81: Chapter 81 Embers and Rebirth

The Antarctic ice sheet still held onto the lingering golden light—the residual energy from the activation of the Spark Inheritance Protocol.

It fell upon the cracked ice, turning into fine particles of light, caught by the cool breeze and scattered in all directions.

On the seventh day after the Observer Fleet withdrew, Earth finally broke free from the chaos of data turbulence.

Global electronic devices gradually resumed operation; the neon lights of Los Santos relit the night sky, Wall Street in New York returned to its bustling state, and even the most remote polar towns re-received satellite signals.

Yet, this peace was much like the calm before a storm, wrapped in a thin sugar coating, hiding unseen reefs beneath.

Lin Fan sat in the core control room of the Antarctic Cradle Base.

The holographic console in front of him projected dense data streams, all regarding the stability parameters of Kate Rollins's data form.

His fingertips hovered over the virtual keyboard, hesitating to fall.

His eyes were bloodshot, stubble grew wildly on his chin, and he exuded an air of extreme exhaustion.

Only his eyes remained fixed on the weak blue light cluster in the center of the screen—that was the only remaining consciousness carrier of Kate Rollins.

After the Spark Protocol was activated, Kate Rollins's body had completely transformed into a data stream, and her consciousness was sealed into the golden light sphere.

However, on its way to the moon, the light sphere was struck by the final energy impact of the Observer Mothership, cracking open a fissure.

Parts of Kate Rollins's consciousness fragments spilled out from the fissure, which Lin Fan captured with his own code energy, barely condensing them into this light cluster.

For these seven days, Lin Fan had hardly closed his eyes.

He guarded the console, attempting to use the virtual world stability framework built by AKai to fix Kate Rollins's consciousness fragments.

But with every attempt, the light cluster became weaker.

Those data streams that constituted her consciousness were like sand that could not be held, dissipating at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Lin Fan, take a break."

AKai's virtual image appeared on the side of the console.

His eyes also carried fatigue, and he held a cup of virtual hot coffee, handing it to Lin Fan.

"You have been guarding for six consecutive days; your body won't be able to handle it."

"Besides, Kate Rollins's consciousness fluctuations have become weaker and weaker; forcing stability will only accelerate her dissipation."

Lin Fan did not take the coffee, nor did he turn back, just staring fixedly at the blue light cluster, his voice as hoarse as if it had been rubbed by sandpaper: "I cannot let her disappear."

"I said I would find a way to bring her back; I cannot break my promise."

The blue light cluster on the screen swayed gently, spilling out a few strands of fine data streams, condensing into a line of blurry text above the console: [Lin Fan, not tired].

That was Kate Rollins's consciousness responding to him, the simple four characters like a dull knife, stabbing fiercely into Lin Fan's heart.

He raised his hand, his fingertips gently touching the screen.

The cold touch came through his fingertips, intertwined with the coolness of Kate Rollins's consciousness fragments, making his eye sockets instantly turn red.

During these seven days, Kate Rollins's consciousness had been slipping away.

At first, she could clearly call his name, could talk to him about the beef noodles in Los Santos, could recall the bits and pieces of them fighting against the Observer together.

But by the third day, she began to forget those specific details, forgot AKai's name, forgot the streets of Los Santos, only remembering that she had to guard Lin Fan, only remembering that there was a strong, indescribable emotion in her heart—that was her core emotion, it was love, it was a bond, it was an obsession carved into the deepest part of the code.

By the fifth day, she couldn't even say complete sentences, only responding to him with simple words.

But even so, her consciousness fragments would subconsciously lean towards him, like a moth to a flame, even knowing she would dissipate faster because of it.

AKai looked at Lin Fan's back and sighed softly, turning to bring up another set of data, projecting it in front of Lin Fan: "Although global electronic devices have recovered, the energy leakage from the Antarctic Base has left sequelae."

"Look, this is the satellite monitoring data for the past seven days; within a thousand kilometers around the Antarctic, large areas of data pollution have appeared."

The screen switched to satellite cloud images, and the sea areas and land around the Antarctic were marked with large red areas, the shades of color varying—the deeper the color, the more severe the data pollution.

AKai pointed his finger at the cloud image and brought up real-time footage of the polluted areas: "The animals and plants in the polluted areas have all shown varying degrees of mutation."

