In Beijing, Washington, Moscow, Geneva—underground command centers across the globe displayed the same real-time data stream: a holographic map of deep space, centered on the Solar System.
A red dot flickered to life 4.3 light-years away, then another at 8.6 light-years, then 12, 17, 21—spreading like wildfire across the map.
"They're relaying a signal," the core being's translated message appeared on every screen. "Like beacons. One civilization discovers the target, passes it to the next, and so on."
"The message travels at light speed, but the receivers are already in place—waiting."
Astronomers pulled up deep-space observations from the past seventy-two hours. The stars corresponding to the red dots showed abnormal spectral patterns—not from the stars themselves, but from massive objects blocking their light.
Fleets. Thousands of ships, converging on the Solar System.
"They've been waiting," the U.S. representative said, his voice嘶哑 with terror. "They knew we were here. They just needed the filter to drop."
The core being showed one final set of images: civilizations that followed the Dark Forest Rule of the cosmos. Any planet that broadcasted signs of life was erased—not for resources, not for territory, but to eliminate potential competitors before they could become a threat.
"We have survived five great filters," the message read. "The dinosaurs did not die from an asteroid. It was the first purge. We created the impact illusion to hide you."
"Every time life evolved to the point of emitting signals, we manufactured a 'natural disaster' to reset it."
"You've been controlling our evolution?" a biologist snapped, her voice trembling with anger and awe.
"We have been protecting all life on Earth. Including you."
Silence descended. Li Zhe stared at the screen, his mind reeling. Every mass extinction, every ice age, every catastrophic flood—all of it, a carefully orchestrated shield.
Humanity had never been alone in its struggles; it had been guarded, whether it wanted to be or not.
"What do we do now?" he asked, breaking the hush.
For the first time, the core being's crystal eyes showed something like human emotion—a deep, pulsing blue glow that felt like sorrow.
"The filter can be repaired, but it will take time. They," it gestured to the approaching red dots, "will arrive in no more than three months."