225: Guiding Stars and the Call of "Beacon Delta"

Inside "Homeland," the immense momentum of the "Ark Project" roared day and night like the low growl of planetary engines.

Within the colossal shipyards, keels were laid, armor plating was layered thick, and the sparks of new technology bloomed across various testing platforms.

However, running parallel to this feverish construction, and holding an even higher priority, was the mission concerning the very foundation of the universe: gathering the Beacons to reinforce the "Weave."

The shadows of Morpheus and the "Singularity Project" fell upon them like an accelerating hourglass, urging them into a race against time.

In the Intelligence and Analysis Center, led by Evelyn, the hum of supercomputers accompanied the screening, comparison, and reconstruction of massive data streams.

Fragments of ancient star charts provided by Beacon Gamma, along with encrypted coordinate segments pointing to high-value targets—hard-won through the Foundation's "Phantom" infiltration program—were repeatedly calculated within a single, massive probability model.

Finally, a relatively clear signal emerged from the noise: a node, code-named "Beacon Delta," whose probable location was locked down to a daunting star sector: the "Shattered Ring."

In the Alliance's general star charts, this sector was marked as a maximum-level red restricted zone, surrounded by dense warning signs sufficient to deter the boldest explorers.

Observation data showed it was not a regular ring belt orbiting a single star, but a vast, nearly three-dimensional "debris storm zone" formed by the remnants of ancient galactic collisions.

Innumerable celestial bodies, ranging from dust to asteroid size, were pulled by extremely complex, multiple gravitational sources (possibly hidden neutron stars, black holes, or poorly understood gravitational anomalies), engaging in high-speed, chaotic Brownian motion.

Intense gravitational turbulence, spatial distortions, and high-energy radiation storms were the norm.

Any conventional spacecraft venturing in would meet a fate comparable to a butterfly flying into an industrial shredder.

"'The Shattered Ring'..." Su Mu stared at the chaotic vortex of light points on the main screen, which looked messy even in dynamic simulation.

She frowned, repeating the name subconsciously.

"Just hearing the name tells you it's not a place to invite guests for afternoon tea.

The environmental readings there... they're practically a thick soup of physical laws, and the soup is burnt."

"It is precisely this extreme environment that forms the ideal natural barrier and filter," Evelyn said, pulling up deeper analysis data, her tone reflecting a researcher's calm.

"The gravitational turbulence and dense solid obstacles make large-scale fleet deployments or conventional scanning detection extremely difficult, if not impossible.

This aligns perfectly with the Watchers' consistent logic for concealment—placing the key object in a 'needle in a haystack' scenario where 'the needle is also moving in a violent tsunami.'

Only individuals possessing a specific 'key' or ability stand a chance of reaching the core."

Zhuo Yue's gaze was fixed firmly on the chaotic sector.

His perception seemed to have already touched the distant Beacon resonance, which flickered like a faint heartbeat amidst the raging energy noise.

That resonance possessed a frequency unlike the wisdom of Gamma, the sorrow of Beta, or the steadiness of Alpha—it was more... active, more elusive.

"No matter how dangerous, we must go," Zhuo Yue stated, his voice steady but carrying an absolute finality.

"Gamma's message explicitly mentioned that Delta might store crucial information fragments regarding the core maintenance protocols and emergency reset procedures for the 'Weave' system.

This could be the indispensable operation manual or security password for when we attempt to reinforce or even repair the 'Weave' in the future.

Its value may be no less than any energy knowledge."

He paused, glancing at the magnificent, skeletal framework of the 'Ark' on a nearby screen.

"Furthermore, this expedition will be an excellent testing ground to verify our recent technological achievements, especially several key new systems developed for the 'Ark.'

Theoretical data needs the tempering of a real combat environment."

The plan was quickly finalized.

The fully upgraded *Morning Star* once again took the role of vanguard.

Its interior armor was fitted with a new energy buffer layer improved using Gamma's knowledge; the shield system was upgraded to a "multi-band adaptive type," theoretically better equipped to withstand complex energy and physical impacts; and the sensor array integrated the latest "wide-spectrum gravitational ripple detection" and "chaotic background signal filtering" algorithms.

Zhuo Yue served as the "soul navigator" and chief tactical decision-maker for the operation.

Su Mu, besides coordinating the operation and ensuring security, was privately assigned a crucial task by Wang Jianguo and Evelyn: to closely monitor Zhuo Yue’s physical and mental state and prevent him from overusing his abilities in the extreme environment.

Evelyn remained at the "Homeland" command center, providing remote real-time data analysis and strategic support via a high-latency but stable quantum encrypted link.

