578: Chapter 574 Discovering Traces

He immediately issued orders to adjust the detection parameters of the Waterdrop Probes, increase the intensity of the search, and expand the detection range to the entire low-level Universe bubble and its surrounding Chaos regions. Simultaneously, he activated all advanced detection equipment on the main ship, including the High-Dimensional Consciousness Tracker, the Trace Restorer, and the Divine Soul Signal Capturer, to thoroughly investigate every corner. Not even the dimensional cracks at the edge of the Universe bubble or the deep caves inside planets would be overlooked.

Time trickled by—one standard day, two standard days, three standard days... Kairos remained steadfast on the bridge without a moment's rest or the slightest negligence.

For a Middle Stage Star Cluster Level powerhouse, going without sleep was nothing. He piloted the [Eternal Silence] main ship, shuttling back and forth within the low-level Universe bubble to conduct search after search. From the edges of the Universe bubble to its core, from the surface of every planet to the interior of every nebula, and from every dimensional crack to every fragment of Chaos, he searched repeatedly. The cumulative number of searches exceeded ten thousand, and the area investigated covered every corner of the entire low-level Universe bubble. The detection data consumed was enough to fill thousands of small databases.

During this time, the captains of the other eleven warships also reported their detection progress to Kairos multiple times via the communicator, their tones filled with perfunctoriness: "Commander, our probes have already checked all surrounding areas and found no abnormal signals, nor have we captured any trace of Aires. It's likely he isn't even in this Universe bubble."

"Commander, is continuing the search just a waste of time?"

Some crew members even gossiped privately, believing Kairos was being too persistent. They felt it was like looking for a needle in a haystack, yet he insisted on expending so much energy, delaying the time they could spend living like local emperors.

But Kairos did not waver in the slightest. He continued to order an increase in search intensity, refusing to overlook even the smallest clue.

He knew very well that the more abnormal a phenomenon was, the more clues were hidden behind it;

The harder it was to find a trace, the more it indicated that Aires' disappearance was not simple. He had to find Aires and uncover the truth; otherwise, he would be unable to account to the Star Lord, nor could he settle the doubts in his own heart.

Just as the search reached the tenth standard day and Kairos had completed over ten thousand comprehensive searches—nearly turning this low-level Universe bubble upside down—the [Eternal Silence] main ship's central database suddenly emitted an abnormal alarm. The AI immediately reported: "Commander, a weak Chaos energy fluctuation has been detected near the orbit of a rocky planet in the core region of the Universe bubble. The fluctuation characteristics are perfectly consistent with the Chaos energy fluctuations of an Ω-7 Wormhole Shuttle. It is suspected to be a trace left by Aires' wormhole shuttle!"

Kairos' Mechanical Compound Eyes flashed with red light. His face still showed no emotional fluctuation, but his heart stirred slightly—after ten thousand searches, there was finally a lead.

He immediately pulled up the detection data and energy fluctuation curves transmitted back by the Waterdrop Probes to examine them closely.

This Chaos energy fluctuation was extremely weak—so weak it was almost masked by the Chaos energy within the Universe bubble. Had the [Eternal Silence] not been equipped with the Tianxuan Universe's most advanced detection equipment, and had the AI not repeatedly analyzed and restored it, this trace could never have been discovered.

What puzzled Kairos even more was that this Chaos energy fluctuation was not a natural residue; it had been deliberately erased using special technology. The fluctuation trajectory was incomplete, with obvious breaks and blurred marks, and the remaining molecular fragments had also been intentionally cleaned. Clearly, someone did not want Aires' whereabouts to be discovered and had attempted to completely wipe his traces from this low-level Universe bubble.

To be able to achieve this, and to precisely erase the Chaos energy fluctuations of an Ω-7 Wormhole Shuttle, was something no ordinary person or ordinary civilization could do.

Even he, at the Middle Stage Star Cluster Level, could not have done it!!

"Immediately deploy all Waterdrop Probes to that area for in-depth detection. Focus on capturing Chaos energy fluctuations and Divine Soul signals, and use all efforts to restore the erased traces. Simultaneously, activate the High-Dimensional Consciousness Tracker to investigate if there are traces of special wills or Aires' Divine Soul signal in that area."

Kairos ordered immediately, his tone firm and without hesitation. "Furthermore, notify the [Eternal Silence] detection team to prepare. They are to carry detection equipment and rescue gear and accompany me to the area for a field investigation. Also, inform the captains of the other eleven warships to stop all irrelevant activities immediately. Everyone is to head over to search this area. Deploy all available detection equipment to coordinate with the main ship's investigation. No perfunctoriness allowed!"

"Yes, Commander!" The adjutant acted immediately, quickly relaying Kairos' orders.

The engines of the [Eternal Silence] main ship roared once more as the Dimensional Traversal System was fully activated. The space around the ship began to warp and fold, forming a massive wormhole as it sped toward the rocky planet in the core region of the Universe bubble.

As for the crew members of the other eleven warships, although they were dissatisfied after receiving Kairos' orders and unwilling to give up the pleasure of living like local emperors, they did not dare to disobey him.

They immediately shut down their Time Accelerators, recalled the crew members who had descended to the planetary surfaces, and deployed all available detection equipment, racing toward the rocky planet in the core region of the Universe bubble to cooperate with the [Eternal Silence] main ship in conducting an in-depth investigation.

They knew very well that since Kairos had issued such an order, it meant a key clue had been found. As long as they could find Aires and complete the mission, they could apply for a few days of leave and return to their own "Empires" to continue living like local emperors.

Over a hundred Waterdrop Probes arrived at the target area, constantly shuttling around that rocky planet and meticulously checking every corner.

The surface environment of this rocky planet was extremely harsh, with no liquid water or atmosphere. The temperature was as low as minus two hundred degrees Celsius, and it was covered in meteorite craters. There were no signs of life or energy fluctuations, appearing desolate and normal. However, the Chaos energy fluctuations captured by the Waterdrop Probes clearly indicated that Aires' wormhole shuttle had been here and had stayed for a period of time.

"Continue the investigation. Focus on those large meteorite craters and the core region of the planet!"

The hundred-plus Waterdrop Probes immediately adjusted their directions. Some flew toward the large craters on the planet's surface, while others delved deep into the planet's core. The detection intensity was set to maximum as they exerted every effort to capture any hint of an abnormal signal.

However, just as one of the Waterdrop Probes approached the largest crater on the planet's surface and prepared to investigate deeply, a sudden change occurred!

An extremely faint, almost imperceptible pale purple light suddenly flashed from the bottom of the crater. It moved with extreme speed, instantly striking that Waterdrop Probe.

Following that, a faint "bang" of an explosion sounded. The Waterdrop Probe was instantly detonated, turning into a cluster of silver-white specks of light that dissipated into space. No wreckage remained, and it didn't even have time to emit a single energy fluctuation before being completely annihilated.

Everyone in the command center was momentarily stunned, their faces showing expressions of disbelief.

"Wha... what happened? Why did the probe suddenly explode?" The adjutant's expression changed as he hurriedly manipulated the panel to check the last data transmitted by the probe. However, the screen showed only static, with no useful information. "Commander, the probe was hit by an unknown energy and was instantly annihilated. We cannot capture the source of the attack, nor can we analyze the nature of that energy!"