Great, we're doomed now!

Wrong! Utterly wrong!

What is there to be sad about?

You've been running wildly for decades with what you consider a great dream, without any restraint, and the happiness you've gained from it far exceeds that of ordinary people—what more could you ask for?

This world is far from peaceful; people could be killed by some strange person who appears out of nowhere at any moment… Your 'tragedy' is far too extravagant!

Ye Shou stepped forward and kicked Genos to the ground, showing no mercy whatsoever.

"I'm telling you this not out of pity, nor with any intention of forgiving you, but simply so you can die knowing why."

"..."

Genos opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound. He thought he had long since become numb and could no longer be swayed by the plight of the innocent, but now that Ye Shou had pointed out his various crimes, his heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, and a suffocating sense of guilt welled up in his heart.

"Putting aside our positions, it's never wrong for people to pursue their dreams." Ye Shou's tone softened slightly, but it still carried a sense of pressure. "What's wrong is that you trample on other people's lives for your dreams—no sacrifice is a given."

Genus fell silent...

After a long while, he slowly raised his head, the confusion in his eyes fading, replaced by a resolute determination. Genus straightened his knees, supporting himself with his hands on the ground, and bowed his head deeply: "Thank you... for letting me see the manifestation of my dream before I die, for letting me know that the 'Ultimate Life Form' truly exists."

Fubuki sensed something was wrong, and her expression changed: "You wouldn't mean—"

"Please execute me, and all the clones!"

His voice trembled slightly, but was unusually firm: "We have no reason to live anymore!"

However, I also ask you—”

He paused, then looked at Ye Shou with hopeful eyes: "All my experimental data, including all the records of genetic modification and evolutionary theory..."

My actions may be ugly, may be full of sin, but they are also the culmination of my life's work. Please take it with you, so that this data doesn't disappear completely. Perhaps in the future, it can do something for humanity in another way… I just hope you won't mention my name!

Chapter 320: Giving a Humble Name Makes It Easier to Raise a Child (Second Update!)

Call ~

A gentle breeze, carrying a hint of coolness, blew by, ruffling the hair on Kinos's forehead.

Ugh? !

He suddenly opened his eyes, and what he saw was a sea of ​​clouds so beautiful it seemed unreal. Rows of pure white clouds surged and changed, their edges gilded with a faint golden light, and they were on the same plane as where he was, truly within reach.

But there's also an inexplicable feeling of being separated by an invisible barrier, which makes one quite uncomfortable.

He instinctively took a half step back, his heel hitting a smooth stone, and only then did he realize that he was standing on the edge of a cliff.

Turning around, one sees a neatly manicured garden in the center of the highlands, where various unnamed flowers bloom, emitting a sweet fragrance. In the distance stands a pure white dome, its lines smooth and sacred, gleaming softly in the sunlight.

If he were from the main world, he would know that this church-like building has a very "chaotic" style, mixing features of Orthodox, Roman, and Greek elements, which makes it feel bulky and can be said to be a poorly designed place... Clearly, this is not a place that has been carefully prepared.

"What's happening to me? I'm not dead... No, this feeling..."

Kinos looked around. There was no gray horizon in the distance, which seemed to connect directly with the sky. He couldn't see any higher land either. The platform under his feet was wide and flat, with its edges surrounded by a sea of ​​clouds, like an isolated island suspended in the sky.

"Unreal...is it a dream?"

He muttered to himself, a strange premonition rising in his heart.

Just then, within the watchtower not far away, streams of colorful particles surged and converged, coalescing into human shapes like flowing water. The familiar silhouette gradually became clear to Genos—it was Ye Shou.

The knight who had stormed the House of Evolution and personally "exorcised" him is now sitting calmly on a stone bench in the pavilion, dressed in a warrior outfit from another world, and beckoning to Genus.

"Come and sit down, Doctor."

"That was just now!"

Genos's pupils contracted slightly, and he subconsciously took a step forward. Only then did he realize that he seemed to be involuntarily obeying Ye Shou's orders.

As he walked, he carefully observed the scenery around him: there were no flaws, on the contrary, it was too perfect, everything was as exquisite as a pre-programmed program.

Considering that Ye Shou's appearance was so bizarre and completely defied the laws of physics in the real world—

I'm in the online world!

—This is what Genus conjectured.

This isn't sensational at all. Virtual technology also exists in the One-Punch Man world, but it's managed by a few scientists and designed primarily for simulated battles. It hasn't been made available to the general public, so it hasn't become a form of entertainment for everyone.

Upon entering the pavilion, an orange virtual panel suddenly lit up on the stone table, listing various types of drinks. Genos stared at the panel, his previous guess instantly solidifying, and said with certainty, "This is a virtual space, isn't it?"

Ye Shou did not answer immediately, but instead raised his hand and tapped the panel. A cup of steaming tea appeared in front of him automatically.

He calmly picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then slowly said, "You guessed right."

"Then...why didn't I die?" Genus pressed, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

His confession was not a disguised plea for mercy. For someone who treats his own clone (original body) as a consumable, it doesn't really matter whether he lives or dies after his research loses its meaning. If he can be killed by Ye Shou, the "ultimate life form," it can be considered that he has succeeded in pursuing his dream.

But what he saw before him was beyond his expectations.

