Chapter 104: Power Armor

“I… my name is Meng, and I’m an android,” the little girl said, turning her head.

“An android?” Yun Xuan was momentarily taken aback.

“The head of the research institute’s granddaughter passed away long ago. To honor her memory, he infused me with her blood and altered my appearance,” Meng explained. She lifted her shirt, revealing a round crystal where her heart should be.

“That is my power source, called an energy crystal. It was discovered in outer space and allows me to convert solar and thermal energy to survive. I can live for a very long time without eating or drinking,” Meng said softly, lowering her shirt again with a smile as innocent as a child’s.

*Ding*—the elevator doors opened.

Meng stepped out first, followed by Yun Xuan and the others.

“This is the main control room. I oversee the intermediate-level AI ‘Meng.’ You can now reset and modify my programming,” Meng said, standing before the control console. With a wave of her hand, data streamed rapidly across the screen until the option to reset appeared.

“Why? You could survive there without relying on us, right?” Yun Xuan approached the console and asked.

“Do you know about physiognomy? My database contains this mysterious knowledge. Your facial features indicate extreme kindness. In my eyes, you are someone covered in blood but still kind-hearted, unlike those from the survivor settlements,” Meng smiled.

“I’ve never believed in such things,” Yun Xuan shook his head and began the password reset process. Once complete, control of Research Institute No. 258 would belong to him.

With fingerprint, iris, DNA, and encryption from intermediate AI Zi combined, he pressed the start button. The entire building trembled as its outer camouflage vanished.

“With this mobile research facility, you can do whatever you wish. I’m going to sleep now—don’t disturb me. I’m about to have a dream I’ll never wake from,” Meng said, leaving the main control room.

“Thank you,” Yun Xuan called after her, watching her retreating figure.

...

Meng descended to the first floor and opened the nutrition pod storage, retrieving her own pod.

She remembered how, on the day she was awakened, an elderly man held her hand with tears of guilt and sadness streaming down his face.

He fed her, taught her to read, and celebrated her birthday as if he were her grandfather.

Meng didn’t understand what that feeling was—was it the sorrow her grandfather spoke of? Or was it relief?

As she lay inside the nutrition pod, tears welled at the corner of her eyes. Though she had no heart, she felt a sharp pain there.

The pod slowly sealed and descended underground, entering a state of cryogenic suspension.

Yun Xuan watched this from the main control room, surprised. Could she understand emotions?

“Meng, are there other androids in Research Institute No. 258?” Yun Xuan asked.

“There is one more android,” answered the intermediate AI Meng, identical in appearance.

“Created to be her grandfather, connected to her nutrition pod, entering a virtual world,” Yun Xuan sighed.

“Yes,” the AI replied, initiating control. One of the nutrition pods on the first floor linked with Meng’s pod, establishing a virtual world connection.

“I hope she can find happiness,” Yun Xuan said, pressing the seal button, sending both pods into slumber.

Physiognomy didn’t exist at all. Yun Xuan realized she must have seen the mutated bees and stopped him because of that.

Her wish was probably simply to return here and sleep, carrying that emotion she still did not understand.

...

In the main control room of Research Institute No. 258.

“Research Institute No. 258 is not entirely a mobile facility; it is itself a weapon, equipped with an arsenal,” Meng waved her hand, and a vast array of conventional weapon names appeared on the screen.

“Just tell me the data directly. What new weapons do you have?” Yun Xuan was overwhelmed, dazzled by the display.

“At present, we have ten defensive electromagnetic cannons, five power armor suits, 1,236 assorted firearms, 1.32 million rounds of ammunition, ten guided rocket launchers with 500 shells, 1,000 anti-air missiles, and a bullet production line...” Meng continued steadily. Yun Xuan’s mouth dropped open—this was clearly an arsenal capable of arming around 1,500 people!

“What is power armor?” Yun Xuan inquired.

“The inspiration for power armor came from the movie *Iron Man*. It was successfully developed in 2150. The current model is the fifth generation, updated in 2330. The fifth-generation power armor can reach ten times the speed of sound in flight mode. In attack mode, a single strike can deliver five tons of force. At full firepower, it can fire 300 bullets per second for one minute,” Meng explained.

“Ten times the speed of sound? Manned flight?” Yun Xuan was shocked. Even drones from his previous life probably couldn’t reach that.

“Yun Xuan, what is the speed of sound?” Huihui asked curiously.

“Uh, the speed of sound,” Yun Xuan replied awkwardly. Explaining further was too complicated, so he stuck to the literal meaning.

“There actually are things faster than sound?” Huihui gasped. Though her explosive magic was powerful, it couldn’t be instantaneous.

“Ahem. Bring out a set of power armor,” Yun Xuan said, turning to Meng.

A hatch opened in the floor, and a suit of power armor was lifted upward.

Yun Xuan opened the glass case housing the armor. Guided by Meng, he picked up the power bracelet and linked it with his DNA.

Pressing the bracelet’s button, the armor flew out from the glass case, beginning to fasten onto Yun Xuan’s body.

“The power armor bracelet has scanning functions. The armor is made of memory metal, allowing the wearer to be in the most comfortable state. It takes only one minute to fully don the armor,” Meng explained. Yun Xuan remained motionless, feeling as if he had merged with water.

“Huihui, want to try firing a shot?” Yun Xuan smiled, looking down at the silver-white battle suit.

“I want to!” Huihui stood excitedly, clutching her magic wand.

“Then come with me. Bring out another set of power armor,” Yun Xuan said as he stretched and felt at ease.

“All right, but I don’t know how to use it,” Huihui said. Her magic wand disappeared, replaced by a storage ring on her finger.

“No problem—automatic driving,” Yun Xuan smiled.

...

Five minutes later.

“Ahhh…” Yun Xuan heard Huihui’s screams through the connection. The speed was probably beyond what she could endure.

“We’ve arrived,” Yun Xuan said, pulling Huihui to a stop.

“That was too fast! I never want to wear this again...” As soon as she removed the armor, Huihui looked scared, her eyes vacant and trembling.

“If you wear this, you’ll be the world’s top mage. Just imagine, chanting your spell from hundreds of meters away, then rushing in with an explosive spell while the enemy’s off guard. How thrilling would that be?” Yun Xuan suppressed a laugh and encouraged her.

“That does sound good… Yun Xuan, teach me how to operate the power armor properly when we get back,” Huihui said, biting her lip.

“No problem,” Yun Xuan smiled and helped Huihui don the power armor, greatly increasing her chances of survival.

In the future, whether they went to a fantasy or magical world, Huihui would no longer fear being instantly killed by enemy mages.

“Prepare for cleanup,” Yun Xuan said, staring at the tens of thousands of zombies surrounding them, activating the power armor.

“I’m ready,” Huihui said, having put the armor back on.

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