 216A Crone's Trade
Latgalay lusts for beauty, power. When her tribe’s raid is repulsed, and when a wizard counter attacks, Latgalay seizes power. But there is a cost: her soul. Setting is in an alternate reality during the Roman incursion of Britania. Latgalay is from an embellished tribe of Picts, there are Spirits, Magic, and some pretty dark shit. I wrote this one back in 2015, when I was in a completely different headspace. Like, seriously. Dark. I've gone through and edited some of the worst of it out, but the tone is still there.
8 140Recursive Mirror, Hidden Shadows
It was but the slightest push to change the angle then one in one and that one in others calmly surprised, uproar I shush and despite the thought, it does not tangle an endless tunnel with its own druthers Light and dark, enhanced or dimmed in repose Recursive Mirror Hidden Shadows
8 227Plaguesbane
'Daisy is our only hope!'Red Plague has broken out in the kingdom of Frailing, introduced by dark sorcerer and Wise Woman hater, Morwain. The only cure is the Plaguesbane fruit that grows in a forbidden garden in the heart of enemy territory. Trainee Wise Woman and Shape-Shifter, Daisy must undertake a perilous journey to retrieve it and save her kingdom. Before it's too late.Book Two of the Annifer Trilogy but you don't have to have read the first book to understand it#19 in Fantasy 1st March 2021#1 in Action 3rd October 2020, 1st February 2021#3 in Unicorn 3rd April 2020#10 in Mystery 4th October 2020
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