Chapter 350: The Dinosaurs' Return

Lin Sen's final words deeply touched the dinosaurs' long-silent souls. Wandering through the universe for tens of millions of years, the lengthy passage of time caused them to gradually forget their origins, their past, leaving only endless drifting and devouring.

However, it was not until they encountered the human Shui Wa that the dinosaurs found out there was such a similar species in the universe.

The dinosaurs began to search through piles of old papers, piecing together their forgotten past bit by bit. Even more astonishing was the discovery that dinosaurs and humanity originated from the same distant homeland—Earth.

This revelation struck their hearts like lightning, igniting an unprecedented urge to return home. This century-long voyage was the longest and most torturous journey for the dinosaurs. Yet throughout this prolonged journey, their hearts were throbbing with excitement, anticipating their return to that place called "home."

A mixture of excitement and melancholy welled up in the Dinosaur King's heart:

"We, too, long to return to that 'home.'

""We have lived for far too long... so long that the river of time has made us forget both 'life' and 'death.'

"Perhaps, you have misunderstood; our civilization's loss of depth and vitality doesn't stem from an excessive clinging to 'life.' We have been reproducing for sixty million years; how could we still be attached to 'life?'

"The real reason lies in our choice to forget, to forget goals and to abandon the desire for the future, to the point where even history is forbidden among the common dinosaur populace. It's this void of emptiness that has sustained us step by step to where we are today.

"If there were something we held on to, how could we have continued to eke out an existence during these tens of millions of years of technological stagnation?

"Indeed, when we decided to leave the Tianyuan Star System and head for the Solar System, our sociologists made a prophecy: Dinosaur Civilization would thus head towards destruction!

"This is not because Human Civilization or the Trisolaran Civilization would surpass us in technology, nor is it because of the so-called Hines Strike.

"The true root lies in the appearance of humanity, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring the long-frozen desires within our dinosaur hearts.

"Once the flame of longing is kindled within us, we can no longer return to that cold past. We can no longer tolerate the civilizational shackles that we have never managed to break through in tens of millions of years.

"Thus, an unprecedented great transformation is bound to arise among us. However, this massive change is very likely to lead to the complete annihilation of Dinosaur Civilization. The chance of a successful transformation is extremely slim, less than one in a million.

"Even so, we decided to come to the Solar System.

"Do you know why we made such a choice? We... we just want to rest in peace at the place from where we embarked."

It was only now that Lin Sen understood the world within the dinosaurs' hearts. He initially thought the dinosaurs were quite foolish; the traps designed by humans in the Solar System were not that clever. Yet the dinosaurs seemed to turn a blind eye, charging in headfirst.

No matter how foolish the dinosaurs were, knowing that the Solar System harbored humans who had also defeated another civilization, they should have first sent a large number of warships to search the Solar System. Only after confirming that there was no threat would they allow their generational ships to enter. For this, humanity devised many strategic plans, but in the end, none were used.

It was thought to be the dinosaurs' arrogance and stupidity that led them to brazenly enter the Solar System. Now, it seems the dinosaurs have chosen to accept their fate, a mindset that transcends life and death, indifferent to both humans and themselves.

Lin Sen no longer had his initial confidence. If the dinosaurs decided to really contend with humanity, even if humans could win, it would come at a cost. It was less likely to force the dinosaurs into a desperate position directly.

"Your civilization has drifted through the universe for a long sixty million years, you must have waged wars with many other civilizations.

"Each civilization that can stand in the universe must not be underestimated, each possessing unique power and wisdom. Yet in the end, it was you, Dinosaur Civilization, that survived, which to us, seems like a miracle of miracles,

"Inner conflicts and wars must have occurred countless times within your civilization, but you still survived.

"It's not just luck, you must possess a depth of civilization and infinite potential that other civilizations cannot reach; you are the darlings of the universe.

"If you could break through the shackles of your own civilization, could continually break through your own technological levels.

"We can hardly imagine, what incredible power you might unleash in the future?

"So, what are your plans for the future?"

Lin Sen was not flattering the dinosaurs; in fact, their ability to drift in the universe for sixty million years and not be annihilated was proof enough of the dinosaurs' capabilities and wisdom that other civilizations lacked, making them potentially the darlings of the universe.

Dinosaur King: "We have no other choice now, do we?

"In the face of such a dire situation, perhaps it is the critical moment for the transformation of our civilization.

"Speaking of which, we might even owe you our thanks. The dinosaurs were not unwilling to reform; it's not that they didn't want to change, but our bonds and shackles were too numerous, and our massive civilization no longer allowed us to turn back.

"Just like in the history of your civilization, a small nation's reforms may be relatively easy to succeed because it's flexible and easy to adjust. However, when a large nation is deeply entrenched in its issues and the problems are burdensome, to think of successful reform is nearly impossible, unless it can rise from the ruins of its collapse and rebuild a new civilization on the spot.

"This war, humanity has destroyed everything we had, but also shattered all our bonds and shackles. Now, we have nothing left to lose, and we stand at the edge of a cliff, with an endless abyss behind us.

"Such as we are, free from the shackles of the past, no longer burdened with the heavy luggage of history, we now face new choices.

"The course of humanity and the Trisolaran Civilization has instilled hope in our hearts, and we yearn for the home that is Earth.

"Perhaps, we can truly break through the darkness before the dawn and welcome the first light of a new civilization."

Lin Sen continued, "That leaves us with one key question, whether we are worthy of your trust, right?

"Is humanity prepared to see a powerful Dinosaur Civilization rise? And how can humanity and the dinosaurs ensure that a war does not break out in the future.

"Currently, the Dinosaur Civilization has humanity's high-yield antimatter bombs, which serve as a temporary condition for deterrence.

"But your experiences with the Ant Civilization also tell you that any deterrence can fail, and you also lack the means to deter humanity.

"The Ant Civilization and you were symbiotic civilizations, yet in the end, you went to war, to say nothing of the relationship with Human Civilization."

Dinosaur King: "Yes, this is my concern, but not all of it.

"We are now both in desperate straits, thinking too far ahead is pointless.

"We have only one worry, and that is whether we can trust you or not?"

Lin Sen took a deep sigh, "In this universe, trust may be the hardest thing to establish.

"Because rationality is not trustworthy, and the cost of trust is too high. After all, every civilization is selfish, so how can they seek the trust of others?

"But I still hope you can trust me, our goal will always be 'The Other Shore'."

The Dinosaur King was silent for a long time, as if reflecting upon the history of the dinosaurs, and finally said:

"Rationality and selfishness may be the shackles that hinder the progress of civilization, but they are also indispensable.

"We choose to trust, only hoping that this trust can last a bit longer."

Lin Sen understood that at this moment, the dinosaurs had made up their minds; sometimes, the decision to return home can be made in an instant.

The initial alliance between Human Civilization and Dinosaur Civilization had succeeded, but the future required the Dinosaur Civilization to break free from its civilizational constraints.

If the Dinosaur Civilization could not do so, Lin Sen would not lead them towards the sea of stars.

Looking out the window at the starry sky, Lin Sen said:

"I cannot promise you anything, as any promise between civilizations is meaningless.

"We can only hope that this trust can endure for a longer time.

"Under the pitch-black void, each moment probes the morals in our hearts.

"Civilization is the collective performance of individuals, just as the universe is the collective performance of civilizations. Whether to revere the morals within or to explore the strange and dark byways.

"Loyalty and betrayal, madness and paranoia, destruction and rebirth... these may be the eternal themes of civilizations, and we do not know how far we can go.

"But... we must go on."