Digital Offense and Defense (Part One)

At 3:17 a.m., only the cold light of the computer screen remained in Tang Yu's apartment. The System Interface hovered above the monitor, flashing a red warning:

[Continuous surveillance detected]

[Source: Campus surveillance system]

[Infiltration level: 87%]

[Recommendation: Disconnect immediately]

Tang Yu's fingers flew across the keyboard, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Ever since discovering last night that Tsukishiro was monitoring Karuizawa, he had been tracking the other man's digital footprint.

But Tsukishiro's technical skills far exceeded expectations, and his counter-tracking program was almost flawless.

"System, list all available hacking skills for redemption," Tang Yu ordered in a low voice.

A blue screen of light unfolded, displaying a densely packed skill tree:

[Basic Hacking Skills: 5,000 points]

[Intermediate Network Infiltration: 15,000 points]

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

[Top-Tier Cyberwarfare Expert: 80,000 points]

[Note: Top-tier skills include Quantum Encryption Cracking Ability]

Tang Yu glanced at his Emotion Points balance. After the hearing and the celebration, it had accumulated to 112,400 points. That was enough to redeem the top-tier skill, but it would nearly exhaust his entire reserve.

A flash of lightning streaked past the window, illuminating his furrowed brow. Raindrops began tapping against the glass, as if heralding the coming storm. Tang Yu remembered the kiss Karuizawa had given him beneath the cherry blossoms, and Tsukishiro's threatening throat-slitting gesture.

"Redeem the Top-Tier Cyberwarfare Expert skill," he decided.

[Confirm redemption]

[Cost: 80,000 points]

[Remaining Emotion Points: 32,400 points]

[Skill integration in progress...]

In an instant, a flood of information poured into Tang Yu's mind. The pain of his neural network being restructured made him hunch over, his fingers digging deep into his thighs.

Quantum encryption algorithms, zero-day exploits, AI countermeasures... These things were branded into his consciousness.

When the pain subsided, Tang Yu opened his eyes and found that the world had changed. Faint streams of data floated through the air, while the signals from electronic devices blinked rhythmically, like breathing.

He looked at his laptop. Its once ordinary interface now displayed dozens of overlapping network topology diagrams.

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

Tang Yu flexed his fingers and began analyzing Tsukishiro's surveillance system again. The previously obscure encryption was now clear as day-

Tsukishiro was using asymmetric encryption based on quantum computing principles, something ordinary hackers couldn't crack. But with the top-tier skill backing him, Tang Yu quickly found a way in.

"I see..." he murmured. Tracing Tsukishiro's command source, he found it wasn't coming from inside the school. Instead, it had hopped through servers in seven different countries before finally being traced to a commercial building in Minato City, Tokyo.

The system suddenly displayed a new warning:

[Countermeasures detected in target system]

[Type: Autonomous AI defense]

[Threat level: High]

[Recommendation: Activate virtual isolation zone]

Tang Yu swiftly built a firewall, but Tsukishiro's counterattack came faster than he had expected. Countless warning windows suddenly appeared on the screen. The computer's fan spun wildly, and its temperature rose sharply.

"Damn it, a logic bomb!"

He immediately disconnected from the network, but it was too late. Some kind of advanced malware had already begun invading his phone and tablet through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals.

Tang Yu acted without hesitation and threw all his devices into the microwave. It was the only way to ensure complete electromagnetic isolation.

An eerie silence settled over the apartment, broken only by the occasional crackle of electricity from inside the microwave. Tang Yu leaned against the wall, his heart pounding like a drum. Tsukishiro's cyberwarfare abilities far exceeded those of ordinary humans. He was practically like...

"AI..." A terrifying suspicion took shape in Tang Yu's mind. "Is Tsukishiro Shuhei not human?"

He remembered Tsukishiro's inhuman tone of voice and eerie Mind Control ability at the hearing. If the White Room had already advanced to the point of creating biological AI...

Then everything made sense-the tireless "Reaper," with its extraordinary capacity to learn and its ability to control multiple systems at once.

Tang Yu rummaged through a drawer and took out a spare phone, inserting a disposable SIM card. This device had never connected to the internet, so it 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 product of the seventh generation, a hybrid of a biological neural network and quantum computing.

"Weakness: overreliance on a central node. Stay offline. Physical intelligence is being transmitted. -R"

A central node... Tang Yu considered this. It meant that although Tsukishiro was powerful, he had to rely on a certain main server for complex calculations. Finding and destroying that central node would greatly weaken his abilities.

The rain grew heavier. Tang Yu looked out at the blurry outline of the campus. There were two hours left before dawn, and he had to use that time to make a plan. The first priority was ensuring Karuizawa's safety, and then...

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

Tang Yu's blood froze. Tsukishiro had already set his sights on Karuizawa, and he knew they were in contact! He immediately called Karuizawa, but only heard a busy signal.

