radicalducati Page 266
Page 266
“Number Seven?” Li Sha exclaimed. “Could it refer to that thing inside the star? Is it a number? The executor of the ‘Purification Protocol’?”
"Because it made a 'mistake,' it's trapped inside a star to execute an unending 'purification protocol'?" Lin Ye speculated, feeling a chill. "If that's the case, then what is the so-called 'purification' target? And how serious is this 'mistake' that it requires using a star as a prison?"
Just as the two were trying to piece together the truth, Ara-ga's scan seemed to have triggered something.
Woo——!
The deep mental hum sounded again, but this time, it was no longer spreading aimlessly, but rather carrying a clear...direction! A more concentrated and icy mental intent, like a trickle, attempted to penetrate the outer shield of the Wild Fang and directly connect with the consciousness of Lin Ye and Li Sha!
“It…it’s trying to communicate directly!” Li Sha felt a cold and immense force touching her mental barrier, making her instinctively want to resist.
Lin Ye also sensed this thought, which was much clearer than the previous chaotic mental interference. Although it was still full of pain, it had an added sense of urgent exploration.
"Don't resist!" Lin Ye immediately told Li Sha and Huang Ya, "Let it in! But stay alert, only accept information, don't let it touch the core memories!" He knew it was risky, but it might be the only way to obtain crucial information.
He took a deep breath, deliberately relaxing his mental defenses and guiding that cold thought. Seeing this, Li Sha also gritted her teeth and forced herself to relax.
In an instant, a flood of images and fragments of information rushed into their minds like a burst dam:
—The endless starry sky, with countless brilliant lights of civilizations shining like fireflies on a summer night, is full of vitality.
—An indescribable, twisted, and malicious shadow (it was a whisper! They could feel it) quietly spread, and wherever it passed, the light of civilization was extinguished one after another, like a candle blown by a gale, turning into twisted deformities and cold dust, leaving only endless lamentations echoing in the void.
Seven extremely bright points of light, radiating warmth and rhythmic energy, like swords piercing the night sky, resolutely thrust into the enormous shadow, thus beginning a fierce war that sweeps across the galaxy without visible smoke... Light and shadow intertwine, collide, and annihilate.
—A violent explosion shattered the light, and one of the fragments, dragging its broken and dimmed body, fell like a meteorite, eventually crashing into a hot star that was still in its prime at the time…
The star's flames relentlessly scorched it, a punishment, a powerful seal, and also... the immense energy source driving a certain program. A program called "Purification Protocol" was forcibly activated, continuously emitting some kind of... complex signal? Or perhaps, an attack aimed at eradicating the shadow, using the star's near-infinite energy as its source?
—Pain, endless pain. Not only the scorching heat of stellar flames, but also the torment emanating from the program itself. The program's execution seems to have suffered an irreparable "error" due to its damage; what was originally intended to "purify" the whispers has become an endless torment of its own consciousness. Worse still, the distorted signals it emits have created a dangerous resonance with the "whispers" of the distant shadows…
—The cage…the core…wanting liberation…to stop this utter error…SOS…
The information flow abruptly stopped, and the chilling thought receded like the tide, leaving Lin Ye and Li Sha pale-faced and drenched in sweat, as if they had just woken from a nightmare, their hearts still pounding.
They glanced at each other, and both saw a deep shock and a hint of understanding in each other's eyes.
“I…I think I understand…” Lisa’s voice trembled slightly, and she had to hold onto the control panel to keep her balance. “That ‘Seven,’ it was…a warrior from ancient times fighting against the ‘Whispers of the End’? Or rather, some kind of superweapon? It was defeated and damaged, fell into a star, and was forcibly activated with the ‘Purification Protocol,’ but this protocol malfunctioned because of its damage, not only causing it immense suffering, but also possibly…the signals it emitted are doing more harm than good, even nourishing the Whispers?”
Lin Ye exhaled heavily, feeling the fragment of the Key of Creation in his hand become even hotter, as if it were resonating with that ancient lament.
“It is not an enemy, at least not entirely.” Lin Ye’s voice was low and firm. “It is an ancient creation that is trapped and suffering endless pain, a ‘purifier’ whose program has malfunctioned. Its cry for help is to hope that someone can terminate this flawed agreement, end its suffering, and more likely... to stop the greater harm it has unintentionally caused, and to prevent itself from completely falling into the Whispering.”
