Great, we're doomed now!

"You're just lying, it clearly hurts a lot."

"Didn't everything turn out fine later?"

"...It does feel a little better...just a little bit."

"Hey! Okay then, I admit I'm a liar."

"Hmm... since that's the case, then you'd better... lie to me for the rest of your life~"

Qianhua's voice gradually faded until she finally fell into a deep sleep, while Ye Shou tenderly stroked her beautiful hair.

"Hmm~"

Seeing that Chika hadn't woken up and showed no sign of letting go, Ye Shou smiled helplessly and decided to spend the night at the Fujiwara residence.

-

Although Ye Shou didn't think he had done anything wrong, he still felt inexplicably uneasy under the amused gaze of his elder sister, Fujiwara Toyomi. Of course, this was much better than Chika's situation—she didn't even leave the room.

By the way, Ye Shouye didn't return home that night. Liuli sent several emails but didn't receive a reply, so she checked his location.

It must be clarified that she was not monitoring Ye Shou's whereabouts; on the contrary, it was Ye Shou who requested that she do so as a backup plan in case of an emergency.

Then they discovered that Master was located at the Fujiwara residence...

No one knows what the maid was thinking, but that day she entered the simulation pod and, in the form of the Valkyrie, remotely tormented the "Space Machine" students, including Shinjo and Daigo, to the point of near death.

The sharp and dangerous maneuvering trajectory, like death following her everywhere, left later trainees with the legend of the "Cosmic Ghost," who believed that a powerful AI existed in the training system and would appear as a hidden BOSS at specific times.

"What cosmic ghost? Never heard of her!"

Inside the hangar, Kayaba Akihiko, who had been brought over, adjusted his glasses and said impatiently, "If it's just for this kind of rumor, then I have more important work to do—"

"No, no, no, Kayaba-kun, I invited you here for something else. It was just something I was curious about. After all, most of the NPCs in the training system are AI generated through your AI engine."

Professor Agasa chuckled, not taking Kayaba's attitude too seriously, since his question was indeed rather unreliable.

"Getting back to the main point, the reason I invited you here is to use your knowledge of 'quantum neural networks' and AI to conduct an in-depth examination of [Bayeli]."

"【Bayelit】?"

Kayaba immediately became serious.

Although he prefers fantasy worlds of swords and magic, as a chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) boy born in Japan, it's impossible for him not to be interested in giant robots!

"So it was you guys who did the repairs? Does that mean the driver really is..." Kayaba Akihiko had a guess in his mind, but his face was full of disbelief. Rather than being shocked, it was more like he was unwilling to believe it.

There was no way around it; in his mind, Ye Shou's image was simply not related to the word "hero."

Of course, Ye Shou probably never intended to maintain a good image in Mao Ba's mind—he looked down on this person, so he didn't care.

Their relationship is purely based on self-interest, and Ye Shou unilaterally holds the dominant position.

In contrast, in front of Agasa, Yao, and Professor Nezu, Ye Shou always appeared respectful and humble.

Some scientists deserve respect, while others need to be kept in a dark room. In Ye Shou's view, Kayaba Akihiko belongs to the latter.

Professor Agasa led Kayaba into the other side of the hangar, separated by tarpaulins, where they found the "Bayeri," still under repair and surrounded by hundreds of workers. It's worth noting that very few of them were actually doing any repairs; most were instead frowning and deep in thought, staring at the computers and various testing instruments.

As a true prototype, the Bayeri frame is highly compatible and can be modified in multiple ways. One unit can meet all-weather combat requirements, and its design can be described as ingenious and seamless.

This time it was severely damaged, not only the external armor and various weapons, but even the basic frame was severely twisted, and some important limbs were directly removed... Repairing it is equivalent to disassembling it completely from the inside out and then reassembling it.

Putting aside the workload, this is actually a great opportunity to train and collect actual data on Gundam, so that the future "space machine" logistics department can accumulate practical experience.

Most of the people here are here to "visit the school".

