Chapter 64 The Ancient Believers
This strange fungus that can parasitize machinery seems a little difficult to deal with.
During the initial scan of the scientific research spacecraft, these fungi were not even found on the surface of the ring world, but a huge hyphae network of these fungi was discovered after a deeper underground section.
Judging from the scale, it is very likely that they have already covered this entire section of the ring world.
If it weren’t for the fact that the connection structure of the ring world uses a very dense and powerful metal, these fungi may have spread to other ring world segments.
But even so, they also showed dangerous abilities.
The scientific research spacecraft flew over the sky around the world, and the ground it faced was a "fungus city" full of bacteria seas.
Countless dense fungi covered the regular objects that used to look like buildings. As the scientific research spacecraft swept by, they even slightly turned towards the direction of the spacecraft, as if they were "looking" at the spacecraft.
As the scanning progressed, Li Wenyuan gradually discovered traces of "biological" activities on the surface of the ring world.
The reason for the quotes is because those "creatures" are supposed to be a kind of robot.
More than half of their body surface was covered by fungi, and some fungi even grew out of their bodies, pushing away the metal shell of the robot, exposing the infected circuits inside.
These robots don’t seem to be able to be used again, but under the parasitism of fungi, they seem to be given life and are still doing some simple work on the surface.
The passing of the spacecraft also attracted their attention, but after just one glance, the robots continued to do their work with their heads down.
As the scanning progressed, Li Wenyuan found some special signals on a huge hemispherical building.
This building seems to be cast directly and integrally from a dense metal, so that fungal spores cannot parasitize in its gaps and break through the internal mechanical structure.
After translating those special signals, Li Wenyuan understood what the fungus was like.
【This is a radio station that records our history】
【Even if our civilization is about to be destroyed, we don’t want to see our mission sink into this fungus. This radio station will be our last trace】
【I don’t know how long ago, after we were brought into this paradise by "God", we swore not to shame "God"】
【We have worked hard to become stronger, and created our powerful civilization with the help of the great achievements left by the "God"】
【But "God" didn't come to visit us, we think it's because we haven't lived up to His expectations】
【So we pursued it even more frantically, and successfully cultivated this kind of fungal life that we call "iron-eating fungus"】
【At the beginning, we hoped to extend our lifespan with the help of this fungus, so that everyone could see the return of the "God"】
【But we made mistakes, our machinery, our weapons, our cities and even our civilization were infected by them】
【We still shamed "God". We failed to destroy this group of fungi, and even we were destroyed by it.]
[But in a way we may not have shamed "God" because we created a threat that we couldn't solve ourselves]
【We use a crazy plan to make these fungi give birth to wisdom. They destroy us, but they will also replace us and continue the gift of "God"】
【"God"! Your humble believer will always be here! Protect this land for you! 】
This particular fungus appears to have been created by an indigenous civilization taken in by humans.
It's a pity that humans didn't want to be their "gods". After these aborigines were brought in for resettlement, they might be forgotten by humans.
But even so, this indigenous civilization is still trying to leave some traces, wanting to let humans see their piety.
"...Admirable faith, but unfortunately, your 'god' has disappeared." Li Wenyuan shook his head and entered the information of this radio station into the database.
He is already preparing to clean up the fungus in this ring world, after all, these things seem to have threatened the normal operation of this ring world.
So the colossus equipped with star-destroying weapons slowly came to the sky above the ring world.
Knowing that nanobots can't be infected, it's also a good idea to use a huge nanotorrent to clean up these fungi.
The giant battleship in the sky began to slowly deform, and the muzzle representing "purification" was aimed at the ground below.
Maybe it won't be long before these fungi will be wiped out.
However, at this moment, Gray Wind who was staying near the scientific research spacecraft discovered something, and then pointed it out to Li Wenyuan:
"Look, those robots... what are they doing?"
Looking in the direction that Gray Wind pointed, Li Wenyuan was stunned by what was happening.
The fungus-infected robots were all kneeling on the ground at this moment, they didn't run away, and they didn't ignore the colossus in the sky, but made prayer-like movements.
The fungi that were originally buried deep under the soil layer suddenly grew vigorously, popping out of the ground one after another, dyeing the surface of the ring world into a vast expanse of whiteness.
It looks like there are countless white flowers blooming on the ground.
The fungus that covered the building was also shaking slightly, not in instinctive fear of impending doom, but in... joy?
This strange sight made Li Wenyuan stop the preparations for the attack of the giant statue, but frowned and looked at these "fungus flowers" all over the earth.
After being silent for a while, he called out the "brain wave translator" that he hadn't used for a long time.
The brain wave index that should have been calm had produced many weak fluctuations at this time, and all of these came from the fungus below.
Looking at the content on the "Brain Wave Translator", Li Wenyuan finally sighed: "...It's embarrassing..."
The series of weak fluctuations finally formed a short sentence:
"...God... have you come to see us..."
The civilization that was destroyed by this fungus seems to have used some method to allow these fungi to inherit part of their memory.
At least about the devotion to humans, even after such a long time has not dissipated.
Li Wenyuan now understands what the previous radio station said "they destroyed us, but they also replaced us".
These fungi may not have been conscious at first, only knowing to expand infinitely.
But under some kind of crazy behavior of this civilization, they succeeded in making fungi gain wisdom, and made these fungi "think" that they are this civilization taken in by humans.
Humans may never ask of them anything, but they still want to give something in return.
They are indeed as they said, they will stay in this ring world forever, guarding this land for human beings.
(end of this chapter)