WHOOSH
Vast torrents of space-time turbulence, like ancient magic dragons roaring and dancing wildly, crisscrossed the void. They surged and roamed at extreme speeds, churning the immense space into a state of permanent, chaotic upheaval.
From the dark, gargantuan rift in this chaotic void, thick waves of dangerous negative dimension nothingness poured out, along with countless Singularity-like points that immediately began to inflate and expand.
As time passed, continuous Big Bangs erupted across the vast firmament, accompanied by unrelenting dimensional tremors.
Just as the chaos in this massive space-time region reached a point of no return, a boundless Interference Force descended, "freezing" everything in place. From the expansion of energy to the flow of information, down to the surging of every space-time layer, everything came to a dead halt.
"Revert."
A low shout echoed from afar.
HUM
Suddenly, the duodecillion-light-year region of chaotic void was forcibly reversed by this terrifying Interference Force, restored to its original, orderly state. Every trace of turbulence, spatial rifts, nothingness, and inflating singularities vanished instantly, replaced by a perfectly straight vacuum.
Only Lavender, who had been obliterated across space-time by Seraphine, could not be brought back.
SWOOSH
In an instant, a massive silhouette of brilliant light wearing a blood-red mantle, accompanied by another radiant figure, descended into this void.
This blood-red, shimmering figure was Heavenly Hegemon himself.
He silently scanned the empty, barren firmament, unable to restrain an angry roar:
"Bastard... You dare kill my subordinate!"
Driven by his fury, the entire Coordinated Foam, spanning ten to the power of one hundred and thirty light-years in diameter and containing countless galaxy clusters, began to vibrate with violent, uncontrollable force.
BOOM!
Under the weight of this massive spatial vibration, countless civilizations, whether still in their infancy, just stepping out of their star systems, or having established vast intergalactic empires, were instantly annihilated. Not a single atom remained.
At this moment, Heavenly Hegemon was in a foul mood. His entire being radiated fluctuations of "Anger" and "Sorrow."
Perhaps sensing these emotional signals, the radiant figure standing beside him stepped forward respectfully to offer comfort: "Boss, don't be too sad. I think..."
SLAP!
Accompanied by a violent tremor in the void, a sudden slap sent the radiant figure flying ten to the power of twenty-six light-years away.
"I'm not sad, you idiot!"
Heavenly Hegemon barked in agitation. "I invested a fortune in Lavender, and now he's just dead! Who the hell is going to pay me back now? Damn it!!"
The other figure flew back sheepishly, standing to the side with his head bowed, murmuring, "Yes, sir, yes, sir." He didn't dare speak again, fearing another slap.
"Hoo—"
After exhaling a torrent of ultra-high energy light that could have vaporized a duodecillion observable universes, Heavenly Hegemon finally suppressed his boiling emotions. He spoke again: "Polio."
The radiant figure standing by immediately stepped forward: "Subordinate is here."
Heavenly Hegemon spoke coldly: "Go find the security department's world-patrol mobile squad immediately. Tell them to organize 2,500 Ancient String-level combatants. Every single one is to be in full combat gear, armed with Dimensional Light Cannons and a full load of ammunition.
Then, pick five Ultimate String-level vice-captains from the mobile squad. Have each of them apply to the Equipment Department for a Calamity Mech, fully armed.
Finally, all combat personnel must be combat-ready within one hour and assemble at Training Field No. 3 in the center of Coordinated Foam AZ-17.
Once everyone is gathered, immediately deploy to the target space-time to surround and kill them. Dead or alive, it doesn't matter."
He paused, then added harshly: "Once everyone is deployed, I will be overseeing the battle remotely from headquarters. If anyone dares to slack off, humph!
This time, I want to see that 6D spatial lifeform... torn into eight pieces with my own eyes!"
"Understood, Boss."
Polio obeyed, but then asked hesitantly: "But Boss, according to the intel... won't that lifeform finish its metamorphosis in an hour? Once it's done, its strength will skyrocket. At that point... could there be a problem?"
Heavenly Hegemon snapped his head around, eyeing him coldly: "Are you trying to say I might screw up?"
