One Step Closer to Ceasing to Be Human

Beside the fence of the wheat field, Afuni gazed from afar at the gondola tethered to the iron airship and the figure standing beside it. An unconscious, gentle smile rose to her face. Legend had it that in the distant River Valley Province, there lived a great hero who had led a band of survivors as brave as himself to triumph over beasts and jackals several times their number. To be frank, in the flesh he was not quite as towering or burly as depicted in the paintings, nor did he sport a thick beard. Yet he struck her as far more dependable than the gorilla-like figure on canvas. In particular, that handsome, resolute face often bore a genial smile that could make even the chill of early November feel like a warm spring breeze. Just like right now... At first, she hadn't quite understood what kind of feeling it was. Only now did she suddenly begin to grasp a fraction of it— What she yearned for was neither his bravery nor the wisdom she so admired, and it didn't even have to do with her rescued kingdom... It was simply that smile that couldn't help but warm one's heart. Even on this scarred, desolate wasteland, one could still glimpse thriving vitality mirrored in those pitch-black eyes. Strange as it sounded, she found herself feeling a twinge of envy toward the puppet perched on his shoulder... It could see scenery she could never behold. It must be breathtaking up there... Lost in thought, Afuni—who had originally intended only to look on from afar—unconsciously drifted over. She came to a stop not far from his side and offered a slight curtsy. "Honorable... Administrator, congratulations on your triumphant return from the front lines. During my stay in Dawn City, every single day has been filled with people's praise and yearning for you." Hearing the congratulations from the side, Chu Guang plucked Xiao Qi off his shoulder and stuffed it into his pocket despite its protests, then turned with a smile toward the maiden from a foreign land. "Thank you for the kind words, Miss Afuni. Speaking of which, Samer said his goodbyes earlier, saying he had to return to attend his father's funeral. I thought you'd headed back with your brother." She wore a light green gown, its swaying hem resembling fresh spring grass, concealing her ankles. Beneath her softly curled brown hair was a face still touched with a hint of youth, now gilded with a faint rim of morning sunlight. Her gaze fixed on him, Afuni blinked. "My brother went ahead. He asked me to remain here to represent the Honey Badger royal family at the Alliance's triumph celebration. In addition, he asked me to bid you farewell on his behalf and convey his gratitude once more for your care during this time... The Honey Badger Kingdom will forever be a friend to the Alliance, and he personally regards you as his mentor." Chu Guang chuckled and shook his head. "That guy... I didn't even know when I supposedly became his teacher." Samer had rushed back mostly out of anxiety over the throne; after all, he was only the acting king, while Yade held military authority in his hands. As for claiming to view Chu Guang as his mentor, eight out of ten parts were meant for Chu Guang's ears in hopes of securing his backing. Yet Chu Guang had no intention of meddling in the Honey Badger Kingdom's internal affairs. Whether Samer or Yade, both had left decent impressions on him. The Alliance would only be itself, strictly adhering to seeking common ground while reserving differences. It would not force other settlements of lawful neutral alignment or above to walk the exact same path. Just as the academic major one chose oneself was the most suitable, people ought to determine their own futures. Which path to take was not the primary contradiction on the wasteland—chaos was. Before every last mutant and marauder was wiped out, even the Legion could be categorized within the bounds of lawful evil. So long as the situation in the Honey Badger Kingdom didn't deteriorate into civil war, he wouldn't interfere in the locals' own affairs. At most, he would request that the local rulers implement gradual reforms based on the Alliance's advice. Afuni looked at him, her eyes brimming with light. "Is that so? But I still believe you have influenced him in many ways... I often saw him copying down your words to ponder them. In the past, he used to say the kingdom's future lay in uniting the wavering nobility, as most of the Restoration Army's war funds came from noble support. But now, he occasionally mentions that if the kingdom wishes to develop, it must unite the unsung majority. They have no money, but they possess something far more useful than coin." Chu Guang remarked casually, "That shows he has matured. Perhaps he found some inspiration from our side, though I'm still more inclined to believe it was his own realization." He would never teach others in such a manner. In the Alliance, people were people. Afuni let out a soft sigh. "Perhaps. Still, I believe his growth could not have happened without your help. If