Chapter 9 – Reformation and Evolution (4)
[Achievement “Strong Foe Encountered (1)” unlocked. Reward: 1 Trait Point]
[Achievement “Voluntary Evolution (2)” unlocked. Reward: 1 Trait Point]
Hunting a creature one tier higher, the Lagadon, was definitely an accomplishment—even in my own opinion.
As expected, I obtained a reward and immediately used it to enhance my traits.
“Reproduction Enhancement 2-4”
In today’s battle, I realized the power of sheer numbers. For smoother production and replenishment, I invested a point into Reproduction Enhancement.
Of course, if breeding speed increased too much, the rate of nutrient replenishment wouldn’t keep up, rendering my efforts in enhancing reproduction useless.
However, there was still some room for improvement at the moment, so I decided to invest one more point.
“Complete Growth”
“What is this?”
It was then that a new special trait was unlocked. Surprised to see something new, I muttered to myself.
[This ability allows the larvae to bypass the pupal stage and hatch directly into adults from the egg.]
“Isn’t this completely overpowered?”
My eyes widened as I read the explanation.
The importance wasn’t just about the shortened time.
It also meant saving space and workers previously used to take care of the larvae.
Currently, the largest areas in our nest were occupied by the food storage and the larval chambers.
Larvae of the Black Rot Insect couldn’t survive on their own and required constant care from the workers.
I had tried to improve this wasteful process, but it seemed impossible—until now.
[However, there are clear pros and cons. In order to use this new growth method, we need a special type of artificial womb that produces eggs rich in nutrients. Additionally, the cost of this investment is not insignificant. For this reason, we recommend considering it as a long-term investment.]
The System, as if on cue, reminded me of the disadvantages in its usual fashion.
But I just smirked.
Because I already had an idea on how to solve the problem.
“Let’s add more artificial digestive organs. Instead of investing in a new artificial womb, we just need a way to supply nutrients to the eggs directly.”
If nutrients were the issue for eggs to develop into adults, creating a continuous supply of nutrients was the answer.
Similar to how I currently receive nutrients through my tentacles.
Implementing this would also reduce the wasted space in the food storage since we could process all leftover food into compact nutrients.
This way, we could extract only the necessary nutrients whenever required.
“To do this, we’ll need even more space.”
Even so, our once spacious underground nest was getting increasingly cramped.
Including the saved space, it seemed we’d need even more room.
[Achievement “Voluntary Evolution (3)” unlocked. Reward: 1 Trait Point]
Indeed, the System recognized my actions as yet another achievement.
“Consciousness Enhancement 2-2” “Physical Enhancement 2-2”
The remaining points were spent on Consciousness Enhancement and Physical Enhancement respectively.
Through both System upgrades and external enhancements, we were undoubtedly becoming stronger with each passing moment.
*
“Looks like hunting Lagadons was the right choice.”
A group of hunting squads encountered a strong foe from Tier 2, Mantas.
Mantas resembled giant grasshoppers. With four sharp hook-like limbs, Mantas could effortlessly break through the tough bodies of creatures from the Demon Realm. Normally, a hunting squad of only five members wouldn’t stand a chance against them.
But things were different now. The warriors in the hunting squad had their internal poison sacs modified to contain Lagadon’s acidic venom.
Moreover, we equipped their mouths with spraying mechanisms, allowing them to freely spray the acidic venom.
“—!”
Compared to the Lagadon, Mantas were smaller in size, meaning they had less venom. However, with multiple Mantases working together, the quantity of venom increased accordingly.
In essence, they became a more advanced version of the formic acid-shooting ants.
In reality, Mantas, specialized for close-range combat, were powerless against our ranged attacks.
Its proud hook-like limbs were never even used as its entire body disintegrated under the acid, suffering a painful death.
[There are fewer and fewer prey in this area. Overhunting is continuing excessively.]
“Didn’t we already accept that?”
I smiled wryly at the System’s warning and stood up.
