258: Chapter 258 Deciphering the Data: The Enemy's Weakness
The "Ark" City, in the "Restricted Zone" laboratory at the deepest part of the research center.
This place was once used to dissect the deformed technology of the "Underworld" and the "avengers." At this moment, it welcomed a more important, and even more dangerous "research subject" — the core data that Lin Mo had snatched back from the hands of the "Correction Protocol."
On the holographic projection, countless data streams refreshed frantically like a waterfall. That data was compressed to the extreme, encrypted to the extreme, and protected to the extreme. Every byte carried complex information that would give an ordinary research team headaches for years.
But in front of Lin Mo, they were being peeled away layer by layer.
His new body, although still in the adaptation period, his consciousness — the consciousness that had been tempered for thirty days in the high-dimensional void and had fought a life-and-death struggle against pursuit programs in the "Kunlun" world — was more powerful than ever before.
The way he "saw" data had already surpassed any human expert.
He no longer needed to analyze line by line, no longer needed to repeatedly deduce. He could directly perceive the logical structure behind that data, could directly touch the core flaws of those encryption algorithms, and could directly "see" the truth hidden in the deepest parts of the countless information.
"system, retrieve the seventh-layer data packet. Set the frequency band filter to —"
[Already completed. Key information extracted.] The voice of the 'system' rang out, carrying a trace of vibration that even an AI could not fully conceal.
On the holographic projection, a huge, dizzyingly complex network topology map slowly unfolded.
That was the command structure of the "Scavenger" fleet.
It was not the hierarchical command familiar to humans, not a decentralized node network, but a unified, highly centralized — central consciousness network, like a living nervous system.
Every "Scavenger" unit, regardless of size or function, was a "neuron" on this network. They had no independent consciousness, no independent decision-making power, and not even an independent "existence." They were just a group of moving, attacking, self-repairing marionettes controlled by the central core consciousness.
And that central core consciousness was the "Correction Protocol."
Or rather, it was an "avatar" projected by the "Correction Protocol" onto this fleet.
The true "Correction Protocol," that conscious entity so ancient it surpassed the limits of human imagination, was still hidden at some unknown coordinate in the depths of the galaxy. But its "avatar" was currently sitting at the core of the "Scavenger" main fleet, commanding tens of thousands of warships, approaching the Solar System.
"This is a... living neural network." Dr. Elena Chen stood in front of the holographic projection, her face pale, her voice trembling, "Every 'Scavenger' unit is not an independent individual. They are different limbs of the same 'brain.' Attacking one is equivalent to attacking all. Facing one is equivalent to facing ten thousand."
She turned her head and looked at Lin Mo: "The battle we had before, the three 'Scavenger' vanguards we faced, were just three 'peripheral nerves' on this network. And now, what is rushing towards us is the entire 'brain.'"
In the laboratory, there was dead silence.
Everyone stared at that huge network topology map, staring at those dense, star-like nodes, staring at those thick, suffocating data channels connecting all the nodes.
That was not an enemy that could be defeated by brute force.
That was a — system — that needed to be dismantled from the root.
Lin Mo sat in his wheelchair, staring at that map, motionless.
His fingers were tapping lightly on the armrest of the wheelchair, making a rhythmic, crisp sound.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
That was him thinking.
That was him searching in that endless, complex data maze for the only, faint light that could illuminate the path ahead.
Found it.
His fingers suddenly stopped.
Everyone's eyes focused on him at the same time.
Lin Mo raised his head, looked at the network topology map, looked at those dense nodes, looked at those thick data channels.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"It has a weakness." His voice was calm, but it clearly entered everyone's ears.
Everyone was stunned.
A weakness? That ancient conscious entity that had lived for who knows how many billions of years, that ultimate existence that created the "Scavenger" and led the entire universe's "civilization purification" program — had a weakness?
"Look here." Lin Mo raised his hand and tapped lightly on the holographic projection.
That huge network topology map was instantly magnified and focused. Countless nodes and channels dissipated, leaving only a tiny, almost unnoticeable area.
That area was located near the "core" of the entire network, the inevitable path for data exchange between the central consciousness avatar and countless "Scavenger" units.
On the data channel in that area, there existed an extremely tiny, almost imperceptible — delay.
Not a physical layer delay. It was a logical layer one.
It was a permanent trauma left behind by the "Correction Protocol" during countless years of operation, due to the final resistance of some ancient civilization.
That ancient civilization, at the last moment when they were forced into a desperate situation by the "Scavenger," condensed all their wisdom, all their power, and all their hatred into an ultimate "logic bomb," and smashed it fiercely into the core of the "Correction Protocol."
That bomb did not destroy the "Correction Protocol."
But it tore open an extremely tiny, yet forever unhealable — wound — on that cold, perfect, and impeccable logical core.
That wound was the only weakness of the "Correction Protocol."
And it was also the only flaw of the "Scavenger" fleet.
"If we can create a 'logic virus' of a specific frequency and precisely attack that wound," Lin Mo's voice became faster and more powerful, "we can cause the judgment of the central consciousness avatar to experience brief chaos. That chaos will spread instantly across the entire network along the data channels."
"All 'Scavenger' units will lose unified command at the same moment."
"They will become a group of headless flies."
"They will become a pile of — scrap metal — waiting for us to slaughter."
In the laboratory, there was a brief silence.
An explosion of long-suppressed, relieved cheers erupted!
Some hugged, some wept, some slumped in chairs, gasping for breath.
Found it.
Finally found it.
That only, faint — hope — hidden in the endless darkness.
Lin Mo did not cheer.
He just sat quietly in his wheelchair, looking at the magnified network topology map, looking at that tiny, yet change-everything "delay area."
In his mind, he had already begun to conceive the prototype of that "logic virus."
He gave it a name —
"Immortal Slayer."
Slaughtering those self-righteous, high-and-mighty — immortals — who view all living beings as ants.
"Give me three months." He raised his head, looking at Elder Chen, looking at Su Xiaowan, looking at those excited, yet still nervous faces in the laboratory, "Three months later, I will hand the 'Immortal Slayer' virus to you."
Elder Chen looked at him, his eyes reddening.
"Okay." His voice was hoarse, "We will wait for you."
Su Xiaowan walked to Lin Mo's side and gently held his hand.
Those hands were still cold.
But when holding hers, they would apply a slight pressure.
That was him saying: Don't be afraid. I am here.
Lin Mo turned his head and looked at the endless starry sky outside the window.
There, that massive, all-destroying "Scavenger" main fleet was approaching the Solar System at an unstoppable speed.
But he was no longer afraid.
Because he knew their weakness.
Because he had a weapon to deal with them.
Because behind him stood countless people willing to give everything for this civilization.
"Come on." He said softly, "Let me see how you can still be so arrogant."
Starlight sprinkled onto his face.