I created the Bureau of Anomaly Control

As Greck walked through the streets, he could feel the buildings around him casting gazes upon him. Strange-looking pedestrians occasionally appeared in the streets, but they would actively hide into the buildings on both sides as soon as they saw him from afar, as if he were some kind of terrifying monster.

Therefore, the only living things Greck could clearly see here were the various "creatures" lying beside the road. He saw several different unknown creatures, which had only a few similarities to the animals Greck knew, and all of them had mechanical modifications of varying degrees on their bodies.

His metal control ability theoretically had an advantage when facing them, but considering the strength of those black brains and the huge size of these mechanical creatures, Greck doubted whether he could really survive in front of them.

However, this reminded him of something.

Although it wasn't obvious, Mira, who looked like a beautiful human woman, probably also had a high degree of metal modification, just like her father, whose entire body had been replaced by mechanical structures.

He had also seen creatures with mechanical structures on their bodies in that town.

Moreover, there were two different types of humanoid corpses there. One was a robot made entirely of mechanical structures, and the other was a "human" with a highly mechanized body. Mira and the other residents here seemed to be the latter.

Although those robots lying in the town looked very much like humans at first glance, they were not deliberately made to be lifelike—it seemed that the purpose of those who made them was not to be anthropomorphic.

A simple touch could reveal that their material was completely different from skin, otherwise he wouldn't have noticed the anomaly so quickly.

And although Mira was driving a mechanical armor when she appeared, she should still retain a considerable amount of flesh and blood, which was completely different from her father. Greck suspected that this was because the latter wanted to delay his aging.

The degree of mechanization of most of the dead in that town was not very high either.

Mira led him to a building about twenty meters high. Greck didn't say what was different about this building from the others, but he could still vaguely feel its uniqueness.

As Mira looked over, the main entrance automatically slid open to both sides.

Antom, a middle-aged man who had already put on a skin, was waiting for them inside. He looked at Greck with a peaceful expression and a kind smile on his face:

"You've already seen our town. How does it compare to the city you used to live in?"

Greck answered honestly:

"I think there are some things here that I can't understand, but actually the world I used to live in wasn't as simple as it seemed on the surface. If I had to say, this and that are just two cities with their own characteristics."

Antom said with a smile:

"Our town is just an ordinary rural place here. There's nothing new that's been developed recently. If I have the chance, I can take you to the big cities in the future. There are still many ancient creations left there that I find incredible.

"But it seems that a few decades ago, your city still had a very obvious gap compared to here. Your progress is very fast."

Greck agreed:

"That's right, the changes in these few decades may be catching up with the past few centuries."

Antom shook his head when he heard this:

"Don't you think this is strange?

"When I was young, I came into contact with outsiders. The speed of technological development in their mouths was quite strange in my eyes.

"Especially the fact that you no longer use technologies with unclear principles among the public. You only publicize those completely controllable theories, and all magic, mind arts, and strange skills are hidden behind the scenes. Aren't you clear about how amazing changes using them can make to your current life?

"In fact, as long as you carefully deduce, you will realize that the development of many technologies does not conform to the laws of production. In fact, some smart people among you may have noticed this, and they may even deduce the reason—you are not completely developing technology.

"Many times you are picking up things you have already lost. In the era when our ancestors appeared, many of the technologies you use now had been eliminated for many years. The electrical age is a distant past. What you once mastered completely surpassed your imagination.

"But unfortunately, those ancient technologies were completely torn to pieces in the ancient wars, and you only picked up the smallest piece of them, while more remained on the land where you are standing now."

Greck looked at Antom with anticipation, not concealing his desire for the truth at all:

"What does this mean?"

Antom also answered his question:

"You should have heard of the gods, right?"

He nodded:

"The Southern Federation Gods, I live in the land where they stand."

Antom asked without leaving a trace:

"Is the Southern Federation ruled by the gods?"

Greck quickly shook his head and said:

"Of course not, it is under the control of the Federal Government. The Southern Federation Gods have their own people. I have heard of some very strong children of the gods, but they are far from being able to challenge the Federation.

"However, they do have considerable power in the Southern Federation, because many humans who control secular and extraordinary power are their believers, but this is only limited to this land. The gods don't have any excessive behavior either."

Antom was quite satisfied with his answer:

"In other words, the current Federation and other abnormal forces can still restrain them?"

Greck nodded:

"That's right, is there something wrong with them?"

Antom raised his hand and patted him on the shoulder and said:

"I said just now that a long time ago, you humans had technological levels far beyond what you have now. At that time, various disciplines reached a considerable golden age. Many things mentioned in their ancient books are like miracles in our eyes today, such as those that exist in our ancient myths…

"Creating intelligent races."

Greck blinked, already somewhat anticipating what the other party was going to say.

Antom did not immediately get to the point:

"Your ancestors called me and my compatriots flesh titans.

"The word titan means those who challenge the gods, and this is the truth about your current technological regression.

"By the way, have you been to Lisheng Town?"

Greck asked:

"That town with many corpses?"

Antom nodded and said:

"Some of the dead there are our compatriots, and some are mechanical titans who share the same fate as us.

"In the past, humans had a war with the gods who are now trapped in the Southern Federation, and we and they were born at that time.

"You created us and the mechanical titans based on yourselves as templates. Although we have many subtle differences from you, we all have mindsets that are highly consistent with yours.

"You probably can't imagine how similar those metal creatures are to you.

