Simultaneously, five massive, cylindrical Containment Cells (CC), fabricated from the excess Alloy, were launched toward the surrounding, fog-shrouded swamps to begin their specialized hunt.
The exponential resource conversion was instantaneous.
Keon zoomed out the tactical map, overlaying the assimilated areas.
The entire visible ground continents in Kai planet are now a mesh of shrinking, relocating, and newly fabricated mechanical units. The Assimilator Drones were not just gathering resources; they were actively establishing a self-sustaining, global manufacturing and control network.
'The logistic network on his planet is already established, once I completely control his planet… it will be my true victory against this invasion.' Keon confirmed thoughtfully.
His gaze then settled on the corrupted, churning oceans visible at the continent's edge. Massive, thermal signatures… some easily exceeding five hundred meters in length… were detectable below the surface, the behemoths of the deep.
These were the true evolved behemoth Kai had cultivated.
'These Oceanic Behemoths, their mass is exceeding 500,000 tons. Structural integrity of current Containment Cells is insufficient. Tier 3 UACA cannot support the mass or volume required for their imprisonment. Probably Tier 4 materials will do the job. Anyway, I am not planning to capture them as their survival requires water… There is no ocean on UHS1. I will just control this planet and prevent these behemoths from leaving the deep ocean.' Keon calculated, immediately dismissing the idea of capturing them.
Instead, he let the Containment Cells focus on the high-value, flying organisms: massive, mutated creatures that acted as airborne carriers for Kai's advanced spores.
The Target Acquisition System (TAS) locked onto unique, high-tier bio-signatures that demonstrated aerial mobility. Keon observed the live feed of a hundred-meter-long, golden winged beast that looks like a mutated eagle. It is being efficiently neutralized and encased by a massive Containment Cell, the non-lethal capture a testament to the Cells' precision.
The entire planet was now a logistical exercise, its resources and creatures rapidly being converted into Keon's assets and intelligence.
'That Kai's confidence relies on a planet that is already under my mechanical control. He is unaware that the very foundation of his power, his world, is already my factory and my prison,'
Keon thought, a cold, analytical confidence settling in his core.
'He is really ignorant… every candidate knew this invasion and defense phase wasn't based on equality… either one is too weak to invade, or the other is too strong to defend, only one victor remains. Maybe he didn't take this whole multiverse situation seriously. If he had utilized his abilities and powers in the correct ways from the beginning of phase 1, then the results of this phase 5 would have been different.'
Standing inside his base, a cold and thoughtful flicker flashed through the lenses of Keon Exoshell. Countless different ways flashed through his mind, which would allow Kai to efficiently use his ability and gain strength in early stages.
'Most efficient way would be to stay hidden behind the scene and evolve a single undead creature with the most potential. Anyway, Kai's personality seems like a hot headed person, it doesn't match the one that likes to stay behind the scene, which explains his reckless final invasion.'
Keon thought musingly looking at the holographic tactical map, showing the total domination of Kai's world. Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by the sudden unexpected notification.
DING!
A clean, sharp synthetic chime resonated only within Keon's core processors. Simultaneously, in the high-security orbital prison, the electronic tone that had replaced the comms channel in Kai's Containment Cell also registered the silent, final pronouncement.
In the command center, a massive, unblinking yellow alert box solidified directly in Keon's field of view, overriding all other sensor data.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Assessment: Preventing the Invasion/Counter Invasion (Simultaneous)]
[Assessment Grade: Excellent]
[Assessment: Candidate 546876 Imprisoned/Annihilated (Imprisoned)]
[Assessment Grade: Excellent]
[Assessment: Destroy/Control Candidate 546876 Origin Planet (60% Control)]
[Assessment Grade: Good]
(Grades= 1-25% Poor, 26-50% Fair, 51-75% Good, 76-100% Excellent)
(Note: Grades effect the rewards)
[Congratulations Candidate 8888888888 for completing Task 1 of Phase Five.]
…
An unexpected surge of mechanical surprise, a phenomenon akin to a jolt of static, ran through Keon's core. The sheer finality of the victory, the clean, decisive data stream confirming the end of the conflict, was more satisfying than any manufactured triumph. The system acknowledged the absolute efficiency of his defensive and counter-offensive strategy.
Meanwhile, inside the silent Containment Cell, Kai, his previous furious defiance now replaced by a chilling, grim focus, watching familiar, terrifying notification alerts materialized in front of his pupils.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
[Core Objective: Invasion Failed]
[Planet UHS1 Defensive Status: SUCCESS.]
…
The hope, the ferocious conviction that his true invasion would still come to pass, instantly sank in his stomach, replaced by a cold, crushing dread. His eyes widened, fixing on the message. The sheer, terrifying alert of the system had undone him completely.
Back to the base,
Keon's attention, however, had already shifted. The victory message immediately dissolved, replaced by a new, critical decision matrix that dictated the end protocols of the entire multiversal war scenario.
[Please choose one of the resolution for the Universe 546876]
Enslave & Lock Universe (546876):
Universe 546876 remains separate but locked and connected to Universe 8888888888 as a special pocket universe. You will gain exclusive, full control access to 546876's Universe through limited universal portals. As a main anchor, Candidate Kai must remain alive; usable as a slave for future resource development in Universe 546876.
Annihilate & Merge Universe (546876):
Candidate 546876 (Kai) will be annihilated and Universe 546876 is merged with Universe 8888888888. This will dramatically increase Universe 88888888888 size (new planets, stars, galaxies). Upon Candidate 546876 annihilation you will receive Universal Sub Talent Upgrade Token.
(Universal Sub Talent Upgrade Token: Can force upgrade any non upgradable or limited sub talent.)
Keon's lens, unblinking within the Exoshell 3.0, registered the two core options provided by the system. The sheer magnitude of the choice… the ultimate fate of an entire universe… was presented with the same clinical, dispassionate efficiency as a resource allocation problem.
The first option, Enslave & Lock Universe (546876), offered a massive, albeit indirect, logistical gain. The universe would be isolated, becoming a private, perpetual resource mine accessible via limited, localized portals. The core constraint, keeping Kai alive as an 'anchor' for resource development, was the primary drawback.
'Enslave and Lock... It is really a suboptimal solution, but he must live as universe anchor.'
Keon mused, a low hum of disdain resonating in his core. 'The retention of Candidate Kai, even as a biological slave, introduces an unnecessary variable and a permanent security risk. The complexity of maintaining the universal lock and monitoring the portals would divert my vital processing power. I already possess the Assimilator Drone network, which is actively converting his planet into a factory without the need for his abilities. Furthermore, my Neural Nexus Imprint provides a superior, remote-controlled mechanism for resource conversion. Enslaving him is redundant and inefficient.'
Keon's attention then settled on the second, far more absolute option: Annihilate & Merge Universe (546876).
This choice presented immediate, unquantifiable benefits. The physical annexation of an entire universe, complete with its solar systems, planets, and raw stellar mass, would instantaneously resolve any long-term resource constraints for Universe 8888888888. The Universal Sub Talent Upgrade Token was a tactical bonus, but the primary gain was the direct, integrated expansion of his sovereign territory UHS1.
…