Chapter 268: Simulated Universe: Swarm Disaster 『 Part Nine 』
「 "Herta, back when the Swarm Disaster occurred, did no civilization attempt to resist?" From Stelle's perspective, the Swarm Disaster was indeed terrifying, but the spread of this catastrophe seemed entirely too 'smooth.' Historically, the Swarm Disaster only lasted a few Amber Eras, yet it swept across the entire cosmos in a matter of centuries.
To describe it merely as 'sweeping away all obstacles' would be an understatement.
"I understand what you mean, Stelle, but asking such a question only proves that your understanding of the concept of 『 Propagation 』 isn't profound enough. —Of course, I can't blame you. After all, including inorganic life within the scope of 『 Propagation 』 is indeed something that defies common human logic." 」
「 ..... 」
〜Genshin Impact World〜
Teyvat, Mondstadt—
Inside a certain cavern within Dragonspine, an alchemy table glowed with a faint, ethereal blue light. Sucrose was focused on recording Madam Herta's statement, occasionally looking up at her teacher, who was engrossed in an experiment, with a face full of confusion.
"Organic life? Inorganic life?"
Sucrose paused her pen, attempting to comprehend these two unfamiliar terms that seemed similar yet held completely opposite meanings.
"Presumably, they refer to living objects and non-living objects,"
Albedo explained indifferently, setting down the test tube in his hand.
Sucrose adjusted her glasses, which had slid down her nose, shaking off the ice crystals that had condensed on the lenses.
"But, Mr. Albedo, Madam Herta said that including non-living things within the scope of 『 Propagation 』… wouldn't that mean even items like stones and machinery could reproduce just like small animals? That seems a bit too…"
…Too absurd.
After witnessing the Swarm Disaster that had swept across countless planets, Sucrose had formed a preliminary judgment on the sheer outrageousness of the event, the content of which was still within the scope of her scholarly understanding.
But for inorganic matter to engage in "propagation,"… She recognized every individual word, but when strung together, they became incomprehensible.
If it were a matter of creating life from inorganic matter, Mr. Albedo, with his profound attainments in alchemy, could achieve such a feat. But for stones to give birth to stones, or machines to give birth to machines…
"Mr. Albedo, is such a thing really possible?"
The expression on Albedo's face turned contemplative.
"If one were to use chalk (the primal material of humanity) to create life, and then endow that life with the function of 『 Propagation 』, this is theoretically achievable through alchemy. However, as long as 『 Propagation 』 is taking place, possessing 'life' is an indispensable prerequisite. To have 『 Propagation 』 without life… My apologies, Sucrose. I, too, cannot imagine what such a spectacle would look like."
—
〜Honkai: Impact 3rd World〜
"PFFT—!"
During lunch hour at St. Freya High, when Kiana heard Madam Herta mention that inorganic life could engage in 『 Propagation 』, she nearly sprayed the milk in her mouth all over the table.
"Inorganic life? Isn't that just machines? You mean to tell me robots can have babies, too? How is that even possible?"
Kiana wiped the milk from the corner of her mouth. She tried to picture it for a moment: two robots engaging in 『 Propagation 』 to birth a small robot… the image was truly a bit abstract.
"…It is indeed hard to imagine,"
Himeko remarked from the side, wearing an expression of disbelief.
"It is not uncommon for inorganic life to possess intelligence, but the function of 『 Propagation 』 is unique to organic life. To knead the organic and inorganic together… it sounds rather like magic from a novel."
Mei set down her chopsticks and closed her lunchbox, having barely touched her food due to nausea, and glanced at the dense swarm of insects on the sky screen.
"But I think the very idea of 'humans giving birth to bugs' already feels like magic."
"But there is a world of difference between organic and inorganic life—"
Just as Himeko was about to continue, she suddenly heard Kiana let out a series of startled "Whoa, whoa, whoa" noises. It turned out Herta had switched the scene within the Simulated Universe again; this time, Stelle found herself in a factory.
Looking at the various brand-new weapons and equipment arranged outside the factory, Himeko deduced that this was a military arsenal belonging to some civilization in the universe.
—
「 Stelle stood before the factory's open gates, listening to the roar of machinery operating within. But strangely, an endless stream of insects was flying out of the factory windows, vibrating their wings as they ascended into the high heavens. 」
「 .....」
As the perspective of the sky screen followed Stelle into the factory's interior, Kiana subconsciously clamped her hand over her mouth.
Partly out of shock, and partly because she didn't want to vomit the milk she had just swallowed.
—
「 Swarms of insects fell like rain from between the mechanical arms—every time the stamping molds, forged from refined steel, clamped shut, they would 'deliver' a dozen or so small insects of various species. The raw materials for these molds were clearly various mechanical components and steel creations, yet the moment they closed… it was as if a god had kissed the iron and turned it into carrion, twisting inorganic life into hideous creations.
The deeper Stelle ventured into the factory, the more grotesque the scene became:
On the automated assembly tables, mechanical hands that should have been installing triggers on firearms were instead embedding insect eggs into the rifling of gun barrels.
The pipes on the factory ceiling seemed to have transformed into the intestines of some gigantic insectoid; not only were they dripping with mucus, but every few minutes, a cluster of slime-encased oothecae would be 'birthed' from the valves. Within tens of seconds of leaving the production line, these egg cases would rapidly hatch into adult insects, which would then begin gnawing on everything nearby that could be bitten.
The entire military factory seemed to have morphed into a hive, with countless members of the Swarm being born from the assembly lines—even though their primal material was nothing but cold iron. 」
「 .....」
"Why is something like this even possible? This Star God is way too ridiculous! Humans giving birth to bugs is one thing, but why can machines turn into bugs too?!"
Kiana pointed at the automatically operating mold on the sky screen.
"Its raw material is clearly iron! It's not insect eggs or anything, so why are bugs crawling out of it?!"
"It seems this is the true manifestation of the power of 『 Propagation 』…"
Himeko looked at the factory full of insects with a grave expression.
"Star God's… it appears this is another subject that demands immediate research."
—
「 "Well? Pretty shocking, isn't it?" Herta let out a 'hehe' laugh. "I told you earlier, manipulating the 『 Propagation 』 of organic life is merely a partial manifestation of Tayzzyronth's authority."
"Under Their authority, They could even alter the very concept of 『 Propagation 』, changing all notions of reproduction and replication into 'birthing bugs.' He made it so various organisms could only give birth to bugs, so mechanical manufacturing could only produce bugs, even down to the microscopic cellular level—"
"—Stop, stop, stop!" Stelle hurriedly interrupted her. "If They was that powerful, then why did They fall?"
"Because His standoff with 『 Voracity 』 caused too much collateral damage, affecting the Paths of other Star Gods—especially the newly emerged 『 Order 』, Ena. In existing records, Ena strictly maintained the order of the cosmos. To Ena, 『 Voracity 』 and 『 Propagation 』 were simply disruptors, so Ena had to put an end to this chaos." 」
「 ..... 」