[Species editing complete, exiting biological editing space.]

"Hmm?"

Upon exiting the biological editing space, Thunder Bug used its mental perception to survey the surroundings. Around it were a dozen or so juvenile Thunder Bugs, seemingly having developed the general appearance and components of the mature Thunder Bug, although their bodies hadn't reached full size yet. Being soft-bodied creatures, they appeared chubby and adorably small—much cuter than the mature form seen in the biological editing space.

Nearby, Lightning was busy chewing up three multicellular organisms for the young Thunder Bugs. Despite this, Lightning was still larger than the juvenile Thunder Bugs.

"But once the Thunder Bugs grow up, they'll be larger than Lightning is now."

Recalling the size and shape of the adult Thunder Bug as set in the biological editing space, Thunder Bug noticed that its mental perception of Lightning was significantly weaker than that of the nearby juvenile Thunder Bugs. Although its perception was still much stronger than that of other creatures, it was clearly diminishing.

"What's going on?"

Confused, Thunder Bug remembered what 8051 had explained about evolutionary branching in the biological editing space. Thunder Bug slowly pieced it together.

"It seems that when the mental perception completely decreases to the level of ordinary unrelated creatures, this Lightning will fully diverge from my role as the main consciousness. It'll become part of the past." For Jal, who once was human, such separations evoked a sense of melancholy—a feeling akin to farewell. Yet, Thunder Bug couldn't change this, as its use of mental power was still rudimentary, limited to sensing the environment, which was facilitated by the system.

"I guess it's something that has to happen. The road of evolution is long, and I must get used to it, whether I want to or not."

Perhaps in the future, Jal could develop more advanced uses for mental power to mitigate this effect, but exploring such methods independently without any reference is no easy task.

"Am I truly embarking on a long and arduous path, seeking answers high and low?"

With a flick of its tail-like flagella—oversized due to its juvenile state—Thunder Bug observed Lightning continuing to chew the food, while some impatient young Thunder Bugs began to grab pieces of the chewed meat. Meanwhile, Lightning occasionally glanced at the small Thunder Bugs it had spawned.

Despite feeling a bit of confusion about why these little creatures looked so different from itself, Lightning didn't stop chewing. Although Lightning's thought capacity was slightly higher than other Thunder Bugs due to once being Jal's main consciousness, it too would gradually fade, akin to the diminishing mental impressions.

With its limited thought capacity, Lightning could only feel a vague confusion and continued its task of chewing the leftover multicellular organisms to make it easier for the young Thunder Bugs to eat. In the end, it didn’t concern itself too much. After all, they were its offspring, and that innate sense of familial tenderness wouldn't fade away, even if the mental imprint did. Under Jal's long-term development as the main consciousness, the species experienced a faint emergence of parental awareness, which Jal considered a natural development.

However, the new main consciousness installed in the young Thunder Bug didn’t dwell on such matters. Enticed by the food before it, Thunder Bug instinctively flicked its flagella and joined its compatriots in swimming toward the neatly chewed chunks provided by Lightning.

Interestingly, other Thunder Bugs used the two front tentacles to grip rocks and propelled themselves forward in a hopping motion while using their tail-like flagella for direction—a method reminiscent of a child's instinctive crawling. Despite their lack of proficiency, it mirrored the movement technique Lightning had urgently adopted earlier. The electric tentacles on the young Thunder Bugs occasionally sparked, as if expressing their excitement.

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Conversely, as the main consciousness that discovered this movement method, Thunder Bug found itself lagging behind the others before realizing the difference, leaving it speechless.

"When did these guys learn this trick and use it better than me, the inventor?"

Ashamed, Thunder Bug released a slight electric current from the tips of its electric tentacles in a show of dissatisfaction.

"Speaking of which, this body should grow fairly quickly. Based on Lightning's experience, not much time seems to have passed since I entered the biological editing space. The surrounding environment and the leftovers of the Gatekeeper Bug’s meat haven’t changed much."

"Once we mature, I'll lead these companions further upward."

