CHAPTER 525: CHAPTER 524: THE PEAK OF SCIENCE OR A SCIENTIFIC BOTTLENECK?

Antimatter Civilization and Krypton Gold Civilization discovery.

Puff-back wave is not a common weapon, but a very special one with extremely strict conditions for use.

Some less crucial conditions can be set aside; among them, the most important condition is the need for a stable Cosmic Space as the foundation.

In other words, puff-back wave is actually a special weapon developed for the Universe, aiming to exploit loopholes in the Universe’s own rules and must be used based on the integrity of the Universe.

This is similar to a scientific team needing to create waves, which would require sea water. Without sea water, it is impossible to generate waves out of thin air.

Therefore, the puff-back wave developed by the Entropy Civilization cannot be used by either the Antimatter Civilization or the Krypton Gold Civilization, for there is no second complete Universe available to them for use as a weapon’s foundation. Of course, even if there were a second complete Universe, other civilizations might still be unable to use it, as the rules of each Universe could differ; technology that works in this Universe might not necessarily work in another.

The state of affairs differs from one Universe to another.

Moreover, from the viewpoint of weapon power, the force of the puff-back wave is not actually considered strong. Here, ’not strong’ does not mean that its destructive power is weak; in fact, puff-back wave leverages the retaliatory force of Universe expansion rules and is generally overbearing. Yet, the comprehensive strength of a weapon cannot be assessed solely on destructive power, but also on the attack speed and range. Due to the immense size of the Universe, the speed of the puff-back wave is quite slow relative to the whole Universe, and it can only be used within the internal space of the Universe. However, given how vast that internal space is, any civilization with a Superluminal Engine could evade it for a significant duration. If a level-five civilization were truly to use such a weapon in war, they would at least have to wait until the entire Universe completely collapses and is destroyed before they could truly eliminate the enemy.

Such a process would undeniably take too long; by that time, it would be too late for everything.

Therefore, after comprehensive consideration, the overall power of the puff-back wave is not strong, and its practical usefulness in war is limited, making it only a special weapon in certain special plans.

It wasn’t until this moment that the Antimatter Civilization and the Krypton Gold Civilization understood why the Entropy Civilization was so generous as to share the sophisticated technology of puff-back wave with them; it turns out that the technique of puff-back wave was fundamentally unrepeatable and useless to them, even if they were able to obtain it.

...

Cosmic Zone Universe Border.

The Entropy Wall created by the Entropy Civilization still exists.

Within the Entropy Wall, the Entropy Civilization, Krypton Gold Civilization, and Antimatter Civilization all appear simultaneously.

Among them, as soon as the Entropy Civilization appeared, they activated a device and emitted a dark gray beam of light towards the Entropy Wall. Upon observation, the Entropy Wall began to disintegrate in patches; the wall was not monolithic but composed of countless sections. As every section gradually dissipated, the restrictions of the Entropy Wall were finally lifted completely.

However, what these three civilizations witnessed next was a scene that shook them to their cores.

Just beyond the Entropy Wall, at a distance of about three hundred light-years, a sweeping shockwave roared towards them, looking like a cosmic tidal wave that sent shivers down their spines!

Yet, these three civilizations did not show the slightest hint of panic. After all, they were among the top-tier Level 5 civilizations in the Universe, and with the technology of Level 5 civilization engines, they could leave at any time. Not to mention that with three hundred light-years of distance still between them, they had more than enough time to discuss and decide their next steps.

Entropy Civilization said: "The phenomenon ahead is the Expanding Wave Backflow. Since you don’t believe us and consider your own technology superior, why not try to solve it and see if you can stop the Expanding Wave Backflow? We have already given you the principle and technology behind it, so feel free to think of a way to stop it based on that!"

"Didn’t you just dismantle the Entropy Wall? Perhaps, the Entropy Wall was a way to stop the Expanding Wave Backflow?" questioned the Antimatter Civilization.

Entropy Civilization replied unapologetically: "Don’t speak such foolishness, or we have to wonder how you even became a Level 5 civilization. The Entropy Wall has always been just a means of utilizing information entropy within the Universe; how could it possibly stop the inherent shrinking rule of the Universe itself? Furthermore, the Entropy Wall was merely our barrier to prevent civilizations from outside the Star Zone from entering the Cosmic Zone. Most of the lower-level civilizations that merely contributed to entropy increase have almost been completely devoured by the Expanding Wave Backflow. We only took down the Entropy Wall this time to facilitate direct observation of the Expanding Wave Backflow, so we seized the opportunity to do so."

"Entropy Civilization, remember your status at this moment and be more careful with your words!" warned Antimatter Civilization.

"What status? Are you implying that by cooperating with you to come here and verify, you have the right to treat us, the Entropy Civilization, as prisoners?" retorted Entropy Civilization.

"Otherwise? Did you think we brought you here for tourism?" retorted Antimatter Civilization.

Entropy Civilization responded: "How utterly ridiculous. Your Antimatter Civilization truly lacks self-awareness! Now, who doesn’t know that all Level 5 civilizations in the Universe have encountered a scientific bottleneck, unable to make any further breakthroughs, nor can they find a way out of this Universe. We’re all the same, forced to slowly wait for death alongside the Universe. This means that under the scientific bottleneck, no matter how long civilizations evolve, their technological levels are actually quite similar. You are so conceited as to consider us, the Entropy Civilization, to be prisoners? It seems we’ve given you far too much respect. You need to understand that the only reason we agreed to cooperate and come here to verify was to see how the monkeys thrash around in frustration; don’t misunderstand!"

The implication of Entropy Civilization was that their main purpose for coming was to mock the failure of Antimatter Civilization and Krypton Gold Civilization.

Moreover, the scientific bottleneck mentioned by Entropy Civilization does exist and is an objective reality. However, to be more exact, it should be called the scientific pinnacle.

Because all civilizations are born from this Universe, the scientific development of all civilizations is based on the material foundation aiming towards the source of the Cosmic Rules.

This is easy to understand. For example, optics, and the application of various electromagnetic signals, are essentially the study of photons. Or like energy, which essentially studies the laws of matter transformation. Or again, like the Four Basic Forces, which essentially study the laws and rules composing Cosmic Material.

It can be seen that, living in this material Universe, each scientific field is actually associated with a corresponding type of matter, and science itself is a part of material existence, an extension of matter. Therefore, the development of science is truly the process of deepening our understanding of the Universe; these two are always in direct proportion. Thus, once the source of a type of matter is studied, one naturally reaches the pinnacle of science within the Universe. Since science cannot exist separately from matter, scientists cannot research a type of matter that does not exist. When the Universe and Cosmic Material are thoroughly studied to their limits, with no new matter left for scientists to explore, science naturally reaches its pinnacle.

However, civilizations are thinking collectives, as biological lifeforms, they are not satisfied with the boundaries of the Universe; they want to survive for a long time, to live forever. Therefore, in the eyes of civilizations, this constitutes a scientific bottleneck. Normal scientific bottlenecks can eventually be broken through with some time, but such bottlenecks at the peak are difficult to surpass, even if all life’s efforts are expended. To discover new science, one must first discover new matter or new natural laws, which requires transcending this Universe. But to escape this Universe with the technology available within it is currently impossible. This creates an inherent conflict and is a reality that all Level 5 civilizations must face.