Luna spoke, and every being present turned their gaze upon her.
Based on the information they'd gathered, this human from the Galactic Federation wasn't a scientist.
The Federation's three major systems:
Politicians, scholars, explorers.
These were distinct categories; politicians rarely dabbled in science, and scholars rarely explored.
Firstly, politicians were incredibly busy; the daily responsibilities of a galactic politician were immense, leaving little time for research.
Research was incredibly time-consuming.
Secondly, due to the Federation's extended lifespan, scholars were unlikely to travel extensively. Even with cryosleep pods, significant time would be lost. Occasional trips might occur, but scholars were unlikely to become explorers, especially since much scientific research required large-scale equipment.
Where would explorers obtain such equipment? Selling their lifetime's work wouldn't suffice.
Even many biological scientists needed substantial equipment; research requiring no equipment had already been done by others.
The Federation's current count of scientists exceeded 5.783 quadrillion, consuming resources equivalent to 86% of the Federation's total resources.
Research was extraordinarily expensive.
Based on this understanding, no one expected Luna to possess any technological knowledge.
In reality, this was indeed the case.
"I don't know much about technology."
"But I believe this kind of intuition is something everyone shares."
"The core of Federation theory is the resource theory of imagination, where not only those with technological expertise can offer insightful, imaginative ideas."
"We believe that those lacking relevant knowledge and technology sometimes offer even more valuable perspectives."
"Because they can transcend traditional frameworks when dealing with an object."
Luna subtly promoted Federation values.
For top scientists, national or civilization boundaries were becoming increasingly blurred. In pursuit of greater knowledge, some might "betray" their civilization.
This betrayal didn't imply attacking their civilization; it simply meant seeking knowledge elsewhere.
Luna's promotion of these values aimed to attract scientists from the Flyer Civilization.
This was a double-edged sword.
These scientists might still hold strong civilizational ties; they would seek knowledge and ultimately return to their civilization, sharing their newfound insights.
But that didn't matter; as long as their research remained within the Federation.
In advanced civilizations like the Federation, the time scale was vast.
A single breakthrough by a scientist was unlikely; progress was usually incremental, accumulated over time.
After hearing Luna's words, Haru nodded. "Yes!"
"That's true. Please share your thoughts."
Luna produced a tablet, sketching several diagrams before beginning her explanation.
"Based on that gentleman's insight, I'll offer an extrapolation."
"While I lack formal training in physics, including modern extra-dimensional physics,"
"As a politician, I possess a broad and comprehensive understanding of many things."
"During the Federation's research into dimensional gateways, we observed similar fluctuations."
"We couldn't precisely pinpoint the source of these fluctuations, but from another perspective, we determined that these weren't fluctuations within the dimensional gateway itself."
This was because their research was conducted in close proximity to the dimensional gateway.
Proximity had disadvantages, but also advantages.
A telescope ten meters from a mountain might not show the entire mountain, but it could reveal the mountain's primary rock and soil composition and the main types of vegetation.
"These fluctuations originate from the membrane."
"Four-dimensional and three-dimensional space are separated by a cosmic membrane; originally, this membrane was thick, impenetrable."
"Dimensional gateways don't bypass this membrane; they separate it, making it thinner and easier to penetrate."
"This is one of our hypotheses in extra-dimensional research. We can extend this concept to another object."
"Living beings crossing the cosmic membrane would cause minor spatial tremors."
Having finished, both groups of scientists fell into contemplation.
Haru, the lead researcher here and the most knowledgeable individual, was particularly focused.
He quickly identified a problem. "If so, the previous theory regarding pseudo-dimensional space is invalid."
"Those beings must have crossed the membrane, entering three-dimensional space, yet we haven't observed them."
"Perhaps they're undetectable? Or maybe, while entering three-dimensional space, they aren't truly entering three-dimensional space."
"Or perhaps, after the membrane is split, a double layer still exists. They might be entering a 3.1-dimensional space."
These were just quick hypotheses. Careful calculations would undoubtedly reveal flaws.
Luna offered a more plausible explanation.
"Dimensional reduction or ascension might present similar problems."
"We've conducted experiments, even reaching four-dimensional space. Our findings suggest that dimensional reduction and ascension are equally challenging."
"We have a case study I think you'll find interesting."
"We dispatched a probe through a dimensional gateway and retrieved it. It looked identical to its original state, but its mass was only half its original value."
"Upon closer examination, we discovered that its atomic nuclei, protons, and electrons had been halved."
"A fascinating case, isn't it?"
"Where the other half went, we won't discuss now. The fact that this half maintained stability is remarkable; its existence doesn't violate the laws of physics."
