289: The mystery of the voyage

Echoes of the Deep Sea · Waiting at the Star Abyss

The ranger, like a silver fish that had broken free from a mire of filth and bloody entanglement, finally completely escaped the suffocating gravity and malice of the Resonance Star system after a brief, disorienting hyperspace jump. When the distorted light bands collapsed back into constant, sparse star points outside the porthole—rather than the stretched and shattered colorful nightmare of the jump—the string inside the cabin, which had been taut since deep within the planet's core, seemed to emit an inaudible whine of near-snapping before relaxing just a fraction. However, this relaxation did not bring relief, but rather a deeper, bone-deep exhaustion and a sense of hollow unease—behind lay the purgatory they had temporarily escaped, while ahead lay the even vaster, darker, and completely unknown deep space.

The spaceship followed the preset navigation coordinates and slid into a desolate star sector marked on the star map as the Silent Corridor. This place seemed like a corner of the universe that had been carefully forgotten: a red dwarf star entering a long period of decay, like an extinguishing ember, feebly radiating a dim red light that stingily illuminated a few scattered, cratered rocky planets orbiting it. There was no atmosphere, no magnetic field, not a single sign of life, and even the interstellar dust was pitifully sparse. There was only the eternal, near-absolute-zero cold and a physical, all-consuming silence. This was an ideal graveyard for fugitives to catch their breath.

"Entered designated parking orbit. Initiating low-power camouflage force field, coverage level three. The ship is switching to 'Deep Dive' silence mode, maintaining only life support systems, passive sensor arrays, and core calculation Node at minimum power." Evelyn's spirit appeared on the main console like ripples on water; her voice had lost its usual, subtle, soft rhythm, becoming as flat and efficient as a precision instrument, carrying a certain deliberate detachment born of surviving a disaster. "Beginning execution of the 'Nirvana' protocol, full self-check sequence initiated. Damage assessment report generating..."

A series of cold data began to scroll across the holographic screen, quantifying the cruel reality and laying it out before everyone.

"Energy shield generator: overload damage confirmed, seven secondary energy conduits melted, overall efficiency decreased by 13.2%, requires replacement of specialized superconducting materials and recalibration of resonant frequency. Main engine cluster: continuous overload has caused plasma constraint field instability in propulsion units four and seven; cooling system filter carbonization rate has reached 87%, replacement recommended. Hull structure: multiple non-critical external sensor arrays destroyed, micro-scale melting in energy transmission lines 12 through 15, physical isolation and redundant circuit switching have been activated. Estimated total repair time: eleven standard hours and forty-seven minutes."

"Resource and consumption inventory generated simultaneously." Evelyn continued to report, her voice echoing in the silent cabin. "Food synthesis unit reserves are sufficient to maintain standard rations for forty-two days. Water circulation system loss is within expectations, but about 15% of raw water reserves need to be replenished to optimize efficiency. Medical supplies: 17% consumed, primarily high-efficiency hemostatic gel, neural analgesics, and anti-radiation agents. Combat consumables: special shock grenades are depleted; the energy batteries for the 'Order Harmonic' rifle assigned to Stardust have been 63% consumed, with only three standard bases remaining; universal energy pistol batteries are 41% consumed. Most critically, the 'Stardust-III' high-fusion fuel rods in the ship's main energy core have only 34% of their operational life remaining, and this high-intensity combat and continuous jumping have accelerated their decay. We urgently need to replenish high-purity energy crystals, or an alternative ultra-high-density energy source, to cope with potential long-distance voyages or combat."

"Additionally, the overall decoding progress of the technical and non-technical data packets handed over by the Silent Order has reached 92%. Basic technology blueprints and sociological materials are now available for viewing, while the deeply encrypted history and taboo categories are still being cracked."

The data stream scrolled silently, outlining a bleak picture. Excellence leaned back in the command seat, his fingers unconsciously pressing against his still-aching temples. The soreness in his body was fading under the slow nourishment of advanced medical gel and his own power of Order, but the mental sluggishness and heaviness remained. The bizarre fragments of information forcibly injected by the stone of silence were like stubborn stones sunk into the deep sea of his consciousness; although suppressed for the moment, their very existence disturbed the calm of his mental surface, occasionally causing disturbing, eerie ripples—shattered dark structures, silhouettes of the watchers, the touch of the cold the gate, and incomprehensible ancient The Whisper... These were not memories, but rather a kind of cognitive "pollution" that was difficult to purge.

