Flyer Civilization.
Kamelin.
Luna had also been waiting here for a considerable time.
Since the conclusion of the last Blood Tournament, she had remained in this location, and no one had bothered her since. Walton had generously provided her with a dedicated laboratory.
Over the intervening years, Luna had been engrossed in experimentation.
This dedication, in turn, somewhat surprised Walton.
It had initially assumed Luna was purely a politician.
It had never anticipated that she possessed such profound expertise in biology.
The single, most pressing issue for both parties revolved around the dimensional gateway tide.
Previously, Luna asserted that she could resolve the dimensional gateway tide issue. Walton, understandably, did not accept this claim immediately. Subsequently, the Flyer Civilization dispatched several reconnaissance warships to investigate, but every single one was destroyed.
This matter certainly could not be dismissed without serious repercussions.
The Flyer Civilization intensified its observations of the tide. After its initial rapid expansion, the tide had long since begun a gradual contraction. Its diameter currently measured only 2.3 light-years.
However, the tide showed no indication of dissipating at this juncture.
Instead, over time, the rate of shrinkage slowed progressively, hinting at the other side's intention to cultivate a miniature world within this confined space.
Walton was the Archon stationed closest to the tide anomaly.
The Monarch had consistently entrusted the critical reconnaissance mission to it.
As time wore on, the pressure exerted upon Walton grew significantly heavier.
Especially now, as no one dared to venture into the tide, leaving the internal status of the anomaly completely unknown. What remained deeply puzzling was the non-appearance of the four-dimensional civilization responsible for initiating all of this, as if they were merely nurturing their elite forces.
But surely that waiting period felt excessively long?
At the very least.
Even if we consider the absolute minimum.
They should have emerged by now to confirm their acclimatization to this three-dimensional reality, shouldn't they?
No!
The silence emanating from that region was unnerving.
...
Kamelin.
In that vast chamber where Luna had once been received.
Haru was delivering the situation report to Walton.
"A portion of the tide material retrieved earlier has been completely analyzed. With the Monarch's cooperation, we finally comprehend why our replication attempts failed across all these years."
"Some of its fundamental structures exist in higher dimensions."
"We had initially theorized this and run calculations, but still couldn't detect any tangible evidence."
"This time, we also confirmed that our previously accepted model contained serious flaws. The enemy does not originate from four or five dimensions, but from a higher dimensional plane."
"The dimensional gap between three and four dimensions is identical to the gap between three dimensions and any other higher dimension. Yet, we habitually focused on the fourth, causing us to waste thousands more years in exploration."
"Based on current calculations, this substance most likely originates from seven-dimensional space."
Haru's report was based on research that had been underway for a significant period.
The discovered facts proved that a civilization at their level was truly inexperienced in the nuanced field of dimensional mechanics.
The Federation offered a point of comparison.
How much time did they invest before truly delving into and deciphering dimensions?
Moreover, all of that foundational understanding was predicated on the existence of the dimensional gateway acting as a guiding catalyst.
Without the gateway, the Federation would require at least ten times the duration to research dimensional phenomena.
Haru spoke with a noticeable surge of excitement.
"The most intriguing aspect is this."
"To successfully adapt to three-dimensional space, the seven-dimensional entity invested tremendous effort into mastering the microscopic world. The reason these materials can persist here is that they are all compressed into minuscule, high-dimensional spatial pockets, and these extremely small high-dimensional structures can stably exist within three-dimensional space."
"Their research offers us massive insights. Some of the underlying technologies are precisely what we have been striving to achieve."
"If this research is thoroughly mastered, our technology could advance by at least a significant margin. According to the Federation's civilization classification standards, we could confidently state that we would ascend to Type 2.7 status."
Walton listened intently.
It maintained a composed outward appearance.
Not only that, but it also felt a distinct sense of existential crisis.
"Theoretically, the adversary we are confronting must possess superiority in microscopic technology."
"If this advantage isn't solely derived from dimensional disparity, and the opponent is not a civilization exclusively focused on the microscopic realm, then you should immediately grasp the implications, shouldn't you?"
Its loaded question left Haru speechless.
It meant they faced a civilization possibly classified as Type 2.8.
Such a powerful entity, while they could currently utilize the advantage of dimensional separation for some temporary equilibrium.
