The monitoring system for substitutes is very strict.
The mecha took over the monitoring meticulously, adjusted the sea of consciousness to a quiet warm yellow, and temporarily confiscated Yu Tang's game controller.
The handle was taken away gently but unquestionably, and temporarily put away beside his bed. Yu Tang could not help but close his eyes.
… He’s been playing this game for a long time.
It was too difficult to accumulate a billion points. After accidentally breaking the iron shell of the large mecha, he wasted several months trying hard to piece the wreckage back together.
He couldn't put it together well, so he barely made a nest with rusty iron blocks and slept in it all the time.
He never returned to the room with the soft pillows, the small rug and the table lamp.
The wreckage of the mecha was icy and hard, and no sound could be heard. He hid himself inside to play games and only came out when the game console ran out of battery.
When his hand was pinched by a crab and his face was sprayed with ink by a squid that was caught, Yu Tang sometimes couldn't help but think that the hidden treasure chest worth 1 billion points was not just what that person said to fool him.
He also really wants to save up 1 billion.
He really wanted that person to come back.
Yu Tang closed his eyes, curled up in the blanket, and said softly, "Good night—"
The next moment, a very steady heartbeat sounded suddenly from inside the mecha's shell.
…
The calm and steady heartbeat rang continuously and steadily in his ears, gently enveloping his entire consciousness like a tide.
Yu Tang didn't say anything else.
He suddenly pulled the blanket away and pressed against the hard and cold metal shell of the mecha.
He knocked twice, paused, and knocked again.
After two seconds, the mecha raised its hand and covered the furry ball of light.
A soft stream of warm light entangled between his fingers.
"Good night." The mecha said softly, "Little light ball, see you when you wake up."
Yu Tang slept for a long time.
This was a rare opportunity, so he seized the time and had a good dream. When he woke up, he seemed to be able to hear the crisp tinkling sound of the wind shaking the wind chimes.
He woke up and heard the mecha's voice: "Mr. Yu."
Yu Tang flashed in response.
He slept so comfortably that he was reluctant to restore the data for the time being. He stretched himself in the arms of the mecha and leaned out to look down.
In line with his frequency, the mecha also flashed its tail lights slowly.
The mechanical voice of the substitute system sounded, and it seemed to have a faint smile: "Would you like something to eat? I just baked some bread."
Yu Tang couldn't help but be curious: "Is this also considered a punishment?"
"It's okay." The mecha said, "I just learned it from S7. The roasting was not very successful. I couldn't concentrate completely. S7 also sent back two roasted snakes, a bowl of wild mushroom soup, and a roasted rabbit leg."
Yu Tang: “…”
"Please rest assured, S7 is in good condition." The mecha said, "It is now night, and he is about 5 kilometers away from the Dolphin's location."
Yu Tang could also tell that S7 was probably in very good condition.
Not only do we feel like having a picnic, we even have time to go back and give a small bread baking class.
Yu Tang jumped off the bed, switched back to normal data mode, and fluttered his body back to normal: "Is it okay to light a fire out here?"
He had a rough look at the original exercise plan. As special forces members of the Blue Army, they would "hunt" the trainees. Once the fire was lit, they would almost certainly put an eye on the thermal imager for the Blue Army.
In order to avoid being treated as a live target, the trainees participating in the exercise prepared nutritional paste and electrolyte drinks. Although the taste is hard to describe, it is convenient after all. It can not only replenish the required energy in time, but also minimize the radiation of heat energy to avoid being spotted by the blue army.
The military academy also prepared nutritional paste for the students. Out of curiosity, Yu Tang followed Shi Ji to taste some, and he can still clearly recall the almost weird taste and texture.
"It's okay." said the mecha.
The mecha turned on the light screen and synchronized with the Blue Army's headquarters, projecting the current real-time statistical data.
"It has now been nine hours since the exercise began."
Mecha: "More than seventy eliminated fighters who originally failed to get a place, and more than ten mechas and wingmen have chosen to enter the battlefield."
This number is not large, but it is definitely not small either.
Everyone has their own considerations.
By being fully prepared and waiting until the last 12 hours to enter the battlefield, you can stop at the point when these trainees are the most tired and their combat effectiveness is most weakened.
