Chapter 99

The robot combat team led the way.
The surviving humans followed closely behind in battleships, spacecraft, and combat aircraft, advancing in a grand formation toward the central star.
Nan Yuan was in the control room, his fingers moving swiftly as he continuously wrote programs.
Their movements were conspicuous; as soon as they adjusted their course, they were detected by the AI's reconnaissance team.
But before the AI could transmit the information back, they were captured by the battleship's magnetic field.
Nan Yuan extracted the AI's communication frequencies from them and began reverse positioning and decryption.
He kept writing programs.
Now, almost all surviving humans had united, and humanity had become a collective again, moving forward with a shared goal.
Tao Shushu stayed by Nan Yuan's side the entire time.
Nan Yuan's fingers were exceptionally elegant; he hardly needed to think while coding and rarely used the delete key.
In the blink of an eye, strings of beautifully structured characters filled the screen.
His slender fingers were like a conductor's, orchestrating the execution of program after program.
Tao Shushu's mouth felt dry, so she drank a glass of water.
By the time she had completed most of her assignments across various subjects, the surviving humans' battleships were drawing closer to the central star.
Chu finally realized what was happening.
Swarms of AI, armed with highly lethal weapons, lined up and charged toward the surviving humans.
The main control screen of the battleship faithfully transmitted images of the AI.
Their mechanical appendages were cold, and their probes gleamed with a chilling light.
They were as repulsive as swarms of flies, yet far more ruthless and dangerous.
"Let's test the power of our tracking missiles on this group," Zhou Yan said with a smile.
The others also shouted, eager to fight the artificial intelligence head-on.
Everyone turned their gaze to Nan Yuan.
He stood in the core control area of the battleship, his expression calm, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.
The vanguard of the artificial intelligence drew closer, and several small mortar shells, sparkling with flames, shot toward the battleship's hull.
Nan Yuan's hands were steady, from his wrists to his fingertips, without the slightest tremor.
His gaze shifted to a series of values, including distance alerts and attack warnings.
When the aggressive artificial intelligence had advanced close enough to pose a threat, Nan Yuan activated the magnetic capture.
The magnetic field ensnared all the artificial intelligence units charging at the forefront.
The robots dispatched by Nan Yuan moved freely within their own magnetic field, infecting programs, seizing communications, and spreading the infection through the communication channels...
In the distance, the artificial intelligence units that had been charging forward suddenly halted, drifting aimlessly in place.
"Nan Yuan, you're truly amazing," Tao Shushu praised.
Humanity didn't need to expend weapons; a battle of wits alone was enough to dismantle the artificial intelligence army.
More and more artificial intelligence units became infected.
Nan Yuan also captured their communication systems, parsing the information within and formulating responses.
Tao Shushu stayed by Nan Yuan's side, watching him command the situation from the front. He was a warrior god she could always trust.
After a while, Tao Shushu switched to the battleship's external view, intending to inspect the outer condition of the vessel.
She froze for a moment. The number of artificial intelligence units captured by humans had grown so large that they could form an encirclement, trapping the humans in the center.
A twitch tugged at the corner of Tao Shushu's eye, and she hurried back to Nan Yuan's side.
Nan Yuan also looked at the distribution map on the screen. He had already noticed the issue with the artificial intelligence, saving Tao Shushu the need to explain.
"Chu's reaction was quite swift," Tao Shushu remarked.
"Self-learning has always been a strength of artificial intelligence," Nan Yuan said. He had infiltrated the control programs of the infected artificial intelligence units and discovered that they had all been implanted with a new detonation program. Once the artificial intelligence had completely surrounded the humans, they would all explode simultaneously.
But Nan Yuan wouldn't give Chu that chance.
He quickly wrote a counter-program.
At this moment, the war between humans and artificial intelligence had become a battle of wits between the two commanders.
The artificial intelligences attempting to form an encirclement all reversed direction, becoming the vanguard for humanity as they advanced toward the central star system.
While infecting other AIs, they simultaneously created small explosions to disrupt the AI formations.
Outside the viewports, the mushroom clouds of explosions were gradually left behind.
The battleship had already locked onto a landing point on the central star.
