The year 231,848 A.D.
Exactly six years after the destruction of the City of the Sword of Decapitation, Luna and the other Divines had fundamentally grasped deeper-level information about this Civilization.
The squad was now gathered, communicating via electrical waves.
"In the beginning, no one knew this Civilization operated this way. It truly is a Civilization that has endured for over a billion years; they've likely learned from past mistakes."
"Fragmented collectivism. This mode of existence probably only exists within a Civilization like this."
They had studied it for several years, yet this point wasn't even their own discovery, but something relayed by other Divines. It was understood when other Divines attempted a merger for exploration.
Regarding the entire Home Civilization, they had initially thought that if there was no social hierarchy, it meant absolute equality.
Thus, everything in their own memories should be present in the memories of every other individual.
But in reality, they hadn't obtained any high-level Technology.
If advanced Technology were only controlled by a subset of individuals, then how could this equitable Civilization exist?
After all, Home individuals were true individuals, not pseudo-individuals within a hive mind.
The answer took over 600 years to finally be uncovered.
It turned out that when the Home Civilization's individuals dispersed, each one only carried a tiny fragment of high-level technological data, appearing utterly chaotic.
Only when the collective gathered could these information segments be reassembled, forming a complete technological path.
"I have no idea how they pulled it off, actually hiding the Technology within every possible combination."
True Lord, deprived of short videos, could only focus on serious analysis.
As a Divine, and one whose combat power resided primarily in his intellect, True Lord was quite adept at this type of analysis.
He said: "Actually, achieving it is relatively easy; human Civilization has corresponding technology internally."
"It's just that we can't manage to hide such a massive volume of information. According to my calculations, when they congregate, each individual gains access to at least 700 trillion technological branches. Yet, when the collective disperses, those technologies cease to exist, not even remaining within their minds."
"This is an information security measure. Deciphering it is extremely difficult; it involves hundreds of millions of individuals. Attempting it is no different from declaring war, which means that if we follow that person's plan, the final result will be failure."
The Divine who discovered this had shared the information for two reasons: one for information sharing, and the other in hopes of finding teammates.
Information sharing actually meant they didn't need to intervene.
Because that Divine already had a plan he wanted to execute.
He intended to exploit this mechanism to unearth the Civilization's technological data, transmitting it to other Divines while the collective was gathered.
The plan sounded quite unreliable, the kind of thing that felt like it was conceived hundreds of thousands of years too early.
"Mhm, I also think the Home Civilization will definitely have defensive measures."
"Right now, we've only obtained some information, not actual science, so we're fine."
"But if they truly get hold of their Technology, they'll likely be investigated."
"We don't have much time left."
Marionette Actor had been somewhat anxious lately, suspecting she might have been discovered. She felt an inexplicable rejection from the individuals surrounding her.
The more one investigates, the greater the risk of exposure and suspicion.
She guessed that if those Divines' plans failed, it would ultimately implicate her.
To die here was to die for real.
Luna looked at her, not believing that a Divine's intuition would be flawed.
"If you are exposed, then it proves we are all exposed."
"Fortunately, this Civilization upholds equality; at least at this stage, they won't do anything to us."
This Civilization didn't even have laws.
Since there was no social hierarchy between them and other individuals, a suspicion wouldn't naturally lead to an adjudication.
However, being watched was never good; if they tried to act, they would inevitably reveal the truth.
"Actually, I've also been being monitored, even before Marionette Actor brought up this information."
"I believed I hadn't left a single clue, even avoiding contact with other Divines, yet I still became the first among us to be suspected."
"If I weren't the first, that would be one thing, but if I am the first..."
It was Blacklight speaking.
He hadn't discussed this topic previously, which was the reason for his absolute silence. If he were the first, it meant there might be a traitor among them who had leaked his information.
Luna immediately felt the atmosphere shift.
One Sword Immortal spoke up instantly: "You know what I love. My wives are still waiting for me to return; I would never betray the Civilization."
Betraying the Civilization.
In truth, this was quite common.
The Home Civilization was far too powerful, and these Divines didn't have much affection for their own Civilization.
Although Hyperdimensional Space provided many scenarios to strengthen their sense of belonging, not everyone bought into it.
Seeing the suspicion in everyone's eyes, Luna spoke up as well.
"It might not be someone among us."
"Other Divines know our information, and we've had several contacts; it wouldn't be difficult to guess your identity."
Blacklight nodded.
