Just as Xi Yujin was about to start outlining his new story, the Space Algae drifted close to the Tidal Peace and began broadcasting their bizarre signal again:

"Selling children!"

"I don't think our Tidal Peace needs any," Xi Yujin said.

But he had no idea how to respond to the Space Algae, so he looked toward Gano.

Understanding immediately, Gano equipped his armor and flew outside the ship to drive the algae away.

From Xi Yujin's perspective, Gano merely swung his weapon a few times, and the massive algae colony, stretching across an entire star system, immediately fled at high speed.

Curious, Xi Yujin asked how he had done it.

"In the war, the Zerg once used Space Algae," Gano explained as he pulled up archived war records.

In the universe, if a massive planet possessed both liquid metallic hydrogen currents and rapid rotation, it would generate a magnetic field, forming a high-energy particle "radiation belt." The Intelligent Machines' routes of advancement were inevitably tied to magnetic fields.

To rapidly observe and map such fields, the Zerg cultivated the originally weak Space Cyanobacteria into the highly resilient Space Green Algae.

Huge swarms of algae would be released all at once, automatically outlining a planet's magnetic field like sprawling patches of green contamination.

Obedience toward the Zerg had been engraved into the genes of the Space Green Algae.

Now that the war had long ended, the algae still drifted among the ruins, spreading themselves from ship to ship like dandelion seeds.

Xi Yujin had only heard fragments about that war, but even those descriptions were enough for him to imagine how horrific it must have been.

The vast universe itself became an inescapable hell.

Weaker species didn't possess the right to choose sides, and they could only watch helplessly as they were destroyed.

He fell silent for a while before quietly feeling grateful that the war was over.

He repeatedly revised his new outline before finally settling on the title:

Infinite Red Algae

A cosmic version of Infinite Terror*! (T/N: 无限恐怖 is a Chinese web novel that pioneered the infinite flow genre.)

Xi Yujin wanted to write something fun, so he drew inspiration from the endlessly popular infinite flow genre from Blue Planet web novels.

The core concept of infinite flow horror stories was simple: characters continuously traveled through different terrifying legends and deadly scenarios, facing adrenaline-fueled horror while relying on both intelligence and combat ability to survive to the end.

But Xi Yujin didn't want to simply recreate Blue Planet-style horror.

A writer should explore something new.

So he turned his attention toward the legends of cosmic species instead.

In many spacefaring folklore, there existed the recurring concept of "red algae," much like Blue Planet cultures repeatedly referenced a great flood.

At first, Xi Yujin had wondered what red algae symbolized.

Now, he suspected that it might be a metaphor born from the lingering terror of war.

As a result, the moment alien readers saw the title Infinite Red Algae, they instantly recognized it as horror fiction.

During his travels, Xi Yujin had encountered countless species. He selected several non-human races as the protagonist team in order to better conceal his identity as a Blue Planet writer.

As for which pen name should write this story…

After reviewing the identities he still had available, he decided to let Feiniao handle it.

Feiniao originally wrote magical-girl stories. Transitioning into infinite-horror fiction perfectly reflected the growth of a writer's experience.

The contrast in genres would also make the universe believe that Feiniao truly was a genius newcomer.

Otherwise, how could Feiniao possibly have the confidence to openly argue with Xunming?

As for Feiniao's new pen name... it would be: Wings That Shadow the Heavens.

Xi Yujin began typing furiously.

Beside him, Gano was also writing with complete concentration.

While working through some worldbuilding details, Xi Yujin encountered a problem.

One species' symbolic fear happened to involve the larval stage of the Zerg.

So he casually asked:

"Gano, are the Zerg an egg-laying species?"

Unexpectedly, Gano gave a completely surprising answer.

"Sorry, I don't know… I've never studied reproductive knowledge. I searched the knowledge database for 'heat cycle,' but my clearance level was insufficient."

"Y-you don't know?" Xi Yujin tried to hide his shock. "Not even a little?"

Gano decisively shook his head.

