Disappearing into the darkness did not mean something had already died.
In fact, not one of the stars in this universe had truly died. Like the star in System 857, their surfaces, or the space just beyond their outer layers, had merely been shrouded by dustlike dark spores that blocked their light. That light and heat gradually accumulated within the sealed spaces, with no telling when they would come surging out.
"This is a slow process. There's no need to worry about stellar collapse or anything like that in the short term. Also, insufficient starlight will lower temperatures within a star system, which would be trouble for less advanced civilizations. Fortunately, humanity no longer needs to worry about those problems." Shen Yunmai's voice rang out aboard the warship.
At that moment, the Jiaowei was several million kilometers away. Thanks to miniature Curvature-Rate Void communications technology, there was no delay in their conversation.
"Just spores?" Jing Jiu asked.
The quantity of organic matter in the universe was relatively small. Why had so many spores emerged, enough to obscure Star 857 and all those stars ahead?
He felt there was something else strange about that black dust.
"The density of the Dark Matter Sea can't lower a star's temperature for now, but it slows photons and other particles considerably," Shen Yunmai said. "That's why they grow dim."
This explanation made a certain amount of sense, but it was not enough to convince Jing Jiu. He was about to ask something more when the Blazing Sun Warship shuddered slightly and began to decelerate.
The Jiao Wei Warship, a mere dot in the distant universe, began to slow at the same time, then changed course in a certain direction.
"Once we skirt the Great Aries Black Hole, we'll reach the shore. Get ready." With