Chapter 841: Specialized Weapon |
Xiao Yu had already developed a killing intent toward the Microscopic Civilization. This was already the third time Xiao Yu had encountered the Microscopic Civilization, and in all three encounters, something bad had happened each time. If interfering with his destruction of the Guardian Civilization and the Sweepers Civilization was still barely within the range Xiao Yu could tolerate, then getting involved in the struggle between the Guardian of the Way and the Rebel Alliance, and making a move against the galaxy, had already challenged Xiao Yu’s bottom line. Xiao Yu had run out of patience.
Besides this, there was another reason he had to kill the Microscopic Civilization. That was that if the Rebel Alliance truly bore him ill will, then the fact that the Rebel Alliance did not know he was still alive was an advantage. But if he allowed the Microscopic Civilization to leave, that situation might change and once again bring about some bad consequence.
Danger lay everywhere ahead, and the situation was extremely unclear. Every step Xiao Yu took had to be made with the utmost caution. Under such circumstances, doing everything possible to increase his own strength was also extremely urgent. Frankly speaking, Xiao Yu was also very interested in the microscopic technology of the Microscopic Civilization. The Microscopic Civilization was an interest-based Level 7 Civilization. They did not have the ability to develop this kind of technology on the microscopic level into weapons, but Xiao Yu was different. Xiao Yu had come all the way here through war.
The ten billion Microscopic Civilization spacecraft, each only molecular or atomic in size, had already completely dispersed and scattered into the vast universe, like a drop of water merging into the sea, impossible to find again. But as long as they were moving, traces would be exposed. And once there were traces, Xiao Yu could track them.
The faster curvature flight was, the easier it was to detect. And at this moment, the advancement speed of the Microscopic Civilization had already exceeded one thousand three hundred times the speed of light. At such a high speed, Xiao Yu’s precisely deployed spatial monitoring network was already sufficient to detect them. The main fleet provided the general tracking target for this pursuit fleet, while the pursuit fleet was responsible for confirming the target’s precise location. The two fleets worked together like an all-encompassing net had been spread out.
“It seems they want to escape beyond the galaxy.” After monitoring and tracking the Microscopic Civilization for some time, Xiao Yu reached this conclusion inwardly. “Very well, then the main fleet will depart. Let’s go intercept them.”
Hundreds of light years away, Xiao Yu’s main force also swiftly entered curvature flight and headed toward the edge of the galaxy. If all went smoothly, Xiao Yu’s main fleet would intercept the Microscopic Civilization there.
For some unknown reason, the Microscopic Civilization had not chosen to split up and flee. Xiao Yu knew that if the Microscopic Civilization chose to disperse and escape, there was no way he would be able to find them again. Faced with a heap of scattered molecules and atoms, probably not even an immortal would be able to do anything. But the Microscopic Civilization had not done that.
Xiao Yu did not know the reason, but he guessed it might be due to the nature of civilizations. Intelligent civilizations were all social civilizations, and the people of an interest-based civilization had long since cast away the iron-blooded nature deep in their hearts. Under such circumstances, it was understandable that no matter what they did, they chose to act as a group.
“If the order you received had been to kill me, would you have prepared to make a move as well?” Xiao Yu replied with a sneer. “Since you chose a different side, then don’t look for so many excuses. You already belong to side of abandoned chess pieces. You already have no value. If you are willing to open your civilization’s data interface and tell me everything about your civilization, I can still spare your lives.”
“That is impossible!” the Microscopic Civilization replied. “We simply do not wish to get too entangled with you. Do not think our Microscopic Civilization is afraid of you. Do not forget, we are already an advanced Level 7 Civilization, while you have only just become a Level 7 Civilization.”
“So what? I am a war-related civilization, while you are an interest-based civilization. That alone already determines that when facing you, I will occupy an absolute advantage.” Xiao Yu sneered. “If you continue to persist in your delusion, I will teach you a painful lesson.”
The Microscopic Civilization did not respond to Xiao Yu’s words. They fell completely silent. If Xiao Yu’s monitoring network had not still been able to detect these microscopic particles moving at more than a thousand times the speed of light, Xiao Yu would almost have thought he had lost them.
Xiao Yu also remained silent. He no longer chose to engage in pointless verbal sparring.
Xiao Yu’s limit speed was one thousand six hundred times the speed of light, while the Microscopic Civilization’s speed was even higher. In terms of speed, Xiao Yu did not have the advantage. As fellow Level 7 Civilizations, both sides could directly convert space into energy, and both sides therefore had infinite energy sources. Judging from this, it seemed Xiao Yu would never be able to catch up to the Microscopic Civilization, but the real situation was not like that.
