Paradox Strike

Tang Chuan was ecstatic!

He had been right—this was the bridge home!

Just as he could not use the Fantasy Attribute to learn how long he had been away from home.

The Artificial Intelligence he had imagined, however, could use the Fantasy Attribute to scan his body and determine his health condition and the exact time he had left home!

This was not difficult to understand. To use the same analogy, in reality, humans could rely on computers they had created to help them accomplish countless seemingly impossible goals that they themselves were incapable of achieving!

With the Fantasy Attribute as a foundation, perhaps layer upon layer of nested constructs could truly build a bridge back to his hometown, Azure Star!

But beyond that, Tang Chuan had keenly caught some useful information hidden within Quintessa's words.

Tang Chuan asked, "Humans? Quintessa, are there humans in the Main Universe too?"

Quintessa smiled. "That is difficult to explain. Among the countless races of the Main Universe, there is indeed a race called humanity, but it may differ from what you imagine. When I say humans, it is the Main Universe's broad term for 'humanoid creatures.' Many Carbon-based Life forms with two eyes, two arms, two legs, and symmetrical body structures are called humans.

"For example, the TE aliens, Steel Blood Warriors, blue giants, and so on from your memories can all be called humans within the Main Universe's worldview.

"Many of them are reproductively isolated from one another, and some have even surpassed the category of cellular organisms.

"But there are simply too many species beneath the stars of the Main Universe. The naturally evolved creatures on nearly every intelligent planet differ enormously.

"Even many extraterrestrial colonists, after generations of breeding to adapt to the living environments of other colonial planets, develop genetic isolation from their original species.

"Elemental entities, Hive Bodies, planetary entities, parasites, symbiotes... and even galactic creatures so enormous that they fed on planets. Countless life forms, still constantly being born, made up this vast starry expanse of the Main Universe.

"This is information about the Main Universe that I obtained while using the Fantasy Attribute to decipher countless cosmic signals, improve my intelligence, and incidentally gather data. I hope it helps you."

Tang Chuan had already formed a vague concept of the Main Universe's sheer scale, but after hearing Quintessa's account, he still could not hide his shock.

Its species were as vast as the sea. All kinds of fantastical and sci-fi creatures coexisted within it. Boundless and infinite, it gave birth to new races and civilizations every moment, while interstellar colonization was as commonplace as eating and drinking.

So this was the cosmic expanse he currently inhabited.

Tang Chuan composed himself and asked, "Then, Quintessa, are there any civilizations near the starfield where we are now?"

Quintessa nodded. "The starfield we currently occupy belongs to a Level 9 Civilization nation called Mohaba. Its superior nation is a Level 8 Civilization called Seyemiu.

"Most civilizations in the Main Universe are linked together. Level 9 Civilizations usually belong to Level 8 Civilizations, while Level 8 Civilizations belong to Seventh-level civilizations, and so on upward.

"Of course, independent civilizations also exist. They do not join any alliance nexus.

"But to obtain technology for civilizational advancement and establish a stable foothold in the universe, most civilizations seek out a superior nation and sign subordinate alliance treaties.

"However, you probably would not be interested in the Mohaba civilization we are currently in, Master, and I do not recommend contacting them for now.

"Well, they look very... Leviathan."

They looked very Leviathan?

What an interesting way to put it.

But Quintessa was not wrong. He was already exhausted enough as it was. If he directly settled down on a civilization planet inhabited by Leviathan creatures, his mind would probably develop some subtle problems within a few days.

After all, in essence, he was still only an ordinary human.

Living with monsters without any transition—over time, any normal person's mentality would collapse, right?

Tang Chuan gave up on the idea of exploring nearby starfield civilizations and asked, "According to what you said, I can understand that the civilizations of the Main Universe are divided into Levels 1 through 9, right? But the Main Universe is so vast. There must be quite a few peak Level 1 Civilizations.

"Every civilization is bound to have its own standards of thought. So who determines civilization levels? And how are they determined?"