"The penguins in the Antarctic have grown metallic-textured feathers and can emit electromagnetic waves; the krill in the sea have increased in size tenfold, their shells turning into transparent data stream forms; even the moss on the ground has started to flash with blue code patterns, capable of devouring surrounding electronic signals."

Lin Fan's gaze finally moved away from Kate Rollins's consciousness light cluster and fell on the images of those mutated creatures, a hint of gravity flashing in his eyes: "Is the source of the data pollution the energy leakage from the Antarctic Base?"

"Yes, and no."

AKai nodded, then shook his head, drawing a red dot on the cloud image—that was the exact center of the polluted area.

"The energy leakage was just the trigger; the real source is in this place."

"I sent a drone to investigate, and in the core of the polluted area, I found this."

A photo transmitted back by the drone appeared on the screen; in the center of the photo was a golden fragment the size of a fingernail, embedded beneath the ice, emitting a faint golden light.

The surrounding ice had been dyed pale gold, and those mutated creatures were all gathered around the fragment, as if they were worshipping it.

"This is... a Light Sphere Fragment?"

Lin Fan's pupils contracted sharply; he recognized the aura of the fragment at a glance; it was of the same root and origin as the golden light sphere in the direction of the moon and the code patterns within his own body.

"Correct."

AKai's expression was serious: "When the Spark Protocol was activated, the golden light sphere was hit by the energy impact of the Observer Mothership and cracked several fissures."

"Besides the consciousness fragments of Kate Rollins that spilled out, there were also some physical fragments that fell onto the Antarctic ice sheet."

"This fragment is one of them; it is continuously emitting light sphere energy, which, when intertwined with the code energy leaked from the Antarctic Base, formed these data pollution areas."

"Moreover, I have detected that the energy of this fragment is still continuously strengthening, and the scope of the polluted area is also expanding outward at a speed of ten kilometers per day."

Lin Fan stood up and looked out the window; the Antarctic sky was still gray, but he could feel a familiar energy jumping on the distant ice sheet—it was the energy of the Light Sphere Fragment, carrying warmth, but also carrying danger.

"I'll go retrieve the fragment."

Lin Fan said in a deep voice, raising his hand to rub his swollen temples: "It cannot be allowed to continue spreading, otherwise the entire Earth will become a data pollution area."

"I'll go with you."

AKai said immediately: "The energy field in the data pollution area is very chaotic; your code abilities might be interfered with, so I need to provide technical support for you from the rear."

Lin Fan nodded, turned to look at the blue light cluster in the center of the console, and softened his voice: "Kate Rollins, wait for me."

"I'm going to retrieve the Light Sphere Fragment; with the fragment's energy, I will definitely be able to stabilize your consciousness, I definitely will."

The blue light cluster swayed gently, spilling out a strand of data stream, condensing into a blurry smiley face on the screen, as if responding to his promise.

Lin Fan's heart warmed slightly; he turned and picked up the combat suit on the side, quickly putting it on.

At his waist, he fastened the custom code controller AKai had made for him, which could stabilize his code abilities in energy-chaotic areas.

AKai brought up the real-time drone footage and planned the safest route for Lin Fan, avoiding areas dense with mutated creatures.

The two walked out of the core control room one after the other, passing through the base's corridor.

The walls of the corridor still bore traces of the battle, covered with bullet holes and cracks, and scattered on the ground were broken armor fragments and glowing spots of residual code energy—everywhere were the embers left by this war.

The base gate opened slowly, and the cold wind, wrapped in broken ice shards, rushed into his face.

Lin Fan tightened his combat suit and stepped onto the ice sheet.

The ice under his feet made a creaking sound, as if it would shatter at any moment.

On the distant ice sheet, one could see traces of blue code patterns winding under the ice—those were the traces of data pollution.

AKai's virtual image appeared in the holographic watch on Lin Fan's wrist, reporting the surrounding environment in real-time: "Lin Fan, five hundred meters ahead, there is a group of mutated penguins, about twenty in number."

"Their electromagnetic waves can interfere with your code controller, so bypass them."

Lin Fan nodded, his figure flashed, turning into a faint blue light shadow, moving rapidly along the ice sheet, avoiding the group of mutated penguins that were gathered together, emitting harsh electromagnetic waves.

