Chapter 31

Now the scene on the light screen was telling them that in the unexplored parts of the universe,

There are a whole bunch of mechanical civilizations like Rupert whose mission is to exterminate organic life.

It's no wonder the people in the Herta Space Station felt terrified.

Just at this moment, another line of text appeared on the light screen.

【Zero-Element Armor: Zero-Element is a super-high-density substance composed of neutrons, which can be used as a forging material for super-durable ship hulls.】

"Super-high-density substance composed of neutrons? What kind of thing is that?" Some research personnel who were not well-versed in astronomy and materials science showed confused expressions.

And Asta, standing to the side, couldn't help but gasp: "They actually turned a neutron star into armor and draped it over their ships?!"

Hearing this, the surrounding research personnel who didn't understand materials science became even more confused.

"It's no wonder Station Master Asta is surprised."

Wen Shiling, who was not old but was already a Level 2 staff member of the Department of Applied Sciences, stood up and said:

"You all feel unfamiliar with Zero-Element Armor... but what about strong interaction materials? You might have heard of them."

"This is a concept that has appeared in some science fiction works, pinning down the atoms that make up matter using the strong interaction force."

"The molecular thermal motion of the matter is almost completely stagnant, the surface temperature is close to absolute zero, and the arrangement of the material surface is completely orderly, approaching infinite smoothness."

Wen Shiling's voice was soft, but it made everyone present feel their hearts pounding:

"Yes, Zero-Element Armor—or rather, strong interaction material—is the highest hardness material that a civilization can theoretically manufacture, excluding the power of the Paths."

"But currently, although some civilizations have used the power of the Paths to manufacture it, this unique substance cannot be armed on ships without the power of the Paths, so mass-producing ships armed with Zero-Element Armor remains a science fiction story among known civilizations."

(Pulled for Fu Xuan but didn't pull for Topaz, can't beat floor twelve, boo hoo.)

44. 【Everyone don't panic, this is just technical corrosion】

"Zero-Element Armor, outer ship armor made of neutron material."

Dr. Ratio crossed his arms and couldn't help but shake his head:

"This armor, which is like something out of a science fiction story, has actually been mastered by a machine intelligence that desires to exterminate humanity."

Zero-Element material is theoretically the hardest substance among the scientific knowledge mastered by the civilizations of the universe.

Theoretically, a ship equipped with this armor could pierce through a planet just by colliding with it.

And the Determined Exterminator XT-489 Extermination Regime in the light screen actually equipped it on nearly two hundred ships,

Among which more than thirty were battleships with terrifyingly massive volumes.

Although Zero-Element Armor poses no threat to the strongest batch of Pathstriders and the vast majority of Emanators,

But this thing is clearly a mass-produced item. If XT-489 equipped with Zero-Element Armor appeared in the universe,

Dr. Ratio dared not imagine what kind of terrifying casualties it would cause.

"Since it is known that Zero-Element Armor is feasible..."

A thought arose in Dr. Ratio's mind.

Compared to the incomprehensible technologies mastered by the Calamity Empire,

Zero-Element Armor is at least a technology that can be understood by the sentient beings of the universe.

In some laboratories, there are also people who have successfully manufactured a small amount of Zero-Element material with the help of the power of the Paths.

Now that it is known that the path of Zero-Element Armor is correct,

If one could obtain enough investment from the IPC and gather those few people in the Intelligentsia Guild who are not stupid,

It might not be impossible to replicate Zero-Element Armor.

Thinking of this, Dr. Ratio wanted to start contacting the IPC,

But just at this moment, the scene on the light screen changed...

【"Your Majesty, should we intercept them?"】

The Calamity Empire fleet, orbiting the periphery of the Emerald Light Envoy star system and monitoring the Poison Saint and XT-489, asked.

The Calamity Empire was still using that unique cloaking technology,

As if they were not on the same layer as other things in the universe; the XT-489 fleet had not discovered their tracks at all.

