Chapter 7363  Unexpected Input

As the experimental device approached the end of its incubation process, the artificial Incubator began to generate a lot more activity.

The sensors picked up increasing emissions of all kinds. From heat to vibrations, the Incubator had clearly grown more energetic even as its integrity began to suffer.

Just as designed, the final minutes of the Incubator were spent on sacrifice.

Just as the original VOBM sacrificed its own vitality and high-quality matter to supply the final nutrients to its maturing embryo, the artificial Incubator broke itself down in order to feed the hungry experimental device.

The transfer process did not encompass matter alone. It also channeled notable amounts of E energy that the artificial Incubator previously accrued.

From parent to child, an age-old tradition took place once again, only this time involving completely artificial constructs as opposed to genuine organic beings.

It was this aspect of the ongoing incubation ritual that started to produce deviations.

Although the Larkinsons and their consultants did not have a good idea of what to expect, they could still use their judgment to determine what was normal and abnormal behavior.

At this moment, the artificial Incubator generated far more emissions than Ves and the others had projected!

"Why is the Incubator generating so much excess heat?! This is not supposed to happen! It was specifically designed to channel as much energy to the experimental device as possible." Gloriana complained.

She was right. The partial smart metal construct should have reached a stage of completion where it should easily be able to receive and store a large amount of electrical energy.

When Ves inspected the relevant section of his workstation, he noted that the nearly-complete experimental device had indeed reached the required stage.

Other readings showed that it was absorbing energy without too many issues aside from the problems associated with excess heat exposure.

Ves voiced his own thoughts. "According to my interpretation of the data, the interaction between the Incubator and the experimental device is largely unfolding as intended. The latter is receiving the appropriate amount of energy. However, that still leaves a large amount of unused energy that has emerged from nowhere all of a sudden. It is this unexpected accumulation of energy that is causing the Incubator to release so many emissions."

His wife furrowed her brows in consternation. "This does not make sense. I am certain that we have not fed the artificial Incubator with excess materials or a large enough quantity of high-energy matter. I cannot deduce where it draws all of its excess energy from. It cannot simply appear out of vacuum, correct?"

Dr. Zeron Khabeel chose to make a remark.

"I believe that the origin of all of this excess energy is obvious. It is a consequence of an excess input of E energy."

That answer sounded more plausible than others. Although the short answer left out a few links, Ves immediately became convinced by the answer.

"Maybe you are right, Zeron, but where is it getting all of that additional energy from?" Ves scratched his head.

The ritualist looked around before settling his gaze on the tier 2 galactic citizen.

"I see now. We have completely overlooked a number of variables. The short answer is that you are responsible for the complications that have occurred so far."

"I knew it!" Gloriana quickly said. "It is always Ves that is at fault! What did you do this time?!"

"Nothing! I haven't done anything crazy this time! We all worked together on this project. Did you really think I could sneak in a few surprises when there are so many people around me? You know as well as I do that I have made a serious effort in restraining my creative urges. I admit that I felt tempted to implement additional ideas and innovations, but I rejected them due to the need to get the basics right."

His explanation caused Gloriana to relax, if only slightly.

"Hm, you are not lying. I believe you, but that does not discount Dr. Khabeel's words. What is it about you that is responsible for the deviations?" She wondered loudly. "Doctor?"

The ritualist was waiting for this. Since no one guessed correctly, the ritualist briefly explained his suspicions.

"We have been overlooking a major variable when it comes to working alongside an individual as exceptional as your former patriarch. That is the complications arising from the use of a kinship network."

Ves blinked all of a sudden. Out of all of the possible answers, he honestly did not expect to hear that the Larkinson Network may be responsible for the odd readings and activity!

"You will have to explain that further. Do it quickly." He commanded.

"The chain of logic is not that difficult to comprehend, sir. Just think about what we have been doing. We devised a ritual around the artificial Incubator that has not accounted for the influence of a strong and well-designed kinship network. This web connects many individuals to each other. Theoretically, this can enable a prominent individual to channel the power of the entire collective. While nothing as drastic as this has occurred, even an unconscious draw from the power accumulated by the kinship network can produce a myriad of changes."

Although this explanation made sense, Ves still harbored a bit of skepticism.

"I would have noticed if I was channeling a lot more energy than intended."

"Perhaps it did not involve the direct transfer of E energy, but other forms of energy that are less detectable." Dr. Zeron Khabeel gently responded. "In my opinion, you occupy a very high position in the hierarchy of your Larkinson Network. You are the founder and former patriarch of your clan. You are also its most successful inventor and mech designer. All of your contributions place you in a position of supreme importance. Is it not a surprise that you can influence the minds of many of your Larkinsons and draw small amounts of power from them to amplify your own activities? So long as you continue to maintain your grip on your kinship network, you will never truly work by yourself."

Ves continued to furrow his brow in thought. He could vaguely understand the other man's argument and may even agree with them. Still, that did little to soothe his unease at the bizarre situation.

"If… if you are right, Dr. Khabeel, then all of my work is connected to this phenomenon. Everything I do will get amplified no matter whether I want it or not. This is certainly annoying for us all. Our models and calculations have become largely useless due to all of the changes."

The more he thought about it, the more he became convinced that the Larkinson Network indeed played an unexpected role.

The ritualists failed to account for this variable because they never directly worked alongside a tier 2 galactic citizen.

Now that they became aware of it, they felt confident they could revise their models and produce more accurate numbers.

However, that was a matter left for later. At this time, it was more important to stabilize the ongoing experiment and make sure it did not blow itself up in the process.

Gloriana and the others had already begun to implement emergency measures in order to siphon away the excess heat and so on. It was easy enough to bleed away the excessive heat.

Once the artificial Incubator began to show signs of resuming a more normal trajectory, it had finally reached the end of its life cycle.

The non-organic Incubator began to fall apart.

Many parts of its hollow structure got cannibalized by the experimental device.

At this point, the ritual not only strengthened the creation of the potential source of stolen resonance, but also fed it with lots of 'nutrients'!

This caused the emergence of a smart metal construct that vaguely formed a large but rippling sphere.

This was the base form of the experimental device. Ves could feel that it had truly come to life through his own sharp senses.

Just like the previous experimental product, the second device possessed a sense of both unity and separation.

Many groupings of nanomachines comprised of sentient inorganic components.

Compared to last time, the SICs were considerably stronger and more intelligent this time.

While Ves needed to get closer in order to study the SICs in greater detail, he could already tell from distance that they were undeniably higher in quality.

In fact, the increase in strength, responsiveness and other factors exceeded his expectations.

They were a lot stronger and more functional than he expected!

This was both good and bad.

The good news was that the stronger SICs increased the success rate of their experiment.

The bad news was that the stronger SICs may also cause problems if the experimental device ever lost control!

Ves grew concerned and quietly activated a few security measures in case this went wrong.

He even called Saint Rosa Orfan to bring her ace mech a little closer in case they needed to borrow her power.

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