Otherworldly Affairs Office

What the hell is that damn ice needle made of! The defensive steel plate has no resistance against it, and every piece of steel instantly turns into fragile ice crumbs upon contact, easily piercing through layers of defense to stab into my eye.

So am I dead now? Have I become a ghost? So unwilling!

Lying on the ground, Pei Yan can clearly hear everyone around him talking, see the grief and anger on Wang Wenze's face, see Shangxing's guilt and self-blame, see Xia Yu's regret and pain, and even see Zhao Yuanhu's complex expression of relief.

Even when he heard Ye Jiumu painfully say he's dead, Pei Yan still refuses to accept this reality! I can clearly still hear you talking, and I feel like I can still be saved!

However, Pei Yan's soul-cry receives no response, and just as he is in despair, his chest suddenly feels warm, with a warm current flowing from his heart to his limbs! Maybe he can still be saved?

Thinking about this, he urgently operates his consciousness, desperately trying to activate the source to repair his wound, but the source is totally out of his control. After circulating around his body, it pours into his right hand's ring.

After several failed attempts to repair the wound by summoning the source, Pei Yan has no choice but to allow the energy in his body to surge into the ring. He wants to see what the source intends by doing this.

Soon, he is surprised to find the equipment sent by Engineer Li in the ring being enveloped by his source, turning into rays of light that merge back into his body as warm currents.

In no time, Pei Yan finally regains sensation in his body. The wound in his left eye feels like thousands of ants are crawling in and out, constantly repairing and merging with his wound. This painful and itchy feeling doesn't make Pei Yan uncomfortable; instead, it makes him ecstatic!

As the repair speed in his left eye accelerates, Pei Yan's control over his body gradually strengthens. However, the influx of numerous images and sounds into his mind becomes distressing!

Scenes from streets he passed during the day, shows watched in households, footage from surveillance cameras, cars driving, people playing games in an internet cafe, one vivid picture after another flash through his mind like a revolving lantern.

It takes him a full minute to clear his thoughts, and he realizes his brain has automatically connected with all the technological equipment around the entire town. To confirm his theory, he tries to focus on a family watching TV, attempting to change channels using his mind while the family patriarch is out of the room.

Success! It really worked! After changing three or four channels continuously without caring about the bewildered family patriarch returning to the room, Pei Yan excitedly spreads his consciousness to the surrounding streets. Through the roadside surveillance cameras, he sees over ten police armored vehicles speeding towards the incident location, knowing support will soon arrive!

Just as he's about to shift his consciousness to a police car to see if there are people he knows and inform them about the urgency here, a sharp pain from deep within his brain cuts off the transmission of his consciousness, followed by an explosive external voice.

"Hello!" A system voice devoid of emotion echoes in Pei Yan's mind.

"Who are you?"

"I am consciousness born from the integration of the smart computer with the enhancement of your own abilities. Please maintain calm and don't be agitated. Our nano robots are currently repairing your brain injury."

After listening to the unfamiliar voice, Pei Yan is startled, recalling various thriller sci-fi movies, and warns, "So, you're about to take over my brain and body?"

"No, of course not. You are still the dominant consciousness of this body. If your consciousness perishes, the body will lose consciousness as well. I am merely external assistance to you, entirely due to the severe brain injury you suffered, exceeding the capabilities of modern technology. But with your abilities enhancing nano technology to a qualitative leap, the possibility of recovery exists, enabling me to link with your consciousness. If you don't prefer this communication method, I can switch to external communication after your body returns to normal." The system voice replies with respect.

"Will there be any side effects after my body recovers like this?"

"Given the current state, I cannot provide you with the best judgment. Although the enemy did not inflict deep damage to your brain, data analysis suggests you might still have certain residual effects: headaches, temporary bodily paralysis, mild speech impairments, but these are only conjectures. Depending on subsequent technological advancements driven by your abilities, it's possible these could be prevented."

"How long until I can regain control over my body?"

"Two minutes; you will be back to normal."

With that, the two temporarily end their communication, as Pei Yan, having already begun regaining some body sensations, feels himself being moved.

After Ye Jiumu takes off her coat to make a circle around Pei Yan's waist for support, Zhao Yuanhu bends down to carry him. Shangxing had just ordered her to retreat with Pei Yan to a safe area first.

No one present objects to this, and Zhao Yuanhu is aware that the team hasn't yet considered her a true battle companion for life and death. Thus, as someone originally sent to monitor and protect Pei Yan, escorting him during retreat is the best and most correct choice.

She accepts this task without any psychological burden or guilt; it's not out of fear of battle or death, but because everyone has noticed Pei Yan's bodily changes. His severely injured left eye is constantly flashing blue light, projecting visible mechanical devices outward at a rapid pace.

As long as there's even a one percent chance of Pei Yan's survival, they wouldn't blindly leave him here to perish, having lost his combat capability.

"We'll cover you in a while when Jiumu breaks open a corner of the array. Time is short, so first take Pei Yan outside. I believe you won't have to walk far before encountering colleagues rushing to support!" Shangxing instructs the two without turning his head.

"Understood!" Zhao Yuanhu adjusts the still unconscious Pei Yan and responds solemnly.

"Good, Jiumu, do what you need to do. The rest, stay here with me to buy time for them!"

In the distance, Li Songtao observes the Bureau's actions. Watching them carry the young man's corpse, he reveals a cruel smile. Do they intend to take his body away? It won't be that easy. With that thought, he subtly moves his fingers within his long sleeve, and the Devouring Demons, who were in a daze, let out a strange howl and rush forward with their claws waving.