Translator: AnubisTL
The enemy had now lost track of Chen Mang's information.
Originally, they were in the shadows while he was in the light.
But now the situation had reversed.
The offense and defense had switched.
He was now in the shadows, while they were exposed.
Most importantly—
The enemy had lost all means to restrain him. As long as he didn't attract the attention of the 7th Tier Civilization, the 6th-Tier Green Mountain Civilization would be completely powerless against him.
As for now...
He still needed to wait.
Chen Mang glanced at the progress bar on the control panel.
[Progress: 1.7%. Estimated time remaining: 287 days.]
The radar accessory not only expanded his vision but also synergized with many other train components, such as the Train Auxiliary AI.
The AI could access database information from all Death AIs within the radar's range for a specified period.
His current radar range spanned 100 million light-years.
With such a vast scope, the time required to retrieve this data naturally increased. Even a Tier 1000 AI would need a full 287 days.
Chen Mang hesitated slightly, glancing at the train's remaining resources. He had 7.9 quadrillion units of iron ore left—not even enough for one Foundation unit.
This quantity was getting dangerously low.
He still needed to reserve some ammunition. Although he possessed the Stellar Vault, a single Tier 2000 Arcanon Light Energy Main Cannon blast required 100 trillion units of iron ore. It wasn't a small amount, but it would suffice.
Information was crucial and couldn't be delayed.
In the next moment—
After consuming 500 trillion units of iron ore, the Train Auxiliary AI was directly upgraded to Tier 2000, costing far less than he had anticipated.
Xiao Ai was too powerful, so much so that Chen Mang had almost forgotten the Train Auxiliary AI was fundamentally just a green-grade accessory, not a Seven-Colored Grade Accessory.
Upon reaching Tier 2000, its computing power surged dramatically. The progress bar, which had originally required 287 days, instantly shrank to 11 hours.
[That's enough,] Chen Mang thought, smiling as he examined the newly revealed overpowered effect.
[Train Auxiliary AI Tier 2000 Overpowered Effect:]
[Computing power vastly increased. The level of the Accessory Blueprint's overpowered effect has been raised to Tier 2000.]
[Can invade and seize complete control of all AIs with lower tiers within a 1-light-year radius.]
If the Tier 200 Overpowered Effect represented a God-Tier Overpowered Effect, a qualitative transformation, then the Tier 2000 Overpowered Effect was a cosmic upheaval, a change between heaven and earth.
It existed on an entirely different dimensional plane.
The ability to directly invade all AIs with lower tiers meant he wouldn't even need to expend a single round of ammunition to effortlessly annihilate all enemy trains.
While this formidable overpowered effect filled him with elation, a faint unease lingered. If the Tier 2000 Overpowered Effect was already this terrifying, the Tier 5000 Overpowered Effect would likely be even more horrifying. Although reaching that level would require an astronomical amount of murphy stone, he couldn't rule out the possibility that God-Tier Civilizations possessed such vast reserves.
Until his strength reached a certain threshold, maintaining a low profile was crucial. Otherwise, he risked being subjected to Dimensional Reduction and annihilation.
At the very least, he needed to ascertain the enemy's capabilities before engaging in battle.
In the next moment—
The Stellaris vanished from its original location, reappearing outside the Niya Star System via the refrigerator. It then created a short-range, one-way wormhole spanning 1,899 light-years, directly arriving 0.7 light-years behind the seven trains guarding the Niya Star System's outer perimeter.
These seven trains, dispatched by the Green Mountain Civilization, had somehow sealed off all space within the Niya Star System.
If Chen Mang hadn't been able to use the refrigerator to reach the system's outskirts and then use the wormhole to approach the fleet from behind, escaping the Niya Star System would have been nearly impossible. It was truly a remarkable feat of technology.
"A bit of a shame," Chen Mang murmured, gazing at the fleet of trains on the control panel screen, his voice tinged with regret.
Years earlier, he hadn't fully grasped how absurdly powerful the refrigerator's Tier 200 Overpowered Effect was. As a result, he hadn't kept this information particularly secret. Civilizations with a deep understanding of his methods could easily have deduced its existence.
