Chapter 46

The construction of the base is basically complete. It is situated atop a massive boulder, occupying more than 90% of the available flat space.

The outermost layer consists of a ring of flat, elongated tentacles known as giant shield tentacles. These are covered in a hard shell and can bend inward when necessary to protect the entire base.

The second layer is a ring of tentacles covered in needle-like cells, responsible for intercepting passing single-celled organisms and defending the base.

Closer to the center are the food sacs, which absorb nutrients, and the 'fusion factories' that process and combine shell-like substances. There are also storage rooms for fat cells, all of which are oval-shaped organs, each about half the size of an aircraft carrier.

At the very center is the 'reproduction chamber,' which is responsible for generating cells and various units. It is twice the size of an aircraft carrier and is covered in a tough shell and large tentacles. It resembles a massive spherical structure and is the core of the entire base.

Although it is the core, it has the simplest structure. Its main function is to continuously divide basic cells. Lin's primary method of producing units is to create basic cells and then transform them into various types of cells, which can combine or mutate. Once the cells have combined for the first time, they automatically complete the process.

The remaining structures are for cultivating green cells, which Lin calls 'cultivation umbrellas.' These are large, circular platforms supported by cylindrical columns made of shell-like material. The platforms are filled with green cells, and this structure is very efficient for absorbing light. There are three cultivation umbrellas, which cover almost half of the base.

At the center of each cultivation umbrella is a large lantern. Lin discovered that not only can green cells absorb light during the day, but they can also absorb the light emitted by the lanterns, although the efficiency is lower. This allows the green cells to continue producing nutrients even in the dark.

Fine blood vessels run throughout the platform, connecting each tentacle and organ. Lin abandoned the idea of having a large heart at the center and instead added many small hearts along the blood vessels, which is both space-efficient and functional.

In addition to these fixed structures, there are many mobile units, mostly gas storage units and devourers, responsible for cleaning parasites from the base or going out to hunt.

After creating the shell, Lin found that many wild single-celled or small multicellular organisms liked to attach to it. This behavior is called 'parasitism,' but for Lin, it is more like 'serving food.' Unlike other organisms, Lin can create various sizes of composite beings, from viruses to multicellular organisms, so nothing can parasitize Lin's body.

It's quite amusing.

The aircraft carrier is now floating above the base. Lin usually keeps it there, where it is responsible for producing units. Occasionally, it goes out to hunt other large organisms, but this is generally handled by the guardians.

Building the base consumed a large amount of fat cells. Although the aircraft carrier originally had a significant reserve, enough to create many more carriers, it is now almost depleted. However, Lin believes it can be quickly replenished.

Moreover, Lin plans to create a new composite, one capable of long-distance travel.

It must have powerful abilities, agile movements, a large body to accommodate various organs, and its own small army.

Its function will be similar to the aircraft carrier, but Lin wants a new design... What should it look like?

It should probably be streamlined to move quickly in water. Indeed, no matter how much Lin wants a new design, performance must come first.

If it is made in an oval, streamlined shape and moves by pure jet propulsion, it will be very fast, but this form is not suitable for long tentacles.

Perhaps a disc shape would be good... like a jellyfish, with tentacles growing from the bottom. This would be convenient for hunting or grabbing things, but it might be slower.

But it's better than having no tentacles... So, let's go with that.

Lin's current nutrients are not sufficient, but the basic design is almost complete. The main body will be a wide disc, half the thickness of an aircraft carrier and about twice its length in diameter. It will be covered with a hard shell of a certain hardness. This is the initial size, which will be increased over time.

The edge of the disc will have thirty movable jet ports, allowing movement in any direction. At the center of the upper layer, there will be a large water intake port, which will quickly draw in water and then expel it through the jet ports via internal muscle channels, enabling rapid movement.

The upper layer will also have many exit channels for releasing units.

The lower layer will extend six large tentacles. Lin does not want them to be thin and weak like jellyfish tentacles. These tentacles will be composed of many muscle cells, with a mouth at the end, filled with backward-facing, hook-like teeth made of the toughest shell material. This will allow it to tear apart prey of similar size and pull creatures like brachiopods out of the sand.

Next, there will be the basic cardiovascular structure, fusion factories, gas sacs, eyes, and lanterns, which are simple to add.

As for its name...

Let's call it 'Leviathan.'

What does this word mean? Lin is not sure, but it seems to symbolize some kind of massive creature that moves through the sea.

Lin's base will not change position unless something happens, and it will generally remain stationary. Leviathan will travel continuously, and Lin will use it to explore the vast, endless aquatic world.

If Leviathan is killed, Lin will create a new one at the base. If the base is destroyed, Leviathan will be responsible for building a new base.

Of course, Lin hopes neither of these scenarios will occur.

Leviathan will not carry the usual units from the aircraft carrier but will have its own units, which Lin plans to create specifically for Leviathan, even though it is already very powerful.

The units Leviathan carries must include various abilities it lacks and be responsible for delivering food to Leviathan. Lin will not allow the main body to eat directly.

Since the nutrients are not yet sufficient to build Leviathan, let's start gathering them.

From the base atop the boulder, Lin can easily survey the surrounding waters. There are many familiar organisms here, such as flatworms, leaf-shaped organisms, brachiopods, jellyfish, starfish, and tube worms. The water also contains a significant number of single-celled organisms.

In just one day and night, Lin will be able to complete Leviathan.

Hunting... let's begin!

There is nothing in these waters that can resist Lin. They are easily converted into nutrients, and the process is very smooth.

One thing that puzzles Lin is that since emerging from the ice, Lin has not encountered any round shield worms. Are they very rare, or is there another reason?

Lin did not dwell on this and instead focused on hunting.

Even during the night, Lin did not stop. Lin clearly observed the changes in the nocturnal and diurnal organisms. Most organisms hide in the sand at night, while dark worms and some small arthropods emerge.

Night hunting is more challenging than daytime hunting, but Lin continues to provide light to the green cells using the lanterns at the center of the cultivation umbrellas to gather nutrients.

Leviathan is also being assembled, but due to its large size, it is not being formed in the base's reproduction chamber but directly in the water. To prevent it from sinking during assembly, Lin created many gas sacs to support its weight.

When daylight returns... Leviathan is almost complete. At this moment, a peculiar organism appears at the edge of Lin's base.

It seems to have climbed up the rock wall. At first glance, it resembles a round shield worm but is about half the size. It has a semi-circular shield-like head like a round shield worm, but its body is not the spiral tail of a round shield worm. Instead, it is almost as thick as the head and has a striped, continuous raised shell. It has many segmented legs, and the ends are sharp spines rather than pincers.

"Trilobite."

The word appeared in Lin's mind as soon as Lin saw this organism.

It seems to be an interesting creature, although the name seems strange and does not resemble the organism at all.

Let's use it as a celebration for Leviathan's birth!

Leviathan is now complete. It activates the jet ports around its body, and its massive form slowly rises, moving toward the trilobite that is wandering near the giant shield tentacles at the edge of Lin's base.

As it approaches, Leviathan suddenly accelerates by simultaneously drawing in and expelling water, rushing toward the trilobite. It uses two of its large, mouthed tentacles to bite the trilobite's head and tail, lifting it high.

Then, Leviathan's tentacles pull in opposite directions, and the trilobite's body is torn apart, releasing a large amount of blue liquid composed of cells and tissues, which disperses in the water.

Not bad, although the trilobite's shell seems a bit brittle.

Leviathan's abilities satisfy Lin. Now, let's set out and head toward the endless sea!

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Thank you ~Da Wo Cheng~ for the support.

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