The first Admin Error that Kai received happened during the Apocalypse Selection. The second Error happened after his Weekly Gift Cycle Talent, which was supposedly only capable of giving him three gift packs per week, was changed to Infinite Gift Pack Talent...
This time, however, the Error happened with the activation of the A-Grade Sentinel...
"What’s going on?" Claire asked worriedly.
Kai jolted and immediately explained the situation.
"I think that this thing recognized me..." He replied.
Claire’s grip on her revolver tightened. "Recognized you as what?"
Kai swallowed hard. "Its master or something... I think I need to give it a name."
As he said this, the notification lit up once more as if reminding him to focus on giving it a name.
[ Please assign a name. ]
Kai paused for a moment and looked at the capsule... Then, he made a decision.
"Atom..."
[ You have chosen "ATOM". ]
[ Confirm selection? ]
Kai then saw the Yes or No option and didn’t hesitate to select Yes.
Kai clenched his fist and nodded. "Yes."
[ Name confirmed: ATOM ]
[ Initialization sequence resuming... ]
[ Link established. ]
[ Identity registered. ]
[ Core link stabilized. ]
[ Sentinel (A) - ATOM Unit is now active. ]
[ Combat systems remain offline until further command. ]
[ Auxiliary systems online. ]
The Sentinel’s chest glowed faintly, and its helmet tilted forward as if acknowledging Kai.
Claire’s eyes widened.
"It... it moved." She said as she watched the Sentinel move out of its capsule. It stood about 2 meters tall!
Then, Kai’s vision filled with one last message.
[ ATOM has recognized Kai as its Controller. ]
[ Synchronization complete. ]
[ Future commands will be accepted only from a registered Controller. ]
Kai exhaled slowly. Without a doubt, his heart was pounding. The A‑Grade Sentinel was no longer just a dormant machine. It had accepted him!
Claire lowered her revolver slightly, though her grip remained tight.
"So... it’s yours now?" She asked cautiously. She had to make sure that this thing wouldn’t just suddenly attack them after all.
Thankfully, Kai slowly nodded. "I can control it at the very least..."
Of course, he wanted to know more about the Sentinel.
He tried speaking to it, like asking where it came from or who made its body, but there was no reply. The helmet remained silent, and no voice came out.
"It can’t talk..." Kai muttered.
Claire tilted her head. "Then how do you know it listens?"
Kai thought for a moment, then gave a simple command. "Pick up a weapon."
The Sentinel moved.
Its hand reached toward one of the crates and lifted a heavy rifle with ease. The motion was smooth, precise, and without hesitation before turning to Kai, waiting for more instructions.
Kai nodded. It was a basic instruction after all.
Claire’s grip on her revolver loosened slightly, though she still looked wary. "So it can follow orders."
Kai nodded with a hint of excitement. Now, he needed to give this thing more complicated instructions.
"Guard me as I walk around the building."
The Sentinel stepped forward, rifle in hand, and positioned itself beside him.
Then, Kai walked across the workshop and Atom followed silently... Its movements remained steady and would always be in protective position.
Kai couldn’t hide his grin. "This is incredible. It really listens."
Claire raised an eyebrow. "And what if it listens too well? What if it takes an order the wrong way?"
Kai stopped, realizing the danger. He turned back to Atom. "Then I’ll make sure it understands the rules."
He took a deep breath and spoke clearly, almost like he was teaching a child.
"Atom, listen carefully. These are the laws you must follow."
Just like that, Kai recalled the three laws of robotics... He had learned them during his elective class, Ves Robotics, back in high school. But this time, he decided to change them. The old laws wouldn’t work in this world.
"First Law... You must never harm me, Kai, or allow me to come to harm through inaction."
Claire blinked as she heard this... She really thought that Kai would give the three laws of robotics that she was aware of. However, she also realized that in this Apocalypse, other human survivors could also be their enemy.
Kai knew this very well, so he changed it.
The real first law was "You must never harm a human being, or allow a human being to come to harm through inaction."
’If humans attack us, Atom must be able to fight back. Protecting me comes first.’ Kai thought.
Then, he continued. "Second Law... You must obey the commands I give you, unless those commands conflict with the First Law."
Claire wryly smiled after hearing this. At this point, she could already understand Kai’s train of thought, so she stayed quiet.
"Third Law... You must protect your own existence, as long as that does not conflict with the First or Second Law."
Kai’s voice echoed in the chamber.
Atom stood silently, rifle in hand, but then its helmet tilted forward.
A faint glow appeared where its eyes or scanners should have been.
Two sharp lines of light lit up across the visor... Then, it pulsed once before stabilizing. It didn’t end there as the glow spread faintly across its chest, as if confirming that the instructions had been absorbed.
"Whoa..." Kai was impressed by what he just saw... It was as if it truly embodied the laws he just said on a whim.
Claire also saw this and knew that this was the real deal. "It... lit up."
Kai’s heart pounded. "It worked, right?"
For some reason, he could really feel it... Atom had definitely acknowledged the laws he had given.
"Yes, definitely... It can’t speak, but it recognized the command you gave. I’m sure of it... Though your laws sound a bit too selfish, Kai." Claire said with a chuckle. She didn’t really mind the laws that Kai gave.
Kai grinned and didn’t deny it. "Well, in this world, survival comes first. If Atom can’t fight humans, then it’s useless. I need it to protect me above all else."