"Warning! Warning!"
"Massive unidentified units detected in the Federal Administrative Zone. First warning, second warning, warning ineffective. Initiating automatic defense."
"Anomaly detected. Laser array destruction rate: 99%."
"Anomaly detected. Anti-gravity airship fleet destruction rate: 99%."
"Anomaly detected. Subspace airport destruction rate: 99%."
"Anomaly detected. The First Administrative Zone has fallen. The defensive capabilities of the Second and Third Administrative Zones have reached critical levels."
"Activating final contingency plan. Deploying orbital firepower. First Starfleet Division unresponsive. Second Starfleet Division unresponsive. Orbital platform unresponsive."
"Repeating call... repeating call...!"
The iron-blooded sky had completely replaced the heavens of the old Federation.
Gigantic steel warships descended from beyond the sky, slowly pressing down on the clouds and casting dark shadows. But in the next instant, they were overwhelmed by an endless tide of intelligent machines.
In the past,
Xu Xi would have had to take to the battlefield himself.
Relying on the dual enhancements of mechanical energy and machine spirits, he could barely manage to shoot down these advanced intelligent machines that had rebelled against the old Federation.
But now, Xu Xi had developed enough intelligent machines of his own.
People often used grains of sand to describe vast quantities.
But such descriptions, such scales, still fell short of capturing the magnitude of the current mechanical onslaught.
Even without the enhancement of mechanical energy, the seemingly infinite swarm of subspace fighters overwhelmed and shot down the much larger cosmic warships.
"Target locked by fire control radar."
"Target confirmed. Fusion missile loading in progress. TCK-08 fusion missile ready."
Xu Xi stepped out of the rear base.
He looked up at the sky.
Even from such a great distance, he could clearly see the dazzling "flower of light" blooming in the air.
Layer upon layer of shockwaves formed beautiful petals, rapidly expanding outward, evaporating everything with an indescribable heat.
The clouds in the sky, the ruins on the ground, the remnants of the old Federation—
All were consumed in that searing, scorching pain.
"Truly spectacular," Xu Xi remarked.
Having witnessed the destructive power of supernatural forces so many times, there was now a certain novelty in seeing such technological devastation.
...
[Your action plan proceeded exceptionally smoothly.]
[You deployed subspace fighters and anti-gravity starboats to prioritize attacks on the Federation fleet in near-Earth orbit, neutralizing their air-to-ground capabilities.]
[Your ground forces were endless. Every time they secured a location, they would set up production lines for intelligent machines, ensuring that their numbers not only remained stable but continued to grow.]
[The sky, the land, the oceans—]
[Every region of the planet bore traces of your intelligent machines.]
[Soon, your forces had eliminated the majority of the rebel machines, and the countdown to victory began.]
[Five days before the end, you emerged from the rear, enhancing your mechanical forces with your mechanical energy to expedite the final stages.]
[Four days before the end, you arrived at the Federation's capital administrative zone. Rebel machines attempted a decapitation strike, but they were torn to shreds by the loyal machine spirits protecting you.]
[Three days before the end, your forces successfully breached the Federation capital. The city was filled with the warning sirens of intelligent machines, programmed to alert the long-gone citizens of the old Federation to take shelter.]
[Two days before the end, you eradicated all remaining rebel machines.]
[On the final day, the decaying Federation welcomed its new ruler. You ended the machine apocalypse, becoming the true savior in every sense of the word.]
A new era had arrived.
Tender shoots of grass struggled to grow from the ruins of the past.
Xu Xi strolled across the scorched earth of the Federation capital, taking in the desolate scenes on either side. He removed his powered helmet and breathed in the faint scent of charred air.
Flames surged, and shadows twisted.
The all-too-familiar sight reminded Xu Xi of the apocalyptic wasteland he had seen on the first day of the simulation.
A similar scene.
But a different mood.
Now, Xu Xi had completely resolved the machine rebellion, becoming the supreme ruler of this wasteland world. There would be no more danger.
"Looking back, it’s quite a unique feeling."
The sky began to darken, and a cool evening breeze swept through.
A strong wind carried away the thick black smoke, swirling and curling into towering, winding columns that reached for the heavens.
Xu Xi gazed at this scene, reflecting on the past twelve years. It felt as though time had flown by in the blink of an eye.
While the simulator’s three keywords had been instrumental in resolving the machine crisis, the one he was most grateful for... Xu Xi turned his head slightly, looking at the machine servant following closely beside him.
"You’ve worked hard all this time, Ailei."
In Ailei’s bewildered eyes, Xu Xi smiled and expressed his gratitude.
It was sudden.
And it left the machine servant puzzled.
"Why... are you thanking me?"
The wind tousled the strands of hair on her forehead, and the girl reached up to tuck them behind her ear, revealing a confused yet endearing expression.
Her black-and-gold hair blended perfectly into the night sky, as if it were invisible.
Xu Xi smiled. "Because you’ve always helped me a lot, haven’t you?"
"It’s my duty, Master."
Ailei denied any credit, claiming that over the years, she had only played a supporting role. The true architect of their victory had been Xu Xi himself.
Whether it was the damage boost provided by the joyous machine spirits,
Or the mechanical blueprints obtained through resonance with mechanical energy—
All of it had been Xu Xi’s own achievement.
"It’s not the same, Ailei," Xu Xi said, meeting her silver-blue eyes. They were calm yet dazzling, like the galaxy in the night sky.
Choosing his words carefully,
Xu Xi spoke again. "I pursued technological research because I had goals I wanted to achieve. It was my own will."
"Ailei, you’re different. You did these things because I ordered you to."
"That’s why I want to thank you."
"Thank you for always being by my side and helping me overcome so many challenges."
Xu Xi smiled.
His gratitude was genuine.
The night was cold, and the evening breeze carried a biting chill. Xu Xi did not touch the machine servant.
But somehow, amidst the dim ruins and the gentle, soothing words, Ailei felt an unfamiliar sensation stir within her cold mechanical body.
It was warm.
And trembling.
"It’s... my duty."
Ailei didn’t know how to respond. She shook her head blankly, insisting that Xu Xi didn’t need to thank her. It was all part of her duty.
Faced with this response, Xu Xi felt a hint of helplessness.
The machine servant was utterly loyal.
But this loyalty also imposed invisible constraints, making it difficult for her to express her emotions.
Xu Xi tilted his head slightly, gazing up at the star-filled sky that stood out against the darkness. "The stars are brighter than usual tonight..."
"Speaking of which, Ailei."
Xu Xi turned his gaze back to the machine servant.
"Do you remember a question I asked you a long time ago? About why you look at the stars."
Ailei remembered.
She remembered very clearly.
It was before she had been given a name, when she was still RTX-9090, and had autonomously gazed at the stars.
Back then, 9090 had given a standard response, pulled from the Federation’s database.
Xu Xi was curious how Ailei would answer now.