In the Artisan District, Xiao Tian finally saw living creatures other than insects—a green-skinned Skrull!
This Skrull was clearly a "Psionic Master." He wore a fiery red mage robe and was most likely from the Solar Empire.
He was sitting on a wooden chair, holding a thick stack of blueprints and studying them intently.
He was also muttering to himself, "Maybe I should modify this insect's hind legs to improve its jumping ability... Its elytra need modifications too. They're too small right now, so it can't fly fast... Should I make them metallic, or use composite materials?"
Directly in front of him stood a massive earth-yellow beetle.
Smoke was rising from the beetle's forehead. A metal plate had been added over its already extremely tough shell, greatly increasing its defense.
Other parts of the beetle's body were also still being designed. Clearly, this Skrull intended to modify the entire beetle.
Not far from the Skrull, Xiao Tian also spotted a purple Electric Mouse.
A crucible sat before the Electric Mouse. It chirped "Pika pika" as it tossed a heap of miscellaneous materials into the crucible and stirred them evenly with a mixing rod.
Once the ingredients were mostly blended, it poured the green mixture from the crucible into a bowl, then skipped toward a blue, furry giant soft-bodied insect nearby.
"Pika pika. (Drink it. This is the fate you deserve.)"
"Hiss~ (Then, Electric Mouse, what is the price?)" the giant insect replied.
"Pika pika! (Drink it when I tell you to drink it. Why are you asking so many questions?)"
Before the giant insect could react, the purple Electric Mouse forcibly poured the green mixture into its mouth.
"Hiss~"
"Hiss~"
"Hiss~"
After drinking the mixture, the blue soft-bodied giant insect went stiff all over as though it had swallowed pesticide,