After Winning The Esports Championship I’m Going To Pilot A Mecha: Chapter 143

143. “Come on, kill me ah.”

In the abandoned building’s underground passage, the dark gray Void Rift stood silently, its power core shut down, like a lifeless steel giant. Two identical-looking youths, indistinguishable from one another, stood gazing at each other from a distance.

Ji Mingzhu had not expected that the real Tian Shu was still alive.

Since awakening in that rented apartment, Ji Mingzhu had been living under the guise of “Tian Shu.” For a long time, he had believed he had crossed into another world, taking on the identity of a person named “Tian Shu.”

Ji Mingzhu knew very little about “Tian Shu.” Most of what he knew came from information provided by members of the Netherworld Organization. He was aware that Tian Shu had been the ace pilot of the original Big Dipper Squad within the Netherworld Organization, that he was a “clone” of Ji Mingzhu, and that he was taciturn. Even his close associates, Yao Guang and Tian Ji, had little understanding of him. Because of this, during his early interactions with Tian Quan, Yu Heng, and others, they had not noticed anything unusual about Ji Mingzhu and did not suspect his identity.

Ji Mingzhu had always thought that Tian Shu was dead, but now, Tian Shu was standing right in front of him, saying that they needed to “talk.”

Talk about what? What could they possibly have to discuss?

Ji Mingzhu’s mind was in turmoil, but he forced himself to calm down and asked, “Is Wild Wolf your subordinate? Was all of this your plan?”

“Yes.”

Tian Shu nodded, glancing at the Void Rift. Ji Mingzhu was still seated inside the mecha, and sensing Ji Mingzhu’s wariness, Tian Shu seemed somewhat resigned as he sighed, “As expected… You don’t remember anything.”

His tone made Ji Mingzhu pause for a moment.

“Have we interacted before?”

Ji Mingzhu asked, “You seem to know about my amnesia…”

“Yes, and I know more than just that.”

Tian Shu said, “We don’t have much time. The jamming device can only temporarily block your AI for a while. Given its level, it will soon break through the jamming device’s restrictions.”

What could be so important that Tian Shu went to great lengths to create an opportunity for a one-on-one conversation?

Ji Mingzhu was deep in thought when suddenly, he seemed to have a revelation: “During the time in Yangyuan City, Sun Yi mentioned that a young man had given him a note. That person was you, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was me.”

Tian Shu replied, “The note read, ‘If the source of everything lies with me, then I should also be the one to end it all.’”

Tian Shu directly quoted the last line of the note.

Swish—

The cockpit of the Void Rift opened, and Ji Mingzhu slid down the steel cables inside, meeting Tian Shu’s gaze.

It seems that the note was indeed given to him by Tian Shu. The note contained the location of Ji Qiming’s original research institute, and the handwriting on it was Ji Mingzhu’s own… This implies that Tian Shu did indeed have contact with Ji Mingzhu before the amnesia, and that the pre-amnesia Ji Mingzhu must have trusted Tian Shu as much as Tian Ji did.

“I know you have many questions right now.”

Tian Shu said to Ji Mingzhu, “Follow me.”

With that, Tian Shu turned and walked inside. Ji Mingzhu hesitated for a moment but decided to follow.

Wild Wolf watched from behind. The two looked exactly alike, like twins, and if they were wearing the same clothes, it would be impossible to tell them apart.

Interesting…

Wild Wolf shrugged and watched the two leave, remaining on guard at the spot.

“Where are you taking me?”

Ji Mingzhu followed Tian Shu and asked after a moment of silence.

“To retrieve something.”

Tian Shu said without turning around, “It’s something you left behind before your amnesia. Some of it is complex to explain, but you’ll understand once you see it yourself. The truth will become clear to you soon.”

Ji Mingzhu was surprised: “I anticipated my own amnesia and left these clues?”

“Sort of.”

Tian Shu pondered for a moment and said, “These clues were all left by you, including me. After leaving the Netherworld Organization, I have been gathering information about the old era, including some items left behind by Ji Qiming. According to the plan, we should have met a month ago, but you never showed up and even became a Titan pilot in Shangjing City, which was completely beyond our previous plans. So I suspected something must have gone wrong in between.”

“Do you know the reason for my amnesia?”

“Not exactly, but I can make some guesses.”

Tian Shu said, “The only entities capable of doing this, apart from Sky City, are the artificial intelligence within your body… If I’m not mistaken, your memory loss should be related to it.”

“What is our relationship?” Ji Mingzhu asked this question.

“Objectively, it’s a relationship between the original and the clone.”

Tian Shu’s demeanor was indeed as calm and taciturn as the others had described. He rarely spoke unless asked directly: “But subjectively, I believe we should be… friends.”

“Friends?”

“Mmh.” Tian Shu turned to look at Ji Mingzhu: “At least, that’s what you said.”

“I rarely take the initiative to make friends,” Ji Mingzhu smiled. “If I said that, then you must have been quite close to me. I thought I would consider you as a twin or something…”

“…”

Tian Shu looked at him silently for a moment.

“…Did I really say that?”

“Mmh.”

Ji Mingzhu chuckled in disbelief.

Tian Shu’s demeanor was different from what he had imagined; that glance just now even seemed somewhat endearing. Ji Mingzhu felt that with his own personality, he would likely enjoy teasing Tian Shu. Despite it being their first meeting, Ji Mingzhu inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity with Tian Shu, as if they had known each other for a long time and had a close relationship.

“Was it your idea to block Axiu, or was it your own idea?” Ji Mingzhu asked.

“It was my own idea. If your memory loss was caused by it, I’m sure it wouldn’t want you to learn the whole truth. Although it likes to fancy that everything it does is to protect you, I don’t like this interference with others’ decisions…”

Tian Shu then tilted his head in confusion and asked, “Axiu? Is that its new name?”

