Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

Ulpian gripped the anchor tightly, his gaze heavy. The course of history was irreversible. Whether he liked it or not, he was already at the forefront of this evolution.

Will the sea and humans... have a future of coexistence? Will what Ulpian witnessed change the upcoming war?

Ulpian didn't know... He wasn't even sure if he should share this information with the higher-ups. "Who knows what will happen in the future..."

Maritus's gaze once again fell on the innocent girl, the corners of his mouth raised slightly, as if with a faint smile: "The future is uncertain, but as long as there is hope, no possibility can be ruled out. Just as you humans once moved from barbarism to civilization, Hai Si will eventually find his own answer."

Ulpian was silent for a moment, then said coldly: "I only care about the current battle."

"The battle will eventually end, Ulpian. But what kind of world will you face after the battle? This is what you really need to think about." Maritus waved his hand gently, as if to indicate that the conversation was over.

Ulpian's fists trembled slightly, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He knew that the man before him, who called himself a sage, had already reached the end of his destiny. Perhaps he, Ulpian, could only follow the flow of time and wait for the answer from the future.

His gaze flickered between Maritus and the girl, a heavy weight weighing heavily on his heart. He knew that today's conversation had not only changed his understanding of Haisi, but also his thoughts on war and the future. The enemy before him was no longer just the monster he once hated, but a being standing at the crossroads of evolution, heading towards an unknown future.

"Do you think time can answer all questions?" Ulpian asked in a low voice, with a hesitation in his voice that he himself was not aware of.

A mysterious smile appeared on Maritus's face. He raised his gaze and looked into the distance, his eyes seeming to penetrate the endless depths of the ocean and time and space. "Time is the only witness. It does not lie, nor does it show partiality. All our struggles and beliefs will eventually merge into its long river, leaving only silent answers."

Ulpian was silent for a moment, still holding the anchor tightly in his hand, but he knew that there were some problems that he could no longer solve with force.

"Perhaps you're right, perhaps you're wrong," Ulpian finally whispered, his voice so soft it almost dissipated in the ocean current. "Maritus, I still doubt your intentions. Or rather, I question the truth of what you've told me. But I trust my own judgment. This is indeed an opportunity. However, whether or not to seize it is not up to me to decide."

Maritus nodded slightly, his eyes filled with unspoken meaning. "That's why we meet here. You and I will witness it to the end."

On this deep seabed, the fates of the past and the future are intertwined, and they will all bear witness to this evolution. When the long river of time finally washes away everything, their existence may be just a fleeting ripple in history. But even so, that ripple will ultimately leave its indelible mark.

Ulpian turned silently, his steps slow but resolute. He knew that no matter how the future unfolded, his mission remained unchanged. He headed for the deep sea, towards the unknown future, waiting for time to write the final answer to this game.

"Next time, we might come to blows."

Ulpian's voice was low.

"No matter what, there is a blood debt between Agor and Haisi—"

Humans cannot let go of hatred, let alone reconcile with their enemies.

Even if they were to transform, even if they tried to learn everything about humanity, that would not change what was about to happen.

"I know." Maritus certainly knew. "However, Haisi will not sit idly by and wait for death. We must learn from the nobility of mankind, but also from the despicableness of mankind. There is nothing wrong with evolution, only the passage of time and the eternal life of death."

Chapter 80: Lament

Ulpian stood on the bridge, gazing out at the endless sea ahead. This was the Agor frontier, and in the distance, lay the beacon tower—the epicenter of all the conflict. The waters flowed calmly, as if unaware of the coming storm. Yet, Ulpian knew in his heart that the calm was only a prelude to battle.

The Argol fleet had assembled, deploying every available force. All the ships were in formation, their bows pointed toward the beacon. This was not a decisive battle, as Ulpian well knew. They did not intend to completely destroy the Sea Si, despite what many might have hoped. This was a declaration, a necessary war to quell the growing hatred within the Argol, and to show the Argol people, who had lost their loved ones and homes to the Sea Si, that their government was taking action, and their army was avenging them.