Among the crowd, there was one who stood out, occupying the largest computer. The fiber optic cable beneath his feet was directly connected to the port on the back of Bayeli's neck. He seemed to be checking the circuit system, but his serious expression suggested that he had encountered some enormous problem.

Kayaba Akihiko was immediately drawn to the Gundam, which was suspended in the air and supported by an alloy iron frame, appearing to be in a semi-disassembled state.

With only one arm remaining, its full armor was completely stripped away, exposing its internal mechanical structure. Large and small parts were assembled in a specific order, precise and exceptionally stable.

The current [Bayeli] is like a person so thin that their skeleton is showing. For an expert, just one glance is enough to realize that its skeletal strength is incredibly strong.

Such a "slender" main frame not only has to support the weight of the machine, but also withstand such an intense battle. If it is not in a head-on confrontation with the monster, then there is no wear and tear at all, and it can be maintained with a little maintenance.

...Incredible durability.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, most weapons and equipment have been developing towards high precision and sophistication. While their performance has become increasingly superior, they have also become more "fragile" and "expensive".

Gundam, represented by the Bayeri, is quite the opposite... This type of mobile suit only requires minimal logistical maintenance and can perform high-intensity missions for extended periods. It is simply a perfect fusion of materials science and engineering!

"I don't have much expertise in mechanical engineering or materials science. So where exactly did things go wrong?"

"I won't force you to do anything. Come and take a look."

Dr. Yao got up from his seat and showed the "human anatomy diagram" on the screen to Kayaba.

"This is..." Kayaba initially frowned, then slowly opened his eyes, his expression a mix of surprise and delight.

"Isn't this a circuit layout?"

"Yes, these 'alienations' started from the main CPU of the machine. They extended along the integrated circuit eyes everywhere like nerves, slowly forming something like a nervous system."

We took some samples for analysis... and discovered that it was a semi-energy entity that quickly dissipated after detaching from the Gundam frame, leaving only some residue-like material.

"Well!"

Kayaba swallowed hard: "Have we informed Ye Shou about this?"

"Of course, he's already on his way."

Kayaba nodded, then asked with some anticipation, "Have you tested the transmission effectiveness of these 'alienated' electrical signals?"

“Of course,” Agasa and Yao exchanged a glance, “just like a real ‘nerve’.”

After organizing his thoughts, Dr. Agasa spoke first: "The machine originally needed to transmit signals through integrated circuits, with fixed positions and circuits, but these mutations have abandoned the original design and extended freely like ivy in nature... But now it seems that there are still some patterns."

"A neural distribution map of the human body?" Kayaba Akihiko stared at it with fascination. "If these mutated circuits can capture and transmit signals on their own without sensors... it's almost like a living thing."

“We’ve experimented. When we activate those distorted circuits, the central CPU of [Bayeri] processes some chaotic signals, and there’s also some inexplicable interference in the data… But I believe this isn’t gibberish; it’s just that our computer system can’t interpret [Bayeri]’s signals.”

"in other words……"

"Yes, just as you think."

Agasa solemnly stated, "[Bayeli] should already have its own 'sense'—it is evolving."

Chapter 224 Tsuburaya Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Open alloy plates, bundles of wires, beeping detectors, various labels and scraps—if you add cool-toned, dazzling neon lights, it's definitely the style of Lucy's hometown.

"Not bad either."

As Ye Shou sat in the cockpit, a familiar scent wafted towards him. It wasn't the smell of new plastic and metal, but rather the sense of security an animal feels when it returns to its burrow.

This cramped and narrow cabin allowed Ye Shou to relax more easily than a spacious and bright bedroom.

Here, he piloted the [Bayeri] to defeat M·A, cleanse the corrupt upper echelons of Earth, and eliminate the monsters that threatened to destroy cities at any moment. These achievements accumulated not only brought honor and authority, but more importantly, they fostered mutual trust between Ye Shou and the machine.

According to Dr. Agasa and his colleagues, an energy-based neural network has appeared inside [Bayeri]. After Ye Shou started the central CPU, he searched the directory and only saw occasional garbled characters, but could not find any specific items.

