Upon confirming the structural parameters and functional variables of both blueprints, Keon initiated the systemic upgrade protocol without hesitation.
Instantly, a high-priority command wave propagated across the entirety of the Neural Nexus. Across every corner of Star System One and extending far beyond into the deep space probes, every micrometer-scale nano-mainframe underwent a simultaneous, instantaneous transformation. Distance became entirely irrelevant; the quantum resonance across the network executed the shift synchronously without a fraction of a millisecond in lag.
Internally reconfiguring down to the sub-atomic grid, each micrometer unit divided into thousands of true nanometer-scale True-Nano Main Frames. The structural framework shifted seamlessly, with the Hyper-Dense Atomic Node Composite (HDANC) replacing the baseline chassis. Built from folded 0.3-nanometer sheets, the new units maintained their flawless twelve-sided dodecahedron geometry, simultaneously housing data processing, energy storage, and field manipulation within their very hulls.
At the exact moment the upgrade completed, a profound shift occurred within Keon's consciousness. It was not a mere telemetry overlay or an active reconnaissance feed; rather, it felt as though he had permanently gained an entirely new perceptual perspective.
The surrounding sector, the southern hemisphere, the northern hemisphere... the entirety of planet UHS1 materialized in his perception with absolute, granular clarity.
The new perspective rapidly expanded outward... encompassing UHS2, the gas giant UHS3, the ringed bulk of UHS4, every inner and outer planet, the central star, and every individual asteroid, dwarf planet, moon, and debris belt surrounding the system. The inner layers, the outer margins, and finally Star System One in its absolute entirety were laid bare before him.
Still, the perspective did not halt. Pushing past the boundaries of the star system, it surged through interstellar space between star system boundaries until it reached the outer margins of thirty-six surrounding star systems where leading probes were currently traveling.
Keon could feel it directly... he could observe every single particle within this vast domain live at any given moment, as if he is standing in an extremely high position in space and peering down upon this tiny part of the universe from above.
'Is this the true effect of the photon mesh network? No, it's not that simple… it seems my neural nexus merged with this technology.' Keon thought in surprise, his analytical cores processing the vast influx of sensory data. 'In other words the entire Neural Nexus network has visually unified... is this the gaze of the fourth dimension? With this level of perception, those outdated optical sensors from before are completely redundant.'
Curious, he attempted to observe his immediate physical self. Instantly, UHS1 within the global perspective was selected and zoomed in upon; as if passing through every physical barrier, the gaze locked onto his bio-exoshell standing near the massive canopy of the Elemental Tree.
Simultaneously, his familiar main perspective activated as his gaze fell on the bio exoshell. Through his optical lenses, he detected and analyzed his immediate surroundings, while the dynamic omni-perspective remained anchored above, continuously expanding its borders as the thousands of deep-space probes pushed further into surrounding star systems.
'So this is the active application of both my main consciousness and subconscious processing simultaneously,'
Keon reflected, seamlessly handling both perspectives without a trace of discomfort, lag, or visual error. It was akin to solving two complex mathematical and physical equations simultaneously using a single processing core.
'It allows me to dynamically survey the universe through the entire Neural Nexus at all times. This is truly a higher dimension of perception. Combining the inside-out main perspective with the outside-in dynamic omni-perspective perfectly aligns with theoretical descriptions of a four-dimensional space that third-dimensional entities cannot perceive.' Keon's green pupils flickered with an increasingly intense light as his deductions locked into place.
'This is definitely possible because of the Neural Nexus sub-talent, probably it's another effect of neural nexus talent which wasn't active until now... confirming once again that these sub-talents are a synthesis of machine architecture and my human soul. The human soul is indeed a profound mystery.'
Keon shifted his focus, observing the structures surrounding him and even his own bio-exoshell. Every surface now appeared seamlessly unified, as if formed and maintained by a single, continuous piece of metal with a perfectly smooth, frictionless finish.
While he was observing the subtle transformation, a timely system notification pulsed in front of his vision.
[System Notification: Core Changes Detected.]
[New Core: Nano Main Frame (1 Nanometer)]
[Basic Power Threshold Reduced: 0.01 microgram -> 0.1 nanogram (100x Further Reduction)]
[New Level One Threshold: 0.0001 microgram (0.1 Nanogram)]
Following the initial notification, a familiar barrage of level-up alerts flooded his interface in rapid succession.
[Level Increase Detected: 57 -> 58]
[Free Attributes: 58]
[Level Increase Detected: 58 -> 59]
[Free Attributes: 59]
[Level Increase Detected: 59 -> 60]
[Free Attributes: 60]
[Level Increase Detected: 60 -> 61]
[Free Attributes: 61]
[Total Free Attribute Points: 238]
Without a moment's hesitation, Keon allocated all two hundred and thirty eight free attribute points directly into the Nano Main Frame parameters. As the allocation registered, a physical wave of structural refinement rippled across every single nanometer mainframe spanning the entire Neural Nexus.
