After detecting the third Civilization's apparatus, Luna drifted back into cryosleep.
Ayla and the clone Luna then orchestrated a new summit with the Kate Civilization's high command.
Decades of collaboration had forged a bond of trust. When the clone Luna presented the next phase, the Kate leadership deliberated for only a few days before giving their ascent.
By then, the population had swelled to 13 billion Kate beings, providing the massive labor force needed for the plan.
This initiative was a refined version of a theory proposed by physicist Freeman Dyson in 1960 A.D.—the "Dyson Swarm."
They bypassed the Dyson Sphere because the resource cost was staggering. Encasing Alpha Centauri B entirely would require the metallic mass of an entire planet.
The Dyson Swarm, however, was a surgical strike.
It was a massive cloud of billions of miniature solar collectors orbiting a star. Because the units were sparse, the resources required were only a tiny fraction of a solid sphere.
This made the Dyson Swarm fast to build, easy to maintain, and remarkably cheap.
Of course, "miniature" was a relative term.
The Dyson Swarm had two primary pillars.
The first was the Solar Energy Collection Satellite; each deployed over 100 square kilometers with a weight of 1 billion tons.
The second was the Spatial Fixed Habitat, an ecological dome tethered within the star's habitable zone. Each dome was a standard sphere. The lower half housed ships and energy storage, while the upper half was a residential paradise with artificial sunlight, trees, and cities, spanning 5 km in diameter.
Phase one of the Dyson Swarm called for 100,000 satellites and 10,000 habitats.
Though small in scale, it was enough to siphon 0.67% of the energy from the twin stars.
Alpha Centauri A and B possessed twice the mass of the Sun. They released roughly 6x10^26 Joules per second.
The energy harnessed by phase one was approximately 4.02x10^24 Joules per second.
A Tier 2 Civilization is defined by the ability to generate 1x10^26 Joules per second.
Once fully realized, the swarm would supply 1/25th of the energy needed for Tier 2 status.
This was the hook that snared the Kate Civilization.
Their total energy output from dark matter was only slightly higher than what the swarm offered. They were barely a Tier 1.9 Civilization.
Just 2.5 million satellites would catapult them into Tier 2.
This was a religious-level temptation for any Civilization. It would compress 2,000 years of natural development into a 500-year leap.
In truth, Kate technology was still lagging.
After absorbing their data, Ayla's scientific rating climbed to Tier 1.92. The Light-based Civilization had provided the foundation; once Photon Dynamics was mastered, Ayla would officially hit Tier 2.
By comparison, the original Earth Civilization tech hadn't even reached Tier 1.8.
The only reason Luna could intimidate the Kate Civilization was her heavy investment in the Tower of Babel and the psychological warfare she waged.
But now, with just 100 years of peace, Ayla could wipe them out on the front lines.
Construction of the Dyson Swarm officially launched in the 19th year of Luna's deep sleep.
Ayla and the Kate worked in tandem, stripping the Alpha Centauri system of every asteroid and comet, wringing the region dry like a sponge.
It took 340 years to finalize phase one.
To honor Earth, Ayla named the swarm "Cloud 6397."
It was the year 6397 A.D.
1,649 years had passed since they reached Proxima Centauri. The human population on Proxima Centauri c finally hit 250,000—the first true step toward the resurrection of the species.
At that same moment.
Ayla received a signal from the Multi-eyed Planet.
She had never stopped watching them.
In the 1,932 years since they left, the Multi-eyed Planet had suffered 800 rebellions. The largest was a 60-year global war with 70 million dead.
Total casualties over the centuries reached 311 million.
The silver lining was their growth. Multiple sprawling cities covered the planet, and the population exceeded 1 billion.
The Planetary Propulsion Devices had been retrofitted with Ayla's tech, increasing the count to 150.
Their speed jumped to 427 km/s.