This Tier 200 Overpowered Effect wasn't the only Cosmic Unique Overpowered Effect in the universe. Other civilizations could potentially acquire it as well.
The reason none of the civilizations he had encountered thus far possessed this capability was twofold: first, normally developing civilizations wouldn't prioritize allocating resources to enhance refrigerators; second, even if they did enhance refrigerators, they might never encounter this specific Overpowered Effect.
But—
Fourth or Fifth-Tier Civilizations certainly wouldn't have the resources for such experiments. Sixth-Tier Civilizations, however, were different; they lacked nothing.
Once a Sixth-Tier Civilization realized the refrigerator might possess this overpowered effect, they could recreate the Refrigerator Blueprint, repeatedly refine it, and eventually replicate his method.
It couldn't remain exclusive, which was a pity.
Still, he had at least gained a head start.
Without hesitation, his voice echoed through the train: "Xiao Ai, initiate the operation."
"Understood."
In the next moment, split-screen displays of the interior footage from all seven trains materialized on the screen. Xiao Ai had directly seized full control of these trains. If he wished, he could activate the Built-in Security System and eliminate everyone on board.
No one would be prepared for an attack within their own train—it would be a one-sided massacre.
Yet he didn't do that.
Instead, he instructed Xiao Ai to transfer all the data from the trains' databases back to the Stellaris, then discreetly erase the historical logs before returning control to the original AIs.
Even the trains' AIs remained unaware of what had transpired, let alone the train conductors.
This was an information overload.
Don't alert them yet. If we strike, we must annihilate the entire Green Mountain Civilization.
All seven trains were military vessels, their databases brimming with critical intelligence, including the Green Mountain Civilization's strategic deployments and trump cards.
Every advanced civilization possesses its own trump cards.
When civilizations are at lower tiers, their trump cards tend to be similar, such as Spacetime Reversion. But as they advance, they develop unique trump cards. His own Divine Silence, for example, ignores all defenses and guarantees a hit.
Rushing into action without understanding these trump cards could lead to a catastrophic defeat or being dragged down by a desperate enemy.
He was fortunate.
These trains were part of a large formation. The lead train belonged to the Green Mountain Civilization's Foreign Propaganda Army, commanded by the Third Army Commander.
The Foreign Propaganda Army was the Green Mountain Civilization's primary military force for external conquest, boasting the strongest combat power and the most abundant resources. Comprising eight armies, the Third Army, though consisting of only seven trains, was no ordinary fleet.
First, the main cannons.
It wasn't the Arcanon Light Energy Main Cannon, but a type of seven-colored grade firepower accessory he'd never seen before, called the "X-Cannon."
All the cannons were Tier 1000.
The energy shields were uniformly Tier 500.
This was already quite formidable.
Most importantly, they had stockpiled an enormous amount of ammunition.
The seven trains carried a total of 12 Foundation units of iron ore in ammunition—an absurd quantity even more than the entire fortune of Little Fatty's Father.
And this was just one army within the Green Mountain Civilization's Foreign Propaganda Army!
"They're truly wealthy," Chen Mang thought, his eyes gleaming with greed. He knew Sixth-Tier Civilizations were far richer than Fifth-Tier Civilizations, but he hadn't imagined they could be this wealthy.
Of course—
He understood that firing a Tier 1000 seven-colored grade firepower weapon at full power required 10 Foundation units of iron ore. The 10 Foundation units likely represented long-term ammunition reserves, not to be used lightly.
To use them, one would need to apply for and receive approval.
Only the remaining 2 Foundation units of iron ore in ammunition could be freely used.
But it was still terrifying.
It was like a nuclear submarine carrying a nuclear warhead, lurking in the deep sea.
Frankly speaking, he was tempted to devour these resources first before heading to the Green Mountain Civilization. But in the end, he restrained himself. If he was going to strike, he'd strike big!
