From Abyssal Invasion to Bursting Stars with a Single Sword

According to the original timeline, after the Metal Sarcoma Experiment appeared, the Sikes Civilization struggled for three months before announcing the abandonment of Queen Star.

That is to say, Sikes Civilization was incapable of completely eradicating the Metal Sarcoma Experiment that emerged eight months later.

Of course, the struggle had persisted throughout those three months.

It wasn't that Sikes Civilization stood no chance at all, it's just that the expansion speed of the Metal Sarcoma was too rapid.

Metal abounded on the entire planet, all of which could serve as food for the Metal Sarcomas.

The spread of the Metal Sarcomas was too swift, and the Sikes Civilization initially knew nothing about this terrifying entity.

By the time the Sikes Civilization had devised a method of resistance, it was already too late.

...

At the same time.

On the Supreme Court of Queen Star.

Erslton Strra arrogantly looked at the "crashed" leaders of the civilization before him.

His network connection module had been disabled, so he was unaware of what was happening outside, but he could guess.

At this point in time, the "pet" he had created must have demonstrated its horrifying Strength.

Otherwise, those leaders of civilization in front of him would not be this "shocked."

Erslton Strra loudly asked, "Have you made a decision? With every passing second, a building collapses, and with every passing minute, a district falls. You have no time left."

After three minutes of calculations, including those by the Central System of Sikes Civilization, all the leaders of factions and higher echelons of the civilization were certain of one thing.

They had no means to stop the spread of the Metal Sarcoma Experiment.

Computer systems make decisions swiftly; if a solution couldn't be calculated, then the problem was deemed unsolvable.

Since it was unsolvable, they could only agree to Erslton Strra's demands.

Otherwise, they would only be able to watch as Queen Star was consumed by the Metal Sarcoma.

Even the Central System of Sikes Civilization had calculated that Queen Star could at best withstand three months in the face of the Metal Sarcoma.

During those three minutes that had just passed.

Through the powerful computing power of Sikes Civilization's Central System, billions of simulations were run for resisting the Metal Sarcoma, and not one was successful.

So, after three minutes had passed, the Central System concluded that the problem was unsolvable.

All the faction leaders and civilization high-ups unanimously approved, agreeing to Erslton Strra's demands and signed a treaty, raising his authority level.

Erslton Strra got the authority level he wanted and his network communication function was restored. He immediately sent a signal to re-seal the Metal Sarcoma Experiment.

After the signal was sent, the Central System and the faction leaders all closely monitored any changes in the Metal Sarcoma Experiment.

However, 30 seconds later, there were no changes in the Metal Sarcoma Experiment.

More accurately, the Metal Sarcoma Experiment did not alter its behavior; it continued to spread outwards, even at an increased pace.

The high-ranking members of the civilization immediately angrily questioned Erslton Strra, "The agreement has been signed, and you have what you wanted, so why not stop the Metal Sarcoma Experiment?"

Erslton Strra was stuck in a frozen state of "shock."

Because he too was calculating, trying to figure out what had just happened.

He had issued the command to re-seal the Metal Sarcoma Experiment, but there was no effect.

The Metal Sarcoma Experiment had spiraled out of control and continued to proliferate.

The Sikes Civilization's Central System used physical methods to forcibly access Erslton Strra's Light Computer system and read his calculation process, learning about the Metal Sarcoma Experiment's loss of control.

Upon the release of this information, all the faction leaders and high-ups erupted in fury, immediately tearing up the agreement and reducing Erslton Strra's authority level to the lowest.

Even so, they retained his network communication function, ordering him to continue attempting to control the Metal Sarcoma Experiment.

But his efforts were futile. The spread rate of the Metal Sarcoma Experiment accelerated, already expanding from the Gravity District to the surrounding areas.

If this continued, the entire city would fall.

Not only did the high echelons of civilization know this information, but every entity with an authority level of Upper Three Levels also had access to it.

Within the structure of Sikes Civilization's authority levels, the vast majority of Mechanical War Generals and scientists could reach Upper Three Levels.

Thus, after the outbreak of the Metal Sarcoma Experiment crisis, all the scientists within the civilization became aware of it.

Every scientist began calculating, searching for a way to halt the spread of the Metal Sarcoma Experiment.

Ze Wei'er Matrix was no exception; his authority level was very special, belonging to the highest tier.

Therefore, he was privy to all of Sikes Civilization's public and semi-public information.

He was also searching for a way to deal with the Metal Sarcoma Experiment, but there was just too little data available. With such limited time, it was impossible to find a solution.

...

In the underground lab of Gravity District.

Yuan Yaoyao piloted the Black Feather Spirit, and with a swing, she unleashed a plasma sword light that slashed a half-meter deep wound on the metal sarcoma.

From the cleft metal sarcoma, a metal tendril sprouted out, coiling towards the Black Feather Spirit.

Many materials on the Black Feather Spirit were metal, and once grasped by the metal sarcoma's tendrils, it would be devoured in an instant.

