Chapter 189 188: Earth's Playground
'If that's the case, then I have no chance of escape. All my previous plans will be for naught. Activating my contingency and starting over in another Star System will be my only option.'
But... that seemed to contradict the current situation.
'If they could really do that, why bother coming to the Solar System at all? They could just launch a Detector to confirm the situation in the Solar System, then determine the next likely target Interstellar Systems. Another probe would confirm my presence in the Oriental Star System. So why didn't they just come straight to the Oriental Star System instead of stopping in the Solar System?'
As he thought in silence, a possibility surfaced in Li Qingsong's mind.
'Perhaps... even with Super-distance Communication technology, they still can't communicate between Interstellar Systems.
'Super-distance Communication technology might also be limited by range. It has no latency, but if the distance is too great, it might fail for some unknown reason.
'As for the reason, I can't possibly know for now. My understanding of fundamental physics hasn't reached that level yet.
'This has to be the reason. Otherwise, there's no explaining why the Intelligent Mechanical Calamity Fleet, despite possessing Super-distance Communication, would go to the trouble of moving its main fleet to every single Star System to conduct its search.
'Still, even if Super-distance Communication has range limitations and fails over long distances, it remains incredibly significant.
'Without Super-distance Communication, communicating from one side of a single Star System to the other could have a delay of several days. With it, at least you don't have to suffer from communication lag within a single system.'
Understanding this and confirming that he was safe for the time being, Li Qingsong breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Ever since the Intelligent Mechanical Calamity Fleet arrived in the Solar System, Li Qingsong had observed many details. And from these surface-level observations alone, he had identified several technologies that were far beyond his own.
Against such an enemy, everything Li Qingsong prided himself on was useless.
'Technology, technology, and more technology! The gap between a civilization that has unified the Strong Core Force and one that hasn't is as insurmountable as a great chasm.
'Barring extreme circumstances, even the most powerful Electroweak Civilization is no match for the weakest Strong Core Civilization! Even if I could single-handedly fight more than ten Electroweak Civilizations, I would be no match for this Intelligent Mechanical Calamity!
'To have even a sliver of a chance at survival, I must also break through and become a Strong Core Civilization!'
As he processed the information coming from the Solar System, Li Qingsong gritted his teeth.
Construction in the Oriental Star System continued at a feverish pace. Meanwhile, Li Qingsong did not let up his surveillance of the Solar System in the slightest.
He watched as a fleet detached from the massive development and resource-gathering operations in the Jupiter System and headed for Earth.
Furthermore, judging by the fleet's size, it didn't seem to be a small reconnaissance team. It looked like they were planning something big for Earth.
Li Qingsong grew increasingly tense.
Earth was his home. Before leaving the Solar System, he had been willing to risk delaying his escape just to purify the planet and restore its ecosystem.
Needless to say, Earth held a special place in his heart.
'Now, what is this Intelligent Mechanical Calamity going to do to Earth?!'
'Mine for resources?'
'Unlikely.'
'The Cosmos isn't short on planets, and it certainly isn't short on resources. A planet like Earth, with its thick atmosphere, is inherently unsuitable for resource extraction anyway.
'The Solar System has four gas giants to provide ample fusion fuel, two major planets—Mars and Mercury—and hundreds of large moons and dwarf planets for mineral resources. There was simply no reason for the Intelligent Mechanical Calamity to conduct large-scale development on Earth.
'Even I would, at most, conduct a small-scale survey of Earth. I might collect some biological gene data or organic resources, but I would never waste time developing it.
'This was precisely why I insisted on rebuilding Earth's ecosphere, even knowing the Intelligent Mechanical Calamity would very likely come to the Solar System.'
'I have some Clones hidden on Earth, too, with set conditions for automatic activation. I'll just wait for them to wake up.'
The Clones were hidden in places like underground bases and underwater, capable of observing the surface through minuscule optical devices.
Because the equipment was so minuscule and the planet's surface so vast, Li Qingsong believed that even a Level Three Strong Core Civilization would most likely fail to find them without a targeted search.
The moment any anomaly was detected on Earth's surface, an automated program would awaken the hibernating Clones and establish a consciousness link with him.
Then, he would know exactly what the Intelligent Mechanical Calamity was doing on Earth.
Time passed quietly. As expected, it wasn't long before several more consciousness links from the Solar System activated, transmitting images to him.
Li Qingsong saw some bizarre scenes.
He saw hordes of multi-limbed mechanical constructs, resembling a cross between dogs and spiders, tearing across the landscape in packs.
The location was a savanna. Across the plains, countless creatures fled for their lives, pursued by the mechanical spiders.
Small aircraft dotted the sky. Each vehicle was half-covered by a transparent glass canopy, and inside the cockpit was a seat occupied by a bloated, fleshy mass.
The creature was enormous and thick, yet it seemed to lack any firmness, appearing as soft as blubber or gelatin.
Within the great pile of flesh, one could faintly make out what appeared to be organs like eyes, a nose, arms, and legs.
The bizarre creature zipped around in its translucent aircraft as if playing, periodically firing bullets that kicked up puffs of dust from the ground. With each volley, swaths of the fleeing animals fell dead.
Each time, the mound of flesh would tremble, seemingly in a state of great excitement.
Accompanying the aircraft carrying these bizarre creatures were numerous, clearly unmanned drones. The drones acted as escorts, circling the piloted craft like satellites around a planet, loyally guarding the strange being's safety.
Sometimes, when the herds on the ground veered off course, the drones would fly over and fire, forcing the animals to change direction to give the piloted aircraft a better angle for its shots.
After a brief chase, a forest appeared ahead, and the remaining animals vanished into it.
The bloated, hideous creature seemed to become enraged, using a short, stubby, arm-like appendage to press a button. Instantly, the swarm of mechanical spiders on the ground surged forward. The next moment, thick trees began to topple, exposing all the animals once more. The creature then resumed its leisurely hunt...