What is primary consciousness?

"It's the main consciousness of a species, the guiding force," Ga Ga thought.

【Primary consciousness is just a farmer, sowing the seeds of awareness and reaping feedback as they grow.】 That's the explanation provided by 8051, the system.

Generally, compared to the subjective user Ga Ga, the system, as its creator, should be correct.

Yet...

Ga Ga was skeptical.

Could something as important as primary consciousness really be just a simple farmer?

Watching the adult tentacle Ga Ga Beast ahead, Ga Ga cautiously stepped forward.

"It's the last one. Can I win?"

"No, I must because I am the primary consciousness!"

※※※

Let's return to the beginning.

When Ga Ga burst out of its eggshell and let the nearby female tentacle Ga Ga Beast clean it up, it saw the bustling scene of hatchlings breaking out, adult tentacle Ga Ga Beasts busily pacing.

Among the 147 adult tentacle Ga Ga Beasts this time, 82 were females that laid eggs (the gender ratio was off again =.=).

During the safety zone clearing operations, enough nutrients were stored, and with the electro-stone mine fulfilling their needs, each female laid eight eggs on average, given the ample distribution of other natural resources.

To avoid the initial riverside nest attack scenario, all eggs were gathered into ten nest clusters for collective incubation, with males patrolling the perimeter defensively.

Once all healthy eggs hatched, Ga Ga estimated about five hundred hatchlings. For the tentacle Ga Ga Beast herd, the now-expanded numbers made splitting the herd an urgent need.

[Main Mission 2: Expansion of the Herd

Objective: Establish no fewer than ten stable breeding sites. (1/10)

Content: A large population provides security but also increases food demand, creating environmental pressure and risking local food chain collapse. At this point, the herd can't sustain such numbers, so more stable breeding sites are essential for both nature and the herd.

Reward: Brain upgrade to Level 3]

"So it's mission-based on necessity, huh? Just as I thought."

[Task of the Primary Consciousness's Authority

Objective: As self-awareness develops, herd individuals start thinking for themselves instead of blindly following primary consciousness commands. For maintaining the authority of primary consciousness, without system support, strive to seize the temporary leader position of the current 600+ tentacle Ga Ga Beast herd upon reaching adulthood.

Reward: 200 (Evolution Points)]

"Ah, another pair of tasks."

"Leader position, so the primary consciousness control is indeed weakening, and now it needs to earn it."

"Without system support, does this mean no influence over other individuals anymore?"

"A warning from the system?"

Standing up in its temporarily juvenile body, Ga Ga looked at the few hatchling companions nearby, issuing commands as it used to.

"Lie down."

…

No response, as expected; the others continued to run about freely.

"So, it's starting to phase out..."

"However, I can't yet defeat an adult, and it's only during adulthood that the leader position must be contested and hunted. The development from juvenile to independent youth takes about one feeding period."

"So, gaining the leader position means leading the herd's division and feeding. The system is efficient."

"For now, I should establish dominance among these younglings. Once grown, the pressure will be less, right? Hehe."

Squinting, Ga Ga cast a dangerous look at its young peers but received only hisses of warning back from a few disgruntled youngsters.

"Uh, the road is long, and I must seek my way."

"First, take control of this nest of dozens of younglings." In animal groups, leaders are generally the strongest, so the method is simple: combat.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Gawu~~

"Ah," Ga Ga said, realizing a change in its voice when trying to call a youngster over. "Ignore it, continue the challenge."

Ga~~

It wasn't until Ga Ga's throat was nearly dry from calling that the little beasts noticed Ga Ga's shouting. Though they didn’t understand, one jumped out to play.

Realizing it was a playful gesture, Ga Ga still engaged the willing little beast...

… through continuous challenges...

Battles among the young were long, as both lacked significant damage capacity, and fighting until one submitted wasn't easy.

The adult tentacle Ga Ga Beasts guarding the nest viewed the scrappy youngster, Ga Ga, with amused detachment, interfering only when both sides started getting injured.

"Damn, these little guys are tough," Ga Ga thought, ignoring the fact it was of the same size.

Set apart by an adult tentacle Ga Ga, Ga Ga stood cautiously, eyeing the newly separated, standing little beast.

Previously, relying on accumulated battle experience, Ga Ga handled these newly hatched youngsters without much issue, needing only to separate challengers from the group to avoid chaotic brawls.

But this one was different, forcing Ga Ga into a stalemate, its movements uncannily reflecting Ga Ga's own.

"Did it recently learn this, or is it inherited memory?"

Uncertain and lacking understanding of genetic inheritance, Ga Ga wary controlled its internal electric current.

"Alright, I'll be more serious."

Small electric sparks flickered along Ga Ga's legs, drawing the attention of guarding Beasts.

"Our speed caps at 30, but my psychic strength is far superior, unmatched, hehe."

Ga Ga launched forward, lowering its head, horn aimed, using electricity for control, charging at 25 speed.

The little beast mirrored Ga Ga's move, but at a speed of 14, hampered by inexperience despite its hasty response.

