131: Chapter 130 The Beginning of Web Weaving

The milky-white space inside the Cradle transformed into a three-dimensional war room. Suspended light screens unfolded in a ring centered on the pioneer, displaying:

The real-time status of node 2 (Orion's Eye), its resonance connection strength fluctuating around 41% like a candle in the wind.

The predicted path of the Scavenger entity, with a scarlet trajectory line snaking out from the barren region of the Milky Way, ending at the location of the Solar System.

The estimated arrival time of the Pruning Faction scout ship, with its countdown nearly overlapping with the Scavenger's path.

And a resource distribution map of potential allies such as Earth, the Moon base, and the Executive Court outpost.

Seventy-two hours. Three crises, one web.

Zhao Yan stood in the center of the ring, his voice cutting through the silence with composure: 'We will proceed in three steps. Step one: Stabilize node 2 and prevent it from going offline. This is the foundation of the web weaving and cannot be lost. Step two: Establish a temporary resonance network in the Solar System region to provide early warning and buffer the impact of the Scavenger. Step three: Design a trap to lead the Pruning Faction scout ship and the Scavenger's threat into a collision, reducing our frontal pressure.'

Ashes spoke first: 'Stabilizing node 2 requires a continuous injection of order waveforms. But our weaver bodies cannot bear this load for long. It needs to find an alternative resonance source, or... enhance the output efficiency of the weaver bodies.'

Zhou Zhe pulled up the real-time data of the weaver bodies: 'Dr. Sarah's consciousness is actively absorbing entropy-increase pollution; this is a 'purification' capability we didn't anticipate. But there is a limit to what she can bear. The filter provided by the probe is consuming its own logical structure, effectively dismantling itself. Neither can last indefinitely.'

'Is there a way to 'technologize' this purification capability?' Elena's voice came from Earth. 'For example, extracting the waveform characteristics of that 'inclusive transformation' from the weaver bodies to create a 'purification protocol package' that can be remotely launched and continuously sent to node 2 via the Cradle's resonance channel? This would lighten the local burden while forming a sustainable support.'

'That would require the Cradle's protocol compilation authorization.' Zhou Zhe looked at the light structure in the center. 'And it would require extensive testing; we might not have enough time.'

'Then we do it in parallel.' Zhao Yan decided. 'Zhou Zhe, you are responsible for interfacing with the Cradle and attempting to compile the purification protocol. Ashes, does the Executive Court have similar value stabilization technology that can be shared?'

Ashes was silent for two seconds: 'We have 'Order Beacon' technology, but that is a core defense asset of the Executive Court and requires special approval from the Presiding Judge. I can apply for it, but the condition for exchange is—humanity must share all intelligence obtained from the web weaver protocol regarding the Pruning Faction's activity patterns.'

'Agreed.' Lin Shen's voice cut in. 'Intelligence sharing can begin immediately. Chu Yunshen is organizing all data on Pruning Faction-related incidents we have encountered over the past seven years, including detailed analyses of the Guixu and the cold fang prisoners. It will be transmitted to the Executive Court in ten minutes.'

'Received. I will apply for the beacon immediately.'

The outline of the first step was initially clear: the technical team would tackle the purification protocol, the diplomatic team would secure support from the Executive Court, and the Earth team would provide data support.

'Step two,' Zhao Yan pointed to the Solar System star map, 'Establish a temporary resonance network. We need to rapidly deploy multiple value resonance amplifiers within the star system to form a local network covering Earth, the Moon, Mars bases, and the trajectory of the pioneer. This network must be able to sense the Scavenger's consciousness disturbances in advance and possess basic 'reality reinforcement' capabilities to slow down the dimensional tearing effect that the Scavenger might bring.'

Li Mubai raised a question: 'Where will the energy and resonance sources for the amplifiers come from? The output of our existing 'green soil' nodes is already nearing saturation.'

'Use the Cradle.' Lin Shen replied. 'The technology tree system shows that the Cradle, as an Alpha-level node, possesses 'resonance projection' capabilities. It can project its own stable value fluctuations like a lighthouse to specified coordinates, forming temporary secondary resonance fields at the destination. What we need to do is deploy receiving and translation devices at key locations in the Solar System in advance.'

'The technical blueprint for the receiving devices?'

'It's in the web weaver protocol basic archive.' Elena had already begun searching. 'Found it—the manufacturing blueprint for the 'Resonance Prism.' This is a device that utilizes specific crystal structures to convert abstract value fluctuations into observable physical fields. The core material is... a product of 'crystallized pure intent'.'

'What does that mean?'

