The mysterious strike from beyond the heavens.
It seemed as though nothing had changed.
Xu Xi, who had perished, was resurrected once again through the power of Ten Deaths and Rebirth.
The destroyed fleet, through Ailei's self-replicating mechanized intelligence, was restored to a smaller scale.
Except for the loss of one resurrection count.
Overall, there was not much of a loss.
The ion engines hummed to life, and the starship gradually increased its speed, heading towards the mysterious and unknown sea of stars.
"Master, where shall we go next?"
"Maintain the current course, Ailei."
"Objection. Ailei believes we need to change our route."
The loyal mechanized servant was always concerned about Xu Xi's safety.
Her expression remained impassive, her hands crossed in front of her abdomen, quietly expressing her protest.
Her silver-blue eyes glowed faintly.
The mechanized servant suggested altering the fleet's course to a remote corner of the universe to hide, avoiding another mysterious strike.
Xu Xi smiled and gently patted Ailei's head. "That would be meaningless, Ailei."
The mastermind behind the scenes did not target them based on coordinates.
No matter how remote.
No matter how well-hidden.
Once a civilization reached a certain level of technology, at the appointed time, the apocalyptic strike would still destroy everything.
Xu Xi refused to sit idly by and take the hits. He wanted to fight back.
But whether it was fighting or fleeing, he needed to know who the enemy was.
Thus, Xu Xi decided to maintain the current course, heading towards the deepest part of the Sea of Stars Graveyard. He believed that clues awaited him there.
"...I understand, Master."
The mechanized servant reaffirmed her loyalty. "Please rest assured, Ailei will protect your safety."
Hmm, such a reliable statement.
If only her ears didn't tremble so rapidly when her head was being patted, it would have been even more convincing.
...
[The journey to the stars has begun anew]
[Your goal remains clear: to explore the Sea of Stars Graveyard and absorb the technologies of numerous civilizations]
[Beyond that, you also wish to uncover the true mastermind behind the destruction of countless civilizations]
[You are well aware that their existence cannot be ignored]
[As long as you continue to develop technology, you will inevitably become their enemy]
[The only way to escape their threat is to abandon technological advancement and regress to a level below their threshold of concern]
[But such a choice would mean discarding all your past efforts, and you are unwilling to do so]
By now, Xu Xi had long given up hope of uncovering the true nature of the simulation.
Indeed, his knowledge continued to grow, seemingly progressing steadily.
But the efficiency of this growth.
Compared to the mysterious and wondrous Life Simulation System.
Was still far too lacking.
Thus, Xu Xi's current goal in the simulation had shifted from exploring the system's essence to acquiring as much technological knowledge as possible.
"Ion engines, controlled fusion, energy weapons, particle colliders."
"Let's not talk about the future for now."
"Just in the present, my gains have been more than sufficient."
"But knowledge is something one can never have too much of. With Ten Deaths and Rebirth, I should continue to press forward."
"Moreover—"
Inside the newly constructed ecological starship, Xu Xi looked up at the dazzling artificial sun, instinctively squinting his eyes.
"That child... I just can't stop worrying about her..."
The unknown mastermind had sealed off the stars.
When the time came.
They would annihilate any civilization that dared to reach for the stars.
This was a despairing, helpless truth.
Xu Xi could return to the real world once the simulation ended, naturally escaping this cage.
But Ailei was different.
When Xu Xi ended the simulation, the lonely AI would remain in the universe, eternally trapped in this cosmic prison.
Of course, Ailei could develop technology, could strive to break free from the cage.
But correspondingly.
When the "rats" made too much noise.
The "owner of the house" would no longer ignore them.
What would become of Ailei then?
Xu Xi fell silent. He wanted to solve this problem before the simulation ended, to free Ailei from this prison.
"...Master."
A voice came from behind.
It was Ailei's voice.
Today, the mechanized servant had changed her attire, wearing a light blue apron around her waist as she brought Xu Xi a plate of freshly baked pastries.
"This is today's afternoon tea and snacks."
"Please enjoy."
"Thank you, Ailei," Xu Xi said, picking up a pastry and absentmindedly chewing on it, still pondering how to escape the cosmic prison.
But as he chewed, he noticed that the pastry tasted somewhat familiar.
"Ailei, did you add something special to the pastry?"
"Yes, I added some ingredients beneficial to your health."
"I see."
Xu Xi suddenly understood.
No wonder he detected the flavor of Red Sunflower.
Come to think of it, his mechanized servant seemed particularly fond of this flower. Was it because of its dazzling golden hue?
...
[Time flows like the wind, withering the body]
[Time flows like water, shaping the heart]
[Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, you and your loyal mechanized servant had journeyed through the cosmos for many more years, sailing ever further into the distant sea of stars]
[Simulation Year 67: You are 86 years old, Ailei has been by your side for 65 years]
[Ten years have passed since the mysterious strike from beyond the heavens]
[You spent much of that time in hibernation, so the years did not feel long]
[Your fleet arrived at a star system to replenish resources, only to witness a scene of utter devastation: the remains of dead insectoids and fragments of celestial bodies filled your view]
[You realized that this place, too, had suffered a mysterious strike]
[In the eyes of the mastermind, the insectoids seemed to be a highly threatening existence, a target that must be eradicated]
[In the star system you arrived at, all the insectoids had perished, with no survivors. But you knew that, given the insectoids' resilience and vast numbers, there must still be other insectoids surviving elsewhere in the cosmos]
[Ailei directed the mechanized units to collect a large amount of celestial debris and insectoid remains, using them as fuel for the starship]
[Your fleet set sail once more]
...
[Simulation Year 77: You are 96 years old, Ailei has been by your side for 75 years]
[Your fleet ventured deeper into the cosmos, finally encountering another dead civilization]
[You named it Civilization 03]
[The machine spirits rejoiced, their mechanical forces resonating as you efficiently absorbed the technology of Civilization 03, further refining your own technological tree before setting off again into the endless void]
[Simulation Year 90: You are 109 years old, Ailei has been by your side for 88 years]
[You still did not show signs of aging, appearing youthful. The third phase of genetic enhancement research was nearing successful completion]
[Soon, your lifespan would be extended once more]
[During the long voyage, thanks to the superior performance of the ion engines, your fleet had completely left behind the former Federation planets]
[To better understand the surrounding situation, you decided to rely on Ailei's unique abilities]
"Ailei, are you ready?"
"Yes, Master. Please make use of Ailei."
The perspective shifted.
Senses transcended dimensions.
Xu Xi, for the first time in a long while, observed the true vastness of the distant cosmos.
The dazzling stars, the dead civilizations, the insectoids surviving in scattered corners, the increasing number of red dots, and—
The fleeting glimpse of a massive celestial body, whose sheer mass alone could calmly annihilate all things.