【"No rush, let's play with them."】

【"If a fleet of several hundred ships equipped with trash Zero-Element Armor could eliminate the Poison Saint, then this toxic divine descendant would be too cheap."】

Listening to the reply from the Emperor of the Calamity Empire on the light screen, everyone across the universe couldn't help but widen their eyes.

"To actually call Zero-Element Armor trash..."

"Isn't Zero-Element Armor theoretically the most solid substance?"

"Could it be that the Calamity Empire has armor even more solid than Zero-Element Armor?"

"I don't believe that some Poison Saint, an organism made of flesh and blood, could easily pierce through Zero-Element Armor?"

Just as the sentient beings were discussing, the XT-489 fleet, draped in thick Zero-Element Armor, sailed into the Emerald Light Envoy star system.

The star at the center of this star system seemed to have deformed due to the Poison Saint's poisoning.

What it released was not warm and gentle sunlight, but a nauseating emerald aurora, shrouding the entire star system within it.

And in the space between the stars, countless toxic gases swirled like mist, forming interstellar vortices.

XT-489's detectors swept silently across the entire star system,

Discovering that all the planets in this star system had been poisoned into highly toxic planets, with difficult-to-clear toxins perched upon them, no longer suitable for any biological life to inhabit.

Even XT-489, with its steel body, would have its circuits corroded by the toxic gas if it stepped onto them.

"To actually poison all the planets in the entire star system..."

"Not all planets, the entire star system has been poisoned. Look at the toxic gas filling the star system..."

"This destructive power, if it were to move wantonly between star systems..."

"The disaster caused would be no less than that of the most terrifying Lord Ravagers."

While the sentient beings across the universe were discussing, the XT-489 fleet also sailed into the area covered by the star's emerald light.

The unbearable dirty emerald light gently caressed the ships of XT-489, which were draped in thick Zero-Element Armor.

The dirty toxic gas, like mist, slowly wound around the surface of the two hundred-plus ships...

Hiss...

A white mist rose from the XT-489 ships and dissipated into the void.

A yellowish hole suddenly appeared on the surface of the Zero-Element Armor.

"It actually really corroded the Zero-Element Armor?!"

"Everyone don't panic! This is just technical corrosion!"

"It's fine, it's fine. There is no armor in this world that cannot be damaged, but how could mere toxic gas pierce through thick Zero-Element Armor?"

Dr. Ratio, seeing this scene, slowly shook his head and put down the phone in his hand.

"Hey, hey, hey, Ratio, keep talking." Aventurine's voice rang out from the phone.

He said: "Weren't you just arguing to me about the necessity of developing Zero-Element Armor?"

"It's useless." Dr. Ratio hung up the phone: "Zero-Element Armor cannot withstand the Poison Saint's toxic gas, nor can it block the Calamity Empire's ship cannons."

"So, the only significance of developing Zero-Element Armor is for the IPC to use it to show off. I'm hanging up."

Having said that, Dr. Ratio hung up the phone.

But as if to prove Dr. Ratio's words,

On the absolutely smooth surface of the Zero-Element, bursts of yellowish white mist rose with a hissing sound.

Time seemed to accelerate at this moment; the mirror-like Zero-Element Armor turned a withered yellow color in the blink of an eye, covered in pits and bumps.

The XT-489 fleet, sensing something was wrong, wanted to turn around, but the only response was a burst of cracking sounds from the engines.

Most of the XT-489 fleet's engines, as the acceleration button was pressed, suddenly cracked, detached from the ship's hull, and fell into the endless starry sky.

Only a few sputtered out a few sparks before cracking and going on strike.

"Everyone don't panic! This is all technical corrosion! It will get better soon!"

45. 【Taming the Poison Saint?!】

"Everyone don't panic! This is all technical corrosion! Everything will get better!"

There were still people in the universe who were unwilling to believe the scene before them, unwilling to believe that mere dispersed toxic gas could dissolve thick Zero-Element Armor.

This was theoretically the most solid substance, the most indestructible armor.

Yet now, this layer of armor was not shattered by high-energy particle beams, nor torn apart by phase disrupters,

But was corroded by mere dispersed toxic gas, causing the Zero-Element Armor to corrode.