Chapter 258: The Machine Core Aches

I don't understand.

Things like not being able to do it, I simply don't understand at all.

The power supply device began to overheat.

To the point that her cold body began to tremble, her hands clasped over her chest, and she shook her head slightly at Xu Xi.

"I'm sorry… I don't understand what you're saying…"

She didn't understand, and she didn't want to understand.

As long as you can be safe and sound, as long as you can continue to live, everything is acceptable.

So please, don't say any more.

Intense sorrow had already permeated her body and manifested on her realistic face; in that moment of realism, one could not tell at all that it was a mechanical body.

[You feel that your education has been an even greater failure]

[The loyal Mech-Servant refused you; she is unwilling to give up any possibility, working hard to research the Biological Domain and the Virtual Network Domain]

[Hoping to make your flesh immortal or your spirit eternal]

[All paths share the same origin; even in technological systems, there exists the possibility of Rebirth from a Drop of Blood]

[But unfortunately, in the field of biological evolution, you two conducted too few experiments, and Ele was unable to explore deeper]

[Leveraging her uniqueness and referencing the existence of the machine spirit, Ele made rapid progress in the Virtual Network Domain, creating a near-real Virtual World]

[It could replicate your memories and exist eternally as a Data Entity]

[But could such a life form, such a memory individual, truly be considered alive?]

[Would the one living be you, or the Data Entity named "Xu Xi"?]

[Before you could say anything, Ele deleted all the programs; she refused to desecrate your existence or trap you in a cage called the Virtual World in this form]

[Just as you spent your life working hard to lead Ele out of this starry cage]

[Ele also did not want you to lose your freedom]

[The emotional link is mutual]

"…I'm sorry, Master."

Despite having no malfunctions and being so intact as to be called flawless, that exquisite face revealed a fragile sense of brokenness, on the verge of its limit.

Silver-blue hollow eyes, a silent internal core furnace, trembling fingertips.

Every part.

Was speaking of a sense of sorrow.

"No need to apologize to me, Ele. You've never done anything wrong."

Xu Xi shook his head and, with as much gentleness as possible, took that realistic mechanical hand.

His voice was still warm.

Even with a lack of emotion and thoughts nearly frozen as ice.

He still radiated kindness toward the Mech-Servant.

With a forced smile, he comforted the Mech-Servant, telling her not to worry and saying he wouldn't die, but would merely welcome a long sleep.

"Trust me, okay?"

Soulless human eyes met sorrowful, trembling mechanical eyes.

"…Yes, Ele will always believe in you."

Ele still could not fully understand human emotions—this is an Innate difference in life forms—but she knew her Machine Core was "aching."

…

[Year 701 of the simulation, you are 720 years old, Ele has been with you for 698 years]

[Experiments on the Warp Drive have made Breakthrough progress; although it still cannot be called mature, it now has the possibility of operation]

[You silently calculate the time]

[Using Ele's observation abilities, you calculate the trajectory of the Neutron War Star]

[You decide to officially launch the "Farewell, Cage 2.0" plan at the Neutron War Star's furthest point before the tenth strike of death arrives]

[Engines begin to be assembled, and circuits begin to be merged]

[Time is pressing; you cannot wait for the Warp Drive to mature. Under Ele's auxiliary control, the prototype Warp Drive, prototype Antimatter Engine, and prototype Element Decay Engine begin to form a brand-new starship]

[Due to the lack of Materials and the scarcity of finished products, you can only build one warp starship]

[You have no regrets]

[This is enough; as long as you can escape the cage, with Ele's machine spirit performance, a complete Mechanized Calamity can be raised at any time]

…

[Year 725 of the simulation, you are 744 years old, Ele has been with you for 722 years]

[The warp starship installation is complete]

[The Neutron War Star is also outside Ele's observation range, which means there is an extremely vast distance between you]

[You act decisively and resolve to set sail immediately]

The Universe is boundless and vast.

The stars are as numerous as dust.

Even the most ordinary galaxy contains hundreds of billions of stars; it is a blazing waterfall of light beyond human imagination, with no end in sight.

And now.

From the invisible High Wall that isolates the sea of stars, a pitch-black starship slowly emerges.

Huge.

Vast.

Colossal.

Due to the immaturity of the technology, the current Warp Drive and the two new types of engines are quite massive and towering in stature.

Therefore, as the carrier of these three devices, the size of the warp starship is also incredibly absurd.

Slowly extending.

Laid out one by one.

The pitch-black hull seemed to blend into the Universe, yet its staggering volume looked like it was splitting the sea of stars as it roared forward.

"Powering up, Gravity Generator starting, beginning spatial warping, Quantum Communication Network established."

"Master, everything is ready."

Inside the warp starship.

Xu Xi stood at the bridge, observing the High Wall outside, while Ele stood quietly with her hands folded over her stomach, reporting the overall status of the starship.

"Mm, execute the departure plan."

Xu Xi gave the order, while adding a line in his heart.

Farewell, cage!

Beep—

A chaotic resonance echoed inside the warp starship, and slowly, an incredible sight appeared.

The entire starship was encased in an invisible Space Bubble.

Gravity distorted and space warped; a distance of hundreds of thousands of kilometers appeared skewed because of the Gravity Generator's activation.

Space continued to warp repeatedly.

Until it reached a peak.

Like a wave, it pushed the black starship toward the invisible High Wall.

That was the culprit that locked away the possibilities of countless civilizations and caused the silence of the sea of stars; today, Xu Xi will cross it completely.

[Ding—]

[During Machine Spirit Pleasure, the Warp Drive's power continues to increase]

[Ding—]

[During Machine Spirit Pleasure, the Antimatter Engine provided more energy]

[Ding—]

[During Machine Spirit Pleasure, the Element Decay Engine became faster and more powerful]

Xu Xi's body swayed slightly; to ensure the smooth operation of the warp starship, he was resonating with the machine spirit with his whole heart and soul.

The heavy burden caused the erosion of his body to worsen further.

"…Master."

"I'm fine, Ele. Continue with the plan."

Xu Xi gently took the Mech-Servant's hand and spoke to her with a smile, though the smile on his face was hollow and forced.

His voice sounded withered and weak.

She couldn't stop worrying.

Ele really wanted to do something, but she could do nothing.

"Yes…", the only thing she could do was follow Xu Xi's words and execute the starship escape and information transmission according to the original plan.