Chu, after reading the initial section, could vividly imagine the profound despair of those awakened individuals at that time.
The entirety of Star City, to them, was equivalent to their whole world, and suddenly, half of its inhabitants had become hostile adversaries.
What a terrifying reality this was?
A shift affecting just one family could induce unprecedented fear; how much more so an entire world experiencing such a transformation.
He continued delving deeper into the records.
[Sound, in fact, is an extremely alien concept to us. We, the Olive Branch race, are mechanical entities, meaning our primary method of information intake is through secondary signal transmission. We cannot inherently perceive vibrations transmitted as acoustic waves, but when sound acts upon us, we still perish. This is the most terrifying facet of this catastrophe.]
[We deployed the most advanced equipment to pinpoint the source of the sound, yet Rossi claimed she could not locate it. Initially, we assumed the sound originated from broadcasts, but that accounted for only a partial source. The true sound was ubiquitous. We managed to escape the ground level, touching nothing, receiving no external information. This bought us a brief period of reprieve.]
...
[December 10th. This marks an important juncture. A significant duration has passed since the last entry. It's not a reluctance to record, but rather the fact that we have discovered nothing novel. I trust you can grasp that. This is not a game where daily objectives refresh and all scenarios are pre-set, offering a new surge of exhilaration every day. We inhabit reality; often, progress is nonexistent.]
[My apologies; I digress slightly. Please pardon my rambling. I was never a verbose person, nor did I enjoy documenting things... Alright, let's focus on the crucial findings. We have located the sound. We experienced some friction earlier; more and more individuals were advocating for abandoning the sound research, deeming it inconsequential. They insisted that locating and eliminating the mastermind was the urgent priority.]
[But today's research results have definitively refuted those claims. The sound is not trivial. The mastermind might not be within our visual range, perhaps not even within our capacity to attack. It resides in another plane of existence, a realm we have yet to set foot in.]
[The world existing beneath the micro-particle (μ), we term the "Void World," because we cannot confirm its tangible existence. We cannot explore it, yet everything impacting us undeniably originates from there. They are infinitesimally small, but their sheer quantity must be staggering—sufficient to influence the entirety of Star City.]
[I do not know how best to convey this data to you, but I will attach the research materials (sub-unit). Upon reviewing this, you should grasp everything, especially their intrinsic nature. This knowledge is incredibly precious, as we have lost countless people in the process of investigating it—an unimaginable toll.]
...
[You probably won't credit this, but the current date is August 22nd, 220419 CE. Over a year has passed, and this is only my third log entry. I desperately wish to write more often, but I fear I must break my word. We are under direct assault, an unprecedented level of aggression. Those substitutes are no longer placid.]
[Our Star City cannot afford further delays. We are maintaining a fortified perimeter within a heavily guarded military installation. Fortunately, these substitutes have not manifested significant power upgrades; they cannot breach our defenses.]
[I cannot ascertain what instigated their sudden change in behavior. It might be linked to our recent research findings. If so, I should be exhilarated.]
[Without keeping you in suspense, we conducted careful analysis of the Void World and discovered the mechanism by which they influence the macro world from the Void World. We all understand that micro-world particles influence the macro world via the four fundamental forces—more accurately, primarily through gravity and electromagnetism.]
[In the Void World, there exists an additional force. We have designated this as "Void Force." It transmits from the Void World into the micro world, thereby inducing vibration within the micro-world particles. This vibration is the very essence of sound.]
[The most critical aspect of sound is not its audibility, but its inherent vibration. Specific vibration frequencies cause lifeforms to resonate. These vibrations are exceptionally subtle. In essence, they don't appear to physically harm our bodies. We will continue our investigation into this phenomenon. I sincerely hope this information provides you with some assistance. Haha, I apologize for being so garrulous; this feels somewhat like conversing across time into the future.]
...
[January 2nd, 220424 CE. This is a good moment in time, yet bad news proliferates everywhere. Over these past five years, we have been continuously expanding, intending to establish more forward operating bases—using these hubs as centers for research, development, and manufacturing—so we can eventually reclaim Star City from the substitutes.]
[We initially assumed this represented the full extent of the enemy's arsenal, but we were mistaken. In reality, this was merely the beginning. The Void World is actively draining our energy reserves. Vast quantities of high-energy particles are being annihilated and vanishing without a trace. We hypothesize that these high-energy particles must be decomposed into smaller constituent particles. This is devastating news.]