When the *Morning Star* completed its final precision jump, sliding out of the deep-blue jump window and hovering at the outer edge of the "Shattered Ring," even the most composed veteran found their breath seized by the apocalyptic sight before them.

What kind of "ring" was this?

It was clearly a furiously operating, cosmic-scale shredder, a forest of death devoid of all order and mercy!

As far as the eye could see, there was a nearly infinite, extending wall of chaos composed of rock, metal, and ice shards.

These celestial bodies were not stationary or slowly drifting; they were rotating, tumbling, and colliding at terrifying speeds, whipped by unseen, dreadful forces!

Massive meteorites, like bowling balls hurled by invisible giants, roared through the void, and the flashes and debris clouds from their impacts illuminated the denser, deeper whirlpools of rubble.

The "texture" of space was wildly warped here; the pointers on the gravity sensor danced frantically, sometimes indicating several different "gravity directions," and sometimes resetting to zero in brief moments of weightlessness.

The ship's conventional navigation screens were filled with static and error messages; scanning beams, like tentacles stuck in quicksand, returned only fragmented, contradictory, and chaotic signals.

"All personnel, secure your positions! Non-combat stations, enter shock-dampening mode!" The Captain's voice rang out over the comms channel, cutting through the muffled yet distinct sound of impacts outside the hull, like hail hammering the armor.

"Energy shields to full power, focusing defense on frontal impacts!"

The *Morning Star* was like an iron bird caught in a thunderstorm.

The hull constantly vibrated and pitched under the impact of invisible gravitational turbulence and physical debris.

Conventional autopilot and navigation systems had completely failed.

The helmsman had to rely solely on basic manual controls and Zhuo Yue's guidance to find a sliver of survival in the maze of death.

Zhuo Yue had already entered a state of deep meditation in the specialized seat in the center of the bridge.

He was not looking with his eyes; instead, he merged his entire consciousness with the ship's sensor network and his unique, Beacon-resonating perception, submerging himself into this violent sea of energy.

"Switch to 'Energy Flow Navigation' mode," he commanded, his voice sounding distant yet perfectly clear.

"Shut down all conventional pathfinding algorithms.

Helmsman, follow the vector direction marked by my mental projection.

Trust the intuition, do not hesitate."

Following his instruction, the chaotic star map on the main screen was replaced by a completely new visualization interface—an "Energy Flow Field Map" that Zhuo Yue was perceiving and translating in real-time.

In the map, the raging gravitational turbulence was marked by roaring red vortices and dangerous undercurrents, while relatively stable "gaps" or "channels" appeared as thin, intermittent blue threads.

Beacon Delta's unique and faint resonance, like the distant flicker of a lighthouse on a stormy night, was marked as a continuously pulsing golden point of light.

"Port 17 degrees, pitch 5 degrees, maintain current speed... Watch out for a gravitational spike erupting on the starboard side in three seconds; make a subtle correction now to evade..."

Zhuo Yue's guidance was precise down to the second, his tone calm to the point of being cold.

Guided by his "energy intuition," the *Morning Star* demonstrated astonishing agility, sometimes narrowly passing like a fish between two colossal meteorites about to collide, and sometimes, at the last possible moment, banking the hull to avoid a sudden, intensifying gravitational shear zone capable of tearing the ship apart.

He could not only sense the Beacon's direction but also "read" the extremely subtle, precursory fluctuations in the chaotic energy field—the ones that appeared before the physical phenomena—much like a master surfer sensing underwater pressure changes before a wave forms.

On one occasion, the radar had just displayed a "clear" path ahead, yet Zhuo Yue sharply ordered: "Emergency hard starboard! Maximum reverse thrust!"

In the very next second, just as the helmsman instinctively executed the command, the previously empty void ahead suddenly twisted.

An invisible gravitational "whip" lashed across the space, instantly accelerating several smaller, passing meteorites into cannonball speed, striking the exact spot where the ship had been moments before.

The shields flared with intense ripples.

Another time, the ship seemed to be drawn into the center of a slow-spinning "death vortex" composed of several massive meteorites; conventional sensors showed all directions blocked.

Zhuo Yue concentrated his perception for a moment, then pointed toward what appeared to be the thickest meteorite wall: "Full speed impact, heading that way!

Concentrate shield energy to the bow 0.5 seconds before contact.

Adjust the frequency to... the parameters I am marking!"

Under the disbelieving gaze of everyone, the *Morning Star* charged toward the meteorite without hesitation.

Just before impact, the bow shield's glow changed abruptly, emitting a strange resonance wave instead of a hard defense.

