A person's "weight" was greater.
When attached to a cat and a colony of bacteria, the dominant consciousness was that of the cat. Xiao Bai was also a cat.
But when attached to a group of people and a cat, the dominant consciousness became human. Xiao Bai became human as well.
Without realizing it, Xiao Bai's way of thinking had become human.
It had actually begun to understand what these researchers were doing.
"They, too, are working for humanity's future."
But understanding was one thing. Xiao Bai still wanted to leave this place.
It finally understood where that oppressive feeling came from.
It was the feeling that arose when "freedom" was restricted.
When it had been a cat, that feeling had been faint. But as the weight of "humans" grew greater and greater, the feeling became increasingly severe.
Still, it needed the institution's power to extend its body, so it could only patiently remain where it was.
Time passed quickly. A few more years went by, and Xiao Bai's range had expanded to cover an entire city.
With its help, the humans of that city achieved "Relic Cost Transfer Payment" for the first time.
The entire city erupted in celebration, rejoicing that humanity's dream of conquering the Abyss had taken a huge step forward.
Only by conquering Relics could they conquer the Abyss, and now they had taken that step.
Countless humans marched through the city, loudly praising the institution's contributions. They used Relics freely, sending fireballs and smoke into the sky above the city, setting off colored lights atop buildings. "Special effects" flew everywhere, strange sounds rang without end, and humanity's joy reached Xiao Bai. It, too, felt incomparably proud.
When the joy reached its peak, it became confused again.
"Didn't I want freedom?"
"Why do I feel