"However, we believe this was a unique event, caused by specific circumstances."
"But what if those circumstances are absent? Particles stripped of half their mass would collapse instantly. Combining our research, I believe we should seek a common element."
The residual energy left after these particles collapse.
It won't be easy to find.
The collapse of these particles means they've lost their original physical properties; traditional physics methods won't reveal anything.
These particles might inherently possess dimensional properties, spatial characteristics.
They need to be detected.
"For now, I'll call it spatial self-curvature."
"Impassable dimensions; this was a long-held theoretical truth. When this truth is broken, unimaginable power is required. Insufficient power results in annihilation."
Haru looked at Luna in astonishment.
Luna's hypothesis might be right or wrong, but the direction was insightful, worthy of acknowledgment.
It also included genuine research, not just empty talk.
His impression of Luna as a politician was instantly updated.
"I now believe our collaboration will be highly productive!"
Haru stated.
This was an endorsement of collaboration.
Before, it was merely a political alliance. Haru's approval signaled true scientific collaboration.
...
The meeting concluded.
Haru invited Luna and her team to tour the laboratory.
Haru also exchanged information about the dimensional gateway with Luna, both sides benefiting significantly.
Luna's five scholars were particularly impressive; they constantly scribbled notes without pause.
Haru was especially astonished.
After their formal conversation, he realized Luna wasn't ignorant of physics.
Basic knowledge aside, much fundamental knowledge could be directly implanted into the brain through education.
Deeper knowledge often requires mathematical tools.
It's a formula, not an answer.
This knowledge can't be forcibly implanted; even if it were, understanding the solution process is crucial.
But Luna demonstrated a scholarly grasp of even advanced concepts.
This impressed Haru.
Of course, she still lagged behind him in terms of scholarly achievement.
"Based on our current information on the dimensional gateway, we've created a model."
"We'll conduct another exploration soon, and the probability of successfully traversing the gateway is expected to be over 5%."
Haru led Luna and her team to the core research lab.
The room was brightly lit, but a dark projection dominated the center.
While technologically feasible, such dark projections were rare, practically nonexistent, in the Federation.
But its presence intrigued Luna.
Space itself is nothingness; the cosmic background is black.
Blackness, in a sense, represents nothingness.
Therefore, creating a dark projection could facilitate visualization of the dimensional gateway.
Biological computational power is also hierarchical.
For example, 1+2+3+4+5… Without a simpler formula, one would calculate 1+2, then add 3 to the result, and so on.
The human nervous system operates similarly.
Upon seeing an object, unlike the imagined understanding, the brain first processes it into a recognizable form and then performs further calculations.
This consumes computational power.
Resolving the differences between visual perception and actual object properties is an effective method.
Luna carefully examined the dimensional gateway model, a roughly hourglass-shaped device within a Federation black hole.
The Federation had abandoned the hourglass shape in favor of a torus.
Neither form was definitively correct; they might never know for sure.
Because space itself is an abstract concept, not truly existent, it can be interpreted in countless ways.
It's like asking someone to describe the shape of water.
It's ever-changing; any description is both right and wrong.
"5%? That surpasses the Federation's progress." Luna stated.
The Federation hadn't even reached one-ten-thousandth.
Of course, the calculation methods differed.
The Flyer Civilization's 5% was based on specially designed objects, while the Federation's included a large number of Swarm units.
But even considering only machinery, the Flyer Civilization's projected rate was much higher than the Federation's.
"No, this is only our first attempt. Your Federation has already been to four-dimensional space; we can't compare."
Haru was humble.
He didn't believe the Flyer Civilization's dimensional gateway research surpassed the Federation's.
Much of the Flyer Civilization's data was theoretical.
The Federation, however, relied on extensive practical experiments.
"The true results depend on practice. Perhaps our 5% is merely arrogant presumption."
Haru stopped there. Although he revealed much of the Flyer Civilization's dimensional gateway information to Luna, he stopped short of revealing the deeper details.
"I look forward to your success."
"Perhaps our dimensional gateway research will be helpful to you."
Luna produced a small object.
It was roughly the size of a thumb, similar to the object Haru had given them, containing information.
Haru accepted it.
Luna then said, "We'll need some time to discuss this data. Do you have accommodations for us?"
Haru found Luna's remark interesting.
It was clearly a subtle joke.
He enjoyed the playful atmosphere of the conversation; Luna was a skilled politician who understood human emotions.
"Of course. We have accommodations specifically prepared for you."
Haru led them to the ground level.
