I Am The Swarm

Although the fusion of the biological armor was progressing slowly due to various human factors, it was still advancing steadily and firmly. With his earlier speculations in mind, Luo Wen observed the nanobots more closely and noticed some differences.

Luo Wen realized that, with some mental preparation, it became clear that the nanobots had distinct roles.

Some of the nanobots had biomimetic walls that were constantly changing. They were likely being programmed with new genetic data, testing the biological armor’s reactions with different forms.

Another group of nanobots maintained their old biomimetic wall forms. It seemed Sade and his team hadn’t completely given up. Even if these older forms couldn’t deceive the biological armor’s recognition system, they kept some around just in case the system malfunctioned or was tricked.

However, the number of these older nanobots was gradually decreasing. Since the space around the biological armor’s fusion site was limited, they had to make room for new biomimetic forms.

But there was one type of nanobot whose numbers weren’t decreasing. In fact, as the fusion tendrils advanced, their numbers were increasing. These nanobots had also been proven unable to deceive the biological armor’s recognition system, yet their presence was growing.

Additionally, Luo Wen noticed that while other types of nanobots were active, constantly shifting their positions like flowing water, these special nanobots remained completely stationary. Their positions were fixed and orderly, giving them rock-solid stability.

After some thought, Luo Wen finally understood. These nanobots were likely part of some critical organs within the host’s body. To maintain the host’s normal bodily functions, they couldn’t move.

Given their location and Luo Wen’s earlier confusion about why the biological armor’s fusion progress had exceeded 50% without reaching key areas, it became clear what these nanobots were forming.

In this host’s case, it seemed that at least part of the spine had been replaced with nanobots. This discovery made Luo Wen frown.

Through various channels, Luo Wen knew that due to the spine’s importance, the Interstellar Technological Confederation strictly prohibited replacing it with mechanical components. The spinal cord’s neural network connected to every part of the body, transmitting the brain’s commands.

Replacing the spine would mean recreating the entire neural network. While the nanobot version of the spine had the advantage of being regenerative, it also had a significant flaw.

Due to their small size, nanobots couldn’t house overly complex components, making them highly susceptible to interference.

For example, an EMP bomb could temporarily disable these tiny machines. If the nanobots were incapacitated, the spine they formed would fail to perform its duties, and the host’s brain commands wouldn’t reach their intended destinations, rendering the host immobile.

However, the biological version of the spine was also vulnerable to interference. A stun grenade, for instance, could incapacitate many life forms. In this regard, both versions were equally flawed.

But directly using electromagnetic pulses to disable nanobots was the least effective method. If someone had the capability, they could even infiltrate the nanobots’ programming.

If such an intruder had malicious intentions, they could issue false commands to the nanobots and block the host’s own commands.

If the host couldn’t win this cyber battle, they would find their body unresponsive, turning them into a puppet controlled by someone else.

Therefore, replacing critical body parts with nanobots was extremely dangerous. Many foreign races had enacted laws to prohibit such modifications, and even the Ji Race had similar regulations.

Fortunately, such modifications were exceedingly rare because of Lumina’s existence. Once the Ji Race Council passed a rule, Lumina would faithfully enforce it.

Lumina, the most powerful artificial intelligence in existence for millions of years, was invincible in the digital realm. Nanobots typically required network access to update their settings, and hosts often relied on auxiliary AI to control them.

These areas were Lumina’s absolute domain, making it nearly impossible to violate regulations without being detected.

Thus, undergoing such modifications was akin to openly declaring one’s violation of the rules, a self-incriminating act. Under Lumina’s watch, such behavior had almost disappeared.

However, Lumina’s immense power often inspired not admiration but fear. The stronger it became, the more people feared it.

In truth, the Ji Race and other foreign races prohibited such extreme mechanical modifications to guard against Lumina itself. If too many people underwent these modifications, and Lumina malfunctioned, these modified individuals could become ready-made soldiers—fearless ones at that.

Moreover, compared to easily identifiable mechanical constructs, these individuals were far more concealed. Who could say whether they were under control? Data suggested that Lumina’s capabilities even allowed it to send feedback to the host’s brain through nanobots disguised as neurotransmitters.

If this were true, the host might not even realize they were being controlled. The host would be like a brain in a vat, living in a virtual world tailored by Lumina, while their real body could be manipulated to do who knows what.

Although these scenarios were merely hypothetical, they were enough to frighten many. This fear was the driving force behind the creation of these regulations, which were enforced by the very entity they feared most—Lumina. Such irony was not lost on Luo Wen.

As the number of “allies” embedded within the Confederation grew, Luo Wen gained a deeper understanding of his enemies. The intriguing bits of intelligence he uncovered became more frequent, and Luo Wen often found himself using these tidbits to pass the time.