'Very well, the advanced synthesis talent is precisely as I anticipated; it will undoubtedly accelerate my blueprint advancement speed significantly. Furthermore, I shall now proceed to directly unlock the next Sub-Talent, the Neural Nexus. It is highly probable that this talent is intrinsically linked to the neural link technology I was diligently developing prior to my reincarnation.'
Keon mused to himself, his optical sensors briefly lingering on the formidable Level 20 requirement displayed beneath the Neural Nexus Sub-Talent. Without a moment's hesitation, he decisively selected the unlock option positioned beside it.
"Do you wish to utilize an unlocking token for Sub Talent: Neural Nexus [Y/N]?"
A notification instantly flashed across his visual display. With a calm and resolute click, he affirmed his choice by selecting "Y".
[Sub Talent: Neural Nexus (Unlocked)]
Sub-Talent: Neural Nexus
Establish a profound and intricate connection with all imprinted machines, thereby enabling seamless remote control and operational capabilities across vast distances.
Keon's optical lenses brightened considerably as he absorbed the detailed description of the Neural Nexus. It was not far removed from his initial hypothesis. His immediate task now was to activate this powerful talent and meticulously imprint all the machines he had created, establishing a robust and reliable connection that would allow him to control them remotely from any location.
'This appears to be a quantum or soul-based imprint,' Keon theorized, a new wave of understanding washing over his mechanical consciousness. 'There seems to be no discernible limit to the connection distance. Even if my original one-inch frame were to physically separate from these exoshells, my operational force would not diminish, as I would remain wirelessly connected to them, controlling them remotely from any distance. This extraordinary talent will undoubtedly prove invaluable in commanding my future mechanical army.'
A speculative thought flickered through his mind, and he promptly activated the Neural Nexus talent. Immediately, he felt a distinct and profound connection with Exoshell 1.0, a subtle yet undeniable link forming between his core and the machine.
[Energy -1Wh]
He registered a slight surprise, noting that maintaining this initial connection was consuming 1Wh of energy per hour. As the neural link expanded and spread to encompass Exoshell 2.0, the energy consumption predictably increased.
[Energy -2Wh]
Finally, as he successfully imprinted and connected with Exoshell 3.0, the energy expenditure rose once more.
[Energy -3Wh]
'I had anticipated that maintaining these connections would require energy,' Keon reflected, 'but I honestly did not expect the consumption to be so remarkably low. This is likely due to the exceptional compatibility of these Sub-Talents with my unique mechanical physiology. All talent usage consumes a very small fraction of my overall energy reserves, allowing my main frame to effortlessly connect with three to five machines simultaneously for extended periods without any significant concern. More importantly, I retain the crucial ability to choose whether the energy required for these connections should be deducted from my main frame's reserves or directly from the power source of the machine to which I am connected.'
Keon continued his internal monologue, then attempted to scrutinize the nature of the imprint itself. However, beyond sensing special connection points on these exoshells that allowed him to override, connect, and control them, he found himself unable to trace or observe the imprint's precise shape or form.
'It is likely as I surmised,' his reasoning thoughts coalesced within his core. 'These imprints are special quantum or soul-related marks, which simply cannot be traced, observed, or analyzed by my current sensor capabilities. I can only perceive them and remember these unique imprints as encrypted nodes, forming a new, intricate neural network. It's akin to branches extending from a central tree, with my main frame serving as the sturdy trunk, and my core acting as the deep, foundational root.'
With this understanding firmly established, he shifted his attention, his optical sensors sweeping towards the direction of the advanced synthesis talent.
'It is now imperative to upgrade my technological foundation,' Keon declared internally. 'Firstly, I will focus on material technology, synthesizing new alloys that are far more effective and versatile than the current titanium-carbon composite alloy. Following that, I will develop and synthesize a new, more advanced battery system to significantly upgrade my existing energy cores. Finally, with these foundational improvements in place, I will embark on designing sophisticated machines and satellites that will aid me in thoroughly exploring and unraveling the profound mysteries of this enigmatic planet.'
Adhering to his meticulously crafted plan, he began the intricate process of creating the basic blueprints for various material structures, encompassing different types of metals, hydrocarbons, and magnets. He then proceeded to synthesize pairs of these fundamental blueprints using the advanced synthesis talent.
