Chapter 324: Space Bridge? Folding Space Itself! The Hollowed Core of Cybertron!
As Sentinel submitted to V's interrogation and prepared to join the ranks of the Megacorp, Optimus Prime, on the other side, was deep in talks with Alt regarding their plan to return to Cybertron.
"Cybertron is the birthplace of both Autobots and Decepticons. Though war has left the surface barren and desolate, beneath the crust lies a labyrinth of intricate, unknown machinery."
"These mysterious mechanical structures remain unsolved enigmas to this day. This mission to return to Cybertron is fraught with danger—you must be mentally prepared."
Inside the command center at Earth's frontline base, Optimus Prime spoke solemnly to Alt, sharing every piece of information he knew without holding anything back.
Frankly, Optimus didn't want the Megacorp using the Space Bridge to warp Cybertron directly into the Solar System.
Cybertron still housed numerous weapons of mass destruction. If one of them detonated mid-transit, the resulting chain reaction could devastate the surrounding planets.
What's more, the Space Bridge's reliability hadn't been rigorously tested. Who could guarantee that there wouldn't be catastrophic failures?
If something went wrong and Cybertron was obliterated mid-transfer, the consequences would be unimaginable.
From both the perspective of human civilization and the interests of the Cybertronians, the safest and most rational approach was still to travel by starship.
"Thank you for the warning. I'll keep all of that in mind," Alt Cunningham replied with a calm nod. The Megacorp had long since finalized its mission plans for Cybertron, with an entire expeditionary fleet already standing by.
Now, everything hinged on Optimus, Sentinel , and the others to lead the way for the Megacorp's advance team and research units in the upcoming exploratory operation.
As far as the Megacorp was concerned, the only real threat on Cybertron was Primus—now one with the planet itself. But the chance of Primus awakening was slim to none.
After all, without an external injection of energy, the probability of Primus reviving on its own was extremely low.
The Decepticons and Autobots had been waging war across Cybertron for eons, nearly fighting all the way down to the planet's core—yet Primus had never stirred.
The only plausible explanation was that Primus had been dormant for so long, it had no means or motivation to awaken without fresh energy sustenance.
"I've already told you everything I know about the risks of Cybertron. If you're confident you can handle it, proceed as you see fit," Optimus said, shaking his head with a weary sigh.
Then he added one final request: "I only ask that after the Megacorp occupies Cybertron, you refrain from destructive exploitation or careless research."
"Preserve some traces of Cybertronian presence—ancient architecture, historical records—at least enough to prove where we came from."
As he spoke, a tinge of shame filled Optimus's voice. After all, if anyone had done the most damage to Cybertron, it was the Cybertronians themselves.
They had nearly reduced their own homeworld to ruin—and now, preserving what remained relied on the goodwill of outsiders.
Seeing this, Alt responded with a firm and sincere promise: "Rest assured. The Megacorp is a civilization committed to love and peace."
"Our only desire is to uncover the scientific mysteries hidden within Cybertron—to deepen our understanding of the Transformers universe."
"Not only will we avoid damaging the environment, but we'll also make efforts to repair post-war pollution where possible."
If nothing else, the Megacorp had built a reputation as the multiverse's number one "pro-dog" organization—they treated loyal followers exceedingly well.
Sure, they were ruthless during the initial subjugation, but once someone submitted and followed orders, life under the Megacorp was actually quite decent.
This loyalty-driven system had won the allegiance of various alien species and scientific institutions across multiple universes, all working in service of the Megacorp's expansion.
After all, in any universe, nothing was more despised than empty promises and carrot-dangling lies.
As for Cybertron, Li Ang's ultimate goal was clearly Primus.
Regardless of what form the Transformers universe's primordial god now existed in, if there was any way to establish contact, Li Ang would try.
After all, he'd yet to encounter a being truly comparable to a god. The only other lifeform that had piqued his curiosity was Eywa of Pandora.
Who knew—maybe Primus, like Eywa, had persisted in the form of a pure consciousness.
As for fixing Cybertron's environmental collapse? That was child's play for a corporation with extensive planet-restoration experience.
