Chapter 137: Chapter 137: The Despair of the Weakest Civilization
Although the main focus was still on the internal strife within the civilization trial, this did not mean that vigilance towards other civilizations had been relaxed.
After all, they were competitors.
Even without much hostility toward other civilizations, as two powerful contenders ranked first in both lists, they still needed to be cautious.
“Currently, our most observed area is Planet No.3,” Dong Gong continued to report. “The civilization on that planet had suffered heavy losses in the previous trial, and their technological strength is lacking. Even the strength of the extraordinary elements is only around Level 6 or Level 7. Moreover, we haven’t observed any effective prevention measures against the blizzard crisis. It’s as if they are completely unaware of it…”
This planet was the one Ellie had mentioned, where they could wait for the trial to occur and, in their moment of despair, step in to conquer.
Indeed, according to the ranking rules of the Civilization Trial, even weak civilizations had the potential to turn the tables.
However, that possibility was ultimately even weaker.
The weaker the civilization, the easier it was for them to be eradicated under the Civilization Trial—that was the norm.
Given the current situation, the civilization on Planet No.3 was likely the weakest among those involved in this trial.
Shen Hao had long dispatched several capable Chosen Ones on a commercial space shuttle purchased from the mall, to surveil the space above that planet.
After all, it was one of the nearest planets to them.
Traveling on the White Level 15 space shuttle at that time, it took only about half a month, and they had arrived two days ago to conduct more detailed observations.
Source: NovelFull.com, updated on Ɲ0νǤ0.сο
However, if it were a spacecraft from a currently White Level 17 mall, it would take only five days to arrive.
The advancement in technology was most clearly visible in transportation.
“Has any other civilization shown interest in them?” Shen Hao asked further.
“So far, we have only detected observation activities, and no dispatch actions,” Dong Gong said. “It might be due to the distance issue.”
Among the six observed civilizations, only the one with a Space City on Planet No.5 evidently possessed space travel capabilities, and it might not be able to commute quickly.
Though their technological development appeared to significantly surpass Human Civilization, it may not be greater than Shen Hao’s store level.
On this point, people still had confidence.
As the strongest trump card of Human Civilization, Shen Hao definitely had a tremendous advantage in strength and the Point Mall!
Actually, based on current observations, the technological level of the civilization on Planet No.5, a corresponding mall, should be between Level 10 and Level 13.
Even if this meant they were capable of producing white, blue, or even gold quality technologies within this range, when compared to the technology inside the White Level 17 mall, there was still a significant gap.
Besides the distance issue, even if they were interested in this civilization, which was evidently going to be eliminated first, they might not make it in time.
“If that’s the case, keep observing, but let them know.” Shen Hao said.
“Understood,” Dong Gong immediately grasped his meaning.
Actually, many people were eager to try.
Conquering other civilizations during the trial could undoubtedly bring significant benefits. Faced with the threat of the Civilization Trial, no one would call for peace at such a time, especially not for such weak civilizations, as this would actually be a form of salvation.
Shen Hao refocused his attention on the trials occurring within the civilization.
And at that moment.
Planet No.3 was plunged into an unprecedented despair!
They were a species that called themselves Siti.
Clearly a carbon-based life form, similar in appearance to humans, slightly shorter on average but with facial features more akin to feline creatures, large eyes, ears located on the forehead, hidden by dense and curly hair, and a more flexible and powerful waist. Not only capable of upright walking but also able to run on all fours at greater speeds, they even had a nimble long tail.
Before being selected for the Civilization Trial, their civilization was at a crucial stage of transformation.
A powerful empire had pioneered the industrial revolution, becoming immensely strong over a century, and had launched attacks on neighboring countries, sweeping through all resistance, aiming to unify the entire civilization.
But just when it was halfway through, the Civilization Trial occurred.
It was a kind of bug they had never seen before.
Not large, merely the size of a palm, and incapable of flying, but they reproduced very quickly, incredibly quickly!
They quickly multiplied, starting from the fields, devouring everything in sight, then began to gnaw on the grass and trees, and even dared to attack living beings when gathered in large numbers! Even the strongest warriors could be eaten down to their bones in a short time!
War broke out!
Even the empire, which was invincible and swept through its internal wars, also suffered heavy losses. At one point, they even had to resort to using nuclear weapon technology and production equipment purchased from the Civilization Mall, massively deploying these dangerous weapons.
