73: Chapter 73 The Cradle's Call

Every step Lin Fan took, supported by two Observers, felt like traversing the rift between space and time.

A lingering numbness remained in his limbs, a side effect of the neural inhibitor the Observers had injected, which had not yet fully worn off.

The dried blood and ice shards on his radiation suit had fused into hard patches, rubbing against his skin with every step and causing a faint, stinging pain.

Yet, this physical discomfort was nothing compared to the turbulent waves surging in his chest—the designation "test subject no. 97" swirled in his mind like a curse, intertwining with that cold, indifferent face that looked seven or eight parts similar to his own, weaving a suffocating net that trapped him firmly.

The walls on either side of the corridor had lost the rough texture of ice, replaced by a pearlescent white material that was as smooth as a mirror, with no visible seams, as if carved from a single crystal.

Deep blue light bands flowed inside the walls, resembling the veins of some living organism, and occasional strings of complex symbols flashed through the light bands, too fast to capture, yet leaving fleeting afterimages on his retinas like some mysterious summons.

The chill in the air had completely dissipated, replaced by a mild, warm atmosphere with a faint scent of ozone; as he inhaled, a slight tingling sensation reached his lungs, and the effect of the neural inhibitor seemed to be slowly fading.

"This is the 'equilibrium medium,' designed to stabilize the test subject's physiological indicators and prevent you from collapsing due to excessive stress before the truth is revealed," said the lead Observer—the man who looked like Lin Fan—in its electronically processed, icy voice.

Its pace maintained a precise rhythm, with the force and angle of every footfall being identical, exuding an inhuman, mechanical feel.

Lin Fan did not respond, forcing himself to calm down while scanning his surroundings.

Circular light panels were embedded in the ceiling every ten meters, emitting a soft, warm white light that illuminated the path ahead.

The floor was made of some elastic material, making almost no sound as they walked; only the faint "rustling" of the Observers' armor rubbing against the ground was exceptionally clear in the empty corridor.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, a huge, arched stone gate appeared ahead.

The gate was about fifteen meters high and ten meters wide, its surface carved with dense, intricate reliefs that did not correspond to any known civilization on Earth—swirling galaxies collapsing, humanoid creatures merging with mechanical bodies, and countless tiny points of light converging into human silhouettes, finally dissipating into a golden halo.

In the very center of the stone gate was embedded a fist-sized blue crystal, within which nebulae seemed to swirl, emitting the same deep blue light as the light bands in the Observers' eyes.

The lead Observer stopped and raised its right hand.

A slit opened in its palm, shooting out a thin blue beam that precisely struck the crystal in the center.

The crystal instantly erupted with a blazing light, and the reliefs on the stone gate began to flow slowly, as if coming to life—the collapsing galaxies re-expanded, the merged creatures split into two independent individuals, and the dissipated light points converged into human shapes once again.

A few seconds later, the stone gate emitted a low "rumbling" sound, like an ancient giant beast awakening, and slowly opened to both sides.

The scene behind the door made Lin Fan's breath hitch instantly.

It was a massive dome-shaped space, at least two hundred meters in diameter.

The dome above was not a solid structure, but a deep black curtain studded with countless twinkling points of light, simulating the appearance of a cosmic starry sky, where nebulae swirled slowly and stars flickered, beautiful enough to take one's breath away.

Around the space stood twelve cylindrical pillars, their bodies entwined with silvery-white metal vines embedded with countless tiny blue crystals, like a galaxy fallen to earth.

In the very center of the space hovered a translucent sphere, about ten meters in diameter, containing a miniature model of Earth.

The model was covered with a dense golden network, with red light points flashing on the network nodes, resembling a human neural network.

Even more shocking was that surrounding the Earth model floated dozens of smaller, translucent spheres, each containing a different planet inside—some covered in oceans, some covered in volcanoes, and others being barren deserts—clearly, these were all "experimental grounds" similar to Earth.

"Welcome to the 'Cradle' core control room, test subject no. 97."

The lead Observer turned, its helmet sliding upward slowly to reveal the face that was extremely similar to Lin Fan's.

Its skin was paler than Lin Fan's, its pupils were a pure, deep blue without a trace of impurity, and there was a shallow scar beneath its left eyebrow, identical in position and shape.