But once advanced civilizations subsequently penetrated the dimensional gateway and truly entered this dimension, the resulting defeat would be absolute and crushing.
This news was both beneficial and detrimental.
If that scenario materialized, they might genuinely be compelled to initiate a civilization-wide migration.
In fact, Walton had long initiated preliminary preparations for such an eventuality. The Federation had already charted a relatively large sector of space. The cosmos remained vast, and relocation to the periphery of the Milky Way remained an option for later.
It was simply that, at the current stage, it remained uncertain if that was the course of action it wished to pursue.
It had not yet formally presented its proposal for migration to the Monarch.
"Didn't that human representative from the Federation speak rather arrogantly earlier? Yet, she hasn't made a single move since."
"Perhaps we should apply some pressure on her."
"The context has shifted significantly now. Having the Federation deploy warships carries far more weight than not deploying them. I maintain that the Federation will not forgo an opportunity to investigate a civilization originating from seven-dimensional space."
Haru offered this suggestion.
Walton felt a strong degree of temptation.
Previously, it had hesitated on this issue because it believed that resolving the problem with the tide would require effort, but perhaps not to the extent that it would cause them immediate headaches.
Now, facing the crisis head-on, involving the Federation in managing the tide might be a superior choice.
"I will go speak with her."
"Let's hear what she has to say."
"Last time, she was quite arrogant, even wagering the Monarch as collateral. Even if this attempt fails, we can logically escort her out afterward."
"I don't know why, but her presence in Kamelin makes me profoundly uneasy."
Walton did not actually believe Luna could achieve anything significant here.
However, Luna's persistent lack of urgency suggested everything was calculated in advance, which induced a creeping anxiety. Every time Walton questioned itself, it wondered: Are we flawed somewhere? Could these vulnerabilities lead to crucial information leaks?
This persistent worry was becoming almost unbearable for Walton.
With this thought in mind,
It directly left the room and headed toward the laboratory facility it had specifically arranged for Luna.
Entering the laboratory, it immediately spotted Luna.
And Luna was indeed waiting there, as if she had long anticipated its arrival.
Walton was startled.
"How did she know I was coming?"
It walked forward, immense doubt churning in its core.
When Luna saw it, she naturally spoke: "I have been waiting for you for a long time. The tide situation over there should be entering a new phase soon."
Although the latter half of the sentence held the critical information, Walton seemed to register only the first part, triggering alarm regarding Luna's capabilities.
Could this individual secretly be monitoring all of Kamelin?
And we haven't detected any of it.
This human must be made to leave this location. She cannot remain here.
In reality, these were all just Walton's anxious projections.
Luna had, in fact, been waiting for Walton to visit for the past 100 years, but Walton had never seen fit to see her.
This delay had always frustrated Luna.
She couldn't afford to actively seek out Walton; doing so might place her in a passive posture, leading Walton to believe she was desperate regarding this matter.
If that happened, Walton would interpret it as weakness.
It might not be weakness at all.
But it would certainly complicate subsequent negotiations.
This was a complex game of civilizational chess, and Luna could not permit herself to make any missteps.
So, she had always maintained her vigil.
Until this moment.
Walton had finally arrived, and she finally voiced the statement she had held back for a century.
At this point, Walton began to process the latter half of Luna's words.
"Speaking of the tide, it happens that I also came to discuss the tide with you this time."
"It seems that long ago, we had some brief discussions about this, but after such a long interval, I still haven't seen any concrete action from your side."
Luna understood that Walton's arrival certainly signaled ill intent.
However, the coincidence that it was also about the tide made her feel a slight sense of ease.
Having finally articulated what she had kept silent for 100 years, she quickly became relaxed and unhurried.
She casually found a seat in the laboratory and poured herself a cup of black tea.
This was one of her personal accomplishments over the intervening years: successfully cultivating a tea plant from scratch.
"I recall our last conversation touched upon other matters as well, such as transforming your Monarch into a woman."
"But you refused to consent."
"Since that is the case, the terms agreed upon last time naturally cannot be considered binding."
Her statement carried a subtle, probing edge.
Walton felt a surge of anger at her insinuation but managed to suppress any outward reaction.