Lu Heng, with quick reflexes, grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back, dodging the metal sarcoma's tendril before shouting, "Professor!"

The Black Feather Spirit was constantly in communication with the Ze Wei'er Matrix.

Thus, as soon as Lu Heng finished speaking, a screen popped up in front of the Black Feather Spirit, displaying the image of the Ze Wei'er Matrix.

"Speak."

"This thing is a metal sarcoma, a combination of the Abyss Meat Tumor and metal devourers; it's very difficult to handle. If not dealt with promptly, the whole Queen Star will be engulfed," Lu Heng warned.

As for the possibility of Queen Star being engulfed, the Ze Wei'er Matrix had already calculated it. If no method was found to counter the metal sarcoma, Queen Star could last at most for three months.

Therefore, the Ze Wei'er Matrix did not doubt Lu Heng's words and asked urgently, "Is there a way? I've obtained the experimental data from Erslton Strra, but this fool has frighteningly low computing power. The discovery of the metal sarcoma is more due to luck than skill."

Lu Heng, who had appeared here with the memories of his rebirth, might have a way to resolve this crisis.

The central system of Sikes Civilization could not come up with a result despite its immense computing power, because it could not factor in the Human Recruiter element in this calculation.

To Sikes Civilization, Human Recruiters were an unquantifiable data point; during calculations, they simply substituted the individual Human Recruiter with the combat power value of a Mechanical War General.

And the combat power value of a Mechanical War General was negligible in the face of the metal sarcoma crisis.

Lu Heng's mind raced as he quickly recalled and deliberated, speaking hurriedly to the Ze Wei'er Matrix:

"The essence of the metal sarcoma is actually still the Abyss Meat Tumor; the metal part has no life characteristics and is akin to human keratin."

The keratin layer is the outermost layer of human skin; lightly scraping off the outer layer of skin does not bleed because the keratin layer is like "dead skin."

Apart from the skin's outermost layer, human fingernails, calluses, and the like are all part of the keratin layer.

There are no blood vessels in the keratin, so cutting it does not harm the body.

Of course, without the protection of the keratin layer, the skin becomes more vulnerable.

The metal layer of the metal sarcoma is very much like human keratin.

That is to say, although the metal sarcoma devours metallic substances, the devoured metal does not gain life characteristics.

The difference from human keratin is that while the human keratin layer is self-generated by the body, the metal layer of the metal sarcoma is transformed from external metallic materials.

Lu Heng continued, "The metal sarcoma can turn metal into tendrils because within the metal layer, there are micro-tendrils of the Abyss Meat Tumor.

"Simply put, the micro-tendrils of the Abyss Meat Tumor are like tree roots, rooting into the metal, and controlling the movement of metal through fluid metallic abilities.

"If I'm not mistaken, by now the Sikes Military has already cut off the electricity supply to Gravity District, correct?"

The Ze Wei'er Matrix immediately provided a confirmation, "Yes, the authorities have cut off the power supply to the nearby districts. The lab has become an electrical black hole; any electricity transferred there gets devoured."

Lu Heng quickly said, "This is because the Abyss Meat Tumor itself fears thunder and lightning, so it passes the electric current through the metal into the ground.

"Cutting off the power supply is exactly what the metal sarcoma wants.

"We should immediately increase the electrical output, using high-voltage current to slow down the spread of the metal sarcoma."

The Ze Wei'er Matrix listened to the explanation and, after analyzing it with its computing power, took only half a second to reach a conclusion. It then communicated with Sikes authorities anonymously.

Three seconds later, electricity was restored to Gravity District, and they began to electrify the metal sarcoma.

Since most of the electricity was conducted into the earth, the effect on the metal sarcoma was minimal and did not cause significant damage.

However, the high-voltage current did affect the micro-tendrils inside the metal sarcoma, indeed reducing the spreading speed of the metal sarcoma.

"The electrocution has started and indeed it is effective," the Ze Wei'er Matrix informed Lu Heng of the result.

Lu Heng then said, "Since the metal layer is akin to keratin and has no life characteristics, the true body of the metal sarcoma is actually the Abyss Meat Tumor inside.

"To completely eradicate the metal sarcoma, the method is to destroy the Abyss Meat Tumor within the metal layer.

"Further, the Abyss Meat Tumor inside the metal layer can be transferred, so eradicating the metal sarcoma will be a rather lengthy process.

"I suggest you immediately isolate the nearby districts, cutting off all metallic and organic connections, to prevent the metal sarcoma from spreading.

"I will take this opportunity to destroy as much of the Abyss Meat Tumor inside the metal layer as possible."

"Data received, the calculated plan has been submitted," said the Ze Wei'er Matrix, whose physical presence resided on Second Gaia.

Thus, it could only submit the plan and could not implement it personally.

After the communication, Lu Heng drew the Aurora Blade, pointing the sword towards the central point of the metal sarcoma, and declared, "Mu Yu, Solar Wind, break through the metal layer."