Top Student: Experience Infinite Occupations Chapter 348 - Time Explorer
Previously on Top Student: Experience Infinite Occupations...
348 Time Explorer
Planet Pegasus 58.
Emperor District!
Li Chengqian found himself in a daze, his eyes vacant, a look of profound pain etched on his face.
It appeared as though he hadn't yet emerged from a harrowing nightmare.
The final moments replayed vividly in his mind.
The Gana observer took another deep inhalation. The remaining survivors were all eradicated, leaving only Li Chengqian alone on the ravaged ground.
Suddenly, a fissure materialized on the Gana observer's exterior, and it regarded Li Chengqian with eyes as deep and serene as a blue lake.
Those eyes conveyed a palpable mockery, as if observing a pathetic, insignificant ant.
As it opened its mouth, an arctic coldness permeated the air. A synthesized voice resonated within Li Chengqian's consciousness.
“An ant!”
“I have observed you for quite some time!”
“After all, an ant capable of accelerating the progress of its civilization is indeed a curious specimen.”
“Your advancements in kinetic cannons and laser weaponry are formidable. Had you cultivated for another century, perhaps you might have inflicted damage upon me.”
“However, at this juncture, they are but mere playthings.” As the Gana observer articulated this, two tubular appendages extended from its form.
Subsequently, the cannons unleashed their payload.
A single projectile was discharged.
The shelter, which the Professions had only recently constructed, dissolved like ice under the onslaught of the Gana observer's verdant corrosive spray.
A handful of individuals were concealed within the shelter at the time. When the viscous fluid breached its confines, they found themselves with no means of escape. The instant they made contact with the emerald liquid, their screams were abruptly silenced as they dissolved into nothingness.
“This is the extent of your shelter!” the Gana observer’s frigid proclamation echoed in Li Chengqian’s mind.
Without pause, the armament on its body spewed forth more of the toxic green fluid.
The liquid moved with astonishing velocity, traversing a distance of ten kilometers in mere moments. It was directed at the pinnacle of kinetic energy weaponry Li Chengqian had engineered.
The verdant substance impacted the barrel of the kinetic energy cannon.
The super-alloy cannon, utterly defenseless, succumbed to the corrosive agent, melting away and rendering the Gana observer’s assault successful.
“And this is your so-called kinetic cannon!”
Immediately following this, an array of cannon muzzles emerged from the Gana observer's physique, simultaneously expelling the green liquid.
Concurrent with the discharge of the alien substance, a holographic representation of Earth materialized before the Gana observer.
Thirteen crimson markers speckled the projection.
Each marker signified a 'Starfire Project' human base. These installations were buried deep beneath the surface, equipped with ample sustenance, fertilized embryos, artificial gestation apparatus, and an assortment of automated units.
This constituted Li Chengqian's contingency strategy; even if humanity were to fall entirely to the Gana observer, the existence of just one of these thirteen sanctuaries would ensure humanity's survival.
Yet, it too had been discovered by the Gana observer!
BOOM!
Upon the holographic depiction of Earth, all thirteen marked locations detonated simultaneously!
They were systematically obliterated from the face of the planet by the Gana observer’s relentless green liquid.
“This represents the final bastion of human hope!” The Gana observer perceived Li Chengqian’s escalating fury and deepening despair. It reveled in his torment, observing his bloodshot eyes and broken spirit.
“Monster, perish!” Li Chengqian roared, consumed by rage. His Stamina attribute had surged to an astounding ten million, a millionfold increase over that of an ordinary individual!
Engineer Skill: Production!
He seized a fragment of metal nearby, transforming it into a razor-sharp javelin.
With a forceful heave, the projectile streaked like a bolt of lightning. Its sheer velocity generated intense air friction, causing it to glow crimson.
This incandescent javelin, capable of felling any foe and breaching any earthly structure, embodied Li Chengqian's incandescent wrath.
It was aimed directly at the Gana observer’s optical sensors.
“Preposterous!” The Gana observer’s icy denunciation reverberated within Li Chengqian’s mind.
In an instant, the javelin was arrested by an unseen energy shield, hovering mere meters from the Gana observer's eyes, utterly immobilized.
“Ant, your demise is assured. Annihilation is your predetermined fate!”
An invisible barrier materialized, encasing Li Chengqian from all sides, rendering him incapable of resistance.
Subjected to its inexorable pull, Li Chengqian ascended involuntarily, drifting towards the colossal maw of the Gana observer.
“Earth, too, shall be annihilated!” the Gana observer declared.
Li Chengqian discerned a shift in his surroundings. He was no longer on Earth but adrift in the vastness of space, with the azure planet suspended before him. Earth, a radiant jewel set against the obsidian backdrop of the cosmos.
