124: Self-destruction

Lu Jianchuan endured the severe pain in his body and the feeling of energy depletion, taking the initiative to attack! He punched forward with both fists, and the nozzles on the back of his hands erupted with two blazing jets of flame. Like two fire dragons, they roared as they pounced toward the Gardener!

The Gardener's pale exoskeleton figure slid lightly toward the side and rear. The flames brushed past his side, burning a patch of wreckage behind him until it was glowing red.

He didn't seem to be in a hurry to fight head-on, his movements still carrying that unpleasant elegance. He once again plucked a pale red capsule from his shoulder armor. This time, he didn't throw it at Lu Jianchuan, but instead flicked it toward the ground in front of him.

The capsule shattered, and scarlet toxic mist rose up. It wasn't meant for a direct attack, but rather to skillfully form a toxic gas barrier, obstructing Lu Jianchuan's direct path of charge.

The thrusters under Lu Jianchuan's feet deflected, carving out an arc as he tried to bypass the toxic mist. However, the Fissure Beasts climbing up from below had already surged close! Ignoring the terrain, they frantically lunged at their only target—Lu Jianchuan!

"Get lost!" Lu Jianchuan roared, turning back with a horizontal sweep. His fists, covered in residual flames, smashed several of the nearest Fissure Beasts until they burst, the high temperature carbonizing them instantly. But more Fissure Beasts followed one after another, like an endless swarm of locusts, tearing at his leg armor and trying to drag him down.

Just then, Lu Jianchuan glimpsed the Gardener taking a small sprayer from his person and lightly spraying his pale exoskeleton a few times. A more pungent chemical odor wafted out.

Immediately after, an astonishing scene occurred: the Fissure Beasts that had been attacking indiscriminately actually moved around the Gardener as if they had encountered a natural enemy or an obstacle, continuing to surge frantically toward Lu Jianchuan!

The Gardener just stood there quietly in a safe spot a short distance away, watching Lu Jianchuan struggle in the swarm with cold indifference. His intention was all too clear: use these endless pieces of cannon fodder to completely drain Lu Jianchuan's last bit of strength and energy.

"Bastard!" Fury burned in Lu Jianchuan's heart, but he had to use most of his energy to deal with the tidal wave of Fissure Beasts. He punched, kicked, and elbowed, each attack accompanied by a burst of flame, incinerating the approaching monsters into ash.

But there were simply too many Fissure Beasts. His movements inevitably began to slow down, and his heavy breathing could be clearly heard through the armor. His energy reserves were rapidly hitting rock bottom, and the burden of forcibly maintaining the Explosive Combustion Form caused the interior of the armor to emit an overburdened wail.

Spotting an opening, the thrusters under his feet erupted with full force. Dragging a dozen Fissure Beasts hanging off him, he broke through the encirclement like a heavy rocket and charged toward the Gardener! His fists were concentrated with his final flames and determination!

The Gardener's eyes flickered slightly, seemingly surprised that Lu Jianchuan could still burst forth with such power and decisiveness. He didn't panic, waving both arms to throw out the remaining pale red capsules in a continuous barrage like a curtain of fire, sealing off all of Lu Jianchuan's possible angles of approach!

Lu Jianchuan's pupils shrank; his forward momentum could no longer be changed. He gritted his teeth and poured all his remaining energy into the armor on his arms and chest, prepared to endure the toxic mist's corrosion just to deliver this punch to the opponent's face!

However, just as his fist was about to touch the capsule barrage—

"Crack... Buzz—!"

A clear sound, like glass shattering, suddenly came from the silver armor on his chest! A tiny crack instantly spread! Then, without his active control, a violent and uncontrollable surge of orange-red energy erupted outward from the cracks and nozzles all over his armor!

Boom—!!

A searing, unstable halo of fire suddenly expanded with him at the center! This wasn't a precise attack, but rather the final venting of an energy System on the brink of collapse!

As the halo swept past, the several capsules flying through the air were detonated prematurely. The toxic mist was caught in the flames and neutralized before it could even form. Within a radius of several meters, all the lunging Fissure Beasts, dead or alive, were violently blown away and ignited by this sudden energy burst, clearing a small, brief space!

Lu Jianchuan himself was staggered back several steps by the recoil, half-kneeling on the ground. The cracks on the surface of his armor multiplied, and the light flickered rapidly as if it would completely extinguish at any moment. He raised his head, his brilliant white eyepieces staring fixedly at the still-intact Gardener ahead.

