Chapter 98

These flying insects are each only about two centimeters in size, but there are a vast number of them. They are clearly one of the species in the Inca insect swarm, with slender bodies and a sharp, needle-like appendage at the tail. It seems they have no intention of letting Leviathan off easily.

*Bang!*

Before the insects could reach them, Lin fired an explosive projectile into their midst. Instantly, countless insects fell from the impact of the explosion and the corrosive liquid, their bodies almost entirely eroded and unrecognizable.

However, the other insects that were unaffected continued to charge forward fearlessly. They attempted to surround Leviathan, and Lin noticed that a small insect had approached Leviathan’s wing and used its tail to pierce it.

In that instant, Lin felt the insect inject something into Leviathan’s wing with the needle at its tail. Since Lin had small eyeballs circulating in the bloodstream, it quickly became clear what this was.

It was a round object that suddenly split open, and a white insect with sharp teeth emerged from inside, beginning to gnaw on the cells around Lin.

So, it’s an egg? It seems this small insect’s method of attack is to lay eggs inside the opponent’s body. That’s quite unique.

Now, a large number of insects swarmed around again. Leviathan suddenly flapped its wings, creating a strong gust of wind that blew them away. Lin then immediately flew higher, and all the small insects followed.

Leviathan’s speed was much faster than the insects. After flying for a while, Lin could no longer see them, and it was quite easy to shake them off.

As for the insect inside Leviathan’s wing, Lin had already sealed it off.

Lin’s immune system is different from that of other organisms. Other organisms generally have immune cells that attack and kill invaders, and if they fail, the organism is doomed. However, Lin transports chitin through the bloodstream to the target location, causing the cells around the invader to secrete chitin, forming a hard sphere that completely encases the invader.

As for how to deal with this hard sphere, it can be expelled from the body or dissolved.

Lin uses the same method to combat viruses, sealing off the infected cell with chitin before the virus can replicate.

Because viruses must enter cells to reproduce, they can never proliferate inside Lin’s body.

This immune system is highly efficient, so there are no parasites or viruses in Lin’s troops. These organisms, though simple and small, can have a significant impact on multicellular organisms.

What should be done now?

Although Lin wants to continue studying and observing the Inca insect swarm, it seems impossible to get close to them. Since that’s the case, Lin will continue the search for the empty jellyfish, but the research will definitely continue.

Lin created a new type of troop called the "Infiltrator." This troop can change color, hide its scent, and most importantly, change shape.

Lin created the Infiltrator based on the memory of a creature called a slime... no, an amoeba.

The Infiltrator is a mass of cells, each protected by a gel-like substance to prevent leakage. When the cells combine, the gel-like substance connects, allowing it to change into any shape and pass through any gap. Even if it is cut into pieces, it is not a problem. However, it has no offensive capabilities and is used only for research.

Lin dropped an Infiltrator from a great height. When it was first created, it was a small sphere with a diameter of 10 centimeters, but when it changed shape, it no longer had a fixed size.

The Infiltrator fell into the water pool at the bottom of the large pit and instantly turned transparent, using a small eyeball to observe the surroundings.

The water was still full of worms and dragonfly larvae. The Infiltrator was responsible for observing the water. Leviathan dropped two more Infiltrators, which landed near the entrance of a staircase. Additionally, Lin released dozens of color-changing flyers to completely study and observe the activities of the Inca insect swarm.

The role of the flyers was to observe changes in the large pit, while the two Infiltrators entered the cave to observe. Of course, these two were only for preliminary investigation, and a complete investigation would require Lin to return.

Lin might bring a large force to study the area, but it had other matters to attend to.

Because of the rain and the time spent at the large pit, Leviathan had to fly back toward the ocean to continue searching for the empty jellyfish.

Spreading its wings, Leviathan took off into the hot desert wind, resuming its journey.

Not long after Leviathan left, the flyers and Infiltrators in the large pit observed the activities of the Inca insect swarm. Their troops emerged from the cave entrance again, dragging all the dragonflies back into the cave.

At this moment, Lin’s two Infiltrators also entered one of the staircase caves. The inside was almost completely dark, which was problematic. The Infiltrators could emit light, but doing so would certainly be noticed. So, Lin had them move deeper inside to see if there were any light sources.

Over the next few days and nights, Lin noticed that the black bees were the most common troops in the Inca insect swarm. They were responsible for transporting food and cleaning the sand from the pit, acting like ‘worker bees.’ They could secrete a sticky substance to form balls of sand and carry them out of the pit. Lin rarely saw other types of insects, except occasionally the large-eyed insect, which would observe the surroundings and then run back.

On the seventh day, Lin saw the fat insects that had previously secreted the sticky substance to trap Leviathan. They emerged from the cave and began to secrete a large amount of silk. This silk seemed different from before, as it was not sticky. The black bees then wove the silk together to form a large web.

The insect swarm placed the web in the water, left it for a while, and then dragged it back up. They used this method to catch a large number of worms and dragonfly larvae. Why did they only start catching them now? Because the larvae had grown.

However, this technique was quite remarkable. They managed to use the rain, the large pit, and the dragonflies in such a way.

This level of intelligence is quite impressive.

How did they evolve to this point? Lin was not surprised by their division of labor, as many single-celled organisms also divide tasks. This is necessary for them to evolve into multicellular organisms.

So, the appearance of similar cooperation in multicellular organisms is not strange, though it is rare. Most multicellular organisms simply cluster together, and only a few more advanced types evolve to have different individuals working together.

What Lin was concerned about was their intelligence. Lin did not think they were like itself. From the way they use sound to summon each other, it was clear that these organisms could not communicate over infinite distances. They are likely organisms with brains.

So... what drove them to develop this level of intelligence?

This is what Lin wanted to study, but that would have to wait until after finding the empty jellyfish.

...

Lin had never considered what to do if it encountered other species with intelligence similar to or equal to its own. It still treated them as it would any other organism.

Study them, absorb their strengths...

After several days and nights of flying, Leviathan finally reached the ocean.

Lin now had a general idea of the layout of the Northern Continent. To the south is the ocean, in the middle is the desert, and to the north is the Twisted Jungle.

The size of the entire landmass was still unknown. Leviathan did not fly at full speed but used a more leisurely gliding method. The place where Lin originally landed was near the spire forest, but now Lin was flying directly south from the large pit. This side of the beach had no spire forest, only cliffs made of rock, and below was the sea.

Leviathan flew over the cliffs, and Lin saw many fish carcasses. Their bodies seemed untouched by any other organisms, with the flesh still intact but dried out.

There were also many dried scorpion and trilobite carcasses. From a high altitude, these carcasses were scattered throughout the coastal cliffs, reminding Lin of the disaster.

It seems a tsunami had brought these fish and scorpions onto the land, but they all died from lack of water.

The sea was right there, so why did they die from lack of water? Even warm water could have sustained them for a while.

The answer was in the sea...

Leviathan flew down the cliff and saw a sea that had been dyed black...

...

Thank you to ~Soul Seeker~ and ~godmorgan~ for your support!

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