Chapter 23 : Too many snakes

As the days passed, Arthur settled into a familiar routine, a harmonious dance between him and the snakes in his cave. Each morning, he would meticulously replace the poison sacks of six snakes, ensuring that their deadly fangs remained ready for the hunt. With newfound proficiency, two of these snakes were designated to venture into the expansive plains, gathering more puppets to join their ranks, while the remaining four embarked on a journey into the lush forest, seeking the energy-rich orange striped snakes that were vital for Arthur's survival.

As the days rolled by, Arthur's meticulous calculations revealed a stable pattern in his energy profits, averaging around 700 units daily. This newfound energy gains allowed him to allocate approximately 300 units for his passionate endeavors inside the alien relic, where he delved into the intricate mysteries of its various units.

But as his energy reserves steadily replenished, a new predicament emerged within the confines of his cave. The snake population, once a manageable team of 3, had grown to an unwieldy size. Each day, six snakes reached the limit of their poison storage. While the forest missions claimed at most one or two lives, yielding four or five new useless snakes each time. This influx of snakes now far surpassed Arthur's daily consumption needs, which amounted to only a single snake for sustenance.

--

On the third day, Arthur found himself facing upon the multitude of 21 snakes now residing in his cave. Despite the progress he had made in honing his manipulation skills, the snake population seemed to outpace his abilities, leaving him feeling weary and overwhelmed. The question of how to handle this burgeoning snake community weighed heavily on his mind, demanding a solution.

As he pondered his predicament, his eyes drifted to the simulated world, where the void tiger remained a mesmerizing sight. Ideas of revenge floated in his head. Often, when manipulating the snakes became mundane, Arthur sought solace in observing the tiger's graceful movements. Most of the time, the tiger would simply lie still, but there had been one extraordinary moment that had captivated Arthur's attention.

---

At that moment, Arthur was engrossed in the task of guiding the snakes to gather energy in the forest within the simulated world. However, a resounding "ROAR" pierced through the tranquil virtual realm, capturing his attention instantly. He turned his focus towards the source of the sound and his eyes widened as he beheld a breathtaking scene unfolding before him.

There, amidst the simulated wilderness, the tiger engaged in a ferocious battle with the deer-like creature he had previously encountered in the forest. The deer exhibited an extraordinary ability, manipulating the surrounding foliage with an unknown power, launching relentless attacks on the tiger with tree roots that seemed to dance and bend at its will.

Despite the tiger's evident injuries, incurred from the relentless strikes of the tree roots, it displayed an unwavering determination, relentlessly advancing toward its opponent. A curious phenomenon occurred throughout the fight. At intervals, radiant white energy surged forth from the tiger's body, streaming into its wounds and miraculously sealing them shut, bolstering the tiger's resilience and turning it into an indomitable force.

As the battle raged on, it became evident that the deer, despite its formidable abilities, stood little chance against the seemingly invulnerable tiger. The overpowering might and regenerative prowess of the tiger granted it a decisive advantage, allowing it to endure and ultimately triumph over the deer.

---

Considering the impressive display of the deer's powerful attack in the simulated world, Arthur made a cautious decision not to set his snakes against the tiger. He understood that unleashing all thirteen snakes upon the tiger wouldn't be more damaging than the relentless onslaught of the deer's numerous tree roots.

However, Arthur also realized that simply releasing the snakes into the wild could potentially disrupt his established cycle and lead to recapturing less desirable snakes. Contemplating his options, he gazed at the interior of his cave, where the snakes resided. Eventually, he arrived at a novel plan, envisioning a different role for his serpentine companions.

Instead of setting them free, Arthur decided to employ the snakes as diligent workers. He would dispatch them deep into the forest, ensuring they were far enough to prevent them from finding their way back to the cave. Then by employing his stage 0 control over them, he could utilize the snakes as explorers, venturing into the uncharted depths of the forest on his behalf.

With his disposal plan ready. Arthur decided on using the snakes to excavate his cave, as when he started disposing of the snakes. His snake counts would drop back to 8 or so.

The twenty-one snakes proved to be incredibly efficient workers, far surpassing Arthur's own capabilities. Within the span of just one day, they managed to expand the cave from its initial dimensions of 15x10x1 to an impressive 20x20x1. Arthur exercised caution, ensuring that pillars would be left undug periodically to prevent any risk of cave collapse.

Then, focusing their efforts, the snakes diligently carved out a larger and more robust door for Arthur's cave. This enhanced door would be far heavier and more secure than the one Arthur created. Additionally, under Arthur's precise instructions, the snakes skillfully fashioned several tables within the cave, along with a small but sophisticated distillation cup.

The distillation cup was thoughtfully designed, featuring three partitions. In the first partition, users could place dirty water, which would then turn to steam and ascend to the second partition. There, cooling down, the steam would be liquified, and the clean water would eventually descend into the third partition.