Chapter 139 Personal morphotype
I almost immediately picked the fertility upgrade. The stamina bonuses were nice, but morphotyping was more important, especially in the short-term. And the more direct progeny I and Ambrosia had, the more morphotyping candidates there were.
I put the last point into endurance, too.
However, my luck with cool genes has run out.
〔For improving endurance, you have a choice of next genes: 'Fat Padding', 'Increased Pain Threshold', and 'Grass Digestion'.〕
〔Fat Padding: allows to accumulate fat padding by overeating, which slightly increases defense and maximum health.〕
〔Increased Pain Threshold: greatly improves pain tolerance.〕
〔Grass Digestion: allows digesting grass and tree leaves for nutrients.〕
Although I'd love to have more health, I didn't want to be fat for its sake! Pain tolerance didn't sound game-changing, either.
This left only the last gene.
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"Eating grass and leaves? Like caterpillars?" Workharder shook her head. "Sure, there are a lot of leaves around, but they taste worse than the lowest-quality raw pollen!"
Ambrosia gave her a disapproving look.
"We eat what we have. Since when you grew so picky, Workharder?"
"Grass isn't so bad. There are salads out there! Besides, I bet grass will taste good with this gene."
Not to mention, it was one of the prerequisites for the mysterious but enticing 'Absolute Omnivore' gene.
"I'm not picky, Queen Ambrosia! It's better to eat grass than to starve, sure. But I'm convinced that it's still the worst food out there. I hope we won't all move to grass-eating…"
I gave her an encouraging smile.
"It won't be so terrible, I'm sure."
With the 'Grass Digestion' gene, the attribute points ended. Now I just had to update the Beemarine morphotype with all the accumulated gene points.
I opened the morphotypes panel, already imagining how I threw out something less relevant to stack a bazillion points into venom potency.
〔Beemarine〕
〔Gene points〕: 28 / 37
Faster Regeneration X (MAX)
Fast Learner V
Thick Skin V (MAX)
Venom Resistance V (MAX)
Flying Carriers
Throwing Wrists
Danger-Averse Reflexes
〔〕〔〕〔〕
Other genes I had were also written below, available for addition. I waved my finger in the air for a moment.
'I already have 9 points from the "Claws III", "Perfect Memory" and the latest five genes, but venom resistance can definitely lose at least a point…'
However, when I reached for the "-" button, I realized it was grayed out.
'Huh? What the hell?'
<You can't remove a gene that was already added to the morphotype, user. You can only add new ones.>
I gaped in shock. My Council looked at me with slight concern, but they were used to me spacing out into the system and waited for me to finish the internal dialog.
'What?! This is bullshit! You made this entire tutorial earlier and missed this *incredibly* important detail, system? You gotta be kidding me!' I waved my arms in agitation. 'Admit it, you just made this rule up right now to mess with me! Or… or the Goddess of Bees, this bitch!'
The system didn't reply.
In my experience, this meant that either it didn't have an answer, or it wasn't meant for my ears.
'Well, it doesn't matter. Whether your tutorials are shit, or the entire design of this system is lacking… I will blame the Goddess of Bees. She deserves it, and more.' I thought, nodding to myself.
I just had to work with what I had, as always. And if I ever made mistakes, I could blame them on her and have peace of mind no matter what!
'But this will make things more complicated. I have 9 points to spread on new genes—if I want to give Beemarines extra-potent venom, they definitely can't have any faster development genes.'
I put the points the best I could.
〔Beemarine〕
〔Gene points〕: 37 / 37
Faster Regeneration X (MAX)
Fast Learner V
Thick Skin V (MAX)
Venom Resistance V (MAX)
Increased Venom Potency VII
Detachable Stinger II
Flying Carriers
Throwing Wrists
Danger-Averse Reflexes
〔〕〔〕〔〕
Although the 7th tier of venom potency wasn't as good as the 10th… It was still good. And 'Detachable Stinger II' meant that Beemarines will be able to use it more than once.
〔Increased Venom Potency VII: increases damage of venom by 350%.〕
However, before I saved the morphotype, I couldn't help but ask:
'System, the morphotype slots are pretty rare, aren't they? I didn't get a new one even at the development level increase. Are you SURE there's no way to reset it?'
'Continue the world conquest, user, and earn more achievements to unlock more system features.'
What a puzzling answer. I assumed that there was a way, after all, even if unlocking it might require a lot of time.
Cheered up, I saved the morphotype.
"Well, that's done! Bloodhero, the Beemarines will need special training from now to learn how to deal with their stingers. And, Things-Things, you wanted to say something impor—"
<Congratulations, user! For creating a morphotype with over 35 gene points, you got a new achievement: "Striving for Perfection"! Your reward: 'Personal Morphotype' ability.>
〔Personal Morphotype: allows creating a personal morphotype, which will be automatically applied to yourself, but can't be applied to others. This morphotype has twice the basic limit of gene points, but all resulting genes will be special abilities instead.〕
Huh? Twice the basic limit?!
"Father?" Things-Things leaned forward and waved her antennae at me. "Father, are you hearing? Can I speak? It *is* definitely important! But it can wait, yes-yes."
"Y-yeah, I just have to deal with one small thing…"
'System, so this ability will give me extra morphotype just for myself with… 74 gene points? But they won't be transferred to others, right? Since they won't be my actual genes, just abilities.'
There didn't seem to be much distinction between abilities and genes most of the time. If someone had something, they had it.
<Yes, user. All changes given by morphotypes won't affect your genetic makeup. Otherwise, the personal morphotype obeys the same rules.>
I nodded, frowning.
This was… an incredible opportunity! And one that put a proportional responsibility on my shoulders.
If I fucked things up now, who knows when I will be able to un-fuck them? But if I use this right…
I grinned.
I will become incredibly OP!
What do you think?
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