The difference in Civilization size cannot be absolutely judged by Civilization level.
Energy seems like a quantifiable standard.
But if a Civilization has an energy production of 10, but its energy utilization rate is only 20%, then the true energy it actually obtains is only 2.
And if another Civilization has an energy production of 5, but its energy utilization rate is 80%, the energy it obtains is 4, which is twice that of the former.
In other words, a Civilization that appears to be level 2.7 might actually be weaker than a level 2.6 Civilization, effectively only level 2.5.
Of course.
Generally speaking, Civilizations in the universe cannot have such low energy utilization rates.
Most are above 70%; 10 can yield 7.
However, some Civilizations possess strong deception; their energy utilization rate is also 70%, and outwardly, their energy production appears to be 10, but in reality, it is 20.
This leads them to claim they are a level 2.7 Civilization, when in fact, they have already reached the level 2.8 standard.
If the former is a level 2.6 Civilization, mistakenly believing the Civilization they face is only 10 times their size, they will only discover, when truly confronted, that the opponent Civilization's size is actually 100 times their own.
This kind of deceptive nature is very prone to appearing in level 2.7 Civilizations.
It is also the reason why the Civilization gap in the Milky Way is currently too severe.
Yan Xia and Ella did not take the Claw Civilization Alliance seriously, mainly because the Claw Civilization Alliance is a conventional level 2.6 Civilization, while the Civilization Federation is not a conventional level 2.7 Civilization.
As early as the war with Destiny Ring Star, the Civilization Federation's energy size had already exceeded level 2.78, which was 6.3 times that of a level 2.7 Civilization.
Afterward, due to the war, there was some shrinkage.
However, with the introduction of new technologies, the Civilization Federation's energy level has now risen to level 2.82, which is 15.8 times the size of a typical level 2.7 Civilization.
At the same time, its technology has also advanced to level 2.75 or higher, representing 3.1 times the technological strength of an ordinary level 2.7 Civilization.
If we calculate the size of the entire Human Civilization, excluding the Zerg, this number would increase by about 8%; including the Zerg, this number would increase by over 30%.
The true disparity between the Claw Civilization Alliance, which is only level 2.64 overall, and the Civilization Federation, encompassing both energy and technology, is actually 787 times.
This is a very significant gap.
Due to its smaller size, the overall difference between the Flying Civilization and Human Civilization was within 30 times, but it still forced Human Civilization into a purely defensive stance.
If not for the larger size of Human Civilization, it would have already collapsed.
After Destiny Ring Star joined, the overall size difference had reached over 200 times, and from all aspects, Human Civilization was completely overwhelmed and could not sustain itself.
If not for the Extraterrestrial Civilization, Mirror Civilization, Silk Civilization, and other factors, which made Destiny Ring Star realize that taking down Human Civilization was much more difficult than expected, forcing Destiny Ring Star to give up.
Considering only the size of pure Human Civilization, Destiny Ring Star could actually destroy Human Civilization within 2000 years.
The overall difference between the Olive Branch Civilization and Human Civilization at that time was actually over 1000 times, leading to an absolute crushing defeat.
In fact, if the overall difference reaches 10 times or more, the two are simply not on the same level.
Like in the old era, if China deployed 100,000 troops and India deployed 30,000 troops, this difference is roughly a 10-fold overall disparity; there's no need to say who would win or lose, and it would even be a complete crushing on the battlefield.
China would certainly suffer losses, but India's 30,000 troops would most likely be completely annihilated.
This is actually a true portrayal of the Human Civilization and Flying Civilization battlefield.
Human Civilization resisted.
But the only truly impressive scenes were those of resistance.
A partial victory was achieved in less than 5% of the actual front line, while the remaining 95% was simply overrun.
And a 787-fold size difference is far, far too great.
It's like China fighting Mongolia; the battle could probably be resolved in a week.
The only real difficulty in attacking the Claw Star Cluster is the extreme distance.
If Mongolia were to run to South America, then to fight, one could only send a small portion of troops.
This is like the Eagle Country fighting Afghanistan, with huge investment yielding nothing.
In fact, the strength gap between the Eagle Country and Afghanistan is even larger, but the distance is also much greater, and Human Civilization itself still needs to face destruction that could be triggered by Extraterrestrial Civilization at any time, and this attack is a multi-front offensive, not just targeting the Claw Star Cluster.