He gazed at the dying star outside the observation window, his expression becoming complex yet resolute, all his previous hesitation vanishing. The enemy of my enemy may not necessarily be a friend, but at least they are a force worth trying to unite with, especially one that is a "living fossil" possessing intelligence they desperately need.
“We must go in,” Lin Ye said resolutely. “Not by force, but by… finding a way to establish safe communication with it and discover a way to shut down that ‘purification protocol.’ This is the key to understanding the Whisperers, and even finding a way to fight them. It may also be… our only chance to save an ancient hero.”
The danger ahead remains, but the nature of their objective has completely changed. They are no longer facing a hostile and mysterious threat, but an ancient lament in dire need of rescue, and a potential ally who could turn the tide.
Chapter 556 Infiltrating the Corona
"Enter a star? Are you crazy?" Huangya's consciousness was filled with disbelief. "Even if it's just the outer corona, going in in our current state is no different from suicide! Key holder, I understand your feelings, but nine percent of our energy and this tattered armor simply can't withstand that kind of environment!"
Lin Ye didn't rush to refute. He understood Huang Ya's concerns; the energy torrent that had just grazed past them had fully demonstrated the terrifying power of a star. He walked to the control panel and pulled up the analysis data of the energy torrent.
“Look here,” Lin Ye pointed to the highlighted energy trajectory on the screen, “that attack was precisely deflected in the last 0.003 seconds. This isn’t a natural phenomenon; it’s the result of precise control.”
Li Sha leaned closer to examine the data, her brow furrowing. "So it really does have the ability to control stellar energy? But that doesn't mean it will help us. What if it's a trap?"
“We can’t rule out that possibility,” Lin Ye admitted. “But we have what it needs—fragments of the Light of Origin. And judging from the message it’s sending, it’s enduring immense pain. A desperate plea for help is often more trustworthy than a fully-fledged enemy.”
A wave of emotion surged through Huangya's consciousness: "Even so, the risk is still too great. We are in a state where we can barely protect ourselves, let alone help an unknown entity trapped inside a star."
“It is precisely because we are not in good condition that we need to take this gamble even more,” Lin Ye insisted. “The Whisperers could catch up at any time, and we urgently need intelligence and allies. Since this Number Seven comes from ancient times, he may very well have key information to fight the Whisperers.”
Li Sha sighed: "You're right, but we can't just rush straight into a star, can we? What's the difference between that and self-immolation?"
“Of course, it’s not about forcing its way in.” Lin Ye turned to the observation window, his gaze falling on the huge red celestial body. “I’m wondering, since it can so precisely control the energy of stars to issue warnings, could it also create a relatively safe passage through the corona?”
"Make way for us from the stars? That's such a pipe dream!" Li Sha's eyes widened.
“It’s not about making way, it’s about cooperation,” Lin Ye explained. “It needs us to help it terminate that damn agreement, and we need the intelligence and technology it possesses. We have the key fragments that it’s interested in, and it has the secure passages we need. It’s a win-win situation.”
Huangya was silent for a moment: "This speculation makes some sense, but it's still a gamble. We're betting that Number Seven still has enough rationality and control, and that our judgment is correct."
“I know the risks,” Lin Ye nodded. “But in the current situation, a cautious risk is better than sitting and waiting to die. Sentinel, whisper, summarize what we just understood—tell it that we know it might be Purifier VII, the protocol has gone wrong, and we are willing to help, but we need a safe passage. Emphasize the Origin Light Fragment and the Termination Protocol.”
[Information being compiled... Incorporating the energy characteristics of the Key of Genesis fragment as an identity identifier... Sending.] whispered in response.
A faint but clearly targeted mental pulse, carrying their intentions, shot towards the distant red giant.
The ensuing wait was agonizing. Time ticked by, the star's surface appeared normal, and the agonizing background noise persisted.
"What if it didn't receive the signal?" Li Sha asked anxiously.
“Or perhaps it received it but doesn’t want to respond,” Huangya added. “After all, we’re just speculating. Maybe it’s gone completely mad, and the attack just now was just an instinctive reaction.”
Lin Ye didn't answer, only staring intently at the observation screen. Just as he was about to abandon the plan—
Changes have occurred.
It's not a spiritual response, but a real physical change.
Tens of thousands of kilometers ahead of them, the corona, which had been like a boiling golden ocean, suddenly began to move. Instead of being ejected into space as usual, large amounts of coronal matter contracted and condensed inward, carving out a relatively dim channel with unusually gentle energy flow within the raging energy ocean!