Not even where babies came from?!

A giant question mark appeared in Xi Yujin's mind.

He guessed that Gano might not understand the deeper biological secrets of the Zerg, but he never imagined that Gano lacked even basic reproductive knowledge.

The Zerg education system was deeply concerning…

Could it be that Gano still believed in "sleeping together makes babies"?

That thought was honestly terrifying.

No, wait. This universe operated under multi-gender biological systems, so perhaps ignorance was understandable.

He couldn't use human common sense to speculate about Zerg reproduction.

After all, he himself didn't know how starfish reproduced either…

So were the Zerg viviparous or oviparous?

Forget it. Better not write that section at all…

Xi Yujin decisively deleted the draft paragraph.

Gano continued speaking, seemingly trying to offer a sincere suggestion.

"I only know that in the Zerg language, the words for 'reproduction' and 'appetite' are pronounced the same."

Xi Yujin's typing abruptly stopped.

Gano's gaze unconsciously drifted across Xi Yujin's fingertips. The cool skin of his arms, the elegant curve of his jawline, and his luminous eyes.

An urge to move closer rose within him.

The bone wings that had not appeared for a long time began burning hot, as if yearning to unfurl.

No matter how much he denied it, Zerg blood still flowed within him. He still carried the terrifying instincts written into their genes. His homeland would always remind him of where he came from.

Then, Gano suddenly remembered the work he still hadn't finished, and his rationality returned.

The moral restraint of a Blue Planet translator overcame his Zerg instincts.

The atmosphere between the two instantly returned to that fresh, ambiguously sweet romantic tension.

Xi Yujin hesitantly resumed typing, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.

Thank goodness he was basically a diamond spirit with maxed-out defense stats!

The Zerg probably… couldn't bite through him, right?

Infinite Red Algae, written by Wings That Shadow the Heavens, was soon uploaded to the Fisherman Cup.

Out of pure chaos-loving intent, Xi Yujin deliberately placed Infinite Red Algae right next to Superpower Detective Academy.

After all, Xunming and Feiniao genuinely had the kind of relationship where they constantly mocked each other.

A reader named Sein soon noticed the new story.

As an avid Blue Planet literature fan, it practically lived inside the Fisherman Cup every day, binge-reading works by Blue Planet writers.

In Sein's opinion, Blue Planet writers were actually pretty easy to identify.

As long as a story portrayed human behavior naturally and in rich detail, there was a high chance the author was from Blue Planet.

Only Wild Tyrannosaurus Rex's Dragon Shaman Secrets had been harder to identify.

Still, Sein managed to glimpse hints of the truth through the story's natural portrayal of "savages."

After all, its favorite author was Yongye, so it naturally picked up some deductive skills.

Sein didn't mind reading stories by other species either, and seeing how many comments this new story already had, it eagerly clicked in.

"Infinite Red Algae is definitely horror fiction," it muttered to itself. "This author is actually pretty considerate, warning readers in advance.

Most horror stories rely on surprise anyway. Once you've been warned, how scary can it really be?"

 

[

In Infinite Red Algae, a merchant ship traveling through space encountered a rare outbreak of Space Red Algae and was instantly swallowed.

The algae's collective consciousness welcomed them into the Infinite World.

The merchant ship became their only safe zone.

But once they step outside the ship, they are randomly transported into endless sub-worlds where they must complete assigned missions before returning.

Those who perform exceptionally well can gain unimaginable wealth and abilities.

"So how do we leave completely?" the protagonist asks.

"As long as you earn… one hundred million points," the Red Algae consciousness replies.

"The detailed rules… you may explore yourselves…"

The protagonist is a Ctulrt named Little Ke.

Its tentacles were tightly wrapped around itself as it looked toward its companions:

Tai Tai'an, a silk-spitting chef.

A multi-eyed bubble slime creature.

And a flute-headed musician species.

After a round of arguments, they enter their first dungeon: the Infinite Underground Palace.

Legend says that the underground palace stretches endlessly toward the planet's core.