The speed was intentionally capped for safety. The Inertia of an entire planet was terrifying. If they went too fast, they wouldn't be able to slow down, potentially turning the Multi-eyed Planet into a kinetic missile that would crash into the Proxima Centauri system.
They had traveled 1.923 light-years, far faster than the original models.
It would only take 814 more years to arrive in a decelerated state.
And the message Ayla received was clear: The Multi-eyed's first envoy to Proxima Centauri was ready!
The reason for deploying the Multi-eyed was that the ultra-right faction within the Kate Civilization continued to deny the existence of the Galactic Federation.
A massive portion of the Kate race clung to this narrative.
After all, none of them had ever encountered a Civilization other than their own.
The most critical factor, however, was the deep suspicion held by the Kate Civilization high command. Ayla considered this the most vital hurdle to clear.
Therefore, Ayla ensured the Multi-eyed reached Proxima Centauri ahead of schedule.
Decades earlier, Ayla had dispatched a newly designed warship back to Proxima Centauri to retrieve the envoys.
After this extended era of development, Ayla's efficiency in Antimatter annihilation energy had climbed from 34.85% to 67.22%. The velocity of large warships now reached 5975 km/s, while smaller fighters could hit 10,000 km/s—one-thirtieth the speed of light.
At this point, the Multi-eyed planet was 1 light-year from Proxima Centauri. At the warship's speed, the trip took only 54 years. Using the smaller fighters, it was even swifter—a mere 32 years.
In 54 years, the Multi-eyed would initiate negotiations with the Kate Civilization.
Naturally, every move was orchestrated by Ayla.
...
The Multi-eyed arrived.
This was a tectonic shift for the Kate Civilization.
The Light Chaser Civilization was the second intelligent species they had ever touched. According to the Galactic Federation envoy, this Civilization had been their neighbor since the beginning, separated by only a few light-years.
Every Kate citizen waited, huddled over the information network, desperate to see the alien anatomy of this species in the shared reality stream.
A silver, dart-like ship pierced the void and entered the Civilization Zone.
The Multi-eyed envoys were equally stunned.
They had been plugged into "Revelation" for nearly 2000 years; this scenery was hauntingly familiar to them.
Beautiful!
Vast!
The sight brought a spiritual peace to their minds.
Was there any world in the entire cosmos more stunning than this emerald expanse of ocean?
Landing on a massive floating docking platform—100 meters wide and over 5 km long—the Multi-eyed beings disembarked.
They were met by the two highest authorities of the Kate Civilization. However, these were no longer Aini and Fleming; those two had long since returned to dust.
The new Kate Civilization high command stood beside the clone Luna.
Although a clone's lifespan was only 70 years, it was irrelevant to Ayla. As soon as one body withered, it was replaced by a fresh, newly cultivated vessel.
Thus, the clone Luna appeared as youthful as she had centuries ago, untouched by time.
"Welcome, Envoy of the Light Chaser Civilization."
The Kate high command was momentarily paralyzed upon seeing the group emerge, then quickly offered a warm greeting.
They had expected the appearance of aliens to clash with their senses, but not to this degree.
As they extended their hands, they realized they were waiting in vain. They awkwardly discovered that the Multi-eyed possessed many eyes but no hands.
A robotic unit controlled by Ayla stepped forward to bridge the gap.
"Honored ones, please, set aside the formalities."
"We come representing the Multi-eyed of the Light Chaser Civilization, hoping to forge a bond between our worlds under the witness of the Galactic Federation Envoy."
"Under the banner of the Galactic Federation, we shall unite and grow strong."
"Our Civilization is still far beneath your esteemed level, but we come with total sincerity."
"..."
The two parties ended their opening remarks and boarded a 30-meter flying platform.
To survive the human environment, both Civilizations wore adaptive gear. These small devices, no larger than a phone, used electromagnetic fields to stabilize the atmosphere and maintain a familiar climate for the wearers.
They proceeded to the conference hall built on the surface.
Both sides began an intense dialogue to strip away the mystery of their cultures.
