Chapter 3: Evolution Nest Work Efficiency Increased by 30% (Originally 5 hours to complete a batch of evolved body transformations, after selecting this reward, it will be reduced to 3.5 hours per batch).
...
Su Xiao didn't hesitate to choose reward 3. The newly appeared "Evolution Nest" was exactly what he wanted to obtain.
As soon as he made his choice, all the walls on the right side spread with dark red flesh, beginning to construct a massive architectural organ.
Thick meridians grew within the dark red flesh. A claw made of flesh extended out, followed by a head resembling an alien. This flesh monster roared towards the sky, and at that moment, a sense of rejection from the world appeared.
This flesh-constructed monster was called a Demon Beast. However, it didn't actually come into this world. This scene was merely caused by the "Evolution Nest" containing the genetic fragment and instinct of the Demon Beast during its growth.
Watching all this, Su Xiao knew he had gotten lucky. After choosing to develop the Pig-Heads, there had been many setbacks. For example, the Wild Boars didn't directly help early development. They couldn't sustain war through war, making rapid growth difficult. Now, his luck had finally turned.
The "Evolution Nest" formed quickly, taking shape in just two hours. This was a characteristic of insectoid architecture. If it were inside an insect nest, the speed would be several times faster.
[Notification: The Doomsday Fortress has evolved a new organ: Evolution Nest.]
[Evolution Nest: Can accommodate 500 soldier units/summons/native world mutated beasts at a time, forcing them to undergo one evolution. This process will consume the fortress's stored living energy (the amount of living energy consumed will depend on the number of units undergoing evolution this time and their individual strength).]
[Notification: Entering the Evolution Nest for evolution carries a high risk of death upon failure. Even if successful, the unit's primordial life force will be reduced by 42% to 50% due to this evolution (meaning a 42% to 50% reduction in lifespan).]
[Notification: As the Evolution Nest was modified from an insect nest organ, all units entering it will inherit the insect race's "Instinct" ability, become more aggressive, and regard this fortress as a "home that must be protected." This is derived from the insect race's protective instinct towards their nest.]
[Notification: Evolved units possess a certain degree of team coordination. This ability requires mental synchronization to activate (without an Insect Queen, the Doomsday Fortress cannot perform this function; this ability is invalid).]
[Notification: At the current stage, the Evolution Nest takes 3.5 hours per batch to complete the evolution of soldier-type units/summons/native world mutated beasts (originally 5 hours/batch, time reduced by 30% through the fortress promotion reward).]
[Notification: The Evolution Nest will upgrade as the fortress's level increases, unlocking different evolution paths.]
[Available Evolution Path: Instinct Granting (Passive).]
...
Seeing these notifications, Su Xiao knew his invested resources weren't wasted. To salvage this fortress, he had taken out quite a few good items just now.
The effectiveness of the "Evolution Nest" was still unknown. It could accommodate 500 Pig-Heads at a time, evolving one batch every 3.5 hours.
For other creatures, evolving with the boost of insect genes would have an extremely high mortality rate.
Pig-Heads were different. They had been sacrificed by the Vassal Clan, losing their potential to become strong, in exchange for formidable endurance and adaptability. Working 22 hours a day mining, eating the worst food, with such treatment, Pig-Heads could endure for several years. If they worked 20 hours a day, they could last over a decade.
Su Xiao didn't need every Pig-Head to become a powerhouse. Their endurance and adaptability would surely significantly reduce the ultra-high mortality rate brought by the "Evolution Nest."
Once evolution succeeded, it wasn't just about increased strength. The Pig-Heads would also become more aggressive. This was the influence of the Demon Beast's genes on their psyche. It could be said that for Pig-Heads who had been oppressed into submission and lived only to survive, this was the greatest enhancement.
Demon Beasts had never backed down; they didn't even know what that was. Influenced by its genes, Pig-Heads might not reach that level, but their bestial nature would be thoroughly awakened.
There were many benefits, but the cost was also great. When Pig-Heads transformed in the "Evolution Nest," they consumed living energy, meaning Living Ore. Secondly, there was a reduction in lifespan, between 42% and 50%.
For some young Pig-Heads, this wasn't a reduction in lifespan but rather a chance to live longer. Normally, after leaving the Vassal Clan's life factories, they would only live for 12 to 16 years before dying from exhaustion.