If they enter the battlefield now, they will certainly face elites in prime condition, but the trainees have not yet been able to get their wingmen and mechas, and are unarmed, which also makes this the best opportunity to attack.
"These combat machines are powered by energy, and the heat radiation they emit far exceeds that of flames in terms of intensity, range, and duration."
The mecha said: "As long as you choose the right location, even if you light a campfire and go to sleep, you will not be detected by the thermal imaging camera."
It is undoubtedly difficult for the trainees, who have no battlefield experience and are participating in the exercise for the first time, to realize this at present.
While Yu Tang was catching up on his sleep, the substitute system helped him fish while hacking into the Blue Army's command center and using the surveillance footage to see how other people were performing.
The exercise area where they were located was in the northwest of the alliance. There was a huge temperature difference between day and night. It was already very cold late at night in autumn, and there was a light rain in the evening.
Many students were already shivering with cold. One of them was an observer who had separated from the operator and was looking for his wingman alone. Due to the influence of hypothermia, he was ambushed by several eliminated students and their locator of the representative quota was snatched away.
Zhuang Yu did not tell the truth to the dean of the Mecha Academy.
He did receive an urgent top-secret communication from the military half an hour before the exercise began, and he was personally responsible for modifying and rearranging the rules of the entire exercise.
Only those who have experienced the battlefield can understand the battlefield.
What Zhuang Yu intended to do was to do his best to make sure that the many new recruits who had not had time to grow up understood what kind of cruel war they were about to face before the Zerg tide completely swept the entire alliance.
The more losses you suffer in the exercises, the higher your chances of surviving on the battlefield will be.
Yu Tang sipped the hot and delicious mushroom soup while watching the real-time data changing on the light screen.
Up to this point, the cruel battlefield has only shown its fangs a little.
In reality.
Shi Ji did not choose to find a secluded place to sleep for a few hours like other trainees.
He only needed to rest for a while, replenish the energy his body needed, put out the fire completely, and wiped out all traces neatly.
Even the most elite detectives would not be able to determine whether anyone had ever stayed here.
"Mr. Yu, there are still two kilometers to go."
Shi Ji reported to Yu Tang in his sea of consciousness: "There is a lake before the finish line. There are ambushes on both sides. I need to swim across the middle."
Yu Tang nodded.
He called up the control panel, opened Shi Ji's physical data, and checked it thoroughly: "I will resume the projection of the sea of consciousness in five minutes."
Shi Ji hesitated: "Mr. Yu—"
"Okay." Yu Tang said, "This is not negotiable."
He knew Shi Ji's worries.
Once the sea of consciousness is cut off, it means that the perception of the body is infinitely close to zero. Swimming in this kind of weather will cause severe hypothermia. Shi Ji has undergone relevant training, but Yu Tang is different.
If the projection of the sea of consciousness is restored, Yu Tang will also synchronize all of Shi Ji's physical sensations.
"If you don't resume projection, you won't be able to feel anything." Yu Tang said.
Last time in the military's confidential archives, Yu Tangshun read through all the war records in recent years, and also learned from Shi Ji's habit to make a summary: "Do you know why no matter how you train, you can't satisfy Sheng Tiancheng?"
Shi Ji was stunned.
Yu Tang never mentioned this past in front of him. There had been so many changes recently that he had almost forgotten this name.
When it was brought up again, the traces left in his consciousness couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Shi Ji slowed down his pace slightly and answered seriously: "I don't know."
"Because they started out wrong."
Yu Tang said: "Sheng Tiancheng and his school of military opinion believe that pain, fatigue and negative emotions are the key factors affecting combat effectiveness."
Yu Tang: "You should have realized that this is not the right thing to do."
Shi Ji: “… .”
He had indeed realized something was wrong a long time ago.
Only by knowing fatigue can you adjust the distribution of physical strength in time. Only by learning fear can you always maintain a high degree of caution and ensure the continuous secretion of adrenaline.
Only by clearly feeling the pain can he know the limits of his body.
The reason why humans are stronger than machines and AI is precisely because of these things that seem to be extremely hindrances.
He had long realized that something was wrong. As soon as these thoughts came into his mind, they would be swallowed up and obliterated by the program, without even a chance to stop and think carefully.
"Before, you only had to walk through the jungle. Relying on experience alone, you can also judge and adjust your physical condition."
