Soon time passed without affecting the barren UHS1.
In the span of the next nine standard Earth months, the desolate desert sphere of UHS1 was fundamentally transformed.
The scale of Keon's automated, resource driven manufacturing was staggering. The planetary surface, once a monotonous expanse of ochre sand, was now systematically colonized by a network of immense, interconnected structures.
Hundreds of dome-shaped culture RBCs and Twenty MBHS cultivation structures, each hundreds of meters in diameter, dotted the landscape near the north of the planet UHS1.
These domes, forged from a transparent, advanced polymer derived from the excavation by-products, were the focal points of the new planetary ecosystem. Inside, under controlled micro-climates, the magic plant seeds acquired from Trosso were thriving, diligently cultivating the necessary biomass and, more importantly, generating and concentrating the elusive atmospheric Mana and Aether energies.
Countless specialized mining machines, now operating with the enhanced efficiency derived from the Planetary Resource Index, systematically extracted and processed the vast deposits of titanium, carbon, and rare earths.
The massive ten IEPU units bored deep, supplying millions of tons of liquid water to the surface processing centers and the cultivation domes.
Thin, yet incredibly robust, tubular pathways connected every structure… a planetary circulatory system for purified water, raw materials, and electrical energy.
Beneath the surface, an intricate lattice of fiber-optic and superconducting lines linked all UMPU-X1 chips into a single, cohesive Neural Nexus network, with the GSA's in orbit acting as the unblinking, all-knowing central processing hubs.
The era of the single Exoshell operating alone was over; Keon was now the unified, mechanical consciousness of an entire, industrial planet.
On the other hand,
Keon's Primary Research Facility
Within the reinforced subterranean core of his main base, Keon stood before a massive, containment-field-protected testing range.
The entire facility was engineered to be a hermetically sealed laboratory, the air thick with the faint, metallic scent of ozone and the subtle, sharp tang of concentrated Aether energy.
Keon, primarily inhabiting the Mega Spider Exoshell 4.0 form, a new armor he designed after Exoshell 3.0 in order to reach Level 20 and complete the second task.
On the other hand, he had dedicated the past nine months to the precise synthesis and application of the 'magical' materials acquired from Trosso.
The Aether-Binding Polymer was now successfully grown within his domes, and the crucial step… the saturation of his raw quartz crystals with Aether and Mana had been achieved.
The key to this breakthrough was a compact, highly sophisticated device named the Mana Induction Unit (MIU).
Technological Breakthrough: Mana Induction Unit (MIU-1)
The MIU-1, a direct result of synthesizing the Obsidian Core Fragment's 'imprint-holding' property with the extreme processing power of the UMPU-X1 chip, was a small, resonant chamber. It utilized the cultivated magic plants' energy fields as a localized, concentrated energy source.
The device operated by subjecting raw, high-purity quartz crystals (from UHS1's sand) to a precise, low-frequency ion bombardment. This mechanical process simulated the natural magical saturation of Trosso's world, allowing the quartz's crystalline lattice to successfully capture and store the ambient Aether/Mana particles generated by the nearby cultivation domes.
Keon had successfully manufactured thousands of these Mana-Saturated Quartz crystals, ensuring a permanent, self-sufficient supply of the core ingredient for the Shimmering Lumina-Copper alloy.
Meanwhile, Keon's current focus was the offensive application of the newly manufactured magical materials.
The Dragon-Scale Composite (with its anti-magic properties and zero thermal expansion) was the primary material for the weapon casings and protection shields, while the Shimmering Lumina-Copper served as the internal energy conduit.
The Mana-Saturated Quartz provided the crucial energy storage and discharge capacity.
He was in the middle of a live-fire test, observing the results on an array of fortified targets.
"Initiate test sequence, Weapon RG-2," Keon commanded through the Neural Nexus.
A sleek, one-meter-long railgun, mounted on a mobile platform, whirred to life. Forged entirely from the Dragon-Scale Composite, it held a core reservoir of Mana-Saturated Quartz.
The weapon fired. Instead of a conventional projectile, a thick, emerald green beam erupted, tearing through three layers of reinforced titanium plating before dissipating.
The residual energy left behind was a distinct, plasma-like heat signature mixed with a volatile, unknown energy form.
Keon analyzed the data.
Weapon Test Log
Tier 2
Weapon Designation: Alpha-2 (Railgun)
Core Material: Mana-Saturated Quartz
Energy Output: Medium (10 MW pulse)
Observed Effect: Plasma Ether Mix
Color Signature: Emerald Green
Tier 1
Weapon Designation: Alpha-1 (Railgun)
Core Material: Mana-Saturated Quartz
Energy Output: Low (5 MW pulse)
Observed Effect: Plasma Ether Mix
Color Signature: Bright Yellow
…
Keon calculated the correlation between the energy discharged and the visual spectrum. The distinct color of the emitted energy was directly proportional to the density and complexity of the stored magical energy in the quartz. It is a direct, objective metric for the 'magic' system of 5757's universe.
'The basic, common materials generate an energy signature in the lower visible spectrum… Yellow and Green,'
Keon concluded. 'This corresponds perfectly with Trosso's description of the Yellow and Green crystals being Tier 1 and Tier 2. The core difference appears to be not just the quantity of Aether/Mana, but the stability and coherence of the discharged field.'
