Chapter 369: Everyone is Data

Chen Mo rushed forward.

Lin Yue immediately blocked him.

"Wait."

His eye twitched.

Again.

She checked the tubes.

Disconnected one.

Then another.

Then another.

Finally...

"Now."

Chen Mo moved.

He caught his mother as the restraints released.

Chen Lihua collapsed into him.

"Mom."

Her arms weakly wrapped around him.

Chen Mo froze.

Then...

Held her.

Tightly.

His eyes closed.

No protagonist.

No Fate blessed heir.

No ancient martial inheritor.

Just...

"Mom."

Chen Lihua touched his face.

"You’ve grown."

His jaw tightened.

"You’ve been gone for twelve years."

"I know."

"Where were you?"

Her eyes closed.

"I tried to come back."

Chen Mo’s face broke slightly.

"I looked for you."

"I know."

"Every year."

"I know."

His voice became smaller.

"I thought you left me."

Chen Lihua opened her eyes.

Then...

She pulled him closer.

"Never."

Silence.

Even Shen Tian stopped joking.

Subject Zero attacked again.

Shen Tian caught his fist.

Without looking.

Then...

Threw him across the chamber.

BOOM!

"Give them a minute."

Subject Zero rose.

Shen Tian’s green eyes became cold.

"I said..."

His Dragon aura erupted.

"...give them a minute."

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Subject Zero was forced to one knee.

For the first time.

Everyone stared.

1,200,000 Fate.

Multiple protagonist inheritances.

Artificial bloodlines.

Adaptive combat.

And Shen Tian...

Had been holding back.

Qin Hao’s expression changed.

His system screamed.

Unknown Destiny Anomaly authority rising

Unable to quantify

Adrian’s system flashed.

WARNING

Do not engage

Adrian stared.

Then...

Thought...

Thank you, system. Very useful.

Elena laughed.

. . .

Shen Tian looked toward Subject Zero.

Then...

Xu Ning opened another panel.

[Host.]

"What?"

[His Fate isn’t natural.]

"I know."

[No. I mean literally.]

Shen Tian’s eyes narrowed.

Xu Ning expanded the analysis.

Subject Zero Fate Composition

Natural Fate: 0

Artificially accumulated Fate: 1,200,000

Sources: fragmented

Then...

Names.

Hundreds.

Not just protagonists.

People.

Cultivators.

Bloodline heirs.

Destiny carriers.

Individuals who had possessed unusual luck.

Women with heroine signatures.

Men with villain signatures.

Minor Fate entities.

Dead.

Missing.

Harvested.

Shen Tian’s expression changed.

The Crowned Serpent hadn’t just experimented on bodies.

They had found a way to extract fragments of Fate.

Crude.

Inefficient.

Horrific.

But functional.

Xu Ning whispered...

[They built him out of stolen destinies.]

Shen Tian stared at Subject Zero.

Then...

At the bodies in surrounding chambers.

The previous First Villain.

His women.

Maybe others.

Seventy six years.

Pieces.

Collected.

Stitched together.

Subject Zero wasn’t blessed by heaven.

He was manufactured from corpses.

Shen Tian’s smile disappeared.

"Pathetic."

Subject Zero looked up.

Then...

For the first time...

Spoke more than one word.

"I..."

His voice cracked.

Everyone froze.

Subject Zero touched his chest.

"I..."

His expression changed.

Pain.

Confusion.

"Who..."

Xu Ning’s eyes widened.

[Host.]

Subject Zero stared at his own hands.

Then...

"Who am I?"

Silence.

Shen Tian lowered his spear slightly.

The older voice immediately returned.

"Zero."

Subject Zero looked upward.

"You are Zero."

The voice became firm.

"You are perfection."

"You are the culmination."

"You are destiny made flesh."

Subject Zero stared.

Then...

His golden eyes flickered.

Shen Tian saw it.

Fear.

Tiny.

But real.

The voice continued.

"Kill the devourer."

Subject Zero’s body jerked.

His expression twisted.

Formation marks illuminated beneath his skin.

Control.

Shen Tian’s eyes became cold.

Subject Zero grabbed his head.

"Kill..."

His body trembled.

"Kill..."

Rose stared.

"He’s being controlled."

Adrian’s expression darkened.

Fenrir.

Again.

Different technology.

Same cage.

Subject Zero screamed.

His Fate erupted.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Everyone was pushed backward.

Shen Tian didn’t attack.

Xu Ning looked toward him.

[Host?]

He stared.

Then...

"Find the control."

[What?]

"The control system."

[You want to free him?]

Shen Tian’s expression remained cold.

"Nobody gets to point a person at me like a weapon."

Xu Ning stared.

Then...

Smiled faintly.

[Searching.]

. . .

Subject Zero attacked.

This time...

Wild.

Violent.

Not adaptive.

Forced.

Shen Tian blocked.

Dodged.

Redirected.

No lethal strikes.

Qin Hao noticed.

His eyes narrowed.

Then...

His thoughts reached Han Yuer.

He’s not trying to kill him anymore.

Han Yuer looked toward Shen Tian.

