6-Spirit of Ecology

No. 5 and No. 6 were closely connected.

The powers of closely connected Ruinforms tended to share certain links.

For example, the three bionic humanoid progenitors had almost consecutive serial numbers.

No. 5's Ruinform, Violet Energy String, had evolved powerful spatial abilities by drawing on the planet's magnetic field.

Conversely, by using spatial energy to sense the planet's magnetic field, one could also sense something else.

For example, in Highgong's perception, the other party's biomagnetic field was extremely strange. The strangeness lay in the fact that it did not resemble a living creature at all, but rather a plant.

As a super artificial intelligence, downloading one's data consciousness into a physical body was normal enough. But downloading it into a plant body was clearly going too far.

This planet had no plant civilization.

"So, where is Aramaki?"

If the other party had not been the old man—or if his relationship with the old man had been even slightly weaker—Highgong's attitude would have changed.

One Ruin Knight after another emerged from Highgong's body, surrounding the entire botanical garden.

The other party's expression clearly stiffened, and he stopped pretending to be mysterious.

"I'm not Aramaki, and Aramaki isn't my vessel. To be precise, he and I reached a deal. Until that deal is completed, if I die, he'll die too."

"A deal?" Highgong raised an eyebrow. Why does that old man make deals everywhere? He did the same with the Loom of Fate. Is he frantically borrowing against his life before he dies?

"What are the terms?"

"I can't disclose them."

"Oh."

Highgong watched his nose and contemplated his heart. The surrounding Ruin Knights quickly closed in, and a sensation that made the other party intensely uncomfortable emerged.

"Wait, wait. There's no use containing me, because I've already died."

"Died?"

The worst