Lu Xiu, Are You Even Human?

only.

Before he could say anything more...

In BT's final announcement, "[Prepare to crash]".

An even more violent explosion followed.

The dungeon forced Yan Fushou close his eyes, and everything went black before his eyes.

When Yan Fushou opened his eyes again, everything had changed.

The Militia didn't arrive in time from the wreckage of the crashed ship. The first to appear were the Apex Predators mercenary group hired by the IMC.

BT and Yan Fushou were both captured.

In order to seize the Ark, Blisk, the leader of the Apex Predators, pressed a gun firmly against Yan Fushou's head, threatening BT.

Open the cockpit.

After understanding the situation, Yan Fushou looked at the other party expressionlessly.

Let alone having a gun pointed at your head.

Even if he were to actually fire, he couldn't possibly make that decision.

He knew all too well what the consequences of yielding to the enemy on the battlefield were.

At worst, he'd just die once and lose Survival Points; his inherent pride prevented him from begging for mercy.

Blisk sighed, mocking Yan Fushou's heroism, and prepared to pull the trigger.

But at that moment, BT, who had been silent all along, spoke up.

Yan Fushou had been calm just moments before, suddenly turned his head and looked in the direction where BT was.

It seemed to have fallen into some kind of system logic error, constantly repeating noises, which successfully attracted Blisk's attention, causing the deadly gun barrel to leave Yan Fushou's head.

Then, Blisk turned around and approached BT, threatening it to open the hatch or he would Pilot head open.

The stalemate continues.

BT sent an encrypted message to Yan Fushou's helmet HUD interface.

Those were still three extremely simple yet familiar words:

[Believe me]

Then, before Blisk could fire on count to three, the hatch slowly opened, revealing the Ark Death, the deadly weapon inside.

Just as Blisk saw this scene and smugly told Yan Fushou, "Things aren't that difficult," BT suddenly launched an attack!

It slapped Blisk away, then used its shoulder cannon to accurately kill the soldier holding Yan Fushou.

Yan Fushou, still reeling from the familiar words "Trust me" on his helmet, was also caught in the blast, struck by a rolling oil drum and sent flying.

The screen went black again.

Then it lit up again.

Yan Fushou thought the crisis was over, and the thrill of his Counterkill was just beginning to rise in his heart, but the matter was far from over—

Accompanied by heavy footsteps, another Apex Predators, piloting his heavy Titan, arrived in front of the BT, whose body was severely damaged and had no ability to resist.

She coldly extended her mechanical arm and brutally pulled the Ark from the BT's cockpit. Facing the BT, who was still struggling desperately trying to retrieve the Ark to protect the Pilot, the enemy raised heavy weapons and delivered a cruel finishing blow to the BT.

Bang bang bang-

With countless flashes of electricity, BT completely stopped all its movements.

Yan Fushou's pupils suddenly contracted.

An extremely pure form of anger.

It rose.

An inexplicable anger ignited in the middle-aged man's heart like wildfire.

In the brief moment when the system forced him to close his eyes again, he had only one thought left: to kill them.

When he opened his eyes again.

Those Apex Predators have already left with the Ark.

Yan Fushou struggled to his feet and went to BT, who was engulfed in flames, falling into a long silence.

As he looked at the broken-down machine, his anger burned ever brighter.

After nearly ten seconds of silence.

BT's voice, accompanied by a sudden surge of electricity amidst the sea of fire.

[Cooper ----here---- Cooper.]

[I can't complete the task—but you can still take the SERE Kit.]

[You need to survive—you depend on it.]

As BT spoke in his monotone mechanical voice, he raised his still-movable mechanical right arm and forcefully removed the intelligent core module containing the SERE Kit, placing it on the ground.

Then, it lost all power.

Yan Fushou remained silent for a moment before approaching the intelligent core module that BT had removed.

He knelt on one knee, picked up the module from the ground, and positioned it facing him.

Once the system identifies Jack Cooper as the BT's core intelligence module, it automatically unfolds.

Yan Fushou took out the survival tools inside.

A Data Knife, a pistol.

Neither piece of equipment seems like something you'd find in a normal dungeon. The former's description says it can hack into any system, while the latter is even simpler and more direct—just four words: [100% accurate].

Yan Fushou took out the two survival tools, the intelligent core module unfolded again, and BT popped out its own intelligent core.

Yan Fushou stretched out his left hand, gripped the still-warm core of intelligence tightly in his palm, and then stood up.

The mission for this level also appeared on the helmet:

[Survival, avoidance, counterattack, escape.]

"----Do robots also possess such abundant emotions? Do the other enemies in the dungeon have them too?"

