26: Global shielding device installation complete

Han Zhe looked at the three silent and reliable steel giants before him, and a surge of pride welled up in his heart. He finally felt a bit like a 'Commander,' no longer just a lone survivor fighting on his own.

'Welcome aboard, pioneer-02, pioneer-03,' Han Zhe said through the communication channel. 'pioneer-01, you have the most experience. You will act as the team leader for now and assign tasks.'

'Command confirmed,' three nearly identical electronic voices responded in sequence.

'Current highest priority task: collect and pre-process all materials required for constructing the Basic Omni-field Shield Generator. pioneer-01, you continue to be responsible for the search and initial processing of rare materials and special components. pioneer-02, pioneer-03, you are responsible for efficient sweeping collection in the debris fields around the platform. Target: all metals, composite materials that can be converted into resource points, and any objects that may contain high-value elements or energy. Send collected raw materials directly to the refining core.'

'Command confirmed.' x3

The three SCVs immediately sprang into action. pioneer-01 returned to the western mining site for deeper excavation and screening. The two new members strode steadily towards the debris fields on either side of the platform. Their magnetic claws and cutting arms swung like hungry beasts, beginning to devour the floating metal junk. Their efficiency far surpassed that of human EVA suits. Large swathes of debris were decomposed and collected, continuously sent to the input port of the refining core via temporarily constructed conveyor belts (simple tracks) or direct transport.

The growth curve of resource points instantly became steep!

[Acquired standard metal scrap... Resource points +15...+22...+18...]

[Discovered small energy battery wreckage (partially functional)... Resource points +50, Energy +0.1 units...]

[Acquired unknown alloy fragment (contains trace rare elements)... Resource points +35...]

The notification tones almost merged into a continuous stream. Han Zhe watched as the resource points rapidly climbed from 600, to 700... 800... 900... In just two hours, they broke through the 1000-point mark! And the rate was still accelerating!

Meanwhile, a prompt came from the refining core: [psionic neutralizer synthesis complete. All precursor materials for the 'information turbulence crystal' are ready. Begin crystal synthesis?]

'Begin! Immediately!' Han Zhe responded without hesitation. The key materials were ready, the SCVs were frantically accumulating general resources, and energy was steadily recovering (thanks to the 'sun ray' array and sporadic collection). Everything was in place!

[Initiating 'information turbulence crystal' synthesis... Energy consumption: 3 standard units... Estimated duration: 2 standard hours.]

Inside the refining core, a dedicated energy focusing chamber was activated. High-purity energy crystal matrix melted within a special field, mixing with catalytic powder, psionic neutralizer, and other additives. Under the injection of precisely controlled energy flows and complex information encoding (originating from the STC blueprint), recrystallization began.

Two hours later.

Ding.

A crisp notification tone sounded. The output slot of the refining core opened, and a fist-sized, irregular polyhedral crystal with a deep dark blue hue was slowly pushed out. Inside it, countless starlight seemed to flow and instantly annihilate. It emitted no dazzling light, but radiated a strange 'sense of presence,' as if the space and light around it slightly curved inward and distorted.

['information turbulence crystal (standard)' synthesis complete. Quality: Excellent.]

Han Zhe carefully picked it up. It felt cool to the touch, of moderate weight, but holding it gave a strange sensation, as if holding 'an independent piece of space.' This was the core for constructing the Global Shield Field!

At this moment, thanks to the frenzied labor of the three 'Pioneers,' the resource points had soared to an astonishing 3200 points! System energy had also recovered to 8 standard units (the 'sun ray' array deserved much of the credit).

All conditions were fully met, even exceeded!

'System! Immediately begin construction of the 'Basic Omni-field Shield Generator'! Location: the center of the platform directly above 'ark one'! Integrate and upgrade based on the 'Silent Veil' prototype!'

[Command confirmed. Constructing 'Basic Omni-field Shield Generator (Simplified Version)'. Resource points deducted: 2500 points. Energy output: 15 standard units (current 8 units, requires advance from system reserve energy and continuous replenishment). Construction location confirmed. Initiating foundation construction and core component assembly... Estimated duration: 8 standard hours.]

The final, most important construction had begun.

The remaining 700 resource points were immediately invested. Large quantities of high-purity alloys, precision energy conduits, and complex control modules were rapidly manufactured. The three SCVs temporarily halted their frantic resource collection and turned to participate in this core construction project. They transported heavy prefabricated components, performed high-precision welding and assembly, and coordinated with the refining core's real-time production of specialized parts.

A cylindrical base approximately five meters in diameter and three meters high was first erected at the platform's center. The base internally integrated powerful energy buffering and distribution units. Next, more complex multi-layered energy ring structures were hoisted into place. These rings were made of special alloy, their surfaces etched with microscopic runes from the STC capable of interfering with spacetime information transmission. Finally, the precious 'information turbulence crystal' was carefully embedded into the energy focusing chamber at the very top and connected to the core control system of the entire device.

