The Wizard of Truth: Starting with Analyzing All Things

The Stargazer's engines erupted with unprecedented thrust in silence, shoving the ship violently into the deep darkness to the northwest. Inside the bridge, everyone clung tightly to the anchor points, enduring the G-forces of the sudden acceleration. On the main screen, the asteroid belt behind them was rapidly shrinking, but under the enhanced passive sensors of the starship and Lina's highly focused spiritual monitoring, a chilling patch of dark purple "light" spread and converged rapidly in the cold void, like ink dripping into clear water, forming a vague yet definite "tide" spreading in the direction they were fleeing.

"The Crystal-Eating Bacteria swarm... is gathering, and its speed is increasing! The psionic connections between them are strengthening, like a net..." Lina's voice was tense. She contracted her spiritual senses to the extreme, focusing only on perceiving what was behind her to avoid being devoured by the collective consciousness filled with corrosiveness and hunger. "Their target is clear... it's us, or rather, it's the Star Key!"

"Full power! Forget about energy consumption, create distance!" Luo Wei roared, his hands gripping the edge of the control panel so tightly his knuckles turned white. The Star Key continued to radiate a warm resonance in his arms, but this resonance no longer brought reassurance; instead, it was like a guiding light in the darkness. He tried to envelop and isolate it with stellar power, but the effect was minimal. The invisible connection between the Star Key and some "ancient echo" deep within this star field seemed impossible to sever easily.

Supported by Lilith and Annie, Irene also arrived at the bridge. She had changed into a simple crew uniform, her face still pale, but her eyes held less despair and more fear of the unfamiliar environment and a complex mix of emotions she couldn't quite describe—she recognized the direction the starship was heading. "Gravity... the Gravity Maze... it's... very dangerous... space is fragmented... there are many unseen 'mouths'... that will devour the ship..." she stammered, her body still trembling slightly from weakness and fear.

“We know it’s dangerous there, but what’s behind it is even more dangerous.” Elder Anderson calmly took over the conversation, while quickly operating the navigator to zoom in on the star map, displaying the nebula region ahead marked “Gravity Labyrinth.” It was a vast, complex region composed of sparse stars, broken nebulae, and countless small black holes, neutron star remnants, and gravitational anomalies, its spatial structure displaying dazzling distortions and folds. “Only by utilizing the complex environment there can we possibly shake off those things that are being tracked by energy and psionic power. And we need Starfall Crystals.”

"The spread of the Crystal-Eating Bacteria seems to have made resource gathering on the edge of this star field extremely dangerous." Instructor Verna stared at the tracking signal behind her and quickly analyzed, "If we can't find supplies in the maze, we will eventually lose our mobility due to energy depletion and become sitting ducks."

Patton stood before the weapons control panel. Although no targets were currently within range, he had already prepared several usable point defense cannons for firing, his gaze sharp as an eagle. "How fast are they? How long will it take them to catch up?"

"Currently, we have a slight advantage in relative speed, but it's not a significant one. Moreover, the crystal-eating bacteria seem to be able to perform some kind of 'spatial gliding' over short distances, and in complex gravitational environments, their maneuverability may be even greater than ours." Verna pulled up the calculation data. "It is estimated that about three to four hours after entering the outer perimeter of the gravitational maze, their leading edge may enter the theoretical contact range. That is, provided that we are not trapped by the maze's natural traps first."

"Then let's make the maze a bit more 'lively'." A decisive glint flashed in Luo Wei's eyes. "Instructor Verna, I remember there are still a few old gravitational wave jamming missiles in the starship's storage? They were originally used to create short-range spatial disturbances in extreme environments to interfere with jumps or locks?"

"Yes, but the effect is unstable, and it may exacerbate the local gravitational disturbances in the maze, posing a risk to ourselves as well." Verna immediately understood Rowe's intention.

"Select several suitable nodes along the planned flight path and set delayed detonations. We don't need to completely block them, just create chaos and buy time. Ideally, some of the crystal-devouring bacteria should be swallowed by the natural traps," Rowe said quickly. "Elder Anderson, plan the deployment points. Barton, prepare for deployment."

"clear!"

"Leave it to me."

The order was executed swiftly. Several unremarkable-looking but internally containing energy capable of briefly distorting local gravitational fields were precisely launched by the Stargazer at high speed to several key locations along its course, set to detonate automatically some time after the starship passed.

After completing its deployment, the starship plunged into the outer perimeter of the "gravity labyrinth".

