Intelligence indicated that when the Negative One Universe faced extinction from Conceptual Entropy Increase, its civilization made a painful choice: fuse the consciousness of all life into a single Hyperdimensional Entity and sustain its existence by parasitizing other universes.
"They were victims too." Through Libra's Balance Perception, Asteria understood the truth. "This was not a war of invasion, but a struggle for survival."
But the most important discovery was the entity's true weakness.
"It cannot endure 'understanding' and 'compassion.'" Information transmitted back by the Rebirth Concept showed that "during its long parasitic existence, the Hyperdimensional Entity gradually lost its ability to empathize with other life. If it could experience the feeling of being understood again..."
"Then it may stop attacking and seek another solution." Lin Ye completed the deduction.
The concepts of all thirteen universes were reborn within mere minutes. Having gained immunity, these concepts formed a powerful counterattack network and began striking back at the Hyperdimensional Entity.
But this counterattack was not meant to destroy it. It was meant to understand and communicate.
"Prepare to establish a Compassion Link." Lin Ye issued orders to every Guardian through the network. "What we need to do is not defeat the enemy, but save a lost civilization."
Just as the Alliance prepared to launch its counterattack using the Rebirth Concepts, ancient conceptual fluctuations suddenly arose from the deepest reaches of the Multiverse.
These fluctuations differed from every known conceptual signal. They carried the weathered weight of time, painful memories, and sparks of hope that had never gone out.
"What is that?" Asteria's Libra Mark sensed a powerful imbalance. "This conceptual frequency... I've never encountered it before."
Scobio's insight was the first to lock onto the source. "It's coming from inside the Hyperdimensional Entity. Something is breaking out from within."
The Hyperdimensional Entity