For the next few days, Miki immersed herself in the lab, researching new insects.
Orochimaru had already started to make good progress.
Leaving him to his own devices, Miki focused on her own work.
With the groundwork laid for the super-organism development of the Swarm, the current direction was the development of specialized individuals.
That is, the research into troop types.
Currently, there are four types. The first is the Insects, with variants like Flamebug, Parasitic Minute Bugs, and Parasitic Giant Insects.
Based on the Insects's evolutionary characteristics, it was possible to cultivate specific new types of Insects through generational selection.
For example, Steel Parasitic Insects that can gnaw on metal, Lightning Parasitic Insects that can discharge electricity, Ice Parasitic Insects that can cool, Poison Parasitic Insects that produce toxins and acids, and Water Parasitic Insects specialized for underwater combat.
The cultivation direction was clear and simple; it just required a lot of effort.
It was so simple that Ice Parasitic Insects were thrown into ice storage, Poison Parasitic Insects into acid or toxins, and Water Parasitic Insects into water. By gradually intensifying the environmental changes, time would provide the answers of natural selection.
This process naturally takes a long time for species, but the unique characteristics of the Insects allow them to complete it in a short period.
Those that couldn't adapt and evolve died, while those that could adapt and evolve survived.
The second type is the Alien Insect, primarily developed based on the Slug.
In general, this refers to new insect species that do not possess the characteristics of arthropod insects.
Therefore, the direction of development is not limited to Slugs.
Fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals can all serve as development templates.
Currently, the preliminary preparations for this work are ongoing, and Miki has continuously infected various organisms.
However, the capture of Chakra creatures most suitable for development has not been ideal.
Consequently, more uses for the Slug are being developed, with numerous experimental mutations and screenings carried out by transcribing genes from other species.
Currently, besides the Little Devil Slug, the remaining achievement is codenamed Forest Black Goat.
It is a super-giant Slug that Miki raised little by little. As the mother of Slugs, it reproduces by division.
As for the original Slug Sage, Miki is still taking good care of it, feeding it well.
The resistance of the mind proved more challenging than imagined, with no progress in infection during the initial years.
Currently, Miki is still unsure whether the Slug Sage is too powerful or if her own abilities are insufficient.
But this did not deter Miki.
Miki bred the Slug Sage.
The method was simple: a single cut, and one Slug Sage split into two Slug Sages.
This process was not reproduction in the traditional sense.
Slugs are hermaphroditic; during mating, one acts as the female and is fertilized, and afterward, it's the other's turn to be fertilized.
Through pheromones, Miki controlled the behavior of the Slug Sages, prompting two Slug Sages to mate and produce true offspring.
That is, Slug eggs.
By infecting the eggs, the young Slugs, upon hatching, naturally became insects under Miki's control.
The newborn Slugs only inherited the Slug Sage's genes, not its memories or experiences.
They were chaotic beasts, and Miki did not provide any special education.
But she is learning; every time a split body returns to the main body, she gains experience.
The Forest Black Goat undergoes a division, and this split body serves as the template for mutated Slugs. Once the mutation is successful, the template will either divide again or lay eggs to produce mutated Slugs. All Slugs can return to the main body, bringing knowledge and experience. Afterward, any Slugs that divide will possess this experience and knowledge.
And if it lays eggs, the split body master can then transfer this experience and knowledge to its oviparous offspring.
Its potential, in Miki's view, is terrifying.
As the main body of the Forest Black Goat, this mother of Slugs, after several returns, became grotesque in appearance, barely able to move, only able to lie still, eating and drinking.
During this process, many died, unable to survive the genetic conflicts.
The one that survived, whose already tenacious vitality became even more resilient through continuous evolution.
Its remaining function is to serve as a Chakra transmission node, providing energy to maintain the various Barriers and sealing techniques Miki has set up.
The third type is the Engraving Insect, developed based on sealing technique, naturally possessing Swarms with sealing technique.
Currently, the only achievement is the Summer Red Soldier, which is also a project requiring a great deal of time for generational selection.
Among them, some sealing techniques are not suitable to be engraved on insects, as individual insects lack the Chakra to activate the techniques.
The Summer Red Soldier activates techniques at the cost of burning its life, and the techniques themselves do not require much Chakra.
Finally, there is the Worker Swarm, the Eve Swarm. The development of the Eve Swarm is progressing well; Miki only needs to observe and then decide on subsequent version updates.
Besides these, there is another category, mechanical insects, which Miki has not yet decided to develop and research in this direction.
These are just superficial minor issues; no matter how much development and research is done, as long as it's pursued, results will eventually emerge, regardless of the time taken.
Occasionally, there are unexpected surprises, and the Eve Swarm is one such surprise.
What truly troubles Miki is the direction of the Swarm.
Should it be like the StarCraft Zerg, Arachnis Swarm, Xel'Naga Zerg, or Tyranid Swarm, following the traditional path of massive fleets and powerful weapons?
Maximizing numbers, sweeping over everything with a sea of Swarm.
Or forge a new evolutionary path?
The former has objects to learn from and imitate, making it easy to start with and offering broad prospects.
The latter requires everything to be explored independently.
Combining Chakra, maximizing the bizarre and diverse nature of insects themselves, without pursuing extreme numbers.
Instead, pursuing a specialized Swarm with numerous functions.
Currently, Miki is on such a path.
And unlike traditional Swarms that devour, plunder, and destroy everything.
As the Swarm's will, Miki prefers to integrate into the natural ecosystem, pursuing a sustainable development path, hidden behind the scenes of the natural environment.
Without destroying the natural ecosystem, she meticulously manages the planet as her important garden.
It appears to be a primitive planet without interstellar civilization, peaceful and beautiful, but in reality, it harbors extremely terrifying species.
Although she could have it all, Miki knows she can't afford it.
There isn't enough time, and the foundation is too shallow; it's currently only in its initial stages.
But the terrifying fangs of the Swarm have already begun to show themselves.
"So, Danzo also came to you."
At the dining table, Miki was eating a simple breakfast.
Seeing Miki immersed in the lab for the past few days, Hitomi went out to train early every morning.
Among the three, Hitomi's diligence was evident.
Miki and Chiri's respective diligence was in unseen places.
Early in the morning, Shiron came to the door, talking about Danzo's visit to him.
"Danzo came to me asking for people. I told him I'm no longer the clan head and can't make decisions, so I told him to come to you."
So, by rights, he should have come to Miki.
But Miki didn't see Danzo's people.
"How sensible," Miki said.
Referring to Danzo not bothering her.
"Mushi-Hime, what's the next step?" Shiron asked.
"Cold salad, just wait. Shinobi World War," Miki said. "How well are the new techniques being mastered in the clan?"
"It's going well, everyone is diligently studying," Shiron's voice was weak.
Is it a bit difficult?
Miki stared at Shiron for a while, then said, "Hurry up, and then the clan will develop corresponding tactical applications."
"I know," Shiron said. "Danzo, he will retaliate against us in the future. We need to be careful."
"Don't worry," Miki said, closing her eyes and beginning to use the Swarm's vision.
A moment later, she said, "I'm going out."
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