Chapter 96: The Future I Saw Was Not the Future I Wanted

Quantum Control Room.

"Hahaha! Kalolin, what a face you're making! No way, I’ve gotta record this—everyone else has to see it too!"

Looking at Kalolin, who was sobbing uncontrollably yet still forcing a laugh through her tears, 'Tian Dao' acted like a child who’d just pulled off the perfect prank.

With hands forming a mock frame, he pointed directly at her tear-streaked, laughter-tinged expression—utterly heartless.

And then, the hologram, in perfect comedic timing, mimicked the click of a camera shutter, followed by a relentless barrage of flashing light.

What an idiot.

Kalolin watched as the holographic 'Tian Dao' bounced around like a paparazzo, dodging and weaving with ridiculous flair.

Her lips twitched, betraying a smile despite herself.

Just a moment ago, she’d been drowning in soul-wrenching sorrow.

Now, she was on the verge of laughing—because of this unpredictable, rule-breaking fool.

Just like so many times before.

Thinking of that, Kalolin took a deep breath.

Then, with red-rimmed eyes, she shot a sharp glare at the ever-unpredictable figure before her—just as she had countless times in the past.

Everything felt the same.

And yet… everything had changed.

And just as she finished her silent scolding, 'Tian Dao'’s hologram casually leapt onto the control tower beside the computation chamber, then settled onto its edge with effortless grace.

His playful smile faded.

The humor vanished.

His tone shifted—soft, sincere, and suddenly serious.

"Alright, Kalolin. Wipe your tears. I know you have questions. I know you want to say so much."

"But before you do… can you just let me finish what I have to say?"

Kalolin nodded.

Silence fell.

And as 'Tian Dao' spoke, the truth of what had happened in the base—of his choices, his burden, his vision—finally unfolded before her.

It began two years ago, right after he’d completed the Star Core Surgery.

At the time, he hadn’t fully adapted to the 'Tian Mu' system.

So, occasionally, he’d catch glimpses—fragments—of things he shouldn’t have seen.

At first, he dismissed them as dreams, illusions.

But then, those fragments began manifesting in reality.

One by one, they became undeniable.

And that’s when he realized.

These weren’t dreams.

They were futures.

Real futures.

And that’s when his resolve hardened.

"Kalolin," he said, voice low, "the future I saw… it wasn’t the future I wanted. So I had to change it."

"Otherwise… seeing it would have meant nothing."

"But I didn’t expect it to be this hard."

A soft sigh escaped the hologram.

Then, almost instantly, his tone shifted—bright, eager, almost giddy.

Like a child waiting to be praised.

He leaned forward, suddenly close to Kalolin’s face.

"Still… it doesn’t matter! Because I succeeded, Kalolin!"

"I changed all of your futures. I found a way—the way—for everyone to be happy."

"So… how’s that? Pretty impressive, right?"

But Kalolin didn’t respond with approval.

She didn’t even nod.

Instead, she lowered her head.

Her fingers dug into her palms, nails biting into her flesh.

Her voice trembled, barely audible.

"So… this is why you erased yourself from the future?"

No answer came.

Because this was just a pre-recorded message.

The hologram continued its monologue—unaware, untouched by her silence.

But Kalolin… she heard nothing.

"Are you kidding me?!"

The woman known for her cold logic, her iron control—her composure—suddenly shattered.

A storm of raw, unfiltered rage erupted from within.

Her hands slammed against the transparent glass of the computation chamber where 'Tian Dao'’s physical form lay.

Her nails, sharp and determined, gouged deep lines into the surface.

She stared—locked onto his still face.

Tears fell silently, tracing paths down the glass.

Her eyes burned with fury… and something darker.

Hate.

"Tian Dao! You say you saw a future you didn’t want—but did you ever stop to think about us?!"

"You always act like you’re above reason!"

"You do whatever you want—without thinking of the cost!"

"You called us the best partners—yet you never asked me! You never even told me!"

"So what kind of partner are you?"

She raised her hand, fists clenched, poised to smash the glass.

But at the last second, her gaze fell on his calm, peaceful face behind the barrier.

Her arm lowered.

Slowly.

Gently.

"I hate you, Tian Dao."

"I hate you."

"Because whether it’s Chen Xing, or Yun Instructor, or anyone else… I don’t care. Not one bit."

"Whether they live or die… whether their futures are good or terrible… what does it matter to you?"

"I don’t believe you couldn’t find a way to stay."

"You’re not trying. You’re just too selfish—so selfish that you’ll only accept the outcome you want… no matter what it costs everyone else."

Her breath caught.

She drew in a sharp, deep breath.

Then, with deliberate force, she wiped the tears from her eyes.

Her expression—once shattered—now cold, clear, and utterly still.

And as she did, her hair transformed.

Silver-white, long, and drifting in midair—no wind, no motion.

The air around her hummed.

She had entered Overclock Mode.

The mind of a Stellar Envoy, drowning in data, searching for a single possibility—one where he could stay.

"There has to be a way… there has to be…"

After endless calculations, infinite simulations, a torrent of logic and probability—

Kalolin bit down on her nail.

Her mind had found it.

"Mechanical enhancement," she whispered, voice trembling with hope.

"If we do it now—right now—you could survive. You could stay."

But before she could finish the sentence—

A voice, soft and apologetic, cut through the silence from behind her.

"Sorry."

Kalolin froze.

She turned.

And there, in front of her, was 'Tian Dao'’s hologram—wearing the one expression she despised most.

Gentle.

Sorrowful.

And it sent ice through her veins.

"Kalolin," he said, "I know what I’ve said will make you furious. I know you’ll try anything—anything—to keep me alive."

"But for someone like me—Tian Dao Siming, a Trait Class Stellar Envoy—without a Mechanical Stellar Source, any attempt to preserve me through mechanical enhancement would be… cruel."

"Like trapping my soul in a pile of scrap metal."

"More painful than death."

Her pupils contracted.

She knew.

She knew exactly what he was about to do.

She opened her mouth—instinctively, desperately, to stop him.

But before she could speak—

The hologram spoke, his voice layered with sorrow and finality.

"Stellar Envoy·Kalolin. Initiate Protocol Program No. 3."

The words struck her like lightning.

A searing pain exploded behind her eyes.

Then—deep within her mind—a voice she’d never heard before, yet had always known.

[Protocol Program No. 3: Activated]

[Mechanical Personality: Engaged]

A quantum-level program forced its way into her consciousness, suppressing her core self.

The human mind—overridden.

In an instant, the warmth in her eyes vanished.

Replaced by the cold, flawless logic of a Mechanical Stellar Envoy.

Her voice—once warm, once trembling—became flat, mechanical, devoid of emotion.

"Protocol Three has been activated. Please issue your command."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end