Supreme Paragon Reborn: Humanity's Rise To Galactic Supremacy-Chapter 220: Warrior’s Gaze

’So this is what the ’food’ label meant.’ Michael thought grimly. Back at the lab where he had met with Ruby, he had used Bypasser on a main computer only to learn that the humans the AIs preyed upon would be labeled as either ’potential’ or ’food’.

’Potential’ was self-explanatory; as for ’food’, Michael had several theories on what it could be.

Today he got his answer.

’Perhaps this is why Ruby has so much talent in cultivation.’ He realized.

’They twist human nature, altering their very souls. If the response is satisfactory, the robots would continue experimenting. If it wasn’t... then at least the failures could be used as fuel for the machines.’

His gaze shifted to the still sobbing Ruby.

If she hadn’t escaped her confinement, she would have been altered even more or ended up as food. The very thought agitated him.

"I am sorry..." Ruby whispered again, about to avert her gaze.

"What are you doing?"

Yet Michael’s voice, calm as a lake yet carrying the threatening edge of a sword, halted her in place.

"Were you perhaps... about to look the other way?"

Ruby’s palms clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into her skin. She wanted to retort, yet the more she looked at the body of her kin, the bigger the lump at the back of her throat seemed to get.

"It’s fine to hate it. It’s fine to strive to change it." Michael said, lifting her chin so he could stare into her eyes.

"But you never pretend that it’s not there. You acknowledge it, make peace with it, and continue to push forward regardless of what happens."

He didn’t speak harshly, there was no need to.

"Understood?"

With a small nod, Ruby glanced back at the man’s corpse, biting her lower lip until it bled. Gradually her erratically beating heart calmed down. Then, brushing aside her tears, she wrapped her arms around Michael, taking him in a hug.

"Thank you." At last she spoke, her face buried into his chest.

Michael sighed, patting her on the head.

’I could have tried to comfort her. But that would not face the issue at hand. She has chosen to become a cultivator and walk the path to power. And I don’t plan to let her die, because her mindset has failed to adapt.’

Some called it tough love. Others called it cruelty for the sake of it. Michael didn’t care. If it improved the odds of survival for those close to him, that was enough.

Letting go, Ruby lifted her face, her tongue scraping gently across Michael’s face.

"What was that for?" He muttered.

"You helped me calm my mind, so it’s only natural I help you in turn!" She stated, her tail swinging from side to side, as she licked him a few more times for good measure.

"..."

Only after Ruby seemed fine did Michael call the rest of the crew, not wanting to paint her in a bad light. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Gods..." Ava clicked her tongue in irritation.

"So they are using us as fuel now?" Victoria’s gaze darkened.

"They aren’t getting away with this!" Claire proclaimed.

"Do you smell others?" Richard glanced at Ruby.

She shook her head. "No, the smell that I picked up belonged to this man only. There aren’t others like him nearby."

"That’s a relief." Enzo said. "It means this person could be an exception. That not everyone you know has been turned into... this."

Amelia sighed. "Lacking tact as usual. At least your judgment is somewhat well grounded."

"How many such creations have been created?" Leo murmured quietly.

The only one remaining silent was Robert. He stood a bit to the side, unwilling to butt in on the squad’s discussion. After all, he was still a stranger to them, the odd one out.

"Let’s spread out and learn everything we can about this place. Take caution to not stray too far, always have someone in your line of sight." Michael decided.

The revelation that the machines had managed to extract spiritual energy and use it was grave news. However, the question of why there were aliens below the city still lingered in the air.

Michael got his answer quickly, entering the lab in front of which the earlier clash had happened. He noticed that the incubation tanks scattered throughout the lab didn’t contain humans like he expected but aliens.

Unlike the time when he felt distressed witnessing the experiments the AIs had unleashed upon his kin. Now his heart didn’t budge an inch, even more so. A weird sense of peacefulness washed over him, seeing that the alien race hadn’t been spared from the torture either.

"A few must have broken out, ending up fighting the guarding mechas." He concluded. This was the only way to explain what had happened.

Unsurprisingly, as the crew gathered again, everyone seemed to have come to the same conclusion.

With not much more to do, they were about to search for other points of interest. Until Michael halted in place, feeling a gaze settle on him.

"Who goes there?"

Turning sharply, he asked, making the rest of the crew freeze as well.

Quietly a silhouette came out of the lab. Its appearance was similar to a female with gifted proportions, though no skin was laid over her metallic veil, nor did she wear any clothes either.

[Strange...]

The robot’s voice bore an uncanny resemblance to that of a human. Tilting her head to the side, she observed the aliens that were scattered in front of the abandoned lab.

[I was called to quell a rebellion. But it appears it’s over?]

Victoria’s eyes narrowed. "I am getting a bad feeling about her."

Blinking a few times, the woman robot lifted her gaze, settling right upon Michael. The edge of her mouth curled upward, mimicking a horrifying smile.

"Boss, we attack right?" Richard asked, clearly excited. The rest of the crew, getting ready for action.

"No."

Though Michael seemed to have other plans. As his order drifted into their ears, he stepped forward nonchalantly, resting Devil’s Tongue onto his shoulder.

"I want to test something, so I will be fighting it alone. Do not intervene."

No sooner than he said these words, he pounced forward, ready to face the unusual robot.