159: Chapter 158 Cries from the Edge and Cradle Experiment Field

System Status Snapshot (18 hours post-adjudication)

divine remains Pain Index: 1.05% → 0.95% (Steady decline during the reflection period)

Chaos Activity: 0.45% (Stable at low levels)

Fringe Civilization Distress Signal Analysis Progress: 87%. Source confirmed as Weaver Protocol Node 'Alf's Forest' (ID: GW-7824). Last normal contact was 1,274 standard years ago.

Signal Keyword Parsing: 'Harvesting Dreams', 'Pruning', 'Structural Stripping', 'They don't want our flesh and blood, only... the blueprints.'

validator Status: Maintaining silence regarding the distress signal, but has granted 'Limited Historical Event Query' permissions to the Cradle Node. Keywords involved: 'Dream Harvesting', 'Civilization Potential Extraction'.

Intelligence from Ashes: A unit within the Pruning Faction codenamed 'Gardener' is specifically responsible for such 'structural pruning.' Their methods are far more systematic and thorough than the 'Logic Bombs' and 'Anchor Resonators' used against humans.

The atmosphere in the command cabin was so heavy it felt like water could be wrung from the air. Li Lin projected the full text of the decrypted distress signal onto the main screen. The intermittent phrases seemed to carry the scent of blood and the piercing shrieks of torn souls.

"...They are coming... like harvesting wheat... but what they harvest are our 'collective dreams,' our most cherished imaginings of the future... The starry skies drawn by children are being drained of color, the epics recited by elders are losing their melody... They are extracting... the 'blueprints' for the continuation of civilization..."

"...Resistance? Our weapons pass through them like phantoms... They are only interested in 'structures'... social structures, cultural structures, the structure of hope... stripped away, leaving behind... a 'flat void'..."

"...'Alf's Forest' is losing its 'shape'... Save us... Can anyone hear... 'Cradle'... You too... be careful..."

The signal cut off abruptly.

"'Harvesting dreams'... 'Extracting blueprints'..." Zhou Zhe repeated these words, his face pale. "This is more terrifying than direct destruction. Are they... castrating the soul and future of civilizations?"

"And doing so systematically." Chu Yunshen's projection had his hands clasped, his knuckles white. "Data from Ashes shows that the 'Gardener' units are the core purging force of the Pruning Faction, specifically dealing with civilizations judged to have 'inefficient potential' or 'development deviating from standard order.' They don't perform physical extermination, as that would waste 'resources' and cause too much backlash. Instead, they precisely strip away a civilization's most vital 'non-standard' parts—unique cultural fantasies, subversive technological inspirations, social experiments unapproved by the mainstream, and all collective dreams of a 'different future.' What remains is a safe, stable, highly standardized, and completely hollowed-out shell of a civilization that has lost all possibility of evolution and internal drive, making it easy to absorb or manage."

"So, using Logic Bombs and Anchor Resonators on us..." Lin Shen interjected, his voice cold, "was really just 'testing' and 'stress experiments.' To see how much 'non-standard' temptation and impact a newborn civilization like ours could withstand, how resilient our 'non-standard' traits actually are, and if we are worth... a more systematic 'blueprint extraction.' We are an observational 'experimental farm' here."

This conclusion sent a chill down everyone's spine. All their previous struggles, innovations, and even the victory they had just achieved in repelling the induction might, from a higher-dimensional perspective, simply be an observed test to determine if they would become 'samples' or 'waste.'

Zhao Yan slammed a fist onto the control console, the metal letting out a dull thud. "Damn it! They're treating us like lab rats?"

"From a strategic perspective, this inference aligns with the Pruning Faction's behavioral patterns and the principle of interest maximization," β-2 analyzed. Her energy had recovered, but her voice carried an extra layer of cold metallic texture—the ultimate rationality when facing an absolute threat. "Their main forces are currently conducting efficient harvests in other regions of the galaxy and have no time for an 'exception' like us (possessing the divine remains and temporary Weaver Protocol permissions). Therefore, they left behind a vanguard and automated weapons for observation and stress testing, collecting data to evaluate the value and extraction difficulty of our 'non-standard blueprints.' The assessment itself is both a rule of the Covenant and something they can exploit as a 'pressure vessel' to observe our limits."

"Does the validator know?" Li Lin asked with a trembling voice.

Lin Shen pulled up the recently opened historical query results. A few sparse records were enough to make one's blood run cold:

[Event Code: HC-7742 - 'Extinction of the Morning Star']

[Summary: During the promotion assessment of the civilization 'Children of the Morning Star' (Level 1.1), its unique 'Resonant Singing Social Structure' and 'Emotional Energy Network' were judged as 'high-value non-standard blueprints.' In the third standard year after the assessment ended, they encountered 'Gardener' units. Resistance was futile, and their 'blueprints' were completely extracted. The remaining individuals lost their creativity and collective resonance capabilities. Their society regressed and naturally dissipated within 200 standard years.]