【Consciousness Space】

Han Chengyu's heart was nearly leaping out of his chest. He watched the interface as Lu Jianchuan's armor crumbled and energy erupted out of control, yet he remained stubbornly half-kneeling, refusing to fall.

【Warning: Detected a sharp decline in the Aptitude Holder's vital signs. armor energy circuits are on the verge of collapse, and the bio-armature is overloaded. Safety protocol 'Emergency Forced Termination' has been triggered.】

The System's prompt sounded.

"Safety protocol? What's that?" Han Chengyu asked hurriedly.

【Explanation: To ensure the life safety of the Aptitude Holder, when the armor's energy core overloads or vital signs reach a dangerous threshold, this Unit will initiate a forced procedure to actively terminate the armor form, avoiding permanent and irreversible damage to the host caused by the power of evolution.】

【Status Update: Protocol has been triggered, but... has not been successfully executed. armor form is being maintained.】

"Not terminated?" Han Chengyu was stunned.

【Yes. Because the Aptitude Holder, Lu Jianchuan, has rejected this termination command. The safety protocol is essentially a protective suggestion; the final control over the body and evolution still belongs to the Aptitude Holder's own will. He has rejected the termination and chosen to continue fighting.】

Han Chengyu fell silent, fully understanding what this meant. That young man was gambling with his own life.

【Logical Deduction: Although additional energy was obtained by collecting and converting evo factors dissipated from some Fissure Beasts and two cadres during this battle, the conversion and purification rate is far lower than his current consumption rate. If the battle continues, the energy deficit will keep expanding.】

【Suggestion: Withdrawal is the current optimal solution, which can maximize the avoidance of potentially irreparable foundational damage to his body.】

"Then... do you have a way to make him leave?" Han Chengyu asked with a glimmer of hope.

The System fell into silence.

"...Right, you can't directly do that, can you?" Han Chengyu understood; the System's rules restricted it.

He took a deep breath as a near-desperate idea took shape in his mind. "I remember research materials I saw before mentioned that the residual structure of depleted evo factors can be converted into basic human cells to fill in damage, right?"

【Theory is correct. However, this process requires a massive amount of pure energy for microscopic guidance and reconstruction. Furthermore, if all the remaining evo factor potential in his body is used for this purpose, it will result in a temporary or even permanent loss of his ability to resonate with the armor and guide evolution. The binding between this Unit and the Aptitude Holder may also be interrupted or enter a deep sleep.】

The System calmly analyzed the consequences.

"There's no other way." Han Chengyu's voice was exceptionally firm. "System, do you remember the core principle you first told me? We cannot make choices for him. He chose to fight to the end, chose to shoulder all of this. So now, it's our turn to hold this line for him—to help him survive, no matter the cost."

【...Confirmed. host's decision understood.】 The System's data stream showed a rare, brief stagnation, as if performing a confirmation of some highest authority.

【This System will mobilize all available computing power to prioritize the stability of energy conversion and microscopic guidance. host, please lead the construction of the cellular-level repair blueprint and the setting of safety boundaries. I will provide full assistance.】

"Okay." Han Chengyu's gaze returned to the battlefield interface on the verge of collapse, his consciousness focused like never before. "Leave it to me. Let's... help him fight together."

【Reality World】

Just as Lu Jianchuan was half-kneeling on the ground, his armor riddled with cracks, his energy nearly exhausted, and even his vision starting to blur in this desperate situation—

A sudden change occurred!

From the center of the armband on his left wrist, that crimson orb erupted with an unprecedented, warm, and vast light without any warning! This light was not an aggressive heat, but was filled with a majestic aura of life, surging through every inch of his armor, every energy circuit, and every cell on the brink of collapse like a tide!

Crack, crack, crack... Under the washing of this irresistible life energy, those hideous cracks on the armor actually mended and disappeared at a speed visible to the naked eye!

The dim silver armor regained its luster, and the brilliant white eyepieces lit up again, even more stable and profound than before.

A pure power that far exceeded his own reserves, yet was perfectly attuned to his life's Origin, filled his entire body, forcibly stabilizing his flickering flame of life!

This was not power he had obtained by burning himself, but an unreserved gift and support from a distant place.

"This is...?" Even the Scarlet Gardener, who had been calmly observing the battle, showed a look of obvious shock for the first time. On his face covered by the pale exoskeleton, his muscles twitched unnaturally. "How is this possible?! This level of regeneration and energy replenishment..."

