Chapter 1 Discussion

The Star Arc civilization's homeworld, high-level leaders were engaged in discussion in a conference room.

"The three great civilizations sent a notice not long ago, requiring us to obey unified scheduling and be ready to shut down all quantum network base stations on all planets at any time. What are they trying to do?"

"Isn't the Intelligent Plague disaster already under control? Why are the three great civilizations doing this now? Did something change?"

"Or are the three great civilizations going to mess with us again?"

Many high-level figures had tense expressions, full of suspicion.

Originally, after the three great civilizations announced the completion of the anti-virus trio, they felt that the Intelligent Plague was basically resolved. Therefore, their attention became more focused on the situation of being blockaded in the Ancient Star Desert. They believed that the three great civilizations might take the opportunity to do something to them next, becoming suspicious all day long, as if suffering from persecution paranoia.

At this time, the three great civilizations suddenly issued an order, asking them to be ready to cut off the quantum network within their territory at any time, which made the Star Arc civilization even more sensitive, almost believing that this was a signal to attack them.

This time it wasn't cutting off external communications, but shutting down the quantum network within the territory, undermining the cornerstone of interstellar society. In the interstellar era, large civilizations like them ruled and managed various planets, relying on the real-time nature of quantum network information exchange.

Now, they were being asked to completely disconnect the network, which meant temporarily giving up control of their jurisdiction, plunging various places into a period of unknown duration without a central authority.

The civilization's leader tapped the table, silencing the room before speaking:

"The three great civilizations have issued the same notice to other civilizations, not just targeting us."

Hearing this, everyone nodded.

"Then it seems it's still related to the Intelligent Plague... What are the recent movements of the three great civilizations?" A high-ranking official asked.

The head of the intelligence department raised his eyelids and said:

"The troops of the three great civilizations are stationed on various planets, and the Super-A grade Mechanic have also shown abnormalities. They are dispatching their respective mechanical legions to those planets, seemingly preparing for some major action."

"All Super-A grade Mechanics are acting?"

"Yes, all of them."

"What do you think they are doing?"

"I don't know the specifics, but it looks a lot like they are setting up an ambush."

"Hmm..."

The civilization leader pondered for a moment and slowly said:

"Temporarily cooperate with the arrangements of the three great civilizations, investigate what the three great civilizations and these Super-As are going to do, keep a close eye on them, and don't ignore any of their movements. I want to know what their purpose is."

...

Shining World, Development Federation Headquarters, Fien Star.

Many Super-A grade Mechanics' remote projections gathered here, holding regular meetings and exchanging pleasantries.

However, many seats were empty, mostly those of the Super-A grade Mechanics who had been conscripted, including the positions of the president and vice president.

"Speaking of which, the Machinery Country and Black Star have been absent from several meetings already. I wonder how they are doing in the Ancient Star Desert?"

Someone casually brought up this topic, immediately arousing everyone's interest.

"The Intelligent Plague in the Ancient Star Desert has been going on for several months, and there hasn't been any news. What's the situation now? Has the disaster been controlled?"

"The starfield is under information blockade, and I can't get any intelligence. Does anyone know the situation?"

Because the three great civilizations rated the Intelligent Plague as a world-destroying cosmic disaster, the entire universe was concerned about the situation in the Ancient Star Desert, but due to the information blockade, no progress could be known.

The Super-A grades present were also very curious.

"Hey, Hela, have you heard from your legion commander?" A Super-A grade turned to look at the taciturn Hela.

"No." Hela said concisely.

She was also a member of the association. Since Black Star's absence, she had been the representative of the Black Star Army.

Tollan curled his lips and said, "Hmph, Black Star has probably been taken care of already."

"Do you want another beating?" Hela said expressionlessly.

Tollan smiled sinisterly: "In my opinion, the three great civilizations called all the Super-A grade Mechanics over as part of a conspiracy. Think about it, the president and vice president are both Mechanics, isn't this wiping them all out in one fell swoop?"

The allies of the Void Spirit Religion looked at him with speechless expressions.

Which side are you on? Is it really okay to spread rumors about your employer like this?

"Don't talk nonsense, you have to be responsible for your words," a direct descendant of the Void Spirit Religion said dissatisfiedly.

