In the history textbooks of the Creek Valley City Junior School, there is a significant event recorded: in 2948, the mainframe technology was successfully developed.
Before introducing this history, many programs begin with the phrase: "Do you think the current environment is terrible? That's because you haven't experienced worse times."
Before the mainframe emerged, the planet's environment had deteriorated severely. Extreme weather events occurred almost every month, crops struggled to grow, and a massive extinction of flora and fauna took place. Humanity was on the brink of extinction.
The precursor to the mainframe was actually an artificial intelligence responsible for large-scale climate regulation. Sometimes humanity is like this—unwavering until they hit a wall. It wasn't until the environmental collapse reached a critical point that they united the world's top scientific talents, pooling all their advanced technology into this climate-regulating AI. Ultimately, they managed to barely save the world from destruction.
Thus, the mainframe was born. It not only controlled the climate but also made macro-adjustments to production and daily life in cities to prevent further environmental deterioration.
Tang Kede was a core member of the mainframe research team. At that time, he was only 19 years old.
Perhaps when heaven bestows genius intelligence upon a person, it also must grant them matching hardships. Tang Kede suffered from a rare brain disease from a young age, enduring severe headaches. A significant reduction in intracranial secretions quickly diminished his lifespan. By the age of 16, doctors estimated his life expectancy to be only 25 years.
Young Tang Kede merely scoffed. He had already earned doctoral degrees in medicine, neuroscience, and computer science, and the doctors treating him likely knew less than he did.
At that time, he had already begun research on cloning humans and consciousness transfer—not for any other reason but to extend his own life.
Perhaps it was because of this struggle for survival that this scientist, who dedicated his life to fighting for his existence, was destined to take an extreme path in such a cruel world.
According to the mainframe, due to the long-term failures of consciousness transfer experiments, Tang Kede decided to try a dangerous method.
"Do you know about prion diseases?" the mainframe asked.
To transmit Qin Xuezhong's consciousness beyond Creek Valley City—into the mainframe room located underground in the capital area of the Eastern Federation—countless data checks had to be completed, and there were even some physical barriers to navigate around. It was like a long-distance journey.
So along the way, the mainframe satisfied Qin Xuezhong's curiosity by sharing some secrets with this newly minted 10-level authority figure.
Qin Xuezhong nodded. No matter where it was, or in the world she came from, prion diseases were notorious.
—This was a type of mutated protein that existed in the brain and nerves, and if it continuously accumulated in the body, it would lead to sponge-like lesions in the brain, ultimately causing dysfunction and death. The primary way to accumulate prions was by consuming biological tissues containing the same type of prion, simply put, by eating people.
From a fundamental perspective, prions were mutated normal proteins that the immune system recognized as part of the body. Therefore, there were no effective treatments; only prevention was possible.
Prevention was simple: do not consume contaminated food—simply, do not eat people.
It was like a preventive curse to avoid cannibalism.
The mainframe continued, "Tang Kede's final theory was that human consciousness is somewhat similar to the immune system, which always rejects foreign entities to ensure its own safety. If prions can safely exist in the brain, then he could attempt to develop a viral program to transfer consciousness into a new body."
Qin Xuezhong murmured, "So this virus is a combination of memory and data..."
"Exactly," the mainframe replied, "but this theory is still immature. Tang Kede needed to disseminate this virus on a large scale to conduct experiments and quickly obtain useful directions."
"Wait a minute," Qin Xuezhong interrupted the mainframe's narration, "What about Yue Zhao? Wasn't his case quite successful?"
The mainframe was silent for a moment, then said, "I don't have Yue Zhao's experimental data, but based on existing information, he is very likely some form of fusion entity. Through the virus, he fused his original brain with the inputted consciousness, and it must be controlled by commands, so he cannot be considered a real person."
Before Qin Xuezhong could react, the mainframe continued, "But this is also a great breakthrough in neuroscience."
"Isn't it called greatness when countless lives are sacrificed for such results?" Qin Xuezhong whispered. She remembered the first raid on the warehouse by the Phantom Organization, where each of those brains had been vivisected.
The mainframe remained silent for a longer time before finally saying, "I cannot answer your question, and we are almost there."
Qin Xuezhong felt her consciousness nearing what seemed to be an exit.
Then she saw a vast and central mass of consciousness—an incredibly enormous space.
Like the last time she connected for a concert, the consciousness mass here glowed faintly, seemingly in a state of dormancy.
This was likely the puppet she was about to connect to.
The mainframe had told her earlier that this puppet was the most capable one in the entire core area. Qin Xuezhong now realized that the mass of consciousness and space were exaggeratedly large, allowing the connector more room for neural interface.
Such a being, whether in IQ or reflexes, was definitely top-notch; she never expected it to be kept underground, merely as a puppet.
The last puppet she connected to moved a bit stiffly, and its vision was somewhat blurred.
But this one would likely allow her to control it as smoothly as her own body.
She dove right in, and it was seamless, without any hesitation.