This was, in fact, the primary reason he had spoken up.
Everyone was already very familiar with each other, and he had been keeping an eye on them lately.
While he couldn't be one hundred percent certain, he could rule out internal factors with eighty to ninety percent confidence.
"Then, shouldn't we warn the others?"
Bubu is not No-no, despite appearing somewhat like a big boss, possessed that look merely because of her Warbeast exterior.
Now, with a new body, her simple heart was becoming more evident.
"I'm afraid of startling the snake."
"Besides, the other Divines aren't fools. We were all able to notice the problem."
Blacklight felt it wasn't necessary. The others nodded in agreement.
"Let's get back to the plan itself. If they're going to act, they'll inevitably draw the fire."
"Think about it: can we do something while they're active to solve the problem?"
Since it was all just conjecture, Luna didn't want to waste time on it.
There were less than four years left.
In truth, that deadline didn't matter as much.
The most critical issue was that she had recently begun to feel the power of Assimilation.
Her thoughts were becoming rigid and oversimplified; at times, the symptoms were even comparable to early-onset dementia. Since the others hadn't mentioned this, she assumed her resistance to it was a bit weaker.
"Actually, I have a plan. I wanted to bring it up last time, but I felt it wasn't quite refined enough."
True Lord was very enthusiastic now.
Everyone knew he couldn't wait any longer; he wanted to return home as quickly as possible.
If the plan failed and they didn't die, they'd likely be subjected to deep investigations, losing any chance of returning to human Civilization, and he'd never see his favorite girls again.
True Lord detailed the plan he'd conceived.
"Based on the current situation, they'll probably only act after we do."
"So, my plan is simple: destroy this Star City."
"The way they instantly reconstructed the City of the Sword of Decapitation was certainly cool, but I don't believe that technology can be used frequently."
"Once this Star City is destroyed, they'll have to wait here themselves. The nearest stars are several light-years away; perhaps they'll decide to leave."
This was, in fact, the simplest plan.
However, True Lord had spent six years refining the details, making everyone believe it was feasible. At the very least, what they heard was an actionable plan, not just a hollow shell of an idea.
"Let's keep that as a last resort; the uncertainty is just too high."
One Sword Immortal, uncharacteristically serious, had a plan of his own.
"Since the Home Civilization only possesses high-tech data when they are combined, could we find a way to prevent them from merging?"
"I have plans using electromagnetic force or other physical means. We can test them among ourselves to find the optimal solution."
His plan sounded simpler, but in reality, the technical requirements were immense. However, One Sword Immortal had already simulated several possibilities, which could save some time and resources.
Nevertheless, the plan was extremely difficult to execute, requiring large-scale manipulation. Furthermore, Luna didn't give this plan a high rating. After all, who was the powerhouse here? Was it even possible? The chance was one in a trillion.
Luna shifted her gaze toward Marionette Actor.
Marionette Actor simply shook her head.
"I've been too focused on the others lately; I haven't come up with anything good."
"Actually, I've been wondering if feigning a defection could dispel the other units' suspicions. It might even grant us access to the civilization's core. Who knows, maybe that traitor didn't truly betray us."
They were currently in a situation where they would sink or swim together. If one person could succeed, it would indeed be a good thing.
"If that person hasn't truly betrayed us, they definitely won't reveal their own identity, only report our anomalies."
True Lord felt they could start from there.
In fact, most of the Divines and super-officers were already in contact. By process of elimination, they might be able to lock onto the specific traitor.
Once identified, they could judge by character; if the person's character wasn't great to begin with, the likelihood of a true defection was much higher.
"We don't have time for such convoluted schemes."
Blacklight didn't want to waste time hunting for a traitor.
"I actually think we could fish in troubled waters."
"Since every unit is independent, it means if we start throwing suspicion on random others, no one will actually verify it."
"That way, those guys' attention will be scattered, instead of being fixed solely on us."
"As things stand, we have two primary directions. One is focused on the individuals, researching how to disable them; the other is focused on the fortress itself, for which True Lord already has a plan."
"To sabotage the individuals, I believe someone will have to be sacrificed. Once we confirm someone is truly a traitor, they will surely act, and we must record the method they use."
In only six short years, truthfully, it was difficult to discern anything substantial.
In their eyes, this civilization remained indestructible. Fortunately, they weren't tasked with destroying the entire civilization, just this single fleet.
"Is it time to fight?" Bubu is not No-no asked eagerly.
