Chapter 54

While exploring, Lin really enjoyed using the torpedoes. There are now three types of torpedoes: for general use, for land, and for deep sea. The general-use torpedo is equipped with water jets and two flat tentacles for movement, and it has an air sac inside to help it float, making it easy for Leviathan to recover.

Unlike aircraft carriers, which store troops inside their bodies, Leviathan breaks down returning troops and converts them into nutrients to be stored for the synthesis of the next batch of troops. This way, it doesn't take up space and doesn't increase food consumption due to too many troops, making it a perfect solution.

Lin threw a torpedo into the cave entrance, and it began to swim around, observing the surroundings.

The cave was oval-shaped and very large, capable of fitting ten Leviathans. There were bits of organic debris floating around, and the cave floor was littered with the shells of other creatures, which felt quite strange.

This is...

Lin noticed that although the cave walls looked like rock, they were actually made of a shell-like material, coated with an anti-corrosion layer and very smooth. It was as if trilobites, which can only crawl and not swim, would get stuck and couldn't escape once they fell in.

So, this is a trap? It seems to be a very large creature. This is the first time Lin has seen a creature larger than Leviathan. They bury their massive bodies in the sand, leaving the trap entrance exposed. When other creatures enter, they should close the entrance and spray corrosive liquid inside to dissolve the intruders.

Although there is nothing inside to lure other creatures in, there are no other hiding spots on the entire beach except for these traps, so they don't need lures to attract other creatures seeking shelter.

Perhaps because the torpedo is too small, they have no interest in dissolving it, or they might only try to dissolve the intruders when a certain number of them have entered the trap.

This is quite interesting. Lin really wants to see the internal structure of this creature. Let's call it a 'Giant Trapworm.'

Currently, Lin can only see the part of the Giant Trapworm that forms the trap. To see the whole thing, it would probably need to be dug out of the sand.

But can Leviathan dig out such a huge creature?

It seems unlikely.

Since that's the case, Lin has another plan: to force it to come out.

Thinking about this, Lin created a new type of unit. It has a circular center, can move by spraying water, and is covered with stinging cell tentacles. It's called a 'Herder.'

Lin created hundreds of Herders to float above the Giant Trapworm's trap entrance, using them to drive away all approaching creatures.

At the same time, Lin released some flying saws to assist the Herders.

Eventually, the Giant Trapworm will have to come out due to a lack of food.

Leviathan can just wait nearby. Although Lin rarely lets Leviathan stop, it's necessary to study unknown creatures, especially such large ones.

While waiting, Lin decided to do something else, like... research.

The cells of the suicide flatfish that Lin obtained earlier have undergone some changes...

Initially, they were just round cells, but they slowly changed. The cells began to secrete a thin film, and then they continuously divided and grew within this film, forming organs, a spine, and other structures, eventually becoming a small flatfish.

The small flatfish would push through the film and emerge, and... that's it.

They should grow into the larger flatfish, but what's the point? Do the larger ones have to die to create these small ones?

It's really hard to understand.

Why do they always do such strange things?

Maybe it's like this? Lin suddenly thought of a reason... They must be trying to create more flatfish. The cells they release are in large quantities, and they probably use up all their nutrients to produce these cells.

But, there's no need for them to die, right? And why use this method? It would be better to create them inside their bodies.

It's really strange.

Moreover, Lin discovered that there are two types of flatfish. They have different organs inside: one is a large, sac-like organ that produces spherical cells, and the other is a smaller, tube-like organ that produces tentacled cells.

When these two types of cells combine, they can split into small flatfish!

...Why do they do this? Why create two different types and have them produce cells that combine?

Lin doesn't understand at all... She realizes the gap between her and other creatures is growing larger.

What is right? What is wrong?

Of course, victory is right! There's no need to care about other creatures; Lin just needs to follow her path to victory.

Lin found that the small flatfish can't grow on their own, probably because their original nutrients are depleted, so they need to obtain food from the outside.

Lin gave some food to the small flatfish and watched them grow slowly, finding it quite interesting.

It's a bit boring now.

The Herders have driven away all the creatures approaching the Giant Trapworm, depriving it of any food. It's unclear how long it will take for it to come out, or if it will even move, possibly dying in place.

However, Lin will wait and see, at least for two days and nights.

While Leviathan is idle, something special happened at the main base, which is located on a large rock platform.

The main base is now hollowed out inside the rock, with organs and other structures stuffed inside. Only the tentacles for capturing prey and the umbrellas for cultivating green cells remain on the rock platform.

This area is rich in life, and there's no shortage of food. The base itself is powerful, and with the aircraft carrier and guardians, it's not afraid of other predators. The only thing that concerns Lin is the changing environment.

Initially, Lin used the aircraft carrier to break through the ice layer in a cave to emerge, but the ice layer never melted; instead, it slowly expanded, making the surrounding water colder. When the water started to get cold, many creatures left the area.

Now, the ice has spread to the vicinity of the main base, looking like a massive, thick ice wall. All the mobile creatures have left, except for the leaf-shaped creatures that are fixed in place.

Should Lin move the base?

Lin is hesitating about this. The base is already inside the rock, and it would be very troublesome to move it all out...

Crack...

Suddenly, a vibration came from the water, interrupting Lin's thoughts.

Several large cracks appeared in the nearby ice wall due to the vibration. The leaf-shaped creatures, which were fixed in the sand, were twisting their bodies as if they desperately wanted to leave.

Some smaller amoebae severed their stalks from the sand and floated away with the current, possibly by absorbing air from the water to rise.

The leaf-shaped creatures are fixed in the sand with root-like structures. Even when Lin broke them before, they didn't move, but now they have severed their roots and escaped?

What could make them do this...

The entire water area is continuously vibrating, but this vibration is only in the area of the main base. The nearest sea trench base, which is closest to this area, didn't feel any abnormality, but it could see many creatures swimming away from the main base.

The ice has cracked into countless pieces, indicating that something is about to happen.

The area has been continuously vibrating. During this time, the base's eye tentacles can see the light above getting brighter, as if... the water surface is getting closer. Is the water level dropping?

No, that's not it; this area is rising! The beach...

Lin immediately ordered the aircraft carrier, which was docked at the base, to speed away! It must leave this area immediately!

As for the base, Lin ordered the armored 'Giant Shield Tentacles' at the edges to bend inward, protecting the entire base. They are specially designed so that when all the tentacles fully enclose the base, not even a single virus can escape!