ã€ŠBecame an Evolving Space Monsterã€‹


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Novel Preview

 Prologue

    Prologue

    Where should I start? I can guess that the catalyst for all this was clearly the event that happened yesterday. While I was wasting time at home, I received an email.

    [Announcement!!!]

    [Space Survival development team is currently recruiting closed beta testers for the sequel. If you wish to participate, please click the ept button below.]

    Space Survival.

    It¡¯s a survival RPG game where you choose one of the various races existing in the vast space, and you survive, explore, and evolve. What caught my attention here was the ¡®various races¡¯. Ever since I was young, I¡¯ve been fond of aliens, monsters, and different species. Space Survival was a game that brought my fantasies to life.

    Sometimes I became a metallic gremlin, tearing apart human ships, and other times, I transformed into a mutant monster, ughtering enemies on the ground.

    At times, I even led a hive-minded organization to conquers. I¡¯ve yed as all sorts of space creatures that coulde out of nightmares, but there was one race that I enjoyed the most: the Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph, or UASM for short.

    Ibined the ¡®A¡¯ from Aggressive with ¡®Morph¡¯ and called them Amorphs. Amorphs were space monsters inspired by creatures from the ssic film ¡®The Thing¡¯, capable of acquiring gic information from their victims to enhance themselves.

    They had no limits to how strong they could be, which might make them seem like overpowered beings at first nce. However, due to their incredibly challenging survival difficulty and the inherent risks of their race, they had a notorious reputation.

    In essence, they got stronger over time, but they were extremely weak in the beginning, making it nearly impossible to aplish anything.

    Survival games are all about umting resources and skills over time, but Amorphs had a mechanism that went against this flow. Dying repeatedly in the early stages reduced the opportunity to get stronger, and if you couldn¡¯t get stronger, you¡¯d keep dying in a vicious cycle.

    Nevertheless, one could argue that you could ovee this through effort and skill. But Amorphs had a fatal w that made it difficult ¨C they couldn¡¯tmunicate or cooperate with other races. ording to the game¡¯s lore, Amorphs viewed other races as living prey or gic material to be collected.

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    The game developers actually implemented this in the game.

    It goes without saying that not being able tomunicate or y cooperatively in a multiyer game with tons of yers is a huge risk.

    In the beginning, Amorphs are weak, and they can¡¯t cooperate with other yers either. These two drawbacksbined to make Amorphs the worst of the non-mainstream races in Space Survival. To the extent that a rumor circted in themunity suggesting that the ¡®SM¡¯ at the end of UASM stood for Sadist (referring to the game developers) and Masochist (referring to the yers), it could even be considered an epted fact.

    So, why did such a trash race be my favorite?

    The reason is simple. It¡¯s because they were a race that could evolve and grow stronger freely based on choice and will.

    ¡®Well, besides that, I also have a liking for aliens.¡¯

    Just as they say, those who enjoy it the most tend to excel at it, and I was one of the hardcore yers who achieved the most challenging achievement in the game ¨C Gctic Conqueror as an Amorph. In themunity, they even called me the ¡®Honorable Amorph¡¯, ¡®The Xeno-lover¡¯, or the ¡®Morph Enthusiast¡¯ .

    But, of course, there¡¯s no eternal king.

    ¡®I totally forgot that people have to go to school these days¡­.¡¯

    And that¡¯s for two years in a row.

    Since I never left the house and just yed the game, the oue was only natural. I had to graduate, so I temporarily left the game to focus on my studies. Because of that, I didn¡¯t even know that a sequel was in development.

    Anyway, Space Survival is my most beloved game. What gamer wouldn¡¯t be excited about the sequel to a game that¡¯s practically a life pick?

    Naturally, I clicked ¡®ept.¡¯

    ¡®The result is this, huh.¡¯

    I raised my ¡®second¡¯ right leg to scratch my ¡®forehead¡¯, covered with a shell. As I scratched, my back started itching again, so this time, I decided to use my ¡®fourth¡¯ left leg. As I scratched my back, a translucent scale came off the tip of my toenail.

    If someone were to ask how a human could have four pairs of legs, I could respond like this: ¡°Because I¡¯m not a human.¡±

    I sighed as I looked at my first front leg in my hand, and in response, the sensory aid device hanging from my chin wiggled as if in harmony with my sigh.

    The shape of my hands was far from that of a human or a mammal. My long, slender limbs were divided into three segments, reminiscent of the legs of a spider or an arthropod. At the tips of my legs, two ws served as fingers, looking quite cute.

    I hoped these weren¡¯t my hands, but the ws seemed to move in response to my will, as if urging me not to ignore them.

    Shifting my gaze along my legs, my body had a sleek, elongated form like that of a snake or a lizard. My back and belly were covered in a tough shell, which gave them a hard, unyielding feel. In contrast, my sides were made up of soft flesh, unlike the rigid carapace. I had three pairs of legs, simr in shape to my front limbs, sprouting from my sides.

    Finally, at the rear, a thick, flexible tail extended. At the tip of the tail was a sharp stinger, my only weapon.

    I knew the identity of this small and bizarre creature.

    The favorite race in Space Survival ¨C The Amorph.

    Beings with boundless potential who made me the ruler of the gxy

    ¡­As a Hatchling.

    ?Race: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph

    Status: Hatchling

    Objective: Survive

    Special Trait: Super-sense?

    In the vast expanse of space, in a universe where all sorts of monsters and transcendent beings were at y, I had possessed the weakest creature of all.

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 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1

    ¡®I guess it won¡¯t help to think about it.¡¯

    I decided to stop feeling discouraged at this point. It¡¯s not because I¡¯m more optimistic than others that I take things lightly. Amorph is abat species with strong vitality, but not during hatchling times. All I have are possibilities and potential.

    Right now, I¡¯m just a fragile being that will die if I don¡¯t eat something within an hour. So I need to move diligently before my remaining energy runs out.

    Where I am now is inside a massive metal structure. I¡¯m well aware that it¡¯s a spaceship made of alloy, swimming in the sea called space.

    ¡®Looks like something out of MegaCorp or StarUnion.¡¯

    Either way, they are not friendly forces to me. Looking around, I saw a stack of containers about three times the height of a person. stic boxes were visible between the stacked containers.

    As my chin-mounted auxiliary apparatus twitched, various pieces of information were imnted in my mind.

    ¡®A fascinating sensation.¡¯

    Experiencing the ¡®Super-sense¡¯ that used to be implemented in the form of a minimap in the game waspletely different when felt directly through my body.

    Smells were heard like sounds, and sounds were seen, mixing the senses together to convey information. It was a sense that allowed me to perceive everything within its range simultaneously.

    At the tips of my ws, I could feel the vibrations generated by the fusion engine. The faint smells of various elements like oxygen, carbon, and more mixed in the air stimted my auxiliary apparatus at its tip. The auxiliary apparatus extracted the fact that there was something edible among the various smells and transmitted it to my brain.

    My top priority now was nutrition. The fact that food was not far away was reassuring. My three pairs of legs moved towards the prey as they stepped on the cold metal tes. Each time my ws touched the grating-style floor, it made a squeaky sound.

    I passed through the forest of containers and reached the stic boxes. Using my ws, I climbed up on top of one. Upon reaching the top, I noticed that the box had a lock that required a password to open.

    ¡®It¡¯s a password. Let¡¯s see.¡¯

    I leaned close to the number te, and as my auxiliary apparatus twitched, fingerprints on the surface flowed into my mind.

    ¡®1234, really?¡¯

    Even in the space age, the security level was this low. I pressed the button firmly with my front legs.

    A sound from inside the box indicated that the lock had been released. When I opened the lid, there were vacuum-sealed calorie bars stacked inside. I pulled out one from the top.

    With a simple tear using my ws, I took a bite. The texture was like chewing on a rubber eraser, but the game¡¯s tooltip had mentioned that it was designed exclusively for nutrition, and it seemed to be true.

    ¡®Well, at least I seeded in replenishing my nutrition.¡¯

    It didn¡¯t taste good, but the high calorie content made me feel energetic all the way to the tip of my tail.

    As I was about to take another bite, something caught my senses. My tail moved like an arrow and quickly pierced through the unknown object.

    ¡®A cockroach?¡¯

    The sharp fangs were lodged in the cockroach. It struggled to escape but eventually fell limp. I devoured the cockroach as if possessed. Its exoskeleton broke as it was crushed between my teeth, and its juices sprayed. It was a juicy creature, seemingly well-fed and grown. After I finished eating it, a different message appeared in the text box from before.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Wings¡¯ gic essence from ¡®Cockroach.¡¯]

    [Extracted the ¡®Wings¡¯ from the biological characteristics of ¡®Cockroach.¡¯]

    [Do you want to apply the ¡®Wings¡¯?]

    ¡®Oh?¡¯

    Getting a gic essence this quickly is quite lucky. Gic essences can be considered the alpha and omega of Amorph operations, as it¡¯s a crucial element. The more gic essences you acquire, the stronger you can evolve as a creature.

    ¡®Wings.¡¯

    In a game set in space, wings themselves are unlikely to have any special significance. But this is not a game; it¡¯s reality.

    Considering that I¡¯m a gliding caterpir, this trait is closer to being useful rather than bad. It allows me to establish dominance when hunting and provides an advantage in escaping.

    ¡®ept.¡¯

    [Trait application in progress.]

    It felt like something was squirming on my back, and wings with the smooth and stic texture characteristic of chitin grew.

    [Application of ¡®Wings¡¯ traitplete.]

    ¡®Good.¡¯

    I decided to test my wings.

    ¡®How should I move them?¡¯

    Unlike legs, wings are not a familiar part of the human body. Still, since they grew on my back, I tried exerting force around the dorsal area, feeling as if I was moving the area around the pectoral muscles.

    It was the right approach, as the wings pped slowly.

    ¡®Energy consumption is more severe than I thought.¡¯

    After trying a few times, I quickly understood. Flight consumes a considerable amount of energy. I stopped moving my wings and cracked open the calorie bar.

    ¡®To fully utilize the wings, I need something more.¡¯

    Having acquired wings was a wee development, but there were other crucial abilities I needed to obtain from the cockroach. These abilities were essential for smooth andfortable survival.

    ¡®First goal is set.¡¯

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    I thought as I chewed on the calorie bar.

    ¡®I needed to be a cockroach killer¡¯.

    In my younger days, I read a story like this. A man named Jonah tried to escape God¡¯smand and was swallowed by a whale in the sea. If he were an ordinary person, he would have died, but Jonah, being under God¡¯s protection, did not die. He stayed inside the whale¡¯s belly for three days and then escaped. After that, Jonah faithfully followed God¡¯s words.

    The reason I brought up this old story out of the blue is that my situation is somewhat simr to Jonah inside the whale¡¯s belly.

    I¡¯m also wandering inside the belly of a steel whale, floating in zero gravity, searching for cockroaches. Stuck to the wall, I waited, and a cockroach passed beneath me. My tail became a fishing hook, and I caught it.

    Gently but forcefully, my tail rose, like a fisherman pulling up a. The cockroach, hanging at the end, sensed its fate and struggled to escape in any way it could.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t work like that.¡¯

    Sharp fangs pierced the cockroach¡¯s head. My small but sharp teeth moved continuously to prepare the tough outer shell and thick flesh for digestion. Only after the remains of the cockroach were reduced to a state resembling juice in a blender could they pass through the throat. In terms of nutrition, the calorie bar was overwhelmingly superior, but in terms of taste, the cockroach was much better. Thanks to it, I could do things I couldn¡¯t even imagine in my human days.

    ¡®It¡¯s funny to say this, but it tastes like silkworm pupa.¡¯

    Literally, it tastes like a soju snack.

    ¡®This makes it the 20th. Still no results, I guess.¡¯

    Just like my habit from my human days, I clenched my teeth with my front legs and summoned the text box. The text box appeared in front of my head at my will.

    [Race: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph

    Status: Hatchling

    Objective: Survive

    Special Trait: Super-sense, Wings, Chitinous Exoskeleton]

    Getting my first set of wings seemed like a beginner¡¯s luck. Since then, I had devoured 19 more cockroaches, but I had obtained only one gic essence.

    ¡®The chitinous exoskeleton isn¡¯t bad, but¡­¡¯

    The chitinous exoskeleton was a powerful trait that greatly increased defense as you grew. It became more useful in theter stages, but it was unnecessary in my current situation.

    Increasing defense slightly in my near-zero defense Hatchling state wouldn¡¯t make much difference. Other abilities were more critical.

    ¡®I really need to secure the robust vitality trait.¡¯

    Robust vitality was amon trait found in most insectoid or nt-based creatures. Of course, its effects were quite simple.

    ¡®It reduces energy consumption to dy aging.¡¯

    In a game where there was no concept of lifespan, it was a trait that concept-focused yers or those who wanted to extend their gamey focused on. However, in the situation where the game had be reality, its significance was entirely different.

    ¡®With robust vitality, there¡¯s less need to fuss over food.¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t survive in this cargo hold indefinitely. Vibrations from beyond the walls and faint footsteps echoing were reminders that time was running out.

    The ship¡¯s owner, humanity, was my enemy. Even without considering the background story of the game, it was hard to believe they would take kindly to me.

    ¡®They¡¯ll try to find me once they realize that the cargo is dwindling. And then? Death or experimentation.¡¯

    To avoid a bleak future, I had to meet the conditions for evolution as quickly as possible, surpassing the Hatchling stage. To do that, I needed to expand my activity range beyond this cargo hold.

    ¡®That was a lot of rambling. In short, I have to catch cockroaches diligently if I want to survive.¡¯

    ¡®Let¡¯s change locations.¡¯

    Cockroaches were sensitive and intelligent insects, so they never ventured into areas where theirrades had died. They knew that danger lurked in ces where their fellow cockroaches had met their end. At first, I didn¡¯t know this fact and wasted 30 minutes sitting in the same spot, aplishing nothing.

    ¡®Let¡¯s go!¡¯

    I bent my eight legs to the wall, then suddenly exerted all my strength, propelling myself upwards. My body rebounded stically and soared into the air.

    While floating in mid-air, my wings spread wide from my back. In human terms, it was like the muscles around the dorsal area, equivalent to thetissimus dorsi muscles, were tightly engaged with power.

    [PR/N: Thetissimus dorsi muscle is a broad, t muscle that upies the majority of the lower posterior thorax.]

    As I began to flutter, my body, which had been falling, slowly rose into the air. A creature resembling a desert spider, fluttering its wings as it flew. If someone with a weak heart saw this, they might faint.

    Even while flying, my visual and auxiliary apparatus never stopped searching for cockroaches.

    ¡®At this point, I¡¯m truly an honorable Amorph.¡¯

    Lost in frivolous thoughts, I suddenly detected two cockroaches. There was one on the wall, and another was diligently crawling on top of a stic box.

    I decided to catch the one closer to me, the one on the wall. I adjusted the angle of my wings, and my body turned in the direction of the cockroach.

    The cockroach seemed to be lost in thought or distracted,pletely unaware of my approach. I grabbed it with my front legs, like an eagle snatching a fish.

    Before the little one could escape between my ws, I swiftly grabbed it and popped it into my mouth. Its seemingly pristine exoskeleton shattered, and juices along with bits of innards spewed out from its side.

    With one more left, I held it in my mouth, eyeing the next target.

    ¡®Oh no.¡¯

    The one near the floor noticed me. It scurried down beneath a box.

    With its small body and its legs pointed towards the floor gap, once it slipped through the crevice in the alloy sheet, my hunt would be over.

    ¡®I can¡¯t let it escape!¡¯

    I pushed the wall with my four pairs of legs to secure thrust and shot towards it like an arrow. The creature was already probing the crevice with its antennae and head.

    As soon as its lower half was visible, Inded like a missile, smashing into the unforgiving iron that offered no semnce of softness. Pain surged through my entire body due to the impact, but my focus was on the creature¡¯s rear end.

    My tail shot out like a mantis hunting its prey. It sliced through the air, and the tip, equipped with a sharp stinger, entered the hole in the metal sheet.

    The creature, which had just breathed a sigh of relief, panicked. Its brain, which had considered an immediate escape, was now split in two by the sharp sting.

    ¡®Phew.¡¯

    By a hair¡¯s breadth, I seeded in hunting them both. My tail returned triumphantly to its ce, bearing the proud spoils of victory.

    After finishing processing the carcass I had in my mouth, I started eating the creature attached to my tail. Just as I was about to finish devouring it, the long-awaited message appeared.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Robust Vitality¡¯ gic essence from ¡®Cockroach.¡¯]

    [Extracted the ¡®Robust Vitality¡¯ from the biological characteristics of ¡®Cockroach.¡¯]

    [Do you want to apply the ¡®Robust Vitality¡¯?]

    ¡®Of course, ept.¡¯

    A qualitatively different vitality coursed through my entire body. Muscles had thickened around the once long and slender legs, and the sheen on the chitinous exoskeleton covering my back and belly had improved.

    Now, it begins. Inparison to my body, it was an incredibly vast and expansive cargo hold within the ship.

    The time hade for me to break free from the world where I first set foot.

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 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2

    Where should I go next? In fact, I¡¯ve already decided where to go.

    ¡®Let¡¯s go to the cooling room next to the reactor.¡¯

    Even in the space age, the way humans handle heat hasn¡¯t changed much from before. Next to the ship¡¯s heart, the nuclear fusion engine, there was a cooling room responsible for temperature control.

    ¡®The cooling room is an important facility, so not many people visit it.¡¯

    Despite being under strict security as a highly critical facility, the flip side is that there are fewer visitors. It¡¯s like they say, where it¡¯s darkest under themp. As long as I don¡¯t physically interfere with the cooling room, the area around it is a good ce to grow while avoiding the gaze of the surveince.

    Another advantage is that the cooling room is right next to the reactor. If, for some reason, I¡¯m exposed to people, the cooling room is an easy ce to use as ast line of defense.

    ¡®If things go south, I can always destroy the reactor and the cooling room and make my escape.¡¯

    If there¡¯s a problem with the cooling room, it means there¡¯s also a problem with the reactor, and a ship with a malfunctioning heart has no choice but to stop operating. Once the ship stops operating, all the life support systems that maintain the ship¡¯s environment will also cease to function.

    Initially, they might try to recover the ship, such as by running the auxiliary engines, but that won¡¯tst long either. Just as a creature with a damaged heart cannot escape death, the same goes for the ship. Unless there¡¯s a nearby to crashnd on, the people on board the ship have only one fate: to kill and be killed in the dwindling oxygen.

    Of course, if the ship were to stop, I would have nowhere to go, so I should leave attacking the reactor as ast resort.

    ¡®Well then, shall we go?¡¯

    Before departing, I ate two more calorie bars. With my belly filled, I jumped up to the ceiling. Tiny suckers between my ws firmly anchored my body to the ceiling, allowing me to move easily even while hanging upside down. The reason insects can move along walls is thanks to structures called pulvilli.

    These structures secrete a highly adhesive substance that helps them easily traverse smooth walls. Thanks to the substance secreted from between my ws, I could move just as smoothly while hanging from the ceiling.

    While walking upside down on the ceiling, I noticed an entrance leading to an air duct. Its external appearance resembled an erged window-type venttion fan, with iron bars screwed on the outside.

    On the inside, a giant de rotated incessantly, emitting a fierce sound as it carried out its work.

    ¡®Breaking through the bars is still impossible.¡¯

    It would be nice to break everything impressively and enter, but it was impossible in my current Hatchling state. Even if I tried to strike the bars with my ws, there was doubt as to whether I could damage the tough alloy material. And even if I did manage to damage it, it would be a problem.

    If there were any additional security measures, the AI overseeing the ship would immediately report any newly urring errors to humans. In that case, my future would be nothing but tracking and death.

    ¡®In this case, I¡¯ll have to rely on my intellectual abilities.¡¯

    I raised my ws and turned the screws that secured the bars. If the ship¡¯s humans had paid more attention to security, they might have welded this ce shut. Fortunately, they were a tribe that liked to use 1234 as their cargo password.

    The first barrier that blocked the air duct was easily disabled by my ws. The next obstacle was the de of the venttion fan on the inside.

    ¡®This is the critical moment.¡¯

    I had two ways to pass through here. One was to time it and avoid the de while entering, and the other was to bring something and damage the venttion fan de. It goes without saying, but thetter method was impossible.

    Even if I threw an object at the thin fan de, it was doubtful whether it would be enough to break it. Moreover, even if I seeded in breaking it, there would be a problem. If there were any issues with the venttion fan, the super AI controlling the ship would definitely not overlook it.

    The AI would immediately report any newly urring errors to humans. In that case, my remaining future would be nothing but tracking and death.

    ¡®I have to go through here.¡¯

    From now on, it was time to rely on Amorph¡¯s abilities. I just stood there, waiting, as I couldn¡¯t risk entering and having the de tear me to pieces.

    While waiting, the auxiliary system began to collect various pieces of information, such as the flow of air, the flow of energy generated at the junction of the des, and more.

    It wasn¡¯t just the auxiliary system working diligently. A highly developed sense of vision focused on the precise movements of the rotating des to find weaknesses in the intricate machinery.

    ¡®How much time had passed?¡¯

    The auxiliary system detected traces of iron oxide mixed in the air and fine metal particles carried by the wind. Additionally, it discovered that the junction of the rotating des slowed down briefly at certain points due to wear and tear.

    My brain, after reviewing all the information from my eyes and the auxiliary system, was saying, ¡®Jump in right now¡¯.

    ¡®It¡¯s now or never.¡¯

    I trusted my heightened senses and leaped into the venttion duct. The merciless machine god struck me with its air pressure as the de sliced through the air.

    If I were still human, I might have shouted with joy, but my oral structure was not suited forughter. All I could produce was a dry, hissing sound.

    After briefly savoring the moment of survival, I continued my journey.

    The venttion duct had aplex, maze-like structure, but it posed no obstacle before my heightened senses. Normally, the ship¡¯s interior, which was like blood vessels, would have been quiet, but today, it was even noisier due to the presence of an unfamiliar visitor.

    The sounds of the wind passing through the various venttion fans scattered throughout,bined with the noise of my ws colliding with the metal tes.

    ¡®There are spiders here.¡¯

    The spiders and beatles I encountered on my way turned out to be good snacks during the journey. Both the Beatles and the spiders, like me, had been living well, thanks to the abundance of food and energy sources on the spaceship.

    This ensured that I didn¡¯t have to worry about hunger or energy shortages on my way.

    Chewing on the spider¡¯s legs as I walked, I sensed the residual heat remaining in the duct diminish faintly. It was evidence that I was getting closer to the cooling room.

    I wanted to hurry, but the auxiliary system applied the brakes ahead. There was something important ahead, and it needed confirmation.

    ¡®Hmm?¡¯

    I still couldn¡¯t see it, but I detected wavelengths of light not far away. After walking tirelessly for about ten minutes on my four pairs of legs, I reached a section of the duct with an iron grating on the floor.

    I stood on the grating, looking down. People in white coats were seen moving betweenrge test tubes and incubators.

    ¡®Aboratory? Wasn¡¯t this supposed to be a regr spaceship?¡¯

    I had assumed it was a supply or cargo ship because of the amount of food and weapons in the cargo hold, but now, it turned out to be aboratory.

    If this ship was indeed a research vessel, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad condition for me.

    ¡°Hey, how are the results for Experiment Subject 026?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s another failure.¡±

    ¡°Tsk, the Research officer is going to lose it again.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s an Earthling, after all. The captain can¡¯t help but spoil her.¡±

    ¡°Sigh, let¡¯s call it a day.¡±

    After confirming that the two men left theboratory, I unscrewed the grating and descended below.

    ¡®They look like MegaCorp types.¡¯

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    MegaCorp was a human faction that had thrived around the sr system, a race loosely inspired by Earthlings. ording to the lore, they were governed by massive corporations instead of governments, and most of their members were extreme materialists.

    While most human factions in the space survival game tended to be neutral, MegaCorp leaned more towards a viinous alignment, perhaps due to their lore.

    ¡®There¡¯s no ce other than MegaCorp where they¡¯d modify healthy individuals into ves.¡¯

    MegaCorp captured and modified people who were either poor or members of other alien races through a process known as ¡®Employment.¡¯ It was one of the unique racial traits of MegaCorp, and in the game, yers often found themselves actively using it because of the significant advantages it offered.

    In the game, of course. In real life, why would anyone do such a thing? The air in theboratory was thick with the scent of blood.

    ¡®What should I do?¡¯

    The auxiliary system had provided me with the location of the refrigerator where the gic samples were stored, but I couldn¡¯t make a hasty decision.

    ¡®When I eat is the crucial factor.¡¯

    For Amorph, collecting gic essence wasn¡¯t just about gathering gic samples; it was about when to consume them.

    To move beyond the hatchling stage, there was one essential condition: consuming a living sentient being. In other words, to evolve from a hatchling, one had to kill a person.

    ¡®Killing a person¡­¡¯

    In the game, killing people was no problem, but could it be done in reality? Even if you thought you could easily do it now, when faced with it in reality, hesitation could be the end. My body was in such a fragile state that it had to be done with a single blow.

    ¡®I should also refrain from causing amotion here until I¡¯m prepared.¡¯

    As much as I desired the gic sample, eating and clearing it here would leave me unable to evade pursuit. Conquering theboratory would only happen after I had killed and consumed a person.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see what¡¯s here today.¡¯

    My path would greatly change depending on the purpose of this research ship. If it specialized in terrestrialbat mutant soldiers or studied Hulk mutants, I could secure a robust body andbat abilities.

    On the other hand, if it was a ce experimenting with space elves or cultists¡¯ psychic abilities, I might gain powerful psychic powers.

    ¡®Personally, I¡¯d prefer the cultists, but it might be unrealistic to get psychic powers from the beginning.¡¯

    I began using all my sensory organs to examine what was in theboratory.

    Unlike the dark and dingy cargo hold, theboratory was surrounded by clean white walls. It looked remarkably good on the surface, but paradoxically, it was filled with death and suffering behind the bright fa?ade.

    In the test tubes, living human brains and forcibly brought biological specimens were submerged in chemical solutions. AI in the incubators checked the status of embryos while sending electronic signals.

    Various pieces of information poured into my head, such as the smell of chemicalpounds, busy electromaic waves in the air, the scent of blood and decaying skin tissue, and pheromones unconsciously emitted by organisms in pain. Amidst the flood of information from the auxiliary system, I caught one unusual piece of information.

    ¡®Help? Someone¡¯s asking for help?¡¯

    Using special wavelengths that humans couldn¡¯t perceive, some life form was requesting assistance from me.

    Intrigued, I followed the wavelengths, which led me to a test chamberbeled [026]. Inside the chamber floated a pink, bubble-like organism.

    ¡®A Bubble Amoeba.¡¯

    Bubble amoebas were non-yer creatures that inhabited aquatics. They usually floated in water like droplets but would engulf and digest their prey in an instant when it came close.

    Unless they were exceptionallyrge, they posed no significant threat to yers, and they were harmless and cute-looking. Many yers seeking sce in the harsh space survival world often favored them.

    I had never expected them to possess intelligence. However, this one had approached me and sent another wave.

    ?Pain. Help.?

    While an exact trantion was impossible, thanks to Amorph¡¯s unique senses, I could roughly grasp the meaning. This creature was in pain for some reason and was asking for my help.

    ¡®What should I do?¡¯

    I could consider eating it, but based on my memory, the Bubble Amoeba had the most useless trait for Amorph.

    Its trait was called ¡°Oxygen Storage,¡± allowing it to provide a certain amount of oxygen in oxygen-deprived environments. While this might have been useful for other races, Amorph could survive for extended periods without oxygen, so this trait was entirely unnecessary.

    ¡®Eating is out of the question. But I want to help, and I don¡¯t know how.¡¯

    I focused my senses on the test chamber, searching for clues. I detected the flow of the mixture circting within the thick hose connected at the bottom, the movements of measuring instruments inside the machine checking the liquid¡¯s state, and a faint flow of electricity above the liquid¡¯s surface.

    ¡®Electricity?¡¯

    Come to think of it, the little guy had a small sensor attached to its body. Connected by a wire, the sensor periodically sent electricity through its body.

    Understanding what the creature was requesting, I climbed up to the terminal next to the test chamber. On the terminal screen, there were periodic appearances of the creature¡¯s bio-rhythm graph and the experiment results of the AI.

    ¡®Was this what those two researchers were talking about earlier?¡¯

    Seems like they muttered about a failure and left without turning off the machine.

    I pressed the terminal button to stop the experiment. The faint electrical signals from the sensor were cut off, and the creature regained its vitality. It blinked its pink bubble-like body as if expressing gratitude.

    ?Thanks.?

    ¡®It¡¯s okay¡¯

    I didn¡¯t consider it a favor. If the creature had been necessary to me, I would have used it as a source for absorbing essence without hesitation. I just indulged in a whim momentarily, judging it as a harmless and ipetent creature.

    ¡®Survive on your own.¡¯

    In MegaCorp¡¯sb, there was no avoiding destruction. Nevertheless, I hoped to spend what remained of my life asfortably as possible and left theboratory.

    After about 30 minutes of walking through the corridor, the temperature suddenly dropped. Water droplets clung to the walls, and a thin frost covered the corridor floor.

    I had finally reached the cooling chamber.

    ¡®All right. Let¡¯s make a nest now.¡¯

    I gathered water droplets stuck to the walls and swallowed them in one go. Then, I held water in my mouth for a while, as if gargling, and spat it out again.

    It was no longer pure water. The water that entered my body had transformed into a substance with a peculiarposition harmful to creatures other than Amorph.

    This filthy mucus, resembling gum chewed and spit out, had the effect of extending the lifespan of nearby Amorph, enhancing the effects of their heightened senses.

    Once the coating of the corridor above the cooling chamber wasplete, I settled down here. I stretched my body in the center of this sticky, toxic, and contaminated space. I felt cozy, like I was inside my mother¡¯s womb, and closed my eyes.

    ¡®I can feel it. The ship feels like a part of me.¡¯

    What¡¯s the most important thing to win in a war?

    It¡¯s information.

    The humans of MegaCorp and me, Amorph.

    They didn¡¯t know me, but I knew them. I knew where they were, what they were doing, where they were going, who they were talking to, and every piece of information flowed to me through the liquid that coated the corridor.

    They wouldn¡¯t know the war had already begun, and they were already in the midst of losing.

    In the darkness of the nest, I smiled silently.

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 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3

    Four days after bing an Amorph, there had been significant changes. Firstly, my nest wasplete. The once sterile corridors had blossomed with unholy vitality. The mucus I had expelled had solidified, some of it forming spores. From the holes in these spores, mucus periodically flowed, slowly expanding the nest.

    ¡®Now I can monitor the entire ship¡¯

    I received real-time updates from the 200-meter elliptical research vessel. I couldn¡¯t monitor creatures as small as insects, but for humans, I could sense most of their activities.

    And secondly, as I moved back and forth between the cargo hold and the nest, I seeded in acquiring a new ability by consuming roaches and spiders.

    [Race: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph

    Status: Hatchling

    Objective: Survive

    Special Traits: Super-sense, Wings, Chitinous Exoskeleton, Robust Vitality, Paralyzing Stinger.]

    The ¡®Paralyzing Stinger¡¯ was a new ability I gained from the spiders. Although it became less usefulter on in the game as we encountered creatures made of energy or metallic entities, it was quite effective in the early stages.

    ¡®It¡¯s a perfect ability for me, who needs to hunt the strong with a weak body¡¯

    I concentrated my consciousness on my tail, and a drop of yellow liquid fell from its end. With this, I could easily subdue a single adult human. It onlysted for about five minutes, but that was enough time to kill someone without any trouble.

    I expressed my gratitude to the spider, not only for providing me with sustenance but also for this valuable gift. Then, I contemted my next steps.

    Most of the ship¡¯s crew currently on board consisted of 222 people. Among them, 96 were soldiers and officers responsible for ship defense, while 21 were high-ranking personnel in themand section. The rest were civilians, including researchers, technicians, and cooks.

    ¡®The problem is, who to target?¡¯, I pondered.

    Initially, I considered targeting the captain to disrupt the chain ofmand. However, upon further consideration, that didn¡¯t seem like a great idea. There were officers who could step in for the captain, making it challenging to inflict significant damage.

    ¡®The most important person who¡¯s irreceable on this ship¡­¡¯

    There were only two individuals who met both criteria.

    ¡®The Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Research Officer.¡¯

    Of these, I prioritized the Chief Research Officer. The reason was simple.

    ¡®She¡¯s crucial to my survival.¡¯

    After observing theb for several days, I came to a conclusion.

    The Chief Research Officer¡¯s name was Keisaragi Yujin . When I killed someone earlier, she was the only person who could create a tracking device immediately.

    Two days ago, one of the subjects escaped, but she managed to create a tracking device within two hours, sessfully capturing the escapee.

    ¡®That creature almost got me because of her.¡¯

    If it had used the venttion shafts, I would have been in danger. But thanks to its fleeing elsewhere, I could ovee the crisis safely.

    Since the incident with the escaped subject, Keisaragi Yujin has moved up in my list of potential threats.

    ¡®And she has an oddly good sense for a human¡¯, I noted.

    Once, she nearly caught me by staring at the venttion shaft I was in. Afterward, I had to relocate frequently whenever she appeared to sense my presence.

    ¡®I wonder if she has psychic powers?¡¯

    Psychic powers.

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    A concept simr tomonly known telekinesis, telepathy, mind control, and other psychic abilities.

    Having psychic powers allowed for an endless array of abilities, from simple telekinesis that could move objects without touching them to performing feats like distorting light to render the ship invisible, akin to magic.

    ¡®Even during the game, psychic powers were a game-changer¡¯

    When aiming to obtain psychic powers, cults were often targeted. Cult species possessed psychic powers as an innate gic trait, making it easier to target their gic essence.

    asionally, rare individuals among humans also exhibitedtent psychic power potential. Whether Keisaragi Yujin fell into this rare category was uncertain, but from the perspective of a hunter, clever and sensitive prey posed a significant challenge.

    ¡®Even if she doesn¡¯t know my true identity, she¡¯ll surely create some tracking device to chase me down¡¯, I spected.

    ¡®If I¡¯m going to use hit-and-run tactics, I need to avoid being tracked as much as possible.¡¯

    As an Amorph evolved into a fluid state, I would be immensely more powerful than Hatchlings. However, I couldn¡¯t engage the ship¡¯s soldiers in directbat until I had secured enough gic essence. Until then, guerri warfare would be the strategy.

    Therefore, Keisaragi Yujin needed to be eliminated, not only for my evolution but also to ensure my survival.

    ¡®Now, how should I hunt her down?¡¯

    Scratching my head with my front legs, I pondered. Given that she was a civilian and a female, it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult to kill her in a one-on-one situation. Except for one major obstacle.

    ¡®The bodyguards.¡¯

    Wherever she went, armed guards followed. Even when she slept in her bedroom at night, security personnel took shifts, constantly guarding her. She might be physically weak, but the presence of many protectors around her posed a significant challenge in targeting Keisaragi Yujin.

    ¡®Merely thinking about it won¡¯t solve the problem¡¯, I realized.

    It seemed I would have to keep monitoring her and seize any opportunities that arose.

    As I continued to watch for openings, hunger gnawed at me. Leaving thefortable nest behind, I made my way to the mundane cargo hold.

    I checked the corridor venttion grille for any signs of people before opening the wire mesh and hopping down. Landing silently on the floor, I climbed up to the terminal next to the door.

    ¡®I can¡¯t keep avoiding the venttion shaft forever.¡¯

    I¡¯m not a cat, and I don¡¯t have nine lives. Risking my life every time I needed to eat wasn¡¯t a sustainable strategy.

    Unlike other key facilities, the cargo hold had no security system for monitoring visitors.

    Using my enhanced senses from the nest, I confirmed that, aside from the designated personnel, there were no other individuals entering the cargo hold. The designated personnel only visited for routine inspections once a day, so as long as I avoided that time, I could enter and exit without being detected.

    ¡®Open.¡¯

    As I entered the numbers into the terminal, a sturdy metal door hissed and swung open, revealing a dimly lit cargo hold. I headed straight for the familiar stic containers.

    The sudden intrusion of a predator stirred the residents of the cargo hold. The scent of corrosion, the pheromones released by the approaching threat, and the sound of tiny insects skittering on the alloy floor to warn of the predator¡¯s presence all mixed together.

    Enjoying stimuli from the hidden world that only I could sense, I climbed onto the boxes. Just as I usually did, I retrieved two Calorie Bars from the box.

    I consumed one on the spot, tearing open the wrapper of the other with my front legs and holding it in readiness.

    ¡®Shall we go?¡¯

    I stored the remaining wrappers neatly in the box and left the cargo hold, retracing my steps through the corridor. I headed back towards theboratory.

    Upon reaching theboratory, I went straight to Experiment Subject 26.

    The copsed Bubble Amoeba greeted me with ripples when it saw me. Not only through greetings but also through its glowing body, it expressed happiness, which made me feel good as well.

    ¡®I brought food again today¡¯

    ?Food?, it replied.

    As it quivered and shone even brighter this time, I mentally chuckled and prepared to give it its meal.

    While monitoring Keisaragi Yujin for two days, I had learned one thing: an experiment was underway in theboratory to awaken unknown traitstent in Bubble Amoebas. I didn¡¯t know what abilities this seemingly harmless mascot possessed, but the researchers seemed quite confident.

    ¡®During the game, there weren¡¯t any special abilities. Is this one different, or is it because the species has changed?¡¯

    For some reason, Experiment Subject 26 received special treatment, and I believed it was essential to establish a positive rtionship with it.

    Not immediately, but perhaps it could prove helpful in the future when I conquered the ship.

    ¡®It¡¯s a bit of a hobby, I suppose.¡¯

    I went to the experiment chamber, where I opened the lid and revealed the container with a minimal amount of nutrients meant for basic sustenance.

    I carefully cut it into pieces since putting the entire thing in would undoubtedly clog the feeding system. The fragments passed through the hose connecting the two chambers and were delivered in front of the creature.

    The Bubble Amoeba enveloped the Calorie Bar pieces with its entire body, and once it seemed to have digested everything, I repeated the process.

    When the creature finished eating one Calorie Bar, it emitted a slow twinkle of light, indicating it was full.

    ¡®I guess you like it¡¯

    I never knew during the game why people searched for Bubble Amoebas, but now I felt like I understood. Seeing the creature emit light in rhythm with a certain pattern underwater, I couldn¡¯t help but find myself entranced.

    ¡®Who?¡¯

    At that moment, someone intruded within my range of perception. They were research personnel attempting to enter theboratory.

    I quickly climbed into the venttion duct to hide, and a short whileter, they entered theboratory.

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 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4

    Due to the wretched situation he found himself in, Wei, a Ganymede Colony native, felt like he was on the brink of death. When he first joined the project, he couldn¡¯t have been happier upon learning that his superior was not just any Earthling but a Noble Capital, essentially royalty within MegaCorp¡¯s ruling ss.

    If he could establish a connection with them, his dream of immigrating to Mars, something he had only fantasized about, could be a reality.

    With such anticipation, he boarded the ship, but Wei¡¯s dream was shattered sooner than he expected.

    ¡°That crazy woman again. She says today is a day off.¡±

    Wei wiped away the beads of sweat dripping from his half-bald head and stole a nce at his young and capable superior standing beside him.

    Her name was Keisaragi Yujin, Wei¡¯s superior and a Noble Capital belonging to the Yujin family, one of the five noble houses that ruled Earth.

    Today, as it was a non-working day, she was dressed in casual attire, holding a cat in her arms.

    ¡°Damn it. Why the hell does a cat need a walk?¡±

    Wei briefly cursed himself for thinking of going to the garden for some fresh air. Keisaragi brought up the question that he had heard hundreds of times before entering theb.

    ¡°When will Experiment 26 show results? If we don¡¯t achieve significant results that we can report to thepany before we reach our destination, they might reconsider your ¡¯employment¡¯ over there.¡±

    ¡°Ugh! Please, not that¡­¡±

    As soon as the word ¡¯employment¡¯ came out of her mouth, cold sweat poured out of Wei¡¯s forehead like a waterfall. As a senior researcher at Megacorp, he knew all too well what ¡¯employment¡¯ meant.

    His gaze briefly shifted to the brain inside the test tube, almost as if his predecessor was beckoning him to join.

    ¡°Senior Researcher, I mean, Mr. Wei.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes?¡±

    Keisaragi, who had been giving him a cold look, suddenly changed her expression and began tofort him with a gentle tone.

    ¡°I don¡¯t wish for such results either. I have expectations from Senior Researcher Wei as well. If we can extract that ¡®aptitude¡¯ from Experiment 26, a promotion to Chief Researcher is not out of the question.¡±

    ¡°R-really?¡±

    ¡°Yes. At the very least, Chief Researcher, and if things go well, we might establish connections with Mars. They have a keen interest in this project, after all.¡±

    Upon hearing her words, Wei¡¯s eyes lit up. He decided to tell her about a method he had only contemted but never attempted.

    ¡°Well, there is one remaining method¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I want to try administering psyonium.¡±

    ¡°Psyonium? Are you talking about the drug made by Star Union?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Keisaragi Yujin stroked the cat¡¯s head silently. The cat purred in response to its owner¡¯s affectionate touch.

    ¡°Psyonium has awakening effects¡­¡±

    ¡°I know what it does. We used it to secure the project before. Psyonium,It¡¯s a drug we haven¡¯t tried.¡±

    ¡°Actually, there are a few other substances, but¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve tried all the ones with simr ingredients. Psyonium is the only one left.¡±

    Kisa¡¯s gaze shifted toward Experiment 26. Her look wasn¡¯t as gentle as when she petted the cat.

    Observing the test subject, she resembled a machine sorting goods in a factory.

    ¡°Fine. Administer it right away.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ If we don¡¯t neutralize it, it could be life-threatening.¡±

    ¡°If we wait for that, we¡¯ll have to wait until tomorrow. We don¡¯t have much time left.¡±

    The phrase ¡°we don¡¯t have much time¡± wasn¡¯t exclusive to Wei. She, as the project leader, would also be responsible if the experiment failed. She belonged to a higher echelon than Wei. The impact of any blemish on her career would be significant.

    Moreover, she had never experienced failure in her entire life. The looming possibility of her first failure made her even more anxious.

    ¡°As you know, we should have had research results by now.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s true, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Normally, it¡¯s time to finalize the report. But we haven¡¯t elicited any meaningful response from the test subject yet. I believe you understand how serious this situation is.¡±

    Wei couldn¡¯t refute her words because they were true.

    ¡°¡­Alright, I¡¯ll administer it right away.¡±

    Wei retrieved a purple test tube from the refrigerator.

    ¡°I¡¯ll start with 0.01 milligrams.¡±

    As Wei connected the test tube to the terminal and operated the console, a small amount of the substance within the test tube was injected.

    The bubble amoeba remained unresponsive. There were no notable changes in the graph on the terminal screen.

    Wei wiped the sweat that flowed like raindrops and pressed the button on the terminal again.

    ¡°I¡¯ll administer 0.05 milligrams.¡±

    This time, there was a response. The bubble amoeba convulsed in apparent agony.

    Wei couldn¡¯t hide his joy at the anticipated reaction. He watched the test subject with excitement. Keisaragi¡¯s face also showed a hint of interest as she observed the experiment.

    ¡°Next is 0.07 milligrams¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait. Since there¡¯s a response, you can increase the dosage.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Administer all of it.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a bit¡­¡±

    ¡°Just do it.¡±

    When Wei hesitated, Keisaragi pushed him aside and pressed the administer button herself.

    The liquid from the test tube drainedpletely into the experiment tube.

    Eventually, the bubble amoeba¡¯s body expanded as if someone had blown air into it. Lights shed madly from its body, and its skin couldn¡¯t withstand the expansion, tearing apart. It was clear to anyone that the bubble amoeba was enduring extreme pain, but among the people present, no one cared about that issue.

    ¡°Please! Just a little more!¡±

    Wei clenched his fist tightly while watching the graph on the terminal screen skyrocket to the ceiling.

    About five minutes had passed. The graph took a sharp dive and crashed to the floor. Wei felt a sense of resemnce between the plummeting graph and his own future.

    Inside the test chamber, Experiment 26 was no longer glowing pink. It remained white, as if forcibly bleached, and showed no signs of movement.

    ¡°Awaken it.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

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    Unlike Wei¡¯s despairing tone, Keisaragi¡¯s voice showed no emotion. Wei pressed the electric shock button with a heavy heart.

    Bubbles rose inside the test chamber, and the bubble amoeba jumped. It wriggled slightly but remained predominantly in a white, almost lifeless state.

    ¡°Fascinating results. Try it again on Experiment 26.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°If you achieve significant results with another attempt, report to me.¡±

    Wei¡¯s face brightened as if he had been given a reprieve from a death sentence. Keisaragi, who had turned one person¡¯s life into heaven and hell with a single word, suddenly felt a gaze and nced towards the venttion fan.

    ¡°I sense a gaze again.¡±

    There was nothing visible beyond the venttion fan.

    ***

    The experiment I saw earlier had meaning for me too. The psyonium they injected into Experiment 26 is a substance I¡¯m familiar with.

    ¡®Psyonium: A temporary awakening agent that unlocks dormant racial traits.¡¯

    In the game, when you consume psyonium, your maximum health decreases, but locked racial traits are unlocked for a limited time. For example, if I were to consume psyonium, I could use abilities that are normally unavable during the human stage for a short time, such as the acidic blood trait gained during the fluid stage or the enhanced exoskeleton trait. Of course, the duration of the effects decreases with each use, making it more of a mid-game item than ate-game one.

    ¡®Does Experiment 26 possess hidden traits that I don¡¯t know about?¡¯

    Despite having hunted thousands of them before, I hadn¡¯t seen any concealed traits. There had never been discussions of this in themunity either, so it¡¯s possible that Experiment 26 was a unique specimen or that differences had emerged in the transition from the game to reality.

    ¡®In any case, learning about the existence of psyonium is an achievement.¡¯

    When I engage in full-scalebat against the humans on board the spaceship, it mighte in handy.

    Back at the nest, I rxed once more. As I did, thoughts I had intentionally avoided began to resurface.

    ¡®It asked me for help.¡¯

    Experiment 26, who had received a massive injection of psyonium, had pleaded for salvation. The screams still echoed vividly in my mind. Experiment 26 had begged for mercy, even though the researchers hadn¡¯t understood the implications of those waves. Even if they had known, they probably wouldn¡¯t have stopped.

    The unfortunate fact was that this gruesome experimentation wouldn¡¯t end here. The MegaCorp researchers would likely repeat the psyonium experiment until Experiment 26 couldn¡¯t endure any longer and dies.

    I knew that there was nothing but darkness in its future. The only reason I had spared Experiment 26¡¯s life was because I had deemed its gic essence useless; otherwise, it would have been a candidate for my meal.

    But why, even knowing that, did a feeling of difort creep up from the depths of my heart? Why did Experiment 26¡¯s cries still echo in my mind?

    ¡®I don¡¯t like this. Not at all.¡¯

    Given all of this, I didn¡¯t seem to be aplete ¡®Honored Amorph¡¯ yet. I was consumed by anger, but at the same time, I remained in a thoroughly rational state of mind.

    My judgment was based on the belief that I had enough evidence to target her. Among the achievements I had obtained today, there was information that could be useful concerning Keisaragi Yujin .

    ¡®She¡¯s raising a cat.¡¯

    Using my heightened senses, I could deduce how much she cherished the cat. She seemed like a woman whose veins ran with cold blood, but when she stroked the cat, human emotions were palpable.

    When her beloved cat dies, it wasn¡¯t difficult to imagine how Keisaragi Yujin would react.

    ¡®There are many vulnerabilities.¡¯

    Obviously, the cat didn¡¯t receive any special protection. Besides when her owner called, it was mostly alone. People on the spaceship hadn¡¯t even thought about how Keisaragi Yujin would react when her cat dies.

    In other words, using the cat as bait to lure in prey was the core of my n.

    ¡®Keisaragi Yujin , you¡¯ll die within a few days.¡¯

    Fueled by burning anger and icy calction, I pronounced her death sentence.

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 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5

    Once the decision was made, all that remained was action. I had spent two days observing and investigating the cat¡¯s daily routine.

    After thorough analysis, I came to one conclusion: ¡®Truly an emperor.¡¯

    I¡¯d wager that even the captain of this ship wasn¡¯t asfortable as this cat.

    For six days, I had been observing the crew, and most of them had a below-average standard of living. For example, the meal menu consisted mainly of low-cost foods, such as synthetic meat and gically modified grains, with no other advantages.

    ¡®On the other hand, this cat eats only meat every day, thanks to its excellent owner.¡¯

    And not just any meat, but freshly butchered, high-quality meat.

    This ship had an agricultural area responsible for farming and livestock. It was a ce designed to provide gourmet cuisine to the ship¡¯s elite and visiting dignitaries, and they were sparingly offering such precious meat to a mere cat.

    ¡®Seeing this, Keisaragi Yujin is definitely not an ordinary person.¡¯

    She might be a Martian aristocrat, a Prime Capital of the MegaCorp, or perhaps both. Both were powerful factions within the MegaCorp, each exerting dominance over aary region.

    ¡®Troublesome social sses.¡¯

    Both sses had extremely high levels of pride and never forgot any grudges. Even the smallest grievances would be remembered, and they wouldter seek ruthless revenge, often many times over. This had made ying the game quite challenging.

    Even if I were to kill someone other than Keisaragi Yujin and escape from the ship, she wouldn¡¯t forget me. She would somehow find me and try to kill me.

    ¡®Another reason to kill her.¡¯

    In any case, her status as an owner was one thing, but the crucial question was how to kill that cat.

    ¡°Meow.¡±

    The cat yawned as if bored. Looking at it lounging on the top-grade cushion, there was no other like it.

    This was Keisaragi Yujin¡¯s bedroom. I was currently in the venttion duct connected to the wall near the bedroom floor. I had been watching thatzy creature through the mesh for a while, and the sight of it being so sluggish made me sigh involuntarily.

    ¡®It looks dull, so killing it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult.¡¯

    Unlike dogs, cats had retained their wild instincts even after bing domesticated livestock. They were also naturally excellent hunters.

    So, I expected it to be a formidable opponent for someone like me, who was merely in the Hatchling stage. Of course, It wouldn¡¯t win in a fight, but significant bleeding was inevitable.

    However, seeing it in person made me realize that I was worrying unnecessarily. Looking at its chubby belly, I couldn¡¯t help but think it would be delicious, more than anything else.

    ¡®The problem is that it¡¯s toozy.¡¯

    Most of its time was spent rolling around on that cushion. Except when eating or going for a walk in the garden with its owner, it didn¡¯t move at all.

    ¡®Still, I can¡¯t kill it right here.¡¯

    The amusing fact was that this ce had better security than the cargo hold. To the naked eye, the venttion duct I was in appeared no different from other areas.

    However, with my heightened senses, I could tell that the bedroom¡¯s owner paid extra attention to security, to the extent that it might seem obsessivepulsive. Laser signal transmitters installed throughout the area were monitoring for illegal intruders.

    What if I were to enter the room? The AI would immediately inform the guards outside about the presence of an unknown intruder.

    ¡®Then, I¡¯d be finished.¡¯

    They wouldn¡¯t even need to use a gun. The guards would kick me, and my insides would explode, killing me instantly.

    ¡®So, I¡¯m stuck here.¡¯

    The cat itself seemed easy to deal with, but the process of approaching it unexpectedly proved to be quite tricky. In irritation, I carelessly shook my tail.

    ¡®Uh-oh!¡¯

    When my tail hit the wall of the venttion duct, making a noise, the cat¡¯s ears perked up.

    ¡°Meow?¡±

    The cat sprang up, rushing towards exactly where I was. Despite being overweight, its movements were quite agile.

    As the cat¡¯s body collided with the mesh, theser signal transmitters activated. I could feel the guards outside the door stiffening in response. I couldn¡¯t stay here any longer.

    I gave the scratching cat a brief nce and then retreated from my position. Immediately after I left, the guards stormed into the room.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? What came in?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, the cat¡¯s causing trouble again.¡±

    ¡°Again?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, just leave it!¡±

    Ignoring the grumbling voices of the guards, I returned to my nest.

    ¡®I can¡¯t believe I made such a mistake.¡¯

    I hade close to putting my life in danger. I couldn¡¯t believe I had been so careless.

    Could it be that thisfortable nest had gotten into my head? Has my body be numb to stimuli because of thefort?

    ¡®Tempting the cat with my tail¡­ I must be out of my mind. Wait a minute.¡¯

    While I was berating myself, something popped into my head.

    Fragments of ideas began to emerge randomly, like puzzle pieces falling into ce. I methodically organized the thoughts that wereing to me like a jigsaw puzzle.

    ¡®The cat looked bored, provocation, the reaction of the guards.¡¯

    These were the three key elements.

    Finally, I had a clue about how to approach and conquer that cat.

    ***

    Cat Caesar was once again spending its time on top of the cushion.

    When it first left its homnd for this metal monstrosity that reeked of hostility, Caesar couldn¡¯t believe it. It scolded its owner, Keisaragi Yujin, with solemn eyes, but she just ignored itsints, wearing a somewhat apologetic expression.

    Caesar was greatly disappointed, but its suffering didn¡¯t end there. Its sleeping arrangements were far fromfortable, and the food it received was pitiful.

    For someone who had lived its entire life eating the finest beef and freshly caught fish, the meals on the ship were unbearable.

    In fact, Caesar might have fasted for the day.

    Because its owner had knelt down and pleaded desperately, Caesar had no choice but to eat the miserable meat.

    Before long, Caesar had perfectly adapted to the new environment, making its initial resistance seem trivial. Life on the ship, where there was almost no change, suited itszy personality well.

    Caesar stretched in boredom. It was toozy to move around much, but it wasn¡¯tcking in feline curiosity.

    ¡®Is there anything interesting happening today?¡¯

    Just as it thought so, it heard a rustling sound from beyond the venttion duct. Raising its head to investigate, Caesar realized the sound wasing from the passage where the wind was blowing.

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    Come to think of it, not long ago, something strange had appeared there and caught its attention.

    Caesar slowly got up. Last time, it had rushed over hastily and missed whatever unknown presence there was.

    This time, it promised itself it wouldn¡¯t miss it. It cautiously approached. As it got closer to the entrance of the passage, it saw a small object.

    It was a cockroach, partially severed in half. Despite having no chance of survival, the bug was wriggling and trying to escape.

    Seeing this, Caesar felt its long-dormant predator instincts awakening. Almost involuntarily, it pounced on the cockroach.

    With its front paws, Caesar toyed with the cockroach until it stopped moving. As Caesar watched the lifeless insect, it felt an unfamiliar emotion.

    It was an emotion that could be described as fascinating. Caesar¡¯s small brain was filled with thoughts like it wished there were more toys around.

    Through Caesar¡¯s eyes, another bug was visible beyond the mesh. It felt disappointed becausest time it had touched the mesh, nothing had happened.

    In frustration, it lightly tapped the mesh, and surprisingly, this time it produced a different result.

    The mesh fell forward.

    It hesitated for a moment, then crawled into the passage to catch the bug.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s making that noise again?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s probably the cat. Let¡¯s check it outter; it¡¯s annoying.¡±

    ¡°After all, where would a cat go? We¡¯re guarding it like this.¡±

    Because it was a cat, Caesar couldn¡¯t understand what the guards were talking about outside.

    Even if it could understand, it was too preupied with the bugs to care.

    Following the scattered bugs in the passage, a bright light entered his field of view. Following the light, it found itself in an open corridor.

    ¡°Meow?¡±

    After entering the corridor and looking around, Caesar realized that it had never been to this ce before.

    It thought about turning back now, but once again, the sight of a bug mesmerized it.

    Behind the bug¡¯s body was a dark space in sharp contrast to the light in the corridor. Without fear, Caesar jumped into that space.

    It was a cargo hold.

    ***

    ¡°It¡¯sing.¡±

    I was hiding on top of a container, watching the cat below. The stupid cat was following the bugs without any suspicion.

    Instinct in animals is absolute.

    Even if they are tamed by human hands, the genes of a hunter and a predator still exist within them. It¡¯s the genes of a hunter and a predator.

    ¡°Meow.¡±

    The cat approached the container. I was ready to pounce.

    My blood flowed faster due to tension. My thick and flexible tail, which was in my rear end, was ready to strike at any moment.

    The four pairs of muscles making up my legs contracted, and my body¡¯s posture lowered sharply, signaling that I was ready forbat.

    While my body was getting ready, my loyal subordinate, my super-sense, calcted the best time to attack under the owner¡¯smand.

    The transcendent vision unique to Amorph pierced through the darkness of the cargo hold beyond the cat and aimed urately at the cat. Observing the cat¡¯s muscles, bone movements, and habits, I concluded that its right eye had lower eyesight than its left eye.

    ¡°Meow?¡±

    The cat turned its head to the left. With its diminishing eyesight, it couldn¡¯t spot me lurking in the darkness.

    Now was the chance.

    I used my legs, which were bent almost entirely, as propulsion to lift my body into the air.

    I didn¡¯t use my wings because they made noise. Approaching the cat quickly was enough with the power of gravity.

    The distance between me and the cat rapidly closed.

    The cat¡¯s ears perked up at the sound of the wind. Its head turned towards me, and its pupils dted. It sensed danger and tensed up but it was toote.

    My tail became the assassin¡¯s dart, and it stabbed the cat¡¯s side. The venom, which would paralyze even an adult, spread throughout the cat¡¯s body through its veins. Despite having a much smaller body than a human, the cat had no chance of withstanding the paralysis poison.

    After being stung, within seconds, the cat¡¯s heart stopped.

    The hunt was sessful.

    I fell to the ground, stepping on the motionless prey, and let out a triumphant roar.

    The triumphant cry of a predator echoed through the cargo hold, and the inhabitants shivered in fear and awe.

    ¡®Good. Shall we eat now?¡¯

    The ceremony was sessfullypleted, so it was time to check the reward. I took a bite of the cat¡¯s corpse.

    ¡®Hmm?¡¯

    The sensation in my mouth was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Before I even had a chance to savor the sweet taste of blood, the chewy muscles and the vorful fat overwhelmed my senses.

    The feeling was so shocking that it sent shivers down my spine. I had thought that cockroaches, spiders, and calorie bars were edible, but I waspletely wrong.

    The sensation of ¡®delicious¡¯ is exactly what I felt.

    I gripped my trembling legs and took another bite of the cat.

    ¡®Insane.¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t an illusion. The taste of cat meat was so good that it could be the only thing I ate until I died. With my limited vocabry, it was hard to describe just how delicious a cat was.

    I didn¡¯t think about anything else; I focused on eating the meat.

    It took less than five minutes for therger cat¡¯s corpse to disappear.

    ¡®Sigh.¡¯

    After chewing the bones and licking up every drop of blood that had spilled onto the floor, I was satisfied.

    Havingpleted my frenzy of a meal and regained myposure, I could understand why Amorph¡¯s were so obsessed with meat.

    ¡®It¡¯s insanely delicious.¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t help but swear, it was such an amazing taste. Even excluding the goal of collecting gic essence, if meat tasted this good, I would have sought it out intentionally.

    As I licked the flesh and blood that had stuck to my front paws in regret, a text box suddenly appeared.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Wild Instinct¡¯ gic essence from ¡®Cat.¡¯]

    [Extracted the ¡®Wild Instinct¡¯ from the biological characteristics of ¡®Cat¡¯.]

    [Do you want to apply the ¡®Wild Instinct¡¯?]

    ¡®Oh?¡¯

    I was feeling good after eating the meat, and then there was talk of gic essence acquisition. Moreover, I had no idea that I could obtain gic essence by eating something for the first time.

    ¡®Wild Instinct, huh? A characteristic I¡¯ve never seen before.¡¯

    Since this was the first time I had eaten a cat, I didn¡¯t even know it had a characteristic. I had no idea what effect it would have, but since it wouldn¡¯t hurt to have it, I pressed ept.

    [The ¡®Wild Instinct¡¯ characteristic has been applied.]

    [It¡¯s possible to fuse it the existing trait ¡®Super-sense¡¯]

    [Fusion of ¡®Wild Instinct¡¯ and ¡®Super-sense¡¯ traits. Evolving into ¡®Predator Sense¡¯ trait!]

    [Predator Sense: The ¡®Super-sense¡¯ characteristic is enhanced. It allows you to pre-detect threats in the near future based on avable information.

    *Note: Exceptional hunters have a knack for reading the future.]

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    I stared at the text box, at a loss for words.

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 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6

    ¡®Predator Sense?¡¯

    I double-checked the characteristics recorded in the text box.

    [Race: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph

    Status: Hatchling

    Objective: Survive

    Special Traits: Predator Sense (Fusion), Wings, Chitinous Exoskeleton, Robust Vitality, Paralyzing Stinger]

    I knew that there was a Trait fusion system in the Space Survival game. It was a system thatbined two or more rted traits into one enhanced trait. There were cases where even seemingly useless traits transformed into powerful ones through fusion. So, I actively used it.

    I had used it so often that I had memorized all thebinations for fusion in the game.

    ¡®Could there be a trait that I don¡¯t know about?¡¯

    I had never seen this trait before, no matter how many times I read it.

    ¡°Pre-detect threats¡­¡±

    Traits rted to future prediction existed in the game, but they were usually implemented to increase evasion rates. To put it inly, they were mostly good for show and not very useful.

    ¡®But this is reality. How will it work here?¡¯

    I concentrated my senses on the auxiliary organ, simr to when I used Super-sense.

    The slender tentacle-like appendage attached to my jaw wriggled and read the information floating in the air more effectively than before. It was capable of collecting a significantlyrger amount of information now, far beyond what it could previously gather.

    I could even identify what kind of insects were in the cargo hold and the shapes of the weapons inside the containers.

    However, the future-seeing effect I had expected didn¡¯t activate. It seemed like there was no immediate threat to me.

    ¡®Perhaps it¡¯s passive?¡¯

    It being an automatically activated passive ability didn¡¯t necessarily mean it was a bad thing.

    Threats could strike unexpectedly, so having an advantage like this wasn¡¯t a disadvantage.

    ¡®By the way, eating mammals sure gives you a lot more energy.¡¯

    My energy level felt remarkably higher after eating the mammal. Besides the energy boost, I also felt significantly fuller. The skin covering my back and stomach seemed slightly tighter.

    I returned to my nest with a satisfying sense of fullness.

    ***

    ording to historians, the origin of MegaCorp dates back to when seven corporations on Earth and Mars conspired to maximize their profits. The government couldn¡¯t overlook the merchant guilds overstepping their bounds, so they dered war on the seven major corporations. Countless people were sacrificed to the extent that blood formed seas. In the end, the final victors were the seven major corporations.

    It marked the era when the entire sr system came under the dominion of a single massive corporate consortium, MegaCorp.

    Subsequently, among the seven corporations that formed the foundation of MegaCorp, fivepanies headquartered on Earth became the five noble houses of Noble Capital, while the twopanies on Mars became the aristocratic Prime Capital of Mars.

    Among the five noble houses ruling over Earth, the Yujin Family had a rather unexpected beginning as a small agriculturalpany. Yujin¡¯s ancestors had recognized the potential of gically modified food early on and invested heavily in gic engineering. Even in the space age, this tradition continued, ensuring that the Yujin Family possessed outstanding gic engineering technology that was renowned throughout the gxy.

    The fact that Keisaragi Yujin could be such an exceptional gicist wasrgely due to her family¡¯s background. From a young age, she disyed exceptional genius, prompting her family to invest heavily in her upbringing. With such a privileged background, she had never experienced any sense of deficiency in her life. Whatever she desired, she obtained without fail, even if she had to wait a little.

    So why was it so difficult for her to ept the fact that she had lost something, something she owned for the very first time in her life?

    ¡°When can I see Caesar?¡±

    ¡°The soldiers are searching for him, so if you wait just a bit longer¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s already been two hours! Caesar always strictly observes mealtime, so something must have happened!¡±

    Anyone who knew Keisaragi would be surprised by her current state; she looked nothing like her usual self. Her well-kept ck hair was disheveled, and her usually icy expression was nowhere to be found. Presently, she appeared nothing short of unhinged.

    Captain Samuel, seeing her in this state, let out a sigh.

    ¡°This is a spaceship. Unless a cat is piloting a rescue ship, he must be somewhere on board.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m telling you to find him right away!¡±

    ¡°What I mean is that waiting might yield favorable results.¡±

    Samuel was from Third Capital, originally hailing from Saturn¡¯s moon, Titan. He wasn¡¯t from the lower ss by any means, butpared to the noble houses, he was nowhere near their league. If she asked him to step down from his captaincy, he would have to relinquish his position without question. She held her birthright firmly in her grasp, and he felt as if he were about to lose his mind dealing with her.

    ¡°What¡¯s the situation with the guards?¡±

    ¡°They are all detained. Legal procedures can only be carried out upon reaching the destination¡­¡±

    ¡°Execute them immediately.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡± Samuel thought he must have misheard.

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    ¡°As the captain, you have the authority for immediate executions, correct? Exercise that authority.¡±

    ¡°Are you suggesting executing someone without due process? Other soldiers might revolt.¡±

    ¡°Executing someone¡­?¡±

    Samuel coughed nervously as he met her intense gaze.

    ¡°Well, what I meant was, isn¡¯t it better to discuss the punishment after the search has made some progress? I don¡¯t mean anything else by it.¡±

    ¡°Have you forgotten that all of this happened because the soldiers didn¡¯t do their job properly?¡±

    Samuel knew it well, the fact that the ship¡¯s crew was far from friendly to cats. Honestly, even the captain himself had a diet consisting of fresh meat only once a week; the rest of his meals were filled with cultured meat.

    ¡®On the other hand, that damn furball gets to eat beef every meal.¡¯

    He couldn¡¯t stand that cat himself, but he knew there were soldiers who liked them. Seeing the misfortune that had befallen the cat, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if some of them were pleased.

    However, if he mentioned this fact, Keisaragi¡¯s anger would undoubtedly be directed at him, so Samuel kept his mouth shut.

    ¡°I am well aware of The Chief Research Officer¡¯s concerns. I will make sure to discipline the soldiers thoroughly in light of this incident.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯lle back in two hours. If there¡¯s no progress by then, you might want to consider taking off that hat.¡±

    After warning Samuel, Keisaragi left the captain¡¯s quarters.

    ¡°Where on Earth could he be?¡±

    She hadn¡¯t just idly waited while the soldiers conducted their search. She had created a tracker that could determine Caesar¡¯s whereabouts through the fur he left on the cushion.

    The device had worked sessfully, but upon seeing the results it produced, she became perplexed. It was because Caesar had gone to a ce he could never have reached by conventional means.

    Caesar had undone the screws of the grille installed in the venttion duct, made his way to the cargo hold, and then disappeared.

    It was a situation that clearly involved human intervention, so Keisaragi called the cargo hold supervisor.

    The supervisor had a solid alibi; he had been drinking with colleagues in the cafeteria all day. However, it was true that he had neglected his duties, so Keisaragi had considered killing him.

    If the captain hadn¡¯t stopped her, the supervisor would have been left to wander the dark expanse of space for eternity.

    She reluctantly suppressed her anger and meticulously searched the cargo hold, taking the trembling supervisor along with her.

    Caesar¡¯s trail had ended near the containers, and in its ce were traces left by an unidentified creature. She collected the traces and analyzed them using a scanner, but all it returned was a message saying ¡®No information¡¯.

    ¡°Gic information not found, even in MegaCorp¡¯s data archives.¡±

    Even for her, creating a machine to track an entity with absolutely no information was no easy task. It wasn¡¯t impossible, but it would take more time than usual.

    Even if Caesar went without food for that long, he wouldn¡¯t die. But Keisaragi couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of unease.

    Something was definitely wrong.

    Her intuition told her that something terrible had happened in the cargo hold. That¡¯s why she had pressed the innocent captain to find Caesar as quickly as possible.

    ¡®Whoever you are, if you¡¯ve touched what¡¯s mine, I¡¯ll kill you.¡¯

    She found herself unconsciously biting her nails. The droplets of blood from her nail¡¯s edge vividly disyed the owner¡¯s emotions.

    ***

    ¡®Hmm?¡¯

    While lying in the nest,zily digesting my meal, I sensed a change on the ship.

    The movements of the humans were more agitated than usual. They must have realized that the cat was missing.

    Thanks to my upgraded auxiliary system, I could roughly perceive the appearance of moving humans. From their solid forms and vigorous movements, it was evident that the search team consisted entirely of soldiers.

    Soldiers, busy searching for a pet they didn¡¯t even like, were rolling on the floor with hunger. It seemed that even in the space age, the absurdity of military life had remained the same.

    ¡®It¡¯s all going as expected.¡¯

    There were two main benefits to killing that cat.

    First, it would cloud Yujin¡¯s judgment. Considering her actions and the cat¡¯s nutritional status, it was clear that Yujinvished affection on her pet. While she was a demon to her test subjects and researchers, she was nothing short of an angel to the animals she raised.

    People who treated only what they cherished with humanity were not umon. They had one othermon trait.

    ¡®She loses her mind when something¡¯s taken from her.¡¯

    It¡¯s not that she¡¯s worried about her pet dying or being in danger. She simply gets angry at the fact that someone she doesn¡¯t know has taken what she possesses. Even if it¡¯s the most insignificant thing she owns, she¡¯ll react simrly. This emotion can be concluded as irrational possessiveness or, in simpler terms, an obsession.

    And those who be obsessed find it hard to stay sane.

    Secondly, it would sow discord between Keisaragi Yujin and the soldiers.

    The biggest obstacle to my assault on her was the guards. Due to the soldiers following her everywhere, surprise attacks were almost impossible. Even if I managed to eliminate her somehow, if the soldiers spotted me, the losses would outweigh the gains.

    So, I created an opportunity to distance her from the soldiers.

    ¡®The guards didn¡¯t like the cat.¡¯

    They were naturally upset. After all, they were forced to eat cat food, which was barely edible, as their rations. In reality, the cat was merely a pretext, and their anger was more directed at the absurdity of their social hierarchy. While beingbeled as ¡®Noble Capital¡¯, they were being subjected to unreasonable demands. However, they feared the consequences of directly confronting Keisaragi Yujin.

    ¡®Owners may be terrifying, but pets aren¡¯t.¡¯

    In simple terms, her cat served as a kind of shield. In that situation, if the sacrificialmb were to disappear and they were forced to expend unnecessary effort to find the disliked entity¡­

    Would the soldiers be willing to protect her as before?

    Not only that, Keisaragi Yujin would no longer trust the soldiers.

    The biggest reason for the disappearance of something she cherished was the negligence of the guards.

    ¡®Heh heh, thank you very much, cat.¡¯

    They probably never imagined that such a useless lump of flesh would bring about this butterfly effect.

    I got up from my spot.

    Once you¡¯ve sown the seeds, harvesting is simply a matter of course. The time hade to extract Keisaragi Yujin¡¯s gic essence.

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 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7

    What is the essence of Amorph y?

    Space survival games ensure high freedom, but they aren¡¯t without established gamey styles. For example, starting as a MegaCorp Noble Capital, the conventional approach is to use initial funding to hire mercenaries or buy ships and roll the Snowball, as it¡¯s optimized for using mercenaries or ves due to racial characteristics.

    So, what¡¯s the conventional way of ying Amorph? What sets Amorph apart from other races?

    ¡®They are Hunters.¡¯

    Gathering enemy information in advance,ying traps, luring them, and ambushing them from behind. No matter how many gic essences you umte and be stronger in thete game, the essence of Amorph remains that of a hunter.

    Even in thete game after finishing essence farming, the same form holds. The reason I could be the best in the game as Amorph was simple.

    ¡®I was good at hunting.¡¯

    Unlike other yers, I had to fight alone without party members.

    My physical abilities weren¡¯t better than young yers. I had fewer equipment and attributes than long-time yers. Yet, amidst all these unfavorable conditions, I always trampled over them.

    I made the genes of those whining and protesting against me my own and copied their unique traits.

    As trophies of my hunts piled up, my hunting expertise umted as well. The more foolish victims didn¡¯t give up and continued to challenge me, making me stronger.

    In this endless cycle, I became the most infamous predator in the world of Space Survival.

    That¡¯s why I¡¯m now targeting a new prey.

    ¡°Damn! It¡¯s taking too long for the stabilization process.¡±

    Keisaragi Yujin vented her anger, mming her desk.

    She had been observing from above theboratory for a while, but she hadn¡¯t noticed my presence. Her sharp instincts were dulled by anger.

    She wasn¡¯t alone yet; the guards were outside, and the soldiers were patrolling.

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±

    She muttered irritably as she got up from her seat, which had been fiddling with the machine. She went to anotherboratory and started manipting the terminal.

    I didn¡¯t know what she was trying to do, but it didn¡¯t seem pleasant for the creatures inside theboratory. Every time she passed by, the experimental subjects writhed in pain.

    ¡°This bastard, and that bastard too¡­¡±

    What she was doing was not an experiment but torture for venting her anger. Theboratory was filled with silent screams.

    ¡°By the way, you¡¯re here too.¡±

    In front of her was Experiment Subject 26.

    I could sense its unease even from here. When Keisaragi pulled out the psyonium, Subject 26 trembled.

    Was she satisfied with the fact that the subject was afraid? She smiled distortedly.

    ¡°This is an experiment.¡±

    She injected all the psyonium. Subject 26¡¯s entire body was torn apart, and its body color faded in an instant.

    Bubbling foam inside the test tube seemed to vividly reflect the subject¡¯s screams.

    After the experiment, which was nothing more than sadistic torture disguised as research, Subject 26 came back to life.

    Keisaragi pulled back her tongue and left theb as it was.

    ¡®¡­¡¯

    A woman who only chooses things she doesn¡¯t like until the end.

    I was about to move to track her, but Experiment Subject 26 sent a ripple my way.

    ?Greetings.?

    Even in moments like this, it greeted me as usual. I didn¡¯t respond and continued on my way.

    There was no need for conversation between us. I intended to provide the one thing it truly needed instead: revenge.

    I left theb and followed Keisaragi. She was heading for the captain¡¯s quarters, with two guards following closely behind her. They seemed displeased, to the point where there was no need for my auxiliary systems to confirm. Keisaragi appeared to sense this as well but didn¡¯t say anything.

    The tense atmosphere escted even further when we arrived at the captain¡¯s quarters.

    ¡°It¡¯s been two hours. What¡¯s the progress?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve just started the search. Please wait a little longer.¡±

    ¡°Captain, or should I say, Yuseong Samuel. Are you defying the will of Noble Capital?¡±

    The captain, Yuseong Samuel, hardened his face at her words. It looked like he was angry to anyone watching, but it was just for show. Judging by the dtion of his pupils, the sweat trickling down his neck, and the trembling of his legs inside his pants, he was clearly in a state of panic.

    He may be the captain of the ship, but Keisaragi is part of MegaCorp¡¯s ruling ss. The hierarchy ispletely different, so it¡¯s natural for him to be afraid.

    ¡°I am the captain of this ship. Research Officer, please be cautious with your words.¡±

    ¡°That captain¡¯s position can be relinquished.¡±

    ¡°Even if it¡¯s Noble Capital, we cannot tolerate abuse of power. I have the right to detain the Research Officer.¡±

    ¡°What? You¡¯re saying you¡¯re going to detain me now?¡±

    ¡°Anyone who disrupts the order on this ship can be detained at the captain¡¯s discretion.¡±

    ¡°Are you insane, Yuseong Samuel?¡±

    The situation was getting interesting. It seemed like there had been conflicts between them even before I started observing.

    Well, with the inhumane Keisaragi and the captain, who usually avoids confrontation, it might have been an expected oue.

    They stared at each other for a while. In the end, Keisaragi was the one who averted her gaze.

    ¡®Is this somewhat expected as well?¡¯

    If Keisaragi makes a mistake, the fate of the ship¡¯s crew will end there. Butws are distant, and fists are close. This is the middle of space, and Even if the captain loses his temper and tries to kill her, she won¡¯t be able to resist. Despite her superior intelligencepared to the others, her body is that of an ordinary woman.

    ¡°¡­We¡¯ll see about thatter.¡±

    Keisaragi left the captain¡¯s quarters, grinding her teeth in frustration. As soon as she left, the captain called his aide and yelled at him to bring that damn cat right away.

    ¡®It must be urgent.¡¯

    If things continue like this, the captain is as good as dead the moment he arrives at any or space station. He had the audacity to threaten her with detention in front of Noble Capital, so there¡¯s no way around it. His only lifeline now is to find the kitten and resolve this issue.

    ¡®But it¡¯s already dead.¡¯

    After all, the captain is someone who has been put on my hit list. No matter what he does, he can¡¯t escape his fate.

    Afterwards, Keisaragi continued to roam the ship, making trouble wherever she went.

    The more the crew resented her, the better for me. When she disappears from people¡¯s sight, it will be easier for me to work.

    Herst destination was the restroom. She was apanied by two guards.

    Normally, at least one guard should have apanied her inside, but these guards had been through a lot of her bullying, so they didn¡¯t follow her.

    I don¡¯t know if she noticed that they were disobeying orders due to emotional reasons or if she simply didn¡¯t like the guards.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m going to the restroom for a bit.¡±

    Coincidentally, one of the guards also left to go to the restroom. Inside the women¡¯s restroom, there was only her, and there was only one guard outside.

    ¡®This is my chance.¡¯

    There was no security equipment inside the restroom to hinder my movements. In the venttion ducts surrounding the restroom, I prepared for the assault.

    I loosened two screws with my ws and carefully removed the grate, making sure not to make any noise. I hung it up while keeping my ws raised.

    She was in the middle of washing her face at the sink, and the sound of running water masked any noise I might have made.

    I approached her cautiously, making sure not to cast a reflection in the mirror. After finishing her face wash, she turned off the tap and brushed the water droplets from her hair.

    I had to get close enough to her to strike with a single leap. My four pairs of legs moved with extreme caution, unlike anything she had ever seen. Paralysis poison surged at the tip of my tail. Just like a cat, my body was ready to strike to finish her with a single blow.

    ¡°Phew.¡±

    Keisaragi stared at herself in the mirror with a vacant expression. But suddenly, she frowned.

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    ¡°Oh no!¡±

    Was her mind clearer after washing her face? Her senses had detected me.

    A distress signal from her brain was sent, spreading throughout her body. The muscles in her neck twitched in response. Within a second, her head would turn towards me.

    There was no more time to dy. My legs pounded against the steel floor. My body, transformed into a deadly projectile, wasunched towards her. The distance between us was still considerable, but now was the time to use my wings.

    I had been eagerly awaiting themand to summon them, and as I gave the order, my wings unfolded wide. My body, previously losing momentum, suddenly shot upwards. Wings with the distinctive glossy luster of chitin gleamed as they vigorously pped.

    The distance between us was now about 50 centimeters. I revealed the Paralyzing Stinger that had been concealed in my tail.

    Keisaragi¡¯s gaze shifted toward me. Her face contorted rapidly, ovee by a cocktail of negative emotions: surprise, revulsion, imminent danger, and fear.

    When people are faced with unexpected peril, they instinctively shield their faces with their hands. Her arm began to rise.

    As her forearm was about halfway to her face, my tail slithered through the gap. It was a flexible maneuver, disarming her defense. At its tip, a small needle pierced her carotid artery.

    ¡°Ah?¡±

    A short cry escaped from her lips. In reality, she couldn¡¯t have screamed for long. The poison coursing through her veins paralyzed her entire body within seconds.

    Until the antidote takes effect, all she could do was breathe.

    She copsed in front of the sink. Her prone form resembled a mannequin, a lifeless imitation. I approached her without mercy.

    Her quivering eyes reflected my image as I got closer. Dribbling saliva hung from the creature¡¯s mouth, resembling a head-sized extraterrestrial lifeform. It grewrger as it approached, revealing sharp teeth inside its mouth.

    What could she be thinking now? Fear of the alien being she had witnessed? Anger at her situation? Perhaps a fear of death?

    It didn¡¯t really matter. Keisaragi Yujin was going to die anyway.

    Snap!

    My teeth crushed her neck. The light went out in her eyes, and beyond the teeth I was mping down with, I felt her breath growing shallow.

    ¡®Goodbye.¡¯

    My strong jaws snapped her neck with ease. With a simple shake of the head, her neck tore apart.

    Her short life hade to an end.

    The Megacorp¡¯s Noble Capital no longer existed on this ship.

    Only the lifeless body of the woman remained. Human blood flowed through my throat. On the biological conveyor belt known as the digestive system, only gic information separated and emerged separately.

    The moment the information reached my brain, I felt it. One piece of the puzzle of potential that had been dormant within me had fallen into ce.

    I instinctively knew it. The genes that make up my existence indicated that they could be rearranged under the spiral of evolution.

    [¡®Hatchling->Metamorph¡¯ evolution conditions have been met. Would you like to evolve?]

    If I had just agreed, I could have immediately begun the evolution process right there. I was about to ept.

    Even if my auxiliary systems hadn¡¯t sounded an rm, I would have done so.

    [The Guard heard the sound of her falling.]

    [His gun barrel was aimed at me.]

    [The bullet pierced my body.]

    [I died.]

    ¡®What was that just now?¡¯

    Multiple scenes passed by swiftly, like rewinding reality and ying it back at multiple times normal speed. If it weren¡¯t for my heightened senses, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to perceive it properly.

    ¡®A predator¡¯s sense!¡¯

    What I had just seen was a warning of impending danger in the future. It was the predator¡¯s sense looking ahead into the future and issuing a warning.

    ¡®So, this is how it operates?¡¯

    It was like showing events that would happen in the future, simr to a movie. Except for the fact that it only activated in times of danger, it was a powerful ability.

    Anyway, the timing for the security guard to enter was imminent. I leaped behind the door and concealed my body.

    From the future I had seen through the predator¡¯s sense, I knew that there was only one security guard who had attacked me. The other one had not yet returned from the bathroom.

    ¡®Should I run?¡¯

    If the security guard found out about my presence, it would be disastrous. Even if Kisaragi died, I wouldn¡¯t be able to evade pursuit.

    ¡®The security guard must be dealt with here.¡¯

    Fortunately, there was only one opponent. If Iunched a surprise attack, I could kill him.

    My body enteredbat mode once again. I pressed my body against the bathroom door, causing it to slowly inch open.

    I could see the tip of a military boot beyond the door. Gradually, his entire body entered the bathroom.

    ¡°Gasp!¡±

    A voice of surprised human.

    He was fixated on the corpse lying on the floor.

    I, hiding behind the door, sprang towards him. My body stuck to his shoulder, and I could sense his shock.

    He should have reached for his gun immediately, but he didn¡¯t. Instead, he brushed his shoulder.

    In a way, it was a very realistic response. Anyone would react like that when something winged and resembling a desert spider attached itself to their shoulder.

    However, considering the situation, such an action was not wise. The price of a wrong choice was death. Thanks to the time he gave me, my tail was able to pierce his ear.

    My tail, having prated his ear, was slowly withdrawn. He had been instantly killed by the paralytic poison injected close to his brain. As he copsed to the floor, the bathroom door closed.

    Not long after Kisaragi¡¯s death, another unfamiliar security guard also met his end.

    Outside was quiet. No one had witnessed the deaths of the two people.

    ¡®I need to hurry.¡¯

    Soon, his colleague would return. I quickly restored the grille of the venttion duct to its original state and hastily left the bathroom.

    I took a winding route instead of going directly to the nest because there might be unexpected means of tracking.

    When I arrived at the nest, I activated the text box.

    [¡®Hatchling->Metamorph¡¯ evolution conditions have been met. Would you like to evolve?]

    The time for evolution I had been waiting for had finallye.

    After onest look around, I epted.

    Mucus for evolution flowed from my body like water. It poured out in such quantities that it encased my entire body. The liquid solidified into a hard shell,yer byyer.

    If someone were to see me now, they would probably think I was inside some kind of cocoon.

    ¡®It¡¯s strange.¡¯

    Inside the cocoon, there was a peculiar sensation that was hard to put into words. To describe it somehow, it was a feeling of being ¡®different.¡¯

    A sense that I was bing an entirely different being.

    Inside the cocoon, the secretions were reassembling me into something foreign.

    If I had memories from my fetal stage, this might be what it feels like. If I could perceive the process of my mother¡¯s womb creating my existence, it would surely feel something like this.

    I wanted to open my eyes and see for myself, but it was impossible. Since entering the cocoon, I hadpletely lost control over my body.

    The sensation I¡¯m feeling, is it rooted in physical sensation, or does it stem from something like my spiritual existence, perceiving the changes in my body? I don¡¯t know.

    ¡®I guess I¡¯ll have to think about it. Let¡¯s wait patiently.¡¯

    I¡¯ve done everything I can. I decided to rest in this cozy cocoon until the evolution isplete.

    ***

    Above the cooling room, in the venttion duct.

    It was a ce that until recently had been filled with contaminated air and disgusting fluids pouring out of spores.

    It had been a space full of impure humidity, but now it was so dry that it was hard to imagine its previous state.

    All the spores had dried up, and the mucous tendrils that had clung to the walls like spider webs had withered like dry branches.

    In the midst of the ruined nest, there was a cocoon about the size of a young boy.

    Despite the cold air rising from the cooling room, the surface of the cocoon was rough, like desertified soil.

    It seemed to be absorbing the moisture from its surroundings.

    Then, the cocoon shook. Something was moving inside, trying toe out.

    After a few more shakes, a crack appeared on the surface of the cocoon. The shell fell to the ground, and something ck emerged from the inside.

    It was an alien form, covered in ck chitinous exoskeleton, resembling a human arm. At the end of the arm were four long fingers, reminiscent of the talons of a bird of prey.

    Starting with the first arm that protruded, several more arms emerged from the cocoon, breaking through the shell.

    Finally, the entire cocoon was discarded, revealing its true form.

    With four long arms, two smaller arms near its chest, thick and sturdy legs, and a long tail that was about 1.5 times the size of its body, it opened its eyes.

    With shining ashen eyes, it looked down at its body.

    ?Grgrgrgrgr.?

    It seemed to smile contentedly.

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 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8

    The Airship¡¯s conference room.

    This is where the senior leadership of the ship gathers for meetings when something importantes up.

    Life inside the ship is usually static. So, when something important happens, it undoubtedly means a serious problem. Everyone in this room was aware of that, but no one could have imagined that a nuclear bomb would go off.

    ¡°What¡­ should we do?¡±

    The one asking the question was the The Chief Medical Officer responsible for the crew¡¯s health. His gaze was directed toward the empty chair.

    In any other seat, perhaps, but that one should never remain empty.

    The empty chair belonged to The Chief Research Officer.

    ¡°Damn it. I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Samuel muttered a curse, but no one in the room pointed it out because they all felt the same way.

    Samuel sshed his face with cold water.

    It was bewildering to think about how to handle this situation. He wanted to take drugs or get beaten to forget everything, but Samuel was the captain of this ship. Everyone was waiting for him to say something.

    ¡°Uh, have you identified the cause?¡±

    ¡°When I looked with my naked eye, it seemed the Research Officer was attacked and killed. It looks like she was shed with a small saw, but we¡¯ll need a detailed examination to be sure.¡±

    ¡°A detailed examination¡­ Does that mean an autopsy?¡±

    In response to Samuel¡¯s question, the medical Officer nodded.

    They both knew that the word ¡°autopsy¡± had been mentioned, but it was impossible to carry out an autopsy on the Noble Capital.

    Regardless of the family, the Noble Capital did not like anyone touching a corpse. They were people who cherished their own bodies and did treat others¡¯ bodies as ythings.

    If even the slightest trace of a scalpel were found on the corpse, the Noble Capital would not leave the medical officer, who led the autopsy, alone.

    ¡°Security officer. How far has the suspect search progressed?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve checked all the surveince cameras on board, but there was nothing unusual. The primary suspect, the security guard, is currently being interrogated.¡±

    ¡°Do you think he¡¯s the culprit?¡±

    ¡°Based on the information we have so far, it¡¯s unlikely.¡±

    ¡°¡­Report as soon as the search resultse in.¡±

    The most important person on the ship had died, and the culprit was unknown.

    Samuel barely suppressed the urge to abandon the ship and run away. He knew what had be of the researcher who didn¡¯t listen to Keisaragi¡¯s words.

    The researcher had his brain extracted while still alive and became an experimental subject. A promising talent had suddenly be nothing more than a brain floating in a test tube.

    The same fate awaited anyone who didn¡¯t listen. It was hard to imagine what punishment those involved in Noble Capital¡¯s death would receive.

    ¡°Everyone knows what happened in theb.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Ugh.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to end up with just your brain and subjected to electro-torture, you have toe up with some kind of n.¡±

    The word ¡°brain¡± and ¡°electro-torture¡± made everyone in the room shudder. To avoid the worst possible oue, they all desperately put their heads together.

    ¡°ident during the experiment? What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Think before you speak, Navigation officer. We¡¯re not talking about just one or two researchers here. How do you expect us to handle this?¡±

    ¡°Sigh, you talk tough. But we¡¯re still a Middle Capital, you know?¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°Then how about this? Food poisoning¡­.¡±

    ¡°Then we¡¯re screwed upside down! If you want to die, do it alone, Tech officer!¡±

    ¡°What did you say? Those who can¡¯t do anything besides eating shouldn¡¯t dare speak up! Which Capital are you from?¡±

    In a state where anxiety filled their minds, the meeting was not going well at all. The conference room quickly turned chaotic.

    Amidst the shouting and bickering, someone mmed their desk forcefully.

    ¡°Quiet!¡±

    He was the Crisis Management officer whomanded the soldiers.

    ¡°All this internal squabbling onlyplicates the situation.¡±

    After calming everyone down in an instant, he paused for a moment and then spoke.

    ¡°Captain, our current location is near C-08.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with anything?¡±

    ¡°C-08 is in the territory of the Space Dogs.¡±

    Samuel raised an eyebrow, trying to understand what the Crisis Management officer was trying to say.

    ¡°Are you telling me this because of those pirate bastards?¡±

    ¡°Yes. They attacked us, and I couldn¡¯t figure it out sooner because there were no rms.¡±

    Samuel stroked his chin.

    The Space Dogs were marauders who roamed space, looting and piging. They were one of MegaCorp¡¯s enemies.

    In battles between fleets, they were always a nuisance, often causing damage even to battleships led by veteran soldiers.

    If a battleship could suffer damage, what about a research vessel like this one? It was only natural that significant damage would ur.

    In the process, ¡®unfortunate idents¡¯ could easily happen.

    ¡°If we report that we were attacked by them, we can probably mitigate the death of the research officer.¡±

    Of course, Samuel, who was responsible for the crew¡¯s safety, would have a hard time avoiding responsibility, but there was a high chance that it would be settled with fines, considering the danger of the Space Dogs.

    The Noble Capital would also aim their revenge at the Space Dogs rather than Samuel.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a bad idea, but there¡¯s a problem. With our weapons, we can¡¯t really stand up against the Space Dogs.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I have some friends from way back; I¡¯ll contact them.¡±

    The atmosphere in the conference room became strange at his words. Among the senior officers in MegaCorp, there were hardly any who hadn¡¯t been corrupt. Most of them created slush funds to receive bribes from the top.

    Even so, Samuel didn¡¯t expect the Crisis Management officer, who seemed strict, to have such connections.

    ¡®This nobleman, he may not look like it, but he¡¯s got ties to pirates.¡¯

    Like the thoughts of the others, Samuel also didn¡¯t like the Space Dogs. But there was no other way.

    ¡°How much do you need?¡±

    ¡°At least one million credits.¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Samuel wanted to curse at the amount, which was nearly half of the ship¡¯s value, but he held back. It wasn¡¯t an unreasonable cost.

    Dealing with the Noble Capital was just as difficult as dealing with the Space Dogs. Considering the risk they took, this amount seemed reasonable.

    ¡°Darn it. Spending precious credits like this.¡±

    Samuel knew this fact, but unexpected expenses were never good. If there were no other options, he had to ept it for now.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get it ready.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Captain.¡±

    ¡°In exchange, you must handle the job thoroughly.¡±

    ¡°No problem.¡±

    In the end, the responsibility for this matter was delegated to the Crisis Management officer.

    Samuel was about to conclude the meeting when the medical officer raised his hand.

    ¡°What should we do with the body?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll keep it in storage until the Space Dogs arrive. Make sure no one else touches it.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    With nothing more to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.

    Samuel left the conference room, hoping he wouldn¡¯t have to gather here again.

    ***

    ¡®So, this is the metamorphosis.¡¯

    Seeing and experiencing something first hand that he had only seen in games was apletely different sensation.

    I looked down at my feet, or rather, hands.

    When I was a Hatchling, I had all four pairs of legs to support myself. But now, it is different.

    Except for one pair of legs at the very back, the rest had evolved into what looked like arms.

    Let¡¯s take a closer look at the four arms.

    One pair near my ribs, and one pair near my shoulders.

    They appeared as if human arm bones were attached to muscles. At the end of the arms, there were hands resembling eagle¡¯s talons, with two pairs of fingers each arranged vertically.

    Judging by the sharp ws, it seemed like I could easily tear through human flesh.

    ¡®Combat arms.¡¯

    They were like weapons and shields used to attack or protect against enemies.

    Of course, I could still do what I used to do before. Small, knob-like protrusions remained between the fingers, allowing them to grip walls or cling to ceilings.

    It was truly a transformation that suited the terms ¡®enhancement¡¯ or ¡®evolution.¡¯

    ¡®Let¡¯s see.¡¯

    I moved the four arms at once.

    The upper arms had a sense of moving the shoulders, so they felt somewhat familiar, but the lower arms were very alien.

    ¡®Using human terms, it¡¯s like the sensation you get in your trapezius when doing chin-ups. If there were someplex mechanism attached to that area, it might feel something like this.¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s a fresh sensation.¡¯

    The initial awkwardness was brief, and since it was my own body, after a few movements, I began to get the hang of it.

    ¡®Battle arms are set. Next is this little guy.¡¯

    There were small arms around my chest area. If we consider only their length, they were shorter than the legs during the Hatchling stage. Their hands were different from the battle arms, having thumbs like those of primates.

    ¡®They seem to be here for delicate tasks.¡¯

    Based on the presence of thumbs, the smaller arms seemed to handle intricate tasks such as operatingputers or terminals, using weapons, and tools, among other things.

    But the changes didn¡¯t stop at the arms.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    My previous reptilian-like body, which moved onnd, had evolved into a bipedal form. In ordance with the change in body structure, the outer covering that had encased my back and abdomen had evolved into an armor-like exoskeleton.

    Around my chest and below the waist, human-like pelvis and digitigrade legs had emerged.

    These legs were thicker than the arms and had highly developed muscture. The region that was once my fourth leg had transformed into the present-day bipedal structure.

    The tail, which had been at my tailbone, had be long and thick, much like a dinosaur¡¯s tail. This change likely happened to maintain bnce.

    Together with the tail, the stinger had also grownrger, reaching almost the size of a short sword.

    ¡®I¡¯ve grown quite a bit in size.¡¯

    When standing, I was just under 1 meter in height. Judging by the length, including the tail, it was almost 2 meters in total. It was a tremendous growthpared to before.

    ¡®Now that I¡¯ve be a Metamorph, I need to change my strategy.¡¯

    Until now, avoiding the enemy¡¯s gaze had been the key to survival. But now, things are different.

    The emphasis on hunting and survival had nearly reached a fifty-fifty bnce.

    ¡®Now that survival is more or less sorted, it¡¯s time to think about what¡¯s next.¡¯

    Although I nned to loot all the gic essence within the ship, I needed to n ahead. What would be my goal moving forward?

    [Race: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph

    Status: Metamorph

    Objective: Survive (1st Evolution Sessful)

    Special Traits: Predator Sense (Fusion), Wings, Chitinous Exoskeleton, Robust Vitality, Paralyzing Stinger, Enhanced Exoskeleton, Acidic Blood.

    Type: Undetermined]

    When I disyed the text box, there was new text next to the objective.

    ¡®1st Evolution Sessful must refer to bing a Metamorph, right?¡¯

    Amorph¡¯s status was divided into six stages, and it underwent five evolutions:-

    Hatchling, Metamorph, Pre-Saint, Quasi-Saint, Saint, and finally Ascendant.

    Reaching Ascendant status is considered as clearing Space Survival. In other words, it¡¯s equivalent to achieving Amorph¡¯s ending.

    ¡®The problem is, reaching the ending is incredibly difficult.¡¯

    ¡®Very few yers have seen the species ending in Space Survival. I can check the list of yers who have cleared it in the game, and there are only about 20, including me.¡¯

    Among all the Amorphs, I was the only one to achieve the ending, which is ascendant.

    ¡®Ascendant¡­¡¯

    In the game, when an Amorph ascends, the secrets of their species¡¯ origins are revealed.

    Where they came from, what their identity is, and other hidden clues are unveiled.

    ¡®It¡¯s likely that reality is simr.¡¯

    If I seed in ascending, I might learn how I became an Amorph and why I ended up in the world of Space Survival.

    ¡®The problem is how to get there.¡¯

    I checked the newly added category in the text box, which was ¡®Type.¡¯

    [Unlockable ¡®types¡¯ do not exist.]

    [Would you like to view the list of potential specialized ¡®types¡¯?]

    Bing a Metamorph marked a significant turning point for Amorphs. It was the moment when they determined their ¡®Type¡¯. Inparison to other species, you could think of a Type as a profession. The difference was that when you obtained a profession, rted abilities were unlocked. However, for Amorphs, it worked the opposite way. If you met the conditions, your Type would be unlocked, and it would synergize with rted abilities.

    For example, if you had many physical enhancement attributes, you might unlock the Physical Enhancement Type. In that case, your existing physicalbat-rted attributes would be much stronger.

    ¡®Considering my attributes, I might be the Physical Enhancement Type.¡¯

    I personally liked that Type. Especially if the chitinous exoskeleton was enhanced by the Type, it would practically turn me into a living tank. Just charging at the enemy could turn them into minced meat.

    ¡®But let¡¯s see what¡¯s avable. View the list.¡¯

    [Currently, there are two potential specialized Types.]

    [Physical Enhancement Type (6/10), Psychic Enhancement Type (1.5/3)]

    As I expected, the Physical Enhancement Type had almost fulfilled the conditions. Thanks to the enhanced exoskeleton and acidic blood traits that resulted from bing a Metamorph, I could secure a total of six attributes rted to physical abilities.

    ¡®But what¡¯s this?¡¯

    The number next to the Psychic Enhancement Type was unusual.

    ¡®One has to be the Predator Senses, but what¡¯s the 0.5 for? None of the attributes I have can exin that.¡¯

    To obtain gic essence, you had to consume almost the entire corpse. Judging by the 0.5 designation, it was probably due to leftovers or failed acquisitions for some reason.

    I recalled the things I had eaten so far.

    Spiders, cockroaches, cat. Among them, there was no creature capable of having psychic abilities.

    ¡®I never left any leftovers before¡­ Oh.¡¯ I remembered.

    Keisaragi Yujin.

    She was the only one I left behind.

    ¡®I noticed she had a strong sixth sense¡­ Could it be because of psychic powers?¡¯

    In the game, while individuals with psychic powers were rare among humans in MegaCorp, they were not non-existent. Perhaps she hadtent abilities she herself was unaware of.

    ¡®I definitely have to consume psychic powers.¡¯

    The Physical Enhancement Type was a matter of personal preference, but psychic powers were a different story. Having them or not made an enormous difference.

    ¡®Let¡¯s find the corpse.¡¯

    I used my jaw¡¯s auxiliary system to check the airflow. Considering the temperature, humidity, and the condition of the dried-up nest, I estimated that I had been in the repair state for about a day. By now, post-mortem rigidity should be in progress, and I needed to consume the body quickly before it began to decay. The more damage to the corpse, the harder it would be for me to acquire the gic essence intact.

    ¡®Let¡¯s start with the corpse.¡¯

    I decided to leave the nest recovery forter and prioritize obtaining the traits. I exited the refrigeration room.

    ¡®The first ce to go is the bathroom.¡¯

    There should be traces of where Keisaragi went in that direction. I followed those.

    As I headed toward the bathroom, I found myself detouring into the hallway. There were areas where I couldn¡¯t navigate with my erged body.

    ¡®Maybe it¡¯s because it¡¯s nighttime, but there¡¯s no one around.¡¯

    The auxiliary systems that had grown to tentacle-like proportions were not just longer but had also be more intricate. Although the range hadn¡¯t expanded, they had be more detailed. No human presence was detected within a 50-meter radius. The only movement was the mumbling of people sleeping soundly in their beds in the bedrooms.

    Beyond a fork in the hallway, my auxiliary systems alerted me that guards were stationed in front of the bathroom. I could sense the vibrations in the air they created with their yawning. The guards who had been on duty all night showed signs of fatigue.

    ¡®Not the right time now.¡¯

    The fact that the enemy¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t normal was an advantage for me, but their numbers were too many. Besides, I had already traced the traces of the corpse. I decided to save dinner forter and moved in a different direction.

    I continued down the corridor, following the traces. Except for the hallway in front of key facilities, there were no surveince cameras, so I could proceed without being monitored.

    As I walked, I entered an area where the venttion duct expanded. I crawled up toward the ceiling.

    Even as the location changed, my senses didn¡¯t miss the scent of the body. While I was crawling, the smell of meat wafted up from below.

    The mortuary.

    The ce where the deceased wereid to rest. The space where the dead found their final peace was right below me.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9

    It¡¯s an era where life isn¡¯t valued.

    Nowadays, no one feels repulsed by purchasing human lives with money. The interesting thing is that even in such a dystopian society, we still have a culture that honors the dead.

    They¡¯re preserving these bodies that could simply be discarded into space like this. In the mortuary, two bodies I created areid to rest. If there were no guardians, I would have gone down and devoured them right away.

    ¡®Three outside, one inside.¡¯

    Perhaps because two people have died, the armament of the guards outside wasn¡¯t ordinary. All three of them were in reinforced suits.

    ¡®Alone, I could have taken them on, but three would be too much.¡¯

    If the fight dragged on, more of theirrades would gather, so it¡¯s best to avoidbat with them.

    ¡®The person inside is a civilian.¡¯

    Seeing the smell of disinfectant and formaldehyde emanating from the body, it seemed that the opponent was a doctor.

    He had earphones plugged into his ears and was listening to music.

    ¡®Is there any way other than a surprise attack?¡¯

    The problem was that the doctor¡¯s face was facing the direction of the venttion ducts. No matter how much he was blocking his ears, if I went down like this, I would be caught immediately.

    ¡®I need to divert his attention.¡¯

    Disrupting prey is also a basic hunting tactic. Luckily, I had just learned a new ability, so I should try using it. First, I moved to a different spot. The doctor¡¯s vision didn¡¯t reach there. With my forearm, I lightly scraped a forearm where the doctor¡¯s sight couldn¡¯t reach. ck blood oozed out from the thin wound. Droplets of blood fell onto the alloy te, and the alloy te emitted a pungent smoke.

    ¡®The acidic blood trait.¡¯

    It¡¯s one of the abilities I acquired automatically when I evolved into a Metamorph form.

    It¡¯s a trait that damages nearby enemies by acidifying blood. Both the enhanced exoskeleton and acidic blood may seem defensive, but the true value of this trait lies elsewhere.

    ¡®It¡¯s useful for infiltration and armor destruction.¡¯

    It¡¯s stronger in acidity than chemical weapons, so it can easily dissolve alloy structures. It can be used to melt the enemy¡¯s armor at the beginning of the battle or to infiltrate the enemy¡¯s base or spaceship.

    ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s that smell?¡±

    The doctor reacted to the pungent gas emitted by the melting ceiling. He pinched his nose and turned his head repeatedly.

    ¡°Why is that¡­?¡± His gaze reached the ceiling with holes.

    The acidic liquid was now melting even the stainless steel cart. The doctor stood up from his seat and approached the melting cart.

    The fruit was ripe enough. It had to be harvested before it rotted.

    I opened the venttion duct and jumped down. Due to the smell and his earphones, the doctor couldn¡¯t perceive my movements.

    Landing gracefully on the floor, I slowly got up.

    ¡°Acid solution? Where is it leaking from?¡± Realizing that the smell was toxic gas, the doctor quickly covered his mouth and nose with his coat. While he was staring up at the messed-up ceiling, I got closer and closer to him.

    ¡°Security¡­ Ugh!¡±

    When he turned around, I was right in front of him. Although he was taller than me, he couldn¡¯t feel the difference at all. He was overwhelmed by my appearance. A chitinous exoskeleton that shone as ck as the abyss of space.

    Four gigantic arms long enough to touch the ground when extended and thick, powerful legs. A tail so strong it could prate through alloys. Jaws powerful enough to crush human bones as if they were nothing.

    Before him stood a creature that seemed to have emerged from the depths of a nightmare, a profound and eerie terror.

    The creature¡¯s mouth opened, independent of its will. He could feel air rising from the lungs, attempting to rush through the vocal cords, as if it wanted to escape. He tried to scream, but failed.

    A tail, almost a meter long, was now lodged in his mouth. The sharp stinger pierced through his tongue and into the back of his skull.

    ¡°G-g-g¡­!¡±

    His body trembled, shaking in the wind like a weed. Foam flowed continuously from his mouth, staining the once-white gown he wore with the evidence of a fading life. His dted pupils gradually returned to normal, life draining from his fear-filled eyes. The prey had died in this manner.

    Withdrawing its tail, the creature gently ced the lifeless doctor on the ground. Fortunately, the guards stationed at the door seemed oblivious to the murder that had just urred. Their movements remained unchanged.

    ¡®It wasn¡¯t a hunt I was counting on, but it was sessful.¡¯

    To be honest, it wasn¡¯t a bad oue. Thanks to this, the count of prey had increased to three.

    Leaving the doctor¡¯s body behind, the creature began searching for Keisaragi.

    Most of the refrigerators for storing corpses were empty. After all, in a ce like this, little more than a research vessel, how often would people die? Finding her wasn¡¯t too difficult.

    On a cold carty the lifeless body of Keisaragi Yujin. Her severed head and neck remained detached.

    It didn¡¯t take much to guess the reason.

    ¡®She must be a Noble Capital. They wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to touch the bodies.¡¯

    Chemical processing could potentially damage a corpse, so it made sense that the doctors would leave them as they were.

    The creature reached out and lifted her severed neck. With her eyes closed, she appeared to be peacefully asleep.

    Seeing her like this, it felt strange, a peculiar emotion.

    No matter how much I¡¯ve adapted to space survival, I¡¯m still a typical college student preparing for graduation. Yet here I am, having killed a person. Is that all? I¡¯m about to eat a person too, and yet I feel no guilt whatsoever.

    ¡®They say there¡¯s evil in every human¡¯s heart.¡¯

    Has my environment changed, and with it, myself? Have I be this ruthless killing machine, my true nature?

    ¡®There¡¯s no use thinking about it.¡¯

    After all, apologizing for killing three people and saying ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± won¡¯t make them leave me alone in the first ce.

    To stay alive, I have to keep killing. That¡¯s how Amorph survives, and it¡¯s the way I need to adapt.

    ¡®Let¡¯s eat for now.¡¯

    Havingpleted my evolution, I was quite hungry. Thinking about it with a corpse already in front of me was pointless.

    I opened my flexible jaw wide. Like an anaconda, my gaping maw swallowed the human head whole. Sharp teeth tore through flesh, and my crushing force, which could bend steel, shattered the skull. The already non-functional brain was crushed, and brain matter oozed out.

    ¡®¡­Tastes good.¡¯

    As expected, it was an extraordinary taste. I felt like a fool for hesitating so much about killing people. Life is like eating lobster; once you crack the thick and sturdy skull, the tender meat inside flows smoothly down the throat. The two eyes, of which there are only two, burst like cherries on a cake, delivering an exquisite vor. The hair was a bit rough, but I considered that part to be a matter of personal preference.

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    All in all, the taste of a human head was quite interesting. It was naturally delicious, but how could I describe itpared to a cat?

    ¡®A different dimension of vor.¡¯ That seemed like an appropriate way to put it.

    What I mean is, a cat can bepared to a franchise fast-food restaurant. It¡¯s a form thatpetes with a taste that has been rigorously tested and validated through strict experiments.

    It¡¯s closer to a stimting taste that immediately captivates your brain.

    But humans are different. Like a seasoned chef who has spent years preparing a dish, the taste isplex.

    Just as a craftsman puts his life into his cooking, humans are the same. Since their entire life is absorbed into them, their taste can¡¯t be simple.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    I finished eating the head in one go, and the hunger, like a stamp imprinted by my species, urged me on.

    I had to finish all the remaining bodies.

    I continued to devour the remaining parts of her, following my instincts.

    ¡®The body feels different.¡¯

    When I tore off a leg and bit into it, the ratio of muscle to fat was fantastic. The cat I had eaten before had a muscle-to-fat ratio close to 1:9, but Keisaragi had a more suitable ratio for consumption.

    It was as if someone had gically engineered her to perfection.

    The skin and muscles were firm and chewy, providing the joy of eating, while the bones were hard, offering a satisfying crunch. The organs in the abdomen were as soft as well-cooked tomatoes.

    ¡®Hmm?¡¯

    As I was enjoying my meal, I chewed on something foreign in my mouth. I spat it out onto my palm, and it turned out to be a small, button-shaped mechanical device.

    ¡®Did thise from her heart?¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t tell if it was a heart rate monitor or some other kind of machine. It didn¡¯t seem like something you¡¯d typically find, but maybe her heart had a problem.

    I didn¡¯t pay much attention to it and crushed the device underfoot.

    Afterward, nothing artificial came out of her body. Just like when I ate the cat, I left no trace of blood.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®psychic organ¡¯ gic essence from ¡®human¡¯ biological traits.]

    [The ¡®psychic organ¡¯ has been obtained. Would you like to apply the ¡®psychic organ¡¯?]

    ¡®Of course.¡¯

    A psychic organ, as expected. Keisaragi Yujin had the Psychic Power trait, just as I had anticipated.

    Among other races, excluding cults and some species, the use of psychic power requires a psychic organ.

    ¡®Why does it have to be a psychic organ?¡¯

    Amorph was one of the species that could use psychic powers without a psychic organ. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to use my enhanced sensory abilities, and I would have died quickly.

    But now, the Psychic Organ trait Keisaragi gave me was essentially a dud.

    ¡®¡­Well, let¡¯s not think negatively.¡¯

    You can¡¯t fill up on just one bite. Most of the time, things don¡¯t work out as well as you expect. Since I needed to secure my types, I decided to think positively about it.

    When I chose to ept, a signal came from the back of my head. There was a sound of flesh tearing, and something sprang out from the inside.

    As I explored therge arm around the back of my head, it turned out to be a cluster of small tentacles. Amorph¡¯s psychic organ took the form of tentacles, unlike humans.

    ¡®So this is what Amorph¡¯s looks like. It¡¯s fascinating.¡¯

    Even when ying the game, I had never obtained a psychic organ. It was a rule not to collect unnecessary traits.

    ¡®Who knows, though.¡¯

    You never know what might happen in this world. Maybe the psychic organ would luckily fuse with other traits to be useful.

    ¡®Considering the precedent of the Predator Sense.¡¯

    After fiddling with the tentacles for a moment, I decided to focus on my dinner again.

    When I opened thepartment where Keisaragi was stored, there was the body of a security guard. He had died protecting Keisaragi, and now he was my dinner.

    I pulled out the body and took a big bite.

    ¡®Ugh.¡¯

    The taste of the security guard was subtle. It wasn¡¯t that it tasted bad or anything, but it was just in deliciouspared to Keisaragi, who had the taste of a cat with rich juices flowing.

    I wasn¡¯t sure why there was such a difference, but I decided to appreciate it for its energy supply. The abundance of muscles might have contributed to the enjoyable chewing sensation, making it feel like I was eating intestines.

    ¡®?¡¯

    While I was eating the security guard, I heard a noise from outside. The battered auxiliary device wriggled and decoded what was happening outside.

    ¡®The security guard is changing shifts.¡¯

    There didn¡¯t seem to be many reinforced suits on board the ship, so the guards were passing them to the neers. I had obtained valuable information that there were few reinforced suits avable, but a problem arose.

    ¡®The doctor will change shifts too, right?¡¯

    It had been about 40 minutes since I started eating Keisaragi. If someone came in to change shifts, they would surely notice that the doctor was missing.

    Soldiers were standing outside, and someone was disappearing inside ¨C it was suspicious by anyone¡¯s standards.

    We are in the age of space travel now. In a world where there were as many unknown extraterrestrial beings as there were stars in the sky, how would people react to this situation?

    ¡®They¡¯ll probably think there¡¯s a monster in the same space as them.¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t desirable for people to be suspicious. If someone thought they were being targeted, their natural instinct would be to heighten their guard.

    I¡¯m not strong enough to engage in a full-scale battle with the enemy yet. Until I became stronger, suspicion should fall on the other crew members, not me.

    As I contemted the doctor¡¯s body, a cart entered my field of view. Smoke was rising from the cart, which was now unrecognizable due to the corrosive blood.

    ¡®Smoke.¡¯

    Coincidentally, I was in the mortuary, where various chemicals, including embalming agents, were stored.

    Suddenly, an interesting idea came to mind.

    It was a very useful method to not only survive but also torment the crew members while oveing my crisis.

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 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10

    Officially, MegaCorp doesn¡¯t have a capital city. The entire nation has been corporatized, recing all terms with words used bypanies. For example, the Space Marines are referred to as the Crisis Management Team, and the department overseeing various industries is called the Resource Management Team.

    Even though they don¡¯t use the term ¡®capital¡¯, there is a ce that could be called the center of MegaCorp, and that ce is Earth. They refer to it as their headquarters.

    On that Earth, the heart of MegaCorp was established. Five corporations had contributed to the founding of MegaCorp, and they were the kings of Earth.

    Among these five major families, the Yujin family, which had its roots in what was once called East Asia, stood out. Yujin Agriculture, which started as a small business in South Korea, never forgot its origins, even after bing a giant corporation that dominated the gxy.

    The ancient capital of a country that no longer existed had be the Yujin family¡¯s mansion. It wasn¡¯t a metaphor; the entire city had be the residence of the Yujin family.

    Inside the gigantic dome-shaped mansion, there were maglev trains and small aircraft for transportation, and even an artificial sun for the internal ecosystem.

    Compared to others, this ce was ahead by about a century. Here, millions of ¡®tools¡¯ served the members of the Yujin family and attended to their needs. Amidst all the high-tech marvels, there was an old cabin and a garden.

    This was the residence of the head of the Yujin family, Akira Yujin.

    Akira Yujin, the Sun King of the sr system, had served as MegaCorp¡¯s CEO three times in a row.

    Despite being over 200 years old, thanks to gic modification treatments, he looked no older than middle age.

    Two men in suits stood near the garden. One was an elderly man with white,bed-back hair, and the other was a younger man.

    They had been waiting here for an hour already. Though there might have been some discontent, they remained silent.

    Dogs don¡¯t bark until their ownermands them. They waited for Akira to finish his business.

    Akira, who had been working the fields with a hoe, finally stood up.

    ¡°You¡¯ve waited a long time. Come here.¡±

    In response to Akira¡¯s words, the younger man approached him.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s about the youngdy.¡±

    ¡°Youngdy?¡±

    Akira raised an eyebrow. The man added a few more words.

    ¡°It¡¯s Miss Keisaragi.¡±

    ¡°Oh, the third daughter.¡±

    Only then did Akira remember, and he smiled as if he had just recalled something. The corners of the old man¡¯s eyes, who had been silently observing, twitched slightly.

    ¡°Right, what about Keisaragi?¡±

    ¡°The youngdy¡¯s signal device has been destroyed.¡±

    The meaning of those words was clear. Keisaragi Yujin was dead.

    Akira frowned at those words.

    ¡°That can¡¯t be. I never assigned anything burdensome to Keisaragi.¡±

    ¡°Thest signal came from C-08. It¡¯s Space Dog territory.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Listening to the man¡¯s words, Akira nodded and raised the hoe he had been holding. He then brought it down on the man¡¯s head.

    The man with the hoe stuck in his head couldn¡¯t even scream and slumped down. Akira didn¡¯t stop there; he pulled the hoe out and continued to strike the man¡¯s face.

    The sound of flesh being mashed filled the garden.

    With blood and brain matter on his face and hands, Akira tossed the hoe onto the corpse.

    ¡°Dispose of it.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The old man flicked his fingers as if this wasn¡¯t an umon urrence. At that moment, two men in ck suits entered the garden from outside, picked up the body, and swiftly disappeared.

    ¡°The hoe is rather useless. Our most important tools are the people. You know that, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I will be cautious.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡±

    The reason the man died was simple. Akira answered unasked questions twice.

    ¡°Ten billion credits have been spent on raising Keisaragi. That¡¯s an amountparable to the development cost of a new battleship.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Even gic modification treatments were performed on her frail body. Do you think pirates or the like would be able to touch her?¡±

    Akira took a towel from his pocket and wiped his face.

    ¡°I wonder who would dare harm the heir of the Yujin family.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Keisaragi¡¯s ship. Was the captain Yuseong Samuel?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Then it¡¯s closer to Saturn, right? That¡¯s where the Samuel family has influence.¡±

    The Samuels were a Primate Capital that held sway over Mars. While they couldn¡¯tpete with the Noble Capitals, they still vied for the position of MegaCorp¡¯s rulers.

    ¡°Then, could it be Eden¡¯s n? No, Eden¡¯s heir is a coward. He doesn¡¯t have the courage to challenge the Yujin family like that.¡±

    The heir he mentioned is the current head of the Eden family, known in society as the ¡°Tiger of Mars.¡±

    He was considered a lesser figurepared to Akira, who held such an imposing presence. The butler was aware of the fact that while the head of the Eden family was assassinated twice, Akira assumed the role of the Yujin family¡¯s master. Therefore, the butler could confidently assert that the old man before him had the right to make such a statement.

    ¡°If it¡¯s not Eden, then who could it be? Ah, well. What do you think?¡±

    ¡°I think it might have been T&C¡¯s doing.¡±

    The Butler replied promptly. Akira seemed to like this response, and his eyes crescented in approval.

    ¡°Haha, we seem to be on the same page.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°T&C and Eden may seem to be at odds over Jupiter¡¯s dominion, but they are secretly working together. After all, Eden¡¯s creditse from T&C.¡±

    The Butler didn¡¯t show it, but he was internally shocked. He had only been specting, and he had no idea that the two parties had actually formed an alliance. The fact that T&C, the rulers of Earth, and Eden, the Martian nobility, had joined forces was a top-secret matter, known to only a handful of people aside from the heads of the two families. Unfortunately, Akira was one of those who knew.

    ¡°That snake-like brat probably ns to dominate the board before the council meeting. You must know that, too.¡±

    Akira handed Butler a blood-soaked towel.

    ¡°Yes. T&C¡¯s family head, Samdam Chemblin, is eyeing your position, my lord.¡±

    ¡°I see. That audacious little punk. It seems he¡¯s not afraid to target me.¡±

    The situation seemed quite entertaining to Akira, who burst intoughter while covered in blood.

    The Butler, who had been silently waiting, remained unfazed. He had seen Akira¡¯s actions for decades and felt no emotion now.

    Akira suddenly stoppedughing, as if his previous mirth had been a lie. His face was devoid of any expression.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. That arrogant little brat. He must be nning to outmaneuver me before the council meeting.¡±

    ¡°We have the rightful im, so let us strike first. Inform everyone in the family.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°And¡­¡±

    For the first time, life returned to Akira¡¯s emotionless face as his eyes lit up.

    ¡°Anyone who has damaged my assets should be killed. Yuseong Samuel of the Samuel family and anyone even remotely rted to his ship. Bring them all to me.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a shadow infiltrator near C-08. Contact them and take care of it.¡±

    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±

    The term ¡®shadow¡¯ startled the Butler.

    ¡®Shadow¡¯ referred to a special unit directly under the family head, made up of gically modified mutants with extreme enhancements, known for their immensebat abilities and ruthless efficiency.

    ¡®It looks like a storm is brewing.¡¯

    Once the shadows were deployed, the fate of Yuseong Samuel and his subordinates was sealed. The future held nothing but a gruesome destiny for them, to the point where death might be considered a mercy.

    With a small measure of constion sent to those somewhere out there in the cosmos, the Butler quietly withdrew.

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    Meanwhile, on some distant corner of Earth, a massive war and ruthless ughter were unfolding.

    On Samuel¡¯s ship, chaos reigned due to an unexpected disaster.

    ¡°What the hell is going on here?!¡±

    Samuel was on the verge of copsing.

    Before himy what used to be the mortuary, but now only ashes remained in the ce where it had been. A sudden fire had razed it to the ground.

    The Crisis Management officer summoned his subordinates.

    ¡°What the hell happened?¡±

    ¡°W-Well¡­ you see¡­¡±

    Under the sharp gaze of the Crisis Management Officer, the soldiers nervously exined what they had witnessed.

    ¡°We smelled something strange inside, sir, and saw smokeing out. So we decided to investigate.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ording to the soldiers, during their watch, they had detected an unusual smell and smoke emanating from inside. As they were not supposed to enter except for the doctor, they had waited for a relief doctor to arrive.

    As time passed and the smoke didn¡¯t dissipate, the soldiers reluctantly opened the door and entered.

    What greeted them was not the doctor but a raging fire.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. How can there be a fire in a ce where there¡¯s only corpses?¡±

    ¡°What¡­ what happened here?¡±

    The chief of the medical team, who had arrivedte, was shocked at the scene.

    Seeing the state of their captain, who was unable to respond, the Crisis Management officer briefly exined the situation.

    Having heard the story, the medical officer stiffened his expression.

    ¡°It¡¯s possible that the chemicalpounds stored in the morgue ignited, but it¡¯s highly unusual for a fire of this magnitude to ur.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    The medical team leader sealed his lips, cautiously ncing around.

    ¡®Artificial fire.¡¯

    Just as the medical officer had said, if there was an arsonist among the crew, the situation was grave. Moreover, the intent to set fire to the ce where the research team leader¡¯s remains were stored was ringly suspicious.

    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s start by examining the bodies.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡±

    After extinguishing the fire, the soldiers took out the bodies. The medical officer meticulously examined the charred remains.

    ¡°This person was one of the team members working overtime.¡±

    Checking from the upper body to the head was particrly difficult due to severe burns, but they could identify the subordinate by the ring on their hand.

    As the medical officer contemted the bitterness of the subordinate¡¯s death, hepleted the autopsy of the remaining bodies. Then, he realized that someone was missing.

    ¡°Are all the bodies here?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    The medical officer moved to another location with the captain and other officers. He revealed that some of the bodies were missing, a fact that others couldn¡¯t bear to hear.

    ¡°The security guard and the research team leader¡¯s bodies are missing?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°They didn¡¯t just walk away on their own, is there any possibility of that happening?¡±

    ¡°Medical officer, did you see it correctly?¡±

    ¡°I double-checked it several times. Only two bodies are missing.¡±

    Following the death of the research officer, now a mysterious arson case had unfolded.

    ¡®Someone from within is attacking us.¡¯

    That fact crossed everyone¡¯s minds.

    ¡°Not ghosts, but¡­ ¡±

    ¡°Could it be unidentified extraterrestrial life forms on board?¡±

    ¡°Hey! Is this some kind of joke? Stop with the nonsense!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a suggestion, what¡¯s got the material management officer so worked up?¡±

    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing.¡±

    ¡°More importantly, the biggest problem is the missing body of the research officer. Didn¡¯t we agree to rendezvous with pirates at C-08?¡±

    The question raised by someone was met with a visibly concerned expression from Samuel. If they lost Keisaragi¡¯s body as well, he would have no cards left to y.

    Samuel urgently ordered, ¡°We must find the body at all costs! Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we focus on finding the culprit first¡­?¡±

    ¡°Damn it! This isn¡¯t just my problem. If you¡¯re worried about Noble Capital¡¯s retaliation, then cooperate as much as possible!¡±

    Samuel¡¯s words were correct. Keisaragi Yujin¡¯s death was inevitable, but not being able to secure the body left no room for excuses. At the very least, they had to keep the body intact, or else a future more dreadful than death awaited them.

    ¡°Crisis Management officer.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Captain.¡±

    ¡°Did you try contacting them?¡±

    ¡°Yes, as soon as the meeting ended.¡±

    ¡°Damn it. Let¡¯s not talk about this. Just make sure the body is transferred properly.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°If we¡¯ve found it and can¡¯t figure out how to handle it, that¡¯s also a problem. Just make sure to find it before the rendezvous.¡±

    It was a risky gamble, but the Crisis Management officer didn¡¯t point that out. Samuel might not know, but he had different thoughts in mind.

    Like an assassin concealing a dagger in their bosom, he nodded with an emotionless face.

    Following the Crisis Management officer, Samuel summoned the officer of the security team.

    The security officer was visibly shaken because he was not without responsibility for the messed-up situation.

    Samuel ced both hands on his shoulders.

    ¡°You know, we have to catch the culprit.¡±

    ¡°I..I¡¯m already doing my best¡±

    ¡°Your best isn¡¯t enough. You have permission to search all the crew members if you need to. Find the culprit, and I¡¯ll delegate all authority concerning this matter.¡±

    Although the captain offered to transfer all authority, the security officer¡¯s expression remained grim.

    ¡®Can we really catch them?¡¯

    He wasn¡¯t confident, but he couldn¡¯t admit it.

    ¡°Very well, we will definitely find them.¡±

    ¡°I trust you.¡±

    The security officer reluctantly responded with a show of confidence.

    While everyone was in a state of confusion, the culprit who had caused this situation from the ceiling vent was silently observing them.

    As the officers dispersed, ¡°it¡± followed one of them discreetly.

    ***

    ¡®Things have worked out very well.¡¯

    A way to hide my identity and disrupt the enemies, That was the fire.

    Setting fire to the chemicalpounds inside the morgue was an act almost unimaginable for an extraterrestrial being.

    Of course, they might find it suspicious since no one from the outside came in, but they wouldn¡¯t suspect it was done by a human. They wouldn¡¯t doubt themselves.

    After consuming the security guard¡¯s body entirely, I collected the chemicals inside the morgue. Dropping a few drops of acidic blood onto the toxic substances, the mes quickly erupted.

    ¡®Enhanced exoskeletons are fire-resistant.¡¯

    The mes enveloped my body, but I hardly felt the heat. I calmly passed through the fire and ascended to the morgue¡¯s ceiling.

    I waited a little away from the morgue, and people began to gather. The fire had quickly been extinguished, but most of what was inside had turned into ashes.

    The bodies had been well taken care of, but there was one moment when things nearly got dangerous.

    ¡®I can¡¯t believe they brought up the topic of extraterrestrial life forms.¡¯

    I thought my cover would be blown thanks to the perceptive officer. But it got buried thanks to the material management officer¡¯s outrage.

    After that, the captain and the officers kept pouring out important information, not realizing I was listening.

    ¡®Pirates, huh? The captain has really lost it.¡¯

    Space Dogs, I know them well. It¡¯s a coalition of various species who engage in piracy, self-proimed conquerors of the cosmos yetbeled as cosmic trash by others. They asionally take on mercenary work, but they¡¯ll betray you at the slightest provocation. Sometimes it¡¯s said that trusting Space Dogs is worse than trusting Amorph, who doesn¡¯t make any sense.

    Spection suggests that the captain nned the docking to shift the me for Keisaragi¡¯s death onto the pirates. If he had known a bit more about the Space Dogs, he would never have made such a choice. It doesn¡¯t seem like the captain made that foolish decision himself; someone must have influenced him.

    ¡®It seems like the Crisis Management officer was leading it. I should keep an eye on him. Perhaps he¡¯s in cahoots with the pirates.¡¯

    ¡®What should I do if the pirates attack this ship?¡¯

    It¡¯s not all good or all bad; there are pros and cons. One advantage is that the Space Dogs areposed of various species, so the range of gic essences I can obtain is broader. If the pirates were to raid the research ship, I could easily acquire various gic essences.

    ¡®The downside is that the gic essences I can obtain from the research ship will be reduced.¡¯

    I don¡¯t know how many people are on the pirate side, but from what I¡¯ve seen, the chances of this research ship winning are slim. Even the soldiers on guard are in a situation where they¡¯ve had to put on their reinforced suits, so they won¡¯t be able to defeat the pirates, who are treating looting and fighting as if they were eating. Most of the crew will die in battle, and then my intake of gic essences will decrease.

    ¡®Let¡¯s put this part on hold.¡¯

    I¡¯ll probably need to assess the pirates¡¯ level before making a judgment. While lost in thought, the meeting ended. Everyone went back to their tasks, but my super senses detected something unusual.

    ¡®That person?¡¯

    The material management officer, who strongly denied my presence, seemed off in some way. He appeared fine on the outside, but something was amiss inside. His heartbeat was faster than the others¡¯, and cold sweat dripped from the hidden areas of his clothing. These were typical symptoms of nervousness.

    ¡®Why was he so nervous?¡¯

    He couldn¡¯t possibly have anything to do with this situation. I was initially going to return to my nest, but I became intrigued. I followed behind the material management officer. Even as he walked, he constantly nced behind him.

    ¡®Why would he react like that unless he¡¯s hiding something?¡¯

    He continued to walk cautiously, and then he stopped in front of the cargo hold.

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 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11

    ¡°Cargo container?¡±

    The officer hesitated for a few minutes in front of the cargo container. After confirming that no one wasing, he entered the password. As the door opened, he entered briskly, as if he didn¡¯t want anyone to see him.

    While there was a cargo container manager, it wasn¡¯t unusual for the Material Management officer to know the password due to his position.

    ¡®But why hide something like this?¡¯

    It would have been more natural to enter confidently rather than being so cautious. He didn¡¯t emerge from the cargo container for over 30 minutes.

    When I tracked the officer¡¯s movements using auxiliary sensors, I noticed that he was repeatedly wandering around the cargo container. After an hour of seemingly meaningless actions, he left the cargo container.

    I decided to enter the empty cargo container. Dust and the smell of metal mixed in the air. The rough grating-style floor beneath my feet reced the smooth alloy tes I had walked on earlier.

    Maybe due to my increased size, each step I took produced a noticeable sound. It seemed that hunting cockroaches would no longer be possible.

    ¡®Well, now I might have to resort to eating humans or livestock.¡¯

    With my increased size came greater strength, but it also meant increased energy consumption.

    I began to trace the remnants left by the officer¡ªhis sweat, the foreign substances stuck to his feet, and the traces they left behind served as my guide. The ce where he had stayed the longest was in front of a particr container.

    ¡®I¡¯ll need an ID card and fingerprint recognition for this.¡¯

    Containers seemingly connected to the officer had a higher level of securitypared to others that only required the caretaker¡¯s ID card.

    ¡®It¡¯s not even detectable with my enhanced senses.¡¯

    The walls seemed considerably thick, and even with my enhanced auxiliary sensors, I couldn¡¯t determine what was inside. One thing was clear: the officer was hiding something important. My curiosity grew with every moment.

    ¡®Should I make the Material Management officer my next target?¡¯

    Originally, I had nned to target The Chief Medical Officer. However, considering the current situation, it didn¡¯t seem easy. They would undoubtedly be extremely cautious, knowing more about the suspicious deaths of their subordinates than anyone else. In that case, it might be easier to focus on an easier target.

    ¡°The cargo container manager and the entire Material Management team seem to be acting strangely.¡±

    If that were the case, even if the officer disappeared, would no one suspect anything? That became my new goal.

    ***

    ¡°officer, please stop drinking now.¡±

    ¡°Just one more drink, just one more.¡±

    ¡°Why are you acting so differently today?¡±

    Lately, the Material Management officer didn¡¯t seem to be living his usual life. In addition to his material management duties, he had a small side business: obtaining prohibited organisms from the ck market and selling them to the upper echelons.

    Before boarding the ship, he had acquired something from the ck market¡ªan unusual egg not registered in the MegaCorp database. He had dealt with all sorts of rare animals, but this was the first time he had seen an egg like this. ording to the Cult merchant who sold it, it was an egg obtained from a forgotten ancient ruin.

    ¡°Ancient creatures, damn¡­¡±

    Regardless of its origin, he smelled money. After buying the egg, he contacted his trading partner, who also showed immediate interest. They agreed to make the trade on a where the research ship would dock midway. He secretly loaded the egg onto the ship.

    Until then, he had believed that everything would work out well.

    Until the mortuary fire incident happened. When he heard the words uttered by a certain officer as if passing by, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder. The words suggesting the misdeeds of extraterrestrial creatures.

    He immediately went to the cargo container to check. The container door was slightly ajar, and inside, one of the eggs that should have been quietly sleeping was empty.

    ¡®Damn, I should have checked it earlier!¡¯

    After boarding the ship, he had only checked the eggs once to see if they were alright. If only he had properly closed the container door that day, even if the egg hatched, nothing would have happened.

    No, more than that, if he hadn¡¯t been drinking that day, he wouldn¡¯t have made such a mistake.

    ¡°¡­Alcohol is the enemy. Alcohol.¡±

    ¡°Captain, let¡¯s go in now.¡±

    Because of one missed door inspection, three people had perished. Moreover, among the deceased was a Noble Capital.

    Even though the monster that had awakened from the egg and killed people was probably still roaming the ship, the officer couldn¡¯t go anywhere toin. Before the retaliation of Noble Capital, he was terrified that the captain might lose his sanity and try to kill him. That¡¯s why the officer spent every night drowning his fears in alcohol.

    ¡°Sigh.¡±

    His team members shook their heads and left the bar. The bartender next to him licked his lips.

    ¡°I¡¯ll close the door.¡±

    ¡°Just one more drink. Just one more, and then I¡¯ll go.¡±

    With each gulp of synthetic alcohol, his torment was diluted. While he imed that alcohol was his enemy, his body remained as usual.

    In the end, the officer, once again, left the bar in a drunken state.

    ¡°Damn¡­ What¡¯s bothering me so much¡­?¡±

    The officer muttered a curse mixed with a tremor. The corridor he stood alone in was locked in silence. Except for the faint vibrations generated by the ship¡¯s atomic reactor, which served as the heart of the ship, there was almost no other sound.

    It was because night had arrived upon the ship.

    In space, the concept of day and night didn¡¯t exist, but human ships artificially created night at certain times for the crew¡¯s rest.

    The research ship led by Captain Samuel was no exception, so an artificial night had descended upon the ship.

    Stumbling through the silence, the officer walked. It was a corridor he had always walked, but today it felt strangely unfamiliar. Was it because of the alcohol? In a familiar space, he felt an unknown chill.

    Beyond the bright corridor lights, a terrible danger seemed to lurk, pressing him with an ominous premonition.

    ¡°Ah, for fuck¡¯s sake¡­¡±

    The officer denied his own premonition And with a tongue-tied curse, he headed for his quarters.

    In the corridor, made of high-strengthposite panels with no gap in sight, the sound of his shoes echoed.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    His ears caught an unfamiliar sound. At first, he thought it was the sound of his own footsteps, but it was different.

    It was too faint for a human. It was like a soft, low sound, as if a wild beast were tiptoeing to hide its footsteps.

    An eerie feeling washed over the officer, and he stopped in his tracks. As he did, the footsteps following him abruptly ceased.

    The corridor enveloped in silence.

    The officer shivered all over. Something unknown was following him.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡±

    He shouted, but there was no answer.

    It felt like someone had forcefully poured cold water over him. He sobered up instantly and quickened his pace.

    His shoes made a discordant noise as they struck the hard metal floor.

    Step by step, the eerie footsteps following him seemed to quicken.

    Thud! thud! thud! thud!

    ¡°What the hell is this?!¡±

    He didn¡¯t know if it was a prank by one of his team members. Even if it wasn¡¯t a team member, there could have been a way to confront whoever was ying this disgusting trick head-on. But he didn¡¯t.

    From a corner of his alcohol-clouded mind, a feeling was screaming at him.

    ¡®Never confront that presence.¡¯

    After turning the corner in the corridor, the officer nced back for a moment.

    The officer saw it clearly.

    A shadow with a long tail reminiscent of a snake passed by in an instant.

    ¡°This damn thing!¡±

    It was ¡°it.¡±

    An extraterrestrial creature that killed people. The space killer that had devoured the research officer and the security guard had set its sights on him.

    The officer¡¯s movements became frantic. Thanks to the alcohol in his system, his legs felt sluggish. His appearance resembled a deer shot by an arrow, fleeing.

    ¡°Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!¡±

    His face was a mess of saliva, tears, and mucus. His clothes had long since been soaked with cold sweat, rendering them ineffective.

    A light, popping sound.

    The footsteps of ¡°it¡± behind him became audible. The once faint sound had grown loud enough to mix with his own breath.

    The approaching presence of ¡°it¡± from behind became more distinct. A growl, not of human origin, licked his spine.

    Despite his intoxicated state, the chilling sensation was unmistakable, as if it were etched into his brain.

    The officer wanted to scream, but he couldn¡¯t.

    The moment he made even the slightest noise, ¡°it¡± seemed ready to pounce.

    Arriving in front of his room atst, he hastily entered the ess code. He had never entered the keypad this quickly since boarding the ship.

    ¡°Damn it! Open up!¡±

    Finally, the door opened, and he rushed into the room. As he closed the door, it vibrated as if struck by something. The impact sent the officer sprawling to the floor.

    Hey there frozen.

    Behind the door, there was no sound, as if the previous shock had been a lie.

    The officer could feel it.

    ¡°It¡± was still outside.

    ¡®Th-the phone! I need to call¡­!¡¯

    With great effort, he regained hisposure and thought of the emergency phone installed in his bedroom. Due to his tension, his legs didn¡¯t respond as they should, making him crawl like a cripple.

    Then it happened.

    A sound that should never have reached his ears.

    Beep.

    His head turned back towards the door like a puppet on a string.

    ¡°It¡± is entering the ess code.

    Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.

    A cheerful alert sounded out of ce as the door lock was released, and the door opened slowly.

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    ***

    The hunt had been easy.

    Well, could it even be called a hunt? He had merely cornered someone who was too drunk to think straight.

    ¡®His routine is so simple, it was easy.¡¯

    After observing him for two days, the daily life of the materials management officer was identical down to thest detail. He spent his days idling away in the materials management room and stayed up all night drinking at the bar within the ship.

    With a superior as pathetic as this, the team members didn¡¯t care about where he was or what he was doing.

    I wonder if Captain Samuel knows his subordinate is embezzling his sry.

    He should be thankful to me. I¡¯m reducing the number of people wasting their sries.

    ¡®Thanks to that, I¡¯m doing well.¡¯

    Originally, I had nned to wait for about three or four days, but there was no need for that. I decided to attack him while he was still intoxicated.

    Today, just like any other day, he had wasted his time at the bar. I had already confirmed that there were no surveince cameras from the bar to the materials management officer¡¯s room.

    All that remained was to enjoy the leisurely hunt.

    I deliberately didn¡¯t ambush him. Just asionally showing myself briefly was enough to make him follow my lead. It was frustrating that he was slow in fleeing due to the alcohol, but other than that, everything was satisfying.

    After desperately running, he hid in the room. A titanium-based ultra-high-strength alloy door that even aser weapon couldn¡¯t prate separated him and me.

    He¡¯s probably feeling safe, thinking that the door made of titanium will protect him.

    That¡¯s not wrong. Using my thumb, I read the fingerprints on the keypad.

    The materials management officer never intended this, but he was now little more than a guest who had received an invitation.

    The door opened very easily, and inside, there was a terrified face.

    A civilian with no weapons had no chance of resisting an amorph.

    ¡®I¡¯ll enjoy this.¡¯

    The materials management officer¡¯s taste was honestly mediocre. There was plenty of fat, but the strong scent of alcohol made it hard to taste anything else.

    Of course, I¡¯m not a picky eater, so I ate everything except the thumb I needed for fingerprint recognition.

    ¡®Where is the ID card?¡¯

    I wondered, scanning the room. A stainless steel bed with a seeminglyfortable mattress was against the wall. There were cabs and a desk nearby.

    ¡®Oh?¡¯

    A partially torn female poster adorned the wall. It might have been sexy, but my current state didn¡¯t register any feelings.

    I lost interest in the poster and approached the desk. A clutter of empty bottles and stacks of documents covered the worn-out desk.

    ¡®I should clean up before I head out.¡¯

    While sorting through the documents, an ID card slipped out.

    I had everything I needed. One hand held the ID card, and the other held my thumb firmly. I left the room.

    ¡®Should I go straight there?¡¯

    Now that I had everything I needed, I went to the cargo container.

    I approached the container in the cargo container and held my ID card up to the recognition panel. The red light on the terminal above the recognition panel turned green, and a message appeared instructing me to proceed. I pressed the recognition panel firmly with the materials management officer¡¯s thumb, and the door opened with a clunk.

    ¡®I wonder if there¡¯s anything good inside.¡¯

    As I stepped into the container, a cold chill passed through my body. Inside, there were several cryogenic tubes containing various kinds of organisms.

    ¡®So, this gentleman was a smuggler.¡¯

    If there had been any problems within the ship, he could have reported them to someone. But he had been muttering to himself alone, and I never expected there was such a hidden story.

    I looked around the cryogenic tubes, and among them, I saw something I recognized.

    ¡®Amorph¡¯s egg?¡¯

    There were two Amorph eggs in the cryogenic tubes. One was tightly packed and plump, while the other was empty.

    An empty egg.

    The materials management officer had been searching for something with a puzzled expression.

    ¡®Could this be my body that came out of the egg?¡¯

    It seemed strange somehow. In the game, Amorph¡¯s starting point was not a steel ship like this but an unidentified ruin.

    ¡®He was trying to smuggle me.¡¯

    Judging from what was ced in the cryogenic chamber, it seemed that the materials management officer had intended to sell Amorph¡¯s eggs somewhere. Somewhere along the way, something happened, and one of the eggs hatched and escaped from the container.

    Perhaps shortly after escaping, my body¡¯s previous owner had died.

    ¡®And that¡¯s when my consciousness took over.¡¯

    I could easily guess why the previous owner had died. Since it had just been born, it must havecked nutrients.

    ¡®Even eating cockroaches makes sense.¡¯

    No matter how much I liked Amorph, it wasn¡¯t easy to see a cockroach and immediately eat it with human sensibilities. Probably, it was instinctively done to survive.

    ¡®¡­¡¯

    Seeing the traces left by the previous owner of this body somehow made me feel awkward. Even though it wasn¡¯t intentional, thanks to its struggles for survival, I could start in a rtively favorable situation.

    I bowed my head in front of the egg where Amorph was born. Regardless, the creature was already dead, and it wouldn¡¯t understand human gestures, but I just wanted to do it.

    ¡®Let¡¯s end the mourning here.¡¯

    Human actions were over, and now it was time for Amorph-like actions.

    I opened the cryogenic tubes and began to consume another intact egg. I didn¡¯t spare any of the Amorph hatchlings that were inside.

    Amorph was hostile to all species, including its own kind.

    ¡®The one that hatches first eats the other eggs.¡¯

    Perhaps Amorph itself was the embodiment of extreme survivalpetition.

    When newly born, there were two advantages to consuming other hatchlings or eggs. One was that it could provide the necessary nutrients in its hatchling state, and the other was that it could quickly obtain Amorph¡¯s gic essence.

    Strengthening traits like super-sense through identical gic essence is extremely helpful in the early stages.

    I had hoped to acquire gic essence, but unfortunately, there was no notification of predation.

    Disappointed, I looked around, and another cryogenic tube came into my view.

    ¡®Come to think of it, there¡¯s quite a bit of prey here.¡¯

    The owner of the cryogenic tubes inside the container was inside my stomach. Since the smuggler had been the one dealing with smuggling, there would be no one else on this ship who knew about the existence of this container. That meant there would be no one to object even if I consumed everything.

    I opened the cryogenic tubes and consumed the creatures inside one by one. Contrary to appearances, the materials management officer seemed to have done quite well as a smuggler, and there were many rare creatures. Thanks to that, I was able to obtain several rare gic essences.

    [Race: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph

    Status: Metamorph

    Objective: Survive (1st Evolution Sessful)

    Special Traits: Predator Senses (Fusion), Wings, Chitinous Exoskeleton, Robust Vitality, Neurotoxin nds (Fusion), Enhanced Exoskeleton, Acidic Blood, psychic organ, Enhanced Angr Momentum, Mimicry

    Type: Undetermined]

    [Currently, there are two potential specialized Types.]

    [Physical Enhancement Type (8/10), Psychic Enhancement Type (2/3)]

    ¡®Great. Only two more to go.¡¯

    To obtain the Physical Enhancement Type, I only needed two more traits. When I consumed Keisaragi, I was honestly a bit disappointed because I had hoped to gain psychic power abilities, but I ended up with a useless psychic organ.

    But now, the materials management officer had given me such a valuable gift. Especially in a game scenario, obtaining powerful traits early on that would usually be avable only in the mid tote game was a significant advantage.

    Among all the traits I possessed, this was the most effective one for killing the crew members. With this ability, I could be more proactive. While there was a strategy to hide and slowly choke out the crew members over an extended period, my encounter with the Space Dogs was approaching soon. I didn¡¯t know how dangerous they would be, so I needed to get stronger before that happened.

    ¡®Gic essences, wait for me.¡¯

    Even if I screamed in space, there would be no one to hear it. This research ship was no different. The pitiful cries of the crew members would be buried deep in that ck abyss, never to be heard again.

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 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12

    The usually quiet cargo container aboard the ship was bustling with activity, thanks to the technical team members. They were overwhelmed by the sudden increase in workload over the past few days. The order from above was to overhaul all the fighters.

    ¡°Hey, Scott. It¡¯s dinner time. Let¡¯s go grab some food.¡±

    ¡°Ah, just let me finish this.¡±

    The blond man called out to the ck-haired man working by the fighter. Scott, as he was known, put down his wrench and got up from his spot.

    ¡°How much longer do we have?¡±

    ¡°It might take overtime.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, damn it.¡±

    The two of them joined others on their way to the cafeteria.

    ¡°I still don¡¯t get it.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Why are we tearing apart the nes as if we have a war to fight?¡±

    Pincher, the blond man who was chewing on synthetic meat that resembled an eraser, furrowed his brow.

    ¡°Scott, do you always have to bring up work during meals?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it strange, though? Pincher, you should think about it too.¡±

    ¡®Here we go again.¡¯

    Scott, who never tired of spinning bizarre conspiracy theories, made Pincher sigh.

    ¡°What¡¯s thetest one?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard something. They¡¯re trying to capture Metallic Gremlins from above.¡±

    ¡°Metallic Gremlins?¡±

    Pincher scoffed as if it were absurd.

    ¡°Yeah. Do you really think we can take down Metallic Gremlins if we encounter them? The high-ranking capital guys may be tough, but they¡¯re not stupid. Instead of fighting, they¡¯ll probably run away.¡±

    ¡°You should listen to people until the end. Apparently, Metallic Gremlins are already on board. They know about it above, and they¡¯re determined to catch them.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Have you noticed the strange smell in the airtely? They say it¡¯s the scent of Metallic Gremlins.¡±

    ¡°This is unbelievable¡­¡±

    Pincher shook his head as if it were ridiculous.

    It was true that there had been an unusual odor inside the shiptely. However, if the air were genuinely contaminated, the ship¡¯s AI would have reported it long ago. Pincher had never heard of any air quality issues until now.

    ¡°Just listen for a moment. Someone from the kitchen team said that people on board have been disappearing one or two at a time sincest week.¡±

    ¡°Heh, what nonsense.¡±

    He had entertained the idea, but it was just as he expected. Pincher couldn¡¯t believe Scott¡¯s baseless chatter.

    The ship had a crew of 222 people. It was not arge number, and if one person disappeared per day, it would hardly be noticeable.

    And are the people above idiots? There¡¯s no way they¡¯d just sit still when their subordinates are disappearing. As Pincher mentioned, the higher-ups might be jerks, but they¡¯re not stupid.

    Pincher had tried to dismiss Scott¡¯s delusions, but there was someone who interjected into their conversation. It was Cameron, who was sitting next to them.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard simr stories too. They said the materials management officer went missing.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Thanks to that, the cargo container manager got promoted to acting head.¡±

    ¡°See! Pincher, I was right.¡±

    Scott was delighted to have someone else agreeing with him. On the other hand, Pincher¡¯s expression twisted as if he had bitten into something sour.

    ¡°Fine, let¡¯s say people are disappearing. Why are the higher-ups just sitting still?¡±

    ¡°They say even the top brass knows everything, but they¡¯re hiding it to prevent the crew from panicking.¡±

    ¡°Exactly, it¡¯s because of the Metallic Gremlins!¡±

    ¡°Metallic or whatever. Even if they¡¯re causing trouble, what does it have to do with fighter maintenance?¡±

    Cameron shrugged his shoulders.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about that. I¡¯ve only heard that people are disappearing.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ Are they trying to maintain discipline by manipting the crew?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re such a nutcase. That¡¯s just like you.¡±

    Scott scratched his head with a foolish expression, and Pincher clicked his tongue.

    After dinner, the technical team members returned to their workstations.

    Time passed, and before they knew it, it was nighttime.

    One by one, team members left for home, and the spacious cargo container, which had been bustling earlier, fell silent as if all themotion had been a lie.

    Scott and Pincher were wrestling in a corner, focusing on a fighter.

    ¡°Scott, I¡¯m going to grab somete-night snacks. What do you want to eat?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m good. If there¡¯s synthetic booze, bring that.¡±

    Scott was busy undoing a screw under the fighter. The surroundings were so quiet, as if everyone had left for the day except for them.

    ¡°Scott.¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡±

    As he was changing a part, someone called him.

    ¡°Cameron?¡±

    ¡°Come here for a moment.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in the middle of something right now.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll just take a moment.¡±

    Scott was busy as hell, and Cameron¡¯s call was annoying. He had promised to give a piece of his mind to anyone who bothered him with something unimportant, and he reluctantly crawled out from under the fighter. In the spacious area, all he could see were fighters and toolboxes; Cameron was nowhere to be found.

    ¡°You call someone and then disappear?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m right here. Come quickly.¡±

    Cameron¡¯s voice popped up at the right moment, as if he were trying to inform Scott.

    ¡°In the maintenance bay?¡±

    He was quite an irritating guy. Scott grumbled as he made his way to the maintenance bay.

    When he arrived at the bay, the lights were off.

    ¡°I stopped by here, didn¡¯t I?¡±

    He cocked his head, wondering if he had been mistaken, but then he heard Cameron¡¯s voice from inside.

    ¡°Scott, over here.¡±

    ¡°Why is it so dark in here, and what are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for something. Hurry up and help me.¡±

    Scott pressed the switch in the maintenance bay, but it didn¡¯t turn on. It seemed like it had been turned off from the central control room since it waste.

    He reluctantly took a shlight from his belt.

    The bright light illuminated the dim interior of the maintenance bay. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant atmosphere. Shelves of metal parts were stacked with tools and seemed like they could spill at any moment. On the floor, there were discarded cigarette butts and dried synthetic alcohol stains, making it look quite filthy.

    Moreover, there was an odor in the maintenance bay. The air was filled with various unpleasant smells, such as the metallic scent of oil clinging to tools, the smell of solder from the soldering iron, and the stench of unwashed men.

    In the midst of this familiar yet repulsive scent, Scott sensed something strange.

    ¡°What¡¯s this smell?¡±

    Being someone who handled metal parts every day, he could recognize it. In the air of the maintenance bay, there was a scent reminiscent of a metallic tang, but there was something else mixed in.

    ¡°Where the hell is this guy?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m over here. This way.¡±

    It was strange. The voice that had beening from the door just moments ago was nowing from inside.

    Following the voice, he passed through the narrow space between metal shelves. In the pitch-ck space, nothing could be seen without the shlight.

    He was walking, relying on the light from his hand, and nearly stumbled.

    ¡°What the hell?!¡±

    Scott had stepped on something, which turned out to be a rolling screw. After regaining his bnce with difficulty, he realized something important.

    Even he, containering the shlight, couldn¡¯t see properly due to the darkness. If that was the case, what was Cameron doing in the pitch-ckness?

    The conversation they had in the cafeteria earlier came to mind.

    The Metallic Gremlins roaming the ship, and the missing crew members.

    With a trembling voice he didn¡¯t even realize he had, Scott called out to Cameron.

    ¡°C-Cameron?¡±

    There was no response.

    Just as Scott was about to turn to flee, it appeared right in front of him.

    ***

    ¡°Scott?¡±

    Fincher, who had brought somete-night snacks, found it strange that there was no one around the fighter. Although Scott was acting a bit strange, he was a friend who always diligently performed his duties. He never left his post when there was work to be done.

    ¡°Scott!¡±

    Fincher called Scott loudly, and his colleague¡¯s name echoed in the quiet hangar.

    ¡°Over here.¡±

    As if answering, his voice came from somewhere in the distance.

    ¡°Where are you? I brought synthetic alcohol.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in the maintenance bay. Come over here.¡±

    ¡°The maintenance bay? Why did you go there again?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for something. Help me out.¡±

    Correction: Scott was good at work, but he could be quite annoying in his personal life.

    Fincher grumbled as he headed for the maintenance bay.

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    ¡°Why aren¡¯t the lights on, and what are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got something to move. Help me.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, you idiot. Seriously.¡±

    Fincher entered the maintenance bay, containering a shlight. In the dimly lit area behind the shelves, Scott¡¯s shlight could be seen.

    ¡°Hey, what are you doing?¡­ Huh?¡±

    Scott was not there. Only the tools were left behind, abandoned.

    ¡°Why is this here?¡±

    Fincher picked up Scott¡¯s shlight. There was no sign of Scott anywhere in the vicinity.

    At that moment, a drop fell on the back of his neck.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    Thinking it might be a leak, he touched the back of his neck. The liquid that had fallen from above was warm and sticky.

    He examined the liquid on his palm with the shlight.

    ¡°Blood?¡±

    His palm was soaked in bright red.

    The liquid that had fallen from the ceiling was droplets of blood.

    Realizing this fact, he swallowed hard. His trembling shlight pointed upward.

    And there it was.

    Dangling from the ceiling, containering Scott, was a creature that looked like a Gargon, a dragon from mythology. The mythical dragon was now tearing Scott apart and devouring him.

    The dragon reached out towards Fincher as itsst memory before Scott was taken away.

    Since that day, no one had seen those three members of the technical team.

    ***

    ¡®Did I have a talent for fishing?¡¯

    I sat in the dim maintenance bay, chewing on a human leg. The owner of the leg had been torn off with the spine and was sprawled out.

    ¡®Imitation. It¡¯s quite convenient.¡¯

    The voice of the person whose leg I was chewing on, named Fincher, flowed from my mouth.

    Imitation.

    Among the creatures that the Material Management Team Leader had tried to smuggle, there was a creature called a Red Wormrva.

    The Red Worm is a gigantic worm that only lives on deserts and possesses a highly rare ability. It can mimic the voices of other creatures. This ability evolved as a means to effectively hunt other creatures in the harsh desert environment.

    I devoured a Red Wormrva that had been stored in a container and luckily obtained its gic essence. Thanks to that, a highlyplex vocal apparatus has now taken residence inside me.

    ¡®The downside is that my ability is a downgradepared to the original.¡¯

    Unlike the Red Worm, I couldn¡¯t mimic any voice I wanted. I could only mimic the voice of thest creature I had consumed. I couldn¡¯t mimic the voices of Scott or Cameron, who I had eaten before. Additionally, I could only speak in short sentences or words. If I tried to speak a little longer, growls would mix in, creating strange sounds that weren¡¯t quite human or monster.

    ¡®But it¡¯s still a pretty good ability.¡¯

    Instead of low growls, a clear adult male voice came out of my mouth, which felt strangely fascinating and awkward.

    I tested my voice a few times and thought about my next target.

    ¡®Tomorrow, I should eat someone from the cooking team. Was his name Pierre? We may not be close, but it doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯

    Even if they were unfamiliar, if they called out to me, they would inevitably pique my interest.

    Tomorrow night, I should fill up with this friend named Pierre.

    He won¡¯t know. He¡¯ll die because he said something unnecessary to Scott.

    After finishing my meal, I went out to the runway and entered the venttion duct on the wall.

    ¡®Should I stop by theb before going to the nest?¡¯

    As I crawled along the passage, I headed towards theboratory.

    It was to see Experiment subject 26, the Bubble Amoeba.

    As I got closer to theb, I received a wave from him.

    ?Hello.?

    The tentacles on the back of my head vibrated softly. Until now, I had thought that psychic abilities were useless.

    Unexpectedly, I found that through psychic abilities, I couldmunicate with other creatures via waves.

    When ying games, I always pursued efficient gamey, so I had never paid any attention to characteristics that had minor effects like this.

    ¡®I never intended to have the ability tomunicate with Bubble Amoebas.¡¯

    It seemed like a trait that would be more useful to Bubble Amoeba enthusiasts than to me.

    At any rate, now that it had greeted me, it was my turn to respond. I focused my mind on the back of my head. The tentacles wriggled, gathering invisible energy.

    [???(Hello)]

    I didn¡¯t even need to see Experiment subject 26 tomunicate now, and something new hade to light.

    ¡®His vocabry seems to have expanded.¡¯

    As far as I knew, Bubble Amoebas weren¡¯t creatures known for evolution. Once they reached maturity, they mainly grew in size without any significant evolutionary changes.

    However, this particr one seemed to transcend the limits of its species, conveyingplex and seemingly impossible information. Moreover, itsmunication skills were improving significantly with each encounter.

    ¡®They said they are doing psyonium experiments. Is there an effect I don¡¯t know about?¡¯

    I wasn¡¯t sure if it was a psyonium issue or if the creature had some special abilities. In any case, since the creature¡¯s growing intelligence didn¡¯t seem to have any adverse effects on me, I decided to stop worrying about that particr issue.

    [?? ????(Sorry. Trouble with food today.)]

    ?What¡¯s the trouble??

    [?????(Can¡¯t get any.)]

    I could sense a frustrated wave of emotioning from the creature. I understood it perfectly well. After all, the only source of joy for the creature, which was subjected to experiments all day long, was the calorie bars I brought.

    ¡®But I can¡¯t get him any more calorie bars now that I¡¯ve grown in size.¡¯

    The current security in theb was at a level just below a nuclear reactor or a cooling room. After the research officer¡¯s death, the security team had tightened theb¡¯s security to the maximum level.

    Thanks to that, the venttion ducts above the previously secureboratory have be risky. I had vibration detectors installed inside theboratory, so it was clear that I would be caught if I moved carelessly.

    In this situation, there was nothing else I could do except have a conversation with subject 26 from a distance.

    [???(Are you okay today?)]

    ?I¡¯m struggling. It hurts.?

    Since Keisaragi¡¯s death, the psyonium experiments had been at a standstill. The subordinates continued the experiments every day, but they didn¡¯t inject as much as before. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean subject 26 was fine. Even in small amounts, psyonium was a highly toxic substance to the body.

    [??(Going)]

    ?Goodbye. Take care.?

    ¡®Sigh, hang in there.¡¯

    It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to help, but the risk was too great. Even if I had gained powerful abilities, going head-to-head with the crew of this ship was impossible. At least, I had to be an Ascendant to engage in guerri warfare. Once I became an Ascendant, I could easily wipe out the unit that received the enhanced suits.

    ¡®The problem is that the conditions for Ascendant evolution are strict.¡¯

    To evolve into an Ascendant, I had to kill and consume 10 individuals from each of the two intelligent species that yers could control. Since there was only one suitable target on this ship, which was humans, Ascendant evolution was impossible.

    ¡®There are pirates, but I don¡¯t know how that will turn out.¡¯

    Whether I could evolve depended on which cartel the space dogs around here belonged to. If I encountered a human cartel, it would be useless.

    ¡®It will take several more days at least.¡¯

    Judging by the atmosphere on the ship, it wouldn¡¯t be long before I encountered space dogs. The engineering team members I had devoured were staying up all night repairing the fighter nes.

    As I was heading towards the nest, a group of people passed beneath me. They were soldiers and the crisis management officer.

    ¡°I have some business to attend to, so I¡¯ll be on my way.¡±

    ¡°Yes sir!¡±

    The soldiers bid him farewell, and the crisis management officer continued walking alone towards some destination.

    ¡®I should probably consume the crisis management officer as well.¡¯

    Although he seemed like a tough opponent, I decided not to postpone it any longer. Even if I didn¡¯t consume him immediately, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to gather information about his weaknesses or daily routines in advance.

    I followed the crisis management officer.

    He was heading to the fitness training room. Inside, soldiers and crew members were diligently working on their physical fitness.

    ¡®What¡¯s this? Is he nning to exercise?¡¯

    In an instant, after changing into workout clothes, he sat down in front of an exercise machine and began his strength training routine. I watched for about 10 minutes, wondering if there would be any changes, but he was only pumping iron vigorously.

    ¡®Sigh. I should check on someone else.¡¯

    There was no need to watch prey exercising. As I got up to leave, he finished using the machine, took something out of his pocket, and set it down on the machine¡¯s tform.

    ¡®A phone?¡¯

    It was a small phone in the shape of earphones. He held it in his hand and looked around, making sure no one was paying attention to him. After confirming that no one was bothered, he plugged the phone into his ear and resumed exercising.

    His actions piqued my interest, so I focused my auxiliary senses on him.

    ¡°Th¡­contacting¡­ C¡­nearby¡­¡±

    His voice, which had been sporadic, gradually became clearer.

    ¡°Yes. The n is proceeding as scheduled. Yes. Yes. Really?¡±

    ¡®A n?¡¯

    ¡°An order came from the family? Oh, no, of course not. How could I ever doubt it?¡±

    For a moment, a perplexed expression crossed the crisis management officer¡¯s face, but he quickly regained hisposure.

    ¡°In any case, it¡¯s going well. Miss Keisaragi has already been eliminated. The ship will arrive at C-08 as nned. Yes. All of Captain Samuel¡¯s orders have been recorded.¡±

    ¡®What?¡¯

    ¡°Yes. Yes. That¡¯s fine. Everything is in ordance with the will of the family, I mean, with Captain Jung Woojin¡¯s will. I¡¯ll take responsibility. Yes. I understand. Goodbye.¡±

    After hanging up the call, he once again focused on his exercise. He appeared to be a dedicated fitness enthusiast, but my suspicion of him reached its highest level.

    ¡®I thought he was a straightforward guy, but he¡¯s a real fox, isn¡¯t he?¡¯

    I knew that the crisis management officer had convinced the captain to make contact with the space dogs.

    However, based on the conversation I overheard, he seemed to have much more nned than just that.

    Whether this would benefit me or backfire on me remained to be seen.

    I quietly observed him from the darkness.

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 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13

    ¡®The caller seems to be from the Yujin family.¡¯

    I thought to myself. As far as I knew, the Crisis Management officer wasn¡¯t from the Yujin family. His name was Arnold Russell, and the Russell surname didn¡¯t belong to either Noble Capital or Prime Capital; it was a rather ordinary surname.

    ¡®Could it be an alias?¡¯ I wondered.

    Or perhaps he was a subordinate of the person he was talking to. From the conversation, it seemed like he wished for Keisaragi¡¯s death.

    ¡®Could this be an internal matter?¡¯

    In the game, both the Noble Capital and Yujin family were ruthless when it came to power and money. The possibility of them fighting among themselves and even resorting to killing each other was quite high. In this space, eliminating Keisaragi Yujin would be fitting.

    ¡®But then again, I¡¯m the one who killed her.¡¯

    From the conversation, I deduced that his goals were twofold: to kill Keisaragi and lure the ship to C-08. I wasn¡¯t sure of the reasons, but almost unintentionally, I had helped him achieve his objectives.

    ¡®Whether the Yujin family fights or not, it¡¯s none of my concern.¡¯

    What was essential was what I would do with Arnold Russell. Cattle were raised for the sole purpose of bing food. Useless, intelligent food needed to be excluded.

    ¡®He¡¯s made me wary of him.¡¯

    That fact alone justified his death. Having evolved into a Metamorph body, fighting against soldiers wasn¡¯t a significant problem. If I were to surprise attack him, I could easily overpower the muscr man.

    ¡®But opportunities are scarce.¡¯

    Arnold had been meticulous since my hibernation, always staying in crowded ces and avoiding remote areas.

    ¡®Should I kill him in his room, like the material management officer?¡¯

    I considered it, but it wouldn¡¯t be easy. He slept in his reinforced suit, unlike the soldiers, making it difficult to kill him quickly.

    ¡®If the attempt failed, it would be quite troublesome.¡¯

    He could easily contact the ship¡¯s AI with themunication device provided as an option.

    ¡®Perhaps there¡¯s only one option in the end.¡¯

    If he had no weaknesses, then I would observe him until he was discovered. Time was what I needed to catch a formidable prey.

    I casted one more nce at him before heading to my nest.

    ***

    In a world where more humans are born in incubators than in their mothers¡¯ wombs, it might sound absurd to seek a god in such a ce. However, I somehow had the feeling that there might be a real god here. If not, there was no way such a favorable situation would be created for me.

    ¡°Security officer! How on earth are you handling this situation? Didn¡¯t you say you could find them?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m sorry¡­.¡±

    From below, Samuel¡¯s voice resounded with frustration. Through the gap in the mesh fence, I could see the security chief hanging his head, clearly at a loss for what to do.

    I was currently eavesdropping on their conversation from above the meeting room.

    ¡°That damn ¡®sorry¡¯ of yours, how many times have we heard it? We¡¯re scheduled to dock with the pirates in two days, and you still haven¡¯t resolved anything!¡±

    ¡°Well, even if we increase the number of cameras and security personnel, they always manage to avoid getting caught¡­¡±

    ¡°Damn it! Navigation officer, how many missing personnel do we have on board right now?¡±

    ¡°¡­including the former material management officer, a total of eight people.¡±

    ¡°After the Research officer¡¯s death, we have seven missing crew members. Why can¡¯t you find them? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re in cahoots with that guy?¡±

    ¡°N-no, not at all!¡±

    Currently, the ship¡¯s enigmatic murderer is attributed to the material management officer. This is because of his suspicious actions before going missing and the discovery of his container. He was an undercover smuggler who had infiltrated the ship, and he vanished after the mysterious murder incident.

    ¡®Unfortunately, the culprit is right here.¡¯

    Samuel, unaware that the culprit was right above him, sighed heavily and slumped into his chair.

    ¡°Let me ask one thing. Isn¡¯t the material management officer a human being? Shouldn¡¯t you search everywhere a person could go?¡±

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s a shortage of cameras in some ces, and even though we¡¯ve installed them in crucial areas, it¡¯s like they¡¯re avoiding them like ghosts.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, then what about the body? The body can¡¯t just walk around; it must be hidden somewhere. Why can¡¯t you find that?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re constantly monitoring areas that could be used to dispose of a body. I don¡¯t know how it was disposed of, but we just can¡¯t seem to find it.¡±

    The Security officer, who had been the center of attention for everyone in the room, took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead. With his sparse hair, he looked even more forlorn, but there was no one to assist him.

    ¡°Tech officer, what about tracking devices?¡±

    ¡°With my skills alone, it¡¯s impossible. Even if I attempt to create one, I can¡¯t guarantee its effectiveness.¡±

    ¡°Damn, he¡¯s killing people who can track him. He¡¯s definitely not an ordinary human.¡±

    An indolent smuggler had turned into a professional assassin. It would be aical situation if my body were not Amorph. At that moment, Crisis Management officer Arnold raised his hand.

    ¡°Captain, I believe what the Security officer is saying is true.¡±

    ¡°Why the sudden change?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve personally checked the camera cements and all the possible hiding spots on the ship, and the Security officer has done what he can.¡±

    ¡°You couldn¡¯t catch the culprit, and now you¡¯re defending him?¡±

    ¡°I mean it!¡±

    Arnold seemed like he had deliberately brought this up, ignoring Samuel¡¯s attempt to interrupt.

    ¡°From a human perspective, that¡¯s what it means. If it were a human, they wouldn¡¯t be able to hide like this.¡±

    ¡°What? Crisis Management officer, are you here to spread strange rumors?¡±

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    I had been enjoying the situation, but the atmosphere suddenly became strange. It seemed like Arnold had decided to speak out, and even when the Captain threatened him, he continued speaking.

    ¡°We might be dealing with an unknown entity attacking us.¡±

    ¡°You see, Crisis Management officer, the ship¡¯s AI isn¡¯t that dumb. Even though it¡¯s not thetest model, it used to manage entire battleships. If there were creatures roaming around the ship, it should have detected them long ago.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m familiar with AI capabilities as Ie from a military background. Navigation officer, but everyone knows. The material management officer¡¯s container¡ªeverything inside it was empty.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s true, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Then where did those creatures that were inside it go?¡±

    At his words, some of the officers nodded. Samuel also seemed convinced.

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    ¡®Oh no.¡¯

    The flow of people¡¯s thoughts was taking an eerie turn. What I had been most cautious about was the suspicion of extraterrestrial life creeping into people¡¯s minds.

    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s assume strange space monsters are roaming around. Where would they go? We have cameras installed in the middle of every corridor, but we can¡¯t see a trace of them.¡±

    ¡°There are ces we haven¡¯t checked.¡±

    He pointed upwards with his finger. People¡¯s attention shifted in my direction, and I quickly stepped back behind the mesh fence.

    ¡°The venttion ducts?¡±

    ¡°The venttion ducts are spread throughout the ship. I don¡¯t know how big those creatures are, but if they¡¯re around 1 meter or less, that¡¯s enough room for them to move around.¡±

    His statement was urate.

    It seemed that Arnold wasn¡¯t the only one who had underestimated the situation. I might have underestimated him as well.

    ¡®It¡¯s a strategic mistake.¡¯

    I had nned to take my time and slowly execute my n, but Arnold was showing more insight than expected. I should have dealt with this sooner, even if it meant taking more risks.

    ¡°1 meter. Isn¡¯t that too small to kill a person?¡±

    ¡°Captain, Metallic Gremlins can grow up to a maximum of 80 cm, but they can still destroy an entire battleship. It¡¯s not about their size.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡±

    He felt like an auxiliary system. Everyone in the room was convinced by Arnold¡¯s words. The sweating due to anxiety gradually subsided, and the irregr heartbeats were regaining their stability.

    ¡°We have a problem. If it¡¯s really an alien life form that killed people, what happened to the Research officer¡¯s body? If that thing ate the body, we¡¯re in serious trouble.¡±

    ¡°That problem will be resolved if we can capture it alive and hand it over to Noble Capital. If it¡¯s proven that it ate the Research officer, they¡¯ll take it from there.¡±

    Questions were flooding in from all directions, but Arnold had no trouble keeping up. He answered every question confidently, as if he had prepared for this.

    The questioning subsided, and finally, Samuel was thest one left.

    ¡°Crisis Management officer.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Captain.¡±

    ¡°How many soldiers do you think you¡¯ll need?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll select six soldiers from the 8th toon and have them search the venttion ducts.¡±

    ¡°Permission granted. Please bring back good results.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    After the meeting ended, I returned to my nest.

    ¡®¡­I¡¯ve endured for quite a while.¡¯

    No matter how much I loathed my body, there woulde a time when we would inevitably cross paths. Unless I abandoned my nest and left, there was no way to avoid them in the venttion ducts.

    ¡°Even if I were to leave the nest, I have nowhere to go.¡±

    Given Arnold¡¯s personality, it was clear he would ce some security measures around the venttion shaft. This would effectively seal off the venttion ducts.

    The corridors were covered in surveince cameras, and the venttion ducts were off-limits. While we hadn¡¯t engaged in a full-blown confrontation just yet, it was only a matter of time.

    Now, the crucial moment for me to make a decision had arrived.

    ¡®Should I run away, or should I stand and fight?¡¯

    Since bing aware, the once-dry nest had be vibrant with life, as if spring had arrived. Lying down there, I extended my small hand and gently touched the spores.

    Feeling the pulsation of the spores, I made up my mind.