Rose heard.

She smiled slightly.

Qin Hao continued.

Of course.

Han Yuer glanced at him.

"What?"

Qin Hao sighed.

"Nothing."

His thought continued anyway.

He sees a chained weapon and immediately decides to steal the weapon.

Han Yuer blinked.

Rose laughed.

Shen Tian looked toward her.

"What?"

Rose relayed it.

Shen Tian considered.

Then...

"Accurate."

Qin Hao stared.

"I knew it."

Shen Tian smiled.

"You’re learning."

. . .

Xu Ning searched.

One signal.

Then another.

Dozens.

Control network embedded throughout the facility.

But...

One central source.

Deep beneath the chamber.

[Host.]

"Found it?"

[Yes.]

"Where?"

She pointed downward.

[Another level.]

Shen Tian looked toward Rose.

"Take everyone."

Rose’s expression changed.

"Where?"

"Down."

"And you?"

He blocked Subject Zero’s kick.

"Keeping him busy."

Rose stared.

Then...

"Don’t die."

Shen Tian looked offended.

"Rude."

She smiled.

Then...

Turned.

"Everyone moving!"

. . .

A hidden elevator opened beneath the laboratory.

Qin Hao immediately moved toward it.

Shen Tian looked over.

"No."

Qin Hao stopped.

"What?"

"Separate route."

Qin Hao stared.

"We’re going to the same place."

"Still not working together."

Silence.

Adrian pointed toward another stairwell.

"I’ll take that."

Shen Tian nodded.

"Good."

Chen Mo held his mother.

He looked toward the elevator.

Then...

At Shen Tian.

"My priority is getting her out."

"Correct."

Chen Mo paused.

He had expected something else.

Then...

He nodded.

"Good luck."

Shen Tian smiled.

"You too."

Chen Mo left with Chen Lihua and the Chen elders.

No alliance.

No partnership.

His objective was his mother.

That was enough.

Qin Hao took Han Yuer through the western access.

Adrian and Elena used the eastern stairwell.

Rose’s group entered the central elevator.

Shen Tian remained.

Alone.

Mostly.

Xu Ning floated beside him.

[Host.]

"What?"

[Your harem left.]

"They’ll be back."

[Confident.]

"Obviously."

Subject Zero attacked.

Shen Tian smiled.

Then...

Caught his face with one hand.

BOOOOOOM!

He slammed him through the floor.

. . .

Central elevator.

Descending.

Rose checked her weapon.

Chi Lingxi stood beside her.

Ling Shuangxue.

Qin Ruobing.

Bai Xue.

Gu Qingya.

Tang Meilin.

Li Lian.

Ruan Yizhen.

Chu Zijin.

Shen Yan.

Lin Yue had remained above with the rescued experimental subjects and Chen Lihua.

Eleven women.

Silence.

Then...

Bai Xue spoke.

"So."

Rose closed her eyes.

"No."

"I haven’t said anything."

"You were going to."

Bai Xue smiled.

"Eleven women in an elevator."

Ling Shuangxue stared.

"Don’t."

"Going underground to disable a secret organization controlling an artificial protagonist."

Gu Qingya sighed.

"Please don’t."

Bai Xue’s smile widened.

"Because the same man asked us to."

Tang Meilin’s cheeks warmed.

"Stop."

Qin Ruobing laughed.

Chi Lingxi smiled.

Rose looked toward the elevator numbers.

"We are on an active operation."

Bai Xue nodded.

"Romantic."

Rose turned.

"How?"

"Shared hobbies."

Silence.

Chu Zijin burst out laughing.

Then...

The elevator shook.

Everyone became serious.

Rose raised her weapon.

Doors opened.

Darkness.

Then...

Hundreds of red lights activated.

Soldiers.

Dozens.

Armored.

Weapons raised.

Rose stared.

Then...

"Well."

Bai Xue smiled.

"Finally."

Shen Yan stepped forward.

Her eyes became cold.

"No one touches my brother."

Rose glanced toward her.

"He’s four floors above us."

"Principle."

"Fair."

The soldiers attacked.

The heroines moved.

. . .

Above...

Subject Zero’s fist struck Shen Tian’s chest.

BOOM!

Shen Tian slid backward.

One meter.

He looked down.

His shirt had torn.

Silence.

Shen Tian stared.

Then...

At Subject Zero.

Xu Ning froze.

[Host.]

"My shirt."

[Yes.]

"He tore my shirt."

[Host.]

"I liked this shirt."

Subject Zero attacked.

Shen Tian disappeared.

Then...

A fist buried itself in Subject Zero’s stomach.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

He folded.

Shen Tian caught his head.

Knee.

BOOM!

Subject Zero flew upward.

Shen Tian followed.

Spear appeared.

He struck with the flat side.

BOOOOOOM!

Subject Zero crashed into the ceiling.

Xu Ning stared.

[You got angrier over the shirt.]

"It was expensive."

[You’re obscenely rich.]

"That’s not the point."

. . .

Deep below.

Rose fired.

Two soldiers dropped.

Shen Yan moved through another three.

