Chương 34: The Chimera Ant's Evolution (3) Going Underground
<Opening your primary computer display now. Shall I assume you have another wild idea brewing, Mikhailis?>
Mikhailis grinned. "Oh, you know me too well. I want you to make an imaginary nest—let's say, a hypothetical one, right beneath Silvarion Thalor. Could you run some projections on that? Like, if we were to put the ants down there and let them build a nest, what would it look like? How would they handle it?"
<An imaginary nest beneath the castle, you say?> Rodion paused, his tone both skeptical and interested. <Do you understand the risks involved? If something goes wrong, there could be unprecedented consequences. The queen herself could perish. Not to mention the potential structural issues and ecological impact.>
Mikhailis nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly, his mind clearly working through the possibilities. "Yeah, I get that. But she needs to adapt here. If she's going to thrive, she has to learn how to function in Eldoria's environment. Plus, this kind of data is priceless."
Rodion remained silent for a beat, then responded, his tone giving away a hint of resignation.
<Very well. I shall proceed with creating an adaptive nest simulation model. Establishing parameters for terrain adaptation, resources available, and environmental risks. Standby for a detailed analysis.>
Mikhailis leaned back on his chair, his gaze fixed on the computer as Rodion's systems began humming. A series of three-dimensional graphics appeared on the screen, showing layers of the ground beneath Silvarion Thalor. The diagrams showed potential tunnels, resource locations, and safe zones for the ants to expand.
Rodion's voice returned, but this time there was a hint of surprise.
<Mikhailis, you might find this interesting. The neural connection is not solely with the queen—it appears to extend to the rest of the colony as well. Every single worker, every soldier, is linked.>
Mikhailis's eyes widened in surprise, his grin growing wider. "You're kidding! So, I can actually communicate with all of them?"
<Indeed. Your bond with the queen serves as a conduit, allowing you to reach every ant in the colony. The implications of this are substantial—you now have complete awareness and potential control of each individual.>
Mikhailis stared at the screen, fascinated. He hadn't expected the connection to be this strong. "So even if we put them underground, we could still keep track, right?"
<Correct. I can receive data from each ant, and I can also map out the nest using their senses. With the chips enhancing their capabilities, I can generate a real-time three-dimensional model of their surroundings.>
Mikhailis couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head. "It's like I'm playing an ant kingdom game! We're literally designing our own underground empire here."
<Please do not trivialize the process, Mikhailis. This is groundbreaking work—although, given your penchant for turning everything into a game, I suppose this is to be expected.>
"Hey, if it works, it works. Now, let's proceed. Start laying out the groundwork. Sync it with both my tablet and the main computer."
<Understood. Initiating connection with both devices. Standby for full integration.>
Mikhailis watched as Rodion began processing the data. The screens filled with layers of information—lines of code, geographic renderings, data streams from the ants' neural inputs. Rodion worked quickly, configuring the system, while Mikhailis waited, his excitement growing. He could feel the bond pulsing faintly in his palm, almost like the queen herself was ready for the next stage.
After a few moments, Rodion spoke again.
<Connection complete. The queen and her brood are prepared for deployment. Are you ready to proceed?>
"Absolutely. Let's make this happen."
With that, Mikhailis moved towards the aquarium, watching the queen and her workers. He gave a mental command, feeling the connection hum through his mind. He carefully lifted the aquarium lid, and one by one, the ants began to move—each worker, each soldier, following the queen as she climbed out. Mikhailis led them out to the garden, his excitement palpable.
They arrived at the edge of the wooded garden, where the forest floor was thick with leaves, twigs, and a hint of magic that seemed to emanate from the very soil. The chimera ants scattered, the queen taking the lead, her wings fluttering slightly as if testing the air.
The workers were about half the size of the queen, while the soldiers were larger—bulkier, each one about half again the size of the queen. They moved with purpose, their antennae twitching as they scanned the environment. Mikhailis observed them with fascination, feeling each one through the bond, guiding them towards the edge of the castle grounds.
"Alright, Rodion. Let's see how this goes. We're sending them underground," Mikhailis murmured, his voice filled with excitement.
<Understood. Tracking all individuals and projecting a visual representation based on neural data. Displaying now.>
The screen of Mikhailis's computer lit up, showing a third-person projection of the ants as they began to dig. Unlike a simple camera feed, the image on the screen showed a more abstract view—each ant represented as a glowing icon, the terrain around them displayed in translucent layers. It was as if they were watching from above, the ants moving in real-time, each one glowing softly as they dug into the earth.
"Whoa, that's amazing!" Mikhailis's voice was filled with awe as he watched the queen, her image displayed larger than the others. "It's like I'm seeing them from above… and they're so fast!"
<The augmented chips are enhancing their spatial awareness and sensory abilities. This allows for better navigation and coordination, hence the rapid progress. Additionally, they seem capable of processing environmental stimuli in greater detail.>
The ants moved as a unit, the workers leading the way as they began to carve out tunnels, their powerful mandibles breaking through soil and rock. The soldiers followed, keeping a lookout, their antennae twitching at every movement. The queen, regal and confident, stayed in the middle, her presence commanding and calm.
As the ants made their way deeper underground, Rodion continued to map out their progress, the computer screen showing a detailed diagram of the expanding tunnels. They were just getting settled when something changed—one of the soldiers halted abruptly, its antennae standing straight up, vibrating as if sensing a threat.
"Rodion, what's happening?" Mikhailis's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the screen.
<We appear to have encountered a potential threat. Scanning… it seems to be a magic beast—a Burrow Grub. Classification: subterranean magic beetle, highly territorial. It has a protective shell covered in luminescent nodes. The soldier ants are preparing for engagement.>
Mikhailis leaned forward, his heart pounding in anticipation. The screen showed the chimera soldier ants positioning themselves in front of the queen and workers. The Burrow Grub—a grotesque beetle-like creature about the size of a small dog—emerged from the shadows. Its shell glowed with faint pulses of blue and green, and its mandibles clicked ominously.
"Wow, that's one ugly bug." Mikhailis's voice held both fascination and concern.
<Agreed. It seems the Burrow Grub is sensing a territorial invasion and is preparing to defend its space. The chimera soldiers, however, are showing no signs of retreating. They are positioning to attack.>
Mikhailis watched as the chimera soldiers moved in tandem, their antennae communicating with each other, their powerful mandibles poised. One of the soldiers lunged first, its mandibles clamping down on the Burrow Grub's side. The grub let out a hiss, its body twisting as it tried to shake off the soldier, but another chimera ant followed, grabbing hold of its leg.
The grub struggled, its luminescent nodes glowing brighter as it tried to fend off the attackers. It lashed out, managing to knock one of the chimera soldiers away, but the other soldiers quickly closed in, their numbers overwhelming it.
"Come on, you can do it!" Mikhailis whispered, his eyes locked on the screen. He could feel the tension through the bond—the determination of the soldiers, the protective instinct of the queen as she stayed back, watching her defenders.
Finally, with a coordinated effort, the chimera soldiers managed to pin the Burrow Grub down, their mandibles cutting into its softer underbelly. The grub let out a final hiss before collapsing, its luminescent glow fading as it lay still.
<Threat neutralized. The soldiers sustained minor damage but are continuing to guard the queen. The path is clear for further expansion.>
Mikhailis let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, his eyes wide with awe. "That was… incredible. They actually took it down. They're working as a unit, protecting their queen… it's like they're soldiers in an army."
<Indeed. The level of coordination is impressive. Their loyalty to the queen appears to be absolute. The chimera colony is proving to be highly capable of adaptation and defense.>
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