He looked at the special containment canister fixed on the analysis table. The canister reflected a matte color under the cabin's cold light, as quiet as a tombstone. But everyone knew that what was sealed inside might be the root of their biggest trouble at the moment, or it might be the key to the ultimate mystery.

"The energy problem is the most urgent." Excellence forced himself to pull his attention back to reality. "High-purity energy crystals... in the Silent Order data, is there any mention of the energy forms they commonly use? Or technology for efficiently obtaining and converting energy? Especially high-energy crystals like the ones we desperately need?"

"Deep searching in the relevant technical classification tree..." Data radiance flowed through Evelyn's eyes. "The Harmonic Alliance—the self-designation of the civilization union to which the Silent Order belongs—has a technology and social system that highly relies on a special energy-psionic dual-phase crystal known as a 'Harmonic Crystal'. This crystal is not only an efficient and stable pure energy carrier, but also the core amplification and control medium for their unique psionic technology. Its preparation process is extremely complex, involving natural psionic enrichment under specific geological structures, 'cultivation' through harmonic Resonance lasting several standard cycles, and artificially guided 'carving' of micro-structures. With our current conditions, we cannot replicate it."

She paused for a moment and pulled up another set of data: "However, the database appendix mentions that in star systems with special psionic active backgrounds (such as ancient supernova remnants, disturbance zones at the edges of black hole accretion disks, or pulsar radiation fields of specific types), there is an extremely low probability of natural 'Harmonic Crystal' raw ore forming within the planetary cores or deep mineral veins. Scanning current star sector environmental parameters... The third planet in this system, a hellish planet with an iron-nickel core and a surface in a semi-molten state, has detected a psionic Resonance signal in its shallow mantle region that is extremely weak but partially matches the spectral characteristics of the theoretical model for 'Harmonic Crystal' generation. The signal strength is 95% below the background noise, and the planet's surface environment is extreme: the average temperature exceeds eight hundred and fifty standard degrees, the atmospheric composition is a mixture of hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and heavy metal vapors, which is highly corrosive, and the surface pressure is about three hundred times the standard value."

"Core mining?" Stardust raised her head from her analysis terminal, her voice calm, but her slightly furrowed brows revealed the unrealistic nature of the idea. "The ranger is not equipped with planetary-scale geological mining or deep-drilling equipment. Even if we risk using engineering drones for surface sampling, the equipment attrition rate caused by the harsh environment and the success rate, according to preliminary simulations, both point to a negative return. This plan is not feasible."

"Are there... any other approaches?" Excellence's gaze turned to the "White Elder" wood carving, which was floating quietly to the side, its luster much dimmer than usual.

"...Perhaps, there is another way." The White Elder's voice sounded slowly in everyone's minds, carrying the ethereal feeling of a spirit that had been heavily consumed, like the lingering echoes of a zheng, yet it remained steady. "For the past few days, I have observed this 'stone of silence'. Its emitted 'absolute silence' force field, while isolating the exchange of internal and external information and energy, seems to have a certain 'sedimentation' and 'tranquility' effect on the surrounding free energy—whether it be light and heat radiation or background psionic ripples. It does not absorb and convert it for its own use, but strips away its 'active' attributes, turning it into a kind of inert 'substrate'. This process is irreversible and cannot be extracted, but within its range of effect, the energy field tends to be unusually stable and low-entropy."

He paused, seemingly choosing his words: "If this object were... cautiously placed in a specific protective zone near the ship's energy core, it might be possible to use its 'silence' property to smooth out the micro-fluctuations of the fusion reaction and weaken the harmonic turbulence in the energy transmission circuits, thereby... indirectly improving energy utilization efficiency and reducing the core load, perhaps... slightly extending the life of the existing fuel rods."

"Use it as an 'energy field stabilizer'?" Excellence was stunned; the idea was so bold it was almost absurd. To take such a thing of unknown origin, with weird characteristics, that even claimed it "could not be suppressed for too long," and actively move it close to the heart of the ship—the energy core?

"This is only a theoretical deduction. The roots of this object are unknown, and its fortune is unpredictable. Placing it near the energy hub for a long time is like drawing an unknown dark spring to irrigate one's lifeblood; the consequences are unpredictable." The White Elder added immediately, clearly aware of the huge risks involved.