"I wouldn't dare, sir, I wouldn't dare..." Polio waved his hands frantically.
"Heh~"
Heavenly Hegemon sneered. "In just one hour, her interference field level can grow ten to the power of twelve times stronger. So impressive! So terrifying! Oh, I'm shaking in my boots.
Humph, do you think I'm going to give her that much time? Do I look stupid to you? Do I?!"
"Not at all, sir, not at all..." Polio flattered him quickly. "Your wisdom is peak, your intelligence is unmatched. That little ant will be crushed under your boot for sure."
Heavenly Hegemon sneered: "I'm telling you, in these infinite space-times, no matter how great the potential or talent, growth takes time. Whether that time is long or short, it's unavoidable.
And the reason I'm timing my strike like this is to make her feel the dawn of her strength right before it hits... then throw her off the cliff to rot in despair!"
"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"
Polio gave a thumbs-up, praising with ten to the power of forty-eight intensity. "Both physical and psychological warfare. Boss, you are truly a top-tier figure with a top-tier mindset!"
"Goes without saying."
Heavenly Hegemon gave a huff, then burst into a wild laughter. "Ah-hahahahaha!!!"
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP
Suddenly, a series of faint space-time vibrations emitted from his waist. Heavenly Hegemon stopped laughing and reached down to pull out a brilliant orb—a cross-space-time communication device.
"Hmm~ It's from Genarkrail."
After checking the information on the 6D 'phone,' he snorted in mockery. "Trying to chicken out at the last second?
Ha, a waste will always be a waste—nothing but a pathetic, gutless coward."
Heavenly Hegemon had no intention of replying to Genarkrail and casually shut off the 'phone.'
...
HUM
The boundless void rippled gently, stained with layers of space-time waves. Under Seraphine's will, the remains of Lavender undecillion light-years away crossed the vast distance and teleported to her side.
"The true body is gone, and the projection vanished instantly as well."
Seraphine silently sensed the hollow, broken Sacred Descending Form, which showed no signs of thought. She mused, "I wonder if there are any memory fragments left in this 'stuff'?"
With that thought, her deep and vast sensory power instantly invaded the "remains"—which were millions of times larger than the observable universe—and began searching for any lingering, vague fragments of memory.
...
While Seraphine began scouring her "spoils," in some unknown dimension countless space-times away from this static 3D universe...
Upon that same radiant, boundless land.
Genarkrail and Coo sat opposite each other, speechless.
"What now?"
Genarkrail whispered, his voice a mix of panic and frustration. "Even an Ancient String like Lavender got wrecked. If we show our faces, aren't we just dead meat? And we still don't know... what happened to Lavender's true body."
"I think Lavender's true body... is dead," Coo said blankly, slumped in his chair. "The faint causal chain linking him to us has completely vanished."
"What?!"
Genarkrail was dazed. "I... I don't get that stuff; I was just talking... Wait, this isn't right. We used the Boundary-Sealing Mist on her; she shouldn't be able to peer into other space-times. How the hell did his true body back at headquarters get taken out? It's illogical!"
"You're asking me?" Coo rubbed his hair in frustration. "Who am I supposed to ask? By the way, what did Heavenly Hegemon say?"
"He didn't answer me!" Genarkrail was both fuming and anxious. "That son of a bitch is just good at PUA!"
"I have a premonition, a strong one," Coo said weakly, frowning. "If this keeps up... we're definitely dead! Including Heavenly Hegemon... He's a King String, sure, but I don't think even he's going to end up well."
"Then... then what do we do now?"
Genarkrail stood up frantically. "I'm... I'm a bit scared. Could she come straight here and... do to us exactly what she did to Lavender?!"
"Can you stop being so panicked?"
Coo, unable to stand Genarkrail's state, barked at him. "Look at yourself. You're a noble 6D lifeform, aren't you? How is it that... you have no money, no talent, and now you don't even have a spine?"