Not far away stood a building with a unique architectural style, a blend of various structural elements. It resembled a mishmash of different architectural styles.
But the thoughtfulness was evident.
"This is your resting place. If you need anything, a small AI is available; you can summon services to resolve any problems."
Luna nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. We actually need some research equipment; a full set would be ideal."
Luna's directness didn't offend Haru.
For scholars, research equipment was paramount; it was life itself.
"Of course. I've prepared a new laboratory for you, but I doubt you'll find our equipment familiar."
The remaining conversation was inconsequential.
Haru departed.
The six researchers entered the building; it was spacious and comfortable for them.
The layout followed Federation standards, and the materials were high-quality, creating a pleasant environment. This wasn't difficult for a high-level civilization.
The researchers didn't interact much. As scholars, they were immersed in the newly acquired data, each working independently.
Luna assigned rooms and then began her calculations.
She intended to compare the Federation's and Flyer Civilization's dimensional gateway data, identifying similarities and differences for further research.
…
Meanwhile, Haru returned to his underground office.
He retrieved the object Luna had given him and carefully examined its projection.
The more he looked, the more astonished he became.
The content was incredibly detailed!
It was a near-complete explanation of the dimensional gateway.
While not necessarily accurate, the thoroughness signified something: the Galactic Federation's intentions.
They wanted to truly collaborate with the Flyer Civilization on dimensional gateway research.
Therefore, the Galactic Federation was willing to share a significant amount of information upfront.
This made Haru feel slightly embarrassed.
Dimensional gateway research concerned the fate of civilizations. Secrecy would render this exchange meaningless.
Both sides needed genuine collaboration.
He had been too narrow-minded!
"We can discuss more detailed information later."
For now, he wanted to absorb this new research data.
...
A few days later.
Haru contacted Luna, requesting her presence at the research facility.
Luna initially assumed it was a follow-up to their previous exchange, but upon entering the facility, she sensed a palpable tension.
Haru went straight to the point, leading Luna to the central observation room.
It monitored the dimensional gateway.
"We've detected a massive surge in gravitational waves. These waves are the result of the cosmic membrane breach we discussed."
Luna looked at the monitoring equipment.
Layer upon layer of ripples spread across the screen.
The equipment utilized an electronic structure.
The machine structure amplified small signals, which were then detected by the electronic structure and processed. This was the equipment's logic.
Generally, gravitational waves from the dimensional gateway were infrequent.
Stable gravitational waves were generated by the black hole itself; they had a cyclical nature.
This time, the intensity was highly unusual.
"How many times has this occurred since the beginning?" Luna asked.
Haru checked the specific figures.
"18,379 times!"
"In approximately 17 metawa."
Metawa was a Flyer Civilization time unit.
One metawa is equivalent to 0.62 hours; 17 metawa are approximately 10.54 hours.
This means, on average, there were 1743 gravitational waves per hour, roughly one every two seconds.
"Indeed, far too frequent."
"Have you discovered anything?"
Based on Luna's previous hypothesis, another civilization from a different dimension should now be arriving in three-dimensional space.
"We haven't detected anything yet."
"We have observation stations near the dimensional gateway; if anything appears, we'll be notified immediately."
"Gravitational waves travel at the speed of light, and the observation stations have Tachyon equipment; we'd be notified well before the gravitational waves arrive."
Much faster, in fact.
The distance to the gateway is approximately 3.22 light-years; theoretically, the information they currently observe occurred 3.22 years ago.
"Perhaps our previous hypothesis is incorrect."
"These fluctuations might be an inherent physical property of the gateway, but we don't understand their cause."
Luna's thoughts hadn't fully formed; she had been contemplating the possibility of her hypothesis being correct.
Now, it was being unintentionally refuted.
Haru held a different perspective.
"Perhaps we should wait for confirmation."
"We've sent a message to the observation station; we expect a reply in approximately 18 metawa."
3.22 light-years; even with Tachyon communication, it takes 10.8 hours, or 21.6 hours round trip.
The vastness of the cosmos once again tested everyone's patience.
Fortunately, everyone was accustomed to long waits.
Luna found a place to sit.
There were no benches, so she chose a protruding part of the equipment.
Flyer Civilization electronics were essentially identical to Federation electronics.
Only the size differed to accommodate the Kirara's larger stature.
This was perfectly normal.
Beautiful geometric shapes are universal.
Triangles, squares, pentagons, etc.—these shapes don't change due to differences in civilizations.
Even if the "perception" of these shapes differs.
Your triangle might appear different to another being, but its physical properties remain constant.
It's impossible for a triangular wheel to roll faster than a circular wheel in another civilization; that's impossible.
