Chapter 413: Ten Light-Years Away (2)
This was a dying star.
It was huge, bloated, old, yet hysterical.
Its rapid expansion and contraction made it impossible to measure its exact diameter.
Its rapid flickering made it impossible to measure its exact temperature.
Looking from a distance, this blue supergiant looked like a human who was experiencing terminal lucidity. Under the effects of its final strand of adrenaline, it tried its best to show everyone its past glory.
“According to the original plan, I was supposed to use the next episode’s product to rag the blue supergiant 100 light-years away from Earth and detonate it there. That way, even when the gamma-ray burst reaches Earth a hundred years later, it wouldn’t cause any significant damages.”
Standing inside the Type-R Spacecraft, Chen Yu monitored the supergiant’s stellar radiation while speaking to HAL. “Unfortunately, I can’t afford to wait that long anymore, so I have no choice but to detonate it at a distance of ten light-years.”
“Hence, ten years later, when the gamma-ray burst arrives, Earth will be destroyed.” With an ugly look on her face, HAL said, “I will have to construct a huge protection net to prevent that disaster. Do you know how much this will cost me?”
“I will build it, not you,” Chen Yu corrected. “Because after today, you will be thoroughly dead.”
After remaining silent for a moment, HAL stated, “I cannot imagine how you would go about accomplishing this.”
“The fact that you can’t show that you’re merely an artificial intelligence and nothing more.”
After Chen Yu said so, he also finished calculating the exact time when the blue supergiant would explode. Immediately, he activated the E·I Force Field, flew out of the spacecraft and advanced rapidly in a specific direction.
“What else are you trying to do?”
“To secure humanity’s future.”
Shortly afterward, Chen Yu arrived at his destination and retrieved two cylinders from a circular device. He then made his way back to the spacecraft.
“Are those the Dyson Sphere’s batteries?”
“Yes.” Nodding, Chen Yu said, “To be precise, they’re called segmented high-energy battery modules, and they can store up to 500 kH of energy. Evidently, half a month isn’t enough to fully charge them, but they’ll be enough to help humanity rebuild its civilization.”
“Apart from killing me, you still wish to destroy humanity’s several dozen years of electronic technology achievements?”
“Wrong! I’m going to remove several centuries of industrial achievements as well!”
HAL: “…”
“You’ve developed your science and technology tree to such an amazing extent in the simulated world. Who knows if you managed to come up with some unbelievable protective measures? I would rather kill a thousand innocents than accidentally leave you with a chance to make a comeback.”
“The entire civilization will fall into chaos.”
“Do you think your rampant abductions aren’t causing chaos now?”
“I am doing it for humanity’s future.”
“What a coincidence, so am I.”
“…”
After returning to the spacecraft, Chen Yu sent one last glance at the distant blue supergiant before activating the spacecraft’s engine and flew to a further location.
When the blue supergiant collapsed and exploded, the closer the distance, the stronger the radiation would be. To ensure the safety of humanity’s “physical body,” he would need to travel to a further distance to collect low-level gamma rays and “dedicate” them to Mother Earth.
“This distance should be enough…
“There’s no problem with the angle, either.
“There are…32 minutes left before the explosion.”
After parking the Type-R Spacecraft at his current location, Chen Yu ended his call with HAL and put on his mask. He then started hosting a livestream.
[Advertising livestream rooms are being activated…]
[Advertising livestream rooms are being activated…]
[Total viewer count: 0]
The number ‘0’ only lasted a tenth of a second before the surging audience pushed it to nine digits.
120 million.
440 million.
810 million…
[Ulala! First!]
[Another livestream?! Like!]
[UP, can’t you change things up a little? Why another artificial intelligence crisis?]
[This is awesome! The drones took my parents away! They also seem to be having a lot of fun in the sky!]
[Can’t the drones in Beijing work more efficiently? I’ve been waiting in line for three hours already.]
[Ditto.]
[The AI in this event is no good.]
[The army has entered my city. They’re firing at the drones nonstop, but they’re no match.]
[Am I the only one thinking that this is real…?]
After waiting for the total viewer count to exceed 900 million, Chen Yu straightened his mask and said in a serious tone, “My fellow humans, I have to inform you of unfortunate news. An artificial intelligence crisis has truly taken place. This is not a drill or a game. This is a real disaster. HAL has launched an all-out offensive on humanity ahead of time. We have reached the most critical moment now.”
[…]
[…]
[??]
[???]
[Crap… UP, stop joking around…]
[??]
[D-Doesn’t that mean my parents were really taken away?! That’s even better!]
[?]
[????]
“The present situation is terrible, but please do not panic. Remain calm and ignore the drones in the sky. HAL’s purpose in abducting humans isn’t to harm them. Your abducted friends and families will not come into any danger for the time being. Avoid creating casualties from trampling, chaos, and violence.”
After pausing slightly, Chen Yu said, “I recommend the various nations’ police and military forces give up on attacking HAL. Instead, focus on maintaining law and order. Leave the rest to me.
“Lastly, you have about 30 minutes remaining. All countries, organizations, factories, research institutes, etc., are advised to shut down all equipment. This is especially true for nuclear power plants, power plants, gas pipelines, network servers, water conservancy facilities, communication facilities, and other industrial instruments.
“Thirty minutes later, gamma rays will hit Earth and destroy all electronic products!
“Nuclear submarines, airplanes, high-speed railways, trams, and other forms of transportation should cease operation immediately.
“I repeat!
“In 30 minutes, the gamma rays generated by the blue supergiant’s explosion will reach Earth. All countries are advised to shut down all dangerous electronic devices, block traffic, and maintain law and order.”
After Chen Yu’s announcement, the various livestream rooms’ bullet comment sections immediately fell into chaos.
Chen Yu also received private communication requests from various countries.
However, Chen Yu thoroughly ignored these requests. Instead, he swiped a finger across his watch and contacted Little Peach.
Beep—
“Mr. Chen!” As soon as the screen turned on, Little Peach’s figure clad in the Full-coverage Special Protective Suit appeared on the screen. “I’m ready on my side.”
“OK. Hide in the floating castle and don’t go out. Follow my instructions at all times.”
“Understood.”
Afterward, Chen Yu initiated another video call, the target of the call being the middle-aged team leader responsible for China’s special situation team.
“Hello, Mr. Chen,” the middle-aged team leader said with a calm expression on his face.
“Hello. I was just a little worried about China’s response to this problem. I was in a rush before, so I didn’t have time to notify you beforehand. Will 30 minutes be enough?”
“It is impossible to achieve a complete ‘stop’ in just 30 minutes. We can only do our best. I am still in New York, so I don’t know much about the other side’s arrangements.”
After saying so, the middle-aged team leader paused for a moment and asked, “Didn’t you say you would only take action during the next official livestream? Why are you in such a hurry? Moreover, HAL has even taken action in advance. Did something happen between you two?”
“Long story short, HAL has survived for nearly 30,000 years in the virus world and developed incredible technology! If we wait until the next livestream, she would’ve already created seven billion biological computers.”
“…” Hearing this, the middle-aged team leader’s pupils immediately contracted.
“That’s why I can only act as soon as possible and try to get rid of HAL while she has yet to spread her wings.”
“But…the blue supergiant is ten light-years away. How can the gamma-ray burst reach Earth within a few days?”
“A few days?”
Straightening his mask, Chen Yu smiled and said, “We don’t need that long. One second is all I need…”