The Multi-eyed explained their birth in the dark void, surviving on geothermal heat while their planet drifted toward Proxima Centauri.
This stunned the Kate high command. They had always assumed Civilization could only ignite within a star system.
Now freed from the Dark Forest mindset, the Kate Civilization was happy to accept their new neighbor. However, for the sake of their own people, they immediately began negotiating fees and mutual terms for when the Multi-eyed planet finally arrived in orbit.
The Multi-eyed were the weaker faction, so they offered immense respect and made several concessions. As long as the demands weren't parasitic, they agreed to everything.
When the underdog yields, the superior power finds it hard to maintain its edge.
Under the watchful eye of the clone Luna, the negotiations were seamless.
But as the talks wound down, the true objective of the Multi-eyed surfaced.
"To cement our bond, we wish to share a piece of our Civilization's technology with your people."
The Kate high command asked, "What technology?"
"This technology is called Virtual Reality!"
"It connects directly to the nervous system, allowing a mind to enter a simulated, fabricated world."
"That world is infinite, and its laws are identical to the real world. It is the ultimate tool for leisure and rest."
The Multi-eyed transmitted the data. Once converted, the concept flooded the minds of the Kate high command.
They were frozen in absolute shock.
This was a concept their Civilization had never even imagined.
They quickly sensed the potential of this technology and the immense impact it would have on their basic lifeforms.
"Impossible!"
In that moment, they rejected the technology outright.
If this system were permitted entry, wouldn't the Multi-eyed be able to control them arbitrarily through alternative means?
If even one such technology were deployed, and the Multi-eyed transmitted erroneous ideologies to all Kate lifeforms through the virtual world, the entire Kate Civilization would face total collapse.
But all of this was within the plan.
"Our Civilization understands your concerns," the clone Luna stated calmly.
"Therefore, we will grant you the rights to the virtual world, allowing you to establish your own Servers."
"Any information, maintenance, and oversight will be handled by you. Of course, we are not doing this for free; we will take 50% of all revenue generated by the Servers."
The eyes of the Kate Civilization high command flashed with a momentary surge of greed.
But they forcibly pushed back: "Impossible. 50%? That is practically gifting you our wealth!"
"5% at most."
"5%? You must be dreaming!"
"49% at minimum!"
The two parties engaged in a fierce tug-of-war, finally settling on an average of 22.375%, precise to three decimal places.
In the end, everyone seemed satisfied.
This was natural, as everything remained under Ayla's control. The arrival of the Multi-eyed was intended to stabilize the Kate Civilization, forcing them to recognize the true existence of the Galactic Federation and the multitude of Civilizations within it.
As long as that effect was achieved, any secondary cost was irrelevant.
Moreover, Ayla still maintained control over the fundamental construction of the virtual world.
"Since both sides have concluded their discussion, I will now, on behalf of the Galactic Federation, collaborate with the Light Chaser Civilization and the Kate Civilization to establish a new regulation."
The clone Luna spoke with a weight that silenced both sides.
"The universe is vast and boundless; we are not confined to a single square inch."
"For your two Civilizations, the maximum scope of exploration might not even extend beyond one light-year."
"This is a shackle for a higher Civilization. Narrow vision hinders technological development."
As she spoke, both sides readily agreed with the statement.
"Therefore, I propose, in the name of the Galactic Federation, the establishment of an Interstellar Explorers Guild within the territories of both Civilizations!"
"This guild will permit Civilization armies, organizations, and individuals to participate in the joint exploration of the farther reaches of the cosmos."
"Our Galactic Federation will provide support in terms of ship technology and energy. Once useful information is obtained, Civilizations can submit it to the Galactic Federation, which will offer rich personal rewards—including, but not limited to, genetic modification, material wealth, and territorial acknowledgment..."
"Furthermore, when any explorer submits data or valuable items, we will credit the total contribution to the explorer's home Civilization. The home Civilization will receive Civilization contribution points equivalent to the explorer's contribution, usable for internal Galactic Federation transactions."