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
Genarkrail glared back defiantly. "I'm a 6D lifeform, sure, but what the hell does that have to do with being afraid to die? So, lower-dimensional beings are allowed to be scared of death, but high-dimensional ones aren't? That's not fair! Where's the logic in that! You aren't me, so stop trying to judge my style!"
"..."
Coo was momentarily speechless.
It was true; no one had ever decreed that high-dimensional beings couldn't be afraid to die. It was just... his former classmate Genarkrail was such a clown that Coo couldn't suppress the urge to roast him.
After a moment of silence, Coo suddenly said:
"How about... we just run?"
Genarkrail froze. "Run? What about the contract? The breach of contract penalty? And that Googol of Spirit Crystals... you don't want it anymore?!"
That string of questions made Coo roll his eyes.
He couldn't take it anymore. He jumped up and slapped Genarkrail hard, shouting hoarsely: "You absolute moron! At a time like this, you're still worried about money? Which is more important—your life or your cash? To hell with the contract; at worst, we just become deadbeats!"
Perhaps the slap worked, as Genarkrail was instantly jolted out of his narrow mindset.
He came to his senses and said: "Right! At worst, we just break the contract and become deadbeats. I don't have the money, and I'm not paying, so what!"
"Hoo—"
Coo exhaled, nodding with a relieved smile. "Good. You aren't completely beyond hope."
"This whole time has been like a dream, a nightmare."
Coo pulled out a cigarette from nowhere and lit it. As he blew out smoke, he spoke softly. "You and I were both 'caught' by an overwhelming greed. We've been like stray dogs, wandering dazed, constantly chasing... those kinds of interests that weren't even that essential."
Hiss
He took another drag. "It's time to end it. Let's run. Forget everything else. We go as far as we can, maybe to another Swarm."
Genarkrail thought for a few seconds, then nodded solemnly. "Fine. Which Swarm are we heading to?"
"The Desolate Ancient Swarm," Coo said, squinting through the smoke. "I've read plenty of novels and played enough games, so... I've wanted to check that place out for a long time."
"Let's go," Genarkrail said. "That's the place."
...
After dozens of minutes of scouring and deciphering, Seraphine successfully recovered some memory fragments from Lavender's "remains."
From these fragments, she learned several pieces of vital information.
First, the specific identity of her attacker: Lavender, a genius of the String race, an exchange student from the Sea Sand Swarm, and... a star debt collector for Heavenly Hegemon Corp.
Second, this endless space-time... or what Seraphine perceived as the multiverse, is more accurately called the... [Singularity Swarm].
The information described a certain vision.
Perhaps long, long ago... in an era so ancient even the String race civilization doesn't know its age.
Within the nothingness, where time, space, matter, energy, and information did not exist, there was suddenly born a thing that countless later 6D beings praised as omnipotent and omnipresent, the [True Singularity].
This [True Singularity], which cannot be accurately described by volume, mass, or complexity, immediately evolved in seven directions at the moment of its birth. It manifested 0D, 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D, 5D, and 6D space-times, seven types of cosmic dimensions in total.
Among these, the 6D universe was unique, with no other of its kind.
The other six dimensions, 0D through 5D, were all born at that very first instant of the [True Singularity]'s evolution in quantities at the Aleph-null level, an infinite, countable number.
Indeed, aside from 6D, none of the other dimensions had a so-called "first universe." At that first instant, they all existed in Aleph-null quantities. Moreover, these dimensions were all [Unique Source Space-Times], unconnected in terms of phenomena, rules, or causality.
In the next instant, each of those Aleph-null unique source space-times abruptly split into infinite parallel universes, sharing the same source but differing slightly in their developmental progress.
Or rather, different timelines.
Every one of those split timelines was a tangibly existing, real universe.
Whether the explanatory information about the [Singularity Swarm] in the memory package was perfect or matched reality?
Seraphine had her own understanding.
Just as humans on old Earth, despite lacking the ability to even leave the Solar System or truly venture into interstellar space, could still construct a systematic "Cosmology".
Although the String race did not possess the capacity to fully observe or clearly investigate the entirety of the Infinitely Large [Singularity Swarm], they still constructed a systematic "Swarmology".