    ¡®I¡¯ll fight.¡¯

    This ship might belong to them, but this venttion duct system was different. This ce was my domain, my home. Compared to those who tried to infiltrate this ce after ncing at blueprints and maps, I possessed a different level of information.

    ¡®The conditions favor me.¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t just about the battlefield; the overall situation surrounding the ship was turning against them. The encounter with the pirates was set for two days from now.

    It was hard to imagine Samuel handing over a significant amount of credits, especially with no bodies to show. The pirates aren¡¯t offering any services, and yet they¡¯re demanding arge sum of money. Even if there are noints on their side, they don¡¯t know how things will turn out on pirates¡¯ end. Those space dogs are practically icons of betrayal, and they won¡¯t just let the ship pass as it is, he knows that well.

    To fight the pirates effectively, They needed to maintain their full strength. Capturing me with minimal troops was impossible.

    Furthermore, Arnold had mentioned capturing me alive.

    ¡®Capture an Amorph?¡¯

    Until the enemy is eliminated, the relentless creature that never stops until the enemy is dead is Amorph. An aggressive alien creature that would bite the enemy¡¯s neck even if its limbs were cut off and only its head remained.

    That¡¯s me.

    Arnold seemed to think of me as nothing more than a wild animal roaming around on some, but that was far from the truth.

    Capturing an unknown enemy in unfavorable terrain with only a few soldiers was undoubtedly a foolish endeavor.

    ¡®In the space environment, especially within the ship, they¡¯ll learn just how terrifying it is to fight against Amorph.¡¯

    I would show them everything I had, using every means at my disposal.

    I would teach them what it was like to fight against Amorph in the vastness of space.

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 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14

    I linked my senses to the nest and spread them throughout the ship. The ship¡¯s structure and the movements of the human upants were transmitted to me without missing a beat. The auxiliary systems swiftly analyzed their movements to align with their master¡¯s intentions.

    If you were to imagine a spaceship as a living being wandering through space, I was akin to a parasite inhabiting the brain of a mineral-based organism. I knew what was happening on the ship as well as the ship¡¯s owner did.

    The auxiliary system reported to me that the captain and the officers were gathering on the bridge.

    ¡®Perhaps they¡¯re nning tomand from the bridge.¡¯

    Like them, I was also devising a n from my perch in the cooling chamber.

    ¡®How should I respond?¡¯

    First, let¡¯s consider the starting points of the enemies. There aren¡¯t many venttion ductsrge enough for an adult male to pass through. The agricultural area duct, the storage area duct, and the armory duct were thergest, with the others being just over 1 meter or even smaller.

    However, the likelihood of them all gathering in one ce was low, as that would slow down their search efforts.

    ¡®On the contrary, it¡¯s more likely they¡¯ll start from two ces.¡¯

    Six individuals. Not arge number, but not a small one either.

    In any case, attempting to conquer the venttion ducts with arge number of personnel would be difficult. It seemed they were opting for a small elite force strategy,pensating for theck of numbers with good equipment.

    ¡®They¡¯ll probably be wearing intermediate-gradebat suits.¡¯

    The model was unknown, but it was likely to be of the same grade or lower than what Arnold was wearing. If we were to engage in a direct confrontation, I wouldn¡¯t emerge unscathed either.

    ¡®There¡¯s a narrowing of the passage after the intersection.¡¯

    Depending on the facility, there were ces where venttion needed to be well-distributed, while others didn¡¯t require it. Areas like the cooling chamber had excellent air cirction systems, so the venttion ducts were wider, but most other areas were not.

    ¡®Narrow passages aren¡¯t suitable for humans to navigate.¡¯

    Adult men would have to crouch down. It was better than crawling, but it would greatly reducebat efficiency. Not only was it difficult to use weapons, but the ufortable posture also made it challenging to take full advantage of thebat suit.

    ¡®That¡¯s where I¡¯llunch the ambush.¡¯

    The broad outlines of the n were beginning to take shape. The details would need to be adjusted based on the enemies¡¯ armaments and movements.

    It seemed they were prepared as well. I could sense their movements.

    They had arrived at the two locations I had anticipated: the runway duct and the armory duct.

    ¡®Shall I go and greet our guests, then?¡¯

    After disconnecting the link with the nest, I rose from my seat.

    Tonight, everyone who dared to target my nest would meet their end.

    ***

    [This is A1. A-Team,mence operation.]

    ¡°B1, report.¡±

    [This is Juzz, B1. B-Team,mencing operation. Juzz.]

    ¡°B1, check yourmunication status as it doesn¡¯t seem optimal.¡±

    [Juzz-Juzz, B1. Understood]

    Themand center.

    On the holographic disy in the center of themand center, the movements of soldiers were divided into six squares and broadcasted in real-time. It was the result of real-time transmissions from tactical cameras attached to the soldiers¡¯bat suits.

    Arnold, the crisis management officer, watched alongside the higher-ups as the soldiers entered the venttion ducts.

    ¡®The entity that killed Miss Keisaragi, it¡¯s probably him.¡¯

    It was originally his duty to handle this situation. There were no changes to the n itself, but he didn¡¯t know how the entity would act as a variable.

    The entity was a dangerous organism that had killed eight people, including Miss Keisaragi Yujin.

    Others might think the Materials Management officer is the culprit, but he could state with certainty that the Materials Management officer had been killed by the monster.

    ¡°Monster. Eliminate variables as much as possible.¡±

    Until this ship reaches Space Dog, or rather, its owner, Si-hyun Yujin, who is preparing a grand n, there can¡¯t be any disruptions. If it seeded, it would change the course of MegaCorp¡¯s history.

    ¡®When this night is over, you¡¯ll all be dead.¡¯

    He stared at the holographic images with a cold gaze, and reports came in from the scene.

    [A1. We¡¯ve reached a junction. Move to the right.]

    [B1. We¡¯ve also reached a junction. Moving to the right. Juzz.]

    [B3. Juzz-Juzz. Communication status isn¡¯t good. Will repair and follow. Juzz.]

    ¡°This is themand center. B3, join as soon as your repairs arepleted.¡±

    The passageways in the ship, like veins in a body, were like a maze. A and B teams had both reached junctions at the same time.

    ¡°The paths areplicated. Everyone, move cautiously.¡±

    ¡°This is themand center. Even if it¡¯s slow, search thoroughly.¡±

    [A1. Understood.]

    [B1. Understood.]

    Five out of six white marks on the map received their orders and moved slowly while conducting searches.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    Arnold, who had been looking at the screen, felt something was amiss. The camera from B3, which was supposed to be under repair, wasn¡¯t moving.

    ¡°Check B3¡¯s camera.¡±

    ¡°This is themand center. B3, confirm the camera¡¯s status.¡±

    [¡­]

    ¡°B3. This is themand center. Repeating, confirm the camera¡¯s status.¡±

    [It¡¯s okay.]

    With those words, the screen moved again. At first, it shook slightly as if in disarray, but soon, like the other soldiers, it regained stability.

    ¡°B3. How¡¯s the reception?¡±

    [It¡¯s okay.]

    As B3 had reported, there was no more noise. His mark moved toward where the other B team members were.

    ¡°B2. Join up with B3ing from behind and move.¡±

    [B2. Understood.]

    The B3 mark on the screen got closer to the B2 mark. Just as they were about to ovep, a scream came through themunication device.

    ¡°B2! What¡¯s happening?¡±

    [Ugh, aaargh! It appeared! It¡­ thud!]

    ¡°B3. Lost contact with B2. Report the situation.¡±

    [It took B2 with him.]

    ¡°I can¡¯t see anything on the screen. Exin in detail.¡±

    [It suddenly attacked, so I can¡¯t confirm.]

    B2¡¯s camera showed nothing but darkness. There was no sound, as if themunication device had been damaged.

    A sense of unease spread through themand center like a contagion. The captain and officers were buzzing with questions about what was happening. Themunication officer continued to try to contact B2.

    While everyone was in confusion, Arnold stared at the ck screen.

    ¡®Did it end this quickly?¡¯

    Soldiers wearing intermediate-level reinforced suits couldn¡¯t respond at all. Arnold had considered the threat to be somewhat like a dangerous wild animal until now, but he waspletely mistaken.

    The enemy was a much more agile killer than he had imagined. Having recalibrated the creature¡¯s abilities, Arnold gave instructions to themunication officer.

    ¡°Ry this to everyone. If you see anything move even a little, open fire immediately.¡±

    ¡°Yes, officer.¡±

    Themunication officer ryed Arnold¡¯s orders, and tense responses from the soldiers could be heard over themunication device.

    Team A was conducting a search for the monster, while B1 and B3 from Team B were chasing after the missing B2. Although the screen showed their diligent movements, there was no sign of B2.

    ¡°They might end up divided and conquered.¡±

    In the end, Arnold decided to abandon B2. Themunication officer conveyed Arnold¡¯s message to Team B.

    ¡°This is themand center. B3, halt the search for B2 and join up with B1.¡±

    [Understood.]

    ¡°B1, once B3 joins you, resume the search for B2.¡±

    [B1. Understood.]

    B3¡¯s marker moved toward B1. The distance between the two marks on the screen gradually decreased. Just when they were about to see each other, a message came through the radio from B1.

    [B1. I hear something.]

    ¡°This is themand center. What exactly is the sound?¡±

    [B1. I¡¯m not sure, but someone is getting closer. It¡¯s at a junction, so I can¡¯t confirm exactly.]

    ¡°B3. Join B1 as quickly as possible. Repeat, join as quickly as possible.¡±

    [Understood.]

    The situation grew tense. The silence in themand center was broken by B1¡¯s voice.

    [B1. The source of the sound is B3.]

    ¡°Phew.¡±

    Someone let out a sigh of relief. Even Arnold, who had been keeping his eyes wide open to avoid missing any enemy movements, was relieved.

    ¡°Phew. This is themand center. B1, report once you¡¯ve joined up with B3.¡±

    [¡­]

    ¡°B1?¡±

    [B3 was taken by the enemy.]

    ¡°What?!¡±

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    B1¡¯s report shocked everyone in themand center.

    Even Arnold, who had always remained calm, found it difficult to maintain hisposure as the unexpected situation continued. He pushed themunication officer aside and put on a headset.

    ¡°officer here. Exin the situation in detail.¡±

    [I couldn¡¯t confirm it because it happened so quickly.]

    ¡°Damn it! It¡¯s right in front of you, and you couldn¡¯t see it?¡±

    [I apologize.]

    Two soldiers had already disappeared. Yet, B1 and B3 imed they didn¡¯t see anything on the video. Unless the creature deliberately avoided being captured on camera, it was impossible¡­

    ¡®Wait a minute¡­¡¯

    Arnold suddenly had a terrifying assumption. He put the headset back on with a stern expression.

    ¡°officer here. B1, state your location immediately.¡±

    [What?]

    ¡°I repeat. B1, state your name immediately.¡±

    [¡­?]

    There was no response from B1. Themand center froze as they realized what Arnold was trying to confirm.

    [Sshh, I got caught, huh? Juzz.]

    B1¡¯smunication channel remained disconnected. A ck hand appeared in front of the camera, and then the screen went ck.

    [This is A1. What the hell is happening?]

    ¡°¡­¡±

    [This is A1. Command center, please respond.]

    The bewildered voice of A1¡¯s officer filled themand center, but Arnold couldn¡¯t say anything.

    ***

    ¡®For now, the B Team is finished.¡¯

    I crushed the signal device attached to B1¡¯s reinforced suit under my foot. Three headless bodiesy beside me.

    Originally, the n was to engage them in the narrow corridor behind the junction. While I was rushing ahead to prepare for the ambush, an idea urred to me.

    Using the psychic device.

    I got the hint from my conversation with the Bubble Amoeba. If I couldmunicate with the creature using the special waves generated by the psychic device, could I disrupt wirelessmunication devices that operated on frequencies? It seemed to work quite well.

    Due to the waves I emitted, B3, who was at the rear, experienced interference in his equipment. He had no choice but to stay behind and fix it, bing an easy prey as a result.

    ¡®After that, it was easy.¡¯

    Even when his head was pulled out by mybat arm, B3 didn¡¯t twitch a finger. It was thanks to my newly acquired fusion ability called the ¡®Neurotoxin nd.¡¯

    When you have the Neurotoxin nd, everything in your body, including nails, teeth, and bodily fluids, turns extremely toxic. When affected by this toxin, you¡¯d experience shock or paralysis of your muscles, rendering you incapable of any action.

    It seemed like a powerful debuff ability, but in the game, it was considered a rare attribute. Since there were many creatures with transcendent physical abilities, it went unnoticed.

    ¡®But not here.¡¯

    Unless you were a specially modified human, it was impossible to block the neurotoxin. If you were alone and exposed to it, you might as well consider yourself dead.

    After that, it was a breeze. I approached the other team members pretending to be B3, using my ¡®Mimicry¡¯ ability.

    While everyone was on high alert, they wouldn¡¯t have suspected a friendly approach. Theirck of imagination allowed me to fill my belly with ease.

    ¡®Next is Team A, I suppose.¡¯

    I tucked B1¡¯s head under my arm and headed out. When the cerebral cortex burst open in my mouth like fresh juice, my body filled with energy.

    With fourbat arms, I easily moved through the narrow corridor. While crawling, the auxiliary device under my chin constantly monitored Team A¡¯s movements.

    Whether they received orders from above or not, they were moving slowly and carefully, investigating every speck of dust on the alloy.

    ¡®They¡¯re in apletely defensive posture.¡¯

    Team B had no idea about me, but that wasn¡¯t the case on the other side. They knew that I could mimic human voices, so it was only natural.

    ¡®Now, should I try using the information to my advantage?¡¯

    Many say that knowledge is power, but is it really? Sometimes, knowing too much can be a burden.

    I hid my body not far from the junction. Soon, the enemy would pass through here.

    Then, darkness settled in the steel corridor. The light emanating from the helmet of the lead soldier illuminated the junction clearly.

    ¡°A1. We have reached a junction. We will proceed to the right.¡±

    They had no idea that I was hiding nearby. If they didn¡¯t know, I had to inform them. I shouted loudly in B1¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Over here! Help me!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the enemy! Open fire!¡±

    As expected, A1 immediately issued the order to fire. Three team members began firing theirser guns in my direction.

    While they were pouring firepower into the spot where I had been, I slipped away into another corridor. By going this way, I could circle around behind them. I used all six of my limbs to move quickly.

    ¡°Cease fire!¡±

    [This is themand center. Confirm the enemy¡¯s status.]

    ¡°A1. Understood.¡±

    Unaware that I had already escaped, A1 walked forward. The other soldiers were focused solely on his back, fearing that he might still be in danger.

    I attacked A3, who was neglecting rear security.

    ¡°Ughhh!¡±

    ¡°Behind! There¡¯s an enemy behind us!¡±

    ¡°Cease fire! Ourrade is captured!¡±

    [Damn it! Shoot him now!]

    The air ducts were filled with A3¡¯s cries of pain as I held him, the terror-stricken shouts of his teammates, and Arnold¡¯s screams from themand center. I had no intention of staying in such a noisy ce for long, so I incapacitated A3 and withdrew.

    [A1! Open fire immediately! That¡¯s an order!]

    ¡°Opening fire! Opening fire!¡±

    The enemies firedsers at me btedly. The corridor was filled with pure energy beams. Even though I was agile, I couldn¡¯t avoid all of them, so I took a few hits.

    It went beyond just hurting; I was in severe pain. Nevertheless, I gritted my teeth and moved away from the spot.

    ¡°A2! Reporting to themand center! We have a casualty!¡±

    [No retreat allowed! We must capture him at all costs.]

    ¡°Darn it, Squad Leader, what should we do?¡±

    [¡­Damn it, treat A3, and then pursue him.]

    Their voices echoed in the darkness as I hid in the shadows. I didn¡¯t know how good their medical kits were, but detoxifying my neurotoxin wouldn¡¯t be easy.

    During the brief maintenance time that the enemies took, I checked my own condition.

    ¡®Thanks to the Chitinous Exoskeleton, there aren¡¯t any major injuries. But it hurts like hell.¡¯

    The trained soldiers managed to hit me in the chest and head due to the enhanced targeting of their powered suits.

    ¡®It¡¯s all because of the suit¡¯s calibration.¡¯

    The calibration of the powered suit¡¯s targeting had turned out to be a double-edged sword.

    Unlike regr animals, which would have been killed by the previous attack, I was an Amorph, and my forehead and chest, protected by an exoskeleton reinforced with chitin, were as sturdy as the titanium alloy used in spaceship hulls. Furthermore, my current chitinous exoskeleton was even more resilient.

    Even though the enemies didn¡¯t realize it, I¡¯d barely suffered any damage despite their trained shots. If they had targeted my tail or limbs, it would have been a different story.

    ¡®One down.¡¯

    Two prey remained. Since I didn¡¯t expect to be ambushed here again, I needed to use a different approach.

    Come to think of it, there was a suitable ce to butcher them, a location I had considered when nning. It was the narrow corridor.

    ¡®Let¡¯s lure them in.¡¯

    I extended my ws and inflicted minor wounds on my arm, causing ck blood to drip onto the floor. Each drop of blood created a puff of smoke rising from the corridor¡¯s floor.

    This was spider silk, a trap set by a spider to catch prey.

    The prey, who had mindlessly followed me, would finally realize what had happened. They would understand that they had fallen into a web of doom.

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 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15

    ¡°Darn it! Wake up!¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­!¡±

    ¡°Shock detected in A3! Administer the antidote!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll administer it!¡±

    A2 operated the terminal on A3¡¯s wrist. As he did, a sound of air escaping from A3¡¯s reinforced suit apanied the injection of the antidote into the wearer. A3, who had been frothing at the mouth moments ago, showed some signs of improvement, but it was merely first aid. The antidote within the reinforced suit provided minimal life support and pain relief butcked detoxification capabilities.

    They needed toplete the mission as quickly as possible and get A3 to a medical facility.

    A1 and A2, sharing the same thought, exchanged nces.

    ¡°A1. The antidote has been administered to A3. Proceeding with the mission.¡±

    [This is themand center. Permission granted.]

    Having reported to themand center above, they left A3 lying on the ground. Threerades had died because of that damn monster. They couldn¡¯t properly rest until they captured it and tore it apart.

    ¡°A1. I request permission to administer enhancement serum for more efficient suppression.¡±

    [¡­Permission granted.]

    As soon as permission was granted, A1 and A2 pressed the buttons on their terminals. The enhancement serum was injected, and veins popped on their faces and necks.

    One of the advantages of reinforced suits was the special solution they contained, which enhanced a soldier¡¯sbat abilities. Lower-tier reinforced suits carried painkillers, while mid-tier ones had two chemical solutions. These solutions included a treatment serum that healed injuries and boosted natural recovery and an enhancement serum that temporarily enhanced muscles and senses.

    When administered to an ordinary person, the enhancement serum greatly improved physical abilities, to the extent that they could punch holes in concrete walls with their fists. As for soldiers wearing reinforced suits, the effects were even more significant. However, there was a lethal drawback: permanent muscle loss and up to a week of debilitation once the enhancement effects wore off. Nevertheless, those who had already gone mad had no concerns about such side effects.

    ¡°That damn creature, I¡¯ll kill it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going first.¡±

    The orders they received were to capture the enigmatic hazardous creature alive. However, the heads of the two soldiers, who had lost theirrades, were filled with thoughts of tearing it apart with their bare hands.

    With determination, they walked along the corridor. Along the path where the creature had disappeared, they noticed unusual traces. There were sporadic marks of something having melted the floor.

    ¡°It seems like the creature got injured as well.¡±

    ¡°Insane¡­ Acidic Blood¡­ I have no idea what kind of monster this is.¡±

    They realized that the enemy wasn¡¯t your typical savage being. Tensions rose as they continued to follow the melted marks. Before long, they understood that they needed to mentally prepare themselves.

    The narrow, low corridor required an adult male to stoop to move through. It posed an obstacle that they couldn¡¯t avoid.

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s narrow.¡±

    ¡°What should we do?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re going in.¡±

    They had already administered the enhancement serum. There was no retreat for them. The two soldiers squeezed their bodies into the narrow corridor.

    ***

    ¡®They¡¯reing.¡¯

    My auxiliary sensors detected subtle vibrations in the air, much like prey caught in a spider¡¯s web. An intruder had entered my domain. Their heartbeats were rougher and faster than those of regr individuals. They exhaled a harsh breath, simr to a beast, which dispersed into the air.

    ¡®They¡¯ve used enhancement serum.¡¯

    It seemed like they were quite enraged if they were wearing mid-tier reinforced suits, known for severe side effects. It didn¡¯t matter to me. Enhanced physical abilities from the serum wouldn¡¯t be of much use in this damp, maze-like space.

    ¡®Let¡¯s get started.¡¯

    Having sessfully lured the prey, it was time to set the trap. I deliberately widened my wounds, allowing blood to pour onto the floor. As the acidic blood pooled, toxic gas billowed up.

    Beyond the gas-filled corridor, I could see the shape of the hallway. Not content with merely melting the venttion duct, the corrosive blood had eaten through the corridor ceiling.

    ¡®This should do.¡¯

    I patched up my wounds and patiently waited in the darkness until they arrived.

    Before long, they revealed themselves. They wore special helmets attached to their reinforced suits.

    Thanks to the helmets¡¯ gas masks, they moved effortlessly through the gas-filled corridor.

    They seemed momentarily startled by the sudden gas but, behaving like experienced soldiers, they kept theirposure. Cautiously walking while staying on high alert, they eventually found the source of the gas.

    A1 concentrated onmunication, while another soldier examined the corridor beneath the floor. Everyone was preupied, making this the perfect opportunity.

    Hunched in a corner of the corridor, I sprang forward like a leopard targeting a gazelle. With my six legs, the cramped space posed no hindrance.

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    ¡°!¡±

    A2, with heightened senses thanks to the enhancement serum, reacted instantly. His gun barrel swiftly aimed at my head, emitting a burst of light.

    An energy projectile whizzed past just inches behind my head. A2 appeared bewildered at missing the shot.I couldn¡¯t me him.

    Why did I choose this cramped and ufortable ce for a battleground?

    The tight quarters had subtly altered the angle of his aim. Conversely, my dark chitinous exoskeleton performed admirably as camouge in this lightless space. It disadvantaged the enemy while favoring my allies.

    That was precisely why I had chosen this ce as my hunting ground.

    ¡°Ugh?!¡±

    He adjusted his posture and aimed at me again. His reaction was swift, but I had already closed the gap. Before he could pull the trigger, both my hands were around his head.

    Perhaps he sensed his impending demise. Through the transparent visor of his helmet, I saw his dted pupils.

    The reinforced suit, designed to grant them superhuman strength, couldn¡¯t provide protection to delicate and flexible areas like the throat. When I applied pressure to A2¡¯s throat, it snapped as easily as a twig.

    ¡°Uuaaargh!¡±

    A1, a step toote in realizing my presence, screamed and aimed hisser weapon at me. I used the partially limp A2 as a shield to protect myself.

    The scent of searing flesh, born from the burning meat, gently tickled my auxiliary sensors. Amidst the tension of battle and my hunger, I hurled A2¡¯s charred remains at A1.

    ¡°Damn it all!¡±

    A1, having lost hisposure, wildly fired hisser rifle. Given the close range, some shots found their mark on my body.

    Perhaps due to the substantial pain or for some other reason, I felt a surge of primal instincts. The sharp de at the tip of my tail shot out, narrowly missing A1¡¯s shoulder as he adeptly parried it with his enhanced left arm.

    My tail missed its target and collided with the corridor, after which A1 leaped at me, delivering a powerful punch.

    I considered using mybat arm to block it, but A1 was d in a reinforced suit, and he had also been injected with an enhancer that significantly boosted hisbat prowess. There was no need for unnecessary risks.

    I evaded A1¡¯s punch by taking a few steps back. His solid alloy fist crumpled a bit upon striking the corridor.

    ¡®Stronger than I expected.¡¯

    It hadn¡¯t been this intense in the game. Continuing this fight might result in unnecessary losses.

    ¡®It¡¯s time to change strategy.¡¯

    I swung my tail widely to force A1 to step back and then made my escape. Laser shots from behind me missed their mark entirely.

    ¡®Only one enemy left.¡¯

    I had already exhausted most of my tricks. Deception wouldn¡¯t be effective against A1 now.

    In the distance, I could hear A1¡¯s enraged cries. Given my venomous state, I doubted a surprise attack would be very effective.

    ¡®Oh¡­ is there still one thing left?¡¯ As I pondered, a brilliant idea suddenly crossed my mind.

    I could sense two life forms currently.

    A1, who was rampaging, and A3, who was paralyzed.

    While A1 was distracted, firingsers in the wrong direction, I stealthily crept toward A3¡¯s location.

    Exiting the narrow corridor, I noticed that the ceiling had risen significantly. Standing on two legs, I spotted A3 lying in the middle of the corridor.

    ¡°Uh¡­ ugh¡­.¡±

    A3, who had received emergency treatment, had narrowly avoided death but didn¡¯t look to be in great shape. He couldn¡¯t speak due to lingering paralysis, only emitting feeble groans.

    I approached from a direction that wouldn¡¯t trigger his camera. When I was about a few meters away from him, he sensed my presence.

    The fearful groans of agony were easily discernible.

    ¡°Uh, uh-oh!¡±

    He tried desperately tomunicate the situation to themand center, but his arms and legs were already paralyzed. He writhed in a futile attempt to convey his distress. I approached the terrified creature and gently nudged his back with my foot.

    Grrrr!

    ¡°Uh! Uh-oh! Uh-oh!¡±

    I could see something fluffy standing upright on A3¡¯s nape. His hair was already soaked with sweat. Like a frightened animal, he exhaled ragged breaths, trembling without any sense of direction.

    Coincidentally, A3 had been attacked exclusively from behind until now. Perhaps that¡¯s why he was more terrified ¨C because he didn¡¯t know what I looked like. After all, the greatest fear oftenes from the unknown.

    ¡®Doesn¡¯t really matter since he¡¯s going to die anyway.¡¯

    I used my fourbat arms to pierce his side. This area was unprotected, and my hands easily prated his body. As I pressed my ws into his back, I felt him release his final breath.

    Having swiftly killed A3, I exerted force on the hand that had been inserted into his side. I grasped his elongated intestines with my four hands and pulled them out roughly.

    I quickly shoved his entrails into my mouth without savoring the taste and hastily chewed, then returned my hands into his body.

    Time was running out. To use A3¡¯s body as a shield, I needed to empty his insides. I continued to extract his organs.

    ¡®This should do.¡¯

    When A3¡¯s weight had decreased by about half, I flipped his body over.

    The camera lens on his body emitted a red light, as if greeting me. I proceeded to smash the cameras andmunication devices attached to A3¡¯s body.

    With this, they would realize that A3 had been attacked from the other side.

    I thrust my head into A3¡¯s side. Sticky blood and the lingering warmth of the corpse enveloped my entire being. Inside the shell of A3, now just a husk, there were no organs for sustaining life; instead, it was filled with a predator from the outside.

    I coiled my tail, which hadn¡¯t managed to enter, tightly around the lower part of the corpse to conceal it.

    A momentter, I heard A1¡¯s footsteps from outside.

    ¡°A3! Are you okay? Answer me!¡±

    Dead men tell no tales. A3, already a mummy, remained silent.

    I could sense him reaching out his hand to check his pulse. He waspletely off guard. He probably didn¡¯t even consider whether A3 was dead or what might be lurking behind that skin.

    As he got close enough, my arm pierced through A3¡¯s abdomen and jutted out. A1, who had been bending down to check the pulse, just allowed my attack to happen. My sharp talons shed across his thigh.

    ¡°Ugh?!¡±

    He btedly tried to stand, but it was futile. The paralyzing neurotoxin had already advanced upwards, rendering his lower bodypletely useless. His body crumpled to the floor like a felled tree. He struggled to get up with all his might, but it had been a long time since even his central nervous system had been rendered useless. Like Troy copsing under the Trojan horse, A1 was perishing from within the fortress.

    ¡°Uh, uh-oh, oh-oh!¡±

    A1¡¯s body trembled. Was it because of the shock or the impending doom? Regardless, his future was predetermined. There was only one thing he could do, like prey ensnared in a spider¡¯s web: wait for death.

    After tearing myself out of the corpse, I licked the blood off my hands. The primitive sweetness was like condensed sugar syrup prating my mind.

    I would have enjoyed it more, but there was still work to be done. I approached the trembling A1.

    I grabbed his shoulders near his ribs with my lower pair of arms and removed his helmet with my upper pair of arms. His exposed face looked younger than I had anticipated. However, the scars around his eyes revealed that he was a warrior who had emerged from many battlefields.

    Even such a valiant hero seemed to fear death. His face was a mess of tears and snot.

    The two arms above him enveloped his head. Sensing the impending events, he tightly shut his eyes. I increased the pressure in my hands, fulfilling his expectations. With a sound like trees being uprooted in a storm, his neck was slowly torn apart.

    There was no scream. The neurotoxin allowed him neither screams nor any movement. His pupils shook violently as he endured the pain of his throat being slowly torn apart while still alive.

    By the time the white bones of his neck were exposed, A1 was dead.

    I held his head, his tongue hanging out, and gazed into the camera. There was no sound from themunication device, but I could tell.

    They were afraid.

    This should be enough to convey my message.

    With that judgment, I crushed the camera.

    The spider¡¯s web was not only spread throughout the venttion shaft.

    Next, it would be their turn.

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 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16

    ¡®How will the enemy emerge?¡¯

    This is not the end. The ones who sent the soldiers, and more soldiers, are still left. So, what should I do?

    With six dead, there are a total of 90 soldiers and officers on the other side. It¡¯s highly likely that they will go all out after receiving my warning.

    I know that they¡¯re short on reinforced suits, but the real problem is the weapons. If the enemyes armed with more thanser equipment, say, sma weapons, my chances of winning be slim.

    ¡®The sma ss is unstoppable.¡¯

    With enhanced physical types, I can withstand it only twice at most, and before that, there¡¯s nothing I can do to stop it. One hit would be instant death.

    It¡¯s inevitable because sma weapons are developed for fleet battles. They¡¯re such high-powered weapons that they¡¯re used to destroy warships or tanks, so one shot packs quite a punch.

    However, the majority of sma weapons are so heavy that they can¡¯t be carried alone. There are lightweight versions, but those are prohibitively expensive, as if their prices were through the roof.

    ¡®All I can expect to find here is a smauncher.¡¯

    The smauncher is a heavy weapon supplied by the division in MegaCorp. Honestly, given the dismal supply situation, it doesn¡¯t seem like there would be any smaunchers either, but you never know.

    ¡®It¡¯ll be difficult to deceive them any further.¡¯

    Since a significant portion of the cards I hold has been exposed, I couldn¡¯t deceive the enemy in the same way. I might be able to handle a few of the less experienced ones, but it would be difficult to deceive and surpass the 90-strong force.

    ¡®Arnold won¡¯t stop until he confirms my death.¡¯

    Unlike the amateurish aspects disyed by the Captain Samuel, Arnold is a meticulous soldier. Moreover, he¡¯s a soldier who conspires. I don¡¯t know what his n is, but he will undoubtedly try to kill me before arriving at C-08.

    ¡®In that case, I¡¯ll go for their heads here.¡¯

    Now is the time for a speed battle. Let¡¯s tidy up the information about me and strike the headquarters before they organize their front line.

    Just then, I ran to the bridge.

    On the way, I saw soldiers jumping to the opposite side through a venttion hole in the floor. Their destination was the agricultural area that A1 had reported.

    It seemed like the enemy thought I was preparing a siege, but that was apletely wrong judgment. While the enemy was searching in the wrong ce, I was already here, right in front of them.

    Beyond the iron grill of the venttion hole in the wall, I could see a white floor. It was themand center, the cleanest space after theboratory on the spaceship.

    Compared to the marble-like floor, the wall disyed a dark cosmic space. It was showing the external scenery in real-time through cameras attached to the ship¡¯s exterior.

    The people in themand center seemed oblivious to the beautiful spectacle of countless stars dancing and were simply making a lot of noise.

    ¡°Crisis Management officer! Where did that insane monstere from? No, more importantly, what on earth is its identity?¡±

    You couldn¡¯t see it from here, but you could easily guess that the Samuel was in a state of panic, just by listening to his voice.

    Not far from there, Arnold¡¯s voice could be heard.

    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know. When I checked the list of materials management officers, there was an organism that wasn¡¯t registered in the database. Maybe it¡¯s that thing.¡±

    ¡°Such irresponsible remarks! I lent you a officer¡¯s reinforced suit, and you got nothing in return!¡±

    So, that was a officer¡¯s suit. Reinforced suits are a lifeline in space, so they should¡¯ve spent a bit more.

    If there had been a few more intermediate reinforced suits, or even just advanced ones, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to hunt them easily. Trying to save money will cost Samuel his own life.

    It seemed that he had simr thoughts to mine, as anger crept into Arnold¡¯s voice.

    ¡°If we had slightly better equipment, this disaster wouldn¡¯t have happened, Captain.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    ¡°And the statement that we got nothing is incorrect. We obtained information that the enemy is a highly intelligent, dangerous organism that can mimic human voices.¡±

    ¡°Is that all you have to say?¡±

    ¡°In the battlefield, gathering information is more important than anything else. We¡¯ve obtained the minimum information about the enemy, and we need to act based on that.¡±

    ¡°Ugh.¡±

    There was a hint of irritation, but Arnold¡¯s voice remained steady. Samuel had no words to reply and simply clicked his tongue.

    ¡°So, is there a solution?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve already sent the soldiers, but there¡¯s something else we need to request.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Please authorize the use of the smauncher in the armory.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    I had my doubts, but it seemed they actually had a smauncher.

    It didn¡¯t seem like it had been supplied to the entire unit judging by the nuance, but still.

    The smauncher was like a magical wand that could solve most problems, but the officers didn¡¯t seem to approve.

    ¡°Are you insane? Weren¡¯t we supposed to use that weapon for fighting pirates?¡±

    ¡°This is a spaceship! Even if it¡¯s been modified into a research vessel, using a smauncher on board? If you want tomit suicide, go outside into space by yourself!¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡±

    As the Navigation officer and the Technology officer continued to squabble, Arnold shouted at them. They hesitated for a moment and then confronted Arnold again.

    ¡°Are you raising your voice at us?¡±

    ¡°We cannot approve of using a smauncher on board!¡±

    Arnold had excelled in everything he had done until now, but this operation had been a huge failure. As a result, his charisma had fallen irrecoverably. It was a reaction befitting a MegaCorp member who always ced results above all else.

    ¡®It¡¯s about time to leave.¡¯

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    The superiors were in a state of turmoil, and the subordinates were in a quandary about whether to stop them or let them go. This was the perfect moment for the prey to be choked in the enemy¡¯s confusion.

    Amorph¡¯s delicate auxiliary organs began their search. The target was any movement within themand center.

    The tentacles at the tip of my chin twitched and felt the air. Then, a wave of information, like a swirling gxy, poured in.

    The electromaic waves and heat emitted byputers and electronic devices, the faint mechanical noises made as precisionponents moved every time the ship¡¯s AI operated, human breath, the sound of clothes brushing against each other, the scent of sweat, the tremors of muscles, the beating of hearts, the sound of blood flowing through veins.

    It was a world that humans could never perceive. I glimpsed into the dimension of super-sense perception and searched for my target.

    Arnold was the top priority target, but he was too far from my location. He had deliberately chosen a distant position because he knew I would be using the venttion ducts.

    ¡®The one closest to me is¡­¡¯

    The information detected was that of a familiar individual I had seen several times before.

    A man with a somewhat timid appearance, with half of his head exposed, named Wei.

    He had be the temporary research officer in ce of Keisaragi Yujin and still tortured Experiment Subject 26 everyday.

    ¡®I¡¯ll go for him.¡¯

    I had always nned to kill him someday. Fortunately, a good opportunity had presented itself, so there was no need to hesitate.

    I smashed the iron grille of the venttion duct with mybat arm. The thin alloy grille shattered into pieces by my reinforced arm, which had be fluid.

    The AI would send a warning signal, but humans had to respond. Everything would be over before they saw the AI report.

    I gave strength to my legs, enhanced by the ¡®Enhanced Reflexes¡¯ trait.

    [TL/N: ¡®Enhanced Reflexes¡¯ was previously tranted as ¡®Enhanced Angr Momentum¡¯. Will be using ¡®Enhanced Reflexes¡¯ moving forward.]

    My body leaped high as if stepping on a spring. While my body remained suspended in the air, Arnold was the first to react to the sound of the broken grille. His gaze turned towards the damaged venttion duct.

    His eyes widened. He had recognized the attack. Soon, he would let out a scream of rm, but by then, one person would already be dead because I was already above Wei¡¯s head.

    It was only after my body covered him that Wei reacted. He struggled as I perched on his shoulders, and I bit into his face.

    In an instant, his face was covered in blood due to my razor-sharp teeth. His facial skin tore apart, and his eyes and nose were damaged to the point of dysfunction.

    ¡°Kaaah!¡±

    Wei, who had his face ripped apart by my sharp teeth, let out a scream of pain. Seeing his pitiful state, the other officers who had been watching in a daze turned pale.

    ¡°Ugh, ugh, it¡¯s a monster!¡±

    Wei, who copsed to the floor, covered in blood, and I moved to another officer who was nearby.

    The vivid MegaCorp uniform was stained with blood and flesh.

    ¡°Aaaah!¡±

    ¡°Please, spare me!¡±

    ¡°Com¡­Communications Officer! Inform the ship!¡±

    I couldn¡¯t leave them like that. I stopped attacking the officer and turned to the Communications Officer.

    ¡°Eek?!¡±

    Unlike the soldiers who had entered through the venttion duct, he seemed tock muchbat experience. Seeing my bloodied appearance, he froze and couldn¡¯t move. I had no intention of showing mercy, so I lunged at him.

    ¡°Uuaaaah¡­argh!¡±

    I used my strength to topple him, and then I finished him off with my tail. Now, my tail, which had grown to the size of a dagger, pierced his eyes and prated his brain. As I retrieved my tail, which had created holes in his head, an energy projectile came flying from somewhere and struck my back.

    When I turned around, it was Arnold. He held a smallser pistol in his hand.

    ¡®A officer¡¯s pistol, I see.¡¯

    I thought he would run away, but it was unexpected. I shook my tail vigorously to flick off the sttered blood. Maybe he was just putting up a facade of trust, but he didn¡¯t back down and fired his pistol again. I lightly twisted my body to avoid it and approached him.

    ¡®He¡¯s not even wearing enhanced armor?¡¯

    Like the other officers, his attire was a uniform. Perhaps because he was a soldier, the color was red instead of white, but there was no defensive functionality. In other words, if I swung my arm, his upper and lower body would separate, and he would sprawl on the floor.

    ¡°G-gra¡­¡±

    Having finished off Wei, who was groaning next to him with my tail, I prepared to leap at Arnold. As I prepared to kick off with my legs, the auxiliary organ vibrated heavily.

    [My body floated in the air.]

    [Arnold fired his pistol btedly, but all the shots missed.]

    [My tail pierced Arnold¡¯s abdomen.]

    [He took out a sma pistol from his holster.]

    [I tried to dodge, but my tail was stuck in his body, so I couldn¡¯t avoid it.]

    [The sma round destroyed my head.]

    [I died.]

    ¡®This is¡­¡¯

    It was like scenes passing by at an incredible speed, as if I had sped up the video dozens of times. It was an effect of precognition through the predator sense.

    ¡®A sma pistol!¡¯

    Arnold had an unexpected weapon in his possession.

    The sma pistol was one of the few sma weapons that had sessfully been lightweighted. It had excellent killing power and was as lightweight as a handgun, making it an excellent weapon. However, it had one downside.

    Its price was astronomically high. One of those pistols cost as much as three of these ships. Unless you had the wealth of a Noble Capital or a Prime Capital, you wouldn¡¯t even dream of owning such equipment.

    ¡®Darn it, it seems like he¡¯s connected to the Yujin family.¡¯

    That money-eating glutton, the sma pistol, could kill me. A shot to the head or chest would result in instant death, and even a graze would be at least a severe injury. So, I had to move cautiously.

    As my movements became more cautious, Arnold frowned.

    ¡°As expected, you¡¯ve figured it out.¡±

    From his pocket, he pulled out a silver, thin, gun-shaped sma pistol. Samuel, who had been hiding in the corner, along with the other officers, let out gasps of amazement.

    ¡°A sma pistol?!¡±

    ¡°That expensive weapon!¡±

    Arnold¡¯s tense expression from earlier turned into a rxed smile, as if the tension had all been an act.

    ¡°You, I don¡¯t know your identity, but I have a feeling.¡±

    ¡°Grrr¡­¡±

    ¡°A monster with various abilities. You resemble my master, Si-hyun Yujin.¡±

    As he spoke, his gun was aimed at me. With my auxiliary organ extremely activated, I had read his body in advance, and I quickly leaped away.

    In my previous position, a green energy projectile exploded. The alloy tes, which were tough enough to withstand space debris, were shattered in a single shot.

    ¡°I will eliminate variables before my master arrives.¡±

    Dodging his weapon, I took cover behind aputer.

    Our location was the bridge. It was an important facility, so he probably couldn¡¯t fire indiscriminately, but I couldn¡¯t be sure how long we could hold out. Time was not on my side. Since everyone on board the ship was my enemy, the longer I dyed, the more disadvantageous it became for me.

    ¡®The situation isn¡¯t good.¡¯

    This was the biggest crisis I had faced since my birth in the cargo container. There were various factors threatening my survival, but there had never been a time when death was so close.

    No.

    To be more precise, it was from the moment I possessed Amorph¡¯s body.

    ¡®I¡¯ve faced greater dangers than this.¡¯

    In space survival, I had experienced the worst situations as if they were nothing.

    Did I give up? Did I lose?

    Not at all. The one who always stood at the end was me, The Amorph.

    ¡®You think you can kill me?¡¯

    Arnold was mistaken.

    Regardless of whether it was his master or anyone else, the one who would greet them would not be someone like Arnold but rather me.

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 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17

    Bears, lions, wolves.

    These are carnivorous animals we easily encounter through the media. In the media, they are often portrayed as killing machines or as incarnations of unrelenting violence.

    In reality, predators are not ruthless terminators but rather closer to cowards. This isn¡¯t meant as an insult; their cautiousness, bordering on timidity, is what makes them true hunters.

    As someone who enjoyed ying as Amorph, I had deeply ingrained the lessons that nature had taught me. No matter how powerful my abilities were. Even if I had more information at my disposal than anyone else.

    ¡®Without caution, you¡¯re useless.¡¯

    I remembered this fact as I scouted the enemies. Arnold¡¯s heartbeat was steady. His earlier tension had clearly been an act. People would have likely analyzed me and taken action while others were dying.

    While they might not know that I possessed enhanced abilities like a biometric radar, they did know that I had some kind of heightened sensory perception.

    ¡®Quite impressive.¡¯

    I had deliberately killed the soldiers brutally to intimidate them, but it had no effect on Arnold. He emitted the scent of a seasoned hunter, unlike me, who had learned from nature. Who could be his mentor?

    The sma pistol fired again. The high-energy blob incinerated the spot where I had been just moments ago. I raced across the bridge with sturdy legs like a wild horse, contemting how to attack the enemy.

    ¡®First and foremost, the enemy¡¯s biggest weakness is the location.¡¯

    This was the bridgemand center, filled with sensitive electronic equipment. Although the sma pistol might be considered a rtively weak sma weapon, it was still a powerful weapon that could prate even thick alloy ting. One wrong shot, and it could trigger a catastrophe.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t originally n to use this, but¡­¡¯

    Even in the future shown by the predator sense, Arnold pulled out the pistol just before he was about to die. He was aware that using the pistol inside the ship was not appropriate.

    ¡°Crisis Management officer! Remember that we¡¯re in themand center!¡±

    ¡°Be careful not to hit any machinery!¡±

    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±

    Captain Samuel and the other officers offered their advice, but Arnold seemed uninterested in holstering the pistol.

    ¡®Fine. I guess it¡¯s me before the ship, then?¡¯

    It seemed that, in his eyes, I had a higher priority than the safety of the ship. It was understandable. I was the only obstacle in his n. Even if the ship was damaged, capturing me here would be more favorable.

    However, despite having a powerful weapon, Arnold had disadvantages. At this point, his main duty was to protect the captain and the officers. He couldn¡¯t go to C-08 alone, so some of them were essential for navigation.

    ¡®He has many weaknesses, but¡­¡¯

    My situation wasn¡¯t ideal either. This open space provided a good firing angle, and if it weren¡¯t forputer-like cover, I might have been hit by the pistol earlier. Even now, whenever I tried to approach an officer or the captain, Arnold would restrain me with his pistol.

    When I hid behind theputer, he stopped shooting.

    ¡°You little rat.¡±

    Arnold cursed from a distance. It seemed like he was irritated or annoyed, but I could understand.

    ¡®That¡¯s a ruse.¡¯

    Arnold was hoping for a prolonged standoff. While he was keeping me in check, he used themunicator to call for the ship¡¯s personnel.

    ¡°This is the bridgemand center. The creature has attacked this location. All avable personnel, gather here.¡±

    ¡®I wonder if that¡¯s how it will y out?¡¯

    The bear-like fox over there was using his formidable weapon to buy time. He wanted to capture me in this spot, but he definitely intended to leave the task of harming me to his soldiers.

    Certainly, my movements had be passive due to that pistol of his, so his n seemed to be working quite well.

    ¡®Well, it¡¯s amusing to be deceived like this.¡¯

    With this level of judgment, he would rank above average among Space Survival yers. Those who only hunted gentle prey and suddenly encountered a wolf among them would undoubtedly be tense.

    Since bing a metamorph entity, this was the first crisis I had faced, and it was against a formidable adversary.

    After a long time, I felt my fighting spirit rising.

    ¡®I have to finish this before the reinforcements arrive¡­¡¯

    I moved away from the energy blob that had left the barrel and hid behind a machine. While pondering my escape n, I noticed a fire extinguisher. Its appearance was different from Earth¡¯s, but it emitted white smoke-like extinguishing agent, which was the same.

    ¡®It mighte in handy.¡¯

    I quickly retrieved the fire extinguisher and pulled out the safety pin with my small hand on my chest. At that moment, Arnold, holding the sma pistol, appeared behind me. Before the pistol could fire, I activated the fire extinguisher first.

    White extinguishing agent sprayed out from the hose, obscuring his vision.

    ¡°Ugh?! What a trick!¡±

    Beyond the white mist, a green energy blob flew towards me. I dodged it by lying t on the ground and, with my fourbat arms and legs, began hexapodal lotion.

    Meanwhile, my small arm on my chest continued to disperse the contents of the fire extinguisher in all directions.

    ¡°Cough! Cough!¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t see anything!¡±

    Themand center, sealed off from the outside, was filled with extinguishing agent. Coughs from survivors could be heard here and there.

    ¡°You scum! Are your weapons just for show?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, I apologize!¡±

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    The soldiers who remained in themand center hastily drewser pistols. However, given the limited visibility due to the extinguishing agent, theirsers posed no threat to me.

    ¡°Where is he?¡±

    ¡°Could it be? Darn it! Everyone, take the captain outside!¡±

    Arnold shouted as if he had somewhat figured out my intentions. He probably thought I was targeting Captain Samuel. He was somewhat perceptive, but he chose the wrong answer. My target wasn¡¯t the captain. In front of me was the head chef, who had fallen.

    As my tail retracted the stinger stuck in his body, I silently withdrew. Just as a predator targets the throat of a herbivore, my teeth were embedded near his carotid artery. Human blood and flesh flowed into me, and the small organ in my throat reacted to it. Now I could mimic the head chef¡¯s voice.

    ¡°He¡¯s not over there! The captain is over here!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    The enemies who couldn¡¯t see ahead were bewildered by my voice. It was clear that the captain was nearby, but suddenly hearing someone else say otherwise would naturally cause confusion.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled! He¡¯s employing disruptive tactics!¡±

    ¡°Yes, y-yes!¡±

    Arnold urged the soldiers, but the chaos didn¡¯t subside easily. They had also heard through themunication that Teams A and B were wiped out, but they probably didn¡¯t expect themselves to be next.

    While the enemies were in disarray, my hands were stained with the blood of another victim. His luxurious attire indicated that he was not an ordinary person. I shouted in his voice, ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled! He killed the officer!¡±

    ¡°What, the navigation officer?¡±

    The voice belonged to the navigation officer, who ranked just below the captain in terms of hierarchy.

    ¡°He¡¯s impersonating the officer¡¯s voice!¡±

    ¡°This damned son of a bitch! Don¡¯t believe him!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the navigation officer! Trust me!¡±

    ¡°Darn it! You idiots! He¡¯s the monster! Shoot him now!¡±

    Arnold may not have realized it, but I could sense it. The hesitant soldiers¡¯ muzzles were shifting back and forth between Arnold¡¯s location and mine in the fog of uncertainty. In a space where you couldn¡¯t see an inch ahead as if shrouded in mist, the soldiers were being tested for their trust.

    On one side, they had their heavenly officer, on the other, a creature from the depths of space. What choice would they make?

    ¡°Ugh, aaargh! Damn it!¡±

    One of the soldiers finally made up their mind. The muzzle of theirser pistol, held in suspicion, was aimed at the figure in the mist. A crimson sh cut through the extinguishing agent.

    After a trajectory of light that human eyes couldn¡¯t follow, the smell of burning flesh permeated the air.

    ¡°Aagh!¡±

    Arnold let out a groan mixed with agony. The right shoulder area of his body had been charred by theser. His hand holding the sma pistol was limp, but it was enough damage without losing his entire arm.

    ¡®It¡¯s my chance.¡¯

    Targeting the soldier instead of him was a sess in the jamming operation. Inbat, having more personnel doesn¡¯t necessarily mean an advantage. Out-of-sync allies are worse than enemies.

    Instead of attacking me, he should have chosen to leave the situation room with the others.

    His biggest mistake was starting the fight with the intention of killing me directly.

    ¡°Y-you bastard!¡±

    He didn¡¯t give up; instead, he clumsily gripped the pistol with his left hand.

    It seemed like he was determined to resist until the end, even with his limbs damaged. His unwavering spirit was a true testament to a soldier, but unfortunately for him, he had chosen the wrong opponent.

    Thanks to the ship¡¯s venttion system, the extinguishing agent gradually dispersed. I hid myself within the remaining white cover and made my move.

    ¡°Grr! Where are you?¡±

    Perhaps because of his severe shoulder injury, he couldn¡¯t aim properly, and the sma round passed just by my side. It was a close call, but the intense heat left a long burn mark on mybat arm.

    For a moment, the pain filled my mind to the point where I could scream, but I managed to hold it in.

    There¡¯s no time to hesitate. The enemy isn¡¯t going to wait for me.

    The vibration from the energy charging of Arnold¡¯s sma pistol, held in his hand, is detected.

    Only a few seconds remained before that small harbinger would pronounce my death sentence.

    Meanwhile, there was still some distance left for my tail to reach his body. That¡¯s why I decided to y my final card.

    Muscles in my back, where equivalent to a human¡¯s trapezius would be, moved. A split opened up in that area, revealing a dark, massive something slowly emerging from within.

    This was something I hadn¡¯t summoned since bing Amorph ¨C my first acquired attribute since bing a metamorph.

    Two enormous wings unfurled, and in an instant, my body closed the remaining distance to him.

    His face rapidly erged, and in his dted pupils, he saw the image of Amorph with its wings spread, teeth bared.

    In his reddish-brown irises, Emoph is reflected, showing its teeth.

    With all my might, I thrust my tail, which had been hiding behind me, towards him.

    The deadly sma round in his hand roars, but it will never reach its target.

    From behind, the sma round loses its target and impacts against the alloy wall. It sounded like a salute to my victory.

    With Arnold¡¯s head firmly mped in my mouth, I¡¯ve got my meal for the day.

    ¡°Officer!¡±

    One of themunication soldiers finally regained his senses and aimed aser gun at me. I looked at him with Arnold¡¯s head still in my mouth.

    ¡°¡­Grrr!¡±

    I wish I could savor the meat, but I don¡¯t have time. The auxiliary devices are warning me that the soldiers are closing in, so I¡¯d better hurry.

    It looks like I¡¯ll have to postpone dinner forter.

    I passed by the soldier. He stood there frozen like a deer in the headlights. Until I crawled into the venttion duct, he couldn¡¯t move at all.

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 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18

    ¡°Ugh, w-what the hell!¡±

    The soldiers who arrivedte were shocked when they saw the bloodbath that had be of the situation room. Soldiers with littlebat experience vomited on the spot, and the officers looked dismayed at the sight of Arnold¡¯s lifeless body.

    ¡°You damn bastards! Why are you here now?¡±

    ¡°S-Sorry, sir!¡±

    Samuel berated them angrily. There was no trace of the trembling figure that had been hiding in the corner just moments ago. Samuel, who had a duty to protect the crew, was shamelessly acting as if nothing had happened.

    ¡°Clean up this mess immediately!¡±

    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±

    Although the soldiers wore discontent on their faces, their superior was the captain, and furthermore, he was the captain of the ship. They got to work without any military formality, recovering the bodies lying in the room.

    ¡°Darn it, how many of them died?¡±

    Of all the times to be attacked, it had to be when the essential crew members were gathered for navigation. And to make matters worse, the creature had intentionally targeted the most important individuals among them.

    ¡®Research officer ,Technology officer, Chef officer, Navigation officer, Crisis Management officer¡­ They¡¯re all dead!¡¯

    The deaths of the Technology officer and the Crisis Management officer were particrly painful. Technology officer was responsible for the ship¡¯s maintenance and repair, while the Crisis Management officer handledbat situations. Both were essential talents when dealing with pirates.

    He would die and never know that the monster had deliberately taken them out first.

    ¡®In this state, there¡¯s no way I can survive encountering pirates.¡¯

    Samuel waspletely inexperienced inbat. Although this research vessel had been converted into a warship, he was not a soldier. He was just a wealthy man who had purchased a second-hand spaceship. The chances of him effectivelymanding the battle-hardened pirates against him were close to zero.

    In that case, it would be better to appoint a new Crisis Management officer to oversee the soldiers.

    ¡°¡­Who among the soldiers has the highest rank?¡±

    ¡°Over here, Captain.¡±

    ¡°From now on, you¡¯re the Crisis Management officer. I hope you¡¯llmand the soldiers and protect the ship.¡±

    Though he had risen through the ranks to be a few steps higher in officer ranking, his expression was far from bright. He knew that the battle with the pirates was not far off.

    However, making someone an officer was not a fundamental solution. The creature was still roaming somewhere within the ship, and the encounter with the pirates was scheduled in two days.

    Should he just break the agreement and flee? He pondered this but realized that the Navigation officer, who would calcte the course, had also died.

    Although Samuel was the captain and could set the course himself, he was not proficient in making detailed adjustments. Moreover, the enemy was well aware of their position. Regardless of how poorly they attempted to escape, the pirates would quickly pursue them.

    ¡®Damn it, should I just abandon everything and run away?¡¯

    In reality, fleeing on an escape pod would lead to a predetermined fate for Samuel ¨C bing a debt ve or being pursued by Noble Capital. Neither oue was pleasant, but being alive was better than being dead.

    As he contemted this escape, the conversation among the soldiers reached his ears.

    ¡°This looks different from a regr pistol, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°It looks like a weapon, Team Leader.¡±

    Seeing what they were holding, Samuel¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°Hey, you there!¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Bring what you¡¯re holding over here.¡±

    The items the soldiers were carrying turned out to be sma pistols. Samuel, who had received one, checked the remaining energy.

    ¡®60%. Good.¡¯

    With more than half of its energy intact, it was sufficient for personal defense. There was some wear and tear on the weapon, but Samuel, not being a soldier, didn¡¯t understand the significance of that.

    Samuel sent the soldiers away and stared nkly at the chaotic bridge.

    At that moment, the medical officer approached him. His hands were covered in blood from helping the soldiers with the bodies.

    ¡°Is there anyone left alive?¡±

    ¡°Except for the temporary Research officer, who was attacked first, everyone else has died.¡±

    ¡°What? Senior Researcher Wei isn¡¯t dead?¡±

    ¡°We put him in the recovery room. Luckily, he seems to have immunity to the creature¡¯s neurotoxin. But he has suffered permanent damage to his vision, smell, and taste organs. Even if he survives, he¡¯ll have to live with tubes for the rest of his life.¡±

    ¡°¡­!¡±

    Despite the mention of luck, Wei¡¯s condition was so gruesome that death might have been preferable.

    The mere description was horrifying enough to make Samuel shake his head.

    ¡°Medical officer, is there really no way?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°We not only have the creature to deal with but also the pirates.¡±

    The medical officer was someone with experience in treating others, not someone who would kill. Samuel knew this, but he was feeling too frustrated, so he asked anyway.

    ¡°¡­What about surrendering to the Space Dogs?¡±

    ¡°What? Haha, you have a good sense of humor. Will MegaCorp just leave us alone?¡±

    Samuel chuckled dryly at the joke, which was far from funny, but the medical officer had a serious expression.

    The Space Dogs were a pirate group known for their looting, and they had few sympathizers. With their constant warring against various races, the lives of Space Dog members were worth less than fleas.

    Consequently, they were always short on highly educated professionals, especially those essential for navigation andbat, such as doctors. And the medical officer was the most exceptional doctor on this ship.

    ¡°These rich guys only care about saving themselves.¡±

    The Space Dogs had a reputation for skinning the heads of any cartel they captured. Samuel, the richest man on the ship, did not want to be another mask in the cartel leader¡¯s collection.

    ¡°Put aside the pointless chatter and take care of the lower-ranked crew members. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Ahem.¡±

    Samuel gave the medical officer a cold look as he cleared his throat.

    With an imminent crisis at hand, there was no one reliable left. The soldiers were busy tidying up the control room, the officers were pondering countermeasures, and the medical officer seemed lost in thought.

    The only person he had somewhat trusted was now being carried out as a headless corpse.

    ¡°What should I do from here on¡­?¡±

    With a sigh, Samuel left themand center.

    They were all enduring a tough day, but they didn¡¯t yet know that hell had just begun.

    ***

    ¡®I¡¯ve eliminated most of the important figures.¡¯

    Samuel had left a formidable adversary behind, even though he was still far from being my rival.

    When Arnold, the sharpest mind among them, died, the future of the crew was sealed.

    Furthermore, the ship¡¯s top technician had also fallen into my hands. In other words, even if there were issues with the ship¡¯s operation machinery, it would be difficult to repair. Even if the AI reported a problem, it would take time to resolve.

    In the meantime, I had something to do.

    ¡®Expanding the hive.¡¯

    It was time to start infiltrating not only the venttion ducts but also the key facilities inside the ship. I needed to disable the high-level security AI-equipped ces, such as the armory and theboratory, before the enemies got organized.

    I didn¡¯t n to destroy these facilities personally. Instead, I would create new nests to contaminate them.

    ¡®The mucus from the spores is toxic to humans.¡¯

    I affectionately stroked a cute spore. It responded by releasing a sticky liquid. When the mucus solidified, it became difficult to break with conventional tools. Moreover, even if only a part was destroyed, it would regenerate instantly. It could only bepletely eliminated if the roots were destroyed with a weapon like a methrower.

    I had kept only one nest for so long because there was a limit to how many I could create. In the hatchling state, I could have only one nest, and in the metamorph state, I could add two more.

    That meant I could have a total of three nests right now. Since a nest was already in the cold storage, I could choose two more locations.

    ¡®Where should I put them?¡¯

    First and foremost, the dining hall was a priority. Eating was the most crucial element for human survival. cing a nest in the dining hall would contaminate the stored food and disrupt the enemy¡¯s supplies.

    The problem was where to put the other nest.

    ¡®Should it be in the armory or theboratory?¡¯

    The armory contained smaunchers. It was the right move to remove them immediately, considering it was a weapon that could end me. If I were a regr Amorph, I would have acted that way.

    ¡®But I¡¯m going to steal theuncher.¡¯

    The smauncher was incredibly heavy, making it impossible for an ordinary human to lift alone. However, I was an Amorph with four strong arms, and carrying it wouldn¡¯t be a problem.

    Due to my body structure, I couldn¡¯t use it as skillfully as a human, but I knew how to operate it, so there wouldn¡¯t be any major issues.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t n to do this, but¡­¡¯

    Arnold¡¯s words stuck with me.

    The one he served, Si-hyun Yujin, was a mystery. I don¡¯t know what kind of person they are, but it¡¯s clear they had some connection with the pirates. Perhaps they had infiltrated this ce among the pirates.

    There was nothing scarier than an unknown enemy. I needed to gather as many useful cards on my side as possible.

    ¡®I¡¯ll acquire only theuncher in the armory and ce the nest in theboratory.¡¯

    The reason for targeting theboratory was simple. It stored arge number of gic samples.

    Several races, including MegaCorp, possessed the technology to refine genes. Gathering only the essence of organisms and extracting it, even if I ate it, the predation effect would still be triggered.

    From this perspective, it might seem more convenient to target only gic samples. However, there was a significant drawback to this method.

    ¡®The probability is much lower.¡¯

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    Compared to the probability of gaining traits by eating regr organisms, it was less than 10%. Even the probability of the predation effect being triggered by eating a corpse was not high, and it would be even lower in this case. It was safe to say that it would be difficult to gain traits this way.

    ¡®Even if I eat all the samples in theb, it¡¯s not like I¡¯ll get more than five, right?¡¯

    Still, if I could secure just two physical-rted traits, I could be a physically enhanced type.

    To be a psychic-enhanced type, I need only one more trait rted to psychic powers, but the chances of obtaining one on this ship are slim.

    ¡®Plus, psyonium there too.¡¯

    Having psyonium would be essential for fighting the pirates as it will allow me to harness the abilities of the Ascendant.

    ¡®Now that I have a goal, should I start moving?¡¯

    Now was the time when the crew would be having their meals. I decided to ce a nest in theboratory first.

    I made my way straight to theboratory.

    Theboratory was much more chaotic than before. All the soldiers were deployed for the search, and there was not a single person guarding the ce. The strict security measures were still in ce, but the technical team, like the soldiers, was too preupied to pay attention to this area.

    I found a spot a little away from theboratory.

    ?Hello!?

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    I was about to excrete mucus from my mouth when someone called me. It was Bubble Amoeba Experiment Subject 26 in theboratory.

    ¡®You seem to be in a good mood.¡¯

    There was a lively energy emanating from its vibrations. I responded to it through the psychic organ at the back of my head.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZZ (Seems to be in a good mood)]

    ?Yeah! Not hurt!?

    ¡®Was there no experiment today?¡¯

    Come to think of it, with the ship in this state, the researchers were unlikely toe and go freely. They were probably all holed up in their rooms.

    ¡®In that case, shall I venture out a bit more boldly?¡¯

    I gradually moved higher within theboratory. The internal AI installed here detected the vibration and emitted a red light. By now, the ship¡¯s AI would have detected something abnormal and would havemunicated with the technical and security teams.

    ?What¡¯s up??

    [ZZZ (Wait)]

    ???

    I waited for about 30 minutes, but I didn¡¯t see a single person. I checked all the surrounding areas with the auxiliary sensors, but there was no approaching human.

    It was clear.

    The ship¡¯s security system had not been restored yet. There was no need to move stealthily anymore. I smashed the venttion duct and set my foot on theboratory floor.

    [ZZZZZZ (It¡¯s been a while)]

    ?Yeah.?

    Subject 26, whom I hadn¡¯t seen in a while, looked healthy. I had only seen it pale white before, but today, the distinct pink hue of the Bubble Amoeba was vivid.

    Seeing the creature happily frolic made me suddenly wonder.

    ¡®Should I take it with me?¡¯

    Subject 26 is the only living being on this ship with which I¡¯ve established a friendly rtionship.

    If it had possessed valuable genes, I would have captured it without hesitation, but it¡¯s a Bubble Amoeba. Unless it¡¯s in a situation where it needs to eat anything due to extreme nutrient deficiency, there¡¯s no reason to kill it.

    ¡®If it stays here, it will starve to death.¡¯

    We don¡¯t know when the researchers will return. Since Bubble Amoebas are immune to toxicity like space jellyfish, I could either leave it in a nest or take it with me. If it¡¯s food, I can give it some calorie bars or even human flesh.

    [ZZZZZZZZ (Want to go out?)]

    ?Go out? Where??

    [ZZZ ZZZZZZZ (Outside theb.)]

    ?Yeah! Want to go out.?

    That was a straightforward response. That settled Subject 26¡¯s fate.

    I signaled to be careful, then shattered the ss container. I reached out and grabbed the creature, which was about to be washed away along with the liquid inside.

    Having been immersed in a liquid for a long time, it seemed awkward for the creature to suddenly breathe fresh air. It shrank and swelled repeatedly before finally returning to its normal state.

    ?Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!?

    It seemed to quite enjoy the taste of freedom. It happily stuck to my arm. I gently stroked it with my smaller arms and then ced it on the floor for a moment.

    [ZZZZZZZZ (Wait.)]

    ?What are you doing??

    [ZZ ZZZZZZZ (Going to make a nest.)]

    While the creature watched me, I scattered mucus all around theboratory.

    Subject 26 followed me curiously, and, out of curiosity, it swallowed some of the mucus.

    However, it was immune to toxicity and seemed unaffected.

    Theboratory, once spotlessly clean, had transformed into the most contaminated space on this ship in just a few hours. The translucent mucus solidified into grotesque brown streaks, and disgusting fluids oozed from the numerous spores scattered everywhere. It no longer looked like aboratory but more like a cursed and decaying swamp.

    ¡®Theboratory is finished with this.¡¯

    Thanks to there being no one around, I was able to expand it quickly. I created nests muchrger than the venttion duct nests. However, I was suddenly famished. I smashed the test tubes and pulled out the brains and organs inside.

    ¡®It¡¯s not exactly delicious.¡¯

    Compared to humans, it didn¡¯t taste good. Rather than savoring the taste, I needed to focus on the nutritional supply.

    I thought of it as eating a tasteless hamburger as I bit into the brain. While I was munching away, Subject 26 climbed up onto my shoulder. It seemed hungry too, so I tore off a small piece and offered it. The creature happily epted and devoured it.

    After filling my stomach roughly, I checked the freezer. Inside wererge quantities of gic samples.

    I swept them up and put them directly into my mouth. The security rm on the wall was ring like crazy, but I ignored it.

    A semi-transparent text box popped up in front of me a few times, but I continued to ignore it and focused on eating. When I was about halfway done, my auxiliary sensors detected a person¡¯s approach.

    ¡®They¡¯re finally here.¡¯

    There were two approaching figures. One had a steady stride, likely a soldier, while the other was a civilian, probably a researcher. Even if a whole toon came, there would still be insufficient numbers. I wanted to snicker, but unfortunately, Amorph doesn¡¯t have a nose.

    I ceased what I was eating and left the freezer.

    ¡°Whoa?!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s¡­ what¡¯s this?!¡±

    The two standing at the entrance were gaping at the contaminatedb. They stood there in shock, even though they were calling for backup.

    The price of their foolishness was death.

    I hid among the brown tendrils and lunged at the soldier first. He was startled and aimed hisser rifle at me, but I could tell. My auxiliary system calcted his movements and the direction of the muzzle in an instant.

    As expected, theser missed and hit an unintended spot. Meanwhile, my tail did not miss. The toxin-filled sting crushed his ribcage and tore his lungs apart.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    The soldier coughed up blood once and bent his head down. He had yellow fluid flowing from his lower body, and the pungent smell of ammonia detected by my auxiliary system.

    I approached the researcher, who was now on the ground with no strength left in his legs.

    ¡°Heek, heeek heeeek! Spare me!¡±

    He was writhing on the ground. Yellow liquid oozed from his lower body, and the foul stench of ammonia reached my auxiliary sensors.

    I was about to finish him off when I felt Subject 26¡¯s excitement on my shoulder.

    [ZZ (Why are you doing this?)]

    ?It hurts! It hurts!?

    ¡®Ah, he¡¯s in pain?¡¯

    Subject 26¡¯s vocabry was limited, so I was momentarily confused. This person seemed to be one of the participants in the Bubble Amoeba experiment. He was likely experiencing anger because the person who tormented him was right in front of him.

    ¡®Bubble Amoebas can kill humans too.¡¯

    Subject 26 was about the size of a basketball, which meant it could easily melt down a human head.

    I lightly pricked the researcher with the tip of my tail. The toxin spread through his body, rendering him practically immobile. I ced Subject 26 on his head.

    ¡°!¡±

    Understanding my intent, Subject 26 spread itself wide, covering the researcher¡¯s head.

    Would the pitiful soldier who was instantly killed feel worse, or would the researcher who suffered the agony of his melting head before dying feel worse? In the end, what does it matter which process leads to death?

    While Subject 26 enjoyed its meal, I also feasted on the soldier¡¯s corpse. After that, there were no more visitors. Ipleted my first act of revenge, carrying Subject 26, and returned to the nest in theb.

    Behind us, the only thing left was the skeletal remains of a researcher¡¯s head.

    After finishing all the chores in theb, a new translucent text box appeared before me.

    [Currently, there is one potential specialized Type.]

    [Do you want to unlock the ¡®Physical Enhancement Type¡¯?]

    Having achieved my goal, I smiled.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19

    ¡®Lucky me.¡¯

    I acquired a total of three traits in theb. Despite consuming over 500 samples, the predation effect only triggered three times. It was an unlucky oue by any measure, but I was still satisfied.

    ¡®I met the conditions for type acquisition, and besides¡­¡¯

    Since I also secured useful traits. It¡¯s not just about filling up the numbers but also having traits that can be actively used inbat.

    The new traits I¡¯ve gained are ¡®Natural Regeneration¡¯, ¡®Serrated Tentacles¡¯, and ¡®Contamination Organ¡¯, totaling three.

    Among them, the ¡®Natural Regeneration¡¯ trait had merged with my robust vitality to be ¡®Regeneration (Fusion).¡¯

    ¡®I was aiming for psychic-rted traits next, and this worked out well.¡¯

    Amorph can¡¯t protect their body by wearing armor, so healing-rted traits were more valuable than anything else. With them, he could quickly recover from significant injuries.

    As long as I have the ¡®Regeneration¡¯ trait, I wouldn¡¯t die unless my brain is destroyed. It might take some time depending on the extent of the injury, but I would eventually recover.

    The only exceptions were attacks using psychic powers or special weapons.

    ¡®Serrated Tentacles and the Contamination Organ are good traits too.¡¯

    I focused my strength on the upper arms of mybat limbs. Thin, long tentacles with saw-like protrusions emerged from my palms. These tentacles, with serrated edges, could easily tear through a person as if they were slicing through butter.

    ¡®Normally, it¡¯s a trait I don¡¯t use much because of its fragility.¡¯

    But things would be different once I acquired the type. When upgraded by the Physical Enhancement Type, these serrated edges would be sturdy enough to pierce through the hull of a spaceship. Normal soldiers wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against them.

    I retracted the tentacles that had extended from my hands.

    ¡®Lastly, the Contamination Organ.¡¯

    This time, it was the lower arms¡¯ turn, not the upper ones.

    I bent down, cing my palm on the floor. Brown slime and clusters of spores flowed out from holes in my palm.

    The ¡®Contamination Organ¡¯, in simple terms, was a trait that turned me into a walking nest. Whenever I wanted, spores identical to those in the nest could be ejected.

    The difference was that with the Contamination Organ, I could apply some of my traits to the spores I created.

    In other words, I could create spores that emitted neurotoxic substances, produced acidic fluids, or enhanced the regenerative effects of my body. With this ability alone, it would be possible to turn the entire spaceship into my fortress. It was a perfect ability for dealing with powerful enemies.

    From tentacles to spores, any one of these abilities would terrify a sane human who witnessed them. However, I was extremely satisfied. After checking the new traits one by one, I temporarily set down 26 on my shoulder.

    A translucent text box was waiting for my response. I had only one response to give.

    ¡®ept.¡¯

    As soon as I epted, changes began in my body. Bones twisted, breaking through the chitinous exoskeleton. The outeryer swelled up like it had absorbed water.

    Since it was all a natural change, there was no blood or pain involved. It felt like the surface skin and muscles were adjusting to the transformation, simr to stretching.

    Unlike when I evolved into a fluid, the transformation due to the type didn¡¯t take long. After the mutation wasplete, the translucent text box appeared before me again.

    [Race: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph

    Status: Metamorph

    Objective: Survive (1st Evolution Sessful)

    Possessed Traits ¨C Physical Rted (Applied Type): Wings, Chitinous Exoskeleton, Regeneration (Fusion), Neurotoxin nds (Fusion), Reinforced Exoskeleton, Acidic Blood, Enhanced Reflexes, Mimicry, Serrated Tentacles, Contamination Organ.

    ¨C Psychic Rted: Predator Sense (Fusion), Psychic Organ .

    Type: Physical Enhancement Type]

    [Currently, there is only one type avable for specialization]

    [Psychic Enhancement Type (2/6)]

    Upon acquiring the first type, the traits were ressified ording to the type requirements.

    Thanks to obtaining the Physical Enhancement Type, there was a message next to the physical-rted traits stating, ¡®Type Applied¡¯.

    Furthermore, looking below, I noticed that the number of required traits to secure the Psychic Enhancement Type had increased from 3 to 6.

    ¡®Tsk. Type penalty.¡¯

    I knew it, but seeing it now made me slightly disappointed. Amorph could acquire types without any restrictions, but with each increase in the number of types held, there was a penalty.

    The required number of traits to obtain a new type doubled. For example, if I had obtained the Psychic Enhancement Type first, the required number of traits for the Physical Enhancement Type would increase from 10 to 20.

    Alternatively, if I unlocked a different type from my current situation before the Psychic Enhancement Type, it would require 12 traits for the Psychic Enhancement Type.

    ¡®So, there are cases where you deliberately dy unlocking types.¡¯

    It¡¯s because haphazardly unlocking less efficient types could lead to a situation where you can¡¯t acquire the important ones.

    If this were a game, I would have put more thought into the timing of type acquisition. The increase in the restriction for obtaining difficult-to-acquire psychic-rted traits to 6 was burdensome.

    But here, it was reality, and a battle with pirates awaited me. There was imminent danger, and procrastinating to get stronger and then dying would be pointless.

    ¡®Okay, enough of that. Let¡¯s see what has changed.¡¯

    For a while, I would have to rely on the Physical Enhancement Type, so I needed to check how much I had improved.

    The first sensation I felt was heaviness.

    Previously, I felt agile and flexible, but now it was different. My entire body felt heavy and solid. How should I describe it? It felt like going from a leopard to a rhinoceros.

    ¡®Well, it¡¯s inevitable. Given the additions I¡¯ve got.¡¯

    Currently, my head was covered with thick armor simr to the exoskeleton of the chest. My arms and legs, apart from the joints, were wrapped in thick, sturdy biological armor.

    Perhaps to support the increased weight of my body, I had grown a bit taller. My height, which used to be around 1 meter, was now over 1 meter 50 centimeters. Legs with the Enhanced Reflexes trait had be much thickerpared to other parts.

    I tried cing my hand on the wall, and I could still climb the wall or crawl on the ceiling. However, there was no way to avoid the thudding sound. The strategy of killing the sound and ambushing the enemy became impossible.

    Finally, one of my main weapons, the tail, had also grown under the influence of the type.

    The length of the tail was just shy of 2 meters. It has almost doubled in size now.

    ¡®It¡¯s a medium-range attack method. That¡¯s great.¡¯

    There had been several asions when I was in danger because of the distance when ambushing the enemy.

    To me, both the tentacles and the tail were like a godsend.

    ?It¡¯s big! Big!?

    While examining my body, 26, who was beside me, showed signs of astonishment. From its perspective, it must have seemed like I had suddenly grown.

    [ZZZZ (It¡¯s grown)]

    ?Grown? What do you mean??

    [ZZZZZZZ ZZZZZ (The offspring has be an adult)]¡±

    ?Offspring? It¡¯s a baby. A big baby! Baby!?

    26 repeated the word ¡®baby¡¯ while looking at me.

    ¡®It called me a baby.¡¯

    Well, it wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. Biologically speaking, as a metamorph, I could be considered an immature organism, so the definition of ¡®baby¡¯ was quite fitting.

    Of course, the parents raising an Amorph baby would probably want to die.

    I¡¯d like to exin more about my changes, but it seems impossible to match it with its limited vocabry. I¡¯ll teach it when it learns to speak properly someday.

    I lifted 26, who was hopping around energetically, back onto my shoulder to head to our next destination.

    ?Baby, where are we going??

    Thunking footsteps echoed through the corridor. If there had been crew members here, I wonder how they would have reacted to the sight. Would they burst into tears at the sight of a monster they couldn¡¯t handle? Or would they rush to the escape pods?

    ¡®Well, let¡¯s find out now.¡¯

    Regardless of what happens, one thing is certain.

    They will regret andment ever getting on this ship and wonder why they thought of boarding it.

    ***

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ***

    A day had passed since the disaster in the bridge¡¯smand center

    .

    At any other time, the crew members would have mourned for those who had met a tragic end, but right now, they couldn¡¯t afford to.

    The rumors were gradually spreading, and the Metallic Gremlin, or rather, something even more terrifying, was swiftly devouring the life forms inside the ship.

    Humans are resilient creatures, but when faced with something unbearable, they lose their minds.

    Less than a day after the disaster, another attack by the monsters urred. This time, It invaded the cafeteria, ughtering over fifty unarmed soldiers.

    With more than half of the defending forces onboard the research vessel dead, Captain Samuel locked himself in his quarters with the remaining soldiers.

    Officially, it was stated as concentrating defense in one location, but in reality, it was abandoning the remaining personnel. The number of abandoned individuals was rapidly decreasing.

    Inside the research ship, shrouded in an unknown and monstrous presence from outside the cosmos or born from experiments, it was hell.

    The medical room¡¯s recovery chamber.

    Dr. Wei, the Temporary officer of the research team, was inside.

    Thanks to MegaCorp¡¯s advanced medical technology, he could quickly regain consciousness. However, it also meant that he had to face the situation he did not want to confront.

    Permanent loss of vision and sense of smell, half of his facial skin damaged, loss of taste due to residual effects of neurotoxin, and severe speech impairment.

    Wei wanted to believe that he was having a nightmare. Why did he have to suffer such agony? He was just a kind human who had lived a life simr to others at MegaCorp. Of course, not without being responsible for the deaths of quite a few who had worked under him to reach the position of senior researcher, but that¡¯s how they all lived.

    Inpetition, losing meant dying.

    Wei wanted to end his own life, but the life support devices in the recovery chamber wouldn¡¯t let him. The only action permitted to him was to look down at his pitiful state.

    In this manner, suffering every second and every hour, he btedly noticed the changes around him. The sounds of doctors that had tormented his ears until a moment ago hadpletely disappeared. Apart from the signal sound produced by the vital check machine, there was absolute silence.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on? What happened?¡¯

    In a medical room with critical patients, this kind of silence was never a good sign.

    The endless, eerie silence was shattered by the sound of something moving. Wei initially thought it was the sound ofbat boots. But it wasn¡¯t. The footsteps were much heavier than those of a human, causing the entire medical room to vibrate with each thud.

    Thump, thump, thump, echoing throughout the medical room.

    With each vibration, Wei¡¯s body trembled violently. An unfriendly presence was approaching, and he wanted to flee, but he couldn¡¯t. The painkillers automatically administered by the life support devices rendered his body unresponsive.

    Then, the footsteps finally ceased.

    Wei, unable to see, could still sense that it was nearby. Its breath, its growling. He had an intuition that the thing beside him was the same monster that had attacked him in themand center.

    It hade all the way here to end his life.

    Initially terrified by the strange sensation of something crawling on his head, Wei had expected it to kill him. However, his expectations were way off.

    The entity now atop his head was squishy and soft. It flowed down his entire head like chocte syrup drizzled over a round bun. The sensation was utterly out of ce, and for a moment, Wei was perplexed.

    But then, he felt excruciating pain throughout his face. It was as if someone was branding his face with fire. In the sensation of his head melting away, he silently screamed.

    ¡®Ugh, agh! Someone, please! Someone, end me!¡¯

    If it weren¡¯t for the oxygen respirator attached to his mouth, Wei would have suffocated in less than five minutes. Or if the painkillers and healing agents being injected into his body weren¡¯t there, he would have gone into shock immediately.

    Ironically, all these factors were working against Wei¡¯s desire for a quick death. Fate didn¡¯t allow him a peaceful end.

    It took an hour before Wei was granted release.

    ***

    [Are you done eating?]

    ?Yeah.?

    I lifted 26, who had finished its meal and revenge, onto my hand. Over the course of a day, it has gained quite a bit of weight.

    [How does it feel to have taken revenge?]

    ?Revenge? What¡¯s revenge??

    [You ate the one who tormented you.]

    ?Food. Tasty.?

    It seemed like 26 didn¡¯t possess higher-level emotions like revenge. Either it hadn¡¯t learned it yet or it was inherently impossible for it to think that way.

    ¡®But this is reality, so who knows.¡¯

    Originally, a creature that couldn¡¯t even speak was now conversing casually. Moreover, considering how researchers were particrly interested in it, there must be something unique about it.

    ¡®It¡¯s not evolving into a Seed Demon or anything, right?¡¯

    Seed Demons were creatures that, like Bubble Amoebas, existed only on the Ocean. They resembled Bubble Amoebas in appearance, but were over 30 meters in size and had numerous tentacles hidden inside their bodies.

    Because of their simr appearance, there were often discussions in themunity about whether Bubble Amoebas and Seed Demons were rted. Of course, in this game, there was more than one creature that looked simr, so such ims were meaningless.

    Number 26, who had no idea what I was thinking, emitted a signal towards me.

    ?Hey, I¡¯m full?

    A faint light emanated from its body. To the best of my knowledge, that expression meant it was tired.

    Now, with it looking more chubby than chubby, I lifted it onto my shoulder and left the medical room.

    Outside the medical room, in the corridor, there was no sign of the cleanliness and futuristic appearance that had been there before.

    The corridor was filled with dirty, mold-like brown stems. From the ceiling and walls, spores were being spread like watering a cursed garden teeming with life. It looked more like the interior of a decaying, insect-infested tree trunk than a metallic conduit.

    Having taken control of half the ship, I set out to find my next prey.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20

    The age where the endless expanse of space above our heads has be a reality.

    In space, humanity was divided into two major factions: MegaCorp and StarUnion. Both were powerful enough to control dozens or even hundreds of star systems, but in the vast and expansive universe, they were mere specks of dust.

    Infinite space, filled with countless gxies and celestial bodies, extended beyond their reach. For example, C-08 was one such ce.

    In this uncharted territory untouched by MegaCorp, StarUnion, or any other sentient beings, hostile entities lurked in groups.

    C-08 was an area managed by the Space Dogs, a particrly ruthless cartel among them.

    The Dvara Cartel.

    Notorious raiders were currently ravaging the neers who had entered their territory.

    ¡°Help, please!¡±

    ¡°Gahhh!¡±

    The agonized cries filled the luxurious interior of the passenger ship. Inside the vessel, armed guardsy lifeless alongside innocent victims.

    ¡°Take everything they have!¡±

    ¡°Kill the men and vite the women!¡±

    The ruthless raiders were anything but ordinary. Some had ant-like heads, while others had half-machine bodies. Some carried loot, while others dragged noblewomen away with sinister grins, disappearing into the unknown.

    Although the raiders¡¯ appearances and actions were diverse, they all shared onemon trait.

    A crimson clover tattooed near their shoulders, signifying allegiance to Elchen Dvara, the leader of the Dvara Cartel.

    The members of the Dvara Cartel were all former soldiers, mercenaries, or criminals, making them a burly bunch.

    They all boasted above-average, muscr bodies, but one among them stood out.

    Standing at a towering 3 meters tall, his entire body was covered in muscles. His head resembled a lion with red mane-like hair and bestial ears. His right eye and arm were cybeic.

    A hybrid of human, beast, and machine, he was none other than Elchen Dvara, the head of arge family of 50 people.

    Seated diagonally in the captain¡¯s chair, he watched disinterestedly as his subordinates plundered. Next to his chair, heaps of spoils collected by his subordinates were piled up, but he showed no interest whatsoever.

    ¡®These measly riches. What a waste of effort.¡¯

    As Elchen was sticking out his tongue, he locked eyes with one of the captives who had been led away by his subordinates. The captive, or rather, the ship¡¯s captain, shouted upon seeing Elchen.

    ¡°Look here, Captain! How can you do this to us?¡±

    Elchen replied, ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°We hired your mercenary group for protection! Is this how you protect us?¡±

    Elchen, a hulking mutant from MegaCorp, stood out even among the other cartel leaders. Those unfamiliar with him might be surprised by his gically altered appearance, but Elchen¡¯s true weapon was not his physique.

    Elchen¡¯s true weapon was his cunningness.

    He was a member of the Space Dogs cartel but had brazenly registered as a mercenary under MegaCorp. His preferred tactic was to turn against his employers when he deemed them gullible.

    ¡°You foolish idiot. Who hires mercenaries for protection anyway?¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    ¡°Do you think we¡¯re friends? It¡¯s absurd to expect that aplete stranger you¡¯ve paid a few bucks to will solve all your problems.¡±

    ¡°You shameless¡­!¡±

    ¡°Why are you acting this way? You¡¯re just trying to save money, too. MegaCorp swine always act like this.¡±

    ¡°You son of a¡­¡±

    There was no obligation to respond to the losers¡¯ barking. Elchen responded to the captain¡¯s curses by merely turning a deaf ear.

    ¡°By now, the MegaCorp Defense Force must have received the distress signal and mobilized! When they arrive, all of you will face execution!¡±

    ¡°Oh, how terrifying. Go ahead, take them away.¡±

    ¡°Profit! It¡¯s not worth killing all of you. I¡¯ll tell the defense force myself to turn all of you into hulk mutants!¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    Elchen¡¯s eyebrows twitched. The tuft of fur between his beast-like ears quivered, as if expressing his difort. He despised the idea of turning them into Hulk mutants because he had been forcibly subjected to gic modification by MegaCorp.

    The foolish captain had touched a nerve.

    Elchen rose from his seat and approached the captain. When his subordinate, who had been holding the captain, extended his hand, he pulled a machete from his belt and handed it to Elchen.

    The machete,monly known as a jungle sword, looked like a mere dagger in his hands, given his towering height of over 3 meters. His appearance was quite, if not extremely, intimidating, causing the captain to swallow hard.

    ¡°W-what is it?¡±

    ¡°Hey there, Captain. It seems you¡¯re not well-versed in MegaCorp mercenaryws, so let me educate you.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°If mercenaries betray their employers during a mission, it¡¯s a grave offense. But it¡¯s invalid if there are no witnesses to prove it, you know?¡±

    ¡°What are you saying?¡±

    ¡°You called in the Defense Force, didn¡¯t you? What a waste of effort. There¡¯s no one here to exin your side of the story.¡±

    The captain¡¯s face turned pale as he understood the implications.

    ¡°A-are you nning to exterminate us?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about such noble phrasing. But there¡¯s one thing for sure¡­¡±

    Elchen grabbed the captain¡¯s hair ruthlessly. Despite the captain¡¯s screams of pain and futile kicks, they were no match for the monstrous muscles before him.

    ¡°My hobby involves stripping the skins off MegaCorp swine.¡±

    The machete in Elchen¡¯s hand gleamed ominously.

    By the time his hobby was over, there were no living humans left inside the passenger ship. As always, after the looting was done, there was nothing but an unpleasant silence.

    While his subordinates cleaned up, Elchen returned to his training room. The pirates who had been guarding the ship all came out to wee him.

    ¡°Have you returned?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Handle things as usual.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    The deputy captain disappeared somewhere with the face skin Elchen had thrown. After undergoing some proper treatment, that face skin was intended to adorn Elchen¡¯s throne.

    ¡°Come to think of it, don¡¯t we have more to do today?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re off the hook. Bring Garlic.¡±

    A littleter, a petite woman with ck hair and sses was brought in by the subordinate. She was the Cartel¡¯s ace known as Garlic, owing to her exceptional intelligence. Her colleagues nicknamed her that because she was rumored to always smell like garlic.

    With her long hair flowing and shoulders hunched, Garlic, who appeared timid to anyone, greeted Elchen with a trembling voice.

    ¡°Oh, hello? Boss, You¡­you called?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s some work around here, right? What happened?¡±

    ¡°Well, I was supposed to meet someone around here today, but they suddenly lost contact, so¡­¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    As Elchen frowned, Garlic visibly shrank. If it had been another subordinate, they would have been swiftly dealt with, but Garlic was the smartest person in the cartel. She was a woman of unknown origin, but her intelligence and obedience had earned her Elchen¡¯s favor.

    Elchen calmed his anger and asked her to exin.

    ¡°Exin properly.¡±

    ¡°Uh, I have an acquaintance on the research ship led by Captain Samuel. They asked me to help with the disposal of a body that came from there.¡±

    ¡°Samuel¡¯s family? What brings them all the way here? Well, fine. So, who¡¯s the body?¡±

    ¡°Um, it¡¯s a Noble Capital body. A woman from the Yujin family¡­¡±

    Titan¡¯s Third Capital asking for the disposal of a corpse from Earth¡¯s Noble Capital, that was quite an imbnce considering their status difference.

    ¡°Those crazy bastards. How much are they offering?¡±

    ¡°Well, during thestmunication, they said they could give one million credits.¡±

    ¡°A million?¡± Elchen chuckled.

    He knew well how meticulous the Noble Capitals were in handling bodies. Even if they offered 10 million or 100 million credits, it was an uneptable condition.

    ¡°There¡¯s a conspiracy here.¡±

    Elchen had been aware of the uneasy atmosphere within MegaCorp recently. Rumors had been circting that the old king of Earth¡¯s Yujin family was being challenged by the young blood of Mars¡¯ Eden family.

    Although it had nothing to do with Elchen, he still smelled money.

    The primary business of the Eden family was ship development, but secretly, they were focusing a lot of effort on gic modification. What Elchen knew was that he was secretly developing a prototype of a new Hulk mutant, directly from the Eden family.

    ¡®Wait a minute. What if I intercept the body and hand it over to Eden?¡¯

    He didn¡¯t know the identity of the body, but if it was from the Yujin family, it was obvious they had undergone some extreme gic modification. Being practically a living relic from the Earth¡¯s Noble Capital, they would certainly pay a fortune.

    Of course, Elchen despised the Eden family, but personal grudges and credits were separate matters.

    ¡®Actually, if I do this, it might lead to a showdown between Eden and Yujin, and both of them will be screwed.¡¯

    Determined to loot the body, Elchen asked Garlic again.

    ¡°Communication went down, you say? Was it an attack?¡±

    ¡°That¡­that I¡¯m not sure about¡­¡±

    ¡®Whoever they are, they must be pretty audacious to cause such amotion in our territory, right?¡¯

    Garlic, having sensed that her boss was lost in thought, quietly withdrew. After the cleanup was finished and his subordinates returned, Elchen gave the order.

    ¡°As soon as the cleanup is done, we¡¯ll depart. Our destination is Samuel¡¯s ship. Prepare formunication tracking.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    As his subordinates moved efficiently, Elchen pondered his next steps.

    Once the cleanup wasplete, and the returning subordinates were aboard, the Dvara Assault Ship disappeared from the spot at superluminal speed.

    The remaining passenger ship soon exploded and turned into cosmic dust, leaving no trace of the unfortunate souls that had been here.

    ***

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    ***

    ¡®Hmm?¡¯

    I woke up from my rest, and there was a slight impact outside the ship. I thought it might be a collision with space debris, but it seemed too artificial, as if someone were knocking on the ship¡¯s door.

    ¡°It¡¯s them.¡±

    I focused my senses linked to the nest on the location of the impact. I could feel the ship¡¯s hull like my own body, and the outline of the one causing the impact became clear.

    Unlike the round and oval research ships, this one had a long, sleek design that reminded me of ck. The surface of the ship was painted with red clovers.

    ¡®No one would graffiti a ship like this except the Space Dogs.¡¯

    The battleship was attempting a forced docking with the research ship, pushing against the damaged outer wall. Through the breach, a few individuals entered the research ship.

    ¡®They¡¯re fast.¡¯

    Their actions were impable, typical of professional military personnel. Once they entered the research ship, their destination was clear: the bridge.

    ¡®Whether they¡¯re smart or just in foolish¡­¡¯

    Any typical sentient being would hesitate in a situation where it was evident that the ship was in an abnormal state. But they acted without hesitation.

    The current state of the Samuel¡¯s research ship was so distorted that it would be difficult to recognize its original form. Even this pinnacle of advanced engineering designed to withstand the harsh conditions of space had be useless in the face of Amorph¡¯s presence.

    The smoothly polished alloy corridors had deteriorated to the point where the brownish stems jutted out like veins. The ceiling and floor relentlessly dripped a mixture of neurotoxins and corrosive substances. The melted alloy sections were now filled with the nest¡¯s secretions.

    Without someone to tell them that this ce was a ship, no one would think it was anything other than a naturally formed structure.

    In a way, this ce could be considered a kind of garden, specially created for a specific entity.

    The owner of this garden was me, The Amorph.

    Like tomb raiders seeking treasure, they were blinded by greed. They didn¡¯t even know where they had set foot.

    I am currently lying in the second nest installed in theboratory, monitoring the intruders. The unsuspecting intruders were manipting themunication system on the bridge. Through the nest, the enhanced psychic device read the flow of their radio waves.

    [Bridge secured. But something¡¯s strange.]

    [What is it?]

    ¡°There¡¯s no one on the ship, and strange trees are growing.¡±

    [Trees? Where would there be nts in space?]

    [It¡¯s real, boss.]

    [That little shit. I¡¯ll go check it myself. Or else, get ready to have your head smashed.]

    [¡­Yes.]

    The one speaking with a punk-like attitude must be the leader. The leader had an unmistakable presence that set him apart from the others.

    ¡®A Hulk Mutant¡¯

    The sound of two high-powered hearts beating could be heard from his body. Seeing faint radio waves flowing over his skin, it seemed like he had imnted multiple mechanical devices.

    Following the leader, others also infiltrated the research ship one by one. I checked each of them as they crossed over.

    ¡®A pheromone ising from his body; he¡¯s an Insectman. Instead of a heartbeat, this one makes machine noises. A StarUnion cyborg. A multispecies cartel. That¡¯s convenient.¡¯

    The conditions for evolving into an ascendant entity required killing ten individuals of two different species each, whose gic material I would consume. Currently, I had filled half of them as humans, so the rest needed to be filled with ten individuals from a different species.

    ¡®So far, the Star Union has the most with twelve, but what will happen now?¡¯

    In the game, it didn¡¯t matter how they were treated as different races, but in reality, who knows. ording to the settings, they were still considered humans, so whether to treat them as humans or an independent race would have to be determined by trying it out.

    Continuing to wait, the number of individuals who entered the research ship was a total of twenty-nine. I thought that was the end, but one more human crossed over at the end.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    The individual seemed extremely ordinary. So, I initially didn¡¯t pay much attention, but upon a second look, I felt something strange.

    ¡®Can a person be this ordinary?¡¯

    So far, I¡¯ve devoured over a hundred humans, but among them, there hasn¡¯t been a single one with a normal or average body condition. Every human had unique movements and sounds, like fingerprints.

    However, the neer is different. Their body is anything but ordinary, almost as if someone calcted the average for all humans and produced this person like a machine-made copy of ¡®normal¡¯.

    In summary, the individual¡¯s body was arbitrary. Instead of a brain, there was aputer in their head, so they were meticulously ¡®pretending¡¯ to be average.

    ¡®¡­A noteworthy character. Let¡¯s remember that.¡¯

    With the arrival of this suspicious individual, no one else entered the ship. Now, it¡¯s my turn.

    I disengaged from the nest and got up. Number 26, who had been resting nearby, reacted to my movements.

    ?Hey, where are you going, baby??

    [ZZZZ (Going out)]

    ?I¡¯ll go with you.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (It¡¯s dangerous, so stay here)]

    It puffed up its body as if it disliked the idea, but I couldn¡¯t amodate it. From now on, I was going to the enemy battleship.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Instead, protect that thing)]

    ?That thing??

    I pointed to the smauncher ced in the corner. Ironically, this weapon made by humans for ughtering humans was resting afterpleting its mission.

    [Zoom Zoom Zoom (Important)]

    ?Yeah! Trust me, baby!?

    Trust, huh? I wonder if Number 26 knows what that means. Anyway, it seemed to like the idea of being given an important mission and hopped around happily.

    With its farewell, I left the cooling room. The enemy¡¯s guard was weakened, and this was the only opportunity to disable the battleship. By destroying the battleship¡¯s power source, I could make retreat impossible for the enemy.

    Afterward, the enemy had two choices. They could split their forces to guard both the research ship and the battleship, or they could concentrate their manpower on one of the ships.

    Because they are greedy, they wouldn¡¯t want to miss out on either option. They¡¯d likely divide into a raiding party and a defense party. When their forces were dispersed, that¡¯s when my hunt would begin.

    It¡¯s always been like that.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21

    Infiltrating the gship wasn¡¯t too challenging. While they had some security measures in ce, they were rather rudimentary, especially whenpared to the research ship.

    ¡®Well, they are pirates.¡¯

    These individuals were ustomed to piging, so they probably didn¡¯t consider the possibility of being looted themselves. My subdermal imnt, located beneath my chin, started tracking the vibrations. The heart of the metallic gship wasn¡¯t too far away.

    Having confirmed the location of the reactor, I sprinted down the corridor. The gship¡¯s corridor was surprisingly messy for what was supposed to be a military vessel. It seemed like they had patched it together using parts from other ships, resulting in walls of different colors and boxes of plunder scattered about haphazardly.

    It was like running through a garbage dump, and I sensed movement from the enemy. Two of them, to be exact¡ªone human and one insectoid.

    ¡®Let¡¯s take care of this right here.¡¯

    I crouched behind some nearby boxes. As their footsteps drew closer, my tail took precise aim at the human¡¯s throat.

    ¡°Keh!¡±

    ¡°!¡±

    A fountain of blood erupted from the severed neck, leaving the insectoid in shock at the sight of his fallenrade.

    While a regr person might have gone into shock, this individual was clearly a pirate, and he reached for hismunication device.

    I extended my palm, and the de-tipped tentacles shot out, coiling around his wrist. The sharp des on the tentacles mercilessly tore into his flesh.

    ¡°Kyaah!¡±

    His forearm became a gruesome sight, ground into pulp by the tentacles. Themunication device he had pulled out fell to the floor, unutilized.

    Upon retracting the tentacles, now coated in the insectoid¡¯s green blood, the items stuck to their surface were absorbed into my body. The taste was different from that of human blood.

    ¡°It¡¯s like grape vor.¡±

    While human blood had a stimting taste, the insectoid¡¯s blood had a refreshing fruity vor. I wished I had more time to savor it, but the circumstances didn¡¯t allow for it. I focused my strength and lunged at him. It was a short charge, but with my enhanced physique, it packed a substantial punch. The insectoid was mmed against the corridor wall.

    ¡°Kek!¡±

    A short scream and the sound of bones snapping echoed through the corridor. If he had been human, he would probably have gone into shock, but this insectoid disyed tenacious resilience. He was still alive and struggling to escape.

    Using my lower tentacles, I pinned down his arms, while the upper ones gripped both sides of his head.

    ¡°Kyaah! Spare¡­ keh.¡±

    I was growing tired of hearing pleas for mercy. I applied force to my gripping tentacles, tearing his head apart. The corridor was now painted in green blood.

    I didn¡¯t bother with the human corpse and quickly devoured the insectoid¡¯s body.

    ¡®As expected, NPC species don¡¯t count.¡¯

    In the game, the insectoids were ssified as sentient beings, but they were an unyable alien race. As such, they didn¡¯t count toward my evolutionary progress.

    ¡®Let¡¯s just have this and move on.¡¯

    I would have savored the moment under different circumstances, but there was still much to be done. I swiftly chewed and swallowed the insectoid¡¯s meat.

    After licking up the blood on the floor, I neatly stashed the human corpse inside one of the boxes.

    [Patrol team, what¡¯s going on? Why no response?]

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±

    [Then answer quickly, you brat. Get out of there.]

    ¡°Sorry.¡±

    I gave a brief response to themunicator that insectoid had dropped before dying. Thanks to my mimicry ability, the other side had no idea that the owner of themunicator was already inside me.

    After concluding the short battle, I resumed my journey towards the reactor. Along the way, I didn¡¯t encounter any new enemies.

    It would have been nice if the security around the reactor had been equallyx, but my wish remained unfulfilled. Android security guards were patrolling the area around the reactor. These guys, who seemed to spare no expense on security, had suddenly deployed expensive androids here. It appeared they had ced the spoils of their raids here.

    ¡®Androids can be quite troublesome.¡¯

    Destroying them isn¡¯t a problem in itself, but whates afterward is. The moment I attack, the android will send a signal to the central AI of the ship. Unless I¡¯m prepared for a full-scale battle, I should avoid confronting the androids.

    ¡®How should I deal with this?¡¯

    The auxiliary organ under my chin squirmed as it searched for a weak point in their defenses. Unlike humans, androids had no significant vulnerabilities due to their mechanical nature. Moving around on the ceiling or walls as I had done on the research vessel was not an option since androids had heat tracking devices.

    ¡®I don¡¯t necessarily have to face them head-on.¡¯

    I turned back and headed upstairs towards the reactor. Passing through rusty metal stairs and chaotic corridors, I arrived at someone¡¯s bedroom.

    The bedroom had a nauseating and foul odor. The mattress used as a bed was discolored, and empty bottles were scattered on the floor.

    Using my four hands, I lifted the mattress. The insects hiding beneath it were taken by surprise and scurried away.

    ¡®This should do.¡¯

    I stood in the spot where the mattress had been and used my lower hands to extract spores from below. The acidic secretions from the spores began to dissolve the floor. A pungent smoke rose, and the dirty metal quickly developed holes.

    Beneath the holes, I could see the upper part of the reactor. If it had been a human, they would have noticed the reactor¡¯s upper level melting away, but my opponent was an android. It was vulnerable to unexpected situations because it operated ording to predefined programs.

    ¡®I¡¯ll clear the engine with this.¡¯

    I poured the spores upwards toward the reactor.

    ***

    It had been ten years since Elchen Davara started pirating.

    A Hulk Mutant involved in piracy, no one could have expected Elchen to continue her activities for so long.

    Originally, Hulk mutants had short lifespans; their genes were manipted to ensure they died within two years.

    If he hadn¡¯t been an improved Hulk Mutant by Eden, he would have surely died not long after. Even if he had survived, if his intelligence hadn¡¯t been up to par, he wouldn¡¯t havested this long.

    Elchen has surpassed both of these adverse conditions. He has be a respected figure among the space-dogs, even an elder statesman.

    Seeing what is happening in front of him right now is quite shocking, even for Elchen, who has been through all sorts of trials and tribtions.

    [Request for assistance! This is themand center! The intruder is attempting to break down the door!]

    [Damn it! We don¡¯t have any personnel to send!]

    [No, I don¡¯t want to die!]

    [Where¡¯s the captain? Where¡¯s the officer!?]

    [The officer died earlier! Get yourself together!]

    [Hehe. We¡¯re all dead. Hehehe.]

    [Anyone with remaining ammunition!]

    [It¡¯s breaking into the room! Prepare forbat!]

    [Damn it! It¡¯s a smoke grenade!]

    [It¡¯s inside¡­ Aaah!]

    [Aaaah!]

    [Save us¡­ Ugh!]

    With screams as the final notes, the recorded video on themand centerputer came to an end. The hologram turned off, but no one in the room dared to speak.

    ¡®What in the world is happening?¡¯

    When Elchen first boarded the ship, he found it strange. Apart from the odd vegetation growing everywhere, the most ring issue was theplete absence of any people.

    Even if they had all died due to an attack, there should have been traces on the walls or the floor. Bloodstains, shell casings, something. However, there was none of that on this ship. It was as if the research ship had been a ghost ship from the very beginning, with no human traces whatsoever.

    Elchen realized he needed to learn more about the attackers. So, he gave orders to his subordinates to dig through the recorded footage and gather information about the situation.

    The result was the video he had just watched.

    The individuals who had been holed up in themand center, facing an unknown adversary, appeared to be in dire straits, even to the ruthless pirate Elchen.

    Even beforeing here, they had experienced several battles, and few among them were unscathed. Some were missing limbs, while others had lost their minds.

    The video ended with themand center¡¯s door being breached, and it wasn¡¯t hard to imagine what had happened to them.

    ¡°y the footage from before this.¡±

    Elchen instructed one of his subordinates, who then yed the previously recorded video.

    [This is themand center. B3. Join us as soon as maintenance isplete.]

    [The path isplex. Everyone, move cautiously.]

    On the screen, a muscr soldier with short hair was giving orders via amunication device. Several individuals in fancy attire stood beside the soldier.

    The yback showed the process of their first encounter with the unidentified creature and their subsequent search.

    ¡®The soldier is likely responsible for the ship¡¯s defense. And the one in the delicate attire in the back, is that Captain Samuel?¡¯

    It started off calmly, but the atmosphere quickly changed. Screams of soldiers echoed through themunication device, and the leaders in themand center began to panic.

    ¡®The dispatched troops have been wiped out.¡¯

    Elchen had thought that, but the situation was not over yet. What happened next left him truly astonished.

    While the leaders were in turmoil, the unknown creature suddenly burst forth.

    ¡®Is it going to attack here?¡¯

    Elchen wondered where it hade from, but the creature seemed to attack indiscriminately, killing people as it moved. The white temple floating above the ck sea of stars was stained with blood.

    The person who managed to momentarily stop the creature was the soldier who had been leading the troops. He drew a sma pistol from his holster and fired at the creature.

    Unlike before, the creature reacted differently to the soldier¡¯s weapon. It seemed to recognize the soldier¡¯s weapon as a threat and retreated, deploying a smoke screen from a hidden source beforeunching an attack on the soldier.

    ¡®It¡¯s intelligent.¡¯

    Not just intelligent, but highly intelligent, a high-risk organism. Elchen, who had been exposed to various life forms through gic modification procedures, had an intuition that this creature was the first of its kind discovered in this universe.

    If MegaCorp had known of such a dangerous creature¡¯s existence, they would have captured it and extracted its gic material long ago.

    Nevertheless, the battle between the creature and the soldier ended with the creature¡¯s victory. It was more the soldier¡¯s misfortune than his mistake. A stray shot from one of the soldiers had caused significant damage to the soldier, ultimately leading to his defeat.

    The creature, seemingly aware that reinforcements were on the way, retreated immediately after killing the soldier.

    ***

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    ***

    ¡®Damn it.¡¯

    When Elchen had decided to take on this task, his main concern had been the Noble Capital, particrly how to deal with retaliation from the Yujin family. However, after watching the video, it seemed they should be more concerned about safely retrieving the bodies from the ship.

    ¡°Hey, Garlic.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir?¡±

    Elchen called for Garlic, who had been lost in thought while staring at the hologram. She returned to her usual timid demeanor upon being addressed.

    ¡°They lost contact only yesterday, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. The original n was for us to meet them yesterday. However, since the ship didn¡¯t arrive, we spent a day searching.¡±

    During the journey, Elchen had already obtained the personnel records of the research ship.

    There were a total of 222 people on board, with 96 of them being soldiers. If Elchen ordered it, his subordinates could eliminate them all within half a day.

    ¡®The problem is that we don¡¯t know the creature¡¯s identity.¡¯

    After watching the video, Elchen quickly realized the creature¡¯s strengths. It was the type thatpensated for itsck of physical power with intelligence and various abilities. Attacking the creature without any information would be akin to ordering his subordinates tomit suicide.

    Of course, Elchen was not one to care whether his subordinates lived or died. However, he didn¡¯t enjoy wasting resources unnecessarily. Even if his subordinates died, he wanted to extract as much information as possible from the creature before they did.

    ¡°Nevertheless, we¡¯re fortunate.¡±

    ¡°Sir?¡±

    ¡°The creature doesn¡¯t know we¡¯re here.¡±

    Since all the individuals in their group were hardened pirates, they had infiltrated the research ship as quietly as possible. Unless the creature had cameras ced throughout the entire ship, detecting their movements would be nearly impossible.

    ¡°Let¡¯s find the creature first and corner it. We¡¯ll deal with the bodies afterward.¡±

    As Elchen was about to issue orders to his subordinates, one of them rushed in from outside, holding amunication device. His face was pale, as if he had seen a ghost.

    ¡°Boss, something big has happened!¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°The ship¡¯s engine ispletely fried!¡±

    ¡°What!¡±

    Elchen eximed in disbelief. The engine was working fine, and the sudden malfunction was iprehensible.

    Though facing an enraged boss was never a good idea, the subordinate had no choice but to exin the unfortunate situation. After all, if they concealed it and were caughtter, the consequences would be far worse.

    ¡°After checking from that side, it appears that the engine ispletely corroded, and recovery is impossible!¡±

    ¡°Damn it! Give it to me!¡±

    Elchen snatched themunication device from his subordinate, his frustration evident in his actions.

    ¡°Damn it, Garlic!¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Can this ship still function?¡±

    ¡°Well, we¡¯ll need to check¡­¡±

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    ¡°No, wait. Yes, it can still function!¡±

    ¡°You, and you. Help Garlic. The rest of you,e with me. We¡¯re going after that damn creature. Follow me.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    Elchen led his subordinates out of themand center. He made a vow to himself that capturing the creature wouldn¡¯t be the end of it.

    ***

    ¡®Oh, he¡¯s angry. He¡¯s really pissed.¡¯

    Back at the nest, I was aware of their movements. The boss, with his heart racing twice as fast, was storming through the ship, and his subordinates were following him closely.

    ¡®Should I wait until they scatter?¡¯

    The research ship had a moreplexyout and more facilities than the battleship. Moreover, the intruders had just arrived. To efficiently search this unfamiliar ce, they had to divide their personnel.

    They probably didn¡¯t know, but there were survivors on this ship. There were about 20 individuals scattered throughout, including the captain and some of themand staff. Naturally, they weren¡¯t left alive out of kindness.

    ¡®MegaCorp really despises pirates.¡¯

    There might be some defectors, but most of them would attack the pirates. While they fought among themselves, I could pick the fruits that fell from the tree.

    ¡®But that guy¡¯s a problem.¡¯

    The human who remained in themand center. Disguised as ordinary, she was moving around the room, seemingly performing some tasks.

    Only three individuals were with her. It would have been a good time to attack, but I had an uneasy feeling.

    Amorph¡¯s unique intuition was warning me. That individual was a dangerous presence, and I needed to be cautious.

    ¡®Could she be the person Arnold mentioned?¡¯

    Si-hyun Yujin.

    She was someone Arnold had mentioned as being simr to me. What had Arnold seen to make thatparison?

    ¡®Perhaps she¡¯s a gically modified human like me.¡¯

    In a society where MegaCorp valuedpetition as the highest virtue, the obsession with extending life was incredibly strong. Especially at the top of the pyramid, the Noble Capital, they wouldmit heinous acts without hesitation as long as it allowed them to live longer.

    The advancement of gic modification technology in MegaCorp was a result of this societal atmosphere. Hulk mutants were nothing more than byproducts of that.

    ¡®Even MegaCorp yers are ultimately into gic modification.¡¯

    In the game, there were users who went beyond simply modifying their appearance to the point of bing inhuman. Some used artifacts that allowed them to use cult-like abilities, while others flew through space on their own without a spaceship. There were all sorts of people.

    Given that, it was entirely possible that the Yujin family¡¯s scion had been modified to an extraordinary degree.

    ¡®Keisaragi was nothing special, but what about that woman?¡¯

    As expected, if she is a gically modified human, she would be a formidable opponent for me now. Just as my enemies don¡¯t know my abilities, I don¡¯t know what abilities she might possess.

    If they had modified her to the level of yers, defeating her wouldn¡¯t be easy.

    ¡®A gically modified human, huh? It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had a fight like this.¡¯

    I didn¡¯t say it was difficult; I didn¡¯t say I would lose.

    I had devoured countless MegaCorp yers. Facing a formidable opponent not only aroused a sense of danger but also piqued my interest.

    ¡®For now, let¡¯s hold off on the one who appears to be Si-hyun Yujin. Let¡¯s clean up the pirates first.¡¯

    There was no point in fighting recklessly and then dealing with trouble if reinforcements arrived.

    I turned my attention back to the pirates.

    Coincidentally, they were approaching the captain¡¯s quarters, where survivors were hiding.

    ***

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    ***

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Normally, this would be a time for jubnt celebration, reveling in the spoils of plunder. But there was not a soul among them who dared to speak up. It was all because of Elchen, who was seething with anger like a raging bull.

    Due to the sudden loss of their precious battleship, Elchen was doing everything in his power to quell his rage and regain hisposure. It was under these circumstances that a subordinate approached him, hesitating.

    ¡°Boss¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve detected life signs on the bioscanner. They seem to be in the captain¡¯s quarters.¡±

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°Well, the door seems to be sealed, so we¡¯ll have to breach it.¡±

    ¡°Damn it, do you need my permission to take a piss too?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no, sir!¡±

    It was a signal to proceed. The subordinate prepared to breach the door with hisrades.

    The one responsible for demolition shouldered the sma cutter and began assembling it. He affixed the assembled sma cutter in front of the door and operated the terminal connected to the machine.

    As the cutter started working, it emitted a green beam that began cutting through the heavy door, which was over 50cm thick. By the time the thick smoke filled the corridor, the door to the captain¡¯s quarters had been breached. One of the pirates leaned in to take a look from the outside when bullets flew at him from within.

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    ¡°Hide, everyone!¡±

    Starting with the pirate with a hole in his head, a hail of bullets poured out from inside the captain¡¯s quarters. The pirates took cover behind the walls and retrieved their weapons, preparing to counterattack. However, Elchen stepped forward.

    ¡°Move aside, you bastards.¡±

    Thanks to his gic enhancements, Elchen¡¯s skin had be so tough that unless hit directly by a smauncher, he wouldn¡¯t even get a scratch. Amidst the hail of bullets, Elchen strolled forward as if he were taking a leisurely walk.

    He gripped the hole in the melted door and exerted his strength, causing the 50 cm-thick steel door to twist like dough. Disying his terrifying strength, he entered the captain¡¯s quarters and began a massacre.

    ¡°Aaargh!¡±

    ¡°Monster!¡±

    With every punch from Elchen, crew members turned into chunks of meat. While their boss went on a rampage, the pirates retaliated with suppressive fire from behind cover.

    The crew members in the captain¡¯s quarters had turned into corpses in the blink of an eye, leaving only one survivor. As Elchen was about to finish the job, the survivor shouted.

    ¡°W-wait! I surrender!¡±

    ¡°Surrender? The Dvara Cartel doesn¡¯t ept that kind of thing.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡­ I¡¯m the ship¡¯s medical officer! I¡¯ll definitely be of help!¡±

    Elchen rxed his grip, his fist no longer threatening.

    ¡°A medical officer?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes.¡±

    ¡°The captain¡¯s not here, and the medical officer is in the captain¡¯s quarters?¡±

    Now that he thought about it, among the people he had dispatched, there was no captain.

    ¡°That damn¡­ Well, fine. Where did the captain go, and why is the medical officer in the captain¡¯s quarters?¡±

    The medical officer, despite trembling with a sense of betrayal, didn¡¯t hide anything. As things got moreplicated, Elchen¡¯s annoyance grew.

    The battleship was wrecked, and the person who knew the whereabouts of the bodies had gone off to escape on the lifeboat. Elchen contemted killing the medical officer but decided against it.

    ¡°Hey, smart one.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a medical officer, right? So you must know where the bodies are.¡±

    ¡°Um, well, yes.¡±

    ¡°That noble capital body, they said it was here. Where is it?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    The medical officer had no idea where Keisaragi Yujin¡¯s body was. But to be honest, he lied because he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d see the next day if he told the truth.

    ¡°I-it¡¯s with the¡­ monster!¡±

    ¡°That bastard again? Why the hell is the monster carrying corpses?¡±

    ¡°He eats people.¡±

    That statement meant that Elchen didn¡¯t have much time left. Elchen sighed and gathered his subordinates.

    ¡°Listen up. The medical officer here says the monster has a body. We don¡¯t have time to search every nook and cranny, so spread out and find it. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    ¡°Since that bastard is no pushover, go in groups of at least six. If any issues arise, report immediately through themunication device. Anyone cking off, I¡¯ll personally smash their heads in.¡±

    ¡°Yes, boss!¡±

    ¡°You, there. You¡¯reing with me.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The subordinates responded energetically and scattered. The medical officer watched them run off and thought about whether he should speak up now, but he was too afraid of Elchen to do so.

    ¡°Hey, medical officer.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°You said you wanted to be a pirate, good for you. We¡¯ve been short on medical officers.¡±

    ¡°Oh, um, yes.¡±

    ¡°By any chance, do you have any expertise in gic modification?¡±

    ¡°Yes? Um, yes, of course! Just leave it to me!¡±

    Elchen continued talking, and the medical officer missed his chance to speak. Thanks to that, the information that the monster could imitate human voices remained buried.

    ***

    ¡®Too bad.¡¯

    The crew members didn¡¯tst as long as I thought they would, but considering that the boss is a Hulk mutant, it¡¯s probably the expected oue.

    Hulk mutants are deployed in ground battles to destroy tanks and bipedal armored units. If a regr crew member even gets a scratch from such a monster, they should consider themselves lucky.

    The boss left only one person among the crew members alive. Although I couldn¡¯t see who had survived, I could guess.

    ¡®It must be the medical officer.¡¯

    Space dogs are a group with a high mortality rate. Criminals, war orphans, the impoverished, retired soldiers, mercenaries, and all sorts of people are constantlying and going. It¡¯s a high-turnover group, so someone like a medical officer receives special treatment.

    Anyway, whether the medical officer bes a pirate or not doesn¡¯t matter to me. After all, I have no intention of leaving any survivors on this ship.

    The confrontation in the captain¡¯s quarters ended faster than expected, but luckily, the enemies moved as I had anticipated.

    ¡®They¡¯re scattering, just as I thought.¡¯

    Except for the boss and one subordinate, the rest formed groups of six to search.

    Since the pirates¡¯ armament is not uniform, I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re carrying. However, it¡¯s clear that their movements are unusual.

    ¡®They¡¯re almost like regr soldiers.¡¯

    Even when I captured the insectoid on the ship, he resisted to the end. Assuming they are not below average, they might be on par with regr soldiers.

    ¡®Looks like they¡¯ve spread out enough. Time to make my move.¡¯

    As I was about to leave the nest, No. 26 followed me.

    ?Hey, baby, Let mee with you.?

    [ZZZZ (Inside)]

    ?I don¡¯t want to.?

    [ZZZZ (Why?)]

    ?I want to help too.?

    Number 26 was like a child wanting to help their father. I lifted the little one and ced it on the nest, but they refused to give up and followed me.

    Seeing the determination in Number 26, I recalcted the enemy¡¯s strength once more.

    ¡®Excluding the boss and that suspicious human, it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult.¡¯

    I¡¯ve fought with pirates countless times before. While I didn¡¯t know the exact state of their armament, I was confident I could handle whatever they brought.

    Moreover, if 26 was going to apany me, the little one neededbat experience. There might be moments when I couldn¡¯t protect it.

    ¡¯26 needs to experiencebat too. Even if it doesn¡¯t provide direct assistance, it can¡¯t be a hindrance.¡¯

    With my decision made, I allowed 26 to apany me.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZ (Be careful because the enemies are scary)]

    ?Yeah! Baby, be careful!?

    The little one hopped onto my shoulder. Whether I liked it or not, I couldn¡¯t stay mad at it.

    ¡®Now, where to start?¡¯

    There are a total of four groups: Armory, Mess Hall, Cargo container, and Laboratory. As people who survive by plundering, their objectives are quite evident at each location.

    ¡®Let¡¯s start with the Armory.¡¯

    While most weapons in the Armory had likely been damaged during the stem escape, there might still be some in working condition. If the pirates got their hands on them, it would be troublesome.

    I headed towards the Armory with 26 in tow.

    ***

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ***

    As we approached the Armory, the pirates entered my sensory range. Six pirates were moving clumsily towards the Armory¡¯s entrance.

    ¡°What kind of nt grows all the way up to the door?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, we need to get rid of them to install the sma cutter.¡±

    Except for the one responsible for dismantling, the others drew their machetes. If it were a normal nt, their decision wouldn¡¯t be unreasonable.

    ¡®The problem is, it¡¯s not a normal nt.¡¯

    Without knowing the enemy¡¯s true identity, I needed to be more cautious in my thinking and judgment. Unfortunately, they were walking straight into their own doom.

    ¡°Charge!¡±

    A member of the group swung his machete, cutting through the pods. As the pods burst, the viscous contents inside sprayed outward.

    ¡°What the hell is this?¡±

    ¡°Heh, looks like jizz.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re damn gross, man.¡±

    One of the pirates, whose face was sttered with acidic goo, watched as his skin and muscles melted away, his jawbone falling off. Hisrade, whose fingers were coated with neurotoxic secretion, copsed, paralyzed from head to toe.

    I appreciated the opportunity they had given me, so I epted their fate with gratitude.

    I rushed towards them with my bulked-up body.

    ¡°It¡¯s him!¡±

    ¡°The monster appeared!¡±

    ¡°What the hell? He looks different from what we saw!¡±

    Of course, I would. The footage they saw in themand center was taken before I acquired the physical enhancement type.

    While I did have to go back to themand center while devouring the protesters, I had used smoke to conceal my appearance.

    In other words, they don¡¯t know anything about me. Fighting without sufficient information was a massive risk.

    I picked up a pirate nearby.

    ¡°Cough!¡±

    He spat out blood mixed with organ fragments from his mouth. Even without examining the inside, it was clear that his insides were a mess. I finished off the half-dead man with my tail.

    In the meantime, the pirates regained theirposure and pulled out their weapons, responding swiftly as experienced fighters. If they had been the research ship¡¯s soldiers, they would have been dazed and unable to react to the sudden attack.

    Red energy masses formed a fiery web as they collided with my chitinous exoskeleton.

    ¡®If I hadn¡¯t obtained the type, it would have been dangerous.¡¯

    My current exoskeleton was significantly tougher and thicker than before. My dark brown, almost ck, exoskeleton protected not only my head and chest but also my limbs.

    I truly resembled a knight in full te armor from the space age, that¡¯s what I looked like.

    I ignored their attacks and charged ahead. With a gruesome sound, the pirates who stood before me turned into bloody messes.

    I didn¡¯t stop there; I extended my tentacles from my upper arms. The saw-de tentacles, resembling venomous fangs, reached out and wrapped around the pirates¡¯ waists.

    ¡°Argh!¡±

    ¡°Ah, my waist!¡±

    Their waists were torn apart as if they had been sawed, and their innards spilled out.

    ¡°Die!¡±

    Seeing theirrades dying in agony, one pirate lost hisposure and rushed towards me.

    The pirate belonged to the Insect Men species, and he must have thought that, with their superior physical abilitiespared to humans, he could handle closebat. However, as things often go, what he expected didn¡¯t happen.

    The machete he swung was easily thwarted by my tail. I intended to finish him off, but 26, who was on my shoulder, jumped onto him.

    ¡°Grrrr!¡±

    Suddenly, a pinkish, translucent, soap bubble-like substance stuck to the pirate¡¯s face, causing him to panic. However, the intense pain that followed left him writhing helplessly.

    It was because 26 had melted the substance with its unique appendage.

    The insectoid, in his panic, tried to use his sharp, pointed fingernails to tear 26 apart.

    ¡®I can¡¯t let that happen.¡¯

    Even though 26 was hunting for a change, I couldn¡¯t just leave it to get hurt. I lightly pricked the insectoid with my tail, injecting neurotoxin. The insectoid froze stiff, unable to move or react.

    I entrusted 26 to deal with the insectoid and focused on handling the remaining pirate. The one responsible for dismantling was not attacking me but requesting support through hismunicator.

    ¡°Hey, there¡¯s a monster here!¡±

    I approached from behind and firmly grabbed his four arms.

    ¡°Hyaaak?! Ce quick¡­ Argh!¡±

    Before the pirate could finish speaking, I opened my mouth wide and bit off his head. The terrifying bite force of the Amorph easily crushed his hardened skull and turned its contents into a gruesome pulp.

    [What? Where are you?}

    I quickly swallowed the brain of the pirate in charge of dismantling and activated the special device inside my throat.

    ¡°Uh, cough, it¡¯s nothing.¡±

    [What?!]

    ¡°It was just my mistake. There¡¯s nothing here.¡±

    [What the hell is wrong with you crazy bastard? Are you using themunicator to y around or something?]

    ¡°Sorry.¡±

    I replied half-heartedly and turned off themunicator. The group in the Armory was now dealt with.

    ¡®Should I keep themunicators?¡¯

    They mighte in handy for electronic warfare. I doubted pirates would demand identification like the StarUnion.

    With themunicators in hand, I approached 26, who was still having its meal. Its robust vitality, typical of Insectoid, seemed to be more of a disadvantage than an advantage. Seeing it writhing and trembling, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of pity.

    ¡®But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll spare it.¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t afford to let 26 get hurt when it was finally hunting. I lightly pricked it with my tail, injecting neurotoxin. The insectoid stiffened up like someone who had suddenly frozen in time.

    I left 26 to deal with the insectoid and proceeded to handle the other corpses one by one. Among them was someone from the StarUnion. He was one of those I had sliced through the waist with my tentacles.

    ¡°Pl-please¡­ spare me.¡±

    In a cyborg-like manner, he was still alive despite having his upper and lower body separated. He desperately begged for mercy.

    The StarUnion believed in the ideology that the frail human body should be reced with machinery. They had a mindset opposite to the MegaCorp, which sought to improve genes to be better beings in their human state.

    ¡®They¡¯re both bad guys, no doubt about it.¡¯

    The StarUnion, aside from themselves, are the kind of folks who want to share their ¡®blessing¡¯ with other species. What I mean is, they modify other species they capture as prisoners into machines, regardless of the prisoner¡¯s will.

    The pirate in front of me appeared to be a modified human, as I could see mechanicalponents mixed among his internal organs.

    He pleaded for mercy, his voice quivering, but I crushed his head beneath my foot. Artificial brain matter crumpled as sparks flew.

    ¡®Mechanical, but can I eat it?¡¯

    Nevertheless, just to be safe, I separated the visibleponents and only put the flesh in my mouth. I tasted a strange mix of metallic sparks and the greasy texture, as if the taste had a hint of sizzling electricity.

    ¡®¡­It¡¯s kind of unique in vor.¡¯

    Considering its appearance, it was surprisingly ptable. I finished eating the cyborg¡¯s corpse.

    I wiped my hands, which were smeared with oil, and a translucent text box appeared.

    [¡®Metamorph->Pre-Saint¡¯ evolution conditions partially met.]

    [First Intellectual Entity 10/10 (Achieved), Second Intellectual Entity 1/10 (Iplete).]

    ¡®Oh?¡¯

    I didn¡¯t expect this, but it was good news. Just as I suspected, cyborgs were treated as a separate species in the game, just like in reality.

    ¡®There were twelve of them on this ship, right?¡¯

    Once I devour all the cyborgs on the research vessel, I can immediately progress to the next stage of evolution.

    Evolving into an Intellectual Entity so quickly by consuming the cyborgs within the research vessel was unexpected. It¡¯s like a gift I hadn¡¯t anticipated.

    ? Baby, what¡¯s got you so excited??

    [ZZZ ZZZ (Something like that)]

    26, who had finished its meal, approached me. I gently stroked it and ced it on my shoulder.

    It seemed like 26 was starting to look like Santa us, bringing me a bunch of gifts, despite being considered a cosmic disaster by some, known as the Space Dog.

    ***

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    ***

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23

    Crunch!

    I yanked the throat of one of the pirates with a swift motion. His head, still partly attached to the spine, dangled, brownish blood oozing profusely.

    This guy belonged to a species called Rockwalkers. They were an intelligent species that lived on a filled with rocks and metals, sustaining themselves by consuming minerals. While their initial appearance in the settings might have sparked curiosity among science fiction enthusiasts, in the actual game, they didn¡¯t differ much from regr humanoids.

    Except for their skin, which was as rough and hard as stone, everything inside them, including the flowing blood, was just like any other biological being.

    Using the Rockwalker¡¯s head, from which blood was dripping, I vigorously struck the head of a nearby cyborg. The cyborg¡¯s head became as unrecognizable as a watermelon smashed to bits.

    ¡®That makes it two teams.¡¯

    This time, our target was the group heading to theboratory. Just like the group that went to the armory, they entered theboratory in a state ofcency. When I arrived, only three of them remained.

    The other three had already dissolved into the acidic slime.

    ¡®Sigh, lost two of them.¡¯

    I munched on the remaining lower halves of the cyborgs. Just to be sure, I detached one of their legs and tried eating it, but it didn¡¯t count towards the evolution condition. It seemed that the text box only recognized those I had killed.

    Simrly, the predation effect didn¡¯t trigger either. The chance of the predation effect urring on corpses I hadn¡¯t killed was quite low. It was almost like sampling, and it didn¡¯t seem to count for much.

    I spat out the steel I had been chewing on. In the game, even Amorph could chew on machines, but it was challenging to adapt to it in reality. It felt like chewing chicken bones down to the marrow.

    ¡°Cough, hack, guh¡­¡±

    Next to me, 26 was killing one of the cyborgs. It seemed to have caught on, as it hunted skillfully without my help. Although the cyborg struggled desperately to tear 26 apart to escape, 26 held onto its neck, choking it without moving an inch.

    Even as a cyborg, at its core, it was still human. If it couldn¡¯t breathe, it would die.

    Before the cyborg¡¯s breath was cut off, I destroyed its heart with my tail. As I killed the prey, 26 retreated from the throat and sent a pulse in my direction.

    ?Baby, are you hungry??

    [ZZZ ZZZ (I have to kill creatures like this)]

    ?Yeah.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ (Then eat that)]

    ?Alright, enjoy your meal.?

    I felt sorry for 26, but I had to kill and eat the cyborg for it to count. I gave 26 the Rockwalker and picked up the cyborg¡¯s corpse.

    Just as I was about to take a bite, themunication device on mybat arm, which I had been carrying, rang.

    [Alive and kicking, you guys. Report.]

    [I-I¡¯m in themand center. Ah, still in the middle of work!]

    [In the cargo container, these guys seem incredibly wealthy. There¡¯s so much stuff to take; it¡¯s like a gold mine.]

    [Boss, the dining area is inplete chaos. There¡¯s not a single edible thing left.]

    ¡°We¡¯re searching the armory.¡±

    [Why aren¡¯t the guys who went to theb answering?]

    After mimicking the voice of the guy from the armory, I answered quickly and then swiftly bit into the cyborg¡¯s body. The small organ structure in my throat mutated quickly to produce a new voice.

    In a short amount of time, after finishing the mutation, I looked at themunication device that had been lying next to the corpse and replied.

    ¡°No issues in theb.¡±

    [Huh? You¡¯re not themunication officer, right? Why are you holding themunication device?]

    ¡°Uh, well, themunication officer is currently preparing for the demolition.¡±

    [¡­Is that so? Alright then, click.]

    The boss ended themunication with a suspicious tone. Whoever the boss was, they seemed quite intelligent. It was unusual for pirates to maintain such a systematic hierarchy.

    Normally, Hulk mutants had reduced intelligence due to the side effects of gic modification, but this boss appeared to be different.

    ¡®Maybe they¡¯ve been modified with some technology I don¡¯t know about.¡¯

    These smart Hulk mutants were a creature I hadn¡¯t encountered in the game.

    ¡®I doubt the original is around anyway. Let¡¯s be cautious just in case.¡¯

    ¡®Predator Senses¡¯ followed by an intelligent Hulk Mutant. The differences from the game keep piling up. It¡¯s making me nervous but also piquing my interest.

    ¡®Come to think of it, there¡¯s 26 too.¡¯

    That pink bubble amoeba busily munching on Rockwalker¡¯s internals is quite different from its game counterpart. It might be the mascot, but it certainly wasn¡¯t as intelligent in the game.

    ¡®I¡¯ve been wandering around with a Bubble Amoeba. Themunity would¡¯ve been surprised.¡¯

    While Amorph were specialized for solo y, I, too, wasn¡¯t particrly sociable, whether in reality or in games.

    Lost in thought, I continued to dispose of the cyborg corpses.

    The flesh of the newly killed cyborgs had a lemony vor.

    ***

    ¡®Something¡¯s off.¡¯

    Elchen raised an eyebrow as he held themunication device.

    Before bing a Hulk mutant, he had been a soldier. To be precise, a defeated soldier. He had received the punishment of bing a Hulk mutant for losing inbat. If the Eden family hadn¡¯t taken him in, he would have roamed the battlefield as an intelligence-deprived monster.

    In any case, being a former soldier, he paid attention to reporting procedures. Some subordinates asionally disobeyed his orders, but they all became dust in the universe. After a few incidents, the reporting system remained stable.

    Of course, mistakes were always a possibility, but Elchen couldn¡¯t shake his unease. Perhaps it was the influence of the wild animals mixed into his gics. The instincts that had helped him survive dozens of times on brutal battlefields were warning him now.

    The recentmunication wasn¡¯t a mistake but a trap.

    Elchen made up his mind and picked up themunication device again. Aside from the team currently conducting the search in the armory, he sent a message to the team that had gone to the dining area and cargo hold.

    ¡°This is the boss. Something seems suspicious with the ones who went to theb. Get ready, everyone, and head to theb.¡±

    [Understood.]

    [Yes, boss.]

    After ending themunication, Elchen summoned the medical officer.

    ¡°Medical officer, where are the escape pods and the engine room on this ship?¡±

    ¡°Just follow me.¡±

    Elchen was a cautious man. His subordinates wouldn¡¯t lose to creatures like monsters, but this was an unknown situation. Just as on the battlefield, he sought out a way to retreat first.

    ¡®I can¡¯t just leave the ones who dared to touch my gship alone¡¯, he thought.

    Securing an escape route wasn¡¯t the end of it. Elchen was nning to nt bombs in the engine room to ensure that whoever had tampered with his ship would be dealt with. Most ships were powered by fusion engines, and even a small bomb could create a massive explosion.

    Once Elchen safely escaped, he could remotely detonate the bomb, and the monsters would be wiped out without a chance to react. Of course, any remaining crew members on the ship would also perish, but pirates always had plenty of recruits. They could easily rece their losses with new crew members.

    ¡®Garlic and medical officer should be enough¡¯

    The subordinate who hadn¡¯t even considered that their boss might be thinking of abandoning ship was now closely monitoring the medical officer.

    As the three of them made their way to where the escape pods were located, Elchen called the medical officer.

    ¡°Medical officer.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve fought against the monster, right? Is there anything that could be its weakness?¡±

    ¡°No, there isn¡¯t.¡±

    Elchen furrowed his eyebrows, and he could tell that his subordinate¡¯s response didn¡¯t sit well with him. The medical officer seemed uncertain about how to handle Elchen¡¯s reaction, but he had already spoken his mind.

    ¡®He¡¯s reacting like this, even though he¡¯s scared of me?¡¯ Elchen thought. He knew that the medical officer was afraid of him, yet he didn¡¯t hesitate to give an answer that Elchen disliked.

    From the medical officer¡¯s perspective, it seemed that this creature was even more terrifying than Elchen. Elchen¡¯s mind sank like ice, and he decided to change his line of questioning.

    ¡°Then what are its strengths or traits?¡± Elchen asked. When Elchen didn¡¯t show any signs of anger, the medical medical officer cautiously revealed his thoughts.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s like the creature is a ghost.¡±

    ¡°A ghost?¡± Elchen questioned.

    ¡°Yes, it can capture and consume people even in bright light, leaving no corpses behind. We only realized someone was missingter,¡± the medical officer exined.

    ¡°Where is this ¡®ghost¡¯ on the spaceship? Are you suggesting your people are so ipetent that they can¡¯t deal with it?¡± Elchen inquired.

    ¡°Well, this ship has various security measures in ce. Even we find it challenging to navigate at times, yet this ¡®ghost¡¯ managed to move around undetected, killing people. If that¡¯s not a ghost, what is it?¡±

    The medical officer¡¯s words left Elchen in silence. Judging by the atmosphere created by the medical medical officer¡¯s words, it seemed he was telling the truth.

    ¡®A ghost, really? What nonsense.¡¯

    Did that mean this ship had be some sort of ghost ship? A ghost ship in the age of space travel. It was no joking matter.

    After a moment of contemtion, Elchen took out hismunication device again. It hurt his pride, but it seemed like he needed to gather his subordinates and take action.

    But when he was about to change his mission through themunication device.

    It was already toote.

    The Unidentified enemy had alreadyunched an assault.

    ***

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    ***

    ¡®A clever one.¡¯

    Even high-ranking humans fell for the imitation, but Elchen wasn¡¯t fooled. Perhaps the Hulk mutant was more like a clever beast than an intelligent being. It seemed he had noticed the trap through his wild instincts.

    ¡®It¡¯s toote anyway.¡¯

    We had just left theboratory and returned to the nest in the cooling room. Currently, my auxiliary system is monitoring my designated area on the ship. The pirates¡¯ movement towards theboratory is clearly visible.

    This time, I n to attack the enemy in a new way. Iid down on the ship in the nest and closed my eyes. As my auxiliary system reached my designated area on the ship, my sensory perception, which had been limited to my physical body, gradually expanded.

    My consciousness flowed through the ship, starting from the cooling room, through the corridors and into other rooms. The sensory flow that began in the cooling room spread like ripples through the ship¡¯s passageways and chambers.

    People who have used drugs often describe feeling something transcendent beyond the boundaries of their physical bodies. Could what I¡¯m experiencing now be something simr?

    Every time I breathed, the tendrils trembled, seemingly breathing along with me. The chill I felt from the metal tes that the tendrils enveloped made me shiver involuntarily.

    Finally, the auxiliary systempleted the connection. The enemies were no different from creatures crawling within me. I issued amand to the spores with neurotoxic abilities along the path to theboratory.

    ¡®Activate.¡¯

    As if issuingmands from my brain to the nerves within my body, the auxiliary system conveyed my orders to the tendrils. The spores responded by expelling their venom in unison.

    From the ceiling, walls, rooms, corridors, floors ¨C it didn¡¯t matter where ¨C a highly toxic substance that paralyzed living organisms rained down throughout the ship.

    I could sense the confusion of the pirates as they grappled with thispletely unexpected attack. Desperately trying to destroy the spores and cut down the tendrils to escape, they didn¡¯tst long. Their bodies, in defiance of their owners¡¯ will, turned into lifeless husks. Some who quickly realized that the spores were the problem managed to escape, but the majority made foolish choices.

    ¡®Sess.¡¯

    I had expected to fail, but attempting to control through the link to the nest was only possible after bing an apex organism.

    ¡®In the game, that is.¡¯

    I tried it in the real world, wondering if it might work, and it seeded. Of course, it wasn¡¯t a reckless gamble. There were enough factors for sess: the nest was still small, I was familiar with the areas I had already visited, and there weren¡¯t many spores. My expectations had turned out to be spot on.

    ¡®The ones who got away are just five.¡¯

    More than half had fallen victim to the spore assault. The seven who couldn¡¯t escapey motionless on the ground, waiting for death to im them.

    I rose from the nest. The thin tentacles below my chin dropped from the nest, and for a moment, I felt a sense of inertia. It was like the soul that freely roamed the infinite space was once again imprisoned in a body called the flesh.

    The sense of inertia didn¡¯tst long, but the energy expended in controlling the nest didn¡¯t return. I felt a strong hunger, a sensation I hadn¡¯t experienced in a while.

    [ZZZZZZZ ZZZ (I¡¯m hungry, let¡¯s go get some food)]

    ?Yeah.?

    I carried 26 on my shoulder and headed for theboratory. On the way, I saw fallen pirates. It was typical pirate behavior to mercilessly abandon colleagues who seemed hopeless. It¡¯s good for me that I didn¡¯t have to fight while hungry.

    I gnawed on the fallen pirates unceremoniously. With each bite of my teeth, I could feel their bodies twitching. Their movements were as lively as a freshly caught fish flipping about.

    Did they know? The more they resisted, the more saliva flowed into my mouth. My teeth tore into the enemy¡¯s flesh without restraint, and my four arms crushed their bones and plucked out their organs.

    I was so hungry that even machine parts passing through my throat didn¡¯t feel repulsive. The silent feast in the corridor hade to a triumphant conclusion.

    ¡®Now, there are only two left.¡¯

    Out of seven, five were cyborgs. I had already devoured eight cyborgs, so I needed only two more toplete my evolution into an apex organism.

    I followed the traces of the pirates who had escaped, using one of the cyborg¡¯s finger bones as a toothpick.

    They were hiding somewhere other than theboratory. It turned out to be the crew¡¯s workout room.

    ¡®Of all ces, they had to run here.¡¯

    The workout room was a spacious area, so it was probably chosen because it offered a good shooting angle.

    The problem was that the dead crew members had also acted the same way. The ce where camaraderie was fostered amongrades had long be a ughterhouse at my hands.

    From behind the broken door, the fearful people inside emitted pheromones and breath. It was clear they were startled as soon as I entered. The sight of walls and floors covered in blood as soon as I walked in must have been quite shocking.

    More than 20 people had died inside. Adding five more wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference.

    I handed the finger bone I had been holding to 26, who was on my shoulder, and stepped inside the workout room.

    ***

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    ***

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24

    As soon as I entered the workout room,sers started flying. Lasers couldn¡¯t harm me. I walked calmly through the beams, and the pirate cursed at me in frustration.

    ¡°Why the hell isn¡¯t this working?¡±

    Unfortunately, this swearer wasn¡¯t a cyborg. He seemed like a regr human from the MegaCorp, with no mechanical enhancements whatsoever. He tossed aside his uselessser rifle and pulled out a thick rod from his waist. He pressed a switch, and a de sprung out from the rod, turning it into a short sword.

    I stopped in my tracks when I saw it.

    ¡®A Sonic de.¡¯

    The Sonic de was a weapon that incorporated ultrasonic vibration technology. It was easy to carry and had exceptional cutting power, making it a favorite among MegaCorp officers.

    When I didn¡¯t move, he must have thought he had the upper hand and yelled energetically.

    ¡°I¡¯m the fucking vice captain of the Dvara Cartel!¡±

    His previous fear seemed to have vanished. Typical pirate behavior, I guess. It was evident that hecked both forethought and strategy.

    The Sonic de could potentially pierce my outer shell, but that only mattered if it could actually hit me. If it couldn¡¯t touch me, it was useless.

    If he were someone skilled in martial arts, it might have been different, but unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t. My auxiliary systems confirmed that. He was just an ordinary guy in his early thirties, starting to suffer from adult-onset diseases. His body was filled with blood and fat extracted from the victims he had looted.

    I lunged at the vice captain. Startled, he tried to stab me with the Sonic de, but his movements were unskilled.

    ¡®The Sonic de isn¡¯t durable enough for stabbing.¡¯

    I had no intention of amodating his foolish attack. I deftly evaded him and kicked him in the abdomen. He coughed up blood and fell to the ground.

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    With his internal organs likely ruptured, he didn¡¯t release his grip on the weapon. He red at me with venomous eyes.

    ¡®What a surprise.¡¯

    I had thought he was just showing off, but he was surprisingly tenacious. Regardless of his species, most beings tended to beg for mercy when faced with a fatal wound. This was the first time someone had shown this level of determination since Arnold.

    ¡®Should I end his suffering without pain?¡¯

    I flicked my tail, striking the vice captain¡¯s hand. Startled, he let go of the Sonic de, which ttered to the ground. My tail, still curved, pierced through his eye. As his brain was destroyed by the thorn on the tip of my tail, he became a lifeless body, incapable of feeling any pain.

    One out of five had died. Now, there were four pirates left. The remaining ones didn¡¯t seem scared; perhaps they were hiding in the locker room.

    I leisurely began to dissect the human corpse.

    Once I had finished consuming everything and was left with the ankles, a translucent text box appeared in front of me.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Human Nature¡¯ gic essence]

    [Extracted ¡®Human Nature¡¯ from the biological traits of ¡®human¡¯.]

    [Do you wish to apply ¡®Human Nature¡¯?]

    ¡®Human Nature?¡¯

    I was perplexed by a trait I had never seen before.

    ¡®What could ¡®Human Nature¡¯ be?¡¯

    Based on the name alone, it seemed overly epassing. Was it referring to human emotions, rationality, or perhaps unique human qualities? It was difficult to discern its meaning from the name alone.

    ¡®Do I need to ept it?¡¯

    In space survival games, there were thousands of different traits, but not all of them benefited the host. For example, the Hulk Mutant¡¯s ¡®Berserk¡¯ trait enhanced physical abilities but made the yer uncontroble. There were traits where the disadvantages outweighed the advantages.

    In my experience, traits with vague and ambiguous names were usually traps.

    ¡®It¡¯s a bit disappointing to have just one trait¡­¡¯

    To deduce the nature of this trait, I recalled the pirate I had killed. He undoubtedly had some unique aspectspared to other prey.

    ¡®A never-give-up spirit.¡¯

    Could ¡°human nature¡± refer to an indomitable spirit that got back up even when knocked down?

    No, I shook my head. It was too early to make a judgment.

    The world of Space Survival was far from a ce where human values thrived. It was more like a dystopian realm where all sorts of ruthless creatures roamed. The StarUnion enved people and turned them into machines, while Megacorp gically modified genes without hesitation, creating monsters. In such a world, there couldn¡¯t possibly be a trait that extolled human potential.

    ¡®What should I do?¡¯

    I decided to narrow down my thinking. If the Predation Effect had been triggered, then this trait would directly affect me.

    ¡®Let¡¯s first look at the advantages it offers.¡¯

    Perhaps ¡®human nature¡¯ was a trait that influenced the mind. In that case, it likely fell into the category of enhancing psychic abilities since most traits rted to psychic powers had a strong connection with the mind or telekinesis. These types of traits were not easy to acquire, so having one was an advantage.

    ¡®Now, the drawbacks¡­¡¯

    This was a new trait, so I had no idea what effects it would have. If it enhanced human emotions, such as ethics orpassion, it would be a negative trait for me.

    I was an Amorph, a species that could only evolve by consuming other beings. If I suddenly couldn¡¯t eat human flesh, it would be a significant problem. It wouldn¡¯t just halt my growth; it would pose a considerable threat to my survival.

    ¡®The risk is too great. Let¡¯s reject it.¡¯

    As I considered canceling the trait acquisition, a faint tingling sensation ran along my jawline.

    My auxiliary systems were warning me to reconsider my choice.

    ¡®Predator¡¯s sense?¡¯

    Since this was an unprecedented urrence, I suspected that my Predator sense had been triggered. However, even after waiting, the future foresight effect did not activate.

    So, this warning was entirely based on my auxiliary systems or an instinct inherent to Amorphs. It was ironic that, as a human, I considered ¡®human nature¡¯ unimportant, while my Amorph side emphasized its significance.

    Nevertheless, I couldn¡¯t ignore the warning from my auxiliary systems. In the game, I might be an expert, but in reality, I was still inexperienced. If my Amorph body hadn¡¯t assisted me, survival would have been impossible.

    ¡°Is this really that important?¡±

    I asked silently, but my auxiliary systems remained silent, the tendrils under my jaw offering no response.

    ¡®Should I ept it or not¡­¡¯

    I would have preferred to dy my decision, but unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t possible. If I didn¡¯t ept it, the acquisition would be canceled after ten minutes. While reality might differ from the game, I had no desire to test it.

    ¡®¡­Let¡¯s ept it.¡¯

    After much contemtion, I decided to ept the ¡®human nature¡¯ trait.

    I intended to fill the psychic abilities category, but since the auxiliary systems granted this trait specifically to me, I couldn¡¯t easily dismiss it. My trust in these tiny tendrils that had never forced a risky choice on me before made me choose to believe in them once more.

    Upon epting it, the semi-transparent text box emitted a glow and disappeared.

    And within my body¡­

    ¡®Everything seems normal.¡¯

    There was no sudden rush of strange thoughts, overwhelming guilt, or any other unusual sensations. My body and mind felt the same as usual.

    I reactivated the text box.

    [Currently, there is one avable type for specialization.]

    [Psychic Enhancement Type (3/6)]

    As expected, ¡®human nature¡¯ was ssified as a Psychic-rted trait. Now, I had three psychic-rted traits: Predator¡¯s Intuition, Psychic Organ, and Human Nature. To obtain a type, I needed to collect three more psychic-rted traits.

    I examined the details of the ¡®human nature¡¯ trait.

    [Human Nature: Assists in making the right judgment at critical moments.

    *Note: May your choices hold value.]

    ¡®¡­Vague.¡¯

    Even after reading the description, I couldn¡¯t grasp its effect. I decided that further contemtion would be futile and closed the text box.

    ¡®Let¡¯s focus on the fact that we¡¯ve fulfilled the type condition.¡¯

    Regaining myposure, I looked ahead, and there was Number 26, waiting for me. Its color seemed off, indicating it might be feeling uneasy.

    ?Hey Baby, are you okay??

    [ZZZ (Why wouldn¡¯t I be?)]

    ?You weren¡¯t moving, so I got worried.?

    Seemingly concerned about me just standing there, I gently stroked Number 26. It returned to its usual pink hue, evidently relieved.

    ¡®Who¡¯s worrying about whom?¡¯

    After picking up the Sonic de the pirate had been carrying, I hoisted Number 26 onto my shoulder.

    Throughout the workout room, there were traces of the pirates¡¯ scavenging, left in the wake of their fear. Of course, I had no intention of letting them escape.

    ***

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    ***

    The pirate was cowering inside one of the lockers in the changing room.

    At first, there were several bursts ofser gunshots followed by silence. Thinking that the chief engineer had eliminated the threat, he felt relieved. But that wasn¡¯t the case; the chief engineer had failed, and the intruder was still alive.

    A while ago, screams from his colleagues hiding in the shower room had reached his ears. Their cries for mercy didn¡¯tst long.

    The pirate gulped down his saliva and tightly gripped theser rifle. He couldn¡¯t understand why he had to endure such pain.

    Even though he was a pirate, he hadn¡¯t engaged in more heinous or malicious acts than others. Stripping the scalps of the rich ormitting crimes against women and killing weremon deeds among pirates. He had merely lived as a pirate should.

    ¡°Lord Sumander, please have mercy¡­¡±

    Since bing a pirate, he had never uttered the name of the StarUnion¡¯s Lord Sumander. He was no longer a cyborg of the StarUnion; he was now a member of the Dvara Cartel. But as he faced imminent death, he unconsciously acted as he had in his youth.

    At that moment, the sound of a door opening reached his ears. It seemed like someone was moving something heavy, breaking the stillness of the changing room.

    The door closed, leaving an unpleasant silence to linger in the changing room. An invisible terror crept into the pirate¡¯s chest, making it feel as if cold sweat were pouring down his back.

    He¡¯s inside the changing room. Is the pirate waiting to spring a trap on me? Despite likely being a biological entity, he didn¡¯t make a single sound. His inhuman appearance only deepened the cyborg¡¯s fear.

    As He waited for the pirate to emerge, he finally moved when the pirate didn¡¯t show up. Thud, thud followed his footsteps a few times, and then he began opening the lockers one by one.

    Creak!

    m!

    The pirate felt like his heart was about to explode. The sound was getting closer. Finally, the man reached the locker adjacent to his hiding ce.

    Through the bars of the locker, he caught a vague glimpse of the man.

    Brownish skin, closer to ck, a beast with teeth stained by the blood of hisrades. There was a strong scent of blood emanating from the man.

    The man lingered briefly in front of him and then disappeared.

    As the foul smell of blood drifted away, the cyborg pirate breathed a sigh of relief.

    He thought to himself, ¡®Once this looting is over, I need to sneak away. Boss Elchen won¡¯t spare me, but the universe is vast. If I escape into the StarUnion¡¯s territory, even the Dvara Cartel won¡¯t be able to touch me.¡¯

    While contemting his escape, a sudden thunderous noise echoed, and he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen.

    When he lowered his head, he saw a long spear piercing through the locker¡¯s door and through his belly. The spear, or rather the man¡¯s tail, was pulled out of his abdomen and slipped outside.

    Four hands tore the door open. The sight of the man¡¯s mouth gaping wide was thest thing the pirate saw before his consciousness faded.

    ***

    ¡®Why were you trying to hide?¡¯

    The cyborg who dared to deceive my senses had his limbs severed by mybat arms and died. Eating his flesh brought me closer topleting my evolutionary requirements.

    ¡®Now, I just need one more.¡¯

    Among the twelve cyborgs who had boarded this ship, only one remained. ording to my nest¡¯s data, he was in the bridgemand center.

    ¡®Of course, it had to be themand center.¡¯

    Themand center was home to someone I¡¯d rather not face¡ªan engineered human likely from the Yujin family.

    ¡®Should I start with the Boss?¡¯

    Exiting the workout room with Number 26, my auxiliary systems urgently sent me a danger signal. I quickly propelled myself to the ceiling.

    Almost simultaneously, a massive fist struck the spot where I had been. The impact left a hole in the alloy te, as if it had been hit by sma energy.

    ¡°Found you! You son of a bitch!¡±

    The perpetrator of this immense disy of strength was the pirate boss, a hulk mutant.

    I knew he¡¯d be big, but seeing him in person, his imposing presence was truly remarkable.

    Standing over three meters tall, all muscle with no hint of fat, and even red fur around his neck, reminiscent of a wild animal. His appearance was terrifying, like one of the Four Heavenly Kings guarding a Buddha.

    ¡°That damn bastard killed my subordinates?¡±

    Behind the roaring leader were his subordinates and the medical team. I knew they had survived, but I never expected them to join the pirates¡¯ side.

    ¡®Well, this works out nicely.¡¯

    I had nned to devour the boss first anyway, and he hade to me instead.

    If he was a hulk mutant, he likely possessed valuable genes. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to replenish my gic essence before dealing with the formidable opponent.

    I leaped down from the ceiling.

    [ZZZZ (Stay hidden for a moment)]

    ?Danger! Be careful!?

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Don¡¯t worry)]

    ?Baby, stay safe!?

    After reassuring Number 26, I sent it away. It remained motionless, blending into the wall with its camouge ability. However, I still sensed its underlying unease.

    Seeing the worried 26 in its shrunken state made me want tough, but unfortunately, my Amorph physiology didn¡¯t allow for it.

    Confirming that 26 had hidden itself, I turned to face the Boss.

    At just over five feet tall, I estimated the boss to be roughly twice my height. To an onlooker, I must have appeared significantly disadvantaged.

    ¡®A gically enhanced Hulk mutant, huh? Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.¡¯

    I savored the sight of the hulk mutant, who was like a treasure trove of gic essence.

    ***

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    ***

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25

    ¡°Hey, shouldn¡¯t we go too?¡±

    ¡°The boss asked to protect garlic, remember?¡±

    ¡°Damn, I was happy because he said he¡¯d reward us for it, but damn it¡­¡±

    Bridgemand center.

    The pirates were debating whether or not to go help the boss. In the eyes of the grumbling cyborg pirates, they saw Garlic working diligently.

    She was tinkering with the mainputer equipped with central AI.

    ¡°Hey, Garlic, how much longer?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s almost done.¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯s it taking so long for that pile of junk to do something?¡±

    It was a humorous situation, but cyborg pirates, despite being half-machine, were total novices when it came toputers and advanced machinery.

    Like most of the lower-ss citizens in the StarUnion, he too had focused more on worldly matters than on high-tech fields like robotics, nanoputing, and the like.

    ¡°Even though it¡¯s next-gen tech, it¡¯s the AI of the MegaCorp Battleship. It¡¯s practically the essence of space engineering andputer science. It¡¯s not going to be that easy¡­¡±

    ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t know those fancy words. Let¡¯s just wrap this up and go help the boss.¡±

    The cyborg interrupted Garlic¡¯s attempt to provide a detailed exnation with a wave of his hand. Disinterested, the pirates returned to their idle chit-chat.

    To them, Garlic smiled awkwardly and then refocused on her work. Well, at least she pretended to.

    In her face, which she had turned, you couldn¡¯t find the inexperienced look she had shown earlier. The pupils behind her round sses were colder than the inorganic masses surrounding them.

    ¡®Arnold did a great job.¡¯

    Thanks to the sacrifice of the minion, she could see that he was evolving.

    He had appeared in themand center twice. Both times, he had deployed smoke to conceal himself, but she easily read his transformation.

    Her eyes and spatial perception were far superior, thanks to gic modifications. Among the genes transnted into her, there was one called ¡®Terror Devil¡¯.

    The Terror Devil was a type of desert-dwelling dragon. Due to the extremely harsh living conditions, this dragon¡¯s sensory abilities had evolved in a unique direction.

    The Terror Devil couldprehensively analyze various factors, such as changes in the surrounding terrain, subtle vibrations on the sand¡¯s surface, and more, to determine the presence of hidden prey. Its uracy was nearly 100%, which is why the indigenous people of the referred to it as ¡®irvoyance.¡¯

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t actually ¡®seeing¡¯ what was hidden behind obstacles but rather mentally ¡®reconstructing¡¯ what was behind them based on the gathered information.

    MegaCorp¡¯s scientists concluded that this ¡®irvoyance¡¯ ability was possible due to innate psychic powers inherent in the Terror Devil¡¯s genes.

    Anyway, she used the Terror Devil¡¯s ability to discern that the creature in the video was evolving.

    When the guy reappeared for the second time in themand center, he had a much thicker outer shell.

    Her estimate was that he could withstand up to two hits.

    ¡®The guy raided theb midway through the experiment.¡¯

    She was currently reviewing theb data through the ship¡¯s mainputer. Theputer-illiterate pirates were oblivious to the fact that she had alreadypleted all the checks a long time ago.

    ¡®He¡¯s not just smart¡­¡¯

    Based on the sample loss report sent by theb¡¯s control AI, she could tell that he had wiped out everyst trace without leaving anything behind.

    He had specifically targeted gic samples, leaving all other chemicals and materials untouched.

    That meant he knew exactly what abilities he possessed and how to utilize them effectively.

    ¡®A creature that absorbs genes and evolves¡­ Is that it?¡¯

    She knew of a simr entity, one that shared her kind.

    ¡®Like my own kind.¡¯

    That was her conclusion.

    The creature, who plundered and utilized the genes of other organisms, was simr to her in that respect.

    ¡®Elchen won¡¯t be able to handle this.¡¯

    He was merely a monstrous entity enhanced by the will of others. A paltry being who had no idea what was inside his own body.

    He could never defeat the mastermind of life who manipted the origins of living beings at will.

    She shut down theputer. Somehow, a smile crept onto her lips.

    She would never admit it, but her expression bore a resemnce to the enigmatic smile that her unidentified enemies often disyed.

    It was the smirk of a predator circling its prey when it spotted it.

    ¡®That old man in the basement was annoying, but surprisingly, he¡¯s been quite productive.¡¯

    When she had her conversation with her faithful servant, Arnold, she had never dreamed of such an exciting turn of events.

    The death of Noble Capital and Akira Yujin¡¯s orders to her, the arrival of the Dvara Cartel on this research vessel¡ªeverything had gone ording to her n. But the presence of this creature had been unexpected.

    ¡°Garlic, are you finished?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re done, let¡¯s go.¡±

    The pirates called out to her, but she didn¡¯t respond. She had no further business with these pirates. When the mission was over, she had to infiltrate another organization that was part of C-08.

    ¡®I should reduce the number of genes he can acquire as well.¡¯

    She, too, was an entity that consumed the origins of life, so she understood.

    She didn¡¯t know the exact method he used to plunder genes, but she knew that even if she wanted to obtain genes, she couldn¡¯t if there were no traces left behind.

    She got up from her seat.

    The timidity that had haunted her until now was nowhere to be found. The woman standing there was entirely different. In ce of timidity and gloom, there was now the fierceness and allure that one could feel from a giant feline or a predator.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    Her former ¡®colleagues¡¯ seemed to sense their impending fate as they hesitated. She slowly removed her inconspicuous sses.

    In the Dvara Cartel, she was known as Garlic. She had many other names.

    Her enemies in the MegaCorp referred to her as the ¡®Spiral Witch¡¯. In her family, they called her the Shadow and revered her.

    The head of the family, Akira Yujin, referred to her as ¡®Code White¡¯.

    Once upon a time, her father used to call her Si-hyun. The essence of gic engineering from the Yujin family, the sole heir of an obscure lineage within the family.

    Sling¡­

    Drawing a white de from the back of her hand, Si-hyun Yujin smiled as she gazed at the ¡®sheep.¡¯

    ***

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    ***

    I silently observed the beast in front of me. The boss, too, opted to assess my movements from his position rather than rush in recklessly.

    It was a battle of beasts. Before revealing our fangs and ws, we were in the midst of a reconnaissance phase. Much like humanbat, the oue hinged on whose strategy was superior and whose weapon posed a greater threat.

    Was it due to nervousness or the anticipation of the fight? The acidic blood coursing through my veins seemed to boil, and my skin grew hot.

    ¡®So, this is what this sensation feels like.¡¯

    It was a sensation I couldn¡¯t experience while ying games. If I were in a human body, I might have licked my dry lips.

    The opponent¡¯s muscles tensed. With just one stomp on the ground, the creature surged towards me, charging as if its prey were right under its nose. A creature of substantial size didn¡¯t necessarily mean it was slow.

    The floor shattered under the force of the creature¡¯s punch, and metal fragments scattered into the air. The sight of white shards soaring through the air resembled a flock of startled birds in the wind.

    Twisting my body to evade the attack, I dove inside the creature.

    Had my movements felt more agile than expected? Retrieving the fist that had smashed the floor seemed sluggish.

    I had no intention of showing mercy to the creature. I aimed straight for its belly with mybat arm.

    ¡°Ha!¡±

    It seemed I wasn¡¯t the only one who had predicted the opponent¡¯s attack. The creature, too, lifted its knee to neutralize my strike.

    My tail clung to the creature¡¯s shoulder, but it chose evasion over blocking.

    With enough force to leave footprints behind, the creature mmed into an alloy panel. The three-meter giant was pushed back quite a distance into the air.

    But the creature hadn¡¯t merely retreated. During the exchange of blows, it had secretly nted pulse grenades.

    When the first attack had missed, I assumed it had stiffened in surprise, but in reality, it was a feint to set up the bomb throw.

    As soon as I realized this, the grenades exploded, generating a powerful electromaic field that swept over my body.

    ¡®Ugh.¡¯

    There was nothing wrong with my body, but the psychic device attached to the back of my head tingled as if I had just eaten something spicy.

    A pulse grenade was thrown assuming I was abat android, although it turned out to be incorrect. Not a bad sense. With this level of skill, finding an adversary might prove difficult.

    ¡°Tsk. It¡¯s not one of StarUnion¡¯s new weapons.¡±

    The boss clicked his tongue as if he weren¡¯t pleased. It seemed that through our brief exchange, he hade to realize that I was not an easy opponent.

    ¡°¡­Damn. Where did this monstere from?¡±

    The boss cursed under his breath as he reached for theser pistol at his waist. It was an enhancedser pistol, but due to his massive build, it looked like he was carrying a slightly longer handgun.

    After a moment of contemtion, he released his grip on the pistol.

    It was a wise decision. While it had more destructive powerpared to conventional firearms, it was still just aser weapon.

    All of his subordinates hadser pistols and had just failed. Since I had confirmed that I was unharmed in the recent exchange, it was reasonable for him to assume thatser weapons wouldn¡¯t be effective against me.

    He roughly swiped his hand through his mane, revealing a switch on the right side of his neck.

    ¡°The berserk switch.¡±

    It seemed he chose to trust his own fists rather than rely on weapons. With fingers almost the size of a beer can, he halted just before pressing the switch.

    ¡°Hey. Do you understand me?¡±

    It was unexpected. Until now, none of the beings I had encountered had tried tomunicate with me, except for 26. They had only left messages like not wanting to die or begging for their lives. I wasn¡¯t sure what his intentions were, but he had piqued my interest. I lowered my threatening tail slightly, and in response, he raised the corners of his mouth in what looked like a grin.

    ¡°I nted a bomb in the reactor. The control device is synced with my heart. If you kill me, this ship will explode, and everyone will die.¡±

    ¡®A bomb?¡¯

    I nced at the medical officer behind the boss. His paleplexion and the way he wiped sweat from his forehead with his sleeve indicated that the boss¡¯s words were not a lie. While the bomb¡¯s instation was a fact, what mattered was whether the boss would detonate it.

    ¡®He seems quite attached to life.¡¯

    With high intelligence, superhuman physique, and arrogance, there were no elements to lower his will to survive.

    ¡°¡­!¡±

    Without exining the topic he brought up, he pressed the switch in silence.

    It signaled the beginning of the transformation unique to Hulk mutants.

    The arrangement of genes within cells shifted, and the body contorted. Bones that should have been inside burst through the flesh and spilled outward, while blood that should have circted within veins poured out. The surface of the skin emitted vapor due to the inner energy¡¯s agitation. Muscles swelled, tearing apart the clothing they covered.

    ¡®This sensation¡­ I¡¯ve never felt it in a game.¡¯

    Even in his normal state, he looked far from human, butpleting the transformation into the berserk state turned him into an outright monster. Compared to before, his arms had grown much longer. Not only that, but bones protruded from inside and transformed into armor-like shapes that wrapped around his arms, resembling small shields.

    This bone armor extended to other parts of his body, such as his head and legs. After the transformation, he resembled a gori wearing armor more than a human. Near his chest, an exoskeleton, simr to mine, had developed, providing protection to his vital areas.

    The difference was that the material covering his chest appeared to be alloy. The exoskeleton that emerged from his back and enveloped his entire chest gave the impression of steel spiders encasing his torso.

    With bone bursting from the skin, blood pouring out due to the outburst, the abnormally long arms, and more, it wouldn¡¯t be wrong to say that he looked like a creation ying tricks on its creator.

    ¡®He¡¯s not just randomly messing with genes.¡¯

    Looking at this guy, who was in fact a backwardpatible version of Amorph, I guessed the genes that went into his body.

    First, the bone exterior covering his arms, which would likely be his main weapon. I had a suspicion about the origin of this biological feature.

    ¡®It¡¯s probably from a Mountain Crawler.¡¯

    Mountain Crawlers were predators that shared their habitat with RockWalkers. They looked like a blown-up version of an armored skunk, about 10 meters in size. Their tough exterior earned them the nickname ¡°Rock¡¯s Dragon,¡± and they were notorious even in the game.

    The boss seemed to have selected only the best genes from these Rock¡¯s Dragons for himself. He tore off the ragged clothing that had be rags during his transformation.

    The Hulk mutant, standing at the boundary between savagery and rationality, pounded his chest and roared.

    ¡°Gwaaaah!¡±

    Rumble! rumble!

    A pure, destruction-driven scream echoed, mingling with Amorph¡¯s resonance. My body, too, shivered as I felt the approaching bloodshed and violence under my skin.

    ¡®Come.¡¯

    In the darkness of space, monsters roared, announcing the beginning of the battle.

    ***

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    ***

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26

    The medical officer couldn¡¯t blink his eyes.

    So this is what a beast fighting arena operated by the StarUnion looks like.

    Two monsters are now facing each other under the watchful gaze of the stars.

    His new owner, Elchen Dvara, seemed like a machine from hell cast by a demon. Abnormally long and massive arms, aggressively iling red fur, alloy gloves adorned with dried blood and flesh. There was not a single element that wasn¡¯t ominous.

    A monster daring to confront the machine of hell. His gaze turned to the opposite side.

    There, a ghost was present.

    With a color close to ck-brown, an exoskeleton covering the head and chest, a mass of tentacles resembling hair, four arms giving the impression of human bones d in armor, and a tail almost twice the size of the body.

    The medical officer knew very well how many souls that ck ghost had devoured. The dying cries of soldiers before his eyes still echoed in his ears.

    The machine of hell and the ghostly butcher.

    The massive and sturdy monster and the agile and tough one rushed towards each other.

    ***

    Every time the creature took a step, the corridor of the ship vibrated. The approaching boss swiftly raised his arms.

    The bone shield covering his arms flew towards my head to break it. I leaned my head down to avoid the blow, and I shot my tail toward him.

    Just as my flexible tail was about to pierce his chest, I hesitated.

    ¡®Bomb!¡¯

    Hesitation during battle is strictly forbidden. The boss did not miss my weakness. The shockwave from his rock-hard fist turned the corridor into a battlefield, shattering the lights hanging from the ceiling one by one.

    ¡°What?!¡±

    The boss seemed equally confused as I was. Since the toughest parts of my body are my chest and head, targeting them would have been an effective attack.

    I had already withdrawn my body.

    Heughed confidently. He seemed to believe that my attacks were useless and that there were no weaknesses in his body.

    Considering the current situation, he wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. There weren¡¯t many ces I could target when a chest attack was impossible. The bone armor surrounding his arms and legs was tougher than my enhanced body. Unless I used a sma weapon, I couldn¡¯t prate it. Even if I aimed for the parts not covered by bones, he would do whatever it took to defend himself.

    ¡®But¡­¡¯

    Currently, there were two things he didn¡¯t know.

    One was that I had the ¡®Neurotoxin nds¡¯ trait. If I seeded in stabbing him anywhere on his body, the fight would be over.

    ¡®He already seems to have guessed it, though.¡¯

    The boss is particrly focused on my tail. Even before going berserk, when I aimed for him with my tail, he chose to dodge rather than block it. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s an instinct from the wild or if he obtained information in the situation room, but he seems to be aware that my tail is dangerous.

    ¡®But what to do with this?¡¯

    He might not know, but I can extract poison from my teeth and ws. If I break through his exterior and attack, I¡¯ll win.

    So, how can I prate the tough exterior that the boss relies on so firmly?

    While the boss is concentrating on my four arms and tail, there is actually one more weapon in my arsenal.

    The small arms near my chest are holding a thin rod, the Sonic de. I picked it up just in case from the gym, but I didn¡¯t expect to use it so soon.

    The Sonic de excels in cutting power alone. It might break when I strike the bone exterior, but that doesn¡¯t matter. Once I make a wound on the armor, the rest will be no problem. No matter how thick and huge a dam is, it will copse with a small crack.

    The moment when fortune smiles upon me is when a crack appears in his iron fortress.

    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡±

    The boss leaped. Thanks to his enhanced reflexes, he jumped at an unbelievable height and lunged at me.

    I used all six of my arms and legs to quickly get out of the way. The ce where I was standing was destroyed, and the corridor shook.

    ¡®Fast and strong.¡¯

    He¡¯s fast because he has mixed various genes, but his movements are incredibly fast. Even though he¡¯s using all limbs except for his small arms to evade, it¡¯s still quite close. Usually, fast movementse at the expense of strength, but he doesn¡¯tpromise on either.

    ¡®Of course, there¡¯s no such thing as perfection.¡¯

    Hulk mutants have a persistent weakness. I have to endure until that weaknesses to the surface.

    As we rushed through the ship¡¯s hull, we entered a massive space. The rusted smell of damp metal permeated the cargo containers. This is the world I first faced when I opened my eyes ¨C a cargo container.

    All six legs strained, and my body soared in height. As I roamed above the containers, shouts from below reached my ears.

    ¡°Arrogant!¡±

    As if to say that such things can¡¯t stop him, he plowed straight into the containers. Rectangr metal blocks weighing several tons each tumbled in a chaotic manner. Grating steel tes on the floor danced in the air in response.

    Bugs hidden everywhere suddenly appeared in response to the impending catastrophe. After catching a cockroach fleeing, I hid my body behind a container.

    Facing such overwhelming power, direct confrontation is difficult. The only option I have here is to wait.

    ¡®I¡¯m waiting.¡¯

    I¡¯ve done more than just run away so far. Hulk mutants consume a lot of energy and have a short ¡®rest period¡¯ in the middle of exertion. If I keep pushing him to use his strength recklessly, even if he doesn¡¯t want to, his body will be forced to stop the attack.