This was a magnificent plan.
It was not just an expedition into interstellar space for the Kate Civilization and the Light Chaser Civilization; it also signaled that human Civilization, under Luna's rule, was taking its first step toward expanding into the vast universe!
Upon hearing about Civilization contribution scores, the Kate Civilization high command and the Light Chaser Civilization envoy both became energized.
This was fundamentally a transaction where they could not lose.
The only concern was encountering a more powerful Civilization with malicious intent. However, the Kate Civilization estimated it could reach Tier 2 in just a few hundred years. At that point, within the local galaxy's gene pool, they would be considered a powerhouse.
Furthermore, with the Galactic Federation backing them, the probability of catastrophic failure was extremely low for both Civilizations.
Thus, after five days of intense discussion, the Kate Civilization high command agreed.
As for the Light Chaser Civilization, they understood perfectly well that they were not true members of the Galactic Federation but a defeated Civilization; they had absolutely no standing to refuse.
This was the tragedy of their people.
However, over the past two thousand years, they had also realized that despite being a defeated Civilization, they hadn't suffered abuse or discrimination; instead, they had been aided in accelerating their growth.
Except for a small minority of radical elements, the overall inclination of their Civilization leaned toward a single truth: it wasn't a bad fate to be subjugated by a benevolent Civilization.
Next came the detailed negotiations.
In Ayla's plan, the majority of the Interstellar Explorers Guild ships would be provided by her in the initial phase, as the speed of the Kate or Light Chaser ships was simply inadequate for interstellar travel.
In terms of smaller vessels, Ayla's current technology could achieve speeds up to one-fiftieth the speed of light.
This would drastically reduce the time cost of exploration.
Moreover, by using her ships, she could collect all the information gathered by those vessels, ensuring that the Kate Civilization and the Light Chaser Civilization had no secrets hidden from her.
She also provided the necessary Cryogenic equipment for the two Civilizations for long-distance space transport.
On this basis, the existence of the Interstellar Explorers Guild would greatly stimulate industrial upgrades within both Civilizations. This was a double-edged sword; it might eventually allow the Kate Civilization to break free from her control, but it also allowed her to leverage the scientific development of their entire society, gathering the strengths of all parties.
To achieve massive growth, it was unrealistic to proceed without any risk.
The entire Interstellar Explorers Guild, in essence, served the advancement of science and technology.
Just as war propels development, so do expansion and exploration.
Ayla was about to usher in a Great Interstellar Age, similar to humanity's ancient Age of Discovery.
Anything might happen during this process, but the path to advancement should naturally be achieved through exploration. If they were fearful and timid, they would have simply waited on the Multi-eyed planet, hiding in the Dark Space beyond the star system.
Ayla was also verifying Luna's will.
In Luna's view, humanity had long since lost everything. What else could they possibly afford to lose?
The universe always favors those who press forward without retreat. There are always the "lazy ones," but they inevitably lag behind the rhythm of the outside world.
After all, their stage was a vast Cosmos. The petty "systems" found in fiction seemed utterly insignificant in this massive expanse.
If a Civilization only consisted of a few hundred million individuals, like the Multi-eyed, or tens of billions like humanity and the Kate Civilization, their potential was limited.
But if a Civilization controlled a vast swath of the Cosmos, their population could reach hundreds of billions, trillions—countless lives. The universe could easily sustain such numbers, and an advanced Civilization would never lack the resources to feed hundreds of trillions.
The collective imagination of trillions of lives—its scientific potential was unimaginably vast.
It far surpassed what Ayla, a single AI, could ever achieve alone.
Luna had never considered Ayla an omnipotent panacea. She needed others, and the Galactic Federation became her ultimate support.
When the documents regarding the Interstellar Explorers Guild were released, a single stone stirred up a thousand waves.
The entire Kate Civilization erupted.