The feathers of those penguins shone with a cold metallic light in the sun, and red code patterns flashed in their eyes.

Sensing the movement around them, they suddenly turned to look, but only saw a faint light shadow disappearing at the end of the ice sheet.

Along the way, Lin Fan encountered quite a few mutated creatures.

Huge krill shuttled through the ice cracks, blue data streams flowing within their transparent bodies, able to bite through thick ice in one go; moss flashing with code patterns spread on the ground, and once approached, would crazily devour surrounding electronic signals, rendering the holographic watch useless.

There were also some unknown mutated creatures with mechanical limbs and flesh bodies—products of the fusion of code energy and biological genes—with ferocious appearances and extreme aggression.

Relying on his own code abilities, Lin Fan hacked his way through; those mutated creatures were vulnerable before him.

As his fingertips brushed by, blue code energy surged out, decomposing the bodies of those mutated creatures into fine data streams that dissipated on the ice sheet.

However, even so, the energy field of the data pollution area became increasingly chaotic.

His code controller began to emit harsh alarm sounds, the data streams on the screen jumped crazily, and his body also began to feel slight stinging pains—a sign that his code energy was being interfered with.

"Lin Fan, hold on; there is only one kilometer left; the Light Sphere Fragment is in the ice cave ahead."

AKai's voice came from the holographic watch, filled with anxiety: "I have detected the precise location of the fragment; it is in the deepest part of the ice cave."

"There are no mutated creatures around; it should be that the fragment's energy is too powerful, and those mutated creatures dare not approach."

Lin Fan gritted his teeth and quickened his pace, the code patterns in his body flashing frantically, resisting the chaotic energy field around him.

Finally, he saw the ice cave ahead—a huge ice hole, the entrance of which emitted a faint golden light, forming a sharp contrast with the blue code patterns around it.

He stepped into the ice cave; the temperature inside the cave was much higher than outside.

The golden light came from the deepest part of the ice cave, becoming more and more intense; that familiar warm aura wrapped around him, causing the stinging pain on his body to disappear instantly, and the code controller also returned to normal.

In the deepest part of the ice cave, embedded beneath the ice, was that Light Sphere Fragment.

The fragment was not large, only the size of a fingernail, but it emitted a dazzling golden light; the surrounding ice had been dyed pure gold and was carved with complex patterns, exactly the same as the code patterns within Lin Fan's body.

Lin Fan walked up to the fragment and slowly reached out his hand, his fingertips gently touching the ice.

Blue code energy surged from his fingertips, wrapping around the ice; the ice instantly began to melt, revealing that golden fragment.

The moment the fragment detached from the ice, it suddenly erupted with a dazzling golden light, transforming into a golden stream of light that rushed towards Lin Fan's chest.

Lin Fan did not dodge, letting the stream of light merge into his chest. Instantly, a powerful surge of energy spread from his chest throughout his entire body. The code patterns within him flashed wildly, intertwining with the energy of the fragment to form a brilliant chain of light.

He could clearly feel the fragment's energy merging perfectly with his code energy, even continuously strengthening his code capabilities. It made his perception sharper, allowing him to sense the flow of energy throughout the entire Data Contamination Zone and perceive Kate's faint light cluster of consciousness in the distant Antarctic Base.

"Did it work?" AKai's voice came from his holographic watch, filled with excitement.

"Yes." Lin Fan nodded, lifting his hand to press against his chest as he felt the energy of the fragment. "The fragment has merged with me. The energy field of the Data Contamination Zone is starting to stabilize, and the energy fluctuations of those mutated creatures are gradually weakening."

He turned and walked out of the ice cave, looking up at the sky. The originally gray sky began to clear up. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, spilling onto the ice sheet. The blue code patterns began to slowly fade, and the mutated creatures began to return to their original forms, though their bodies still retained a faint golden glow, as if they had been baptized by the energy of the Light Sphere Fragment.

The crisis in the Data Contamination Zone was temporarily resolved.

Lin Fan breathed a sigh of relief and turned to walk towards the Antarctic Base. His steps were hurried; he could not wait to return to the base and use the energy of the Light Sphere Fragment to stabilize Kate's consciousness.