To descend to the next layer, travelers must pass the Feather Scale.

If the scale balances evenly, they may proceed safely.

If the feather side outweighs them, they are instantly erased.

If the traveler outweighs the feather, they are thrown back to the previous layer.

Moreover, the Players can alter their weight by carrying minerals.

Sound travels rapidly underground, making whispers nearly impossible.

The protagonist group soon discovered that beings from other ships were also attempting the dungeon.

The veterans seem friendly, advising newcomers that if they need heavier stones, they should mine in areas with stronger echoes because the rocks there are easier to break apart.

Little Ke asks the flute-man for his opinion.

Using ultrasonic sensing, the flute-man detects something hidden behind the stone.

Thus, Little Ke decided to stay cautious and mine in quieter areas instead.

Suddenly, the echo from a distant stone wall reached maximum intensity, sounding like a hundred creatures dancing at once.

In the next instant, the cavern collapses.

Red algae burst from the cracks and instantly devoured the beings mining nearby.

Only then did the protagonist group realize that the experienced players intentionally tricked the newcomers.

Because future dungeons contain competitive survival mechanics, they wanted to eliminate potential enemies before they could grow stronger.

"Every dungeon here originates from the horror legends of cosmic species."

"The Red Algae are impossible to guard against. They appear without warning and devour players at any moment. They are the embodiment of fear itself."

"The only thing players can do… is obey the rules."

"And survive."

]

 

When Sein read this part, it completely stopped breathing.

To cosmic species, Red Algae were like ghosts to humans, vague and intangible, yet deeply rooted in collective fear.

Sein felt an overwhelming sense of immersion while reading. Suddenly, even being inside its own spaceship no longer felt safe.

At any moment, a Space Red Algae outbreak could appear and swallow the entire vessel.

"Thankfully, Little Ke seems really reliable…"

At this point, Sein couldn't suppress its excitement and began praising the protagonist.

"These dungeons are way too intense. If it were me, I'd never figure out how to solve them.

But Little Ke and the others always come up with clever new strategies, and every teammate contributes something useful.

The whole group would definitely survive until the end!"

Sein had enormous confidence in the protagonist group.

And because the story's survival scenarios were so thrilling, it already started becoming emotionally attached to the characters.

Scrolling through other readers' comments, it found endless praise.

"Amazing! I never imagined someone could connect the horror legends of so many species together and adapt them into dungeon challenges like this. I even learned about planets I've never visited before. It felt like I experienced them personally. The author must be an incredibly well-traveled being!"

"This is so exciting. I nominate the author to write the Bonfire Horror Gathering stories of the Great Bone Tribe next. Looking forward to it!"

"If I'm reading the tags correctly, this is an entirely new web-novel genre! Wow, this Fisherman Cup is really full of hidden talents!"

The moment people mentioned "new web-novel genres," everyone instinctively thought of Xunming.

And so the readers once again returned to the hot topic:

Was this "Wings That Shadow the Heavens" actually from Blue Planet?

Sein compared the story against its own observations and concluded that it probably wasn't the case.

Infinite Red Algae didn't contain a single human character.

Surely that was because the author didn't understand humans well enough to write them.

Humans were the hottest species in fiction recently, after all.

"If 'Wings That Shadow the Heavens' really is an alien author, then they're incredible! They've broken through the dominance of Blue Planet writers!"

"Exactly! 'Eden' and 'Polar Day' are universally recognized as Blue Planet authors, and 'Wild Tyrannosaurus Rex' is probably also one of them. Finally, an alien novelist has appeared to challenge them head-on. Write more! I love this stuff! Our alien horror legends are just as good as Blue Star's!"

"If you don't like Blue Planet novels, why come to a Blue Planet writing competition…"

Amid the lively discussions, "Wings That Shadow the Heavens" unexpectedly initiated contact with another writer.

 

Wings That Shadow the Heavens: @PolarDay, I challenge you!

 

Sein blinked in confusion.

