238: A dimensional reduction attack? Sorry, I can ascend to a higher dimension!

Looking at the Two-Dimensional Foil encapsulation card in Lu Chen's hand, as thin as a cicada's wing and shimmering with a dreamlike radiance, everyone in the entire laboratory didn't even dare to breathe.

It felt like a group of primitivesSurround a nuclear bomb counting down. Even without understanding the principle, the fear stemming from biological instinct still made everyone's hair stand on end.

“This… this is the legendary Two-Dimensional Foil?”

Although 'War Wolf' was a rough man and didn't understand profound physics, he could feel the terrifying aura contained within that thing. He subconsciously pulled his neck back and asked in a dry voice, “Commander Lu, if this thing is thrown out, can it really flatten that… Star Devourer?”

“Flatten?”

Lu Chen smiled and casually tossed the card, which was capable of destroying the Solar System, scaring the surrounding Old Academicians into near cardiac arrest.

“No, that's not accurate. It should be said that it turns them from 'three-dimensional' to 'two-dimensional,' from 'living beings' to 'dead pictures.'”

He put the card away again, his gaze sweeping across the room, his eyes instantly becoming sharp.

“But, has everyone considered a question?”

“We have a spear that can stab the enemy to death. But what if the enemy also has the same spear, or even a sharper one? How do we defend ourselves?”

As soon as this question was posed, the scene instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Yes, how to defend?

Dimensionality reduction strikes are irreversible law weapons. Once space begins to collapse, not even the speed of light can escape. Any existing energy shields or armor are as ridiculous as air in the face of dimensional collapse.

“Are we just waiting for death?” Qingying bit her lip, her face pale.

“In a three-dimensional world, yes, you can only wait for death.”

Lu Chen walked to the holographic console, placing his hands on the tabletop, a crazy glint flashing in his dark eyes.

“But who said we have to stay in the three-dimensional world and take a beating?”

“Dimensions can not only be reduced, but also ascended.”

“Ascend… ascend dimensions?!”

All the scientists present exclaimed. This concept had existed in theoretical physics for a long time, but no one ever believed it was feasible. Elevating a macroscopic object from three dimensions to four? The energy and technology required would be astronomical!

“Exactly, dimensional ascension.”

Lu Chen snapped his fingers, and a complex geometric model instantly appeared on the holographic screen.

“Imagine an ant crawling on a piece of paper. Facing the paper that is about to curl and burn, no matter which direction it runs, it's a dead end. Because it's trapped in a two-dimensional plane.”

“But what if a hand picks it up from the paper?”

Lu Chen's finger made a 'lifting' motion in the air, his eyes bursting with brilliance.

“When it leaves the paper and enters three-dimensional space, no matter how the paper burns, curls, or even gets torn to shreds, it won't be harmed in the slightest.”

“Because it no longer belongs to that dimension!”

“This is what I want to teach you, the only solution to counter a dimensionality reduction strike—”

“Dimensional Submergence!”

“Now, everyone immediately enter the 'Dimensional Protection Pod'! We are going to conduct the first physical dimensional ascension experiment!”

With Lu Chen's command, the entire expedition instantly entered its highest state of combat readiness.

Although filled with fear of the unknown, due to their almost blind trust in Lu Chen, everyone rushed into the specially designed protection pods at top speed.

“heavenly craft!”

“Here, Master.”

“Activate the 'Dimensional Anchor'! Load the 'Calabi-Yau' space-folding algorithm! Target dimension: 3+1 dimensions (pseudo-four-dimensional)!”

“Energy output: One hundred percent!”

“Charge!”

“Buzz—!”

Accompanied by a low hum that made one's soul tremble, the never-before-activated Dimensional Engine, installed deep within the core of the expedition, finally let out its first roar!

An indescribable, strange sensation instantly enveloped everyone on the spaceship.

It wasn't weightlessness, nor was it overload.

It was a feeling of 'insight'.

Lu Chen, sitting in the captain's chair, suddenly opened his eyes.

In that instant, he saw everything.

Walls were no longer obstacles; he could clearly see the wiring, pipes, and even molecular structures inside the walls; he looked down and saw not just the floor, but also the machine room below the floor, the running engine, and even the vast starry sky outside the spaceship.

All concepts of 'inside' and 'outside' vanished at this moment.

The entire world in his eyes was like an orange peeled, all structures, all secrets laid bare before him, completely visible!

