Fewer than 10,000 survivors remained on Jiuzhou Star.
After returning to the Ark, they pushed down their grief and threw themselves into the intense, busy work of reconstruction.
The entire Wanxiang Ark modification plan was scrapped. The pressing time constraints and cruel reality forced them to give up certain things.
In the Ark’s core meeting room, Hardy chain-smoked his electronic cigarette.
The air purification system had been damaged, and pale purple smoke filled the meeting room.
In the entire room, only the virtual screen in front of Lin Xiaohe was turned on.
Everyone else watched the Wanxiang Ark on the screen together.
No way around it—they had to conserve energy. Everyone needed to tighten their belts. If everyone turned on their own virtual screen, it would waste too many resources.
Hardy coughed twice, his voice unable to hide his exhaustion. “According to our calculations, our supplies aren’t enough to complete the original Ark modification plan. I suggest we cut the living quarters for each civilization and species, and convert them all into crew cabins, providing only basic life-support hibernation pods. First, it saves space. Second, it saves resources.”
Lin Xiaohe glanced at everyone in the meeting room. “Let’s vote.”
Lin’s mother and the three Ocean Civilization representatives were the first to raise their hands. “Agreed.”
Asking an ocean creature to give up water and live in a dry, cramped hibernation pod was truly forcing them to do something against their nature.
But the Ocean Civilization Awakened ones understood deeply. In the face of life and death, who cared about comfort?
Lin’s father raised his hand. “I have no objections.”
The Wu Clan Civilization representative: “Agreed.”
The ordinary people had even less reason to object.
The proposal to cut the living quarters passed unanimously.
Hardy let out a long breath.
When their strength had suffered such heavy losses, he’d worried that each civilization might harbor selfish motives. Thankfully, everyone could tell what mattered more.
Hardy continued, “Point two. We propose reducing the Ark’s overall size to one-third of its original.”
This way, they could save some resources for emergencies.
The Holy Stele showed that the universe collapse process had already reached 35%.
The Ark’s travel speed couldn’t match the Giant Sound Whales, and they were located in the Black Domain. The nearby Fifth Star Ring and Sixth Star Ring had nothing at all.
No one could be sure how long it would take to reach the next supply point.
Lin Xiaohe could scout ahead through the fourth dimension, but with the collapse process at 35%, she didn’t dare wander blindly. If she stumbled into an already-collapsed region, wouldn’t that be the end of them?!
This proposal also passed unanimously.
Next came the key modifications for each area.
Since the Zerg shell’s defensive capabilities had been fully demonstrated when dealing with the Aura people’s attacks, the scientists proposed increasing the original single layer of carapace to two layers, and grinding the saved Void Devourer shells into powder to coat all armor surfaces as an energy channeling layer, enhancing defensive capabilities.
Lin Xiaohe made the call. “No problem.”
Previously, the Wanxiang Ark’s framework was made from a special metal bred from the Boulder Clan’s [Source Body].
The scientists discovered that although the Aura people’s arc-shaped flying vessels caused some damage to it, it wasn’t fatal.
“I suggest increasing the thickness of the framework and deeply fusing it with Zerg active tissue at key nodes, forming a constantly pulsing bio-mineral composite armor.”
Such a framework would possess terrifying self-repair and adaptive evolution capabilities.
Lin Xiaohe nodded in agreement.
Next came the highlight of this meeting.
Through the battle with the Aura people, everyone discovered the Wanxiang Ark’s most fatal weakness.
The Ark’s offensive capability was waaaaaay too weak!
Previously, they had treated the Stardust humans and Lin Xiaohe as their main combat forces, feeling that with them around, the Ark’s safety needed no worrying about.
But reality gave everyone a resounding slap in the face.
Lin Xiaohe had a regular Conan-like constitution—she constantly ran into emergencies. Of course, nobody thought Lin Xiaohe was just unlucky. They firmly believed those despicable extraterrestrial civilizations were targeting their great leader!
As for the Stardust humans… they still weren’t strong enough.
So the Ark absolutely needed offensive capabilities, to handle enemy attacks in extreme situations.
The Wu Clan Awakened ones volunteered, proposing to arrange psionic focus arrays on the Ark’s outer shell, with Wu Clan runes etched into these arrays.
Grandma Lin said, “As the universe collapse process accelerates, we Wu Clan Awakened ones are recovering our abilities and knowledge at an accelerated rate. Psionic runes are a common empowerment method used by our Wu Clan civilization.”
This was truly good news.
Hardy said excitedly, “That’s wonderful. We can remove the Ark’s viewing windows and non-combat structures, turning the Ark into a mobile war fortress—every protrusion a weapon or sensor!”
Xiao Hei also offered, “I can provide a Zerg Giant Cavity.”
The Giant Cavity was formidable, but unfortunately, it could only work if the enemy voluntarily entered the cavity, or if they found a way to arrange capture tentacles around it. Its attack range was limited.
Lin’s mother’s eyes lit up. “Our Ocean Civilization has a technology that can convert attacks into beam form.”
She pressed her lips together and said embarrassedly, “This technology was just transmitted over.”
When the collapse process jumped to 36%, they obtained this technology.
“We can modify the Giant Cavity into a Gene Dissociation Beam. Within the irradiation range, all carbon-based and silicon-based life structures will rapidly decompose into primal biomass.”
Gasps echoed through the meeting room.
That’s way too freaking strong!
If they’d had the Gene Dissociation Beam earlier, those Aura people would’ve died one by one, two by two!
Lin’s mother quickly added, “The beam has a flaw—the charging time is extremely long.”
Lin Xiaohe finally smiled. “With such powerful attack capability, a long charging time doesn’t really count as a flaw.”
Weasley spoke up voluntarily. “We’ve communicated with the Giant Sound Whales. We can distribute more close-defense turrets, missile nests, and point-defense lasers across the Ark. The Giant Sound Whales will use their Whale Song detection system to provide us with fire control guidance with no blind spots, forming an absolutely dense interception barrage.”
Everyone racked their brains, bringing out their most treasured tricks.
By rough calculation, the Ark would have at least three primary attack methods, with offensive capability increasing exponentially.
That was the general direction. Specific details would be finalized after practical testing.
One proposal after another was voted on at full speed—passed or rejected.
“I suggest converting the original living quarters into a high-intensity war simulation training ground and weapons maintenance workshop.”
“The ecological garden can be converted into a nutrient solution synthesis factory and Zerg biomass cultivation pools.”
The Zerg’s importance to the Ark went without saying. Everyone unanimously agreed to give the Zerg preferential resource allocation.
As the meeting neared its end, considering all proposals, the Ark was no longer the original streamlined design. Instead, it took on an asymmetrical, multi-angled, ferocious form.
Like a massive, spike-covered skeleton floating in the universe, its overall color scheme a mix of the Boulder Clan’s dark gray-black and the Zerg carapace’s deep, dark purple.
It was no longer a sanctuary for civilization, but the sharpest spear and sturdiest shield that civilization had forged to survive in a cruel universe!
Lin Xiaohe stood up, swept her gaze across everyone, and said with conviction, “Modifying the Ark is now the top priority for all members! Once the modifications are complete, we set sail!”
“On behalf of all members, I name the Ark… the Adjudicator!”