Beings within the same dimension share similar aesthetic preferences in machine design.
Luna waited for 11 hours.
She continuously monitored the gravitational wave data.
The gravitational waves weren't slowing down; they were accelerating, reaching a frequency of one per second.
After 11 hours, Haru's expression darkened.
There was no communication from the observation station.
He addressed the Kirara scholars. "We must prepare for the worst!"
"Although we haven't received communication, observations of the area reveal that two stars are obscured by something."
Luna stood abruptly.
She understood the implication.
Haru continued, "It's likely that warships from another dimension have entered our three-dimensional space."
"This isn't a misjudgment of the dimensional gateway; on the contrary, we may be approaching the truth."
"The successive gravitational waves were caused by countless warships from another dimension impacting the cosmic membrane."
"We are facing a large-scale dimensional invasion!"
A wave of dread washed over everyone present.
Had the worst-case scenario occurred?
Another dimensional civilization had evidently researched dimensions more thoroughly.
"We need further confirmation. I've already relayed the information to the monarch; preparations are underway within the civilization."
"For now, our only task is survival."
Haru initiated the highest alert level.
He elevated the event to the highest priority.
Everyone began an orderly retreat.
Haru approached Luna. "I apologize; we can't continue our in-depth exchange."
"We're withdrawing; this location is too close to the dimensional gateway."
"You must leave immediately!"
There was no weaponry here; a true dimensional invasion would be unstoppable.
Luna asked, "Where are you going?"
Haru considered.
"It's not a secret."
"We're heading to the Kamelin star system; that's where our military is stationed."
"You can come with us. If the monarch questions me, I'll take full responsibility."
Luna checked the location of the Kamelin star system; it was approximately 28 light-years away.
Her question wasn't about joining Haru's departure.
"Please provide your route. We won't travel with you."
Haru nodded.
He knew Luna and her team had their own warship, but it was slow.
He wouldn't object if Luna insisted on using it.
"Here's the route."
His response was decisive, perhaps due to the dimensional information Luna had provided.
After receiving the route, Luna said, "The five scholars accompanying me are under your care."
With that, she turned and left.
Haru was momentarily stunned before recovering.
Luna hadn't meant she would follow them in their warship.
She was going somewhere else.
To the dimensional gateway.
She wanted to send her own message, not to take a detour.
But to send precise information later.
"Wait…"
Before Haru could call out, Luna was already out of sight, heading to a higher level.
"That person!"
Haru immediately gave chase.
Luna reached the ground level and flew towards her ship. Seeing Haru in pursuit, she was surprised.
"Is there something else?"
Haru said, "This is our civilization's territory; this is where we research the dimensional gateway."
"I don't want our information to reach you later."
Luna found this amusing; Haru had guessed she was going to the dimensional gateway to investigate.
"It's very dangerous. If it's a dimensional invasion, you could die there." Luna warned.
"You can go, so why can't I?"
Haru insisted.
But Luna didn't want him to risk his life; there was no need.
The information gleaned from one person wouldn't differ significantly from two.
"I'm not going to die!"
"I have escape methods. Do you?" Luna countered.
Haru looked at Luna skeptically.
Escape methods? Don't try to deceive me!
Seeing Haru's disbelief, Luna produced a small pupa. Inside, her Metacellular was sealed.
The Metacellular required energy to grow; sealed in a vacuum, it would stop dividing.
"I intended to give this to someone to take away, but it's no longer necessary."
She squeezed the pupa.
The Metacellular possessed a powerful absorption capacity, readily absorbing material energy and light energy.
Using this energy, it could rapidly divide.
It didn't need a massive energy source; sufficient light was enough.
Upon contact with ambient air and light, the squeezed pupa rapidly grew.
Within half a minute, a fleshy mass formed before Luna; it continued to grow, taking the form of a newborn human.
Within ten seconds, it grew into another Luna.
Luna reached out, a mist emanating from her fingertips and entering the other Luna's body. Her growth immediately ceased.
The other Luna opened her eyes and addressed Haru. "That's how it is."
"I'm speaking to you now, and I spoke to you before!"
Two Lunas.
Haru was startled.
But he quickly recovered; cloning technology wasn't unusual.
He understood something else.
Even if both were Luna, that was only from the perspective of others.
To the two Lunas themselves, they were independent; theoretically, one would die.
"That's not a good idea," Haru said.
But he knew Luna had made her decision.
Initially, he had some prejudice against Luna; later, this changed. Now, he truly understood what kind of person she was.
"You could send the warship autonomously; I believe the Federation has that technology."
