Chapter 343: Reassembly and Evolution

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“How’s the progress of the cell plate’s pre-growth experiment? Has the simulation of ‘cocooning’ succeeded?”

“The construction of the new energy base is going well. The completion of the foundation infrastructure has reached 90%.”

“Right now, most of the people have gathered in a few Homeships. Only a few people are still in the distant areas and have yet to return.”

The ‘Lightchaser’ civilization was busy again. Unlike the war mobilization in the past, and unlike the daily planning in their peaceful lives, it was a busyness full of vitality.

Society planning was very useful in the civilization battle royale, but it would inevitably cause some subtle effects after a long period of planning.

That was the first time the people of ‘Lightchaser’ were allowed to decide their fate. After they excitedly submitted their choices into the system, they felt much more relaxed. Even their mundane and disgusting jobs became interesting.

To complete the ‘cocooning,’ the research institute and the engineering station became the busiest departments during that period.

The research institute was responsible for finding and experimenting with the method of ‘cocooning’ on them, while the engineering station was responsible for building the space they needed.

That was a large-scale collective event. When the time came, they would probably execute the ‘cocooning’ in a special building instead of beginning the vast ‘rebirth’ in a randomly found place.

Of course, the ‘cocooning’ itself was the most important. Almost all biologists were involved in that project.

There were several difficulties that they needed to overcome, such as how to make the cell tissue and organic soup in the cocoon grow in the way they had chosen, how to eliminate that segment of primitive genes in the process, and how to ensure the activation of the genetic memory in the reconstructed body.

However, those problems were eventually solved through their tireless efforts. During that process, Li Wenyuan acted as a technical consultant.

After all, he was also very curious whether the ‘cocooning’ found in nature could appear in intellectual lives.

If possible, that might be a major change in ‘genetic evolution.’

After a successful ‘cocooning simulation’ experiment, the official ‘cocooning* was also in full swing.

About a hundred people in the ‘Lightchaser’ civilization would undergo the first ‘cocooning’ to confirm the feasibility of the technology.

They were the pioneer of the civilization. They were facing a completely different growth experience, and the outcome of the experience was very likely to be a ‘physical and spiritual annihilation.’ But even so, they did not hesitate.

The leader of the ‘Lightchaser’ was not among the hundred people, but his son was there to show his determination.

Those hundred people arrived at the ‘Brood Nest’ building that had been built long ago. Although it was named that, it was actually a technological creation. The building itself was cast from alloys and equipped with a series of equipment to assist in ‘cocooning.’ From the outside, it looked like an egg-shaped building with a futuristic style.

The hundred people participating in the ‘cocooning’ had undergone special genetic modification in advance. They now had a unique cell plate in their bodies that would guide the ‘reassembly,’ which could help them grow into their original appearances after dissolving and, at the same time, expelling the segment of primitive genes that would bring about their demise.

They arrived at the predetermined venue with hundreds of egg-shaped cockpits. Those were ‘mechanical cocoons’ designed by scientists to simulate the effects of biological cocoons. They had precise control under the influence of computers.

Before entering the mechanical cocoons, every participant bid farewell to their families. They knew very well what was going to happen next. It was indeed no different from suicide.

However, they did not hesitate. After bidding farewell, everyone sat in the egg-shaped mechanical cocoon.

As the cocoons closed again until not a single gap could be seen, an even larger eggshell rose from below each mechanical cocoon and surrounded it.

The staff also asked the relatives around them to go back and wait for news. ‘Cocooning’ was a long process, especially since the composition of the internal lifeforms was extremely complicated. According to the biologists’ estimates, it would take at least one to two years.

Under their reluctant gazes, the relatives left the ‘Brood Nest’ one after another.

The changes within the mechanical cocoons also began at that moment.

After sitting inside the mechanical cocoon and as the outer shell closed, there was no light at all. The interior also fell into complete darkness.

The leader’s son had personally experienced all of that. Even though he had already psychologically hinted to himself in advance, he could not help but feel a little nervous at that moment.

However, the next moment, a light lit up inside the cocoon. Along with the light was a selection interface and a synthesized system voice.

[Please choose your body shape and appearance after your ‘rebirth.’]

The game-like sounds and choices made him feel much more relaxed immediately. However, when he was about to choose carefully, he realized there was only one option on the interface: ‘Reborn with the current appearance.’ The rest of the options were grayed out in the ‘developing’ state.

But even so, he was no longer so nervous and became calmer about what would happen next.

He knew very well that he was about to ‘die,’ but he knew that he would be reborn.

So he closed his eyes. He gradually lost consciousness as the needle pierced into his body and the cold liquid flowed through him.

At that moment, a terrifying change was happening inside each mechanical cocoon.

Everyone who sat inside was quickly ‘dissolved’ under the effect of a drug, literally turning into a pot of organic soup rich in nutrients.

Whether it was their skin, hair, bones, or internal organs, they had all turned into a pool of thick liquid. That state obviously could not be defined as ‘life,’ but the scientists of ‘Lightchaser’ still named that stage ‘primitive embryo.’

The drug did not break down the cell plate that had been prepared in each of their bodies. Instead, the cell plate began to play its normal role.

Strings of genes began to recombine under the effect of certain pheromones, and a certain extremely stubborn segment of primitive genes drifted away in that process, gradually being expelled to the edge of the organic soup.

After that, the organ prototypes differentiated from the cell plates began to grow rapidly in the cocoon. Just like the formation of a celestial body, matter was attracted, gathered, consumed, and then lit up.

The body prototype was constructed directly at that stage. There was no need to go through the growth of a mammalian embryo. A healthy and fresh adult lifeform would appear when all the free organic matter was exhausted.

Time passed day by day. The ‘Shrinking Universe Observation Ship’ at the outermost edge had migrated inward again.

The scientists, who constantly monitored the changes in the mechanical cocoons, also detected the heartbeats inside the cocoons.

That was something to be happy about, but they also knew it was not enough.

‘Rebirth’ was not what they wanted. What they wanted was ‘rebirth with memories.’

After a long time, the situation in the mechanical cocoons had stabilized. The relatives were gathered there again to witness the rebirth of their loved ones.

The leader was no exception. He used his authority to go there the most. Although his expression was calm, his tense body had already betrayed him.

As the mechanical cocoons slowly opened, the previous participants all walked out. They did not look much different from two years ago. To be exact…it felt like an update.

The ‘rebirth’ in the past two years felt like another day for everyone present, but everyone was looking forward to something.

After that, the participants walked toward their relatives, and everyone’s expression became more joyful.

In the end, the leader’s son also arrived before the leader.

“…Ahem, how was your sleep?” The leader coughed and asked.

His son also smiled and said in a relaxed manner, “There’s nothing more comfortable than this sleep..”