It wasn't difficult to imagine the scene that had unfolded in this laboratory five hundred years ago. Kraynnor was convinced to about 80% that his deduction was correct.

Probably, some ambitious corporation had been conducting twisted experiments, manipulating biological creatures and merging them with a variety of plants, all with the goal of creating a perfect combination that would produce some mysterious substance or a biomaterial capable of reversing skin aging, promoting miraculous regeneration, or maybe even developing a revolutionary medical product.

Ultimately, this level of the facilities was dedicated to research in biotechnology and advanced medicine.

Although it was not intended for playing recklessly with life, if the outside world had realized such a thing, the problems would have been so significant that even Caelum would have been at risk from various world organizations like the United Nations, Environmental Conservation Organizations, the Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, and many more!

Therefore, only someone extremely reckless and greedy would carry out such an action.

Kraynnor couldn't help but suspect that the intervention of one of those two elders from Caelum had paved the way for these scientists to manipulate lives without restrictions. After all, out of the five elders, Kraynnor only had close relations with three, who were true enthusiasts of science and technological revolution.

The other two, on the other hand, appeared as dark and ambitious figures willing to do anything for profit...

Kraynnor directed his gaze towards the grotesque creature in front of him, imagining that in a time when humans still roamed these laboratories, this horrifying abomination was nothing more than a small mutant plant with genes from some defenseless creature.

He was sure that back then, if the scientists in charge of the experiment had noticed the slightest sign of abnormal growth, they would have ruthlessly killed this being. But, due to their extinction, that nightmarish entity continued to exist, disfigured and trapped in the belief that the world was limited to this dark corner.

Growing incessantly until its roots finally branched out in all directions of the last three levels of the facilities...

This was a reminder of the two extremes that science could lead to, either creating a universal miracle like his body or a genetic disaster like the aberration he had before his eyes.

Kraynnor cautiously approached, causing the mutant's body to shiver in response.

Gluuurp... Gluuuurp...

The creature's multiple eyes watched him as if evoking an ancient memory.

"You're lucky. If it were someone else without a brain, I would kill you or even use you as bait to slow down those aliens. But let's make a deal: you provide me with that delicious biomass you generate endlessly, and I'll offer you a comfortable place on my ship, where you can witness the world and see me create rivers with the blood of my enemies," Kraynnor continued to approach the creature, which looked at him with a strange expression.

Despite the risks involved, he wanted to determine the level of hostility emanating from the creature.

Of course, he was 100% sure it was not a harmless being. It was impossible for such an entity to be considered harmless, especially considering the electronic pets attached to its body.

Although, who knows, maybe it used them as decoration...

Gluuurp...

From the mutant creature's perspective, its memories were portrayed in a recurring scene: the first time it saw the light of the world. It was also the first time a pair of enormous hands grabbed one of its small roots and mercilessly tore it apart, teaching it the brutality of pain.

Each time it managed to find some respite, more of those figures with strange appearances appeared and inflicted more torment upon it.

However, one day, those strange beings disappeared, leaving the mutant alone for a long period. Finally, it encountered one of those beings who had caused it so much suffering. It used to be weak and defenseless, but it was no longer!

Gluuurp! Gluuuurp!

Kraynnor soon witnessed how hundreds of roots rose, and the creature's eyes looked at him with the intensity of someone facing their archenemy.

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That look was so familiar, it was like how he looked at those dirty invaders!

Zzzip!

A massive root shot towards him at great speed. Kraynnor calmly watched it and with a fluid motion, he dodged it, avoiding any harm. After having endured dodging the attacks of the Sages, avoiding a root with such a predictable attack pattern was a piece of cake.

Thunk! Thunk!

More roots rushed from all directions, this time Kraynnor didn't dodge; instead, he reached into his inventory and pulled out the Biomimetic Cube, creating a shield that enveloped him and blocked all the attacks.

Why would he take out the cube when he feared they might track him? Because he had already installed the 'SSF' on it!

Swooosh!

Kraynnor jumped into a pool of slime and knelt, dipping the cube into the substance with his right hand. In an instant, a layer of biomass spread across his entire body, forming an imposing armor he hadn't used since he first tested it in his laboratory.

Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!

The roots struck him from all directions, but his sturdy armor easily repelled all the attacks.

So, he advanced to within inches of the mutant's head, which looked at him with fear, as if he were a god who couldn't be harmed.

