After Winning The Esports Championship I’m Going To Pilot A Mecha: Chapter 146

146. Recollection 2

In a transparent petri dish, a mass of wriggling flesh continuously crawled within the high-strength glass.

“Gene fragments unlike any known organism…”

Zhang Bifang’s expression was serious as he looked at the report in his hand. “Is this the life form from the meteorite?”

“Yes.”

The researcher next to him handed over a stack of photos. “Its genetic sequence is very peculiar, with strong activity and self-repair capabilities. It showed no damage from the high-temperature friction in the atmosphere. When we found it, it seemed to be in a dormant state.”

“Has the secondary test report come out?”

Ji Qiming reached out to take the photos and asked.

“It has.”

Another researcher in a white lab coat quickly approached. “We found something unusual in the genetic fragments of this life form…”

Zhang Bifang took the second report and, after just a glance, his eyes widened in shock.

“This…”

The gene activity levels were tens of times higher than those of existing life forms, with unprecedented values for entanglement and assimilation, and cell properties that allowed for infinite division and continuous transmission… The various indicators in this report were so astonishing that they seemed like something out of a science fiction movie.

Zhang Bifang and Ji Qiming exchanged a glance. As top-tier researchers, although this report needed further verification, the data alone quickly led them to the same conclusion.

—The possibility of immortality.

…

The news of the life form carried on the meteorite was quickly reported. Months later, a high-level international conference was convened. At the meeting, Zhang Bifang and Ji Qiming, as the two major representatives of the research institute, made their first report.

“…After multiple studies and verifications, we discovered special gene fragments in this life form. It shares characteristics with cancer cells, such as continuous inheritance, no aging, and the ability to divide indefinitely, but it is more orderly than cancer cells.”

Zhang Bifang said, “This is the key to immortality. When combined with normal cells, it can alter the ‘switches’ related to cell lifespan and division. I believe this research should continue. If we can integrate it with human cell receptors, I think it could at least extend the average human lifespan to over five hundred years. Most diseases that plague us could be easily resolved, and perhaps… we might even achieve immortality.”

The conference fell into silence. The people sitting around the table were leaders of various nations, most of whom were quite advanced in age. Faced with such an enticing prospect, it was as if starving individuals were presented with a feast, causing a noticeable restlessness and heavy breathing among them.

After a long pause, an elder turned to Ji Qiming on the other side. “Dr. Ji Qiming, you’re an authority in this field. What are your thoughts?”

“I do not support the continuation of this research project.”

Ji Qiming thought for a moment and said, “Immortality is certainly alluring, but the more enticing something is, the more likely it hides equivalent dangers. The life form from the meteorite grows rapidly. When it first arrived at the lab, it was only the size of a fist, but its cell division rate is exponential. In just a few months, it has grown to nearly half a person’s height. This is a dangerous signal. Additionally…”

After a pause, Ji Qiming continued, “I studied its biological fluctuations and found that during its activity, it continuously emits a special biological signal. As time goes on, the range of influence of this signal also increases. Although I am not sure of the exact function of this biological signal, given the origin of the meteorite, I believe…”

“You mean it’s calling for something?” one leader interrupted. “Are you suggesting it’s the so-called… Cosmic Deity?”

“…I have that suspicion.”

“Nonsense.”

The leader snorted, looking somewhat disdainful. From the moment he first heard about the idea of a Cosmic Deity, he had considered it utterly absurd. He couldn’t fathom how a scientist like Ji Qiming could make such an irrational statement.

In the face of the temptation of immortality, even if it entailed certain risks, they believed it was worth it.

Despite Ji Qiming’s strong recommendation to destroy the life form from the meteorite before it could grow and spread, the matter quickly progressed. Ji Qiming’s concerns were dismissed, and Zhang Bifang’s proposal for the “Immortality Project” was passed by a large majority.

No one could resist the temptation brought by technological leaps.

In the following years, as more and more meteorites fell, researchers gathered more information from them. This led to a significant technological advancement worldwide. New technological achievements, new green energy sources, and breakthroughs in biotechnology emerged, all pointing towards a bright future.

…

“I heard there’s been an issue with the two AIs at your place?”

Zhang Bifang knocked on Ji Qiming’s office door and asked.

Ji Qiming nodded. “You’ve heard too?”

“It’s caused quite a stir, of course I’ve heard.”

Zhang Bifang said, “An AI attacking a human child—there was about to be a mass production permit for AI, and now this happens. I imagine the protests will grow louder.”

“There’s a reason for this.”

Ji Qiming shook his head. “Cang Lan and Shen Hong are a bit impulsive, but their personalities are not aggressive. This was just an accident…”

“You know others won’t see it that way.”

