12: Choice

Just as Lu Jianchuan was drowning in sorrow and exhaustion in the real-world dawn, the Consciousness Space uniquely belonging to Han Chengyu was, as always, filled with ethereal blue data streams.

[Phase Event Summary Report.] The System's characteristic, emotionless electronic voice broke the silence.

[Confirmed: High-Threat Deviant Individual Designation H-77 has been completely purified. In this 'Great Transition' rehearsal, we successfully eliminated a potential unstable node, taking the first empirically significant step toward the ultimate goal of Maintaining Civilizational Survival.]

"The first step..." Han Chengyu's consciousness body fluctuated, the ripple mixing with too many indescribable emotions. His "gaze" seemed to pierce through space, once again seeing the silver-white figure manifest in the warehouse, seeing Lightning surge, and seeing the armor devour metal in desperation, evolving into a stronger form.

An uncontrollable, almost trembling excitement surged up.

It worked... it really worked! This wasn't the calm of an engineer viewing a successful project, but the shock of someone who had grown up watching heroes transform, who had sketched the coolest armor image in their mind countless times, finally witnessing their dream become reality.

When he saw Lu Jianchuan throw a punch carrying electric light, he almost shouted out in his soundless Consciousness Space. That was the armor he designed! On the template he personally (though the System did the work) created, a real life was performing an actual battle, surpassing any Tokusatsu Show, full of power and savagery!

This miracle-creating sense of pride was like a scorching torrent.

But this torrent instantly crashed into the cold reef of reality—Li Ming's relieved eyes when he was pushed away, and the heart-wrenching sobs of the young man in the outside world right now.

The scorching pride instantly cooled, replaced by a deep sense of pity and powerlessness.

"The price... is too heavy." He finally whispered, the words containing so much: satisfaction with the armor's success, confirmation of the first victory, and mourning for a respectable life that could not be saved.

[This is an inevitable process. The Path of Evolution is full of randomness and risk, and correcting deviation is one of the core missions.]

[Based on the data from this Coordinated Operation, some of my underlying permission restrictions have slightly loosened, but the overall improvement to auxiliary functions is negligible. More 'Merit' still needs to be accumulated.]

"Alright..." Han Chengyu accepted this reality, temporarily suppressing the complicated emotions. He then asked with a hint of expectation, "So... what should we do next? Aren't you going to issue new missions or something? Like 'collect XX Materials' or 'head to XX Location'?"

[This System does not provide specific mission guidance of this nature.] The System's answer was crisp and decisive.

"Huh? Why?"

[The core objective 'Maintaining Civilizational Survival' has been established. The path and method to achieve this objective must be chosen by you, the Contractor, based on your own judgment of the situation. Even if I were to forcibly issue commands, your current 'Tool Spirit' state prevents direct external execution interference.

Moreover, the Aptitude Holder possesses independent will and is not an absolutely obedient Puppet, leading to an extremely high risk of mission failure. Therefore, providing a fixed mission list is inefficient and non-binding. Our mode of operation is, fundamentally, highly autonomous.]

"Highly autonomous..." Han Chengyu chewed on the word, and an indescribable sense of emptiness quietly spread. He looked at Lu Jianchuan's lonely back slumped in the chair outside; the surging excitement just raised by the armor's success was once again pulled back to this solitary reality.

"Sigh, you call it autonomous, but I can't do anything now, just sit here and watch... I suddenly feel so bored."

After a brief silence, the System's voice sounded again, its tone seeming... subtly softened by a fraction?

[Based on analysis of your original world's cultural preference data, to alleviate your boredom, initiating Entertainment Subprogram is recommended.

This System has successfully accessed this world's network and can play this world's animated features for you. The database shows that a series titled 'Star Explorer: Echo' has a setting and narrative style matching your past preferences with a high degree of 87.3%.]

Han Chengyu was stunned, his consciousness body seemingly projecting a face that was half-laughing, half-crying.

"Animated features? You're something else... Fine, play it, play it. Having some sound company is better than just staring blankly."

[Command confirmed. Loading 'Star Explorer: Echo' Season 1, Episode 1...]

Outside, Lu Jianchuan stood by the window for an unknown amount of time until his legs went numb and the city outside fully woke up, the sounds of clamor faintly drifting in. Physical exhaustion and hunger, like a delayed tide, slowly surged up again, reminding him of his current predicament—he was naked, and his home was a mess.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to break free from the swamp of despair. Now was not the time to completely collapse.

He walked toward the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and vigorously scrubbed his face with cold water, trying to wash away the tear stains, grime, and that sticky sense of fatigue. The cold water stimulated his skin, bringing a momentary clarity.

Afterward, he walked into the bedroom and rummaged through the closet for new underwear and his Police Service Uniform, his movements slow and mechanical.

The feel of the fabric rubbing against his skin was exceptionally clear, as if reminding him that the silver armor and everything from last night were not hallucinations. He carefully hid the armband beneath the sleeve of his inner shirt; its cool touch pressed against his wrist like a silent brand.

Fully dressed, he stood before the mirror. The young man in the mirror was pale, with deep circles under his eyes, his gaze having lost its former luster, leaving only a near-numb exhaustion and deep-seated grief.

He tried to pull at the corners of his mouth, attempting to make the habitual expression he used before leaving—even if just to cheer himself up—but found his facial muscles too stiff to obey.

What should he do next? The weight of this question almost crushed him. Should he seek revenge against the "monsters" who caused all this, for Uncle Li, making that his reason for living? Should he hide in the shadows like a true "Full-Time Hero"? Or... should he continue returning to the Police Station, back to the place filled with Uncle Li's memories?

He didn't know. Both choices felt so heavy, so confusing.

But at least, the Police Station was the only place he was familiar with right now, the only place he could still call a "haven." Whether it was to tidy up Uncle Li's belongings, to gain some sense of normalcy from his colleagues, or... simply to be closer to where Uncle Li last worked and sacrificed himself.

He finally made a decision. Go to the Police Station first. At least, he had to step out of this door first.

He took one last look at the stranger in the mirror, turned around, pushed open the front door, and stepped onto the already noisy, sunlit street. The sunlight was somewhat dazzling; he squinted slightly, feeling completely out of place in this normal world.

Every step felt unsteady, his mind dazed. The chatter of surrounding pedestrians and the honking of vehicles seemed distant and muffled, as if separated by a thick pane of glass.

He didn't know how to face the questions from his colleagues, how to explain Uncle Li's disappearance, or whether that mysterious organization had already set up an Inescapable Dragnet.

He simply relied on a near-instinctive inertia, walking step by step toward the Police Station that he once knew so well, but which was now full of unknowns.