Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

"For you, the Deep Sea Church, this is also the best outcome, right? Why are you afraid? Why are you afraid of the connection between the land and Agor? What is your reason for doing everything possible to obstruct this plan? If you think that humans will destroy themselves, why did you tell me that as long as the beacon tower is destroyed, Haisi will retreat?" Noah's voice was low and calm, but every word was like thunder, and the questioning went straight to the core.

She pointed at the beacon tower, her eyes filled with determination. "This beacon tower was built during the heyday of Argor, designed by the genius engineer Breogan. If Argor were to rebuild it, it would require a tremendous amount of time and resources. If I'm not mistaken, destroying it is your true goal, right?"

A subtle hesitation flickered in Amaya's eyes. Despite her aquatic transformation, that momentary hesitation betrayed her inner wavering. Noya's reasoning was spot-on, and Amaya couldn't deny it. Noya's intuition and wisdom once again demonstrated her extraordinary insight.

"Even so, what can we do?" Amaya's voice lost its firmness, as if she were making some feeble defense. "You have no choice but to destroy this blasphemous tower."

A flash of anger and determination flashed in Noya's eyes. She knew very well that this was not the only outcome. But just as she was about to respond, a low and cold voice came from behind her.

"Who said there wasn't?" A man emerged from the darkness, dragging a heavy anchor and gazing coldly at Amaya. "How could a scum of the Deep Sea Church possibly understand Agor's will?"

Noah turned around suddenly, a trace of disbelief and surprise flashed in his eyes: "Ulpian? You are hurt!"

The one who appeared before them was none other than Ulpian, the long-lost Ulpian. A massive wound still lingered on his chest, deep blue blood slowly seeping out, as if his life force was almost gone. However, this severe injury didn't bring him down—if it weren't for his half-sea body, he would have perished long ago.

Ulpian's eyes were icy, his tone filled with endless determination and ruthlessness. "The entire Miliarium has been modularized to serve as an outpost base. Every plot and every area can be freely combined. In other words, the beacon tower doesn't need to be destroyed; simply 'throw' it out of Miliarium, and everything will be solved."

"What?!" This time, even Amaya was shocked, her expression becoming unusually solemn. She had always been confident that she knew everything about Agor, but Ulpian's words shook her conviction. Even Noya couldn't help but reveal a look of surprise.

"How is it possible...you actually..."

Ulpian sighed heavily, his eyes tinged with reminiscence and helplessness. "This transformation was carried out long ago, and the person responsible for it was me, before I became a Deep Sea Hunter." He slowly raised his head, a hint of sarcasm in his eyes. "You, the Deep Sea Church, always believe that humanity will bring about its own destruction, but you forget that only humans truly understand humans. Your understanding of humanity is just the tip of the iceberg. From the moment you gave up your human identity, you were doomed to be unable to defeat them."

Ulpian's words struck Amaya like a hammer, piercing her heart. For a moment, she looked lost, even bewildered. She had once believed that humanity could handle its problems on its own, but what had happened? The outcome proved that the Deep Sea Church was right, and humanity was inherently hopeless.

She is also hopeless.

Noya looked at Ulpian and felt a little relieved. Although he was obviously seriously injured when he arrived, he still stood firmly by her side, which made her feel a little bit of strength.

Amaya was silent for a moment, her eyes narrowed slightly, a complex mixture of coldness and pity in her gaze. "Do you think you can save this city with just this? Miliarum is surrounded by the Haisi. No matter how hard you fight, the fate of this city is already sealed."

Ulpian slowly raised the giant anchor, the heavy anchor head making a low friction sound on the ground. His voice was low and firm: "You self-righteous believers have long since abandoned the faith of mankind. Miriam will not surrender, and neither will we."

Amaya sighed softly. She had thought that she could use this opportunity to pull Noah to her side. The only thing that could make a noble person voluntarily deviate from his own path was shameful betrayal. Unfortunately, it seemed that there was always someone who could pull Noah back to his original path at this time. This was something she had not expected, but she was not in a hurry - even if he failed this time, Hai Si would have next time, and the next time. After all, Hai Si had countless opportunities for trial and error, while humans might only have one chance.

In this case, she could always wait—

Waiting for Noah to become disappointed with humans and then turn back.

Noah, filled with anticipation, did not respond. Determination and hope shone in her eyes. She knew they had finally taken the initiative, and all this was done to protect Miriam and the innocent people.