Zhang Bifang said, “If Cang Lan and Shen Hong were human, no one would say anything. But they are AIs. This incident, although minor, reveals a larger issue, as you know.”

The office fell silent.

“What’s the plan from above?” Zhang Bifang asked.

“Recall Cang Lan and Shen Hong.”

Ji Qiming spoke with some difficulty. “And… initiate the AI base code implantation plan to restrict AI from potentially attacking humans.”

“That’s probably the best outcome.”

Zhang Bifang consoled, “At least Cang Lan and Shen Hong haven’t been destroyed, right?”

“No, this isn’t good at all.”

Ji Qiming retorted, “This plan signifies an inherent inequality between humans and AI. Cang Lan and Shen Hong will no longer possess free souls. Do you understand this feeling? They aren’t tools, nor machines. They are beings with their own lives, thoughts, and emotions. Although we created them, we are not deities. Why should we erase their potential for equal respect in the future?”

“You’re right, we’re not deities.”

Zhang Bifang said, “And neither are you, Dr. Ji Qiming.”

“…”

“You’re such an idealist, but idealists rarely meet good ends.”

Zhang Bifang sighed, “There are too few people who think like you, who see other intelligent beings as equals. This day was bound to come, sooner or later. Humanity will never relinquish its position as the superior species. Even if AI becomes as numerous as humans or even surpasses us in many ways, they can only ever be tools, not ‘people.’”

“Man is the measure of all things.”

Zhang Bifang paused and continued, “It has always been so, and can only be so. Whether it’s AI or the life form on the meteorite, they exist to serve the future of humanity. We extract benefits from them to strengthen, develop, and ultimately serve ourselves. As long as this desire exists, we won’t stop. I think you understand this point more deeply than I do.”

Man is the measure of all things.

Ji Qiming was silent for a moment, then said, “That statement is too arrogant.”

“Perhaps.”

Zhang Bifang shrugged, “But we can’t change it, can we?”

…

A few days later, Cang Lan and Shen Hong were retrieved by the researchers.

The young Ji Mingzhu clung to Ji Qiming’s waist, teary-eyed, asking, “They will come back, right?”

Ji Qiming patted his head, remaining silent, giving no answer.

The [Immortality Project] continued, and the explosive progress of human technology never ceased.

Years later, under the leadership of Dr. Ji Qiming, the first prototype mecha was successfully developed and passed its trial run.

The life form on the meteorite had grown to an astonishing size, almost as large as a villa. The writhing mass of black flesh was extremely terrifying, and no one knew its growth limits. For further research, the institute transferred it to another building specifically designated for its storage and named this life form the Mother Aberration.

Due to the rapid proliferation of the Mother Aberration, it posed a potential catastrophic threat. Fortunately, the mecha developed under Dr. Ji Qiming’s leadership proved highly effective in neutralizing and destroying the Mother Aberration’s biological field, far surpassing other thermal weapons in lethality against its bio-field. This made the hidden crisis seem negligible.

The combat capabilities of the mecha were unexpectedly strong, offering superior mobility and single-unit destructive power, while also addressing the potential threat posed by the Mother Aberration. Consequently, after deliberation, the mecha project and the [Immortality Project] became primary focuses, with top teams assigned to design various types of mechas.

Due to the high operational difficulty of the mechas, a large-scale screening was needed to find individuals with piloting talent. Thus, the [Warfall] ¹ project was launched, introducing the selection process to the public through a holographic game.

Two years later, the Warfall project went live and achieved massive success worldwide. The number of players soared, and within a month, it became the most popular game, dominating industry charts.

“Dr. Ji Qiming.”

One ordinary afternoon, a researcher entered Ji Qiming’s office with a young man in tow.

“This is your new assistant, an outstanding graduate from the University of California, just joined our institute. Please guide him.”

The researcher treated Ji Qiming with great respect, as Ji Qiming had now become the indisputable leader of the institute, on equal footing with Dr. Zhang Bifang, who led the [Immortality Project].

“Hello.”

Ji Qiming looked up, glanced at the young man, and nodded politely.

The young man appeared to be in his early twenties, exuding an academic aura, wearing thick black-framed glasses, and looking somewhat nervous.

“Hello, Dr. Ji.”

The young man seemed very tense, stuttering slightly as he spoke, his gaze filled with undisguised admiration. “My name is Qi Ling. I’ve read all your papers. I can’t believe I’m your assistant. It’s such an honor! I will work very hard!”

Ji Qiming, amused by the young man’s nervousness, chuckled, “Don’t be so nervous, I don’t bite… Hello, Qi Ling, welcome aboard.”

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Translator Notes

1. Just realized I should have probably called this Battle Meteorite/Meteorite Battle. Since the characters used can mean either of this in addition to War fall. Since it seems to have been linked to the fall of the meteorites and appearance of the Aberration.[↩]