Hours passed quickly as Kraynnor remained immersed in his quest to create his own advanced biomass energy source. Occasionally, he received notifications from Cognitron X-12 about the presence of the Astrylite's ship, which continued to hover over the ocean area where his laboratory was located.
At first, he experienced great nervousness at the possibility of being discovered, leading him to consider escape plans. However, over time, his focus became solely centered on his research.
Kraynnor felt calmer due to the erratic behavior of the ship, which would appear for minutes at high speed before vanishing.
This happened repeatedly, at least twice every hour.
It was like an indecisive young man trying to ask the girl he liked out, but every time he approached her, he turned around and fled in nervousness, only to try again and again...
Of course, when he finally made a decision, she would have already gone with another man
In other words, when the ship arrived at his laboratory, it would be too late!
"All right, it doesn't seem like a bad starting point."
In an instant, he drew a detailed blueprint of a complex structure with all its pieces arranged separately, though it resembled a cube when fully assembled: "Verify this design and calculate its compatibility with the pearl," he whispered with a deeply concentrated look.
On the table, a small square compartment unfolded in the blink of an eye, revealing a white robotic arm.
[Calculating... According to the information provided by the nano-robots of molecular disassembly, there is a 59% compatibility. Advanced biomass energy can be created, but its solidification and temperature increase functions will not activate.]
Cognitron X-12 stated as the tip of its index finger emitted a soft light scanning the blueprint.
"So, a lesser version... If we were in a different time, this would be enough to amaze the world, as this energy source far surpasses anything humans have used throughout their history," Kraynnor expressed, imagining the surprised expression those arrogant elders of Caelum would have if he presented something that shouldn't exist even after hundreds of years of advancements.
His eyes seemed to drift into the past, but he quickly snapped back and crumpled the blueprint to start drawing a new one.
"In the path of creation, flaws always arise, but with trial and error, they are overcome," Kraynnor completed another blueprint and requested the same evaluation from his trusted AI as before. Although the improvements were not significant, compatibility increased by 2%.
As he focused on the blueprints, he added: "Dismantle the X-10 submarine and create a new version, the X-11. It should be five times larger and include an integrated workshop, a bed, and all necessary amenities. Also, it needs to have a small storage area for some of my inventions."
[Initiating the process of dismantling the X-10 submarine.]
On a spacious docking platform with a walkway, several white robotic arms emerged from various points in the immense room, surrounding a ten-meter-long and five-meter-wide submarine.
Each of them moved with precision and agility, as if choreographed for this specific task.
It was the X-10 submarine, a faithful companion of Kraynnor for over five hundred years, but at this moment, it showed clear signs of aging. Its once gleaming white paint had turned yellowish and was filled with cracks. Its operation was sustained only through the constant maintenance of Cognitron X-12.
The arms began to dismantle it, removing piece by piece and neatly storing them in containers.
At the same time, other robotic arms headed toward a large warehouse at one end of the laboratory. They dragged materials of all shapes and sizes, from metal alloys to electronic components. Next to the buzzing and crackling refining machines, they began to transform raw materials into parts and components ready for the construction of the new submarine.
The workshop seemed filled with materials, although only about 10% of what it used to be remained. The fate of this laboratory seemed sealed from the beginning.
In a short time, the foundations of the X-11 submarine could be seen being forged.
So, a day passed quickly while Kraynnor smiled at the last design he had drawn. On the surface, the pyramid-shaped ship manifested again, and a red light projected from it to scan the surroundings.
...
Thud!
"Damn it! I know there's something here, even if it's just for milliseconds; the locator detects something, but it's so small that I can't determine its exact location!"
The outburst of anger came from Rylokian, who had angrily struck a nearby surface, leaving a small dent. He had decided to investigate Sonarix's death on his own since he didn't trust Major Zarok. Besides, for some reason, he feared that if they didn't find evidence, he would be sacrificed to appease the wrath of those entities he could only admire.