The view outside the porthole shifted instantly. Starlight became distorted and elongated, as if viewed through shimmering crystal. A subtle, continuous hum emanated from space itself—the background noise caused by countless tiny gravitational sources pulling and resisting each other. The starship began to experience irregular, slight turbulence, as if sailing on a sea strewn with reefs. The spatial map on the navigator became a chaotic mess, and it could only barely correct its course by relying on a pre-set, extremely rough route and Lina's perception of the energy flow and "malice" ahead.

"Reduce speed to 60 percent, activate the gravity sensor array, and scan the curvature of space ahead. All personnel, adapt to the irregular gravity environment." Elder Anderson's voice remained steady, but sweat was beading on his forehead. Navigating in this environment is an extreme test of the navigator's experience and mental fortitude.

The starship teetered on the edge of a knife, cautiously navigating between invisible gravitational vortices and spatial folds. Occasionally, bizarre phenomena would flash past the portholes: a space would act like a lens, distorting distant starlight into grotesque halos; the light in an area would inexplicably dim, as if swallowed by something invisible; and once, a powerful lateral pull suddenly came from the starboard side of the ship, almost dragging it off course. Fortunately, Verna adjusted the engine output in time, and with Rowe's help, he used the Star Key to guide stellar energy to briefly stabilize the local space, barely managing to break free.

"This is... the Gravity Maze..." Annie's face turned pale, and she gripped the armrests of her chair tightly. Ariel, on the other hand, huddled in a corner, hugging her knees and burying her face in them, her body trembling uncontrollably, seemingly gripped by an instinctive fear of her surroundings.

While tending to everyone's condition, Lilith also kept an eye on the medical data. Lina, on the other hand, was the busiest person. Her spiritual senses were greatly disturbed and suppressed here, and the "noise" emanating from the chaotic gravitational waves and spatial rifts almost overwhelmed her. But she gritted her teeth and persevered, pushing the "Communion with All Things" meditation to its limit, trying to distinguish which were nature's "malice" (traps) and which were the "malice" from pursuers behind.

Time ticked by in a tense atmosphere. Two hours later, faint spatial oscillations began to emanate from the designated node behind them—the gravity-disrupting missiles had detonated. Immediately afterward, Lina abruptly looked up, pointing to her side and rear: "They... they've been disrupted! Some have crashed into the trap! Disappeared! But... most have bypassed it and are still chasing! Their speed... seems a little slower; they're adapting to the environment here!"

"Working! Keep going!" Lowe's spirits lifted. But before he could even catch his breath, the predicted trajectory representing the starship's own course on the main screen suddenly fluctuated violently!

"Warning! High-intensity, unstable gravitational source detected ahead! Suspected short-lived binary system formed by a small black hole and neutron star remnant! Predicted trajectory conflict! Evasion route calculation in progress..." The star core's alarm sounded.

"Hard to left! Increase power by 30% immediately!" Elder Anderson shouted, his hands moving across the control panel in a blur.

The starship tilted sharply to the left, its engines screeching as it narrowly missed the edge of a region of space that had suddenly become unusually "viscous." Through the porthole, two extremely distorted, light-devouring dark shadows could be vaguely seen orbiting each other at incredible speeds, creating gravitational tides that made the surrounding space resemble the surface of a stormy sea.

However, the evasive maneuver caused the starship to veer off course and enter an area that had not been previously scanned in detail.

"High concentration of inert energy detected...interspersed with strong radiation...a characteristic of stellar crystal veins! But the vein area exhibits strong electromagnetic interference and spatial distortion!" Verna quickly analyzed the scan data, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, but it was immediately replaced by seriousness. "We've deviated from the safe route and entered an unknown rich mineral area. The spatial structure here is even more unstable!"

Before the words were even finished, the starship shuddered violently, as if it had crashed into an invisible wall! The shield's energy plummeted by 5%! A metallic groan echoed from within the ship!

"It's an invisible asteroid! Or space debris! Accelerated to the extreme by a strong gravitational field!" Barton roared.

Misfortune never comes singly. Lina's face suddenly turned deathly pale. Pointing to a seemingly calm area ahead, where the starlight was subtly distorted, her voice trembled with tears, she cried out, "There! There's a huge... 'void'! Not a black hole... it's... space itself has a hole! Inside... there's an 'echo'! Very sad... very angry... and a lot of... remnants of 'Crystal-Eating Bacteria'! They seem... afraid to approach!"

A spatial rift? Echoes of sorrow and anger? The crystal-eating bacteria dare not approach?

A thought struck Luo Wei, and the resonance of the Star Key suddenly became clear and urgent, pointing directly in the direction Lina had mentioned! The feeling was like sensing the "Starfire Chamber" in the Shattered Star Remains, but weaker, more... fragmented.

