New Swimmer Variants

Brain Bug No. 1 was highly efficient.

The genetic settings for the biological torpedoes were not complex, and in the end, it decided on three new types of Swimmers.

【Swimmer (Small Torpedo Type): Capable of firing a pointed biological torpedo 20 centimeters long and 2 centimeters in diameter. The tail of the torpedo features a biological propulsion organ that releases gas to drive the biological torpedo forward. This biological torpedo can adjust its direction to a certain extent and decide when to explode. It has a maximum range of 2 kilometers. Each Swimmer carries 100 of these biological torpedoes internally, producing one every minute at a cost of 1 unit of standard energy per 10 torpedoes.】

【Swimmer (Large Torpedo Type): Capable of firing a pointed biological torpedo 50 centimeters long and 10 centimeters in diameter. The tail of the torpedo features a biological propulsion organ that releases gas to drive the biological torpedo forward. This biological torpedo can adjust its direction to a certain extent and decide when to explode. It has a maximum range of 3 kilometers. Each Swimmer carries 10 of these biological torpedoes internally, producing one every 10 minutes. Each torpedo costs 1 unit of standard energy.】

These new Swimmers required higher energy reserves than the older models. Although they remained Tier 4, the biological torpedoes they fired were significantly more powerful than the exploding needles.

Specifically, the Large Torpedo Type had a slow fire rate—one every ten minutes. Once its initial stock of biological torpedoes was depleted, it either had to hide in the rear to produce more using standard energy or charge into melee combat.

Brain Bug No. 1 had actually considered allowing the new Swimmers to carry some exploding needles as well, but ultimately scrapped the idea due to energy consumption concerns.

Cost had always been a major concern for the Zerg.

Even a minor increase in energy consumption in one area would have a massive impact when scaled across the entire Swarm.

Production of the new Swimmers began immediately.

In truth, concentrated attacks from ordinary exploding needles were also quite powerful. Furthermore, because the exploding needles were thin and long, they were difficult for fish with poor eyesight to spot.

Especially when swimming directly toward an eye, a needle appeared as nothing more than a tiny dot. Its presence could usually only be detected by the sparse trail of bubbles it left behind.

However, seawater often contained many bubbles, making it easy for the needles to blend in and go unnoticed.

After a short wait, the first batch of new Swimmers was born.

Their production speed was noticeably slower than those firing exploding needles, but the cost remained the same at 40 units of standard energy.

According to the brain bug's tests, the explosive power of the new weapon was significantly greater than a full volley of exploding needles. Due to its larger size, it possessed better stability and featured a fine tuning direction function, making it a fairly advanced torpedo.

After a brief test, ten of the new Swimmers were immediately deployed into the water.

This group included eight Small Torpedo Types and two Large Torpedo Types.

They swam through the depths and quickly reached the front lines.

Xia Jin's projection was nearby. Seeing one of the Swimmers approach her, she reached out and touched it.

“Not bad. Let's see what they can do.”

The battle was still raging two kilometers away. Without hesitation, the torpedoes were launched.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Amidst a flurry of bubbles, over thirty blue black torpedoes streaked forward.

Xia Jin noted that these weapons were indeed much faster than the movement speed of a normal Swimmer. She followed them as they sped toward the battlefield ahead.

The needle firing Swimmers had formed a second line of defense here, continuously launching exploding needles while countless locusts held back the enemy in the distance.

Suddenly, a group of locusts parted, allowing the thirty plus torpedoes to zip through the gap.

Seeing something new approaching, several shrimpmen scrambled to dodge.

Unfortunately, the torpedoes were far faster than they were and even veered to pursue them.

Soon, a small torpedo exploded.

Boom!

A roar erupted, far more powerful than the sound of exploding needles. The water boiled under the high pressure.

Several shrimpmen did not even have time to flee before their bodies were torn apart. Those further away were blasted back several meters by the shockwave, suffering numerous burns.

If they had not only been grazed by the high temperature liquid, the sea would have been filled with cooked shrimp meat.

Following the first explosion, more thunderous blasts echoed through the surrounding waters.

The two large torpedoes followed closely, punching through the initial blast zone to slam directly into the crabmen further back.

Fireballs rose within the sea.

Seeing this, Xia Jin was satisfied to the extreme.

Even at Tier 4, these torpedo firing Swimmers held an absolute advantage over others of the same rank; the small torpedoes would likely result in instant kills.

As for the large torpedoes, while a single shot might not kill a Tier 5, a few would certainly do the job.

Against Tier 6 targets, a Tier 4 Swimmer could potentially secure a kill if it detonated all its large torpedoes at once.

This meant that despite their low fire rate, the Large Torpedo Swimmers now possessed the capability to threaten the lives of Tier 6 creatures.

“It seems our underwater combat strength has indeed improved further.”

Upon closer calculation, this major upgrade had not actually consumed more resources.

The venomous needle firing Swimmers would undoubtedly remain the primary force, as they could sustain prolonged combat without suffering from reduced firepower or lulls after a single volley. Furthermore, the needles themselves were difficult for enemies to spot and extremely hard to dodge, making their hit rate much higher than that of the torpedoes.