145: Chapter 144 The Budding Ecosystem and the Approaching Shadow

The rhythmic fluctuations mimicking causal links emitted by the Scavenger's core tentacles, like a second stone cast into a pond, stirred up new, more complex echoes within the divine remains' consciousness field, which had just begun to ripple.

The focus of the divine remains' consciousness flickered violently; pain, confusion, curiosity, and a sliver of instinctive alertness triggered by being "touched" wove together into a chaotic turbulence.

But it did not simply roar or recoil as before; instead, it attempted to "process" this new input using the extremely nascent cognitive framework it had just established.

"... 'Chill' ... also ... emitting ... 'rhythm'? ..." Its consciousness caught the regularity in the Scavenger's fluctuations and clumsily compared it with the "damping rhythm" of β-2, "... different ... 'rhythm' ... more ... 'hard'? ... carrying ... a 'seeing' ... feeling? ..."

It even began to attempt to distinguish the texture and intent of different "rhythms"!

Although the description was extremely primitive, the cognitive operations of "comparing," "distinguishing," and "inferring intent" contained within it were far beyond its previous state of pure sensation.

β-2 immediately captured this cognitive leap. It did not rush to guide or explain, but instead sent a reinforced "confirmation" and "description" message: "Yes, this is another type of 'rhythm'. It comes from a different entity. It may carry the purpose of 'observation'."

β-2 cautiously avoided using words like "hostility" or "threat" that might trigger panic, describing it only objectively.

After receiving this, the divine remains' consciousness field fell into a longer silence of "processing."

That sense of immense, focused "thought" even temporarily suppressed some of the background pulsating pain.

The Scavenger's tentacles maintained that rhythmic, mimicking fluctuation, hovering at the edge of the divine remains' consciousness field, as if waiting for some kind of "response."

A strange "triangular information loop" composed of a suffering entity, a chaotic sentinel, and an artificial composite consciousness was forming.

The divine remains was learning to receive and process information; the Scavenger was conducting deeper observation through imitation; and β-2 was acting as a translator, buffer, and guide between the two.

Inside the Cradle, everyone watched this unprecedented scene with bated breath.

This was no longer destruction and resistance, but an indefinable, slowly budding "interactive ecology."

"Record all data!" Lin Shen's voice was filled with irrepressible excitement. "This isn't just stabilizing the divine remains; this is witnessing the birth of a brand-new, possible high-dimensional consciousness interaction mode! The 'information structure feeding' proposed in the technology tree system draft #0004 has produced catalytic effects far beyond expectations!"

"But the risks are amplifying in tandem." Zhou Zhe stared at the monitoring data. "The divine remains' cognitive processing consumes a massive amount of energy. Although the overall entropy of its consciousness field has locally decreased due to focused attention, the 'irritability' index of the background chaotic turbulence is rising, just like how a person's body unconsciously tenses up when thinking hard. Once the cognitive process is frustrated or encounters an incomprehensible stimulus, it could trigger an even more violent consciousness collapse than simple pain."

"The Scavenger's behavior is also unpredictable." Ashes reminded. "Its imitation is currently gentle, but if the divine remains' response exceeds the scope of its 'observation protocol,' or if its imitation accidentally couples with a pain resonance point of the divine remains, it could trigger its purging instinct."

"We must maintain the fragile balance of this triangular loop and try to guide it toward a more stable direction." Zhao Yan concluded. "β-2, assess the current cognitive load limit of the divine remains. Under the premise of ensuring safety, we can try feeding it slightly more complex information modules, such as the simple concept of 'spatial relative position,' to help it establish a clearer 'sense of map' for the environment; this may help reduce the anxiety caused by the unknown."

"Understood. Constructing 'spatial relative' basic module. At the same time, preparing to deal with potential cognitive overload or deviations."

Just as β-2 began constructing the new module, within that isolated technology tree system core unit, the "Adaptive Protocol Generator" became active again.

New draft tags popped up at an even faster speed:

"#0005: Stability Optimization Protocol Based on Triangular Consciousness Interaction Loop (Draft Completeness 1.7%)"

"#0006: Chaotic Sentinel (Scavenger) Behavior Pattern Prediction Model (Draft Completeness 3.1%) — Added 'Imitation Learning' behavior branch."

