The evolution of insect swarms from XNUMX million years ago

Chapter 195 Creep Proliferation

These scorpion-shaped giant insects have a special pouch structure in their abdomens, which makes their abdomens bloated, giving them an overall appearance similar to some later scorpions that were eaten to fullness in artificial environments.

This pouch structure is connected to their special tails, and has well-developed muscle tissue for ejecting the liquid. This is how they ejected liquid remotely.

However, Lin Yi was not interested in these things - jets that relied solely on muscle structure squeezing could not compare to biological artillery like the Mortar Spider. The point is, the structure inside their sacs aroused Lin Yi's interest.

In addition to the liquid, there are also a large number of fungal spores mixed in the bag, which multiply in the liquid. When they are waiting to be ejected, they multiply in large numbers and produce the same effect as before.

Although it was of no use to Lin Yi, it provided him with inspiration - why not also store part of the structure and tissue of the creep in other-level individuals, and let other-level individuals spray it out to quickly multiply a creep?

Under normal circumstances, one needs to pupate into a mother nest first, and then spread the fungus blanket around the mother nest. However, in this way, a single fungus blanket can exist with a tumor-like structure, bloom at more points, and accelerate proliferation.

As for the grade carrying this structure, Lin Yi immediately thought of the Kuai-Wing Diver - Wuta. The maneuverability of this grade is unparalleled.

Since its inception, the task of spreading new brood nests to distant places has been accomplished by the Queenwing Diver in a manner similar to the "nuptial flight". That is to say, it carries a large amount of nutrients, then crash lands in an open space suitable for establishing the mother nest, and begins to pupate into the mother nest.

It is envisaged that the tissue of the creep will be stored in another special ammunition structure used by the Kingwing Diver, and modified so that it can directly generate a simplified version of the tumor-like structure and spread around after being thrown. Creep tissue.

To carry out similar long-range expansion, a long-winged diver can carry the fat tissue and make an emergency landing, and the pupa will become the core of the mother nest. More of the Dwarfwings will carry creep-generating structures, placing a large number of creep-growing structures nearby.

In this way, after the mother nest pupates, the nearby carpet structure has been produced to supply nutrients to the mother nest.

In addition, Lin Yi also plans to produce some special biological structures that match the mother nest and mushroom carpet to further strengthen defense and prevent the opponent from launching a surprise attack when Lin Yi is not prepared.

But on land, such a structure is no longer applicable. In addition, melee attacks can no longer meet Lin Yi's current needs. Therefore, similar structures are directly excluded by Lin Yi and will no longer be considered.

It is envisaged that the new level of individuals will be composed of a developed underground part for supplying ammunition and storing propellants and a fort-like above-ground part. It can launch shotgun shells or armor-piercing single-point projectiles at approaching creatures from a long distance, causing damage. .

Once in the sea, Lin Yi developed a similar structure called a spine needle, which was based on the body of the sea ringworm and attacked through the venomous sting at the end of the plant.

For convenience, the new "turret" structure will use the same ammunition as the Saw Ant, and to enhance firepower, the new grade will have two thick and long "barrels" that are specialized appendages for firing.

The structure of these two appendages is highly specialized, with only a thick and long thigh section, the tibia and tarsal joints are all degenerated, and the swivel at the end is also specialized as an ammunition supply structure, used to transport ammunition into the gun bore.

The above-ground part and the underground part are connected through a tubular structure, and the inner wall has muscle tissue for transporting propellant and ammunition into the chamber.

At the same time, the new structure has a specialized inner shell structure, whose structure is similar to the cervical vertebrae of later generations of owls, supporting large-angle rotation to obtain a larger shooting range and better hit the target.

According to tests, the armor-piercing projectiles fired from the new turret structure can effectively penetrate the exoskeleton of the giant horseshoe crab, and the shotgun pellets are enough to cause fatal damage to the spider. In the same way as in the sea, in addition to attacking structures, perceiving structures is equally important.

The solution is naturally the long-range cooperation between echolocation and the compound eye dual-sensing system. The echolocation system is responsible for searching for enemies at long distances, while the compound eyes are used to assist the turret aiming at close range.

In order to have a larger detection range, Lin Yi set the sound-producing organ of the echolocation system on the top of a longer, specialized rod-like structure, which rotates and launches in all directions.

The receiving structures are distributed around the creep and behind the turret structure. At this time, the receiving structure no longer relies on lateral lines, but has a completely new structure.

Lin Yi plans to integrate the receiving structure with the compound eye structure and place these small tower-like observation structures behind the fort structure to guide the fort to fire.

All of this constitutes the short-range defense system of the nest group, which serves as the last line of defense to guard the mother nest group.

In addition to this short-range defense system, there is also a line of defense outside the visual range, but it is not a fixed structure, but is made up of grade individuals as the main means of defense - the mortar gun spider.

After missing good opportunities in the first two rounds, Lin Yi rushed to produce a batch of Mortar Terror Spiders. Combined with the perception of the echolocation system and the aerial reconnaissance provided by the Shadowflies and the Kingwing Divers, they could attack the enemy beyond visual range.

At this time, the mortar spiders had already assumed a firing posture on the fungus carpet, preparing to fire shells - but they were not ordinary high-explosive shells, but some special shells.

The warhead roared out, drew an arc, and shot towards the fern forest in the distance. It penetrated the dense fern leaves and hit the moss and leaf litter at the bottom of the forest.

Immediately, the warhead slowly cracked, and inside, a large amount of liquid structure poured out to all sides, and began to form tissue - a carpet. In the middle, at the warhead, an "antenna" wrapped in a space synaptic structure slowly stretched upward.

This is a new level designed by Lin Yi based on the opponent's giant scorpion insects. This special cannonball structure contains a large number of spore-like carpet proliferation structures and concentrated nutrient solutions.

The body of the cannonball serves as a spatial synaptic carrier, connected to the proliferating fungus carpet, and serves as a node for Lin Yi to control their continued growth in all directions.

All around, those weird vines that were symbiotic with the fungus were waving again, trying to tear the fungi into pieces. However, a large amount of fungi spread all the way and soon engulfed its roots entirely.

The fungus carpet continues to proliferate, spreading bit by bit in the fern forest. Viewed from the air, it looks like a scab on the earth. Who would have thought that this strange fern forest and fungus carpet are the same from the perspective of the ecological circle. The existence of "evil".

While thinking about it, the other party finally couldn't sit still. The echolocation system once again detected approaching enemy ground levels.

(End of this chapter)