According to "Comrade Xiao Ke's" explanation, Dai Meimei learned that this signal tower was currently offline. To restart it, they needed an extremely powerful [Arc Gun].

This device could generate about 5 megajoules of energy per second.

To put it simply - if used on a person, it would electrocute them into pieces.

Captain Cole found one, but it was broken.

To get a new one, they needed to go to the substation inside the control room and retrieve it from the repair robot Marvin.

"But..."

At this point, Captain Cole waved his hand, signaling Dai Meimei to follow him.

Following Captain Cole deep into the control room to the end of the maintenance ladder, he pointed inside:

"This is the situation. Only maintenance robots can enter the substation interior. There's nothing we can do."

Before her stretched a maze of pipes as thick as two people embracing each other. The concrete walls on both sides had massive cooling fans and even exposed circuits crackling with sparks.

The interior structure seemed endless, with only maintenance drones flying through the air.

This place would require some serious parkour skills.

"Alright,"

Dai Meimei shrugged:

"This place was practically designed for me. I'll do it."

As she spoke, BT helpfully marked the Arc Gun's location on her HUD.

"Good luck, Commander!"

Seeing Dai Meimei nod, Captain Cole saluted her.

Dai Meimei then drew the Mastiff shotgun she'd just retrieved from the weapons crate, her expression serious:

"Since my comrades have entrusted me with this important task, as a Pilot, I naturally can't refuse!"

While saying this, Dai Meimei took a few steps back, eyeing the crisscrossing pipes and the electrical arcs flashing left and right. With a running start, she leaped!

"Time to show my true—"

Before she could finish, due to miscalculating her jump distance, her toes barely grazed the high-voltage grid:

"ZZZZzzzzz—"

Zap! Zap! Zap!

Electric sparks flashed!

Dai Meimei became like a lightning rod in a storm, her whole body convulsing with electricity.

Even more hilarious was how the chat completed her sentence, floating past with:

'...skills skills skills?'

Instantly, the live chat exploded with laughter!

'What is this, Girls' Generation?'

'LMAO these internet trolls can connect any meme'

'Fits perfectly though?'

'I thought we were watching a movie, not a singing competition?'

'I often feel out of place in this stream because I'm not stupid enough'

'ROFL I'm gonna laugh myself sick...'

'...'

There weren't many enemies in this section.

But the parkour elements were plentiful and relatively difficult.

After all, this was the VR pod experience.

Facing crackling electric grids and cooling fans that would turn you into mincemeat if caught, the psychological pressure was immense.

Nearly every step required precise calculations.

Even someone like Dai Meimei, who'd been practicing Pilot training for a whole week, needed five or six attempts before successfully retrieving the Arc Gun.

"Glad to see you back, Commander."

The moment she landed, Captain Cole greeted her:

"We've already configured the circuits. Now we just need the power source."

BT added: [Pilot, the power relays are all offline. Using the Arc Gun should activate them]

"Right,"

Cole chimed in:

"Let's hope this arc device doesn't make all our effort go to waste!"

Hearing this, Dai Meimei nearly lost it!

"You..." She stared at Cole, her eyes full of shock and disbelief!

We?!

Are you fucking kidding me?!

I was the only one getting electrocuted and jumping around like crazy here!

The chat erupted in laughter too—

'Holy shit Captain Cole's smooth as hell...'

'Casually claiming half the credit'

'The old lady's workplace skills are no match for the Captain'

'LMAO too profound'

'"We"'

'Two words and he's lightyears ahead of the old lady'

'HAHAHA...'

'...'

After struggling for words, Dai Meimei couldn't bring herself to claim all the credit, so she swallowed her anger and trudged toward the relay power room.

Inside the power room, she saw the hemispherical ceiling covered with relay modules the size of computer monitors, all currently red indicating power loss.

Dai Meimei looked around, then raised the Arc Gun.

Come to think of it, she hadn't actually used this thing yet since getting it.

Aiming at a row of relay modules, she pressed the trigger.

Zzzzzzz—CRACKLE!!!

Dai Meimei even felt strong recoil!

Lightning-like electricity shot from the Arc Gun's barrel!

The flashes and thunderous cracks made the chat go wild—

'OHHHHHHH—'

'Holy shit Lightning Overlord!'

'Can this thing be used to electrocute people?'

