Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 707 - 318. “What is the meaning of life?”

Chapter 707: 318. “What is the meaning of life?”

[Warning: Loyalty Protocol Activated]

Prominent characters flashed before her retina, and a female voice whispered into her cochlea. It was the intonation of the Light Gold Priestess mimicking the tone of the Redd Gold’s personal goddess, repeatedly teaching and cleansing her consciousness.

"Disobey no orders."

Yes, as a product, her significance was bestowed by the company; she must fulfill the company’s contract...

—Meaning?

Nephis hovered mid-air. She placed a hand on her chest, feeling her heartbeat.

Thump, thump, thump...

A very ordinary rhythm, a very calm beat.

Yet it was this ordinary sound that signified her continued existence. Her life continued to be written here.

—The meaning of life... what is it?

Crack!

Nano-machines within her cells suddenly activated, sending out currents that caused Nephis’s muscles to convulse momentarily, and she plummeted vertically downward.

Bam!

Nephis kneeled on the ground, her head bowed, her gaze vacant as characters continuously streamed across her retina.

[Correction Program Initiated]

When a current passed through muscles, it caused a sudden contraction. The central nervous system was controlled by electrical signals, rendering biological organisms essentially electric-powered machines.

[Penalty: Muscle Cluster Electroshock]

To a machine, production could be quantified. Once technology reached a certain level, mortals too became mass-produced on assembly lines. Everything was a machine, machines were objects, and objects could be traded. Mortals often lost their freedom, becoming commodities for trade. So — the essence of all things is merchandise.

[Return to your post immediately]

No assets, no emotions, no freedom.

She raised her hand, looking at her palm stained with dirt, her nose and mouth filled with the aromatic scent of moist earth mixed with the fragrance of grass and cruciferous flowers. The aroma would trigger hormone secretion, leading to various reactions.

These things, whether flowers or mortals, in the company’s narrative, as long as they were not owners, meant nothing.

[Gabros, loyal to the company!]

So foolish.

[Gabros, loyal to the company!]

So weak.

[Gabros, loyal to the company!]

So devoid of assets.

[Gabros, loyal to the company!]

But alive.

"Hey."

A frivolous male voice sounded.

Nephis slowly raised her head. By right, she should have instantly exploded into fists, pummeling him with a seamless attack frequency that would crush him.

[Gabros, loyal to the company!]

But now, she just raised her head. Her purple eyes, darting with countless characters, reflected the figure before her: short hair fluttering like the night, gray eyes bright and clear like zircon, more stable than diamonds, and clearer than silver.

As for his features, if a beauty god had a prototype, Starry Abyss likely used him as a model.

Li Aozi casually walked up to Nephis with his hands in the pockets of his windbreaker, glanced at the dust and dirt on her body, and knew her mental state was unstable.

For a Zeta Rank (6), merely channeling a bit of Qi Energy could keep oneself spotless.

Since that was the case...

Li Aozi’s eyes darted, and he had an idea.

Nariya had used hostages to threaten him this time; just killing her twice wasn’t enough. Given her status, even if her bones were grounded to dust, someone would probably bring her back.

Even if he utterly annihilated her, it would still cause him a lot of trouble.

But... that didn’t mean he had no way to deal with Nariya.

"She has to be made to feel the pain in her bones."

As he thought, Li Aozi took action.

He walked a couple of steps closer to her and casually asked:

"Can’t figure it out?"

[Gabros, loyal to the company!]

Nephis looked up, seeing only Li Aozi’s figure in her eyes. She opened her mouth, forgetting that they were still enemies, and uttered the turmoil in her chest:

"What is the meaning of life?"

"There is no meaning."

Li Aozi said flatly,

"Life itself is useless. You, the ants, tigers, and dragons are all the same; none of you have any meaning."

"Is that so..."

Nephis nodded.

The answer, it was such...

For some reason, her heart felt empty. Even though she had received an answer, it failed to satisfy her.

It was as if she was longing for something else entirely.

"However, I have a question for you."

Li Aozi stared into her eyes:

"Are you afraid of death?"

When in fear, organisms secrete cortisol, endorphins, and adrenaline.

These, however, were removed from Nephis during her modification. They were replaced by various simulated chemicals and artificial organs to eliminate her fear.

Gabros were invincible on the battlefield, never retreating, fearing no death.

This was because they felt no fear.

So, the answer was obviously —

"—Yes."

