166: Chapter 165 Whale Song and Orbital Devourer

System Status Snapshot (20 minutes after orbit Alert)

Pruning Faction main force arrival countdown: 67 hours 50 minutes.

Unknown "orbit" wrinkle activity intensity: Continuously strengthening, space distortion rate increasing by 0.7% per hour, energy signature is not Pruning Faction standard.

divine remains panic state: Chaos Domain in violent turmoil, pain index back up to 1.2%, golden light cluster flashing at high frequency, releasing strong warnings and calls for help.

Cradle Node monitoring: Confirmed that "orbit" wrinkles are establishing a hyperspace low-resistance channel, with the terminal anchor point aimed directly at the core of the divine remains Chaos Domain.

"Benevolent Trojan" Project: Emergency adjustment, prioritizing the loading of test modules targeting "orbit" interference.

"orbit? What orbit?" Zhao Yan stared at the imagery of the eerie spatial wrinkles in that sector sent back by the sensors, his brow furrowed into a knot. That wasn't a wake left by a starship's navigation; it was more like space itself had been ironed and folded in advance by some immense force, forming an invisible "highway."

β-2's data stream flashed rapidly across the main screen: "Analyzing the energy residual spectrum of the spatial wrinkles... 0% match with known Pruning Faction technology. 41% match with 'Ancient Megastructure Project' residual signals recorded in the Covenant Network. 89% match... with a certain extremely rare 'High-Dimensional Stress Echo' detected in the divine remains Chaos Domain..." Her voice took on a rare gravity. "Inference: This 'orbit' was not laid by the Pruning Faction, but is some... pre-existing cosmic structure they activated or guided. Its function is likely to greatly accelerate the transmission efficiency of information or energy between two specific points. What the divine remains calls an 'eating' orbit likely means the terminal of this 'orbit' connects to an... existence capable of efficiently 'devouring' high-energy chaotic entities like the divine remains through it."

"The... straw of the Dream-Devouring Shadow?" This hair-raising metaphor popped into Zhou Zhe's mind.

The fearful thoughts transmitted by the divine remains further confirmed this: "Long... ago... they... used... this... faster... cleaner... to... 'harvest'... failures... like me... once the 'orbit' moves... 'it'... is not far... must... destroy... the anchor point!"

In the fragmented memory shards it passed on, blurry images flashed: After an ancient laboratory disaster, some escaped or incompletely recovered "chaos experimental byproducts" (similar to the divine remains) drifted in the universe. Then, invisible "orbits" emerged in the space around them, the other end connecting to a profound darkness that could not be looked at directly. Immediately following, these chaotic entities, along with the large surrounding area of space-time, were "sucked" away along the orbit, vanishing without a trace. The process was efficient and quiet, even possessing a cold "neatness."

"The Pruning Faction themselves might not have the ability to build such a thing," Lin Shen's face turned pale, "but they know how to activate or guide it! They want to use the 'orbit' to directly 'transport' the divine remains away, or... open a 'delivery channel' straight to the dinner table for the Dream-Devouring Shadow! This way, they might even save the 'Blueprint Stripping Array,' or use it as pre-processing for subsequent fine-tuning!"

"Interrupt it!" Zhao Yan slapped the table and rose. "No matter what this damn thing is, we can't let it take shape! β-2, calculate the most likely position of that 'anchor point' or 'wrinkle generator'! Zhou Zhe, get the divine remains to calm down; we need its help to locate and interfere! Chief Engineer Lin, is there anything in the knowledge base about destroying such spatial structures? Director Chu, get all of Earth's deep space observation arrays to scan that area with full force, find any abnormal energy focal points or spatial anomaly points!"

Orders were issued, and the entire ship, all nodes, and even Earth entered the highest level of tactical scanning status. Time seemed to be compressed; every second was a matter of life and death.

However, the laying of the "orbit" seemed to follow some physical laws they couldn't understand. It didn't rely on a conspicuous "generator" but rather seemed to gradually trigger and connect "preset paths" already hidden within the space-time structure through a series of precise spatial resonance points. Attacking these resonance points directly? Even precise detection was extremely difficult for them.

"Conventional weapons and energy attacks are ineffective," β-2 quickly concluded. "The target is not a physical entity, but the state of space itself. We lack effective means to directly influence high-dimensional spatial structures. The divine remains's chaotic energy might be able to contaminate local space and interfere with resonance, but the efficiency is low, and it would expose its position, potentially inviting more precise strikes from the Pruning Faction."

It seemed they were in a deadlock. They were watching the "straw" extend bit by bit to the mouth, yet were powerless to break it.

