Chapter 63: Von Neumann Machine

The steel mill is full of huge black pipes, which are constantly moving, transporting the iron ore stored on the side to the steel furnace, and the molten iron from the steel furnace is put into various molds.

All the machines in the steel mill are controlled by the protoplasm of the Shoggoth. The entire factory can operate normally even if there is no one, because the Shoggoth itself is a factory.

"This is..."

The members of the investigation team opened their mouths and didn't know how to describe it. The scene in front of them was like a factory in hell, and the weird scene shocked everyone's heart.

The pictures taken by the team were also transmitted to the temporary research base outside, and the people outside were speechless when they saw this picture.

"Should we move forward now, or just blow it up here."

The team members were eager to try. They brought various weapons, and it was easy to blow it up with bombs.

"No." The captain frowned. Although he also wanted to destroy this place, he didn't dare to act rashly without orders from outside. This was not a trivial matter.

He paused and said, "We will obey the command from outside."

Not long after, their communicator responded.

"The entire investigation team will return immediately and wait for the next instructions."

The order was issued outside. Although the entire team was somewhat unwilling, they still obeyed the command and slowly evacuated.

In the temporary research institute outside the steel plant, the general and a group of researchers were discussing the next countermeasures.

They knew what happened inside the steel plant from the pictures sent by the investigation team.

...

On the other side, a researcher used a microscope to observe the protoplasm left on the ground by Su Lun.

The protoplasm continued to divide under the microscope, and as long as there were nutrients, it could divide infinitely without any restrictions.

This kind of thing does not exist in nature at all, and these protoplasms have wisdom. The researchers soon understood what this meant.

He broke out in cold sweat on his forehead. These protoplasms are the Transformers of the biological world, and can form the appearance of any organism at the cellular level.

Combined with the pictures transmitted back by the investigation team, he quickly understood why Su Lun did this.

He immediately rushed to the command room, and the more he thought about it, the more shocked he became.

In the headquarters, the researcher said anxiously: "It is very likely that the machine that occupied the steel mill is a von Neumann machine!"

He was very shocked when he came to this conclusion. The von Neumann machine only exists in science fiction works.

"What is a von Neumann machine? Explain it clearly." The general asked.

They have not yet decided on a countermeasure to Su Lun. Su Lun has only occupied the factory now. They are still discussing whether to destroy the factory or study it.

The researcher took a deep breath and calmed down. He explained in detail: "The von Neumann machine is a machine that can replicate itself. It usually appears in science fiction works. It is a machine used by alien life to transform the planet."

"The thing that occupied the factory in front is a standard von Neumann machine. It can replicate and produce itself, and it also has the ability to transform the earth."

Everyone in the command room fell into deep thought. If there is really a von Neumann machine in front of them, it will be effortless for the von Neumann machine to destroy the earth after it grows up.

While they were thinking, good news came from the other side. Someone found Su Lun's location along the underground cave where Su Lun drilled out.

"We found the monster that was in the vehicle recycling station before!"

Someone quickly marked the location of Su Lun, and a huge red dot appeared under the steel plant.

The researcher's conjecture about the von Neumann machine was also verified by other researchers. They all agreed that the monster occupying the steel plant was a machine that constantly replicated itself.

Not long after, two fighter jets flew over the steel plant. These fighter jets were equipped with the most advanced earth-penetrating bombs, which could attack underground targets.

The steel plant covered with fungal blankets on the ground was not their target. Their target was Su Lun underground.

Most of Su Lun's protoplasm was underground. They didn't know what the fungal blankets of the steel plant had to do with Su Lun underground, so the target was only Su Lun. The steel plant covered with fungal blankets on the ground was reserved for research purposes.

With two "clicks", the earth-penetrating bombs were launched from the plane. The targets of the two earth-penetrating bombs were both underground Su Lun.

The earth-penetrating bombs were very fast, and there was nothing to intercept the missiles. The earth-penetrating bombs quickly drilled into the soil.

After the muffled sound of the two explosions, the people on the surface only felt the ground shaking a little.

Everyone in the New Country Command Room held their breath, hoping that this attack would be successful.

According to the power of the earth-penetrating missile, Su Lun could indeed be blown to pieces, but Su Lun was not an ordinary creature, but a shoggoth.

"Steel mill... Steel mill is moving!"

Some people looked at the situation in front of them in surprise. The entire steel mill began to wriggle like a creature, whether it was the buildings or the machines inside.

The general couldn't help asking: "What's going on?"

He expected that the situation was not like this, and the monsters would be eliminated.

Su Lun took advantage of the time they were discussing, and the entire steel mill became a part of him.

Moreover, his protoplasm was originally liquid, and even if he was hit by a missile, it would only evaporate some protoplasm, and Su Lun could quickly replenish it.

Su Lun thought to himself: "Human weapons have no effect on me. Sure enough, the movies are all lies."

In the movie, humans chase monsters and fight, but when monsters really appear, human weapons are a bit insufficient.

The speed of missile bombing is not as fast as his splitting speed. Even if humans bombard him with all missiles, he can still grow up again.

Blood rebirth is very suitable for Shoggoth. As long as there is a drop of protoplasm, he can be resurrected.

Su Lun turned into a drilling machine again and drilled out of the ground. It was combined with the steel plant and became a larger creature.

Everyone near the steel plant was dumbfounded by this scene. The factory of tens of thousands of square meters moved like a living thing.

Countless black protoplasms moved in it. Except for those useless cement buildings, all steel and machinery were dismantled by Su Lun and installed on himself.

Su Lun now showed the true form of Shoggoth, a mixture of machinery and protoplasm.

Like a strange monster in ancient times, the dark tar-like liquid kept flowing on his body, and the machinery and metal were covered with pustules. These pustules should have stood on the carbon-based creatures, but strangely appeared on the steel.

The center of the monster is red molten iron, which flows through the monster like blood. The red light of the molten iron shines through the black protoplasm, emitting a confusing glow.

Everyone has a question in their mind, "Can humans really defeat this monster?"