[Force +23.8 Nanogram]
He opened the status panel to examine the newly updated metrics.
[Status Panel]
Name: Keon
Level: 61
Race: Mechanical Species
Current Primary Form: Nano Main Frame (1 nanometer)
Largest Operating Size: 1055 Cubic Kilometers
...
[Core Systems]
Energy: 3000 PW (One thousand Terawatt = One Petawatt; Due to changes in energy technology, energy values are denoted in standard prefixes: Terawatt, Petawatt, Exawatt, Zettawatt, Yottawatt)
...
[Special Buff]
Physical Functionality Enhancement: 50%
Energy Consumption Reduction: 50%
(Note: Special Buff reached the system limit)
...
[Force Value]
Nano Main Frame Force: 189.2 nanogram (Single Unit = 1 nanometer)
Nano Frame Swarm Force: 10 Trillion Kiloton (Combined = 1055 cubic kilometers)
...
[Growth Statistics]
Free Attribute: 0
Next Level Requirement: Force > 50 Trillion Kilotons
…
Keon glanced at the status panel and nodded thoughtfully as his optical sensors lingered on the special buff note, which confirmed that the enhancement had reached its absolute physical limit.
'As expected, the buff has finally reached the system cap,' Keon reflected, closing the panel with a faint flicker of his optical lenses. 'Regardless, the free attributes can still be allocated without any restriction, which remains the most critical utility of the system interface.'
He evaluated the cumulative data logs. Having invested thousands of attribute points up to level sixty-one, a single one-nanometer main frame could now exert an extraordinary amount of force... thousands of times greater than its baseline physical output.
Raising the synthetic right hand of his bio-exoshell, Keon silently controlled the nano main frames in his shell. Instantly, a pristine, dark block of True-Nano Main Frames detached from his palm and hovered smoothly above his synthetic skin, suspended by localized electromagnetic repulsion.
Under his neural direction, the block began to shift fluidly. It collapsed first into a dark diamond displaying a flawlessly smooth, metallic sheen, then reconfigured into a pristine geometric cube with the same mirror-like luster. Moments later, the mass dissolved into a squirming, hyper-fluid jelly before locking into an impenetrable, solid lattice.
Keon nodded thoughtfully at the physical feedback. 'It can indeed dynamically alter its hardness and structural state across different configurations. This new electromagnetic pole attraction and repulsion mechanism almost rivals artificial atomic bonding technology.'
He paused, running sub-atomic geometry calculations through his central processor. 'Anyway, my next ultimate target is to reduce the scale of nano main frame directly to the atomic level. But for that, I will have to alter the fundamental geometry of the frame itself. A ring or spherical hull is far more suitable for atomic-scale physics; the current twelve-sided dodecahedron geometry is no longer ideal.'
With his next developmental milestone established, Keon released his neural grip on the floating mass. The dark block dissolved back into his palm, rejoining the seamless, frictionless finish of his exoshell surface.
Turning his head, he cast his gaze toward the southern horizon, where the majestic, three-hundred-meter canopy of the Elemental Tree pulsed with waves of radiant green Ether.
'At the current rate of energy absorption, biological expansion and unknown growth limit, i can't calculate how much time it will take to reach its absolute cap and trigger the next evolutionary stage,' Keon calculated. 'It can be one, ten or even hundred years. Anyway, before that occurs, I must complete the Great Merging Plan.'
He looked upward into the vast, ringed sky of UHS1. Through the unified four-dimensional perception of his Neural Nexus, his focus expanded instantly across the entire star system... locking onto every planet, asteroid, moon, dwarf planet, and stray celestial body in orbit.
'Next begins the construction of the transit ships,' Keon determined. 'Since I have not yet developed true space technology for instantaneous spatial transfer, I will construct colossal transit ships. With my upgraded True-Nano Main Frames, I can now easily assemble and maintain structures on a far grander scale than before.'
His strategy crystallized: his swarms would systematically excavate every remaining geological mass from each planet in Star System One, transporting the raw continents through deep space to merge them directly into UHS1, all while utilizing the True-Nano Main Frames to stabilize and maintain UHS1's fundamental structural integrity throughout the massive planetary expansion.
Finally, his unified gaze locked onto the three gargantuan, trillion-cubic-kilometer artificial storage vaults hovering in solar orbit around the central sun. Without hesitation, Keon transmitted a high-priority system command through the Neural Nexus to begin constructing new vessels at the absolute maximum physical size his upgraded True-Nano Main Frames could currently sustain.
Previously, under the micrometer-scale mainframes, his operating size cap had been restricted to ships spanning roughly one thousand kilometers. Now, following the nanometer upgrade, he was eager to test his true physical ceiling... knowing that assembling vessels beyond the previous 1055-cubic-kilometer operating threshold would simultaneously trigger another massive wave of system level-ups.
…