[Without an energy source, we are rendered completely ineffective. We cannot conduct research; we cannot maintain defense systems. Even our own organic/mechanical structures cannot sustain themselves indefinitely.]
[The sole positive development is that the substitutes are being affected more rapidly than we are. They have become incapacitated, slumping aimlessly in the streets. It is anticipated that very soon, they too will face total cessation.]
[Our own fate may mirror theirs, but the distinction is that we refuse to passively await oblivion. Someone has already formulated an alternative strategy. We must evacuate Star City.]
...
[What a brilliant contingency plan! Why did no one conceive of this sooner? We can actually escape Star City 4!... Which imbecile devised this scheme?]
[We implemented the plan immediately. Many individuals boarded transport vessels to flee Star City 4. However, it proved futile. The ships themselves were still subject to the influence. Regardless of how far they traveled, being aboard the vessel meant unavoidable contact with the ship's structure, which only hastened our eventual collapse.]
[Of course, we also enacted the optimal protocol: complete immobility within the vessel. Life forms were stored in vacuum-sealed stasis chambers. Their objective was to reach other Star Cities.]
...
[November 9th, 220474 CE. Perhaps we acted too hastily. We kept wondering if those individuals had successfully escaped Star City 4. And then we finally confronted another critical issue: why has the transmitted sound never received any response?]
[No matter which Star City we contacted, none replied to our transmissions. Initially, we assumed they simply needed time, but now decades have elapsed. Who can explain what they are doing? Could it be that something catastrophic occurred at Star City 4, and they haven't even registered it?]
[Perhaps it is the worst-case scenario: the disaster wasn't isolated to just Star City 4.]
[I believe we are entirely on our own. We must devise a method for self-preservation. In these years, we have not ceased our research efforts. By the way, we evacuated the immediate vicinity of Star City 4, but we never relocated elsewhere. We are merely operating outside Star City 4. Those who desired to leave, left. Those of us who remained here share my conviction: every single one of us intends to save Star City 4.]
[Hope may be distant, but at the very least, it is not entirely nonexistent.]
[We already understand the limitations imposed by audible sound. Our current focus is researching how to impede the connection between the Void World and the micro world. If we succeed in this, everything will resolve itself.]
...
[March 22nd, 220477 CE. Another long interval without records. I realize I have neglected to introduce myself. I am Vladimir. I am a scholar. Fortunately, my specialization in the quantum world has allowed me to persist thus far.]
[I trust you will remember my name. I question the meaning of this record's survival. We still have not grasped one crucial fact: the adversary is significantly more potent than we previously estimated. You should review my prior logs; I noticed many key pieces of intelligence are now missing, yet I retain no memory of their excision.]
[You likely won't believe this, but it is currently April 22nd, 220479 CE. Over a year has passed, and this is only my third recorded entry. I genuinely desire to document more, but I fear I must break my promise. We are under assault—an attack of unprecedented scale. Those substitutes are no longer placid.]
[Our Star City can no longer afford to wait. We are holding our ground within a heavily fortified military installation. Fortunately, these substitutes have not acquired any potent abilities; they cannot breach our defenses.]
[I cannot determine what triggered their sudden change in behavior. It could possibly relate to our new research findings. If that is the case, I ought to be exhilarated.]
[Without keeping you in suspense, we conducted meticulous research into the Void World and discovered precisely how they influence the macro world from within the Void World. We are all aware that micro-world particles affect the macro world via the four fundamental forces—more accurately, primarily through gravity and electromagnetism.]
[Within the Void World, there exists an additional, distinct force. We have termed this force "Void Force." It can transmit from the Void World into the micro world, thereby causing micro-world particles to vibrate. This vibration is the fundamental essence of sound.]
[The most significant aspect of sound is not its audibility, but its vibrational property. Specific vibrational frequencies induce resonance within living organisms. These vibrations are exceedingly subtle. Essentially, they appear to have no measurable impact on our physical forms. We will continue our investigation into this. I hope this data proves helpful. Haha, I apologize for my garrulousness; this feels somewhat like conversing with the future.]
...
[January 2nd, 220484 CE. This is an auspicious time, yet bad news is omnipresent. For these five years, we have been continuously expanding, aiming to establish more bases—these centers to function as research, development, and manufacturing hubs, enabling us to reclaim Star City from the substitutes.]
