The Tai Sui God's armor stalled at 2.5. It was 0.5 points short of its next evolution.
Although it didn't evolve to gain a new module slot, all of its SSS-grade modules had their power slightly enhanced.
Qi Suian was finally starting to understand. The effects of evolution weren't something that only kicked in upon completion. Rather, any increase in armor value strengthened the modules.
Only when the armor value—that is, the Tai Sui God's overall strength—reached a level high enough to support a new SSS-grade module would it officially count as an evolution.
Therefore, the further it progressed, the more armor each evolution required. Carrying more SSS-grade modules meant the Tai Sui God was more powerful, and it needed a stronger base to support them.
The entire evolutionary process wasn't a sudden qualitative leap after accumulating enough energy, but a gradual, step-by-step metamorphosis.
"If I raise the armor value, will that increase the Tai Sui God's overall strength and guarantee the modules can perform at their full potential?"
Qi Suian asked again. The AI was thinking long-term, suggesting that armor would increase naturally, so there was no need to waste a module slot. But for Qi Suian, this was a matter of survival.
That was why he planned to use the "Hard Rock Type 03 Alloy" as his next module.
'I can always replace it later if a better module comes along.'
[Calculations indicate it will not enhance module power. It will only serve to increase the Tai Sui God's defense.]
[Armor value can be considered a progress marker for evolution, but not the evolution itself. This pertains to the Tai Sui God's internal evolution core program.]
[Do you wish to view the core program?]
"No." 'What would be the point?' Qi Suian thought. 'I wouldn't understand it anyway.' He then asked, "If I use the Hard Rock Type 03 Alloy as a module, what effect will it have?"
[You can dismantle the SSS·Interstellar Psionic Floating Cannon Swarm and install the Hard Rock Type 03 Alloy into the module slot to view its effects.]
Qi Suian fell silent at the AI's response.
'I completely forgot you could swap these things out.'
Not everything was swappable, of course. For example, the Chaotic Quantum System and the Supernova Strong Nuclear Reactor could technically be removed, but you couldn't actually operate without them.
Without those two, the Tai Sui God would be completely immobile—impossible to even activate.
Qi Suian gave it a try and soon saw the new module's name.
[SSS·Artificial Crystal Vein Alloy]
'Not a bad name.' He opened the Tai Sui God's stat panel and immediately noticed a difference.
[Armor: 2.5 (+2.5)]
There was now an additional value next to the armor stat. He had the AI analyze it and, after a comparison, figured out that the new module provided an extra one-hundred-percent armor bonus.
"A percentage-based boost. Not bad at all."
It was admittedly weaker than a flat bonus in the early stages, but the higher the base value, the more significant the returns from a percentage boost became.
"Speaking of which, can I swap these two modules on the fly? Like, only switch from the alloy to the Floating Cannons when I run into a really tough enemy?"
"Also, if I get my hands on more of that synthetic metal, can I stack the armor percentage bonus?"
Qi Suian asked.
'What was that? The original plan was to round out the Tai Sui God's various modules?'
'Normally, yes. But if you can abuse a bug, why bother getting stronger the conventional way?'
'One alloy module gives a 100% bonus. What about three? Or five?'
The bonus would double, then double again, and again. Two would become four, four would become eight, eight would become sixteen...
If he stacked ten Artificial Crystal Vein Alloys, his 2.5 armor would get a 2,560-point boost. If this theory held, the bonus from the module itself would keep doubling with each stack.
Unfortunately, the AI threw a bucket of cold water on his idea.
[Stacking is possible, but the bonus applies only to base armor. It does not apply to bonus armor.]
In other words, even if Qi Suian installed ten alloy modules, the end result would only be 2.5 multiplied by 10.
So much for abusing that bug.
"Well, forget it then," Qi Suian sighed. 'What a total waste.'
Then again, even if it were possible, the Tai Sui God probably couldn't handle that many stacks anyway.
[Recommendation: Prioritize the SSS·Interstellar Psionic Floating Cannon Swarm. An additional 2.5 armor is not enough to provide adequate protection.]
[In contrast, the Floating Cannons provide superior flexibility.]
The AI offered its advice once more.
Hearing this, Qi Suian ultimately swapped the alloy back out for the Floating Cannons.
'I'm not the one doing the fighting. I might as well listen to the AI, the combat expert.'
[The enemy's fighter jet has been commandeered. Do you wish to view its data?]
Qi Suian paused at that. "A fighter jet?"
[Correct. If you wish, you can take the fighter jet to Watchman Dawn's island headquarters.]
[The AI will pilot it for you.]
However, Qi Suian wasn't thinking that far ahead just yet.
"According to the intel you just provided, Watchman Dawn's ranks clearly include cyborgs, genetically enhanced individuals, and the like. Our Floating Cannons' limited bag of tricks probably won't be enough, right?"
And what about swapping to the SSS·Artificial Crystal Vein Alloy after a fight? 2.5 armor couldn't even stop a handgun bullet. A single headshot and Qi Suian would be forced to watch a thirty-second ad.
If he took a bullet to the chest, he wouldn't be able to handle the pain.
And that was just handgun rounds. There were far more powerful firearms out there.
And when Qi Suian mentioned handguns, he wasn't talking about something like a Desert Eagle, but a standard police-issue sidearm.
[Control can be established via network intrusion, and by...]
"What's the success rate?" Qi Suian cut the AI off, not waiting to hear the rest.
[Fifty percent. Even in the event of failure, a complete withdrawal is guaranteed.]
The AI sounded completely confident.
Hearing that, Qi Suian decided it was better to play it safe.
If he had ten evolutions under his belt, Qi Suian would have gambled on those odds. But he'd only been through one so far.
"How big is the fighter jet? Can it fit inside the Subspace Pocket?" Qi Suian asked.
[The Subspace Pocket cannot currently accommodate the fighter jet.]
The AI's reply was blunt.
"Then find a place to stash the jet," Qi Suian said.
'It's my only ride to the island, after all.'
The AI immediately began to carry out the order, while Qi Suian pondered how things had escalated to this point.
As he replayed the events in his mind, Qi Suian pinpointed the source of the problem.
"I insulted the guy's mother, so he sent people to kill me."
"Wait, why the hell did I insult his mother???" Qi Suian was completely baffled.
Then it hit him. "Oh, shit. My intelligence was nerfed..."
He wasn't the type to curse, let alone insult someone's mother.
It seemed the Celestial Fate: Profound he was carrying had definitely nerfed his intelligence, and in the process, had nerfed his opponent's as well.
And that's how things ended up like this.
"So, does this mean there's some kind of destined opportunity for me at Watchman Dawn's island headquarters?"
"Wait, I get nerfing the enemy's intelligence, but why the hell did you have to nerf mine too???"