I returned down the stairs with the least damaged zombie I had found in the shop, it was only missing half its head.
When I reached the hologram I dropped the zombie in front of it, not saying anything as a hole opened up on one of the walls and a robotic arm moved to scan the zombie with a strange device.
"Experimental immortality serum from Project Z1X detected in the body, the prototype had a cascade failure on multiple fronts, biological nanomachines corrupted before serum was injected, catastrophic damage to the nervous system, biological immortality archived, serum keeps the body alive using exotic energy, the serum was injected 315 years ago" The voice coming from the hologram explained to me what it found from its scans.
I listened with some surprise as the voice talked more and more, and when it reached the end I knew what energy it was talking about, the zombies couldn't be keeping themselves alive by eating brains or something idiotic like that.
"I know this energy you mentioned, scan me," I said to the hologram.
"Acceptable," The hologram said as the arm came to me and started to scan me with its strange device.
"Heavy mutations on baseline human body, no negative alterations detected, insides of the body filled with exotic energy providing basic needs and greatly reinforcing the structural integrity of the muscles, bones, and nervous system, as well as a general reinforcement of the body, biological immortality hasn't been reached but lifespan has been increased by 160 years, do you know of this energy?" At the end of its speech, it asked me the question I was expecting.
"Yes, it is called mana and can be used in various ways..."
+++
After a lengthy explanation of the uses of mana and its effects on me, I stopped speaking, the hologram had rarely asked questions but I know it understood what I explained.
"You have not lied" Stated the hologram.
"I haven't told a single lie in this conversation" I stated back.
I looked at the hologram blankly as it suddenly dispersed into motes of light.
"You are granted access to the Grand Archive, enter and we will talk about the future" The voice that was coming from the hologram was heard once more as the reinforced doors opened before me.
When the doors finally opened I could see a tunnel going for about 20 meters that opened up to a large square elevator, large enough to fit a car.
+++
After a long ride down on the elevator I finally reached the bottom, and what I saw made me pause for a second, in front of the true entrance to the Grand Archive there was the highest concentration of weaponry I have ever seen.
Counting all the turrets currently pointing at the elevator there were 8 large turrets, and two dozen smaller turrets, there were also 2 humanlike robots with futuristic rifles that seemed to be waiting for me, and a few more robots working on various holographic consoles around the room, as well as the many cameras that were all pointing at me.
One thing I noticed was how clean everything is, it is impossible to compare this to the outside.
"Follow the two guards until ordered otherwise" A voice from the ceiling ordered, it must be the same voice as before, I don't really have a choice now, not that I would refuse, I can already imagine where this is going.
I nodded and began to follow the two armed robots as they guided me through the facility deep in the earth.
As I followed them we passed by several impressive rooms, a storage room full of the same robots I was following, an assembly room filled to the brim with automated machines making a variety of components I didn't know the use of, a refining room that turned earth and minerals into useful materials, and many more.
After a long walk, longer than I expected, we finally arrived at a room that looked to be the core of this facility, with a transparent cylinder filled with an unknown blue liquid in the center of the room, inside this cylinder, there was a metallic orb connected to dozens of thick cables that went up and down the cylinder.
The entire cylinder went from the ceiling to the ground, being much larger than me, the metallic orb itself was as large as my torso.
Apart from that the room was barren, completely empty.
The guards remained outside as I stepped into the room.
"You have been chosen to lead humanity" The voice from before stated, this time clearly coming from the metallic orb inside the cylinder.
I wasn't that surprised, for what else would they send me here after seeing my abilities?
"For this purpose, you have been elevated to the temporary position of Director-General by the remaining member of the Iberian Directorate, that being me, Alpha Core L7S492841PL, commonly referred to as 'Athena' by humans" The AI continued to speak as I listened, I had nothing to say really, so I just listened.
"You will be educated on the topics necessary to become the future leader of humanity, you will also be assisted in cultivation so that you can become powerful enough to prevent a second apocalypse" As the AI continued speaking I became more and more excited for the future, becoming a leader is one of the crucial steps in speeding up my cultivation.
"You will receive an S-class general enhancement serum, which will improve the foundation of your body; after the S-class serum is integrated several lesser and more specialized serums will be introduced with the goal of perfecting the Solar Dragon bloodline" The AI isn't omniscient, I told it everything I knew about mana at the entrance, and that includes the bloodline and the 'deal' with God.
An AI can't cultivate, a soul is needed for cultivation and Artificial intelligence doesn't have souls, at least this one doesn't have a soul if my draconic eyes are right.
"When will this begin?" I asked the AI.
"Right now, but before it begins, what is your name?" The AI answered with a question of its own, I was surprised but when I was about to answer I came to the realization that there was something missing in my mind.
"My name...?" I was truly shocked for the first time since coming to this world, and I didn't know why.