"I'm back!"
[Welcome back]
"Huh!? Whoa— there’s light."
Just as Jal returned to the biological editing space, he was surprised to find that the previously void-like space had become a bright white room. Apart from the change in color, the candy-floss-like consciousness and the biological 3D model remained unchanged.
"How did this space become illuminated?"
Jal was puzzled.
"But it feels quite pleasant. I didn't expect that becoming multicellular would turn this little dark room into a space with a daylight lamp."
"Is it because the single-cell stage is finally complete? Does that mean the space will continue to evolve, 8051?"
[Of course,] 8051 replied succinctly.
Satisfied with the presence of light and the evolution of the space, Jal rested quietly, feeling as if he was missing something, but he quickly brushed it aside.
"Right, I came here because of the evolution, didn't I? Why isn't anything happening?"
It suddenly dawned on Jal that the system prompt regarding the transition to multicellular evolution had brought him here, but he had been so captivated by the changes in the space that he forgot.
"Uh, 8051, can you give me some feedback?"
"I mean, I’ve finally evolved into a multicellular organism."
[You finally noticed?] 8051 responded with a hint of annoyance.
"Uh, what do you mean I finally noticed?"
Jal was confused by 8051’s response. It seemed like it was the one that hadn’t responded for a long time, or was there some kind of logical mix-up?
"Are you really 8051? You seem a bit different."
[...]
"Wait, did you evolve as well?"
Considering the change in 8051’s tone and the changes in the space, Jal came to a simple conclusion.
[Not evolution.]
[For main consciousnesses in the single-cell stage, we don’t pay much attention. We just let the avatars mechanically handle any queries they present. If this main consciousness successfully transitions from the single-cell to multicellular stage or shows potential by evolving into an advanced single-cell branch, it indicates increased value in the evolutionary system, prompting us to start officially executing our duties.]
[In short, the single-cell stage is merely an introductory filter for the species’ main consciousness. If it cannot complete the single-cell stage within the generously allotted time, the system deems it worthless and erases it, so we had no reason to invest attention before now,] 8051 explained in detail.
"That's quite harsh, but it seems I succeeded."
[Barely passing, really. The limit was twenty billion years; you only took eleven billion,] 8051 remarked with surface-level praise, but with an underlying tone of disdain.
"…"
"That doesn't sound like praise."
"By the way, does the system have any evaluation of my previous performance? And the system mentioned starting the transition to multicellular evolution before I entered. Hasn't my species evolved into a multicellular organism yet?"
[Do you think just piling a bunch of single cells together like building blocks makes a multicellular organism? How will you reproduce, by splitting one cell after another? It’s not impossible, though,] 8051 answered.
"Um, isn’t it?"
[Certainly not. Here, take a look at the evolution summary.] 8051, somewhat tired of the conversation, opened a menu window for a more detailed explanation.
A text box appeared in front of Jal:
**[In the animal kingdom, aside from single-celled organisms, all others are multicellular. Transitioning from single to multicellular marks a significant evolutionary leap, highlighting a crucial stage in biological evolution. Soft-bodied organisms represent the beginning of multicellular life.
After nearly eleven billion years of gradual evolution, your species experienced various transitions, mutations, and regressions, ultimately forming a higher-level multicellular organism through cellular specialization and aggregation. A novel brain and nervous system has developed within your body, enabling the processing of complex tasks. Crucial spore cells retain your species' complete DNA, facilitating continuous division and transformation to propagate your species.
At this pivotal moment, a genuinely evolvable, reproductively sustainable multicellular species is born.
From this point forth, you have transcended the microscopic world of single cells, embarking on macroscopic evolution.
The evaluation summary for Transcender 14939, Jal, in the single-cell stage is as follows:
Stage Duration: 11,213,700,000 years (Rating: Good-)
Evolved Features: Electric Jaw, Electric Tendril, Flagella, Cluster Eye, Bristle Skin, Muscle Fibers, Open Digestive Tract, Primitive Nervous System, Nutrient Circulation System, Spore Reproductive System. (Rating: Excellent)
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Through prolonged evolution, your multicellular organism has been rated as Good+ by the system.]**
"Is that it?"