Yu Tang said: "Next, you must ensure that you have an absolutely clear sense of pain and temperature."
Shi Ji had understood Yu Tang's intention. He quickly passed through the bushes and stopped to determine the direction: "Maybe—"
"Don't worry about me." Yu Tang said, "You know my system is on vacation, so I hired a temporary system to take over, right?"
Shi Ji nodded honestly: "I know."
Yu Tang: "My temporary system is very powerful."
Yu Tang: "If I'm too cold, he'll wrap me up in a blanket and play games with me among the pillows."
Shi Ji: “…”
Yu Tang: "If I'm still cold, he'll put me in a bathtub with a massage function, fill it with hot water, and put a little yellow duck on my head."
Shi Ji: “…”
Yu Tang: "Are you still worried?"
Shi Ji: “…Don’t worry.”
Yu Tang successfully comforted the young interstellar commander, and worked together with the temporary replacement system in the mecha to restore the complete projection of the sea of consciousness.
…
Shi Ji regained his concentration, moving stealthily and quickly through the jungle.
Yu Tang checked the interception net of the anti-OOC system, picked up the game controller placed next to him, and turned it into a fishing rod in the holographic image.
The mecha looked at him and stood up.
Yu Tang was about to make a move when he noticed his movements from the corner of his eye: "What's up?"
"I'm moving the Jacuzzi."
The mecha reminded him: "Drop the hook, there is a pearl oyster there."
Yu Tang: “…”
Yu Tang put down the fishing hook in time, took off the pearl oyster, coughed lightly and turned off the shield: "I'm coaxing little S7."
The system would go shopping at street stalls when he had nothing to do. He had always longed for his colleagues who were assigned to work in the mall. He had talked to Yu Tang about the generous benefits of the mall employees more than once.
Even for staff members with in-app purchase privileges, they only have one in-app purchase opportunity per month.
The supervision of employees by the Supervisory Committee has become increasingly strict. Even if you are the person in charge of a shopping mall, you cannot move things in the mall without paying.
The temporary system stopped and imitated his words. The mechanical voice added a slight smile: "Who said I'm the one who messes around in the mall?"
Yu Tang was slightly startled.
"I also have a guy I used to know... Xiao Guangtuan." The temporary system said, "I promised him a lot of things, but I didn't do them."
"For example, I promised to make him a book-turning robot, a mecha toy, buy him a top-end luxury game console that can actually fish, and buy him a bathtub that can massage."
Temporary system: "I also promised him that if he knocks me, I will pat his head."
Yu Tang slowly gripped the fishing rod.
He said nothing, looking at the expressionless mask of the mecha.
Temporary system: "I actually want to touch him right now, but the size difference between us is too big. No matter how I operate, it will feel a little weird."
"I was a little careless at the time and didn't consider this situation." The temporary system said, "Even if it's a model toy, it should be made bigger... I have to put it aside."
The temporary system controlled the mecha and opened its arms to Yu Tang: "Mr. Yu, please do me a favor."
Yu Tang raised the corner of his mouth unconsciously.
Yu Tang walked to the sofa, squatted down, placed the small mecha model on the highest point of the pillow fortress, and lowered his head slightly.
The mechanical hand pressed lightly on the top of his head, and after a while, it added a little more strength.
…
The mecha sat down on top of the pillow.
This was also somewhat beyond his plan.
He had not originally planned to do so here - after all, the staff had to distribute tens of thousands of flyers each time, and although distributing flyers had its meaning, he had already found the person, and it would be a bit of a waste of time to be punished again.
Just now, he suddenly understood Yu Tang’s feeling of preferring to be punished rather than finish saying those words.
He also remembered very clearly what Yu Tang said.
Electric storms can indeed devour all kinds of things, but sometimes, some small accidents can occur.
For example, devouring all the ice cream in the refrigerator in one breath.
He returned to the room and saw the little ball of light that had fallen to the ground and frozen into ice. He used a lot of effort to suppress his smile, wrapped the ball of light in a blanket, and played games with him for half the night among the pile of pillows.
The ball of light was close to him and unconsciously absorbed most of his heat, but it was still so cold that snowflakes fell from it when it touched him.
He filled the bathtub with hot water again, and patiently persuaded her for a long time before using a little yellow duck as an exchange to successfully coax the electric storm, which had never been touched by water, into the room.