"It can be used as a theoretical backup plan in extreme situations for simulation, but the priority should be set to the lowest." Stardust immediately provided a rational assessment. "The more pragmatic choices at present are as follows: First, plan a route to the nearest recorded star sector that might have neutral trading points or hidden supply stations. This plan has a high risk of exposure, and there is no guarantee of the current safety status or availability of supplies in the target star sector. Second, maximize the use of the ranger's closed-loop ecological maintenance system and material recycling and reprocessing unit to extend the usage cycle of existing basic supplies, while dispatching detection units to search nearby asteroid belts or comet clouds to obtain renewable/convertible resources such as water ice and common metal minerals. Third, attempt to establish one-way contact with hidden observation stations or emergency outposts located on the periphery of the Harmonic Alliance's civilization circle, as mentioned in the data. The success rate and safety of this plan are unknown, and there is a risk of exposing our location and our relationship with the Harmonic Alliance."

Excellence weighed the options in silence. Each option was accompanied by significant drawbacks. Concealment was the top priority, but resource scarcity was like a rope around his neck; seeking external supplies meant exposure; and that "stone of silence" was not only the greatest variable but might also contain an unexpected solution.

"At this stage, concealment, repair, and digesting existing information are the primary goals." He finally made his decision, his voice regaining the clarity and strength a commander should have. "Evelyn, maintain the 'Deep Dive' silence state. While ensuring absolute concealment, release all available remote detection units to scan all asteroid belts, comet orbits, and gas giant rings in this system, focusing on finding water ice-rich areas and mineral-rich asteroids with mining value. At the same time, concentrate computing power and prioritize the final decoding and classification of all materials provided by the Silent Order, especially the detailed research reports on the history of the Harmonic Alliance, the Heart-Devouring Demon and similar phenomena, as well as any parts involving efficient energy acquisition, 'Harmonic Crystal' alternatives, or new energy conversion technologies, regardless of what risk level they are marked as."

"Command confirmed. Detection units have been released. The priority of the deep data decoding process has been adjusted." Evelyn responded.

"Stardust," Excellence looked at his apprentice observer, "Your primary task is to ensure that the containment state of the 'stone of silence' remains absolutely stable, implementing twenty-four-cycle non-stop monitoring. Secondary task: design and execute a series of extremely conservative, non-invasive, and non-contact research plans. There are three goals: First, try to explore the establishment of a safer and more controllable weak information interaction channel without directly stimulating its information core, to see if it can induce more specific directional clues or 'signpost' information about the 'Silent Corridor'. Second, quantitatively evaluate its 'silence/sedimentation' effect on external energy fields, establish an accurate mathematical model, and evaluate the theoretical feasibility window and risk boundaries of the 'energy stabilizer' concept proposed by the White Elder. Third, use all non-destructive means to analyze its most superficial physical existence characteristics (such as reaction patterns to external fields, possible mass anomalies, etc.). All experimental plans must be double-checked by you and me, and implemented only with the White Elder present to provide protection on the psionic level. The safety margin must be set to the highest level."

"Understood. The research protocol framework is already being built." Stardust nodded, and in her gray eyes, the data stream light of building complex experimental models had already begun to flicker.

White Elder, please continue to focus on your recovery and regain your strength as soon as possible. Furthermore, given your vast experience spanning such a long time, if you have any relevant memories regarding concepts like the Harmonic Alliance, source sea, the gate, or the watchers—whether they be fragmented legends, vague fables, or even just scraps of ancient ballads from your past travels or the texts you have read—please recall them carefully. Any clue, no matter how small, could be of immeasurable value at this moment.

I understand. This depletion of my spiritual essence will indeed require time to recover. If any dust-covered memories surface, I shall certainly inform you. The voice of White Elder carried a deep weariness, and the faint light on the wooden carving completely faded, as if it had fallen into a dreamless slumber.

With the tasks assigned, Excellence was finally able to return to his rest cabin to deal with his own problems. The pale green light of the medical scan swept over his body, revealing mostly soft tissue contusions and physiological fatigue from energy exhaustion, which posed no major issues with the assistance of the nano-medical unit. What was truly thorny was the mental diagnostic report: there were multiple atypical information accumulation points in his sea of consciousness, accompanied by slight disturbances in logical self-consistency and an increase in background noise of Perception. Simply put, the chaotic mess that the stone of silence had stuffed into his mind was interfering with his normal thinking and Perception.

