Ch.55. Team Division

Anyway. With the energy I had gathered, after much deliberation, I decided to create and install a new facility.

Instead of a gene pool filled with digestive fluid (C) that could be used in various ways, I would build a pit to absorb nutrients. I named it the Digestive Gland.

It doesn’t have any special functions; it’s simply a facility with just one of the gene pool’s functions—the ability to absorb nutrients and genes.

Because of this, it consumed less energy to create than I had anticipated, using only about 1/4 of my total resources.

With the remaining nutrients after installing the facility, I planned to create a new monster that would serve as a worker to expand this cave.

Basically, there were 5 types of monsters that could be produced from the genes imprinted in me. Among these, only the Hive Spider was grade 9, while there were two grade 8 monsters and two grade 7 monsters, all specialized for combat. This meant I needed to create a separate monster specifically for cave expansion.

The base would of course be the Hive Spider, which could be considered the basic unit. Since I wouldn’t be deploying it for combat anyway, I would optimize its stats for strength and stamina, and adjust its skills accordingly.

Like the initial traits given when starting a game, from the 50 traits and 50 skills imprinted in the genes, I selected 3 traits and 2 skills.

For traits, I chose Underground Adaptation (E) derived from the Hive Spider’s adaptability, Tireless Stamina (D) for continuous work, and Transport Specialist (E) to carry more mass of nutrients than ordinary specimens.

For skills, I assigned Mining (E) since it needed to dig, and Sonic Detection (E) to secure vision underground.

Additionally, I manipulated its physical appearance while equipping bio-weapons. I increased its overall size while adding retractable hooks to its three pairs of legs to make it easier to cling to walls.

I equipped the forelegs, which could be used like arms, with Bio-Drills (D) originally designed for attacks, and increased muscle mass to withstand the vibration and impact.

Finally, I gave it the intuitive name “Hive Miner,” and the new monster was complete.

Hive Miner

Grade :: 9

Level :: 3

Stats

Strength :: 20

Agility :: 10

Stamina :: 25

Intelligence :: 5

Resistance :: 5

Energy :: 5

Leadership :: 0

Traits

Monster Gene (E), Predator (E), Hive Mind (E), Subjugation (EX), Tireless Stamina (D), Underground Adaptation (E), Transport Specialist (E)

Skills

Mining (E), Sonic Detection (E)

Bio-weapon

Bio-Drill (D)

This was the birth of a new monster specialized solely for mining, created by consuming half of the energy I had obtained.

Now it was time to produce monsters with the remaining 1/4 of energy. The amount was roughly enough for 80-90 grade 9 monsters, and after consideration, I decided on the following production list.

First, the Mining Team (tentative name). I assigned 50 Hive Miners to expand the cave from within, 2 Chief Brains to support these miners and prevent the excavated ground from collapsing until I could extend my tentacles, and one grade 7 Hive Commander to lead them all.

Hive Commander

Grade :: 7

Level :: 3

Stats

Strength :: 15

Agility :: 15

Stamina :: 15

Intelligence :: 25

Resistance :: 10

Energy :: 10

Leadership :: 25

Traits

Monster Gene (E), Predator (E), Hive Mind (E), Subjugation (EX), Commander (D), Close Combat Expert (D), Psychic Resistance (E)

Skills

Command (D), Detection (D), Charge (E)

Bio-weapon

Hunter Claw (D)

For the Hunting Team (tentative name) that would operate outside, I applied the lesson learned—that scavenging corpses is better than hunting—and reduced their numbers, instead focusing on grade 8 Hive Hunters.

Hive Hunter

Grade :: 8

Level :: 3

Stats

Strength :: 10

Agility :: 20

Stamina :: 20

Intelligence :: 10

Resistance :: 10

Energy :: 15

Leadership :: 0

Traits

Monster Gene (E), Predator (E), Hive Mind (E), Subjugation (EX), Ambush Master (D), Pursuit Instinct (E), Shooting Expert (E)

Skills

Shooting (D), Bullet Production (E), Stealth (E)

Bio-weapons

Exoskeletal Crossbow (E), Hunter Claw (E)

The Hive Hunter is a Hive Spider equipped with a bio-crossbow formed from a modified exoskeleton on its back. While its close combat ability is lower, it possesses abilities closer to a hunter, as its name suggests, such as stealth, ambush, and tracking.

