Reaching the office, I paused before the armored glass window that stretched across the room.
Beyond it, the orbital base bustled with activity. Drones and newts flowed through the food court in coordinated streams, while cargo vehicles and haulers glided along designated lanes toward their assigned docks. Further out, logistic teams worked tirelessly, directing the constant movement of goods and personnel with practiced efficiency.
The sight was a reminder of how far the hub had come.
By now, I had developed the orbital station to mirror the colony below. Both possessed dedicated food production lines and fully established [Retail] centers, one on T1-01's surface and the other here in orbit. Once operational, the [Space Elevator] would be reserved primarily for celestium ferro-fluid shipments from the [Chemical Plants], as well as civilian and support personnel transfers.
With Evie's help, the entire system was running smoothly.
Satisfied, I turned toward my desk and was about to sit down when a notification suddenly flared across my vision.
[Mission Objective: Hunt a Darken Spawn]
Status: Completed
[Claim Reward]
[Reward: Gene Enhancer – Tier 2]
I had intended to check on them, but it seemed Kyndris and Evie had already succeeded in hunting the Darken Spawn.
The report could wait.
First, I keyed the office into DND mode.
Privacy fields snapped into place. The armorglass window darkened to reflective obsidian, cutting off the bustling orbital hub beyond. Sensor dampeners engaged a moment later, sealing the room from external observation. Only after the safeguards were active did I settle into the high-backed command chair, letting the station's faint mechanical hum fade into the background.
Then I claimed the reward.
A sleek blue injector materialized in my hand.
Its polished casing felt cool against my skin, perfectly balanced despite its compact size. Beneath the translucent surface, luminous blue fluid pulsed with a slow, rhythmic glow, as though the enhancer itself possessed a heartbeat.
Tier 2.
With this, I had bypassed the entire early exploration grind and advanced directly to the next stage. Still, as a veteran player, I considered it nothing extraordinary. By now, the truly aggressive players were probably already competing for Tier 3.
Before proceeding, I sent a brief notice to my units regarding the possibility of temporary incapacitation during the enhancement process. It had happened once before during Evie's synthetic integration. Fortunately, the lapse had lasted only a few moments and hadn't resulted in any accidents.
With that taken care of, I rolled up my sleeve.
The injector pressed against the inside of my forearm, targeting the optimal vascular channel for rapid absorption.
A moment later, it fired.
A sharp sting pierced my flesh.
I exhaled slowly.
The familiar heat arrived almost immediately, spreading from the injection site and racing through my veins. I'd already experienced a Gene Enhancer once before.
That knowledge didn't make enduring it any easier.
Liquid fire coursed through my body. Muscles tightened involuntarily as the enhancer spread deeper, reaching every corner of my system. I gripped the armrests and waited.
The first enhancement had taught me a valuable lesson: resisting was pointless.
Sweat beaded along my brow as the heat intensified. Beneath the burning came a deeper sensation, a mounting pressure that settled into muscle, tendon, and bone.
The Gene Enhancer wasn't merely strengthening me.
It was rewriting me.
Every fiber of my body adapted at an accelerated pace. Cells divided, mutated, and optimized according to a new genetic blueprint. What nature would have taken years to accomplish was being forced into mere minutes.
Then the real pain began.
“Damn it!”
Every altered gene, every reconstructed cell, seemed to activate at once. A violent tremor rippled through my body as pressure built beneath my skin, spreading through muscle, bone, and nerve alike. For a brief, agonizing moment, it felt as though my entire body was being stretched apart and compressed back together simultaneously.
There was only pain.
“Arghh!”
My vision blurred.
There was only the overwhelming sensation of change.
Then, just as abruptly as it had begun, it stopped.
The burning faded from my veins. The crushing pressure dissolved. My muscles relaxed, and cool air filled my lungs.
Silence.
A strange sense of clarity settled over me as my enhanced body stabilized.
Ding!
[New Genetic Abilities Unlocked!]
[Form Manipulation], [Draconic Lungs], [Synthetic Gestalt Domain], [Elven Mana Core]
Ding!
[Mission Updated!]
[Congratulations, Commander!]
Several system notifications appeared before me in rapid succession.
I couldn't help but smile.
That last message was unmistakably Evie's handiwork. The system had never bothered with congratulations before.
Phew...
I leaned back in my chair and wiped the sweat from my brow.
The enhancement process had left me feeling as though I'd just crawled out of a furnace. My clothes clung uncomfortably to my skin, damp with sweat.
Fortunately, the office had long since been converted into an all-purpose living space. My bedroom and private bath were located just beyond the adjoining door.
The mission could wait a few more minutes.
Right now, I need a shower.
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The hot water washed away the sweat, but not the lingering sensation of the enhancement. Even after the pain had faded, I could still feel a subtle warmth beneath my skin, as though my body was adjusting to its newly integrated genetics.
By the time I finished, the discomfort had mostly subsided.
After changing into a fresh set of clothes, I settled into a chair in my bedroom and opened my status screen.
