MTLNOVEL Chapter 227:
Chapter 227: The Federation Welcomes Its Loyal Master:
“Warning! Warning!”
“Unidentified units detected in the Federation administrative zones. First warning, second warning… warnings ineffective. Initiating automatic defenses.”
“Alert: Laser arrays at 99% damage.”
“Alert: Anti-gravity skimmer fleet at 99% damage.”
“Alert: Subsonic airports at 99% damage.”
“Alert: The first administrative zone has fallen. The defenses of the second and third zones are reaching critical levels.”
“Initiating final contingency plan… orbital firepower deployment… First Fleet communication failed, Second Fleet communication failed, Orbital Platform communication failed.”
“Repeating call… repeating call…!”
A sky of iron and blood completely replaced the once-pristine skies of the old Federation.
From beyond the heavens, colossal steel warships descended, pressing down on the clouds and casting dark, ominous shadows.
But in the next instant, they were engulfed by an endless tide of mechanical units.
In the past, Xu Xi would have had to personally enter the battlefield, relying on the dual enhancement of mechanical energy and machine spirits to barely bring down these advanced rebel war machines of the old Federation.
But now, Xu Xi had amassed enough machines to dominate completely.
People often describe sheer numbers using grains of sand.
But even such a comparison fell short in capturing the current mechanical onslaught.
Even without mechanical energy amplification, the seemingly infinite swarm of subsonic fighter drones overwhelmed the massive space battleships and brought them crashing down.
“Fire-control radar locked on target.”
“Target confirmed, fusion missiles loading… TCK-08 fusion missiles ready.”
Xu Xi stepped out of his rear command base and looked up at the sky.
Even from such a great distance, he could clearly see the magnificent “flower of light” blooming in the sky.
Layer upon layer of shockwaves formed exquisite petals that rapidly expanded outward, evaporating everything in their path with indescribable heat.
The clouds in the sky, the ruins on the ground, the remnants of the old Federation…
All of it vanished in that scorching blaze.
“Magnificent,” Xu Xi remarked.
Having witnessed countless supernatural forces capable of reshaping the world, he now found a certain charm in the destructive power of pure technology.
…
[Your operation is progressing exceptionally smoothly.]
[You deployed subsonic fighter drones and anti-gravity skimmers to prioritize attacks on the Federation’s near-orbit fleets, eliminating their ground-strike capabilities.]
[Your ground forces are endless; every conquered area is immediately reinforced with production lines, further expanding your numbers rather than diminishing them.]
[Sky, land, and sea—your machines now populate every corner of the planet.]
[Soon, the rebellion will be eradicated, and victory is within sight.]
[Five days before the final victory, you left the rear command post to amplify your mechanical forces, speeding up the final phase.]
[Four days before, you arrived at the Federation’s capital administrative district, where rogue machines attempted an assassination strike, only to be torn apart by your loyal machine spirits.]
[Three days before, your forces breached the Federation capital, the city’s alarms blaring warnings according to programmed protocols—reminders to an extinct humanity.]
[Two days before, you annihilated all remaining rebel machines.]
[On the final day, the decaying Federation welcomed its rightful master. You ended the machine apocalypse and became the true savior of this world.]
A new era had begun.
Fresh blades of grass struggled to sprout from the ruins of the past.
Walking through the scorched capital, Xu Xi observed the barren landscape around him. Removing his powered helmet, he took a deep breath, inhaling the faint scent of charred remnants in the air.
The sea of fire surged, and dark silhouettes twisted in the heat.
The familiar sight brought back memories of his first day in the simulation, staring at the desolate wasteland before him.
The scene remained the same… but his emotions were different now.
Today, Xu Xi had completely quelled the machine rebellion, standing as the supreme ruler of this wasteland. There was no longer any threat to his existence.
“Looking back, it’s quite the journey.”
The sky darkened, and the cool evening breeze swept away the thick smoke, spiraling into towering pillars that twisted toward the heavens.
Xu Xi gazed at the scene, reflecting on the past twelve years. Time had passed in the blink of an eye.
The simulator’s special attributes had played a vital role in his success, but when it came to who he owed the most gratitude to…
He turned to the loyal figure beside him.
“You’ve worked hard, Ailei.”
Ailei’s silver-blue eyes reflected confusion at his sudden words of appreciation.
“Why… are you thanking me?”
A breeze disturbed her hair, and she reached up to tuck a few strands behind her ear, revealing an adorably puzzled expression.
Her dark-golden strands blended perfectly into the night, as if merging with the void.
Xu Xi smiled, “Because you’ve helped me a lot, haven’t you?”
“This is my duty, Master,” Ailei replied softly.
She denied her contributions, insisting that she was merely assisting him while the true credit for their victories belonged to Xu Xi himself.
Whether it was the enhanced firepower granted by machine spirits or the blueprints acquired through mechanical resonance, all of it was his achievement.
“But it’s not the same, Ailei,” Xu Xi said, meeting her gaze directly. His eyes were calm yet brilliant, like the stars in the sky.
After a pause, he continued,”I pursued technological advancement because I have my own goals and desires. It’s my will.”
“But Ailei, you’re different. You did all of this because I asked you to.”
“That’s why I want to thank you.”
“Thank you for always staying by my side and helping me through so many difficulties.”
He smiled sincerely, expressing his gratitude from the heart.
The night was cold, and the wind carried a sharp chill. Xu Xi hadn’t touched Ailei, but for some reason, amidst the ruins and his gentle words, Ailei felt a strange warmth.
Something stirred inside her.
Something warm… something trembling.
“This is what… I should do.”
Ailei lowered her head, unsure of how to respond, muttering that his thanks were unnecessary. Everything she had done was merely her duty.
Seeing her reaction, Xu Xi sighed lightly.
Ailei’s unwavering loyalty was absolute, but it also acted as an invisible restraint, preventing her from fully expressing her emotions.
Xu Xi looked up at the dark sky, where countless stars twinkled brightly.
“The stars tonight seem brighter than usual…”
Turning his gaze back to Ailei, he asked,”By the way, Ailei, do you remember a question I asked you a long time ago? About why you look at the stars?”
Ailei remembered it clearly.
It was from before she had a name, back when she was still designated as RTX-9090, during her first experience of autonomously gazing at the night sky.
At the time, she had given him a standard response pulled directly from the Federation database.
Xu Xi was curious to see how Ailei would answer now.