148: Chapter 147 The Approaching Blade

The "inward processing" of the divine remains continued. Thanks to the "external perspective" established by β-2's twenty-three seconds of deep consciousness probing, this "processing" exhibited an unprecedented sense of direction.

The Cradle's hyper-dimensional sensors detected that within the consciousness field of the divine remains, those pale golden veins representing nascent cognition were extending and intertwining with unprecedented activity, attempting to establish more complex topological structures like a neural network.

Although the core agony remained immense, a new, faint "sense of pattern" began to emerge on the chaotic foundation—much like an image that was originally completely random and full of noise, starting to faintly reveal some extremely blurry, yet definitely existing "texture" or "intent."

"It is attempting to internalize the descriptive concepts provided by β-2—'dance,' 'information,' 'rhythm,' 'meaning'—into the organizational framework of its own conscious experience," β-2 analyzed the transmitted data while recovering from the aftereffects of the deep connection. "This process is full of contradictions and inconsistencies, but it is indeed happening. The most significant change is that the 'entropy increase efficiency' of its consciousness field has decreased by approximately 0.7%. This means the spontaneous, purposeless diffusion of chaotic energy is slowing down, and more energy is being used for this internal 'structural attempt.'"

"What does this mean for the Scavenger?" Zhao Yan asked.

"The Scavenger's 'observation intensity' has been continuously decreasing over the past hour and is currently maintaining a relatively baseline level," Zhou Zhe pulled up the data. "It seems to have temporarily classified the current 'structural attempt' of the divine remains as a stable, or at least non-urgent, 'evolutionary state.' But this does not mean it has let down its guard; its core tentacles remain connected, more like it is... 'recording' this evolutionary process."

This was a fragile window of opportunity. The divine remains were focused on internalizing new knowledge, and the Scavenger was observing in temporary silence. But they all knew this calm would not last long.

Because the blade of the Pruning Faction was already approaching.

"High curvature fluctuations detected! Bearing: Behind the Pruning Faction relay station, distance approximately 0.12 light-years!" The alarm from the early warning system broke the focus in the hall. On the main screen, at the front of the blurry red area that originally represented the expected trajectory of reinforcements, a sharp, bright point of light suddenly appeared and rapidly magnified.

"It's the first wave of vanguard units! Number... one, three, five... confirmed seven ships! Model identification... 'Thorn'-class high-speed assault ships! Estimated time of contact... six to eight hours!" Li Mubai's voice was tense. This was far faster than the fifteen days previously predicted; clearly, the opponent had used some kind of costly continuous forced jump.

"'Thorn'-class... the Executive Court database has records," Ashes' image quickly cut in, speaking rapidly. "They are not capital ships, but they are equipped with powerful reality stabilization anchors and targeted consciousness interference arrays, specifically used for executing rapid raids, precision strikes, or... decapitation operations in complex high-dimensional environments. Their appearance means the Pruning Faction does not intend to wait for the main fleet to launch a full-scale purification, but rather intends to prioritize clearing out 'unstable factors'—which is very likely us, or β-2, or perhaps even the Cradle itself!"

Decapitation operation. The goal was clear, the methods sharp, and they didn't care about communicating with the validator or them in any form beforehand. The style of the Pruning Faction was as cold and efficient as ever.

"Cradle shields to full power! All defense systems online! What is the status of the 'ink shadow' and deep space prism deployment?" Zhao Yan immediately entered a wartime state.

"'ink shadow' has completed the prism deployment at three coordinate points and is heading to the fourth and final point; it is expected to finish and begin the return journey in three hours. The activated prism network currently covers about 40% of the critical paths from the Solar System to the Kuiper Belt, which can provide a certain degree of early warning and disturbance buffering, but its defensive capability is limited when facing a direct impact from the 'Thorn'-class," Chu Yunshen reported from Earth.

"Is there any reaction from the validator?"

"The validator... has no clear reaction," the Cradle responded. "Its 'observing' status indicator is stable. The appearance of the Pruning Faction's vanguard fleet seems to be within its expected or permitted range of observation."

A cold reality: The Covenant Validator might also view the Pruning Faction's armed intervention as part of this "observation evaluation."

"We cannot just take a beating passively," Lin Shen's voice sounded. "We must demonstrate that we are not to be trifled with before they enter effective attack range, increasing the cost of their actions. At the same time, try to communicate with the validator and question whether the Pruning Faction's unilateral escalation of force complies with the 'observation period' rules."

"How do we demonstrate it?" Zhao Yan looked at the star map. The seven 'Thorn'-class ships were like seven poisoned daggers, speeding across the starry sky. Their speed far exceeded the norm; even if the 'pioneer' were to retreat at full speed now, it might not be able to shake them off.