As Yan Fushou pondered this, he walked to the door, pulled out his Data Knife, hacked into the control panel, and violently opened the hatch in front of him.

Outside the gate, a large number of IMC soldiers stood ready.

But Yan Fushou had no intention of hiding at all.

He strode into the enemy ranks, gripping BT's intelligence core in one hand and raising the pistol in the other.

As soon as an IMC soldier enters his line of sight, the system will instantly lock onto his head, and a scarlet aiming reticle will appear.

Yan Fushou pressed the fire button.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The bullets traced eerie arcs in mid-air, automatically tracking and delivering headshots with every shot, killing instantly!

However, Yan Fushou did not pursue efficient enemy killing as he had in the past, nor did he pay attention to the system's prompts.

For each fallen IMC soldier, he would even walk up to the already motionless corpse and, expressionless, fire two more shots.

The sound of bullets tearing through flesh echoed in the empty, dilapidated corridor.

This goes beyond the requirements for clearing the level; it's purely an extremely personal and irrational outburst.

The director who was always calm and weighing the pros and cons in the Coordination Bureau seems to have disappeared.

The one running wildly through the sea of fire at this moment seemed to be Pilot who had been enraged to the extreme and lost his mind.

Continuous wall pushes, slide tackles, and jumps.

Shoot, reload, shoot.

Yan Fushou was like a war god, constantly shooting down enemy soldiers.

The voice of the Militia leader came through the communication channel, continuously saying something.

But Yan Fushou only replied with one sentence, "Useless!"

The Militia leader's voice paused on the communications channel.

Perhaps this statement is a bit out of character.

Two full seconds passed before the Militia leader's voice rang out again.

Yan Fushou ignored her.

At this moment, this middle-aged man was like a raging teenager who had been robbed of his most precious possession. In what was originally a simple level that only required a straightforward push, he carved out a chilling aura of bloodshed.

Finally, he fought his way through the encirclement and reached the outside of the base.

The clouds parted in the sky.

With a deafening roar, a brand-new Vanguard-class Titan mech hurtled down and crashed in front of Yan Fushou.

As the smoke and dust cleared, the new mech bent slightly, awaiting the Pilot's commands.

Yan Fushou stood there, breathing heavily.

He finally came to his senses, remembering what the Militia leader had just said. He slowly put away the scalding hot Smart Pistol, stepped forward, and aimed the BT smart core that he had been tightly gripping in his left hand at the slot of the brand-new mech, pushing it in forcefully.

The mecha system began restarting, self-checking, and data loading.

After a few seconds of deathly silence.

The familiar electronic sound rang out:

Hi, Cooper.

Yan Fushou took a half step back, looked at the brand-new mecha in front of him, and was stunned when he heard that familiar voice.

In an instant, most of the anger in my heart dissipated.

But he didn't respond immediately; he just stood there.

He suddenly felt that he had been a bit foolish just now, but he couldn't help feeling a sense of relief at having regained what he had lost.

It's a very complicated feeling.

After a long silence, Yan Fushou finally said, "I'm so glad you're back."

I'm happy too.

[In fact, I currently possess over 25,000 brand-new components. BT-7274 is activated and ready for battle.]

It's time to complete the mission.

BT's voice remained largely flat. After briefly showing off his new body, he raised the thick machine gun in his hand, placed it on the ground, opened the cockpit, and urged Yan Fushou to complete the mission.

"Okay, mission accomplished."

Yan Fushou smiled, took off again, and jumped into the BT's cockpit, changing his perspective.

Everything familiar is back.

The new BT also boasts a brand-new weapon: a giant Gatling gun.

"Ha."

Yan Fushou couldn't help but laugh again when he saw the new weapon; his previous anger had completely turned into joy.

It was precisely because he had just lost it that the feeling of reunion felt so good, and that he felt that BT's return was truly amazing.

Even if it's just a machine.

Although it was quite embarrassing that I had just lost my temper—

Yan Fushou pondered.

However, fate—or rather, the cruelty of this story—lies in its ability to always tear apart the most beautiful things at their most dazzling moments and show them to you.

Yan Fushou's joy at regaining what he had lost did not last long.

When he and BT re-entered the enemy lines, cutting through the defenses with unstoppable momentum, and finally arrived at the launch core of the Fold Weapon, they faced a raging energy capable of instantly destroying an entire planet and even threatening the Militia ' homeworld.

Everything had reached an irreversible dead end.

The Ark has been activated.

Conventional destruction was no longer sufficient to stop the overloaded the Ark.

[Did you receive Cooper! BT!?]

