Rebirth of the Super Battleship-Chapter 620: The Pegasus Civilization’s Predicament

This place was a very strange place. From the unified characteristics of the spectral types and categories of the countless stars in this cosmic void, it could be seen that this was not the main universe but a small universe.

This small universe was vast, yet desolate. Inside it there was only a single solitary star, with no planets orbiting it. All that existed was a strangely shaped base with a diameter of roughly a few kilometers. Stationed around this base was a fleet whose style was entirely different. This fleet was not large and was extraordinarily dilapidated. Altogether it had only about one hundred thousand spaceships, and every ship bore damage to varying degrees.

“Has the spatial broadcast been sent out?” Inside the largest of these battered ships, the new leader of the Pegasus Civilization looked with a bitter expression at the void outside and, without turning his head, asked the person beside him.

“The spatial broadcast has been sent, but I do not think we can hold out until other Level 6 civilizations arrive.” The assistant answered with the same bitter look. “Moreover, even if some other Level 6 civilization received our message and was willing to come here, we still cannot confirm whether that Level 6 civilization would be friendly or hostile. Even if they were friendly, whether they would be willing to fight the Level 6 civilization keeping watch outside for the sake of this small universe is unknown. Has our Pegasus Civilization truly reached the end of the road.”

The leader’s fists clenched involuntarily, and the muscles on his face twisted. At this moment, even a fool could tell that the leader was enduring immense pain in his heart.

“Why is this, why is this. Why must our civilization bear such tremendous suffering. Has heaven truly abandoned us. First the Divine Ark Civilization broke through our star system defense network, then the former leader defected and took away most of our Pegasus Civilization’s elite. Then the Arboreal Race alien beast destroyed our planets. After that we encountered a black hole and escaped with nine lives out of ten lost with the help of the Divine Ark Civilization. This time, after finally coming upon the ruin of a Level 6 civilization and obtaining this small universe, we were targeted by another Level 6 civilization and blocked inside the small universe, unable to go out. What should we do this time. Although, using the spatial broadcast instrument inside this small universe, we sent a distress signal to the outside, the universe is so dark. Will there truly be a benevolent Level 6 civilization willing to fight the Level 6 civilization keeping watch outside the small universe to rescue us. Where is our way out. Must we truly remain in this barren small universe until our resources are exhausted and we helplessly perish.”

The leader murmured, his eyes filled with pain. He turned his head and asked the assistant, “How long can our energy reserves sustain us.”

The assistant answered gloomily, “If we adopt rationing, we can sustain ourselves for about one year. Although there is a star here with nearly inexhaustible mass, our technology is insufficient to directly extract mass from the star. Using solar energy, the lack of industrial base and raw materials means we simply have no way to obtain enough energy in the short term. In fact, we are currently dismantling ships to manufacture solar energy collection instruments.”

After a pause, the assistant continued, “The Life Academy of Science has told us that if our population drops below ten percent of its present level, that is, below one billion, then a great technological decline in our civilization will be unavoidable. With so small a population base, it will be impossible to pass on as a Level 5 civilization. Right now, every ship houses a population far exceeding its carrying capacity. Even if we dismantle ships to obtain raw materials, we truly cannot dismantle many.”

“Sigh.” The leader let out a deep sigh.

“Perhaps…” The assistant looked hesitant, but finally spoke the next words. “Perhaps we could dismantle this base left behind by the Level 6 civilization. Our relevant experts have already made an assessment. This base is large and contains a great deal of matter. If we dismantle it, relying on its mass and the raw materials from dismantling, we could at least sustain our civilization for another two hundred years.”

“No, we cannot do that.” The leader shook his head resolutely. “We cannot cut off our own retreat. This base is the passage left by that unknown Level 6 civilization that connects this small universe to the main universe. If we dismantle the base, with our current technology there is absolutely no possibility of leaving this small universe. What awaits us would be certain death. If we preserve it, we… we at least have a one-in-ten-thousand chance of survival.”

