My Choice

Sizzle!

Inside the confinement room, the dim lights began to flicker.

Bai Ying leaned against the wall, her beautiful white hair falling over her shoulders. Her handcuffed hands were clasped around her knees, her head buried within them.

Being confined wasn't a big deal for her. Even if she wasn't locked in this cold room, she wouldn't talk to anyone.

Of course, no one wanted to provoke this neurotic girl.

Being a loner was her unique label in Xuan Se Cang Qiong.

But Bai Ying was still very sad. Every time she closed her eyes, all she saw were the final battle scenes of Xing Tian—and she, as the pilot, could only watch it all from the hangar.

She couldn't control her temper, whether in words or actions. She didn't really consider others' feelings, but that didn't mean she had no heart.

Xing Tian shouldn't have ended up like this. He was a retired training machine, with no need to be on the battlefield!

Furthermore, even if Xing Tian had to fight, he shouldn't have died in such a manner today!

"If only I had taken better care of him during simulation training..."

Bai Ying's fingernails dug into her flesh. Ever since she started living alone, she had rarely cried like this.

Knock, knock, knock!

The heavy alloy door was knocked on. Bai Ying was too immersed in her own world to notice the growing panic in the corridor!

"Bai Ying, we're opening the door now. Don't do anything rash!"

According to regulations, people confined to the isolation room wouldn't be handcuffed unless they had committed a crime.

But Bai Ying had obvious violent tendencies, so even with handcuffs, those outside weren't sure if she would attack them by other means!

A few seconds later, the door to the confinement room was opened. Three fully armed guards, holding electric batons, surrounded the girl sitting on the floor!

They didn't let their guard down because of the girl's haggard appearance, as Bai Ying's penchant for fighting was well-known throughout the base.

"General Chen wants you to go to the hangar to see him immediately. Please get up and come with us."

Hearing someone speak to her, Bai Ying slowly raised her head. Her face was pale, her eyes were red, and distinct tear tracks were visible beneath her eyes.

"Where is Xing Tian?"

Bai Ying's voice trembled slightly, her tone so calm it didn't sound like a question, but rather a plea.

The three exchanged glances.

This was the first time they had seen Bai Ying in this state. Everyone knew that Bai Ying was difficult to deal with, and her fists were the biggest argument.

They had all suffered at Bai Ying's hands before, so none of them dared to treat her like a mere girl.

But Bai Ying's demeanor was indeed too abnormal.

"It's precisely because of Xing Tian that you need to go," one of them softened his tone.

At these words, Bai Ying's pupils immediately regained their light!

She got up immediately, wiped her eyes with her arm, and hurried towards the hangar with the three guards.

Along the way, she noticed that the entire base's power system seemed to be malfunctioning. Lights flickered, elevators were stopped, even the electronically locked biometric locks that required authentication had failed, and the access doors had to be opened manually!

The four of them jogged, and it still took nearly ten minutes to reach the hangar's control room.

"General, she's here!"

As soon as she entered, Bai Ying rushed straight to the observation window, her hands pressed tightly against the glass!

Although Xing Tian was still in his damaged state, his power core was operating at full speed!

"What did you do to him!" This was the sight Bai Ying least wanted to see.

"Calm down!" General Chen didn't intend to let Bai Ying continue. "Explain the current situation to her."

A technician beside him anxiously summarized.

"An unknown error occurred during Xing Tian's power core ignition, causing Xuan Se Cang Qiong's main control system to be infiltrated. Now, the entire base's energy is being channeled into Xing Tian's power core. If this continues, Xuan Se Cang Qiong's power system will collapse in less than half an hour!"

"Once the power system collapses, all the fully automated CNC cannons covering the base will shut down. Moreover, some of our power conduits are connected to Zhenhai City. Xing Tian might continue to draw power from Zhenhai City through the conduits!"

"Then why not pull out the cables?" Bai Ying didn't understand how she could help, but she felt a sense of relief upon hearing that Xing Tian was drawing energy.

"We can't pull them out. Xing Tian has modified the cables to be the same material as the power core. Even a thermal cutter can't cut through them!"

"What can I do?"

Faced with Bai Ying's question, the technician hesitated.

"The base's main control system is currently completely jammed. We can't change the circuits through CNC means, nor can we manually cut off the power supply in a short time," Dr. Chris finished the technician's words. "According to the last log transmitted before the system collapse, the intrusion signal came from Xing Tian. We need someone to establish a neural link with it to resolve the problem internally, and you are the best candidate."

"No problem," Bai Ying agreed without a second thought.

"No, it's not that simple!" the technician finally spoke. "This isn't a simple neural link. Xing Tian doesn't have an intelligent system, but the intrusion signal is coming from him. This means there's something wrong with that power core; it might have self-awareness!"

"So?"

Bai Ying's reaction was calm to everyone's surprise.

"Do you think that's the only danger! The system is out of control now. When you establish a neural link with Xing Tian, there will be no safety protocols to protect you. Open your eyes and look at him!" The technician pointed at Xing Tian outside the window with his finger. "Xing Tian is already a wreck! His system is currently in a state of collapse. Once you establish a neural link with him, no one knows where your consciousness coordinates will drift!"

"I know."

"No, you don't! Your consciousness could be displaced, your mind trapped forever in a shattered illusion, lost eternally!" the technician grew more agitated. "Do you know how the test pilots for the 'Savior' mechs died? They forced a connection with the mechs while the system was unstable, and as a result, both fell into delirious dreams. By the time they disconnected, they were declared brain-dead!"

The technician continued to warn Bai Ying of the dangers, but he found her completely unmoved.

Those red pupils were like an unshakeable mountain peak, standing resolutely before him.

"You'll die," the technician didn't want to watch Bai Ying put on the helmet, unaware of the risks.

But it was all he could do.

Everyone in the control room knew of the potential risk, yet only he had told Bai Ying.

"Unlock her handcuffs." General Chen, seeing that their conversation had ended, immediately ordered the guards to remove Bai Ying's restraints.

Under everyone's gaze, Bai Ying sat down in the chair without hesitation and picked up the helmet, which was usually only used during training.

"Thank you." Before Bai Ying put on the helmet, she suddenly smiled at the young technician.

"This is my own choice."