Above The Sky
Chapter 254 - 254 242 The Tombstone of Civilization 13

254: Chapter 242: The Tombstone of Civilization (1/3) 254: Chapter 242: The Tombstone of Civilization (1/3) “It’s a synthetic sugar solution, high in calories, suitable for replenishing energy…

It even contains a bit of hallucinogen and sleep aid.

It seems these Giant Gold Mushrooms attract other creatures to ‘symbiotically’ live with them using this sugar solution, huh?”

After the initial shock from the ‘extraterrestrial life’ information, Ian quickly calmed down.

On Earth, in his previous life, although intelligent extraterrestrial life had yet to be confirmed, the existence of simple alien life forms had been proven—the Light Speed Spacecraft project he once wanted to join was for the purpose of immigration and extraterrestrial exploration of habitable planets.

However, unlike many people imagined, these alien pioneering missions basically didn’t have humans on board; it was intelligent robots that were sent out.

If you think about it, it makes sense.

The empty universe, the desolate alien planets, if you really throw the elite of humanity into basic hard labor on an extraterrestrial planet tens of light-years away for several decades, even if the elite themselves agree, the government and scientific research departments wouldn’t allow it—It would take the effort of several generations or even more to barely make the extraterrestrial planet habitable, and the subsequent industrial and production structures would essentially only be controllable by AI.

Why send the elite to do such low-tech tasks?

Anyway, once the hyperspace communication stations are established, the delay can be reduced to within a few hours.

With that being the case, it’s better to start with robots, and only let people move there once the development is almost complete.

Although it’s still quite difficult for people, at least they don’t have to do the grunt work and can embark on some large-scale research operations, investigating the alien life forms of some life-bearing planets.

The civilization of Terra from the previous epoch might not belong to the same scientific research tree as Earth, but technology is but a tool for achieving goals.

Since they have reached the stage of space development, Ian believes that the Terra People certainly would have attempted to acquire information on extraterrestrial life forms as well.

But to his surprise, the Terra People of the previous epoch did more than just exploration—they even created a ‘heterogenous ecosystem’!

After all, stumbling upon an extraterrestrial ecosystem is indeed something to die for from envy!

This underground relic cluster, the reason for its colossal construction, may have involved the needs of a related ecosystem?

Such as these giant mushrooms that can only live underground or something…

And…

“According to the records in the Silver Chip, these metal-based giant mushrooms from the Obera Star Domain were not actively explored by the Terra People; rather, they were brought to Terra by something codenamed ‘Spark,’ which is suspected to be a spacecraft.”

Savoring the metallic sweet taste of the luminescent mushroom juice in his mouth, Ian thoughtfully pondered, “Spark…

Earth once had a project by that name, when the ecological balance was nearly completely collapsed, and it was a safeguard decision made by the devastated Federal Council—If humans were unable to repair Earth’s post-war collapsed ecology, while migrating to the space cities, they would launch several generation ships carrying Earth’s biological gene banks and history at one-tenth the speed of light towards several potentially habitable planets, to avoid human extinction.”

“In other words, just as a monument to commemorate the existence of humankind, it was sent into the universe.”

“Although the ecology was later successfully restored and the ecological space cities were successfully built, the Spark project was canceled, and even criticized by later scholars who believed it was a risky act of exposing Earth’s civilization and gene bank to potential extraterrestrial civilizations.

But if there really was a risk of extinction or even the obliteration of civilization…

the Spark would be the only hope in desperation.”

—Could it be that the civilization in the Obera Star Domain made such a choice?

And the fact that the Terra they chose happened to have a native intelligent civilization is likely something those extraterrestrials didn’t foresee.

This is no longer important, for Terra too had faced a near-extinction ‘Calamity of Heavenly Fall’.

“Metal-based life.”

Ian heard some movement in the corner of the nearby cave and looked up to see Giant Gold Mushrooms occasionally taking their hosts to the water pools to drink.

Those hosts included Swamp Crocodile Dragons, Iron Claw Moles, and many Burrowing Giant Beetles that resembled mole crickets.

