Colonial Suit

“The host requests confirmation. Data query permission granted.”

“Evolution of the Bio-Armor. Bio-Armor is a unique weapon of the Crodyr. In the beginning, the Bio-Armor was just a mass of mutated cells resulting from a failed experiment. It possessed extremely strong aggressive instincts and proliferative properties, and could evolve according to the external environment. The Crodyr scholars developed a strong interest in these mutated cells. After countless experiments, they discovered the controllability of these mutated cells and used them as a blueprint to cultivate a new type of cell, which they called Progenitor Cells.

Progenitor Cells possessed all the characteristics of mutated cells, but were even more perfect. They were extremely vital, almost impossible to kill, and easier to control. Most notably, they could be made immune to certain Crodyr individuals. The immunized Crodyr would become their hosts, with rapid improvements in physical fitness and combat abilities, far surpassing normal human levels.

Thus, through conscious cultivation, a biological armor based on Progenitor Cells was born. Crodyr scholars called this biological armor Biato, meaning ‘Dawn.’ This type of biological armor was defined as Enhanced Cell Proliferation Armor, abbreviated as ‘Bio-Armor.’

From the beginning, Bio-Armor was modified to be parasitic, usually sealed in a protein armor unit, and would only attach after encountering a suitable host, extracting energy from the host to maintain its survival. The Crodyr combat nation used ‘Dawn’ as a prototype, creating a series of derivative Bio-Armors, which were widely used in various fields of combat. In combat, the Bio-Armor demonstrated powerful attack and impeccable regenerative properties, which greatly satisfied the Crodyr and rapidly expanded the Crodyr civilization.

However, for some unknown reason, after the Bio-Armor was created, it lost the evolutionary instinct of the original mutated cells and could only exist in its modified form. To develop this powerful weapon, the Crodyr scholars restarted research. So, they extracted the most primitive mutated cells and tried to use them as a blueprint to create a Bio-Armor that far exceeded conventional ones. They called this Bio-Armor ‘Tropke,’

meaning ‘Mysterious Object.’

Tropke's combat power was not strong. Compared to its hundreds of derivative brothers, its combat power was almost negligible, but it retained the instinct to evolve. At the same time, because its blueprint was the most primitive mutated cells, it had the lowest stability, making it extremely difficult to control. Only a very few qualified people could be parasitized, so it was eventually abandoned.

Tropke's evolution requires two factors.

The first is the evolution of the Bio-Armor itself. This includes sufficient combat experience, a large amount of bio-energy, new cell tissues and gene chains, and changes in the external environment. The easiest way to achieve this is to acquire new units and cell tissues of powerful organisms to obtain references to optimize itself.

The second is the evolution of the host. Because the Bio-Armor was designed as a parasite in the initial modification, it and the host can be regarded as a whole. To complete the evolution, the host itself must also meet the prerequisites for evolution. This part is called Biological Rank, including all conditions such as intelligence, potential, muscle strength, reaction ability, and genetic superiority. It can be said that Biological Rank is the most primitive manifestation of a creature's position in the food chain and a basic sign of whether a creature is powerful. Raising the rank can be accomplished by constantly fighting and strengthening one's own strength.”

The core explained this in great detail, and Bloodshot listened carefully. This was the first time he had truly come into contact with the past of the Bio-Armor, and every point was important to him. When the core finally finished its introduction, he reached out and picked up a pack of cigarettes on the table, took one out and put it in his mouth.

“So, if I want to evolve Tropke, one is to obtain more units or powerful biological tissues, and the other is to improve that so-called rank?”

“Yes,” the core replied calmly. “This is the newly acquired information. But it doesn’t seem difficult. All you need is time.”

“That’s right. Just time,” Bloodshot lit the cigarette, took a puff, and said.

He now knew why the Bio-Armor was so difficult to evolve. One reason was the lack of units, and the other was because of himself. It was his strength... or his Biological Rank that was hindering the evolution of the Bio-Armor. Otherwise, the Bio-Armor might have completed its first evolution long ago.

But this part can’t be rushed. All Bloodshot needed was time to strengthen himself through combat and improve his Biological Rank.

The room fell silent. Bloodshot quietly smoked his cigarette, looking at the starry sky outside the window, not knowing what he was thinking. After a long time, footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by Jack's voice.

“Sir.”

“What is it?” Bloodshot put out his cigarette and rubbed his eyebrows.

“Lady Seva is looking for you.”

“Wait, I’ll change my clothes,” Bloodshot replied.

Because of the absorption of the unit, Bloodshot was still naked. So, he got up, took a shower, and changed into a new combat suit. Then he walked out of the room. Jack was already waiting outside, his face full of anxiety.