The construction process attracted all the 'gaze' on the platform. Welding arcs and energy flows intertwined, the roar of machinery and system prompts composing a symphony of steel. Han Zhe remained at the console throughout, monitoring every step to ensure nothing went wrong.

Eight hours passed in tension and anticipation.

When the final interface was sealed and the last calibration beam passed through, the entire device emitted a low, steady hum that seemed to resonate with space itself. The flowing, faint blue light on its surface stabilized, and those energy rings began rotating in reverse at an almost imperceptibly slow speed.

['Basic Omni-field Shield Generator (Simplified Version)' construction complete. Self-check passed. Core crystal resonance stable. Control system online. Awaiting activation command.]

Done!

Han Zhe's heart pounded. He stepped out of 'ark one' and looked up at the device standing imposingly at the center of the platform, emanating an intangible authority. It had no menacing gun barrels or thick armor, but the strategic significance it represented far exceeded ten laser turrets.

'System, activate the Global Shield Field! Range... initially set to a 50-meter radius, medium intensity. Objective: comprehensively interfere with and weaken all information ingress and egress within this range not permitted by our side. Prioritize covering the previously unknown detector pulse frequency band, and attempt continuous obfuscation of residual signal signatures.'

[Command confirmed. Activating 'Basic Omni-field Shield Generator'... Energy output stable... Field generation in progress...]

Hum————

A deeper, more resonant hum than when the 'Silent Veil' activated sounded. The glow from the 'information turbulence crystal' at the device's apex slightly intensified, and the slowly rotating energy rings abruptly sped up!

Centered on the generator, an intangible field completely invisible to the naked eye but clearly 'felt' by all precision sensors rapidly spread out like a water ripple. It instantly covered a spherical space with a fifty-meter radius, enveloping the entire 'ark one,' most of the operational platform, the three SCVs, and the refining core.

Han Zhe immediately sensed the difference.

It wasn't a change in sound or light, but a more fundamental sense of 'isolation.' It felt as if the space he occupied was separated from the 'connection' to the external universe by a tough yet pliable membrane. The starscape seemed slightly more 'blurry'—not a visual blur, but a perceptual detachment. The various electromagnetic noises emitted by the platform's equipment also seemed to become faint and distant in perception.

He pulled up the system monitoring.

[Global Shield Field activation successful. Current range: 50-meter radius. Intensity: Medium.]

[Information leakage index decreased: 97.3%.]

[External conventional detection (electromagnetic/particle) interference success rate: 99.8%.]

[Warp shallow ripple detection interference/refraction success rate: 85.2%.]

[Active interference/obfuscation of specific frequency band (unknown detector pulse): Ongoing. Estimated effective external detection range reduced to below 0.1% of original distance.]

[Internal communication and equipment operation: Slightly affected (latency <0.01 seconds, signal attenuation <1%), within system adaptive compensation range.]

Success! A near-perfect stealth effect! As long as he wasn't directly seen with the naked eye or subjected to ultra-high-intensity, highly targeted detection methods at point-blank range, he was practically 'non-existent' now! Even the previously leaked pulse signal was greatly weakened and obfuscated!

A sense of security, unprecedented security, enveloped Han Zhe. He finally had a truly meaningful 'safe zone.'

He looked at the three SCVs standing silently, awaiting their next orders, at the stably running 'sun ray' array and refining core, at the charging plasma pistol and the unknown data storage unit awaiting analysis, and finally, his gaze returned to the silent yet powerful 'Basic Omni-field Shield Generator.'

From a dying man in a dilapidated escape pod to a space 'lord' with three SCVs, a preliminary base, and powerful stealth capabilities—this path had been filled with death, sacrifice, gambles, and incredible luck. But no matter what, he had made it through.

Now, he could finally catch his breath for a moment, in a relatively safe environment, and contemplate the next step.

Should he continue deep excavation of the debris fields, accumulate more resources, and unlock more powerful blueprints? Or attempt to analyze that unknown detector's storage unit, gather external information, perhaps even find clues to leave this desolate place? Or perhaps... begin manufacturing some truly offensive units, gradually turning this debris field into his own territory?

For the first time, the power of choice was truly in his hands.

Han Zhe took a deep breath of the air, tinged with the scent of metal and ozone, yet incredibly precious. The corner of his mouth slowly curled into a cold, hard, yet resolute arc.

The immediate crisis of survival had been alleviated, but the path of development, and the potentially more complex challenges that might follow, had only just begun.

On this small steel island shrouded by the Global Shield Field, a soul from another world and his battered yet full-of-potential system officially raised the curtain on their struggle, rise, and perhaps even conquest in this cruel starry sea.