At this desperate moment, the passive deep space monitoring array in front of Li Lin captured an extremely weak but exceptionally clear signal. The signal didn't come from the direction of the "orbit," but from the deeper, uncharted void that hadn't been marked on any star chart. The signal's encoding was ancient and unique, filled with long, low, and rhythmically complex fluctuations, as if... some kind of song?

"This... what frequency is this?" Li Lin amplified and translated the signal. What was translated wasn't language, but a series of abstract information packets expressing concepts like "hunger," "path," "obstacle," and "clearing," mixed with intense spatial perception data.

"It's it!" Zhou Zhe, who had been tensely monitoring the state of the divine remains, suddenly shouted. "The divine remains... its fear has lessened! In the thoughts it's transmitting... there's a hint of... confusion and... anticipation? It's asking me to ask β-2... if she heard the 'Hunger Song' of the 'Wanderer of the Great Void'?"

"Wanderer of the Great Void?" β-2 quickly searched all databases, including the recently received Covenant knowledge base. "No exact matching entries. Some vague legends mention that in certain ancient void regions of the Milky Way, there exist giant interstellar creatures or civilization creations that feed on 'abnormal spatial structures' and 'disordered energy,' known as 'Void Scavengers' or 'Wrinkle Devourers'... Match rate is rising! The signal characteristics have a 12% similarity to descriptions of the legendary 'Astral Whale' (a hypothetical ethereal creature that feeds on spatial tension)!"

"Astral Whale? A creature that eats spatial structures?" Zhao Yan felt that the information received today had already exceeded his cognitive boundaries.

"More accurately, it feeds on 'non-natural spatial ordering structures' (such as man-made wormholes, spatial wrinkles, and stable transition channels) and their accompanying energy." β-2 rapidly updated the model. "If the legends are true, then this 'Dream-Devouring orbit' being activated is nothing less than a 'feast' composed of highly ordered spatial tension suddenly appearing in the 'Astral Whale's' territory! Its 'song' is expressing excitement at finding a food source, and... warning potential competitors?"

As if to verify this wild guess, a new change suddenly appeared in the spatial wrinkle area on the monitoring screen! A relatively obvious spatial resonance point that had just formed collapsed inward and disappeared without warning! Like a wrinkle on a smooth piece of cloth being flattened by an invisible hand! Immediately after, a second, a third... the progress of the "orbit" laying was clearly being obstructed!

And that "Hunger Song" signal abruptly became clear and loud, taking on a distinct rhythm of pleasure and urgency!

"It... it's eating the 'orbit'!" Li Lin cried out.

"That's right!" Lin Shen became excited. "The 'orbit' is a highly ordered spatial structure created artificially, violating the 'natural state' of that void region, and it has attracted a cosmic creature that feeds on correcting such 'anomalies'! Our chance has come!"

"How do we use it?" Chu Yunshen immediately followed up. "This creature is clearly uncontrolled and cannot be communicated with. After it finishes eating the 'orbit,' will it 'clear' us out along with it?"

"According to legendary fragments and signal analysis, 'Astral Whale' entities are usually only interested in 'abnormal structures' themselves and their direct sustaining energy, showing little interest in 'natural' celestial bodies or ships composed of conventional matter and energy, unless they are actively attacked or their 'feeding' is blocked," β-2 analyzed. "We can try... to guide it. divine remains! Can the divine remains perceive the 'Astral Whale's' more precise location and 'feeding' preferences?"

Zhou Zhe immediately communicated with the divine remains. The divine remains's fear had greatly decreased, and it sent back a wave of curiosity and schadenfreude: "Can... feel... 'Big Guy'... very hungry... it likes... 'tight,' 'crisp'... 'orbit'... very much to its taste... but... 'orbit' will hide... will conceal... 'Big Guy'... sometimes... stupid..."

The divine remains meant that while the "Astral Whale" could find and devour the "orbit," the "orbit's" activation mechanism seemed to have a certain adaptive and stealth capability, and not all nodes were so easy to "bite."

"Then we'll 'season' it for it!" A fierce light flashed in Zhao Yan's eyes. "Use the divine remains's 'Pain Resonator,' or our own energy, to 'mark' those critical, hidden 'orbit' nodes! Serve the 'food' right to its mouth! β-2, calculate the optimal marking plan and launch path to ensure we attract the 'Astral Whale' without making it interested in us! Lin Shen, see if there are any records in the knowledge base about 'indirect collaboration' with such creatures, even if they're just legends!"

The "marking operation" was quickly formulated, code-named "Feeding." The plan was extremely risky: it required launching a batch of micro-probes carrying a special "Pain-Order" mixed signal from the divine remains (simulating "orbit" node characteristics but with more "tempting" chaotic tension) to cross the danger zone and precisely "smear" them onto several critical spatial resonance points that were forming or hidden.