    ¡®There¡¯s not much time left.¡¯

    The auxiliary unit tells me that the chemical reactions and energy regtion mechanisms urring inside his body, which are in close proximity, are revealing the optimal timing for my attack.

    The auxiliary unit tells me that there are two hearts in his body, and they regte their output appropriately.

    ¡®Speaking of which, he has two hearts.¡¯

    Where is the detonation device connected? Hulk mutants¡¯ main hearts are usually on the left, so it¡¯s likely on the left, but he¡¯s a wicked monster. I¡¯m not sure which side it¡¯s on.

    While I was briefly distracted by thoughts of the heart, he spotted me and charged.

    ¡°Aaaagggghhhh!¡±

    ¡®This is bad.¡¯

    A fist filled with unimaginable power, capable of throwing containers weighing over ten tons like toys, grazed my shoulder.

    The throbbing pain surged, but it wasn¡¯t unbearable, so I immediately retaliated.

    My tail struck between his joints, like a spear thrust by a master of spear fighting, into the part of his body not protected by bones.

    ¡°Bastard!¡±

    He quickly bent his arm, causing my attack to fail. Before he could charge at me again, I quickly moved backward, and a container crashed down where I had been standing.

    ¡°Damn it! Running away, you cowardly bug!¡±

    ¡®That was a mistake. Let¡¯s not fixate on the heart.¡¯

    I shouldn¡¯t fall into his trap. I moved out of his line of sight and focused all my senses on the auxiliary unit.

    He was breathing heavily, like an angry bear. At first nce, he appeared to be operating normally with no issues. But I could tell. Theponents that make up his body are demanding rest due to overload.

    Carefully crawling up onto the container, I saw him smashing everything in sight.

    ¡°Grr, grr¡­¡±

    Steam rose between the exposed muscle fibers on his skin. It was a result of the heat generated while cooling his body down.

    Normally, he should have stopped and taken a break during his activity, but he didn¡¯t. Compared to before, he had slowed down, but that tremendous strength remained unchanged.

    ¡®An improved Hulk Mutant with reduced weaknesses.¡¯

    Nevertheless, he hadn¡¯t eliminated the rest period. I seized the opportunity and pushed with all my strength against the container.

    My body became an arrow tearing through the air. In the dimly lit cargo container, with my skin blending in, it seemed like he noticed me a moment toote.

    ¡°Die!¡±

    He stood there, tearing away the grating floor with both hands.

    Massive projectiles, heavier than ten tons each, flew towards me. With the acute senses typical of an Amorph and the assistance of my auxiliary unit, I calcted the trajectory of these menacing obstacles.

    My foot stepped on crushed and torn alloy tes. Leaping from mid-air, I nimbly navigated the metallic staircase that had been created. I quickly closed the distance between us.

    ¡°What?! How dare you!¡±

    While he was momentarily taken aback by my incredible reflexes, he didn¡¯t lose his momentum. As Inded in front of him, he raised both hands high, intending to smash me down like a sledgehammer.

    The auxiliary unit warned me that the enemy¡¯s strength was formidable. I was well aware. He¡¯s the kind of guy who can throw containers weighing over 10 tons as if they were toys. The power in both his hands was beyond ordinary.

    In the blink of an eye, I made a decision.

    ¡®Full-speed charge.¡¯

    If I avoid it now, I don¡¯t know when the next opportunity wille. He¡¯s a cunning adversary.

    Once he exposes a weakness, he¡¯ll do whatever it takes to conceal it next time. Therefore, the opportunity is now. Trusting in my head, which can withstand the sma weapon twice, I have to go all out.

    His two fists collided with my head. In that brief moment, a tremendous energy mixture of mass, velocity, and power pressed down on my body. Because of the energy that my head hadn¡¯t managed to release, my foot pierced the floor, and part of the skin on my leg tore apart.

    ¡®Ugh.¡¯

    I managed to block it with the thickest part of my body, but it was still an incredible force.

    Dizzying pain and shock shook me.

    ¡®¡­But still, it¡¯s not unbearable.¡¯

    He had lost his current position while swinging both hands to strike my head. Taking advantage of the opportunity I had been waiting for, my small arm activated the Sonic de. The thin, triangr de protruded from the rod.

    What I needed to sever was right in front of me.

    My small arm swung the de, cutting through the space between his joints, much like cutting paper. The weapon created a thin diagonal line on his arm, signifying thepletion of its mission.

    As my small arm finished its task, it wasn¡¯t ying around as a supplementary limb. Four of my arms firmly held onto his wrists.

    ¡°What?! What are you doing?!¡± he shouted.

    I should answer his question with my mouth.

    ¡°Argh!¡±

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    My sharp teeth, like those of a shark, pierced the wound on his arm. The bones surrounding his arm were too strong, so my teeth only scratched the surface, but that didn¡¯t matter. The saliva from my mouth seeped into the shallow wound.

    ¡°Gyah!¡±

    He violently shook his arm, tossing me aside. My body lost control, and I was wedged into a pile of containers.

    ¡°How dare you bite me? You¡­ What?¡±

    His voice trailed off, and he sounded somewhat drunk. His gaze shifted to the wound on his arm and then quickly to my face.

    He seemed startled by the drool running down the corner of my mouth.

    ¡°H-How much¡­?¡±

    He tried to use his other arm to forcefully tear at another injured area. Perhaps he was trying to cut off his arm, but the bone armor covering his body was too sturdy.

    The protective wall that had shielded him was now his prison. The guy who failed to destroy the armor screamed in agony.

    ¡°M-My¡­ Help me¡­¡±

    He was a Hulk Mutant, and hisplexion had turned deathly pale. Quite a sight.

    He tried to retreat, but he couldn¡¯t get far. The neurotoxin was rapidly spreading through his body.

    Thanks to the transformation, he was rtively resistant to paralysis. By this time, the poison should have spread throughout his entire body.

    I approached him and stabbed him a few more times with my tail¡¯s poisonous stinger. After he was barely able to breathe, I removed the metal covering his chest. There, above his right chest, was a detonation device. It turned out to be a timer device that would activate upon receiving a strong impact, rather than a synchronized mechanism.

    ¡®That makes sense.¡¯

    He was a cunning one, so it felt like something he would do. If you know a thing or two about the Hulk Mutant, you would target the right heart first. That¡¯s because the Hulk Mutant

    bes significantly weaker when its auxiliary heart is destroyed. It¡¯s the part that controls the side effects caused by gic maniption, and losing the auxiliary heart can lead to theplete copse of the body.

    ¡®If you¡¯ve lost the auxiliary heart, it¡¯s already game over.¡¯

    Perhaps it was a matter of either choosing to die together or causing hesitation by indicating that a time limit had been set. Since he nted the bomb himself, he could simply end the fight quickly and go deactivate it in person.

    Well, his ns were no longer important. It might take some time to disable the detonation device, but I could do it with my small hands. After that, all that was left was to savor the gic essences contained within the Hulk Mutant¡¯s body.

    ?Hey, Baby!?

    Someone called out, and when I turned around, it was Number 26.

    [ZZZ (Stay hidden)]

    ?Baby, something big is happening!?

    [ZZ (What?)]

    Number 26¡¯s response seemed strange, like they were at a loss or terrified. I was about to ask why when suddenly my predator sense activated.

    [The Galestorm strikes 26th.]

    [The Galestorm came at me with unstoppable speed.]

    [I died.]

    ¡®Crazy!¡¯

    I quickly rushed towards Number 26, grabbing it and rolling to the ground. At the same time, a lightning-like beam cut through the spot where Number 26 had been.

    ¡°Huh? you dodged it?¡±

    If it weren¡¯t for the predator sense, both Number 26 and I would have died.

    I raised my head, and I saw a person standing at the entrance to the cargo container. With a slender figure and long ck hair, it was clear that the person was a woman.

    ¡®That¡¯s a woman?¡¯

    My auxiliary systems and Amoph¡¯s unique senses were ring rms like crazy.

    ¡®Do not confront that ¡®monster¡¯.¡¯

    ¡®¡­Si-hyun Yujin.¡¯

    The mysterious presence who hade aboard the ship with the pirates. The adversary I had been thinking about facingst hade looking for me.

    ¡°Future Vision, huh? Which gene is it? I¡¯d like to hear it.¡±

    She casually chatted as she entered the cargo container. Despite her seemingly casual tone, she was prepared to strike at any moment.

    In her hand, or rather the back of her hand, a white de protruded.

    It had a simr appearance to the boss¡¯s bone armor, but I knew exactly which gene had given rise to that de.

    ¡®She mixed the genes of a White Gagon with those of other high-level organisms.¡¯

    Obtaining such a gene was so difficult that I had contemted whether it was worth acquiring as a gic essence. Besides that, even the visible gic traits alone were numerous, and all of them were rare and valuable features. In the game, yers who modified themselves to this extent were only a step away from bing rankers.

    ¡®I can¡¯t beat her in my current state.¡¯

    I need to retreat immediately, regroup, and prepare a strategy. However, she didn¡¯t give me the time to do so.

    ¡°You¡­ Gar¡­?¡±

    ¡°Good job until now.¡±

    Kuk!

    She approached the incapacitated boss and pierced the detonation device with her de. The boss, who was also stabbed through the heart, spat out arge amount of blood before copsing.

    ¡®Darn it.¡¯

    ¡°We can¡¯t just let you run away, can we?¡±

    The bomb timer had already started. I didn¡¯t know how much time was left, but it couldn¡¯t be much.

    My intention to withdraw and prepare for an attack was thwarted.

    ¡®What should I do?¡¯

    However, engaging inbat without any information about the enemy would be suicidal. Fighting without knowing the opponent¡¯sbat sense and strategy would only result in defeat.

    I cautiously observed the enemy, and she smiled broadly.

    ¡°I have a proposal.¡±

    ¡®A proposal?¡¯

    With a rxed attitude, Si-hyun smirked. It was an attitude I didn¡¯t particrly like, but my current situation was one of absolute disadvantage. For now, I needed to focus on how to strategize against her, rather than getting annoyed.

    ¡®What are those eyes? Are they Outspacer¡¯s observers? No, it¡¯s more likely to be a Terror Devil¡¯s possibility¡­¡¯

    ¡°You seem somewhat simr to me, so I¡¯ll spare you.¡±

    ¡®What?¡¯

    ¡°If you serve me, in simple terms, you¡¯ll be my pet.¡±

    It sounded like an absurdity, but her expression was different from before. Even by observing her body¡¯s reactions through my auxiliary systems, I didn¡¯t get the sense that she was lying.

    ¡®¡­There¡¯s no need for her to lie.¡¯

    Just as I felt her strength, she knew that I was weaker than herself. That¡¯s why she wasing out with such a rxed attitude.

    ¡°You also manipte genes, don¡¯t you? I could be a suitable master for you.¡±

    ¡®¡­¡¯

    ¡°So,e with me.¡±

    Overwhelmingly strong, Si-hyun Yujin was telling me to serve her, to be her ve.

    ?Baby¡­?

    Honestly, following Si-hyun¡¯s words would be a rational choice. The de on her wrist was Gallgon¡¯s w, with destructive power surpassing sma weapons, and even my reinforced exterior couldn¡¯t withstand it.

    Besides that, there are various weapons on her body that could easily kill me.

    I approached her, using all six arms and legs, like a well-trained pet before its owner.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s the right decision.¡±

    ¡®Don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m here.¡¯

    However, Si-hyun was overlooking one thing about me.

    Why I liked Amorph and why I was immersed in this cheesy, useless character, earning me the nickname ¡®Amorph lover¡¯ in themunity. She didn¡¯t know.

    The reason I liked Amorph was simple: ¡®Freedom of choice¡¯. I loved Amorph because it was a being that could be infinitely stronger through my ¡®choices¡¯.

    Therefore, my choice was already predetermined.

    [ZZZ (It¡¯s okay)]

    ?Baby.?

    When Si-hyun¡¯s face came close enough that I could clearly see her satisfied expression, I narrowed the distance further. I kicked my leg towards her face, using all six limbs for bnce.

    ¡°!¡±

    She quickly evaded my foot, but that wasn¡¯t my intention. I had been waiting for a brief opening. Acidic blood that had been flowing from my torn exterior sshed into her eyes.

    ¡°Huh?!¡±

    A momentary gap was all I needed. I couldn¡¯t hurt her with acidic blood; it couldn¡¯t even harm a strand of her hair.

    [ZZ (Hold tight)]

    ?Yes!?

    While she was momentarily disoriented, I jumped with 26¡¯s support, using all six limbs to run away. I heard the sound of the cargo hold breaking apart from behind.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s have some fun! Hahaha!¡±

    With her eyes closed, Si-hyunughed like a maniac. She pulled out Gagon¡¯s ws from both hands and shed the containers as if they were tofu.

    ¡°Let¡¯s have some fun?¡±

    Si-hyun Yujin was much stronger than me. Indeed, she was my first true enemy since I became Amorph. But I would show her that the oue of a battle wasn¡¯t solely determined by strength.

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 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27

    ¡®Fucking bastards¡­!¡¯

    The wreckage of the cargo containery in ruins, and within it was Elchen. His auxiliary heart had been destroyed by the attack from Garlic, but he still had one more heart, which kept him from dying.

    The problem was that his current state was barely hanging on, to say the least. The auxiliary heart yed a role in stabilizing mutated Hulks injected with various genes. A Hulk mutant without an auxiliary heart would die shortly.

    He was an improved being, so that saved him; otherwise, his body would have been copsing.

    ¡®How dare you betray me? You damn bitch, I¡¯ll make you beg for death.¡¯

    In reality, what made him angrier than the threat of death was the presence of the traitor. He wanted to capture and tear apart that traitor¡¯s limbs right away, but there was something else to do first.

    ¡®Damn it. Of all times for the device to malfunction.¡¯

    Even a clever person like Garlic knew that it was a shock-trigger detonator, yet she didn¡¯t hesitate to break it. As a result, the timer attached to the nuclear reactor had already started. In exactly ten minutes, everyone on this ship would turn to dust.

    ¡®Do you think I¡¯ll die here? Don¡¯t make meugh! Do you know who I am? I¡¯m Elchen Dvara.¡¯

    Even in his paralyzed state, he struggled with all his might. It was his unwavering determination to survive by any means necessary.

    ***

    ?Baby, are you alright?? 26 asked as we ran. I could feel the little guy trembling in his small hand.

    [ZZZZ (I¡¯m already healed)]

    ?Really??

    I had the ¡®Regeneration¡¯ trait, so I could quickly restore my damaged exterior, which had been torn slightly. There were still injuries on my legs, but the bleeding had stopped.

    While gently stroking Number 26 with my small hand, I contemted how to attack Si-hyun.

    ¡®A surprise attack will probably be difficult.¡¯

    Her eyes, the Terrors¡¯ eyes, had the ability to see through things. Even if I tried to hide, she would probably see through it quickly. Moreover, from what I could tell, Si-hyun seemed to have an ability beyond just seeing through things.

    ¡®I can feel her presence.¡¯

    Si-hyun had pushed me into a corner where I had to follow her. In that case, I had no choice but to go along with it for now.

    ¡®Let¡¯s start by eliminating the negatives.¡¯

    There were three disadvantages working against me: the time limit, weaker attack and defensepared to the enemy, andck of information.

    ¡®I can¡¯t do much about the time limit right now. I have to focus on killing her.¡¯

    ¡®Information scarcity can only be solved by confronting her directly.¡¯

    If I had been a yer who favored other races, I might have been defeated by her, but I was an Amorph yer. The only people who knew more about the gic traits than I did were the developers.

    ¡®So, what¡¯s left is my attack and defense¡­¡¯

    I considered going back to the control room to devour the cyborg, but that had its own problems. When I evolved to the next stage, my body would bepletely immobilized for a minimum of several hours. If the bomb went off or I was discovered during that time, it would be over.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to put my evolution on hold¡­ Oh.¡¯

    Thinking about evolution reminded me of something.

    ¡®The Psyonium!¡¯

    If I consumed Psyonium, I could use the abilities of Pre-saint for a short period of time. Si-hyun possessed Gagon¡¯s w, which allowed her to release a sma-like energy called Windstorm,monly known as ¡®Sword Qi¡¯ in the game. I had no resistance to Psychic Powers right now, so I couldn¡¯t counter Gagon¡¯s w.

    However, what if I be a Pre-saint here? If I be an ascendant, I gain the Psychic Power Resistance trait as an evolution bonus. If she¡¯s really Gagon, I¡¯m not sure, but if she only transnted Gagon¡¯s w, I should be able to withstand it with my exterior.

    ¡®Plus, I¡¯ll gain a long-range attack method.¡¯

    While I have the Serrated Tentacles, they could only be used for mid-range deterrence at best. Facing off against Si-hyun¡¯s Gagon w with my tentacles would be inadequate. Moreover, our senses were linked, so if I extended my tentacles recklessly, she could easily counterattack.

    ¡®Pre-saint¡¯s long-range attacks don¡¯t have such a drawback.¡¯

    If we were to nitpick, perhaps it consumed more energy? Anyway, I had to fight before the Psyonium¡¯s effect wore off. There was no need to pay attention to energy.

    I arrived at theb nest and set 26 down.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZZZ (Just wait a moment).]

    ?Where are you going??

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZZ (I¡¯ll keep an eye on it, don¡¯t worry).]

    ?Little one, it¡¯s not okay.?

    [Zoom, zoom, zoom (Don¡¯t worry about it).]

    Despite my words, the little one didn¡¯t move. It seemed like it had something to say but couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it. Normally, I would have waited until it was ready to speak, but I didn¡¯t have time for that now.

    I left it behind and approached theb refrigerator. Inside was a violet liquid. I pulled it out and swallowed it in one gulp.

    ¡®Ugh!¡¯

    The searing pain coursing through my body felt as though I was being consumed by mes. Even during the times when they had forcibly administered medication to Number 26, the pain seemed far more intense than anything I had experienced before.

    In the game, consuming Psyonium only resulted in a buff effect appearing at the top of the screen, but here, it was reality. I had to endure the process of my body being forcibly mutated by the drug.

    Pain surged from my joints as if someone was forcibly pulling and stretching my bones, and my muscles felt like they were being inted like balloons, tearing apart. The exterior covering my body also became significantly heavier.

    In the face of excruciating pain, I kneeled down instinctively. I almost screamed, but I bit down on my lips to hold it in.

    ¡®¡­I can¡¯t pass out from this.¡¯

    How much time had passed? The pain that made me feel like I was undergoing several years¡¯ worth of growth pains slowly subsided.

    I sessfullypleted the transformation. I got up.

    ¡®Sess.¡¯

    Some of the changes in my abilities were visible. The reinforced exoskeleton I gained from the metamorph¡¯s bonus had upgraded to a ¡®Monster Skeleton¡¯. My height had increased significantly due to the ovep with the Chitinous Exoskeleton trait. I was now slightly over 2 meters tall. The tail had grown longer, nearly reaching 4 meters.

    ¡®And I have horns now.¡¯

    On my head, where the exoskeleton covered, magnificent horns resembling those of a yak had grown. Like the exoskeleton, the horns were made of chitinous material and had been reinforced, making them incredibly tough and sharp. Previously, the exoskeleton on my head had served only to protect my body, but now that I had horns, I could actively use them to charge or stab enemies.

    When I checked my arms and legs, they appeared much thicker than before. One notable detail was the faint violet shine on the surface of my exoskeleton.

    ¡®The Psychic Power Barrier.¡¯

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    While the ability was in effect, a protective barrier that defended against Psychic Powers enveloped my body. This would shield me against Si-hyun¡¯s Gagon w.

    ¡®Andstly, the Thorn Bone Launcher.¡¯

    My left lower arm had transformed into a different shape than before. Instead of four fingers, there were long, rod-like structures below my wrist. They resembled gun barrels and served as a type of biological gun.

    ¡®Instead of bullets, it shoots thorn bones.¡¯

    It¡¯s a system where thorn bones generated within the body are fired through small holes at the end of the barrel. It may not seem like much at first nce, but the Thorn Bone Launcher has some significant advantages.

    ¡®The piercing power of the thorn bones isparable to a sma pistol.¡¯

    While the damage itself is not high, the piercing capability is immense, making it ideal for fighting heavily armored opponents. If I had faced the boss as an ascendant, she would have turned into a beehive as soon as the fight started.

    ¡®Plus, I can apply special effects to the thorn bones.¡¯

    Just like the Contamination Organ, I can shoot acidic bones or poison bones. In other words, it¡¯s like having a gun that allows me to choose the ammunition I want.

    Although the number of Contamination Organs that spit out spores has decreased, unless I specialize in nests, this might actually be an advantage.

    With that, the inspection of my new abilities wasplete. Thest thing I needed to check was the time limit.

    ¡®I probably have about 5 minutes left.¡¯

    In the game, the Psyonium time limit was 5 minutes.

    It¡¯s not much time at all. I need to finish the fight as quickly as possible.

    Just as I had finished all preparations, I sensed Si-hyun approaching within my detection range.

    I linked to the nest and activated all the spores along her path. I needed to drain her as much as possible before fighting. Fortunately, bing an ascendant seemed to make spore activation much faster and more urate than my previous attempts.

    ¡®She¡¯sing.¡¯

    With a loud boom, the entire spaceship trembled. If she encountered the mucus threatening her in the corridor, it should have been destroyed all at once.

    I disconnected the link and immediately picked up 26, who had been standing next to me. The little one, who had been lost in some unknown worries until a moment ago, suddenly blinked in amazement as it saw my increased size.

    ?Wow! The baby has grown again!?

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (I¡¯m going to jump, so hold on tight).]

    ?Wow!?

    I was headed to the location where the bombs were ced, namely the reactor. It was an extremely sensitive area, and even if she had absorbed a lot of genes, surviving a nuclear explosion was impossible. She would find it difficult to fight properly in the vicinity of the reactor.

    I was running with 26 in my arms when she appeared in the corridor ahead.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    She had coated herself in acidic mucus, leaving her almost half-naked, but there wasn¡¯t a scratch on her. She pulled out Gagon¡¯s ws from both hands as she stared at me.

    ¡®Danger!¡¯

    I quickly threw 26 behind me. I had no reason to feel sorry for it. Her attack had already begun.

    With a loud noise, a white de cut through the air, and a crescent-shaped energy de formed in mid-air. The de struck my body with pinpoint uracy, like a guided missile. It collided with my shield, causing sparks of violet light to fly, and then there was a sizzle at the point of impact.

    ¡®Ugh.¡¯

    There was some pain because the shield didn¡¯tpletely block it, but it wasn¡¯t too deep, and I could heal it with my regeneration ability.

    ¡°Oh?¡±

    Si-hyun tilted her head in surprise. Apparently, she found it strange that I was unharmed.

    I was just as surprised as she was.

    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t be able to see it normally.¡¯

    One of the reasons Gagon¡¯s ws were terrifying was that their attack trajectory couldn¡¯t be seen. You had to predict where the attack wasing from just by looking at what the enemy was swinging, making it quite challenging.

    I had never imagined that there might be a function like a Psyonium Organ because I had never encountered an enemy with such an ability in the game.

    I had gained unexpected information, but now was a fighting situation. I will think about thister. I charged at her.

    My enhanced legs mmed into the corridor. Thebination of Type, Traits, and Evolution Status made my charge explosive.

    Like a missile fired from a silo, my body shot towards Si-hyun. My movements were faster than she expected, and her pupils slightly dted.

    I had intended to pierce her abdomen with my horn, but she was no pushover. As she pulled out Gagon¡¯s ws from her other arm, she deflected my horn.

    ¡°Ha-ha-ha! That won¡¯t work!¡±

    I knew that too. Her posture had slightly faltered, but there was no sign of pain on her face.

    However, my attack wasn¡¯t over yet. With my tail wrapped around her, pinning her in ce, my left lower arm aimed directly at her head.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡®Fire.¡¯

    With the sound of twanging piano strings, a spike shot out from the end of the barrel attached to my wrist. The spike was aimed directly at her head, but she hastily used the Gagon¡¯s w to block it just before it could pierce through.

    ¡°Nice try, but not enough to take me down.¡±

    With those words, she struck my tail with Gagon¡¯s w, anticipating my counterattack. I had already started to retract my tail in preparation.

    At that moment, her ck hair glowed red.

    ¡®Red hair? Wait a minute, could it be?¡¯

    I quickly distanced myself from her, but I was slightly toote. For a very brief moment, less than a second, a drowsy sensation washed over my entire body. As I woke up from what felt like a dream, excruciating pain surged from my tail.

    I managed to regain myposure and retract my tail, but it had been severed by almost a third of its circumference.

    ¡®Wait a minute, that¡¯s the ability of the Red Mist!¡¯

    The Red Mist was the apex predator that inhabited the jungle-types. It resembled a jaguar with red fur and could emit pheromones from its fur that induced hallucinations. On the surface, it might not seem like much, but once you were affected by those pheromones, there was no escaping, making it an extremely threatening ability. The only solution was to keep a distance to minimize the hallucination effect.

    The White Gagon was as rare as it gets, so I had no idea where she had obtained such gic essence.

    ¡°You¡¯re keeping your distance. Do you know about the Red Mist? You¡¯ve piqued my interest.¡±

    She smiled as if she liked what she saw.

    ¡®She¡¯s not an easy opponent, as expected.¡¯

    With the Red Mist¡¯s hallucination ability in y, I had to find a way to finish the fight before the Psyonium effect wore off. When I turn into Metamorph, my long-range attack abilities will disappear.

    ¡®At times like this, I need to stay calm.¡¯

    Panicking wouldn¡¯t change anything. The only way for me to win was to patiently look for an opportunity.

    After confirming that my tail had somewhat healed, I charged at her again.

    ¡°Kyahaha! That¡¯s the way toe at me!¡±

    Sheughed as she kicked my arm. As my arm passed through the air, Gagon¡¯s w dug into my chest.

    Her attack, which was aimed at flipping me over, was thwarted as I twisted my waist. My lower arm hadn¡¯t been idle during this time. From the holes between the four fingers, mucous projectiles wereunched towards her eyes.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    No matter how strong she was, it seemed that she couldn¡¯t avoid the physiological disgust as she quickly closed her eyes. I didn¡¯t let this opportunity slip away.

    I had been aiming for her shoulder with my sharp horn, but unfortunately, it was a shallow hit. She quickly moved her shoulder, avoiding a deep wound.

    ¡°Do you want to keep ying around?¡±

    Her hair began to glow red again, and I quickly backed away. While retreating, Iunched thorn bones at her as a restraining measure.

    ¡°Tsk!¡±

    She stopped her transformation, and once again, Gagon¡¯s ws were drawn to deflect the thorn bones.

    ¡®Did she just¡­¡¯

    She retaliated by firing a crescent-shaped energy de at me. I managed to avoid it by pressing my body against the floor and immediately focused on her.

    ¡®I wonder¡­¡¯

    There was no visible change. She appeared unfazed, but I could sense an unnaturalness in her expression.

    ¡®I guess she can¡¯t use two abilities at once?¡¯

    I had finally found a clue on how to exploit her weaknesses.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28

    She opened her eyes to a world that was cold and oppressive. The pressure weighed down on her fragile flesh, and the temperature felt like knives piercing her body. It was a ce known to some sentient beings as the deep sea, and it was her homnd.

    Despite the harsh environment, she didn¡¯t think her home was all that bad. After all, there were beings there who watched over and protected her.

    The pink spherical beings like her were the most fragile creatures in the dark and murky world. Because of this, they had chosen a different way of survivalpared to the other creatures in the dark, blue world.

    They formed groups and cared for their young, who were weak and vulnerable. They naturally had social structures that could be ssified as ¡®families¡¯ by sentient beings.

    Of course, with the presence of dangerous creatures that considered her kind as prey lurking in the depths, they always lived under the constant threat to their lives.

    But she was different. As she grew, she realized that she was not like the other pink spheres. She was special.

    She possessed an intelligence approaching sentience and a slender tentacle that grew from her body. These were things that her fellow beings did not have.

    Her tentacles, usually kept inside her body, had the power to ward off dangerous creatures, and they would retreat when she pointed them. She protected her kin using these mysterious abilities.

    As time passed, despite her young age, she became the leader of her group. While everyone considered her the mother figure, her life remainedrgely unchanged. Eating together with her kin and sleeping together at night brought her the greatest joy.

    However, this happiness didn¡¯tst long. Creatures descended from above, intending to take her kin away. They were beings with skin tougher and colder than any she had seen before. With ws that seemed like they wouldn¡¯t let a single drop of blood flow, they grabbed her kin mercilessly.

    When she heard the agonizing screams of her kin, she earnestly hoped. She wanted to fulfill her duty as the leader, to protect her precious ones. Did her tentacles hear her prayers? A massive purple energy erupted from the tips of her tentacles, gripping the unyielding beings and contorting them.

    She thought she had seeded in protecting everyone, but unfortunately, it was not the case. More beings with cold, tough skin continued to descend from above, capturing the pink spheres wherever they could find them.

    Once again, she hoped for a miracle, but instead of a miracle, an unbearable sense of powerlessness washed over her. She lost consciousness.

    When she opened her eyes, it was in a repulsive-smelling liquid prison. There, she witnessed the pitiful deaths of the offspring she was supposed to protect.

    In that strange, furry creature¡¯s arms, she was called ¡®Experiment Subject 26¡¯. When she awoke in her prison, there were no fellow creatures left.

    At the bottom of this hell, she prayed. She begged for anyone to help her, promising to dedicate herself to protecting the ones she failed to save if someone would aid her.

    She made that solemn vow.

    ***

    I had two enemies I found most annoying in the world of Space Survival.

    One was the Amorph race, and the other was a MegaCorp user who had gone through gic modifications. What they had inmon was that I couldn¡¯t predict their abilities at all. Since there was no information about the enemy, even a small mistake could lead to fatal consequences.

    Therefore, I focused solely on what abilities Si-hyun Yujin possessed, not caring about how she might be specifically different from a yer.

    ¡®In the game, there are no restrictions on using gic technology.¡¯

    I naturally assumed she would use it as well since she had yer-level specs. That was a mistake.

    In retrospect, Si-hyun had been fighting with only one ability at a time from the beginning. I had thought it was a Bluff, but it wasn¡¯t.

    There was a fundamental limitation on her use of gic abilities that set her apart from yers.

    ¡°You¡¯re really getting on my nerves. To the point where I want to kill you.¡±

    Si-hyun¡¯s tone was colder than before. Perhaps she was trying to be threatening, but it sounded slightly different to me. She was doing it on purpose to avoid revealing her inexperience.

    ¡®I need to find out how long the dy is when she changes traits.¡¯

    Even if she changes her traits quickly, there must be a gap between changing them. That¡¯s when she bes a vulnerable civilian.

    I needed to change my strategy.

    ¡®I¡¯ll go all out.¡¯

    My Psyonium effect was running out, and at most, I had about two minutes left. To win within that time frame, I needed to avoid any serious injuries and trust in my regeneration trait.

    Like the powerful hind legs of a rhinoceros, my strong legs pounded the ground as I sprinted down the corridor. While running, I kept a close eye on her changing hair.

    ¡°I¡¯m really getting tired of this.¡±

    The tips of her hair turned red. I targeted her while running with my left arm. If I were human, aiming a shot while running would have been challenging, but Amorph¡¯s enhanced senses made it possible.

    A bone spike reinforced with chitin shot from the end of my arm, slicing through the air towards her abdomen.

    [PR/N: Changing ¡®thorned bone¡¯ to ¡®bone spike¡¯.]

    ¡°!¡±

    She gritted her teeth and canceled her illusion trait. Almost simultaneously with her hair returning to ck, a white de sprouted from the back of her hand, cutting through the flesh.

    ¡®As I suspected, there¡¯s an opening.¡¯

    In less than a fraction of a second, thanks to my auxiliary systems, I confirmed that there was an opening in her defense. She had used Gagon¡¯s ws to defend against my bone spike, but I had already reached her.

    ¡°Nice try!¡±

    Though she expressed annoyance, I sensed an underlying unease in her eyes. As gracefully as a fencer extending a de, I deftly thrust my tail toward her. However, contrary to my expectations, her response was still formidable. She calmly redirected my tail with her ws, not stopping there. She continued her counterattack, slicing off the poisonous barb at the tip of my tail.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    I had anticipated this to some extent, but experiencing it firsthand was excruciating. It was almost like losing a limb, so the pain was expected.

    But I couldn¡¯t afford to hesitate here. I shook my severed tail vigorously as if I were shaking off dust. The acidic blood and neurotoxin mixed with the injury on my tail, spraying in all directions.

    ¡°Damn!¡±

    With her tongue out, Si-hyun switched her trait. Gagon¡¯s w retracted, and parts of her body turned silver. The alloy skin, tougher than the alloy of the ship¡¯s hull, protected her from the acidic blood and neurotoxin.

    ¡®I expected her to have a defensive ability, but tungsten alloy skin?¡¯

    The ¡®tungsten alloy skin¡¯ was a gic trait of the advanced subspecies of Metallic Gremlins, the Wolfram Goblins. Acquiring this ability granted exceptional defense, equivalent to the top-tier reinforced armor, but it came at the cost of extreme weight gain.

    As I had predicted, her movements slowed down with the transformation. I used my nails to scratch at the parts that hadn¡¯t turned silver yet.

    ¡°Ouch!¡±

    For the first time, I inflicted a wound on her. Si-hyun, who resembled a monstrous creature, had human-like red blood.

    ¡°A disobedient brat needs some discipline!¡±

    She crumpled her face in annoyance and used her heavy foot to kick at my chestte. Since we had to fight in close quarters, I didn¡¯t dodge.

    The impact felt like being hit by a siege hammer, spreading a heavy shock throughout my body. If I were human, I might have coughed up blood and bits of organs. Despite the fact that my chestte was one of the sturdiest parts of my body, the pain was far from insignificant.

    ¡®Will this be enough to defeat her?¡¯ I thought inwardly as I grabbed her leg embedded in my chest. I poured all my strength into my four arms and lifted her.

    ¡°Wha-what!¡±

    ¡®She¡¯s incredibly heavy¡¯, I muttered unconsciously. It was a weight that could make anyone swear. My intention was clear ¨C with her leg in my grasp, I swung it like a baseball bat.

    My target was the corridor wall, or to be more precise, the wall partially corroded by acidic blood. The impact reverberated throughout the corridor, shaking it as though an earthquake had struck. The wall at the point of impact cracked and split, with molten metal oozing from the fractures.

    The woman, who had left her mark on the alloyed wall with her face, wore an expression of extreme anger, as if she felt insulted by my actions.

    She withdrew Gagon¡¯s w and crossed her arms, umting an enormous amount of psychic energy that made the white des on her arms gleam with a vivid purple hue.

    ¡®This is dangerous; the proximity is too close to dodge.¡¯

    ¡®I have to block it!¡¯ I urgently thought, using my four arms to shield my head and chest. As she unleashed her crossed arms, an unprecedented gigantic beam swept through my body.

    The rtively slender horn on my right shattered, and my arms and legs didn¡¯t escape unscathed either. More than half of my right upper arm was severed, and my thigh was severely injured, with bones visible through the torn flesh.

    ¡®Just a bit more!¡¯ I mustered myst ounce of strength and charged at her once again. Even at such close range, she gracefully evaded my charge with astonishing agility, and my head mmed directly into the wall.

    ¡°Where are you looking?¡± She taunted, mocking my failed attack.

    She quickly scanned my injured body and grinned, seemingly confident that my condition would prevent me from continuing.

    Well, I wonder if that¡¯s really the case.

    ¡°Sorry, but I didn¡¯t miss¡±, I replied. As I pulled my head from the wall, it finally crumbled. Corroded by acidic blood, it sumbed to the sessive powerful impacts. No matter how well-made the alloy was, it couldn¡¯t withstand such force.

    ¡°My intention was never to hit you in the first ce, Si-hyun, not you.¡±

    Beyond the shattered wally what I had been waiting for.

    Countless stars and an unfathomably deep abyss of darkness awaited us.

    ¡°Oh, no!¡±

    The pressure throughout the corridor dramatically dropped as the space, ck-hole-like in appearance, sucked us in along with the oxygen. The ship¡¯s environmental control systems loudly warned of severe internal damage.

    Even Si-hyun, who had been smiling confidently in anticipation of victory, seemed taken aback by this unexpected turn of events. Her face was now marked with bewilderment. She had wedged Gagon¡¯s w into the corridor to hold herself in ce, preventing her from being flung out.

    I had been waiting for this moment.

    I raised my injured left arm towards her, and the muzzle was pointed at her head. The distance between us wasn¡¯t great, or more precisely, it was just close enough for the bone spikes to pierce her forehead and destroy her brain before she could encase her head with the alloyed skin.

    Herplexion turned pale as she realized my intent.

    ¡°Why, in a ce like this?¡± she eximed. Perhaps she had pushed herself to the limit in the face of imminent death.

    She began to bleed from her eyes and nose, attempting to utilize two traits. From the tips of her ck hair, the trait tungsten alloy skin slowly began to encase her head for protection.

    I couldn¡¯t wait any longer and fired the bone spike.

    The ice-like bone spike left the tip of my arm. In an age ofsers, sma, and all sorts of futuristic weaponry, a primitive form of ammunition hurtled through the air, aiming for her head.

    However, by that time, the alloyed skin had already covered more than half of her head.

    At that moment, there was barely 5cm left for the bone spike to reach her forehead. Suddenly, she froze in her tracks. The alloyed skin, in the process of encasing her head, came to an abrupt halt.

    She looked at me with an expression of disbelief, as if she couldn¡¯t fathom what was happening. Her gaze was fixed behind me.

    ?Leave the baby alone!?

    ¡®Number 26?¡¯

    I didn¡¯t even need to turn my head to see it. A violet energy beam was emanating from Number 26¡¯s body, tightly wrapping around its head.

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±

    Number 26¡¯s time holding her was very brief, but it was enough time for the bone spike to reach its target. The bone spike pierced through Si-hyun Yujin. Her body, now deprived of itsmand center, lost strength and slumped down.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29

    On a ck canvas, blood-red plum blossoms bloom. Si-hyun Yujin, with a hole in her head, scatters blood as she attempts to fly into outer space.

    ¡®I can¡¯t afford to miss this.¡¯

    After putting in so much effort to eliminate a formidable adversary, it would be truly disheartening if there were no rewards. I reached out my upper arm towards her. The serrated tentacle extended like a departing arrow and wrapped around her waist.

    There was a bone-breaking sound as her waist bent halfway, but she was already a lifeless body. I didn¡¯t care and retrieved her corpse.

    ?Help me, Baby!?

    ¡®Oh no.¡¯

    It seemed like Number 26 couldn¡¯t hold on any longer and was about to fly away. I quickly grabbed it with my other arm. On its body, there was a thin tentacle that I hadn¡¯t seen before.

    I knew what that tentacle was, and I also knew what the ¡®true¡¯ race of Number 26 was.

    ¡®I¡¯ll think about thatter.¡¯

    For now, I had to get out of this ce.

    [Don¡¯t let go.]

    The research ship had st doors in each section, and I was currently in the Nest, the area densely packed with facilities rted to the ship¡¯s reactor. The st door that sealed off this section was not far from where I stood.

    I carried the corpse in one arm and Number 26 in the other, making my way to the st door. Upon manipting the terminal next to the door, there was a hissing sound as the st door closed. From the other side of the door, I faintly heard the rm from the environmental control system.

    ¡®This ship is finished now.¡¯

    A hole the size of a human had appeared in the ship¡¯s structure. The environmental control system had its limits in maintaining the ship¡¯s environment when there was such a breach. If there were people on board, they would seal off the breached section to stabilize it, but aside from the pirates, there were very few remaining crew members on the ship. Furthermore, they were likely hiding and unaware of the situation.

    ?Baby, What¡¯s wrong with your arm??

    ¡®Hmm?¡¯

    Upon hearing Number 26¡¯s words, I looked at my lower arm and noticed that the bone spikeuncher was changing. Four fingers protruded from the muzzle, and the length had decreased to match the size of my other arms. Besides that, the sensation of pressure that had beenpressing my entire body was gradually diminishing.

    The Psyonium effect had ended.

    ¡®It¡¯s a shame.¡¯

    Still, I was relieved that it wasn¡¯t painful when it was released. Considering my injuries from the battle with Si-hyun, I wondered if I would have fainted if the pain of evolution had ovepped.

    ¡®Nevertheless, I obtained something more important.¡¯

    The result of high risk and high return was right in front of me.

    In the game, MegaCorp Rankers possessed over 100 different genes on average. It might not seem like arge number, but these genes were all from rare creatures that were nearly impossible to encounter by conventional means. Even if the number was small, their value was by no means insignificant.

    Of course, Si-hyun Yujin was at the level of upper-tier yers who couldn¡¯t enter the ranks of Rankers, but still, her body likely contained a considerable number of genes.

    ¡®It¡¯s not much different from sampling, so I should get around three this time.¡¯

    The difference was that no matter which one I extracted, it was highly unlikely to be a dud. Frankly, even getting just one would be great. I hope I can extract Gagon¡¯s w.

    ¡®Then I¡¯ll enjoy this.¡¯

    I needed to eat quickly and then go clean up the cyborgs in themand center. Just as I was about to think that way and bring it to my mouth¡­

    [I was eating a corpse.]

    [When only the lower half remained, a massive energy explosion swept me away.]

    [I died.]

    ¡®Ah! A bomb!¡¯

    Abruptly activated Predator¡¯s Sense made me recall the forgotten fact. Although I had been focused on fighting Si-hyun, the timer on the bomb installed by the boss at the reactor was still ticking.

    ¡®How much time is left?¡¯

    In the future that Predator¡¯s Sense showed me, the bomb had detonated while Si-hyun¡¯s corpse was reduced to only her lower body. It took about 10 to 15 minutes at most for me topletely devour an adult male corpse. Since Si-hyun was a woman and smaller than a man, she would be consumed even faster.

    So, there should be approximately 5 minutes left.

    I had two options: rush to the reactor to defuse the bomb or quickly leave this ship.

    I pondered over the two choices.

    ¡®I don¡¯t have enough time to defuse the bomb.¡¯

    While ying Amorph, I had disarmed bombs several times, but if it was a bomb with an unfamiliar design, it would take time to disarm. I had finally caught Si-hyun, and I had no intention of risking my life for another adventure.

    I didn¡¯t have any more time to waste. Even now, the clock embedded in the bomb was ticking relentlessly towards destruction.

    I made my decision.

    ¡®Let¡¯s abandon the ship.¡¯

    As much as I regretted leaving behind the cyborgs in themand center and the genes of the boss that I hadn¡¯t eaten, I wasn¡¯t willing to risk my life. After all, Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s genes, right here, were overwhelmingly superior, and there would be plenty of opportunities to eat the cyborgster.

    The escape pod was docked on the runway. The runway was located directly opposite the reactor, and it would take about 5 minutes to reach it through theplex corridors.

    It waste to activate the escape pod from the runway, but I knew a way to get there quickly.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to use this.¡¯

    I cradled Number 26 in my arms and rushed to the ship¡¯s cooling room.

    Once inside, I grabbed the smauncher that was standing in the corner.

    ?sh!?

    [Zzz zzzz zzz zzzzz (yes, it did sh)].

    Number 26 adjusted the color of its body to match the energy projectile¡¯s color from the smauncher, turning it green. Although it didn¡¯t quite grasp the concept of a smauncher, it seemed to remember that people would explode whenever the green light shed.

    The smauncher looked somewhat simr to the ultimate weapon from ssic FPS games. It was over a meter long and weighed more than 50 kg. It had a stand, but I didn¡¯t need it, so I had removed it for easier use.

    ¡®Of course, I don¡¯t have any intention of shooting it at a person right now.¡¯

    I walked out into the corridor with theuncher, aiming it at the closest section of the outer wall.

    [Charging 10¡­ 20¡­ 50¡­ 80¡­ 100%.]

    As I manipted the terminal on theuncher, it began to charge energy. Number 26, who had been watching, climbed onto my shoulder.

    In just a few seconds, theuncher finished charging. I pulled the trigger.

    The immense recoil transmitted through my arm as a green beam shot out from theuncher¡¯s barrel. An energy beam capable of destroying everything pierced through the corridor walls and even the outer hull of the ship.

    Like a vacuum cleaner sucking in air, the massive hole that appeared on the ship sucked us out along with the air. I let my body go with the flow, and we escaped the spaceship along with the air.

    Before the ship¡¯s distance grew too far, I shot a tentacle to anchor us to the ship¡¯s exterior.

    I knew exactly where the cargo container was located, even from outside the ship.

    Pulling myself toward the ship, Inded on the target.

    ?Woah! This is fun!?

    Number 26, who had witnessed the endless night, eximed in excitement. There we were, on a ship that resembled a white paper floating in a ck sea, where there was no oxygen or gravity.

    A six-legged monster was running on a ship with a woman¡¯s corpse and a smauncher on its belt, and a pink balloon on its shoulder.

    In this surreal journey, resembling something out of a drug-induced fantasy, there wasn¡¯t much distance to cover.

    Less than two minutester, I arrived at the cargo container and activated the smauncher. The green beam easily melted through the thick outer wall as if melting ice with a torch.

    Before being bounced back by the recoil, I shot both of my tentacles to anchor myself to the outer wall. In the meantime, the smauncher, havingpleted its mission, flew off into the depths of space.

    ¡®Good job.¡¯

    It was a powerful weapon, but I didn¡¯t feel too attached to it. There would be plenty of opportunities to acquire more in the future. I crawled into the hole created by theuncher.

    Inside the cargo container, I could see both a shuttle and an escape pod.

    ?It¡¯s fun.?

    With Number 26, who seemed to enjoy the sensation of floating in space, in tow, I approached the escape pod. The door to the escape pod was open, as if someone had intended to board it.

    ¡®Well, it¡¯s more convenient this way.¡¯

    [Zzz zzz zzz zzz zzz (Just grab whatever you can)]

    ?Yeah, yeah.?

    Whether it was a high-ranking officer¡¯s escape pod or intended for themand staff, the interior was luxurious. While Number 26 marveled at the ornate decorations, I took the pilot¡¯s seat.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see.¡¯

    I had piloted a few MegaCorp small spacecraft before. Fortunately, the control system for the escape pod was straightforward.

    ¡®Except for this ufortable seat because of the tail.¡¯

    I broke the ufortable chair and adjusted the switches on the dashboard for navigation. As I did, the cargo container door opened, and the glow of the runway spilled in.

    ¡®Let¡¯s go then.¡¯

    I pulled the control lever, and the escape pod shot forward like an arrow. The view through the reinforced ss changed from the cold metal walls to a colorful space filled with stars, resembling a canvas painted with a rainbow.

    This was where I first set foot in this world, the ce where my journey of growth and evolution had begun.

    ***

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ***

    ¡®Fuck, I thought I was a goner.¡¯

    Elchen shuddered as he recalled what had happened at the reactor just a moment ago.

    When he had finally arrived at the reactor, struggling with his partially paralyzed body, the timer had been counting down precisely two minutes. He had barely managed to disarm the bomb with five seconds to spare. Anyter, and he would have been blown to smithereens by his own bomb.

    ¡®Those damn monsters¡­¡¯

    During his journey to this point, Elchen had never once thought of himself as weak. But those two were the exceptions.

    So, Elchen had given up on personally killing them. Of course, even among the ruthless space pirates, they were notorious for their cruelty. He had no intention of leaving them be.

    ¡®Heh heh, fuck you guys, die together.¡¯

    He had set the bomb to auto-detonate and reset the timer to ten minutes. By the time he had escaped in the escape pod, those monsters would have turned the ship into a ghost in the vastness of space.

    That¡¯s what he had thought just five minutes ago.

    He was almost in the cargo container now.

    ¡®Damn it¡­ My legs are starting to regain feeling, but my eyes¡­¡¯

    As an enhanced Hulk mutant, Elchen had already detoxified himself, but his damaged heart remained a problem. The destruction of his auxiliary heart had affected his senses, causing significant damage to his vision, hearing, and other senses. His vision, in particr, had been severely impaired, leaving him with extreme farsightedness.

    Navigating simple tasks, like pressing a few buttons, became challenging when he couldn¡¯t see, and he almost identally triggered the bomb moments ago. Nheless, time was running out, so he continued walking diligently. The enemies who had been fighting so loudly just moments ago were now eerily silent, indicating that one of them had clearly been defeated.

    ¡®Whoever loses, the remaining one won¡¯t get away unscathed¡¯, Elchen thought.

    His mind seemed preupied with the rustling sound of the space wind, but he dismissed it as his imagination. As he continued to walk, he suddenly heard footsteps echoing in the corridor.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    He wondered if it might be his subordinates, but the person who appeared at the end of the corridor was someone he hadn¡¯t expected at all.

    ¡°H-huh! A Pirate?!¡±

    ¡®Wait, isn¡¯t that the captain?¡¯

    Surprisingly, the person in front of him was none other than Samuel, the captain of this ship. Elchen had thought he had escaped long ago, so his sudden appearance caught him off guard.

    Samuel¡¯s appearance was quite different from the description Elchen had received from Garlic. His hair was disheveled, dark circles hung beneath his eyes, and his body emitted the scent of alcohol.

    Elchen¡¯s eyes narrowed as he observed Samuel¡¯s pitiful appearance.

    ¡®Originally, he nned to escape using an escape pod, but he must be hiding because he didn¡¯t want to abandon the ship.¡¯

    There was nock of greed among the upper echelons of MegaCorp. The closer they were to Noble Capital, the more pronounced this tendency became. The Samuel family, being the Third Capital, valued money over life.

    ¡®He must havee out to check when the ship became quiet.¡¯

    Samuel had no idea that Elchen was reading his thoughts like an open book. Confronted by Elchen¡¯s imposing presence, Samuel was trembling and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small object.

    Elchen scoffed when he saw that it was a gun.

    ¡°Ha! You¡¯re going to shoot me with that?¡±

    ¡°Sta-stay away! This is a sma pistol!¡±

    ¡°What? sma or not, you should take the safety off first, right?¡±

    ¡°Uh, safety?¡±

    Samuel, flustered, tried to turn the barrel to check the safety pin. Elchen took advantage of the opportunity and lunged at him. Samuel, colliding with his body, lost his grip on the pistol.

    ¡°Ha, you made me feel scared for no reason, You idiot. sma pistols don¡¯t have safeties.¡±

    Elchen picked up the gun that had fallen to the ground. The impact had made the gold markings on it even more distinct, but Elchen didn¡¯t notice due to his primitive condition.

    ¡°If I had more time, I¡¯d skin you alive, but I don¡¯t have time now.¡±

    Elchen taunted Samuel while picking up the pistol. Samuel¡¯s face filled with despair.

    ¡°Hiik, spare me, if you ask me to be your servant, I¡¯ll be your servant!¡±

    ¡°No need, then goodbye.¡±

    Elchen pulled the trigger, and the sma pistol emitted a green glow.

    If Elchen hadn¡¯t had his heart destroyed, he would have realized something was wrong with the pistol. If he hadn¡¯t tried to kill Samuel and just walked to the cargo container, he would have been safe. Arrogance and cruelty led him to make two consecutive wrong choices due to his fatal w.

    The sma pistol was an extremely lightweight version of the powerful sma weapon, and as such, it was not very durable. It had already been knocked to the ground once by the monster and cracked, and when it took an additional hit there, the pistol was already past its limits.

    As a result, the barrel shattered before the sma energy charged into it could even pass through the muzzle. The energy had nowhere to go and exploded on the spot.

    Elchen¡¯s entire upper body was blown off, and he fell to the ground in a heap.

    ***

    As Samuel stared at the lifeless body of the pirate, his face contorted with a mixture of emotions. Then, he began tough, seemingly losing his sanity.

    ¡°Huh? Ha-ha-ha-ha!¡±

    He thought to himself that his judgment had been correct all along. Samuel had never abandoned the ship. He had contemted leaving through an escape pod when he found himself alone, but upon boarding it, he was filled with regret.

    This research vessel was far from cheap. While it was cheaper than his life, Samuel thought that maybe he could wait a little longer and things would turn out alright.

    ¡®Maybe the soldiers will seed in killing the monster. Or maybe another passing ship wille to their aid.¡¯, he thought.

    However, a miracle had urred. The screams and vibrations from inside the ship had stopped. Uncertain whether he should leave or stay, he finally ventured outside. And thus, Samuel survived.

    Through both the assault of the monster and the attack of the pirates, he had managed to stay alive. He, the eldest son of the Samuel lineage, felt his chest swell with emotion.

    ¡°I am invincible!¡±

    With these words, a bright light emanated from the nuclear reactor.

    ***

    ¡®oops!!¡¯

    ?A, baby!?

    [Zzzzz (calm down)]

    The reactor finally exploded, and a massive shockwave shook the escape pod. I adjusted the controls as the escape pod beeped.

    As if to confirm that my work had paid off, the beeping subsided and the ship stabilized.

    [Zzzzzz (are you okay?)]

    I turned around and saw that Number 26 had hit the wall and was knocked out. It wasn¡¯t life-threatening, so I put it on a bed inside the escape pod.

    ¡®What the hell, has someone been drinking here?¡¯

    I cleared away a rolling liquor bottle from the floor and began to tidy up the escape pod. I needed to clean up the surroundings if I wanted to have a proper meal, which I had postponed until now.

    The lifeless body of Si-hyun Yujin was tucked away in a corner. Finally, it was time to have a meal.

    I set the escape pod to autopilot and retrieved her corpse. Then, I started by tearing off her tantalizing legs and took a big bite.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡®Until now, I¡¯ve eaten more than a few hundred creatures. So, I roughly know what kind of creatures taste good.¡¯

    Among the creatures I¡¯ve eaten so far, the most delicious was Keisaragi Yujin. She had a refined and well-calcted taste, like a high-end course meal.

    Perhaps she had her genes modified to taste that way. So, I thought that this Yujin here would be simr.

    But I was mistaken.

    Undoubtedly, the taste of Si-hyun Yujin was excellent, to the extent that it didn¡¯t fall behind among the creatures I¡¯ve eaten and would eat in the future.

    ¡®¡­Maybe I should visit Earth sometime.¡¯

    Originally, I had no ns to go to the MegaCorp capital anytime soon, but after eating Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s meat, my determination wavered.

    I shook my head and took another bite.

    It was fascinating. Usually, the first bite is the most delicious, but it was the opposite in her case. The more I ate, the more I chewed, the richer the vor became.

    Here, it was just me and the unconscious Number 26. Nobody would disturb my meal. I leisurely enjoyed her meat as if savoring a high-end French course meal.

    As the seemingly eternal happiness came to an end, a semi-transparent text box announced the end of the feast.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Gagon¡¯s w¡¯ gic essence]

    [Extracted the ¡®Gagon¡¯s w¡¯ from the biological characteristics of ¡®Si-hyun¡¯.]

    [Do you want to apply ¡®Gagon¡¯s w¡¯?]

    [Predation Effect Activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Camouge Skin¡¯ gic essence.]

    [Extracted the ¡®Camouge Skin¡¯ from the biological characteristics of ¡®Si-hyun¡¯.]

    [Do you want to apply ¡®Camouge Skin¡¯?]

    [Predation Effect Activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®irvoyance¡¯ gic essence.]

    [Extracted ¡®irvoyance¡¯ from the biological characteristics of ¡®Si-hyun¡¯.]

    [Do you want to apply ¡®irvoyance¡¯?]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30

    In the SF game [Space Survival], there aren¡¯t many fantasy elements, but there are a few exceptions. One of the most prominent is the space elves, known for their elf-like appearance and magical-like powers. Then there are the psychic life forms called Vortex Ones, and the space dragon known as Gagon, which strongly exhibits fantasy traits.

    The creatures capable of using psychic powers exist beyond these three races, but what sets them apart is how they use psychic powers like ¡®magic¡¯.

    ¡®You couldpare them to elves, demons, and dragons, more or less.¡¯

    Gagon, also known as the dragon of space, is extremely rare, and ordinary yers find it challenging to encounter them due to their scarcity.

    As rare as they are, many beginners mistake them for looking like actual dragons.

    However, in reality, they are quite different. While they share some simrities with dragons, such as a massive reptilian body, wings on their backs, and horned heads, there¡¯s a significant difference ¨C instead of a mouth, they have a cluster of tentacles where it should be.

    Gagon feeds on blood and psychic energy, so their oral structure is unlike that of ordinary animals, consisting of tentacles.

    Additionally, it¡¯s said that a Gagon¡¯s colour represents its growth level, distinguishing it from dragons.

    ¡®The ¡®Gagon w¡¯ trait I got from Si-hyun represents the genes of a white Gagon. If wepare it to a scale of power, it¡¯s somewhere in the middle, leaning towards the higher end.¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s incredibly rare to acquire a Gagon w so quickly.¡¯

    Even a mature Blue Gagon, which is considered to be one level below, would be challenging to capture. Needless to say, a White Gagon two levels higher is even more remarkable.

    ¡®I have no idea where they obtained something as precious as a ¡®Gagon w¡¯, but I¡¯m grateful for it.¡¯

    The next trait I obtained after the Gagon w is ¡®Camouge Skin¡¯.

    In fact, among the traits Si-hyun gave me, this ability can be called a jackpot due to its incredible power.

    ¡®To be honest, I¡¯m more curious about where they found a Giant Chameleon than a Gagon.¡¯

    Since Giant Chameleons are herbivores, they are not particrly powerful inbat. They are weak enough that they can be easily hunted even in Amorph form.

    The problem lies in the fact that finding them is incredibly difficult.

    Giant Chameleons create a special maic field from the spikes on their skin.

    This maic field makes it impossible to observe them with equipment or traits. None of my auxiliary devices, traits like camouge, electronic devices, psychic powers, and so on can prate it.

    You can only see the Giant Chameleon with the naked eye, making spotting it akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

    You might suggest searching for them one by one, but the issue is that their habitat is unknown. In a game with thousands ofs, how would you know where to look?

    I¡¯ve only obtained Giant Chameleon Essence three times in my time ying the Amorph, so I¡¯ve said enough. Even if I wanted to buy their genes as an Amorph, it¡¯s not possible. To acquire the essence, you must hunt them yourself using the predation effect.

    Of course, you can also achieve the predation effect by consuming arge amount of samples or even eating the already dead bodies. However, the acquisition rate is too low through these methods, making them inefficient.

    So, the best method is to put in the hard work.

    ¡®Thanks to that hard work, I¡¯ve gained valuable information. It might even turn out to be an advantage.¡¯

    Regarding ¡®Camouge Skin¡¯, I have some information that even Rankers don¡¯t know.

    You can actuallybine mimicry and Camouge Skin to create an entirely new trait when they merge.

    That fact was known to no one, so the one who possessed this merged trait in the game was none other than me. The name of the trait thatbines mimicry and camouge skin is ¡®Mimicry Organ¡¯. It¡¯s a trait that makes others perceive me as the appearance of the prey I¡¯ve consumed.

    The operation of this trait is somewhatplex, but let me exin it briefly. First, the mimicry organ analyzes the gic information of the prey it has consumed. Then, it emits a special pheromone created from the analyzed information throughout the entire skin to disrupt the senses of other organisms.

    As long as other creatures are within the area of my pheromone, they perceive me as the prey. Furthermore, the mimicry effect remains, allowing me to mimic the voice of the prey. The pheromone¡¯s area itself is quite generous, so the effect can be seen even when there is some distance.

    It can be said that this trait is optimized for infiltration, ambush, and guerri warfare, among other things. But it¡¯s not without its downsides.

    First of all, the mimicry organ does not change my physical appearance. Since it deceives other organisms with pheromones, I am fully exposed to devices like cameras that don¡¯t pick up pheromones, and my reflection remains unchanged in mirrors.

    The mimicry effect itself is not perfect either. While it replicates the appearance of the prey, it cannot depictplex emotional changes like joy or sorrow, aside from simple actions. As a result, the uncanny valley phenomenon is quite severe. Even someone who ispletely clueless would feel difort and unease when in the same space.

    It also shares the downsides of mimicry, such as being unable to speak long andplicated lines during the mimicry effect, or being unable to describe the previous prey when a new one is consumed, and so on.

    Despite its clear pros and cons, it has many practical uses in temporarily confusing the perspective of others.

    ¡®Lastly, there¡¯s ¡®irvoyance¡¯.¡¯

    The first two traits are excellent, but irvoyance is a somewhat subtle trait.

    ¡®Although it¡¯s a good trait¡­¡¯

    In Space Survival, irvoyance is called that, but it¡¯s subtly different from the concept we know in reality.

    ¡®It¡¯s closer to a kind of super-spatial perception ability.¡¯

    Instead of seeing what¡¯s actually behind a wall, it¡¯s more like ¡®reconstructing¡¯ what might be there based on the information of the surrounding environment and elements.

    However, the reconstruction effect is so simr to reality that it¡¯s called ¡®irvoyance¡¯ just for the sake of it. In a way, it can be seen as simr to abilities in the precognition category.

    Up to this point, you might feel that it¡¯s somewhat simr to something else.

    It¡¯s simr to Amorph¡¯s super-sense ability.

    ¡®Sigh. It would have been a good trait if it wasn¡¯t for Amorph¡¯s superior sense ability.¡¯

    Because Amorph¡¯s super-sense is so close to irvoyance, irvoyance bes a hindrance.

    ¡®But still, it counts as a psychic-type power.¡¯

    It¡¯s not immediately useful, but it¡¯s a valuable trait rted to psychic powers. Moreover, it can be used for fusionter on, so it¡¯s better than not having it.

    The inspection of the traits isplete. The text box has been waiting for my response from the beginning.

    I epted the application of all traits.

    [¡®Gagon w¡¯ trait has been applied.]

    [Can be merged with the existing ¡®Psychic Organ¡¯ trait.]

    [¡®Gagon w¡¯ and ¡®Psychic Organ¡¯ traits are merged. Evolved into ¡®Monster¡¯s Tentacle¡¯ trait!]

    [¡®Monster¡¯s Tentacle¡¯: Inherits and enhances the existing ¡®Psychic Organ¡¯ trait. Can use psychic power.

    *Note: Be careful when using the power of the dragon.]

    [¡®Camouge Skin¡¯ trait has been applied.]

    [Can be merged with the existing ¡®Mimicry¡¯ trait.]

    [¡®Camouge Skin¡¯ and ¡®Mimicry¡¯ traits have merged. Evolved into ¡®Mimicry Organ¡¯ trait.]

    [¡®Mimicry Organ¡¯: Can mimic the appearance of a hunted prey. Limited to once a day.

    *Note: The warmest ce to hide in a human¡¯s body is inside.

    [TL/N: This sentence may be a metaphorical reference.]

    I was taken aback as the semi-transparent text box appeared out of nowhere.

    ¡®Monster¡¯s Tentacle?¡¯

    Without a chance to question it, my body began to undergo a transformation. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pull in my back, and an itching sensation washed over my entire body.

    Small clusters of tentacles rapidly grew long. Due to the sudden growth, my head felt heavy, and I could feel the tips of the tentacles on my shoulders.

    On my body, tiny holes were forming in the chitinous exoskeleton that covered my skin. If someone with Trypophobia were to examine my skin with a magnifying ss, they would surely faint.

    [PR/N: Trypophobia is an aversion to the sight of irregr patterns or clusters of small holes or bumps.]

    Above the punctured holes, something membrane-like was emerging, and it seemed like my exoskeleton had transformed into geometric patterns.

    It wasn¡¯t a next-stage evolution, so the mutation ended quickly.

    I touched the long, octopus-like tentacles. They looked exactly like the tentacles attached to Gagon¡¯s mouth.

    As far as I know, Gagon doesn¡¯t have a psychic organ, and acquiring the tentacles in its mouth through a trait is impossible. It¡¯s like trying to obtain fingers or toes as traits for a human.

    ¡®¡­I don¡¯t know the English term, but I¡¯ve definitely acquired a better weapon.¡¯

    The ability to shoot a swordstormposed of psychic energy is good, but the Monster¡¯s Tentacles have a wide range of uses beyond just offense. It¡¯s an unexpected oue, but not a bad one.

    ¡®I guess the Mimicry Organ is as expected.¡¯

    Lastly, irvoyance has been applied, but I didn¡¯t feel any significant change. Still, thanks to it, I¡¯m only one step away from acquiring a psychic-rted type.

    ¡®Now I have four psychic-rted traits.¡¯

    Predator Sense, Human Nature, Monster¡¯s Tentacles, and irvoyance, making it four in total. If I evolve into a transcendent being from here, I¡¯ll receive ¡®Psychic Resistance¡¯ as a special reward, bringing it to five.

    In other words, if I can acquire just one more, I¡¯ll secure a psychic-rted type.

    That made me think of something.

    I looked at Number 26, who had fainted and fallen asleep.

    ¡®Could it be that Number 26 is a Sea Demon?¡¯

    Many marine life enthusiasts have tracked the ecology of Sea Demons, but no one has ever discovered how Sea Demons are born. So, everyone epted it as a game allowance, and I did too.

    At least until today.

    ¡®Maybe the sudden mutation of Bubble Amoebas into Sea Demons?¡¯

    Apart from size, they look simr in appearance and have simr ecologies. And while Sea Demons are such fearsome creatures that they¡¯re called the overlords of the sea, they don¡¯t prey on Bubble Amoebas.

    Perhaps they are of the same species, which is why.

    Whether Number 26 is a Sea Demon or a mutant with the potential to evolve into one is extremely important in the current situation.

    ¡®¡­Sea Demons do have psychic-rted traits.¡¯

    It¡¯s a trait called ¡®Abyssal Terror¡¯ that drives people within a certain range insane. It¡¯s simr to the illusion trait of Red Mist, but the range is iparable, and it¡¯s a passive trait that¡¯s always active.

    It¡¯s a very powerful trait, but Sea Demons are such dangerous monsters that it¡¯s not easy to acquire the trait.

    ¡®It¡¯s perhaps as rare as Gagon¡¯s ws.¡¯

    And there might be someone who possesses that trait right in front of me, albeit in a much weaker statepared to a Sea Demon.

    ¡®No.¡¯

    I hesitated for a moment but shook my head firmly.

    It¡¯s not certain whether Number 26 will indeed evolve into a Sea Demon with that potential. Even if it does, there¡¯s no guarantee that the predation effect will trigger.

    ¡®¡­That¡¯s about it.¡¯

    Hunting and evolving alone is an enjoyable task, but traveling with other beings is also a new experience.

    Hunters always seek knowledge. epting everything with an open mind broadens your horizons and makes you stronger.

    I stroked Number 26. The creature was a useful presence for me. I intend to help it as much as possible until my life is at risk.

    Having cleared my thoughts about Number 26, I went to the control seat and switched the navigation from manual to automatic.

    [Please set the destination.]

    ¡®Destination, huh?¡¯

    I pressed a button on the dashboard with my small hand, and several holographic options appeared.

    The default location was a under the jurisdiction of MegaCorp, which was the original target of the research vessel.

    ¡®But there¡¯s no need to go there.¡¯

    MegaCorp¡¯ss were heavily fortified withrge-scale troops. Depending on the, the details might differ slightly, but it was impossible for me to confront them in my current state.

    ¡®Where¡¯s the nearest ce from here?¡¯

    I searched my memories for ces we could go. In the process, I spotted a familiar location.

    [T&C Special Trade Center.]

    It was a huge space colony floating in space, and I was quite familiar with it.

    In the game, it was a well-known gathering ce for yers trading various gene essences. It was also a ce where all sorts of gic samples were gathered, so I visited it regrly.

    ¡®Thanks to that, I got a lot of insults.¡¯

    The cowardly yers called me a bastard, but Amorphs were originally that kind of race, so what could I do? If they felt so unjustly treated, they could be Amorphs themselves.

    Of course, it didn¡¯t mean that they wouldn¡¯t eat Amorphs just because they were Amorphs.

    Anyway, if it¡¯s a colony where various races gather, it will be good nourishment for my growth.

    ¡®I¡¯ll reset the course to T&C Special Trade Center. Estimated time until arrival is 3 hours.¡¯

    Three hours. I decided to take a short break until we reached our destination.

    I replenished my energy through a meal, but I had expended a lot of mental energy during consecutive battles.

    Iy down next to Number 26, caressing the creature nestled in my arms, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

    ***

    StarUnion¡¯s capital, Kax-01.

    Rain contaminated by ck smog, with not a trace of light to be found, poured down.

    Following the falling raindrops, one could see factories emitting continuous smoke.

    No matter where you looked on the, there were factories, smog, and pictures attached to every building.

    The pictures depicted a man with mechanical eyes and clenched fists, wearing a dignified expression. His name was Jubaka, the Lord of StarUnion and the parent of all cyborgs.

    Cyborgs walking down the street would salute every time they saw a picture, but no one found it strange. Here in the StarUnion, it was perfectly normal.

    Amidst the strange scenery, there was one building with no pictures.

    It looked like an abandoned building, but beneath it, there was a facility unknown to the cyborgs.

    Contrasting the dark atmosphere above ground, a perfectly clean medical chamber was hidden below, housing medical capsules.

    A capsule, shaped like an immacte coffin, opened slowly with mechanical sounds as soon as it unlocked.

    As the capsule opened, a pale arm emerged from inside.

    ¡°Ugh! Cough, cough¡­¡±

    The owner of the arm was a woman. With ck hair and a slender figure, she was a beautifuldy. She coughed as she sat up.

    Her name was Si-hyun Yujin.

    Or to be more precise, she was her ¡®clone.¡¯

    Si-hyun Yujin, as the ¡®shadow¡¯ of the Yujin family, was an incredibly strong presence to the point where her enemies couldn¡¯t find her. However, she hadn¡¯t been that way from the beginning.

    Back when gic modification was not yetplete, she had taken out insurance for the future. If she were to die, her cloned self would take her ce.

    In MegaCorp, the technology for human cloning was somewhat of a taboo, but she had hidden her own clone as an insurance policy against her enemies.

    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be a clone¡­¡±

    Si-hyun looked at her body. Her skin was as white as a newborn¡¯s, with smooth and wless curves. It was a beautiful physique, but she felt unfamiliar with it.

    It was inevitable because some of the genes she originally possessed hadn¡¯t been updated in the clone. All the gic abilities she had, like Gagon¡¯s ws or Red Mist¡¯s illusion power, and countless others, were all lost.

    It was unknown how long it would take to recover the genes she had lost because of those damned creatures. It had caused a significant setback to her grand n.

    ¡°¡­That damn bastard. Next time I meet him, I¡¯ll rip out his brain.¡±

    Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s eyes were filled with deep hatred.

    ***

    As the light faded and the starlight awakened, the port zone of T&C Special Trade Center was still bustling. Workers in coveralls, businessmen in suits, tourists from various alien races, and all sorts of sentient beings were diligently going about their business under the vibrant neon signs.

    Even the carpenters working at the port were doing overtime just like everyone else. During their break, Carpenter was engrossed in reading a web novel on his small terminal when hismunication device beeped.

    Bleep!

    [Hey, Carpenter, are you busy?]

    ¡°Howard? What¡¯s up?¡±

    [The MegaCorp escape pod just arrived.]

    ¡°Where did ite from?¡±

    [They contacted us from the control tower, but there¡¯s no response. It seems like there might be some issues with the automated navigation.]

    ¡°Looks like some spoiled rich kid ran away again. I¡¯ll check it out.¡±

    [It¡¯s in Zone 7.]

    Following his colleague¡¯s directions, Carpenter arrived at avishly decorated escape pod. It was undoubtedly an expensive-looking small spacecraft. Carpenter whistled when he saw it.

    ¡°Ah, one of those runaway rich brats again, I bet.¡±

    Cases of upper-capital citizens trying to escape in escape ships urred from time to time. Carpenter was convinced it was one of those cases. He knocked on the escape ship¡¯s door.

    ¡°Is there anyone inside?¡±

    He waited for a response, but there was none.

    Carpenter sighed and took out his hacking device. He connected a cable to the terminal next to the door and began manipting the device. As a result, the escape pod¡¯s door easily opened.

    ¡°Why do they always turn off the lights and stuff?¡±

    The inside of the escape ship was pitch ck, without a single light. Carpenter, wearing a helmet with antern, looked around the interior.

    ¡°Where did they go?¡±

    Despite signs of someone being here, like bottles on the floor and a broken control panel, there was no one in sight.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    Something sticky on the sole of his shoe caught Carpenter¡¯s attention. He touched it, and as he did, more of the substance fell from above. He looked up and saw ¡®it¡¯ on the ceiling.

    ***

    ¡°Hey, Carpenter, where did he go?¡±

    ¡°Huh? He said he¡¯s leaving early today.¡±

    ¡°Really? The guy who said he needed to make money to buy a house is leaving early?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s going that way.¡±

    Howard turned his head in the direction his colleague pointed. He saw Carpenter walking away about 20 meters ahead.

    ¡°Hey, Carpenter!¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    As Howard called out, Carpenter stopped in his tracks.

    Coincidentally, he stood in a dark alley where the streetlight didn¡¯t reach. Even though it wasn¡¯t very dark due to the proximity, his upper body was obscured in the shadow to the point where his outline couldn¡¯t be seen.

    ¡®Why is he standing in a ce like that?¡¯

    Howard felt an odd sensation when he looked at Carpenter. Despite seeing his gait and clothes, it felt as if he were seeing a different presence.

    ¡°Hey, aren¡¯t you working overtime today? Just leaving like that?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m busy.¡±

    ¡°What did the site manager say?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, he said I could go because I¡¯m busy.¡±

    With that response, Carpenter disappeared into the darkness of the alley. Strangely, as Carpenter vanished, the difort he felt also disappeared.

    ¡°¡­Damn, does he always have to act like that when I talk to him?¡±

    ¡°Leave him alone. Must be in a bad mood. Heh heh.¡±

    Howard returned to work with his chuckling colleague.

    The next day, Carpenter didn¡¯t show up at the port zone.

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 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31

    ¡®Even in the game, I was tired of it, and now it¡¯s happening in real life.¡¯

    Currently, I find myself in a dark alley in the harbor district. There are no cameras here, and the street itself is obscured by buildings, so there¡¯s no lighting in.

    Number 26, nestled in my arms, emitted a feeling of difort.

    ?It¡¯s stuffy.?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (just bear with it a bit.)]

    ?Yeah.?

    I petted the little guy to calm it down and looked out into the alley. In the distance, beneath the artificially created night sky from the massive dome-shaped screen, the lights from advertisements were dazzlingly chaotic. It may look morous on the surface, but I knew well what this city was really like.

    ¡®It¡¯s a sick ce.¡¯

    It may not be as significant as the ¡®Earth¡¯, which serves as MegaCorp¡¯s capital, but this ce is no ordinary interdimensionalndscape. There are plenty of people who treat human lives like flies, and individuals driven to heinous crimes by hedonism are abundant.

    While manye here for tourism or job opportunities, it¡¯s also a ce where many depart, but not by choice. That¡¯s the T&C Special Economic Zone for you.

    ¡®So that¡¯s why I chose this ce. Now, where should I start?¡¯

    This cosmic city is divided into five zones: the Eastern Harbor District, the Western Residential District, the Southern Entertainment District, the Northern Commercial District, and finally, the Central Administrative District that oversees all the zones.

    Among them, the two least secure areas are the Entertainment District and the Residential District.

    In the Entertainment District, there are ces where MegaCorp citizens indulge their secret desires with ¡¯employed¡¯ ves. Just like the surveince isx in real life due to the preferences of high-ranking individuals, it¡¯s the same here. There are hardly any surveince cameras, butbat androids roam around, apprehending criminals.

    Androids are formidable opponents, so I can¡¯t go to the Entertainment District right now. The zone I need to go to is somewhere else.

    ¡®The Residential District.¡¯

    Although it¡¯s called the Residential District, it¡¯s more like a slum in reality. It¡¯s where the middle to lower-tier MegaCorp employees and alien races with jobs in this city mainly reside. It¡¯s difficult to call it a safe ce, even in empty words. Any city with a concentration of the poor tends to have weak security.

    Furthermore, residents of the Residential District tend to spend their daily earnings extravagantly in the Entertainment District. Since many of them live for the day, they won¡¯t think too much if someone from the next-door disappears. As long as you¡¯re cautious of the police and androids patrolling, there shouldn¡¯t be any major issues with gradual growth.

    ¡®Alright, I¡¯ve decided where to go. Now, how to get there.¡¯

    There are limitations to moving only through narrow streets. Unlike research stations, the space city is well-equipped with security facilities, and there are many androids patrolling.

    A ce where you can go anywhere in the city without catching anyone¡¯s eye. I know two routes that meet this criterion precisely.

    ¡®The sewer and the underground subway.¡¯

    Both of them are essential facilities responsible for water and transportation, created when the space city was built. As facilities that handle the vital elements of life, water and transportation, they essentially serve as the city¡¯s bloodstream.

    ¡®If it were a game, I¡¯d go through the sewer, but it might be tough in reality.¡¯

    Since you can¡¯t extract water in space, this ce relies on two methods to supply water to the residents: recycling sewage and periodic water shipments from the outside. In the game, this is just background information, but here, it¡¯s real. The sewage system is likely to be under much higher levels of management than what I know.

    ¡®Unfortunately, let¡¯s go through the underground subway.¡¯

    I moved along with Number 26. Sometimes we walked through dim alleyways, and other times we crossed rooftops. In the central administrative district, there are many tall buildings, so someone might catch sight of me, but in this harbor district, there are no high-rises. People on the streets had no clue about what was passing above their heads.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see. The passage should be around here.¡¯

    Of course, I had no intention of walking into the entrance of the subway station. Androids and surveince cameras guard it, and entering there would surely cause amotion.

    I¡¯ve infiltrated this ce over a hundred times. While I haven¡¯t always used the same route, there¡¯s a secret passage I frequented the most. Originally, it was a kind of side alley used by the workers who were constructing the railway, but it has been forgotten in people¡¯s memories since the railway waspleted.

    ¡®At least this ce is mine.¡¯

    I muttered to myself as I lifted the rusty manhole cover in front of me.

    This ce, located at the border of the harbor district, is my own little passage.

    ***

    Among MegaCorp¡¯s noble capital families, the T&C n had a particrly strong business-oriented character.

    This was not surprising considering that the T&C n had its origins in an insurancepany located in a city once known as New York.

    Perhaps that was why.

    The motto of the royal family of Earth, the T&C n, was as follows:

    ¡®To stand in one ce, one must keep running.¡¯

    The Red Queen effect, frequently mentioned in business management, was their survival philosophy. Just as the Yujin family had be kings of Earth through gic research, the T&C n also had a field they focused on for the prosperity of their family.

    Space colonization.

    Instead of dividing and eating the pie inside, they aimed to increase the size of the pie itself. In pursuit of this goal, they invested significant credits in artificial habitat construction and terraforming technology development.

    Initially, they started with space stations within the sr system, then expanded their reach through Mars terraforming and orbital habitat construction. One of the fruits of their efforts is the Space Colony T&C Special Economic Zone, located in outer space.

    nned as a trade hub connecting the sr system and outer space, the T&C Special Economic Zone boasts an astonishing size, with a diameter of up to 60 kilometers. While it is now the oldest space colony, it still holds significant influence due to its symbolism as the first space city.

    Thanks to this, even today, countless alien races visit this ce to see the historic structure created by humanity.

    The office of the contraband animal surveince team located in the harbor district was noisy today, filled with the sounds of smuggled animals.

    ¡°I¡¯m leaving first.¡±

    ¡°Hey, Ras, you crazy bastard! We¡¯re all about to lose it because of those Mountain Crawler bastards, and you¡¯re leaving?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t do overtime. Everyone, do your job.¡±

    ¡°What a selfish jerk!¡±

    Ras replied by waving his hand to the team leader who was swearing behind him.

    Above his head, a ck night sky created by AI adorned the building.

    Processed starlight, artificial lights emitted by various billboards, and people wandering the streets like fireflies following that light. Ras willingly blended into the weing ambiance of those lights.

    ¡®Who should I y with today?¡¯

    Having arrived in the entertainment district via the subway, Ras pressed the digital ordering panel in front of the special entertainment establishment. A hologram appeared in the air, disying the faces and personal histories of the staff the shop offered, along with their service details.

    This was a ce where MegaCorp officially ¡¯employed¡¯ individuals to provide special services. It was a ce where customers had to obey any request. For someone, it was hell, but for someone else, it was paradise ¨C that was the special entertainment establishment.

    ¡®I¡¯ll take her.¡¯

    Ras picked a woman who looked like a coworker. He didn¡¯t feel particrly guilty. He was well aware that the coworker was a regr here anyway.

    With a whistle, Ras entered the shop.

    Two hourster.

    Ras stood in the bathroom of the establishment, washing his blood-stained hands. He asionally enjoyed this ritual, even though he had reced his arms with mechanical ones.

    Blood and oil, emanating from a living being¡¯s body.

    Of course, when blood dries, it smells, and oil can get greasy, so he needed to clean up properly.

    ¡®Was that a bit too much?¡¯

    Ras nced briefly towards the bedroom. The white sheets on the bed were now stained red.

    He thought about tidying up a bit and leaving, but then he shook his head. The scattered ¡®remains¡¯ would be cleaned up by the shop. That¡¯s what the money was for, after all.

    With a refreshed face, Ras left the shop and suddenly felt like having a drink.

    ¡®Let¡¯s have a drink before bed.¡¯

    Thinking it was not a bad choice, he bought a few bottles of synthetic liquor and headed for the residential district.

    As soon as he exited the subway station, he was met with silence. Unlike the entertainment district, which was noisy due to neon signs, the residential district was quiet.

    If he were an upper capital, he would live in the buildings in the administrative district and the upscale residences, but Ras was a low capital. It was better than sleeping in a sleep capsule, but there wasn¡¯t much difference between the residential district and the non-capital residences.

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    It wasn¡¯t exactlyfortable. The dim and dirty apartment, along with poor security, led Ras and his team to dub the ce as a ¡®chicken coop.¡¯

    ¡°Damn it! Who broke another streetlight?¡±

    Normally, the streetlights should illuminate the streets, but they were all smashed in various ces. They would probably be repaired in a few days, but the fact that Ras had to walk through these dark streets until then annoyed him.

    Grumbling, Ras took a shlight from his bag. Light emanated from the end of the shlight, illuminating his path.

    Crunch! crunch!

    The sound of stepping on broken ss shattered the stillness of the residential district. It was a route he walked regrly, but today, he had an odd feeling.

    ¡°What¡¯s this smell?¡±

    An unpleasant odor wafted up from the road. Ras thought a sewer might have burst, and just then, he noticed a manhole cover.

    The manhole cover, usually closed, was slightly ajar.

    ¡®These idiots should¡¯ve closed it if they were doing construction.¡¯

    Ras muttered while pinching his nose and walked past it.

    Though he was already quite far from the manhole, the smell didn¡¯t dissipate. It seemed like the entire street was filled with an ominous odor.

    Something was wrong.

    He couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it, but Ras had a sense that something bad was happening. The smell and the eerie darkness made his steps involuntarily quicken.

    He was practically running to his home when he spotted something in the middle of the road.

    ¡°Fuck!¡±

    Startled, Ras shouted a profanityced cry. The sound of his cry seemed to reach the person who had been in the darkness.

    It was a young man.

    ¡°Damn, I thought you were a ghost.¡±

    For a moment, Ras had thought he was a monster, but it turned out to be a person. Relieved, he took a closer look at the man.

    The man was wearing work clothes, suggesting that he worked in the harbor district. With an ordinary face, he had a red-like ball attached to his side.

    ¡®What the fuck is he doing?¡¯

    Ras felt a sense of unease about the man for some reason. Until he arrived, this ce had been a pitch-ck wastnd. Seeing someone standing still in such a ce, holding that strange ball-like object, was suspicious.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Just heading home.¡±

    The young man responded calmly with a t tone. His voice seemed entirely ordinarypared to his actions, which somewhat reassured Ras.

    ¡°Ahem, Be careful. Then I¡¯ll be on my way.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite dark, so I thought we could walk together.¡±

    Ras hesitated at the man¡¯s request. He wasn¡¯t thrilled about walking with this unsettling guy, but given the darkness of the street, he eventually agreed.

    ¡°¡­Follow me.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    As the man followed him, they set off again down the quiet street. While walking in silence, the man behind him spoke up.

    ¡°Hey.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a cyborg, right?¡±

    ¡°¡­Well, yes.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    With that statement, the man fell silent.

    ¡®What the hell?¡¯ Ras thought. Was this guy trying to discriminate against cyborgs in MegaCorp? He was about to say something when a strange smell once again tickled his nose.

    It was much stronger and more unpleasant than before. Somehow, the smell seemed to be creeping in from behind Ras.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Ras had been about to curse, but he stopped himself and nced briefly behind him. When he saw the man, he felt a chilling sensation down his spine.

    The man following him wasn¡¯t looking at the light. He didn¡¯t even blink; he was staring directly at Ras.

    That alone sent shivers down Ras¡¯s spine, but then he noticed something more.

    The red ball attached to the man¡¯s arm was squirming.

    ¡®Damn it!¡¯

    He had heard stories before. Among the upper capitals, there were some lunatics who kept only a person¡¯s head alive and yed with it.

    Coincidence? The object the man was holding was about the size of a human head.

    With that thought, Ras couldn¡¯t take it anymore. His home wasn¡¯t far. He left the man behind and began to run.

    ¡°Pant, pant, pant¡­¡±

    When he looked back, the man was still standing in the darkness. It was pitch-ck, making it almost impossible to recognize, but Ras could feel it.

    The man gazed at him with an expressionless face. Fortunately, nothing happened until Ras reached his home.

    Whether it was due to running or fear, Ras¡¯s clothes were soaked with sweat. The urge to drink was long gone, but he was thirsty. Ras uncapped the synthetic liquor, which was dripping with cold water.

    He took a long gulp, the heat and tingle spreading from his throat to his entire body.

    ¡°¡­Ugh, I¡¯ll have to report you tomorrow.¡±

    Perhaps due to the influence of alcohol, or maybe because the tension was slowly dissipating, Ras let out a relieved sigh as he realized he had finally arrived home.

    ¡°¡­Ugh, shitty neighborhood. I¡¯ll have to go somewhere else when I save up.¡±

    Muttering about an unattainable dream, he turned on the old virtual TV. The narrow room suddenly became noisy, and a feeling of unease intensified.

    Ras approached the window and looked outside. It was pitch ck, and there was no sign of anyone.

    ***

    ¡®He¡¯s gone.¡¯

    The cyborg had dashed away for some reason. Ras had a vague idea of why.

    ¡®A subtle sense of difort.¡¯

    He didn¡¯t outright know I was a monster, but he seemed to sense that something was different. If he had sensitive senses, he might have faintly perceived the subtle chemical signals in my pheromones.

    Still, the purpose of my mimicry organs was simply to make it easier to ambush. I had no intention of interacting with humans. This level of adaptation was sufficient.

    ?He¡¯s scared of me.?

    [Zzzzzzzzz (Why is that?)]

    ?I don¡¯t know.?

    The cyborg seemed to have reservations about me as well, but what had the greatest impact on his heart rate was Number 26. When he nced at that one, his heart rate reached its highest point.

    ¡®Why would he be so scared of Number 26?¡¯

    It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen someone fear Bubble Amoebas, the mascots of healing. Of course, Number 26 is a mutant, but it looks exactly like other Bubble Amoebas, so there shouldn¡¯t be any reason to fear it.

    It¡¯s strange how this cute little creature could be terrifying. Cyborgs are truly iprehensible.

    ¡®Speaking of which, did he say he was a cyborg?¡¯

    After the Psyonium effect wore off, I returned to my current metamorph state. To evolve into an Pre-saint, I need to consume one more cyborg.

    ¡®That¡¯s great, I just needed that.¡¯

    He may not know it, but I¡¯ve already pinpointed which house he entered. The lingering scent he left behind as he fled still lingers in the air.

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 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32

    The next day, before going to work, Ras reported the strange man he had seen yesterday to the police. Having made the report, there was nothing more he could do. The rest would be up to the police.

    So he spent the day at his busy job, trying to forget about yesterday¡¯s incident. Lost in his work, he didn¡¯t realize that quitting time was approaching. He hurriedly grabbed his bag, intending to escape from this hellish ce, but his team leader grabbed him.

    ¡°Ras, you¡¯re not leaving early today.¡±

    Judging by the team leader¡¯s expression, it seemed like he might end up as a mountain crawler¡¯s meal if he left. In the end, Ras had to stayte at work with his unwilling teammates.

    ¡®¡­That team leader is such a lunatic.¡¯

    It was only well into the night that he could finally break free from his work. Normally, he would go to a bar to relieve stress, but it was already quitete. To be able to get to work the next day, he had to go back home.

    As usual, Ras bought a synthetic drink and walked to the subway station in the residential district. The streetlights, which had been broken yesterday, were now brightly lit, casting a reassuring light on the streets. There was no sign of any suspicious individuals in the well-lit area.

    On his way home, he once again noticed the manhole cover. Unlike yesterday, the cover was tightly closed.

    Seeing the manhole, the terrifying memories from yesterday came rushing back. Ras swallowed hard and walked past the manhole.

    Fortunately, nothing he feared happened until he reached his apartmentplex.

    ¡°Phew.¡±

    As he passed through the entrance to theplex, Ras let out a sigh of relief. He looked up at the corridor on the third floor where his apartment was located.

    There, Ras felt his heart stop.

    Something pitch-ck stood in the apartment corridor. With a long tail and four arms, it moved strangely and then opened his apartment door and entered.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Without saying a word, he took out hismunicator.

    ***

    ¡®It¡¯s narrow.¡¯

    As expected, the cyborg¡¯s apartment wasn¡¯t very spacious. It was a one-room apartment consisting of a bathroom, living room, and a balcony.

    After deciding to target the cyborg, I checked out everyone who lived in this apartmentplex.

    ¡®It was easier to investigate during the day when most people were either at work or sleeping.¡¯

    During the day, I roamed the rooftop and corridors, collecting all the necessary information about who to target and when to change appearances. If no one was around, I entered the house and searched for clues, and if someone was present, I observed the inside from the outside using auxiliary equipment.

    Through thorough investigation, I learned that various species lived here besides humans and cyborgs. There were reptilian humans with scales, known as Cold Bloods, and bipedal creatures like Wolfs, among others. There was a diverse range of prey avable.

    ¡®It¡¯s a good thing that the species I need to eat to evolve into a Pre-saint is difficult to obtain.¡¯

    Evolution conditions be moreplex after reaching the Pre-saint stage.

    ¡®I have to eat a total of 60 yable species: 20 species capable of transformation, 20 humanoid species, and 20 species using psychic powers. And¡­¡¯

    Achieving four types is one of the conditions.

    Space Survival is a game that emphasizes yer versus yerbat. Eating other species isn¡¯t that difficult for Amorphs. The real challenge lies in obtaining those four types.

    ¡®I already have one for physical enhancement, and I¡¯m on the verge of acquiring one for psychic enhancement. But it¡¯s still a long way to go when considering the type penalties.¡¯

    Types don¡¯t just unlock with an abundance of traits. Key traits required to unlock type conditions, and I need to focus on acquiring those relevant traits, making it a challenging task. Additionally, the predation effect doesn¡¯t always ur.

    So, most Amorph yers give up at this point and focus on raising other species. It might be a wise decision since the conditions for evolution beyond Saint be much more challenging.

    ¡®A special trade hub like this attracts many extraterrestrial species, making it easier to collect genes in one ce.¡¯

    Collecting gic essence by going tos where the required species live is inefficient. Storming a ce with a high concentration of them is the shortcut to rapid evolution.

    ¡®Especially in the Special Trade Hub, there are quite a few cults that have immigrated from MegaCorp.¡¯

    If I consume them as well, I can easily fulfill the condition of eating 60 extraterrestrial species.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll spend some time here, so why not take a look around?¡±

    I meticulously inspected the entire apartment. Number 26, apparently delighted with this cramped and dirty space, roamed around here and there.

    ¡®The soundproofing isn¡¯t great.¡¯

    After a thorough look, that was the first thought that came to mind. The noise from the adjacent and upstairs apartments was so loud that it could be heard even here.

    ¡®The apartment below is vacant.¡¯

    There might be prospective tenants, but currently, it¡¯s unupied. When I evolve into a Saint, my weight will significantly increase, and the people downstairs will soon notice something unusual happening upstairs.

    ¡®I¡¯ve calcted that, but¡­ huh?¡¯

    My auxiliary system gave me a warning signal. Someone is approaching in the corridor.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ e here)]

    ?Baby, what¡¯s going on??

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZZZZ(Someone¡¯sing)]

    I called Number 26 and calcted the footsteps in the corridor. There were a total of three individuals. The cyborg and two others I didn¡¯t recognize were following.

    ¡®The police.¡¯

    I had no intention of fighting withw enforcement right now so I decided to hide inside the apartment.

    ***

    ¡°You said a monster entered the house, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°The door seems fine.¡±

    ¡°They broke in through the door!¡±

    ¡°I see. Alright.¡±

    The nonchnt attitude of the police officers frustrated Ras. He had clearly requested them to send support when he made the report, but the fact that only two of them showed up was infuriating.

    ¡°Is that alcohol you¡¯re holding in your hand by any chance?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°We saw the report that you imed to have seen a strange person. We thought you might be drunk.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    Ras almost let out a string of curses but managed to hold back. Ras belonged to the Low Capital ss. If he had been a Mid-Capital, the police officers would never have behaved so rudely. Although the police officers were also from the Low Capital ss, they were government officials, and their position was higher, hence their behavior.

    Of course, Ras treated lower Non-Capitals like dogs as well, but isn¡¯t that how most people are? They tend to forget what they¡¯ve done and only remember what¡¯s been done to them, and it feels unpleasant.

    ¡°Since a report was filed, we have to check. Please open the door.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, fine, yes.¡±

    Ras sighed and entered the passcode. The door opened, and the police officers entered his apartment.

    The police officers clicked their tongues when they saw Ras¡¯ apartment, which was hard to describe as even remotely clean.

    ¡°Oh my, what a pigsty.¡±

    ¡°Oh,e on, clean up your room.¡±

    Ignoring Ras¡¯ annoyed res, they shook their heads. One of the officers inspected the bathroom, while the other checked the balcony.

    ¡°Nothing in particr?¡±

    ¡°No way!¡±

    ¡°Look. There¡¯s no one in the bathroom either.¡±

    The police officer opened the bathroom door as if to show, but it was empty. The dirty bathtub and the toilet, whose cleanliness was questionable, were the only ones to greet the owner.

    ¡®But¡­ there¡¯s no way¡­!¡¯

    No matter how he looked at it, there was no sign of a monster. Even when he opened the curtains covering the balcony, all he could see was darkness shrouding the entire area.

    ¡°Should we check the refrigerator?¡±

    The officer asked, almost mocking Ras. Ras nodded his head in response. The officer opened the fridge with a chuckle.

    Inside, apart from a sandwich that looked half-eaten, it was packed with synthetic alcohol bottles.

    ¡°Well, maybe you should consume alcohol in moderation.¡±

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    ¡°There¡¯s no way! I saw it clearly with my own eyes!¡±

    ¡°Tsk tsk, if you¡¯re a cyborg, you should rece your eyes first.¡±

    Despite the police officers¡¯ offensivements, Ras couldn¡¯t care less. He was a skeptic who didn¡¯t believe in ghosts or supernatural beings, but the situation he found himself in was so bizarre that it was hard to believe.

    ¡®I kept my eyes on it until the police arrived¡­¡¯

    He wondered if the monster had gone out through the window, but there were no signs of it being opened or closed. Moreover, if a monster were crawling around the area outside the window, it would be hard for residents in neighboring houses not to notice.

    ¡°The other house reported it at¡­.¡±

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re the only one who reported it, get a grip.¡±

    ¡°That can¡¯t be¡­!¡±

    As Ras shouted, there was a loud banging on the wall from the neighboring apartment.

    Thud! Thud!

    The noise from next door made the police officers furrow their brows. Their expressions clearly indicated that they didn¡¯t want to stay in such a ce any longer.

    ¡°Well, we¡¯ve confirmed that there¡¯s nothing inside the house. Nothing more we can do.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just¡­ ridiculous¡­¡±

    ¡°We were on patrol when we received your report. If you encounter any more issues, please report them again.¡±

    With those words, the police officers left.

    Alone in his apartment, Ras sank onto his bed. If he were to make another report, they would likely send the same officers, and the situation would repeat itself.

    ¡®Damn it, did I really see it wrong? Or did it leave in the meantime?¡¯

    The police officers¡¯ attitude hadn¡¯t been great, but they had thoroughly checked every ce they could. The bathroom, the balcony, even the refrigerator. There was no space in the house where a monster could hide.

    ¡°Okay, just in case¡­¡±

    Trembling, Ras approached the bathroom. The door that he opened and entered every morning felt unfamiliar today. He swallowed hard and opened the door wide.

    It was just as he had confirmed before. A cockroach scurried away in fright and disappeared into the drain when it saw Ras.

    ¡°¡­ ¡±

    His ominous premonitions hade to nothing. After checking the balcony as well, Ras finally felt relieved.

    ¡°Phew, damn it. Was I losing it? Or did it go away?¡±

    Cyborgs didn¡¯t use expressions as humorous as ¡®losing it,¡¯ but Ras was sincere.

    He took out a bottle of synthetic alcohol from the fridge and turned on the virtual TV, watching holographic images of scantily d women dancing and enjoying the alcohol. As he sipped the drink, he could feel his mind easing.

    After finishing a bottle of synthetic alcohol, Ras contemted. He had to go back to work in a few hours, and if he overindulged, he¡¯d likely suffer from a headache all day.

    ¡®Ugh, when did I start caring about this?¡¯

    While the alcohol was tempting, the feeling that he wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep without getting drunk also influenced his decision.

    With that, he emptied another bottle and copsed onto the bed. His house might be small, but he had purchased a rtivelyrge bed because he wanted to sleep like an Upper Capital.

    ¡®Feels good.¡¯

    The spacious and plush bed enveloped him. The intoxication andfort slowly took over his mind.

    ¡°When I get off work tomorrow, I¡¯ll choose a woman who looks like the team leader.¡±

    He had vowed to let go of all the stress caused by her making him workte, but then a strange sound reached his ears.

    From the apartment below, he could hear the dragging of a heavy object.

    Grrr! grrr! grrr!

    ¡°That crazy guy, can¡¯t he do this during the day instead of at night?¡±

    He muttered curses under his breath and tried to go back to sleep. Just as he was drifting off, he remembered something important.

    No one lived in the apartment below him.

    Grrr! grrr! grrr!

    ¡°¡­¡±

    As if ice-cold water had been poured over him, Ras snapped back to full wakefulness. He wanted to believe that it was a sounding from another house, but the annoying noise resonated too closely. It was as if something were hiding just under hisrge bed.

    The creature he had seen earlier. At first, he had thought it was huge, but upon reflection, it wasn¡¯t.

    Excluding the tail, it was only about two-thirds the size of an adult man. To be precise, it was just big enough to fit snugly under a bed.

    Grrr! grrr! grrr!

    As he realized this, Ras¡¯s body began to tremble uncontrobly, as if possessed by a cold shiver. He desperately prayed that it was just another delusion.

    When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in his familiar room, and he turned his gaze toward the floor beneath him.

    There, with only its head exposed, it was grinning, revealing its teeth.

    ***

    Gary couldn¡¯t sleep because of the neighbor next door who kept shouting.

    ¡®Crazy bastard, this time I won¡¯t just let it slide¡¯, Gary muttered to himself as he stormed out of his house. He banged on the neighboring door forcefully.

    ¡°Hey, you bastard! Come out right now¡­ Huh? What¡¯s this smell?¡± Gary furrowed his brow as he pounded on the door, puzzled by an indescribable scent that mixed something akin to a metallic smell from a hardware store with an inexplicable pheromone-like aroma.

    ¡®Why is there a metallic smell in the middle of the night?¡¯ Gary wondered aloud when, suddenly, the door swung open.

    ¡°It¡¯s night, why are you making so much noise? Did you buy this ce or something?¡± Gary asked.

    ¡°I apologize.¡± Ras, the man from next door, offered an apology in response to Gary¡¯s anger. Gary had intended to unleash a string of curses, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. As he looked at Ras, something about him seemed off. Having crossed paths with him a few times before, Gary had a rough idea of what kind of person he was. But the Ras before him now was clearly not behaving normally.

    ¡®What, what¡¯s with this creepiness?¡¯ Gary thought. Ras stared at him with an unblinking, expressionless face, leaving Gary speechless.

    ¡°Hey, uh, it¡¯s night. It would be good if you could be a bit more careful¡¯, Gary finally managed to say.

    ¡°I apologize.¡±

    ¡°Understood. Just be more cautious from now on.¡±

    Ras continued to repeat apologies like a broken machine, leaving Gary wanting to leave this ce immediately. He gave a vague cautionary word and entered his own house. As a result, he didn¡¯t hear the words Ras had left behind.

    ¡°The next target has been chosen.¡±

    ***

    After sending the neighbor away, I returned home to find Number 26, rummaging through the refrigerator. It was stuffing sandwiches from the fridge into his mouth one by one.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ (Are you hungry? Want to eat?).]

    ?I want to eat a lot.?

    Leaving Number 26 to scavenge for food while wandering around, I picked up one of the arms lying on the floor of the room.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t taste good¡¯.

    Surprisingly, Ras was the second least tasty thing I had eaten so far. His flesh carried the scent of alcohol and the stench of rotten meat, reminiscent of old decay. If I exclude calorie bars, which had no taste at all, Ras was the least appetizing.

    ¡®It seems there¡¯s a corrtion between health and taste¡¯, I mused.

    He didn¡¯t appear to have a healthy diet, and I couldn¡¯t help but worry about consuming simr beings in this apartmentplex.

    ¡®Well, I have to force myself to eat it¡¯, I decided.

    If I want to evolve, I need to at least eat this cyborg. I received a message in the text box, acknowledging my efforts.

    [The ¡®Metamorph¡¯ to ¡®Pre-saint¡¯ evolution condition has been fulfilled. Do you wish to evolve?]

    Originally, I had nned to finish things on the MegaCorp Research Ship, but it seemed I hade a long way.

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ(I¡¯ll be an egg for a moment)]

    ?An egg? But you¡¯re just a baby, why are you bing an egg??

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZ (To grow bigger.)]

    ?A baby is going to be a big baby??

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Yes, don¡¯t worry)]

    Just in case Number 26 might be surprised, I informed it beforehand and then epted the evolution.

    The time hade to enjoy the majesty of the sub-adult body, which I had briefly tasted with the Psyonium.

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 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33

    She looked at the enormous egg that filled the living room.

    Despite being told that the baby with her had turned into an egg, it definitely didn¡¯t look like the size of an egg. Did it suddenly grow, or did it be a cocoon?

    Perhaps it was because she was still young, but she couldn¡¯t grasp what kind of creature the baby had be. Nothing she had ever seen resembled this. Still, she didn¡¯t pay it much mind.

    When she emerged from the disgusting liquid prison, she made a vow. No matter what happened, she would protect the baby. However, until now, she had been protected by the baby more often than she had protected him, which made her ufortable.

    The baby seemed to be very hungry, and she fed him every time she saw food, but there wasn¡¯t much she could do. Would things have been different if her tentacles were stronger? Would things have been different if she were bigger?

    In her restless state of mind, she reached out with a tentacle to caress the egg. The moment the tentacle touched the egg, she was surprised. Unidentified energy was absorbed from the tentacle¡¯s end into her body. It felt as though she had consumed a highly nutritious meal; a feeling of satiety washed over her, and her strength surged.

    ***

    ¡®This time feels a bit different, doesn¡¯t it?¡¯

    When I evolved into a metamorph from Hatchling, I could feel the changes in my surroundings inside the egg, but this time was different. All my physical sensations were severed, and I stood alone in the darkness. As I looked down at my hand, a hand that now felt unfamiliar reached out to me. The clothing was the same as what I had worn before entering the world of space survival.

    ¡®It feels like my own imaginary world here.¡¯

    Looking around, there didn¡¯t seem to be any threatening elements. Just an endlessly vast, pitch-ck space.

    ¡®It¡¯s a dark ce, but it¡¯s familiar.¡¯

    In my childhood, whenever my parents argued, I would always hide under the bed or in the closet. If I plugged my ears and huddled there, I felt much more at ease.

    ¡®I¡¯m reminded of the past.¡¯

    It¡¯s not a memory I want to dwell on. I shook my head to shake off unnecessary thoughts.

    ¡®I wonder how much time is left.¡¯

    In the game, it takes 6 hours to be a Pre-saint. I don¡¯t know how long it will take in reality, but when I turned into a metamorph, there wasn¡¯t much difference from the game, so it should be simr this time.

    ¡®Why did the developers create it like this?¡¯

    Applying such a severe penalty to evolution, which is essential for Amorph operations. I can¡¯t understand it at all. In a game where real-time PK urs for 24 hours, being incapacitated for 6 hours is a serious w, almost like a bug.

    Moreover, in Amorph, cooperation is impossible, so it¡¯s impossible to ask yourrades to protect you during evolution. Unless you hide in a ce where no one knows, most yers are caught during evolution.

    ¡®Some yers even hunt Amorphs exclusively.¡¯

    Especially because of me, there are many yers who hate Amorphs, and some ruthless Amorph users have been attacked. Many Amorphs failed in evolution and were shot with anger shotguns. I also died a lot, caught by Amorph hunters during evolution.

    Failing in evolution doesn¡¯t have a specific penalty. It¡¯s just a hassle to find a hiding ce again. Moreover, you have to wait a long time again, so it¡¯s impossible not to get annoyed.

    So, the Amorph hunters who disrupted evolution were even more terrifying than usual.

    ¡®Looking back, I was a bit harsh too.¡¯

    There was a time when a hunter recorded me being hunted and posted it on themunity.

    The reaction at that time was explosive, to be precise, there was an overwhelming amount of resentment and criticism directed at me. People were saying all sorts of strange things like, ¡®How can a person do that?¡¯ or ¡®Are you really an Amorph?¡¯ or ¡®I¡¯ll catch kill you¡¯ and so on.

    Sigh. Whether it¡¯s because of the magical influence of this pitch-ck space, these unnecessary memories keep resurfacing. If I have the time, I shouldn¡¯t waste it and should use it wisely. There¡¯s a lot to do in the future, so I need to figure out where to start when I go out.

    ¡®Maybe I should think while walking.¡¯ I took a step forward, and the ripples spread out as if I had ced my foot on the surface of the water. Starting with that, I aimlessly walked in the ck void.

    ¡®After evolving, the first thing to deal with should be the wolves living next door and on the fifth floor. That should help resolve the issue with the transformed race to some extent¡­¡¯

    As I pondered how to approach the trading hub after evolving, something dark brown appeared and blocked my path.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯The entity that appeared in the ck void was a metamorph stage Amorph. I could tell that instinctively as soon as I saw it.

    This creature is the remnant of the Amorph still present in my body. It seems that when I fell into this surreal world, the instincts of the Amorph came with me. The creature growled as it revealed itself, but I wasn¡¯t particrly afraid. Instead, it felt strangely familiar.

    I reached out my hand to it. The creature, which had been growling threateningly, closed its mouth and lowered its head obediently. When my hand touched the creature¡¯s head, I woke up.

    ¡®Where am I?¡¯

    As soon as I opened my eyes, I was blocked by a thin wall. A soft and sticky film of blood enveloped me. Sensation returned to my body.

    At present, I was crouched over my body, wrapping my arms around it as if a baby was in the womb. My long tail was wrapped around my waist like a belt. When I released mybat arms and stood up, the stic was torn apart with a ripping sound.

    A text box appeared in front of me on the torn Amorph.

    [Race: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph

    Status:: Pre-saint

    Objective: Survive (2nd Evolution sessful)

    Possessed Traits ¨C Physical Rted (Applied Type): Wings, Chitinous Exoskeleton, Regeneration (Fusion), Neurotoxin nds (Fusion), Reinforced Exoskeleton, Acidic Blood, Enhanced Reflexes, Mimicry Organ (Fusion), Serrated Tentacles, Contamination Organ, Spine Projectile Organ

    Psychic Rted: Predator Sense (fusion), Human Nature, Monster¡¯s Tentacles, and irvoyance, Psychic Resistance

    Type: Physical Enhancement Type]

    [You have received new unread messages. Would you like to read them?]

    ¡®Messages?¡¯

    This was the first time I had received a message after evolving. There had been no such urrences in the game before, so I epted the request with curiosity.

    [New system ¡®Transcendence¡¯ system unlocked! Would you like to see the instructions?]

    ¡®A new system, it seems there are some changes.¡¯

    When I consumed psyoniumst time, no such messages appeared. It seemed that this new system was unlocked only through formal evolution.

    I chose to confirm, and a text box filled my vision.

    [The ¡®Transcendence¡¯ system allows you tobine three or more of your existing traits to create apletely new and unique trait, referred to as a ¡®Unique¡¯ trait.

    Avable trait list: Chitinous Exoskeleton, Reinforced Exoskeleton, Enhanced Reflexes

    Note: It¡¯s important to be aware that not allbinations will result in advantages, and there may be potential drawbacks.]

    ¡®Transcendence system, huh?¡¯

    Originally, in Space Survival, trait fusion was only possible one-on-one.

    So, for races that relied on traits, it was difficult to remember what traits they themselves had as the game progressed. I, too, had a hard time remembering them all because I had over 500 traits when I was about to see the ending. Even for someone like me who was a hardcore yer, the system was so frustrating that I was trembling. But who would have thought they would revamp it like this.

    I never expected such a drastic overhaul of the system.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡®What should I do?¡¯

    If it were a game, I would have epted it immediately, but this was reality. A wrong decision could lead to great danger. If a new system I was not familiar with had been introduced, I needed to carefully assess and decide, just as the note suggested.

    ¡®Obtaining a unique trait has its merits.¡¯

    In Space Survival, there were no separate grades for traits. The efficiency of a trait varied greatly depending on how someone used it. The only consensus was that fused traits were generally considered stronger, to some extent.

    However, among those, there were special traits that outperformed others significantly. These weremonly referred to as ¡®Unique¡¯ traits. While it was difficult to obtain them, their performance was exceptional.

    ¡®But that doesn¡¯t mean there are no drawbacks.¡¯

    Unique traits were indeed very powerful, but they had one major drawback.

    While regr traits remained intact even if the character died, unique traits disappearedpletely upon death. If you wanted to obtain a unique trait, you had to start from scratch. Therefore, when using unique traits, one had to be extremely cautious.

    ¡®But here, it¡¯s reality, so the drawback doesn¡¯t apply, right?¡¯

    After all, in reality, when you die, it¡¯s over. The fact that unique traits disappeared upon death was not a consideration.

    ¡®However, the reduction in the number of traits is a risk.¡¯

    The actual concern was not the drawback of the unique trait itself but rather the overall number of traits. Currently, I have 11 physical-rted traits. If three of them were removed, I wouldn¡¯t be able to meet the condition of having 10 for the Physical Enhancement type.

    You might think of first obtaining unique traits and then acquiring physical-rted traitster, but there was a problem with that approach.

    ¡®Releasing a type in the middle doesn¡¯t remove the trait penalties.¡¯

    Currently, I had a penalty of six traits for the Psychic Enhancement type. If I were to regain the Physical Enhancement type after that, what would happen?

    Unfortunately, the penalty would be added, and the required number would increase from 6 to 12.

    ¡®¡­Let¡¯s postpone the Transcendence system.¡¯

    Physical-rted traits were rtively easy to obtain. Honestly, the appeal of unique traits was strong, but in times like this, you had to be cautious. Choosing the safer path, even if it took a bit more time, would be beneficial.

    The moment to utilize the Transcendence system would be after I had secured enough physical-rted traits. I unlocked the text box and left the egg.

    ¡®Surely, I¡¯ve grown quite a bit.¡¯

    Having been on a spacious research vessel before and now in this small house, I could distinctly feel the difference in my body size. As I removed the egg shell pieces attached to my body, Number 26 approached.

    ?Wow!?

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ (How have you been?)]

    ?That¡¯s the big baby from before, isn¡¯t he going back this time??

    [Z ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ((Yeah, I briefly transformed back then.)]

    The way he moved his tentacles seemed to express fascination.

    ¡®Huh? Tentacles?¡¯

    Now that I looked closely, Number 26¡¯s appearance had indeed changed from before. The body, which was slightly smaller than a human head, had grown evenrger. Moreover, two tentacles sprouted from the body.

    [ZZ ZZZ(What¡¯s that?)]

    ?This? It¡¯s new! It appeared when the baby entered the egg.?

    [ZZZ(When?)]

    ?When I touched it while the baby was inside.?

    When the child said that and lightly brushed its tentacles, a brief wave of purple energy emanated and then disappeared. Seeing this, I was certain of something.

    ¡®Sea Demon.¡¯

    Those tentacles were probably Serrated Tentacles. They might seem small and cutepared to mine, but I knew what was hidden inside them ¨C sharp des.

    If those tentacles swept across someone¡¯s face, the flesh would likely be torn away. But more importantly, I was curious.

    ¡®Why did it evolve suddenly?¡¯

    There didn¡¯t seem to be any specific trigger for it. I had monitored my surroundings with the auxiliary system during my time in the egg, but there were no special traces of any events happening around me.

    ¡®It said it touched the egg when I was in the middle of evolution, right?¡¯

    I wasn¡¯t sure about the exact cause, but it was possible that a portion of the energy generated during my evolution had been absorbed by it. Considering that the rtionship between Bubble Amoebas and Sea Demons had not yet been rified, this was just spection.

    ?Now I can protect the baby!?

    Number 26 said confidently, and I affectionately petted it to express my approval.

    ¡®I had expected it, but it really happened.¡¯

    There was a time when I had contemted whether to eat it or not, but now, such thoughts didn¡¯t cross my mind.

    ¡®Though it still looks weak, if it¡¯s a Sea Demon, it¡¯ll be helpful at full strength.¡¯

    The sea demon I saw was over 20 meters in size, and it had hundreds of tentacles. If a colossal monster that was treated as a mini-boss in games is following me, it will be incredibly helpful. I won¡¯t give up my gic essence, but I should consider providing unnecessary food.

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZZ Z(Then let¡¯s go eat.)]

    ?Alright.?

    I had justpleted my evolution, and I felt a gnawing hunger. The child seemed hungry too, judging by its response. After all, it had only eaten a sandwich for over six hours. I carried Number 26 on my shoulder and opened the door.

    The appetite-stimting food was waiting next door.

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 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34

    The administrative district of T&C Special Trade Center was unlike other areas saturated with artificial light from billboards. It embodied a different image¡ªa life harmonizing with nature. As the slogan for the administrative district suggested, well-maintained trees and shrubs lined both sides of the marble sidewalks.

    Small birds chirped and flew among the trees. Beyond the refreshing forest of trees, white rectangr high-rise buildings rose prominently. These were the branch offices of prominentpanies or government offices, including those from MegaCorp.

    Passing through the beautiful but t buildings, as one approached the center of the district, a building with a unique and towering design stood out more than any other in the surroundings. Its spiral exterior brought to mind a doughnut, and its upper section appeared as if two hands were spread wide open, embracing the cityscape.

    The majestic building was named ¡°Monument¡±. True to the T&C family¡¯s emphasis on efficiency, even the symbol of the first space city bore a simple name¡ªMonument.

    At the top floor of Monument, La Chamberlin, the youngest daughter of Sam Chamberlin and the overall manager of the Special Trade Center, currently resided. At that moment, she was in a meeting with the city¡¯s top officials.

    La and the heads of each district, as well as the team leaders of government offices, were seated around the mahogany table. Among them, only the deputy head of the Human Resources Management team stood nervously.

    La, a beautiful woman with long blonde hair, was reading a report when she spoke up.

    ¡°Human Resources Management team.¡±

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡±

    ¡°The iing supplies have decreased by 3% this time. Can you determine the cause?¡±

    In response to her question, the deputy head stammered, ¡°Uh, well, it¡¯s because¡­ Z-101 Ranch and P-82 Livestock reported reduced production this year¡­¡±

    ¡°Our Special Trade Center can rece up to 20% of the ¡®hires¡¯ destined for the entertainment district through alternative routes. However, a 3% decrease in the supply is by no means a small figure. We can¡¯t becent within the allowable range.¡±

    ¡°But, you see, it¡¯s just that¡­¡±

    ¡°Everyone knows that 40% of the revenue in the Special Trade Centeres from the entertainment district. If the supply decreases by 3% from the Human Resources Management team, the burden will fall on the entertainment district¡¯s side.¡±

    La spoke calmly, but everyone understood the warning in her words. She was questioning why they hadn¡¯t opened new routes to fulfill the allocation quotas.

    ¡°Deputy head, or should I say, Mr. Pissaro?¡±

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡±

    ¡°Do you know what¡¯s most important for a trader?¡±

    ¡°It might be credits¡­¡±

    ¡°Of course, credits are important, but the most crucial thing is trust. You can use difficulty in supply as an excuse this time due to certain circumstances. But what if it damages our reputation? These customers who havee here with great difficulty won¡¯t return if they¡¯re disappointed.¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯ll keep that in mind!¡±

    ¡°Under normal circumstances, I might overlook this, but now is a critical time. You all know that the board meeting is approaching soon.¡±

    When she mentioned the word ¡®board meeting¡¯, everyone in the room nodded with determined expressions. Anyone working under the T&C family would know. Not to mention how much the T&C family head desires the CEO position at MegaCorp.

    ¡°The first phase of the board meeting is scheduled to be held right here in the T&C Special Trade Center. Enormous tourists will be visiting this city. There can¡¯t be the slightest margin for error.¡±

    ¡°Understood!¡±

    ¡°Contact theary authorities and make sure you meet the quota by any means necessary, even if you have to distribute aphrodisiacs across the entire. Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    ¡°Now, next person. The entertainment district, is it? I¡¯m always looking forward to this. Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    While the deputy head sat down, wiping cold sweat, the representative from another team began their report.

    After three hours, the meeting came to an end. With all the team leaders gone, La sat alone in the conference room and let out a sigh.

    ¡°Sigh.¡±

    There was just one month left until the first board meeting to select the MegaCorp CEO. Although there was still time, she, as the overall manager, felt like she needed ten more bodies.

    ¡°But if I can make this deal happen, the sessor¡¯s position won¡¯t be just a dream.¡±

    The T&C family had a unique feature that set them apart from other noble capitals. The precise name of T&C was Thomson & Chamberlin. They were called T&C because they took the initials from the surnames, T from Thomson and C from Chamberlin.

    As the name implied, within T&C, two families with different surnames coexisted in a single family. The family member who won inpetition between the Thomson family and the Chamberlin family became the head of T&C. Currently, the Chamberlin family held the position of the head, but the next generation was uncertain.

    ¡°Thomson¡¯s side is making moves.¡±

    Once one became the head, they could monopolize all the rights of the family and privileges rted to T&C within MegaCorp. Since the Chamberlins had held the position of the head for several generations, tensions were rising on the Thomson side. If Thomson were to take the next head position, there would surely be bloodshed.

    At that moment, the conference room door opened, and a secretary entered.

    ¡°Miss, here¡¯s a list of names from the individuals who have applied to visit on the board meeting day as you mentioned.¡±

    La checked the tablet pad handed to her by the secretary, scrolling through the names one by one. When she reached thest name, she was taken aback.

    ¡°¡­Is this list urate?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Is there a problem?¡±

    ¡°Akira Yujin is attending?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The Yujin family contacted us an hour ago. They said he will only be doing city tours and won¡¯t be attending the board meeting.¡±

    ¡°Ha.¡±

    La chuckled at the absurdity of it all. A centuries-old noble casually touring the city. It was an uninteresting joke.

    ¡®Akira Yujin, the current MegaCorp CEO, ising here.¡¯

    La was well aware of his legacy and notoriety, often referred to as the ¡®Usurper¡¯.

    ¡°Usurper¡±.

    La casually mentioned Akira Yujin¡¯s nickname. ¡®Usurper¡¯ was a term he despised, used by other noble capitals to mock him. As his nickname suggests, Akira Yujin wasn¡¯t originally meant to be the head. His name itself indicated that he had no qualifications to inherit the family.

    ¡®The Yujin family ces great importance on lineage¡¯.

    The five major noble capitals each had their own defining factors. The T&C valuedpetition, the Yujin family ced importance on lineage, the Garimelda family was known for technological advancements in terraforming, and so on. They all had guiding principles that matched their respective fields.

    Akira, as befitting a lineage-focused family, became the head due to his bloodline tracing back to the traditional roots of their people.

    ¡®In an era of constant terraforming, they still cling to their ethnicity.¡¯

    She couldn¡¯t understand it, but in any case, Akira¡¯s bloodline was distant from the Yujin family¡¯s true roots, so he wasn¡¯t the official heir.

    The reason he became the head was simple. He was the only person in the history of the Yujin family, or any noble capital for that matter, to be the head through a coup d¡¯¨¦tat.

    ¡®Jungwoo Yujin, was it?¡¯

    Originally, he was supposed to smoothly run the family, but he was the unfortunate head who was removed by Akira. After his death, all his descendants met a miserable end.

    ¡®Moreover, that insane nobleman Akira even turned Jungwoo yujin¡¯s daughter into a shadow.¡¯

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    The reason Akira Yujin earned a reputation for cruelty wasn¡¯t solely because he killed people indiscriminately. It was because he didn¡¯t spare his fellow nobles, members of the same family. He would kill or torture them without hesitation, which drew criticism.

    La herself enjoyed hunting humans on the ranch every year, but she didn¡¯t needlessly harm her family¡¯s assets. In that regard, Akira could be considered an aberration among the noble capitals.

    The reason this entric managed to maintain the position of head of the family, despite not fitting the noble capital image, was hispetence.

    It was a sad affair for Jungwoo Yujin, but after his death, the Yujin family prospered unusually well. La, being in a position of authority, understood that ruling with fear was not easy.

    She might not be able to handle the monster who had ruled the Yujin family for nearly a century.

    ¡®A formidable opponent.¡¯

    As her father struggled against him, it was highly likely that she would be brutally crushed if she attempted to confront Akira directly.

    ¡®No, failure is the foundation of growth. Even if I lose to him, I can use it as an experience.¡¯

    As an heir of the T&C family, she wasn¡¯t afraid ofpetition and challenges. She believed that, with plenty of time ahead, she could recover from any setback.

    But did she truly understand?

    The fact that a terrible danger was already taking root in her territory.

    ***

    [ZZZZ (Tasty?)]

    ?Yep.?

    Compared to the cyborg¡¯s house, the neighboring one had a distinctly lived-in feel. The furniture was tidy, and it seemed like they cleaned regrly as the entire house was spotless. The fridge was stocked with food, including artificial meat sandwiches and dried vegetables.

    I looked at Number 26, who was diligently emptying the fridge, with a satisfied expression.

    ¡®I¡¯m hungry too¡¯

    When I saw the owner of the neighboring house, whose waist had been severed by a tail, I couldn¡¯t help but want to tear into that fresh flesh. But there were still things to be done.

    I quickly finished the sandwich Number 26 had taken out of the fridge and got up from my seat.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZZZ (I¡¯ll be going next door for a bit)]

    ?Okay. Be careful, Baby.?

    Once I entered the cyborg¡¯s house, I looked for hismunication device. I turned on themunication device lying next to the bed and entered the password.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see, office number¡­.¡¯

    As I scrolled through the saved contacts, one name caught my eye.

    ¡®Crazy Bastard. This must be it.¡¯

    Every office worker tends to have a love-hate rtionship with their boss. I pressed the name ¡®Crazy Bastard¡¯.

    As soon as the signal went through, the other party picked up.

    [You lunatic, Ras! Why aren¡¯t you here when you¡¯re supposed to be working?]

    ¡°I¡¯m off duty.¡±

    [What? Are you insane?]

    ¡°Have a good day.¡±

    [You crazy son of a¡­!]

    Using the mimicry function of the mimicry organ, I ended the call and pressed the disconnect button.

    Here, countless extraterrestrialborerse in every day, every hour. Even if one of them quits for no apparent reason, there are plenty of people to rece them.

    While it¡¯s possible to develop deep bonds with colleagues at work, it doesn¡¯t seem to be the case for the owner of my voice, Ras. His reactions as a team leader and the way he keeps to himself when you look at his contacts and call history suggest he¡¯s more of a loner.

    ¡®Maybe he¡¯ll be forgotten once today is over.¡¯

    Just like the harbor worker I devoured before, Ras will likely be forgotten.

    ¡®But it¡¯s probably best to finish things properly.¡¯

    I opened theptop that was in the living room. If I send a resignation email from his workptop, it shouldn¡¯t cause too much trouble.

    ¡®It could be handled over the phone, but just in case.¡¯

    Maybeter, when I¡¯ve devoured more people, I won¡¯t have to worry, but for now, I should be cautious.

    It¡¯s a wealthy space city with a significant presence of androids and a small but well-equipped defense fleet stationed here. Compared to the research ship I was on before, it¡¯s much more spacious, offering plenty of hiding ces. However, the surveincework here is incredibly detailed, unlike anything I¡¯ve seen before.

    ¡®I still need to be cautious.¡¯

    It¡¯s best to avoid getting caught for as long as possible after I¡¯ve devoured someone. I won¡¯t be able to hide it forever, but I should dy it as much as possible until I be strong enough.

    ¡®So, let¡¯s see who this person is.¡¯

    To send an email, I need to know roughly who the person is, so I started examining the files on theptop one by one.

    The owner of theptop, Ras, doesn¡¯t seem to have led a particrly diligent life for a cyborg. Despite being a workptop, it¡¯s filled with non-work-rted content.

    ¡®Being a workaholic in the space age is very rare.¡¯

    I had no interest in the cyborg¡¯s sexual preferences, so I deleted the irrelevant files. I continued to open and close files while inspecting them when I noticed a peculiarly titled file.

    ¡®Smuggling Animal Surveince Team Seizure List?¡¯

    As I clicked on the file, the monitor filled with dense text. As the name suggests, it contained a list of seizures rted to animals smuggled with the aim of trafficking.

    ¡®Smuggled animals, huh?¡¯

    Even a cursory nce showed that there were many different kinds. Most of them had already been transported to others, but there were still a considerable number of creatures left here on the port Earth.

    ¡®If I consume these, I could gain a substantial amount of gic essence.¡¯

    While this apartment can be considered a decent hunting ground, it¡¯s not as abundant as the smuggled animals at the port Earth. Devouring just half of those creatures would significantly aid my growth.

    ¡®But surveince won¡¯t be easy to ovee.¡¯

    If the animals I¡¯m managing suddenly disappear, anyone with half a brain would figure it out pretty quickly. If they report it to the police and an investigation starts, it¡¯s going to be a big problem. So, there are two options.

    ¡®Hiring employees or finding a smuggled animal broker.¡¯

    Hiring employees isn¡¯t particrly difficult. Since I can mimic Ras with my artificial body, I can just call in another employee. After devouring that employee and forging the transport documents myself, I can probably get away with swiping a few of them easily.

    ¡®But if I want to devour more than that, I¡¯ll need a broker.¡¯

    Looking at the list, there were ambiguously filled sections where the destination of the creatures was left nk. This is probably where the broker intervened.

    ¡®It¡¯s probably best to either intercept the broker and steal the creatures or devour the broker and mimic their role to seize my prey.¡¯

    ¡®I should make good use of Ras¡¯s identity.¡¯

    He left behind a lot when he died. It¡¯s a shame it would have been much more enjoyable if he had tasted better.

    After sending the email, I took theptop and returned to the neighboring apartment.

    ***

    ?Hey,e here quickly, baby.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (I won¡¯t eat that)]

    ?You shouldn¡¯t be picky about your food.?

    [ZZZ ZZ Z ZZZZZZ ZZZZ (I¡¯m going to eat something else)]

    ?Something else??

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Yes. You eat it.)]

    Number 26 blinked its lights as if it didn¡¯t understand my words. I nodded to indicate that I was okay, and it cautiously began devouring the man next door.

    As I watched the man¡¯s face melting under Number 26¡¯s influence, I thought to myself, ¡®Something even tastier is waiting for me.¡¯

    I savored the anticipation of the pleasure of consuming gic essence.

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 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35

    ¡®Let¡¯s handle this before we go out.¡¯

    While Number 26 was feasting on the man¡¯s brain, there were things to be done. I cut off the man¡¯s ankles and put them in the refrigerator.

    ¡®Once Ras¡¯s role is finished, I¡¯ll assume this person¡¯s form.¡¯

    The mimicry organ is a characteristic that allows me to consume flesh, analyze genes, and mimic. I don¡¯t need to eat all of the meat, like when activating the predation effect.

    ¡®I don¡¯t need to store all of it, so I¡¯ll just keep a part.¡¯

    Putting it in the refrigerator might slow down the decay process a bit. Even so, it would be unrealistic for it tost more than two days.

    After disposing of the body, I took out themunication device.

    ¡®Next¡­¡¯

    I contemted who to call. Looking at my contacts, Ras¡¯s human rtionships were extremely limited. Besides the team leader, there didn¡¯t seem to be anyone who might know a broker.

    ¡®The team leader would be a burden.¡¯

    Just like on the research vessel, being the head of a government office in a space city would ssify one as at least a mid-capitalist. Even if we were being conservative, he would be a mid-capitalist, and if he belonged to a higher stratum, he might be a third capitalist¡ªa figure entirely different from someone like Ras, who could easily be reced.

    ¡®If that person disappears, they¡¯ll know right away.¡¯

    The current situation is different from when I killed Keisaragi Yujin. She is a high-ranking Noble Capital, far above the people on the research vessel. MegaCorp is apetitive society, but at the same time, it¡¯s a rigid, pyramid-shaped society where social mobility is stagnant¡ªa contradictory organization.

    The higher up in the Capital hierarchy, the more ruthless they tend to be in keeping those below from moving up. Noble Capital, positioned at the very top of the MegaCorp pyramid, is even more extreme in this regard.

    As a result, everyone feared retaliation from Noble Capital, and they could only passively respond to her sudden death. Their timid response ultimately brought great misfortune upon them.

    ¡®It¡¯s ironic. The death of the person in the highest position is hidden, while the death of the lower-ranking person is revealed.¡¯

    Furthermore, the Smuggling Animal Surveince Team seemed quite busy. Amidst this, if the person in charge were to disappear, it would create chaos. I needed to choose someone else.

    ¡®This person doesn¡¯t seem right, neither does this one¡­ Hmm?¡¯

    While checking the messages on themunication device, there was one contact that appeared particrly frequently. The messages were simple, just asking if they were going to the office after work today, but this contact had exchanged the most messages with Ras.

    ¡®Well, this person should do.¡¯

    The person¡¯s name is Lloyd. He was a friend who shared a secret hobby with Ras. When you mentioned the office in the Special Trade Hub, it was famous even in onlinemunities. It was a ce that vividly showcased a dark, dystopian worldview, and it was often mentioned in the news due to its controversial ethics.

    Anyway, people who enjoy such morally questionable entertainment might know about the broker.

    ¡®Lloyd and Ras seem pretty close¡­¡¯, I thought as I used my small arms to send a message to Lloyd.

    [Hey, let¡¯s catch up sometime.]

    [You quit your job? You crazy bastard, you¡¯re going all out. What happened?]

    [I got tired of the endless workload. I¡¯m looking for work elsewhere.]

    [Work here is a bit crappy. Where are you going?]

    [I¡¯ve only learned this, so what else can I do? I¡¯ll find something simr.]

    [Simr work?]

    [Yeah, like smuggling.]

    It felt like I had brought up the topic abruptly, but there was no other way. I didn¡¯t know how Ras usually expressed his intentions, and the longer the conversation, the more room there was for misunderstandings.

    ¡®I better keep it short and to the point.¡¯

    As soon as I sent the message, there was no immediate response from the other end. After a few minutes, themunication device beeped again.

    [You said you weren¡¯t going to do anything dangerous before, didn¡¯t you?]

    It seemed that Lloyd had talked to Ras about smuggling once before, and Ras had probably declined at that time.

    [I thought about it again, and there¡¯s really no other way to make money.]

    [You¡¯re hopeless. Now you want to do what everyone else does?]

    [Well, I have to give it a try now.]

    [Alright. I¡¯ll send you the information via email.]

    [Why not meet up today and talk about it?]

    [Meet up?]

    [Yeah, there¡¯s a bar I know in the Harbor District.]

    [You¡¯re not that type, are you? You buying drinks?]

    [I just retired, and I can afford a drink with my colleagues, can¡¯t I?]

    [You retired and grew some balls, huh? Okay. What time do you want to meet?]

    Honestly, I was a bit impulsive, but Lloyd didn¡¯t seem to have any suspicions, so it went well.

    ¡®Things are going smoothly.¡¯

    I sent him a message with the location and time. The location was an alley near the border of the Harbor District, as close as possible to the manhole connected to the underground secret passage.

    We decided on the evening for the meeting. In this city, whether it¡¯s day or night, there are always people around, but the presence or absence of bright lights makes a world of difference. To move discreetly in the darkness and keep a low profile, it was natural to meet at night.

    ¡®I should catch them after they¡¯ve finished work.¡¯

    I sent the message, and a reply came quickly. Since he had retired, he mentioned that he might get bored if he went to the office alone.

    ¡®No need to be bored.¡¯

    After all, he would probably end up on the same path as Ras.

    ¡®I got confirmation.¡¯

    There was still plenty of time until evening. Taking gic essence from this apartment was risky, so I had to spend time here.

    ?I¡¯m full.?

    Looking at Number 26, it seemed like it had eaten to the point of bursting. It waddled over to the soft bed and fell asleep.

    ¡®It¡¯s still young, so it should sleep a lot.¡¯

    After covering him with a nket, I opened myptop again. Before meeting Lloyd, I needed to go over the list and gather information.

    Carefully examining the list, I checked off multiple seized specimens of the same type of organism.

    ¡®Since the predatory effect activates by probability, having more of the same species is better.¡¯

    As I checked, there were truly all sorts of organisms. They were all creatures I had seen at least once in the game, but some of them made me suspicious of whether they were really trying to smuggle them.

    ¡®There¡¯s even a Mountain Crawler. How did they manage to capture one? And¡­ Oh?¡¯

    As I marveled at the skills of the smugglers while looking at the list, I noticed an unusual name.

    ¡®They captured an Outspacer?¡¯

    Hastily, I checked the entry next to the name, and the transport section was left nk. That meant the Outspacer was still here.

    ¡®There are 20 of them.¡¯

    It would have been great if there was a queen among them, but since it wasn¡¯t specified, it seemed like there were only workers. Even so, it was a significant harvest for me.

    ¡®Outspacer genes can be useful.¡¯

    The Outspacers, as the name suggests, are extraterrestrial species from beyond the stars. They gather genes to enhance themselves and exhibit many simrities to the Amorphs, such as gically strengthening and antagonizing different species.

    The key differences are that, unlike the Amorphs, yers control them in colony units rather than individual entities, and among Outspacers of the same species, cooperation andmunication are possible.

    In simple terms, if Amorphs are inspired by X-Files, Outspacers are inspired by ssic game Zerg. I had yed Outspacer for quite a long time, given my fascination with extraterrestrial creatures.

    ¡®In essence, they¡¯re an upgraded version of Amorphs.¡¯

    When a yer chooses Outspacer, their main goal is to be the colony queen of that species and grow the colony. Absorbing genes from other creatures reflects in the offspring produced by the queen.

    The Outspacers operated with a typical monarch-type mechanism where the workers became stronger, gathering more powerful genes, and growing the colony. Compared to the Amorphs, another monarch-type species with a brutal hierarchy, the Outspacers were regarded as a challenging and high-potential species within themunity.

    What set them apart was the ability for yers to develop entirely different forms of colonies based on their choices. In terms of performance, they quickly became powerful after surviving the initially high difficulty, making them popr among yers who valued performance over concept.

    ¡®Still, I prefer Amorphs.¡¯

    If you yed as Amorphs, it was a good idea to acquire Outspacer genes whenever the opportunity arose. This was because they had many useful traits, and some were even rted to acquiring new types.

    ¡®Let¡¯s start with these guys.¡¯

    Although there were only 20 of them, since I would be devouring them as live specimens rather than samples, I could expect the predation effect to work in my favor.

    Besides, I checked one or two other useful prey items. Unfortunately, due to the nature of smuggling, there weren¡¯t many cases where more than 10 of the same species were brought in.

    ¡®I might not get many traits even if I devour them all.¡¯

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    This aspect probably depended on luck.

    As I selected the things to consume, the room gradually became shrouded in darkness.

    The time for hunting prey was drawing near. I woke up Number 26 and together we left the apartment.

    ***

    A somber darkness had descended over the entire city. Streetlights illuminated the dark residential area brightly.

    ¡®Last time, there were people around, so I had to break the streetlights, but¡­¡¯

    Late at night, there were patrols of police officers around the residential area. Before, I had to break the streetlights to avoid their gaze, but if I kept doing that, it would surely raise suspicion. Today, I should try to avoid them rather than destroying the streetlights.

    I moved between the closely spaced apartment buildings, leaping over them through the rooftops and outer walls. While the gaps between the apartments were significant, thanks to the enhanced agility trait, it wasn¡¯t a major issue to leap long distances. Whennding, I spread the wings on my back to make as little noise as possible.

    ¡®It¡¯s fortunate that there are fewer people because it¡¯s work time.¡¯

    Moving quickly, I soon approached the manhole cover. It was right in front of me, but I didn¡¯t rush to it. Instead, I concealed myself.

    ?Why are you acting this way, little one??

    [ZZZ (Enemy)]

    ?Enemy??

    There was an android patrolling around the manhole.

    ¡®Abat android.¡¯

    Unlike the android I saw on the pirate shipst time, this one had three arms. In addition to two arms resembling those of a human, there was an additionalbat-oriented right arm equipped with a Gauss rifle near its waist.

    ¡®That¡¯s strange. An android using a Gauss rifle?¡¯

    The Gauss rifle is a high-powered weapon that falls below sma weapons in terms of firepower, making it highly efficient against heavily armored foes. To put it in perspective, it¡¯s like a less expensive but less destructive version of a sma weapon.

    However, just like sma weapons, Gauss rifles are costly equipment for regr soldiers or androids to use. The cost of a single rifle is higher than lower-tier powered armor, and, most importantly, the ammunition is exceptionally expensive.

    ¡®It uses tungsten ammunition, so it¡¯s bound to be expensive.¡¯

    Anyway, the level of armament I was aware of for androids was by no means as high as this. Even if this city is wealthy, it¡¯s not so affluent as to equip a single android with a Gauss rifle that consumes high-cost tungsten ammunition like water unless it¡¯s an extraordinarily special situation.

    ¡®Could there be some kind of event or festival?¡¯

    T&C Special Trade Center was a ce where various in-game events were held. Given that it was a city frequented by tourists, it wouldn¡¯t be unusual for an unknown festival to be taking ce.

    If a festival was happening, it would naturally mean a higher level of alert and security, with a significant influx of visitors. The reason for the androids being heavily armed might be rted to the festival.

    ¡®I guess I should consider myself lucky and unlucky at the same time.¡¯

    I made it in safely, but of all times, it had to be when a festival was scheduled.

    While lost in thought, the heavily armed android loitering around the manhole disappeared somewhere. After waiting for a moment and confirming that no one else was approaching, I approached the manhole.

    I lifted the incredibly heavy piece of metal effortlessly with my human strength and sent Number 26 in first. After a final look around, I entered the manhole as well.

    As I touched the manhole cover, a pitch-ck darkness, like a ck hole with not a speck of light, enveloped us.

    ?Baby, where are we going??

    [ZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZZ (We¡¯ll go the way we came)]

    The little GUY and I had no trouble seeing in the dark. It sensed air currents, vibrations, and other such things with its entire body, and I had an auxiliary system.

    I could see it. A small tunnel, about 5 meters high, stretched all the way to the other side of the ground.

    Inside the tunnel, there was discarded trash from pastborers, cigarette butts thrown by someone from above the manhole cover, and more scattered on the floor.

    From the tunnel walls, dust periodically fell due to vibrations caused by passing subway trains.

    I walked toward our destination with Number 26.

    ¡®Let¡¯sy down spores on the way.¡¯

    Originally, I nned toy down spores after establishing a nest, but things were different when there was a festival in the city. Setting up surveince in advance would make it easier to deal with unexpected situations.

    When I activated the contamination organ on the lower right arm of mybat arm, a viscous brown mucus mixed with spores oozed out. The spores I had released slowly spread through the tunnel, as if reassuring me that they wouldn¡¯t worry about leaving my body.

    Since the contamination organ also had the enhancement effect, in about two days, the spores would grow as effectively as if I had built the nest myself.

    ¡°That should do for surveince.¡±

    By the time most of the spores wereid down on the path connecting the residential and harbor zones, I arrived at my destination. I carefully opened the manhole cover and checked outside.

    ¡®Nobody here either.¡¯

    This area was the border between zones, and it seemed people didn¡¯t frequent it. If you wanted to go to another zone, you would take the subway rather than walk.

    [ZZ ZZZZ (Wait here)]

    ?Why? I want to go with you.?

    [ZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (They¡¯ll get scared of you)]

    I recalled that Ras had been scared of Number 26, and he crouched down gloomily. It was a sad truth that people were afraid of Number 26.

    I hid Number 26 under the manhole and went to the meeting ce. They hadn¡¯t arrived yet. I activated the mimicry organ and crouched in a dark alley.

    ¡®They¡¯reing.¡¯

    About ten minutes had passed since I started waiting. Someone was walking toward me from a distance.

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 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36

    ¡®A woman?¡¯

    A seemingly ordinary-looking woman was wandering around the alley. Contrary to my expectations, Ras¡¯s colleague turned out to be a woman. When I saw the name Lloyd, I had assumed it was a man.

    ¡®Well, there¡¯s now that says women can¡¯t go to a ce like this.¡¯ At first nce, she might not seem like she could attract a single flower, but who knows what happens when you go to ces like this? She might be pulling in guys left and right.

    I got up from my seat and waved to her.

    ¡°Here.¡±

    ¡°Why on earth did you want to meet in a ce like this?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t just openly discuss things like that.¡±

    ¡°Well, I guess you¡¯re right. But¡­¡±

    Lloyd approached me. She had been wearing a friendly expression just moments ago, but now she raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you retired, and yet you¡¯re still dressed like that?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a work uniform you¡¯re wearing?''¡±

    She pointed at my body as she spoke. Since the pheromones from my auxiliary organ don¡¯t affect me, I have no idea how I appear to others.

    I¡¯m not affected by the pheromones of the mimicry organ, so I don¡¯t know how I appear to others.

    ¡®In the game, when you use the mimicry organ, the target appears in their state just before death¡­¡¯

    When I devoured Ras, he was inebriated and wearing his work clothes, not having changed his attire.

    Listening to Lloyd¡¯s words, it seems like even in reality, the mimicry organ mimics the appearance of the target just before their death.

    ¡®The mimicry organ mimics clothing too.¡¯

    While the auxiliary organ acquires gic information and creates hallucinogenic pheromones based on that, it doesn¡¯t rely solely on gic data. It also incorporates information from other senses like the auxiliary organ, sight, and so on, to create much more precise hallucinations.

    It gathers visual information like clothing, shoes, buttons, wrinkles, and sends that information to the auxiliary organ, which then oveys it on the body it constructs based on gic data. This means it can only apply the attire that the consumed target was wearing, and it¡¯s impossible to change their clothing in the hallucination.

    ¡®This could be an unexpected issue. If the clothes don¡¯t match the situation, it might raise suspicions.¡¯

    In the game, there¡¯s no concept of clothing that doesn¡¯t match the situation. yers rarely change intobat gear just because they entered a city. So, in the game, no one ever realized something was amiss because of suspicious attire.

    ¡®This is the real world, and that¡¯s what makes the difference. I¡¯ll have to be more careful from now on.¡¯

    If Lloyd hadn¡¯t pointed it out, I could have been in big trouble.

    I circled around her briefly.

    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t have any proper clothes to wear.¡±

    ¡°Tsk, you should¡¯ve dressed properly. A guy who retired and¡ªhuh?¡±

    She paused as if she was going to say something else but then bit her tongue and frowned.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been smelling something strange since earlier¡­¡±

    ¡°Enough with the unnecessary talk. Do you know about the broker?¡±

    ¡°Are we going to talk about that here?¡±

    ¡°Bars have too many ears,¡± she said.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it about spreading rumors?¡± I replied.

    She nodded and took out a USB drive from her pocket.

    ¡°The information rted to the broker and our transactions is in here. After a day, you won¡¯t be able to ess the files, so make sure to take a look.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s quite strict.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a somewhat sensitive matter. I¡¯ll send you the broker¡¯s contact through themunication device.¡±

    She took out hermunication device, and the dim, narrow alley was momentarily brightened by the small device¡¯s light. She inputted the contact information and pressed send. Mymunication device in my hand vibrated.

    ¡®S?¡¯

    On Ras¡¯smunication device, there was an initial ¡®S¡¯ and a phone number as a message. It seemed like they intentionally referred to each other by initials in case one of them got arrested.

    ¡°That¡¯s it for this. Now, let¡¯s go have a drink or something,¡± she said.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    As I was looking at themunication device screen, she yfully tapped my arm.

    ¡°You, of all people, suggesting we go for a drink¡­ Huh?¡±

    She was taken aback by the sensation, which waspletely different from a human¡¯s touch. The auxiliary organ could fool the visual senses, but it couldn¡¯t deceive the sense of touch. When someone touches me, they can feel my actual body. She probably realized something was amiss when she touched me.

    That the person waiting for her in the alley was not Ras.

    ¡°You, you, what the¡­?!¡±

    Lloyd stammered, stepping back. I had received the information and contact for the broker, so she was now useless. I wrapped her with my long tail as she attempted to flee.

    ¡°Help¡­ Ugh!¡±

    She was about to scream, but I blocked her mouth with one of mybat arms. She seemed perplexed, as if something invisible had grabbed her. She knew that the person she saw with her eyes wasn¡¯t Ras, but the pheromone effect still held. Her sense of touch recognized the restraint as multiple arms and tails, while her vision continued to perceive me as Ras. Perhaps she felt as if she were being held by two arms and the rest were invisible, causing her confusion.

    ¡°Uh, uh, uh¡­.¡±

    Lloyd sent a pleading look. Her previously ordinary face was now stained with tears and mucus.

    She might have looked pitiful, but my decision remained unchanged. I put more force into my tail, and her waist twisted. Her eyes lost their vitality, and her head drooped.

    ¡®A corpse to be dealt with here.¡¯

    I devoured Lloyd right there. The taste of Lloyd was utterly ordinary. It was neither good nor bad, just a mediocre vor. To be honest, it was slightly better than the sandwich from the neighbor¡¯s house, where Ras used to live.

    ¡®Now, I can transform into Lloyd. Next is¡­¡¯

    I should contact the broker. I needed to go home, check the USB, and decide whether to meet with the broker or not.

    After licking up everyst drop of blood on the ground, I returned to the secret passage.

    ?Food smell.?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Ate and came back)]

    ?What about mine??

    ¡®Ah.¡¯

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    I should leave some for Number 26 next time.

    ***

    Sanders, who worked in the Materials Storage Team at the Harbor Zone, had a side job. His job was to provide unusual creatures to cater to the refined tastes of the high-ranking individuals in MegaCorp. In simple terms, it was smuggling, a crime, but Sanders didn¡¯t consider it wrongdoing.

    ¡®Having an ability and not using it would be a sin,¡¯ he thought, firmly rooted in the mindset typical of someone from MegaCorp. Under this line of thinking, he chose a job where he could put his position to good use. Since he had frequent interactions with the Smuggling Animal Surveince Team due to his work, Sanders proposed a mutually beneficial arrangement to their team leader, who readily epted it.

    The arrangement involved Sanders receiving information about confiscated creatures from the Smuggling Animal Surveince Team. He would then manipte the records at the storage facility to transport these creatures to others. This corrupt coboration between the two public agencies continued for over a year. Eventually, Sanders became a broker with enough influence to have connections with the police, if not for the Board. By now, he could have earned enough credits to immigrate to another if it weren¡¯t for that damn Board.

    ¡°Damn it. All because of that damn Board, I haven¡¯t had a chance,¡± he grumbled. Since yesterday, there were 30 days left until the Board meeting. Thanks to that, the security level throughout the city had increased significantly, making it extremely difficult to transport creatures discreetly.

    ¡®Those bastards. After all the money I¡¯ve spent, they still won¡¯t let me through,¡¯ Sanders fumed. Although it was an order directly from the Harbor Zone authorities, the government officials had no choice but toply. But Sanders had no knowledge of this fact.

    ¡°Hey, Sanders. Not heading home yet?¡± a colleague asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ll leaveter.¡±

    ¡°Alright, take care.¡±

    After confirming that the other employees were leaving, Sanders took out his personalptop from his bag. When he entered theptop¡¯s password, a list of creatures intended for smuggling appeared on the screen.

    ¡®It¡¯s all about the money,¡¯ he thought as he saw every item on the list marked as ¡®scheduled¡¯. Originally, his n was to finish loading these creatures onto a ship that would depart for another this morning. However, with the increased surveince, he had no opportunity to intervene.

    With increased surveince in the Harbor Zone, even goods leaving the Zone fell under the watchful eye of the securitywork, affecting brokers like Sanders. As a result, creatures that should have been transported earlier were still soundly asleep inside the Harbor Zone¡¯s containers. Despite only one day passing, the losses were staggering, which left Sanders cursing under his breath.

    At that moment, Sanders¡¯munication device rang. The screen disyed the letter ¡®L¡¯.

    ¡°Damn. I did mention that the atmosphere hasn¡¯t been goodtely.¡±

    The message from L was brief¡ªa request for an Outspacer trade.

    ¡®Someone actually wants to buy this?¡¯

    Sanders raised an eyebrow in surprise. Outspacers were extremely dangerous creatures, and those willing to trade them were exceedingly rare.

    Of course, smuggling them was not unheard of. After all, the Outspacer that had been stored in the Harbor Zone¡¯s cryogenic facilities had originally been seized by the Smuggling Animal Surveince Team.

    However, since the seizure, no one had ever approached Sanders with a request to trade an Outspacer.

    As Sanders pondered this unusual request, another message arrived.

    ¡®Hmm. A cult in the Administrative Zone is interested in purchasing.¡¯

    Normally, Sanders facilitated trades himself, but this time it seemed that the client had been found on the other end.

    ¡®Probably arranged by the Smuggling Animal Surveince Team leader¡¯, Sanders thought. He had considered the team leaderpetent, but it appeared they had connections even in the Administrative Zone. Sanders couldn¡¯t help but be impressed.

    If it was a cult, Sanders could understand their desire for an Outspacer. Cults had a penchant for collecting rare creatures and peculiar artifacts.

    ¡®Being in the Administrative Zone is fortunate. No need to transport it off-world.¡¯

    If it had been a request to send the creature to another, he might have refused, but moving it within Earth¡¯s boundaries posed no significant problems.

    Sanders quickly replied to L, providing the meeting location, time, and the required credit amount. The location, as usual, was next to the crane in the Harbor Zone¡¯s container yard, and the time remained the same, set for 10 PM.

    As Sanders started to lose interest, he received another response.

    [¡­How about moving the meeting time to early morning?]

    Wrinkles formed on Sanders¡¯ forehead. Time had always been determined by him, and there had never been a case where the other party requested a change. If he missed this opportunity, the smuggling operation would fall through because the roles were always clear¡ªSanders was A, and the other party was B.

    ¡®But why?¡¯ In a period of intensified surveince, the sudden request for a trade from the other side, coupled with a time change, seemed highly suspicious.

    After a moment of contemtion, Sanders pressed the call button. The phone emitted a tone, followed by a thud and the sound of the other person¡¯s voice.

    [Hello.]

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    [Huh?]

    ¡°You¡¯ve never requested a time change before.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡­ I have to work overtime¡­¡±

    [Overtime?]

    Sanders was about to ask why the sudden need for overtime when he suddenly paused. It reminded him of something a colleague had mentioned not too long ago¡ªsomeone had caused quite amotion trying to smuggle a Mountain Crawler.

    ¡°Is it because of the Mountain Crawler, by any chance?¡±

    [Yes, everyone¡¯s going crazy because of that.]

    ¡°Ugh, they¡¯re really making an effort. So, should we reschedule for a different day?¡±

    [They insisted on getting it as soon as possible.]

    ¡°Okay, then. They said 1 AM, right? Let¡¯s meet then.¡±

    Having understood the situationpletely, Sanders ended the call.

    If he wanted to secretly smuggle the Mountain Crawler, he needed to manipte both the storage documents and the transfer documents, so he turned on his work PC.

    However, while working on the maniptions, he suddenly had an odd thought.

    ¡®Even if they¡¯re cultists, why would they want to trade in the middle of the night?¡¯

    Once doubt crept in, it tended to linger. While their request didn¡¯t seem unusual, Sanders couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of unease.

    ¡®I need insurance.¡¯

    In the midst of his internal conflict, he grabbed hismunication device again and dialed a number.

    ¡°Hey, listen. I think I¡¯ll need you toe with me. Yeah. Yeah. Do you know the ce? Meet me by 1 AM.¡±

    The person he contacted was the leader of the security team he had personally hired.

    Since Sanders¡¯ work often involved illegal activities, he frequently found himself meeting dangerous individuals. In such cases, he would gather his security team and go to meet the person.

    ¡®I don¡¯t know what kind of trouble this is, but they better know what they¡¯re getting into.¡¯

    Sanders¡¯ group of security members consisted of former military and police personnel, all of whom were exceptionally skilled inbat. Furthermore, thanks to generous investments, every member was equipped with advanced armor andser weapons. While some clients had posed threats in the past, showing them the human weapons he had hired usually made them reconsider.

    Especially for someone dealing with the daily mess of smuggling animal excrement, encountering armed guards was a relief.

    Everything was under his control. Sanders returned to his work with a sense of assurance.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37

    ¡®Broker S. Quite a cautious person.¡¯

    His immediate call upon any suspicion indicates a prudent individual. If he had any doubts during our conversation, he would have canceled the deal right away. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t find anything amiss.

    ¡®Indeed, being cautious is essential.¡¯

    Using the USB Lloyd provided, I could roughly guess who he was.

    ¡®A confiscation item manager from the Material Storage Team or a security officer from the Port Security Team.¡¯

    There are only two people who could legally load seized animals onto a ship ¨C these two.

    Material Storage manages all materials that arrive at the port, making document maniption straightforward.

    Port security officers can tamper with surveince cameras. Of course, given the current situation, they might not manipte all cameras but disable some when moving animals.

    ¡®Perhaps, it might even be both.¡¯

    There¡¯s a possibility that someone from the Material Storage Team bought off a security officer.

    Whichever side he¡¯s on, he¡¯s undoubtedly not in a high position, but he¡¯s not at the bottom either; he¡¯s firmly in a middle management role. And he¡¯s smart enough to avoid getting caught in smuggling for an extended period.

    In short, he¡¯s not an easy target for me to eliminate. The problem with dealing with someone influential is that if I were to kill him without reason, it would cause problems.

    People like Lloyd and Ras are quite different from those on a casual basis. If S is in a middle management role, there are many people connected to him, so if he were to suddenly disappear, it would raise suspicion in his surroundings. Moreover, there are likely more than two teams involved, and perhaps more teams rted to the situation.

    Criminals have strong rtionships, so if he were to vanish, they would undoubtedly make efforts to find him. Even if I were to impersonate S and attempt to resign formally, if he holds a significant role within the team, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to resign as I please. Being called to the workce wouldplicate matters.

    ¡®So, using S to smuggle confiscated animals also has its limitations.¡¯

    I told S that I found a customer, but that¡¯s obviously a lie. Themission I can offer him is limited, and I don¡¯t have that many credits earned from the ones I¡¯ve consumed.

    Like most residents in this residential zone, they¡¯re mostly dayborers or those who spend their daily credits in the entertainment zone. The neighbor next door has a fair amount of credits, but Ras is nearly penniless.

    ¡®He¡¯s the type to call just because I mentioned changing the time. If he knew I had no money, he¡¯d cut ties right away.¡¯

    How can I use him without causing any problems in the long term? There¡¯s actually a way, but it requires a fair amount of luck.

    ¡®The gic essence of the Outspacer.¡¯

    Among the characteristics of the Outspacer, there¡¯s one that can solve this problem. If I can obtain that characteristic through a predatory effect, then the problem with Broker S will be easily resolved.

    ¡®Once this deal is done, I can consume the Outspacer. After that, I¡¯ll decide based on the results.¡¯

    The deal with the broker is already halfway done. Unless something goes wrong when we meet, obtaining the Outspacer is a done deal. There are many variables at the moment, so it¡¯s better to n for whates after consuming the Outspacer.

    ¡®There¡¯s still a lot to do before I leave.¡¯

    Apart from the broker-rted matters, there are other tasks that remain. Just like Ras, I need to arrange for Lloyd¡¯s resignation.

    After killing Lloyd, I used themunicator I had saved to send a resignation email to the Smuggling Animal Surveince Team. It seems they didn¡¯t contact me separately, likely because everyone had already gone home.

    I finished Lloyd¡¯s resignation process, and when I checked the time, it had already passed midnight.

    The meeting time is approaching.

    I left the house, leaving Number 26 behind, who was still asleep.

    ***

    This isn¡¯t the Entertainment Zone, so there weren¡¯t many residents out and about. The streets were patrolled by tired-looking police officers and androids.

    I cautiously slipped into the underground secret passage to avoid their watchful eyes.

    ¡®The container handling yard, huh?¡¯

    The path was lined with numerous cameras. Likely, some of these cameras had been intentionally disabled from the other side due to illegal deals, but I had to do my best to avoid them.

    ¡®I can detect electromaic waves with my auxiliary system.¡¯

    Emerging from the manhole, I focused my senses on the auxiliary system. Since evolving, the tworger tentacles beneath my jaw wriggled with even greater length and thickness, following my will.

    The scent of the dawn, carrying the tang of asphalt, the forest of containers emanating the smell of iron and aluminum. The faint vibrations of the subway felt from the ground, the pulse of the vast city that operated day and night.

    The Harbor Zone was still teeming with stimuli for all the senses.

    My auxiliary system extracted the thin electronic waves resembling fine threads emitted by the cameras.

    ¡°There are three cameras ahead.¡±

    I moved cautiously, avoiding the locations where the cameras were, finding my way through the gaps between stacks of containers. As I had anticipated, some of the cameras were disabled.

    ¡®Seems like they have connections with the security personnel as well.¡¯

    With the cameras that were off, I didn¡¯t need to worry, so I passed by without any trouble.

    As I continued moving, I sensed the movements of living animals in the distance.

    There were a total of ten individuals. All but one were armed.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    Their heightened alertness suggested they brought backup.

    ¡®I thought it would be easier to deal with.¡¯

    I activated my mimicry organ and revealed myself to them.

    Ten people, standing beneath the red light of the container crane¡¯smps, all turned to look at me.

    In the middle, a stout, closely shaved man, Broker S, greeted me.

    ¡°Oh, you are here.¡±

    ¡°Who are they?¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about them. They¡¯re here for insurance.¡±

    Despite the reassurance not to worry, their demeanor wasn¡¯t what one would describe as friendly. They hadser barrels aimed at me.

    ¡®A nonviolent demonstration.¡¯

    Most of them were humans wearing powered armor, cyborgs, but there was one individual who stood out.

    ¡®There¡¯s a Wolf too.¡¯

    Wolves are a shape-shifting humanoid species with animal heads as wemonly know them. They possess physical abilities far superior to humans, and their senses are exceptionally keen.

    The female Wolf brought by S was already ring at me.

    ¡®My mimicry organ works through pheromones. Even with wolf, I can deceive, but they are more sensitive than other species.¡¯

    ¡®I better get this over with as quickly as possible.¡¯

    I cut to the chase.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the merchandise?¡±

    ¡°The trade items are in that refrigerated container over there. I¡¯ll give you the password once the deposit is confirmed.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    ¡°Since you¡¯ve done this before, you know what to do, right? Enter your ount here.¡±

    He handed me aptop, and there was a program running. It seemed that once you entered your personal credit ount, the credits would be automatically transferred to him.

    I had no trouble with it, having previously checked the credit ount on the man next door¡¯s personalputer.

    ¡®The bnce was cutting it close, to be honest.¡¯

    The deposit went smoothly. S closed theptop with a satisfied expression.

    ¡°Well, one headache is gone with this.¡±

    ¡°A headache?¡±

    ¡°The Outspacer, that¡¯s what I call it. I don¡¯t know what kind of weirdo buys such a dangerous creature. Cults are a breed I can never understand.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±

    I yed along with S as he talked about an imaginary being that didn¡¯t exist.

    In reality, I didn¡¯t know how it was, but in the game, Cults and Outspacers were in an antagonistic rtionship. It was true in the storyline and by game design.

    The ultimate goal of the Outspacer was to return to their destroyed homeworld, the Vortex One. To do that, they needed such powerful psychic abilities that they could bend gxies to their will. They achieved this by consuming Cults to umte psychic power.

    One might suggest acquiring the gic essence rted to psychic power and applying it to the cluster, but the Outspacer had limitations on the use of certain traits.

    ¡®The Outspacer can¡¯t use psychic powers.¡¯

    Due to the setting that the entire species had its psychic power abilities taken away by the Vortex One, the Outspacer couldn¡¯t use any traits rted to superhuman abilities, except for one immunity to superhuman attacks.

    Thanks to their innate immunity, they could fend off weaker superhuman attacks. But they were vulnerable to powerful psychic power techniques. In other words, the Outspacer only had basic defenses against superhuman abilities and struggled to counter various superhuman attacks.

    ¡®So, Cults are Outspacers¡¯ counter.¡¯

    Cults were truly the experts in psychic power. They were the most versatile among the yable species, being able to use various psychic power techniques.

    Even if the Outspacers had innate resistance to superhuman abilities, they had ample means to attack beyond that.

    Physically frail but capable of various forms of superhuman attacks, Cults could generate countless legions. However, the Outspacers were susceptible to superhuman abilities. Themunity debates never ceased about who had the upper hand.

    ¡®Judging by their conversation, it seems like they aren¡¯t necessarily hostile to each other in reality.¡¯

    To know the details, I might have to meet Cults in person. Anyway, my business with the Broker is finished, so I should withdraw from here.

    ¡°The deal is done, so I¡¯m going.¡±

    ¡°Hey.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°The one who broke through the Cults, he¡¯s the team leader, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes? Oh, yes.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not ordinary either. Maybe, could you teach me as well?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡°Cult connections. Make sure to keep me informed whenever a deal is made with them in the future. Of course, I¡¯m only talking to you, L.¡±

    Certainly, being an influential Broker, he¡¯s trying to negotiate with me as well. The more we talk, the lessfortable it is for someone as difficult to deceive as me.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ll have to decline.¡±

    ¡°Eh, too bad.¡±

    ¡°Then.¡±

    After bidding farewell once more, I attempted to leave, but this time, another individual stopped me.

    ¡°Wait. Stop right there.¡±

    ¡°Kate? What¡¯s going on?¡±

    The one who halted me was none other than a Wolf. Kate, the Wolf with a distinctive wolf-like head, approached me, sniffing the air.

    ¡°Something¡¯s suspicious.¡±

    ¡°Suspicious? I¡¯ve done several transactions with L.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know for sure, but she seems to be hiding something.¡±

    ¡°Hiding?¡±

    Upon hearing this, S¡¯s expression turned cold.

    ¡°Hey. What does this mean?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Kate has a keener sense of smell than other Wolves. The security team is on edge, and there¡¯s something odd about her. Are you trying to pull a fast one? Detain her, everyone.¡±

    The security guards guarding S slowly approached me, guns aimed at me.

    ¡®It¡¯se to this after all.¡¯

    To the best of my knowledge, in the game, Wolves couldn¡¯t entirely detect the effects of the mimic device. I wasn¡¯t sure if Kate was unique or if the Wolves¡¯ senses had be more acute with the advent of reality.

    ¡®I¡¯ll ponder thatter. First, let¡¯s eliminate everyone except S.¡¯

    I hoped for a peaceful resolution, but there was no other choice.

    From here on, it was their own doing. I flicked my tail and jabbed Kate, who was next to me.

    ¡°Kehk!¡±

    In her characteristic wolfish manner, she let out a strange cry as she copsed, a hole in her thigh.

    She was wearing low-level powered armor, but armor of that level didn¡¯t offer strong defense. Unless it was advanced powered armor with built-in shields, it was difficult to block my attacks.

    ¡°Kate!¡±

    ¡°You damn wench!¡±

    Leaving her unable to move due to the nerve poison, I ignored her and rushed towards the security guards.

    In the middle of the barrage ofsers fired from 8 barrels, my body was unharmed. My body was enhanced with physical enhancements and various abilities. Naturally, I suffered no injuries.

    I swung mybat-armored arm at the closest human.

    Snap!

    ¡®That¡¯s two.¡¯

    After crushing the opponent¡¯s jaw to incapacitate them, Iunched bone spines at another cyborg nearby.

    The sharp projectiles pierced through the cyborg¡¯s head like darts, and even the head of another human standing behind it.

    ¡®That¡¯s four.¡¯

    ¡°That wench is using camouge!¡±

    ¡°Lower your head!¡±

    ¡°Hee, heeek!¡±

    Before the two corpses hit the ground, I leaped into the air. My target was the tallest cyborg among the enemies. As I soared towards him, his face turned ashen in an instant.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    I pounced on him and knocked him down. Using my fourbat arms, I relentlessly wed at him. His thin powered armor was shredded to pieces by my razor-sharp ws.

    ¡°Aaaaah! Help!¡±

    ¡°Darn it!¡±

    In their eyes, it would seem like I was tearing them apart with just my two arms, thanks to something invisible to them. Broker S, who witnessed the spectacle of mechanicalponents and internals shattering into the air inside the cyborg¡¯s body, let out a desperate cry.

    ¡°Damn it! We can¡¯t handle this!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll hold them off. Get the VIP to safety!¡±

    The human with scars on his face gave orders to the other security guards. Excluding him, three security guards grabbed S and began their escape.

    ¡°Aaaaah!¡±

    He backed away and started firing hisser rifle at me. The red beams of light rained upon my body, but what he had hoped for did not happen.

    Currently, my body is akin to a living tank. Unless armed with sma weapons or at least gauss weaponry, causing me harm is impossible.

    Realizing that hisser attacks were futile, he soon ceased firing.

    ¡°Damn it¡­!¡±

    He dropped his rifle and retrieved a small rod from his pocket. It was the same model as the sonic de used by the pirates who infiltrated the research vesselst time.

    ¡®The piratesst time, and now this guy¡­ Could they be part of the same organization?¡¯

    Space docks often attract retired soldiers and mercenaries. Their behavior and weaponry are simr, and considering the resemnce, they might have been in the same organization before retiring and going their separate ways.

    ¡®Both of them are going to die the same way, but¡­¡¯

    ¡°Even if I die, you won¡¯t get through here.¡±

    Impressive professional spirit, but I wasn¡¯t going to cut them any ck. I swung my tail heavily against the ground.

    The scarred man saw through my attack and leaped backward, but my attack didn¡¯t end there.

    Bone spines soared toward his abdomen. His pupils dted as he hastily raised the sonic de to block them.

    His reflexes were decent, but his condition wasn¡¯t great. Along with the jarring metallic noise, the sonic de vibrated in both hands as it blocked the bone spines.

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    I made a short charge and thrust my head into his side. The thick horn on my head pierced through his flimsy armor and wreaked havoc on the man¡¯s organs.

    ¡°Mon¡­ monster¡­¡±

    I shook my head vigorously to dislodge him from my horn and tossed him away. With half of his side ripped open, he convulsed on the ground before his breath ceased.

    ¡°Ugh¡­ ugh¡­¡±

    Alone and paralyzed, Kate trembled as she looked at me.

    ¡®A Wolf, huh? Convenient timing.¡¯

    Wolves were a yable race capable of shape-shifting, which meant they counted as an evolutionary condition.

    I approached her.

    ¡®I don¡¯t need to transform into Lloyd now.¡¯

    The resignation had concluded, and the n to meet the broker in the future had fallen apart.

    Whether by killing the broker or eating an Outspacer to gain their traits, Lloyd¡¯s necessity had ceased to exist.

    With no need to transform into Lloyd, there shouldn¡¯t be any issue with consuming the Wolf¡¯s genes.

    I deactivated the mimicry organ. A membrane covered the small hole on my skin, and the pheromones that had permeated the surroundings gradually dissipated.

    ¡°Ugh, uuuuh!¡±

    Kate¡¯s eyes widened significantly upon seeing me return to my monstrous form. She struggled to escape in any way she could, but her resistance was futile. The neurotoxin had ensnared her body like a.

    I firmly grasped her body with my four arms and opened my mouth wide.

    ¡°Uuuh, uuugh!¡±

    ¡®Well then, bon app¨¦tit.¡¯

    My snake-like, gaping mouth devoured her head whole. Her muscles shivered for a moment, as if taking the ce of a death rattle, and then rxed.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    The Wolf¡¯s head was surprisingly ptable, except for the thick fur. It was almost as tasty as a juicy hamburger. Certainly not as exhrating as when I ate a cat for the first time; it didn¡¯t bring that level of joy.

    ¡®I¡¯ll savor the restter.¡¯

    Unfortunately, S and the security personnel had escaped. It would be best to deal with them before indulging.

    I gathered the scattered corpses and ced them in a location beyond the reach of the cameras.

    ¡®All right.¡¯

    The auxiliary systems informed me that they hadn¡¯t gone far.

    The hunt was far from over.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38

    Sander always considered himself a cautious person. It might be amusing that someone engaged in the criminal enterprise of smuggling thought this way, but at least he believed it. After witnessing others start haphazardly and getting caught, bing ¡¯employees¡¯ of the entertainment district, he meticulously prepared for smuggling.

    He had established connections with the Smuggling Animal Surveince Team, and even had influence with the Port Security Team and, unbelievably, the Security Team of the Administrative Zone within the city. Among the criminals in this space city, there weren¡¯t many who moved as cautiously as him.

    Of course, Sander was a practical person and didn¡¯t believe he couldmit the perfect crime. He intended to make enough profit to emigrate to another before the surveincework closed in on him.

    However, he had no idea that an unknown entity would trample on his dreams with his goal almost in sight.

    ¡®Dammit!¡¯

    As Sander fled under the protection of a security guard, he cursed inwardly. He had turned off the cameras and asked the Port Security Team to change their patrol route. Consequently, there was no one around here, not even androids.

    Of course, there were still functioning cameras, but he was afraid to run towards them. Just the fact that they had secretly infiltrated a ce filled with logistics storage containers with several people in the dead of night was already enough to raise suspicions that they were involved in smuggling.

    Sander was well aware that smuggling was a serious crime in MegaCorp. It was a real taboo. He could vividly picture the suffering ¡°employees¡± in the entertainment district who were subjected to such crimes.

    ¡°I think we need to go to the police station.¡±

    ¡°What? Going to the police means it¡¯s over for me!¡±

    ¡°But we can¡¯t handle our opponent. It¡¯s better to request protection for now.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­ damn it!¡±

    The security guard was right. Buying time was better than an immediate death. It seemed like it was time to see just how effective the credits Sander had been funneling to the Earth Security Team would be.

    One security guard stayed behind to watch their rear while the other two stuck close to Sander, moving cautiously.

    The police station was not far from the freight yard. They moved stealthily between the massive walls made of containers.

    ¡°Aaaargh!¡±

    ¡°!¡±

    A scream came from behind. Sander turned to look, trembling, but there was no one there. Only theser rifle the security guard had dropped remained.

    ¡°We¡¯ll run.¡±

    With tense expressions, the security guards grabbed Sander. They practically carried his half-bent body as they hurried.

    In the distance, they saw a partly open metal gate within the chain-link fence surrounding the freight yard.

