Traveler of the River of Time and Space-Chapter 535 - 19: Swarm Evolution

At the same time.

On the outskirts of the rebel base, a withered figure was wandering in the deserted wilderness. It appeared to have lost its purpose, drifting about like a wandering soul, searching for something.

Over ten kilometers away from this figure, there was a small squad of well-equipped assassins.

Not all of the Empire’s assassins can achieve permanent invisibility; only those with a Spiritual Ability Level of 7 or higher are eligible for constant spiritual power enhancement modification to transform themselves into a state of permanent invisibility. This process is quite painful, requiring the implantation of various bionic organs inside them, while ancient Lost Empire inscriptions are etched onto their skin’s surface—mystical characters containing spiritual energy, essential for continuous invisibility.

However, all Empire assassins have undergone special invisibility training, specializing in abilities such as invisibility, paralysis, heavy burden, and phase crossing.

"Has the situation here been reported to Her Majesty the Empress?" a shadowy figure spoke.

An assassin beside them, clad in a silvery-gray combat suit, replied respectfully, "It has been reported. The Empress asked us to monitor its movements."

"The Empire is gathering the Knight Order."

At this moment, beside them in the darkness appeared a clearly protruding silhouette, followed by a cold female voice: "Are we really going to deal with this monster?"

"The Empire has failed many times."

"Speak cautiously," said a blurred old man, slowly continuing, "This is not something we should consider."

"Her Majesty the Empress has her own decisions."

The Imperial Family’s days have become increasingly difficult over the years. If they could kill Edward I, it would undoubtedly salvage some prestige. Even if unsuccessful, they could seize the opportunity to weaken the ministers and the Church’s power. This operation cannot be achieved by Empress Isabella’s private forces alone; other factions within the Empire must join forces to assist.

This craze-driven Emperor is a scar in the hearts of all Imperial citizens. Countless people want to bring him to an end.

He is the Empire’s past.

Always reminding them of past failures and the painful cost paid, only by killing him can the Empire be reborn.

The small squad of assassins patiently waited.

But they did not notice something invisible to the naked eye was secretly observing them over a thousand meters away. On the nearby cliffs, spider-like traces appeared; blurred air faintly revealed a many-legged creature, and there was more than just one in the vicinity.

"The catastrophe has been discovered!..."

"Immediately notify the Insect Mother!..." A weak mind telepathy transmitted, directly sent into a beetle below dozens of meters underground.

Soon.

Over a hundred kilometers away from the underground rebel base, a tumor-like creature with numerous tentacles, over ten meters in diameter, floated up. It possessed a clear spiritual ability field, allowing it to hover in mid-air, but due to its large size, its movement was quite slow.

Within the insect swarm, its presence is akin to a signal tower, helping the Insect Mother control other members of the Insect Race.

Of course.

If the Insect Mother’s Spiritual Ability Level is high enough, such insect units are not needed. But when necessary, they can undergo secondary evolution, directly evolving into creatures with bony extended wings, covered with a blue-violet mucus membrane for protection, then launched into the planet’s satellite orbit, functioning as biological satellites orbiting the planet, maintaining spiritual energy communication networks across various insect nests.

The communication range of the insect nest is directly linked to the Insect Mother’s Spiritual Ability Level; should an insect exceed this range, it might mutate into a wild swarm.

"The catastrophe has appeared!"

"Continue to monitor them!... The maternal nest is preparing to hatch Leviathan!..."

"We need the genetic seed of the catastrophe."

"Summon the swarm."

"Wait for the right moment."

Low-frequency spiritual energy information emanated, and the communication network of the Insect Race was peculiar; human instruments could only detect slight fluctuations, only those with sufficiently powerful spiritual abilities could connect.

At the moment.

Deep underground over a thousand kilometers away from a host, beneath thousands of meters, inside a colossal city-like insect nest, countless busy worker bees were tirelessly working within the central corruption organ. They used sharp mouthparts to crush rocks and fed them into a ceaselessly writhing organ cavity. Further away groups of insect Race with distinct ant features transported items far exceeding their body size, making the whole insect nest seem like a massive and intricate machine, operating in an orderly fashion.

Inside the central flesh organ, the ground was a dark green fungal carpet, and in the center stood a unique mechanical device projecting sequences of DNA gene fragments.

In the darkness.

A slender figure could be seen, seemingly extending from the flesh walls, forming a humanoid silhouette. An icy sharp arm reached out, with three green fingers on the hand, its sharp nails lightly tapping on the projection, issuing a command: "Continue reassembling the genetic tree of the swarm."

