Digital Offensive and Defensive Battle (Part 1)

At 3:17 AM, the only light in Tang Yu's apartment came from the cold glow of his computer screen. A system interface hovered above the monitor, flashing a red warning:

[Continuous surveillance detected]

[Source: Campus monitoring system]

[Infiltration level: 87%]

[Recommendation: Disconnect immediately]

Tang Yu's fingers danced across the keyboard, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Ever since he discovered Tsukishiro was monitoring Kei, he had been tracking the man's digital footprint.

But Tsukishiro's technical skill far exceeded expectations, and his anti-tracking programs were nearly flawless.

"System, list all redeemable hacking skills," Tang Yu commanded in a low voice.

A blue light screen expanded, displaying a dense skill tree before his eyes:

[Basic Hacking Skills: 5,000 points]

[Intermediate Network Infiltration: 15,000 points]

[Advanced Digital Anti-Tracking: 30,000 points]

[Top-tier Cyber Warfare Expert: 80,000 points]

[Note: Top-tier skill includes quantum encryption cracking capability]

Tang Yu glanced at his emotion point balance—after the hearing and the celebration, he had accumulated 112,400 points. It was enough to redeem the top-tier skill, but it would exhaust almost all of his reserves.

A flash of lightning streaked across the sky outside, illuminating his furrowed brow. Rain began to drum against the glass, as if foreshadowing the coming storm. Tang Yu recalled the kiss with Kei under the cherry blossom tree and Tsukishiro's threatening throat-slitting gesture.

"Redeem Top-tier Cyber Warfare Expert skill," he decided.

[Redemption confirmed]

[Cost: 80,000 points]

[Remaining emotion points: 32,400 points]

[Skill merging in progress...]

In an instant, a massive amount of information flooded into Tang Yu's brain like a tidal wave. The agony of his neural network being restructured caused him to arch his back, his fingers digging deep into his thighs.

Quantum encryption algorithms, zero-day exploit utilization, AI counter-technology... this knowledge was branded into his consciousness.

When the pain subsided, Tang Yu opened his eyes and found the world had changed. Faint, shimmering data streams floated in the air, and the signals from electronic devices flickered with the regularity of a heartbeat.

He looked at his laptop; the once-ordinary interface now displayed dozens of layers of superimposed network topology maps.

"Is this... the perspective of a top-tier hacker?"

Tang Yu flexed his fingers and began to re-analyze Tsukishiro's surveillance system. The previously obscure encryption methods were now crystal clear—

Tsukishiro was using asymmetric encryption based on quantum computing principles, which an ordinary hacker could never crack. But with the aid of his top-tier skill, Tang Yu quickly found a breakthrough.

"So that's it..." he muttered to himself, tracing the source of Tsukishiro's commands. They didn't originate from within the campus but were routed through servers in seven different countries before finally pinpointing a commercial building in Minato City, Tokyo.

The system suddenly popped up a new warning:

[Target system countermeasure detected]

[Type: Autonomous AI defense]

[Danger level: High]

[Recommendation: Initiate virtual isolation zone]

Tang Yu quickly established a firewall, but Tsukishiro's counterattack arrived faster than he had anticipated. Countless warning windows popped up on the screen, the computer fan whirred frantically, and the temperature rose sharply.

"Damn it, it's a logic bomb!"

He immediately cut the network connection, but it was too late. Some kind of advanced malicious program had already begun invading his phone and tablet via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals.

Tang Yu made a split-second decision and threw all his devices into the microwave—the only way to ensure complete electromagnetic isolation.

The apartment fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional crackle of electricity from the microwave. Tang Yu leaned against the wall, his heart pounding like a drum. Tsukishiro's cyber warfare capabilities were far beyond those of an average human; it was almost as if...

"AI..." A terrifying conjecture formed in Tang Yu's mind. Is Tsukishiro Shuhei not human?

He remembered Tsukishiro's inhuman tone and eerie mind-control abilities during the hearing. If the White Room had already developed to the point of creating biological AI.

Then everything made sense—the tireless, hyper-learning "Reaper" capable of controlling multiple systems simultaneously.

Tang Yu rummaged through his drawer for a spare phone and inserted a disposable SIM card. This device had never been connected to the internet and should be safe.

He quickly entered the emergency number Ayanokoji had given him and sent a string of code: 715-229-843.

Three minutes later, the phone vibrated. An encrypted text message appeared: "Confirmed. The target is a Seventh Generation product, a hybrid of biological neural networks and quantum computing.

Weakness: Over-reliance on a central node. Stay offline. Physical intelligence incoming. --R"

Central node... Tang Yu pondered. This meant that although Tsukishiro was powerful, he had to rely on a main server for complex calculations. Finding and destroying that central node would significantly weaken his capabilities.

The rain intensified, and Tang Yu looked out at the blurred silhouette of the campus. There were two hours until dawn, and he had to use this time to formulate a plan. His top priority was ensuring Kei's safety, and then...

The phone suddenly vibrated. A text message from an unknown number: "Kei-chan is so cute. How much pain do you think she can endure before she breaks? --M"

Tang Yu's blood froze instantly. Tsukishiro had already locked onto Kei, and he knew they were in contact! He immediately dialed Kei's number, but only heard a busy signal.

[Emotional value has exceeded the critical point]

[Current value: 42,300/∞]

[Unlocked temporary ability: Memory Projection (Upgraded)]

[Effect: Converts specific emotions into tangible images, can be projected remotely]

[Cost: 20,000 points/use]

Tang Yu didn't have time to study the new ability; he grabbed his jacket and rushed out the door. Cold rain lashed against his face as he ran, trying to contact Kei again, but still to no avail.

