The Crucible of Time

Time is like the process of burning.

Everything in the universe appears in an instant, then turns to ash.

This mechanism of transformation is called the Furnace of Time.

The Furnace of Time continuously transforms dark matter into normal matter.

Normal matter appears in an instant, then turns to ash.

The ash passes through black holes and is transformed back into dark matter.

This cycle has continued without interruption from the birth of the universe until now.

The vast universe, a marvel of creation, thrives thanks to it.

Low-level civilizations draw energy from the ash.

Mid-level civilizations draw energy from the transformation.

High-level civilizations draw energy from dark matter.

In the late stages of the universe, the number of high-level civilizations keeps growing.

As they greedily harvest energy,

the universe's dark matter reserves gradually dwindle, throwing the ratio of dark matter to ash out of balance.

When dark matter reserves fall below a critical level, black holes can no longer transform it fast enough to keep up with consumption.

The Furnace of Time will go out!

The survival of the universe hangs by a thread!

Some advanced civilizations begin large-scale purges of other civilizations.

But the universe is boundless, and civilizations spring up like mushrooms after rain.

So they begin collapsing matter to annihilate space!

More than half of the universe's space disappears!

Countless civilizations are wiped out in an instant!