"#0007: Early Warning and Intervention Node Preset Scheme for Target Chaotic Consciousness Field (divine remains) Cognitive Conflict (Draft Completeness 4.0%)"

These three drafts directly corresponded to the delicate situation currently forming!

Draft #0005 even began trying to design a "stability protocol" for that fragile triangular loop; the update speed of the #0006 model was astonishing, having already incorporated the imitation behavior just displayed by the Scavenger; #0007 was even more forward-looking, starting to preset conflict points and intervention methods that might arise during the divine remains' cognitive process.

The "assistance" of the technology tree system was becoming increasingly precise, increasingly advanced, and increasingly unsettling.

It was like a super strategist hiding behind the scenes, watching everything with cold eyes, then handing over the "solutions" most likely to solve the problems, without explaining where these solutions came from, nor caring about the deep consequences that might arise from using them.

"Continue monitoring draft generation, but unless absolutely necessary, do not actively invoke or refer to them." Lin Shen emphasized again. "Our decisions must be based on our own understanding and risk assessment; we cannot rely on an uncontrolled black-box system."

However, peace was not destined to last.

Just as β-2 successfully fed the "spatial relative" basic module to the divine remains (the divine remains arduously understood the most basic concepts like "the Cradle is here, the hardpoint is over there, the chill is next to it"), and began observing its reaction, external pressure struck in a more violent manner.

The relay station of the Pruning Faction suddenly changed the mode of its continuously emitted beacon signal.

The originally regular, steady beacon pulses were replaced by a short but high-intensity, composite encoded information packet.

The target of the information packet was not the divine remains, but... the Covenant Validator!

"They are sending data to the validator!" Elena exclaimed. "The content cannot be fully decrypted, but the parsed fragments show they are reporting 'unexpected consciousness activity in the chaotic seal unit,' 'unknown third-party consciousness detected conducting unauthorized cognitive intervention,' and... 'requesting authorization for preventive assessment and necessary disposal of the intervening party and potential contamination spread zone in accordance with the "Order Rectification Supplementary Regulations"!'"

Preventive assessment and necessary disposal? This was almost demanding the validator to authorize them to take action against the Cradle and β-2!

"Does the validator have a response?" Zhao Yan asked immediately.

"The validator received the information packet... it is processing..." the Cradle reported. "Its status indicator is flashing... but it has not yet made a clear ruling or authorization."

The validator was weighing the situation.

On one hand, the Pruning Faction (Order Reconstruction Faction), as the "original Covenant rectification branch," had a certain "authority" to its reports.

On the other hand, it had just handed over temporary jurisdiction of the site to the Cradle and β-2, and was observing the effects of the "damping resonance protocol" and cognitive guidance.

The report from the Pruning Faction was undoubtedly questioning the management ability and legitimacy of the Cradle and β-2, and attempting to regain the initiative.

And almost at the same time the Pruning Faction's information packet was sent, a new change occurred in the Scavenger's behavior.

Perhaps because the divine remains, while understanding the "spatial relative" concept, had unconsciously marked the "hardpoint" (relay station beacon) as "far" and "having a flavor I don't like," this vague feeling of "disgust" was radiated extremely subtly through the consciousness field; or perhaps the specific order fluctuations generated when the Pruning Faction's information packet was sent had stimulated the Scavenger's instincts.

That core tentacle, which had been mimicking regular fluctuations, suddenly stopped mimicking.

It slowly turned, pointing towards the direction of the Pruning Faction's relay station beacon in the distant void.

The regular fluctuations at the tip of the tentacle disappeared, replaced by a low-frequency, stronger energy focus filled with a sense of "scrutiny" and "evaluation."

The Scavenger seemed to have shifted a portion of its "observation" attention away from the divine remains and toward that order beacon which made it (and possibly the divine remains) feel "displeased."

The pressure had shifted? But this was definitely not a good thing.

The Pruning Faction clearly would not sit idly by while being "scrutinized" by a chaotic sentinel.

And once the Scavenger took any action against the relay station, or even just a threatening energy focus, it could immediately trigger a fierce reaction from the Pruning Faction, or even become "conclusive evidence" for them to demand the validator authorize an attack.

