By Zephyria At the immediately convened meeting, the commanders, including the 9th Battalion Commander Rainer Molton, gathered again in the center. Rainer looked much calmer than before, whether the short break had helped.
However, after hearing the contents of the investigator’s briefing, he frowned again as if he couldn’t believe the investigation results and asked.
“If there are matching traits between different species, does that mean that crossbreeding between different species of demon beasts is possible?”
“Well, unlike animals, demon beasts voluntarily crossbreed between different species, and they can actually reproduce naturally. However, they don’t do it unless it’s a special situation, and this case is also reported to have a low probability of crossbreeding between different species of demon beasts.”
“What’s the reason?”
“That’s because some demon beasts can crossbreed between different species, but some cannot. To give you an example, let’s take the worm as an example….”
The assistant investigators hurriedly brought the worm’s reproductive organ structure diagram and fixed it on the stand. The chief investigator pointed at it with his hand and continued.
“As shown in this data, Worms have reproductive organ structures that are completely different from other demon beasts. Therefore, they can only interbreed within the same species. However, among the recently discovered mutants, there have been completely different individuals that possess both the adhesion function of this Worm and the unique functions of other demon beasts.”
Rainer, who was listening, narrowed his eyes. The investigator flipped a page of the data fixed on the stand and said,
“In other words, this case is not so much about a mutant being born from interspecies mating between a Worm and another species of demon beast, but rather, it seems more accurate to say that there is some species or individual within the peninsula that possesses the traits of Worms, as well as the traits of other demon beasts, and that the mutant was born from that individual.”
As soon as the investigator finished speaking, the commanders stirred. Flynn watched them, checking to see if anyone wanted to speak. He had been waiting for his turn to ask a question, constantly recalling his conversation with Leonardo from earlier.
Hugo saw Flynn and lightly tapped his shoulder, and Flynn turned to Hugo once before hastily raising his hand and asking the investigator.
“Investigator, what about the demon beasts that were previously known to inhabit the peninsula, not the mutant individuals? For example, demon beasts like Dermokas or Illaptors. Do those creatures also have matching traits?”
“Ah, I was just about to talk about that.”
The chief investigator, who had been almost attacked with questions by Rainer, seemed quite pleased with Flynn’s question. He then picked up a sample next to him and showed it to the commanders, saying,
“First of all, before explaining the trait matching between demon beasts, I must first mention that the previous research methods and the current research methods are different, which has led to differences in the results. The research method used for the previously held data was to randomly select one or two individuals from the existing individuals known to have inhabited the peninsula for a long time and conduct research on them.”
Flynn recalled that there was similar content in the records he had seen earlier. Research on demon beasts inhabiting the peninsula had been conducted once before, but at that time, the number of demon beast specimens was much smaller than it is now, so the reliability of the research results was low. The investigator’s explanation that followed was similar.
“The results at that time showed that the traits and components were so different that it was difficult to see any connection between each species, so it was concluded that there was almost no correlation. However, in this study, the number of specimens was increased much more than before, and in the newly emerging results, we were able to confirm that there is a rule in the genetic trait matching of existing individuals.”
“A rule?”
“Yes, the older the individual and the fewer generations of breeding, the more similar traits are found to other species.”
The investigator took a sip of water from the podium and then reopened his mouth.
“Our investigators speculated that the reason for the difference due to the research method is that the existing individuals have developed their own unique genetic traits to adapt to the peninsula environment after breeding within the same species for many years. The younger the individual, the more strongly these unique traits stand out, creating differences between individuals, which led to the judgment in past studies that there were almost no cases of genetic traits matching with other species.”
“……”
“However, conversely, we have confirmed through a large number of specimens collected this time that the older the individual, closer to the first generation, the more common genetic traits are found with other species. And this applies equally not only to the Dermokas and Illaptors that Lieutenant Levernil asked about, but also to all demon beast individuals discovered in the peninsula so far.”
The investigator’s words meant that as you go back through the generations, the genetic traits between demon beasts match or their similarity increases, which in effect led to the conclusion that all demon beasts inhabiting the peninsula originally possessed common genetic traits.
Hugo organized the investigator’s words he had heard so far in his head and shifted his gaze back to the records in his hand.
Leonardo had said that he had been to this Eldermilli Peninsula before. He knew more than anyone else about the individuals who had lived on the peninsula for a long time, but even he didn’t seem to know much about the mutants. If so, it was highly likely that the mutant individuals that are now appearing did not exist when Leonardo came to the peninsula.
If we assume that the time he came to the peninsula was about 5 years ago, then the time when new mutant individuals began to be born would also be less than 5 years from now. It appeared relatively recently.
In addition, the lifespan of commonly known high-ranking demon beasts is at least 20 years or more unless there are external factors, and reproductive activity is possible from the time 10% of the total lifespan has passed and the function is intact until it reaches 70%. Therefore, considering this point….
Hugo covered the records in his hand, handed them to the investigator, and said.
