Chapter 87: Heart and Blood
Within Logan's blood vessels, a vast network of silk proteins had already been interwoven. This unique structure acted like high-pressure hydraulic lines—rubber-encased steel wires capable of withstanding immense pressure.
However, as his blood became as viscous as liquid mercury, his previously outstanding vascular structure began to feel inadequate. Thus, as the familiar warm current surged through him, the blood vessels began to thicken and widen, gradually evolving into a multi-layered composite. Tiny carbon nanotube-like structures even began to manifest within them.
As the vessels gained the capacity to handle greater pressure, the heart was bound to change along with them.
As the most powerful muscle in any living organism, the heart is the power source of life's circulation. It holds extraordinary significance and has been bestowed with countless beautiful symbols by humanity.
Yet, stripping away the external metaphors, what is its essence? It can be viewed essentially as a compressor that forces liquid to flow—a structure that isn't overly complex, consisting merely of a few simple chambers and one-way valves, much like a foot-operated pump used to inflate balloons.
But such efficiency was truly too low. A healthy adult human male, when not exercising vigorously, pumps about five liters of blood per minute—roughly equivalent to five large bottles of soda. While sufficient for ordinary creatures, it was severely lacking for a colossal behemoth like Logan.
So, as the familiar warm current resurfaced, the heart inside Logan's body immediately began its transformation.
First, its position shifted to the very center of his chest. The original conical structure evolved into a cylindrical spiral, appearing as if several thick steel cables had been twisted and wound together.
Massive bundles of nerves extended from all directions, wrapping around the thick vessels of the spiral heart layer after layer, looking like the dense copper coils found inside an electric motor.
As Logan's bio-electric organs began to function, current flowed through these dense nerve coils. A forward-pushing magnetic force was instantly generated, driving the blood—which was magnetic due to its high concentration of metallic elements—to flow forward at high velocity. The principle was almost identical to a railgun, except the "bore" was filled with flowing blood rather than metal projectiles.
Furthermore, while the current propelled the blood, the spiral heart contracted and expanded in synchronization, much like a thick towel being constantly wrung and squeezed to pump massive amounts of blood.
Under the dual action of bio-electric energy, the blood flow velocity within Logan reached an exaggerated degree. If one listened closely, they could even hear a sound like a surging river.
Only such terrifying circulatory efficiency could satisfy the enormous energy demands of a giant beast like Logan.
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As another morning quietly arrived, the lush Coral Highlands were bathed in sunlight, reflecting a kaleidoscopic and wondrous scene. A Shamos crawled slowly out of the soft coral bushes by the river, its plump, anglerfish-like body wiggling as its short, thick fins carried it onto a protruding reef to lazily bask in the sun.
As an amphibian, it primarily relied on the bioluminescent organ dangling from its head to lure Flying Medusae for food at night. After being busy all night, it was currently too lethargic to move.
But a sudden sound of footsteps startled it. The Shamos turned to look, only to see several furry figures emerging from the depths of a cave. Its fins pushed off the ground with a sudden burst of strength, and with a "plop," it leaped into the nearby water.
A few Grimalkynes walked out of the semi-open grotto. Unlike their kin in the Wildspire Waste or the Ancient Forest, their fur was dark green with white bellies, while their limbs, the tips of their tails, and their pointed ears were a vibrant red.
Just as the Grimalkynes of the Ancient Forest excelled at taming and controlling insects, and those of the Wildspire Waste specialized in combat, the Grimalkynes of the Coral Highlands lived a different life. Due to the abundance of shellfish providing a steady food supply—and the fact that most monsters here could fly—these Grimalkynes had more leisure time. This allowed them to develop a unique musical talent and effective long-range weaponry.
They carried baskets woven from algae on their backs and held self-made small bows and arrows, while their front paws gripped sharp spears. However, this gear wasn't for hunting monsters like Barnos; it was used for catching fish and gathering barnacles and abalones that had adapted to life on land.
After all, compared to dangerous monsters, capturing these things was much easier.
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Several "cats" followed the river downstream and suddenly discovered a large puddle on the beach. They looked at each other and began to communicate with meows.
"When did this appear, meow? Was it here when we passed by before, meow?"
"I don't think so, meow!"
"Let's go take a look, meow!"
As they drew closer, several large fish came into view through the clear water. Under the sunlight, their silver scales shimmered with ripples of light, looking exceptionally beautiful.
This discovery instantly excited them. After cautiously observing the surroundings and confirming there was no danger, they immediately surrounded the pool.
One of the Grimalkynes glanced at the stones arranged in a V-shape at the inlet, feeling that it looked like a deliberate design by another creature. But would monsters make such traps? Likely not. As for other intelligent beings, they had lived nearby for a long time and had never seen any.
Perhaps other members of the tribe made it, the cat thought. If we take the fish back to share with everyone, they probably won't object.
Thinking this, the Grimalkyne quickly dismissed its doubts. It tied a long rope to the end of its spear, aimed at one of the large fish, and threw it with all its might.
As Lynians, they—like the humans of this world—possessed immense strength disproportionate to their size. Though they stood less than a meter tall, their limb strength was at least a hundred pounds. With training, it could reach several hundred, enough to swing a heavy Great Sword.
The spear whistled through the air, and its sharp tip, ground from bone, plunged into the body of a silver fish. This was a species that hadn't developed mineralized scales, instead evolving a sleek body for high-speed swimming.
The wounded silver fish struggled desperately in the water, its blood dyeing the pool a pale red. Soon, its struggles weakened, and it was pulled ashore by the Grimalkynes.
Just as they were cheering over their catch, they failed to notice a pair of eyes that had been watching them from a distance the entire time.
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