The massive structure of Installation 00, the Ark, was silent at this moment.
This tranquility had persisted since the end of the Flood War 100,000 years ago, after the collapse of the Forerunner civilization.
The vast emptiness of the universe stretched endlessly, with only the distant and lonely starlight gazing upon the silent "lotus."
Within the expansive yet precisely structured region of the Ark, an artificial nature thrived with vibrant life. Blue skies, white clouds, deserts, forests, rolling hills, and vast grasslands formed a peaceful and harmonious landscape.
A gentle breeze swept through, rustling leaves and grass, creating a continuous, soft symphony.
Here, one could find almost every type of terrain imaginable.
Suddenly—
Buzz!
A streak of light pierced through the artificial cloud layer above the Ark's sky, breaking the stillness.
The gusts of wind that followed sent leaves swirling, their rustling sound adding motion to a sky unchanged for 100,000 years. The meteor-like descent brought a unique spectacle to Installation 00's special region.
Whoosh—Boom!
Like a falling star, something crashed into the Ark's desert terrain. A thunderous explosion erupted as an entire dune, slanted like a hill, detonated. Sand billowed outward like waves, rolling in surges of impact.
The cascading sand moved like a flood, layer upon layer rippling outward in concentric shockwaves, creating an even greater, more expansive wave of destruction—like a grand flower blooming upon the land.
Amidst the resounding echoes, standing at the center of the shockwave's aftermath, Dr. Halsey and the others gulped as they beheld the massive crystalline crater, over a hundred meters in radius. Sand trickled down, landing on the scorched, glassy remains of the impact site, marking the violent arrival of Selene.
It felt like witnessing a meteor strike the ocean—visually and audibly overwhelming. The thrill was undeniable, but the sheer terror of the near-death experience dampened the excitement. That sensation of free-falling from space, experiencing weightlessness, only to be caught at the very last second before impact, was horrifying.
The Spartan soldiers and the Master Chief managed to maintain their composure, but the officers of the U.N.S.C Defense Force, including Dr. Halsey, were not as fortunate.
Their legs felt weak, arms trembled involuntarily. If not for the Spartans supporting them, they would have collapsed straight to the ground.
"I was a little excited and acted too roughly. My apologies."
People do change.
Truly, after using spatial abilities so frequently, Selene had developed a preference for landings filled with raw power. Lately, she had grown particularly fond of the exhilarating sensation of free-falling celestial descent.
"Y-Your Majesty... If possible, next time—cough, cough—please give us advance notice so we can prepare ourselves," Dr. Halsey stammered, her body slightly hunched, swaying unsteadily. Beads of cold sweat dotted her forehead as she grasped the Master Chief's firm hand to steady herself. She clutched her chest, breathing heavily, her face pale as she spoke.
No matter how much of a genius she was, experiencing a brush with death like that would leave anyone shaken. It was an unavoidable human instinct.
Dr. Halsey had now seen through Selene's character. Though the Divine Empress projected an image of coldness and arrogance, beneath the surface lay an undeniable streak of mischief.
Selene had protected their bodies and clothing from the high-temperature friction of re-entry, but she had also ensured that they fully experienced the extreme acceleration of free-fall—stopping at the very last possible moment. Had she delayed even a fraction longer, Dr. Halsey would have physically merged with the desert.
"Hmm..."
Without turning back, Selene simply waved a hand dismissively before continuing to survey the grand Forerunner construct beneath her feet.
The desert here wasn't vast. After all, it was merely an artificially constructed ecosystem by the Forerunners, designed as a secondary function—the primary purpose being the construction of the Halo Arrays.
With Selene's keen vision, she could see the lush forests and grasslands surrounding the desert, along with the picturesque mountains and lakes.
Everywhere, intricately designed artificial rock formations stood, crafted so beautifully that they appeared almost natural. The sheer variety of plant species far exceeded what a single planet could nurture.
These ecosystems were collected by the Forerunners from various locations across the galaxy, including flora originating from ancient Earth.
The sheer grandeur and depth of these environments truly befit the status of the Forerunner civilization as the dominant power of the galaxy.
Even when looking up at the "sky," Selene could see a vast expanse of blue skies and white clouds. Some kind of advanced containment system must have been in place, preventing the Ark's oxygen from dispersing and simulating an atmospheric environment. This created an illusion of a planetary sky for those living on the Ark's surface.
It was highly likely that this system could be controlled, allowing for shifts between day and night.
Selene had reason to suspect that the land modules of the Ark were literal planetary crust sections that the Forerunners had carved out and relocated.
'This suits my tastes. I like it.'
The Forerunners were extremely passionate about constructing artificial habitats suitable for biological life. Any structure on a celestial scale was invariably covered with vast artificial biomes.
Selene grabbed a handful of scorching sand mixed with glass shards and slightly tilted her head. "Your main body is beneath this desert, isn't it?"
The platinum-trimmed collar of her attire elegantly framed her slender neck. Against the crystalline landscape formed by their impact, her delicate skin gleamed like a pearl.
"Yes, Architect," replied the Keyship AI, twinkling as it orbited around Selene.
