In the pale blue seawater, a shadow approached from afar, gradually expanding as it drew near the calm surface. Then, a peculiar small fish leaped from the shadow, splashing a curtain of water, its shimmering white skin reflecting the sunlight in a radiant glow.

"Finally finished with the modifications."

Shaking the dorsal fin on his back to shed some of the water in mid-air, Gar returned to the familiar waters below, feeling the fleeting sensation of weightlessness.

After conducting experiments for several days in the space (within the biological editing space, Gar could clearly feel the passage of time through the rising and setting sun, which also affected the external world), Gar zealously and meticulously applied the same passion for bone creation to finalize the evolutionary adjustments for the Thunder Bug.

The once iconic electric appendage behind the Thunder Bug's head, symbolic of the species during the soft-bodied stage, had now completed its mission. After Gar's continuous refinements and utilizing the abilities from the Bone Architect title to embed several bones, connecting it to the backbone and spending 25 evolution points to finalize the work, it evolved into a brand new component: the Electric Dorsal Fin.

[Electric Dorsal Fin

Direction control and balance component, effectively balancing and controlling the body’s movement in water.

Required: 75 evolution points, endoskeleton]

Though it seemed to lack any attack or speed bonuses, throughout days of experiments, Gar discovered its necessity for maintaining balance at high speeds.

"Come to think of it, this component really resembles a shark's dorsal fin. Perhaps it's some subconscious nostalgia, or perhaps a quirky taste, haha."

Now, this organism, aside from the two long canine teeth on the upper jaw, barely resembled the former Thunder Bug. Two dorsal fins emerged at its back, with a powerful tail providing strong propulsion, dividing the body into three segments.

The broad gills on the sides of its head allowed it to breathe more efficiently in water. Behind the gills, the two electric fins and dorsal fin formed a 120-degree angle with one another, ensuring balance and agile movement. Additionally, the two electric fins located behind them, along with the tail, offered high speeds.

Vigorously swinging the fish tail and controlling direction with the fins, Gar navigated swiftly and agilely through the sea. This exhilarating speed left Gar feeling as though any hidden negativity was constantly being released.

"No wonder so many people love speed."

His current size had been adjusted to 1.5 times the original Thunder Bug, the maximum allowed in this phase, with further size increases to occur in the next phase. Regarding body size, Gar realized that being smaller could help hide and avoid attracting strong predators while reducing food demands. Yet, in general, smaller size meant vulnerability and a lower position on the food chain.

In contrast, while this organism couldn’t match the defense of shelled creatures, nor did it have pure energy attacks, its endurance, speed, and flexibility far exceeded those of shelled organisms. When attacking smaller shelled creatures, energy attacks could be quite effective.

Although increased body size and group behavior demanded more food, Gar remained confident in his species. "After all, it is a military unit-level entity, right?"

"I could even crack open small shelled creatures' turtle shells with my body, hahaha." Reminiscing about past encounters with shelled creatures—expending considerable effort electrocuting them but unable to pry open their shells and savor the tender meat inside—he thought, "The size isn't enough yet. Once I'm larger, I’ll swallow you whole, and let stomach acids handle the shell, haha."

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"But only if I'm sure it's dead—I can't handle a rogue monkey causing havoc in my stomach."

With a forceful shake of his well-evolved broad fish tail and the combined power of four electric fins, Gar once again leaped from the sea.

"This feeling is fantastic. Evolving wings in the future would be even better, haha." Gazing at the vast sky, Gar realized he shouldn’t linger idly. "Exit fusion state."

The organism in the air stabilized its form as Gar's consciousness gradually separated from the body, reverting to consciousness and holographic states.

[Leaving?]

"Yes, though this tranquility is what I once loved most, I can't stay too long and risk being kicked out by you. Plus, there’s a species outside needing evolution. Haha."

"With this trial-capable evolution space, I've saved significant time. If only this function existed during the bone editing phase. After these modifications, I should return to Leader level." Gar thought, pulling up the body information display.

[Thunder Bug (original multicellular stage name)

Aquatic Organism Fish

Evolution Points: 33

Health: 90/90

Attack: Sharp-toothed Electric Upper Jaw (25), Electric Lower Jaw (15), Electric Fins (10) ×4, Electric Burst (115) (Area)

Defense: Tough Skin (30) (enhanced electric resistance)

Speed: 20–35

Vision: Lens Eyes ×2

Reproduction: Sexually reproductive egg-laying fish

Body Information: Fish internal system, electric stone skeletal system, muscle fiber, memory brain.

Individual Rating: Leader

Group Rating: Military Unit

Through several days of experimental modifications, your species has returned to the ranks of leaders, albeit merely returning to past status. Group strength excites you, but the emerging aquatic world harbors more and more enemies. Evolution never ceases.]

"It certainly feels stronger now, though with 33 points left, I’m unsure what to install; a wrong component could disrupt body balance."

After careful consideration, Gar decided to save the points for future use.

"8051, during the previous stage completion, if I only assembled a spine, would phase completion be determined upon its completion? And what would happen then?"

[Yes. Your spine's formation was earlier than any other spine's emergence. Had you been content with just a spine, you would be the first to evolve one, yet lack a mid-level title. Imagine the consequences. That's hypothetical, not reality.]

"True, shall I activate my special skill: ignoring. Haha."

[Name, 8051 reminded.]

"Hmm?"

[You need a new name for the evolved form, 8051 elaborated.]

"Oh, what name should it be?"

……

"Ah! I hate naming things."

[……]

"Right, let's call it Swordfish. So vivid. And not including 'electric' in the name could confuse enemies, yes." At that, Gar focused on the impressive but questionable in attack canine teeth. Whether enemies would notice the deception was unknown.

(Swordfish = a fish with sword-like teeth. ==)

[Then, confirm completion?]

"Yes…"

"Wait, after previous exits, the previous species didn't evolve—will I be alone again this time?"

[No, this is a phase evolution; all individuals in your origin breeding group will evolve into Swordfish.]

"Oh."

[Then, confirm completion?]

"Yes…"

"Hold on, you mean next time I evolve, only newborns will evolve with me?"

[Yes.]

"Is there a way for all, not just newborns, to evolve like this phase evolution?"

[Yes, by modifying relevant settings to achieve your goal.]

"Then modify the settings. Seeing previous companions turn into different species always bothers me a bit."

[I must clarify: before modifying settings, individuals of the same species won't evolve, but newborns will evolve into your evolved species within a short time, regardless of controlled or external groups. After modification, all individuals, newborn or existing, within your group will evolve. However, even if of the same species, those outside your group will experience a significant reduction in numbers evolving with you.]

"So, adjusting settings means the total number of my evolved form on this planet will decrease?"

[Yes, due to the nature of main consciousness-driven evolution being mutational, resulting in such situations.]

"This…"

[However, there is no need for excessive concern. In the long, intense evolution of life, all creatures continuously evolve for survival, including those outside your control. Different environments foster different evolutions even among the same species. While autonomous creatures undergo gradual evolution, those under main consciousness experience mutational evolution.]

"You mean, since I take long intervals to enter the space, aside from those I control, many congruent species evolve or are eliminated by external factors, becoming other species, like the Thunder Beast?"

[Please explore on your own.]

"Uh…"

"But thanks. Then, let’s modify the settings."

…

[Now, confirm completion?]

"Yes, almost done."

"Confirm… wait"

[……]

"Now that there’s gender, set my controlled body as male after exiting, though I won’t do anything, haha."

[That's it?]

"Uh, I'm nearly done."

[……]

"Yes, confirm completion."

[Then off you go.]

[Species editing complete, exiting biological editing space.]