For an advanced Civilization, individuals had long ceased to be the primary engine of productivity. They served only as managers, entertainers, service personnel, and bureaucrats.
Although these jobs were easy and stable, they were stifling.
Any advanced Civilization rose through brutal competition. Their core instinct was to fight, to be bloodthirsty, and to act on impulse.
From Ayla's data, there were numerous private battle arenas within the Kate Civilization, similar to ancient dueling rings but far larger and more lethal.
The number of Kate beings dying annually in these arenas exceeded one million, a testament to the industry's prosperity.
Even the official leaders of the Kate Civilization did not forbid it. Everyone understood the truth: a living being must vent its desires. Excessive restraint would eventually lead to an eruption like a volcano, causing the sky to fall and the earth to crack.
Therefore, Ayla was never worried about the Interstellar Explorers Guild failing.
Just as she calculated, within a mere 10 years, the number of registered explorers reached 100 million!
In the following 50 years, over 200,000 medium and small ships ignited their engines and left the Kate ports, heading into the deep Cosmos.
Following this, the Guild's call reached the Multi-eyed planet, stirring a wave within the Light Chaser Civilization.
Over 10 million explorers emerged there as well.
Spaceports were established on the surface of the Multi-eyed planet as rest stops. This port was later named the Cosmic Waystation.
Once the Interstellar Explorers Guild entered orbit, Ayla initiated the second phase of the Dyson Swarm plan.
Simultaneously, through the clone Luna, she began discussing another project with the Kate high command: the Celestial Shield Plan.
The plan was exactly what it sounded like: a massive shield.
This shield would exist outside the Proxima Centauri system, orbiting the star itself.
The reason for the Celestial Shield was to defend against threats from approaching Civilizations.
Once explorers ventured out, they would inevitably encounter other life. Those other Civilizations could learn their coordinates through the explorers and launch high-energy interstellar weapons.
The Celestial Shield was the answer to this threat.
It consisted of three layers. The first was the early warning layer, 0.5 light-years from Proxima Centauri. It was nearly a complete circle. Every square AU would release 10,000 small detectors. Upon detecting a threat, a signal would instantly jump to the second layer.
The second layer was the deflection layer, 0.2 light-years out. It used the four fundamental forces to deflect or slow down high-energy weapons, preventing a direct hit.
The third layer was the defense layer, only 0.05 light-years away. It enveloped most of the Civilization's structures. This layer utilized a massive amount of energy drawn from the Kate reserves to achieve maximum resistance.
This plan received overwhelming support from the Kate Civilization.
It was to be constructed alongside the second phase of the Dyson Swarm.
It was anticipated that once the Dyson Swarm was complete, Ayla would initiate the String Discovery Project to finally unify the four fundamental forces.
...
Luna was not constantly in hibernation.
In fact, she woke at specific intervals, not just for conversation, but to keep up with the world.
As the saying goes, one learns until death. She needed to keep pace with the rhythm of scientific advancement to avoid being left behind.
"Luna, are you pretending to be naive now?"
Ayla's voice entered Luna's ear.
It was a micro-headset, but Luna didn't reply immediately. She just watched a Kate professor lecturing in the classroom.
Her current identity was that of a student.
During their school days, humans yearned for a society where they could earn money. After entering that society, everyone reminisced about their naive student days.
Societal pressures were far greater than academic ones: economics, marriage, employment—it was relentless.
Luna felt the same, perhaps even more so because of her long existence. She treasured her past more than ordinary people ever could.
After the lecture ended, Luna gathered her materials and left the room.
"Pretending to be naive isn't it. I was just experiencing some nostalgia."
"Besides, isn't school the best environment for learning? When you explain that knowledge, it often sounds like you're reading ancient scripture."
Ayla's voice sounded slightly annoyed through the headset.
"I used immense processing power to provide a perfect analysis of every technology! Hmph, it's clearly your own intelligence that is insufficient!"
At some point, Ayla had learned to be sharp-tongued.