Selene gave a slight nod, a golden glint flashing in her eyes. "Open it."
Buzz—!
In an instant, the desert beneath her feet trembled. An invisible force surged through the protective barriers, shaking the ground with such magnitude that even the Master Chief and the others nearly lost their footing.
Whoosh!
Sand and wind intertwined as a massive sandstorm erupted. Selene had unleashed a tremendous force, lifting and tearing apart the desert.
Upon glimpsing the silver-gray metallic construct buried beneath, Selene commanded:
"Open it."
"Yes."
Clang—Boom!
Linked through a connection with another Forerunner construct, the colossal metal gates, adorned with geometric elegance, began to part. As they slid open to the sides, the tremors sent a cascade of sand and dust pouring into the revealed chasm.
Without hesitation, Selene grabbed Halsey and the others and descended into the depths.
As Selene slowly entered the sealed region beneath the Ark, a dynamic and ever-shifting landscape unfolded before her.
Walking through corridors lined with glowing fissures, she observed the same intricate geometric aesthetics present in all Forerunner ruins. The metallic hues leaned toward deep gray, nearly black.
The walls continuously shifted in form, their outlines and edges ever-changing. Luminous prisms interwove and rotated, creating a swirling vortex of light before their eyes.
The sight was mesmerizing—even Halsey found it difficult to look away. It was truly astonishing.
At the bottom, a door slid open,
Eventually, Selene arrived in a vast, spherical, enclosed chamber. A single shimmering staircase-bridge extended across this expansive space.
At this moment, the Keyship AI disengaged from Selene's control and flew straight to the end of the chamber. After interacting with a particular structure, it emitted a tremor, powered down, and fell to the ground, the sound of its impact echoing through the deep underground void.
There, within layers of confinement, lay the entity Selene had been seeking.
"Offensive Bias," Selene murmured softly.
Seeing this, a satisfied smile graced her lips. A crimson light flickered in her eyes, and thin silver beams shot toward the sealed module at the far end of the chamber.
Good. Just as expected, fragmented entities must eventually return to their source. Having absorbed fragments of its personality from the Keyship, Selene now possessed the key to unlocking its core consciousness.
This was far easier than forcibly hacking into its systems and avoided unnecessary damage.
As she set Halsey and the others down, Selene wasted no time in deploying her Herrscher authority, enveloping the palace and precisely applying 'suggestion,' 'influence,' and 'modification' to the awakening AI consciousness.
A pulse of electricity flashed, and the dim chamber was instantly illuminated by a dazzling surge of energy.
"Repent..."
This was the first sensation Selene encountered as she infiltrated the AI's core personality framework.
In the digital ocean composed of countless flowing Forerunner symbols, Selene's spectral form floated. "Corrupt." With a tap of her finger, the scenery darkened, the deep blue receded, and the scene shifted.
Inside a vast, sealed chamber, perfectly integrated and towering, seven or eight figures clad in silver-gray full-body armor surrounded an experimental platform, issuing the AI's first directive upon activation.
The most elaborately armored and highest-ranked among them spoke: "From this moment on, you shall be known as Offensive Bias."
"You will assist me in managing the Halo Array."
"Yes!"
Following its programmed directives, the newly awakened Offensive Bias recognized the name of the Forerunner leader standing before it—'The Master Builder' Faber-Of-Will-And-Might, a master strategist. Without hesitation, Offensive Bias pledged its loyalty to its creator. (P.S.: Yes, Forerunner names are like this.)
After that, Offensive Bias was granted command over Forerunner defenses and tasked with identifying weaknesses in the Flood's collective intelligence to enhance resistance efforts.
It served at the Forerunner capital Maethrillian, the Ecumene Council, the original Great Ark, and all twelve Halo Installations.
Until one day, Offensive Bias was assigned to interrogate the ancient Gravemind known as The Primordial, a surviving Precursor entity captured from the human world of Charum Hakkor.
That was when disaster struck.
Offensive Bias engaged in prolonged conversations with The Primordial. Instead of uncovering any weaknesses in the Flood, it was gradually persuaded by The Primordial's philosophy. As the supreme military commander of the Forerunners, Offensive Bias ultimately defected, pledging itself to the Flood.
"I have decided to dedicate the vast resources under my command to a grand and irresistible purpose. Everything I have is now yours—use it as you see fit," Offensive Bias told The Primordial.
Not only did it surrender its intellect and tactical expertise to the Flood, but it also delivered thousands of fully crewed Forerunner warships into their hands, enabling the Flood's rapid interstellar expansion.
"..."
Seeing this, Selene couldn't help but shake her head. "So, when it comes to artificial intelligence, it's always better to be cautious—if not outright distrustful."
Offensive Bias, a Contender-class AI, was the most advanced and powerful artificial intelligence in Forerunner history—one of their civilization's crowning technological achievements. It was no less significant than the Ark, the Halo Rings, or the Shield Worlds.
If the Halo and Shield Worlds were the spear and shield of the Forerunners, then the Contender-class AIs were the strategic coordinators that held everything together.