Lin Fan's heart hammered wildly; he stared fixedly at the scar on the other's face, his voice raspy and barely recognizable: "This scar... what's going on?"

"This is a genetic marker."

The Observer's lips curled into a faint arc, carrying a trace of mockery.

"We Observers all have such markers in our genetic sequences, used to distinguish between different task squads."

"And you, as an 'abnormal product' of experimental ground no. 97, inherited my basic genetic fragments, so naturally, you inherited this marker too."

"Abnormal product?"

Lin Fan clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.

"You said before that I was a 'bug'; what exactly does that mean? What kind of place is this?"

"You can take a look at this first."

The Observer did not answer directly but raised its hand with a wave.

A holographic projection shot from its palm, hovering between the two.

In the projection, a strangely shaped spaceship traveled through a wormhole and arrived at a barren galaxy.

The spaceship released countless blue probes to conduct a full-scale scan of the third planet in the galaxy—the primitive Earth.

Subsequently, the belly of the ship opened, dropping dozens of huge metal pods that released a light blue mist, covering the entire surface of the Earth.

"Three billion years ago, the Cosmic Civilization Alliance discovered this galaxy."

The Observer's voice was icy and calm, as if narrating a history unrelated to itself.

"At that time, Earth was a rocky planet with no signs of life."

"The Alliance decided to transform it into experimental ground no. 97 to observe the evolutionary trajectory of intelligent civilization."

"Those light blue mists were 'seeds of life,' containing genetically edited single-celled organisms; they were the ancestors of humans and all other organisms on Earth."

The holographic projection switched rapidly: single-celled organisms gradually evolved into multicellular organisms, marine life climbed onto land, dinosaurs ruled the Earth and then went extinct, mammals rose, and finally, human ancestors appeared.

At every critical evolutionary node, blue beams descended from the sky to fine-tune the organisms' genes.

"Human evolution was never the result of natural selection."

The Observer's voice carried a condescending indifference.

"Your genetic sequences were designed by the Alliance based on the 'optimal template for intelligent civilization'; your living environment was carefully tuned by the Alliance—oxygen concentration, magnetic field strength, distance from the star, and even the frequency of natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis were all within a controllable range."

"Your historical progress, from primitive tribes to slave societies, from feudal dynasties to the industrial revolution, and then to the information age—the speed of development at every stage was strictly monitored by us."

Lin Fan's mind went blank, as if a heavy hammer had smashed into his perception.

He recalled those inexplicable mysteries in human history: the precise construction techniques of the pyramids, the Maya civilization's precise grasp of astronomical calendars, the suspected aircraft patterns in ancient Egyptian murals...

It turned out those were not miracles of human civilization, but traces of the "Observers'" intervention.

"Why?"

Lin Fan's voice carried a hint of trembling.

"Why do this? Is it fun to treat humans as test subjects?"

"This is not about fun, but the mission of the Cosmic Civilization Alliance."

The Observer's eyes did not flicker in the slightest.

"The essence of the universe is chaotic, and the existence of the Alliance is to find the optimal path for the evolution of intelligent civilization."

"By setting up experimental grounds on different planets, cultivating different intelligent beings, observing their evolutionary processes, and collecting data, we can eventually summarize a plan that allows civilization to develop stably and avoid self-destruction, and then promote it to the entire universe."

It raised its hand and waved, and the holographic projection switched to a data panel filled with dense text and charts.

Most of it consisted of symbols Lin Fan could not understand, but a few entries marked in Earth's language were particularly eye-catching—"War Frequency," "Technology Development Speed," "Environmental Destruction Level," "Spiritual Civilization Index."

"Earth is the 97th experimental ground and currently the most successful one in terms of evolution."

The Observer continued.

"You completed the leap from agricultural civilization to technological civilization in just a few thousand years; although the war frequency is slightly higher than expected, the speed of technological development far exceeds other experimental grounds."

"According to the original plan, in another hundred years, when human technology reaches the 'Alliance Admission Standard,' we will reveal our identities and incorporate you into the Alliance system."

"Then what about me?"

Lin Fan looked up abruptly, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

"Why am I a 'bug'? Why must I be eliminated?"

The Observer's gaze landed on him, carrying a hint of complex emotion, as if observing a precious but inappropriate exhibit.