Luna shook her head.
"Our warship's mainframe can do that, but sometimes, manual operation offers peace of mind."
Here, Luna didn't know if she was the original Luna.
She didn't care.
Even if she died, the other Lunas were identical; the Federation wouldn't be destabilized.
She was one of many Lunas, sent to the Flyer Civilization; her purpose was already fulfilled. Now, she would make a contribution to the Federation.
Besides, she enjoyed the thrill of risk.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to the Titled Station, nor would she have risked her life for the Federation.
Now, given the opportunity to die casually, wouldn't it be a waste not to experience it?
The newly created Luna turned to the original. "Let me go; I've just been born."
The original Luna shook her head. "Do you think you can act independently?"
The new Luna tried to move.
She couldn't.
Her authority required transfer from the original Luna; they were now far from the Federation.
Watching the two Lunas debate, Haru finally spoke.
"Absolutely insane!"
No being would gamble with their life like this, yet Luna did.
She seemed genuinely unconcerned about death.
Perhaps "seemed" was unnecessary.
Haru had never encountered such a being, not even within their own civilization.
Especially striking was the clone's identical mindset, proving that Luna's beliefs were deeply ingrained.
Such people were terrifying.
"The Federation is fortunate to have a politician like you."
He wouldn't follow; he valued his own life.
He had followed earlier because Luna was going; if Luna could die, why couldn't he?
Now that the other party had a backup plan and he knew Luna considered death insignificant, he wouldn't follow her to her death.
Seeing Haru retreat, Luna said, "Wise decision. I'm going!"
She headed towards the docked warship.
As she left the hemispherical world, her body expanded, returning to normal size. Quickly, using a powered exoskeleton, she flew to the warship.
This warship lacked weaponry, but that was fine; its purpose was exploration, not attack.
The vessel was old; even if it attacked, it wouldn't achieve much.
After entering the warship, Luna activated the mainframe, rapidly accelerating towards the dimensional gateway.
Meanwhile, back in the hemisphere, Haru watched the warship depart.
"Is she really going to die?"
Haru still couldn't believe a being could be so unconcerned about their own life.
"To put it bluntly, she's just going to explore."
"To me, she might be dead, but to you, she's likely standing before you right now."
Haru looked at the image of Luna and nodded slightly.
But internally, he still couldn't accept it.
"Very well. We'll await the results of her exploration."
"Her death will be meaningful; we'll remember her."
If it truly was a dimensional invasion, Luna's trip would provide valuable information, allowing for earlier preparations.
This was crucial. Though cosmic distances were vast, information lag still existed.
Exploiting this lag could cause significant casualties, even more severe due to the time difference.
"Remember, our civilizations are close; we're in the same boat."
Hearing this, Haru's impression of Luna improved.
At least Luna didn't resort to false claims of alliance.
"Then we should go. Prepare yourself; this location isn't safe. We need to transfer to another ship before we can leave."
...
Leaving the Flyer Civilization's gravitational pull detection equipment behind, Luna entered a preparation phase.
She began cultivating Luna within the warship, mass-producing herself.
The warship itself was too small. If a truly advanced civilization entered three-dimensional space, it would be destroyed instantly, without any time to react.
Therefore, all her efforts would be meaningless.
However, her clones, possessing a special gene, would serve a purpose.
That was the [Supreme Being] gene.
The Supreme Being gene pool would make Luna as powerful as a warship. This would buy her some time.
The difficulty was that these genes were incredibly powerful, but Luna lacked the corresponding energy control equipment.
A gene pool isn't just a single gene.
Sustaining a massive body, and granting it sufficient power, requires an internal energy storage device.
This device could be small, but it would store vast amounts of energy.
After the gene pool transformation, this storage device would disperse, converting part of the gene pool's flesh into energy-storing organs.
More powerful gene pools require more advanced energy storage devices.
Luna, naturally, needed the most advanced ones.
Ordinary energy storage devices wouldn't suffice for the power of the Supreme Being gene pool.
Even miniature factories couldn't produce this type of energy storage device quickly; the technology is incredibly advanced.
It's like cramming the energy source of a kilometer-class warship into a two-meter-tall biological body.
"You're probably just cannon fodder!"
Luna addressed the hundreds of Luna within the warship.
The Luna were remarkably calm.
"There's no point in discussing this."
"The most important thing now is research. This dimensional gateway situation is clearly an external event."
"I'm wondering if our Swarm's entry into four dimensions also caused these fluctuations. These fluctuations could alert four-dimensional civilizations."