[We initially assumed this encompassed the full extent of the enemy's arsenal, but we were mistaken. In truth, everything was merely beginning. The Void World is draining our energy reserves. Vast quantities of high-energy particles are being destroyed and vanishing without a trace. We surmise these high-energy particles must be decomposing into smaller constituents. This is the most dreadful prognosis.]
[Without an energy source, we are rendered powerless. We cannot research; we cannot defend. Even our own systems cannot sustain operations indefinitely.]
[The sole positive news is that the substitutes are suffering the effects faster than we are. They have become listless, collapsing onto the streets. It is estimated that soon, they too will face termination.]
[Our fate may mirror theirs, but the crucial difference is that we refuse to passively await death. Someone has already conceived a contingency plan. We must evacuate Star City.]
[June 4th, 220489 CE. Another record entry. We successfully acquired data from that corporation pertaining to the Void World. The more prevalent term for the Void World within the Federation, I discover, is the super-microscopic world. This is not standard commercial material, hence why I had never accessed such information previously.]
[The contents shocked me to the core. These corporations had, in fact, already approached the very borders of the super-microscopic world. They were aware of its existence and had begun to exert influence, yet this influence remained superficial, capable only of deducing changes in the super-microscopic world through feedback loops observed in the micro world.]
[Despite this limitation, it saved us an immense amount of preliminary research time. Within this company's archives, they detailed an audacious concept: to construct a mechanical structure directly within the super-microscopic world. According to the data, much of this engineering was derived from the Flyer Civilization. While it certainly wasn't the core technology of the Flyers, it provides us a pathway to touch the fringes of the super-microscopic world.]
[We re-evaluated the plan extensively. We believe we can fabricate a specialized automaton within the super-microscopic world, utilizing this robot for deep exploration on our behalf.]
[We estimate this endeavor will require approximately 1000 years to complete. While the final product might not be flawless, at least we now possess a tangible objective.]
The subsequent records became noticeably more frequent.
[September 14th, 220489 CE. We achieved a breakthrough in critical technology. We synthesized a novel form of force. No, I am too excited; 'discovery' is a more appropriate term. This new force interacts with the weak force, and simultaneously, it can interface with the Void Force. It may serve as one of the essential bridges between the super-microscopic world and the micro world. We have designated it Super Force.]
[Although Super Force was identified, it was due to our accidental creation of a specific particle during the research process. To be frank, I am uncertain if this is an artificially generated particle or one that inherently exists. We call it the Super Force Particle; it functions as the Super Force meson.]
[However, the Super Force Particle proves to be a virtual particle; it lacks stable existence. If we intend to harness its potential, significantly more preparatory work will be essential.]
...
[September 21st: We have successfully acquired a new technology. I hadn't expected the breakthrough to happen this quickly. It's like a dam—once the floodgates open, the progress becomes unstoppable.]
[Although Super Force is currently unstable, we discovered that it allows us to perform intricate carving directly onto the surface of fundamental particles. Fundamental particles were long believed to be the smallest units, but upon discovering the super-microscopic realm, we realized that fundamental particles can, in fact, be further decomposed. In the super-microscopic world, particles do not exist in isolation; instead, all particles must cluster together to constitute what we currently term a fundamental particle.]
[A wave is formed by countless smaller waves; a wave, in turn, can be jagged. No, more accurately, a wave is also influenced by fractal geometry; every segment of a wave is merely a smaller wave repeating the pattern.]
[And we only need to utilize Super Force to influence these subordinate waves to change the state of a fundamental particle. It can be converted into an artificial particle, or it can even manifest as a microscopic machine. I foresee that our counterattack is not far off.]
Upon reading this, Chu stood up, incredibly energized.
Super Force!
The discovery of this technology was absolutely revolutionary.
It would propel the entirety of human Civilization into the super-microscopic era.
He hadn't anticipated such crucial information being embedded within this document.
"Main computer, why did you fail to notify me that Super Force possessed such immense potential!"
Chu felt a degree of dissatisfaction towards the main computer. It had failed to flag such pivotal content. If he hadn't reviewed these documents personally, he never would have noticed the potential of Super Force.
The main computer replied:
[The answer lies within the subsequent information.]
With that simple response, Chu continued reading, and his initial excitement quickly settled into calm focus.
