119: Chapter 118 Aftershocks, Submitting the Paper and a New Countdown

27 days after the ruling, on the Siberian ice sheet, 117 seconds after the execution of the Absolute Zero plan.

The blue-white Absolute Zero energy field, like an invisible giant hand made of frost and stagnant time, gripped the boiling dark purple core beneath the ice sheet tightly.

On the monitoring screen, the number representing the awakening progress of "cold fang," having broken through 75%, held for less than three seconds before beginning to fluctuate violently, then collapsing like an avalanche: 75.0% → 68.4% → 55.1% → 42.7%...

"Its activity has been suppressed!" Shen Qinglan stared at the data, her voice trembling with the relief of having survived a disaster. "The spacetime condensate is forming! The strength of the freezing force field and the logic virus seal... is recovering! It's even stronger than before the intervention! It... it's been frozen back!"

In the control room of the monitoring station, the suffocating silence was broken by a series of heavy gasps. Zhao Yan released his tightly clenched fists, his palms marked deeply by his fingernails. Had they succeeded? Had that monster, which had almost devoured global civilization, actually been... pushed back by this hasty and risky strike?

But Zhou Zhe's voice immediately came through the communication channel, carrying an unquestionable severity: "Don't celebrate too early. The interference effect between the Absolute Zero field and the original seal is manifesting. Look at the deep spacetime curvature readings—violent 'spacetime turbulence' is occurring inside the condensate. The consciousness of cold fang has not been annihilated; it has only been forcibly 'slowed down' and 'fragmented.' Its time flow rate inside the condensate might be only one-millionth of that in the outside world, but its consciousness structure has consequently been torn into countless fragments, repeating predatory dreams in the extremely slow time... This could lead to unpredictable aberrations in its consciousness. When the seal is lifted or fails one day in the future..."

He did not continue, but the meaning was clear: they had imposed a crueler imprisonment on this monster than before, but they might also have created a more unstable, more... insane future bomb.

"How long can it be re-sealed?" Lin Shen asked.

"According to the model... if there is no more large-scale influx of negative emotional energy to stimulate it, and the sealing structure remains stable, at least... fifty years. Enough time for us to find a more thorough solution, or..." Zhou Zhe paused, "or wait until the pruning ship fleet arrives and turns this place, along with us, into Ashes."

Fifty years. For a civilization, a lot can happen. Or... it might not be enough for anything.

Just then, an emergency communication from the Pacific Ocean floating platform forcibly cut in. This time it was Xu Haifeng, who was stationed there, his voice full of horror: "The consciousness shock from Siberia has stopped! But the containment structure of the 'Return to Ruins' node... has undergone a permanent change! Over 40% of the containment runes have been corroded and assimilated by the energy of 'cold fang,' turning into... a hybrid structure! The node shell now looks like a bizarre puzzle of half metal and half dark purple crystal! The consciousness fluctuation of the 'Abyss Devourer'... it has changed!"

"Changed into what?" Elena asked urgently.

"More... 'clear.' Before, it was chaotic whispers and pulses of hunger. Now..." Xu Haifeng seemed to be struggling to find the right words, "it's like... an entity that originally possessed only pure 'thirst for knowledge' but has just been forcibly instilled with massive amounts of 'emotion' and 'malice.' In its fluctuations, negative emotional colors similar to 'anger,' 'revenge,' and 'jealousy'... those belonging to 'cold fang,' have begun to appear. Moreover, it is attempting to use this new 'hybrid consciousness' to reverse-analyze and probe the corrosive energy that 'cold fang' left on the containment structure! They are... learning from each other! Polluting each other!"

A void-perceiving entity that feeds on information has begun to understand and absorb emotions; a biological weapon that feeds on emotions has begun to attempt to transmit information and logic. What will this cross-"species" consciousness fusion and pollution produce?

No one knows. But everyone knows that this is definitely not a good thing.

"What about the stability of the node itself?" Lin Shen asked.

"Because the containment structure has been partially assimilated, the 'locked' state between the node and the 'Abyss Devourer' has... loosened," Xu Haifeng reported. "The node stability has slightly recovered to 33%, but... its energy output mode has changed. It has begun to intermittently release a kind of... composite consciousness probe that mixes the 'Abyss Devourer's' thirst for knowledge with 'cold fang's' emotional colors. The probe intensity is very low, but the direction... seems to have no specific target, just randomly scattering toward various parts of the Earth, and even... deep space."

Randomly scattering consciousness probes? Like a child who has just received a new toy and can't wait to test it? Or a prisoner trying to use newly acquired abilities to find more "food" or... "companions"?