Revenge—this is one of the reasons for war. Even though he knew this war could not completely resolve the conflict between Agor and Haisi, Ulpian knew that Agor must act. The shadow of thousands of years of torment at Haisi's hands must be reconciled. Both hatred and fear could only be vented through a massive war. Agor needed victory, even if not a final victory, at least to show the people his actions.

The distant lair of the sea creatures seemed completely still, as if these creatures possessed no fear of the impending battle. Ulpian narrowed his eyes, watching from afar as the sea creatures continued their daily routine, eerily quiet. Their calmness seemed to mock Agor's nervousness and repression. These enemies, who should have been terrifying, seemed to completely ignore the coming battle.

Urbian felt a wave of unease. He knew the Haisi were no blind beasts. They had long since evolved a more complex intelligence, a change unintentionally brought about by Noa. While the Haisi still wouldn't actively seek reconciliation, their actions revealed a calmness and resolve. They wouldn't retreat, for they knew this war was about survival and their future.

"The tower is still there," Ulpian murmured, his gaze fixed on the beacon towering deep beneath the sea. It seemed dormant, but Ulpian knew it was more than just a tower. It was the very core of the Sea Si's survival and evolution. The Sea Si would never yield for it, not even at the cost of their lives, but rather at the price of their lives. To Agol, the tower symbolized the epicenter of the Sea Si's threat, but to the Sea Si, it symbolized hope, the future of survival.

At this time, Agor's fleet was approaching and a war was about to break out.

This time, Agor's underwater ships mobilized a total of ten flagship-level battleships, equipped with fourth-category weapons, as well as third-generation deep-sea hunters responsible for flexible maneuvers. At least from the perspective of paper strength, Agor has paid a lot for this battle, and even has some excess combat power.

Argor's warships, like giant steel beasts, slowly advanced underwater, gradually forming an encirclement and closing in on the beacon tower perched on the seabed. The atmosphere was thick with the smell of war, making it hard to breathe.

Yet, in this sea that was about to become a battlefield, the Hai Si still showed no signs of attacking. They lay silent on the seabed, seemingly unaware of the impending storm. Goletia grew increasingly uneasy, puzzled and bewildered by the Hai Si's composure. What were these creatures waiting for?

Tensions flared on both sides of the battlefield, but differing perspectives shaped the meaning of the war. Agor saw it as a reckoning, a reckoning with the blood debt shed over millennia; Haisi saw it as a struggle for survival, a desperate bid for the future. Courage, hatred, recapture, aggression—on this battlefield, each side had its own reasons and convictions. War was the ultimate outcome of this clash of diverse perspectives.

There is no justice or evil; war has always been like this. It requires no morality, only victory. And only the victor has the right to write history and become the ultimate ruler.

Ulpian's heart was roiling like a storm, yet he remained calm on the surface. He knew this war wasn't about peace, but about making a point. Agol had to make it clear to Hai Si that they wouldn't back down, and Hai Si, in turn, wouldn't yield.

The fleet began to adjust its weapon system. Powerful weapons far surpassing those of land-based civilizations were waiting for orders. Category IV weapons could even release small singularities. Although there were records showing that some sea creatures had evolved the ability to resist Category IV weapons, this was at least one of the most lethal weapons developed by the Agor Weapons Research Institute.

Playing weapon iteration with Haisi is not a good idea. The speed of these beasts' evolution far exceeds the scientific progress of weapons research and development institutes. We must win this battle before the fourth type of weapons completely lose their effectiveness, or while Agor still has the upper hand.

The tower's outline remained clear, standing at the bottom of the deep sea like an immovable monument, silently observing the coming flames of war. An indescribable heaviness hung in the air, a feeling that went far beyond mere combat. For Ulpian, this was not just a war against the Sea Si, but an inevitable reckoning.

He thought silently, recalling Maritus's words.