The anxious voice of the Militia commander rang out repeatedly.

Yan Fushou stared in shock at the weapon about to be launched, finally realizing something. "Could it be that Wang Huai and Jian Li are because..."

Just then...

BT's voice rang out.

But its sound is no longer smooth; instead, it sounds like it has reached its limit, full of stuttering and confusion.

[The impact of the Cooper jet exceeded that of my main internal systems.]

[Attempting to restore the visual system.]

[Vision system has been fixed--]

My analysis shows that throwing is the only option.

ah?

Yan Fushou was stunned.

BT, whose internal system had been severely damaged, could only continue throwing things repeatedly.

Through the cockpit screen, Yan Fushou saw the spacetime weapon gradually spiraling out of control, and various numbers of 0 and 1 flashing on the display.

When BT activates the mech's auxiliary power, it transfers the power to the backup energy source.

It then finally uttered its next sentence.

[Cooper, can you do me a favor?]

My autopilot system has disconnected.

[Help me get into that injection assembly room; we have to work together.]

And then BT spoke.

The Titan Protocol, which Yan Fushou knew from his first ride on a Titan, began to appear on the screen.

[Protocol 1, Connecting to Pilot: Pilot Cooper - Connected]

And with the connection completed.

BT slowly stood up.

Amidst mournful music.

The Militia commander's voice rang out again; they couldn't get there quickly enough.

The Fold Weapon must be destroyed from within; there is no other way.

BT then replied that it had a solution.

at the same time.

The second agreement appeared on the cockpit screen.

[Agreement Two: Uphold the Mission.]

BT's method was simple: expose his reactor core and disrupt the stability of the Ark at the center of the Fold Weapon —in short, blow it up.

This is the only solution.

This is a dead end, a certain death trap.

Yan Fushou:

While BT sent coordinates to the main force of the Militia, it also deployed the launch pad in the control room under Yan Fushou's control.

In the cockpit where Yan Fushou was located, the display screen was completely red.

I see----

No wonder Zhu Huai and Jian Li are so concerned about the plot.

turn out to be.

Is it a tragedy?

Yan Fushou piloted the BT and boarded the launch pad, unable to contain his thoughts.

at the same time.

The cockpit, on the display screen.

The third protocol of the Titan armor was displayed on the screen.

However, there are only three errors above.

[Protocol 3, Error, Error, Error]

but.

So be it, it's a tragedy.

Yan Fushou felt that although this way of dying Lone Courage hero was somewhat childish, it was also... quite interesting.

The warrior was determined to die, and went forth to his death with great courage.

Thinking of this...

Yan Fushou chuckled, "BT, now we're Lone Courage heroes."

[Received, Pilot.]

BT's voice remained as calm as ever.

But it just showed an error, an error, an error in Protocol 3.

Suddenly it started to change, and the flashing began again.

On the other side, a piercing buzzing sound rang out.

The launch pad has begun charging.

Starting from the very front, a dazzling red energy light source gradually illuminates, and the data panel flashes continuously, indicating that the emitted energy is about to be fully charged.

Then.

Emission!

And at the very moment that BT and Yan Fushou were launched from the launch pad toward the Ark ".

Inside the cockpit.

The flashing panel has finally finished loading.

Agreement 1: Connect to Pilot.

Agreement Two: Uphold the mission.

Protocol 3: Protect the Pilot

And BT's voice rang out again.

[Protocol 3, Protect the Pilot]

The mech was launched and rapidly approached the Ark of the Ark.

BT suddenly opened the cockpit door, and then a large mechanical hand reached into the door and grabbed Yan Fushou.

"----BT?"

Yan Fushou was suddenly pulled out of the cockpit, somewhat taken aback.

Meanwhile, BT raised Yan Fushou in mid-air, his other hand clenched into a fist. At the same time, his intelligence core rotated, looking at him, and that familiar line, BT's most frequently uttered phrase, rang out once more—

[Believe me.]

Then, the robotic arm suddenly exerted force!

It threw Yan Fushou away with force.

This was already the umpteenth time BT had thrown him out.

But everything before that was for the sake of attacking, for the mission, for victory.

This time, it was for Yan Fushou's survival.

Yan Fushou's body flew backward rapidly in mid-air.

His gaze stretched further and further away, but he remained fixed on the mech that was charging headlong toward the energy core, his entire being thrown into utter confusion.

That familiar phrase, "Trust me"—that familiar phrase, "Protocol 3"—

This moment.

All of it was transformed into the purest emotions.

"Etc!!!!!"

Yan Fushou roared.

But it was too late.

The next second.

