Spore Story

Chapter 9 End Line
In the silent waters, there is not a single ray of light.

I don't know if it's an ocean, a lake, or a river; I don't know if it's the morning dew, the puddles after the rain, or even the falling raindrops.Whether this world is big or small, temporary or eternal.The creatures in it don't think about it or understand it.

They will only work hard for food and survival in the next moment.

Well, under normal circumstances, that should be the case.

But there are exceptions to everything.

In the silent space, a huge body swims from far to near (huge is relative, as for who it is relative to...).

Xiaopang, well, let’s call him Xiaopang.

Because it is quite round and big.

But the most obvious marks on its body are six cold (metaphorically) spikes.In fact, the spikes at this time are just hard flesh.

From this point of view, it seems more appropriate to call it Little Hedgehog, but there is one less word called Xiaopang.

Then, don’t look at Xiaopang’s terrifying appearance, but in fact it is very docile and never actively attacks other cells (the single-cell stage does not have a good organ to observe the world, or it does not, so it is actually very docile).But Xiaopang should be more gentle.

Regarding this point, just look at the bunch of small cells that follow behind it.These guys have been blatantly following, or following Xiaopang for a long time.But the docile chubby ignored these guys, as long as he didn't take away the food from chubby's mouth.Even if occasionally a few small cells circled Xiaopang, Xiaopang would not even look at it.

Well, although neither Xiaopang nor the followers behind him have such advanced things as eyes.

"We've been following this spiked cell for a long time."

"Why are they called spike cells?"

"I do not know either"

"Thinking or something seems to be going on subconsciously. I don't know why I want to think."

"The number of groups increased a lot when they expanded their range to find food together."

"Why follow it?"

"It seems to be for the spiked parts on it that allow the group to have attack power."

"That must be a new component."

"How did you get it?"

The small cells surrounded by a group of the same race shook the two cilia behind them, and then twisted the body of the single cell, and the outer membrane of the body surface breathing seemed to be swimming.

"Follow it."

There seems to be a voice in my heart answering, although the small cells have no heart.

Then call it a voice in the nucleus.

It's weird.

"Let the partner find the aggressive cell, bring it to the spike cell, and let it destroy the spike cell."

Seems simple enough, but it would be amazing if the curator were a single-celled organism.

There are a few small cells in the periphery that swim around, but they don't swim very far, because the sensing range of the small cells is extremely limited.Then they swim to the spiked cells again.After circling the spiked cells for a while, they swam back into the colony, and other small cells then repeated the action.

"After the aggressive cells have eliminated the spiked cells, a few small cells will lead the aggressive cells away, and then the main consciousness will absorb the DNA of the spiked cell components."

"Ah, it's so complicated."

The little cell twisted its body a few times uneasily again.

It doesn't know why it is doing such an action, because it is troublesome to think about these things.

After exiting the editor last time, the small cells multiplied the population in large numbers, increasing their number.Although this reduces the storage of nutritional value, the sense of security brought about by the increase in population size is irreplaceable for small cells that have died once.

While swimming with the colony, the small cells also encountered some other single-celled organisms.However, most of them are non-aggressive and mild cells like small cells, most of them are single or several together, although there are large groups of clusters, they are rare.Even if there is a single cell with attack power, the opponent will not actively attack unless it bumps into the attacking part by itself.

"No one is so stupid as to bump into it."

Small cells thought so.

The benefits of increasing the number of ethnic groups are not only a sense of security.

At some point, the small cells discovered that they could expand their search range through their companions, which continuously expanded the search range of the small cell population, thus providing a higher food discovery rate for the small cell population.

During this period, Xiaocell accidentally discovered that he could control some of his companions to make simple movements, while other companions habitually followed the group.Of course, this is impossible for Xiaocell's poor thinking ability to understand, so Xiaocell also selectively ignored this harmless or even beneficial problem after expressing troubles about it.

When I met the spiked cell not long ago, I had the same feeling as when I absorbed the electrode assembly last time, which made the small cell automatically keep up with the spiked cell at this time.Although since the start of tracking the spiked cells, except for the main cells, almost no cells in the population have reached the nutritional value of normal division, but at least no one is hungry.

At this time, a few small cells from the periphery swam back.At the same time, the same number of small cells continued the actions of the previous group of companions as if they had received an order.