Bloodshot knew that his groans earlier must have worried Jack. He patted Jack on the shoulder and smiled.

“I’m fine.”

“It’s good that you’re okay, sir,” Jack breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Bloodshot was indeed fine.

“Where is Seva?”

“Lady Seva is waiting for you in the living room.”

“Okay, let’s go,” Bloodshot released Jack and walked ahead.

When he walked into the living room, Seva had been waiting for a long time. She was still wearing her heavy armor, standing in the middle of the living room. Her face, as perfect and flawless as a sculpture, was expressionless. When she saw Bloodshot walking in, her eyes lit up.

“You’re finally here.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I had some problems with my body,” Bloodshot replied nonchalantly, sitting on the armchair in the living room. “Sit?”

“Do I look like I can sit down like this?” Seva replied lightly. Her heavy armor weighed a ton. What kind of armchair could withstand such weight?

“What’s wrong with your body? Were you injured in the battle just now?”

“No, just a little tired. But it’s okay. I’ll be fine after a rest,” Bloodshot reached out and picked up the bottle of wine on the table. “A drink?”

“Okay,” Seva readily agreed, watching Bloodshot fill a glass with wine and hand it to her.

“To the victory of this battle.”

“To victory,” Bloodshot clinked glasses with her and drank it all in one gulp.

Feeling the spicy wine entering his stomach, Bloodshot let out a satisfied sigh and put down his glass. “Speak, why are you looking for me? I remember we just separated not long ago.”

“In fact, it was only three hours and seventeen minutes,” Seva replied, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly. “But that’s enough for many things to happen.”

“Such as?”

“For example, I reported the star pirates' attack on the local medical facilities and Skybridge to the branch.”

“Hmm?” Bloodshot was stunned, then nodded. “What did the branch say?”

“The branch decided to retaliate.”

“That’s for sure,” Bloodshot was not surprised at all. With the strength of the universe mercenaries, it would be strange not to retaliate after suffering such a big loss. But he wondered why Seva wanted to tell him this. He was not a local mercenary here. Whether to retaliate or not seemed to have nothing to do with him.

Seva was not in a hurry to speak, but took a graceful sip of wine, leaving a tempting mark on the edge of the glass with her red lips. Then she looked up at Bloodshot.

“Mr. Bloodshot... you’ll be returning to the T6 branch soon, right?”

“Yes. I’ll rest for a while and then go back. I’ve already agreed with Captain Harry to escort him. Probably in the next few days,” Bloodshot said lightly, playing with the crystal-clear wine glass. But the next moment, his fingers stopped.

Seva said, “Mr. Bloodshot, I’m afraid you won’t be able to go back.”

“What do you mean?” Bloodshot frowned.

“That’s why I came to find you,” Seva stared at Bloodshot, her eyes shining. “The branch has issued a mission to launch a retaliatory attack on the star pirates' spaceport on planet T26. Considering the shortage of local mercenaries, this mission is of a summoning nature, summoning any mercenaries near T26 who have no missions to carry it out together.”

“In other words, Mr. Bloodshot, you are also within the scope of the summons.”

“Hmm?” Bloodshot was stunned. A summoning mission... this was the first time he had heard of it. He looked at Jack next to him. Jack immediately came over and explained in his ear.

It turned out that this kind of summoning mission was specially designed to deal with emergencies. It had great randomness and uncertainty. Therefore, the mission level was also difficult to define. It might be completed very easily, or it might encounter extremely powerful opponents. Therefore, to protect the mercenaries, the summoning mission was not mandatory. Mercenaries could choose to accept or reject it.

But then again, behind the huge risk must be huge benefits. Summoning missions were famous not only for their high risk but also for their generous rewards. Generally, the mission reward would be increased by one level, or even two levels, and contribution points would definitely be calculated.

This was very generous. Bloodshot had personally experienced the importance of contribution points. It almost covered all the privileges of mercenary service. Only with enough contribution points could he apply for services beyond his authority, or even advance beyond his level.

But... the risk of this mission aside, if Bloodshot accepted this mission, he would definitely not be able to escort old Harry. He had just promised the other party.

Drawing circles on the wine glass with his finger, Bloodshot pondered for a while, then suddenly sighed.

“I’m sorry, I’m afraid I’m...”

“Don’t rush to refuse. I haven’t finished yet,” Seva interrupted Bloodshot, revealing a smile. “Because of the importance of planet T26, this mission is also very special. So... the branch added a golden contribution point to it!”

“A golden contribution point?” Bloodshot was really taken aback this time. Jack next to him widened his eyes even more.

“No way?”