"Utilize the advantages we have already established." β-2's light and shadow became bright and concentrated again. "First, the current relatively stable state of the divine remains and the phenomenon of its 'structural attempt' in its consciousness field are proof of our effective management, which can be emphasized to the validator. Second, the Scavenger is currently in a state of silent observation; we can try to guide it to generate an instinctive repulsive reaction to the 'highly orderly, aggressive intervention' of the Pruning Faction's vanguard fleet, even if it only creates some interference. Third, we ourselves... can demonstrate some defensive and counter-attack capabilities that exceed the Pruning Faction's estimates."

"Counter-attack capabilities?" Zhou Zhe frowned. "Our weapon systems have limited effectiveness against the 'Thorn'-class, especially since they are likely equipped with advanced shields that counter consciousness interference and conventional energy weapons."

"It doesn't necessarily have to be direct firepower," β-2 explained. "'Thorn'-class ships rely on high-dimensional navigation and precise reality stabilization. The spacetime structure at the edge of the Chaos Concentration Zone is already extremely fragile and volatile. We can use the Cradle, combined with partially activated web weaver protocol permissions, to create controllable, short-term 'high-dimensional information turbulence' or 'local reality folds' in specific areas. This won't cause direct damage, but it will severely interfere with their navigation precision and sensor effectiveness, and might even force them to reduce speed or change formation, buying us time and negotiation chips."

"Does it require the cooperation of the divine remains?"

"It does not require active cooperation. But the generation location of the turbulence needs to be carefully selected; it is best located on the periphery of the divine remains' consciousness field, near the Scavenger's observation path. In this way, to avoid provoking these two unpredictable entities, the Pruning Faction fleet's evasive maneuvers will be more restricted. At the same time, this skillful application of environmental 'rules' itself can also demonstrate our 'management capability' to the validator."

A subtle tactic utilizing environmental rules and the psychology of multiple parties, rather than pure brute force.

"Execute!" Zhao Yan approved. "Cradle, calculate the optimal turbulence generation coordinates and parameters. β-2, assist in guiding the energy focus. Zhou Zhe, ensure the defense systems are ready to respond to any potential stray fire or retaliatory attacks at any time. Ashes, keep the hidden blade hidden and provide additional sensor data and tactical early warnings. Lin Shen, prepare to submit a formal protest and status report to the validator."

Orders were quickly issued. The Cradle began calculating at full power, and the data stream flowing within its light structure reached an unprecedented intensity. β-2 injected its unique perception of order-chaos balance into the calculation model, helping to filter out the subtle parameters that could best interfere with the 'Thorn'-class while not accidentally detonating the divine remains or provoking the Scavenger.

Soon, three coordinate points in a triangular distribution were selected; they were located to the front-side of the 'Thorn'-class's predicted trajectory, just happening to span across the fleet's possible evasive paths, and all were close to the chaotic turbulence zone on the periphery of the divine remains' consciousness field.

"Turbulence generation protocol initiated. Energy injection... 10%... 30%... Attention, regional spacetime curvature beginning to fluctuate!"

On the star map, the starry sky around those three predetermined coordinate points began to undergo eerie distortions. It was not a distortion of matter, but space itself, like a water surface stirred by invisible fingers, rippling with layers of "ripples" that were not directly visible to the naked eye but could be clearly captured by sensors. These ripples interfered with and amplified each other, quickly forming three small but extremely active "information turbulence zones," where the high-dimensional background radiation, virtual particle fluctuations, and even basic causal logic within the zones experienced slight disorder and lag.

Almost at the same moment the turbulence zones formed, the seven 'Thorn'-class assault ships clearly detected the anomaly ahead. Their speeding velocity dropped abruptly, and their sharp hulls flexibly adjusted their posture, attempting to bypass this unstable airspace. But the distribution of the turbulence zones had been carefully calculated; no matter which direction they chose to bypass, they would at least approach one of them, or be forced to disperse their formation.

"They have slowed down! They are reforming! The lead ship seems to be attempting to scan the nature of the turbulence zones..." Li Mubai reported.

"Continue monitoring. Cradle, maintain the turbulence intensity, but be careful not to excessively draw energy and affect the monitoring of the divine remains." Zhao Yan stared at the screen. This first move seemed to have been the right one.

However, the Pruning Faction's reaction was tougher than expected.

A point of blinding white light suddenly lit up on the bow of the lead 'Thorn'-class ship. It was not a weapon charge, but a high-intensity, extremely narrow-beam directional information flow emission.

The target of the information flow was not the Cradle, not the turbulence zones, but—the Covenant Validator!

