Looking at the trio he chose, Jack felt satisfied. During his time, entering the first stage brings out immense pain. Everyone was taken care of, even an orphan like him.
Due to the advancement in technology, radiation released by devices increased. They had no choice; they could either remain limited by safe technology throughout the end of their civilization or keep going forward.
Fortunately, they decided to go forward.
Medicine had improved leaps and bounds, and the first human evolution began. Melius homo sapiens began to show up. By being able to control radiation, they were also able to increase the body's tolerance for radiation. Even then, during the earliest release of the Body Advancement system, entering stage 1 alone brings upon danger. Success rates were as low as 5%. Those who were able to succeed had around 90% chance of further advancement as their body already had a taste of metamorphosing.
When he began to look at their bodies, he realized why. The background radiation being emitted by a star so close to the planet is too much to handle. Not even the artificial atmosphere was able to protect them, not to mention it's already failing.
Due to his existence, the levels of radiation in their bodies is just below the threshold level. The radiation had already fundamentally changed the cells in their body. The advancement method, which guides the mutation became as natural as breathing. Hence, even after changing, they were able to move.
Jack saw how safe the library was as Mengsk was able to remain there for over 15 years by himself. He thought it was the safest place for them to begin cultivating their bodies. Even when the pain becomes unbearable, he would still be able to save them.
With all things considered, Jack distributed the main quest for his plans.
[Establish the church.]
[Find a good location that would be the base of operations here in planet Buriean. This shall also be the place where people will be baptized and be accepted into my church.]
[Mission Rewards: S1L2 Cultivation Resources, 5TW Energy Crystals]
Looking at everything around him, Jack decided to rest. He had spent quite a lot of his colorless energy, which is his strongest one, able to create its own matter with its own set of laws. Only with this energy can he make a flat Earth with the sun orbiting the Earth instead of the other way around.
——
Planet Buriean - Huelin City. The northern area (bipedal faction). Yesterday.
After two days of cultivation in the library, Zhenin, Ninzhe, and Mengsk has successfully entered the Stage 1 Level 1 and are now considered as advanced species.
Besides feeling uncomfortably itchy, the trio did not face any kind of problems during their metamorphosis. First, it was Ninzhe, then Zhenin, and lastly, Mengsk.
Looking at how the two youngsters were able to finish their breakthrough first, Mengsk felt a little ashamed. Yet, he was able to discard the thoughts away almost immediately. The shame he felt was only due to his age being supposedly superior—a pride brought by time.
A thousand years is long, especially since Mengsk's body has only recently entered its elderly stage and still has more than 600 years' worth of lifespan. That is if he survives the apocalypse.
Shaking his head, he immediately invited the two over his mansion.
The twins looked at each other and nodded. Zhenin gave Ninzhe a knowing look saying, "we don't have food at home anymore."
Like his twin, Ninzhe was able to pick up on this. Nevertheless, he'll still follow what Zhenin decision, so he also gave an affirming look.
That's just how close twins are.
Already decided, they left the library.
After pointing out the direction of Mengsk's mansion, the three went onwards as low key as they could.
Along the way, other groups of people had taken notice of them. The trio stared back unflinchingly. Showing the smallest signs of weakness, being eaten by this group of hungry carnivores, is almost guaranteed.
They could do that too, but they still have their mission to do.
Locked gazes, the two groups nodded at each other as they went pass by. It was a mutual understanding of the strong and feared. Losing men for food, especially when they can devour other factions instead, is just plain stupid. If the three brought out their treasure instead, the other group wouldn't have to think twice.
After a few more tense encounters, the three arrived at Koroy's Mansion. Contrary to its Russian name, the large gate blocking the mansion was painted with a bagru pattern. The estate itself looked like a shrunken Taj Mahal.
Entering the abandoned place, the twins were surprised at how well kept the place was. Mengsk knew what the twins were thinking about, so he explained: "The mansion has top-notch defenses for the flares. All the technology should be working, including the defenses. With all my riches all over the years being kept in this place, no one who dared attack my home shall survive."
The twins nodded. Places like this with a proper local network setup is currently one of the most dangerous places on the planet. The lack of cloud processing makes it impossible to crack the encryption of these setups.
Remembering how long it was after he left. Mengsk decided against opening the fridge and went outside instead. The twins kept following him.
Luckily for them, the bots maintained their operations and were able to keep the greenhouse garden just a bit further from the mansion.
For the first time in the twin's life, they were able to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Compared to the nutrient bars and irradiated meat from their foes, the fresh greens' sweetness brought ecstasy to them as if eating chocolate for the first time.
Mengsk was surprised too. He knew how young the twins were, but due to their vigilance, he already forgot that these kids never experienced a proper childhood. He couldn't help but feel bad for them as he remembered Nova's reaction when eating the veggies for the first time. Without him realizing it, his lips curled up into a smile.
The twins saw this and were shocked. The soft and sincere smile on Mengsk's face, for a very short moment, they felt like they were looking at their dad.
Mengsk was able to see their reactions too and felt his heart aching for a bit.
"They're still kids, after all," thought Mengsk.
Needless to say, the atmosphere became weird.
The three stopped looking at each other and focused on their own plates.