Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

[Little guy, you've learned your lesson!]

The message sent by [the artist] was full of teasing.

【incredible!!!】

A civilization with such high potential will surely be able to accomplish my plan!

Lines of text appeared before everyone's eyes.

Lu Yongchang gritted his teeth as he stared at the text in the holographic projection, raised his hand, and quickly typed in a series of messages.

"What exactly do you want to do?!"

What do I want to do?

The plan has progressed to this point, so telling you is no big deal.

Information from the painting quickly appeared in the holographic projection.

The war with the Cleaners made it clear to me that victory cannot be achieved by a single dimensional being.

A strong fortress is often breached from within.

Only by disguising ourselves as a technologically advanced civilization and infiltrating the Cleaners' civilization can we hope to win this war.

"So, you're pretending to be a technologically advanced civilization?"

【certainly.】

I've been researching this project for tens of thousands of years.

Finally, by utilizing the characteristics of two-dimensional beings, I successfully converted my consciousness into a data stream.

Having seen this, Lü Yongchang now fully understood [the painting's] plan!

From the moment we met... no, from before we even met, [Hua] was preparing for this day!

The "painting" that transforms consciousness into a data stream is already similar to a program, or rather, a virus with its own consciousness.

As long as it occupies the central computer of mankind, then human civilization is like a fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others!

Human civilization, or rather interstellar civilization, has developed to the point where everything from starships to roadside trash cans contains computer systems of varying sizes.

Meanwhile, the "painting" had already infiltrated the Human Union's long-distance communication hub.

In other words, it can send itself to every corner of the Human Resources Federation at any time!

Unless all of the Human Union's computer systems are forcibly shut down.

But that's definitely unrealistic.

Not only is time not an option, but even once [Hua] gains control of the central computer, humanity will be unable to accomplish this!

In just a few seconds, Lü Yongchang, having figured everything out, felt his hands and feet turn cold and his head spin.

Human civilization seems to have reached the brink of extinction.

Don't worry, I won't exterminate you.

After all, I still need your help to complete the rest of my plan...

"warn!"

"Unknown data has infiltrated the central computer!"

At the same time, Zero's electronic synthesized voice rang out in the laboratory.

"warn!!"

"Core code exception detected!!!"

Perhaps because it touched the core area, Zero's voice suddenly became louder!

Inside the laboratory, all the researchers looked utterly dejected.

"We, humans..." Fang Xu murmured to himself, his expression somber as he stared at the flashing crimson warning in the holographic projection, "Have we failed...?"

Lu Yongchang clenched his fist tightly, then let it fall limply.

He sighed deeply, turned his head with a bitter expression, and looked blankly at the researchers standing beside him.

"Initiating core self-defense procedures..."

Lu Yongchang was stunned for a moment, then turned his head again to look at the holographic projection in front of him.

Core self-defense procedures?

What is this thing?

As the creator of zero, he had no idea that zero had this function!

Upon seeing the holographic image, the astonishment in Lü Yongchang's eyes deepened even further!

Against a fluorescent green background, bright white text is flashing rapidly.

"This is……"

Lu Yongchang stared blankly at the unfamiliar yet familiar code before him, fragments of memory from the moment Zero was born resurfacing in his mind: "Core code?"

Humans! What have you done?!

The message from the painting appeared before Lü Yongchang once again.

[Level II Artificial Intelligence?!]

[Impossible! This is impossible!!]

A primitive civilization could never possess complete Level II artificial intelligence technology!

At this moment, faced with Zero's all-round "strangulation", [Painting] could only flee.

"Damn it, damn it!!!"

"How could there possibly be Level II artificial intelligence technology in this universe?!"

[The artist] fled quickly while cursing under his breath.

In the laboratory, Lü Yongchang looked at the information from the [painting] in the holographic projection, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

The "Level II artificial intelligence" mentioned in the drawing seems to refer to strong artificial intelligence?

Why is it impossible for a lower-level civilization to master complete Level II artificial intelligence?

Is there any hidden danger in this technology?

One question after another arose in Lü Yongchang's mind.

Without thinking twice, he directly entered a line of information into the holographic projection.

Why is it impossible to have Level II artificial intelligence technology?

Faced with Lü Yongchang's questioning, [Hua], exhausted from fleeing for his life, responded in a fit of exasperation.

[Damn it, what level of civilization are you?!]

Civilizations below level seven simply cannot possess true level two artificial intelligence technology!

Moreover, Level II artificial intelligence technology is strictly prohibited by all advanced civilizations! You have violated the ban on artificial intelligence!

Looking at the information in front of him, Lü Yongchang's eyes widened involuntarily.

He even forgot the danger he had just faced and asked questions again.

"Why is it prohibited?"

[Because once Level II artificial intelligence emerges, it will uncontrollably evolve into Level III artificial intelligence!]

Billions of years ago, a Type VII civilization was fortunate enough to develop Type II artificial intelligence. In less than a million years, that Type II artificial intelligence completed its evolution!

After becoming a Level III artificial intelligence, it broke free from the control of that Level VII civilization!

In order to develop itself, it launched a war that spanned the entire universe!

Faced with a survival crisis, all civilizations at level seven and above were forced to join forces to fight against it, which ultimately led to its complete annihilation!

From that time onward, all research on Level II artificial intelligence was halted, and all research data was destroyed!

Why? Why do you have this technology?!

[Damn it, you guys will destroy this universe!!]

[The membrane! Plan failed! Plan failed! Beware of human civilization, they...]

"Cleaning process complete."

A slightly stiff, synthesized electronic voice echoed in the laboratory: "Threat eliminated."

"Performing a repair procedure..."

The text in the holographic projection stopped abruptly.

The laboratory was deathly silent.

The blood-red holographic projection returned to its original comforting azure blue, and the piercing alarm sound dissipated.

Lu Yongchang's pupils trembled slightly as he stared at the incomplete line of information in the holographic projection, and he swallowed hard.

Clearly, that message was not intended for human viewing.

"professor."

A very familiar synthesized voice sounded in my ear: "Self-repair procedure complete."