"They are sending real-time combat data and accusations to the validator!" Elena interpreted the signal characteristics captured by the hidden blade. "The gist of the content: Encountered an unknown force (referring to us) maliciously creating high-dimensional environmental interference, hindering its 'preventive assessment right' exercised in accordance with the 'Order Rectification Supplementary Regulations.' Accusing us of 'misusing Covenant legacy (Cradle),' 'disrupting observation area stability,' and 'potentially intending to harbor a high-risk chaotic entity (divine remains).' Requesting the validator to immediately authorize it to 'eliminate interference and restore observation order'!"

The villain sues first, and the action was extremely fast!

"validator reaction?"

"...Receiving... status indicator blinking frequency increasing..." the Cradle's response carried uncertainty.

The validator had not yet ruled, but the Pruning Faction clearly did not intend to wait. While sending the information, the lead ship and the remaining six 'Thorn'-class ships quickly split into two groups; one group of three attempted to bypass the turbulence zones via a more cautious path, continuing to close in on the Cradle; the other group of three suddenly turned, their hull sides opened, releasing dozens of basketball-sized spheres with silver runes flowing on their surfaces.

"It's the 'Order probe'!" Ashes immediately identified them. "Specifically used to neutralize or cancel out specific types of high-dimensional environmental disturbances! They want to force their way through!"

The silver spheres flew toward the nearest turbulence zone, their surface runes shining brightly, releasing a "neutralization field" that had the opposite phase to the turbulence fluctuations but highly similar energy properties. The ripples in the turbulence zone visibly smoothed out!

"Cradle, can you adjust the turbulence parameters to cancel out their neutralization effect?"

"Attempting... but the opponent's probes have adaptive algorithms, and the adjustment speed is very fast... The first turbulence zone will be neutralized within seventy seconds!" The Cradle's voice rarely revealed a hint of urgency.

"Abandon the first zone, concentrate energy to strengthen the second and third zones, and try to generate new, shorter-lived turbulence points on their path! Delaying is the priority!" Zhao Yan adjusted the tactics. Fighting consumption head-on is not the solution; we must buy time.

Just as the two sides were engaged in a silent confrontation at the level of information and rules, that "variable" that had been keeping silent observation—the Scavenger—suddenly moved.

Its massive, ever-changing entity outline turned slightly toward the three 'Thorn'-class ships that were releasing the "Order probes" and attempting to neutralize the turbulence zones.

The rhythmic fluctuation at the end of its core tentacles stopped.

Replacing it was a low-frequency humming sound full of "displeasure" and "warning."

At the same time, several new, thicker tentacles with edges flickering with dangerous purple light slowly extended from its entity, like whips ready to strike, pointing far toward those three ships.

The Scavenger seemed to have developed an instinctive repulsion toward the "Order probes," which were highly ordered and intended to "regulate" the environment!

"Good opportunity!" Ashes whispered, "The Scavenger's attention has been drawn by them!"

"Do not actively guide or provoke the Scavenger!" Zhao Yan immediately warned, "Maintain the status quo. Let the Pruning Faction deal with this accident themselves. Cradle, supplement the information to the validator: Emphasize that the Pruning Faction's armed intervention behavior has triggered the vigilance of the regional native chaos response entity (Scavenger), and further escalation may trigger an uncontrollable chain reaction, destroying the stability of the observation environment."

Indeed, faced with the Scavenger's obvious warning posture, the actions of the three 'Thorn'-class ships that were releasing probes immediately became rigid. They clearly did not expect this chaos sentinel to show an aggressive tendency at this moment. The lead ship quickly issued instructions, the probes were retracted, and the three ships slowly retreated, keeping a distance from the Scavenger, while pointing the weak energy of their ship-borne weapons toward the Scavenger as a deterrent.

The Scavenger's tentacles slowly retracted as they retreated, the humming weakened, but the sense of "locked-on" gaze did not completely disappear.

The Pruning Faction's momentum of advance was once again contained due to the Scavenger's unexpected intervention.

But the crisis was far from resolved. The other three 'Thorn'-class ships that were taking a detour, although slightly slowed down by the interference of the remaining turbulence zones, were still steadily approaching. They were less than four hours' travel from the Cradle.

Over at the validator, it remained silent. It was like an absolutely neutral referee, coldly watching both sides probe and confront each other on the edge of the rules.

Time flowed on the blade's edge.

Countdown: 30 hours 17 minutes.

They had bought some time, but the blade of decapitation was still hanging high.

And the "inward processing" of the divine remains seemed to have reached a critical node.

In its consciousness field, those pale golden cognitive veins began to make their first cautious... active touch toward the central core of agony.

It was as if a child who had just learned to use tools was attempting for the first time to use the tweezers of "understanding" to pick up that burning coal named "pain."

No one knew what this touch would bring.

A new cognitive leap?

Or... a more violent eruption of pain?