Honkai Dinsion, Installation 00 Ark.
Across the vast plains of the artificial continent, waist-high grass swayed like ocean waves.
Buzz—!
Dozens of industrial ships and forge vessels from the Empire’s Forge Departnt hovered in the sky. As their massive hulls pressed into the Ark’s atmosphere, the surrounding grassy plains and forests were flattened like wheat under a rolling pin.
On the open fields below, construction zones had been cleared according to the palace Ark redesign blueprint ticulously crafted by the Offensive Bias for its master—Selene.
As one of the pinnacle creations of Forerunner technology, once granted permission by Selene, the Offensive Bias accessed the Empire’s network and absorbed massive amounts of architectural knowledge that matched the aesthetic of the Sacred Selene Empire and was widely praised by its citizens.
In re monts, the Offensive Bias went from being a complete novice in imperial architecture to a full-fledged master in Gothic, Baroque, Rococo, Greco-Roman, and even classical Chinese design!
Redesigning the Halo Array and architectural modifications on Installation 00 Ark? More than capable.
A massive Stargate capable of accommodating small and dium-sized vessels was already under construction. Nearby, smaller teleportation gates had been completed, and one engineering vehicle after another erged from them.
Occasionally, vehicles would flash by overhead, circling once to confirm location, then descend. When they were still 10 ters above the ground, their cargo bays would open, and industrial robots equipped with full engineering gear would leap down.
Following either pre-programd instructions or direct commands from nearby Forge Departnt engineers, they imdiately began their construction tasks.
On this construction site, over a thousand Forge Departnt engineers in powered engineering suits were directing the operation with urgency.
The ground was filled with the rumble of massive construction vehicles, as engineering equipnt swiftly unloaded prefabricated building modules from docked transport ships.
Under the control of Guide Unit 000 Tragic Solitude from Installation 00, countless dormant Forerunner Retriever Sentinels were activated and joined the Empire Forge Departnt’s Ark and Halo Array reconstruction efforts.
Retriever Sentinels are enormous, ship-sized unmanned aerial vehicles. In Forerunner design, they were used to construct Halo Arrays and maintain the Ark itself.
They can generate artificial gravity—not just for pulling cargo, but capable of removing material from a planet’s surface. Once positioned above a viable dig site, they emit a blue gravitational beam to extract resources directly into their storage bay.
Kiana and her group walked through the lush green landscape, surrounded by the sweeping tide of artificial tal. A gentle breeze lifted the hems of their clothes.
The sheer presence of Installation 00 Ark filled them with genuine awe.
"W-wow~ So this is Her Majesty the Emperor’s war trophy?" Li Sushang struck an exaggerated pose. "Seriously, war really is one of the best ways to get rich. I can’t wait any lon—ow!"
"Oww!" Clutching the back of her head, Li Sushang winced and stuck out her tongue. "Master Fu Hua, why did you hit ?"
"Say less," Fu Hua replied calmly, lowering her hand.
"Okaaaay~"
"Sea breeze?"
Stopping at a cliffside, Kiana felt the moist, slightly cool wind blowing toward her.
"Yes... unbelievable," Raiden i replied, crouching beside her to pick up a clump of moss. She sighed in amazent.
Just when they thought Selene’s previous battleships—the ones cramd with palaces, lakes, and forest gardens—were already over the top, now ca sothing even more outrageous.
It was clear from the looks of things: Selene was about to launch another massive palace-building spree, a grand-scale construction effort... No, correction—Selene had never stopped building.
"Yes. If Miss Kaslana and Miss Raiden’s holand is a planet nad ’Earth’ with a diater of 12,756 km, then I can state with certainty that the oceanic area on Installation 00 Great Foundry is no smaller than that of Earth."
Hovering before them was a guide unit about half a ter wide and shaped like a concave-shelled turtle on three sides. It introduced itself with a rolling, round motion.
Installation 00 Ark, known as the Great Foundry by the Forerunners, could activate the entire Halo Array. It also served as a strategic shelter from the Array’s pulse and, if necessary, could construct replacent Halo structures.
Although later commonly referred to as an "Ark," the Installation 00 Great Foundry was originally designated as one of two core Ark devices, the other being the older Greater Ark.
Thus, the Installation 00 Great Foundry was sotis called the "Lesser Ark" to distinguish it from the much larger Greater Ark.
