NOVPUB(T/N: Ai Lei -> Ailei)
[Luck is conserved]
[After a hard-fought battle with the mechanical hounds, you finally emerged victorious, but your power armor’s energy reserves have significantly depleted.]
[Without any new gains, this trip will result in a massive loss for you.]
[Fortunately, you unexpectedly discovered a supercomputer in the ruins of the Federation. However, the deteriorating environment and visible damage to the machine leave you unsure where to start.]
[In your moment of hesitation, your AI assistant asks if you want to activate the one-click management mode.]
“Master, please leave it to me,” AI assistant Ailei assured confidently.
“Are you sure about this, Ailei?”
“Yes, please trust me.”
Xu Xi was skeptical but chose to trust Ailei and handed over full operational control of the power armor to her.
Next, Xu Xi stepped out of the power armor, leaving the imposing humanoid machine under Ailei’s control.
Click.
Click.
The heavy clanking of metal echoed through the air as Xu Xi watched the power armor carefully dismantle the outer casing of the Federation’s computer with precise movements, gradually revealing its true form.
The base was a dark, energy-driven device.
The middle section served as the control hub.
The top housed the computational core.
The three sections fit seamlessly together, making it nearly impossible to find any dismantling points. Its massive size made the task even more daunting.
“Ailei, there’s no rush. Take your time,” Xu Xi said calmly. “We have plenty of time. We can always come back later.”
Dismantling such intricate machinery was a job better suited for Ailei’s precision rather than human efforts.
AI systems rarely made mistakes and could minimize accidents. However, the Federation’s supercomputers were a product of human ingenuity, designed from the ground up with security measures against theft and external tampering.
Even power armor couldn’t forcibly break through its outer shell.
“Master, I’m done.”
“…?”
Xu Xi found the situation eerily familiar.
His gaze was filled with suspicion as he saw the power armor, under Ailei’s control, revealing its energy core and directly linking to the long-abandoned Federation computer.
With a fresh supply of energy, the dormant machine flickered to life. Virtual screens appeared, emitting a soft white glow that projected streams of data into the air above the ruins.
However, the next moment, all the data streams froze in unison.
In an instant, Ailei, the obedient and capable AI assistant, had completely hacked the Federation supercomputer.
“…???”
Xu Xi had always known his AI assistant was impressive—after all, Ailei possessed emotions and intelligence beyond rigid hardware limitations. But this… wasn’t this a bit too ridiculous?
“Ailei, how did you do that?”
“It’s simple, Master. You just do this and that, then a little bit of this…”
Ailei’s response was filled with innocent enthusiasm, but the technical jargon she used wasn’t particularly complex—something Xu Xi, with his years of mechanical expertise, could easily understand.
And that was precisely why he was even more bewildered.
The Federation’s computer wasn’t faulty.
The hacking method wasn’t extraordinary. But Ailei… Ailei was an anomaly!
Xu Xi realized that his AI assistant’s computational power had undergone an unprecedented transformation, allowing her to effortlessly bypass the Federation computer’s defenses.
“This shouldn’t be possible… The computing power of the lab’s core or even the power armor’s system isn’t nearly enough to achieve this… unless…”
The only possible explanation was that Ailei herself had become the source of this immense processing power.
But how could that be?
Xu Xi was left in deep confusion.
An AI, even with emotions, shouldn’t be capable of something this extraordinary… No, wait. There was one crucial factor he had overlooked.
“Could it be… ‘Machine Soul Joy’? Is it because of my influence that Ailei has evolved so dramatically?”
Xu Xi pondered, watching Ailei skillfully dismantle and inspect the Federation computer with smooth and precise movements. There were no mistakes, nothing for him to intervene in.
Thanks to her overwhelming computing power, Ailei could handle everything alone, even controlling the supercomputer to unlock its own external armor.
The dim ruins flickered with a soft glow.
Realizing he had nothing to do, Xu Xi leaned against a wall of blue-silver alloy and pulled out his Gauss dual pistols, taking up guard duty at the entrance.
“Am I… already relying on my assistant?”
Watching Ailei diligently working, Xu Xi couldn’t help but reflect.
In this world of advanced technology, computational power was the key to everything—from military strategy to scientific development.
“Ailei has truly surprised me…”
“No, it’s my fault for underestimating her.”
“I always thought Ailei, who evolved from a household AI, had reached her limit managing the base’s daily operations. I never imagined she could do so much more.”
“Maybe… I should start nurturing her abilities further.”
Xu Xi fell into deep thought, considering his future plans. The more he thought about it, the more he realized Ailei’s potential was astonishing, possibly even surpassing his own system buffs.
“Still, I need to ask Ailei about her aspirations. With emotions and life of her own, she’s no longer just an object to be controlled.”
“I can’t impose my will on her.”
Closing his eyes for a moment, Xu Xi held his Gauss pistols, resonating with them through his mechanical force.
This was his unique form of training—enhancing mechanical strength by continuous usage, allowing it to function as an extension of his body.
Finally, Ailei completed her inspection of the Federation computer and guided the power armor, heavy and resonating with a low hum, back toward him.
Xu Xi opened his eyes.
“Good work, Ailei.”
“Ailei isn’t tired. Ailei is happy to help Master.”
Xu Xi’s first words weren’t about the Federation computer, but about Ailei’s well-being, which made her especially delighted.
When the power armor opened up, Xu Xi stepped back inside.
Through the power helmet’s visor, he saw Ailei’s digital expression bloom with animated flowers, making her look cheerful and adorable.
“Ailei?”
Xu Xi chuckled. “Can you give me a detailed report on this Federation computer?”
“Of course, Master.”
Ailei’s synthesized voice carried a hint of joy as she explained the computer’s condition in detail—from its damage to possible restoration plans.
As expected, after enduring centuries without maintenance, the Federation’s supercomputer had suffered extensive damage. Most of its components were beyond repair, with only a few basic functions still operational.
Even so, it remained a treasure trove of technological advancements, from its intricate internal parts to the dormant energy system at its base.