"War is not about anything else but stance."

Ulpian sighed, Maritus's words echoing in his mind. He agreed with Maritus's point: stance was fundamental. The Sea Si weren't inherently evil, nor were their actions incomprehensible. They fought for survival, as did the Agor. However, this recognition didn't mean forgiveness; the chains of hatred had long been woven between the two races, unbreakable.

The hatred between Haisi and the Agors runs deep. Countless conflicts, countless deaths, all that the Agors have lost cannot be erased from history. This isn't just a question of whether Haisi is willing to change; it's the pain of the Agors themselves. Those who once sacrificed cannot be brought back; those lost homes cannot be rebuilt. Even if Haisi has now learned how to coexist with humans, becoming more intelligent and rational, it cannot change the facts that have already happened.

"We are not qualified to forgive Haisi on behalf of those who have already sacrificed their lives."

He knew that neither he nor anyone in the Agor had the right to erase those painful memories or pretend that everything could return to normal. Even if the Haisi returned to peace, even if they tried to imitate human ways, it would not change the Agor's attitude. Hatred had long been rooted in history. This was a blood feud, a life-and-death conflict between two races.

"Perhaps... this is what humans are like. Humans are good at destroying other lives... even good at destroying themselves."

He never considered himself a philosopher, nor did he intend to indulge in endless speculation. He was a hunter of the deep sea, a defender of the Agor. His duty was to safeguard the Agor's future, not to try to understand the evolution of the sea heirs or their civilization. All he cared about was protecting his people and the Agor's future.

At that moment, familiar footsteps echoed nearby, and Golletia's figure appeared in his sight. As calm as ever, she stood beside Ulpian, her gaze fixed on the distant beacon tower. As another Archon of Agor, she and Ulpian shared the same mission.

"The fleet is ready." Gloria's voice was calm, with Commander Agor's usual composure. However, Ulpian felt she was the most excited person here.

Ulpian nodded slightly, the silence in that moment carrying a certain unspoken understanding. The two of them fought side by side, representing the highest level of decision-making in Agor. Their mission was not just to command this battle, but to ensure Agor's survival and future in this conflict.

"This tower," Ulpian's voice was low and firm, "we must recapture it."

Without looking away, Goletia nodded: "Not only for Noah, but also for Agor's future."

This tower once symbolized Agor's vision for the future, a symbol of its scientific advancement. Now, it has merged with Noa, becoming the core of Haisi's evolution. However, Agor cannot allow Haisi to control the tower any longer. On this matter lies not only the fate of Noa, but the entire future of Agor.

Ulpian knew that the true focus of this battle had never been the Sea of ​​​​Turkey, but this tower. Reclaiming it meant regaining control of the Agor's future. Losing it would completely rewrite the Agor's future.

"This is our only choice," Ulpian said slowly, but his tone was more helpless than his fighting spirit.

Goletia tilted her head slightly and glanced at Ulpian, a hint of doubt in her eyes, but she quickly added, "We will do it. Ulpian, the winner of this battle will be Agor."

Two Archons of Agor, architects of the war, were present at the front. Helatia had handpicked them, placing this responsibility on the shoulders of these two deep-sea hunters.

But this was exactly what Gloria wanted. She had been thinking about this day day and night, the day when she would take Noah back. Although she looked calm on the outside, she was already eager to join the vanguard and plunge directly into Haisi's defense network, leading the way and fighting her way out.

Although most of the deep-sea hunters have now retreated to the rear, they have by no means lost their edge!

Her excitement also affected Ulpian who was standing beside her. In fact, Ulpian knew better than anyone that the most impatient person here was Gloria.

Of the four Deep Sea Hunter teams, only Teams Two and Three had any survivors; Teams One and Four were completely wiped out. As the second-in-command, even with Laurentina still around, how could she possibly forget her own team members? As the figures of those cherished members flashed before her, even Gloria felt a burning desire for revenge.

