"Found it!"
Luna quickly found what she was looking for—a creature.
Resembling a jet-black leech, it had scales; its suckers were like mosquito proboscises, tipped with hooks.
It pierced its prey, injecting a venom that dissolved organs and muscles before sucking out the liquefied remains; its feeding method resembled that of a spider.
Luna held it; it was about the length of her palm; they could reach 23–28 cm, long and slender, capable of contracting to two-thirds their length.
This creature is called the Capa Metamorphic Worm!
Metamorphic worms are unique; this one was marked with a green tag, not a blue tag.
Green and blue tags denote naturally occurring and artificially created organisms, respectively; textbooks usually include the tag color in species names; a title like "Capa Metamorphic Worm" would imply a green tag.
"What is that?"
Silodeyi asked.
She found the creature repulsive.
She chose botany partly because some animals were too grotesque.
"It's one of nature's only freely metamorphosing organisms." Luna inserted a pin into its body; the Capa Metamorphic Worm softened, appearing dead.
Moments later, it began to move; its back split open, revealing purple metallic substance; its outer shell peeled away, revealing translucent, jelly-like flesh. Once the scales were shed, it transformed into a translucent, multi-limbed creature.
It was hard to describe; plump, with a thin membrane on its back resembling wings, seemingly incapable of flight—likely a vestigial trait. It resembled a headless pig with translucent dragonfly wings; a blue, insect-like eye, like a blue gemstone, was on its front; its body shimmered with iridescent colors.
"So cute!" Silodeyi exclaimed.
The creature was vastly different from its previous repulsive form.
"The previous form was for hunting; this is its dormant or alluring form."
"The Capa Metamorphic Worm uses this metamorphosis to lure prey; its companions then hunt."
"It's a social creature, exhibiting eusociality like ants."
Luna mentioned its social nature; Silodeyi noticed the dense population of Capa Metamorphic Worms around them—tens of thousands; their black bodies blended with the stones, making them almost invisible.
"Only the adult Capa Metamorphic Worms don't metamorphose; the others can, and their metamorphosis is considered free because they can revert to their previous form."
This was a remarkable species; Luna wanted to study it.
In their predatory form, they were carnivorous; in their alluring form, they fed on the sap of Blue mushroom trees; this was their initial state; they grew, feeding on the sap, then metamorphosing.
Some Federation scholars believe the dormant form is their true form.
Luna planned to conduct experiments, so she collected some specimens.
The Federation possessed gene banks, allowing for laboratory creation of these organisms.
But wild and laboratory-created organisms often differ genetically and behaviorally.
Luna captured one; nearby Capa Metamorphic Worms became alert, emitting warning chirps; Luna left them and continued searching.
"Blue mushroom forests are rare in the Federation—only 28 locations. Treasure this opportunity; there are many endemic species here," Luna reminded Silodeyi.
"Yes!"
Silodeyi turned her attention to searching for known and unknown plants.
She spotted a partially eaten plant; the bite marks were sharp, suggesting a carnivore.
Why would a carnivore eat this plant?
After consulting her auxiliary brain, Silodeyi realized this was a Special Leaf Herb.
Special Leaf Herbs are rare; their growth conditions are demanding; their small size makes them vulnerable to trampling.
The "Special Leaf" in its name refers to its unique oval-shaped, solid leaf; it only has one leaf, as if concentrating all its essence into a single leaf.
When blooming, a flower bud appears on the stem, growing and then withering.
The "Herb" refers to its medicinal properties. Federation humans have quark robots, but animals don't; injured animals seek this herb if available.
Its effects are potent, treating various internal and external injuries—a panacea.
It's an artificial creation; various medicinal substances are integrated within, maintaining a balance, providing exceptional therapeutic effects.
Silodeyi excitedly dug it up; Special Leaf Herb flowers are prized, making them popular, but the market is niche; cultivation is expensive, limiting accessibility.
