Arselan System: AI Controller
Chapter 001: A Failed Project

"I'm afraid again" a man in a white suit crossed the list in his digital record. He ordered that volunteers who took the trial be treated immediately. "Put them in the therapy hall. Do not let the condition of the prospective drivers deteriorate. Do the best handling protocol possible."

The situation in the laboratory became complicated. The medical team that has been prepared immediately runs the task. They went in and out of the test room to save the drivers who willingly followed the development of this project. The professors in the control room sighed, frowned, clucked, and so on.

In fact, this project they have developed for a long time, but it only leads to failure alone. It was a great hope for them to upgrade the system technology in the Altair Kingdom Empire, the only empire that ruled the skies of the world. After this total failure, the entire project will be shut down and the flow of funds for it will be stopped by the government. So, there was no hope for him to grow.

Fortunately, all security protocols are well prepared so that any accidents that may occur can be overcome. The drivers can still be saved. However, the project remains a dangerous one and must be sealed.

"Save the thing," the head of research who overcame the project told his assistant to insert a pentagon-shaped object in a silvery iron box. "I'll go back to the academy and evaluate it there."

"Well, Professor," the assistant kept his mentor's word. After the project was completely shut down, a new project was coming to fill the Imperial Central Laboratory which the Great Altair Empire was very proud of. Researchers from previous projects will return to their respective places and try new things. There are also those who may settle down to help with further projects.

"Hah .. although it ended in failure, I still have to be grateful to finally be able to return," the head of research witnessed the bright Altair Academy complex. His plane was already close to an island floating in the sky. It feels nostalgic to see a giant satellite that continues to orbit the earth since hundreds of years ago.

The head of research rereads the data related to his research. He believes he has given the right proportion to each part. However, it is still heavy for the human brain. Reopened the silver box where the dangerous object was stored. After being satisfied to see the platinum pentagon badge with the lion head engraving there, the man closed the silver box again.

"Hais ... Now you are no longer my top priority" the head of research muttered. When he got off his private plane, he carried the box in his hand. Many people came to greet him. The head of research is not the best professor, but he is a great and kind teacher.

The Head of the Academy, the teachers, and senior disciples surrounded the white-clothed man. Although the news of his failure had reached the academy, not immediately the man became an outcast. He is the most anticipated teacher. Many students wanted to learn and hear from him. So excited, he unwittingly placed his silver box somewhere in the research complex. The box disappeared somewhere.

***

"Senior, it's all your fault" lamented Ats who was desperately adjusting his breathing. He knelt behind the bush to avoid being monitored by drones and patrol teams. They will be exposed to major problems if caught by the automatic devices.

The person he called senior put his index finger on his lips, telling him to be quiet. That person was Fang, the vice chairman of OSIS who was recently familiar with him. Because it was a holiday, Fang took her around to Altalimain District, a tourism district located in a constellation with Altair Island.

In the constellation of the flying island, Altair Island was the largest. It was there that the seat of government of the Great Altair Empire stood. It was also where the most prestigious academy of the empire was established, the Altair Academy built by the ancestors of the Zarah Clan.

Altair Island orbits the earth followed by other flying islands. One of them is Althalimain District. There, Ats and Fang were too happy to look around until they forgot the time. Well, it's only natural. Altalimain District is the best tourist spot for Zarah Clan.

"So, why should we be slinging around like gini? Didn't we get caught earlier this afternoon at the diabsen?" ats protests. He had only been following his senior.

"True, too," Fang said in an uncaring tone and as if he had just regained consciousness, but did not feel guilty at all. Because it was already late, he continued to settle in the thickets with Ats. "Hold a little more. I see the light there."

"I've seen a lot of light from the lookout, '" Ats wrote in his heart. They were actually out on the bright side of the road. Ats looked around and saw a giant domed building on which there were large binoculars.

"Isn't that the Observatory building? Then we're at the Star Research Complex?" exclaimed Ats softly, "Senior Fang, are you sure we're going to the dormitory?"

"Hehe ... I think we're going too hard" Fang replied lightly. Ats patted his forehead, feeling guilty for only understanding that his senior was directional blind, even though he had long lived in the academy.

"We accept the punishment later, let's go straight to the dormitory now," Ats resignedly suggested while complaining, "Capek nih."

"You alone. I don't want to" Fang rejected the proposal outright. He immediately walked towards the star research complex.

"Where else is Senior going?" Ats asked in panic. Because the environment of Altair Academy is still new to him, again he was forced to follow the vice chairman of OSIS carelessly.

"Sst ...! I know the rat's way around here," Fang continued to sneak in. He walked leisurely in the bright Star Research Complex. Although it was quiet, the place must still have people.