Therefore, the Hunting Team consisted of 12 of these monsters, 2 relay Chief Brains, and one Hive Commander to lead the hunting team when I was focused elsewhere.

‘…I still have some left over.’

Even after producing all these monsters, I had a bit of nutrients remaining.

As I was contemplating whether to save the remaining nutrients or produce a few more Hive Miners for the mining team, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

‘…Ah, right. I almost forgot about this.’

It was the need for guard monsters to protect my body—the Hive Mind core.

At first glance, it might seem unnecessary for a top-tier psychic user who could single-handedly annihilate dozens of monsters to need guards, but simply put, guard monsters are essential.

I could use them as decoys while attacking enemies with psychic powers, and even without such tactics, having guard monsters to serve as frontliners is beneficial for me as a typical backline entity.

Therefore, after some consideration, I used all the remaining energy to produce 6 Heavy Hive Spiders of grade 8.

Heavy Hive Spider

Grade :: 8

Level :: 1

Stats

Strength :: 18

Agility :: 10

Stamina :: 18

Intelligence :: 10

Resistance :: 20

Energy :: 5

Leadership :: 0

Traits

Monster Gene (E), Predator (E), Hive Mind (E), Subjugation (EX), Exoskeleton (D), Regeneration (E), Psychic Resistance (E)

Skills

Hardening (D), Rapid Regeneration (E), Charge (E)

Bio-weapon

Hunter Claw (D)

The Heavy Hive Spider, as the name suggests, is a superior species of the Hive Spider. It’s twice the size of a Hive Spider, with generally more muscle mass and a sturdier exoskeleton, guaranteeing durability.

It’s also a tank-type monster with most abilities specialized for defense, and I expect it to demonstrate the defensive capabilities that made it famous in the game for being a common monster that doesn’t die in one hit.

※ ※ ※

Immediately after production was complete, I moved the Mining Team to where I wanted to expand the cave and sent the Hunting Team outside as planned.

Right after that, I activated a skill I had forgotten about but just remembered—Split Thought (D)—to divide my consciousness into two.

[Activating Split Thought (D).]

Of course, this was to manage both operations simultaneously, and the result was quite satisfactory for me.

‘Oh, it works.’

Right after activation, it felt strange, like using a computer with one monitor split into two areas, but after a while, as I got used to it, the Split Thought was functioning well enough.

Anyway, now able to manage both sides, I took direct command of both operations simultaneously.

I would have preferred to leave it to the Hive Commanders, but… that’s out of the question for now. Mining is a dangerous operation that could cause the cave to collapse if done incorrectly, and hunting could reveal my existence to humans if mishandled.

In any case, both operations were progressing smoothly.

For mining, the Hive Miners would carve away the rock wall with their bio-weapons, then stuff the rock powder into their stomachs. Once their stomachs were full, they would jump back into the Digestive Gland.

Since there are quite a few nutrients in the rock walls, digesting one and producing another leaves some energy remaining. Collecting this energy to produce more Hive Miners is the basic mining process.

Oh, by the way, you might wonder how energy can exist in solidified rock formations. The answer is simple:

The entire surrounding terrain was formed by the accumulation of nutrient-rich monster corpses that rapidly sedimented.

Of course, with plants growing and monsters like me absorbing energy, there isn’t an enormous amount of energy available, but if collected, it’s enough to be usable.

Anyway, while the other monsters proceed with mining, the Chief Brains use telekinesis to support the excavated areas to prevent collapse.

And when I extend my tentacles to absorb energy from these supported areas, voilà—the cave expands.

=============

This is the protagonist’s current state, the Hive Core.

I drew it in Paint.