"But that's just speculation. The Flyer Civilization, even without units like our Swarm, hasn't explored the dimensional gateway; they've only encountered dimensional incursions twice."
"We've encountered it once, so we can't determine if we've impacted four-dimensional civilizations."
One of the Luna stated.
The other Luna remained silent.
They were all thinking the same thing.
"We can't maintain an objective, dialectical relationship with ourselves. Even if we refute you now, you'd already know our counterarguments."
"The actual research is beyond our capabilities."
"Let's focus on what to do if we encounter an enemy!"
Luna's clones considered this deeply.
"Actually, we don't need complex tactics; simplicity is best."
"Our goal isn't survival, but ensuring the warship's data is transmitted back."
"Although this warship isn't armed, it retains some launch bays."
"They can probably accelerate me to over 80,000 km/s. I can scout ahead."
The warship also carried various detection devices.
These devices required high-velocity launch.
They were stored on board.
However…
"Our bodies can't withstand such high acceleration."
"You'd think of such a plan."
The Luna who'd made the suggestion spoke.
"Our thinking diverges so quickly?"
"Don't the mechs have anti-gravity systems? I could wear a mech into the launch bay."
"Plus, the mech can transmit data back to the warship."
That's true.
But they only had one mech.
All eyes turned to the original Luna.
She said, "Then I'll go. At least, I can withstand the initial impact and transmit the data back."
She possessed an internal energy storage device.
The other Luna nodded in agreement.
"Alright, you go!"
The original Luna didn't object, merely shaking her head with a wry smile.
"It's as if I'm leaving right now!"
"Let's wait until all the probes are depleted."
Despite its advanced systems, the warship still possessed functioning probes.
Talking to herself was strangely enjoyable.
Luna was always meticulous in her planning; now, with hundreds of Luna, it was like externalizing her internal monologue.
Truly "speaking out loud."
Using the launch bay was her final plan, not the current one.
After departing the star system, Luna began launching probes.
The warship had 29 probes remaining; she launched them in different directions.
The probes would stop at predetermined coordinates, releasing particles to scan the surroundings and using light to gather information.
There was no more advanced technology; these probes were quite small.
A standard warship should have at least 50,000 probes.
But the warship had been depleted over its long time with the Flyer Civilization and hadn't been resupplied.
The reason? It wasn't needed.
The probes weren't consumed; they simply failed due to natural wear and tear.
Many metals in the Federation have short half-lives, ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years.
Generally, metals with a million-year half-life don't last a million years; they often fail within ten thousand years.
These probes weren't designed for long lifespans.
Just ten to twenty thousand years.
It wasn't a matter of unwillingness to use metals with longer half-lives; shorter half-lives actually mean the metal is less stable and, theoretically, denser.
Higher density is advantageous; it makes the material more durable if formed into a solid structure.
Of course, this durability is limited.
Probes are a rapidly updated technology, and their nature makes them prone to damage.
Therefore, to enhance safety and cost-effectiveness, they don't use the best and longest-lasting metals.
Good enough is sufficient; a short lifespan isn't a significant concern.
This explains the limited number of probes they possess.
Cutting corners on materials?
No!
You wouldn't expect a phone from the year 2000 to still function in 2030.
Even a very expensive phone would be the same.
Does that mean the expensive phone cut corners?
Absolutely not.
Because every device has a lifespan.
The Federation does have longer-lasting probes, but they can't be mass-produced.
If these devices have unlimited lifespans, what happens when better probes are developed?
Manufacturing costs increase, and discarding perfectly functional devices isn't practical.
This is simply an industrial consideration.
After launching the probes, Luna's clones entered a "calm period."
They all worked independently, busily attending to their tasks within the warship.
Luna was usually busy, but now she found herself with unexpected free time, leading to an unusually clean and orderly warship, cleaned multiple times daily.
Free time is common during space travel.
There's no task that can last forever.
If there is, it's because new problems continuously arise.
Like managing the Federation.
Their current goal was simple: understanding what was happening in the dimensional gateway.
With the current data analysis complete and no new information forthcoming, they could only wait.
The warship did have a virtual world, but why would Luna play simulated games now?
This lasted for about three years.
Finally, the first piece of data arrived.
All the Luna immediately assembled in the control room.
Then, the Luna responsible for receiving data said, "Probe destroyed; no signs of struggle."
Each probe had a self-destruct signal.
This signal was contained within a high-strength casing.
This casing wasn't designed to withstand external attacks; that would be pointless.
Its purpose was to contain the signal.
When the casing was destroyed, the powerful signal within would be released.
This was a complex signal containing light, neutrinos, and other particles difficult to alter or block.