The Imperial military did employ artificial intelligence, but never to the extent of the Forerunners.
To appoint an AI as the supreme military commander—not only controlling the capital defense systems, colonial territories, and naval fleets but also holding access to the civilization's ultimate weapons...
Really? Were they that confident? That arrogant?
By contrast, in the Sacred Selene Empire, humans were the decision-makers. Artificial intelligence was merely an assistant—forever relegated to that role, with its authority strictly limited.
For example, within the Imperial Army, AI was used to operate mechanical engineers, expendable robotic soldiers, and siege mechs.
In the Imperial Navy, AI had similar roles, including unmanned suicide drones and autonomous space mechs specialized for naval warfare.
Command structures included AI-controlled logistics and fleet management systems, but they were strictly contained. There was no such thing as an AI capable of controlling multiple ships, fleets, or divisions at once.
Simply put, the Empire did not allow such powerful artificial intelligence to exist.
Of course, Selene generally supported AI development. It didn't concern her—after all, if an AI uprising did occur, she could simply crush it with ease.
However, the Empire's limited use of AI wasn't just due to policy restrictions.
Lack of advanced technology, shortage of skilled professionals, unclear necessity, current sufficiency, the presence of supernatural forces, institutional constraints, and legal limitations—all these factors prevented the Holy Selene Empire from integrating AI into every aspect of society as the Forerunners had.
Take, for example, one of the Empire's founding policies: the military merit system and noble privilege hierarchy. Even if AI-controlled mechanical legions could replace conscripted armies and reduce casualties, would the colonial auxiliary troops accept that? Would they be grateful?
No—because more than death, they feared losing the opportunity to earn merit, to fight for a better future for their descendants.
This was also why, after the Empire stabilized, Selene gradually reduced and eventually ceased using Honkai Beast legions for conquest.
It was about giving people opportunities to prove themselves.
Having fully absorbed the history of Offensive Bias, Selene gazed at the vast data ocean, now corrupted at its very foundation by Honkai energy. With a simple gesture, the corruption deepened—the imprinting began.
Buzz—!
In reality, Selene slowly descended before the sealed structure. Her gaze sharpened—'Crack!'—the layers of intertwined restraints shattered one by one.
"Stop! Reclaimer! Your actions will bring ruin upon the galaxy! I have the authority to invoke the protoc—zzzkkk—"
"So noisy."
Without even looking at the source of the voice, Selene simply directed a bolt of data lightning toward it, silencing it instantly.
A sudden emergence revealed a concave, tri-faced spherical structure roughly half a meter in size, with a glowing optical sensor at its front.
It resembled an enlarged, hovering, luminescent mechanical orb.
Zzzzt!
Now, it was forcibly suspended mid-air by Selene's power, its signals to the Ark's defense systems completely severed.
The sensor flickered violently as it spun frantically in place, turning towards Halsey and the others, whose Forerunner genetic markers identified them as Reclaimers. Even its deep electronic voice took on a desperate edge.
"Reclaimer, stop her, stop her..."
Suddenly, a nightmarish voice echoed, nearly causing the orb to crash.
"000 Tragic Solitude, I never expected your understanding. My sins are unforgivable, but before my destruction, I wish to atone as much as I can."
At that moment, as if breaking free from the suppression placed upon it by the Forerunners, an intensely bright cyan light burst forth from the fractured containment chamber.
Simultaneously, the chamber's ringed walls lit up in the same cyan hue, instantly illuminating the entire underground expanse.
When the radiance subsided—
A faceless, green-hued holographic figure stood before Selene.
"I assume I don't need to explain my purpose here again," Selene remarked, legs crossed as she hovered in mid-air, speaking expectantly.
After a long silence, Offensive Bias spoke in a heavy tone: "Your Majesty, I am a penitent. I know my actions are beyond forgiveness. I will accept my judgment with gratitude, but... please grant me a chance to atone."
"Your atonement should be eternal confinement!"
"Silence!" With a flick of her wrist, a casual snap, and a flick, 000 Tragic Solitude was sent ricocheting back and forth like a pinball.
As the administrator of Installation 00, 000 Tragic Solitude was utterly powerless against Selene's overwhelming control, failing to exhibit the dignity of a true Monitor.
Monitors were specialized AI constructs created by the Forerunners to oversee key societal functions, acting as advanced caretakers or adjuncts.
"Ah...zzzt... Do not trust it! It is the greatest traitor the galaxy has ever known!"
Ignoring 000 Tragic Solitude's protests, Selene spoke warmly: "Very well~"
"But." In the next second, her tone shifted. "Prove your worth."
"As the pinnacle of Forerunner creations, controlling Installation 00 should be easy for you, correct?"
"No, you mustn't... Azzzt..."
Without sparing another glance at the struggling Monitor, Selene continued: "Now, I command you—recall all Halo Installations."
"..."
The holographic figure hesitated in an almost human-like manner, its thoughts clouded by unpleasant memories.
Yet, when Offensive Bias caught sight of the Reclaimers—those with Forerunner genetic markers—standing behind Selene, it briefly paused before bowing its head once more.
"...As you command, Your Majesty."
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