498. The Great Expedition

Lu Ban then looked at the other reports.

Most of these reports are about how to study the fusion of humans and monsters.

Originating from early research on Crystallization Sickness, these studies progressed rapidly. Although some absurd research topics, such as conception, emerged, the vast majority were based on the similarities between humans and monsters.

Of course, even so, the content of those studies would be taboo and insane no matter where they are placed. The sense of perversion that comes from seeing researchers who once represented the hope of the world treat the humans who participated in the experiments as if they were laboratory animals is enough to drive anyone crazy.

It's like a family member who usually takes good care of you suddenly pointing a knife at you, saying things like "it's for your own good" and speaking the gentlest words, before stabbing the knife into your throat, turning it around a couple of times, and finally saying goodnight in a soft voice.

It was terrifying.

With cognitive dissonance and loss of rationality, humanity does what it believes to be right, unaware that this represents destruction.

Alongside these reports were many reflections and notes.

Professor Tang's theory is truly brilliant; we're sure we can rely on it to resolve this crisis.

The research is progressing rather slowly; for the sake of humanity, I need to step up my efforts.

[I need to let my wife and daughter upload it first; they definitely won't survive the subsequent disaster.]

[There was only one spot available for uploading this time, what a pity]

If we had discovered these things sooner, would Dad and Mom still be alive?

I can't wait to try uploading it. To relinquish the physical body and attain eternity—what a wonderful thing that is!

[Old Zhang actually used his connections to get his son uploaded ahead of time! What kind of nonsense is this?!]

Tomorrow I will undergo a transformation, hoping to be reborn and go to a new world.

Looking at these words and thinking about what they were actually going to do, Frostheart felt a chill run down her spine, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

"There's another copy here; it must have been made after that incident."

Lu Ban flipped to another report, which showed that three months had passed since the humans of this world turned into the insect swarm.

The report was incomplete, riddled with typos, and incoherent, clearly written in a very rushed manner.

A major problem has arisen. Because humans gained near-eternal life after their consciousness was uploaded, some of these new humans developed a unique consciousness—something that was unforeseen beforehand.

They believe that if all of humanity were to transform into a new kind of human, the sheer number of such beings would create an infinite demand for environmental and cosmic resources, potentially leading to a severe shortage of resources for the new human population.

It must be said that, while our assessment of metamorphosis is not wrong from a scientific theoretical perspective, from a humanistic point of view, we have overlooked an important fact: humanity is not yet ready to face the boundless universe, nor is it ready to face immortality.

Although some of the new humans have already traveled to new universes via bridges, a resource crisis still looms over humanity, and related conflicts have intensified over the past month.

Finally, in the early hours of this morning, a group of people who had transformed into new humans reached a consensus with a group of old humans, and they found a solution to the resource shortage problem.

The answer is simple: let the new humans devour the old humans.

Since the consciousness of the devoured merges with that of the devourer, this method of having new humans devour old humans and merge their consciousnesses, without increasing the number of new humans, can maximize resource conservation. Furthermore, a smaller number of new humans will make it easier for them to make decisions during future expeditions.

The plan is divided into three phases.

First, identify the last group of humans to undergo transformation, and then gather the remaining old humans together for subsequent actions.

[The second step, a year-long process of devouring, will proceed simultaneously in every corner of this disaster-ravaged planet. This is the destruction of the Old Era, and the rebirth of the new. In addition, for safety reasons, those suffering from Crystallization Sickness Crystallization Sickness will not be included in this process, considering the potential mental pollution it may cause. These individuals will remain in their respective shelters to await the end of this planet.]

Of course, some new humans believe that patients with Crystallization Sickness are also human and have the same right to undergo transformation. Therefore, these new humans believe that Crystallization Sickness patients should also be devoured, and their unplanned actions have never ceased.

Finally, after the absorption is complete, the new humans will cross the bridge to a new world to find a new home. This will be humanity's attempt to leave its cradle and venture into the stars, and it will be the largest expedition in human history.

[A celebration of humanity's ability to find a way to be reborn in such a short time]

Starting tomorrow, this operation, codenamed the Great Purge, will begin. Tens of thousands of people will wait in World Square to receive the first wave of indoctrination.

I will also join in this cause, wishing for the eternal existence of humanity and the continued flame of civilization.

"."

Upon seeing this, Frostheart's eyes lost all their light.

She had imagined several possible endings, such as humans turning into a swarm of insects and losing control, leading to chaos in the world, and humans putting up a stubborn resistance, which ultimately resulted in this outcome.

But she never imagined that humans would willingly be devoured by the swarm of insects.

Even the insect swarms left on the ground probably didn't aim to kill these patients with Crystallization Sickness, but rather to merge their consciousness and take them to distant stars.

Those rampaging swarms of insects, those monsters that devour humans, are all there to save the remaining humans.

Frostheart felt her brain buzzing. Her past understanding collapsed at this moment. All her efforts had been in vain. In fact, she was the one going against the tide.

Without her research and without the resistance of the city-states, perhaps humanity, perhaps everyone, could have achieved happiness.

She felt her vision go black, her legs went weak, and she collapsed to her knees.

Lu Ban put down the report and remained silent.

From a human perspective, patients with Crystallization Sickness are certainly his kind.

But without a doubt, in this wasteland world, the insect swarm is the true "human."

Of course, Lu Ban's goal remained unchanged: to obtain the Heart of the Swarm.

Therefore, he still needs to find those swarms of insects.

He continued searching through the reports, and soon Lu Ban found the structural diagram of this Industrial Park.

On this, Lu Ban noticed a very obvious landmark.

The building is called the Incubation Chamber.

*

With the Lunar New Year approaching, things are getting busier. I'll touch it today.

Please vote for me! Please give me your monthly tickets!