If left to nature, the average lifespan of Pig-Heads was similar to humans, not much less than the Vassal Clan. Even with a 50% reduction, they would still have several decades to live.
In Su Xiao's view, this aspect wasn't very significant. Pig-Heads were going to the battlefield. If they were going to war, why worry about lifespan? On the battlefield, a single moment of negligence meant instant death.
The unique smell of the insect nest wafted from ahead. It was a mix of the smell of rain-soaked earth, lemon, and something hard to describe. Overall, it wasn't unpleasant.
Su Xiao looked around. Over 90% of the second floor's area was occupied by the "Evolution Nest." The intake for the Living Ore rough blocks was squeezed down to the first floor.
Su Xiao contacted Kaisa, asking him to front the cost for 500 Pig-Heads, which was 15 units of Living Ore, and to get 500 male Pig-Heads as quickly as possible.
Su Xiao didn't have to wait long inside the fortress. Kaisa, through secret channels, teleported the 500 Pig-Heads to the Border Zone one by one. Then, the Wild Boars stationed at Warehouse No. 2 took over and delivered them to the first floor of the main fortress.
After the Wild Boars under his command busied themselves for a while, everything was ready. Su Xiao looked at the several hundred new Pig-Heads in front of him. They all kept their heads down. Some of the younger ones would occasionally steal a glance but immediately lower their heads again.
With a single command from Su Xiao, the surrounding Wild Boars herded the 500 Pig-Heads up to the second floor, guiding them towards the cave-like entrances of the "Evolution Nest."
After all 500 Pig-Heads entered, the dozen or so entrance passages of the "Evolution Nest" sealed shut. The entire "Evolution Nest" began to contract.
[Notification: It is estimated that this evolution of soldier-type units will consume a total of 500 points of living energy.]
[Available Evolution Path: Instinct Granting.]
[Estimated Time Required: 3.5 hours.]
...
500 jin of Living Ore was within acceptable limits. Su Xiao was very much looking forward to seeing the results of the evolution of these 500 Pig-Heads. He had invested resources and taken risks to create this Evolution Nest.
While Su Xiao waited, Molei's raiding party returned. Hausman wasn't seriously injured, Gang Ya had minor injuries. Of the original 300 Wild Boar warriors, 252 returned. Before they left, Su Xiao had ordered them to retreat immediately if the situation turned bad.
"Where is Molei?"
Su Xiao glanced at the contract. It hadn't disappeared, meaning Molei wasn't dead yet.
"She went down to mine."
Baha spoke. It and Bubu Wang had been following Molei the whole time, watching from a distance and responsible for tossing Apollo to destroy the evidence.
"..."
Su Xiao didn't need to ask to know that Molei's raiding party had encountered a fortress equipped with heavy cannon-level weapons on their first outing. Anyone daring to open a mine near the Border Zone was no pushover. Besides, this time Su Xiao just wanted to scout the area.
The most important thing now was to see how effective the "Evolution Nest" was. Su Xiao estimated that, even at its worst, the "Evolution Nest" could mutate the Pig-Heads into Wild Boars. The mortality rate and whether there were other enhancements were still unknown.
Su Xiao headed towards the top floor. He hadn't taken many steps when Molei ran quickly up to the second floor and said urgently:
"I need to go out for a bit. Yueshitu was attacked on the way here and is being chased now."
Molei's expression was anxious, her speech fast. After speaking, she vanished in a few flashes.
"Damn it, someone's attacking the Mining Princess."
Baha immediately thought that the 20,000 Soul Coins from Yueshitu's side weren't secured yet. And because she was missing, the contract hadn't been fulfilled. Molei's 20,000 Soul Coins were also pending payment. Only after Yueshitu signed the contract would the 40,000 Soul Coins be obtained.
As a Technique-Type, Su Xiao was starting to feel that he was a bit poor lately.
Su Xiao brought Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha, and strode out of the fortress. Whether Yueshitu lived or died in the past didn't matter to him. But now, she wasn't Yueshitu; she was a walking 40,000 Soul Coins, a mobile ATM.
The current Yueshitu equaled numerous mining-capable summons and a walking 40,000 Soul Coins. If she died, it would be a huge loss.
PS: (Three chapters, ten thousand words. Going to eat lunch, so hungry.)