Although this suppressed the development of these bugs, buying precious time, it also brought tremendous destruction to their entire civilization!
Finally, with a deadly, spreading biological virus, they managed to eradicate the bugs. By then, the population of the entire civilization had plummeted from its initial two billion to just eight hundred million!
The vast majority died of famine.
This was a purgatory never before experienced in the entire history of civilization.
But it was only a short time after they had recuperated, so short that even the first batch of crops had not been harvested, when the second Civilization Trial abruptly began.
At this moment.
Within the splendid imperial palace, the emperor, who should have been in the prime of his life, looked incredibly aged.
Outside the window howled the cold wind, and hundreds of furnaces emitting astonishing heat barely maintained the temperature inside the hall.
“This storm came too suddenly,” an old man prostrating at the foot of the stairs said with immense sorrow, “It is a natural disaster that will certainly destroy all life, even surpassing the ‘Kechong’. Thirty-two cities in the southwest, twenty-eight cities in the southeast, forty-four cities in the north… Your Majesty, over two hundred million people have been mercilessly swallowed up, your subjects are continuously dying of hunger and cold, the Empire is finished! The Siti Civilization is also finished!”
The emperor named Larry, looking at his minister, despite being wrapped in a thick quilt, despite being a Chosen One, still couldn’t control the trembling of his body.
He couldn’t even bear to count how many people were left!
Even sitting there, watching the howling cold wind outside, he seemed to see the despair, the wailing of countless people.
“Cough, cough, cough.” Larry started to cough violently.
“Father.” His daughter, Karla, quickly pressed on his back, but those eyes, once hailed as the brightest jewels of the Empire, now shed large tears.
Her father was the greatest emperor the Empire had seen in hundreds of years, once ambitious, wanting to rule the entire world, achieving feats no emperor had ever accomplished.
It seemed as if no enemy could make him back down, could make him afraid.
But now, having truly ruled the entire world, he was so frail.
He was scared, even desperate!
“Commander-in-chief Al,” Karla turned to look at a warrior standing in the forefront clad in armor, “You are the most powerful warrior of the Empire, also our most powerful Chosen One, isn’t there anything in the Point Mall that could resist this horrible disaster?”
The warrior named Al remained silent for a moment.
He opened his Point Mall that he had accessed countless times.
But it was no use.
A mere Level 9 store, it had nothing to resist such a natural disaster, and during this second trial, he hadn’t managed to earn many points.
When the temperature began to drop previously, he had bought many goods and technologies to resist the cold, earning quite a few points.
He had thought this trial would just be about resisting the constantly falling cold wave.
Though equally difficult, there was at least a visible path to conquering the trial.
But he hadn’t expected such a fierce, such a terrifying natural disaster to strike so suddenly, so quickly that no one could have predicted it.
The already dwindling population was once again dealt an unprecedented blow!
Two hundred million people!
Considering those who died of hunger and cold during the cold wave, the surviving population was even less than five hundred million!
The Siti Civilization that had lasted thousands of years was truly on the brink of extinction!
Al’s silence undoubtedly made the atmosphere at the scene even heavier.
He was the strongest Chosen One in the whole world, but in the face of such a disaster, he was no different from ordinary people.
“Then let it be known, tell all those who are still alive!” Karla looked at the scene, suddenly speaking resolutely, “If someone can come up with a solution, even if there’s just a slim chance to save our nation, our civilization, then, no matter who it is, whatever the age, whatever the status, I, Karla, am willing to become his slave, to serve him for my entire life!”
“Princess Karla!” Al’s face changed drastically, and he suddenly knelt heavily on the ground.
The rest still standing did the same.
Each wore an expression filled with endless sorrow.
Karla was no ordinary princess, not only did she possess a countenance that many admired, but she also possessed world-class artistic talent, and as a noble Chosen One, she had even inspired countless warriors and motivated countless people with her singing in the previous trial!
Many firmly believed that the Empire would welcome its first queen in history!
Such a princess, to speak of becoming a slave!
To her subjects, this was undoubtedly the greatest failure!
Yet, such a scene made Karla’s face even paler.
She was willing to give up everything, even if it could only bring a negligible hope, but even so, in the face of such despair, all she offered seemed just as negligible.