How miraculous. Despite such a tremendous transformation, the monitoring system of this former Imperial Capital planet had never once functioned.
In the end, the smoldering nuclear waste deep within the planet's core was wrapped in some kind of biomass. It no longer emitted radiation, but instead transformed into dark-red energy cores, like beating hearts that nourished the planet's mutation. The ruins of abandoned skyscrapers were entwined with mycelia, gradually swelling and warping into towering hatching nests. Their surfaces were covered in pulsing, vein-like structures that constantly spewed out new insectoid individuals.
These were not microscopic insectoids. They looked more like some kind of mutated creature.
When Old Pu turned around, he saw that all the descendants of the imperial bloodline from back then had become humanoid insectoids.
Their skin had been replaced by mycelia, and a layer of translucent black biofilm covered their entire bodies. Fine purple veins covered its surface, pulsing faintly with each breath. Their original muscle tissue had been reorganized, while fibrous hive tissue wound around their bones, making their limbs unnaturally long and slender. Sharp chitinous protrusions had grown from their joints, making them look like marionettes forcibly stretched and hardened.
"Looks like these 'humanoid hives' turned out well."
Old Pu muttered to himself.
Unfortunately, these disciples and descendants could no longer speak.
"I should have done this long ago."
"You should have. When a civilization evolves from individual consciousness to collective consciousness, free will becomes an illusion. Any compromise in this direction will cause the civilization's evolution to fail, and will bring about backlash."
A voice that sounded neither male nor female rang out.
Old Pu stared at the puddle beneath his feet. He could vaguely make out a face.
It had once been the face of a Mirtha.
The left side carried the dignity