MTLNOVEL Chapter 222:
Chapter 222: Ailei’s Body Has Grown:
“External condition: normal, no visible wounds.”
“Internal condition: stable, no adverse reactions.”
“Incomprehensible… Unable to understand…”
Ailei’s face showed a distinctly human-like expression of confusion.
The black sand swirled, and the wind howled.
The orbital particle cannon attack had ceased, yet its residual impact still lingered, stirring up blinding dust storms that veiled the surroundings.
Amid the desolate and barren world, Ailei, with half of her face damaged, did not appear terrifying. Instead, the combination of mechanical and human-like features emphasized a fragile, pitiful beauty.
She tilted her head slightly, her silver-blue eyes fixed on Xu Xi.
Seeing him unharmed filled Ailei with relief, but the miraculous, physics-defying resurrection left her bewildered.
“Master… are you not human?”
She voiced the conclusion she had reached, catching Xu Xi off guard.
“Please do not worry…”
“Even if you are not human, Ailei will always serve you…”
“Ailei belongs solely to you…”
Having seemingly accepted that Xu Xi was not human, Ailei made her declaration with a serious expression, assuring him that it would never affect her loyalty.
Xu Xi couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
He patiently explained multiple times that he was indeed human—just a little special.
“I believe you,” Ailei nodded calmly, her expression unreadable, making it hard to tell whether she truly believed him or was just pretending to.
…
[You have truly died once and revived on the spot.]
[Miracles like this are something you can perform many times.]
[You are so extraordinary that even your loyal maid begins to doubt your humanity.]
[She still adores you and serves you alone, but sometimes, she wonders what you really are.]
[The battlefield is in ruins, with debris scattered everywhere.]
[The orbital particle cannon inflicted severe damage on your mechanical army, and even Ailei’s humanoid body sustained critical damage.]
[Your advance had to be halted.]
“Let’s go, Ailei. It’s time to head back.”
“Yes, Master.”
Xu Xi glanced at the battlefield.
The devastation was too severe, and there was no reason to remain any longer.
He started walking, but Ailei did not follow.
Turning around, he found her legs malfunctioning, sparks of orange-red light flickering and electric arcs crackling across them.
“My apologies for delaying you,” Ailei said with a hint of regret, her damaged legs preventing her from moving forward.
She requested a moment to repair herself.
“No need, let’s go.”
Xu Xi knelt beside her, waiting for his mechanical energy to recover before extending his hands to perform a quick repair on her legs, halting the outward signs of damage.
Then, he wrapped his arms around her, lifting her gently into his embrace.
“Thank you…”
Ailei’s condition seemed even worse than before.
She curled up in his arms, motionless, appearing unusually weak and frail. Even her usually stable eyes rippled with an unfamiliar wavering light.
Seeing this, Xu Xi quickened his pace.
…
[You returned to the Sixth and Seventh Satellite Cities with the remnants of your mechanical forces.]
[Due to the severe losses, you ordered an accelerated production of new machines to restore your army’s strength.]
[You took Ailei to the laboratory to repair her body.]
[Ailei made a request—to repair herself this time.]
[After a moment of consideration, you agreed.]
[Two days later…]
[The self-repaired Ailei emerged from the lab. Her figure was now slightly taller, her appearance more mature than before.]
[You found yourself at a loss for words.]
“Ailei.”
“I’m here, Master.”
“You didn’t like your previous body?”
“The body you created for me… I liked it very much.”
Her cold yet exquisite face, illuminated by the sunlight, looked breathtakingly beautiful.
Ailei explained that since a long time had passed since her body was first created, and humans undergo growth, she believed her body should evolve as well.
However, Xu Xi had a different suspicion.
According to the Federation’s database,”An overly youthful appearance may lead to being underestimated rather than seen as an equal.”
It seemed his loyal maid was beginning to develop her own thoughts.
Xu Xi took a sip of water, feeling a touch of sentimentality.
She’s growing up.
He glanced to the side, where Ailei stood quietly in her maid outfit. The cold precision of her mechanical nature gave her a unique charm—her skin was smooth and pale, her face delicate, and her golden hair long and silky.
“Master, what are you thinking about?” Ailei asked curiously, noticing his gaze.
“I’m thinking… Ailei, you really are beautiful,” Xu Xi replied honestly.
“Thank you for your compliment,” Ailei said, her mechanical ears twitching rapidly in response.
She was still easy to understand.
…
[Ailei’s growth surprised you, and you felt genuinely happy because it was her own decision.]
[This signified her increased autonomy and another step closer to becoming truly”human.”]
[After resolving her bodily repairs, Ailei suggested conducting a detailed examination of your health.]
[Your loyal maid worried that your resurrection might have hidden flaws.]
[Fortunately, after a thorough check, Ailei confirmed your body was in perfect condition, easing her concerns.]
[In the following days, you focused on Ailei’s growth while researching technology to counter orbital weapons.]
[Day and night, you studied energy shielding devices, bringing great joy to the machine spirits.]
[The machine spirits shared knowledge of an advanced energy crystal barrier, which allowed for multiple layers of reinforcement on energy shields, greatly increasing resistance against orbital strikes.]
[While this technology couldn’t protect your entire mechanical force, it was sufficient to ensure your personal safety.]
[Based on Ailei’s calculations, you determined that the activation of the orbital weapon was likely triggered by the sheer number of machines under your command.]
[You decided to implement a dispersal strategy, distributing your mechanical forces across the Federation instead of concentrating them in one place, thus avoiding triggering the orbital defense system.]
[Your strategy proved successful. As your army grew stronger once again, the orbital weapons did not attack.]
[In the eighth year of the simulation, you turned 27. Ailei has been with you for six years.]
[After a year of recovery and research, you acquired a wealth of new knowledge through mechanical resonance.]
[Your research progressed rapidly, but you understood that your advancements were built upon the remnants of the old Federation. Once you exhausted their technology, your progress would slow significantly.]
[With these thoughts, you embarked on another campaign against the Federation’s cities.]
[Surrounded by countless machines, you continued to press forward, enhancing them with your mechanical energy.]
[Six months later, you successfully conquered the Fifth and Eighth Satellite Cities.]