'Probably just a mission item...'

'Let's see if they take it away after restoring power'

'Damn if you could zap people with this it'd be OP'

'Professor Yang is that you?'

'The ultimate weapon against internet addiction'

'The Yongxin Happy Gun...'

'LMAO Yongxin Happy Gun HAHAHA'

'Too savage...'

'...'

Soon!

All relays were activated by the high-voltage current, and to avoid ionizing radiation damage, Dai Meimei quickly exited the power room.

"Fuck yeah, this thing's awesome!"

Having just wielded lightning, Dai Meimei couldn't put the Arc Gun down.

If not for the no-friendly-fire rule, she'd have loved to test it on Captain Cole to see what effect it had on people.

Fortunately, Captain Cole's survival instincts were strong. Seeing Dai Meimei return, he immediately gave her a thumbs up:

"Excellent work, Commander!"

Then turned to direct the riflemen at the console:

"Open the protective gates! Begin signal tower reboot sequence!"

Rumble.

With that!

The protective gates covering the control room dome slowly rose.

Under the morning sun, electric sparks flashed on the distant signal tower.

An electronic voice sounded in the control room—

[Initiating reboot sequence...]

[60%...70%...80%...]

As the voice counted up, everyone looked toward the signal tower.

The massive satellite dish began slowly rotating.

"Hah—that's it—"

Dai Meimei secretly sighed in relief.

Apparently the signal tower was just a set piece, not actually requiring her acrophobic self to climb it.

Having confirmed this, Dai Meimei's expression gradually became more smug as she critiqued:

"This level was decent, but I think it could've gone further,"

"If I were the devs, I'd make players climb the tower,"

"Just running around the control room doesn't make you a hero,"

"Not challenging enough!"

The moment these words left her mouth!

The chat flooded with question marks—

'???'

'Wasn't it you screaming your head off at the start?'

'You didn't dare breathe loudly the whole time, now you're tough?'

'Damn! Let her have this moment!'

'The level's real failure was giving the old lady a chance to talk tough'

'I pray for reboot failure'

'LMAO! I'll trade my roommate's 20 years of singlehood for a reboot malfunction!'

'Count me in!'

'I'll sacrifice my whole dorm's lifelong singleness!'

'?'

'You monsters...'

'Your roommates drew the short straw...'

'...'

However!

Just as the chat was raging and Dai Meimei was smugly backseat designing—

KABOOM—!!!

Suddenly!

A muffled explosion came from the distant signal tower!

Then!

The control room alarm sounded!

[Warning! Emergency shutdown detected!]

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three explosions rang out!

Everyone watched as the signal tower exploded in a series of blasts, debris flying everywhere—reboot failed!

Silence.

Complete silence in the livestream.

Then, two seconds later—

'OHHHHHHHHHH—!!!'

'It blew! It blew!'

'Woo! The curse worked! HAHAHAHAHA!'

'Never had a more beautiful opening!'

'Blow up! Blow up good! Now climb up and fix it!'

'ROFL the old lady looks stunned!'

'Instant karma!'

'Streamer? Streamer say something? Why so quiet?'

'Hello? Hello? Knock knock anyone home?'

'"Not challenging enough"'

'"Just running around doesn't make you a hero"'

'"If I were the devs, I'd make players climb the tower"'

'Devs: What a coincidence, so would I'

'HAHAHAHA she really tempted fate, doesn't she know the devs?'

'She's pretending to DC'

'Wait she's changing her adult diapers, she'll be back'

'Say something streamer...'

'...'

Say something?

What the fuck can I say!

What fucking words!

Seeing the exploded signal tower, Dai Meimei felt her brain explode too!

Fuck!

What kind of bullshit plot twist is this?!

After all that dying and electrocution to get the Arc Gun, shouldn't the power just restore normally so we can call the fleet and happily go kill the devs and IMC together?!

"Ai—ai—!"

Dai Meimei felt speechless, looking at Cole in horror while pointing at the failed signal tower:

"Ab—aba aba aba—!"

"Damn it!"

Seeing this, Captain Cole also let out an annoyed grunt!

Frowning at Dai Meimei, he nodded:

"Yes, it's malfunctioned. We'll have to repair the module manually,"

"IMC reinforcements are on their way. Looks like it's up to you again, Pilot!"