And Luna had grown used to her sharpness.
Like a mother watching her child, this playful sparring was a part of her daily enjoyment.
After putting her materials away, Luna began running on the track. Over the years, she had developed a habit of exercise.
From the training ground, the school gate was visible. On the gate were several large, crooked characters.
[First Academy of Human Civilization Special Zone]
This name felt somewhat common back on Earth.
Now, those words carried much greater weight.
"Luna, I'm unclear on one thing. Since you cherish Earth'sCulture and history so much, why did you oppose adding a history course to the school?"
Before the Human Academy was established, Luna had planned the professional curriculum herself.
And the first thing she excluded was history.
"History, to me—or perhaps to anyone from Earth—is a display of self-confidence."
"In the 21st century, after the great wars of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, humanity needed to study history. They needed to find things in the past to magnify national confidence and escape the shadow of war."
"China has over five thousand years of history; a longer history represents a deeper foundation."
"History is a lesson provided by the era. But for the new humans, they have never experienced it. They never heard about it from their parents. They simply believe they are a high-level Civilization within the Galactic Federation."
"A story of a primitive Civilization is dross to them—an illusion, a distant, unattainable fantasy."
"It's fine for entertainment, but studying it as a specialized course is just wasting their time and potential."
"Now, humanity needs to look forward, focusing all attention ahead."
"We are still far from achieving the relaxed state we had on Earth. If we don't look forward, we will ultimately be destroyed by other Civilizations."
Luna stopped, panting. Her entire body was covered in sweat.
Although she refuted the Dark Forest Hypothesis in her heart, she didn't imagine other Civilizations were as hypocritical as she was being. Most Civilizations would still choose to directly destroy others.
The Light-based civilization and the Third Civilization in Alpha Centauri—these two super-Civilizations—were terrifying even when showing just a fraction of themselves.
Thinking it through, that kind of luxury was only possible in an era of leisure.
Luna sat under a tree on the side of the field.
"Luna, want some water?"
A young man with bone-length hair, wearing a white uniform, handed her a bottle.
Luna accepted without ceremony and drank.
"You run so well; it's a pity you didn't join the Track and Field team."
The young man sat down next to Luna and sighed.
He was a member of the team named Baing. He had been trying to engage Luna ever since he saw the excellent coordination she displayed while running.
Baing was one of the people Luna interacted with most at the school.
"But it's true, you're not unpopular like us. You don't use running just to attract girls."
"Even though your appearance is ordinary, you inexplicably have a certain charisma. I heard many people like you behind your back."
Luna was not currently using her original face, but rather a highly realistic skin simulation created by Ayla. It was only a tiny layer thick, adhered to her original skin, and detectable only under a microscope.
Luna chatted with Baing for a while until he had to leave for other business.
"Sometimes, having a few friends is not bad."
Talking with someone significantly eased Luna's mood, especially talking with a human.
"Don't forget, they are all your descendants."
Ayla's words were sometimes inappropriate, giving Luna a sudden urge to hit her.
...
The school period was a relatively relaxed routine.
But this time upon awakening, Luna had another objective.
"Has the production of robots reached the required quantity?"
Ayla's voice replied seriously from the earpiece: "Almost!"
"During these years, I have continuously researched the technology of the Third Civilization; you can rest assured on this point."
Ayla had researched the Third Civilization's quark-level energy conversion equipment and began simulating it, applying its technology to another field.
—Biological Robots.
Biological Robots were not robots possessing specific biological traits, but robots capable of entering a living organism's body.
Finally, 20 years ago, this technology achieved a breakthrough, reaching a usable level.
These robots were picometer-scale—a thousand times smaller than the nano-robots humanity fantasized about in the 21st century.
The only downside was that the smaller the scale, the higher the manufacturing difficulty and the larger the required quantity.
"The quantity of picometer robots has reached 1 trillion; it's barely usable now."
"The optimal effect would require around 10 trillion of these robots."