"We have no time to waste," Ulpian said coldly, "Throw the beacon away from the city and completely cut off Haisi's summons."

At this moment, Miriam's fate is hanging by a thread.

Noya's heart was in turmoil. Amaya's mockery and the Beacon's transformation were like sharp swords, piercing the depths of her consciousness. The Beacon had been transformed into the Sea, a result she had never expected, instantly disrupting her original plans. The Beacon, once a vital facility of the Agor, had now become an enemy lair, and all their efforts seemed to be gradually being pushed to the brink of collapse.

"You deployed Haisi into the beacon tower..." Noya's heartbeat quickened as her mind quickly recalled every detail of the previous events. "Floating machinery... Haisi transformation... This tower has completely become their tool."

Amaya sneered as she gently stroked the corrupted beacon, as if it were the fruit of her meticulously crafted scheme. "Your plan was doomed to failure from the start. Even if you could free the beacon from Miriam, you wouldn't be able to reactivate it."

Amaya's tone was cold and resolute, as if declaring a losing battle. Noya's mind went blank. She had never felt so powerless. Destroying the beacon tower had once been their last hope, but now it had become a weapon used by the enemy, threatening to consume the entire city at any moment.

"Can Hai Si really corrupt technological artifacts?" Noya hesitated. She knew Hai Si's power was immense, but transforming Agor's cutting-edge technology into her own tools was beyond her imagination.

Just as Noah was pondering how to salvage the situation, a blurry image suddenly surfaced in her mind. She froze for a moment, realizing that the image came from a memory she had once absorbed—the afterimage of Brandus quietly emerged in her mind, as if guiding her from somewhere.

"Long time no see, Noah. What trouble have you run into now?" Brandus' voice was filled with a familiar teasing, as if an old friend was joking.

Noya looked at the afterimage warily and asked softly, "Why are you still here? Shouldn't you... disappear?"

Brandus shrugged and chuckled. "Perhaps you don't fully understand your abilities. I can't answer your question, but I speculate that your ability goes beyond simply absorbing emotions. You can preserve memories, personality, and even complete individual consciousness. This isn't just a matter of empathy, but something deeper—you're preserving the souls you've 'devoured.'"

Noya's eyes widened in shock. This theory was more horrifying than anything she had imagined. She had always thought her abilities were limited to sensing others' emotions or briefly reading fragments of their memories. But now Brandus's words revealed a more complex truth—her abilities went far beyond perception, even allowing her to "seal" the souls of others.

"You can preserve a person's memories, personality, and consciousness, like a recorder." Brandus's image slowly approached Noya, pointed at her head, and continued, "Perhaps this is your true ability. You are not just sensing emotions, but preserving these souls in your mind."

Noya felt dizzy. She had never realized her ability was so profound, let alone that it was so... unique.

"Perhaps," Brandus paused, his eyes a hint of seriousness, "this also means that the mission you shoulder is far more important than you imagine. The meaning of your existence may be to preserve certain key souls, memories, or even - history."

Noya fell into deep thought. She didn't fully understand the deeper meaning of Brandus' words, but she sensed that this might be the key to solving her current predicament. Whether it was Brandus's memories or the other hidden spirits within her mind, she must harness their power and find the clue to victory.

"So, what's the situation now?" Brandus' voice sounded again, a hint of provocation in his tone. "How are you going to deal with this? Don't tell me you're ready to give up."

"Give up..." She really hadn't thought about it. How could she give up?

"Mr. Brandus, please give me a hand." She asked Brandus for help. "I can't solve this situation alone, and neither can Ulpian. I have an idea... a very crazy idea."

"Go ahead, Noah Kyrielight." Brandus didn't refuse. "If you think it's right."

"...I understand." This conversation took place in the world of thought. In the outside world, it probably lasted less than a second. When Noah raised her head, her eyes were no longer confused.

"Amaya, you said the entire beacon tower has been devoured by the sea, right? In other words, as long as the sea cells inside can be cleared out, the beacon tower can be reactivated?"

"...That's impossible. Furthermore, the beacon's program has been tampered with. How could you possibly fix it in such a short time? You've already killed the person who altered the program." Amaya shook her head. "Noah, you've already lost."

"Only when you give up, you truly lose." Noah sighed. She didn't expect that the last piece of the puzzle would fall into her hands so easily.