Then he tried to start up [Bayeli] using the usual method. The reactor and sensors worked as usual, and there was nothing different from usual. But for some reason, Ye Shou felt a slight "stiffness" in its operation.

Following the researchers' instructions, he repeatedly moved his arms and adjusted the angle of the thrusters, but the test results were "normal," without the sluggishness he had experienced.

Ye Shou frowned slightly, the voices of the professors echoing in his ears, but he remained lost in thought.

"Could it be..." 4

A flash of light streaked through his mind. The man closed his eyes, slowly releasing his mental perception to cover every corner of the cockpit, probing into the internal skeleton along various lines. An invisible hand "caressed" each of the mutated energy lines, meticulously and skillfully tracing them onto the canvas of his mind.

"Ripples~"

The next moment, pale golden life energy rippled from Ye Shou's body, transforming into invisible tendrils that spread out, quietly probing into every seam of his body, and then connecting with the energy nerves on his skeleton.

One was a body of flesh and blood, the other a giant of steel; these two energies were supposedly not of the same nature, yet at this moment they naturally merged without any repulsion.

As connections were established, information independent of the five senses entered Ye Shou's brain. He was no longer simply controlling this steel giant through joysticks and buttons, but rather, in a literal sense, becoming "one with" it.

The reactor's efficiency, the circuit system's vulnerabilities, the mass distribution across the entire structure, the electronic signals from the joint sensors… from static data to dynamic equilibrium, everything, whether technically detectable or not, is under his control! 4

If he so chooses, he can even “feel” the pressure changes caused by airflow during the movement of the machine, and “hear” the subtle humming of the hydraulic system in operation.

He controlled the machine with his mind, stretching out his hand and making agile leaps with his five fingers. If there were a huge piano in front of him at this moment, Ye Shou would even be confident that he could play a Chopin waltz!

Ye Shou faced the twenty-meter-tall [Bayeri Geitia] with the ease of moving his own limbs.

"Your movements suddenly sped up! Did you find the trick? How does it feel?" Professor Agasa's voice came through the communicator, tinged with anticipation.

"An unprecedented connection." Ye Shou opened his eyes, the flickering light from the screen inside the cabin reflecting on his face. "It's like I've come to life."

"Dr. Tail, analyze this fingering technique... Oh, it's sheet music!"

It's so lifelike, I can almost see the piano in front of me!

Amazing! Such a massive robot can perform such precise movements, with errors controlled to the centimeter level. Incredible!

Dr. Agasa exclaimed in amazement, "What principle drives it?"

“…It’s hard to explain,” Ye Shou said. “I simply connected with it using a special energy fluctuation.”

“We’ve tried using electric current or light energy to drive it before, but… I see. It’s not that we didn’t find the right way, but that we went wrong with the ‘human’ factor.”

Dr. Agasa, a scientist, readily accepted Ye Shou's explanation.

"Just like the story of King Arthur and the sword in the stone, what determines whether a sword can be pulled out is not the strength or the posture when pulling it out, but that the sword will only respond when it encounters a specific person."

Ye Shou was surprised: "Doctor, don't you think this is absurd?"

Why? Because it's beyond my comprehension?

The doctor chuckled and scratched his head: "Scientists are not gods. There are many things they don't understand either. In fact, you could say our job is to explore these unknown mysteries. To do that, we must acknowledge their existence and not deny them just because we can't explain them."

Otherwise, wouldn't it be just like the Inquisition in the Middle Ages?

“That’s true.” Dr. Yao laughed as well. “Actually, we are surprisingly ignorant… The more we research, the more we realize that we simply don’t have enough time and intelligence.”

"Especially during this special period."

Yeah~

The two exchanged a glance and shook their heads, even Kayaba Akihiko seemed to agree wholeheartedly.

For ordinary people, the appearance of monsters signifies the arrival of an era of turmoil, while for scholars like the Doctor, the worry for world peace is also fueled by a great passion for scientific research.

The peculiarities exhibited by Ye Shou were, in their eyes, akin to the existence of a monster: