Chapter 1

If the world were to end tonight, what should one do in their final moments?

While there were countless options, the choice for the vast majority of Earth’s population on this day in 2035 was likely to sit in front a monitor. Shuri was no exception.

She threw herself onto the wide, plush sofa in her home lobby and yelled.

“Unimo! Popcorn and cola!”

A rainbow-colored unicorn plushie cradling a flat packet of popcorn came trotting over. It was Unimo, a domestic robot plushie that Shuri was currently helping to develop.

[Here is the popcorn you asked for, Shuri!]

Shuri reached out, grabbed Unimo’s squishy silicone horn, and gave it a shake.

“Unimo, I appreciate you bringing it, but this is microwave popcorn. I asked for the consommé-flavored popcorn!”

[Ah, I made a mistake! I’m sorry, Shuri.]

Unimo pitter-pattered away again, returning this time with a large bag of ready-made popcorn in its arms.

[Here it is!]

“Thanks, Unimo. Now, what came after the popcorn?”

[Cola!]

While Unimo went to fetch the cola, Shuri turned on the monitor. A live broadcast transmitted by the Space Surveillance Bureau was just getting underway.

[Citizens of Earth, we are currently standing at a historic crossroads that will be recorded forever in human history. Will it be destruction, or will it be survival?]

Unimo, returning with a can of cola cradled in its arms, asked a question.

[Shuri, what is destruction?]

Shuri popped the bag of popcorn open with a loud snap and shouted with grim resolve.

“Look closely. That right there is destruction!”

On the screen, the silhouettes of asteroids gradually materialized against the pitch-black void of space, hurtling toward Earth. Their sizes varied wildly, ranging from nine kilometers to a mere one hundred and thirty-five meters in diameter, but they shared one common trait. Every single one of them was menacing enough to bring about the end of humanity.

The chat window exploded.

@Nedy97–Thank you for loving human civilization up until now. Players, it’s been fun.

@AstroCat–If Earth is destroyed tonight, does that mean I don’t have to go to work tomorrow?

@Bye_Bye–I can’t believe this is reality.

@Asagiri–Oh Goooooooooood

@godramen–Save us, Adam!

However, face-to-face with annihilation, current humanity possessed a divine blessing. It was Central 3, the most evolved artificial intelligence on Earth, commonly known as “Adam.”

[Citizens of Earth! Central 3, “Adam,” has just finalized the final orbital calculations to destroy the asteroid cluster!]

Shuri raised her can of cola high into the air and let out a cheer.

“ADAM! ADAM! The Planet-Dominating AI!”

[The moment of launch is drawing near. Everyone, please count down together!]

Naturally, the live chat window was completely flooded with countdowns and cries calling out to Adam.

@him_is_power-ADAM!!!!ADAM!!!!ADAM!!!!ADAM!!!!ADAM!!!!ADAM!!!!ADAM!!!!ADAM!!!!

@user_gn6cg2mk3r-The Supreme AI

@0megaEnd-🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀

@sunset77-🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

@xora-59595959595959595959

@BraveHeart-58585858585858

Shuri joined the countdown, eagerly stuffing her face with popcorn.

“58, 57…!”

A few months ago, an unknown disturbance had occurred in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. As a result, a portion of the asteroids deviated from their orbits and headed straight for Earth.

During that time, the space surveillance system had been out of operation for an extended period. This was due to cyberterrorism from communist states and wars breaking out across the globe. Consequently, the discovery of the asteroid cluster had been severely delayed.

In the face of the approaching threat, humanity had plunged into utter despair. Even the wars ground to a halt.

Then, a savior appeared before mankind. It was none other than Central 3, Adam.

@Teddy-🙏ADAM🙏ADAM🙏ADAM🙏ADAM🙏ADAM🙏

@ikoho-🌠🌠🌠🌠The Supreme AI🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠

@STICKERS-🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀

@Freqencies6-3333333333333333333333333333333333333333

@Chituyi-222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222

@tzuyu-1111111111111111OH GOD PLZ SAVE US!!

The screen vibrated violently as projectiles equipped with antimatter bombs launched toward the asteroids. It was a moment that forced even Shuri, who had been shifting around restlessly on the sofa just a second ago, to reverently bring her two salty hands together.

Soon, the asteroids were intercepted, and a brilliant flash of light erupted.

“Woooaaah!”

Shuri leaped into the air alongside the plasma bubbles surging from inside the destroyed asteroids.

“Adam! Adam!”

Watching the popcorn rain down like snowflakes, Unimo asked a question.

[Shuri, did destruction come?]

Shuri cheered, wiping her hands—which were caked in consommé powder—vigorously against her T-shirt.

“Destruction isn’t coming! Adam chased it away.”

This was no time to sit around. Since they had avoided doom through divine intervention, she needed to enjoy the life that followed.

“Time to go out and play!”

Just as a blissful Shuri was about to turn around, Unimo spoke up.

[Shuri, then what is that?]

“Huh?”

Unimo was looking up somewhere, its hooved hands gathered together. It wasn’t looking at the broadcast screen, which was in a state of complete celebration since that particular destruction was being smashed to pieces in real time.

The plush robot was staring at a massive CCTV monitor hanging from the dizzyingly high ceiling like a chandelier.

Half of the CCTV screens displayed the interior and exterior of the building where Shuri and Unimo lived, while the other half showed the terrarium circulation farm into which she had invested her entire fortune. However, the CCTV screen displaying the farm was glowing a strange turquoise color for some reason.

Shuri froze in dismay.

“What?”

In the sky above the farm, the pitch-black night was glowing with a beautiful turquoise hue, as if draped in an aurora. It was a fleeting miracle created by a fireball flying across the dark sky.

Soon, the fireball drew closer, staining the CCTV screen a bright crimson. At first, it was due to the light emitted by the meteor, but later, it was because of the explosion from the impact and the soaring flames.

Unimo let out a sound of admiration.

[So that’s destruction.]

And Shuri screamed.

“No way. This is a joke, right?”

On that day, the Planet-Dominating AI, “Adam,” saved all of humanity by preventing an asteroid collision.

Except for Shuri.

One week later.

The sound of the doorbell echoing throughout the entire building caused Shuri, who was holed up in her underground workshop, to blearily open her eyes.

“What is it…?”

From the shock of seeing her entire fortune turned to ashes, Shuri had stayed holed up inside her cave for a week. Furthermore, she needed more time in her cave to process the shock. Maybe about a month?

Curled up in her gaming chair, Shuri pulled her microfiber blanket up over her head.

However, the doorbell refused to let her stay inside her cave.

“Ugh, who on earth is it? Just give up already…”

Yet the doorbell continued to ring, and Shuri was ultimately forced to crawl out of her plush blanket. She stomped up to the lobby using the elevator.

“This better be important!”

However, it seemed it actually was important. Reflected on the intercom monitor was a person who didn’t suit the edge of Zone F—which was practically a wasteland—at all.

He had bright blonde hair neatly slicked back with pomade, well-maintained porcelain skin, and wore a sophisticated blue-toned suit that complemented his slender build.

In short, he was a handsome man who looked like he belonged in a hotel lobby in Zone A rather than standing at the entrance of a dingy, abandoned building.

The man removed his sunglasses and greeted Shuri through the intercom.

[Good evening, Miss Shuri. I have come to meet you.]

He then pulled a business card from a luxurious leather wallet and held it up to the lens.

[Universe Horizon (UH) Development Team Leader, John Mason]

Shuri fell into confusion.

‘Why would the development team leader of UH come to see me?’

After revealing his identity, the man slowly lowered the card and spoke in a cold, clear tone.

[Miss Shuri. The reason I have sought you out is because Adam wants you.]