[November 2nd, Day of Old Demise. I believe we are truly only half a step away from success. Particles sculpted by Super Force exhibit distinct mechanical properties. We employed a large array of machinery to sculpt them, finally achieving our optimal configuration. Particles from the super-microscopic world can now traverse these super-microscopic circuits. It is, effectively, a miniature circuitry system.]
One could clearly sense Vladimir's excitement radiating through the text.
The Day of Old Demise was the date when the Olive Branch Civilization was completely annihilated, and the new Federated Civilization, led by Chu, was established.
Conversely, there was also the Dual Holy Day, June 15th, the anniversary marking the time when Chu transferred complete authority over Civilization to Luna.
The Day of Old Demise served as a National Day for the Eternal Cycle Star Nation, while the Dual Holy Day was analogous to their New Year's Day.
When Hossie overthrew the Eternally Democratic Star Nation, it was September 7th, now recognized as the Day of Rebirth.
These constituted the three most important annual observances for the Eternal Cycle Star Nation.
[November 13th: I believe we have achieved success. That particle can now be controlled via Super Force. Although its effect remains highly constrained, only allowing us a partial connection with the super-microscopic world, this is a positive indicator.]
[8:11 PM: A piece of wonderful news. Paulina is truly a genius. She successfully researched a device that permits macroscopic force to influence microscopic forces, thereby utilizing Super Force to manipulate the super-microscopic realm. I apologize; I cannot fully articulate it. This is not simple influence. I think you should observe this (sub-unit). After seeing it, you will grasp what I mean.]
Chu clicked open the sub-unit and looked.
This device that had so excited Vladimir was named the [Quantum Stabilizer]—a name that sounded quite plain, but such fundamental technology required clarity, not complexity.
As its name implied, it stabilized a quantum system.
In reality, it achieved far more. It subtly influenced a particle's wave function using Super Force, ensuring the wave maintained a stable frequency from its inception to its end. Furthermore, it allowed modification of this wave—adjusting the amplitude and depth of crests and troughs, as well as its wavelength.
It could be described as a device that made altering the state of fundamental particles significantly easier.
Indeed, numerous devices existed within human Civilization that could achieve particle transformation, but they relied purely on random influence.
For example, colliding a particle ten thousand times, hoping the particle transforms into the desired state, and then carefully selecting one qualified particle from those ten thousand collisions. This method resulted in massive energy wastage.
This new device, by facilitating transformation through the micro-level, offered terrifying stability and high utility.
If this technology were fully developed, it would unquestionably impact every facet of human Civilization.
[December 1st: Our research has encountered a snag. This is the first such setback, but it was anticipated. After all, our team is small, and not all members are top-tier scholars. At this moment, I truly resent my personal limitations. Otherwise, many problems could have been resolved faster, but even so, this progress is incredibly rapid. We feel like we are piloting a warship through the discovery process.]
[December 7th: After intense deliberation, we formulated a new plan based on our existing framework. And, someone brought up what we had previously overlooked: standardization. Without standardization, our intricate plan dissolves into chaos. This is not the work of a single mind; it is a collective effort. We are becoming far more professional.]
[December 18th: This is absolutely a momentous day, because we discovered a critical flaw in the super-microscopic detection device itself. This discovery resolved our prior challenge of being unable to gather reliable data about the super-microscopic world.]
[December 30th: This is the last day of the year. The problem is proving more complex than we initially imagined. Perhaps we must redesign the device entirely. It is too small, and we lack the means for on-site inspection or repair. Therefore, we must construct an entirely new unit. I believe this task will not prove overly difficult for us now.]
[March 2nd, 220490 CE: A vast amount of time has passed once more. I must confess, we were perhaps too exuberant. We initially theorized that particle sculpting offered us the potential to obtain a device capable of observing the super-microscopic realm. We hoped to discern the intrinsic laws governing super-micromicro-particle movement. However, we discovered that only Super Force could penetrate the device; it could only be Super Force.]
[The super-microscopic world and the micro world are fundamentally too dissimilar. It must be chaotic, lacking an absolute, standard fundamental force. It could potentially be composed of hundreds or thousands of interacting forces. Its complex and inherently chaotic nature severely limits our perspective. We believed we had achieved a massive breakthrough, but in truth, we grasped nothing concrete.]
This was what the main computer had alluded to.
A single application of Super Force proved entirely insufficient for entering the super-microscopic domain.
"Main computer, what is Vladimir's current scholar ranking?" Chu inquired.
Information regarding the Eternal Cycle Star Nation was linked and typically updated around every 50 years.