Is this the four-dimensional perspective?!

“Oh my God…”

Qingying's trembling voice came through the communication channel, filled with endless shock and intoxication.

“I… I see myself! I see the back of my head! I even see my internal organs beating! This is insane! This is wonderful!”

Not just her, all the scientists went mad.

They saw the 'hypercube' structure that had only existed in theoretical derivations, saw the curling and unfolding of space, and saw time flowing slowly beside them like a river.

From this perspective, the originally massive expedition looked like an exquisite yet crude paper model.

And the universe outside had transformed into an even grander, more profound three-dimensional scroll!

“Is this what it feels like to be a god?”

War Wolf stared blankly at his hands. He felt as if he could simply reach out and, passing through layers of armor, crush a meteor outside. This illusion of controlling everything made him tremble all over.

“Don't get carried away.”

Lu Chen's voice sounded at the right moment, still calm, but it was like thunder in everyone's minds.

“This is just a 'pseudo-four-dimensional' state. We are merely 'borrowing' a height in three-dimensional space using a high-energy field; we haven't truly become four-dimensional beings. The energy consumption is enormous, we can't sustain it for long.”

“Now, heavenly craft, begin the simulated attack!”

“Deploy a 'Two-Dimensional Foil' simulated projectile! Target: Our original coordinates!”

“Yes!”

The next second, in the holographic vision, a simulated Two-Dimensional Foil erupted at the three-dimensional coordinates where the expedition had originally been!

Terrifying dimensional collapse occurred instantly!

The space in that area instantly collapsed towards the center like a skin from which the skeleton had been removed. The originally three-dimensional meteors, dust, and even light, upon contact with that spreading 'membrane,' had no power to resist and were instantly flattened.

The three-dimensional structure disintegrated, its thickness reduced to zero, turning into colorful yet utterly desolate 'pictures'.

That destruction was absolute, irreversible, and filled with despair.

If the expedition had remained there, it would have by now become a silver graffiti on this scroll.

But now…

Lu Chen and his crew were quietly 'floating' above.

They watched as the space beneath them was flattened, watching the terrifying dimensional storm rage.

Yet, that storm, capable of destroying everything, didn't even touch the hems of their clothes.

It was like a person standing on the shore, watching fish struggle in a whirlpool.

That sense of transcendence, superiority, and absolute safety, viewing destruction as nothing, impacted everyone's soul like never before.

“Is this a dimensionality reduction strike?”

Qingying murmured, looking at the starfield that had completely turned into a 'piece of paper,' her eyes filled with awe.

“In the eyes of lower-dimensional beings, this is the apocalypse.”

“But in the eyes of higher-dimensional beings…”

“It's just crumpling a piece of paper.”

Lu Chen finished her sentence, his tone indifferent, yet exuding a domineering aura that made people want to worship him.

“Now, do you understand?”

“In this dark forest, so-called defenses, armor, and shields are all jokes in the face of dimensional weapons!”

“There is only one way to survive—”

He pointed to the even deeper, more ineffable void above their heads.

“That is upwards!”

“Constantly climbing upwards, to the top of the food chain, to the end of dimensions!”

“Until we become the one who…”

“Crumbles the paper!”

“Boom—!”

As Lu Chen's words fell, the fear in the eyes of all the Super Soldiers and all the scientists completely vanished.

In its place was an ambition and fanaticism hotter than any star!

What 'cleaner,' what 'Star Devourer,' what 'God-level Civilization'...

As long as we follow Commander Lu! As long as we master this power…

We are gods!

“Alarm cleared, preparing for dimensional descent and return.”

Lu Chen looked at the morale-boosted crowd and nodded with satisfaction.

As a wave of dizziness came, the omniscient and omnipotent God's perspective quickly receded, and the world returned to its familiar, though narrow, yet reassuring three-dimensional form.

Many even felt a strong sense of loss, as if they had fallen from heaven back to earth.

But Lu Chen didn't give them time to savor it.

He turned around and looked at the Star Devourer's hive star map, still glowing blood-red on the big screen, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

“The spear is ready, and so is the shield.”

“Now, everything is prepared.”

He picked up the communicator and connected to Chief Number One, who was anxiously waiting on Earth.

“Chief, this is Lu Chen.”

“Tell our folks back home to warm up the wine.”

“We're going to…”

“Wipe out that nest of bugs!”