A Warbeast lived for the fight. Although that wasn't the original intent when the name was bestowed, over time, the Warbeasts evolved toward that title, becoming increasingly bellicose.
Modern Warbeasts were divided into the Scholarly faction and the Martial faction. Bubu is not No-no was a staunch supporter of the Martial faction.
Blacklight shook his head.
"We cannot strike. Attacking would inevitably draw attention."
"We only need to trigger internal conflict within our ranks."
By "internal," he meant the entire group that had been sent here. Upon hearing this, Luna immediately shook her head.
"We cannot do that; the risk is too high."
"If we're forced into a corner by others, it's one thing, but this could cause the entire mission to fail."
Blacklight was a bit like his name, somewhat dark-hearted. He seemed slightly disappointed by Luna's veto.
Although Luna didn't know his full history in Hyperdimensional Space, she knew from their contact over the past few thousand years that this guy could be erratic.
Blacklight was an unstable factor; when holding an absolute advantage, he tended to do irrational things. Fortunately, under current pressure, he could still maintain his reason.
Luna shifted her gaze to Bubu is not No-no, who simply stared back.
As expected, she couldn't be relied upon. The intelligence of the Martial faction Warbeasts was practically non-existent; although Bubu is not No-no had been tempered by Hyperdimensional Space, strategy had never been her forte.
"Actually, I don't have a solid plan either. From the fact that we were even able to arrive here, it seems the Home Civilization hasn't climbed high enough on the consciousness tech tree."
"Humanity's window for victory likely lies right there."
Luna still lacked a complete line of reasoning. She needed to organize her thoughts.
"The higher-ups must have realized this. If we could seize individuals through consciousness on a large scale, they certainly would have done so already."
Marionette Actor felt this wasn't a good direction. After all, none of them actually knew how to manipulate or isolate consciousness to destroy it.
"Actually, that's exactly where our advantage lies."
"We can exploit the fact that the Home Civilization is struggling with consciousness-related problems; I'm sure they are desperate to find us."
One Sword Immortal remarked: "Four years might not be enough."
In four years, someone will definitely act, and the entire fleet will be plunged into chaos. Blacklight, however, caught onto Luna's intent.
"Are you suggesting we act afterward?"
Luna nodded.
"Plans aren't set in stone. The original ten-year timeline was set because we didn't understand this civilization. Now that we do, why be bound by ten years?"
"But it can't be too long. Assimilation is ongoing; I estimate our window is thirty years at most. We have twenty-four years left."
True Lord asked: "So, what's the next move?"
Developing consciousness-based technology.
"In my memory, technological development is independent. Only after something is developed does the technology begin to proliferate."
"Actually, we don't necessarily need the consciousness technology itself; what we fundamentally need is internal chaos within the civilization."
"When the research begins, your plans can run in parallel, at the very least, they can create suspicion. And True Lord, your plan might be steerable in a favorable direction."
Luna ultimately synthesized everyone's ideas; she didn't possess much natural talent in this specific area herself.
"Then that is the only way."
The others reached a consensus. Time was their scarcest resource, and a Divine was not an actual god. Moving forward one step at a time was the only logical path.
Even a Divine like Luna had her limits as long as her data and memories remained fractured. Memories served as pre-packaged experience; with a complete set, Divine Luna could forge far superior strategies.
Still, as a Divine—even a construct of Hyperdimensional Space—her raw potential remained staggering.
Once the meeting broke, Luna put her own phase of the operation into motion.
She began planting seeds of doubt. During her technical exchanges with other units, she casually but deliberately introduced the term consciousness, a concept that was entirely alien to the Home Civilization.
Luna was conditioning them to recognize consciousness as a reality, forcing them to see it as a fundamental vulnerability they couldn't ignore.
She made them realize that because they couldn't isolate consciousness and lacked the means to study it, the lifeforms of the Home Civilization could never truly transcend their biological shells.
"So that is the nature of it."
"Such a science actually exists?"
"With this technology, even an inferior target could dismantle us."
"There was an incident in the past—a thief stole from us, and we never grasped their methods."
Luna noted that these units were incredibly active during their exchanges. It was logical; they were high-level entities with advanced intelligence.
However, these interactions were devoid of social grace; there were no "thank yous." The moment they secured the data, they buried themselves back into their labor.
The consciousness storm tore through the fortress population faster than Luna had predicted. In its wake, more laboratories began appearing throughout the structure.