    ¡®Just have to cross that,¡¯ Sander thought with hope. But as they were about to do so, one of the security guards stopped.

    ¡°Wait!¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I heard something.¡±

    At his words, Sander listened carefully, and he indeed heard some strange noise.

    Whenever the crane moved a container, there was a sound that could be likened to a hammer striking at regr intervals, but much quieter.

    ¡°Once you get out there, it¡¯s the police station. Run!¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I said run right now!¡±

    At the security guard¡¯smand, Sander sprinted. Behind him, both security guards heldser rifles and kept an eye on their surroundings.

    Within a few minutes, the security guards¡¯ earpieces crackled with sound. The noise heightened Sander¡¯s fear several times over.

    He ran like a madman, losing his shoes in the process, but he didn¡¯t notice. The metal gate was right in front of him now. As he reached for the partially open door, he felt a slight stinging sensation in his calf.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Suddenly, his legs gave out, and he mmed his face into the chain-link fence. It should have hurt terribly; blood flowed so much that it should have been painful, but he couldn¡¯t feel any pain at all.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯

    Only then did he realize that his body waspletely paralyzed. Lying on the ground like a log, ¡®it¡¯ finally revealed itself.

    Grrrrrr!

    It drew closer to his face, drooling. Seeing the monster¡¯s dripping mouth, Sander involuntarily wet himself.

    It briefly growled and then lifted Sander¡¯s body.

    ¡°What the¡­ Where are you taking me?¡±

    The ce ¡®it¡¯ took Sander to was where they had first met, under the container crane. ¡®It¡¯ threw Sander to the ground.

    ¡®What¡­ what¡¯s going on?¡¯

    Leaving Sander there, ¡®it¡¯ approached a refrigerated container. It was the container where the Outsider was kept frozen.

    The guy standing in front of the container brought his head close to the terminal.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Sander asked, unsure. After a moment, the person operated the small device on their chest, easily opening the container door. With a thud, they entered the container.

    An hour had passed since the person entered the container, and they still hadn¡¯te out. Sander was bing increasingly desperate.

    ¡°Please, can someone help me!¡± he shouted. He knew he needed to escape while the person inside was preupied, but his body refused to move.

    Hey there, emitting an unpleasant odor, unable to do anything but wait.

    ***

    ¡®It smells.¡¯

    I brushed the shoulder stained with Broker S¡¯s discharged bodily fluids. I intended to intimidate, but I didn¡¯t expect him to be so frightened. I even deliberately stabbed gently to avoid shocking him too much.

    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t kill him just yet,¡¯ Broker S is an important figure. Even if I were to devour him, it must be at the right time.

    ¡®Before dealing with the Broker, I should handle this first.¡¯

    I was now inside the frozen container where the Outspacer is stored.

    The container was packed with twenty cryogenic tubes.

    Broker S was outside, and there were corpses scattered around. I needed to quickly consume the Outspacer and clean this ce up.

    I operated the terminal on the front cryogenic tube. As the cool air rushed out, the ss door opened.

    Inside was a creature that looked like a cross between a crab and a camel spider.

    About 80cm in size, with a body resembling a camel spider, and all eight legs were as long as the body, with two of the legs ending inrge pincers. Its face had a long and pointed upper jaw, making it look like it was holding a sickle in its mouth.

    ¡®I thought it was a mutant, but it¡¯s not.¡¯

    The creature in the cryogenic tube was a type of insect. It wasn¡¯t listed, so I naturally thought it was a mutant.

    ¡®It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s just the same if it¡¯s not a queen.¡¯

    There shouldn¡¯t be any issues. I can acquire the desired traits from any type of Outspacer.

    I tore the creature¡¯s head off and devoured it.

    ¡®It would be great if it wasn¡¯t so cold.¡¯

    The creature tasted like crab meat. To be precise, it felt like eating crab meat straight from the refrigerator without thawing it.

    ¡®Oh, should I call it crab stick vor?¡¯

    Anyway, it had a taste that grew on me. Since the insects were less than 1 meter in size, it didn¡¯t take too long to finish eating them.

    ¡®The first one is a miss.¡¯

    With 19 left, I diligently consumed the remaining Outspacers.

    ¡®¡­.¡¯

    When only 3 remained, I couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious.

    ¡®It¡¯s not showing up often enough.¡¯

    I knew that the probability of the predation effect wasn¡¯t high to begin with, but if it hadn¡¯t shown up by now, I might have to give up and consider other options.

    ¡®Should I just spare Broker S?¡¯

    He came here for smuggling. Smuggling was a serious crime in Megacorp, so even if I killed all of his bodyguards, he couldn¡¯t go anywhere toin. Moreover, it would raise suspicion if he did.

    ¡®¡­But leaving a loose end would be a burden.¡¯

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    On the research vessel, everything operated under the logic of convenience because it was essentially a ship. Predicting human rtionships was rtively easy. But the city was different. I didn¡¯t know if the author had close rtionships with anyone or possessed means to threaten me.

    ¡®I need to be prepared.¡¯

    In a way, I¡¯m not sure how I¡¯ve managed to survive smoothly up to this point. If it were a game, I should have died countless times in the situations I¡¯ve faced.

    ¡®Obtaining the gic essence from 20 creatures isn¡¯t an easy task either.¡¯

    Even though I ate more than 100 of the same creatures in the game, there were times when I couldn¡¯t obtain any gic essence. Particrly when facing creatures like Gagon or Vortex One, and the predatory effect didn¡¯t trigger, it was so challenging that I felt like giving up on the game.

    ¡®I¡¯ve experienced situations like this in the game before.¡¯

    I assumed that nothing woulde from the Outspacer, so I picked up one of the remaining three.

    I had consumed the animal, but once again, the predation effect didn¡¯t trigger.

    ¡®¡­.¡¯

    Now, there were only two left. I was on the verge of giving up.

    ¡®Should I just give thest one to Number 26?¡¯

    If I ate 18 out of 20 and nothing happened, I had to consider it impossible. I bit into one of the two remaining creatures¡¯ legs with a sense of resignation.

    The crunchy texture and the juicy flesh inside pleased my pte, but my heart felt heavy.

    When I had finished eating all the insects, a miracle happened.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Parasite¡¯ gic essence from ¡®Outspacer Insect.¡¯]

    [Extracted the ¡®Parasite¡¯ from the biological traits of ¡®Outspacer Insect.¡¯]

    [Would you like to apply the ¡®Parasite¡¯?]

    ¡®It¡¯s done!¡¯

    Atst, when I got what I wanted, I couldn¡¯t help but cheer out loud.

    Parasite.

    Outspacers naturally carry various biological parasites in their bodies as a racial characteristic. Parasites are one of these pathogens and can infiltrate the host¡¯s body to control their movements.

    ¡®Of course, the Outspacer¡¯s parasite only limits the target¡¯s actions to some extent.¡¯

    In terms of lore, it was impressive, but in the game, the Outspacer¡¯s parasite was implemented as a debuff mechanic.

    Those affected by the parasite effect experienced limitations on their abilities or equipment usage.

    Actually, even just this feature is powerful enough, but getting the Parasite changes the game.

    ¡®Whenbined with the Contamination Organ, you can create an enhanced Parasite.¡¯

    As per the settings, it¡¯s possible to produce a Parasite that can control other creatures. The Contamination Organ disappears, and the physical traits changepletely, but I currently have a total of 11 physical-rted traits. Since the type acquisition condition is having 10 or more traits, losing the Contamination Organ won¡¯t affect my type.

    Furthermore, the trait obtained bybining the Parasite and the Contamination Organ serves as the key to unlocking a new type.

    The new types that open up are Infection Enhancement Types, rted to physical abilities, Psychic Enhancement Types, and the newly unlocked type through thebined trait is the Infection Enhancement Type.

    The Infection Enhancement Type affects debuff-rted traits like crowd control devices. Its intuitive effects may be lowerpared to other types, but it¡¯s very useful for someone like me who prefers a stealth-focused strategy.

    Moreover, to evolve into a Quasi-Saint, I need to gather 4 types, so gathering one more is crucial.

    Therefore, my choice is clear.

    I immediately felt my body undergoing a mutation.

    The lower right arm, which used to house the Contamination Organ, grew thicker and bulged as if something like eggs was inside. Inside the arm, newly formed parasites wriggled and waited for their owner¡¯smand.

    [¡®Parasite¡¯ trait has been applied.]

    [Can be fused with the ¡®Contamination Organ¡¯ previously possessed.]

    [Fusion of ¡®Parasite¡¯ and ¡®Contamination Organ¡¯ traits. Evolves into ¡®Parasitic Colony¡¯ trait! ]

    [Parasitic Colony: Allows the creation of enhanced parasites at the expense of losing the effect of the Contamination Organ. Up to 5 enhanced parasites can be operated.

    *P.S.: I don¡¯t understand your love of this disgusting trait.]

    [There are currently two types that can be characterized.]

    [Psychic Enhancement Type (5/6), Infection Enhancement Type (1/4).]

    ¡®All right.¡¯

    Now that I¡¯ve obtained the desired trait, it¡¯s time to test its effects.

    After devouring thest remaining Outsider, I exited the container. S, who had been diligently poking at the ground, looked up at me with a terrified expression. His face, now pale and almost yellow, clearly showed the fear of someone who had just experienced horror. However, he hasn¡¯t truly experienced fear yet.

    The real terror begins now.

    As I activated the Parasitic Colony, my lower right arm started to squirm and bulge as if it were trying to expel something. From the hole in the palm of my hand, ck, centipede-like creatures emerged.

    ¡°W-What are you trying to do? Please, stop!¡±

    S, who mixed screams with sobs, began to cry as I approached. His formerly chubby face had be disfigured, possibly due to the mental shock he had experienced over the past few hours.

    My hand got close to his swollen, half-faced visage.

    ***

    ¡°¡­Then, I¡¯ll go.¡±

    Broker S, or rather, Sander, lowered his head and left. The Parasite transnt was sessful. Now, Sander is mine.

    ¡®Still, it¡¯s limited to 24 hours.¡¯

    Once 24 hours pass, the Parasite will automatically die, and so will Sander. This is because the Parasite has taken control of his brain.

    Before the Parasite dies, I have to rece it to keep Sander alive. Sander knows this fact. Without me, he will also die.

    ¡®He¡¯s a smart person, so he won¡¯t easily resist me.¡¯

    He might try to go to a hospital for an extraction, but his thoughts are known to the Parasite. If he ever entertains malicious intentions, the Parasite will secrete a substance into his brain causing excruciating pain.

    ¡®It¡¯s going to be incredibly painful.¡¯

    Sander has already experienced how excruciating that pain can be. He¡¯s unlikely to resist me too much.

    Moreover, I showed Sander how I dispose of corpses right in front of him. Being a smart person, he probably knows my intentions.

    ¡®Well, let¡¯s head back now.¡¯

    I took the lead with the bodyguards and returned home.

    Upon arriving home, Number 26, who had woken up from its sleep, was waiting for me.

    ?Where did you go??

    [ZZZ ZZZZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ(I thought you might be hungry)]

    ?Wow!?

    It¡¯s a learning Amoeba. As soon as I held out the food, he calmed down. As we shared a meal, I took out the neighbor¡¯s man¡¯s ankle from the refrigerator.

    As we enjoyed ourte-night snack, the night faded away.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39

    Global Security Team.

    T&C, the top security organization within the T&C Special Trade Center, oversees not only the police stations in each district but also the crisis management teams stationed in administrative districts.

    While it¡¯s not typically a bustling ce, it felt very busy, perhaps because the assembly is just around the corner.

    ¡°What happened to the StarUnion terrorists? When will the interrogation reports be released?¡±

    ¡°Who handled Eden¡¯s fleet deployment request? Is this how you submit reports?¡±

    ¡°All Entertainment District Security teams, assemble in conference room 5!¡±

    Documents scattered everywhere, and security personnel in uniforms hurriedly moved around.

    In the midst of the chaotic atmosphere, the only quiet ce was conference room 4.

    The detective team under the Port District Security Team had been nning to apprehend the criminals they had been tracking for a while, leading up to the assembly. This was because Chief Administrator La Chambein had made it clear to the Global Security Team that all potential threats must be eliminated.

    ¡°What happened to Broker S?¡±

    ¡°After the assembly announcement, smuggling was halted, but suddenly, this month, the numbers have surged. We¡¯ve confirmed six smuggling operations in the past week. In fact, it can be considered almost daily smuggling.¡±

    ¡°At this point, sudden increased activity? That¡¯s strange.¡±

    Detective team leader William raised an eyebrow at his team¡¯s briefing.

    Broker S had been their target for the past six months. The evidence had already been secured, but they had failed to apprehend him due to the interference from individuals who owed him a considerable amount of credits. After the failure, they had been monitoring him closely, and now, with the assembly approaching, they had a chance to arrest him officially. Even corrupt officials, as Noble Capital and rulers of the space city, couldn¡¯t defy the direct orders from above.

    ¡°Has there been any change in the smuggling methods?¡±

    ¡°That part is also peculiar. He mainly handled inteary smuggling, but the recent six incidents all targeted individuals within the city.¡±

    ¡°Could it be due to stricter surveince at this time?¡±

    ¡°No, city transactions aren¡¯t very profitable. Broker S is a cautious individual. Would someone who maximizes profits from minimal transactions do something like this?¡±

    They had a chance to make an arrest, but the fact that their target wasing out so sloppily made William uneasy.

    ¡°Will we be able to identify the trading partner? Who is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s someone we haven¡¯t dealt with before, a neer named New Face.¡±

    ¡°New Face?¡±

    ¡°We discovered him three days ago. He¡¯s a man who walks around in his pajamas, quite a ghostly character. Surprisingly, he never gets caught on camera.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not sure if he¡¯s from the Space Dogs, but he seems like someone with professional training. We¡¯ve tried to tail him several times, but he slipped away every time.¡±

    Dealing with Broker S alone was already a headache, but with the appearance of this formidable new criminal, William sighed.

    Considering the deals Broker S had been involved in, it wasn¡¯t entirely unusual for the Space Dogs to take an interest in him. With S¡¯s skills, he could practically turn money into a miracle.

    However, William wasn¡¯t so sure.

    ¡°Why now, of all times? This doesn¡¯t seem like S.¡±

    There was undoubtedly a reason behind the usually cautious Broker S acting so recklessly. After organizing his thoughts, William gave instructions to his team.

    ¡°The ones who followed the pajama guy,pile a report and request the surveince team for analysis. Get in touch with the Port District to find out when he arrived. Keep an eye on Broker S as well. Just in case, he might try to contact the Space Dogs separately.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡±

    ¡°Meeting adjourned.¡±

    After the meeting ended, the team members left, but William remained seated, deep in thought. With one arm on the table, he picked up hismunication device.

    ¡®Using a friend might raise suspicions, but¡­¡¯

    The friend he was considering had been a former colleague in the same unit and had retired to work as a bodyguard. William knew exactly whom he was protecting.

    ¡®He¡¯s guarding Broker S.¡¯

    William left a message for his friend.

    ***

    ¡¯10:55. He should be arriving soon.¡¯

    I¡¯m waiting with Number 26 for Sander.

    Our location is near the boundary between the Commercial Zone and the Port District. Unlike the Entertainment Zone, there are hardly any people out here after 9 PM since all the stores close.

    ¡®It¡¯s also close to the secret passage.¡¯

    While there are cameras here, it¡¯s much easier to move aroundpared to the heavily monitored loading area.

    ¡®That¡¯s not the only reason I moved here.¡¯

    The reason for the change in location was due to the surveince.

    Three days ago, I met Sander near the cranes at the docks, disguised as the guy from the adjacent house. That day ended without any issues, but I sensed that the surveince was watching us from a distance.

    Sander is under my control, making resistance impossible. The identity of the watchers was the police who had been chasing Sander all along. Getting caught by them would cause problems for me as well, so I changed the location and time.

    We¡¯re to meet near the boundary of themercial and harbor districts at 11 PM.

    Sander expressed his displeasure about me changing the location, but it was futile. The only thing he can do is obey me.

    ¡®There he is.¡¯

    The ck refrigerated truck Sander mentioned was heading towards our meeting spot.

    The truck stopped, and Sander got out, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

    It had been a week since he handed over the confiscated animals.

    His face had changed beyond recognition. He had lost almost two-thirds of his body weight, looking so emaciated that it was hard to believe.

    The cause of Sander¡¯s transformation was the parasite attached to his brain.

    When imnting parasites in other organisms, you can specify the level of constraint, i.e., how much the host will be restricted. Level 1 is the weakest constraint, and Level 5 is the highest.

    The parasite inside Sander is at level 4. This level signifies that the parasite will immediately restrain him if the host shows even a hint of resistance.

    Because of thismand, he will be tormented by the parasite while eating, while going to sleep, and even while working.

    Obey me. Do not resist my will.

    ¡®Even in the game, if you get infected by a parasite, a message pops up.¡¯

    I had learned this by watching videos uploaded by yers who had fallen victim to parasites. When infected, a message appears every time you perform a certain action. It¡¯s not a big deal on its own, but each message causes a certain amount of health loss. Therefore, if yers couldn¡¯t get rid of the parasite using other equipment or abilities, they often ended upmitting suicide. Suicide removes the parasite¡¯s effect as well.

    ¡°Here, in reality, suicide is not possible.¡±

    There¡¯s no way out except enduring the pain.

    I emerged from an alley near the meeting ce, revealing myself to Sander. Although I had seen him several times, he still appeared ufortable and swallowed hard when he looked at me. However, he soon knelt before me, bowing his head.

    ¡°¡­I brought the item you mentioned, so please¡­¡±

    I might be frightening, but the parasite inside his head is probably even scarier. In 24 hours, he¡¯ll lose his mind along with the parasite.

    ¡®There¡¯s still some time left.¡¯

    I ced my hand close to his head and activated the parasitic colony.

    ¡°Sssss¡­.¡±

    Then Sander¡¯s eyes rolled back, and his mouth opened wide. Subsequently, the parasite emerged from his nostrils. The parasite that came out wriggled once and died on the spot.

    ¡®Good job.¡¯

    In ce of the deceased parasite, a new one emerged from my palm. It entered Sander¡¯s body in the same manner as its predecessor.

    ¡°Cough, cough!¡±

    After a while, Sander, who had regained hisposure, coughed forcefully. He seemed to shudder as he looked at the parasite spread out on his knee.

    I stared at the trembling Sander for a moment, and then he cleared his throat and handed me a document.

    ¡°¡­Ahem, it¡¯s a list of organisms.¡±

    To examine the list more closely, I received the document that Sander, with hisbat arm, provided.

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Sander shivered as my unseen arm took the document.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Am I that scary?)]

    ?The big baby is cute.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ (Thanks)]

    ?Yeah.?

    I patted Number 26 on my shoulder, expressing my gratitude, and handed over the document.

    ¡®Today, it¡¯s Plentrezad and Fairy Wing, right?¡¯

    Plentrezad resembles a Stegosaurus in appearance but is ssified as a nt-based organism rather than an actual dinosaur. It also possesses the unique trait of robust vitality, which is my second acquired trait.

    ¡®Five Plentrezads. It¡¯s not a lot.¡¯

    Plentrezads arerge creatures, so it¡¯s not easy to transport many of them by truck. The truck¡¯s capacity is probably limited to about eight of them.

    ¡®Next is a Fairy Wing.¡¯

    Fairy Wings are typically carnivorous birds about the size of a human palm. Theyck eyes and resemble blue crows with hooked beaks. They are also known as ¡®flying piranhas.¡¯

    ¡®Huh? A mutant?¡¯

    A mutant Fairy Wing. It¡¯s a creature I¡¯ve never encountered in the game. It piqued my interest, but unfortunately, there was only one of them. If there were more, I might consider targeting their gic material, but with just one, it¡¯s challenging.

    After reviewing all the documents, I pointed to the truck with my fingertips, and he quickly took out a handheld device.

    ¡°Here, I¡¯ll open it for you.¡±

    When he operated the wireless terminal connected to the truck, the cargopartment opened with a mechanical sound.

    ?It¡¯s chilly in here.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZZZZ Z(Do you want to stay here?)]

    ?No, I¡¯m good. I was just thinking about my hometown.?

    Since Sea Demons inhabit the deep sea, this level of cold might not bother them at all. Sander shivered, possibly from the cold within the cargopartment or from fear, and stepped back.

    ¡°Th-then, I¡¯ll wait here.¡±

    I left him behind and entered the truck¡¯s cargopartment. Inside, made of alloy, five Plentrezadsy anesthetized. I lightly bent the steel bars and ced my foot inside the cargopartment.

    ¡°Oh, I guess I don¡¯t need to open it.¡±

    Sander began to speak to me btedly but stopped when he saw my imposing presence.

    ¡®Should I kill them first before eating them?¡¯

    I proceeded to break the necks of the Plentrezads one by one. During the process, one of them, still not fully anesthetized, attacked me with its sharp, thorn-covered tail, but it couldn¡¯t pierce my exterior. It met its end as mybat arm crushed its head.

    Having cut off their lifelines, I tasted the flesh of theserge nt-like creatures.

    ¡®It tastes like getting healthier.¡¯

    Although in the settings, Eymorph is an omnivore, it seems to lean more towards carnivorous eating habits. The Plentrezads¡¯ meat had a somewhat grassy taste, which wasn¡¯t to my liking.

    ?Is it tasty??

    [ZZ (No)]

    ¡°Big baby needs to grow bigger, so eat it all.¡±

    Number 26 is right. I have to evolve further, so I should eat everything like this. I forced myself to eat everything, but it didn¡¯t trigger the predation effect in these creatures.

    ¡®Well, it¡¯s a pity, but I¡¯ll have to wait for the next one.¡¯

    When I looked at the list left by the cyborg Rasst time, there were a total of 30 Plentrezads. There are 25 left, so I hope to find something among them.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have a mutant Fairy Wing as a snack.¡¯

    Since it¡¯s a bird, I expect it might taste like chicken. With that in mind, I opened the freezer. However, I was taken aback when I checked the freezer¡¯s contents.

    ?Why? What¡¯s wrong??

    Number 26 asked from the side, but I couldn¡¯t respond.

    With blue skin and a body resembling reptiles, small wings on its back, and horns on its head, not a mouth but long clusters of tentacles.

    ¡®It¡¯s a Gagon, isn¡¯t it?¡¯

    What was in the freezer was not a Fairy Wing; It was the hatchling of the Gagon, known as the space dragon, the Blue Gagon.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40

    In the world of Space Survival, there are over a thousand non-yable species, based on what¡¯s known.

    While there are over a few hundreds that yers can explore, it may seem rtively smallpared to other online games, but it can be considered rtivelyrge.

    The in-game species have unique behaviors that correspond to their respective habitats. They are designed to reflect the traits of wild animals living in simr ecosystems, giving them a lifelike feel.

    For intelligent NPC species, yers who enjoy the game can experience a high level of realism based on specific cultural motifs.

    However, Space Survival is still a game, so not everything is entirely realistic, and exceptions exist.

    For instance, the Gagon.

    Inspired by the dragons of mythology, Gagon exhibits quite different behaviors in many aspectspared to regr creatures.

    Actions like collecting various treasures and artifacts in their nests or using powerful psychic powers to destroy cities near their nests are far from the instincts of ordinary animals.

    One of these Gagon¡¯s unique characteristics is their intense affection for their offspring and their kind.

    Gagon prefers to live in groups, much like lions.

    A Gagon group typically includes one male and seven to eight females, with the weakest presence, the Blue Gagon, receiving protection from the entire group.

    In the game, this setting is implemented as the Blue Gagon¡¯s unique ability: summoning its kin.

    In the lore, Gagons are connected through their unique psychic powers, allowing them to call each other even if they are far apart. In the game, this connection is represented as a summoning technique, allowing the Blue Gagon to summon its group members at will.

    As a result, the Blue Gagon itself is quite weak, but due to its association with other Gagons, it bes a challenging prey.

    High-level yers might find it easy to capture a Blue Gagon that is hard to find, but the kin summoned by the Blue Gagon are not considered real creatures but rather summons, so yers cannot obtain items or attributes from them.

    ¡®To be honest, it¡¯s because of that, I tend to catch more of the Green Gagons or White Gagons than the Blue Gagons.¡¯

    In Amorph¡¯s terms, the summoning trait disappears from the Green Gagon and above, corresponding to the metamorph category. Of course, that doesn¡¯t make them easy opponents by any means, butpared to fighting other Gagon groups, it¡¯s much better.

    Anyway, ording to the in-game settings, I am currently in a very serious danger. The creature in front of me definitely looks like a Blue Gagon.

    ¡®But it¡¯s quite small, isn¡¯t it?¡¯

    Even though Blue Gagons are not small, they are more than 2 meters, but this one is barely over 50 cm, a size that could be mistaken for a Fairy Wing if you don¡¯t know the Gagon species.

    ¡®I wonder how it got caught?¡¯

    If I were ordered to capture a Blue Gagon and bring it back alive, it would be an impossible task for me.

    ¡®¡­There¡¯s something I don¡¯t know.¡¯

    A Blue Gagon is not a creature you can easily smuggle, even for amon criminal.

    Unless it¡¯s a higher cartel of Space Thieves or a power beyond MegaCorp¡¯s Prime Capital that helps.

    ¡®Someone is trying to destroy the Special Trade Hub.¡¯

    For a Gagon group, it¡¯s not difficult to destroy this ce, the T&C Special Trade Hub.

    If it were a fortress-like space station with multiple fleets stationed, it could be defended, but this ce doesn¡¯t have particrly strong military power. There is a defense fleet, but it¡¯s not capable of stopping the enraged Gagons.

    I called Sanders to understand what¡¯s going on.

    ¡°¡­Yes, did you call, sir?¡±

    ¡°Do you know what this creature is?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a Fairy Wing?¡±

    When I asked in the neighbor¡¯s voice, Sanders seemed clueless about what¡¯s wrong.

    ¡®Gagons are rare creatures, so he might not know.¡¯

    In the game, yers who directly encounter each other are a small minority, and lower-tier users oftene across screenshots and videos posted in themunity.

    Most people here probably have no idea about the existence of Gagons.

    ¡°Who¡¯s the one who smuggled this creature?¡±

    ¡°Oh, as far as I remember, it was Jade? A person named Jade Russell.¡±

    ¡°Russell?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he was imprisoned in the juvenile detention center and escaped not long ago.¡±

    Russell.

    Thest name sounded familiar, but I couldn¡¯t quite ce it.

    ¡®Oh, Arnold Russell.¡¯

    He was the steward of Si-hyun Yujin and served as the Crisis Management officer on Samuel¡¯s research ship.

    Si-hyun Yujin, who fought me, possessed the w trait of White Gagon due to a gene transnt.

    Since she couldn¡¯t have raised Gagons herself, her faction must know the locations of Gagon habitats and nests.

    If that¡¯s the case, it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult for her subordinates to sneak Gagons in.

    That means a noble capital, the Yujin family, nned to attack the city of the T&C family, which belongs to the same social ss.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen a simr scene somewhere before.¡±

    I¡¯ve encountered simr situations in the game many times. It¡¯s the event that MegaCorp yers look forward to the most.

    ¡®Civil War.¡¯

    By the game¡¯s design, MegaCorp is governed by seven dominant families. The five families under Noble Capital and the two families under Prime Capitalpete to be the sole rulers, sometimes leading to violent conflicts.

    ¡°Is there a festival in this city?¡±

    ¡°Yes? Are you talking about the Council¡­?¡±

    ¡°The Council?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s scheduled for the Prime Capital directors to gather to decide the next MegaCorp CEO. There are 23 days left until the Council is held, starting from today.¡±

    As I listened to Sander, I started to understand. The highest leader of MegaCorp is determined through an election. If the five families under Noble Capital nominate candidates, the directors of the two families under Prime Capital vote for the CEO. In the game, MegaCorp yers strive to gain power in their factions to secure the CEO position when their family is nominated.

    ¡®Or perhaps they might want to manipte things to prevent the other candidate from bing CEO.¡¯

    It¡¯s one thing to do that in the game, but in reality, it¡¯s a different story.

    Si-hyun Yujin probably ordered her subordinates to smuggle the Gagons ahead of the council announcement. Afterward, they nned to kill the Gagons in line with the council¡¯s schedule.

    As T&C is currently apetitor to the Yujin family, her actions aren¡¯t entirely iprehensible.

    ¡®Anyway, she¡¯s already dead.¡¯

    There were 23 days left until the council. Jade, who is supposedly missing, is likely hiding somewhere in the city, nning to kill the Blue Gagon on the day of the council.

    His owner is already dead, but the execution of the n is still uncertain.

    ¡®What should I do?¡¯

    Releasing the Gagon now isn¡¯t ideal, but eating it isn¡¯t a good solution either. Gagon¡¯s traits are highly desirable, but the timing is crucial. If it weren¡¯t for the council, I would have eaten it and fled to another immediately.

    While contemting, the frozen Blue Gagon¡¯s tail suddenly twitched.

    ?Hey, Baby, it¡¯s moving.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZZZ Z (I saw it too).]

    I hurriedly tried to close the freezer, but the Gagon opened its eyes.

    ¡®Ah.¡¯

    The violet, shining eyes scanned the surroundings beforeing to a halt on my face. Then, the little creature started trembling.

    ¡®Oh no.¡¯

    I quickly picked up Number 26 and held it in my hands.

    [Fear.]

    Despite its young age, the Gagon¡¯s powerful psychic wave passed through my body. Thanks to my psychic resistance, I wasn¡¯t harmed by the psychic wave. Number 26, under my protection, also didn¡¯t experience any significant shock.

    ¡°Uh, uh, ugh¡­¡±

    Unfortunately, Sander, who had no protector, couldn¡¯t withstand the Gagon¡¯s psychic attack. He trembled as if electrocuted and then fell unconscious.

    [ZZZ Z(Stay calm.)]

    ?ck?, ?darkness?, ?fear?, ?death?.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (Not harmful.)]

    The creature halted its psychic attack at my words. It wasn¡¯t a lie. I couldn¡¯t kill it right now. If I nned to capture and consume it, I¡¯d need to wait for an opportunity to escape this city first.

    ?You?, ?adult?, ?trust?, ?calm?.

    In a way unrted to my inner thoughts, it seemed like the creature had ced its trust in me. The Gagon¡¯s psychic waves had changed from the electric guitar-like sounds they were a while ago to gentle, calm ripples.

    ¡®An adult?¡¯

    In the game, Gagonsmunicate exclusively through psychic waves, so they convey words or concepts tomunicate. Based on the words it used, it seemed to consider me the adult of the group.

    ¡®Is it because of this?¡¯

    I pondered the ¡®monster¡¯s tentacle¡¯ extending from the back of my head. While the location was different, it looked just like the White Gagon¡¯s tentacles in terms of appearance.

    ¡®Come to think of it, is it because of the monster¡¯s tentacle that we canmunicate?¡¯

    In the game, Gagons sometimes speak to yers, but the reverse, where yers speak and Gagons understand, isn¡¯t possible. It seemed like the tentacle granted me the ability tomunicate with it.

    ¡®Anyway, this little one seems to think of me as a White Gagon.¡¯

    For now, I decided to take advantage of its misconception. I questioned the creature, which now appeared more stable.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZZZZ ZZZ Z (Why did youe here?)]

    ?I?, ?Mutant?, ?Hometown?, ?Exile?.

    The creature unexpectedly responded.

    ¡®Exiled because of being a mutant?¡¯

    As far as I know, among the Gagons, there are variations, but they are slightly different from mutations that ur among regr organisms.

    Variations were Gagons that excessively consumed psychic powers and transformed into grotesque monsters, leading to their rejection by their own kind. You could think of them as fallen dragons, like thosemonly seen in myths and other media.

    ¡®But it doesn¡¯t seem like a variation.¡¯

    If it were a Blue Gagon, being a child, there would be no reason to excessively consume psychic powers. Given its much smaller sizepared to its kin, it seemed like it had been exiled due to a mutation, as it imed.

    ¡®It seems like Si-hyun¡¯s subordinate was up to some mischief. If this creature has been exiled from its homnd, their n is effectively null and void.¡¯

    ¡®Wait, does that mean I can eat it without a problem?¡¯

    The ability to call its kin was probably still present, but if it didn¡¯te when called, there was no need for me to capture and consume it.

    The creature sensed the change in my demeanor and quickly transmitted its psychic thoughts.

    ?I?, ?Survival?, ?You?, ?Promise?, ?In return?, ?Treasure?

    [ZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZZZ Z ZZ ZZ (If I spare you, you¡¯ll give me a treasure as a reward?)]

    To Amorph, gic essence and relic equipment are the most important treasure. When I showed disinterest, it spoke again.

    ?I?, ?Memory?, ?Dragon¡¯s Nest?, ?You?, ?Guidance?, ?Possible?.

    In response to that, I lowered the tail that had been poised to strike.

    ¡®It ims to know about a dragon¡¯s nest?¡¯

    I didn¡¯t need a treasure, but a dragon¡¯s nest was a different matter. Ever since I became a Pre-Saint, it was a must to capture Gagons. It was both a condition for evolving into a Quasi-Saint and to obtain rare traits. Dragon¡¯s nests were the optimal locations for Gagon gene farming, as they were the habitats of Gagonmunities.

    ¡®Information about a dragon¡¯s nest is premium knowledge.¡¯

    I pondered over the two potential rewards. Now that the risk of summoning kin had dissipated, there wasn¡¯t much harm in eating the creature. Given my current situation where Icked psychic-rted traits, consuming it wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad idea.

    ¡®Of course, there¡¯s no guarantee that the predation effect will trigger.¡¯

    Conversely, if I didn¡¯t eat it and kept it with me, I could gain information about the dragon¡¯s nest. I wasn¡¯t sure how it knew about the nest, but Gagons were known not to lie.

    ¡®In other words, the creature¡¯s words are true.¡¯

    The creature seemed to leave the choice to me and waited quietly. It showed no signs of resistance or alternative thoughts.

    ¡®Kill it or spare it?¡¯

    My tail swayed back and forth, mirroring my conflicting feelings. After several minutes of contemtion, I made a decision.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41

    X-01.

    In a garden lush with foliage, Si-hyun Yujin was seated. She gazed nkly at a small bird perched on a tree, chirping away. Suddenly, attendants emerged from somewhere, pulling a cart filled with food.

    ¡°Miss, it¡¯s mealtime,¡± said the butler.

    Si-hyun turned her head at his words. The hologram of the garden vanished, reced by a pristineboratory that resembled pure white snow.

    The attendants set up a makeshift dining table and ced dishes of food on it one by one. The butler introduced the food with a courteous demeanor.

    ¡°The main dish is roasted duck with maple sauce.¡±

    In the Star Union, the ownership of personal property and luxuries was prohibited. The Cybeic Council had decreed that all cyborg citizens could only consume prescribed food and nutrients.

    Because of this, even in the capital city, it was difficult to obtain any ingredients that deviated from the ordinary.

    Si-hyun looked down at the food on her te with an indifferent gaze as if obtaining such hard-toe-by food in X-01 was as challenging as catching stars from the sky.

    ¡°Miss?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Miss, this is one of your favorite dishes.¡±

    She knew it too. She recalled how much she longed for this dish when infiltrating the Space Dogs.

    ¡®Yes. It¡¯s a dish Si-hyun Yujin likes.¡¯

    As if reading her mind, the housekeeper¡¯s voice became stern.

    ¡°Miss requested that we replicate all of her habits, clothing, and even her favorite food, and match everything perfectly. Miss mentioned it was necessary due to the side effects of clone technology.¡±

    In an era where humanity could travel at near-light speeds, there were still uncharted territories. One of them was the production of cloned humans.

    Even for the Yujin family, which had advanced gic science to the extreme, the forbidden act of manufacturing cloned humans was no easy feat. Creating a duplicate that was physically identical was achievable, but making one that thought and acted the same way was an entirely different challenge.

    Moreover, transferring the memories of the original to the cloned human to make them behave exactly the same way was considered an endeavor beyond science. Si-hyun Yujin had found a solution that relied on something beyond the realm of science.

    She had learned a method from a cult leader to use psychic powers to transfer memories and souls.

    This peculiar individual, who referred to themselves as the Veil instead of their true name, had taken on the request of Si-hyun¡¯s father, Jung-Woo Yujin, and taught her many things.

    He was knowledgeable not only inbat techniques but also in various types of equipment and even the gic varieties and applications of various organisms. His teachings included methods for protecting and transferring memories and souls using psychic powers.

    Thanks to his guidance, she could even maintain her sanity when forced to be a shadow by external forces. She picked up a garlic clove fried in duck fat with her fork and put it in her mouth. The slightly sweet and crispy taste stimted her taste buds, but she couldn¡¯t feel any enjoyment.

    ¡®This isn¡¯t my pleasure.¡¯

    The technology to transfer the soul was clearly sessful. All the memories she had until her death were perfectly transmitted to the clone¡¯s body.

    ¡®But why am I having these thoughts?¡¯

    Veil hadn¡¯t told her about such side effects. He talked as if it were an easy, straightforward process that anyone could do. Of course, Si-hyun wasn¡¯t naive, so she anticipated that simply transferring the soul with psychic power wouldn¡¯t be the end of it.

    Given the right conditions, this technology could essentially make a person immortal, so she was certain that there must be some unknown side effects.

    So, she utilized the precise engineering technology of the StarUnion to create a machine that would readjust the clone¡¯s brain to match her soul and memories. Thanks to this, she was nearly indistinguishable from the original now. The only significant difference was that the gic modification wasn¡¯t quiteplete.

    Furthermore, she had provided detailed instructions to her subordinates on how to manage the clones and how to handle the transnted clone souls. She had made thorough preparations to be able to respond perfectly to any potential side effects. However, she couldn¡¯t have imagined that she would feel this ufortable in her own body. Even during meals, the thought that she was consuming something Si-hyun Yujin liked didn¡¯t leave her mind.

    ¡®Damn it.¡¯

    After forcing herself to finish the meal, she received a report from her subordinates.

    ¡°The council will convene in a short while, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes. ording to intelligence, Akira Yujin is also nning to visit the T&C Special Trade Center in the tourist district.¡±

    ¡°Tourist district? That old man even enjoys jokes now.¡±

    She muttered coldly and then fell into thought.

    Akira is a gentleman who cherishes his life to the point of paranoia, but he¡¯s not a coward. He¡¯s unlikely to remain hidden on Earth during the Council, a massive event.

    ¡®Akira moves with more than one shadow every time.¡¯

    He may not know, but Si-hyun saw through the weaknesses of the shadows. Even the weaknesses of Code ck, stronger than her. Even in her extremely weakened state, she was confident that she could defeat at least one shadow with a lower code than hers.

    ¡°What about the Gagon transport disguised as a FairyWing?¡±

    ¡°ording to Jade¡¯s report, it¡¯s still in the city.¡±

    ¡°If there are shadows even while Gagon is attacking, that old man will try to escape one way or another.¡±

    ¡°The likelihood of that is high.¡±

    The original n was for her to personally eliminate Akira¡¯s escorts and then escape, leaving the rest to the enraged Gagon. With rivalpanies, Noble Capital and Prime Capital, unlikely to protect Akira, once his guards disappeared, he was as good as dead.

    ¡®The old man doesn¡¯t know if I¡¯m still alive.¡¯

    No matter how formidable the Code ck was, he wouldn¡¯t think that a clone of a deceased person was nning to kill him.

    By exploiting this, even in her weakened state, she had a good chance.

    ¡®By using this to her advantage, even in her drastically weakened state, she had a fair chance.¡¯

    It¡¯s an opportunity to eliminate many nobles of Prime Capital, including La Chemblin. Given her physical condition, it¡¯s a task she can¡¯t postpone or delegate to others.

    ¡°How will you proceed?¡±

    ¡°The n remains the same. Inform Jade that there are no changes.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Miss.¡±

    She dismissed her subordinate and clenched her fist.

    ¡°That bastard¡­!¡±

    All the pain, confusion, and turmoil she was going through were all because of that guy.

    She vowed to turn the monster who killed her into minced meat.

    ***

    Two days had passed since Sander offered me a mutant Gagon but I didn¡¯t kill it.

    ¡®Getting the nest is a better reward.¡¯

    Eating Gagon¡¯s flesh is quite a gamble. If luck is on your side, you might gain powerful traits , but if not, it¡¯s all over.

    On the other hand, making a deal with the creature meant getting nothing immediately, but evolving to the next stage would be much easier.

    ¡®Finding Gagon¡¯s nest is incredibly difficult.¡¯

    Thinking back to the struggles of searching for Gagon¡¯s nest during the game, knowing its location was an advantage.

    Of course, the creature had to stay alive until then.

    ?Big baby, look!?

    Number 26, perched on my shoulder, spoke to me as I was lost in thought.

    Today, I handed over one of the prey Sander received to Number 26. I did this to help Number 26h grow.

    I mainly passed on creatures that had undesirable traits or a low poption, making it difficult to expect a predatory effect.

    Coincidentally, I wondered if Number 26 had met all the growth conditions, as it had grown another tentacle. Thanks to this, it now had three tentacles.

    ?Big baby, I¡¯ve got a new arm.?

    [ZZZZ (Indeed)]

    Number 26 seemed quite pleased with its growth from the food I provided, and it continued to proudly show off its tentacles. Whenever the slender tentacles waved in the air, they emitted violet, semi-transparent energy that lit up the surroundings before vanishing.

    ¡®It has definitely gotten stronger than before.¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t precisely gauge 26ho¡¯s level of growth, but the fact that I could easily observe its increasing strength visually was undoubtedly a good thing.

    ?Me?, ?Food?, ?Thanks?.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ (It wasn¡¯t me who provided it)]

    ?Young adult?, ?Thanks?.

    The Gagon perched on top of my head, and Adhai expressed gratitude to Number 26, the one who had provided the food.

    The Gagon introduced itself as a member of the Odd Pack and asked me the name of my pack. However, I didn¡¯t belong to any particr pack. The Gagon had pledged to serve me, an adult, and since I didn¡¯t belong to a pack, its name automatically became ¡°Adhai¡± without the pack¡¯s name.

    ?We also have to protect the little one.?

    On my shoulder, Number 26 glowed and expressed joy along with ripples. The sight resembled a child puffing up their chest, and I couldn¡¯t help but pat Adhai and Number 26 without realizing it.

    ¡®In the game, there was nothing like this.¡¯

    It was a fascinating and intriguing change. The Outsider race, the Emoph, who survived, hunted, and evolved on their own, now had twopanion creatures.

    What¡¯s more, the creatures I was with were Gagons and Sea Demons, which couldn¡¯t be tamed in the game. When I first arrived in this world, I had three main goals: survival, hunting, and evolution. Achieving ascension was also part of the n. These goals remain unchanged to this day. However, the path to reaching them has deviated significantly from what I initially imagined.

    ¡®Perhaps I¡¯m changing along with this world?¡¯

    So far, the mostmon food I¡¯ve consumed is humans. Their genes could be having an impact on me. Humans are social animals. They don¡¯t survive independently; they form groups.

    Among animals, there are species that mimic the appearance of their predators as a survival strategy. Maybe I¡¯m evolving to adapt to the humans I¡¯ve been interacting with.

    From an independent Amorph surviving on its own to a predator that forms a society to hunt, that¡¯s the idea.

    While pondering such thoughts, I quickly approached the residential area.

    I slipped out of the secret passage and made my way through the surveincework to enter the building. As I tried to climb the apartment building¡¯s exterior wall, a stranger¡¯s presence registered on my auxiliary systems.

    ¡®Hmm?¡¯

    A man was standing in front of the neighboring apartment. His rough appearance and the tattoos on both arms didn¡¯t make him look like an ordinary civilian. He seemed more like someone involved in less legal activities.

    He appeared to be waiting for someone, tapping his foot impatiently against the corridor wall. I couldn¡¯t identify him as a policeman, and I was curious about who he might be.

    I signaled Number 26 and Adhai to stay hidden momentarily and activated my disguise mechanism. I strolled down the corridor in the guise of the man from the neighboring apartment. He nced at me.

    ¡°When the hell are youing?¡±

    He grumbled, apparently unaware that I was not who I appeared to be. I wondered if thendlord knew what his tenant looked like.

    ¡®Should I ask him?¡¯

    Pretending to enter Las¡¯s apartment, I decided to strike up a conversation with him.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, just go in and get some sleep.¡±

    ¡°Do you have business with my neighbor?¡±

    He nced at me with an irritated expression and then sighed.

    ¡°Do you know this guy?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Damn it, do you know this guy¡¯s been fooling around with my girlfriend?¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been in a lot of rtionships, so I¡¯ve put a little tracker on hermunication device. She hasn¡¯t been in touch for a week, and when I checked, it said she was in this house.¡±

    He said this while showing me the screen of hismunication device. It disyed an inte map. The map, simplified to the residential zone, had a red mark pinpointing this very location.

    ¡°Take a look now. It¡¯s clear that someone is inside, but they¡¯re pretending not to be.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    This waspletely unexpected. I never would have guessed that Lloyd had a boyfriend. Given his proclivities for indulgent entertainment with Las, I never thought he¡¯d have a separate lover.

    ¡®No, maybe it¡¯s for the best?¡¯

    I pretended to ponder while secretly scanning the entire apartmentplex with my auxiliary systems. I couldn¡¯t detect any signs of police or android presence nearby.

    The man¡¯s actions were undoubtedly suspicious. Not reporting his girlfriend¡¯s disappearance to the police anding to investigate alone made it clear that he was likely involved in something illegal.

    ¡°Hmm. Perhaps she went out to buy something.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for ages.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, why don¡¯t you wait at our ce for a while? She¡¯ll be back soon.¡±

    He nced at me, inspecting my appearance. When his gaze reached my face, he flinched slightly but soon nodded.

    ¡°¡­It probably doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    My artificially generated physique, crafted by the disguise mechanism, was more petite than the man¡¯s. Although my face might look unusual, I believed it was sufficient to handle any potential issues.

    As I opened the door, the man entered without any further suspicion. I hid on the other side of the corridor, peering out just enough to signal 26ho and Adhai with a flick of my finger.

    ¡°What the hell, clean up this ce.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°And you, what¡¯s with that god-awful smell¡­¡±

    As the man turned his head toward me, his expression hardened abruptly. Before he knew it, Number 26 and Adhai were blocking the doorway.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you ever hear when you were young not to follow strangers?¡±

    ¡°Uh, um¡­¡±

    I closed the door.

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 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42

    The Harbor Zone Security Team, under themand of Detective William, has now arrived in the residential zone. Despite sending messages, his friend has not responded for over a week, prompting him to visit his friend¡¯s home in person.

    ¡®No matter how busy he is, he always kept in touch.¡¯

    Someone who goes silent for over a week signifies there might be a safety concern. William knocked on his friend¡¯s door. With no response after waiting for a while, he pulled out a concealed device from his pocket. This device was a hacking tool that he had secretly acquired with his authority as the team leader from equipment confiscated from criminals by the security team.

    After connecting the device and manipting it, there was a clicking sound from the door. William unlocked the door and entered.

    William¡¯s friend, being a former soldier, had kept everything neat and tidy. However, the corners of the house had a musty smell, probably because the ce hadn¡¯t been ventted for a while.

    Upon closer inspection, it seemed like no one had been walking around for a considerable amount of time. The only sounds breaking the silence in the house were the virtual TV noise from the next-door neighbor and William¡¯s footsteps.

    His attention was drawn to a coffee cup left on the table.

    ¡®Some leftover coffee.¡¯

    The cup had marks from dried, evaporated coffee. It was evidence that it had been sitting there untouched in the dry room for an extended period.

    ¡®Something must have happened.¡¯

    With this conviction, William began his search. He thoroughly inspected every ce where his friend could have hidden weapons and equipment, such as inside closets, under the bed, and so on.

    The result: he confirmed that some weapons and equipment were missing.

    ¡®Armed and gone, either missing or deceased.¡¯

    He had already checked all reports of violence in the Harbor Zone beforeing here. None of them involved firearms higher thanser rifles.

    In other words, his friend had been eliminated discreetly.

    ¡®That man in his pajamas, part of the organization.¡¯

    ording to recent reports, the individual who met Broker S was reced by someone else. It was clear they were trying to avoid police surveince and make efforts to escape the situation.

    William contacted his team through themunication device and then sat down, opening theptop he had brought with him.

    ¡°It¡¯s me. After sending the surveince team, how did things turn out?¡±

    The police had diligently tracked Broker S and the mysterious man, but they failed to capture them on camera. The man was exceptionally elusive, as William¡¯s team member had mentioned during the meeting. As a result, the surveince team could only provide aposite image based on the police officers¡¯ recollection. This meant the surveince team had to painstakinglypare these faces with those recorded by city cameras.

    [The newly appeared individual is still under analysis.]

    ¡°What about the guy in pajamas from the initial encounter?¡±

    [That case is alreadypleted. We¡¯vepared faces from citywide cameras with those appearing in the vicinity of the Special Trade Hub. We¡¯ve identified 20 simr individuals. Their profiles are being sent to you.]

    A message soon arrived on William¡¯sptop, indicating the file¡¯s arrival. While examining the 20 profiles, he furrowed his brows.

    ¡°Commercial Zoneborer? This guy doesn¡¯t have any priors?¡±

    [No criminal record to speak of.]

    ¡°He looks exactly like that guy. What about his workce?¡±

    [We tried contacting them, but he hasn¡¯t shown up for quite some time. Since he¡¯s a casualborer, it seems they don¡¯t pay much attention to his absence.]

    William wanted to press for more information, but he held back. In the T&C Special Trade Hub, the low-capital workers were practically treated as parts rather than humans. With the constant influx of people into the city, employees were not closely monitored.

    He also knew that it wouldn¡¯t change anything. This diseased city wouldn¡¯t change, no matter how much he questioned.

    ¡®It¡¯s a sick and decaying city.¡¯

    Not everyone in MegaCorp approved of the oppressive system. There were those who had had enough of the society infiltrated by inhumane principles, and they sought refuge in StarUnions or Space Dogs.

    William, being a military veteran, wasn¡¯t fond of the fact that more people died in the Entertainment Zone than on the battlefield. However, he firmly believed that his duty was to serve MegaCorp by apprehending criminals who harmed society.

    He shook his head, dispelling these pointless thoughts.

    Over themunication device, he gave instructions to his subordinates waiting for a response.

    ¡°For now, send a team to the man¡¯s workce for further investigation. Re-investigate the other 19 individuals: their workces, residences, and rtionships.¡±

    [Yes sir!]

    ¡°Since I¡¯m in the residential zone, I¡¯ll check it out myself.¡±

    [Yes? Wasn¡¯t today your day off¡­]

    ¡°We don¡¯t get any days off in our line of work. Anyway, good job.¡±

    William ended the call and closed hisptop. Before leaving the house, he quietly bowed his head in the direction of his friend, who was most likely already deceased.

    ¡®Your vengeance, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡¯

    ording to the records, the man in pajamas resided in an apartment near this location. Just like his friend¡¯s ce, the apartments in the residential zone were far from luxurious. They were built with cheap materials to reduce costs, which led to various issues. Among these problems, soundproofing was the worst.

    ¡®It¡¯s so quiet.¡¯

    Even considering it was daytime, this level of silence was a clear sign that something was amiss. It was as if no one lived on the entire third floor.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Tense, William drew hisser pistol. He took a deep breath and then knocked on the door of his destination.

    There was no response. He knocked a few more times, but there was no sound from within.

    ¡®Out for a walk?¡¯

    Normally, he should have waited for a search warrant, but William didn¡¯t. Waiting for a warrant and then having the guy escape would onlyplicate things.

    Determined, he pulled out his hacking device again. With a quick crack, he opened the door. Upon entering, he sensed a familiar smell.

    ¡®The smell of blood!¡¯

    As a veteran and a detective, William had no trouble recognizing the sickening and repulsive smell. Unlike the smell, there was nothing unusual in the house. It was not as tidy as his friend¡¯s ce, but it was reasonably well-organized.

    However, William felt as though this neatly arranged home was a model, artificially constructed by a murderer to hide evidence.

    ¡®Is there nothing here?¡¯

    The smell persisted, but there was no concrete evidence to be found. William considered getting a search warrant and returning, but then he thought about the possibility of the suspect escaping.

    With resolve, he pulled out his hacking equipment again. He opened the door quickly, and as he did, William caught a whiff of the familiar scent.

    ¡®Nobody here!¡¯

    In its ce, dried bloodstains were the only things that stood out.

    William hastily left the house.

    ¡°It¡¯s me! I found the person coborating with Broker S! The location is¡­¡±

    His urgentmunication finally spurred the Harbor District Security Team into action.

    ***

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    ***

    [¡®Pre-saint > Quasi-saint¡¯ evolution conditions partly have been met].

    [Conditions: Transformable species 2/20 (Iplete), Humanoid species 12/20 (Iplete), Psychic Power-Using species 0/20 (Iplete)]

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Predator¡¯s w¡¯ gic essence.]

    [Extracted the ¡®Predator¡¯s w¡¯ from the biological characteristics of ¡®wolf.¡¯]

    [Would you like to apply ¡®Predator¡¯s w¡¯?]

    ¡®Oh?¡¯

    Except for when I met Sander, I had been feasting on the residents living in the apartment.

    I had just finished a meal in thest apartment on the third floor, and for the first time in a while, the predation effect appeared.

    At this point, acquiring a trait felt like a celebration, as if a text box had sent me a cake.

    ¡®Predator¡¯s w.¡¯

    As the name suggests, it strengthens the ws to be helpful in closebat. There aren¡¯t any special additional effects, but traits of this kind usually don¡¯t receive negative evaluations.

    ¡®It¡¯s fortunate, considering theck of physical-rted traits.¡¯

    ¡°Currently, I have a total of 10 physical-rted traits, as the Contamination organ became a material for the Parasitic Colony, but I need 13 to utilize the Transcendence System. So, I just need 2 more from now on.¡¯

    ¡®Apply.¡¯

    Upon epting, mybat arm transformed with a noisy collision of bones.

    ¡®Currently, I have a total of 10 physical-rted traits, as the Contamination organ became a material for the Parasitic Colony, but I need 13 to utilize the Transcendence System. So, I just need 2 more from now on.¡¯

    ¡®I ept.¡¯

    Upon epting, mybat arm transformed with a noisy collision of bones.

    The fingernails, like razor des, attached to the four fingers became thicker and longer, now resembling a giant hand axe. However, their sharpness hadn¡¯t diminished, and they seemed capable of slicing through a person¡¯s body like cutting fruit.

    As Ipleted the mutation, a text box appeared before me as if to report something.

    [Race: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph

    Status: Pre-saint

    Objective: Survive (2nd Evolution Sessful)

    Possessed Traits ¨C Physical-Rted (Applied Type): Wings, Chitinous Exoskeleton, Regeneration (Fusion), Neurotoxin nds (Fusion), Reinforced Exoskeleton, Acidic Blood, Enhanced Reflexes, Mimicry, Serrated Tentacles, Contamination Organ, Spine Projectile Organ, Predator¡¯s w.

    ¨C Psychic-Rted: Predator Sense (fusion), Human Nature, Monster¡¯s Tentacles, and irvoyance, Psychic Resistance.

    ¨C Infection-Rted: Parasitic Colony (Fusion).

    Type: Physical Enhancement Type]

    ¡®Good.¡¯

    Evolution was progressing smoothly. The evolution conditions were slow but steadily filling up.

    ¡®Lloyd, Lloyd¡¯s boyfriend, 9 bodyguards, excluding the leader and Kate, and including the three humans I¡¯ve eaten from the 3rd floor in thest few days, that makes a total of 12.¡¯

    The man from the neighboring apartment and the head of the security guards were killed by me, but they didn¡¯t count towards the evolution conditions because I shared their corpses with Number 26. So, the humanoid race was counted as a total of 12.

    ¡®Wolfs, I¡¯ve eaten two, including today¡¯s.¡¯

    There are many yable intelligent species that can transform besides Volfs, but I¡¯m not sure if you can find them in this cosmic city. Since Volfs are the mostmon, they will probably fulfill the evolution conditions when I eat all of mine.

    ¡®Once I eat all of my Wolfs, I¡¯ll fill more than half, and dealing with humans will be enough toplete the conditions.¡¯

    Once other conditions arepleted, I¡¯ll need to prepare to eat the Cult next. As both the acquisition of psychic powers and the evolution conditions are intertwined, hunting the Cult is currently the most important element for me.

    ¡®Still, it¡¯s fortunate that I have psychic-rted traits, like the monster¡¯s tentacles.¡¯

    ording to the setting, the Cult believes that their kind has been chosen by a higher will to freely wield psychic powers. So, species that can¡¯t use psychic powers are considered as mere monkeys by these arrogant folks.

    Of course, it¡¯s not entirely unjustified given that psychic powers are incredibly potent abilities, especially in a fight against someone other than me.

    ¡®When I fight them, it¡¯s best if they remaincent.¡¯

    Their arrogance is an advantage for me. They underestimate the threat, even when I attack them.

    ¡®Hunting the Cult isn¡¯t an issue, but the location is problematic.¡¯

    The Cult is most densely concentrated in the Administrative Zone, butunching an assault there without proper preparation is not easy. While secret passages are connected, there are many cameras around manholes, making it impossible to move stealthily as if traveling to another zone.

    ¡®I should target other ces before tackling the Administrative Zone, as it¡¯s too burdensome to assault them before they be even stronger.¡¯

    The attack on the administrative district will probably take ce after acquiring the psychic enhancement type. Until then, themercial district is the ce I consider an alternative.

    Cults don¡¯t like the entertainment offered by MegaCorp, but they go to themercial district frequently because they go crazy for artifacts and valuable equipment. Especially with the recent influx of cults due to the council, fulfilling the evolution conditions there shouldn¡¯t be a problem.

    ¡®Even if the surveince is strict, it¡¯s still much better than the entertainment and administrative districts.¡¯

    Of course, the likelihood of getting caught will increase, but there¡¯s no other choice.

    ¡®Once the residential district is cleaned up, I¡¯ll nest in the secret passages before the contamination devices disappear.¡¯

    The spores I nted in the secret passages have grown significantly. Additionally, if I install nests in the area near the port district and the residential district where I frequently visit, I should be able to monitor the movements of the enemies without any problems.

    I¡¯m nning out what to do next, but my auxiliary sensors have picked up a faint footstep sound.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    The third floor waspletely empty, so there shouldn¡¯t be any footsteps.

    As I left Wolf¡¯s apartment, I saw a man disappearing down the corridor on the other side. Instead of immediately chasing after him, I focused my auxiliary sensors on him.

    ¡°The location is Apartment C3 in Block C! This perpetrator is rted to Broker S, and he¡¯s a heinous criminal who also killed armed security guards, so hurry and provide support¡­.¡±

    Thanks to my super-senses, I could faintly hear what he was shouting into hismunication device.

    ¡®Is that a police officer?¡¯

    From what he was saying, it seemed like he was a police officer who had been tracking Sander. I¡¯m not sure how he found out, but he also knew that I had killed the security guards.

    ¡®I got caught earlier than expected.¡¯

    I was nning to fulfill the humanoid species condition here, but it seems like it¡¯ll be difficult now.

    ¡®What do I do?¡¯

    I had two options, Escape or confront them.

    ¡®No, escaping now would be difficult.¡¯

    Since he had already requested backup, leaving the apartment would not be easy.

    Even if I managed to get out, if I were caught in the secret passage during the escape, it would be an even bigger loss. The secret passage is myst line of defense, so I must avoid being caught there at all costs.

    So, there¡¯s only one way forward.

    ¡®Fight them.¡¯

    I need to take down the people who entered this ce and seize the opportunity to escape. They are overwhelmingly superior in numbers, firepower, and all aspects, but being strong doesn¡¯t guarantee victory.

    Seeing the people I cruelly murdered might make them hesitate, and when the enemies are in confusion, that will be my only chance to escape.

    I woke up Number 26 and Adhai who were taking a nap.

    ?Big Baby, what¡¯s going on??

    ?I¡¯m?, ?tired?.

    [ZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ (Enemy ising).]

    They might think they¡¯ve already captured me, but there¡¯s one thing they don¡¯t know: Amorph is a hunter. Chasing and hunting are what Amorph excels at.

    ¡®Ambush.¡¯

    How the apartments that providefort and shelter to the residents transform under Amoph¡¯s influence. What happens when humans enter Amoph¡¯s territory without knowing. They¡¯ll find out soon.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43

    ¡®The enemies still have some time to arrive. Before that, let¡¯s think about how to prepare the meal.¡¯

    Currently, I¡¯m in Apartment C3 in Block C. The structure here is a corridor-style apartment, with a corridor on each floor, and each floor has six apartments, allowing for a total of six households.

    The apartment structure goes up to a total of six floors, excluding the basement, where facilities like generators and sharedundry are located. There are no elevators, and movement is possible only through the stairs at both ends of the corridor.

    ¡®They¡¯ll probably check the structure over there as well.¡¯

    Even if they don¡¯t, it shouldn¡¯t be a big issue since they have an Android that can input apartment data.

    ¡®But Androids have their weaknesses.¡¯

    Androids are very smart butck autonomous thinking since they operate based on predetermined programs. For example, if you tell an Android to guard a building, it will easily eliminate anyone trying to approach or attack from a distance. However, they can¡¯t properly handle unconventional attacks like nting a bomb underground or bombing from the sky.

    In fact, when I melted the cooling system of the pirate ship with acidic blood, the Android didn¡¯t recognize it as an attack.

    Human intervention canpensate for the Android¡¯sck of thinking ability. The enemies are likely to deploy a mix of Androids and enhanced police officers wearingbat suits.

    ¡®In the game, MegaCorp yers were evaluated based on their ability to bnce Hulk Mutants, humans, and Androids.¡¯

    MegaCorp is considered a powerful species in the game due to its flexible ystyle. yers could either modify their own genes to y like the cultists or use the ¡®Hire¡¯ ability tomand arge number of troops like the Outspacers.

    ¡®This ce isn¡¯t a space fortress, so there won¡¯t be Hulk Mutants. It will probably be abination of humans and Androids.¡¯

    The problem is the level of their armament. I recently confirmed that the Androids are armed with gauss rifles. Assuming the police have simr weapons, they are likely to be equipped withbat suits along with gauss rifles.

    ¡®Since this city is wealthy, they¡¯ll probablye wearing intermediate or higher-levelbat suits.¡¯

    If I were on Earth or Mars, I would have to fight elite soldiers equipped with sma weapons and advancedbat suits. However, this ce doesn¡¯t have weapons that advanced.

    ¡®Still, it won¡¯t be easy.¡¯

    Laser weapons can¡¯t harm me, but gauss rifles are a different story. I can defend against the main ammunition of gauss rifles, tungsten rounds, thanks to the Flesh Reinforcement Type.

    However, the real advantage of gauss rifles lies in their ability to switch ammunition to suit various threats. If they use specialized rounds designed to enhance pration, my outer shell won¡¯t stand a chance.

    ¡®I need to finish this quickly before the enemies realize.¡¯

    I calcted where in the apartment to target the enemies using my auxiliary systems when I noticed 26 and Adhai entering my sight.

    ¡®Come to think of it, these guys are also predators.¡¯

    Both Sea Demons and Gagons belong to the category of high-risk NPCs. One is treated as a sub-boss, and the other has a nickname ¨C Dragon.

    Both of them are still young, but it shouldn¡¯t be too challenging for them to hunt the police.

    ¡®Number 26 has recently matured, so using psychic powers shouldn¡¯t be too difficult. Adhai is a Gagon, so as long as it doesn¡¯t get attacked, there shouldn¡¯t be any major issues.¡¯

    If they can urately target vital spots, even with modest psychic abilities, they can easily kill their enemies. I just need to instruct them on where to aim.

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ Z (Come here, guys)]

    I gathered them around.

    ***

    Night had fallen in the space city just like any other time. As the ck curtain adorned with starlight descended over the entire city, the residential zone was an exception as ity outside the curtain¡¯s reach.

    Unlike usual, the residential zone was illuminated as if it were an entertainment district created by humans. There was a profusion of lights on armored trucks, headlights mounted on the reinforced suits worn by the police, and a multitude of colorful lights emanating from various electronic devices that banished the darkness.

    But themotion wasn¡¯t just about the lights. Sounds more fitting for an entertainment district than a residential zone filled the apartmentplex: the police radios, the heavy footsteps of armed androids, and the sirens of police cars.

    ¡°Hey, William! Are you out of your mind?¡±

    The head of the harbor district security team yelled at William. William, who had been silently inspecting his own reinforced suit, looked at him with an indifferent gaze.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°Why in the world did you call the armed police just to catch one run-of-the-mill troublemaker working with a Broker? Don¡¯t you realize this will escte the situation?¡±

    William knew well that the head of the harbor district security team was as greedy as his round belly. He was also aware that a considerable sum of credits had been squandered by Broker S among the bulgingyers of fat.

    ¡°Moreover, you searched the material storage team, which has nothing to do with this! This is a clear abuse of power!¡±

    William, who had left the apartment during the day, immediately ryed the information he had collected about Broker S to higher authorities, not the harbor district security team, but further up to the Earth General Security Team.

    As a result, due to the sudden arrival of the police, the material storage team was inplete chaos. Broker S, or rather, Sander, was urgently arrested, and those connected to him were one by one locked up in custody.

    The material storage team¡¯s Sander disyed unusual symptoms following his arrest, seemingly shocked by the fact he was being apprehended. Currently, he is in a state of unconsciousness.

    Havingpleted the inspection of his reinforced suit, William checked the special ammunition for the gauss rifle and asked, ¡°How did you know about that?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°None of us on the team reported the fact that the material storage team was searched to the harbor district security team. How did you know about it?¡±

    ¡°That, that¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°And there¡¯s a misconception on your part, Team Leader. The one who¡¯s allied with S, or rather Sander, is not just a run-of-the-mill troublemaker.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°That person killed the military-trained bodyguards escorting Sander.¡±

    ¡°What did you say? I didn¡¯t hear anything like that!¡±

    ¡°Naturally, you didn¡¯t hear it. I reported it directly to the Earth General Security Team earlier. They took the matter seriously, so they responded to my request for support.¡±

    ¡°What?! Do you realize what you¡¯ve done? This is a disaster!¡±

    ¡°A disaster?¡±

    At that, William grabbed the former superior by the cor. He bared his teeth like a wolf and growled, ¡°Did you think no one on the top knew that you had conspired with the Broker? You¡¯re done now.¡±

    ¡°Eeek!¡±

    William didn¡¯t want to continue the conversation with his former superior, who had turned pale. Leaving him to his fate, William approached the armed police officers who were in the middle of their briefing.

    The team entering the apartment consisted of 12 armed police officers and 6bat androids. Each police officer had a number from 101 to 112 written on their chest, and the androids had the letter M followed by a number engraved on their heads.

    Among the androids, M01, with the number 01, weed William.

    ¡°I¡¯m William, head of the Harbor District Security Team. Nice to meet you.¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Head of the Harbor District Security Team William. I am Android M01, affiliated with the Earth General Security Team. I may be an android, but I am currently leading the operation, so you must follow my orders.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    After a brief introduction, M01 exined the operation to the armed police officers.

    The objective was to apprehend the organization members who were involved in dealings with Sander and to collect evidence. Everyone, including the police and androids, knew what the organization members looked like. Pictures and profiles of these individuals were shared before Sander had any dealings with them.

    Furthermore, information about the surviving residents in Apartment 3 had already been shared. As William was preparing to enter with the other police officers, M01 called him.

    ¡°It seems you aren¡¯t aware, Head of the Harbor District Security Team.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°The higher-ups have provided the new reinforced suits to the armed police officers. They¡¯ve been upgraded in all aspects, with enhanced internal healing and enhancement effects.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good news.¡±

    ¡°In addition, these suitse with a small psychic shield device. Please press the violet button on your forearm.¡±

    When William pressed the button on the terminal, a translucent oval shield popped out from his left arm.

    ¡°It¡¯s a psychic enhancement device created in coboration with the Garmelda family. They sent it a few days ago to congratte this council.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate it.¡±

    With that, the conversation ended. Now, all that was left was to proceed.

    ¡®I hope this goes well.¡¯

    The adversaries couldn¡¯t possibly anticipate that the police were equipped with new gear.

    Furthermore, the armed police officers from the Earth General Security Team were battle-hardened soldiers. To top it off,bat androids were providing support. It was a game they couldn¡¯t lose, even if they wanted to.

    ¡°We¡¯ll proceed. Activate the masks.¡±

    With thatmand, all the police officers put on the masks attached to their reinforced suits.

    ¡°We¡¯ll start the search from the first-floor corridor. Just in case, we¡¯ll leave three personnel on each floor.¡±

    As they were about to start searching the second floor, a noise came through themunication device.

    [Chi, chijik, here¡­ over here¡­ ugh! Chijik!]

    ¡°M06?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°One android lost contact.¡±

    ¡°Which location?¡±

    ¡°Apartment 105 on the first floor. M04, who is on standby on the first floor, please check immediately.¡±

    [111, I¡¯ll check.]

    M01 gave calm instructions without panic. Shortly after, a transmission came from M04.

    [M04 reporting. M06¡¯s power unit is destroyed.]

    ¡°Do we have information on the attack method?¡±

    [M04. It was destroyed by strong physical force. Detailed analysis is required.]

    William felt something was off with this information. Clearly, the first floor had been thoroughly searched, including him, 13 people, and six robots. There shouldn¡¯t have been any hidden spaces for the enemies to sneak into unnoticed.

    ¡°Please report any unusual findings. We¡¯ll continue the search.¡±

    [111, understood.]

    [M04, confirmed.]

    As they were about to resume the search, the officer designated as 101 suddenly stopped in his tracks.

    ¡°101?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±.

    He stood frozen in ce as if his body had been forcibly immobilized. Then, his head began to turn slowly.

    Observing this familiar sight, William shouted, ¡°Crazy! Psychic pow¡­¡±

    Before he could finish, the officer¡¯s neck made a snapping sound as it turned 360 degrees. The police officer, with apletely broken neck, copsed to the floor like a broken doll.

    ¡°It¡¯s an attack!¡±

    ¡°All armed police, activate the psychic shields. Androids, be on guard¡­¡±

    ¡°Aaaaargh!¡±

    At that moment, a scream came from behind.

    William quickly turned his head and saw the foot of the police officer designated as 112 hanging in the air. Some unknown force wasing down the exterior wall of the apartment, dragging the police officer with it.

    ¡°Open fire!¡±

    Seeing this, the police officers and androids began to open fire fiercely. However, the assant didn¡¯t pay them any mind and continued to drag the police officer away.

    William and the armed police officers pressed against the corridor wall and looked up, but all they saw was the pitch-ck void.

    ¡°The abducted person is Officer 112!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll check. 112, please respond.¡±

    [Chijik, aaargh, chijijik, ah, chijijijijijik.]

    Amidst the noise, a pained scream mixed in with the sounds, and William clenched his teeth in frustration. M01 mechanically repeated the same words without disying any emotion.

    ¡°112, if you are alive please respond.¡±

    [Chijijijijik.]

    ¡°One final check.112, if you are alive, please respond.¡±

    [Chijik, I¡¯m on the 4th floor. That guy took me.]

    ¡°4th floor, confirmed.¡±

    With 112¡¯s response finallying through with great difficulty, a collective sigh of relief passed through the police officers. Everyone empathized with the fact that 112¡¯s life hung by a thread, but being alive was better than the alternative.

    ¡°We¡¯ll split into two teams. 102 to 105, along with the chief and me, M02, will search the 2nd floor. The rest will continue searching the 4th floor.¡±

    Within less than 30 minutes of entering the building, one police officer and one android had fallen victim, and another officer¡¯s life was in jeopardy. Despite the challenging situation, thanks to M01¡¯smand without a hint of hesitation, the atmosphere did not worsen.

    However, unlike the other police officers, William found it difficult to shake off an inexplicable sense of unease. Could it be that it was a mistake to bring only the police here? Such thoughts began to creep into his mind.

    It wasn¡¯t because he was a coward; it was something else. When 112 was taken, he had seen it clearly.

    The one holding the officer had four arms.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44

    ¡®This is an unfamiliar enhanced suit.¡¯

    I looked down at the lifeless body of Officer 112.

    ¡®It seems to be an upgraded suit.¡¯

    The defense has significantly increasedpared to before. If I were in an unenhanced state, it would have felt quite heavy. Even when I tore through the chest with my nails, it was surprisingly sturdy.

    Furthermore, it had additional features like a full-face gas mask attached to the helmet and a psychic power-resistant shield, elements not found in intermediate-level suits.

    ¡®It¡¯s a basic intermediate-level suit with a few advanced-level suit options added.¡¯

    Advanced-level suits boasted significantly superior specspared to intermediate ones, making them considerably more expensive. It¡¯s close to half the cost of sma equipment, so it could be seen as quite pricey.

    ¡®They seem to be developing cost-effective advanced-level suits.¡¯

    In the game, megaCorp yers had plenty of credits, and they didn¡¯t need to worry about the lives of mercenaries. However, in the real world, equipment for protecting living soldiers would continuously evolve in response to new weapon developments.

    Of course, being a budget version, the shield attached to this suit was likely far less effectivepared to the shields on high-level suits. Still, it should be adequate to block even the standard rounds of Gauss weapons. For an ordinary person who can¡¯t afford cutting-edge weaponry, a shield like this should suffice.

    Looking at it this way, it¡¯s safe to say that the enemies are well-prepared, even if the shield is not as advanced as high-level suits.

    ¡®If the opponent were an ¡®ordinary human,¡¯ we would have easily won.¡¯

    ¡®Well, that¡¯s if they were truly ¡®ordinary humans.¡¯

    After all, they were after Sanders, and now they¡¯vee after me as well. They likely consider me to be some sort of spy for the Space Dogs or a smuggler. Before they entered the apartment, Sanders might have been arrested, leading to retaliation against me, the apparent ¡®parasite.¡¯

    ¡®Well, using Sanders is no longer an option.¡¯

    I¡¯ll need to find another broker or take advantage of the chaotic situation to discreetly raid the Harbor District. If I imnt a new parasite in this apartment before leaving, finding a broker won¡¯t be all that difficult.

    ¡®But on a side note, these guys fight better than I expected.¡¯

    The ones who sessfully took down the intruders in the apartment weren¡¯t me but Number 26 and Adhai.

    Before the police entered the apartment, I had instructed Number 26 and Adhai on the weaknesses of both androids and humans. The power source location of the androids, theirck of autonomous thinking, the fragility of human heads, and so on.

    As a result, Adhai managed to take down one android on the 1st floor, while Number 26 killed one of the police officers on the 2nd floor.

    ¡®Adhai clung to the ceiling.¡¯

    It hung from the ceiling and waited until there was only one android left.

    Currently, the android assumes the enemy to be human. Unless it was a special species like a wolf or an Insectoid, it was impossible to hang from the ceiling. So, the android didn¡¯t consider anything on the ceiling, and it had no choice but to sumb to Adhai¡¯s psychic attack, the psychic impact, without resistance.

    Psychic Impact was considered the lowest-level psychic attack technique, but it could still inflict significant damage on opponents without psychic resistance. If the target was urately aimed at, it could even destroy the power source of an android.

    ¡®If the android had a shield, Adhai would have failed.¡¯

    If the android had prepared even slightly for psychic power attacks, Adhai¡¯s attack would have failed. Psychic Impact could be easily blocked even by those with psychic resistance.

    ¡®It knew that and targeted the androids instead of the police.¡¯

    Although there were super-powered androids as well, they didn¡¯te to this apartment. The only ones with shields were the enhanced suit-wearing police officers. So, it deliberately targeted the androids. Young Blue Gagon, It indeed had decent skills.

    In any case, the guy who sessfully destroyed the android made its way out of the apartment through a window and joined Number 26 on the 3rd floor.

    ¡®Number 26 did well too.¡¯

    Whether it was due to its growth or not, its psychic power had be much stronger than before. Now it could easily cast ¡®Restraint,¡¯ one of the abilities Sea Demons had, which was a powerful mid-level psychic technique. It was a psychic technique that pressurized and oppressed the target using psychic power. The stronger the caster, the more targets it could affect, and the greater the effect of the technique.

    Number 26 had hunted with me several times, so it knew well where humans were vulnerable. The guy, hiding in the 3rd-floor corridor, demonstrated the technique of casting a double Restraint on one of the enemies on the 2nd floor who came to search. Thanks to this, the poor police officer found himself in a state where his body and head were separate entities.

    ¡®It¡¯s still far from perfect, but¡­¡¯

    In the game, Sea Demons could restrain dozens of yers at once to the point of suffocation, making it incredibly powerful. Number 26 hadn¡¯t reached that level yet, but it had improved significantly. Perhaps it will be even stronger in the future.

    ¡®They did well, now it¡¯s my turn.¡¯

    The groundwork had been sufficientlyid. I felt the vibrations of the enemiesing up the stairs.

    I called out to them in the voice of the deceased officer, 112.

    ¡°Aargh!¡±

    ¡°!¡±

    Outside, the enemies tensed up.

    I sensed there were five humans and two androids. I left through the window, carrying the corpse on my side, and crawled along the exterior wall to move to the neighboring house.

    In the meantime, the two androids advanced and broke the door of the house where I had been hiding until a moment ago.

    ¡°Begin the search.¡±

    Ignoring the cold voice of the androids, I moved to the corridor and exited the neighboring house.

    I saw the police officer at the very back trying to enter the house. I pierced his throat with the stinger at the end of my tail. Silently, I caught him as he fell to the ground and then climbed up the corridor wall to the upper floor.

    I opened the window of the empty upstairs house and tossed the police officer and the corpse inside.

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Beyond the police officer¡¯s mask, I could see terror-filled eyes. After being caught by me, he seemed to have a clear understanding of what he was facing.

    He probably thought like this: they should have brought the military instead of armed police. As always, regretes when it¡¯s already toote.

    He seemed to want to somehow inform his colleagues about my identity, but it was impossible. The neurotoxin that coursed through his veins, like a snake that had caught its prey, was tightening around his entire body.

    I grabbed his head with mybat arm. He sent me a pitiful look, as if he had an intuition about what I was about to do.

    ¡®Unfortunately, I can¡¯t grant that wish.¡¯

    When I applied pressure, my hook-like ws ripped through his head. As the police officer¡¯s head turned into something resembling a watermelon sliced by a kitchen knife, a bted reaction came from downstairs.

    [This is 106. Respond, 110!]

    The colleague who had been behind us just disappeared, so it was only natural that they would be bewildered. I smashed the police officer¡¯smunication device, which had been addressed as 110.

    ¡®I need to shake them up a bit more.¡¯

    Confusion and fear could paralyze reason. Since he still seemed mentally sound, I needed to give him more of the drug. I turned on themunication device of 112.

    ¡°Help! He¡¯s torturing me!¡±

    [Darn it! 112!]

    [This is M01. Everyone stay calm.]

    [Darn it! 110, who was right behind me, just disappeared!]

    ¡°Oh God! Please help! We¡¯re on the 5th floor!¡±

    After shouting like that, I turned off themunication device. I could hear themotion and voices from the floor below.

    The android telling them to stay calm, the police officers protesting that they couldn¡¯t stay calm when two of their colleagues had gone missing ¨C the enemies were getting entangled.

    While they were in turmoil, I went out of the house and used my tail to destroy the lights in the corridor, one by one. The sound of ss shattering in front of their own doors made the people on the 5th floor stick their heads out.

    ¡°Who the hell is making all this noise¡­ Agh!¡±

    ¡°Ahhh!¡±

    They screamed when they saw me lurking in the darkness.

    When I growled once, they paled and rushed out of the house. I let the residents who were running towards the stairs be for now.

    I followed them like a hunting dog.

    Coincidentally, the police and androids wereing up from the lower floor as well.

    ¡°Unarmed individuals. Don¡¯t shoot.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no! These are civilians! Be cautious, everyone!¡±

    The confused police officers hesitated, and I extended my upper arm toward them. Saw-edged tentacles emerged from my palm and wrapped around the android¡¯s head, which was beyond the civilian. The sharp saw on the surface of the tentacle was firmly embedded in the small, hard head of the android.

    ¡°Enemy attack detected.¡±

    The painless android had a Gauss rifle attached to its third arm and aimed it at me, but it was toote. As I pulled my arm back, the android¡¯s head, which had been entangled with the tentacle, was pulled out.

    ¡°Intrusion. Requesting backup.¡±

    ¡°What the hell is that?¡±

    The android behind me recognized my attack faster than the police and sounded an rm. The police also aimed their Gauss rifles in my direction, albeit btedly.

    Tungsten bullets mercilessly rained down on the spot where I had been standing. The civilians who were fleeingte were hit by blind bullets and disintegrated like watercolors in water.

    The civilian shields had served their purpose well, and now it was time to step back.

    ¡®Damn.¡¯

    I quickly retreated, but perhaps because I had grown in size, I couldn¡¯tpletely avoid it, and I was hit a few times on the tail.

    Thanks to my physical enhancement type and various characteristics, there was no significant impact. However, this must have made the enemies realize to some extent how resilient my defenses were.

    Ordinary humans would have a hard time noticing if I had taken a significant blow during the fight. But androids were different. Unless their power source was removed and they ceased to function, they would meticulously record every detail of theirbat with the enemy.

    The enemies would surely change to special rounds with enhanced pration.

    Armor-piercing rounds could damage my external shell. The androids probably instructed them to target my rtively thin arms and tail.

    I had regenerative properties, so even if my arms and legs were severed, they would regenerate, but it was a slow process. Losing a weapon like my arm, which was the main weapon of Amorph, was not a wee development.

    So it was best to avoid armor-piercing rounds no matter what.

    ¡®That¡¯s why androids are a nuisance.¡¯

    Their autonomous thinking ability wascking, but their information-gathering capability was superior to humans. MegaCorp yers often used androids for scouting and support.

    ¡®Thanks to them, I had some trouble in the MegaCorp battles.¡¯

    If you didn¡¯t wipe them out in one go, they would transmit all my characteristics, patterns, weaknesses, and so on to the opposing yers, which was quite annoying.

    ¡®I have to eliminate them here.¡¯

    The androids that had been eliminated so far were not due to firearms but rather special attacks. The fact that I was not human would already be stored in the recording devices integrated into the androids.

    The police might not know, but I had to destroy all the recording devices in these androids.

    Hiding inside the house, I sent a signal to Number 26.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ (Come up and help)]

    ?Yes. Little guy, the big baby is calling.?

    While calling them, the enemies entered the corridor. Perhaps because they knew that the enemies were not regr humans, their movements were much more cautious than before.

    I shouted loudly in the voice of 112.

    ¡°I¡¯m here!¡±

    They stopped in their tracks when they heard my voice. Subsequently, the enemies shifted positions to enter the house.

    The sound of footsteps and the shing of firearms and equipment suggested agility and a quiet demeanor, almost inaudible if one wasn¡¯t close enough. They certainly showed signs of extensive training.

    ¡®Maybe it was unfortunate for them to face me.¡¯

    If they were different enemies, I would have easily subdued them. No, if I weren¡¯t Amorph, I might not have won this easily.

    It was Amorph¡¯s super-sense that allowed me to read the movements of the enemies so easily.

    I stood by the door, aiming the spineuncher.

    ¡®Is this about right?¡¯

    I adjusted it to hit the target, which was about 20 cm above my head, and waited for a moment.

    When the android came closer to break down the door, I fired the spine. The dull sound was heard as the spine pierced through the door.

    ¡°Zzz zzz zzz¡­¡±

    ¡°Ugh, they¡¯re shooting!¡±

    Beyond the small hole in the door, a slightly perforated android¡¯s head could be seen, slumping.

    I pushed against the door with force from my legs. Thetch was torn apart as if it were torn tissue, and the android that had been standing in front of the door was shattered by my charge.

    The police officers who finally saw me up close swallowed their breath. Among the wreckage of the android, I crushed the recording device with my foot and then withdrew my serrated tentacle to wrap it around one police officer¡¯s leg.

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    As the tentacle passed over, the white bones were exposed, and one officer fell. Three other officers aimed their Gauss rifles at me, but I¡¯m not the only monstrous threat they are facing right now. Adhai, who had flown holding onto Number 26, pounced on the police officers.

    Adhai¡¯s tentacles covered the heads of the police officers. The transparent tentacles broke the ss of the masks the officers were wearing and prated inside.

    ¡°Ack, ugh, stop¡­¡±

    The police officer trembled and made bizarre sounds, as the red te at the tip of the tentacle stuck to the officer¡¯s face and began to suck blood.

    The tentacle, making a squelching sound, was clearly seen sucking in the red liquid. The police officer, who had lost arge amount of blood in an instant, was in shock and sat down on the spot.

    ¡°Uh, aaargh¡­ugh!¡±

    Other police officers hesitated but kept their Gauss rifles aimed at Adhai. In the corridor, Number 26 emitted a violet energy that enveloped the police officers¡¯ bodies.

    I grabbed the heads of the individuals held by 26 with one hand each and tore them off. The blood spurting from their necks seemed to float in mid-air, as if defying gravity due to 26¡¯s psychic power.

    Adhai, which turned one police officer into a mirage, gobbled up the flying blood with its tentacles.

    [ZZZZ ZZ (Well done)]

    ?Yeah!?

    ?Easy.?

    Someone watching would likely be shocked and nauseated, but I was proud of thepanions who had assisted me brilliantly. I wanted to give them some time to enjoy the spoils, but there were still enemies remaining.

    ¡®This is the first time I¡¯ve fought, leaving my back to someone else.¡¯

    I had never experienced such a situation while ying as Amorph, both in the game and in reality, as I didn¡¯t have friends. Fighting like this was a fresh experience for me.

    In future hunts, if I strategically utilized these guys, it could be quite helpful.

    ¡®Now, all that¡¯s left is the androids on the lower floor.¡¯

    Once we take care of them, any obstacles to our escape will be eliminated. The time to savor the spoils wille after the hunt is over.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45

    ¡°We need to move up!¡±

    ¡°Calm down, 102. We¡¯ve requested external support, so we have to wait.¡±

    ¡°Damn it! Are we going to let that guy have his way the whole time? We should strike before they wipe us out!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not possible.¡±

    William, watching the argument between his fellow officers and M01, wasn¡¯t pleased. In terms of rank, M01 was higher, so it was normal to follow his orders. The reason the police officers were resisting and not following M01 was because M01 was a machine.

    ¡®MegaCorp¡¯s deep-seated robot hatred persists.¡¯

    William, having spent a long time in the military, understood why MegaCorp¡¯s people still harbored animosity towards androids and cyborgs.

    ¡®Star Union.¡¯

    At the time MegaCorp was established, many lower-ss workers were forcibly conscripted for space colonization. While there were a significant number of androids, they were a minoritypared to humans. Tragically, human lives were cheaper than using robots.

    Amid the countless lives being pushed into the dark void, some colonization ships began to choose a different path. The androids managing the colonization ships began to malfunction and rebelled against the upper Capital, using theirwork to infect other ships¡¯ androids.

    As a result, the scale of the rebellion grew, and not only androids but also ordinary workers joined in.

    A massive rebellion force led by machines, and eventually even lower-ss workers, marked the beginning of the Star Union.

    The androids of the Star Union argued that, to survive in the harsh environment of space, they needed to rece their bodies with superior technology, and humans voluntarily became cyborgs to adapt.

    The idealmunity they aimed for was one where machines and humans coexisted without discrimination.

    ¡®¡­That¡¯s the Star Union¡¯s im.¡¯

    StarUnion presented themselves as a just group resisting the corrupt MegaCorp, but in reality, it was quite different. The rebellion had its origins in the malfunction of machines from the start. A rebellion led by mad machines was unlikely to go smoothly.

    The androids of StarUnion even turned unwillingborers into cyborgs. They went so far as to imnt chips into their brains, stripping them of free will.

    After the rebellion, they expanded their influence by attacking other exploration ships and forcibly turning settlers into cyborgs. Naturally, the ordinary citizens of Megacorp didn¡¯t wee Star Union. Who would like those who kidnap them and turn them into machines by force?

    Although centuries had passed, the resentment against machines still ran deep in the minds of Megacorp¡¯s citizens.

    Anyway, regardless of the historical context, it was not desirable for allies to argue among themselves in such a critical situation. William was the first to calm down the police officers.

    ¡°Hey, everyone, calm down.¡±

    ¡°But¡­!¡±

    ¡°We are police officers. I understand your concern for our colleagues, but don¡¯t forget our mission.¡±

    ¡°Ugh.¡±

    As William calmly appeased them, the police officers also showed a moreposed attitude. William then called M01.

    ¡°Hey, M01.¡±

    ¡°Please, Detective Team Leader.¡±

    After the StarUnion¡¯s rebellion, Megacorp had imposed several restrictions when making androids. One of them was to change the android¡¯s data recording device to a closed system to prevent idents from being interconnected. Since the androidwork had been one of the causes of the rebellion, it was a necessary measure.

    However, such a restriction was too burdensome, especially in a war where information exchange was critical. Therefore, themanding androids temporarily had their restrictions lifted.

    ¡°You are right, but the special trade center androids at the T&C Special Trade Center have recently changed their policy for EMP defense. They have applied shielding technology, which limits data transmission via themunicationwork.¡±

    ¡°¡­I see.¡±

    William understood that this might be due to the Council. In the space city, the most dangerous weapon wasn¡¯t sma weapons or state-of-the-art battleships or even the metallic gremlins. It was EMP attacks because in a structure where everything was controlled by machines, there was nothing as threatening as EMP attacks.

    They raised the EMP protection level in preparation for the Council¡¯s arrival, and it seems they also made changes to the androids.

    ¡°So, can we deduce anything from that limited information?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I want to make sure that the target may not be human. I want to verify.¡±

    ¡°Do you mean to say the target could be a different intelligent being?¡±

    ¡°When 112 was taken away, I briefly saw him, and he didn¡¯t look human.¡±

    ¡°He didn¡¯t look human?¡±

    ¡°He had an appearance more akin to a monster or a beast.¡±

    ¡°I see. I will check.¡±

    M01¡¯s eyes lit up green when he said that. It indicated that he was in the process of decrypting the information sent by the androids. Commanding androids could remotely ess the data stored by subordinate androids, but during this ess, they becamepletely vulnerable, as intentionally designed by MegaCorp.

    ¡®¡­What a foolish restriction.¡¯

    William thought about how many soldiers had suffered due to this damned restriction.

    While William was lost in thought, M01, who had finished decrypting, spoke up.

    ¡°As you mentioned, it is spected that it is something beyond a typical human.¡±

    ¡°Tell me more.¡±

    ¡°M06 on the first floor and M05 in the fifth-floor corridor both suffered high-pration attacks.¡±

    ¡°Like a Gauss rifle?¡±

    ¡°No, M05 had its data storage device destroyed by projectiles thinner than tungsten rounds, and M06¡¯s power source was estimated to be destroyed by psychic attacks.¡±

    Because they received fragmented information, M01 used the term ¡®spected¡¯ instead of ¡®analyzed.¡¯ However, William trusted M01¡¯s words since he knew that androids¡¯ analytical capabilities surpassed those of humans.

    ¡°So, it¡¯s someone who can use psychic power and has high-pration weapons. Then what happened to M03, who went upstairs with M05?¡±

    ¡°M03 was destroyed by an attack from an undocumented biological entity.¡±

    ¡°What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°After expanding the scope to include registered biological entities, the weapon that destroyed M03¡¯s data storage device shows a 90% simrity in form to the tentacles of arge extraterrestrial cephalopod species discovered in the deep-sea of E-101.¡±

    William was familiar with E-101. It was a water-covered where he had heard Mars¡¯s prime capitals were keenly interested.

    ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be any sea monsters here. So, is the enemy a Hulk mutant?¡±

    ¡°There is no model with the gic transnt of the particr biological entity among Hulk mutants.¡±

    ¡°¡­Is it a new species, or perhaps an unknown one to us?¡±

    Considering it¡¯s believed to be an intelligent entity, it was difficult to ssify the enemy as a wild animal. It seemed more usible to view it as a yet-to-be-revealed prototype of the Hulk mutant.

    ¡®Could it be that the Yujin family is trying to challenge T&C?¡¯

    The technology for creating Hulk mutants was partially monopolized by the Yujin family, so William¡¯s spection wasn¡¯t entirely baseless. He suspected that there might be power struggles among the top capitals during the Council.

    If the mysterious adversary had read his thoughts, the process might have been entirely wrong, but the result would have been urate, he thought.

    Whether M01 misunderstood William¡¯s thoughts or not, he added, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. Even if everyone here is wiped out, the information will be safely transmitted to Earth¡¯s Central Security Team. When applying camouge technology, we also upgraded our data storage devices to two, so unless the enemypletely destroys us, the information won¡¯t be damaged.¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s fortunate.¡±

    William smiled bitterly at the android¡¯s obliviousment. Unlike androids, who had no concept of death, he had no desire to die here.

    He spoke his thoughts to M01, ¡°I agree with waiting for reinforcements, but before that, the enemy might counterattack. It¡¯s better to be prepared.¡±

    ¡°I concur with that suggestion.¡±

    ¡°Administering the enhancer would be wise.¡±

    ¡°While upgrades have reduced side effects, are you sure it¡¯s safe?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s better than dying.¡±

    ¡°Understood. Authorization granted for enhancer administration.¡±

    With M01¡¯s authorization, William and the four police officers present at the scene received the enhancer.

    Having taken the enhancer after a long time, William shivered slightly from the familiar difort and relief. Looking at the simr expressions on the faces of the other officers, it seemed they felt no different.

    Then, one of the armed police officers received a call on hismunication device.

    ¡°It¡¯s amunication from 112! I need to answer it¡­¡±

    ¡°Just a moment. I¡¯ll take it.¡±

    M01 received themunication device from the police officer¡¯s hand and pressed the button.

    ***

    ¡®Aren¡¯t theying up?¡¯

    I was hiding on the stairs, trying to eliminate the enemies as they ascended, but I couldn¡¯t even catch a glimpse of them.

    ¡®Are they buying time?¡¯

    If they¡¯re calling for reinforcements from over there and waiting, it¡¯s not a pleasant situation. They might get reinforcements, but I won¡¯t. The longer this takes, the worse it is for my side.

    ¡®Should I take the initiative from my side?¡¯

    Currently, there are nine enemies detected by my senses. Three androids and six police officers.

    One android and one police officer are waiting on the first floor, while the rest are all on the second floor.

    ¡®If they gather, I could sweep them all at once.¡¯

    My most powerful weapon is the ¡®Monster¡¯s Tentacle.¡¯ It¡¯s a trait created by fusing the ws and psychic power mechanism from White Gagon¡¯s genes, which were transnted into my body.

    Until now, I¡¯ve only used it with the enhanced psychic power mechanism, but that¡¯s not the true potential of this trait.

    [Monster¡¯s Tentacle: Inherits and enhances the existing ¡®Psychic Power Mechanism¡¯ trait. Can use psychic power.

    *Note: Use the power of the dragon carefully.]

    Just like Adhai, the Blue Gagon, used the tentacles for a psychic impact, all Gagons use their tentacles in their mouths for psychic abilities.

    ¡®While it¡¯s a trait I couldn¡¯t have naturally as the ¡®Tentacle of the Dragon,¡¯ I obtained an organ that looks exactly the same through fusion¡­ I should be able to use Psychic Breath.¡¯

    The mentioned psychic power and the power of the dragon in the text box refer to the White Gagon¡¯s unique ability, the ¡®Psychic Breath.¡¯

    As the text box warned, the Psychic Breath is a powerful ability inspired by the heat rays shot by the protagonists of ssic Japanese monster movies.

    In the original, I could easily take down this apartment, but I can¡¯t produce that level of output. Of course, I should be able to sweep away the enemies in the corridor with a single blow, but the problem is the enemies on the first floor.

    ¡®The problem is the ones on the first floor.¡¯

    Psychic Breath consumes a massive amount of energy, leaving me vulnerable immediately after use. If the enemies on the first floor decide to attack as I unleash the Psychic Breath, I won¡¯t have a way to defend myself.

    ¡®Let¡¯s keep the Monster¡¯s Tentacle as a trump card.¡¯

    I decided to turn on themunication device onest time to lure the enemies out.

    [This is M01. Speak. 112.]

    ¡°It¡¯s torturing me! Please! Please, help me!¡±

    [Is the one torturing you a human?]

    The android asked me with a dry tone.

    ¡®Is it a human?¡¯

    Did they assume I was human and not fight me as a result? Why this sudden question?

    ¡®Do they know I¡¯m not human?¡¯

    As far as I know, MegaCorp androids can¡¯t share information with each other. By design, MegaCorp prohibits information sharing among robots due to a past robot uprising.

    ¡®They might have seen me when I captured the police.¡¯

    It¡¯s possible. Upon reflection, one of the police officers seemed to have kept an eye on me until the end.

    It was a very brief moment, and it was dark, so I assumed they couldn¡¯t see me, but maybe that wasn¡¯t the case.

    While I was pondering this, the android on the other side continued.

    [Based on yourte response, there is a greater than 70% chance that you are not number 112. From now on, we will consider number 112 to be martyred.]

    ¡°Ah.¡±

    With that, the android disconnected.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    Certainly, the android is quick on the uptake, as even with a slightly dyed response due to my thinking, it immediately realized that I¡¯m not 112.

    ¡®This kind of situation hasn¡¯t happened in a while.¡¯

    In the game, the mimicry mechanism was a unique attribute I possessed, so many yers fell for it. However, as time went on and I became more famous, yers devised their own countermeasures. They checked speech habits or speaking styles, asked for information only known to colleagues, and used various methods to identify me.

    ¡®Well, I can¡¯t deceive them.¡¯

    I resolved to destroy themunication device. The method of unsettling the enemies and thenunching a surprise attack is now difficult to use.

    ¡®Is the only option left is a direct confrontation?¡¯

    Going down and attacking the enemies head-on. Frankly, it¡¯s not my preferred method.

    ¡®They¡¯re probably watching me closely from the other side.¡¯

    Unluckily, the police who received the enhancer are probably waiting for me. With upgradedbat suits and the effects of the enhancer, they¡¯re even more formidable. Armed with Gauss rifles and enhanced by the enhancer, they¡¯re not to be underestimated.

    ¡®I might have to prepare to lose an arm or a leg.¡¯

    Of course, I have no intention of running away. At the very least, I need to take care of all the ones on the second floor. They know I can mimic the voice of the monster, after all.

    ¡®¡­I should try a proper pincer attack this time.¡¯

    Just because I took down one of the enemies doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m going to be hunted down. They might have noticed something, but they still don¡¯t know that we¡¯re a group of three.

    I exined the n to the others and then stood up.

    ¡®Well, Let¡¯s go.¡¯

    This time, I need to have faith in my tough exterior and thebat abilities of the group.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46

    ?Big baby, be careful.?

    ?danger?, ?careful?.

    [ZZZZ (you too)]

    As I mentioned in advance, I sent the guys first. We¡¯ve seeded without any problems before, so we should seed easily this time too.

    ¡®I need to do well.¡¯

    With them dispatched, all that¡¯s left for me is to enter.

    ¡®So which route should I take?¡¯

    There are a total of three routes avable right now. There are paths leading down to both ends of the corridors and a route along the outer wall of the corridor.

    ¡®They¡¯re probably monitoring the corridor.¡¯

    The space from the stairs to the corridor is very limited, and my body isn¡¯t as small as before, so the moment I enter, it will turn into a beehive. Even with a physical enhancement type, it¡¯s difficult toe out unscathed from a concentrated barrage of tungsten rounds.

    ¡®Going along the outer wall won¡¯t be easy either.¡¯

    This method has already been used once, so it¡¯s highly likely they¡¯ll be cautious. If the police have used awakening agents, they¡¯ll quickly detect my attack thanks to heightened senses.

    ¡®Or should I go through the lower house as I did earlier?¡¯

    Using the window to descend andunching an attack from the second-floor house. It¡¯s the same method I used when secretly abducting Police Officer 106.

    It¡¯s a decent method, but if the enemy can predict my attack, the effectiveness will be diminished. The strategy route itself is moreplexpared to other routes, which increases the risk of being discovered by the androids along the way.

    ¡®It might be better if I divert their attention.¡¯

    Maybe there¡¯s no good method.

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    As I was thinking about it, I suddenly had a good idea.

    ¡®Ipletely forgot about this since I got here.¡¯

    I should try using the useful attribute I often used on the research ship again.

    I moved as quietly as possible and descended to the third floor. Beyond the concrete floor of the corridor, I could feel the movements of the enemies.

    The faint electromaic waves emitted by electronic devices, the unique scent of artificial skin mixed with rubber and iron, the stillness of their bodies. It was all intermingled with the scent of sweat, the movement of muscles that had swollen thicker than usual, and the rapid heartbeat.

    It was a dual performance created by both machines and humans.

    ¡®The police have used enhancers.¡¯

    A surging power turned into heat, oozing through the skin and clothing.

    When hit with the enhancer, your physical abilities increase, and your senses be as sharp as an animal¡¯s. If I had gone downstairs without any preparation, the police would have detected it immediately and attacked me.

    ¡®Thank goodness.¡¯

    Enhanced senses don¡¯t mean your cognitive abilities expand.

    The enemies likely expect me to enter from the end of the corridor or the exterior wall, not that I¡¯d attack from the ¡®ceiling.¡¯

    Judging by the positions of the enemies, the androids are guarding the front and rear, while the five humans are stationed in the middle, just like the androids, splitting their focus between the front and back.

    I inflicted wounds all over my body with the extended ws on my battle arm, causing my exterior to crack, and ck blood flowed from within.

    ¡®I need a lot of blood.¡¯

    To melt the thick floor, I repeatedly inflicted fresh wounds on the healed areas. Once I judged that the floor had melted sufficiently, I made a deep cut in the wound. Blood gushed out like a fountain from my wound and scattered all over the corridor floor.

    ¡®It¡¯s done.¡¯

    In a few minutes, arge hole would be created in the floor, and the acidic blood would drip down beneath it.

    I made sure the acidic blood was properly melting the floor and then opened the nearby door and leaped into the house.

    Swiftly traversing the house, I opened the window and crawled down to the lower floor.

    ***

    ¡°Hey! It¡¯s acidic!¡±

    ¡°Everyone, be careful!¡±

    The enemies were perplexed as they saw the acidic blood pouring down from above.

    By now, I had already entered the lower house. The door to the house that leads to the corridor was firmly blocking my way.

    I exerted all my strength and pushed the door directly outward.

    With a loud crash, the door was pushed out into the corridor, crushing the police officer who had been standing in front of it. Blood sttered out through the gap in the door and spilled onto the corridor.

    ¡°Ugh?!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an enemy attack.¡±

    The enemy probably didn¡¯t know I could strike both the ceiling and the side at the same time. An android with ¡®M01¡¯ written on its head quickly recognized me and raised a gauss rifle.

    As the muzzle was about to point at me, I grabbed the head of the police officer next to me and pulled him toward me. The android, programmed not to shoot arade, hesitated for a moment but then immediately fired at me.

    ¡®As expected, it¡¯s an android.¡¯

    Even though he¡¯s using a person as a shield, he¡¯s precisely targeting only me. The pain from the area where I was hit by the bullet started to throb.

    In the meantime, other police officers also managed to break free from their confusion and regrouped. Except for the police officer I was holding onto, the rest had distanced themselves from me.

    ¡°Everyone, regr bullets are ineffective. Switch to armor-piercing rounds.¡±

    I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s themander, but while two other police officers were shooting at me, the remaining two quickly switched their ammunition. The gauss rifles the police officers were carrying transformed with mechanical sounds to match the armor-piercing rounds.

    ¡®This is bad.¡¯

    I needed cover, so I went back into the house. Behind me, armor-piercing rounds pierced through the wall. One of them passed through my tail.

    ¡®Even walls can¡¯t stop armor-piercing rounds.¡¯

    I didn¡¯t n to just stand there, so I shook my bleeding tail vigorously. ck drops of blood sttered and stuck to the bodies of the police officers who followed.

    ¡°Damn!¡±

    ¡°His blood has an acidic effect!¡±

    Amidst the staggering police officers, I moved through the window to the neighboring house.

    ¡®Ugh. Armor-piercing rounds seem more effective than in the game.¡¯

    On the other side of the wall, I heard the sound of the police officers searching the bathroom and kitchen.

    ¡°Ugh, ugh, ugh!¡±

    A police officer, held in my hand, struggled to get free while I checked the tail wound. Thanks to the enhancer, the police officer¡¯s strength was by no means weak, but being held by the head, they couldn¡¯t exert much force. I applied more pressure quietly to make them stop.

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    When my hook-like ws scratched his helmet, it made a chilling sound, and the police officer immediately quieted down.

    ¡®I should make more use of this guy.¡¯

    I activated the parasitic colony on my lower right arm. It¡¯s a level 5, one level higher than Sander¡¯s.

    ¡®In the game, level 5 didn¡¯t let you do much, but I wonder how it¡¯ll work in reality.¡¯

    A creature resembling a ck centipede sprang out from the hole of the parasitic colony and attached itself to the police officer¡¯s body.

    ¡°Uh, what is this? Stop it!¡±

    The police officer panicked and writhed, but because I had a hold of his head, his resistance was extremely limited. I grabbed the creature trying to escape with my fingers to bring it to his face.

    Just as the creature was about to crawl into his nostril, a loud noise apanied the wall copsing.

    ¡°Target located.¡±

    An android with ¡®M02¡¯ engraved on his head broke through the wall. It was abat-specialized android, with gauntlets attached to both arms except for the third arm.

    As soon as M02 spotted me, he punched my head. I quickly grabbed his wrist with my battle arm, but at the same time, a metal spike shot out from his head towards mine.

    The sound of metal contacting metal echoed as sparks flew from my head¡¯s exterior. To prevent him from impaling me with the spike, I extended my serrated tentacle.

    The serrated tentacle swept across M02¡¯s face. The artificial skin covering his face, riddled with saw teeth, was all stripped away, and the metal skeleton inside was severely damaged.

    ¡°Error detected. Requesting support.¡±

    ¡°I will provide support.¡±

    M01, who had appeared from behind, wrested the Gauss rifle from my hands. The still-recovering tentacle was mercilessly torn by the armor-piercing rounds.

    The damage was limited to the tentacle, but I felt pain throughout my arm. I retracted the remaining tentacle while hiding behind M02.

    ¡°Malfunction. Attack required.¡±

    ¡°M02, you¡¯ve done well until now.¡±

    M01, without paying attention to my actions, aimed the gun at M02 and me with the intent to kill. M02, with inferior defensepared to me, became a sitting duck in seconds.

    ¡®That¡¯s why I hate androids.¡¯

    Not being mentally shaken, my usual tactics like feints and ambushes were ineffective. I used the deactivated M02 as a shield and aimed my spine projectile organ at the third arm of M01.

    ¡°This damn monster!¡±

    Just as I was about to fire, the police officers arrived to support M01. Over the debris of the broken wall, a barrage of armor-piercing rounds rained towards me.

    ¡®I just need to shoot this and get out.¡¯

    While my head and chest, the most fortified parts, remained unscathed, other areas didn¡¯t. My exterior has its limits to withstand bullets. While my limbs were pierced by bullets, I managed to fire the spine-bone.

    A spine-bone shot from my lower left arm¡¯s tip swiftly flew and destroyed the Gauss rifle attached to M01¡¯s third arm.

    ¡°Weapons are damaged.¡±

    While the android was momentarily staggering, I hurled a police officer lying on the ground at them. Infected by parasites, he should be able to hinder their movements, at least to some extent.

    ¡°Cease fire, everyone!¡±

    As expected, when their colleagues came flying, the police officers immediately ceased fire. I sent a mental message to the parasite to go wild and then dashed out of the house.

    ¡°Hey, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°103! Snap out of it!¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±

    I rushed down the corridor towards where they would be waiting for me by now, after everything was finished.

    ***

    ¡°Ugh, aaaaaahhh!¡±

    ¡°103!¡±

    ¡°My, my head!¡±

    103 rolled on the ground, clutching his head. The police officers hurriedly restrained him. It wasn¡¯t easy to calm him down, given that he was a well-built adult man in a reinforced state.

    ¡°Please, calm down!¡±

    ¡°For the love of God! Someone, get this out!¡±

    While other police officers held him, William quickly operated the terminal attached to 103¡¯s wrist. The treatment within the reinforced suit injected into 103¡¯s body, but his condition showed no improvement.

    ¡°What is this¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not poison; it¡¯s suspected to be a virus or some tiny organisms that have infiltrated the brain.¡±

    M01 answered William¡¯s question. With its third arm destroyed, M01 had collected and was wearing the power bunker gauntlet that M02 had used.

    ¡°¡­What can we do about it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a medical android, so I can¡¯t treat it. We need to transfer him to the hospital immediately.¡±

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    William uttered a string of curses.

    I don¡¯t know who Sander had dealings with, but he¡¯s a formidable presence that surpasses the Hulk mutant by far. His array of attack methods is incredibly diverse, and what¡¯s even scarier is that he knows how to use them effectively.

    ¡°Aaaah!¡±

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    ¡°M01, try something, anything!¡±

    ¡°We need to track the target. The target has been identified as an extremely dangerousbat organism. If the target hides in another apartment, we can expect severe casualties.¡±

    ¡°Damn it! We can¡¯t leave him like this!¡±

    While the police and androids argued about what to do with 103, his condition deteriorated rapidly.

    ¡°Aagh! I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±

    ¡°103?¡±

    Suddenly, 103¡¯s expression changed drastically, and he jumped up from his seat. He then shot the police officer holding onto him with the Gauss rifle.

    ¡°Urgh!¡±

    ¡°105!¡±

    105, with a hole in his abdomen, copsed, coughing up blood.

    103, who had just shot his colleague, was shedding tears but had a strangely twisted smile.

    ¡°Hehe! I should have done this earlier! Hehehe!¡±

    ¡°103, snap out of it!¡±

    ¡°103 is in a poor condition. Judging that he is being controlled by the parasite, I will subdue him.¡±

    M01 approached 103. The mentally unstable police officer turned his Gauss rifle towards M01 to shoot, but he was too slow. M01 struck the back of 103¡¯s neck, causing him to lose consciousness.

    ¡°Subdued.¡±

    ¡°105, don¡¯t lose consciousness!¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±

    ¡°Administer the treatment!¡±

    ¡°Please!¡±

    William quickly administered the treatment to 105, but honestly, it didn¡¯t look promising.

    The treatment isn¡¯t a panacea, so unless they get him to the hospital immediately, 105 has no chance of survival.

    William got up, leaving 105 unconscious.

    With 105, who had a hole in his abdomen, and the unconscious 103, only 102, William, and M01 remained in this ce.

    ¡°¡­M01, the situation is not good. Call for the androids and police officers on the first floor immediately.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    If the three of them were to confront Sander like this, they would be wiped out. If he were to bring out some new attack method, they would undoubtedly be annihted. M01 agreed with William this time and connected themunicator.

    ¡°This is M01. We need those on the first floor toe up.¡±

    [Bzzt!]

    ¡°This is M01. Repeating: everyone on the first floor, pleasee upstairs.¡±

    [Bzzt!]

    ¡°¡­¡±

    M01 repeated the same message, but all they received through themunication device was static. It was clear what that noise meant.

    ¡®There¡¯s not just one!¡¯

    Only now did William realize it. While the creature had been buying time, itsrades were lying in wait on the first floor, targeting the androids and the police.

    ¡°It appears the creature executed a pincer movement.¡±

    [Note:The pincer movement is a tactic in which forces attack both nks (sides) of an enemy formation at the same time.]

    The android¡¯s words drove the point home. They had fallen into a trap prepared by unknown entities.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47

    They were on the stairs leading down to the first floor. Thankfully, both of them didn¡¯t appear to have any significant injuries.

    [ZZZ ZZZ(Well done)]

    ?Big baby, you¡¯re bleeding?

    Number 26 expressed concern when it saw my body riddled with holes. It tried to extend its tentacles to lick my wounds, but I quickly withdrew.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ Z ZZZZ (My blood is dangerous)]

    ???

    I gestured towards the droplets of blood on the floor. The creature in front of me, with a peculiar nod, seemed to understand.

    ?Understood.?

    [ZZ (Yes)]

    Before the enemies could catch up, I checked my body. The tentacles were severely damaged and would take more than an hour to recover. The prated areas were healing as new flesh grew, but it would take about 10 minutes to fully repair.

    ¡®The injuries are worse than I thought, but the operation went well.¡¯

    There were only two police officers and one android left as enemies. Thanks to the police officer controlled by the parasite who shot his own colleague, we had one less enemy to deal with.

    Unfortunately, the android quickly dealt with them, so we couldn¡¯t expect more significant results.

    ¡®There are three enemies left.¡¯

    Ideally, we would face them one-on-one, but that wasn¡¯t possible. The first-floor enemies weren¡¯t foolish. By now, they would have realized we weren¡¯t alone and woulde prepared.

    ¡®I have regenerative abilities, but they don¡¯t. Unlike me, Number 26 and Adhai won¡¯t recover from critical injuries. A gunshot wound is potentially fatal, and if it¡¯s severe, they could die.¡¯

    ¡®I might have superior regenerative abilities, but¡­¡¯

    We can¡¯t tell whether they have that trait or not, so we can¡¯t rush into a fight.

    ¡®Should I use the monster¡¯s tentacles?¡¯

    The enemies on the first floor have been taken care of, and the remaining enemies are gathered on the second floor. They can¡¯t move freely like me, so they¡¯ll likelye through the corridor. If I use the monster¡¯s tentacles to fire a psychic breath in the corridor, the enemies won¡¯t be able to escape total annihtion.

    ¡®The downside is that it¡¯s impossible to deal with unexpected situations.¡¯

    After using the psychic breath, I¡¯ll be temporarily incapacitated. Itsts roughly between 3 to 5 minutes.

    ¡®The enemies are also in a disadvantageous position, so they probably requested reinforcements earlier. Dying further would make things harder when the enemies increase.¡¯

    The new reinforcements will likely be several times greater. With my current abilities, it won¡¯t be easy to annihte all of them.

    ¡®Let¡¯s use the monster¡¯s tentacles.¡¯

    Coincidentally, the enemies are approaching, following the traces of acidic blood on the floor.

    Before weing them, I instructed Number 26 and Adhai.

    [ZZZ Z ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (I¡¯ll be momentarily weakened after this attack)]

    ???

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZZ (You¡¯ll have to protect me this time.)]

    ?Big baby, are you growing again??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (No, it¡¯s different this time)]

    ?Got it. I¡¯ll protect the big baby.?

    ?I? ?Don¡¯t? ?understand?.

    ?The big baby is a baby, so he takes naps sometimes.?

    ?Understood.?

    It¡¯s not really a nap, but there¡¯s probably no need to exin.

    I pushed them back and extended my head down the hallway to assess the enemies. As soon as anything popped out, they fired armor-piercing rounds.

    Thanks to the strong exterior of my head, it didn¡¯t turn into a beehive, but the pain didn¡¯t entirely go away.

    ¡®¡­I need a better armor strategy.¡¯

    Several possible gene essences that could be obtained in this citye to mind, but right now, I¡¯m in the middle of a battle. Clearing my mind, I used the walls and the outer shell of my head as cover, firing controlled bone shots at the enemies.

    ¡°Dammit!¡±

    ¡°Please use me as cover for shooting.¡±

    ¡°I know!¡±

    The police officers cursed as the spines flew towards them. The androids, having lost their ranged weapons, were now using the power bunker to break through the concrete wall and use it as cover.

    It seemed like a good idea, but it was clear that our opponent was formidable. The cover was meaningless against Psychic Breath.

    I activated the monster¡¯s tentacle, and the long tentacle that reached my shoulder began to move slowly.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    In an instant, I felt a sudden depletion of energy throughout my body, which almost made me copse in ce. The glossy exterior I had moments ago turned pale, and the powerful tail that had been at its peak copsed onto the ground.

    ¡®¡­This consumes an enormous amount of energy.¡¯

    It felt like all the energy that had been flowing through my entire body had been sucked into my head. From my ws, tail, fourbat arms, even the little arm on my chest, all the strength was drawn in, and the tentacle that had absorbed almost all of my power shone with a distinct purple hue. There was so much psychic power concentrated at the end of the tentacle that even a human with limited psychic detection abilities could feel it.

    The tentacles, which had umted an immense amount of energy to the point where the air crackled, all pointed forward and concentrated their ends.

    ¡°High-level psychic power detected. Evacuate immediately.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    The purple radiance flowing from the tentacle tips converged in mid-air. The enemies desperately tried to retreat, but it was toote.

    In the dark corridor, a subtle purple glow permeated, and the gathered energy in mid-air was finally released.

    A pure psychic energy beam raced through the corridor. The concrete wall that covered half of my body disappeared without a trace, and any spot touched by the energy beam turned into the same state.

    There was no sound. Psychic power didn¡¯t make any noise. The only noise cameter as the debris of the destroyed corridor copsed.

    Nothing remained in the wake of the violet storm. The android, along with the wall he was holding, literally turned to dust, and the police officer who activated his shield btedly had half his body vanished, copsing to the ground.

    However, the police officer who had been standing by the outer wall of the building on the second floor managed to survive, thanks to the shield deflecting him out of the apartment.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    He fell from the second floor, but the effects of the enhancer quickly had him back on his feet. I wanted to chase after him as he tried to escape, but my body wouldn¡¯t respond.

    ?You? ?Amazing? ?Great young one!?

    As I listened to Adhai¡¯s thoughts expressing awe at the majesty of Psychic Breath, I lost consciousness right there.

    ***

    ¡°Damn it! Damn it! This is insane! It doesn¡¯t make any sense!¡± William, with a partially broken leg, repeated the same words as he desperately tried to escape. The unimaginable reality left him unable to regain hisposure.

    ¡®We need the military! We need the military!¡¯

    The idea that he was dealing with a new recruit was beyond absurd. How arrogant was this judgment? This guy was a monster, an evil force ready to turn the city into ashes.

    They should prepare not for a council but to deploy the entire defense fleet to the residential zone.

    ¡®Is it crazy to think that the Yujin family controls such a monster?¡¯

    He hadpletely misjudged it. Sander hadn¡¯t traded with that creature. Maybe he was a ve, manipted by the parasitic beings that controlled the police.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how many victims there are! We have to kill him!¡± William, who hadpletely lost his mind, shouted, making more radical statements than he would ever consider in his right mind.

    He was always a rational person, but the human mind has its limits. Faced with an unbearable presence, everything bes futile.

    As he continued to limp away, William saw police buses approaching in the distance.

    ¡®Six of them? There¡¯s no way he can be stopped with that many armed police buses!¡¯

    ¡°Stop!¡±

    A man in reinforced armor emerged onto the road, causing the police buses toe to a halt. An android disembarked from one of the buses and supported him.

    ¡°We need to confirm your identity. Are you Detective Team Leader William?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t go! You mustn¡¯t go under any circumstances!¡±

    ¡°Assessing the chaotic situation. Considering the difficulty of continuing the battle, we will proceed to transport you to the hospital.¡±

    ¡°Listen to me! If you go like this, we¡¯re all going to die!¡±

    The android repeatedly restrained William, who only kept saying that they would all die. The unconscious William was loaded onto the bus, and it departed once again.

    When they arrived at the apartment, the target was nowhere to be seen. All that remained were the broken android remains, human debris, police officers with abdominal injuries, and unconscious police officers strewn across the scene.

    ***

    ¡°Are you awake?¡±

    ¡°¡­Where am I?¡±

    William, as he opened his eyes, looked around. He was inside a medical capsule. Behind the semi-transparent ss of the capsule, a medical android nodded politely to him.

    Various electronic devices were emitting light behind the android, and in the hallway outside, he could see nurses and other androids rushing around.

    ¡°¡­A hospital.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°What about the others? What about the mission? Is everyone safe?¡±

    ¡°When support forces entered Apartment Complex C, Building 3, the target had already escaped. Therefore, there were no additional casualties.¡±

    William felt a profound sense of numbness hearing the android¡¯s words.

    ¡°¡­Letting him get away was an unforgivable mistake.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry. We¡¯ve already collected the secondary memory storage devices of the androids. The Global Security Team will soon locate the target. Please rest assured.¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Even with the android¡¯s words, William couldn¡¯t find peace of mind. After all, M01, the android who had stored all the memories, had vanished without a trace, erased by the enemy¡¯s powerful psychic attack.

    The memories of the other androids were fragmented, and it remained uncertain whether the higher-ups would truly understand the extent of the threat posed by the target.

    Therefore, the only one who had retainedplete memories was William himself.

    ¡°I have a message to convey to the higher-ups right now!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re in the middle of treatment. Discharge is not possible.¡±

    ¡°Darn it! It¡¯s urgent!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not possible. You must remain stable until at least tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Hey! Listen to me!¡±

    Saying that, the android operated a device next to the capsule. Then, an automatic injection of medication entered William¡¯s arm through a tube.

    William tried to remove the syringe, but due to the rapid onset of drowsiness caused by the medication, he once again lost consciousness.

    How much time had passed, he wondered, as he woke up again.

    ¡°Whoa!¡±

    The hospital room was dark, suggesting it might be nighttime. Besides William, there was someone else in the room. When he pressed a button on the device, there was a sound of air escaping, and the capsule¡¯s lid opened.

    ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m from higher-ups. Would you be fine to report immediately?¡±

    ¡°No problem.¡±

    William was awakened and the capsule was opened by his interlocutor, who happened to be a police officer. Wearing a police uniform and having a bandage around his neck were the only noteworthy aspects about him.

    ¡®Hmm? Where have I seen him before?¡¯

    William had an excellent memory when it came to people, considering his work on the detective team. Although he didn¡¯t recognize the man¡¯s face, his physique seemed familiar.

    ¡®He¡¯s not from the Harbor District, but where have I seen him?¡¯

    He had met this person recently.

    ¡°We have a car waiting outside. Follow me.¡±

    ¡°Okay, just let me grab my things.¡±

    In any case, he had to report to the higher-ups quickly, so William only gathered a few belongings and followed the man.

    During their journey, there were medical androids working the night shift who tried to stop them, but they encountered no issues. The individual guiding William had disyed his police electronic badge and provided identification, which was sufficient to allow them to proceed.

    Once they reached the parking lot outside the hospital, the police officer pressed a button on his car key. The headlights of a regr car, not a police car, blinked in the distance.

    ¡°Get in.¡±

    Seating himself in the driver¡¯s seat, the police officer said nothing more.

    ¡®Why aren¡¯t we in a police car if we¡¯re going to report to the higher-ups?¡¯

    William felt puzzled. It appeared that they were not currently carrying out official police duties. The officer¡¯s attitude indicated ack of interest in potentially deceiving him for nefarious purposes.

    William reached into his pocket and grasped theser pistol he had concealed.

    ¡®The electronic badge he showed to the androids is different, but I also have one.¡¯

    The badge the officer had disyed was different in format, but William possessed the same kind. This electronic badge, used byw enforcement authorities, contained a unique ID and pattern that made replication or forgery impossible. Additionally, if someone else attempted to use the badge for identification, rms would immediately sound, rendering theft and use by others unfeasible.

    Although the officer¡¯s behavior was unusual, as long as he held the badge, William was certain he was indeed a police officer.

    After a brief moment of contemtion, he eventually got into the car. The police vehicle, with William on board, left the dimly lit parking lot behind. Leaving the brightly lit hospital behind them, the car navigated the midnight roads.

    The car ride was silent. The police officer simply focused on driving, while William continued to wonder about the identity of hispanion.

    ¡®If thest person I saw from the Global Security Team was¡­ Could this be an armed policeman?¡¯

    ¡°You¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡±

    William, who had just thought of asking a question, saw that the car had stopped. Looking outside, he realized that they were not in the administrative district.

    A quiet street with no one in sight, dark alleys, and a nearby manhole.

    ¡®This is the border between zones, right?¡¯

    It was a ce William was familiar with, serving as the border between the residential and harbor districts. Because it straddled both areas, the respective security teams often avoided patrolling here, making it ironically a ce where crimes happened if people forgot about it. There were no cameras or streetlights.

    ¡°Get out.¡±

    ¡°What is this all about?¡±

    Quickly, William drew hisser pistol and aimed it at the officer¡¯s throat.

    Now he remembered. The person with him was one of the armed police officers who had been dispatched to capture the monster at Apartment C-3. At that time, he had been wearing a helmet and a mask, preventing William from seeing his face clearly, but now he recognized him.

    ¡°Get out, and you¡¯ll find out everything.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    The officer, or rather, Number 103, didn¡¯t offer any resistance. He just kept repeating that William would find out everything once he got out.

    ¡°What could it be?¡±

    William had seen what had happened to Number 103. He had shot his own colleague under the influence of an unknown organism.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Captain.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s already toote.¡±

    In the dark car, he turned his head towards William and chuckled. Number 103 was looking at William¡¯s face, or more precisely, at what was behind him.

    ¡®Behind?¡¯

    Before William could turn to look, it was toote. The sound of the passenger window breaking apanied a sharp object piercing William¡¯s neck from behind.

    As soon as he felt a stinging pain, he realized his entire body was paralyzed. He couldn¡¯t move a muscle, not even his fingers to squeeze the trigger on hisser pistol.

    Then a powerful force pulled him out of the car. He was thrown to the ground, but there was no pain.

    Finally, William came face to face with ¡°it.¡± Four thick toes that resembled hooves at a nce, reverse joints that seemedpletely different from a human¡¯s, and muscryers to support the heavy body.

    A long, thick tail that seemed like it could be used as a belt dangled near the hip area. The legs were covered in armor-like outer skin from the waist to the chest. Small arms sprouted from the chest area.

    The creature had more than just arms. In addition to what would be equivalent to human arms, there were two pairs of arms positioned at the shoulders and armpits. While they resembled the smaller arms, they were muchrger in size. Among the arms, the one beneath the left arm was uniquely different, featuring a long, rod-like structure in ce of a hand.

    The fingers attached to the ends of the other arms numbered four, and their nails were hook-like and sharp, making them appear highly threatening.

    Up to this point, the creature¡¯s appearance was already nightmarish, but what truly horrified William was its head. The head was reminiscent of reptilian creatures, but with two horns, an outer covering that resembled a helmet epassing the entire head, and a cluster of tentacles at the back of the head, this creature could by no means be considered typical in any sense.

    Number 103 got out of the car and knelt before the creature.

    ¡°I¡¯ve brought him as ordered.¡±

    The creature briefly nced at him, then turned its gaze back to William.

    The creature opened its mouth, revealing sharp teeth.

    ¡°I never miss my prey.¡±

    The voice that flowed from the creature¡¯s mouth was eerily familiar. It was the voice of 112, one of the police officers who had entered the building during the operation.

    As the creature¡¯s head approached, William let out a scream. However, there was no one to hear his scream except for himself.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 48

    Chapter 48

    Samuel Jae-sung, the head of the Earth Central Security Team¡¯s armed police force, was having a headache. It was all because of the young journalist sitting across from his desk.

    Her name was Kevin, a senior reporter from the DailyMars branch located in themercial district.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to ask the Team Leader, who is the chief person in charge, about the recent riot incident in the residential district and the reasons behind it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, I can¡¯t talk about that. You should ask the residential or harbor district for information about it.¡±

    ¡°They told me toe see you, the head of the armed police team in charge of the operation, if you¡¯re not the one in charge, then who is? Oh, is it one of those secretaries running around outside?¡±

    Jae-sung felt irritation rise at her impertinent tone, but he couldn¡¯t speak to her rashly. The DailyMars was operated by the Zhao family, one of the Noble Capital families, and it was less than a week until the council.

    He was aware that the Noble Capital and Prime Capital families were constantly at odds, and as a Third Capitalian himself, if he caused trouble with a media outlet operated by Prime Capital, La would likely personally send him to the Entertainment District.

    ¡®Do I have to handle this as well¡­?¡¯

    Jae-sung had a pile of urgent tasks to handle, but the entric woman had no intention of leaving. It seemed like she wouldn¡¯t budge until he provided some information, so Jae-sung eventually gave in.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask again. In the Residential Zone¡­¡±

    ¡°Enough! I get it. I¡¯ll tell you the name of one of the Operation Survivors, and you can inquire with them.¡±

    ¡°Dealing with a strange name¡­¡±

    ¡°He was the first to report this incident to the Harbor District Detective Team, so he should know best.¡±

    Kevin, seeing the pleading look in Jae-sung¡¯s eyes, nodded. Having grilled him for two hours, she was fairly confident that the information she had was likely urate.

    ¡°If it turns out to be a lie, you can expect our article tomorrow.¡±

    In response to her warning, Jae-sung red at her and remained silent. Kevin smiled provocatively and left the office.

    ¡°The Harbor District, then.¡±

    Kevin left the building and turned off hermunication device.

    ¡°Oh, wait. Could you tell me about the detective who participated in thest operation in the residential district? What? No, it¡¯s not about that. I just want to ask something. Yeah. Yeah. You¡¯re on vacation today? Where? Uh-huh. Thanks.¡±

    After turning off hermunication device, she headed to the subway. Even though it was well past the morning rush hour, the station was quite crowded.

    As a city built above space, private vehicles were only allowed for government officials. Special-purpose vehicles could be used by hospitals, police, and other simr organizations. As a result, the subway stations were always crowded like this until it closed at 11 PM.

    Kevin arrived at a subway station located in the residential district¡¯s administrative area. The destination the informant provided was not far from the station.

    Clean and colorful houses lined the streets paved with marble. Compared to other districts, it looked luxurious. Kevin whistled in amazement.

    Upon arriving at her destination after walking along the marble-paved sidewalk, she looked around the house before pressing the doorbell. The subject¡¯s house was clean, like the others, with one key difference: every window was covered with curtains. It was as if they didn¡¯t want anyone peering inside.

    ¡®It might be a big scoop, so I can¡¯t afford to miss it.¡¯

    Kevin was a typical MegaCorp reporter. In other words, she didn¡¯t care at all about what her interviewee thought, as long as it served her scoop and promotion.

    ¡®If they are in a mentally difficult state, all the better.¡¯

    They would spill everything as soon as she asked. With a fake smile on her face, Kevin pressed the doorbell firmly. She waited for a response, but there was none.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Seeing a car parked in the private parking lot, it was clear that the subject was at home.

    Kevin pressed the doorbell again.

    Still no response, but she didn¡¯t mind. She could keep pressing it until they came out.

    After ten minutes of continuous ringing, a sound finally came from inside. Footsteps approached, and the door opened a momentter.

    The man who opened the door could be described as a living skeleton. Kevin extended her hand to the man, who looked like a terminally ill cancer patient.

    ¡°Hello, Team Leader. I¡¯m Kevin, a senior reporter from DailyMars. You¡¯re Detective Team Leader William, right?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    William scanned her from head to toe with sharp eyes. He tried to close the door immediately, but Kevin had already ced her foot in front of it, expecting him to do so.

    Without sess in closing the door, William finally spoke.

    ¡°¡­What do you want?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to ask about the disturbance in the Residential Zone.¡±

    ¡°I have nothing to say.¡±

    ¡°There were quite a few casualties during that operation. I¡¯m curious about the cause, and who you were chasing. It would be great if you could cooperate for the sake of MegaCorp citizens¡¯ right to know.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not obligated to answer.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t answer, then I¡¯ll have no choice but to write an article based on limited investigative material.¡±

    In other words, she threatened to fill the story with unfavorable content. William¡¯s expression twisted in clear frustration. It was a fierce, wounded wolf-like look, but she showed no fear at all.

    The standoff ended with a sigh from William. In a tone devoid of any irritation, he asked her, ¡°What exactly do you want?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a bit awkward to discuss it here. Can we go inside and talk?¡±

    Contrary to her words, she entered the house without waiting for William¡¯s response.

    ¡°The atmosphere inside is quite different from the outside.¡±

    As Kevin had described, the inside of the house was aplete mess. Unwashed clothes, leftover food dishes, and other items were scattered around haphazardly. To make matters worse, it seemed like the ce hadn¡¯t been ventted for a while, as there was a nauseating and unpleasant odor.

    ¡°¡­Ask your questions quickly; I¡¯m busy.¡±

    Kevin sat on the messy chair as if it were her own home. She took out a small recorder and gestured to William if it was alright, and he waved his hand as if saying, ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s start with an overview of the operation in the residential district.¡±

    The interviewsted for over an hour. William, initially gruff, gradually answered most of her questions. However, despite his cooperative attitude, as the interview went on, William¡¯s condition deteriorated.

    He took some pills several times during the conversation. The pills he took were known to be the most potent painkillers avable, and Kevin was aware of their strength.

    ¡®There doesn¡¯t seem to be any obvious physical trauma. It¡¯s not even an antidepressant for PTSD,¡¯ she thought.

    Even after taking the pills, he continued to press his temples with both hands. He pressed so hard that blood was almost oozing from his temples.

    The interviewee was clearly in distress, but she had no intention of stopping the interview. If he died during the interview, it would only add more sensation to the story from her perspective.

    ¡®Why does he keep looking at the watch?¡¯

    William frequently checked his watch, which seemed unnatural. ording to the grapevine, he was currently on vacation. Despite appearing to have nothing urgent, he seemed extremely agitated.

    ¡®Could this be a big scoop?¡¯

    An interview is not just about answering questions. The subject¡¯s behavior and reactions to questions can also be a valuable part of the story.

    She silently celebrated the hunch of a possible big story.

    As the interview was about to conclude, she asked William one final question.

    ¡°You mentioned that this person, Sander, is already deceased. Do you have any information about the perpetrator who was dealing with him?¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    For the first time after the interview, William remained silent. Kevin didn¡¯t miss the fleeting reaction.

    When she asked about the perpetrator, he subtly trembled around his eyes. It indicated that he knew something about the criminal.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask again. About the one who was dealing with¡­ ¡±

    ¡°Hey.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t answer this. Not for my sake, but for yours. If it¡¯s a threat against me, be it DailyMass or Prime Capital Zhao family, you should never underestimate them.¡±

    ¡°For my sake? What does that mean?¡±

    She didn¡¯t quite understand, but it seemed like William was being sincere.

    ¡°If you¡¯re trying to threaten me, remember, DailyMass, or even the PrimeCapital Zhao Family, will never forgive you.¡±

    ¡°PrimeCapital? Can such useless entities really protect you? Be careful. Now that you¡¯ve entered this house, I¡¯m not sure if my warning will mean anything to you, but¡­¡±

    With those words, William stood up, walked to the door, and stood there silently.

    It was a gesture that meant, ¡®It¡¯s all over; leave.¡¯ Kevin recalled all the information she had gathered during the interview.

    She had already achieved her goals. There was no need to stay in this dirty house any longer.

    ¡°Thank you for cooperating with the interview, Detective Team Leader William.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    William, with an expression that said there was no need for unnecessary chatter, subtly indicated that she should leave. As she was heading out, just before William closed the door, he offered onest piece of advice.

    ¡°You said your name is Kevin, right? It¡¯s better not to go out alone at night.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    Without waiting for a reply, William closed the door.

    ¡°What nonsense is this?¡± Kevin thought, irritated by what she perceived as a veiled threat. She was about to press the doorbell to confront him when hermunication device rang.

    ¡°It¡¯s the Director.¡±

    It must be to report on today¡¯s interview.

    ¡°Yes, Director. The interview is finished now. What? Who am I? Of course, it was a sess. Yes, yes, I¡¯ll head there right away.¡±

    She gave up on voicing herints, answered the call, and ran back to the subway station.

    Unbeknownst to her, someone was watching her from within the house.

    It was William, who had been inside the house. He had been observing her until she disappeared and then picked up hismunication device.

    ***

    ¡®Looks like this is about done.¡¯

    I had been crouching all day, but now I stood up. The mucus that had dried on my outer shell fell off as dust.

    I stretched all six of my arms.

    ¡®It took longer than I thought because of the extensive range.¡¯

    This ce where I stood was my nest, hidden within the city¡¯s secret passages. The passage that used to be nothing more than discarded garbage by pastborers had transformed into something resembling the insides of a living organism. Brownish mucus flowed down the walls, ceiling, and floor, and spores were constantly ejected in various ces.

    If a regr organism were to enter here where the venttion system was absent, it probably wouldn¡¯tst long due to the peculiar air.

    ¡®Building a big nest was the right choice.¡¯

    Thepleted nest had a diameter of 500 meters. Compared to the enormous city spanning 60 kilometers, it was rtively small. However, when linked, it covered about a quarter of the city, including all of the residential zone and roughly a third of themercial and entertainment zones.

    Unlike research vessels, the city was full of activity, so it would be difficult to detect the precise movements of both humans and machines. However, if I concentrated, I could monitor the movements of the enemies targeting me.

    As I got up and stretched, a sudden hunger washed over me.

    ¡®Creating the nest depleted most of the remaining energy.¡¯

    After the battle with the armed police, I had been receiving a steady supply of food through a new ve.

    William, the head of the Port District¡¯s detective team. I didn¡¯t kill him after capturing him through Armed Police Unit 103.

    ¡°He¡¯s a clever one, so it would be a waste to just eat him.¡±

    William was the only person who had found me independently and was one of the people who pushed me into a tough battle. In the long run, he was a useful person for me.

    At leastpared to the mostly insane Unit 103, he was a much more useful ve. So that day, I spared William and instead devoured Unit 103.

    Seeing me eat a living person right in front of him, he hadpletely lost his sanity. Even before I imnted the parasite in his head, he had already fully submitted to me.

    Of course, his submission and the parasite were separate matters, so I imnted the parasite in his head. Like most people, he shuddered, but he offered no further resistance.

    Turning William into a ve allowed me to obtain all the information rted to the broker he had, and thanks to that, I knew exactly where the smuggled organisms were stored in the containers.

    I didn¡¯t need to enve the personnel of the materials management team or the contraband animal surveince team. I could directly raid the containers.

    ¡®Well, I might need William¡¯s help when it¡¯s time to go.¡¯

    Since I couldn¡¯t do anything about the cameras, I was still relying on him.

    William, under the pretext of focusing on security in the Port District, had the authority to change the camera cements and android patrol routes at will. Within the Port District¡¯s security team, he seemed to have a fair amount of influence, and there was no one within the team who doubted his intentions.

    Every time there was a change in cameras or patrol routes, he reported the surveince¡¯s weak points to me. Thanks to him, I could easily roam around the Port District.

    Of course, I couldn¡¯t go to eat smuggled animals too frequently, as it would raise suspicions, so I only did so once every three days.

    ¡®Today happens to be the day to get some smuggled animals.¡¯

    I was contemting whether it was time to wake up the sleeping ones when amunication device lying on the floor started ringing.

    ¡®William?¡¯

    It was surprising to receive a call when it wasn¡¯t time to rece the parasite.

    ¡®Come to think of it, I¡¯ve been receiving signals continuously since earlier.¡¯

    While I was building my nest, messengers from the parasites had flown over several times. They were reporting that my host would cause harm to me, so they would inflict suffering.

    It wasn¡¯t betrayal. The parasite within him was at stage five. Even if he merely contemted betrayal, he would suffer excruciating pain and die.

    The messengers from the parasite were more like a mild warning, considering this.

    ¡®Something must be going on. Let¡¯s answer.¡¯

    I answered themunication device with 103¡¯s voice.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°There is someone pursuing the owner.¡±

    ¡°Pursuing the owner?¡±

    ¡°Yes. A journalist from DailyMass, an agency operated by Prime Capital.¡±

    Operated by Prime Capital?

    ¡®Media control, huh? That should be the Zhao Family.¡¯

    The Zhao Family, as per the setting, controlled the media, entertainment, and other media-rted sectors through Prime Capital. They were a bunch of people who dealt with information itself, rather than directbat, which made them quite annoying in the game.

    ¡®Even on a with fewer than 100 residents, they criticize the governor.¡¯

    If they couldn¡¯t enter a directly, they¡¯dunch satellites nearby to broadcast within the. This entric group had an overwhelming informationwork, making it difficult for yers hostile to MegaCorp topete.

    ¡®I¡¯ve been searching for a way to block their signals too.¡¯

    Here in reality, I was growing in apletely different way from the game, but ultimately, the time hade.

    ¡®A journalist, huh.¡¯

    If the opponent was a journalist, it was already decided that I needed to eliminate her. If I left her alone, she would be endlessly troublesome.

    ¡®They¡¯ve taken photos of her with the cameras installed in the house. I will send the pictures via email.¡¯

    Then, an alert popped up on themunication device screen, indicating the arrival of an email.

    ¡®I guess I¡¯ll have to deal with this side today.¡¯

    There was a woman with brown hair sitting at the dining table. She had no idea about the fate that awaited her; she simply smiled.

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 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49

    ¡®If reporters have started looking for me, I need to finish this as quickly as possible.¡¯

    Being a profession reliant on socialworks, journalists frequently share information among themselves. It¡¯s not safe to assume that only one person is investigating me. People who know me or have connections will multiply in no time.

    ¡®So, controlling them like parasites is difficult.¡¯

    It¡¯s not that they have a strong journalist¡¯s spirit or resistance. The reason it¡¯s difficult to control them is the same as why journalists can be a challenge to handle ¨C it¡¯s all about social connections. As a profession that involves meeting various people, somepletely unknown or throughworking, any deviation from their usual behavior would quickly raise suspicions.

    In other words, it¡¯s more advantageous for me to use her as bait rather than turning her into a ve.

    I picked up themunication device again and asked William, ¡°What¡¯s her mode of transportation?¡±

    [She came on foot. She¡¯ll probably use the subway to cross the city.]

    If she¡¯s from a newspaper, she¡¯s likely located in themercial district. However, there are no newspapers around the manhole.

    If the distance is too far, it¡¯s not easy for me to go and get her. However, calling William to bring her poses its own set of problems.

    ¡®If she disappears, William will be the prime suspect.¡¯

    He¡¯s still a useful pawn. I kept him alive for a reason, and it would be a waste to lose him so soon.

    ¡®Wait, the subway?¡¯

    Some parts of the secret passage where my nest is located are very close to the subway tracks. There are cameras at the tforms, but no separate cameras on the tracks.

    ¡®Was there a part connected between the subway tracks and the secret passage?¡¯

    I don¡¯t remember such a ce in the game, but this is reality. If there¡¯s a part close to the tracks and the secret passage, I can break through the wall to connect them.

    I hadn¡¯t considered the subway station before because there were too many cameras, but if I can ess the tracks, my field of operation will expand significantly.

    ¡®The nest isplete. Let¡¯s check it out.¡¯

    Iy down on the floor and connected the auxiliary system under my chin to the nest. My senses were pulled and expanded by something. The link was established, and I began receiving information about the events happening in the city.

    ¡®It¡¯s noisy.¡¯

    The lives and movements of the inhabitants, in contrast to the static research vessel, felt incredibly chaotic due to the vast amount of information.

    The movements of trains heating the metal tracks, the sounds of people¡¯s footsteps, the breaths and coughs of those in the subway, the unpleasant scent of sweat and odors. The elements emerging from the city¡¯s veins stimted my five senses.

    ¡®The subway is covered. Now, where¡¯s the point closest to the tracks?¡¯

    After expanding my senses and surveying my surroundings, I found several ces where I could easily ess the tracks with a little corrosion of the metal walls.

    ¡®Among these, there are three ces I could attempt.¡¯

    Two in the entertainment district and one in themercial district. There were a few more points near the tracks, but I excluded them due to various issues. Some were too narrow for me to maneuver through, while others were too close to the tforms, increasing the risk of detection despite my efforts to create a passage.

    ¡®It seems to be rted to the number of stations.¡¯

    In this city that I know, the entertainment district had the most stations, followed by themercial district.

    ¡®I¡¯ll check themercial districtter after I break through the entertainment district.¡¯

    I disconnected the link and stood up.

    As I was heading towards the secret passage closely connected to the tracks, Number 26 spoke to me.

    ?Where are you going??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ Z (Just for a walk).]

    ?Alright,e quickly.?

    With that said, the little guy cuddled up to Adhai and fell asleep again. Both of them were wild animals, so they got along well, perhaps sharing some kind of unspoken bond.

    ¡®It¡¯s a sight you don¡¯t often see in the game.¡¯

    Amorph was naturally a race that forced solo y, and most other races I had tried were not verypatible with party y.

    ¡®Thinking about it, I¡¯ve yed more of a ystyle that destroys parties than participates in them.¡¯

    I¡¯ve had my fair share of shes that led to n disbandment.

    ¡®When I used to fight on the forest, I was really at my best.¡¯

    Once, when I was just a lower-tiered entity, four major ns joined forces to surround me on a forest. Since there were many rankers involved, it was difficult for me to win.

    At that time, I used every possible method and trick that Amorph could use.

    Many of the strategies I use in battles now were first used or developed during that battle.

    ¡®That fight helped me a lot. Of course, I¡¯d never want to do it again.¡¯

    However, the ns that came to capture me fell for my trickery, fought among themselves, and ended up annihting each other.

    Three of the four ns disbanded afterward, and even the rtively intact n suffered significant losses as its members mass-quit, reducing their numbers from 100 to 60.

    ¡®It¡¯s ironic that I used to break up parties, and now I havepanions with me.¡¯

    And all of this in a world where the in-game background became reality.

    As I reminisced about old memories while walking, I quickly reached my destination. I hadn¡¯t expanded my nest to this area in the residential district yet.

    ¡®Should I set up another one here too?¡¯

    Each time I evolve, the number of nests I can create increases by 2, so as a current Pre-saint, I can create a total of 5 nests. I¡¯ve already created one, leaving me with 4 more.

    ¡®I should create one after devouring the journalist.¡¯

    I resolved to use the energy provided by this prey for a new nest and touched the wall. Compared to the other walls, the wall I touched transmitted the vibrations caused by the moving train more distinctly.

    ¡®Let¡¯s get started, then.¡¯

    I used my fingernail to create a cut on my palm. Acidic blood, which could easily melt even tough alloys, oozed from the wound. The blood flowed from my palm to the metal wall, which began to emit smoke as it melted.

    Once the wound healed, I repeated the same process. After about 10 minutes, a hole appeared in the wall.

    ¡®That should do it.¡¯

    I stopped inflicting wounds and kicked the wall around the hole with my foot. Thanks to the enhanced properties of my strength, my kick was enough to warp even the thick alloy wall. After erging the hole with my hands, I peeled away the melted metal.

    As a result, I had created a hole of sufficient size for me to crawl through. When I crossed over to the tracks, I was greeted by the distinctive fine dust of the subway. The strong scent of iron emanating from the steel rails, and the faint flow of electricity through the rails, caressed my auxiliary organ.

    As I examined the old tracks, I noticed a light in the distance. A train was approaching.

    ¡®The path is open.¡¯

    Now, all that¡¯s left is information about the prey I¡¯m going to hunt. I¡¯ll have to ask William when I meet him.

    ***

    It was 10:30 PM. By the time the light in themercial district had almost disappeared, Kevin was able to leave the DailyMass office.

    ¡®Ah, it¡¯s sote.¡¯

    Despite thete working hours, she didn¡¯t feel bad at all. The office manager was very satisfied with the coverage she had brought, and she mentioned considering her promotion after the board meeting.

    ¡®Does a promotion mean I¡¯ll get into the Administrative District?¡¯

    Or perhaps it could lead to her being transferred to a better, away from this wretched city.

    With such happy thoughts in mind, Kevin waited for the subway at the station.

    There was no one on the tform except her, but she didn¡¯t feel scared. The subway station was equipped with numerous cameras, and security personnel were watching for any issues beyond the camera¡¯s view.

    However, something unexpected happened that went against hermon sense. The lights inside the tform suddenly went out.

    ¡°Ahh!¡±

    Kevin was startled and sat in ce in the dark. While she remained frozen, a message came over the station¡¯s speakers.

    [We apologize. We are currently conducting power checks on the interior lighting of the subway station as part of the preparations for the board meeting. We will activate emergency power for those inside the tform. Please wait for a moment.]

    The message yed, and soon, red emergency lights illuminated the tform¡¯s interior.

    ¡°Damn, why are they checking the power at this hour?¡± Kevin muttered while brushing her knees.

    Lately, the entire subway station had been conducting power checks during thest train hours as part of the preparations for the board meeting. However, Kevin had no way of knowing this, as it wasn¡¯t something typically known to the subway security staff.

    The red lighting created a somewhat eerie atmosphere inside the tform. Kevin clenched her bag tightly, waiting for the train. She was frustrated, wondering when the train would arrive.

    ¡®Anyway, when¡¯s the training¡­ Huh?¡¯

    In her anxious gaze, Kevin spotted a man who had not been there a moment ago. He was standing on the same line as her.

    While it was unnerving to be alone in the red light, it was somewhat reassuring to have someone else there with her.

    As she pondered the mysterious man, she suddenly noticed a strange smell.

    ¡®Where is this smelling from¡­?¡¯

    The peculiar, damp smell of the underground subway station was different in quality from the norm, and it reached Kevin¡¯s nostrils for the first time in her life.

    ¡®Is it because of the smell?¡¯ She couldn¡¯t help but feel an unknown unease.

    ¡®Come to think of it, when did that guy get in?¡¯

    The man was standing close to the staircase leading down to the tform. Even if he had arrived while the lights were off, shouldn¡¯t she have heard his footsteps if that was the case? It couldn¡¯t have been that he crossed over from the pitch-ck railway tracks on the other side.

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    It¡¯s strange how people¡¯s thoughts work. Trying not to think about something eerie only makes more unsettling thoughts surge.

    ¡®Maybe it¡¯s better not to travel alone at night.¡¯ William¡¯s words suddenly came to mind. She swallowed hard and nced sidelong at the suspicious person.

    And then, she was startled. Unbeknownst to her, the suspicious man had turned his body to keep an eye on her. The man who had been observing the side where she stood began to move. He slowly approached her.

    ¡®Oh, please don¡¯t!¡¯ She wanted to run away, but her body had frozen, leaving her unable to move.

    Her colleagues at DailyMass referred to her as ¡®Lunatic Kevin.¡¯ It was a nickname she earned because she fearlessly pursued special news stories, regardless of who the subject was.

    In reality, she wasn¡¯t that brave. The reason she could act this way was due to her belonging to the DailyMass organization, and even more so, the aura of the Zhao family.

    Daily Mass, without the protection of the Zhao family, was nothing more than a minor tabloid publication. Kevin was only something significant because of the Zhao family¡¯s influence. Without it, she was nothing.

    As the man got closer and Kevin was feeling desperate, a rescue sound reached her ears. Behind the man, on the other side of the tracks, a train was approaching with its lights on.

    As the train pulled in, the man stood in ce. As soon as the train reached the tform, its doors opened, and Kevin hurriedly got inside.

    The man hesitated and tried to get on the train btedly, but the doors had already closed.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡±

    The man¡¯s mouth moved, and he shouted something, but it didn¡¯t reach her.

    ¡°You crazy son of a ****.¡±

    While Kevin cursed him in her mind, the train started moving.

    ¡°What a ****ing weirdo.¡±

    The suspicious man had moved away, and the train was now running towards the next station. Relieved, she took her seat.

    As her tension eased, a sudden drowsiness overcame her. She considered closing her eyes briefly until they arrived.

    ¡®Is that smell again?¡¯

    The unpleasant odor grew stronger, and she opened her eyes. She looked around, but her train car was empty.

    ¡®If that unpleasant smell from earlier hadn¡¯te back to my nose, I might have actually fallen asleep.¡¯

    As she nced around, her gaze fell on the adjacent car, where someone was seated.

    The person in the next car wore a suit that resembled a wetsuit, with ck alloy tes added as armor.

    ¡®Is that a cop?¡¯ She was familiar with the attire due to her being a journalist. The suit resembled the reinforced gear worn by heavily armed police officers.

    ¡®Why would they wear a helmet and a mask in the middle of the night? Where could they be going like this?¡¯

    Not only the attire but also the behavior was peculiar. Despite no one in the adjacent car, the police officer stood, not sitting.

    The outfit was strange, and their behavior was peculiar. In an empty car, the police officer stood rather than sitting down, maintaining the same posture throughout.

    ¡®What a strange fellow.¡¯

    But she didn¡¯t suspect that a fully armored police officer could be anything out of the ordinary, so she lost interest and closed her eyes.

    While she had her eyes closed, the police officer who had been standing still moved closer to her. When he opened the door to her car and stepped inside, the car shook slightly.

    ¡°Miss, what¡­ huh?¡± Due to the car shaking, she was roused from her half-sleep.

    The shaking of the car had disrupted her nap. Opening her eyes, she could finally see the interior of the car reflected on the reinforced ss.

    Inside the car she had boarded, the only ¡®human¡¯ was herself.

    ***

    ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    I lowered my tail and tripped Kevin, who was trying to escape. Thanks to the pheromone effect of my exoskeleton, she tripped over it.

    ¡°Hieek, please, spare me!¡±

    Of course, I couldn¡¯t spare her. To silence her noisy pleas, I decided to use my poisonous stinger.

    ¡®Sigh, I almost messed up earlier.¡¯

    Originally, I had nned to ambush and sting her while she was lured during the light inspection. However, a random man had interfered, almost blowing my cover. Unfortunately, he had spotted me climbing up from the other side of the tracks.

    But it wasn¡¯t easy to deal with the man. He was located near the stairs, close to the lights, and was fully exposed to the cameras. Trying to eliminate him along with the journalist was too risky.

    Killing her was easy; one sting of my poisonous barb would do it. However, dealing with the aftermath would be the issue.

    Thanks to the man, I had to rethink my ns. Fortunately, the train arrived just in time. As Kevin boarded the train, I followed her inside.

    The man btedly shouted for her to run, but Kevin didn¡¯t hear him.Thanks to the man, I had to rethink my ns. Fortunately, the train arrived just in time. As Kevin boarded the train, I followed her inside.

    The man btedly shouted for her to run, but Kevin didn¡¯t hear him.

    ¡®A journalist who doesn¡¯t listen to others, even when her life is at stake.¡¯

    Life was inherently ironic. Her face was a mess, with mascara smudged from her tears, her mouth wide open from screaming, and drool dripping down her chin.

    ¡°¡­ .¡±

    What could she be thinking right now? Did she not want to die, or was it just fear of facing a monster?

    It didn¡¯t matter much. What mattered was that she would soon be the nourishment for my nest.

    I reached out and grabbed her head, twisting it with a sound of rubber tearing. Her head was pulled off.

    A journalist who had tormented others with words all her life, had herst moments in silence. I opened my mouth wide and swallowed her head in one gulp.

    ¡®Mmm, not bad.¡¯

    For a journalist, her taste wasn¡¯t too terrible. Among the humans she had eaten sinceing to the space city, this one had a decent vor.

    ¡®It¡¯s strange. Wolves, being closer to animals, didn¡¯t taste like this when I ate them. It¡¯s fascinating how humans have this vor.¡¯

    Wolves didn¡¯t taste bad, but their fur made it a bit inconvenient to eat. Hairs kept getting stuck in my teeth while I ate them.

    ¡®On top of that, there¡¯s a human smell.¡¯

    And I have to eat 18 more of those Wolf-like creatures.

    ¡®Come to think of it, she does have the tooth strengthening trait. I hope the predation effect activates.¡¯

    ¡®¡­Well, let¡¯s finish the meal.¡¯

    Shaking off my unnecessary thoughts, I finished my meal.

    And then¡­

    [¡®Pre-saint > Quasi-saint¡¯ evolution conditions partly have been met]

    [Conditions: Transformable species 2/20 (Iplete), Humanoid species 13/20 (Iplete), Psychic Power-Using species 0/20 (Iplete)]

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Carnivorous Power¡¯ gic essence.]

    [Extracted the ¡®Carnivorous Power¡¯ from the biological characteristics of ¡®human¡¯.]

    [Do you want to apply ¡®Carnivorous Power¡¯?]

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    An unexpected stroke of luck had urred.

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 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50

    I thought I might have seen it wrong, but the transparent text box shimmering in the air didn¡¯t disappear.

    ¡®It¡¯s real. It¡¯s a bit different from what I was thinking.¡¯

    I wanted a trait that would enhance my teeth, but ¡®Carnivorous Power¡¯ doesn¡¯t seem to be a problem. Amorph¡¯s carnivorous power isn¡¯t particrly weak. After all, it can easily chew through human skulls, making it superiorpared to Earth¡¯s animals.

    However, in a world of space survival filled with highly protective armor and equipment, that level of biting strength isn¡¯t anything special.

    ¡®Amorph¡¯s mouth structure is closer to a mix of snakes andmon animals.¡¯

    The way it opens its mouth wide to firmly grasp its prey is snake-like, but the subsequent careful chewing is simr to that of typical carnivorous animals.

    ¡®If I gain the ¡®Carnivorous Power¡¯ trait, it can be a weapon in itself.¡¯

    In the game, ¡®Carnivorous Power¡¯ was considered a decent trait. It wasn¡¯t necessary, but it was a useful attribute, like the ws of a predator.

    To use the Transcendence System, I needed to have a total of 13 physical-rted traits. Currently, I wascking in each of those traits, so having this one was much better than having none.

    ¡®With ¡®Carnivorous Power,¡¯ I¡¯ll have a total of 12. I just need one more to go.¡¯

    I epted it, and my head started to change. My jaw slightly ached, and then the sound of bones colliding followed as my size increased. My head grewrger ordingly. As my head and jaw grew, the auxiliary mechanism underneath my jaw also became longer and thicker.

    The change wasn¡¯t just about size; my teeth seemed to tingle, and the structure of my teeth was slightly different from before.

    It wasn¡¯t a significant mutation, so it didn¡¯t take long toplete. After the mutation, I examined my face reflected in the reinforced ss of the subway.

    Overall, my head had berger, giving a slightly different impression. My previous head felt pointed, like a lizard, whereas now it felt thicker and more robust, like an anaconda.

    And my teeth had changed as well, making them longer in the part of my teeth that corresponded to human canines. If they grew a bit more, you could even call them fangs.

    ¡®They looked cute in the game¡­¡¯

    Was it because it was reality? I now had a much more intimidating appearance.

    Not only did it look scary, but thanks to the ¡®Carnivorous Power,¡¯ I should be able to chew through the alloy inside the spaceship without any problems.

    ¡®I¡¯d like to test it, but¡­¡¯

    It¡¯s a shame, but it¡¯s time to get off. We¡¯ll arrive at the next station in a few minutes, so I need to prepare to disembark. I picked up the bag that the journalist had dropped.

    ¡®So, how am I going to get out?¡¯

    As William had mentioned, the train was thest one for now. Even if we reached the next station, the chances of finding people there were low, but there was one problem.

    ¡®The man from the tform earlier.¡¯

    When the train was departing, judging by his demeanor, it was highly likely that he had reported me.

    Back when I was on the tform, I had already activated my camouge mechanism, so he probably saw me as a police officer rather than a monster. Not being seen as a monster was fortunate, but the issue was that he saw me crawling from the tracks to the tform.

    ¡®I should open the door on the opposite side of the tform.¡¯

    A few momentster, a broadcast announced that we would be arriving at the station soon. I crossed over the car and moved to a car as far away from the tform as possible.

    The moving train gradually slowed down, and the sharp sound of friction between the wheels and the tracks echoed.

    ¡®Just as I expected.¡¯

    With my body crouched down, I looked out the window. In the distance, subway security personnel were waiting for the train. I grabbed the door on the opposite side of the tform with mybat arms. Thanks to Amorph¡¯s robust strength, the door opened easily.

    Before arriving at the tform, I jumped out of the slowly moving train. It might be different if I was running at full speed, but I could easily endure this level of impact.

    Landing safely on the tracks without any special equipment, I moved quickly before they could board the train.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Hey, this door is open!¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    Ignoring the startled security personnel¡¯s voices, I crawled into the darkness of the tracks.

    ***

    When I returned to the nest, Numbers 26 and Adhai were awake. Number 26 was ying with spores, and Adhai was grooming its wings with its tentacles.

    Number 26, who saw me, greeted me by emitting light from his body.

    ?You¡¯re back??

    [ZZZ(Yes)]

    ?Big Baby, something¡¯s different.?

    Number 26, who noticed the change in me, approached me. It seemed intrigued, extending its tentacles to gently touch my face.

    ?Big baby grew really fast!?

    [ZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (I¡¯m in the midst of growing).]

    ?Impressive.?

    Adhai, too, appeared to have developed curiosity and came closer to me.

    ?Adult?, ?Changed?.

    [ZZ ZZZ (That¡¯s right)]

    ?Mouth? ?Tentacles? ?Cool? ?Features? ?Great young one!?.

    Adhai seemed particrly pleased with my enhanced auxiliary mechanisms, which had grown thickerpared to before. It sent out a wave of praise, then lowered its body.

    ¡®Gagon seems to like the shape of my tentacles, even though it¡¯s not in the settings.¡¯

    Gagon is an NPC creature, and being rare, not much is known about its ecology. I¡¯m well-informed about its weaknesses and what to be cautious of, but I don¡¯t know much about their ecology.

    ¡®Still, it¡¯s nice to be appreciated from that side.¡¯

    Unlike Number 26, Adhai is in a contractual rtionship with me. So, if he takes a liking to me, that¡¯s a good thing.

    ?Big baby, since you¡¯re still young, eat a lot and grow quickly.?

    [ZZ ZZZZ (Yes, thanks)]

    ?I want to grow quickly too.?

    The little one who was perched on my shoulder suddenly seemed a bit down. It seemed like I was growing quickly, but it wasn¡¯t able to, which was probably bothering it.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    When thinking about the future, it was important to elerate Number 26¡¯s growth.

    Last time, when I was fighting with the androids in the apartment, I realized that even with all my abilities, there were limitations to fighting alone. Maybe if I had all the traits, it would be different, but in my current situation, hunting enemies at ease wasn¡¯t easy.

    If those two hadn¡¯t been therest time, I would have had a much harder time. Without luck, I might have been defeated while fighting alone.

    ¡®In the game, it¡¯s fine to die, but it¡¯s not reality.¡¯

    In reality, suffering a fatal injury is much more disadvantageouspared to games. In games, you simply respawn after dying, but in reality, it¡¯s not that simple. Fatal injuries increase the likelihood of defeat, and defeat ultimately leads to death.

    ¡®To avoid that, I need to pay more attention to Number 26¡¯s growth.¡¯

    However, not being able to know the growth conditions and process of the sea demon is undoubtedly a problem. Sea demons are not as rare as Gagons, but they are not creatures that yers can easily study, so their ecology is not well-known.

    ¡®Still, I can make educated guesses.¡¯

    Sea demons are creatures that exist only in the deep sea of the ocean. By selecting creatures with simr characteristics to those that inhabit the deep sea and feeding them to Number 26, it might be possible to make it grow quickly.

    So far, I have mainly provided them with creatures that I don¡¯t need, but I might need to change my approach slightly. I mean, providing creatures that don¡¯t help me much but can be helpful to Number 26. Fortunately, there are still a few creatures in the smuggling list that meet these criteria.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (If you eat a lot, you¡¯ll grow quickly.)]

    ?Really??

    [ZZ ZZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Yeah. Let¡¯s try it.)]

    ?Yeah!?

    ?I¡¯m hungry too.?

    [ZZZ (You too)]

    It seems like I¡¯ll have to call William again.

    ***

    E-District Apartments in the Residential Zone.

    A man was spending his time watching Virtual TV. Like most of the people living in this residential zone, he seemed to be immersed in the stimting virtual reality with a carefree expression.

    At that moment, amunication device next to the man chimed softly. The man¡¯s hazy gaze instantly sharpened.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    The man turned off the virtual TV and checked themunication device. A short message was disyed on the small screen.

    [Operation ready.]

    ¡°Finally, it¡¯s here,¡± muttered the man, Jade Russell.

    A year ago, Jade Russell received a specific order from Si-Hyun Yujin. The order was to secretly smuggle a Gagon disguised as a Fairy Wing into the space city before the Council¡¯s announcement. Jade was also tasked with infiltrating along with it.

    Although it hadn¡¯t been officially announced by the Council, Si-Hyun Yujin was known as Akira Yujin¡¯s shadow. Obtaining crucial information rted to Noble Capital was not a difficult task for him.

    The reason for disguising the Gagon as a Fairywing was partly because their appearances were somewhat simr, but mostly because smuggling with Fairywings was almost nonexistent. Si-Hyun and Jade both knew that smuggling often urred in the Special Trade Zone, so this was a precaution to prevent any potential smuggling attempts.

    Afterpleting all the preparations, Jade pretended to smuggle the Gagon disguised as a Fairy Wing at the Special Trade Zone. He intentionally got caught by the Smuggling Animal Control Team. Once the Gagon was handed over to the team, the first objective was aplished, and he managed to escape secretly from the detention center.

    ¡°It¡¯s time to put this ability to good use again.¡±

    Jade looked down at themunication device in his hand. Suddenly, the battery ran out, and the body of themunication device slowly disintegrated, being absorbed into the palm of his hand.

    A few minutester, themunication device hadpletely vanished, leaving only some metal dust and a set of sharp teeth on his palm.

    The Russell family consisted of individuals raised directly by the Yujin family, or more precisely, Si-hyun Yujin. Si-hyun gave each individual in the Russell family specific roles and provided them with what they needed ording to those roles.

    For example, Arnold Russell received a valuable weapon, a sma pistol, suitable for his role, while Jade Russell received the genes of a rare and hard-to-acquire creature.

    The original source of his gic material was a Metallic Gremlin, a notorious creature known as a predator on spaceships. Metallic Gremlins were about 30-80 cm in size and resembled hairless primates. The key difference was that their skin was entirely metallic in color, they had no eyes on their faces, and they had arge, circr mouth that could cover half of their face.

    The grotesque appearance of the Metallic Gremlins aside, what made them the symbol of dread for the crew were their habits. These creatures gathered in swarms, floated through space, and sought out their prey. And the prey of the Metallic Gremlins was metal.

    Drifting through space, when they encountered a spacecraft, they immediately clung to the outer hull and ruthlessly tore and devoured the metal with their voracious, lightning-fast mouths. Their speed was so swift that even a massive battleship, if caught by a group of Metallic Gremlins, would be reduced to a mere skeleton within a day.

    These formidable creatures were challenging not only due to their threat but also because of their small size, making them difficult to detect on a ship¡¯s radar, even with advanced technology that struggled to distinguish them from space debris or small asteroids.

    Furthermore, even if they were discovered early, their bodies,posed of metal, made them resilient toser weapons. This often led to cases where a presumed-dead Gremlin wouldterunch another assault.

    As a result, many spacecraft continued to be the prey of Metallic Gremlins, leading to the inevitable end of their operational life.

    If it weren¡¯t for the Yujin family, extracting and using the genes of these threatening creatures would have been unthinkable.

    ¡°Thanks to this ability, escaping was not difficult.¡±

    While he was imprisoned, he used the abilities of the Metallic Gremlin to break free. After that, he received help from hisrades, underwent stic surgery, and had been in hiding until now.

    ¡°I need to retrieve Gagon.¡±

    Jade stood up from his seat. It was time to prepare for the mission his owner, Si-Hyun Yujin, had entrusted him with.

    The container where Gagon was stored was protected by a high-level encryption, but it didn¡¯t matter. With his abilities, he could easily unlock it.

    Jade took out anothermunication device and contacted the colleagues who had been in hiding with him. They needed to keep Gagon in a deep freeze until Si-Hyun Yujin arrived.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get going.¡±

    Everything was perfect, or so he thought. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t anticipate what was about to happen.

    The most crucial part of his n, the Blue Gagon, was now roaming beneath his feet with some strange creatures.

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 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51

    Jade, who had left the house, was waiting for hisrades in front. Around the time he finished smoking two cigarettes, a ck sedan appeared in the distance. Jade waved his hand with a cigarette in his mouth, and a dignified-looking midsize sedan approached him.

    The car came to a halt, and Jade opened the front passenger door. Inside, a woman with goat horns and white hair was behind the wheel.

    ¡°You said toe secretly.¡±

    ¡°Just in case, bringing an inconspicuous vehicle might raise suspicion.¡±

    The woman¡¯s name was Jete Russell. Her appearance clearly indicated her cultist background.

    ¡°Anyway, for all five of us to ride, this size is necessary.¡±

    ¡°¡­Well, you¡¯re not wrong. What about the others?¡±

    With a tongue click, Jade got into the passenger seat. As he did, a man in the back seat revealed himself, removing his camouge.

    ¡°Dwayne Russell. I received orders and have returned¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡±

    With a gloomy appearance, Dwayne Russell, anky man, had been assigned the role of a sniper among Yujin¡¯s subordinates who had infiltrated this ce. That¡¯s why he was wearing an enhanced suit with optical camouge effects added.

    Originally, an advanced enhanced suit was something akin to powered armor. However, the suit Dwayne was wearing had been modified at great cost, to the point where it couldn¡¯t bepared to the original.

    In return, its defensive capabilities had significantly decreased to the level of an intermediate enhanced suit, but that wasn¡¯t a significant issue since Dwayne¡¯s role was to support his teammates from the rear.

    ¡°All that¡¯s left are Frost and Hope.¡±

    ¡°Frost is in the Entertainment District, and Hope is¡­Here hees.¡±

    A man with a sporty haircut, Hope Russell, was carrying a cello bag and heading there way. Hope went to the back of the car and tapped on the trunk.

    ¡°Open it.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an expensive car, you know.¡±

    Jete grumbled as she opened the trunk. Hope, who had put the cello bag in the trunk, sat in the rear seat.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, everyone.¡±

    ¡°No problem with the weapons, right?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. To be honest, I¡¯m not sure if we¡¯ll even need them.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down. You never know when an unexpected incident might ur.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, Mom. Dwayne, my man, how have you been?¡±

    Hope casually brushed off Jade¡¯s advice and struck up a conversation with Dwayne, who was sitting next to him.

    ¡°Ugh, that bastard is annoying every time I see him.¡±

    ¡°Why are you picking a fight again, you bitch?¡±

    ¡°¡­Jete, don¡¯t talk nonsense. Let¡¯s just get going.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    The Russell children, who had infiltrated the T&C Special Trade Center, always operated as a team. With over dozens of operations performed together, they could rightfully be called a veteran team.

    ¡°Jade is right. Soldiers must always be prepared.¡±

    Dwayne Russell had the most soldier-like personality among the team members. He was responsible for rear support and sniping.

    ¡°What¡¯s the point of those weapons? They¡¯re useless if we run out of ammo. Superpowers are way better than that.¡±

    Jete Russell, the focal point of the group, was not only a cultist but also possessed an incredibly powerful and rare ability.

    ¡°You stubborn bastard. You¡¯lle to your senses when a grenade explodes under your ass.¡±

    Hope Russell, who handled various weapons but specialized in using explosives, was a hot-tempered individual. However, inbat, he was more reliable than anyone else.

    ¡°¡­You guys fight every time you meet.¡±

    The leader and demolition specialist, Jade Russell. Thanks to receiving the Metallic Gremlin gic material from Si-hyun Yujin, he could destroy almost all types of metals.

    Lastly, there was Frost Russell, who yed the role of the vanguard in the team, although he was not present at the moment.

    They each had their own specialized roles and, having operated together for a long time, they had a well-established synergy. However, it was difficult to say they had a good rtionship with each other. Jade, who yed the leadership role, was the only one who got along with everyone, while the others had a more distant rtionship with each other.

    ¡®They¡¯re fine during missions, but outside of that, they¡¯re always like this.¡¯

    Nevertheless, they were all professionals and had clear boundaries between work and personal matters. So, Jade didn¡¯t intervene much in their interactions.

    The car speeding through thete night came to a halt near the Entertainment District¡¯s border. After a short wait, a cyborg sprinted from the distance.

    ¡°I¡¯m thest to arrive.¡±

    ¡°Long time no see, Frost.¡±

    ¡°Nice to see you too, Jade.¡±

    The cyborg, Frost Russell, hopped into the back seat with a cheerful smile. However, the expressions of the others in the back seat soured as soon as he got in.

    ¡°Crazy, who did you pick up again?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Tina?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, this bastard. He reeks of blood.¡±

    ¡°Hehe.¡±

    All the people in the car were experts in killing, having each taken the lives of hundreds of individuals, but Frost stood out with his extraordinary intuition.