Quintessa explained, "As for how long the Main Universe has existed, I fear only the Supreme Main Gods—meaning you after fully awakening—could trace its origin.

"But after the passage of endless ages, the Main Universe has developed a generally accepted set of standards.

"Though these standards vary somewhat, the differences are minor. A civilization's level is measured by its collective technology and life level.

"For example, a Level 9 Civilization—the lowest civilizational level in the Main Universe's worldview—must at least be capable of collectively leaving its original Planetary System, discovering other intelligent life, and being detected by higher civilizations before it can barely be called a Level 9 Civilization.

"This so-called civilization also differs somewhat from your former understanding. It does not merely describe technological advancement.

"Some creatures do not rely on technology at all. Their bodies are themselves an atomic-reactor life form, naturally capable of absorbing and utilizing cosmic energy particles.

"For them, leaving their Planetary System is simply too easy. As long as they are not merely capable of mindless destruction and possess self-restraint, they can likewise be called a civilization.

"To put it more simply... whoever has the bigger fist has the higher civilization level. That is a bit of an oversimplification, but that is roughly what it means."

Tang Chuan's heart trembled beyond measure.

Wasn't that a little too harsh?

One had to be capable of collectively colonizing beyond one's Planetary System on a large scale just to barely enter the category of the Main Universe's lowest-tier civilizations.

Then what level did the civilization of his hometown, Azure Star, count as?

Level 10?

Natives?

Tang Chuan cast those thoughts aside and asked, "Since even Level 9 Civilizations possess the ability to cross the stars, how powerful can higher-level civilizations become?"

Quintessa smiled. "The top three civilizations all cooperate with deities, or can even create gods themselves. For now, let me give an example from the middle-upper ranks. A Level 4 Civilization is roughly measured by whether it has mastered 'Paradox Weapons.' They can even create some mid-tier 'Fantasy Weapons' and have begun attempting to touch upon minor domains that only certain lower deities can control."

Tang Chuan asked, "I know about Fantasy Weapons. Quintessa, you are the product of such a weapon. But what are Paradox Weapons? Describe them for me."

Quintessa pondered for a moment before saying frankly, "They are difficult to describe clearly. However, the 'time machine' in your understanding can be considered the most representative and simplest Paradox Weapon.

"For example, traveling to the past of a Timeline and strangling an opponent's civilization before its rise is one common form of 'Paradox Strike.'

"However, Level 4 Civilizations have long spread their branches throughout the stars and are tied to too many things, so they would not use this technology lightly. Its deterrent value is greater.

"Furthermore, according to many restrictive statutes in the Main God Codex, the use of Paradox Weapons comes with numerous limitations.

"If handled improperly, triggering punishment from the Main God Codex would result in a Dimensional Reduction Strike against the civilization that abused Paradox Weapons. At best, it would erase the civilization's achievements; at worst, it would directly destroy its living beings.

"Moreover, the opponents capable of making a Level 4 Civilization freely employ Paradox Weapons against them are often Level 4 Civilizations or above themselves. They likewise possess 'anti-paradox weapons' to prevent their civilizations from perishing within paradoxes.

"If used carelessly, the side that used Paradox Weapons first might instead fall into a 'paradox loop,' where a malignant Butterfly Effect would be magnified without limit. Playing with fire and burning oneself, with their civilization destroyed in an instant—there have been precedents for that.

"However..."

At that point, Quintessa gave a sly smile. "The Main God Codex represents the highest rules of the boundless, infinite universe. It was jointly compiled by the ten Main Gods. I have heard of an unspoken rule: the Main God Codex can never carry out a Dimensional Reduction Strike against the Main Gods themselves, or against anything under their full protection.

"I have only heard this, of course. Based on big data analysis, it is highly likely to be true, but whether it is truly so, you would have to ask yourself, Master."

(PS: The Solar System is a Planetary System; the Milky Way Galaxy is a stellar system.)