It addressed Luna: "That matter was impossible from the outset, wasn't it?"
"The Monarch cannot be blasphemed!"
Luna smiled.
Then she shook her head, asserting: "As a civilization's leader, if one cannot make certain sacrifices when the civilization faces existential threats, then how can one truly qualify as a leader?"
"If I were your Monarch, I would absolutely agree to my proposition. Perhaps you should go and ask them."
Her language carried a deliberate hint of provocation.
Of course, she was well aware that such provocation would not cause Walton any real wavering.
These remarks were merely set pieces, unrelated observations.
From Walton's reply, she had gleaned the information she truly sought.
For instance, Walton's progress on the tide issue during this long period had evidently been less than smooth.
Furthermore, the scenario she had mentioned earlier—the change in the Monarch—did not appear to have taken place.
She was quite certain her own methods should also be actively working within the tide; if there were still no observable changes, there was only one explanation: her approaches were proving ineffective.
Or perhaps, some fundamental shift had occurred within the tide itself.
Or, conversely, the civilization that generated the tide was simply too immensely powerful.
Luna was deep in thought, whereas Walton, conversely, felt a measure of composure restored by Luna's words.
It had momentarily strayed from the core purpose of this visit.
"Luna, your prior visit to Kamelin was framed as scientific exchange. But now, the observation station has long been destroyed, and we have supplied you with the necessary scientific apparatus for your research."
"Now, after this duration, Kamelin is undergoing alterations, which I trust you are already aware of."
"These imminent changes compel us to formally request that you depart Kamelin. We intend no disrespect."
"Should you wish to remain, that remains an option, but it would require you to lead your forces to the tide zone over there."
This was an undeniable ultimatum.
Luna instantly understood Walton's true objective.
The complexity of the tide issue made Walton feel incapable of resolving it alone, or perhaps capable but only at an enormous, civilization-straining cost. Therefore, it sought to force the Federation to share a significant portion of that burden.
"I see how it is then."
"In that case, I believe Archon, you should seriously re-evaluate the proposal I extended earlier."
"Only if you first agree to my terms can I offer assistance."
Walton's gaze turned serious.
"That would not be assistance, but merely collaboration as an ally."
"And if you persist in making such unrealistic demands, then I predict the Federation will be unable to forge an alliance with our civilization later, effectively branding you a criminal against our civilization."
It placed a rather weighty political mantle upon Luna's shoulders.
If Luna were merely a conventional diplomat, she would likely be trembling with fear at this precise moment.
But what Walton failed to anticipate was that Luna was perfectly equipped to handle this burden.
"No, only you can."
"Archon, I have been entirely sincere from the very beginning."
Luna's expression was one of absolute gravity.
But in reality, was she truly acting in earnest?
The answer was half-truth, half-fiction.
Whether Walton would comply with her suggestion or not was completely irrelevant to her.
However, if it did happen, it would, of course, be preferable.
As long as she could forge a connection with that Monarch, it would signify Luna's ultimate triumph.
There were many objectives achievable only through influencing that Monarch. Furthermore, she desired to probe the Monarch's ultimate limits and boundaries.
"It appears we can no longer continue this discussion."
"Kamelin is currently undergoing some highly classified military developments. I must therefore request that you depart Kamelin immediately."
Walton had originally devised numerous contingency plans before arriving.
But Luna had been stubbornly evasive, employing teasing maneuvers and strategic redirection, still refusing to give a direct answer to its queries.
It then realized that maintaining its current ambiguous stance was inherently flawed, forcing it into a passive position.
And the root cause of this entire awkward situation was that foolish Haru.
The developing tide situation had made it somewhat anxious, and coupled with Haru's exaggerated reports, it had naturally come here seeking answers.
Consequently, it could no longer discuss troop deployment.
It could only retreat and seek an alternative solution: securing Luna's immediate departure.
Luna found herself with no effective countermeasure against Walton's pretexts.
If she persisted in staying, Walton would instantly blacklist her, potentially fabricating an excuse to escalate tensions, which would result in a significant diplomatic setback for the Federation.
This was an outcome Luna desperately wished to avoid.
Yet, ultimately, this predicament stemmed from the failure of her original gambit.
"Why has nothing happened with the tide over there!"
