84: Chapter 84 Mirror War

The New York skyline was twisted into absurd geometric shards by the tearing data storm.

The former concrete jungle was entwined with vines of dark green data streams, and the glass curtain walls of the skyscrapers transformed into flowing waterfalls of code, crashing onto the streets and splashing up countless flickering points of light.

Mirror Lin Fan stood on the spire of the Empire State Building, his body wrapped in black code that was homologous to Lin Fan's but appeared colder.

With a light wave of his hand, the data-polluted mutated creatures surged like a tide toward the defense lines of Manhattan.

The sounds of roaring and gunfire wove together into a prelude to doomsday.

Meanwhile, in the sky, the phantom of Kate slowly emerged amidst the churning data storm, her eyes hollow, her hands unconsciously guiding the data streams, dismantling human fortifications layer by layer.

This was the seventy-second hour since the Sower's mirror detector had landed, and also the seventy-second hour that the Earth Alliance had been plunged into total collapse.

Lin Fan stood on the wreckage of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Light Sphere Fragment at his fingertips growing slightly hot.

He could clearly perceive that mixed within Mirror Lin Fan's code core were Kate's corrupted consciousness fragments.

That was the gentleness and resilience that belonged to her, yet it had been twisted by the Sower's dark code into a weapon of destruction.

"Lin Fan, if this continues, New York won't last another three hours."

AKai's voice came through the communicator, carrying undisguised exhaustion.

Before him were monitoring screens covering the entire command console, each showing the tragic state of the human defense line collapsing.

"The military's mecha troops have already lost seventy percent, and the mutated creatures in the data-polluted zone are still multiplying.

Mirror Lin Fan's abilities are almost identical to yours; we simply cannot find his weakness."

Lin Fan clenched the Light Sphere Fragment in his hand.

The warmth of the fragment transmitted through his palm, but it could not warm the chill in his heart.

He looked at Kate's phantom in the sky.

Her outline flickered in the data stream, occasionally flashing a trace of familiar gentleness, but the next second it was covered again by cold code.

It was just like the Kate he had seen in the virtual world in Chapter 93 who viewed him as an enemy—just as unfamiliar, and just as heartbreaking.

"His weakness is in Kate."

Lin Fan's voice was low and carried a tremor.

"Mirror Lin Fan's code contains Kate's consciousness fragments.

He can manipulate the data storm entirely because of Kate's unconscious cooperation.

As long as we can make Kate's consciousness wake up, Mirror Lin Fan's power will collapse."

"But what are you going to do?"

AKai's voice suddenly rose.

"Do you want to enter the virtual world and merge with Kate's consciousness?

Lin Fan, have you forgotten?

Kate's data form is already on the verge of dissipating.

A forced fusion will only accelerate the collapse of her consciousness.

By then, not only will you be unable to save her, but you will also put yourself at risk of losing your own consciousness!"

Lin Fan did not turn back; his gaze remained locked on Kate's phantom in the sky.

In his memory, the image of her smiling and saying, "Lin Fan, don't forget me," overlapped with her hollow eyes at this moment, making his heart feel as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, causing him pain so sharp he couldn't breathe.

He remembered the last moment when Kate dissipated in the data stream, and remembered that sentence when she briefly regained her memory, "Why is my heart hurting?"

All his emotions converged into a force of resolution at this moment.

He knew he had no choice.

"I must take a gamble."

Lin Fan's voice was firm, without the slightest wavering.

"AKai, help me prepare the virtual world access pod, and also... call Franklin over.

I need him to cooperate with me to contain Mirror Lin Fan's data nodes."

There was silence on the other end of the communicator for a long time.

AKai's sigh came through the current, filled with helplessness and worry.

"I know I can't persuade you, Lin Fan.

I'll arrange the access pod right now.

Franklin is already organizing the NPC legion on his side.

He said that even if they have to sacrifice all the NPCs, they will buy time for you to infiltrate."

Hanging up the communication, Lin Fan slowly raised his hand.

The Light Sphere Fragment floated in his palm, emitting a soft light.

The light enveloped his body, temporarily forcing back the raging data streams around him.

He could perceive that hidden within the Light Sphere Fragment was the temperature of Kate's final consciousness; it was the only memento she had left for him.

Just then, the ground suddenly shook violently.

Mirror Lin Fan was controlling a mutated giant beast the size of a skyscraper, charging toward the Brooklyn Bridge.

The giant beast's body was fused from data and flesh.

Every step it took caused the ground to collapse, and dark green data streams gushed out from its body.

Wherever it passed, everything was assimilated into the likeness of data pollution.

