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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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Chapter 297
"Are you experimenting to see if my remote-controlled model can integrate biological traits?"
[ZZ (Yes).]
"You are free to experiment on my body if necessary."
PS-111 pointed to its body with a hooked claw. I shook my head, indicating that it wasn't an option.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (There could be side effects. If something goes wrong, the body may need to be discarded.)]
"Side effects?"
Even for an Amorph, not all traits are advantageous.
Traits like Energy Absorption, which alters the digestive system to absorb essence directly, or Dwarfism, which permanently fixes the body at a human-like size, are examples.
These traits themselves aren’t inherently flawed. Energy Absorption and Dwarfism were both beneficial to their original hosts. They simply don't suit an Amorph like me.
In short, while some traits may benefit me, there’s no guarantee they would suit Number 26, Adhai, or even PS-111.
"It’s true that genetic incompatibility can make integration challenging. However, verifying the compatibility of the remote-controlled model would be beneficial."
PS-111 seemed to agree, nodding slightly.
Receiving its permission, I extended one of my combat arms toward the remote-controlled model. The inner surface of my four-fingered palm opened, releasing symbiotic spores.
The only viable targets for trait integration are friendly organisms. Based on prior experience, hosts implanted with my symbiotic spores are registered as friendly to me.
The spores wobbled, attaching themselves to the remote-controlled Screamer body, which was essentially just a face and upper torso. The spore, resembling a short-legged tick, burrowed into the half-formed upper body.
The Screamer body synchronized with PS-111 stuttered to life and began to vocalize.
"I... foreign... material... detected... detected."
‘Could it be that machines are incompatible?’
The artificial body PS-111 had created contained mechanical parts limited to its face, brain, and some of its skeletal structure. Everything else was composed of tissue and organic material cultured in this facility.
Thankfully, as I brought my auxiliary organ under its jaw closer, a text box appeared.
「Activation of the 'Monolith of the Double Helix'!」
「Trait selection available.」
‘Good.’
Now, what trait should I attempt to integrate?
Naturally, I couldn't risk any traits vital to my survival or ones I frequently relied upon. Nor would I consider traits that might prove valuable in the future.
'If the results are promising, I’ll pass it on to the others.'
Specialized defensive traits were also off the table. Since I hadn’t acquired a type yet, wasting these would be imprudent.
'For experimentation, it should be a trait that isn’t overly useful but offers quick results.'
After some deliberation, I chose a basic environmental adaptation trait: 'Body Crystallization'.
This trait temporarily hardens the body’s exoskeleton. However, its rigidity isn’t particularly strong, and it has a superior alternative in the 'Adaptive Bioweapon' trait. As such, it was not particularly essential.
「Would you like to select the trait 'Body Crystallization'?」
'Yes... huh?'
As soon as I confirmed the choice, the two heads at my sides broke free from my control and began moving on their own.
The heads approached the artificial body, opening their mouths wide. From within, something thick and tentacle-like emerged—far too large to be considered a tongue.
Two tentacles, slick with black mucus, extended from their mouths and gently coiled around the artificial body.
'What is this?'
"Abnormal... tongue... phenomenon... detected... abnormality."
"Abnormal... tongue... phenomenon... detected... abnormality."
The body wrapped in tentacles and PS-111 both exhibited the same reaction. They trembled, repeating the same message about an abnormal phenomenon.
「'Body Crystallization' trait lost.」
「Trait infusion in progress. Estimated time: 5 minutes.」
'...This should be fine, right?'
As if reading my thoughts, a text box appeared. The tentacles retracted back into the mouths, and I regained control of the heads on either side.
The body ensnared by the tentacles was now encased in black mucus, similar to how I evolved, but its cocoon was smaller since it wasn’t undergoing a full-body reconstruction like mine.
'Not enough experimental data.'
With the remote-controlled model completely paralyzed, further testing was impossible.
"This has been a fascinating experiment. The findings will be valuable for refining and improving remote-controlled models. I recommend conducting more experiments."
It was as if PS-111 had read my mind.
'What we need are more traits for testing and...'
Both our heads turned simultaneously, our gaze landing on the machinery busily operating in the production chamber.
[Z ZZZ ZZ (What else is needed?)]
"We require biological tissues and skeletal structures from nearby creatures, as well as minerals for crafting mechanical components."
[ZZZ (Understood.)]
With our vacation days now clearly planned, time flew by.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
Three days after the originally planned date, the Mother of the Sky arrived at the new dragon's nest.
「Wow. I'm speechless.」
The Mother of the Sky, arriving through the damaged Screamer support pod, gawked at PS-111 and me with her mouth wide open.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (We got a little carried away with the experiments.)]
「...Are these even Screamers?」
[ZZZ (Technically, yes.)]
Currently, there were five miniature Screamers in the production chamber.
However, calling them Screamers, as she pointed out, felt a bit off. After all, no one would describe a creature with a woman's head and eight metallic legs as a Screamer.
"These models have been optimized for genetic infusion experiments. They are highly efficient in form, consume minimal energy, and exhibit excellent survival capabilities."
"Excellent!"
"Excellent!"
The mini Screamers, all sporting PS-111's face, echoed the word "excellent" in unison. Their language modules and other functions had been simplified for the trait infusion experiments.
'I drew inspiration from PS-111’s original form.'
「Wow! So many little friends!」
It seemed that Number 26, who had arrived with the Mother of the Sky, was delighted with the mini-Screamers.
「Little friends, just like me!」
「Body」 「Gone」 「Hurt?」
“They’re naturally in this form.”
Perhaps recalling its first encounter with PS-111, Number 26 gently cradled a mini-Screamer with its tentacles. Beside it, Adhai, her eyes brimming with curiosity, prodded a mini-Screamer lightly with her forepaw.
Watching the mini-Screamers crawl over Number 26 and Adhai’s bodies, the Mother of the Sky pinched the bridge of her nose firmly.
「...I feel like throwing up.」
“This represents the pinnacle of my and the Amorph’s collaborative efforts. I urge you to reconsider that statement.”
“Collaborative! Reconsider!”
“Collaborative! Reconsider!”
「Collaborative?」 「Efforts?」 「Results?」
「Little friends are adorable!」
As PS-111 had indicated, their compact forms allowed for rapid experimentation in a short period.
Of course, I haven’t completely figured out how the transplanted traits function or what side effects might occur. But even understanding what to watch out for when implanting them in others was a significant gain.
‘It was useful for PS-111 too.’
These five mini-Screamers each carry at least one of my traits, transplanted thanks to the constant use of 'Hunting Icon' to gather traits and apply them directly.
‘They’re not particularly valuable traits for me, though.’
However, for PS-111, it’s a different story. Each of the five has distinct traits, and PS-111 controls them simultaneously. Despite their appearance, each unit has decent specs, making them quite effective for its operations.
At any rate, the Mother of the Sky had returned.
It was time to conclude what had been, depending on perspective, a brief yet long 10-day rest.
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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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