With the latest gene additions, I had 51 gene points for regular morphotypes and 102 points for my own. Or, since I couldn't remove the already existing abilities… Just 5 and 10 points I could assign, respectively.
I stared at my list of genes, knowing that I needed to put at least 3-5 points into telepathy (enough to get the mind reading), but also wanting to put as much as possible into flight speed (gotta go fast!).
'System, can you tell what my upgraded abilities do before I put points into them? You know, to make my life easier and save from having to put a point, save morphotype, and look at what it gives now?'
'Damn. I take my words about you getting better back.'
I had to do it the hard way.
The first two upgrades just improved my range of sending thoughts, but "Telepathy IV" finally gave mind reading—at the range of touching.
Useless.
I upgraded it to "Telepathy V", and went to check out the scaling for flight upgrades.
It turned out to be linear—and ended at only 5th tier.
I saved my personal morphotype for the last ti.
〔Personal Morphotype〕
〔Gene points〕: 102 / 102
Increased Venom Potency XXX (MAX)
Increased Fertility X (MAX)
Faster Regeneration X (MAX)
Electrical Charge X (MAX)
Thick Skin V (MAX)
Olfactory Perception V
Improved Immunity IV
Fast Learner IV
Detachable Stinger III
Improved tabolism I
Claws I
Reduced Sleep I
Perfect mory
Grass Digestion
Technology: Scientific thod
Flying Carriers
Throwing Wrists
Danger-Averse Reflexes
Slow-Twitch Muscles
at Digestion
Telepathy V
Flight V (MAX)
〔〕〔〕〔〕
Finally, I stretched my wings and my limbs. When I turned around, I saw my wings changed shape a little—they beca longer and narrower.
My girls were talking to each other, comnting on the changes.
"Father, you can talk to dragons now? Will you ride them every ti you leave the hive?"
'This wing shape will make Father faster? What if I were to just cut a bee's wings into that shape? Very carefully… No, I must try it on sothing like a fly first.'
'Father is so great… Too bad Mother doesn't have a personal morphotype, too. She deserves it!'
"Show us! Show us how fast you can fly, Father!"
A mont later, I realized that half of what I heard was actually thoughts. Too late—I was already giving Tabletina a suspicious glare.
She was too busy staring at my wings to notice.
"No experinting on bees. Until you succeed on flies, at least." I rembered these disgusting creatures and winced. "You can cut all the flies you want, Tabletina."
The girl smiled at .
"Thank you, Father. This project won't distract my Physicians from the more important things, of course."
'He really read her thoughts,' Amby's voice appeared in my thoughts. 'Incredible… But now the Council etings might get noisy, and I won't even be able to bring people to order. I can't stop them from thinking. How can we work like that?'
I grinned at Amby's frown, amused by her worrying about such a minor problem.
"I'm pretty sure I can filter the noise out. Carries-Voices needed to focus intentionally to hear most thoughts, so it should work the other way around." I waved my hand in dismissal. "Let quickly upgrade my other morphotypes and we can go watch my speed!"
"Yes, we already got distracted," Ambrosia said, smiling back at . "I wonder if you can fly faster than a dragon now."
"I doubt it. They are huge and have 'Flight III'. But I'm definitely faster than a hornet now…"
My stats were equal or higher than those of a hornet in most things except defense.
〔Drone Bee〕
〔Na〕: Nectus Stingprince
〔Active title〕: Grand Strategist
〔Health〕: 40 / 40
〔Stamina〕: 50 / 50
〔Electrical charge〕: 100%
〔Attribute points〕: 0
〔Gene points〕: 51
〔Species〕: Common Honey Bee
〔Age〕: 405 d
〔Remaining lifespan〕: 1106 d
〔Attributes〕
> Strength: 39
> Agility: 44
> Endurance: 46
> Defense: 57
> Intelligence: 124
> Perception: 44
〔Special abilities〕
"Flight, Barbed Stinger, Horizontal Gene Transfer, Vertical Gene Transfer, Genetic Tree Prediction, Morphotyping Pheromones, Dominant Genes,
The Purest Empress (Ambrosia)"
〔Personal morphotype special abilities〕
Increased Venom Potency XXX (MAX), Increased Fertility X (MAX), Faster Regeneration X (MAX), Electrical Charge X (MAX), Thick Skin V (MAX), Olfactory Perception V, Improved Immunity IV, Fast Learner IV, Detachable Stinger III, Improved tabolism I, Claws I, Reduced Sleep I, Perfect mory, Grass Digestion, Technology: Scientific thod, Flying Carriers, Throwing Wrists, Danger-Averse Reflexes, Slow-Twitch Muscles, at Digestion, Telepathy V, Flight V (MAX)
〔Titles〕
Drone-Consort, Holand Protector, Grand Strategist, Titan Slayer
〔Genes〕
Increased Lifespan IV, Enhanced Strength III, Enhanced Endurance III, Enhanced Defense III, Enhanced Intelligence X, Technology: Primitive Containers, Danger-Averse Reflexes, Venom Resistance I, Heat Resistance II, at Digestion, Faster Regeneration II, Faster Youth Developnt I, Technology: Scientific thod, Flying Carriers, Throwing Wrists, Improved Immunity II, Fast Learner IV, Thick Skin III, Olfactory Perception V, Improved tabolism I, Claws III, Perfect mory, Increased Venom Potency I, Detachable Stinger I, Electrical Charge I, Grass Digestion, Increased Fertility V, Slow-Twitch Muscles, Reduced Sleep I, Chaotic Evolution I, Telepathy I, Shootable Stinger I, Flight II, Perfect Swarm Coordination
〔Morphotypes〕: 3 / 3
Personal morphotype, Beemarine, Beehound
〔〕〔〕〔〕
Other morphotypes were easier to put points in. As much as I wanted to give Beehounds telepathy, everybody got 'Flight V' instead.
Telepathy could wait until I got more gene points.
After this, I left the Council Chamber—and imdiately felt the boost in speed.
My wings carried forward so swiftly that as soon as I flew out of the room, I crashed into a bee who was flying by, and then into a comb cell on the opposite side of the hallway!
The poor girl squealed in fright, but thankfully, caught herself before she smashed into anyone else (or worse, the floor!).
I pulled myself off from the broken wax wall, ignoring the alard gasps and shouts of a few dozen bees who imdiately appeared on the crash site.
"I… I will need to get used to this. And do it fast." My wings twitched reflexively. "Helping-Hands! Helping-Hands, dear, can you please clear a way outside for before I crash into more people?"
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