"The Void Ark is moving faster than we expected." Aris's consciousness projection pointed at the updated monitoring data. "We originally estimated it would take a week to reach the core of the Milky Way. Now it will take only seventy-two hours."
On the deep-space monitoring screen, the enormous spherical death star was closing in at a despair-inducing speed. Each time it passed through a galaxy, the life signals in that region plummeted.
Sagitta stared at the data report. "How are the outlying galaxies doing?"
"Terribly." A projection of Vergo, the first-generation Virgo Guardian, appeared. His analytical abilities laid the brutal reality bare for everyone. "Twelve outlying galaxies have lost all measurable creativity. Their civilizations have stagnated, artistic creation has vanished, and even the basic will to survive is fading."
The screen displayed vitality charts for the various galaxies. Vast swaths of green that should have teemed with life were turning gray, indicating that the living beings there had lost their positive concepts.
Lin Ye closed his eyes and extended the Sagittarius Mark's perception to the edges of the Milky Way. What he sensed was even worse than the data suggested.
"The concept of freedom is decaying at a rate of 0.3% per minute." He opened his eyes, his expression grim. "At this rate, every living being in the Milky Way will lose the ability to make independent choices within forty-eight hours."
"When that happens, all resistance will become meaningless mechanical reactions."
Just then, Scopio suddenly let out a pained groan. He clutched his head with both hands, his body shaking violently.
"It's calling to me..." Scopio's voice grew distorted. "The parasites remaining inside me are establishing a connection with that enormous will."
Pisces immediately rushed to Scopio's side. The Pisces Mark shone blue as he tried to ease Scopio's pain,