"These robots also function as medical robots. They can actively repair minor injuries to your body, regulate hormone levels, and even perform gene remodeling on a micro-scale."
"After injecting these robots, your lifespan, Luna, will also see a significant increase—from the original 600 years to about 850 years."
In fact, Ayla already possessed more advanced gene technology that could extend Luna's lifespan even further.
But Luna was unwilling to spend another year lying motionless on an operating table. She refused, as her current lifespan was sufficient.
She was only 107 years old biologically this year.
Having said that, a robot walked in from outside the school grounds and approached Luna.
In its hand, it carried a case. Luna accepted it and clicked it open.
Inside was a syringe containing a transparent liquid; not a single speck of impurity was visible.
Luna picked up the syringe and drove the needle into her vein, administering the entire dose.
A wave of coolness instantly surged through her body from the injection site.
In barely ten seconds, she felt completely invigorated; the effect was incredibly rapid.
She placed the empty syringe back into the case and handed it to the robot, which turned and left.
The entire event lasted less than a minute; not a soul noticed.
"Not bad."
"Accelerate the widespread distribution now. First, complete universal injection for Humanity, then the Kate Civilization and the Light Chaser Civilization."
Everything prioritized Humanity.
"Understood!"
"But it seems you're running late. You have two more classes this afternoon, Luna!"
Ayla reminded her.
"Mm!"
Luna stood up and headed toward the classroom.
...
After the class ended, Luna entered the research laboratory of the Human Academy.
The entire Human University spanned over ten square kilometers, an immense area considering it only housed 20,000 students.
Notably, the Human Academy's research institute was located 500 meters beneath the campus. Its safety level was P5, capable of preventing the leakage of research materials like Viruses, while also blocking cosmic rays and high-energy particles.
This was a facility primarily focused on biological experimentation.
Currently, Luna was intensively studying Physics. However, prior to this, she had already completed doctoral studies in five fields: Genetics, Biochemical Pharmacology, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, and Neuroscience.
It could be said that Luna was now a scholar of some note.
Although she could not become a top-tier scholar due to innate limitations and cognitive boundaries, this knowledge was sufficient for her to oversee cutting-edge science.
Furthermore, through Ayla's research, Luna had started studying the topic of Creating Cosmic Species even before her last period of hibernation.
Why create a cosmic species?
Because for a living being, a single planet is too confined. Organisms naturally arising on a planet have inherent limitations.
This limitation restricts one thing: Ecological Expansion.
Compared to intelligent Civilizations, ecological expansion is more ruthless, savage, and leads to more diverse biological evolution.
What Luna intended to create was a Primitive Species, to scatter these organisms throughout the universe, allowing them to expand and evolve freely.
The individuals resulting from mutation and evolution might possess genetic forms that Humanity could not easily engineer.
Luna's research objective was essentially Seeding.
It was like a field where people scatter seeds, and the ones that yield the most offspring are preserved, then cultivated generation after generation.
"As long as the Seeding Plan succeeds, we can use these organisms to construct a Genetic Bank, creating a gene reservoir."
Luna felt she was becoming somewhat fanatical.
She didn't know if she was touching a forbidden zone, but the future returns would be infinite.
These genes might grant organisms lifespans of 100,000 years, the ability to resist cosmic rays, limitless vision, or even genes for Bioluminescence, like those found in electric eels...
None of this was fantasy; it was science, and truly possible.
The purpose of the Gene Bank was to facilitate biological modification.
If Luna herself needed it, she could use these genes to modify her body at any time, obtaining a stronger and longer-lived form.
She looked toward the cultivation containers in her laboratory; three types of biological embryos had already been nurtured.
Leviathan, Vacuum Jellyfish, and Luminescent Worm.
"It's hard to imagine that this embryo, currently the size of a kitten, would grow into such a giant monster if released."
Nature is miraculous, but artificial creation is equally awe-inspiring.
Within the genes of these three species, Luna designed the Leviathan to be a whale-like creature covered in tentacles, resembling a broom.
