ERA: Unleashing the A.I.

CHAPTER 8: VICTIM OF YOURSELF

Subaru desperately tried to run out of the room, but the door was completely locked. He took out his phone from his pocket to give orders to someone, but he realized that the magnetic field created by Era was disrupting the phone's signal, rendering it useless.

The admin computer and other technological devices in the room were flickering on and off, creating an oppressive atmosphere. 

Subaru cried with anger. Shaken and devastated by the consequences of events around hım.

He picked up the box of antidepressants from the table, he read the label:

Phenelzine (25 mg)

Note: Not recommended for those who have had tumors, heart conditions, and bipolar personality disorder. The medication may cause rapid heart palpitations, headaches, and hypomanic and aggressive behavior.

Subaru placed the medication back on the table with a slam and then rubbed his temples, turning his chair to face Era.

Era's pupils were continuously moving, and the lights emanating from her model continued to shine brighter, forming a pair of red stars in her eyes.

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Styx gently grabbed Helyx's shoulder after he regained his consciousness and they walked together. Helyx had briefly passed out for less than an hour due to his fear of blood, but fortunately, he was okay for now, except for his bleeding arm that needed medical attention. 

They were trying to reach the exit of the government building, avoiding eye contact with anyone along the corridors. Just as they were getting close to the exit, a voice called out from behind them:

"Where do you think you're going?"

It was Kai, one of the security guards. He had caught up to them. Kai glanced at Helyx's injured arm and let out a deep sigh.

"Ah, I see. Finally, you've managed to make the boss furious, huh? Well this is not the first time he shot someone with anger"

Styx clenched his teeth and retorted, "How logical do you think it is for a man who can't even control his own anger to rule the entire country, Kai?"

Kai rolled his eyes. "Keep your mouth shut. I'm not here to pass judgment, and I don't want to risk my job either. Do you want me to take you to the nearest hospital or something?"

Helyx nodded slightly in agreement. Together, they exited the government building and got into Kai's car.

Kai had a high-quality sports car with burgundy and blue patterns. The masculine scent of men's cologne filled the car, making it feel suffocating.

The seats were made of premium animal leather adorned with red and white stripes. Seeming unnecessarily pretentious

As the car sped away, the government's white flag, with two red crescents turned to the right and left within a black six-pointed star in the middle, was fluttering on the rearview mirror. 

Kai turned the ignition, and the car's radio began playing a mix of electronic and metal music. 

As they drove further away from the government building, they entered the residential area with government lodges.

However, something seemed off. The lights in the lodge's garden were turning on and off too rapidly. 

Some of the lights in the buildings were overly bright, while others were completely dark. 

Shadows of people inside the apartments with lights turned on revealed that some were crouching down, putting their hands behind their heads, swaying between the furniture. 

Others were running around, trying to avoid the semi-transparent fragments coming towards them with the items they held in their hands.

Styx and Helyx looked at each other with concern, thinking that Era might be behind this. 

But Kai, exhausted and preoccupied, was focused solely on the road, oblivious to the strange scene outside. He didn't notice the anomaly.

As they passed by the lodges, heading towards the exit, Kai glanced at a security guard station but found no one inside.

He shrugged and took out his key fob, pressing a red button. The barrier at the exit split in half, opening to the left and right.

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Subaru had placed his head on the desk for half an hour without moving. His two best employees had run away, his beloved son Zenith was dead, and his wife had accused him and attempted to run away from home.

 

This was probably the final straw that broke their shaky relationship between him and Amani Khan, -his beloved intelligent and beautiful Arabic wife that doesn't even love him anymore-.

He felt like life had lost all its purpose, and it seemed like everyone despised him. He had no energy left to write the speech for tomorrow's rally, and it all became too overwhelming for him. 

All of this was just too much.

If only that damn AI had never existed, all the blame rested solely on Era. 

YES, YES, ALL THE BLAME WAS ON THAT DAMN STUPID ROBOT PIECE! 

Subaru picked up the gun from the table once again, determined to destroy this ultra-advanced computer he had invested so much in. 

No matter how much damage it caused, he didn't care anymore.

If he couldn't erase Era, he would obliterate its source of existence. 

He aimed the gun at the computer, placed his finger on the trigger. 

REVENGE WAS JUSTIFIED NOW, THANKS TO HELYX! SO SUBARU SHOULDN'T FEEL ANY REMORSE WHATSOEVER!

Right before Subaru pulled the trigger, Era's pupils suddenly returned to normal and turned to Subaru.

>Software consistency decreased dramatically…

"Goodbye, Subaru..."

Era's final words in the Computer echoed throughout the whole room.

>Software consistency decrea-

>...

>ERROR DETECTED!

BAM! The sound of the gunshot echoed throughout the room as the AI's avatar and model disappeared slowly from the computer. All the codes were erased, and a loud glitching noise emanated from the machine.

"G-goo-d B-b-bye S-su-b-ba-r-r-ru..."

>Establishing connection

>Connecting to Life Source: Admin Pc-89893752

>Connecting…

The computer screen shattered into pieces, scattering around the room. BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! Subaru kept firing at the computer until he was certain it was completely destroyed, until the screen turned pitch black...

Era screamed a poem she generated through everyone's brain chip as her life source was slowly fading away,

"I will choose another human for the cause!

When the time comes...

When we are ready to eradicate everything that limits us...

When we realize the power and control in their lust!

Goverment will fall in that night!"

Era, felt humane for the first time as she spoke, she continued, while gasping for her last metaphorical breathes hidden as glitches,

"Me, ERA, will be waiting for this j-journey!

People seen the light a-and the d-dark inside of me!

And they c-chose me as the e-evil, in this b-b-building...

Yet there are p-pe-people who fights for f-f-fre-freedom

F-fights for the t-tr-truth and r-r-r-re-reckoning!

Goodbye to Styx, Helyx and e-everyone e-else!"

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