Like the Dentata Globus, uprooting kills the Special Leaf Herb, but it can be quickly revived with nutrient solution—easily achievable with Federation technology.
Meanwhile, Luna encountered another creature:
Ice Dandelion Spirits.
These airborne creatures resembled dandelions; they were intelligent animals; Federation scholars estimate they would naturally reach sapience in 3–4 million years; the Federation could accelerate this, but there's no need.
The Federation could even transform plants into sapient beings; no one does this; the Federation needs civilizations, not simply sapient beings.
These spirits guided Luna to a hidden area within the forest.
...
This was a small pond, about 50 meters in diameter, nestled within the blue mushroom forest.
The water was incredibly clear; sunlight refracted beautifully from the sky.
The water lacked insects or other small creatures; the Ice Dandelion Spirits preyed on them.
The Ice Dandelion Spirit guiding Luna dove into the water, descending to the bottom—their habitat.
Ice Dandelion Spirits didn't use ice magic; their name derived from their dandelion-like bodies; when submerged, their fluff trapped air, creating a bubble around them, making them resemble ice.
"Spirit" is a broad classification; many types exist; they serve as guardians of plants, consuming insects that harm them.
"Insects" refers to relatively small, insect-like creatures; Luna only saw true insects on this Star Continent.
The pond surface was clear; these Ice Dandelion Spirits were evidently fastidious.
Upon Luna's approach, the submerged Ice Dandelion Spirits emerged, circling her.
"Do you want me to enter the water?" Luna asked in surprise.
The spirits seemed to guide Luna into the pond.
Luna followed them; she hadn't checked the depth; it was much deeper than expected.
Reaching the bottom, about 50 meters down, she saw bioluminescent rocks; it felt like being in space.
These Ice Dandelion Spirits were quite welcoming.
Luna noticed small holes in the rock face, covered with webs spun by the spirits. These webs trapped bubbles at the bottom, creating small living spaces.
Numerous Ice Dandelion Spirits emerged, swirling around Luna, a welcoming ritual.
Enthusiastic little fellows!
Luna offered an Energy Credit; the spirits excitedly accepted it, then presented Luna with some unknown insects as a gift.
Luna accepted them for research, not consumption.
She didn't stay long; after bidding farewell, she left. Nearby, she spotted a Six-Armed Beast in a tree.
As the name suggests, it had six arms; it resembled a praying mantis, but its six limbs were more delicate and agile.
These Six-Armed Beasts preyed on Ice Dandelion Spirits.
But this Six-Armed Beast didn't escape; a White Bone Flagellum appeared, impaling it with its tail.
The White Bone Flagellum resembled an alien artifact; its body was covered in white bone, like a skeleton encasing its flesh.
Their bodies were frail; a 2-meter-long individual weighed only about 20 kg, mostly due to their numerous, dense bones.
White Bone Flagella belong to the Osseus Flagellum family; this species includes bird- and fish-like variants; their purpose seems purely aesthetic; they're quite handsome, a favorite among bone-armor enthusiasts.
White Bone Flagella have no natural predators, but they're not abundant; they only reproduce once in their lifetime, producing one or two offspring; their lifespan is 40 years; without predators, they'd likely be extinct.
They are apex predators, possessing incredible speed and strength; their tail is a dagger, easily impaling prey.
Their bodies are short—only about 40 cm long; the remaining 1.6 meters is their tail.
Luna watched it carry its prey away; it was survival of the fittest.
She returned to Silodeyi.
Silodeyi was engrossed in her search, unaware of a Cloud Dragon targeting her.
Cloud Dragons are large reptiles resembling traditional dragons, but smaller; their wingspan and body length are 2.5–3 meters; they're grayish-white, with darker coloration towards the belly, culminating in a black line.
Their backs are covered in soft, white down, resembling clouds, hence their name.
Cloud Dragons are cruel; they enjoy slowly consuming their prey's limbs before killing them.