“To summarize, the demon beasts in this peninsula are virtually of the same blood, and therefore some genetic traits match, and there is a possibility that a core or group of individuals with reproductive functions that gave birth to them until recently exists somewhere in this peninsula right now.”
There was a moment of silence in the audience at Hugo’s words. The investigator broke the silence by receiving the records Hugo handed him.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Flynn’s mouth widened as he listened to the conversation between the two. The other commanders were the same. And at that moment, a possibility came to their minds.
The reproductive methods of demon beasts are so diverse that it cannot be said to be a perfect solution, but if we can find an individual that has all of their genetic traits, we may be able to find a new direction for subjugation that greatly shortens the time in the endless swamp of demon beasts.
While the commanders were buzzing about the new possibility, Charlotte, the deputy commander of the 9th Battalion, who had been quietly watching the meeting, glanced at the eggshells gathered in the corner and raised a question to the audience.
“As a result of the subjugation so far, a food chain has already been formed among the demon beasts in the peninsula. But if we think about it again based on the topic that just came up, it means that they eventually eat each other even if they are of the same blood….”
Then she took a step forward, pointed to the side with the shells, and continued.
“Then why did the Dermokas, who are at the top of the peninsula’s food chain, try to protect that egg without eating it, even though it doesn’t perfectly match their species? What exactly is the identity of that egg that made them act like that?”
Hugo and Flynn immediately paid attention to Charlotte’s voice. It was a question that they had not been able to hear a clear answer to earlier.
The chief investigator paused for a moment as soon as the question was over and attention was focused on him. He seemed to be deep in thought for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth and began to speak his thoughts carefully.
“In the current situation, I cannot say for sure what kind of egg that is either. But if I had to define it, I think saying that the individual inside the egg has not yet been decided what it will become is the closest to the answer to the question.”
Charlotte asked with an incomprehensible expression at the riddle-like words.
“What do you mean?”
“This egg had slightly different properties from other ordinary demon beast eggs.”
The chief investigator answered Charlotte’s words and gestured to another investigator. Then, an assistant investigator approached with a specimen that had been cut and embalmed with a cross-section of the egg that Charlotte had brought. Something white was fixed in the very center of the egg specimen, cut in half.
“If you look at the cross-section, you can see that this egg is quite large compared to other demon beast eggs, and the shell is also very thick. Also, the surface is very hard, which is to protect the embryo inside more securely and safely. Other demon beast eggs also have a protective function, but the hardness of this egg is at a higher level that cannot be compared to that.”
Flynn was inwardly surprised by the thickness of the shell as he looked at the cross-section of the egg cut in half from the front. It was so thick that it seemed difficult to even make a hole with ordinary force.
And if that was really a Dermokas egg, the embalmed corpse in the middle should be close to a dark color similar to their skin. But what we see now was close to white, and the appearance was quite different.
“The transparent layer at the bottom of the shell is a specimen made by solidifying the mucus that was inside. This mucus is not enough to melt human skin when touched, but it is weakly acidic.”
The investigator brought litmus paper to the cross-section of the solidified mucus, and a small amount of liquid remaining on the surface turned the test paper red.
“This can also be seen as being formed to protect the embryo from bacteria that may penetrate, but in addition, this mucus also contained condensed high-level nutrients. In other words, the embryo in this egg was receiving a different level of protection and nutrients than the young of other demon beasts.”
After finishing the long explanation, the chief investigator paused for a moment and added.
“Perhaps the reason why the Dermokas tried to protect this egg is because the individual in this egg is the next core.”
“…The next core?”
“Yes, usually, the case of creating the next core is―.”
Kwaaaang―!
At that moment when the investigator was speaking, a loud noise was heard from beyond several ridges. The sound, which was quite far away but quickly spread and echoed in the sky, made everyone who had been listening to the investigator turn their heads towards the source of the sound.
Then, from a fairly distant peak, it could be seen that dust was rising in the area as if a landslide had occurred. The commanders, who were watching the situation, were on edge again, wondering if it was the work of those guys again, as there had been such ominous signs before the appearance of the Dermokas herd a few hours ago.
Flynn, who was watching the direction of the loud noise with a surprised face, muttered in a small voice, estimating the location of where the dust was rising.
“The 1st Battalion members should be over there….”
Hugo’s eyes widened slightly when he heard the word ‘1st Battalion’.
After that, the sound of soil flowing down and rock walls collapsing was heard one after another, as if a landslide had really occurred, and Hugo’s face, who was looking at the place, hardened coldly. The creeping ominousness instinctively reminded him of only one person.
“…Leonardo.”
Flynn, who heard the voice with a faint breeze, turned his head to him next to him.
Then, he looked around with a bewildered face.
“Commander?”
Because Hugo, who had clearly been next to him until just now, was nowhere to be seen.
Rainer, the commander of the 9th Battalion, who felt that the situation was unusual, also looked at the direction of the loud noise before turning his head to where the Supreme Commander would be.
“Supreme Commander, support―.”
Rainer, who made eye contact with Flynn, who was looking around, could not finish his sentence.
The Supreme Commander had already disappeared from the spot.