The warship's main computer, being a specialized entity, possessed not only super-high levels of authority but was also equipped with a massive data archive. The largest physical component on the warship wasn't the propulsion system, nor the computational unit of the main computer, but rather the main computer's designated information storage matrix.
Advanced artificial intelligence required both computational capacity and comprehensive information; neither could be lacking.
[Vladimir is a consultant for Andymes Company's micromaterial studies. He holds no formal scholar ranking. The highest attainable rank is Three-Star. The most recently recorded scholar rank is Two-Star.]
Upon hearing this answer, Chu immediately grasped the underlying reason.
What meaningful contribution could a Two-Star scholar possibly make?
Although they were all termed 'scholars,' there was a colossal chasm in academic comprehension separating a Two-Star scholar from a higher-ranked (say, Four-Star) counterpart.
This gap wasn't about the sheer volume of stored data, but rather the capacity to truly understand the content.
In this advanced era where information could be directly injected into the brain, an individual's mind was functionally equivalent to a volume of data.
However, some individuals could only utilize data archives as simple search tools, whereas others had thoroughly mastered the essence underlying all accumulated information. The difference was analogous to a foundational math problem:
x + y = z. For the former group, if this specific equation wasn't present in their archive, they would be completely stumped. For the latter, even if the equation itself was missing, they could deduce the answer from similar problems within the archive—like calculating z - y = x.
The crucial ability here is deduction, not merely data retention.
Someone possessing a massive amount of data can achieve prestige anywhere within the Civilization.
But if every citizen in a Civilization has sufficient data access, then the truly transcendent figures are those who can break free from data-driven reasoning and calculate genuinely novel concepts.
The most critical elements in the scholar assessment criteria revolve precisely around these capabilities.
The difference in this aspect between a Two-Star scholar and a ranked scholar could be described as an entire world apart.
If a number has no pre-existing entry in the archive, it might suggest a hundred potential solutions. A Two-Star scholar can only use their innate capacity to calculate perhaps one or two of these answers, while a ranked scholar can derive all one hundred possibilities. Falling short of one hundred valid deductions automatically disqualifies one from being considered a ranked scholar.
A higher-ranked scholar can even derive further derivative problems from those initial hundred answers, effectively evolving one problem into a hundred problems, and subsequently calculating ten thousand possible solutions. And among those ten thousand possibilities, perhaps only one will possess genuine commercial utility.
Commercial utility implies the capacity to directly propel the development of the Civilization itself.
"Are there no ranked scholars in Star City 4?"
"I recall most of the ranked scholars seem to reside in Star City 1."
Chu felt a pang of regret.
If ranked scholars were present—even those ranked at the bottom, say, 10,000th place—they could achieve results that were a hundredfold, or even a thousandfold, greater in these specific research fields.
This wasn't hyperbole; it was a documented fact, verified by the passage of time.
In this era, the disparity between individuals was truly immense.
It was like starting a game where everyone's initial attribute value might be 1, but one person's growth coefficient is 1, while another's growth coefficient is 100.
After one year, the initial value of the entity with a growth rate of 1 becomes 2. The initial value of the one with a growth rate of 100 becomes 101.
What about the status after one hundred years?
The former reaches 101, while the latter has achieved 10,001.
Not only that, but because the latter is inherently more potent, they receive preferential resource allocation and enhanced social benefits.
With these compounding additions, the gap between the two will expand from nine thousand to twenty thousand, then thirty thousand.
This is not a simple difference of one hundred or two hundred times. Such disparities can only be expressed in scaled values, as they impact so many facets, so broadly. Due to the compounding effect, every single increment results in an exponentially divergent value.
101 versus 10,001: the true difference might actually be one thousand times or even ten thousand times greater, not merely the one-hundred-fold suggested by the numerical comparison.
Simpler value calculations have, in fact, long been exhaustively researched by the Federation.
A one-star scholar's capability, compared to a two-star scholar, shows an average disparity of 7 times. A two-star scholar versus a three-star scholar, an average of 15 times. A three-star scholar versus a four-star scholar, an average of 19 times. A four-star scholar compared to a ranked scholar, an average of 12 times.
This calculation excludes the progression process; it only references the value derived from achievements accomplished within the identical span of time.
Theoretically, the average difference between a two-star scholar and a fully ranked scholar reaches a massive 3,420 times.