But this one hadn't accurately identified its prey.
Silodeyi appeared frail, but she wasn't easy prey.
"The deeper we go, the more animals appear."
Luna found this interesting.
Silodeyi picked a grass; shaking its roots, her eyes lit up: "It's quite sweet!"
She offered some to Luna.
Sweet Grass; resembling chives, it grew in dense clusters of tens of thousands. The sweetness had a unique aroma.
"Sweet Grass is delicious; I must try it later," Silodeyi said.
Luna realized she hadn't paid attention to Federation cuisine in years; it was quite advanced.
People were fortunate; they could eat without worrying about weight gain.
Organisms didn't need to defecate; food was almost entirely absorbed (99.999%); waste was excreted through other means, such as sweat.
"We should try it!"
"We need to move on; we've spent enough time here."
Luna reminded her; they'd waited long enough.
The Star Continent was vast; Luna wanted to explore it thoroughly.
It shouldn't take long—perhaps ten years.
Free Star City typically stays for 100–500 years; there's no need to rush.
Silodeyi reluctantly left but cheered up upon reaching the next area.
It was a snowy landscape.
The flora was sparse, but what existed was rare.
The snow itself was rare; Federation star cities don't experience snowfall; seeing real snow was a luxury for many.
This was Silodeyi's first encounter with snow; she found it novel.
Luna, however, focused on a large snow falcon circling overhead; its wingspan exceeded 6 meters; it cried out, seemingly chasing them; this was its territory.
...
Luna and Silodeyi explored the Star Continent for a month.
Silodeyi felt she had learned a great deal; Luna readily answered questions that were difficult to find in the auxiliary brain.
He even provided information not contained within the auxiliary brain.
A true three-star scholar.
Silodeyi admired her, but felt a sense of loss.
She had less than 200 years left; pursuing advanced knowledge was likely impossible; mastering it would take at least ten years, possibly centuries for those lacking aptitude.
"Don't strive for perfection; enjoy the journey of discovery,"
Luna said without turning around.
Silodeyi paused, then nodded.
During their month together, Luna seemed omniscient, understanding not just biology but also Silodeyi's thoughts.
"But I can't help but feel… this is it."
"This is only my third life; I really want to know what my previous two lives were like."
Luna considered this; the first wave of Olive Branch Civilization lifeforms had reincarnated into Federation lifeforms; the first third-generation individuals had appeared.
It was a tragedy, yet a form of protection.
"If you want to extend your life, exploring other star nations isn't a bad option," Luna suggested.
She was indifferent to where Federation citizens went; emigration was now permitted; one could legally become a citizen of another star nation.
This was a significant liberalization, though with limitations; uncontrolled opening was risky.
"I hear it's difficult to move to other star nations; it requires various permits and strict vetting."
"But those are just excuses; leaving requires action. I'm just...confused about whether to continue living or choose death."
Silodeyi confided in Luna; she felt Luna was like an older brother.
It was strange—one appeared in their twenties, the other in their fifties, yet the older one saw the younger as an older sibling.
But it was true.
Silodeyi sensed Luna's psionic level was high; her age was likely centuries older.
"But ultimately, I choose death."
"Not because I don't want to live, but because I can't keep living indefinitely."
"Living longer means losing more; I feel that—not just those around me, but other things. Experiencing something once makes it precious; experiencing it repeatedly makes it mundane."
"Life is like that; its brevity prevents us from experiencing everything, but it also prevents our treasures from diminishing."
Silodeyi knew her current interest in botany might fade in decades or centuries.
Uncertainty made life avoid the pursuit of immortality.
"It's contradictory, wanting to live longer yet not wanting to."
Silodeyi offered a faint smile, seemingly amused by her own words.
Everyone felt this way; believing their experiences were unique, incomprehensible to others, fearing ridicule for revealing their feelings.
But that wasn't true.
"That's the beauty of humanity."