Lu Jianchuan stood up slowly and with absolute determination. He looked down at the crimson orb on his left wrist, its light fading but still warm, as if he could see the silent supporter behind it.

An understanding, accompanied by a heavy sense of resolution, rose in his heart.

This is... the last time, isn't it?

He no longer needed an answer. Feeling this powerful but destined to be brief strength within him—as if burning something fundamental in exchange—he understood his path and the end point of this battle.

He raised his head, his eyepieces locking onto the Gardener ahead. All hesitation and all defensive strategies were completely discarded at this moment. Only one thought remained in his heart, pure and blazing.

"Hyaaaaaah—!!!"

Lu Jianchuan let out a roar that shook the battlefield, and the thrusters on his feet and back erupted with an unprecedented, almost explosive boom!

The orange-red tail flames stretched to their limit. He no longer dodged or detoured, converting all the energy he had obtained without reservation into the most extreme speed and destructive power, turning into a straight, devastating beam of light that smashed toward the Gardener!

With both fists in front and nozzles wide open, the blazing flames were no longer jets, but had condensed into a light of explosive sacrifice enveloping his entire body! He was like a human firebomb; wherever he passed, the blocking Fissure Beasts were vaporized before they could even let out a wail!

"Madman! Do you want to die together?!" The Gardener finally lost his composure and shouted sharply. He waved both arms, throwing out the remaining capsules as if they cost nothing, while his figure retreated rapidly. The capsules detonated in a chain reaction in the air, toxic mist and fire intertwining in an attempt to block this death-defying strike.

But Lu Jianchuan was too fast! He pushed through the impact of the explosions and the corrosion of the toxic mist. Cracks began to appear on his armor once again, but they couldn't stop his forward momentum in the slightest!

The distance vanished in an instant!

In the Gardener's shocked and furious gaze, Lu Jianchuan's burning figure had already broken through all obstacles and slammed into his embrace! His arms, covered in flames and residual electricity, were like the sturdiest of shackles, tightly pinning the Gardener's pale exoskeleton body!

"You...!" The Gardener struggled, corrosive liquid seeping from the gaps in his exoskeleton as he tried to break free.

Lu Jianchuan did not answer. He only raised his head, his brilliant white eyepieces seemingly piercing through the helmet to look directly into the other's terrified eyes.

Then, he took all the remaining energy in his body—that which came from the gift, from himself, and from this resolution—and without reservation, directed it toward the armor core, toward their pressed-together bodies, toward everything in the vicinity... Time seemed to be infinitely stretched and frozen at this moment.

All sounds faded away, leaving only the rush of blood and the heavy, drum-like thumping of his own heart. Countless fragmented images flashed before Lu Jianchuan's eyes like a final revolving lantern:

—The green but upright figure in the mirror when he first put on his police uniform.

—The sweating figure on the training ground, and Uncle Li's hearty smile as he patted his shoulder and said, "Not bad, kid."

—That warehouse full of blood and regret, and Uncle Li's last look, a mix of urgency and entrustment, as he pushed him out the door... —The hollow weakness and hunger after every time he deactivated his transformation after gaining power.

—White Star's cry for freedom in the aquarium, and her final loneliness as she collapsed before the screen.

—The resolute, unregretful back of his comrade as he sacrificed himself to detonate a grenade... —And just now, the warm power from the crimson orb that felt like a farewell... All the struggle, pain, guilt, responsibility, anger, and that little glimmer of light called "protection" held tight in the darkness, all converged and burned at this moment, turning into the purest motivation.

He tightly locked onto the struggling enemy in his arms, as if to pour all his regrets and unfinished promises into this final strike.

In a daze, he seemed to see Uncle Li's face again, just a moment before the brilliant white light was about to consume everything.

Uncle Li... This time... I didn't let your sacrifice down, did I?

No sound came out; it was just a thought, a question buried deep in his heart that he was finally able to release before the end.

And then—

He took all the remaining energy in his body—that which came from the gift, from himself, and from this resolution—and without reservation, directed it toward the armor core, toward their pressed-together bodies, toward everything in the vicinity... and completely detonated it!

"BOOM————————!!!!!!!"

An orange-red ball of light, a hundred times, a thousand times more violent than any previous explosion, suddenly expanded with the two of them at the center! The light consumed all sound, consumed all color, consumed the outlines of the ruins, and also consumed the surging tide of Fissure Beasts below... leaving only that final brilliant white that filled heaven and earth, and that silent relief, as if an answer had been received.