possible, I truly hope I can grow like him as well. Could I... do something to help you? Something beyond cataloging books, just like Princess Teresa." As if guided by some unseen force, Afuni blurted out the latter half of her sentence without thinking, surprising even herself. Yet she did not take the words back. A faint voice in the back of her mind told her that perhaps deep down, this was truly what she desired... Chu Guang gave the young girl a curious glance, pausing a moment before answering. "You don't need to do anything for me. Once you've learned that knowledge, just go back and help your own country." "Why? Because I am a princess of the Honey Badger Kingdom? I can renounce my status just like Teresa and become an ordinary citizen of the Alliance—" Chu Guang looked at her earnestly and said, "You must understand one thing: Teresa did not become the governor of Pioneer City because she renounced her royal title, but because her abilities proved she was qualified for the job." Pioneer City was styled as the Alliance's fourth city, but its survivor population didn't even match Dawn City's Bete Street, and its conditions were far harsher than those in River Valley Province. Serving as governor there was hardly a cushy post; an ordinary clerk at Dawn City's trade station lived far more comfortably. In the Alliance, a governor was merely a position that came with a salary; it conferred no hierarchical privilege whatsoever. If Bete Street ever gained some special strategic status requiring independent settlement development, its village chief could just as well be called a governor. "I apologize; that was presumptuous of me. I didn't mean to look down on her abilities. I just thought that since she could... I might also be able to do something for you." A trace of mild jealousy showed on Afuni's face, though she herself didn't realize it was jealousy—after all, she had no reason to feel such a thing. Chu Guang could understand her eager desire to display her talents, but he couldn't very well assign her important responsibilities simply because she had read a few books. Theory mattered. Practice mattered more. The lesson of Shelter 401 was the prime example. Those blue jackets had possessed minds full of classic texts and profound wisdom, yet in the end, they were shackled by a mob of brutes brandishing iron pipes. It wasn't that the theories of the Prosperity Era were insufficiently advanced; rather, they were too advanced, possessing no soil in which to survive on the wasteland. Still, a willingness to contribute was always a good thing. Just as Chu Guang was pondering what best to say, someone nearby suddenly called his name. "Chu Guang!" Hearing the shout, both of them turned toward the voice at the same time. Catching sight of that fiery red hair, Afuni showed a flicker of confusion, while Chu Guang wore an expression of surprise. "Xia Yan? You're back?" The corner of Xia Yan's mouth curved upward with a smug grin. "I finished this year's credits. My mentor praised me for having great talent in the field of mechanics—though he said it'd be even better if my math were a bit stronger." To earn the approval of Shelter 101, it seemed she truly had learned quite a bit. Chu Guang smiled and asked, "Where's Xiao Yu? Didn't she come back with you?" "She's hanging out with Pai working on who knows what. Said she'd be back tomorrow. By the way... who's she?" Xia Yan suddenly turned an alert gaze toward Afuni standing at the side. That face looked completely harmless and very cute, yet precisely because of that, it gave Xia Yan an uneasy premonition. "She's from Honey—" "I am the Administrator's student," Afuni said, offering a light curtsy. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Xia Yan, speaking in an exceedingly pleasant voice. "You must be Ms. Xia. I've heard Chu Guang mention you before." Xia Yan glanced at Chu Guang in astonishment, sizing him up with deep suspicion. "Since when did you become a teacher?" "It's a misunderstanding," Chu Guang coughed lightly. "I merely lent her a few books—" "Those books benefited me immensely, and your teachings by word and deed left an equally profound impression on me," Afuni said with a slight nod. "To me, you are my mentor." Hearing that, Xia Yan was momentarily dazed. "Teachings by word and... what deed?" "It means painstaking, devoted guidance," Afuni said, her eyes twinkling slightly. She gazed at Xia Yan with an innocent look, then suddenly feigned a realization. "...Ah, please don't misunderstand, I didn't mean anything like that." *How could anyone not misunderstand with that expression?!