These survivors began to adapt more thoroughly to the rules of the Death World.
Their growth rate became extremely slow, almost entering an energy-saving state similar to dormancy, only performing limited photosynthesis and growth during short, relatively "mild" environmental parameter windows.
Their forms also changed further, with some even developing water storage structures similar to succulents, or the ability to more effectively draw trace amounts of water and minerals from rock crevices.
This oasis, spawned by genesis particles, significantly reduced in size, but the signs of life in its core area stabilized.
They no longer relied on external energy for sustenance; instead, they truly and arduously took root in this once-dead land, forming an extremely simplified but self-sustaining miniature ecological cycle.
Osiris carefully analyzed the genetic sequences and physiological structure data of these surviving organisms.
They were actively deviating from the initially injected "standard template," evolving towards unique directions more adapted to high temperatures, drought, and strong radiation.
This process, as if natural selection had been accelerated tens of thousands of times, was clearly presented before him.
This result held multiple meanings.
On one hand, it proved that the life created by Genesis Technology was not a fleeting illusion but possessed the potential to survive and evolve independently in a real environment, which greatly enhanced the practical value of the technology.
But on the other hand, this uncontrolled evolutionary direction itself contained uncertainty.
If these peculiar creatures, adapted to the Death World, were introduced into other environments, would they become unpredictable invasive species? What would be the ultimate end point of their own evolution?
He incorporated these new data and considerations into the evaluation system.
The power of genesis particles was more profound than he had anticipated; it not only "created" but also opened the door to "accelerated evolution."
How to utilize this power while ensuring its process and results remain within a controllable range will be the key to the next step of research.
He ordered the skitarii to maintain the blockade and increased the regular collection and in-depth analysis of survivor samples.
This valley had transformed from a mere testing ground into a valuable natural laboratory for the adaptation and evolution of life in extreme environments.
— —
Combining all the data obtained from the valley experiment to date, Osiris conducted a systematic analysis and summary.
The conclusion was clear: genesis particle technology was indeed effective on a macroscopic scale, capable of overcoming extreme environments to foster life, and the life created possessed the potential for independent evolution and adaptation in real environments.
The results of this stage were satisfying, successfully verifying the feasibility of the technology.
But Osiris' thinking did not stop there.
He clearly realized that, so far, everything he had done was essentially replicating the path once taken by Starfleet scholars—verifying technology, observing results.
This was necessary for mastering basic principles, but for him, who aimed to surpass and seek greater control, it was far from enough.
He did not merely want to replicate an environment or observe life struggling within a set framework.
He wanted to intervene more deeply, guide more precisely, and explore the broader application boundaries of genesis particles.
This valley test site, already taking initial shape, was the ideal platform for the next step of exploration.
A new experimental concept formed in his mind: instead of a one-time large-scale Deployment, he would switch to long-term, trace, continuous injection of genesis particles into the valley environment.
He adjusted the output mode of the energy emitter, setting it to low-power intermittent operation.
Each time, only extremely trace amounts of active genesis particles would be released into the valley; these particles would be insufficient to trigger drastic environmental reshaping, but their inherent "creation" and "reorganization" properties would continuously and gently influence the existing ecosystem within the valley.
His goal was clear: without triggering abnormal, explosive proliferation of life, he aimed to continuously provide a stable "accelerator" for the evolutionary process of life within the valley, utilizing the power of these miraculous particles.
He wanted to observe where the evolutionary path of these life forms, which had already initially adapted to the Death World environment, would be led under this continuous, gentle catalytic action.
Could they break through the scope of simple plants and microorganisms, and in accelerated time, eventually evolve into more complex, advanced life forms capable of adapting to and even utilizing this harsh planetary environment?
This was a grander and riskier long-term experiment.
It was no longer merely creating an ecosystem but attempting to actively guide the evolutionary direction of an ecosystem, observing the limits life could reach under artificially imposed "evolutionary pressure."
Osiris set up the program and strengthened the density and accuracy of the monitoring network.
He needed to record every subtle change—the drift of gene sequences, the succession of population structures, the innovation of physiological structures, and the evolution of energy flow and material cycles in the entire miniature ecosystem.
The valley, once a desolate place, was now, under his intervention, transformed into a dynamic life laboratory where time was accelerated.
He observed quietly, waiting to see what new chapter life would write on this harsh land under the influence of this continuous and gentle creative force.
This was not only a test of genesis particles but also a deep exploration of life's potential itself.
— —
Just as Osiris was fully immersed in the in-depth study of genesis particles, far away on the Neksum Forge World, the "Iron Guard" project he initiated, after receiving the full support of Fabricator-Captain Vox, was rapidly advancing along the typical technological path of the Adeptus Mechanicus, even beginning to deviate from his original design intent in some aspects.
The efficiency of the Tech-Priests on the Forge World was extremely high; they were not content with simply replicating Osiris' design.
After an in-depth analysis of the standard operating version, these Priests, devout to the Omnissiah and advocating "firepower is truth," believed that Osiris' original design was too "conservative" and "cautious."
In their view, the original design placed too much emphasis on driver safety, limiting the full release of the machine's performance.
Thus, they set about making "optimizations."
The operating interface was further simplified, becoming more intuitive, even with a hint of aggressiveness, to stimulate the driver's combativeness.
More importantly, they strengthened the presence and influence of the machine spirit within the machine's body, making it more inclined to actively assist in combat rather than passively responding to commands.
These modifications significantly enhanced the iron guard's instantaneous burst power and overall firepower output.
The destructive power of the new model on the testing ground was remarkable; swinging power fists could more easily crush targets, and the accuracy and rate of fire of the weapon systems also showed significant improvement.