This winding passage pierces through the dangerously bright corona, leading deep into the star. Its walls, composed of highly compressed plasma, emit a dark red glow, contrasting sharply with the chaotic energy environment around it.
“It…it really did it!” Li Sha murmured to herself, looking at the clear path on the observation screen.
"The energy intensity inside the passage has been detected to have dropped to less than one percent of the average intensity of the solar corona, but is still far above the normal space environment," the Sentinel reported. "The passage structure is stable and constrained by some unknown force field. It is expected to be safe to pass through."
Aragaki's consciousness also revealed shock: "Unbelievable... such precision in controlling stellar energy... just how powerful must Number Seven have been at its peak?"
“Now is not the time for lamentation.” Although Lin Ye was equally shocked, he quickly calmed down. “Huangya, assess the risks of passing through immediately.”
"Calculations in progress... The energy level inside the passage is still within acceptable limits. As it stands, maintaining the basic shield should allow us to pass through. However, the situation inside the star is unclear, and energy consumption will definitely accelerate."
"It is recommended to absorb as much scattered energy as possible before entering the passage to replenish your energy," Huangya continued to analyze. "Although this star field is barren, the radiation from the stars themselves is a good energy source."
“Alright, begin energy extraction immediately, prioritizing the power system and shield generator.” Lin Ye nodded. “We’ve shown our sincerity, and it’s given us a pathway. Now, it’s time to talk face-to-face.”
The bio-scales on the surface of the Desolate Fang ship opened slightly, greedily absorbing the radiant energy from the red giant. Although inefficient, it was better than nothing. At the same time, the less damaged parts accelerated their self-repair.
Half an hour later, Huangya's energy level barely recovered to 11%, and the armor in the key parts completed the initial regeneration.
"Prepare to enter the passage," Lin Ye ordered. "Everyone, maintain maximum alert. Sentinels, continuously scan the passage's stability and internal conditions. Whisperers, focus on monitoring Number Seven's mental state and energy fluctuations."
"Understood." / [Monitoring in progress...]
Wild Fang adjusted its direction, like a cautious fish, and slowly entered the gentle passage constructed of stellar energy.
Upon entering the passage, the suffocating heat and radiation pressure from the outside world immediately lessened by more than half, but the terrifying energy contained within the surrounding barriers could still be felt. The interior of the passage was dimly lit, with a dark red hue, as if one were inside a huge, pulsating blood vessel.
“It feels really eerie,” Lisa whispered, “like sailing through the veins of a giant.”
Lin Ye nodded: "Stay vigilant. Although the passage looks stable, we don't know how long it can last."
The mental interference became clearer here; the painful screams seemed to be right next to our ears, but the plea for help mixed in with them also seemed to be stronger.
The passage wasn't straight; it meandered downwards, penetrating deep into the unfathomable core of the star. Wild Fang flew cautiously along the passage, not daring to go too fast, lest it cause some unexpected incident.
"The channel structure is stable, and the energy flow is well controlled," the sentry continued to report.
"A clear guiding pattern has been detected in Number Seven's mental fluctuations; he is showing us the way," the whisper prompted.
After flying for about fifteen minutes, the passage ahead seemed to end. Instead of the star's fiery core, there was a huge, oval-shaped entrance emitting a soft white light. An energy barrier at the entrance rippled like water, isolating the inside from the outside.
"Scanning behind the entrance... Unable to penetrate! There is an extremely strong energy shield!" the sentry reported.
"It seems this is Number Seven's lair." Lin Ye took a deep breath. "Wild Fang, prepare for contact."
“Wait,” Li Sha suddenly grabbed Lin Ye, “Are you sure you want to go in? If it’s a trap, we might never get out.”
Seeing the worry in Li Sha's eyes, Lin Ye gently patted her shoulder: "I know the risks. But if we don't even dare to try, what right do we have to fight the Whisperers?"
The Wild Fang slowly approached the white light entrance, its bow gently touching the water-like energy barrier. There was no resistance as expected; the barrier rippled outwards like water, engulfing the entire Wild Fang.
The view in front of me suddenly opened up!
They seemed to have suddenly left the interior of the star and found themselves in an incredibly vast man-made space. At the center of this space floated a colossal creation that defied description.
It is spindle-shaped, with a dull silver-gray body. Its surface is covered with countless complex, seemingly naturally formed patterns, and many places show obvious signs of damage and erosion, clearly indicating that it has experienced an unimaginable and brutal battle. Its size is beyond imagination, almost comparable to a small planet, and it hangs quietly in the center of space.