The Foundry of the Greater Ark alone, which occupied only part of the ’Lotus’ central hub, had a diater exceeding 30,000 km and was capable of producing the original 30,000 km Halo Rings.
Although the Great Foundry wasn’t as massive as the Greater Ark, its central foundry still exceeded 10,000 km in diater, fully capable of mass-producing Halo Arrays thanks to ample technological support.
A standard small Halo ring had a diater of 10,000 km, thickness of 22.3 km, and varied widths averaging over 100 km.
The primary construction materials included tal, stone, and soil. The exterior consisted of chanical structures, while the interior featured a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere and an artificial sun, forming a biosphere. Gravity (9.8G) was generated and rotational control maintained via artificial gravity fields.
"Hey, are you really an AI?"
Leaning forward slightly, Senti crossed her arms and blinked her crimson eyes in curiosity.
"I am not ’hey,’ Miss Fushi. You may call 686 Ebullient Prism, a managent, maintenance, security, and combat-support type ’Guide’ class AI servant."
Its red sensors flickered as 686 Ebullient Prism responded in a sharp yet deep electronic voice.
"What a dumb na." Senti muttered, unclear whether she was dissing the AI’s designation or her own registered na.
"What? You got a problem with the identity I registered for you?"
Fu Hua, picking up on Senti’s sidelong glance at her, narrowed her green eyes and threw a pointed look back at the now slightly smug girl.
This brat—going off to flirt with rmaids again? Too much!
"Of course I have a problem! Why do I have to take your surna? Makes look like your junior or sothing!"
"If you don’t take my surna, should I take yours?" Fu Hua sighed, tilted her head, and spread her hands in exasperation. "Want to give you a surna like ’Little’ or sothing?"
"Peh peh peh peh peh! You really don’t know how to say anything decent!"
...
Watching the two bicker again, 686 Ebullient Prism blinked in confusion. These two had already squabbled several tis on the way here. Every ti they settled down, it wouldn’t be long before they clashed again.
Hmm... and every ti, it was that... how did Her Majesty phrase it again... ah yes, the itchy little troublemaker, who stirred it up.
Bronya, anwhile, quietly studied the machine crafted from unknown materials. Then, glancing up at the hazy sun in the sky, she asked, "That sun up there—is it artificial?"
"Controlled nuclear fusion technology," 686 Ebullient Prism replied, as its sensors instantly projected a massive hologram.
Within the projection, deep inside a power core of Installation 00 Ark, a colossal burning star hovered in place. The light and heat it emitted ward the natural environnts inside and simultaneously powered the entire Ark.
Assigned by Selene to provide guidance for Kiana’s group, 686 Ebullient Prism continued its tour, explaining various systems as it led them to the mountain housing the Ark’s central control room.
"This way, please," said 686 Ebullient Prism.
Standing at the mountain base, Kiana looked up at the ancient staircase and monuntal architecture that had existed for who knows how long. Slowly, she closed her eyes. Faintly, it was as if she could hear whispers of ti flowing down from the summit—clear and lodious, echoing softly in her ears like a ringing bell, drawing her mind into a quiet trance.
"This ti, it’s our turn to take the initiative." Opening her eyes once more, Kiana made up her mind and stepped onto the stairs.
At that mont, atop the mountain in the control chamber, two architectural masters were having a design eting.
"Oh, so this is your design concept? Centering around the mountain where the control chamber is located, occupying the highest point, following the terrain to construct a grand palace complex along the range?"
Sebas looked seriously at the AI in front of him.
Honestly, when Selene told him with a smile that soone had drawn up a new palace design for her, Sebas almost lost his composure.
Of course, Sebas would never feel things like, "The young lady doesn’t love anymore? She has soone new?" No, it wasn’t dissatisfaction with Offensive Bias’s design either—he just felt sothing was off.
Wasn’t this his specialty? Who designed this?! Step forward! Let see what kind of genius you are!
Even if Offensive Bias was just a robot, Sebas couldn’t shake the feeling that the cabbage he’d raised with such care was about to be taken away...
Still, perhaps it was for the best. After all, Offensive Bias was just an AI.
Sigh...
"Lord Sebas, you may simply call Offensive Bias. I am rely a penitent ’Gladiator’-class AI servant, Her Majesty’s humble servant. I am unworthy of the title ’Sir’."
