The body of the Volcanic Monster Bird Baton must be retrieved. If the Tyranids get their hands on it and study its genetics, it would be a huge disadvantage for them. Baton, just like Red King, is an Earth monster that the Tyranids could potentially replicate.

"Master, perhaps you don't have to worry. Baton may not be completely dead. I can bring him back with Super Beast modification," Yapool said to Rhodes through the system channel.

He had watched the entire battle between his master and the powerful Xenos race, and once he saw the Volcanic Monster Bird Baton, an idea had been brewing in his mind.

"Master! Didn't you say before that it was possible to create new Cosmic Phantom Beasts? I think this giant bird, Baton, is perfect for transforming into a Cosmic Phantom Beast," said the Cosmic Water Buffalo, which had partially fused with Rhodes.

"???"

Rhodes had three big question marks floating above his head. What did these two mean? One wanted to turn Baton into a Super Beast, the other into a Cosmic Phantom Beast.

"Can both of you revive it? Tell me your methods—Yapool, you go first," Rhodes asked.

"Master, my method is simple. Just bring Baton's body back. Then I'll use extra-dimensional energy to transform the Volcanic Monster Bird into a Super Beast, granting it even greater power while preserving all its original attributes," Yapool explained.

His Super Beast modifications and fusion abilities could even merge conceptual items. He had fused many monster corpses and even souls before; Baton would be no exception.

"What do you plan to fuse with Baton?" Rhodes nodded and asked.

"Master! Baton was killed by this psychic force. Fusing it with my extra-dimensional energy is the best choice," Yapool replied.

"Are you sure you can perfectly revive it?" Rhodes pressed.

Baton was already dead. If he was turned into a Super Beast, who knew if he could be further enhanced?

"Master! Once fused into a Super Beast, Baton will be revived. As for other things, I can't guarantee," Yapool explained.

"Cosmic Water Buffalo, your method?" Rhodes decided to hear the Cosmic Phantom Beast's approach before choosing between Super Beast or Phantom Beast.

"Master! Your system coins should be enough to upgrade the enhancement shop and strengthen a Cosmic Phantom Beast. So why not give this slot to Baton? Its fire attribute makes it perfect for transformation," said the Cosmic Water Buffalo.

From the moment Baton appeared, it had its eye on its fire attribute—this bird was ideal as a Cosmic Phantom Beast.

"It sounds good, but Baton is dead. I can't enhance a dead monster into a Cosmic Phantom Beast," Rhodes shook his head.

He thought the Water Buffalo had a trick up its sleeve; turns out it was just the standard Phantom Beast enhancement, which only works on living monsters.

"Master, your monster hasn't truly died. To us, Cosmic Phantom Beasts, only the simultaneous destruction of soul and body is true death. Its soul isn't completely gone—the body only has its brain blown out. That's not dead.

The Cosmic Phoenix possesses a Rebirth Flame. Baton, long resident in volcanoes, is an extremely powerful fire-attribute monster and can accommodate this Rebirth Flame. As long as it touches the Rebirth Flame, it can briefly escape its pseudo-death state, letting you enhance it as a Cosmic Phantom Beast.

The reborn Volcanic Monster Bird Baton would then possess part of the Cosmic Phoenix's power, while still retaining its special anti-Tyranid abilities," explained the Cosmic Water Buffalo.

Rhodes nodded—this sounded good. Baton already looked like a giant rooster; giving it the Rebirth Flame would turn it from a hen into a phoenix.

No, more accurately, from a dead bird into a phoenix.

Moreover, Cosmic Phantom Beasts could fuse with regular lifeforms—there's no rule saying a Phantom Beast can only fuse with one being.

Rhodes coveted Baton's anti-Tyranid power; turning it into a Cosmic Phantom Beast would allow him to fuse with it.

Letting Yapool modify it would just make a Super Beast. All told, Cosmic Phantom Beast was the better deal.

After considering it, Rhodes decided to rebirth Baton as a Cosmic Phantom Beast.

"Yapool! Turning Baton into a Super Beast won't boost its power much. As a Cosmic Phantom Beast, it'll be far more useful to me," Rhodes declared.

Yapool had no objections—whatever the master said, he agreed.

"Master! Super Beast modification is still possible. After it upgrades to a Cosmic Phantom Beast, it will gain cosmic energy protection and leave behind its physical body—perfect for me to turn into a Super Beast," added the Cosmic Water Buffalo.

When a Cosmic Phantom Beast is born, its body disappears, becoming a pure energy and spirit-soul entity. The flesh is irrelevant for Phantom Beasts, but Super Beast modification only needs the body.

"A perfect solution, Master! Upgrade it to a Cosmic Phantom Beast, then give me the body for Super Beast conversion," said Yapool.

"Good! Let's do that," Rhodes nodded, agreeing to the plan. Why choose one when you can choose both?

They could turn Baton into a Cosmic Phantom Beast and also strengthen it as a Super Beast; one with form, one without—no conflict.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com