He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and attempted to actively guide the power of Order at the center of his brow, like the most patient craftsman, piece by piece, combing and soothing his spirit world that had been invaded by foreign objects. A silver-white radiance flowed deep within his consciousness, attempting to wrap, decompose, or at least isolate those fragmented, discordant images and thoughts. But the process was exceptionally difficult; those information fragments seemed to possess a higher level of 'stickiness' and 'stubbornness,' not mere 'impurities' that could be easily cleared away. He realized that perhaps he could not forcibly 'purify' them, but needed to try to 'understand' and 'digest' them, but this would undoubtedly require time and a deeper mastery of the power of Order, which was by no means a task for a single day.

The ranger, like a silent speck of dust in the universe, began its slow self-repair and silent waiting under the gaze of the red dwarf's dim, blood-like light. Time here lost its everyday meaning; only the slight humming of the ship's internal system periodic self-checks and the almost inaudible hissing of the stable airflow from the life support system marked the passage of time.

Stardust's research into the stone of silence was like searching for a foothold on an absolutely smooth ice surface, and the progress was agonizingly slow. Any actively emitted detection energy beam, whether it was electromagnetic waves, neutrino streams, or low-intensity psionic probes, was swallowed without a trace by that invisible silence force field before it could even touch the preset shielding layer on the outer wall of the containment vessel, and not even a single reflected or scattered signal could be recovered. Conventional physical and chemical analysis methods were even more futile; its material composition appeared to be an unknown black crystalline state, but any attempt at microscopic scanning or sampling would cause instrument readings to zero out or suffer logical errors upon approach, as if its very existence denied the pair of actions of 'being observed' and 'being analyzed' imposed on the object.

The only phenomenon that could be objectively recorded was the 'silence precipitation' effect described by White Elder. Within a spherical space of about half a meter around the containment vessel, environmental energy readings (including thermal radiation, cosmic background microwaves, and even weak electromagnetic waves leaking from the ship's internal equipment) were stably one Order of magnitude lower than the external average, forming an extremely weak but definitely existing 'energy depression.' This confirmed that the silence force field was not a passive defense, but an active suppression and 'soothing' of 'active energy states.' However, was this characteristic a blessing or a curse? Was it 'storing' energy, or was it 'erasing' the 'possibility' of energy's existence? The research had reached a deadlock.

As for clues regarding the Silent Corridor, they were like a stone dropped into the ocean. Excellence tried a few more times to conduct extremely gentle 'sensory inquiries' using the power of Order; that vague 'existential tendency' that transcended three-dimensional sense of direction still existed, but the pointer was erratic, as if the target was not fixed at a certain coordinate but was drifting in some higher-dimensional 'plane,' or its 'entrance' itself was constantly changing. Stardust invoked all the ship's computing power, attempting to fit and compare this mysterious 'sense of tendency' with all known cosmic navigation models—including conventional star maps, hyperspace Node networks, 'psionic veins' mentioned in the Harmonic Alliance data, 'cosmic string' vibration patterns, and even some wild hypotheses about 'dimensional wrinkles'—but none of the results matched. It pointed to a completely unknown 'destination' that could not be described by current physical and mathematical models.

In contrast, the deep decoding work on the Harmonic Alliance data was like excavating a dust-covered treasure vault; although progress was slow, the rewards were plentiful. Evelyn gradually stripped away layers of encryption, presenting a large amount of information about this mysterious civilization.

This was a highly developed intergalactic civilization coalition that had developed with 'psionic harmonic Resonance' as its cornerstone. Its social structure emphasized the spiritual harmonious unity of the individual and the collective, and its technology tree was tightly centered around the precise Perception, regulation, and application of psionics, developing a system that was distinct from the mainstream technology of The Council, yet equally profound and powerful. Art, philosophy, and even daily life were permeated with the pursuit of 'Order,' 'balance,' 'Resonance,' and 'wholeness.' And the Heart-Devouring Demon, in their records, was clearly labeled as the 'enemy of Order,' 'annihilator of harmony,' and 'source of mental chaos.' The confrontation between the two sides spanned the vast majority of their recorded history, with the flames of war spreading across countless galaxies, fierce and protracted. In the assessment system of the Harmonic Alliance, projections like the eye of suffering, which possessed high-intensity mental pollution and spatial interference capabilities, were classified as 'medium threat, but high infectivity and growth potential targets,' requiring priority clearance or isolation.

