[The evolution into the aquatic biological stage is complete, so let's take a look at the evolution summary first.]
Before Gar could react, a text box, similar to the one that appeared when the single-cell stage was completed, appeared before him.
[Most life originates from the ocean, where it transitions from single-celled to multicellular organisms. These multicellular organisms embarked on a long and arduous evolution within the water. Some ventured onto land, while others continued to thrive in the ocean.
After 230 million years of evolutionary transformation, your species has journeyed from the deep sea to the shallow sea, gradually adapting to life in the shallows and formally becoming a member of the shallow sea community. Subsequently, a new skeletal system emerged within you, making your species larger, more agile, and powerful. The evolved brain endowed your species with simple memory abilities, enhancing survival and reproduction. At this moment, a new type of fish has emerged on this planet; how far it will go, let us wait and see.
From this moment, you have left behind the soft-bodied organisms and begun evolving into more powerful creatures.
Evaluation summary for Crosser No. 14939 Gar in the soft-bodied stage is as follows:
Stage Duration: 231.88 million years (Rating: Pass)
Evolutionary Form: Reinforced endoskeletal framework, skull, tough skin, sharp-toothed electric upper jaw, electric canine teeth, electric lower jaw, electric fins, rudimentary fish tail, lens eyes, electric appendages, fish internal systems, basic memory-type brain, sexually reproductive egg-laying fish. (Excellent+)
After a prolonged evolution, your aquatic organism is rated as Good+ by the system.]
"This time, I didn't even get an 'Excellent' rating."
"Let's check out the detailed introduction of the evolved form first."
Focusing on the evolved form of the Thunder Bug, it didn’t differ much from its former self but had a more streamlined and solid body. At the sides of the front skull, something resembling fish gills had appeared.
"Are those fish gills? They actually evolved autonomously."
[They are part of the respiratory system in the fish internal system, so they evolved along with the internal system.]
"Wow, I didn’t expect them to be so useful! Thank you for the reminder back then, 8051."
[It’s nothing. Although, if this stage ended without evolving a better internal system, this system would continue to evolve. However, without an improved internal system, you couldn’t survive on land, let alone complete this stage, so it was a one-time evolution.]
"…"
"Well, having it once is already great. Let’s check it out."
[Fish Internal System
A refined internal system of fish, evolved from the soft-bodied organism's internal system. In addition to perfecting each part, it has also developed a swim bladder and gills for breathing.
Required: 450 evolution points]
“So expensive! But with the swim bladder appearing, it seems worth the cost, especially since I don't need to install it again.”
[Thunder Bug (soft-bodied stage name)
Aquatic Organism Fish
Evolution Points: 403
Health: 60/60
Attack: Sharp-toothed electric upper jaw (25), electric lower jaw (15), electric fins (10) ×2, electric appendage (5) ×1, electric burst (85) (Area)
Defense: Tough skin (30) (enhanced electric resistance)
Speed: 10—15
Vision: Lens eyes ×2
Reproduction: Sexually reproductive egg-laying fish
Body Information: Fish internal system, electric stone skeletal framework, muscle fiber, memory brain.
Individual Rating: Minion
Group Rating: Military Unit
The bone-supported body gives you stronger attacks, better defense, and more agile movement. As your survivability greatly improves, a broader biological world is taking shape. While you evolve, other creatures are progressing too. Whether to land or when to land is your next consideration.]
“8051, is the system being generous this time by suggesting the goals needed to complete the stage?”
[Such straightforward matters need no concealment from those reaching this stage.]
"I see. But why did the evaluation not rise, instead dropping to Minion level?"
[Your lengthy skeletal construction period lacked significant evolution, while other creatures continued advancing. Endoskeletal organisms began appearing, and many creatures with advanced attack abilities increased, pushing you to Minion level.]
"But I didn't notice any impact when the Thunder Bugs were hunting. Even that large predator attacking my breeding ground was driven away; surely it was at least a boss, right?"
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
[That's the power of the group. Didn’t you notice anything in the evaluations?]
“Oh, there are two evaluations. The individual is understandable by previous methods. Is it the group evaluation issue? Military Unit?”
[Individual evaluation rates your species' individual capabilities; as you noted, it follows previous levels. Group evaluation, arising with racial titles, assesses your species when formed into units, rating their collective strength. There are six levels: Spectators, Gang, Religious Group, Military Unit, Elite Force, and Homeland Guardians. Not surprisingly, species earning the Legion Title often have higher group than individual strength.]
"Not surprisingly? Didn’t you know?"
[To prevent excessive aid due to individual factors, our knowledge isn’t much more than yours at any given time. 8051 explains nonchalantly.]
"Oh, that’s why. Wait a moment, you haven't finished explaining the title's function, have you?"
[Of course, I only provide the basics, other functions require main consciousness…]
"To explore on his own! Right." Powerless…
[Correct. 8051 smugly believes its training has slightly increased the main consciousness's intelligence.]
"Well, let me see the electric fins I evolved."
