The evolution of insect swarms from XNUMX million years ago

Chapter 325 Alien Raider Dragon

The dense figures of the ancient web-winged flying insects were the first to scatter forward, spreading out in a fan shape in the direction that had been determined before. The echolocation signals echoed in the underground caves, presenting the details of every inch of land in the echo signals.

Special-frequency sound waves that repel the small flying dragons native to the planet Dikla also reverberate, driving away approaching native flying creatures and preventing them from interfering with the ancient web-winged insects that serve as the eyes and ears of the colony.

On the ground, the noise made by the marching army of Crazy Tooth Saw Ants is enough to make ordinary native creatures in the underground world stay away. Even if there are some stubborn ones, they cannot pose a threat to the Crazy Tooth Saw Ants that have been significantly upgraded in all aspects.

But it is impossible to be without any obstacles - the echolocation system shows that there are some larger things approaching on the ground, and in groups - although he did not see their detailed appearance, Lin Yi had roughly guessed their identity.

The first figure appeared in the infrared night vision eyes of the ancient web-winged flying insects on the periphery - as expected, it was that kind of eusocial large-scale theropod, with bone spurs and keratinous protrusions all over its body faintly visible in the weak light.

At present, it seems that these big guys are also the product of gene editing. Their true sociality is not a natural trait, and the combination of open circulatory system and highly acidic blood is definitely a product of bad ethics.
Because the source of their main gene sequences is indeed a large member of the theropod order native to Dikla, and they have highly acidic blood that is strikingly similar to that of the aliens, Lin Yi simply calls them "Alien Raiders."

Among the currently known grade differentiations of the other side, the smaller grade with four limbs on the ground is called hunting type, while the larger grade that stands on two feet and looks like a large theropod dinosaur is called defensive type.

At present, the first batch of approaching raider dragons are mainly fast hunting types, leaving out special scent marks. Behind them, more large echo signals are coming out, which must be the huge defensive types.

This time, they were obviously quite wary of the ancient web-winged flying insects in the air, but they had no way to threaten the individuals of the ancient web-winged flying insects hovering in the sky. They could only move forward while growling vigilantly from time to time.

In the center, the army of mad saw-toothed ants seemed unmoved, still marching forward in a strict formation, as if they were completely unaware of the enemy's approach. The ancient web-winged flying insects on the periphery did not launch another attack, but just hovered in the sky and observed secretly.

The raiding dragons came from all directions, with the hunting ones wandering around, while several huge defensive ones gathered in one place, slashing diagonally towards the middle of the Mad Saw Ants' marching column from the side.

As the distance gradually closes, the figures of the crazy saw-ants have become clearly visible in their equally special night vision eyes. As long as they cover the last section of the distance, they will be able to get close to the other party and kill them one by one with the offensive structures all over their bodies.

But at this moment, the swarm of Crazy Saw Ants that were advancing in a column stopped instantly and turned around together. The middle row slightly changed their position, forming an arc, and the ends were all aimed at the approaching defensive Raider Dragon.

Seeing that they were discovered, they no longer tried to hide, but instead used their well-developed hind legs to kick themselves up with a flexibility that was inconsistent with their body size, and rushed straight towards the direction of the crazy saw-toothed ants.

But soon, a series of blazing red tracks streaked from the specialized abdomens of the Crazy Tooth Saw Ants, shooting towards the incoming group of raiding dragons, followed by a familiar shrill scream, which was the horn of death.

There were a few puffs, and the muffled sound of high-speed objects sinking into flesh and blood was heard. The special acidic blood of the raiding dragon splashed out on the spot, splashing on the ground, corroding the rocks and causing bubbles to swirl. The second round of attacks followed closely, and more structures shot out with fiery red tails, sinking into the flesh and blood, and then bursting, causing horrible injuries, and the powerful kinetic energy tore the body of the raiding dragon into pieces.

The main attack structure of the abdomen of the Crazy-Tooth Saw Ant has also been upgraded to an electromagnetic weapon, which makes this batch of Crazy-Tooth Saw Ants larger than before, reaching a body length of three meters, with a shoulder height close to that of an adult, as well as a series of fine-tuning such as more developed six limbs and abdominal stalks.

Most of the adjustment took place in the abdomen, where the sac that originally stored propellant was replaced by two large, kidney-shaped improved electrode column organs that could instantly convert enough current to supply the entire system.

After a series of adjustments at the microscopic level, the wire structure derived from the improved nervous system is densely distributed between a pair of huge electric plate column organs and the main acceleration structure, achieving the most efficient and stable energy transmission.

Due to the extremely high storage and conversion capacity of traditional chemical energy, electrical energy storage structures such as batteries are unnecessary for the hive. Most of the energy still exists in the form of chemical energy in special media with high energy density, which is supplied to the electric column organs for conversion into electrical energy when needed.

These special media are based on the special phage-like microscopic levels that are inherently present in the mother nest, allowing the nest to achieve genetic editing methods at an early stage of evolution that is no different from that of wild beasts.

This kind of multiple functions at the microscopic level were once the key to the mother nest having complex functions without having a macroscopic complex structure. Later, after being implanted into the microscopic space-like synaptic structure, it was also the basis for the integration of the complex genetic sequences of individuals of all levels in the nest.

Their ability to efficiently dissolve and digest food at the cellular level was slightly improved to form the current structure for efficient storage and conversion of chemical energy, and at the same time became the material basis for the existence of individual nest members.

The concentrated nutrients transformed and transported by the fungal mat, as well as the media for storing and transporting energy in the bodies of most hive-level individuals, are all based on this structure, even including various star scorpions, which reduces the loss in the energy transmission process to the limit.

The improved version of the Crazy Tooth Saw Ant can also use its electromagnetic launch structure to conduct multiple shots, and its larger size also allows for more projectile storage, making its firepower density and sustainability better than before.

Not to mention the huge kinetic energy improvement brought by electromagnetism compared to gunpowder. If special projectiles are used, it is not difficult to penetrate the Ezki people's power outer armor. Even the front armor of those large combat machines can be easily penetrated using ammunition similar to the armor-piercing single-headed bullets of the past.

At this time, these raiders became the best targets, allowing the upgraded version of the Crazy Tooth Saw Ant's biological electromagnetic weapon structure, which was even better than before, to exert its terrifying power for the first time.

The specially improved, corrosion-resistant ancient web-winged flying insects quickly flew down, ready to recycle the bodies of the raiding dragons. The army of crazy saw-toothed ants did not even look at the corpses and continued to move forward.

(End of this chapter)