Arknights, But Terra is Farmed Chapter 2

Naturally understanding the Hive Cluster Mind of Heart of the Corrupted Skadi, she was aware of the current reactions of the Sea Creatures.

But Heart of the Corrupted Skadi didn't care. She simply looked at the giant radiating dazzling white light, tilted her small head, and asked, "Are you... Lord God?"

And Lord God responded to her with, "God is Dead."

"God is Dead."

Nietzsche said that.

You call me Lord God right off the bat? I wouldn't dare accept that. Warning: feudal superstition.

But...

Chen Ran looked at Heart of the Corrupted Skadi, whom he held in his hand, his expression slightly subtle.

Because it was only now that he realized, about 10 centimeters, the size of a can of cola... isn't this just a figure?

"Did a figure come to life?"

Perhaps worried that he might crush Heart of the Corrupted Skadi with a little too much force, he held her gently.

Or perhaps it was the unconscious comparison to a hard, solid figure, making Chen Ran feel that the Heart of the Corrupted Skadi in his hand was soft and squishy.

Ah, case closed. His thumb had pressed onto Heart of the Corrupted Skadi's little belly.

Chen Ran glanced one last time at the planet model, the size of a marble, confirming that the Sea Creatures had no intention of rushing out to snatch her. Only then did Chen Ran gradually loosen his grip—

Because no matter how small this little thing was, it was still a Sea Creature, an existence that had devoured an entire planet. If it went berserk...

But Heart of the Corrupted Skadi didn't run. She simply sat obediently in Chen Ran's palm, as if waiting for a reply from Chen Ran, her Lord God.

"I'm afraid not. I'm just an ordinary person with a little money."

Chen Ran chose not to lie; he told the truth.

But upon hearing this, Heart of the Corrupted Skadi first looked at the planet model, then at Chen Ran, who could toss the planet model around like a marble.

Although Heart of the Corrupted Skadi's clear eyes held a hint of naivete, she was not truly foolish.

So Chen Ran watched as Heart of the Corrupted Skadi gently floated up from his palm, looking around as if curious about everything.

Seeing that Heart of the Corrupted Skadi could float and her abilities were still intact, Chen Ran felt a little fortunate that he hadn't tried to get a closer look earlier to see how realistic the figure was.

However, Heart of the Corrupted Skadi soon floated to the wide-open doorway and then, as if hitting invisible glass, cried out in pain and fell from mid-air.

Fortunately, Chen Ran was right behind her and reached out in time to catch her.

"Lord God's peculiar taste..." Heart of the Corrupted Skadi murmured at this moment. "I thought the outside was a more vast ocean, but I didn't expect it to be Lord God's fish tank."

"I'm actually a bit curious now, what does my living room look like in your eyes."

Chen Ran, like picking up a pitiful little kitten, lifted Heart of the Corrupted Skadi, who was only the size of a figure, with one hand.

Heart of the Corrupted Skadi didn't struggle. She just looked at him with her small eyes, as if she had been deceived.

"Doesn't your character setting... not match my memory?"

Chen Ran leaned closer to get a better look. Only then did he remember that in the settings, Heart of the Corrupted Skadi seemed to have a natural affinity for the Doctor? The reason was supposedly because the Doctor was from Pre-Civilization? A Pureblood Human?

And since Chen Ran was also human, was that why Heart of the Corrupted Skadi was so well-behaved?

He couldn't quite remember.

So Chen Ran, carrying Heart of the Corrupted Skadi, went to the desk, turned on the computer, and continued while browsing the wiki, "A more vast ocean? There are oceans, but they're too far away. Even a private jet would need to apply for a flight plan. But I do have a fish tank, do you want one?"

As he said this, Chen Ran had already picked up the phone and given instructions.

Before long, a fish tank large enough for Heart of the Corrupted Skadi to swim freely in was placed by the table.

Without Chen Ran needing to say anything, Heart of the Corrupted Skadi, who naturally loved water, saw the fish tank... or rather, the water in the tank, and floated over herself. She took off her shoes and socks, tested the water with her toes a few times, and then with a splash, submerged herself.

After dancing gracefully in the water for a while, Heart of the Corrupted Skadi looked up and saw Chen Ran, her Lord God, standing before the fish tank, holding a small biscuit.

"I feel like I've raised a hamster. Want a biscuit? I can't think of what else to feed you for the time being."

After all, in Chen Ran's impression, Sea Creatures seemed to eat anything.

Heart of the Corrupted Skadi didn't know what Chen Ran was thinking. She simply reached out her small hand and took the 'small biscuit,' which was half her size.

After taking a small bite, which successfully left a minor scratch on the biscuit, Heart of the Corrupted Skadi looked at Chen Ran, then at the biscuit in her hand:

"Lord God is a kind-hearted being."

The moment Heart of the Corrupted Skadi formed this impression of Chen Ran, the entire Great Swarm, through the Hive Cluster Mind, received this viewpoint.

"You have captured Skadi and confined her in your fish tank, intending to make her one of your collections."

"Your Morality -1."

"However, since you have no Morality, you are currently in debt."

"You have obtained a decorative fish: Skadi (Red Version)."

Chen Ran: "?"

The moment Heart of the Corrupted Skadi took the biscuit, a semi-transparent pop-up window, like a game prompt, suddenly appeared before Chen Ran's eyes.

Chen Ran was just wondering if this thing was actually his golden finger system, but when he saw the text clearly, he couldn't help but feel his vision go black.

