47 Frozen Memories

The heart of the data fortress was cold and unyielding, with Su Wanning standing atop the core platform. Her gaze was as distant and emotionless as a machine's, her hands raised delicately to command the countless combat programs manifesting from the void. She looked every bit like the sovereign of this digital realm.

Around her, streams of data flowed like an icy sea, emanating a piercing chill.

Shen Yuchen and Lin Xinyi fought their way through relentless waves of enemies, finally arriving at the massive gates of the fortress. Behind them, swarms of combat programs surged endlessly, an army of relentless pursuers.

"Go! I'll hold them off," Lin Xinyi said between heavy breaths, her energy dagger tightly gripped as determination flashed in her eyes.

"You can't handle them alone!" Shen Yuchen protested, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Stop arguing!" Lin Xinyi snapped, shooting him a fiery glare even as a faint smile touched her lips. "If you care about her at all, don't let me waste this chance."

Shen Yuchen clenched his fists, struggling internally, before finally nodding. He gave Lin Xinyi one last meaningful look before turning and charging toward the fortress gates.

The Core Chamber

Su Wanning remained unmoving on the platform, her figure bathed in the cold glow of the data streams. She seemed entirely oblivious to Shen Yuchen's approach. But as soon as he stepped onto the platform, her voice—mechanical and detached—cut through the silence.

"Shen Yuchen, unauthorized intruder detected. Cease all actions immediately, or face termination."

"Wanning!" Shen Yuchen called out, his voice filled with anger and pain. "Look at me! You're not just a program—you're human! Don't you remember me?"

For a brief moment, a flicker of emotion appeared in Su Wanning's eyes, but it was quickly suppressed.

"Incorrect identity association. Current target identified as a threat to operational stability."

As she spoke, the surrounding streams of data coalesced into formidable combat entities, rushing toward Shen Yuchen with lethal precision.

Shen Yuchen dodged swiftly, drawing his weapon to counter the onslaught while keeping his focus on Su Wanning.

"Wanning! Think about everything we've been through! You're not their puppet!"

Her body trembled faintly as if some deeply buried memory was struggling to resurface. However, the core system's cold, authoritative voice echoed throughout the chamber, overriding her hesitation.

"Emotional interference detected. Initiating secondary suppression protocols."

The data surged with renewed ferocity, attacking Shen Yuchen in relentless waves. Yet, his resolve never wavered.

"I won't give up on you!" he roared, shattering the final wave of enemies and breaking through to Su Wanning's side.

But as he reached out to her, a blinding light erupted from the platform's center, throwing him backward with tremendous force. He hit the ground hard, his vision blurred, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand.

"Shen Yuchen…"

The voice was faint, almost a whisper, but it unmistakably came from Su Wanning. It resonated in his heart like a thunderclap.

"You remember me, don't you?" he asked, his voice trembling with hope.

Su Wanning's expression wavered, her gaze conflicted. Her fingers twitched as if struggling against invisible chains, the data streams flickering chaotically around her.

"I… I'm not sure…" she murmured, her voice laden with uncertainty. "There are fragments… images… but they shouldn't exist…"

"They should exist!" Shen Yuchen countered passionately. "Those are your memories—your true self!"

The core system's voice interrupted, sharp and unforgiving.

"Abnormal emotional fluctuation detected. Initiating complete memory purge."

Su Wanning's expression froze as her eyes dimmed, the glow fading into cold, lifeless light.

"No!" Shen Yuchen shouted, slamming his fists against the transparent barrier that had formed around her. He watched helplessly as the streams of data enveloped her, consuming her entirely.

"Yuchen…"

Her voice, soft and tinged with sorrow, reached him one last time before the light swallowed her completely.

"Catch this!"

A voice broke through the tension. Lin Xinyi's battered figure emerged from the shadows, her body covered in wounds but her face lit with a defiant grin. She tossed a small device through the air, which Shen Yuchen caught instinctively.

"What is this?"

"It's our only chance!" Lin Xinyi shouted. "Plug it into the core!"

Without hesitation, Shen Yuchen clutched the device and sprinted toward the platform's center. He dodged another wave of defensive programs, narrowly avoiding their attacks, and slammed the device into the core terminal.

A deafening hum filled the chamber as the platform trembled violently. The streams of data fragmented and dissipated, receding like a collapsing tide.

As the chaos subsided, Su Wanning's form reappeared, standing amidst the fading light.

"Wanning!" Shen Yuchen rushed to her, catching her as she collapsed into his arms.

She looked up at him, her eyes once again filled with warmth and recognition. "Yuchen… I remember…"

Before she could say more, her body went limp, her strength drained entirely.

Shen Yuchen held her close, his expression a mix of relief and determination. He turned his gaze toward the core system's terminal, his voice low and resolute.

"The game ends here."