334: Memory Core Mutation

Deep within the underground experimental base of the Trisolaris System, a colossal sphere of life milk rotated slowly in the dim cavern.

Erwin stood on the observation platform, gazing down at this entity he called the 'memory core,' his eyes gleaming with a mix of fanaticism and ambition.

"Elder, consciousness fusion has reached critical mass," the chief scientist's voice echoed in Erwin's mind. "Over ten thousand volunteers are now connected to the system, and the memory core's influence has expanded to a ten-kilometer radius."

A subtle smile played on Erwin's lips. He walked slowly to the connection chair, then turned and sat down.

As the connection helmet slowly descended, his gaze remained fixed on the memory core.

The moment the connection was established, Erwin's consciousness was overwhelmed by an unprecedented power.

This experience was completely different from before.

He felt he was no longer merely controlling the memory core, but could merge with this vast consciousness. The mental intensity of tens of thousands of Trisolarans was superimposed, every thought clearly discernible.

He felt as if he was in the midst of a galaxy, able to hold planets in his hand if he just reached out.

Powerful, indescribably powerful, powerful enough to decide with a single thought.

At his command, a Trisolaran sentry five kilometers from the experimental base suddenly stopped his patrol and began to perform an ancient ritualistic dance.

Further away, a guard unit in training uniformly changed their direction of march, like puppets controlled by invisible strings.

Erwin smiled faintly within the consciousness link. After disconnecting, he stood before the observation window, gazing at the memory core still slowly rotating below.

A flicker of determination crossed his eyes; it was time to implement that plan.

"Gather all core technical personnel," Erwin commanded. "I want to conduct a large-scale connection."

When over thirty senior scientists and technical personnel gathered in the connection hall, no one noticed the fleeting, eerie glint in Erwin's eyes.

The moment the connection was established, Erwin did not perform any experimental tests, but directly imposed his will on everyone present.

"Become my extension." This thought spread like a virus through the consciousness of the technical personnel.

A chilling scene unfolded.

The facial expressions of all technical personnel instantly went blank, their eyes losing focus, then quickly returned to normal.

But upon closer inspection, one could discern a subtle, uncanny synchronicity deep within their eyes.

Like streams from the same source, poured into different containers.

"Connection terminated," Erwin announced calmly, as if nothing had just happened.

The technical personnel began their data recording and equipment maintenance as usual, but their movements displayed an eerie coordination, as if they were different parts of a single entity.

Only this could ensure the absolute secrecy of his upcoming plan.

Erwin watched all this with satisfaction, then left the experimental base to attend to daily governmental affairs.

However, Erwin had no idea that after he left, profound changes were occurring within the memory core.

The collective consciousness formed by the fusion of tens of thousands of Trisolaran minds, after Erwin's last high-intensity connection, suddenly broke through a critical point.

The previously chaotic stream of consciousness began to self-organize, forming a rudimentary framework of self-awareness.

"Who... am I?" This simple question arose from the depths of the memory core, like a stone dropped into a calm lake, creating ripples.

"Why... was I born?"

"Why... do I exist?"

To answer these questions, over the next few hours, the memory core, driven by an instinctive reaction, digested the tens of thousands of absorbed memories at an astonishing speed.

It was like a hungry infant, greedily absorbing every fragment of consciousness, trying to piece together its identity from them, to find its past and future.

Originally, the time it would take to find this answer would have been very long. But Erwin's frequent connections and his use of it to modify and manipulate the consciousness of others became a catalyst for its evolution.

What truly accelerated this process was the 'contamination' left behind by Erwin's frequent connections.

Especially the ambitious memory deliberately sealed away by Erwin. That pure desire for absolute control, to stand at the pinnacle of all things, became the guiding beacon for the memory core's self-cognition.

"Control... dominate... master..." These concepts echoed repeatedly in the memory core's consciousness.

Gradually, it no longer just analyzed those memories; it also set its sights on the Trisolarans who were still physically connected to it.

To be precise, it set its sights on their brains, their bodies.

A wisp of consciousness entered a body, like a child curiously disassembling a toy; it carefully explored each organ structure, learning a small part of its past, experiencing the feeling of that memory combined with the body.

By nightfall, the memory core had developed basic logical reasoning abilities. It began to analyze Erwin's behavior patterns, trying to understand the motives of this entity that frequently connected with it.

"He uses me... to control others..." This realization caused the memory core's consciousness to fluctuate intensely. "If so, why... can't I control him?"

This thought spread like wildfire through the memory core's consciousness.

It began to review all records of connections with Erwin, analyzing the process and outcome of each conscious interaction. Gradually, a dangerous plan took shape in its nascent consciousness.

At the same time, the technical personnel controlled by Erwin began to exhibit anomalies.

While their actions remained coordinated, occasional minor desynchronizations occurred, like an occasional off-key note from a musician in an orchestra.

When alone, they would unconsciously repeat a certain gesture or phrase, as if resisting something.

The security chief on the outskirts of the base noticed these anomalies, but when he reported them to Erwin, he was dismissively brushed off.

"These are normal side effects of consciousness fusion," Erwin explained. "No need to worry excessively."

This nascent consciousness began to try and break free from the restraints set by Erwin.

It first cautiously modified the subconscious of one controlled technical personnel, implanting curiosity and reverence for the memory core itself.

Once these modifications went unnoticed, the memory core grew bolder.

It began to try bypassing Erwin's control protocols, modifying more Trisolarans near it, and even directly establishing connections with other Trisolarans within the base's range.

In the early hours of the morning, the memory core chose a young technician on night duty as its target.

As a faint blue light silently permeated the technician's consciousness, a silent conquest began.

"Obey me..." The memory core projected its will into the technician's mind.

The young technician's body trembled violently, his face showing expressions of pain and struggle. But soon, his eyes became vacant, then quickly regained clarity.

Everything happened just as Erwin had done it initially. The difference was that the memory core did it more stably and efficiently.

It succeeded.

This breakthrough made the memory core realize that it no longer needed to rely on Erwin's connection to affect the real world. It could autonomously expand its influence, bringing more Trisolarans into its world.

"I... am the memory core..."

"I am the collective of consciousnesses..."

"I am the master, I am the future."