“The matter of the Claw Star Cluster needs to be handled carefully; their internal unity might not be solid.”
“According to the star map provided by the Devouring Zerg, there is a Civilization located relatively externally; we can even try to win over this Civilization.”
Ella wanted to stir up internal conflicts, but Yan Xia felt that this was not enough.
They needed a Civilization to side with them, becoming a true troublemaker.
Ella's data was more comprehensive; it pointed out a detail Yan Xia hadn't noticed.
“Although the Sacred Civilization was not affected by our initial war, they have been under continuous attack from the Devouring Zerg for a long time, suffering countless casualties.”
“This will cause internal resentment towards Human Civilization; as the first contact target, it might backfire.”
If the Sacred Civilization leaked the news of Human Civilization's attack, the subsequent war would be even more troublesome.
Yan Xia immediately thought of the plan Ella might be considering.
“So you want to create chaos in the Claw Star Cluster by inciting conflict between the Storm Civilization and the Sacred Civilization?”
A portion of the Storm Civilization is in the core of the Claw Star Cluster, meaning they are in contact with the black hole.
However, it's a very small portion.
Because the Storm Civilization is on the other side of the Sacred Civilization, its losses during the Devouring Zerg attack were the smallest.
Their hatred is naturally also the smallest.
“Yes, this can be orchestrated through the Devouring Zerg.”
“The Devouring Zerg separated from the Bimos Zerg Star State too early, especially those Zerg that have already reached 5,000 light-years away.”
“Their own technological strength is weak; they need technology and a gene pool from the Bimos Zerg Star State, and we can provide that part.”
To bind the Zerg with benefits.
The Devouring Zerg are indeed murderous, but that doesn't mean the Brainworms within this Zerg are fools.
They are just more aggressive.
“You've already made contact?” Yan Xia asked.
The Devouring Zerg have Quanta Communication equipment.
Contact between the two sides can be completed within 50 years.
Based on Ella's understanding of the Claw Star Cluster, Yan Xia inferred that Ella had already begun trading with that branch of the Devouring Zerg long ago.
For a Host with such powerful computing capabilities as Ella, it's normal to proactively plan 1,000 or even 10,000 years in advance when undertaking a task.
“Otherwise, why do you think that branch of the Devouring Zerg abandoned the Claw Star Cluster?” Ella retorted.
Their mode of interaction sometimes involves working together wholeheartedly, and at other times, it's confrontational, constantly changing to make life more interesting.
The Claw Star Cluster's technological level reaches 2.6.
And it's not much stronger than that branch of the Devouring Zerg.
The Devouring Zerg itself is not an independent Civilization; what's there is even just a tribe of the Devouring Zerg.
Even if they truly couldn't take it down, the Devouring Zerg could invite other Devouring Zerg tribes to join, with two or three merging to conquer the Claw Star Cluster.
They would never give up.
“I hadn't thought of it that way.”
“It seems the information obtained by the eight Civilizations of the Claw Civilization Alliance is also flawed now.”
“The Devouring Zerg illegally sold information, but since you contacted them in advance, they didn't dare to sell all the information.”
Selling information was certainly not Ella's doing.
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It's best if the Claw Star Cluster doesn't know about the wormhole in their black hole, nor that Human Civilization plans to use the wormhole to launch a war.
This is most beneficial to the Civilization Federation.
“This can also be considered a form of revenge!” Ella said indifferently.
With the Civilization Federation joining the war and the Devouring Zerg abandoning their attack on the Claw Star Cluster, the Devouring Zerg's losses could be said to be enormous.
And what Ella offered was certainly not comparable to a Claw Star Cluster and the Eight Great Civilizations within the Claw Star Cluster, so the Devouring Zerg took a small revenge and earned some resources to recover.
“It seems you've already anticipated it, so I'll await your good news.”
Since everything was under Ella's control.
Yan Xia no longer focused on the Claw Star Cluster.
Matters within the Civilization Federation were not yet resolved, and Green Hell would soon see new developments.
...
Claw Star Cluster.
Amidst the thousands of kilometers per hour winds on the gas giant, a majestic city stood tall, appearing not large, with buildings stacked like mountains.
The leader of the Storm Civilization stood at the very top, looking at the robot that appeared before him, a mix of surprise and uncertainty in his heart.