…
When Yu Tang talked about these things just now in order to persuade Shi Ji, his tone was different from usual.
Neither is the cold data that has evolved at a high speed, nor is it the "host" who has found his lost core particles in these books and gradually become mature and rational.
Yu Tang was so happy that he couldn't help but show off a little in a childish way.
Just like the ball of light that he coaxed into the bathtub.
I learned from the movies that all is fair in war, and I sank to the bottom of the water, dying, with bubbles bubbling up.
And when he was worried and anxious and couldn't help stretching out his hand to scoop it out, a fish suddenly swooped out, carrying a little yellow duck and bringing hot water vapor, happily splashing water all over him.
… This was a dream that he had tried his best to preserve.
After merging with the AI, his self-awareness was gradually blocked, and he slowly turned into a machine that only knew how to obey orders.
Whenever he was about to be completely swallowed up by the monster, he would dig out this small piece of hidden data and review it as quickly as possible before the strangulation program could react.
The warm ball of light, with the little yellow duck on top, jumped into his arms and rubbed against him in a disorderly manner.
A warm yellow light that is bright to the point of blinding.
…
"I got here earlier than you, Mr. Yu."
The temporary system's tone was serious: "There are 10 in-app purchase opportunities every month, 12 opportunities per year, and 120 opportunities in 10 years."
Temporary system: "I have saved a lot of things for him, waiting to take him home."
When Shi Ji and another pair of partners met on a narrow road, Yu Tang had just gotten his new jacuzzi in his sea of consciousness.
This time, the opponent is from the active team, and they will form an official partnership of wingman and mecha.
Yu Tang looked at the screen and couldn't help but frown: "Is this specially arranged?"
If not, their young commander would have been really unlucky.
The biggest dangers the other trainees encountered on their way to meet up with the mechas were a few mechanical bugs and a few eliminated hunters hunting in groups.
On this road, Shi Ji encountered seven mechanical bugs and a group of poisonous snakes. He dealt with two mechas one after another, and now he was facing a group of mechas and wingmen that were officially in service.
"It's a deliberate arrangement."
The temporary system said: "Zhuang Yu wants to test Shi Ji's limits."
Yu Tang pointed at the ten microwave cannons on the mecha and said, "This is too extreme."
Temporary system: "..."
The temporary system walked over to him, sat up and looked at the light screen: "Hey, Zhuang Yu has made up his mind this time and is not prepared to let Shi Ji get away with it."
Shi Ji's talent is too strong, which is a good thing, but it is also a worry to some extent.
Especially in the current situation.
Only when people are oppressed to the extreme can they break through themselves. Compared to facing life and death on the battlefield, Zhuang Yu would rather do it himself, under the premise of control, to put the strongest pressure on these geniuses.
If he only remembered the S7 that disappeared that year, Zhuang Yu would still know his weaknesses and shortcomings.
But now Shi Ji, who has survived the repeated strangulations and suppressions of the anti-OOC system, has quietly completed his self-evolution.
Freed from the system's forced constraints, even Zhuang Yu had no idea what Shi Ji's limits were.
Shi Ji took out the mecha wreckage he had collected previously from his backpack.
His movements were so swift and quick that they were almost invisible. He had already put the parts together to form a strange-looking gun.
The gun tip is the laser launcher on the scrapped mecha.
In the dark night, the opposing mecha gave an attack warning first.
Shi Ji rolled on the ground and dodged the attack of the electromagnetic cannon. The bushes behind him were quickly burned to charcoal by the ultra-short waves of billions of hertz.
"Leave the locator, we don't want to start a war!"
The wingman hovered above and turned on the loudspeaker: "You can still grab other locators. Three spots have already been taken by newcomers. You still have a chance..."
Shi Ji seemed not to hear it. The laser gun fired and accurately hit the communication antenna of the mecha.
The mecha operator's face darkened suddenly.
Communication antennas are only used when emergency contact is needed. In close-range combat, hitting the antenna has almost no practical significance.
… This is even an established and provocative act.
The huge body of the mecha suddenly became sharp, and it slid in quickly with the help of the thrusters. The warning light of the electromagnetic cannon turned red.
Shi Ji was no longer in his original position.
