Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 129: Robot That Can Fool Us?

Chapter 129: Robot That Can Fool Us?

Meanwhile, Scarlett and Kato had already sensed Victor’s presence, along with his guards. They were fully awake, accompanied by Ethan, Larry, Ryder, and Hunter, all standing beside them, tense and on high alert.

"What exactly are we still waiting for, Scarlett?" Hunter asked, his impatience evident as he shifted his stance.

Scarlett’s piercing eyes remained fixed on the direction of the enemy, despite being deep in the cave. Her voice was calm yet serious as she responded, "We’re waiting because he has Hope with him. I can smell her scent." She paused, her tone softening slightly. "Even though it’s been so long since I’ve seen or touched her, her scent lingers in my memories. If we act hastily, we’ll put her in danger."

"Hope? Who’s Hope?" Ryder and Hunter asked simultaneously, their brows furrowed with curiosity.

Ryder folded his arms across his chest, a hint of disbelief in his tone. "So we’re risking everything and waiting for those fools outside because of one person? What’s your connection to this ’Hope’?"

Ethan glared at him sharply, his voice cutting. "That’s Scarlett’s daughter, you fool." His words silenced Ryder and Hunter immediately. Ethan’s expression softened slightly as he continued, "She’s still a baby."

"Oh, I see..." Ryder muttered after a moment, letting out a heavy sigh, clearly feeling chastened.

Kato’s voice cut through the tension, his tone confident and unwavering. "Listen, we all know how dangerous Victor is. But no matter how powerful he thinks he is, we’re going to kill him. He won’t be the first dangerous person we’ve faced." A smirk played on his lips as he spoke, his earth element flickering faintly around him. His gaze hardened as he added, "And let’s not forget, Victor and those two guards we sensed aren’t the only ones here. They may not be in the forest with him, but I’m certain his people are nearby, waiting for his signal."

"We’re aware of that," Larry replied, his voice steady. "But I wonder why Victor is out of his organization’s headquarters. He rarely comes out himself. Normally, he just sends his guards to hunt monsters or capture humans."

Hunter, who had been nervously biting his fingernails, finally spoke up. "Are you really sure Victor is out there? I can’t shake the feeling we’re up against someone far too dangerous." His voice wavered, betraying his fear. "Even though we’ve killed monsters and faced plenty of his men, I feel confident taking them on, but Victor himself? That’s another story."

"If you’re scared, then go hide in the bus," Ethan snapped, his voice filled with disdain. "Don’t spread your fear to the rest of us. I used to be afraid of Victor and his organization, but not anymore. They’re nothing more than ants beneath our feet, just like every other tyrant who uses their power for evil."

Hunter fell silent, swallowing hard as he tightened his grip on his weapon.

"No matter what happens," Scarlett finally said, her voice carrying a sense of finality and authority, "we must kill Victor." Her sharp gaze flicked toward the other survivors, who were fast asleep under the protective canopy she had conjured. They were oblivious to the bloody battle about to unfold.

Just then, a flash of bright lightning struck across the sky, followed by a loud, deafening thunderclap. The storm raged with fury, but a sharper, rigid blue lightning bolt suddenly struck, illuminating the forest.

Scarlett’s formation had been tampered with.

"It’s time," Scarlett announced with a smirk. She stepped out of the cave, her group following closely behind, their movements purposeful and precise despite the pounding rain.

Outside the cave, the other survivors remained fast asleep, huddled under the canopy Scarlett had created. Scarlett, now cloaked in her invisibility spell, led her group past them and beyond the protective formation.

Two men in black lay lifeless on the ground, pools of blood surrounding their bodies. Ahead, a third man stood near the edge of the forest, a satisfied smirk on his face as he surveyed the scene.

With a flicker of speed, Scarlett activated her spell and grabbed little Hope from his grasp, holding the child close to her chest. The invisibility spell dropped, revealing her standing before Victor, her fire element blazing in the form of a glowing blade pointed directly at his neck.

"Say your last prayers," Kato said, his smirk mirroring Scarlett’s as his earth element swirled ominously around him, ready to strike. "Even if your guards come, we’ll kill them too. You can’t escape."

Victor’s cold, calculated expression faltered for the briefest moment, but his defiance didn’t waver. The storm intensified around them, lightening striking dangerously close.

"I finally found you," Victor said, his cold gaze locking onto Scarlett. A sinister smirk played on his lips. "The queen of monsters."