Among the ranked scholars themselves, for every one thousand ranks climbed, there is a further 1x difference multiplier. The sheer terrifying power of a genuinely top-ranked scholar is almost beyond comprehension. The accomplishments generated by a single top-ranked scholar are sufficient to sustain a market value company exceeding a quadrillion, maintaining continuous profitability.
[The final roster recorded in Star City 4 shows a total count of 40,837 ranked scholars, including 311 specialized scholars.]
The main computer's response confirmed Chu's initial suspicion.
If these ranked individuals did not simply cease to exist, then only one possibility remained: these ranked scholars had either been replaced by substitutes or perished during the subsequent sound event.
After all, the sheer scale of the Star City 4 incident was too immense. Vladimir and his team could not possibly have managed the fallout alone.
Indeed, the subsequent records verified Chu's conjecture.
[August 12th, 220493 CE. After such a long duration, our research has stalled, hitting a dead end. The trajectory we are currently pursuing is proving far less straightforward than the initial path.]
[January 30th, 220499 CE. Nearly 6 years have passed. We have overturned all prior plans and are commencing the search for new super-microscopic forces utilizing Super Force. This marks a new starting point. Following this decision, everyone clearly feels a surge of renewed enthusiasm. We are not anxious; we possess nearly unlimited time to dedicate to this pursuit.]
Chu found this content quite unremarkable.
To complete a truly epoch-making research project in mere decades was, frankly, a pipe dream.
Civilization's shortest recorded world-changing research required over 2,000 years. These researchers were proceeding too hastily, partially because their academic comprehension level was comparatively low. They were typically confined to research spanning only a few years or decades, which is why their focus remained intensely immediate.
Chu almost decided there was no need to read further.
However, upon discovering the content was nearing its conclusion, he chose to continue observing.
[May 11th, 220521 CE. We received a transmission originating from deep space. This is the first piece of external information we have ever acquired. Initially, we assumed it originated from another Star City, but that was incorrect. It came from those who departed long before us. It wasn't even sent from a remote location; that individual was positioned less than 0.5 light-years away from us.]
[They conveyed a cruel truth to us: all the departing vessels sustained damage. They were unable to achieve interstellar departure, forced into deep space adrift. Having lost sustained energy reserves, they observed the ship's power draining away. Not only the vessel's primary energy but also the kinetic energy of the particles themselves was being siphoned.]
[Ship after ship disintegrated. Dispersed particles encountered the vacuum, causing the vacuum itself to destabilize, and subsequently, life dissolved. Death continued to descend upon everyone. The entity originating from the super-microscopic world was absorbing the energy of the particles ceaselessly, moment by moment. We had failed to notice this before because we remained confined within the star system; stellar photons continuously bombarded our Star City and ships. The photoelectric effect compensated for this stolen energy, but in the void of deep space, illumination was scarce.]
[In the accompanying notes, the transmitted information was not from a conscious person, but merely an automated machine relaying data. Everyone aboard all ships had perished, and the crew on one specific vessel had failed to enter cryosleep. However, by the time they discovered the energy drain, it was irrevocably too late. They evacuated the ship, found an asteroid, and spent decades constructing a rudimentary information transmission device. No wonder the data we received was so primitive in nature.]
[They did not request aid from us. They maintained the conviction that they could construct an independent propulsion device to continue their journey toward another Star City. I do not know if they achieved success, and even what we ourselves intend to accomplish here feels profoundly ambitious.]
...
[July 1st, 220544 CE. The enemy has defeated us again. We simply couldn't manage to avoid touching anything, and this gave them the opening they needed. We have just discovered that among us, there are impostors, and not just one. The original decoys influenced others through mere contact. Now, everyone here is a substitute. Perhaps only I, a single awakened individual, remain.]
[Everything is ending. Maybe I too will transform into one of them. I don't know what I will become.]
So abrupt.
Yet, not difficult to process.
[July 13th. I am not dead yet. I successfully lured them into the third compartment and managed to banish them. But now, I am the only one left in the entire laboratory. I cannot afford to simply await my demise; I must continue my research.]
[July 21st. I have picked up Super Force research again. It is unrealistic for me alone to derive a new fundamental force. I hold out hope that Super Force might yet yield some breakthrough.]
[August 29th, 220591 CE. I have synthesized a semi-finished product. It demonstrates a small-scale spatial stabilization effect, roughly 0.7 cm³, but the confounding issue is its origin. It stems from a failed batch. The original particles have disintegrated; it should have dispersed into super-microscopic dust. I cannot observe it directly, but I can clearly perceive its localized influence.]