    ¡®Even when there¡¯s no mission, he keeps killing people.¡¯

    Frost, who had undergone over 80% of full-body modifications and was closer to an android, was a unique cyborg among the Russell family. As the one responsible for close-quartersbat in the team, he was the most violent member among the Russell family.

    Among cyborgs who had shifted to bing space pirates, there were often cases like Frost¡¯s. They involuntarily turned into machines, which shattered their minds, leading them to seek only extreme stimtion.

    For instance, torture, murder, and acts of violence towards others, among others.

    Generally speaking, among the converted cyborgs, 80% chose the path of space pirates since they were closer to the space scum in terms of their mental state. The remaining 20% came to ces like the T&C Special Trade Center, where ¡®entertainment¡¯ was well provided. Frost fell into thetter category.

    ¡®Still, he doesn¡¯t seem to have any issues with mission performance, which is fortunate.¡¯

    Frost was known to selectively kill only those who could be killed when not on a mission, so Jade wasn¡¯t particrly worried. The constant smell of blood emanating from him was a burden, though.

    ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡±

    Jade, lost in thought, was interrupted by Jete. Through the front passenger window, they could see a stack of containers piled high.

    ¡°Get out and get ready, everyone.¡±

    While the other team members checked their equipment, Jade approached a chain-link fence surrounding the cargo yard. He grasped the fence with his hands, and as he stood still, there was a snapping sound as the fence began to tear.

    ¡°Is this enough?¡±

    Now, there was a hole in the fencerge enough for three people to enter at once. Jade crossed the fence and entered the cargo yard. Afterpleting their checks, the other team members followed him.

    ¡°Where should I go?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s this way, Dwayne. As always, you¡¯re in charge of rear guard duty.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    With his response, Dwayne¡¯s body dissolved into thin air, bing a shadow.

    Excluding Dwayne, the rest of the group walked with Jade through the forest of containers. Thanks to the Metallic Gremlin gene, Jade could easily distinguish which container he was looking for, even if they all looked the same from the outside.

    The rest of the team followed Jade through the forest of containers. Thanks to his Metallic Gremlin gics, Jade could easily distinguish which container he was looking for by the metallic scent, even if they all looked the same.

    He guided the team effortlessly, as if he were reading a map. Soon, they arrived at a container, and Jade ced his hand on a terminal.

    As his hand touched the terminal, sparks flew from the device, and then, with a solid click, the door inside the thick steel wall opened.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Inside the container, Jade, who had just stepped in, felt something was amiss. Normally, there should be a cold sensation due to the cryogenic chamber where the Gagon is stored, but the inside of the container felt warm.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Jade, with a sense of unease, quickly rushed to the cryogenic chamber and opened the lid.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Huh? Is this the right ce?¡±

    Following him, Jete entered, and Jade couldn¡¯t say anything in response.

    There was nothing inside the cryogenic chamber.

    ***

    ¡°This is the container containing the mentioned creatures.¡±

    William, who has been summoned by me twice, still maintained a polite attitude. Whenever he had negative thoughts about me, the parasite in his brain caused him pain.

    Despite his politeness, he regrly took painkillers, likely because he harbored considerable resentment towards me.

    ¡®Why doesn¡¯t he just give up?¡¯

    Suddenly, I became curious about what kind of traits I might gain from eating William¡¯s flesh. Of course, there was no guarantee that I would get a 100% gic essence, but if I did, what kind of traits would manifest?

    ¡®This is the epitome of human nature, isn¡¯t it?¡¯

    Even with a significant amount of pain, William continued to resist attacking me. His determination to keep fighting, even though he knew he was going to die, was remarkable. He was better suited for this than being a pirate quartermaster.

    ¡®I should hope he loses his usefulness.¡¯

    Whether William knew that I was trying to consume him or not, he simply lowered his head, offering no resistance.

    ¡®Enough of that. Where should I check?¡¯

    I shifted my focus away from William and opened the container.

    Inside the container were thirty Waking Woods.

    Waking Woods were nt-like creatures that lived on jungles, simr to ntizens.

    About 30 cm in size, these cute and fairy-like Waking Woods were sleeping inside cryogenic capsules,pletely unaware of the danger they might be in.

    ¡®They were popr in the game too.¡¯

    Just like Bubble Amoebas were popr due to their appearance, Waking Woods were also loved by many for their small and cute appearance. There were even enthusiasts who collected Waking Woods, so it wasn¡¯t surprising.

    I had also hunted down many Waking Woods in the past. In my case, it was not because of their cuteness but rather because of the traits they possessed.

    The trait that Waking Woods had was ¡®Natural Healing,¡¯ which was aponent of the ¡®Regeneration¡¯ trait I possessed. When an Amorph obtained more than one trait with simr effects, the one with the higher effect took precedence. In other words, if I had both ¡®Natural Healing¡¯ and ¡®Regeneration,¡¯ ¡®Regeneration¡¯ would be the active trait.

    However, situations where ¡®Regeneration¡¯ didn¡¯t work against attacks that nullified the trait were rare, so ¡®Natural Healing¡¯ didn¡¯te into y often.

    ¡®So, for now, it¡¯s not necessary.¡¯

    Having ¡®Natural Healing¡¯ wouldn¡¯t be immediately beneficial to me. Of course, it could serve as material for the Transcendence System, but it didn¡¯t provide significant advantages otherwise.

    That¡¯s why this time, I decided to give it to Number 26.

    ¡®Perhaps a prey with healing-rted traits might aid in its growth.¡¯

    If the oue of the mutated Bubble Amoeba¡¯s evolution was a Sea Demon, then it would consume and evolve through consuming other creatures on the same with the same habitat. Therefore, providing it with prey from the oceanic was the best choice.

    While there weren¡¯t any aquatic animals among the smuggled creatures, that didn¡¯t mean I was giving up.

    I formed a new hypothesis. Could consuming a creature with specific genes or traits lead to evolution?

    So far, Number 26 had consumed various creatures without showing any significant changes. This indicated that obtaining nutrients was a separate process.

    Reflecting on the circumstances surrounding the increase in its tentacles, it had only happened when it defeated Si-Hyun Yujin and when it consumed smuggled animals. Both instances had no significant rtion to marine creatures.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    It seemed that powerful enemy hunting and consuming special creatures were the conditions for growth, simr to Amorphs. That led me to believe that the evolution into a Sea Demon might also involve acquiring specific traits. Therefore, I intentionally chose creatures with self-healing abilities, simr to deep-sea creatures.

    ¡®Now, let¡¯s begin by examining the traits of the prey.¡¯

    I called Number 26.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Hungry? It¡¯s time to eat.)]

    ?Yeah!?

    Number 26 rushed to the cryogenic chamber as if it was hungry. Using its tentacles, it operated the terminal naturally, just like I did.

    ¡®It seems like it¡¯s learned.¡¯

    Perhaps it had be smarter as it grew. Without any difficulty, it easily opened the cryogenic chamber.

    As the cold air escaped and the lid opened, Number 26 used its tentacles to pick out a Waking Wood.

    ?Keck!?

    The Waking Wood, awakened from its slumber, had its waist broken, and it died. Number 26 inted its entire body and swallowed the Waking Wood¡¯s corpse in one gulp.

    After about 5 minutes of absorbing the corpse, Number 26 immediately targeted the next cryogenic chamber.

    ¡®It seems to digest faster.¡¯

    Whether it was due to the small size of the Waking Woods or the growth of Number 26, I wasn¡¯t sure, but its digestive fluid seemed stronger than before. At this rate, it was almost as potent as my acidic blood.

    While I watched attentively, Number 26 devoured ten Waking Woods. It seemed more active, probably because it was full now.

    ?I¡¯m full.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ (Just one more)]

    ?Okay.?

    I didn¡¯t expect Number 26 to eat all of them anyway. There was another waiting behind it. Adhai, perched on top of my head, was patiently waiting for its turn, drooling in anticipation.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ (Just a little more patience)]

    ?I?, ?Patient?, ?Patient?.

    [ZZZ (Alright)]

    I petted Adhai once to express my gratitude.

    In the meantime, Number 26 was digesting the eleventh Waking Wood. When there were almost no remains of the Waking Wood left in its pink, semi-transparent body, Number 26 suddenly began to tremble.

    ¡®!¡¯

    Its body started to expand. I was momentarily startled, thinking something was wrong, but fortunately, there was no sign of it being in pain.

    Number 26¡¯s body swelled, and its shape changed slightly. It used to have a round, bun-like appearance, but now the upper part had be thicker, and small fin-like limbs had emerged at the bottom.

    The original three tentacles had increased to six, and its body size was muchrger, approximately 60 cm in length. While it used to be smaller than Adhai, it had now reversed.

    ¡®It looks simr to the Sea Demon.¡¯

    If it grew its body to around 20 meters and made the fins much longer and thicker, it would be abat form simr to the Sea Demon.

    Number 26 seemed unfamiliar with the changes in its body as it moved awkwardly with its small fins. Its small fins looked quite cutepared to its body size, but I knew better. Those fins wouldter transform into incredibly brutal weapons that couldn¡¯t bepared to the saw-toothed tentacles.

    As Number 26 wandered around the container, it looked at me strangely and then lit up its body, as if something was amiss.

    ?The big baby got smaller.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (No, it¡¯s you who got bigger)]

    ?I got bigger??

    It seemed like this was the first time it had experienced something like this, and the little one didn¡¯t quite understand. I exined my own changes to it using a metaphor.

    [ZZZ (Yes)]

    ?Wow!?

    The little one jumped up with joy upon realizing that it had also grown. Not only had its volume increased, but its weight had also gone up, causing the container to shake slightly.

    ¡®I should be careful when taking it with me for surprise attacks.¡¯

    Before, I used to carry it on my shoulders or head, but now that seems impossible.

    After the celebratory ceremony of joy, Number 26 retracted its tentacles and legs into its body. When it did so, it returned to its original Bubble Amoeba form, onlyrger.

    ?I¡¯ll protect the big baby!?

    [ZZZZ (Thank you)]

    I petted it in appreciation. Its change in size had noticeably altered its texture. Previously, it felt like a water balloon, but now it had a softer, plush pillow-like sensation.

    ¡°¡­The monster got bigger.¡±

    William, who was watching Number 26 from outside, murmured with a troubled expression.

    Watching the transformation of Number 26 seemed to stimte Adhai, and it poked my head with its hand.

    ?Adult?, ?Me?, ?want?, ?Grow?, ?too?.

    [ZZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZZ (If you eat, you¡¯ll grow too.)]

    ?Good?

    Honestly, I didn¡¯t know how Gagon grew. Since it wasn¡¯t a typical organism, I assumed it required specific conditions, but I couldn¡¯t be sure at the moment.

    ¡®Gagon might be rted to creatures with psychic powers.¡¯

    After acquiring the Type, I would also need to consider Gagon¡¯s growth.

    The remaining walking woods were all consumed by Adhai.

    After finishing our meal, we left the container. As I was about to send William away and leave, several scenes shed before my eyes.

    [Reinforced alloy rounds pierced my head.]

    [I died.]

    ¡®What?¡¯

    The predator sense suddenly kicked in, and I quickly turned my head.I quickly turned my head as a bullet tore through the tentacle behind my head, narrowly missing me.

    ¡®Someone is attacking.¡¯

    I focused on the sensations from my two tentacles below my chin, and using auxiliary sensors, I determined the source of the attack. My entire sensory perception was directed towards my auxiliary sensors, which analyzed the flow of air disturbed by the passing bullet.

    In the distance, near the boundary of the Harbor Earth, I sensed something. The distance was too great for me to pinpoint the exact location.

    ¡®Sniper!¡¯

    I gestured to the others and William to take cover behind the containers and rapidly changed my position. There were no more shots from the enemy¡¯s direction.

    ¡®Why all of a sudden?¡¯

    Since William wasn¡¯t saying anything, it wasn¡¯t likely to be the police. The journalist who was following me had died not too long ago, so it wasn¡¯t likely to be someone connected to her.

    ¡®A round powerful enough to pierce my head, and not a regr gun.¡¯

    There is only one sma weapon-ss sniper rifle that uses reinforced alloy bullets- Sniper coil gun.

    ¡®Not many people in this city would have a sniper coil gun.¡¯

    If someone did, the heavily armed police would have brought it. If this were during the Council, the newly arrived security personnel might have had them, but the Council was still several days away.

    ¡®Who would want to assassinate me with an expensive weapon like this?¡¯

    As I considered this, one person came to mind: Arnold Russell, the man who had nearly killed me on the research ship.

    ¡®¡­ He came for Gagon.¡¯

    Of all the days, it had to be today. And it seemed like he wasn¡¯t alone.

    Within the detection range of my auxiliary sensors, four unfamiliar individuals were approaching.

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 Chapter 52

    Chapter 52

    ¡®It¡¯s a tough fate.¡¯

    Even back on the research ship, Arnold Russell tried to kill Keisaragi Yujin, but I devoured him first.

    Here, someone named Jade Russell brought a Gagon for terrorism, but that Gagon is now apanying me.

    ¡®They must have targeted me after seeing that I have a Gagon.¡¯

    Since Adhai always rides on my head, it¡¯s not strange for the enemies to think that way. In any case, the enemy¡¯s attack has already begun. We need to be prepared to face it.

    Currently, there are four approaching enemies, but the sniper is likely not among them.

    ¡®The sniper coil gun has an effective range of 1.5 km. It¡¯s highly likely they shot from a high point beyond the boundary of the Harbor Earth.¡¯

    Compared to regr sniper rifles, it¡¯s not easy to consider it as having a long effective range, but it has a significant advantage in firepower and pration. It can easily prate even the toughest part of my head.

    Therefore, unlike other sniper rifles, the sniper coil gun snipes at rtively close ranges to exploit its advantages. The enemy probably shot me from a high point about 1 km away.

    ¡®The problem is that I can¡¯t pinpoint the sniper¡¯s exact location¡¯

    Excluding the sniper, there are currently four entities within my sensory range. Three of them are rtively close, and one is further back.

    From the iing entities, I could tell that there were no androids, as there was no artificial skin smell and no faint electrical signals running throughout their bodies.

    There was one person among the enemies who exhibited movements reminiscent of machines, but judging from the stronger smell of blood rather than a rubber smell from their skin, they were likely cyborgs.

    ¡®Plus, there¡¯s a cultist among them too.¡¯

    I sensed a faint flow of psychic power from the person in the back among the enemies. The quantity of power was slightly better than Adhai, but it¡¯s still unclear whether they are strong or weak.

    The reason cults¡¯ psychic powers are frightening is due to their diversity and uniqueness. Cults are a rare species that have the potential for various types of psychic power techniques. It¡¯s easy to fall prey to bizarre and extraordinary psychic power attacks by cults if you underestimate them.

    ¡®To check their abilities, I need to see their appearance first.¡¯

    The auxiliary systemprehensively analyzes various factors such as scent, sound, vibration, etc., to ascertain the opponent¡¯s condition. It¡¯s difficult to read every detail of appearance, so if you want to know their appearance, you have to look at it with your naked eyes. Under normal circumstances, I would rely on the auxiliary system, but it¡¯s different when dealing with cults.

    ¡®Each horn signifies a specialized psychic power.¡¯

    Cults are a species where appearance is highly important, as it helps determine whether they have an aggressive style or a supportive style based on the unique psychic power of each horn.

    In other words, horns are one of the few weaknesses among the many strengths of the cults.

    Cult yers also know well about the weaknesses of horns and usually deceive their opponents by trimming or hiding them. However, I was confident that the enemy would not do that.

    ¡®Cults ce a high value on their horns ording to their beliefs. In the cult society, a person¡¯s job is determined based on the appearance of their horns, so damaging the horns is considered a serious crime. So, unless they are yers, they will never touch their horns.¡¯

    ¡®Even if they were to change the appearance of the horns, they would only go as far as decorating them like jewelry.¡¯

    While analyzing the enemies from a concealed position, something small flew towards me from a distance.

    ¡®Grenade!¡¯

    I quickly moved away from that spot. Soon after, a powerful explosion urred where I had been. The explosive force was immense, causing containers weighing tens of tons to fly into the sky.

    The enemy didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of hiding their rampage in this city. Otherwise, there would be no reason to fire a grenade that caused such a massive explosion visible beyond Harbor Earth¡¯s boundary.

    ¡®Ugh, this is going to be a headache.¡¯

    Currently, I am being tracked by the armed police. While William is helping to disrupt them, causing such amotion will surely get us caught.

    ¡®I need to clean this up quickly, anyway.¡¯

    Those who put me in danger won¡¯t be spared.

    ¡®So far, the detected enemies include cult member, cyborg, a heavy weapon user, a sniper¡­ and one more?¡¯

    There was definitely one more, but their whereabouts weren¡¯t visible. Since it wasn¡¯t detectable by the auxiliary system, it seemed like they were far away, waiting for an opportunity to attack.

    ¡®Excluding the missing person, that¡¯s four.¡¯

    I need to decide who to eliminate first.

    ¡®It would be best to kill the sniper first, but it¡¯s difficult under the current conditions.¡¯

    I have two long-range attack methods: the Spine Projectile Organ and the Monster¡¯s Tentacles.

    The monster¡¯s tentacle consumes a lot of energy, so I can¡¯t use it. In practice, the Spine Projectile Organ is my only long-range weapon.

    ¡®If it¡¯s the Spine Projectile, I can face the sniper, but¡­¡¯

    The problem is that the enemy is in a high ce, while I am in a low position. Moreover, the effective range of the Spine Projectile is 500m. Compared to the weapon the other side is carrying, it has less than half the effective range. To fight properly, I need to somehow close the distance with the sniper.

    Unless the enemies are fools, they won¡¯t just leave me alone. The guy among them who is equipped with heavy weapons will most likely try to block my approach.

    ¡®I need to find a way to get closer¡­ oh no.¡¯

    The auxiliary device reported that the enemy¡¯s armor-piercing rounds wereing through the containers towards me.

    I immediately leaped towards the front. The bullet that aimed for my head once again failed to hit its target, only striking the barren ground.

    ¡®Why would they shoot from a position where they can¡¯t see me?¡¯

    This was clearly an attack that defiedmon sense. Just a moment ago, I was lying on the ground,pletely hidden behind the container. To see me, they would have to either approach my position closely or go to a high point where the entire harbor view could be seen.

    ¡®Could it be?¡¯

    I, who had figured out how the enemies were reading my movements, dashed towards the front. Within a few seconds, two grenadesnded on top of the container where I had been. If I had stayed in that spot just a bit longer, I would have been swept away by the explosion.

    As expected, the enemies are reading my invisible movements and coordinating. I know where this abilityes from.

    ¡®It¡¯s the Cult¡¯s Soul Link technology.¡¯

    Among the psychic powers used by the Cult, there is a technique called ¡°Soul Link.¡± It¡¯s a psychic power that connects the senses of specific allies to assist each other. For example, if there are yers A, B, and C, when A links their vision to B and C, all three share the same field of vision.

    In the game, this effect of shared vision was often implemented in a mini-map format at the top or bottom of the screen, and it wasmonly used by yers who enjoyed support roles.

    ¡®So, they might be a support type with Soul Link.¡¯

    If that¡¯s the case, the enemy Cult¡¯s horns are probably simr in appearance to goat horns. If they happen to have deer-like horns, it would be hard to guarantee their victory, but it¡¯s probably not the case.

    ¡®It seems all the enemies are sharing their vision.¡¯

    Coincidentally, the effective range of Soul Link is up to a radius of 700 meters, centered on the caster. It automatically disconnects if you go beyond that range. So, the sniper attacking me is most likely doing so from a location not far from the effective range of the Soul Link.

    ¡®I can specte the sniper¡¯s location, but¡­¡¯

    While jumping between containers, the enemy¡¯s attacks didn¡¯t stop. Due to their indiscriminate attacks, the number of containers containing the gic essence I need was rapidly decreasing.

    ¡®I should deal with the heavy weapons specialist first.¡¯

    If this continues, there won¡¯t be a single gic essence left for me.

    While running, I fired the Spine Projectile Organ behind me. The sharp, icicle-like biological bullets flew towards the enemy¡¯s head.

    The enemy wasn¡¯t wearing protective gear on their body. There was no way to avoid my bone spikes.

    Or so I thought, but my expectations were wrong.

    ¡°Hehe, I can¡¯t just let it happen like that.¡±

    The cyborg, wearing thick gloves, deflected the bone spikes with a hammer. I was more surprised by the extraordinary reflexes of the opponent than the toughness of the hammer.

    ¡®They deflected it?¡¯

    For a cyborg to exert such strength, they would have to rece most of their body with machinery. This was a level that you wouldn¡¯t see outside of the StarUnion, and I didn¡¯t expect to encounter such a formidable opponent here.

    ¡®These enemies are no joke.¡¯

    I had never anticipated encountering such a strong adversary in such an unexpected situation.

    ¡®I need time to regroup.¡¯

    If I continue like this, I won¡¯t even be able to retaliate once. Just as I was thinking this, an enemy protected by the cyborg fired a grenade at me.

    ¡®Damn it.¡¯

    I was a momentte in dodging, and I was caught in the explosion. While my outer shell had some resistance to fire, it couldn¡¯tpletely negate the pain. I grit my teeth and kept moving despite the burning pain.

    ¡°Damn bug won¡¯t die!¡±

    Ignoring the enemy¡¯s profanity, I took cover behind another container. While the enemy was reloading the grenade, I quickly assessed the abilities I had.

    ¡®Due to that cyborg and the cult member, using the Spine Projectile attack won¡¯t be easy. The Serrated Tentacle? It would render me defenseless if I used it inbat and got sniped. But getting into closebat isn¡¯t a good idea either.¡¯

    Since closebat with Spine Projectile is difficult, my usually handy Neurotoxin attribute is sealed. Wing attribute is hard to use because of the sniper¡¯s presence.

    ¡®Is there any way¡­ Ah.¡¯

    Suddenly, an idea came to mind. Fortunately, the container containing ¡®It¡¯ was nearby.

    I moved to arge container not far away. I didn¡¯t have the luxury of opening it gently, so I used my teeth andbat arms to tear the door open.

    As expected, a huge beast was sleeping behind the iron bars inside the container. The creature, about 6 meters long including its tail, was covered with an outer shell that looked like it was made of metal, and it had six legs asrge and thick as an elephant¡¯s.

    It was a baby Mountain Crawler, the offspring of the creature I had devoured, which was listed in the ledger created by the cyborg Las, the second cyborg I had eaten sinceing to this city.

    I bent the iron bars with mybat arm and entered the container. Inside, I activated my parasitic colony. Parasites that crawled out of my fingertips entered the Mountain Crawler¡¯s ear canal.

    Grumble!

    Whether it was due to the strange sensation caused by the parasites or the animal¡¯s instincts, the Mountain Crawler woke up. Its fourrge eyeballs looked around, then fixed on me.

    [Grrrr¡­]

    Whether it was the animal¡¯s instinct or the influence of the parasites, it didn¡¯t resist me.

    The creature¡¯s exoskeleton was much tougher than my outer shell. It still had a weakness in the lower part, where there was no armor, as it was a baby, but it was a living tank, to say the least.

    Imanded the creature through the parasites.

    Go out and rampage to your heart¡¯s content.

    [Grrrrr¡­]

    It wasn¡¯t a metaphor; it really sounded like a tank moving when the creature roared and jumped out of the bent iron bars.

    As soon as it left, reinforced alloy rounds were fired at it, but piercing the incredibly tough exoskeleton of the Mountain Crawler¡¯s back was a challenge.

    ¡°What the hell is this?!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a Mountain Crawler!¡±

    The sudden appearance of the beast left the enemies in confusion. While the Mountain Crawler bought me time, I left the container and ran in the opposite direction.

    ?Are you okay??

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ Z(What about you guys?)]

    ?Me and the little one is fine. The food is fine too?

    [ZZZZZZ (That¡¯s a relief)]

    While I was running, Number 26 sent a signal. Judging by their conversation, it seems like none of them suffered any attacks.

    Considering that the enemies came here to find Gagon, they seemed to have put the attack on Adhai on hold.

    ¡°The problem is 26th and William.¡±

    Enemies are unlikely to overlook anyone other than Adhai. They¡¯ll try to eliminate me as soon as they have me under control.

    Honestly, I don¡¯t know about William, but Number 26 is a useful entity to me.

    In the current situation, it¡¯s not easy for me to protect Number 26. It has to fight alongside me.

    ¡®It must have grown stronger.¡¯

    It¡¯s hard to gauge Number 26¡¯s level, but it has definitely improved since before.

    I¡¯d like to observe its strength in a safe ce, but that¡¯s not possible right now. I have no choice but to test its strength in battle.

    ¡®I also need to handle the situation with their field of vision.¡¯

    Even if I concentrate on the auxiliary system, I can only sense three individuals among the enemies. The sniper is far away, so I can¡¯t detect them, but there is one missing.

    ¡®There¡¯s definitely more than one person in charge of the field of vision.¡¯

    Cult is in charge of the link, and there¡¯s someone who provides a wide field of vision to everyone.

    Among the enemies targeting me, there are two who handle the field of vision.

    ¡®Right now, the sniper and three others are focused on the Mountain Crawler.¡¯

    This means that the defense of the remaining one is weakened. Of course, they probably have some hidden cards on their side, but in the current situation, there¡¯s no other choice.

    Having made my decision, I sent a signal to Number 26.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Help that one, not me)]

    ?The big one??

    [ZZ (Yes)]

    ?And the big baby??

    [ZZZZZZZZZ (I have something to do)]

    After instructing Number 26 to help the Mountain Crawler, I headed towards where the hidden enemy might be.

    It¡¯s not difficult to guess where the guy is hiding. My position among the massive containers can be easily detected, but when I¡¯m inside the container, I can¡¯t tell what he¡¯s up to.

    The enemy is watching us from a very high ce.

    And in this container yard, there¡¯s only one ce that¡¯s really high.

    The container crane.

    There¡¯s someone up there sharing their field of vision and overseeing the battlefield.

    ¡®I could send Adhai and Number 26 over there¡­¡¯

    The reason I didn¡¯t do that is because of a few factors.

    First, we don¡¯t know what kind of ace card the enemy has up there. Second, it¡¯s not them but me who¡¯s experienced in this kind ofbat.

    Even in games, there were more than a couple of enemies who used this kind of field of vision sharing to target me.

    Fighting against such opponents, I learned one thing.

    A way to effectively train those who depend on each other¡¯s field of vision.

    ¡®Using Gagon to turn this city into chaos, huh?¡¯

    They¡¯re terrorists who came to the space city to spread fear and chaos.

    It seems like I have to show them what real terror is.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53

    [Damn it! Why is the Mountain Crawler here?]

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just a kid. Focus on its weak legs and belly.¡±

    Jade was observing the battlefield from atop the container crane.

    He wore specially crafted goggles on his head, equipped with various features such as heat detection and long-range target magnificationmonly used by snipers. Jade invested heavily in this equipment to enhance coordination with his teammates.

    [Hey, Tin can! I¡¯ve got its back, so aim for its legs!]

    [Are you sure?]

    [I¡¯ll keep an eye on the bastard.]

    [Frost, I¡¯ll provide sniper support.]

    As Jade had anticipated, his teammates quickly adapted to dealing with the Mountain Crawler. Frost rushed in to strike its legs, and when the creature retaliated, Dwayne interfered with its vision by sniping its eyes. In the meantime, Hope showered it with grenades.

    [Grrrrrr¡­.]

    The Mountain Crawler, just a wild animal, had no choice but to sumb to the relentless teamwork of Jade¡¯s group. The creature¡¯s cries of anger and injustice echoed even to this distant location.

    ¡®But where did it go?¡¯

    Jade suddenly realized that he couldn¡¯t see the creature anymore. He had overlooked its movements while concentrating on the Mountain Crawler.

    ¡®It must be nearby.¡¯

    To find the most dangerous monster that Jete had warned about, Jade manipted his goggles.

    When Dwayne first spotted the guys with Gagon, Jade ordered to kill the unidentified man first. It wasn¡¯t a carefully consideredmand. Throughout their hunting experience, the most dangerous enemies were humans, not monsters.

    However, Jete objected to Jade¡¯s order.

    The truly dangerous presence was not the man but the monster carrying Gagon on its head, she imed.

    As a cultist, Jete sensed a flow of psychic power from the guy that she had never encountered before. ording to her, among the psychic powers she had witnessed in her lifetime, this one was the most ferocious and majestic.

    It was the first time Jete had made such a statement, and Jade was momentarily puzzled. If he could extract the guy¡¯s genes and transfer them to Si-hyun Yujin, she would undoubtedly be much stronger.

    ¡®Capturing the guy alive would also help thedy, but¡­¡¯

    However, Jade was well aware of how dangerous the unidentified psychic power could be. If the capture attempt failed, it would be a real disaster. So, he ordered Dwayne to target him first.

    ¡®Though the ambush failed, we can still keep him out of our sight¡­ Huh?¡¯

    Strange sounds reached Jade¡¯s ears as he searched for the guy. It sounded like the wind, and at times, like the vibrations when a levitating car approached.

    ¡®Where is this sounding from?¡¯

    Scanning around the crane revealed nothing unusual. Jade called Dwayne, who wore simr goggles.

    ¡°Dwayne, check around the crane¡­¡±

    [New enemies!]

    [They¡¯re supporting the Mountain Crawler.]

    [Aren¡¯t those the guys we saw earlier? The ones with Gagon.]

    Hastening to reevaluate the battlefield, Jade spotted Blue Gagon, just as Hope had mentioned. Behind him, arge balloon, rising to thigh height, followed. A gaunt man hiding behind a container at a slight distance also came into view.

    Having found the Gagon he was looking for, Jade quickly picked up hismunication device.

    ¡°Don¡¯t attack Gagon! If he gets hurt, the mission is a failure.¡±

    [What should we do then? We agreed to deal with themter because of Gagon.]

    It wasn¡¯t a significant problem if Gagon got hurt. As long as he didn¡¯t die, they could somehow treat him.

    ¡®The problem is that Blue Gagon can call his kin.¡¯

    Although the Gagon in the city wasn¡¯t the one, Jade had heard about an incident where they incurred significant losses while trying to rescue another Blue Gagon. At that time, two White Gagons and one ck Gagon appeared to save the Blue Gagon. Due to them, they suffered tremendous losses, losing ten warships.

    ¡®I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s fortunate or not, but the guy I brought along seems unusually quiet.¡¯

    Whether the heavens were helping Jade or not, the creature still hadn¡¯t called its kin.

    However, they couldn¡¯t predict how long the creature¡¯s patience wouldst. They needed to quickly stun it and put it in the cryo-container.

    ¡®¡­Looks like we¡¯ll have an adventure here.¡¯

    Determined, Jade gave orders to his teammates through themunication device.

    ¡°¡­The n was to deal with them after securing the area, but we have no choice. Eliminate everyone except Gagon.¡±

    [Only need to be cautious with Gagon? Alright.]

    [Yeah.]

    ¡°Hope, be careful with the grenades.¡±

    [Got it, Mom.]

    [Wait, there¡¯s something wrong with that pink balloon!]

    ¡°What?¡±

    Jade¡¯s attention turned to the creature that looked like a balloon at Jete¡¯s urgent transmission.

    The appearance of the balloon-like creature was different from earlier. Fins had appeared beneath its round body, and six long, slender tentacles sprouted from its body.

    As the monster shook its tentacles, Frost, who was confronting the Mountain Crawler, froze in ce.

    [Oh my God! Psychic power!]

    [This is insane! Is this creature also a psychic monster?!]

    [Frost!!! Get back immediately!]

    Unable to move due to the psychic power, Frost took the Mountain Crawler¡¯s charge and was thrown far away.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry! Frost has reced his skeleton with ck Silver, so he¡¯ll be fine!¡±

    [That¡¯s right! That tin can has a reinforced skeleton, so he¡¯ll be okay!]

    [Hope! Activate the shield right away! I¡¯ll reinforce it!]

    [I¡¯ll switch to AP (Anti-Psychic) rounds.]

    [Hey! Gagon is about to attack!]

    ¡°Do not attack Ggon! I repeat! Do not attack Ggon!¡±

    [Damn it!]

    The appearance of new enemies kept themunication busy. The whole team was in chaos due to the balloon using psychic powers, and Jade was no exception.

    So, he didn¡¯t realize that a giant monster was pping its wings above his head.

    ***

    ¡®Number 26 is putting up a good fight.¡¯

    I watched from the sky as they battled.

    Number 26, in coordination with the Mountain Crawler, skillfully defended against the enemy¡¯s attacks. Thanks to our shared hunting experiences, it supported the fight against the unfamiliar monsters effortlessly.

    Since Adhai was of the Gagon species, it effectively countered the enemies with psychic attacks.

    Of course, since the enemies had a cultist as their allies, they were prepared for psychic attacks. Among the enemies I encountered, their defense against psychic abilities was one of the best, if not the best.

    ¡®That¡¯s an AP round on the shield.¡¯

    Unlike the inferior equipment brought by the armed police before, what these beings carried was a genuine shield attached to advanced reinforced armor. If it weren¡¯t for that shield, Number 26¡¯s massacre would have unfolded, leaving much to be regretted.

    ¡®The cyborg seems to have been upgraded with ck Silver.¡¯

    ck Silver is a metal that weakens the effects of psychic powers, and it is one of the main materials for shields. If it were another cyborg, their upper body would likely have separated due to Number 26¡¯s psychic attacks. However, this cyborg, perhaps due to the upgrade with ck Silver, could resist psychic powers, though not move freely.

    ¡®Normally, the soul link would have been nullified by cksilver as well but¡­.¡¯

    The enemies seemed to know about that too and had prepared countermeasures. Unlike the teammates, the cultist wore a tiara on her head instead of goggles.

    Ring of Enhancement. It¡¯s an artifact that enhances the psychic power abilities of a psychic. Thanks to that tiara, even the cyborg with ck Silver embedded in its body could be Soul Linked

    ¡®They¡¯ve brought everything.¡¯

    It seemed as if an experienced yer had rmended this setup to a beginner.

    ¡®No way. That can¡¯t be.¡¯

    I brushed away my thoughts and slowly descended behind him.

    He focused only on the battlefield in front of him.

    Quietly approaching him from behind, I used one of mybat arms to block his mouth.

    ¡°!¡±

    After blocking his mouth, I grabbed his right arm with another arm and twisted it. He trembled in pain, but it wasn¡¯t over yet.

    His limbs were unnecessary for my n.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    The creature, whose limbs were twisted in an instant, foamed at the mouth. It seemed like he wanted to scream or signal to his allies, but it was futile.

    Currently, I was holding his head, keeping it fixed in the same position as before the assault.

    Thanks to this, the enemies thought his vision was shaking, thinking he had been attacked in some way.

    ¡®Soul Link is released when the subject loses consciousness or moves out of the applied range.¡¯

    This also means that I can take advantage of enemies who are Soul linked, as long as I avoid the release conditions.

    I maintained the state of holding him and slowly descended with the crane. I mimicked the movements as if he was grabbing thedder and descending normally.

    It was an impossible n for a regr human, but thanks to the body of the Amorph, which had more arms and transcendent sensespared to humans, it was possible.

    [Captain?]

    [What¡¯s wrong? Why did youe down all of a sudden?

    Voices of perplexed teammates came from themunication device. However, The owner of themunication device was not in a position to respond.

    When I was first sniped, it was highly likely that the enemies had already prepared for our members.

    ¡®One human and one Gagon, they probably assumed there was an unidentified monster.¡¯

    If there were more humans among us, or if I were at least an intellectual being, the enemies might have questioned the current situation. Humans can be threatened to move forcibly, after all.

    But the only human among us is over there, shivering and hiding next to the Gagon.

    Therefore, they only think that their teammate is acting unpredictably, and they don¡¯t even consider the situation where the monster is ¡®holding and moving¡¯ him without killing him.

    Of course, unless the enemies are fools, they would recognize that there¡¯s a problem with the teammate and try to respond.

    And it¡¯s precisely their logical actions that I¡¯m aiming for.

    [Jade! Answer me!]

    [Dwayne! Jade is heading your way!]

    ¡°The line of sight doesn¡¯t reach. Check it out right away.¡±

    ¡°Off¡­¡±

    The man I¡¯m holding seems to be Jade Russell, the man who brought the Adhai to this city. I haven¡¯t seen his face in detail yet because facing him directly would reveal my identity.

    ¡®I had a feeling it was him, and it turned out to be true.¡¯

    ¡°Off¡­¡±

    Jade, or rather, the man, tried his best to convey this fact to his teammates, even though his limbs were twisted and he was being held by me.

    ¡®I can¡¯t just leave him like this.¡¯

    I bit his shoulder. The neurotoxin coursing through my bodily fluids burrowed quickly into his body.

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Startled like a goat, Jade, frozen stiff, became silent with that.

    With the doll-like limbs whimpering, I moved on to the next target.

    ¡®Next is the sniper.¡¯

    I didn¡¯t know where he was when I was attacked earlier, but not now.

    The sniper is within the Soul Link range and at the same time positioned to shoot within Jade¡¯s field of view, which I am holding. Calcting the enemy¡¯s position through this narrows down the range significantly.

    ¡®If I get closer, the sniper will probably show up to check up on his teammate.¡¯

    Entering the suspected range where the sniper might be, Iid Jade on the ground next to the container. I waited for the enemies to react from outside Jade¡¯s field of view.

    ¡®It¡¯s time to move slowly.¡¯

    Since the sniper is likely sharing his sight with Jade, he should quickly figure out where Jade is. I focused on my auxiliary senses and continued to monitor the surroundings.

    After a few minutes, my auxiliary senses detected movement. It was an agile movement, almost mistakable for a mouse or cockroach.

    ¡®It¡¯s him.¡¯

    Quietly, I maneuvered to avoid being caught in the agile sniper¡¯s line of sight. Most likely, the sniper, like Jade, wears equipment that assists their vision, so I need to stay away from this spot.

    ¡®This should be far enough.¡¯

    Keeping a certain distance, I hid in the shadows and waited. The sniper approached cautiously, like a mouse aiming for a piece of cheese in a trap.

    Even though it was a distance where he would gradually be visible, his figure was not seen. Instead, I could feel through my auxiliary senses that the opponent might be wearing optical camouge gear.

    ¡®Well, it won¡¯t matter if I hit his head.¡¯

    When he stops moving to check Jade¡¯s condition, that would be the opportunity.

    [The Mountain Crawler is taken care of! The rest won¡¯t be much longer!]

    Bad news came through Jade¡¯smunication device. If the Mountain Crawler is dead, Number 26 and Adhai won¡¯tst much longer.

    ¡®¡­No. Let¡¯s trust them.¡¯

    I shook my head despite the negative thoughts.

    From my experience so far, Number 26 is not weak. He should be able to hold on until I go to help.

    I waited patiently. Negative stories continued toe through themunication Device, but I gritted my teeth and endured them.

    And finally, my auxiliary senses brought good news.

    The sniper was standing on the roof of the container in front of me.

    I aimed with the Spine Projectile Organ at his location. The target was his heart.

    Although not visible to the naked eye, the super-senses of my auxiliary system easily captured the quiet heartbeat of the sniper.

    ¡°This is Dwayne. I¡¯ve got a visual on Jade¡­.¡±

    Before he could finish his sentence, a bone spike wasunched from my fingertips.

    As expected, Amorph¡¯s senses didn¡¯t betray me.

    The sniper didn¡¯t get to finish his sentence before he crashed down into the container.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54

    ¡°Cough!¡±

    The sniper, who had fallen from the container, spurted blood. His heart was pierced, and he crashed onto the ground, but the expression on his face wasn¡¯t one of pain; it was confusion.

    He couldn¡¯tprehend why he ended up like this. He had no idea where the attack came from or who shot him.

    The troublesome sniper, who had annoyed me, died without solving the mystery.

    [What happened?]

    [Dwayne¡¯s link got severed.]

    Confirming the sniper¡¯s demise, I approached Jade. Currently, Jade found it challenging to move his eyes due to my neurotoxin. Consequently, he had to watch his teammate die without any filter.

    How would he process the fact that a teammate died because of him? Would it be more agonizing than having limbs broken? Would he ignite with a vengeful desire against his teammates, or would he resign, anticipating his own demise?

    ¡®To die, there¡¯s still a long way to go.¡¯

    His suffering wasn¡¯t over. I nned to hunt down all his teammates he brought here before killing him.

    I grabbed Jade¡¯s body, turned his gaze in a different direction, and went towards the sniper¡¯s corpse.

    The advanced reinforced suit that the sniper wore reverted to its original state. Although it might seem that there¡¯s not much difference between advanced and intermediate reinforced suits based on their names, in reality, there¡¯s a significant gap.

    For example, while the intermediate suit looks like regr clothing, the advanced suit is closer to a kind of powered exoskeleton. The equipment the sniper wore was a high-tech armor.

    ¡®It seems he sacrificed defense for multiple options.¡¯

    I wanted to examine it further, but it was a battlefield. I lost interest in the reinforced suit and focused on the corpse.

    ¡®Let¡¯s go with the right hand.¡¯

    With mybat arm, I grabbed the right hand of the corpse and pulled it straight. Perhaps due to Amorph¡¯s transcendent strength, not only the hand but also the wrist tore apart.

    Holding the bleeding wrist with one hand, I picked up a sniper coil gun lying next to the corpse with the other hand.

    ¡®Fingerprint recognition device¡­ ah, here it is.¡¯

    The sniper coil gun didn¡¯t have a separate trigger. Instead, it had a fingerprint recognition device on the right side, allowing only registered users to operate it.

    ¡®They designed it this way for security.¡¯

    I pressed the sniper¡¯s finger against the sensor on the coil gun. After a moment, an electronic sound echoed, and the coil gun lit up.

    ¡®Let¡¯s check the bullets first.¡¯

    Touching the terminal attached to the coil gun with my finger, a list of ammunition appeared on the screen. Among the list, only the AP rounds were shining in yellow.

    ¡®Great.¡¯

    AP rounds are special ammunition created by MegaCorp and StarUnion for psychic warfare. These rounds contain a special substance that blocks the flow of psychic power, rendering the target unable to use psychic abilities for a certain period. Even if the bullets miss, the destruction of the rounds releases the special substance into the surrounding area, making it difficult to use psychic power within that range.

    ¡®Number 26 and Adhai must have had a hard time.¡¯

    With the coil gun in hand, I focused on the sensation on my back. As the armor split on my back, giant wings resembling insect wings extended outward. The wings pped vigorously, propelling my body rapidly upward.

    ¡®The second target is Cultist.¡¯

    From the sky, I aimed the coil gun at the distant location where the enemies were.

    Cultist, wearing a tiara, appeared behind the enemies.

    Pressing the sensor on the coil gun with the sniper¡¯s finger, perhaps due to the power of psychic abilities, Cultist sensed an ominous feeling and turned her head towards my flying position.

    As she opened her mouth to shout something upon discovering me, the coil gun was fired.

    ***

    Recently, she often recalled past memories. In reality, these were not the memories she wanted to recall. It wasn¡¯t because they were pleasant memories; on the contrary, they were unpleasant. Whenever she reminisced about her childhood, the deaths of her family also came to mind. In that foul-smelling ce, she had to watch her beloved family die.

    The memory of her family¡¯s demise became a dagger that stabbed her, made from their final moments. The pain seemed eternal, but at some point, she started feeling it less. Though she still asionally had nightmares, they had improvedpared to before.

    She knew what healed her wounds¡ª a new family. The family she failed to protect in the past nowforted her pain.

    Of course, she was aware that the current kid by her side and those who had passed away were different beings. However, recently, for some unknown reason, she began to feel a growing desire.

    A desire to be stronger to protect her family. Terms like ¡®desire¡¯ or ¡®longing¡¯ were higher-level thought processes that were unfamiliar to her. While she had always been conscious of the need to protect her group, that feeling was more like an instinct, akin to eating when hungry or sleeping when tired.

    Appetites are satisfied when fulfilled, but desires are insatiable. What remains unfilled often leads to something better.

    She could feel that something unknown was causing her to change. It was more than just change; it was a transformation.

    Her recent obsession, anxiety, affection, and longing to somehow protect the newly formed family transcended the limits of her species. She embraced this remarkable change with both fear and active eptance.

    She instinctively felt that emotions were making her stronger.

    ¡°Freaking Mountain Crawler is all taken care of!¡±

    ¡°Hurry up and finish this; let¡¯s go save Jade!¡±

    [Grrr!]

    A young beast howled before her. She eyed those attacking the poor creature.

    While their appearances were entirely different, they all emitted amon scent. The same smell that mercilessly killed her kin. The smell made her more ufortable.

    Painful memories pushed her, and anger stimted her power.

    ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll deliver the finishing blow¡­ Huh?!¡±

    ¡°Frost!¡±

    As the battle began, for the second time, she sessfully grabbed the smelly thing. Throughout the fight, her power hadn¡¯t been working correctly. The frequency she used tomunicate with the kid she cherished interfered with her power.

    The fact that those bastards were using the means that provided her with pleasant memories upset her. With six tentacles, she targeted the smelly thing. The six violet tendrils grabbed its appendage and forcefully pulled.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    ¡°Damn! Jete, what the hell are you doing?! You look like a damn tin can!¡±

    [Son of a b*tch! Just wait!]

    Holding onto the smelly thing, she called the little one. While the little one was much less potent than the big one, it was a good-natured child, striving to grow.

    ?Adult!! Support?

    The little one didn¡¯t disappoint her expectations. The child released a violet power simr to hers from its mouth. The violet power aimed at the smelly thing sliced off one of its appendages.

    ¡°Aaargh!¡±

    The entity, with a severed appendage, sprayed a vile-smelling liquid. Though the smell resembled the meat she had eaten several times, it was different. She absolutely did not want to eat such a repulsive-smelling food.

    ¡°Frost!¡±

    [Grrrr]

    ¡°You f*cking Mountain crawler! Jete!¡±

    The smelly thing was attacked by the remaining young beast, using thest of their strength to tear at it.

    [¡­We¡¯re all going to die like this. Hope, survival is more important than the n.]

    ¡°What?¡±

    [Whether Gagon lives or dies, let¡¯s deal with these bastards first.]

    ¡°Wait! Since we¡¯re heading to the captain, stay calm¡­¡±

    ¡°Dwayne, I just got my arm cut off! I need you to stay calm and do something!¡±

    The bad guys were muttering something. It had been happening since earlier, but such muttering wasn¡¯t a good sign.

    ¡°Oh, for f*ck¡¯s sake, I don¡¯t know.¡±

    [After checking up on the captain, provide support immediately.]

    They pulled out something like a blunt stick with little hair on it. It was the first time she had seen it, but instinctively, she could tell that the object was dangerous.

    She tried to respond, but the guys were one step ahead. The sparsely-haired, blunt stick was inserted into a thick cylinder and used to attack her. The stick protruding from the end of the cylinder rushed towards her at a great speed.

    She spread the violet tendrils like a to defend herself, but it was ineffective against the object the guy shot. The violet tendrils disappeared like smoke, and the stick tore through her tentacles and passed through.

    ¡°Adult!¡±

    She almost fainted from the intense pain, but she managed to hold onto consciousness when she heard the little kid¡¯s cry.

    She tried to emit the violet tendrils again to defend herself, but maybe due to the pain, she couldn¡¯t concentrate. The mysterious power she possessed didn¡¯t obey her owner¡¯smand.

    She recalled.

    What happened when the violet power didn¡¯t help her in a life-or-death situation.

    She couldn¡¯t afford to lose her family again.

    The nightmare she wanted to forget came to life. The fact pressed down on her, creating a sense of urgency.

    [Wait? It¡¯s trying to do something!]

    Driven by the emotion of ¡®desperation,¡¯ she was once again ascending. Desperation spread throughout her body, and subtle changes urred in her tendrils and outer skin.

    But the bad guy didn¡¯t leave her alone to transform.

    ¡°Frost!¡±

    ¡°A monster subject to the theme!¡±

    The smelly thing that had taken down the baby animal rushed towards her, swiping away her appendage with an attachment. Dizzying pain struck her, and the transformation happening in her body came to a halt.

    ¡°You damn monster, strip its skin while it¡¯s alive.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll skin you alive, you fucking monster.¡±

    ¡°Hope! Now! Capture Gagon!¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡±

    The smelly thing roared and pulled out a pointed stick. As it approached her, the hairless one targeted the little kid.

    She urgently sent a wavelength to the little one, urging it to escape. However, the little one seemed reluctant to run away alone and didn¡¯t move at all.

    ?Run away!?

    ?I? ?Adult? ?won¡¯t? ?run.? ?Rejected?

    ?Hurry!?

    With all her strength, she shouted out a wavelength, and finally, the little one moved. Unlike her, the little one could fly above the ground, so it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult for it to escape.

    However, the bad guys trampled her expectations.

    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!¡±

    The less hairy one shot a-like thing, capturing the little one. The little one tried to emit violet power, but it was futile. The strange wavelength from the suppressed the little one¡¯s power.

    ¡°Cut off those damn tentacles first.¡±

    She thought she had failed again.

    She failed again. She and the little one would probably die here. The only difference from before was that the big baby had escaped safely from this ce.

    If it were the big baby, he would surely survive even if she died.

    Thinking like that, she felt an inexplicable sense of regret.

    She wished she could be by the side of the big baby, who was growing so magnificently.

    Unfortunately, that wouldn¡¯t happen.

    The smelly thing approached, raising the pointed stick.

    ¡°Die¡­ Huh? What¡¯s this?¡±

    [Dwayne? Dwayne¡¯s link got cut off!]

    At the moment of impending death, a miracle happened.

    ¡°What?¡±

    [Could it be¡­ huh? Ack!]

    ¡°Jete?!¡±

    ¡°Damn it! The link has been disconnected!¡±

    While the bad guys were muttering to each other, the atmosphere was different from before. It felt urgent, as if something was wrong.

    ¡°Check on Jete¡­ Tin Can! Evade!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    And then, ¡®It¡¯ fell from the sky.

    After ¡®It¡¯ had neutralized the smelly thing, it stood up.

    The monster with eight appendages and a long tail was a familiar presence to her.

    The fantastic baby who had grown so quickly from a little baby, just like her.

    The big baby she cherished the most in the world.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZ (Am I toote?)]

    It, whom she called the big baby, spoke to her.

    The wavelength emitted by the big baby seemed somewhat embarrassed and shy.

    If only she had known what emotions were, she might have recognized the nature of the feeling rising within her right now.

    It was a sense of ¡®satisfaction.¡¯

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 Chapter 55

    Chapter 55

    ¡°Ugh! This insane¡­¡±

    The cyborg pinned under my foot didn¡¯t die. Its lower body waspletely destroyed, and its upper body was halfway smashed, but it still resisted me.

    ¡°You¡¯re going down with me!¡±

    ¡°Tin can! No!¡±

    What it pulled out was a detonator. It closed its eyes tightly and pressed the switch on the device.

    But nothing happened.

    ¡°What¡­what¡¯s going on?¡±

    With a bewildered expression, he pressed the switch again. He repeated it several times, but the bomb didn¡¯t detonate.

    I pulled out the partially broken bomb from the torn abdomen of the cyborg.

    ¡®As I thought.¡¯

    The reason I came to deal with the cyborg directly, without sniping, was because of this bomb.

    Among cyborg soldiers or mercenaries, there are asionally those who carry bombs. There are two reasons for this: one is to inflict damage on the enemy even after death, and the other is for the thrill.

    The former is when yers pragmatically nt bombs for practical purposes, knowing that they¡¯ll die and want to cause harm to the opponent as a parting gift. On the other hand, thetter is for the thrill of seeking extreme pleasure.

    ¡®As the reced parts with machines increase, the sense of being alive diminishes.¡¯

    The homnd of cyborgs, StarUnion, is a society that suppresses individual desires and emotions unlike MegaCorp. Therefore, there are quite a few cyborgs who betray StarUnion to pursue extreme pleasures.

    ¡®The majority go to Space Dogs, but there are also some in MegaCorp.¡¯

    Space Dogs have daily battles for life, and they don¡¯t strictly prohibit satisfying twisted desires, making it a popr choice for insane cyborgs. So, cyborgs belonging to Space Dogs often don¡¯t imnt bombs in their bodies for the sake of seeking thrills.

    ¡®Especially cyborgs from Space Dogs, who are passionate about life, wouldn¡¯t imnt bombs into their bodies.¡¯

    Even if they can forcibly imnt it in someone else¡¯s body for fun, they cherish their own bodies.

    On the other hand, MegaCorp is better than StarUnion, but the methods for relieving desires are limited. Therefore, there have been asional cases of cyborgs like the one in front of me imnting bombs into their bodies for the thrill.

    ¡®In the game, cyborg suicide bombers affiliated with MegaCorp had such a setting.¡¯

    Normally, I would have treated it as just a setting and moved on.

    But I had already fought against a Hulk mutant with a bomb connected to its heart on the research ship.

    It wasn¡¯t just a story confined to settings; the existence of lunatics who walk around with bombs imnted in their bodies could be real, so naturally, I had to be cautious.

    If, by chance, I kill the cyborg with a sniper and the bomb explodes, Number 26 and Adhai could be fatally injured.

    ¡®In that case, it¡¯s better to y safely.¡¯

    ¡°Damn it! Why isn¡¯t it exploding?¡±

    And my concern wasn¡¯t in vain. The cyborg screamed when it saw the bomb in my hand. I stepped on the chest of the noisy one while holding its head tightly with mybat hand.

    When I exerted force in my hand, the cyborg groaned like a scream.

    ¡°Grrrrrrrr!¡±

    I thought about killing the one who tormented Number 26 slowly, but there were still enemies. I pulled the head up with thebat arm and exerted force upwards, tearing it off.

    ¡°Aghh!¡±

    ¡°Tin can!¡±

    When I pulled out the cyborg¡¯s head, a mechanized spine came out with it. The cyborg, whose breath was cut off, was gnawing on its tongue, and ck oil mixed with blood flowed from the partially broken spine.

    ¡°Darn it!¡±

    The grenadier, who had been nkly watching me kill myrades, finally snapped out of it and turned the muzzle of his multipurpose grenadeuncher towards me.

    There¡¯s no way in hell I¡¯m going to let the enemy hit me with grenades when I have kids next to me. I threw the cyborg head I had in my hand at him.

    Even though his skull was coated with steel, it was like a blunt weapon in itself. I threw it with Amorph¡¯s powerful strength, so there was no way he could avoid it.

    ¡°Kkwaak!¡±

    The cyborg¡¯s head struck his shoulder. He screamed and dropped his weapon.

    ¡°You son of a¡­!¡±

    With a broken shoulder, he spat out curses full of anger and ran away.

    Instead of tracking him, I checked the condition of Number 26 and Adhai. Number 26 didn¡¯t seem to have any serious trauma.

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Are you okay?)]

    ?Yes. Check on the little one, not me.?

    As Number 26 said, Adhai was lying on the ground in an ufortable position after being hit by the enemy¡¯s. I used my nails to cut thes.

    ?Great Young One??Thank you?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Any injuries?)]

    ?Mine? ?Injury? ?Minor??Okay?

    On Adhai¡¯s blue scales, there were thin wounds in the shape of a all over, and since Adhai didn¡¯t have recovery-rted traits, it would take some time for it to fully recover.

    ¡®¡­ I should give the grenadier to Adhai.¡¯

    If it devours the grenadier, Adhai might feel a bit better. After confirming their condition, I checked on William. He looked at us with a subtle expression, unsure whether to be happy or not.

    ¡®Either he dies from the enemy or lives as my ve, there¡¯s only one choice.¡¯

    In any case, Adhai was slightly injured, but there were no fatal injuries. I called Number 26.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZZ Z ZZZ ZZ(If you go over there, there¡¯s another prey.)]

    ?Another prey??

    [ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ Z (One is alive, and one is dead)]

    ?I should just eat the dead one, right??

    Having been with me for a long time, it quickly understood. I petted it to convey the meaning, and then chased after the fleeing enemy.

    The end of the hunt is approaching.

    ***

    ¡°Haak, haak, haak¡­¡±

    Hope held onto his broken shoulder as he ran. In a different mission, the container covers that would have provided a sense of security seemed different today.

    ¡°Huh?!¡±

    Feeling someone looking down at him, Hope turned his head in rm. Despite frantically looking around like a madman, there was nothing on top of the container.

    Then, a sound of wind came from behind. The sound resembled the rotation of a fan, but it also seemed like the pping of a giant animal.

    Hastily turning around, the spot was empty.

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Trembling, Hope released the weapon he had on his back and grasped it in his hand. It was a Gauss rifle he had purchased for his own safety to protect himself.

    ¡®I need to change the ammo!¡¯

    Even if hit by a grenade, that monster wouldn¡¯t die. Hope thought that without armor-piercing rounds, there was no way to win.

    ¡°Kk, you bastard!¡±

    Because his right shoulder was broken, he had to change the ammunition with his left arm only. Hope, who barely loaded armor-piercing rounds, held the Gauss rifle with his left arm.

    Hope thought.

    The numerous obstacles here were unfavorable to him. This guy could fly. He might be watching him from a high ce.

    ¡®I need to get out of the harbor zone!¡¯

    The car Jete set up at the Harbor¡¯s boundary. Escaping with that car was the best option.

    Having set his goal, Hope ran away again. He heard the ominous pping sound in his ears again, but he ignored it.

    In a normal situation, he should report to Si-hyun Yujin right away, but Hope was not in his right mind at the moment.

    Though he had experienced various battlefields, he had never seen a monster that pulled out the neck of a livingrade and threw it as a weapon. The people who could have helped him recover mentally by having arade were all dead.

    ¡®Is this the right way?¡¯

    He kept running, but there was no sign of the fence at the border. Only simr-looking containers were visible.

    Due to pain and fear, Hope found it difficult to confirm if he was on the right path.

    ¡®No! It will be right! It will definitely be¡­Huh?¡¯

    Encouraging himself like that, something other than a container finally caught his eye for the first time.

    It was not a container, but Jete, whose entire head was covered in blood, leaning against a container.

    Her once proud goat horns werepletely broken, and her white hair, originally red, was now dyed a deep red with blood.

    ¡°Jete?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, ugh¡­ Hope?¡±

    Hope hurriedly ran over and hugged her, who was leaning against the container. Up close, her injuries were more severe than he thought. A significant portion of her scalp was damaged, revealing white bones.

    ¡°A-are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Qu-quickly, re-report to Miss¡­¡±

    Upon hearing her stuttering words, Hope recalled what he needed to do. He quickly took out hismunication device.

    ¡°Hey! You can¡¯t die too! Snap out of it!¡±

    ¡°Hah¡­ to see you as thest person in my life, damn my life¡­.¡±

    With a disappointed voice, Jete mumbled. Despite the situation, Hope was about to respond to her usual reaction.

    ¡°Are you crazy even in a situation like this?¡±

    ¡°Kk, damn it, if you were¡­!¡±

    Before she could finish her sentence, something ck descended from above the container and grabbed her head. A shadow-like hand pulled Jete upwards.

    Following that, along with the sound of grinding flesh, blood sttered from the container. Jete¡¯s trembling legs rxed, and her pants were soaked with blood.

    ¡°Hi, hiiik!¡±

    Hope, without even thinking about counterattacking with the Gauss rifle he held, ran away. His umted training, expertise as a specialist in chemical weapons, and numerous experiences in killing had no meaning in this abnormal situation. All he could do was run away like a child.

    In this desperate situation, perhaps the heavens bestowed a miracle upon him. The boundary of the harbor zone came into view before his eyes.

    He discarded the Gauss rifle he had been holding to run away as fast as possible.

    ¡°Huff, huff, huff¡­.¡±

    While running, his broken shoulder shook violently, but overwhelming fear dominated his mind, so he couldn¡¯t feel the pain.

    Running with all his might like a track and field athlete, he quickly got into the car. Fortunately, Jete had already inserted the key into the car. Who could have known that the operation would turn out like this?

    He started the car. As the engine of the mid-sized sedan roared to life, he firmly pressed the elerator pedal.

    Jete¡¯s car rushed forward like aunched missile. The stacks of containers in the harbor zone visible in the rearview mirror quickly shrank.

    Hope sighed with relief. Finally, he had escaped from the hellish harbor zone.

    ¡°Now, let¡¯s contact¡­.¡±

    He should have contacted her earlier when hisrades were dying. Even though it waste, he picked up themunication device to inform Si-hyun Yujin of the situation.

    With his left hand holding the steering wheel, he reluctantly used his right hand to input the message. Perhaps due to the broken shoulder, his hand and arm didn¡¯t move well.

    Barely managing to send a message to the designated number, Hope nced once again through the rearview mirror to confirm if anyone was chasing him.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Beyond the mirror, a small object near the Harbor¡¯s boundary caught his eye. A small light shed from the object, and soon the car shook violently. The car with a t tire lost control and moved uncontrobly.

    ¡°Uh, uh!¡±

    Hope urgently grabbed the steering wheel with both hands, but it was already toote. A utility pole was waiting in front of the mid-sized sedan.

    A loud crash echoed, and Hope flew forward through the car¡¯s windshield like a missile, describing a trajectory in the air. Then, the utility pole that collided with the car fell onto the car.

    Sparks flew from the camera mounted on the utility pole, and mes erupted from the damaged car body.

    ¡°Uh, uh, uh¡­.¡±

    Desperate to escape from this ce somehow, Hope¡¯s body refused to cooperate. From behind him, the sound of ss being stepped on could be heard.

    It was ¡°it.¡±

    The monster had followed him.

    The one who had followed Hope threw a long object in front of him. It was a sniper coil gun that Hope¡¯srade, Dwayne, used.

    ¡°True mercy is not seeking revenge even if you can.¡±

    A voice of a woman, unfamiliar to him, came from behind Hope, who was lying on the ground. The voice sounded peaceful, as if devoid of any highs and lows. But it was undoubtedly the sound emitted by the monster that ughtered hisrades.

    ¡°I am not merciful.¡±

    ¡°It¡± grabbed him ruthlessly.

    ¡°I, I, nooooo¡­.¡±

    ¡®Don¡¯t do this! Spare me! Spare me, please! I was wrong!¡¯

    Hope pleaded, but only the sound of the wind escaping his broken jaw echoed from his mouth.

    Ignoring his plea, the monster grabbed his leg and walked towards the harbor zone.

    Behind Hope, who was being dragged to hell, only a burning car remained.

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 Chapter 56

    Chapter 56

    After the battle in the apartmentplex, I couldn¡¯t feast on the flesh of the intelligent beings for a while. Thest human flesh I consumed was from a woman I atest night.

    Perhaps it was a recoil effect. Jade, now paralyzed, the Heavy Grenadier with most of its bones broken, and even the corpse of the Cultist¡ªally before me. There was plenty of new prey today.

    ¡®Once I take care of these, the hunt will be over.¡¯

    The ce I¡¯m at is where Jade¡¯s group fought with the Mountain Crawler. In front of me lies a young Mountain Crawler, breathing heavily and in pain.

    The creature, dominated by my parasite, suffered severe injuries inflicted by the enemies. Three out of its six legs were severed, and two were broken. Its vulnerable belly,pared to its armored back, was torn apart by sniper and grenade attacks, exposing its entrails.

    Mountain Crawlers have no healing abilities. All that¡¯s left for it is death.

    ¡®I don¡¯t harbor any ill feelings.¡¯

    I injected poison into the critically injured Mountain Crawler to alleviate its suffering. As the paralysis spread throughout its body, its expression improved as if it no longer felt pain.

    Its breathing gradually slowed and eventually stopped. The parasite crawled out of its ear.

    When I extended my arm, the parasite returned to where it first emerged.

    ¡®If the parasite is visible every time an incident urs, someone might be suspicious.¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t retrieve the parasite from Sanders because it was challenging to approach the hospital morgue. However, it was different now. With the safely collected parasite, I left the corpse of the Mountain Crawler and moved on.

    Normally, I would have eaten the corpse to dispose of it, but the situation was not so rxed. The Heavy Grenadier on my shoulder is the reason; the police and androids might have arrived here sooner than expected.

    No matter how fast I eat, I won¡¯t be able to dispose of the six-meter prey before the police arrive. If I don¡¯t finish it, the predation effect won¡¯t trigger, so I might as well use it for something else.

    ¡®Let¡¯s make it look as if the smugglers tried to extract the Mountain Crawler but failed and fled should suffice.¡¯

    The corpse of the severely injured creature, traces of battle scattered around¡ªit will serve as evidence. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t eat the cyborg.

    Its role is that of a smuggler who, unlike his colleagues, failed to make it out alive. I popped the severed cyborg head into the mouth of the Mountain Crawler corpse.

    ¡®This should be enough, right?¡¯

    Of course, the police will eventually notice something strange during their investigation. However, the likelihood that they would think there was another monster at the crime scene, even unaware of my existence, is slim. The already deceased smugglers will likely be the ones they try to locate.

    ¡®Alright, let¡¯s gather everything and leave quickly.¡¯

    The auxiliary system warned me that footsteps can be heard outside the harbor zone. I lifted the paralyzed Heavy Grenadier again. The next thing to gather is the corpse of the Cultist.

    Avoiding the direction where the police and androids are moving, I collected the Cultist¡¯s corpse first and then returned to where the kids were.

    During my absence, Number 26 and Adhai had finished their meal. I remove the reinforced suit from the headless sniper¡¯s corpse.

    ¡®I should take a closer look at this.¡¯

    Checking the enemy¡¯s equipment is crucial. Especially if it¡¯s information I¡¯m unfamiliar with, I need to confirm it quickly.

    ¡®If it¡¯s not an artifact-grade reinforced suit, we need to be prepared for mass production.¡¯

    With the reinforced suit in hand, I picked up Jade, who was still paralyzed.

    ¡®Having fourbat-ready arms reallyes in handy at times like this.¡¯

    I can carry a person on each arm. However, it seems different in the eyes of others. Seeing me, carrying three people and reinforced suits, Number 26 called me out.

    ?Do you need help??

    I was about to say I¡¯m fine, but looking at the size of the creature, I changed my mind.

    ¡®It should be able to carry the reinforced suit.¡¯

    When I handed it to Number 26, it extended its tentacles and wrapped the reinforced suit around itself. The creature, which had tucked its tentacles away, also pulled out fins hidden in its body.

    The creature moved its fins a few times, walking back and forth to test, and then emitted light as if to indicate that everything was fine.

    ?Alright, let¡¯s go.?

    Honestly, I was expecting growth inbat capabilities, but it seems like it has also grown impressively in utility.

    ¡®A remarkable fellow.¡¯

    I wanted to pat it, but I refrained, fearing it might drop the reinforced suit. It seemed to understand my intention and emitted light as if epting my feelings.

    After finishing the arrangements and before returning to the nest, I instructed William for cleanup. With the Mountain Crawler¡¯s corpse and traces of smugglers, manipting the situation shouldn¡¯t be too difficult for William. Besides, as far as I know, William has been chasing smugglers in the harbor zone from the beginning. The police won¡¯t find it strange for someone like him to be here in the early morning.

    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±

    After giving instructions to William, I, along with the kids, headed back to the nest.

    And so, the dawn hunt came to an end.

    On the way back home, we didn¡¯t encounter any enemies. The police¡¯s attention was concentrated around the central area of the harbor zone, so the outskirts were less guarded than usual. Thanks to that, we could easily enter the underground.

    Upon arriving at the nest, I set Jade and the Heavy Grenadier down. It didn¡¯t matter if we stayed a bit longer due to the neurotoxin gas; they would die before suffocating us anyway.

    [ZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZZZZ (This prey is yours.)]

    ?Adult? , ?Thank you?

    I handed the Heavy Grenadier over to Adhai. Although the paralyzed one looked at Jade with a pitiful gaze, he couldn¡¯t do anything. He could only watch hisrade¡¯s fate with sad eyes.

    ¡°Ugh, ugh! Ugh!¡±

    Adhai spread out a mass of tentacles that covered his face. The small, pointed teeth attached to the ends of the long and thin tentacles mercilessly dug into various parts of the Heavy Grenadier¡¯s head.

    As the tentacles moved like sucking up a drink with a straw, they forcefully drew blood. Perhaps because it¡¯s a Gagon hatchling, even after eating one person, it seemed like its stomach wasn¡¯tpletely full yet.

    Number 26 seemed uninterested in Adhai¡¯s meal; It appeared to be already full. The creature leaned against a corner of the nest, peacefully resting.

    While the kids were upied with their tasks, I picked up the Cultist¡¯s corpse. Since I killed her by tearing her abdomen with my ws, her internal organs were exposed.

    ¡®I usually start from the head, but¡­¡¯

    There¡¯s no need to stick to the same eating habits all the time.

    I tore apart the Cultist¡¯s internal organs and put them in my mouth.

    ¡®It is¡­okay?¡¯

    Unlike the strong taste of meat from humans, the Cult member¡¯s flesh had aplex and unique vor.

    ¡®It¡¯s like jelly, and there¡¯s a bit of a chewy feeling, too. It¡¯s an unusual texture.¡¯

    It didn¡¯t have the intense taste of the fruit-like bitterness of a cyborg; instead, it resembled the sweetness of sugar. The texture was softer than that of humans but not entirely mushy.

    ¡®Good thing. I was worried because I have to eat a lot of cultists from now on.¡¯

    She might be peculiar, but if other cultists have a simr taste, I would dly eat them.

    As I was eating the cultist, the translucent text box reported that some of the evolutionary conditions had been satisfied.

    ¡®Finally, one cultist is filled.¡¯

    The predation effect didn¡¯t activate.

    It would have been great to have her Soul Link technology; it would have diversified our tactical options. It¡¯s a shame.

    While I was eating the Cultist, Adhai had already finished its meal and was sleeping. Until yesterday, it used to be the one hugging Number 26, but now, it has reversed. With Number 26 growing bigger, it cradled Adhai, who slept peacefully.

    ¡®Good job.¡¯

    Looking at the sleeping creatures, I stood before thest meal. Jade, whose paralysis had slightly worn off,y on the floor, his body turned over.

    ¡°No need to paralyze him again, right?¡±

    I grabbed him and lifted him high. Nasty smells emanated from his body; maybe he urinated when he saw hisrades being eaten.

    Of course, I didn¡¯t engage in picky eating, so I opened my mouth wide to bite into his head.

    ¡°W-Wait!¡±

    Just as I was about to bite his head, he shouted loudly.

    ¡°Do¡­ Do you know how to s-speak? I can help you! If you spare me, I¡¯ll serve you!!¡±

    Jade desperately yelled.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    This was an interesting turn of events.

    Until now, the responses from those I intended to eat were almost simr. They either begged for mercy or screamed. However, this was the first time someone proposed negotiation like this.

    ¡®How should I proceed?¡¯

    In the state of holding Jade, I thought about what benefits I could gain by making him a ve.

    ¡®He can probably provide information about Si-hyun Yujin¡­.¡¯

    She had been dead for a long time, providing nutrients to me. If Si-hyun were still alive, I could have gained valuable information from Jade. However, in the current situation, the information he has is useless.

    ¡®What merit is there in using him as a ve?¡¯

    Judging by his clothes, he didn¡¯t seem to hold a high position in the city. It was unlikely that he would find a decent job after escaping and hiding in the city.

    ¡®Unless he¡¯s a police officer like William or engaged in a professional field. Jade¡¯s upation won¡¯t be useful to me.¡¯

    Moreover, Jade is a risky individual to dominate as a parasite. If he was under Si-hyun Yujin, he would have observed various genes and their effects. He might know about genes rted to parasites, methods to resist parasite domination, and more.

    After reevaluating, I made a decision.

    ¡®Not needed.¡¯

    Jade is not useful to me. His only value lies in his flesh.

    ¡°Wait¡­!¡±

    Ignoring hisst plea, I bit into his head. My reinforced jaw crunched his head swiftly, and debris flowed out, passing through my throat.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    It had an interesting taste, different from the Cultist. It was as if someone had put a lot of chemical seasoning.

    ¡®It¡¯s not tasteless, but¡­¡¯

    It was like a dish made by an inexperienced chef who used various expensive ingredients but ruined it with excessive seasoning. Still, it was edible.

    ¡®The cultist felt a bitcking due to the scarcity of meat. Jade¡¯s meat was quite satisfying, thanks to my moderate hunger.¡¯

    After finishing my meal:

    [¡®Pre-saint > Quasi-saint¡¯ evolution conditions partly have been met].

    [ Transformable Intelligent species 2/20 (Iplete), Humanoid Intelligent species 14/20 (Iplete), Psychic Power-Using Intelligent species 1/20 (Iplete).]

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Metal Absorption¡¯ gic essence.]

    [Extracted the ¡®Metal Absorption¡¯ from the biological characteristics of ¡®Metallic Gremlin.]

    [Do you want to apply ¡®Metal Absorption?]

    A translucent text box appeared.

    ¡®Metallic Gremlin?¡¯

    The creature I had just eaten was a human. The ¡®Metallic Gremlin¡¯ looked grotesquepared to humans and was smaller in size.

    ¡®He had undergone gic modification like Si-hyun Yujin, judging by the count of Humanoid Intelligent Beings. That exins the odd taste of Jadepared to Si-hyun¡¯s perfect taste. Perhaps it was due to inappropriate gic modification.¡¯

    ¡®If Jade had the genes of a ¡®Metallic Gremlin,¡¯ it would be extreme.¡¯

    Metallic Gremlins have the ability to consume metal, cause electronic device malfunctions, and block equipment effects. While advantageous against cyborgs, androids, and gadget-dependent sses like the Deus Ex Terminator, it is disadvantageous against individuals like Amorphs or Outsphaser who don¡¯t use electronic devices.

    ¡®Jade was unlucky.¡¯

    His ability could have been useful if he targeted terrorism, but unfortunately for him, I was his opponent.

    ¡±Metal Absorption.¡±

    Metal Absorption allows me to reflect some properties and effects of the consumed target on my surface for a limited time when I ingest metal or equipment. For example, if I consume ck Silver, which has psychic power resistance, I temporarily gain high psychic resistance on my surface.

    It seems like a great ability, but unfortunately, it has two drawbacks. First, the duration of the effects is short, 10 minutes by default, and it increases to 20 minutes with the Physical Enhancement type effect. Second, once the effect expires, it automatically disappears. To reuse the effect, I need to activate the trait, consume the same metal again, and start the process anew.

    Due to these drawbacks, it is a trait that should be used cautiously and not randomly.

    ¡®The drawbacks are significant, but it¡¯s a necessary trait for me now.¡¯

    Ick defense against long-range weapons, and this trait can help increase my defense. There are many ways to utilize it, such as raising defense by using Metal Absorption when being bombarded by concentrated firepower from enemies.

    ¡®Metal Absorption is categorized as a Physical Enhancement trait.¡¯

    Currently, I have a total of 12 Physical Enhancement traits. Obtaining Metal Absorption will make it 13.

    In other words, it¡¯s time to try out the Transcendence System.

    With an excited heart, I epted the application of the new trait.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 57

    Chapter 57

    I applied ¡®Metal Absorption,¡¯ but there wasn¡¯t any apparent change in appearance. This time, the transformation urred within my body. The internal organs seemed to heat up, but it quickly settled down.

    Now, activating Metal Absorption and consuming metal would allow me to apply the inherent properties of that metal to my exterior.

    ¡®Should I give it a try?¡¯

    My nest is located in a secret underground passage, constructed entirely of sturdy alloys. With the trait activated, I used my nails to scrape the wall.

    As I ingested the metal fragment that fell from the wall, an immediate transformation urred. The chitinous texture of my skin changed to the tough and rugged feel of the metal¡¯s material.

    Poking my skin with my nails, it felt exactly like the wall.

    ¡®The strength seems simr.¡¯

    Even if it¡¯s a metal so hard that I can¡¯t chew it, once it enters my body, the effect is applied. For example, if I activate Metal Absorption and swallow tungsten bullets from a Gauss rifle, my skin¡¯s strength would increase to the level of tungsten, and my weight would also increase.

    ¡®Metal Absorption seems to work well.¡¯

    With no issues in the trait, the next step is the transcendence system.

    A system not present in the game.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, if the purpose was to address the problem of having too many traits, they could have just revamped the fusion system, right?¡¯

    Fused traits could only be created bybining two non-fused traits. If they released the fusion conditions, the problem of having too many traits could be easily solved.

    However, the introduction of this new system implied something else.

    ¡®It might be rted to the conditions for future evolutions.¡¯

    Until reaching the Pre-saint stage, there haven¡¯t been any changes in the evolution conditions. The conditions for evolving to the Pre-saint stage were the same as in the game.

    ¡®No clear answers, no matter how much I ponder. Let¡¯s try it first and then think.¡¯

    [The ¡®Transcendence¡¯ system allows you tobine three or more of your existing traits to create apletely new and unique trait, referred to as a ¡®Unique¡¯ trait.

    Avable trait list: Chitinous Exoskeleton, Reinforced Exoskeleton, Enhanced Reflexes

    Note: It¡¯s important to be aware that not allbinations will result in advantages, and there may be potential drawbacks.]

    ¡®Let¡¯s use the Transcend system.¡¯

    I replied affirmatively to thest text box asking for my intention. As soon as I responded, slimes flowed out of my body, just like when I evolved.

    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯

    The slimes solidified instantly, enveloping my entire body. Once again, a semi-transparent text box appeared.

    [Transcend system activated! Acquired the unique trait ¡®Perfect Organism¡¯!]

    [Applying the trait]

    This kind of event waspletely new and somewhat bewildering. Typically, when acquiring a new trait, the entire body doesn¡¯t undergo such a transformation, except when advancing to the next stage of evolution.

    ¡®Is this a trait surpassing evolution?¡¯

    Thanks to this, I realized an important point. Unlike other traits, those obtained through the transcend system seemed to be created first in the form of a gooey state before being applied. If I had epted the transcend system in a ce other than my nest, I could have faced significant danger.

    ¡®I need to be cautious from now on.¡¯

    Since my current location is the nest, there aren¡¯t any dangerous elements. I decided to wait patiently.

    ***

    ¡°Jade lost contact?¡± Minseok Yujin, the butler of Si-hyun Yujin, questioned with an incredulous expression. The secretary nodded as he ryed the message from Jade¡¯s subordinate Hope, who stated that all the team members who infiltrated the T&C Special Trade Center were wiped out. The message included details about the appearance and general specs of the creature that attacked them.

    ¡°All the members perished against an unidentified creature¡­¡±

    No matter how many times Minseok checked, the recorded message wouldn¡¯t change. This sudden turn of events left Minseok sighing.

    ¡°Miss¡¯s condition hasn¡¯t been goodtely.¡±

    Originally, Si-hyun was like a machine with worn-out emotions due to the emotion-dulling modification during the shadow-making procedure. Moreover, most of the emotional disys she showed were acts, given her long history of working as a spy and assassin under themand of Akira Yujin.

    ¡°However¡­.¡±

    The cloned Si-hyun, born after her resurrection, was different. Their owner had been haunted by nightmares ever since her resurrection. Although Si-hyun had never directly mentioned the dreams, Minseok spected that they were rted to the entity that killed her.

    ¡®Miss is afraid of death.¡¯

    A recement clone for her doesn¡¯t currently exist. Cloning is not an easy task, and the cult¡¯s technique of transferring souls is a time-consuming process. If she dies this time, it would truly be the end, making it a situation frightening enough even for Si-hyun, who possesses formidable power.

    However, Minseok shook his head.

    ¡®We can¡¯t dy the execution of justice for trivial emotions.¡¯

    Si-hyun is the rightful heir of the Yujin family and the irreceable ruler. Even thinking about the followers she leads, she must follow the will of Jungwoo Yujin.

    In fact, Si-hyun hadn¡¯tpletely ruled out the possibility that her clone might behave differently from her expectations. Minseok had already received instructions on how to handle the situation when the clone was created.

    If the clone reacts negatively to Jade¡¯s death, for example, if she refuses to go to the Space City, Minseok would have no choice but to use force.

    ¡®I hope I won¡¯t have to resort to such methods¡­¡¯

    Minseok nced briefly at the safe in the secretary¡¯s office. After a moment of contemtion, he decided not to touch it.

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle the report.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±, the secretary nodded.

    Leaving the secretary¡¯s office, Minseok headed to theboratory. When he arrived, the researchers silently lowered their heads as he gestured. They quietly left theboratory upon his signal.

    Only he and his owner, Si-hyun, remained in theboratory. Si-hyun, in her newly gically modified state, was floating inside an experimental tube.

    Her appearance had be much more bizarre than before. Her originally wless, pure-white skin now looked rough and tough, akin to an animal¡¯s hide. Additionally, a sharp horn had grown on her left forehead.

    Minseok called to his owner, who had closed her eyes.

    ¡°Miss, I have something to report.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    She opened her eyes. Her left eye had been reced with an animal eye, giving an eerie feeling.

    ¡°I received an urgent message that themunication with the individuals who infiltrated the T&C Special Trade Center, led by Jade, has been lost.¡±

    ¡°Communication lost with Jade?¡±

    She frowned, seemingly surprised by Jade¡¯s unexpected death.

    ¡°He¡¯s an individual who underwent gic modification with Metallic Gremlin genes. It should be difficult for ordinary police or androids to eliminate him. ording to the emergency message from Jade¡¯s subordinate Hope, the entity that wiped them out was not a human.¡±

    ¡°Could it be that Gagon has already taken action?¡±

    ¡°Checking through our information channels, it doesn¡¯t seem to be the case. Jade¡¯s team seems to have been attacked by an entitypletely unrted to our ns.¡±

    ¡°An unrted entity¡­.¡±

    Theplete annihtion of Jade¡¯s team in the operation was a setback, but the fact that the enemy was not rted to Noble Capital was somewhat fortunate.

    ¡°What do you n to do now?¡±

    ¡°Um¡­¡±

    Si-hyun fell silent in response to Minseok¡¯s question. If the council meeting was canceled, obtaining new information about the next meeting would not be easy for her. Being reported as deceased limited her ability to gather information actively. While she could instruct her subordinates to gather information, the gap between the information she obtained while with Akira and what her subordinates could gather would be significant.

    Therefore, missing this Council meeting would make it nearly impossible for her to seize the opportunity to collectively eliminate Noble Capital in the future.

    ¡°But forcing the n here alsoes with significant risks.¡±

    If, by any chance, someone from Jade¡¯s team is captured without being killed, all information about the operation could be leaked. Interrogation by Noble Capital is beyond imagination, and even agents trained with high intensity would not withstand it. If the Noble Capital knows her n, they might set a trap to catch her.

    ¡®I need to know who the enemy is.¡¯

    Minseok mentioned that the one who annihted Jade¡¯s team was not human, but both she or he knew it, the one who annihted Jade¡¯s team was a formidable existence. Although Jade¡¯s team was a dispatched team preparing for a terrorist operation and had rtively lowbat power, their annihtion was not an easy feat.

    Therefore, if the enemy who annihted them was rted to Noble Capital, that possibility of her ns getting leaked was highly likely. To confirm, she asked Minseok, ¡°Who is the one who annihted Jade¡¯s team?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s an unidentified creature that has not been discovered until now. I¡¯ll disy thest message Hope sent.¡±

    Minseok inserted a data chip into the terminal next to the experimental tube. After a moment, a holographic message window appeared on the surface of the experimental tube.

    The moment she read the message, her pupils dted. As if being electrocuted, her body trembled violently. Devices inside theboratory started shaking, and the experimental tube she was in began to crack. The psychic power she possessed and the owner¡¯s disturbance were affecting the surroundings. Eventually, the experimental tube couldn¡¯t hold, and it shattered. Simultaneously, surrounding devices were swept away, and Minseok was thrown backward.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s him! That guy is in the city!¡±

    After breaking the experimental tube, Si-hyun shouted. Her expression seemed to be tinged with fear, yet she also looked pleased.

    ¡°Miss?¡±

    Seeing her react more violently than expected, Minseok was also bewildered. Si-hyun, who sent her subordinates, even the butler flying, didn¡¯t know, but she couldn¡¯t ovee the unfamiliarity felt from the clone¡¯s body.

    What Si-hyun didn¡¯t know was that even though she maintained Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s thoughts and habits, her inner self was gradually changing from the original.

    One of the factors making her different from the original was the nightmares. The memory of being killed by an unknown monster on the research ship. That memory haunted her every day in nightmares.

    She knew. Until she confirmed his death, she would never be stable.

    But in this vast universe, searching for a monster whose identity was unknown, and whether he was alive or dead, was nearly impossible. Even if she ordered her subordinates to find him, it was uncertain how long it would take.

    So, her nightmares were destined to be an incurable disease that she would have to live with for the rest of her life.

    If it weren¡¯t for the message she saw today, it would have been like that for sure.

    ¡®This time, I will definitely kill him.¡¯

    Having finally seized the opportunity she longed for, she smiled with exhration.

    ***

    [Complete integration of the ¡®Perfect Organism¡¯ trait has been aplished.]

    The application time for the transcendence trait was not as long as evolution, taking approximately between 2 to 3 hours. I tore through the cold, torn cocoon and stepped outside. The slime that was inside the cocoon poured out like water bursting from a burst water balloon.

    I brushed off the slime and the cocoon shell from my body and stretched.

    ¡®Huh¡¯

    The ceiling of the secret passage, which was about 5 meters high, felt closer than before. I lowered mybat arms and checked. The external appearance of thebat arms had changed significantly from before.

    In general, all four arms now had a structure simr to human arm bones with attached muscles. Compared to before, they had be about 1.5 to 2 times thicker.

    The shape of the hands had also changed. The fingers at the ends of thebat arms attached to the upper shoulder were so gigantic that they could be considered pincers.

    The left arm, which was responsible for the Spine Projectile Organ, had thickened and be more monstrous, resembling a cannon. The size of the small fingers at the end had also increased in proportion to the changes in other parts.

    Perhaps due to the increased size, the small arm that was on the chest had now grown to the size of a 7- to 8-year-old child¡¯s arm. With this size, it would be possible to hold and shoot pistolsfortably.

    The outer covering that enveloped the chest, back, and head had also thickened significantly, reminiscent of the armor of a tank. I wondered if it had gained enough weight to fly with wings in the future.

    ¡®Too much change?¡¯

    While the overall shape itself did not change much from the appearance of an entity influenced by the physical enhancement type, there were considerable changes in detail. I opened the text box to confirm the exnation for the changes.

    [Race: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph.

    Status: Quasi-Saint

    Objective: Survive (3rd Evolution Sessful).

    Possessed Traits ¨C

    1)Physical-Rted (Applied Type): Wings, Chitinous Exoskeleton, Regeneration (Fusion), Neurotoxin nds (Fusion), Reinforced Exoskeleton, Acidic Blood, Enhanced Reflexes, Mimicry, Serrated Tentacles, Contamination Organ, Spine Projectile Organ, Predator¡¯s w. Metal Absorption, Perfect Organism (Unique).

    2)Psychic-Rted: Predator Sense (fusion), Human Nature, Monster¡¯s Tentacles, and irvoyance, Psychic Resistance.

    3)Infection-Rted: Parasitic Colony (Fusion)

    Type: Physical Enhancement Type]

    [¡®Perfect Organism: Your physical body is optimized for ughter and evolution. It enhances the effects of the possessed type. It instills intimidation in all sentient beings. You can evolve once a day into the ¡®Symbol of Hunt.¡¯]

    [Symbol of Hunt: Increases the probability of predation effects significantly during application. Enhances the effects of all possessed traits. Gains resistance to all types of attacks. The duration is 10 minutes.

    *Caution: In the state of the Perfect Organic Being, the traits of concealment and flight cannot be used.

    *Note: Evolution has no end.]

    [A new message has arrived.]

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    As soon as I activated the text box, numerous characters greeted me.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 58

    Chapter 58

    ¡®This feels unusual¡­.¡¯ None of the traits I¡¯m familiar with undergo such long andplex changes.

    ¡®Especially at times like this when it¡¯s reality instead of a game, I need to check it thoroughly.¡¯ I meticulously examined the changes in the text box as if checking a contract.

    ¡®As I expected, the Transcendence System is rted to evolution.¡¯ It was written as Transcendence Level 1 in the parentheses* next to the Pre-saint. The details would probably be known after evolving into a Quasi-saint, but it was spected that the conditions for further evolution were rted to Transcendence.

    ¡®The problem is¡­¡¯

    Two of my most important traits got sealed. As I had suspected right after the change, the heaviness felt throughout my body made it difficult for me to use wings. It was regrettable that the first trait I obtained and the trait that yed a crucial role in many important battles was sealed.

    ¡®Moreover, not being able to use the Mimicry Organ is painful.¡¯ I activated the Mimicry Organ, but there was no reaction from the small holes in my body. Upon closer inspection, most of the holes were sealed by the thickened outeryer. Some holes remained, but their shapes had changed slightly.

    ¡®Come to think of it, there was an expression in the system message saying that the perfect organism trait instills intimidation in all sentient beings.¡¯ The effect of ¡®perfect organism¡¯ includes instilling fear into sentient beings. Perhaps the pheromone that gives off that aura of fear works by covering the pheromone produced by the Mimicry Organ.

    [PR/N- a chemical substance (as a scent) that is produced by an animal and serves as a signal to other individuals of the same species to engage in some kind of behavior (as mating)]

    In Space Survival, there are various types of traits, equipment, and skills, but among them, there are things that can restrict other abilities. In line with the game¡¯s emphasis on reality, restrictions operate with logic that is realistic and understandable, rather than outright prohibition.

    For example, AP bullets contain substances that block the flow of psychic power, preventing the use of the opponent¡¯s psychic power in a certain area for a certain period.

    Getting the Perfect organism trait and having some of the existing traits sealed should be seen in a simr context. The reason the wings are unusable is that the weight of the body has increased significantly, and the reason the Mimicry Organ is unusable is that the organ has changed to generate a new pheromone.

    ¡®Then, how about imitating voices?¡¯ Just in case, I tried producing a voice with my mouth.

    ¡°Ah, ah, good, ¡­*gurgling*¡­, I can, gurgle.¡± A voice came out, but it wasn¡¯t as perfect as before. It sounded strange, like a voice from a broken recorder, and the distinctive growling sound of the Amorph was mixed in.

    Trying to deceive others with this kind of trick wouldn¡¯t be forgivable, as if to say that the perfect organism was in a state where it was perfectly applied even inside the body.

    ¡®It seems impossible to deceive others with this kind of voice.¡¯ Unless the goal is to instill fear in the enemy, it doesn¡¯t seem usable for deceptive purposes.

    ¡®Usually, when such restrictions arise, there¡¯s a separate method provided to lift the restrictions.¡¯

    Come to think of it, there was a new message notification. I proceeded to read the message.

    [¡®Transcend¡¯ system information rted to level 2 has been unlocked.

    Unlocking ¡®Unique Trait Synthesis.¡¯ You can fuse ¡®Unique¡¯ traits at any time.

    Unlocking information on ¡®Transcend (Level 2) Breakthrough.¡¯ Do you want to read the information?]

    ¡®Transcend Breakthrough, huh.¡¯ I checked the Transcend (Level 2) Breakthrough.

    [¡®Transcend (Level 2)¡¯: Combine 5 fused traits to unlock a new type-rted trait. The traits used as materials must all be rted to different types. Information about the new type will be unlocked.

    Avable trait list: Regeneration (Fused), Predator Senses (Fused), Parasitic Colony (Fused), ? (Fused), ? (Fused)

    Additional reward: The golden restriction from Transcend Stage 1 will be lifted.

    *Note: The traits used as materials for the breakthrough can be reced with other traits. Please keep this in mind.]

    [PR/N- Golden restriction is caused by him evolving to transcend level 1 where he cannot use some of his traits which has already been mentioned above]

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯ The unlocking method was provided, but it wasn¡¯t easy. Making fused traits isn¡¯t difficult, but the problem was that each fused trait had to be rted to a different type.

    ¡®Currently, I¡¯ve unlocked the type acquisition conditions for 3 types.¡¯ To proceed, I needed to obtain two more fused traits rted to types I hadn¡¯t acquired yet. At this point, the difficulty level was almostparable to evolution conditions.

    The only fortunate thing was that it needs fused traits rted to a type, it didn¡¯t matter which one I used as material. If it demanded only ¡®specific¡¯ traits like in Level 1, it would take me ages to reach Level 2.

    ¡®Not easy.¡¯ It was regrettable that the traits I frequently used were sealed, but what had happened had happened. When the environment changes, you have to adapt your strategy ordingly.

    ¡®Ambushing one by one while hiding has be difficult now.¡¯ However, confronting this city head-on was still beyond my current strength. Ick traits and have only one type.

    ¡®The key is how strong this newly acquired trait is.¡¯ I approached the wall to test it.

    ¡®Before, I used to weaken the ground with acidic blood and pierce holes in walls in order to break them¡­ but now.¡¯ As it was metal responsible for the city¡¯s foundation, it was naturally sturdy. How much has the physique, which is now reinforced in the same way as it reinforces itself during evolution through the effect of a perfect organism, strengthened?

    I applied a bit of force to thebat arm and swung it towards the wall. Following the eerie sound of cutting through the air, the thunderous noise vibrated the entire passage.

    ¡®Indeed.¡¯ The wall, covered in dust but with no significant scratches, showed four wounds.

    All were uniformly over 20 cm deep. My erged fingernails exactly matched them.

    Despite creating cracks in the tough metal wall, my fingernails remained intact.

    ¡®Next is durability.¡¯ I pierced the newly reinforced outeryer with those nails. It didn¡¯t go in at all with a gentle stab. I had to pierce with force before any signs of pration showed.

    ¡®Strength, speed, outer shell toughness, sharpness of the nails. Everything has be significantly stronger.¡¯

    With this level of defense, I can even withstand the firepower of sma weapons to some extent. In other words, the armed police and androids without sma weapons cannot kill me.

    ¡®As long as the defense fleet doesn¡¯t bombard me from above, the chances of me dying are low.¡¯

    This was certainly a rare piece of good news, but the problem lies with the cult with psychic powers.

    While my physical defense is very high, my resistance to psychic powers is significantly lower. Although I possess psychic resistance traits, since I don¡¯t receive the type enhancement effect, I fall outside the scope of application for aplete organism.

    ¡®Evolving to Symbol of the Hunt will grant resistance to all attacks. If I use this, I can also somewhat block psychic powers¡­ Wait?¡¯

    I read the Symbol of the Hunt entry again.

    ¡®The Symbol of the Hunt. Usable once a day with a 10-minute limit, but increases predation probability.¡¯

    The conditions are quite tight, but in return, the effects gained are highly favorable.

    ¡®If I use the Symbol of the Hunt and kill the cult members, I can easily obtain traits rted to psychic abilities.¡¯

    ¡®The remaining number of traits until I get the psychic enhancement type is 1. Once I acquire that, my defense against psychic abilities will greatly increase since it bes applicable to ¡®perfect organism¡¯.¡¯

    Moreover, as long as I can quickly secure numerous traits, it won¡¯t take long for me to lift the golden restrictions caused by evolving to transcendence level 1.

    The key element to breakthrough Transcend Level 2 is quantity rather than quality of traits. It is to quickly secure multiple traits, fuse them, and use them as materials for the breakthrough.

    ¡®In any case, the core of the strategy now is the Commercial District.¡¯

    The timing of the board meeting is approaching soon.

    When the board meeting takes ce, various extraterrestrial races wille for tourism. Since they¡¯lle for tourism, they will only concentrate in the center of consumption and entertainment.

    ¡®I need to seize the opportunity when new visitorse and the ce is crowded.¡¯

    It¡¯s a situation where new gic essences gather in one ce. If I target them at the right time, it won¡¯t be difficult to secure gic essences.

    Moreover, when there are many spectators, all sorts of criminals will also follow suit. The surveince will be strict ordingly, but let¡¯s think of it the other way around. Since there will be many targets to monitor, they won¡¯t be able to focus all their manpower on me alone.

    If I go around killing people, I¡¯ll certainly be pursued, but concentrating all resources on me is not an easy task. Eventually, they will perceive my existence as a significant threat, but by then, I would have gathered enough traits to transcend.

    ¡®I should finish the nest construction that I¡¯ve been postponing until the board meeting.¡¯

    ces in the Entertainment District and Commercial District. Let¡¯s build a new nest there.

    I¡¯m nning how to proceed in the future, but Number 26 wakes up and sends out waves.

    ?What was that noise just now??

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (It¡¯s nothing important.)]

    ?Huh??

    As I convinced it that I¡¯m okay, it tries to go back to sleep but wakes up abruptly after seeing me.

    It seemed puzzled that the image it saw before going to sleep and my current appearance were different. Light flickered from its body.

    ?I¡¯ve shrunk again.?

    Currently, my size, when standing on two legs, was over 3 meters. Compared to before, when it didn¡¯t even reach 2 meters, it can be considered to have grown by about 1.5 to 2 times. The tail is slightly shorterpared to the height, but it still exceeds 4 meters.

    Since I grew like this while sleeping, it¡¯s not unreasonable for number 26 to be mistaken.

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ (You¡¯ve not shrunken. I¡¯ve grown.)]

    ?Already? You didn¡¯t eat much, did you??

    The now smarter number 26 asked. I gave it a brief answer.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (Not a baby anymore, that¡¯s why.)]

    ?Big kids grow up quickly. It¡¯s fascinating.?

    Seemingly satisfied, number 26 didn¡¯t ask any more questions. Meanwhile, Adhai also woke up.

    Seeing me, it jumped up from its ce as if surprised.

    ?Surprise!? ?Surprise!?

    [ZZZ ZZZZZZ (What happened?)]

    ?Adult!? ? Cool!?

    [ZZZZZ (Thanks.)]

    Adhai seemed to really like my changed appearance. It behaved like a puppy that wanted to y, looking at me, then turning in ce and looking at me again. At the same time, the wings on its back swayed gently, showing a strange movement.

    ?Adult!? ? Know!? ?Unnecessary??

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    ?I!? ?Adult!? ?Know!? ?Needed!? ?Know!? ?Know!? ?Know!?

    It seems Adhai really likes me.

    While I was silent, number 26, who was beside me, extended its tentacles and hit Adhai¡¯s head.

    ?Pain!?

    ?Big kids can¡¯ty eggs.?

    ?I!? ?Grow!? ?Egg!? ?Possible!?

    ?Even small ones can¡¯ty eggs.?

    ?Pain!?

    With those words, number 26 hit Adhai once more. After being hit twice, it finally came to its senses and stopped turning around, bing quiet.

    ¡®¡­ There is no information avable about Gagon¡¯s mating.¡¯

    The movement Adhai just showed seems like gestures rted to courtship. If Gagon¡¯s fans were present, wouldn¡¯t they have fainted?

    Honestly, I¡¯m quite interested in how Gagons reproduce. To evolve, I need to kill a lot of Gagons. Understanding how they reproduce and grow would be a great help in evolving.

    ¡®Well, that¡¯s something to think aboutter.¡¯

    Dealing with Gagons is a story for muchter. Right now, building the nest is the priority.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (Going out for a bit.)]

    ?Building the nest??

    [ZZZ (Yes.)]

    ?I¡¯lle with you.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ (It might be boring.)]

    ?I¡¯m okay.?

    ?I? e? ?too?

    It seems both Number 26 and Adhai want toe along.

    ¡®I don¡¯t really need to leave them behind, do I?¡¯

    I took them with me to work on building the nest.

    When I had justpleted building two new nests in two ces in the Entertainment District, I sensed a familiar wavelength.

    The parasite I imnted in William sent a signal.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    There are still a few hours until I can change the parasite. He shouldn¡¯t be dead by now.

    As I suspected, the signal from the parasite wasn¡¯t about William¡¯s death.

    ¡®Suicide attempt?¡¯

    To be precise, he wasn¡¯t dead yet. ording to the parasite¡¯s signal, he was currently moving rapidly towards a location in the Commercial District while in a state of unconsciousness.

    ¡®Hospital? Could it be?¡¯

    Only then I understood what William was up to.

    He is trying to reveal the presence of the parasite through a thorough examination at the hospital.

    The fact that the parasite came out of Sander¡¯s body is known to a considerable number of police officers in the detective team. I instructed William to interfere and prevent the police from connecting the parasite and Sander¡¯s death.

    Thanks to that, the police were no longer interested in the parasite and were just keeping it in storage.

    But what if the same parasite is found in William¡¯s body at this point?

    ¡°They definitely won¡¯t stay quiet.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s tracking technology among the psychic powers of the cult.¡±

    The parasites have an organ that generates signals formunication with me. If they understand that organ, they might use the cult¡¯s tracking technology in the Administrative District to trace me.

    William Couldn¡¯t have known all this. However, it was clear that he did something to resist me.

    ¡°I should go check out the hospital.¡±

    It seems that I might need to advance my n to conquer the Commercial District.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 59

    Chapter 59

    6pm, the port district of the T&C Special Trade Center. Normally, this would be the time when workers in their uniforms diligently moved around, but today was different. Instead, soldiers from the naval fleet and police from the security team were out in force, waiting in the port district.

    ¡°The head of the Eden family is visiting earlier than originally nned. There must be no mistakes.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Administrator!¡±

    La Chemblin, the de facto ruler of the city, nodded silently in response to the crisis management team leader¡¯s answer. While the head of the Eden family was known to the public as the ck Lion, disying his bravery, within the upper echelons of MegaCorp, he was treated slightly differently. La defined Denver Eden, the noble of Mars, in this way.

    [TL/N- Chambein changed to Chemblin]

    ¡®entric.¡¯

    Generally, humans from The Noble Capital and The Prime Capital were not kind to those below them. They either treated them as ves or as possessions, like Akira Yujin or in a business-like way like La.

    Among the elites who enjoyed poprity among the public, the head of the Eden family was the only one who could be considered different.

    ¡®Thanks to him, we¡¯re the ones suffering.¡¯

    La maintained a poker face outwardly, but inside, irritation and anger were building up.

    Originally, Denver was scheduled toe two days from now, the day before the council meeting. However, La had received intelligence that Denver wasing to the city earlier than nned.

    ¡®Enjoying a surprise show, isn¡¯t he?¡¯

    It was clear that he had orchestrated such a move to showcase his uniqueness to the public.

    But she couldn¡¯t just leave it for him toe anytime. If she treated a popr guest like him poorly, the citizens would start pointing fingers at La, and if that happened, her father, Samdam Chemblin, would be greatly disappointed in her way of handling of the situation.

    ¡®¡­cunning bastard.¡¯

    While La suppressed her frustration and anger, on the other side, police officers from the security team gathered for a meeting.

    ¡°Security team at the port district, is everything cleared?¡±

    ¡°Damn, it was a mess with the smugglers, and then this. We really went through a lot.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your hard work. Oh, and William, who yed a significant role in tracking the smugglers this time, well done. If it weren¡¯t for you, we could have embarrassed ourselves in front of an important guest. Haha.¡±

    ¡°¡­Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Well, as the head of the port district¡¯s detective team, you¡¯re still here for now, but soon you¡¯ll hear good news. Look forward to it.¡±

    While William received congrattions from everyone, his inner difort was unmatched.

    They didn¡¯t know anything. They had no idea about the grave danger the city was currently facing.

    ¡®¡­Eden.¡¯

    In the past, William was a soldier. He had served not in a regr crisis management team but in Denver Eden¡¯s direct secret unit, where they experimented with new Hulk mutants.

    ¡®It was where they demonstrated the improved Hulk mutants.¡¯

    The idea of improving the Hulk mutants was essentially a deration ofpetition with the Yujin family. Therefore, Denver had devoted great effort to maintain the confidentiality of the project.

    As a result, everyone in that unit was given a disguised background. William, on paper, was recorded as working in the crisis management team under the Eden family.

    However, in Williams¡¯ opinion, Denver wasn¡¯t a bad person. Rather, he was surprisingly decent, close to humane, unlike the other ruling ss of The MegaCorp. Officially, Denver denied the existence of the secret unit, but he secretly took care of the people in the unit, providing them with assistance or support.

    If it weren¡¯t for that incident, William and his colleagues would still be working under Denver.

    ¡®If that damn bastard hadn¡¯t experimented and fooled around with the specimens¡­¡¯

    One of hisrades from the secret unit betrayed Denver. He escaped along with the prototype of the new Hulk mutant and disappeared.

    Fortunately for Denver and William, this information was not ryed to the Yujin family. However, due to the need of maintaining confidentiality, the unit was disbanded, and William and his colleagues each went on to live their new lives.

    ¡®Only If his Highness still remembers me¡­¡¯

    If he could convey the situation he was in to Denver, perhaps he could resolve and fight against the existence threatening this city. While William was lost in thought, suddenly rms echoed from speakers installed all over the Earth.

    It was a signal that a ship was entering.

    In response to the signal, the dark sky above the port district momentarily flickered. The hologram was affected as the doubleyered shutters at the port district operated.

    Subsequently, a crack over 200m in the sky appeared. A colossal warship emerged as the massive shutters opened, showcasing its grandeur.

    The state-of-the-art warship was adorned with a golden trim on a white base, reaching an astonishing size of 700m in length and 100m in height, visible even from the Earth¡¯s borders.

    Thanks to the light pouring from the dome-shaped ceiling lights, the warship resembled a hero¡¯s ship from ancient myths.

    ¡°Finally, a new model after five years.¡±

    Muttered La as she saw the warship for the first time. The warship descended at a slow pace andnded on Earth.

    Following that, the ship¡¯s doors opened, and individuals d in silver armor reminiscent of medieval European knights walked out. They were Eden¡¯s Archangels, a well-known unit within MegaCorp.

    In reality, what they wore were not actual armor but advanced reinforced suits colored silver. Despite being far from medieval or traditional, Denver intentionally styled them like that due to his emphasis on image.

    ¡®So ceremonial.¡¯

    La clicked her tongue, but at least from a civilian perspective, Denver¡¯s decision seemed to receive considerable approval. This was because all the soldiers and police officers on Earth were looking at the Archangels with longing eyes.

    The knights who disembarked from the ship stood in a row, leaving only the middle one. The knight in the middle and also the one wearing the thickest andrgest armor was holding a g with a lion depicted on it, he raised it high and shouted.

    ¡°The great lord of Mars and the ck Lion of Eden, Lord Denver Eden, has arrived!¡±

    In line with his introduction, Denver descendedst. In contrast to other knights, he wore ck-based armor with gold decorations. He was the man who, unlike the others, had a sense of authority. Denver removed the helmet upon descent, revealing a man with ck skin and white teeth. He smiled, waving his hand.

    As La had hurriedly prepared soldiers and police officers to match their protocol, she nodded to the crisis management team leader beside her.

    When he promptly apuded, the soldiers and police officers at the port district cheered in unison.

    Denver responded to the cheers, shaking hands lightly and enjoying the apuse as he leisurely passed through the well-organized ranks of the knights.

    Finally, those at the pinnacle within MegaCorp faced each other.

    The person to break the short silence was La.

    ¡°I, La Chemblin, daughter of Samdam Chemblin, greet Prime Capital Denver Eden, the lord of Mars and the ck Lion of Eden.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Who would have thought that the little girl from not long ago would be such an impressivedy.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. However, for now, please address me as the General Manager, Lord Denver.¡±

    Denver chuckled while looking at her smiling face but scowling eyes. He scanned the surroundings again and muttered in admiration, as if saying, ¡°This is it. I also paid attention to security, you know. Samdam will be pleased.¡±

    [PR/N- Here Denver is appreciating the security arrangement organised by La]

    ¡°I appreciate thepliment.¡±

    ¡°Give the reporters some time. That¡¯s why I brought the prototype battleship.¡±

    ¡°The reporters are already waiting outside Earth harbor.¡±

    ¡°Oh, really? Impressive!¡±

    Denver nodded with an impressed expression. While La inwardly criticized his nonchnt demeanor, she didn¡¯t show it.

    ¡®Someday, for sure¡­!¡¯

    Although the seven Noble Capitals and Prime Capitals within MegaCorp were collectively known as the Seven Great Houses and Seven Aristocrats, the gap between the two sses was quite significant.

    CEO candidacy was exclusively allowed for Noble Capitals, and Prime Capitals only had voting rights among the elders and the head of the family. However, the Prime Capitals still actively utilized their authority, as the King Makers also held considerable influence.

    Denver, with his extravagant smile and mboyantughter, was an example of such behavior.

    Despite his rude promotion of his new warship, it was merely an external show. His real intention was to test La, who was in charge of preparing for the board meeting.

    La, her family, T&C, were they qualified for the next CEO, and did they have enough influence to bet on within the Eden family? That¡¯s what he wanted to find out.

    ¡°Haha, you¡¯re still wless.¡±

    Seeing no significant reaction from her, Denverughed heartily. It was a signal that the first test was over.

    La sighed inwardly and spoke again.

    ¡°Leave the rest to others and apany me to the Administrative Zone. I have some questions about the new battleship.¡±

    ¡°It would be a shame to just go like this aftering all this way. I¡¯d like to chat with the people here.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll wait.¡±

    Since it was evident that he would do what he wanted anyway, La didn¡¯t object. Denver, smiling, approached the soldiers and police officers.

    As Denver was recognized as a star among MegaCorp¡¯s public, there were many individuals among the soldiers and police officers requesting for his autograph. Despite this somewhat ufortable atmosphere, Denver responded to all of them, while he was greeting everyone, a familiar face caught his eyes.

    ¡°No, you? Will¡­ No, NH01, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Long time no see, Your Highness.¡±

    When Denver mentioned his past code name, pretending to recognize, William nodded and respectfully acknowledged. Denver, initially pleased to see him, patted his shoulder, but a strange expression crossed his face.

    ¡°Was your body always like this? I don¡¯t remember seeing you this thin¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    Seeing Denver¡¯s concerned attitude, it was clear that he still had a favorable opinion of William, his former subordinate.

    ¡®If he¡¯s addressing me like this, he should understand the significance of my actions.¡¯

    William made up his mind.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    With those words, William pulled out aser pistol and aimed it at his own abdomen.

    ***

    ¡®Hospital.¡¯ As far as I remember, there are threerge hospitals in the space city that can treat serious injuries. One is in the Administrative Zone, while the rest are in the Commercial Zone.

    ¡®The hospital in the Administrative Zone is only essible to Third Capitals and above, so William can¡¯t go there.¡¯

    The signal sent by the parasite ising from the Commercial Zone. Since the hospital and the station are close, it would be best to go through the subway line.

    ¡®Route is set, but the problem is that it¡¯s early evening now.¡¯

    Since it¡¯s themercial zone, there would still be many people shopping at this hour. Being close to the hospital and station is good news, but it also means there will be a lot of people around the station, especially nearing the end of working hours.

    ¡®I have an active n, but I don¡¯t intend to engage in a full-frontal confrontation with the city. Moreover, killing people in the station would risk exposing the nest.¡¯

    ¡®But I still have some time.¡¯

    ording to the signal sent by the parasite, William is currently in a serious condition due to self-harm. In that case, the medical staff would most likely try to prioritize saving him right now instead of trying to find the cause of why he tried to harm himself and since that is the case then the likelihood of extracting the parasite first will be low.

    ¡®But avoiding detection by the parasite may be difficult.¡¯

    Being hospitalized with severe injuries, there is no room for luck for him.

    ¡®Since the parasite keeps reporting, let¡¯s wait until nightfall.¡¯

    While waiting, I should think about how to infiltrate the hospital. The hospital William went to is the one where he was admitted after the battle in the former apartmentplex.

    ¡®Back then, I didn¡¯t approach the hospital directly. Instead, I sent an infected armed police officer to bring him out.¡¯

    ¡®There are many androids in the MegaCorp hospital.¡¯

    In MegaCorp, doctors specializing in patients with serious injuries, require gic modifications, or those above Prime Capitals are handled by gic modified specialists. Other than that, doctors deal with normal patients only when they board the ship.

    Since most patients are treated with medical capsules, androids take care of them instead of advanced personnel like doctors.

    ¡®It won¡¯t be difficult to fight since they¡¯re notbat models, but¡­¡¯

    Medical androids pose a headache in a different sense.

    ¡®Everyone should carry a call bell.¡¯

    When a medical call bell rings, it is immediately ryed to the central AI of the hospital, and appropriate measures are taken ording to the AI¡¯s judgment. If I attack and the android rings the bell, the police and military will immediately be dispatched to capture me.

    Because of these difficulties, even in the game, hospitals are one of the difficult ces to infiltrate. Even for me, who is adept at infiltration, hospitals are not ces I particrly want to attack.

    ¡®Unless I have EMP features or concealment features, entering is¡­ ah.¡¯

    As I think about concealment, a suitable method came to my mind.

    The high-grade reinforced suit obtained from the sniper in the harbor area.

    This suit is equipped with a concealment function.

    ¡®If I activate the suit and consume it, wouldn¡¯t the concealment effect ur?¡¯

    Although it is made of synthetic fibers as a base for easy modification, I mixed in a special metal to implement the concealment effect, making it applicable to my characteristics.

    ¡®The duration of metal absorption is more than 20 minutes.¡¯

    Originally, it should be 20 minutes, but as my body has further strengthened due to the state of ¡®perfect organism¡¯, It should have a duration of about 20 to 30 minutes.

    However, though 30 minutes is not a short period, the more I dy, the more disadvantageous it bes as the surveincework inside the hospital bes tighter.

    ¡®If I want to deal with William quickly, I need to know the structure of the hospital first.¡¯

    Fortunately, I have a way to know the structure in advance without directly going to the hospital.

    I returned to the nest in the Commercial Zone with the kids.

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Don¡¯t touch me)]

    ?Going to the nest??

    [ZZZ (Yes)]

    ?Be quiet. Don¡¯t disturb.?

    ???

    Number 26, who had seen what I was doing in the spaceship before, understood and took Adhai with him, moving away from me.

    ¡®I don¡¯t need to spread the distance too much.¡¯

    It¡¯s just being considerate, so there¡¯s no need to point it out.

    Ifortablyy on the nest and rested my chin on the sticky surface. My auxiliary devices also touched the gooey surface of the nest.

    As always, I felt the sensation of floating in the air, and suddenly, like being sucked into a hole, I shot downward.

    It¡¯s a familiar sensation from the time of the link, as I¡¯ve done this many times.

    ¡®Find the hospital.¡¯

    My auxiliary devices received mymand to locate the hospital among the things on the ground. The first sensations thate to me are the sounds created by the city¡ªfootsteps of people walking, the sounds of people doing business in shops, and the chatter on the streets. The most noticeable sensations were the sounds produced by the city.

    The sensations that followed closely behind, like pursuing me, were rted to the sense of smell. The smell of food from a restaurant, the smell of sweaty clothes from office workers, and the smell of still unpurified polluted air, and more.

    In a way, themercial zone might be called the essence of this city.

    In the flood of sensations, I picked up the distinctive smell of the hospital,monly associated with preservatives or disinfectants.

    ¡®An 8-story hospital close to the station.¡¯

    Among them, William¡¯s location was in the surgery room on the 3rd floor.

    The whole 3rd floor had a strong smell of disinfectant mixed with the pungent smell of blood and the smell of humans. It was clear that the surgery room and the intensive care unit were located together on the 3rd floor. After surgery, patients would enter the nearby intensive care unit for recovery.

    ¡®Everything can be resolved on the 3rd floor.¡¯

    Besides, I thoroughly searched for ces within the hospital where the server room and central AIputer might be located. The ce where the most electrical signals were detected was the basement on the 2nd floor.

    ¡®Alright. This should be enough.¡¯

    Having finally understood the overall structure of the hospital, I disconnected the link.

    Now that the preparations to enter the hospital wereplete, all that remains is to wait until nightfall.

    Before the day is over, William will die in my hands.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 60

    Chapter 60

    As the sound of footsteps above my head gradually diminished.

    ¡®It¡¯s time to move.¡¯

    I pressed the terminal on the reinforced suit I was holding. The energy to activate the enhancement suit was almost depleted, but since I wouldn¡¯t be the one wearing it, it didn¡¯t matter.

    ¡®I only need to activate the stealth function, the rest will be handled by my outer shell.¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s working.¡¯

    As I manipted the terminal on my right wrist, the enhancement suit glowed faintly and soon disappeared before my eyes. It worked well¡¯ now it was my turn.

    I activated the metal absorption feature and bit into the enhancement suit. The tough synthetic fibers were torn apart by my teeth, and the metal fragments mixed in between were absorbed into my body. Then, the special effect was triggered, and my body began to blur.

    ?Adult??

    As my figurepletely disappeared, Adhai looked around with a puzzled expression.

    ?What¡¯s wrong, little one??

    ?Adult? ?Vanished.?

    ?There, He¡¯s over there.?

    ?I? ?feel? ?But? ?Not visible?

    Number 26 couldn¡¯t detect changes in my body visually, probably because it didn¡¯t rely on sight for perception. On the other hand, Adhai, who perceived the surroundings with its eyes and tentacles, seemed perplexed that it could feel my presence but not see me.

    [ZZ ZZZ (I¡¯m here.)]

    ?Adult.??Not visible?.

    [ZZ ZZZZZ (I¡¯m hiding.)]

    ?Adult? ?Hiding??Perfectly?

    Adhai nodded, as if it was admiring my hiding skills

    ¡®The effect seems to have been validated.¡¯

    Feeling relieved, I was about to leave the nest, but number 26, who could now see me, followed.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ(This time, no.)]

    ?Why??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ(This time,I must go alone.)]

    ?Can¡¯t I help??

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (No, This is something I have to do alone)]

    ?Yeah¡­?

    Being refused by me, the little one sulked and shrunk down. Adhai, who followed, also noticed and huddled together with it.

    While I could conceal myself, they couldn¡¯t. Seeing a giant jellyfish and a lizard with flying tentacles, people definitely wouldn¡¯t think positively about them.

    I tried to leave them behind but felt their eyes on my back.

    ¡®¡­Maybe I should do it this way?¡¯

    In case something went wrong and a big battle erupted within the hospital, I couldn¡¯tpletely rule out the possibility of new enemies visiting the hospital. Given that the Council move is imminent if something goes wrong, it¡¯s not entirely a bad strategy to keep them nearby just in case.

    Having made up my mind, I called them.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ(Follow me)]

    With them in tow, I headed towards the hole connecting to the subway tracks.

    On the way, I exined the n to them.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ(But you can¡¯te with me)]

    ?Yeah.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Instead, wait for me where I told you)]

    ?Like we did before??

    [ZZ (Yeah.)]

    ?I got it.?

    I took out amunication device from the bag I had kept while devouring the reporter and showed it to Number 26. I nned to use themunication device that the sniper had.

    After entering the reporter¡¯s contact information into the sniper¡¯smunication device,I handed the reporter¡¯smunication device to Number 26.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (If this vibrates, it¡¯s the signal)]

    ?Yeah.?

    Number 26 extended its tentacles and firmly held themunication device.

    After handing over themunication device, I exined to Number 26 where I would be and how they could find me. Perhaps due to its increased intelligence, the little one quickly understood my exnation.

    As the exnation wasing to an end, we arrived at the hole leading to the tracks. I told the kids to wait here and approached the hole.

    ¡®My body has grown, so I need to widen it a bit more.¡¯

    Perhaps because my strength had increased significantly, breaking the walls around the hole was very easy.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ(I¡¯ll be back)]

    ?Be careful.?

    Leaving the worried kids behind, I crawled into the tracks.

    Avoiding passing trains, I ran along the tracks towards the direction of the hospital. The wide passage, enough for two subway trains to pass simultaneously, was filled with the sound of moving trains and my footsteps.

    ¡®The noise is louder, maybe because I¡¯ve gained weight.¡¯

    Once I entered the hospital, I would need to stick close to the walls and ceilings. Leaving marks on the walls might raise suspicion among the androids, but it was better than getting caught due to noise.

    Even though the body had enhanced, the distance to the hospital that would have taken five minutes by teleportation took less than three minutes by running.

    Although it was gettingte at night, there were still quite a few people on the tform. I carefully adhered to the wall and waited.

    After a while, a train arrived, and the tform filled with people getting off and on the train. Themotion created by the crowd was short-lived.

    After the train left, there were almost no people left on the tform. I cautiously crawled along the wall and exited the tform.

    Seeing the few remaining people on the tform, I created some traces for the tourists passing by and chattering about it. Fortunately, due to the advanced optical camouge effect, no one noticed my presence.

    After leaving the station, I ran towards the hospital.

    Although there were still people on the streets, no one noticed my existence. Some people heard my footsteps and turned their heads, but that was all.

    Arriving easily at the front of the hospital, I chose to head to the back entrance instead of the main entrance. After confirming that no one was visible from the back entrance, I quickly entered and went straight up the emergency stairs.

    ¡®I initially considered using the windows.¡¯

    However, I couldn¡¯t enter through the windows because my body had grown toorge. Crawling along the wall, I was trying to climb from the second floor to the third, but the door to the stairs opened.

    ¡°Noise detected.¡±

    An android appeared. The moment it closed the door, my tail pierced through the android¡¯s head like lightning.

    With my increased size, the tail had grown to almost the size of a de attached to a pole. It was more appropriate to call it a poisonous sword than a poisonous sting. The android¡¯s head was instantly crushed in ce.

    ¡®It won¡¯t be captured on the camera anyway.¡¯

    Before it could switch to infrared detection, there was no chance of me getting caught. Just in case, I destroyed the memory storage device inside the android¡¯s body too.

    After pushing the android¡¯s remains into a corner of the stairs, I cautiously used my auxiliary organs to sense the situation outside. Another android had entered a nearby room as soon as the one before closed the door.

    While ensuring that no one was around, I opened the door and stepped into the corridor.

    ¡®William is¡­ this way.¡¯

    Following the guidance of my auxiliary organs, I moved towards the end of the left corridor, leading to the intensive care unit.

    Just as I was about to open the door to a patient¡¯s room, my auxiliary organs detected something strange.

    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯

    There¡¯s something below.

    A very powerful energy mass. It was a high-density energy conglomerate that could not bepared to androids¡ªfour of them were moving up from the first-floor lobby.

    ¡®If it¡¯s stronger than an android¡­¡¯

    There was only one possibility.

    ¡®Superior Reinforced Suits!¡¯

    Being able to detect it from such a distance meant that it was undoubtedly a reinforced suit with high output and high firepower.

    ¡®Why is an advanced reinforced suit that you can only see on the front lines here?¡¯

    Enemies areing up the stairs on the opposite side. They mighte this way, so I quickly hid in the nearby operating room.

    ¡°I sense that the door has opened¡­.¡±

    Only a cleaning android remained in the operating room. Before it could finish speaking, I hit him on the head using mybat arm.

    After removing the android, I quietly held my breath. Beyond the corridor, I could hear the mechanical sound generated by the thick and sturdy armorsuit.

    ¡°It seems to be here.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know why the Vice Commander ordered us to guard this person.¡±

    ¡°The Vice Commander gave strict orders. He said to pay special attention.¡±

    ¡°We are the Vice Commander¡¯s sword. We follow orders when they are given.¡±

    The tone sounded like it belonged in a historical drama, but due to the distortion caused by the mechanical sound, it sounded strangely intriguing. It felt like characters from a ssic sci-fi game, space knights of some intergctic empire.

    ¡®A space knight.¡¯

    Two forcese to mind.

    First and foremost is Garmelda.

    Noble Capital, responsible for reinforced suits and android development within the MegaCorp, is a significant yer. Since reinforced suits are crucial to MegaCorp gamey, many MegaCorp users choose this faction.

    ¡®It can¡¯t be Garmelda. They wouldn¡¯tmunicate like that.¡¯

    As far as I knew, within the MegaCorp, Eden was the only family with a feudalistic political structure on Mars. The head of the family was referred to as a lord, and elders or leaders were called lords. It had a unique culture where people addressed each other as lords.

    ¡®Is Eden family supporting them with reinforced suits?¡¯

    The Eden family was originally specialized in fleet battles in space, not particrly strong in ground battles. The MegaCorp families responsible for ground battles were the Yujin family and the Garmelda family, not them.

    ¡®The situation keeps evolving, like the armed police before. Enemies are evolving too.¡¯

    Unthinkable incidents kept urring as if it were a game. The major families in MegaCorp had a tense rtionship, and such cooperation among them was almost nonexistent unless it involved yers.

    Is this difference due to the fact that this is reality, or did a new system update, simr to the transcendence system, ur?

    ¡®It¡¯s a problem I can¡¯t solve right now.¡¯

    I again focused on the conversationing from the adjacent room.

    ¡°The android mentioned that it would take about three hours for this person to wake up.¡±

    ¡°Did the Vice Commander say anything else?¡±

    ¡±He said that when this person wakes up, bring the physical examination data and the doctor¡¯s diagnosis together.¡±

    ¡°Do they suspect mental issues? Although this person was mentally challenged, I was really surprised when they suddenly shot themselves with a gun.¡±

    Listening to the conversation, it seemed like they nned to take William with them once he woke up.

    ¡®I need to handle this situation here.¡¯

    I pressed the auxiliary organ under my chin against the wall. This was to understand the positions of the enemies and how they were moving, in the intensive care unit which was next to the operating room.

    ¡®Four enemies. Two near the door, one next to William, and one getting closer to this side.¡¯

    While keeping the auxiliary organ pressed against the wall, I prepared my tail for a surprise attack in case If an enemy came close, I nned to pierce them with my tail against the wall.

    At that moment, I heard the enemies talking.

    ¡±Even though we¡¯re guarding, let¡¯s activate the surveince system.¡±

    ¡®I¡¯ll do the same.¡¯

    ¡±Huh?¡±

    ¡±Hmm?¡±

    Following that, a regr warning tone flowed from their thick armor.

    ¡®Oh no.¡¯

    I quickly detached myself from the wall. Almost simultaneously, the wall was shattered, and bullet-like fists appeared from the other side.

    Beyond the dust, four silver-armored knights pointed guns that resembled handgun-type missileunchers at me.

    ¡®sma Bolter!¡¯

    That¡¯s dangerous.

    I urgently smashed the wall and leaped into the corridor. A green light shed behind me, and the operating room turned into actual powder.

    The sma Bolter is a kind of transitional weapon that came before the development of the sma Pistol.

    It looks like a pistol-type missileuncher based on a concrete nail gun, but instead of conventional ammunition, condensed sma energy is fired from the barrel.

    While the destructive power of sma weapons is excellent, they are extremely heavy due to a failure in lightweighting.

    Nevertheless, apart from its weight, it had no particr disadvantages, making it suitable as a general-purpose weapon forbat units wearing superior reinforcement suits.

    Thanks to the strength enhancement function in the superior reinforcement suit, it can easily handle the weight and recoil of the bolter.

    Although the sma Pistol was developedter, the Bolter could still maintain an active position.

    ¡°An unidentified alien life form.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle the patient as his escort.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be counting on you.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡±

    Three enemies in superior reinforcement suits were approaching. Seeing them heading straight toward my hiding spot, it seemed like my bio-signals were detected by their surveince system.

    ¡®This renders my camouge useless.¡¯

    With a superior reinforcement suit and a sma bolter, they are not easy opponents at all.

    In thest encounter, I did fight a sniper wearing a superior reinforcement suit, but the circumstances then and now are different.

    ¡®With high-output and high-armor upgrades, their defense must be extremely high.¡¯

    Their armor was likelyparable to the outer hull of a battleship. Although my ws were enhanced with type effects of ¡®Perfect organism¡¯, breaking through a superior reinforcement suit in one go seemed impractical.

    The Spine Projectile Organ, with excellent pration effects, is a weapon that can directly deal effective damage to the enemy.

    ¡®Should I use the monster¡¯s tentacles?¡¯

    I hesitated for a moment, then immediately shook my head. Using it without acquiring the Transcendent ability would be risky, if I were counterattacked, it would be irreversible.

    ¡®¡­Should I use that ability?¡¯

    While sensing the movements of the enemies, I opened up the text box.

    [*¡®Symbol of the Hunt¡¯: While active, the chance of predation effects significantly increases. All effects of possessed traits are enhanced. Resistance to all types of attacks is granted. Duration is 10 minutes.]

    Symbol of Hunt, usable once a day. Due to restrictions, I haven¡¯t used this skill yet.

    The Symbol of the Hunt, usable once a day. I hadn¡¯t used it yet due to restrictions. Originally I nned to use it for mass hunting of gic essences on Commercial district, but circumstances have changed because of William.

    ¡®No, let¡¯s think positively.¡¯

    Since it was a technique that needed testing sooner orter, it was a good opportunity. With a suitable demonstration target ready, I activated the Symbol of the Hunt.

    The moment it activated, my vision was engulfed in darkness.

    ¡®What¡¯s happening?¡¯

    The outer covering over my head rapidly grew, covering everything except my mouth and auxiliary organ. Vision disappeared, but the precision of the sensory input from the auxiliary organ increased to the extreme.

    Thanks to that, I could urately perceive the changes in my body.

    ¡®Right now, my body is evolving.¡¯

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 61

    Chapter 61

    In the world of Space Survival, there are over thousands of different traits. Some are so powerful that they canpletely change the situation, and there are traits whose approval through the review process raises questions. With various effects, traits rted to physical transformation are naturally present.

    Among them are traits like body transformation, which I acquired from the wolf I devoured earlier. They are beings reminiscent of space-age werewolves who have the ability to transform into beastly form for a limited time duration. In fact when the yers used to y as wolves, their primary objective was to unlock its beastly form.

    In pursuit of better existence and evolution, they might be somewhat simr to Amorph.

    The reason I¡¯m mentioning this is that my current body changes resemble the transformation of the wolves. Although my original form was already monstrous, the new transformation was more akin to a beast than a monster.

    The outer covering that covered my head grew rapidly, covering my eyes obscuring my eyes, and the horns became long and massive just like spears. The originally 3m tall body became muchrger, making it impossible for me to fit inside the room.

    Thanks to the effect of Perfect Organism, the muscles attached to the reinforcedbat arms became thicker and more powerful, totally reshaping them. Only the covering at the wrist grew unevenly, resembling small shields with tiny thorns that could be used not only for defense but also for offense.

    The Spine Projectile Organ of the lower left arm also changed significantly.The original rifle-like shape changed to that of a cannon.

    ¡®Moreover, it has three barrels?¡¯

    That means it can shoot three rounds at once, consecutively or simultaneously. Thanks to this, there was now no shortage of long-range firepower.

    Even up to this point, it was shocking, but the most significant change urred on my back.

    ¡®My arms have elongated?¡¯

    Two additional arms emerged from my back which unlike my other arms had four joints with crescent-shaped, elongated bone des designed exclusively forbat and killing.

    ¡®Was this the reason why I was not able to use my wings?¡¯

    Given that the sensation while moving the arms was almost identical to the feeling of moving wings, the arms on the back were undoubtedly devices recing wings.

    I swung the arms on my back a few times. Every time I swung the bone de attached to the end of the arm, there was a threatening sound as the air was cut.

    Certainly, the ¡®Symbol of the Hunt¡¯ was a change that lived up to its name.

    ¡®And even though I can¡¯t see it, this vivid feeling exins it all.¡¯

    ¡®The enhanced auxiliary organpensated for myck of vision, so I don¡¯t regret losing it for now.¡¯

    Thanks to them, I could not only sense the changes in my body but also read the movements and appearances of people throughout the entire building. I could even hear the heartbeats of the four individuals in reinforced suits.

    Powerful traitse with a cost, and such dramatic changes in my body inevitably demand immense energy, risking starvation as a post-effect if not managed carefully. As I contemted stepping out, a sma bolter-wielding knight aimed at my room, unleashing its destructive force¡ª the sma energy.

    ¡®I need to get out of here first¡­¡¯

    ¡°This way!¡±

    And¡­

    ¡°What?!¡±

    A voice distorted by mechanical sounds reached my ears. The emotions within it were filled with confusion. Surprisingly, despite the impact, my outer skin remainedrgely intact, merely scorched. Sensations akin to a slight tongue burn from hot coffee was what I felt.

    ¡®Is it okay?¡¯

    I brushed off the soot on my outer covering with thebat arm, then crawled out of the room. Due to myrge size, I was unable to bend my waist, so I moved in a semi-leaning position, sticking thebat arms to the ground. Even then, my massive frame filled the corridorpletely, and unlike before, the enemies seemed overwhelmed by my increased size, staggering back.

    Grrrr

    ¡°Pl-sma bolter doesn¡¯t work on him!¡±

    ¡°E-Everyone retreat!¡±

    When I growled, the enemies quickly began to retreat. The situation was quite amusing.

    I put strength into my tail and swung it forcefully. The tail not only broke the corridor wall but also struck the knight at the back of the enemies. The reinforced suit, which was easily able to destroy concrete walls earlier, crumpled at the impact.

    ¡®Crack!¡¯

    The waist of the knight hit by my tail bent unnaturally. It was a fatal injury that should have resulted in instant death, but he didn¡¯t die, perhaps he was equipped with a life support system as an option.

    ¡°Fifeild!¡±

    ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s toote! We need to retreat and regroup!¡±

    ¡°Shit!¡±

    Instead of chasing the other knights, I approached the injured one called Fifield.

    ¡®Since my jaws are now reinforced, there should be no problem in eating him as it is.¡¯

    I activated the metal absorption effect, and with the thought of returning to the nest, I left the current ongoing stealth function intact.

    I grabbed the knight with mybat arms. The superior reinforced suit he wore was a thing close to an armor suit. Therefore, despite being nearly 3m tall, he still had to look up at me as my height was even more than him.

    ¡°Cough, our Silver Lion Knights, you¡­¡±

    Though his voice was modted by machinery, the cough couldn¡¯t be concealed. Blood pulsated within his armor as if he had coughed up blood.

    I stopped attacking for a moment.

    Not to save him but because one word in his sentence caught my attention.

    ¡®Silver Lion Knights.¡¯

    The only faction in Megacorp that uses the term ¡®Knights¡¯ is the Eden family.

    ¡®They sent someone here.¡¯

    If you y as the Eden family, you will be provided with mercenaries called the Eden family¡¯s knights as a perk when you be the head of the family. In the game, the name is determined randomly, but in real life, it seems to be called the Silver Lion Knights.

    Well since the board meeting is going to be held soon all the seven must have sent their representatives.

    It was highly likely that individuals from other families would also bring a substantial number of escort forces, simr to these Silver Lion Knights.

    Some of the noble families have mercenaries whose existence is fixed in the system, as the Eden family have the Silver Lion Knights. However, not all families have such mercenaries, so I need to confirm that myself. Anyway, since there was no more information to extract from the prey. I swung my tail at the knight¡¯s head.

    The sharp and sturdy bone de pierced through the visor helmet of the advanced reinforced suit, lodging into the guy¡¯s forehead. As the de was pulled out, blood and brain matter sttered, and the reinforced suit stopped functioning upon the owner¡¯s death.

    Inside the destroyed helmet, the face of a young and handsome Caucasian man appeared. He might have been quite popr In his lifetime, but now he was nothing more than a corpse with brain matter oozing from the hole in his forehead.

    I opened my mouth wide and bit into the knight¡¯s corpse. Due to my erged body and flexible jaw, I could fit his entire chest into my mouth at once.

    Applying force to my jaw caused the advanced reinforced suit to shatter immediately. Flesh, blood, and organs spilled out, flowing into my body.

    It felt simr to chewing on a piece of candy with a delicious filling.

    ¡®Looks like this guy underwent some modifications too.¡¯

    The taste was truly exceptional.

    Although the reinforced suit, nearly indistinguishable from a chunk of metal, was a minus factor, the interesting texture made it somewhat ptable.

    The knight in the reinforced suit became nutrient for my body in just a few minutes. With my erged body, I easily consumed the 3m tall prey.

    After finishing the meal, a semi-transparent text box appeared, but I ignored it.

    ¡®Now is still the time for hunting.¡¯

    I need to diligently catch the prey that¡¯s running around until the effects of the symbol of hunt disappear.

    ***

    ¡°Your Excellency, Chief Administrator La has prepared a bouquet for you.¡±

    ¡°Huh, when did she prepare that?¡±

    ¡°As you may know, she is Samdam Chemblin¡¯s daughter. Her resourcefulness shouldn¡¯t surprise us..¡±

    ¡°Tch, Samdams got a lot of luck.¡±

    Denver praised the now-adult La Chamblin¡¯s skills.

    Currently, he is staying in the top-notch room located within a luxurious room in the Monument skyscraper, a high-rise building in the administrative district. There seemed nothing special about it until he entered the room.

    Every facility and decoration in the room matched precisely with how it was in Denver¡¯s office. It wasn¡¯t just the appearance; even the materials and vintage of the furniture were identical.

    ¡®He¡¯s a well-organized guy with his kids.¡¯

    Unbeknownst to the public, a ndestine alliance existed between Prime Capital¡¯s Eden family and Noble Capital¡¯s T&C, ever since Denver had ascended as the head of the T&C, which provided funds for Denver¡¯s ambitious project, the Hulk Mutant development, securing Eden¡¯s votes in return. Denver had conversed with Samdam beforehand, sealing this deal.

    In return for the money, Denver was required to vote for Samdam Chemblin of T&C in the board meeting. La might not know, but Denver had already finished negotiating with Samdam and hade here for another purpose.

    ¡®Anyways, I was thinking of calling William, whom I haven¡¯t seen in a long time, but I didn¡¯t expect such an incident to ur.¡¯

    Upon witnessing an old subordinate attempting suicide right in front of him, Denver was quite surprised. The William in his memory wasn¡¯t someone who would contemte taking their own life.

    [Please¡­]

    Denver mulled over William¡¯sst words. What could the old subordinate of his have requested from him? In the past, when the first project concluded in an unfortunate manner, Denver had ensured substantialpensation for the project team members.

    ¡®It can¡¯t be because of credits.¡¯

    Even if credits were urgently needed, would it be more urgent than one¡¯s life? Denver didn¡¯t think William would resort to self-harm for such trivial reasons.

    ¡®A problem he couldn¡¯t solve on his own. And a very urgent matter.¡¯

    Unfortunately, Denver wasn¡¯t well-versed in the affairs of the T&C Special Trade Center. While he had intricate knowledge of the political issues within the T&C, understanding what kind of problem would drive a regr police officer to risk their life seeking help was challenging.

    ¡®I need to gather information about William.¡¯

    Having organized his thoughts, Denver inquired of the Vice Commander, ¡°What happened to the one who attempted suicide?¡±

    ¡°He is currently at the hospital in themercial district. The surgery went well, and he¡¯s currently in a recovery capsule.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Since he¡¯s an old friend and subordinate of mine, be considerate in your dealings with him.¡±

    ¡°I have assigned four members of the Silver Lion Knights to his security. They¡¯re all veterans, so you don¡¯t need to worry.¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s you, I can be rest assured.¡±

    True to the deputymander¡¯s affirmation, it was a neatly handled matter. Denver, nodding in approval, issued additional instructions to the deputymander.

    ¡°Also, look into the recent public safety issues in the city for me.¡±

    ¡°Public safety issues? Is there anything specific you¡¯re curious about?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I have some questions.¡±

    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll investigate and report back by tomorrow.¡±

    Denver nodded and as he had to prepare for the banquet, the Vice Commander stepped outside the room. While he couldn¡¯t understand why Denver was so concerned about a police officer who had disrupted the weing ceremony, the deputymander didn¡¯t question it. As he was familiar with his unpredictablemands.

    Simr to the Silver Lion Knights, they were merely the eyes and arms of the monarch. It was not their ce to doubt the one wielding the ck de*.

    [*PR/N ¨C prolly a weapon used by the soon to be head of the Eden family]

    Back in his quarters, the deputymander summoned another knight. This was to fulfill Denver¡¯s instructions.

    ¡°I will investigate along with the members.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate it.¡±

    After dispatching his subordinates to fulfill Denver¡¯s orders, the deputymander took out an elegantly decoratedmunication device.

    ¡°I should double-check the situation in the hospital as well.¡±

    The Silver Lion Knights were one of the top special forces in the city of Eden,posed of seasoned veteran warriors armed with advanced reinforced armor and various deadly weapons. Given their status, the deputymander wasn¡¯t particrly concerned. He only intended to verify that everything was proceeding as usual.

    However, today¡¯s operation didn¡¯t go as nned.

    [Aargh!]

    [Damn it! Milburn is down!]

    ¡°Deputy Commander! We need reinforcements! Fifield and Milburn are already down¡­ aghh!¡±

    From the other end of themunication device, hell was unfolding.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 62

    Chapter 62

    Suddenly, William woke up from his sleep. It wasn¡¯t someone deliberately waking him up; it was the vibrations he felt from something covering his body.

    ¡®Where am I?¡¯

    As he opened his eyes, a lukewarm liquid tickled his eyes. After blinking a few times, his eyes gradually adjusted. Currently, he was submerged in a healing capsule, wearing a respiratory device.

    ¡®I¡¯m not dead.¡¯

    At the time of his suicide attempt, William had resigned himself to death. It was because the Noble Capital had made a mess of the weing event for the Prime Capital because of him. La Chemblin, the owner of this city, was a rationaldy but not exactly merciful

    Originally, William shouldn¡¯t have been waking up in a healing capsule with his brain intact; he should have been dead. The fact that he was safe in the hospital was probably thanks to Denver protecting him.

    That meant William¡¯s n had partially seeded.

    ¡®I hope His Majesty understands my intentions¡¯

    Thud!

    Once again, the liquid surrounding him vibrated. Something, possibly the healing fluid or the entire healing capsule he was in, shook due to some external force.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯

    There can¡¯t be an earthquake. There shouldn¡¯t be any seismic activity in an artificial structure floating in zero-gravity space.

    Thud!

    This was a vibration urring within the hospital as if something heavy was shaking the whole hospital.

    ¡®Could it be¡¯

    Thud!

    William felt a chill running down his spine. The fact that something substantial enough to shake the hospital was moving around thiste at night meant only one thing.

    ¡®It¡¯ hade for him.

    Thud!

    The vibrations grew stronger. ¡®It¡¯ was getting closer to him.

    At that moment, the door to the intensive care unit opened, and a person d in silver armor rushed in.

    His expression was hidden by the armor, but his frantic movements hinted at his state of mind.Amidst the chaos, the knight noticed William, who was awake inside the healing capsule. Operating the terminal, the treatment liquid drained out of the capsule¡¯s openings.

    ¡°Are you awake?¡±

    William nodded as he came out of the capsule. The knight handed him a patient gown.

    ¡°I am not sure what¡¯s happening in this hospital, but an unidentified creature is attacking us.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    William knew who was pursuing him, but he couldn¡¯t answer. There was still the parasite inside his head. If he spoke or even thought of ¡®It¡¯ in a disrespectful manner, the parasite would cause excruciating pain. The higher the disrespect, the more intense the suffering.If he mentioned the parasite to the knight now, the agony he¡¯d faced until now would be child¡¯s y. Revealing the parasite in this situation would only worsen things.

    Regrettably, silence was his only option.

    ¡°What about the people in the hospital?¡±

    ¡°All myrades were killed by that thing. The people in this hospital, probably¡­¡±

    He didn¡¯t finish the sentence, but William could understand.

    ¡°Central AI likely detected the crisis and called the police. I¡¯ve also requested reinforcements. We have to hold on until they arrive.¡±

    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±

    William felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.

    A simr situation had urred before, during the battle in the apartment. Back then, he had believed that he and the android could handle it without much difficulty.

    And what was the result? They lost all theirrades leaving only one police officer alive who was also made deprived of his freedom turning into a puppet.

    Thud!

    At that moment, a loud noise came from across the door.

    It had reached the door.

    The knight stood in front of William, wielding a sma bolter in one hand and a de w in the other. William, a former soldier, knew well what a de w was.

    The de w was an enhanced version of a sonic de, a weapon with two ultrasonic saws attached to the back of the hand. It was much heavier than a sonic de but had superior durability and cutting power,it was primarily used by armored soldiers or hulk mutants.

    If it were any other creature, William wouldn¡¯t be concerned, but the problem was that the knight was facing an adversary that was ¡®It.¡¯

    ¡®Engaging in closebat with that thing is suicide.¡¯

    Having fought against the monster before, William was convinced that the knight had no chance of winning.

    ¡®I should get out, it won¡¯t start a rampage outside. It avoids human eyes.¡¯

    Having been a ve to the monster for a while, William knew what it feared.The vicious creature avoided direct confrontation with the city and only operated in the dark. It only fed on what William offered, asionally attacking the ones chasing him.

    This gruesome hunting urred only during the hours when there were no people, usually in the early morning.

    Therefore, William intended to persuade the knight to jump out of the window.

    Certainly, many civilians would get hurt, but it was better than losing his life. If William died, the damage would be far greater.

    However, there was something he didn¡¯t know ¨C the current state of the monster.

    With a roaring sound, the steel door was blown away like a piece of paper. The wall partly copsed, and dust filled the air.

    ¡°It¡¯s here!¡±

    William squinted his eyes due to the dust. Standing on the fallen debris was a figure wearing armor identical to the silver knight.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    No, precisely speaking, he only appeared to be standing. It seemed as if he were suspended in the air, caught by something.

    ¡°Charlie!¡±

    ¡°R-Run¡­ Ugh!¡±

    The one called Charlie tried to say something but couldn¡¯t finish his words. His body twisted grotesquely, and a cracking sound emanated from the armor.

    Charlie¡¯s desperate scream turned into three distinct cries. His body was torn into three pieces. Red blood, organs, and bone fragments mixed and sttered on the ground.

    ¡°Oh my God¡­¡±

    Some of the blood from the corpse flowed down, carrying something invisible in the air. It was then that William understood why the knight didn¡¯t run outside.

    ¡°It¡± had somehow turned invisible. Moreover, it was implemented at such a high level that was usually possible with the help of highly advanced technology.

    Despite the blood obscuring his vision, William, with keen eyesight, recognized ¡®It.¡¯ Ordinary people wouldn¡¯t be aware of its existence even if they went outside to check.

    ¡°Get Down!¡±

    ¡°!¡±

    The knight grabbed William¡¯s head and pushed it down. Thanks to that, William barely managed to bow his head in time. Something barely missed his head.

    He didn¡¯t know what it was wielding, but the creature¡¯s weapon seemed immense. It was enough to slice through not just the healing capsules but also the entire wall. Due to the creature¡¯s attack, people inside other healing capsules were also sliced in half. The floor was covered in a pink liquid mixed with blood and treatment solution.

    ¡°Damn! I¡¯ll hold that thing off. Survive until backup arrives! I must inform our leader!¡±

    ¡°I, I will¡­!¡±

    ¡°Please!¡±

    Without waiting for William¡¯s response, the knight rushed towards the invisible monster.

    ***

    ¡®This is troublesome.¡¯

    The knight had interfered just as I was about to kill William with my tail. Perhaps due to the detection equipment embedded in his advanced reinforced suit, the knight urately perceived my movements.

    ¡°Go anywhere, just run quickly!¡±

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    Ignoring the knight¡¯s words, William leaped through the copsed wall. I had no intention of letting him escape. I swung my tail towards him but my intention to rip his limbs apart was thwarted by the sma shot from the knight. The trajectory of my tail deviated to another direction because of it.

    Instead of piercing William¡¯s side, the poisonous stinger at the end of my tail stuck into the wall of the corridor. Startled, William clutched his head with both hands and escaped.

    ¡°Hyaaah!¡±

    Since that attack failed, I decided to finish it with my bone spikes, but the knight, with a war cry, forcefully shouldered me, hindering my attack.

    With the weight of over several hundred kilograms of reinforced armor and propulsion that exceeded the output of a small spacecraft¡¯s power source, thebined force was terrifying enough to bring down my body, which weighed more than twice that of the reinforced armor.

    Due to the knight¡¯s charge, I was pushed through the broken corridor to the opposite side of the critical care unit. As the walls crumbled, the patients and on-duty doctors hidden inside were startled and rushed outside.

    ¡°Kyaa, Kyaaaah!¡±

    ¡°Save us!¡±

    Even though my current form was not visible to others, I couldn¡¯t let them escape as is. Iunched my spike bones from the tip of my lower left arm, piercing through the backs of those who were exposed.

    ¡°Kek!¡±

    ¡°Ack!¡±

    Unfortunately, I was only able to kill a maximum of three people with one shot of the spike bones. One survivor sprinted away at a speed that made me wonder if someone could run that fast.

    ¡®Where did William go?¡¯

    While I was capturing the survivors, William had already distanced himself from me. Confirming that he ran through the emergency stairs, I turned my head again and faced the knight.

    The knight had no intention of protecting the innocent victims. Instead, he kicked the bodies spread on the floor, seemingly annoyed by their obstruction.

    ¡°You are killing innocents, you vile monster!¡±

    The knight¡¯s actions didn¡¯t match his words, but it wasn¡¯t particrly strange. The knights of Eden was a special unitposed of the upper-ss members of the MegaCorp. Their concept of honor was designed to build a positive image externally but had little to do with reality.

    They probably know that the patients staying in the hospital are of low ss, so they treat them like that on purpose.

    ¡®But they are all potential sources of food.¡¯

    Looking at the knight, who seemed to have had no training in how to prepare for the dinner table, I calcted the remaining time.

    ¡®The effect willst for about 8 minutes.¡¯

    I had nned to kill William first and then leave, but the knight kept bothering me. I estimated the remaining time until the effect wore off.

    Ignoring me, the knight activated the de w on his arm.

    ¡®de w.¡¯

    In a normal situation, the sma bolt would be a far superior weapon to the de w, but in the current limited circumstances, the de w was not a bad weapon. Like the Sonic de, the de w specialized in destroying armor with high defense.

    ¡°Die!¡±

    The knight, firing suppression shots with the sma bolter, rushed towards me.

    sma shots flew towards the tentacle under my chin. I wasn¡¯t sure if he deliberately aimed there, but the auxiliary system wasn¡¯t reinforced under the effect of the¡¯ symbol of hunt¡¯. I crossed the upperbat arm over the lower one to block the sma shots heading towards the tentacle.

    In the meantime, the knight approached me and swung the de w from bottom to top.

    He wasn¡¯t targeting my head but mybat arm. Two saw des made a gruesome sound, cutting through the air.

    I stepped back, widening our distance, and used my arms as a shield to block the two spinning des. The collision between the ultra-vibration saw des and my alloy-reinforced shell generated sparks.

    He calmly aimed the sma bolter at me from close range, showing no signs of surprise. Hisposure was excellent, but his intent was bound to fail as I still had plenty of weapons at my disposal.

    My tail targeted his waist, piercing through the darkness and dust.

    ¡°Kuk?!¡±

    Instead of firing the bolt, the knight twisted his waist just in time to avoid my tail. I swiftly grabbed his hand holding the sma bolter before he could step back.

    ¡°You dare!¡±

    Thinking we were engaging in a power struggle, he exerted force on the arm holding the bolter. Because of the enhanced strength from the advanced reinforced suit he was wearing, his strength wasparable to mine.

    Ourbined weight, exceeding that of a ton, pressed down on the hospital floor without both of us moving.

    He grabbed my arm with his other arm as the concrete floor cracked from our fight, probably nning to push me away.

    But he was mistaken. My intention was not to engage in a strength contest with him. The bone de on my rear arm flew towards his shoulder.

    ¡°Kweuk!¡±

    The de, at least 50 cm in length, pierced through the knight¡¯s body, invisible due to the darkness and dust. The de lodged deep inside him, turning his insides into aplete mess.

    I shook the rear arm a few times to worsen his injuries before pulling it out. With no strength left to stand, he slumped down on the floor.

    ¡°I, forgive me, my lord¡­¡±

    There was no time to listen to hisst words. I kicked his head with my legs while he was still kneeling.

    Even with a heavily armored suit covering the entire body, it couldn¡¯t protect the neck or joints. When the rubber plug burst, I fell back with the knight¡¯s lifeless body. The fallen knight¡¯s corpse had a neck much longer than when he was alive.

    ¡®I need to eat everything here and leave.¡¯ To maximize the effect of the ¡®Symbol of the Hunt,¡¯ I had to eat every strand of gic essence over here.

    ¡®Anyways, with the parasite inside his body, William can¡¯t escape.¡¯ The parasite was saying that William hadn¡¯t left the hospital yet.

    I checked his movements while stuffing the corpses into my mouth. Some were delicious, some were not, and I wasn¡¯t able to fully enjoy the meal due to the limited time I had.

    The text boxes kept popping up after each meal, but I ignored them. I nned to check themter because there wasn¡¯t enough time now.

    ¡®I don¡¯t need new traits right away.¡¯

    The time it takes for the absorption of traits to be automatically canceled when not acquired is 10 minutes. There is still plenty of time before trait selection.

    Fortunately, the corpses of ordinary people seemed to transition smoothly, perhaps because they were wearing patient gowns. Thanks to that, the meal ended earlier than expected.

    ¡®Only took 2 minutes, huh?¡¯

    The remaining time for metal absorption should be around 10 minutes. It was enough time to capture and consume William.

    ¡®Now, let¡¯s go.¡¯

    The signal wasing from upstairs. I led my massive body there, ready to find the traitor.

    ***

    ¡°Heuk, heuk, heuk¡­.¡±

    William panted heavily, leaning against a cab as if he was about to be engulfed. The gust of wind caused the cleaning tools inside to spill out.

    William gripped a high-pressure washer, a rather pathetic weapon against the monster, but he had no other choice. It wasn¡¯t certain if he could even wield it against the creature in the first ce, considering the parasite was still alive in his head.

    ¡°Damn¡­.¡±

    Williammented. He had been loyal to MegaCorp. He was closer to someone who captured those doing wrong rather than being someone doing wrong. MegaCorp, however, was an organization that inflicted pain on many, a group far from justice. Loyalty to such an organization might not be considered just, but at least William believed his convictions still held some values.

    However, his beliefs were powerless in the face of a disaster that an individual could not handle.

    He, a courageous soldier unafraid of death, was different when it came to that monster. The overwhelming terror paralyzed him and awakened a primal emotion within him¡ª¡¯Fear.¡¯

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    William grasped his trembling thighs together, trying to calm himself down

    Moments ago, he could still hear androids causing amotion outside, but now it was quiet. He held his breath, pressing his ear to the door. The sound of a patient murmuring in the corridor reached his ears. The voice sounded muffled, like it wasing from a broken radio.

    Seeing a survivor indicated that the creature had likely moved to another floor. His reasoning was based on the absence of the heavy footsteps that the creature made while walking.

    ¡®Now¡¯s my chance.¡¯

    William cautiously opened the door, but what greeted him in the hallway outside the tool room was a ruined corridor. The ceiling lights were all destroyed while some were sparking sporadically.

    The patient beds, once neatly arranged, were either bent or broken, seemingly having hit with a powerful impact.He was the only person on the hallway that was so damaged that it was impossible to imagine a clean image of the hospital.

    .

    ¡°I¡¯ve fou¡­nd.¡± Then, the voice resounded again.

    Only now did he realize who the owner of the voice he heard was. He thought the sound didn¡¯t transmit well through the blocked door, but that wasn¡¯t the case. The voice was naturally like that, eerie and distorted, likeing from a broken radio.

    The creature had been waiting for him toe out from behind the door.

    William tightly closed his eyes. As soon as his eyes closed, his body was thrown into a disarray by something transparent.

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 Chapter 63

    Chapter 63

    ¡°Damn it! Peter! Charlie!¡±

    Vicus, the vicemander of the Lion Knights, continued to attemptmunication. However, the sounds emanating from themunication device were nothing but ominous static.

    Thest message he received was from Peter, informing him that his colleagues Milburn and Fifeild had perished. Since then, there has been no word from Peter or Charlie. This could only mean one thing ¨Cthey might all have been wiped out

    ¡°This won¡¯t do. I need to dispatch the knights quickly and report about this to the Lord,¡± Vicus quickly summoned the waiting knights. With the troops guarding Denver and those investigating security dispatched elsewhere, he had a force of only 20 knights at immediate disposal.

    The armed knights filed into the spacious guest room allotted to the Vicemander, each removing their helmets. The knights were of different races and gender¡ªamong them there were, a fair-skinned woman with reddish-blonde hair, a caucasian man with ck hair, and a ck-skinned man with a shaved head.

    Despite their differences they all shared onemon trait: their exceptional facial features and their towering height.

    While the public praised Denver for prioritizing his image, Vicus knew the truth.

    They were the results of gic enhancements under Denver¡¯s directives, known as the Hulk Mutant Project

    ¡°Vicemander, did you call for me?¡± The ck-skinned man respectfully bowed before Vicus, drawing him back to the present. Vicus briefed them on the situation

    ¡°The situation is dire. We¡¯ve lost contact with the team assigned to protect the police officer under Lord¡¯s orders.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°We sent Charlie, Peter, Milburn, and Fifield to the hospital. Since Peter¡¯sstmunication five minutes ago, no one else has responded.¡±

    Silence fell among the Lion Knights. Everyone present in that room knew the extent of the force of the Lion Knights. Therefore, the news that four of their own had fallen was not something they could easily overlook.

    ¡°So, I will report to the Lord immediately. Jacob, I entrust themand of these men to you in my absence.¡±

    ¡°I will do my best, sir.¡±

    ¡°¡­for such an incident to ur right before the council meeting.¡±

    After sending the knights to the hospital, Vicus hurriedly headed towards the banquet hall.

    ¡°The Lord wishes for Samdan Chemblin to be the CEO, and now this happens.¡±

    As Denver¡¯s closest confidant, Vicus was well aware of what he was aiming for. Beforeing to this city, Denver had met Samdan in advance to discuss how the council meeting would proceed. During the discussions, Samdan expressed high expectations for his daughter La, and Denver understood Samdan¡¯s intentions.

    Although Vicus wasn¡¯t sure how La felt about it, he had no ill feelings towards her. Therefore, beforeing here, he made many preparations to assist her.

    With all the preparations done, now only the smooth progress of the council meeting remained. Yet, such a major incident urred.

    ¡°Finding out who killed the knights in the hospital is important, but the more important thing here was¡­¡±

    The fact that an agent of Prime Capital died on the territory of Noble Capital.

    Competitors of Samdam are not likely to let go of such a good opportunity. If they just let this slide, it will undoubtedly be talked about.

    Before the CEO election between T&C and Eden, the CEOs traditionally engage in a verbal battle. While conspiracy and plots are expected during the CEO voting process, any irregrities on the surface were unheard of.

    Officially, MegaCorp is an organization that elects its CEO through democratic procedures, and any irregrities are not tolerated.

    ¡®T&C and Eden were in alliance with each other¡¯, if this gets leaked ahead of the CEO election. it could undermine the legitimacy of the CEO appointment and even jeopardize the T&C family¡¯s status in Noble Capital and would also cause Samdam to be excluded as a CEO candidate.

    ¡°But Denver¡¯s hard stance might pose problems too.¡± Deliberate criticism of T&C could backfire, especially among Eden¡¯s elders who were unaware about this alliance. They might opt for a different candidate, rendering T&C¡¯s financial support for Denver¡¯s hulk mutant project futile

    ¡°How can I handle this¡­?¡±

    His thoughts racing, Vicus could see the door to the banquet hall in the distance. A woman was being inspected by security guards before entering the door.

    She was La¡¯s secretary, someone Vicus knew well. Up close, he could see that herplexion had turned pale.

    She must havee here for the same reason he did.

    ¡°Even Lady?¡±

    ¡°Vice Commander too?¡±

    They exchanged nces, saying nothing but understanding each other¡¯s thoughts. It seemed like tonight¡¯s banquet would be a long one.

    ***

    ¡®The existence that annoyed me is now dead. Despite judging it aspetent and deciding to spare it, the oue turned out to be a mixed bag of gains and losses.¡¯

    A reflection on an individual¡¯s assessment. I have to keep in mind that this is Reality, my life is at constant risk here. I have to be extremely cautious, especially when dealing with humans, at least until I acquire the infection enhancement type.¡¯

    ¡®Time to dismantle the central AI and exit.¡¯

    Carrying the now-deceased William, I descended to the basement, as I was going down I took a bite of his upper body first.

    ¡®I should have eaten a bit earlier.¡¯

    Maybe because he suffered due to me, his taste was nd, the quality of the meat was good but it felt like the meat got rotten due to improper storage in the refrigerator.

    While eating, a parasite came out of the corpse¡¯s nostrils as if asking not to be eaten. It went back to his house on my arm.

    When only one leg remained, I arrived in front of the server room where the mainputer was located. I put down the leg I was eating and smashed the door with the horn on my head.

    The 10cm thick alloy door, powerless against Amorph¡¯s formidable strength, broke with a loud bang. The central AI, detecting my intrusion, loudly warned..

    [Warning! Warning! Unidentified life form detected!]

    I destroyed the speakers hanging on the ceiling corners with a swing of my tail, and put an end to the irritating noise, leaving only the regr noise of the air conditioning in the server room.

    ¡®Let¡¯s break the cooling systemputer first.¡¯

    Although there were numerousputers in the server room, I had raided many hospitals when I yed the game. Once you get here, it¡¯s not much difficult afterwards.

    I systematically knocked down theputers lined up at the right end. Sparks flew, and the red light in eachputer diminished.

    A momentter, all the internal fans stopped, and the temperature inside began to rise rapidly. The sensitive electronic devices inside screamed at the rise in temperature that even surpassed a sauna.

    ¡®This is not the end.¡¯

    Using all my arms, I sessively destroyed all the data server devices one-by-one.

    All theputers were either shred to pieces by mybat arms or were turned into unrecoverable waste.

    Thanks to my erged body, destroying all electronic devices in the spacious server room was easy and didn¡¯t take that long.

    Now that I¡¯ve destroyed the important devices, I decided to finish the rest with another method. I bit my arm and created a wound and sprayed acid all over.

    Thanks to the effects of ¡®Perfect organism¡¯, the effect of the acid inside me had increased significantly, the electronic devices touched by the droplets melted without a trace. Then, a short circuit urred in the brokenputer¡¯s wires, and mes suddenly erupted all over the room.

    ¡®It¡¯s enough for here.¡¯

    I walked smoothly through the fire and entered the inside of the server room. The fire was unable to do anything to me thanks to my Reinforced Exoskeleton.

    Inside, there was a cylindricalputer wrapped in reinforced ss. That was the mainputer containing the central AI and controlled the whole hospital. Green numbers constantly appeared and disappeared on its matte surface in a non-reflective ck color.

    That cylindricalputer had a design unique to MegaCorp, and looked like the AIputer inside the spaceship.

    [¡°Warning! Warning! Central AI under threat of damage!¡±]

    The AI, issued its final warning in electronic sounds as if not wanting to die, but it was meaningless.Iunched bone spikes towards the reinforced ss, the ss wall shattered.

    It not only broke the ss but also pierced through the mainputer. However, I was not satisfied. I had topletely destroy it so that the enemies won¡¯t be able to retrieve the data.

    ¡®I remember making a simr mistake back then.¡¯

    I once infiltrated a hospital in a space city in the game to kill someone. At that time, I was a Quasi-saint with six types in my possession. Therefore, assassinating enemies without getting caught was very easy.

    Perhaps because it was too easy. I became careless, and because of that, my abilities were exposed to the central AI.

    The organization members of the hostile n that I killed were easily able to obtain my information through the central AI. They sought revenge by spreading the strategies I used in the hospital on themunity forum.

    ¡®It became challenging to create new strategies as the old ones became useless.¡¯

    Of course, Iter paid them back twice as much, but I don¡¯t want to recreate those memories. I sprayed my acid blood topletely dissolve the mainputer.

    ¡°It all went well.¡±

    After leaving the zing server room, I finished eating William¡¯s remaining leg.

    Once again, a text box rted to the predation effect appeared, and as I was about to skip it I saw something.

    ¡®Wait? What¡¯s this?¡¯

    I quickly checked the text box.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Insight¡¯ gic essence.]

    [Extracted the ¡®Insight¡¯ among the biological characteristics of ¡®William¡¯.]

    [Do you want to apply ¡®Insight¡¯?]

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    Insight.

    I¡¯m familiar with this ability too. When activated, it allows me to see the unique features, traits, skills, etc., of a living being or object with my naked eyes.

    I can¡¯t know everything, and the information I can obtain is randomly determined, limited to five times a day.

    For example, if you use ¡®Insight¡¯ on someone wearing reinforced armor, you might get information about the armor instead of the wearer. Or sometimes if you want to know about the information of the armor you will get information on the wearer.

    Also if you tried to use ¡®Insight¡¯ more than five times a day, it would be unusable and you won¡¯t be able to use it in the future.

    ¡®I was curious about what woulde out of William, but for this toe out.¡¯

    William always had sharper intuition than others, so it made sense that he had such an extraordinary ability in him.It was probably because of that he found out about my weaknesses, and forced me to corner myself.

    Come to think of it, William was the first one who cornered me in this city. Although he was not as powerful inbat as Si-hyun Yujin or the Hulk Mutants, he targeted my weaknesses with just his intuition.

    Though I had infected him with a parasite, he didn¡¯t give up and continued to be a headache for me until the end.

    ¡®The one who used to be an enemy is giving me a gift at the end.¡¯

    Although he was an enemy in the past, it was forgivable at this point as he gave me such an amazing gift.

    As shown in the system panel, ¡®Insight¡¯ is advantageous in yer-vs-yer fights, or PK. It¡¯s not an ability I immediately need since I don¡¯t fight yers one on one

    ¡®Yet, I¡¯m happy.¡¯

    Because Insight is a psychic trait.

    Including ¡®Insight,¡¯ I now have a total of 6 psychic traits. This means that I have sessfully fulfilled all the conditions for the Psychic Reinforcement type.

    The acquired traits from eden knights and the patients are still pending until they are canceled, but the newly obtained Insight is different.

    ¡®It¡¯s an opportunity to acquire a type; I can¡¯t miss this.¡¯

    I immediately epted the acquisition of Insight.

    As the trait applied, I felt a change in the structure of my eyes. It was as if the inside of the eyeball became stiff, simr to the feeling when tired, and there was a twitch in the brow.

    Despite the tingling sensation, I remained still as the natural changes due to the trait application urred.

    Perhaps because the applied area was notrge in size, the transformation quickly ended. I activated Insight and looked around.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    Despite acquiring it, there was no change. There should be random information about objects, but I couldn¡¯t see anything.

    ¡®Right, I won¡¯t be able to see anything now¡¯.

    Insight is a trait that must be confirmed with the naked eye for its effects to take ce.

    Currently, my vision is obscured due to the effect of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯. Naturally, I can¡¯t see anything.

    ¡®Well, it doesn¡¯t matter because there are more important things to do right now.¡¯

    I decided to check the effect of Insightter and brought up the text box I had been waiting for.

    [There exists one ¡®Type¡¯ that can be specialized.]

    [Do you want to unlock the ¡®psychic Reinforcement Type¡¯?]

    After acquiring the first Type, the second Type was waiting for me.

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 Chapter 64

    Chapter 64

    In the game Space Survival, all traits and skills exist within specific categories. For instance, the wings I initially obtained and special traits like the chitinous exoskeleton fall under the Physical category, while the psychic power organ I gained by devouring Keisaragi belong to the Psychic category.

    Among these categories, the most potent and strongest traits are concentrated in the Abyssal Force and Dragon Power categories, where exclusive Vortex One¡¯s traits and traits of the Red Gagon are found.

    Vortex Ones are the species that appear as bosses in the final mission for Outspacers. As boss-exclusive entities, they naturally exhibit overwhelming power. The Red Gagon is one of the most formidable creatures in the game, posing a significant challenge even for high-rank yers. Consequently, the powers of these two entities are not essible to regr yers.

    Even the Dragon Power of the Red Gagon can only be used to a limited extent by the Cult, and that too through a specific artifact acquired with a low probability in thete-game quest. Only a handful of yers would have ess to it.

    Now, let¡¯s slightly modify the question. Among the categories containing traits and skills essible to yers, which one is the most powerful? The answer to this question may vary among high-rankers, but most would likely point to the Psychic category.

    The Psychic category offers a variety of versatile traits and skills applicable in various situations. While the Physical category also provides potent techniques, it has decisive limitations. It leans heavily toward physical attacks and defenses, making it vulnerable to non-material assaults.

    On the other hand, Psychic powers can exert formidable physical force while possessing destructive capabilities against the mind, soul, and more. Due to this imbnced game structure, Outspacers and StarUnions¡¯ cyborgs, who cannot obtain Psychic powers directly, became increasingly disadvantaged in thete game, relying solely on equipment to counter Psychic powers.

    yers who choose biological races like MegaCorps can acquire Psychic powers through gic modification. However,peting without Psychic powers against them is naturally challenging.

    One drawback of Psychic traits and skills is that obtaining them is not easy. However, this issue can be resolved if you y as a Cultist.

    ¡®Wasn¡¯t the Cultist user base around 30% in the game?¡¯ Rankers, in particr, had a much higher proportion of being Cult memberspared to regr users. Considering that 9 out of 20 rankers in the game were Cultists, one can guess how popr the Cult faction was. Notably, one of these nine was a Korean, a fact I deduced because Ipeted directly against him.

    This Korean Cultist proved to be a formidable opponent. His skills surpassed my expectations of him as a high ranker. His creative use of psychic powers, often associated with traits like telekinesis and telepathy, introduced me to new strategies during our intense battles, despite my eventual victory, I learned a lot from our fights, he also broke my misconception that ¡®Cultists may have good equipment, but there are a few cult yers who are actually skilled.¡¯

    While I already utilized psychic traits, my understanding increased significantly after battling this Korean Cultist. Now, applying this experience, I sought to be a ¡®Perfect organism¡¯ for the application of Psychic Enhancement Type, enhancing all my psychic power traits. It is a necessity if one wants to properly use traits rted to psychic powers.

    While I often utilized psychic traits, my understanding of psychic powers increased significantly after battling the Korean Cultist. Anyway, it¡¯s time to start applying the experience I gained back then.

    ¡®To properly use traits rted to psychic powers, a Type is necessary.¡¯

    Acquiring the Psychic Enhancement Type makes me aplete organism for its application, enhancing all the psychic power traits I possess.

    There are currently two external devices on my body for using psychic powers: the auxiliary organ below my chin and the cluster of tentacles at the back of my head. Though there weren¡¯t any significant changes to the auxiliary device, the tentacles rted to the ¡®Monstrous Tentacles¡¯ trait underwent substantial changes.

    Firstly, the shape of the exoskeleton covering my head transformed.The Previously smooth and simple structure, now expanded more widely to protect the tentacles at the back of my head.

    Additionally, intricate patterns and grooves appeared on the outer surface, giving it a moreplex appearance than before. If the previous head exoskeleton could be linked to a helmet with a horn at the center, the current design resembled that of a giant crown.

    Though the size will decrease once the effects of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯ ends, the fact that the appearance has be more impressive than before, made me satisfied. Along with the changes to the exoskeleton that covered my head,the tentacles also underwent significant changes; they became thicker, longer, and more vibrant purple in color.

    As soon as the transformation of the tentacles concluded, my entire body felt a tingling sensation. The psychic power resistance enhancement effect manifested itself on the exterior in the form of a vivid purple tattoo on the monochrome exterior.

    The tattoo, following the course of veins, was etched across my entire body. Though I was not able to see it because my vision, which was currently obscured due to the effect of the ¡®Symbol of the Hunt¡¯, but the developed auxiliary organ allowed me to feel the changes in my body as if I were seeing them directly.

    With these enhancements, I gained a heightened sensitivity to psychic energies around me, perceiving faint purple energies that were previously unseen, even in situations where the cultists aren¡¯t directly using psychic powers, I can detect psychic powers.

    In the game, it was limited to simply highlighting psychic power users on the mini-map in violet. But in reality, I could experience the same astonishment and freshness I felt when I first came inside the game and became a Hatchling.

    ¡®With this level of sensitivity I might be able to detect the psychic power users even before they attack me, it would be highly useful when fighting against the Cult members.¡¯

    Originally, I could detect the flow of psychic powers with my auxiliary organ, but it was not as precise as it is now. It will be much easier to fight against Cultists or enemies using psychic powers in the future.

    Satisfied with obtaining the type, I ascended to the first floor of the hospital. The metallic absorption effect is still ongoing. Now, all that¡¯s left is to return to the nest where the kids are waiting.

    Just as I was about to step out into the lobby, my senses picked up a strange feeling.

    [Twenty knights wearing advanced silver reinforced armors emerge from the alley.]

