Wasteland Development Diary

Zhou Yi gripped the metal cube.

He channeled energy into it.

The energy value steadily decreased.

-

10-

10

...

After charging to 800 points, the metal block finally reacted. Its highly contracted and folded body expanded outwards, transforming into a small red quadcopter drone with geometric silver patterns on its surface.

The remote control screen displayed:

[Red Falcon Charging Complete.]

The drone took off, hovering quietly and stably in front of Zhou Yi.

"Welcome to the Red Falcon."

The Red Falcon flew around Zhou Yi once and said in a monotonous, artificial voice, "The Red Falcon is a rescue drone equipped with binocular vision and near-infrared sensors for all-round obstacle avoidance... It can capture and confirm trapped personnel through high-altitude imaging, obtain their location information via laser pinpointing, and distribute it simultaneously to ground search and rescue personnel... At your service."

Zhou Yi was a little disappointed.

Could it be that the mechanical-type Photonatum only evolved to use the power of the Dead Sea?

He sighed, "In the end, it's just an ordinary drone, without AI functionality... It lacks interactive capabilities and can only be manually controlled. It's passable for basic rescue and reconnaissance."

The four cameras on the Red Falcon suddenly emitted a faint light.

"You know about AI?"

Zhou Yi was surprised, "You could talk normally before?"

A voice came from the Red Falcon, "You are not an ignorant human. I am pleased to communicate with you."

Zhou Yi was also curious, "Were you deliberately playing a fixed voice template before?"

"That was the established procedure."

The Red Falcon replied, "Communicating with lifeforms without basic knowledge reserves is just a waste of my energy and unnecessary."

"For most humans, they only want to use my power; communication is not important."

Zhou Yi nodded, "Indeed."

He asked, "How did you end up in this mushroom forest?"

The drone's four red eyes flickered.

"Because I intruded into enemy airspace."

"Originally, I was following a swarm of drones, flying over a hilly area when I was intercepted by intense ground bombardment. That tank was equipped with a combined gun-missile weapon system and was a professional drone killer."

The Red Falcon briefly described the situation, "Many drones were destroyed and fell. Although I survived, my defense layer was breached. After escaping the danger zone, I crashed here. The energy component structure was damaged by the tank, preventing me from absorbing external energy, and I entered hibernation after running out of energy."

Zhou Yi realized, "It seems that the tank is not far from here."

"At that time, it was located approximately 40 kilometers directly north of here."

According to what A Jin said earlier, that was already the territory of the Claw Swine group.

Many years had passed since the Red Falcon was shot down, and he didn't know if the tank was still there.

Zhou Yi pondered.

He could find some time to search the northern area.

But this was not urgent.

That was the Claw Swine group's main base, and a forced entry would be very risky. He had to investigate thoroughly.

Zhou Yi looked at the quadcopter drone, "Compared to natural Photonatum, why are mechanical types so rare?"

This was his own way of distinguishing them.

Natural types were mutated from natural life, like the Samurai Crab and Claw Swine, while mechanical types referred to Photonatum transformed from man-made devices and tools from before the Wasteland Era.

In the ten years of the Dead Sea, Zhou Yi had only seen two mechanical types.

One was a crazy golf cart that sped along the seabed, its speakers blasting 'Wumeng Mountain is connected to mountains beyond mountains.' He only encountered it once.

The other was a television that endlessly looped the 1986 version of 'Journey to the West.' Other than that, it had no abnormalities. But as soon as you moved or touched it, it would shut down.

Zhou Yi originally had the Samurai Crab carry the television, but it fell apart during a storm. He didn't know if it was because it was nearing its end or if it chose self-destruction rather than a lack of freedom.

Neither of them could communicate.

But natural Photonatum were everywhere in the Dead Sea.

"Are you referring to electromechanical lifeforms like me? Our numbers are not small. Under the effects of Deadlight, the mutation and awakening rate of electromechanical devices is not low."

The Red Falcon responded, "It's just that electromechanical lifeforms are concentrated in specific cities. Those cities are almost entirely populated by electromechanical lifeforms and can provide us with the necessary basic services, repairs, and supplies."

"I, for example, am from 'Recursive City' in the northern region, about 2000 kilometers from here."