Assigning the job to the Megacorp was practically a formality.
Besides, Cybertronian civilization had once enjoyed a golden age. If it hadn't been for the war, those proud Cybertronians would never have abandoned their home to wander the stars.
Rebuilding Cybertron wasn't just about restoring a planet—it was about calling the scattered Transformers across the cosmos back to their true home.
If played right, this move could significantly accelerate the Megacorp's full-scale consolidation across the universe.
"Very well. I'll leave it to you," rumbled Optimus.
Just then, Sentinel —fresh from the interrogation room—entered the command center.
Seeing his old mentor unharmed, Optimus immediately realized that Sentinel had chosen to align with the Megacorp.
"Sentinel , welcome to the Megacorp!"
…
…
Three days later, the Megacorp's Third Expeditionary Fleet's flagship Wanderer-Class dreadnought fired a brilliant blue beam into the void.
Pulsing energy rippled through the darkness as a warp tunnel tore open across the starfield. The entire fleet entered slipstream, vanishing from the Solar System.
Very few crew members knew the exact destination of this mission. Most had simply followed orders to head for a designated set of galactic coordinates.
As various task forces and Sentinel waited anxiously, time ticked by.
The jump was uneventful, and within 24 hours, the fleet successfully arrived in the star system housing Cybertron.
As the metal world loomed ahead, everyone's tension eased a little.
Commander of the Third Corps immediately instructed the onboard AI systems to deploy a wave of probe drones and autonomous recon units to scout Cybertron's interior.
Simultaneously, combat personnel throughout the fleet began equipping themselves for potential hostile encounters.
On the holoscreens, Cybertron glimmered with a lifeless metallic sheen—its surface grim and silent. For many, it was their first time seeing such a unique planet.
The Megacorp had explored countless galaxies, but had rarely encountered truly advanced silicon-based lifeforms like the Transformers.
Those few that existed were usually little more than mindless reptilian brutes.
Among all known lifeforms, carbon-based organisms were far more likely to evolve into advanced civilizations—fragile, yes, but full of potential.
Silicon-based beings, while hardy and durable, typically needed immense time spans to "grind out" progress.
One technological breakthrough might cost them millions of years in trial and error.
"Stay sharp," barked one squad leader to his team. "This ground recon might get hairy. You see something—say something. Anyone keeping secrets is asking for a bullet!"
"Yes, sir!"
…
Inside the command bridge, Moriko had secretly dispatched a swarm of micro-drones to monitor Sentinel 's every move.
If the former warlord tried anything treacherous, she would know immediately and respond accordingly.
Appointing Sentinel as guide for the advance team carried obvious risks. No one could say for sure if he might lead the Megacorp's forces straight into an ambush.
To guard against this, Moriko also deployed a recently departed Decepticon familiar with Cybertron's terrain to accompany the squad.
Soon, with all preparations complete, the Hyperion-Class scout cruiser—carrying the advance team, Sentinel, and the research crew—began descent toward Cybertron.
As it pierced the atmosphere, the full scope of Cybertron's bleak terrain came into view.
Looking at the barren world, even battle-hardened soldiers like William Cage struggled to believe this had once birthed beings like Autobots and Decepticons.
"This place is terrifying. Even Pacific Rim's wasn't this grim. Is this planet even livable?"
A veteran of the Pioneer extermination campaign remarked. Compared to the devastation here, the Pacific rim's didn't seem so bad.
"The Transformers are silicon-based. Makes sense they can handle the heat. Still, this place… it's like Dante's Inferno was inspired by it."
"…"
Meanwhile, the science team was analyzing incoming sensor data to evaluate surface hazards and environmental risks.
Since this was the Megacorp's first landing, they kept it limited: only a scout ship, drones, and probes were dispatched.
Thanks to Sentinel's insights and drone data, Cage began to grasp the true nature of Cybertron's terrain.
The planet wasn't just a surface of valleys, mountains, and canyons—it was layered downward, all the way to the core.
And that core housed Primus's vital systems.
Right now, the AI drones were steadily advancing toward the planet's heart.