"We must steady the Scavenger!" Zhao Yan realized the severity of the problem. "β-2, can you try to pass some information to the Scavenger, through the divine remains, or directly? It doesn't need to be complex; just convey the intention of 'temporarily maintain silent observation'? Or, strengthen the 'observer' positioning of the 'chill' in the divine remains' consciousness, weakening its implication as a 'potential threat'?"

"The possibility of communicating directly with the Scavenger's consciousness is extremely low; its consciousness structure is completely different from ours, closer to a collection of instinctive reactions." β-2 analyzed rapidly. "Indirect influence through the divine remains is a possible path. We can try to strengthen the cognition of 'the chill is observing, no immediate threat' in the divine remains' consciousness, and guide it to focus more cognitive attention on the relatively 'safe' information processing we provide, such as continuing to deepen spatial and causal understanding, thereby reducing threatening focus on the 'hardpoint' and the 'chill'."

This was a subtle operation on a psychological level, attempting to use the limited "attention" of a newborn consciousness to influence the "behavioral tendency" of another instinctive existence.

It was extremely difficult, but worth a try.

β-2 immediately began adjusting the information flow sent to the divine remains, cleverly associating the "chill (observer)" more closely with the "rhythm (Helper)," while temporarily "backgrounding" the "hardpoint (the distant point that is disliked)," reducing its weight in the divine remains' current cognitive focus.

The divine remains' consciousness field slowly changed with the adjustment of the information flow; its "feeling" toward the Scavenger seemed to lean more toward a "continuously existing, regular tactile sense of observation," and that vague resonance of "shared hatred" toward the Scavenger, which might have been triggered by the "disgusting beacon," was quietly faded out.

At the same time, β-2 itself emitted an extremely faint but unusually pure "order-chaos balance" resonance fluctuation.

It was not aimed at the divine remains, but rather like a kind of "environmental background noise," gently enveloping the area between the Cradle and the divine remains.

This fluctuation had some deep, "non-threatening" resonance with the Scavenger's own state of existence, as if silently declaring: what exists here is "balance," not an "abnormal order" or "dangerous chaos" that needs to be purged.

Miraculously, the energy focus at the tip of the Scavenger's tentacle, which had been pointing at the relay station beacon, slowly dissipated.

It turned back to the divine remains and resumed that regular, mimicking fluctuation, but the intensity seemed to have decreased somewhat, more like a state of "maintaining contact" rather than "deep observation" or "threat assessment."

Had it been appeased? Or rather, had it temporarily accepted the input of current environmental information, deciding that "observation" had a higher priority than "intervention"?

The crisis seemed to have been temporarily resolved again.

But everyone knew that this fragile balance was built upon too many uncertain variables: the divine remains' newly budding cognition was extremely unstable, the Scavenger's instincts were unpredictable, the Pruning Faction was eyeing them covetously, the validator was watching coldly, and the countdown was ticking away ruthlessly.

"Seventy-two-hour countdown: 41 hours and 22 minutes." The system prompt sounded coldly.

Time was more than half over.

They had alleviated some of the divine remains' pain, guided its cognitive budding, and even temporarily stabilized the Scavenger.

But they were still far from producing a "solution" for the long-term management of this area that would satisfy the Covenant Validator.

They hadn't even begun to systematically think about how they would respond when the Pruning Faction reinforcements arrived, when the divine remains' cognition developed further, or when the Scavenger might act up again.

And deeper hidden dangers still lurked.

Within the isolated prison cage of the technology tree system, the "Cosmic Observation Model Integration" value had quietly climbed to 0.00561%.

In the direction of the galactic center, that cold gaze seemed... clearer.

As if the "observer" over there was becoming increasingly "interested" in the complex drama playing out here.

During a gap in its continuous work, the part of Sarah's consciousness within β-2's light and shadow transmitted a trace of an extremely faint, human-like concern, directly to Lin Shen and Zhao Yan:

"I feel... it's not just 'observation'... that gaze from the depths of the galaxy... seems to be starting to carry... an extremely faint... sense of 'inquiry' or... 'testing'..."

"Just like... on this test paper it has given us... quietly adding... new, harder... extra credit questions."

New extra credit questions?

Could the questions on the test paper be more than just "resolve the divine remains crisis, deal with the Covenant judgment"?

Those eyes from deeper in the universe,

what exactly did they want to see?