A blinding, intense Bai Guang instantly engulfed Yan Fushou's vision.

The Ark exploded, and the time-space weapon was completely destroyed.

The Vanguard-class Titan, named BT-7274, was completely reduced to cosmic dust in this spectacular explosion.

Yan Fushou landed on the wreckage of the explosion, feeling somewhat suffocated.

Even when the Outlast was immediately following, he didn't move.

Because he hadn't expected it.

This is the hurdle.

This is how it will end----

He experienced a shocking, indescribable, yet lingering emotion.

But soon, he started moving on his own. Lu Xiu knew many people might be distracted, so she simply set up the final Outlast sequence where if the players didn't move, the system would take over.

Yan Fushou found his body moving uncontrollably, and finally couldn't hold back any longer, his eyes even welling up with tears. "What does this mean! Lu Xiu!---- You better have more plot to come! You better have more plot to come!!!"

Yan Fushou shouted.

But he successfully boarded the evacuation plane and escaped.

The entire planet was destroyed because of the weapons.

And that was it.

It's over----

The level completion cutscene begins to play.

[Congratulations on clearing the SS-rank dungeon Titanfall!]

[Please check the settlement page for related rewards]

[Automatic teleportation in 60 seconds]

Yan Fushou was stunned for a long time, then he couldn't hold back any longer.

"Lu Xiu! You're a human being!!! You----"

Before he could finish speaking, he was teleported out of the instance.

The Bai Guang dissipated.

Yan Fushou sat blankly in the chair.

The dungeon has been cleared, and various settlement information pops up.

The office was deathly silent.

Yan Fushou should have checked the reward immediately, but the middle-aged man in charge of the Strategy Operations Division didn't even glance at it.

His eyes were slightly red, and he just sat there blankly, still unable to recover.

Now, he finally understands everything.

I understand Jian Li's confusion.

I understand Wang Huai's regrets and obsessions.

Lu Xiu —Are you even human?!

You made BT sacrifice itself in the end!!! Why didn't you make it so likable in the first place!!!

"Bang!"

Just as Yan Fushou was immersed in disappointment and anger.

The office door was suddenly and violently pushed open.

"Chief! I want to volunteer! I want to go to Maple Leaf Avenue and challenge Lu Xiu to a duel!!!"

A slightly hoarse voice, filled with extreme anger and sorrow, rang out at the doorway.

Wei Yidong.

This arrogant, self-important teenager, whose hair was now a mess like a bird's nest, and whose eyes, which usually shone with an unruly light, were now as red as a rabbit's.

"Director!"

Wei Yidong, finding Yan Fushou unresponsive, rushed to the desk, slamming his hands on it with a loud bang, spitting as he spoke excitedly, "This is outrageous! Absolutely insane! Does Lu Xiu even understand what a man's romance is?! Mecha! So big!"

That cool mecha that even gave a thumbs-up! She just blew it up! Not even a speck of ash was left!"

Wei Yidong became increasingly agitated, even starting to gesture incoherently. "The problem is, it exploded, and then it threw me out! How could that be?! That was my comrade! How could I abandon it?! I'm not having it! There must be something wrong with this instance! There must be a second ending, right?! Was I not fast enough when fighting the poisonous snake?! Was my headshot rate not high enough?!"

"Director, please issue me a note. I need to go to Maple Leaf Avenue! I need to find Lu Xiu and get some answers!"

After Wei Yidong finished shouting like a machine gun, his chest heaved violently, and he was panting heavily. His bloodshot eyes were fixed on Yan Fushou, his face showing a stubborn determination that he wouldn't leave until he got an explanation.

However.

Two seconds later.

Wei Yidong finally regained some composure from his rage and focused his gaze on his director's face.

Suddenly, I noticed that something was off with my director.

Yan Fushou's eyes were even redder than his—there were traces of moisture around his eye sockets.

The atmosphere in the office became tense.

The silence was eerily quiet.

Wei Yidong remembered; when he exited the dungeon, he seemed to have seen a message that Yan Fushou said he would personally clear the dungeon.

He paused, then his eyes widened, and he said urgently, "Director, you also finished Titanfall, right? You were sad too, weren't you?! You wanted to cry too, didn't you?! I told you! The ending of that dungeon was completely unreasonable!!! Even you, a bald middle-aged man, couldn't help but cry!"

"Nonsense!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Fushou jumped up. "I was just blown away by the sandstorm! You just said you wanted to volunteer for battle? No way! Go back and write the strategy guide!"

Wei Yidong: "----Director, the windows are closed, where is the dust coming from in the office?"

Yan Fushou: "----Get out!"