Ereshkigal: Staring~~~

Neutron star.

One of the endpoints of celestial systems.

Most people have only heard its name, unaware of its true might.

It bears nicknames such as "Cosmic Beacon," "Child of the Black Hole," "Ultimate Form of Stars," and "Star of Extreme Physics."

Its magnetic field is trillions of times stronger than that of ordinary planets.

Its density is so high that a piece the size of a fingernail weighs 100 million tons.

Its radiation is a million times more intense than that of a normal star.

Its very existence is an indestructible cosmic marvel, where even light struggles to escape its terrifying gravitational field, bending and distorting into chaos.

So, here's the question.

What kind of spectacular sight would it be if the endpoint of the universe's celestial bodies were transformed into a mobile interstellar fortress?

Xu Xi couldn't imagine it before.

But now, he witnessed this grand feat with his own eyes.

The dreamlike sea of stars spun like a whirlpool, and at its center, a point of extreme brilliance silently streaked across.

And with that fleeting radiance,

The dust of the cosmos, the motion of celestial bodies, the collisions of asteroids, and the flow of galactic rivers—all came to a standstill in time and space.

Then,

Everything began to recede endlessly.

The myriad phenomena of the starry sky silently crumbled, shattered into fragments by the existence that surpassed the speed of light, leaving behind a desolate void in the cold expanse of space.

Space itself turned into tides, pushing that dreadful star away.

The universe returned to calm, leaving behind a scene of chaos.

This event occurred far, far away.

Through Ailei's machine soul ability, Xu Xi observed a scene from the distant reaches of the cosmos, something so far away it was almost untouchable.

Distant, yet undeniably real.

"A neutron battle star using curvature propulsion?!"

Xu Xi was both shocked and doubtful.

The neutron battle star moved incredibly fast, traversing the starry sea with curvature propulsion, disappearing from Ailei's observable range in an instant. Only the terrifying gravitational field at its tail could faintly be seen.

Xu Xi couldn't observe more details.

But the information he had was enough to leave him astounded.

"Incredible. To be able to modify a neutron star... this level of technology..."

"It surpasses me, no, it surpasses all civilizations in this starry expanse."

"Under normal circumstances, a civilization of this level would attract the attention and retaliation of the shadowy forces behind the scenes. Yet, the neutron battle star moves unhindered."

"So, the situation is clear."

"The one controlling the neutron battle star is most likely the same entity that has sealed off this starry expanse."

"Given that, the destruction of the last fleet must have been caused by the neutron battle star."

Xu Xi exited the observation state.

His brow furrowed.

The sheer volume of information was overwhelming, hard to process all at once.

This wasn't even a question of whether they could win or not. It was like an ant staring up at a towering mountain, facing an insurmountable gap.

"Me, fighting a neutron battle star? Really?

Can I win?"

"The hierarchy of civilizations and the gap in technology can, at times, be even more crushing than the divisions in transcendent systems."

"With the technology I currently possess..."

Xu Xi fell silent.

It was likely that his fleet would be crushed by the neutron battle star's gravitational pull before even getting close.

That image was both despairing and absurd.

Xu Xi didn't want to face it at all.

"Thank you, Ailei," Xu Xi said, feeling a headache coming on. Gentle fingers pressed against the sides of his head, the pads of the fingers applying just the right amount of pressure, helping Xu Xi relax his mind.

The fingers were slender, the pressure perfect.

Steady and consistent.

"It is my honor to serve you," Ailei replied. Her black hair was tied up in a bun, with golden streaks flowing along the surface. Her hair swayed gently with her movements, blending into her soft voice.

Ailei cared deeply for Xu Xi.

She, too, had seen the neutron battle star, but she didn't care.

All she could see, all her machine core could hold onto, was the important figure before her.

Recalling the terrifying sight earlier,

The machine servant's voice paused slightly, adding:

"Please rest assured, Ailei will protect you."

Her expression was serious.

Her words firm.

But the next moment, she collapsed weakly into Xu Xi's arms due to the side effects of the observation.

"Eh—" Ailei let out a calm, drawn-out sound, filled with confusion. She tried to move but couldn't control her body at all.

When Xu Xi looked down, he met her gem-like blue eyes.

They were dazzling, beautiful.

Like the clear surface of an autumn sky.

Reflecting ripples of light.

"Let's go home and rest, Ailei," Xu Xi said with a chuckle.

He lifted her in a princess carry, enhancing his strength with mechanical power, and carried the slightly heavy Ailei back to their living quarters.

...

[The appearance of the neutron battle star has severely disrupted your plans.]

[You had imagined countless scenarios regarding the true strength of the shadowy forces, but you never thought the enemy's power would be so overwhelming.]

[You couldn't help but ask yourself: Is this fair?]

[The machine servant noticed your worries and gave you a perfectly timed massage, assuring you that she would protect you.]

[You felt comforted, and a little moved.]

[But looking at the machine servant in your arms, you also found it a bit amusing.]

[The intimidation from the neutron battle star and the suffocating pressure were somewhat dispelled by Ailei's actions. You brought her back to your home on the ecological starship.]

[You maintained her body, replaced her energy core and new parts, and after finishing, you instructed her to stay put and rest.]

"Yes, Master."

Ailei was obedient.

She nodded gently and sat quietly on the workbench, waiting for her weakened state to pass.

At the same time, the work frequency of the starship cluster decreased to reduce Ailei's burden.

Xu Xi checked again.

Confirming that Ailei's machine soul was unharmed, just in need of some time to recover, he felt reassured and left, heading to his bedroom.

Sitting at his desk, he pulled out paper and pen and began to write carefully.

The oppressive feeling from the neutron battle star.

After exiting the observation state, it had gradually faded with time.

But the threat, the ultimate destructive power hidden in the shadows, could not be ignored.

Xu Xi needed to start planning his future actions with the neutron battle star in mind.

Scratch—

Scratch—

His fingers gripped the pen, the tip lightly touching the paper.

As it moved quickly, it left behind a series of words, recording important terms and numerous clues.

"It's almost certain that the neutron battle star and the force behind the destruction of civilizations are the same entity, the same civilization."

"Perhaps out of precaution, or perhaps out of a playful mindset."

"The highly advanced shadowy force chose to seal off this starry expanse and strike down all civilizations, leaving even the Zerg Scourge to barely survive."

"Continuing to develop technology under their surveillance is impossible."

"Staying in this starry expanse is like being a turtle in a jar."

"If one day, that shadowy force decides to personally exterminate the pests in their domain, neither I nor Ailei will have any future."

"We must find a way to leave this starry expanse."

Xu Xi put down his pen.

Looking at the key terms on the paper:

[Advanced Civilization] [Neutron Battle Star] [Sealed Expanse] [Technology]

He fell into deep thought.

What should he do? How should he proceed?

Xu Xi pondered for a long time, gradually losing track of time, until a faint sound at the door pulled him out of his concentration.

"Ailei?"

He instinctively looked toward the door.

Xu Xi saw the machine servant gently pushing the door open a crack, her calm silver-blue eyes gazing at him from within the room.

"Master, does Ailei need to serve you?"

Ailei asked.