"Strengthen monitoring of all Gaia Network nodes, especially the 'Cradle' and the remaining unknown deep space node," Lin Shen ordered. "Track the final destination of these probes and any feedback signals."

At the same time, across the globe, the aftershocks of social unrest.

The success of the Absolute Zero plan (at least a temporary success), as well as that dark purple "beam of light" that pierced the sky and eventually vanished in the direction of the Pacific Ocean, was recorded by countless accidental eyewitnesses and monitoring equipment still in operation around the world. Although governments quickly initiated information control, various blurry videos, images, and rumors of "mysterious flashes in Siberia" and "abnormal energy events in the Pacific Ocean" had already spread like wildfire across the information networks that were on the verge of collapse.

The global social pressure index curve in front of Chu Yunshen, after experiencing a vertical spike, now showed a brief, tiny... plateau.

"Public attention has been briefly captured, stunned, and even... to some extent 'unified' by these two supernatural events," the assistant analyzed the public opinion data. "Previous internal conflicts, resource competition, and fear of the future seem to have been temporarily set aside in the face of a grander, more incomprehensible 'external threat.' Fear still exists, but the object of that fear has partially shifted from each other, from an uncertain future, to... those 'things.'"

This is a dangerous balance. Using a greater, external terror to temporarily suppress internal strife. It's like lighting a more unstable nuclear bomb fuse next to a powder keg that is about to explode. It can make the powder keg quiet for a while, but the final outcome could be even more destructive.

"Notify all governments and social organizations that are still functioning," Chu Yunshen said in a hoarse voice. "Use this brief 'attention window' to fully restore basic order, channel panic, and provide the most basic living guarantees and psychological support. At the same time... release limited official statements regarding the 'potential risks of extraterrestrial heritage' and 'global unknown threats,' with a unified narrative: 'Humanity is facing unprecedented challenges together and needs unprecedented unity.'"

"Won't this trigger even greater panic?" the assistant worried.

"Panic is already here." Chu Yunshen looked at the conflict indices on the screen, which, although slowing down, were still running at high levels. "What we need to do is try to guide this panic away from mutual harm directed inward, toward... a common external threat, and provide a narrative that 'we are dealing with it together.' Even if we ourselves know that this narrative is full of uncertainty and huge risks."

This is a helpless move, but also the only way to possibly gain time and cohesion.

28 days after the ruling, Bedrock Base, core meeting.

All major members gathered again, but the atmosphere was different from any previous meeting. There was less anxious debate, more heavy exhaustion, and a kind of... emptiness and confusion after the dust had settled.

"cold fang" in Siberia was re-frozen, at the cost of potentially creating a more twisted future hidden danger.

The "Abyss Devourer" in the Pacific Ocean underwent an unpredictable mutation and began to scatter unknown probes into the universe.

Global society was forcibly held on the verge of collapse, but the cracks had not disappeared; they were just temporarily covered by greater fear.

Cooperation with the "Blade - Seventh Execution Court" yielded key intelligence, but also dragged humanity deeper into the internal grievances of an ancient civilization.

The council review represented by Liaison Coordinator, like a sword hanging overhead, could fall at any time.

"We have completed the emergency disposal of 'cold fang,'" Lin Shen broke the silence. "We have temporarily lifted the most imminent threat of civilization extinction. But we have also exposed more, deeper problems, and may have created new ones."

He brought up an overview chart summarizing all current crises, resources, and timelines.

"We now have several tasks that must be advanced simultaneously," he pointed to the chart. "First, utilize the time gained by 'cold fang' being frozen to accelerate the formation and departure of the 'Silent Outpost' exploration team. Goal: Acquire the 'spacetime calibration crystal' and 'Absolute Zero core' technology blueprints, as well as Alpha's research notes, to prepare for a thorough resolution of the two 'prisoner' threats. The exploration team must depart within fifteen days."

"Second, strengthen monitoring and research on the 'Abyss Devourer-cold fang composite consciousness pollution' phenomenon. Elena, you are responsible for leading a special task force to try to analyze those composite consciousness probes and assess their long-term risks. At the same time, continue searching for the secret of the third core node on the Talos map, and clues to Alpha's 'Original Heart Emblem'."

"Third, social reconstruction and consciousness defense. Consultant Chu, your task is to utilize the current 'attention window' to repair basic social functions as much as possible and accelerate the deployment and optimization of the 'wide-area consciousness stabilization field.' We need a layer of 'mental shield' that can protect ordinary people from more complex consciousness attacks that may appear in the future."

