Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics Chapter 6226 - 5236: Stars’ Covenant (6)

"However, I do feel that the conversion speed in this cosmos is indeed a bit faster," Brainiac said. "The exact numbers need testing, but if it truly can become faster, the prospects for this technology would be better."

Shiller deeply agreed. He said, "What about the resources?"

"The faster the speed, the fewer resources are consumed. I know this might be hard to understand, but faster speed means less meaningless waste during conversion, so naturally, fewer resources are needed."

Shiller thought for a moment and said, "Was it possible that so many were originally collected because someone was taxing them?"

Brainiac was dumbfounded. He said, "But who would need these things? The creator’s resources are limitless; why would he tax us?"

"Obviously, it’s to stop us from doing it," Shiller snorted, "Some people fleece for wool not because they want to knit sweaters, but purely to see the sheep run around naked."

"Why do I feel like this is about you?"

"That’s your illusion."

Brainiac used the instrument to analyze the Ancient One’s blood, then nodded and said, "You indeed should be a mutated lifeform, uh, I mean literally transformed in form, not the human-defined mutant. You should have two forms and be able to switch at any time."

"Able to switch at any time?" Shiller asked, "Isn’t it the environment that changes it?"

"Not that unintelligent," Brainiac shook his head and said, "Intelligent life isn’t as reliant on instinct like other animals, this must be controllable. However, just like how the human race can control their weight, it also requires interaction with the environment to change."

"To put it simply, the conversion process is rather long and complicated, needing effort and willpower to complete. However, this batch that came to Earth can definitely transform at will, because they are essentially handpicked explorers, akin to professional athletes among humans; maintaining a good physique is the simplest task."

Shiller suddenly realized. Comparing it to maintaining weight made it understandable. Humans can indeed control their own weight: eat less if heavy, eat more if too light, but actual execution isn’t so easy. Losing weight has always been difficult, requiring not only a scientific and reasonable method but also willpower.

Then originally among the Ancient Ones there must have been those who failed at losing weight, lazy to transform into a flying jellyfish, lounging in plant form every day. But this group on Earth certainly wouldn’t be like that, because if they were that lazy, they wouldn’t have appeared on Earth.

"I guess, in their original tribe, the clansmen were divided into two types: one being the ground Builders, the other the sky Travelers. The former responsible for building the homeland, the latter for exploring outside, somewhat similar to the sexual division of labor in human primitive societies."

"This squid-like form is clearly very adept at building, with enough tentacles, climbing ability, and can perform very delicate operations, while the jellyfish form would not be capable. With wings too large, top-heavy, these tentacles don’t seem as strong, likely unable to move heavy objects."

"Conversely, the jellyfish form excels at rapid movement, possibly even traveling faster than light, reaching the destination in an instant, and has a larger brain capacity than the squid form, able to remember more things, convenient for recording information during the journey."

"These two forms can convert into each other, but each Ancient One actually has a focus, due to inherent conditions and personal characteristics, leaning more towards one type, this also manifests in their genes."

"The behind-the-scenes manipulator’s way of locking the Ancient Ones in form is to make all those born after them inclined towards Builders. Continuing this generational breeding eventually leaves only Builder genes, almost abandoning the Traveler genes, causing them to completely lose the ability to fly later on."

Brainiac explained this to Shiller while also explaining to the Ancient Ones. The Ancient Ones were evidently very shocked, probably because they had learned similar history of their home planet. After all, they lived long, with undying historical culture, they knew what their race was approximately like on the original home planet.

"So what do we do now? Can hybridization improve the genes?"

"Yes," Brainiac gave an affirmative response, and then said, "Hybridization to dilute Builder genes, allowing Traveler genes to gradually surface is feasible, but it will be slow, probably taking at least several generations."

"Then do you have a better way?" Shiller knew Brainiac surely had a better method.

"Direct genetic editing," Brainiac said, "Artificially suppress Builder genes and better express Traveler genes, it’s actually not difficult, even human genetic editing technology can achieve it."

This surprised Shiller a bit. He said, "Can human technology achieve this as well?"

"The human race is not lagging behind in gene editing technology," Brainiac said, "You are filled with genius creativity in this area, considered a prodigy in the entire Interstellar Society. However, if you want stability, you can also use High-level Civilization’s."

"Do as you see fit," Shiller said, "Can those who are already mature be compiled? I hope they can return home soon."

"Yes," Brainiac replied, "Among them, there is also a scientist. I will directly teach them the technology, and they can do it themselves. Actually, it’s not that difficult; they just haven’t researched in this direction before."