Nephis spoke,

"I... am very afraid. For some reason, I shouldn’t have fear, but at the thought of being destroyed, my mind grows chaotic, my heart races. Blood pumps faster through my veins, making me swift, my muscles quiver and harden..."

She raised her hand, looking at her palm, and muttered to herself:

"Why is this? Has the surgery failed?"

As she spoke, she looked at Li Aozi:

"Or is it because of you? Your bloodline makes me... afraid?"

"Then that alone is meaningful."

Li Aozi said frankly,

"Only a free soul would feel fear. Those with nothing have nothing to fear."

"Do I have anything?"

Nephis asked, perplexed:

"I am the company’s asset. Everything I have belongs to the company. I kill for the company. I spend under the company’s guidance. Everything I possess eventually flows back to the company, even after scrapping and destruction."

When she mentioned ’destruction,’ her body trembled violently, as if struck hard. She instinctively clenched her fists and continued,

"I have nothing. I shouldn’t feel fear. My body doesn’t produce the hormones needed for it..."

"You’re not empty-handed, Nephis Cleopatra."

Li Aozi said.

Nephis looked at him, and Li Aozi pointed to his head, saying:

"Let me tell you what you still have."

[Charisma Judgment in Progress...]

[Specialty · ’Unilateral Action’ Activated!]

[Passive Skills · ’Aura of Goodwill’ Triggered!]

[’Nephis’ Abandoned Attack Intention.]

As he spoke, Nephis seemed to understand and lowered all defenses, listening intently.

"First, you have a name. You are Nephis Cleopatra. You are named, surpassing many slave civilizations. From your name, you seem to be from the Kolodilus family - True Crocodile Species - a race adept at combat known as the Half-Tide People in Layer Abyss, just like the Luca Type Aliens. Your origin is something to be proud of."

Li Aozi squatted down to look her in the eyes:

"Second, you are beautiful. Even though your body has undergone extensive surgical modifications, by carbon-based lifeforms’ standards, you still possess superior looks, which surpasses the majority of beings. Many vulgar freemen spend their whole lives pursuing beauty, but you were born with it."

Nephis looked at him, her body unconsciously relaxing, not realizing how close she had gotten to Li Aozi.

— No, she realized. The scales on her body stood erect, her serrated pupils focused on him, and sharp, curved nails sprouted spontaneously from her fingertips, ready to tear him apart.

She could do this.

Yet, she didn’t want to.

Swish, swish—

The battle armor made of nano-machines slowly retreated, revealing casual attire underneath. This outfit, though it didn’t even compare to a circuit on the armor, felt more comfortable and intimate to her.

"Finally, and most importantly."

Li Aozi knelt partially, naturally placing a hand on her shoulder. Her icy skin gradually warmed under his touch.

Li Aozi calmly said:

"Even if you have nothing, at least you still have your life."

"In Eye of the Galaxy, Zeta Rank could only survive for four hours. In just five months, 5 million standing soldiers from Night Butterfly and Crystal perished. On such a meat grinder battlefield, around ninety-seven percent of warriors died."

[Penalty Measures Initiated]

"Though you may think you’re poor, stupid, unsuccessful, always causing trouble, but remember, you are alive."

[The host was unresponsive to the electric shock, switching to verbal discipline]

"You are not absolutely empty-handed. At the very least, your life belongs to you. As long as you don’t want to end it, it always belongs to you. Even if you wish to commit suicide — that’s fine too. It shows you’re truly in control of your life. You can live meaningfully, pursue your dreams, or die for your beliefs, proving your freedom and innocence."

[Everything you have belongs to the company; without the company, you lose your last refuge!]

"In summary, in my eyes, the ’Silver Scion’ Nephis Cleopatra is a powerful person, a free soul, a beautiful female... a living life."

[Gabros, loyal to the company!]

Li Aozi said, extending his hand toward her:

"I think, now you should have a new understanding of the meaning of life."

Nephis looked up, slowly extending her hand.

[Gabros, loyal to the com—]

Smack.

Nephis brusquely pushed away Li Aozi’s hand, her serrated pupils radiating cold and sharp glints:

"Target Li Aozi Dominet identified."

The silver-white battle armor swiftly covered her entire body, the pointed triangular helmet enveloping her head.

"Task 0192, codename: Star Hunting."

Clang—

She raised her fists, and the engines behind her battle armor erupted with azure flames.

"Task—begin!"