The chair I had been sitting on was made from living tissue. Designed for versatility, it supplied nutrients while I was seated and could transfer the universal cells extracted from my body.
As I stood up, several tentacles embedded in my spine and arms fell off and disappeared into the chair.
“By now, we can’t be satisfied with just this area.”
Looking around, countless tentacles connected my chair to numerous artificial digestive organs and artificial wombs.
But our connections didn’t stop there.
Similar to how pipes and wires run through a building, tentacles ran along the walls, floors, and ceilings of the nest, spreading everywhere.
Other rooms already housed many artificial wombs and digestive organs.
We had already surpassed a population of a thousand, and even now, they were endlessly repeating cycles of hunting, scouting, and collecting food.
There was no time for rest as we aligned these cycles.
“In addition to producing and researching for new soldiers, nutrients are always in short supply.”
[If this persists, even a moment of stopped nutrient supply could lead to the complete collapse of the entire colony.]
The System wasn’t wrong.
Even the living beings around our nest are gradually disappearing.
Not only animals, but as edible plants have increased, they too have been wiped out.
Stopping the hunting for even a moment would indeed make survival impossible as most of the nutrients we acquire come from hunting.
We have no time to idly grow crops.
“…We just need to capture more.”
We evolve by hunting and eating our enemies. That’s our identity.
In other words, stopping the war would mean abandoning our identity.
Even in games, various victory patterns and operating styles existed, but maintaining the identity of the chosen race made for smoother gameplay.
[Achievement “One Step Toward the World (3)” unlocked. Reward: 1 Trait Point]
[A scout has discovered a new area.]
At that moment, the world we knew expanded yet again.
One of our combat soldiers, who was tasked as a scout, had reached a previously uncharted region and returned unscathed.
“Seems like a similar landscape.”
Of course, there wasn’t any dramatic change just because it was a new area.
It was just another Demon Realm forest that had by now become familiar.
There are a total of 15 zones we currently know of. Out of these, we completely dominate 9 areas around our nest, as there are no creatures bold enough to challenge us there. In the remaining 6 zones, we are still actively hunting and cleaning.
This just added one more area to that.
“Just send some scouts, we’ll see what we can find.”
In order to maintain an endless supply of nutrients, we must continue expanding these zones and devouring all life within them.
That’s why we couldn’t afford to be negligent with our scouting and searching duties.
Currently, dozens of scouts were risking their lives to keep exploring.
“Hunt! Hunt!”
“Chase them!”
It was then that we spotted them.
They were a group hunting one of our familiar large larvae.
[Achievement “Encounter with Civilization (1)” unlocked. Reward: 1 Trait Point]
An alert appeared, notifying me that we had unlocked another achievement.
This was the first “civilization” we had encountered since I became the Black Rot Insect Queen in this Demon Realm.
[They’re Goblins.]
“I know that.”
Goblins were one of the playable races in the Demon Realm’s civilization. While the Black Rot Insects could not be directly controlled by a Player, I had firsthand experience playing as a Goblin.
Though Goblins were supposed to be low-ranking demons who were often looked down upon, when combined with the unique traits granted to Players, they had the potential to conquer the Demon Realm and aim even higher.
“By any chance, aren’t those things… controlled by Players like me?”
A chilling thought suddenly crossed my mind.
What if I wasn’t the only Player who had been absorbed into this game? What if others had been absorbed into different civilizations, into different races?
And what if those others were struggling to survive just like me, building their own forces?
[It is currently impossible to confirm.]
“You’re completely useless…”
The System wasn’t providing the clarity I needed. As frustration built in my chest and my face scrunched up in anger, I realized this was something I couldn’t change right now.
“Looks like they haven’t noticed us yet. Keep observing silently. Find out where they live and how large their group is.”
If they were indeed being directly controlled by a Player, their unique traits would quickly reveal themselves.
I ordered the scout that had discovered the Goblins to monitor them first, to get a grasp of these details.