"Fourth, technical reserves and defense construction. General Zhao, Dr. Zhou, you need to summarize the lessons learned from dealing with 'cold fang' this time and optimize the global crisis response and defense system. At the same time, continue to study the intelligence provided by the 'Blade' regarding the weaknesses of the 'pruning ship,' even if it is only theoretical preparation."

"Finally," Lin Shen's gaze swept across everyone and finally landed on Liaison Coordinator, who had been silently listening. "Regarding the Galactic Council's review. Liaison Coordinator, based on our performance over the past twenty-eight days in dealing with the 'bonus questions,' do you have any further assessment or instructions from the Council?"

Liaison Coordinator's pearl-white face appeared even more inorganic under the cold light of the base. His black, crystal-like eyes slowly swept over everyone in the conference room, and then he spoke, his voice as flat as ever, but the content made everyone perk up:

"The preliminary observation period has ended. My assessment report was submitted to the core of the Council Review Committee three hours ago."

He paused, seemingly retrieving information.

"The Committee ruled: In the face of 'extraterrestrial heritage-related super-spec threats,' human civilization has demonstrated crisis decision-making, rapid learning and adjustment capabilities, and resilience in maintaining basic organizational frameworks under extreme pressure that exceed its civilization level. Regarding the disposal of 'cold fang,' although the methods were crude and left hidden dangers, it conforms to the principles of 'urgent self-defense and risk control.'"

"Therefore, the Committee has decided: the formal review will be conducted in the form of practical observation, rather than a traditional defense."

"Review content: Humanity's exploration mission to the 'Silent Outpost,' and the subsequent handling process of the 'Abyss Devourer' threat."

"Review team: It will be composed of representatives from three Council member civilizations, including a 'technical assessment officer,' a 'social resilience observer,' and..." Liaison Coordinator's black crystal eyes turned slightly, "a 'risk and ethics arbitrator.' They will arrive in the Solar System before and after the exploration team departs to conduct full-process accompanying observation and recording."

"The final ruling will be based on a comprehensive judgment of the exploration mission's results, the technical application capabilities demonstrated during the process, team collaboration, risk control awareness, and the sense of responsibility toward the heritage and its risks."

Practical observation. Accompanying review. This means that their every move from now on will be under the gaze of the examiners. Success might win recognition and a longer breathing space. Failure, or exposing fatal flaws, could directly lead to the revocation of management rights, or even worse consequences.

The pressure not only did not ease, but instead pressed down in another form, more concretely.

"When will the review team arrive?" Lin Shen asked.

"Within seventy-two hours," Liaison Coordinator replied. "They will set up a temporary observation station in lunar orbit. Before you depart for the Kuiper Belt, there will be a short preliminary meeting."

He added: "My duties have shifted from observer to... Liaison Coordinator. Until the review ends."

The meeting fell into silence again, but this time, there was a clear, must-face sense of purpose in the silence.

"Understood." Lin Shen stood up and looked at his team. "Then, these next seventy-two hours are our final preparation time. Perfect the exploration plan, optimize personnel deployment, check all equipment, and prepare to face the questioning of the review team. At the same time, maintain the defense line here on Earth to ensure that after we leave, the rear will not collapse before we return."

He paused, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"We just barely finished a 'bonus question' and were lucky not to be immediately judged as unqualified."

"Now, we have to take the examiners with us to solve the... hardest main question on the test paper."

"This is not just to pass the review and keep our management rights."

"It is also to prove to this universe—that we humans have the qualifications and the ability to shoulder this heavy and dangerous... heritage and responsibility from the stars."

The meeting ended, and people dispersed with new missions and pressure.

Lin Shen walked alone to the observation window, looking at the blue planet below. There, scarred, fear not yet dispelled, but still rotating, there are still billions of lives breathing, hoping, struggling.

He looked up again, toward deep space, toward the direction of the Kuiper Belt, toward that outpost that had been waiting in silence for five hundred thousand years.

Then, he gently pressed a special button on his communicator, connecting to a highly encrypted channel.

On the other end of the channel, Zhou Zhe's voice came: "Dr. Lin?"

"Zhou Zhe," Lin Shen said in a low voice, "regarding the pre-research of the 'Consciousness Separation Protocol'... speed up the progress. I need to know if we can prepare a... final backup plan for emergencies before heading to the 'Silent Outpost.'"

The other end of the channel was silent for a few seconds.

"...I will do my best, Dr. Lin." Zhou Zhe's voice carried the same heaviness.

The communication cut off.

The Earth outside the window, under the light of the star, was half bright day, half deep night.

And the new countdown had already begun.