Permission had already been granted for the use of the fourth-tier weaponry, the Argol's most powerful equipment, representing the unreserved deployment of their full strength. Ulpian knew that this fleet comprised the Argol's elite, practically its entire wealth. Every ship and every soldier held the conviction of victory, as if they were already on the threshold of victory.

However, the surrounding ocean seemed unusually quiet, so quiet that it made people feel uneasy.

No one knew how Hai Si would react, but the current situation seemed a little too calm. The fleet advanced in oppressive silence, every soldier's nerves strained to the limit, and every advance seemed like a step into an unknown abyss.

At this moment, the deep-sea drone cruising ahead suddenly sent back an unexpected message.

"Hai Si..." a voice came from the communication channel, with a hint of shock, "Hai Si actually gathered under the tower..."

Ulpian narrowed his eyes slightly, staring intently at the screen. The Sea Si were gathering around the beacon tower, and their numbers far exceeded expectations.

What’s even more surprising is that they are actually... singing?

"They... are singing?" A suppressed voice came from the command center, full of confusion and shock.

The drone's radio module clearly picked up the sea creatures' singing, which then spread across the entire fleet's communication channels. It was a strange, distant melody, imbued with an ineffable power, as if expressing a profound emotion. It wasn't human language, but the emotion within was so clear it was heart-wrenching.

"What is this?" someone murmured in a low voice, with shock and confusion in the tone.

"Of course it's Haisi! What else could it be besides Haisi?" A crew member answered almost in a roar, as if forcing himself to accept the fact before him.

"But... can Hai Si sing?" another voice asked in a low voice, with an undisguised hesitation.

This question echoed across the bridge, like a heavy hammer, hammering at everyone's heart. Haisi, these once-heartless monsters, how could they sing? How could they display emotions so close to human? At this moment, everyone was doubting everything they had ever known about Haisi.

Only Ulpian remained calm, as if these doubts had never touched him. His eyes remained cold, as if he had already seen through everything.

"Ulpian..." Gloria, who was standing beside him, finally couldn't help but break the silence, a questioning glint in her eyes. "You already knew this, right? Why didn't you report it?"

Finally, Gladia realized why Ulpian hadn't said anything about the battle since arriving on the bridge. He'd known this was coming, and even deliberately wanted them to see the sea creatures singing. Gladia didn't know why. Was it some kind of pre-battle ritual? Or was he trying to confuse Agor's troops?

But no matter what, Ulpian's failure to report the situation had already made her feel a little uneasy.

Ulpian turned and gave her a cold look, his tone still devoid of emotion. "What good would it do if I gave it back? Telling the higher-ups that Hai Si has gradually become indistinguishable from humans? Do you think they'd believe it?"

He pointed at the screen, at the Hai Si gathered under the tower.

"They are singing," Ulpian's voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable power. "They are praying to the gods in their hearts for a response. But Gladia, will you give up your plan to kill Hai Si just because of this?"

Gloria's lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to refute, but she was speechless for a moment.

Ulpian's gaze remained firm. His voice was low, like an echo from the deep sea: "Can you let go of those dead soldiers? I still remember the names of those who died for Agor. I don't think you will forget them either."

Goletia clenched her fists, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she could only murmur softly: "But..."

"No buts." Ulpian interrupted her, his eyes as cold as a knife. "We are enemies. This has never changed."

The air within the bridge seemed to freeze instantly, and everyone held their breath. No one could interfere with the conversation between Golletia and Ulpian. Both archons had the power to command, but the atmosphere now felt like a fight was about to break out. This was not a good thing.

The brutality of war remained unchanged despite these subtle changes. Even if the Haisi began to imitate humans, even if they displayed emotions completely different from before, it could not change the fact that they were the enemy of Agor.

Ulpian didn't look back, his eyes fixed on the beacon tower ahead. His voice was low and firm: "The Haisi has indeed changed, but this will not stop us. Keep moving forward - don't stop!"