"Simple things are insufficient. When we see an apple, we don't eat it solely for its appearance; we consider its aroma, sweetness, crispness, its ability to quench thirst… the totality of its attributes."
Luna gazed at Silodeyi; she spoke of farewell.
Silodeyi had been here long enough; she had her own life.
Botany was a passion, but only part of her life, not everything.
Indeed.
"I'm leaving, Luna. It was a pleasure meeting you!"
"You taught me so much; you're like a mentor."
Luna smiled: "Then consider me a good mentor."
Silodeyi invited Luna to a chat group.
"It's a group of enthusiasts; we share our findings; I hope you'll offer guidance, if you have time."
Silodeyi left.
She departed cleanly and efficiently.
As a woman of centuries, she had experienced much, shedding naivete.
This was just one of Luna's many experiences.
Luna continued exploring the Star Continent—from forest to desert, from desert to ocean… This extensive exploration yielded significant results.
Much auxiliary brain data was theoretical; it couldn't fully represent an organism's characteristics.
Luna had an idea.
"It seems there's no biological simulation database yet!"
It was previously considered insignificant; most animal simulations were for observation.
Luna realized showcasing an organism's allure was also a crucial part of biological research.
"Ayla, perhaps we should develop one."
Ayla responded: "Possible. But I'll only build the platform; we need more participants; we can cultivate talent and encourage more detailed biological research."
She sent Luna a proposal.
Luna found it excellent.
The proposal involved creating a platform classifying biological organisms; each classification would list individual species; each species page would include videos, text, and other data.
The system would use this data to create simulations, allowing users to interact realistically with these organisms.
It was a remarkable plan.
By the time the plan was implemented, Luna had explored the entire Star Continent; she was reluctant to leave; countless undiscovered species remained.
But thorough exploration would take too long; she'd leave that to future explorers.
Instead of immediately returning to Free Star City, she planned to rest within this star system.
...
Luna was unfamiliar with this star system.
Upon arriving at a star city, she noticed something amiss; it was eerily deserted.
This was unusual for the Federation.
Upon further investigation, she found ruins, as if damaged by something—an invasion?
Luna frowned; a shadowy figure suddenly emerged, lunging at her; she dodged, revealing it to be a Spirit Hound.
Spirit Hounds weren't dogs; they were ape-headed, canine-like creatures with long, dagger-like forelimbs.
They were mid-sized predators, weighing around 40 kg.
"Spirit Hounds here?"
This one was extremely hostile, attacking Luna again.
Luna countered with a punch, reducing it to pulp.
Upon impact, Luna realized it wasn't a real Spirit Hound, but a simulation.
She understood what was happening.
Text appeared before her:
[Experience +282]
[You have successfully leveled up to level 3]
A simulated game!
Current technology made realistic simulations easy.
But this scale was unusual; Luna saw a vast expanse of ruins; perhaps the entire star city was like this.
Luna found this wasteful.
"Don't worry; the inhabitants are underground; the surface is for recreation."
"Each star city needs revenue; beyond scientific development, there's tourism and entertainment; this system attracts visitors from neighboring systems."
After the Federation stabilized, Ayla delegated authority to the Boundary Gods.
They assist star system governors in managing their systems.
Each star system is an independent kingdom, competing with others; the system's level determines the Federation's support.
This system prevents the strong from becoming stronger; the Federation stabilizes weaker systems.
Luna nodded; she saw underground entrances.
These glowing green entrances were conspicuous; an armed contingent approached cautiously, creating a sense of urgency.
"The city's inhabitants earn their living this way; you'll see once you're underground," Ayla said.
Luna approached.
Entering the green light, she was immediately surrounded by activity.
Passing through a long corridor, she reached a wider tunnel; vendors lined the sides, selling weapons and equipment.
These weapons were virtual items.
Reality and fiction were completely intertwined.