"Adjust course and head towards that 'void' area! Stay alert and approach slowly!" Luo Wei decisively ordered. If there was something there that the Crystal Devouring Bacteria feared, it might become their temporary refuge, or at least they could use it to hold off their pursuers. Moreover, the resonance of the Star Key meant that there was likely some remnant there related to the "Primordial Spirits" or the Stargazers!

"Are you crazy? That could be a trap!" Barton exclaimed.

"The pursuers behind are even more deadly! And the Star Key is pointing there!" Lowe's gaze was resolute. "Mentor Verna, scan that area, look for possible entry routes or cover. Elder Anderson, calculate the best approach route. Lilith, Annie, prepare for possible high-intensity radiation or psionic shocks. Irene..." He looked at the trembling girl, "Do you know what's in that direction? 'The Void'?"

Ai Rui raised her head and looked in the direction Luo Wei was pointing. A hint of confusion flashed in her amber eyes, which then turned into a deeper fear. She shook her head desperately: "I...I don't know...The elders said...deep in the maze there is...the 'Crystal Remains Forbidden Land'...Those who went in...none came back...a 'grave' of no return..."

Crystal Remains Forbidden Zone? A Tomb?

But there was no turning back now. Behind them, although the pursuit of the Crystal-Eating Bacteria was delayed by the jamming flares and the maze environment, that cold, greedy collective malice still clung to them like a leech, and was adapting to the environment at an astonishing speed, closing the distance again.

"Turn around! Target: Crystal Remains Forbidden Zone!" Luo Wei gritted his teeth and made the decision.

The "Stargazer" adjusted its course, like a moth drawn to a flame, slowly heading towards the "void" region where starlight was distorted. As it approached, the spatial distortion around it became increasingly severe, gravity readings fluctuated violently, and even the sense of time seemed to become somewhat disordered. The starlight outside the portholes was stretched into eerie arcs of light, and in some places, the background of the starry sky even appeared as double images.

Lena's description of the "void" gradually became clearer. It wasn't true nothingness, but a vast, irregular area of ​​space, as if a piece had been forcibly "carved out" by an invisible force. The area wasn't dark; instead, it was permeated with a thin, grayish-white mist, like condensed and broken stardust. Within the mist, the outlines of some huge, broken, and ancient crystalline structures and metal remnants were vaguely visible, silently suspended. Most unsettlingly, the space at the edge of this area exhibited an unnatural, finely textured quality, like shattered glass, as if it might collapse completely at any moment.

"Ultra-high intensity psionic energy residue detected... Energy properties... Unanalyzable, inconsistent with any known system... Strong 'information entanglement' phenomenon exists... Warning, the spatial stability of this area is 'extremely low', any energy disturbance exceeding the threshold may lead to local spatial collapse or... unpredictable spacetime effects." The Star Core's report sent chills down everyone's spines.

This place truly resembles a vast, dangerous, and unknown tomb.

"Reduce speed to 10%. Activate all protections and prepare to withstand the impact." Lowe's voice echoed in the deathly silent bridge. The resonance of the Star Key was so strong that it felt slightly warm in his arms. An indescribable sadness, anger, and indomitable will were faintly entering his consciousness through the resonance.

The starship, as if wading through water, slowly "squeezed" into the edge of the grayish-white mist. In an instant, everyone felt a strong sense of "detachment" and "weightlessness," as if they had fallen from the real world into behind a thick curtain. The starlight, gravitational turbulence, and even the malicious lock-on from the crystal-devouring bacteria behind them all became blurry and distant, as if separated by a layer of frosted glass.

Instead, a heavy, suffocating sorrow and deathly silence permeated every corner. The grayish-white mist was not a gas, but composed of countless extremely fine particles, resembling stardust or biological spores, drifting slowly and emitting a faint glow. Deeper within the mist, the broken crystals and metallic structures became clearer, their strange shapes and the remaining, long-dormant runes telling a story of an aesthetic and technological path entirely different from that of the Stargazers, the Silent Court, or any other known civilization.

"These structures...resemble the style described in the fragments of the 'Primal Elf Race'!" Instructor Verna exclaimed in a low voice, her eyes filled with shock. "But they're even more...primitive, even more...close to a kind of 'naturally grown' form. Could this...be some extremely ancient outpost of the 'Primal Elf Race,' or...a cemetery?"

Just then, the starship shuddered violently, as if it had triggered something. The surrounding grayish-white mist suddenly surged violently, and the floating dust spores seemed to be awakened, beginning to converge towards the starship! At the same time, deep within the mist, several faint lights suddenly shone from the broken crystalline structures, like a sleeping behemoth opening its eyes!

"Active energy response detected! Target locked! It's a defense system?!" Elder Anderson exclaimed.

