Chapter 14: Echoes from the Cosmos and a New Journey

The flames of war on the Moon temporarily subsided.

The jet-black "Primal Chaos" was once again suppressed to the absolute limit of its seal, but everyone understood this was merely a temporary reprieve. Mortals had paid a heavy price: countless mechs were scrapped, several experienced pilots sacrificed, and the lunar base suffered severe damage in the battle. However, this bloody conflict had also thoroughly proven that mortal technology and resolve were sufficient to contend with the divine in their darkest hour.

In General Li Mingguo's office at the supreme command center in Beijing, the atmosphere was no longer one of pure despair. Though weary, a never-before-seen glint burned in his eyes.

May 2, 2045.

"Report, General! The 'Morning Star' project has received a response!"

The head of the "Morning Star" project, a young astronomer, his voice trembling with extreme excitement, even tinged with a catch and a sob. On the display screen beside him, a display previously filled with cosmic noise now pulsed with a clear, regular signal.

It was unlike any form of communication protocol known to humankind.

Its encoding was mysterious, complex, and ancient, yet "Pangu Core" completed its preliminary analysis in an instant. The signal carried a unique energy fluctuation pattern, highly consistent with the "friendly deity" energy signature reverse-engineered from the lunar far side and ancient relics!

"General, the signal source is from the other side of the Milky Way's spiral arm... approximately 200,000 light-years away!"

The astronomer reported incoherently with excitement.

General Li Mingguo abruptly stood up and walked to the screen. 200,000 light-years! What an immense distance! It would take 200,000 years for the signal to travel from its origin to Earth! This meant that in the distant past, at the dawn of human civilization, "friendly deities" were already observing Earth and had long since sent some form of "warning" or "guidance" to mortals!

And now, ten thousand years after "The War of Mortals Against Gods" reignited, their response had just arrived!

"Pangu Core" swiftly performed a deep analysis and decryption of the signal content.

Vague images and complex energy sequences were restored. Though not fully comprehensible, they contained clues about "Primal Chaos" and "The War of Mortals Against Gods" from tens of thousands of years ago. All evidence corroborated that the myths deciphered by archaeologists from various steles, ancient tombs, and ancient texts previously hidden by past rulers, combined with folk legends, were objectively real historical events that indeed occurred tens of thousands of years ago.

The signal also contained a "stellar coordinate" and a "rendezvous point." They seemed to guide humanity to a distant star system, to seek deeper "allies" or "weapons"—a hope that could truly end "Primal Chaos"!

This response, 200,000 years late, undoubtedly injected a powerful tonic into desperate humanity. It proved that humanity was not fighting alone; in the depths of the universe, allies who had once fought alongside them truly existed.

However, the fierce battle between the Chinese military and "Primal Chaos" on the Moon was not entirely secret and unknown.

Although China did its best to blockade the news through various media and channels, the powerful energy fluctuations and spatial impact of "Primal Chaos'" awakening instantly exceeded the scope of complete concealment.

Around the globe, many high-precision observatories captured anomalous energy radiation from the Moon; military reconnaissance satellites of some countries also detected drastic changes in light and shadow on the lunar surface. While they could not comprehend the true meaning of these phenomena, an unprecedented wave of doubt and unease was quietly spreading worldwide.

In the capitals of major world powers like Washington, London, and Paris, secret intelligence agencies were frantically analyzing the anomalous data from the Moon.

They could not comprehend the true purpose of China's "Heavenly Gate" project, let alone the "extraordinary" energy that burst forth on the lunar surface.

"China's lunar project is far beyond our imagination! What on earth are they up to?"

The U.S. National Security Advisor slammed a classified report onto the table.

The report prominently featured blurred photos of mech wreckage and lunar surface scorched by energy weapons.

"They might possess secrets we don't know, or even... some technology we can't comprehend!" The EU Intelligence Chief, his eyes fixed intently on the photos, especially the mech wreckage, frowned deeply, yet his "eyes lit up."

"We should make China share their mech technology!"

Japan's Intelligence Bureau Chief, Saburo Ishida, said, fiercely poking the mech in the photo with his right index finger, his eyes filled with unrestrained greed!

"No! This is technology they stole from us! Mechs developed and manufactured using our technology! I express my severe condemnation! I demand they return the mech technology to us, completely and without compensation, and provide technical assistance!" A high-ranking official from South Korea spoke, indignantly!

Thus, a secret meeting began, involving the United States, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and other parties, all targeting China.

General Li Mingguo, far away in China, also knew that the window of secrecy was slowly being pushed open.

The Chinese could not bear this secret alone forever. Especially after receiving guidance from the "friendly deities," humanity was bound to make a new choice.

In another top-secret meeting, all those in the know gathered once more.

"Gentlemen, we have received a response from the 'friendly deities'," General Li Mingguo's voice was tinged with fatigue, yet imbued with new hope.

"They guide us to a distant star system, where there may be a way to definitively end 'Primal Chaos'."

"Then, should we... reveal the truth to all humanity?" someone asked.

Silence.

Finally, General Li Mingguo spoke slowly.

He looked into everyone's eyes and said, word by word:

"We cannot hide this secret forever. The lunar anomalies have already aroused suspicion. Various national agencies and intelligence departments are not to be underestimated; I believe it won't be long before they might obtain concrete, substantial information. We cannot allow 'Primal Chaos' to exploit human infighting and intrigue to make humanity fight itself. We need allies, true allies."

"But direct disclosure still carries immense risks."

"The risks are immense, indeed,"

General Li Mingguo said gravely.

"But haven't we proven that mortals are not powerless? Wasn't our first clash with the so-called 'divine' enough proof?! We forged the 'Heavenly Gate' with blood and fire.

Furthermore, even as a last resort, we now have the capability to show the world the so-called 'truth.' I believe humanity is ready to accept all of this.

We will reveal the truth with limits and in phases, while simultaneously demonstrating our strength, to compel other nations to set aside their prejudices and jointly face this crisis. Do you still not understand, even now, that even if we mobilize our entire population and invest all of China's human, material, and financial resources to fight 'Primal Chaos' to the death, the quickest to disintegrate would be ourselves?

Do you still want to try another century of humiliation?! Do you still want us to face internal strife and external threats as we did a hundred years ago? To give those predatory nations lurking about a chance to exploit us?!

Especially 'Japan,' do you still want to give them this opportunity?? I don't bet on their good intentions, but I do bet on their malice.

Under the sway of self-interest, they will be driven to devour and swallow us whole once we have exhausted everything. So, to prevent all of this from happening, the best method is to reveal the truth and drag them all into the fray.

This is a war for all humanity, not exclusive to China.

Even if there are those who oppose, what then?! They will ultimately have to make a choice! This is the 'Open Conspiracy'!"

This would be a brand new diplomatic game, a "grand revelation" with the fate of humanity as its stake. It would test humanity's wisdom and human nature, whether it could, under immense impact, ultimately coalesce into a true force against the divine.

The war on the Moon temporarily subsided, but humanity's journey had only just begun.

With echoes from the depths of the cosmos, mortals would no longer be confined to Earth and the Moon.

Their gaze would turn towards that vaster, more mysterious sea of stars, to seek the ultimate hope that would end a ten-thousand-year destiny.