[Emotion Points have exceeded the critical threshold]

[Current value: 42,300/∞]

[Temporary ability unlocked: Memory Projection (Upgraded)]

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

[Cost: 20,000 points/use]

Tang Yu had no time to study the new ability. He grabbed his jacket and rushed out. The cold rain pelted his face as he ran, trying to contact Karuizawa again, but there was still no answer.

The girls' dormitory looked blurred and distant through the curtain of rain. Tang Yu sprinted at full speed, the System Interface flashing at the edge of his vision:

[Abnormal energy fluctuations detected]

[Location: Third floor of the girls' dormitory]

[Type: Mental interference field]

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

"Karuizawa!" Tang Yu's heart nearly burst out of his chest. The dormitory's main entrance was locked, so he immediately activated the system's assistance:

[Redeem Instant Burst Strength Enhancement]

[Cost: 10,000 points]

[Duration: 3 minutes]

A surge of heat rushed into his limbs. Tang Yu easily vaulted over the three-meter-high iron gate, then climbed the pipes along the outer wall to the third floor. A faint light shone through Karuizawa's window, and a figure moved behind the curtains.

As Tang Yu climbed up to the windowsill, a sight that made his blood run cold came into view: Karuizawa was slumped on the floor, her eyes unfocused, while two men dressed in black stood before her. One of them held a device emitting a blue light, pointing it at her temple.

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

The two attackers clearly hadn't expected this kind of surprise assault. The older one quickly turned around. Tang Yu recognized him as the doctor from the school infirmary! The younger one continued bringing the device closer to Karuizawa.

"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. The system's analysis showed that it really was a neural interferer, capable of destroying a person's short-term memory in an instant. Karuizawa's eyes were vacant; she had clearly already been affected to some degree.

"Good." The doctor smiled. "Mr. Tsukishiro only wants to take Karuizawa for a little checkup. He won't hurt her. If you cooperate..."

Tang Yu scanned the room from the corner of his eye, looking for an opening. On Karuizawa's desk lay the hair clip she often used. Shards of glass were scattered across the floor, and the phone by the bed was still flashing-she might have sent a distress signal before she was taken under control.

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

"We just calmed her down." The doctor waved the controller. "Mr. Tsukishiro is very interested in psychological reconstruction after emotional trauma, especially in someone like her... who's changed so completely."

The young assistant suddenly spoke up. "Doctor, his eyes... they're glowing!"

It was too late. Tang Yu had already prepared the ability, transforming all his anger and fear into tangible images. The entire room was suddenly bathed in blood-red light, and blood seeped from the walls.

Countless twisted faces dangled from the ceiling, screaming. These weren't ordinary hallucinations, but Memory Projections Tang Yu had drawn from Karuizawa's nightmares!

"Ah!" The doctor stumbled back in terror, dropping the controller.

Tang Yu seized his chance and rushed forward, landing a precise karate chop on the doctor's carotid artery. The young assistant tried to run, but Tang Yu wrapped a bedsheet around his ankles and yanked him down. Then a blow from his elbow knocked him unconscious.

"Karuizawa!" Tang Yu knelt in front of her and gently patted her cheek. "Can you hear me?"

Karuizawa's gaze gradually focused, but confusion filled her eyes. "Tang... Yu? What happened? Who are these people?" Her voice trembled. "I... my head hurts so much. Some of my memories are so blurry..."

Tang Yu's heart sank. The neural interferer had already caused some damage to her memories. He quickly examined the device and found a "White Room-7" mark and a small screen showing the progress of memory erasure: 37%.

"Don't worry, you'll be all right," Tang Yu reassured her, while asking the system to analyze how to reverse the memory erasure.

[Neural interference residue detected]

[Repair feasibility: High]

[Required redemption: Neural Memory Reconstruction]

[Cost: 25,000 points]

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

"I remember!" She grabbed Tang Yu's arm. "Those two men pretended to be doctors from the school infirmary and knocked on 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 hugged her tightly. "It's all right now. But we have to leave at once. Tsukishiro may have another move planned."

He picked up the neural interferer and carefully slipped it into his pocket, then quickly searched the two attackers. The doctor had a specially made phone on him, and its screen showed a real-time data transmission-someone was remotely monitoring everything here!

"Damn it, they're livestreaming!" Tang Yu immediately smashed the phone, but it was too late. The system's warning sounded abruptly:

[Massive network activity detected]

[Target: Locating this room]

[Source: Multiple IPs]

[Threat level: Extreme]

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

Before he could finish, hurried footsteps sounded in the dormitory hallway. At least ten people; judging from their pace, they were probably security guards or the police. Tsukishiro had clearly mobilized the authorities through the livestream.

"The back exit!" Karuizawa pointed toward the bathroom. "There's a staircase for the cleaners in there."

The moment they rushed into the bathroom, the main door was smashed open. Tang Yu locked the bathroom door and pushed open the window-the wall outside was sheer, and the night sky was pouring with rain.

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