The process was exhausting, draining every reserve of my already fragile strength. Each fragment of my psyche that I repurposed carried with it echoes of my memories.

I had meticulously examined these fragments, comparing them against the vast archive of my memories. I searched for gaps, inconsistencies, or missing pieces that might explain their origin or my current state.

Yet, to my surprise, I found none. Every fragment aligned perfectly as if they had always been a part of me.

This revelation only deepened the questions that gnawed at the edges of my mind. How could I function so seamlessly when my consciousness was so evidently fractured?

What hidden mechanism kept me intact, bridging the gaps that logic suggested shouldn't exist?

These questions lingered, unanswered, casting a shadow over the stability I so desperately clung to. I left those questions to be answered later as I returned to focus on my task.

As I worked to shape them into something cohesive, the memories bled into the forming sub-mind, disjointed and unbidden, threatening to destabilize the fragile construct I sought to create.

I forced myself to focus, channelling the ambient etheric energy around me to act as a stabilizing force. The energy thrummed harmonizing with my intent, resonating as I carefully wove the fragments together.

It was an arduous process, like assembling an intricate lattice of thought and will from shards of shattered glass.

Slowly, the framework of the first sub-mind began to emerge, its structure growing more intricate and defined with each passing moment.

This sub-mind would oversee the most abundant of my swarm, the burrowers, the fungal drones and the architects responsible for the swarm’s expansion and fortification.

The burden of micromanaging their relentless harvesting digging and intricate reinforcement work had become unsustainable in my current situation.

I envisioned the sub-mind to alleviate the endless micromanagement, leaving only the most crucial and decisive decisions to my direct control.

With its guidance, the swarm could operate with increased efficiency, harvesting resources, excavating deeper tunnels, reinforcing walls with meticulous precision, and erecting defensive structures to counter the enemy’s relentless advance.

As the sub-mind began to coalesce, I felt the strain on my primary consciousness begin to fade. The relief was subtle at first, like the faint lifting of a heavy fog clinging to the edges of my thoughts.

Its nascent awareness reached out, a tentative yet undeniable connection forming between us. Though not fully developed, it was functional, its purpose crystallizing with every passing moment.

The burrowers, harvesters, and architects had their commander now a dedicated mind to oversee their efforts, freeing me to redirect my focus toward the broader, more critical aspects of survival and strategy.

I issued directives to the sub-mind, carefully observing how the swarm adjusted to its commands. At first, there were noticeable delays of a few minutes between the sub-mind's orders and the drones' responses.

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However, as the feedback loop between the sub-mind and the swarm strengthened, the lag diminished steadily. Each iteration refined its synchronization until the reaction times matched the standard I had come to expect under my direct control.

With continued testing, I saw no reason to let the sub-mind take control of that entire division of work, with that done and my mind was less burdened this task brought whole new ideas of specialization.

Yet, the need for specialization did not end with construction. The swarm’s survival demanded adaptation across multiple fronts, and I could not afford to stop at one sub-mind, so I decided to further create another sub-mind.

The next fragment I selected was jagged and volatile, pulsing with the raw, unfiltered fury of the first battle I had fought. On that day, I had been too focused on the battlefield's shifting dynamics to notice the intensity of my emotions, but now those feelings were encapsulated in this fragment.

This fragment would serve as the foundation for a sub-mind dedicated to the creation, coordination, and evolution of my combat variants.

The shaping process for this sub-mind was harsher and more turbulent than before. The etheric energy around me crackled and surged, mirroring the fragment's aggression.

It was like wrestling with a storm, each wave of energy threatening to overwhelm my control. Yet, I persisted, channelling the fragment’s fury into purpose.

As the construct began to take form, memories of combat flooded into it, a kaleidoscope of violence, destruction, and strategy. I infused it with layers of directives, embedding not just tactics but adaptive contingencies.

This sub-mind would become a commander in its own right, overseeing the production and deployment of warrior drones. It would manage the swarm’s defensive bulwarks, organize counter-offensives, and ensure no breach went unpunished.

When the sub-mind stabilized, its presence was sharp and commanding, a relentless force honed for war yet deferential to my overarching will. The combat variants had their leader now, a mind attuned to the rhythm of battle and capable of executing strategies with precision.

With this, the swarm’s defences solidified, and its offensive capabilities sharpened to a lethal edge.

I transferred control to the war mind and observed as it extended its will into the combat variants. It requested memories of our captive, which I provided, watching as it and the construction sub-mind exchanged information and refined their strategies in unison.

Yet, the work was far from complete. The battlefield required more than brute strength, it demanded intelligence, foresight, and an understanding of the enemy. Their movements, tactics, and even their very thoughts were resources to be exploited. For this, I would need a sub-mind dedicated to intelligence gathering.

I selected another fragment, this one delicate and layered with memories of observation and interrogation. It resonated with a quiet intensity, far removed from the chaos of battle, yet no less essential. This fragment would form the core of a sub-mind focused on the extraction and analysis of information.

The shaping of this sub-mind was a meticulous process, far more nuanced than the others. I imbued it with the patience required for long-term observation, the curiosity needed to uncover hidden patterns, and the precision necessary for delving into captive minds. This sub-mind would be my eyes and ears, capable of infiltrating enemy thoughts, unravelling their secrets, and anticipating their moves.

As the construct solidified, its presence was subtle and analytical, a whisper against my awareness. Its role was to sift through the enemy’s strategies and weaknesses, compiling knowledge that could shift the tide of war. It was an extension of my cunning, its purpose critical in outmanoeuvring the adversary at every turn.

With the sub-mind assuming the swarm's most critical roles, my responsibilities dwindled, granting me the freedom to experiment with the etheric plane and explore new biological designs.

With the third sub-mind complete, a trinity of specialized intelligence now stood alongside me. Each was tailored to a specific purpose: construction and expansion, combat and strategy, and intelligence and subterfuge.

The burden on my psyche lightened, but the stakes remained high. As their awareness grew, so too did the possibilities for the swarm, and I knew the next phase of evolution had already begun.

The strain on my consciousness was not gone, but it was diminished. The sub-minds were still nascent, their integration into my psyche delicate and precarious. Yet, they represented a turning point, an evolution that might ensure the swarm’s survival. Together, we would rebuild, adapt, and overcome.