The girls' dormitory building looked blurry and distant through the curtain of rain. Tang Yu sprinted at full speed, the system interface flickering at the edge of his vision:

[Abnormal energy fluctuation detected]

[Location: Girls' dormitory, third floor]

[Type: Mental interference field]

[Intensity: Sufficient to cause short-term memory loss]

"Kei!" Tang Yu's heart felt like it was about to burst from his chest. The dormitory entrance was locked tight, and he didn't hesitate to activate system assistance:

[Redeeming Instant Burst Strength Enhancement]

[Cost: 10,000 points]

[Duration: 3 minutes]

A surge of heat flooded his limbs. Tang Yu easily vaulted over the three-meter-high iron gate and climbed the exterior wall pipes up to the third floor. A faint light shone from Kei's room window, and shadows flickered behind the curtains.

When Tang Yu reached the windowsill, a scene that made his blood run cold came into view—Kei was slumped on the floor, her eyes unfocused, while two men in black stood before her. One of them held a device emitting a blue light, aiming it directly at her temple.

"Stop!" Tang Yu shattered the glass and burst into the room.

The two attackers clearly hadn't expected this method of assault. The older one turned around quickly, and Tang Yu recognized him as the doctor from the school infirmary! The younger one continued to press the device closer to Kei.

"Don't move, Tang. The doctor pulled a controller from his pocket. Unless you want Kei-chan's brain to explode like an egg in a microwave."

Tang Yu froze in place. System analysis showed it was indeed a neural disruptor capable of destroying short-term memory in an instant. Kei's eyes were hollow; she had clearly already been partially affected.

"Very good. The doctor smiled. Mr. Tsukishiro just wants to invite Kei to a small check-up; he won't hurt her. If you cooperate..."

Tang Yu's peripheral vision scanned the room, searching for a breakthrough. Kei's usual hair clip sat on her desk, shards of window glass were scattered across the floor, and the phone on her bedside table was still blinking—she might have sent a distress signal before being subdued.

"What did you do to her?" Tang Yu stalled for time while quietly activating the system's newly unlocked "Memory Projection" ability.

"Just making her quiet. The doctor shook the controller. Mr. Tsukishiro is very interested in psychological reconstruction after emotional trauma, especially in someone like her... a complete transformation."

The young assistant suddenly interjected: "Doctor, his eyes... they're glowing!"

It was too late. Tang Yu had finished preparing the ability, converting all his rage and fear into tangible images. The entire room was suddenly shrouded in a blood-red hue, and the walls began to ooze blood.

Countless twisted human faces hung from the ceiling, screaming. These weren't ordinary hallucinations; they were memory projections Tang Yu had extracted from Kei's nightmares!

"Ah—!" The doctor retreated in terror, the controller slipping from his hand.

Tang Yu seized the opportunity to rush forward, a hand strike hitting the doctor's carotid artery with precision. The young assistant tried to flee, but Tang Yu tripped him with a bedsheet and followed up with an elbow strike that knocked him unconscious.

"Kei!" Tang Yu knelt before her, patting her cheek gently. "Can you hear me?"

Kei's eyes gradually focused, but they were filled with confusion. "Tang... Yu? What happened? Who are these people?" Her voice trembled. "I... my head hurts so much, some memories are becoming so blurry..."

Tang Yu's heart sank. The neural disruptor had already caused partial memory damage. He quickly checked the device and found a "White Room-7" mark and a small display screen showing the memory erasure progress: 37%.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine," Tang Yu comforted her while trying to use the system to analyze how to reverse the memory erasure.

[Neural interference residue detected]

[Repair possibility: High]

[Requires redemption: Neural Memory Reconstruction]

[Cost: 25,000 points]

Tang Yu confirmed the redemption without hesitation. The system released a soft golden light that enveloped Kei's head. She let out a soft moan, and then her eyes gradually cleared.

"I remember now!" She grabbed Tang Yu's arm. "Those two people pretended to be school doctors to get me to open the door, then suddenly pointed that thing at me... and then..." She began to tremble. "I felt my memories disappearing, like sand slipping through my fingers..."

Tang Yu held her tightly. "It's over now. But we have to leave immediately; Tsukishiro might have backup."

He picked up the neural disruptor, carefully tucked it into his pocket, and quickly searched the two attackers. The doctor had a specialized phone on him; the screen displayed real-time data transmission—someone was remotely monitoring everything here!

"Damn it, they're broadcasting!" Tang Yu immediately smashed the phone, but it was too late. A system warning blared:

[Large-scale network activity detected]

[Target: Locating this room]

[Source: Multiple IPs]

[Threat level: Extremely high]

Tang Yu pulled Kei up. "We have to..."

Before he could finish, chaotic footsteps echoed from the dormitory hallway. At least ten people; judging by the cadence, they were likely security or police. Tsukishiro had clearly mobilized official forces via the broadcast feed.

"The back door!" Kei pointed toward the bathroom, where there was a staircase for cleaners.

The two had just rushed into the bathroom when the main door was kicked open. Tang Yu locked the bathroom door and pushed open the window—outside was the sheer wall and the pouring rain of the night sky.

"Climb down!" Tang Yu tore down the shower curtain, twisted it into a makeshift rope, and tied it to the drainpipe.