Damon's Ascension-Chapter 69: Growth Of The Human Race 1

Damon led Felicia and Xela out of the Business and Legal Realm, traveling through the long hallway of the IUAS VR World to arrive at the Galactic Union Headquarters. Upon entry, they bypassed the senate room and went to the Administration Center of the Galactic Union.

The Administration Center of the Galactic Union was a vast, towering space, filled with seamless metallic surfaces that pulsed with faint energy and had glowing symbols running along the walls, shifting between different alien scripts and universal translations while also displaying live data from across the universe.

Unlike normal buildings with desks and offices, the entire area was fluid and ever-changing, with platforms that moved on their own, adjusting their height and position depending on the number of visitors, which prevented any congestion or overcrowding.

Large holographic terminals floated in the air, continually projecting countless streams of information, detailing active contracts, legal disputes, trade routes, and diplomatic standings between different factions that were all updated in real-time, flickering every second as new decisions were made.

The ceiling stretched endlessly, an artificial sky displaying cosmic landscapes that sometimes showed real-time views of space and other times shifting into abstract patterns that changed based on the dominant species in the room, ensuring that every visitor felt a sense of belonging in this intergalactic hub.

The variety of life in the center was shocking for the two women accompanying Damon, every species moving with their own unique rhythm, with some towering over others and some barely reaching the knee of an average humanoid, yet all existing within the same system and following the same rules.

Massive insectoid beings clanked forward on armored legs, their mandibles clicking as they communicated in coded pulses of sound, while gelatinous lifeforms glided smoothly across the floor, shifting color as they absorbed data from floating terminals.

There were also some amphibious creatures wearing sealed hydration suits that moved with deliberate steps, their large eyes scanning the room with caution as they were likely some random low-ranked species, while there were some fully avian species that flapped their wings to private discussion zones above, leaving shimmering trails of light.

One other group had no clear physical form at all, existing as floating clouds of energy, while their movements resembled gentle waves in space, speaking through vibrations that resonated directly in the minds of those nearby.

Among them were the officials of the Galactic Union, who were recognizable by their intricate robes woven from metallic fibers, the patterns on their clothing shifting dynamically based on rank and department, which was a universal display of authority understood by all species.

Unlike the hurried motions of visitors, these officials moved with purpose as they walked stately toward different terminals, their hands—or appendages—swiping through data streams while approving, denying, and forwarding documents at speeds no normal bureaucratic system could match.

The deeper Damon’s group went, the more restricted the area became as glowing barriers prevented unauthorized access through advanced AI systems that monitored every movement under the control of the Intions, ensuring that only those with clearance could proceed. freёnovelkiss.com

As Damon, Felicia, and Xela continued forward, the environment subtly changed, while the casual chatter in the background faded as the architecture grew more uniform, unsurprisingly in the style of the Elves.

"So what exactly is the plan?" Felicia couldn’t help but ask as she glanced at a nearby forcefield and was tempted to touch it.

Damon didn’t answer immediately, his gaze calmly scanning the surroundings as they walked further into the heart of the Administration Center.

The uniform, elf-designed architecture reflected the dominance of their influence in the Galactic Union, but for now, that wasn’t important.

Instead, he glanced at Xela, who was practically bouncing in excitement, her eyes darting between the various alien species moving around them, her mind clearly brimming with questions.

"Before we discuss the plan, let’s talk about something relevant," Damon said, his tone calm but firm.

"You remember how the Galactic Union ranks civilizations, right?" He followed up by asking.

Xela blinked before nodding. "Yeah, something about civilization levels, like how humanity is at 0.75 and the Elves are at 3, right?"

"Close enough," Damon accepted this, adjusting his tie.

He then continued. "The ranking system isn’t just about power or how many planets a species controls. It’s about technology and energy consumption. Humanity, at 0.75, is still primarily dependent on fossil fuels, nuclear power, and early renewable energy.

"To reach Level 1, a civilization needs to harness the full energy output of its planet, which is not just in terms of resources but in utilizing its atmosphere, geothermal energy, and ocean currents in a way that’s both efficient and self-sustaining."

