The security footage showed the five remaining figures cloaked in dark auras, standing ominously around the two fallen penthouse floors now lying at ground level. Elder Lu's face twisted with an expression of cold resolve as he called out, his voice booming with an unsettling, echoing power that seemed to fill the entire space.
"Zhìxué!" he shouted. "Come out now. We are here to take you back to our world. Bring your friends, if you must—but know this: if you refuse, not one of you will leave here alive."
Inside the penthouse, Zhìxué felt a chill run down his spine as the voice echoed through the walls. He glanced at Mei Lin and her parents, their faces pale with fear and confusion. Taking a deep breath, he spoke back through the security system, his voice steady but wary. "Who are you?" he demanded. "Why are you here?"
The dark figure smirked, and his voice softened into a sinister tone. "We come from another world, Zhìxué. A world where strength and power mean everything. Our patriarch has taken a… particular interest in you. Consider this an invitation to meet him. He does not take refusals lightly."
Zhìxué's eyes narrowed, a mixture of fear and curiosity flashing across his face. "Another world?" he repeated, more to himself than anyone else. His mind raced with questions, trying to grasp what he was hearing. "What kind of world? And why would your… patriarch… want anything to do with me?"
The black-auraed figure let out a dark chuckle. "Questions, questions. You'll have your answers if you come with us. But understand this—your friends are of no consequence to us. You alone are of interest. If you surrender willingly, they may walk away unharmed. Refuse, and their lives end here."
Mei Lin's parents glanced at each other, their expressions torn between fear and protectiveness. Mei Lin's mother put a hand on Zhìxué's shoulder, her voice trembling but resolute. "Zhìxué, you can't go with them. We… we'll protect you, no matter what."
Mei Lin gripped his hand tightly, her eyes filled with fear but also fierce determination. "Don't listen to them, Zhìxué. You're not going anywhere. We're staying together."
Zhìxué looked at them, his heart pounding. The thought of putting his friends and Mei Lin's family at risk made his mind whirl. But he also felt an urge to understand—why him? Why did they need him specifically?
He spoke again, his voice firm. "If you want me to come with you, you'll need to tell me more. I don't know anything about your world. Why would your 'patriarch' be looking for me? How do you even know who I am?"
Elder Lu's face tightened, a hint of irritation crossing his expression. "I am not here to answer your questions, boy. Our world has its own rules, its own powers. You will understand when you stand before our patriarch."
Zhìxué was about to respond when, unexpectedly, Xing Xing's calm voice spoke directly into his mind, seemingly activated by the mention of another world.
"Master Zhìxué," Xing Xing said automatically, "based on data I have recently unlocked, these intruders originate from a world known as Tiānliàn (天炼界)—the Realm of Heavenly Refinement. It is a world where cultivation and physical strength form the basis of survival and power. They have come here seeking you, as your father has connections with this world."
Zhìxué's face went pale, and he whispered, almost to himself, "My father… had connections to another world?"
Everyone around him looked at him in shock, but Mei Lin's mother was the first to speak. "Zhìxué, what does Xing Xing mean? Your father… he was connected to this other world?"
Zhìxué's mind raced, trying to piece together what Xing Xing had just revealed. He took a steadying breath and glanced at Mei Lin and her parents, their faces reflecting a mixture of concern and fear. "I… I never knew," he murmured. "I don't know anything about this Tiānliàn, or why they're after me. But if my father was involved…"
Elder Lu's voice interrupted his thoughts, his patience clearly running thin. "Enough stalling. I suggest you come willingly, Zhìxué. Our patriarch does not take kindly to delays."
Zhìxué clenched his fists, his gaze hardening. "I'm not going anywhere until I get answers. If your world wants something from me, they'll have to tell me why. And I won't put my friends at risk."
Elder Lu's eyes narrowed, a hint of annoyance flashing across his face. "You are in no position to make demands, boy. But I see that stubbornness runs in the family." He raised his hand, a faint glow of dark flame igniting in his palm. "Refuse us again, and we'll ensure your friends pay the price for your insolence."
Mei Lin tightened her hold on Zhìxué's hand, her expression fierce. "Whatever this is, we're not letting them take you. We'll face them together, Zhìxué."