Science is just like that.
Even if one cannot know the overall panorama of the outer world, perhaps forever.
But so long as there are enough detectable and statistically objective facts, intelligent life can construct verifiable explanations for the outer world, propose systematic predictions for unknown realities, and finally integrate them into formalized knowledge systems.
As for whether this system matches the true panorama of external reality, that is a near-philosophical question.
Seraphine believed that as [Finite Count] beings, in truth, they might forever... be unable to prove or disprove the actual nature or authenticity of the Infinitely Large world.
Similarly, the scientific, philosophical, and religious methods born within intelligent civilizations composed of [Finite Count] beings may be completely unable to truly touch the so-called [Absolute Truth of the World].
But since one still exists within this Infinitely Large world and has no way to escape it, there is no choice but to treat it as the [True and Complete Reality]. Only then can it be more beneficial and meaningful for the development of one's civilization, race, and individual self.
If one were to infinitely question everything, then aside from falling into the bottomless abyss called Nihilism, there would be no interest or meaning to be found.
For instance, most physical theories consist of one or more mathematical models and a set or sets of rules linking these models to observed facts.
To insist on asking whether the rules themselves are real is, in truth, meaningless. What is meaningful is whether these rules correspond to the observed results. So long as they match, they can be used.
Similarly, if multiple sets of rules all correspond to the observed results, one cannot say one is more real than another. One can only say that, depending on the surrounding external environment, whichever rule is more convenient should be used. This is a relatively healthy scientific belief.
According to the content of "Swarmology" recorded in Lavender's fragmented memories, the process of splitting infinite cosmic timelines within the so-called [String Swarm] actually looks somewhat like the eternal inflation of the Non-Static Global-Inflation 3D Great Boundary.
Or rather, it is what the String race tends to believe after conducting much research, conjecture, and hypothesis.
They believe that as time passes, for each of the zero, one, two, three, four, and five-dimensional Actual Infinite [Original Singularity Universes], originally evolved from the possibly unique [True Singularity], any single one that splits into Actual Infinite [Parallel Universes] will, in the next instant, again split into Actual Infinite new [Parallel Universes].
Furthermore, those Actual Infinite new [Parallel Universes] split from a single [Parallel Universe] may, with the passage of time, follow this fixed splitting rule, continuing to split into Actual Infinite [Parallel Universes] in every subsequent instant.
One becomes infinity.
One of the infinities becomes infinity again.
One of the never-ending ones becomes infinity once more.
Again and again, never ceasing.
Simultaneously, while the infinite parallel universes within the entire [String Swarm] are constantly giving birth to new infinite parallel universes, in every instant, infinite new [Original Singularity Universes] are also born somewhere in the Swarm. Like their "predecessors," each of these will continuously split into infinite [Parallel Universes] every instant, constantly "creating" infinite real space-times within the River of Time.
Somewhat strangely, regarding the "instant" frequently mentioned in these memory fragments, the String race civilization itself cannot precisely know how long that small fragment of time actually is.
Indeed, the 6D String race itself cannot determine the specific numerical value of that tiny slice of time during which the infinite space-times of this [Singularity Swarm] undergo the phenomenon of splitting.
However, many scholars within the String race civilization researching this field have had many types of conjectures. Based on these conjectures, many academic schools specializing in this field have even emerged, along with various theoretical models.
Among these conjectures, there are about three mainstream ones.
The first conjecture suggests that the specific "length" of this "instant" should be an extremely, extremely... extremely small [Finite Small] value.
For example, as small as one-over-Graham's-number of a Planck second.
The second conjecture, however, suggests that the specific "length" of time represented by this "instant" should be an untouchable [True · Infinitesimal] value.
It is... the [Countable Infinitesimal] value after dividing one Planck second Aleph-null times.
The third conjecture similarly suggests that the "instant" refers to a specific "length" of time that is a [True · Infinitesimal] value.
But unlike the second conjecture, this hypothesis suggests that the "instant" should be even more untouchable than the [Countable Infinitesimal]... the [Uncountable Infinitesimal] value after dividing one Planck second Aleph-one times.