[Note: The Covenant Network recorded the event, but based on the 'Principle of Non-Interference in Autonomous Civilization Development' and the Pruning Faction's legal purging authority in the Council, no action was taken.]

[Event Code: HC-9981 - 'Slumber of the Dreamweaver']

[Summary: The Weaver Protocol node civilization 'Land of Eternal Dreams' (Level 1.4) specialized in weaving collective subconscious dreams to explore branches of the technology tree. Its core, the 'Spring of Dreams,' was judged by the Pruning Faction as an 'unstable source of chaos.' 'Gardener' units performed 'purification pruning,' extracting all dream structures related to 'non-logical intuition.' The civilization's technological development stagnated, its culture fell into repetition and rigidity, and its node status changed to 'dormant.']

The records were cold and cruel, revealing the naked law of the jungle under the galactic order. The Covenant Network provided a framework and some protection, but it never interfered in 'legal' predation between member civilizations. The Pruning Faction's 'purging rights' were the legal cloak for their civilization plunder.

"The validator knows, but it's powerless, or... it views it as part of natural selection." Lin Shen closed the records and took a deep breath. "Our 'non-standard' report now looks like an 'asset valuation form' handed to an executioner."

"Then why the hell are we still taking the assessment!" Zhou Zhe said excitedly. "Working so hard to lower the pain index and pass the assessment, just to wait to be harvested as high-quality experimental samples by the 'Gardeners'?"

"If we don't pass the assessment, we won't even have temporary asylum, and the Pruning Faction might act even sooner," Chu Yunshen said in a deep voice. "Furthermore, the assessment itself is an opportunity. Although the validator cannot intervene directly, its opening of historical queries is an implication in itself. It wants us to know, and it wants us to... find a way ourselves."

"Find a way? How?" Zhao Yan gritted his teeth. "Fight against monsters that can just snatch away a civilization's 'dreams' at will?"

"Information is incomplete," β-2 suddenly spoke. "Historical records show that the 'Gardener' harvest takes time and is less efficient against highly integrated, strongly defensive 'non-standard structures.' The 'Children of the Morning Star's' 'Emotional Energy Network' was relatively loose; the 'Land of Eternal Dreams's' dream structure relied on specific media. But we..."

She paused for a moment, seemingly integrating all the data.

"We currently possess: 1. A dynamic collaborative relationship established with the divine remains based on 'complexity acceptance,' which is a highly integrated and constantly evolving 'non-standard' structure. 2. The newly formed 'Anti-Beautiful Dreams Turning to Poison Manual' protocol, which is essentially an immunity and reinforcement mechanism against 'non-standard' internal risks. 3. A special connection between the technology tree system and the Covenant's deep network, which may touch upon lower-level protocols. 4. Temporary permissions for an as-yet-not-fully-defined 'Weaver Node' (Cradle). 5. Most importantly—"

β-2's tone underwent an extremely subtle change, resembling human 'emphasis':

"—we clearly know that we are 'lab rats' in an 'experimental farm.' Whereas most of the civilizations successfully harvested in history never truly understood what they were facing until the very last moment."

"Know yourself and know your enemy." Lin Shen's eyes lit up. "β-2, do you mean our 'non-standard' nature lies not just in our methods, but at the cognitive level? We know the trap exists, we know the Reapers' logic, and we might even be exploiting their observations?"

"Exactly. The logical foundation of the Pruning Faction is 'standard order' and 'efficiency maximization.' They find it difficult to understand, and cannot effectively evaluate, a civilization that actively incorporates the fact of 'being observed and tested' into its own decision-making variables. Our 'mischief,' 'willfulness,' and 'mixing in impurities' may seem like noise to them, but to us, they could be means of disrupting their evaluation models or even reverse-contaminating their 'harvesting tools.'"

This idea was extremely bold, even somewhat insane. But in a desperate situation, madness might be the only form of rationality.

"What's the specific plan?" Zhao Yan asked. "Continue painting with the divine remains and then suddenly do a dance for the Pruning Faction's observation equipment?"

"I suggest a three-step approach," β-2 quickly listed. "First, accelerate and deepen the collaboration with the divine remains to construct a more complex 'non-standard ecology' filled with internal contradictions and dynamic balance, increasing the extraction difficulty and unpredictability of its 'blueprint.' Second, utilize the technology tree system and the Covenant's deep connection to attempt to actively contact or 'contaminate' the data flow protocols the Pruning Faction likely uses for observation and evaluation. Third, and most crucially—we must find a way to establish contact with 'Alf's Forest' or other civilizations that may have encountered the Pruning Faction, even if it's only one-way. Not for rescue (which we are currently incapable of), but to obtain first-hand detailed data on the 'Gardener's' harvesting methods, and to... search for possible 'antibodies' or 'loopholes.'"

Contacting a civilization that might have already fallen? It sounded like a fantasy.