"I think he could be elected vice-chairman of OSIS, anyway?" inner Ats astonishment. He frowned and stepped furiously behind his senior.

They continued to walk up next to a building that had just turned off its lights. Fang clenched his hands happily. It will be easier because the darkness is his friend. In contrast to Ats who saw a bad sign of his senior's light attitude.

"There! I'm sure the place is there," whispered Fang's spirit. Faintly Ats saw Fang's hand pointing at the darkness. His premonition was getting worse.

"Ouch!?" Ats down. His feet stumbled on something hard. He gritted his teeth and endured the pain in his leg. His hands fumbled, curious about the cold thing that was holding him.

"Metal box?" ats muttered softly as his hand found the hard object. Not until he researched it further, Fang had already called out to him in half a whisper.

"Senior, is this the rat path you mean?" Ats looked at Fang in disbelief after seeing the steep valley before him. Thankfully they did not go there. Who will find them if they die there?

"Alright, we go back to the dorm by the usual road" Fang finally gave up after seeing his new junior in great distress.

"We take a break first" Ats proposed, which Fang had received. He was leaning against a large tree behind him. The dim light from the research complex still reached their place. Out of curiosity, Ats also flipped through the box he found. He accidentally opened the box and found a lion-carved pin in the background.

Ats took the pentagon-shaped badge. When his hand touched the bottom of the badge, it automatically scanned his fingerprints. Then, Ats directed the object to the unobstructed light of the tree's shadow. His eyes looked more closely at the unique object. The carving looks really cool.

"Among ...!"

A light suddenly pierced both Ats eyes. Obviously Ats immediately closed his eyes in surprise and let go of the thing. Instead of falling to the ground, the badge melted into the air and changed in such a way, then snared Ats hand. He became a bracelet that was coiled in the boy's arm.

"Hi, what is it!?" Fang was no less surprised. He saw Ats whimpering in pain and closing his eyes. His premonition turned bad when he saw a foreign object wrapped around his junior's hand.

Ats continued to whimper in pain. His hands clenched as if trying to suppress the pain. Fang was confused instead of playing. He did not want to act rashly by recklessly touching the suspicious object wrapped around his junior.

"Wait here, I'll seek help," Fang ran to the Star Research Complex. He clucked in annoyance, realizing that this was all his fault as well.

Under the big tree, Ats kept moaning and enduring the pain. His hand suddenly felt a strange chill due to the twisting of the thing. Faintly, he heard a voice. While still adjusting his breathing and enduring the pain, he tried to hear the soft voice more clearly.

"Driver synchronization .. success!"

"What the fuck?" the inner Ats are now biting on his lower lip. His left hand tightly grasped his numb right hand. He continued to moan slowly.

"Connecting devices on a server ...."

"Argh ...," Ats was no longer able to accept his pain. He also shouted loudly.

Simultaneously, a notification appeared on the device of a man in glasses. His eyes widened as soon as he saw the incoming message. Concerns soon covered him. He looked to the left. The silver box does not exist. The man remembered that the box had been left somewhere. "No! It's bad."

"Connected. Registering the driver ...."

The man ran. He can trace where the silver box is. Fortunately, it was not far from his home. He had to get to the poor driver before his brain was destroyed.

"Professor Han!" call a young man who ran in panic. Looking at the state of the young man, Professor Han was able to guess what happened to him.

"Please friend. Something happened to him. That strange thing," Fang exclaimed frantically, "I don't know what it is. It wrapped around his hand."

"Calm down, kid!" Professor Han patted Fang's shoulder with both hands, "I understand his condition. Quickly take me to your friend."

"Wine! So, that thing was actually activated by a disciple!?" Professor Han cursed his guess. They reached Ats' place when his screams had stopped.

Unlike what Professor Han thought, the young man looked calmly leaning against a tree. The drivers who failed earlier immediately nosebleed when the activation process, but this child is different.

Ats' breathing began to reorganize. Sweat drenched his pale face. Other than a wound on the leg, there were not the slightest blisters anywhere else. Professor Han believes the wound was definitely not the effect of his use of the badge, a badge containing a system he failed to develop.

"Hi, Ats! Can you hear me?" call Fang. The young man he called nodded. Fang also let out a sigh of relief.

"We should check it out first," Professor Han gave the direction, "Son, can you walk?"

"My leg is injured, but I can still walk" Ats replied.

Professor Han told Fang to help him. They also walked together to Professor Han's residence located in the Star Research Complex. Fang exclaimed happily in his heart. He had found the right person and reason to avoid punishment.