Chapter 16 - 16

After learning about the silicon core, Let still didn't rush. At least, he wouldn't take any risks until he was stronger than the body's natural defense mechanisms.

Let was largely composed of Raphiel's dark memories, and the most recent trauma had created a sort of power obsession in him. Yet, in the end, this obsession wasn't strong enough to make him risk his life.

Let created an organelle within himself as he had done in the simulation, organizing it to mimic a cell. Then, within this organelle, he formed a silicon core. Since this organelle was inside him, it wouldn't be attacked by a white blood cell for now.

A day later, his simulation rights were renewed. Determined to research how to make the cytoplasm more efficient until he died, Let launched the simulation.

[Day 1: No significant progress achieved.]

[Day 2: As in the previous simulation, you began to integrate the characteristics of organelles into the cytoplasm.]

[Day 20: Confident that everything was in order, you fully integrated the cytoplasm with the organelles.]

[Day 21: You wondered if it was possible to integrate the cell membrane with the cytoplasm but didn't attempt it, believing there were limits to the information you could gain as a reward from the simulation.]

[Day 22: You considered that the slime race might inspire combining the cytoplasm with the cell membrane. Then, you told the system to stop the simulation.]

[Please select your reward.]

1- The organelle you experimented with.

2- Your experience with cytoplasm.

"Of course, I choose option 2."

New experiences emerged in Let's mind. He also realized he needed to strengthen his will somehow, or his simulation self would grow increasingly timid. At least in the simulation, he had to be ready to take risks.

With nothing else to do, Let began experimenting. Whenever he looked around, he saw only loneliness. He was only on his second day but already missed talking to someone; people often realized the value of something only after losing it.

Let could faintly sense Raphiel. Raphiel was fishing with his spouse at the moment, and Let felt envious but bore no malice. In fact, he knew that Raphiel was unaware of his existence, and through Raphiel, he would eventually gain access to the Void. His only reason for not attempting such a feat now was the severe damage to his soul and the risk of drawing too much attention.

If he didn't take enough precautions, Raphiel might recognize him. Let decided to contemplate this issue later.

Suddenly, Let heard something. He could hear the woman destined to be the mother of the child praying for help. Her voice was muffled but still audible.

Let was still busy laying the foundations of the cell, so he couldn't help her at the moment. He decided to aid her within a week at the latest.

For the rest of the day, Let experimented with cryptosleep, which turned out to be extremely easy. He believed two days would be enough to perfect it.

Let completed his research on cryptosleep within a day. The next day, he restarted the simulation, still determined to focus on cytoplasm research.

[Day 1: You successfully fused the cell membrane with the cytoplasm without difficulty. You only needed to turn the cytoplasm into a liquid with higher viscosity.]

[Day 2: You checked for any errors.]

[Day 3: You created capillary-like channels within the cell to facilitate material transfer.]

[Day 4: You performed various error checks.]

[Day 10: You finished eliminating all errors.]

[Day 11: You researched ways to merge the silicon core with the cytoplasm.]

[Day 20: You achieved your goal but felt there were still improvements to be made.]

[Day 21: You noticed a small overlooked detail at the end of the day.]

[Day 22: You began developing a new system that would allow you to alter the internal structure of cells at will. You planned to create cells so small that they'd be countless times smaller than an average cell. You could organize these micro-cells as desired, mimicking any cell structure. You decided to name this new cell model "Visiok Cell version 2.0."]

[Day 23: You started working on this.]

[Day 24: Continued working.]

[Day 25: Continued working.]

[Day 26: Continued working.]

[Day 27: Continued working.]

[Day 28: Continued working.]

[Day 29: Continued working.]

[Day 152: You reached your goal but still had various error checks to perform.]

[Day 365: Decided this much error checking was sufficient. You also realized that loneliness was slowly driving you insane.]

[Day 670: Began spreading into the host's body gradually. This time, you destroyed all attacking white blood cells and effectively took over the host's immune system. There were no white blood cells left, only Visiok cells protecting the body from microbes.]

[Day 671: You still avoided the occasional mana fragments because you sensed they were dangerous.]

[Day 680: Discovered that the host was actually a goblin. Remembering the woman's voice, you felt saddened.]

[Day 681: Attempted to absorb a mana fragment. Although your soul initially rejected it, you forced it to absorb the fragment. Before you understood what happened, you died.]

[Please select your reward.]

1- Visiok Cell 2.0

2- Visiok Cell 2.0 experience

"Knowledge is power; give me reward number 2."

New information flooded into Let's mind, making him feel nauseous from the sudden influx. It became apparent that there were indeed limitations to the amount of information he could receive as a reward.

Let knew he wouldn't forgive himself for the rest of his life if he didn't save that woman. He had no intention of letting her suffer for even one more day.

Let began producing countless Visiok cells. Because they were part of him, he could control them flawlessly. Let's cell ruptured, dispersing innumerable Visiok cells everywhere.

The Visiok cells began consuming the goblin's DNA, sibling, and zygote. They quickly consumed this zygote and then proceeded to attack the other zygotes in the womb.

---

"Freya, this journey is very dangerous. You know that, right?"

"I know, but the neighboring village needs a healer. I need to take a bit of a risk. Besides, someone from the neighboring village will be with me, so it won't be that dangerous."

The elderly healer admired the determination in her apprentice's eyes. He, too, believed the journey wouldn't be so dangerous, yet he had a strange feeling. If Freya went to that village, he sensed that she would return as an entirely different person.

Freya packed the items she needed into her bag and set off with an elderly man from the neighboring village. The elderly man owned a horse-drawn carriage, so they traveled to the neighboring village in it, unaware that their journey would turn into a nightmare.

Everything changed when a group of goblins attacked them. In reality, they could have defeated the goblins, but a hobgoblin was among them. The goblins ambushed them, and the elderly man from the neighboring village sacrificed his life to give Freya a chance to escape.

Thinking she would be an open target on the path, Freya fled into the forest, but she accidentally stumbled upon the goblin lair in the vast forest. Exhausted, she became easy prey for the goblins after reaching their lair.

They tied Freya up and locked her with the other girls. One of the girls whispered, "There is no hope." Soon after, Let entered a sperm cell within Freya.