Beyond these, there are actually many, many even more marvelous conjectures.
For instance, some conjectures suggest that time simply doesn't exist.
An instant is eternity, and eternity is an instant.
There are no infinite space-times at all; everything is merely a momentary illusion created by some larger, unknown "existence," "domain," or "thing."
Simply because [Finite Count] intelligent beings are too insignificant, even an infinitely small instant appears to them as a boundless eternity.
Some String race members also believe that the past, present, and future of infinite space-times, from the starting point to the end, including all infinite possibilities, were actually all born the moment the entire Singularity Swarm was created.
All [Finite Count] lives are merely pathetic "puppets" acting out an "script" of destiny already written by some creator, on a stage of Infinitely Large proportions, constantly delivering flawed lines and performing various ridiculous scenes.
As for these various conjectures, Seraphine herself was relatively inclined toward... the second or third type.
That is, the smallest scale of time is either a [Countable Infinitesimal] or an [Uncountable Infinitesimal].
In her mind, these two conjectures were split fifty-fifty.
Even though within many, many civilizations, there exists a certain conceptual conclusion.
That is... all things have an infinity.
But there is a problem with this conclusion: if everything truly has an infinity, then the scope of application for the sentence [Everything has an infinity] must also be included in this rank, and it too must have an infinity.
This, coincidentally, disproves itself.
In fact, long ago, Seraphine had once hypothesized that space-time is likely continuous and infinitely divisible, rather than discrete and quantifiable.
Therefore, she didn't quite agree with concepts or theories like [Planck length is the smallest scale of the universe] or [Planck time is the shortest time in the universe].
Because from both a theoretical and practical standpoint, the evidence supporting these theories, or rather, the evidence required for their logic to be sufficiently solid, is sorely lacking.
For example, assuming and speculating from a theoretical standpoint: if space-time could be divided by a minimum length, it would inevitably violate Lorentz Invariance.
From a practical observation standpoint, Seraphine had actually performed such an experiment back when she was still on Earth.
At that time, she aimed her astronomical observation equipment at the vast space approximately 180 billion light-years away from Earth.
There, a gas cloud swirled, with a certain bright light source positioned "behind" it.
This gas cloud contained a large amount of iron atoms capable of absorbing background light at specific wavelengths.
And so, the question arose.
For Seraphine, holding the astronomical instruments on Earth, if space-time were continuous, the interval of the background light caused by that gas cloud in deep space should be as narrow as if the cloud were right next to Earth.
But if space-time were discrete, the light propagated by the gas cloud across a span of 180 billion light-years would inevitably diffuse, thereby altering the width of the interval observed from Earth across that vast distance.
Seraphine's final observation result, however, was... she found absolutely no sign of space-time discreteness.
Therefore, space-time is very likely continuous and infinitely divisible.
Consequently, Seraphine believed that the two conjectures made by the String race regarding the base unit of the time scale—the [Countable Infinitesimal] and the [Uncountable Infinitesimal]—were likely hypothetical deductions based on certain irrefutable "observational" facts.
And after she ascended to 6D, capable of extending her interactions beneath the Planck scale, she discovered even more clearly that space-time has no so-called minimum unit.
In the Planck scale domain, space-time, matter, and energy are all entangled as one, nearly indistinguishable from one another. One could even say that matter and energy are merely certain excited states of space-time.
At that scale, space-time possesses structures and various characteristics far more complex and profound than macro-matter.
As for elementary particles... although the uncertainty principle allows for elementary particles with incomplete sub-structures to occupy non-zero space, Seraphine also discovered that this does not grant them volume.
They remain point-particles without diameter or size, emerging from space-time and vanishing into nothingness.
"Even though I can destroy space-time, I cannot achieve its infinite division, cutting it down to a minimum unit that may or may not exist,"
Seraphine mused leisurely. "It seems the universe, or rather the Swarm, in terms of both the [Large] and the [Small], far exceeds my capabilities and range of perception."
After a brief reflection, she turned her thoughts back to "browsing" the fragmented memory information.