"There should at least be some observable movement!"
In truth, her initial expectations for such an event weren't high, but Luna truly hoped it would occur.
If it did, it would become her sharpest instrument of victory.
Just as she was about to acknowledge Walton's expulsion order and prepare to leave Kamelin.
Walton seemed to receive an incoming piece of intelligence. Its entire posture momentarily froze, then it sharply turned its attention toward Luna.
"What precisely did you do?"
Its accusatory tone was, ironically, the most exquisite note Luna had ever heard.
That event had transpired after all.
The civilization residing on the other side of the dimensional gateway was not as overwhelmingly powerful as Luna had initially theorized.
Luna merely shrugged, conveying that she knew nothing of the matter.
This was partially feigned.
But the core truth was exactly that: she had only a vague understanding of the scope. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so intent on discussing the tide changes with Walton.
She had hoped to glean information about the tide's evolution directly from Walton.
Now, the predicted shift had materialized.
If the outcome truly aligned with her predictions, then in this ongoing "Kamelin campaign," she would emerge as the undisputed victor.
However, Luna chose not to gloat at this juncture.
When circumstances remain unclear, posturing only invites unwanted repercussions.
She shrugged again.
"Who can say!"
"Perhaps something just occurred with the civilization on the other side of the dimensional gateway."
Walton felt a wave of palpable anxiety wash over it at this ambiguous reply.
Although Luna maintained a façade of extreme relaxation, it could discern that she, too, was highly uncertain about the specific development.
Having spent considerable time engaging with Luna, it knew her typical reaction patterns in certain scenarios.
More often than not, Luna would eschew vague responses. She would instead launch a direct offensive when holding an advantageous position.
The critical piece of information it just received originated from Haru.
The data transmitted was minimal.
It only confirmed that a change related to the tide had occurred.
The exact nature of these changes remained unknown.
The reason it interrogated Luna was precisely because Haru's transmission implicated her, suggesting this event was Luna's doing.
Upon hearing Luna's evasive answer, Walton experienced a surge of additional anger.
Perhaps this time, Haru had again erred in interpreting a minor detail.
It had only concluded that the matter was connected to Luna, but it hadn't explicitly verified her direct involvement. The initial intelligence provided was, consequently, somewhat flawed, leading to the current impasse.
Haru's political astuteness was clearly lacking.
She had repeatedly placed it in a reactive, passive position.
Although these were generally minor oversights, when accumulated, they caused Walton to seriously doubt its own judgment.
"That is sufficient for today. You must prepare to depart within the next 10 metawa."
"Failure to comply might result in extremely strained relations between our civilizations. I believe neither of us desires that outcome."
Walton issued the ultimatum to Luna.
If Luna refused to comply, it would inevitably take proportionate action.
Luna harbored no illusions about this.
Walton had suppressed her influence for far too long.
Seizing this moment to deliver a decisive lesson to Luna was precisely what it intended.
After Walton departed, Luna also began making preparations. If the changes concerning the tide did not manifest as she had hoped, she would simply depart on her own accord.
To be candid, she had already waited here long enough. Progress on many fronts had stalled.
In hindsight, she should have initiated her departure sooner.
However, she had implemented a specific contingency measure related to the tide beforehand, and that was the very reason she had remained stationed here.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of the operation.
Walton proceeded directly to Haru's observation post.
This station was located on the surface of Kamelin's planet, a structure built for a specific purpose.
To effectively monitor the cosmic tide, Kamelin required some large-scale observation equipment.
The inherent limitations of optical observation posed a significant hurdle for microscopic civilizations in this regard.
One cannot expect an ant to perceive objects kilometers away; similarly, one cannot expect a microscopic civilization to possess a broad field of vision.
Microscopic civilizations inherently suffered from these observational drawbacks.
Haru's location was a sophisticated telescope array.
Utilizing several small asteroids orbiting Kamelin, each one hosted a massive, 1-kilometer-diameter, dish-shaped light-gathering telescope. These units were arrayed to cover a specific observational range, maximizing light collection to achieve a clearer view of the target area.
This was a notably simple and brute-force methodology.
Telescopes fundamentally only needed to collect light; there were no further theoretical breakthroughs required for the basic mechanism.
Size equaled power.