"You are dead, that's for sure." Ye Shou's voice was calm and even, yet it struck Genus like a thunderclap. "However, when you entrusted me with the data, I promised not to waste it. This information is too precious, involving many unique experimental theories and data. It requires the user's own thought process to create a key in order to unpack it intact... It would be too much of a pity if it were lost or misused."

He put down his teacup and looked at Bajinos with a meaningful gaze.

"So I used a special device to extract your memory data and used it to create an AI. This AI does not contain any soul components; your self-personality is just an automatic simulation."

This is a bit unexpected... Your main task is to manage the experimental data and prevent omissions or errors. Beyond that, you have almost no permissions, understand?

"...After all, my prototype was a heinous criminal."

The AI ​​stood there stunned, then, through self-searching, instantly understood everything—and felt extremely fortunate.

This is an "existence" simulated using the personality data of "Kinos," continuing in another form to safeguard the life's work he devoted himself to.

He looked down at his hands; the touch felt real, and he could even feel his pulse beating. But he knew it was just a result of data simulation, and all his "feelings" were illusory.

But he felt it was only right, and even felt a sense of relief:

"So that's how it is... This is indeed my retribution!"

"I, for a wrong goal, caused too many sacrifices and harmed too many innocent people; I should have atoned with my death. But that is not enough to compensate for the losses I caused. Now, being able to work as an AI and manage this data that may benefit humanity is a decent ending."

He looked at Ye Shou, his eyes calm and firm: "Thank you for giving me this opportunity to rediscover my self-worth."

"Aren't you angry about the death of the original body?"

"The original body harbored no resentment when it died, at least not in my data."

Genos looked at Ye Shou with concern: "I would like to ask the administrator if you are wary of me... If you are not at ease, you can check my core permissions, which will definitely not cause you any trouble."

"Why should I be wary of you? This virtual space is independent. You don't even have the means to communicate with the outside world. You only exist as a librarian. Whether what you say is true or false, it is meaningless since you can't interfere with reality."

Ye Shou smiled slightly: "And I believe you, because you are Genus's obsession."

"Thank you for your trust!" The AI ​​surprisingly became excited in a very human-like way.

Of course I trust you. After all, the "Holy Grail Mark" has been applied. What am I afraid of if you cause trouble? — Ye Shou secretly curled his lip.

He originally intended to use Kayaba Akihiko's latest technology to create an AI clone, but to be on the safe side (even if Genus's words and actions are consistent with his character, Ye Shou still wouldn't completely trust this kind of mad scientist).

Therefore, the Stand ability was used in the creation process. Only the spiritual obsession of "for humanity" was selected and the memory data was mixed together to create a pseudo-personality - its survival was basically in Ye Shou's hands.

He will not release "Kinos" from the storage space for the time being. If it runs stably and there are no problems, he can then participate in scientific research.

"You can request any resources you need. Isn't the data volume in this virtual space a bit small?"

"I don't need any reward." Genus's tone was unwavering. "Loyalty to humanity is the greatest reward!"

"Oh~" Ye Shou raised an eyebrow.

"For the original Genus, which has already been destroyed, research was his life, and for me, the AI ​​who inherited everything from him, to continue to immerse myself in the calculation of experimental data is naturally a great blessing."

He bowed his head deeply, his posture respectful: "Thank you, Lord Ye Shou."

It is you who have allowed this fading 'dream' to continue, and have given my AI a unique meaning to exist.

Ye Shou looked at him, nodded slightly, and said nothing more.

The AI ​​before us lacks the complex emotions of humans (perhaps because it is newly born), but it has inherited the purest dedication of a scientist, which may truly allow those sinful data to blossom with different values.

"...You seem quite happy?"

"Huh, is there?"

Ye Shou suppressed the curl of his lips.

"Have you already learned to read people's expressions? You have potential."

You flatter me!

No!

You can't laugh! At least not now!

But... how could a capitalist resist the thought of a top scientist working for him for free, even voluntarily working 24/7, and being happier the more work he did?

Kayaba Akihiko, you should really learn from him!

-

"Hmph~ Hmph~ Hoo~"

Saitama leisurely watered the potted plants on the balcony with a plastic watering can.

Water droplets slid down the leaves and dripped into the soil, making Saitama feel inexplicably happy.

An old television was on in the living room, playing the midday news. The host's voice was flat and emotionless, like background noise accompanying his daily routine.

Suddenly, the words "Saitama" floated clearly from the television screen!

"Ugh?"

The bald man paused, holding the watering can. Water dripped through his fingers onto the tiles, splashing up tiny droplets.

He tilted his head and looked around the room with a blank expression: he didn't feel like anyone was calling him, after all, his name wasn't unique, it was just an instinctive reaction after hearing the same syllables.

However, this time it was no coincidence at all—

The screen showed footage from yesterday on a commercial street. The camera was a bit shaky, but it clearly captured the figure of a strange person who was completely white, had bloodshot eyes, and a pair of long ears.

The furry rabbit-like monster had thick limbs and its claws gleamed coldly. It was swinging an office worker around like a kite with a broken string, about to smash him into a street lamp.

—The yellow afterimage was captured in just one frame by a street surveillance camera, and the commuter was actually saved.

The hero who stepped forward was wearing a yellow bodysuit and had a striking hairstyle, but otherwise he wasn't particularly memorable. Saitama knew him very well.

"Me! I'm on TV?!"