No matter how advanced the machinery or how advanced the spacecraft, it was impossible to maintain operation at maximum power for a long time. Xiao Yu had the advantage in computational power and manufacturing, and in a pursuit battle this advantage would play an enormous role. Xiao Yu was planning to rely on exactly this advantage to eventually catch up with the Microscopic Civilization.
“But there is one thing that is hard to understand. In a place like the galaxy where matter is abundant, it is more favorable for the Microscopic Civilization to hide. Once they leave the galaxy, matter becomes far too sparse, and it will become much easier for me to track the Microscopic Civilization. It is impossible for the Microscopic Civilization not to know this, so why are they still trying to leave the galaxy?” Xiao Yu silently contemplated this question. “Or perhaps they have laid a trap for me ahead?”
Judging from the current course, the Microscopic Civilization’s destination seemed to be the Large Magellanic Cloud. Therefore, another sub-fleet split off from Xiao Yu’s main fleet, gave up on intercepting the Microscopic Civilization, and headed directly toward the Large Magellanic Cloud.
The remaining main fleet, meanwhile, began another construction operation during the interception process. During this period, Xiao Yu had already finished conceptualizing a weapon specifically aimed at the Microscopic Civilization. What Xiao Yu had to do now was mass-equip this weapon and give them a surprise when facing the Microscopic Civilization.
Within this galaxy that was both familiar and somewhat unfamiliar, two Level 7 Civilizations began a long pursuit spanning several hundred thousand light years.
A few years or more than ten years meant nothing to a Level 7 Civilization. That was true for Xiao Yu, and equally true for the Microscopic Civilization. In the blink of an eye, this long pursuit had continued for seventeen years. Between this chase and flight, the two Level 7 Civilizations had both arrived at the edge of the galaxy.
Because the Microscopic Civilization held the advantage in speed, the distance between them and Xiao Yu had widened considerably compared to the start, but it was still not enough for them to completely shake Xiao Yu off. Xiao Yu could still use the spatial monitoring network to track the Microscopic Civilization’s position.
Xiao Yu’s mind gradually became solemn. Before this detection fleet and the Microscopic Civilization reached the edge of the galaxy, Xiao Yu’s main fleet had already arrived there in advance and completed its deployment. In the empty starry sky ahead, an even larger and more advanced spatial maze was already waiting there. And once the Microscopic Civilization broke into this maze, Xiao Yu would no longer hold back at all.
Amid this silent pursuit, the Microscopic Civilization drew closer and closer to the trap, and Xiao Yu’s heart gradually tightened as well. But at just this moment, another unexpected development occurred.
For some unknown reason, just before the Microscopic Civilization was about to enter the trap, they suddenly changed course, as if they had already sensed that a trap was waiting ahead. In this extremely dangerous near miss, they just happened to avoid the trap Xiao Yu had laid and continued charging toward the Large Magellanic Cloud along another route.
“It is useless. The reason you were able to trap us with a spatial maze the first time was because you caught us off guard. Now you want to use the same trick again. You are underestimating our Microscopic Civilization too much…” At this moment, Xiao Yu received a message from the Microscopic Civilization. “You cannot catch us. Give up…”
“Is that so?” Xiao Yu sneered. “Then come and try the weapon I developed especially for your Microscopic Civilization…”
After confirming that the spatial maze had failed, Xiao Yu made a prompt decision and immediately gave up on using the spatial maze to trap the Microscopic Civilization. Several billion spacecraft also abandoned their concealment methods and all revealed themselves from the void. At this moment, Xiao Yu’s detection fleet finally joined up with the main force.
During these more than ten years of pursuit, Xiao Yu had already completed the modification of the weapon systems of the main fleet. Now it was time for them to play their role.
These modified spacecraft had not changed much in appearance. They had merely grown some inconspicuous protrusions. These protrusions were extremely tiny, like needles stuck onto the spacecraft. Because there were so many of them, Xiao Yu’s spacecraft now looked a bit like hedgehogs.
“A weapon specifically developed for our Microscopic Civilization? Xiao Yu, in order to deal with us, you really have gone to great pains. But it is useless. To completely eliminate our Microscopic Civilization, even a Level 8 Civilization might not necessarily be able to do it…” The Microscopic Civilization slowly transmitted its message. But when it reached this point, it suddenly stopped short, followed immediately by a cry of alarm. “Hm? What is this?”
“That’s right. I truly do not have the ability to wipe all of you out, but causing you heavy losses is still something I can do.” Xiao Yu said coldly. “Open your data interface. Do not continue making pointless resistance…”