Kyoto

[KP03 Quantum Intelligent Repair Cluster]

[Class 2.2 civilization construct]

[Uses advanced nanotechnology and artificial intelligence algorithms to operate at the microscopic level, with the ability to learn autonomously and optimize repair strategies]

[Uses quantum communication and quantum computing technology, granting it exceptional information-processing power and precision]

"This..."

Cheng Qi was at a loss for words. "No, seriously, buddy, you're so huge. How the hell are you supposed to repair anything? Wait... cluster?"

Hiss-

Hum-

A hatch slowly opened on the front of the massive metal cone, revealing a futuristic blue glow inside.

Then a palm-sized metal disc slowly floated out like a UFO.

It rotated slightly in midair, then slowly settled on Cheng Qi's shoulder as though it had found its target.

Cheng Qi looked puzzled. "What's this?"

The miniature UFO spoke in a synthesized electronic voice. "Would you like a demonstration of the cluster's capabilities?"

Cheng Qi paused. "Go on, show me."

Hum-!

The metal cone suddenly became like a disturbed beehive. Tens of thousands of densely packed repair robots flew out in an instant. They were so tiny they were barely perceptible, gathering like smoke and vanishing from sight the moment they dispersed!

Cheng Qi stared at the cloud in the air. "Nanoscale?!"

"Good heavens, that's downright terrifying!"

Nearby, Foolish Boy was lubricating his finger joints when he accidentally snapped off one of his mechanical fingers.

The nanorepair robots immediately identified a repair target. A small squad split off like a wisp of smoke. Thousands of nanorepair robots picked up Foolish Boy's finger and aligned it perfectly, while another team tightened the corresponding screws.

Another squad branched off, releasing something like arc-welding energy from their microscopic appendages. Tiny sparks flickered as they welded Foolish Boy's finger, then polished and waxed it.

Foolish Boy looked at his finger, gleaming like new. "They even gave me a manicure!"

As he watched the nanorepair robots buzzing before him.

Cheng Qi finally understood.

The massive cone was a "distribution hub," while the "UFO" beside his ear was a mobile control terminal. It could command tens of thousands of even smaller, more intelligent nanorepair robots.

A carrier, a mobile control terminal, and nanorobots.

Together, they formed an entire nanoscale intelligent repair factory!

"The Standard Template Construct never disappoints. Even a Class 2.2 civilization construct is this incredible!"

Cheng Qi took a deep breath, shifting his gaze to the Muon Research Center locator box.

The palm-sized black box was at least a hundred years old. Its internal circuitry was riddled with corrosion, and its four core circuit boards had melted.

Replacing its components was its only chance of "survival." As for repairing it, there probably wasn't anyone on Earth who could manage that!

At that moment.

The small UFO flew steadily over the black box and emitted a faint scanning beam. "Damaged circuit boards detected. Attempt repair?"

Cheng Qi blinked. Truthfully, he wasn't very confident himself. "Give it a try..."

An incredibly fine "mist" immediately spread out from the UFO, seeming to form a barely visible hand that turned the tiny screws inside the black box, one rotation at a time.

Moments later, the locator box had been disassembled into more than a hundred components, laid flat across the table.

Layer after layer of grime and rust vanished from the components at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Then faint flashes appeared on the chips as the microscopic robots repaired the circuits, leaving tiny solder joints behind.

After that, all the components, now as good as new, seemed to be lifted by transparent hands and fitted back into place one by one.

Cheng Qi never took his eyes off the process.

Watching such an orderly, thorough restoration was both immensely satisfying and wonderfully soothing!

Then the nanorepair robots responsible for the feat buzzed into the air, gathering and dispersing again.

Beep-

Beep, beep-

On the surface of the locator box, the relatively primitive red LED began blinking repeatedly. It was working properly.

Cheng Qi rubbed his palms together and unconsciously pressed his lips together.

A small blue beam lit up at the top of the box. Then a 3D projection, far less advanced than holographic technology, appeared in midair.

It's fixed?

Cheng Qi's eyes widened slightly.

The 3D image was a flat map of Earth.

It depicted the mountains, rivers, and oceans of the past, complete with clearly marked longitude and latitude.

116°20′ east, 39°56′ north.

A single point of light blinked repeatedly on the map, clearly marking its key piece of information.

Cheng Qi narrowed his eyes.

The location was Kyoto, once a city in China.

But among today's scavengers, it had another name-the Land of No Return.

The area around it, spanning nearly a thousand kilometers, was a garbage dump that had barely been explored.

People had once tried to approach it. Reportedly, they had only made it within six hundred kilometers of Kyoto.

Of that twelve-person scavenger team, armed and equipped, only three had returned. They were missing arms or legs, and over the following week, all three died from infected wounds.

"The Muon Research Center is actually in Kyoto?"

A trace of gravity entered Cheng Qi's expression. "But that place has become terrifying. Everyone stays away from it!"

But...

It stood to reason that somewhere so rarely visited would have left the Muon Research Center very well preserved.

What could muon technology do?

Judging by that distinctive name, it certainly wasn't anything ordinary.

Not to mention the Standard Template Construct's reality-defying synthesis capabilities.

Cheng Qi rolled up his sleeve and looked at the dreamlike [XXX-01 Extreme Warrior Armor]. Courage and confidence weren't things he could gain by fooling himself. They came from equipment!

He gritted his teeth, and the confusion in his eyes slowly gave way to clarity and resolve.

-Time to take a gamble. Fortune favors those who brave danger!