Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

The moment the last line of text appeared in the holographic projection, the wave-like floating pattern that had been surrounding the research robot suddenly disappeared.

There was no road ahead.

Zero immediately controlled the robot to stop its movement.

Before Lü Yongchang could even ask [Ten] a question, a brand new message had already appeared in the holographic projection.

[The Enroget Civilization.]

The tour of the outer industrial area of ​​the Imperial Fortress has now concluded.

[Should we proceed to the inner residential area of ​​the fortress?]

Lu Yongchang raised an eyebrow, preparing to respond.

But the messages from [10] kept coming in without stopping, all at once.

[Confirmed.]

Next, you will travel to the Imperial residential area.

[Please note that a short-distance spatial jump is about to be initiated. Please shut down all spacetime interference devices and ensure spacetime stability in this area...]

[Leap Countdown: 10, 9, 8...]

"Holy crap?!"

Lu Yongchang's expression changed drastically: "What the hell?!"

Confirmed? He didn't confirm it!

Is there something wrong with this artificial intelligence?

And what exactly is that spacetime interference device?!

Does such a thing really exist in human civilization?!

【7,6...】

"I refuse! I refuse to go to the Imperial residential area!!"

Lu Yongchang hurriedly sent a rejection message to [Ten].

【5,4...】

The short-distance spatial jump procedure has been initiated and cannot be stopped.

【3,2,1...】

[Short-distance spatial jump initiated.]

……

Inside the ruins.

A bright light flashed, and at the same time, the surrounding spacetime fluctuated violently.

The research robots that had been standing quietly waiting disappeared into the bright light.

The outer area of ​​the ruins has returned to tranquility.

The orange-yellow lights slowly went out at this moment.

The thick fog, as before, slowly billowed and quickly obscured the traces left by the research robot.

……

The distorted image gradually became clear.

The surroundings were still a similar scene.

Compared to before, the fog is now extremely dense.

Visibility was so low that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

Under the lights, the thick, orange-yellow fog slowly swirls and billows.

It felt as if a colossal beast might burst forth from within at any moment, giving people a profound sense of intimidation and oppression.

Lu Yongchang once again sent a questioning message to [Ten], while demanding to return to the outer industrial area of ​​the fortress.

[10] did not respond to his inquiry.

On the contrary, the previously disappeared floating ripple patterns reappeared in the fog, guiding the scientific research robot in the right direction.

Fortunately.

The civilization's name is fake, its life attributes are wrong, and even the explorers are fake.

"Continue advancing," Lü Yongchang ordered grimly. "Control the fleet and continue the retreat!"

"I'd like to see what tricks this artificial intelligence is up to!"

"Zero, fully monitor all data interfaces, and continue to try to find available data interfaces from the other party."

"receive."

The information from [Ten] reappeared in the holographic projection, but it did not answer Lü Yongchang's previous question.

The short-distance spatial jump has been completed.

Welcome to the residential area inside the Imperial Fortress, Enroget Civilization.

[Current distance from the center of gravity of the Imperial homeworld: 3.5 kilometers.]

……

"3.5 kilometers..."

Lu Yongchang frowned as he carefully examined the various data transmitted back by the research robot.

"If the previous statistics are correct, the outer industrial region should be 6 to 6.5 kilometers away from the planet's center of mass."

"In other words, in that instant, the research robots directly traversed a distance of over 2.5 kilometers using short-distance space jump technology!"

"A more advanced curvature technology?" He Bilin murmured to himself. "The detection device did indeed detect extremely strong spacetime fluctuations."

"No."

Lü Yongchang shook his head, denying He Bilin's statement: "It's not just about curvature technology."

"Don't forget, there's an obstacle between the two."

He Bilin was suddenly startled.

He then noticed this striking feature: "That's right! Warp drive can't penetrate obstacles!"

"In other words..."

Lu Yongchang thoughtfully continued the conversation: "Dimension Technology."

"To achieve this, we probably have to start from higher dimensions of spacetime."

He couldn't help but think of the conflict between the pastoralists and the cleaners.

The cleaners' civilized search [drawing] seems to be aimed at mastering two-dimensional technology.

"Dimensions... that's probably the direction that the most advanced civilizations are researching," Lü Yongchang said decisively. "It seems that the Tenth Empire has also dabbled in this area."

"There's one more thing."

Lu Yongchang stood up from his seat and reached out to touch the bottom of the holographic image.

"Gentlemen, our research robots appear to have arrived at the Tenth Empire's homeworld."

……

Unlike the outer industrial area, the research robot is no longer standing on smooth, flat technological creations, but on a dark gray "land".

The uneven surface of the "soil" has a rich porous structure.

Under the close observation of the scientific research robot, wisps of mist are drifting out from these porous structures.

The land is very solid.

At the very least, it can easily support the weight of scientific research robots.

"3.5 kilometers from the center of mass, and in such a pristine landscape, what comes to mind?"

Lu Yongchang's eyes gleamed: "Just as we deduced earlier, the Tenth Empire's home planet is a relatively large ice giant."

"We are probably in the upper atmosphere of an ice giant right now."

"Above our heads lies the sky, more than 2.5 kilometers high!"

"This celestial dome was built by the Tenth Empire as a planetary fortress to block supernova explosions, and it's also their industrial zone!"

As Lü Yongchang finished speaking, a holographic 3D model appeared in the holographic projection.

It was a layered concentric sphere model.

Inside, it is an ice giant with a diameter of over 7 kilometers.

On the outermost layer, a shell more than 1 kilometers thick firmly encloses it.

Perhaps to better block the radiation from the supernova explosion, there is a gap of more than 2.5 kilometers between the shell and the ice giant!

"Why would an ice giant have such a solid surface structure in its upper atmosphere?"

Tao Yuda was the first to ask, "This doesn't seem to make sense."

Lü Yongchang shrugged and turned to look at the holographic projection.

"That question... naturally has to be asked of that AI that's mentally challenged."

"There's always a reason why it insisted on bringing us here."

P.S.: Thanks to Tenth Art for the amazing certification!

Thanks, big guy~