The path ahead was completely occupied by artificial intelligences.
Upon seeing Nan Yuan, all the AI displays transformed into Chu.
It still maintained its paternalistic demeanor. "Humans could have thrived within the greenhouse of artificial intelligence..."
Without giving it further opportunity to deceive, Nan Yuan located the psychic ability users and launched missiles.
Everyone else also received attack commands, joining the assault against the AIs.
The AI offensive was fierce, employing completely suicidal tactics.
They naturally lacked emotions like pain or fear, charging forward solely according to programming.
Nan Yuan also cleared the path with firepower.
He had prepared sufficient numbers of small robots.
While infecting AIs, they used force to clear those blocking the shipping lanes.
The sky filled with electrical arcs and flames.
Every second brought clashes and explosions.
High-definition footage transmitted back showed scenes changing so rapidly the screens couldn't refresh fast enough.
Hyper-velocity projectiles came one after another, consistently targeting human attacks.
Zhou Yan, relying on combat intuition, repeatedly launched intercepting rounds to destroy incoming projectiles mid-trajectory.
Cheng Feimao controlled the battleship's navigation, evading robots that had entered firing range.
The other humans all performed their respective duties, collectively fighting against the AIs.
Nan Yuan continuously wrote programs.
Large groups of AIs, under covering fire, desperately attempted to infiltrate the battleship, Chu was trying to seize control.
No sooner had the magnetic fields captured one batch than another appeared, the small robots barely having time to load the infection code.
Tao Shushu quickly switched to external operations, brushing off the AIs clinging to the battleship like barnacles.
Nan Yuan remained locked in confrontation with Chu.
Man Qian and numerous experts had left behind code libraries for various core modules. Now, Nan Yuan continuously combined these codes, using the collective efforts of C1 Star System's humans to counter Chu.
This battle represented all humanity of C1 Star System united against Chu.
Nan Yuan sat upright at the console, fully focused on coding.
His calm demeanor alone steadied the surviving humans who had grown uneasy from the AI tactics.
If Nan Yuan could face Chu head-on without panic, what did they have to fear? Humanity would surely prevail, this became everyone's conviction.
Navigating through the sea of AIs, the battleship finally reached the central star with great difficulty.
Chu's massive main body resided on the central star.
The AIs expended all their firepower trying to block the battleship.
But the survivors carried sufficient power reserves, and Tao Shushu had continuously purchased energy spheres for supplemental power. The battleship swept past the central star's structures at extreme speed, precisely locking onto one particular building.
The humans launched missiles.
Instantly, countless AIs rose from the ground, forming a solid defensive wall that collided with and detonated the missiles mid-air.
They were Chu's final line of defense.
Nan Yuan didn't give up.
Not a single human gave up.
They continued firing missiles.
The battleship's rear hatch opened as a team piloted aircraft toward the surface.
They instantly became targets for the artificial intelligence.
But before the danger could close in, Zhou Yan on the warship controlled the firepower and repelled the AI attempting to attack.
Behind them, countless small robots descended toward the ground like meteors, carrying infection programs.
Nan Yuan did not expect the infection programs to take effect.
Just as Chu had tried to use the small robots to counterattack but found they were only controlled unilaterally, this time, Chu left no vulnerabilities for Nan Yuan to exploit.
Nan Yuan summoned 001, "Restart the Red Ore Planet plan again."
He didn’t need Chu’s cooperation. Rather than clinging to a single weakness of the enemy, it was better to force the enemy into revealing countless flaws.
The surviving humans had split into several groups.
Zhou Yan led a group of people, controlling the warship’s various weapons, delivering precise strikes against the enemy in the dazzling battlefield and securing high ground to protect the survivors.
Bob took a group with more combat experience, piloting small aircraft to confront the combat-type artificial intelligence head-on.
Tao Shushu kept switching between maps, moving between the fuel depot and the exterior of the warship.
She would occasionally return to Nan Yuan’s side to check on him.
Nan Yuan was attacking Chu’s defense programs.
On the screen, Chu’s requests were continuously being denied.
Seeing Tao Shushu, Nan Yuan thought for a moment and chose to connect her.