"Enable the Swift Insect to possess the ability to devour and digest metal ore."

"Biochemical modification can temporarily stop."

"Human organ implantation and biological modification do not suit the swarm; this approach is too inefficient."

"The swarm must evolve to perfection on its own."

As its command was issued.

Within a large flesh cavity of the insect nest, thousands of Swift Insects frantically gnawed at the nearby crimson ore. Their sharp teeth ground the ore into powder, ingesting it bit by bit. The genetically modified stomach began digesting the ore, and soon, hundreds of Swift Insects revealed their eyes turning crimson, showing signs of frenzy and agitation; some started dying, while others began attacking fellow members of the insect Race.

More and more Swift Insects either went berserk or died, and ultimately all the Insect Race inside the blood and flesh cavity turned into piles of cold corpses.

"Evolution failed."

"The current recombination of the gene pool cannot fully digest metal ore, transferring it to the limb evolution sequence."

The one emitting Spiritual Energy messages was this massive blood and flesh cavity, seemingly possessing a certain intelligence.

"Recover the corpses."

"Collect genetic variations and detect mutation sequences."

On the wall of the blood and flesh cavity, sudden writhing opened up several flesh tubes, followed by a deep green liquid, resembling stomach acid, rushing out, quickly submerging the corpses of the Insect Race. In just a moment, the corpses were completely digested.

"Three types of imperfect mutant genes found."

"Should they be included in the gene pool?"

"Collecting samples, recalculating evolution pattern."

Three minutes later.

After the previous batch of Insect Race all died, soon another thousand Swift Insects entered this blood and flesh cavity. They must have just hatched not long ago, as some Swift Insects’ shells still carried traces of light blue mucus. They instinctively gathered at the center of the flesh organs, then continued gulping nearby ores at the command of the Insect Mother.

This time, obvious changes occurred.

On some of the Swift Insects, special changes appeared on their shells; a hint of silver-white emerged at the abdomen, while a dash of crimson glowed at the back, all exuding a metallic luster.

A large number of Swift Insects died.

In the end, less than five survived, with noticeably metallic hues on their shells.

"Survival unit detected."

"Conducting gene testing!... Evolution is not perfect!... Begin testing strength!..."

The neighboring flesh passage opened.

Suddenly, hundreds of other Swift Insects surged out, frantically rushing forward, attacking the survivors with claws and teeth. The Swift Insects exhibiting metallic shells were significantly fiercer; their blood-red pupils slightly constricted, instantly killing over ten of their kind.

The merciless slaughter continued.

Eventually, these five evolved Swift Insects were still slain by their unevolved kindred.

"Test complete."

"Bio-shell reinforcement level at 120%, bio-claw reinforcement level at 150%, not meeting specified requirements, collecting bio-alloy samples, restarting genetic mutation experiment!"

"Recover mutant genes."

From the dark red walls, deep green liquid surged again, quickly digesting the Insect Race corpses inside, then seeping bit by bit into the flesh floor, disappearing completely in no time.

A few minutes later.

Another thousand Swift Insects were placed in the flesh walls, and a new round of evolution experiments commenced.

Cold, ruthless, brutal, efficient.

Within the hive, there was not just this blood and flesh cavity; beside it lay fortress-like cavities constantly evacuating, absorbing vast amounts of flesh, nutrients, and metals.

Rumble rumble.

Suddenly, a massive explosion occurred within one of the flesh cavities.

Along with flying flesh walls, in a nestling organ, a silver-grey scorpion emerged, roughly five meters in diameter and twelve meters in length. Its body was flat, limbs developed, the tail featuring a barb, beneath which lay a black biological cannon barrel, emitting threads of light blue radiance.

"Bio-plasma attack evolution sequence completed! Power reaches expected target!"

"Being incorporated into the gene pool."

"Detected insufficient bio-energy supply, evolution sequence incomplete... Estimated evolved form can only launch three attacks... Transforming gene sequence..."

"Recommend implanting higher-tier Spiritual Energy templates of the Insect Race."

"Evolution resources exceed budget, optimizing gene sequence, reducing shell defense, enhancing mobility..."

A large swarm of worker bees surged over.

Carrying some black-purple flesh materials, they began repairing the flesh cavity with their mucus, soon completely enclosing it once more; only seeing piles of resources being delivered inside.

Hive center.

The entire hive operated at astonishing speed, while at the very center was a massive sac, its exact nature unclear, resembling a fish in outline. It throbbed slowly yet strongly like a heartbeat, thousands of flesh tubes connecting to its enormous body, continuously injecting nutrients into it.

.........