[Universe 5757]
"@8888888888, I am glad that you are among the survivors… I need your help."
Keon observed the notification that materialized before his vision, a thoughtful expression deepening on his face. He then composed a concise reply.
[Universe 8888888888]
"What kind of help?"
On the other side of cosmic communication, Universe 5757.
5757 sat within the confines of his dimly lit cave, his gaze fixed upon the incoming reply notification.
After reading the Keon reply, his gaze drifted to the shimmering damp of sand beside him, where several crystals, embedded within the granular expanse, emitted a soft, ethereal green fluorescence, casting a subtle glow on the cave's rough interior.
A flicker of hesitation crossed 5757's features before he responded, "I need a lot of sand, especially the crystals nestled within the sand… you have sent hundreds of these crystals with the sand you provided me before."
Keon's expression shifted from thoughtful to one of genuine surprise upon reading 5757's message.
A moment later, his mechanical mind began to process the implications, and he typed his return message.
"Do you mean quartz crystals? I have an abundance of these crystals, but I no longer require a resource extraction service. I have already discovered an efficient method to extract them myself."
Immediately, 5757's demeanor underwent a complete transformation as he absorbed Keon's response. With a palpable sense of urgency and anxiety, he hastily typed,
"Wait, if you provide me with the sand and crystals, I will gladly exchange them with you for the rare and unique products found in my world."
Keon's optical lenses flickered, analyzing the immediate and somewhat desperate reply from 5757. 'It seems this guy is genuinely distressed and anxious. I cannot discern the precise reason, but the sand I possess holds an extraordinary allure for him, particularly the quartz crystals… What peculiar effect do these quartz crystals produce in his world? It is evident he will not reveal this information if directly questioned. I must uncover the truth through alternative means. Anyway from his communication style, he appears to be rather straightforward.'
While Keon was engrossed in his deep analytical thoughts, 5757, on the other side of the universe, paced restlessly within his cave, awaiting a response with mounting anxiety. His flat, lizard-like tail swished back and forth, rhythmically dusting the ground behind him like a natural mop.
In the very next moment, his movements halted abruptly as his gaze locked onto a new message that appeared before his vision.
[Universe 8888888888]
"What kind of materials are you offering? I am particularly interested in metals and other special items. Send me samples with their respective names and properties, and then we can proceed to discuss the terms of our trade."
An immediate, profound silence descended upon the cave, and 5757's tense expression softened into a visible sigh of relief.
"Fortunately," he muttered in his native tongue, a quiet exhalation of worry, "I had feared he was no longer willing to exchange the sand."
After a brief moment of introspection, his expression became thoughtful as he surveyed the humble objects scattered throughout his cave: a simple wooden bed, a sturdy wooden chair, an assortment of wooden utensils, and a modest stockpile of dry meat neatly arranged on a shelf. He shook his head, a gesture of dismissal, and then turned, walking purposefully toward a section of his cave wall.
With a soft, almost magical transformation, the solid cave wall melted into a cascade of individual sand grains, forming a perfect door-shaped aperture before him. He stepped through the newly formed passage, emerging from a narrow crevice nestled within the side of a towering hill.
After surveying the rugged, rocky mountain region that surrounded him, and noting the distant, verdant forest to the north, he continued his journey, walking toward a formidable wall constructed from massive, unyielding stones that stretched across the landscape.
"Trosso," one of the vigilant guards acknowledged with a respectful nod as 5757 approached. 5757 returned the nod with a calm demeanor and passed through the imposing gate.
As he traversed the ancient wall, his eyes swept over the towering hills that dotted the landscape, each riddled with countless crevices. These natural fissures served as the hidden entrances to the subterranean residences of the sand dweller lizard tribe.
Upon reaching the end of the winding passage, he arrived before the final entrance, a gaping hole resembling a window carved into the middle of the hill before him. A solitary lizard stood on the other side, its form silhouetted against the dim light within.
"Trosso, what brings you here… are you here to sell the crystals? I apologize, but I cannot purchase any more of them. I haven't yet had the opportunity to visit the dark grotto to sell my current stock."
The lizard immediately spoke upon seeing him. 5757, who was also known as Trosso, shook his head gently and replied, "Mr. Tranz, I am not here to sell crystals… Instead, I wish to purchase something from you."
Immediately, the lizard named Tranz, startled by this unexpected request, rubbed his hands together with a delighted expression. "That's wonderful news to hear! It seems you have finally come to understand my predicament… if you desire something in exchange for these magic crystals, excluding spells and magic herbs, then I am prepared to exchange all the magic crystals you possess."