"What relationship does Wings That Shadow the Heavens have with Polar Day?"

It reread both writers' stories and speculated:

"Infinite Red Algae contains puzzle-solving elements, and if Polar Day really is Yongye, then…"

…this is basically an alien mystery-fiction enthusiast challenging Yongye?"

Most alien readers arrived at the same conclusion.

But Polar Day actually replied.

 

Polar Day: Sorry, I don't have a habit of accepting challenges.

Polar Day: I also have no interest in claiming first place. If you want the title, you can take it.

 

Sein watched the drama unfold with great excitement.

The way Polar Day spoke sounded exactly like Yongye.

So this really was an alien detective-fiction fan challenging Yongye.

Then Polar Day continued:

Polar Day: However, I believe the writer who truly deserves the number one spot is someone else…

Polar Day: My close friend, who is a novelist who specializes in web novels.

 

Sein: ?

"Ah… Yongye's close friend… A web-novel writer…"

Sein sucked in a sharp breath.

"Isn't that Xunming?! Yongye actually thinks that highly of Xunming?! The number one writer on Blue Planet?! Could it be… those two became close companions again instead of tragic friends who missed their chance?"

"I literally rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't hallucinating after reading that comment. Beneath every layer of 'Polar Day,' there's just 'Yongye' all the way down!"

"What?! I heard the news and immediately rushed over. Did Xunming and Yongye reconcile?!"

"But wait," Sein suddenly raised another question. "Which identity belongs to Xunming?"

"Eden? Polar Day… Wild Tyrannosaurus Rex?"

"Could Xunming actually be Wings That Shadow the Heavens? He's talented enough that I'd believe it."

"But Infinite Red Algae doesn't really have Xunming's usual relaxed writing style…"

Sein's gaze drifted uncertainly between Eden, who wrote Mechanical Frenzy, and Wild Tyrannosaurus Rex, who wrote Dragon Shaman Secrets.

Then, Wild Tyrannosaurus Rex left a comment too.

 

Wild Tyrannosaurus Rex: Awoooo... ROAR...

Polar Day: ?

Wings That Shadow the Heavens: ?

Eden: ?

Floating Ice: ?

【 】: ?

 

Sein burst out laughing in front of its optical computer screen.

"This Wild Tyrannosaurus Rex is so adorable! They must be a new Blue Planet children's author. So cute!"

"Wild Tyrannosaurus Rex isn't wild at all! I hereby declare them as the purest and kindest writer ever! I hope my children grow up reading their books, even if they start roaring every day."

"I love Wild Tyrannosaurus Rex's fairy tales. Wild Tyrannosaurus Rex, can we get three updates tonight?"

The readers had no idea why the other writers reacted so dramatically.

Instead, they flooded Wild Tyrannosaurus Rex's comment section with affection.

Meanwhile, Xi Yujin was laughing so hard he could barely continue stockpiling chapters.

Honestly, the universe readers' wild theories were his greatest source of joy.

Tidal Peace steadily approached a young star, storing energy for its next jump.

The star's heat was blocked by the ship's hull while Xi Yujin contemplated the concept for his next pseudonym.

He had already decided on Fuling's new pen name, which was Floating Ice.

The identity already briefly appeared during interactions between his other personas, serving as a subtle hint for readers.

Every so often, you had to throw readers an easy clue.

That way, they'd enthusiastically participate in the next great literary spectacle.

Besides, Fuling's personality was cold and straightforward, so she probably wouldn't be good at pretending anyway.

The name Floating Ice suited her perfectly.

The important part now was planning Floating Ice's next work.

Xi Yujin had too many ideas and couldn't decide, so he wandered through the comments sections of various stories to see readers' reactions.

That was when he noticed some troubling rumors beginning to spread about Blue Planet.

"It's honestly scary. Blue Planet survived the Hyperspace War, casually interacts with the Intelligent Machines, possesses a complete technological evolution chain, and apparently even has some connection to the Zerg… Could Blue Planet be planning to start a second war?"

