As the form of the virtual skeleton fully unfolded, Cassandra’s energy body had expanded to a diameter of tens of thousands of meters.
It looked like a miniature purple sun, emitting awe-inspiring energy fluctuations.
On the surface of the planet below, there is a civilization unlike the human world and the Wizard World.
There are no skyscrapers, no bustling traffic, replaced by countless semi-transparent crystal buildings.
They grow and transform ceaselessly as if alive, connecting with each other into complex network structures.
The creatures living in this world are equally peculiar.
Most of them have fluid-like semi-transparent bodies, no fixed form, capable of freely altering their shapes as needed.
These life forms communicate through a form of energy akin to electromagnetic waves.
The entire surface of the planet is densely packed with energy nodes, forming a vast information exchange network.
This is a highly advanced civilization based on collective intelligence.
Although the individuals are relatively simple, the collective consciousness formed through network connections possesses astounding creativity and adaptability.
However, this peaceful and co-creative advanced civilization now faces a catastrophic disaster.
Cassandra’s virtual skeleton form began to release countless tiny energy tendrils toward the planet below.
These tendrils rapidly penetrated the planet’s atmosphere, spreading into every corner of the surface like a swarm of hungry snakes.
When the tendrils made contact with the crystal buildings and fluid creatures, an astonishing dissolution phenomenon began to occur.
Crystal buildings started to fracture and dissolve, turning into pure energy absorbed by the tendrils;
Fluid creatures solidified instantly upon contact, becoming crystalline statues.
Then they were entirely encapsulated, levitated, and absorbed into the space apparatus carried by Cassandra.
The earth began to crack, the oceans boiled, the entire planet seemed to be gripped internally by an invisible hand, emitting painful groans.
Those fluid creatures attempted to resist through their network consciousness, mobilizing the planet’s natural energy to form protective barriers.
But before Cassandra’s virtual skeleton, these defenses were like paper walls, instantly destroyed.
"An interesting symbiotic system."
Cassandra’s voice echoed in the void, no longer human, but a multi-frequency energy fluctuation:
"This collective consciousness structure might offer some inspiration for me."
Her virtual skeleton form floated to the other side of the planet.
There lay a gigantic garden composed of special crystals.
Each crystal splashed with different colors, resembling Earth’s coral reefs, beautiful and mysterious.
"Energy conversion efficiency is as high as 86%, far surpassing any known material of the Ring Abyss Continent Group."
Cassandra’s virtual skeleton trembled slightly, expressing her satisfaction:
"Take the entire area."
Several thick energy tendrils extended from the virtual skeleton, enveloping the entire crystal garden, uprooting it, and storing it in a custom space container.
Simultaneously, countless small energy pods detached from the virtual skeleton, scattering throughout the planet.
They rapidly located and captured those fluid creatures attempting to escape, encapsulating them and returning to the main body.
This was a thorough plunder, a relentless conquest.
Cassandra, like a ruthless harvester, swept away the accumulations of this civilization’s thousands upon thousands of years in a short time.
"Enough."
When the last batch of crystal buildings was stored in the space container, Cassandra’s virtual skeleton began to shrink:
"These materials and samples are sufficient to support the next stage of research."
The planet’s surface has become riddled with wounds, the once beautiful crystal city left only a scarred wasteland, like remnants chewed by a giant beast.
Those surviving fluid creatures lost the support of the collective network and became bewildered and chaotic.
Like puppets with cut strings, they wandered helplessly in the ruins.
Cassandra returned to human form, the purple robe on her body still spotless, as if nothing had happened.
She scanned the planet she had destroyed, with no trace of pity or guilt on her face, only a calm evaluation.
"This Type II Plane’s energy structure bears an astounding resemblance to the Abyss 7th Floor."
She mused to herself:
"Upon returning, a deeper analysis is needed, perhaps new clues to the ’Demon Devouring’ symptoms can be found."