Any individual unit could rent these facilities.
In truth, renting is a poor descriptor, as it implies a human economic framework. The Home Civilization had no use for money; all assets were collective. However, if resources were split perfectly even, no single unit would have the time to produce results, which crippled efficiency.
Therefore, renting was actually a process of persuasion. If an individual showcased a promising breakthrough, they could convince a group of less-productive researchers to surrender their time. These groups would then merge their resources to unlock higher-tier science.
No one resisted this, as the Home Civilization possessed no concept of individual glory.
In that sense, the Home Civilization was a pure utopia.
As the storm grew, Luna began to hear the word traitor whispered by other Divines.
The culprit was being remarkably blatant; the Home word for consciousness was a crude transliteration, lacking any attempt at a cover-up.
No one suspected Luna.
During her data swaps, she had masked her identity and kept her real name hidden. The Home Civilization's internal privacy protocols were surprisingly robust.
Initially, her team had viewed this as a deformed society, but closer inspection revealed many advanced layers. Compared to this machine-like precision, human civilization appeared chaotic and dangerously unstable.
Humanity was currently eating itself from the inside. Beyond the wars between star nations, the Federation faced its own crisis, with lifespan being the most volatile flashpoint.
Luna was now deep into her own consciousness research.
Consciousness is an abstract ghost; it was elusive to the humans who defined it, and even more so to the Home Civilization.
This gave Luna a massive advantage. A Divine is a master of all fields, and while Luna hadn't personally conducted this research before, she had archived a mountain of literature on the topic.
She soon published the Consciousness Hypothesis, outlining the origins of consciousness and proposing methods to detect its presence.
Consciousness is a complex entity within a biological spirit, using the physical shell as its medium. Once separated, it cannot survive long without a host.
This removed any fear that an invasion would be impossible; upon finding a host, the consciousness instinctively fights to take control.
But how does it manifest? How do we prove it is there?
This was the hurdle.
If you strip a person of perception, emotion, and will while keeping the body alive, the shell remains functional but cannot move or interpret information. Early human experiments in consciousness deprivation had even used alcohol to trigger states of delirium.
Naturally, those early trials lacked any real scientific rigor.
The true breakthrough in identifying consciousness came through radiation. A specific type of short-wave radiation left the physical body unharmed but completely annihilated the consciousness. This wasn't a natural electromagnetic wave, but a highly specialized, artificial frequency.
By mapping these wave patterns, researchers tried to apply them to non-biological targets. They filtered out every frequency that caused physical tissue damage. In the final stages, they found that even without the harmful waves, subjects still dropped dead from the artificial radiation.
It was a frequency designed to kill the soul. Using this radiation, humanity eventually mastered consciousness transfer.
Luna had no intention of actually performing the research from scratch.
She only had to provide the blueprint of what consciousness was and the framework for detecting it. Instantly, she was propelled to the absolute forefront of the Home Civilization's academic elite.
As a natural result, Luna earned the trust of a vast number of units, granting her genuine access to the civilization's highest-tier science.
In truth, she had glimpsed this knowledge when they were all merged into the warship, but after dispersing, the memory had been wiped. She couldn't find a single trace of it in her logs, leaving her completely unaware she had ever seen it.
With this new access, Luna's horizon expanded to its absolute limit.
She felt the staggering weight of the Home Civilization—the ten-billion-year legacy of a civilization on the verge of godhood.
It was terrifyingly deep.
They organized their technology into six ranks, with Rank 6 being the absolute peak.
Rank 1 was broad and messy, covering basic tasks like primitive construction methods.
Rank 2 was the vocational tier: medical treatment, mechanical repair, and chemical engineering. Their chemical technology was roughly 80% similar to human science.
The remaining 20% gap was a result of dimensional differences; their chemical laws could be translated for three-dimensional use with minor adjustments.
Since humans had already mastered chemistry, this wasn't necessarily "better"—it was just a perfect fit for the fourth dimension.
Rank 3 and above was where the elite technology began—professional knowledge reserved for top-tier researchers and doctoral minds.
The Rank 3 data of the Home Civilization was both vast and cutting-edge.
It included advanced systems in mathematics and physics. The mathematical tools of the Home Civilization left Luna in shock; their efficiency was hundreds of thousands of times higher than anything humanity used.
This meant that for the exact same problem, one would solve it in a day, while the other would toil for centuries.
Now, the true, raw might of the Home Civilization was finally bare before Luna.