Facing the huge beacon tower, she took out a glass container from her body. When she came here, she came to remove the time bomb gray matter in her body. The container contained the removed gray matter. The essence of the gray matter was a highly intelligent nanorobot community. Even in Agor, this kind of thing was considered a very dangerous technology and was sealed. They only retained the technology to deal with nanorobots, and gave up the development of highly intelligent self-evolving nanorobots.

So it can be said that... the gray matter in Noah's hand is the only nanorobot in the world with complete self-evolution capabilities and strong AI self-learning capabilities. This is why gray matter is dangerous.

And now-

Noah is going to take on the gray matter.

After going around in circles, I'm back to the starting point.

Noah opened the container, and the metal liquid inside did not even return to Noah's body immediately. Instead, it hesitated for a moment in a very humane way. After Noah smiled and nodded, the metal liquid turned into a gray mist and seeped into Noah's body from Noah's fingertips.

"-Mom..." The joy of the gray matter returning to the mother's body is not fake. They were infected by Noah's emotions when they were born, so they evolved into their current posture. They were originally attached to their mother's body, and now they have returned to their mother.

And——will firmly accept the mother's orders.

Chapter 69: Deep Sea Girl

In reality, Noya's decision wasn't made lightly. In this pressing situation, she was filled with complex emotions and doubts. She was well aware of the danger posed by Gray Matter—a nanorobot possessing not only astonishing self-evolutionary abilities but also powerful self-replication and proliferation capabilities. It was once considered a threat that must be contained. Even during the previous separation surgery, Gray Matter might have learned how to resist the procedure, potentially meaning that Gray Matter and Noya would never be separated again.

"Gray matter... or is it Haisi?"

Her thoughts returned to the present situation. The Sea Si shared fundamental similarities with the Gray Matter, particularly their evolutionary nature and ability to self-replicate. However, unlike the Gray Matter, the Sea Si had transcended mere biological weapons, becoming an alien race, an uncontrollable enemy.

The Sea Si not only devours life but also forcibly alters the host's race and will, turning them into puppets completely subordinate to the Deep Sea Church. This is something Noa cannot accept. In contrast, the Gray Matter, while dangerous, is at least a tool, not a hostile species. It is simply a weapon to be controlled—and if properly wielded, it will be Miriam's only hope for survival.

Noya glanced at the glass in her hand. The gray matter within had completely absorbed itself, like unconscious life forms awaiting their master's call. They seemed to be testing the waters, as if they knew fate was about to take a new turn. Noya's gaze hardened. She had no time to waste, and she could no longer let hesitation and fear dictate her decisions.

"If I have to choose a danger, I will choose the danger that I can control." Noah said to himself silently.

The process of the gray matter integrating into Noah's body was slow. This time, the gray matter chose to integrate gently, for fear of hurting Noah's body.

"Mom..." Gray Matter murmured softly, with a hint of long-lost intimacy and attachment.

Noya frowned slightly, and the voice of Gray Matter echoed in her mind again. The voice was so familiar, as if it was a memory hidden deep in her soul.

She understood that this was the gray matter's response to her emotions—ever since she first merged with them, they seemed to be influenced by her emotions, and thus became dependent on her. The gray matter did not forcibly control the host like Hai Si did, but rather relied on and obeyed Noya's orders, which gave her some comfort.

The gray matter began to spread rapidly, seeping into every nerve and blood vessel in her body. Noya could feel the power awakening within her, and as the gray matter reunited with her body, her perception increased.

——The world before her eyes seemed to become clearer, every detail was vivid, she could sense the faint fluctuations in the air, and even hear the tiny vibrations inside the beacon tower.

However, the power of the gray matter wasn't limited to sensory enhancements. Noya felt her strength rapidly returning, her fatigue gradually fading, and the aches and pains throughout her body slowly lessening. Every breath she took was filled with power, as if the gray matter had imbued her with a new vitality.

"Turning myself into a tower sounds really strange," Noya muttered to herself. She knew this power was a double-edged sword. The nature of the gray matter was very similar to Hai Si's, possessing the same powerful ability to replicate and expand. More importantly, it had evolved to survive the previous separation surgery, meaning that once fully integrated again, the gray matter might become an integral part of her life, impossible to separate easily.

"But I have no choice..." Noah gritted his teeth.