By consuming the entire Green Mountain Civilization in one go and exhausting all its resources, he could not only advance to a Sixth-Tier Civilization but even dare to challenge the 7th Tier Civilizations in this territory!
Meeting!
Outside the Niya Star System, the Stellaris train was practically within arm's reach of the enemy fleet, yet the enemy remained completely unaware of its presence.
Inside the locomotive cabin, Chen Mang scanned the faces of his companions and announced the agenda:
"How can we destroy all remaining Green Mountain Civilization resistance forces as quickly as possible, while preserving the maximum amount of their resources intact, without using the Two-Dimensional Foil?"
If they were to act, the solution was actually quite simple.
They could stealthily infiltrate the Green Mountain Civilization's core, deploy a Two-Dimensional Foil, and the war would essentially be over.
But this was a war with no gain.
All his resources, along with the Green Mountain Civilization, had been reduced to two dimensions.
Yet without resorting to such methods, he couldn't immediately destroy all the Green Mountain Civilization's living forces. This would invite a terrifying counterattack, or worse, the civilization might destroy all its resource repositories before its demise.
"Ahem..." Old Pig cleared his throat and glanced at the tablet in his hand. "Currently, we know the Foreign Propaganda Army has the authority to deploy four trump cards."
"They are—"
"Two-Dimensional Foil, Expanding Black Hole, Spacetime Chaos, and Spacetime Reversion."
"The Two-Dimensional Foil poses little threat to us. We can simply abandon the Niya Star System's territory; it's not essential for our survival."
"Lose the land, keep the people; lose the people, lose both land and people."
"The Expanding Black Hole is another territory-destroying weapon. The Green Mountain Civilization possesses a unique method to transplant a black hole into the Niya Star System, causing massive damage."
"Spacetime Chaos works similarly. It can create spacetime distortions within a zone. For example, from my perspective, only three days have passed, while from another's, three years have elapsed. Each individual perceives time and space differently. This doesn't actually alter spacetime itself, but rather modifies each person's perception—a kind of 'cognitive bomb.'"
"Consider the 'Lighthouse Curse' once suffered by the Nami Civilization."
"Spacetime Reversion needs little explanation. It involves destroying the past timeline of a zone, causing catastrophic damage to its current timeline."
"These four methods..."
"...are all trump cards capable of inflicting massive damage to a Territory. If we abandon the Niya Star System, we need only fear the last method. The first three pose no threat."
"..."
After a moment of contemplation, Chen Mang spoke, "Xiao Ai, synchronize the train's current capabilities with everyone."
Soon after—
Old Pig, having reviewed the train's current capabilities, looked up at Chen Mang in bewilderment. "Lord Mang... has the train developed this quickly?"
"If that's the case, then we need not fear even the last method."
"We..."
"Looks like we're invincible now."
"Is there even any point in holding a meeting? We should just charge in and crush them with overwhelming force."
"Trainmaster Zhu," Biaozi said, his tone tinged with helplessness, "Lord Mang wants to know how we'll crush them. The train currently lacks the means for a decisive strike. If we use the Two-Dimensional Foil, we'll lose all our resources. How can we destroy the Green Mountain Civilization's entire living force while preserving our resources?"
"That seems impossible," Old Pig said after a moment's thought, shaking his head. "Without the Two-Dimensional Foil, the Green Mountain Civilization will immediately retaliate once they detect our attack, and that process will drain our resources.
"And if they realize they're losing..."
"They'll either destroy all their Resource Repositories before their demise or try to flee with all their resources, just like the Good Cat Civilization."
"Right."
Old Pig suddenly looked thoughtful. "Or... could we force the Green Mountain Civilization into that exact scenario? When they're about to gather all their resources and flee, we swoop in and capture everything, just like we did with the Good Cat Civilization?"
"Then we're back to square one," Biaozi said helplessly. "Without using a Two-Dimensional Foil, we can't force them into this position. They'll always think they have a chance, and if it turns into a stalemate, resources will drain away like water."
"But using the Foil means losing everything."