"Lin Fan, stop hiding."

Mirror Lin Fan's voice came from all directions, cold and mechanical, devoid of any human emotion.

"Hand over the Light Sphere Fragment, and I can let you die quickly.

Otherwise, I will turn the entire Earth into a graveyard of data."

Lin Fan sneered, and the golden code around him erupted suddenly, colliding with Mirror Lin Fan's black code in mid-air, emitting a harsh buzzing sound.

The two forces, homologous yet contradictory, intertwined to form a massive energy storm, destroying all the surrounding buildings.

In the sky, because of the collision of the two forces, Kate's phantom let out a faint groan, and a look of pain flashed across her hollow eyes.

"You are not worthy of using her power."

Lin Fan's voice carried anger as the golden code pierced toward Mirror Lin Fan like a sharp sword.

"You are just a puppet created by the Sower, living on by tampering with Kate's consciousness.

You don't understand what emotion is, or what protection is!"

Mirror Lin Fan dodged the attack, and the black code turned into countless tentacles, wrapping toward Lin Fan's body.

"Emotion? That is the most useless thing.

Lin Fan, you are bound by emotion, which is why you cannot unleash the true power of the Light Sphere.

As long as you abandon your humanity and submit to the Sower with me, we can become the masters of the universe."

"I will never abandon my humanity."

Lin Fan's figure flickered within the golden code, avoiding the entanglement of the tentacles.

"What Kate taught me is protection and love.

This is a power you will never understand."

The two engaged in a fierce fight in mid-air.

Golden and black code constantly collided and annihilated each other.

Energy shockwaves swept through all of New York.

The mutated creatures on the streets were shattered by the shockwaves, dissipating into data streams, but more mutated creatures surged from the data-polluted zone, rushing toward the human defense line one after another.

Just in the gap while Lin Fan and Mirror Lin Fan were fighting, AKai's voice came again:

"Lin Fan, the access pod is ready.

Franklin's NPC legion has started to raid Mirror Lin Fan's data nodes.

You can come over now!"

Upon hearing this, the golden code around Lin Fan erupted, forcing Mirror Lin Fan back several steps.

Then he turned and flew toward the temporary base under the Brooklyn Bridge, where the access pod was ready, and Franklin's NPC legion was charging toward the Empire State Building.

In the temporary base, it was a scene of busyness.

Medical personnel were treating injured soldiers, and technicians were debugging equipment.

AKai stood by the access pod with a grave expression.

Seeing Lin Fan approach, he handed over a silver chip.

The surface of the chip was engraved with fine patterns, and it stored the backup of Kate's final human memories.

"This is what I extracted from the data stream before Kate dissipated.

It contains all her human memories, from her childhood to meeting you, and then to her sacrifice."

AKai's voice was hoarse as he stuffed the chip into Lin Fan's hand.

"Lin Fan, this is her final memento, and it is also your only chance.

Remember, no matter what happens, do not lose yourself.

You must bring her back."

Lin Fan gripped the chip tightly.

The temperature of the chip and the temperature of the Light Sphere Fragment intertwined, warming his cold palm.

He looked at AKai, nodded, said nothing, and turned to walk into the access pod.

The door of the access pod closed slowly, and the cold metallic touch enveloped his body.

The virtual world access program began to start.

Countless data streams flashed through his mind.

He could perceive that his consciousness was gradually detaching from his body and drifting toward the virtual world.

Meanwhile, in the virtual world, Franklin was leading the NPC legion, which had been granted materialization abilities by the Light Sphere Fragment, to charge toward Mirror Lin Fan's data nodes.

These NPCs were originally just ordinary characters in the virtual world, but now they possessed physical forms and the ability to fight.

They held data-fied weapons and charged toward the data nodes.

Every sacrifice of an NPC would turn into a data stream, temporarily interfering with the operation of the data nodes.

"Everyone, at all costs, hold this node and buy time for Lin Fan!"

Franklin's voice echoed in the virtual world.

His body was surrounded by countless codes, controlling the attack of the NPC legion.

His face was full of determination, although he knew this charge was destined to be a tragic sacrifice.

Around the data node, black code surged like a tide; that was Mirror Lin Fan's defensive force.

The NPCs kept falling, and data streams dissipated in the air, but the remaining NPCs continued to surge forward one after another, without the slightest hesitation.

Franklin looked at the constantly decreasing number of NPCs, a flash of pain and regret crossing his eyes, but he knew this was the price that must be paid—for Lin Fan, for Kate, and for the entire Earth.

"Franklin, the node's defensive power has weakened!"

An NPC commander's voice came.