"Destroyed? That was expected; the probes weren't designed for reconnaissance."
Reconnaissance and exploration are fundamentally different.
Reconnaissance units require stealth; they serve a military purpose.
This is a minimum standard for warships.
But this is Flyer Civilization territory; reconnaissance units were forbidden, so they were left behind.
This is why Luna had proposed sending a probe earlier.
Probes were simply too limited.
"Then I'll go!"
The original Luna stated.
Without further ado, she proceeded to the launch bay.
Even inside the launch bay, she felt spacious.
Probes were small, but larger than a human.
Luna encased herself in the mech and began the countdown: "Three, two, one, launch!"
She needed to initiate the launch manually because the mech's anti-gravity system was limited; she had to release all anti-gravity at the moment of acceleration to avoid being crushed.
Within the launch bay, Luna instantly felt her body subjected to extreme tension.
An immense thrust surged through her.
The force was overwhelming; she felt herself losing consciousness.
No!
It wasn't a feeling; it was reality.
Luna had miscalculated. Even with the mech's anti-gravity, her body couldn't withstand this level of acceleration.
The moment she launched, she was instantly killed by the G-force.
But it didn't matter.
The Metacellular restrictions were lifted; a Metacellular particle within the mech instantly recreated her.
"Not a pleasant experience."
The newly reborn Luna quickly accessed her previous equipment.
This equipment was highly durable, and Ayla had equipped her with top-of-the-line gear. This level of acceleration had no effect.
Of course, they were also quite small.
Accelerated to 82,673 km/s, Luna headed towards the dimensional gateway, feeling all the light converging before her.
The situation remained unclear.
The light behind her could still catch up.
But not so quickly.
Therefore, if she looked behind, the light would appear dimmer than in front.
At this speed, the difference wouldn't be significant; speeds exceeding 200,000 km/s would be necessary to truly perceive it.
"Is this what it feels like to travel at 80,000 km/s?"
"It's no different from 10,000 km/s, or even 1000 km/s."
Luna was somewhat disappointed.
One reason for her launch was to experience this sensation.
During her flight, Luna pondered many things.
Did she truly want to die?
Humans are inherently contradictory.
Life and death are always uncertain choices.
Therefore, Luna felt frustrated; she wished she could live longer.
But she firmly believed her choice was correct.
Someone had to do this; it was either her or no one.
What was the difference?
Perhaps there was a difference for her, but not for outsiders.
So why should she care what outsiders thought?
Countless such questions flooded Luna's mind; she constantly affirmed and denied her thoughts.
"Such a contradiction!"
"What's the point of thinking about this now?"
Luna knew she often dwelled on these thoughts.
But even if it was pointless, she couldn't stop herself.
Because that's what life is.
Regardless of her position, Luna was like any other human in the Federation; she was merely an ordinary person with various thoughts and feelings.
But there was nothing wrong with that.
It is precisely because of this ordinariness that the bravery of a firefighter rushing into a burning building to save lives is highlighted.
A superhero saving someone from a fire would be expected.
Luna wasn't ashamed of her inability to escape her inner conflicts. Instead, she found it ideal.
Every life should be proud of its contradictions and complexities.
That's what makes it art.
Luna flew for a long time.
So long that she almost fell asleep.
She was inactive within the warship and just as inactive during the flight.
She only looked ahead.
She didn't know how much time had passed. At high speeds, the movement of electrons and other particles seems slower because they are physically limited by the speed of light.
Therefore, Luna's perception of time was completely inaccurate.
Warships and spaceships use computational power to adjust their internal clocks based on their current speed.
But she couldn't do that now.
The only thing Luna could be certain of was that she was arriving fast.
A black line appeared in the distance.
This black line grew larger and larger.
It resembled a tide in the darkness of the ocean.
"Is that the enemy?"
The tide drew nearer.
Luna confirmed her suspicions.
It wasn't a spaceship but a genuine tide.
But not an energy tide; Luna felt no energy surge.
"It must be countless tiny objects."
"Four-dimensional civilizations are also desperate for breakthroughs."
This was merely a preliminary assessment.
Luna used her mecha's high-definition cameras to transmit images to the battleships.
This continued until she was completely enveloped by the "tide."
She might not wait for that moment.
The probes transmitted no data, indicating the tide's complexity.
The tide's speed was immense, likely exceeding 150,000 km/s.
They approached from opposite directions, closing at a combined speed of 230,000 km/s.
This speed was incredibly fast.
Within hours, Luna felt the tide engulfing her vision.
"Let's do this!"
Luna's body instantly transformed into light.