In an instant, Jal absorbed the evaluation, feeling unfulfilled. Completing the single-cell stage seemed to warrant more than just a brief assessment.
[Of course. What did you expect to see? Single-cell combat records? 8051 found Jal's reaction odd; wouldn’t being concise be better?]
"Uh, nothing."
"Oh, where's my cute 8051 that used to call me 'Master'? Have you vanished?"
[Hmm? What fantasies are you having?] 8051 inquired curiously.
"Ah, n-nothing. So, does this mean entering the space now is about perfecting my multicellular body with all components and developing a reproductive system to produce spores?"
[Correct.]
[After entering the soft-bodied creature stage, selecting a spore for editing will be necessary. Upon exit, the main consciousness will merge with the spore to form a new multicellular juvenile. Thus, future durations in the biological editing space will correlate to a spore's full maturation, rather than suspended time.]
"Oh. So, I need to be more cautious before entering now."
"Let's have a look at the brand-new multicellular organism I've painstakingly created."
**[Microcell (Single-cell Stage Name)
Multicellular Organism, Soft-bodied, Early Biological Evolution Species.
Evolution Points: 5
Life: 20/20
Attack: Electric Jaw (15) (Biting), Electric Tendril (5) (Contact), Electric Burst (30) (Area)
Defense: Bristle Skin (10) (Enhanced Electric Defense) (Tactile)
Movement: 2—5
Vision: Cluster Eye ×2
Reproduction: Asexual Spores
Body Information: Open Digestive Tract, Nervous System, and Nutrient Circulation.
Species Evaluation: Leader
Congratulations on evolving from a single-cell stage to a multicellular organism. You must be excited. With basic vision and tactile senses, you can finally observe the world with familiar perceptions. However, alongside the wonderful world, there lurk many dangers and challenges.]**
"It’s just more detailed. Leader... what a random evaluation."
“Huh, why is nutrient value now evolution points? 8051, what are evolution points?”
[In the soft-bodied stage, evolution points replace nutritional values needed for biological survival and act as currency for component evolution. System tips indicate evolution points are obtained by eliminating same-level or higher-level organisms. The current 5 points were provided by the previously defeated multicellular. Additionally, the leader rating is decent; the multicellular you defeated barely qualified as a minion level.] 8051 kindly reminded.
"…"
"What ranks above leader?"
[From low to high, the rankings are: Commoner, Minion, Leader, Boss, Mastermind, and Epic Creature.]
"Whatever, I’m done complaining. Let’s look at the new components."
Using mental control, Jal adeptly opened the component descriptions.
[Electric Jaw
A non-bony jaw equipped with electric components
Attack: 15
Cost: 100 (Evolution Points)]
"So expensive!"
"I’ll need to eliminate twenty multicellular organisms for one jaw, my gosh!"
[8051 Kindly Reminder: Evolution points correlate with evaluation. The evolution points from levels, low to high, are: 2, 5, 10, 20, 45, 100.]
"Oh, so I just need to take down an epic creature."
[...]
“Thanks. Let’s continue.”
[Electric Tendril
A tendril tip dense with electrode cells
Attack: 5 (Electric Shock)
Speed: +2 (Movement)
Cost: 30 (Evolution Points)]
[Bristle Skin
Multicellular skin dense with spikes from the single-cell stage.
Defense: 10
Cost: 50 (Evolution Points)]
[Flagellum
Mobility Component
Speed: +1 (Swimming)
Cost: 20 (Evolution Points)]
“Ugh, I'm so slow now. And evolution costs are so high.”
Looking hopelessly at his meager 5 evolution points.
“By the way, I know electric tendrils evolve from flagella for movement, but how does one describe movement versus swimming?”
[Explore and find out.]
