Rebirth of the Super Battleship-Chapter 692: War and Peace
Only upon arriving here and confirming the starting point of the star route constructed by the Guardian Civilization did Xiao Yu determine the Guardian Civilization’s final destination. It was not the Andromeda Galaxy, but the Triangulum Galaxy.
Compared with the Andromeda Galaxy, the Triangulum Galaxy was farther from the Milky Way Galaxy and smaller in mass and size. The Triangulum Galaxy was about three million light years from the Milky Way Galaxy, with a diameter of roughly fifty thousand light years. By contrast, the Milky Way Galaxy’s diameter was one hundred thousand light years.
If judged according to some of Xiao Yu’s current conjectures, namely that the highest-level civilization appearing within a galaxy correlates with the galaxy’s size, then it was unlikely that a Level 7 civilization would appear in the Triangulum Galaxy.
In the Large Magellanic Galaxy with a diameter of ten thousand light years, aside from the half Four-Dimensional Taihao, there was not even a single Level 6 civilization, and Level 5 civilizations were few and far between. In the Milky Way Galaxy with a diameter of one hundred thousand light years, there had appeared the Guardian Civilization, a civilization whose conventional technology had reached its peak. From this one could infer that in the Triangulum Galaxy with a diameter of fifty thousand light years, the most formidable beings might be some preliminary Level 6 civilizations. Of course, because it was very close to the Andromeda Galaxy, there might also exist some unknown formidable presences in the Triangulum Galaxy.
Choosing the destination as the Triangulum Galaxy rather than the Andromeda Galaxy had many advantages, such as the absence of overly powerful threats, making it possible to develop at ease. Yet to Xiao Yu this choice still felt a bit inconceivable, carrying a flavor of secluding oneself from the world.
The current situation more or less illustrated a principle. Without exchanging with other civilizations, it was basically impossible to advance to a Level 7 civilization. Even the half Four-Dimensional Taihao had remained silent for countless ages in the Large Magellanic Galaxy. Only after coming to the Milky Way Galaxy and clashing with the Sweepers Civilization did it finally find a way to become a fully four-dimensional existence. Although it died afterward, this made it very clear. ‘You, the Guardian Civilization, a peak Level 6 existence, chose the Triangulum Galaxy rather than the Andromeda Galaxy as your destination. Do you still intend to advance to a Level 7 civilization?’
Danger meant opportunity. The Andromeda Galaxy was more dangerous, but the opportunities were greater. The Triangulum Galaxy, though comfortable, offered few opportunities. Precisely because of this, from the very beginning Xiao Yu had assumed the Guardian Civilization’s chosen destination was the Andromeda Galaxy.
“Perhaps the Guardian Civilization only wanted to treat the Triangulum Galaxy as a springboard, to voyage to the Andromeda Galaxy later. Or perhaps, after being oppressed by the Sweepers Civilization for too long, the Guardian Civilization urgently craved a peaceful and comfortable life and no longer valued whether it would become a Level 7 civilization. Anything is possible. Who knows what the Guardian Civilization is thinking. Anyway, none of this has anything to do with me. Eliminating the Guardian Civilization and obtaining its technology is what matters most.”
Xiao Yu pondered silently, maneuvering his vast fleet to accelerate toward this place.
The Guardian Civilization’s massive construction seemed to have entered its final phase. During the several decades that Xiao Yu’s main fleet was drawing ever closer, Xiao Yu discovered that the stars being transported here from outside were steadily decreasing. The number of small universes setting out from here toward regions beyond the Milky Way Galaxy was also decreasing. This sign indicated that the a1 point’s material reserves were basically sufficient, and the Guardian Civilization’s work focus was gradually shifting outward. Perhaps it would not be long before the Guardian Civilization truly embarked on its journey.
“Better to stay here. Our Earth civilization has always held the belief that dying away from home is a tragic thing. You were born in the Milky Way Galaxy, then perish in the Milky Way Galaxy.” Xiao Yu murmured to himself, quietly watching the Guardian Civilization’s ships still busily shuttling to and fro before him.
At this moment, Xiao Yu’s main fleet was only two years’ travel away from here. Less than three hundred light years. For Level 6 civilizations such as Xiao Yu or the Guardian Civilization, a distance of three hundred light years was really nothing at all. The Guardian Civilization’s defensive radius would certainly exceed this figure.
Thus, even though Xiao Yu had taken stealth measures all along the way, his small universe was simply too massive and his number of ships too great. At this distance, Xiao Yu was still discovered by the Guardian Civilization.
Only those few small ships hidden nearby had remained undiscovered because they were too small and too stealthy. These few small ships could therefore continue to linger here, quietly observing the Guardian Civilization’s movements.