The surface of the hard rock actually rippled open like water disturbed by a thrown stone.

The ship miraculously "passed through" the interior of the massive solid body, as if penetrating a layer of viscous liquid!

It turned out that this was not a true rock core but an extremely dense, perfectly disguised energy shell, and Zhuo Yue had sensed its resonant weakness.

Every day, every hour, was filled with such peril.

The crew's heartbeats remained synchronized with the ship's violent jolts and Zhuo Yue's calm instructions.

Su Mu stayed glued to Zhuo Yue's side.

Her task was not to command combat but to closely monitor his vital signs and energy fluctuations.

She saw fine beads of sweat constantly break out on his forehead, his face growing pale from the sustained, high-intensity output of his mental power, yet his eyes remained bright, focused, and steady as a rock.

She timely offered supplements and used her own gentle life energy field to provide subtle relief, her heart filled with both admiration and worry.

Everyone understood that without Zhuo Yue's uncanny navigation, they would have been pulverized countless times in this death maze.

This trust and reliance were continually tempered and deepened in the face of despair.

After several days of grueling, mentally exhausting travel, they finally traversed the most violent outer regions and reached the core zone of the "Shattered Ring"—a place of relatively stable, complex gravitational structure, much like the eye of a typhoon.

The debris was much sparser here, but the gravitational environment remained bizarre.

Following Zhuo Yue's final direction, their target turned out to be a medium-sized, dark meteorite, unremarkable in appearance and covered in impact craters.

But when the *Morning Star*'s specialized scanner performed a deep scan using a specific frequency and energy spectrum, the astonishing truth emerged: the meteorite was hollow!

Furthermore, its core was concealed by an extremely powerful energy field that perfectly blended with the surrounding environment.

The sophistication of this energy field far surpassed any barrier they had previously encountered.

"This is it." Zhuo Yue let out a long breath, showing a hint of fatigue for the first time, but the light in his eyes shone even brighter.

Guided by Zhuo Yue, the ship fired a stream of complexly coded energy toward a specific, seemingly natural depression on the meteorite's surface.

The energy stream acted like a key in a lock; the meteorite's surface rippled like water, and a smooth, circular passage just wide enough to accommodate the *Morning Star* silently opened.

The ship slowly sailed in, passing through a short tunnel whose inner walls glowed with faint runic light, before the view abruptly opened up.

They entered a massive artificial space.

It was warm, bright, and filled with a soft, milky-white light—a world apart from the violent, deadly landscape outside.

Suspended in the center of the space was the object of their journey: the Fourth Watcher Beacon.

Delta's form was radically different from its siblings.

It was not Alpha's crystal, Beta's prism, or Gamma's geometry of light, but a constantly flowing, shape-shifting mass of liquid metal that emitted a soft, multicolored sheen.

It had no fixed shape, sometimes stretching like a spindle, sometimes contracting into a sphere.

Its surface shimmered, seemingly possessing its own life and emotions.

Even more distinctive were the mental fluctuations it emitted: unlike Alpha's steady call, Beta's sorrowful isolation, or Gamma's wise welcome, Delta's mental waves were active, playful, and even carried a hint of obvious... cunning and amusement, like a child who had waited a long time and finally saw an interesting toy.

[Yoo-hoo! They're here, they're here!] A clear and vibrant mental projection burst directly into everyone's minds, the tone lighthearted.

[Fresh scent of Inheritors! Mixed with the steady flavor of that old stick-in-the-mud Alpha, the scarred taste of Beta, that silent bore, and the nagging tone of Gamma, the know-it-all... Tsk tsk, quite a unique combination.]

The mental projection briefly "sized them up," lingering for a moment on Zhuo Yue.

[To make it through my carefully arranged 'toy playground' and find this place... Hmm, looks like it wasn't just luck; you actually have a tiny bit of skill.]

Ripples of what seemed like amusement spread across Delta's liquid metal surface.

[But don't celebrate too soon, my cute little ones.

Getting the troublesome instruction manuals and emergency button locations for servicing that big guy, the 'Weave,' out of my head... won't be as easy as it was with the others.

The rules are different here.]

This Fourth Watcher Beacon made no attempt to conceal its role as a "test administrator" and "troublemaker."

It seemed to find joy in both safeguarding knowledge and setting challenges.

Faced with this mercurial "liquid mentor" whose intentions were unclear, the nerves of the *Morning Star*'s crew, which had just begun to relax upon reaching the target, tightened once more.

A trial of wit and character, unlike any they had faced before, seemed to have only just begun.