Chapter 12 Transformation

After seeing the three options displayed on the panel.

Chen Ming understood that the appearance of the [Transformation] option was indeed related to the book he had read before.

These three options were all contents from the book titled "Spacecraft Conversion Manual" that Chen Ming had seen.

[High-strength Lens], [Energy Gathering Ring], and [Wave Oscillation] were all examples listed in the book, and Chen Ming happened to see them, memorized them, and ultimately became one of the transformation options.

These three transformation options, like repair, only needed to prepare materials and click the transformation button, and the panel would automatically complete all subsequent work.

As for the actual effects of these transformations.

Chen Ming remembered that [Wave Oscillation] was a modification of the mining laser’s emitter, which could enlarge the laser beam size and slightly enhance the mining laser’s extraction efficiency.

[Energy Gathering Ring] modified the laser restraint device next to the emitter.

It restricted the energy that scattered when the laser was fired, slightly increasing the laser’s intensity while saving power consumption during laser activation.

Saving a little bit each time might not be noticeable, but accumulating over time, it was very valuable if Chen Ming couldn’t get fuel supply for a long time.

And [High-strength Lens], Chen Ming remembered, was a modification of the mining laser’s most crucial component, the laser lens.

It could greatly enhance the range and intensity of the mining laser.

If he wanted to collect this sky-blue ore, higher laser intensity was definitely indispensable.

But when Chen Ming looked at the materials required for transformation, he somewhat wanted to give up.

Those ordinary metal materials weren’t a big deal, but there was one thing that Chen Ming absolutely couldn’t obtain right now.

A complete high-strength laser lens.

The places that Chen Ming currently knew with high-strength laser lenses were two: the Human World half a light-year away, and the Mining Space Station right in front of him.

"Isn’t this a joke."

The place where high-strength laser lenses and similar components were stored on the Space Station was definitely next to the mining area, the storage area. Going there was as good as asking for death.

Wait a minute.

Chen Ming suddenly remembered that the Space Station’s dock often took on ship repair tasks, so a small warehouse seemed to be set up nearby to store some materials and parts for ship repairs.

There might just be the lens he needed in this small warehouse.

Looking at it this way, it seemed like trying to take it wasn’t impossible.

Chen Ming looked at the time on the terminal; it was seven o’clock in the evening.

If he was fast enough, he should have enough time to get it before the break time.

Should he give it a try?

It had been a day and a half since he left the Space Station; the Insect Race should be quiet by now.

And this transformation requiring a high-strength laser lens wasn’t just effective on that dark blue ore.

It’s also crucial for Chen Ming’s future mineral collection, as higher laser intensity meant faster extraction efficiency.

Chen Ming weighed the pros and cons in his mind, and eventually decided to go.

As for the momentarily unfeasible ore extraction.

Chen Ming planned to use the towing device to drag it back to the Space Station.

Although the overall volume of this dark blue ore was about half a person, its shape was very irregular.

So much so that its narrowest part was significantly wider than the spaceship’s hatch, making it impossible to fit into the spaceship.

Insufficient mining laser intensity also prevented cutting it.

If left here, who knew if he’d find it again next time, so he could only use this method to drag it back first.

Having figured out what to do, Chen Ming moved quickly.

Soon he brought the ore back to the vicinity of the Space Station.

However, unlike before, Chen Ming didn’t keep his distance from the Space Station, but continued flying towards the living area where he awoke.

Chen Ming remembered seeing many holes and damages in the buildings here when he first woke up.

It’s the same now.

Chen Ming could even see through these damages and holes, the insects inside the living area seemingly attracted by the spaceship’s activity.

The method he thought of earlier for sneaking in quietly seemed to have some problems if he wanted to execute it.

Chen Ming didn’t immediately consider alternative methods, given that his initial plan to fetch high-strength laser lenses from the now active Insect Race Space Station was thwarted, nor did he bother with the insects.

Instead, he looked around and found an adequately sized gap, into which he wedged the dark blue ore the spaceship was towing.

As long as the Space Station was there, the ore would be there too, eliminating the worry of losing it.

After securing the ore, Chen Ming turned the ship’s direction towards the corridor of the living area exposed due to building damages, where insects were crowding together.

Immediately, the two machine guns on the ship’s sides began firing.

The bullets poured out, shattering all the insects exposed within the firing range, before gradually ceasing.

Watching their bodies quickly being devoured by the nearby insects that arrived again, Chen Ming couldn’t help but recall his appearance while being hunted two days ago.

Chen Ming chuckled, once again unleashing over two hundred bullets at these insects, turning the second batch into fragments.

Seeing more insects approaching from afar in the Space Station, Chen Ming couldn’t help but marvel at the exaggerated number of insects and chose not to linger, controlling the spaceship to move away from the Space Station.

Only when the Space Station was out of sight of the ship’s camera did the spaceship stop.

But immediately, Chen Ming changed direction, making a sharp turn, heading towards the other side of the Space Station.

Chen Ming had just chosen to shoot at the insects proactively, apart from venting his anger, with another intention.

It was to attract all the insects from other parts of the Space Station to the living area.

Because the dock he was about to go to was directly opposite the living area, located at the two ends of the Space Station.

With insects gathered at the living area, he could search for things at the dock more safely.

His initial idea of sneaking in without alerting the insects and leaving after grabbing the items overturned when the insects discovered the spaceship the moment it approached the Space Station.

So Chen Ming decided to improvise, utilizing the insects’ keen perception to draw them from every corner of the Space Station.

As for whether this impromptu plan was effective...

The spaceship soon approached the Space Station once again.

This time, the insects attracted to the living area didn’t discover Chen Ming’s presence.

It seemed his idea was indeed effective.

Chen Ming put on his protective suit, chose not to approach the dock with the spaceship directly, but stayed a certain distance from the Space Station.

After repeatedly confirming that there was no presence of insects or other strange activities at his target location.

Chen Ming opened the hatch, stood on the edge of the door, and leaped toward the Space Station.