[Name: Atlas]
[Gene Tier: 2]
[Origin: Atlas]
[Elven Language][Unit Shared]
[Description: Grants fluency in reading, writing, and speaking the Elven language.]
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[Draconic Strength][Unit Shared]
[Description: Significantly enhances physical strength through draconic genetic augmentation.]
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[Draconic Heat Resistance][Unit Shared]
[Description: Provides exceptional resistance to high temperatures, flames, and heat-based environments.]
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[Draconic Hardened Skin][Unit Shared]
[Description: Reinforces the skin with draconic traits, increasing durability and resistance to physical damage.]
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[Draconic Elven Night Vision][Unit Shared]
[Description: Enhances visual perception in low-light and nighttime conditions.]
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[Draconic Elven Longevity][Unit Shared]
[Description: Extends lifespan and slows the effects of aging through hybrid draconic and elven genetics.]
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[Draconic Wings][Unit Shared]
[Description: Grants the ability to manifest and utilize draconic wings for aerial mobility.]
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[Elven Nature Affinity][Unit Shared]
[Description: Increases sensitivity to natural energies and improves interaction with flora and nature-based phenomena.]
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[Eterna’s Blessing][Origin Exclusive]
[Description: A granted authority that allows the wielder to harness Eterna’s energy for base creation, unit creation, and territorial expansion, all bound to one’s Origin.]
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[Form Manipulation][Unit Shared]
[Description: Grants the ability to freely shift between compatible genetic templates currently integrated within the body.]
Available Forms:
[Human Form]
[Dragon Form]
[Elven Form]
[Atlas Form]
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[Draconic Lungs][Unit Shared]
[Description: A specialized respiratory organ derived from draconic genetics. Enables the generation and projection of Dragon Breath while significantly increasing respiratory capacity and resistance to airborne toxins.]
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[Origin Gestalt Domain][Origin Exclusive]
[Description: Grants the ability to create a synthetic cognitive space within the mind.]
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[Elven Mana Core][Unit Shared]
[Description: A biological mana-processing organ formed from elven genetic traits. Enables the absorption, storage, refinement, and manipulation of mana.]
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Most of the new abilities were relatively straightforward.
Form Manipulation was self-explanatory. Draconic Lungs effectively granted my units and me a powerful breath weapon, while the Elven Mana Core opened the door to an entirely new system of power.
Only one ability stood apart from the rest.
[Origin Gestalt Domain]
Unlike the others, this ability had never existed in the game.
Fortunately, the ability had already been integrated into my genetic structure. Somehow, I instinctively understood how to activate it.
I closed my eyes and focused on the ability.
The moment I did, reality seemed to blur.
My awareness detached from my physical body, and when my vision returned, I found myself standing within an endless white expanse.
Before I could examine my surroundings, countless streams of information flooded my senses.
My perspective fractured.
Suddenly, I was seeing through dozens of different viewpoints at once.
A drone patrolling an orbital ring.
A logistics unit unloading cargo.
A mining team operating deep beneath the surface.
Kyndris aboard her vessel.
Evie is overseeing ongoing operations.
For a brief moment, the overwhelming influx of sensory data threatened to drown me.
Then, just as quickly, my mind adapted.
The countless perspectives organized themselves into distinct threads, allowing me to focus on any one of them with a thought.
I froze.
"This..."
They were my units.
Or more accurately, I was connected to them.
Every synthetic under my command existed as a presence in this domain, their senses and status flowing through an invisible network converging here.
This wasn't merely a mind space.
It was a gestalt network.
"Hmm..."
If every synthetic under my command were connected through this domain, then communication should be possible as well.
I focused on Evie's presence among the countless threads.
The moment I reached out, one of the connections brightened.
A heartbeat later, a familiar figure materialized before me.
Evie blinked in surprise, her eyes darting across the white expanse.
"Oh? Commander, you're using the Network."
"You know how this works?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"Yes."
At my questioning look, she continued.
"What you possess is the Core Synthetic Mind Space, the origin point of the network. All synthetic units are capable of creating their own Synthetic Mind Spaces, but ours are far more limited."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Limited how?"
"Range and capacity."
As she spoke, a miniature white sphere appeared beside her.
"This is approximately the size of my personal Mind Space. I can use it to process information, coordinate nearby units, and establish localized connections. However, its range is restricted, and the number of simultaneous connections is limited."
The tiny sphere vanished.
Evie gestured toward the endless white expanse surrounding us.
"This domain is different. It belongs to an Origin."
I looked around at the seemingly infinite space.
Compared to the small sphere she had shown, the difference was absurd.
"The Core Synthetic Mind Space serves as the central node for all connected synthetic units. By linking through this network, communication becomes more efficient, data transfer improves, and coordination latency is reduced."
In other words, every synthetic under my command could operate as part of a unified network.
A true gestalt.
No wonder it hadn't existed in the game.
Back then, players interacted with the world through a screen from a third-person perspective. There was no way to experience something like this, a shared cognitive network connecting thousands of synthetic minds.
This wasn't simply a new ability.
It was an entirely new layer of command and control.
A thought suddenly crossed my mind.
"What happens to your body while we're talking in here?"