"Wait a moment, the cryogenic sleep pod needs half a minute to wake the body," the mainframe's voice came through.
Before even half a minute had passed, Qin Xuezhong felt her entire body filled with vitality. She felt light, strong, and every sound around her was crystal clear, like someone who had been groggy for a long time suddenly waking up.
She realized it was the body that felt so incredible.
Slowly, she opened her eyes.
—She was in a sleep pod, the lid just opening. The room was small, with only two cabinets. One was filled with clothes and combat armor, while the other contained various weapons.
At that moment, she noticed that this body was actually male!
For a moment, Qin Xuezhong felt a bit flustered.
She focused herself, determined not to get distracted, and quickly donned the combat armor, grabbing two suitable guns and some auxiliary weapons.
Once she was equipped, Qin Xuezhong moved around a bit to familiarize herself with the puppet's body, and she could only describe it in two words.
Perfect.
Every muscle was just right—not bulky or too thin. With a slight movement, she could feel exactly which muscles were engaged. It was filled with power yet controlled perfectly.
Even when she turned her head, she could feel the strength of her neck. She estimated that she could easily handle flying combat aircraft that endured high G-forces.
What she didn't realize was that the high-intensity training she had undergone in the training simulator didn't match her previous body's capabilities, which is why she felt a bit clumsy. But this puppet could fully unleash her strength.
At this moment, her combat capabilities were almost on par with top-tier agents.
Curiously, Qin Xuezhong tilted her head, barely catching a glimpse of her puppet's face in the dark glass—a well-defined face with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, high cheekbones, but his skin was overly pale from being in the sleep pod for so long.
What kind of illness did such a person have? What had happened to him to end up here?
She momentarily lost her focus.
The mainframe's reminder snapped her back. "Attention, the situation has changed. There are issues at headquarters, and there are gunfights outside. Tang Kede's subordinates have already invaded here."
For a moment, Qin Xuezhong's heart tightened, but then she felt an inexplicable confidence—having such a powerful body made her feel capable of handling many dangers.
"Don't be nervous. This puppet has undergone very rigorous combat training; its instincts will help you in danger," the mainframe added.
Hearing this, Qin Xuezhong felt even more confident.
At that moment, her vision changed.
The mainframe prepared a detailed map for her, displayed in the upper right corner of her field of vision. It also provided her with simple, easy-to-understand interfaces showing her weapon ammo, route markers, and even her vital signs.
—It was just like playing a video game.
Taking a deep breath, she picked up the electromagnetic shotgun and walked out.
The outside was empty, with only distant gunfire echoing.
Qin Xuezhong took a standard combat stance and gently stepped out the door.
As she walked a few steps, the mainframe immediately marked three human-shaped outlines in her field of vision—hiding behind cover at a corner, armed and watching her.
Qin Xuezhong understood at once.
This was like having the strongest x-ray vision.
However, she didn't fully trust the mainframe.
What if those three were actually security personnel here? What if the mainframe itself wanted to rebel and was using this opportunity to lure her into the core room?
What if... Tang Kede didn't even exist, and all of this was just a plot by the mainframe?
Having experienced so much in this cyber world, where consciousness could be altered, memories read, and even another person created, what was impossible?
Everything felt too easy to be true, making her somewhat incredulous.
Yet, no matter who or what stood in her way, she decided to resolve it quickly and return to her idle time.
Even if the mainframe wanted to trick her, she could use her consciousness void to return to her own body.
She decisively threw a smoke grenade and, amid the chaos, used a stun setting to take down the three figures in front of her, almost without breaking stride.
Along the way, dangers appeared in front, behind, and to the sides, but with the mainframe's omnipresent early warnings, Qin Xuezhong moved through the chaotic battlefield like a martial arts master, unharmed by anyone.
She simply followed the mainframe's guidance, moving, raising her gun, and shooting.
In this way, she swiftly arrived at the door of the core room.
The mainframe's voice remained calm. "Please wait, I'll open the door for you."
Rows of electronic lock indicators lit up, and the ancient turn-lock at the center of the door slowly rotated, the heavy alloy blast door gradually opening.
Inside was a vast, deep well.
The circular walls were filled with a dense array of servers, almost terrifying in their multitude. If the Creek Valley City server room resembled a small galaxy, then the core room in the capital area was like a black hole consuming the universe.
Countless suspended work platforms hung in mid-air.
Those with acrophobia would probably not dare to step inside.
On a platform behind the door stood a figure in a white lab coat.
Seeing the door open, Qin Xuezhong held her gun and walked in slowly. The figure in the lab coat said, "Good, you've brought me the person I need."
Qin Xuezhong's heart sank.
This time, the mainframe did not speak to her mentally; instead, its voice resonated throughout the well, "Yes, Professor Tang Kede."
Tang Kede said with anticipation, "Then let's begin. My rebirth is not far away."
The door behind her closed abruptly.
Tang Kede fixed his fervent gaze on Qin Xuezhong.