'This advanced synthesis sub-talent is efficiently utilizing my own processing power and energy,' Keon observed, a flicker of satisfaction in his mechanical core, 'but it does so with far greater efficiency than if I were to manually perform these syntheses myself.'
As he continued his work, Keon meticulously analyzed the five new alloy and metal blueprints that suddenly manifested in his memory, each accompanied by a detailed description:
...
Zirconium-Titanium-Carbon Alloy (Zirco-Titanium Carbide)
Blueprint: A carefully proportioned blend of zirconium, titanium, and carbon, designed to form a denser, more inherently stable carbide lattice structure.
Description: This advanced alloy boasts significantly enhanced durability, exceptional heat resistance, and an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideally suited for deployment in the most demanding and harsh environmental conditions.
...
Chromium-Titanium-Carbon Composite
Blueprint: Chromium atoms are precisely integrated into a titanium-carbon composite, resulting in the formation of a finely dispersed chromium-carbide phase throughout the material.
Description: This composite exhibits markedly improved surface hardness and superior abrasion resistance, rendering it perfect for applications such as cutting tools, advanced armor plating, or any components subjected to high-wear scenarios.
...
Manganese-Titanium-Carbon Alloy
Blueprint: Manganese is incorporated to significantly enhance the atomic bonding within the titanium-carbon lattice, thereby promoting the formation of a remarkably fine-grained and uniform structure.
Description: This alloy achieves a commendable balance of both strength and ductility, offering robust resistance to impact forces and fatigue, making it an excellent choice for critical structural components.
...
Nickel-Titanium-Carbon Super-Composite
Blueprint: Nickel forms a crucial binder phase within the titanium-carbon composite, effectively reinforcing the entire structural integrity of the material.
Description: This super-composite delivers superior performance at elevated temperatures and possesses enhanced toughness, proving invaluable for components that must endure extreme thermal stress and demanding operational conditions.
...
Vanadium-Titanium-Carbon Alloy
Blueprint: Vanadium facilitates the creation of fine, evenly distributed carbide precipitates uniformly dispersed within the titanium-carbon matrix.
Description: This alloy provides increased strength and exceptional creep resistance, making it highly suitable for load-bearing structures that are subjected to prolonged stress at higher temperatures.
...
After a thorough and comprehensive analysis of the five newly synthesized alloy blueprints and their accompanying descriptions, Keon's thoughts flickered once again, a strategic vision forming in his core.
'While each of these five composites and alloys excels in its specific aspects,' he reasoned, 'they are unlikely to perform optimally in this harsh environment when utilized separately. Perhaps merging and synthesizing their collective properties into a single, comprehensive composite alloy would achieve the desired outcome. Furthermore, these essential elements can be found in abundant quantities within the sand surrounding me, ensuring that I will encounter no difficulties in constructing new machines or even upgrading my existing exoskeletons with these superior materials. I should also integrate silver, gold, copper, and Monazite into this new alloy to enhance its energy conductivity, thereby creating a truly perfect masterpiece specifically tailored for this unique world environment.'
Having reached a decisive conclusion, he reactivated the advanced synthesis talent once more. With meticulous precision, he selected the five newly synthesized blueprints, along with the blueprints for silver, gold, and copper, to be merged into a single, ultimate composite.
In the ensuing moment, Exoshell 3.0 froze completely, becoming as still and unmoving as a statue. Even Keon's main frame, nestled within, became utterly inert, as if his very breath had been forcibly taken away. If an observer were present to scrutinize his main core, they would witness its processing speed slowing dramatically, its internal light dimming to a faint flicker, much like the struggling heartbeat of a patient clinging to life support.
'What is happening?' Keon's thoughts, now sluggish and distorted, reverberated within his core. 'It appears my processing capabilities have been severely overloaded. I earnestly hope that no irreparable damage occurs. In the future, I must exercise extreme caution when utilizing this advanced synthesis talent, and I will refrain from attempting to synthesize such complex, advanced technologies before I have successfully invented dedicated chips for more efficient data processing.'
Keon's slowed thoughts echoed within his core. He felt an overwhelming sense of confinement, utterly unable to move either his main frame or his exoshells. He could only receive fragmented information from a single optical lens on his main frame, as all his other sensors had ceased functioning entirely.
As time crawled by, each passing second felt like an agonizing minute, then an hour, to his consciousness and soul. It was as if his perception of time had been stretched and distorted to an unbearable degree.
…