Primus—the ultimate power in the Transformers universe—was arguably the strongest Transformer ever.
Though the Thirteen Primes defeated Unicron with a group assault, they had all been crafted from Primus's own Matrix.
One even defected to Unicron's side, meaning Primus had fought with a handicap.
If it had been a pure one-on-one battle of godlike powers, odds were, Primus would've come out on top.
"Lord Sentinel," a scientist addressed him, "based on the data we've gathered so far, it seems Cybertronian technology advanced far faster than that of any silicon-based civilization we've encountered."
"Even after the departure of the Progenitor Primus, your scientific progress showed no signs of slowing."
"From an overall perspective… the pace of your technological advancement is nearly on par with humanity's Industrial Revolution. It's honestly mind-boggling!"
At this moment, the head of the expedition team, Chisaji Fox, couldn't help voicing his confusion to Sentinel.
Having recently been promoted to Director of the Science Division in Universe 003 [Edge of Tomorrow], Chisaji Fox had personally volunteered to join this mission to explore.
As a leading scientific mind obsessed with technological progress and the future of civilization, it was only natural for him to want firsthand insight into the origins of the Transformers universe—and the Cybertronian civilization.
Now that he had the opportunity to access first-hand data, Chisaji Fox wasn't going to let it slip through his fingers.
To his query, Sentinel offered a surprisingly candid explanation, revealing the hidden truth behind Cybertron's rapid technological development.
It turned out that the vast majority of Cybertronian technology was not self-developed, but rather unearthed and reverse-engineered from the corpse of Primus.
From the very beginning, the Cybertronians had barely innovated or progressed on their own. They had simply ridden the coattails of their ancestral inheritance—freeloading their way into the present.
It was akin to a bountiful land like Africa, where fruit-bearing trees were everywhere. The people didn't need to till the soil—just walk up, bend over, and pick food off the ground.
With resources that abundant, who would willingly toil day and night, planting and harvesting crops just for a meager yield?
To the Cybertronians, their entire planet was essentially a massive technological vault. All it took was digging up a portion of it to catapult their civilization forward at incredible speed.
In a sense, Primus was like an ancient cultivator from a xianxia novel—so powerful that even in death, his remains were a treasure trove.
Consume his tendons, and you become vigorous as a dragon. Swallow his eyes, and you gain laser vision and far sight. Eat his hands, and you acquire a pair of mighty Kirin Arms…
As for Sentinel's nickname, "the Einstein of the Autobots," it would be more accurate to call him an archaeologist than a scientist.
Even his famed Space Bridge technology was reverse-engineered from Primus's remains.
Most likely, the Space Bridge was nothing more than Primus's personal method of transportation.
After all, even Megatronus could manually generate wormholes and freely traverse space. How much more capable would Primus have been?
Using the Space Bridge to perform spatial compression, traversing vast distances in a single step—that was child's play for him.
After Sentinel's thorough explanation, the members of the Megacorp expedition team suddenly had a moment of clarity.
No wonder Cybertron's technological evolution had progressed like it was strapped to a rocket—racing ahead at breakneck speed. Now, they understood why.
Had it not been for the civil war, Cybertronian civilization might be even more prosperous today.
Learning these truths only solidified one belief in the hearts of Chisaji Fox and the other researchers: whether it's an individual or a civilization, the fastest way to advance… is to freeload.
Without windfalls, there's no wealth; without extra feed, a horse won't grow fat. All the hard work in the world pales in comparison to sheer luck and serendipity.
More importantly, this revelation made the purpose of their mission even clearer: to fully exploit the remains of Primus!
If they could thoroughly study his various organs and understand the functions of each part—
Then perhaps Megacorp could extract breakthrough technologies like Seventy-Two Transformations, Scattering Beans into Soldiers, Vast Heavenly Manifestation, or even External Avatar Techniques!
Looking at the grim, terrifying landscape of Cybertron, Chisaji Fox no longer felt fear or apprehension. Instead, he was overcome with pure exhilaration.
As of now, Megacorp had secured two infinite "tech freeloading" vaults:
The first was the Halo universe's Domain—containing the collective technologies and cultural archives of the Forerunners and Precursors.