Each activation of the gene pool felt like an Ultraman transformation.
However, this wasn't a sudden increase in size, but a rapid increase in certain body parts.
Transformed into the Supreme Being, Luna gazed at the tide.
Before the tide, she still appeared minuscule.
She raised her four arms.
Immense energy converged towards her hands.
Electrons were compressed.
They leaped chaotically but were confined to an incredibly small space.
Initially, the diameter was 10 meters.
Then, it shrank.
Until the diameter reached one meter, the electrons, colliding, generated enormous energy.
These collisions also produced photons.
Only then did this energy become visible.
It emitted an intense light.
Then, Luna opened a hole.
All the compressed energy erupted through this hole.
The energy was terrifying.
It might not reach planet-destroying levels, but it could absolutely annihilate an area exceeding 10,000 square kilometers.
This was the ultimate weapon of the current Federation fleet.
And the maximum output of the top-tier gene pool.
Normal ships could carry planet-destroying weapons. Current Federation ships, while not capable of planetary destruction, could easily obliterate a planet's surface.
But the gene pool couldn't achieve this.
While the gene pool was comparable to a ship, it wasn't a fully armed one.
Currently, only the supreme gene pool possessed this capability.
It's generally believed that the supreme gene pool is a limited resource.
Of course, overall, the supreme gene pool wasn't overwhelmingly powerful; given the right methods, warships could easily destroy it.
The supreme gene pool's terror lay in its cunning.
Luna unleashed this attack.
Its range was relatively short because the gene pool couldn't contain the energy's dispersion.
Fortunately, the distance between them was close enough.
Approximately 425 AU.
At this short distance and high closing speed, within 40 hours, Luna's energy attack would collide with the tide.
Then… nothing.
The energy was absorbed into the tide.
Without a ripple.
"This is not ordinary!"
Luna didn't observe any disruption of the tide; it absorbed the energy she had released.
The tide's nature remained entirely uncertain.
She needed to get closer.
But closer proximity might trigger unpredictable changes in the tide.
However, this was the best she could do.
She waited.
After transforming into the Supreme Being, her speed had significantly decreased, but she continued to approach the tide.
Approximately three days passed.
The distance between them was now minimal.
Luna examined it closely.
She saw something unexpected.
It wasn't countless small devices or other objects.
It was water.
Or a liquid similar to water.
Containing a vast quantity of fragmented fundamental particles.
Luna instantly understood.
Based on her previous hypothesis, the gravitational waves observed by the Flyer Civilization originated from the universe's membrane, caused by four-dimensional objects entering three-dimensional space.
Most four-dimensional objects, upon entering three-dimensional space, became unstable at the fundamental particle level due to dimensional shearing.
This instability caused the objects to collapse and disappear.
This was the challenge of traversing the dimensional gateway.
Four-dimensional civilizations hadn't solved this problem as anticipated. They were likely using a novel method to transport countless minuscule objects into three-dimensional space.
What were they trying to do?
Luna pondered carefully.
This tide could cleanse everything in its path.
But doing so would only cause minimal damage to the opposing civilization, easily repaired.
Moreover, it would expose their methods and technology.
If it wasn't merely a weapon, Luna suspected the tide might follow a specific pattern.
Like stacked blocks, or perhaps modular components.
A nonillion tiny particles could form a significant object.
This was just a hypothesis.
She repeatedly attacked the tide, not to destroy it, but to uncover more information.
But it was like throwing stones into the ocean; besides the small ripples, everything else was swallowed by the tide.
The tide undulated; "tide" wasn't an accurate description.
It was a bubble, a bubble from four-dimensional space.
Its surface was pure black, devoid of any other color.
Upon closer examination with her mecha, Luna understood why the probes hadn't reacted.
This entity seemed to exist outside the four fundamental forces.
It was undetectable.
At least, it was imperceptible to the probes, yet clearly visible to the eyes.
Perhaps it's merely a manipulation of electron fields, but regardless, it demonstrates advanced technology.
This is dangerous; it would cause significant trouble for the Flyer Civilization.
That's what Luna thought.
She abandoned the attack; it was futile, and escape was impossible given the entity's vast scale.
Though called a bubble, it didn't advance like a normal bubble; it resembled a black balloon of matter expanding from the dimensional gateway.
Even after expanding across several light-years, it remained dense and thick.
Luna didn't know its extent, but she was certain this wasn't exploration; as Haru had guessed, it was an attack.
The initial distance between them was minimal on a cosmic scale.
And within hours, Luna was directly struck by this bubble.
She instantly lost consciousness.
Fortunately, she had already transmitted the information back.