Professor Dale had been observing their conversation, and seeing the Ancient Ones’ excitement, he knew there must be some progress. He then said, "Today I went to the weaponry warehouse and took a look at that airship; it should still be operational. I want to start the airship and head to the sea for a look."

Shiller finally remembered that although the expedition team was officially trapped in the South Pole at the moment, in reality, there were many vehicles in the mountains capable of crossing oceans, like the largest airship that could still have a large empty space with so many people aboard. As long as they had enough supplies, flying back to America wouldn’t be a problem.

Especially in this era, radar technology wasn’t that advanced, and countries didn’t have a strong grasp of their airspaces. They could completely fly back to the East Coast first, hover over the sea, and then have a ship pick them up; the foundation couldn’t do anything to them.

Shiller jumped onto Professor Dale’s shoulder, ready to accompany him to see the airship. He always had an obsession with large vehicles, liking all kinds of transportation that can carry many people, regardless of the shape, as long as it functions as a vehicle.

"Will they leave?" Professor Dale asked. After these busy days, he became thinner but his gaze more resolute, like he found his direction.

"They must leave; they have a home in the cosmos," Shiller answered. But obviously, people and cats still couldn’t communicate, each saying their own thing and not understanding each other while seeming to understand each other’s meaning. "In such a cosmos, all life must watch over and help each other. The Ancient Ones returning home and building their homes is the best help to the human race."

"They will certainly be helpful," Professor Dale said, "Recently, I’ve been reading their technical data, and part of it was brought back by Frank. Although very little can be understood, and not even everything can be used, no doubt they are a very strong and advanced civilization. If they can maintain goodwill toward Earth, the future of the human race will be brighter."

Shiller said nothing. He had not told Professor Dale that in distant Asia, the curtain of war had long been opened; it was just that in this era, information transmission was slow, and before it affected ordinary people’s lives, they hadn’t realized they were in a world war.

However, this situation won’t last long. As the war escalates, everyone will be drawn into it. Just now, the professor holds in his hands, with power that might reverse the war’s outcome. The Ancient Ones’ armory and the Ancient Ones themselves, even though far from their peak form, compared to the human race of this era, have the strength to instantaneously change world affairs.

There’s a saying that war advances human technology, which indeed has some truth, but the human race has no choice. If there were better methods, no one would want to advance technological development by sacrificing lives, not even the upper echelons, because in wars of this level, no one can escape unscathed.

Shiller always hopes everyone has a choice, and he believes Professor Dale thinks the same. As he pondered this, they arrived in front of the airship. Professor Dale began mumbling about how the thing was started and how Frank wanted to take this thing back home, only to be stopped by him.

Professor Dale tried it and successfully started the airship. Because the energy is the Ancient Crystal, and the mechanical structure is very advanced, there was actually no sound, eerily quiet, and when flying, there was no airflow; it just hovered up.

Then, a passageway opened above the mountain, just enough for the airship to fly out. And when they rose above such a magnificent mountain, overlooking almost the entire Antarctic Continent, even the always calm Professor Dale let out a gasp of astonishment.

The person and the cat stood on the continent’s highest point yet felt not a bit of chilling wind, only the bright arc on the horizon, and the boundless white mist.

Professor Dale exhaled deeply: "I don’t know if we are the luckiest race, but I know scenes this beautiful in the cosmos must be rare. I am only grateful to have a moment to appreciate such scenery."

Shiller meowed. This held no special meaning, purely just to echo a sound because Professor Dale highly valued the cat’s response, hoping the cat would meow to indicate hearing, regardless of whether it understood, for it was just a cat.

They maneuvered the airship toward the sea, gradually reducing altitude, seeing seals lazily basking in the sun on the coast, new penguin chicks hatched, krill swimming underneath the sea’s surface, and the shimmering waters, leading to the increasingly deep ocean.

The airship’s speed was incredibly fast, unlike what its body type should be capable of, but it flew like a high-speed train toward the American Continent with no obstacles. They didn’t spend long before returning to places where human civilization exists.

They paused at a spot relatively far from the coastline and waited overnight. The next morning, a ship appeared on the horizon, and when Dr. Henry appeared at the ship’s bow, Professor Dale smiled genuinely.

"Oh God, this is unbelievable!" This was Dr. Henry’s first sentence.

But before Professor Dale could joke or reminisce with him, Dr. Henry ran down the steps, rushed in front of Professor Dale, and looking into his eyes said, "William, war has erupted."