Unlike Hai Si, the Gray Matter at least won't force her will. She still retains control of her self-awareness, capable of independent thought and decision-making. Now, she must rely on this power to reverse the crisis before her. The Beacon Tower has been corrupted by Hai Si, and only through the power of the Gray Matter can she eliminate Hai Si's influence and regain control.

Noah's gaze swept over to Amaya, who was standing in the distance. Amaya, watching all this unfold, her expression shifting from initial mockery to calm. She understood the implications of Noah's choice, but she also knew it wouldn't easily change the current predicament.

"Do you think you can change anything? With your weird creation?!" Amaya's voice was chilling. She tried to pull Noah back, but was stopped by a sharp blade made of gray matter.

Noah raised his head, his eyes firm and calm. "At least, I won't be like you, pinning my hopes on the alien race that has abandoned humanity."

Amaya's expression changed slightly, then she chuckled and said softly, "You are still so stubborn, Noah. You always believe in humans, but humans have never saved themselves."

"Humans always have the right to choose. I just want to protect this right." Noah's tone was sonorous and powerful. She knew that her path and Amaya's path had already diverged and they could no longer walk on the same path.

Next, she must give it her all.

Noya closed her eyes. As the gray matter re-integrated into her nervous system, an indescribable power surged into the depths of her consciousness. She could clearly feel every nerve fiber resonating with the gray matter. The laws of physics, once thought unshakable, now seemed to become soft and malleable under her consciousness, as easy to manipulate as clay. Everything in the world became clear to her, as if she stood at the pinnacle of reality, like a god.

"This is the effect of gray matter's self-evolution..." Noya understood. This was the gray matter evolving again under her consciousness, forming a deep connection with her nervous system. She could control the gray matter as if it were her own limbs. However, this connection also meant that her fusion with the gray matter became increasingly close, and the risks also increased.

"No more hesitation..." Noya's thoughts raced. She knew this was the only way to quickly control the gray matter. She slowly placed her palm on the surface of the beacon tower, feeling the gray matter surge through her fingertips, slowly seeping into the tower, and beginning to assimilate and cleanse the systems contaminated by the sea.

In Brandus's memory, there are the design drawings of the beacon tower, which makes it easier for Noah to find the hidden sea creatures in the tower - and then use the gray matter to solve them one by one.

Amaya stood aside, watching Noah's actions quietly, with a hint of uneasiness in her eyes. She did not speak, but there was a terrible uneasiness deep in her heart.

What on earth was she doing, and what was that strange grey metallic liquid?

These were all unknowns, and she suddenly realized at this moment that she didn't know everything about Noah.

"Amaya," Noya suddenly spoke, her voice low but firm, "I never intended to completely deny your path. The ultimate goals we pursue are actually not that different - both are for the future, and we are placing our respective bets on this world. Although we are on different paths, I will always regard you as someone who is on the same path."

Amaya's eyes trembled slightly, her lips pursed tightly, but a complex, unspoken emotion welled up in her heart. Noah's words seemed to touch a soft spot deep within her, but she also knew that the situation was irreversible. She was silent for a moment, then finally spoke, her tone tinged with unease, "What exactly do you want to do, Noah?"

Noah smiled slightly, as if she had already seen through Amaya's doubts. "Gray Matter has not evolved to the point where it can clear out such a large amount of Sea Infection in one go. My only choice is to stay and let Gray Matter gradually repair the beacon tower. I need time, and Miriam no longer has time." Her voice was soft, but with unshakable determination.

Her gaze swept across her companions, finally settling on Ulpian. Ulpian stood behind her, observing everything with a silent, cold gaze. Noya smiled at him, as if anticipating his reaction. "Ulpian, I will stay. I will fuse myself with the beacon until the gray matter has completely repaired it. During this time, I cannot leave."

Ulpian narrowed his eyes slightly, his crimson eyes finally understanding Noah's actions. He didn't show any surprise, for he had long seen through Noah's decision. As a deep-sea hunter, he had witnessed too many separations and deaths, and understood the sacrifices of war. While Noah's choice was difficult, it was the only way out.

"Are you sure?" Ulpian's voice was low and slow. He did not question Noah's judgment, but confirmed it again.

Noah nodded and gave a wry smile, "This is the only solution I can think of, Ulpian."

Ulpian was silent for a moment, took a deep breath, and then lowered the giant anchor in his hand slightly. His tone was filled with silent respect: "Okay... I will tell Skadi and the others for you. You must be sure of one thing - you must know what you are doing."

