Chapter 9: I Will Return!

Words : 1588 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Xiao Yu shut down most of the ship’s systems, covering essential instruments like the central computer with high-radiation-resistant materials. He then began firing his laser cannon at one of the radiation sources, randomly selected. Each burst of laser fire lasted 30 seconds, during which the radiation source would dodge and pause. This created a gap of nearly 2,000 kilometers between the targeted source and the rest of the group. Xiao Yu then switched targets to another radiation source and repeated the process. Through his deliberate control, Xiao Yu managed to separate the radiation sources, increasing the distance between them and weakening their intensity. This tactic, though effective, consumed over 100 tons of fuel in just a few minutes, leaving Xiao Yu heartbroken over the loss. But the fuel expenditure was worth it. By isolating the radiation sources, Xiao Yu prevented them from overwhelming his spacecraft all at once. When his preparations were complete, the nearest radiation source was just under 3,000 kilometers away. Based on his calculations, they would collide in no more than 30 seconds. Xiao Yu waited silently for the moment of impact. Propelled by inertia, his spacecraft hurtled forward. Ahead, over a hundred powerful radiation sources were racing toward him in an orderly queue. At the instant of contact, the first radiation source latched onto the spacecraft like a leech finding fresh blood, pressing desperately against the hull. The spacecraft’s exterior temperature instantly soared to 200 degrees Celsius and continued to climb. Gritting his teeth, Xiao Yu activated a pre-prepared mechanism, opening a hatch in the spacecraft’s hull. The opening was aligned perfectly with the metal box he had constructed earlier. The metal box, two decimeters thick, was made entirely of high-strength, radiation-resistant, and heat-resistant materials, except for the side connected to the spacecraft’s hull. In terms of radiation and heat resistance, the box was over a hundred times more effective than the spacecraft’s exterior. The radiation source, suddenly finding an outlet, surged eagerly into the box, only to be stopped by its impenetrable walls. Trapped, it could move no further. One radiation source was successfully confined inside the box. Then came the next. Everything proceeded as planned. The second radiation source also entered the box and was securely trapped. Despite exhibiting some life-like behavior, these radiation sources appeared to lack intelligence, acting purely on instinct. They seemed incapable of recognizing whether they were charging into a trap. It was precisely because of their lack of intelligence that Xiao Yu’s plan succeeded. One by one, the radiation sources entered the box. As the spacecraft’s exterior temperature dropped rapidly and radiation levels diminished, Xiao Yu breathed a sigh of relief and reactivated the systems he had previously shut down. The radiation source capture plan was a success. By now, Xiao Yu was 600,000 kilometers away from Jupiter. Feeling a tremendous sense of relief, Xiao Yu maneuvered the spacecraft to quickly escape Jupiter’s vicinity while turning his instruments toward analyzing these peculiar, life-like radiation sources. At this moment, the radiation sources were packed tightly against the interior walls of the metal box, refusing to budge. It was as though something outside the box was irresistibly attracting them. “Based on earlier observations, it’s safe to conclude that these entities have biological instincts. Intelligence? Probably not. If they were intelligent, they wouldn’t be so foolish. For now, let’s assume they’re lifeforms. But what on my spacecraft is attracting them?” Xiao Yu pondered this quietly. “Before Earth was destroyed, humanity sent several probes to Jupiter, yet none encountered these strange lifeforms. This means these entities must have emerged recently. The most plausible explanation is that they were created after the collision between the Earth’s moon and Jupiter.” Xiao Yu analyzed the situation carefully, his mind racing through one clue after another. “What could possibly be on my spacecraft that isn’t on Jupiter? It has to be something like that, something so enticing that it drew them to me like bloodthirsty leeches.” Xiao Yu felt confident in this hypothesis. “No matter. I’ll keep them locked up for now. Once I’ve established a stable base on Titan, I’ll analyze these creatures further.” Having survived this major crisis, Xiao Yu felt like he had emerged from darkness into light. At the same time, he gained a deeper appreciation for one important truth: The universe is boundless. Even within a small solar system, there exist countless incomprehensible phenomena. It was clear that in the face of such grand natural wonders, maintaining humility and reverence was vital. At the same time, Xiao Yu realized that he was no longer the only living being in the solar system. At least, within the box on his spacecraft were over a hundred