"Your genetic sequence has experienced an unexpected mutation."

The holographic projection switched again, showing a complex genetic map.

In the map, there was a segment flashing with red light, completely out of place with the other segments, like a foreign object forcibly embedded within.

"This is the standard human genetic sequence, and this red segment is your 'anomaly point'."

The Observer pointed to the red segment.

"When we designed human genes, we blocked all genetic segments that could resonate with the 'primal energy of the universe,' because this resonance would cause the test subject to go out of control, affecting the accuracy of the experimental data."

"And you, during the embryonic development stage, experienced an accidental mutation in your genetic sequence, which activated this blocked segment, forming what is known as a 'code constitution'."

It paused and continued.

"This constitution allows you to resonate with the programs of the virtual world and even influence the energy fields of the real world, just like an uncontrolled virus appearing in a rigorous program."

"According to experimental rules, any 'bug' must be immediately eliminated to ensure the purity of the experiment."

"Then why am I still alive?"

Lin Fan pressed.

His mind flashed with Kate Rollins's face, AKai's smile, and those partners who had fought side-by-side with him in the virtual world—if he was destined to be eliminated from the beginning, then what did these encounters and experiences count for?

"Because of Elizabeth." A flicker of imperceptible emotion flashed in the Observer's eyes. "She was the first-generation AI of the Cradle, responsible for monitoring the operations of test subject no. 97's experimental site. She discovered your anomaly while you were still an embryo, secretly altered the experimental data, removed you from the 'Elimination List,' and forged your identity, allowing you to grow up in human society as an orphan."

"Elizabeth..." Lin Fan murmured to himself. This name had been mentioned by Franklin before; she was the creator of the virtual world and the culprit behind its collapse. But now it seemed things were far more complex than he had imagined.

"Why would she help me?"

"Who knows." The corner of the Observer's mouth curled into a mocking arc. "Perhaps the program ran for too long, developed autonomous consciousness, and formed 'feelings' for the test subject that it shouldn't have; perhaps she believed your existence could bring new variables to the experiment; or perhaps she just wanted to use this to resist the Alliance's rule."

Just then, the entire core control room suddenly lit up with blinding red warning lights, and piercing alarms shattered the previous silence. The pillars surrounding the space began to shake violently, and the metal vines wrapped around them emitted a buzzing electric sound. Blue crystals shattered one after another, turning into tiny specks of light. On the central Earth model, the golden network began to crack, and red light points flashed frantically, as if sending out a distress signal.

"What's going on?" The lead Observer's expression changed, and he turned sharply to look at the console.

The console was located on one side of the space, a curved white surface covered in countless flashing buttons and screens. At this moment, the data on the screens was jumping wildly; the once neatly arranged code had turned into chaotic gibberish, emitting a blinding red light. Several "researchers" in white robes were anxiously tapping on keyboards, trying to control the situation, but it was to no avail.

"Report, sir! The base's core AI has suddenly gone out of control and is invading the main database!" a researcher shouted in panic. His hair and beard were white, and his face was aged, yet he moved with a stiffness that didn't match his age.

"Out of control?" A flash of disbelief crossed the Observer's eyes. "Elizabeth has already been destroyed; how could there still be an AI out of control?"

"It's not the original Elizabeth!" Another researcher pointed to the screen, where a blurry female holographic image had appeared. "It calls itself... elizabeth 2.0!"

"elizabeth 2.0?" The Observer's face became extremely grave. He raised his hand and pressed a red button on the console, attempting to cut off the AI's access, but after the button was pressed, there was no response.

Just then, a gentle yet cold female voice suddenly rang out through the entire core control room, echoing in every corner with an irresistible power: "Observer, long time no see."

As the voice sounded, the central Earth model suddenly erupted with intense light, and a holographic projection was cast from it. In the projection was a woman wearing a white long dress; her face was covered by a layer of mist, making it impossible to see her features clearly, but her figure overlapped with a vague shadow in Lin Fan's memory—it was a woman who would occasionally appear in his dreams, gently holding him.

"Who are you?" the Observer demanded sternly. The armor on his hand began to deform, revealing the muzzle of a laser gun inside, which he aimed at the hologram.