"Lin Fan's consciousness has entered the virtual world.

If we can hold on for another ten minutes, we can create an opportunity for him to infiltrate!"

Franklin nodded, the code around his body suddenly erupting, transforming into a massive barrier that blocked the front of the data node, resisting the attack of the black code: "Everyone, charge with me! Even if we lose the last person, we must hold the line!"

The battle in the virtual world was in full swing, and Lin Fan's consciousness had already arrived in Kate's consciousness space.

This was an ocean composed of memory fragments, with countless memory fragments floating in the seawater; there were painful memories of Kate's childhood being experimented on by the military, gentle memories of when she and Lin Fan first met, and reluctant memories from before she sacrificed herself, each fragment carrying the emotional temperature of her experiences.

Lin Fan's consciousness wove through the ocean of memories; he could sense that Kate's consciousness was hidden in the deepest part of this ocean, wrapped layer by layer in the Sower's dark code, like a star obscured by dark clouds, having lost its radiance.

He flew toward the depths of the consciousness ocean, and with every step closer, he could feel the faint fluctuations of Kate's consciousness; in those fluctuations, there was pain, confusion, and a trace of attachment toward him.

Just then, dark code suddenly surged from all directions, transforming into countless tentacles that wrapped around Lin Fan's consciousness. Mirror Lin Fan's voice rang out in the consciousness space, cold and mocking: "Lin Fan, do you think you can save her? Her consciousness is already under my control; everything you are doing is in vain."

Golden light erupted from Lin Fan's consciousness, forcing the dark tentacles back. He looked at the phantom of Mirror Lin Fan, which had condensed from dark code, and said coldly: "You only survive by tampering with her consciousness; you don't understand her heart at all. Her memories, her emotions—these are things you cannot replicate."

"Replicate?" The phantom of Mirror Lin Fan laughed, his laughter full of disdain. "I don't need to replicate; I only need to control. Lin Fan, look, her consciousness is almost assimilated by me. Before long, she will completely forget you and become my most loyal weapon."

Lin Fan followed Mirror Lin Fan's gaze and saw that in the deepest part of the consciousness ocean, Kate's consciousness phantom was tightly wrapped in dark code. Her body was trembling constantly, and in her hollow eyes, a familiar light would occasionally flash, only to be quickly covered by darkness again. Lin Fan's heart ached sharply; he ignored the phantom of Mirror Lin Fan and rushed toward Kate's consciousness phantom.

"Don't come any closer!" the phantom of Mirror Lin Fan roared, and the dark code transformed into countless sharp blades that stabbed toward Lin Fan. "If you get any closer, I will crush her consciousness immediately!"

Lin Fan did not stop his steps. A Light Sphere Fragment emerged from his consciousness, emitting a soft glow. The light enveloped his body, completely dissolving all the dark blades. He knew that Mirror Lin Fan was bluffing; he needed Kate's consciousness to maintain his power and would never easily crush it.

Finally, Lin Fan arrived before Kate's consciousness phantom. He reached out, wanting to touch her cheek, but the dark code formed a barrier, blocking him outside. Looking at Kate's hollow eyes behind the barrier, the emotions in his heart surged like a tide. He integrated the memory chip given by AKai into his own consciousness, and the memory fragments within the chip instantly erupted, transforming into countless golden specks of light that surged into the dark barrier.

"Kate, wake up." Lin Fan's voice was gentle, filled with endless attachment. "Look at me, I am Lin Fan, I've come to take you back."

The golden memory specks wove through the dark barrier, awakening Kate's sealed memories. The pain of childhood, the beauty of their meeting, the reluctance of her sacrifice—all the memory fragments reorganized within her consciousness. In her hollow eyes, tears gradually welled up, and the trembling of her body slowly subsided.

"Lin... Fan?" Kate's voice was weak, carrying a trace of confusion as it came from behind the dark barrier. "Is that you?"

"It's me, Kate, it's me." Lin Fan's voice was choked with emotion. "I'm here, I won't let you be alone anymore. Come with me, okay?"

Under the impact of the memory specks, the dark barrier began to crack. The phantom of Mirror Lin Fan let out a roar, and dark code surged frantically into the barrier, trying to repair the cracks, but the power of the memory specks grew stronger and stronger, and Kate's consciousness became clearer and clearer.

"I remember..." Kate's consciousness phantom slowly raised her hand, touching the dark barrier. "I remember you, Lin Fan. I remember us watching the stars together in the virtual world, I remember you saying you would protect me, I remember... I don't want to forget you."