* Staring at this seemingly sweet girl who harbored daggers behind her smile, Xia Yan felt her blood pressure surging. Seeing the two of them suddenly locking horns, Chu Guang coughed. "I merely said what someone in my position ought to say. There is no need to harbor superfluous goodwill toward me just because of a few words. All right, don't keep focusing all your attention on me... Don't you two have your own business to attend to?" Come to think of it, his scheduled physical exam with Heya was almost due. Nursing a headache, Chu Guang brought the conversation to an end and walked toward the truck that had been waiting for him for quite some time. Speaking of which, with direct flights between Ideal City and Dawn City now open, wasn't it time to upgrade their local transport? Riding this freight truck all the time was somewhat unbecoming, and the vehicles provided by private transport companies varied wildly in quality. He'd have City Hall put out a tender to procure a few buses one of these days... "W-Wait a second!" Seeing Chu Guang about to leave, Xia Yan hurriedly pulled her gaze away from Afuni and called after him. "What else is there?" Xia Yan's eyes darted around. Without a word, she stealthily handed over a palm-sized box. "For you." Staring at the unremarkable box, Chu Guang asked with curiosity, "What is this?" "Never mind that, it's my annual course project... Take a look." Reaching out to accept the box, Chu Guang popped it open. Two pairs of flexible wings snapped out softly, revealing a silver-white metallic sphere resting on cotton lining. Surprise instantly swept over Chu Guang's face. A Hummingbird drone?! No... This was noticeably larger. Xiao Qi, stuffed into his pocket, muttered a grumbling critique: "Mediocre at best... I guess I'll reluctantly accept it." Ignoring the self-important little fellow, Chu Guang picked up the drone in his hand, inspecting it with excitement. "Not bad! Really not bad!" It couldn't compare to the Hummingbird he had pulled from a blind box, but as a DIY product made from scrap wasteland components, it was already quite remarkable! To think that the NPC he had once kidnapped to press bullet casings possessed such immense potential—Chu Guang couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. A bit larger than a Hummingbird. He would call it— Sparrow, then! Seeing Chu Guang so delighted, the corners of Xia Yan's mouth curled up happily as well. But realizing she looked a bit too smug, she gave a light cough. "Ahem, pretty decent, right? Too bad time was so tight, otherwise I could've built something even more formidable." Chu Guang smiled, slipping the drone into a pouch strapped to his power armor to let Xiao Qi fiddle with it, and offered his praise. "Great work. If you could build me a suit of power armor someday, I'd be truly grateful." Xia Yan's scalp tingled. "Uh, well... I'll try my best." Afuni placed an index finger thoughtfully against her chin, then suddenly lowered her head in remorse. "A gift... I apologize, it was thoughtless of me. Please grant me a few days to prepare; I will present one to you before the celebration." Looking at the overly earnest Afuni, Chu Guang coughed softly. "There's no need to make it so formal." Gift or no gift, it didn't matter. He had already obtained everything he wanted from this war. Afuni shook her head and said resolutely, "How could I not? You saved us from a band of bandits. By all rights and reason, I must thank you... Please accept a modest token of our appreciation." Seeing Afuni's stubbornness, Chu Guang ultimately abandoned the thought of trying to dissuade her. A mountain of matters awaited his attention upon his return; he truly had no spare energy to fret over such trifles. To start with, Heya had already booked his physical exam before he even stepped off the airship. In truth, even if Heya hadn't brought it up, he would have asked her to examine him. He had dreamt again last night. Sure enough, he was one step closer to ceasing to be human... *** Just as Chu Guang was returning to Shelter 404, outside the perimeter fence of the Dawn City Northern Civilian Airport, a dense sea of people had crammed together so tightly that not a drop of water could trickle through. Among them were wastelanders watching the commotion, alongside players who had flocked over to join the spectacle. Today marked the inaugural flight from Ideal City to Dawn City. Rumor had it that a massive aircraft would arrive from the east. This news had been buzzing on the official website for days. And Enterprise did not disappoint the onlookers. The giant aircraft descending vertically from the sky resembled a genuine whale. After contracting the plumes behind its engine nozzles, it touched down steadily upon an apron as vast as a soccer pitch. Gazing at the colossal machine, Sha Shen remarked with deep admiration, "Damn, that plane is badass..." If only he could put one together in real life! Quan Jia nodded in profound agreement. "Indeed... It's just a bit unscientific." In real life, he worked at a major drone manufacturer. Leaving aside that unscientific plasma propulsion system, he couldn't even identify the materials used in the fuselage. Just how robust did the structural framework have to be to support such a fantastical design? He couldn't fathom it at all! "It's a game, what science do you want? Did you study yourself stupid?! Have a little imagination, will you?" Mosquito clapped the man on the back of the head. "Let's