"And there is only one decisive difference between you and us.

"That is, we cannot be parasitized by the gods."

Greck still couldn't quite understand:

"Cannot be parasitized?"

Antom slightly raised the corners of his mouth:

"As I said, the gods are terrifying creatures that exist in the brains of all humans.

"Therefore, as long as someone is alive, they cannot disappear. Every living human is their source of power. Some special individuals among the gods can easily invade the minds of mortals, which caused considerable trouble for humans at that time.

"They needed a powerful army to fight against the gods, but if human soldiers were used, there would be many problems. The bottom-level soldiers did not have the ability to fight against the gods, nor could they fight against the fear in their minds.

"Therefore, humans created us and the mechanical titans, and poured us onto the front lines like garbage, participating in this great and sacred war as biological and mechanical weapons, fighting against those servants who succumbed to the terrifying gods.

"How evil those gods are, they actually enslaved innocent creatures to fight against their enemies."

A few mocking expressions appeared on Antom's face:

"Just like you humans."

The expression on his face did not stay for long, and he immediately returned to his previous peaceful state:

"In the beginning, we and the mechanical titans were all your slaves. You instilled in us the instructions to fight against the gods, and we were constantly produced like livestock, then put on equipment, left the culture medium, and ran to the front lines of the war to end our short lives."

"But I can also understand what you did.

"In fact, your enslavement of us stems from a simple misunderstanding.

"Your ancestors didn't think we were life. The reason why we and the mechanical titans were not afraid of the gods—we and they had no souls."

Greck looked at him in astonishment:

"What?"

Antom raised his hand to signal him not to be so surprised:

"Ancient humans called us flesh titans because we were made purely of flesh and blood. Your scientists knew very well that the so-called exchange of substances and information within cells could make a body move.

"Electrical signals and chemical transmitters themselves can form an idea.

"And the consciousness of the mechanical titans is also the signal change within a few chips. Your information technology experts created a set of intelligent algorithms that can perfectly simulate human consciousness activities, allowing them to react to external stimuli in the same way as you.

"Even if we are just a mass of basic substances that conform to a certain law, we will still smile and cry.

"This is the greatest thing your ancestors have ever done—creating two intelligent races that are not afraid of the gods."

Antom said:

"Are you saying that you standing in front of me have no souls or spiritual levels at all?"

Antom nodded proudly:

"Yes, we don't have your flaws.

"Because we have no minds, the gods cannot interact with our purely informational brains in any way. We have isolated them in the mental dimension.

"After several rebellions and exchanges, your ancestors also realized that we were living beings. We reached an alliance and terms. We will still participate in this war to repay your kindness of creation, but we must respect our due rights.

"In this situation, some of the wise men among you immediately thought of one thing.

"In a sense, we are your descendants, your continuation, and at the same time…

"We are you, just without souls.

"At that time, the direction of our war with the gods was still unclear, and fear of failure also permeated all of humanity. A great wise man proposed an idea that could defeat the gods.

"We and the mechanical titans are actually basically similar to you in terms of consciousness, so the wise man thought that we could also be considered humans. He proposed to transform all humans into flesh or mechanical titans through biochemical modification or data transmission.

"As long as there are no humans with souls, the gods will cease to exist."

Greck swallowed:

"This plan was not successfully implemented, right?"

Antom said with a smile:

"Of course, otherwise why would you still be standing in front of me.

"The opponents among you think that although we are living beings, we are no longer the same species as you. They think that in addition to memory and the particles that carry it, the existence of the soul is also an indispensable proof that you are alive.

"Fear of death completely shelved this plan, and the ending is also obvious—your cowardice allowed the gods to live."

Greck disagreed with his statement:

"Although I don't know what the soul is, I believe my ancestors were not fools."

Antom said noncommittally:

"Maybe."

"I didn't say this was a mistake, but the fact is that the gods still exist, and these creatures, which are far more evil and terrifying than your ancestors, are still eyeing the entire world, and may make a comeback at any time.

"And your compatriots are the bodies in which they are placed."

Greck said cautiously:

"Maybe I should bring this news back and let my compatriots continue to fight against the gods?"

Antom showed a meaningful smile:

"No, there's no need.

"I don't think you can defeat the gods. If the current gods are like they've been starved for thousands of years, then you and your ancestors are like babies and adults.

"You have no chance of winning, the victory of the gods is only a matter of time."

The premise is that only humans enter this war.

Antom paused and said:

"Now that you know our origins and the truth about the gods, then you should be able to understand my next somewhat excessive request.

"First of all, I want to know the situation outside through you, and I can also let you survive, but you will never be able to return to your original world in this life. We cannot expose our situation to the gods of the Southern Federation.

"Secondly…"

His eyes had a strange color:

"You have to erase the flaws on your body to be eligible to survive here."

Greck looked terrified:

"What flaws are you talking about?"

Antom replied:

"You have to become our compatriot. My purpose here is to guard this tower and the titan weapons inside, which includes a soul-removing machine that can transform you into a new human."

Greck shook his head repeatedly:

"If I only have moving cells and particles left, how can I be considered alive?"

Antom looked at him and said:

Look at me. A soul isn't a necessary condition for you to live as a human. The difference between me and your body is minuscule.

Do you think I'm not alive? Do you think this flesh and blood head of yours doesn't have its own will? No, it's just that your body's design has flaws, requiring an organ called a soul to provide sustenance for survival.

We are the same.