    [A knight with bikini-shaped armor at the front speaks, ¡°Divide into three groups. Group 1 with me, Group 2 with Tennessee, and Group 3 with Paris.¡±]

    [The knight with an eagle shaped armor responds, ¡± Understood. Group 2, this way¡±.]

    [The knight with a shield says, ¡± Sir Jacob, People are gathering around the hospital¡±.]

    [The knight, Jacob responds, ¡°Reporters, I presume. Leave their handling to the police¡±.]

    With that, the sensation, like watching a sped-up video, stopped.

    ¡®Predator Sense?¡¯

    The method of disying the video is the only simrity, though it is also too detailed; everything else is different.

    ¡®Predator Sense¡¯ activates only when there is any life-threatening situation. Moreover, it doesn¡¯t show the future as it did now but rather depict a fragmented representation of the uing danger.

    What I just saw was much more detailed than usual. It showed who was speaking, where they wereing from¡ªeverything.

    ¡®Did Predator Sense also get influenced by the effect of the ¡®Symbol of the Hunt¡¯?¡¯

    The ¡®Symbol of the Hunt¡¯ enhances all the traits I possess, and with the psychic enhancement type I just got, ¡®Predator Sense¡¯ might have improved too, depicting a future danger more precisely than it usually used to do .

    ¡®If that¡¯s the case,then there is still time for them to arrive.¡¯

    One might suggest fleeing during that time, but if I did, Predator Sense wouldn¡¯t have been triggered.

    ¡®There¡¯s a station near the path they¡¯re taking.¡¯

    The concealment effect is still active, but the issue is that they can detect me. Going out like this will undoubtedly expose me.

    ¡®Fighting them isn¡¯t the problem, but¡­¡¯

    There are too many enemies. Even if I manage to annihte them somehow, the time of the concealment effect would most likely be over during the fight.

    ¡®Even if I go around them, there is still group three consisting of six knights waiting in front of the station, there¡¯s no way I can avoid a fighting with them.

    ¡®The real issue is the time.¡¯

    I¡¯m still under the effects of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯, so I could easily kill the six knights, but killing without alerting anyone is the main problem.

    Originally, I came to the hospital to avoid exposing my identity to the city. If I boldly reveal myself while iming to escape unharmed, it would be a clear contradiction.

    ¡®Should I call the kids?¡¯

    The current time is 10:30 PM.

    At this time, the station should be under inspection because of the uing council meeting. Since the council meeting hasn¡¯t started yet, there is a high possibility of inspection today as well.

    ¡®I was previously caught here only at this time.¡¯

    Beforeing here, I exined this to Number 26. I told them toe out if the station is dark when I contact it.

    Sea demons, creatures living in the deep sea, are sensitive to light. Probably, Number 26 can detect a broader spectrum of light than me, so there shouldn¡¯t be difficulty following the n.

    ¡®But words and reality are two different things. I need to time the signal well.¡¯

    Our coordinated operation is not bad, but for it to seed, it¡¯s crucial that I give the signals appropriately.

    ¡®With the improved auxiliary organ, if I focus, it won¡¯t be difficult to grasp the situation inside the station¡­ No, wait.¡¯

    At that moment, a different thought suddenly urred to me. I tried emitting the usual wavelength through which I talk to Number 26.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Are you there?)]

    ?¡­Big baby??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Hey, listen to me okay?)]

    ?Hey, big baby, what¡¯s going on??

    ¡®It worked!¡¯

    I thought It might not work, but just in case, I tried it, and it was sessful .

    The means by which Imunicated with Number 26 was through the psychic organ which I got after killing Keisaragi Yujin. When I didn¡¯t have this organ, I could only hear what Number 26 used to say, but it was impossible for me to talk to it.

    Currently, even though it has been reborn as a tentacle of a monster, themunication ability from before still remains. Thanks to this, I¡¯ve been using it well whenmunicating with Number 26.

    I had forgotten about it because I used it so naturally.

    Also, the function that helps memunicate with it is also a target for the application of the effects of psychic power enhancement that I just got.

    ?Are you on your way to the nest??

    [ZZZZZ ZZZZZ Z ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ(No, there¡¯s something else I need to do right now)]

    ?What? Do you need help??

    In this way, I don¡¯t need to bother timing my call to Number 26. I can just speak directly with it when needed.

    I told Number 26 that I would give it a signal soon, so be prepared. While it is preparing, I also need to get ready.

    ¡®Just in case, let¡¯s check all the traits I¡¯ve gained until now.¡¯

    When the text box initially passed by, I thought there was no immediate need for traits like ¡®Insight¡¯ so I ignored it since there was plenty of time to check when I got back to the nest. However, now that the situation has changed. I might bete for the nest, so I should check them right now.

    The number of traits I obtained from the hospital, excluding the ones I got from William is five. I got three from the knights and two from the civilians I killed at the hospital.

    The ¡®Symbol of the Hunt¡¯ raises the probability of activating predation effect but it does not make it 100% obtainable.Even if I¡¯ve eaten many people this time, the likelihood of the predation effects activating for every one of them is very low.

    Still, I obtained a surprisinglyrge number of traits in a short time aspared to usual.

    ¡®Let¡¯s Apply all of them quickly and get out.¡¯

    I looked at the text box and quickly scanned the contents.

    [Predation Effect Activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Space Bacteria¡¯ gic essence.]

    [Do you want to apply ¡®Space Bacteria¡¯?]

    [Predation Effect Activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Fire Breath¡¯ gic essence]

    [Do you want to apply ¡®Fire Breath¡¯?]

    [Predation Effect Activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Endurance¡¯ gic essence.]

    [Do you want to apply ¡®Endurance¡¯?]

    [Predation Effect Activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Thorn Hair¡¯ gic essence]

    [Do you want to apply ¡®Thorn Hair¡¯?]

    [Predation Effect Activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Pheromone Enhancement¡¯ gic essence.]

    [Do you want to apply ¡®Pheromone Enhancement¡¯?]

    ¡®No need to ask further. Apply them all.¡¯

    When I obtained the ¡®Perfect Organism¡¯, the text box left me with these words.

    ¡®There is no end to evolution.¡¯

    The body has evolved once again due to all the newly acquired gic essence.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 65

    Chapter 65

    ¡°Did you enjoy your meal, Mr Denver?¡±

    ¡°It was more than enjoyable. The T&C¡¯s reputation is well-deserved, especially the main course. It¡¯s a dish I¡¯ve never tasted before.¡±

    ¡°It is an oven-roasted dish with Eartnd pork as the main ingredient. Raised through pure free-range in an environment that is simr to that of Earth, it has a very rich texture.¡±

    ¡°Huh, I thought that all the pigs on Earth had gone extinct?¡±

    ¡°My research team managed to seed in cultivating the pig seeds aftering from a difficult expedition. We n to introduce a new brand to the market in a few years.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s impressive. I¡¯d definitely want to purchase it when it hits the market.¡±

    The T&C family is a pioneer in noble colonial expansion. Their power lies in the abundant resources they have secured from their numerous colonies. Thanks to this, The T&C could secure their influence in a distinct waypared to other families. ¡®Politics through cuisine¡¯. That was how they exerted influence on the upper ss of MegaCorp.

    They own more than a few hundred colonials, meaning they can acquire various ingredients froms with different environments. As a result, T&C almost monopolizes the high-end ingredient and spice market mainly targeting the upper ss of the MegaCrop.

    Of course, in terms of supplying food within MegaCorp, the Yujin family, which specializes in producing gically modified foods, has a much higher share as they target all the low ie groups within the MegaCorp.

    However, the benefits gained by actively using fresh and rare ingredients to maintain a good rtionship with the upper ss are not insignificant.

    In fact, it works wonders, like now Denver felt reassured after eating the banquet¡¯s cuisine, enough to anticipate seeing La again.

    ¡°I deliberately chose this dish to suit my taste.¡±

    The room, the cuisine¡ªeverything catered to Denver¡¯s preferences.

    With this level of information, the likelihood of making a significant mistake at the council is slim. Denver, feeling relieved, picked up a crispy piece of pork skin with his fork just as the door to the banquet hall opened, and two people entered.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±

    The neers were La¡¯s secretary and Vice Commander Vicus. Both hurriedly approached their respective masters.

    ¡°My lord, urgent news.¡±

    ¡°Urgent?¡±

    ¡°We lost contact with the four knights who went to protect William.¡±

    Denver¡¯s face hardened at the vicemander¡¯s words.

    ¡®All four of them?¡¯

    The Silver Lion Knights are a unit stationed with the task of protecting the gship of Eden, which specializes in defense and assault against enemy ships and is the most crucial unit of any fleet.

    Therefore, the capabilities of the Silver Lion Knights, who were tasked with safeguarding this gship, can be considered to be the highest among the Eden families¡¯ ground forces.

    Warriors of such caliber being wiped out hinted at a formidable adversity

    ¡°¡­What¡¯s the follow-up n?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s already in motion. I dispatched all the 20 knights avable. Jacob is leading them.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ also, recall the members sent outside immediately¡­ Huh?¡±

    Denver, calmly instructing Vice Commander Vicus, suddenly stopped speaking. On the other side of the dining table, La, receiving a report like Denver, had an unusual expression. Her usuallyposed face was visibly distorted.

    Having heard about the reports from the secretary, she tried to maintainposure and called Denver.

    ¡°Mr. Denver. There¡¯s a report that the Silver Lion Knights forcibly attacked the civilians at the hospital in themercial district.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll show you.¡±

    As La gestured, the secretary operated the terminal pad, and arge holographic screen appeared at the banquet¡¯s wall.

    [I am DailyMass field reporter Sara and I¡¯m currently standing in front of the Commercial District Hospital No. 2 , the scene where a tragedy has urred.]

    The screen showed a journalist reporting from in front of the hospital.

    ¡®Surely not?¡¯

    When Denver nced at Vicus, he nodded slightly. That ce was the hospital where William was admitted.

    In the meantime, the journalist appeared with a new figure. The person in question was a man wearing a patient¡¯s gown.

    [Can you exin what the hell is going on in there?]

    [I was injured while working and was hospitalized. I came out to smoke at night, but I saw four people in weird clothese in. They were trying to destroy the hospital, shooting guns and breaking the intact walls, and even shooting the people¡ªeveryone went crazy.¡±

    [You mean people in armor?]

    [Yes! Armor! Those ¡®beep¡¯ guys in armor. They shot guns, and the walls that were intact broke, and ¡®beep¡¯ people also ¡®beep¡¯¡ªit was aplete ¡®beep¡¯ disaster!]

    [Thank you for the detailed exnation. With the Council meeting just a few days away, what does the massacre of civilians by the ¡®armor-wearing individuals¡¯ in T&C¡¯s Special Trade Center mean? What exactly are the city administrators doing? More details¡­]

    Midway through, La gestured to stop. The hologram turned off, and the banquet hall fell into pin drop silence.

    La, breaking the silence, spoke first.

    ¡°Mr. Denver, I don¡¯t believe Eden¡¯s knights would do such a thing without reason.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    ¡°This matter is not exclusive to the Eden family. I, as the administrator of this city, have the right to know about the situations urring in the city. So, please tell me.¡±

    It was a request to tell everything before the situation escted, and blood was forced to shed.

    During the banquet, Denver had taken a friendly attitude, making La realize that Denver was friendly to T&C and had no ill intentions. Therefore, she politely requested cooperation, expressing that this issue was not just a problem for Eden but for the entire city.

    ¡®The problem is, she doesn¡¯t know about the situation on Denver¡¯s side.¡¯

    Initially, the knights were sent to protect William, but since all of them had perished the possibility of William being alive was slim. The current situation became difficult for Denver, as the only one who knew the truth had died. Any mistake could lead to a war between T&C and Eden rather than an issue with the Council.

    ¡®I have to tell everything.¡¯

    Taking a deep breath, Denver briefly exined the situation to La; he told her about William and the orders he had given to his subordinates.

    ¡°Does that mean there¡¯s a connection between the so-called William and the police?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°A few days ago, a mysterious smuggling organization failed to smuggle a Mountain crawler from Harbor Earth, and they fled. I heard that. It might be rted.¡±

    ¡°Whether the culprit is the Mountain crawler or not, check it yourself, Vice Commander.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Contact Jacob, We need to understand the situation there, so tell him to turn on the cameras.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    The vicemander Vicus contacted Jacob through themunication device, and as La¡¯s secretary did before, operated the terminal pad.

    [Reporting. Silver Lion Knights¡¯ Jacob greets the Commander. The camera is synced, and we are approaching the 2nd Hospital.]

    [Team 2 Tennessee, syncpleted. Arriving at the back gate.]

    [Team 3 Ferris, syncpleted. No abnormalities.]

    As Jacob operated the terminal on his helmet, the cameras attached on his helmet and Vice Commander vicus¡¯ terminal synchronized.

    Through the hologram, the scene of the hospital, which was shrouded in smoke, was revealed.

    ***

    ¡®Team 2 is entering through the back, and Team 3 is on standby.¡¯

    Figures d in silver armor were swiftly encircling the hospital with smooth and agile movements. Their coordination and agility showed that they were proper elites, and on a whole different level aspared to the opponents I¡¯ve encountered so far.

    ¡®If I were in the hospital, it would have been quite a challenge to fight against them.¡¯

    ¡®But I¡¯m already outside.¡¯

    I was currently observing the enemies from a nearby media building, having left the hospital. The auxiliary device on my chin was continuously collecting information on the movements and conversations of the enemies, who had their full attention on the zing hospital.

    While there isn¡¯t a significant change in it¡¯s appearance, the upgraded auxiliary device is capable of detecting even the conversations exchanged throughmunication devices.

    Thanks to their verbalmunication, I know exactly where the enemies are entering and how they n to attack me.

    [Team 1, enter!]

    [Team 2, enter!]

    After confirming their entry, I descended down through the wall of the building. Since all the journalists rushed out to the front of the hospital in search of breaking news, the building was devoid of people.

    As Inded on the ground, I ran towards the station.

    Although my footsteps made loud noise, due to the surroundings being extremely noisy with police, journalists, ambnces, and fire trucks present. No one noticed my presence.

    [Team 1, confirm a fire inside the building. Team 2, switch to the vibration detection system instead of the heat detection.]

    [Team 2, switchpleted.]

    [Team 3, on standby.]

    Even while running, the auxiliary organ did not stop gathering information. Among the plethora of information, it extracted the part where enemiesmunicated throughmunication devices and ryed it to me.

    ¡®There¡¯s not much time left.¡¯

    While there¡¯s still some duration left for metal absorption, the ¡®Symbol of the Hunt¡¯ is the issue. Out of the limited 10 minutes, I spent around 8 minutes in the hospital. The remaining time is roughly two minutes.

    ¡®I need to devour as many journalists at the station as possible before the effect wears off.¡¯

    The Eden Knights are all gically modified humans. While not as extensive as Hulk mutants or experimental subjects like Si-Hyun Yujin, they are prey with more useful genes than ordinary citizens.

    ¡®Might as well take advantage of the situation.¡¯

    To truly be an Amorph, I need to devour everything the enemies possess.

    Thanks to the ¡®Symbol of the Hunt,¡¯ the time taken to reach the station from the hospital was extremely short.

    I saw six knights standing guard in front of the station.

    They didn¡¯t notice me running towards them. Hence I decided to utilize my newly acquired long-range attack.

    [Thorn-Spine Launch Tail: A mechanism thatunches lethal thorn-spines is developed on the tail, recing the Spine Projectile Organ.

    *Note: Unlike hedgehogs, Amorph doesn¡¯t have to worry about dilemmas, which must be nice.]

    The appearance of my tail changed significantly. The end of the tail is now covered with long spine needles, reminiscent of a porcupine or a hedgehog with densely packed needles.

    Thebination of the spine needle feature and the Spine Projectile Organ resulted in a new capability.

    ¡®Unlike the Spine Projectile Organ, this one shoots in volleys.¡¯

    If the previous one resembled a sniper rifle, this one could be considered a machine gun. While itcks the pration power of the spine bone, it has the advantage of burrowing into the opponent¡¯s body upon impact, causing wounds to go inward. Additionally, it can apply a neurotoxin effect to it, making it effective in battles against multiple enemies.

    Since the Spine Projectile Organ feature disappeared, the left lower arm returned to its appearance as anotherbat arm, but I didn¡¯t mind. Each feature has its own strengths and weaknesses.

    In a situation where I need to subdue multiple enemies simultaneously, the Thorn-Spine Launch Tail is a much better option..

    While running, I did not stop the tail andunched a volley of spine needles towards the knights.

    [Team 1 here, Team 3 on alert. Report the situation.]

    [Team 3 here. No visible enemies¡­ Boom!]

    Dozens of thorn-spines, each the length of a hand, pierced the bodies of the knights. The enemies reacted with surprise to my attack.

    ¡°It¡¯s an enemy! Everyone, prepare to counterattack¡ªwhat?¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t move!¡±

    ¡°The thorns are stuck in the joint parts!¡±

    Due to the superior defense of their high-level reinforced armor, the spine needles could only prate their armor but not pierce through. However, they were stuck in the joint parts, restricting the movements of the enemies.

    ¡®These thorn-spines are quite sturdy.¡¯

    Of course, considering the effectiveness of the advanced reinforced armor they were wearing, it was only a matter of time for time to pass, but that¡¯s enough.

    ¡®They haven¡¯t switched from heat detection in their field of view yet, right?¡¯

    Teams 1 and 2 entered the burning hospital, after changing the surveince system in their helmets to a different format, but these 6 haven¡¯t done it yet.

    I opened my mouth wide. The internal incendiary mechanism activated, and soon an enormous amount of mes poured out through my throat.

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s shooting fire!¡±

    The magma gaiter¡¯s trait, the ¡®Fire Breath¡¯, erupted against the knights. ck smoke rose from the mes spreading in front of the station, prating even inside the station.

    ¡°Everyone, switch your sight!¡±

    Despite the blockade of movement and vision, the enemies calmly responded.

    Of course, I¡¯m not going to wait for them to get ready.

    I charged at the journalist who was in charge ofmunications. The journalist, who took the brunt of my charge, couldn¡¯t even scream as his whole body was crushed.

    [Team 1 here. Team 3, respond! What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°This is Rex! Ferris is down!¡±

    With little time left, I picked up the dismembered body of the fallen knight and immediately ced it in my mouth.

    Meanwhile, another knight, who had switched the surveince system, aimed a sma bolter at me.

    ¡°Huh?!¡±

    His intention to shoot me with a sma bullet did not seed.

    There¡¯s a single reason why I shot fire.

    To block the enemies¡¯ line of sight.

    Here, the term ¡®enemy¡¯ doesn¡¯t just refer to the knights in front of me. The ¡®enemies¡¯ I mentioned also include the cameras installed in the station as well.

    ?Big baby, we¡¯re here.?

    My underground friends. They were hiding in the smoke, ready to assist me.

    ¡°Ugh, guh!¡±

    The knight affected by Number 26¡¯s ¡®Restraint¡¯ floated in the air. Like a child grabbing a bug and tearing off its limbs, his arms and legs attached to his body danced independently.

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    ¡°Rex!¡±

    Following the sound of bones detaching, his arms and legs fell off with the sound of a firecracker. The knight, now resembling an octopus, fell into a puddle of blood, twitching for a moment before bing still.

    [This is Team 3! We¡¯re under attack! Requesting supp¡­ ack!]

    [What the hell is happening?]

    [This is Team 2! We¡¯ll provide support right away!]

    [Damn it! Tennessee, stay in your position!]

    The confused voices of the enemies through themunication device, the journalists thrown into panic after losing a colleague in an instant.

    It was a familiar scene.

    ¡°Retreat! Retre¡­ urgh!¡±

    One knight, trying to flee, was shot in the throat. It was Adhai who urately aimed at the enemy¡¯s weakness.

    ?Organism?, ?Throat?, ?Weakness?.

    Through the smoke, Adhai transmitted a low-frequency wave.

    If the knight had activated the psychic shield embedded in his advanced reinforced armor, he would have survived. It was his mistake to expose his back during the battle.

    After that, it was a swift process to clean up the stationpletely.

    Within a few minutes of starting the fight, the journalists, having lost half of theirrades, were not in their right minds. The Knight Order, which has always brought victory to their masters, perished.

    There were only herds trembling with fear.

    As for what a herd without a leader could do in front of a wolf, there was only one thing.

    Just cry pitifully.

    Like there was no wolf to save a herd crying.

    Having dealt with the remaining three knights, I quickly picked up two corpses and rushed into the station.

    After dealing with the three remaining knights, I quickly picked up two bodies.

    ¡®Hurry, hurry!¡¯

    I cut the bodies and poured them into my mouth, while swiftly entering the station.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Get everything you can eat and go back to the nest)]

    ?Can¡¯t we eat here??

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZZ ZZ (No time. Grab as much as you can and follow me)]

    ?I? ?Hungry.?

    ?Got it. I¡¯ll take care of what¡¯s left.?

    Knowing that I was in a hurry, Number 26 quietly reached out its tentacles and picked up two bodies. Adhai also tried to pick up one, but it was too heavy, so it gave up.

    That¡¯s how we carried four bodies with us and returned back to the nest.

    Just before the effects of the ¡®Symbol of the Hunt¡¯ wore off, I could hear it.

    One of thete-arriving enemy knights screaming in frustration.

    In the smoke and darkness which engulfed the surroundings, I smiled.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 66

    Chapter 66

    ¡°This-what is this? Please exin.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Is this unseen, demonic-like entity really a living being?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    La demanded an exnation, but Denver had nothing to say.

    The person who wanted to know the most about the monster in this situation was not La, but Denver himself.

    ¡®ording to what I saw on camera the monster had three or more types and had exceptional traits. And all very naturally integrated. A perfect superior to the Hulk Mutant.¡¯

    Denver is the overall responsible person for the development project of the new Hulk Mutant. It¡¯s not an exaggeration to say that his knowledge in this field rivaled that of the Yujin family.

    ¡®Invisibility, me breath, thorn throwing, and a tough outer shell. No creature that has all these traits all together has been discovered yet.¡¯

    There are many creatures with various traits and abilities. However, the traits shown by the monster are types that are very difficult tobine artificially, in simpler words no organism of any species can have all these traits at the same time.

    If there is a being that can put these various abilities into one organism without side effects, it would be fitting to call it a god.

    ¡®¡­Interesting.¡¯

    Whether it¡¯s a natural phenomenon or something someone created is not important. If they seed in capturing the monster alive, the Eden family will undoubtedly surpass the Yujin family and be the masters of gic engineering.

    If that happens, the family¡¯s dream of promotion to the Noble Capital would not just be a dream.

    While Denver was savoring the thought, the knights¡¯ cameras continued to move.

    ¡°Jacob here. Vice-Commander, is there nothing visible on the cameras of Team 3?¡±

    ¡°Vice-Commander. Nothing is visible due to the smoke.¡±

    ¡°This is Team 2, Tennessee! We will enter the station!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. They might ambush us. Vice-Commander Vickers, we need to first prepare and then search the subway.¡±

    ¡°¡­Your orders, sir.¡±

    At Vicus¡¯s words, Denver nodded.

    ¡°It¡¯s a monster that killed six elite knights in an instant. Fighting it without preparation in a confined battlefield underground is suicide. Let¡¯s Withdraw and regroup first and then decide our course of action.¡±

    ¡°Jacobe back.¡±

    ¡°¡­Teris. Endingmunication.¡±

    ¡°General Manager La. I¡¯m sorry. It seems to be a little difficult to capture him with the knights that we currently have.¡±

    ¡°¡­I will close all the stations in the city. Secretary, contact the defense fleet.¡±

    La didn¡¯t react to Denver¡¯s apology. It was not a matter that can just be resolved with a verbal apology.

    This was a matter for the representatives of the families to discuss. Denver may be the head of his family, but she was not. As the administrator of a city, she cannot handle this matter arbitrarily.

    Denver also knew this fact, so he did not point out that she did not ept the apology. He continued with what he was saying.

    ¡°The honor of the Eden knights has been tarnished. Can we give them a chance to cleanse it and take their revenge?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°This is my personal request. Please give the knights a chance and let them go to this mission with the city defense force.¡±

    ¡°If you provide assistance, I will not refuse.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    With La¡¯s approval, Denver nodded lightly, wearing an expression that indicated he had survived. She didn¡¯t say anything, but she seemed pleased with the fact that she had repaid a debt to Eden¡¯s head.

    She might not know, but Denver also gained something.

    ¡°Fortunately, that worked out. Now I can capture that creature alive.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t order to capture the creature while La was watching. If he showed an obsession with the monster, La would have undoubtedly tried to negotiate with him and would have created obstructions for him.

    But now it was different. He can capture the monster separately while pretending to assist the city defense force in the subjugation of that creature.

    Of course, the soldiers from the apanying city defense fleet might try to prevent the actions of the knights, but there was no need to worry about that.

    ¡°In a war, idents happen frequently.¡±

    With his head bowed, Denver silently chuckled.

    ***

    ¡®Wow. If it weren¡¯t for the Earth Stamina trait, I would have copsed.¡¯

    After the effects of the ¡®Symbol Of Hunt¡¯ wore off, I almost dozed off right there. It was better than the monster¡¯s tentacles shutting down my mind against my will, but I was still hit by tremendous lethargy and hunger.

    Thanks to the newly acquired Earth Stamina trait, I could endure the lethargy, but the problem was the lingering emptiness from the aftermath of using the ¡®Symbol Of Hunt¡¯.

    I had concerns about the aftermath of using it, but experiencing it was far beyond my expectations. My sense of self faded, and only hunger dominated my mind.

    ¡®If there were no corpses, I might have eaten them.¡¯

    Fortunately, thanks to number 26¡¯s quick response, I didn¡¯t end up attacking them. The creature knew something was off with me and handed the corpses to me.

    Only after swallowing an entire corpse on the spot could I finally regain my senses.

    ?Are you feeling better now??

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (A bit better.)]

    ?Want another one??

    I shook my hand at number 26, indicating that I was okay. As it was about to clear the corpses, a small light caught my eye.

    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯

    We were currently standing on the tracks before the passage to the nest. Despite the dim space, the small light felt much clearer.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Can I have a moment?)]

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    I received a corpse from 26 and examined it. Seeing a faint red lighting from inside the helmet, I realized the powered armor¡¯s systems were still active.

    ¡®No way?¡¯

    I quickly tore out the battery attached to the back of the powered armor. The light in the helmet flickered and soon disappeared.

    Confirming that the powered armor hadpletely stopped, I tore off the head of the corpse and threw it to Adhai and looked inside the helmet.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    A small chip connected to the inside of the semi-transparent visor. I knew what that was.

    ¡®¡­Scouting chip.¡¯

    It looked exactly like the part used when customizing mercenary-powered armor in the game.

    I spent more time ying MegaCorp than encountering rankers. That¡¯s why, at some point, I became well-acquainted with the weapons and equipment they used, almost on par with Mega Corp rankers.

    ¡®People who send mercenaries for reconnaissance mainly use scouting devices.¡¯

    In ssic strategy games, sending workers into enemy territory for reconnaissance was a basic strategy. Among MegaCorp yers, there were cases where mercenaries were sent with scouting chips imnted in their bodies to gauge the enemy¡¯s strategy or level of armament.

    ¡®It¡¯s a bit different from those cases¡­¡¯

    The problem is that the enemy might find out the location of my nest. I clenched the hand holding the helmet with force.

    ¡®My nest is as good as caught.¡¯

    Before entering the secret passage, I had a hunch, but I was still quitete. The enemy is not to be underestimated. Even if they don¡¯t know exactly where the nest is, they will thoroughly search the city¡¯s subway tracks to find it.

    ¡®Even if I abandon the nest, it¡¯s difficult to leave for another during this period when the council meeting is about to take ce.¡¯

    Even if I manage to safely board a ship, it¡¯s all over if the enemy mobilizes a fleet to pursue me. No matter how tough and powerful my body has be, I can¡¯t survive a concentrated bombardment from a fleet.

    Since I haven¡¯t acquired ¡®that trait¡¯ yet, directly fighting against a fleet is impossible.

    ¡®Let¡¯s think this through step by step.¡¯

    There¡¯s no need to think negatively for no reason.

    ¡®What are the pros and cons if I fight in the nest?¡¯

    After telling the kids to wait for a moment, I calcted the advantages and disadvantages I had.

    First, the advantages:

    ¡®There¡¯s a high chance the enemy doesn¡¯t know the structure of the secret passage.¡¯

    ording to the setting, the ce where I made the nest is an impromptu passage created by city construction workers for rest and movement. There shouldn¡¯t be any maps or records of it left.

    Even if the workers who participated in the construction are still alive, this city has been around for hundreds of years ording to the setting. Unless they underwent gic modification, there¡¯s no chance they¡¯re still alive.

    ¡®And being underground means I don¡¯t have to worry about the fleet bombardment.¡¯

    Unless the enemy orders a bombardment on their own homes, there won¡¯t be a need to fight against warships. sma weapons can be a problem, though.

    ¡®sma weapons are a concern¡­¡¯

    Now that the effects of the ¡®Symbol Of Hunt¡¯ has been lifted, any weapon stronger than a sma bolter which if carried by a knight will a threat to me. Moreover, the city¡¯s soldiers are likely to have smaunchers as well.

    Both weapons could be fatal to me.

    ¡®Although it¡¯s likely they¡¯ll not shoot in the underground.¡¯

    However this part is uncertain. If they n to bury mepletely from their end, they might order auncher barrage.

    ¡®This aspect should be considered a disadvantage. Besides, the narrow and straight terrain is also a disadvantage for me.¡¯

    The secret passage has aplex maze-like structure, but the passage itself is narrow and straight. There are no structures for cover, so if they unleash a ze from their end, I won¡¯t be able to avoid it.

    ¡®Even if I n a strategy focusing on surprise attacks, but if dozens or hundreds of soldiers are mobilized from their end, I won¡¯t be able to do this either.¡¯

    I don¡¯t know about the city¡¯s defense force, but the Eden knights are veterans. It is unlikely that they would sumb easily to consecutive attacks.

    ¡®A disruption operation using darkness would also be difficult.¡¯

    The nest is so dark that not even a speck of lightes in, but they would definitely have prepared for low visibility.

    ¡®¡­Let¡¯s change our thinking.¡¯

    It¡¯s underground, and it¡¯s a ce I know well. Moreover, it¡¯s easy to defend with minimal exposure to enemy attacks.

    There¡¯s only one ce that fits these conditions as far as I know.

    ¡®Sewers.¡¯

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    When ying as Amorph in the city, I always roamed through the sewers. When I first came to this city after the game became reality, I debated whether to go through the sewers or take the subway. At that time, I chose the secret passage over the sewers due to concerns about the high security of the sewers.

    ¡®Back then, I was weak.¡¯

    I was a metamorph, with only one type, and I hadn¡¯t obtained the trump card of the transcendence system. So, instead of the sewers, I chose the secret passage, and as a result, I could hide and gather strength away from the enemy¡¯s eyes.

    ¡®But not anymore.¡¯

    Among the traits I acquired at the hospital, there¡¯s a weapon suitable for times like this.

    ¡®Cosmic Bacteria.¡¯

    When this trait is applied, a bacterium called ¡®Cosmic Bacteria¡¯ is automatically produced in the body. Cosmic Bacteria is a chronic cold virus-like entity that emerged as humans ventured into space. No matter how much you want to get rid of it, new variants of it keep appearing, and it¡¯s not terribly lethal either.

    ¡®Cosmic Bacteria only has the effect of weakening the immune system, but¡­¡¯

    What if the enemies get infected with cosmic bacteria in a ce full of pollutants and viruses, like a sewer filled with contaminated water? In other words, the pursuing enemies would have to fight against the dual enemies: me and the cosmic bacteria inside my body.

    ¡®The real formidable enemy is the internal enemy.¡¯

    While bullets can be blocked with armor, attacks that damage from the inside are difficult to defend against. Even though the lower-grade reinforced suits have built-in treatments, they can¡¯tpletely block viruses or diseases in contaminated water. The higher-grade reinforced suits are no exception. Even if they have antidotes ready, it¡¯s just a matter of dying the inevitable. In the end, they will all suffer and die in the filth of the sewer.

    ¡®One advantage in defense is that the sewer is an essential infrastructure.¡¯

    A malfunction in water-rted infrastructure in an artificial structure floating in the middle of space is a very serious issue. Water is an essential element for the survival of living organisms.

    ¡®So, they will likely refrain from using sma weapons as much as possible.¡¯

    The final advantage is that the sewer is partially filled with water. The detection systems of the enemies I¡¯ve encountered so far rely on heat and vibration detection. Both are not suitable for dealing with enemies hiding in water. Even if I ambush them while hiding myself, they won¡¯t be able to respond as easily as they would on the ground.

    ¡®However, they probably have a map of the sewer, so I need to be cautious about that.¡¯

    Considering everything, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The sewer isn¡¯t a bad ce to turn into a new hideout and battlefield.

    I decided to move to the sewer and called the kids.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Hey, guys, over here)]

    ?Isn¡¯t that your home??

    ???

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (We¡¯re not going home; we¡¯re going to another home)]

    ?New home??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Yeah, a new home)]

    To get to the sewer, I have to go outside first.If I go through the station backwards, the enemies might spot me, but it doesn¡¯t matter. They already know I¡¯m moving underground because of the signal device that was attached to the reinforced suit of the knight I killed.

    I took number 26 and Adhai with me, crossed the tracks, and went to another station. On the way, I shot thorns to destroy all the cameras.

    ¡®Knowing that I¡¯m moving underground and knowing my identity are different things.¡¯

    The metal absorption that was extended by the effects of the ¡®Symbol Of Hunt¡¯ has now ended. Now that the camouge is lifted, I need to be cautious about cameras.

    I quickly broke the cameras, took the kids, and ran to the station gate. It was closed, probably because it waste at night. Before the security and androids arrived, I broke the gate and hurriedly went outside.

    ¡®A square manhole connects to the sewer.¡¯

    As I emerged onto the street, I examined the manhole shapes on the road. Most of them were round, but there was one that was square.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (This way)]

    ?Yeah.?

    ?Hungry.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Eat while we go)]

    ?Can I eat too??

    [ZZZ (Yeah)]

    Since the effect of the ¡®Symbol Of Hunt¡¯ has ended, there¡¯s no urgent need for food right now. With my permission, number 26 detached the arm from the corpse using its tentacles and handed it to Adhai who melted the it and started eating.

    While the kids were having snacks, I lifted the square manhole cover and checked below.

    ¡®There doesn¡¯t seem to be any rm devices near the entrance.¡¯

    Within a radius of 50 meters in the underground sewer, there are no rm devices. Confident in the safety, I crawled into the underground with the kids.

    ?Wow! It¡¯s water!?

    After letting the kids in first, I put the manhole cover back in its ce on the ground and jumped into the water.

    ¡®It¡¯s filthy.¡¯

    Even though Amorphs don¡¯t have a nose, they have highly sensitive auxiliary organs. I could sense theposition of this murky water and the floating slime-like substance in it.

    Still, perhaps due to Amorph¡¯s extraordinary tolerance, it was bearable.

    ?Big baby, this ce seems nice.?

    ?Water.? ?Not bad.?

    Contrary to me, number 26 and Adhai seemed to like this contaminated water. It was understandable for number 26, given its strong sense of home, but Adhai was a surprise. He was naturally swimming using his wings and tail.

    I had nned to hide Adhai separately if enemies invaded this ce, but seeing how well he adapted, it seemed unnecessary.

    Lastly, I double-checked for rm devices or surveince androids in the vicinity.

    ¡®I don¡¯t know about other ces, but there are none here.¡¯

    Finally feeling that I had arrived in a safe ce, the tension in my body released.

    It was a short time, but the fatigue from battling strong enemies continuously and the weariness from the aftermath of ¡®Symbol Of Hunt¡¯, and the lethargy all hit me.

    This was the first I felt tired since I became an Amorph.

    ¡®Let¡¯s apply the traits obtained from the predation effect and rest.¡¯

    There is one of the traits remaining from the knights of Eden that I devoured at the station after epting the application of the trait. I epted the application of the trait,id down on the water, and spoke.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (I¡¯ll take a rest)]

    ?Sure. Get some sleep. If anything happens, I¡¯ll wake you up.?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ Z (Thanks)]

    Leaving our new nest to number 26, I peacefully fell asleep in the contaminated water.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 67

    Chapter 67

    I woke up feeling the undting waves around my body.

    ¡®How long did I sleep for?¡¯

    When I saw the faint lighting through the manhole, it seemed like daytime. Focusing on my auxiliary organ, I heard the sounds of people walking above ground.

    ¡®At least Amorph doesn¡¯t have a nose, luckily.¡¯

    In fact, among all the creatures present here, there was no one who had a nose. Gagons had tentacles instead of nose and mouth, and number 26 had no face to begin with.

    I, too, had an auxiliary organ below my chin instead of a sensory organ like the nose. The olfactory information processed by the auxiliary organ felt like individually analyzing theponents of odors. For example, the ratio of ammonia and nitrate in the flowing sewer water.

    ¡®¡­Let¡¯s stop thinking about these things.¡¯

    I got up shaking off the unnecessary thoughts. I could see number 26 and Adhai sleeping nearby. Adhai had its head resting on number 26, emitting a faint light while sleeping.

    ¡®Since Gagons live in water.¡¯

    To me, it seemed like ordinary sewer water, but for it, it must feel like home.

    Without waking them up, I walked through the passage.

    ¡®The diameter of the sewer is probably around 6 meters.¡¯

    Seeing that there is plenty of space above my head even when I stand up, it should be about that size. Even if I use the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯, it seems like my head won¡¯t touch it narrowly.

    ¡®I was so tired that I couldn¡¯t check it properly and just let it go. I activated the text box.¡¯

    I was so tired yesterday that I couldn¡¯t check the traits properly, so I activated the text box.

    [Species: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph

    Status: Pre-Saint (1st stage of transcendence)

    Objective: Survive (2nd Evolution Sessful)

    Possessed Traits ¨C

    1)Physical-Rted (Applied Type): Wings, Chitinous Exoskeleton, Regeneration (Fusion), Neurotoxin nds (Fusion), Reinforced Exoskeleton, Acidic Blood, Enhanced Reflexes, Mimicry, Serrated Tentacles, Contamination Organ, Spine Projectile Organ, Predator¡¯s w. Metal Absorption, Perfect Organism (Unique), Fire Breath, Endurance, Pheromone Enhancement, Bloodsucking Tentacle (fusion).

    2)Psychic-Rted(Applied Type): Predator Sense (fusion), Human Nature, Monster¡¯s Tentacles, and irvoyance, Psychic Resistance, Insight.

    3)Infection-Rted: Parasitic Colony (Fusion), Cosmic Bacteria.

    Type: Physical Enhancement Type, Psychic Enhancement Type]

    [Unread new messages have arrived. Would you like to read them?]

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    While checking the text box, I noticed a new trait.

    ¡®Bloodsucking Tentacle? Was the trait I acquired a bloodsucking feature?¡¯

    In a semi-conscious state, I had only confirmed that it wasn¡¯t a trait with negative effects, but it turned out to be a not-so-bad result.

    ¡±Bloodsucking¡¯ traits aren¡¯t rare in games. As in reality, there are many creatures that suck the bodily fluids of other animals.¡¯

    ¡®The effectiveness of the bloodsucking trait increases with size.¡¯

    For example Gagons had this trait naturally, so despite Adhai being about 50 cm in size, he could suck all the blood from an adult man in less than 10 minutes.

    The small suction cups on tentacles helped sucking blood at a very fast speed. Larger creatures with more significant and bigger suction organs could likely suck blood at an even faster rate.

    I pulled out the bloodsucking tentacle from my arm. The tentacle, which previously had neatly arranged saw des across its surface, now had suction pads like that in an octopus¡¯s leg.

    Looking at the suction pads, which had sharp tooth-like structures protruding inside, resembling jaws of amprey.

    [PR/N- Lamprey are parasitic eel like fishes that suck blood of other organisms]

    ¡®Since there¡¯s a suction pad, I can use it when sticking to walls.¡¯

    When ying the game, I often used the bloodsucking tentacle for purposes other than bloodsucking. I mainly used it to suck all the blood from corpses to erase traces or to move around buildings using the suction-pad in the tentacle.

    ¡®Anyway, the bloodsucking tentacle is a highly versatile trait that has many uses, so that¡¯s good.¡¯

    ¡®And¡­ Unexpectedly, there¡¯s a new message again.¡¯

    I checked the message.

    [¡®Transcendence¡¯ Material List: Mimic Organ, Pheromone Enhancement, irvoyance, Hallucination (not acquired)]

    The newly arrived message contained information about new transcendence traits.

    ¡®It seems like a new unique trait will be created If Ibined these four traits.¡¯

    Just like the Complete Organism which is a unique trait created by merging three physical-rted traits through the transcendence system. This time, it appears to be a trait created bybining two physical-rted traits and two psychic-rted traits.

    ¡®Hallucination can¡¯t be obtained here.¡¯

    The hallucination trait can only be obtained from the gic essence of the Red Mist. Since Red Mist creatures inhabit only the ancient ruins and the jungles,finding them here would be impossible.

    ¡®Even if it were avable, I can¡¯t make it right away.¡¯

    Until I acquire two psychic-rted traits, I can¡¯tbine hallucination with transcendence. Otherwise, the psychic type might be lost.

    ¡®Let¡¯s keep this information aside for now.¡¯

    ¡®Should I explore the surroundings a bit?¡¯

    I need to check if there¡¯s a safer ce than where we currently are, and whether there are any dangers nearby.

    While navigating through the current, I sensed something through my auxiliary organ. Something was moving in the murky water. I swung the bloodsucking tentacle, grabbed the object, and pulled it out. A creature with a slender, white body dangled from my tentacle.

    ¡®Corpse-eater.¡¯

    Corpse-eaters are cleaners that consume various waste flowing into the sewer. MegaCorp¡¯s sewer doesn¡¯t just receive sewage; from facilities fulfilling the citizens¡¯ obscene desires, remnants of ¡®Hired ones¡¯ or waste from factories are secretly dumped into the sewers.

    Since this waste has arge volume, it can¡¯t be processed by the sewage treatment nt. Therefore,many use these grotesque creatures to reduce their size.

    ¡®It¡¯s the one that asionally appears as a horror post on themunity.¡¯

    It looks disgustingly creepy to ordinary people. Of course, that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯d discard this perfectly good gic essence.I ate the corpse eater after tearing through it.

    Honestly, the taste was mediocre. The texture was chewy, and the leaked juices had a strange sweet-and-sour taste. Well, if a creature living in the sewer and eating corpses tastes good, it would be more strange.

    ¡®I should focus on the nutritional supply.¡¯

    Thinking that I¡¯d have to eat this kind of thing for a while, it was a bit unpleasant, but it is better than nothing. Besides, I might acquire a new gic essence by eating it again.

    ¡®Corpse-eaters have infection-rted traits, so I should aim for that.¡¯

    I put the corpse-eater in my mouth and moved on.

    ***

    ¡°Nothing found in the subway?¡±

    ¡°Well, um, yes, sir! I report!¡±

    ¡°Deputy Chief, is what he said true?¡±

    ¡°ording to the members, they only found secret passages presumed to have been used by the monster.¡±

    ¡°T-that¡¯s¡­¡±

    Two days had passed since the tragedy at the hospital, and with only a day left until the council meeting, there had been no progress at all in the subjugation of the monster. La, who had just received a report from the head of the security department, stood up to greet a new guest.

    Thanks to this, the Head of Security department could avoid the embarrassment of being dragged out by the security guards during the briefing. Despite significant issues like smuggling, missing criminals, and police deaths urring in the past few days, the Head of Security department didn¡¯t report anything. She thought La wouldn¡¯t let it slide if she found out about these incidents before the council meeting.

    If Denver hadn¡¯t brought back relevant information, these incidents would have been buried forever in the security department¡¯s cab.

    La, the city¡¯s administrator, was extremely angry at the fact that she learned of ws from an outsider, not an insider.

    She dered that when she returns, she would rece all the bureaucrats affiliated with the security department and left the meeting room. Denver, who had just entered the meeting room looked at the Head of Security department, who was wiping the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief.

    ¡°Head of the Security Department.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    ¡°If you want to keep your position, perhaps focusing a bit more on work would be advisable. Although your master is apassionate person, she is not someone who will tolerate this kind of behavior¡±

    ¡°Y-yes.¡±

    ¡°If you want to volunteer in the Entertainment District, I won¡¯t stop you.¡±

    ¡°N-no, thank you!¡±

    Having warned the Head of Security, Denver stroked his chin.

    ¡°The monster is intelligent, so it knew we were trying to search for it.¡±

    It¡¯s not just an ordinary beast if it¡¯s using secret passages to avoid people. One shouldn¡¯t think of it as a typical animal.

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s think about it. If the creature is a beast with a human head, how do you think it would behave?¡±

    ¡°Are you talking about Hulk mutants?¡±

    ¡°No, those guys are stupid. It¡¯s smarter than that. Crisis Management Team Leader, any ideas thate to mind?¡±

    Denver asked the Crisis Management Team Leader, a stern-looking yellow-skinned man participating in the meeting. After a brief contemtion, he responded to Denver¡¯s question.

    ¡°Even if it escaped from the station, it couldn¡¯t have gone far. Based on the information submitted by the Silver Lion Knights, it¡¯s not likely to have a small stature.¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡±

    ¡°So why notpare the map with its movements and see if there are any hiding spots around the station?¡±

    ¡°Not a bad idea. Let¡¯s check the map then. Security Chief, please.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±

    The Head of Security Department hastily operated the terminal pad, projecting the city¡¯s map image onto the wall of the meeting room.

    Denver scrutinized the map, then tilted his head curiously.

    ¡°Look at this.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°What are those lines next to the railway?¡±

    ¡°Oh, those are markings indicating sewer passages. You don¡¯t need to pay much attention to them.¡±

    ¡°Sewer?¡±

    Denver called the Crisis Management Team Leader again.

    ¡°I heard you personally went out with your subordinates to map the area. Was there a sewer close to the station?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s difficult for me to see since the sewer facilities are underground¡­ Ah.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°Come to think of it, some manhole covers near certain stations had a different appearance.¡±

    ¡°Manhole?¡±

    ¡°That, I can answer.¡±

    ¡°Speak.¡±

    ¡°The manholes connected to the sewer have a square shape. What the Crisis Management Team Leader saw might not be a manhole connected to the sewer.¡±

    ¡°The Security Chief¡¯s words are correct.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Denver¡¯s eyes sparkled at the words of the two leaders.

    ¡°Deputy Chief, ask the members. Were there square manholes around the station where the fire urred?¡±

    ¡°Understood, sir.¡±

    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible that the creature went into the sewer?¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s close to the station, there¡¯s a possibility.¡±

    ¡°But the sewer structure is much moreplex than the subway tracks. There¡¯s a high chance of another incident urring before we find the creature.¡±

    ¡°I¡­I also think so!¡±

    The Crisis Management Team Leader calmly stated his opinion, while the Head of Security department added in a hurried manner.

    ¡°What should we do?¡±

    Denver had little concern for the citizens of this city, whether they lived or died. Even if hundreds or thousands of citizens died, capturing that monster alive would be beneficial to him.

    However, stating that outright would tarnish the positive image he had built up until now.

    ¡°How about trying it like this?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Instead of personally searching, why not use a method to lure the creature out?¡±

    ¡°Are you talking about a bait operation? But how do you n to lure it out?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s almost certain that the creature preys on humans. So, if we provide prey from this side, wouldn¡¯t that work?¡±

    ¡°Are you suggesting we use resources from the Entertainment District?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. After preparing traps in the sewer, we lure and eliminate it.¡±

    It was clear that the creature was an intelligent being. However, it was not human.

    Being intelligent and having detailed information about the city were separate matters. Unless the creature residing in this city was human, it would not find it strange for prey to enter the sewer.

    Initially, it might seem strange, but if prey continued to enter, the creature would likely dismiss any suspicions.

    The Crisis Management Team Leader seemed to find Denver¡¯s suggestion a viable strategy and nodded in agreement.

    ¡°We need to consult with the Human Resources Manager, but I think we can easily gather around 200 people.¡±

    ¡°It would be better if we could get more.¡±

    ¡°I¡­I¡¯ll take care of that!¡±

    ¡°Good. Keep up the momentum, Security Chief.¡±

    Although the n involved sacrificing 200 innocent lives as food for the carnivorous monster, no one in the room found it strange.

    Those employed by MegaCorp were not ¡®human.¡¯

    They were ssified as administrative resources. They could be ughtered or euthanized asmon resources when needed.

    If capturing the monster meant business for Denver and eliminating a potential threat to the city¡¯s security for the two leaders, then everyone in the room would benefit.

    ¡°Very well. If the Deputy Chief¡¯s confirmation isplete, we¡¯ll proceed with the operation immediately.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°Security Chief, if this operation is sessful, I¡¯ll request clemency for you from the Administrator.¡±

    ¡°Really? I¡¯ll do my best!¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, while it may not be a proper military operation, it would be good to have a codename. If you could decide.¡±

    ¡°Can I decide?¡±

    ¡°No one among the soldiers disrespects, Your Majesty. If you decide, it would be an honor for us.¡±

    Denver pondered for a moment. Then he recalled what La had said to him before.

    What is that unseen, ghost-like entity?

    Recalling that memory, Denver spoke.

    ¡°How about this? Operation Ghost Hunt.¡±

    ¡°Operation Ghost Hunt. Excellent. We will exterminate that invisible ghost. Hoorah!¡±

    ¡°Very enthusiastic! Hahaha.¡±

    Everything was going ording to his n. Denver burst into genuineughter, brimming with joy.

    ¡®The creature is mine!¡¯

    The long-standing wish of the family was nearing fulfillment. Whileughing, Denver secretly clenched his fist.

    He would not let go of the captured monster under any circumstances.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 68

    Chapter 68

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Hey, wake up and eat)]

    ?Wow!?

    ?Food!?

    Looking around, I woke the kids up. Six dead catfish were what I brought back, using arms forbat and even the small arms on my chest, gathering them all up.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (After eating, we¡¯ll move to another ce)]

    ?Building a home??

    [ZZZ (Yeah.)]

    As always, number number 26 understood quickly. it used its tentacles to grab the catfish and stuffed them into his body. Because of his translucent body, it was clear how the catfish dissolved inside him.

    ?Tasty.?

    Just like number 26, who never had picky eating habits, he quickly finished off one of the catfish. On the other hand, Adhai, after sucking the blood of the dead catfish with his oral tentacles, wrinkled his brow.

    ?Food? ?Not tasty?

    A Gagon, contorting his expression like that, was something I hadn¡¯t seen before. Compared to Amorphs whocked any facial expressions other than the movement of their mouth, Gagons seemed to have a more rich range of emotions.

    ?Taste.? ?Terrible.?

    Seemingly as it was really unpleasant, he shivered while furrowing his body.

    ¡®It¡¯s kind of like that.¡¯

    Among the foods I had eaten since bing Amorph, the worst tasting was definitely the calorie bars. That¡¯s until I had the dead catfish. I did provide it, but it was undeniably unptable. I didn¡¯t have much to say about Adhai¡¯sints.

    However, number 26 didn¡¯t seem to share the same sentiment. It pulled out his tentacle and smacked Adhai¡¯s head.

    ?Pain!?

    ?You¡¯ll grow big if you eat a lot. If you want to be big like the big ones, you gotta eat everything.?

    ?I? ?Growth? ?Desire?

    ?That¡¯s right.?

    ?I? ?Growth? ?Bigger? ?Adult? ?Know? ?Possible.?

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ?Pain!?

    Let¡¯s leave those two alone since they seem to get along well. I waited until they finished eating the dead catfish before moving to the next location with the kids.

    In this sewer system, sewage treatment facilities were ced at intervals along the passages for purification. Here, through the dead catfish and small sewage treatment facilities,rger foreign substances were sieved out in the primary phase, followed by a secondary system in the deep underground city sewage treatment nt to purify the contaminated water.

    ¡®Upon closer inspection, there are no detectors except in ces with small sewage treatment facilities.¡¯

    The detector seemed to send a signal only when there was an object nearby that wasrge enough for small sewage treatment facilities to handle.

    ¡®With my size, I will definitely trigger it.¡¯

    Among us, Adhai, who has the smallest size, barely escapes the conditions of the detector.

    ¡®Even if I don¡¯t trigger it, it¡¯s too risky to build a nest around the detector.¡¯

    Since there are small sewage treatment facilities nearby, there is a very high chance that the city¡¯s managers wille regrly to inspect.

    Even if we¡¯re unlucky, people mighte today. It¡¯s too risky to build a nest in such a ce.

    ¡®I guess this should be enough.¡¯

    The point where I intended to build a new nest was rtively far from both the manhole and the sewage treatment facility, almost equidistant. This ce had rtively shallow water and protruding parts on the walls, providing space to restfortably for number 26 and me. But since Adhai wasn¡¯t an aquatic organism, It needed a space to restfortably.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ(Wait for me to build a nest)]

    ?Yeah.?

    After informing the kids, I climbed the wall and moved up to the ceiling.

    ¡®The nests I had previouslyid were all destroyed while I was asleep. As expected, the enemies quickly discovered the secret passage. They would undoubtedly search the secret passage and eliminate my nest along with it. So, I n to create a new nest in this sewer system.¡¯

    ¡®Normally, I would let the mucus secreted from my body solidify and wait for it to be a nest. But not this time. I¡¯ll have to directly apply the secreted mucus to build the nest.¡¯

    ¡®Since I can¡¯t install the nest underwater, when ites into contact with water, the mucous consistency doesn¡¯t solidify. But it doesn¡¯t matter once the structure and spores of the nest arepleted.¡¯

    ¡®Water is still a good medium. The nest, through various stimuli from the surroundings, can perceive nearby objects, environments, and more.¡¯

    ¡®Starting now.¡¯

    I used my arms to apply the mucous substance being secreted from my body onto the ceiling. The highly viscous mucus flowed and solidified like stctites. The mucous substances that flowed down along the rounded tunnel walls spread out like wooden stems and lightly touched the water surface.¡±

    ¡®After an hour of starting to build the nest, the basic framework wasplete.¡¯

    The newly formed nests on the walls and ceiling will expand on their own without me interfering.

    ¡®Great.¡¯

    As I confirmed the slow expansion of the nest, I pressed my body tightly against the ceiling. Firmly securing myself with hands and feet to avoid falling, I linked the auxiliary mechanism on my jaw to the nest. The nest grabbed my consciousness and pulled me in.

    Instead of Amorph¡¯s small body, this gigantic artificial structure felt like my own body. Information about the fluids flowing through the city¡¯s veins and the impurities within seeped into my mind. In the pitch-ck darkness, dead bodies and catfish feasting, their names unknown, existed under the vibrant and morous city, surrounded by an immeasurable dampness.

    Unexpectedly, amidst my exploration of the sewers, my senses picked up something unusual.

    ¡®A person?¡¯

    Suddenly, I sensed human presence in various parts of the sewer. Initially, I thought it might be corpses discreetly disposed of. However, seeing that they were not moving along with the current but rather moving independently, it was evident that they were living individuals.

    ¡®People here? And so many at once?¡¯

    ¡®I need to investigate.¡¯

    I detached the link and leaped into the water.

    ?Where to??

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (I have something to check)]

    ?Got it. I¡¯ll wait.?

    After informing number 26 that I would return soon, I headed toward the detected movement of people.

    While submerged in the water, I felt a change in the water¡¯s flow. With only the auxiliary mechanism protruding above the surface to detect the air, I heard voicesing from a distance.

    ¡®There¡¯s more than just one or two.¡¯

    The current location was a junction. Movement from 10 individuals on the left and three on the right was detected. From the unrefined movements and trembling in their voices, it was evident that they were all civilians.

    ¡®Why would civilianse here?¡¯

    Lowering myself underwater again, I moved towards the quieter right passage with fewer people. Apart from the sound of water, the sewer was silent. But the noise of the three people there echoed through.

    ¡°If we manage to survive and get out of here, it¡¯s a confirmed release, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I heard.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s better than dying in the entertainment zone. Damn, do you know what happened to the guys who came with me? They all became raw fish before they died.¡±

    ¡°Damn, it gives me chills. Crazy bastards. Why did they send us here? What could possibly be here?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s here, but those who keep their promise. If we get out alive, we¡¯re all free.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, that idiot must be having a good time. His head¡¯s a flower garden.¡±

    Three men were conversing among themselves as they approached this way. They were in a state of undress, without protective suits in this filthy ce. The only equipment shielding them in this contaminated space was the oxygen masks covering their faces.

    ¡°Even at the Entertainment District, I¡¯ve never dealt with this much crap. Now, it¡¯s crap-water.¡±

    ¡°Stop grumbling. Be careful; the depth is increasing.¡±

    ¡°Damn, I have aquaphobia, for f*ck¡¯s sake¡­¡±

    The passage I was in was rtively deep from a human perspective. Moments ago, when the sewage surged up to chest level from waist level, they cursed.

    ¡°For f*ck¡¯s sake! Couldn¡¯t they at least provide us with protective suits?¡±

    ¡°Be careful not to wet the gun! That¡¯s all our credit!¡±

    ¡°We might as well be frozen with debts.¡±

    They raised their shlights andser guns high to prevent them from touching the water.

    ¡®They don¡¯t seem like administrators.¡¯

    Those with responsibilities for the foundational facilities of the space city belong to advanced management; they wouldn¡¯t be here with such shabby equipment. Moreover, something one of them said caught my attention.

    ¡®Confirmed release?¡¯

    In MegaCorp, ¡®confirmed release¡¯ has two meanings. One is the literal sense of release, the other refers to tasks assigned to those employed by MegaCorp. Employees fall into three categories: individuals with overwhelming debt, criminals whomitted major crimes, or humans from farms nurturing employees as livestock.

    Employees are treated as resources rather than humans. Their employmentsts until MegaCorp deems it profitable, and until then, they¡¯re obligated to follow MegaCorp¡¯s orders unquestioningly.

    ¡®In themunity, they jokingly call them ¡°Corporate ve¡± (ÉçÐó), which means livestock.¡¯

    [Note:- The term ¡°Corporate ve¡± (ÉçÐó) is a Korean ng word thatbines the Chinese characters ¡°Éç¡± (society) and ¡°Ðó¡± (livestock). It is used colloquially to refer to individuals who are perceived as working tirelessly for society or corporations, often at the expense of their personal well-being.]

    In the game, mercenaries used by MegaCorp yers are also former employees. Most employees die beforepleting their service, either for reconnaissance or as meat shields.

    ¡®And their debts are transferred to family or rtives, ording to the setting.¡¯

    Personally, I found it excessive, but among users who enjoy dystopian settings, it was well-received.

    ¡®Anyway, those guys seem like employees.¡¯

    Employees are essentially subhuman, ves even, and it¡¯s crucial not to leave their positions voluntarily. Their presence here implies someone deliberately ordered them here.

    ¡®Let¡¯s observe a bit more.¡¯

    Their armaments weren¡¯t significant, so there wasn¡¯t an immediate need to attack. I approached them slowly while submerged. My slow movements caused a slight disturbance in the waves.

    ¡°Whoa!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Something just moved in the water.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Don¡¯t bullshit! It¡¯s just us here.¡±

    ¡°No, seriously! Something moved over there!¡±

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ( Team 15. What¡¯s going on? Why did you stop?)]

    ¡°Uh, nothing at all.¡±

    [The other teams are still moving. Team 15 doesn¡¯t seem enthusiastic about fulfilling their obligations.]

    ¡°No, no! We¡¯ll move right away!¡±

    The leader, equipped with a smallmunication device on his chest, repeatedly bowed his head.

    After the transmission ended, he seemed furious and began hitting the person next to him violently. Due to the shlight hitting his head, blood streamed from the side of his temple.

    ¡°You idiot! If you want to be raw meat while still alive, do it on your own! Don¡¯t drag us into this mess!¡±

    ¡°Sorry!¡±

    ¡°Stop fighting, you crazy idiots!¡±

    Indeed, they were bait. Someone intentionally set up bait here.

    ¡®The Knights.¡¯

    Recently, they¡¯ve been causing trouble here since their arrival, invited by the council. But I didn¡¯t expect them to find me this quickly. Their tracking of my movements is faster than I anticipated.

    If the Knights are here in the sewers, it means the city¡¯s higher-ups are sharing their ns. Yet they haven¡¯t sent heavily armed knights and soldiers this way.

    ¡®They¡¯re not concerned about casualties. There¡¯s definitely something fishy.¡¯

    Regardless, for now, killing these three here is on hold. Their n is uncertain, and unless the enemy is foolish, they would have prepared a number against the bait.

    I remained motionless in my position.

    Three of them passed me, trembling with anxiety and fear.

    ¡°Look! You idiot, there¡¯s nothing here.¡±

    ¡°Did I see wrong?¡±

    ¡°Cough, I think I¡¯m feeling unwell already. Let¡¯s finish this quickly and leave.¡±

    I quietly followed behind them. One of them with a sensitive disposition towards the back shone a shlight, but I wasn¡¯t caught, as nothing could be seen in the murky water.

    Continuing to follow them, we reached a junction where multiple paths intersected, and about 60 people in simr attire were waiting. Among them stood a knight in silver armor.

    Getting closer could risk getting caught. I didn¡¯t enter the open area but stayed behind the wall, leaving only the auxiliary organ exposed.

    ¡®Everyone seems to have arrived.¡¯

    The knight was unaware of my presence and wasmunicating.

    ¡°This is Team 3, Tennessee. No more than 60 members present.¡±

    [Chizik, This is Team 1, Vicus. No more than 80 members present.]

    [Hey, Chizik, this is Team 2, Jacob. Five members haven¡¯t arrived yet, Chizik, awaiting orders.]

    ¡°Team 3, Tennessee, sir Jacob¡¯s signal is weak. Requesting a check.¡±

    [Chizik, got it, Chizik, understood.]

    Listening their conversation, I scanned the surroundings with the auxiliary organ. Many footsteps above me suggested that those present were all soldiers.

    ¡®There¡¯s a nearby manhole, so they¡¯re using this as a base.¡¯

    ording to the overheard information, the enemy has three bases. When I linked to the nest, I couldn¡¯t sense the other two. Their positions seemed quite distant from each other.

    A wide search point narrowing down to specific areas. The enemy is trying to surround and lure me into a specific area.

    ¡®When I take the bait, the Knights and soldiers will continue to reinforce their encirclement.¡¯

    ¡®Just like fox hunting.¡¯

    The difference is that instead of hounds, they¡¯ve set multiple baits. They¡¯ll keep reinforcing their encirclement until one moment, and that¡¯s when they¡¯ll initiate the operation to eliminate me.

    ¡°Team 3, Tennessee. Awaiting orders.¡±

    [Chizik, Team 2, Jacob. Everyone is assembled.]

    [Team 1, Vicus. Understood. Initiating Operation Ghost Hunt . Release all the baits.]

    ¡°Did you all hear? Move quickly.

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±

    Even though they were tantly treated as bait, there was no sign of resistance among the people here.

    ¡®It¡¯s obvious since there¡¯s a bomb in their heads. Well, technically, it¡¯s an ultra-small chip emitting electromaic waves, but the effect is no different from a bomb. Disobedience results in the brain being fried.¡¯

    The baits, with mncholic expressions, began to return along the same route.

    The three who guided me here also turned to walk back through the passage they came from, but Tennessee called them back.

    ¡°Hey.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Why is there blood on your head? Did you get attacked?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no. This guy just tripped¡­¡±

    ¡°Tsk, how pathetic.¡±

    Tennessee clicked his tongue and gestured, and the three bowed their heads and moved on again.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    When the bait stopped in ce, amunication directly came in from the headquarters. I saw it when I followed the three earlier; it¡¯s certain.

    There¡¯s a high probability that some sort of chip is embedded in their bodies to transmit signals with movement. Perhaps themand the bait received is to move continuously along a predetermined route.

    ¡®If someone dies or bes immobile, that¡¯s when they dispatch knights and soldiers.¡¯

    However, the recent scene was intriguing.

    From the base¡¯s perspective, they don¡¯t know about the bait¡¯s minor injuries.

    ¡®This is getting interesting.¡¯

    Unstablemunication in the sewage, limited information exchange, a dark and obstacle-filled battlefield. All of these suit my tastes perfectly.

    ¡®They¡¯re hunting me, huh?¡¯

    It¡¯s an amusing proposition. Since I love hunting, we¡¯ll see who bes the fox after this hunt is over.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 69

    Chapter 69

    MegaCorp is known to possess over hundreds of colonys. Legally, these colonies are ssified as production entities, serving as a means for MegaCorp to generate the resources it needs. ording to MegaCorp¡¯sws, the rights to all types of resources on these colonies belong to theary lord.

    To put it more straightforwardly, think of these colonies as something akin to livestock pens or pigsties on a cosmic scale.

    Naturally, ordinary humans wouldn¡¯t enjoy being treated as ves or livestock. Even if the dominating force possesses a powerful influence on a gctic scale, resistance is inevitable.

    Therefore, the higher-ups at MegaCorp employ various methods to ensure smooth governance of the colonies.

    For example, redemption activities.

    It¡¯s a concept first devised by T&C, giving hope to employees that they can escape from the status of mereborers if they fulfill assigned tasks. T&C goes further by granting capital status to employees who sessfullyplete redemption.

    As more individuals who sessfullyplete redemption and return as capitals increased, the resistance on colonys noticeably decreased.

    Instead of choosing the path of resistance against T&C¡¯s domination, many opted to be Megacorp¡¯s capitals.

    Brody, brought to this special trade center of T&C, found himself in a simr situation. An opportunity presented itself to him, who was merely waiting for his demise in the entertainment district. The head of the personnel resources management team announced the recruitment of sewage exploration personnel in exchange forpleting redemption.

    Upon hearing those words, Brody pondered his options.

    ¡®Rather than having my skin peeled off while alive, rolling in the sewage seems like a better option.¡¯

    With this judgment, 210 resource workers gathered. Divided into three groups of 80, 70, and 60, entering the sewer, Brody initially thought his decision wasn¡¯t bad. Rolling in the sewage was nothingpared to what he experienced in the entertainment district.

    However, his optimistic thoughts vanished the moment they entered the sewer.

    ¡°¡­Whew.¡±

    The sewer was worse than he had imagined.

    Even with a mask, the stench prating inside, floating foreign substances on the water, and the difort of something passing between his legs were overwhelming.

    Each of those things was something he didn¡¯t want to see even in his dreams, but there was something particrly irritating Brody¡¯s nerves.

    ¡®I feel that gaze again.¡¯

    He had always heard about his keen intuition. Like the dark water enveloping the city in cosmic dimensions, something lurked within it.

    ¡®The conditions are too good¡­¡¯

    ¡°Hey, why are you all silent like you¡¯ve hit the jackpot? Don¡¯t ruin the atmosphere, say something.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re so unsatisfied, why don¡¯t you speak first?¡±

    ¡°This punk?¡±

    It was unclear how much longer they would endure in this suffocating sewer. Perhaps that¡¯s why everyone seemed more irritable.

    ¡°Cough!¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just their nerves that became sharp; Brody felt a rising heat in his body even in the cold water. The hand holding the shlight barely clung to the surface, and his legs felt as heavy as if they were shackled.

    Is the darkness engulfing him? It felt like his vision was spinning.

    ¡°Hey, does this guy taste weird?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Think about it. Maybe you cracked his head open, and that¡¯s why he¡¯s like this. If we mess up, we¡¯re screwed too.¡±

    ¡°¡­Hey, wait.¡±

    The man at the front turned on themunication device.

    ¡°Ah, hello. Sir Knight, I have something to report.¡±

    [Chizik, what is it? Did you find something?]

    ¡°Hehe, you know, one of ourrades who fell earlier is struggling a bit. So, I was wondering if we could move a bit slower to perform the mission more effectively.¡±

    [Hmm. If that¡¯s the case, it shouldn¡¯t be a big problem. Understood.]

    ¡°Thank you!¡±

    The man kept nodding until themunication was cut off.

    As soon as the sound of the connection being terminated was heard, his expression changed.

    ¡°This damn bastard, so damn difficult, like an orphan without a mother.¡±

    ¡°You did well.¡±

    ¡°Thanks¡­¡±

    ¡°Tsk.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯ll stand behind this time, so move forward.¡±

    ¡°Ah, understood.¡±

    After exchanging positions, they resumed their journey. They slowed down a bit after reporting to the knight. Although it didn¡¯t alleviate his physical condition, Brody managed to hold onto his consciousness.

    Once they leave this ce, he¡¯ll be a free man. With thoughts only on freedom, he walked determinedly. Ahead, they saw a small sewage treatment facility. It was a dead-end. From here, they would have to move to another designated location.

    The man at the front grumbled as if he was tired.

    ¡°Ugh, I don¡¯t know how many more times we have to go through this bullshit.¡±

    ¡°W-well, that¡¯s true.¡±

    ¡°Hey, the guy at the back, follow well¡­ huh?¡±

    ¡°Why? Why are you saying that?¡±

    ¡°Where did the one behind you go?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Brody turned his head sharply at the man¡¯s words. There was no one behind him.

    ¡°Hey, hey, are you kidding? Where did he go?¡±

    ¡°Well, I, I don¡¯t know either.¡±

    The man¡¯s face turned pale. Was it because of the cold water, or was it fear in this situation? The clear fact was that Brody was no different from the man.

    ¡°Damn, those guys above, don¡¯t they know that someone is missing?!¡±

    The man hurriedly searched for themunication device. Despite the trembling wind causing him to almost drop it several times, he finally seeded in activating themunication device.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Knight.¡±

    [Chijik, what¡¯s going on?]

    ¡°Sir, one person from our team is missing!¡±

    [Someone is missing?]

    ¡°Yes! The friend who was following behind¡­¡±

    [What are you talking about? The signals show that all three are moving fine.]

    ¡°What?¡±

    The man holding themunication device gaze was fixed behind Brody.

    Brody swallowed his saliva and turned his head. ck water swirled like waves, and a man¡¯s head emerged.

    The man who had been following didn¡¯t disappear. However, Brody¡¯s heart didn¡¯t calm down; instead, it started beating even more vigorously.

    The reason for the big wave was not the man but something behind him¡ª¡¯that thing.¡¯

    It looked enormous enough to fill the sewer passage, gripping the man with its dark, seemingly giant form.

    ¡°?!¡±

    The man holding themunication device opened his mouth wide. Just before air escaped his throat, a long, slender serpent emerged from the water and pierced his neck.

    The man remained motionless in the posture of trying to scream. ¡®That thing¡¯ silently passed by Brody towards the man. It raised an arm with long ws, pulling themunication device from the man¡¯s hand.

    [Unit 15, report immediately if there is a problem.]

    The knight¡¯s voice came through themunication device, but Brody couldn¡¯t make a sound.

    ?That thing? was staring down at him. With a pitch-ck, non-reflective exterior like water and teeth shining pale in contrast, the monstrous creature seemed ready to tear his throat apart. It reached out to him.

    ¡°Ugh?!¡±

    Brody shut his eyes tightly, expecting imminent pain. Several seconds passed, but nothing happened. When Brody cautiously opened his eyes, ¡®That thing¡¯ was offering him themunication device.

    In a sudden move, Brody epted themunication device from the monster¡¯s outstretched hand. Then, ¡®That thing¡¯ brought its elongated ws, filled with menacing teeth, to his mouth.

    ¡°Shh¡­ it¡­¡±

    In this situation, Brody had limited actions he could take.

    ***

    The man in front of me reported on themunication device with a trembling voice.

    ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s Brody from Unit 15. The person who was originally in charge of themunication device fell, so I took over.¡±

    [Tsk, what a nuisance. Get moving as soon as he gets up.]

    ¡°Oh, okay!¡±

    The man, now addressed as Brody, faithfully followed mymand.

    ¡®Let¡¯s get started.¡¯

    I activated the parasitic organism. A parasite emerged from my arm, swimming in the murky water.

    ¡°S-stop!¡±

    Brody eximed in fear, staggering, but he couldn¡¯t escape. My tail was behind him, poking his back.

    ¡°Kuk, kek, keke.¡±

    As the parasite entered his nostrils, he coughed, trembling violently.

    His eyes rolled back, and his tongue extended uncontrobly from his mouth, the parasites establishing their presence in his brain.

    The man who stood at the front had to watch helplessly as hisrade sumbed.

    ¡®He seemed rebellious.¡¯

    Unlike those infected by the parasites, this person had a rather coarse demeanor. Those who showed excessive resistance were challenging to control, as seen in the case of Williamst time.

    ¡®I need to check for the chip inside the body.¡¯

    To do that, I had to carefully examine one of the employees.

    ¡®It worked out well. Let¡¯s start by checking this person.¡¯

    I approached the man I had paralyzed earlier, holding him by one arm.

    I examined his body with the auxiliary organ.

    ¡®There should be a signal chip somewhere.¡¯

    Although there was a faint electrical signal flowing in the brain, I would remove itter. Since it was a device for managing employees, I had to take care not to break it and retrieve it.

    While examining the man¡¯s body, I sensed a signal near his wrist.

    I seized the man¡¯s arm with mybat arm and tore it off, causing him to cry out.

    ¡°Hii, hieuk!¡±

    Brody, who was watching nearby, was horrified.

    The man looked nkly as his arm fell off.

    Since his entire body was paralyzed, he wouldn¡¯t feel any pain. Perhaps he thought he was having a terrible nightmare.

    Upon splitting the arm open, a small chip emitted light. I carefully removed the chip with my small arm from his chest.

    ¡®Alright.¡¯

    As soon as the chip was in my hand, themunication device rang.

    [Re-ceiv-ing.]

    ¡°B-Brody here!¡±

    [What¡¯s going on? Why aren¡¯t you moving?]

    ¡°N-nothing! We will move immediately!¡±

    [Tsk, I can¡¯t believe I have to deal with this kind of nonsense.]

    I wondered if the signal would still go to the other side even after the chip left the person¡¯s body.

    That means¡­

    ¡®This person is not needed.¡¯

    It was fortunate that my appetite was growing while building the nest.

    I opened my mouth wide and bit into the man¡¯s upper torso. Perhaps due to my increased size, half of the man¡¯s upper body was distorted by the force of my strong jaw.

    ¡°Ugh¡­.¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Brody could only tremble in shock, unable to even scream.

    Seeing a paralyzed person being eaten while still alive seemed quite shocking. The surrounding sewage suddenly warmed up.

    After biting a few times, only the head remained.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see.¡¯

    I grabbed the head with mybat arm, and with a forceful effort, the skull shattered like a smashed pumpkin.

    In the scattered remains, a ck mechanical device was visible. I grabbed the device with my small hand from the chest.

    I stuffed the remaining pieces into my mouth, licking every bit clean with my tongue, even the tips of my nails. Havingpletely devoured the man, I handed two chips to the overwhelmed Brody.

    [Wait.]

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Now that I understood how the chips worked, the person attached to my arm wasn¡¯t particrly useful. This person, paralyzed with urine and drool, served only as a source of nutrients for me.

    ¡°¡­!¡±

    As if he intuited what I was about to do, his eyes trembled with fear. I¡¯ve always been like this, but I have no intention of showing mercy.

    While Brody watched, I efficiently consumed this man as well. It took only a few minutes to deal with two adult men.

    Having replenished the energy expended in building the nest, I handed Brody the newly acquired chips and devices.

    ¡°Hold this and move along.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    After watching hisrades being consumed, Brody obediently followed my instructions. He inserted the chips and devices into the gap in his mask.

    After sending him off, I moved towards another team. There was still much work to be done.

    ***

    [N-nothing! We will move immediately!]

    Tennessee turned off themunication device abruptly.

    ¡°Why do these pathetic beings fall so often? It¡¯s just walking, and yet they find it so difficult.¡±

    This was already the fifthmunication. These pathetic individuals, with their nonsense about stumbling and getting lost, were slowing down the operation.

    ¡°Using these weaklings in the operation was dishonorable from the start.¡±

    If the individuals here wererades who had fought alongside him in glorious battles, the unidentified monster would have been annihted instantly.

    ¡°Darn it!¡±

    Initially, this situation and operation were not what Tennessee had envisioned.

    ¡°I wished for revenge¡­¡±

    Unfortunately, themander to whom he pledged allegiance did not permit it.

    [When you find him, capture him alive.]

    Even participating in the support role for the defense force, the knight squad was divided into three teams for the operation, but in reality, there were four teams.

    Team 2, under Jacob¡¯smand, and Team 4, led by Yannick, were mixed together.

    Team 4, equipped with weapons brought on board the fleet, was fully armed. Their mission was to secretly wait on the ground and, when the target was found, either capture the monster or disrupt the defense force¡¯s approach.

    As they were heavily armed, capturing the enigmatic creature was expected to be rtively easy.

    ¡°Catching the enemy who ruthlessly killedrades alive¡­¡±

    Even participating in a fight would be impossible due to the current circumstances, a reality that frustrated Tennessee.

    ¡°¡­Tsk, I¡¯ll have to calm down after this cycle.¡±

    Tennesseebed his hair, trying to suppress his anger.

    Strangely, being in this water made him feel feverish. Even though the sewer water felt icy to him, his current senses were deviating from the norm. Suddenly, he felt a rising heat and a dulling of his senses.

    Even if he had undergone gic modification surgery, he could still feel hot and cold. The sewer water was undoubtedly icy, but his current condition was abnormal. His body was suddenly getting warmer, and his senses were dulling.

    Although it was a signal sent by the brain, Tennessee firmly believed that it was merely due to his anger. Even with perfect gic modification, he refused to believe he could fall ill.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    Suddenly, he heard a sound in the water.

    Tennessee looked in the direction of the sound. Although it was filled with deep darkness, it was not a problem for him.

    Concealment was useless in front of the advanced reinforced suit supporting various vision functions.

    ¡®Did I mishear?¡¯

    He tried various detection systems, such as heat detection and vibration detection, but nothing was caught.

    Tennessee turned his head again.

    At that moment, ¡®It¡¯ emerged from behind and attacked him.

    ***

    An improvised camp set up inside the sewer near the manhole. This ce had shallow water, and the Knights of Team 1 had ced mechanical equipment and supplies for exploration andbat support.

    ¡°How¡¯s themunication equipment enhancement going?¡±

    ¡°We did our best, but it seems it doesn¡¯t respond well underground.¡±

    ¡°Well, maybe it¡¯s because of the EMP prevention system spread throughout the city due to the Council.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, that seems likely. Anyway, let¡¯s do our best.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Members and defense forces were diligently checking equipment, moving around the area. In the midst of this, Vicus was checking the cameras connected to each team leader.

    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯

    While examining the cameras, Vicus felt something strange and picked up themunication device.

    ¡°Team 1, Vicus here. Tennessee, the camera direction seems odd. Please adjust it.¡±

    [I un-der-stand.]

    ¡°While you¡¯re at it, let¡¯s adjust themunication as well. There seems to be some noise.¡±

    [Yes.]

    After a short time, the camera returned to its original position. Tennessee remained motionless, not even a slight movement captured by the camera.

    Seeing Tennessee¡¯s firm posture, Vicus secretly sighed.

    ¡®Well, he must want revenge.¡¯

    Vicus, as the vicemander, was well aware of Tennessee¡¯s sentiment of cherishingrades. If Tennessee were a bit moreposed, he might have been entrusted with themand of Team 4 instead of Yannick.

    Lost in these thoughts, a signal management device nearby started making sounds.

    Beep! Beep!

    ¡°Is it him?¡±

    This device indicated the path if the bait deviated from the predetermined route. The fact that the machine beeped meant that the monster took the bait.

    Vicus quickly picked up themunication device.

    ¡°Team 1, Vicus here! The monster took the bait!¡±

    [Team 2, Jacob here. Where are you?]

    [Where are you?]

    ¡°The location is¡­¡±

    Vicus, who was about to disclose the location, lost his words as he saw the signals on the monitoring screen.

    Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

    Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

    Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

    Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

    The signals deviating from the path were rapidly increasing.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 70

    Chapter 70

    Vicus couldn¡¯t believe what was happening right in front of him. Signals appearing consecutively on the monitoring screen¡ªit was pure chaos.

    ¡°What is going on here!¡±

    Although it was clearly an abnormal situation, Vicus didn¡¯t immediately deploy Team 4.

    ¡°¡­Assessing the situation takes precedence.¡±

    Vicus summoned the Crisis Management Team Leader and the Human Resources Team Leader, both present at the scene.

    A sturdy man and a neatly dressed woman approached Vicus in the camp.

    ¡°Take a look at this.¡±

    ¡°What is this?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡±

    Both of them sighed as they looked at the monitoring screen. They hadn¡¯t anticipated such a situation.

    Vicus asked the vice leader, ¡°Could this be due to issues like radio interference?¡±

    ¡°Recently, due to the EMP countermeasures, radio instability has been a problem throughout the city, but it shouldn¡¯t cause issues like this.¡±

    ¡°Then, could all this be caused by deserters?¡±

    ¡°The likelihood is slim, but probably¡­¡±

    The vice leader hesitated in his words. Vicus turned his gaze to the Human Resources Team Leader.

    The team leader shook his head as if to say it was impossible.

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible. Since they all have obedience devices imnted in their heads, they know they¡¯ll die if they desert.¡±

    ¡°Then, can we confirm the deserters with the signals from the obedience devices right here and now?¡±

    ¡°Are you suggestingparing the two signals?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Let me check.¡±

    The team leader manipted the terminal pad and connected it to the signal management device. After tapping the pad for a while, two types of signals appeared on the screen, ovepping in location.

    ¡°This shouldn¡¯t be happening. It seems like they¡¯ve all deserted.¡±

    ¡°Is that possible?¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before.¡±

    The team leader manipted the pad with an expression of disbelief several more times, but the results remained the same. Numerous signals were frenziedly dancing on the screen, rebels who refused to follow orders.

    ¡°It seems like all of this is happening only in Team 3.¡±

    Was there an unusually high number of dissenters in Team 3? Vicus wondered with these doubts in mind as he nced at the team leader, but she was resolute that it couldn¡¯t be.

    ¡°At T&C Special Trading Hub, we always adhere to the principle of providing customers with only the highest-quality products. Items discovered to be defective through strict inspections are immediately discarded without delivery.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Vicus thought his words were probably correct. If such incidents were to ur frequently, the Special Trading Hub would never be able to operate.

    ¡°Vice Commander, something seems off with the signals.¡±

    ¡°Strange?¡±

    ¡°When observing the signals from deserters, they seem to be clustering in a few ces.¡±

    ¡°They aren¡¯t moving as a group?¡±

    ¡°Even if we assume that, they¡¯re too close. It¡¯s as if one or two individuals are carrying multiple devices and chips together.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible for individuals to detach the devices. They¡¯re deeply embedded in the brain, so without special equipment, they can¡¯t be removed.¡±

    Upon hearing their words, a fleeting thought crossed Vicus¡¯s mind.

    ¡®It¡¯s a trap.¡¯

    The creature they were chasing was a very sinister entity. Although he didn¡¯t know what trick it had pulled, they shouldn¡¯t overlook the possibility that this situation was a trap created by the creature.

    ¡®He has various special abilities. Among them, he might have the ability to control humans.¡¯

    The Silver Knight Order of Eden had collected various genes for use in Hulk mutants.

    This meant they had experienced battles with extremely dangerous wild creatures several times. Vicus himself had survived in intense battles where more than half of hisrades had died. Therefore, he never underestimated the enemy.

    ¡°Team Leader of Human Resources.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°In my opinion, the enemy might have set a trap. So, I request this. Can we activate the obedience devices from here?¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Activating the obedience devices generated extremely harmful electromaic waves in the human body. The power of the electromaic waves was so strong that it could turn the brain into something resembling eggs in a microwave.

    Of course, there were no survivors if the brain melted.

    ¡°Even if the obedience devices are activated, and the signals continue to move, it¡¯s likely that the creature is where the signal is.¡±

    Vicus judged that the creature had the signal device. Either it was controlling deserters in an unknown way, or it had swallowed deserters and had a signal device inside its body. In any case, it was certain that the creature was among the signals.

    The vice leader nodded in agreement with Vicus¡¯s opinion, but the team leader showed an unweing expression.

    He opened his mouth with neatly arranged eyebrows, clearly displeased.

    ¡°I might not be the one who promised the resources, but are you nning to waste such valuable resources?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t just throw them away. The one we¡¯re chasing is a highly intelligent biohazard. With its intelligence, it could easily use the deserters to disrupt signals.¡±

    ¡°Is that true, Vice Commander?¡±

    ¡°I agree with the Vice Commander¡¯s opinion. The creature has already escaped Androids and police investigations several times in the Harbor Zone and Residential Zone. Exposing its scheme using decoys would be advantageous.¡±

    ¡°If the obedience devices are activated, most of the signals here will likely stop. Among them, if there¡¯s a moving signal, that¡¯s probably the one the creature is sending.¡±

    The team leader voiced a counter-opinion to their statements.

    ¡°We always maintain the maximum output of the obedience devices to prepare for unexpected situations. If electromaic waves are emitted, the signal devices should stop functioning, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not a problem. Items manufactured for military use can withstand strong electromaic waves and shocks.¡±

    Upon the Vicemander¡¯s response, the team leader sighed briefly.

    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s hope it¡¯s not a waste. I will activate the obedience devices.¡±

    He manipted the terminal pad, and shortly afterward, a message window asking to activate the obedience devices appeared on the screen. With a light touch on the pad, the various signals on the screen froze as if time had stopped.

    Those who had entered the sewer with the futile dream of freedom died in the filth.

    ¡°Where are you? Where are you hiding?¡±

    The three of them watched the screen with bated breath.

    Beep! Beep!

    ¡®He¡¯s here!¡¯

    At that moment, one signal on the screen began to move again.

    Vicus quickly raised hismunication device.

    ¡°Team 1, Vicus! Inform Teams 2 and 3! The moving signal from the signal device is the creature! Send the standby units to pursue it!¡±

    [Team 2, Jacob, receiving orders.]

    ¡°Alright, understood.¡±

    During themunication, Vicus secretly pressed a button on a small device hidden in his pocket. This would have signaled Yannick, who was on standby on the surface.

    ¡°You! I will not let you escape!¡±

    Operation Ghost Hunt.

    Vicus believed that the operation would be sessful without a doubt.

    ***

    ¡®The human psyche is truly fascinating.¡¯

    Once suspicions arise, they seem endless. On the contrary, when belief takes hold, even a slight ¡®oddity¡¯ can be easily overlooked. Just like now.

    Before me, a makeshift structure made of bones had a silver helmet ced on top. If you were to ask where the owner of the helmet went, half would be in my stomach, and the other half would be finely chopped and attached to mybat arm.

    ¡®Things are going well.¡¯

    The enemies still have no idea what is happening here. I took a bite out of the knight¡¯s leg I was holding. Juicy flesh and juices flowed within the rigid armor, as if life were being extracted, much like peeling a crab.

    One advantage of being an Amorph is having strong teeth, allowing me to chew on live creatures without the need for tools.

    ¡®Employees weren¡¯t particrly tasty, to be honest, but it¡¯s fortunate.¡¯

    Except for the person I imnted with parasites, I devoured around dozens of remaining humans. However, they allcked taste. It wouldn¡¯t matter if they were tasteless, but the predator effect only activated once and never again.

    ¡®Still, I got a good trait, so I should takefort in that.¡¯

    The trait I gained from devouring employees was called ¡®Dexterity.¡¯ As the name suggests, it enhanced the functionality of my hands to the point where I could engage in workshop activities. With the application of Dexterity, the small arm near my chest became capable of various activitiespared to before.

    For example, the bone structure in front of me¡ª a product made from gathering bones and flesh of employees using the small arm. Fixed on the sewer floor with a shallow hole, it had enough durability to withstand strong impacts as long as I didn¡¯t create strong currents.

    As long as I didn¡¯t disturb the water significantly, the possibility of the bone structure copsing was low. Thanks to this, I couldfortably ce the knight¡¯s helmet on it and enjoy my meal.

    ¡®Modified humans do taste better after all.¡¯

    Shall we call it the threshold of taste? After eating tasteless things and suddenly consuming something delicious, it feels more than just good; it¡¯s as if a tune is involuntarily hummed.

    Having finished consuming all parts of the knight, I picked up themunication device and stood up.

    ¡®By now, they¡¯ve probably realized that something has happened underground over there.¡¯

    I first attacked five teams among the employees who entered the sewer, nted parasites, and waited until each team hadpleted their designated routes.

    ¡®After turning the designated points, they should be switching routes with each other.¡¯

    Once they finished their routes, all teams from the third squad would converge at one ce¡ªwhere they initially started, themunal area where I was until recently.

    Waiting for them was not a knight but me.

    After eliminating all except five, I distributed the chips and devices obtained from the dead to those five. One of them protested about being naked, but my solution was simple.

    ¡®Just swallow it.¡¯

    Growling, all five obediently followed my words.

    Only one of them, out of those who now stored devices and chips inside their bodies, remained. The rest were freed to go outside the sewer as they pleased.

    ¡®Escape is probably impossible.¡¯

    In reality, the future was predetermined, but they didn¡¯t let go of the thread of hope. Believing that somehow they could survive if they left this ce, they left themunal area.

    ¡®It¡¯s about time to take care of this too.¡¯

    I grabbed a corpse maggot that was swimming in the water. The maggot resisted as I held it, but when I applied a bit of force, it soon became quiet.

    Holding the living maggot, I approached the only remaining employee to whom I hadn¡¯t let go. In the distance, I could see someone struggling through the murky water, and it was Brody, the survivor from Squad 15, the first one I attacked. Just in case, I had ordered him to move ording to the originally nned route.

    As I approached, he trembled and handed me devices and chips.

    ¡°I-Is this enough for you to let me go? Right?¡±

    It was a question that didn¡¯t need an answer, so I didn¡¯t bother responding. Those present here would die anyway, even if the obedience device wasn¡¯t activated, as they were likely infected with Cosmic bacteria from my body.

    ¡°P-Please! Please spare me¡­ Huh?!¡±

    Brody, who had been pleading with me, suddenly stopped in his tracks. Then he grabbed his head with both hands.

    ¡°A-Aaargh! Agh! It hurts so much! Aaargh!¡±

    Brody, seemingly forgetting I was in front of him, started screaming as if he had gone insane. Smoke emanated from his ears, and the hand tearing at his head turned a sickly shade of red.

    ¡®It¡¯s starting.¡¯

    They must have detected the deserter and activated the obedience devices. Seeing Brody, who was moving ording to the designated route, suffering so painfully, it seemed like they were nning to kill all the employees from Squad 3.

    Next, I felt a strong wave and heat emanating from the obedience device in my hand. The electromaic waves emitted by the obedience device were quite powerful. Therefore, even just holding it caused significant harm to ordinary people.

    ¡®It was made for this purpose in the first ce.¡¯

    I looked at the obedience device, emitting deadly electromaic waves, on my hand. My body, being an Amorph, was unaffected. Amorph¡¯s skin, even without special features, was resilient with high fire resistance, radiation immunity, and other favorable effects. It could survive in space for a certain period, so this ce¡¯s only problem was the abundance of sma energy, psychic powers, and numerous transcendental weapons in the space survival world.

    Anyway, Brody, who didn¡¯t have a brain as robust as Amorph¡¯s outer shell, couldn¡¯t resist the electromaic waves from the obedience device. Completely fried, he copsed.

    I discarded the non-functional obedience device and fed the signal chip to the corpse maggot. Then, I inflicted wounds on the maggot¡¯s skin until blood flowed, confirming its movements.

    ¡®Originally, I would use parasites.¡¯

    All five parasites I could use right now were dead. Since the obedience device was designed to melt brains, the parasites attached to the brain to control the person had no chance of survival.

    Even though they would be replenished, I couldn¡¯t use them right away. Therefore, I needed to monitor the movements of this maggot, which was now powered by the signal chip.

    ¡®It¡¯s a bait.¡¯

    Confirming the flow of blood, I released the maggot. It disappeared into the darkness of the sewer, squeaking in fear.

    I submerged myself to detect the scent of blood. The auxiliary organ under my chin easily picked up the scent of blood flowing in the water.

    ¡®They¡¯ll probably think the maggot is the monster they¡¯re chasing.¡¯

    With both the signal chip and obedience device imnted in one person, if the obedience device worked, the person died. If the signal chip moved, there was only one conclusion from their perspective: that it was a monster.

    ¡®Now they¡¯ll think I¡¯m a monster that eats people, right?¡¯

    I¡¯ll take advantage of the fact that the above-ground team is likely to be in a state of disarray, pursuing the maggot in several groups. While they¡¯re spread out, I¡¯ll be right behind them.

    When they reach the wrong target and cheer, that¡¯s the moment I¡¯ll strike. Just like they set a trap for me, I set a trap for them. Just like they threw bait at me, I threw bait at them.

    This sewer will be the grave of arrogant enemies, the tomb of the silver knights.

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 Chapter 71

    Chapter 71

    ¡°The signal hase. Prepare for entry.¡±

    The 4th squad, under themand of Yannick, stood at their secret camp.

    The movements of the members became busy.

    Externally known as the reserve unit under the 2nd division, when Vice Commander Vicus reported the unit details to the defense force, they dered themselves as part of the 2nd division. However, that was not the reality.

    The 4th squad received a secret order from Denver. Their mission was not to kill the monster but to capture it alive. Additionally, they were ordered to eliminate any other defense force if discovered during their mission.

    ¡°Commander Yannick, all preparations areplete.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡±

    The Lion Knights wereposed entirely of veterans with gically enhanced warriors, but the 20 members of the 4th squad were selected from among them as elites.

    Furthermore, their weaponry and equipment were exceptional, taken from the armory within the ship.

    Apart from the sma bolters, the standard equipment of the knights, they had two additional pieces of equipment. The first was the auto-sma pistol attached to the reinforced shoulder armor. It boasted superior performance to the original, with improved durability and the ability to synchronize with the user¡¯s vision for automatic defensive shooting.

    The other equipment was the assault pack attached to the backs of all members of the 4th squad. The assault pack was designed for operations in harsh environments, including space. It not only reinforced the performance of the attached armor but also featured jetpack and oxygen supply functions.

    In summary, it could be considered an enhanced version of the reinforced armor.

    Both pieces of equipment were astronomically expensive, matching the price of a small colonial. Even for Prime Capital Eden, they were so costly that they could only be deployed in truly crucial battles.

    ¡°What about theunchers?¡±

    ¡°For now, bring them along.¡±

    In response to Yannick¡¯s words, a member hoisted a smauncher onto his back.

    With all preparationsplete, Yannick and the 20 knights entered the sewer.

    Due to the knights leaping over the contaminated water, the residents in the underground hid in panic.

    ¡°Distance to the target, 1 km remaining.¡±

    ¡°At the uing intersection, everyone turn right.¡±

    It was a maze-like sewer, but the movements of the silver knights were decisive. Thanks to various mechanical devices attached to their helmets, real-time information about the sewer¡¯s interior was constantly ryed to them.

    ¡°Enemy forces detected 20m ahead.¡±

    ¡°Everyone, bypass them.¡±

    While eliminating encountered defense forces was part of their mission, there was no need to deliberately engage if it could be avoided. The knights moved towards their objective, avoiding the operational radius of the defense forces disyed on their devices.

    ¡°Hold on, everyone, stop.¡±

    At Yannick¡¯smand, the members of the 4th squad, who had been running against the current, came to a halt. Floating in front of them was a grotesque object ¨C the corpse of a deceased deserter due to thepliance device.

    Approaching the corpse, Yannick examined its condition. The sight was gruesome; the head had exploded due to thepliance device, and blood was dripping down. Even more horrifying was the state of the abdomen. The abdominal skin showed signs of an internal explosion, and all the organs inside were charred. Inside the belly,pliance devices and signal chips were visible.

    ¡®What has that creature done?¡¯

    Upon inspecting the corpse, Yannick immediately understood what the monster had done. It had forcibly made the deserters swallowpliance devices and signal chips.

    ¡®I need to report this.¡¯

    Yannick picked up hismunication device to inform Jacob of the situation. Since the activities of the 4th squad were confidential, they were not linked to headquarters or cameras. Thus, essential information had to be reported through wirelessmunication.

    ¡°Fed one to a corpse?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I see. Since there are people nearby, I¡¯ll cut it short.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    After ending themunication with Jacob, Yannick looked back at his subordinates.

    ¡°Be cautious, everyone. This doesn¡¯t seem like an ordinary enemy.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    Leaving the corpse behind, they resumed their journey toward the objective.

    Where they disappeared, the lone corpse swaying along the waves suddenly got sucked into the water.

    ***

    ¡®Gone.¡¯

    After the knights left, I, who had been lying not far away from them, got up. Before their arrival, I had been examining a corpse along the path. It was necessary to fill in the final piece of my n.

    As I attempted to investigate the corpse further, my auxiliary organ warned me. The rapidly fluctuating water indicated that the knights were approaching at high speed. Rather than facing them head-on, I chose to hide and observe the situation.

    ¡®I have no idea about the enemy¡¯s level of armament and numbersing this way.¡¯

    Observing and, if the enemy seemed manageable, ambushing them; otherwise, just gathering information and retreating would be the n. I submerged myself and pressed my body against the ground.

    ¡®Surprisingly, they arrived faster than I thought.¡¯

    Initially, I wondered if they had set up another camp nearby. However, my assumption was incorrect as I observed their appearance.

    ¡®They were wearing assault packs.¡¯

    Assault packs significantly enhanced the functionality of reinforced suits and offered various useful effects. Therefore, in the game, assault packs were so popr among MegaCorp yers that they were often referred to as mercenaries¡¯ uniforms. The presence or absence of this equipment couldpletely change thes that could be conquered.

    ¡®Although the price is outrageously expensive.¡¯

    In any case, those who wore assault packs on top of advanced reinforced suits were proudly disying enhanced physical abilities. In the sewage filled with contaminated water, they moved at an extremely fast pace, almost as if running on t ground. Thus, they had caught up with the other squads faster than expected.

    ¡®There are 20 of them. Fighting them head-on with all of them equipped with assault packs would be burdensome.¡¯

    While using the ¡®Symbol of the Hunt¡¯ would lead to an easy victory, the aftermath was the issue. Due to the nature of endurance, I wouldn¡¯t copse immediately, but it would affect my futurebat performance. Additionally, losing sanity was also a problem.

    ¡®Sanity and knowledge.¡¯

    These were my essential weapons. Losing either of these would reduce me to a mere beast.

    ¡®Bing a beast without reason in a situation of fighting multiple enemies is dangerous.¡¯

    Although enemies were generally considered smarter than wild animals, they still categorized me as a wild animal.

    ¡®In such a situation, if the enemies get what they want, it¡¯s a shortcut to defeat.¡¯

    Therefore, I postponed the fight momentarily. As a result, the group of 20 did not discover me.

    The only ie I gained from dying the fight was confirming the enemy¡¯s equipment level.

    ¡®The vision system doesn¡¯t have much difference among the knights.¡¯

    Despite wearing assault packs, except for a few pieces of equipment, the rest was simr to regr knights. From what I had observed, the enemy¡¯s detection methods included heat detection and vibration detection.

    ¡®Vibration detection is ineffective due to the constantly fluctuating waves.¡¯

    ¡®Heat detection is the same.¡¯

    Due to soaking in the cold water of the sewage for a long time, my outeryer was practically an ice coating. Even if they saw me through heat detection, I would appear as a rough surface.

    ¡®I¡¯ve confirmed the level of their perception system. A surprise attack should be easy.¡¯

    The enemies were gone, and it was time to finish my business quickly and follow them. I submerged myself again and examined the melted interior of the corpse.

    ¡®Here it is.¡¯

    Holding a small signal chip in my hand, I gently scratched thebat sewage wall with it.

    And then, I inserted the chips I had been carrying into the remains.

    ¡®I need to use them as a new bait, so they must not be damaged.¡¯

    Since I had discovered a group of knights, the corpse-bait had already achieved my first goal.

    ¡®But if it ends here, it¡¯s not fun.¡¯

    The reason I safely stored the chips taken from the corpse was for the second n toplement the first.

    ¡®When chasing maggots, there will be a point where they gather.¡¯

    Either the starting points of the scattered enemies were closer than I expected, or they could assemble earlier for reasons I hadn¡¯t considered. At that moment, I nned to create a new bait to shake up the enemies, utilizing the new corpse-bait.

    ¡®Those who entered the underground don¡¯t know about maggots.¡¯

    Maggots roaming in the sewer were not naturally urring organisms. They were deliberately released by city administrators for the efficient management of the sewer system. If I had thrown many maggots as bait from the beginning, there would undoubtedly be someone among the city officials questioning me.

    ¡®They might think I¡¯m using maggots for a disruption operation.¡¯

    If they became cautious, well-prepared, and started tracking me, the disadvantage would be on my side. Therefore, I intentionally imnted a signal chip in only one maggot.

    Before entering, they probably thought I was just catching and eating the employee without knowing the presence of the signal chip. Unfortunately, the knights moved faster than I expected and discovered the corpse.

    ¡®I was nning to eat and dispose of the corpse while collecting the chip.¡¯

    It was an unfortunate ident that they found the corpse before I could carry out my n.

    ¡®Especially when the path to find maggots oveps with the location of the corpse.¡¯

    Other corpses were far away from the maggots, making it difficult for them to be discovered unless someone intentionally sought the corpses.

    ¡®However, this corpse was unfortunately in the knights¡¯ path.¡¯

    Because I allowed it to roam freely without controlling it like a parasite, it became an unexpected incident.

    However, the fortunate thing was that they didn¡¯t know about the maggots.

    The discovery of the corpse was not a significant problem. I swallowed the remnants of the corpse I was holding without leaving any traces, as I continued to chase the 20 knights.

    After dealing with them, my n was to return to the hidden location of the chips.

    ¡®Next, I¡¯ll create a new bait.¡¯

    Then, the enemies would be extremely confused.

    ¡®Now that the bait suddenly bes two.¡¯

    Once they entered the sewer, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to call sewer officials for questioning. During that time, if I escaped, their operation would automatically fail.

    ¡®Of course, I have no intention of running away.¡¯

    As seen when the knights didn¡¯t detect me earlier, it¡¯s evident that the knights couldn¡¯t detect the maggots swimming in the water.

    I don¡¯t know how many soldiers from the city¡¯s defense fleet are there, but it¡¯s challenging to think that their equipment level is worse than elite knights.

    ¡®If they were barehanded, they could probably sense creatures passing between their legs.¡¯

    If the enemies were barehanded, I wouldn¡¯t have gone through all this trouble. In any case, the remaining distance to the maggots is now not much.

    ¡®No other enemies can be sensed around here.¡¯

    The meaning of that statement is clear¡ªone that is highly advantageous for me. I approached one of the knights in the rear closely. Moving submerged and sticking to the sewer floor made almost no sound.

    The surface around the knight who was running vigorously in the water was in great turmoil. I grabbed his hind legs with thebat limb from underwater.

    ¡°!¡±

    The knight was about to fall. Before he could make a sound, I quickly bit into his neck. With my jaw strengthened by bite strength characteristics, I crushed the knight¡¯s cervical vertebrae.

    Meanwhile, the other knights had no idea that theirrade in the rear had been taken down, and they continued to run ahead.

    ¡®Being too fast is also a problem.!

    I ripped off the assault pack from the knight¡¯s back and smashed the battery of the powered armor. The light went out from the powered armor, and the knight¡¯s body slumped lifelessly.

    I carried the doughy body of the knight and submerged into the water, as if seeping through.

    ***

    ¡°The remaining distance to the target is 30 meters. The enemy¡¯s speed is slowing down.¡±

    ¡°Everyone, stop.¡±

    At Yannick¡¯smand, the knights came to a halt in their tracks.

    ¡®That guy, who was moving at an incredible speed until now, suddenly slowed down.¡¯

    If it weren¡¯t for the assault pack, he would have been difficult to chase. As a result, the other teams were far behind.

    In this situation, which is crucial for Yannick to secretly capture the monster, it is very advantageous.

    ¡®Seeing the slowdown in speed, it seems he¡¯s noticed our pursuit.¡¯

    Considering the intelligence of that creature, it might be nning to ambush the knights.

    ¡®Not being able to gauge the opponent¡¯s level, it seems a beast is just a beast.¡¯

    No matter how powerful the monster is, handling the firepower of the 20 present here is almost impossible.

    Yannick made a vow.

    He will teach that ferocious beast the truth that there is a sky above the sky.

    ¡®Before the battle, I need to check the personnel.¡¯

    Yannick stood in ce and observed the weapons of each of his men.

    ¡®Hmm? Someone is missing.¡¯

    One of the members who was originally at the back was not there.

    Perplexed, Yannick counted again, but there was no way someone missing could appear.

    There were 19 members present.

    In the ce where there should have been a member, there was only a dense shadow.

    ¡®Shadow? Could it be?!¡¯

    Realizing the meaning of that unnatural shadow, Yannick shouted.

    But it was already toote.

    The shadow shot up from the water, and a long, giant serpent emerged, wrapping around one of the knights.

    At the same time, the auto-sma gun attached to the shoulder of a knight next to the capturedrade activated and fired.

    ¡°Ugh?!¡±

    ¡°Oh no!¡±

    ¡°Everyone, watch out for friendly fire!¡±

    However, the serpent used the captured knight as a shield, and the sma energy broke through the knight¡¯s sturdy armor, spraying blood into the air.

    With about half of the upper body gone, therade was carried by the serpent and disappeared into the murky sewer water.

    The knights pulled out their bolt guns and began firing into the water. The green energy pellets illuminated the dark sewer.

    ¡°Cease fire! Cease fire!¡±

    Yannick shouted as if cursing, and the members stopped firing.

    Where the serpent disappeared, only the right arm of their fallenrade remained, floating in the dark sewage.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 72

    Chapter 72

    ¡®Be afraid. Be afraid.¡¯

    The enemies unleashed a barrage of sma volters, but being underwater, no one managed to hit urately. Escaping unscathed from the saturation of sma bullets, I retrieved the blood-sucking tentacle, pulling a knight along in the process.

    ¡°¡­Kuk!¡±

    The knight caught in the tentacle somehow resisted by drawing the de w with his left arm on the opposite side.

    ¡®That won¡¯t work.¡¯

    With the sharp ws on the back of my hand, even if they were reinforced, they would easily be cut into pieces. My blood-sucking tentacles responded to my will and prated into the broken gloves of the opponent.

    ¡°Aargh!¡±

    The tentacle with sharp teeth on the inner surface entered the armor, turning the opponent¡¯s body upside down. As the arm fell off, the knight writhed in pain.

    ¡®Maybe calming down with some water will help.¡¯

    Thanks to the assault pack, the knight received oxygen through the helmet connected to the pack even underwater. After pulling the knight, I removed thebat helmet.

    Inside, moderately long blonde hair flowed.

    ¡®What the¡­ a woman?¡¯

    I naturally thought it was a man, but it turned out to be a woman. Perhaps due to gic modification, her appearance was quite outstanding.

    ¡°Darn it¡­!¡±

    The female knight distorted her expression due to extreme pain.

    ¡®In the game, many MegaCorp yers try to recruit female mercenaries.¡¯

    The knights provided as a special bonus by the Eden family are randomly chosen in terms of both name and appearance. There are instances of bulky, muscr African-American males appearing, as well as fair-skinned blonde females like the knight in front of me.

    Therefore, among MegaCorp yers, there are quite a few who want to assemble mercenaries with beautiful knights.

    There were even guides in themunity on how to recruit only cute girl knights.

    ¡®I preferred Amorphs, though.¡¯

    Of course, being an ordinary man, I felt a liking when I saw a beautiful woman.

    But now, for some reason, looking at the beautiful woman¡¯s face didn¡¯t evoke any special emotions.

    ¡®Anyway, a female knight.¡¯

    Watching her, I had an amusing thought.

    If she¡¯s a woman, there might be some use.

    I opened my mouth and gently bit her neck.

    ¡°Ugh?!¡±

    She groaned.

    Since I bit her gently, it shouldn¡¯t be painful. It might be because of some physiological aversion to Amorphs.

    The neurotoxin in my saliva seemed to take effect, as her expression quickly rxed. Perhaps the pain from the amputated arm wasn¡¯t being felt either.

    Confirming that she was paralyzed, I ced the helmet back on her that I had removed earlier.

    ¡®To connect the assault pack¡­ Ah, here it is.¡¯

    As I connected the tubes on her neck and shoulders, light returned to the helmet. With power restored, the reconnaissance chip inside the helmet should be functioning again.

    ¡®You¡¯ll be my bait.¡¯

    In my experience, femalerades make excellent bait. Most people react more sensitively to the death of a woman than a man.

    I wondered if there would be gentlemen in this space age rushing to rescue a damsel in distress.

    It¡¯s worth experimenting with.

    ***

    ¡®Was the signal device a decoy?¡¯

    Yannick double-checked the signal. The signal that had been 30 meters away before they arrived was rapidly moving farther.

    ¡®Is there another creature here?¡¯

    After a brief pause, he shook his head.

    ¡®No, it¡¯s unlikely that wild animals would follow his intentions so precisely. Assuming he has the ability to split is more usible.¡¯

    Creatures that can split their bodies are rare but definitely exist.

    ¡®He uses the split ability to insert signal chips for disruption. He¡¯s a strategist.¡¯

    A quite skilled one, at that.

    Yannick felt the need to broaden his estimate of him.

    ¡®Ability to breathe fire, shoot bone spikes, be invisible, split, and high intelligence. Quite impressive, indeed. The Commander would be pleased.¡¯

    Even with the current technology for creating hulk mutants , it was impossible to incorporate so many different traits into a single body. While the gically modified humans of the Yujin family might possess diverse characteristics, the creature¡¯s appearance didn¡¯t seem human in any way.

    ¡®When I saw him earlier, his appearance resembled that of a snake.¡¯

    He hadn¡¯t used the invisibility ability, probably because of the flowing water in this location.

    ¡°Captain Yannick! Catherine¡¯s vital signal is still valid!¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Upon hearing a member¡¯s shout, Yannick manipted the terminal on his wrist. Soon, the vital signals of the members of Squad 4 and the vanishedrade Catherine, as well as the visual feed from her camera, appeared inside the visor.

    ¡®She¡¯s still alive?¡¯

    Catherine¡¯s signal was faint, but she was still alive. Judging by her view, she seemed to be leaning against a wall somewhere in the passage.

    ¡°Captain, Catherine hasn¡¯t died yet. If we don¡¯t rescue her quickly, it might be toote.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Yannick fell silent at the member¡¯s words.

    ¡®A trap.¡¯

    The creature was using the signal device for disruption tactics. There seemed to be something fishy about it.

    ¡°He¡¯s highly intelligent. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d leave a wounded person for no reason.¡±

    ¡°Catherine might have resisted. With enhanced physical abilities from the assault pack, she could easily handle his body, even with a de cutter.¡±

    That was a valid point. When they entered the sewers, they didn¡¯t just rush in without any information about the monster. Based on various types of information, including the armaments of therades who fought with him at the hospital and the station, the current Eden Knights had an idea of the monster¡¯s defensive capabilities.

    ¡°Captain, we came here secretly to capture him. If we encounter the defense forcester, it willplicate matters. We don¡¯t have time to hesitate.¡±

    That statement also made sense. The enemy was more intelligent than expected, and if the defense forces got involved, the situation would be much moreplicated.

    As the team member said, they needed to deal with the creature as quickly as possible. In the process, they could also rescue theirrade.

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll report to Jacob immediately¡­¡±

    As he raised themunication device, something flew from behind the passage. The slender object pierced directly into themunication device Yannick was holding.

    ¡®Bone spike!¡¯

    As his gaze turned toward the back of the passage, the auto-sma gun on his shoulder activated. Green energy bullets illuminated the passage as they flew.

    For a brief moment, a serpent-like creature could be seen disappearing beneath the water¡¯s surface. The ck shadow that briefly appeared on the water vanished beyond the passage.

    ¡°Captain!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡±

    The cunning creature had taken advantage of the moment when Yannick was distracted by holding themunication device.

    ¡°Darn!¡±

    Yannick carefully examined the debris of the brokenmunication device in his hand.

    ¡®As long as the chip isn¡¯t damaged!¡¯

    Fortunately, the chip itself was intact, untouched by the damage to themunication device.

    ¡®Phew, luckily it¡¯s notpletely broken.¡¯

    He ced themunication chip back into the wrist terminal. Soon, the function to send files and messages was activated. Yannick sent a brief warning message to Jacob along with the recorded data from his camera.

    ¡®With this, there¡¯s evidence left, but¡­¡¯

    During the secret operation, he deliberately used amunication device connected to an independentwork to avoid going through the defense fleet¡¯smunicationwork. Unless they were foolish, there would undoubtedly be suspicions raised if the data was transmitted through the terminal. He had to trust that Denver, their superior, would somehow cover it up.

    ¡®He¡¯s far more cunning than we anticipated, so there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡¯

    ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡±

    Having safely transmitted information to Jacob, Yannick led his subordinates and continued on their way.

    The warriors of steel rushed through the passage, a force to be reckoned with.

    Even the creatures halfway filling the passage, numbering over 18 knights, couldn¡¯t stop the onught.

    Perhaps due to their anger or enhanced bodies from assault packs and reinforced suits, the knights caused the hard floor of the sewer passage to ripple with each step.

    ¡°Catherine is 15 meters away.¡±

    ¡°Everyone, slow down, and be cautious of the surroundings.¡±

    As Catherine¡¯s position got closer, the knights slowed down.

    The knights, with heightened vignce, carefully scanned their surroundings. The auto-sma guns also moved diligently to be ready to fire at the owner¡¯s designated target at any moment.

    ¡®He doesn¡¯t seem to be around here.¡¯

    Apart from the flowing water, no other movements were detected.

    When Yannick made a gesture, two members approached Catherine.

    She wasying her upper body on the surface of the water, seemingly bowed down.

    Although she looked as if she were dead, all the knights continued to check vital signals, making it clear she was still alive.

    ¡°Hey, Catherine. Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    One member approached her, grabbed her left shoulder, and shook her. In response, she made a murmuring sound.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Her voice came from inside the helmet. She seemed to want to scream, but something seemed to be suppressing her.

    ¡°Danger? Is it dangerous?¡±

    As he spoke, two red tentacles emerged from behind Catherine, or in other words, from behind the knights.

    ¡°Huh?!¡±

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    The tentacles forcefully swept the necks of the two knights in the rear.

    No matter how protected they were by reinforced suits, the neck is a vulnerable area for humans. The tentacles, as thick as the thighs of an average adult male, hitting the neck directly couldn¡¯t leave them unscathed. The necks of the two knights departed from their original positions and twisted in a strange direction.

    ¡°It¡¯s the enemy!¡±

    With Yannick¡¯s shout, the attention of the knights turned momentarily to the rear. A green energy shot from the auto-sma gun hit one of the tentacles.

    The tentacle hit by the sma shot detached halfway. In the meantime, the other one remained hidden in the water.

    ¡°Eliminate that creature!¡±

    The knights aimed their bolters in the direction of the tentacle.

    But the creature¡¯s attack was not over yet. While the knights were focused on the rear, the main body of the tentacle hid under Catherine and emerged.

    The real target of ¡°It¡± was the two knights who hade close to inspect Catherine¡¯s condition.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    A foolishly murmuring knight.

    In front of him, he turned his head, revealing small, white des, and darkness. A deep darkness engulfed his entire head.

    ¡°Damn it¡­ Ugh?!¡±

    In an instant, ¡°It¡± bit off the head of the nearbyrade. The knight, witnessing this, hastily tried to swing the de w.

    Even if something hadn¡¯t entwined his leg, he would have sessfully beheaded the creature.

    Although the knight¡¯s posture was disrupted, he was a veteran among veterans. Moreover, enhanced by the assault pack, he could adjust the direction of the w even while his stance was crumbling.

    As a result, his de w sessfully cut into the creature¡¯s shoulder. Blood spurted from the creature¡¯s wound, sshing onto his helmet.

    The creature, in pain from the attack, opened its mouth, releasing therade¡¯s head it had been biting.

    ¡°Grrrr!¡±

    ¡°Sess¡­ Ugh?¡±

    That was fine, but what happened next was something the knight couldn¡¯t predict.

    The helmet, stained with blood, began to rapidly melt.

    ¡°What¡­ Ugh?!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s around! Don¡¯t take off your helmet!¡±

    In order not to melt his head along with it, the knight quickly removed his helmet.

    A littlete, but Yannick saw that the creature¡¯s main body was hiding in front, not behind.

    However, his warning came toote.

    The tail of ¡°It,¡± which had wrapped around the knight¡¯s leg, emerged from the water and pierced through the back of his head.

    ¡°..ugh!¡±

    The knight with a hole in his head copsed.

    ¡°Damn it! The main body is behind us! Open fire!¡±

    Yannick and the knights quickly fired their bolters. Several shots hit the creature¡¯s head, but it didn¡¯t care and leaped across the passage.

    ¡°One person, stay to protect the wounded! The rest, follow me!¡±

    Thirteen knights chased the creature at a rapid pace.

    The creature¡¯s movements were still fast, but being hit in the head seemed quite lethal, as it couldn¡¯t widen the distance from the knights.

    Yannick, who was closing in on the creature, alternated between his bolt and sma gun.

    ¡®I misjudged! I should have waited and called for reinforcements!¡¯

    In a short time, less than a few minutes, four knights were killed. Furthermore, one was injured.

    While they managed to injure the creature, the losses on their side seemed much greater.

    ¡°He¡¯s moving through the narrow passage!¡±

    ¡°ording to the map, the passage end is blocked.¡±

    ¡°Good!¡±

    The somewhat good news was that the creature seemed confused.

    It frantically moved around, seeming unfamiliar with the injury, to the point of pushing itself into a dead end.

    ¡°Alright, this is our chance.¡±

    Yannick resolved to subdue the creature while it was still disoriented. He and the knights entered the narrow passage.

    ***

    ¡®Ah, damn, it hurts a lot.¡¯

    I sustained wounds on my body. Thanks to the regenerative effects, the outeryer of my head had almostpletely healed, but the shoulder area was still recovering. Moreover, the blood-sucking tentacle on my left arm was torn about half, requiring considerable time to heal.

    ¡®It¡¯s indeed tough without the Symbol of Hunt.¡¯

    While my exterior was tough, it was challenging to block de cutters or sma attacks.

    ¡®Maybe the ¡®Perfect Organism¡¯ properties alone aren¡¯t enough.¡¯

    The synergy of the organic enhancement type and theplete organic effects made my skin more robust than ever, but there were still many shorings.

    ¡®I intentionally tried to lure them intocency.¡¯

    sma attacks were thrown with confidence in the resilience of my head, but getting hit by the de w was unexpected. It hurt more than I thought, to the point where I unintentionally made a sound.

    ¡®There are still many enemies to fight, so I need to be more careful.¡¯

    Anyway, it¡¯s almost over now. I¡¯m currently at a dead-end in a narrow corridor, just wide enough for me to barely fit. Even without focusing on auxiliary systems, I could hear the sounds of enemies chasing me into the corridor.

    ¡®They¡¯re furious.¡¯

    Seeing the turbulence in the water, it seems the enemies are quite enraged.

    ¡®Losingposure during battle is most dangerous.¡¯

    I adjusted my posture, half-submerged in the water. This narrow passage was indeed a bottleneck. The enemies, taller than 2 meters, could only form two columns at best, or one column if not. They would move within the passage like that.

    In other words, there was no cover even if a powerful area attack were to beunched.

    ¡®Psychic enhancement type, and Perfect Organism that enhances the type effect.¡¯

    How strong will it be?

    ¡®Let¡¯s experiment.¡¯

    When I first obtained the Psychic enhancement type, I instinctively knew. Thanks to the type, the restriction on the psychic breath had increased, allowing me to fire it up to a maximum of two times.

    ¡®Normally, one time would make me lose consciousness.¡¯

    Not now. The current situation doesn¡¯t allow for it. Seeing the increasing flow of the water, the remaining distance between them and me is now minimal.

    ¡®The enemies havee far enough.¡¯

    In case they turn around to flee, I need to time it as urately as possible. Even though I could use it twice, I couldn¡¯t waste my valuable psychic breath ability in vain.

    [The distance with the creature is 10 meters.]

    I heard the enemy¡¯s voice. The outline of the knight leading the way could be seen in the darkness.

    I turned my body toward the outside of the passage and activated the monster¡¯s tentacles.

    A bunch of violet tentacles emerged from the back of my head, trembling and moving. Long and thick violet tentacles aimed toward the front of my head, demonstrating the power of a dragon.

    [He seems to be bo¡­ Wait! Something¡¯s not right!]

    ¡°What¡¯s this? E¡­Everyone, activate your shields!¡±

    The one who appeared to be themanding officer among the knights hastily shouted.

    Not a bad judgment, but can shields really block this?

    After I became Amorph, I never experienced such an overwhelming psychic power concentrated in front of me.

    A massive psychic power, something only the great dragons of the universe could handle, focused in front of me.

    The dirty filth inside the narrow passage couldn¡¯t withstand the energy, boiling.

    It wasn¡¯t the same as before, where all my life force and mental power were sucked out. Now, it wasn¡¯t to that extent.

    Instead, it was scorching hot.

    And then, like a violet sun that only great dragons could wield, it fired.

    The water evaporated, and the metallic walls thatposed the sewage turned into dust.

    The violet light emitted from the shields the knights raised couldn¡¯tpete with the pure energy in the corridor. When the violet heat touched, the shields disappeared as if they had never existed.

    The sturdy armor of the knights, the expensive assault packs, the various genes in their bodies ¨C everything was engulfed by the violet heat.

    After the psychic breath ended, there was nothing left in front of me.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 73

    Chapter 73

    Operation camp set up in themercial district.

    A facility temporarily established for the joint operation between the Eden Knights and the City Defense Forces.

    There, Denver was observing the operationmand of the crisis management team.

    Although Denver was an outsider, the atmosphere was not bad. He was the head of the Prime Capital Eden, but at the same time, he was also a hero who had participated in various wars.

    Understanding the nature of a soldier well, he tried to avoid actions that would annoy the Defense Forces as much as possible.

    The Defense Forces also appreciated his consideration and treated him warmly.

    The friendly atmosphere of the operation camp was disrupted by a new visitor brought by La.

    ¡°Haha, long time no see, Mr. Denver.¡±

    ¡°Ahem, Wei Zhao.¡±

    The neer to the camp was a blue-haired yellow-skinned man.

    His name was Wei Zhao. He was the head of the Zhao family, whichpeted with the Eden family for dominance over Mars.

    Denver looked at him, who casually took out a cigar indoors, with a somewhatplicated expression.

    ¡°¡­ What brings you here?¡±

    Denver, who was friendly to everyone, couldn¡¯t do the same for the people of the Zhao family.

    The two families had been fighting for hundreds of years to be the sole ruler of Mars. It was not the first time they had experienced bloodshed in the conflict between the families.

    Even now, in the main city of Mars, invisible struggles between the two families were in full swing. So, it was natural that their rtionship was not good.

    Wei, who revealed hostility, responded to Denver with a rxed smile.

    ¡°No, I heard there was something interesting going on. I¡¯m one of the journalists, so if there¡¯s a new incident, I should cover it, right?¡±

    Denver looked at La¡¯s face, who came with Wei.

    Her expression was also icy. It was clear that he had requested it forcibly, even though she did not want it.

    ¡®Just at a time like this¡­.¡¯

    The Zhao family owns thergest newspaper, Daily Mars, within MegaCorp.

    News of an ident in the Special Trade Center would have been delivered long before the board meeting.

    ¡°Everything is under control, Wei. There doesn¡¯t seem to be anything here that would attract your attention, right?¡±

    ¡°Haha. Don¡¯t be so disappointed. I¡¯m here because of the vote, too. I can¡¯t miss the opportunity to judge whether the target of the vote is legitimate or not.¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Wei Zhao supports the reelection of Akira Yujin.

    As far as Denver knows, the Zhao family is divided into those who support Akira Yujin and those who do not.

    In other words, from Wei¡¯s perspective, it is most important to reveal how ipetent Akira¡¯spetitor, Samdam Chemblin, is.

    That way, the public opinion within the family can be unified.

    ¡®¡­I hope Vicus does well.¡¯

    If something goes wrong with the most influential leader of the yellow press in MegaCorp here,

    The ns of Samdam and Denver will bepletely ruined, and they will have to wait for the next council meeting.

    In La¡¯s case, she may have to take responsibility and step down from her position as general administrator.

    ¡°Anyway, this is my problem, so don¡¯t worry about it, Mr. Denver. Hm? Hey, what¡¯s that camera over there?¡±

    Wei, who silenced Denver, questioned the crisis management team leader with a cigar in his mouth.

    ¡°It¡¯s the personal camera of the toon leaders of each Defense Forces detachment participating in the operation. It allows us to easily check the progress of the operation here¡­.¡±

    While the crisis management team leader was responding, the entire camp shook violently.

    ¡°An¡­an earthquake?!¡±

    ¡°Everyone, be careful!¡±

    The earthquake, which shook everything inside, includingputers, equipment, and people, quickly subsided.

    However, those who were in ce all had bewildered expressions.An earthquake in an artificial structure floating in space.

    The first to regainposure was La, the ruler of the city.

    ¡°Contact the dome manager immediately and confirm if it¡¯s due to a meteor collision.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    The secretary hurriedly ran out of the camp.

    Wei, who was embarrassed by the wind that caused him to fall alone, got up with a stiff face.

    ¡°¡­I heard T&C is highly regarded for colonial development. Is it always like this?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not. This is the first time.¡±

    ¡°It has to be trustworthy.¡±

    ¡°La, Wei, calm down. This vibration seems to havee from the ground. Crisis management team leader, can the units below confirm?¡±

    At Denver¡¯s request, the crisis management team leader gestured to amunication soldier. The soldier quickly sent a message underground.

    ¡°This is the operations headquarters. Is everything okay down there?¡±

    [Defense Force Team 1. Zzz zz¡­ no injuries¡­Zzz zz ¡­confirmed. No issues with the Vicemander and the Knights¡­ Zzz zz¡­as well.]

    [Zzz zz¡­Defense¡­Zzz zz¡­Team 2. Sewer copsed¡­Zzz zz¡­some casualties¡­Zzz zz¡­reported. Currently undergoing treatment for injuries.]

    [Defense Force Team 3. Copse phenomena around the camp and¡­Zzz zz¡­ground copse urred¡­ Zzz zz¡­personnel in the underground area¡­Zzz zz¡­.in a state of lost contact.]

    ¡°Communication is unstable. Send additional support to Team 2, and tell Team 3 to try contacting again.¡±

    ¡°Yes. This is the operations headquarters¡­.¡±

    While themunication soldier was conveying the crisis management team leader¡¯s instructions, Denver, although he didn¡¯t show it outwardly, was quite startled internally.

    ¡®There¡¯s no one in the underground except for those who went down with Team 3.¡¯

    Currently, Denver¡¯s Knights are participating in the Defense Force¡¯s operation in the form of reinforcements. The support structure was divided into three squads to support the operations of each Defense Force team.

    All three squads set up a joint camp with the Defense Forces on the surface, and among them, Vicus and Jacob of Squads 1 and 2 weremanding members on the surface. Only Tennessee, burning with revenge, went directly underground. He even volunteered to be the bait.

    Denver left the camp for a moment, pretending to have something to do.

    Confirming that no one cared about him in the vicinity, he sent amunication to Vicus.

    [Zzz zz, Your Highness? Is there a problem?]

    ¡°Check Tennessee. Something¡¯s wrong.¡±

    [Currently, themu¡­.Zzzz zz¡­.nication status is unstable¡­..Zzz zz, I will personally go and check on him.]

    Until then, Denver wasn¡¯t particrly worried.

    The copse of the sewer due to an earthquake was an unexpected event, but everything was believed to be under control.

    Or so he believed.

    ***

    A city¡¯s arteries are forged with advanced refining technology. A metal conduit impervious to deformation, even when various pollutants flow through it.

    However, this impressive sewer is currently severed.

    ¡®Stronger than I thought, huh?¡¯

    Psychic Breath ruthlessly destroyed everything blocking its path.

    The interior of the conduit was naturally obliterated, piercing through walls filled with metal and concrete.

    I expected it to strengthen due to the type effect, but this is beyond my expectations.

    ¡®Not just the conduit, but it seems like the surrounding ground has copsed.¡¯

    Since the underground is forcibly emptied by the Psychic Breath, the ground above, unable to withstand the pressure, copsed.

    As the ground sinks underground, a chain reaction urs, causing buildings above to copse as well, greatly expanding the scope of destruction.

    Probably about one-fifth of themercial district where I am has turned into ruins.

    ¡®Are the kids okay?¡¯

    I telepathically contacted number 26.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Are you okay over there?)]

    ?Big Baby, there was just a thud, thud, thud! Are you hurt??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (I¡¯m fine. How about you?)]

    ?The little one warned me with thud, thud, thud in advance, so I avoided it.?

    Thank goodness.

    Even though it¡¯s a mutant, it¡¯s a genuine Blue Gagon.

    Gagons are sensitive to the flow of psychic power. It probably felt the flow of psychic power and knew to move to a safe ce.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (For now, stay hidden.)]

    ?Okay.?

    Confirming the safety of the kids, I got up.

    The ce where I was has changed from a narrow conduit to a widemunal area.

    Thanks to the copsed sewer, light seeped in bit by bit from above.

    ¡®The situation is getting a bitplicated.¡¯

    If the enemy realizes that I¡¯m a monster capable of copsing the entire city, they mighte out recklessly.

    ¡®The possibility is low, but they might resort to fleet bombardment.¡¯

    If deploying forces to the sewer doesn¡¯t work, there¡¯s no other option.

    Honestly, it¡¯s like trying to kill a fly with a sledgehammer, but you never know.

    Humans aren¡¯t that rational.

    ¡®Let¡¯s secure the remaining genes first.¡¯

    It¡¯s pointless to worry about things that haven¡¯t happened yet. It¡¯s much more beneficial to deal with immediate tasks.

    Among the knights chasing me, there are only two left and are not far away.

    I exited the transformed conduit.

    ¡®Since the sewer has copsed, that area must be chaotic now. It won¡¯t be too difficult to ambush them, but the problem is the rear.¡¯

    While thinking, I felt the flow of wavesing from the opposite conduit.

    The knights I was looking for wereing this way.

    ¡®Let¡¯s deal with them first.¡¯

    It¡¯s difficult to hide here because there¡¯s not much water. Due to the evaporation caused by the violet heat lines, and the holes in the walls, the water level around here has dropped.

    ¡®No. There¡¯s no need to hide.¡¯

    Checking with the auxiliary organ, I found one person supporting another. It seemed like one knight couldn¡¯t move due to paralysis, and the other was supporting her.

    That means the enemy¡¯sbat strength is less than 0.5. There¡¯s no need to hide. I moved along the wall to avoid the flow of waves from reaching them.

    From the other side of the conduit, I heard the knight¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Yannick Team Leader! Vicus Vicemander! Damn it,munication ispletely dead!¡±

    ¡°Ugh, ugh¡­.¡±

    ¡°Oh no! Catherine, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Ugh! Ugh!¡±

    A knight who didn¡¯t notice me because he was focused on the female knight. When the female knight, who saw me first, reacted, he raised his head.

    I leaped from the ceiling towards him. I ttened the knight, and the three of us tumbled to the sewer floor.

    ¡°Eick!¡±

    The knight quickly pulled out a de w to fight.

    However, the distance between us was too close for him to swing his arms. I grabbed both of his arms with my reinforced ws and bit through his helmet with my mouth.

    ¡°Ugh, ugh?¡±

    My jaw, strengthened by powerful muscles, crushed his helmet. The visor part shattered, and the knight¡¯s face became exposed.

    The reinforced ss shattered, spilling inward.

    ¡°Ah, ahh!¡±

    The knight screamed as the helmet crushed his entire head, and broken ss shards stabbed into his eyes.

    His legs, which were swinging wildly while being held by me, calmed down after a moment.

    Confirming the knight¡¯s breath had ceased, I released my grip and pulled away from the helmet. The helmet waspletely crumpled, reduced to one-third of its original size.

    ¡°Ugh! Ugh, ugh!¡±

    The female knight, who had witnessed herrade dying beside her, let out a whimper.

    She tried to throw the body she was holding to the ground, but at that moment, an unfamiliar weapon appeared from another knight.

    ¡®A smauncher?¡¯

    The knight was carrying a smauncher on his back.

    I took theuncher from his back and held it in my hand.

    ¡®You came well-prepared, huh?¡¯

    I don¡¯t know about other things, but auncher is dangerous.

    Even if you wear the symbol of a hunter, if you get hit by more than two shots in a row, it can be dangerous because of its powerful firepower.

    ¡®If it¡¯s a defense force, having auncher is appropriate, but why would the knight¡¯s order have it?¡¯

    If it¡¯s a defense force belonging to the defense fleet, they naturally possess smaunchers.

    As far as I remember, it was one of the ceremonial weapons issued on a squad level.

    On the other hand, the Eden Knights don¡¯t use smaunchers.

    Their main weapon is the sma bolter. Compared to theuncher, it mayck firepower, but it is much more versatile.

    However, that¡¯s in the game; here, it could be different.

    Since she is wearing reinforced armor, she might be able to personally wield theuncher.

    ¡®I should use this.¡¯

    I grabbed theuncher and looked back at the female knight.

    ¡®From what they were saying earlier, it seems like there¡¯s a problem with themunication function.¡¯

    Huge psychic power can cause radio interference.

    Of course, it¡¯s not permanent. It should recover in about 10 minutes.

    ¡®I need to handle as much as I can before that.¡¯

    With the copse of the ground in themercial district, there must be many ruins of buildings.

    I should consider using one of them as a temporary hideout.

    ¡®Then, what should I do with this female knight?¡¯

    If themunication function is a mess, it¡¯s vague whether I can use her as bait.

    ¡®I¡¯ll just give her to the kids.¡¯

    I don¡¯t know how much longer they¡¯ll have to starve.

    Giving them a delicious meal now, considering that they filled their stomachs with corpse maggots, would be better.

    ¡®Come to think of it, I¡¯ve practically eaten all the knights.¡¯

    Strengthening myself with the gic essence is the top priority, but it¡¯s also necessary to grow them.

    ¡®Since the knights were all rich in nutrients.¡¯

    If the kids eat and be stronger than before, it¡¯s a benefit for me.

    They are excellentbatants with outstanding potential.

    Leaving the female knight behind, I started devouring therades.

    I stripped off the thick armor and tore out the sturdy muscles inside.

    Putting the flesh in my mouth and chewing, I felt the chewy texture created by delicate muscle fibers.

    ¡®This person¡¯s meat tastes like pork?¡¯

    To be precise, it tastes like pork neck.

    Usually, when you eat neck meat, the taste is rich but somewhat dull, but the knight¡¯s meat had a better texture, surpassing pork neck.

    ¡®There are no pigs in Space Survival, it¡¯s strange.¡¯

    In the game setting, the Earth became a wastnd due to nuclear warfare between the seven major corporations and various governments.

    As a result, pigs became extinct, and chickens, endangered species, can only be tasted by those above the Prime Capital ss.

    ¡®It¡¯s a pitiful dystopian world where chicken and pork belly are gone.¡¯

    I quickly devoured the knight¡¯s meat while having such thoughts.

    ¡®Sigh. I¡¯ve already eaten it all.¡¯

    Thest thing left was the knight¡¯s wrist.

    It tasted familiar, so it felt good, but it was regrettable.

    ¡®It can¡¯t be helped.¡¯

    It¡¯s not like I can choose not to eat.

    I swallowed the wrist in one gulp as I thought that.

    The moment the wrist passed through the throat.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Apparent death¡¯ gic essence.]

    [Extracted the ¡®Apparent death¡¯ from the biological characteristics of the ¡®Hound Hyena.¡¯]

    [Do you want to apply the ¡®Apparent death¡¯?]

    [PR/N:- Apparent death is a behavior in which animals take on the appearance of being dead. It is a form of animal deception considered to be an anti-predator strategy, but it can also be used as a form of aggressive mimicry.]

    ¡®Oh?¡¯

    Is it because I haven¡¯t had a tasty meal in a while? The translucent text box that appeared for guidance felt surprisingly weing, more so than usual.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 74

    Chapter 74

    It¡¯s a bit awkward to say this, but I wasn¡¯t popr in the game. To be precise, I was famous but not in a positive way. yers in Space Survival called me ¡®Morph enthusiast¡¯ (????). Interestingly, even in foreignmunities, this nickname became a kind of unique noun used to refer to me.

    [Note:- ¡°????¡± is a Korean ng term that refers to a person who enjoys and spends a significant amount of time ying the video game ¡°MapleStory,¡± a popr multiyer online role-ying game. The termbines ¡°??¡± (MapleStory¡¯s Korean name) and ¡°??,¡± a suffix indicating a person who is a fan or enthusiast of something. In this context, ¡°????¡± would roughly trante to ¡°Morph enthusiast¡± .]

    Of course, I had an exnation for it.

    ¡®If the character design is originally like this, there¡¯s no need to criticize me.¡¯

    The Amorph race itself specialized in ambush and hunting. So, there would be no user who ys as conventionally as the gamepany prescribed, as much as I do.

    Anyway, the reason why I brought up the past is due to the trait that I applied to my body. ¡®Apparent death¡¯. Surviving as an Amorph until it grows enough is not easy. Even if it evolves safely, it cannot entrust its back torades or ns like other races, always having to fight alone.

    What characteristics does an Amorph Need the most? Surviving, devouring, evolving¡ªamong these, ironically, the most important thing for Amorph is the first one. ¡®Surviving.¡¯ Not dying and persistently surviving, just like a cockroach, is the essence of an Amorph y. Only by surviving can the rest¡ªdevouring, evolution, etc. be possible.

    However, unless other yers are fools, they won¡¯t leave a potential threat as it is. Hence, there are yers who specialize in hunting Amorph, and most users will try to kill Amorph if they discover it.

    So, how can one survive safely?

    ¡®After all they wanted me dead.¡¯

    At this point, I changed my approach. I would do what they wanted, but inversely. Hence I started to often disguise my death to escape enemy surveince.

    The ¡®Apparent death¡¯ trait, as the name suggests, temporarily puts the yer in a half-dead state. In Space Survival, when a yer dies, the corpse remains in ce until resurrected. So, even if my corpse remains, enemies will find it hard to notice anything strange.

    As the system judges it as equivalent to death, it appears as if I died without a hitch from the NPC¡¯s point of view. For example, mercenaries scouting for MegaCorp can¡¯t distinguish whether I faked my death with the trait or not. They simply report finding my corpse to their client.

    ¡®In fact, it¡¯s not a mistake or error on the NPC¡¯s part; it¡¯s designed that way in the system.¡¯

    When the ¡®Apparent death¡¯ trait activates, the caster¡¯s health or status is all falsely disyed. Even yers with the ability to read other¡¯s information can¡¯t distinguish whether I actually died or not.

    The only way to see through the ¡®Apparent death¡¯, excluding the caster, is to use equipment, techniques, or characteristics that nullify its effects.

    When enemies who don¡¯t have a means to see through it, their reactions when they see my corpse usually fall into two categories. Most just leave the spot, satisfied with having killed me, or they quickly move away, assuming I might pull off some trickery.

    Those who remain cautious and move away are not necessarily timid or cowardly. They have their reasons for behaving that way. Before engaging in a fight, I always prepare various things on the battlefield. Setting up nests in unexpected ces and ambushing from there, etc.

    ¡®There¡¯s a trait rted to nests that changes the respawn location after you die, to a nest.¡¯

    I¡¯ve turned the tide of the battle using these methods several times. Therefore, yers who have experienced many defeats against me be more cautious when fighting with me. Of course, there were brave users attempting to provoke me by defiling my corpse. There were many users who were driven by revenge, who were fueled by anger, lost their sanity and tried to torment me.

    In such cases, there¡¯s only one thing I can do.

    ¡®Treat insanity with insanity.¡¯

    Anyway, I had many enemies, including yers ranked lower or higher than me. For someone like me, always living in danger, the ¡®Apparent death¡¯ characteristic was one of the most useful.

    ¡®I was lucky to have acquired such a good trait.¡¯

    Thankful for the taste of pork that the knight had, I picked up my gear and moved. I headed to the ce where I first lured knights into a fight. Since there were four knight corpses left, I needed to take care of them.

    ¡®I¡¯ll give the female knight to the kids, and eat the rest.¡¯

    It would be nice to create a new decoy with the hidden signal chip, but with the current sewer conditions, it seemed challenging.

    A significant portion of the surrounding walls had copsed, so the signal chip would likely be damaged.

    ¡®Anyway, due to the effect of Psychic Breath, the signal won¡¯t be properly transmitted.¡¯

    Upon arriving at the location, I cleared the copsed debris and retrieved the corpses. Thanks to the protection of the superior reinforced armor, the condition of the corpses was good.

    I left the body of the female knight nearby and carried the corpses, chewing them.

    ¡®It would be nice to eat leisurely, but there¡¯s no time.¡¯

    I have to hurry since I don¡¯t know when other enemies wille here.

    ¡®Did they use the same genes? All of them taste like pork.¡¯

    Even though I like pork, having the same taste again and again makes it a bit boring.

    ¡®There¡¯s just one left, should I just give it to the kids?¡¯

    Perhaps it¡¯s better for me to eat the female knight and give this corpse to the kids. While pondering over the corpses, the auxiliary organ sent a signal to me.

    ¡®Someone is approaching from this direction.¡¯

    I took the female knight and the remaining corpses and submerged them into the water. By pressing my body against the floor, I could barely conceal myself except for the back part.

    ¡®Fortunately, there¡¯s a lot of debris around here.¡¯

    Concealing myself amidst the copsed ruins, I heard voices from afar.

    ¡°Honestly, do we need to go rescue the knights?¡±

    ¡°Knights aren¡¯t omnipotent, are they? They get hungry if they don¡¯t eat, and they get squashed if the building copses; it¡¯s the same for ¡®It¡¯.¡±

    The newly arrived individuals numbered six in total. They were all wearing gas masks and intermediate reinforced armor, carrying Gauss rifles.

    ¡®They are the Defense Force.¡¯

    This space city is managed by T&C, and those responsible for city security and defense are undoubtedly military personnel from the Defense Fleet, not knights.

    ¡®Indeed, the two divisions are conducting a joint operation.¡¯

    I had suspected this since the time they hired dozens of mercenaries, but now it was confirmed. Those soldiers came here to find the knights who were around here. They probably came to check if everything was okay since the sewer had copsed.

    They passed by without noticing my presence.

    ¡®It¡¯s a joint operation between the two families.¡¯

    The seven major families of MegaCorp are set to have a bad rtionship with each other. This is because theypete for the pinnacle of power, the position of the CEO.

    The right to nominate a CEO candidate lies with Noble Capital only, but Prime Capital alsopetes with them. Prime Capital dreams of promotion to Noble Capital because they only have the right to vote and cannot nominate a CEO candidate. To achieve this, one must pull down one of the five families above and climb up to take their position. Therefore, they naturally have no choice but to fight each other.

    ¡®It seems like they¡¯re cooperating for some reason before the board meeting.¡¯

    Eden is Prime Capital, and T&C is Noble Capital. Perhaps Eden made some kind of contract with T&C in exchange for their vote.

    If there were significant security issues in the special trading center of T&C, the venue for the board meeting, it would be disadvantageous for those who made the secret agreement. They might be deliberately conducting a joint operation to prevent this.

    ¡®Can I use this situation to my advantage?¡¯

    In fact, the situation I¡¯m in is not very favorable. Although I have wiped out a unit of knights and devoured dozens of mercenaries so far, the overall situation is still unfavorable for me. My presence has already been discovered on the other side, and they have weapons that can kill me instantly.

    ¡®Due to the characteristics of the infrastructure, they probably can¡¯t attack me recklessly, but¡­¡¯

    If the T&C family judges that leaving my presence alone is more detrimental than destroying the sewer, they will mobilize the Defense Fleet.

    ¡®Artillery fire can¡¯t be stopped as a symbol of hunting.¡¯

    To fight against warships, you need special characteristics. Unfortunately, I can¡¯t obtain that here.

    ¡®Let¡¯s organize the situation and conditions once.¡¯

    When I organize the information I obtained in the sewer, it goes as follows.

    ¡®Currently, the enemies threatening me are T&C and Eden, two families.¡¯

    The reason they consider me a threat is that, prior to the Big Event, I¡¯ve been disrupting security. They are conducting joint operations in the sewer to eliminate me, the unsettling factor, as quickly as possible.

    ¡®I need to break that cooperation.¡¯

    In the first ce, due to the MegaCorp structure, fights are inevitable.

    Even a slight conflict could shake the friendship between the Eden family and the T&C family. Of course, since the two are in a secret agreement, it¡¯s unlikely that the conflict over me will deepen significantly. I don¡¯t wish for it to go that far either.

    ¡®Causing confusion for them should be enough.¡¯

    So, how can I shake their rtionship?

    ¡®Sincemunication is unstable, information transmission may not be proper¡­¡¯

    Fortunately, I have a tool that can sow discord between the Defense Force and the knights.

    ¡®There are corpses of knights and auncher.¡¯

    I activated a small follow-upuncher. A light appeared on the small terminal hanging on the long, slender barrel over 1m.

    ¡®Theuncher is fine.¡¯

    Upon checking the knight¡¯s corpse, except for the broken neck, everything else seemed intact. Without inspecting closely, it was difficult to sense that something was wrong.

    ¡®Good. Let¡¯s leave the bait here.¡¯

    Before entering the operation, I broke all of the female knight¡¯s arms and legs.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    A faint whimper came from the helmet, but I didn¡¯t pay much attention. The reason I didn¡¯t kill her, even though I could, is one.

    ¡®If I kill her, it might not count for the kids¡¯ growth conditions.¡¯

    Unlike me, who follows the rules of the game, number 26 and Adhai are creatures of this world. So, they are likely not identical to me, but still, you never know. After hiding the female knight underwater, I took the knight¡¯s corpse anduncher and followed the Defense Force.

    On the way, I had already contacted number 26 in advance. It was about what to do after my ¡®death.¡¯ Contrary to my expectations, number 26 reacted very violently to the fact that I was dying. It said he would rather die than leave me to die alone.

    ¡®Surprisingly sensitive to death.¡¯

    Perhaps it¡¯s because it has grown mentally. I didn¡¯t expect number 26 to dislike it so much. Instead, I persuaded it by promising to bring tasty food.

    It seemed more interested in the fact that I would definitelye back than the food.

    ?If the big baby doesn¡¯te back, I¡¯ll be really mad.?

    After that statement, Number 26 didn¡¯t send any more signals.

    ¡®Of course.¡¯

    What¡¯s the use of all this if I¡¯m going to die? Having exined the n to number 26 like that, I increased my speed and closed the distance with the soldiers.

    ¡®They haven¡¯t gone far.¡¯

    Unlike the knights in superior reinforced armor, their movement speed wasn¡¯t very fast.They still weren¡¯t aware that something was chasing them from behind.

    ¡®Is this distance enough?¡¯

    I calcted the distance with them and set up the knight¡¯s corpse appropriately. Thanks to the armored form of reinforced armor, it wasn¡¯t difficult to make it look like I was standing. In a half-submerged state behind the knight, I activated theuncher.

    ¡®Charging 10¡­20¡­¡¯

    The sewer turned into a semi-ruin, murky water up to the waist, shadows.

    And somewhere inside that darkness, the mysterious monster lurking.

    ¡®It¡¯s a perfect environment to lose your mind.¡¯

    I don¡¯t intend to end it just by making them resent each other.

    ¡®What¡¯s important is action and results.¡¯

    By provoking a chaotic situation, there should be something I can gain.

    ¡®If it¡¯s a chaotic situation, anything can happen.¡¯

    ¡®Charging 40¡­70¡­¡¯

    For example, what if I were to appear in a situation where they are firingunchers at each other? What if, in the midst of their fight, I appear and ¡®die¡¯ by getting hit by auncher?

    ¡®Tracking me will end with that.¡¯

    As the cause of the joint sewer operation, I would be eliminated, leaving an unbridgeable gap between the knights and the defense force. Moreover, if I give the enemies the certainty that I am dead, my range of action will widen even further.

    ¡®Old memories areing back.¡¯

    It was the same when I fought against four ns on the Jungle in the past.

    The enemies¡¯ power was overwhelmingly strong, and I was just a weak individualpared to them. The factor that allowed me to win even in unfavorable battles was that I used everything at my disposal. Among those factors was even the idea of my own death.

    ¡®Charging 90¡­100%¡¯

    When the terminal¡¯s number reached 100, an advanced weapon capable of destroying even a battleship spewed fire towards the soldiers.

    ***

    ¡°I¡¯m wearing a gas mask and can still smell it, the hell is going on?¡±

    ¡°Cough, and the atmosphere doesn¡¯t feel right either. I¡¯ve been feeling strangely chilly since earlier¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, dude, do you have to talk like that in such a crappy situation?¡±

    ¡°If we survive this mission, I¡¯m going to propose to my fianc¨¦e when it¡¯s over.¡±

    ¡°That crazy bastard is talking nonsense again.¡±

    ¡°The guy who goes out every morning and ys with himself on VR TV is talking about engagement, damn it.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true! Not here in the Special Trade Center, but on another¡­¡±

    While soldiers were chatting with each other, a green light suddenly flew from behind. The pale green beam, like aser, turned not only the upper bodies of the soldiers but also the walls of the passage into dust.

    ¡°Enemy attack! Take cover, everyone!¡±

    ¡°Take cover!¡±

    When themanding officer shouted, other soldiers quickly hid behind the debris of the copsed sewer.

    ¡°Damn! What was that just now?¡±

    ¡°Sergeant! It¡¯s a smauncher!¡±

    ¡°What? Friendly fire?¡±

    ¡°The possibility is slim. Theuncher is managed by a smallputer.¡±

    That means they are being targeted and shot at by the enemy. The sergeant slightly pulled his head back from behind cover to confirm the enemy¡¯s appearance. In the darkness, the silver armor was certainly noticeable. Faced with the worst situation they didn¡¯t expect, he cursed.

    ¡°¡­Have those damn knights gone crazy? Why are they shooting at us?¡±

    ¡°They might have mistaken us for monsters or¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait and see.¡±

    Interrupting his subordinate¡¯s words, the sergeant shouted loudly from behind cover.

    ¡°Hey! We belong to the defense force! We¡¯re allies!¡±

    His voice echoed in the sewer. As if in response to his words, the green light shed again from the darkness on the other side.

    ¡°Son of a b*tch!¡±

    The sergeant quickly threw himself into the sewage. The sma beam barely missed his back.

    ¡°Sergeant!¡±

    ¡°You sons of b*tches!¡±

    He didn¡¯t die, but unfortunately, his subordinate who was in cover with him couldn¡¯t escape that fate. The subordinate¡¯s body disintegrated along with the cover by the intense energy.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have enough firepower to fight the knights! I¡¯ll cover you, so everyone retreat!¡±

    ¡°Understood!¡±

    While the squad leader fired a gauss rifle at the enemy, other soldiers emerged from cover and leaped into the darkness.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter which team, just go and inform them! This knight is insane¡­ Agh!¡±

    A scream echoed from behind. It wasn¡¯t hard for the soldiers to imagine what had happened to their leader.

    ¡°Sergeant!¡±

    ¡°Damn, the sergeant was wrong! Run, you bastards!¡±

    Among the remaining soldiers, the one with the highest rank led hisrades down the corridor. The sounds of sshing water in the silent ruins were filled with the soldiers¡¯ panting. With the death of their leader, their senses had be extremely sensitive. So, they could discern something alien mixed among the sounds of their footsteps.

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    Following the scream, a loud sshing sound was heard. The soldier at the back of the team fell. Therades quickly turned around, but he was instantly sucked into the water and disappeared. In his ce, only a gauss rifle floated aimlessly.

    ¡°Damn!¡±

    ¡°Run!¡±

    ¡°Damn, damn, damn!¡±

    The fleeing soldiers were almost out of their minds. Darkness, ambush, sudden death ofrades, and strangely unfavorable physical condition¡ªall these factors turned well-trained soldiers into a disoriented group. In their heads, there was only the thought of staying alive. Perhaps because of this, after the sergeant¡¯s scream, the sma beams didn¡¯te flying anymore, but they didn¡¯t sense anything odd. After running for a while, they finally met with other team members.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±

    ¡°H-help me!¡±

    ¡°Huh? Why are you here? Wait, aren¡¯t you all from Team 3?¡±

    The escaping group encountered a mixed-gender reconnaissance unit from Team 1, wearing gas masks and intermediate reinforced suits with knights in silver armor scattered among the soldiers.

    ¡°Eek!¡±

    ¡°Have they gone crazy as a group? Why are they suddenly like this?¡±

    The escaping soldiers screamed in horror at the sight of the chaotic scene. While the defenders of Team 1 were perplexed by the disheveled state of the escapees, the crisis management manager appeared.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°These are members of Team 3¡¯s reconnaissance unit. They suddenly came here, and¡­¡±

    ¡°Manager! Please save us!¡±

    ¡°Hmm? Did you find it? Calm down and tell me.¡±

    The crisis management manager calmly questioned them. The escaping soldiers, who had somewhat stabilized, shouted while pointing at the knights.

    ¡°It¡¯s them! Those knights attacked us with smaunchers!¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Three out of six have died! All because of the knights¡¯ attacks!¡±

    Hearing this, the manager nced at Vicus, the Vicemander of the knights. Vicus quickly managed his expression, but the manager didn¡¯t miss it. The emotion that briefly appeared on his face and then disappeared was closer to an embarrassment than surprise. It was as if his hidden secret had been exposed.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 75

    Chapter 75

    ¡°What is happening? Please exin,¡± the Crisis Management manager asked Vicus.

    The words themselves didn¡¯t carry anything special, it was just a normal enquiry about the situation. However, the tone was that of an officer interrogating a criminal. The atmosphere among the members of the mixed search team from Unit 1 quickly turned chilly.

    ¡°Well, what do you mean?¡± Vicus evaded the question with a casual face, but his thoughts were far from simple.

    ¡®How is the situation unfolding? Could it be Yannick¡¯s doing?¡¯

    The soldiers present in the room, especially those led by Yannick in Team 4, were given a secret mission by Duke Denver.

    Capture the monster.

    In the process, if they encounter the defense force, eliminate them.

    ¡®Damn, it¡¯s inconvenient not being able to contact them directly. Yannick being reported as a reserve unit under Jacob of Unit 2 adds anotheryer to theplexity. To issuemands to Yannick, it has to go through Jacob, Yannick¡¯s direct superior.¡¯

    The establishment of such an intricatemand structure wasn¡¯t a result of the Knights being naive. In case of an ident, it was designed to cut off mid-levelmanders to prevent them from causing harm to their masters. For instance, in a situation like the one Vicus was facing now:

    ¡®No, I still don¡¯t know exactly what the situation is.¡¯

    There was no need to rush things and reach a census prematurely, even if Yannick¡¯s attack wasn¡¯t confirmed. Vicus spoke while removing the cigar, ¡°What does that statement mean?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it strange? They might have fled because they were scared of the monster and then falsely reported it.¡±

    The manager grimaced at Vicus¡¯ words. Understandably so, as Vicus¡¯ statement was a tant insult to the Defense Fleet soldiers.

    ¡°We can¡¯t let that statement slide. Our Defense Forces are not of such low standards to be ridiculed like that.¡±

    ¡°As I said, our Knights are the same. Trained to valuerades more than their own lives. Would we, who prioritize ourrades, attack the Defense Forces?¡±

    The manager remained silent in response to Vicus¡¯ words, who was trying to pressure the manager.

    If the fleeing soldier hadn¡¯t intervened in their conversation, his intent would likely have seeded.

    ¡°Ah, no! Manager! The Knights attacked us with smaunchers!¡±

    Saying this, the soldier showed a neatly cut shoulder guard and a section of a Gauss rifle. There aren¡¯t many means capable of precisely destroying a reinforcedbat suit like this, especially in the sewer system.

    The manager squinted at Vicus with suspicion.

    ¡°Huh, the monster carriesunchers around?¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    ¡°In the first ce, theuncher receives shooting assistance from the embedded AI. The soldiers¡¯ information is registered, so it¡¯s designed to minimize damage to allies when shooting in the presence of friendly forces.¡±

    His words were true. The smauncher was one of the top-ranked weapons in MegaCorp¡¯s arsenal in terms of destructive power. Therefore, to prevent significant damage in case of idental discharge or capture by enemies, various restrictions were ced on it. One of them was the shooting assistance system regted by AI.

    Theuncher¡¯s AI can register soldiers¡¯ personal information. The registered data is stored in an encrypted state to prevent theuncher from shooting allies. To override this, a specific code known only by themander must be entered to enforce a forced shootingmand. Auncher which stores the information of the defense fleet soldiers cannot attack its allies. In other words, theuncher that attacked the soldiers was not a weapon possessed by the Defense Fleet but was most probably brought by others. The only others in the underground were the Eden Knights.

    ¡°Of course, the Vicemander of the Eden family must be aware, but I was just mentioning it.¡±

    ¡°¡­Ahem.¡±

    Vicus, whose response was anticipated, cleared his throat. Originally, the smauncher was an improvement on the artillery mounted on warships. Vicus, who was from the renowned Eden family famous for ship development, was not unaware of this fact.

    ¡®Yannick! What on earth have you done?¡¯

    The reason for providing theuncher to Unit 4 was to break through the monster¡¯s tough exterior, not to shoot at the Defense Forces. The difference in armament between quantum levels was stark enough that even a sma bolter alone could harm damage.

    ¡®¡­Should I clean up here?¡¯

    He wanted to call Jacob and confirm about the situation, butmunication devices weren¡¯t functioning properly in the sewers. Even if he wanted to send a message from here, it would be problematic since the deputy leader would undoubtedly monitor their conversation.

    ¡®What should I do?¡¯ A careful assessment was needed, but there was neither time nor the situation for it. Vicus pondered. His contemtion ended abruptly with a green beam flying out of the darkness.

    ¡°Enemy ambush¡­!¡±

    The soldier who tried to convey the information was incinerated into dust before finishing his words. Not only him, but also his nearbyrades were engulfed in a fiery energy mass. All the just-deceased individuals were Defense Fleet soldiers. As the fact that the enemy targeted only the soldiers became apparent, mes of rage flickered in the deputy leader¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Vicemander Vicus!¡±

    ¡°Tch, everyone, prepare forbat.¡±

    As Vicus gave themand with a click of his tongue, the knights simultaneously drew their bolters. Now there was no turning back. Before themunicationwork was restored, they had no choice but to kill all the soldiers from the Defense Forces present in this location.

    ***

    ¡®Good. They¡¯re fighting fiercely.¡¯

    As the atmosphere seemed uncertain, I decided to provoke the situation further, and the enemies started fighting like madmen, as if they had been waiting for me to shoot the beam. While the knights were overwhelming in terms of armament, the soldiers outnumbered them. The knights massacred the soldiers with their bolters, and the soldiers fired tungsten rounds from cover.

    ¡®It¡¯s going tough with regr rounds.¡¯

    The advanced reinforced armor worn by the Eden knights nullified weight for enhanced defense. To stand a chance, they needed to switch to armor-piercing rounds.

    ¡®The issue is that the knights also have countermeasures.¡¯

    ¡°Even-numbered squads, switch to armor-piercing rounds! Odd-numbered squads, provide cover!¡±

    ¡°All members deploy shields.¡±

    As soon as the Defense Forcesmander shouted, the knights immediately responded. A faint violet wave emanated from the knights¡¯ right wrists, materializing into a rectangr-shaped shield. This true psychic shield, shaped like a violet suppression shield, was a genuine psychic shield provided as a standard option with the advanced reinforced armor.

    ¡®The psychic shield attached to the advanced reinforced armor isn¡¯t bad.¡¯

    Despite the humorous nickname MegaCorp users gave them, the psychic shields were potent protection against both physical and psychic attacks. They were on a different level than the fakes brought by the armored police in the previous fight in the apartment.

    As the soldiers realized they couldn¡¯t prate the psychic shields with armor-piercing rounds unless they had AP rounds themselves, the defense forcemander shouted, ¡°Readyunchers, fire!¡±

    ¡°Oh no! Scatter, everyone!¡±

    The firepower of theuncher could tear through the shields like paper. The defense forcemander shouted, ¡°Everyone deploy shields!¡±

    The knights scattered to avoid the iing fire. Despite the superior defense of the advanced reinforced armor, it was no different from paper against the beams of theuncher.

    Before the knights could disperse, multipleunchers unleashed their beams. Most managed to evade, but some couldn¡¯t. Some knights lost half of their bodies, while others lost limbs.

    ¡°Argh!¡±

    ¡°Injured, fall back!¡±

    Several knights carrying injuredrades approached.

    ¡®Should I step in now?¡¯

    I had two goals by doing this: sow chaos among the enemies and fake my own death.

    ¡®I need to intervene at the right time.¡¯

    The enemies weren¡¯t fools. To deceive both those present and those above, I needed to show them getting hit by the enemy¡¯s attack and me dying.

    For that, it would be best if as many people as possible witnessed my death.

    While waiting for the right moment, a beam aimed at the knights flew towards me.

    ¡®This should be enough.¡¯

    Emerging from the darkness, I threw the corpse of a knight who had already died by my tentacles into the path of the beam.

    The corpse directly met the beam and oxidized instantly.

    Now, only I knew that the corpse was already dead, its neck broken by my tentacles.

    A knight carrying an injuredrade shouted, ¡°Our ally got hit!¡±

    He seemed to have only seen the sight of his oxidizingrade, not noticing my presence.

    ¡®It seems like he didn¡¯t see me. If he didn¡¯t see me, I should let him know.¡¯

    I charged forward, using my head to knock him down.

    Even with sturdy armor, my powerful charge and the sharp horns protruding from my head were something they couldn¡¯t withstand. The two horns pierced through the knight¡¯s side.

    ¡°Argh?!¡±

    The knight emitted a brief scream, filled with blood. With the knight impaled, I lifted my head, shaking it.

    The prating wounds in the knight¡¯s abdomen widened, and the horns were soaked in bright red blood. Another knight saw my appearance and shouted.

    ¡°The creature has appeared!¡±

    I threw the knight who had turned into a pinwheel due to my head shake into the distance, and then I swung my tail broadly, scattering spike hairs randomly. They embedded in the knights¡¯ reinforced armor, and some even reached the soldiers hiding in cover.

    ¡°It¡¯s a mons¡­ster?!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t panic! He¡¯s the target we were searching for! Concentrate all firepower on him!¡±

    The initially bewildered soldiers quickly regainedposure under the seasonedmand of their leader. Though the armor-piercing rounds they fired showered over me, my body is currently dual-reinforced, with both physical enhancement type and a fully organic structure. While the outeryer was gradually being pierced, there were no fatal injuries.

    The soldiers¡¯ target switched to me, but not the knights. A knight who seemed like themander shouted.

    ¡°Those in the rear, contain him; the rest, clean up the Defense Forces.¡±

    ¡°Vice Commander Vicus! Are you insane?¡±

    ¡°He must not be handed over to them. We must capture him alive, no matter what.¡±

    The Defense Forcesmander, bewildered by the statement from the knightmander, referred to as Vice Commander Vicus, shouted in disbelief.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    Hearing that, I paused for a moment.

    Not to be handed over to them? It didn¡¯t imply any intention to assist me, especially judging by the knights ready to unleash their bolters on me.

    ¡®Let¡¯s think about this.¡¯

    Pretending to be dead was temporarily put on hold. While avoiding the pouring mes, I pondered.

    ¡®They must know I¡¯m not an easy opponent. Why would they want to capture me alive?¡¯

    ¡°Die¡­ Ugh?!¡±

    I dodged a knight swinging a de w and seized him withbat arms. Then, I threw him into the path of the iing green beam.

    The knight made bewildered sounds and lost his right upper body to the beam.

    ¡®What can they gain with my physical body?¡¯

    Having dealt with one knight, I submerged underwater andid low.

    The soldiers were shouting, trying to find where I had gone. The sound was faintly audible.

    At that moment, a submerged corpse came into view. The face of a man, who had lost half of his upper body. It was the knight I had thrown into the sma beam a while ago.

    Despite losing half his face, the broken helmet revealed a strikingly handsome appearance.

    A gically modified human created only with superior genes, as expected.

    ¡®Gically modified knights¡­ Genes¡­Oh?¡¯

    ¡°He¡¯s here!¡±

    The knights discovered me, and their shouts echoed as they fired bolters into the water. I quickly moved away from that spot.

    ¡®Are they targeting my genes?¡¯

    Why did it only ur to me now?

    I had been assuming that the Eden family wouldn¡¯t have much interest in gic modification since I had been thinking within the framework of the MegaCorp game settings.

    I believed that gic modification and Hulk mutants were exclusively the domains of the Yujin family.

    ¡®But this is reality.¡¯

    Genes were handled solely by the Yujin family, and warships were exclusively Eden¡¯s responsibility, but this was reality here; there was no enforced system like in the game.

    I was evolving, breaking out of the game¡¯s constraints and understanding the reality.

    The plot twist was long overdue.

    The Eden knights I devoured were all gically modified humans. In the game, they were randomly generated NPC mercenaries, asionally including non-human species like Bolters or Cultists, but the basic foundation was that they were all human.

    ¡®In the game, you could just redraw until you got the desired NPC, but here it¡¯s reality.¡¯

    The knights were humans appropriately processed under themand of the Eden family¡¯s patriarch. They were humans modified forbat by incorporating genes from various creatures,monly known as Hulk mutants.

    ¡®Eden¡¯s patriarch is extending beyond the domain of the Yujin family.¡¯

    In the eyes of the Eden family, I would be a gically diverse entity with various traits, ripe for valuable research.

    ¡°Argh!¡±

    Having snapped the neck of another knight, I reached a conclusion. The knights from the sewers and the Defense Forces had subtly different goals. While both aimed to eliminate the threat I posed to the city¡¯s security, there was a distinction in the specific methods to achieve this.

    The knights¡¯ objective was to capture me alive or at least leave my corpse intact. This way, they could conduct research on my physical form.

    ¡®Attacking the Defense Forces is probably because they don¡¯t want to hand over the corpse to them or the T&C behind them.¡¯

    If T&C knew that I, a valuable research subject for the Eden family, was being targeted, they would likely attempt negotiations. Although the two families were currently cooperating, it was an alliance with the underlying tension of potential futurepetition. If necessary, they would try to exploit any weaknesses in each other.

    ¡®I fought too fiercely from the beginning¡­¡¯

    Who would¡¯ve thought there would be such intricacies behind the scenes?

    ¡®Actually, it worked out well.¡¯

    Originally, I nned to feign death in front of the enemies and secretly escape this ce. However, now I had a choice.

    ¡®Should I escape under the control of the Eden family, or should I go to the T&C family?¡¯

    If I were to annihte any one of the two forces present, it would naturally create an opportunity for the other side to im my ¡®corpse.¡¯

    ¡®If I go with the Eden family, I¡¯ll likely end up in their battleship¡¯sb.¡¯

    In that case, I could seize a ship and escape the city.

    ¡®But the problem is, I don¡¯t know how tight the security measures inside their battleship are.¡¯

    A battleship is much more secure than a research vessel ship. Moreover, considering they nned to capture me secretly, there¡¯s a high chance they would take my ¡®corpse¡¯ to the family patriarch¡¯s gship, where theb is situated.

    ¡®If it¡¯s the gship, security will be even more stringent.¡¯

    Even though the fights that I had so far were challenging, dealing with a battleship would be much tougher.

    ¡®Then, what about T&C?¡¯

    Judging by the current situation, the Defense Forces here seem to know little about me.

    ¡®But after the battle ends and they calm down, they¡¯ll probably understand the situation roughly.¡¯

    ¡®Something essential in me is drawing the attention of the Eden family. Even to the extent ofmitting murder and aggression against their own allies.¡¯

    Although the two families are currently working together, there¡¯s an underlying rtionship ofpetition that may lead to conflict again. If necessary, they will try to exploit any areas where they can outsmart each other.

    ¡®How should I proceed?¡¯

    Time is running out. If I dy further, the Defense Forces might be wiped out before I make a decision.

    Bullets and sma beams saturated the area around me as I finally made a decision.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 76

    Chapter 76

    The Knights, The defense forces, and a monster were engaged in a fierce battle amid the ruins of a copsed sewer system.

    ¡°Squad leader! We can¡¯t hold on any longer!¡±

    ¡°We have to retreat¡­ argh!¡±

    A soldier fell. Though retaliating with smaunchers, it was not enough. Theuncher¡¯s recharge time made it unsuitable for effective use in this chaotic mid-rangebat.

    Originally brought along as support weaponry against the monster, using theuncher was never intended inbat and especially against the knights.

    ¡°Why are the knights attacking us?¡±

    The Crisis Management manager wasn¡¯t able to digest the overall situation. Everything was fine when they entered the sewers. Even during the initial reconnaissance, there hadn¡¯t been any major issues.

    The Vicemander of the knights had been respectful towards them, and their members were also disciplined.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a rebellion. The orders from above are clear.¡±

    That¡¯s what Vicemander Vicus had said earlier.

    ¡°We must not let them take over. The target must be captured alive.¡±

    ¡®There¡¯s something about the monster we don¡¯t know.¡¯

    Amidst the chaos of screams, gunfire, and sma bolters tearing through the air, the team leader¡¯s thoughts persisted.

    ¡®The monster first caused trouble in the apartmentplex, fought armed police, and then fled. The next ce it went was the port district.¡¯

    There, the monster killed some smugglers and fled again.

    The police officer who uncovered this at the port district ended up hospitalised in themercial district, and then¡­

    ¡°The knights visited that ce. Good lord, ¡®it was a destruction of evidence¡¯!¡±

    The manager finally began to put the pieces together.

    ¡°It¡¯s a secret bioweapon made by the Eden family!¡±

    For some reason, the Eden family chose this very trade centre as a mock battleground for their experimental subject.

    ¡°It was probably designed for city assaults.¡±

    Having wiped out the armed police force in the apartmentplex, their experiment could be deemed as a sess.

    The smugglers were probably secretly hired by the Eden family to bring the creature back.

    ¡°Perhaps they tried to sedate the monster and move it.¡±

    But that operation failed, and this gruesome sight was discovered by the detective team investigating the smuggling case at the port district.

    It was then that the Eden family dispatched the knights, under the guise ¡®assisting¡¯ the city defense forces in capturing that creature

    ¡°They couldn¡¯t afford to leave any witnesses.¡±

    The manager felt a shiver down his spine.

    To think such a grand scheme and conspiracy was unfolding itself. It felt like something out of a novel.

    ¡®I need to report to the administrator, but the current situation won¡¯t allow me to do so. I have to hold on untilmunication is restored to have the chance to report this crucial discovery.¡¯

    ¡®Is there any way out?¡¯

    Most of his subordinates had fallen, leaving only a single soldier handling theuncher, relentlessly focused on firing while pinned to the ground. The odds were clearly against him.

    Unexpectedly, a hand extended towards him amidst his contemtion of survival strategies, a presence entirely unexpected.

    ¡°Manager! The monster is only attacking the knights!¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Look over there!¡±

    The manager looked towards where his subordinate was pointing. It was true. A long-tailed, multi-legged monster was ughtering the knights.

    ***

    ¡®Let¡¯s head to the administrative district.¡¯

    Admittedly, going to the Eden battleship was an attractive option. Currently that is where the elite forces of the upper capital had gathered, ahead of the council meeting. Escaping before they aimed for his life wasn¡¯t a bad choice.

    Yet, there were three reasons for choosing the administrative district over the battleship.

    ¡®Firstly, I need to evolve. The ¡®Cult¡¯ part of the evolutionary condition for my maturity is unfulfilled. If evolution is impossible, no matter how abundant the gic essence, it will have its limits.¡¯

    ¡®I can gather enough gic essence in the administrative district.¡¯

    At this point, it was uncertain whether there were Cult members on Eden¡¯s battleship. The fact that the knights weren¡¯t called in when I was apprehended suggests that the Cult might not be there.