[Electric Fins
Movement component with short-range non-contact electric capability
Attack: 10
Speed: +5 (swimming)
Required: 70 evolution points, skeleton]
“8051, I suddenly realize components get more expensive the further you go.”
[Certainly.]
“But Electric Burst has become much stronger, and now there’s another non-contact electric attack method apart from it and the intraspecies electric chain. Speaking of which, wasn’t the paralyzing method used by the Thunder Beast against me a non-contact long-range electric attack? Is it due to the electric stone?”
[Sharp-toothed Electric Upper Jaw
Upper jaw packed with electric stone teeth, including two long fangs, offering significant deterrence.
Attack: 25
Required: 170 evolution points, endoskeleton]
“No doubt, it's something I painstakingly created; it’s impressive, hehe.”
[……]
[Electric Lower Jaw
Lower jaw filled with small sharp teeth, unable to strongly bite with the upper jaw, thus failing to create a fierce biting electric mouth with it.
Attack: 15
Required: 80 evolution points]
"Let’s ignore that."
[……]
“Once I find a skeletal jaw sample, I’ll install it then.”
[Tough Skin
Pseudo-shell composed of electric stone on the surface, with certain defensive capabilities and not-insignificant electric resistance.
Defense: 30
Required: 120 evolution points]
“Nice.”
[……]
“Looks like there are over 400 evolution points; let’s install something.”
“Ah, having money in hand means no worries. If creatures weren't supplying food after I began experiments, maybe it’d be more.”
Shifting focus to the component display, upon completing the stage, previous components didn’t vanish like in the single-cell stage. “Seems these stages are interconnected.”
Gar noticed the chemical sensing system obtained from the two pesky gatekeepers. "It can evolve taste and smell. It’s always good to have another sensory method, remembering that many amazing animals like sharks and snakes rely on smell or taste to hunt."
“So let’s install it first.”
Dragging the chemical sensing system from the display onto the holographic image, it fused automatically, saving Gar the trouble of deciding placement.
Adjusting the holographic image to make it smoother and giving the rudimentary fish tail a more natural appearance, the former pathetic flagella were now completely flattened.
Using the title’s ability, Gar copied part of the spiny bone in the fish tail and embedded it into the now slightly wider rudimentary tail, due to system refinement. After several adjustments, a more reasonable tail took shape.
[Formed a new fish tail component, costing 30 evolution points to complete.]
[Fish Tail
Swimming component
Speed: +10 (swimming)
Required: 90 evolution points, skeleton]
“Hmph, definitely formed a better component, though no refunds for the flagella and rudimentary fish tail.”
“Hee hee, this ability is awesome.”
“Let’s see, 273 evolution points remain, not bad, accumulating funds before use. Though evolution intervals have increased. Let’s see what else can be installed?”
“With no exoskeleton, joints are out. Although electric fins can’t propel through leaps like electric appendages, combined with fins and tail, movement speed is no slower than before, surpassing appendage flexibility. Let’s add two electric fins later.”
“What can we do with the remaining 133 points?”
“Seriously, lately I’ve only been taking down creatures below leader level, mostly familiar ones offering no new components. Beating high-level ones seems unlikely, making me wonder if I downgraded to Minion early on.”
“Isn’t this a place to test? Shouldn’t I maximize this function?”
“8051, is testing available now?” Still uncomfortable from the previous blunder, Gar asked 8051 again.
[Yes, accessible now; who told you not to listen? 8051 thinks the main consciousness's previous rashness was wrong.]
“…”
Recognizing his fault, Gar relied on ignoring tactics again, merging his consciousness with the holographic image. When the intangible objects merged, they materialized, dropping from mid-air into the water with a splash.
“Ow, didn’t expect that, who designed it so high? It hurts.”
Waiting for pain to ease…
“Phew, finally better. Right, 8051, what's the current time flow ratio?”
[During stage completion, relative to the outside world, time flow is halted. The time spent in the aquatic biological stage space is akin to the previous stage; externally, it’s equivalent to a life cycle from birth to juvenile. Simply put, when you choose a fish egg to enter the biological editing space, upon returning, the egg just becomes a young fish integrating your consciousness. External perceived time slows relative to the last stage—230 million years felt like a few years; similarly, in this stage, it may feel like decades to nearly a hundred years.]
[Additionally, should the main consciousness linger too long in the biological editing space, we will kick you out. 8051 imagined kicking the main consciousness out and chuckled while covering its mouth.]
Sweat…
No concern for time issues entering the aquatic stage, though lengthy, he seemed to adapt to this life.
“Even perceived time has been over a decade! Unsure if it’s system aid or my strong adaptability, but I’m slowly adapting to life now.”
Reflecting on his time here, Gar realized even consciousness time spanned years.
“The human world’s decade-long life slowly fades from memory.”
Contemplating his current life, Gar found his adaptability, or perhaps humanity’s inherent adaptability, truly remarkable.
“Keep striving!”
After a moment of reflection, Gar began adjusting his new body in the space’s world.