Floating in front of Sebas, Offensive Bias’s sensory nodes flickered gently as it introduced itself.
"..." Sebas glanced at the "mask" and then returned to analyzing the preliminary design draft presented on the holographic display.
After a mont, he spoke: "Not enough."
"See here, the elongated curve of the mountain range is too random, lacking the majesty of imperial order. It must first be reshaped and formalized before palace construction can begin."
"The staircase from the foot of the mountain to the control room is also too narrow and winding—needs adjustnt."
"Also, I have a few additions: we can set up floating mountain ranges around the front hall’s mountain and construct archways and gate towers..."
Sebas began his critique.
"I am enlightened."
Offensive Bias nodded humbly and imdiately manipulated the holographic display to revise the draft, incorporating new features as it spoke. "Lord Sebas, with your guidance, I’ve gained new inspiration."
"At the mountain base, after widening the stairway, we can extend it further outward, then... and also..."
"Yes. Good idea. That gives another thought—let add a few more things. For now, let’s go with this..."
They were... actually competing?
Setting aside her morial docunts, Selene glanced over at the one man and one machine harmoniously collaborating on palace construction and shook her head in helpless amusent.
You ask what she was doing?
Rushing through morials.
At this mont, Installation 00 Ark’s control chamber had already been completely transford.
A twelve-tier crystal chandelier now hung from the high ceiling, each flawless crystal shard capturing light and scattering it across the room like a kaleidoscope.
As with all of Selene’s workspaces, everything that needed to be there was already in place—and anything missing would soon be added.
Near the control console stood a luxurious office desk that took up nearly half the room.
With a gesture, Selene signaled the attendants to take away the reviewed morials. She exhaled softly, then smoothed her long sleeves and extended her slender fingers. With a small movent, an invisible force lifted a dozen red pens from the surface of the desk.
Watch my multitasking magic!
Leaning back in her chair, chin resting in her hand, Selene gently flicked her fingers. A stack of morials automatically separated, hovering in midair at the perfect angle for her comfort, then spread out neatly. She began reviewing them rapidly.
Like a machine devoid of emotion.
Sigh... What could she do? Even as a sovereign who had delegated much authority, the role of a reigning emperor ca with decisions she couldn’t avoid.
And the vast expanse of the Sacred Selene Empire—even if only a small fraction of planetary-level affairs were elevated to her attention—ant an overwhelming amount of work accumulated over ti.
Were it not for her tens of thousands of cabinet officials (whose numbers were expected to grow as the empire expanded) serving as analysts and advisors, not to ntion all-purpose personnel like Sebas, Selene might truly be locked in endless battle against docunts every single day.
"W-wow, Your Majesty, seeing how busy you are, your dear Cortana has so good news to report!"
Popping up via the central control room’s holographic projection, Cortana twirled into view, hands behind her back, tilting her head playfully as she looked at the mountain of docunts on Selene’s desk.
"Good news? What is it—the last of the Covenant rebels suppressed by Xytan ’Jar Wattinnee? The Prophet of Regret eliminated? Or the UNSC finally agreed to surrender?"
"All of the above."
"Your Majesty, Konrad Curze and Angron have already begun withdrawing their respective legions from the Punishers Legion’s battlefield in Universe 117—Serial Number: Conquered World—and are returning to their own fronts."
"General Budo’s Punishers Legion, however, must remain to handle postwar matters. Absorbing territory vacuums left by the Covenant, the UNSC, and even the Forerunners in the Milky Way will take considerable ti."
"UNSC Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood and Admiral Joseph Harper have boarded a Night Lords warship and are en route to the Imperial Capital via the network gate. Dr. Halsey and the Master Chief are also among the returning delegation."
Selene waved her hand dismissively—got it.
The Covenant, a loosely bound religious alliance, had always rested on shaky foundations. The San’Shyuum, who ford the core of its power, were too weak to wield the blade. When their faith faltered and allies turned on them, collapse was inevitable.
"Good. Now we wait for Budo’s success. Once the Second Legion fully digests Universe 117, everything else will fall into place."
Ti to shift her attention to the next objective.
A golden radiance gathered in her palm, and crimson light flashed in Selene’s eyes.
"My data battlegroup isn’t sothing to be used so lightly. You’ve been freeloading off long enough... It’s ti to collect interest."
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