[Calculating… Please wait while we make adjustments.]
Another screen appeared in front of Ben.
This one let him change the color and appearance of the creature.
He could even adjust proportions, like making one hand thicker than the other.
He only changed the color to jet black.
[Processing… Making final adjustments and calculating the final cost…
… … …]
"The hell, why is it taking so long?" Ben said.
Until now, the interface had been smooth and fast.
It turned out the system also had something it was bad at, like math.
"What's taking so long?"
Ben frowned and then realized Elvira was sitting right in front of him.
She watched him quietly, waiting for him to finish.
"Creature creation system," he said.
"I can make my own species under me."
Elvira's eyes lit up.
"For real?
Tell me in detail."
With Hive Mind and this ability, they could build their own army.
Ben did not hide anything.
Forced or not, they were in the same boat now.
The more she listened, the more excited Elvira became.
"Forget that power armor!
My beloved, we should just hunt down creatures and raise our own army!
As long as we have enough time, we will be invincible with this ability!"
"Me, not we.
And who knows what kind of limitations it has.
I doubt it is that easy to gain new body parts."
[Ding! Calculation completed, sorry for the long wait. Many adjustments need to be made.
Final cost: creature complexity 11, mana cost 367.5 rounded up to 400.
Biomass costs 275.6, rounded up to 300.
System is not good at math, so please do not blame the system for the rounded up numbers.]
[Please give your creature a new name…
*At the moment, host can only save three creatures, and each design cannot be removed.]
"My beloved, do not be like that.
What is mine is yours, and the reverse too.
Both of us are one now." Elvira moved closer and hugged him tightly.
Ben ignored her for the moment.
The system message annoyed him.
'What the hell is this roundup?
This is a scam.'
The difference was only a few dozen points each time, but it meant that for every ten or so creatures, he would lose one.
'Does this system hear what I think?'
[Ding! System cannot hear your thoughts.]
'Just think of it as paying tax, sir Ben.'
Ben's lips twitched.
He was sure the last line had been a voice, not a normal notification.
'Taxes?
Dammit, there are taxes everywhere.
Even a system asks me to pay tax.'
He wanted to continue cursing, even with his changed personality.
Tax touched a deep grievance in him.
In his last world, it felt like everything was taxed.
His income was taxed even though it barely paid the bills.
Eating was taxed.
Buying anything was taxed.
Cigarettes were taxed.
Even his medical bills had tax on them.
Still, the important point now was the voice.
'System, you can speak?'
No matter how many times he tried after that, the system did not answer again.
"What is wrong?" Elvira asked.
Ben looked at her, confused.
"How could you tell I am annoyed?"
"We are bound in soul, of course I could tell," she said in a flirty tone.
Ben thought she was only half serious.
It was probably related to some Aetheris racial ability or a unique skill.
"Nothing much," he said.
"Rather than that, I finished creating my creature.
I just need to name it now.
Do you have any idea?"
He had thought of some names, but every one of them would offend some copyright somewhere.
One of them even started with a Z.
"Can you tell me what kind of creature you made?" she asked.
Ben used his crafting ability and shaped a small figure out of rock.
He kept going and made almost a hundred of them.
Elvira's eyes widened.
"Why so many?" she asked while she studied one of the figures.
Ben was also surprised by the result.
The little statue was very detailed, even better than what he had imagined in his head.
"Creating one or two still uses one full stone block," he said.
"So I might as well make a lot."
"You know, with this we can start a statue-selling business," Elvira said.
"I am sure we could get rich easily, hehe."
"Stop joking.
So, do you have a good name?"
"Hey, I am not joking.
In this area, maybe we only need violence.
But up there, near the surface, we need more than strength." She looked at him.
"I am sure you understand."
"That is for later.
Just focus on now," Ben said with a short huff.
He disliked politics.
To him, politics meant double-faced people, lies, and scams.
"Yes, yes, my beloved… how about we name this one Bloodling?"
"Bloodling?
Why?"
"There is a creature with a similar look in the future," she said.
"The only difference is that its body is crimson, but the rest is similar."
"Hmm.
Then let us name it Blackling." Ben nodded to himself.
Elvira stared at him, speechless.
"So you were not lying.
You really are bad at giving names," she said.
Ben's lips twitched.
"Then give me another one," he said.
"Do you think Bloodling is any good?
The creature is black."
"Well, you carved it from stone.
Even if it is detailed, I did not know its color."
Elvira went quiet and thought seriously this time.
Then her eyes lit up.
"How about we call all your creations Krell?
Then you just add a title behind it for different types."
"Krell… Krell…" Ben repeated it a few times.
"That is a good name.
Does it mean anything?"
"Yes," she said.
"Krell is the name of an ancient species, just like humans.
It is said they invaded the planet and turned everything upside down."
"They came in legions, had high regeneration, and were very strong."
"That is a suitable name then," Ben said.
"Alright.
I decided.
I will name this one Krell Scout."
"A scout?" she asked.
"Yes.
It is my first creation, so who knows how strong it is."
"Can you modify your creation?" Elvira asked.
"No.
It is final."
"Let me try to make one."
Ben raised his palm and tried to use his skill.
[Error… not enough mana.]
'Dammit, I forgot I spent all my mana.'
[Name: Ben Jay Vlontera
Class: Hivemind Sovereign, Builder
Species: $%er$%er
Condition: 100% (perfectly healthy)
Mana: 0/250]
'Hivemind Sovereign is a class?
Then what is my species?'