Chapter 493: Avatar
After the preliminary genetic modulation of the thirty test subjects was completed, Ryo was in no rush to advance to the next stage of gene-seed implantation.
In his planning, these enhanced individuals required sufficient time to adapt to and stabilize their new physiological states.
More importantly, regarding the different gene-seeds he had prepared—which originated from the genetic material of different Primarchs—he still needed to design more targeted secondary modulation protocols to ensure a higher compatibility and success rate.
This task required precise calculations and simulations; it was not something that could be accomplished overnight.
While monitoring the adaptive training data of the thirty test subjects, Ryo concurrently initiated another research project that was even more core to him and had been planned for a long time—the Avatar Protocol.
The inspiration for this project stemmed from the quantum entanglement symbiotic model deciphered from long-term observations of the Alpha and Omega samples. Its technological realization relied on the precise bio-sculpting capabilities, surpassing current Imperial standards, provided by the newly acquired Cloneskein technology.
His goal was to create a derivative entity based on his own genetic blueprint, an "avatar" capable of maintaining a deep, stable connection with his own conscious core.
The experiment was conducted secretly within an independent compartment deep within the core biological laboratories of the Eternal Seeker, fortified with multiple encryptions and physical shielding.
This area was completely isolated from the zones conducting Genesis Particle research or gene-seed optimization. Access clearance was restricted solely to Ryo.
First, he retrieved the data of the Alpha and Omega samples recovered from the Edge of Tomorrow world.
The quantum entanglement effect existing between these two special lifeforms, which transcended conventional communication protocols, provided the theoretical model and underlying architectural reference for the consciousness connection required by the avatar.
Ryo did not intend to completely replicate this xenos lifeform; rather, he drew upon the core principles regarding information synchronization and state sharing within their entanglement model.
Next, he utilized his own preserved genetic samples from before undergoing large-scale mechanization. This was the biological foundation of the avatar.
Combining this with the Cloneskein technology, he began the precise remodeling of his own genetic material.
The process was far from simple cloning.
Referencing the Alpha and Omega entanglement model, Ryo wove a special "anchor" information structure, used to stabilize quantum entanglement, into his own genetic sequence.
The sole function of these anchors was to establish and maintain a deep connection, transcending physical distance, with his conscious core—whether that was his retained biological brain or his massive mechanical processing units.
It was akin to constructing an incredibly complex biological geometric configuration at the microscopic level, designed purely for connection.
The incubation of the avatar took place within a specially made artificial womb.
The composition of the nutrient base fluid was strictly calculated to ensure that during the embryo's development, those implanted "anchors" could grow and fuse synchronously with the organism, becoming a part of its biological foundation rather than a foreign implant.
Simultaneously, Ryo conducted targeted enhancements on the avatar's physiological structure.
Applying advanced genetic editing algorithms parsed from the Cloneskein technology, he systematically elevated the avatar's bone density, muscle strength, neural conduction velocity, and organ efficiency. This made its baseline physical constitution far exceed that of ordinary humans, even surpassing the thirty test subjects who had just completed their modulation.
This was not to pursue ultimate combat prowess, but to ensure that the avatar, as an independent operational unit, possessed sufficient resilience to survive and execute missions.
Regarding the psychic aspect, Ryo adopted a cautious and ingenious design.
He did not attempt to create a naturally powerful psyker; not only was that extremely risky, but it was also prone to drawing unnecessary attention.
Instead, utilizing the Cloneskein technology's ability to tune Warp projections and combining it with the theory of Barrier Tech, he implanted a relatively faint but highly controllable foundation of psychic potential into the avatar.
To utilize this interface, Ryo synchronously designed a specialized psychic circlet.
This circlet was not merely an amplifier. Its core function, based on Barrier Tech, was to generate a stable, controlled synthetic psychic field.
When the circlet was activated, it could precisely resonate with that pre-set "interface" in the avatar's brain, thereby guiding and amplifying a controllable psychic effect.
In this manner, when the avatar used the circlet, it could stably manifest psychic powers equivalent to a typical human psyker—such as generating simple kinetic barriers, moving small objects, or conducting short-range telepathy—while simultaneously avoiding the massive risks and instability brought about by directly prying into Warp energy.
The entire incubation process lasted for several months.
Every day, Ryo's mechanical body would stand silently before the incubation pod for hours. His crimson optical lenses locked onto the slowly forming vital signs within, while his massive processing cores continuously ran complex simulation programs, deducing the various scenarios that might occur when the connection was established.
When the avatar embryo developed to near maturity, the most critical consciousness connection test was initiated.
Monitoring instruments successfully captured an extremely faint, yet definitively existent, harmonic resonance generated between the avatar's nascent brainwave activity and the operating frequency of Ryo's own processing cores.
This proved that the pre-implanted quantum entanglement anchors were taking effect, and the underlying channel for the consciousness connection had been established.
This connection was not simple information transmission; it was closer to a master-slave node relationship within a distributed processing system.
The avatar's consciousness could be viewed as an extended subroutine of Ryo's main consciousness; the two shared a higher-tier consciousness field.
As the absolute central hub, Ryo's main consciousness could perceive the avatar's sensory information and thought streams in real-time, exercising direct control over it.
The avatar possessed a certain degree of autonomous reaction and logical processing capabilities to cope with complex environments, but its core decision-making chain and ultimate authority always belonged to Ryo.
He could also completely "switch" his main conscious perception into the avatar at any time, manipulating it from a first-person perspective as if personally descending into the vessel.
This design brought a critically important strategic advantage: if Ryo's main body encountered unpredictable extreme danger, he could theoretically transfer his main conscious core and critical memory data packets rapidly into the avatar's body via the established quantum entanglement channel. This would achieve a form of "consciousness continuation," drastically elevating his survival redundancy when facing unknown threats.
As for the time-reversal ability observed from the Mimics, Ryo's research hit a bottleneck.
The physical laws of the Warhammer universe, particularly the interactive mechanisms between the Warp and the material universe, exhibited significant differences from the Edge of Tomorrow world.
Directly reproducing that planetary-scale, near-reset time reversal here required energy levels and degrees of rule interference that were almost impossible to achieve under current technological conditions, and were highly prone to triggering unpredictable Warp ripples.
Therefore, when modulating the avatar, Ryo subjected this ability to strict limitations and safety encapsulation.
He did not pursue large-scale time manipulation; instead, he confined the temporal influence to the microscopic level and the avatar itself.
Like casting specific psychic spells, the avatar could release simple time manipulation techniques, such as locally accelerating or decelerating the time flow of objects within a small radius, or performing limited chronological-reversal repairs on its own non-living carried items.
Its most critical self-preservation ability was a small-scale time reversal limited strictly to its own individual body.
Upon receiving fatal damage or suffering irreversible corruption, the avatar could activate a built-in safety protocol—based on a weakened version of the Mimic time mechanism—to revert its physical state back to a specific timeframe up to a maximum of twenty-four hours prior.
This process would consume immense biological energy and could not be used frequently. Simultaneously, it could not affect anything outside the avatar.
It was more of an emergency self-rescue measure rather than a strategic-level weapon.
When the incubation cycle completely concluded, the hatch of the artificial womb slowly opened.
A body that bore some resemblance to Ryo's human-era visage—but appeared younger and possessed a far more proportionate and robust physique—was presented before him.
This body kept its eyes closed, its chest rising and falling slightly with stable breaths.
Ryo's mechanical tentacles placed the specialized psychic circlet onto the avatar's head.
Subsequently, he issued the first activation command via the main console.
The avatar—or rather, the other vessel for Ryo's consciousness—opened its eyes.
(End of Chapter)