Then, this celestial pearl imploded silently, dispersing into cosmic detritus.
As Earth disintegrated into cosmic dust, Li Chengqian was drawn into the Gana observer’s gaping mouth, into the all-consuming, all-dissolving liquid.
…
“I have failed once more! How did Emperor Yu manage to overcome this calamitous event? The Gana observer was an adversary far beyond the capabilities of humans in that era.” Li Chengqian removed the VR helmet from his head, his frustration palpable.
He had attempted this scenario countless times! Each attempt culminating in failure!
At this very moment, luminous characters materialized in the air before Li Chengqian.
Time: Human Universe Calendar Year 15478
Location: Habitable Planet Pegasus 58
Temporal Interference: Human Earth Calendar Year 2045
Event: Gana Observer Assault
Outcome: Humanity Annihilated, Earth Obliterated
Failed Attempts: 48. Successful Attempts: 0
In the year 2045 of the Earth Calendar, humanity had barely begun venturing into space when they were assaulted by beings from the universe's Demigod civilization. The invaders unleashed a suffocating plague, engineered monstrous hunters, and even shattered the Moon, sending it hurtling towards Earth.
Times of chaos forge heroes. Amidst this existential threat, a figure emerged among humankind: Emperor Yu.
Emperor Yu reversed the catastrophe, guiding humanity's survival. He not only vanquished the Gana observer but also led Earth's populace to the stars, transforming them into a cosmic race within a single century.
Fifteen millennia into the Human Universe Calendar, humanity's preeminent scientist perfected temporal interference technology.
This groundbreaking technology did not allow for actual travel to the past.
Instead, it could project a person's consciousness into the simulated past. Crucially, it held the power to alter any event within that historical reconstruction.
These alterations, however, were confined to the past simulation, exerting no influence on the real timeline.
The advent of temporal interference technology spawned a novel human Profession.
The Time Explorer!
Not everyone, however, possessed the aptitude for this calling. The technology was fraught with peril, demanding consciousness projection into historical epochs.
Upon projecting their consciousness, individuals would forfeit their original memories. They would remain entirely unaware of their role as Time Explorers, perceiving their simulated world as their sole reality.
Consequently, Time Explorers were exceptionally susceptible to becoming disoriented and lost within past timelines.
Nevertheless, Time Explorers exhibited distinct traits.
Though a Time Explorer could not consciously recall their true memories, they would experience a profound sense of familiarity, a déjà vu, upon encountering past events or individuals.
Failing to recover their true identity throughout their simulated existence meant certain demise.
Perishing within a past timeline translated directly to death in the real world.
Should a Time Explorer manage to reclaim their identity, their consciousness would be forcibly ejected from the past simulation. An unknown force would propel them back to their original time within moments.
A staggering 99.9% of all Time Explorers succumbed to disorientation and perished during their maiden temporal interference!
Only an infinitesimal fraction managed to survive.
Even those fortunate enough to endure subsequent explorations remained in grave peril.
The fatality rate was astronomically high!
Following its inception, the Time Explorer profession quickly became the human Profession with the most lethal casualty rate.
Li Chengqian represented a unique anomaly among Time Explorers; he retained fragmented memories from his true existence.
Furthermore, he possessed a rare talent: the ability to instantaneously reawaken his real-world memories at the brink of simulated death, simultaneously allowing his consciousness to disengage from the past and return to reality.
This meant temporal interference posed no inherent risk to Li Chengqian.
“Temporal exploration is capped at the year 2040 at the earliest; it cannot penetrate further!”
“It's rumored that prior to the year 2040 of the Earth Calendar, humanity held a pivotal secret that would determine its very survival. For this reason, Emperor Yu imposed a temporal seal on the timeline up to 2040.”
“To uncover this secret, one must first surmount a trial!”
“Defeat the Gana observer and guide humanity's evolution into a cosmic species. This is the trial.”
“Successfully passing this trial will earn an invitation from humanity's highest governing body, the Heavenly Court Planet, granting entry.”
“Whispers suggest Emperor Yu himself still lives, overseeing the operations of the Heavenly Court Planet.”
“If Emperor Yu could achieve it, then I, Li Chengqian, am certainly capable.”
“Emperor Yu had but a single opportunity. I possess infinite chances. I can repeatedly attempt and fail, learning from each setback.”
“After a brief respite, I shall analyze my failures and lay a robust foundation for my next temporal interference.”
“On my next journey into the past, I must meticulously select the memories I carry. Next time, my goal will be to slay the Gana observer and merge its remains with Earth!” Li Chengqian's eyes burned with resolve.
“Bai Ze, prepare me a plate of stir-fried dinosaur eggs. I'm famished!”
“Yes, Master!”
The End.