Gluuurp... Gluuuurp...

The multiple eyes nervously watched him, and the unpleasant sounds became more frequent, as if it were reliving those days of torment. Its agitation increased as it saw Kraynnor's hand approaching its head.

"!"

But what it received was a gentle and delicate caress, completely free of pain. It was warm and comforting.

Gluuurp...

Its roots hit a few more times, but realizing they had no effect and that the being wasn't harming it, it stopped moving. It felt the hand caressing it for a while before being released. Its eyes looked at him, and it saw how that being pulled out a strange device that showed it a series of images of places that made its eyes shine.

They were beautiful forests, oceans, rivers, deserts, and more.

Kraynnor smiled as he realized that the creature no longer harbored hostility. He assumed that the scientists who had created it must have inflicted great suffering on it, explaining its reaction to seeing someone with a human appearance as its worst enemy.

The new challenge was how to make it understand that it needed the biomass it produced.

Until recently, the robots responsible for producing BioSync batteries used the surrounding roots to generate the biomass needed to charge the batteries. However, the demand for batteries far exceeded the availability of roots. In contrast, just one liter of this mutant's slime was enough to power thousands of batteries!

An idea crossed Kraynnor's mind, and he pulled out his HoloCraft, playing several videos of Earth landscapes. What needed to be done with a being that had been confined in a laboratory for centuries?

Show it what the outside world had to offer!

Then, Kraynnor made gestures, indicating to the creature that these wonderful landscapes were outside, and if it provided him with its biomass, he would take it to explore those places.

"...?"

The mutant looked at him with confusion, not because it didn't understand what the small being was telling it; it was not unintelligent. However, it found it strange to be asked for its slime in exchange for being allowed to explore the outside world.

Gluuurp...

Nevertheless, it used its roots to nod, and with an unspoken agreement, Kraynnor used his HoloCraft to send hundreds of androids that began to collect all the accumulated biomass in the place, which resembled an extensive lake of vibrant green.

Of course, he didn't forget to release the unfortunate electronic pets. The creature watched the androids with curiosity and, realizing they posed no threat, allowed them to take its slime and the small pieces of metal on its body.

Kraynnor headed to the hangar, aware that he had a new occupant. He made some modifications to the layout of his ship to accommodate the newcomer.

Then, he called several androids and handed them the blueprints he had previously created, initiating their production. He approached one of the newly awakened androids and took it to a secluded area to test its capabilities.

"I see... It's a bit inferior to the Biomimetic Cube, but still amazing," Kraynnor whispered after observing the android's abilities for two minutes.

First and foremost, like all his creations, it could now camouflage itself from Two Stars detection systems. Moreover, it had great control over biomass; for example, it could create weapons like sabers or huge hammers using the biomass collected from the outside.

It also had the ability to generate biomass shields and other intriguing applications. However, it had a limit on the amount of biomass it could control, as his batteries did not have that capacity.

It could have matched its capabilities to those of his cube, but time didn't allow it. Simplicity was key.

With a satisfied expression, he went to the other hangar, where the massive war robots were parked. Kraynnor had already outlined plans for these imposing machines, and his face lit up with a vague hint of malice as he imagined the chaotic scene about to unfold.

For now, as far as batteries were concerned, he would only create a network of several BioSyncs; there was no need to create giant batteries to power these war colossi.

With everything proceeding according to his plans, he focused on what was happening on the first two levels through one of the interior cameras of one of the androids. The situation was virtually identical to what he had observed earlier: relentless gunfire, technology wreaking havoc in a wide radius, and his automatons desperately fighting to stay alive.

So far, he had lost another twenty thousand of his automatons, leaving him with only sixty thousand.

This number was decreasing at an alarming rate because, even with outstanding strategies, he couldn't match the invaders' superior technology. Moreover, the armor of the Astrylites was extraordinarily resistant, and so far, he hadn't managed to bring down a single enemy soldier.

However, all of this was part of Kraynnor's plan; his only need was to buy time, nothing more.

Time passed quickly, and in no time, a massive ship took shape in the hangar. Thousands of automatons worked in perfect synchronization around it. The ship was so colossal that Kraynnor looked like a mere toothpick next to it.

Soon, the first airbase of the High Humans would be born!

Meanwhile, Kraynnor was looking at the multiple system notifications; the Knowledge Points had finally reached one hundred.