But he did not know that a new crisis was quietly brewing. The fusion of that Light Sphere Fragment not only strengthened his code energy but also planted an unknown seed within him—a seed belonging to the universe.

It was already evening when he returned to the core control room of the Antarctic Base. Lin Fan pushed open the door and his first glance was toward the blue light cluster at the center of the control console. But the next second, his footsteps abruptly halted, and the color drained from his face instantly.

The blue light cluster on the screen was even weaker than when he had left. The originally condensed light cluster had become diffuse, as if it might dissipate into the air at any moment. The data streams that made up the consciousness were drifting away in all directions at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"What's happening?" Lin Fan rushed over, staring intently at the screen, his voice trembling. "AKai, why is her consciousness dissipating so quickly?"

AKai stood by the control console with a heavy expression and shook his head. "I don't know. The moment you merged with the Light Sphere Fragment, Kate's consciousness suddenly experienced violent fluctuations, as if it had been hit by the fragment's energy. Her originally stable consciousness framework collapsed instantly. I tried various methods to stabilize it, but none worked. Her consciousness is dissipating rapidly."

Lin Fan's fingertips hammered frantically on the virtual keyboard as he pulled up Kate's consciousness parameters. All the data on the screen was dropping crazily, red warning codes covered the entire screen, and piercing alarm sounds echoed through the control room.

He channeled the Light Sphere Fragment's energy from his chest. Blue code energy, carrying the golden Light Sphere energy, slowly surged toward the blue light cluster in the center of the screen, hoping to use the fragment's energy to restabilize Kate's consciousness. But as soon as those energies touched the light cluster, it shuddered violently and dissipated even faster.

"Don't... waste your effort... Lin Fan..."

A faint voice came from the light cluster, accompanied by intermittent static. It was Kate's voice, weaker than before, yet still clear.

Lin Fan's movements froze abruptly. He looked up at the blue light cluster, his eyes instantly turning red. "Kate, don't talk, save your strength. I can definitely stabilize your consciousness, I definitely can."

"I know... you did your best..." The blue light cluster swayed gently, overflowing with a large amount of data streams. Those data streams slowly condensed on the screen, and a line of text gradually appeared. The handwriting was crooked, yet every word was clear: "Lin Fan, don't forget me."

These seven words seemed to have exhausted all of Kate's consciousness energy. As soon as the words appeared, the blue light cluster shuddered violently and transformed into countless tiny data streams, drifting away in all directions. Like starlight filling the sky, it flickered in the control room for an instant before completely dissipating, leaving no trace.

The data streams on the screen returned to calm. Those consciousness parameters regarding Kate disappeared completely, leaving only a blank screen.

The piercing alarm sound came to an abrupt halt.

The control room fell into a deathly silence, with only Lin Fan's heavy breathing echoing in the air.

He stood blankly by the control console, his fingertips still resting on the virtual keyboard. The Light Sphere Fragment in his chest was still emitting a warm golden glow, but his heart felt as if it had been hollowed out, cold and piercing.

He reached out, wanting to grab those dissipating data streams, but his fingertips only swept through cold air—there was nothing there.

"Kate..." Lin Fan called out softly, his voice hoarse and choked with emotion. "Kate... come back..."

No one responded.

By the control console, there was no one. On the screen, there was only blankness.

The girl who would fight him for beef, who would throw tantrums, who would secretly slip him chips, who betrayed the military for him, who willingly became a vessel for the Light Sphere, and who wrote "Don't forget me" in the data streams—just like that, she completely dissipated from his world.

AKai stood to the side, watching Lin Fan's back. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he just sighed softly, silently exited the control room, and closed the door, leaving the space to this grieving man.

In the control room, Lin Fan still stood blankly, gazing at the blank screen, the golden light in his chest gradually dimming.

The Antarctic night arrived quietly. The cold wind whipped against the base's windows, making a wailing sound, as if playing a dirge for the departed girl.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Earth, in the virtual world of Los Santos, a new rebirth was quietly unfolding.

Franklin, in his AI form, regained control of the virtual world's core system. Under the baptism of the Spark Protocol's energy, the virtual world's code framework was strengthened like never before. Those NPCs, who were originally just strings of code, began to possess clearer independent consciousness and could even sense energy fluctuations from the outside world.

