Reincarnated To Evolve My Bee Empire - Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Choosing genes to spite the gacha
Real *telepathy*—I’d take this gene in an instant just because it was so *cool*, but the other genes are even more OP.

With ‘Genetic Tree Prediction’, I could see which of the options genes had the most potential for future unlocks.

‘Maybe this will help me decide…’

Now when I tapped on a gene, a separate window opened, showing possible future unlocks. But… Neither of the three genes had other unlocks down the line! Even ‘Telepathy I’—since the prediction didn’t show other tiers of the same gene.

“So you got good genes this time? Then why are you looking like you are about to cry again?” Ambrosia squinted. “No one died. You can take a gene and put more points into intelligence.”

I sighed.

“But what if I will get something lame instead? It’s so random! For all I know, there’s a hundred low-level semi-useless genes for every OP one I find, and I’ve just won a once-in-a-lifetime jackpot! A gene that will give us a technology to multiply our research speed by two, a gene that will give us perfect memory, and an ability to just… project our thoughts into other people’s minds! At short range.”

Ambrosia tilted her head.

“I don’t understand what you were torn about. Take the first one, obviously. Our memory is already good enough, and at short range we might as well talk.”

My shoulders dropped.

“But the range of thought-sending can be upgraded with further genes, Amby. This is just the first tier.”

I really wanted that telepathy.

“And if you get unlucky, Nectus?” Ambrosia raised her eyebrows. “Are you going to cry again? Is this what you want—to get into the ‘gacha’ that always hurts you only to cry when it happens? Taking risks and avoiding risks are both valid tactics, but you should stick to one of them, instead of running from one to another, only to achieve nothing in either.”

I wilted further under the onslaught of her merciless facts—only for my spirit to reignite like a phoenix.

“You are so right! I should stay strong and not get baited by the gacha. It’s like a casino! They always bait newbies with lucky first times and possible huge jackpots, only to pull the rug from them later! With my luck, even if the next upgrade in a tree is a one-shot attack that kills everything, I will never get it. The Bitch Goddess is baiting me through her devilish system, but I won’t let her! I will make rational and risk-averse choices!”

With this, I picked the ‘Scientific Method’ option.

Immediately, a wealth of information awakened somewhere in the depth of my mind—knowledge about making research that was unpolluted by predispositions and personal opinions. Things I’ve never known about, and probably would’ve had a hard time understanding without the ‘Grand Strategist’ bonus.

My Researcher Bees had to know this all, too. I would have to bleed myself a lot—good thing there were only 111 of them, or it’d be entirely impossible to pass my genes on to them all.

My hand had just healed recently, but I guessed it would have to suffer some more… A lot more…

‘Too bad bloodletting doesn’t actually cure anything except high blood pressure and living, or I’d be the healthiest person in the world.’

“What’s next, Nectus?” Ambrosia asked. “I think the most risk-averse option will be strengthening our weaknesses as bees: strength and defense. It would mean a lot if we had carapaces like hornets.”

I focused on the present and nodded.

“It would, definitely. Let me just check something first.”

I had to look at my existing genes with ‘Genetic Tree Prediction’, too. It could tell me something interesting.

Many genes didn’t have any unlocks, but some did. Some of my genes unlocked the same gene, which meant I needed them both.

I found that I have potential to unlock ‘Precognition’ (thanks to ‘Enhanced Intelligence X’ and ‘Danger-Averse Reflexes’) in the intelligence pool, ‘Absolute Omnivore’ (from ‘Meat Digestion’ and ‘Venom Resistance’) in endurance pool, and ‘Limb Regeneration’ (from Faster Regeneration), also in endurance pool.

Not much, but…

‘Endurance really has good genes, huh? But I suspected those OP future genes have more prerequisites I didn’t know about—or start at weak low tiers. If I keep chasing after them now, I might just dump even more points into attributes that are already high enough.’

Long-term, risk-averse planning.

“Alright, Amby, I’m ready! I want to point at least a point or two into strength. We bees need more of that. Then defense, perhaps—it’s still too low.”

〔For improving strength, you have a choice of next genes: ‘Flying Carriers’, ‘Claws II’, and ‘Detachable Stingers I’.〕

〔Flying Carriers: increases maximum carry weight during flight to 60% from the base carry weight.〕

〔Claws II: gives multipurpose claws.〕

〔Detachable Stinger I: allows stingers of bees to be detached from the body without a trauma. Lost stingers don’t regrow.〕

‘Detachable Stinger I’ could lead me to ‘Shootable Stinger’, and ‘Claws II’ led to an entire array of specializations: ‘Digging Claws’, ‘Slashing Claws’ and ‘Grabbing Claws’.

“They are good… but! These natural weapons bow before the power of our mind. Soon enough, Researchina’s girls will invent bows.”

Ambrosia nodded.

“Nobody stings anymore.”

“And we have throwing, too. And most importantly, there’s the *gacha* to think about. Naaah, I’m taking the carrier gene.”

“Good choice, Nectus. It will be useful for everybody, especially Warriors and Commandos who have to fly a lot with all their equipment.”

So I picked that and then put another point into strength. This would help them fly around, too.

〔Venom Spray I: allows to spray venom through the stinger over a small distance.〕

〔Throwing Wrists: increases precision of throws by 100%.〕

〔Death Grip: the muscles will spasm after the owner’s death with great force, preventing them from releasing their grip.〕

I stared grimly at the Death Grip for a while, remembering the hornet attack… Then I shook my head.

‘Just when I thought about throwing weapons… Let’s see if any of these genes have interesting follow-ups!’