During the construction of the Dawn, Xiao Yu integrated cutting-edge technologies, such as more efficient engine designs and optimized circuitry. It was estimated that the Dawn was at least a decade more advanced than the Hope in terms of technological sophistication.
Notably, the Dawn was ard with a significant arsenal. The number of high-powered laser cannons increased to 30, the strategic hydrogen bomb stockpile grew to 10, and additional conventional weapon systems were added, including 100 conventional missile warheads and high-rate-of-fire machine guns.
In parallel, Xiao Yu was conducting research on next-generation weaponry, although he remained skeptical of near-term breakthroughs. Hydrogen bombs already represented the pinnacle of destructive power within the fraworks of relativity and quantum chanics. Without breakthroughs in fundantal physics, humanity could not hope to develop a weapon more potent than a hydrogen bomb. For now, Xiao Yu was focused on theoretical groundwork for the future.
The discovery of Black Bugs and Jovian Phantoms in the Solar System heightened Xiao Yu’s vigilance toward potential encounters with extraterrestrial civilizations. He was no pacifist; if he encountered alien intelligence, Xiao Yu would rather eliminate it outright than risk contact.
Ti flew by, and the Hope had already completed half its return journey, reaching Jupiter’s orbit. Xiao Yu couldn’t help but feel tempted.
“Why not let the Hope make another stop at Jupiter to capture so Jovian Phantoms? After all, I’m not on board—it’s perfectly safe.”
Xiao Yu programd a new set of instructions and transmitted them to the Hope, which promptly altered its course toward Jupiter.
To mitigate risks, Xiao Yu included a detailed risk assessnt module in the program. This module evaluated all potential hazards and granted the Hope full authority to abandon its mission and retreat if the danger index exceeded 90.
The Hope approached Jupiter cautiously. Under program control, it conducted a scan of all Jovian Phantoms within a 150,000-kiloter radius. After confirming that the phantom count was manageable, it selected a relatively weak cluster and moved toward it.
This cluster was located 400,000 kiloters from Jupiter. The Hope approached stealthily and extended a chanical arm equipped with a high-radiation-resistant net. Like a bug catcher, the arm swung through the cluster, ensnaring all the phantoms.
The phantoms, as usual, showed no resistance or evasive behavior.
Monitoring the Hope’s progress, Xiao Yu felt a surge of joy. This validated his hypothesis: he would have an inexhaustible supply of Jovian Phantoms for constructing his fleet.
The Hope continued its hunting expedition, roaming freely through space. Since the phantoms took up virtually no space, the Hope faced no structural threats as long as their total radiation level remained within the containnt device’s limits.
At 200,000 kiloters from Jupiter, the Hope spotted a small teoroid about half a ter in diater, hosting 30 phantoms of standard intensity. The Hope synchronized its speed with the teoroid, extended its chanical arm, and captured both the rock and the phantoms. The teoroid was discarded, and the phantoms were securely contained in a tal box.
This process repeated over two weeks, during which Xiao Yu captured nearly 10,000 Jovian Phantoms. Satisfied with his success, Xiao Yu thought to himself, “Let’s catch another thousand before returning.”
Ahead, the Hope detected another phantom cluster. Based on its radiation intensity, the cluster comprised approximately 1,300 phantoms. The Hope paused and transmitted a signal to Xiao Yu for approval. After a mont of deliberation, Xiao Yu decided to proceed.
Against the massive backdrop of Jupiter, the diminutive Hope crept toward an invisible point in space. Although the cluster was imperceptible to the naked eye or optical instrunts, radiation sensors confird the presence of over a thousand phantoms.
At a distance of 3,000 kiloters, sothing unexpected occurred.
The phantoms exhibited a strong blueshift—a clear indication of rapid movent toward the Hope.
In that instant, the Hope detected the true nature of the cluster. It wasn’t composed of 1,300 standard phantoms, but rather an imnsely powerful radiation source equivalent to 300 phantoms rged together, accompanied by a swarm of enhanced phantoms with individual radiation levels three to ten tis greater than normal!