5757 nodded in agreement and stated, "I require objects crafted from various metals and rare materials. Additionally, I need to know the names and properties of these metals and materials, if you are aware of them."
Tranz appeared genuinely surprised and asked with a curious expression, "Do you truly need such items in exchange?… I have accumulated a considerable collection of such items over the years."
5757 nodded calmly, his gaze unwavering, and replied as he carefully placed a vibrant green crystal onto the stone shelf before him, "I need them."
Tranz's vertical, yellow lizard pupils brightened intensely as he observed the green crystal. He hurriedly snatched it up. "It's a second-order magic crystal, Trosso! I wonder how you managed to acquire it?"
The moment he spoke, his expression froze, a chilling sensation washing over him as he met 5757's cold, unwavering gaze. He even felt a heavy, oppressive force bearing down upon him.
"I was merely asking… don't worry, I would never dare to pry into your secrets," Tranz stammered with a wry smile, attempting to lighten the sudden tension. He then turned and departed, intent on searching for the requested objects.
'After this exchange with 8888888888, I will exert my utmost effort to reach second order, level 20. Following that, I will depart from this region and embark on a migration to the dark continent to fulfill my third task.'
Trosso (5757)'s thoughts flickered as his gaze drifted to the panel before him. The third task, a critical objective, pulsed with a subtle urgency.
[Task 3: Migrate to the dark continent.]
…
Back to Universe - 8888888888
Keon stood outside the main building of his burgeoning base, his metallic form overseeing the relentless operations of four mining machines. These autonomous units diligently rolled across the desolate desert landscape in all four cardinal directions, systematically collecting valuable resources.
'It appears he does not yet possess the specific materials I have requested,'
Keon mused, observing that 5757 had not responded after his last communication. His gaze then shifted toward his sub-talents panel, a digital interface displaying his innate abilities. 'Regardless, I will continue with my manufacturing process.'
With a clear objective in mind, he activated two of his crucial sub-talents simultaneously: Material Assimilation and Micro Fabrication.
Immediately, a soft, almost imperceptible whirr began to emanate from within his core. His sub-talent, "Micro Fabrication," now fully activated, initiated the intricate transformation of his basic processing chip into a sophisticated, multipurpose chip, meticulously crafted according to a precise blueprint and the advanced one-nanometer process.
The original chip, a dull gray rectangle, commenced a subtle shimmer. Microscopic tendrils of golden light, akin to miniature soldering irons, danced across its surface, meticulously tracing patterns too intricate for the unassisted eye. These luminous conduits represented the cutting edge of miniaturization, the essence of the 1 nm process.
He meticulously visualized the internal architecture: the existing transistors, resistors, and capacitors, once arranged in relatively sprawling layers, were now being painstakingly deconstructed and reassembled. The silicon substrate, initially a solid foundation, underwent a subtle re-engineering at the nanoscale. Graphene and MoS2, materials he had assimilated and refined, were introduced, seamlessly weaving themselves into the silicon lattice. These exotic elements, with their superior conductivity and minuscule dimensions, systematically replaced the older, less efficient pathways.
The chip began its contraction, not with a sudden pop, but with a slow, deliberate recession. The half-centimeter dimension steadily diminished. As it did, new layers, imperceptible to all but Keon's enhanced perception, formed and fused. Each layer, thinner than a human hair, served as a testament to the advanced photolithography inherent in the 1 nm process.
Transistors, no longer distinct, bulky components, became almost ethereal, their gates a mere handful of atoms wide. Resistors, once winding stripes, were now exquisitely thin, their resistance precisely calibrated by their new nanoscale dimensions. Capacitors, with their parallel plates, were compressed, their insulating layers reduced to a few atomic bonds.
The transformation unfolded in silence, save for a faint, high-pitched whine that intensified as the chip approached its new form. The dull gray hue yielded to a lustrous, almost iridescent black, a direct reflection of the adaptive alloy now integral to its structure. The edges sharpened, the once-rounded corners assuming precise, almost crystalline angles.
Finally, with a soft, almost inaudible click, the process reached its completion. Where a half-centimeter chip had once resided, a one-millimeter microchip now pulsed with a vibrant, internal energy. It stood as a marvel of engineering, a profound testament to Keon's evolving mechanical nature.
Concurrently, Keon perceived an instantaneous leap in his processing powers. Without further delay, he initiated the comprehensive process of complete transformation, converting his main frame core to a unified carbon fusion core, subsequently rewiring and optimizing his internal structure and components.
…