"Hope you don't mind!"

I mind!

Hearing "manual repair," Dai Meimei felt her world collapsing!

What the hell kind of nonsense are you spouting!

I fucking mind A LOT!

However, just as she was about to refuse—

BT spoke up: [Detecting IMC reinforcements approaching. We're out of time, Pilot]

As he spoke, BT slightly crouched and opened his cockpit door.

"Ah...?"

Looking between the hopeful riflemen and BT waiting for her,

Dai Meimei took three steps forward while looking back twice, like a death row inmate being led to execution.

But!

Now all hope rested on her alone. Unless she quit the game now, she'd have to climb the tower.

With 69 million viewers in the stream,

who knew how much she'd lose by rage-quitting now.

So even just for work, she had to overcome her fear and board BT!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

BT's heavy footsteps carried them toward the signal tower.

Riding the elevator up to the base platform, Dai Meimei looked out—

They were at the main signal tower now.

Around the main tower were smaller operation towers "floating" in the clouds,

connected by metal frames crisscrossing like a heavenly factory suspended in the sky.

Dai Meimei crawled to the platform edge and peeked down.

Then immediately scrambled back like a cockroach.

Fucking terrifying.

Below the wispy clouds was a bottomless abyss.

Falling from here would leave nothing to scoop up with a shovel.

Clank! Clank! Clank!

Just then, BT walked up beside her.

Stopping at the platform edge, he pointed northeast with his mechanical arm:

[BT: My scanners detect an active relay module. 428 meters northeast]

[BT: Analysis indicates throwing is the only solution]

With that!

BT took two steps back, stretching one arm forward while pulling the other back like a javelin thrower, waiting for his Pilot to board his hand.

Holy shit—!!!

Dai Meimei, who'd just stood up, plopped back down!

This pose...where have I seen it before?

Oh right!

Back in the [Cause and Effect] mission, BT had thrown a light pole to clear a path.

At the time, she'd jokingly said "next time try throwing me."

Now.

The opportunity had arrived.

"Fuck your memory's too good! I was just shitposting! Don't take it seriously!"

Dai Meimei sat on the ground refusing to get up, even scooting back slightly!

Meanwhile, the chat cheered and laughed—

'Holy shit not climbing—she's getting YEETED?!'

'Brutally simple solution'

'Oh I remember! This was in the sequel trailer!'

'Damn! That's how they foreshadowed it! So many streamers joked about this!'

'Well, dreams do come true'

'Shouldn't have tempted fate by saying the devs didn't make you climb'

'Devs: Let me make your life complete! So complete you might achieve nirvana!'

'LMAO karma came too fast'

'HAHAHAHA...'

Too fucking unpredictable!

Dai Meimei sat there wanting to cry.

But at this point!

She was like a bungee jumper already suited up at the ledge—no backing out now!

Just close your eyes and take the leap!

"Inhale—exhale—"

After some deep breaths!

Dai Meimei forced herself to mentally prepare, swallowing hard as she dragged her jelly legs to BT:

"Ha—ha—I'm insane—"

"I'm fucking insane—"

"You're fucking insane too—"

"Are we cavemen? Why are we using catapult technology—"

Muttering nonstop, Dai Meimei climbed onto BT's hand, holding her breath!

BT said:

[BT: I cannot go insane. But I can throw you]

With that!

BT pulled his arm holding Dai Meimei back while raising the other to aim at the distant control tower!

[BT: Wind speed 3 knots, bearing 274, distance 95 meters, payload 89kg...]

Then!

Dai Meimei saw BT turn his head, his big "eye" blinking at her.

He then made a fist and gave her a thumbs up!

[BT: Trust me!]

"AHHHHHHHHH—!!!"

Accompanied by pig-slaughtering screams in the stream!

Dai Meimei felt tremendous force as she was launched like a sack through the air!

Wind rushed past her ears, clouds streamed beneath her feet!

The control tower zoomed toward her!

The intense stimulation sent her adrenaline skyrocketing, her heart rate like a rollercoaster!

Next second!

[Beep! Detected blood pressure overload, heart rate overload, breathing rate overload, adrenaline overload...Automatic VR disconnect initiated!]

The chat instantly erupted—

'HOLY SHIT!!!'

'PULLED THE PLUG!!!'

----------------

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com