However, the anticipated attack did not occur. The few points of light merely "watched" the intruding starship, while simultaneously, a clearer and more expansive stream of intent forcefully surged into everyone's minds like a tidal wave!

That was not language, but a direct spiritual image and a torrent of information:

An endless sea of ​​stars… a prosperous, wondrous, spiritual civilization (the Primordial Spirit Race) resonating with the stars and all things… They pursued evolution and possibility, their footprints traversing the starry sea… until, internal divisions arose, a segment of the race began to fear the “out-of-control variables,” pursuing absolute “order”… Splits, civil war, betrayal… the “Court of Order” was born, ruthlessly purging its own kind, rewriting history, and banishing those advocating “free evolution” to the turbulent currents of time… And here, a small group of “evolutionary” individuals, refusing to be assimilated by “order,” encountered the pursuing court of stasis during their final escape, leading to a decisive battle… They detonated their own “spiritual cores” and the secondary copy of the “Original Codex of All Things,” perishing together with their pursuers. Their remaining will and energy distorted the space here, forming this “Crystal Remains Forbidden Land,” sealing their final tragic wishes and truths here, awaiting those who may never come, those who can understand them…

The final image freezes on a massive crystal scroll (the supplementary volume of the Origin of All Things) composed of countless flowing runes, shattering in an explosion. One of the larger fragments, carrying a spark of spiritual light, breaks through the blockade and shoots into the endless depths of space. The appearance of that fragment bears a striking resemblance to the Star Key in Luo Wei's hand!

The torrent of information came to an abrupt halt. The grayish-white mist returned to calm, and the few points of focused light slowly dimmed, as if they had exhausted their last strength. But an atmosphere of tacit approval, tinged with a faint sadness and expectation, enveloped the starship.

Everyone was stunned into silence, speechless, as they received the soul-shaking truth. It was more detailed and more tragic than the records in the fragments of the "Starfire Chamber." This was the collective grave of a warrior from the "Primordial Spirit Race," an evolutionary faction who refused to surrender even unto death, and yet another piece of evidence of that ancient betrayal and resistance.

"So... the Star Key really is a fragment of the 'Origin of All Things'... a spark of hope that this indomitable warrior sent out at the last moment?" Lilith murmured, tears welling up in her eyes.

"The crystal-devouring bacteria dare not approach this place... is it because the lingering, indomitable will of 'evolution' here is fundamentally incompatible with the ultimate order they represent: 'devouring everything and returning to death'?" Verna analyzed, looking out the porthole. "This place is 'toxic' to them."

"Are we... safe for now?" Annie asked uncertainly.

Luo Wei didn't answer immediately. He stroked the warm Star Key in his arms, its resonance gradually subsiding, his feelings incredibly complex. They had inadvertently stumbled upon the burial ground of an ancient hero and witnessed yet another tragic chapter of history being buried. The Star Key's mission seemed even heavier now.

He looked at the main screen. The external senses were still blurry, but the malicious lock-on from the crystal-devouring bacteria behind him had indeed disappeared. Those greedy silicon-based life forms seemed to be lingering on the outskirts of this "Crystal Remains Forbidden Zone," hesitant to move forward, emitting unwilling "hisses" (Lina's perception).

"We're safe for now," Lowe finally confirmed, his voice hoarse. "But this isn't a place to stay. The space is extremely unstable, and... we carry the torch that this warrior gave us; we can't let the place where he made his final sacrifice collapse completely because of us."

He looked at Verna and Anderson: "Scan this area, look for relatively stable locations, try to collect some 'Starflow Crystal' vein samples, and see if there are any other usable resources or information. Be quick and careful. We can't disturb the peace of the dead."

He then looked at Airi, who was still immersed in shock and grief, and softened his tone: "Airi, your people... are perhaps like these ancient warriors, victims persecuted by 'Order' and 'Devouring'. We must survive so that their sacrifice will not be in vain."

Ariel looked up at Rowe, then at the desolate ruins outside the porthole. For the first time, a faint light, different from fear, flickered in her amber eyes. She nodded vigorously.

Like a pilgrim entering a sacred land, the "Stargazer" began its cautious exploration and collection in this sorrowful and dangerous "Crystal Remains Forbidden Zone" at the gentlest pace. Meanwhile, the Star Key, held in Luo Wei's arms, radiated a warm yet resolute light, as if engaging in a silent dialogue with the heroic spirits slumbering beneath this land.

New secrets have been revealed, and new responsibilities have been bestowed. The road ahead, beyond this silent tomb, remains shrouded in darkness and the unknown. But at least for now, they have gained a moment's respite and a heavy, ancient entrustment.