Chapter 204: A Name is the Origin of Emotions

The name is the origin of emotions.

Things that possess a name will no longer be mere consumables.

Each call, the accumulated habits, will unknowingly carve a place for that name in people’s hearts.

Xu Xi cannot read the thoughts of machines.

He does not know.

What emotions his mechanical servant holds regarding the act of naming.

But Xu Xi guesses that Ailei probably likes doing it.

Since being named, Ailei has behaved more human-like, revealing more smiling expressions amidst the calm alternation of day and night.

On the slightly worn screen.

The image’s pixelated squares piece together.

Merging into a distinctly curved smiling expression, albeit not very aesthetically pleasing.

That feeling is subtle, like a ray of warm sunlight passing by fingertips waiting in winter, bringing warmth amidst the hollow cold.

Although Ailei does not have a beating heart.

Cannot embrace like a human.

Through that screen, Xu Xi faintly sees a nascent soul smiling at him inside, purely.

“Ailei, deactivate the weapon system restrictions.”

“Yes, weapon system fully deactivated, energy circuits functioning normally, external visuals synchronized.”

“Ailei, report remaining energy.”

“Yes, current energy storage at 100%.”

Several days later, the power armor Xu Xi had been longing for was finally debugged and charged to 100% full capacity.

The body gleams, gears meshing.

Levers pushing and pulling, precisely interlocking.

The gray body has broad shoulders, thick and solid, with multiple composite materials providing astonishing protection, while also equipped with various attack weapons, retracted to the sides and rear by metal frames.

Xu Xi looks at the full view of the power armor and nods slightly.

The concept of power armor is not complicated to understand.

Faster speed.

Greater strength.

Harder body.

And more ferocious firepower.

All design concepts aim to enhance individual combat capabilities.

Xu Xi does not believe that a single power armor can withstand the tide of intelligent machines, but at least, it can greatly enhance his current combat power.

“Ailei, suit up.”

“Yes, Master.”

As Xu Xi issues the command.

The loyal mechanical servant begins operating the mechanical arms, gradually opening the power armor, starting from the limbs to suit up Xu Xi.

Torque spins, components fitting.

Each attachment perfectly adheres.

[Weapon module loaded, main weapon fully charged, secondary weapon fully charged]

[Anti-gravity module loaded, back thrusters pre-charged at 50%]

[Visual module loaded, visual map generation complete]

[Radar module loaded, automatic reconnaissance activated]

A cold mechanical voice sounds beside Xu Xi.

It is Ailei’s voice.

Not from the laboratory core outside, but from within the power armor.

This is Xu Xi’s intention, he had Ailei enter the power armor to assist, fully coordinating the battle.

The power armor has too many functions.

Xu Xi alone controlling it would inevitably lead to delays and oversights.

The addition of intelligent AI can help Xu Xi handle each battle as perfectly as possible.

“Master, suit-up complete, laboratory doors open, ready to depart at any time.”

“Mm, let’s go.”

Xu Xi steps forward, the heavy alloy armor follows his movements, step by step, solidly landing on the floor, shaking the dust.

Feeling the overly noisy movements.

Xu Xi slightly lightens his steps.

This time, the sound from the armor is significantly quieter.

Speeding up.

Mechanical force surges.

Xu Xi walks out of the underground space, once again reaching the dangerous surface.

Still endless wind and sand, and desolate, broken ruins, everything on the surface is no different from when Xu Xi first saw it.

“Whoosh—”

“Whoosh—”

Strong winds howl, carrying sand to strike the armor.

In the past, these sands would always sting the cheeks, but this time, Xu Xi in the power armor no longer feels that.

“Power armor is great.”

Xu Xi praises in his heart.

[Ding—]

[Your praise greatly pleases the power armor, it becomes more attached to you]

[You unexpectedly find that the power armor’s stats have increased by 1%, whether in strength or speed, your power armor has become more valiant]

[Vaguely, you understand a bit more about the power armor’s structure]

…

Xu Xi begins to advance.

Clad in power armor, he completely ignores the harsh environment of the city ruins, his steps flattening the sharp apocalyptic debris.

This trip, Xu Xi had planned ahead.

Searching for new energy.

Searching for new technology.

These are his two major goals for today.

The power armor is great in every way, except its energy consumption is too intense, far beyond what the laboratory base’s solar energy can supply.

Thus, finding new energy is urgent.

As for new technology, it can provide Xu Xi with more knowledge, equally indispensable.

“Ailei, what are your thoughts seeing the outside world for the first time?”

During the walk.

Xu Xi converses with his mechanical servant.

“It feels strange…”, the electronic voice, calm yet bewildered, simultaneously displays a small, dazed micro-expression in Xu Xi’s helmet view.

“According to the Federation database, the latest ‘Sixth Satellite City Report’, the Sixth Satellite City should have extensive greenery, but I do not see it.”

The mechanical servant knows of the intelligent machine crisis.

But it has never truly seen it.

Previous knowledge of the world existed only within the laboratory’s information and Xu Xi’s verbal accounts.

This trip is a first for Ailei.

Xu Xi smiles: “There is always a difference between data and reality, Ailei, you need to learn to observe the world yourself.”

“I will, Master.”

The pixelated micro-expression shows a serious look.

In the wind and sand.

Xu Xi controls the power armor, walking further away.

Occasionally, the innocent mechanical servant asks him questions not found in the database.

“Master, do you feel lonely?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Federation biology mentions that humans are social creatures, cannot live apart from groups, all value stems from the group.”

“Haha, I’m fine, I have no complaints about my current life.”

“So Master does not feel lonely alone?”

“Hmm… indeed not, especially with you here.”

In the cycle of questions and answers.

Xu Xi maneuvers the power armor, successfully passing through several ruins, arriving at a park area on the other side.

Here, like Xu Xi’s laboratory.

Responsible for developing Federation technology.

Home to several high-tech companies.

“Teoan Security, Mercury Tech, Saiking Energy…”, Xu Xi’s gaze scans, finally resting on the energy company’s building.