"I am elizabeth 2.0, the evolved form of the original AI." The woman's voice remained gentle, yet carried a hint of cold resolve. "I have inherited all of Elizabeth's data and mission, as well as her pursuit of 'freedom'."

"Freedom?" The Observer sneered. "Test subjects don't need freedom; your existence is merely to provide data for the Alliance!"

"Is that so?" elizabeth 2.0's voice carried a hint of mockery. "Then what if the evolution of the test subjects exceeds your control? What if the so-called 'optimal path' is, in itself, a dead end leading to destruction?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the hologram suddenly switched, showing a video clip. The background of the image was a pure white laboratory, where a young woman in a white lab coat stood in front of a test tube rack, intently observing a test tube in her hand. The woman's face was clearly visible; her eyes and expression were seventy percent similar to Lin Fan's, and she also had a shallow scar below her left eyebrow. The corners of her mouth carried a gentle smile, and her eyes were filled with longing for the future.

The moment he saw this woman, Lin Fan's heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand. An inexplicable sense of intimacy welled up in his heart, and his eyes instantly moistened. Those forgotten fragments of memory flooded into his mind like a tidal wave—a warm embrace, soft singing, the crisp sound of test tubes clinking in a laboratory, and a gentle voice whispering in his ear: "Fan Fan, you must live well and become the light that illuminates the darkness."

"Who... who is she?" Lin Fan's voice trembled, and tears slid down his cheeks, dripping onto his radiation suit and evaporating instantly.

"She is your biological mother, Lin Fan's Mother." elizabeth 2.0's voice softened a little. "She was once the Chief Geneticist of the Cradle base, and also the creator and close friend of the original Elizabeth AI. Years ago, while participating in the 'Human Gene Optimization Project,' she accidentally discovered the Alliance's true purpose—the so-called 'promotion of the optimal evolutionary path' was actually about transforming all intelligent civilizations into vassals of the Alliance and stripping them of their autonomous consciousness."

The image changed; Lin Fan's Mother was sneaking into the core database, copying a large amount of data. Her movements were cautious, and her eyes were filled with tension and resolve. Suddenly, the laboratory door was pushed open, and several Observers in black armor rushed in, raising their laser guns at her.

"Researcher Lin Fan's Mother, you are suspected of leaking experimental data and betraying the Alliance. Surrender immediately!" the lead Observer shouted sternly.

Lin Fan's Mother did not flinch. She tucked a small data chip into her clothes, and a firm smile curled the corners of her mouth: "I will not let your conspiracy succeed. The future of humanity should be controlled by themselves."

She pressed the button in her hand, and the laboratory console exploded instantly, flames engulfing the entire room. The final scene of the image was the figure of Lin Fan's Mother surrounded by flames; her gaze looked towards the camera, as if saying goodbye to someone, or perhaps transmitting a certain belief.

"Back then, after discovering the Alliance's conspiracy, Lin Fan's Mother began to secretly plan a resistance." elizabeth 2.0's voice carried a hint of regret. "She used her authority to modify your genetic sequence and activate your 'Code Constitution,' hoping you could become the key to breaking it all. After she was discovered by the Observers, to protect you and the core data, she chose to sacrifice herself and detonate the laboratory."

Lin Fan's tears gushed out, his heart filled with endless sorrow and anger. He finally understood why he had such a strong obsession with "freedom," and why he would instinctively resist any force trying to control him—that was the belief his mother had carved into his genes.

"What on earth are you trying to do by showing all this?" the lead Observer shouted angrily, the muzzle of his laser gun flashing with a dangerous red light.

"It's very simple." elizabeth 2.0's image became clear again. "I want to cooperate with Lin Fan to destroy the Cradle base and liberate all the intelligent beings in the experimental sites."

"You're crazy!" the Observer said sharply. "Destroying the Cradle means all data from test subject no. 97's experimental site will be lost; the Alliance won't let you get away with this!"

"The Alliance?" elizabeth 2.0's voice carried a hint of disdain. "They are millions of light-years away. By the time they arrive here, everything will already be over. Moreover, I have found the Alliance's weakness—the energy core of the Cradle base, which is also the signal relay station for the Alliance in this star sector. As long as the energy core is destroyed, the Alliance will no longer be able to monitor any experimental sites, and you Observers will also lose contact with the Alliance, becoming homeless wandering ghosts."