“Are you kidding !” Xiao Yu exclaid in frustration, but there was nothing he could do. By the ti he received the signal, more than 30 minutes had passed since the incident occurred. In other words, everything that could have happened already had, and Xiao Yu could only rely on the incoming signals to deduce what transpired.
Tension gripped Xiao Yu as he monitored the Hope’s status with intense focus.
The Hope, Xiao Yu’s first true interstellar ship, held profound significance to him—it couldn’t be allowed to co to harm.
As he observed the Hope, Xiao Yu’s mind raced. “What’s going on? Why is this powerful cluster of Jovian Phantoms exhibiting behavior so different from the others? How does it know how to attack?”
Unable to find an answer, Xiao Yu pushed the question aside for now. What he did know was clear—capturing Jovian Phantoms in the future would no longer be an easy task.
Signals stread steadily into Xiao Yu’s mind, relaying the Hope’s situation. He saw that the mont the phantoms displayed intense blueshift, the risk assessnt code activated. The danger index surged from 10 to 20, climbed to 50, and continued rising.
However, Xiao Yu’s protocol dictated that at a danger index of 70, the Hope would stop and assess the situation. At 80, it would initiate an attack, and at 90, it would abandon everything and flee.
For now, the danger index had reached only 50, so the Hope continued its cautious approach toward the phantom cluster.
The cluster’s strength was equivalent to 1,200 ordinary phantoms. Despite the Hope’s enhanced protection from Black Bug carcasses and phantom radiation, it could not withstand such overwhelming radiation levels.
If the cluster got close, it would imdiately disable most of the Hope’s systems, and Xiao Yu would lose the ship entirely.
The two approached each other at a relative speed of 100 kiloters per second, aning they would collide in just 30 seconds.
At this mont, Xiao Yu regretted not designing a more robust risk assessnt program. He desperately wished he could claw at his hair in frustration.
The danger index climbed steadily. Finally, it hit 70. Following protocol, the Hope ca to a halt, seemingly “pondering” what lay ahead.
“Damn it, you idiot! Just run already!” Xiao Yu shouted helplessly.
This was the difference between human intuition and programd logic. Programs rigidly adhered to their code and lacked the flexibility of human instinct. In Xiao Yu’s shoes, he would have fled the mont he detected a threat. But to a program, intuition was aningless—only binary logic mattered.
The cluster closed to within 2,000 kiloters. At this range, the danger index spiked to 80.
Facing the phantom cluster, five high-powered laser cannons on the Hope opened fire. These lasers were ten tis stronger than the Hope’s predecessors, yet the phantoms were no ordinary ones. As mutated entities, their strength far exceeded typical phantoms. A single cannon needed 30 seconds of continuous fire to eliminate just one phantom.
Compounding the problem, the cluster included a super phantom with radiation levels equivalent to 300 ordinary phantoms.
Xiao Yu shut his eyes, unable to watch. The cluster would close the remaining 1,500 kiloters in just 20 seconds.
The danger index climbed higher.
81… 82… 85… 89…
Finally, 10 seconds before impact, the danger index reached 90!
The ergency escape protocol activated imdiately. The Hope abandoned all other actions, turned sharply, and fled at full throttle.
At that mont, the Hope’s powerful maneuverability and overload resistance shone through. In an instant, it accelerated from a standstill to 2 kiloters per second and continued to pick up speed. Simultaneously, the five laser cannons kept firing to slow the phantom cluster’s pursuit.
Xiao Yu’s nerves were stretched taut. He had no confidence that the Hope could escape.
Ti ticked away, second by second. The phantoms pursued at a steady speed, while the Hope accelerated continuously. After 30 seconds, the lead phantom caught up and latched onto the Hope’s hull.
“Fortunately, it’s only a phantom with seven tis the radiation of a standard one. I can handle this,” Xiao Yu muttered, keeping his focus on the Hope.
Another phantom latched onto the Hope. anwhile, the ship’s velocity continued to rise. Forty seconds into the chase, the Hope had reached a speed of 80 kiloters per second.
At this mont, Xiao Yu was drenched in sweat. A speed of 80 kiloters per second was sufficient to outrun the phantom cluster.
However, Xiao Yu couldn’t suppress a bitter smile as he observed the ten or so phantoms clinging to the Hope’s exterior.
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