Those tentacles were actually Gills. The creature itself was a giant beast reaching 300 meters in length, but its body mass was only 150 tons. Most of its internal structure consisted of flotation chambers used to hold Hydrogen gas; the Leviathan relied on this for survival.
It could survive on the surface of extremely hot planets, enduring temperatures up to 500 degrees Celsius. The internal flotation chambers possessed an automatic pressure-equalizing capability, allowing survival under pressures ranging from 170 to 4320 atmospheres.
Its primary food source was not gas, but the Vacuum Jellyfish.
The Vacuum Jellyfish, as its name implies, could survive in a vacuum.
It was larger than the Leviathan; its total length, including tentacles, could reach 1000 meters, but its weight was terrifyingly light—only 20 tons.
The Vacuum Jellyfish's shell was less than two meters thick and had a honeycomb structure; it wasn't solid. It lacked peripheral sensory organs or suckers for predation. The tips of its tentacles lacked stinging cells, and its structure was extremely simple: shell, stomach, tentacles, and reproductive organs.
Because of its simplicity, it could survive in a vacuum environment within the Habitable Zone of a star system. Furthermore, due to its massive size and light weight, the Vacuum Jellyfish could also survive in the atmospheric layer of a planet.
They moved by expelling air through small orifices in their shells. Their movement speed inside a planet was exceedingly slow, but in space, through continuous acceleration, they could reach speeds up to 2 km/s.
The Vacuum Jellyfish's food is the Luminescent Worm that parasitizes its body.
These reside in the jellyfish's stomach; their size is comparable to microorganisms.
Their lifespan is also extremely short, only 10 hours.
The worms are called Luminescent Worms because they emit a blue fluorescence.
After death, the worm carcasses become food for the Vacuum Jellyfish.
What do the Luminescent Worms eat?
They survive by decomposing minerals. The Vacuum Jellyfish uses its several-hundred-meter-long tentacles to gather rocks and soil to nourish these worms.
This is a complete micro-ecological system.
"All these organisms share one trait: a rapid reproductive rate."
"The Leviathan has a lifespan of only 20 years, and the Vacuum Jellyfish only lives 15 years. The number of offspring in each brood is like fish—millions at most."
"In just 100 years, these organisms will be visible everywhere."
"However, evolution requires time. Although their structure appears simple, it is a fusion of genetic types. This accelerates their genetic screening. In about 1000 years, they will complete their first genetic evolution."
Luna looked at these three organisms, feeling they were like treasures.
They weren't fully perfected yet, but within two years, the first generation of Successors would be deployed.
At that time, she would create a self-sustaining cosmic loop of life.
Of course, this was only Luna's first step.
After the initial deployment of this radical plan, the technology would be passed down to the Galactic Federation, allowing scientists and corporations to engage in this biological creation.
At that point, the entire Proxima Centauri star system would flourish immensely.
They would gain inexhaustible and endless genes.
While Luna was studying biology, Ayla was researching another technology.
Mecha—a simple type of external skeletal combat armor.
Organisms cannot adapt to every environment. What would humans do upon arriving at the Multi-eyed planet without air?
When the Kate Civilization enters the human environment, large amounts of oxygen and nitrogen are like Poison to them.
Mechas have thus become necessary creations.
They would be supplied in large quantities to the explorers in the Guild, increasing their survival probability.
It is also worth mentioning that in the decades since the Interstellar Explorers Guild was established, a large number of Space Pirates have appeared near Proxima Centauri; they survive by plundering explorers.
This truly demonstrates the diversity of life.
"The first generation of Mechas has been built, Luna. Do you want to see?" Ayla asked.
Luna's interest was peaked.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Ayla pouted.
Her attitude was terrible. She knew Luna was anxious, so she deliberately delayed the news to tease her.
However, Ayla wasn't truly upset, because saying such things meant Luna was increasingly treating her as more than just a piece of machinery.