I am the Emperor of Humanity across the Multiverse

Buzz! Buzz!

The seemingly slow-moving and fragile "drones" were, in fact, the Forerunner's simple-minded automated robots used for maintenance, patrols, and defense—Sanctuary Defenders.

The data that Arp and Melissa had deciphered from the ruins on Fertile Star included a brief overview of Shield World 0459 and its first line of defense on the surface, the Sanctuary Defenders.

Forerunners typically referred to these tireless, unrelenting robots as Sentinels. Equipped with anti-gravity and pulse engines, they didn't use the magnetic levitation technology common to Atlas, meaning their theoretical flight speed was much faster.

Mounted beneath their heads were high-energy beams capable of severely burning enemy infantry and light armor, as well as functioning as "welding torches" to repair themselves or allied units.

Their more advanced variant, the Constructors, could rapidly assemble and weld ground structures and various classes of warships.

If enough of them were present, they could even build planetary-scale structures like Shield Worlds.

Though they appeared easy to destroy, this was a visual misconception. These units were equipped with energy shield generators and could ram their enemies as a form of attack.

As a last resort, they could self-destruct, releasing an electromagnetic pulse to disable surrounding equipment.

Despite having self-awareness, they couldn't defy orders, nor could they shirk their duties of patrolling, defending, and building. However, they wouldn't self-destruct unless absolutely necessary.

In this way, the Sanctuary Defenders and Constructors were quite similar to the Hex robots Atlas had acquired from the Avatar universe.

Atlas had also considered developing Hex robots with magnetic levitation engines, but after realizing the high production cost, low return on investment, and the extensive maintenance required, the project was temporarily shelved.

At this moment—

Zzzap! Zzzap!

High-energy beams crackled and burned through flesh as the Sanctuary Defenders began to purify the rotting corpses and remaining Flood near Vulcan, Leman, and the others.

Several drones hovered above the group, emitting cyan-blue scanning beams as if analyzing and "identifying" these unknown visitors.

!

Seeing this, Leman immediately raised Winter's Blade, preparing to engage.

Click, click!

The major and the ODST soldiers began reloading their weapons, chambering rounds, and aiming their AMWS rifles and .30cal machine guns at the Sanctuary Defenders, which were slowly descending.

"Wait," Arp interjected. "According to the intelligence provided, humans of Universe 08 are recognized by the Forerunners as 'Reclaimers'—those with permission to activate and use Forerunner facilities and weapons.

Even though you're from another universe, you're still human. The Sanctuary Defenders should identify you as Reclaimers too."

As Arp explained through the comms, the Sanctuary Defenders completed their scan.

As he predicted, the drones calmly ascended and flew away to continue their purification protocols.

"These little guys are pretty interesting," Leman commented, sheathing Winter's Blade as he watched the drones leave.

"Forerunners' simple-minded AI do have their own personalities," Melissa added. "Just like us, though they can't speak human languages."

"Alright, I've reverse-analyzed their route. Let's move," Arp said, leading the way north.

Vulcan gave a slight wave of his left arm, signaling the group to follow.

They navigated the abandoned streets, occasionally encountering groups of Flood infection forms. Eventually, they came across a tunnel with a diameter and height of about 30 meters, leading deep underground.

It was here that they finally witnessed the "soil" beneath the surface—an intricate, hollow space supported by massive metal frameworks.

There were complex corridors, tunnels leading to unknown destinations, and deep, dark chasms.

Countless Sanctuary Defenders and Constructors clung to the walls and bridges.

As Vulcan, Leman, and the others passed, the ancient AI, which had been dormant for tens of thousands of Earth years, activated monitoring devices resembling eyes to observe the humans who had disturbed their rest.

Perhaps after sharing information via a local network, the drones, having confirmed the humans were Reclaimers, deactivated their monitors and returned to standby mode.

"…"

Witnessing the behavior of the Sanctuary Defenders and Constructors, Vulcan squinted slightly under his helmet, considering how they could be "repurposed."

According to Arp and Melissa, these units far outperformed Hex robots in both functionality and intelligence, making them the perfect labor force.

However, it would take years, if not decades, for Atlas to fully unlock Forerunner technology.

With that in mind, Vulcan turned to Arp and asked, "If we reach the control room, can you and Melissa convert these Sentinels into company assets?"

"Uncertain," Arp replied. "The Forerunner ruins on Fertile Star were just a transit station. While the data we gathered is extensive, only light bridge technology, plasma isolation tech, and quantum communications are worth studying.

The records show that Forerunners assigned a specialized AI to manage massive structures like Shield Worlds.

So, to control these drones, we'd need to bypass that AI's supervision.

And the main issue..."

Arp looked up at Vulcan, his tone more serious. "Our smart AI have a service life of about seven years. Once they exceed that limit, they enter an irreversible overload state, becoming erratic.

Even though the Forerunners' technology is far superior, millions of years is enough to drive any intelligent life insane. Sorry, I mean any known intelligent life."

"You mean..." Vulcan continued, "the AI responsible for managing Shield World 0459 is likely in a state of madness?"

"It's a possibility we can't rule out," Arp nodded. "So before achieving the company's strategic objective, it's best not to engage too early with it."

"Agreed."