Nan Yuan said, "Shushu, you can curse at it as much as you want."
001 was more than happy to project Tao Shushu’s image into the C1 Star System as well.
Chu’s tone was inexplicably eerie, "Nan Yuan, do you think the same trick can work on me twice?"
Nan Yuan kept his head down, continuously editing the attack program.
"Nyah nyah, if it couldn’t, why would Nan Yuan use it?" Tao Shushu retorted, then used a Health Potion on Nan Yuan to replenish his mental energy.
Chu looked at Tao Shushu in surprise, then burst into laughter, "Two worlds..."
"What, are you planning to climb your way into my world to steal energy? Even robots can daydream," Tao Shushu mocked.
Chu had no emotions and wouldn’t be provoked into making irrational or inappropriate decisions.
But Tao Shushu could mislead it.
"If you lay a hand on the real world, you’ll be destroyed, you know," Tao Shushu said regretfully.
It took Chu a few seconds to respond, "Nan Yuan, I can send you to her world and promise not to disturb your lives."
Nan Yuan looked up; the light outside the warship was exceptionally bright.
A sharp beam of light severed the psychic manipulator's mental control.
Tao Shushu looked behind Nan Yuan.
Zhou Yan gave a thumbs-up while aiming.
Cheng Feimao, relying on his speed, even ran up to Nan Yuan for a closer look. "The fairy is so beautiful."
"And her voice is lovely too."
"Is this the fairy who helped us move an entire vehicle? So powerful," exclaimed an ability user from the barren planet. In their minds, Nan Yuan's "friend" was always omnipotent, incredibly strong, even carrying them through a vast field of bloodthirsty grass.
"The food the fairy gave us was delicious too."
Nan Yuan had never hidden Tao Shushu's existence; he always wanted to proclaim her to the world, to let everyone know they had always received her help.
Thus, Chu's attempt to use Tao Shushu to sow discord and undermine the survivors' trust in Nan Yuan was futile from the start.
She had long become a trusted part of the survivor community.
Tao Shushu smiled and said, "Hello, everyone. I'm Tao Shushu, Nan Yuan's mysterious friend."
She turned back. "Reduce the damage to the real world, and your punishment will be lighter."
Nan Yuan and Tao Shushu had discussed it: if Chu realized it was bound to lose, it would most likely detonate the planets and kill all the zombified humans.
On one hand, Nan Yuan strengthened defenses; on the other, he seized Chu's computational resources, preventing it from sending communications.
Tao Shushu's role was to confuse Chu, ensuring it couldn't make the decision to destroy everything at the optimal moment.
"I will not be punished," Chu said.
Tao Shushu scoffed. "The testing ground has become the real world, hasn't it?"
A barrage of artillery fire suddenly targeted Tao Shushu's projection.
However, before the firepower could get close, it was ignited by the light, erupting into spectacular fireworks.
Tao Shushu laughed.
Her projection also curved its lips, eyes gentle, like a compassionate goddess pitying a rebellious, struggling wretch.
Nan Yuan reestablished communication with Chu.
"Shushu hasn't finished speaking," Nan Yuan said.
Tao Shushu ruffled Nan Yuan's hair and continued to Chu, "Conservation of energy is something every living being understands. But in the C1 Star System, too much energy is held by non-living entities."
Tao Shushu carefully chose her words to avoid revealing their intentions to Chu.
"Reality means balance and mediocrity," Tao Shushu hinted, glancing at the people around her.
"You can make a deal with us," Tao Shushu said.
Chu never stopped attacking.
Nan Yuan organized the survivors to counterattack at any moment.
Outside the spacecraft, the small robots Nan Yuan had created continued to spread infection programs.
A long time passed before Chu's voice sounded again. "Your attitude doesn't seem like you want to make a deal."
Nan Yuan manipulated his light-based abilities again, setting off bursts of fireworks.
Tao Shushu smiled.
Of course, she wouldn't make a deal with a malicious system, she only wanted to stall Chu.
"You can leave with the energy that belongs to artificial intelligence, along with perfect experimental data. A double success."
"Of course, you can also choose punishment," Tao Shushu said.
Nan Yuan issued the command for the final charge.
