"Shen Jie, Lv11/19"
"Health 70, Constitution 105, Spirit 66"
"Superpower Awakening: Assimilation—Black Knight"
"Note: The target is in a Black Spinal Bug assimilation state, energy consumption increased by 100%, constitution enhanced by 50%, mental state unstable."
Lin Feng's eyes sparkled, a slow smile spreading across his face.
Earlier today, while on a mission, Shen Jie had killed two Black Spinal Bugs, advancing to Lv11, where the attribute cap is 70. Yet, in his current assimilation state as the Black Knight, Shen Jie possessed an impressive constitution of over 100, equivalent to a mid-tier Tier 1 level.
The additional 50% enhancement in constitution far surpassed the modest 10% boost of an early Tier 1 constitution enhancement ability. This confirmed Ding Chenghai's earlier revelation about the genetic modification plan's potential to change the game!
Shen Jie had only just entered the early stages of Tier 1, yet he already exhibited mid-tier combat capabilities. If a fully awakened individual with 150 constitution underwent genetic surgery, they could enhance by at least 50%. Coupled with personal constitution enhancement abilities, they could reach over 300 in constitution!
Based on Tier 1 data projections, a genetically modified individual with 300 constitution could lift tons and achieve speeds exceeding 100 meters per second, faster than a diving Blue Wing Bug. Such superhuman statistics would qualify them as complete Tier 2 awakeners.
Mass-producing these modified soldiers, equipped with advanced human weaponry, could enable them to storm through insect tunnels, annihilate ordinary low-tier Black Spinal Bugs, and hunt Tier 2 Tiger Bugs, eventually leading to the queen's decapitation in the hive.
Through Shen Jie's assimilation ability, Lin Feng envisioned humanity's future countermeasures against the insects. However, the challenge lay in ensuring the genetic surgery's safety and stability. If the non-human soldiers failed to obey commands or exhibited unstable mental states...
As indicated in Lin Feng's appraisal, Shen Jie's mental stability deteriorated in his Black Knight state, with a continuous decline in mental values. Fortunately, his rationality remained intact. Seeing Lin Feng nearby, Shen Jie quickly stood and knelt, acknowledging his presence.
Previously too weak to sense Lin Feng's strength, Shen Jie, now in his Black Knight state with heightened senses, felt the overwhelming aura of the man before him, surpassing a late Tier 1 awakener.
Through the vehicle's upgrade, Lin Feng had broken attribute limits, positioning his strength between Tier 1 and Tier 2. Shen Jie, inheriting the Black Spinal Bug genes, instinctively sensed danger, clearing his chaotic mind.
Lin Feng observed Shen Jie's taut muscles and the black arm blades that effortlessly sliced through floor tiles, and reassured him:
"This form, which assimilates the Black Spinal Bug genes, is called the Black Knight. In this state, you must maintain focus, or your mental state will continue to deteriorate, risking harm to those around you."
Shen Jie noticed Zhang Liying standing at the door, towel in hand, trembling. Acknowledging his terrifying appearance, he nodded silently. Attempting to speak, his deformed throat only produced raspy hisses, making him neither human nor insect.
Lin Feng continued: "Having just completed assimilation, rest and see if you can exit this state. With so many people here at the service area, it's not ideal for testing the duration and special abilities. Try it out on tomorrow's mission."
Shen Jie emitted a soft hissing sound, calming himself and retracting the power. Gradually, the external armor retracted beneath his skin, the mantis-like arm blades folding back into his muscles, leaving a fifty-centimeter-long blood-red scar on his arms, slowly scabbing over.
The painful retraction made Shen Jie grit his teeth, sweat pouring from his brow. Finally, only a ring of scale-like armor remained on his torso, unable to retract further. Fortunately, this could be concealed with clothing.
Satisfied, Lin Feng turned to Zhang Liying, noting her lower Lv10 attributes compared to Shen Jie, and warned:
"You're not ready for this degree of assimilation yet. Stick to familiarizing with the Red Beetle state and avoid the Black Spinal Bug."