The heavy responsibility of executing the mission fell on the Scavenger.

This construct, which had evolved "imitative learning" and "limited collaboration" capabilities from a Chaos Sentinel, had now become the most suitable "courier." It possessed certain chaotic attributes, making it less likely to be prioritized as a threat by the "orbit" mechanism; its multi-armed structure could carry and deploy micro-probes; and most importantly, it had a direct connection with β-2 and the divine remains, allowing it to receive real-time guidance.

Under β-2's precise instructions and the divine remains's energy support, the Scavenger, carrying the first batch of "bait markers," slipped silently into the void, diving towards the nearest spatial wrinkle point.

Everyone held their breath, watching the faint signal representing the Scavenger move across the sensors.

Closer, even closer...

Just as the Scavenger was about to reach the target and prepare to release the markers, a sudden change occurred!

That spatial wrinkle area erupted without warning into a blinding, silver-white regular grid of light! The light instantly enveloped the area where the Scavenger was located!

"It's the Pruning Faction's defense mechanism! The 'orbit' comes with its own defenses!" Zhou Zhe's heart stopped.

The Scavenger's signal fluctuated violently, as if it had fallen into a quagmire. The silver-white grid began to contract, seemingly intending to capture or decompose it.

At the critical moment, the divine remains suddenly mobilized a powerful surge of chaotic energy and, across the vast distance, forcibly injected it into the Scavenger's body! Simultaneously, β-2 sent it a highest-priority command: "Release all markers! Then—mimic the collapse signal of an 'orbit' node! Fast!"

The Scavenger executed faithfully. Several micro-probes were ejected, and the "bait marker" signals they carried exploded instantly. Meanwhile, the Scavenger's own structure, under the infusion of the divine remains's energy, simulated a strong fluctuation similar to the instability and collapse of a spatial structure!

This sudden "feast" and "collapse" signal seemed to strongly stimulate the "Astral Whale" hidden in the shadows.

The next moment, everyone saw a scene they would never forget:

In the area enveloped by the silver-white grid light, space violently buckled inward like a ripple in water, forming an absolutely dark "spherical void" several thousand kilometers in diameter! The Scavenger, the micro-probes, along with the silver-white grid light itself, were instantly devoured by the "void"! Then, the void jumped and spread along the traces of the spatial wrinkles at faster-than-light speed. Everywhere it passed, all "orbit" wrinkles and resonance points were wiped away as if by an eraser, vanishing without a trace!

The long, low "whale song," filled with a sense of immense satisfaction, was clearly transmitted to the Cradle Node and the pioneer through the vibrations of space itself.

The laying of the "orbit" was forcibly interrupted by a large section!

"Suc... success?" Li Lin covered her mouth, unable to believe it.

The Scavenger's signal had disappeared, but the last sensory data it sent back showed that it hadn't been "decomposed" before being swallowed; instead, it was enveloped and transported by a gentle but irresistible spatial force... seemingly going somewhere.

The divine remains sent a wave of regret, but mostly relief: "'Big Guy'... is full... a section of the road... 'orbit'... temporarily... can't be laid... Scavenger... was 'taken away'... maybe... as a 'snack' or... 'utensil'..."

Trading one Scavenger and a few probes for a severe delay in the "orbit" laying and witnessing the power of a cosmic-level creature—it was a bargain whose profit or loss was hard to evaluate.

Zhao Yan let out a long breath and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Send out the notice: that entire area is designated as an absolute restricted zone. No unit is allowed to approach, and no signal that could be misinterpreted as a 'spatial anomaly' is to be transmitted. We want to maintain a good 'mutually undisturbed' relationship with this 'Big Guy' neighbor."

Countdown remaining: 66 hours 30 minutes.

"orbit" threat: Temporarily resolved (estimated delay of at least 24-48 hours).

Pruning Faction main fleet: Still on course, but has lost the advantage of rapid deployment via the "orbit."

"Benevolent Trojan" Project: Continuing to move forward, integrating data on the "orbit" defense mechanism obtained during the "Feeding" operation.

The crisis had temporarily eased, but everyone knew the Pruning Faction main force wouldn't stop because of this. Having lost the "orbit" shortcut, they might take more direct, but also more unpredictable, measures.

Lin Shen looked out the porthole at the void that had returned to "calm," where a natural power beyond human imagination had just played out. He said softly, "The universe... is far more 'vibrant' than we imagined. We not only have to face the enemies of civilization, but also learn to... survive in such a 'vibrant' universe."

And at this moment, in the distant, uncharted void, the massive existence that had just finished a "meal" felt a faint learning protocol signal—a mix of chaos and order—from the little thing (the Scavenger) it had unintentionally "taken away." It piqued an extremely faint... curiosity, like a post-meal burp.