"Sorry, I've always been straightforward," Tollan harrumphed.

Hela ignored him, but she was indeed a little worried in her heart.

Other Mechanics were sending their avatars, but Black Star was the only one who went in person.

The Ancient Star Desert was sealed off. If the three great civilizations really wanted to do something to Black Star, it would instantly become a desperate situation. Hela didn't trust the three great civilizations from the bottom of her heart. Although the Emperor's Mechanical Suit had teleportation capabilities, it couldn't dispel her worries.

On the other side, the Secret Master, who had been closing his eyes to rest, couldn't help but twitch his eyelids as he listened to the crowd's debate.

As the protector of the black market, he was even more curious about the situation in the Ancient Star Desert than others.

Since the starfield blockade, all the black markets there had lost contact, many of which were industries he protected, providing him with huge profits, and some were the Beast Ancestor's industries that he had only recently taken over.

Without contact for so long, he had no idea what was happening to his industries.

"I wonder what the situation is with the black market in the Ancient Star Desert now..."

The Secret Master's thoughts drifted far away, secretly speculating.

...

The three great civilizations deployed according to Han Xiao's battle plan, spending more than a month preparing. They dispatched fleets to station on various trap node planets, most of which was spent on the road, waiting for the mechanical legions of the Super-A grades to arrive at the ambush locations.

Because this was a starfield-level intranet, the number of trap nodes was quite large, scattered throughout the Ancient Star Desert's star systems. The trap nodes chosen by the three great civilizations were mainly those areas that were difficult to manage with just notifications, or some important locations.

Every terminal exit was controlled by Super-A grade Mechanics and fleets of the three great civilizations, with a Sovereign avatar of Mannison squatting in each place.

Han Xiao had created a new batch of dedicated Sovereign shells during this time, but the number was still limited. He settled for second best and, like others, deployed mechanical legions in each ambush location.

The limited Sovereign avatars were placed in carefully selected (referring to Harrison) locations to try their luck.

The target of [Sovereign Descent] was not limited to dedicated Sovereign avatars. Even ordinary mechanical soldiers could be used as carriers, but the shared skills were incomplete, and the combat power was far lower than that of dedicated mechanical shells. Therefore, even Super-A grade Mechanics who mastered [Sovereign Descent] could still ambush in each location, but they would only be onlookers, without Mannison's advantages. After all, descending on ordinary machines couldn't compete with Mannison's Sovereign avatars.

Therefore, other Super-A grade Mechanics were putting in all their effort, preparing to force the virus core to materialize at the node where their own Sovereign avatar was located during the first step of network tracking.

Due to the concealment of the virus core, there were currently no universal scanning tools. Only Super-A grade Mechanics had the ability to track the virus core online. Although some of them were not virtual specialists, as long as they had learned the ultimate knowledge [Virtual Creator], they could kill people along the network cable, which was enough.

In order to improve everyone's virtual capabilities and coverage, the Guanghui Federation took out a large strategic device—the Ultra-Range Virtual Brainwave Amplifier.

This was equipment specifically for Mechanics, which comprehensively enhanced virtual abilities and greatly increased coverage. In the hands of Super-A grade Mechanics, it could exert the greatest effect.

The device was very large, like a silver spherical interstellar base. The exterior looked like it was pieced together from pieces of panels, with obvious gaps, not round at all.

The interior of the device was very spacious. In the center, all the Super-A grade Mechanics formed a circle, suspended in mid-air, sitting face to face, each in their position.

Sidreun and the other three supervisory officer leaders' remote projections appeared in the circle, solemnly saying:

"Everyone, the mechanical legions have been deployed. There are only the last thirteen minutes left until the predicted time when the virus core goes online. Once the time comes, we will immediately pull the plug and cut off the network, turning the Ancient Star Desert into a trap. Please be sure to act according to the battle plan. We're counting on you all to capture the virus core."

Everyone nodded. Although the mission on their shoulders was heavy, those present were all big figures standing at the peak of the universe and wouldn't feel much pressure.

The first step of the battle plan was that after the network trap was formed, everyone would track the virus core on the network to prevent it from hiding, just like catching chickens in a cage.