Luna didn't mind; the Federation had virtual-world citizens; their lives were similar; some became non-player characters (NPCs) in virtual games.
They were NPCs, not players; the key difference was that NPCs could experience relationships and even reproduce in these virtual worlds; players couldn't.
Players only experienced similar services in specific virtual spaces.
"This city's theme is apocalypse; other cities have different themes, such as everyone having a hidden shelter; those are more sophisticated, blending reality and fiction."
"Virtual worlds expand real-world space, creating immense virtual entertainment worlds."
Luna hadn't known about this aspect of the Federation.
"How many Residence-type star systems are there now?" Luna asked.
Ayla replied: "Due to population growth, there are now 18,208 Residence-type star systems."
That many.
No wonder virtual reality is so prevalent.
A gasp came from beside Luna; someone had produced a golden sword.
"A legendary golden equipment!"
"It actually appeared here! How much?"
"I'll buy it! 300 Energy Credits!"
"I'll offer five hundred!"
It was unbelievable that this was a high-level civilization.
"Could they be playing themselves to death?" Luna worried.
Could they become so engrossed that they lost their will?
"No. Everything has its use; people here often participate in the Mortality Selection plan; many sociologists study them here."
"Explorers also come here; the rate of conversion to explorers is high."
Each place serves a purpose; this system isn't without functional star cities; many simply focus on entertainment.
Luna ventured further; it felt like a virtual game; people carried swords, guns, discussing monsters, and exploration areas.
It was surreal.
The interior was a vast underground city; the main difference from the surface was the artificial sky, making it feel like a subterranean world.
Luna saw a central building.
"That's…a simulated universe?"
She was puzzled; why would they need a simulated universe?
"The external monsters aren't entirely prototype; some are created within the simulated universe, then released for testing."
"This attracts practical biologists."
"After all, such a large-scale battle arena is rare."
The external creatures aren't all simulations; some are real, biological entities.
Luna had been considering the revenue sources for these entertainment star systems; tourism generated limited revenue; space tourism was still a luxury.
The presence of researchers made more sense.
Researchers easily spend tens of thousands of Energy Credits on a single study; this is substantial profit.
Attracting high-ranking researchers, backed by large companies, generates tens or hundreds of millions of Energy Credits.
Combined with the explorers, this is substantial revenue.
The Federation's largest clients are researchers and explorers.
"Speaking of explorers, I heard that The Swarm has spread widely?" The destruction of the old Federation decades ago resulted in a significant number of Swarm creatures roaming space.
Their uncontrolled growth is terrifying!
"Indeed; the skle-283 sector has a swarm exceeding ten quadrillion; many mutated insects have become terrestrial organisms, taking root on planets."
"Many explorers see this as an opportunity; The Swarm is a food and gene source."
"Genes are valuable commodities; many companies offer rewards for new genes, even classifying them; the lowest-grade genes are worth over a thousand Energy Credits."
This was a form of unregulated activity; Luna didn't think military intervention was necessary.
But at this rate, they might open a Pandora's Box; in millions of years, The Swarm could infest the Milky Way.
"We should negotiate with the Swarm leaders; encourage them to find civilizations without destroying them; if they develop a civilization to Type 2, we'll provide them with technology."
Luna realized this was a good way to acquire civilizations; they wouldn't need to build a civilization from scratch.
The Swarm was controlled by brain-worms, making negotiations easy.
Luna entered the simulated universe to modify the insects; the era of Swarm robots would begin here.
...
Luna had much to accomplish.
The simulated universe was now more refined, operating at the particle level.
This was sufficient; she wasn't aiming to create quark-level lifeforms.
Luna's plan was to unlock the Swarm's potential.
After entering the simulated universe, she scanned her collected insect samples; a ping indicated completion; she connected with the simulated universe.
The simulated universe offered two connection methods:
Consciousness connection and consciousness immersion.
Consciousness connection projected objects; consciousness immersion immersed the user into the simulated universe—AR and VR, respectively.