"The Weaver Protocol," Lin Shen suddenly remembered. "Ashes said we are a temporary node. If 'Alf's Forest' is also a node, even if it's 'losing its shape,' does the protocol itself still have an extremely weak connection? Like... severed nerve endings that might still transmit a bit of bioelectric signal?"

"Theoretically feasible," β-2 immediately began calculating. "But it requires extremely high resonance precision and energy, and we must avoid potential Pruning Faction monitoring. The risk is immense."

"Do it," Zhao Yan said decisively. "It's better than sitting here waiting to be evaluated and harvested. β-2, plan the scheme. Chief Engineer Lin, use your technology tree system to find a way to dig out some 'Weaver Protocol communication' scraps from the Covenant Network. Director Chu, coordinate Earth's resources; we're going to play for high stakes. Zhou Zhe, Li Lin, check all systems to ensure we don't crash ourselves while trying to make contact."

The orders were issued, and the team began operating at high speed once again. Fear had not vanished, but it was overlaid by a stronger determination—a mix of anger and the will to survive. They were no longer just examinees in the Covenant assessment, nor were they merely experimental subjects under the observation of the Pruning Faction. They began to try, as an 'experimental subject aware of its own fate and intending to resist,' to stir this seemingly predetermined chessboard.

Remaining Countdown: 28 hours 30 minutes.

Pain Index: 0.95% → 0.90% (After deep reflection, the divine remains seems to have sensed the external pressure, and its willingness to collaborate has subtly increased)

Chaos Activity: 0.45% (Stable)

New Action Plan Initiated:

'Deepen Ecology' Plan: Led by β-2, introducing more philosophical and artistic concepts of 'unity of opposites' from human culture (such as 'the intersection of sorrow and joy' or 'returning to simplicity after extreme brilliance') to co-construct more complex conceptual works with the divine remains, and beginning to have the divine remains actively manage the balance of different 'emotional zones' within its Chaos Domain.

'Protocol Infiltration' Plan: Lin Shen and the technology tree system are going all out to find traces of 'civilization evaluation protocols' or 'data collection channels' that the Pruning Faction might use within the Covenant's deep network.

'Faint Echo' Plan: Preparing for a one-way contact attempt with the 'Alf's Forest' node. It is estimated to require 30% of the Cradle Node's backup energy and 70% of β-2's real-time computing power. The probability of success is estimated to be below 15%.

Extra Intelligence from Ashes: "The Executive Court's monitoring network has captured that the activity of 'Gardener' units on the other side of the galactic arm has risen abnormally recently, with several weak civilization signals disappearing. They may be 'stockpiling' some kind of resource or preparing for a large-scale operation. Time may be tighter than estimated."

Just as the 'Faint Echo' plan entered its final preparation stage, the divine remains, which had been immersed in internal reorganization, suddenly sent β-2 a clear thought—no longer a memory or emotion, but more like a structured 'observation report.'

The content of the report was an analysis of those extremely subtle foreign protocol imprints remaining in its Chaos Domain from when it was induced by the 'Anchor Resonators.' Using its vast and ancient conscious instinct, the divine remains compared and traced these imprints against the 'aura' it felt from the Pruning Faction's information dust, and actually reverse-engineered a small segment of the low-level protocol syntax used by the Pruning Faction to mark and evaluate 'non-standard structures'!

This syntax was incomplete, but it was like obtaining a small fragment of the enemy's codebook.

β-2 instantly received and began decrypting it. A few minutes later, she reached a shocking conclusion:

"Based on the analysis of this syntax fragment, there is a key negative weight indicator in the Pruning Faction's evaluation of 'non-standard' called—'Unpredictable Benevolence' or 'Inefficient Empathy.' That is: when civilization individuals or collectives face survival pressure or efficiency choices, they make decisions based on empathy or some abstract sense of morality that clearly do not align with the principles of rational self-preservation or interest maximization. In their evaluation, such behaviors signal that a civilization's 'non-standard chaos' has penetrated to the core, posing a high contamination risk, and that the resulting 'blueprint' structure is extremely unstable and difficult to extract via standardization."

Silence fell over the command cabin.

Then, Zhou Zhe said softly, "So... all those 'mischievous' things we did before, like insisting on reasoning with the divine remains, inviting it to cooperate, and mixing in impurities to prevent its beautiful dreams from turning to poison... in their eyes, it's not just strange, it's... 'sick benevolence'?"

"Exactly," β-2 confirmed. "And this may be precisely our most unique 'non-standard' trait, and the part they find most difficult to understand and handle. Suggestion: In all subsequent actions that may intersect with the Pruning Faction, without endangering fundamental survival, consciously and moderately... 'display' this 'Unpredictable Benevolence' or 'Inefficient Empathy.' This might further disrupt their evaluation and even plant the seeds for future technological confrontation."

Zhao Yan rubbed his chin, looked out the porthole at the silent starry sky—which nurtured infinite crisis as well as a glimmer of hope—and grinned. "'Sick benevolence'? This label... I think it's alright."