Interstellar Strike Finally Arrives

【With your help, the machine servant takes a significant step forward on the path to humanity.】

【The searing heat of light】

【The lightness of the wind】

【All of it flows between the pale fingertips】

【Ailei is overjoyed, a happiness so profound that even the vast database of language struggles to describe it】

【On a summer afternoon, you watch this growth of humanity and can't help but smile, eagerly anticipating an even brighter future】

【Simulation Year 40, you are 59 years old, and it has been 38 years since Ailei began accompanying you】

【You have absorbed and digested most of the scientific knowledge from Civilization 02】

【Your growth is remarkable, as you've mastered more knowledge, and your loyal machine servant, Ailei, has also grown stronger, with increased computational power】

【This year, Ailei has developed a new soup for you】

【You find the taste quite delightful】

At 59 years old,

in the context of normal humans, this age is considered advanced.

Bodily functions decline, organs age, and even neural thinking begins to slow.

Xu Xi, who has experienced this before,

understands this feeling all too well.

But this simulation is different. With the enhancement of genetic serums, Xu Xi's lifespan is still long, and he maintains a youthful appearance.

"Lifespan is not a concern for now."

"The third iteration of the genetic serum is already in development."

"Additionally, cryogenic hibernation technology can further slow aging."

Xu Xi murmurs to himself, sitting in the control room of the ecological starship, laying out plans for the next few years, or even decades.

As the technology tree climbs higher,

the technical challenges become increasingly difficult to overcome.

Even with the joy of the machine spirit and Ailei's unique observational abilities, explosive growth like before is no longer possible.

For a long time to come, technological progress will be extremely slow.

"If we want to develop FTL (faster-than-light) technology like warp drives, hmm—"

Xu Xi ponders for a moment.

Finally, he shakes his head.

With his cheat-like abilities and Ailei's extraordinary talents, success is possible.

But the time required would be unimaginably long.

It's highly likely that by the time the simulation ends, they would only have scratched the surface.

"Surpassing light? It's fun to think about, but practically, it's too difficult..." Xu Xi rubs his throbbing temples.

He believes.

Such an incredible feat.

Might be achievable by the wisdom of ordinary humans.

Unfortunately, this simulation's red trait is focused on survival.

...

【The lonely void, the silent stillness, this is the norm of the universe】

【The seemingly dazzling sea of stars is actually separated by vast distances, tormenting every traveler on the path of the cosmos】

【You don't feel bored】

【Your life remains a routine of three points】

【Either researching technology, indulging in virtual games, or entering cryogenic hibernation, sleeping through the long voyage】

【The starship's power increases year by year, leaving the past behind and propelling you into the distant future】

【Simulation Year 45, you are 64 years old, and it has been 43 years since Ailei began accompanying you】

【You have fully absorbed the knowledge of Civilization 02】

【Thanks to this, Ailei's body has become more human-like, and the once-stiff facial expressions are now indistinguishable from a human's】

【Simulation Year 50, you are 69 years old, and it has been 48 years since Ailei began accompanying you】

【You awaken from the cryogenic pod due to a sudden combat alert】

Chaos.

Conflict.

Overwhelming and everywhere.

Xu Xi had imagined that during his cosmic voyage, he might encounter another civilization capable of space travel and engage in hostile combat.

However, Xu Xi never expected.

That his first opponent in the vast expanse of space would be an endless tide of insects.

Their grotesque, monstrous forms.

Exoskeels as tough as alloy armor.

And bodies capable of surviving the harsh vacuum of space.

"AI rebellions, undead plagues, insect swarms, and game players."

"These are the classic four types of apocalyptic threats."

"Are we about to witness a clash of apocalypses today?"

Xu Xi steps into the starship's control room, looking at the projected images of the outside world, his expression filled with surprise.

Outside, in a small planetary system, the insectoids swarm densely, crawling across the planet's surface, devouring every visible resource.

Those resources are quickly converted into eggs.

Hatching more and more insectoids.

Xu Xi feels something is off. The quality of these insectoids is not an issue, but their numbers are too few to form a true swarm.

"Never mind, let's not dwell on it."

"Ailei, attack!"

"Yes, the starship fleet is ready, main weapons fully unlocked, auxiliary power units activated, deploying wide-area laser arrays."

The dark void swallows the starlight.

The bursts of sparks are the brilliant demise of life.

【You issue the final combat orders】

【Under Ailei's control, all the weapons produced over the years are unleashed upon the insectoid-infested planetary system, igniting a fierce battle】

【Machine Spirit Joy activates—】

【All allied mechanical units receive a 10% damage boost】

【Mechanical Resonance activates—】

【The main cannon of your starship receives a further performance enhancement】

【With the endless mechanical army and the noble damage boost, you successfully defeat the sparse interstellar insectoids】

【You command the mechanical units to collect the remains of the insectoids, hoping to research some biological technology】

【At the same time, you grow even more puzzled. Why are the numbers of these insectoids so few? With this question in mind, you set off once again on your interstellar journey】

【Simulation Year 53, you are 72 years old, and it has been 51 years since Ailei began accompanying you】

【You discover a new group of insectoids in a neighboring planetary system】

【You swiftly eliminate them and realize something: the insectoids have always been numerous, but they intentionally disperse themselves】

【You don't understand why. After gazing at the stars for a long time, you decide to mimic the insectoids' behavior】

"Ailei, disperse the fleet into three consecutive formations."

"Yes, Master."

【Under your command, Ailei disperses the starship fleet, dividing the massive force into three parts. Thanks to her unique abilities, Ailei can still command them perfectly】

【Simulation Year 55, you are 74 years old, and it has been 53 years since Ailei began accompanying you】

【You finally understand why the insectoids you encounter are always dispersed rather than forming the endless swarms you expected】

【Because highly concentrated behavior leads to the simultaneous annihilation of the entire species】

【Space, shattered】

Is it a light burst?

A black hole?

A collapse of spacetime?

It cannot be described, cannot be put into words.

Xu Xi, as usual, rests in the living quarters of the ecological starship, contemplating the next steps.

In that moment of calm, an attack emerges from the silence.

Carrying infinite gravitational disturbances, it shatters the surrounding space, violently annihilating everything in its path.