Noya looked at him with a smile, her gratitude overflowing from her words: "I know. You and Skadi are my most cherished companions. Ulpian, say goodbye to them for me."

A complex expression crossed Ulpian's face, but he said nothing more. He could see Noya's inner resolve, and he knew that no words of dissent would change her decision under these circumstances. So, he nodded silently, expressing his understanding.

Noya's gaze returned to the beacon tower, a flicker of determination in her eyes. She turned on the communicator and quickly connected to Clemenza.

"Archon Clemenza," Noya's voice came through the communicator, her tone carrying an unprecedented calmness and decisiveness, "Separate me and the Beacon Tower from Miriam."

Clemenza was silent for a moment on the other end of the communicator, and then a slightly hoarse sigh came: "Noya... are you sure? Once the beacon tower is separated from the city, you may not be able to come back."

"This is the only way." Noya's voice remained firm, with an unshakable will. "The Hai Si have infiltrated the core of the beacon tower. I must stay here and use the gray matter to completely repair it. The signal sent by this tower will attract all the Hai Si, and Miriam will have a chance to breathe. Believe me, I can solve this problem."

Clemenza was silent for a moment, as if thinking about something, and then her voice regained its composure: "I understand, Noah. I will do as you ask." She did not hesitate much, because what she really wanted to protect was the city, and since she had a way, she would do it.

"Good night, Miss Noah."

Noah took a deep breath and nodded slightly: "Thank you, Clemenza." Then she turned off the communicator and looked at the beacon tower that had begun to merge.

The gray matter within her body had begun to merge with the tower's structure. She could feel its every surge, as if she had become one with the behemoth. The beacon was recovering, but the process would take time—and Noa would be with it through this long and dangerous time.

Ulpian looked at Noya quietly, with mixed emotions in his heart. He knew that Noya had made her choice - she would spend a long time with this tower.

"Noah..." he said softly, with a hint of silent respect in his eyes, "I will protect the others for you."

Noya smiled slightly, her eyes firm: "Thank you, Ulpian." Although her voice was soft, it revealed incomparable firmness and conviction.

As the beacon tower's modular structure gradually separated, Noa's figure gradually merged with the towering tower. She closed her eyes and felt the gray matter surge within her body. These gray liquid metals gently embraced Noa and the tower within her body.

She knew the days ahead would be long and lonely.

But Noah was not afraid.

She had originally considered saying goodbye to everyone through the communication device, but Noya felt that if she did so, she might never be able to leave. She didn't know how long it would take to repair the beacon tower. Perhaps weeks, months, or even years? It all depended on the speed of Gray Matter's self-evolution and the competition between Hai Si and her. It was a long, drawn-out battle.

So she couldn't make any promises...

She will sleep with this tower for a long time, during which time Agor needs to solve the problem in his own way.

Meanwhile, Ulpian watched in silence as Noya's figure was gradually engulfed by the shadows of the beacon tower. As a deep-sea hunter, he had faced death, separation, and sacrifice countless times, but at this moment, his heart was heavier than ever. He understood Noya's decision and respected her choice. Just as he had done for so many years, Noya also poured her life and faith into this destined for a difficult and perilous battle.

Amaya seemed to be saying something, but Noya didn't respond, or perhaps she was no longer able to. Her consciousness was focused on merging with the beacon. Gray matter churned rapidly within her body, and she could feel herself gradually merging with every part of the tower, as if she had become part of it. Her perception heightened, and she could even sense Haisi's presence lingering around the tower.

——What?… In the end, the one who was most reluctant to leave was actually me.

As the beacon tower sank into the sea, Noah opened her eyes and took a last look at Miriam who was walking away. She had not been in this city for long, but she knew that everyone in the city was safe now.

Because a large group of Hai Si had shifted their target and were heading towards her.

"Come on, let's have a good chat, we still have plenty of time."

Noah was not panicked at all, but smiled instead.

"...Is it worth it?" This time, it was no longer Amaya who asked the question, but Precious beside her. "You will sink to the bottom of the sea, you will never see the sun again, you will be with Hai Si day and night, you don't even know if anyone will come to find you. Even if you have gray matter to help you resist, how can your spirit withstand this endless loneliness?"

"I'm not alone, Precious. I have you here." Noah smiled. "I just need to wait. I'm very good at waiting."