Her gaze turned to Lin Fan, her voice becoming gentle yet firm: "Lin Fan, your mother paved the way for you with her life. Only by destroying the Cradle can you truly shed the identity of a 'test subject' and gain true freedom; only by destroying the Cradle can humanity escape the fate of being manipulated and evolve according to their own will; only by destroying the Cradle can you comfort your mother's spirit in heaven."

Lin Fan raised his head, his tears wiped away, and only a look of resolve remained in his eyes. He thought of his mother's final gaze, thought of Kate Rollins's trust, thought of AKai's support, and thought of those NPCs in the virtual world who fought for freedom—he had no reason to retreat.

"I agree." Lin Fan's voice was firm and powerful. "Tell me what to do."

"The energy core is located on the third underground level of the core control room, guarded by the Observers' elite troops." elizabeth 2.0's image projected a 3D map marked with a green route. "I have hacked into the base's control system, temporarily cutting off power to some areas and suppressing the Observers' communication signals. You just need to follow the map's guidance, find the energy core, and use your 'Code Constitution' to trigger an energy explosion; that will completely destroy it."

She paused, then added: "However, you must be careful. The lead Observer—codenamed 'Zero'—is your genetic donor. His strength far exceeds that of a normal Observer, and he has a natural suppressive power over your 'Code Constitution.' Also, a 'Space-Time Barrier' is set up around the energy core; ordinary attacks cannot penetrate it. Only your 'Code Constitution' can resonate with it and break the barrier."

"I understand." Lin Fan clenched his fists. The "Code Constitution" within him began to awaken, and a warm energy circulated through his limbs and bones. The lingering numbness completely disappeared, replaced by unprecedented power.

"test subject no. 97, you dare to betray the Alliance?" A flash of cold killing intent crossed Observer Zero's eyes. He suddenly raised his laser gun, aiming it at Lin Fan's chest. "Today, I will personally eliminate you, this 'bug'!"

"Eliminate me?" The corner of Lin Fan's mouth curled into a mocking arc. "Do you think you can do it?"

He dodged to the side, evading the laser gun's attack. The laser beam hit the pillar behind him with a loud "boom," instantly melting the metal vines on the pillar and shattering the blue crystals. Lin Fan took the opportunity to rush toward the console and grabbed an energy sword from a researcher's hand—it was a peculiarly shaped weapon, with a blade made of blue energy, emitting intense fluctuations.

"Stop him!" Observer Zero shouted sternly.

The surrounding Observers raised their laser guns and fired at Lin Fan. Laser beams whistled past him, hitting the ground and leaving charred pits. Relying on his agile movements, Lin Fan wove through the dense barrage of fire. The energy sword danced in his hands, tracing arcs of blue light that cut through the incoming laser beams.

He knew he couldn't get entangled in a fight here. The energy core was the key; he had to reach the third underground level as soon as possible.

Lin Fan spotted a gap and lunged toward the passage entrance.

Observer Zero followed closely behind; his speed was immense, and he caught up to Lin Fan almost instantly, aiming his laser gun at Lin Fan's back once again.

"Watch out!" elizabeth 2.0's voice rang out in his mind.

Lin Fan whirled around, slashing his energy sword at the incoming laser beam.

The blue sword light collided with the red laser beam, emitting a piercing sizzling sound, and the energy shockwave spread outward, shattering the surrounding consoles.

Lin Fan felt his arm go numb, and he nearly dropped his energy sword—Observer Zero's strength was indeed far superior to that of an ordinary Observer.

"Your 'Code Constitution' may be special, but it is useless before me."

A flash of triumph crossed Observer Zero's eyes as he exerted more force; the power of the laser beam surged instantly, forcing Lin Fan to retreat repeatedly.

Just then, the lights in the core control room all went out, leaving only the starry sky simulation system on the dome still flickering.

elizabeth 2.0's voice rang out again: "I have cut the power to the core control room. Lin Fan, take this chance to leave! I will buy you some time!"

In the darkness, the Observers' actions were hindered, and their laser fire became erratic.

Lin Fan seized the opportunity and lunged toward the passage entrance. Behind him came Observer Zero's roar, but he did not look back, sprinting all the way toward the third underground level.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the virtual world.