The leader spoke with a bleak expression.

He could not help recalling what had happened in the recent past.

After parting ways with the Divine Ark Civilization, thanks to the supply ships left by the Divine Ark Civilization, the Pegasus Civilization resolved its immediate crisis and regained the ability for long-range travel. The entire civilization continued onward, and unexpectedly, it seemed that fortune suddenly turned. They discovered a ruin left by a Level 6 civilization, a small universe that still possessed complete functionality to link and communicate with the outside.

Stimulated by this event, the scientific community of the Pegasus Civilization regained its vitality. Although the former leader had taken away all the elite scientists and only the less distinguished remained, the matter was far too significant. They burst forth with unimaginable research enthusiasm. In a short time, they studied the various characteristics of the small universe, inferred how to use it, and understood the immense benefits a small universe held for a civilization.

But the good times did not last long. Just as the Pegasus Civilization was conducting vigorous research on the small universe, they encountered a new enemy. A preliminary Level 6 civilization discovered this place and attempted to seize the small universe. Because that preliminary Level 6 civilization’s technology had not yet developed to the point of being able to create a small universe, such a complete small universe held irresistible appeal for them.

So they attacked the Pegasus Civilization. Even a preliminary Level 6 civilization is an overwhelmingly powerful existence that a Level 5 civilization cannot resist. The Pegasus Civilization suffered serious losses in haste, then fled into the small universe before being completely annihilated and shut down the small universe’s connection passage, blocking that Level 6 civilization outside.

The Pegasus Civilization fell from heaven into hell in an instant. Only then did they realize how wrong it had been not to stockpile large quantities of supplies inside the small universe in advance. This small universe was extraordinarily empty. Aside from one star and one base, there was no other matter. Under such circumstances, not to mention developing technology, survival itself was extremely difficult for the Pegasus Civilization.

With that Level 6 civilization keeping watch outside, the Pegasus Civilization could not leave the small universe. Although that Level 6 civilization issued many so-called proclamations of peaceful coexistence in an attempt to get the Pegasus Civilization to open the small universe’s passage, the new leader of the Pegasus Civilization understood that this was only a clumsy ruse. In the eyes of that Level 6 civilization, they were like ants, and their actions had obviously angered the other side. If they left the small universe, they would certainly be crushed like ants. A Level 6 civilization would absolutely feel no guilt over exterminating a Level 5 civilization.

Inability to leave the small universe meant inability to obtain resupply. Without resupply, even if the base were dismantled, the Pegasus Civilization could only last two hundred years. After two hundred years, the civilization would lose a large portion of its population. Once the population dropped to ten percent of its present number, the Pegasus Civilization would in effect be destroyed.

Fortunately, the Pegasus Civilization discovered inside this base a communication instrument that used space as its carrier. Through this instrument, the Pegasus Civilization sent out the most desperate call for help to the outside. Although all intelligent beings of the Pegasus Civilization knew that doing this would likely have no effect.

“If a new Level 6 civilization comes here and eliminates that Level 6 civilization, we can leave this small universe.” the leader said bleakly. “And because we have not offended this newly arrived Level 6 civilization, there is a certain possibility they will allow us to leave. This is our only hope for survival.”

At this moment, the leader’s heart was full of pain. To pin one’s hope of survival on the other side disdaining to exterminate you because of your insignificance was an immense pain and humiliation for a civilization.

“If after one year we still have not met with a turning point and the situation continues to worsen.” the leader’s voice grew firm, “we will dismantle the base that connects the small universe with external space. Using these resources, we will let the people of our civilization pass the final two hundred years with adequate supplies. Even if our civilization is to become extinct, we will destroy this small universe and absolutely not leave it to those demons outside.” 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The leader knew that the Level 6 civilization outside still did not have the ability to link the small universe with the main universe. Destroying the small universe’s base and causing the small universe to lose its ability to connect with the outside would mean that this small universe was destroyed.