go." Rubbing his head, Quan Jia asked blankly, "Go where?" Mosquito said with high spirits, "To build our own big plane! Didn't we haul back the wreckage of an Orca transport last time? Let's tinker with it and try making something that spews plasma plumes too!" Even if he couldn't figure out how the thing worked, it didn't matter; the engineers at Camp 101 would understand it. He only needed to handle the broad design and figure out how to mount the thing onto an airframe! Sha Shen and Quan Jia looked at each other, their eyes swapping mutual bewilderment. A plane with a plasma engine? This guy has lost his mind... While Brother Mosquito's circle of "disciples" wondered whether their boss had sustained brain damage, passengers were disembarking through the open cabin doors in succession. At that moment, a petite figure stood at the edge of the crowd, craning on tiptoes toward the cabin door, her expression shifting between eager anticipation and nervous worry. *Did he fail to buy a ticket?* When that familiar face still hadn't appeared right up to the end, a touch of disappointment washed over Dolly's features. Just as she was about to turn and slip away quietly, a hand came down upon her shoulder. Having detected no one approaching whatsoever, a jolt of horror ran through her. Almost by pure reflex, she raised her left arm, and an elbow forged of steel lashed backward with a gust of fierce wind. "Wait, it's me!" With angular steel hovering barely an inch from the bridge of his nose, Fang Chang broke out in a frantic cold sweat. Too close! He hadn't saved his game in nearly six months; taking a hit from that would have been a catastrophic loss. He had nearly forgotten this was the wasteland. Even if Dolly was just an ordinary girl, her combat capability was nowhere near what a girl in the real world possessed. "Fang Chang?!" The moment she saw her beloved, that fierce, murderous glare melted into excitement and joy. She threw herself forward, wrapping her arms tightly around him. Returning the ardent embrace, Fang Chang joked in a soft whisper, "I spotted you all the way from the sky. I was planning to come down and give you a surprise, but I almost ended up getting carried away on a stretcher instead." Just now, he had taken a slight detour, circling around the side of the aircraft. "Who told you to... sneak up on me?" Her face flushed scarlet as she looked away. Feeling both sweet and bashful, Dolly whispered, "Was I... really that noticeable?" That head of short emerald-green hair was actually quite prominent in a crowd. Still... There was no need to explain in such detail right now. Gently patting her head, Fang Chang said with a warm smile, "Of course. I saw you at first glance." His Adam's apple bobbed, and he continued, "Sorry, this business trip took a bit long... Kept you waiting." A deep blush crept from her cheeks all the way to the tips of her ears. The lovely girl in his embrace ducked her head shyly, burying her face into his chest. Fang Chang noticed the khaki scarf clutched in her hands. "Is that a gift for me?" With a blushing face, Dolly hid it behind her back and murmured, "I knit it myself... Is it okay?" Fang Chang smiled. "Far more than okay, it's wonderful. Though speaking of which... I seem to remember getting a scarf last time too. Too bad I only have one neck." "It's different," Dolly said, stealing a peek at the scarf around his neck. The corners of her mouth curved in happiness, and then she shook her head vigorously, saying in all earnestness, "The last one was for wind and sand. Winter is here... This one is for warmth." Seeing how earnestly Dolly explained, warmth filled Fang Chang's heart. "Come to think of it, I prepared a gift for you too." "What gift?" An interested look instantly flashed across Dolly's face. She glanced left and right, but saw nothing. Fang Chang smiled mysteriously. "Come with me." At the same time, at the airport exit. Jixiu craned his neck, looking all around as he muttered under his breath. "Where'd he go?" *He was right beside me just a moment ago.* It was rare to encounter a kindred spirit who understood him better than his own father. He had intended to treat the man to a meal and chat further, but the moment the plane docked, the guy had vanished without a trace. Truly bizarre! Beside him, a crowd of tourists looked around in sheer curiosity. Everything here was completely novel to them, and even the air smelled different. "Incredible... Even though I saw the virtual model on Endpoint Cloud, standing here in person feels entirely different." "Is that ruin in the distance the legendary Qingquan City?" "Probably similar to Cloud-Above and Cloud-Below... Though cities in the Central Megalopolis are supposed to cover a larger area." "No wonder the broodmother here is so huge!" "Ahhh... I really want to see their Administrator. If I could snag a photo with him, I'd be thrilled!" "There'll be a chance! He'll definitely appear at the celebration." Watching that rich young lady swoon before they'd even left the plane, Jixiu