Chapter 316: Mutation
Several hours later, Chen Chen was already strolling in the central section of the underground base.
There were two rows of “Vantablack” laboratory lined up along both sides of the walkway. It was near impossible to detect any trace of cosmic ray or electromagnetic disturbance within these laboratories as they functioned as a one-of-a-kind pure s.p.a.ce.
Strictly speaking, the purpose of this underground base was the same as Chen Chen’s “Spire Experimental Base”. They were both experimental bases built with a focus on conducting scientific experiments.
However, over the last few years, these laboratories were forcefully opened by the soldiers occupying this base. A layer of dust and rust was seen resting on top of all the priceless equipment, rendering them completely useless, as good as sc.r.a.p metal.
“Shame.”
Chen Chen shook his head slightly upon seeing what had happened. It was such a cruel joke, letting a bunch of vulgar, simple-minded soldiers claiming control of a world-leading physics experiment base.
One could imagine that the world-cla.s.s scientists working in the laboratory that was kicked out by these people as the calamity was approaching were long dead by now. Just the idea of it was a sour thought.
As Chen Chen walked along the corridor of the base by himself, the sealed doors opened one after another when he approached as if they were welcoming their rightful master.
It did not take long before Chen Chen had arrived at the end of the underground experimental base.
It was a sinkhole sinking deep underground.
The sinkhole crept several hundred meters underground, which was even deeper than the base itself. Strictly speaking, the base a.s.sumes the layout of a circuit of spherical structure, each one of these round buildings forming a ring around the giant sinkhole in the middle.
At the present, Chen Chen had come to the innermost section of the base. He was greeted by an arc-shaped observation window that stood more than 3 meters tall. There were many such windows on both sides of the pit and they formed a straight line all the way down the sinkhole.
On the other side of the observation window, there was nothing but darkness as well. The silhouette of the bottomless sinkhole can barely be made out.
“Can the power system be reactivated?”
Chen Chen raised his head and asked.
“Yes, although its implementation doesn’t reach the level of nuclear fusion technology, they do have a local nuclear fission reactor. It can keep the underground base operational for another fifty to a hundred years.”
X-112’s voice came from the speakers on the wall closest to Chen Chen. At the same time, the gigantic observation in front of Chen Chen suddenly lit up.
To be clear, it was the sinkhole before Chen Chen that was illuminated by strong bursts of light. The blinding source of light instantly cast its shine on every crevice of the walls in the sinkhole!
As Chen Chen took in the sight of the sinkhole from the observation windows, his pupils immediately shrunk. He was seized by an indescribable shock...
From the observation windows, Chen Chen could see that the sinkhole was up to 230 meters deep. It resembled a pillar running through the center of the underground base. On the bottom of the sinkhole was a small square measuring more than a thousand square meters.
However, this was not what bemused Chen Chen. The true culprit was the colossal object placed at the center of the square, with a diameter of up to 10 meters, and standing more than 50 meters tall!
Like an enormous statue.
The statue was coated in black, with dizzy, spiraling patterns all over it. Its full figure could not be seen from the observation window. Only the upper portion of its body was visible from there.
Chen Chen did not need it spelled out for him to know that this was the Gantz server machine built from high-purity germanium.
As it was constructed using germanium metal, a layer of germanium monoxide had formed on the surface as an effect of long-term oxidation. Instead of the original silvery l.u.s.ter, the surface of the statue was deep black with a metallic quality.
“This must be the Gantz server machine.”
Chen Chen squinted when he saw the enormous metallic statue and noted. “Although I’ve seen its design, you never told me that the Gantz server machine was of this size.”
“The dimension of the Gantz server machine isn’t fixed. It’s instead adjusted according to the desired efficiency.”
X-112 explained, “The North American Continent is extremely ambitious and chose to erect a Gantz server machine of this size. A server machine of this size can extend its signal range across half the globe, allowing it to gain control over plenty of other Gantz spheres on other continents.”
“I see.”
Chen Chen nodded and carefully studied the densely packed spiraling patterns on the Gantz server machine. “Where did these patterns come from? Inside Gantz, the aliens use their technology to transmit signals to the brain of a person in a vegetative state, causing the person to speak this way. I doubt these patterns can be simply described with the vocabulary of man, no?”
“As you might expect, it’s done using a newly established language system.”
X-112 replied, “This is a new language known as E language which is an abbreviation for Everlasting, which is a symbolization for eternity and G.o.dhood. The first thing the chosen woman did was pa.s.s on this new language system to mankind before pa.s.sing on the message of the Gantz sphere.
“In summary, this is a form of language that can convey far more information than any existing human languages. The message that can be conveyed using this language is more than ten thousand times above that of all 5,651 human languages combined. Not only could it be used to describe all of the known colors in the world, shapes, and other various messages, it can even be used to describe patterns down to the most minute detail.”
A spark appeared in Chen Chen’s eyes. “Is there any specific information on this language? If it’s possible, I’d like to learn this language.”
“Unfortunately, your brain must equip computational efficiency at the level of a quantum computer to learn such a language. It’s simply impossible for the human brain to achieve such a feat, not even if you take NZT-48.”
X-112 struck down Chen Chen’s idea. “Humans also had to compose this language into a set of algorithms to help them create the Gantz sphere and all that comes with it.”
“Alright then.”
Chen Chen remarked with a touch of frustration, “I get it now, that explains why the Gantz server machine looks like this. The patterns covering the statue are essentially the equivalent of programs written by us humans. These programs are what allows the server machine to operate. In other words, this statue is essentially a computer of another civilization.”
“That is an apt metaphor.”
X-112 agreed. “You’re a genius, it does seem that way so far.”
“In that case, is it possible that...”
Chen Chen’s expression turned grave as he said this, the tone of his voice followed suit and grew darker, “The Basilisk patterns appearing on the Internet in this dimension is spread by the Gantz server machine?”
X-112 was at a loss for words.
A shadow of a smirk appeared on Chen Chen’s lips as he raised his head to look at the gigantic statue through the observation window. “What are the chances, Gantz server machine?”
After Chen Chen uttered these words, the reply of X-112 never came. At the same time, a loud click could be heard echoing across the entire underground base. A curtain of darkness suddenly closed in on Chen Chen’s vision as the entire underground base descended into complete blackness.
In the darkness, Chen Chen heard a rush of chaotic clicking sounds rapidly approaching from afar. It was the sound of the safety valves shutting off, seemingly trying to completely trap Chen Chen in the underground base!