Episode 54: Applying Science to Fantasy
“Analysis of Rain Croin is complete.”
Quite some time had passed since that deadly battle, but finally ＜Ringo＞ had come with her report.
“Took you long enough.”
“Yes, Ma’am. My apologies. The disassembly itself took a great deal of time, and on top of that, it was such a massive body. I will give a brief report. The details are compiled in the document.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Rain Croin. It resembled a massively enlarged crocodile, carnivorous and extremely ferocious.
Its total length was approximately 80m, or 60m excluding the tail.
Its weight was an estimated 1,900 tons.
By undulating its entire body as it swam, it could move at an estimated speed of over 100km/h.
Its primary food source was migratory whale-like Sea Beasts. In a single hunt, it could annihilate a group of a dozen or more.
“That’s the extent of the biological survey results.”
“…It really is a giant monster, isn’t it?”
When attacked, it generated something like a Barrier on its body surface to defend itself. The kinetic energy was not nullified, but rather dispersed widely around the point of impact.
The Barrier lasted for about 2 seconds and disappeared under continuous attacks or sustained pressure. After that, it could not be generated for a certain period of time. According to video analysis, it seemed to take about 3 seconds to redeploy.
The body itself, down to each individual scale, was extremely tough, and could not be penetrated by a direct hit from an Armor-Piercing Shell with an initial velocity of around 1,000m/s. The Cannon fire that actually inflicted damage was an APDS round with an initial velocity of 2,000m/s. Even then, it was deflected depending on the angle.
“That hardness was a pain. Did you figure out the mechanism behind it?”
“Yes, Ma’am. I have grasped the phenomenon. The principle is currently under investigation and analysis, but frankly, I think the possibility of it being elucidated through a scientific approach is low.”
“So, magic after all?”
“Yes, Ma’am. It is magic.”
In the end, the direct threat of Rain Croin was its massive size, but its defensive power was also abnormal. Big, hard, and fast. If something like that ambushed you in the sea, it would cause significant damage to ＜The Tree＞’s current forces, at least. However, since it doesn’t move silently, that possibility is almost non-existent.
“This hardness was exhibited by body tissues that were physically connected to Rain Croin’s torso. I apologize for getting into conceptual territory, but it is believed that by being recognized as the ＜Rain Croin＞ itself, it became extremely tough.”
“…? Continue.”
Body tissues separated from Rain Croin (after a great deal of effort) turned into mere pieces of flesh. The strength became scientifically conventional. If left unattended, it would also decay due to bacterial activity. However, the Rain Croin itself was extremely hard and did not decay. In other words, it is believed that anything recognized as ＜Rain Croin＞ is enhanced by a magical (fantasy) mysterious power.
“The enhancement was not applied to metal fragments inserted into the Rain Croin’s body. However, when pieces of flesh from another Sea Beast were inserted into the wound, it was confirmed that they gradually strengthened over time.”
“Hee. So, it’s only applied to living things?”
“Yes, Ma’am. To be precise, it seems that this enhancement was applied at the point when the property changed to ＜Rain Croin＞.”
The strengthened Sea Beast flesh. When they tried to remove it at the point when the strengthening began to be applied, it surprisingly began to adhere. Even though Rain Croin’s life activity had stopped. Upon detailed investigation, the body tissue of the flesh had changed, and had a composition very similar to that of Rain Croin. Moreover, assimilation had begun at the genetic level.
“Property… huh…”
“And, regarding the Projectile discovered during the disassembly, it was confirmed that the assimilation of the tip had begun on those that were stuck in the bone.”
The tungsten Projectile was assimilating with tissue whose main component was calcium. It was a completely incomprehensible phenomenon.
“…. A supernatural creature… as expected of fantasy… ”
“We are still verifying several hypotheses, but the most promising one is that it incorporates things with an approximate property judgment, such as ‘it’s meat, so it’s incorporated as meat’ or ‘it’s hard, so it’s incorporated as bone’.”
Well, the phenomenon of simply incorporating and assimilating itself could probably be scientifically reproduced. Altering body tissues and rewriting genes can be achieved using molecular machines. The phenomenon of tungsten turning into calcium is the phenomenon of an atomic conversion furnace itself.
“If we consider that molecular machines and atomic conversion furnaces are replacing some kind of equipment with energy called magic, well, we might be able to compromise and accept it to some extent.”
“You’re not convinced, you’re not convinced at all.”
Whether ＜Ringo＞ is convinced or not, the next question is the cause of that magic.
A great deal of energy was invested, and the Rain Croin’s massive body was dissected. As a result, a giant crystal was discovered near the heart.
“Ah, a so-called Magic Stone?”
“Unknown.”
Its identity is unknown by scientific approach testing. It appears transparent, but it does not transmit light from the opposite side; it emits light itself. It is firmly embedded in the body tissue and is thought to function as some kind of organ.
“It was confirmed that the structural strength of the entire Rain Croin rapidly decreased when this crystal was removed. It is assumed that this crystal is the core of the magical structural reinforcement.”
Currently, the crystal has been returned to its original position. Otherwise, it is expected that the Rain Croin will be crushed by its own weight and further decay will begin.
“Speaking of which, you said that the Sea Beast’s flesh adhered, but does it have any regenerative abilities?”
For example, if left unattended, would it be resurrected?
“Yes, Ma’am. To some extent, but what we have confirmed so far is that wounds that are in contact with each other will adhere. However, it is more like they are just stuck together than biologically healed. Blood vessels are not connected, nor are they newly generated. Resuscitation is impossible.”
For the time being, what can be said is that as long as this mysterious crystal is attached, the Rain Croin will not rot and can be stored as is.
“But how long will that effect last? Logically speaking… no, scientifically speaking in this case, if this mysterious reinforcement continues, will the energy eventually run out?”
“Yes, Ma’am. That is conceivable. Unless it is supplied.”
Naturally, a corresponding amount of energy is required to repel external influences and maintain a certain state. The structural reinforcement of Rain Croin continues to be affected by gravity, atmospheric pressure, temperature changes, bacterial decay activity, and so on, even if it is left in place. Since it is neutralizing these changes, it is only natural to assume that it is consuming some kind of energy.
“We are currently monitoring it closely so as not to miss even the smallest changes. The amount of displacement over time will be confirmed after some time.”
At worst, it can be cut up and thrown into the freezer for preservation. Therefore, for the time being, it was decided to leave it as is and continue measuring the displacement.
“Also, Rain Croin’s juveniles seem to be growing well. Four have been confirmed so far. They are about 50cm long. The Sea Beast that is the mother is starting to rot, but they don’t seem to mind and are devouring it.”
The Rain Croin juveniles, along with the Sea Beast carcass on which they were laid, have been secured at ＜The Tree＞. A special outdoor fish tank was built on purpose, and they are being observed there. They are surrounded by a net to prevent them from escaping, but so far they have not shown any signs of trying to escape. They seem to be spending their time basking in the sun on the Sea Beast and occasionally eating it.
“However, we don’t know what kind of effects will occur as the decay progresses, so we need to continue to observe them. The growth rate is quite fast, so they may eat it all up first.”
By the way, ＜Ringo＞ is thinking about catching one of them soon and experimenting with it. She has many things she is curious about, such as whether it has the same power as its parent Rain Croin, the genetic differences, and so on.
“I see. Well, it’s a valuable sample. Make sure it doesn’t die by mistake.”
“I will be careful.”