curled his lip in disdain. "Tch... What's so special about that guy?" Just a suit of power armor, and a pre-war police model at that. Far cooler suits of power armor were everywhere in Boulder City! Besides, as the leader of a survivor settlement, running around showing his face in public every day—where was the dignity and prestige in that? By comparison, their castellan carried far more mystique. Even a high-flying heir like himself who commanded respect across Boulder City had only ever seen the great lord on silver screens. Just then, Jixiu remembered his grand scheme, and a surge of excitement welled up inside him. If everything went smoothly, he might become a figure far greater than his father. When that time came, perhaps Lord Castellan would grant him an audience in person. *** Shelter 404. Sitting up from the scanning bed, Chu Guang viewed his physical exam results on the holographic screen. [ ID: Chu Guang Genetic Sequence: Administrator (Stage 5) Level: LV.30 → LV.40 —Basic Attributes— Strength: 33 → 45 (+12) Agility: 25 → 35 (+10) Constitution: 27 → 40 (+13) Perception: 26 → 39 (+14) Intelligence: 29 → 40 (+11) ] [— Talents: 1. Feral Instinct: Awaken wild instincts in extreme conditions. During the duration, all attributes increase by 10–15%, and fatigue accumulation rate increases by 20–30%. 2. Mental Intimidation: Exert mental pressure on fully sentient beings weaker than oneself, weakening their will to resist. 3. Hive Mind: Share 3–15% of the Intelligence attribute with fully sentient beings weaker than oneself, granting them inspiration and thought-speed bonuses. Affected by distance, number of targets, receptivity, and other factors. Maximum range: 10 meters. 4. Call to Victory: Infuse cries with courage, instilling indomitable resolve in those who resonate. ] After reviewing the attribute panel, Chu Guang remained silent for a long while before looking up at Heya sitting in her chair. "No new talents unlocked?" "Don't ask me about that. The talent column is data stored in the shelter's database. Some algorithm left behind on the server appears to be performing specificity analysis on the genetic sequences of all shelter residents... I can only guarantee that the attribute section is accurate. If you want to view more detailed parameters of your various physiological functions, you can click the details button in the bottom right." At this point, seeing Chu Guang's calm demeanor, Heya couldn't help but scoff. "I can't believe your main focus is on that talent column... Haven't you noticed you're looking more and more like a monster?" Four awakenings... Genetic Sequence Stage 5! She wasn't sure whether her own experience was too limited, or whether all humans on the wasteland were like this. Chu Guang shrugged indifferently. "Maybe I'm just used to it... Anyway, even if I lie around doing nothing, my genetic sequence development progress creeps up automatically." In fact, he was actually beginning to understand it now. In the real world, there was a system called reCAPTCHA that allowed computers to seek assistance from humans. The specific method was to distribute scanned images of text that OCR couldn't decipher to major websites around the world to replace original CAPTCHAs. Once users accurately recognized the words, the answers were relayed back to CMU, reportedly achieving a ninety-nine percent accuracy rate. The genetic sequences stored in the shelter were like individual research topics subcontracted to the players. Every action taken by a player in the game was effectively "solving the problem," and the ultimate fruits of those projects were aggregated onto his own person to manifest in a certain form, recorded and analyzed by the shelter. Hence, his "evolutionary" path was the most balanced. Perhaps this was the optimal solution Shelter 404 had derived by referencing numerous "variable-controlled experiments." Chu Guang didn't understand the exact underlying principles; he could only make an educated guess that the aggregated results manifested in his body could not be replicated through simple clone cultivation. That was why he could not "respawn." As for the purpose of this grand experiment, it might very well touch upon Shelter 404's deepest secret. Chu Guang didn't know why either. He wasn't the kind of person who blindly trusted others without reason, particularly someone he had never even met. Yet he instinctively trusted two things. First, that the first-generation Administrator was dead. Second, that the man would never bring him harm... "That's the most absurd part—'awakening' has turned into cancer cells in your body. You'd better hurry up and leave behind an heir," Heya said with a sigh, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. "By the way, while you're here, there's something I need to tell you." "What is it?" "Do you remember that Xiao Yu?" Catching the sharp glint in her eyes, Chu Guang froze for a second and furrowed his brows. "I remember... What happened to it?" Heya stared at him intently and said, "It's about to evolve!"