C2 Intelligent Qilin

After an indeterminate amount of time, Qin Anyi's eyes fluttered open. His mind felt oddly hollow as he sat up in a daze, surveying his surroundings. The alley before him struck a chord of familiarity. What had transpired? He vaguely recalled being overpowered by four thugs, likely sustaining serious injuries in the process.

Sensing something amiss, Qin Anyi rose to his feet. As he instinctively stretched his limbs, he was taken aback by the peculiar lightness of his body, which seemed to brim with newfound strength. But then, a startling realization hit him—why was he completely nude?

His gaze dropped to his bare form and the cool air against his skin, leaving him momentarily dumbfounded.

"Body repair and brain integration programs complete... Duration: three hours and seventeen minutes, with an estimated error of 1.5%... Within acceptable margins."

"The results are outstanding. The host's body strength is at level E, with exceptional potential. Due to the use of a catalyst, there are unknown variables. End of report."

The gentle voice emerged out of nowhere, startling Qin Anyi, who had been lost in thought over his condition. His muscles snapped taut as he scanned the empty alley, finding no one else present.

"Gravity index is standard... Air quality is subpar, containing harmful substances. Once the host's body strength reaches level D, the impact of the current environment can be disregarded."

The voice spoke again, causing Qin Anyi's body to jolt. He nearly bolted in reflex, but with no one in sight, he managed to suppress the primal fear of the unknown. Taking a steadying breath, he called out, "Who's there? Show yourself! Don't lurk in the shadows and frighten people!"

No sooner had he spoken than a burst of light materialized, revealing a beautiful, unclad figure before him.

"Intelligent Qilin at your service, Master."

Qin Anyi's mouth hung open in astonishment at the sight of the stunning girl, whose body, though bare, lacked any tangible substance. She appeared translucent, like a holographic projection.

"You... Who are you?" Qin Anyi endeavored to remain composed, taking several deep breaths before he managed to inquire slowly.

"I am Qilin, the culmination of the Human Weapon Project. According to the data in my database, I am the most advanced single-unit evolutionary weapon. The host who successfully merges with me is destined to become the ultimate warrior."

The girl remained expressionless, her voice soft as ever.

Qin Anyi blinked, then abruptly pinched his thigh hard. The excruciating pain made him wince and sharply inhale.

What in the world was happening? A woman with a bare behind popping up out of nowhere was one thing, but then she spouted a bunch of incomprehensible stuff.

"I have no idea what you're saying. Now, in terms I can understand, explain your origins, what you are, and what just happened!"

Qin Anyi massaged his temples, his voice laced with the throbbing of a headache.

"The database is damaged, and the query too complex. Unable to provide a detailed response. Recommendation: transfer relevant data directly into the host's brain via an information stream."

"Host strength level: Poor... Data viewing permissions: Limited."

Qin Anyi rolled his eyes. He was about to object to the 'poor' assessment when a wave of dizziness hit him, and his eyes instinctively shut. Images flashed through his mind!

A water-blue planet floated in the deep blue cosmos, then the view zoomed in rapidly! The Eurasian continent, the Republic, Changqing City, a secluded alley with a heap of trash...

The view abruptly halted, and the space about half a meter above the trash pile twisted, slowly ripping open a fissure. A dim sphere fell from the gap, landing on the heap of trash...

Next, Qin Anyi saw himself and those four thugs in his mind, up to the point where the super squirming of his body ended, and then the vision vanished. The abrupt shift left his mind reeling, his body swaying, nearly toppling over.

Regaining his balance, Qin Anyi looked at the bare-bottomed girl with a bewildered expression. The shock sent his thoughts into disarray. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "You've altered my body and merged with me? What exactly are you, where do you come from, and what impact will this fusion have on me?"

"The ultimate AI, Qilin. Further inquiries cannot be addressed due to low host authority and database damage."

Qin Anyi felt a surge of frustration, biting back his irritation before asking resignedly, "Then how can I elevate my authority? How can I learn of your origins?"

"Enhance your own strength. As a combat AI, I can only grant access to certain permissions when the host's strength meets the necessary criteria. However, due to some issues, the database is compromised, making it more challenging for the host to increase their strength."

Qin Anyi gazed intently at the insubstantial projection before him, still reeling from the shock of the vivid images that had flooded his mind moments ago. The extraordinary contortions of his bones and muscles had left his throat parched.

This experience had nudged him toward a grudging acceptance of the bizarre situation he found himself in, yet the origins of this 'Qilin' remained shrouded in mystery.

"The information bank is damaged... Are you implying that you're not entirely intact?" he inquired.

"Yes, Master. I suffered severe erosion before merging with you. Currently, the information bank retains merely 5% of its original integrity. Post-fusion, I can offer you some data analysis capabilities, but I'm unable to provide further assistance," the entity explained.

With a newfound sense of well-being coursing through him, Qin Anyi gave the girl a nod of acknowledgment. The entire ordeal had blindsided him, leaving him scrambling for a mental foothold. He needed time to adjust.

Despite the turmoil, his mind began to draw connections.

Qin Anyi's family lived in dire straits. If not for the necessity to work over the holidays to cover school expenses, he wouldn't have bothered. A disabled brother and parents without steady employment meant their livelihood depended on odd jobs and meager earnings.

Determined to alter his family's fortunes, Qin Anyi had dedicated himself to his studies from a young age, earning a place at Changqing's most prestigious high school through sheer diligence and impressive academic performance.

He was well aware that in today's world, a good education alone wouldn't suffice to rise above one's circumstances. Yet, outside of academics, he saw no other avenue to strive for—a testament to the plight of the underdog, often devoid of choices on the complex web of life's paths.

But now, fate had thrown him a curveball of the most extraordinary kind.

While much of what the girl had said eluded him, Qin Anyi grasped one critical fact: he had fortuitously acquired a super AI! And for the time being, this AI had radically overhauled his physique!

His only lament was that, as the girl had indicated, the AI had sustained considerable damage. Still, given its enigmatic and formidable nature, even a fraction of its capabilities might suffice to transform not just his destiny, but that of his entire family.

This thought sent a surge of excitement through Qin Anyi. It was as if he had been wandering a pitch-black path, aware of the general direction but blind to the destination, when suddenly, a brilliant light burst forth, casting clarity on all that lay ahead.

Qin Anyi exhaled deeply, gearing up to probe further with his questions when a frantic plea for help pierced the air. Turning his attention, he spotted a girl he recognized racing in his direction.