“Yes, I named it. After losing my memory, I didn’t know its original name.”

Ji Mingzhu nodded, “How did I used to refer to it?”

“It rarely appeared in front of me, and I’ve never had a direct conversation with it.”

Tian Shu said, “But I remember, you called it…【Cang Lan】.”

Jing Mingzhu’s footsteps faltered.

……

Boom—

In front of Jiusheng City’s Calamity Control Bureau building, several protesters who had been shouting were lifted into the air by an inexplicable force, and in mid-air, they disintegrated into a mist of blood and flesh.

This eerie power elicited terrified screams from those around. People’s gazes were drawn to the beautiful woman with a cold expression in front of them, revealing a variety of emotions.

Fear, fanaticism, confusion, hatred…

For many years, the reign of Sky City had instilled a deep-seated fear of the Immortals in people’s bones. Yet, encounters with the Immortals were so rare—fewer than the fingers on one hand—that besides various propaganda and textbook materials, the general public knew very little about them. The less people knew, the more mysterious and, consequently, more awe-inspiring they became.

The silver bracelet on Chun Bai’s wrist emitted a glowing light. In her presence, armed humans seemed like fragile ants, easily crushed with a simple squeeze.

Cameras faithfully recorded everything, broadcasting it to various satellite city channels via satellite footage.

“Your Excellency Chun Bai!”

Shen Yi stepped forward and urged, “Please don’t do this… They are your people…”

The previously fervent protesters were now silent. Faced with Chun Bai’s supernatural power, which exceeded their current understanding, they had no idea how to respond. Although the Immortals appeared human, they were not truly the same as humans.

“People?”

Chun Bai sneered, her gaze sweeping over the banners held by the protesters.

“Have you forgotten… Why can you stand here, enjoying peace and tranquility, basking in sunlight and air, without struggling like beasts in the wilderness, praying for the sun to rise the next day? It’s all thanks to who?”

Chun Bai’s voice was cold, “Without the provision of Sky City, where would the satellite cities come from? Without the mechs provided by Sky City, how could you survive in the face of Aberration threats? Just because of a traitor’s incitement, you choose to rebel and overthrow Sky City… Who gave you the courage?”

Her voice was not loud but reached everyone’s ears with crystal clarity.

“To be free, not to be a slave… it sounds so grand.”

Chun Bai narrowed her eyes. “What right do you have to stand here and shout these words? Is it because of the benevolence of Sky City and the High Priest over the years that you have deluded yourselves into thinking you are not slaves? For a hundred years, you have considered yourselves human, and you really think of yourselves as such? Or do you believe that by acquiring Titans, you deserve to shout at Sky City…”

Boom—

Two more people were hurled into the air, turning into two sprays of blood mist.

“Sorry, in our eyes, you are still just a bunch of ants.”

Chun Bai’s voice was cold. “If you do not have this awareness… then you have no need to exist.”

The air fell silent in an instant, everyone was terrified by Chun Bai’s methods.

It was the first time they had seen the Immortal Clan act so ruthlessly. Sky City had always appeared with an image of benevolence. Perhaps because of this, they now saw the true power of Sky City. Chun Bai’s actions, carried out in mere seconds, left these people powerless and dead. Such methods were unheard of and extremely bizarre. If every Immortal in Sky City were like Chun Bai, current human technology would be utterly powerless to resist.

Like the deities of legend, possessing an unassailable pressure beyond their species…

The protesters could not help but shudder in fear, starting to doubt the actions of the Netherworld Organization. Some even came to their senses and began to curse the Netherworld Organization and Qi Ling’s manipulation.

The once boiling spirit of resistance began to waver before Chun Bai’s invincible methods.

“You’re full of sh*t!”

Suddenly, a man in the crowd shouted.

Everyone looked over, seeing a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard. He waved his flag and cursed loudly.

“What invincible? Sky City is just a bunch of liars! They are a group of artificial intelligences who seized technology that rightfully belongs to us! Sky City are liars, the Immortal Clan are liars, and the High Priest Shen Hong is a liar too!!”

He cursed loudly at Sky City and the High Priest Shen Hong. Chun Bai’s gaze immediately sharpened.

Only the High Priest Shen Hong was a sacred and inviolable ¹ figure in the hearts of the Immortal Clan. No Immortal Clan member could tolerate anyone insulting the High Priest’s name in their presence.

Chun Bai extended her hand, and the silver bracelet on it emitted a soft glow once more. The middle-aged man was lifted into the air as if by an invisible giant hand, driven by mysterious forces.

Jin Qing suddenly noticed that a strange smile appeared at the corner of the middle-aged man’s mouth.

“Chun Bai!”

Jin Qing was alarmed and seemed to think of something, hurriedly trying to stop her. “Don’t…”

But it was too late. Chun Bai’s hand was already reaching out.

The scene of the bearded middle-aged man being disintegrated did not unfold as expected.

The next moment, Chun Bai’s head exploded violently, with liquid metal-like fragments scattering everywhere, revealing the internal metal skeleton and shattered chips.

Everyone was stunned, even Jin Qing and the other Immortal Clan members behind him watched in disbelief.

The middle-aged man suddenly burst into laughter. His facial skin began to change, peeling away like crumbling wall plaster, revealing flesh fragments beneath. It was possible to faintly see the flesh writhing beneath the skin, as if some monstrous creature was emerging from within.

Huo Zai removed his disguise, looking at the exploded corpse of Chun Bai with a satisfied expression. He waved at Jin Qing and the other stunned figures on the stage. “Yes, just like that. Come on, kill me ah.”

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Translator Notes

1. Never to be broken, infringed, or dishonoured.[↩]