Xela frowned. "So, like, no pollution and full control over nature?"

Felicia, who had been silent, snorted and folded her arms as this was her field of expertise. "Not quite. Even Level 1 civilizations have pollution. The key difference is that they can convert or neutralize it. Think of it like controlling the weather, redirecting earthquakes, and mining asteroids instead of depleting the home planet."

Damon nodded. "Right. But reaching Level 1 is just the start. The real challenge is getting from Level 1 to Level 2."

Xela tilted her head. "Why’s that?"

Damon sighed slightly as if recalling a particularly annoying equation. "Because Level 1 civilizations are limited to their home planet and nearby celestial bodies... meaning, they struggle with interstellar travel. To get from Level 1 to 2, you need five major advancements."

He raised a hand and began counting off with his fingers.

"First: Efficient Fusion Energy. Level 1 civilizations dabble in fusion power, but Level 2 requires full mastery, meaning they must generate and sustain fusion reactions cheaply and without risk of collapse. Stars produce endless energy, so Level 2 civilizations must be able to mimic that process efficiently."

Xela’s eyes lit up. "Like a miniature sun in a lab? The power of the sun in the palm of your hands?"

"Essentially," Damon confirmed before raising another finger.

"Second: Advanced Artificial Intelligence." He gestured toward the glowing data streams around them.

"Level 1 civilizations rely on A.I. for small tasks, but a Level 2 civilization needs AI that can self-improve, govern entire planetary systems, and integrate seamlessly with biological life. No more simple assistants but rather true AI autonomy."

Felicia hummed as she glanced at Damon askance. "Most civilizations struggle with AI limitations. If it’s too weak, it’s useless. If it’s too strong, it either rebels or wipes itself out trying to ’optimize’ things."

Damon smirked knowingly. "Exactly. Which is why the third requirement is just as important: "Third: Mass Interstellar Travel."

Xela groaned. "I’ve heard about this. You need to be able to travel between stars in a ’reasonable’ time, right?"

Damon placed one hand on his chin with a thoughtful smile. "Right now, even with warp drives and stasis tech, it will still take decades for humanity to reach another solar system. A Level 2 civilization needs to reduce that to days or weeks. That means mastering either wormhole technology, quantum tunneling, or even dimensional shortcuts."

Felicia sighed. "Most civilizations will likely die here. The universe is not kind to those who try to force space to obey them."

Damon didn’t comment and simply raised a fourth finger. "Fourth: Planetary Engineering."

Xela’s eyebrows raised. "Terraforming?"

"More than that," Damon said.

"A Level 2 civilization needs to be able to reshape planets, moons, and even stars. That means moving celestial bodies, creating habitable worlds out of nothing, and even dismantling planets for resources without destroying themselves in the process."

Felicia crossed her arms. "Humanity’s nowhere near that. Even the Elves don’t do it recklessly."

"Which is why the final requirement is the hardest," Damon said, lifting his last finger.

"Fifth: Biological and Cybernetic Mastery."

Xela blinked. "Huh?"

Damon smiled faintly. "It’s not enough to conquer space. A Level 2 civilization must conquer itself. That means either biological evolution through genetics or cybernetic enhancements that integrate seamlessly with AI. Either way, the body must keep up with the mind... mortality must be optional."

Xela’s mouth dropped slightly. "That... that’s insane."

Felicia scoffed and looked away dismissively. "Which is why barely 1 in 500 civilizations made it past Level 1 before the IUAS and the Universe Will."

Damon agreed. "Most species will likely be stuck at 0.9 like we have to some extent, unable to cross that final hurdle. Even in the current IUAS, few have made it past Level 2 to 3, which requires Dyson Spheres, star engineering, and galaxy-wide governance."

Xela exhaled. "So, humanity’s got a long way to go."

Damon smirked. "Depends on how you look at it. We might be at 0.75, but we have something most other species didn’t at this stage."

Xela tilted her head. "Which is?"

Damon’s eyes flashed as they came up on their target location, which was where the research and development of the IUAS was handled, the very place that Felicia hoped to join one day.

"Endless potential."