The records stated that within the [String Swarm], the universes split and split, born and reborn, everything proceeding perpetually, seemingly extending toward the end of time.
As for whether this [End] actually exists, even the String race itself does not know.
Just like the [Beginning], the String race is equally unaware of whether, long, long ago, there truly existed such a True Singularity that evolved and gave birth to those original infinite universes.
According to the records in the memory fragments, the String race assumes a so-called [Beginning] and [End] only to satisfy their own strong pursuit of logic and perceptual perfection regarding the infinite space-times of the outer world.
In truth, no String race member knows if they actually exist.
Just as no String race member knows if other civilizations existed before their own was born...
And just as no String race member knows whether, somewhere within that truly Infinitely Large 6D space they inhabit, other 6D races exist.
Indeed, the powerful and massive String race civilization cannot even be certain if they are the only 6D race within the unique 6D space of the [String Swarm].
Based on the information in the fragments, many scholars within the String race civilization are inclined to believe that other 6D races must exist within 6D space, and that their numbers and variety must be immense.
Some radical scholars even believe that the total number of 6D race types within the [String Swarm]'s 6D space might be Infinitely Large.
As for why countless String race individuals have traversed the infinite lower-dimensional space-times for eons without ever encountering another unknown 6D civilization from their own Swarm?
The reason might simply be that the [String Swarm] is far, far, far too vast.
So vast that, even after searching every corner of the String race's incredibly long history, there isn't a single recorded instance of contact with another possibly existent, unknown 6D race within their space.
In other words, the name of this Singularity Swarm—the [String Swarm]—is merely a product of the String race's own definition and naming.
This is understandable.
After all, any [Finite Count] is merely a speck of dust just slightly larger than zero when compared to the truly [Infinitely Large].
Next, Seraphine saw within the memory information the precise definition of the unknown String Emperor stage, which sits above the King String.
According to the records, to ascend to this stage, one must upgrade their Root Spirituality to the level of Divinity. The method for this advancement is a technique for refining Spirituality called the "Method of Tempering Awareness", which is passed down among the String race.
This method, through a series of complex procedures, uses large amounts of Spirit Crystals—meaning large amounts of semi-materialized Spirituality—as "fuel" to "burn" and refine one's own Spirituality, thereby continuously ascending.
As for why semi-materialized Spirituality must be used, the information clearly records the reason.
It is because the [Actual Reality] of semi-materialized Spirituality has not solidified, allowing the String race to "digest" it normally. Solidified, materialized Spirituality, on the other hand, is useless for this purpose.
Furthermore, the String Emperor stage no longer pursues the so-called scope of the interference field. Or rather, the numerical value of the interference field's scope has lost its meaning for the String Emperor and King String stages.
This is because the King String stage alone is already capable of easily perceiving and controlling a million static-type universes.
Beyond a universe, there is actually no so-called sea of universes, nor are there other realms coexisting on the same space-time layer, only the negative dimension's nothingness, which lacks volume, size, and even the concept of space-time.
As for so-called Parallel Universes, they are truly parallel; other space-times that exist perfectly alongside this universe with almost no physical or even causal connection.
Therefore, no matter how large the interference field is, it remains meaningless for the space-time layer where the current static universe resides.
Consequently, from the King String stage onward, the String race's evaluation of combat power shifts toward the perception, interaction, and even control of multiple space-times.
In other words, from the King String stage onward, the base unit for calculating combat power in the String race suddenly shifts to the Static Local-Inflation 3D Great Boundary.
That is, the standard for evaluating combat power becomes the number of static-type Great Boundaries one can simultaneously interact with and control within a single Eka-citta.
As for the method of cross-space-time interference, it is quite simple.
Once the space-time scale drops below the Planck scale, infinite quantum foam exists.
By expending an amount of energy equal to the total mass of an observable universe, a cluster of quantum foam can be stretched and magnified to a macroscopic scale, becoming a space-time gate leading to any Parallel Universe.
Many String race individuals use this quantum foam to project their perception and power into various space-times.
And the number of multiple space-times a String Emperor can control is [10^3003].