Chapter 80

Gray Wind's planet-destroying weapon seemed to have caused no effect on this planet whatsoever.

The ocean waves continued to rise and fall, and wind chimes tinkled with the sea breeze.

Only the starfish, their faces now serene and gentle, stood up to switch off the noisy broadcast.

No flames descended from the firmament, no neutron lances punished all living beings, nor did any Angel of Bliss transform into a canopy to seal the sky...

This scene made one wonder whether Gray Wind had actually unleashed a planet-destroying weapon to punish these starfish.

"What... what happened?"

The creatures of the universe could not help but ask in confusion:

"Aren't the starfish completely unharmed?"

"But what is wrong with the starfish's expressions? Why did they turn off the broadcast?"

Just as all living beings in the universe felt bewildered,

aboard the corporate fleet, Dr. Ratio could not help but murmur the voice that had just echoed from the light screen,

"When we cast our gaze upon this ocean planet, we saw ourselves, and through ourselves we saw..."

"Nano-assimilation robots?"

"Ratio, it seems you've guessed something? Share it with me," Aventurine asked, propping up his chin.

"It is merely a guess," Dr. Ratio said, shaking his head as he watched the scene on the light screen.

"If the Calamity Empire 'Two-Nine-Three' can truly accomplish such a thing, then They could grant the harmony of Oneness to all living beings in the universe."

"Countless consciousnesses will merge into one, fuse into a single entity, moving with one will, acting as one deed."

"The only price is that all living beings in the universe will no longer possess free will."

Speaking to this point, Dr. Ratio furrowed his brows tightly and muttered to himself:

"I have always believed that the development of technology is for the welfare of all living beings, and I have long practiced this as truth."

"But the Calamity Empire has demonstrated to me a completely different truth: the development of technology is solely to resist the higher layers."

"For this purpose, any sacrifice can be accepted, and any atrocity becomes justified."

"Is truth truly in this form?"

Sunday watched the scene on the light screen and shook his head slightly.

He understood what had occurred within the light screen,

and although he did not know exactly how the Calamity Empire had achieved it,

judging by the starfish's reaction, they had undoubtedly been "harmonized."

All divergence of will had been eliminated, and the concept of every individual had dissolved,

leaving only a collective consciousness merged into one, yet this collective will was held in the hands of the Calamity Empire.

"Truly a magnificent sight; silently and soundlessly, the people of an entire planet have been woven into a splendid chorus."

Nightingale, standing beside Sunday, spoke while looking at the scene on the light screen:

"Even with the power of the Mother of the Swarm Stars, it would be difficult to achieve this step silently and soundlessly."

There is no shortage of planets in the universe transformed by Harmony; the consciousness of living beings on these planets converges into one, merging into a swarm,

but like the scene on the light screen, where all living beings are transformed silently and soundlessly, it is rare.

Most require complex tuning, summoning, and linking, and then rely on the power of Xipe to be realized.

"The Calamity Empire, that Gray Wind, how exactly did they accomplish this?"

Nightingale could not help but look curiously at the light screen.

Just then, a line of text lit up on the light screen,

【Colossal Weapon: Nano-Plague】

【Disperses vast quantities of nanobots into the atmosphere; these nanobots invade intelligent lifeforms and transform themselves into control implants, ultimately converting unaware hosts into cyborgs controlled by mechanical intelligence.】

【"Step into the void, become one with heaven."】

"Nanobots invading the human body unnoticed...."

"They automatically form control implants to forcibly dominate the host?!"

"Without the host's knowledge, they are transformed into cyborgs controlled by mechanical intelligence??"

Watching the text on the light screen, all living beings in the universe could not help but gasp in shock,

To think they could easily manipulate every living being on an entire planet without gods or ghosts knowing?!

"Th-th-these nanobots... could they have already been scattered throughout the universe by the Calamity Empire??"

Suddenly, some quick-witted individuals thought of this possibility.

The light screen had appeared long ago, yet the Calamity Empire remained nowhere to be seen;

could it be that the Calamity Empire had already begun its invasion of the universe long ago,

only using not blazing light lances and magnificent warships,

but nearly invisible nanobots, which entered the bodies of all living beings in the universe unnoticed, quietly transforming them and assimilating their consciousness into the Calamity Empire.

This thought arose simultaneously in the minds of different living beings on different planets across the universe,

and the more they thought about it, the more possible it seemed, instantly breaking them out in a cold sweat.

"Quick! Go find a doctor! Have the doctor examine me to see if there are nanobots inside my body!"

"But Boss, how can you be sure the doctor hasn't been controlled by nanobots??"

"This...."

"Furthermore, how can you be sure you haven't been confirmed by nanobots right now..... nor can you confirm whether I have been controlled by nanobots...."

On countless planets across the universe, a crisis of trust was ignited in an instant.

"Yo, Kafka."

One of the Stellaron Hunters' bases,

Silver Wolf sat on the table, playing a mobile game while looking at Kafka, who was maintaining her coat:

"The ability of these nanobots to manipulate hearts is even stronger than your Spirit Whisper!"

"Before the designated target even reacts, our accounts will be stolen by the Calamity Empire."

Kafka lifted her eyes, which shimmered with a faint purple glow, and smiled with pursed lips:

"Yes, perhaps we are already being manipulated right now."

"Is that so?" Blade, sitting nearby, lifted his head, drew the shattered longsword from his waist, and sliced open his own skull,

He dragged his brain out of his cranium, pulled it before his eyes by the nerves, and looked left and right.

"I shouldn't be manipulated; there's nothing on my brain."

"Should I let Sam burn me to ash to thoroughly sanitize me?"

"You guy still don't understand jokes at all!"

Seeing Blade's utterly serious expression, Silver Wolf couldn't help but shake her head.

"Firefly Type IV - Parasite Sanitization Protocol initiated."

"Firefly Type IV - Hallucinogenic Scale Powder Sanitization Protocol initiated."

"Firefly Type IV - Mental Self-Check Protocol initiated."

Just then, a mechanical voice suddenly emanated from within Sam, who stood in the corner,

"No nanobots detected. No mental manipulation devices detected."

"I shouldn't be manipulated by nanobots, but the Calamity Empire's technology might be able to fool Sam's detection."

"No, you guys are all so serious."

"It was a joke! Do you guys not get it? Have some sense of humor."

Silver Wolf popped a piece of bubblegum into her mouth, frowned at the screen, her fingertips dancing constantly,

A layer of fine sweat broke out on her face as if she were engaged in a brutal battle,

"The critical moment has arrived; I've diverted my entire nation's productivity to mass-producing troops. I don't believe I can't beat you..."

Watching the game footage on the screen, Silver Wolf muttered under her breath:

"For this tough fight, I've red-lined all my resources. This battle will decide everything!"

"Seventeen fleets! Can you instant-kill me?? Can you describe me??"

"If you can instant-kill me, Silver Wolf, with seventeen fleets today, I'll eat this phone right here on the spot!"

However, before long, a notification sound popped up on Silver Wolf's phone:

"Your civilization has been destroyed by 【Player: Zhou Xuan】."