Chapter 18: The Military Incubator

"Today is December 10, 2023, 9:00 AM. The weather is clear, UV index is 5, northwest wind at 3 meters per second. It is recommended to go outside and exercise."

Ye Yu rolled over and knocked his alarm clock to the floor. At 35 years old, he was still an underachiever, spending his days at home watching movies, reading novels, and playing games. Fortunately, thanks to the Empire's government subsidies, he never had to worry about food, clothing, or shelter. In this highly mechanized society, people like him were everywhere.

However, three years ago, after the Emperor announced a new policy prioritizing science and industry, entertainment became increasingly restricted.

Since then, no good games had been released, making Ye Yu feel like life had lost its meaning.

But a week ago, the Emperor relaxed gaming restrictions and even had scientists and engineers personally develop a fully immersive game based on sleep-learning technology—and it was completely free!

For the past three days, all major TV stations and holo-net sites had been promoting this super game.

From the released footage, the game world looked incredibly realistic and offered unprecedented freedom.

For a gaming addict like Ye Yu, this was thrilling! He had even set an alarm for the game's official launch, a rare effort for someone who usually slept in.

Ye Yu groggily stumbled into the bathroom. After washing up, he lay down in his sleep-learning pod, waiting for the game to launch at 10 AM sharp.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Fully prepared, Ye Yu was instantly pulled into a blank virtual space, where he chose to become a fighter pilot.

While massive steel warships were every man's dream, piloting one required dozens of crew members. That was unacceptable for a lone wolf like him!

As soon as his character was created, Ye Yu was transported into a fighter jet's cockpit. He touched his face, then the control panel—everything felt astonishingly real! So real that he couldn't tell if this was a game or reality.

"This is the beginner tutorial. Parker League warships have entered low orbit over Sith. Their bombers are currently attacking the surface cities. Your mission is to stop the enemy bombers and fighters and destroy their corvette! starting in five seconds!" The cold voice of the system echoed.

Ye Yu quickly focused his mind, connecting with the neural control system. Instantly, he felt like he was the fighter jet!

Boom! A massive force launched the fighter from an underground rail system into a gravity-free acceleration track. The jet rapidly gained speed, soon surpassing the sound barrier. As it emerged from the launch tunnel, a deafening sonic boom echoed through the sky. The twin particle engines roared, propelling him into the atmosphere.

Several other fighters launched at the same time, forming a V-shaped formation as they flew toward the burning city ahead.

Debris rained from the shattered buildings. Ye Yu skillfully rolled to dodge the falling wreckage, while an enemy fighter behind him wasn't so lucky—crashing straight into it and exploding into a fireball.

Using the skyscrapers as cover, Ye Yu weaved through the battlefield, ambushing enemy jets and forcing them to retreat in panic.

However, he failed to notice an enemy fighter approaching from his right. It had blasted a hole through a high-rise and flew straight through, ramming directly into Ye Yu's jet—clearly intending to trade one for one.

Boom. Ye Yu's vision went black, and massive red text appeared:

"Mission Failed! You Have Been Killed!"

Two Months Later

"Colonel Ye Yu, this month you have downed 523 enemy aircraft without being shot down. You have officially broken Colonel Xiao Lang's record. Congratulations on earning the 'Empire's Eagle' medal!"

After two months of training, Ye Yu had become one of the top ace pilots in the game. He had shot down 523 enemy aircraft without dying and participated in 32 battles of varying scales.

Aside from his non-stop dedication to the game, his talent played a huge role. Some people were simply born to be ace pilots! Or starship captains! Or brilliant battlefield strategists! But in everyday life, these talents remained undiscovered—until this game brought them to light.

Through countless battles, these players grew accustomed to life in the cockpit, the command room, and even the orbital drop pods.

They became addicted to war.

One morning, just as Ye Yu was preparing to log in and fight another day, his doorbell rang unexpectedly.

Ye Yu walked over and checked the security monitor. A man and a woman, both dressed in military uniforms, stood outside. His heart pounded—he hadn't done anything to betray the Empire! He just played games all day!

"Hello, are you Mr. Ye Yu? We are recruitment officers from the Imperial Army. Could you open the door? We'd like to have a chat," the female officer said.

"Oh, uh, sure! Please, come in!" Ye Yu stammered, quickly opening the door and inviting them in.

The female officer glanced around his apartment before speaking calmly:

"Mr. Ye Yu, you don't have a significant other, correct? Life must feel quite empty at times."

"As the recipient of the 'Empire's Eagle' medal, your achievements should not be limited to just this! You have the potential to become a national hero!"

"Have you ever considered joining the Imperial Air Force? Becoming a real fighter pilot? Serving the Empire with your skills?"

"Wait… You want me to join the Air Force?" Ye Yu was stunned.

Although he had grown accustomed to piloting and aerial combat, the idea of suddenly abandoning his peaceful life to enlist made him hesitate.

"Mr. Ye Yu, did you know that the Air Force has plenty of female officers?" the female recruiter added, her tone light and persuasive. "With your skills, you'll quickly rise to become one of the top ace pilots. At that point, you'll be quite popular among them!"

That was the final straw.

Ye Yu no longer hesitated. He nodded firmly and pressed his fingerprint onto the voluntary enlistment form.

The recruiters gave him a day to pack his belongings before leaving for their next stop—another ace pilot named Xiao Lang. The Empire wanted to ensure no talent was overlooked.

The Imperial war machine was accelerating.

It would crush everything in its path.