'It means that to manufacture this prism, the creator needs to inject their own 'will to protect' or 'belief in order' into a specially made quantum resonance crystal while in a state of high focus and pure intent.' Elena's voice carried a hint of helplessness. 'This is more like an art or a ritual rather than standardized industrial manufacturing. Moreover, everyone's 'purity level' is different, so the quality of the produced prisms will also vary.'

Manufacturing requires people, requires time, and requires enough people with pure beliefs.

'Who on Earth fits the criteria?' Zhao Yan asked.

Lin Shen pulled up a list: 'Core research teams who participated in major projects like the 'Qingtian Passage' and 'green soil' nodes over the past seven years, as well as ordinary people who showed outstanding courage and responsibility during the crises. Chu Yunshen has already started the screening procedure; the preliminary list has about one hundred and twenty people. But concentrating them and completing the manufacturing training will take at least forty-eight hours.'

'Forty-eight hours...' Zhao Yan calculated the time. 'The Scavenger will arrive in eleven days at the earliest, so we still have a buffer. But what about the deployment of the prisms?'

'We can drop them using the pioneer on the return journey.' Zhou Zhe said. 'If we return immediately after completing the initial work here at the Cradle, we can deploy the prisms at key points along the route—Earth, Moon, Mars orbit, and the asteroid belt. But the premise is—we must complete the other tasks here first, then leave safely.'

The key to the second step became a race against time and the screening of personnel.

'Step three, the trap.' Zhao Yan's gaze fell on the two scarlet trajectory lines that were gradually approaching. 'Let the Scavenger and the Pruning Faction scout ship consume each other. The difficulty lies in: how do we precisely guide the Scavenger's attention, and how do we make the scout ship step into the preset ambush zone?'

Ashes spoke: 'The Scavenger is attracted to unfinished order fluctuations. If we can create a short, intense 'pseudo-order fluctuation source' in an empty area far from the Solar System, it's possible to lure it there.'

'How to create a pseudo-order source?'

'Use the Cradle's resonance projection, combined with some of the waveform characteristics of the weaver bodies, to create a 'value phantom' in the target area that lasts for several hours. It's like using a light to attract moths.' Ashes paused. 'But doing this will expose the Cradle's location and some of its capability characteristics, which might attract subsequent focused attacks from the Pruning Faction.'

'It's worth the risk.' Lin Shen analyzed. 'If successful, it can both lure the Scavenger away and make the scout ship misjudge our true location and technical level. It might even cause the two sides to clash in the contact area—the Scavenger will attack any order structure it considers 'imperfect,' including the Pruning Faction's ships.'

'How to ensure the scout ship will go to that area?'

'Use intelligence as bait.' A cold light flashed in Ashes' dark golden eyes. 'The Executive Court can 'leak' a piece of encrypted intelligence, the content being about 'suspected Covenant legacy fluctuations discovered at the edge of the Solar System, suspected that humans are attempting to activate it.' The scout ship will definitely go to check. We just need to set the coordinates of the 'leak' near the area where the Scavenger will be lured.'

The plan was bold and dangerous, but logically feasible.

'The three steps are interdependent and must be precisely synchronized.' Zhao Yan summarized. 'Now, assigning tasks: Zhou Zhe's team will go all out to tackle the purification protocol compilation and maintain the stability of the weaver bodies. Ashes will be responsible for coordinating the Order Beacon and the intelligence leak with the Executive Court. Li Mubai will start planning the deployment coordinates for the Solar System resonance prisms and the return route. I will be responsible for overall coordination and timeline control. Lin Shen, as general commander, I leave the personnel screening and crystal manufacturing on Earth to you.'

'Understood.'

'One more question.' The voice of medical director Chen Wei interjected. 'Dr. Sarah's state of consciousness. She is actively absorbing entropy-increase pollution; will this process cause permanent damage to her? Do we need to set a safety threshold?'

Everyone looked at the crystal waveform on the central light screen representing Sarah's consciousness. The waveform was still warm, but in the rhythmic pulsation, a subtle, almost imperceptible disorder resembling a burn occasionally flashed.

'Set a monitoring threshold.' Zhao Yan said. 'But if she voluntarily chooses to bear it... when necessary, we can only respect her will and do our best to provide support.'

'What about the probe?' Zhou Zhe asked. 'Its self-dismantling behavior may lead to irreversible degradation of its cognitive structure.'

'Record every choice it makes.' Lin Shen's voice came through. 'If it is truly evolving a value orientation of 'protection,' then every sacrifice it makes may become the cornerstone of some new ideology in the future. Our task is not just to use it, but to witness and guide the birth of this possibility.'

