Effects

Actually, most things are fine and fall within the normal range. The biggest problem lies in the strongest part of the Swarm: the Swarm Network.

The other functions of the Swarm Network are relatively easy to understand, as they are quite covert. However, its inter-stellar zero-delay communication function, while also highly covert, can still be detected through other means.

For example, the Swarm's external communication system was very backward. Fortunately, they later absorbed some of the technology from the Cat Ear Spaceship, which at least helped them catch up in terms of technology.

However, the Swarm has very few communication facilities, such as large-scale interstellar information transmitters, because they require a huge amount of space. Therefore, in order to minimize the number of visible artificial structures in space and to deceive the Rat-folk civilians, such things were not built.

Later, because it was no longer needed, the matter was gradually forgotten. However, the characteristics of this thing are very obvious. If there really is an advanced civilization monitoring the Swarm in the dark, they will definitely find that the Swarm does not have this thing, which does not affect the Swarm's intergalactic warfare at all.

Now all we can do is try to fix things we overlooked before, and hopefully these are just Rowan's unfounded worries. Even if there really is an advanced civilization monitoring us, let's hope they won't notice these anomalies in the small Swarm.

Yes, the Swarm is still too weak. Although it can easily manipulate civilizations of similar technological level, it is still too powerless against civilizations of a higher level.

Rowan is no longer alone in the Swarm; he has many allies and must be responsible for the entire Swarm. The Swarm must become stronger.

But becoming stronger isn't something that can be achieved with mere words. Whether it's a mechanical or biological path, it requires a complete theoretical framework. Therefore, the Swarm needs more researchers. Fortunately, the Swarm is currently establishing a second Intellect material production base, and it's believed that the production speed of Intellect will be greatly improved soon.

--

"Dr. Bart, how's the research on that big guy going?" General Masai asked at the captain's routine meeting.

Things have been calm lately, and they have found the source of their initial arrival here.

In addition, several new bases and factories sprang up, taking over territory while replenishing some of their losses.

Next, we just need to systematically eliminate the Zerg threat.

Although Dr. Dr. Bart, has temporarily shelved their research on developing a virus to eliminate the Zerg because of the monster.

However, the Riken Race believed they had mastered the methods to fight the Zerg, and had been invincible in recent operations. The military declared that they did not need the viruses, and that eliminating the Zerg was only a matter of time.

In this situation, no one had much to say at the routine meeting. But they couldn't just say hello and adjourn, could they? This was a serious, routine meeting of the captains.

Therefore, Masai could only change the subject to prolong the meeting.

Fortunately, a monster that spews Nuclear Bomb is a rare sight, and everyone is very curious about it. Pairs of eyes full of curiosity are directed at Dr. Bart through the video screen.

Although it was a meeting of captains, some heads of other departments would also attend as advisors, so Dr. Bart was used to this kind of scene. He didn't keep everyone in suspense, clearing his throat as he began:

"The research period is too short, and there are no results yet." In fact, he didn't have anything to whet people's appetites with.

Because Godzilla emits intense radiation, the Riken Race cannot approach its corpse without protective measures. Therefore, they built a heavily guarded laboratory specifically for Godzilla. Since much of the research equipment needed to be transported from the Godzilla to the planet's surface, and some debugging was required, a considerable amount of time was spent. As a result, Dr. Bart's team had not yet discovered anything in such a short period of time.

The captains were aware of the situation, so they didn't say much. This was just a topic General Masai casually changed to prolong the meeting.

"However, we have made some amazing discoveries about something else." Dr. Bart then abruptly changed the subject, piquing everyone's interest.

After numerous captains raised their questions, Dr. Bart continued, "We didn't find anything about the monster itself, but the plants the Special Operations Team brought back from the monster's lair have given us a pleasant surprise."

He took a sip of water and continued, "To be precise, it's the fruit of this plant. Because the equipment wasn't all in place a while ago, a small group of our team started studying the fruits during their spare time, and they fed the fruits to the Lili Beast."

The Riken Race fleet has dedicated logistics transport ships, two of which simulate the ecology of Riken Star and house various experimental creatures. The Lili Beast is a wild beast with over 95% genetic similarity to the Riken Race and is typically used for drug testing experiments.

"A few days later, the Lili Beast developed various symptoms of radiation sickness."

The captains were all puzzled. What kind of amazing discovery was this? This plant grew in the lair of a monster with high radiation levels, so it must have been contaminated with some radioactive material. If they ate it, they would be lucky to get some radiation sickness; eating too much would probably kill them on the spot.

However, the captains believed that Dr. Bart wouldn't speak without reason, so they all suppressed their urge to complain and continued listening.

"After the equipment arrived, the team stopped studying the monsters and continued studying the fruits and the Lili Beast. They discovered something astonishing. Although the Lili Beast were infected with radiation sickness, their bodies had become younger. Well, to be precise, their cell division rate had increased."

Seeing that some captains didn't understand, Dr. Bart explained, "The organisms we've discovered so far, including our Riken Race, have cells that divide in a regular number of times during their growth. After reaching a certain stage, they age and die. This is the number of cell divisions and the cell cycle. Multiplying these two gives the organism's theoretical lifespan. For example, our Riken Race has a cell division cycle of about six years and divides about 55 times, so Riken Race theoretical lifespan is 330 years."

Seeing the captains nod, he continued, "Take the Lili Beast for example. Its cell division cycle is two years, and it divides 25 times, so its theoretical lifespan is 50 years. However, this is only possible under ideal conditions. In reality, due to various factors, the average lifespan is shorter than this theoretical lifespan. For example, our Riken Race has an average lifespan of about 310 years."

"Therefore, to extend lifespan, we either need to extend the cell division cycle or increase the number of cell divisions. The former is difficult to achieve because cells are the basic building blocks of our bodies; if they were to change, we might become other species. Compared to the former, the latter is more plausible. In fact, the latter is also difficult to achieve; for thousands of years, we have not made any breakthroughs in this field."

"As far as I know, the average lifespan of our Riken Race was less than 150 years five thousand years ago, but it has now doubled," an advisor objected.

Dr. Bart subtly curled his lip, somewhat disdainful of this amateur's half-baked understanding, but he still explained, "That's only because our medical conditions are better, we've conquered many intractable diseases and terminal illnesses, and there haven't been any large-scale wars, which has brought our actual average lifespan closer to the theoretical value. But in reality, our cell division cycle and the number of divisions have never been changed."

"But now the situation has changed, because we've discovered it! The Lili Beast that ate it increased its cell division count by five, which means its theoretical lifespan has increased by one-fifth." Dr. Bart pointed to the picture of the Monster's Nest Fruit on the screen. "This is the only thing we've discovered so far that can increase the number of cell divisions, hmm, a medicinal herb." Dr. Bart thought for a moment and gave the fruit a classification.

"Moreover, it's effective simply by consuming it; if it were refined and processed, its effects would likely be even stronger." Bart paused. "Although, it does have some minor flaws."