"Probably not. If another war really happened, none of us would survive anyway. Better enjoy life while we can."

"Blue Planet is really powerful. Especially in terms of literary influence."

Some alien species had begun to fear Blue Planet.

"The more they fear Blue Planet," Xi Yujin murmured softly, "the safer Blue Planet becomes…"

"But war is absolutely not Blue Planet's stance."

He had seen the lingering shadows left behind by the hyperspace war and instinctively sympathized with weaker civilizations.

Still, he wasn't going to grab a megaphone and publicly clarify things.

Perhaps literature itself could gradually convey that message instead.

"In that case…"

"The theme of Floating Ice's next work will be anti-war."

Beneath the glow of the nearby star, Xi Yujin began writing rapidly.

That same day, Sein was once again browsing the Fisherman Cup.

In the Dreams of the Past Reborn category, it spotted a familiar-looking pen name.

"Fuling? No… Floating Ice. But that's definitely Fuling*." (T/N: Fuling (浮灵, "Floating Spirit") and her new pen name Floating Ice (浮冰) share the first character 浮 ("float"))

Sein lit up with excitement.

"She released a new work?! I have to tell everyone on the forums!"

But before sharing the news, it decided to read the story first.

The entire work had apparently been uploaded all at once.

It was fairly long, which was honestly, very "Fuling."

Sein immersed itself in the story and soon exclaimed in astonishment,

"Fuling seems to have changed literary styles again!"

 

[

The Narrow Icefield

The setting was intentionally vague.

The story only stated that it took place during wartime and within a relatively primitive technological era.

Some readers overlooked the timeframe entirely and automatically imagined it as an interstellar-age conflict, since small planets occasionally still experienced civil wars.

Katjena lived on the Chesuelin Icefield, a small settlement inhabited by tall, pink-skinned people.

They enjoyed a primitive and rough form of open relationships.

Katjena was married.

But shortly after the wedding, her husband left for the battlefield, and she happily began sleeping with a handsome young man from the village instead.

Her husband returned once and nearly smashed the young man's skull open with a hardened combat helmet.

Yet after Katjena tearfully begged them to stop, the two men quickly forgot their grievances and cheerfully resumed living together in the same little house.

However, the war soon reignited, and her husband returned to the battlefield along with the handsome young man who had once shared sweet memories with her.

Katjena suddenly found life unbearably dull.

The brilliant blue sky constantly carried the acrid scent of gunpowder smoke, and she had no idea that she would soon no longer have the luxury of looking up at that sky.

One day, an armored vehicle rolled into the village that came to recruit mercenaries.

Two factions were fighting not far beyond the icefield, and too many soldiers had already died. It wasn't enough, so more people needed to be sent.

Katjena saw the corpses of her husband and the handsome young man. The recruiting officer patted her shoulder and told her that their deaths were righteous.

In the future, medals would be pinned onto their uniforms to commemorate that fact.

Katjena went to war. Perhaps she sought revenge for those she loved. Perhaps she wanted to defend her own pride.

Carrying a weapon, she walked onto the icefield.

But once she arrived at the battlefield, she almost forgot all her ideals. The essence of war was not a struggle between justice and injustice.

It was simply people killing people.

She dug trenches to avoid artillery shrapnel and waded through freezing underground rivers.

Comrades who had chatted beside her the previous night were blown apart in an instant. Their cruelty toward the enemy differed little from the enemy's own.

Eventually, the war neared peace negotiations, and a brief period of rest arrived.

Snow began falling across the icefield.

She could finally return home...

Compared to the lively and beautiful woman she once was, Katjena's greatest change was not her deafness, nor the new scars covering her body.

It was aging.

After only a single year of war, she became old and withered. Stepping over severed limbs, she saw flames burning among shattered ruins.

The vast icefield had become so narrow that there was nowhere left to walk. Yet somewhere within the village, the cries of a newborn child could still be heard.

Katjena knew... that this child would become her only remaining hope.

]