Suddenly, the small cells in the inner layer as the main cells seemed to sense something and swam a short distance in one direction.Then a piece of cellular debris floating in the weak current appeared ahead.

【Get a little nutritional value】

Opened his mouth to swallow it, and the small cells quickly returned to the blood group.

"The last line is still going on."

"Hey, what is Taixing?"

So, in the philosophical thinking of the little single cell.The last line, ah, no, it's the continuation of the track.

Time then continued its unrestricted motion, skipping a considerable distance.

Xiaopang was shaking extremely restlessly. He felt that the water flow was abnormal, and it seemed that something life-threatening was approaching.Although I haven't encountered any danger since the spikes appeared one after another all over my body, this time seems to be different. It aroused the fear hidden deep in Xiaopang.

Desperately shaking the little cilium behind him, the dense spikes on his body seemed unable to bring him a sense of security.

At this time, it felt that there was one that had been wandering around it all this time, and that kind of harmless little cell was desperately swimming towards itself beside it.

I don't know why, but at this moment Xiaopang feels fear for this small cell that has no attack power at all and has been ignored by him for a long time.

Yes, it is the fear of death, the prey's fear of the predator, although perhaps there is no distinction between the predator and the prey now.

So Xiaopang shook the cilia behind him even more vigorously, which was insignificant compared to his huge body.

The small cell quickly surpassed itself, the two cilia behind it were still shaking hard, and disappeared into the distance after a while.But the source of the fear remains behind.

Suddenly, Xiaopang felt a huge threat on both sides of his body.It seemed that something was squeezing towards the chubby in the middle quickly and firmly, and the sharp spikes that seemed to be emitting a cold light before were squeezing inward along with the two things beside him without any effect.

With a "bang", there seemed to be such a sound in the silent waters, Xiaopang's body burst into pieces like a balloon, and the cytoplasm merged into the water around him.

"What a big creature."

"Not unicellular!"

"It's coming towards us, it's dangerous!"

Not far from the spiked cells, the small cells in the center of the group felt extremely dangerous just like the spiked cells when the opponent appeared.

The companions beside him also shook uncomfortably.

Sensing the destruction of the spiky cells, the previously small cells began to attract the attention of the creature with the huge mouthparts.

But the attraction of the small cells didn't seem to have any effect. The multicellular creature exuding extreme danger turned around and swam towards the group.

"How to do?"

The small cell was even more uneasy, and the scene of the last death seemed to emerge from the depths of memory.

"Can't escape."

Sensing the dangerous creatures swimming towards him.The small cells shook even more restlessly, the small cells sent to attract that creature couldn't attract its attention at all.The opponent just easily opened its peculiar mouthparts, swallowed the cells blocking the way, and then continued to charge towards the small cell group firmly. The scattered small cells along the way did not attract his interest at all.

"Damn it, I don't want to die again. I don't want to die!"

Looking at the companions who were constantly sacrificing under the opponent's weird slit mouth, the small cell turned and swam back, trembling uneasily.

The main cell swims restlessly on its own, and the other small cells start to swim in all directions according to their own instincts because they lost their command.

The large creature seemed to be taken aback for a moment, then turned around and rushed towards the nearest cell.

"Why wasn't it drawn away?"

"I don't want to die again!"

"Escape, I want to escape."

The small cells that didn't notice that there was no companion around them followed the biological instinct and ran forward in a straight line.Fortunately, the large organisms were burying their bodies in the food around them, and did not chase after the lonely small cells.

After swimming a certain distance, there was no living thing in the sensor, and the small cells that were chasing after him stopped shaking their cilia, and the outer membrane shook violently.

The side became "quiet" again, only one small cell was empty.

"Shouldn't have escaped."

A voice seemed to come to mind in the nucleus.

"go back."

"I don't want it, it's scary and dangerous."

……

After the body trembled restlessly for a long time, the small cell slowly calmed down.

Shaking the cilia behind him again, the small cell turned and returned to the way it came from.

"It's so empty."

The already empty space gave the small cells a feeling of emptiness.Beside him, the two companions who were lucky enough to meet on the way back were still swimming restlessly.

The large creature has disappeared, and it should have swam away.

The small cells that had sensed around for a while, led their companions to swim towards the remains of the previous spiked cells.