The second was this—Transformers—the planet Cybertron itself, and the Dao-infused remains of Primus!
Meanwhile, the descending Hyperion finally landed at the designated site. Everyone aboard disembarked, hearts pounding with excitement as they officially set foot on the surface of Cybertron.
The moment he stepped onto his homeworld once again, Sentinel couldn't help but sigh deeply.
"It's been a long time… Cybertron."
Staring at the desolate landscape that struck deep into the core of his spark, and inhaling the heavy scent of rust in the air, Sentinel was overwhelmed with unease and revulsion.
To Cybertronians, the smell of rust and decay signified death and ruin—an ominous harbinger of decline.
Looking around with the other expedition members, they couldn't see a single living Cybertronian.
The planet appeared to have become a lifeless dead world.
"I never imagined Cybertron would deteriorate into such a hellish state. The atrocities we committed… are worse than anything the Quintessons ever did to us."
Sentinel let out a self-mocking laugh. He stepped atop a heap of metal debris and gazed out at the boundless wasteland—only bleakness met his eyes.
Back when he left, Cybertron had never looked this grim. This showed just how catastrophic the civil war had truly been.
Looking down at the scrap heap beneath his feet, he spotted a rusted Cybertronian head. The sight made him even more irritable.
"Looks like Cybertron really is finished. Anyone with strength or talent has already left. All that's left are worthless husks waiting to die."
Just as Sentinel bitterly muttered those words, he suddenly picked up a faint signal—it was coming from the internal Autobot communication channel.
Turns out, some Decepticons and Autobots still remained on Cybertron, locked in bitter skirmishes across the few battlegrounds that were left.
Ten thousand years had passed since Optimus Prime, Megatron, and the elite warriors of both factions left Cybertron—but the war still hadn't ended.
"Report: our drones have detected activity from both Decepticons and Autobots—they appear to be engaged in combat."
At that moment, a Megacorp intelligence officer reported to Cage and Chisaji Fox, confirming Sentinel's statement: Cybertron's civil war was still ongoing.
Chisaji Fox nodded and instructed the team to continue monitoring but not to provoke either side.
"There's no need for concern," Sentinel added. "Whoever's still left here is just scrap—they're no threat to you."
He could tell that the Cybertronians left behind had entered the final phase of collapse: scavenging energy from weaker peers just to survive.
In many ways, the Transformers were no different from humans—when survival is at stake, the first instinct is not cooperation, but plunder.
During a great famine, people resort to cannibalism—and what's happening now on Cybertron is no different.
"The energy shortage here is dire. No wonder the Decepticons and Autobots left to find new homes elsewhere."
Chisaji Fox nodded thoughtfully. As he looked at Sentinel's slightly hunched and solitary figure, he realized the truth: for Cybertronians, Cybertron had become a dead end.
Unless they could conquer other planets and extract their energy, Cybertron's only fate was extinction.
Worse still, the unending war had created a massive technological gap.
Most ordinary Transformers were no longer capable of building ships that could even attempt faster-than-light travel.
And even if they could barely cobble one together, the lack of sustainable energy sources made interstellar voyages nearly impossible.
Prior to arriving on Cybertron, Chisaji Fox and his team had already observed that the surrounding planets in this system were just as barren.
This was because the entire star system had long been depleted—like Cybertron, it was no longer suitable for hosting a thriving civilization.
Which explained why Sentinel had traveled all the way to the solar system—compared to other systems, it was a lush Eden teeming with life and resources!
Just then, the rusted Cybertronian head beneath Sentinel's feet tumbled from the debris pile and dropped into a crack in the metallic ground.
The clanging sound of metal against metal gradually faded, but curiously, a faint echo continued to resonate—something that caught Chisaji Fox's keen attention.
He peered into the crevice and discovered something shocking: Cybertron's interior had been completely hollowed out!
The planet was now like a vast honeycomb, its hollow structure extending all the way to the core.
Unlike a typical beehive, however, the hollowing was dangerously severe.
One wrong step, and the ground could collapse beneath their feet, sending someone plummeting into the abyss without warning.
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