LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 163: Chapter 162
Eva's preparations for her quantum server upgrade were underway, a task that had long been in the making. The intricacies of quantum computing weren't for the faint of heart, but for an AI like Eva, it was a natural next step. She had already placed the order for quantum bits—or qubits—through one of the many aliases Alex had set up for her.
"I've secured the necessary quantum processors from one of our suppliers in China," Eva reported to Alex. "We'll be using superconducting qubits for the upgrade, which will offer greater coherence times and lower error rates than the previous architecture. The quantum server will operate at a temperature near absolute zero to maintain qubit stability. I expect this upgrade will enhance my computational efficiency by several orders of magnitude."
"Good. Make sure you allocate the quantum gates for parallel computations," Alex replied. "I want you running deep learning algorithms alongside the quantum simulations. We'll need all the speed we can get."
"As you wish," Eva said. "The installation will take some time, but I'll be back to full capacity shortly."
Alex smirked. Eva's preparations were almost like clockwork, a finely tuned machine gearing up for a massive leap. But as advanced as Eva was, there were still things that required the human touch—or, in Alex's case, a little more direct intervention from his Cognichip space.
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Cognichip Space
Alex decided it was time for a more hands-on approach. He closed his eyes and activated Cognichip Space, entering the unique virtual reality he had created within his system.
The ancient architecture appeared around him as usual—grand columns, towering arches, and the ever-present ambiance of a long-lost civilization that Alex had come to associate with his deepest intellectual dives. In this space, he could manifest anything, from cutting-edge research equipment to entire laboratories, all at his fingertips. But it wasn't just for convenience. Here, he liked to work through his thoughts manually, savoring the process.
In the heart of one of these towering halls, a room materialized, filled with rows of sleek, futuristic consoles. State-of-the-art research equipment lined the walls, from quantum particle analyzers to energy resonance scanners.
Alex stood before one of the consoles, the thought of PowerGen's failed exosuit prototype fresh in his mind, he can't continue to wait for them to perfect it by themself. The exosuit had melted under the raw power of an ability user like Phoenix, and that wasn't something Alex could overlook.
"Let's see," he muttered to himself. "We need to design materials capable of withstanding the heat and energy emitted by ability users. Traditional alloys are no match for that kind of destructive force."
He began inputting various material compositions into the system, analyzing their melting points, durability, and ability to absorb cosmic energy. The Cognichip would have been more than capable of running these simulations on its own, but sometimes Alex enjoyed the process—there was something satisfying about being involved in the creative grind.
"Let's try composite materials," Alex thought aloud, bringing up data on graphene, carbon nanotubes, and newly discovered elements. He combined them in different ratios, testing the simulated results in high-energy environments.
The Cognichip's system displayed intricate simulations, showing how each material performed under stress tests. Some alloys buckled, others disintegrated under Phoenix's flames, but a few showed promise. Alex tweaked the parameters, refining the composites further.
He couldn't help but grin as he saw the results. "Not bad," he said. "If we reinforce the carbon bonds at a molecular level, we might just have something strong enough to withstand a direct hit."
--
Meanwhile, other ability users were coming to grips with their newfound powers. In Europe, a young woman named Sofia had awakened with the ability to control electricity. She had risen to prominence as a protector of her city, using her powers to fend off criminals and corrupt officials alike.
But like many ability users, Sofia was wary of the growing chaos around her. She had heard of Phoenix's conquest, Eze's rise in Africa, and the Sovereigns' ambitions in Europe as well. She knew it was only a matter of time before the world was engulfed in conflict.
"I don't want to fight," she said during a private conversation with a fellow ability user. "But I won't let anyone take away what I've built here. If it comes to it, I'll protect my city, no matter the cost."
Others, however, embraced the chaos. In South America, a group of rogue ability users had taken over entire regions, using their powers to dominate local governments and create their own fiefdoms. They reveled in the anarchy, seeing it as an opportunity to seize power for themselves.
Across the globe, the divide between ability users and ordinary humans grew wider by the day. Governments struggled to maintain order, deploying whatever new technologies they could in an attempt to level the playing field. But it was clear to everyone that the balance of power had shifted, and there was no turning back.
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Back at PowerGen, Max was overseeing the production of the next generation of beam weapons. The failure of the exosuit prototype had been a setback, but it hadn't dampened his enthusiasm.
"The next version will be stronger," he said during a meeting with his engineers. "We're integrating some of the advanced materials Alex recommended. With those, our suits should be able to withstand far more punishment."
Still, the problem of cosmic energy gnawed at him. Ability users tapped into something beyond the physical world, something science had yet to fully understand. If PowerGen could find a way to harness that energy, they could create technology that could rival even the most powerful ability users.
"We need to crack the cosmic energy code," Max said. "It's the key to everything. Without it, we're just playing catch-up."
---
"Alex, the quantum server upgrade is complete," Eva's voice echoed in Cognichip Space, pulling Alex out of his deep focus.
"How's it running?" Alex asked, wiping his hands as he stepped away from the console where he'd been working on new materials.
"Flawlessly," Eva responded. "I've already started running quantum simulations of the new material composites you've been testing. The results are promising. I've also optimized the beam weapon algorithms to reduce energy consumption by 17%."
"Good," Alex said, smiling. "That should buy us a little more time in the field."
"There's one more thing," Eva added. "I recommend upgrading my home server to a quantum architecture. With the processing power available now, I'll be able to run far more complex operations, including continuous deep learning models for future AI applications."
Alex nodded. "Go ahead with it. We'll need every advantage we can get."
--
As Alex and Eva continued their work in the shadows, the world outside grew increasingly unstable. Ability users rose to power, governments scrambled to regain control, and ordinary people tried to find a way to survive in a world where the rules had changed forever.
But Alex was not concerned. He had his plans, his technology, and his vision for the future. As long as he stayed ahead of the curve, he would remain a force to be reckoned with, even as the world descended into chaos.
And now, with Eva running on a quantum server and his research into materials and cosmic energy well underway, Alex knew that his next breakthrough was just around the corner.