Regarding the true form of the Heart-Devouring Demon, the data was still shrouded in a heavy fog. It seemed that even the Harmonic Alliance itself lacked a clear understanding of the ultimate nature of this nemesis, only being able to use abstract and dangerous terms such as 'chaotic whisper from the deep Void,' 'corroder of existential logic,' and 'plague of meaning disintegration' to describe it. But all records pointed to one core: its threat was not just physical destruction and psionic pollution, but a systematic erosion and disintegration of the underlying rules of the universe and the orderliness of 'existence' itself. Areas completely 'digested' by it would gradually lose all understandable logic and structure, eventually collapsing into a 'mad, meaningless Void.'

And those forbidden terms closely related to the stone of silence—the 'source sea,' 'the gate,' and 'the watchers'—only appeared in the top-secret classification marked as 'Ancient Myths and Unverifiable Legends (Access Level: Ω),' and the records were mostly fragmented and vague. The only relatively coherent record described the ancient ancestors of the Harmonic Alliance having observed a cosmic anomaly known as 'echo severance': in some extremely old galactic cores, or certain anomalous 'cold spot' regions in the cosmic microwave background radiation map, there existed zones of indeterminate range where all forms of 'sound' (broadly referring to information transmission, energy fluctuations, and psionic Resonance) could not propagate, and where even traces of 'existence' became blurred. The ancestors speculated that these regions might connect to, or themselves be, some 'final resting place for all sounds and meanings,' which they called the Silent Corridor, viewing it as the 'primal scar' or 'ultimate boundary' of the universe, behind which might hide the 'truth of the origin of all things' or 'primal chaotic fear.' A very small number of explorers, dubbed 'prophets' or 'madmen,' had attempted to venture deep into these regions, but almost all never returned. Occasionally, a survivor would return, only to quickly fall into complete silence or mental derangement, and soon mysteriously perish. Therefore, the Silent Corridor and related legends were gradually sealed away by the Alliance leadership, becoming an untouchable forbidden zone at the edge of civilizational cognition.

"'echo severance' region..." Stardust gazed at this obscure record filtered out by Evelyn, light swirling in her gray eyes. "The phenomenon description presents a high degree of isomorphism with the 'absolute silence' characteristic of the stone of silence. Assuming the Silent Corridor is a macro-region where this 'echo severance' phenomenon exists on a large scale and in a normalized state, then the stone of silence is highly likely to have originated from there, or it is a specific creation specially used to 'interact' with that region—for example, to open or close a certain 'passage' connecting to the 'corridor,' which is the so-called 'the gate.' What the ancestors of the Harmonic Alliance observed might just be the 'aura' leaking out when the 'gate' was unstable, or a vague projection of the scene on the other side of the 'gate'."

"And the Heart-Devouring Demon..." Excellence followed this line of thought, his expression as heavy as iron. "Its essence is erosion, distortion, and the creation of disorder and madness. If what lies beyond the Silent Corridor is truly the so-called 'primal chaos' or 'origin of all things' (which in some philosophical frameworks might be two sides of the same coin), then is the root of the Heart-Devouring Demon's power parasitic here? Or is its ultimate goal to break in there? And are the stone of silence and the watchers the 'lock' and 'gatekeepers' set by an ancient mechanism?"

"The logic chain is preliminarily self-consistent, but the core evidence chain is still missing." White Elder's voice sounded at the right moment. After several days of rest, his spiritual body's fluctuations had become significantly more solid. "However, the intent of this stone once mentioned 'cannot suppress for too long' and 'the real it.' If this stone is indeed part of a 'sealing' or 'suppression' mechanism, even if what it suppresses is not the Heart-Devouring Demon's true body, it must be deeply connected to it. Does its state of decay presage that the suppressed entity is about to awaken? Or... is that 'gate' itself becoming increasingly unstable, requiring the 'key' to return to its position to reinforce it?"

This inference made the temperature inside the cabin seem to drop a few more degrees. If the stone of silence was a key 'wedge' maintaining some ancient seal, then its loosening might mean the seal was failing, and the terrifying entity being sealed was about to break free. And the intensified activity of the Heart-Devouring Demon in recent years (on a cosmic scale) might just be one of the external manifestations of this 'loosening.'