Chi Lingxi’s Qi formed a dragon shaped palm.

BOOM!

Four soldiers flew backward.

Ling Shuangxue blocked a strike.

Countered.

Qin Ruobing ducked beneath another.

Then...

Used the exact movement Shen Tian had taught her during earlier training.

Palm.

Elbow.

Step.

The soldier collapsed.

Ling Shuangxue stared.

"Mother?"

Qin Ruobing adjusted her sleeve.

"What?"

"When did you learn that?"

Qin Ruobing smiled.

"Shen Tian showed me."

Silence.

Ling Shuangxue’s eyes narrowed.

"When?"

"Recently."

"Where?"

"The garden."

"Alone?"

Qin Ruobing paused.

Then...

"Yes."

Ling Shuangxue stared.

A soldier charged.

She turned.

BOOM!

He flew twice as far as necessary.

Bai Xue laughed.

"Jealousy boost."

Ling Shuangxue became red.

"Fight."

"I am."

. . .

Tang Meilin stayed close to Gu Qingya.

A soldier attacked.

Tang Meilin ducked.

Gu Qingya struck.

Another approached from behind.

Li Lian warned...

"Left!"

Ruan Yizhen intercepted.

Chu Zijin used a sonic pulse through her communicator.

The soldier stumbled.

Rose finished him.

Smooth.

Natural.

The golden Court threads pulsed.

Sovereign’s Court Formation Progress: 38%

Then...

39%.

Chi Lingxi felt it.

So did Rose.

For the first time...

The women themselves could faintly sense one another.

Not thoughts.

Not emotions.

Position.

Intent.

A vague awareness.

Rose moved left before Tang Meilin shouted.

Chi Lingxi blocked an attack aimed at Chu Zijin without looking.

Ling Shuangxue caught Qin Ruobing’s wrist before she slipped.

Bai Xue ducked exactly when Shen Yan attacked over her shoulder.

Everyone froze slightly.

Rose realized first.

"We’re synchronizing."

Chi Lingxi nodded.

"Shen Tian."

Qin Ruobing looked around.

"He’s doing this?"

"No."

Chi Lingxi felt the golden warmth.

Then...

She smiled.

"We are."

Silence.

The Court wasn’t Shen Tian controlling them.

It was them...

Choosing the same direction.

Together.

Rose smiled.

"I like that better."

Ling Shuangxue nodded.

"So do I."

. . .

The final security door appeared.

Massive.

No controls.

No lock.

Only a symbol.

Silver serpent.

Black crown.

Bai Xue stared.

Then...

Shen Yan raised her fist.

Rose grabbed her arm.

"No."

Shen Yan looked toward her.

"Why?"

Rose sighed.

"You and Shen Tian really are siblings."

Bai Xue laughed.

Then...

Qin Ruobing approached the symbol.

Looked carefully.

"There’s writing."

Ancient Latin.

Ling Shuangxue examined it.

Chu Zijin leaned closer.

Gu Qingya frowned.

Then...

Qin Ruobing translated.

"Destiny belongs to those who can contain it."

Silence.

Chi Lingxi’s expression became disgusted.

"That’s their philosophy?"

Bai Xue nodded.

"Sounds like it."

Rose looked toward the door.

Then...

"Shen Yan."

She smiled.

"Now?"

"Now."

Shen Yan punched it.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The door collapsed.

Rose nodded.

"Efficient."

. . .

Inside...

No soldiers.

No scientists.

Only one old man.

White hair.

Black suit.

Silver serpent pin.

He stood before an enormous machine.

Thousands of tubes.

Fate energy.

Bloodline samples.

System fragments.

Ancient artifacts.

The control source.

He smiled.

"Welcome."

Rose raised her weapon.

"Name."

The old man looked toward her.

"Professor Caius Voss."

Bai Xue’s eyes narrowed.

She knew the name.

"Geneticist."

He smiled.

"Once."

Qin Ruobing’s expression changed.

"You disappeared thirty one years ago."

"Officially."

Gu Qingya stared.

"You worked for European pharmaceutical companies."

"Many."

Ling Shuangxue became cold.

"How many people did you experiment on?"

Caius smiled.

"People?"

Silence.

The women’s expressions changed.

He continued.

"Destiny does not care about people."

"Why should I?"

Rose’s finger tightened against the trigger.

Then...

Caius looked around.

At all of them.

His eyes brightened.

"Remarkable."

"Heroine signatures."

"Fourteen total."

"Different archetypes."

"Different Fate structures."

"Different emotional routes."

Then...

He smiled.

"All converging on one man."

Chi Lingxi’s face became cold.

"We’re not data."

Caius looked toward her.

"Everyone is data."

"No."

Ling Shuangxue stepped forward.

"We’re people."

Caius smiled.

"That distinction becomes irrelevant at sufficient scale."

Bai Xue stared.

"I dislike him."

Rose nodded.

"Deeply."

--------

(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)

SEND POWESTONES!!!

ALL SUPER GIFTS (Magic Castle, Space Ship, Golden Gachapon) = MORE ChapterS!