Zhìxué glanced at her, his heart heavy with the realization that he was now entangled in something far beyond his understanding. But seeing the determination in her eyes and the support from her parents, he felt a surge of resolve.
He turned back to the security feed, his voice calm but firm. "I'll give you one chance—tell me why your world wants me. Otherwise, you're wasting your time."
Elder Lu's eyes burned with frustration as he glared up at the penthouse, the dark energy in his hand growing more intense.
Outside the penthouse, Elder Lu raised his hand, summoning a black flame that radiated intense heat. He pressed it against the Lonsdaleite barrier, and with a fierce eruption of energy, the flames exploded, creating a deep, resonating crack in the metal. Elder Lu's eyes gleamed as he smirked, watching the supposedly impenetrable barrier begin to break under his power. With each blow, the barrier weakened, shuddering under the relentless assault.
Inside the penthouse, Zhìxué watched the security footage, his face pale with disbelief. "This… this is Lonsdaleite! The hardest material on Earth!" he murmured, feeling an unsettling chill as he watched the cracks begin to spread. "How can he just—"
He quickly connected to his AI, his voice tense. "Xing Xing, what do we do?"
Xing Xing's calm, feminine voice responded with an unusual tremor. "Master, the system has sustained serious damage. The barrier can withstand only five more impacts before it shatters completely. I suggest seeking a new defensive option immediately."
Zhìxué's mind raced, searching for options. Memories surfaced—a project he'd experimented with involving invisibility cloaks. "Xing Xing," he ordered quickly, "initiate the invisible custom suits. Prepare four."
Xing Xing's response came with a hint of hesitation. "Master, based on my analysis, Elder Lu's heightened senses will detect you even if you are invisible. Attempting to conceal yourself may provoke greater danger."
Zhìxué clenched his fists, realizing Xing Xing was right. "If invisibility won't work… then we need something with strength."
A sudden thought struck him. He remembered the metal inside his prosthetic legs—an element he'd once discovered and saved, calling it Neutron Steel after tracing its origins to a neutron star fragment. It was one of the few materials that could handle extreme pressure and heat, left to him in an unfinished project from his father's last work.
"Xing Xing," he said, his voice resolute, "I need you to transform the Neutron Steel in my leg into a full-body armor formation."
"Master, this is the Neutron Steel left by your father," Xing Xing reminded, its voice carrying a warning tone. "It was incomplete… are you sure?"
Zhìxué nodded, his expression determined. "Do it. I don't have another choice."
Xing Xing confirmed the command. "Transformation initiated."
Zhìxué felt a surge of energy as the Neutron Steel within his leg began to respond, spreading across his body. Shimmering, silver tendrils expanded over his skin, quickly solidifying into a powerful armor that emitted an otherworldly gleam. His strength amplified a hundredfold, the sheer power of the Neutron Steel sending a charge through his veins. He flexed his arms, feeling the massive increase in strength, a newfound resilience coursing through him.
Everyone in the room looked at him, their faces filled with awe and a hint of fear. Mei Lin whispered, "Zhìxué… this power… where did it come from?"
Zhìxué didn't have time to answer, though he gave her a reassuring look. "It's something my father left me… his last project."
Just as he prepared to open a small portion of the barrier to confront Elder Lu, a strange sound filled the room—a low hum coming from the corner. Zhìxué turned, his eyes narrowing as he recognized an old, dust-covered box. It was his father's suitcase—the one that had survived the accident all those years ago, left beside the TV ever since.
Suddenly, the box emitted a faint glow, and with a flash of light, it opened by itself. Before anyone could react, a powerful force exploded from within, transforming into a swirling white wind that rushed straight toward Zhìxué, piercing his mind like a storm.
As the white wind surged into Zhìxué's mind, a torrent of energy and information flooded his consciousness. His vision blurred, and he staggered, struggling to steady himself against the overwhelming invasion. He felt as if his mind was being ripped open, fragmented by the foreign presence.
The others looked on, horrified. Mei Lin's mother gasped, clutching her husband's arm. "Zhìxué! What is happening? Why is he acting like this?" Her voice trembled, her face pale as she watched Zhìxué struggle.
