259: Chapter 259 Humanity Officially Advances! Advanced Civilization in the Universe

In the new era of the Universal Calendar, in the boundless star field outside the Protoss Inheritance ruins, billions of warships lined up like an iron wall. The faint light of their engines wove into a brilliant galaxy. The Dawn Mothership stood at the center of the formation, its body shimmering with the interplay of colorful Dimensional Technology halos and golden mechanical patterns, looking like the most dazzling throne in the universe, quietly awaiting the arrival of an epoch-making moment.

Zero stood at the center of the main console. The signal of this universe-level AI covered every corner of the known universe. Without the slightest concealment, it directly broadcast a solemn declaration belonging to the Star River Empire on the universal communication frequency. An ethereal yet majestic voice resounded through the communication channels of every civilization and on every inhabited planet:

"I am Zero, the AI of the Star River Empire. By the order of Emperor Chen Fan, I proclaim to the entire universe: The human civilization has endured catastrophes, eradicated the Zerg, trampled the Mechanical Race, inherited the ancient Protoss Inheritance, unlocked Dimensional Technology, and possesses combat power that reigns supreme in the known universe. From this day forward, humanity officially ascends to a Universal Higher Civilization, and the Star River Empire is a member of the Universal Higher Civilization sequence!"

This declaration was like a thunderclap, exploding in every corner of the known universe and instantly stirring up monstrous waves.

Hundreds of ethnic groups that had already submitted to humanity, such as the Blue Crystal Civilization, Rock Civilization, and Lava Civilization, immediately sent congratulatory signals. The leaders of each group personally recorded congratulatory messages, their words full of awe and submission, honoring humanity as their leader and expressing their desire to forever belong to the Star River Empire. Those medium-sized civilizations that had previously been watching from the sidelines and had not yet stated their position were even more terrified. They hastily set aside their pride, urgently sending letters of submission and tribute lists, fearing that if they were a step too slow, they would be liquidated by this rising new star. Even those ancient remnant civilizations that lived in seclusion in the corners of the universe and never participated in disputes extended their perception. After confirming humanity's dimensional combat power and Protoss Inheritance, they all sent congratulatory gifts, tacitly acknowledging humanity's status as a Higher Civilization.

Across the universe, the astronomical telescopes of countless civilizations were all aimed at the direction of the Protoss Inheritance ruins, gazing at the billions of warships that exerted pressure on the entire universe, at the Dawn Mothership that could consume metal and break dimensions, and at Emperor Chen Fan, who stood in the mothership's command center and had swept away two powerful enemies single-handedly. Only endless awe remained in their hearts.

Who could have imagined that just a few years ago, humanity was only a weak ethnic group living in a corner, almost wiped out by the Federation, and even faced the desperate situation of being exiled to the Dead Zone? Who could have imagined that this carbon-based ethnic group, once inconspicuous in the sequence of universal civilizations, could stage a comeback, eradicate the Mechanical Race that had ruled the universe for five hundred thousand years, inherit the ancient Protoss Inheritance, unlock Dimensional Technology that even veteran civilizations found difficult to touch, and ascend in one step to enter the ranks of Higher Civilizations!

Inside the command center of the Dawn, the core members of the human race gathered together, everyone's faces beaming with pride and filled with tears of joy.

Commander Lei Meng straightened his back, looking at the dense signals of congratulations and submission on the holographic screen, his voice choked with emotion: "In those days, we held our ground on Blue Water Star, unable to even deal with the Federation, and now... we have actually become a Universal Higher Civilization. This is something we never dared to dream of!"

Old Hu clenched his fists, his eyes red. Having fought his whole life, from a low-level soldier to the commander of the Universal Allied Forces, he had witnessed every step of humanity's hardships, and at this moment, he finally welcomed the glory that belonged to humanity. Commander Ling Shuang and Ayla smiled at each other, their eyes filled with relief. They had accompanied Emperor Chen Fan through the battles and finally waited for the moment of the race's rise. Commander Su Qingyue looked at the Higher Civilization certification mark on the screen, her heart full of certainty. Humanity's level of technology and civilization had finally reached the pinnacle of the universe.

Emperor Chen Fan stood before the panoramic viewport, overlooking the signals of submission from ten thousand races below, and watching the cheering scene of billions of human compatriots behind him, his expression calm yet carrying a trace of warmth. From being alone in the Dead Zone to now commanding billions of soldiers, with ten thousand races submitting; from having nothing to holding the fifty-thousand-year technology of the Mechanical Race, the Protoss Inheritance, and the power of Dimensional Technology, he had finally led humanity out of the desperate situation and towards the pinnacle.

He walked slowly to the main console and activated the universal broadcast. His figure appeared on every screen in the entire universe. His black imperial robe fluttered, and his body was interwoven with Star Spirit Divine Power and universal pressure. His voice was steady and powerful, spreading throughout the universe:

"Humanity has endured suffering and has been on the verge of annihilation, but we have never yielded."

"Today, we ascend to a Higher Civilization, not to bully the weak, not to slaughter ten thousand races, but to protect universal peace, to safeguard the survival opportunities of all weak ethnic groups, and to resist the world-destroying catastrophes hidden in the universe."

"The Star River Empire is willing to coexist peacefully with all friendly civilizations and jointly build universal order. Those who submit will share our technology and protect our homes together; those who offend our humanity or bully our allies, even if they are far away, will be executed!"

As his voice fell, the entire universe erupted in earth-shattering cheers. Within human territory, billions of citizens took to the streets, waving the imperial flag to celebrate the glory of their race. The citizens of the ten thousand submitted races also celebrated, rejoicing that they had chosen the right object of submission and had obtained powerful protection.

Zero transmitted a message at the right time, its tone carrying a hint of gravity, breaking the celebration in the command center: "Your Majesty, the universal signal monitoring has detected an anomaly. In the territory of the Holy Light Race, a veteran top-tier civilization of the universe, strong hostile fluctuations have appeared. They have monitored humanity's ascension to a Higher Civilization and the inheritance of the Protoss Inheritance, and have already regarded humanity as a heretic. They are currently in fierce internal deliberation and seem to have measures aimed at humanity."

A cold, chilling light flashed in Emperor Chen Fan's eyes. What was meant to come would eventually come. The rise of humanity would inevitably touch the interests of veteran top-tier civilizations, especially the Holy Light Race, which claimed to be the orthodoxy of the universe. But he was fearless. Humanity was already a Universal Higher Civilization, holding Dimensional Technology, with billions of warships at the peak of their combat power, and the Protoss Inheritance upon them. Even when facing a veteran top-tier civilization, they had the power to fight.

"Do not pay attention to them." Emperor Chen Fan said indifferently, his tone firm, "Reorganize the army, prepare for war, consolidate the territory, and share the fruits of Higher Civilization. If the Holy Light Race dares to invade, let them know that today's humanity is no longer a weak race that can be manipulated."

The declaration concluded, and humanity officially ranked among the Universal Higher Civilizations, with boundless glory. But behind this glory, the hostility of the Holy Light Race, a veteran top-tier civilization, had already been born. A new universal war was quietly brewing.