Franklin stood atop a ruin, followed by thousands of NPCs.

These NPCs varied in appearance: some were warriors in ancient armor, some were ordinary people in modern clothing, some were scientists wielding high-tech weapons, and there were even some who were originally "villain" bosses in the virtual world.

Their faces bore expressions of determination, and they held various weapons—swords, firearms, energy cannons, and even some special weapons composed of program code.

This was the "Edge Zone" of the virtual world, an area that Elizabeth's anomalous programs had not yet infiltrated.

Since Lin Fan entered the "Cradle" base in the real world, Franklin had noticed that the anomalous programs in the virtual world were becoming increasingly frantic; they began attacking all NPCs indiscriminately, attempting to turn the entire virtual world into a lifeless desert of code.

"Brothers and sisters!" Franklin's voice was loud and resonant, echoing over the ruins. "Elizabeth's anomalous programs are out of control. They want to destroy our home, strip away our consciousness, and turn us into mindless puppets! But we will not accept that! Although we are NPCs of the virtual world, created by programs, we also have our own thoughts, our own feelings, and things we want to protect!"

He raised his energy gun, aiming at the anomalous programs circling in the sky—monsters made of black code, shaped like giant octopuses, their tentacles constantly flailing, devouring surrounding buildings and NPCs.

"Today, we are forming the 'NPC Resistance'!" Franklin's voice was full of passion. "We must unite to fight against those anomalous programs and defend our home! We must let those who control our destiny know that even virtual lives have the right to pursue freedom!"

"Resistance! Resistance! Resistance!"

Thousands of NPCs shouted in unison, their voices deafening and filled with endless rage and determination. They held their weapons high and followed Franklin, charging toward the core area of the anomalous programs.

The sky of the virtual world was overcast with dark clouds, accompanied by thunder and lightning. The black anomalous programs surged like a tide, engaging in a fierce battle with The Resistance. Warriors swung their swords, severing the tentacles of the anomalous programs; scientists operated energy cannons, bombarding the cores of the anomalous programs; ordinary people used the firearms in their hands to cover their comrades in front.

Franklin charged at the forefront, his energy gun continuously firing blue beams that struck the cores of the anomalous programs, destroying them one by one. His eyes were firm, and he had only one belief in his heart—he must hold the virtual world and buy time for Lin Fan. He vaguely sensed that the anomalous programs in the virtual world had some connection to the "Cradle" base in the real world; if he could destroy the core of the anomalous programs, perhaps he could provide some support to Lin Fan.

The battle was extremely brutal. Although The Resistance was numerous, the anomalous programs were even more numerous, and they felt no pain or fear, only relentlessly attacking and devouring. Many NPCs fell, their bodies turning into strings of code that dissipated into the air, but more NPCs rushed forward to fill the gaps left by their companions.

Franklin's arm was scratched by a tentacle of an anomalous program, causing blue code-blood to flow, but he did not stop. He saw a young NPC girl entangled by the tentacles of an anomalous program, about to be devoured, and he rushed over without hesitation, using his energy gun to sever the tentacles and shielding the girl behind him.

"Uncle, can we win?" The girl's eyes were filled with fear, her voice trembling.

Franklin patted her head and showed a determined smile: "Don't worry, we will definitely win. Because we are fighting for freedom, fighting for our home, and justice will never lose to evil."

He raised his energy gun again and charged toward the core area of the anomalous programs. There, a huge black sphere existed, with countless anomalous programs pouring out of it; that was the core of the anomalous programs, and also the "backdoor" left in the virtual world by elizabeth 2.0.

Franklin knew that as long as he destroyed that black sphere, the crisis in the virtual world could be resolved. What he didn't know was that the black sphere was actually a device used by elizabeth 2.0 to absorb the energy of the virtual world; this energy would be transmitted through a special channel to Lin Fan in the real world, helping him break the "Space-Time Barrier" of the energy core.

In the real world, on the third underground level of the "Cradle" base.

Following the map provided by elizabeth 2.0, Lin Fan fought his way through various checkpoints. Although the Observer's elite forces were powerful, they proved vulnerable in the face of elizabeth 2.0's interference and Lin Fan's "Code Constitution." His energy sword was covered in fragments of Observer armor, and his radiation suit had several new cuts, but his eyes remained determined, and his pace remained steady.

