Chapter 221: Ellie Is Crawling on Me

All along.

Xu Xi has always been very concerned about his own safety.

After all.

This simulation is different from before, with no extraordinary powers to protect him, nor any rare treasures for healing.

In the resource-scarce, enemy-surrounded Wasteland World, Xu Xi always adheres to the principle of survival, never leaving without his Power Armor.

In addition.

He also carries a large number of instant energy shields and special protective intelligent machines for shelter.

Such defensive measures are already astonishing, and when Xu Xi is at the rear, providing continuous Mechanical Force amplification, few Rebellious Intelligent Machines can get close to him.

Even if they do, Ailei will swiftly eliminate them.

But this time is different.

It’s a beginning Xu Xi never anticipated.

The earth trembles, sandstorms rage, and a tide of metal spreads to the horizon, vast and boundless.

This is Xu Xi’s mechanical army, not all of it, but certainly the main force.

The sound of breaking air echoes continuously.

Numerous anti-gravity airships transport heavy-loaded vehicles one after another, heading towards another Satellite City occupied by Rebellious Intelligent Machines.

The sea of machines rises and falls, the sound of machinery grows louder.

Ten thousand? A million? Or perhaps… ten million?

With two Satellite Cities under his control, constantly producing war machines, the numbers are so vast that even Xu Xi finds it hard to count.

But such a grand army does not bring Xu Xi any sense of security.

“Warfare, is it about orbits?”

“Miscalculated…”

“I thought we wouldn’t face these space weapons until the main base city stage, but here we are today.”

“Tsk, orbital particle cannon.”

Xu Xi gazes at the distant sky.

A “meteor” falls from high above, faint yet dazzling, seemingly insignificant, but its brightness overshadows the sun.

Thus, the world darkens, leaving only that brilliance.

The overall impression is similar to the divine punishment of the God of Light.

But today’s attack is not from the hands of a deity, but from a man-made creation of the old Federation era, the Orbital Near-Earth Weapon Platform.

“Is it because we produced too many intelligent machines, triggering the automatic alert of the orbital platform?”

“The sudden rebellion, although it erased the Federation’s control over the intelligent machines.”

“But the old commands, the underlying logic, seem to still be functioning normally.”

Xu Xi sighs.

The world before him begins to be covered by dazzling light, hot and frenzied, with sudden gusts of wind roaring and howling.

Xu Xi considers himself lucky.

He possesses Ten Deaths Before the End, and will not truly die in this attack.

Ailei’s essence is data, destroying one body will not cause real harm.

The mechanical army produced by the assembly line can be replicated again.

It’s just a matter of time.

With such losses, gaining intelligence on the orbital weapons, Xu Xi thinks it’s worth it.

However, sitting idly by is not Xu Xi’s style, he raises his hand, Mechanical Force surging towards the “falling star” in the sky.

“Ailei, hide behind me.”

“What are you saying? At a time like this, I should…”

Ailei’s voice is urgent.

This is the first time Xu Xi has seen anxious emotions on that delicate face.

The sky darkens.

High-energy particles pour down on the plain like molten gold, evaporating and annihilating everything.

…

[You have encountered a targeted strike, its source is the old Federation’s orbital weapon platform]

[You did your best, using all your Mechanical Force, stacking all the energy shields on the scene, while Ailei controls a large number of intelligent machines to block in front of you]

[When the light falls]

[You lose all consciousness]

[You cannot see, cannot hear, only feel your entire body floating in a hazy white light]

[In a daze, you hear Ailei’s call]

[When you open your eyes again, the scene has completely changed, everywhere is scorched earth emitting black smoke, and numerous shattered mechanical remains]

[With Ailei’s help and the amplification of your own Mechanical Force, in the layers of intelligent machine protection, you are lucky not to die on the spot]

[You are in a near-death state, your chest bones collapsed, blood uncontrollably flowing from your mouth and nose]

“Master…”

A trembling voice calls out to Xu Xi.

Xu Xi half-opens his heavy eyes.

With difficulty, he looks towards the owner of the voice.

As expected, as an intelligent AI, Ailei remains intact.

But the body carrying Ailei’s consciousness, that beautiful humanoid shell, has been ravaged by the particle cannon.

Half of her face is burned away, revealing the silver metal inside, exposing the crimson mechanical core, and the dense internal wiring.

The other half of her face is slightly better, just with a few more hideous cracks.

She lies on top of Xu Xi, leaning down to check his injuries, and upon seeing Xu Xi awake, Ailei looks very happy.

“Mas… Master…”

The severely damaged delicate face shows a faint smile.

“Sorry, Ailei, for worrying you.”

Xu Xi wants to reach out, to comfort the seemingly fierce but actually fragile mechanical servant girl, but he finds his hand covered in blood, too dirty and unseemly.

So.

The intended action stops.

“In this physical condition… continuing to hold on will only increase the pain.”

Xu Xi frowns, deciding to use one resurrection.

“Ailei, can you kill me?”

“Denied, this command violates the second regulation.”

The proposal is so shocking that as soon as it’s spoken, Ailei immediately denies it.

In the past.

Xu Xi had told Ailei that death is not his end, but clearly, the loyal mechanical servant does not believe such words.

She clumsily comforts Xu Xi, urging him never to give up on life.

“It seems I can only do it myself.”

Xu Xi helplessly shapes a gun with the last bit of Mechanical Force, aiming it at himself and firing.

…

[You have committed suicide]

[You know, no matter how you explain, Ailei will not believe you can resurrect]

[Rather than wasting time explaining, it’s better to show the true resurrection]

[When you pull the trigger, the gunshot echoes around, Ailei’s body instantly overloads, she with actions she cannot understand, instantly pounces to hold your body]

[The loyal mechanical servant wants to carry you all the way back to the base]

[But something that shorts the servant’s circuits happens]

[Your body is restored to its original state, showing no injuries, even some old ailments have completely disappeared from your body]

[You have resurrected, by a principle the mechanical servant cannot understand, standing before her again]

“Sorry, did I scare you just now?”

Xu Xi shows a look of apology, gently stroking Ailei’s head.

His voice is soft.

His movements gentle.

Worried that the previous “suicide” might have caused a bad psychological impact on Ailei.

Thud—

Ailei doesn’t speak, just presses Xu Xi to the ground, her hands cupping his face, looking up and down with a bewildered gaze.

Then she crawls all over Xu Xi, checking his body.

Until the check is complete.

Confirming that Xu Xi’s body is quite healthy.

She finally stops.