"…"
"Let’s check the eyes."
[Cluster Eye
A sensory component providing information on light intensity and direction.
Vision
Cost: 20 (Evolution Points)]
"It seems like it simply adds light direction detection. It seems finding components from other organisms is crucial."
"On second thought, having two cluster eyes should suffice. The electric jaw is too costly and already present; plus, it lacks bite strength, so it’s not a current consideration. The electric tendril and flagellum should be equipped, but first, I need to clarify the distinction between movement and swimming. The previous note listed movement as 2. Could movement mean contact-based motion while swimming refers to aquatic movement?"
"Yes, that makes sense—meaning I can touch the ground. Hold on, in the absence of light in water, life beginning here suggests we might be on the deep-sea floor, right? 8051."
[Correct, your species is currently located in the deep sea near an undersea volcano. Advancing to shallower seas is the system-recommended method for further evolution.]
"Exactly, thanks."
“So, only bristle skin remains, but it’s already equipped. I recall getting a new DNA component prompt upon consuming that multicellular segment. Could it be the pincer, hehe?”
With hopeful anticipation, Jal pulled up the component display box.
"The single-cell components have vanished, leaving only these few in the multicellular stage. Seems I’m truly saying goodbye to the single-cell world."
"All the better, progress requires forward steps. Let’s examine the new pincer component."
Eagerly, Jal scanned the component list.
“Huh, where is it? Where’s my mighty pincer?”
After searching the sparse component panel, only muscle fibers appeared aside from the previously seen components.
"8051, where’s my pincer?"
[Nonexistent. From the defeated multicellular organism, you acquired muscle fibers, more conducive to multicellular evolution.]
“With muscle fibers, no wonder it moved so swiftly. Wait, I was asking about the pincer component, do I not get it?”
[You can only acquire one component from a species, typically with a choice prompt. Given your imminent evolution and the single-cell phase's cognitive limitations, the system opted for the more advantageous component. Additionally, pincers are skeletal components, usable in the aquatic life stage.] 8051 explained.
"My pincer drifted away just like that."
[Given the choice between a useless decorative pincer and powerful muscle fibers, do you question the decision?] 8051 expressed discontent with Jal’s reaction.
“Uh. No, no complaints. Heh.”
Letting go of the pincer frustration, Jal acknowledged that muscle fibers suited his needs better; the soft-bodied stage was lengthy—the opportunity to find pincers would arise.
[Muscle Fibers
Provide greater bodily strength
Cost: 100 (Evolution Points)]
"Alright, I’ll equip it after defeating an epic creature."
The "Ignore the Obvious" technique reappeared.
"By the way, 8051. Besides the shift to shallow seas for the next stage, can I get more guidance? Pretty please?"
[You are currently in the soft-bodied phase.] 8051 reminded.
"That’s it? So little! Can’t you offer more detail?"
[The clue is fairly explicit, permitted to the maximum extent. Should you still lack insight, you might as well die.] 8051 suddenly lamented its inability to physically target the main consciousness in this space.
"Whoa, calm down."
"Thankfully, this odd space seems to impose unique constraints on 8051. So, the next phase is aquatic life—wait, am I not aquatic now?"
"Never mind, I'm eager to experience the multicellular world. Can I exit now?"
[Naming is required first.] 8051 composed itself.
"Oh, I need to rename."
Noticing the dialogue box, Jal recalled that "microcell" was the single-cell stage name.
"Now, what name should I choose? Such a dilemma."
As Jal mulled over numerous electric components on his multicellular body, he pondered.
"Yes, let’s go with 'Electric Cell.' It's representative."
"Wait, that’s too simple, and I’m not a single cell anymore. Hmm?"
"Electricity, current, flash, bilibili, pika..."
"Lightning Bug it is. Appropriate and strong."
Thus, the evolved microcell earned the title "Lightning Bug" at the dawn of its multicellular existence.
(As Lightning Lad dashes by, Railgun stands watch.)