Under Xiao Yu’s covert gaze, he saw the Guardian Civilization undertake many actions. Perhaps drawing reinforcements from elsewhere, in recent days the number of combat ships in this logistics transfer point, the starting point of the entire star route, had greatly increased, and the defenses for the surrounding star domain had also become much tighter. On several occasions, Xiao Yu’s few small ships nearly got discovered.
Besides ships, various star system defense facilities were springing up like bamboo shoots after the rain. It seemed the Guardian Civilization had long anticipated that this logistics transfer point might be attacked, so it had built so many facilities early on, which were now finally being put to use. In addition, the Radiance and the Python Alien Beast had also begun moving frequently. Clearly, both the Guardian Civilization and the Python Alien Beast were ready for battle.
As the starting point of the entire star route, this logistics transfer point could not be lost. To say nothing of the fact that the entire star route’s construction was not yet complete and the actual voyage had not yet begun. Even after the star route’s construction was complete, this site would still have to be maintained until the civilization’s main body had departed to a safe distance before it could be abandoned.
A sense of impending storm began spreading across the surrounding star domain. Xiao Yu could clearly perceive that all the Guardian Civilization’s forces had entered tense wartime readiness. The material transport task here suddenly accelerated, clearly because the Guardian Civilization wanted to complete more progress before the war began. Then, within the last month before Xiao Yu reached this place, all construction tasks ceased.
This indicated that the Guardian Civilization had given up all other matters and devoted all its energy to war. It was obvious that the Guardian Civilization knew this invading enemy would not be easy to deal with.
During this one month, the place maintained a strange calm.
“The Guardian Civilization probably already knows that the enemy coming to attack this time is me, the Divine Ark Civilization.” Xiao Yu thought silently. “They should also know that my two-dimensional weapons can counter their four-dimensional jump and space fold technology, and they have likely devised some countermeasures. But they probably still do not know about the Micron corpse.”
“With or without the corpse of the Micron Civilization as a trump card, I think 1.2 billion warships should be enough to deal with you.” Xiao Yu thought silently and transmitted a message toward the Guardian Civilization’s position ahead of him. “Guardian Civilization, greetings, I am the Divine Ark Civilization.”
Xiao Yu had now arrived before the Guardian Civilization’s lines, only about one light day from the outermost perimeter. There was no such thing as a sneak attack or catching the enemy unawares here. Xiao Yu’s vast fleet and his small universe simply stood here in plain sight, allowing the Guardian Civilization’s eyes to gaze upon them continuously.
“Divine Ark Civilization? What do you intend to do here? If you also wish to escape to an extragalactic galaxy via the star route, as long as you show sufficient sincerity and help us with construction for a period of time, we will be happy to cooperate with you.” the Guardian Civilization replied.
“Our Divine Ark Civilization has no interest in voyaging to extragalactic space. To be frank, we came here to acquire technology. Acquiring technology is our goal. To attain this goal, by whatever means necessary, war or trade, we are indifferent.” Xiao Yu replied. “If you can hand over your technological system, our Divine Ark Civilization will also be glad to exchange some of our technology. If you refuse, then we war.”
Xiao Yu’s reply was very explicit. Now Xiao Yu would not bother with any roundabout talk. ‘To be clear, whether you voyage beyond the galaxy has nothing to do with me. Our Divine Ark Civilization wants only technology.’
“We do not know what new encounters your Divine Ark Civilization has had during this period, nor what your strength is now.” came the Guardian Civilization’s measured message. “Back then, if not for the Taihao Alliance’s protection, you would have been destroyed long ago. During the Battle of the Galactic Center, if not for your good luck and a hidden Sphere of Death, you would also have perished long ago. Now, thinking you have some strength, you dare come before our civilization and act so arrogant. To be clear, we do not trust you, and we will absolutely not hand over our technological system to you. If it must be war, then war.”
The difference in positions meant there was no possibility that the two sides would have no dealings with each other. Dealings between them were inevitable. Either war or trade, with no third option. Xiao Yu offered two choices, and the Guardian Civilization rejected one of them, which left only the final possibility.
War.
“Very good. To be clear, I still have one last Sphere of Death, but in our war with you I do not plan to use it, because using it on you would be too wasteful. As for my form of existence, you must surely know it by now. I have no other specialty, only that my stockpile of warships is large. Although your technology is more advanced than mine, I am not afraid of you. Now let us see whether it is your quality that wins, or my quantity.”
Xiao Yu sent this final message. After this message, his vast fleet of more than one hundred million warships had already charged forward.
