Silicon Invasion

"Could it be to increase living space and reduce the number of top-tier beasts? Do they launch attacks on regional overlords every so often?" The first expert to speak was named Li, in his forties, with a receding hairline, looking unremarkable. At this moment, he pinched his gold-rimmed glasses, his brow furrowed in thought, exuding a unique middle-aged charm.

Unfortunately, those present were either middle-aged like him or even older, so his charm was wasted. However, his opening remark did spark some ideas, and everyone began to speak up, even the expert who had been at odds with him earlier earnestly expressed his views.

"That's actually possible. If that's the case, it's enough to prove that our Hucan base is indeed an overlord in this area."

"What's the use? Does it give us money? Understated development is the key."

"Stop daydreaming. If that were the case, they should be attacking the base. Why would they attack the mining team?"

"Maybe they just want to reduce the overall number? All the beasts join forces to attack the boss, reducing the population of all groups at the same time?"

"When they don't know how to develop production, this is indeed a sustainable path."

"It's just a bit cruel."

"Cruel? For them, ensuring the continuation of their species is the most important thing, far more important than their own lives."

"Yes, ignorance isn't always a bad thing. At least they aren't selfish."

"Alright, now is not the time to discuss these things." Seeing the discussion heading in a strange direction, Elder Zhang Zhiran knocked on the table, reminding them of what was most important.

"How is the preparation on Blue Star?" Then, Zhang Zhiran turned to ask his student.

"We still need to wait a while. They need to prepare some things over there as well."

Zhang Zhiran nodded. Although the internet has brought everyone closer, it's not something that can be done in minutes to assemble a group of experts. At the earliest, we'll have to wait a little longer.

"We can only rely on ourselves for now. Every bit of important information we gather will be of more help to the frontline teams."

"Didn't you say there were only five thousand? Our army can't even handle this many silicon-based beasts, right?"

Hearing the question, Zhang Zhiran shook his head: "We just received the latest news. As the exploration range increases, the number of silicon-based beasts is still growing. If it continues to increase, our troops will be in greater danger."

"Damn it, the mining team has drawn nearly eighty percent of the mechs from both bases. If they suffer too many losses, wouldn't the bases be in danger?"

"That's right!" Zhang Zhiran confirmed: "So, everyone, although you can't personally go to the front lines to fight, I hope you can contribute more in other areas."

"Old Li's speculation had some merit, but the question is, who prescribed this behavior to them? To say it's natural evolution, accumulated experience, I don't quite believe it."

Hearing Elder Zhang Zhiran's words, the experts put away their somewhat lax attitude and racked their brains, hoping to reach a conclusion as soon as possible.

"Hmph, the appearance of silicon-based beasts is abnormal in itself. They are not natural products at all. These things are certainly set by the creatures that created them."

Whether silicon-based beasts are natural products has indeed been a topic of debate in academia. Some people believe that the universe is so vast, anything can happen. Even space rifts exist, so what's so surprising about the production of silicon-based beasts?

Others believe that, according to the Maikan intelligence collected by humans, although the environment there is somewhat special, it is not enough to produce such magical creatures that exist between silicon-based and carbon-based life. Even with the mysterious Z element, humans have not found how it is produced, nor can they analyze its structure.

In today's technologically advanced world, this is quite incredible.

Therefore, these people believe that Maikan is an alien conspiracy, including the space rifts that are not naturally generated. They are doing some kind of experiment, it's just that humans cannot understand it.

With the exploration of Maikan, more and more people support the second view. Obviously, this expert is one of them.

His words were recognized by many people, but these words were too general. Even if silicon-based beasts were created by aliens, so what? Even if it's an experiment, so what? Without strength, one can only be slaughtered. Saying these things doesn't help the current situation.

"Stop guessing, it's not like that." The elder looked at the tablet in his hand and shook his head, saying: "We just received news from Blue Star that other bases have not encountered this situation."

"Then is it possible that it's regional or seasonal?"

Blue Star even has spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and the four directions, there's no reason why Maikan doesn't have them.

"Since you guess that this behavior occurs once every few decades and is artificially set, then it has little connection with seasons or regions. Saying it's certain is a bit arbitrary, but it's probably not."

"… …"

"Perhaps a silicon-based beast that we haven't discovered is directing all of this." Another expert suddenly spoke: "Golden Apes and Bearfaces are strong, but they are no stronger than those A-level individuals. The currently known A-level individuals all have special abilities, such as the recently discovered A091, whose huge body can fly at subsonic speeds. This simply does not conform to aerodynamics, and there must be something we don't know about working."

The crowd nodded. This expert's point of view was very reasonable. A-level individuals are different, but they have one thing in common, and that is their power.

If there is an A-level individual that humans have not discovered that has the ability to command other silicon-based beasts, it does not seem strange.

After all, Maikan is so big, I don't know how many powerful silicon-based beasts are hidden. Humans have only discovered a few dozen, which may only be a drop in the bucket.

"But even if this theory holds, why would it attack us?"

Another expert raised a question:

"Humans may waste time on meaningless things, but relatively primitive silicon-based beasts will definitely not do such things."

"That's not for sure. Facts have proved that A-level individuals have no low intelligence. Maybe it's just bored and playing a game?"

"Unlikely, even if A-level individuals have intelligence, the environment they belong to limits their thinking."

"Agreed, so it must have a purpose."

"Then what is the purpose?"

"Maybe we have threatened its safety?"

The crowd was silent. In recent years, the Hucan base has become increasingly prosperous, and the number of resident mechs has increased to more than 1,000. So many mechs are here, surely they are not idle…

Whether it has invaded the territory of a powerful silicon-based beast, the crowd is really not sure.