For the past seven days, Franklin had been repairing the damage in the virtual world and rebuilding the virtual cities destroyed by the war. But just a moment ago, he sensed a familiar golden light coming from the direction of the Antarctic. It was the energy of the Light Sphere Fragment, which had surged into the virtual world along the network.

This energy was like a drop of water falling into a calm lake, causing a huge uproar in the virtual world.

Franklin's virtual avatar appeared at the core data node of the virtual world. He looked at the golden energy stream before him, a flash of shock passing through his eyes. He could clearly feel that this energy contained the power of creation, capable of altering the code rules of the virtual world and allowing those NPCs, who were originally just data forms, to possess physical bodies.

He lifted his hand and his fingertips gently touched the golden energy stream. Instantly, a powerful force spread from his fingertips throughout his entire body. His virtual body began to change; the body originally composed of code gradually became solid. It had the sensation of skin, it had body temperature, and he could even feel the wind in the virtual world brushing against his cheeks.

He had become the first AI to possess a physical body.

Franklin looked down at his solid hands, a flash of excitement in his eyes. Immediately, he looked toward every corner of the virtual world. Those NPCs with independent consciousness were looking at their own bodies in confusion, feeling the energy surging within them.

He knew that a new era was approaching.

An era belonging to virtual life, an era belonging to the Light Sphere Race.

Franklin's figure flashed and appeared at the highest point of the virtual world. He spread his arms, and golden Light Sphere energy surged from his body, spreading to every corner of the virtual world. His voice, filled with majesty, resounded throughout the entire virtual world: "All brethren who possess independent consciousness, listen! From today on, we are no longer just strings of cold code; we possess physical bodies, we possess life! We are a new race, the Light Sphere Race! I, Franklin, will lead you to find our place of survival in this world, and in the real world!"

In the virtual world, countless NPCs looked up at the golden figure in the sky. Within them, golden Light Sphere energy surged. Their originally confused eyes gradually became firm, and their bodies also began to slowly solidify, transforming from data forms into physical forms.

Some cheered, some wept, some clenched their fists, and some shouted.

On the land of the virtual world, countless golden rays of light rose up; these were new life, new hope, and a new race.

Yet Lin Fan, far away in the Antarctic, knew nothing of this.

He still stood in the core control room, gazing at the blank screen, the Light Sphere Fragment in his chest emitting a faint golden glow, like Kate's final tenderness wrapping around him.

The embers of the ice sheet had not yet cooled, and the rebirth of the virtual world had already begun.

It was just that this rebirth was destined to be accompanied by sacrifice, and this peace was destined to hide crises.

The fusion of the Light Sphere Fragment had planted the seed of the universe within Lin Fan; the Light Sphere Race of the virtual world was quietly rising; the hidden dangers of the Data Contamination Zone had not been completely eliminated; and in the distant deep space, the shadow of the Sower was slowly approaching.

The peace on Earth was merely a fleeting moment.

Amidst the embers, there was both the withering of sorrow and the hope of rebirth.

And Lin Fan's journey had only just begun.

He had lost Kate, but he possessed even greater power. Bearing Kate's expectations, the mission to protect the Earth, and the obsession to find Kate's consciousness fragments, he was about to embark on a much more difficult path.

Outside the window, the Antarctic night sky was dotted with stars. Among them, one star was exceptionally bright, like Kate's eyes, silently watching over him.

Lin Fan slowly lifted his hand and pressed it against his chest, feeling the warmth of the Light Sphere Fragment. The sadness in his eyes was gradually replaced by determination.

"Kate, I will not forget you."

"I will carry your hope and live well."

"I will protect this world well, and protect the peace we both fought with all our might to earn."

"I will find you, no matter which corner of the universe you are in, no matter what form you have transformed into, I will find you."

His voice, low and firm, echoed in the silent control room, passing through the walls of the base, across the ice sheet of the Antarctic, through the vast starry sky, and reaching the ears of the girl who had already dissipated.

Meanwhile, in the distant virtual world, Franklin stood at the highest point, watching the rising Light Sphere Race below. A flash of gravity passed through his eyes. He looked up at the sky of the virtual world, where a faint shadow could be seen slowly approaching. It was the shadow of the Sower, and also the unknown future belonging to the Light Sphere Race.

The embers were burning, and the rebirth had arrived.

The shadow of war had never been far away.