Chapter 305: Chapter 288: Give it a Shot! (2/3)
[Aether Crystal Dragon (Transcendent Species)]
[First Energy LevelĀ·Larval FormĀ·CoreĀ·Edible]
[Bio-engineered as a weapon of biological warfare through multiple artificial modifications, although it requires an extremely long growth period, once equipped with a āSparkā, it can rapidly undergo metamorphosis. Initially designed to counter potential extraterrestrial ecological threats and to escort in space battles, but it is only a prototype and many critical modules are yet to be completed]
[By bathing in radiation, after a prolonged period of natural evolution, it can accommodate a āSparkā, achieving self-optimization]
[This war-life form is replicated from the endangered cosmic species protected by the Terra Starfield civilization, the āEther Titan Dragonā (also known as Ether Stardust Dragon), which doesnāt possess the originalās inconceivable powers, but holds considerable potential]
[Contained Primordial Essence: 25239.9425 basic units]
[...]
"So, the entire Crystal Dragon line are all artificial biological tools, even including a weapon of war?!"
Ian was utterly shocked. This was probably the highest level evaluation he had come across since obtaining the Silver Chipāboth the term āTranscendent Speciesā and the classification of having a āCoreā at the First Energy Level were uncharted territories he had never encountered before.
And the subsequent āEther Titan Dragonā or whatnot āEther Stardust Dragonā were clearly another form of extraterrestrial life... or even cosmic life.
Ian wasnāt sure what Power Level an Ether Titan Dragon held, but instinct told him that if a species could survive in the universe on its own, it would start at the Fourth... no, the Fifth Energy Level.
Even such an Ether Titan Dragon was listed as āendangeredā in the core chipās introduction...
"This is also the first time Iāve seen a First Energy Level creature with over ten thousand basic units of Origin Quality... Although the Brain-Eater Matron is an elite unit, it only has a little over three thousand... Indeed, the āSparkā is within it!"
Ian still wasnāt very clear on how to calculate Origin Quality because in the Silver Chip, the Aether Crystal Dragonās Primordial Essence was still skyrocketingāsoaring, surging, explodingāit was clearly entering āoverload modeā, starting to extract energy from the Spark Engine for battle.
The Crystal Dragon line, in ancient times, was probably used to carry Sparks as biological weapons... But why must it be biological?
"Could it be that the Oberla civilizationās Spark Starship is actually a biological spaceship?!"
He could hypothesize further later, as there was no spare time now.
"The sneak attack can stop for now."
Ian took out four sets of Alchemical Powder Bags from his pack and said solemnly, "Now is a rare opportunity, and I must go and blow up the Worm Nest."
"Why is it necessary to blow up the Worm Nest?"
Yisen Gard asked perplexedly, "At first, I thought you wanted to eradicate the Brain-Eating Worm Nest to prevent ecological disaster, but now that there is the Crystal Dragon fighting the matriarch, couldnāt we just wait for an opportunity to severely injure the matriarch and then leave?"
"Without the matriarch, this group of Brain-Eating Parasites will surely perish! The Crystal Dragon will probably help us finish them all off."
He did not know that the existence of the Worm Nest itself was the root cause of the impasse in the interchange of the cold-water area, so he did not understand Ianās true purpose in wanting to solve the Worm Nest issue.
Of course, what Yisen Gard said was not wrong, and after eliminating the Brain-Devouring Matriarch, they could do whatever they wanted, and indeed the Worm Nest could be dealt with later.
But the problem was that now, as these two monsters fought, Ian couldnāt be sure whom he would hit.
The Brain-Devouring Matriarch now clung to the Crystal Dragon like an octopus, and its body emitted radiation and high heat, rendering the Crystal Dragonās own heat not very effective. They were entangled together, and even with Foresight View, there was nothing he could do.
Besides, observing for a few seconds was okay, but if he observed for too long, he would definitely suffer from an overload of Spirit Energy.
"Mainly because the Worm Nest is so big, these four packs of explosives arenāt that useful."
Master Gossay also frowned, seemingly contemplating a method: "I do have a way to increase the potency of the explosives... "
"No need," Ian shook his head.
Despite the Worm Nestās large size, resembling a small hill, it was actually full of flaws in the Foresight View and the Silver Chip, with various structural vulnerabilities. It was only wedged in the interchange mouth. If it werenāt for the Brain-Eater Matron constantly repairing it, it might have collapsed in a few decades.
