Compared to the "Bridge" string technology suspected to be from Ball Lightning, the technology of the Singer Civilization was excessively advanced. Even capturing a small fragment and patching it up would have monumental significance for real-world applications.
David modified his plans. He would head to the moon first.
With a turn of his mind, two points of light emerged in the grey, hazy Warp map before him. The blue one was undoubtedly the Warp passage to Earth, while the other was the lunar coordinate he had just retrieved from the mutated wolf king.
"Teleport."
David clicked the lunar coordinate.
[Detected insufficient host energy level. Consume 80% of reserve energy to jump to the Moon?]
David questioned the system. The prompt showed that reaching "Psionic Manifestation Grade 4" would allow jumps to the moon without consuming reserves. David looked at the (1/20) progress bar next to his current level and fell into thought.
In half a month, the launch of Black Crusade would provide a massive influx of Warp energy. Based on the projected popularity, reaching Grade 3 was almost certain, but reaching Grade 4 was uncertain. On one hand, the efficiency of gathering Warp energy through a game was lower than manifesting miracles in person. On the other hand, David didn't know exactly how many points Grade 4 required.
At this rate, the earliest I can reach the moon without extra cost is a month from now.
Considering that Sophons were currently streaming toward the solar system, every second was precious.
"Since the energy is enough for a round trip..." David chose to consume the energy for a Warp teleport. "There are enough demons in the Warp to hunt; at most, I'll just spend more time searching. With the future gains from Earth, I don't care about this small travel fee. I'll check the situation on the moon first."
The Warp—a sea of emotions woven from the desires of galactic life. Here, all physical laws, space, time, matter, and even distance had no meaning. Warp travel utilized this to break the curse of light-speed limits in the universe, allowing fleets to achieve ultra-long-distance jumps.
In the lore of the Warhammer universe, during the Great Crusade of 30k, the Imperial fleets could cross hundreds of thousands of light-years in a few hours using a calm Warp sea, reaching speeds up to 300,000 times the speed of light. By 40k, as the Warp became dangerous due to the activity of Chaos Gods, this speed dropped significantly, but it still maintained at least 50,000 to 80,000 times the speed of light. This was the foundation of the human empire across the galaxy.
This was why the Empire could not abandon Warp travel despite the lurking Chaos Gods. Only the Warp could bypass the light-speed limit of the physical universe. To survive the intense competition, humanity had no choice but to embrace the Warp.
When David manifested in his psionic state on the far side of the moon, he saw total desolation. As far as the eye could reach, there was only white sand and countless craters from meteorite impacts.
"Wait, I remember there's actually water on the moon. Although rare, it exists as crystals?" David looked at the barren landscape, stunned. "Where the hell am I? Did I land on the far side?"
He observed his surroundings. The more he looked, the more he felt he was right. Because of tidal locking, Earth's gravity had locked the moon over eons until it always faced the Earth with the same side. This was why one side was the "near side" and the other the "far side."
The far side of the moon and the "dark side" are different concepts. The dark side refers to whichever hemisphere isn't receiving sunlight at a specific moment. The far side actually receives almost the same amount of sunlight as the near side. Due to Earth reflecting sunlight onto the moon, the near side appears brighter, but the far side actually receives slightly more light when accounting for solar eclipses.
The two hemispheres were significantly different. The near side featured large "seas" (maria) and plains, making the terrain flat. The far side was rugged, filled with hills, mountains, and dense impact craters.
"This is better, actually. At least it's more hidden than the near side."
David rested his chin in his hand, looking at the hills. His knowledge, limited to textbooks, reminded him that the far side also had "Lunar Seas"—depressed plains.
"Let's search."
As time passed, David felt his spiritual form growing heavier after leaving the Warp. Warp creatures entering the material world had to follow basic physical laws. While his spirit could move at light speed the moment he arrived, his speed dropped to two-thirds of light speed within minutes.
He couldn't delay. David's form turned into a gust of wind as he rose into the air.
The moon's diameter is roughly 3,400 kilometers, while light speed is nearly 300,000 kilometers per second. David searched in a grid pattern for a base site. Within minutes, he found a plain on the edge of a cratered sea, surrounded by mounds and devoid of recent impact marks.
More importantly, David picked up a transparent crystal from the ground. He could hardly believe his luck.
"Is this... water?"
It had been ten minutes since his arrival. Warp energy had begun to force the concept of a physical body onto him. Although this reduced his speed to one-tenth of light speed—roughly the speed of the Trisolaran fleet—it had a benefit. Having a form allowed David to interfere with the material world.
David crouched down. The Warp had not provided any clothes for this free body. To save psionic energy, David abandoned any sense of modesty; he was the only person on the moon, so it wasn't like anyone was peeking.
David carefully brushed away the surface dust with his palm. After a few strokes, the glint of white crystal ore beneath the dust was blinding.
He had truly found a mine.