"In any case, this stone is the only substantive clue we currently possess." Excellence took a deep breath of the cold, recycled air, making a phased summary. "Since we cannot temporarily extract more precise coordinates of the Silent Corridor from it, and directly utilizing its characteristics is too high-risk, our most realistic goal at present is to recover and enhance our own operational capabilities as soon as possible: obtain sufficient energy and supplies, and repair and optimize the ship's condition. At the same time, like sifting sand, we must sift through the massive amount of data from the Harmonic Alliance to find all traces regarding the 'echo severance' phenomenon, the locations of anomalous regions, and any possible high-efficiency energy technologies."

"Evelyn, after the data decoding is fully completed, concentrate resources to finish two tasks: First, organize the star map coordinates and observation reports of all documented suspected locations of the 'echo severance' phenomenon in the history of the Harmonic Alliance, regardless of whether they were subsequently verified or observed again. Second, extract all technical literature regarding the exploration, mining, synthesis, and conversion of 'harmonic crystals' and their alternative energy sources for feasibility assessment."

"Instructions recorded. Final decoding of all data packets and the construction of the initial knowledge graph are expected to be completed in thirty-six standard hours." Evelyn responded.

"Stardust, continue to attempt the minimum 'safe interaction' with the stone of silence. At the same time, utilize the decoded psionic technology principles of the Harmonic Alliance to attempt reverse deduction of application or defense models that might be related to the power of Order or the characteristics of the silence field, even if it's just a theoretical framework."

"Understood."

The plan seemed to become clearer, but the road ahead was still shrouded in thick fog. They were like a group of sailors holding broken charts with spinning compass needles, drifting in an unknown dark ocean, needing to repair their leaking ship, wary of the giant beasts that might exist in the sea, and searching for that legendary route that might lead to the other side of the world.

Days passed in a near-frozen silence.

The ranger’s external injuries had largely healed thanks to the efforts of nanobots and engineering units, and its internal systems had undergone deep optimization, resulting in a slight increase in efficiency.

The detection units sent back some good news: in the asteroid belt on the outskirts of the galaxy, several sizable ice-rock hybrids were discovered. By remotely controlling the collection of some water ice, the pressure on water resources was alleviated.

However, the energy crisis still hung overhead like the Sword of Damocles.

Finally, Evelyn completed the final organization and preliminary analysis of all the data provided by the Silent Order.

'Commander, I have discovered high-value anomalous information.' This time, Evelyn's voice carried a rare hint of what could be called a 'fluctuation' in rhythm; clearly, she believed the upcoming discovery was crucial.

'In the deeply encrypted area of the Harmonic Alliance's core historical archives, through multi-layer redundant data restoration and fragment recombination technology, I have recovered a record that had been directionally erased multiple times, yet still left traces.'

'The record shows that about 7,300 standard cycles ago, a top-tier scientific exploration fleet belonging to the Alliance, codenamed 'Deep Space Chord', while cruising conventionally to the edge of the Karrun Void—a vast, empty region confirmed to have almost no conventional matter or energy—detected a sudden and unprecedented 'echo' cessation phenomenon.'

Her speaking speed increased slightly: 'The phenomenon's coverage diameter exceeded five astronomical units, and its duration was 0.32 standard cycles. The fleet attempted to approach for multi-modal scanning, but after entering about 0.1 astronomical units into the edge of the phenomenon's influence, all shipborne external sensors, faster-than-light communication arrays, and even some navigation and detection devices relying on psionic Resonance failed successively within seconds, falling into a state of complete 'silence'.'

The report described the feeling at the time as if the entire fleet had been instantly dragged into an absolute island of 'no sound, no light, and no information transmission'. Before completely losing contact, the 'Deep Space Chord' flagship did its utmost to send back the last set of extremely blurry data fragments and a fragmented, noise-filled psionic thought communication via a pre-set neutrino channel based on physical beacons.'

Evelyn projected the restored data and communication text into the air:

[Data Fragment: Unparseable high-dimensional geometric structure fragment image (noise exceeds 97%)]

[Psionic Communication Text (Partially Restored): '... the watchers ... stone statue ... still in place ... the gate ... is ... vibrating ... frequency ... abnormal ... warning ... do not approach ...']

'Karrun Void? A large-scale, sudden 'echo' cessation?' Excellence felt his heart jump, a shiver mixed with excitement and unease sweeping across his spine. 'Are there more precise coordinates? What happened to that fleet later?'