This principle, Walton surmised, was likely universal, even for Type 3 civilizations.
However, Haru itself was not positioned on those external asteroids. The telescopes mounted there were also operating unmanned. Haru remained at a central information collection station situated on Kamelin's planetary surface.
Walton quickly arrived at this central hub.
Upon entering, its first statement was direct and laced with command: "Haru, if the data provided is imprecise, forward the raw data immediately. I will not tolerate receiving ambiguous information again."
"Should similar incidents recur, you will no longer be required here."
Haru perceived Walton's aggressive entry posture, indicative of high stress and doubt.
But this was hardly the moment to dwell on internal hierarchies. It swiftly dismissed Walton's tone and commanded: "Archon, please examine this information."
Saying this, it transmitted a data packet to Walton.
In the realm of advanced data management, the Flyer Civilization was, in fact, significantly behind the Federation.
This wasn't necessarily due to technological lag.
Rather, it was about the methodology of application.
For instance, multiple corporations could produce identical products, and some of their goods might even be manufactured in the very same facility. Yet, one company would achieve immense wealth, while another would be bankrupt, lacking even a pair of shorts.
Identifying the correct usage scenarios, pinpointing critical pain points, and clearly defining application methods—these elements were paramount.
Previously, the Flyer Civilization possessed the capability for information transmission, but no one had conceptualized or invented close-range, point-to-point transmission.
The common rationale was: if you are at close range, simply speak face-to-face. What purpose would near-field data transmission serve?
After establishing deep contact with the Federation, the Flyer Civilization even ridiculed this specific technology as unnecessary.
But after thousands upon tens of thousands of years of in-depth engagement, the Flyer Civilization discovered that for data sets containing enormous volumes of information, face-to-face conversation could consume tens of minutes or even hours. Conversely, direct digital transmission took less than ten seconds. With minimal accompanying explanation, complex concepts could be clarified in two or three minutes.
Their entire civilization had rapidly become "true scent parties" (a metaphor for instant gratification/directness), eagerly integrating Federation technology.
As the two civilizations shared knowledge, inevitable minor and major mutual influences arose.
Walton received the data transmission.
It was merely an image.
Yet, despite being only a single image, the sheer volume of information contained within it was explosive.
The image displayed a specific region of space, accompanied by metadata indicating its identity: the location of the tidal phenomenon and the dimensional gateway.
Walton still vividly recalled the previous image Haru had presented: a pitch-black expanse, reminiscent of an accretion disk or a black hole.
But now, that identical spatial area had taken on the color of human flesh—the color of the human race.
That spherical tide had, at this moment, unmistakably transformed into a massive, round human head. Furthermore, the features of that human head bore a distinct resemblance to Luna's.
"What in the void is this thing?"
Walton certainly did not suspect Haru of fabricating this.
However, the object depicted in the image was deeply abstract.
It couldn't even be categorized as terrifying, but rather unsettlingly abstract.
It felt fundamentally incompatible.
It generated an immediate, uncomfortable tension.
Haru made some soft noises, but for a long time, it offered no verbal reply, as it genuinely didn't know how to properly articulate this anomaly.
Finally, it managed to stammer out a few sentences.
"I don't know. This is precisely what we observed. It is immense, reaching a diameter of 2 light-years. In fact, we don't even require the telescopes; we can perceive it directly with the naked eye."
"In short, it's utterly bizarre!"
The Kirara race possessed light-sensing organs.
These organs were superior to those of primitive races but slightly inferior to the vision of modern Federation humans.
Walton looked up towards the star-filled sky.
Kamelin lacked an atmosphere, allowing an unobstructed view of the cosmos.
In the distant void, there indeed existed a dim, non-luminous object, yet it wasn't entirely black. It seemed to reflect the light of distant stars, thereby revealing a distinct shape.
That shape bore an uncanny resemblance to a human head.
It seemed that, at this specific moment, that colossal human head was oriented directly towards their location. Although the facial features were somewhat blurred due to the vast distance, Walton instantly filled in the details, associating the appearance with Luna.
Though the manifestation appeared minute because of the immense spatial separation—
Just contemplating the fact that the object spanned over a light-year in size—
Instantly, a profound chill shot through Walton's core.
"What exactly did that entity do?"