The body of the Cosmic Red Fish, massive enough to blot out the stars, along with the entire Precursor civilization parasitizing it, was completely erased under the slow closing of that boundless giant hand. Not a single trace of debris remained.
Space returned to its original silence, as if nothing had ever happened.
This cataclysmic scene was transmitted to Earth via the surviving probes. After several seconds of dead silence, a volcanic eruption of cheers broke out. The atmosphere of doomsday despair that had permeated the air just a moment ago was torn to shreds, replaced by the ecstasy of survival.
People knelt toward the sky repeatedly, shouting the divine titles of Erlang Shen and True Lord, as if by doing so, their worship could reach the ears of that deity. The power of faith gathered toward Ian in the starry sky with unprecedented majesty, transcending space.
High-level officials of various nations—politicians who had weathered many storms—could only sit dazed in their emergency meeting rooms. Looking at the empty universe on their screens and the ocean of boiling citizens below, any thought of testing the deity vanished from their minds. All that remained was the purest awe.
At the same time, in a hidden star sector countless light-years away from the Solar System, the surviving members of the Precursor civilization who had observed the tragic fate of the Cosmic Red Fish through real-time communication fell into deep terror. They had watched with their own eyes as their kin and their ultimate weapon were snuffed out like bugs.
The Precursor civilization nearly collapsed. Their remaining logic reached a single conclusion: flee! Flee immediately! Abandon the colonial planets they had managed for eons; discard all non-essential resources. They activated the civilization's highest-level "Great Escape Protocol." Their destination? Unknown. But as long as they could stay far away from that terrifying existence, even heading into the void was acceptable. They only sought to preserve the seeds of their civilization, to linger on in the universe.
On the other side, the Transmutation Tablet sent a message to Ian.
[Absorbed a massive amount of interdimensional energy. Currently available mod draws: *1].
With a thought, Ian unhesitatingly sank his consciousness into the Transmutation Tablet and chose to draw. Light flowed across the tablet, and then a mod icon filled with rugged technological lines and the beauty of power slowly coalesced.
[Congratulations, you have obtained the mod: Tactical Frame]
Immediately following this, detailed information about the mod flooded into Ian's mind. This was a mod that allowed users to manufacture and modify various modular power armors or mechs. It covered everything from small individual exoskeletons to giant war machines.
[Ding... Select the mod coverage area.]
Ian made his decision—he set the generation rules of the Tactical Frame mod to directly cover the entire Earth. A vast and invisible force of rules quietly integrated into the physical laws of the planet.
After completing this, Ian set a few more rules. Anyone whose faith in him reached a certain level of piety would gain a special ability—they could attempt to communicate with and "summon" their own Tactical Frame mech. As for what appearance or performance the summoned mech would have, that depended on the "purity" of the individual's faith and a bit of luck.
Almost at the same moment, in a remote corner of a distant galaxy, the last escape fleet of the Precursor civilization completely vanished from the known universe in a violent spatial ripple. They chose to enter the unpredictable dark deep space, beginning a panicked and desperate wandering. This alien civilization that once tried to colonize Earth had officially exited the stage of history.
Several years passed.
Human technology developed rapidly with the assistance of mechs. By now, humanity had completely conquered the Solar System and was marching toward interstellar deep space. The surface of the Moon was ablaze with lights as numerous buildings rose from its crust. Mars, which Ian had dug out from the body of the Red Fish, was now transformed into a massive agricultural planet, with vast farmlands and forests covering its once desolate red surface.
Large gas collection stations hovered above Jupiter. Giant mechs operated on the surface of the gas giant, collecting the massive amounts of gaseous fuel used for mech operations. Human footprints were found on every planet in the Solar System, and outposts were even established on distant Pluto. Erlang Shen temples were spread across the Solar System, and the power of faith continuously gathered toward Ian in the depths of the void.
Everything proceeded steadily until one day, a massive golden wormhole suddenly appeared above Earth. Upon detecting the wormhole, Earth's defense system immediately activated. The mech fleets in space entered combat readiness, and countless defense turrets aimed at the golden wormhole. A multitude of new weapons locked onto the target, ready to fire a lethal strike at any moment.
Just as humanity prepared to deal with a possible invasion, Ian's voice rang directly in everyone's mind.
"On the other end of the wormhole is the Precursor civilization. However, this wormhole was not opened by them; it is a passage I have opened for you. The rest is in your hands."
This news caused a global sensation. The enemy that had once nearly destroyed humanity was now the prey. The nations of Earth reached an agreement on a course of action almost without dispute, launching a proactive counter-offensive against the Precursor civilization.
Three days later, the United Earth Fleet finished assembling. Thousands of mechs lined up in space; various warships departed from bases on the Moon, Mars, and Earth, converging before the portal. This fleet represented the highest level of military technology of human civilization and the crystallization of its resolve.
The most powerful mech pilots—elites with the highest level of piety—were in the vanguard. They wore the most advanced Tactical Frames, their weapon systems gleaming with a cold light. After receiving the order from the High Command, the United Fleet set out. Tens of thousands of mechs and warships passed through the golden portal in sequence, vanishing into the other side of the star sea.
This was no longer passive resistance, but a proactive strike to settle blood debts.
Ian floated in the void, watching it all. He knew that with this step, humanity would never again be a weak civilization isolated in a corner. Instead, they were a brand-new power in the star sea, taking the first step on a road of conquest.
"Go. This is only the beginning."
Ian smiled and turned, vanishing into the vast starry sky. Perhaps the next time he appeared, humanity would already be an interstellar civilization.
(Pacific Rim arc ends. New world starts tomorrow. Should it be leisure or combat?)