As for Lightning, Thunder Bug wasn't sure what to do, so it decided to leave it aside for now.

Switching to the improved movement method, Thunder Bug was the last to reach the meat chunks, quickly consuming them without the need for chewing—a process that seemed to slightly bloat its stomach. While this meant it couldn't eat continuously, continuous feeding wasn't usually an option anyway. Overall, the speed of eating in one go was much faster than before.

"Speaking of which, the feeling of 'fullness' might mainly arise after the stomach digests the food, haha."

"Installing a better digestive system was definitely the right choice."

※※※

At the edge of a steep continental slope, a small beetle with a thin layer of exoskeleton slowly moved along the edge, swaying its six pairs of limbs.

Suddenly, its compound eyes detected several shadows emerging from the depths, previously a place of perpetual darkness and silence. These shadows climbed from the depths, treating the steep cliff as if it were level ground, moving with ease.

Knowing well the dangers of shallow seas, the small beetle felt no curiosity to linger and investigate. Instead, it quickly scurried into nearby rock formations, disappearing into the safety of the shallows.

"We've finally reached the shallow sea!"

Long immersed in a dark, unseeing world, without functional eyes, the strange deep sea left Jal feeling incredibly oppressed, but at last, freedom was at hand.

"I'm finally out of that dark cage."

Indeed, it was akin to being in a massive dark room. From a young age, Jal had feared deep, enclosed spaces, and without the system's assistance, who knows how frazzled he might have become.

But that was all in the past.

Now, Jal faced the future.

With gratitude and awe, Thunder Bug, using its rudimentary eyes, relished the sunlit shallow sea. From the scale of Earth's standards, this depth should be several tens of meters.

Cluster eyes could only detect light intensity and direction, now insufficient for shallow sea exploration. Moreover, this was a new world; Jal couldn't replicate Earth's metrics because he had no accurate standard to determine his current size relative to his human form.

Ant-sized? Whale-sized?

Who could say?

Additionally, Jal had no interest or need to cling to many former human notions. Everything here was new, developing from scratch, so...

"I'll develop the world I envision to the best of my ability." This was Jal's most genuine thought.

"Surely, shallow sea creatures have evolved better eyes by now."

"Well, I'll be coming to take them."

Setting its sights on the shallow sea organisms, Thunder Bug expanded its mental perception, carefully sensing the long-desired shallow sea area.

This was not the vibrant, colorful underwater world from Jal's fading memories of television. The current shallow sea was nearly barren. Beside the Thunder Bugs, only floating microorganisms and desolate rock and sand composed the sea floor.

Perhaps because this was near a continental shelf's edge, typically desolate, Thunder Bug hadn't encountered any other creatures despite spending a while there. This led to the 'misconception' that 'shallow sea organisms are still scarce.' (Who knows if it's true?)

In its mental perception, the dozen companions followed Thunder Bug along the cliff, observing.

Thunder Bug couldn't control its companions as it did during its microcell phase, nor was it necessary. Thunder Bug now led its group like a pack leader, accompanying them in movement, hunting, and living.

After the ascent, Lightning hadn't followed. Perhaps it would return to the deep sea, though it might remain at that depth.

Thunder Bug had no intention of bringing it into the shallow sea, as it understood the danger for Lightning Bugs in these waters. Since encountering Armor, Thunder Bug realized this truth.

"Even a formidable creature like Armor was driven down here. I wonder if I can hold my ground—or rather, my tentacles, hehe."

For Thunder Bug, the shallow sea also posed great danger. Yet, to evolve further, Thunder Bug had to venture upward.

It was a challenge in pursuit of greater goals.

"Facing an uncertain path, let evolution fill the ever-fading time."

With this thought, Thunder Bug, refusing to let undue worries cloud its mind, fiercely flicked its electric tentacles.

"Enough reflection, onward."

With companions in tow, Thunder Bugs swam deeper into the shallow sea, where danger lurked.

Of course.

Everyone knows.

Danger also brings opportunity.