'The record includes the rough triangulation coordinates at the time the phenomenon occurred, located on one side of the edge of the Karrun Void near the traditional territory of the Harmonic Alliance. However, subsequent notes clearly record that this phenomenon was an isolated, sporadic event. In the several standard cycles that followed, the Alliance dispatched higher-level investigation fleets multiple times to the same coordinates and the surrounding vast area for carpet scanning, but none detected any further anomalies.'

The area was permanently marked as a 'Silent Forbidden Zone', and safety regulations prohibited any Alliance ships from approaching without cause. As for the 'Deep Space Chord' fleet... records show that about five standard cycles after the phenomenon ended, its remaining ships (about 60%) were recovered at another coordinate in the void. All crew members were in a deep coma or suffering from severe cognitive confusion, having no memory of their experiences during the missing period. Furthermore, the data regarding those 0.3 cycles in all ship recording devices had been completely erased and could not be recovered. The fleet was disbanded, and the incident was classified as top secret.'

Stardust had already pulled up the star map. The 'Karrun Void' area marked by Evelyn appeared as a heart-palpitating, nearly pure darkness, far away from any known stars or galaxies, like a hole deliberately cut out of the velvet fabric of the universe.

'Even if it was a one-time event, that location must have something special about it!' In Stardust's eyes, the light of rational analysis and a sharpness akin to 'curiosity' were intertwined. 'The suddenness and large scale of the 'echo' cessation phenomenon, and the 'the gate is vibrating' message sent back before the 'Deep Space Chord' fleet lost contact, strongly suggest that a brief 'penetration' or 'disturbance' occurred in the spatial structure or dimensional level of that area at the time. If the Silent Corridor is a normalized, independent 'dimension' or 'plane', then the edge of the Karrun Void might be a... historical 'weak connection point' or 'temporary interface' between it and the real universe.'

'The risk is extremely high.' Evelyn calmly added her assessment, 'The target area is a known absolute void. Navigating there requires multiple ultra-long-distance jumps, and there are extremely few resource points for resupply along the way. The journey itself is full of uncertainty. And even if we arrive, we will most likely face just an ordinary void; the probability of the sporadic event recurring is less than one in ten thousand. In addition, we must also consider the possibility of being tracked by the Heart-Devouring Demon or its associated forces.'

Just as everyone was weighing whether this adventure, which was like looking for a needle in a haystack, was worth it—

Inside the containment canister that had been sitting on the special analysis table, that piece of 'stone of silence', without any warning, underwent a 'change' once again.

It was not a physical vibration, nor was it an energy leakage. It was a more subtle, indescribable pulse of 'presence,' as if an ancient heart that had been sleeping was gently tapped by some distant, co-frequency 'call' or 'disturbance.' The canister itself did not move at all, but Excellence instantly felt a clear, 'directional' tremor coming from the faint Resonance link maintained by the power of 'Order' between him and that stone!

Immediately after, in his mind, the vague 'sense of direction' regarding the 'Silent Corridor,' which had originally been elusive and hard to grasp, suddenly fixed itself like a compass needle snapped straight by an invisible hand! The pointed 'direction' instantly became clear, stable, and its 'intensity' significantly increased! Although it still could not be described using three-dimensional coordinates, the 'feeling' of its direction showed a shockingly high degree of alignment with the general direction of the 'Karrun Void' on the star map! It was not pointing precisely at that recorded coordinate point, but rather at a certain cosmological 'direction' represented by that vast, empty region!

'Karrun Void... or somewhere near it... is the key!' Excellence stood up abruptly, his voice slightly hoarse from excitement. 'The 'stone of silence' is reacting to that place, to that record! The direction it is pointing has strengthened, and it aligns with the direction of the Karrun Void! What the Alliance fleet observed was very likely a brief 'manifestation' of the boundary of the Silent Corridor! 'the watchers are still there, the gate is vibrating'... this matches the stone's whisper perfectly!'

'But the record clearly states that the phenomenon was an isolated case, and subsequent investigations were fruitless,' Stardust reminded him, though her tone contained less skepticism than inquiry. 'However, if the 'manifestation' of the 'Corridor' requires specific conditions—such as some cosmic-scale energy tide, a specific phase of dimensional folds, or... proximity to the 'key' (stone of silence) or some form of Resonance—then perhaps those conditions happened to be met at that time. And we, now, hold the 'key'.'