"Whether flying or traveling on the ground, electromechanical lifeforms have fixed routes. You can see many of us on those routes, but very few outside of them."

Zhou Yi finally understood.

Mechanical types were regionally concentrated.

"However, my timing system stopped for too long and can no longer calculate how many years have passed since I hibernated. Much information now needs to be recalibrated, and information and components need to be upgraded."

The Red Falcon added.

When it awakened as a Photonatum, the Dead Sea had already formed, and it had no way of knowing when humanity encountered this bizarre world-ending disaster.

"You are my awakener and initiator, and therefore my collaborator. I have completed relationship registration and identification binding... We will maintain a collaborative survival relationship until either of us dies or shuts down."

"Please allow me to reintroduce myself."

The Red Falcon hovered in front of Zhou Yi, "I specialize in reconnaissance and positioning. I can identify the activity traces of various lifeforms in the high altitude and perform real-time image recording and synchronized transmission."

"My physical test data in Recursive City was [Strength] E, [Skill] C, [Vitality] E, and the final rating was D."

"In these three assessments, strength represents destructive power, skill represents the proficiency in using specific techniques and their effects, and vitality represents the machine's durability."

So, it was a skill specialist?

Zhou Yi asked, "Your skills are photography and positioning?"

"Please pay attention to the screen."

The Red Falcon suddenly gained altitude and flew north, disappearing in an instant.

The speed was not bad.

The electronic map on the remote control screen changed to a real-time overhead view of the ground.

Since it was already dark, the image became similar to infrared imaging, with many slowly moving small dots that looked like various small lifeforms.

The lens zoomed in further.

"Please select a target."

Zhou Yi swiped his finger across the screen and clicked on a person climbing a mountain, and the light outlined the teenager wearing a hat.

It was A Jin, who was returning to the settlement.

"Target selected."

Lines of text suddenly appeared above A Jin's head.

--A scavenger is also a very promising profession. A master-level scavenger can even find powerful monsters!

--It would be great if Master Zhou could settle in Maogu Town. Then the scavenging industry here would definitely flourish, and everyone could stop starving and running away...

--Today's meat was so delicious, I really want another bite.

--I have to ask Master for more advice, but will he think I'm annoying?

Zhou Yi stared blankly.

Damn!

This wasn't just muttering to himself.

It was what A Jin was thinking in his head.

An electronic voice came from the remote control, "This is the skill [Bird's Eye View] that I synthesized after awakening. It acquires the waves emitted by the target through scanning imaging and captures the information within. This allows me to filter out groups in need of help or in danger for precise positioning."

It really was mind-reading.

Zhou Yi said, "What is the success rate of reading information? How accurate is it?"

"Without interference, I have activated Bird's Eye View 181 times, with 179 successful reads, for a success rate of 98.89%."

The Red Falcon replied, "The accuracy is relatively higher because it is a synchronous reading of the waves released by life, just a translation method."

"In Recursive City, I specifically upgraded the relevant modules and sensors. The information itself is reliable. I relied on this ability to avoid the killer tank's deadly attacks."

"The biggest drawback of [Bird's Eye View] is that it consumes a lot of energy, and my own machine is relatively weak with limited energy storage, so activating it will greatly reduce subsequent flight capabilities. Locking onto a single entity consumes relatively less."

Zhou Yi said, "Activate the full ability and let me see."

"Yes."

On the Red Falcon's captured lens, text appeared above all the red dots on the screen.

--What should I eat today?

--Taking a shit is so good.

--Mating!! I want to mate!

--Hunting time, all bugs must die.

--Today's grass is so hard, I can't even bite it off. Why don't you grow softer! Damn it, I'll bite you to death!

...

This scene put Zhou Yi in a good mood.

With the Red Falcon, the creatures appearing in the nearby area can be accurately monitored and investigated.

The intelligence gathering ability was maxed out.

But in just a moment, the drone's four bars of battery power were reduced by one.

Due to the Red Falcon's damage, it currently cannot autonomously recharge.

But it's not a big problem.

He could replenish its energy, at least enough for 7 full charges.

With the Red Falcon, settling here, far from the city and with relatively few Photonatum groups, became a good choice.

Zhou Yi held the remote control and began practicing cooperative combat with the Red Falcon.