    ¡®Additionally, if I board the battleship, I can¡¯t take the kids with me.¡¯

    Number 26 and Adhai. Though they¡¯ve been beneficial to me, and have never caused me harm. If questioned about the merits of boarding the battleship by abandoning them, my answer would be of course negative.

    ¡®In Adhai¡¯s case, I made a deal.¡¯

    I promised to spare it and offer protection in exchange for the whereabouts of the Gagon¡¯s nest. If we part ways here, I will gain nothing.

    ¡®Andstly, I have insufficient information from T&Cpared to Eden.¡¯

    Despite the joint operation between Eden and T&C in the sewer search, there¡¯s a considerable information gap between the two sides. Even the armaments that were brought into the sewers hinted at that.

    ¡®Eden brought weapons capable of subduing me.¡¯

    sma bolters and de ws could pierce through my exterior, and assault packs were equipped for closebat anticipation.

    ¡®Moreover, they even brought auncher.¡¯

    This weapon, except for my head, could heavily damage other parts of my body.

    ¡®However, the defense forces didn¡¯t.¡¯

    While they did bring auncher, it was merely a support weapon at the squad level. Apart from that, their equipment wasn¡¯t significantly different from what the armed police wore in the apartmentplex battle.

    ¡®The knights didn¡¯t share information about me yet.¡¯

    They probably did it for their own interests. Thanks to the knights¡¯ information control, the upper echelons at the special trade centre have very little knowledge about me.

    ¡®The special trade centre undoubtedly sees me as a threat, but they don¡¯t know how dangerous I truly am.¡¯

    The less my enemies know, the more I can do.

    ¡®So, hiding in this administrative district is advantageous for me.¡¯

    ¡®Now that I¡¯ve made up my mind¡­¡¯

    Only action remains.

    I charged towards the knights attacking the defense forces. A knight who had just in a soldier with a de was aiming a bolter at another.

    I lunged at him from behind, toppling him over.

    ¡°Ugh?¡±

    The knight,pletely caught off guard,y defenseless. Restraining him firmly with mybat arm to prevent him from getting up, I pierced his head with my teeth.

    ¡°Help¡­!¡±

    The knight struggled futilely within my grasp, but I held him down firmly, rendering his resistance useless. I bit into his head again, tearing through his helmet, exposing his brain matter.

    Devouring what spilled from the knight¡¯s head, I leaped towards a fresh target.

    ¡°Damn it! Capture him!¡±

    As I unexpectedly struck a knight from behind, Vicus screamed in rage. Ished my tail towards the surrounding knights. The sharp spines at the tip of my tail aimed at them, but their quick activation of psychic shields nullified the effects of my spines.

    A bolt from a knight¡¯s bolter was aimed at my head. Just before it fired, a piercing shot flew, prating the knight¡¯s head.

    ¡°Damn defense forces!¡±

    Vicus shouted as they fired Gauss rifles at the knights.

    ¡°Four of you handle the defense forces, the rest deal with that monster!¡±

    ¡®I can¡¯t let them leave me alone.¡¯

    I extracted a bloodsucking tentacle from my right shoulder and struck it at a knight¡¯s head with the red tentacle. With a gruesome sound, the knight¡¯s neck snapped, leaving them lifeless.

    ¡°How dare you!¡±

    Enraged by theirrade¡¯s death, a knight fired their bolter at me. Quickly raising my head, I intercepted the sma roundsing from the bolter. While my head¡¯s exterior was the toughest, the collision caused a sharp, throbbing pain in my head and neck, although it is still bearable.

    ¡®But taking multiple hits in session would be dangerous.¡¯

    To minimise the target area, I submerged myself in the debrisden water, using all four of mybat arms and legs to swiftly move, confusing the knights.

    ¡°Where did it go?¡±

    My lowered position exposed my back above the water level, yet the floating debris made it challenging for them to discern my presence.

    ¡°It¡¯s over there!¡±

    One knight, seeking vengeance for his fallenrade, spotted me and aimed his bolter.

    ¡°You darn¡­!¡±

    ¡°You fool! Avoid it!¡±

    Vicus shouted in panic, but it was toote. A sma beam from the defense forces wiped out both the bolter and the knight¡¯s arm in one swift strike.

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    The price of ignoring the defense forces to catch me was a costly mistake. The knight cried out as his arm, along with the armor, became dust and vanished.

    ¡°Pull that idiot back immediately!¡±

    I couldn¡¯t miss such a golden opportunity. Grabbing the panicking knight by his severed arm, I hurled quills towards him. The neurotoxinden quills struck urately at the severed area, causing the screaming knight to copse as his nerve was affected due to the neurotoxins.

    As his screams faded, his bewilderedpanion tried to assist him. Rushing towards him, I pierced through two of the knights simultaneously with my horns.

    ¡°Gah, monster!¡±

    Despite their pierced abdomen, the knight didn¡¯t give up. Swinging his de w, he managed to cut off a part of my hardened exterior.

    ¡®Thankfully, it¡¯s a less sensitive area.¡¯

    Had the monster¡¯s tentacle been severed, it would have caused substantial pain.

    ¡®Pointless resistance.¡¯

    I shook my head vigorously while still holding onto him with my horn. The horn lodged in his abdomen caused agony, making the knight groan. His arm, attempting to strike my forehead, lost strength and fell.

    ¡°Die!¡±

    Another knight aimed at my back. I turned my head just as a sma round was fired.

    Naturally, the knight became an unintentional meat shield for me due to my horn, shielding me from the shot. The sound of bursting flesh followed by the acrid smell of burnt flesh stimted my auxiliary system.

    ¡°Avoid friendly fire! Avoid¡­ Argh!¡±

    ¡°Vicemander!¡±

    Vicus, who wasmanding in agony, grabbed his shoulder after being hit by a piercing round. The sight of themander wounded made the knights¡¯ moral to ter.

    Since my surprise attack began, the situation had drastically reversed.

    ¡°Good! This is our chance with the Vicemander injured!¡±

    The defense forces pressed aggressively against the knights. The front-line soldiers fired indiscriminately towards where I and the knights were, creating chaos. The rear soldiers evacuated the wounded and reorganised their formation.

    In contrast, the knights¡¯ formation copsed entirely due to my attack. Those who were engaging with the defense forces were mostly incapacitated due to my assault, while others seemed confused about who to strike.

    With even theirmander injured, the disadvantage for them elerated.

    ¡°The mission has failed! Retreat, everyone!¡±

    Finally, the word ¡°retreat¡± sprang from Vicus, who had been supported by his subordinates.

    ¡®Should I let them escape?¡¯

    Even if the rtionship between the two families might deteriorate significantly because of me, there¡¯s a possibility that they ignore this and maintain a cooperative rtionship for a while due to the council meeting. If I resume my hunt and go to the administrative district, I might encounter them again.

    ¡®You never know what might happen.¡¯

    It¡¯s best to minimise uncertainties.

    I attacked those retreating, gradually reducing their numbers. Not only me but the defense forces also chased after the knights fleeing from this ce.

    ¡°Vicemander! How should we deal with that monster?¡±

    ¡°Prating rounds won¡¯t work on him, fire theuncher!¡±

    Amid slicing through a knight¡¯s throat, I heard the voice of the defense forces.

    ¡®Is it time to retreat?¡¯

    I checked the remaining number of knights. Six, including Vicus, were fleeing. There were still dozens in the defense forces. They should be capable enough to handle the situation even without me.

    ¡®Let¡¯s end it here.¡¯

    Intentionally, I shook the corpse of the knight, showcasing it as if a beast would do with its prey. The defense forces, perceiving this as an opportunity, fired theuncher. A green light tore through the surface, flying towards me.

    Already anticipating the trajectory of their attacks through my auxiliary systems, I adjusted my head to align with the beam¡¯s path. The beam, capable of easily piercing through a ship¡¯s outer hull, collided with the exterior of my head.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    The force was stronger than I expected, involuntarily causing me to take a few steps back. While most of the impact was absorbed by my thick exterior, the residual shock spread all over my body.

    The exterior on my neck, back, and legs ruptured, with blood spurting out.

    ¡®I can still endure this.¡¯

    My body, which got covered in blood in an instant, had regenerative properties. As long as the brain in my head wasn¡¯t destroyed, these injuries would heal quickly.

    ¡®Activate apparent death.¡¯

    Pretending to copse from being hit by the beam, I activated the ¡°apparent death¡± trait. Instantly, all strength drained from my body.

    My body, now beyond control, copsed into the sewer passage. The auxiliary organ beneath my chin, which had always been a source of support, fell limp,pletely devoid of any sensation.

    I couldn¡¯t see or hear anything. The only sensation I felt was an eerie coldness. It felt like death. The thought that this might be a mistake was so strong that it seemed real.

    ¡®This feeling¡­ but it¡¯s familiar.¡¯

    The inexplicable sense of familiarity dissipated along with my fleeting consciousness. That¡¯s how I died.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 77

    Chapter 77

    On the day of the board meeting in the morning, preparations for a grand event were in full swing at the Skyscraper Monument, owned by the T&C family. Amidst the bustling sound of footsteps of the attendants rushing throughout the entire building, there was one ce which was cloaked in silence: a conference room within the Monument.

    Gathered in that room were the city¡¯s ruler, La Chemblin, her secretary, and close aides.

    ¡°What¡¯s the reaction from the Eden faction?¡± inquired La.

    ¡°They n to attribute this entire incident as Vicemander Vicus¡¯ unteral decision,¡± responded the secretary.

    ¡°¡­ Unteral decision, you say?¡±

    La didn¡¯t even muster a hollowugh at the secretary¡¯s words. Thanks to the camera records from the defense force survivors involved in the ghost hunt operation and the report from the Crisis Management team manager, she could grasp the root cause of the situation.

    Who unleashed the unidentified biological weapon? What did the Silver Lion Knights do to cover it up? She knew it all.

    ¡°How dare they do this in my city!¡±

    La seethed. She had long known that Denver, despite his outwardly affable image, was a schemer. Yet, she never imagined he would orchestrate such a scheme within her city, and that too before themencement of the council meeting.

    ¡°ming everything on the Vicemander? Shameless trickery!¡±

    In the meeting where the Crisis Management Division manager reported about the incident in the sewer, Denver was also present. He feignedplete ignorance, but having held a position of authority for a long time, La could easily see through his lies.

    He imed he knew nothing about it and that the Knight Order¡¯s actual powery with the Vicemander, and he upied themander¡¯s position merely for external appearances. But such excuses wouldn¡¯t fly with the daughter of the T&C family, who had a long association with the Eden family.

    ¡°Who was identified as the sole survivor, apart from the Vice-Commander?¡± La inquired further.

    ¡°That would be Catherine from the Silver Lion Knights.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s her condition?¡±

    Catherine, the only survivor aside from the Vice-Commander, was found in a battered state amidst the ruins. Typically, she would have been immediately detained, but her injuries were so severe that she was being transported to the Central Hospital of the Administrative District.

    ¡°Catherine is currently undergoing treatment due to severe PTSD and physical injuries.¡±

    ¡°When will interrogation be possible?¡±

    ¡°Her body may recover, but her mental trauma is so extensive that treatment is proving to be difficult. The doctor¡¯s assessment suggests a high likelihood of lifelong aphasia due to the aftereffects.¡±

    [PR/N-Aphasia is a disorder that affects how youmunicate. It can impact your speech, as well as the way you write and understand both spoken and writtennguage.]

    ¡°Tsk. try to get the information by any means necessary once she¡¯s treated, even if it means to interrogate her.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Incredibly, out of the only two survivors from the incident, one had aphasia, while the other was missing. Vice-Commander Vicus, whom Denver used of being the mastermind, was the most crucial figure, yet he couldn¡¯t be found, despite searching every nook and cranny.

    ¡°Of course, that¡¯s expected. He must have been eliminated already.¡±

    Why the principal perpetrator remained undiscovered was almost certainty due to Denver¡¯s prior actions. Everything was crystal clear, yet he continued spinning lies.

    She wanted to summon her subordinates immediately to arrest Denver, but she disyed non-human patience and managed to send him away.

    ¡°Destruction of foundational facilities in the Commercial District, a surprise attack on the naval fleet, and the smuggling of unidentified experimental subjects¡­¡±

    There wasn¡¯t a single misdemeanour among them. This alone was enough to make her blood boil, but what infuriated her more was the decision to let that vile person go unpunished.

    Early in the morning, she had given a detailed report of the incident to her father, Samdam Chemblin. The response she received was singr:

    ¡°Do nothing but bury this?¡±

    For her father, who was eyeing for the CEO position of MegaCorp, the support of the Eden family was more critical than this Special Trade centre. She understood what the family¡¯s long standing goal was, so it wasn¡¯t something she couldn¡¯tprehend.

    But letting it go like this would only turn her into a silent bystander, and she would have to face immense humiliation.

    ¡°Letting the perpetrator who humiliated me, the administrator of T&C Special Trade centre, go unpunished!¡±

    Currently, everyone within MegaCorp knew that Denver had pulled off a cunning maneuver against her. This was because the Daily Mass had reported her disgrace earlier in the morning.

    ¡°Wei Zhao, the filthy and disgraceful person¡­!¡±

    Thinking of Wei Zhao, who had exposed her through the Daily Mass, made her grind her teeth. Despite the significant damage to Denver¡¯s image due to the Daily Mass, he was still the head of the Prime Capital Eden Family, However she was different, she was just an administrator of a trade centre who could be reced at any time.

    ¡®If I keep going like this, I¡¯ll be the only one who will suffer.¡¯

    Her father, who valued practical interests over blood rtives, might choose to kick her out instead of seeking revenge for her.

    In other words, she might be a sacrifice to improve rtions with the Eden family.

    ¡°Administrator, what do you want us to do?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Arrest all those rted to the Silver Lion Knights.¡±

    ¡°Please keep the defense fleet under strict surveince so that those on the gship do not think of doing anything else.¡±

    ¡°All right.¡±

    ¡°Allow Denver to only move freely during the council meeting, otherwise don¡¯t allow him toe out.¡±

    All she could do now was to limit the actions of the Eden family.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡±

    The subordinates received the orders and left the conference room one by one.

    During this time, a meeting was held on purpose, but in the end, nothing was done.

    As La felt helpless at that fact, a thought passed through her mind.

    ¡®That¡¯s the only card I have left.¡¯

    L called back to the secretary who was about to leave the conference room.

    ¡°What happened to the test subject brought by the defense Guards?¡±

    ¡°Currently, the body is stored in a scientific research institute.¡±

    ¡°The dissection experiment is scheduled to take ceter in the afternoon.¡±

    A strange creature smuggled into a special trade centre by the Eden family.

    Its body was acquired by the City Defense Guard and has now been transported to the scientific research centre located beneath the monument.

    ¡®A biological weapon newly developed by the Eden family.¡¯

    Getting something out of the body was her only takeaway if she wanted to get out of this situation.

    ¡°We have to get something out of that devilish monster somehow. Otherwise, it won¡¯t make sense at all.¡±

    ¡°I will pass it on as is.¡±

    Everyone had already felt the power of Eden¡¯s secret weapon.

    The crisis management division manager, a brave warrior, had a terrified look on his face several times during the report.

    What if T&C, or rather La Chemblin was able to obtain the monster¡¯s genes and mass-produce it?

    It would be no problem to monopolize the real power of the family to do this.

    ¡®When that dayes, I will definitely be the head of the family.¡¯

    La¡¯s eyes burned quietly in the conference room, where the secretary left and she was left alone.

    ***

    A few hours before La dreamed of rebellion at the Monument.

    Vice-Commander Vicus of the Silver Lion Knights was still in the sewers. The soldiers searching for him were constantly patrolling the area.

    ¡°He¡¯s not here.¡±

    ¡°Check elsewhere, keep searching.¡±

    ¡°Alright¡­ Ugh, when will thismunicationwork get fixed?¡±

    As the pursuers moved away, Vicus, hidden nearby, cautiously raised his head above the water.

    His current state was dire. His advanced armor was almost out of energy; he had discarded everything except the chest armor which was connected to the helmet. Without power, the advanced armor was as heavy as a lump of lead, leaving him no choice but to remove it.

    He muttered with a defeated expression,

    ¡°¡­to be brought down like this.¡±

    He thought he had been sufficiently vignt and prepared, but he had beenpletely mistaken. The creature¡¯s intelligence surpassed his imagination, causing chaos among both the defense force and the knights.

    ¡°I must somehow get out and convey this truth to her.¡±

    Vicus knew his master had abandoned him. Seeing soldiers searching for him, externally, it would appear he had unterally attacked the defense force. But that didn¡¯t matter. Denver had once told him that if something went wrong, he¡¯d have to take responsibility, and he had agreed.

    He was the sword that safeguarded his master. The sword moved as its owner desired. And it had no free will.

    ¡°It seems there are no more soldiers nearby.¡±

    Feeling theplete absence of any indication, Vicus moved again.

    There was a nearby path leading outside¡ªa new opening formed by the copse of the sewer ceiling. Taking refuge amidst the ruins there would surely provide an opportunity.

    ¡°Damn it.¡±

    Without the protective armor, he had to brave the freezing water directly. Moreover, despite receiving treatment for his injured shoulder, it still ached persistently. Perhaps thebination of depleted stamina and injury caused it; he coughed incessantly.

    Blocking his coughing mouth with his hand, Vicus moved diligently. As he continued, he spotted a glimmer of light ahead.

    ¡°I¡¯m almost there!¡±

    Emerging from the murky water, Vicus climbed up the debris.

    Having been in the water for so long, his fingers were swollen, and rummaging through the hard metal fragments caused blood toe out from his hand.

    ¡°Just a bit more!¡±

    Enduring the pain shooting up his arm, Vicus crawled upward.

    He was almost at the surface; just a little further to reach out his hand.

    The moment he reached out, the world around him stopped.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    No, it wasn¡¯t the world that had stopped¡ªit was him.

    His body slowly floated up before being sucked back into the sewer.

    ¡°What¡¯s¡­ happening?¡±

    He was taken aback as an intangible pressure suddenly crushed his entire being. It felt like diving into the depths without any protective gear.

    ¡°Gah! St¡ªstop! Hngh! Argh!¡±

    His limbs began twisting uncontrobly. His body seemed detached from his control, bending and breaking like a rigid puppet attached to sturdy strings.

    Fingers, wrists, arms, toes, ankles, legs¡ªall bent and fractured at unnatural angles. His waist twisted in the opposite direction, and rib bones protrude through torn flesh.

    Though Vicus involuntarily screamed, his voice never made it out.

    As he looked back onest time, he saw there were pink balloons and two purple irises.

    ?Food??me??Eat??

    ?Yeah the Little one can eat it all.?

    Having sessfully hunted, it handed food to the small child. While the little one dined, it vigntly surveyed the surroundings.

    The elder child seemed oblivious, but it had grown further from their previous skirmish.

    It had learned to precisely control the mystical power innate within it, enabling it to detect and influence distant objects.

    Thanks to this, it could observe where the child it loved was located.

    ?The little one must grow quickly.?

    ?Reason??Not sure.?

    ?The big baby is struggling to protect us alone, so we must help him.?

    ???

    It had not only grown physically but also mentally. It could sense the effort the beloved child was putting into their protection, rooted partly in selfish desires but gradually mingled with a growing sense of ¡°affection.¡±

    Like it, the younger child was changing.

    ?When the little one grows, the elder one will surely be pleased.?

    ?Me? ?grow-up? ?happiness? ?wee.?

    It didn¡¯t resent the younger child¡¯s attitude. It held such a significant ce within the elder child¡¯s heart.

    ?Me? ?growth? ?grown-up??understand¡­?

    ?Quiet. Finish eating quickly.?

    ?Pain!?

    After scolding the babbling little one, she contemted her next move.

    Though the Big baby wished for quiet hiding, it had slightly different thoughts.

    ¡°There are too many dangerous creatures here. It¡¯s hard for the Big baby to fight alone.¡±

    To assist him, it needed to grow as much as possible before meeting him.

    ?Finish this and let¡¯s move elsewhere.?

    ?Where??

    ?Where there¡¯s food.?

    Thankfully, the underground area was abundant with nutrient-rich, easily hunted prey¡ªcorpses of four appendage-bearing creatures scattered throughout.

    ***

    ¡°It seems the camouge worked.¡±

    Regaining consciousness, I first surveyed my location using the auxiliary organ.

    The strong smell of chemical solutions, faint scent of blood, electromaic waves in the air, and the mechanical noises from scattered devices¡ªall spoke to me.

    This was the Skyscraper Monument¡¯s underground researchb. Currently, Iy tied atop arge metal dissection table in theboratory.

    Although I would have recognized if I was a corpse, some wariness had led me to encase my arms and legs in metal shackles.

    ¡®Leave this be.¡¯

    No matter how tough it is, it¡¯s futile against my strength. I could break it immediately, but I refrained from doing so because there were surveince cameras in theb. Calctions and careful movements are necessary to avoid trouble.

    ¡®Where to look¡­ the gic sample repository must be nearby.¡¯

    The Special Trade centre isn¡¯t strictly dedicated to gic research; it¡¯s more akin to an all-epassing entertainment facility. Yet, it¡¯s unlikely that the MegaCorp Science Research Facility wouldn¡¯t have a gic sample repository.

    The underground researchb is a facility conducting various studies to breedpliant employees for T&C through gic modification, ensuring theirck of resistance to thepany.

    ¡®The main objective is to manipte gics to create humans as inferior ves, unlike the Hulk mutants.¡¯

    While rare creature gics might not be avable here, there are some types worth targeting.

    ¡®I just need the genes rted to the new type unlock.¡¯

    Currently, I have a trait that increases the probability of acquiring genes from hunted prey, and that is ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯ using it here will unlock the types that I need.

    ¡®But someone needs toe to aid.¡¯

    For my n to seed safely, certain conditions must be met. Until then, I have to wait.

    After a while, I sensed activity outside theb.

    ¡°The Administrator wants to know if we can extract genes from the creature for weaponization.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. They say it¡¯s the monster that devoured dozens of soldiers and knights.¡±

    The door opened after confirming the ID, and fourb-coated researchers entered, wearing supplementary gear for dissecting giant organisms. They had exoskeletons, enhancing the appearance of the suitspared to regr reinforced gear, with two additional android-like auxiliary arms on their backs.

    ¡°It looks terrifying. Are we dissecting this thing?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Looks like another overtime today.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s get ready quickly.¡±

    The researchers began arranging explosive chemicals and dissection tools on the dissection table using their auxiliary arms.

    ¡®Chemical solutions.¡¯

    I needed a smoke screen, and this was perfect. I subtly moved my tail toward where the chemical solutions were.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    One of the researchers turned around. I remainedpletely still, mimicking my original state.

    ¡°Did I see wrong?¡±

    ¡°Hey, stop dawdling and help.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Unaware of any oddity, he focused on assisting his colleagues, moving dissection tools without suspicion.

    ¡®All conditions are met.¡¯

    Before utilizing the symbol of the hunt, there are some conditions that are to be fulfilled. However, using the ¡®Symbol Of Hunt¡¯ had some side effects, such as, inducing an intense appetite, which could make me lose my sanity when it wore off, if no prey was around.

    ¡®To avoid mishaps, I need to prepare some prey in advance.¡¯

    The four researchers in thisb would be sacrifices for activating ¡®symbol of the hunt¡¯

    ¡®Of course, they need to help me a bit before that.¡¯

    With surveince cameras around, sneaking out covertly wasn¡¯t easy. That¡¯s why I needed helpful allies¡ªfriendly ones who obey mymands.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 78

    Chapter 78

    In the administrative district of the special trade hub stands a towering building monument. Veteran yers refer to this ce as the ¡°BlXmaX.¡±

    Looking at it, it does resemble a twisted doughnut, for sure.

    However, its resemnce to extraterrestrial artifacts in ssic horror games is only superficial; the setting is quite different. The monument in space survival doesn¡¯t drive people insane or transform them into strange forms.

    ¡®Instead, it has a feature that buffs the owner.¡¯

    When a n owns a Monument, it gains a n-only trait called ¡®ve Trait¡¯. ns with this talent are pumped with more than double the profit from the they own.This made it a highly sought-after monument forrge ns to acquire at all costs. As a result, there was always a lot of warfare in these trade centres.

    ¡®In a way, it¡¯s an homage to BlXmaX. There have been many ns that have gone to war for the monument and lost.

    For me, ownership of the monument held no interest. Instead, I focused on the n members attempting to obtain it. In the past, I¡¯d infiltrated the monument in various ways to extract gic essence from the n members. Once, I even disguised myself using the ¡®Apparent death¡¯ trait, feigning death.

    ¡°Ah, I was nning to spend the night at the entertainment district today.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a married man yet you still visit such ces?¡±

    ¡°Come on, being married doesn¡¯t mean you stop having fun. Don¡¯t you dare get married.¡±

    ¡°Crazy.¡±

    ¡°So is this true that you are working overtime near the year-end? Seriously?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t even have a partner, what¡¯s there toin about?¡±

    ¡°Ah, no partner means no life? I also want to rx at a resort. Visit exotic ces, have chance encounters, meet my destined love, and then parting¡­¡±

    ¡°Stop the nonsense and help me with this.¡±

    The researchers chatted while moving the equipment. They seemed topletely ignore my existence.

    ¡°Fine.¡±

    Amidst their idle chatter, I activated the Parasitic Colony. ck thread-like creatures emerged from the fingertips of my lower right arm.

    ¡®Hide below the dissection table, all of you.¡¯

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? It seems odd, like it moved.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s dead, why bother? Don¡¯t pay attention to useless things.¡±

    One researcher scrutinised me before returning to preparations.

    ¡®There are four researchers, all wearing masks.¡¯

    The parasites had no offensive abilities, unable to breach the masks on their own.

    ¡®I need to create an opening for the parasites to enter.¡¯

    If I shoot the thorns of my tail to make a hole, it should be possible. However, I can¡¯t move immediately due to surveince cameras. Checking the camera¡¯s direction through the auxiliary organ, there is no blind spot in the dissection room.

    ¡®To conceal the tail¡¯s movement, I need smoke.¡¯

    Chemical products for generating smoke are conveniently ced near my tail.

    ¡®But just those won¡¯t produce enough smoke.¡¯

    To induce a chemical reaction, a catalyst is needed, like an acidic solution. Fortunately, my blood has a strong acidic effect.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to wait a bit longer; they came here to dissect anyway.¡¯

    When they spill my blood, it¡¯ll be time for me to move.

    ***

    ¡°Alright. All set?¡±

    The head of the dissection team under the Biological Management Division of the Science Research Institute pped, lifting the mood in the room. Next to the dissection area stood a stainless-steel table holding various tools.

    On the tabley medical instruments like scalpels and medical saws, a sma cutter for cutting tough skin, and chemical solutions to preserve tissue samples¡ªdespite the era of space explorations and colonisation, the dissection procedures hadn¡¯t evolved much from their primitive forms.

    ¡°Where should we start from?¡±

    ¡°Given its position, how about starting from the back?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s proceed slowly. Let¡¯s start by collecting a sample of the skin tissues.¡±

    Following the team leader¡¯s instructions, a researcher picked up a scalpel. The auxiliary arms of the exoskeleton suits also held gic data analyzers and cover sses.

    ¡°Shall we identify the creature first?¡±

    The team leader sliced into the monster¡¯s arm section with a scalpel.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Instead of the arm¡¯s surface being cut, the scalpel de broke.

    ¡°It¡¯s incredibly tough. This is nearly at the level of an adult Mountain Crawler.¡±

    ¡°Try this.¡±

    A colleague handed over a sonic de. Smaller than a military version, this one was a medical tool, but its effect was identical. When the researcher pressed the switch, a thin de emerged from the bulky stick, emitting an eerie sound due to its ultrasonic vibration.

    ¡°Where¡­¡±

    As the researcher attempted to bring the sonic de closer to the creature¡¯s corpse:

    ¡°Huh?¡­It¡¯s moving?¡±

    He noticed a slight movement in the creature¡¯s tail, and his colleague beside him smirked as if seeing the same thing.

    ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s the muscles rxing after death.¡±

    ¡°Y-yeah, that must be it.¡±

    ¡°Phew, that startled me. But if this thing is alive, we¡¯re probably already dead, right?¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t say scary things.¡±

    ¡°Enough chit-chat. Quickly, collect skin samples.¡±

    The researcher scraped the monster¡¯s arm with the sonic de. The sound of metal on metal echoed as sparks flew.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like something from an animal¡¯s body.¡±

    Continuing to scratch with the Sonic de, finally, scratches began to appear on the creature¡¯s exoskeleton.

    ¡°Great. A bit more and¡­ Oops.¡±

    At that moment, the depletely malfunctioned, its ultrasonic effect shutting off. Despite the tool being ruined, they managed to cut out a tiny skin fragment.

    ¡°It¡¯s small, but enough for analysis. ce the sample into the analyzer.¡±

    ¡°It is stubbornly tough..¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s try the sma cutter this time.¡±

    Two researchers picked up the sma cutter. Typically, due to recoil, cutters were secured in stable positions, like on the ground. However, with the exoskeleton suit¡¯s auxiliary arms designed to withstand high weights, they could handle the cutter¡¯s recoil.

    The auxiliary arms firmly grasped the sma cutter to prevent any shaking. Adjusting the cutter¡¯s terminal, aiming it at the corpse¡¯s surface, the researchers pressed the activation button.

    A thin green beam sprayed out, scorching the surface of the skin. Even a creature with sturdy biological armor couldn¡¯t withstand sma energy¡ªit pierced through effortlessly.

    Meanwhile, as the analysis of the sample wasplete, the data analyzer disyed a notification.

    Surprised, the researcher called the head of the dissection team before finishing the sentence.

    ¡°This creature is an unknown species not registered in the MegaCorp database.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Is it a new species then?¡±

    ¡°Strangely, it shares dozens of types of genes¡­¡±

    Before the researcher could finish his sentence, a problem urred on the side where they were piercing the exoskeleton with the cutter.

    ¡°Team leader! Smoke ising from the body!¡±

    ¡°No, wait! This isn¡¯t smoke!¡±

    ¡°Crazy! The blood is acidic!¡±

    As the researcher shouted, the blood flowing from the corpse was melting the dissection table.

    ¡°The blood is sshing this way! Be careful!¡±

    Not only that, but due to the cutter¡¯s beam, acidic blood sttered towards the researchers. If a nearby researcher hadn¡¯t pulled him back, he might have suffered significant injuries.

    ¡°Ouch, thanks.¡±

    ¡°Get yourself together.¡±

    While the grateful colleague checked if he was okay, the researcher discovered something strange attached to his body.

    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s this on your body?¡±

    A ck thread-like creature was attached to his colleague¡¯s side. He wondered if he was mistaken, but he wasn¡¯t.

    It wriggled and crawled upwards.

    ¡°Huh? W-what is this?¡±

    Just like him, other researchers had ck thread-like creatures attached to them.

    ¡°What the¡­¡±

    As the researcher was shivering, trying to control the auxiliary arm to remove the creature, he heard the sound of breaking ss.

    Subsequently, the sound of something sshing water followed, and a hot heat was felt on the back.

    When he turned his head, he saw a table where chemical solutions were ced, engulfed in mes.

    The acrid smoke from the chemical solution quickly rose, enveloping the researchers.

    ¡°Fire!¡±

    ¡°Keuk, kekaak!¡±

    ¡°Get the fire extinguisher!¡±

    Panic-stricken researchers were scrambling around as the motionless corpse of the monster lying on the ground suddenly twitched. Its tail, which had been twitching,unched thorn-like spikes towards the faces of the researchers.

    ¡°Oops.¡±

    ¡°What was that just now?¡±

    Fortunately, the spikes missed, only brushing past the faces of the dissection team leader and the researchers.

    Their masks tore, exposing their flesh to the noxious smoke.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°Where did thate from?¡±

    The sudden assault of sharp objects left the researchers bewildered, yet there was something else they should have been concerned about¡ªthe ck parasites stuck to their bodies.

    Parasites from the monster¡¯s body had swiftly climbed and affixed themselves to the researchers¡¯ faces.

    ¡°Ahh!¡±

    ¡°Help!¡±

    ¡°Ugh! Cough!¡±

    The researchers hurriedly covered their faces, but the parasites had already entered their masks. They coughed, trying to dislodge the parasites from their nasal passages or scratched their faces in a frantic attempt to grab hold of the creatures.

    If they had remained a bit calmer, they might have used the strength of their powerful auxiliary arms to pull the parasites out. However, the sudden fire and the onught of unfamiliar parasitic creatures made it difficult for them to maintainposure.

    *sprinkler sound*

    Due to the smoke, the sprinklers inside theb activated, showering water. Amidst the downpour, one by one, the researchers stopped moving due to the parasite attacks.

    ¡°¡­Gulp.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Thest remaining was the dissection team manager, he exerted all his effort to remove the parasite that had partially infiltrated his body. As the parasite had prated halfway into his body, he managed to grasp the parasite¡¯s tail with great difficulty.

    Feeling the slimy and unpleasant sensation in their palm, he desperately tried to pull the parasite out. It resisted, stimting the back of their throat, preventing it from being pulled out.

    ¡°Ugh! Cough! Kehuk!¡±

    While retching, the dissection team leader didn¡¯t release his grip, trying relentlessly to extract the parasite.

    Just as he was about to nearly remove it, he suddenly felt as if his strength was draining from his body.

    ¡®Why?¡¯

    A long bristle was embedded in their limp wrist. Meanwhile, the parasite had forcefully prated deeper into their nostril, but they couldn¡¯t feel any pain.

    Before copsing and kneeling on the ground, he witnessed it¡ªthe monster, lying in a prone position on the dissection table, its white eyes staring directly at him.

    It wasn¡¯t dead.

    ***

    Monument¡¯s 3rd Central Control Room.

    The first day of the council meeting had already concluded, but the management office couldn¡¯t afford to take a break. Anna, the cult caretaker with goat horns, was monitoring the surveince cameras with a bored expression. Her colleague, a male cultist with ram horns, stretched and got up from his seat.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°For coffee. Want me to make you one too?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Strong, without sugar.¡±

    As the male cultist left, Anna refocused on the surveince. Thanks to her psychic powers specialized in observation, she could monitor hundreds of surveince cameras simultaneously. She wasn¡¯t the only one; all the cultists working in this administrative district possessed unique psychic powers that contributed to city management.

    ¡°Ugh, I just want to go home, take a shower, and sleep.¡±

    Having abilities that helped with work didn¡¯t necessarily mean that the job was enjoyable. Originally, the 3rd Central Management Office had three observers, including a female cultist named Jete. If Jete hadn¡¯t gone missing, Anna wouldn¡¯t have had to work overtime for days.

    ¡°That woman, fleeing without a word. I wish I could run away too.¡±

    Grumbling to herself, she continued monitoring when something odd caught her eye.

    ¡°Science Lab 30? Is there a fire?¡±

    The camera showed smoke-filled surroundings with researchers in apparent panic. Soon, the sprinklers activated, turning theb into a sea of water.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening? Why are they¡­¡±

    The frantic researchers suddenly stopped in unison, standing still as the water poured over them. One of them seemed to have lost consciousness, copsing, but no one was supporting them.

    Anna felt something eerie. Something was wrong. Regardless, if there was a fire, she needed to confirm. She grabbed themunication device.

    As she contacted them, the people beyond the camera, who had been motionless, suddenly, as if bymand, started working to handle the aftermath.

    One researcher retrieved themunication device from the dissection team leader.

    ¡°3rd Central Control Room here. Was there a fire in Lab 30?¡±

    ¡°Uh, chem¡­chemical solution spilled, c-causing a fire. It should be normalized soon.¡±

    ¡°Do you need the fire suppression team?¡±

    ¡°No, no! Absolutely do not call them!¡±

    ¡°Hmm? What about the person who copsed, do you really not need help?¡±

    ¡°Uh, th-they just briefly fainted due to inhaling noxious fumes. Th-they¡¯ll wake up soon.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Yes, ye-yeah. Anyway, once the team leader wakes up, we need to move this corpse, so you don¡¯t need to monitor anymore. Goodbye.¡±

    After the call ended, Anna stared at themunication device strangely.

    ¡°Why are they so jittery?¡±

    Perhaps it was due to the sudden incident. The researcher¡¯s voice sounded unusually shaky, as if afraid of something.

    ¡°And transporting specimens in the middle of the night?¡±

    As she pondered, her cult colleague came in with coffee.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s a fire in the dissection room, and the response from the researchers seemed odd.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where all the entrics go. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    Since her colleague¡¯s words made sense, Anna eventually let go of her doubts about the fire in Lab 30.

    ¡°There are many other things to do anyway.¡±

    She pushed thoughts about the dissection team to the back of her mind and drank coffee with her colleague.

    ***

    ¡®As expected, a call came in right after.¡¯

    The call was answered by a researcher under my control, but I know who called him.

    ¡®The cult members in the management room.¡¯

    One of Monument¡¯s features is that the cult members handle indoor surveince duties.

    Human beings have many ws, such as being easily shaken by sudden incidents, while android¡¯sck autonomous thinking abilities.

    However, cults have very few weaknesses. Thanks to their psychic powers, they have a much keener sense than humans, easily detecting sneaky enemies or traps.

    Due to these traits, cult immigrants to MegaCorp mainly assume roles like surveince and reconnaissance, as per their design to enjoy hunting down adversaries. Cult members, akin to wolves, are innate hunters and observers. Despite the era of travelling through space on ships, remnants of traditional hunting culture linger within cult society.

    Known as ¡®quests,¡¯ the cults¡¯ unique system typically revolves around hunting specific animals for their horns or hearts.¡±

    Nevertheless, cult members working alongside humans tend to have fewer of these tendencies. If it were a inhabited solely by cult members, my ns might have been immediately thwarted. However, cult members in MegaCorp possessparatively less acute senses, relying less on intuition due to theplexities in human society. They might have found it peculiar but likely considered it none of their business and moved on.

    ¡®Of course, if such incidents ur frequently, they¡¯ll eventually take action.¡¯

    That¡¯s something I should be cautious about when moving forward with my ns. Anyway, I¡¯ve sessfully executed half of my infiltration n into the administrative district.

    ¡°I¡¯ll transport the team manager once he wakes up,¡± said the researcher, to which I subtly nodded.

    Next stop for me is the Gic storage. It¡¯s a ce for storing carcasses ofrge animals like me, and to my knowledge, there are no surveince cameras inside. I¡¯m certain due to a simr tactic used in an old game where I infiltrated hiding among animal carcasses.

    ¡°Is there a gic storage facility here?¡±

    ¡°Yes? Uh, yes, there is. It¡¯s right next to us, so don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Moreover, the facilityyout aligns ideally with what I desire.

    ¡®I could instruct the researchers to fetch the samples.¡¯

    Being close means I don¡¯t need to leave many authentication records while moving around, which means there¡¯s little for the observers to find suspicious.

    ¡®After consuming the gic samples, I could just prey on the researchers.¡¯

    Once the effects of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯ are over, I could call them, resolving any side effects.

    ¡®Is there a more perfect way to do this?¡¯

    How to make sure that if researchers suddenly disappear, even Monument¡¯s administrators won¡¯t know until muchter? Suddenly, a good idea struck me.

    ¡®The phone call from earlier.¡¯

    It seemed like something I could use to my advantage.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 79

    Chapter 79

    ¡°Akira sir, We¡¯ll soon arrive at the T&C Special Trade Center.¡±

    Akira Yujin, who was taking a break in the special capsule that regtes his body, opened his eyes at the voice of his subordinate. As the capsule opened, a young woman approached him.

    She was astonishingly beautiful butcked any emotions in her eyes. She held the position of Code ck among the shadows of the Yujin family, making her one of Akira¡¯s closest aides.

    Without any expression, she handed Akira a towel and a ck beverage.

    ¡°How much time has passed?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been a week since we started the journey.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll be a daytepared to the scheduled date.¡±

    He didn¡¯t ask what happened or why they were dyed. The shadows would have handled it well. In the ship they were on, the gship of the Yujin family named ¡®Heaven Sword,¡¯ three shadows were on board to escort Akira, not just Code ck but also Code Red and Code Blue were performing security duties somewhere inside the ship.

    Akira casually tossed the towel aside and left the capsule room.

    Code ck, leaving the handling of the capsule room to the others, followed behind Akira.

    As they walked towards the bridge together, Akira spoke suddenly.

    ¡°The T&C Special Trade centre. It was thriving even before I became the head.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°They called it ¡®Hwamu Shipilhong (»¨ŸoÊ®ÈÕ¼t)¡¯ which means When the moon bes full, things are bound to tilt.¡±

    [Note:- ¡°»¨ŸoÊ®ÈÕ¼t¡± is a Korean idiom that trantes to ¡®Flowers Bloom for Ten Days Without Withering.¡¯ This expression conveys the idea of predictability or inevitability, suggesting that certain events follow a natural course, much like the cyclical nature of flowers blooming and the full moon rising. It symbolizes the fleeting nature of moments and serves as a metaphor for the impermanence of life¡¯s pleasures.]

    Before Akira Yujin, who had been re-elected as CEO three times, two families held the longest reign over the MegaCorp throne: the Veda family, famous for android and AI development, and the Garmelda family, renowned for enhancedbat.

    In the early days of Mega Corp, the Veda family monopolized the CEO position, but they rapidly declined after the rise of the StarUnion. Currently, the Veda family barely maintained their status under Noble Capital.

    In contrast, the Garmelda family, who received support from the Elders of the Eden family, sustained its dominance as the CEO of the MegaCorp for a long time.

    Following Garmelda, the next influential family among the noble capital was T&C.

    As they held significant sway in space development, T&C never lost its top position in Noble Capital.

    ¡°At that time, the Yujin family didn¡¯t have much influence in the upper ss of the MegaCorp. Some mocked us as a family which belonged to the lower sses.¡±

    While slightly exaggerated, what Akira said wasn¡¯t entirely inurate. The impact of Yujin¡¯s cheap gically modified food for the lower-tiered capitals was substantial. In fact, Yujin¡¯s share in Megacorp¡¯s food supply was almost 50 percent.

    However, despite its importance in Megacorp, the Yujin familycked influence over other Noble Capitals. As one ascended in the capital tiers, the consumption of gically modified food sharply declined.

    As a result, during the council meetings for the CEO selections, the Yujin family frequently faced defeat from the other families.

    The turning point for Yujin was when their Hulk mutants were deployed on the front lines.

    The previous generations actively pursued using gically modified soldiers in war due to their potential. And it was during Akira¡¯s time as the new head of the family that they finally saw the fruition of that strategy by selling the Hulk mutants to other families.

    Of course, there was opposition within the family to Akira¡¯s decision to sell what was essentially a secret weapon, but he wasn¡¯t worried. Yujin¡¯s gic modification technology was unparalleled.

    Other families attempted to develop the Hulk mutants but failed due to technological shorings.

    ¡°Recently, Eden¡¯s coward seems to be ying games, but it¡¯s unlikely that it will reap fruits.¡±

    Akira utilized his shadows to scout for information on various families within the MegaCorp, so he already knew what the Eden family was nning.

    ¡°Are you referring to the Silver Lion Knights?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Mixing just two or three genes and bbering about the essence of gic modification technology, isn¡¯t it rather amusing?¡±

    If Denver listened to this, he would have been greatly infuriated, but Akira had the right to say such things.

    In fact, Code ck standing before him now justified this.

    Those belonging to the shadows were ultimate biological weapons synthesized with over dozens of gic types.

    ¡°It seems T&C¡¯s snake intends to only take out the filling through Eden, but they started wrong from the first button. It would have been better if they supported our Yujin family.¡±

    Of course, the likelihood of Samdam, who coveted the CEO position more than anyone else, forming an alliance with Akira was low. Even if he requested, Akira wouldn¡¯t haveplied with it.

    During their non-verbal conversation, they arrived at the bridge.

    The soldiers on the bridge, who were focused on their duties, quieted down and bowed their heads when they saw Akira.

    ¡°Hehehe, it seems this council meeting will be truly enjoyable.¡±

    Akira, who sat on themander¡¯s seat on the bridge, smiled looking forward to the uing council meeting.

    ***

    ¡®A Gic storage. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve been here.¡¯

    Under the blue lighting, dissected bodies of creatures were visible in various ces.

    Some were stacked on stainless steel tables, while those resembling human bodies were vacuum-sealed in stic hanging from hooks on the ceiling.

    The eerie feeling from the lighting and the creepy scene were just like in a game, but there were two differences: the cold breeze from the air conditioning units on the walls and the smell emanating from the bodies.

    These sensations were beyond what a game could provide.

    ¡°Now that I see it for real, it gives a very ufortable feeling.¡±

    There was an incident where I once ambushed users hiding among corpses in here, and they questioned why I always popped out in scary ces.

    At that time, I couldn¡¯t fathom why they were making such ridiculousints, but now, it was definitely an atmosphere worthy ofint.

    ¡°T-the gic list you requested.¡±

    The team leader, who was under my control because of the parasite inside him, handed me a terminal pad.

    I had requested it beforeing here to find out what was in the gic storage.

    ¡®I need to pick out what to consume first.¡¯

    In the unlikely event of an unforeseen urrence, it might be challenging to obtain gic samples.

    Hence, selecting and consuming what was necessary first would minimize losses in case of an ident.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see.¡¯

    Using my small arms, I carefully checked the list disyed on the pad.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    The variety of species held here was less diverse than what I expected. There were just numerous samples collected from the same species.

    ¡®But that¡¯s not necessarily bad.¡¯

    Even considering only the traits obtained from humans, there were more than one or two.

    The same went for other creatures.

    Even if the number of species was limited, each creature could offer various traits.

    ¡®I should target samples from species that have beneficial traits.¡¯

    I scrolled down the list slowly, inspecting it meticulously.

    Initially, I thought the list was unsatisfactory, but midway, I noticed two creature types holding traits I needed.

    ¡®A Metallic Gremlin? And¡­¡¯

    The sample of the other creature that caught my attention was something I could never obtain here under normal circumstances.

    ¡®I understand the Metallic Gremlin, but¡­¡¯

    It was puzzling why T&C possessed a sample of a creature posing a significant threat to the space city.

    Metallic Gremlins, as a species, had the negative trait of ¡®Dwarfism¡¯ throughout their entire race. Just as Amorph couldn¡¯t interact with other races, Metallic Gremlins could never grow taller than 1 meter, no matter what they did. Even the tallest among them, the King Gremlin, was around 1 meter 50 centimeters.

    ¡°They probably injected the dwarfism trait to make their employees weaker¡±

    While I could understand the Metallic Gremlin, I was quite puzzled about how ¡®that¡¯ sample was obtained by T&C.

    ¡°How¡­ did you acquire¡­ this?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a sample collected while dissecting the smuggled animals.¡±

    The world is vast, and there are many people, indeed.

    ¡®I hadn¡¯t expected someone to smuggle ¡®that¡¯ .¡¯

    When considering its size, we¡¯d need a container at least five timesrger than the harbor Earth¡¯s containers.

    ¡®Well, there are people smuggling Mountain Crawlers and Gallogons, so why not?¡¯

    I roughly agreed and nced over the rest of the list.

    Apart from the two creatures, there didn¡¯t seem to be any other organisms with particrly important traits.

    ¡®Still, obtaining its genes would yield tremendous results.¡¯

    It¡¯s because that specific creature possessed traits that could help me unlock a new type.

    Getting that type would significantly expand what I could do.

    ¡®Especially since it grants the ability for space travel.¡¯

    Quietly chanting with excitement, I selected around 30 samples and instructed the team leader to get them.

    As expected, the team leader, who saw ¡®that¡¯ gic sample, showed signs of concern.

    ¡°Is..is this the creature you¡¯re referring to?¡±

    ¡°Five samples of a rare species require a p-permit. Perhaps something else¡­¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Even if it meant giving up everything else, ¡®that¡¯ had to be collected at all costs.

    Ultimately, the team leader left the Gic storage with a distressed expression.

    ¡°What¡­ What should we do?¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    Even with the assurance of doing nothing, the faces of the three researchers were filled with anxiety.

    Unfortunately, they had only one future left.

    A sacrifice to calm the aftermath of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯.

    ¡®But how can I lure the Cult members here?¡¯

    It¡¯s better to consume it while the effects of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯ persist.

    It¡¯s an opportunity to obtain valuable traits in the psychic category.

    ¡°I remember each surveince team had a total of three members.¡±

    If I could pull all three simultaneously, it would be ideal, but the probability was low.

    ¡®One must always remain in the control room.¡¯

    The original n was to lure Cult members into the Gic storage using the researchers and inject the parasite in them when they arrived.

    But after seeing the list, I decided to change my ns slightly.

    ¡®If I acquire traits from Metallic Gremlin, I can be more proactive.¡¯

    Metallic Gremlins possess a trait like an EMP that disrupts all the machinery in their vicinity.

    With that trait, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to seize not only one Cult member but also control the management room.

    So, deliberately increasing the chance of extracting good traits, I requested multiple samples per organism.

    There were a total of 8 samples each for Metallic Gremlin and ¡®that¡¯ in the storage.

    Meaning, I had 8 opportunities to acquire the traits of those creatures each.

    ¡®Of course, if all I get is dwarfism, it¡¯s a total loss

    However, even with dwarfism, I could deploy various strategies, like navigating through venttion ducts or ambushing enemies by hiding in human corpses. In this Monument, where there were many spaces essible to small bodies, dwarfism wasn¡¯t a bad trait for assaulting the building.

    ¡®The problem is, in this game, once you acquire a trait, you can¡¯t discard it.¡¯

    Unless the transcendent system eliminates the dwarfism trait, I¡¯ll be unable to exceed 1m in height until I reach ascendant.

    With numerous adversaries ahead, some needing to be subdued by force, dealing with them alone won¡¯t be easy with a small stature.

    ¡®Though I don¡¯t n on acquiring it anyway.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ve brought them.¡±

    While pondering how to handle Cult members, the team leader returned.

    He ced the capsule containing the samples on a stainless steel table.

    ¡®Great. Shall we begin then?¡¯

    I activated the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯.

    ¡°Eek?!¡±

    As my body rapidly grew, the researchers inside the Gic storage gasped in awe. My exoskeleton covered my eyes, and my horn grew evenrger. My body swelled, reaching nearly 5m from the initial 3m. Thanks to the tail¡¯s corresponding ergement, thebined length of my body and tail nearly approached 10m. Combat-ready arms sprouted, resembling shields at the wrists and two bone-ded arms emerged from my back.

    ¡°Grrrr¡­¡±

    I growled softly, feeling the overwhelming sensation throughout my body.

    One of the overwhelmed researchers seemed on the verge of fainting, whimpering,

    ¡°Uhh¡­¡±

    Then came the rising smell of ammonia. But no one med him; they all had identical expressions.

    Ignoring their reactions, I used my smaller arm to pick up the capsule containing the samples.

    The surface of the capsule was inscribed with the words ¡®Skywhale¡¯.

    ¡®Shall we unlock a new type then?¡¯

    I needed the traits of ¡®that,¡¯ the Skywhale, the most. I ced the capsule with the gic samples of Skywhale in my mouth. The capsule broke inside, and the essence of the gic material permeated my body.

    ¡®Alright. Sess¡­¡¯

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully Obtained ¡®Space Flight (Iplete)¡¯ gic essence.]

    [Extracted ¡®Space Flight (Iplete)¡¯ from the biological traits of ¡®Skywhale¡¯.]

    [Do you want to apply ¡®Space Flight (Iplete)¡¯?]

    [Note: Cheats are not allowed.]

    [An urgent message has arrived.]

    As always when the predation effect urred, a semi-transparent text box appeared. This time, it contained additional information.

    ¡®What? No cheats allowed? Seriously?¡¯

    I hurriedly opened the urgent message.

    [When the predation effect is triggered for a sample during the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯, only Iplete units of gic essence will be obtained. Topletely acquire a trait, the predation effect targeting the same trait from the same sample must ur twice.]

    [Note: This is for bncing the Transcendence System.]

    ¡®Crazy.¡¯

    I have faced a lot of adversities since I arrived in this world. At the beginning I had panicked because of the unfamiliar body and struggled to survive against those adversities.

    Furthermore, there were situations unfamiliar to me in the game, and I had found myself in danger.

    But I, as the sole yer among the Amorphs who had entered the ranker level, utilized my experience and knowledge I gained over a long time of ying as an Amorph to ovee obstacles.

    Hence, I had forgotten that Space Survival was an insanely challenging game.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 80

    Chapter 80

    Space Survival is a game known for its expansive universe, diverse races, and high level of freedom, making it appealing to sci-fi enthusiasts. While it¡¯s a game that caters well to fans of the genre, it, like many online games, faced issues, particrly in its management.

    The team behind Space Survival had a notorious reputation for being more dysfunctional than any other game¡¯s developers. Given the game¡¯s characteristics, bncing issues were rampant.

    For instance,paring Cultists who rarely show any weakness from the beginning to end and the Amorphs who are challenging to y from the very beginning, there was a clear imbnce. Despite this, there were very few instances where the developers adjusted the bnce.

    I, too, had a fondness for Amorphs, which allowed me to rank up and experience the endings. If it hadn¡¯t been the case, I might have quit.

    ¡®But this¡­ they changed right away?¡¯

    It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen such a prompt response from the management amidst all the bnceints.

    ¡®Cheating.¡¯

    There were simr incidents in past games. MegaCorp operates multiple colonials to recruit employees. Somes resemble Earth with familiar environments, while others are fantastical. However, they all have restrictions, be it tangible or intangible, making it impossible for them to resist MegaCorp¡¯s dominance. Employees on theses had poor armaments or thecked advanced civilizations.

    ¡®In other words, these are ces where gathering gic essence is remarkably easy.¡¯

    Hence, I once roamed only on these colonials, gathering gic essence. On a day when I raided about threes simultaneously, an urgent notice appeared in the game. They imed an unforeseen situation urred and immediate adjustments were necessary.

    At that time, themunity buzzed with spection, yet no one knew precisely what had changed.

    ¡®It had to happen.¡¯

    They didn¡¯t y as an Amorph after all like I did. Unlike them, I could immediately discern what the issue was.

    The next day, I attacked colonials to harvest numerous gic essences, but the instances of the predation effect were extremely rare among them. It meant that the administration had adjusted the probability of the predation effect being triggered by employees of these colonials to be extremely low.

    ¡®Even after devouring dozens of employees here, only one trait emerged.¡¯

    Anyway, having experienced something simr before, this situation didn¡¯t feel that unfamiliar to me. However, as a human, I couldn¡¯t help feeling extremely unsettled.

    ¡®They talk about development intentions and leave other things uncorrected, yet they swiftly modify this.¡¯

    If this continues, I will have to change my ns again. If the traits keep appearing iplete even after consuming samples, it won¡¯t be worth it.

    ¡®¡­Let¡¯s just take this for now.¡¯

    I epted the offer to obtain the Space Flight trait. As indicated by ¡®Iplete,¡¯ there was no noticeable change in my body.

    I felt a sense of disappointment and irritation at the fact, pondering on what to do next.

    ¡®The samples need to be consumed after the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯ ends. That¡¯s when there¡¯s at least a possibility¡­ huh?¡¯

    At that moment, a semi-transparent text box appeared once again.

    [New unread message has arrived. Would you like to read it?]

    There were no words indicating that it was an urgent message or the like.

    ¡®Last time, a simr message came regarding the transcendence system.¡¯

    Upon checking, my anticipation was correct.

    [¡®Transcendence¡¯ Material List: Form Mimicry, Pheromone Enhancement, irvoyance, Hallucination (Not acquired)]

    [¡®Transcendence¡¯ Material List (New!): Wings, Endurance, Space Flight, Gigantism (Not acquired), Hijacking (Not acquired)]

    Sure enough, it was a guide suggesting the creation of a new unique trait using the transcendence system.

    ¡®Who¡¯s trying to trick me now?¡¯

    Suppressing the rising irritation, I attempted to dismiss the text box.

    ¡®Wait?¡¯

    At that moment, a single idea shed across my mind.

    I revisited the text box.

    ¡®Why Space Flight?¡¯

    The transcendence material list marks the traits I don¡¯t possess as ¡®Not acquired.¡¯ Gigantism and Hijacking are traits that I don¡¯t have and are separately indicated as such. However, there¡¯s no additional indication for Space Flight.

    Realizing this fact, I deduced a possibility.

    ¡®Could it be that the transcendence materials can be used for traits I haven¡¯tpletely acquired?¡¯

    I revisited the previous message regarding the transcendence system.

    ?¡¯Transcendence¡¯ System: Merges three or more possessed traits into a new ¡®unique¡¯ trait. The newly acquired trait is entirely new and previously non-existent.?

    It was the message I received back then. The tooltip mentions merging ¡®possessed traits,¡¯ not specifically ¡®usable traits.¡¯

    ¡®I can¡¯t use Wings, but if they¡¯re included in the materials, there might be a chance.¡¯

    If traits rendered unusable due to restrictions are included, couldn¡¯t Space Flight be used as a transcendence material?

    ¡®An intriguing hypothesis.¡¯

    If so, the paths ahead split into two for me.

    First, to gather transcendence materials by manifesting the predation effect in the state of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯.

    ¡®Gigantism and Highjacking might be possible with a stroke of luck.¡¯

    Gigantism can be obtained from the Skywhales, and Highjacking is a fusion trait, that can acquired from the Metallic Gremlins.

    ¡®I need to merge the Dexterity trait with the Interference trait.¡¯

    Of course, fusion traits can only be made with fully functional traits, so my trick might not work.

    ¡®I need to acquire the Interference trait twice to use it as a material.¡¯

    That¡¯s as far as the first option goes.

    ¡®The other choice is simply waiting for the effect of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯ to end and then take the samples.¡¯

    ¡®In this case, acquiring apletely usable trait solely depends on triggering the predation effect, but the downside is that the probability of triggering it will be very low. If luck isn¡¯t on my side, even consuming all the samples here might not yield me a single trait.¡¯

    I looked down at the samples.

    ¡®What should I do?¡¯

    After a brief contemtion, I made a decision.

    ¡®Let¡¯s consume one right now.¡¯

    In a situation where both options rely on luck, acquiring a trait through the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯ appeared to be less risky. At least, even if luck doesn¡¯t favor me, I would at least get some iplete traits.

    I picked up a sample and swallowed it.

    With a gurgling sound, a text box appeared signifying the predation effect.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Energy Absorption¡¯ gic essence]

    ¡®Energy Absorption.¡¯

    Skywhales are creatures that periodically appear on various forest or ocean types though the probability is quite low. Their appearance includes eight eyes and wings disying multiple opalescent colors. They are colossal in size, reaching a minimum of over 50 metres.

    Skywhales spend their lives in the sky, except for three instances: when they¡¯re born, when they give birth, and when they die. Unlike typical animals, they don¡¯t acquire energy through meals. Lacking a proper digestive system, they utilize the energy absorption trait to draw energy for survival from natural sources like light, air, and moisture in clouds.

    While it might seem like an excellent ability, it¡¯s not suitable for an Amorph.

    ¡®If I acquire Energy Absorption, my mouth and digestive system would deteriorate.¡¯

    Amorph gains traits and nutrients by consuming its prey and digesting the gic essence within them. If I apply Energy Absorption, the side effect would result in the loss of my mouth and digestive system, effectively eliminating my means of obtaining gic essence.

    I¡¯ve had incidents before where I unknowingly received Energy Absorption, which then blocked further evolution, forcing me to restart as an Amorph again.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    Normally, I shouldn¡¯t ept this trait, but since the circumstances have slightly changed.

    ¡®And I have the transcendence system.¡¯

    Even if it¡¯s currently not useful for me, there¡¯s a possibility it could be used as transcendence material.

    ¡®I know thebinations for fusion traits, but¡­¡¯

    The newly updated transcendence system is still an uncharted territory for me.

    ¡®If it¡¯s Iplete, it won¡¯t have any effect, so applying it shouldn¡¯t be an issue.¡¯

    The fact that iplete traits don¡¯t trigger effects has already been proven through the Space Flight trait.

    After much deliberation, I epted the Energy Absorption trait. As expected, there were no changes in my mouth or in my insides.

    Having received Energy Absorption, I continued to ingest the samples. Upon consuming the fifth sample capsule, the predation effect triggered.

    The trait I obtained was ¡®Robust Vitality,¡¯ a trait I previously acquired through cockroaches.

    ¡®Since I already have regeneration, I don¡¯t really need it¡­¡¯

    If there are two simr traits, only the effect of the better one applies. With sufficient physical-rted traits already, there¡¯s no need to consume a lesser-performing trait like Robust Vitality, apart from it being a material for regeneration.

    ¡®Just in case, though.¡¯

    While in the game, traits evaluated as not useful might have undisclosed purposes, as evidenced by the Wings being used as transcendence materials.

    Subsequently acquiring Robust Vitality, I found myself with only one Skywhale sample left.

    Honestly, it was a slightly disappointing oue.

    ¡®No, gathering materials isn¡¯t so bad. Let¡¯s find significance in that.¡¯

    Without much expectation, upon consuming the final sample, a new trait emerged.

    [Predation effect triggered! Sessfully obtained ¡®Gigantism (Iplete)¡¯ gic essence from the ¡®Skywhale.¡¯]

    [Extracted ¡®Gigantism (Iplete)¡¯ from the biological trait ¡®Skywhale.¡¯]

    [Do you want to apply ¡®Gigantism (Iplete)¡¯?]

    If it were Space Flight, I would have acquired aplete trait, but unfortunately, it was a different trait.

    ¡®Gigantism.¡¯

    Gigantism is a universal trait possessed by every colossal creature with a size exceeding 50 metres.¡±

    This trantion aims to convey the details and nuances of the original text for English readers.

    ¡°The owner of the sample I just consumed, the Skywhale or the quasi-embryo-like ck Gagon, possesses the trait of Gigantism.

    ¡®Having this trait would have allowed me to use the Gigantification technique, what a pity.¡¯

    Simr to how the Monstrous Tentacle trait enables the Psychic Breath, acquiring the Gigantism trait allows transformation into a special state of Gigantification.

    ¡®Upon Gigantification, I could grow to around 20 meters tall and be incredibly powerful.¡¯

    Despite being limited to once a week, once Gigantified, I be significantly formidable. It¡¯s not just about size; my physical abilities also scale up proportionally. A Gigantified Amorph would possess immense strength, enough to face a warship or even an entire city without flinching.

    Furthermore, the Predation Effect doubles the efficacy of traits and type effectiveness. If I had the Gigantism trait in this state, I could easily exceed 50 meters. That would truly disy a majestic presence worthy of the term ¡®Space Monster.¡¯

    ¡®Sigh. Regrettable, but inevitable.¡¯ That was the end of the Skywhale sample.

    From eight Skywhale samples, I acquired four traits: Space Flight, Gigantism, Energy Absorption for material, and Robust Vitality.

    ¡®If only there weren¡¯t any limits, it would have been a significant harvest.¡¯

    Obtaining four traits from a single creature is remarkable.

    ¡®¡­It¡¯s in the past now. There¡¯s no use getting annoyed.¡¯

    I shook my head to dispel irritation and reached for the remaining samples to consume.

    At that moment, the sub-mandible auxiliary device beneath my jaw trembled.

    Simultaneously, rapid scenes shed in my mind.

    [The female cultist says, ¡®Something seems suspicious.¡¯]

    [The male cultist asks, ¡®What?¡¯]

    [The female cultist shakes her head at the camera. ¡®The head of the autopsy team visited the gic vault but hasn¡¯t returned from the cryogenic vault.¡¯]

    [The male cultist responds, ¡®Huh? Why would they go in there?¡¯]

    [The female cultist continues, ¡®I don¡¯t know. Also, other researchers went in earlier, but they haven¡¯te out yet.¡¯]

    [The male cultist stands up. ¡®I¡¯ll go check. If it seems odd, I¡¯ll report to the higher-ups.¡¯]

    The scene ended with the male cultist with ram horns exiting the dark room.

    ¡®Oh no.¡¯

    I thought it had passed without incident, but it hadn¡¯t.

    ¡®That female cultist has a keen sense.¡¯

    Initially, the fire incident didn¡¯t raise much concern, but observing the odd behavior of the head of the autopsy team aroused suspicion.

    ¡®The Third Central Control Room is nearby.¡¯

    In about five minutes, the male cultist will arrive here. Capturing the male cultist itself isn¡¯t particrly challenging. I¡¯m currently strengthened by the effect of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯.

    ¡®The issue arises after dealing with the male cultist.¡¯

    If the cultists aren¡¯t in contact, that perceptive female cultist won¡¯t just stand by. She¡¯ll undoubtedly contact the higher authorities, the First Central Control Room, or the Monument Security Team.

    ¡®I need to neutralize the cameras.¡¯

    For that, I need a trait possessed by the Metallic Gremlins.

    I inserted the Metallic Gremlin samples into my mouth, and as the capsules passed through my throat, the gic essence inside seeped into my system. Every time the essence dissolved, a text box appeared in front of me.

    Dwarfism, Dwarfism, Metal Absorption¡­

    It didn¡¯t start well. After multiple Dwarfism traits, the third was Metal Absorption, which I already had. I acquired Dwarfism as a material and cancelled the rest.

    Next, when I consumed the fourth capsule, the anticipated Electromaic Interference trait appeared.

    ¡®Great. Just once more.¡¯

    Obtaining Interference one more time would allow me to acquire aplete trait. However, despite consuming two more samples, no predation effect appeared. I now had only two chances left, and at this point, I began to feel anxious.

    ¡®Should I go with the initial n?¡¯

    Suddenly, I thought it might be better to go for the method of infesting and controlling the cultists.

    ¡®But that keen female cultist might be onto something.¡¯

    As seen in William¡¯s case, parasites aren¡¯t foolproof. While the male cultist may sumb, if that sensitive female cultist suspects anything unusual with her colleague, I might end up back where I started.

    ¡®That¡¯s not all. If caught with the ¡®Parasitic colony¡¯ trait, the situation will get even worse.¡¯

    Contemting how to handle the female cultist, I swallowed the seventh sample.

    And then, the text box appeared.

    [Predation effect triggered! Sessfully obtained ¡®Electromaic Interference(Iplete)¡¯ gic essence from the ¡®Metallic Gremlin.¡¯]

    [Extracting ¡®Electromaic Interference(Iplete)¡¯ from the biological trait ¡®Metallic Gremlin.¡¯]

    [Would you like to apply ¡®Electromaic Interference (Iplete)¡¯?]

    [Electromaic Interference: Emits waves causing temporary malfunctions in devices powered by electricity.]

    Thepleted trait spoke to me. There¡¯s no need for further contemtion.

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 Chapter 81

    Chapter 81

    [Interference¡¯ trait has been applied.]

    [Possible fusion with existing ¡®dexterity¡¯ trait.]

    [Integration of ¡®Interference¡¯ and ¡®Dexterity¡¯ traits. Evolved into ¡®Hijacking¡¯ trait!]

    [Hijacking: Inherits the effect of the Interference trait. Can briefly control electronic devices within a 10-metre range. Limited to one device at a time and cannot be used on cyborgs.]

    [Postscript: Humans unable to use machinery in the space age are akin to primitives.]

    Upon applying the newly acquired fusion trait, a mutation urred in the body or more precisely the back area of the body.

    Previously Other than two arms adorned with bone des and the wings, there was nothing else. New organs emerged from the spot which earlier was just tough skin.

    Thin tes which were unstructured and rugged grew in two rows along the spine. These tes protruded from the back to just before the tail¡¯s spiky hair, the tes were deep ck in color, in fact it was so ck that it looked like refined obsidian shards had adorned the back, absorbing every spec of light reflection on it.

    This was Originally a passive trait that Metallic Gremlins had, but when I absorbed it, it changed itself into an entirely different form. With just these tes, I could malfunction the machines nearby

    ¡®Let¡¯s try it out.¡¯

    In the gaming context, this ability had been used multiple times by the yers, but this was the first time someone was going to use it in reality. Half-leaning forward, I focused on the sensation on my back. I applied force to the back, as if trying to move the spine, making the tes tremble.

    ¡°Zzzz¡­..Zzzz¡±

    The tes made a peculiar noise as they trembled, sounding like a distant cicada¡¯s cry. A very faint sound, yet within ity a fundamentally different and eerie dissonance than typical animal sounds. If an ordinary person heard this sound for long, it would surely lead to difort due to its dissonance.

    However, the true value of the tes wasn¡¯t the unsettling noise it produced. I who was strengthened by the effects of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯ could sense it. Sonic Waves that were disrupting all the machines nearby emanated from the tes.

    If someone here could read the flow or wavelengths of electricity, they might have seen what was happening on my tes. As the waves emitted by the tes spread, the lights in the refrigeration unit began to flicker, and eventually turned off.

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    ¡°Everyone, stay calm!¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t see anything!¡±

    The refrigeration unit plunged into darkness in an instant,causing the researchers to scream in panic.

    ¡®Next is hijacking.¡¯

    I checked the surroundings through my developed auxiliary organ, there was no movement from the male cultist. To finish the experiment before his arrival, I focused on the terminal next to the refrigeration unit. Coborating my auxiliary organ and tes, I searched through the subtle electrical signals flowing into the terminal, seeking the control signal originating from somewhere above.

    Finally, the frequency that pinpointed the target became sharp scissors, cutting off the control signal. Subsequently, the frequency mimicked the control signal, adjusting itself to a simr form. It aimed to rece the missing control signal.

    As the frequency turned into a new control signal, information regarding terminal maniption flowed into my auxiliary system.

    ¡®Open simsim.¡¯

    With mymand, the door to the refrigeration unit swung open. The ¡®Hijacking¡¯ trait, as the name suggests, had an ¡®appropriation¡¯ effect on electronic devices. Normally, this door required ID card authentication, but not now. The control was in my hands.

    With this trait, hijacking a spacecraft would be possible, theoretically. Of course, the limited time frame makes practical application challenging, despite the extended duration due to the effects of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯. The actual control time for hijacking is three minutes.

    Ironically, due to its brief control time, hijacking is often used for purposes other than seizing a spacecraft.

    ¡®Infiltration, perfect for espionage.¡¯

    [Note:- Espionage: the practice of spying or of using spies, typically by governments to obtain political and military information.]

    Being able to counter electronic devices in this high-tech building filled with advanced gadgets would be incredibly advantageous. Originally, I nned a slow takeover as a parasite, but with hijacking, the scope of the operation widened significantly. Not having to worry about surveince devices like cameras is a huge advantage.

    ¡®Okay. Hold off on the transcendence trait until it¡¯s safe.¡¯

    I made up my mind and then eased off the pressure on my back. As the frequencies emitted from the tes vanished, the trait effect dissipated, and everything returned to normal.

    ¡®Conditions for the transcendence system are met.¡¯

    However, I have no intention of creating it immediately. Two reasons hold me back.

    ¡®First, I don¡¯t know what unique trait will emerge.¡¯

    A unique trait created by the transcendental system is apletely new ability that didn¡¯t previously exist. While it might be immensely powerful, not knowing what trait will arise is a problem.

    ¡®Moreover, I have to consider the penalties.¡¯

    In my previous encounter with the transcendental system, my wings and tactile organs were restricted. While I could deal with the wings, the tactile organs were crucial for hunting in the city. Having them restricted forced aplete overhaul of my established city raiding methods.

    ¡®I have no idea what penalty this unique trait might bring with it¡¯

    If luck is against me, it might restrict the traits that I frequently use, like the parasitic colony or the neurotoxin nds. Hence, I need to decide carefully.

    ¡®On the other hand, the hijacking trait immediately aids in assaulting monuments and can be of big help.¡¯

    Having counter abilities against electronic devices in this high-rise building filled with advanced technology speaks for itself.

    ¡®I originally nned to slowly infiltrate as a parasite, but¡­¡¯

    With hijacking, the operation¡¯s scope has widened significantly. Not having to fear cameras and other surveince devices is a big advantage.

    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s Hold off on the transcendence trait until it¡¯s in a safe state.¡±

    Having made my decision, I rose to my feet. A sense of someone¡¯s presence was felt in the corridor outside the refrigeration unit.

    ¡®It¡¯s time to prepare to wee our guest.¡¯

    I turned around and saw that the jittery researchers were still there. They still had work to do.

    ¡°Andre, along with his colleague Anna, belonged to the cultists that migrated to MegaCorp. Just as MegaCorp was the battleground of seven families, the cult too had been gued by internal strife.

    ¡®Ugh, this is tiresome, everywhere.¡¯

    Wherever there are sentient beings, there will inevitably be conflicts. Despite being an outsider, Andre knew what was going on in the MegaCorp. They might call themselves a council or something grand, but in reality, it was nothing more than vile squabbles for selfish desires.

    He had changed his name during childhood when they were immigrating, but now, he doubted if continuing to work in this city was the right choice.

    ¡°What trouble is this because of these barbaric primates? Tsk.¡±

    He clicked his tongue and stepped out of the elevator. The refrigeration unit was just down this corridor.

    He waved at the cameras in the corridor as he passed by. Thinking of his fellow cultist Anna made Andre feel a bit better.

    ¡°Come to think of it, Jete used to talk a lot.¡±

    Thinking of his fellow, a former coworker who suddenly submitted resignation before the council meeting and vanished.

    ¡°She was a good friend¡­ huh?¡±

    Andre, walking down the corridor, felt an odd sensation. The orderly corridor with bright silver metal panels was the same as usual, yet he found the usual appearance of the corridor strangely unfamiliar. An unidentifiable unease filled the space.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    If he had continued to live within the cult¡¯s nature, he might have easily recognized the sensation he was experiencing. It was a warning.

    ¡°Why is it so cold?¡±

    Andre, with his arms covered in goosebumps, walked slowly down the corridor. Arriving at the refrigeration unit at the end of the corridor, he pulled out the Mastercard for the third central control room. The door opened with a short mechanical sound, releasing a chilly air which was iparable to before.

    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s freezing.¡±

    Despite the extreme cold, the cooling system itself seemed fine. Stepping inside the storage, he called out to the researchers.

    ¡°Hey!¡±

    There was no response. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, he quickly picked up themunication device.

    ¡°Third Central Control, Andre here! Can anyone hear me?¡±

    [Zzzzt Zzzzt]

    ¡°Third Central Control, Andr¨¦ here. A strange anomaly has urred. This¡­!¡±

    Apart from the static sound, there was no response on themunication device. Andre intended to go outside to signal the cameras, but he heard a sound nearby.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±

    ¡°Uh, uh¡­¡±

    ¡°Is that a researcher?¡±

    ¡°Uh, uh!¡±

    The source of the sound was the agonized groans of a human male. Andre followed the sound.

    Under the bluish light reminiscent of ice, he saw a body hanging loosely on a metal ring from the ceiling, fragments of an organism scattered haphazardly on a metal table. Even for Andre, who wasn¡¯t human, it was a spine-chilling sight.

    Finally passing arge creature lying on a stainless steel table, he saw two people.

    One person copsed in a bloody state, and beside them, another researcher was kneeling on the ground, appearing clueless and attempting to apply pressure to the fallen colleague.

    ¡°Yikes! Are you okay?¡±

    The floor and the researcher¡¯s hands werepletely drenched in blood.

    Suppressing a gasp, Andre hurriedly picked up themunication device again to attemptmunication. However, the device continued to emit static noise.

    The kneeling researcher sought help from Andre.

    ¡°Please, help us!¡±

    Responding to the urgent plea, Andre quickly approached the fallen researcher to assess their condition.

    ¡°There¡¯s too much bleeding! We need to get to the hospital upstairs immediately!¡±

    In Andre¡¯s eyes, the fallen researcher was in a critical state, and themunication device was not functioning.

    ¡°The wounds are too severe to move him right away.¡±

    In an attempt to stop the bleeding, Andre pressed firmly on the researcher¡¯s wounds.

    ¡°I¡¯ll watch him. Quickly, go get someone for help¡­¡±

    He shouted at the researcher to go call for medical assistance, but the researcher behind didn¡¯t move. The unexpected response shattered Andre¡¯s expectations.

    ¡°Uh, s-sorry¡­¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    The researcher¡¯s sudden apology puzzled Andre. At that moment, therge creature lying on the table behind him wriggled.

    ***

    ¡°He has been gone for a long time now, what¡¯s happening there?¡±

    Anna, who was sitting in the control room, picked up themunication device. It had been a few minutes since Andre had left, and yet there was no response from the colleague she was trying to call.

    It took a while for the signal noise to be picked up by the colleague.

    ¡°Why weren¡¯t you answering? What¡¯s happening downstairs?¡±

    [Uh, no-thing, I-am, go-ing, up.]

    ¡°Really? But thismunication device seems a bit off. Static sounds keeps interrupting. Get it checked when youe up.¡±

    [Yeah.]

    The transmission ended, and Anna checked the cameras again. The corridor in front of the refrigeration unit¡ªher colleague was waiting¡ªsuddenly distorted on the camera screen.

    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯

    She tapped the monitor slightly, and it returned to normal. However, the camera screens started flickering one by one.

    ¡®Why is this happening?¡¯

    Annoyed, Anna grabbed themunication device to contact the maintenance team. Just as she was about to press the call button, the camera screen blinked once and then returned to normal.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    The corridor in the screen appeared unchanged from before. But Anna was certain. Just before the screen restored, she saw something pass by¡ªa ck object.

    ¡®What was that?¡¯

    Anna put down themunication device and operated theputer. Eventually, holographic records of the errors and subsequent restorations appeared in the air.

    Arranging the holograms in a row, Anna scrutinized them closely. Above the bright silver corridors captured by the cameras, there seemed to be nothing. Except for one spot.

    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯

    In the corner of the screen, there was something small. It resembled a long, pointed thorn-like object. Those thorns were slightly different in position but were present on all the screens.

    As Anna leaned closer to examine it further on the camera, a beep sounded¡ªthe sound of the terminal checking the master card.

    At this time, there was only one person expected toe to the Third Central Control¡ªher colleague, Andr¨¦, who had gone downstairs to investigate.

    ¡°What¡¯s taken you so long?¡±

    As Anna turned around to say a word, a sudden thought struck her.

    ¡®Come to think of it, why wasn¡¯t anything visible on the cameras?¡¯

    Even while she was reviewing the records, the cameras were continuously active. Yet, there was no footage of Andr¨¦ing here.

    The door opened with the sound of air escaping.

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 Chapter 82

    Chapter 82

    The meeting room in the Skyscraper Monument.

    It was the fifth day since the council meeting began. The team leaders in the room all had their heads down, lips tightly sealed. There have been several gatherings since the council meeting began, but the atmosphere today was particrly sombre, all due to the presence of La, the city¡¯s ruler,who was currently sitting at the main seat.

    ¡°The council meeting has been aplete failure for the past five days.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to mention whose fault it is, right?¡±

    Someone in the room audibly gulped at La¡¯s deration. There were two people who yed a pivotal role in this council meeting¡¯s impasse for the T&C.

    One was Akira Yujin, the patriarch of the Yujin family and the ruler of MegaCorp, who was actively walking and lobbying outside the conference room.

    ¡°He¡¯s acting like a desperate beggar. It¡¯s an unspoken rule in the MegaCorp that the CEO doesn¡¯t attend the council meetings.¡±

    Electioneering for the CEO or CEO candidates in MegaCorp is illegal byw. Of course, just because it¡¯s defined byw doesn¡¯t mean everyoneplied with it.

    [PR/N- Electioneering(of a politician or political campaigner) means to take part actively and energetically in a campaign to be elected into a public office.]

    Before the elections or even during them, all families lobby people covertly. Since everyone engages in it, it¡¯s more of a ¡°hush-hush¡± thing, where all the families tend to hide it and feign ignorance despite knowing about it.

    But Akira crossed the line, he openly met the elders from the other families to strike deals, promising what he¡¯d give in exchange for their votes.

    Though La protested against this tant illegality, it was thwarted by the intervention of the pro-Akira faction which was led by Wei Zhao. If That was exhausting enough, a more serious problem loomed.

    ¡°Those damned Thompson zealots!¡±

    Personnel from the Thompson family, one of the two families that constitute the T&C, were actively hindering her. They weed the idea of a CEOing from the T&C but opposed it being Samdam Chambelin.

    Presently, the Chambelins were leading with a 6 to 4 ratio in the hierarchy between the two families.

    If Samdam became the CEO, the gap between both the families would significantly widen. Therefore, Thompson¡¯s people were engaging in all sorts of misconduct towards the people from Prime Capital in the city.

    T&C was a union of two families, namely the Thompsons and the Chambelins. Despite Chambelin¡¯s im that they were different from the Thompsons, to the outsiders, both were seen as one. Whenever the Thompsons made a mess, the image of the Chambelins got affected too.

    Thompson¡¯s problem was a dilemma even for her father, who is called as the Snake in the political world. If he also was having a problem solving it, then naturally, it was a problem she couldn¡¯t solve either.

    ¡°If this continues, I¡¯ll be stripped of the position of the administrator of this city, and if a new administrator arrives, all of you who were appointed by me will also be expelled.¡±

    It was true. Apart from her current predicament, T&C expelled anyone deemed ipetent. If La were to be ousted, all of the personnel she appointed would either be banished to the fringes or would need to find different jobs.

    ¡°We believe there is no one who is looking forward to such a future, Administrator!¡±

    All the team managers rose from their seats, and shouted fervently.

    La nodded silently. She deliberately kept her demeanour firm during these challenging times. If she lost her dignity, those present here would undoubtedly consider other options.

    ¡°But the fundamental issue remains unresolved.¡±

    She needed a breakthrough. Her gaze fell on the Head of the Dissection department, who was present at this gathering for the first time.

    ¡°Dissection Department team manager.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes!¡±

    Hisplexion had turned pale even before entering the meeting room, and as La called his name, he straightened his back and responded.

    ¡°Have you registered the gic data extracted from the monster?¡±

    ¡°Ah, not yet.¡±

    As per the protocol, whenever a new organism is discovered, its gic data should be registered in the MegaCorp Data Archive. However, some entities treated gic information as corporate secrets, like the Yujin or the Eden family, and often refrained from registering them.

    After a brief pause, La spoke again,

    ¡°Hold off on the registration, but continue on the research. I¡¯ll take the responsibility.¡±

    ¡°Ah, understood.¡±

    ¡°And can the current research progress, be presented immediately?¡±

    ¡°Yes? Uh, well, if I prepare, it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Then have it ready by tomorrow afternoon and report it to me. If the results are satisfactory, we¡¯ll present it alongside introducing the new business segment during the council meeting.¡±

    La¡¯s bombshell deration surprised all the team managers. As the city¡¯s administrator, La was known for her overly cautious nature, she always scrutinized all business endeavours before proceeding. Hence, everyone was astonished at her sudden decision to initiate a new project.

    ¡°I¡¯m only going to give a general introduction, so there¡¯s no need to feel pressured. There are many things to review regarding the project, such as the budget and workforce, so we will review those aspects step by step after the presentation.

    ¡°Yes, understood!¡±

    Envious gazes were cast upon the Head of the Dissection department by all team managers due to La¡¯s radical yet impable decision. Given that if the results were favourable, the Head of Dissection department¡¯s promotion was as good as guaranteed.

    ¡°Congrattions to you Dissection department team manager.¡±

    ¡°T-Thank you.¡±

    The Biological Management team manager who was sitting beside the Head of Dissection department expressed envy through his facial expression, extendingpliments to him. Despite the widespread envy, the Head of Dissection department appeared as though he were dying inside.

    ¡°What did I do to deserve this agony?¡±

    He inwardly cursed at himself. Even now, the dreadful parasites nestled inside his head. But he couldn¡¯t speak it. He¡¯d witnessed cultists being devoured by the monster, his only desire was to live a long, healthy life. Wealth and power could only go so far if one met a gruesome end.

    ¡°Let¡¯s proceed, then.¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    Coughing slightly, La, feeling fatigued from the council meeting, coughed once andmenced the meeting.

    ***

    ¡®There was no Predation effect this time.¡¯

    Feeling regretful, I scratched my teeth with my elongated nails. It¡¯s been five days since I entered this building, and so far, I¡¯ve devoured a total of seven cultists. On the first day, I hunted down a cultist from the Third Central Management. I slept the entire time on the second day due to the aftereffects of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯.

    From the third day onwards, I resumed my hunting, consuming two cultists each day until today. The targets were all cultists affiliated with the control rooms.

    ¡®Defeating cultists from the third to the sixth management rooms wasn¡¯t challenging¡¯

    The third room was an exception, where only two cultists worked. The rest, from the fourth to the sixth rooms, had three cultists each. I devoured all but left one in each room. And the reason for it was : to convert them into new minions.

    ¡®I¡¯ll need someone to handle the retirements.¡¯

    If it was any other time, the HR team might have suspected, but not this time. The workload from the council meeting resulted in voluntary retirements, and HR didn¡¯t question the numerous resignations from the control rooms.

    ¡®The council meeting is oddly working in my favor.¡¯

    Apparently, due to the increased workload from the council meeting, cultists were volunteering to retire. Consequently, HR didn¡¯t find the sudden rise in retirements suspicious.

    I did a check on their working conditionsst night, but by then, everything was already done. Cultists from the Third to the Fifth Central Management rooms and even the remaining ones in the Sixth Central Management rooms are all my ves now.

    Today, I consumed two cultists from the Sixth Central Management, turning one into a minion.

    ¡®Is it over?¡¯

    Ana, who had been waiting while I had my meal, asked me. Standing next to her was the cultist from the Sixth Central Management, who had recently been infected by the parasite, wearing a mncholic expression. He seemed quite ufortable with the fact that he had passed on his colleague.

    ¡®I was disappointed too.¡¯

    From the fourth day onwards, I hunted the cultists without using the bait effect since I ran out of prey once the bait effect wore off.

    ¡®I emptied the freezer on the third day, so there was no choice.¡¯

    Hence, I couldn¡¯t disy as much predatory effect as I had hoped.

    ¡®But no, I gained new fusion traits and unlocked a new type, so it¡¯s still beneficial.¡¯

    Among the acquired samples, researchers, and cultists, there were quite a few traits obtained. Among those, two traits were usable: ¡®Ghost ws,¡¯ a fusion trait of ¡®Predator ws¡¯ which I already possessed, and a trait acquired by killing a cultist called ¡®Psychic Whips.¡¯

    The ws at the end of mybat arms had changed their appearance, bing slender like scythes, emitting a bright purple glow.

    ¡®The Ghost ws can easily prate even solid walls.¡¯

    I held a Mastercard that the cultist I just devoured had in his hand. When I exerted force, the card passed through my hand and fell to the ground. While it¡¯d be perfect if the effect covered the entire body, unfortunately, it didn¡¯t.

    The pration was only possible up to the hand. However, it was advantageous when fighting heavily armored foes like the knights of Edgerton or Hulk mutants.

    ¡®Next is ¡®Pain Alleviation.¡¯

    Surprisingly, I acquired this trait on the first day from a researcher affected by the aftermath of the ¡®Symbol of hunt.¡¯

    ¡®Wasn¡¯t it the researcher who advised against marriage?¡¯

    I didn¡¯t know much about his married life, but it didn¡¯t seem peaceful.

    Pain Alleviation is a passive ability that works like a debuff to alleviate negative effects such as panic or seizures that yers suffer from when they receive a fatal injury in the game.¡± It means that even with a fatal injury, it helps maintain sanity.

    ¡®It¡¯s a necessary trait for me.¡¯

    During the battle with the knightst time, when I was shed by his de, I screamed. Thankfully, it was in my favor at the time, but had it been otherwise, I might have been in grave danger.

    ¡®Humans tend to panic when their bodies hurt severely, seeking escape. But my mind is human.¡¯

    ¡®If I have Pain Alleviation, it would decrease the probability of making meaningless choices duringbat.¡¯

    The benefits of the new traits weren¡¯t the only advantages. Since Pain Alleviation is a special form of defense, it¡¯s not in the categories of physical or psychic abilities but an entirely different one. Currently, I¡¯ve unlocked information for four types: physical enhancement, psychic enhancement, infection, and special defense.

    ¡®I need to unlock one more type to progress to the Transcendence Stage 2.¡¯

    To evolve into an Quasi-saint, I need four fully acquired types, not just eating a specific species. The problem lies here. If I evolve to Transcendence Stage 2, I¡¯ll obtain new type information and traits rted to that type, consuming the fusion traits as materials, which reduces the chance of evolving to an Quasi-saint.

    ¡®On the other hand, if I evolve to an Quasi-saint first, I¡¯ll still have to carry the burden from Transcendence Stage 1.¡¯

    I¡¯ll continue umting debts in the form of golden dust if I don¡¯t advance to Transcendence Stage 2.

    ¡®Transcendence Stage 2 or Quasi-saint?¡¯

    Contemting this, I lowered my head.

    ¡®At this point, pondering doesn¡¯t hold much meaning.¡¯

    Neither of the options has fulfilled all conditions. Both are goals that should be attempted after sufficient preparation.

    ¡®It used to be a one-way street in the game.¡¯

    The situation unfolding here is entirely different from the game, which makes it more intriguing than frightening. After reaching the Quasi-saint, I wonder what else awaits. Feeling a slight excitement, I rose to my feet.

    ¡®Now, what¡¯s the n ahead?¡¯

    Whether it¡¯s Transcendence Stage 2 or evolving into an Quasi-saint, gathering gic essence remains a constant. And my primary purpose here is devouring cultists. Pondering over it, I fiddled with the Mastercard, contemting my next steps.

    There are two departments where cultists are mainly stationed.¡¯

    The Central Management offices house the most cultists in the monument. The ces I haven¡¯t targeted yet are the First Central Management office, which manages the Monument¡¯s Central AI Computer, and the Second Central Management office, which manages the amodation of all the guests.

    ¡®There are only three cultists in the First Central Management office, but all of them are formidable opponents, while the Second Central Management has 24 cultists.¡¯

    The former can be considered qualitatively superior, whereas thetter is quantitatively dominant. Especially, wiping out all cultists in the Second Central Management automatically fulfills the condition of eliminating 20 species using psychic powers.

    ¡®The problem is that it¡¯s not easy.¡¯

    Among the cultists in the First and Second Central Management, there are cultists with Soul Links. If someone in the same team gets attacked while they¡¯re working, the rest of the team gets affected immediately.

    ¡®The upper management needs preparation before tackling it.¡¯

    Besides the Central Management, there¡¯s another choice: the Security Team. The Monument Security Teamprises several Wolf agents and a few cultist leaders. It¡¯s a well-bnced division where keen-sensed cultists lead sensitive Wolves, who excel in sniffing out scents and adapting to environmental changes.

    ¡®However, I haven¡¯t fulfilled the conditions for the Wolf and cultist in the evolution yet.¡¯

    Initially, the n was to hunt the Wolves while circling the apartmentplexes in the residential zone. But due to unexpected deviations, I¡¯ve only fulfilled the condition of killing 20 humanoid species.

    ¡®If I tackle the Security Team first, I can simultaneously fulfill the conditions for the shapeshifting species and those using psychic powers.¡¯

    Of course, the number of cultists in the Security Team might not be as many as in the Central Management. Maybe around five at most.

    ¡®But the Security Team can get me out of the Monument.¡¯

    Their role includes monitoring ess to people and items in addition to guarding the building. If I take control of the Security Team, I can easily venture out to the administrative zone. In other words, I can target the cultists from the First and Second Central Management when they leave work.

    ¡®They might be tense at the workce.¡¯

    But will they be as cautious at their homes? Even with keen senses, being ambushed in the mostfortable space is unthinkable. My gaze shifted to the numerous screens installed in the management room.

    The Wolves and cultists from the Monument Security Team were patrolling the corridors captured by the cameras. Chatting casually during patrol, they seemedpletely unaware of the danger they might be in.

    ¡®The next target is the Security Team.¡¯

    Those seemingly calm furry apes are my new prey.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 83

    Chapter 83

    ¡°Hey. It¡¯s patrol time.¡±

    ¡°Already? Alright.¡±

    ¡°Take care.¡±

    Three Wolfs who were in the Monument 7th floor security team office stepped outside together.

    ¡°What was today¡¯s route again?¡±

    ¡°The usual, as always.¡±

    ¡°Oh. I don¡¯t want to go near the guest rooms. I smelled something strange over there.¡±

    ¡°What smell? I didn¡¯t smell anything.¡±

    One Wolf with a dog¡¯s head shook its head as if shivering.

    ¡°It¡¯s the smell of a person sickening and dying. You heard it too. The coughing every night.¡±

    ¡°Ah,e on. People who eat all sorts of fancy food getting sick? Ridiculous.¡±

    ¡°By the way, isn¡¯t something odd happening in the Defense Fleet?¡±

    The Wolf with a cat¡¯s head dismissed the idea of that happening, pping its hands.

    ¡°Defense Fleet? Why would that be?¡±

    ¡°Some soldiers suddenly got weak and went to the hospital. Most of the officers took leave due to illness.¡±

    ¡°Even the officers? What did they eat?¡±

    ¡°A friend went to the hospital, and even there, they didn¡¯t know the reason. Anyway, it¡¯s causing a manpower crisis in the Defense Fleet.¡±

    ¡°Damn manpower issues. It¡¯d be nice if we had fewer overtime hours here.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. I barely go to the entertainment zone; my balls are about to explode.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡±

    They continued their patrol, thoroughly discussing the upper levels of the Monument.

    They were deep into gossiping, realizing the patrol route was nearly done.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got only the 3rd and 4th floors left, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    The 3rd and 4th floors housed the food storage and equipment storage, respectively. Both areas upied entire floors and were inessible to the general public.

    ¡°Hey, sorry, I need to use the restroom.¡±

    ¡°Have your coffee quickly.¡±

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll catch up while you¡¯re on your rounds.¡±

    While the dog Wolf dashed to the restroom, the cat and cheetah Wolfs took the elevator down to the 4th floor.

    As they arrived at the equipment storage, they found a woman standing there.

    She wore a Mastercard from the Third Central Management Office on her chest.

    ¡°Oh? You¡¯re Ana from the management office, right? What brings you here?¡±

    ¡°Hello. My shlight broke, and I came to rece it, but I can¡¯t get in with my card¡­¡±

    Ana spoke in a troubled tone.

    ¡°You need to contact the Supplies Management Team and submit a request for recement.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s probably the way, right?¡±

    Ana nodded in agreement but didn¡¯t show any intention of moving.

    Before Cheetah Wolf, who sensed what she wanted to ask, could speak, Cat Wolf intervened.

    ¡°Hey, wait a moment. Ana, if you do that, you¡¯ll have to wait a long time and it¡¯s a hassle. Let me help you.¡±

    ¡°How about your patrol?¡±

    ¡°We have to check inside anyway. I¡¯ll help Ana, then go straight there, and you stay on the 3rd floor.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re unbelievable¡­¡±

    Seeing her colleague¡¯s maneuver, Cheetah Wolf shook her head in exasperation.

    Since there was no use stopping her, she remained silent, letting her do as she pleased.

    Cat Wolf descended from the elevator with a bright smile.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no problem. Shall we go?¡±

    Leaving her colleague behind, Cat Wolf walked with Ana down the corridor.

    As the 3rd and 4th floors were upied entirely by two facilities each, there were not many doors.

    At most, there were entrances to the equipment storage and emergency stairwells.

    ¡°How¡¯s the management office over there these days?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the same as always.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? The security team here is struggling because of the higher-ups. They¡¯re so edgy, thinking everyone is a cult member¡­ Oh, Ana, I¡¯m not saying anything about you.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Yes.¡±

    Even while walking together, Cat Wolf didn¡¯t stop talking.

    Ana¡¯s expression had been pale since they first met, but Cat Wolf only assumed it was because her shlight was broken, making her feel upset.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll open it for you.¡±

    Arriving at the storage, Wolf used the security team card to open the door.

    As soon as the door opened, Cat Wolf didn¡¯t enter but stopped in ce. His pointed ears perked toward the inside of the storage.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°Why are you doing that?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I think I hear something¡­¡±

    There shouldn¡¯t be anyone in the storage, yet a sound echoes within. It¡¯s a faint, insect-like noise, easily missed without focus. But for Cat Wolf, it¡¯s a discordant sound that grates on his nerves. Unlike the Wolf with keen hearing, Ana seems oblivious to any abnormalities. She nonchntly enters the storage.

    ¡°I don¡¯t hear anything.¡±

    ¡°Really? Maybe it¡¯s my imagination.¡±

    Cat Wolf shrugged off the noise and followed Ana into the storage.

    The storage room was vast, filled with metal shelves and drawers touching the ceiling.

    ¡°Why are the lights like this?¡±

    Normally, small lights on the ceiling should be on automatically. But now, there are more off than on, some blinking erratically.

    ¡°Damn, this is eerie.¡±

    Is it the strange noise or the flickering lights? He felt the coarse fur on his body standing up.

    ¡°Ana?¡±

    In the dimness, Ana, who entered first, wasn¡¯t visible. He switched on the shlight.

    The mixed scent of rusted metal and various items in the storage created a nauseating smell.

    ¡°Where are you, Ana?¡±

    ¡°Inside.¡±

    She imed her shlight was broken, yet she wasn¡¯t turning on the light.

    ¡°Even I can¡¯t see well, but she went in like this.¡±

    He followed the voice deeper into the darkness. With each step, the strange noise intensified.

    ¡°Where is iting from?¡±

    It echoed through the metal shelves, impossible to trace its origin. One thing was clear¡ªit grew louder as he approached Ana.

    Finally, he spotted her.

    ¡°Ana? You scared me. Why aren¡¯t you answering?¡±

    She stood turned away, seemingly transfixed.

    ¡°Ana?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Only then did he sense something off. Her delicate, cult-like figure trembled unmanagemenbly.

    As Cat Wolf approached, the shlight abruptly flickered and died.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening now?¡±

    He tapped the shlight a few times in the pitch-ck.

    ¡°Ah, there it goes.¡±

    Instantly, the light returned, and the unsettling noise ceased.

    Now, Ana faced him, or rather, her gaze was beyond his shoulder.

    He realized it toote.

    As he turned, the ¡°thing¡± hanging upside down from the ceiling attacked him.

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t theying?¡±

    ¡°Are they stuck somewhere sleeping?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, seriously.¡±

    Keh, from the security office, frowned at his subordinates¡¯ dy.

    ¡°Whatever, I¡¯m calling them.¡±

    He picked up themunication device to reach his subordinates.

    ¡°Hey, where are you? Still not here?¡±

    [Ts, Ts, Big, Ts, Ts, Event, Ts.]

    ¡°What? I can¡¯t hear you properly.¡±

    [Wat, Ts, Er, Ts, In, Ts, Ts, Ts.]

    Keh¡¯s face hardened.

    Themunication was unclear, but one word was unmistakable: assault.

    ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ming down!¡±

    [Wat, Ts, Ts, Ts.]

    ¡°Hey! Damn it! Everyone, get your weapons!¡±

    ¡°Why, what¡¯s happening?¡±

    ¡°Intruder in the storage!¡±

    Keh¡¯s shout sent the six Wolfs in the office into alert mode.

    With many VIPs staying in the Monument due to an important event, an intruder now would mean a major incident.

    As his subordinates geared up, Keh contacted the higher authorities, but themunication failed. He received amunication device from his subordinates.

    As he tried to call again, the office¡¯s power suddenly went out, followed by emergency red lights.

    ¡°Seems like it¡¯s an emergency. Everyone, prepare yourselves.¡±

    The Wolfs nodded in agreement with Keh¡¯s words. Each of them had a sma pistol at their waist and a bracelet with a small psychic shield embedded on their wrist.

    Meanwhile, Keh activated his own psychic power skill ¨C ¡°Physical Enhancement.¡± It significantly boosted thebat capabilities of allies.

    After individually enhancing his team, Keh grabbed the motion detector avable in the office.

    Beep, beep, beep¡­

    As he activated the detector, movements of the Wolfs in the office and the guests in the upper and lower-floor rooms were disyed. Adjusting the detector, Keh filtered out movements other than those of his colleagues.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Keh rose, listening to faint signals with every movement of the guests. Exiting the office, they passed through the corridor and took the elevator. The central Wolf activated the psychic shield while the rest pressed themselves against the elevator door.

    Upon arriving at the third floor and the door opening, the corridor appeared empty, engulfed in darkness due to a possible power outage. Keh and the Wolf activated smallnterns attached to their sma pistols, casting numerous thin beams into the abyss-like corridor.

    ¡°Sniff, there¡¯s a faint smell of blood from the other side.¡±

    ¡°¡­As expected. Everyone, be cautious.¡±

    They passed the emergency staircase door in the corridor and stood in front of the storage room.

    Beep-beep-

    As someone mentioned, movements were detected inside the storage room.

    At Keh¡¯s signal, the Wolfs holding the psychic shields positioned themselves in front of the door, while others with sma pistols prepared to fire at any moment. All were on edge as Keh used his security team card on the terminal next to the door.

    As the door opened, a dark mass of fur sprung out from inside.

    ¡°S-Save me!¡±

    ¡°Hold your fire¡­ Wait! Cease fire! He¡¯s an ally!¡±

    It was a Wolf with a canine head. Upon confirming his identity, the Wolfs lowered their weapons as per Keh¡¯smand.

    ¡°H-Heek, w-we need to r-run away!¡±

    The Wolf had narrowly escaped death but was oblivious to the situation. His shaggy fur was soaked in sweat, and terror filled his usually cheerful face.

    Keh calmed the half-crazed Wolf. ¡°Calm down. What happened?¡±

    ¡°I-I needed to use the restroom and went away for a moment, but when I came down, the storage was covered in blood. S-someone was eating ourrades.¡±

    ¡°Eating them?¡±

    Keh felt something was amiss. Beforeing down here, he had spoken with the female Wolf with a cheetah head, the deceased Wolf¡¯s colleague.

    ording to the canine-headed Wolf, it meant he had conversed with his deceased subordinate.

    ¡°That can¡¯t be. Wemunicated beforeing down.¡±

    Then, a ¡°beep-¡± rang from the motion detector he was holding. Suddenly, the door behind them opened.

    The emergency stairwell door.

    The handle was gripped by violet-colored ws.

    ***

    ¡®That makes it nine Wolfs.¡¯

    I bit into the head of the dog I was holding. There was a faint odor, but it wasn¡¯t repulsive. It felt akin to tearing into ribs at a BBQ joint¡ªsmelly yet strangely addictive.

    After neatly tucking away the remaining head and even licking my fingers, I looked down at the captured cultist.

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    He was paralyzed by thorn fur. Despite his handsome face, it was stained with tears and mucus.

    ¡®But still good-looking.¡¯

    Indeed, a race of only handsome men and beautiful women gathered together. It might beforting for him, but in this ce, the cult isn¡¯t just him alone.

    Cultists who became my ves after working in the Central management Room were also present. I summoned them all here.

    ¡°Gurgle, there are many in-number¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡­The current count is highest in the 4th Central management Room, with three individuals.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Wait¡­ Keh!¡±

    Other management rooms either have only one person left under my management, or at most two, including any new arrivals.

    ¡®If someone silently disappears from such ces, they¡¯ll surely investigate immediately.¡¯

    As seen with Ana, except for the 1st and 2nd Central management Rooms, the others operate with a minimum of two to three individuals.

    In that case, reducing the personnel in the 4th Central management Room to two shouldn¡¯t be a significant problem. They¡¯ll probably think it strange if someone leaves without a word, but rtively, they won¡¯t fuss muchpared to elsewhere.

    ¡®Moreover, the areas managed by the 4th Central management Room won¡¯t require much attention going forward.¡¯

    Hence, the cultists from the 4th Central management Room were unnecessary for me. Without hesitation, I grabbed his neck and snapped it. A ck centipede emerged from the dead cultist¡¯s nostrils.

    ¡®Know where to go, don¡¯t you?¡¯

    Without hesitation, the parasite crawled towards the security team cultist lying motionless. With pleading eyes, he looked at the other cultists, although there was nothing his kin could do for him.

    While the cultists turned their heads, the parasite found a new host.

    I approached the fallen security team cultist¡¯s face closely.

    ¡°Uh, uh!¡±

    His eyes reflected my face. I exined to him what he needed to do next, such as dedicating more to the Wolfs and how to handle the aftermath.

    By the time his paralysis wore off, his owner was no longer the overseer of this city. Now, he serves a new master, An Amorph.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 84

    Chapter 84

    ¡°Ahem, that concludes the presentation. Any, um, questions?¡±

    The dissection team manager carefully set down the trembling microphone.

    Skyscraper Monument Conference Room.

    Here, the pinnacle of power within MegaCorp had gathered¡ªthe elders and patriarchs of Prime Capital, including Akira Yujin, the current CEO, and the Thomson Family of T&C. Elders from other noble families of MegaCorp were also present.

    The management of MegaCorp sat in shock and silence after the dissection team¡¯s presentation. Someone among them muttered,

    ¡°I never knew T&C was deeply involved in gic engineering.¡±

    Even though this statement was made in the presence of Akira Yujin, no one pointed it out. Even he couldn¡¯t maintain hisposure due to extreme astonishment.

    ¡®Four different gene types perfectlybined. Was that even possible?¡¯

    Akira Yujin was confident that even if he heard the news of Earth splitting, it wouldn¡¯t be as surprising as this moment. The information presented by the meagre-looking man exceeded the gic technology of theYujin family by far.

    ¡®This is dangerous.¡¯

    As soon as he had that thought, someone in the conference room raised their hand. It was Wei Zhao, who had control over MegaCorp¡¯s media.

    ¡°Haha, looks like there¡¯ll be a generational shift in the Noble Capital.¡±

    Generational shift. It hinted at a possible reversal in the rtionship betweenYujin and T&C after this presentation. Simultaneously, it implied that Wei himself would change his stance.

    He was quicker at changing positions, like a bat, than anyone else. With Wei¡¯s words, the atmosphere in the conference room shifted dramatically, bing more favorable towards T&C.

    Seeing this, La smiled.

    ¡®Finally!¡¯

    Despite her recent health struggles, this moment was exhrating enough for her to forget all the pain. At this moment, her appearance, due to illness, resembled a living corpse, with eyes gleaming wildly. Clearly abnormal, but no one pointed it out.

    The dissection team¡¯s presentation was valuable enough to captivate everyone, including her father, Samdam.

    Amidst the euphoria over the presentation, only one person was barely suppressing rising anger within.

    ¡°Damn thieves!¡±

    Denver, head of the Eden Family, gritted his teeth.

    La and the dissection team manager had packaged today¡¯s presentation as their achievement, but Denver knew better. He knew what led to the results announced today.

    ¡®That creature was originally mine!¡¯

    If his rtionship with La hadn¡¯t soured, he might have had a say, a reward for assisting in monster suppression. But their rtionship was shattered, and the Vicemander of the Silver lion knights, Vicus, who could have exined this, had yet to appear.

    ¡®Their funding from T&C might be cut off at this rate.¡¯

    Samdam was giving him money for one reason¡ªto limit Akira Yujin¡¯s influence if a new Hulk mutant appeared. But now, there was no need. They could create their own by utilizing the monster¡¯s corpse.

    ¡®No, it¡¯s not over yet.¡¯

    Denver¡¯s eyes turned cold. The imed achievement they boasted about was solely obtained from that monster¡¯s corpse. If that corpse disappeared, his feared future would never materialize.

    ¡®I must get hold of that corpse!¡¯

    Fortunately, his knights were detained in a room somewhere within Monument. If he ordered them to take ¡®appropriate¡¯ action, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible to get hold of the corpse in this building somewhere.

    While Denver plotted a dangerous conspiracy, Akira summoned Code ck disguised as a security guard.

    ¡°Look into the dissection team manager.¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±

    ¡°If necessary, bring in Code Red.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll handle it immediately.¡±

    Code ck hurriedly left, but Akira¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the dissection team manager¡ªthe recipient of such intense interest from the MegaCorp management.

    Normally, he would have been extremely pleased. If only ¡®that¡¯ hadn¡¯t made its nest in his house.

    Four days ago, he escaped using the Monument Security Team¡¯s truck and took refuge in his house. Due to this, he had to sleep in the basement while sensing that ¡®it¡¯ was monitoring him.

    But his cries for help never reached outside.

    ¡®Hmm?¡¯

    Somewhere, a familiar synapse flew in.

    Among the five parasites, one settled on the dissection team manager.

    ¡®Sensed stress and shallow resentment from the dissection team manager?¡¯

    With that statement, it reported giving ¡®appropriate¡¯ pain to the arrogant host.

    ¡®Is it because of the house?¡¯

    Currently, I am temporarily using the dissection team manager¡¯s house as my hideout.

    ¡®Senior officials receive housing in the administrative zone.¡¯

    The special trading hub provides free housing and personal vehicles to cultists and high-ranking officials. William, whom I previously captured, also resided in the administrative zone. Currently, all my enved cultists live nearby.

    ¡®Besides, the dissection team manager is quite useful.¡¯

    He regrly reports information about me to the city¡¯s overseer. This is why the upper echelons of Monument have failed to associate sudden employee disappearances with me.

    ¡®Moreover, the feared leak of information isn¡¯t significant.¡¯

    ording to the dissection team manager, my gic information isn¡¯t registered in MegaCorp¡¯s data archive. It seemed to be due to orders from the city¡¯s overseer, but the reason remained spective.

    ¡®Perhaps it¡¯s due to greed.¡¯

    Simr to the Eden Knights, who hid the dissection for monopolizing my rights in the city, mistakes weremitted by entrusting the research solely to the dissection team and its ¡®subordinates.¡¯

    ¡®They are ignorant.¡¯

    Their obsession with the illusion of ¡®achievements¡¯ blinded them to what was happening in reality.

    ¡®Calling it progress while the city is dying.¡¯

    A variant of space bacteria, known as the ¡®Death,¡¯ emerged from the sewers. Those who fought in the sewage are actively spreading an unidentified disease throughout the city.

    The space bacteria itself isn¡¯t fatal enough to kill people. At best, it¡¯s as harmful as themon cold or flu virus. But due to itsbination with various pollutants in the sewer, it mutated into an epidemic.

    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the Eden Knights, it wouldn¡¯t have spread to Monument and the administrative zone.¡±

    If not for them, it would have ended with neutralizing the fleet. My intention was merely to infect those who posed the greatest obstacles to my escape.

    However, due to the Knights participating in the suppression and subsequently being detained in Monument, the spread exceeded my intentions. By now, most inside the Monument would likely be infected.

    ¡®It might be uncontroble in a few more days.¡¯

    There¡¯s no problem as grave as an epidemic spreading in a sealed structure floating in space. Moreover, if the managers of the structure be the first victims of the epidemic, this ce would definitely fall intoplete chaos.

    ¡®However, they are preupied with something else.¡¯

    Thanks to their foolish decisions, I could easily fulfill the conditions for evolution.

    [Pre saint > Quasi Saint evolution condition: Transformable sentient beings 20/20 (achieved), Humanoid sentient beings 20/20 (achieved), Psychic power usage by sentient beings 12/20 (unachieved).]

    ¡®Now, there are only 8 cultists left.¡¯

    Beforeing to this house, I devoured a Night Watchman Wolf from the security team and afterwards, the cultists in the administrative zone. Consequently, I¡¯m close to fulfilling all the evolution conditions.

    ¡®When I finish consuming them all, the fleet will bepletely neutralized due to the pandemic.¡¯

    Then, I can leave with number 26 and Adhai.

    Even if they wanted to pursue me, there would be a shortage of soldiers and officers to board the ship. Of course, there¡¯s the option of transporting androids, but MegaCorp doesn¡¯t allow androids on ships after the StarUnion rebellion.

    Therefore, unless I resolve the space bacteria variant that I spread, tracking me in this city won¡¯t be easy.

    ¡®Everything is proceeding as nned.¡¯

    I ended my rest and got up.

    ¡®But how are the kids doing?¡¯

    Conversing with them was challenging due to the distance between us.

    The wavelengths I emitted reached, but they kept getting interrupted in the middle, making propermunication impossible. I could keep trying, but this ce is inhabited by cultists. Beings sensitive to psychic powers like me and number 26th can intercept the wavelengths I emit.

    ¡®Maybe if it¡¯s the cult in Central Control Room 1.¡¯

    Those cultists there are entities traversing the same path as the cultists I¡¯ve consumed so far. Fighting one-on-one was risky enough; being outnumbered spells defeat.

    ¡®The Yak Horn Cultists are incredibly powerful.¡¯

    Cultists specialize in psychic powers based on their horn appearance, with varying strengths. For instance, a goat horn is auxiliary, while a mountain goat horn is meleebat-focused. Their abilities amplify significantly when using powers aligned with their horn type.

    ¡®The Yak Horn excels in four psychic power types.¡¯

    Meleebat, rangedbat, buffs, crowd control¡ªstrong in these four types, receiving over three times synergy when using those abilities. Despite my enhanced defenses due to traits and types, the psychic powers used by Yak Horn cultists are formidable.

    ¡®That¡¯s why I¡¯m targeting other cultists.¡¯

    I escaped from the Head Manager¡¯s house. Today, my targets are two cultists in Central Control Room 2. After tracking them for two days, I discovered they live together as a couple.

    ¡®Both Goat Horn Cultists. Not particrly powerful inbat.¡¯

    Thanks to my psychic immunity andplete organic nature, there¡¯s no cultist in this city, aside from Yak Horn cultists, capable of harming me. Moreover, I have no intention of confronting them directly.

    ¡®This is it.¡¯

    I seeded in infiltrating their home. The structure matched the Head Manager¡¯s house, yet it felt entirely different. The Head Manager¡¯s house had a nerdy vibe, while this one seemed much more refined. The antique feel exuded from the aged leather-smelling chairs and the wooden table with clear Nyite markings.

    ¡®This ce should work for hiding.¡¯

    I crawled into the basement.

    ¡°Oh, darling, not here, please¡­¡±

    ¡°Why not? It¡¯s good.¡±

    ¡°We just got off work. Let¡¯s shower first.¡±

    ¡°Together?¡±

    ¡°Seriously!¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve set it up; take your time.¡±

    The couple, kissing passionately since entering the house, reluctantly separated amidst disappointment. As the female cultist headed upstairs, her male partner unexpectedly called her back.

    ¡°Hey, wait a sec.¡±

    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s up?¡±

    Softly grabbing her face, he kissed her.

    ¡°Mm, oh, jeez, darling¡­ Ugh!¡±

    Mid-kiss, the male cultist skillfully used psychic powers to sweep down her back. Feeling a rush of electricity, the female cultist groaned from her lips.

    ¡°Ah¡­ dar¡­ please! Stop!¡±

    Managing to gather herself, she pushed him away with both arms. Blushing intensely, she looked at her amused partner, unable to get angry. She sighed and went upstairs.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get ready.¡±

    The male cultist retrieved a premium bottle of wine and two sses hidden in the cab. Items specially acquired from Earth for today. Carrying the gifts, he headed upstairs. But a voice called from above.

    ¡°Darling, the hot water isn¡¯t running properly!¡±

    ¡°Again? Alright! I¡¯ll check it from downstairs!¡±

    Yelling to his girlfriend, the male cultist, carrying the gifts, opened the basement door.

    ¡°Huh? Why now?¡±

    Turning on the basement lights yielded no response. He contemted bringing a shlight.

    ¡°It¡¯s probably nothing.¡±

    Carrying the wine and sses, he descended into the basement. Familiar with theyout from previous encounters, navigating the dim basement posed no challenge.

    ¡°Was it this?¡±

    He adjusted the water temperature. The machine¡¯s light changed from red to green, and he heard his girlfriend¡¯s thankfulness from above.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go check¡­¡±

    As he attempted to turn, he felt it. There was something behind him.

    Thud!

    The wine bottle in his hand shattered on the cold floor. The liquid flowing was too crimson to be wine.

    ¡°Heh, heh.¡±

    The female cultist hummed cheerfully under the warm water. Having recently worked overtime, she was delighted toe home on time for once.

    ¡®He said it was a surprise, what could it be?¡¯

    Beforeing home, her boyfriend mentioned a surprise gift but didn¡¯t reveal what it was. He just asked her to anticipate it. As she wondered how surprising it could be, she heard the sound of the bathroom door opening behind her.

    ¡®Today was too easy.¡¯

    The cultist couple failed to acknowledge my presence at home, leading to their defeat without resistance.

    ¡®No matter the cultists in the city, they should never let their guard down this much.¡¯

    Even on a where cultists reside, I couldn¡¯t defeat goat horn cultists this easily. Anyhow, with one goal achieved, I left for the hideout. Given the evening hour, people were scarce on the streets, so I took a different route than when I arrived.

    ¡®Just six more to capture.¡¯

    The Head Manager¡¯s house wasn¡¯t far.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    Someone stood in front of his house. As soon as I recognized their existence, a brief scene appeared and vanished from my sight.

    [Unavoidable encounter.]

    [I died.]

    ¡®What?¡¯

    That was a danger prediction effect sent by my predator sense. In that moment of realization, mybat arm was severed.

    ¡®Argh?!¡¯

    [Pain nullification Activated!]

    While almost losing consciousness due to excruciating pain, the pain mitigation swiftly alleviated it. I quickly threw myself backward. The sidewalk block I stood on was obliterated by an intangible object.

    ¡®Psychic Whip?¡¯

    The object that severed my arm and made the street rubble was a weapon created using abilities I know well. However, as far as I know, this ability shouldn¡¯t have this level of destructive power.

    ¡°Indeed. Was it such a thing?¡±

    The woman standing in front of the Head Manager¡¯s house was the mastermind who materialised the impossible.

    ¡°If captured for research there, producing such research results wouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡±

    As she reached out, a vivid purple whip appeared in the air. She now bore Yak¡¯s horns on her temples.

    ¡°I dedicate you to Lord Akira.¡±

    A whip measuring tens of meters came hurtling toward me.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 85

    Chapter 85

    A semi-transparent purple whip sliced through the surface of the city which was made of marble blocks. I rolled my foot and leaped backward with force. The whip cut through the air, passing beneath my feet as I retreated, retaliating by flicking my tail.

    Thorn-like spikes poured down like a rain of arrows. She manoeuvred the whip as if it had a mind of its own, sweeping away the spines effortlessly. Meanwhile,nding on the ground, I extracted the bloodsucking tentacle from my unharmed upper left arm.

    The tentacle shot out like a spear, embedding itself under her foot. Before she could sever it with her whip, I swiftly retracted the tentacle.

    ¡®Strong.¡¯

    Though we exchanged multiple attacks in a short time, she was no easy opponent.

    ¡®She possesses more than just a couple of traits.¡¯

    Presently disyed were only two traits, but I knew there was more.

    ¡®I¡¯ve seen the emergence of Yak horns before, it¡¯s not a cult.¡¯

    There¡¯s no way to hide Yak horns except by artificially removing them. Therefore, the enemy was a gically modified human bearing Cult genes.

    I knew of a simr existence to her¡ªsomeone who raided the research ship with Space Dogs and attempted terrorism in this space city.

    ¡®Si-hyun Yujin.¡¯

    Although she perished, bing part of my being, now the Yujin family was attacking me.

    ¡®Given we¡¯re in a council meeting, their presence isn¡¯t unexpected here.¡¯

    Certainly unexpected, however, to meet in a regr residential area, not within Monument.

    ¡®They¡¯re after me.¡¯

    Perhaps they came to gather information about me from the anatomy team leader¡¯s house.

    ¡®I Should have concealed myself better.¡¯

    I briefly regretted it but shook it off. It was time to focus on the battle.

    ¡®What¡¯s confirmed right now are her transformation ability, Psychic, and an additional ability unknown to me.¡¯

    I nced at the cross-section of my severed arm. Thanks to regeneration, the section was healing, but it would take time for the arm to fully regrow.

    ¡®Psychic, exceptionally powerful.¡¯

    The ability utilised for my Ghost w materialisation usually functions as a medium-range deterrent. It¡¯s not meant to cut off my arm metres away and turn it into a pavement.

    ¡®There¡¯s a supplementary ability to enhance traits and techniques.¡¯

    And it¡¯s immensely powerful, surpassing my sole ability.

    ¡®This won¡¯t do.¡¯

    It seemed I needed to use

    ¡®Insight.¡¯

    Previously obtained from capturing William, ¡®Insight¡¯ randomly reveals some of the enemy¡¯s equipment, techniques, and abilities, limited to five uses per day. But facing such a formidable foe, I activated it.

    Violet auras emanated from my eyes, and information from Code ck appeared in transparent text boxes before me.

    [Name: Code ck (real name ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö)]

    [Species: Human (gically modified)]

    [Status: Enhanced (Psychic Master, Dragonification, ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö)]

    [Equipped Gear: ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö (Unique Grade)]

    [Skills: Psychic, Psychic Master, Physical Transformation, ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö, Dragon Heart, ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö, among others¡­)]

    As the information materialized, a purple whip flew towards me from Code ck. Dodging byying t on the ground, I activated the igniter inside my throat, unleashing a massive ze.

    ¡®Fire. This won¡¯t harm me.¡¯

    Through the mes and smoke, her voice reached me from the burning road.

    ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡±

    Fire and smoke were mere illusions. I shot spike bones from within the thick smoke and dashed forward without looking back.

    As she deflected the spike bones with her whip, I needed to act swiftly.

    ¡®Code ck received Gagon¡¯s genes just like Si-hyun Yujin.¡¯

    Moreover, it was the gic code of ck Gagon, a higher existence than White Gagon. Among her skills, Dragon Heart was a unique ability exclusive to Gagons above ck Gagon. This skill, when possessed, allows for ¡®Dragonification,¡¯ a special state simr to my ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯.

    ¡®The enhanced Psychic Power and Rapid Charge.¡¯

    Though her enhanced Psychic Power seemed less than my ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯, what mattered was the Rapid Charge part. With Dragon Heart, she could unleash extensive mental power and energy-consuming techniques like Psychic Breath.

    ¡®Psychic Master and Dragonification. No wonder it felt excessively potent.¡¯

    Psychic Master is a passive effect automatically granted to Cults with Yak horns. It enhances Psychic abilities in melee, ranged, buff, and crowd control categories.

    ¡®She¡¯s simultaneously using multiple abilities in Dragonification.¡¯

    During the fight with Si-hyun Yujin Yujin, I took advantage of her inability to use multiple abilities simultaneously. But applying that strategy against ck was impossible.

    ¡®Moreover, there was a unique-grade equipment in the enhanced state that wasn¡¯t visible through Insight. I might not know what the enhanced state means, but I can guess the unique-grade equipment. In a ck upper garment, if it¡¯s unique grade, there¡¯s only one I know of. ¡®ck Shroud.¡¯

    It¡¯s one of the relic-grade enhanced suits only Cults can obtain, allowing the wearer to evade death once every three days. Even against attacks turning the entire body to dust, they¡¯ll survive as long as the cooldown isn¡¯t active. In other words, to defeat ck, I need to kill her twice.¡¯

    ¡°Whether it¡¯s the possessed skills or the equipment, she¡¯s an opponent I can never face with this body. If only I had Psionium like when fighting Si-hyun Yujin, but here, that solution isn¡¯t avable.¡¯Symbol of Hunt¡¯ Is necessary.¡¯

    ¡®Now¡¯s not the time to worry about the aftermath. Breaking into any nearby house, I swiftly activated the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯.

    ¡®Although I couldn¡¯t see it through Insight, there might be tracking abilities as well.¡¯

    Even while my body transformed into abat-optimized form, I constantly surveilled the surroundings through auxiliary organs.¡¯

    ¡®She¡¯sing.¡¯

    I sensed ck getting closer beyond the wall. Her body emanated intense Psychic Power.

    ¡®Oh no!¡¯

    Her whip struck the wall, initiating the house¡¯s copse. Not content with merely destroying the house, Psychic struck furniture, charging towards me.

    ¡®Urgh!¡¯

    The transformation was barelyplete when her whip struck my head. It was a shock simr to being hit by a smauncher. The difference was, back then, I wasn¡¯t in the state of Symbolic Hunting. But not now.

    ¡®Just endure.¡¯

    The struck area¡¯s exterior peeled away, but it wasn¡¯t fatal. Such wounds would quickly heal due to enhanced regeneration.

    I put strength into my legs and forcefully mmed the ground. Flying out through the copsing house toward the enemy, I caught her off guard with my speed, causing a slight twitch in her eyebrows. Her right hand gracefully moved, aiming the whip at my side.

    I defended using the shield-shaped exterior formed on my wrist by the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯. The sound of scraping metal and sparks emerged as her enhanced Psychic attacked. However, it couldn¡¯t pierce through my reinforced exterior, strengthened by three effects: Type, Trait, and Symbolic Hunting.

    ¡®¡­Impressive.¡¯

    Just before my horn would prate her abdomen, her left hand extended widely. Simultaneously, my body seemed suspended in thin air, then forcefully thrown backward.

    Even while rebounding from an intangible force, I extended a tentacle towards her. Anticipating my counter, she swiftly dodged, narrowly avoiding my tentacle. The collision ended in my disadvantage.

    I crashed into the ruins of a copsing building. Wooden debris and concrete from the ceiling rained down on me.

    ¡°Tch.¡±

    I suspected she possessed Yak horns, but she also had a defensive superpower. The technique she just used was ¡®Reflection.¡¯ It¡¯s a Psychic power that deflects attacksing from the direction one¡¯s facing. Not all attacks are deflected, but Psychic attacks can¡¯t be blocked.

    ¡®The odds aren¡¯t in my favor.¡¯

    To bypass Reflection, I¡¯d need to directly target with a Psychic attack or aim indirectly. Among my psychic abilities, I only have one attack attribute: Psychic Breath.

    ¡®It won¡¯t be easy, but¡­¡¯

    It¡¯s not impossible. I rose from the rubble. At that moment, ck aimed her whip precisely where I was and swung it. Confident in my tracking abilities, I evaded the whip and grabbed a broken wooden table from the debris, hurling it in her direction.

    ¡°Tricks won¡¯t work.¡±

    With a cold voice, the two shed.

    ¡®Tricks, huh?¡¯

    All part of the n. I fled the pile of ruins. From behind, she pursued with the summoned whip.

    Perhaps due to the ck Shroud¡¯s enhancement effect or possessing a technique to enhance physical abilities, she effortlessly chased me. The long whip hissed like a serpent, striking my back. While running, I concentrated on my sensory organs, butpletely dodging was impossible.

    Despite the ruptured exterior and bleeding, I gritted through it.

    ¡®¡­Gotta endure.¡¯

    Appearing weaker is the most effective lure. As long as it¡¯s not a fatal blow or disadvantageous inbat, it¡¯s fine. Of course, enduring excruciating pain with a clear mind was challenging.

    ¡®Thankfully, there¡¯s pain reduction.¡¯

    If I hadn¡¯t had that ability, I would have screamed in agony.

    ¡°Is this not enough?¡±

    Code ck said that, now wielding psychokinesis from her left hand as well. The snake with two heads hissed threateningly.

    ¡®This is unexpected.¡¯

    I hadn¡¯t anticipated this. Originally, I was nning to head to the subway station underground. But if I keep taking these attacks, before I initiate the lure, my body will bepletely battered.

    ¡®Let¡¯s go to the basement.¡¯

    I changed direction and dashed towards a nearby house. Breaking through the wall and entering, cultists inside gaped at me. Ignoring them, I descended into the basement. Behind me, the cultist who had been screaming in terror was torn to shreds by ck¡¯s unleashed psychokic powers. Blood gushed up the stairs, followed by the sound of her footsteps.

    ¡°So even beasts act like beasts? Choosing a dead-end to flee.¡±

    Her voice echoed from the stairs. I readied myself in a corner of the dimly lit basement. I unleashed a psychokic breath that I had prepared in advance.

    ¡°?!¡±

    A purple sun, made from the essence of pure psychokic power, shed. The concentrated heat of the psychokic power, enough to destroy everything in its path.

    ¡®Krk!¡¯

    She dispelled her psychokic ability and hastily aimed her hands at the heat wave. From her hands emerged ck orbs, transforming into heat waves simr to the psychokic breath I had unleashed. The sh between the purple and ck psychokic forces echoed throughout the entire administrative district, shaking the foundations of the underground basement.

    Just the shockwaves were peeling away my externalyers, and the acidic blood, flowing out, evaporated due to the effects of the psychokic power. The tip of my monstrous tentacle, split by the collision, turned into dust and scattered.

    ¡®Kkkuh!¡¯

    Not just me, but she seemed to be in extreme pain. Her ck Shroud protected her body, but her hands, used for the breath, were covered in blood. The psychokic breath I unleashed and the one she fired annihted each other.

    However, to anyone witnessing us standing atop the ruins, she would clearly seem victorious. My entire outeryer was nearly torn away, except for my palms, while she remained unscathed. To any observer, she appeared far superior.

    ¡°It was unexpected, but it seems I¡¯ve won.¡±

    She said that calmly. I spat out mes toward her. Using fire and smoke as a smokescreen, I escaped the basement through the broken ceiling.

    The phenomenon that had just urred with ck was due to the ¡®Physical Adjustment¡¯ ability. Physical Adjustment is an advanced support psychokic power that a psychic can bestow upon another psychic.

    It allows the psychic to instantly teleport the recipient, making their body temporarily intangible due to the powerful abilities, nullifying the effects of any poison.

    However, the range of teleportation is short, and while the adjustment is active, the psychic bestowing it bespletely immobilized.

    ¡®There are two enemies!¡¯ I spected that there might be a hidden psychic acting as her aplice. The range of Physical Adjustment is a maximum radius of 1km.

    While the recipient is under its effects, the psychic bestowing it is renderedpletely powerless.

    ¡®They won¡¯t just let me be.¡¯

    They¡¯d likely not leave me alone even if I continued to run.

    ¡®When the ¡®Symbol of the Hunt¡¯ status ends, it¡¯ll be over.¡¯

    Their objective is to capture me, not to kill.

    If they wanted to kill, they could have showered me with psychokic breaths.

    ¡®They are also wary of me.¡¯

    Since I already received a blow, for a while, they will probably fight passively. Of course, that time won¡¯t be long. Once all my strengths are revealed, it will truly be over.

    ¡®How do I break through?¡¯

    As I pondered that, the part of the monstrous tentacle behind my head twitched.

    ¡°¡ö¡ögiya.¡±

    ¡®How do I strategize?¡¯

    ?Big baby!?

    At the familiar vibration, I swiftly looked up.

    The ground I stood on trembled. Concreteid on the road cracked open, and from within, dozens of long, thick tentacles emerged.

    ?We¡¯ve arrived.?

    From the exploding concrete hole emerged a giant pink jellyfish, well over 5 metres tall.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 86

    Chapter 86

    ¡®Number 26?¡¯

    The pink jellyfish that emerged through the asphalt on the road was number 26.

    ¡®How did it change so much while I was away?¡¯

    For a moment, its appearance was drastically different from before.

    Firstly, the subtle, flowing hues on the pink body were something entirely new. A myriad of colors shimmered gently, which hadn¡¯t been present previously.

    An aura of constantly shifting energies, radiating in all sorts of colors, seemed to survey its surroundings, resembling numerous eyes.

    This effect was a result of one of Sea Demon¡¯s unique traits, ¡®Abyssal Dread.¡¯ Due to this trait, individualscking resistance to psychic attacks would either lose their minds or fall into a state of panic when approaching the Sea Demon.

    ¡®Plus, it can weaken the auxiliary psychic powers used by nearby adversaries.¡¯

    In the lore, Sea Demons possess immensely potent psychic energy, causing it to asionally seep outwards. This released psychic energy negatively affects nearby organisms, a phenomenon specifically shaped into the Abyssal Dread trait.

    Hence, when psychic power users attempt remote auxiliary techniques like Soul Link or Entity Harmonization near the Sea Demon, they fail to activate properly.

    ¡®Not to mention its eerie appearance that¡¯s well-known.¡¯

    Imagine a monster over 20 meters tall from the depths, being scrutinized by hundreds of eyes.

    It¡¯s so terrifying that overseasmunities used the activated Abyssal Dread Sea Demon¡¯s appearance as a meme-worthy horror.

    Of course, number 26 didn¡¯t appear as menacing as the original due to the energies it exuded being less malevolent.

    Perhaps it intentionally regted them in front of me.

    ¡®Come to think of it, the exterior has changed a lot too.¡¯

    While the Abyssal Dread trait was notably impressive, other aspects had changed considerably too.

    Below its body were 20 long, slender tentacle clusters, interspersed with thick fin-like appendages serving as legs.

    The tentacle arrangement was reminiscent of the circr saw-like tentacles I used to have.

    The tentacles, though thinner than mine, had sharp saw-like des densely covering their entire length, making them quite threatening. The creature fully revealed itself on the road and emitted a ripple toward me.

    ?Hey there, big baby!?

    Number 26 extended its tentacles toward me as if in greeting. Thanks to the effects of the ¡®Symbol of the Hunt,¡¯ I had grown in size, but number 26 was formidable as well.

    If it straightened out, it would be around 7 to 8 meters tall, and its tentacles, each more than 10 meters long.

    [Zzz (How?)]

    ¡®I did as you taught me! Ate a lot and grew diligently!¡¯

    Strange. I distinctly remember telling it to hide.

    Could this be due to evolution? Number 26 seemed much more intelligent than I had anticipated.

    ?It¡¯s not just me who¡¯s grown. The little one have grown a lot too.?

    [Zzz (What?)]

    From behind number 26, a green object surged into the air from a pit. It gracefully navigated the atmosphere of the cosmic city andnded smoothly in front of me.

    ?Master.? ?Greetings.?

    Adhai greeted me, bowing its head.

    ¡®Has Green Gagon grown up too?¡¯

    Number 26 had changed significantly, but Adhai¡¯s transformation was truly a radical change. Most of its scales had turned green, with asional blue ones interspersed. Its body had grown well over 1 meter in length, and its wings were muchrger than before.

    Not just in color and body, but even in appearance, there had been significant changes. Previously resembling a stout-bodied creature with stubby legs akin to a skink, it had transformed into an entirely different form.

    Its four elongated, sturdy legs evoked an image of a deer, exuding an elegant and graceful aura. However, its tail, unlike its slender body, felt rtively thick and plump.

    Regarding its head, although it still had clusters of tentacles instead of a mouth, it had elongatedpared to before. Additionally, the four horns on its head had increased in number.

    ¡®Compared to Green Gagon, the resemnce in appearance is striking.¡¯

    Furthermore, considering the thickened tail due to growth, Adhai was undoubtedly a female. Gagons, by design, exhibited sexual dimorphism; males and females looked different.

    [Note:- Will be using the pronouns ¡®She/Her¡¯ for Adhai now that it has been revealed.]

    Males had thicker, more mboyant horns while females, though thick-tailed, had simpler horns.

    ¡®Males were deemed handsome with mboyant horn patterns, while females were considered beautiful with plump tails.¡¯

    Observing her sturdy tail, Adhai was likely among the more attractive Gagons in terms of physique.

    ¡®What did she eat to grow so quickly?¡¯

    There were some spections. There were plenty of corpses of knights and soldiers I had in in the sewers, along with deceased employees whose signal chips had stopped functioning, all left behind.

    Moreover, when themercial district copsed, there would have been quite a few who fell into the sewers and died.

    ¡®But did she consume all of that?¡¯

    Moreover, without being caught by the soldiers patrolling the sewers.

    ¡®If so, that¡¯s tremendous growth.¡¯

    ¡®If my expectations are correct, not only has the creature physically grown, but itsbat abilities have also improved significantly.¡¯

    Number 26 seemed to gesture for praise. Urgent as the situation was, I couldn¡¯t help but stroke its body. It shivered, perhaps in contentment.

    The energy flowing on its surface changed color, reflecting its emotions, appearing much more disturbed than imagined under the influence of the Abyssal Dread.

    ?I? ?Growth? ?I? ?Impressive? ?Master? ?Praise?

    Adhai also pushed forward for praise, so I indulged the creature with a petting. Observing Adhai¡¯s swaying tail, I thought,

    ¡®They¡¯ve learned my hunting methods.¡¯

    Given the short time they¡¯d been with me, number 26 must have taken the lead in hunting. It was quick in learning and might have adapted to my frequent hunting techniques of digging traps, hiding, and ambushing.

    ¡®Anyway, that¡¯s something to think aboutter. Code ck will be here soon.¡¯

    Normally, I¡¯d have hidden the creatures somewhere and fought, but the circumstances had changed.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to fight alongside them.¡¯

    [Zzz zzzz zzz zzz (I have something to say for a moment.)]

    ?Hmm??

    ???

    [Zzz zzzz zzz zzz zzz (We must fight a formidable enemy. Help me.)]

    As I spoke, their gazes fixated on the scars on my missing arm and side. Despite number 26cking eyes, the emotional reflection on its surface allowed me to easily discern its focus.

    ?The ones who hurt Big Baby? Unforgivable!?

    ?Master? ?Attackers? ?Enemies?

    Enraged, number 26 mmed its tentacles on the ground. The asphalt cracked, and the surrounding road split with a loud sound. Adhai, too, kicked the ground with its hind legs, disying difort.

    ¡®Fighting won¡¯t be an issue.¡¯

    It seemed number 26 not only grew in size but also in strength. A Sea Demon was considered a formidable sub-boss. In terms of danger alone, it was well over half as threatening as a ck Gagon.

    ¡®But it seems its growth isn¡¯tplete yet.¡¯

    However, it should suffice as support for me. Adhai still had some blue scales left, but with most of its body covered in green scales, it was safe to assume it had acquired the power of a Green Gagon.

    ¡®If my assumptions are correct, with the power of a Green Gagon, we can intercept the enemy.¡¯

    The Green Gagon is merely at the fluid stage, thus doesn¡¯t disy overwhelming destructive power like the White or ck Gagons. Instead, itsbat abilities have evolved differently.

    ¡®With number 26¡¯s ability to utilize Abyssal Dread, if I can effectively utilize both of them¡­¡¯

    ¡®The Green Gagon, the Sea Demon, and Amorph.¡¯

    All three present here are still inexperienced and not fully grown. However, if they coborate, even formidable adversaries can be easily hunted.

    ¡®I pacified them and exined the n.¡¯

    Code ck was a war orphan. In MegaCorp, orphans were the bottom of the unrescuable pit, representing the society¡¯s darkest side. Almost all orphans ended up as corporate employees, and the luckiest ones entered the Space Dogs.

    ¡®In that sense, Code ck was a unique case. She entered the Yujin family as an employee and became a material for their shadow.¡¯

    Like countless other test subjects, she was supposed to fade away. However, she survived. She possessed significantly higher psychic powerspared to ordinary humans. It made her the first sessful experiment in the Yujin family¡¯s cult gic transntation.

    ¡®Prototypes usually fell shortpared to mass-produced models, but she existed beyond the normal spectrum even among hybrids of the cult and humans.¡¯

    When the modification into the shadow ended, Akira Yujin bestowed a name upon her¡ªCode ck. It was a title given to the most superior entity among the shadows.

    [Code Red. Where is the target?]

    ¡®In Residential District 32. Please be cautious.¡¯

    [Cautious? Why?]

    ¡®The psychic power flow is unstable. An unknown entity has infiltrated the psychic control web independently.¡¯

    [Can the target use Psychic Breath? Is it responsible?]

    ¡®Unknown. The unknown entity constructed an autonomous psychic control web.¡¯

    [Understood for now. Keep monitoring.]

    ¡®Understood.¡¯

    Having finished her mental conversation with Code Red, she headed towards the designated location.

    Most shadows were like dim machines, their consciousness shattered by horrifying experiments. Among the shadows, only Code ck and the deceased Code White could freely converse.

    ¡°Now, I¡¯m the only one.¡±

    Code White met her demise during a mission, making her the most revered among the shadows. This fact exhrated her.

    In truth, she herself is unaware, but all the shadows possess some psychological instability. Code ck fixates on the idea of being the most superior and perfect existence.

    Her tendency to speak a lot during battles isn¡¯t for conversation but to showcase her uniqueness.

    ¡®If I could obtain that monster¡¯s genes¡­!¡¯

    She believed that sessfully transnting its genes would elevate her to a higher dimensional existence than her current state. After a long time, she felt a sense of exhration.

    In her eyes appeared the target¡ªa sizable hole drilled right in the middle of the road. Despite the meticulously dug hole, the target didn¡¯t escape buty prostrate on the ground, all fourrge arms attached.

    ¡°You¡¯re not trying to escape?¡±

    ¡°No, There¡¯s no need¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­You can speak?¡±

    Code ck was surprised by the entity speaking. It sounded odd, almost as if a woman¡¯s voice was recorded and distorted through a machine, but it was undoubtedly human speech.

    ¡°Impressive.¡±

    She had assumed that a creature needing strict surveince outside must possess intelligence high enough to evade monitoring. However, she hadn¡¯t expected it tomunicate with humans.

    Her mission was to capture the entity. If it couldmunicate, it would sufficiently understand the situation. She spoke,

    ¡°If you¡¯re intelligent, you¡¯ll understand. Surrender.¡±

    ¡®Hmm, what will happen¡­¡¯

    Sensing nonchnce in its words, she frowned.

    ¡®So audacious.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ll take only the head and torso.¡±

    She drew two psychic whips from her hand. As she swung them, the ground beneath her cracked open, and tentacles shot out.

    ¡®An ambush!¡¯

    Was that why it remained in contact with the ground?

    She quickly elevated herself into the air.

    The failed ambush made the tentacles retreat underground.

    From the air, she swung the whip forcefully.

    Her target was not the tentacle but the monster¡¯s main body. Since the tentacles were connected to its arms, it was currently immobilized. As expected, the creature couldn¡¯t move.

    As a purple serpent lunged to bite into the monster¡¯s body, it twisted its head, blocking the whip¡¯s trajectory with its thick head armor.

    The pure psychic-powered whip collided with the thick head armor, generating intense sparks.

    ¡®As expected.¡¯

    She realized that the armor-like shields on the head and wrists of the monster¡¯s body were the toughest parts.

    ¡®I need to aim elsewhere.¡¯

    Uponnding, the serpent in her left hand lunged, hissing, toward the monster.

    However, the monster, having already retracted its tentacles, retreated considerably.

    The whip she threw only scratched the asphalt of the road. But that wasn¡¯t the end. While retreating, the monster hurled sizable road fragments toward her.

    ¡°Reflection!¡±

    An intangible barrier materialized in front of her, deflecting all the fragments. Yet, she couldn¡¯t rx. The fragments and fine timing allowed thorned barbs to fly in.

    The attack took advantage of a moment when her Reflection, which could perfectly defend against all physical attacks, briefly deactivated. It was a cunning maneuver.

    ¡°Tch.¡±

    She hastily swung her whip, clearing the path of the barbs.

    ¡®Was it aiming for the moment when Reflection was disabled?¡¯

    While Reflection could perfectly defend against all physical attacks, it required concentrated focus and couldn¡¯t be constantly active.

    Therefore, during movement or other actions, it had to be deactivated. There was a very short cooldown after deactivation before reusing it.

    ¡®It¡¯s familiar with fighting against the cult.¡¯

    She wasn¡¯t sure of its identity, but that monster precisely targeted Reflection¡¯s weakness.

    ¡®I need to change tactics.¡¯

    Originally nning to tidy up with Psychic Whips, it seemed challenging.

    ¡®I¡¯ll clean up with Psychic Breaths.¡¯

    Code ck raised both hands, palms facing forward, and opened them wide. A ck sphere appeared in front of her, transforming into long, ck threads that cut through the air.

    Judging it impossible to defend against, the monster crouched its body. The ck threads, resembling a crown, scorched its head armor and the arms on its back, shattering distant buildings into pieces.

    While the monster moved with three arms and legs affixed to the ground, it swiftly dodged the threads. The threads burnt the roads and houses, sending debris flying from the ground to the air.

    Amidst its movements, the monster stepped on the debris, shooting thorned barbs in between. While firing Psychic Breaths, she simultaneously cast Reflection, blocking the barbs.

    ¡°Stop! Enough of this!¡±

    While firing a Psychic Breath with her right hand, she pulled out a Psychic Whip with her left hand.

    The whip soared, coiling around the monster¡¯s legs in mid-air, followed by the ck threads scorching its tail.

    ¡°Aargh!¡±

    The monster screamed in agony. One of its primary weapons, the tail, was now incapacitated.

    With a smirk, Code ck forcefully pulled the monster down to the ground. Intent on finishing it off with the threads, the monster, despite its incapacitated state, lunged towards her.

    However, she had already cast Reflection. Its elongated arms moved backward, and she struck the disoriented monster¡¯s neck with a Psychic Whip.

    ¡°It¡¯s over. Surrender¡­¡±

    While she spoke, the monster¡¯s mouth opened wide, releasing scorching mes towards her face.

    ¡°Aargh!¡±

    Although Reflection prevented injury, the intense heat couldn¡¯t be stopped. The tremendous heat burned her face, causing significant damage to her eyes.

    ¡°That cursed monster¡­!¡±

    Even in her disoriented state, she fired a Psychic Breath. The threads severed one of the monster¡¯s arms, yet it remained intact.

    The arm resembling a sickle, located on the monster¡¯s back.

    A vicious biological weapon struck her shoulder.

    ¡®This can¡¯t go on!¡¯

    She urgently signaled Code Red. Violet light emitted from her now disheveled body, rapidly disintegrating.

    The monster¡¯s swinging arm grazed her body, then stuck into the ground. As she phased out, she quickly reassembled behind the monster, unscathed.

    Re-materializing, she immediately struck the monster with a Psychic Whip. Unable to evade her attack, the monster staggered helplessly.

    ¡°You¡¯re the first to cause such significant damage to me.¡±

    Her tone remained calm, but she was partly losing herposure. Fighting against something weaker and nearly losing her life once had rattled her.

    ¡®Just extracting the brain should suffice for Akira to understand.¡¯

    As she extended both hands, the ck spheres reappeared. At that moment of intending to finish off the struggling monster¡­

    ¡°Cough?!¡±

    She spat out blood as intense pain surged from her abdomen. Unknowingly, she knelt down, feeling something rigid inside her despite the unscathed exterior.

    ¡°In¡­corporeal¡­ization, there¡¯s a vulnerability.¡±

    Above her bewildered head, a voice echoed. It was the murmuring of the monster that had suddenly approached her.

    ¡°H-How¡­?¡±

    ¡°If there¡¯s an object during re-materialization, it¡¯s detrimental.¡±

    When returning from a phased state to a solid form, no objects should be present in that space, or they would embed into her body, much like what she experienced.

    Of course, she was well aware of the limitations of phase maniption technology.

    What she couldn¡¯tprehend was how the metal shard had suddenly appeared, evading her and Code Red¡¯s detection.

    ¡°No. Right now, I need to phase¡­¡±

    She quickly signaled Code Red again, requesting to re-phase and create distance from the monster. However, the response deviated from her expectations.

    [Under attack by an unknown enemy. Currently focusing on defense. Unable to phase.]

    ¡°What?¡±

    An unknown enemy? Her gaze darted back to the hole that had been dug on the road earlier.

    A few strands of violet-glowing tentacles extended from the hole, gently swaying outside.

    ¡®Psychic powers!¡¯

    It dawned on her. Code Red had mentioned someone infiltrating their surveincework using psychic powers. They had constructed an independent psychic control web, making it impossible to determine their precise state.

    Back then, she thought the target used psychic powers to evade surveince. But it wasn¡¯t just one adversary.

    ¡°We¡­are¡­not¡­alone¡­¡±

    Before she could fully process, the monster¡¯s arm swung, targeting her neck.

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 87

    Chapter 87

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The moment Code ck initiatedbat with the target, there was a girl in a red dress on the 50th floor¡¯s aerial observatory of Monument. Despite her slender arms, legs, and petite face, anyone who saw her eyes would be terrified.

    ¡°Psychic Control Web adjusting.¡±

    Because her eyes resembled those of a chameleon rather than human eyes.

    Her eyes moved incessantly, scanning the administrative cityscape below.

    This peculiar-looking girl was none other than Code Red, one of the secret weapons of the Yujin family.

    Above her head, a distinct violet halo floated.

    If anyone capable of detecting psychic power were present, they would have undoubtedly seen the thin psychic power threads extending from her, forming a web with a radius of 1 km.

    Code Redcked the potential to receive gic traits from Gagon like Code ck, performing joint operations, or Code White, who had already died.

    Instead, she received gic modifications rted tobat assistance to support other shadows.

    One of these modifications was the Angel Spider.

    It was a carnivorous animal that inhabited jungles and had the ability to create psychic power threads.

    Creatures caught in the psychic web spread by the Angel Spider would be controlled by the spider and be prey without resistance.

    Unlike the original, Code Red didn¡¯t have the ability to control other creatures.

    Instead, she gained the ability to detect and control the flow of psychic powers in vast areas beyond even a spider¡¯s capacity.

    Thanks to this skill, known as the Psychic Control Web, Code Red took on the role of supporting other shadows from the rear.

    Her usual task was to continuously ry information about the target to Code ck, but not this time.

    Someone had disrupted the extensive control web she had unfolded.

    ¡®I detect psychic powers as strong as mine. Unable to detect the target.¡¯

    It was like someone throwing a stone at a spider¡¯s web.

    Even if the web was damaged by the stone, the spider couldn¡¯t tell who did it or how to prevent it.

    She found herself in a situation akin to being the owner of a ruined spider web.

    The only relief was that her opponent didn¡¯t seem as adept at manipting psychic powers as she was.

    If it were her, she might have attempted to reverse control of the web, but her opponent didn¡¯t try to wrest control from her.

    ¡®Focus on restoration first.¡¯

    Anything else, if the spiritual synchronization linked to ck was severed, would be catastrophic.

    She focused on restoring the control web while keeping an eye on ck.

    ¡°?¡±

    But then, something new entered her detection zone.

    Her gaze turned towards the ck sky.

    In the artificially created darkness, a green-shining star appeared.

    ¡°A star?¡±

    She recognized the identity of the green spacecraft well.

    Withrge wings, a nimble body, four horns, and a tail, the presence was a Green Gagon.

    Emerging from an unknown ce, the Green Gagon was rapidly flying towards the Monument.

    [Enemy approach detected. Engaging interception.]

    Intuitively identifying Green Gagon as an adversary, Red ceased spiritual synchronization and responded ordingly.

    She reached for the elongated rifle and sniper coil gun she had ced nearby.

    Loading tungsten rounds filled with condensed sma, she aimed the coil gun into the air and fired.

    Oddly, the projectiles autonomously changed trajectory, heading toward the target as she manipted their path using the Psychic Control Web.

    As the Green Gagon approached in the sky, the sma rounds detonated.

    [Target eliminated.]

    Thinking she had taken down the target, green light burst from the smoke cloud caused by the explosion.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    Disregarding the sma burst, the entity swiftly closed the distance towards her.

    ¡°Re-engaging fire.¡±

    Confirming the target¡¯s survival, Red continuously fired the coil gun.

    The sight of dozens of oval-shaped projectiles soaring from the muzzle in silver seemed like a reversed yback of a meteor shower.

    She had believed her shots would eliminate the entity, but reality diverged from her expectations.

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Rarely showing emotions due to erosion, she expressed astonishment.

    The green entity had skillfully evaded the sma explosion, showcasing remarkable aerial maneuverability.

    Despite intentionally surrounding the target with projectiles from all directions to pressure it, the Green Gagon escaped through a gap using aerial acrobatics.

    As the green death light, taking away all life, embroidered the night sky sessively, chaos erupted within the Monument.

    Red knew her actions were reckless at this moment, but she deemed the adversary, disying incredible aerial skills, to be more dangerous.

    ¡®Akira¡¯s imminent threat.¡¯

    Code ck engaged inbat, while Code Blue guarded Akira Yujin. She was the only one capable of defending this ce.

    Yet, despite Red¡¯s aggressive counter-fire, the Green Gagon not only distanced itself from the Monument but rapidly closed the gap.

    ¡°Re-engage until target elimination is confirmed!¡±

    The ck skies of the Monument lit up with an untimely fireworks disy.

    ***

    She was born when the white meteor shower adorned the gown of the goddess of the night. Born as the youngest of the esteemed Odd Grad group, she was given the name Adhai, meaning the daughter of a shining star. The urrence of a special celestial phenomenon among the Gagon is rare, and she bore the expectations of the Odd Grad group on her shoulders.

    However, it didn¡¯t take long for those expectations to turn into disappointment. She was born with a cursed physique, unlike her kin. Unlike her kin, she remained petite even as time passed, retaining the appearance she had when she hatched. The weak individuals had no ce among the Odd Grad group, and she, with little potential for strength, was expelled from the nest.

    Living her entire life in the nest and being physically weak, surviving in the harsh wilderness seemed almost impossible for her. After her expulsion, she slowly sumbed to starvation. If oddly-shaped dwarves hadn¡¯t appeared, she would have undoubtedly died. These dwarves were rogue thieves who appeared to steal the eggs of her kin. They raided the nest, discovered her, and took her to the dwarves¡¯ den.

    The dwarves used strange daggers, ws, or whatever they were, to stab her, and then they put her in a cold lump of ice. Her memories after that were faint. When she woke up, a creature was in front of her. Being keen because of her weak presence among her kin, she could tell what kind of creature it was as soon as she saw it. It emitted a scent simr to her kin but was different.

    It was one of her kin that used treasures containing psychic power as food to grow stronger. However, there was a difference. This creature was a cruel predator that took pleasure in killing and devouring other creatures. It tried to devour her, and she offered a deal before her demise. She would give the treasure of the nest in exchange for her protection.

    Her kin, including herself, never relied on negotiation or deals since they were the apex of the ecosystem. However, having lived a life dependent on her kin and other creatures, she knew the limitations of such a survival method. Despite her own dislike for the situation, she bargained because she had no choice. The creature seemed familiar with her kin. The creature looked at her strangely and epted.

    That was her first encounter with the ¡®Great Adult.¡¯

    ?Danger.?

    Seeing the silvery stones flying towards her, she quickly folded her wings. Her body rapidly descended, and an explosion urred above her head. Falling down, she continued to think. About the ¡®adult¡¯ who promised to protect her. The adult, to her eyes, was undoubtedly an excellent predator, butpared to her kin, it was weak. The giant metal structure where the dwarves lived was full of beings that could kill him.

    Nevertheless, the adult did not give up. The adult made constant efforts and, as a result, fought stronger dwarves and emerged victorious. So, she admired him. The factors that could make the adult great. She wanted to learn that.

    ?Strength? ?Learning? ?Hope?

    As she fell to the ground, she spread her wings wide. Along with that, her body soared high into the sky. The silvery stones that followed her couldn¡¯t catch up, exploding midway. She rotated her body skillfully, adeptly avoiding the explosions. Her small size actually worked in her favor for such evasive maneuvers. If she weren¡¯t a mutation, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to dodge so effortlessly.

    The Big and small Adults taking care of her taught her how a weak individual hunts stronger enemies.

    And most importantly, they taught her ¡®how to survive alone¡¯.

    She learned diligently, and someday, hoped to stand beside them.

    ?Me? ?Desire? ?Great Adult? ?Mate?

    Purple lightning emanated from her tentacles, hitting the silvery stones flying around her. Amidst the curtain unfolded by the goddess of the night, green meteors stormed. The sight was exactly as her name suggested when she was born. She is Adhai, the daughter of a star.

    ***

    Code ck, whose neck was severed by my hand.

    Her head rolled on the ground.

    ¡®It¡¯s not over yet.¡¯

    The ck shroud she wore remains.

    The advanced-grade reinforced robe, the ck Shroud, guarantees the wearer to evade death once every three days.

    Shshsh!

    As the effect of the ck Shroud was activated, the headless corpse dispersed into ck mist.

    The resurrection point designated by the ck Shroud is not far from the ce of death.

    ¡®When resurrected, all injuries are healed, and for a certain time, special effects are received.¡¯

    When wearing the ck Shroud and dying, ording to the setting, the soul merges with the equipment, transforming into a being called a Necrospecter.

    As a Necrospecter, only half the damage from all types of attacks is received.

    Moreover, every time physical harm is inflicted on an opponent, their life force is absorbed to strengthen oneself.

    While it seems to have extremely favorable effects, it has a fatal drawback.

    ¡®Unstability.¡¯

    In an unstable state, one loses rationality and cannot properly utilize their inherent traits.

    It¡¯s akin to when the effect of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯ ends, and I turn into a starving beast craving flesh.

    Bing a spirit that assaults any living creature.

    ¡®Though they receive reinforcement effects, they¡¯ve lost their sanity. Dealing with them isn¡¯t too difficult.¡¯

    The problem lies in whates next. The surrounding area has been devastated due to the battle with the ck. Nullifying cameras is meaningless as many people witnessed the fight between me and the ck. The fact that a battle urred in the administrative district is a problem distinct from incidents in other districts.

    ¡®It¡¯s like the head of the city is in danger.¡¯

    If the Monument¡¯s higher-ups get to know that such an important ce is in danger, they will undoubtedly mobilize the defense fleet. This includes not only ground forces but also the small-scale orbital ships.

    Moreover, my time is running out. In about three minutes, the effect of the ¡®Symbol of the Hunt¡¯ will end, and then I will turn into dust from the sma shot by the battleship.

    Of course, I took countermeasures against that.

    ¡®Since I sent Adhai to the Monument.¡¯

    Adhai went to Monument to confront Code Red.

    ¡®To teleport through spiritual tuning, you need to be in a location where you can monitor the battlefield in real time.¡¯

    The only ce where that¡¯s possible is the tallest building in the Administrative District, the Monument. Most likely, Code Red, like ck, also has the ability to see distant objects.

    ¡®Self-defense mechanisms would be rted to that.¡¯

    Spiritual tuning, long-range detection capabilities¡ªthese are all technologies useful for fighting at a distance. Therefore, the defense of Code Red is likely to be a long-range attack weapon, such as a gun.

    ¡®Adhai is the perfect counter to Code Red.¡¯

    The Green Gagon specialized in hit-and-run tactics based on speed.

    Just as the young Blue Gagon has the ability to call its kin due to its small size, the Green Gagon is characterized by its exceptionally high speed.

    Moreover, its ¡®Hyper-eleration¡¯ attribute triples its already fast flight speed, making it challenging to catch the Green Gagon unless with a wide-ranging area attack.

    ¡®Plus, Adhai¡¯s small size makes intercepting it much more difficult.¡¯

    Unlike mutants, the non-mutant Green Gagon can grow up to 10 meters, resulting in a wider hit area despite its speed.

    However, Adhai, including the tail, is about the size of a middle schooler and its wing length doesn¡¯t even reach 2 meters.

    With such a narrow hit area, it won¡¯t be easy to shoot it down even with androids or battleships targeting it.

    ¡®Ifbat urs in the airspace above Monument, the defense fleet can¡¯t help but focus there.¡¯

    Before sending Adhai, I cautioned it.

    I told it to flee if metallic-smelling masses approach.

    From what I know, the Green Gagon is faster than a Megacorp Frigate. Apart from the Green Gagon, only the Cult¡¯s frigate and the Esserton¡¯s high-speed frigate are faster, neither of which exists in this cosmic city.

    ¡®It¡¯s intelligent, so it should be able to escape unharmed.¡¯

    While Adhai buys time, I need to eliminate ck and find a way out of this city.

    ¡®Given that battleships are not visible even after this situation has urred¡­¡¯

    A deadly virus has spread throughout the entire city since the previous battle in the sewers.

    Probably, the spread of the epidemic to the defense fleet happened faster than my estimation, causing problems in themand structure.

    ¡®No, let¡¯s focus on the immediate matter.¡¯

    The battle isn¡¯t over yet.

    Moments after the ck mist disappeared in front of me, I sensed movement from inside the ruins nearby.

    It was the resurrection of ck, turning into a Necrospecter due to the unique effect of the ck Shroud.

    ?Big baby, I sense a naughty swordsman nearby.?

    Number 26, who emerged from the pit, seemed to sense something simr and signaled.

    Simultaneously with its signal, the debris in the ruins exploded with a rumble.

    A ck figure walked out of the mes.

    ck¡¯s appearance had changed significantly from before her death. Her white skin had turned as ck as the ck Shroud, and her eyes were glowing red.

    ¡°Recognition, sssss, I will do, sss, it, sss, please.¡±

    Her voice was filled with a hissing noise, like a snake. While some sanity seemed to remain, she appeared slightly uneasy.

    ¡°Forgive, forgive, forgive, can¡¯t, sssss, forgive? Forgive, can¡¯t, sss, I, special, special being, being?!¡±

    No, let me correct that. Due to the Necrospecter mode, she was properly insane.

    Her body, muttering iprehensible words, began to twist suddenly. It was as if a Hulk mutant was mutating when enteringbat.

    Upon close examination, she had the ¡®Physical Transformation¡¯ trait.

    When bing a Necrospecter, the unstable trait prevents the proper use of the original characteristics. Problems such as skills not activating at all or the effects of passive traits changing unpredictably ur.

    It seemed that the Body Transformation trait was also affected by the instability.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ (Be cautious, it¡¯s a formidable enemy)]

    ?Yeah, be careful too, big baby.?

    Although the time for the mutation was short, Code ck¡¯s appearance was no longer human, nor was it easy to categorize her as a Hulk mutant.

    The four pupils on her face all turned towards me simultaneously.

    ¡°Die, die, sssss, die? I, Akira¡¯s, sss, die! Most special, sssss, Sha-ah-ah!¡±

    The creature created by the Yujin family, a monstrous being, roared at us.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 88

    Chapter 88

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡°I¡¯m special, ssss, special, sss, special, sssss, about to die? Am I going to die¡­¡±

    Code ck, transformed into a gruesome form.

    Despite her altered appearance, she continued to scream incessantly.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone change this oddly because of a Necrospecter.¡±

    Summing up her appearance briefly, she looked like a mutated corpse monster from a ssic horror game set in space.

    The yak horns protruding from her throat were grotesquely twisted. In the ce where her hair hadpletely fallen out, two new eyes had taken the ce. Her right arm had transformed into a spear-like shape, seemingly melded with summoned Pain Spheres. On her left arm, mouths had emerged sporadically, tonguesshing out.

    Thanks to the fusion of the ck Shroud and flesh, her body was practically naked, yet it emanated more difort than beauty. Despite my fondness for aliens and monsters, I couldn¡¯t find any liking in her appearance.

    ¡°Shaaa!¡±

    Code ck, or rather the Necrospecter, pounded the ground and leaped forward. As she swung her left arm in mid-air, purple whips emerged from the mouths on her arm,shing towards my direction.

    The whips seemed to target my vulnerabilities as if they had a mind of their own. Instead of dodging the whips, I leaped into their midst. I blocked the ones aimed at my head with my arm and deflected those targeting my side using wrist guards.

    Someshes, however, aimed for my back and legs, which I couldn¡¯t entirely fend off. Nheless, I wasn¡¯t worried.

    ?Those who torment the Big Baby won¡¯t be forgiven!?

    The flying whips seemed nailed in mid-air for a moment as if stopped by an invisible force. This was due to the significantly enhanced ¡®restraint¡¯ ability of number 26pared to before.

    The haphazardly thrown psychic whips were neutralized, providing me with an opportunity to approach the Necrospecter closely.

    ?Back off! Go away, away, go away! Die!?

    She snarled and swung the arm fused with the Pain Sphere towards me.

    I couldn¡¯t afford to take that blow directly. Not only because it would hinder my regeneration ability, but also because the Necrospecter would drain my life force. As per its design, by offering life to the ck Shroud, it would revert to its original form before death, gradually reducing negative effects while keeping the enhancements intact.

    Hence, stalling during a fight with Code ck was not a wise move.

    I twisted my body sideways, narrowly avoiding its swung Pain Sphere. Expecting my evasion, it transformed the Pain Sphere into a hook-like shape.

    ¡®No chance.¡¯

    I too was reading its attack. Just before its hook could pierce my thigh, a blood-sucking tentacle sprang from the end of mybat arm,shing at its side.

    ¡°Ugh! Die!¡±

    Upon being struck by my attack and while flying away, Code ck¡¯s left arm gleamed.

    ¡°Watch out!¡±

    I quickly bowed my head, raising the crown-like carapace extending from the back of my head. A thin ck beam shot from the mouth on Necrospecter¡¯s left arm, striking my head.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    I took a few steps back and swiftly dodged the iing beam. Five ck beams relentlessly chased me, aiming to tear me apart.

    ¡®Thanks to my dragonification trait, there¡¯s no energy consumption limit.¡¯

    Though the destructive power was significantly lower than when I was in a sane state, simultaneously firing several shots didn¡¯t really pose a disadvantage due to the decreased force.

    The beams destructively razed everything around me¡ªhouses, trees, roads, cars¡ªstubbornly following the tip of my tail.

    ?Die! Die! Die!?

    The one maniacally firing the beams suddenly shut its mouth. When I turned around, I saw a purple mesh encasing its entire body.

    The one who threw the mesh was number 26. As number 26¡¯s tentacles flickered, blood spurted from the figure.

    ¡°Aaargh!¡±

    Letting out a scream, the figure exerted force on their arm, slowly loosening number 26¡¯s restraints. Witnessing this, number 26 immediately shifted to another attack. Its long tentacles shattered the ground, digging in.

    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you, I¡¯ll¡­ Argh!¡±

    The figure tried to aim the beams at number 26 but failed as thick tentacles emerged from the ground, targeting their arm.

    Hastily retracting the left arm and leaping backward, the figure swung the right arm. However, the tentacles shrunk instantly, leaving the figure¡¯s attack shing through thin air.

    ¡®It has grown a lot.¡¯

    The Sea Demon can freely adjust the size of its tentacles while using them. Even after growing, number 26 effortlessly utilized them inbat.

    Amid their battle, I swiftly closed the distance with the Necrospecter. As the figurended on the ground, I took a deep breath.

    With the exhtion, a long jet of me engulfed the figure¡¯s face.

    ¡°Aargh!¡±

    Although Code ck only received half damage from all attack types, she didn¡¯t nullify the pain. Writhing in mes, she grabbed its head.

    ¡®That scorching pain must be intense.¡¯

    Amidst the agony, all four of the figure¡¯s eyes focused on the mes. Reflex activated, reflecting the fire, spreading it around both of us.

    Taking advantage of its focus on the fire, I attempted to stab the figure¡¯s shoulder with the bone de attached to my back. Or rather, I tried.

    One of its four eyes spotted my bone de. Reflex activated again in mid-air, deflecting my attack.

    While my body swayed from the attack on my back, the figure¡¯s spear pierced through the ck smoke and crimson mes.

    The target of the spear was my hand. With my tail still unrecovered, my remaining weapons were threebat arms and bone de arms attached to my back. My n was to neutralize thebat hand I used most frequently.

    But there was something the figure didn¡¯t know. Just before the tip of the spear pierced my palm, my hand glowed purple. The spear passed through my hand like piercing an empty palm.

    ¡°?!¡±

    Despite being in an altered state of mind, the figure seemed surprised by the current situation as they widened their eyes.

    I raised my healthy hand¡¯s nails sharply and shed upward at the figure. Unfortunately, it failed again. The figure stepped back, using reflection, causing my attack to deflect in the wrong direction.

    A whip emerged from the figure¡¯s left arm, aiming to strike my arm, but number 26 intercepted it. While the restraints held the figure¡¯s arm, number 26¡¯s tentacles targeted its back simultaneously.

    ¡°Y-you! Damn, little, little, little¡­!¡±

    Code ck screamed in rage, trying to fire beams from her left arm. I vigorously shook my head, knocking down her left arm with my horn. With a gruesome sound, the figure¡¯s arm twisted in an unnatural direction.

    As the blocked figure kicked me, perhaps due to its inherent trait, her bnce remained strong. My abdomen caved in, and my body was forcefully pushed backward.

    Following that, the figure¡¯s Pain Sphere flew to stab me. From a crumbled stance, I barely blocked the attack using mybat arm.

    ¡®I¡¯ve allowed two attacks already.¡¯

    Code ck¡¯s strength had significantly increased. This attack resulted in my arm¡¯s shield carapace being partially severed.

    ¡°W-what¡¯s this¡­?¡±

    For a moment, a spark returned to Code ck¡¯s eyes, perhaps indicating a partial recovery of consciousness.

    ¡°Uh, s-s-s, I-I¡¯m special, ssss special, sss special¡­¡±

    As she hadn¡¯t absorbed enough life force to stabilize the effects, the figure¡¯s eyes returned to a murky state.

    ¡®A close-range battle won¡¯t be easy.¡¯

    In closebat, avoiding the enemy¡¯s attacks bes challenging. Moreover, the figure rapidly bes stronger.

    ¡®However, fully relying on number 26 is not feasible.¡¯

    Itcks effective means to strike Code ck. The method of breaking necks in a human fight doesn¡¯t apply here. Unless number 26 has fully matured, it¡¯s currentlycking in strength.

    The serrated tentacles are a double-edged sword. They can injure the Necrospecter, but if used against it, it could cause significant damage to number 26. Additionally, number 26cks the durable exterior I possess, making it vulnerable to Code ck¡¯s light attacks.

    ¡®I need to change tactics.¡¯

    Initially, my n was to neutralize the most threatening weapon¡ªthe left arm. But considering the situation, it didn¡¯t seem easy. Even without rationality, the figure was keenly aware of its weaknesses.

    I don¡¯t have any more time. Let¡¯s stake everything on this attack.

    ¡°Now die! Die!¡±

    The figure rushed at me, baring its teeth like a rabid dog. Its swung spear aimed to strike me down with a hooked motion.

    Due to its increased speed, I narrowly evaded the figure¡¯s attack. As I kicked the anchored spear, destabilizing the figure, I nced at number 26, who emitted a brief sh upon feeling my gaze.

    It meant it would follow any n.

    ¡®Good.¡¯

    I rolled backwards, and as Code ck¡¯s anchored spear failed to connect, she clicked its tongue in frustration. Even though she seemed more rational than before, I remained unperturbed.

    She raised its left arm to fire beams at me from a distance. Simultaneously, the ground behind the figure split open, and tentacles emerged.

    Number 26¡¯s tentacles entwined around Code ck¡¯s left arm. Despite her attempt to repel the tentacles with reflection, at that moment, shards of rebar beneath the destroyed road flew into her eyes.

    ¡°Argh!¡±

    Originally intended to prate, the attack was limited to stabbing the Code ck¡¯s eyes due to its resistance.

    ¡°Shaaa!¡±

    Struck in a vulnerable spot, she made an indiscernible sound and tore off the tentacles with its right arm. The pain resonated through number 26 as if even felt by its tentacles.

    ?It¡¯s fine! Doesn¡¯t hurt at all!¡±?

    The creature eximed and, giving force to its tentacles, threw me high into the sky.

    The direction number 26 hurled me towards was above the figure¡¯s head. While flying towards the destination, I adjusted my aim to target the figure¡¯s forehead.

    And then, I unleashed the prepared Psychic Breath from above the figure.

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Judging the danger, the figure hastily tried to move backward.

    ¡°No way!¡±

    With all its might, number 26¡¯s restraints hindered the figure¡¯s movement. It was a very short period, yet enough time for the Psychic Breath to reach the figure.

    The figure looked at number 26 with disbelief, but it was already toote. The dragon¡¯s mes ruthlessly engulfed the Necrospecter¡¯s body.

    ***

    ¡°Faster than expected!¡±

    Code Red, engaged in anti-aircraft shooting against airborne enemies, involuntarily sweated.

    She fired tungsten-tipped sma shots from her coilgun. In this darkness, these shots were undoubtedly substantialpared to regr bullets, although it wasn¡¯t easy to see them clearly.

    Thanks to her Psychokinesis Control Web, she could detect and manipte bullets fired from the coilgun, but her enemies couldn¡¯t.

    The night in the cosmic city, although artificially illuminated, was rtively brightpared to the greenish Gagon, making it not at all easy to dodge each bullet.

    Code Red had experience fighting Gagon alongside other shadows. However, there was no existence as swift and fearsome as the green demon she faced now.

    ¡°Support needed!¡±

    She had already attempted multiple spiritual harmonizations to forcibly summon ck. But all attempts failed. There was only one truth indicated ¨C ck had entered Necrospecter mode.