Zhang Liying nodded nervously, and after Lin Feng left, she hesitated before approaching the unconscious Shen Jie on the bed...
...
Armed with an upgraded dagger from one of his subordinates, Lin Feng returned to the repair shop, checking the upgraded Lv19 Flying Wing Vehicle's data panel. Its base attributes had significantly improved:
"Flying Wing Vehicle Lv19/19, Red Quality"
"Upgrade Points 14/10, Defense 150, Damage 130, Average Speed 150 km/h, Range 1000 km"
"Extra Attributes: Biological Armor (Defense +70), Armor-Piercing Front (Damage +60),
Unlimited Firepower (Ten Machine Guns, Average Damage 40),
Self-Propelled Artillery (Three Lv19 Cannons, Damage 160, Ammo 9000, Reload 1/1s),
Life Radar (Consumes 1 upgrade point to detect any being with over 50 health within a 5 km radius),
Storage Space (Consumes 1 upgrade point to expand by 1 cubic meter, currently 60 cubic meters living/combat area, 50 cubic meters trunk)"
"Ground Effect Flight Mode (Speed increases by 150 km/h, adaptable to complex water and terrain, fuel consumption increases by 100%, range halved)"
"Level-Up Conditions: Evolution Points 10/10 (met), Kill a Tier 2 Insect"
Each upgrade raised base attributes by ten points, as expected. The extra attributes remained unchanged, except the three cannons on the lookout tower were upgraded to Lv19, increasing damage and ammo.
Seeing the level-up conditions, Lin Feng was disappointed; as anticipated, the armed vehicle, equipped with numerous offensive capabilities, required a Tiger Bug kill for Tier 2 advancement. It seemed personal synchronization upgrades couldn't achieve level-up through dead material fusion.
With direct upgrade hopes dashed, Lin Feng turned his attention to his arm guard. Using the dagger, he performed a surgical cut on a live Blue Wing Bug in the trunk, discovering its brain nerves directly connected to the membranous wings.
This meant severing the wings would gradually deprive the Blue Wing Bug of life, akin to the Black Spinal Bug's brain behind the mandibles. Removing the mandibles exposed the brain, quickly leading to death. Lin Feng wouldn't waste the mandibles if not for this structure, selling both bug and mandibles together.
Realizing the Blue Wing Bug's structure prevented repeated use, Lin Feng sighed and finished them off. Unable to exploit the system, Lin Feng went full throttle, merging materials multiple times to upgrade the Lv16 Crimson Flying Armor to Lv19 quickly.
Admiring the three rings of green scales on his arm guard, Lin Feng was finally satisfied with the data attributes:
"Crimson Flying Armor Lv19/19, Red Quality"
"Durability: 10/10, Defense 150, Transformation: Arm Guard (Unconditional), Full Armor (Unconditional),
Absolute Defense (1/1 Back Armor) (10/1 Mandible),
Explosive Scale Armor (90% Damage Reflection, 10% Defense Reduction)
Flight Mode (Consumes 1 upgrade point for ten minutes of flapping flight, max speed 400 km/h, cooldown five minutes)"
"Level-Up Conditions: Ten Red Quality Materials + One Orange Quality Material"
With three consecutive upgrades, the base defense increased by 40. Although Lin Feng integrated six pairs of wing membranes, the flight mode enhancement diminished with each fusion.
Reflecting on previous mandible fusions, the benefits also waned as item levels increased...
It seemed the initial fusion was most effective, with diminishing returns thereafter.
Thus, further fusion upgrades for the Flying Wing Vehicle would have been better spent on personal attribute breakthroughs...
This approach yielded greater benefits.
Given the likelihood of close-quarters combat with Tiger Bugs, Lin Feng considered the Lv19 Crimson Flying Armor's level-up conditions. Determined to take a risk, he aimed to forge an orange-quality defensive item, confident enough to face the Tiger Bug head-on!
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