It might be an exaggeration, but remembering the actions of that useless fat blob, it wasn't unreasonable to think that something like that could happen.
"Seriously, I shouldn't have taken this job just because it seemed to pay better than the jobs a simple mercenary can afford," Rylokian appeared clearly disheartened as he spoke.
In his mind, Rylokian cursed everything: the fact that he had been assigned to this low-ranking world, having an incompetent leader who delighted in the meals of an extinct race as if his stomach had no bottom, and now being forced to risk everything to find the culprit of Sonarix's death without anyone knowing.
If his old friends saw him in his current state, they would surely look at him with contempt!
"Should I just fire the Devastator and turn this into a sea of lava? No, that would attract the guests, it would be a disaster if something like that happened..." with no clear options, Rylokian walked away to continue his collection task.
...
In the laboratory, Kraynnor had drawn a new blueprint. This one used intertwined carbon nanotubes with a polymer of exceptional properties to optimize the production of liquid biomass. Moreover, he had integrated temperature microsensors for precise control.
Compared to the previous blueprints, he had replaced virtually all of the materials and, ingeniously, had recorded three essential commands in the core of the circuit: gaseous state, solid state, and temperature control.
In this way, he had not only replicated the functions of the pearl but had also added an entirely new state!
Kraynnor was convinced that this innovation represented a much more effective use of advanced biomass. After all, with this design, he could create Biomass Mist Shields, carry out surprise attacks, track enemies, and much more.
In fact, he began to wonder if the Glythorin civilization had developed something similar, although maybe they hadn't incorporated it into their sabers because it was a One Star product.
"You know what to do," Kraynnor said.
[Compatibility reaches a solid 90%, not reaching 100% because the master not only replicated the capabilities of the biomass battery (the pearl) but also incorporated additional functions that surpass it.]
"Nice!"
Upon hearing this, Kraynnor instantly felt renewed. He had added another achievement to his record: replicating and improving alien technology.
"Begin the assembly process of the..." Kraynnor paused for a moment and continued with enthusiasm: "Let's call it the Biomimetic Cube! Also, make sure to rearm the saber; we're running out of time, we must depart in a few hours!"
He was also interested in the new version of the submarine, and upon receiving confirmation that it was already complete, he went to inspect it.
"As expected from my creation, it shares my own tastes," Kraynnor said as he observed the submarine. Its design, with immaculate white and a modern appearance, stood out with elegant lines and retractable fins along its body, while a glass dome at the front provided a panoramic view of the underwater world.
It had a length of approximately fifty meters and a width of twenty meters, undoubtedly a colossal creation.
Upon entering, Kraynnor meticulously examined the interior. Everything he had requested was present: a kitchen, a bathroom, a warehouse, a workshop, and a bedroom. It lacked absolutely nothing.
"This will serve me for a while as I continue to strengthen," Kraynnor muttered as he clenched his fists in anger, thinking of a plan to at least punish the annoying ship that had forced him to leave his beloved laboratory.
[Reporting, the Biomimetic Cube is about to be completed. Due to the scarcity of the necessary materials, only one can be constructed.]
Upon hearing the voice of Cognitron X-12, Kraynnor exited the submarine and headed to the workshop. There, dozens of white robotic arms had completed the assembly of the Biomass Energy Saber and were about to finish the construction of the cube.
Despite its advanced technology, the Biomimetic Cube was surprisingly small, barely five square centimeters in size.
[The Biomimetic Cube has been completed!]
"Haha, wonderful! Let me check if it can do what I had in mind," but before he could even touch the cube, a notification from the Universal System appeared out of nowhere.
[Ding!]
[God Mechanic has achieved a small feat!]
[Somehow, even if it seems unreal, a novice mechanic has managed to replicate and improve a One Star product from the Glythorin civilization. The class evolution system will be unlocked, and as a reward, twenty knowledge points have been granted. Additionally, a random mechanic's chest has been delivered.]
[Do you want to open the random mechanic's chest? (Yes/No)]