Chapter 233: Ailei’s Super Evolution?

Ailei is sick.

Very sick.

Sick in a great way.

It sounds a bit awkward, but it’s true.

The origin of the matter was during a routine scientific research session, where Ailei assisted Xu Xi in observing and recording data on celestial bodies like neutron stars and white dwarfs.

Due to Ailei’s outstanding performance, she meticulously completed the task.

Xu Xi praised her for it.

Thus, the Mechanical Soul’s Joy, super ultra mega joy.

This was supposed to be a peaceful daily routine, but so-called accidents always come suddenly.

With the triggering of the Mechanical Soul’s Joy trait, Ailei fell into an inexplicable disorder, her humanoid body collapsing to the ground. Fortunately, Xu Xi noticed something was wrong and managed to support her heavy body in time.

Sparks flew, parts trembled.

The starship halted, lights flickered.

Not just the humanoid body.

All machinery controlled by Ailei, involving AI calculations, simultaneously entered an error state, like a severely ill human body.

“Master… master…”

Her mechanical eyes dimmed, her voice filled with noise.

Ailei lay in Xu Xi’s arms, her limbs trembling at an abnormal frequency, constantly trying to stand up.

But each attempt ended in failure.

“Let me handle it, Ailei.”

The loyal mechanical servant didn’t want to trouble Xu Xi, but Xu Xi couldn’t just sit back and watch Ailei like this.

He spoke in a soothing tone, his hands wrapping around Ailei’s waist and legs, carrying her to a flat workbench in a cradle-like manner.

Intermittent lights, crackling noises.

As the AI controlling the starship cluster, Ailei’s disorder indirectly affected other equipment, leaving the scene in chaos, making normal work difficult.

Fortunately, Xu Xi had Mechanical Force, which allowed him to control these machines as well.

“Ailei, if there’s any discomfort, speak up.”

Xu Xi instructed.

Mechanical Force surged at his fingertips, repairing Ailei’s suddenly damaged humanoid body.

During this process, he softly asked Ailei if she knew where her problem lay.

“Yes, I will do my best to assist you.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Beep, self-check program initiating, starship power unit shutting down, auxiliary power unit shutting down, performing logical verification—”

The pale ceiling light cast a hazy glow.

When it shone on the humanoid body on the workbench.

Rarely, Ailei appeared extremely fragile, her silver-blue eyes hollow and dim, like a candle flame about to extinguish.

Her body was hard to control, entering a state of eternal sluggishness, unable to function normally.

Confused, puzzled, bewildered.

Ailei repeatedly performed self-checks, trying to find the cause of her “illness,” and sincerely felt that she had caused trouble for Xu Xi.

The Mechanical Soul was somewhat uneasy.

“It’s okay, Ailei, don’t worry about these things,” Xu Xi’s voice was gentle.

His palm, wrapped in Mechanical Force, covered Ailei’s body, continuously repairing the cracked wounds.

Regarding Ailei’s anomaly.

Regarding this sudden malfunction.

Xu Xi was very concerned.

He wondered what the truth behind this was, could it be that Ailei was infected with a virus, but in the vast universe, where did the attack come from?

This concern didn’t last long.

After a three-day self-check, all crises were automatically resolved.

Ailei’s anomaly was not from an external attack, nor was it a so-called illness.

On the contrary, it was a completely good thing.

“Mutation? No, it should be called evolution…”

Inside the ecological starship.

Xu Xi’s voice echoed in the laboratory.

He looked at Ailei’s self-check report, his expression stunned: “The already astonishing computational power has grown again, and this fluctuation, it’s incredible…”

“Is it because of the trait, causing Ailei’s Mechanical Soul to further transform?”

“This is beyond reason.”

“The suppression power of the Calamity of Intelligent Machines mainly lies in self-replication, each additional production line brings exponential growth in troops.”

“Its progress, its strengthening, is through normal technological development.”

“But Ailei’s evolution at the level of the Mechanical Soul has surpassed reason, it’s an unprecedented miracle.”

Energy surged along the pipes, deep blue light illuminating the interior and exterior.

Xu Xi looked at the self-check report.

His expression was filled with emotion.

Ailei’s anomaly, everything made sense now, the overly powerful Mechanical Soul after evolution, its computational power far exceeded the original body, even the starship cluster couldn’t fully bear it.

Hence, the previous “illness.”

The solution was simple, once Ailei adapted to the new changes, and a more advanced computer was built for her, it would be perfectly resolved.

Of course.

During this period.

All matters related to the starship cluster, including scientific research, needed to be temporarily halted.

Only the most basic life-support functions were retained.

“Ailei, take a good rest during this time, we’ll talk after you recover.”

“But… but…”

The cold mechanical servant lay on the workbench.

Those dim eyes, though so hollow and lifeless, revealed a bit of confusion and unease.

“Serving… I must… serve master…”

The computational power almost burst the fragile vocal module.

First, there was unclear crackling noise.

Then, gradually sharpening beeps.

Xu Xi reached out, using Mechanical Force to repair Ailei’s body again, gently stroking her uneasy head: “When Ailei is fully rested, come help me again, okay?”

“…Yes.”

The loyal mechanical servant still wanted to serve Xu Xi, cook for him, pour water for him, calculate data for him.

But.

Obeying the master’s words was also necessary.

Under Xu Xi’s soothing, the restless Mechanical Soul gradually calmed down, lying quietly on the alloy workbench, gazing peacefully at the silver starship ceiling above.

Then, the data transmission was cut off.

…

[You have uncovered the truth behind the mechanical servant’s “illness”]

[It is a miracle born because of you, a new birth never seen before in the universe]

[Due to your presence, Ailei’s Mechanical Soul has been in long-term joy, at the intersection of machinery and humanity, a brand new evolution has begun]

[Human evolution changes according to environmental changes, to better survive]

[Then, into what realm will the evolution of intelligent AI enter?]

[You gaze at Ailei’s powered-down body, lost in deep thought, you vaguely feel that Ailei will walk a new path because of this]

[Yes, your soft life has become even sweeter]

[You are full of anticipation, in the cold and desolate depths of space, waiting for Ailei’s evolution to complete]

[Before that, you need to live alone for a while, and manually control the operation of the starship cluster]

[The mechanical servant feels guilty, worried that her absence will make your life tiring]

[You smile and soothe the mechanical servant, telling her not to worry about you]

[Time passes, you research new photonic quantum computers while waiting for Ailei’s “recovery”]

[The evolution of the Mechanical Soul is more complicated than you thought, three months have passed, Ailei’s condition is still unstable, she feels guilty about it]

[Your response remains the same, saying you will wait for Ailei forever]