[January 11th, 220613 CE. A second instance has surfaced, or rather, it can't be said that I created it, because it is not currently within my possession. However, I can discern certain recurring patterns. Although I cannot research its genesis, I can mass-produce it.]
[March 8th, 220669 CE. I conducted an experiment by launching the manufactured stabilizing devices toward Star City, roughly one million units. I hold out hope they might enact some effect, even a minimal alteration.]
[February 19th, 220712 CE. I believe I should dedicate effort to researching further matters. I have already dispatched ten million stabilizing devices toward Star City. Perhaps they will prove effective, but I have no means to verify. I will persist in their production.]
[July 8th, 220961 CE. I feel as if I spend every day resigned to fate. I have achieved no tangible results. It is just me, utterly alone. I amount to nothing, yet I will continue my research regardless.]
[December 6th, 221031 CE. Today, I observed a ship docked at the Starport. It is exquisitely beautiful and brand new. It must have originated from another Star City. There are occupants aboard. Have the other Star Cities finally acknowledged the existence of Star City 4? Perhaps I am awaiting rescue, but why only a single vessel? Not a warship? I intend to venture out and ascertain the facts.]
The log ended here.
However, the main computer retrieved another set of records.
These were sourced from the "Dancer."
The Dancer's final record documented an individual boarding the ship, performing a brief inspection, then disembarking and entering Star City.
Chu hadn't anticipated that Vladimir would survive long enough for Hossie's arrival. He remained uncertain if Vladimir eventually found Hossie and his companions.
But ultimately, none of that held significance.
Everything would be erased upon the total destruction of Star City.
"Report: Star City 4 has been completely annihilated."
After reviewing Vladimir's collected logs, the message arrived.
Chu looked out through the warship's panoramic window. The terrifyingly massive structure of Star City 4 had vanished without a trace; not even its structural framework remained. Only countless fragments continued to orbit the star.
Its original crystal-like outer shell had transformed into a beautiful, shimmering ring, resembling an ancient woman's white silk ribbon—appearing incredibly light and delicate.
Chu recalled some past events.
Why was Independent Victory constructed within Star City 4?
Many people asserted that Chu had once waited here, and that this location served as one of the initial launch points for the overthrow of Gas Victory.
But none of that held any truth.
Chu originated from Star City 4.
He was selected by Gas, then trained to ascend to the Titled Station and assume the role of a manager.
That was too distant a past; no one would recall his genesis here. Every former Olive Branch Civilization being, upon transitioning into the new era and becoming a human Olive Branch descendant, would selectively erase certain inconsequential memories.
And Chu's personal history was one such element.
Had he resided here for thirty thousand or forty thousand years?
Even he himself could not recall precisely.
Initially, his ambition was to establish the capital of the Eternally Democratic Star Nation right here.
But subsequently, the construction of Star City 1 proceeded without interruption, because Star City 1 was erected upon the ruins of a former Star City. That marked the genesis of his truly cherished recollections.
Nonetheless, the destruction of Star City 4 still brought a wave of melancholy to Chu.
Much like the very name of the Star Nation itself.
It represented the collective aspiration of all Olive Branch descendants.
They universally hoped the Star Nation would endure eternally, that the Star Cities would exist forever, and that everyone residing within them would achieve immortality.
Yet, the populace of the Star Nation was subject to mortality. Now, an entire Star Nation city had perished. Would the next casualty be the entirety of the Star Nation?
The Federation itself was currently confronting unprecedented challenges.
The Star Nation operated under the jurisdiction of the Federation.
If the Federation were destroyed, the Star Nation would likewise cease to exist.
"We are still ultimately too weak. Just as the Federation once faced me, so too does this new threat confront us. But such recurrences cannot continue indefinitely. When confronted by a superior Civilization, the resilience of human Civilization will once again be tested."
Chu gazed upon the remnants of Star City 4, looking through these debris fields toward that green star, and then through that green star to the endless expanse of the cosmos.
At this very moment, why were they not in Vladimir's position?
"Send a message to Luna. Inform her that Star City 4 was annihilated by my hand."
"I wish to remain here and oversee the rebuilding of Star City 4. If she becomes weary, she can select a Fifth Generation leader once more."
[Acknowledged. Your message has been recorded. Activating Tachyon communication device for transmission.]
