C2 Activate Core

After a brief silence, Renzheng spoke up,

"First, coordinate the rescue and ensure confidentiality. I'll handle communications with the rest."

He hung up the phone, lost in thought for a moment before returning to the company gathering and announcing,

"That will conclude our meeting for today. You're all dismissed." With that, he grabbed the documents and exited the conference room.

Back in his office, Wu Renzheng furrowed his brow, musing to himself,

"These incidents have been all too common out west; I never thought it would be our turn. Just our luck!"

He inhaled deeply, slowly rose to his feet, and made his way to the bookshelf. He pulled out a particular book and retrieved a bank card from a hidden compartment. After a brief glance at the card, he picked up his briefcase and headed downstairs.

Activating his car key, he opened the door, settled into the vehicle, and drove off from the premises, making his way to the leader's residence.

Meanwhile, at the mine, Master Wu, having finished his call, pointed at one of his men and commanded,

"Get several water pumps immediately." Then, gesturing to another, "You, take the excavator and move the logs to the mine entrance. The rest of you, get the drilling rigs, jackhammers, and other mining gear ready. We're going down to start the rescue. And remember, no one is to leak any information. You all know the consequences."

The crew quickly grabbed their gear and commenced the frantic rescue operation.

Deep in the mine, Situ Yu was startled by a sudden explosion. In his surprise, he applied too much force to the impact drill, dislodging a large chunk of the mine wall that fell and struck his head, causing blood to gush and knocking him unconscious.

In the pitch black...

Blood trickled over the fallen coal, reaching an object the size of a pigeon's egg, which then emitted a weak glow as it began to absorb the blood.

An unemotional, mechanical voice broke the silence, eerily out of place in the darkness, "Star Core has detected intelligent life form genes. Initiating scan." An invisible pulse radiated from the mysterious object, vanishing into the mine's walls.

"Star Core has detected a faint life sign, belonging to the gene carrier. The subject has been rendered unconscious by blunt trauma. Star Core is activating reserve energy, with only 0.1% remaining. Insufficient energy; commencing forced ownership protocol." A glow surrounded the Star Core, and after a few seconds, the mechanical voice continued.

"Gene analysis complete. Binding successful. Host is unconscious. Initiating forceful claim of ownership. Energy consumption at 0.01%. Activating biotic energy pulse for recovery protocol."

"Charging in 3 seconds, 2 seconds, 1 second." With a pop, silence enveloped the area.

Situ Yu shuddered, his eyes fluttering open. A sharp pain throbbed in his head. He felt something wet and sticky—blood. A wave of dizziness washed over him, but he fought to stay conscious.

He sat up slowly, ripping a strip of fabric from his clothing. Cleanliness was the least of his concerns as he pressed it gently, yet firmly, against the wound. Pain flared again.

Bearing the pain, Situ Yu surveyed his surroundings. Darkness engulfed him, leaving him blind to his environment. Despair settled in his heart.

"It looks like a landslide. I'm probably a goner. Sigh."

He reminisced about his past, how he and his grandfather had depended on each other for survival, growing up in a dilapidated courtyard. Life was hard, but they managed. His grandfather's modest pension, supplemented by the occasional scavenging, had been enough to raise him.

In his sophomore year of high school, his grandfather was struck by a speeding car on his way home and was cruelly run over repeatedly. The driver sped away, and the police never caught the culprit.

Upon hearing the news, Situ Yu raced to the hospital, frantic. There, he found his grandfather's body, a white cloth covering his head. Swallowing his sorrow, he lifted the cloth with shaking hands.

Gazing upon his grandfather's aged face, Situ Yu gently replaced the cloth, bidding a silent farewell.

With the help of neighbors back in the village, he managed his grandfather's modest funeral. Situ Yu's mood remained somber, a nameless rage smoldering within him. His hatred for the hit-and-run driver pierced his heart like a thorn.

One evening, Situ Yu overheard faint sounds in a dim alleyway. Normally, he wouldn't have cared to investigate.

The abrupt cries of "Ah!" seized Situ Yu's attention. He halted in his tracks and cautiously made his way into the alley. The scene that met his eyes ignited a fury that had been smoldering for days.

A girl was pinned to the ground by a boy, struggling and clearly reluctant. Nearby lay two school bags and a scattering of torn clothing.

Both parties looked up, their embarrassment palpable. Situ Yu advanced a couple of steps, getting a clear view of the assailant.

