chsdbacks Chapter 569 An Unexpected Defeat
Chapter 569 An Unexpected Defeat
a few days later.
Standing at the edge of the experimental area, Jieming looked at the bustling scene before him, his lips twitching slightly.
After he introduced the concept of network viruses, he was basically out of the picture, since the research capabilities of these high-level wizards were simply outrageous.
Based solely on a concept proposed by Jemin, more than a dozen brand-new witchcraft models were created simultaneously in just a few days.
The high-ranking wizards didn't even bother testing each one individually; they simply created all the solutions.
"Lord Jemin, you've arrived."
A fifth-level logistics wizard in charge of reception came forward, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement: "The experiment is about to begin. Lord Martin requests your presence at the observation platform."
Jemin nodded and followed him through layers of security lines to a high platform with a wide view.
On the stage, Martin, the "Heart of Ash," and more than a dozen level seven wizards were already in place.
Before them was a huge light screen, displaying in real time the situation of the black rift in the distance.
"You're here?" Martin glanced at Jemin, a smile playing on his lips. "Just in time, come and take a look."
Jemin walked to the edge of the platform and looked in the direction of the crack.
There, a squad of cannon fodder units was assembling an elemental golem, artificially bred war beasts, and hundreds of specially cultivated void creatures. Their bodies were covered with dense runes, the carriers of a newly developed "viral sorcery."
"We've prepared twelve different spell models," explained a level seven wizard beside him. "Some excel at consuming computing power, some at creating logical conflicts, and some can directly corrupt the information core. We'll find out which one works by trying them out."
Another seventh-level wizard specializing in fate explained, "Regarding how this kind of magic can reproduce itself, we've considered many methods, and ultimately determined that it still needs to rely on the enemy's computing power for self-replication..."
"We've also changed our approach. This spell doesn't require additional elemental power or mental strength to activate; instead, it relies solely on information and computational power..."
Jemin nodded, his eyes fixed on the cannon fodder units.
"Deployment begins."
With a command from "Heart of Ash" Martin, the cannon fodder units activated simultaneously, rushing towards the crack in the sky.
They passed through the sealing layer and disappeared into the pure white light.
The images on the screen switched instantly—they were real-time images transmitted by the visual sharing spell carried by the cannon fodder units.
A sea of pure white light.
Countless information beings.
It was exactly the same scene that Jemin had seen before.
The moment the cannon fodder units entered the dimensional barrier, these information creatures detected the intruders.
Jemin could clearly see that the outer energy of those information beings began to fluctuate.
That's them reading the information of these cannon fodder units.
This is their instinct; any outsider entering their territory will be analyzed immediately and then either eliminated or "ordered." Then, the virus struck.
On the light screen, the movements of those information beings suddenly stopped.
Their bodies began to flash violently, the pure white light flickering on and off, like a light bulb with a faulty connection.
"It's a success!"
Some looked excited, but most wizards were more serious: "Wait, we're not sure what the specific effects will be."
Jemin squinted, staring intently at the screen.
He saw the outer energy of the information creature that was the first to read the cannon fodder's information begin to twist wildly.
It attempts to decipher those witchcraft spells, but those spells are designed specifically for them—in the process of it dealing with these information viruses, those information viruses also rely on its computing power and information to self-replicate.
Every unit of computing power that is occupied will become a new virus production factory.
They split, multiply, and spread, spreading wildly along the connection between that informational organism and the surrounding nodes.
So the information creature instinctively sought help from its companions.
This is a characteristic of flat networks; when encountering problems that cannot be handled, they will automatically request shared computing power.
But it didn't know that this request itself was the perfect channel for the virus to spread.
The nodes that were requested to connect were immediately compromised by the virus.
Then the uninfected information creatures around them also began to flicker and distort.
They then began to seek help from their own connection nodes, and the infection spread again.
Jemin stared at the image on the screen, nervously licking his lips.
Given the current situation... they can almost say they've succeeded.
In the outermost area of the information plane facing the ship plane, the densely packed information creatures are now collapsing in droves, entering a "shutdown" state.
Their bodies flickered wildly; some had their outer energy completely dissipated, revealing their core information; others had their core information begin to contradict itself, falling into a logical dead loop.
Even worse, some viruses directly contaminated their information cores, causing them to chaotically attack their own kind.
One after another.
Layer upon layer.
The once impregnable defenses are now crumbling at a visible rate.
The observation platform was deathly silent.
Everyone stared in disbelief at the scene on the screen, speechless for a moment.
Jemin even heard someone swallow.
After a long while, a wizard's voice rang out, carrying a hint of barely perceptible shock.
"If I remember correctly...we originally...just wanted to test the waters?"
Upon hearing this, Martin, the "Heart of Ashes," turned to look at Jemin, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Jemin gave an awkward smile, unsure of what to say.
He did come up with an idea, but I never expected the effect to be so exaggerated.
The flat networks, quantum entangled connections, and perfect consensus algorithms that information organisms are so proud of have become their most fatal weaknesses in the face of viruses.
Because it's too "Asian".
There are no hierarchical structures or isolation; each node is directly connected to countless other nodes.
This is usually an advantage, as it allows for the instantaneous mobilization of the entire network's computing power.
But when it comes to information viruses, that's a disaster.
There are no firewalls or quarantine zones; if one node is infected, the entire network can be infected instantly.
"The outer defenses of these information creatures have been breached," a level seven wizard murmured. "Just like that... they've been breached?"
"It's not over yet."
Another wizard pointed at the light screen, his voice trembling, "Look, the virus is still spreading!"
Jemin looked at the light screen.
The first batch of infected information creatures have completely collapsed; some have turned into specks of light and disappeared, while others have lost their ability to move and are floating in a pure white sea of light.
But the viruses they left behind did not disappear.
Those virus programs are still running and still looking for new hosts.
The second batch, the third batch, the fourth batch...
More and more information beings began to flicker, collapse into specks of light, or crash.
And that speed is still increasing.
"Holy shit..."
Jemin heard someone swear behind him.
He didn't turn around, because he wanted to say the same thing himself.
On the light screen, the once impregnable outer defense line has now been transformed into a shimmering ocean.
Meanwhile, those information beings that have not yet been infected are retreating frantically.
They are trying to cut off connections with surrounding areas, trying to establish isolation zones, and trying to stop the spread of the virus.
But it was too late.
Information viruses have long since spread deeper into the network.
On the observation platform, everyone stared at the scene in silence for a long time.
Finally, Martin broke the silence.
He turned to look at Jemin, a slow smile spreading across his lips.
"Jermin."
"exist."
"What do you think this thing should be called?"
Jemin paused for a moment, then looked at the "plague" that was spreading wildly on the screen.
"At once…"
He paused.
Let's call it "Information Plague".