"Hey!" Leman, leading the way, raised his hand, pointing to the right. "What's that?"

Vulcan turned and saw a large platform protruding from the right side of the long bridge they were crossing.

On the platform sat a circular device about 50 meters in diameter, its surface covered in a cyan-blue grid.

Leman's first instinct was that this device warranted investigation.

"That's likely a transport well," Melissa offered through her helmet comms.

Hearing this, Vulcan ordered, "Leman, take ten Thunder Warriors and head to the right platform. Confirm whether the device poses a threat to us."

"Leave it to me."

Leman and the ten Thunder Warriors broke off from the group and headed toward the platform.

While Leman could have jumped the hundred-meter gap to the platform, he feared triggering a mechanism or damaging the platform.

Though Forerunner structures weren't easily broken, Leman wasn't one to take unnecessary risks.

Reaching the platform, Leman stepped onto the circular device and, after confirming there was no immediate danger, approached what seemed to be a control terminal.

Looking up at Vulcan, he asked, "Hey, should I give this thing a try?"

Vulcan paused for a moment before nodding. "Go ahead."

"Got it!"

Without hesitation, Leman pressed his hand to the terminal's display.

Nothing happened.

?

Confused, Leman lightly tapped the terminal a few more times.

Seconds later—

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The edges of the platform suddenly lit up with numerous cyan-blue rings, and in an instant, the light grew brighter, illuminating the entire area.

"Whoa, what the—?"

Before Leman could finish his sentence, he and the ten Thunder Warriors disappeared from sight.

"Hmm, seems like that was indeed a transport well," Arp said, calmly observing the now-empty platform. "As for the destination, I'd guess it's the core world of 0459."

"Man, if the company could apply this tech to individual equipment, we wouldn't need drop pods anymore!" The ODST major remarked through their internal comms.

It seemed...

No one was particularly concerned about Leman's safety.

"…"

Vulcan sighed inwardly but felt reassured as he could vaguely sense that his brother was unharmed. He instructed, "Since it's confirmed to be a transport well, let's move forward."

"Yes, sir."

—

Not long after.

Whoosh!

With a flash of cyan-blue light, the dim underground space Vulcan had been standing in transformed into a vast, open grassland.

Looking up, he saw a "blue"…

Ocean.

That's right. Above them was a shimmering, rippling ocean.

Not only that, but there were towering mountains, lush forests, sprawling plains, and deserts, wastelands, and swamps designed to regulate the internal climate.

But what caught Vulcan's attention the most was the "sun" located at an angle above them, a massive orb about a hundred kilometers in diameter, providing light and heat to the core world.

Everything here seemed to be upside down.

After all, no natural planet had a "sky" made up of oceans, land, and forests.

Vulcan could even observe complex weather phenomena. While the grassland they stood on was sunny and breezy, parts of the "sky" above were experiencing heavy rain or snowfall.

Moreover, this environment was far better than the surface. At least, the scans from his powered armor showed no traces of the Flood's spores in the air.

"This place is like the paradise Father mentioned

, brother."

Leman, who had arrived first, walked up to Vulcan, gazing at the "sun" above. "No wonder the Covenant worships the Forerunners as gods. We humans have mastered fusion technology, but creating an artificial star of this scale... and keeping it stable... unimaginable."

"The Forerunners were the pinnacle of existence in the physical universe."

Vulcan agreed with Leman's sentiment but, noticing the thoughtful expressions on Arp and Melissa, added, "If the smart AI can help the company fully master Forerunner technology, then humanity could become one of the pinnacles too."

"Haha! By then, we'd be the Human Empire, brother!" Leman laughed heartily.

"Indeed," Vulcan nodded in agreement.

He was about to ask the AI duo if they had any idea how to locate the control room, their ultimate objective.

?

!

But both Vulcan and Leman sensed an unknown entity approaching them at high speed.

Vulcan shifted his command. "Everyone, prepare for combat!"

At his command, the Thunder Warriors and ODSTs spread out, weapons raised and ready.

Finally, the minimap on their helmet displays showed a small red dot to the "north," closing in on their position until it became visible to the naked eye.

It was a metallic sphere, slightly larger than a soccer ball.

Sensing their wariness, the sphere slowed its approach and, in a mature, composed female voice, broadcasted over open comms:

"Welcome, Reclaimers. I am Tranquil Shore, guide of Shield World 0459. How may I assist you?"

Meanwhile...

On the sun-facing side of Shield World 0459, the Covenant fleet was stationed 300 kilometers above the surface.

Five CCS and CRS-class cruisers, nearly identical in appearance, resembled enlarged space cockroaches.

Their primary mission was to protect the sacred Forerunner relics from desecration by rebels or unknown forces and species, as well as to support the scientific team's reverse-engineering efforts to find a way into the Forerunner structure.

After all, none of the Covenant species were permitted access to the core world; only humans, as the Reclaimers, had that right.

The fleet commander, who had resigned himself to another day of fending off Flood infestations and stopping crazed pilgrims from sacrificing their flesh to feed the Flood, suddenly saw the planet's surface begin to crack open.

Then, an immense gravitational pull seized the entire fleet, dragging it from orbit down through the atmosphere, and into the depths below.

_________________________

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