Chu resolved to remain in this location.
He recognized that he was indulging in a degree of melancholy.
Luna perceived him as a hands-off administrator.
But in reality, the burdens he managed were by no means lighter than Luna's own.
"Luna, I hope you can comprehend my hesitation. I hope to witness you confirming that my decision was the correct one."
"The Civilization entrusted to you. It is capable of achieving a grand and eternal future."
...
The super-microscopic world.
Hossie had no awareness of the events unfolding in the macro world.
He had fully expected to perish, yet death did not materialize as he anticipated.
A specific fragment intercepted every incoming assault.
It originated from [The Predator].
Even though it was merely a shard of [The Predator], for Hossie, it felt like an entire continent suspended overhead, granting him a sense of protection and security he hadn't known before.
"To think that in the end, I would require you to save me!"
"But what exactly does this signify?"
"I can't go back!"
Hossie stared at the sky. His survival brought him no joy; instead, he was deeply unsettled.
For him, certain doom held no real terror.
What was truly frightening was an unpredictable future.
Unseen by him, an incredibly minuscule object descended from [The Predator], drifting towards him.
This tiny object then directly embedded itself onto the mechanical fragment where he resided.
"Don't give up so fast; I have no desire to perish either!"
"Who—!?"
The sudden voice startled Hossie.
The voice responded: "I am what you refer to as [The Predator], but I am not that [The Predator]. Those things are not [The Grazer]."
"We are also collectives of consciousness. I call that entity the consciousness behemoth. I have traveled here specifically to confront it."
"This is not another world, but the super-microscopic realm—a domain even smaller than the micro world."
The speaker was Damoro.
He was alive.
This fact was hardly surprising.
The entity that had appeared moments earlier had indeed shattered him, but it was only shattered. As a collective consciousness, he wasn't composed of flesh and blood where cardiac damage meant demise, or brain extraction meant death.
Every piece of his form constituted him.
Being fragmented, compared to being whole, wasn't even a true degradation; in some ways, it was superior.
Shedding so much extraneous consciousness finally allowed his formerly chaotic awareness to attain genuine clarity. He could, at least, engage in personal contemplation.
This was precisely why the fragment had come to safeguard Hossie.
"It's you! I thought you were destroyed!"
Hossie rejoiced wildly upon hearing Damoro's reply.
As a leader, he seldom displayed grand emotional outbursts, but he had endured far too much recently.
Yet, at this very moment, Damoro poured a bucket of cold water over his elation.
"We now share the same physical body. I am privy to your thoughts."
"But regrettably, I have no means of returning to the macro world."
"For us, the only course of action is patience. We must await the re-establishment of Star City 4, wait for humanity's super-microscopic technology to advance, and also pray we don't perish during this waiting period."
Damoro lacked the intrinsic ability to depart the super-microscopic world.
He held a genuinely pessimistic outlook.
"At least this is preferable to before. I used to believe I was trapped in some bizarre dimension, perhaps even inside a black hole."
"If this truly is the super-microscopic world, then I place my faith in Human Civilization. I trust the Star Nation. I trust Luna."
When the thought of Luna surfaced, Hossie instinctively hesitated.
But it was pointless to conceal anything. Since their communication was purely by consciousness, every flicker of his thought was transmitted truthfully to Damoro.
"Luna, who is that?"
Hossie realized concealment was impossible, so he spoke candidly.
"You can regard her as the true sovereign of Human Civilization, its current architect and founder."
"Her eminence requires no further clarification. If anyone could deduce our presence here, it would be her."
Upon hearing this, Damoro registered surprise, but more profoundly, he felt that Hossie, as a leader, appeared somewhat naïve and unconventional.
"Don't hold such high expectations. This location is presently unknown to Human Civilization."
Hossie offered no retort.
"You originated from Hyperdimensional Space, and Hyperdimensional Space was engineered by Luna. Your arrival here was also a manifestation of her will. If you can arrive here, why couldn't she?"
Damoro remained silent.
But his consciousness had transmitted every nuance of his realization to Hossie.
Damoro had ended up here purely by accident; this was not a stable or intended condition.
However, after learning that Luna was the architect behind Hyperdimensional Space, Damoro felt a stirring sense of anticipation. For him, who had dedicated countless years within Hyperdimensional Space, that reality was his everything. And Luna, being the creator of all that, might indeed deliver a miracle to him.