270: The final battle plan: Reboot the Genesis Engine!

At the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, on the event horizon of the Sagittarius A* black hole.

That once overbearing Star Devourer war fortress had now completely transformed into a massive, dead, "two-dimensional scroll," floating silently above the black hole's accretion disk, like a giant tombstone silently recounting the annihilation of a hegemonic civilization.

In front of the scroll, the massive, silver-white hull of the "expedition" was bathed in the faint, radioactive glow of the black hole, appearing exceptionally cold and sacred.

On the bridge, the atmosphere was heavy to the extreme.

Everyone's gaze was focused on the young man standing before the command console, confronting a mysterious vortex emitting a soft white light.

"Format the core program?"

When Lu Chen's insane and daring "surgery" plan clearly echoed across the bridge, Su Qingying was the first to step forward, her face filled with worry.

"Lu Chen! Have you lost your mind?!"

"That is the 'genesis engine'! It is a creation of a Six-Dimensional Civilization! Its underlying logic is something we simply cannot comprehend! If you rashly use a Causality weapon to interfere with it, and it fails, the backlash at the rule level will be enough to completely erase you—and even our entire fleet—from this universe!"

"I know."

Lu Chen turned around to look into Su Qingying's anxious eyes, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

"But Qingying, we have no other choice."

"This engine is like a supercomputer infected with a virus. If we don't format it completely, even if we leave today, one day it will be reactivated by some new 'virus,' continuing its ridiculous 'the cleaners' work."

"When that happens, it might be our Earth that suffers."

Su Qingying fell silent.

She knew Lu Chen was right.

This was a tumor that had to be removed, otherwise, the consequences would be endless.

"But what about the success rate?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Has heavenly craft calculated it?"

[Report.]

The virtual figure of heavenly craft appeared in mid-air. For the first time, a look of hesitation appeared on her perfect face.

[Based on current data projections, the success rate of forcibly rewriting the core program of the 'genesis engine' using the 'destiny' system is less than one percent.]

"Hiss—"

As soon as this number was announced, a collective gasp echoed across the bridge.

One percent?!

How is this any different from going to your death?!

"Commander Lu! You can't do this!"

Zhan Lang slapped his thigh, sweating profusely. "This isn't a battle; this is gambling with your life! And you're gambling with your own life! We don't agree!"

"That's right! We don't agree!"

"At worst, we'll just stay here and wear it down! I don't believe it can crawl out of the black hole!"

One hundred Super Soldiers roared in unison, their voices filled with worry and loyalty toward Lu Chen.

Looking at the group of soldiers before him who had come to view him as their faith, a warm current flowed through Lu Chen's heart. Yet, the determination in his eyes did not waver in the slightest.

"Do you think we still have time to waste on it?"

Lu Chen sneered, pointing to the blood-red countdown constantly ticking on the holographic star map.

"Don't forget that in less than three hundred years, the real 'the cleaners' will arrive."

"If we cannot fully master the power of the 'genesis engine' and turn it into our own weapon before then, what will we use to fight them?"

"Will you use your heads to ram them?!"

The entire bridge fell into dead silence once again.

That's right, with wolves in front and tigers behind, they simply had no right to be at ease.

"But a one percent success rate is just too low," Su Qingying still refused to give up, gripping Lu Chen's arm tightly, her eyes reddening. "Is there really no other way?"

"Conventional methods? No."

Lu Chen gently stroked her long hair, his voice soft but firm.

"But—"

The corners of his mouth curled into that familiar, demonic smile that made all his enemies shudder.

"Who said we were going to use 'conventional' methods?"

"Huh?!"

Everyone's eyes instantly lit up, as if they had seen a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

"heavenly craft!"

Lu Chen turned abruptly, a stunning brilliance of wisdom erupting in his eyes!

"Recalculate!"

"What if I go in personally?"

"What?!"

This time, even the usually calm heavenly craft screamed out in shock.

[Master! No! Absolutely not!]

[The core of the 'genesis engine' is a pure logical world! Once your consciousness enters, it will be instantly overwhelmed by that unimaginably massive torrent of data! You will get completely lost inside and become a mindless vegetable!]

"What if we add this?"

Lu Chen remained unmoved. He slowly raised his right hand, and at the center of his forehead, a golden, mysterious "seed" mark slowly emerged.

That was the "Fire Seed"! It was the ultimate legacy left by the Six-Dimensional Civilization! It was also the true form of the system in Lu Chen's mind!

[This...]

heavenly craft's data stream instantly became chaotic, and her super-brain began to operate at an unprecedented speed.

Countless formulas, models, and possibilities flashed, collided, and annihilated in her perception.

One minute later.

[Report, Master.]

heavenly craft's voice carried a hint of incredulous trembling.

[If... if you can use the 'Fire Seed' as a medium to link your consciousness with the 'genesis engine' in a homologous connection...]

[Then, the success rate of rewriting the core program...]

[Will increase from one percent...]

[To...]

[Ninety-nine percent!]

Boom!!!

As soon as this number was announced, the entire bridge erupted!

Everyone looked at the calm young man as if looking at a god!

Putting his own body into the game!

Finding life in the midst of death!

This was the true high-stakes gamble!

"Very good."

Lu Chen nodded in satisfaction.

"But having a success rate isn't enough."

"I need an insurance policy."

His gaze swept across the room, finally landing on Su Qingying's pretty face, which was filled with worry.

"Qingying."

"I'm here."

"If—I mean, if."

Lu Chen's voice became incredibly gentle, yet carried a hint of unquestionable entrustment.

"If, after one hour, I haven't come out."

"You are to initiate the final self-destruct sequence of the 'expedition'."

"Blow this place up, along with that black hole."

"No! I won't!"

Su Qingying's tears instantly flowed down, and she gripped Lu Chen's hand tightly, shaking her head desperately.

"I don't want to! If we die, we die together!"

"Be good."

Lu Chen cupped her face, gently wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his gaze filled with indulgence and apology.

"This universe cannot exist without the sun, but it also cannot exist without the moon."

"I am the spear of human civilization, responsible for breaking through thorns."

"And you—"

He lowered his head and gently pressed a kiss onto Su Qingying's smooth forehead.

"Are the last hope I leave for this civilization."

"Believe me, I will come back."

Having said that, he hesitated no longer.

He turned abruptly and strode toward the teleportation beam leading to the final battlefield.

"heavenly craft!"

His voice echoed across the empty bridge, carrying an indomitable determination!

"Initiate 'soul link'!"

"Send me in!"