The Movement in Pain

I don’t understand.

I can’t do it, I just don’t understand.

The energy supply device began to overheat.

To the point where the cold mechanical body started trembling, hands clasped together, covering the chest cavity, and the face shook slightly at Xu Xi.

“I’m sorry… I don’t understand what you’re saying…”

I don’t understand, and I don’t want to understand.

As long as you are safe, as long as you continue to live, everything is acceptable.

So please, stop talking.

The overwhelming sorrow had already permeated the mechanical body, manifesting on the lifelike face. In that moment, it was impossible to tell that it was a machine.

[You feel that your education has failed even more]

[The loyal mechanical servant rejected you. She refuses to give up any possibility, tirelessly researching the fields of biology and virtual networks]

[To ensure your physical immortality, or the eternity of your spirit]

[All paths lead to the same source. Even in the technological system, there exists the possibility of regeneration from a single drop of blood]

[But unfortunately, in the field of biological evolution, you have conducted too few experiments. Ailei is powerless to explore deeper]

[Using her unique nature and referencing the existence of machine spirits, Ailei made rapid progress in the virtual network domain, creating a nearly real virtual world]

[It could replicate your memories, allowing you to exist eternally as a data entity]

[But is that form of life, that memory entity, really still alive?]

[Is the one alive still you, or is it a data entity named “Xu Xi”?]

[Before you could say anything, Ailei deleted all the programs. She did not want to defile your existence, nor did she want you to be trapped in a virtual world prison]

[Just as you spent your entire life trying to lead Ailei out of the cage of this starry sky]

[Ailei also does not want you to lose your freedom]

[The bond of emotions is mutual]

“...I’m sorry, Master.”

There was no malfunction, the body was flawless, yet the delicate face revealed a fragile brokenness, on the verge of collapse.

The silver-blue hollow eyes, the silent core furnace, the trembling fingertips.

Every part.

Was speaking of a deep sorrow.

“Don’t apologize to me, Ailei. You’ve never done anything wrong.”

Xu Xi shook his head, gently taking the mechanical, lifelike hand in his.

His voice was still warm.

Even though his emotions were scarce, even though his thoughts were cold as ice.

He still radiated kindness toward the mechanical servant.

With a forced smile, he reassured Ailei not to worry, saying that he wouldn’t die, but would only enter a long slumber.

“Trust me, okay?”

His lifeless human eyes met Ailei’s trembling mechanical gaze.

“...Yes, Ailei will always believe in you.”

Ailei still couldn’t fully comprehend human emotions—it was an inherent difference in life forms—but she knew that her core was in “pain.”

...

[Simulation Year 701, you are 720 years old, Ailei has been by your side for 698 years]

[The experiments on the curvature drive have made a breakthrough. Though still not mature, there is now a possibility of operation]

[You silently calculate the time]

[Using Ailei’s observational abilities, you calculate the trajectory of the neutron war star]

[You decide that before the tenth death strike arrives, at the farthest point of the neutron war star, you will officially launch the “Goodbye, Cage 2.0” plan]

[The engines begin assembly, the circuits start merging]

[Time is tight. You cannot wait for the curvature drive to mature. With Ailei’s assistance, the prototype curvature drive, prototype antimatter engine, and prototype element decay engine begin forming a new starship]

[Due to the lack of materials and the scarcity of finished products, you can only build one curvature starship]

[You are not regretful]

[This is enough. As long as you can escape the cage, with Ailei’s machine spirit capabilities, she can easily initiate a full-scale mechanical apocalypse]

...

[Simulation Year 725, you are 744 years old, Ailei has been by your side for 722 years]

[The curvature starship is fully installed]

[The neutron war star is also outside Ailei’s observational range, meaning it is at an extremely distant point from you]

[You make the decision to set sail immediately]

The universe is vast and boundless.

The stars are as numerous as grains of sand.

Even the most ordinary galaxy contains hundreds of billions of stars, an unimaginable sea of blazing light stretching beyond sight.

And now.

From the invisible walls that separate the starry seas, a dark starship slowly emerges.

It is massive.

Enormous.

Colossal.

Due to the immaturity of the technology, the current curvature drive and the two new types of engines are all of a massive, towering scale.

Thus, as the carrier of these three devices, the curvature starship is also of an absurdly large size.

Slowly extending.

Gradually unfolding.

The dark hull seems to blend into the cosmos, but its awe-inspiring size appears to tear through the starry sea, roaring forward.

“Energy supply in progress, gravitational generator operational, spatial bending initiated, quantum communication network established.”

“Master, all preparations are complete.”

Inside the curvature starship.

Xu Xi stands at the bridge, observing the outer walls, while Ailei stands quietly, hands clasped at her waist, reporting the overall status of the starship.

“Good, proceed with the escape plan.”

Xu Xi gives the order, silently adding in his heart.

Goodbye, cage!

Beep—

A chaotic resonance echoes through the interior of the curvature starship. Slowly, an incredible sight unfolds.

The entire starship is enveloped in an invisible spatial bubble.

Gravity distorts, space bends, and a distance of over hundreds of thousands of kilometers becomes skewed as the gravitational generator activates.

Space continues to bend.

Until it reaches a peak.

Like a wave, it propels the dark starship toward the invisible wall.

That wall, which has imprisoned countless civilizations and silenced the starry seas, will today be crossed by Xu Xi.

[Ding—]

[The machine spirit is delighted, the curvature drive’s power continues to increase]

[Ding—]

[The machine spirit is delighted, the antimatter engine provides more energy]

[Ding—]

[The machine spirit is delighted, the element decay engine becomes faster and more powerful]

Xu Xi’s body sways slightly. To ensure the smooth operation of the curvature starship, he is fully synchronizing with the machine spirit.

The overwhelming burden accelerates the erosion of his body.

“...Master.”

“I’m fine, Ailei. Continue with the plan.”

Xu Xi gently takes the mechanical servant’s hand, smiling at her. His smile is more hollow, more forced.

His voice is frail, like a withering plant.

Ailei is worried.

She wants to do something, but there’s nothing she can do.

“Yes…”, the only thing she can do is follow Xu Xi’s orders, carry out the starship’s escape, and transmit the data as planned.