Chapter 4, Evolution

Lin first let two conical cells go up, leaving one behind, as Lin did not want to end up dead like last time

Thus, Lin planned to use this new cell to interact with those strange cells and see what happens

Perhaps these liquids can be consumed

What is this phenomenon called

Since this is the case

However, Lin discovered a problem; it no longer had any new cells that possessed the ability to resist the dissolving solution

Although Lin wanted to continue digging, it seemed that she had no choice but to give up. Looking back, Lin discovered that her colony was already situated at a considerable depth, and the entrance of the cave appeared to have become very small.

It seems that the resistance of cone cells is not very strong, but it is significantly better than that of basic cells

Thus, Lin decided to continue digging into this enormous white food while consuming it.

The pain interrupted Lin's thoughts

Attacking the abnormal cells will sacrifice quite a number of cells, approximately a dozen will perish due to the lysis solution, but consuming the abnormal cells will only yield three new ones, making it entirely unprofitable

Evolution

After the new cell approached, the strange cell reacted, and the numerous pores on its body ejected a large amount of dissolving liquid, which easily surrounded the new cell

Lin wants to give it a try, to see what will happen if she keeps digging like this; perhaps there will be interesting things, or perhaps not.

Lin slowly swam closer to one of the monster cells that was farthest from the group, and then allowed the new cell to move forward first

The new cells do not disintegrate into powder instantly like ordinary cells; instead, only some signs of decay appear on the outer membrane, which does not affect the overall integrity of the cell, and Lin does not feel any pain.

Next are the other strange cells

Lin decided to have these new conical cells attack other abnormal cells to observe the effects.

Suddenly, Lin thought of a solution

However, it is evident that what can be considered food is certainly not limited to this soft and white substance; the varieties of food should be endless

Lin's cell colony has grown to as many as one hundred, among which there are thirty excavators, but there has always been only one observer. Lin is quite puzzled as to why the newly divided cells from the observer do not possess vision

First, regarding the shape, these excavators are no longer the round form of the previous cells, but instead have one side that has become sharp and protruding, taking on a conical shape, while also featuring numerous serrations arranged in a helical pattern on top

This new cell is also derived from cells that have been damaged by the dissolving solution, and therefore it possesses the ability to resist the dissolving solution

As the excavation progressed deeper, Lin discovered that the material here was no longer as soft and fragile as it appeared on the surface; instead, it gradually became harder. After digging a bit deeper, the excavators found it increasingly difficult to saw off fragments, and ordinary cells were unable to produce even a trace of debris from it.

Speaking of which, the enormous food, Lin still did not know what to call it, because it was soft and white, growing from tiny fragments to a vast expanse that seemed to have no boundaries. Lin could not think of a better term, so she continued to refer to it simply as food

I understand what is going on

Although she does not understand the deeper meaning of this word, Lin knows that she can enhance her cell community in this way

As for the others, Lin allowed them to remain in the cave, continuously feeding and growing robustly

The shape of these cells made Lin think this way, but the resistance of these conical cells to the dissolving solution remains unknown

It seems to have become more capable of drilling and excavating

I see, that new cell possesses the ability to resist the dissolving solution

The bizarre cells without the dissolving solution were quickly torn to pieces by the swarm attack of the excavators, and as for these fragments, Lin instructed the excavators to consume them

Lin's cluster of cells moved above them, including the observer and the new cell. Lin also brought along ten diggers, making a total of twelve cells that emerged.

The strange cells have no eyes, so they did not notice Lin's colony. However, Lin knows that if they get too close, they will become aware of it, but she is unclear about the means by which they would know.

The mutant cells, having released a large amount of dissolving fluid, exhibit a state of sluggishness that can be described as exhaustion

In Lin's thoughts, this idea suddenly emerged.

However, after waiting for them to become full and divide, Lin discovered that the cells produced by these diggers had somewhat strange appearances

Now Lin's one hundred cells are all situated in the large holes they have created through their consumption. As for the few strange cells outside, Lin ultimately did not eliminate them, for after calculation, Lin sensed a new term.

Lin's cell cluster continuously devoured the enormous food, creating a large and deep cavity in it. Lin instructed the diggers to keep excavating in the front, while behind them, large groups of cells followed, consuming the debris they had unearthed.

Wait a moment

Lin suddenly recalled the original purpose, as if it was not to create resistant cells, but rather to introduce the dissolving solution of the abnormal cells into the hole to see if it could dissolve the hard parts of the food

However, it is possible that this damaged cell can divide to produce cells that possess resistance to the dissolving solution

However, how should those dissolving solutions be used? It seems unlikely to simply grab them, but Lin recalled that there was a case where a cell ingested remnants of dissolving solution and the fragments of a strange cell, resulting in only some damage, yet it still successfully divided into a new cell that was somewhat different.

For example, those peculiar cells can actually be considered food

Re-emerging from the hole created by her own consumption, Lin's observer cells quickly detected the traces of those peculiar cells. Lin noticed that they did not burrow downwards while eating like she did; instead, they nibbled a bit here and a bit there, creating a pockmarked surface on the massive food with their dissolving solution.

There are only three cone cells, although 10 diggers consumed fragments of the monster cells, only three of them divided into cone cells, while the remaining seven divided into ordinary diggers. Perhaps the quantity consumed is related to this

As the cell colony grew larger, Lin gradually developed computational abilities, and it believed that soon it would become increasingly intelligent

Therefore, Lin had no choice but to let these excavators, who had consumed the strange cellular fragments, eat their fill and then divide, which would likely produce the type of cells that possessed resistance to the dissolving liquid as before

The surface layer of the new cells has been dissolved and decayed, as it has been invaded by the dissolving solution. The entire cell appears to be on the verge of collapse. It seems that even with resistance capabilities, it is still unable to face the abnormal cells alone

That's right

Lin feels that her thoughts are becoming increasingly rich

This time, it was accomplished with just one

Aren't those strange cells outside used to dissolve food with a dissolving solution? If we utilize them, perhaps we can dissolve the hard parts of the food here

There are five strange cells, seemingly one more than before, perhaps due to increased consumption leading to their division

The color of the new cell is relatively dark, and the outer cell membrane is not as clear and transparent as that of other cells, making the nucleus inside clearly visible. In contrast, the cell membrane of this new cell has a somewhat murky appearance.

The cone cells launched an attack directly at the monstrous cell with their cone tips. Before the monstrous cell had a chance to spray its dissolving fluid, it was pierced through by the powerful cone. However, this also resulted in the monster's body bursting open, releasing a large amount of dissolving fluid from within.

... ... not cost-effective

Lin's vision was fixed on the large area of dissolved liquid released after the strange cell had just died

One of the cone cells was covered by the dissolving solution and quickly disintegrated into fragments, while the other one, because Lin timely made it retreat, only had some damage on the hardened cone membrane.

The previous cells, due to continuous friction with food, sustained damage, resulting in the cells they divided into becoming harder and developing serrated surfaces, which marks the birth of the diggers

This is already quite impressive; previously, Lin had to sacrifice more than ten cells in total to exhaust the dissolving solution of a monster cell.