What's most chilling is that countless thick, dark red chains made of pure energy extend from all directions of this space, tightly binding and piercing the silver-gray spindle-shaped creation! The source of these energy chains is vaguely connected to the violent energy of the external star, pulsating like blood vessels, continuously injecting the star's energy into the spindle-shaped creation, while also firmly imprisoning it here.
On the surface of the spindle-shaped object, some patterns were flickering rhythmically, emitting fluctuations of the same origin as the previous mental interference. The painful screams and faint cries for help came from here.
"Is this Number Seven?" Lisa asked softly, her voice filled with awe and pity. "It looks... like it's in a lot of pain."
Just then, a mental message, clearer yet weaker than ever before, resounded directly in everyone's minds, no longer mixed with chaotic noise, but condensed into a complete sentence:
“Fragment holders of the Light of Origin…you have finally arrived…”
"I am the seventh unit in the Purifier sequence... the Radiance of Annihilation..."
"The flawed agreement is consuming me... and will bring even greater disaster..."
"Help me...stop it...before I'm completely corrupted by the whispers..."
Chapter 557 The Elegy of the Radiant Demise
The frigid vacuum seemed frozen, with only the eternal roar of the stars silently transmitting heat and destruction. Lin Ye hovered above the observation port of the Desolate Fang's bridge, his gaze fixed on the silver creation, like a colossal beast on a torture rack, pierced by countless chains of scorching energy—"The Radiance of Annihilation." The name carried an almost ironic desolation; it possessed no trace of "radiance," only a deathly stillness eroded by time and trauma, like a massive wreck nailed to a stellar furnace.
"Seventh unit of the Purifier sequence..." Lin Ye repeated the name he had received from the other's weakened consciousness in a low voice, his fingertips unconsciously brushing against the warm fragment of the Key of Creation in his arms. The fragment was emitting a stable and soft light, and there seemed to be a faint resonance between it and the silver giant shuttle in the distance that transcended eternity.
"It...it's calling for help?" Li Sha's voice carried a hint of uncertainty. She stood beside Lin Ye, her psychic senses cautiously extending towards the giant shuttle like tentacles, only to feel a broken pain and a deep weariness.
"More like... a dying wish." The Sentinel's mechanical eyes flashed steadily red, its analysis module working diligently to process the intermittent stream of thoughts. "The target unit's consciousness activity is below the critical threshold, and there is continuous external interference and erosion."
Lin Ye focused his mind, trying to convey a clearer idea: "What exactly is this 'erroneous agreement' you're talking about? How can we terminate it?"
After a moment of silence, as if the dying beast were gathering its last bit of strength, a torrent of thought, clearer than before but also carrying more tearing pain, was forcibly poured into the collective consciousness of Lin Ye, Li Sha, and even Huang Ya.
"The purification protocol... was originally set up to remove... the contamination of 'Whispers of the End'..."
The imagery unfolded in their minds: the "Radiance of Annihilation" at its peak, like an elegant, silver-armored god, guiding the energy of a massive star, transforming it into pure and boundless ripples of order that spread outwards. Wherever the ripples passed, the starfields distorted by eerie whispers and ravaged by color gradually returned to normal, and the writhing aberrations melted away like snow in the light. It was a scene full of hope, a victory of order over chaos.
"But... in that ancient battle... we lost... I was severely injured, my core logic unit was seriously damaged... and finally fell here..."
A new imagery followed, imbued with a tone of despair: a heavily damaged silver shuttle, dragging its shattered hull, crashed into the young star like a meteorite. The instinct for survival, or perhaps lingering commands, forced it to activate the purification protocol. However, its damaged core could not execute commands correctly; the runtime was missing, and the energy circuits were distorted by the severe damage. It no longer emitted the pure light of order, but rather a distorted signal mixed with its own pain, logical inconsistencies, and even… a faint yet extremely stubborn whisper echoing within!
"The erroneous output... not only fails to purify the whispers... but instead... resonates with a powerful 'whisper node' in a distant star system... I am intensifying its activity... and perhaps... guiding it in the right direction..."
In the imagery, the distorted signal wave, like twisted tentacles, reaches into the depths of the universe, establishing a connection with a dark, vast, and malevolent mind. Even more terrifying, this resonance acts as a beacon, also channeling the power of the whispers back into the universe.