The aggressor was Zheng Yijian, a name that at SZ No. 1 High School was synonymous with tyranny. Notorious for his arrogance and lechery, Zheng had already left several girls in his wake, their dignity marred by his actions. Yet, due to the clout of the Zheng family, no ordinary household dared confront him.

The school, wary of its reputation, would broker a hasty settlement, compelling the Zhengs to offer compensation. The victims, constrained by social pressures, silently accepted the money and left the school.

Thus, Zheng Yijian's infamy as a bully grew, his behavior becoming more brazen and oppressive.

At that moment, the girl's uniform lay discarded, her blouse unbuttoned enough to reveal the contours of her undergarments.

Her name was Wang Xiaoli, Situ Yu's classmate. Blessed with an early bloom, her figure was the subject of much attention. Situ Yu, though somewhat reserved, was still a teenager under the thrall of his hormones, harboring a deep crush on Wang Xiaoli. Her alarm at seeing a familiar face only added to the chaos of the moment.

Zheng Yijian, having shrugged off his initial discomfort, fixed Situ Yu with an icy glare and barked, "Damn it, can't you see I'm busy here? If you want a show, go watch a DVD at home! Scram!"

The girl beneath him, terrified by his outburst, stilled her feeble attempts to resist. Meanwhile, Situ Yu, witnessing his crush in such a vulnerable state and hearing Zheng's contemptuous shout, felt his pent-up emotions erupt.

With bloodshot eyes and a snarling face, he charged forward and delivered a fierce kick to his opponent's face. Zheng Yijian was caught off guard by the audacious move and failed to react in time. The kick landed squarely, sending him stumbling backward in a clumsy sprawl.

Situ Yu didn't waste a moment and advanced, fists ready. Under normal circumstances, Situ Yu's slight frame was no match for Zheng Yijian, whose family was akin to a local mafia. Zheng had been well-trained by his family, his combat skills far surpassing those of an average person.

Eventually, the two separated, each nursing their own wounds. Zheng Yijian, seething with anger, coldly warned Situ Yu, "You'll regret this!" With a scornful huff, he grabbed his schoolbag from the ground and stormed off.

Situ Yu felt a weight lift from his chest. Noticing the disheveled girl on the ground, he set aside his own discomfort, picked up her clothes lying nearby, and offered them to her, asking, "Are you okay?"

Wang Xiaoli was visibly embarrassed, her cheeks flushed as she avoided Situ Yu's gaze. Though they knew of each other, they had hardly spoken before. Now, all she could do was nod silently in response.

She accepted her school uniform from Situ Yu and dressed quietly, the previously undone buttons now fastened. The mountain's peak was once again shrouded in mist, concealing its grandeur as if it had never been exposed.

After expressing her thanks, Wang Xiaoli scooped up her schoolbag and quickly vanished into the alley.

The following day, Situ Yu found himself in the principal's office, facing a harsh dressing-down from the headmaster. The evidence was clear: witness accounts and visible injuries. Without much ado, Situ Yu was expelled from school. Ironically, the witness was none other than Wang Xiaoli, the girl he had helped the day before. All Situ Yu could do was offer a wry smile.

Leaving behind the high school where he had spent years...

In the days that followed, Situ Yu collected himself and set out to find work through an employment agency. Yet, due to his young age, he met with rejection after rejection, with no agency willing to respond.

Three days later, a middleman from an agency called Fu Quan rang up Situ Yu on his antiquated cell phone. They had a job opportunity that seemed perfect for him, no ID required.

The company offered room and board, plus a monthly salary of 1,000 yuan. Situ Yu was thrilled to hear the news. The catch was that the company was in J-S province, nearly 400 kilometers from S city. They promised to reimburse his travel expenses if he took the job.

Without hesitation, Situ Yu called back to confirm the details, packed a few clothes into his backpack, and set off for the company.

Upon arrival, Situ Yu discovered it was a mining operation, but he had no clue what they mined. It was only after he reported for duty that he learned they were coal miners, which left him dumbfounded. With no other options, he reluctantly accepted this dismal job, consoling himself with the thought of the 1,000 yuan salary. But when payday rolled around, he received only 500 yuan. After questioning the foreman, known as Third Master, he was informed of the numerous deductions from his pay. Naïve and trusting, Situ Yu accepted the explanation.

Habit can be a cruel butcher's knife, and over time, Situ Yu grew accustomed to the grind. Two years passed in this manner until one day, a voice snapped him back to reality.

A peculiar voice suddenly whispered in Situ Yu's ear:

"Host body status detected as abnormal. Would you like to activate the medical function?"