This realization brought further insight to the young man: “It seems Redwood Base was primarily a research facility for the study of the heterogenous ecosystem from Obera—this is also why there are so many metal-based life forms around the South Ridge Southern Sea!”

—Ironclad Sharks, Reef-eater Otters, Iron Claw Moles, Fortifying Corals, Sharp Claw Tigers, Burrowing Giant Beetles, Ironbone Swordfish, Swamp Crocodile Dragons, and possibly Crystal Dragons…

All the common Magical Beasts of South Ridge have more or less a metallic element to them.

Even Thunderhunter Jellyfish, a species with an extremely acute sense of and ability to control magnetic fields, might have been shaped by the research conducted here!

Add to that the fact that metal-based life forms naturally have high body temperatures; even the climates of the tropical Southern Sea would feel refreshing and pleasant for them…

Too low temperatures, on the other hand, would lead them to a lethargic state of hibernation, just like the current state of all giant mushrooms and Magical Beasts in this cave!

Extraterrestrial creatures…

Hmm, it looks like the Terra civilization must have obtained a large number of extraterrestrial creature samples, which is why they could develop so many prototypes of ‘Magical Beasts’.

And furthermore…

“There’s definitely more than one extraterrestrial ecosystem.”

Convinced in his heart, Ian recalled those strange and wondrous Magical Beasts on the Terra Continent, even some that didn’t seem like they evolved naturally, or rather, even if they were modified, it would be hard to find their fundamental prototypes: “The metal-based lifeforms might have originated from the Obera Starfield’s ecosystem, then what about the others?

So many types of Magical Beasts couldn’t possibly have evolved solely from Terra and Obera’s ecosystems.”

“And the ecosystems within the labyrinths that are distinctly different from normal Terra, could they…

also be categories of a heterogenous ecosystem?”

“Perhaps, each labyrinth contains, to a greater or lesser extent, ‘an ecology that differs from Terra’s’, which is why it could breed Labyrinth Species?”

This was only speculation, but the youth believed there was a high possibility it was true.

Beyond this, Ian had confirmed another point.

“No wonder before the Calamity of Heavenly Fall, the sublimation skills of the Terra Continent were not strong, not even a bit refined—it was due to the convergence of many extraterrestrial creatures and extraterrestrial modified organisms on Terra, that led to the explosive development of sublimation skills based on ‘replicating the power of Magical Beasts’!”

“At that time, sublimation skills were probably on the same level as fitness exercises, with only a minority of people relying on sheer effort and the improved physical quality brought about by genetic modifications to advance, not at all a ‘conspicuous science’ like it is now.”

So, the question arises.

—Was the Calamity of Heavenly Fall a natural disaster, or a man-made strike?

—Does this strike have a connection with the intelligent lifeforms in Obera’s ecosystem choosing to implement the plan to transport their ecological circle with the Spark?

Touching the Giant Gold Mushroom in front of him, Ian’s gaze fell, and he murmured in a low voice, “New Moon…”

That fragmented moon…

once called ‘Observation’, now shattered and in ruins…

the broken moon…

There, there must have been many of Terra’s space bases on the moon, observing the stars.

So…

—Who shattered the eyes through which the Terra People once gazed upon the stars?

“The vanishing starry sky in the outer cosmos, behind it there must be a great catastrophe.”

At this moment, the youth felt like he had discovered a portion of the truth hidden within the Terra Continent: “It was that disaster that caused the Calamity of Heavenly Fall, and it was also the reason why the Obera civilization could only transport the information of the ecological circle with the Spark!”

“There must be relevant information data preserved within the Redwood Base!”

Raising his head, at this moment, Ian was more excited and determined than ever before.

He looked around the entire cold cave occupied by the Giant Gold Mushroom, surveyed this ‘miniature heterogenous ecosystem’, and made up his mind: “No matter what, I must obtain the information in this base—even if it means using the power of the Sand Armor Apprentice, it doesn’t matter!”

What special forces team from the Fiery Flame Land, what Patrick, what parasites and extraterrestrial species, nobody can stop him!

He must acquire the truth in this base about the Obera ecosystem and the so-called ‘Spark’!

“Cough cough!”

And just then, Ian heard a cough coming from behind.

Master Gossay had awakened.