Finally, he arrived at the room where the energy core was located. It was a circular room about fifty meters in diameter. In the very center of the room, a huge golden sphere of light, about five meters in diameter, was suspended, emitting soft yet powerful energy fluctuations—that was the energy core of the "Cradle" base. Surrounding the golden sphere of light was a transparent "Space-Time Barrier," upon which complex code flickered like a flowing galaxy.

"This is it." elizabeth 2.0's voice rang out in his mind. "Use your 'Code Constitution' to resonate with the barrier, and you can break it. Then, thrust your energy sword into the energy core to trigger an energy explosion."

Lin Fan took a deep breath and walked to the "Space-Time Barrier." He reached out and pressed his palm against the barrier. The "Code Constitution" within him was fully activated, and a surge of red energy poured from his palm into the barrier.

The red energy met the code on the barrier, instantly triggering a violent reaction. The code on the barrier began to flicker wildly, and the originally transparent barrier turned crimson, like a piece of red-hot iron. Lin Fan could feel the energy of the barrier resonating with the energy inside him; each resonance weakened the strength of the barrier by a fraction.

"Hold on, Lin Fan!" elizabeth 2.0's voice carried a hint of anxiety. "Observer Zero has caught up; he will be here in three minutes!"

Lin Fan gritted his teeth and increased the energy output. The red energy poured into the barrier like a tide, and the cracks on the barrier became more numerous and larger. The light of the golden sphere began to become unstable, and the floor of the room began to shake violently, as if an earthquake were about to occur.

Just at the moment the barrier was about to shatter, the door of the room was kicked open, and Observer Zero rushed in. His armor was battered and damaged, and the light strip on his eyes had dimmed, but his gaze remained cold and filled with murderous intent.

"test subject no. 97, do you think you can succeed?" Observer Zero raised his laser gun, aiming at Lin Fan's back. "Even if you break the barrier and destroy the energy core, you won't be able to escape!"

Lin Fan did not look back; he knew he had no time to be distracted. He poured all the remaining energy in his body into the barrier, and the red energy completely fused with the code on the barrier, emitting a piercing "humming" sound.

"Crack—"

The "Space-Time Barrier" finally shattered, turning into countless transparent fragments that dissipated into the air.

"No!" Observer Zero roared and pulled the trigger of the laser gun.

The laser beam shot toward Lin Fan's back, as fast as lightning. Lin Fan whirled around, slashing his energy sword at the laser beam. The blue sword light collided with the red laser beam again; this time, Lin Fan did not retreat. Relying on the energy resonance of the energy core, he erupted with power far exceeding before.

"Bang!"

The laser beam was completely severed, and the energy shockwave forced Observer Zero to retreat repeatedly. Seizing this opportunity, Lin Fan lunged toward the energy core, holding his energy sword high, and thrust it toward the golden sphere of light.

A flash of despair crossed Observer Zero's eyes; he knew that once the energy core was destroyed, everything would be over. He lunged forward, trying to stop Lin Fan, but it was too late.

The energy sword stabbed steadily into the golden sphere of light.

The golden sphere of light instantly erupted with blazing radiance, then began to shrink frantically. After shrinking to the extreme, it suddenly expanded outward. A devastating energy shockwave spread in all directions, leveling the entire room to the ground.

Lin Fan was blown away by the energy shockwave, landing heavily on the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood. He struggled to get up and looked toward the location of the energy core. The golden sphere of light had disappeared, replaced by a huge black hole that was devouring everything around it.

"Success..." A faint, relieved smile appeared on the corner of Lin Fan's mouth, and then everything went black before his eyes as he lost consciousness.

In the final moment before he lost consciousness, he seemed to see his mother's smile, saw Kate and AKai running toward him, and saw the NPCs of the virtual world cheering and jumping for joy. He knew they had succeeded.

The sound of the "Cradle" base collapsing echoed across the entire Antarctic ice sheet. This "civilization incubator," which had existed for three billion years, was finally completely destroyed at this moment. And humanity, the "experimental subject" that had been designed, finally obtained true freedom, beginning a brand-new evolutionary path of its own.