But before Chen Ran could say anything more, the semi-transparent pop-up window began to flash again:

"Through your exquisite eloquence in coaxing young ladies, you have successfully gained +1 favorability with Skadi."

"Skadi (Red Version) has shared a pose with you."

"You have obtained: Hive Cluster Mind (Sea Creature Version)."

"Through Hive Cluster Mind (Sea Creature Version), you have gained a new ability:"

"Breathe with Gills."

Chen Ran: "..."

Can I return this?

003. Heart of the Corrupted Skadi: Who isn't a little orca waiting to die?

"Hoo..."

Chen Ran wiped his face with a towel.

"Confirmed, the so-called new ability is the ability to breathe in water, or... it's like taking a permanent water-breathing potion?"

"But the problem is, why did this pop-up window use the phrase 'Breathe with Gills'?"

Could it be that Heart of the Corrupted Skadi's so-called shared pose actually just threw all the Sea Creatures' abilities into a gacha pool, and his so-called new ability was just a random draw from that pool?

After all, the next thing after "Breathe with Gills," Chen Ran could only think of "Breathe with Lungs"...

What kind of fodder for polluting the gacha pool?

"Or, is this pop-up window just playing a meme? Playing the Merlin meme from FGO?"

But doesn't that mean I'm trash?

Impossible, I'm such a law-abiding, good young man, I don't touch gambling or drugs.

Chen Ran was now certain that this semi-transparent pop-up window that kept flashing was his golden finger system... well, probably.

After all, the fact that it started with "Breathe with Gills" made Chen Ran feel that this thing wasn't very reliable.

"But the next steps are very clear."

First, figure out how this planet model came to life.

Second, since one planet model could come to life, could a second one? And since this is the Sea Creature world-ending timeline, can we roll a normal timeline?

Third, if the abilities I obtained were really randomly drawn from the Sea Creature gacha pool, I need to find a way to whale my way through the pool.

With his goals set, Chen Ran turned his head and looked at Heart of the Corrupted Skadi, who was only the size of a figure.

After all, the planet model had been there for a long time without any movement, but Heart of the Corrupted Skadi... was holding her biscuit and doing a backstroke in the fish tank, just short of blowing bubbles for fun.

"What's wrong?" Chen Ran walked over and poked Heart of the Corrupted Skadi's little belly with his finger: "You look like you're feeling a bit down. Are you dissatisfied with your current living environment?"

After speaking, Chen Ran poked Heart of the Corrupted Skadi's little belly again.

Because, honestly, it felt pretty good.

"Lord God."

Heart of the Corrupted Skadi wasn't annoyed, she just looked at him with her ethereal gaze: "You are very generous, and the water is very warm, but... in the eyes of Lord God, what is the meaning of the existence of the Great Swarm?"

Heart of the Corrupted Skadi... no, or rather Isabella, one of the Four Great Primordials, who represents and governs the authority of "Migration," her actions are to expand territory and plunder resources.

Everything is for the continuation of the Great Swarm.

This is why, after Heart of the Corrupted Skadi destroyed all of Terra, she chose to ascend to the stars, seeking greater territory and more resources.

But ascension was just a scam, the entire universe was Lord God's playground, and whether it was her or the Sea Creatures, they were all just playthings in Lord God's hands.

When she ascended, Lord God, like catching a little hamster, caught her, gave her water as warm as a mother's embrace, and gave her enough food to eat her fill.

Charity? Reward? Or just for fun?

Heart of the Corrupted Skadi didn't understand.

She didn't have human thoughts, nor would she fall into emo.

Heart of the Corrupted Skadi was just wondering, after always executing the command "Everything is for the continuation of the Great Swarm," what should she do now that she found this command had no meaning at all?

She was completely like a machine.

Then, Heart of the Corrupted Skadi felt Lord God rub her little head again with his fingertips.

Looking up, Heart of the Corrupted Skadi saw the Lord God, radiating a warm white light, seeming to show pity.

But Chen Ran was actually pitying himself.

Because the so-called Hive Cluster Mind (Sea Creature Version) had exerted its effect at this moment.

"Heart of the Corrupted Skadi: The order has been executed. What's next?"

"Heart of the Corrupted Skadi: Please issue your command."

Heart of the Corrupted Skadi's thoughts and feelings were transmitted into Chen Ran's mind through the hive cluster mind.

If it were just her thoughts, it would be fine, but after Heart of the Corrupted Skadi said this—

Tens of thousands of Sea Creatures behind her also began to repeat, like a broken record, "What's next? What's next? What's next?"

Chen Ran: "?"

Can this be turned off?

He felt like his head was buzzing.

"You can't stand the repetitive behavior of your idiotic group members and decide to use your privilege as the group owner."

"You have activated the Great Silence (mute all members)."

"The world has suddenly become quiet. Now only you and the administrators can speak freely."

That semi-transparent pop-up box flashed perfectly before Chen Ran's eyes.

Then, the swarm of Sea Creatures that had been repeating everything all at once fell silent.

Chen Ran: "..."

Did you include me in that curse too?

Never mind, this pop-up box was reliable for once.

Chen Ran shook his ears before looking back at Heart of the Corrupted Skadi, who was floating on her back. "It's all for the continuation of the Great Swarm, right? Then what is the continuation of the Great Swarm for?"

"For survival," Heart of the Corrupted Skadi replied truthfully.

"Then what is survival? Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation? Not worrying about eating and drinking?"