There are no remains of other small cells around, because for a huge enemy, relatively small small cells are swallowed in one bite.Fortunately, the spiky cells are larger, and after the slit-mouthed organisms gnawed the spiky cells, they rushed to the small cell population, so the spiky cells still left debris.

In the wreckage, the small cells found the target of their trip, the DNA strand of the spiked assembly.

Sensing the two lonely companions beside him, recalling the previous scene where dozens of them gathered together, and sensing the DNA strands beside him, the small cell did not feel happy.

Pausing for a while, as if feeling unsafe here, the small cells quickly fused the spiky component DNA.

[Successfully obtain new DNA fragments, whether to divide and reproduce, and enter the biological editing space at the same time]

Without entering the biological editing space immediately, the small cell took the only two remaining companions, chose a safe direction to swim, and quickly left this "empty" place.

…………

[Enter the biological editor, the main consciousness restriction is lifted]

"Sure enough, it's still comfortable when fully conscious. The small cell state is not good at all."

"Let me squint for a while."

"..."

"Damn it. I've become a conscious body, I can't even sleep. My poor hobby."

"Forget it, let's continue to consider the issue of evolution."

Dissatisfied with shaking his translucent body of consciousness a few times, Kong Huan calmed down again.

"This time it seems to be able to control the actions of many cells. Although the number of cells controlled at one time is not large, the tactical design has been completed. Well, although many of the same kind have been sacrificed, fortunately the goal has been achieved."

"The big guy with the split mouth is already a multicellular organism. If it is a single cell, I really don't know how it grew."

"Now that multicellular organisms have appeared, it seems that we have to work harder."

"By the way, 8051. I can control some of my own family. Why can't I only control my own small cell?"

[As a racist consciousness, you can't only control one individual.It's just that the main consciousness stays on a single body.Through the mental imprints placed on other individuals, you can control these individuals to make corresponding actions within a certain range.The range of control at the current stage is affected by the range of racial perception, and the amount of control at the same time is currently determined by the ability of the main consciousness.In addition, this simple tactic is made by your subconscious mind.The unicellular body has less restrictions on the subconscious mind.System No. 8051 kindly replied, and expressed consoling appreciation for this action. 】

"... comforting."

"What's the matter with the spiritual imprint? 8051."

[As long as the origin can be traced back to the biological relationship with your original small cells, all the creatures will have your spiritual imprint, but the races that are not controlled by you, the imprint will gradually fade until it disappears.System 8051 replied. 】

"Oh, that's right. Then 8051, what's the matter with the ability of the main consciousness?"

[Just like you used to play games, this ability is how many independent individuals you can control at the same time.For example, you can control multiple individuals to perform the same action at the same time, which is very simple, just select them and specify the action, which you did before.But it is difficult to control them to perform different actions at the same time.This is the limitation of your main consciousness, or rather the limitation of the habits you have developed as a single human being.System No. 8051 answer]

"Then is there any way to exercise? 8051"

[Please explore by yourself, system number 8051 answers]

"Help me. We've known each other for so long. 8051"

【…】

"Cut, cheapskate."

"Ah. By the way, 8051, that creature with a split mouth, is it already a multicellular creature?"

[Yes, system No. 8051 answered]

"Multicellular organisms have appeared now."

"8051, how can I become a multicellular organism? I have long forgotten all my biology knowledge, who knows that I can use it now."

[Please explore by yourself, evolving into a multicellular organism is the main task at this stage.System No. 8051 answer]

"Uh, the main task."

"A good universe, it looks like a game no matter how it is made by the system."

[That is the system taking care of the main consciousness of your traversers, you should be grateful, and the system 8051 once again expressed contempt for the rudeness of the main consciousness. 】

"Well, forget it. It's definitely easier this way."

As for why it is so relaxed, Kong Huan himself does not know, nor does he want to know.Evolving from a single cell completely autonomously, I don't know who can stand such a world.

"It's actually multicellular."

"Tch, I just wanted to attract an aggressive single-celled organism, but I didn't expect to attract a rare multi-cellular organism. I don't know if it's just luck." Character.

"Although the chicken was stolen, the rice spent can be exchanged for N chickens."

After thinking about what else is wrong.Kong Huan "raised his hand to speak" again.

"Hey, 8051. How long has it been since I traveled?"

(End of this chapter)