68: LV5 Deep Sea Form

As the reactor's output power stabilized at 115%, an unprecedented surge of energy flowed through the thick main cable into the spine of the black iron.

Finally, it converged at the central processing unit beneath the bridge—

—the ship's true "brain," the mechanical core.

"Hum—"

A clear, vibrating hum that only Jiang Ran could hear exploded in his mind.

To anyone else, it would have looked as if the lights on the main console had simply brightened slightly.

But in Jiang Ran's vision, the pale blue holographic interface that had been in a semi-dormant state...

...was now flashing violently like a rhythmic breath, its edges even glowing with a dark gold halo representing activity.

It wasn't just a reaction to being powered up; it was more like a traveler who had been starving for too long smelling the aroma of a feast.

It had "awakened."

[Warning: Energy fullness at 100%... Core restriction lock released.]

[Detected hull damage rate of 32%... Detected high-tier fusible material (Workshop Area).]

Jiang Ran watched the data stream popping up on his retina.

Previously, due to insufficient energy, this mechanical core could only maintain basic fire control and navigation assistance.

But now, the "Evolution" option, which had never lit up before, was emitting an enticing red light.

It was craving.

Jiang Ran could clearly feel that the thought named "hunger" did not come from his physical body.

Instead, it came from the depths of the ship's soul.

It had sensed that basin of newly refined "Bio-active Steel" in the workshop.

To the current mechanical core, that wasn't repair material; it was "nutrients" for evolution.

"Want to eat?"

Jiang Ran's fingers brushed across the cold console, the corner of his mouth curling into an arc.

He didn't need to create complex construction blueprints like Old Chen, nor did he need to deploy a single soldier for manual welding.

In the presence of this core, metal was flesh and blood—clay that could be reshaped at will.

Without the slightest hesitation, with a thought, he clicked directly on the flashing option.

[Command confirmed: Devouring Evolution.]

[Assimilation program initiated.]

...Inside the workshop, Old Chen was about to put on his welding mask, intending to "paste" this precious material onto the ship's hull bit by bit using the old methods.

Suddenly, the deck beneath his feet shook violently.

It wasn't an explosion or an impact, but a tingling sensation similar to a high-voltage current instantly coursing through his entire body.

Immediately after, the "Bio-active Steel" placed on the workbench showed signs of abnormality.

"Damn it!"

Old Chen's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

Without anyone touching it, the silver fluid actually defied the laws of gravity.

Like a living mollusk, it overflowed from the edge of the container on its own.

They didn't flow out in all directions.

Instead, they were precisely pulled by some invisible force field, converging into streams of silver.

They scrambled to seep into the cracks of the metal floor.

"Zizizi—"

A scalp-numbing sound echoed through the empty workshop.

It was the sound of metal forcibly fusing with metal at the molecular level.

This was no longer a physical application; it was "feeding."

The mechanical core had turned the entire black iron into a giant magnetic field predator.

The silver fluid followed the deck cracks, rapidly penetrating the hull's keel and load-bearing beams, like a shot of adrenaline being injected into a vein.

Next, silver patterns began to emerge on the workshop's walls, pillars, and even the ceiling.

They were like plant roots or bulging veins in a human body, spreading and growing wildly across the pitch-black steel surface.

"Creeeak—"

The entire ship let out a deep, long groan.

This sound didn't seem like the wail of metal fatigue.

Instead, it was like a long-imprisoned giant forcefully stretching its stiff bones after gaining new strength.

Every vibration was accompanied by the flickering of those silver patterns, as if the ship were taking deep breaths.

The wrench in Old Chen's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter."

He stared blankly at the changes happening beneath his feet; this had already exceeded his understanding as an old mechanic.

"It's not us repairing the ship..."

Old Chen muttered to himself, "It's growing by itself."

This violent change soon spread from the interior to the hull's exterior. Old Chen stumbled out of the workshop.

Leaning over the deck railing and looking down, the sight before him made him gasp.

The black iron's outer skin, which had become mottled from years of warfare and repairs...

...was now undergoing a violent "metamorphosis."

The heavy rust and stubborn barnacles clinging to the gunwales, even some previously hastily welded patch plates...

...now seemed to be squeezed by the muscles beneath, emitting a series of dense cracking sounds.

"Snap! Crash!"

Large chunks of waste oxide layers peeled off like dead skin, falling into the murky river water and splashing everywhere.

And beneath those peeled-off wounds...

...the original rough old steel plates were not revealed; instead, a dark silver substance was slowly writhing.