Scarlett’s body stiffened at his words, anger flashing in her eyes. "Where’s Jaden?" she demanded, her voice trembling with fury. Her thoughts flickered to Golden, the memory of her loss threatening to overwhelm her. Tears welled up, but she bit them back, refusing to show weakness before the man who had taken her children from her.

Victor’s smirk deepened, his confidence unshaken. "It’s quite simple to draw you out now," he said smoothly, his tone laced with mockery. "I just have to relax and wait for the perfect time now."

Before Scarlett could respond, a deafening sound erupted, followed by a powerful force that sent her and the others flying in different directions. The shockwave rattled the ground, and the cave trembled violently as the group was thrown into chaos.

When Scarlett opened her eyes, the world spun for a moment, but the sharp sting of her injuries quickly faded. Like the others, her body healed rapidly, a testament to their status as chosen members. Ignoring her own condition, Scarlett’s attention immediately turned to Hope.

She scrambled to the spot where she’d last held her daughter, heart pounding with fear. To her immense relief, Hope lay unharmed within the protective barrier Scarlett had instinctively cast during the explosion. The child’s tiny chest rose and fell peacefully, oblivious to the chaos around her. Scarlett let out a shaky sigh, clutching Hope tightly for a moment before carefully placing her back within the safety of the barrier.

With her daughter safe, Scarlett rose to her feet, her expression hardening. She stalked toward the spot where Victor had been standing, her eyes narrowing as she approached the smoldering remains of a strange machine scattered across the ground. Smoke curled upward, mingling with the rain that now fell in sheets.

"What the hell happened here?" Hunter asked, his voice edged with confusion as he joined Scarlett. His gaze darted over the wreckage, his brow furrowing.

Just then, Ryder emerged from the forest, his expression calm but resolute. "The other survivors are safe," he reported. "Your formation held strong. They’re awake now, but I’ve assured them that everything is fine."

Scarlett gave a brief nod, acknowledging Ryder’s words, but her attention was fixed on the remains before her.

Kato crouched near the shattered machine, a wry smirk curling his lips. "We’ve underestimated him," he remarked, running his fingers over the fragments.

"Did he kill himself?" Hunter asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. "That bastard!"

Kato stood, holding a handful of sand laced with metallic fragments. "Does this look like human flesh to you?" he retorted, his tone sharp.

"Then what is it?" Larry interjected, his frustration mounting. "Don’t tell me that thing was a robot designed to look exactly like Victor!"

Scarlett’s eyes narrowed dangerously as she addressed her system. "Is that true? Was that thing a robot?" Her voice trembled with suppressed rage. "You knew, didn’t you? You knew it wasn’t Victor, and yet you stayed silent!" She paused, her fists clenching. "But I know what I smelled. I caught Victor’s scent, his blood. I was certain that was an S-ranked being. Am I hallucinating, or is this some elaborate trick?"

A faint metallic hum filled the air as Scarlett’s holographic screen appeared, displaying a system message visible to all the chosen members.

Ding!

{I am not Victor’s system and therefore cannot confirm his plans or his host’s. However, I did detect a chosen member in the area, as you scented Victor’s presence and blood. Upon closer analysis, it appears this robot carried a sac containing Victor’s blood to mimic his scent. Additionally, it had compartments for storing food or drink, designed to further enhance its realism. This is no ordinary machine, it was built with precision and sophistication.}

The screen flickered as more information appeared.

{Humans have created robots that closely resemble humans, known as humanoid robots or androids. These machines are equipped with advanced AI and are designed to perform tasks and exhibit behaviors similar to humans.}

Larry’s lips curled in disgust, his frustration bubbling over. "This is insane!" he exclaimed, her voice shaking. "I’ve seen robots in movies, but I never thought it possible to create one so realistic that it could pass for human, without any flaws!"

The system’s message continued:

{Indeed, it is possible for humanoid robots to deceive humans, especially when they are crafted with such detail. This phenomenon is known as the ’uncanny valley’ effect. Victor’s robot was designed with unparalleled skill, capable of imitating human behavior, speech, and mannerisms so convincingly that it can easily be mistaken for a real person.}

{The uncanny valley effect occurs when a humanoid robot is nearly indistinguishable from a human, yet certain subtle differences trigger discomfort or unease in observers. However, this robot avoided that effect entirely by achieving a perfect imitation of Victor. It is a masterwork of engineering and design.}

"This is madness!" Larry spat, pacing back and forth. "I knew Victor was dangerous, but this? Robots that can fool even us just to see the face of the queen of monster?"