Almost there.

Just before impact, Ga Ga turned, whipping its tail at the little beast's legs.

The little beast leapt up, evading the tail sweep, lunging at Ga Ga's back. Caught off guard, Ga Ga used its rear tentacles to ward off the attack while leaping sideways, dodging, then countered with another tail sweep.

The electrified speed enhanced two sweeping arcs, the beast caught off guard, struck, and tumbling back.

Seizing the opportunity, Ga Ga lunged at the downed little beast, pinning it as it struggled up, growling fiercely.

Roar! Ga~~

"Ah."

The roar ended off-key, but the spit on its face pacified the little beast.

Leaping off, Ga Ga surveyed the curious younglings, feeling satisfied. But then noticed the guarded nests.

"Damn, that was just one nest, and there are so many more."

"And," Ga Ga looked at the guarding Beasts, "how do I get past them?"

… Nightfall...

On a moonless night, with the outer adult Beasts standing guard, no predator dared attack the nests; the inner guards were less vigilant.

Unbeknownst to them, there’s a truth they missed: it's harder to guard against internal threats—Gaa~

In the cover of night, Ga Ga sneaked to the nest’s edge, with the Beast asleep nearby. As long as there’s no disturbance, it should be fine.

"To the next territory, advance!"

Using psychic power to navigate in the dark, Ga Ga slipped past the guard’s flicking tail.

"Made it out."

Pleased, Ga Ga immediately turned toward another nest.

…

When sunlight returned, Ga Ga was roused by the herd's anxious calls.

"What now?" Ga Ga stood, scanning the perimeter.

Nothing amiss.

Then Ga Ga saw the source of agitation—a nest it previously occupied. Realizing the active youngling was missing, they searched frantically.

Watching their distress over the missing youngling, Ga Ga felt guilty, its brain suddenly buzzing, prompting a call.

Spotting Ga Ga, the adult Beast recognized it immediately, and amid curious glances from the current nest, the Beast carried Ga Ga back by the neck like a kitten.

"Great, my dignity is gone!"

So Ga Ga stayed put, under younglings' reverence and adult Beasts' increased vigilance.

Finally, when it resumed challenging youngsters from other nests, they had all reached adolescence. (Impulse is beep—. Tea...)

※※※

"What is primary consciousness?"

"As primary consciousness, I'm not just a simple farmer! (Though farmers are quite complex =.=)"

Now grown, Ga Ga faced its opponent, whose left leg bled, making its movements uneven—a significant advantage.

This wasn’t a juvenile fight; no adult Beasts intervened despite injuries, so both Ga Ga and this middle-aged tentacle Ga Ga Beast bore scars from several bouts.

Ga Ga found this task less challenging than anticipated.

Devoid of system aid, its vast psychic control as primary consciousness weighed heavily in its favor, potent enough to crush any kin.

Yet, viewing the task as combat training, Ga Ga limited psychic use internally up to this point.

The scars earned experience, confirming Ga Ga had managed commendably without relying heavily on psychic abilities.

Then Ga Ga pondered the notion of being primary consciousness.

Was this me as primary consciousness?

Deliberately restraining power to ordinary levels for this task.

Though honing combat skills, how was this different from any ordinary herd member? Is this what primary consciousness should do?

What should primary consciousness truly be?

Reducing itself to a mere soldier, but primary consciousness should be at least officer-level, right? From the start, it was never just a regular entity.

Opponent's lapse was advantageous, but if Ga Ga zoned out in battle, that's no good.

The injured Beast lunged at Ga Ga, binding its claws with four tentacles, pulling aside.

Jolted awake, Ga Ga tugged back but couldn’t counter the rush, toppling sideways.

"Bad, damn it."

Ga Ga swiftly extended its rear tentacles to grab the opponent's neck, collapsing with it, intending a shared fall. As it released Ga Ga, it leveraged the entangled tentacles to pull Ga Ga further.

Gawu!

In distress, Ga Ga stretched the right leg, using the opponent’s pull to lift. Forming a stable tripod with legs and tail, it braced the body.

"Ah, that hurts!"

The opponent, determined, lunged for Ga Ga's back, aiming to topple it flat.

Perhaps Ga Ga sparked the precedent—winners now stood on losers' backs, roaring to assert victory. It's one thing watching others fight, or winning, but Ga Ga refused passive defeat. Its back tentacles pulled the airborne opponent’s legs, yanking down.

Bang!

Adult tentacles weren't as feeble as juvenile ones; miscalculating, the Beast crashed down, off-balance.

Erect again, Ga Ga bore pain, stomping the opponent's neck, roaring into its ear; attack turned defense.

With the upgraded vocal cords, sound held new richness beyond simple "Ga Ga," yet it resonated as a victory roar. As Ga Ga bellowed triumph, six hundred-plus tentacle Ga Ga Beasts echoed, vibrating across their territory.

[Task of the Primary Consciousness's Authority Completed, Reward Received.]