With his order, the fleet slowly advanced, and the warships were like a huge steel torrent, heading straight for the tower where Hai Si gathered.

Chapter 81: Miracle Day

Compared to the tense situation outside, the tower was as quiet as usual. Noah and Precious were playing chess. They used a 19x19 chessboard. Noah held the white pieces and Precious held the black pieces. The chessboard was already full of pieces from both sides. It was a fierce battle.

Although Noah is not a fool and Precious is a scientist with extremely high IQ, neither of them is very good at playing chess, or in other words, neither of them has ever clicked on the skill points for playing Go.

Now, it's more about the two of them killing time—

Two poor chess players were fighting on the same chessboard using their own superficial understanding. Because both of them were not very skilled, they were evenly matched and the battle was quite tense.

The two men were immersed in the chess game, calculating each other's possible moves. In the interweaving of black and white, Noah was slightly at a disadvantage.

"Things like Go actually existed in our time."

"Suddenly bringing up things from your era... And what do you mean by it existed before and then disappeared?"

"Yes, because Go has been cracked."

"...Crack?" Noah dropped a white piece in confusion. "What do you mean by crack?"

"Have you ever played Gomoku?" Precious asked. "You should know that Gomoku, while similar in appearance to Go, actually has a guaranteed winning method."

"Oh... you know, the so-called first move always wins?" Noah nodded. "What does that have to do with Go? The rules are different on both sides."

"In fact, it's the same," Precious continued. "Long ago, when pre-civilization AI technology first experienced explosive growth, leveraging massive computing power and AI's study of human chess records, it only took a short time for AI to surpass the strongest human players of the time."

Although Princess said that she had dropped a black piece, and it was just a casual remark, or even just a topic for entertainment in the conversation, she didn't really say it casually.

"However, the AI ​​technological revolution is a blessing for science, but also a tragedy for the Go world," Precious continued. "Humanity can no longer keep up with AI on its own. Later, people began studying AI's chess records, pursuing the so-called 'optimal solution.' While this is no different from the original intention of studying chess records, because of the existence of AI, once the optimal solution is presented... the path of Go has been exhausted."

"Tao? What is Tao?"

"This is hard to explain. It's a philosophical concept, a very mysterious thing, but I think it's a law."

Precious continued to explain.

"law?"

"Just like the sun sets and rises again, water evaporates and solidifies, and planets revolve around stars—these things are laws, or the Way. And the Way of Go, after AI delivers the final answer, has reached its end. When the optimal answer for each move is laid out, the so-called Way of Go and personal style disappear, becoming nothing more than a crude imitation of AI, and naturally declining."

Precious sighed, "In the pre-civilization era, or after I was born, the only people still playing chess were the truly terrible ones."

"...I see." Noah nodded. "Only those who don't pursue the optimal solution can enjoy this kind of game. Is that what you mean?"

"That's right. You really have a good understanding." Precious nodded. "It's meaningless if you focus too much on winning or losing."

"..." Noah made a move without responding to this sentence. Only Precious continued to express his views.

"Everything in the world is like this. Once you pursue so-called perfection, it loses its original meaning. There is no perfect thing in the world. If there is, it must be very boring." This game of chess between Precious and Noah may be the longest one among the countless games they have played.

After all - this might be the last game between the two of them.

The purification progress of the beacon tower pollution has reached the last 1%. Although it is not easy to clean up this last 1%, it also means that Noah’s rare rest time is about to end.

She was about to return to Terra, after a long absence. She didn't know what was happening outside, nor how much time had passed, but she couldn't stay in the tower forever, so... before waiting for the last 1% of the progress bar to end, she took the initiative to propose to play one last game of chess.

"It's like this with most things in the world. Sometimes, not doing something is actually the right thing to do," Precious said earnestly, looking at Noah before him. "Just like you want to leave this tower now, but after you leave, you might regret not staying—but by then it'll be too late."

"—Are you trying to...keep me?"