I Am The Swarm

As time passed, the number of intelligent entities within the Swarm Network grew. Under Luo Wen’s deliberate selection, most of them were scientists. Some were given new identities and returned to the Imperial Space Research Institute, continuing their previous projects. Others joined Starlight Enterprises, heading private laboratories under its banner.

One day, in a Starlight Enterprises laboratory specializing in extraterrestrial environments, a new experiment began.

The Ratfolk currently lacked any means to explore outer space and thus had no knowledge of its conditions. However, Luo Wen, being educated, knew the basics: low temperatures, lack of oxygen, microgravity, and pervasive cosmic radiation.

These experiments, being difficult to justify officially, couldn’t gain approval in the Ratfolk’s official space research institute. As a result, they were relegated to private labs funded and staffed by Luo Wen’s recruits.

Thanks to unlimited resources and funding, this lab had made notable progress. They developed devices capable of simulating vacuum environments and generating various forms of space radiation.

Space radiation—a dangerous mix of gamma rays, high-energy protons, and cosmic rays—was exceedingly harmful to living organisms. The lab publicly claimed its research aimed to develop protective suits that could provide oxygen and shield wearers from radiation.

This explanation served as a cover story, as Starlight Enterprises, which conducted mineral explorations, needed such suits to enable workers to delve deeper underground and endure radiation emitted by certain ores.

For Luo Wen, exterminating the Ratfolk was a simple option, but leveraging their intelligence to develop technology was far more valuable. As such, he preferred deception when possible.

On this particular day, the lab received a rare 30-centimeter-long arthropod. Allegedly caught by a fishing vessel, this marine creature could swim yet had wings. Though beetle-like in appearance, it also possessed pincers and eight spider-like legs. Its exoskeleton, made of a unique material, could withstand immense deep-sea pressure.

This previously unknown organism was acquired through the lab owner’s extensive connections. With researchers specializing in biological materials, the lab routinely studied various organisms to observe their behavior under space radiation, hoping to find nature-derived solutions to counteract such conditions.

When the researchers saw this beetle, they were awestruck. Its appearance defied conventional understanding. While dissection could yield significant discoveries, or at least a few research papers, the specimen was too valuable to destroy. Starlight Enterprises had gone to great lengths to procure it specifically for extreme environment testing.

Luo Wen found the situation frustrating. He couldn’t risk revealing his true form as a test subject for research. Yet, his progress through other avenues had been slow. Achieving space travel in the short term seemed unlikely, and the most viable solution appeared to be manufacturing spacecraft through the Ratfolk’s ingenuity.

But Luo Wen wasn’t planning a leisurely trip to space. He needed to survive in the harsh conditions of outer space for extended periods. Space’s extreme environment made rushing in unprepared a recipe for failure.

Over the years, he had accumulated countless genetic fragments, but these were all derived from Earth-like conditions. Whether they would remain functional in space was uncertain. Therefore, he required a simulated space environment to test and evolve his genes under vacuum, radiation, and anaerobic conditions.

This research base included a small number of “insiders” loyal to Luo Wen. It wasn’t that he didn’t want an entirely loyal team, but the Swarm Network’s ability to recruit intelligent individuals had been discovered too recently. The network still lacked the numbers needed for a fully “in-house” lab.

Luo Wen couldn’t afford to wait decades for this ideal. Simulating and evolving new abilities in such an environment wasn’t a quick process, and waiting for a fully loyal lab might take a century. He wasn’t willing to accept such delays.

Instead, he prioritized reducing the timeline. Although the lab’s reliance on outsiders compromised security, Luo Wen wasn’t irreplaceable—provided the Brood Nest was safeguarded.

Moreover, the researchers were tightly monitored to prevent leaks. Without their knowledge, parasitic organisms had also infiltrated their bodies. These parasites, derived from iron wireworms found in mantises, could release special chemicals into their host’s nervous system when necessary. These chemicals disrupted protein synthesis, mimicked neural signals, and sent erroneous commands to the host’s body.

If someone attempted to divulge secrets, their vocal system would fail, rendering them mute. Persistent attempts could trigger uncontrollable self-destructive behavior. In this way, these researchers could be considered half-loyal to Luo Wen.

The test chamber was soon prepared. Luo Wen wasted no time stepping into the enclosed space.

The chamber, a sealed environment spanning a few square meters, had 99% of its air evacuated. Luo Wen’s first challenge was to adapt to surviving without oxygen.

The initial test results exceeded his expectations. After merely sleeping in the chamber, his body underwent subtle yet significant internal changes.

The fiber-like structures in his body, originally developed after being disemboweled by the Yellow Earth Ants to rapidly seal wounds, evolved further into a valve-like structure.

These valves partitioned his body into isolated compartments. Normally functioning like sieves, they didn’t impede bodily systems. In emergencies, they could seal all external openings, transforming his body into a completely sealed environment.

Additionally, the energy stored in his tail lard organ could sustain his body for extended periods. This energy cycled within his body with minimal waste, producing only trace amounts of gas. These gases could be funneled into isolated chambers within his body for eventual release.

Remarkably, these chambers could form anywhere in his body using the valve structures. By releasing gases, they could even provide propulsion for directional changes during flight. With modifications to key muscle groups, such as enhancing powerful sphincters, these gases could accelerate flight. While current speed limits remained low, the absence of atmospheric drag in space promised greater efficiency.

Having solved the issues of bodily insulation and internal circulation, Luo Wen now needed to address energy acquisition. With this, he could survive in anaerobic environments for extended periods.

However, outer space presented more than just a lack of oxygen. And oxygen deficiency was the easiest problem to solve.

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