Mei Lin's father tightened his grip on his wife's shoulder, his face filled with worry. "Whatever that… that box unleashed… it's taken hold of him." He looked at Zhìxué with deep concern. "Zhìxué, hold on! Don't let whatever this is overpower you!"
Mei Lin, filled with both fear and love, ran to Zhìxué, grabbing his arm to steady him. She looked into his eyes, her own wide with panic. "Zhìxué, please, look at me!" she pleaded, her voice breaking. "Please… stay with us. I can't lose you. Not like this!"
Seeing his vacant, struggling expression, tears filled her eyes. "You've always been so strong, so fearless… but whatever this is, it's tearing you apart," she whispered, her fingers gripping his arm tightly. "Please, Zhìxué, I need you here with me. Don't let it take you."
Zhìxué blinked, barely able to register her words, his mind a battlefield of foreign memories and strange, fragmented data. "Mei… Lin…," he murmured, his voice strained as he fought against the onslaught in his mind.
Mei Lin's mother, unable to bear the sight, reached out to her daughter. "Mei Lin, dear, step back," she urged, though her voice was filled with sorrow. "Whatever is happening to him… it's too dangerous."
But Mei Lin shook her head, refusing to let go. "No, Mom! I'm not leaving him. He's always been there for us, for me… and I'm not letting him face this alone."
Her father nodded in agreement, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes. "Zhìxué, you're strong enough to fight this. Whatever this program or force is… remember who you are. Remember why you're here. We believe in you."
As Zhìxué continued to struggle, his consciousness slipping into a chaotic void, Xing Xing's strained voice echoed one final message: "Master, this is a hacking program attempting to override my control… embedded within your father's device… I am resisting, but… my systems are… compromised…"
The last words of Xing Xing faded, leaving the room in silence, a tense, haunting emptiness that deepened the fear in everyone's hearts.
Mei Lin, her voice a mixture of desperation and love, whispered, "Zhìxué, no matter what happens… remember you're not alone. I'll be right here with you."
Zhìxué's vision blurred further, the chaotic energy pulling him down, as the last words of his AI and the warmth of Mei Lin's grip faded. In his mind, only one thought echoed as he fought to stay grounded: This is… my father's legacy…
With that, everything went dark, and he fell to his knees, barely holding onto himself.
In the vast, dark void, Zhìxué felt an unfamiliar warmth, and slowly, a soft glow emerged. Out of the light appeared a graceful figure—a woman dressed in an elegant Chinese robe, adorned with intricate details. A small, delicate horn emerged from her forehead, while elegant, ethereal wings spread softly behind her. Her form was both mystical and advanced, a blending of ancient elegance and futuristic power.
She approached Zhìxué, her presence calming yet powerful, her voice soft and resonant.
"Zhìxué," she called gently, her voice echoing through the void, pulling him back to consciousness. "Awaken."
Zhìxué opened his eyes, startled. "Who… who are you?"
The woman gave a small, serene smile. "My name is Xing'er," she replied. "I am the last project of your father, a legacy left behind, coded as Project A2. You may also think of me as your father's final gift to you." She paused, letting him absorb her words. "I never expected to emerge, never imagined you would use the Neutron Star Crust to its fullest potential. That is the reason I've awakened and been able to connect with you."
Zhìxué's eyes widened. "Xing'er… my father's last project?" His voice was filled with awe and curiosity. "So you're… you're an AI?"
She nodded gracefully. "Yes, but not an AI in the way you know. I am far beyond the system you've known as 'Xing Xing.' Compared to me, Xing Xing operates at a much lower level." She gave him an understanding look. "I am an advanced system—your father's most sophisticated creation, designed to adapt, evolve, and support you in ways no other technology can."
Zhìxué processed her words, feeling a surge of amazement and curiosity. "But… I never knew anything like you existed. Why did my father create you?"
Xing'er's gaze softened. "Your father built me with a purpose. In his last days, he prepared a legacy—a way to ensure his knowledge and technology could help you. He feared he wouldn't be there to guide you, so he poured his knowledge, his strength, and his hopes into me. And now, as you have summoned the Neutron Star Crust's full potential, I am bound to you as my new master."
She paused, her expression steady. "You are in danger, Zhìxué. Elder Lu and his forces will stop at nothing to reach you. I am here to help you confront this threat."
