Chapter 444

Chapter 444: The Way to Break the Stalemate

The will of the mycelium is a consciousness born from a fungal-type organism after extensive proliferation.

It originates from every mycelium, from each cellular structure within the vast system. It is both singular and myriad.

This collective consciousness enables it to devise optimal solutions when confronting most challenges. The innumerable individuals that can never be entirely eradicated allow it to glean lessons from every failure.

It can perpetually evolve, learn, and iterate, yet there is one limitation—

The objective nature of its birth and existence dictates that even if the mycelium opts to diversify its consciousness, it cannot deceive itself.

Thus, when Clotho declares that it cannot accomplish something, it genuinely cannot.

Even when the three consciousnesses merge into one and engage in the most rigorous self-examination, they reach the same conclusion.

This marks the first time it has experienced an emotion known as confusion.

This emotion has been felt numerous times in the dreams of humans, yet it has always eluded its comprehension.

Before realizing its limitations, it had believed itself to be omnipotent.

But why is that so?

Despite possessing such formidable capabilities for learning and evolution, it had never conceived a method to manipulate tools over the past several decades.

And when it finally devised this method, it discovered that no matter how strenuously it tried, it could not achieve it.

It felt a sense of helplessness, as though bound by invisible chains.

It gained a more objective understanding of the "self."

Though it did not fully grasp the reasons, the will of the mycelium understood that the only way to progress was through assimilation.

Only by integrating something into itself could it be utilized; it could not be controlled as a mere tool.

The Supreme Will split once more, and three distinct consciousnesses emerged in the sea of consciousness.

Due to the emotions of the complete form, Atropos, Clotho, and Lachesis were currently in low spirits.

"It seems your first plan cannot proceed,"

Lachesis said:

"We must devise a new strategy. What is your second plan?"

Atropos replied:

"I had considered the possibility of failure but did not anticipate it would be due to our inability to execute it.

"The second plan is essentially a contingency for the first plan in case of unforeseen issues. It appears it can be expedited now.

"I believe that in response to humanity’s current rapid advancement, we must utilize certain underground materials."

"Are you mad?!"

Clotho and Lachesis exclaimed in unison.

As fragments of the Supreme Will, they share memories from before their division and are acutely aware of the potential repercussions that consuming such substances could have on the entire ecosystem.

When the mycelium first arrived on this planet, it had not yet mastered the ability to spread a mycelium mat and could only acquire more genetic samples through constant movement, experimenting incrementally.

At that time, it had encountered that mysterious gray-black substance.

After purifying the mineral residue with its own abilities, the remaining organic matter became a great temptation for the mycelium.

After all, it needed sufficient nutrients for its growth at that time.

However, after a small intake, it felt pain emanating from its very origin.

The toxins in that substance were beyond what it could endure, and after cautious testing, it abandoned the idea of using that material in large quantities.

Now, Atropos proposed this audacious idea once again.

After calming down slightly, Clotho inquired:

"You must have some basic concepts in mind. We cannot endlessly absorb that substance to grow; it would be self-destructive."

"Yes, I gleaned some insights from the last human attack," Atropos replied.

"There are two methods. One is to have Clotho evolve in the corresponding direction, filtering and purifying that biomass by nurturing extraordinary beasts. We can supplement the biomass by recycling the bodies of the extraordinary beasts.

"If we are concerned that we cannot purify it in one go, we can produce more extraordinary beasts for secondary filtration. In any case, we must reduce the toxicity of that substance to a level we can tolerate.

"The other method is to split off a new consciousness, allowing Lachesis to erode its will, and then completely sever the connection with it.

"After it consumes a large amount of that biomass and enters a weakened state, we directly retrieve it.

"This is how we can solve the current predicament. What do you think?"

As soon as Atropos finished speaking, the other two consciousnesses fell into silent contemplation.

There is no free lunch; no matter which method is chosen, the will of the mycelium must inevitably invest resources.

For this collective organism, what they refer to as property is essentially organic matter.

Atropos was like a stockbroker, pitching to its two clients.

And as everyone knows, such matters often emphasize benefits while rarely mentioning risks.

But the will of the mycelium cannot deceive each other; they naturally understood the potential disasters that could arise from such actions.

Time in the sea of consciousness held no meaning, and after an unknown period, the two consciousnesses responded:

"Let’s give it a try."

"Which plan?"

"All of them."

The three consciousnesses reached a consensus. Clotho began the process of nurturing and evolving, while Lachesis prepared to split off a small part of itself and personally erode its potential instincts.

As for Atropos, it returned to its original position and continued analyzing the abilities it had yet to learn.

In the Misty Forest to the west of Hope City, new beast cocoons began to appear among the gaps of the towering Giant Trees.

But this time, the cocoons had no special color; they were all a grayish hue like the surrounding bark.

The creatures inside seemed particularly strange; they had a small head, but their mouthparts occupied half of the space.

Their limbs were short and weak, while their bodies appeared to have undergone special treatment, covered in tiny scales like a balloon that could expand ten or a hundred times.

The simplicity of this creature’s design was evident, and thankfully Clotho chose not to produce them in large quantities.

Soon, the first batch of over a hundred extraordinary beasts broke free from the cocoons with their short, thick limbs.

Though their muscles were not strong, their round bodies ensured they could fall from a high position with little injury.

A large amount of gray-white spore mist quickly entered their mouths and noses, causing the once vacant eyes of the extraordinary beasts to gradually turn a grayish-red mix.

Summoned by the voice in their minds, they began to move in the same direction, using their short limbs to reach the edge of a bottomless large crater.