The propulsion ability of humans could never match that of mechas. As early as during the previous repairs, he had simply modified the scrapped thrusters removed from the mecha and equipped them on himself.
Putting some distance between them, Shi Ji ran straight to the bushes by the lake not far away.
"Nine o'clock!" The observer had already determined his target, "He wants to swim across by force!"
The mecha's feet pressed against the ground, causing a sharp hissing sound as it advanced like lightning.
Shi Ji dodged the attack of the ultra-high frequency electromagnetic waves, turned over and fell down, allowing the electromagnetic waves to sink silently into the lake.
Shi Ji reported in his mind: "Mr. Yu."
Yu Tang: “…Yes.”
Shi Ji: "What you said before gave me new inspiration."
Yu Tang asked: "What words... the importance of pain and negative emotions?"
"This is also important." Shi Ji said, "but the other part is more important."
Shi Ji: "If it's too cold, you can fill the bathtub with hot water and put a little yellow duck in it."
Yu Tang: “?”
Shi Ji held onto the tree branch with one hand, and with the other hand he slid out a makeshift laser gun, accurately cutting off the communication antenna on the other side of the mecha.
The opposing mecha’s anger was almost at its limit.
This type of ultra-high frequency electromagnetic wave is extremely lethal and can completely dry out animals and plants within a few seconds, but its ability to penetrate metal is almost zero. It can be completely intercepted by the defensive devices on the trainees, so it is not on the list of banned weapons.
As long as that rampant little guy was swept down - even just down, the defensive device on his body would pop out automatically.
According to the rules, will be judged as out.
Shi Ji was undoubtedly aware of this. With the help of the thrusters, his speed had been pushed to the limit. He kept changing cover and took the mecha around the lake for most of the circle.
The autumn wind was cold, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead, with his chest rising and falling slightly.
Shi Ji's footsteps stopped just in front of a patch of woods. He rolled on the ground and disappeared into another patch of bushes.
Yu Tang had already recognized the woods.
When Shi Ji analyzed this before, he had said that this was the most suitable terrain for setting up ambushes and placing automatic offensive weapons in advance.
The wingman was unaware and continued to keep a close eye on Shi Ji from high in the sky, reporting its location to the mecha.
According to the traditional wingman-mech combination, the wingman is responsible for aerial observation and the mech is responsible for ground surveillance, which happens to cover all observation ranges. The mech noticed that the situation on the ground was different and issued a warning to the wingman, but received no response.
The mecha operator called out several times repeatedly and finally realized something was wrong. His expression suddenly changed.
… Shi Ji only interrupted the transmission antenna!
During the long battle with humans, the Zerg learned to simulate the chirping of insects at radio frequencies. In order to ensure that communications are not interfered with to the greatest extent possible, all transmitting and receiving antennas were separated and only responsible for individual functions.
Because he could always hear the direction reported by his wingman, he didn't notice that the mecha had lost one-way communication with the wingman.
The observer flying the wingman plane was unable to judge the terrain below. When he heard the alarm, it was already too late and he was immediately covered by artillery fire triggered from the ground.
Sweat broke out on the mecha operator's forehead.
He didn't care about Shi Ji, and was anxious to meet his wingman, maneuvering the mecha into the lake.
The next moment, the seemingly calm lake suddenly boiled.
The mecha's precision instruments were carefully protected during design so that they could cope with most harsh environments, but no one had thought of having to design for the sudden extreme temperature difference from cold to hot.
There was a small explosion inside the mecha, and the dashboard quickly went out, leaving only a dull gray.
Before the operator could react, the entire mecha stopped working and stopped unsteadily in the lake.
Ultra-high frequency electromagnetic short waves rely on rapidly changing high-frequency electromagnetic fields to heat the moisture in the medium to achieve the attack effect.
… All those electromagnetic attacks that failed to hit Shi Ji were swallowed up by the lake water.
"It's the same principle as a microwave oven," Shi Ji said. "Ovens don't work on this principle. Ovens work on heaters."
Shi Ji added: "So things that come out of the oven taste better."
Yu Tang felt a bit complicated and applauded him in his sea of consciousness.
Shi Ji squatted by the lake, suspended one hand above the water, and tested the water temperature.
"We have to wait a little longer."
Shi Ji said: "When the water is not so hot, you can swim across."