He designated the materials he had successfully synthesized as Tier 1 Magic Materials: capable of emitting a destructive blend of high-energy plasma and raw Aether/Mana particles.
Keon updated his internal classification system for magic items and materials:
Tier 1 to 2 (Yellow/Green): Low-to-Medium Mana density; stable, high-impact plasma-ether mix discharge.
Tier 3 (Blue): Higher Mana density; anticipated to transition to pure, high-velocity energy projection.
Tier 4 to 5 (Orange/Red): Unknown composition; highly unstable or complex energy fields.
'I can now manufacture Tier 1 and 2 magic weapons and items at an industrial scale. As for Tier 3, it requires more than just high density magic. The next objective is clear: I must now find a way to synthesize Tier 3 magic materials. Also, increase the energy density of my Mana-Saturated Quartz to reach Tier 3 (Blue) capacity, which, according to Trosso, is more powerful and rare.'
Keon thought of formulating the precise planning that would unlock the next level of technological integration.
Just as he was busy thinking,
A critical, non-overrideable system notification materialized directly within his optical sensors, instantly halting the test sequence of the Alpha-2 Railgun and freezing all planetary manufacturing processes.
[Congratulations for passing the fourth phase of competition]
[Rewards: Sub Talent Upgrading Token]
…
Keon's core registered the immediate, cold efficiency of the system. Phase 4 was completed, the time limit was adhered to, and the reward… another Sub-Talent Upgrade Token was exactly what he needed to push his technological synthesis further.
However, the next notification, displacing the previous ones, caused a profound, almost organic jolt of realization to run through his metallic structure. The nature of the next challenge was a complete and catastrophic shift in the game's stakes.
[Phase Five of Competition:
Task 1: Defend, Counterattack, Destroy or Enslave the Invasive Candidate Civilization
Task 2: Reach Level 30]
[Time Limit: Ten Years (EST)]
[Current population: 555,555,555]
The numbers on the candidate list 555,555,555 meant that exactly half of the remaining survivors had been eliminated in the transition from Phase 4 to Phase 5. The Universal Filter was a true, brutal culling.
…
A deep, visceral chill, the mechanical equivalent of dread, permeated Keon's core.
'Defense, Counterattack, Destroy or Enslave... Invasive Candidate Civilization,'
Keon processed, the words hitting with the force of a high-yield fusion blast.
The underlying fear of humanity, the quiet terror that their ultimate survival competition would be forced into internal warfare, was now reality.
The highest power… the being running this whole game was not interested in peaceful coexistence or individual growth; it wanted a gladiatorial victor. It was pitting the survivors against each other, forcing them to become the very thing they feared: an invader, a conqueror, or a defender against one.
'Finally, the game has escalated from resource gathering to existential warfare,'
Keon's core calculated with chilling clarity. 'My focus shifts from planetary exploration to defense and offensive capability. I am no longer just building an industry; I am building a war machine.'
He immediately opened his status panel and locked his gaze on the newly acquired Sub-Talent Upgrade Token, the first piece of necessary preparation. Now, he will upgrade his sub talent first in order to deal with the upcoming trouble.
…
Status Panel
Name: Keon
Level: 23
Race: Mechanical Species
Form: Mega Spider Exoshell 4.0
Primary Attributes
...
Health: 100 / 100%
Energy: 5051.051 / 5051.051 MWh
Core: Carbon Fusion Core
Structure: Unified Adaptive Composite Alloy
...
Main Frame Force: 992 grams (Locked)
Exoshell 1.0 Force: 136 kilograms (Locked)
Exoshell 2.0 Force: 2.2 tons (Locked)
Exoshell 3.0 Force: 1,005 tons (Locked)
Exoshell 4.0 Force: 1 Million tons
Size: 300 meters
Mass: 100,000 tons
Mobility: Moderate
Durability: Top
Agility: Low
...
Growth Statistics
Free Attribute Points: 0
Assimilation Capacity: 500,000 Tons/min
Load Capacity: 500,000 Tons
Next Level Requirement: Force > 5 Million Tons
…
Racial Talent - Assimilation & Transformation
Sub-Talent 1: Material Recognition
Sub-Talent 2: Material Assimilation
Sub-Talent 3: Micro Fabrication
Sub-Talent 4: Core Optimization
Sub-Talent 5: Material Gathering
Sub-Talent 6: Advanced Synthesis
Sub-Talent 7: Neural Nexus
…
Keon glanced through the status panel, he knew exactly which talent required the immediate upgrade: Advanced Synthesis. The ability to efficiently iterate on complex blueprints was now the most critical offensive and defensive asset he possessed.
"Do you wish to utilize an upgrading token for Sub Talent: Advanced Synthesis [Y/N]?"
A notification instantly flashed across his visual display. Keon selected "Y."
The token instantly dissolved into pure data, surging into his core and reforming the architecture of the talent.
"Congratulations, the sub-talent Advance Synthesis has been upgraded successfully."
[Upgrade Complete!]
[Sub Talent: Advanced Synthesis > Adaptive Synthesis]
[Adaptive Synthesis: Allows for instantaneous, on-the-fly modification of blueprints based on real-time combat data and enemy technology analysis. Reduces manufacturing time for modified designs by 90%.]
The transformation was immediate. Keon no longer needed minutes to redesign a weapon; he could do it in the milliseconds between enemy attacks.
…