Chapter 221 Realization
[Energy Extraction Completed.]
An hour later, the pool of blood in front of the King of Lanthanor had changed into red substance that seemed semi-solid.
After studying this solution for a while, Daneel hesitantly put both of his palms inside the bowl.
It felt wet and gooey, reminding him of the jelly relished by kids back on Earth.
Yet, when he ordered the system to deploy the Development Technique, he felt a familiar feeling run through his body that made him smile wide.
Indeed, it was Energy.
In fact, this Energy seemed very similar both in effect and feel to that which he absorbed from Ker Gems, making him wonder about the origins of the red gems which were found so rarely in the Continent of Angaria.
Shaking his head to get rid of stray thoughts, Daneel summoned his clone and ordered it to absorb the Energy alongside him while remembering the moment when he had gotten the brainwave which had resulted in this wondrous situation.
The moment Daneel had heard the summary of the "Blood Energy Extraction" technique in the headquarters of the Withering Leaf Sect, he had been reminded of the time which he had spent to modify the mosquitoes to give birth to the species which had caused the Sect to flee from their home.
To use the Biological Modification Tool, Daneel had had to collect multiple specimens of the species to modify them repeatedly until the spell succeeded.
According to the system, all the Tool did was to use elementary particles to influence and change the biological makeup of a species to result in a specific mutation.
In fact, mutations were quite common in all species, with most of them being quite minor such as cases where a particular group of mosquitoes might develop sharper mandibles to be able to pierce the skin of animals more easily in the case where they lived in an area which did not have an abundant Energy material supply.
Here, the trick had been to induce the correct mutation, which was apparently only a matter of chance.
When the system had begun to expound on formulae regarding the same, he had stopped it as his head had already been reeling by that point.
The gist of the matter was that the system needed him to conduct around 1000 trials of which one would result in the successful modification of the species he wanted.
Thus, Daneel had had to burn himself out by skimping on sleep and sometimes even food to repeatedly run the trials and recharge his mageroot using Ether Blocks again and again in order to finish the task as soon as possible.
Thankfully, both the modifications he had wanted had succeeded before 500 trials.
Daneel could make two modifications. Thus, the two strains he had made were:
1. First Modification: Mosquitoes which had a higher capability of breaking through barriers by giving them a frenziness, bloodthirst, and strength which wasn't present in normal ones. The trick here had been to increase the yearning inside them for Energy, which resulted in them even congregating into clouds to carry out joint attacks while also putting in more energy in each attack. This simple logic had been thought of by Daneel, who had recalled the famous statement on Earth: "Life always finds a way". Thus, by modifying just one factor, he had managed to get the results he needed.
Second Modification: A "Kill Switch" which enabled him to end the lives of any and all mosquitoes in the area which the system could detect using the Anti-Surveillance Tool-2(an area of 200 feet in any direction around him)
2. First Modification: Increased size(with other traits remaining the same).
Second Modification: Kill Switch
Of course, nature always had a balance which had to be adhered to no matter what modifications were made. In the first strain, the system had warned him that the mosquitoes would keep breeding without end until all other species in an area might be wiped out, mainly because the increased yearning would result in an overabundance of Energy, which would result in them instinctually laying eggs to give birth to more of their kind.
The side-effect with the second was that the mosquitoes would be short-lived due to burning their life force much faster because of their increased size. After all, although the system allowed him to increase the size, there was no change in the overall makeup of the body of the mosquito which would allow it to maintain that size to lead a normal existence.
For example, if an ant from Earth were enlarged into the size of an Elephant, it would simply die due to multiple reasons, with the main one being that its physical makeup wouldn't be able to handle its bigger size. In fact, Daneel remembered that much research and speculation had been carried out on this topic, which he had studied in his free time back on Earth because it had seemed very interesting.
Yet, although this side-effect existed, Daneel had been happy with the result as he had only made the second strain for a devastating attack like in the case where he had massacred the members of the Sect.
Coming back to the Blood Energy Extraction, the reason he had remembered this entire episode had been because of the statement from the system which said that mosquitoes had an overabundance of Energy in their bodies before they laid eggs.
If this was the case, then the reason in the tome which spoke about the nature of Energy in human bodies to be spread out resulting in a low efficiency of the technique was rendered moot.
Hence, the blood of the first strain of mosquitoes was perfect to apply this technique on. After realizing this, Daneel had immediately ordered the system to develop a modified "Blood Energy Extraction" technique with the modifications being that it could be applied on mosquitoes while also being safe to be absorbed by him.
The result was in front of him.
From around 5000 mosquitoes, he had been able to extract enough Energy to last him a week.
In other words, his pressing need of desperately looking for Ker Gems to continue his training was now solved.
If it weren't for the only drawback which was that the system was needed to safely absorb this Energy without going mad, Daneel wouldn't have hesitated to go and gather as many mosquito corpses as he could in the Valley while still ensuring that it would remain inhabitable to the Sect.
Regardless, rejoicing due to the fact that his problem had been solved, Daneel continued training while letting his mind drift.
After an hour or so, he went into a semi-meditative state which he often entered while undergoing long sessions of Energy absorption.
Usually, his mind was mostly tranquil during in this state.
Yet, now, he found himself recalling a certain moment of the day again and again, as if his inner self was trying to warn him about to something.
With a start, Daneel woke up while a sense of urgency appeared on his face.
The thing which had enabled him to recall this crucial moment was definitely his instinct, which hadn't failed him yet due to being honed for years through his hard work and experiences.
Without a doubt, that expression of triumph in the Eldest Prince's eyes had definitely not been his imagination.
"System, were any anomalies detected since the time I returned to the Palace?"
[Negative]
Hearing the response from the system, Daneel was just about to calm down when the memory of a kid struggling through each day only be relying on himself and his instincts passed through his mind.
That kid was him, who had had no system to help him during the grueling 3 months he had spent in the Fists of Justice Training Hall along with Faxul when he had first transmigrated into this world.
At this moment, he realized that he had been relying on the system too much recently, despite telling himself before not to do so.
After all, the system was so adept that he hadn't been able to help but fall into the well of dependence without even realizing it.
Along with this realization, came the memory of the multiple moments in the battle against Axelorian Commander where he had had to have a delay in his actions due to ordering the system to deploy spells every time.
True, the system would be able to do it faster, but what would he do if he was in a situation where he didn't have the time to give an order?
Death would be the only result.
Getting up immediately and hitting himself on his head hard, Daneel cursed at himself again for not thinking in this way sooner.
The system was, after all, just a tool to help him on his journey.
Just because it said that there was no problem, there was no reason for Daneel to ignore his instincts.
Engraving this fact firmly into his very being, Daneel decided to renew his efforts to decrease his dependence before sending a message to Kellor through the oathstone.
"Bring the Eldest Prince's body to my chamber. Also, assemble all those who were in contact with him in the time he was imprisoned, including even the maids and the soldiers. They must not know why they are being called."