In the center of the pale blue Worm Nest was even a gray spot, which was likely its weak point.
If there were explosives, it would only need a few cracks in key areas to make it quickly collapse on its own.
However, just then, the Gargantuan Eel started to move.
The previously unconscious Gargantuan Eel opened its eyes, and a blue-green Spirit Energy Halo circulated in the depths of its iris. Many wounds covered its body, clearly the marks left from its previous battle with the Parasite Swarm.
But now, it was very silent, docile, not at all like the fury it displayed while chasing after Ian and Shasha before. The Gargantuan Eel coiled its body up, its black and blue form taut, resembling an indestructible Great Wall forged from iron, radiating immense power.
However, compared to its unshakable body, its demeanor was extremely perplexed, as if it had just learned to control the body, stretching for a while before it learned to swim.
This immense creature headed toward the battlefield where the Brain-Eater Matron and the Crystal Dragon were engaged, seemingly wanting to join the fight.
"The Brain-Eater Matron has taken control of the Gargantuan Eelās body?"
Ianās gaze sharpened as he realized this point. Although it wasnāt fully parasitized, by leveraging the previously connected neural network of the Brain-Eating Parasite, the enemy had forcibly connected the Gargantuan Eel to the Spirit Energy Network, suppressing the Gargantuan Eelās native consciousness.
This situation was far more serious than what Master Gossay had initially suffered. Master Gossay had only been affected by a wave of residual Spirit Energy. After regaining his self-will, he quickly repelled other peopleās Spirit Energy, which is an instinct of any life form.
But the Brain-Eating Parasite had already become inseparable from the Gargantuan Eel, with just one final step away from becoming a Parasitic Beast... truly accepting a sufficiently strong host to replace its brain.
But for now, the Spirit Energy control was adequate.
The Gargantuan Eel charged into the battlefield where the Crystal Dragon and the Brain-Eater Matron were fighting, further complicating the situationā originally, the Crystal Dragon could confront the Brain-Eater Matron head-on, relying on the āSparkā within its body that provided a relentless flow of formidable power, as well as its excellent design as a war weapon. But the gap between the Second and First Power Levels always existed. Not to mention, having more sublimation organs and a higher quality of Origin Quality could overturn the natural gap between them.
With the addition of the Gargantuan Eel, the Crystal Dragon was suppressed.
Leveraging a reminder far larger than the Crystal Dragon, this Behemoth directly entangled both the Brain-Eater Matron and the Crystal Dragonāwhile the Brain-Eater Matron was a soft-bodied creature, the Crystal Dragon was not. Under the immense force exerted by the Gargantuan Eel, the Crystal Dragon let out a painful howl.
It was nearly crushed, its exoskeleton and bones breaking. Even though it spewed out steaming jets of high-temperature steam mixed with thunder and flame, blasting large flesh wounds onto the Gargantuan Eelās body and exposing its bones, the latter remained unaffected.
Anyway, that wasnāt the Brain-Eater Matronās body, and whether such soft-bodied creatures have pain receptors is debatable.
But this gave Ian an opportunity.
The Gargantuan Eel, the Brain-Eater Matron, and the Crystal Dragon were all fixed in one place, no longer tumbling and grappling as before.
"Quick! Now is the time!"
Master Gossay and Yisen Gard had already set up the cannon, while Ian activated the Foresight View and the Silver Chip, enduring the physical drain brought on by simultaneously observing three Magical Beasts stronger than himself. He aligned the cannonās muzzle.
Once the trajectory calculation of the Silver Chip was complete, he commanded, "Hereāfire!"
Boom!
A cannon roared, thunder exploded. Though amidst the chaotic and raucous situation, the sound of the Alchemical Cannon firing was indeed insignificant, the power of the cannon was not to be underestimated.
Bang! The head of the Gargantuan Eel, entangled with the others, shuddered violently. Its massive body trembled spasmodically and then began convulsing violently, flailing about as if a giant salted fish had been hooked and was struggling to return to the sea.
Ian had discerned its weak point, knowing that shocking the Gargantuan Eelās head could temporarily free it from the Brain-Eater Matronās control. And indeed, as the Gargantuan Eel struggled in pain, both the Crystal Dragon and the Brain-Eater Matron were released from their constraints.
This time, the Brain-Eater Matron had miscalculated.