Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

Inside the command center of the Earth.

"How...how is it?" Fang Xu asked in a low, labored voice, "Is it working?"

Before Lü Yongchang could reply, the image from the detector projected onto the holographic screen already gave him the answer.

Accompanied by incredibly intense gamma rays and the flash of an explosion, a dark gray spherical detector reappeared in the projection.

Despite the immense impact and explosion, the surface of the spherical detector remains perfectly smooth.

Even under the scrutiny of a high-precision detector, it still maintains an extremely perfect spherical shape.

"No, it didn't work?"

Fang Xu subconsciously raised his hand to rub his eyes, and for a moment he could not believe what he was seeing.

"No." Lü Yongchang's lips were dry, and his face was somewhat pale as he stared at the image in the holographic projection.

"It works."

At the same time, a slightly blurry image appeared on the giant holographic projection.

"Did you see that?"

"Gravitational lensing effect!"

"A gravitational lensing effect visible to the naked eye!"

"It activated its gravity shield!"

Lü Yongchang quickly pulled up footage taken a few minutes earlier: "Look, it didn't activate its gravity shield when it collided with the antimatter collection device and detector!"

"This proves that, just as we suspected, it is afraid of antimatter attacks!"

"But... we can't break its gravity shield," Fang Xu added quietly from the side.

Lü Yongchang: "..."

As the spherical probe drew ever closer to Dawn Star, Lü Yongchang gritted his teeth and made a decision.

"Activate the [Dimensional Strike Ship]!"

……

The Dimensional Strike Ship, using two-dimensional fragments provided by the Painting, can carry out dimensional reduction attacks on targets.

It is extremely powerful and its technological content far surpasses that of weapon systems currently in the grasp of human civilization.

Therefore, when the spherical detector stalled, Tao Yuda proposed a plan to use two-dimensional fragments to carry out the attack.

However, this proposal was strongly opposed by Lü Yongchang.

The reasons for the opposition are quite simple.

The civilization of cleaners and the civilization of pastoral life are mortal enemies.

At that time, [Hua] hid in an inconspicuous star to escape the pursuit of the Cleaners civilization.

Today, human civilization is using two-dimensional debris right in front of the Sweeper detectors.

What is this?

Do you feel that the other person isn't paying enough attention to you?

If we attract the enemy's warships, then we'll really be like Barbie Q!

Moreover, setting aside the Cleaner civilization's reaction, whether the two-dimensional fragments can even hit their target is still an unknown!

That being said, if the first few defensive measures fail, humanity can only place its hopes on this double-edged sword.

Therefore, Lü Yongchang placed it in the last line of defense—the so-called trump card.

As for the first few defensive measures...

All that was lost when the Cleaner detectors revealed their superior gravity shield technology.

……

Time passes little by little.

The spherical probe is getting closer and closer to Dawn.

Under Zero's control, a small starship, only a hundred meters long, slowly departed from the fleet with the help of the "outdated" Hall thruster, heading towards the spherical probe.

The spherical probe maintained its original path, moving forward at a constant speed despite the powerful gravitational barrier.

"Two-minute countdown to contact."

Synthesized electronic voices rang out in the command center of the Earth.

Lu Yongchang's expression turned serious, and he gave the order in a deep voice: "Launch the two-dimensional fragment."

The order was given, and Zero's instructions were quickly transmitted to the central computer of the [Dimensional Strike Ship] via long-range communication devices.

The restraint device control program was activated.

Through a series of mechanisms unknown to humankind, a two-dimensional fragment resembling a piece of paper flew rapidly through the thick cannon barrel and shot straight toward the distant spherical probe.

The process was very peaceful.

There was no fire, no explosion.

It was like throwing away a tiny scrap of paper.

But everyone's attention was drawn to this piece of paper!

It is the most powerful weapon mankind currently possesses!

In the footage captured by the camera, the paper pieces floated silently in outer space.

Without the cover of dark matter, its surface has developed layers of wrinkles.

"warn!"

"Target lost! Warning! Target lost!"

A piercing alarm blared in the command center, and blood-red warning signs flashed wildly before everyone's eyes.

……

Not far from Dawn Star.

The Type I artificial intelligence inside the spherical probe, following a preset program, maintains its original course and speed, "slowly" approaching its destination.

but.

The moment the two-dimensional fragment appeared, everything changed.

A rapid alarm sounded inside the spherical detector.

【warn! 】

[Dimensional fluctuation detected!]

[Scanning in progress...]

[Scan complete, target detected!]

Reports kept pouring into the region of the black hole at the center of the Milky Way.

Clearly, it still hadn't received any orders from Cleaner 9527.

So, it started its recycling task again, following the preset procedure.

[Initiating 2D debris recycling task!]

The gravitational field around the spherical detector fluctuated rapidly.

The next instant, it disappeared from human cameras.

……

"Warp drive?"

This familiar scene immediately triggered alarm bells in Lü Yongchang's mind.

His expression was extremely solemn. Without the slightest hesitation, he said directly, "Zero, immediately search the area surrounding Dawn Star!"

"receive."

The moment the electronic synthesized voice sounded, images of the area surrounding Dawn Star flashed rapidly across the giant holographic projection directly in front of them.

A dozen seconds later.

The flickering images in the giant holographic projection stopped.

Holy crap!!

Upon seeing the image clearly, Lü Yongchang's breath hitched, and he uncontrollably blurted out a curse: "What is it trying to do?!"

In the footage, the spherical probe appears next to the two-dimensional debris, maintaining the same flight speed as it.

Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, the gravitational lensing effect that had been spreading around the spherical detector slowly disappeared.

The next moment, a crack appeared on the surface of the naturally formed detector.

A beam of azure light shone through the gap, shining directly onto the two-dimensional fragment.

"Warning! Extremely high intensity gravitational fluctuations detected!"

Accompanied by a zero-electronic warning tone, a two-dimensional fragment, resembling a crumpled piece of paper, was slowly sucked into the spherical detector.

The scene before them shattered everyone's psychological defenses.

The supermodel weapon, on which all of humanity's hopes were pinned, was confiscated by the other side!

Lu Yongchang stared at the scene before him with a livid face, then closed his eyes in anguish.

really.

The worst has happened.