Evie blinked.
"That... well, Commander, since you pulled me into the Network directly, my primary body is currently in a low-activity state."
I frowned.
"So it's inactive?"
"Not exactly. Basic autonomous functions continue as normal, but my attention is focused here. However, there is a much more efficient method."
"A more efficient method?"
Evie nodded.
"Telepathic communication through the Network. Once a connection is established, you only need to think about your message. There is no need to actively summon us into the Core Mind Space unless a meeting or direct interaction is required."
I paused.
"So I can speak with any connected synthetic unit instantly?"
"Yes."
That was... absurdly useful.
The strategic implications were obvious.
Instant communication across fleets, colonies, orbital installations, and future star systems. No communication delays. No reliance on conventional channels.
A true command-and-control system.
Satisfied with the explanation, I had to release the connection.
She was managing a significant portion of our ongoing operations, and the last thing I wanted was to keep her occupied here any longer than necessary.
"We'll talk later. And good job on the hunt."
Evie shook her head.
"It was nothing. Vice Commander Kyndris did most of the work."
That sounded like her.
Despite everything she had accomplished, Evie rarely took credit for herself.
"Even so, well done."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you, Commander."
Her avatar gradually deconstructed into cascading streams of blue data before being absorbed back into the Network.
I'd commend Kyndris personally when the opportunity arose.
Alone once more within the endless white expanse, I turned my attention to the next matter.
The new mission wasn't a surprise. I already knew what needed to be done.
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[Mission Objective: Occupy a Tier 2 Territory Node and All Its Celestial Bodies]
[Reward: Gene Enhancer – Tier 3]
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Now that I had unlocked Genetic Tier 2, the overall combat potential of my forces had increased significantly. At the individual level, my units and I were finally comparable to the strongest NPCs found on Tier 2 worlds.
Of course, personal strength was only one aspect of power.
Equipment and industrial capacity mattered just as much. In those areas, we still had plenty of room to grow.
Fortunately, the next phase of expansion was already underway.
With Evie's assistance, multiple Forward Voyager vessels carrying observation drones had been dispatched beyond the system. Their mission was to locate and record stable jump coordinates, gradually expanding the Eternal Map with verified safe jump points.
Using FTL travel without confirmed coordinates was a gamble no sane commander would take.
A single mistake could place a vessel inside a star, on a collision course with a planet, or in the heart of a spatial anomaly. The risks far outweighed any potential gains.
There was also the matter of distance.
Our territory was currently anchored around Eternal Node #447,432, deep within the outer regions of the galaxy. The nearest Tier 2 territories, however, began at Eternal Node #100,000 and below.
If each Eternal Node truly represented an entire galactic sector, then the journey toward Tier 2 space would span hundreds of thousands of nodes. Even with FTL travel and an ever-expanding network of safe jump routes, reaching that destination would take time.
Until a reliable route was established, patience remained the wiser choice.
There was another limitation to consider.
Only an Origin or an Origin Unit could capture an Eternal Node. Since their numbers were extremely limited, every Origin Unit under my command was an invaluable strategic asset.
For the time being, I intended to have Kyndris and Evie secure the surrounding nodes while eliminating any Tier 1 Darken Spawns they encountered along the way.
Doing so would strengthen our territorial control while providing valuable combat experience for both Hero Units.
As for me, my focus would shift toward infrastructure.
The first planetary ring had already proven its worth. Rather than stopping there, I intended to establish additional layers of orbital defense around T1-01. Depending on resource availability, that could mean constructing two more planetary ring structures in the future.
Naturally, a project of that scale would require careful planning.
To streamline future expansion, I intended for the Research Sector to develop a standardized planetary ring template, complete with defensive emplacements, logistics hubs, shipyard integration nodes, and modular expansion sections.
Once finalized, future ring structures could be replicated far more efficiently.
Such defensive measures would become increasingly important in the future.
At present, distance provides a degree of natural protection. The vast gaps between Eternal Nodes and the limitations of FTL travel made large-scale incursions difficult.
That advantage would not last forever.
Once we secured Tier 4 and higher resource nodes and fully upgraded our civilization, our FTL technology would advance accordingly. At that point, distance would cease to be a meaningful barrier. So long as valid coordinates existed, fleets could traverse immense distances with relative ease.
When that day came, the security of our core worlds would depend not on distance, but on the strength of their defenses.
For now, however, those were plans for the future.
Setting the matter aside, I turned my attention back to the Synthetic Gestalt Domain.
Since I was already connected to the network, I decided to explore its capabilities further.
Countless threads of information stretched across the white expanse, each representing a connected unit somewhere within my territory. With a thought, I followed several of them, observing ongoing operations through their eyes.
Mining sites continued extracting resources.
Factories operated at full capacity.
Logistics teams moved supplies across the orbital hub with practiced efficiency.
Everything appeared to be running smoothly.
Then one particular thread caught my attention.
Through the perspective of a logistics staff member, I spotted two familiar figures entering the building.
Elyndra.
And the red-haired human woman accompanying her.
It seemed they were on their way to my office.