That was "Bio-active Steel," reorganizing with the ship's original molecular structure.

Under the powerful dominion of the mechanical core...

...the silver veins seeping from the inside acted like sutures, forcibly pulling together and fusing the hull, which was originally made of various materials and could even be called a pile of junk.

The originally uneven welding gaps were automatically filled, and fragile rusted areas were replaced and reinforced.

This change wasn't a gentle coating; it was a domineering devouring and assimilation.

In just a few minutes, the rugged, patchwork feel of the black iron's broadside, full of wasteland punk style, vanished.

In its place was a seamless layer of deep gray armor with a matte texture.

It no longer reflected light.

Like a black hole, it swallowed the surrounding light, with extremely fine silver textures resembling veins faintly visible on the surface.

This was no longer a pile of lifeless metal.

It looked more like a living creature clad in steel, lurking in the deep sea.

As the last silver pattern vanished into the depths of the deck...

...the sound of skeletal reorganization that had made the whole ship tremble finally subsided.

The lights on the main console changed from rapid flickering to a steady deep blue.

The holographic interface in front of Jiang Ran rippled like water, and a large amount of messy data streams quickly fell into place.

Finally, they condensed into a brand-new ship status diagram.

[Devouring complete.]

[Hull assimilation rate: 100%]

[Judgment updated: black iron >>> Lv5 Bio-mechanical Ship (Evolved Form)]

Jiang Ran's gaze swept across the refreshing entries, each one signaling a qualitative leap.

[Trait 1: Living Armor (Silver Scales)]

Description: A high-density bio-metallic membrane has formed on the hull's surface. It possesses basic self-repair capabilities (requires energy consumption) and has extremely high resistance to acidic and corrosive liquids (Immunity Grade).

Note: The red water of the Wan River is now just bathwater to you.

[Trait 2: Ship-wide Conduction]

Description: Due to the fusion of Bio-active Steel, the entire ship's skeleton has become an excellent energy conductor.

No longer dependent on fragile physical cables, energy transmission efficiency has increased by 40%, and anti-interference capability has been significantly enhanced.

Looking at these two new traits, Jiang Ran lightly tapped the armrest.

This meant that the black iron had completely shed its embarrassing status as a "patchwork."

Before, if a single main cable was blown, half the cabins would lose power.

Now, as long as the keel remained intact, energy could be delivered to every corner of the ship.

More importantly, there was that "Immunity Grade" corrosion resistance.

This meant that those strong acid waters, once considered forbidden zones, had opened their doors to the black iron from this day forward.

This was a leap from "vehicle" to "comrade."

Jiang Ran placed his hand on the cold helm once more.

The moment his fingertips touched the metal, a strange electrical sensation surged through his arm straight to his brain.

There were no tedious data cable connections.

Relying solely on the synchronization with the mechanical core, he felt his senses being infinitely extended at this moment.

He was no longer the Commander standing on the bridge; he had seemingly "become" this ship.

Closing his eyes, he could clearly "feel" the force of the murky river water slapping against the hull hundreds of meters away.

He could sense the powerful and steady rhythm of the reactor's heart deep within the keel.

Even the slight friction of underwater undercurrents passing over the ship's belly was as clear as a breeze brushing across skin.

This was the true form of an Lv3 Bio-mechanical Ship—Human-Ship Unity.

There was no need for a sonar operator to report, nor a need to stare at complex instrument panels.

This massive steel beast was now an extension of his body, moving as easily as his own limbs.

"Is this the taste of evolution..."

Jiang Ran snapped his eyes open, and a faint blue data stream seemed to flash deep within his originally pitch-black pupils.

That powerful confidence of being in control of everything made his aura become as sharp as a blade.

At this moment, the black iron was no longer that ragged, assembled ship that had to struggle for survival in heavy storms.

Instead, it was a top-tier predator that had lurked for a long time and finally bared its fangs.

"Old Chen, Su Qingyu, sit tight."

Jiang Ran's hand forcefully pushed the throttle lever.

There was no violent shaking or black smoke from an old diesel engine upon starting.

The black iron merely let out a deep, oppressive hum.

The massive hull gracefully carved an arc in the water, cutting through the murky waves and gliding onto the vast river surface like a deep-sea ghost.

Looking at the coordinates displayed on the holographic screen, the corner of Jiang Ran's mouth curled into a cold smile as he whispered:

"The current black iron can not only take a hit but can also kill.

Let's go test its blade."