suspected lifeforms accompanying him. While assessing the damage this encounter had caused to his ship, Xiao Yu slowly increased its speed. Suddenly, an unusual reading caught his attention. “Huh?” Xiao Yu adjusted the sensors toward the box and stared at the incoming data in astonishment. The chaotic radiation sources, once numbering in the hundreds, had vanished. In their place was a single radiation source, one that was a hundred times stronger than any of the individual ones before. The radiation sources had fused into one. Fortunately, even in this combined state, the total radiation intensity was slightly lower than when they were separate. The metal box was still able to contain the source securely. However, Xiao Yu noticed another peculiar phenomenon. The metal material of the box seemed to be undergoing some sort of transformation under the influence of this strange radiation source. A sense of urgency gripped Xiao Yu as he began analyzing the box. It appeared that the box’s density had increased slightly, with its molecular structure becoming more compact. Moreover, the external temperature of the box was dropping, and the radiation detected outside the box was decreasing. This suggested that the box was now better at insulating heat and blocking radiation, with its properties somehow enhanced by the radiation source. Xiao Yu’s spirits lifted. He ordered his robots to cut a small sample from the box’s outer layer and sent it to the lab for testing. The results came back quickly. In this short period, the metal material of the box had improved significantly: its heat resistance increased by 50%, its radiation resistance by 45%, and its flexibility and impact resistance had also advanced by leaps and bounds. “I didn’t expect these strange things to turn out to be treasures!” Xiao Yu exclaimed, deeply awed once again by the wonders of the universe. Previously, two main issues had constrained Xiao Yu’s ability to embark on true interstellar travel: propulsion and material technology. The propulsion issue was already showing promise; once he overcame the barrier of controlled nuclear fusion, the propulsion problem would be resolved perfectly. Now, material technology seemed to hold a glimmer of hope as well. Although he had only scratched the surface, seeing a possible solution filled Xiao Yu with excitement. Without breakthroughs in material science, his spacecraft would always remain small and vulnerable, at risk of destruction by even a small asteroid. Attempting interstellar travel lasting hundreds or thousands of years under such conditions was inconceivable. Moreover, without advancements in material technology, his spacecraft would never be able to directly land on a planet. Planetary gravity would tear it apart, and even if it landed successfully, it would never be able to take off again. The constraints of material technology were a major obstacle. Now, seeing a path forward, Xiao Yu couldn’t help but feel exhilarated. “As the saying goes, where there’s loss, there’s gain. It looks like my interstellar travel plans are full of hope now,” Xiao Yu thought excitedly. “Once I land on Titan and establish a large-scale base, I’ll research all this new technology and develop a new generation of interstellar spacecraft. Then, I’ll head toward Proxima Centauri!” At the same time, Xiao Yu began pondering whether he should return to Jupiter to capture more of these strange radiation sources. With the ability to enhance material performance, their value was immeasurable. Just as these thoughts tempted him, Xiao Yu’s sensors detected an even more massive collection of radiation sources—thousands of times stronger than the ones he had just captured. What’s worse, they were exhibiting blueshift. Blueshift meant they were approaching rapidly. Xiao Yu’s current speed relative to the Sun was already 60 kilometers per second, and his speed relative to Jupiter was 70 kilometers per second. Based on his calculations, the incoming radiation sources were traveling at a minimum speed of 80 kilometers per second relative to Jupiter! There were tens of thousands of individual radiation sources in the incoming cluster. At such intensity, no plan or precaution Xiao Yu could devise would work. If they caught up to him, the radiation would instantly melt his spacecraft, turning it into a drifting interstellar meteor in the vast cosmos for all eternity. Terrified, Xiao Yu immediately abandoned any thoughts of returning to Jupiter to capture more radiation sources. He accelerated his spacecraft once again, streaking toward Saturn at top speed. As the blueshift gradually disappeared, confirming that he had escaped the pursuit of these bizarre Jovian creatures, Xiao Yu calmed himself and thought grimly, “At least I’ve already captured some radiation sources. Once I reach Titan and develop controlled nuclear fusion technology, then break through the limits of material science, I’ll definitely come back and catch every last one of you!” “I will return!”

Chapter 9: I Will Return!

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