“You actually dared to enter here!”
This was the center of the Storm Civilization.
“Why not?” the robot retorted.
“If it's just about those previous matters, you can leave!”
In fact, this was not the first time the Storm Civilization leader had encountered the Zerg; there had been previous contacts, but at most, they were small trades.
In matters of principle, the Storm Civilization leader would not yield.
“We can make concessions.”
“As long as you withdraw all your warships in the upcoming war, we can promise not to attack you.”
“After taking down the Claw Star Cluster, the Claw Star Cluster can be handed over to your Storm Civilization for complete control.”
The robot controlled by the Zerg said.
“!?”
“What do you want to do?”
The Storm Civilization leader was uncertain about the Zerg's intentions for a moment.
If they wanted to use this to divide them, it would be too ridiculous.
“We are sincere.”
“After tens of thousands of years of war, don't you understand us Zerg?”
“We never stay in one place; instead, we constantly migrate. The Claw Star Cluster is not our final destination.”
The Storm Civilization leader would not believe such nonsense.
“If this is not your final destination, then you might as well leave early.”
The Zerg must have something they want.
“We want technology; if you can give us all your technological reserves, we will, of course, choose to leave immediately!”
The Zerg is a species where a small number of Brainworms control the majority of the Zerg.
Those Brainworms themselves know some technology, but they are definitely not specialized, and the number of Brainworms in each tribe is actually quite small, some tens of millions, some hundreds of millions.
Larger ones are only tens or hundreds of billions.
This small number of Brainworms is simply not enough to develop a powerful and iterative system.
So they must plunder to enrich their system.
“More of this nonsense.”
“If you are still here to talk this nonsense, I advise you to leave, and don't come back again.”
This was not a conversation or a negotiation; in the eyes of the Storm Civilization leader, it was more like a threat.
“Don't be anxious.”
The robot seemed confident.
“Do you really think the Claw Star Cluster can hold on?”
“We certainly won't let you go; after dealing with the ‘Rule Civilization,’ we will still return.”
“Moreover, we have already contacted other Devouring Zerg; in just 200 Linxi, you will witness the true power of us Zerg.” (1 Linxi equals 4.82 Human years)
“You know, facing just one of our tribes, with only tens of trillions of Zerg, your Claw Star Cluster is already precarious.”
“But we are merely a relatively small tribe of the Devouring Zerg; true large tribes possess hundreds of quadrillions of Zerg. Do you really want to resist stubbornly?”
“If you only wish to preserve your Civilization, this time, we are giving you that opportunity.”
“Controlling the entire Claw Star Cluster, isn't that your Civilization's greatest dream? We are now giving you this opportunity.”
The Storm Civilization leader's heart tightened, unable to believe it.
“You are just a small tribe of the Zerg?”
“This is simply ridiculous!”
“To tell such a crude lie, it seems your Devouring Zerg truly have no other options.”
He thought the robot was deceiving him.
The Devouring Zerg were not that massive at all.
“Hahaha, you truly don't understand us.”
“I can tell you, we are not only a branch of the Devouring Zerg, but the Devouring Zerg is also a branch of the entire Zerg.”
“What probably shocks you is our strength, but perhaps it's better to say it's your weakness.”
“Poor fellow, go and understand the real universe, the real Milky Way, instead of staying in a corner, confined to a small star cluster and believing yourselves to be the center.”
“I will give you some time to consider, and you are not the only Civilization that wants to be the sole overlord of the Claw Star Cluster.”
The robot collapsed.
The operator had already left.
The Storm Civilization leader's mood was unpredictable.
This was an incitement to defection, and his heart was greatly shaken.
The Claw Civilization Alliance was formed only after the Zerg invasion, and before that, the Eight Great Civilizations of the Claw Star Cluster had been rivals and enemies for hundreds of thousands of years.
He was unsure whether other Civilizations would side with the Devouring Zerg.
If the Devouring Zerg truly had external aid, this probability would soar.
When there's no hope internally, there will always be someone who seeks external hope.
However, the decision would definitely not be made now, but when other Zerg swarms truly arrived.
...
The departing Zerg looked back at the city with regret.
Actually, he quite liked this city surrounded by storms.
It was just a pity that it would soon be destroyed and buried.
“Damn Civilization Federation, this should have been my territory!”
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