The venom potency upgrade was absolutely useless, so the choice was out of two options. To control fire *and* lightning (my chest "slot" was already taken by the electricity organ, but I still had the stomach slot!), or to sting from a distance?
"What a hard choice…"
"The fire-breathing gene will make our future soldiers deadly against humans! Fire is their big weakness," Bloodhero said.
"The ability to shoot our stingers will reduce casualties among soldiers, though. Most of our soldiers die during or right after an attempt to sting someone," Tabletina countered. "Examination of dead bodies from the battles with humans showed mostly crushing damage."
I nodded gratefully to Tabletina.
"Ah, yes, I asked you to gather statistics for Bloodhero *precisely* so we would know what weaknesses to cover in the future. Besides, humans aren't our only enemies."
Nodding to myself, I picked the "Shootable Stinger I" gene and moved to the next attribute point.
〔For improving agility, you have a choice of next genes: 'Quiet Flight I', 'Flight II', and 'Improved Climbing'.〕
〔Quiet Flight I: decreases noise from flying by 50%.〕
〔Flight II: increases base flying speed by 100%.〕
〔Improved Climbing: increases the base climbing speed to the same speed as running. Requires at least Claws II or equivalent climbing gear to work.〕
I quietly whistled at what I've seen.
"Girls, today must be Christmas… Look at this!" I shook my head in disbelief and remembered that they can't see the system panels. "Alright, just listen. There's 'Flight II'! That's not even a question—I'm taking that."
I wrote out the descriptions for my Advisers, and they gasped in shock, too.
'Fight II' was a trait I've already seen on murder hornets. Although I was sure that some of their speed came from sheer size, the system's numbers still told me all I needed to know.
"Incredible… This will help us expand even faster and farther!" Workharder said, with eyes glowing with excitement. "I will start planning scouting expeditions to the farthest places! Maybe we will even find the end of the world…"
"There's no 'end of the world', Workharder. It's round. But plan the scouting expeditions, absolutely…"
At the casual mention of my "pearl of wisdom", Researchina perked up like a bloodhound.
"The world is round, Father? But circles have ends. Edges."
I waved my hands at her.
"No, round like a… Like my fist… if it was round… Anyway, if you walk in the same direction for long enough, you will just return to where you came from." I stared at the looks of intense thought on my girls' faces and sighed. "You don't need to think about it right now. Or anytime soon."
"Of course. I will ask you later, Father," agreed Researchina.
I mentally prepared to find something truly round in this place. Why didn't anyone invent balls yet?
I picked the flight gene upgrade, sighed about the other good ones that I lost (that quiet flight would fit amazing on Beehounds) and moved on again.
〔For improving endurance, you have a choice of next genes: 'Photosynthesis I', 'Efficient Flight I', and 'Enhanced Endurance II->III'.〕
When I saw this, I didn't even need to read what the first two genes gave. It was, again, a choice without a choice (although photosynthesis was good, we didn't have a problem with food at the moment anyway).
But more stats was always the best!
The Council fully agreed.
And after I picked the 'Enhanced Endurance' upgrade, we went back to the issue we started with.
"The defense genes, so far, have been worse than most others." Tabletina raised a wax table full of writings in the air. "I have everything written down. I and Researchina have been preparing for this day, just in case you decide to put any attribute points into defense."
"But Tabletina! Father has been so lucky today—what if he will be even more lucky this time?" Things-Things protested.
"Father must choose based on *reason*, not *hope*," Tabletina countered.
"There's reason and balance in spreading points equally," Researchina said. "But is there any reason in your head, Things-Things?"
"Both of you forget that there's also the perception attribute," Tabletina said.
"Quiet, all of you! Don't lower yourself to throwing insults in mine and your father's presence!" Ambrosia's stern voice interrupted the growing squabble. "Although I agree with Tabletina, Necty. You still must go *against* luck."
"Well, I hope I will keep being lucky, actually! I want to put a point into agility and see if these cool genes show themselves to me again."
"I suppose there hadn't been any terrible genes in the agility pool, at least… It's not the worst choice.
I assigned the last attribute point.
〔For improving agility, you have a choice of next genes: 'Perfect Swarm Coordination', 'Runner Legs', and 'Adrenaline Gland'.〕
〔Perfect Swarm Coordination: further improves instinctive swarm coordination in the air, allowing swarm members to fly even in tight formations without interfering with each other.〕
〔Runner Legs: increases running speed by 10%.〕
〔Adrenaline Gland: in dangerous situations, an adrenaline gland increases movement speed and stamina consumption by 30% until stamina depletes.〕
"Damn, I jinxed myself. These all are… lame."
After I showed the genes to the Council, I was met with nods.
"Especially compared to ones from before…"
"Lame! Lame! Lame!" Things-Things said with the biggest enthusiasm. I was sure that she didn't fully understand what 'lame' even meant.
"You still must pick something, Nectus, so you can upgrade your morphotypes. Genes for all our future children…" Ambrosia gave me a long bedroom-eyes look.
I smiled uncontrollably, imagining what we would do later today. Amby was always the most passionate when I got genetic upgrades. Her nature was calling for my nature, and—
"Father, are you even here?" Researchina snapped.
"Ah! Yes. Sure. Well, the adrenaline gland is very useful, but it's a double-edged sword. A tired bee can become an easy prey. As for the others… Swarm coordination. Even train-pullers are walking, not running."
I picked the last gene—"Perfect Swarm Coordination"—and could finally move to morphotypes.
Starting with my own! Now that "Flight" was on my gene list, I could upgrade it… to infinity and beyond!