'Although it is a hypothesis, it is not without basis.' The White Elder's voice sounded slowly, carrying the steadiness of one who has experienced the vicissitudes of life. 'Since this stone has reacted and the guidance is consistent, it is not without foundation. We are passively hiding here; while we can survive for a while, our energy is gradually depleting, powerful enemies are nearby, and the mystery remains unsolved. Waiting means sitting and waiting for death; moving forward, though fraught with danger, may allow us to find a glimmer of hope to break the deadlock in a desperate situation, or even... catch a glimpse of the truth behind the 'Heart-Devouring Demon' and the 'the gate'.'

Was it better to continue hiding in this safe, desolate land, slowly consuming the remaining resources, passively waiting for a turning point that might never come, while nervously guarding against a pursuit from an unknown source? Or should they bet everything and head toward the 'Silent Forbidden Zone' that had only flashed for 0.3 cycles in the records, relying on the guidance of a 'stone' that was itself full of mysteries, to search for the 'the gate' and answers that might not even exist?

Excellence's gaze slowly swept over Stardust's calm and focused face, feeling the mental fluctuation of the White Elder, which had been tempered by endless years but now contained a sense of determination. Finally, his gaze settled on that containment canister—on that pitch-black, silent crystal that now seemed to be resonating invisibly with the distant void.

'Evelyn,' he said, his voice calm but carrying a determination that cut through all hesitation, 'using our current position as the starting point, calculate the most efficient and covert route to the edge of the Karrun Void, near the general area where the 'echo' cessation phenomenon occurred in the records. Comprehensively assess the risk level, estimated duration, and resource consumption limits of the entire journey, and... develop multiple emergency response plans, including emergency return, on-site concealment, and even... worst-case scenarios.'

'Route calculation and comprehensive assessment started...' The light of Evelyn's spirit form flowed, and her massive computing power began to operate. '...Calculation complete. Plan summary: Five ultra-long-distance directional space jumps are required, with an estimated total travel time of forty-one standard days and seventeen hours. The route will pass through two galaxies assessed as 'barren' in terms of resources; resource collection in extreme environments can be attempted, but the success rate is less than 40%. The last two legs of the journey will penetrate deep into the absolute void zone on the outskirts of the Karrun Void, during which no resupply is possible, and conventional sensor efficiency will decay to below 10%. Overall risk assessment level: High. Recommendation: Before departure, maximize energy and material reserves as much as possible; during the voyage, maintain the highest level of concealment; after arriving at the target area, prioritize passive detection and the 'stone of silence' sensing to avoid active exposure.'

Forty-one days... in the deep space, fraught with crisis and an uncertain future, this was a journey long enough for anything to happen.

'Prepare,' Excellence made the final decision, his voice echoing clearly in the silent cabin. 'Set the course, destination, the edge of the Karrun Void. We are going to see with our own eyes what kind of secrets are hidden behind that 'the gate' that the Harmonic Alliance treats with such taboo, that the watchers guard in solitude, and that the Heart-Devouring Demon might be stirring for.'

'Command confirmed. Course locked, injected into the navigation core. In one hour, the first space jump program will be initiated. All crew members, please perform the final checks and preparations before the long-range voyage.' Evelyn's spirit form flickered slightly, beginning to adjust the spaceship to its optimal state for this unknown expedition.

Stardust silently and swiftly began the final equipment checks and material inventory before departure. The White Elder's wooden carving also floated to the maintenance bay for one last deep psionic harmonization and carrier maintenance.

Excellence took one last look at that containment canister. Beneath the multiple layers of isolation, the black crystal still exuded a 'silence' that devoured everything, but the changing light at its core seemed more... 'active' than ever before. It was no longer just a silent 'key' or 'seal,' but more like a silent 'guide' awakened by the destination.

The ranger adjusted its posture lightly, and the main thruster nozzles at the tail glowed with a faint, pre-heating blue light, like the eyes of a giant beast slowly opening, gazing into deep space. It was about to leave this desolate star region where it had been temporarily residing, transforming once again into a silver arrow, shooting toward that absolute land of darkness and silence called the 'Karrun Void'.

Outside the porthole, the stars rotated eternally, indifferently watching the choice of this tiny spaceship. The engines began to emit a low, ready-to-fire roar, which was the only faint and stubborn echo in this silent deep space that dared to challenge the void.

And beneath this echo, a larger and more ancient mystery concerning 'silence', 'the gate', and the 'ultimate truth' was slowly revealing the tip of its iceberg on the other side of the darkness.