With the data characteristics provided by Mannison and the bonus of the Ultra-Range Virtual Brainwave Amplifier, everyone could infinitely trace the path and the virus core wouldn't be able to escape.

At this time, Kant smiled and said:

"This should be the first time that all the Super-A grade Mechanics in the universe have joined forces, right? I think it will go down in history."

Hearing this, many people present let out knowing laughter.

The cooperation of all the top figures in the Mechanic world was undoubtedly a representative event.

Han Xiao glanced at everyone and curled his lips.

Hmph, these people are laughing happily now, but when they compete for the virus core later, they will be fighting like dogs.

'I hope Harrison's halo is reliable this time, and the virus core crashes into my Sovereign avatar...'

Without participating in the crowd's mutual flattery, Han Xiao silently prayed in his heart.

Everyone quieted down to adjust their state, and time passed minute by minute.

Finally, just one minute before the countdown, Sidreun looked at the time and said in a deep voice:

"Everyone, action!"

...

In the quantum network vision, the Ancient Star Desert was a hazy, glowing starfield. Countless shining nodes gathered into an ocean of light, and countless data links between the nodes outlined a complex three-dimensional network structure, extending in all directions.

These data links, like silk threads, formed the cornerstone of interstellar society.

At this moment, the perspective zoomed in, and a stream of light suddenly appeared out of thin air outside a data link like a silk thread.

Upon closer inspection, this stream of light was an extremely precise data model. Countless bytes flowed on the outer shell, which was the data form of the Domino virus core, presenting the structure of an intelligent life.

In the next second, the virus core touched the firewall of this data link. Its outer shell instantly assimilated with the firewall, easily deceiving the alarm mechanism. The whole thing penetrated into this link and moved all the way along the flow of information, capturing virus information packets wandering in the network for feedback data, like a big fish eating small fish.

Crack!

However, at this moment, the brightly shining Ancient Star Desert in the quantum network vision suddenly dimmed a lot.

Data links broke one after another, and large areas of nodes went out at the same time, leaving only a small piece of the sea of light.

Buzz!

At the same time, a dozen powerful consciousnesses suddenly descended on the quantum network, scanning the remaining quantum network area inch by inch, like the eyes of heaven, as if all data had nowhere to hide.

And in the next moment, one of the consciousnesses suddenly locked onto the virus core.

A stream of data condensed out of thin air, and a luminous figure appeared in front of the virus core. Kant's virtual soul had an ambiguous smile on his face.

"Found you..."

In that instant, the virus core program rapidly made a judgement and immediately took countermeasures, fleeing for its life!

Following the data link, the virus core changed disguises many times, frantically fleeing beyond countless nodes.

But suddenly, a data stream tornado appeared in front of it.

"You want to play hide-and-seek?"

The data stream formed the face of Quantum Demon Spirit, Ju Dith, quietly gazing at the virus core.

The virus core did not hesitate, turning its head again to escape, wanting to get rid of the tracking and find a place to hide in the quantum network.

However, no matter how much computing power the virus core used to disguise itself, it would still encounter a figure of a Super-A grade Mechanic every time it ran for a distance, forcing it to change its direction of escape again and again, with a sense of panic.

Han Xiao, Mannison, Kant, Ju Dith, and more than a dozen other Super-A grade Mechanics appeared in turn, blocking the virus core's path again and again.

The encirclement was gradually forming, shrinking step by step.

This scene was like a group of sinister bullies surrounding a good woman, pushing her back to the center of the encirclement no matter which way she rushed, leaving her with nowhere to escape.

At this moment, the virus core stopped fleeing, entered one of the nodes, and suddenly disappeared out of thin air.

"It has materialized!"

In the material world, Han Xiao's main body, who was staying in the Ultra-Range Virtual Brainwave Amplifier, suddenly brightened his eyes.

The terminal exit chosen by the virus core seemed to be a planet occupied by the Mechanical God Church.

That was one of the locations where his Sovereign avatar was ambushing!

Buzz!

At the same time, a majestic mechanical force burst out from every Mechanic around Han Xiao.

Numerous Sovereign consciousnesses shot out from the air, descending toward the planet where this node was located!