Walking out of the Bowl of Fortune, Dante stood in the middle of the street, contemplating. He must have been in that state for far too long, which is why Volcan felt the need to speak up.
[Dante, would you like to know the current location of the previous hostile entities?]
A long sigh escaped the youth as he finally marched.
'I don't think I will get used to you reading my mind.'
[It was more of an educated guess.] The AI replied. [Even through your upgraded Neural Interface Module, I only have access to thoughts you share with me.]
AIs have been a constant boogieman for more than a century. So far there has been no major computer program-driven apocalypse, yet the bleak image persisted.
It has barely been a couple of hours since Dante met Vulcan. Well, met would be the wrong word since the two only talked so far. The AI spoke in a masculine voice one would expect to hear from a butler in a cartoon about a man who really likes bats. The tone and choice of words make it hard to believe it wasn't human. In fact, Dante was struggling with whether he should think of the AI as an it.
The eeriness that comes with something artificial acting and talking like a human has never been eliminated. Even now, commercial AIs are specifically made to sound robotic just to give people the relief of knowing whether the one they're speaking to is human. Dante found himself struggling to make that distinction despite Volcan telling him it was an AI, and that made it all the more difficult to trust.
'You said it earlier too...' Dante said internally. 'Something about my NIM being upgraded or something. When did that happen?'
He still uses the same NIM he got for his fifteenth birthday and never upgraded to the newer versions. The surgery for the replacement was his main reason, and without many improvements made in the last four years, he had another one.
[During the integration.] Volcan replied. [It was a necessary step to ensure seamless communication between us. I also needed the so-called internet connection to learn your language and other things.]
'Okay, I got it.' Dante sighed, thought for a moment, then spoke with his thoughts. 'Actually, scratch that. The NIM is implanted beside my brain. The hell did you do to it?'
[Nothing that would endanger your health or cognitive abilities.] Volcan answered immediately. [I simply reconstructed it using some of the available material to further increase its capabilities.]
'... So now you can reconstruct things in my body...'
What was that if not terrifying?
[Unfortunately, that function is only limited to non-organic matter.]
A small screen appeared on Dante's OAM showing a simplified image of a human silhouette. Most of it was a light shade of blue with a bit of green on the head and around the eyes, while the area around the hands was red. Beside it was a list.
[I have taken it upon myself to measure your capabilities.] Volcan said. [Remember when I said Type 5-6 was not designed to be used by low-gravity organic life forms?]
[Well, I am afraid to say the same goes for most of my arsenal. Though it is possible for humans to use the armor and weapons I possess, it is likely to lead to permanent damage over time.]
'... You're kidding, right?'
Type 5-6 was understandable. That thing could accelerate to Mach 15 in less than a second, something that would turn humans to mush if they were to experience it without the necessary protections. Anything on that level was sure to destroy him if he were to use it more than once, but what about everything else?
'What about the Type 4-1 you mentioned earlier?'
[The stress it exerts is minimal, but it lacks the same protection as Type 5-6.] Said Volcan. [With your current stats you are capable of using it for a maximum amount of three minutes. After that, the risk of sustaining injuries increases drastically.]
Too good to be true. Dante already knew that, but it still pissed him off. One simply can't gain such power without a drawback.
'There has to be a way...'
[There is a way.] Volcan said.
Dante stopped in his tracks. It knew. The AI already knew. The threat of physical harm wasn't going to stop him. He finally had it in his hand—a weapon powerful enough to defy them, and he wasn't going to stop just because it put his life at risk. He wasn't going to stop even if it meant walking straight to his death. The AI knew that, and it already had a solution prepared for it.
It was still unclear whether he could trust Volcan. Even if it didn't have the uncannily human voice, he would still have found it difficult to trust an AI. Nevertheless, the possibilities it offered were too much to give up. VOLCAN, the relic, was a chance, and even if it meant being cast into the depths of hell, Dante wasn't going to let go of it.
[Your species seems to have developed technologies to replace some of your parts with ones that are far more resilient and powerful.] Volcan spoke in a very solemn tone. [Specifically, bionic implants. Though most still remain below my standards, they can be used to enhance your body, raising your stats and lowering the risks that come with using me.]
'You... you're telling me to get more chrome?'
[Yes.] One could imagine that, if he had a head, the AI would be nodding right now. [And there is one more upside to doing so.]
'You're really trying to sell it to me, aren't you?'
[You are my host. It is only natural that I would suggest options that would increase your chances of survival.]
'Fair enough.' Sighing, Dante began walking once more. 'And what is this additional benefit you're offering?'
[Upgrades!] For some reason, Volcan sounded a little more enthusiastic. [I can upgrade any bionic parts you choose to implant in your body, provided we have the necessary materials. With each upgrade, you will move closer to being able to use armors such as Type 5-6 with no restriction!]