Zhìxué took a breath, feeling both the weight of her words and the sense of newfound strength. "Then… you're really here to help me?"
Xing'er nodded. "Indeed. I am designed to protect you, empower you, and ensure you fulfill what your father intended for you. We will face this challenge together, master."
He managed a small smile, filled with gratitude and determination. "Thank you, Xing'er. I'll need all the help I can get."
Xing'er's eyes glowed with a soft light. "Then let us begin. We have work to do."
In a swift moment, Xing'er's voice echoed through the room. "Teleportation initiated. Transporting all occupants to a secure location."
Before anyone could react, the air around them shifted, and the familiar walls of the penthouse vanished in an instant. They found themselves standing in the midst of a lush, vibrant landscape filled with towering trees, exotic plants, and brilliant, tropical flowers. The sun filtered warmly through the canopy, casting dappled light on everything around them, and the sounds of rustling leaves and distant animal calls filled the air.
Zhìxué blinked, disoriented, as he looked around. Mei Lin clutched his arm, her face filled with confusion. "Zhìxué… what just happened?" She glanced around, her eyes wide with awe. "The penthouse… where is it?"
Her father, equally shocked, took a few steps, looking down and around, as though he expected the familiar floors and furniture to reappear. "Are we… outside? How…?"
Zhìxué, still trying to process it himself, turned to Xing'er, who had appeared beside him, her ethereal form calm and serene. "Xing'er… where are we? And what happened to the penthouse?"
Xing'er responded with a soft smile, a hint of pride in her voice. "Master Zhìxué, I transported all of you to a safer location. We are now in Samut Cher, Cambodia."
Her answer caused a wave of shock to ripple through everyone.
Mei Lin's mother gasped, putting a hand to her mouth. "Cambodia?" She looked around, taking in the lush, foreign landscape. "So far from home…"
Mei Lin shook her head in awe, her gaze sweeping over the vibrant scenery. "This place… it's like a dream. The plants, the air, everything feels so… untouched." She clutched Zhìxué's hand, her voice trembling with amazement and gratitude. "We were just in your penthouse… and now we're here."
Zhìxué took a steadying breath, glancing at Xing'er with newfound respect. "You teleported us… without the penthouse?"
Xing'er nodded. "Correct, Master Zhìxué. I calculated that transporting only people would maximize the speed and efficiency of the teleportation."
Her father chuckled, his surprise easing as he took in the scenery. "Well, I don't think I'll ever understand how you did this, but it's… breathtaking here. And safe."
Meanwhile, back in the penthouse, Elder Lu's patience had run out. He counted down with a menacing tone. "Three… two… one." With a powerful strike, he shattered the Lonsdaleite barrier, causing it to explode in shards. Smoke filled the space as the barrier finally gave way, and he stepped forward, his face twisted with dark satisfaction—only to find himself standing in an empty, silent room.
Elder Lu's eyes narrowed, and he clenched his fists as his frustration boiled over. "Gone? How could they…?"
He took a step forward, realizing there were no signs of movement, no traces of anyone in the penthouse. His dark flame flared around him, his rage building. "You think you can run from me, Zhìxué? I will find you… no matter where you hide."
Back in Samut Cher, as everyone's shock began to subside, they couldn't help but marvel at their surroundings. The warm sun, the thick, green foliage, and the distant chirping of birds felt like a world away from the danger they had just escaped.
Mei Lin's father looked at the towering trees, his voice soft with wonder. "It's like stepping into another world—so full of life and beauty."
Her mother took a deep breath, the fragrance of tropical flowers filling her senses. "I never imagined we'd see something so beautiful today. This place feels like a sanctuary… like it's been untouched for centuries."
Zhìxué gave a small smile, relieved to see the peace and awe in their faces. Turning to Xing'er, he nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Xing'er. You saved us."
Xing'er returned his gaze, bowing slightly. "It is my purpose to ensure your safety, Master Zhìxué. This location provides natural beauty, security, and resources. You are safe here."
Zhìxué glanced around, a sense of calm settling over him as he absorbed the scenery. "This place… it's exactly what we needed."
As they took in the landscape, the tension of their escape slowly faded, replaced by a sense of awe and newfound hope.