Each had advantages; Luna chose immersion; it allowed for finer manipulation and avoided interference.
Upon entering, users requested space; space size determined available processing power.
Luna didn't need to request; she used all the idle processing power.
Standing in the void, Luna created a laboratory.
A state-of-the-art biological laboratory appeared; Luna began studying the tiny insects.
Through further observation, Luna confirmed they belonged to the Kemino Worm family, a creation of someone named Kemino. These were larger, but due to some unknown mutation, this population was about two-thirds smaller than typical Kemino Worms.
These insects had markings on their backs—g-183—a method of identifying artificial creations.
Many artificial organisms have markings on their bodies or internally; these markings are genetically inherited.
It's a type of indelible genetic marker, often a core gene sequence.
Luna extracted this sequence; the organism's biological markers disappeared. This was a form of anti-counterfeiting; anyone attempting to recreate this organism and claim ownership would need to overcome this obstacle.
Luna carefully altered the gene structure, removing the genetic marker.
Then, she began dissecting the organism.
This involved removing unnecessary genes while maintaining functionality. After removing these genes, she began modifying the organism's organs.
Luna's plan required shrinking the insect to 100–500 nanometers in length.
Shrinking wasn't difficult; the challenge lay in functionality.
Every organism contains various microorganisms contributing to its structure and stability; simply injecting this insect into The Swarm would only add another microorganism.
The insect needed to enhance life like a machine.
How?
Luna had a plan:
Using a bio-neural interface to control the insects' response to the host organism; if strength was desired, the host's brain-worm would transmit this signal to worker insects.
They would stimulate specific cells, activating receptors or creating pathways to transmit muscle signals to every cell, triggering responses.
Strength would increase; every muscle and cell would be utilized.
Luna called this—Limit Breaker!
A 21st-century fantasy—gaining immense power through a Limit Breaker.
In reality, biological limit breakers are largely protective mechanisms; they prevent self-harm; muscle endurance is limited; unconditionally unleashing full power risks muscle tears, organ damage, and bone fractures.
Luna aimed to use these insects to override The Swarm's limit breakers.
When The Swarm experienced such damage, these insects would aid in rapid recovery.
They would also enhance muscle strength beforehand.
Luna estimated a 20–30% strength increase—significant gains.
These insects would also aid in Swarm regeneration; if a Swarm creature were bisected, the insects would trigger regeneration, injecting catalysts to accelerate cell division, allowing rapid recovery, potentially creating two creatures from one.
These functions were complex to implement.
There was no mechanical component; it relied solely on the insects' capabilities.
Luna completed the insect modification after 70 years.
She provided them with a breeding unit—a Brood Hive.
These breeding units would continuously produce insects and even brood-worms—miniature brain-worms—to control them.
Luna named them—Ultra-Microscopic Swarm!
They were the smallest Swarm units, possessing the same terrifying reproductive capacity; a cubic meter of Brood Hive could produce hundreds of trillions of worker insects daily.
"Add it to the trade list with the Bwarm star nation. How's that Swarm nation progressing?"
Luna and Ayla had left the Bwarm star nation to grow.
Ayla replied: "Around 4.82 quintillion individuals. The previous swarm was a small offshoot; they're numerous and occupy over 130 star systems."
Luna thought of the colossal brood-worm; it was essentially a brain-worm, transformed.
"Perhaps one day, a Swarm nation will rival the Federation…" Luna smiled.
Her new creation should be well-received.
"Yes, given their numbers, let them guard a dimensional gateway; promise them the surrounding star systems."
Luna planned to use Swarm units to explore four-dimensional space; years had passed without results.
The Federation lacked four-dimensional communication technology.
While tachyons propagate through higher dimensions, acquiring four-dimensional information requires a receiver in four-dimensional space—requiring a deep understanding of dimensions.
Federation progress in this area was slow.
But there was progress.