Scobio's consciousness traveled through the abyss of darkness, the light emitted by the Scorpio Mark like a sharp dagger, cutting through layer after layer of disguise in the Concept Parasites' memories.
Each deeper descent brought increasingly shocking discoveries.
"Let me see your true past." Scobio's voice echoed through the space of consciousness as Insight ruthlessly tore apart the parasites' carefully constructed memory barriers.
The parasites' collective consciousness let out pained shrieks. "Don't... don't look at those... those memories will destroy you..."
But Scobio had already reached the core of the memories.
The scene before him completely overturned his understanding of the Concept Parasites. In the final moments of the Zero Universe, five Guardians sat around a massive Concept Analysis Device. There was no madness on their faces, only desperate resolve.
"The propagation pattern of the Concept Pollution is far too precise." One Guardian pointed at the analysis results. "This isn't naturally occurring chaos. It's a carefully designed viral program."
"What evidence do you have?" another Guardian asked.
"Look at these infection paths." The first Guardian enlarged the display. "The pollution always attacks the most stable parts of a conceptual system first, then gradually spreads outward. This pattern could never arise from random chaos."
"More importantly," an elderly Guardian added, "the pollution has obvious adaptability. Whenever we develop a new cleansing technique, it quickly develops corresponding resistance."
Scobio's Insight delved into the details of the memories and saw the crucial evidence they had discovered: during infection, the Concept Pollution left behind special "Marker Codes." Their structure was far too complex to have arisen naturally.
"This is an artificially created Concept Weapon." The elderly Guardian's voice was filled with fury. "Some higher-dimensional entity deliberately unleashed this virus upon our universe."
"What is its purpose?" someone asked.
"Selection." The elderly Guardian spoke heavily.