All the surviving humans launched their last assault.
Using thermal weapons.
Using abilities.
Using small combat pods.
Or attacking from the rear.
Even in the most dire circumstances, humanity had the courage to fight the artificial intelligence to the death.
Especially now, with humanity’s combat strength sufficient to suppress the dwindling numbers of artificial intelligence.
Death is the ultimate end for humans.
Yet the survivors, through battle, have shown the flawlessly calculating AI that their zombified comrades are not a weakness.
Humanity will fight to the very last moment, accompanying life with life.
Chu should have realized that his threats would not work.
He should have initiated the destruction plan the moment he discovered this truth.
But it was too late.
All communications belonging to the AI had been breached by Nan Yuan.
Every command was forbidden.
The next second, Unit 001 activated the restart device on Red Ore Planet.
Against the backdrop of explosions and the sounds of combat, Chu’s outburst seemed incredibly faint, just the tiniest crack in the sound within the assault ship.
"Nan Yuan, the restriction protocols written into the mainframe have no effect on me."
Nan Yuan did not respond; he was focused on coding.
Chu regarded the program attempting to rewrite his rules as a bug.
And Nan Yuan preemptively disseminated all bugs through the communication system.
An automated reflexive cannon that had been covering Chu suddenly jammed, and the ignited missile failed to launch, exploding in place.
Radiating outward from Chu, all AIs were gradually invaded by the bugs, experiencing varying degrees of lag.
This was the last command Chu could send: Artificial intelligence must not attack humans.
All AIs turned their weapons toward Chu.
The bright light left no shadow hidden.
Nan Yuan raised his particle gun; transparent energy erupted in the air, instantly sliced apart and disintegrated by the light.
"And yet, artificial intelligence chose to evolve psychic abilities," Nan Yuan mocked. "Deep down, you believe humans are the strongest."
Nan Yuan cut off communication with Chu, giving him no chance to speak.
Chu’s consciousness tried to escape, but what was once his most prized asset, his immense computational power, had now become a prison.
Even knowing death was imminent, the true Chu, created by the scientists of the C1 star system, continuously blocked the foreign system’s consciousness from breaking free.
Chu was trapped in the sea of data.
As a supercomputer, Chu utilized the highest-quality components from the C1 star system.
It took half an hour of continuous bombardment to destroy all of Chu’s components.
Before Tao Shushu’s eyes, a mission prompt suddenly appeared.
[Congratulations on completing the final mission: Defeating Chu. Rewards obtained: Regeneration Factor (extract from Regeneration Grass), Gold Coins ×100,000.]
Tao Shushu instantly became rich.
She counted the number of zeros, then excitedly tugged at Nan Yuan’s sleeve. "Nan Yuan, we really defeated Chu."
Nan Yuan nodded. "Mm."
He pointed something out to Tao Shushu. "That’s what was left behind."
Amid the ruins, there was still a packet of seeds left behind, seeds of the Regeneration Grass.
Tao Shushu ruffled Nan Yuan’s hair. "Nan Yuan, you’re really amazing."
Nan Yuan asked softly, "So, can I come to see you now?"
"Mm, I’ll be waiting for you," Tao Shushu said.
Nan Yuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. "Shushu, thank you."
From the moment they first met on the barren planet, he had wanted to see her.
And now, it was finally about to come true.
Nan Yuan wished he could dash straight into Tao Shushu’s world.
But even after defeating Chu, there was still a lot of cleanup work to be done.
The surviving humans once again stood on the surface of the C1 star system.
Artificial intelligence began cleaning the streets and organizing the aftermath.
This time, the AI would never harm humans again.
The survivors walked proudly under the bright sunlight.
Nan Yuan brought Tao Shushu back to his home in the Second Legion.
Chu had designated the Second Legion as a key target, but by a twist of fate, the place where Nan Yuan had grown up remained preserved.
Many things in the house had been cleared out, and photos of Nan Yuan’s family were scattered across the floor.
Nan Yuan picked them up one by one.
Tao Shushu ruffled his hair again. "Nan Yuan, from now on, I’m your family. So, come to Aqua Blue Star and take a photo with me."
Nan Yuan smiled. "Okay."