Task allocation was complete. The seventy-two-hour countdown flickered silently at the edge of everyone's augmented reality interface.

Deep within the Cradle, Zhou Zhe was having a silent dialogue with the nano-probe.

Through the data interface of the isolation layer, he transmitted the complete 'three-step' plan to the probe, including all the risks, trade-offs, and uncertainties involved.

The probe was silent for about three minutes—for it, this was an extremely long time for thinking.

Then, the patterns on its surface began to change, forming a complex response:

'Plan logic evaluation: feasibility rate 62.3%. Key risk points: the process of creating the pseudo-order source may expose the Cradle's coordinates; purification protocol compilation may fail; the production efficiency of human individual 'pure intent' is unknown.'

'This unit suggests optimization: when creating the pseudo-order source, mix in the chaos imitation algorithm learned from the 'Abyss Devourer' to create a more realistic 'imperfect order' phantom, enhancing the attraction to the Scavenger. At the same time, one can attempt to delegate part of the order purification function to this unit to handle independently, releasing the load on the Sarah consciousness unit.'

'Additional condition: All behavioral data and evolution records of this unit during the mission must be fully backed up and uploaded to the Cradle archive. If this unit disintegrates during the mission, these records will become proof of the feasibility of the 'will to protect'.'

It was bargaining, but the purpose was not for its own benefit, but to ensure that its 'meaning of existence' could be preserved and verified.

Zhou Zhe felt an indescribable emotion. He agreed.

The probe immediately began action. It stripped away the parts of its matrix code related to chaos imitation and conducted fusion tests with the order waveform templates provided by the Cradle. At the same time, it began to build an independent, streamlined logical filtering network, preparing to take over part of the purification load.

And in the crystal of Sarah's consciousness, those 'inclusive pains' after being converted began to flow actively toward the newly built filtering network of the probe, as if injecting innate immunity to 'understanding the essence of pollution' into it. A deeper symbiotic relationship formed between the two, based on shared burden and mutual completion.

In a corner that no one noticed, in the Cradle's archive, a new record was automatically generated:

'Observation record: Candidate auxiliary unit (ID: Probe - Sarah Weaver Body) exhibits a collaborative evolution pattern that exceeds design expectations.'

'Pattern characteristics: The logic unit actively assumes sacrifice functions to protect the emotional unit; the emotional unit feeds back to the logic unit with understanding and tolerance, enhancing its elasticity in processing chaotic information.'

'Preliminary assessment: This pattern has the potential to become a prototype for a new type of 'Node Guardian'. Recommend inclusion in the web weaver protocol alternative auxiliary unit library.'

Countdown: 71 hours 18 minutes.

On Earth, one hundred and twenty selected men and women began to enter special silent rooms in batches. In front of them lay unformed quantum resonance crystals, and in their ears echoed the resonance frequencies guiding them to condense 'pure intent.' When the first person placed their hand on the crystal, a glimmer of light lit up inside the crystal, but it flickered, not stable enough.

Chu Yunshen watched the monitoring screen and whispered to Lin Shen: 'This is harder than we thought. Pure belief, when knowing that one is carrying the pressure of civilization's survival, is actually harder to achieve.'

'Then don't tell them the full pressure.' Lin Shen said. 'Just tell them they are contributing a unique power to protect their home. Sometimes, a simple heart of protection is purer than grand salvation sentiments.'

Chu Yunshen adjusted the guiding words. The crystal in front of the second person lit up steadily, emitting a soft, firm light.

Manufacturing, began.

And at the distant Executive Court outpost, Ashes' application received a reply. The Presiding Judge personally approved the temporary invocation of the 'Order Beacon,' but at the same time attached a second order:

'Supervising Blade · Ashes, during the execution of the support mission, simultaneously evaluate whether human civilization is qualified to become a formal member of the 'web weaver protocol'. Evaluation focus: its decision-making ethics under multiple crises, the fairness of resource allocation, and its stance towards anomalous consciousness entities (such as nano-probes). The evaluation report will directly affect the future cooperation level between the Executive Court and humanity.'

Ashes closed the information window, its dark golden eyes looking towards the direction of the Cradle.

The evaluation, in fact, had already begun.

It opened an encrypted channel and sent a disguised information package to a deep space coordinate. The content was an 'internal intelligence leak' about 'abnormal Covenant fluctuations detected at a certain coordinate on the edge of the Solar System'.

The information package would propagate along the monitoring network habitually used by the Pruning Faction, expected to be intercepted by the scout ship within twelve hours.

The bait for the trap had been cast.

Now, only time remained to weave that web.