"Besides,"
"We still don't know if the Green Mountain Civilization has any defenses against the Foil."
"That's not quite right," Old Pig interjected again.
Chen Mang sat in the locomotive cabin, patiently listening to everyone's opinions. Though many suggestions were impractical, the clash of ideas sparked valuable insights.
His current strength was in an awkward middle ground.
Weaker, and he'd simply flee or make a desperate stand.
Stronger, and he'd crush them outright and take everything.
But in this precarious position, he had to make difficult choices.
He truly hated the thought of resources that should rightfully be his being squandered in war—such a waste.
"What about trying... encircling their reinforcements?"
Xiao Ai hesitated before suggesting, "Why don't we first seize the resources of this military force, then wait for the Green Mountain Civilization to send reinforcements, which we'll devour one by one? By the time they realize what's happening, we can strike deep into their territory."
"Do you think they'll fall for that?" Chen Mang frowned. "A Sixth-Tier Civilization with countless strategists—would they really make such a basic mistake?"
"Let's try it."
With a consensus reached, Chen Mang stopped overthinking. Many things can't be figured out through endless theorizing; answers only emerge through action and continuous refinement.
In the next moment—
The Stellaris train rapidly jumped through a wormhole, concealing its accessory information. Instead of using the overly aggressive "seize AI control" method, which might scare off subsequent reinforcements, it relied solely on its inherent strength.
By continuously firing its Tier 700 Arcanon Light Energy Main Cannons, the Stellaris train engaged in a grueling ten-minute battle before finally managing to devour the seven enemy trains.
The total haul was 10.6 Foundation units of iron ore.
The last train had already been charging its Tier 1000 main cannon, preparing to expend 10 Foundation units of iron ore for a single shot. Chen Mang urgently seized control of the enemy train's AI, preventing the launch.
It wasn't just about saving the iron ore.
More importantly, Chen Mang feared that if news of his train's ability to withstand a Tier 1000 main cannon reached the Green Mountain Civilization, it might scare off their reinforcements.
The cosmos remained silent.
This swiftly concluded conflict went unnoticed by any civilization. However, the information transmitted back by the captured trains left Chen Mang somewhat satisfied. He had successfully concealed his identity as the Stellaris train, as the enemy's report made no mention of it.
Instead, their message read:
[An Unknown Civilization train has attacked our forces. Its power is overwhelming, making resistance impossible. Requesting immediate reinforcements! Requesting immediate reinforcements!]
"Excellent," Chen Mang nodded approvingly. A Sixth-Tier Civilization would undoubtedly possess instantaneous communication capabilities, meaning the message had already reached the Green Mountain Civilization. Now, all he had to do was wait for their reinforcements to arrive.
But then—
"Wait!"
Chen Mang suddenly stared in disbelief at the Doppler Radar map. The Green Mountain Civilization had sealed off their entire territory, including adjacent regions, with a Space Seal at maximum speed!
This meant—
No one from the Green Mountain Civilization could create wormholes to leave their territory.
Conversely, no one could create wormholes to enter the Green Mountain Civilization.
It was as if they had sealed themselves inside a turtle shell.
This script...
Was nothing like what he had imagined!
"No way," Chen Mang murmured, staring blankly at the Doppler Radar. "Just one of their outlying military units was annihilated by an attack from a train belonging to an unknown civilization. Beyond that, there's no further information, and the train hasn't displayed any overwhelming force."
"And the Green Mountain Civilization just turtled up?"
"They won't even send anyone to investigate?"
"Isn't that a bit too cautious?"
He knew that many advanced civilizations in the cosmos were both arrogant and cautious. They were extremely arrogant when dealing with weaker civilizations but became exceedingly cautious when facing stronger ones.
But he never expected them to be this cautious.
After a long silence, he finally let out a sigh and gave a thumbs-up. "Impressive!"
Even as an opponent, he couldn't help but admire their prudence.
No wonder they had become a Sixth-Tier Civilization. With this level of caution, a 7th Tier Civilization in the future seemed entirely within reach.
(End of the Chapter)
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