As she spoke, the dark barrier shattered with a boom. Kate's consciousness phantom broke free from the shackles of the dark code and drifted toward Lin Fan. Her eyes regained their former tenderness, and with tears in them, she looked at Lin Fan: "Lin Fan, I missed you so much."

Lin Fan reached out and hugged Kate's consciousness phantom tightly, feeling the temperature within her consciousness. Tears slid from the corners of his eyes and dripped into the ocean of consciousness, creating ripples. He knew he had won the gamble; Kate's consciousness was finally awake.

Just then, the phantom of Mirror Lin Fan let out a shrill scream. His body began to gradually dissipate, and black code kept flaking off. Because Kate's consciousness had awakened, he had lost his source of power and could no longer maintain his form.

"No... impossible..." Mirror Lin Fan's voice was full of unwillingness. "How could I lose... I clearly possess the same power as you..."

"Because you have no emotions, no love." Lin Fan looked at the dissipating Mirror Lin Fan, his voice calm. "This is the one place where you will never be able to surpass me."

The phantom of Mirror Lin Fan finally dissipated completely, turning into countless streams of black data that merged into the ocean of consciousness, leaving no trace behind. Meanwhile, in the ocean of consciousness, the golden memory specks merged with Kate's consciousness, making her consciousness more stable with no further signs of dissipating.

"Lin Fan, thank you." Kate leaned into Lin Fan's embrace, her voice gentle. "I thought I would never see you again."

"I won't let you leave me." Lin Fan hugged her tightly. "Let's go back together, return to the real world, okay?"

Kate nodded, a gentle smile appearing on her face, but just then, the ocean of consciousness suddenly began to vibrate violently. A powerful dark force surged from the depths of the ocean—it was the power of the Sower. They had sensed the failure of Mirror Lin Fan and had begun to intervene personally, wanting to destroy Kate's consciousness.

"Oh no, the Sower is here." Lin Fan's expression changed. He shielded Kate behind him, and the golden code around his body erupted, forming a barrier that resisted the impact of the dark power. "Kate, hold onto me, we are leaving the virtual world right now!"

Kate grasped Lin Fan's hand tightly, their consciousnesses closely linked. The Light Sphere Fragment emitted a dazzling light, enveloping their consciousnesses and flying toward the exit of the virtual world.

Meanwhile, in the real world, AKai watched the monitor screen, an excited look on his face: "Success! Lin Fan has successfully awakened Kate's consciousness! Mirror Lin Fan's power is disintegrating, and the data storm is weakening!"

Franklin's NPC army also sensed the change. The defensive power of the data nodes had completely disappeared, and the black code was gradually dissipating. The NPCs cheered; although they had sacrificed half of their members, the dawn of victory had finally arrived.

Over New York, the data storm gradually subsided, and Kate's phantom also slowly dissipated. The mutated creatures contaminated by the data began to lose their power, gradually collapsing to the ground and dissipating into streams of data. The soldiers on the human defense line saw this scene and let out thunderous cheers; they knew that they had won this Mirror War.

In the connection pod, Lin Fan's body moved slightly, and the door of the connection pod slowly opened. He slowly opened his eyes, a trace of fatigue from his consciousness travel still lingering in them, but when he saw AKai's worried gaze, a gentle smile appeared on his face.

"I brought her back." Lin Fan's voice was calm, yet filled with endless determination.

AKai looked at him, a flash of relief in his eyes, and nodded: "Welcome back, Lin Fan."

In the virtual world, Franklin watched the virtual world gradually return to peace, a tired but satisfied smile on his face. He looked at the remaining NPCs beside him and said softly: "We did it; we held the line."

All the NPCs looked at him, their eyes full of reverence. They knew it was their sacrifice that had bought time for Lin Fan and brought about this victory.

What Lin Fan did not know was that at the moment he awakened Kate's consciousness, on the Observer Mother Star, Night Owl watched the holographic screen before him, a complex expression on his face. Beneath his armor, the same patterns as Lin Fan's birth mother were glowing faintly; his birth mother's residual code was gradually overwriting the loyalty program implanted in him by the Sower, and a new turn of events was quietly brewing.

The crisis on Earth was temporarily resolved, but the threat of the Sower still remained. Lin Fan knew this was only the beginning; the real battle was still ahead. He gripped the Light Sphere Fragment in his hand, feeling the temperature of Kate's consciousness within it, and his determination grew even stronger. No matter what dangers he would face in the future, he would protect Kate, protect Earth, and protect everyone he loved.

The golden Light Sphere Fragment in the data-contaminated zone continued to emit light—it was the light of hope, and the light of protection. On this land that had experienced the fires of war, the spark was quietly reigniting.