    Click!

    The coilgun shed red, indicating the remaining ammunition was low, a situation apparent even to an ordinary person without abilities.

    The unfavorable circumstance stirred emotions within her ¨C fear of defeat.

    ¡°Urgent retreat!¡±

    She tossed the useless coilgun away and focused her mind.

    It was to release the spiritual harmonization with ck and summon herrade, Code Blue. Originally an absolute no-go action, but currently, she wasn¡¯t in her right mind due to the fear of death, something she hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time.

    A green meteor rapidly approached the violet halo glowing from her head.

    ¡°Still time.¡±

    Just a while ago, she calcted the moving speed of the Green Gallergon during their fight.

    At the figure¡¯s speed, Code Blue couldn¡¯t reach her before the Green Gallergon did. She thought so, but there was one thing she overlooked.

    The Green Gallergon hadn¡¯t yet exerted its full speed.

    ¡°?!¡±

    The figure¡¯s wings glowed intensely green, significantly elerating its speed.

    With the increased speed, a shockwave erupted behind the elerating figure. A deafening roar tore through the air, causing all windows on the Monument¡¯s outer wall to tremble.

    The figure, narrowing the distance at a rapid pace, suddenly snapped its wings backward. As the speed dramatically decreased, the figure¡¯s velocity resembled that of aet.

    Windows on the 50th floor where the observation deck was situated shattered due to the shockwave, and chairs inside the observation deck tumbled chaotically.

    ¡°Miscalction.¡±

    Code Red closed her eyes as she glimpsed the violet irises of the figure, which had reached dangerously close.

    Even after devastating her body to pieces in the observation deck and passing through the entire floor, the Green Gallergon, coincidentally or not, spread its wings again in the monument¡¯s airspace.

    At a distance, another ze of dragonfire zed fiercely.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 89

    Chapter 89

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The port district of the T&C Special Trade Center.

    As the st doors parted, a spacecraft smoothly glided into Earth¡¯s atmosphere. Marked on the spacecraft¡¯s surface was the M?bius Strip, the symbol of the Yujin Family.

    As the spacecraft¡¯s doors opened, crew members carrying metal hard cases swiftly descended.

    ¡°We¡¯re short on time. Hurry up and prepare.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir! Min-seok!¡±

    Commanding his subordinates was Min-seok Yujin, a Huangjin man. He once served Jungwoo Yujin and currently was serving Jada, the butler of Si-hyun Yujin. The underlings serving Si-hyun moved tirelessly ording to Minseok¡¯s orders. They opened the hard cases and began assembling theponents inside.

    ¡°Miss.¡±

    While the subordinatesmenced their work, Min-seok bowed his head upon seeing thest woman to descend. She, dressed in a white bodysuit, was none other than the owner of those present, Si-hyun Yujin.

    ¡°If the task ispleted within five minutes, we¡¯ll depart immediately.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Si-hyun remained silent, surveying her surroundings.

    ¡°Something¡¯s off.¡±

    The port district swarmed with ships like warships, vessels visiting the city for the council, yet scarcely any people were visible. Even the asional androids seemed out of the ordinary. Seeing androids with three arms, clearlybat models, performing tasks that ordinaryborers should handle hinted at a significant incident unknown to her.

    ¡°If there¡¯s a shortage of people, it¡¯s either due to a massive incident causing staggering casualties or¡­¡±

    An unidentified epidemic spreading.

    Before arriving here, she learned through the media about the reprehensible actsmitted by the Eden Knights. Given her own background as a shadow, she knew well that the Eden Knights¡¯ Silver Lion Knights consisted of gically modified humans. While powerful, they wouldn¡¯t have decimated the poption of this space city to such an extent.

    Their numbers were insufficient to overwhelm the ground forces of the defense fleet. Moreover, there was no mention in the media ofrge-scale killings.

    As the Zhao Family had connections with Eden, if the Eden Knights hadmitted mass civilian killings, they couldn¡¯t simply ignore it.

    In that case, there was only one answer.

    ¡°Pass on the message to everyone. Activate reinforced suits and wear masks.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s an epidemic spreading.¡±

    From theck of reaction of the White Maidens present, it seemed this wasn¡¯t an airborne disease.

    Those present here were ted for necessary contact with specific individuals for their mission. So, if they wanted to avoid infection, they needed to prepare here in advance.

    At Minseok¡¯smand, the underlings in the midst of their tasks activated their reinforced suits and donned masks.

    ¡°Could another faction be behind the chaos?¡±

    There were suspicions, although none were decisive, as all the factions had a distance from terrorists employing biological weapons.

    ¡°Akira Yujin is still here.¡±

    The Yujin family, being experts in gic maniption and biotechnology, had experience with biochemical weapons using viruses.

    If the head of such a family was unaware of an epidemic spreading in the city, then this virus wasn¡¯t ordinarily hazardous.

    ¡°Or perhaps they¡¯re aware and choosing to stay silent.¡±

    Devious enough to be usible for such maniptive forces.

    By coercing the Chief Administrator through the Council, they might keep the city from focusing on the situation.

    Of course, she herself, valuing her life above all else, had surely taken precautions not to get infected by the virus in any way possible.

    ¡°It¡¯spleted.¡±

    Min-seok¡¯s voice interrupted her thoughts.

    Before her stood aplex mechanical device assembled by her subordinates.

    It was a modified item, a Star Union Gremlin Torpedo, converted by Si-hyun¡¯s underlings into a timed explosive.

    Originally designed to incapacitate other faction warships, the Gremlin Torpedo, upon detonation, released nanomachines that would corrode all nearby metal objects.

    Si-hyun¡¯s subordinates had modified it to spread far more nanomachines than the original design across a wide area.

    ¡°Good work. Let¡¯s move.¡±

    From now on, they would install this bomb in the city¡¯s heart, the underground reactor.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    While moving with her subordinates, Si-hyun detected a peculiar psychic power surge.

    ¡°A cult? No, that¡¯s¡­¡±

    For a moment, an extremely alien psychic power flickered within the city but vanished quickly.

    ¡°Could it be?¡±

    ¡°Miss?¡±

    As Si-hyun paused, Minseok called out to her.

    She nced between the bomb and the city center.

    On one side was Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s wish fulfillment.

    The perfect opportunity to eliminate Akira Yujin and neutralize the enemies of the Yujin family.

    But on the other side¡­

    ¡°Miss, you need to move right away.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    It wasn¡¯t an option that should waver.

    She was Si-hyun Yujin after all.

    Standing silently, she finally made her decision.

    ¡°I¡­ had something to consider. Let¡¯s go now.¡±

    As she moved, she briefly nced at the city center.

    ¡°Uncertain if it¡¯s him. Even if it is, he wouldn¡¯t survive in a copsing cosmic city.¡±

    Whatever ¡°it¡± was that killed her would be buried along with the city¡¯s copse.

    ¡°If by any chance he does survive¡­¡±

    At that moment, she would sever the chains binding herself.

    Using Psychic Breath twice in quick session, I barely regained my fading consciousness.

    Despite the tremendous force resembling the White Gant¡¯s st, the Necrospecter didn¡¯t fall.

    ¡°I¡­sss.. I am the greatest¡­.sss¡±

    With its outer skin torn apart, revealing only bones and muscles, Code ck staggered a few steps before copsing.

    Her heartbeats slowed down, graduallying to a halt.

    The ck Shroud enveloping her body returned to its ck robe-like appearance.

    ¡®Phew.¡¯

    Focusing on the auxiliary systems, only after confirming its demise did I finally feel relief.

    ¡®She was a formidable foe.¡¯

    If I had been alone, I wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance.

    ¡®number 26 became a significant strength.¡¯

    Additionally, Adhai, who went to confront Code Red in my ce, did her role perfectly.

    I nced at number 26.

    It remained cautious, perhaps anticipating the resurrected ck from its dead body.

    Sensing my gaze, Its shot a concerned wave at me, asking if I was okay.

    ¡®I¡¯m fine. How about you?¡¯

    As always, It was worried about me more than itself.

    I intended to thank it with a wave, but I felt a change in my body.

    ¡®The ¡®symbol of the hunt¡¯ is over.¡¯

    Mixed feelings of relief that the hunt ended before killing the ck and regret for not being able to consume the corpse coexisted.

    ¡®Still, gaining even one of Code ck¡¯s genes would be beneficial¡­ huh?¡¯

    My thoughts couldn¡¯t proceed further. A tremendously intense instinctpletely dominated my mind.

    ¡®What¡­ what is this?¡¯

    An appetite so fierce that it drove me utterly insane surged through my brain.

    Though I¡¯d experienced this several times and considered myself familiar, this time was different.

    ¡°Could the fatigue and side effects from the Psychic Breath¡­?¡±

    Suddenly, everything seemed pointless.

    I was just hungry.

    ?Big Baby! Hurry, eat!?

    Someone said next to me, but I couldn¡¯t quite make it out.

    It felt strange, but the voice emitted a smell that stimted my hunger.

    And without betraying my expectations, a fragrant piece of meat appeared before me.

    I swallowed the piece of meat in one gulp.

    ¡®Not enough.¡¯

    Text boxes popped up before my eyes, saying something I couldn¡¯tprehend.

    But more than that, I was hungry.

    Why did I have to starve like this?

    ¡®If you need it, seize it.¡¯

    It was a saying I¡¯d always heard since I was young.

    If you need something, take it. That¡¯s the life of a winner.

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö, ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    ¡®Right there.¡¯

    A chirping voice. If I eat that, this dreadful hunger might subside.

    Just as I thought that, food appeared in front of me again.

    The smell was oddpared to the food from earlier. It was so unappealing despite my hunger.

    ¡®Just shut up and eat.¡¯

    Suddenly, childhood memories flooded my mind.

    If I don¡¯t eat now, I might not have a chanceter. I have to eat it no matter what.

    I reluctantly forced myself to eat the tasteless food.

    My stomach felt a bit full, making my mind waver.

    Eat it all now. No, what am I saying? No, not enough yet. Wait a minute. Can¡¯t wait!

    ¡®A delightful scent is wafting through.¡¯

    No, hold on.

    For some reason, I felt the delicacy had thorns.

    I shouldn¡¯t eat that delicacy. No, I should eat it. If I do, I can obtain what I desire. I shouldn¡¯t eat it. There¡¯s no time to wait.

    I pounced on the delicacy.

    An incredibly appetizing fragrance tickled my auxiliary systems.

    ¡®What thorns?¡¯

    Of course, there were no thorns.

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö, ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    The shouting from it made my head itch. No, what nonsense about prey having a mouth. Stop it right now. It¡¯s all a misconception.

    ¡®I¡¯ll eat well.¡¯

    I was about to open my mouth. Food from it?

    ¡°I¡¯ll eat well!¡±

    No, it is¡­

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö, it¡¯s okay.?

    The signal he sent flowed through a tentacle behind my head. An intangible signal reached my brain, interpreting its meaning.

    ¡®Eat quickly!¡¯

    I closed my mouth. A strand emerged from his body and brushed against my jaw.

    Then, my auxiliary system and its tentacle gently intertwined.

    Suddenly, I felt a spark at the tip of the auxiliary system. Simultaneously, text boxes appeared before my eyes, shining brightly.

    Two distinct lights illuminated a crucial fact for me.

    ¡®number 26?¡¯

    The moment I realized who I was suppressing, the world brightened.

    My once foggy mind cleared, sensations returned to my body.

    Despite the itching of my skin due to hunger, it wasn¡¯t as severe as before, leaving me less ravenous.

    I released my grip on number 26.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±

    My recent actions were far beyond my control.

    ¡®Could it be the ovep of exhaustion from Psychic Breath and the side effects of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯?¡¯

    Psychic Breath consumes mental strength to the limit. When I used it during the apartment fight, I lost consciousness. Thanks to the superpower enhancement effect on a full organic entity, I could now use Psychic Breath twice. Normally, I¡¯d have fainted after using it twice in a row, but due to attributes and type effects, I managed to stay conscious. However, the ovep of exhaustion from Psychic Breath and the irrationality from the hunting symbol¡¯s side effects seemed to have synergized negatively, causing severe mental distress, unlike anything I¡¯ve experienced before. To be precise, it wasn¡¯t just mental distress; it was aplete takeover by instinct.

    ¡®Oh my. I shouldn¡¯t do this again.¡¯

    Thebined effects of the two attributes resulted in something far more severe than I could have imagined.

    [ZZZ ZZ(Little one?)]

    Was it when I regained consciousness that number 26 called me? I almost instinctively attacked number 26.

    I immediately apologized to it.

    ?I¡¯m fine. Are you okay? Did I hurt you anywhere??

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ(I¡¯m sorry; I just lost it. I¡¯m really sorry.)]

    ?You don¡¯t have to apologize. As long as the big baby is okay.?

    Although it seemed fine, I carefully examined his body. What I found fortunate was that I didn¡¯t attack number 26. If I had attacked it to consume, the situation would have been much worse.

    ¡®number 26 doesn¡¯t have healing abilities like me.¡¯

    Unlike me, if number 26 gets injured, it will take it a long time to heal. If it sustains a fatal injury, that¡¯s the end for it. Despite several inspections, apart from the injuries it received from the fight with Code ck, there were no new injuries on its body. Some of its tentacles were bloody, which surprised me, but upon smelling it, I realized it wasn¡¯t its blood but the Cult member¡¯s.

    ¡®After Code ck, it must have picked up the Cult¡¯s corpses around this ruins.¡¯

    He did his best to turn me back. Amidst feeling grateful and an inexplicable emotion, I suddenly remembered numerous text boxes floating in the air.

    Among them, one particrly shone.

    ¡®Activate Humanity!¡¯

    It was the humanity trait I obtained by consuming pirates in the past. A trait I¡¯d considered useless until now yed a crucial role when it was critical. I¡¯m not sure what exactly catalyzed it.

    ¡®It must have been when number 26¡¯s tentacle touched mine; that¡¯s when the trait activated.¡¯

    To replicate the recent situation, I attempted to touch number 26¡¯s tentacle again.

    ¡®Little one, there¡¯s a small oneing.¡¯

    [ZZZ (Huh?)]

    Number 26 discreetly withdrew its tentacle and pointed at the sky. As I looked there I saw Adhai flying in this direction.

    ¡®Oh no.¡¯

    She was followed by several airships in the rear.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 90

    Chapter 90

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The scout ships pursuing Adhai amount to a total of three. Among them, thepact scout ship model, Aegis, resembling a 40-meter long rectangr box, is utilized in MegaCorp.

    Even though it¡¯s considered small, it¡¯s equipped with a staggering four sma cannons, making any reckless moves unwise.

    ¡®What should I do?¡¯

    The surroundings offer nothing but ruins destroyed by ck¡¯s psychic breath and heat rays, rendering hiding impractical.

    ¡®If we¡¯re going to flee, the kids might need to use the underground passage to get here.¡¯

    However, escaping underground in this situation isn¡¯t necessarily a good choice. Adhai is currently in pursuit. Getting hit by a sma bullet due to hastily hiding would be disastrous.

    ¡®Moreover, Adhai is injured.¡¯

    There¡¯s a scent mingled with human blood on the kid¡¯s body. If not nning to abandon the kids here, I can¡¯t afford more burden than this.

    ¡®To buy some time, is there any means¡­ ah.¡¯

    Come to think of it, when I lost consciousness, Number 26 tossed ck and Cult corpses to feed me.

    ¡®After consuming Code ck, a text box definitely appeared.¡¯

    Being out of my senses, I knew something flickered in front of my eyes but didn¡¯t specifically examined it. I hurriedly checked the text box.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Majesty of the Dragon¡¯ gic essence.]

    [Extracted ¡®Majesty of the Dragon¡¯ from biological characteristics of ¡®Code ck¡¯.]

    [Would you like to apply ¡®Majesty of the Dragon¡¯?]

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Pain Spear¡¯ gic essence.]

    [Extracted ¡®Pain Spear¡¯ from biological Charecteristics of ¡®Code ck¡¯.]

    [Would you like to apply ¡®Pain Spear¡¯?]

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained ¡®Resistance¡¯ gic essence.]

    [Extracted ¡®Resistance¡¯ from biological characteristics of ¡®Code ck¡¯.]

    [Would you like to apply ¡®Resistance¡¯?]

    All of them are potent traits. Moreover, one of them is immediately necessary for me.

    epting all, a new translucent text box emerged, and mutations began within my body.

    [Majesty of the Dragon trait applied.]

    [Can be fused with existing ¡®irvoyance.¡¯]

    [¡®Majesty of the Dragon¡¯ and ¡®irvoyance¡¯ traits fused. Evolved into ¡®Watcher of Dread¡¯ trait!]

    [Watcher of Dread: Instills indescribable terror in a specific sentient being. There¡¯s a chance the target may go insane.]

    [*P.S.: I suppose I don¡¯t need to mention which emotion humans have harbored the longest.]

    [¡®Pain Spear¡¯ trait applied.]

    [Can be fused with existing ¡®Breath of Fire.¡¯]

    [¡®Pain Spear¡¯ and ¡®Breath of Fire¡¯ traits fused. Evolved into ¡®Decay Fungus Organ¡¯ trait!]

    [Decay Fungus Organ: Releases fungal spores that deteriorate and contaminate the enemy¡¯s natural healing abilities.]

    [*P.S.: Decay is just another form of cirction.]

    This mutation primarily urred around my head and its vicinity. The itchiness started around my eyes and spread across my entire head. Changes in the surface of my skin resulted in indentations and protrusions, and horns twisted forward on the front of my head. Swirling patterns appeared on the surface as well.

    Previously, when I acquired the psychic enhancement type, geometric patterns were engraved on the exoskeleton covering my head. Upon that, new patterns resembling pupils were added.

    True to its name ¡®Watcher of Dread¡¯, numerous eyes inside my head made it feel as though they were monitoring the external surroundings.

    The transformation didn¡¯t just ur above my head. The incendiary organ within my throat vanished, reced by a new organ that produces andunches microbes. Due to this new organ, my entire neck became much thicker than before.

    The ¡®Resistance¡¯ trait manifested changes within my body, not visibly apparent on the outside.

    Okay.

    Havingpleted the evolution through the new traits, I called for Number 26.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ (We have to catch the people chasing Adhai.)]

    ?A person? Referring to the bait with four appendages??

    [ZZZ (Yes)]

    As it wasn¡¯t exactly a wrong expression, I didn¡¯t point it out.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (A person is riding inside that metal box.)]

    ?Yes, I sense it.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (I alone can¡¯t capture them all.)]

    ?Yes, I¡¯ll help!?

    It¡¯s fortunate that it catches on quickly. Dealing with not just one but three scout ships alone isn¡¯t easy. In this situation, I need Number 26¡¯s assistance.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (You have power.)]

    ?Power??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (The power that drives people insane.)]

    ¡®If I can effectively use the ¡®Abyssal Terror¡¯ trait, I can incapacitate the crew aboard the scout ships.¡¯

    In the game, Sea Demons often focused the ¡®Abyssal Terror¡¯ on tanks or supports.

    The debuff effect of Abyssal Terror is incredibly potent, and even with significant resistance, it¡¯s hard to prevent it.

    ?This might be reality here, but¡­?

    Moreover, the considerable distance between this ce and the scout ships might prevent Number 26¡¯s Abyssal Terror from reaching the ships.

    ¡®No, endless negativity won¡¯t help.¡¯

    Number 26 is still young but is a Sea Demon after all.

    ¡®If it¡¯s Number 26 we are talking about then, it can do it.¡¯

    Moreover, it¡¯s a clever one. Once it grasps the trick, it¡¯ll surely manage.

    ¡°[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Focus your power.)]¡±

    ¡°Yes. Ugh!¡±

    While Number 26 concentrated, trembling, I observed Adhai. She was circling the vicinity with the scout ship. She consistently evaded the ship¡¯s bombardment with nimble flight, but her speed was gradually decreasing.

    ¡®She won¡¯tst much longer.¡¯

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Think about clearly identifying the target and wanting to capture it.)]

    ?Capture??

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Yes. I won¡¯t let it go.)]

    ?I¡¯ll give it a try.?

    Truthfully, I don¡¯t know if what I said is correct. I briefly exined the sensation of focusing on auxiliary organs when aiming at someone.

    However, it seemed to have helped Number 26 quite a bit. The swirling, colorful energy dancing around it converged into a giant eye shape.

    ?Got it!?

    Number 26 emitted a wave filled with joy. At that moment, the auxiliary organs stiffened and warned me of a highly dangerous presence ahead.

    The muscles in mybat arms and legs tensed, and the acidic blood flow within me elerated. It felt just like when I first encountered Sihyeon Eugene or ck.

    ¡®Sess.¡¯

    Number 26¡¯s Abyssal Terror effect impacted me as expected. The fear that gripped my heart vanished quickly once I realized I was affected by the Abyssal Terror and managed to nullify it.

    ¡°[ZZZZ ZZZZ (Well done)]¡±

    ?Am I amazing? Am I??

    ¡°[ZZ (Yes)]¡±

    I patted the delighted Number 26. If I could feel fear to this extent, ordinary crew members wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.

    ¡°[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Throw me like earlier)]¡±

    ?Okay.?

    Its thick tentacle wrapped around my waist.

    ?Here we go!?

    The tentacle holding me shook vigorously, pushing my body up into the air. When I transformed into the hunting form, except for the tail, I used to be around 5 meters in size and quite heavy, so Number 26 couldn¡¯t throw me high.

    But now, my size and weight had significantly reduced, allowing me to fly swiftly toward the location of the scout ship.

    In mid-air, I extended mybat arm andunched the bloodsucking tentacle towards the scout ship. As the red tentacle made contact with the ship, the small saw des on its surface dug into the ship¡¯s hull.

    With my body fixed, I retracted the bloodsucking tentacle, attaching myself to the scout ship. Whether the crew onboard noticed my presence or not, two turrets on the left side of the scout ship aimed at me.

    I quickly dodged the first shot by lying t and crawled closer to the adjacent turret. When I approached the turret, I activated the Phantom ws and reached into the interior.

    By deactivating just the tips of the ws, I disrupted the electrical circuitry inside.

    ¡®At least one down.¡¯

    The turret targeting me malfunctioned and soon stopped.

    Although the remaining turret attempted to fire at me, I had already prepared for it.

    Two rows of panels on my back collided, emitting waves that disrupted the machinery. Sparks flew from the junction of the sma turret that was hit by the waves, rendering it useless.

    Now that I sessfully hijacked the ship, control of that turret was in my hands.

    As for the two turrets on the opposite side, they couldn¡¯t target me since my position against the outer wall was angr and obstructed.

    ¡®This should put an end to external threats.¡¯

    Words from the crew inside the inner wall were detected through the auxiliary organs. The enemies were in a state of confusion due to an unexpected new threat.

    ¡®But it¡¯s not enough.¡¯

    If they contact other scout ships to fire at me from here, I¡¯m finished. I need to shake things up more to prevent that.

    My auxiliary organs began to squirm, trying to find someone among the crew emitting a strong metallic scent.

    While the auxiliary organs were working, I hijacked the turrets and aimed at other ships. Inside, the screams and curses intensified when the turret expelled a bright green energy mass. The energy sphere flew straight into the rear of another scout ship. Although the hit scout ship shook violently, there seemed to be no major issue with its flight.

    ¡®It¡¯s definitely challenging to control it directly.¡¯

    Meanwhile, the auxiliary organs found the target I was seeking. I activated the Abyssal Terror on him and crawled towards the side of the scout ship. Destroying the terminal inside in front of the door where crew members boarded and disembarked, I ripped the half-open door open and entered the scout ship.

    ¡°Damn it! Left gun deck incapacitated!¡±

    ¡°Left turret number 2 is also unresponsive! Find a way to fix it!¡±

    ¡°We have to turn off the firing assist AI system and reactivate it!¡±

    The interior of the Defense Fleet¡¯s 1408th scout ship was inplete chaos. They were pursuing the green flying object a while ago when an unknown adversary suddenly attacked them.

    ¡°Where did that thing go? Can¡¯t see it on the left camera!¡±

    ¡°Spotted on the upper camera! What is it doing?¡±

    ¡°Whatever it is, we need to take it down!¡±

    Even as the crew in the situation room deliberated on how to deal with the monster, the Defense Force personnel aboard the ship did not ck on their vignce about their surroundings. Soldier 13, like hisrades, remained on edge, prepared for any impending emergency.

    Suddenly, all lights inside the scout ship went out, and the noise in the previously bustling ship vanished in an instant.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Startled, Soldier 13 raised his Gauss rifle and scanned the front.

    ¡°W-what¡¯s going on?¡±

    Shortly after the emergency lights came on, the inside of the ship turned red. The revealed sight left him horrified.

    The crew membersy torn apart, their bodies sprawled on the cold metal floor, and grotesque creatures were devouring the corpses.

    ¡°Ugh, aahh!¡±

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    As he screamed, someone ced a hand on his shoulder.

    Thinking it was arade, Soldier 13 turned around and froze in shock.

    A being resembling the monsters tearing the bodies apart was smiling at him. With ck blood running down its eyes and a mouth resembling the torn monsters, it lunged at him with its teeth.

    ¡°No, no, no!¡±

    Soldier 13 fired his Gauss rifle at the creature, causing it to copse with a hole the size of a ping-pong ball in its abdomen.

    But then, the other monsters devouring the corpses shrieked and rushed towards him.

    ¡°Aahh! Die! Die! Die!¡±

    With each shot fired from his rifle, a monster fell. Perhaps realizing that arade had died, hordes of monsters poured in from another room.

    As Soldier 13 tried to aim at them, a metallic projectile pierced his head from somewhere.

    Only after his head was pierced did he realize who the creature he had killed was.

    ¡°Damn it! This crazy bastard!¡±

    ¡°Hey! Snap out of it! Hold on a little longer!¡±

    ¡°Medic!¡±

    ¡°Headquarters! This is 1408! Soldier 13 has gone insane and fired at friendly forces!¡±

    Before he could even regret his actions, Soldier 13¡¯s consciousness plunged into darkness.

    ¡°Sess.¡±

    Due to the soldier affected by the Abyssal Terror, seven out of twenty people aboard the ship died.

    ¡®It¡¯s a downgraded version of the Abyssal Terror, but quite effective.¡¯

    The Abyssal Terror can be described as an underwater horror that targets individuals. Unlike the true Abyssal Terror, its effect of driving the target insane only activates probabilistically, yet it¡¯s still a potent trait.

    ¡®Especially effective in causing disruption amongst enemies like now.¡¯

    While the adversaries were unsure how to react, I sprinted through the passageways within the scout ship. Due to the soldier gone berserk because of the Abyssal Terror, firing wildly in the situation room, the Defense Force members were all gathered in that direction.

    Unnoticed by them, I sprinted through the corridors, reducing the encounters with crew members.

    ¡°P-please, spare me! Don¡¯t¡ªack!¡±

    Kneeling, I tore off the head of a pleading crew member, took a single bite, and swallowed it whole.

    Rushing toward the situation room, feasting on corpses, a volley of bullets flew from that direction.

    ¡®Tungsten rounds. Impossible.¡¯

    Regr rounds couldn¡¯t pierce my outer shell. Positioning my head towards the soldiers hiding in the situation room, I opened my mouth wide.

    Activating the microbe generator inside my throat, I vomited out a mass filled with mold.

    ¡°Ugh! Damn it!¡±

    The projectile of mold soared like a projectile, passing over the heads of the soldiers,nding inside the situation room.

    There were sounds resembling the throwing of garbage bags on the floor before the mass exploded.

    ¡°What¡¯s this¡­? Ugh!¡±

    ¡°Cough, ack! Cough¡­!¡±

    The screams of the soldiers hit by the shrapnel of the mass were audible. The decaying mold generator, a fusion of Pain Spheres and mes Breath, had effectspletely different from the materials used.

    ¡°It¡¯s fundamentally rted to infection.¡±

    The decay mold generator was a characteristic mold that caused necrosis and decay, creating fungal spores.

    When the spores burst, the fungi inside infected other organisms. To prevent infection, antifungals or remedies to eliminate the mold needed to be used.

    ¡°If they could just focus properly, it would be easy to resolve, but duringbat, it¡¯s challenging.¡±

    In the game, when yers are hit by the mold of the decay mold generator, they immediately enter a panic state. This was due to the ongoing agony of the body decaying in real-time after being hit by the mold.

    Without anyone to assist nearby, performing emergency treatment alone was impossible.

    ¡°Ugh, aagh¡­.¡±

    ¡°Stop¡­!¡±

    The soldiers, who had been screaming in severe pain, were barely breathing. Their faces were covered in pustules, their clothes soaked with sweat, blood, and pus. Some were already oozing ck blood from their noses and mouths, perhaps having decayed internally.

    After confirming that the crew on the ship had beenpletely neutralized, I entered the situation room.

    ¡®I wish I could pilot it myself, but controlling a military vessel alone is impossible.¡¯

    Even if it were a small reconnaissance vessel, the models belonging to the military ship, including the scout ship, were beyond my capabilities to pilot. At best, I could enable autonomous navigation using AI.

    ¡®It¡¯s regrettable, but I¡¯ll have to make do with this.¡¯

    I set the direction towards the friendly scout ship indicated on the radar andmanded the AI to engage full speed ahead.

    The engines of the scout ship roared, and the situation room where I stood shook violently. As the scout ship surged fiercely towards its target, I retraced my steps.

    Crawling out to the outer hull of the scout ship, I saw one of the remaining two ships already plummeting towards the ground.

    There was no doubt that number 26 was disrupting the crew with the Abyssal Terror from the surface.

    Meanwhile, the scout ship I boarded was rapidly approaching the enemy. They btedly realized the intentions of the ship and hastily altered their course.

    As the ship narrowly passed by, I extended the bloodsucking tentacle and switched to another scout ship.

    The infected scout ship, carrying soldiers contaminated with mold, flew towards the city encased in a dome, pilotless.

    ?Adult!?

    Adhai appeared in the distance and sent a signal my way.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (Later for greetings.)]

    All that remained now was this one ship I had boarded. Onest small scout ship and twenty crew members inside. They were the final adversaries.

    If the enemies had ignored the consequences and fired at the scout ship I was in, things wouldn¡¯t have turned out this way.

    They made the wrong choice, and now they have only one option left.

    Simply to face annihtion.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 91

    Chapter 91

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The managers of each team and the androids were striving to assess the situation.

    ¡°To think that the Monument is under attack, what on earth is the defense fleet doing? Where did the enemiese from?!¡±

    ¡°I cannot be ascertain.¡±

    ¡°These useless androids are nothing but rubbish!¡±

    Shouts echoed from all directions, and everyone looked around with a mixture of concern and confusion in their eyes.

    Observing this, La stared nkly.

    ¡°Is this a dream?¡±

    Amidst the ongoing proceedings of the Monument¡¯s council, chaos ensued due to an unexpected assault.

    As soon as the explosion echoed from the 50th floor, security personnel from each family barged into the conference room, forcibly taking the heads of the families out along with them.

    La attempted to exin to those trying to flee, but the situation had already spiraled out of control.

    The council had utterly failed.

    No matter how they attempted to salvage it, her downfall had be an undeniable reality.

    ¡°I have to find a way somehow¡­¡±

    Was it due to an excessive shock or perhaps the recent days of physical indisposition? Her mind, usually sharp, moved sluggishly today.

    It wasn¡¯t just her mind; her senses were also bing distorted in reality.

    The noise she perceived as loud gradually started sounding distant.

    ¡°Administrator, how should we proceed?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Administrator?¡±

    Someone, whether a team leader, a security officer, or a secretary she didn know tapped her on the shoulder.

    That slight jolt turned her insides upside down.

    ¡°Why¡­?¡±

    ¡°Oh my goodness! Administrator!¡±

    La wanted to believe this situation was a dream.

    But the thick scent of blood around her lips and the agonizing sensation tearing through her body proved that this was indeed reality.

    ¡°What is this?¡±

    When she realized she was bleeding, she had already copsed to the floor.

    As people around her shouted iprehensible words, it was akin to the rage of an angry swarm, and she couldn¡¯t understand a thing.

    Soon after, even those voices faded away.

    ¡°¡­How¡¯s the administrator¡¯s condition?¡±

    ¡°The examination shows bleeding in various organs, including the lungs. Treatment is not possible here.¡±

    ¡°Bleeding in organs? Why on earth?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s believed to be caused by an unknown virus.¡±

    When La suddenly vomited blood and copsed, the atmosphere in the refuge took a sharp turn into darkness.

    La wasn¡¯t merely a city administrator.

    She was La Chemblin, a woman from the T&C family, one of the seven families of MegaCorp.

    If she were to die, those present here would undoubtedly face an unimaginably grim fate.

    ¡°This can¡¯t go on! There¡¯s a central hospital just upstairs!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right! We must transfer her immediately!¡±

    ¡°Nonsense! We don¡¯t know when the enemy¡¯s attack will start again.¡±

    ¡°Whether it¡¯s an attack or not! If the administrator dies, it¡¯s all over for us!¡±

    The hesitation of the team leaders in the face of La¡¯s life-and-death situation was evident.

    Should anything go wrong while transferring to the hospital, the person who suggested moving La would be solely responsible. Due to the rigid atmosphere unique to MegaCorp and the brutal retaliation of Noble Capital, the Monument¡¯s leadership couldn¡¯t effectively manage this situation.

    Amidst their indecision and wasted time, the Crisis Management Team manager, having concludedmunication with the Defense Fleet headquarters, approached them.

    ¡°We¡¯ve arranged a medical ship from the Defense Fleet headquarters, so we¡¯ll move her there.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to go to the hospital in the Administrative District if we¡¯re moving?¡±

    ¡°¡­We received word from the Defense Fleet. The Administrative District is currently under attack by unidentified enemies who are, killing people.¡±

    ¡°Oh my!¡±

    As the city¡¯s situation seemed worse than they had imagined, the team leaders fell silent.

    ¡°While a reconnaissance ship has been deployed, safety isn¡¯t assured. The Defense Fleet headquarters is safer than here, so receiving treatment there would be better.¡±

    ¡°Fair point, but how do we transfer?¡±

    ¡°A transport vessel is prepared in Monument Square. A reconnaissance ship is also on standby in the Monument¡¯s airspace for escort. We can move using the transport vessel.¡±

    Ultimately, as proposed by the Crisis Management Team leader, they decided to send La via the medical ship. Combat androids carried La out of the refuge towards the square where the transport vessel awaited.

    After the androids exited the lobby on the first floor, a bald African-American man emerged from the emergency staircase.

    ¡°Your Highness, it¡¯s Jacob. There are no bodies here. Yes. Yes. The culprit of this situation is probably¡­¡±

    The person conversing was named Jacob. He was the Deputy Commander of the newly appointed Denver¡¯s Order of Seraphim.

    ?Little one, are you okay??

    ?I¡¯m? ?Fine? ?Perfect?

    Coming out near the wreckage of the crashing reconnaissance ship, the children had a brief moment of respite number 26, concerned about the bloodied Adhai, kept checking everywhere with its tentacles.

    Watching Adhai squirm as if ticklish, I thought,

    ¡®I knew there would be side effects to the hyper-eleration.¡¯

    Among Adhai¡¯s scales were debris: human blood, shards of ss, steel reinforcing bars used to support buildings. Not only the scales, but the wings were slightly torn, and one of the neatly grown horns had a crack.

    All injuries had urred during the hyper-eleration, despite Green Gant usually being able to withstand collisions with other objects.

    ¡°He¡¯s small and fragile, which likely led to this mishap. It¡¯s unlikely that his growth will offset these side effects.¡±

    ¡°Until a solution arises, I must seal off the hyper-eleration. It should only be used for evasion, not as an assault, like this time.¡±

    While pondering this, Adhai called out to me.

    He approached me stealthily and spat out an object from the mouth¡¯s tentacles. It was someone¡¯s hand.

    ?Loot? ?Adult? ?Gift?

    Indeed. The owner of this hand is probably Code Red. When Green Gant enters hyper-eleration, it generates a sonic boom with each movement. If Code Red didn¡¯t possess defenses as potent as ck, stopping Adhai¡¯s charge would have been impossible. The fact that anything of the enemy¡¯s body remained was fortunate.

    I stroked Adhai¡¯s head and passed on the hand.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (These are the spoils you obtained)]

    ¡®Gift>

    Adhai seemed like it would discard it if I didn¡¯t eat it myself.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Then let¡¯s eat together)]

    A single hand couldn¡¯t exhibit the feeding effect anyway. It would be better for the injured Adhai and number 26 to consume it. I nibbled on one finger and handed the rest to the children.

    Adhai, after eyeing me, swiftly sucked up all the remaining blood in the hand, and number 26 dealt with the remaining debris.

    I pondered what to do next while looking at the children.

    Themunication with three reconnaissance ships has been lost. They won¡¯t becent anymore.

    Battle in the Monument and Administrative District, coupled with the destruction of three reconnaissance ships.

    Now, the space city won¡¯t merely perceive us as unfamiliar intruders.

    Invasion.

    In the enemy¡¯s eyes, we are the invaders who attacked the council.

    It was evident that military vessels would directly search for me from now on.

    Although we could defeat three reconnaissance ships bybining our strength, if dozens of them target us or a battleship intervenes, there¡¯s nothing I can do.

    ¡®Hiding in the city is no longer an option.¡¯

    ¡®They won¡¯t cease until they find me, the one who ruined the city.¡¯

    ¡®If we are discovered, it¡¯s over.¡¯

    When the defense fleet spots me, instead of deploying soldiers, they¡¯ll obliterate my hiding ce entirely.

    If they¡¯re not fools, they¡¯ve learned that it¡¯s challenging to capture me with ground forces alone.

    ¡®I have to leave this ce.¡¯

    Although I haven¡¯t fulfilled all the conditions for evolution into a pseudospecies, it¡¯s inevitable.

    Survival is a priority over evolution.

    ¡®Nevertheless, amidst the misfortune, the situation has turned in my favor.¡¯

    In a way that benefits me.

    The enemies are currently in aplex situation.

    ¡®It¡¯ll be challenging for them to focus on me properly.¡¯

    The fact that they sent only a few small reconnaissance ships when the city¡¯s head is under attack signifies something.

    It indicates internal issues in the defense fleet that make it challenging to mobilize manpower.

    ¡®It¡¯s all thanks to the space bacteria I spread.¡¯

    ¡®However, there¡¯s not enough time.¡¯

    It¡¯s not just because themand neglected the disease due to the council; I can¡¯t expect them to fix things now when the council is already in disarray.

    If we develop vines and establish quarantine systems, the opportunity given by the cosmic bacteria will soon disappear.

    Since a convenient means of escape has arisen, I must utilize it.

    The city erupted into war while guests visited.

    So where will those guests go?

    ¡®They¡¯ll probably head out of the city.¡¯

    I raised my head and gazed into the city¡¯s airspace.

    Numerous transport vessels were flying towards the harbor zone.

    When they try to leave via the harbor zone, I¡¯ll sneak on board secretly.

    Normally, I would have been inspected while leaving because of the council, but in this situation, can they really do that?

    Especially against MegaCorp¡¯s guests¡¯ ships.

    ¡®We just need to hide well.¡¯

    After deciding what to do, I called the children.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Let¡¯s go)]

    ?Where to??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Where we came from)]

    ¡®I don¡¯t understand¡¯

    Number 26 immediately understood, but Adhai tilted its head.

    Well, it entered through a different path, so it wouldn¡¯t know.

    ?Where we first met the Big baby.?

    ?I understand.?

    While Adhai nodded at number 26¡¯s simple exnation, I collected bodies from the surrounding ruins.

    ¡®It might be tough to obtain gic essence due to severe damage.¡¯

    Considering many bodies were missing lower halves or only had limbs remaining, expecting a feeding effect seemed unreasonable.

    ¡®Still, they have some utility.¡¯

    The wounds from the fight with ck, like severed arms and tails, hadn¡¯tpletely regenerated.

    To heal quickly, they needed to feed and replenish nutrients.

    ¡®Especially since the children are also injured.¡¯

    As I didn¡¯t know whom we might encounter at the harbor zone, it was essential to supplement nutrients intermittently on our way.

    I swallowed small parts, like just an arm or a leg, and picked up rtively less damaged bodies.

    Returning to the children, I handed over two corpses I had been holding.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (Eat while we are moving.)]

    ?Okay!?

    While I had unconsciously ced Adhai on top of my head, number 26 extended its tentacles and skillfully caught the bodies I provided.

    Seeing Adhai lying on number 26, wrapped in wings, it seemed natural.

    ¡®So this is what happened when I wasn¡¯t around.¡¯

    Having gathered food, we left the wreckage of the reconnaissance ship and headed back to the pit where number 26 had first emerged.

    While going to the surface was quicker, encountering a warship was more likely.

    It was safer to take a bit longer and go underground instead.

    Arriving at the pit, I used auxiliary equipment to check for any dangers inside.

    ¡®No issues.¡¯

    The only movement detected underground was the motion of scavengers.

    I descended first, followed by number 26 carrying Adhai.

    By retracting its tentacles and fins into its body, number 26 transformed back to its balloon-like appearance from when we first met.

    As a result, it shrank enough to move within the sewer system.

    ¡®So that¡¯s how it moved with that bulk.¡¯

    Their current appearance made it seem as though Adhai was riding on a pink rubber tube.

    Although quiteical, it was efficient, and I marveled inwardly.

    Subsequently, we entered the sewer and moved towards the direction of the harbor zone.

    As anticipated, there were no enemies in the sewers.

    While traveling, I asked number 26 and Adhai how they had developed so much.

    To my surprise, the response was unexpected.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ (Did you target corpses and neers?)]

    ?Yes.?

    People who didn¡¯t smell of metal were weak prey, so I ate only them.

    The creatures didn¡¯t only consume the corpses of deceasedborers in the sewers.

    They also attacked and devoured neers, like vagrants.

    ¡®I can distinguish between soldiers and vagrants.¡¯

    Normally, individuals unnecessary for the city¡¯s operation, like vagrants, couldn¡¯t exist in this space city.

    However, this time was an exception due to people losing their jobs as themercial district copsed.

    Those who lived day by day, now unemployed, couldn¡¯t afford rent and were forced to hide in the sewers or the ruins of themercial district.

    It appeared that number 26 and Adhai primarily targeted such individuals.

    ¡®Quite impressive.¡¯

    Their method of targeting easy yet unsuspecting prey was the hunting technique I frequently used.

    While I believed Adhai had grown considerably, perhaps the one I could call my apprentice was number 26.

    As we conversed and moved, we unintentionally drew closer to the harbor zone.

    While on the way, having consumed all the corpses, my body was almost fully recovered.

    ¡®We¡¯ve arrived.¡¯

    After signaling the kids to wait briefly, I stood beneath a manhole close to the Harbor District pier.

    Before opening the lid, I checked if there were any enemies outside.

    I focused my auxiliary sensors to observe the movements around.

    The bustling sound of footsteps on the ground, the distant hum of engines from moving ships, and nearby, the familiar smell of metal drifted into my auxiliary sensors.

    ¡®The familiar smell of metal?¡¯

    The moment I found it odd, my auxiliary sensors detected something new rapidly approaching this way.

    What was approaching wasn¡¯t a smell or a sound.

    ¡®Danger!¡¯

    As I hurriedly retreated, a green energy mass destroyed the manhole.

    The alloy lid vanished instantly, leaving a gaping hole in the nearby sewage ceiling.

    ¡®I knew you¡¯de here! You monster!¡¯

    A voice from above ground.

    Following the voice, energy sts fired from a sma bolter poured into the sewage where I had been.

    ¡®The Eden knights!¡¯

    What awaited us in a remote part of the Harbor District was the Prime Capital of Mars, the Eden family.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 92

    Chapter 92

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    When the Monument was attacked by unidentified enemies, Denver Eden also evacuated with the dignitaries.

    Amidst the general dismay, he saw this as a golden opportunity.

    ¡®Even if the monster¡¯s corpse is looted now, nobody would know.¡¯

    The Monument¡¯s leadership, including the overseer, would be too busy dealing with the enemy. By the time they realized, Eden¡¯s departure would have distanced him from the city.

    With a resolved mind, Denver summoned the newly appointed deputymander Jacob and a few members.

    ¡°Are you saying they want us to retrieve that body?¡±

    ¡°Yes, we must find it by any means necessary. Otherwise, it won¡¯t sit well with the bnce.¡±

    With the council now in shambles, the chances of Samdam Chemblin bing the CEO is far-fetched. Consequently, Denver¡¯s stance supporting T&C within the family has be awkward.

    ¡®With him alone, the project progress would increase several notches.¡¯

    If sessful in developing the new Hulk Mutant, there would be no more dependence on T&C. That would solidify their position within the region.

    Thus, after leaving Jacob and the team behind, Denver stepped onto the transport ship. Arriving at the port zone, the docks were filled with ships preparing to set sail.

    Among those who came to greet the council were the Zhao family¡¯s spacecraft and several administrators from the administrative zone, trying to flee.

    ¡°Your majesty, the elders have decided to leave first.¡±

    ¡°I have matters to attend to, so go ahead.¡±

    Soon after, the warship carrying the elders departed beyond the city¡¯s shielding gate.

    Denver sat in themander¡¯s chamber, awaiting news from Vice Commander Jacob. As he nearly finished the wine brought by his servant, the awaitedmunication arrived.

    ¡°Have you found it?¡±

    ¡°There is nobody in the monument, sir.¡±

    ¡°What? Have you checked ces other than theb?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Denver was astonished at the news of it not being in theb.

    ¡®Have they removed the body?¡¯

    In his view, the city had copsed into chaos. Would anyone bother about a monster¡¯s corpse when all the officials supposed to safeguard the city were fleeing?

    Instead, Denver suddenly considered another possibility.

    ¡®The Monument¡¯s assault¡­ could it be?¡¯

    The creature might still be alive. Just thinking about that possibility made him shiver.

    ¡®They didn¡¯t kill it; they captured it!¡¯

    Something seemed suspicious. Not only did they massacre the elite ground forces of Eden but also killed a veteran as seasoned as the former Vicemander, Vickus.

    He knew well that the ground forces¡¯ armament within the defense fleet wasn¡¯t powerful enough. Their Gauss rifles wouldn¡¯t be sufficient to kill the creature. ¡®Especially if it can withstand sma bolters.¡¯

    It¡¯s likely that the defense forces subdued the creature withuncher shots and then took it to the Monument¡¯s scientific researchb. There, scientists would have studied it and extracted enough findings to present during the council session.

    ¡°Then something went wrong, leading to this chaos.¡±

    ¡°Since the creature isn¡¯t here, we now know who¡¯s responsible for this chaos.¡±

    ¡°Yes, the instigator of this situation is probably¡­¡±

    Having grasped the full extent of the situation, Denver asked the most crucial question,

    ¡°Have you found any trace of the creature?¡±

    ¡°Using the gene tracker, we confirmed the creature escaped the building. However, after that, any traces were eradicated, making it untraceable.¡±

    Even though Jacob mentioned it was impossible to pinpoint the whereabouts, Denver wasn¡¯t particrly concerned. The fact that the creature had escaped the Monument was evident.

    ¡°It could be a decoy. Continue tracking inside the building as far as possible.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°And immediately transmit the gic data of the creature.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    After ending themunication, Denver called a subordinate.

    ¡°The deputymander will soon send the gic data. Insert it into the bioscanner to survey the city.¡±

    ¡°Your majesty, T&C will definitely protest if we do that.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care. Proceed immediately.¡±

    The bioscanner is a device that, upon inputting gic data, identifies the whereabouts of a specific organism within a certain range. To use it in another family¡¯s territory, permission is strictly regted by the MegaCorpw. Despite objections from the subordinate, Denver persisted.

    ¡°The monster in my hands would be T&C¡¯s regretful loss. If Eden gets hold of the creature, we¡¯ll be able toplete the new Hulk Mutant development within a month. Then T&C will desperately plead us to sell it to them, unlike before.¡±

    Soon after, the bioscanner, receiving gic data sent by Jacob, began its operation. The results of scanning the entire city were disyed on arge holographic monitor ced in themand center.

    ¡°The target is approaching the port zone.¡±

    ¡°As expected.¡±

    Denver nodded his head. He had anticipated this.

    The creature possessed demonic intelligence¡ªa terrifying monster that knew its own power and limitations well.

    ¡°It¡¯s likely it ns to escape aboard a spacecraft.¡±

    ¡°Inform the knights onboard. Prepare forbat.¡±

    Rising from his seat, Denvermanded his subordinate

    ¡°Allow everyone to equip assault packs.¡±

    ¡°Assault packs, sir?¡±

    Currently, there are a total of 50 knights remaining aboard the gship. Granting all of them permission to use the high-value equipment, the assault packs, left the subordinate astonished.

    ¡°The creature is no easy prey. This time, we won¡¯t capture it alive; be prepared withunchers.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Your majesty.¡±

    ¡°And this time, have my reinforced armor prepared as well.¡±

    Denver gazed at the signal of the creature moving on the monitor in themand center.

    ¡°The creature will be mine.¡±

    He firmly believed in his victory, never doubting it. He had always felt this way until now.

    ***

    I hid within the sewage to evade the raining sma shots. Upon a check with the auxiliary organ, the number of enemies targeting me increased dramatically in an instant.

    ¡®They were lying in an ambush.¡¯

    Fifty detected enemies alone. Sensing a powerful electric surge on their body surface, they were all wearing superior-grade reinforced armor and assault packs.

    ¡®They must have been waiting far away, hidden from my detection, using the jetpack feature in the assault packs to swiftly approach.¡¯

    ¡®How did they know?¡¯

    It was unexpected that the Eden knights were lying in an ambush. They must have thought I was already dead. Considering the current situation, I could roughly guess how they found out.

    For the past few days, the head of the dissection team presented my gic data at the council. It¡¯s not hard to imagine how intrigued the Edens present there would have been.

    Contrary to the game¡¯s settings, the Eden family in reality seemed very interested in gic maniption.

    ¡®Monument¡¯s chaos provided them with an opportunity to steal my body.¡¯

    All the families in the MegaCorp were greedy by nature, and it¡¯s highly probable they saw this as their chance and acted on it.

    However, I had escaped from the Monument¡¯s researchb long ago. Hence, theb was currently empty. Since my body had cleanly disappeared, they must have realized I was alive.

    ¡®Then perhaps they used the bioscanner next.¡¯

    MegaCorp warships are equipped with bioscanners that detect biological signals. Inputting gic data helps locate the position of the organism within a certain range.

    ¡®Normally, using a bioscanner in another family¡¯s territory is forbidden.¡¯

    However, the bioscanner can read real-time signals of individuals if it has gic data, making it useful for espionage activities.

    Using such a tool in another family¡¯s territory openly implies monitoring their territory. Hence, the MegaCorp families have a pact not to use bioscanners in each other¡¯s territories.

    Eden vited this crucial rule.

    ¡®They seem to be in a rush on their side as well.¡¯

    After the council presentation, it seems they are hurrying out for some reason.

    ¡®Did you think I would let you slip away?¡¯

    Outside, the cries of someone presumed to be themander echoed in. The voice was modted by the reinforced armor, sounding mechanical, yet the obsession and madness within were unmistakable.

    ¡®He¡¯s no pushover.¡¯

    To engage 50 knights, each equipped with assault packs, and engage in a pitched battle ¨C a challenging situation indeed. The true potential of assault packs is realized in an open field. Last time, fighting in the narrow confines of the sewage meant the enemies couldn¡¯t fully showcase their skills, but not now.

    ¡®Without the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯, my chances of winning are low.¡¯

    However, luring them into the sewers wasn¡¯t ideal either.

    ¡°Knights! Prepare theunchers!¡±

    Five knights responded to themander¡¯s order, wielding smaunchers and advancing.

    The knightmander seemed uninterested in capturing me alive. Given what they had faced in the sewers, this might be a prudent approach.

    If it were just me, it would be one thing, but number 26 and Adhai are here too. While number 26 might fare better, Adhai is still recovering from injuries. If I don¡¯t intend to abandon them, I must protect them.

    ¡®What to do?¡¯

    The terrain I¡¯m in isn¡¯t favorable for fighting enemies. Even if I attempt an ambush, it¡¯s pointless unless theye in from the other side.

    ¡®Moreover, going outside is also problematic. The exit is restricted.¡¯

    The enemies have set up a defensive formation concentrating firepower around the wrecked manhole. The moment I step out, I¡¯ll be trapped.

    ¡®Even if I attempt to take a different route, I¡¯ll be caught by the bioscanner in the warship.¡¯

    ¡­There¡¯s only one way left.

    ¡°I might need to take a risk.¡±

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Everyone back off)]

    ?Big baby??

    ?Hm??

    I signaled number 26 and Adhai to retreat before Iy t on the ground, using my head carapace as a shield to minimize the target area.

    Submerged in the flowing water of the passage, I concentrated all my senses through the auxiliary systems and waited.

    What I was about to attempt, I¡¯ve done a few times in the game. The issue is, even if it¡¯s me, it¡¯s not a 100% foolproof method.

    In a game, if I fail and die, I respawn. But this is reality. Even the slightest mistake is unforgivable.

    ¡®Enough of useless thoughts. Let¡¯s focus.¡¯

    A knight carrying auncher jumps into the sewage. The ripples they created propagated through the surface and were transmitted to my auxiliary systems. One by one, they entered this area.

    The moment they entered, they prepared to attack.

    ¡°Launcher ready. Commence protective fire!¡±

    ¡°Charging 10¡­30%.¡±

    While theuncher user activated it, others fired volters at me.

    Purified sma energy poured onto my head carapace. Some parts of the thick carapace fell off upon being hit by sma rounds, and my body was pushed back due to the impact.

    ¡®Pain mitigation activated!¡¯

    ¡®Focus.¡¯

    I ntedbat arms into the sewage floor, anchoring myself in ce.

    ¡°Charging 60¡­80%.¡±

    ?Wait.?

    I sensed number 26¡¯s concern about me enduring the volter shots. I didn¡¯t respond and maintained my focus.

    ¡°Charging 90%¡­¡±

    Just as the energy of the smauncher reached its peak¡­

    The tes on my back moved.

    The tes within me connected in two branches, generating ripples extending through the sewer¡¯s passage. The target: the foremost knight. Specifically, not the knight¡¯s body but the armor he was wearing.

    The waves controlling advanced devices ovepped with the knight¡¯s reinforced suit. The armor, meant to protect the wearer, broke free from the owner¡¯s control and responded to my will. Although the suit¡¯s mechanisms wereplex and difficult to fully control, I didn¡¯t require intricate movements at this moment.

    All I demanded was a simple move: to turn the torso holding the gun backward.

    ¡°Huh!¡±

    His body, aiming theuncher at me, swiftly turned backward. Theuncher¡¯s muzzle now pointed towards the knight¡¯srades, not me.

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Another knight behind attempted to stop theuncher¡¯s fire directed at hisrade, but my unseen assault wasn¡¯t over yet.

    ¡®The Dreadful Gazer.¡¯

    The eye-like patterns on my head carapace emitted a ghastly glow, focusing on the foremost knight.

    Momentarily gripped by fear, the knight lowered his reaching hand and, just like the foremost knight, rotated his body. The direction of theuncher he held also shifted backward in sync with the owner¡¯s movement.

    Of the five, two knights, holding theunchers, aimed them not at me but in the opposite direction toward theirrades.

    ¡°Everyone back¡­!¡±

    ¡°Charging 100%¡±

    One knight from behind shouted upon witnessing this, but theuncher had alreadypleted charging. Energy capable of toppling even a warship surged from theunchers held by the two knights who betrayed theirrades.

    The sma beams fired by the foremost pair were aimed at theunchers held by their fellow knights. The moment the green energy touched the still-chargingunchers, a blinding sh covered my vision.

    A massive vibration, unlike anything I¡¯d ever felt before, shook my body. Yet, amidst it, there wasn¡¯t a considerable pain.

    My n to cause a chain reaction using the smaunchers the enemies held had seeded. The auxiliary organ informed me that the five knights targeting me no longer existed in this world.

    Upon swiftly recovering my vision, I didn¡¯t behold the dark sewers but the panoramic view of the port city. There was no longer anything resembling a sewer passage before me, only a vast area of extensive destruction spreading out like a fan.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ(Now¡¯s the time. Let¡¯s go, everyone.)]

    ?Yeah!?

    ?Counterattack!?

    I rose above ground with the others. Not many knights were left standing on the copsed concrete ground. A significant number had vanished without a trace due to the sma chain explosion or were buried when the ground copsed.

    ¡°This¡­ this is impossible!¡±

    A man among the silver knights, the sole one d in ck armor, shouted in disbelief.

    Listening to the voice, it was undeniable that the author was themander.

    ¡®Looks like he is the highest rank here.¡¯

    Seeing the man who was uniquely standing out in a ck reinforced suit, one could assume he was an elder of the Eden family.

    ¡®I have to see him.¡¯

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Take care of the others.)]

    ?I¡¯ll take care of the one who tormented Big Baby!?

    ?Agreed.?

    Leaving the handling of the remaining knights to number 26 and Adhai, I dashed towards the knight in ck armor.

    ¡°Protect His Majesty¡­ Gasp!¡±

    One of the knights tried to shout at me but was suddenly choked by something invisible.

    From a distance, number 26 extended tentacles, casting ¡®restraint¡¯. Above, Adhai soared through the air, shooting purple lightning at the knights.

    It was a newly acquired skill she acquired upon transforming into a Green Gagon: the Purple Lightning. Its prating and destructive power was devastating, but its fortey in being an area attack and, most importantly, in causing electrical shock.

    As most present were enveloped in alloy from head to toe, the damage could only be significant. Many knights fell victim to Adhai¡¯s purple lightning while those outside the range utilized jetpacks to ascend into the sky.

    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ deal with that monster first¡­ Gasp!¡±

    ¡°Hic¡­ h-help! It¡¯s a monster!¡±

    Knights who attempted to strike Adhai from above began to scream in unison, starting to plummet.

    The creepy sensation I felt indicated who was behind this.

    Number 26, twisting the knights¡¯ necks with restraints, now had over half a dozen pupils visible on its body, observing the knights.

    In this cosmic city devoid of even ake, the terror of the abyss was consuming them.

    ?Heh! hehe! Die! Die!?

    ¡°Get a grip!¡±

    ¡°Aah!¡±

    Amidst the confusion caused by the coordinated attack of number 26 and Adhai, I swiftly approached the ck knight.

    ¡°Your Majesty! Requesting support from the gship!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll handle it here!¡±

    Two other knights stepped in to protect the ck knight.

    ¡®Get out of the way, you¡¯re interfering.¡¯

    Ished out with a tentacle at one and hijacked the other.

    ¡°Gah?! What is this?!¡±

    I forcibly moved the arm holding the volter, striking the downedrade¡¯s head with the tentacle. His head, struck by the sma bolt, exploded like an egg in a microwave.

    ¡°Dammit!¡±

    I manipted the cursing knight¡¯s body again, directing it to aim at the ck knight.

    The knight tried to resist, but couldn¡¯t ovee the power of the reinforced suit. The fingers enclosed in the suit pulled the trigger of the volter as per my will.

    The sma bolt fired from the volter struck the ck knight¡¯s back.

    ¡°Urgh!¡±

    Perhaps due to his high rank, despite being hit by the volter, his armor wasn¡¯t significantly damaged. However, he copsed from the impact that wasn¡¯t fully absorbed.

    I brought him down and grabbed the head of the hijacked knight with mybat arm. Despite his attempts to resist, it was futile. The reinforced suit, always meant to protect its wearer, had be a prison working against him.

    ¡°You¡­Your Majesty, quickly escape¡­ Aargh!¡±

    Using the ghost w, I rummaged through the knight¡¯s helmet, causing his body to tremble. Subsequently, blood trickled through the gaps in the reinforced suit.

    As I released my grip, the knight¡¯s lifeless body fell.

    ¡°Grr, grrrr!¡±

    The ck knight struggled, unable to fully control his body after the impact from the volter. I approached him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯te any closer!¡±

    There was no one here to protect him.

    I tore off his helmet. The person inside had dark skin. He looked up at me, fear filling his eyes. As my sharp teeth drew closer, he began to tremble.

    ¡°You¡­ are¡­ the¡­mander..?¡±

    ¡°You can speak?!¡±

    His two pupils widened in shock at my unexpected speech.

    He seemed quite taken aback that I, a non-human entity, couldmunicate in hisnguage.

    ¡°Hulk mutant¡­ hit¡­ is this kind of tech possible?!¡±

    I¡¯m not such a vile being, but I don¡¯t need to exin that to my enemy.

    As I revealed this, he urgently shouted,

    ¡°W-Wait! I am Denver Eden! If you spare me¡­¡±

    Definitely a different reaction due to his high status. There haven¡¯t been many who have tried to negotiate with me.

    ¡®After so many battles, he still doesn¡¯t seem to know much about me.¡¯

    After tearing off his pauldron with mybat arm, I sank my sharp teeth into his shoulder.

    ¡°Argh!¡±

    The neurotoxin from my bite spread through his veins, entering his bloodstream. At the same time, Denver¡¯s blood flowed into my throat.

    ¡°Not¡­ needed¡­¡±

    ¡°!¡±

    Due to the mimicry effect of my organic systems, a voice almost identical to his flowed out of my mouth, widening his pupils in surprise.

    Since he seemed unaware, I think I should enlighten him:

    ¡®An Amorph doesn¡¯t negotiate.¡¯

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 93

    Chapter 93

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    I managed to subdue the Commander, whose name was Denver.

    ¡®His surname was Eden, right?¡¯

    Despite the distinctive armor and bearing the surname Eden, this person¡¯s status didn¡¯t seem low.

    ¡®Shall I try an experiment?¡¯

    Just a moment ago, in order to immobilize Denver, I bit into his neck. Given that I¡¯ve absorbed gic information from his blood, I can mimic his voice.

    ¡®Although the mimicry organ is sealed, I can imitate his voice to some extent.¡¯

    After blocking Denver¡¯s powered suit, I took out themunication device from his waist.

    ¡°Com¡­e¡­ here.¡±

    [Your majesty!]

    As I imitated Denver¡¯s voice through the small armmunication device on my chest, the knights all stopped in their tracks.

    [His majesty has been captured!]

    [Damn monster!]

    Through themunication device, I could hear the knights exploding in anger.

    Even though they were speaking as if they would devour me, none of them dared to rush towards me recklessly.

    ¡®Oh?¡¯

    While holding Denver captive, I called out to the kids. As numbers 26 and Adhai approached me, the knights seemed uneasy.

    Their reactions confirmed something to me.

    This individual, Denver Eden, held quite a high position.

    ¡®Come to think of it, he did try to negotiate with me.¡¯

    Perhaps he holds a significant position even within his family.

    No, perhaps¡­

    ¡®Could he be the patriarch?¡¯

    It seemed too easy to have captured him, but considering their hypersensitive reactions, it seemed likely that he was indeed the patriarch.

    If Denver is the patriarch, my range of choices expands significantly.

    ¡®Shall I stir things up a bit more here?¡¯

    Even if we achieve victory against the knights inbat, escaping the city covertly is almost impossible now that we¡¯ve been exposed.

    ¡®Despite winning battles, we are still at a disadvantage in this war.¡¯

    If they give up on my body and initiate artillery fire, both I and the kids will die here. Additionally, even if we somehow manage to escape and hide on a spaceship, if the warship pursues us, it¡¯s all over.

    ¡®But¡­¡¯

    That was the situation before I captured Denver.

    Now that it¡¯s confirmed he¡¯s a valuable hostage, it seems alright to take the adventure a step further.

    [¡­Is that monstrous fellow holding His majesty hostage right now?]

    [I heard he¡¯s intelligent, but I didn¡¯t expect him to be at this level.]

    [Since His majesty is being held hostage, let¡¯s not act rashly]

    Through themunication device, snippets of conversations among the knights could be heard.

    Of course, they are unaware that I understand human speech.

    ¡®Come to think of it, that¡¯s how Denver reacted.¡¯

    The moment he saw me, he deemed me as a Hulk mutant.

    It¡¯s not entirely an incorrect judgment, as they still don¡¯t know about Amorphs.

    While fighting, it¡¯s likely he already knew that my body contains gic material from various creatures. Thus, assuming I¡¯m simr to a creature like the Hulk mutant would be a natural deduction.

    Of course, Hulk mutants, as well as Outspacers who evolve through gic absorption,municate in a unique wavelength shared only among their own kind, much like Number 26.

    ¡®Normally, Hulk mutants aren¡¯t as articte as I am.¡¯

    That¡¯s also a story confined to games.

    ¡®Have you not encountered a Hulk mutant who effortlessly engaged in piracy, not just in words but also in actions?¡¯

    ¡®If they deem me as a Hulk mutant over there¡­¡¯

    How can I deceive them?

    ¡®By design, a Hulk mutant requires advanced gic maniption technology to fuse genes without side effects.¡¯

    Naturally, this necessitates extensive capital and state-of-the-art equipment inboratories dedicated to gene fusion.

    ¡®Incorporating that aspect might be useful.¡¯

    After a brief moment of contemtion, I manipted the channel of the small armmunication device.

    ¡°I was able tomunicate with the warship¡­ Ah, here.¡±

    Switching to a public channel, I broke the right arm of Denver¡¯sbat suit. As his entire body was paralyzed, he wouldn¡¯t feel pain, but those knights wouldn¡¯t know that.

    [Your majesty!]

    [You scoundrel!]

    ¡°He¡¯s¡­ pretending¡­ to be¡­ a Hulk¡­ mutant¡­¡±

    [Your majesty? Why on this channel¡­?]

    [His majesty is being held hostage here!]

    Themunication device buzzed with the voices of the bewildered knights present and the subordinates awaiting on the warship. Despite their reactions, I continued speaking.

    ¡°He¡­ is¡­ not¡­ a¡­ Hulk¡­ mutant¡­¡±

    [Your majesty! Your injuries are severe! You need not speak further!]

    ¡°This¡­ monster¡­ from¡­ T&C¡­ attack!¡±

    [No way!]

    [This is absurd!]

    The reactions from both the knights and the warship were fervent. Immediate responses about attacking T&C, Denver¡¯s injury-induced confusion, and more.

    However, there was no one among them suspicious of me.

    ¡®Naturally, there¡¯d be no reason for suspicion.¡¯

    Thanks to Denver¡¯s reinforced suit, he stands at around 2 meters 50 centimeters tall. Given that my standing posture exceeds 3 meters, unless they approach closely to confirm, it¡¯s difficult for them to know if I¡¯m secretlymunicating via themunication device.

    Furthermore, who could dare imagine that an unknown monster wlessly imitates the voice of the unharmed patriarch?

    ¡®The voice is a bit different, but I¡¯ve ounted for that.¡¯

    Due to the constraints of the transcendence system, I cannot perfectly mimic voices. There¡¯s interference, like a malfunctioning radio, preventing me from producing a wless voice.

    Therefore, intentionally, in front of them, I caused injury to Denver. It was to stage the appearance of someone unable to speak due to pain.

    ¡®Moreover, T&C is a suitable distraction for the enemies.¡¯

    Hulk mutants demand highly advanced technology, even causing difficulty for Prime Capital¡¯s development.

    Therefore, if they were to see someone like me, a Hulk mutant, there¡¯s only one who could develop such a being. That would be none other than T&C, who recently announced groundbreaking achievements in gic maniption technology.

    ¡®A wedge needs to be driven here.¡¯

    ¡°The¡­ device¡­ that¡­ terminates¡­ the¡­ system¡­ of¡­ Prime¡­ Capital¡­¡±

    [What are you saying?]

    ¡°Destroy¡­ the¡­ system¡­ of¡­ Prime¡­ Capital¡­¡±

    [Wait! If that happens, it¡¯ll lead to war with T&C!]

    The statement from the warship side is correct. If someone decides to check about armed conflicts at the sewage and artillery attacks at the checkpoint, it¡¯ll only result in war.

    Since the patriarch is in my grasp, they have no choice but to heed my words.

    ¡®Perhaps my persuasiveness is stillcking.¡¯

    Using the lower arm, I grabbed Denver¡¯s leg and twisted it. Even though his entire body was paralyzed, there was a muffled groaning from inside the helmet¡ªit seemed to be quite a shock.

    If this bewilders me, how would they react on the other side?

    A scream erupted explosively from themunication device. I didn¡¯t care and opened my mouth, sinking my teeth into Denver¡¯s shoulder. The thick shoulder te shattered, and my teeth pierced the flesh underneath.

    The enraged knights roared, but I couldn¡¯t pay attention to that fact. The spurting blood from Denver¡¯s shoulder felt warm in my throat.

    ¡®Tastes good.¡¯

    When I bit his neck, I sensed a hint of taste, but drinking this quantity of blood made it distinctly different. Was this the taste of a well-aged fine wine? It was slightly sweet and warm, yet had a clean aftertaste.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem like he has been gically modified separately.¡¯

    Could it be due to good living conditions and diet? It was a different vor from the tastiest meals I¡¯ve had so far, like the distinct taste of Si-hyun Yujin.

    ¡®Not yet.¡¯

    This action now was to shake them up, not to enjoy a meal.

    With regret, I withdrew the teeth embedded in the shoulder.

    ¡®They should understand by now.¡¯

    Unless they abandon the patriarch, there¡¯s only one action they can take.

    As I anticipated, in the distance, arge warship docked at the pier slowly began to rise.

    ¡®Phew.¡¯

    Finally, I could barely rx.

    ¡®Honestly, I thought the chances of failure were high.¡¯

    Holding a patriarch as a hostage was a risky move.

    What if the person I captured wasn¡¯t the patriarch? Or if those aboard the warship chose to bombard me with reason?

    That would seal the fate of me and the kids.

    ¡®Fortunately, they acted ording to the mentality of the MegaCorp.¡¯

    MegaCorp is a ce with a bizarre hierarchy structure, allowing infinitepetition despite stark disparities between the two Capitals. Consequently, losing inpetition sometimes causes the families that are a part of the two capitals to drop several levels.

    This phenomenon isn¡¯t limited to lower ss but also applies to the top seven major families.

    ¡®If Denver dies, those subordinates will all be rebuked by the new patriarch.¡¯

    Not only the knights but also those aboard the warship need to somehow save Denver to protect their lives. Hence, they have to follow the nonsensical orders from their owner.

    As the warship heads towards its target, I found a ship we could use with the auxiliary device.

    The distance to the pier was considerable, so I couldn¡¯t inspect it closely, but I found several spaceships that felt promising.

    ¡®When the warship shells the checkpoint, that¡¯s when we¡¯ll move.¡¯

    If the defense fleet responds to Eden¡¯s warship, this ce will turn into chaos in no time. At that moment, we¡¯ll dash to the pier and secretly board the spaceship.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Run when the signales)]

    ?Signal??

    It wasn¡¯t me who responded to Number 26¡¯s inquiry. A massive explosion erupted from the Earth¡¯s boundaries, followed by a resounding roar throughout the harbor.

    [ZZZ (Now)]

    I ran while still holding onto Denver. Numbers 26 and Adhai followed behind me.

    ¡®Number 26 is faster than I thought.¡¯

    It swiftly moved, using its fin-like appendages for propulsion and pushing forward with tentacles. Despite being a deep-sea creature, I worried about its speed onnd, but it didn¡¯t seem to slow down significantly.

    As we swiftly distanced ourselves, the knights followed in confusion.

    ?Troublesome people are chasing us.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (We don¡¯t have to catch them)]

    ???

    As soon as I finished speaking, the sky distorted ominously, and ck lines appeared in various ces.

    The holographic sky maintained by artificial suns vanished, revealing a metallic dome enclosing the city. Subsequently, shuttered gates within the dome¡¯s inner wall opened, and steel vessels sprung out like a torrent.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (They¡¯ll handle it)]

    ?Wow!?

    Warships emerging from the shielded gates near the harbor fired sma beams towards Eden¡¯s warship. The spectacle of numerous steel vessels shooting green beams within the colossal artificial structure was truly magnificent.

    In response, a blue light burst forth from the front of Eden¡¯s warship. It was the activation of the sma shield, exclusive to ships of the caliber of a warship or higher.

    The green beams failed to prate the shield protecting the warship and dissipated.

    ¡®Normally, it wouldn¡¯t be at this level, but it seems like they used something good for the ship carrying the patriarch.¡¯

    Numerous turrets mounted on Eden¡¯s warship simultaneously unleashed fire. The thickness of the beams fired from the warship was more than twice that of those from T&Cs, maybe they didn¡¯t just use a good shield.

    The warships also activated their shields, but they couldn¡¯t withstand the sma beams from Eden. The struck warships plummeted like fireflies toward the city.

    As a war erupted in the heart of the city, the atmosphere at the dock changed abruptly. Ships preparing to depart hastily made ready for departure, and screams of people reached us from afar.

    ¡°Oh my goodness!¡±

    ¡°How could this happen¡­?¡±

    The knights chasing us seemed bewildered, witnessing Eden¡¯s warship engaging the fleet. They stood still, seemingly forgetting about chasing us, just staring at the spectacle.

    Finally, they seemed to realize the gravity of their actions.

    Listening to the conversations full of dismay through themunication device, something suddenly dawned on me. When I arrived in this city not long ago, I suspected Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s subordinates were nning a coup.

    By sparing Adhai, who was at the core of the conspiracy back then, Yujin¡¯s plot was thwarted.

    ¡®It certainly seemed that way.¡¯

    Now, right in front of me, MegaCorp¡¯s greatest event, an internal conflict, erupted. And it was all because of my actions.

    ?Wow! Amazing!?

    While the knights and I were lost in our thoughts, Number 26ughed cheerfully, watching the intertwining spectacle of green and blue lights in the sky.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 94

    Chapter 94

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡°How did this happen?¡±

    Si-hyun, who had set up a bomb in the nuclear reactor, murmured as she watched the artillery battle unfold above the city.

    There was no one present to answer her question. No one had anticipated that a war would break out in this space metropolis city.

    ¡°I found it odd that there were no reinforcementsing to the reactor.¡±

    Beforeing here, Si-hyun obtained a makeshift map created before thepletion of the T&C Special Trade Center in the shadow market.

    The map, made by the construction workers, showed temporary pathways used bybourers during the city¡¯s construction. However, even if they were workers, few had reason to visit the nuclear reactor, so those secret passages weren¡¯t connected to the reactor directly. Instead, they were connected to some parts of the underground tunnel that led to the reactor

    Her n was to infiltrate by piercing through a metallic wall close to the underground tunnels of the nuclear reactor. And so, as nned, Si-hyun and her associates safely essed the underground route leading to the reactor via the secret passages.

    Everything had gone ording to Si-hyun¡¯s expectations until this point. However, things started unfolding differently after reaching the reactor than what she had envisaged.

    Normally, if there were issues with the nuclear reactor¡¯s defense forces, additional support should havee. Si-hyun had prepared for them, but the reinforcements she anticipated did not arrive until the bomb instation waspleted.

    ¡°Now I understand why they didn¡¯te.¡±

    To be precise, it wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯te; they couldn¡¯te. Thanks to this, the terrorist n using the bomb could be easily executed, but another problem arose.

    ¡°Akira might escape before the bomb detonates.¡±

    Regardless of others, Akira Yujin had to be eliminated. If she missed this opportunity, she wouldn¡¯t know when she could get rid of him.

    ¡°Akira Yujin?¡±

    ¡°Upon checking, Yujin¡¯s gship is still here.¡±

    Long before the terrorist n was devised, Si-hyun had nted a tracking device on Akira¡¯s gship while performing covert operations. This was to know his whereabouts instantly, no matter where he moved.

    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t he left?¡±

    Remembering the memories imnted in her mind about Akira, he was a very cautious individual. If there were looming troubles in the city, he would have left long ago, regardless of his dignity as the CEO of MegaCorp or anything else.

    For reasons unknown, Akira Yujin was behaving differently from her memories.

    He hadn¡¯t left and was still in this city. That meant there was still an opportunity for her.

    ¡°Escape first. I have things to do.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure miss?¡±

    ¡°Akira Yujin must be eliminated from this ce.¡±

    ¡°Miss, we¡¯lle with you.¡±

    At Minseok¡¯s words, Si-hyun nodded.

    ¡°Only I can face Code ck. You¡¯ll be killed if youe with me and I won¡¯t allow that, so hand over the detector to me.¡±

    ¡°¡­Miss.¡±

    Minseok gazed at her with a strange look, as she vowed to eliminate Akira at the risk of her life. In Minseok¡¯s eyes, rather than joy, an emotion closer to suspicion swiftly shed by. However, it was a fleeting moment, and his expression soon changed to one of admiration.

    ¡°Miss, I wish you luck.¡±

    Having received the detector from him, Si-hyun dashed toward where Akira was.

    ¡°Once I take care of him, next will be¡­¡±

    Minseok seemed unaware, but Si-hyun knew he didn¡¯t dislike her. The original Si-hyun Yujin had ced some sort of control over her clone and the fact that Minseok held those reins.

    ¡°Someday, without fail¡­¡±

    Her eyes grew cold. They bore no resemnce to Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s.

    ***

    The corrupted city was being purified by fire. In mythology, gods sometimes unleash the fire of judgment upon humans. However, here, the fire created by human hands was destroying

    everything.

    ¡®Indeed, Eden¡¯s speciality is their warships.¡¯

    Up till now, due to frequent shes with the knightly order, it might be easy to assume their strengthy in ground forces. But the reality was different. The noble families excelling inndbat were the Yujin family, known for gically modified soldiers, and the Garimelda family, famed for making the best reinforced suits in the MegaCorp. However, Eden¡¯s expertise primarilyy in ship development.

    ¡®Even in the game, Eden¡¯s knights were close to special forces.¡¯

    In reality, Eden¡¯s warship overwhelmed multiple T&C battleships alone. It wasn¡¯t just superior cannons and shields; their size wasrger, with excellent manoeuvrability. This gave them the upper hand despite having far fewer ships than T&C.

    ¡®Reminds me of the old days.¡¯

    As an individual matures, they gain numerous traits and types, making them powerful enough to fight and win against fleets.

    In my case, due to facing many enemies, I had to battle fleets since my early stages.

    ¡°But I¡¯m still too weak for that. It¡¯s reckless at this stage to engage in those battles. I need to evolve more to face multiple battleships.¡±

    ¡°Think about thatter.¡±

    Neither family seems to have the capacity to pay attention to us. So, we should take advantage of this opening and escape.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Everyone, run!)]

    With Denver slung over my shoulder, I crouched halfway and ran. Using all three of mybat arms and legs to sprint, number 26 and Adhai followed closely.

    ¡°Huh?! He¡¯s escaping!¡±

    The knights, who had been staring nkly at the fleet battle, finally regained their senses and started chasing us again.

    While running to evade the knights, container stacks scattered around caught my eye. It was the container yard of the port district where I once fought against Si-hyun¡¯s underlings. The difference now was the numerous ships leaving through the shield doors on the dome¡¯s inner wall.

    ¡®We¡¯re nearing the docks.¡¯

    I signaled 26 amidst the run.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Knock it down!)]

    ?Ok!?

    Several tentacles shot up from number 26¡¯s body, aiming toward the containers. Violet strands extended from the ends,tching onto the containers.

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    As the knights continued to run after us and exerted more force, the stacked containers began cascading down.

    ¡°Damn it! Take cover!¡±

    ¡°All activate jetpacks!¡±

    Curses and screams of the knights chasing us from behind echoed. Most knights, equipped with assault packs, flew skyward to avoid the falling containers.

    ¡°Ack!¡±

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    However, a few slow reactors were crushed under the falling containers.

    While we dyed the knights¡¯ pursuit, a small reconnaissance ship circling the port district spotted us.

    ¡°A reconnaissance ship is approaching!¡±

    ¡°Everyone, be cautious!¡±

    The knights¡¯ voices were heard through thems. They seemed to have noticed the reconnaissance shiping our way.

    The fast-approaching reconnaissance ship initiated an attack on us.

    Their targets were us and the knights chasing us.

    Four gunports on both sides of the rectangr ship simultaneously spewed mes.

    Amidst our sprint through the containers, sma rounds rained down from above.

    With each sma roundnding, nearby containers skyrocketed into the sky due to the explosions.

    Number 26, with a rtivelyrger target area, was almost hit by the sma rounds. However, Adhai¡¯s use of purple lightning every time deflected the bullets in mid-air, preventing significant damage.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be in trouble at this rate!¡±

    ¡°Urgh! Split up! Half, deal with the reconnaissance ship!¡±

    Bothered by the reconnaissance ship, some of the knights pursuing us halted their pursuit and engaged the new threat.

    Firing bolts while airborne, knights breached the reconnaissance ship¡¯s exterior. Eventually, one seeded in destroying one of the ship¡¯s turrets.

    After losing one turret, the reconnaissance ship turned its attention away from chasing us, instead actively defending against the airborne knights.

    With three turrets remaining, it relentlessly fired green energy rounds at the knights.

    ¡®It¡¯s working out for us.¡¯

    Thanks to the intervention of the reconnaissance ship, the number of knights pursuing us halved.

    ¡®Now, we just need to deal with them.¡¯

    I¡¯d love to take them all down and devour them, but time doesn¡¯t permit such indulgence. As we¡¯re also the target of the defense fleet, if we fight the knights and a battleship is summoned, it will be extremely dangerous for us.

    ¡®I need to drop them off at a suitable ce.¡±¡¯

    While fleeing, I focused on my auxiliary organ. A thin tendril at my chin diligently began scanning the vicinity for anything useful.

    Luckily, there was arge warehouse nearby where containers were stacked.

    ¡®That should do.¡¯

    ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Head this way)

    Taking the kids with me, I entered the warehouse near the docks. Inside were numerous containers stacked, and cranes set up for logistics transport were visible throughout.

    ¡®Great. Plenty of obstacles here.¡¯

    This ce would suffice to mislead the enemies.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Everyone, head to the opposite side)]

    ?What about the big one??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (I have something to do)]

    Having sent the kids ahead, I quickly started working from behind the containers.

    The knights seemed hesitant to enter therge building where we had hidden.

    ¡®I must deactivate the reinforced suit now.¡¯

    Originally, in the game, reinforced suits were considered yer equipment and couldn¡¯t be removed. But this was reality. Unless it was an artifact-level gear transcending physicalws, a mechanically reinforced suit could be removed using physical strength.

    I tore off the exoskeleton armor protecting Denver¡¯s body with mybat arms. The gauntlets protecting the arms and legs weren¡¯t critical, so I dismantled them roughly.

    ¡®Just need to be careful with the power source and helmet.¡¯

    Activating my Ghost ws, I carefully slid my fingers into the chest gauntlet of the reinforced suit. Avoiding the internal wires and mechanisms, I meticulously cut through the joints that secured the armor.

    As I did so, the chest gauntlet cleanly separated, much like removing the shell of a crab¡¯s back.

    I pulled Denver¡¯s body out from the detached armor. He was d in a lightweight full-body suit of thin material.

    Finally removing the helmet, I saw his eyes darting around. He seemed worried about what dreadful deed I¡¯d do next. No need to worry; he¡¯ll soon find out.

    ¡®Now, with the smaller arms.¡¯

    I skillfully connected the power source and helmet of the efficient smaller arm gauntlets.

    Thanks to the transcendental senses inherent to Amorph, coupled with my hijacking capabilities, understanding mechanical devices came easily.

    As power flowed into the gauntlets¡¯ power sources, a red light illuminated the visor on the helmet.

    Carefully holding the chest gauntlet with the power source and the helmet, I concealed them inside a nearby container.

    Denver, finally realizing my intentions, trembled uncontrobly.

    ¡®There¡¯s a signal chip in the reinforced suit¡¯s helmet.¡¯

    When I first caught Denver, the signal chip I had turned off reactivated. Whether knights or warships, they¡¯d have to focus on the signal from Denver¡¯s armor. As soon as I finished my work, a voice echoed near the warehouse entrance.

    ¡°Contact from the warship! Themander¡¯s camera has been activated!¡±

    Without further hesitation, the knights rushed in. It was a close call. They¡¯d surely rummage through the warehouse to find the armor themselves. Escaping with only themunication device from the broken gauntlet, I sneaked out through the opposite exit.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    Denver struggled tomunicate with his subordinates, but it was futile. To rid himself of the neurotoxin still in his system, he¡¯d have to wait longer.

    Exiting the warehouse, the kids hiding in a container weed me.

    [ZZZZ ZZ (Let¡¯s go.)]

    Most of the ships I initially deemed safe via the auxiliary organ had left the city. There were only a few remaining, at best.

    ¡®We need to hurry.¡¯

    Carrying Denver bare-handed, I moved with the kids toward the dock of the pier. asional snippets of the knights¡¯ conversations came through themunication device, but they seemed unable to locate the signal unit in the helmet.

    They still assumed I held Denver, unaware that the helmet might be stored separately in a container.

    ¡°Just beyond this container¡­¡±

    There was a boat waiting for us beyond the containers.

    Lastly, I used the auxiliary organ to check the boat¡¯s status once more. It seemed they were hurriedly loading items. Nothing particrly rming to worry about.

    As I was about to pass by the container, my auxiliary organ rm went off with a loud zing.

    [Unknown danger lurks on the other side.]

    [¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö targeting me ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö]

    Suddenly, my predator sense kicked in.

    ¡®What was that?¡¯

    I quickly stepped back behind the container. While scenes shed through like scanning through a fast-forwarded film, there was an odd noise oveying them, almost like a mosaic, making it impossible to discern the exact danger.

    [ZZZ (Stop.)]

    ?Why? What¡¯s wrong??

    I called the kids. Something unusual seemed near the container, close to the boat. My predator sense had shown urgent threats up close before, but it had never presented such ambiguous images like just now.

    That statement falls into one of two possibilities: either the opponent possesses a means to deceive the predator sense, or they are an enigmatic force beyond even the predator sense¡¯s grasp.

    ¡®¡­Either way, it¡¯s not an easy opponent.¡¯

    The deliberation was brief.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Let¡¯s take a different path)]

    I abandoned the idea of heading toward that boat. Regardless of the enemy¡¯s nature, engaging in a fight here would mean missing out on all the boats.

    ¡®There¡¯s still one boat left, though it is different from the one I initially chose, but it¡¯ll do the work.¡¯

    Smaller than the boat I¡¯d picked, but not necessarily a bad choice either. I retraced our path with the kids and ran down a different route.

    While running, I kept checking behind, half expecting a mysterious creature to be tailing us, but there was no one following us.

    ¡®It was an opponent that even the auxiliary organ could¡¯t discover.¡¯

    Fortunately, the dangerous monster didn¡¯t pursue us.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 95

    Chapter 95

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    In the Earth Central Security Team, Samuel Jaesung, who served as the head of the armed police team, barely managed to board the escape ship. The space city had turned into aplete sea of mes, and security in each region had deteriorated, but he considered it irrelevant to himself.

    ¡°I¡¯m just a public servant! What do they expect me to do?¡±

    He muttered.

    He contacted Monument, the superior organization, to figure out what to do. The response he received was simply an instruction to focus on stabilizing the security. Despite being the head of the armed police team, it was natural for him to protect the city¡¯s security, but he thought differently. He believed that the higher-ups had abandoned him.

    ¡®I¡¯d rather leave here than be abandoned.¡¯

    Jaesung couldn¡¯t tolerate being abandoned by others, even if he abandons the others. Interestingly, it wasn¡¯t only Jaesung who felt that way. There were others on the escape ship with simr thoughts.

    ¡®They all look familiar.¡¯

    Whether it was the entertainment district¡¯s personnel manager or the medical team manager from Monument¡¯s Central Hospital, they were all familiar faces to Jaesung. When their eyes met, they exchanged subtle expressions and avoided direct eye contact. Fleeing a city in chaos wasn¡¯t something to be proud of, even for them.

    ¡°Hey, why aren¡¯t we departing yet?¡±

    ¡°I apologize. I will check immediately.¡±

    Unable to endure the awkward atmosphere, the medical team leader vented his frustration on a flight attendant. Since most passengers were from the upper-ss capitals, the flight attendant just lowered her head.

    ¡°Tch, pathetic.¡±

    Jaesung clicked his tongue as he observed the scene. Despite being in the same situation, he believed he was different from them. He had a reason to leave the city.

    A few days ago, news of the death of his younger brother, Samuel Yuseong, had arrived. Using the pretext of attending his brother¡¯s funeral in their hometown, Jaesung had a valid reason to leave the city.

    ¡®The useless guy is helpful at times like this.¡¯

    As a descendant of the Samuel family, a Third Capital on the satellite Titan, Jaesung didn¡¯t have a good rtionship with Yuseong. It was natural as they werepeting for the family¡¯s session.

    But that was a secret known only within the family. No one in the T&C Special Trade Center knew how he felt about his brother.

    ¡®Now that he¡¯s dead, the family inheritance will be mine.¡¯

    Feeling a sense of relief, Jaesung closed his eyes.

    ¡°The passengers are asking why we haven¡¯t departed yet.¡±

    ¡°We are departing now. The announcement will be made shortly.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it says the cargo bay is open. Please just check that for me.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    The female flight attendant who emerged from the cockpit headed towards the cargo bay. The cargo bay was filled with valuable items brought by the passengers and small containers destined for transfer to other locations. A partially closed door could be seen behind the loaded cargo. She operated the terminal next to the door, closing itpletely. As the red light on the terminal turned green, the announcement soon followed.

    ¡°Thank you to our customers for using T&C affiliated Trade Airline¡­.¡±

    Even during takeoff, designed as an escape ship for VIPs, there was almost no noticeable shaking inside.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Upon hearing someone¡¯s voice for a moment, she turned her head. When she looked around, all she could see were containers and cargo that remained motionless in ce.

    ¡°Did I hear wrong?¡±

    Without feeling anything unusual, the flight attendant left the cargo bay.

    ¡°Deputy Chief Jacob!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±

    ¡°Well, um¡­.¡±

    Jacob, who arrivedte at the warehouse in the harbor zone due to wearing reinforced armor, asked the knights how the situation was unfolding.

    ¡°Commander is being held hostage?¡±

    ¡°Yes. So we are searching this ce¡­.¡±

    ¡°Found it!¡±

    At the sound of a distant voice, Jacob and his team entered the warehouse. However, what they found was not Denver but the wreckage of damaged reinforced armor.

    ¡°When you see no traces of blood, it means themander is still alive.¡±

    ¡°Then we need to find him immediately¡­.¡±

    ¡°Quiet.¡±

    At Jacob¡¯s firm words, the members closed their mouths. He stared at the wreckage of the reinforced armor with cold eyes. Jacob, a veteran among the knights, was confident that there must be clues hidden in the chaotic debris. Carefully examining the traces of the armor, he quickly noticed something suspicious.

    ¡°He cut the reinforced armor precisely. He¡¯s highly knowledgeable about machinery. Moreover¡­.¡±

    Themunication device was missing. What did this fact imply? Jacob couldn¡¯t help but conjure up a horrifying and ominous scenario.

    ¡°Hand over themunication device connected to the public channel.¡±

    ¡°Here it is.¡±

    Taking themunication device from one of the members, he pressed the button. The voice of his master flowed from the connectedmunication device.

    ¡°He¡­has¡­cap¡­tured¡­me¡­and¡­gone¡­to¡­Ji¡­ha¡­roe¡­to¡­me.¡±

    Although it sounded strangely distorted, it was undoubtedly Denver¡¯s voice.

    However, as soon as Jacob heard that voice, a chill ran down his spine. The ominous prediction he had made was bing a reality.

    ¡°¡­Commander. Did he mention a Hulk Mutant created by T&C?¡±

    ¡°He¡­has¡­cap¡­tured¡­me¡­and¡­gone¡­to¡­Ji¡­ha¡­roe¡­to¡­me.¡±

    ¡°Themander informed me. T&C ns to develop a Hulk Mutant based on him.¡±

    As Jacob continued speaking, the members felt their muscles tense. They understood the Deputy Commander¡¯s intention in conveying this information.

    ¡°In other words, it means he is not a monster created by T&C.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Vicemander, are you sure the one receiving the transmission is truly themander?¡±

    ¡°Zzzz zzz zz¡±

    There was no answer from themunication device to Jacob¡¯s question. It only filled the silent warehouse with static noise.

    Just as Jacob thought there was nothing more to hear and was about to turn off themunication device, a sound came through.

    ¡°He¡­has¡­died¡­that¡­hu¡­hu¡­hu¡­hu¡­thud.¡±

    Thest thing heard was Denver¡¯s voice, or rather, the eerie sobbing sound emitted by ¡°it.¡±

    ***

    ¡®Well, this time it didn¡¯t work.¡¯

    I exerted force on mybat arm, breaking themunication device. It was brought for the purpose of buying time for our escape, so it was no longer useful.

    ¡®Maybe they can trace it from that side.¡¯

    I swiped my hand, reducing even the tiny chips to powder. Due to the mysterious enemy, we had to go far away, but luckily, I and the others were able to board the escape ship.

    ¡®I was about to close the door when someone came, it was close.¡¯

    The crew members of this ship were all destined to be our nourishment, but consuming them had to wait until we were far from the city. Attacking prematurely might cause the pilot to turn the ship back or do something unnecessary.

    Me and the kids hid behind the containers, while the flight attendant, oblivious to everything, simply closed the door and left the cargo bay.

    In the middle of it, Denver struggled in vain to convey something to her, but it was futile wriggling.

    That¡¯s how we could leave T&C Special Trade Center, a culmination of human-made advanced technology. Beyond the small window in the cargo bay, a huge domed space city in the shape of a hemisphere covered with a metallic shell came into view.

    Until receiving the knight¡¯smunication, the space city, which had initially seemed enormous, had now diminished to the point where its overall shape was visible.

    ¡®Been here for a while.¡¯

    Originally, I nned to fulfill all the evolutionary conditions in that city, but in the end, I couldn¡¯t achieve it. Three types were still needed for evolution, and the cult and wolf hunting conditions were also unfulfilled.

    ¡®Though I have no regrets. After this¡­ Huh?¡¯

    As I was looking at the view of the space city from inside the window, the city suddenly shook violently. From the central part of the alloy te serving as the city¡¯s foundation, a ck dust cloud erupted with an explosion.

    The ck dust cloud shot into space, but midway, it seemed to have some consciousness as it started clinging to the city. As a result, holes, several hundred meters thick, appeared all over the alloy te, and things within the city were ejected into outer space.

    ¡®That¡¯s a Gremlin Torpedo¡­ but why is its range so wide?¡¯

    As the name suggests, a Gremlin Torpedo is a missile containing nanomachines that eat away at metal. It is a weapon created by StarUnion, mainly used to strike enemy capital ships. For a moment, it seemed like a threat mentioned by the predator¡¯s senses at the pier, but probably not. It seemed like an explosion from the city¡¯s reactor.

    ¡®If we were a bitte, it could have been a big problem.¡¯

    Various things were escaping through the gaps in the city that the Gremlin Torpedo had eaten. If we were dyed in our escape, we could have been thrown into the darkness of space.

    ¡®Perhaps it¡¯s for the best.¡¯

    I don¡¯t know whomitted the terror, but I left many traces in that city. If the city bes a tomb, the traces I left will naturally be erased. I continued to watch the crumbling space city.

    Even though they couldn¡¯t be seen or heard from here, countless humans were sinking endlessly into the bottomless abyss.

    ¡®Perhaps it¡¯s the fitting end for the city of sin.¡¯

    For them, the only constion might be that those who abandoned the city will also experience a terror beyond mortalprehension.

    After the distance became so far that the city was almost invisible, I finally looked away from the window.

    I couldn¡¯t see Eden¡¯s warship.

    Whether it was swept away by the Gremlin Torpedo or escaped in the opposite direction from us, it couldn¡¯t be determined at the moment.

    ¡®If Eden¡¯s warship isn¡¯t chasing us¡­.¡¯

    I looked down at the paralyzed Denver.

    ¡®He is no longer needed.¡¯

    If they turn on a bioscanner using the Gaia gene over there, it¡¯ll be troublesome. I opened my mouth to devour Denver, but I felt a gaze from behind my head.

    Turning around, I saw Number 26 and Adhai looking at me.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    Come to think of it, both of them performed excellently until we left the city. I praised them with words, but I never gave them any gifts.

    ¡®Let¡¯s consider it an investment for the future.¡¯

    Through this incident, I confirmed that both Number 26 and Adhai have high potential. The stronger they be, the more they contribute to my survival.

    Who knows what crises lie ahead.

    ¡®If they weren¡¯t with me during the battle with Code ck, it would have been difficult to win. Besides, I also encountered an unknown enemy before leaving.¡¯

    Until I evolve enough and acquire powerful traits, I need them to assist me.

    ¡®¡­Well, personal intimacy is also something to consider.¡¯

    Even in my human days, I had no friends, whether in reality or in games. Rtionships with family were difficult to describe. And that¡¯s why.

    I, too, couldn¡¯t deny that I had developed an attachment to the two. Anyway, for the future investment and personal emotions, I decided topromise this time.

    [ZZZ ZZ (Eat this)]

    ?Big Baby, You are not eating??

    ?Adult? ?Meal? ?Together?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (I¡¯m fine)]

    ?If the big baby isn¡¯t eating, I won¡¯t eat either.?

    ?Agreed.?

    Despite offering them delicious food with all my heart, they refused. Even when sharing Code Red¡¯s hand to eat, they suggested that they would share it with me, and it seems they have the same idea this time.

    ¡®Well, I guess I have no choice.¡¯

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Then let¡¯s eat together)]

    ?Yeah!?

    ?Me? ?Happy?

    After reaching an agreement, we looked at the paralyzed Denver together. Denver, who probably anticipated what we were going to do next, sent a pleading look as if to say,

    ¡®Please don¡¯t do this.¡¯

    ¡°Mm-mmm!¡±

    Due to paralysis, we couldn¡¯t understand what he was saying, but it probably wasn¡¯t anything important. Denver might know what we are about to do next. The only thing he can offer right now is fresh meat.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 96

    Chapter 96

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Before the T&C Special Trade Center turned into a city of death, Yujin¡¯s gship barely escaped into space. Those familiar with Akira Yujin might find it hard to believe that he stayed in a dangerous ce untilte, but there was a reason for it. He needed to retrieve an important item from the Special Trade Center.

    ¡°Have we secured all the equipment of the Shadows?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Both the ck Shroud and the Red Queen have been collected. However, the damage is quite severe¡­¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. As long as the important parts are intact, we can find a way to recover.¡±

    As the conversation ended, Akira Yujin sat in his office, tapping his fingers on the desk. Behind him, Code Blue silently stood guard.

    ¡°I thought there would be a lot to gain, but this time my expectations were wrong. I lost a useful tool.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Tools can be replenished, but this is intriguing. Who defeated Code ck?¡±

    As he expressed his doubts, the sound of someone copsing outside the office was heard. Soon after, the door opened, and a woman entered.

    She had long horns on her left forehead and wore a white bodysuit. She was Si-hyun Yujin, once known as Code White.

    Seeing Si-hyun, Akira smiled strangely.

    ¡°Haha, the prodigal daughter returns. Was it your doing?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Si-hyun couldn¡¯t understand Akira¡¯s words, but she didn¡¯t pay much attention. After all, Akira Yujin would die for her on this spaceship today.

    ¡°Hmm, as soon as one mystery is solved, a new one arises. You were clearly dead, so how are you alive?¡±

    Instead of answering, she drew a sword from the back of her hand. The white bodysuit she wore was named White Maiden. White Maiden could materialize various tools ording to the user¡¯s imagination. If she imagined a sharp sword, it would emerge from the armor, and if she imagined flight, wings would appear on her back.

    ¡°Ho.¡±

    White Maiden was an item Akira personally bestowed upon Si-hyun when she received the code. When the equipment that was thought to be lost with her death reappeared, he faintly smiled.

    ¡°It was a useful item, and it happens that you brought it back. Good.¡±

    ¡°You seem rxed, old man.¡±

    ¡°Haha, of course, I am.¡±

    As Akira flicked his fingers, Code Blue, who had been standing behind him, stepped forward. Code Blue drew two short swords from his waist.

    ¡°While you were wandering somewhere in space, the Shadows underwent certain improvements.¡±

    Despite Akira¡¯s nonchnt words, Si-hyun didn¡¯t even raise an eyebrow. Instead, her response was beyond Akira¡¯s expectations.

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    When Si-hyun gestured, Blue turned around and slit Akira¡¯s throat.

    ¡°Gkk¡­gkrrk¡­.¡±

    With half his neck severed, Akira¡¯s head slumped onto his desk.

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s over.¡±

    Considering the death of the one who not only belonged to Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s bloodline but alsopletely ruined her life, it was surprisingly pathetic. Although she should have been pleased with her revenge, she couldn¡¯t feel any joy.

    ¡®If I were Si-hyun Yujin¡­.¡¯

    Would she haveughed loudly over the enemy¡¯s corpse? Or would she have cried?

    She couldn¡¯t know.

    ¡°I havepleted the task as promised.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Please keep the promise to let me meet my family.¡±

    Si-hyun, who was about to nod in response to Blue¡¯s words, suddenly opened her eyes. Akira was getting up behind her.

    ¡°Be careful!¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Although Si-hyun shouted a warning, Akira was faster. Akira¡¯s hand transformed intorge hooked ws and swiftly tore Blue apart.

    ¡°¤ä¤¢¡¢¤³¤ì¤Ï¤«¤Ê¤êó@¤¤¤¿¡£±Ë¤â°ü“”¤·¤¿¤È¤ÏÖª¤é¤Ê¤«¤Ã¤¿¡£¡±

    [TL/N:- The above text is in Japanesenguage, ¡°Heh, this is quite surprising. I didn¡¯t know you had included him as well.¡±]

    Akira mumbled some iprehensible words.

    The wound on his neck had disappeared without a trace.

    The hooked ws that killed Code Blue shrank and returned as the wrinkled hands of an old man.

    ¡°ÊÖÇ°¤ÎÍ»î¤â¿Ö¤é¤¯¤¯¤½»¢¤ÎÊË˜I¤À¤í¡£¡±

    [TL/N:- ¡°Most likely, your resurrection was also the work of that damn tiger.¡±

    ¡°How¡­?¡±

    Si-hyun also knew that Akira underwent gic modification surgery. However, it was for life extension, not a procedure that could allow recovery from a state where the neck was almost severed.

    Among the Shadows, the only existence capable of such wonders was Code ck, d in the ck Shroud.

    ¡°Hmm? Ah, sorry. Thenguage I used to use slipped out.¡±

    ¡°¡­Are you really Akira Yujin?¡±

    ¡°Haha, of course. Well, to be precise, it¡¯s a mix of both.¡±

    Akiraughed like an ordinary vige elder, but Si-hyun remained in an extreme state of tension. Beforeing to the space city, she had undergone gic modification surgery to the extent possible. It was partly due to the mission, but also because she could encounter the mysterious monster that killed her.

    Thanks to that, although not as much as before, her current state could be considered close to perfect.

    However, against Akira, who was smiling in front of her, she saw no chance of winning.

    ¡®I can¡¯t win.¡¯

    Instinctively, she knew. Even with dozens of clones, this monster couldn¡¯t be defeated.

    ¡°Hahaha, you¡¯re plotting for the future, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°!¡±

    ¡°Yeah. You never give up. That¡¯s why Kusotora, no, Beomho might have chosen you.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°I am merciful, so I¡¯ll allow three attacks in total. Do as you please.¡±

    Akira gave her three chances. Without hesitation, she drew the sma pistol from her hip. The pistol spat fire, and a green energy mass brushed past Akira¡¯s ear.

    ¡°Haha, even the renowned Si-hyun Yujin is getting scared.¡±

    She didn¡¯t react and fired another shot. This time too, it narrowly missed Akira.

    Akira frowned.

    ¡°Oh well. Suddenly, it¡¯s thest chance. I gave you three chances, and you¡¯re wasting them.¡±

    Watching her, Si-hyun smiled, despite sweating coldly.

    ¡°I learned something recently.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    A long, thick tentacle emerged from her left arm, then struck the wall behind Akira. At the same spot where the pistol hit, the already weakened wall crumbled as the tentacle struck, shattering into pieces.

    ¡°What¡­?!¡±

    The air in the office rapidly flowed into the vacuum of space, and seizing that momentum, Si-hyun swiftly flew outside.

    Even in her exit, she extended the tentacle to retrieve the dagger Blue had dropped.

    ¡°Oh, no!¡±

    Akira, who did not anticipate Si-hyun¡¯s actions, turned his gaze to where she had flown.

    Si-hyun, transformed into a space suit by White Maiden, flew beyond the dark expanse of space.

    ***

    ¡°Umm.¡±

    Jaeseong, who had dozed off as soon as he sat down, opened his eyes.

    ¡°Huh¡­huh?¡±

    Stretching while reaching out his arms from the chair, he looked around.

    Strangely, not a single passenger who was packed until he fell asleep was in sight.

    ¡°What¡¯s this? Did everyone go to eat?¡±

    The spaceship he boarded was a luxury ship catering to VIPs, with a separate dining area serving gourmet courses.

    Assuming everyone had gone there, he closed his eyes again to go back to sleep.

    ¡°No, wait a minute. Even the crew isn¡¯t visible?¡±

    It was strange that there were no crew members around, even if the passengers had gone for a meal.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on for real?¡±

    Awakening to an unknown sense of unease, Jaeseong got up.

    Passing through the seats towards the dining area, he detected a peculiar yet familiar smell.

    A sharp and pungent odor, like putting a piece of iron under his nose.

    ¡°Where did I smell this before?¡±

    Thinking that he had a simr experience from his past work, he opened the door to the dining area. And immediately, he could recall where he had smelled that odor.

    It was the smell of blood.

    The dining area was filled with flesh, bones, and blood, rather than delicious food and quality alcohol. Monsters from the hell of interspecies warfare in the vastness of space were enjoying a feast.

    In the center of the lounge, a monster with thick green scales andrge wings was sucking the blood of a person. The person being drained of blood was someone he knew¡ªthe medical team manager who had quarreled with the crew before he fell asleep. With each sip of blood, the person¡¯s legs trembled.

    At a bar table on one side of the dining area, a pink monster with numerous tentacles was slowly devouring the Human Resources Manager.

    Her fate was even more miserable than the medical team leader¡¯s. Dozens of thin tentacles prated every hole in her face, extracting her brain.

    ¡°Our products¡­Always safe¡­.Best for you all¡­..Thank you¡­. Thank you¡­.¡±

    She, who always showed a sophisticated demeanor, now uttered iprehensible words with a face resembling madness.

    ¡°Hi..hieuk?!¡±

    When he let out a short scream, the monsters turned to look at him.

    Unable to withstand their gaze, Jaeseong closed the door and quickly fled.

    ¡®Pilot! I need to inform the pilot!¡¯

    He rushed through the seats at an unimaginable speed, never having been sucked so fast in his life.

    Arriving at the cockpit, he pounded on the door frantically.

    ¡°Open up! Monsters appeared! Monsters appeared!¡±

    How much he pounded.

    ¡°O¡­open the Door.¡±

    Along with human voices from inside, the sound of the lock being released echoed.

    ¡°Phew, thank goodness! The pilot is alive!¡±

    Thinking that the lifeline had finallye down, Jaeseong opened the door wide.

    There, however, was not the sight he had anticipated.

    Because all he could see from Jaeseong¡¯s perspective were the ankles of a man.

    The pilot he was hoping for was entirely swallowed by ¡°it,¡± which was swallowing the pilot whole, head to toe.

    ¡°I¡­ had¡­ been¡­ waiting¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡± revealed its blood-stained teeth as it spoke, and Jaeseong chuckled.

    ¡®It¡¯s a dream.¡¯

    Hoping to wake up quickly from this nightmare, he closed his eyes.

    ***

    ¡®For now, the bait is epted.¡¯

    All the living beings inside the escape pod have now entered the stomachs of the three of us.

    After feasting on delicious prey for the first time in a while, Adhai and Number 26 clung to their bulging bellies and fell asleep. I spread the nkets in the passenger seats over them and returned to the cockpit.

    ¡®What should I do next?¡¯

    The cargo hold and dining area had various types of provisions and calorie bars stored, so I didn¡¯t have to worry about food during the journey. Steering the ship was not as challenging as themand cabin, so with the assistance of the navigation AI, I could easily navigate alone.

    ¡®But there¡¯s a problem.¡¯

    This ship had targeted the nearby MegaCorp space fortress as its destination from the beginning, so the stored fuel wasn¡¯t abundant. If we performed several warp-speed jumps, the fuel would run out quickly.

    ¡®This area is not suitable for us.¡¯

    The space fortress was out of the question, and there wasn¡¯t enough fuel to reach the I originally aimed for. However, stopping at others in the vicinity wasn¡¯t easy either. All nearbys were heavily fortifiedpared to special trade hubs, making it difficult to infiltrate without detection.

    ¡®There is a solution, though.¡¯

    That is, hijacking another ship. It was a method frequently used in games.

    ¡®There¡¯s a suitable ce for warp-speed travel around here.¡¯

    There was a sector managed by the pirate organisation SpaceDog. There were no goods for resource collection or establishing human ranches, and it wasn¡¯t geographically important enough to build a space city like in the case of special trade hubs. Moreover, there was an extremely rare event where a swarm of metallic gremlins passed through that area. If caught by them, even a steel space fortress wouldn¡¯tst long.

    It was truly an area with no apparent usefulness to MegaCorp and StarUnion, so they paid no attention to it. Thanks to this, SpaceDog was able to sneak in.

    ¡®If we go there, we¡¯ll rarely encounter MegaCorp or StarUnion.¡¯

    It wouldn¡¯t be a long stay, and if we targeted only one pirate ship, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad choice. However, this method also had its problems.

    ¡®SpaceDog might discover us at any time.¡¯

    The cartels of SpaceDog were constantly on the move to plunder, so unless we were unlucky, they might not return to that sector for several months. So, in the game as well, this method was mainly used after securing space flight characteristics.

    ¡®If I only had space flight, I could personally search for pirate ships.¡¯

    But doing that with this ship would quickly deplete the fuel.

    ¡®We need some breakthrough.¡¯

    Thinking about a breakthrough, I had a moment of realization.

    ¡®A new transcendence characteristic.¡¯

    I opened the semi-transparent text window.

    [Transcendence Material List (New!): Wings, Endurance, Space Flight, Giant Creature, High Hijacking]

    I had already collected all the materials for the new transcendence characteristic. Since space flight and giant creature characteristics were obtained as samples, they were only filled to 0.5, making direct use impossible but still useful as materials.

    ¡®Come to think of it, the previous unique characteristic was not entirely unrted to the materials.¡¯

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 97

    Chapter 97

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡®Let¡¯s use the transcendence system.¡¯

    Securing a new unique trait was the decision I made at the end of the adventure.

    However, before using the transcendence system, there¡¯s something to do.

    ¡®We need to prepare for the new risks that may arise.¡¯

    While activating the superluminal navigation device, I brought up a semi-transparent text box in my mind.

    [Race: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph]

    Status: Pre-Saint (Transcendence Level 1)

    Objective: Survive (2nd evolution sessful)

    Possessed traits- (Physical-Rted: 14 / Psychic-rted: 7 / Infection-rted: 3 / Special Defense-rted: 2)

    ¢Ù Physical-rted traits (Type in use): Wings (Unavable), Acidic Blood, Bite Force, Metal Absorption, Perfect Organism (Unique), Endurance, Pheromone Enhancement, Enhanced Reflexes.

    -Physical-rted Fusion Attributes: Regeneration, Neurotoxin nd (Unavable),

    Bloodsucking Tentacle, Spine Projectile Organ, High Hijacking.

    ¢ÚPsychic-rted traits (Type in use): Human Nature, Psychic Resistance, Insight.]

    -Psychic-rted Fusion Attributes: Predator Sense, Monster¡¯s Tentacle, Ghostly ws, Observer of fear.

    ¢ÛInfection-rted traits: Space Bacteria

    -Infection-rted Fusion Attributes: Parasitic Colony, Decaying Mold Organ.

    ¢ÜDefense-rted-rted traits: Pain Reduction, Resistance.

    Possessed Types (2) ¨C Physical Enhancement Type, Psychic Enhancement Type

    Iplete Attributes (7)

    -Spaceflight, Energy Absorption, Robust Vitality, Giant Creature, Miniaturization, Gills, Fins

    Theposition of the text box has changed as the number of attributes has increased. With the increase in fusion attributes, there were new subcategories for each category.]

    ¡®Among these, the trait which will affect me alot if it gets restricted is¡­¡¯

    At this point, without a doubt, it¡¯s the ¡®Monster¡¯s Tentacle¡¯.

    The Monster¡¯s Tentacle is a fusion attribute created using the supernatural ability organ obtained from the previous meteor research ship. If I lose the ability to use this attribute, I won¡¯t be able tomunicate with Number 26 and Adhai.

    ¡®Of course, it could be ambiguous like the Neurotoxin nd.¡¯

    The Neurotoxin nd is a trait that uses pheromones to disrupt the nerves of people around, making them mistake me for a human. Additionally, the mimicking effect of imitating voices from the material of the Neurotoxin nd has been inherited.

    Although the use of this trait was restricted due to being aplete organism, the ability to imitate voices, albeit limited, was still possible. When the pores organ that released pheromones got blocked during the application of theplete organism, the organ for producing voices remained intact.

    ¡®Even if the unique attribute is applied, if the tentacles on my head remain,munication should still be possible.¡¯

    The bunches of tentacles near the back of my head are organs that allow me tomunicate with beings through energy waves. Thanks to this, I couldmunicate with Number 26 and Adhai beyond the racial limitations of Amorph.

    ¡®Of course, even if the tentacles remain, I might not be able to use Psychic Breath.¡¯

    There is no guarantee that the Monster¡¯s Tentacle will be the one that gets restricted.

    However, preparations must be made for that possibility.

    I kept thinking about how to cope if each attribute were restricted until the kids woke up.

    After a few hours, Number 26 and Adhai gradually woke up.

    I briefly stopped the spaceship and exined the situation to them.

    In the future, I won¡¯t be able tomunicate with the kids. Instead, I have prepared another means ofmunication.

    I nned to send signals with the small hands on my chest. Since both of them cannot understand humannguage, it was an unavoidable choice.

    ¡®Characters and numbers are, of course, unknown.¡¯

    I considered sending signals through sound, but since we were in battle, it was nearly impossible, so I ruled it out.

    However, once I started teaching, it didn¡¯t seem very effective.

    ?Raise the small tentacle upward and then strike??

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (No that¡¯s first finger of the right hand.)]

    ?Finger??

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ (Small tentacle)]

    ?Ah.?

    Number 26, whocks the concept of fingers, considered the arms, hands, and fingers as a unified entity, making it difficult for it to understand my exnation.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Second finger of the left hand)]

    ¡°Retreat.¡±

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Retreat is the third)]

    ??? ?Cannot understand.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (This part)]

    ?I? ?Itchy!?

    When I poked Adhai¡¯s third toe on the left front paw, the creature shivered, apparently finding it ticklish.

    Adhai, with both feet and toes, seemed to understand what I was trying to do. However, due to his body structure, closer to the front paws than hands, there was a limit to how well I could make him understand.

    ¡®This could be a problem.

    From the beginning, I am a human in an Amorph¡¯s body. I have intelligence that fundamentally makes me different from these creatures that are closer to animals.

    ?Don¡¯t worry, big baby!?

    ?I? ?Effort.?

    The creatures consoled me, perhaps thinking I was disappointed.

    ¡®Yeah. There¡¯s nothing to be disappointed about yet.¡¯

    Both Number 26 and Adhai are smart. Especially Number 26, it has several times read my intentions and acted on its own without me saying anything.

    ¡®So, I just need to teach the essential parts.¡¯

    After that, for an hour, I repeatedly taught them the signals I had created. Despite it being boring, the children listened attentively and followed my instructions.

    ¡®That should be enough.¡¯

    It was still impractical to make them understand all the signals I had in mind. However, the creatures understood all the basic parts.

    ?Then, is the big baby growing again??

    [ZZZ (Yes)]

    ?Adult? ?Growth? ?I? ?Congatte?

    Since they had entered the pod before due to the transcendence system, the creatures showed no signs of surprise.

    Receiving their peculiar farewell, I summoned a semi-transparent text box.

    [¡®Transcendence¡¯ Material List (New!): Wings, Endurance, Spaceflight, Giant Creature, High Hijacking.]

    [Do you want to use the transcendence system?]

    ¡®ept.¡¯

    Having epted, I awaited the mucous that would soon flow from my body. However, even after waiting, there was no reaction on the surface.

    ¡®Hmm?¡¯

    Different from before, a sudden sound came from my back. With a cracking sound like breaking ice, my back split open.

    And from the split back, something halfway liquid emerged. It looked like the root of aged wood, or perhaps the web a spider had carefully woven over a long period.

    I didn¡¯t know what it was, but the tendrils that came out of my body began corroding the surroundings.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Everyone, retreat!)]

    Judging it as suspicious, I took advantage of the moment when the Monster¡¯s Tentacle was still alive and shouted at the creatures.

    While the creatures retreated, the tendrils emerging from my body covered me, swallowing the spectators.

    ?Big Baby!?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Don¡¯t worry, just wait for me as usual)]

    Seeing no signs of pain, the procedure for applying the new unique trait was undoubtedly correct.

    The tendrils covered about a third of the passengerpartment before stopping their expansion. After that, like other times, they solidified into a giant pod.

    ¡®Why go to such lengths to show something?¡¯

    My guess is that it might be rted to changes in my body size. It¡¯s likely to grow muchrger or undergo a sudden transformation.

    ¡®Sigh. I should warn the children to be careful next time.¡¯

    Even though I reassured the children before the pod appeared, they might still be worried.

    ¡®If I take over a new ship, I should bring a gift or something for both of them.¡¯

    With that thought, I closed my eyes.

    ***

    ?Adult? ?Strange?

    ?Yeah.?

    She looked at the pod with the little one.

    Covered in glossy ck slime, it was leisurely pulsating. She hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a thin tentacle from her body.

    It wasn¡¯t the tentacle she uses to catch prey with four appendages attached.

    No one among her kind had taught her about this fact, but she somehow knew it naturally.

    This thin and slender tentacle is used only when it performs a very special ritual.

    ?I? ?Curious?

    ?Quiet.?

    Having silenced the annoying little one, she gently touched the thin tentacle to the pod.

    The initial sensation was dampness and warmth. However, this was only superficial. It delved deeper.

    The thin tentacle glowed faintly. Then, sensations that were difficult for her to understand flowed into her from the pod.

    It was extremelyplex. Some sensations were something she had never felt in her lifetime.

    But even in the unfamiliar whirlpool of chaos, there was something familiar. It was the same sensation she felt when she slept with her kind back in her homnd.

    Comfort.

    ?The big baby is now feelingfort.?

    If the big baby were suffering again, she had intended to help, but this time, it wasn¡¯t necessary.

    She felt fortunate, but at the same time, a bit disappointed.

    Why would she be disappointed when she¡¯s not even hungry?

    Unlike before, having grown several times, she now knew where this sensation simr to hunger originated.

    Thest time the big baby suffered, She used this thin tentacle to soothe him.

    This tentacle had the effect of reading the sensations of another being and transmitting its thoughts.

    Of course, the transmission of sensations was just one of the many abilities this tentacle had.

    It is used for densemunication.

    She still don¡¯t know what densemunication means.

    Her intellectual level has not reached the point where she can clearly exin it.

    However, every time she used this tentacle, she felt strangely excited and ticklish inside.

    It felt like the excitement of anticipating prey, but also a bit different.

    She wanted to continue feeling this addictive sensation somehow, but she forced herself to give it up.

    This pod is important to the big baby.

    Touching it could potentially have a negative impact on the growth of the big baby.

    As she retracted her tentacles, the little one behind her sent ripples.

    ?Adult? ?Growth? ?More? ?Cool??

    ?Yeah. When the big baby grows, he will be cooler.?

    ?I? ?Satisfied? ?Satisfied?

    The little one, pleased with her response, wagged its tail.

    ?I? ?Little adult? ?Curious?

    ?What is it??

    ?Adult? ?Growth? ?Complete? ?Possible??

    ?¡­Little one can¡¯t yet.?

    ?Iprehensible? ?I? ?Growth? ?Complete?

    Despite her saying it wasn¡¯t possible, the little one disagreed. In frustration, the disgruntled little one tapped the ground with its hind leg.

    ?I? ?Adult? ?Know? ?Possible? ?Know? ?Possible!?

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Ignoring the disobedient little one, she pulled out a thick tentacle and struck the ground. The cold floor immediately silenced the little one.

    ?Noisy.?

    ?Understood.?

    To the now silent little one, she gently sent a ripple.

    ?¡­When I grow bigger.?

    ?I? ?Promise? ?Remember?

    Speaking to the little one, she waited, until the big baby woke up looking more magnificent.

    ***

    ¡®Alright.¡¯

    After almost two hours, I began to feel sensation returning to my body.

    From the head and torso to arms, legs, hands, feet, tail, and finally fingers and toes.

    With all senses restored, I stood up. The semi-dried pod easily peeled off as I moved.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    I guessed that due to the pod¡¯s size, my body would grow, and I was partially correct.

    Since healing, I had been walking with digitigrade legs. The waist was in a pinned state like a human, and bnce was maintained with the tail.

    Thus, the size I stood now was roughly 3m. Adding the representation of prey, it would increase to a height of 5m.

    However, my current body state was in between the hexapodal form I used with eight legs and the bipedal form after healing, using only two legs.

    Walking with two feet was still the same, but the waist was partially bent, allowing the lowerbat arms to touch the ground.

    The body had changed significantly due to the difference in the exoskeleton covering my body and back.

    Firstly, the exoskeleton covering my head and the horns had be muchrger than before.

    The eye-shaped pattern engraved on my head was much darker, making it appear as if there were multiple real eyes on my head now.

    On the exoskeleton of the back, eightrge holes appeared, covered with a cortex of swirling patterns.

    The covering that used to wrap around the back had also changed into a wider shape, resembling an overturned turtle shell.

    As the back exoskeleton becamerger, the appearance of the exoskeleton on the back of the head changed from protruding spines to flowing down the shoulders.

    The arms and legs also became thicker and longer in ordance with the ergement of the exoskeleton, and the tail¡¯s appearance changed.

    With armor-like scales, it seemed suitable for use as a long-range striking weapon.

    In short, my changed appearance could be summarized as a heavily armored tank.

    Previously, I was closer to a nimble bipedal carnivore, but now, it would be appropriate to say that I¡¯ve be bulkier andrgerpared to that.

    ¡®My body has be so heavy that it¡¯s difficult topare with before.¡¯

    Although I¡¯ll need to experimentter to be precise, at first nce, it seemed that maneuverability had slightly decreased.

    ¡®On the other hand, I¡¯ve berger and tougher than before.¡¯

    Thanks to the exoskeleton, my body has grown overall, and even in a semi-bent posture, the height is almost reaching 5m. In terms of length, it might be around 10m to 12m.

    If I use the representation of prey here, it will certainly be muchrger.

    ¡®Now, let¡¯s see what the newly acquired traits are.¡¯

    Afterpleting the examination of my body, I opened a translucent text box containing the details of the new characteristics.

    [Horizon of Nightmare: Your hunting ground is not limited to a single. It enhances the effects of the unique characteristics you possess. You can use ¡®Erosion Tentacle¡¯ to corrode and control spaceships.]

    [*Target of influence: Representation of Prey (duration extended to 20 minutes)]

    [*¡¯Erosion Tentacle¡¯: Corrodes a spaceship, turning it into aposite organism dominated by the user¡¯s consciousness. While in a connected state with the spaceship, the user cannot use physical traits. If the energy stored by the user is depleted, the characteristic effect is automatically canceled. ¡®Erosion Tentacle¡¯ can be used once every 7 days, limited to one spaceship.]

    [*Caution: Erosion cannot be canceled until the spaceship¡¯s erosion isplete. The cooldown of the Representation of Prey changes to once every 7 days. Erosion Tentacle and cooldown are shared.]

    [*Note: ¡®Nightmare¡¯ is just a word. In reality, it¡¯s much more terrifying.]

    The unique trait ¡®Horizon of Nightmare¡¯ was an entirely new type of trait that I had never seen before.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 98

    Chapter 98

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡®The Horizon of Nightmares.¡¯

    I double-checked the text box.

    It¡¯s a characteristic of a typical high-risk, high-return personality, but what raises my doubts is a different aspect.

    ¡®The ability to pilot a spaceship.¡¯

    I know about simr traits.

    It¡¯s one of the special abilities unlocked by the Outspacer¡¯s reward feature, called ¡®Ship Seizure.

    Just as an Amorph grows and strengthens progressively, the Outspacer also unlocks various functions as the cluster grows.

    One of them is ship seizure, turning the stolen ships into mobile clusters.

    From the moment this feature is obtained, the Outspacer¡¯s queen can move to others.

    ¡®Stealing ships is possible for other species too, but¡­¡¯

    The race with the ability to turn a ship into a new organism and dominate it is unique to the Outspacer.

    It¡¯s simr to Amorph¡¯s intrinsic nature of killing, devouring, and evolving other beings.

    ¡®You can never acquire a trait simr to a race¡¯s unique trait.¡¯

    However, the Transcendence System broke that principle.

    The firstplete organism obtained was my organic form.

    When I first transformed into the symbol of hunting through this trait, I thought I resembled a wolf.

    The wolf-like race, called Wolph, has a unique ability to transform into an optimized beast form for battle under certain conditions.

    Thanks to this trait, even though I am still in my early stages, I could hold my ground in closebat against other formidable opponents.

    ¡®Aplete organism, like Wolf¡¯s transformation, is simr to Outspacer¡¯s ship seizure and the Horizon of Nightmares.¡¯

    I only obtained two unique traits through the Transcendence System.

    It¡¯s too early to conclude, but somehow that thought crossed my mind.

    ¡®Is the Transcendence System trying to surpass Amorph¡¯s limits?¡¯

    If so, what is the end of transcendence?

    What is the purpose of transcending?

    Currently, I am at Transcendence Level 1.

    Although I acquired two unique traits using the Transcendence System, I have not yet entered Transcendence Level 2.

    I recalled the message I received when I obtained the firstplete organism.

    [Transcendence (Level 2)¡¯: Combine five fused traits to unlock a new type-rted trait.]

    The traits used as materials must all be rted to different types.

    Information about the new type will be unlocked.

    [Avable traits: Regeneration (Fused), Predator Sense (Fused), Parasitic Colony (Fused), ?]

    [Fused, ?]

    [Fused]

    [Additional reward: The golden restriction imposed at Transcendence Level 1 will be lifted.]

    [*Note: You can rece the material traits used for breakthrough with other traits.]

    ¡®I have to keep that in mind.¡¯

    As I approach Transcendence Level 2, clues about why the Transcendence System exists may emerge.

    ¡®Come to think of it, there are simrities between evolution conditions and the Transcendence System.¡¯

    To evolve into a Quasi-saint, you need to acquire four types in addition to devouring sentient beings.

    To enter Transcendence Level 2, you need fused traits rted to five types.

    Focusing on evolution requires collecting traits, making it difficult to enter Transcendence Level 2.

    On the contrary, entering Transcendence Level 2 first consumes traits, creating obstacles to reaching evolution.

    In other words, prioritizing one will dy the other.

    ¡®I used to think it simply expanded choices.¡¯

    There might be something more than what I¡¯m thinking.

    ¡®I guess pondering over it now won¡¯t make much sense.¡¯

    I don¡¯t n to dwell on a problem without a solution.

    I nodded and decided to experiment with my new unique trait, the Horizon of Nightmares.

    ¡®Tentacles of corrosion.How does it control a spaceship?¡¯

    The Horizon of Nightmares appeared to be a physical trait, but it was not when considering the changes in the body.

    [¢Ý Nest-rted: Horizon of Nightmares (Unique)]

    Surprisingly, it belonged to the nest enhancement category.

    Thanks to it, I had unlocked a total of five type conditions.

    ¡®Does that mean turning the spaceship into a mobile nest?¡¯

    It would be faster to see it directly than to unnecessarily ponder about it.

    I extended mybat arm to extract the corrosive tentacles for experimentation.

    Despite my concentration, what emerged was the original blood-sucking tentacle.

    ¡®Is this not it?¡¯

    I experimented with all four of mybat arms, but only the blood-sucking tentacles appeared.

    I even tried experimenting with the small arms on my chest, but there was nothing visible other than cute fingers.

    ¡®Where could tentacles emerge from.?¡¯

    The focal point of my contemtion was the greatly changed backte.

    Eight holes covered it with whirlpool-patterned epidermis.

    This might be where the tentacles emerge from.

    I exerted force on my waist and back, simr to doing a sit-up.

    As a result, the epidermis peeled away, revealing six tentacles protruding from within.

    ¡®Got it.¡¯

    The tentacles, covered in sticky mucus, were ck like petroleum, unlike the red blood-sucking tentacles.

    Their form was also different from blood-sucking tentacles.

    While thetter had saw-toothed ws instead of an octopus¡¯s suckers, the corrosive tentacles were smooth, like the surface of a snake¡¯s body.

    Moreover, unlike the blood-sucking tentacles that resembled bare flesh, these were covered in small yet durable scales, giving them a much sturdier appearance.

    However, at their tips, they had sharp teeth and six appendages resembling the legs of a brittle star.

    ¡®It¡¯s truly a novel sensation.¡¯

    The sensation of moving the six tentacles attached to my back was truly mysterious.

    It was like the spine-tingling feeling when looking down from a ss-floored observation deck.

    The difference was that, rather than feeling ufortable or creepy, it was more natural, like moving an arm.

    I clenched my fist and, guided by the sensation of blood, moved the appendages at the ends of the tentacles.

    The strength felt from the appendages seemed to be stronger than thebat arms, suggesting greater gripping power.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see.¡¯

    When I grabbed a seat with the corrosive tentacles, the sturdy alloy chair crumpled like an aluminum can.

    ¡®At this rate, it can be used as a weapon, not just for piloting a spaceship.¡¯

    New arms and weapons are always wee.

    Moreover, with the mouth at the end of the corrosive tentacles, I could consume prey.

    In essence, I now had seven mouths.

    ¡®This part seems to synergize with the Symbol of Hunting.¡¯

    Coincidentally, the Symbol of Hunt duration increased to 20 minutes due to the Horizon of Nightmares effect.

    With the increased consumption speed, I could now assimte much more gic essence than before.

    ¡®But why only six?¡¯

    There are eight holes, so shouldn¡¯t there be eight tentacles?

    All the emerging corrosive tentacles came out only from the holes in the middle and lower part of the backte.

    No tentacles emerged from the holes around the shoulders, which were still covered by the whirlpool-shaped epidermis.

    ¡®Oh, I think I understand.¡¯

    Using the Symbol of Hunt creates two arms with bone des, so these holes might be the spots where those arms emerge.

    I decided to stop examining the newly acquired organ here.

    Next, I needed to investigate the effects of this trait.

    ¡®How do I use this?¡¯

    As I shook the tentacles around, I brought the tentacle¡¯s mouth close to my inner wall.

    Then, a new text box appeared in front of me.

    [Confirming the appropriate size for corrosion.

    Estimated time forplete corrosion: 1 hour.]

    [After corrosion, the controble time is currently 30 days.]

    [*Corrosionpletion time is proportional to the size of the target.]

    [*Controble time is proportional to the energy stored by the user.]

    [When the controble time is exhausted, the controlled target will be automatically discarded.]

    [Do you want to apply corrosion?]

    ¡®Indeed.¡¯

    Looking at the message, it seems that not just any spaceship can be corroded; it depends on the size.

    ¡®This part probably changes ording to the type acquisition or evolutionary stage.¡¯

    Whether the Escape Line can dominate the maximum size with corrosive tentacles is still unknown.

    This part may require securing a different ship to find out.

    ¡®The corrosion time is quite long.¡¯

    It seems challenging to use the tactic of infiltrating an enemy battleship and seizing control secretly.

    Of course, this aspect could be reduced by acquiring types or other means.

    ¡®But the fortunate thing is that the controble time is quite substantial.¡¯

    Since it is proportional to the energy I possess, if I consume a lot of nutrients, the controble time should increase.

    ¡®This should be enough.¡¯

    Now, I just need to head to the Space Poison¡¯s territory for hyper-speed navigation.

    Having almost grasped the effects of the newly acquired trait, I attempted to collect the corrosive tentacles.

    At that moment, Number 26, who was eating the remaining food in the diningpartment, looked at me.

    [ZZZ ZZZ (Hello)]

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    The Horizon of Nightmares only imposed restrictions on the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯, so my concerns did not materialize since there were no restrictions on possessed traits.

    Even though I greeted Number 26 it did not respond.

    It seemed either surprised by the changed appearance or its body flickered.

    Adhai, who came out from behind, also looked at me, pping her wings in surprise.

    ?Adult? ?Growth? ?Ended??

    [ZZZ ZZ (Yes)]

    ?You? ?Moved? ?Adult? ?Impressive? ?Impressive!?

    Adhai ran to me and circled around me.

    Whether it found my transformation fascinating or not, it circled around and tapped my corrosive tentacles with her front paws.

    ?Adult? ?Mouth? ?Many?

    [ZZZZ (Grown)]

    ?Great?

    Adhai seemed to be expressing admiration, nodding her head.

    Number 26 also approached me and extended its tentacles, touching my corrosive tentacles.

    ?Big baby is really cool.?

    [ZZZ ZZ(Thanks)]

    The creature that touched me shone brightly in red.

    Perhaps, like a sea demon, it seemed to particrly like that several tentacles had appeared on my body.

    ¡®I¡¯m d they like it.¡¯

    Since the children were treating me with friendliness, I didn¡¯t feel bad either.

    ¡®If this were in a game, it would probably bebeled as grotesque.¡¯

    If they were yers, seeing my current appearance might scare them, but the children are animals, so their sensibilities are different.

    Anyway, since they seemed to have sufficiently confirmed my new form, I collected the corrosive tentacles into the backte.

    ¡®Oh.¡¯

    Number 26¡¯s body seemed to react positively to the corrosive tentacles.

    I gave its head a pat, then headed to the control room.

    Due to my erged body, the originally spacious control room now felt quite cramped.

    Especially with the altered body structure, controlling the spaceship with the small arms became rather inconvenient.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 99

    Chapter 99

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The Loose Rock Cartel has some aspects that set it apart from typical space gangs. Usually, cartel ships make a living by raiding the spacecraft of other species. If they seed in plundering a superior ship, they often discard their old vessel and switch to the new one.

    As a result, most cartels focus only on the armament of the ships they operate, neglecting other aspects. However, the Loose Rock Cartel is an exception to this norm.

    Their primary source of ie is the capture and smuggling of rare animals. Plundering is merely a supplementary source of revenue for them. Consequently, they have many considerations beyond the armament of their ships.

    This includes facilities for safely storing captured animals, storage for feeding the animals, as well as facilities for loading reconnaissance vehicles used to capture creatures that inhabit space.

    With many requirements to fulfill, Loose Rock Cartel ships are rtivelyrgepared to the scale of other cartels. With a length of 300m and a height of 70m, their space vessels are substantial, almost rivaling the small frigates of the Megacorp in size.

    The name of the Loose Rock Cartel¡¯s ship is the Colossal raider. The name was given by Millo after he plundered a StarUnion trading vessel a long time ago.

    The colossal raider was approaching a new prey.

    ¡°We have 10 minutes until we reach the signal.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re here, so why isn¡¯t it visible?¡±

    The gigantic disy in the control room showed nothing but endless darkness.

    Skywhales are creatures that emit light from their bodies, simr to creatures living in the depths of the sea. Their light is beautiful and sharp, making them easily visible from a great distance in the vast emptiness of space.

    Milhomanded his subordinates,

    ¡°Double-check the signal.¡±

    ¡°It should be visible by now¡­¡±

    At that moment, an emergency signal sounded in the control room. It was a signal sent by Calvin, the central AIputer controlling the ship.

    [Collision alert! Collision alert!]

    In an instant, a ck ship appeared on the disy. The distance between their ship and the iing vessel was extremely close. Millo shouted in shock,

    ¡°Damn it! Initiate emergency evasive maneuvers now!¡±

    ¡°Everyone, be careful!¡±

    The evasive maneuver caused the ship¡¯s hull to sway significantly. The ck ship they saw on the disy passed them and disappeared beyond the screen.

    The pirates in the control room screamed and tumbled to the floor. Millo, being a skilled warrior of the Wolfen race, did not lose hisposure when he fell. He urgently shouted,

    ¡°Youzy kids! Check the cargo instead of lying around! Is everything intact?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes!¡± In response to the captain¡¯s frustratedmand, the crew quickly checked theputer to ensure there was no damage inside the ship.

    ¡°Why wasn¡¯t the ship detected right in front of us?¡±

    ¡°Um, I¡¯ll check it.¡±

    Vice-captain Starks manipted the terminal in the control room, patting his numb buttocks. Then his expression became strange.

    ¡°Captain.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Do you know that StarUnion ships can detect the electric signals?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I do.¡±

    ¡°Well, the electric signal from that ship is not being detected.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    The Vice-captain disyed the information he had checked on the terminal.

    Millo was perplexed because what he said was true.

    ¡°What? So, the ship we almost collided with is already a dead ship?¡±

    ¡°Not only that. The life signal we detected ising from that ship.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    In other words, the ship they just passed was a contradictory existence that emitted life signals continuously even though the machinery was not functioning at all.

    ¡°What kind of mess is this?¡±

    While Millo and Starks were contemting, someone in the control room muttered.

    ¡°I-it¡¯s a ghost ship¡­.¡±

    Millo frowned at the statement.

    ¡°Who said that? Where in the universe are ghosts?¡±

    ¡°W¡­well, Captain, you know! D¡­Dbara Cartel got into trouble with a ghost ship, and it gotpletely wrecked¡­.¡±

    A few months ago, the Dbara Cartel, losers in the C-08 sector,pletely copsed due to a mysterious incident.

    ording to rumors, the captain and Vice-captain of the Dbara Cartel went raiding as usual and encountered a ghost ship, leading to their disappearance.

    ¡°We¡¯re pirates, but we can¡¯t beat ghosts!¡±

    ¡°We need to run away immediately!¡±

    Millo mmed the control room floor with force. When his footprints remained on the solid metal panel, all the pirates fell silent.

    ¡°Shut up, all of you. There¡¯s no ghost ship.¡±

    ¡°But¡­Captain! But¡­!¡±

    ¡°Think logically. If it¡¯s C-08, it¡¯s hundreds of light-years away from here. Would a ghost ship travel this far at faster-than-light speed?¡±

    ¡°W¡­well, it¡¯s a ghost ship, so maybe it¡¯s possible?¡±

    ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake, it shoots sma cannons and prates shields as a ghost. What nonsense.¡±

    Seeing the pirates regainposure in Captain Millo¡¯s calm attitude, he gave an order.

    ¡°We need to confirm what that ship is. Starks, you go in with the kids.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡±

    ¡°Sending scared idiots alone is more dangerous, so you takemand yourself.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Stark, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be watching, so you¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    ¡°Sigh. Yes, Captain.¡±

    Starks nodded with a resigned expression.

    Regardless, capturing a ship was more profitable than a loss. All the cargo inside became theirs.

    ¡®I wonder what¡¯s inside.¡¯

    After sending the Vice-captain, Millo observed the mysterious ship disyed on the screen.

    ***

    ¡®Here ites.¡¯

    I opened my eyes, sensing the approaching ship. It had been a week since I arrived in the I-97 sector. During this time, I had been relentlessly checking the functions of the corroded ship.

    ¡®The ability for faster-than-light travel is reassuring.¡¯

    The biggest advantage when corroding a ship is that I can utilize most of its functions, simr to my own body. In addition to basic navigation functions, faster-than-light travel using the warp engine was easily achievable. In this case, I could consume the residual energy in the ship instead of my own.

    ¡®If not for this, maintaining the ship for a long time would have been difficult.¡¯

    Moreover, although it couldn¡¯t be confirmed without a turret, this ship likely had the capability for cannon fire.

    ¡®Since I can draw and use sma energy, it should be possible.¡¯

    Another advantage was that I could change the structure of the ship into the form I desired.

    ¡®It¡¯s like a nest where my traits can be utilized.¡¯

    From the moment corrosion wasplete, this ship became a living entity, almost like a nest. Additionally, the ability to change the ship¡¯s structure allowed me to create traps using my characteristics.

    ¡®I¡¯ve made good use of the monster¡¯s tentacles.¡¯

    The ship that came to me was here because I created a giant monster tentacle inside the ship, causing a disturbance. They probably mistook it for a Skywhale or a Gagon. At first nce, it seemed only advantageous, but as in life, there were undoubtedly disadvantages.

    ¡®It¡¯s a shame I can¡¯t move when controlling the ship.¡¯

    The tentacle from my dorsal armor that came out during corrosion is connected to the ship, rendering movement impossible. While I could call the kids or make slight movements, actual lotion was out of the question. Additionally, I couldn¡¯t use physical traits due to the golden restriction.

    ¡®If it were possible, I could have used them freely while dominating the ship.¡¯

    If I could use physical traits while dominating the ship, the possibilities would be endless. I could attach wings to the outer wall of the ship forary atmosphere travel, orbine biting power with metal absorption traits to chew up other ships and reinforce the main body.

    ¡®At least, the fortunate thing is that I can create a new corrosion tentacle even in a connected state.¡¯

    The corrosion tentacles in my body must remain connected to the ship, making them unusable. However, I can create new corrosion tentacles near my inner or outer walls.

    ¡®But that doesn¡¯t necessarily mean I can control a new ship while controlling another one.¡¯

    Once corrosion isplete, my mind bes connected to the ship. While I would need to confirm when the ship gets closer, it¡¯s likely impossible to corrode a new ship while in control of another one.

    ¡®Well, it¡¯s a shame, but the specs of the corrosion tentacles themselves aren¡¯t bad.¡¯

    Even without special functions, I can use these tentacles for hunting or preying on enemies.

    ¡®Since the corrosion tentacles have mouths, I might be able to acquire gic material.¡¯

    Although I haven¡¯t tried it due to ack of experimental subjects, it seems quite feasible.

    ¡®By the way, the ship isrger than I thought.¡¯

    As the ship approached, its size became more apparent. It was almost three timesrger than the ship I dominate. Among space gangs, it¡¯s umon for a ship of this size to be operated, usually reserved for top cartels or those focusing on smuggling.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem like a top cartel, judging by the detected personnel. The numbers are too low.¡¯

    My guess is that they are smugglers, and not just ordinary ones, but at a considerable level.

    ¡®The smuggling facilities are well-equipped. Additionally, there aren¡¯t many, but they have recon ships.¡¯

    In appearance, it resembled a StarUnion trading ship or a Megacorp raiding frigate, but it¡¯s not certain.

    ¡®I¡¯ll need to go inside that ship to confirm the details.¡¯

    If my assumptions about the ship are correct, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad vessel to switch to.

    ¡®If it¡¯s a smuggling ship, there should be plenty to plunder.¡¯

    Moreover, targeting a smuggling ship would provide ess to information about smuggled animals stored in the ship¡¯sputer. This includes details about what lives on each and safe routes forary infiltration.

    ¡®Considering the Transcendence Stage 2, I need to capture not only sentient beings but also wild creatures.¡¯

    In fact, aside from the Transcendence Stage 2, various types of genes are needed during the evolution from Pre-Saint to Quasi-Saint Stage.

    ¡®It seems like the next destination is roughly determined.¡¯

    Of course, securing control of that shipes first.

    ¡®It¡¯s a bitrger than expected.¡¯

    Coincidentally, the ship is attempting to dock toward our direction.

    Before weing the guests, I need to check if domination is possible.

    I concentrated my mind and created corrosion tentacles on the outer wall of the ship I control.

    A slender docking port emerged from the enemy ship, attaching itself to the ship I dominate.

    During this time, the corrosion tentacles secretly attached to the lower part of the docking port.

    The translucent text box that appears when selecting a corrosion target guided me.

    ¡®As expected. I can¡¯t dominate it immediately.¡¯

    Since I was already in control of a ship, I couldn¡¯t corrode a new one. Still, I could check whether it was a suitable target or not.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see.¡¯

    The corrosion tentacles, havingpleted the check, reported the results to me.

    ¡®It¡¯s fortunate that domination is possible.¡¯

    While it¡¯s rare news that even a pirate ship over three timesrger is a corrosion target, ites with some apanying issues.

    ¡®First, the time it takes for corrosion is longer than when dominating this ship.¡¯

    ¡®It takes five hours toplete the corrosion.¡¯

    Moreover, the duration for maintaining control is only ten days.

    ¡®As the size of the domination target increases, the energy required to maintain it also increases.¡¯

    In other words, after absorbing as much energy as possible, it¡¯s necessary to corrode the pirate ship for an extended period of control.

    ¡®I need to move carefully.¡¯

    I retrieved the corrosion tentacles protruding from the outer wall.

    ¡®Since it¡¯s been a week, there¡¯s no problem moving the ship itself.¡¯

    However, since I don¡¯t have much energy, I need to prepare once I switch to that ship.

    ¡®I should hunt reasonably and gather energy.¡¯

    Consuming smugglers and smuggled animals inside that ship should provide enough energy to dominate the ship for an extended period.

    After that, when the opportunity arises toplete the corrosion, the ship will be mine.

    ¡®Rather than that, should I deal with those who boarded this ship first?¡¯

    Exploration teams or some group started crossing over to this side through the docking port. I weakened the door connected to the port, making it easier for them to enter the ship.

    ¡°What? Why is it so weak?¡±

    ¡°Because it saves time, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Stop the nonsense and let¡¯s get in.¡±

    The voices of the pirates entering the ship were transmitted into my mind.

    As this ship is my nest and an extension of my body, I can know everything about their words, actions, and even physical conditions.

    ¡®They¡¯re wearing spacesuits.¡¯

    The pirates were aware in advance that this ship was a dead ship and wore spacesuits. Also, each of them carried various types of weapons to respond to potential crisis situations.

    Even bombs were brought in case they deemed this spacecraft problematic.

    ¡®Well, it¡¯s meaningless anyway.¡¯

    The weapons they were carrying might be useful when dealing with dangerous wild animals, but the entity awaiting them now is not a mere creature.

    Who could have imagined that the ship they¡¯re disembarking from would target them?

    [Let¡¯s split up and search.]

    [Yeah.]

    [Oh, Justin. Go to the engine room and check the status. Engines are expensive, you know.]

    [Understood.]

    The iing group of pirates began to split up to quickly search the inside of the ship.

    ¡®Good.¡¯

    Before their arrival, I radically changed the internal structure of the ship. It¡¯s almost like a maze.

    ¡®Moreover, there are many traps.¡¯

    I closed my eyes again. One of thebyrinth passages inside the ship connected to the engine room where I was located.

    ***

    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s so eerie.¡±

    In an instant, the one referred to as Justin, walked unknowingly toward the engine room through the newly altered passage.

    ¡°Oh? This should definitely be the engine room.¡±

    Working as an engineer for the Loose Rock Cartel, Justin was knowledgeable about the structure of ships, be it of Megacorp or of Star Union. The current passenger ship they entered had a three-story structure, with the engine room located on the bottom floor. Normally, he should be seeing stairs leading down by now, but in front of him was an endlessly long corridor.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    This ship is not as massive as the Loose Rock Cartel¡¯s ship, the Kelvinho. By now, he should have reached the opposite side since he walked continuously without stopping.

    ¡°Something¡¯s strange.¡±

    In the ominous atmosphere, Justin activated themunicator inside his spacesuit.

    ¡°Vice-captain Starks, sir?¡±

    [Bzzt¡­what¡­bzzt¡­is this¡­bzzt]

    ¡°Vice-captain?¡±

    ?Bzzt¡­monster¡­bzzt¡­retreat¡­bzzt?

    Themunication device emitted only unintelligible words and an unpleasant noise.

    ¡°¡­Well it¡¯s nothing serious, right?¡±

    The Colossal raider is waiting outside. If something had happened on this ship, they would have taken action sooner. So, he forced himself to ease his anxiety and continued forward.

    ¡®Now what should I do? motion sensor! If I activate that¡­!¡¯

    He hurriedly pulled out a small device from his tool pack attached to his waist. It was a motion sensor that detects the movement of living organisms, disying signals on the machine¡¯s radar when there is movement nearby. As he activated the motion sensor, a green light emanated from the machine.

    ¡°Alright¡­ huh?¡±

    Looking at the results on the radar, he doubted his own eyes. Signals were being disyed from the entire surrounding area.

    ¡°Wh-what is this?¡±

    A signal was disyed right in front of him. Astonished, he lifted his head and faced ¡°them.¡±

    Eyes were appearing all over the corridor where he stood, ring at him.

    Eyes shining in purple on the ck walls.

    Facing the eyes, Justin found himself screaming in terror.

    Avoiding those frightening gazes as if mad, he ran frantically.

    In front of him as he fled, there was a door.

    A door leading to the engine room, which had beenpletely invisible until now, was waiting for him.

    ¡°Come¡­ this¡­ way¡­¡±

    Was it an auditory hallucination caused by extreme fear? Or was it the ship¡¯s heart calling him?

    Justin couldn¡¯t determine who the caller was.

    To him, desperately longing for someone¡¯s guidance, the identity of the caller didn¡¯t matter.

    In response to the call, Justin opened the door to the engine room.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 100

    Chapter 100

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Chapter:100

    ¡°Starks? No signal from this side.¡±

    [zzzz¡­help¡­zzzz?

    ¡°What? I can¡¯t hear you! Say it again!¡±

    ?zzz..zzzz¡­.this ce¡­.zzzz¡­is¡­zzzz¡­here?

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    As themunication ended, Milo cursed loudly.

    ¡°Hey! Is themunication not restored yet?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll check.¡±

    Until they passed the docking port, everything seemed fine. Thanks to the signal chip attached to the spacesuit, the signal was disyed well, andmunication proceeded smoothly, except for some minor noise.

    However, after they entered the ship, one by one, they disappeared from the detector, andmunication became silent.

    ¡°The signal is fine, but there seems to be something interfering in the middle.¡±

    ¡°How can we resolve it?¡±

    ¡°Well, it seems we¡¯ll have to go in and handle it ourselves.¡±

    Knowing the kind of situations people entering might face, should they send someone else.

    ¡®Just abandon them?¡¯

    Milo, like any typical space smuggler, wasn¡¯t one to cherish the lives of his subordinates.

    ¡®But Starks and Justin are a bit valuable.¡¯

    The chief engineer had been working with Milo for a long time, and Justin was a somewhat valuable engineer within the space smugglingmunity.

    While he was contemting whether to abandon them or not, a subordinate from the situation room called him.

    ¡°Captain, there¡¯s a signal appearing.¡±

    ¡°Yeah? Who is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Justin.¡±

    When Justin mentioned the cult of the Wolf God, his movements appeared on the detection system, and the illuminated indicator on the detector was getting closer to the connected docking port.

    ¡°Did he go to the engine room? Why is heing back?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Turn the docking port camera.¡±

    The camera screen appeared at the bottom of the situation room¡¯srge disy.

    After a while, Justin walked into the docking port.

    He had apparently discarded the transparent helmet somewhere, and he was not wearing it. Thanks to that, his pale face was clearly captured by the camera.

    ¡°Huh? Why is he not wearing the helmet?¡±

    ¡°Oh, damn! He¡¯s carrying a bomb!¡±

    Justin was carrying the bomb that he had given to the chief engineer with the instruction to detonate it if there was nothing valuable on the ship.

    ¡°If it explodes inside the docking port, the damage will be severe!¡±

    ¡°I know, damn it! Hey, turn on the speaker!¡±

    Milo quickly picked up the microphone and called Justin.

    ¡°Justin! What are you doing right now?¡±

    [Captain.]

    Justin, carrying the bomb absentmindedly, stopped in his tracks.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Starks, and why are you carrying that bomb?¡±

    [Captain, I¡­]

    When Milo looked at him, Justin didn¡¯t seem to be in his right mind. It was suspicious that he had the bomb given to the chief engineer in the first ce, and it was strange that he was walking around without a helmet inside the spaceship when they didn¡¯t know what might be inside it.

    But if that guy detonates the bomb at the docking port, the Colossal Raider will undoubtedly suffer significant damage.

    [I¡¯m scared.]

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s so scary? Where is there anything a pirate like you should be afraid of?¡±

    While Milo was talking to Justin, he signaled to his subordinates.

    It was to block all the surrounding areas connected to the docking port on the Colossal Raider.

    ¡°Enough. Put down the bomb ande in to talk. Okay?¡±

    [Captain, you don¡¯t know anything. I¡¯m trying to protect the Colossal Raider.]

    ¡°What? Suddenly talking nonsense,¡±

    Justin, who was staring at the camera,ughed strangely.

    [Keuk¡­no¡­it¡¯s already toote. Darkness, darkness will devour this ship.]

    ¡°What?¡±

    [Kugh¡­kugh¡­kugh¡­kugh]

    ¡°Wait¡­!¡±

    Smiling as if his mouth had split open, Justin pressed the switch of the bomb.

    Before Milo could stop him, the bomb exploded, shaking the hull significantly.

    ¡®It¡¯s done.¡¯

    As soon as I felt the vibrations on the ship, I prepared to leave the ship.

    ¡®First, the rescue.¡¯

    I changed the structure of the ship to connect the area where the explosion urred, the engine room, and the ce where the kids were.

    The ck walls squirmed and changed shape, and the space where Number 26 and Adhai were connected to the engine room as one.

    Number 26, pushing dozens of tentacles into the helmet, and Adhai, sucking blood after removing the helmet, looked at me and shouted.

    ?Big baby!?

    ?I??Hunt??Sess?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ(Well done, everyone)]

    About half of the intruders into the ship fell into the trap I set.

    There were some who resisted trying to escape, but Number 26 and Adhai took care of them.

    ¡®It¡¯s fortunate that the corrosive tentacles also have a predation effect.¡¯

    Amorph¡¯s predation effect doesn¡¯t appear by eating dead bodies.

    Precisely, it only counts when I consume a creature that ¡®I killed.¡¯ Simrly, for the evolutionary condition of capturing an intelligent species, only the creatures I killed are counted.

    We have to cross over before the protective door surrounding this area closes. Almost simultaneously with me, Number 26 and Adhainded without hesitation and followed behind me. In the distance, at the end of the corridor, an as-yet-unsealed protective door is visible.

    ¡®Camera.¡¯

    Through the auxiliary organs, I sensed the movement of surveince cameras beyond the protective door. While running, I extended the corrosive tentacles and destroyed the surveince cameras. Anyway, if I want to control this ship, I¡¯ll have to face the pirates directly, but there¡¯s no need to get caught unnecessarily.

    After destroying the surveince cameras, we were able to barely cross the protective door.

    ¡®Infiltration was sessful without any issues.¡¯

    Repair personnel wille soon. Before that, we need to leave this ce.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ(over there)]

    While controlling Justin, I heard that there might be a hiding ce on the pirate ship. ording to Justin, this ship is a modification based on the Star Union¡¯s cargo ship, where the first and second floors are entirely used as cargo holds.

    Usually, live animals or cargo for sale are stored in the cargo holds, but currently, the ship is returning afterpleting a trade, so some of the cargo holds are empty.

    ¡®The goods are stored only on the second floor, and the first floor is empty.¡¯

    Since there¡¯s nothing to guard, and the surveince personnel patrol roughly, it¡¯s a perfect ce for me to hide.

    ¡®Our location is on the third floor.¡¯

    If we go straight, we¡¯ll definitely be caught on camera. The rear is closed by the protective door, and the only avable path is on the opposite side. If we go that way, there¡¯s a high chance of encountering piratesing to repair the area.

    ¡®Let¡¯s go through the floor.¡¯

    Once I go down to the second floor, I¡¯ll have to find another way or something. I inflicted a wound on my arm, letting acidic blood fall to the floor. As the sturdy metal te corroded, a pungent smoke rose.

    ¡®It¡¯s not good that I¡¯ve grown in size.¡¯

    Number 26, who can shrink its body, and Adhai, can easily escape through the hole that has just been created. However, I can¡¯t. Shedding more blood to quickly erge the hole, I grabbed the edge of the corroded floor with mybat arm and widened it significantly.

    ¡®The hole isrge, but¡­¡¯

    That side is probably due to the explosion in the isted area. Of course, during repairs, they will realize that it was not caused by an explosion, but it doesn¡¯t matter. By then, the situation will be chaotic enough that it won¡¯t matter who created these traces.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ(go down first)]

    ?Yes.?

    I sent Number 26 and Adhai down first, and not far away, I detected movements of people. Pirates wearing space suits wereing here to repair the damaged area.

    ¡®Should I use the newly acquired trait?¡¯

    I briefly considered it but gave up.

    ¡®No, there are many other ways.¡¯

    Providing crucial information to the enemies early on is not desirable. Instead of using the newly acquired ability, I used the Dreadful Overseer on one of the pirates beyond the corridor. At the moment they were about to pass the corner, a pirate in the middle began to glow in terror.

    ¡°Ah, aaah!¡±

    ¡°Why is this guy acting like this?¡±

    ¡°Darkness! Darkness is swallowing us! Aaah!¡±

    While other pirates were trying to calm their terrifiedrade, I melted the floor and leaped downward. Various facilities rted to animals, such as numerous containers,rge cryogenic capsules, and rectangr prisons with alloy iron bars, came into view.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ(this way)]

    Using the auxiliary organ to detect the area, I sensed that there seemed to be stairs in that direction. We ran towards the direction of the stairs. The camera installed on the stairs shot quills to neutralize it. After hiding in a corner of the first-floor cargo hold, we could finally catch our breath.

    ¡®Okay. Now that we¡¯re here, what¡¯s next¡­¡¯

    While contemting what to do next, a deafening noise came from above. It was the sound of the sma turrets mounted on the pirate ship firing. The target was probably the abandoned ship that I had dominated and discarded. The pirate reconnaissance team is all dead, and the ship is damaged, so the captain of this ship must have received quite a blow.

    ¡®Now enjoy the captain¡¯s seat to your heart¡¯s content.¡¯

    That position will soon be mine.

    ¡°They¡¯ve really messed things up.¡±

    ¡°How do we fix this?¡±

    Engineers from the Ruk Cartel sighed while wearing space suits.

    ¡°Since the captain is furious, we have to handle it somehow. Huri and I will take care of the outer wall, so Cooper, you handle the inside.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Cooper, holding a metal injector, headed inside alone to repair the damage that urred inside the ship. The metal injector, shaped like a welding machine but the size of a human, is a toolmonly used for repairing giant artificial structures like ships.

    By connecting several alloy tes to the device and activating it, liquid alloyes out from the tip of the injector to weld the damaged area. While repairing with the metal injector for a while, he noticed something strange.

    ¡°This wasn¡¯t caused by an explosion, was it?¡±

    The hole in front of the protective door had edges that seemed to be melted, as if acidic liquid had been poured. To check the lower part, he lifted his head.

    At that moment, a hand reached out from the hole and grabbed his helmet.

    ¡°!¡±

    Without being able to scream, he was dragged into the hole. All that remained where Cooper was standing was the lonely metal injector.

    A few minutester, Huri, who was repairing the outer wall, came in for a break.

    ¡°What¡¯s up? Where did Cooper go?¡±

    Seeing only the metal injector in front of a sizable hole, he shook his head.

    ¡°Cooper! Where are you?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s¡­downstairs.¡±

    ¡°Why did he go down there?¡±

    There was no reply. Hui waited for Cooper toe up, but he was nowhere in sight. Helplessly, he jumped down into the hole.

    ¡°Hey! What are you doing from the cargo hold?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­here.¡±

    The cargo hold had minimal light to avoid stimting the smuggled animals. Hui knew that fact, but even considering it, the ce was much darker than usual.

    ¡°Did the lights go out?¡±

    Still not sensing anything strange, Hui followed the voice.

    ¡®Did ite from the stairs?¡¯

    Hui knew that currently, there were no stored creatures or cargo on the first floor. Thinking of it as a joke, he descended the stairs.

    ¡°Cooper?¡±

    Earlier, he thought the second floor was quite dark, butpared to that, the first floor was iparable.

    ¡°Cooper! It¡¯s too dark; I can¡¯t see anything!¡±

    As he shouted, a white light turned on in the distance. Hui, not realizing it was a helmet-mounted shlight, followed the light with relief.

    ¡°What on earth are you doing here¡­¡±

    Following the light, Hui met Cooper, whom he had been looking forward to seeing. However, Cooper looked very different from what he had expected.

    He wasn¡¯t wearing a helmet.

    To be precise, Cooper didn¡¯t have a head to wear a helmet.

    Then where is the light that illuminates theming from?

    Hui¡¯s gaze followed the light upward.

    About 5 meters high, four long fingers held Cooper¡¯s helmet.

    ¡°Why¡­are you here now?¡±

    With those words, the light on Cooper¡¯s helmet went out.

    What remained afterward was nothing but the profound darkness that seemed to swallow even the terminal despair.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 101

    Chapter 101

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Chapter: 101

    ¡°What time do you think the repairs will be finished?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll take some time.¡±

    ¡°Sigh, it¡¯s taking quite long. Oh, and it seems like the camera is also malfunctioning, repair that as well.¡±

    I told Justin and ended themunication.

    ¡®Let¡¯s reorganize.¡¯

    As I gnawed at the engineer¡¯s arm, I pondered.

    Before seizing control of the ship, what should I prioritize? Originally, the n was to secure the energy necessary to maintain dominance after invading the pirate vessel. I thought that if there was a shortage of energy after corrosion wasplete, we¡¯d swiftly lose control of the ship.

    ¡®But the situation has slightly changed.¡¯

    When I previously dominated the ship of the MegaCorp, I devoured the pirates. Not by directly tearing them apart and consuming them, but by creating corrosive tentacles inside the ship.

    ¡®The duration of maintaining control after consuming them increased.¡¯

    After dominating the ship, I spected that it might be impossible to obtain additional energy. However, my assumption was wrong. Even by devouring enemies with the corrosive tentacles, my stored energy increased.

    ¡®Eating them with the corrosive tentacles is akin to consuming food orally.¡¯

    Seeing the predatory effect disyed on one of the pirates, it is nearly confirmed. It means there¡¯s no need to aim for energy acquisition through corrosion.

    ¡®Still, I can¡¯t recklessly use corrosion.¡¯

    During corrosion, I have to remain motionless for 5 hours without the ability to cancel it. Being immobile makes it challenging to flexibly respond to enemy attacks.

    ¡°It¡¯s better to use corrosion safely a littleter.¡±

    Approximately 300m long, this massive ship contains a total of 85 pirates. The fewer their numbers, the more advantageous for me.

    ¡®At least I need to lessen their numbers.¡¯

    What should I aim for first? ording to Justin, this ship carries numerous powerful bombs used to destroy evidence after raiding another vessel.

    ¡®To be honest, it doesn¡¯t seem like they¡¯ll self-destruct because of just me.¡¯

    But it wasn¡¯t certain too as if cornered, one cannot predict their actions and can do anything for their own survival. Perhaps the captain might secretly install bombs among the crew and escape alone via a jet.

    ¡®Let¡¯s prevent the escape first.¡¯

    If I destroy the jet within the ship, they won¡¯t dare to use bombs rashly. Then, by clearing out the bombs, their means to threaten me significantly decrease.

    ¡®The jet is in the hangar.¡¯

    Because I used the hijacking trait as a material for the nightmare¡¯s horizon, currently, I can¡¯t neutralize the surveince cameras. Though who knows, maybe if I reintegrate the hijacking, it won¡¯t be easy to navigate to the hangar, dodging the enemies¡¯ attention with this physique.

    However, nothing in this world is impossible.

    ¡®Let¡¯s start by making the nest.¡¯

    I crouched down after stuffing the engineer¡¯s corpse into my mouth. Simr ck viscous fluid, akin to what emerged while corroding the ship, oozed from various holes in my body.

    ¡®Since it¡¯s just temporary, there¡¯s no need to make it perfect.¡¯

    If I can thoroughly monitor enemies within a radius of 100 meters from where I stand, that¡¯s sufficient. The semi-hardened mucous substances were gradually forming spores and tendrils, slowly expanding the area.

    ¡®When the nest size roughly surpasses the area I¡¯m lying in, I affixed the auxiliary organ on top of it. I felt a sensation akin to when I first used the corrosion tentacles, with my body being pulled into the metal panels of the ship.¡¯

    Having confirmed the sessful link with the nest, I checked the area detectable by the nest.

    ¡®Alright. This should suffice.¡¯

    I created a small but operable nest, so it¡¯s time to move on to the next step. I have traits obtained from killing pirates on the escape line.

    ¡®I¡¯ve had a few chances to use it but refrained, now it¡¯s time to utilize it.¡¯

    [Tooth Fairy Nest: A mechanism that generates a pack of voracious fleas with sharp teeth called ¡®Tooth Fairy Swarm.¡¯ It can be generated up to 3 times a day, with a controble radius of a hundred meters.]

    [TL/N: Who on earth came up with such a name?]

    Since boarding the pirate ship, aside from the holes where the corrosion tentacles emerge, my outer reinforced skin was adorned with pouches in other areas.

    These pouches house thebat-oriented parasites known as the ¡®Tooth Fairy Swarm.¡¯ It¡¯s a trait created by merging physical traits like biting force and infection-rted traits like fleas.

    ¡®It was unexpected that I would obtain fleas trait could mainly be obtained from wild animals here in this ship.¡¯

    It¡¯s a traitmonly obtained with a high probability when consuming animals covered in fur. I didn¡¯t expect to acquire it here.

    ¡®Perhaps smugglers were involved?¡¯

    One of the pirates who boarded from the escape line was already infected with fleas. When I devoured him along with the fleas attached to his body, I gained a new trait.

    ¡®The flea itself isn¡¯t particrly useful.¡¯

    It¡¯s a trait with a negative effect simr to itching. Holding the trait permanently causes a condition called chronic itchiness.

    ¡®But it changes entirely when merged with the physical type trait biting force.¡¯

    Whenbined with the biting force trait, it transforms into a usable infection-rted trait.

    ¡®Come forth, my darlings.¡¯

    Upon activating the Tooth Fairy Nest, the egg chambers on their backs burst open, releasing ck insects. They hadrge teeth and mouths instead of eyes on their heads, resembling ordinary fleas except for being the size of a child¡¯s palm.

    Unlike original fleas that suck blood, these Tooth Fairies tear and devour anything with their sharp teeth. These loyal soldiers don¡¯t discriminate between flesh or metal; they simply tear apart whatever Imand them to.

    ¡®Line up, all of you.¡¯

    Dozens of Tooth Fairies obediently gathered in front of me. Number 26, who was devouring an engineer in a spacesuit nearby, approached upon witnessing this scene.

    ?Wow? Who are they??

    Number 26 sparkled with fascination as the Tooth Fairy Swarm gathered together.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (They are the creatures that I made)]

    ?You made them? Are these the offsprings of the big baby??

    ¡°[ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Simr, but a bit different)]¡±

    ?They¡¯re not your offsprings??

    Simr to the domination limit disyed in the tooltip, the Tooth Fairies are a kind of summon created through me.

    ¡®They¡¯re consumables meant to divert enemies¡¯ attention or ambush them from unexpected ces.¡¯

    ¡®I¡¯ve used them effectively in games as well.¡¯

    Unlike parasitic entities in games functioning as a kind of debuff skill, the Tooth Fairies are implemented asbat-oriented summons. They prove quite helpful for Eimof, who can only y solo.

    ¡®To be honest, their specifications aren¡¯t particrly great.¡¯

    These fearsome fleas have swift movements and high attack power, but their limitations are distinct. Due to their swarm-like nature, they have almost no defense. Even aser rifle shot would kill them. Against creatures with strong strength like Hulk mutants, they could be easily squashed.

    ¡®Hence, I need to use them effectively to get my money¡¯s worth.¡¯

    Although it¡¯s unfortunate news for the pirates, I excel in making good use of the Tooth Fairies.

    ¡®Take your positions.¡¯

    Upon hearing mymand, the Tooth Fairy Swarm bounced away, disappearing up the cargo bay¡¯s stairs. Their appearances weren¡¯t visible, but the distinct signals they emitted were continuously being transmitted to my auxiliary device.

    The destination of the Tooth Fairy Swarm was the hangar containing the escape jets.

    ¡®The hangar is located near the forward section of the third-floor hull.¡¯

    Using their sturdy hind legs to spring around, they swiftly ascended to the third floor and turned into the corridor leading to the hangar.

    ¡®Pirates in the middle.¡¯

    Having anticipated the pirates¡¯ movements through the nest, I signaled the Tooth Fairies.

    The voracious fleas chewed up nearby air vents and slipped inside to hide.

    ¡°Motion sensors detected something here.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see anything.¡±

    ¡°Damn, is it a ghost haunting the ship or what?¡±

    The pirates, carrying motion-detecting devices, wandered around the corridor, which was disying warning signals, but eventually left for elsewhere as they weren¡¯t able to see anyone.

    As I couldn¡¯t sense the pirates¡¯ movements, Imanded again.

    ¡® Go forward.¡¯

    The Tooth Fairy Swarm, bounding down the corridor, suddenly spotted the entrance to the hangar. In front of the door stood two guards smaller than me but significantlyrger than regr humans.

    One resembled a gori-like monster, and the other had a head akin to a rhinoceros. Despite their different appearances, there was one striking simrity: metal tes were imnted all over their bodies.

    ¡®Hulk mutants?¡¯

    Their gruesome appearance, a mishmash of various genes, revealed their identity as Hulk mutants. Yawning with boredom, they stood guarding.

    ¡®There are two Hulk mutants ahead.¡¯

    I ordered the Tooth Fairy Swarm to retreat. Confronting the Hulk mutants with them would be impossible. With every Tooth Fairy striking the mutants, they¡¯d perish one by one. Even if the Tooth Fairies could potentially kill the Hulk mutants, I wouldn¡¯t allow it.

    ¡®They¡¯re a precious collection of genes that I can¡¯t afford to lose.¡¯

    I decided to deal with those two mutantster and directed the Tooth Fairy Swarm to enter through the vents. It might take a detour, but infiltrating through the vents into the hangar¡¯s was preferable.

    The voracious fleas stood in rows of two, walking within the venttion ducts. It would be a truly transcendental sight if someone else, other than me, witnessed it.

    ¡®These are vents.¡¯

    Controlling the Tooth Fairy Swarm, I suddenly remembered the time I first became an Amorph, starting life in the cargo bay of the MegaCorp research vessel. I roamed the vents, hunting while evading people¡¯s gazes.

    Now, I was trying to reverse-hunt numerous pirates within a muchrger ship than the research vessel.

    ¡®We¡¯re in.¡¯

    It took some time, but the Tooth Fairy Swarm safely arrived in front of the vent attached to the ceiling of the hangar. As fate would have it, the vent in the hangar ceiling was of the same rotating style as in the cargo bay of the former research vessel.

    ¡®Attack and destroy everything.¡¯

    Back then, I risked my life to avoid the vent¡¯s des, but not anymore. Dozens of Tooth Fairies bit and chewed the machine devices near the vent¡¯s edge. Sparks flew, and the vent slowly decelerated before finally stopping.

    The Tooth Fairies demolished the des and jumped down into the hangar. Inside, the old-style Star Union fighter jets were parked.

    ¡®Destroy them all.¡¯

    The Tooth Fairies, baring their sharp teeth, adhered to the undersides of the fighter jets. Although there were cameras inside, unless someone paid close attention, it¡¯d be challenging to notice the Tooth Fairies¡¯ movements. Their bodies were the same pitch-ck as the floor, and they were only the size of a child¡¯s palm.

    Given that such creatures were only roaming beneath the jets, if seen through the camera, it¡¯d likely be mistaken for mice scurrying about.

    How much time had passed?

    The thick door of the hangar opened, and a series of armed groups entered the hangar.

    ¡°Anomalies detected inside the hangar!¡±

    ¡°What are you idiots doing outside when there¡¯s trouble inside?¡±

    ¡°Hey¡­we¡­uh¡­did our best! Cryin¡¯ out loud!¡±

    ¡°You damn useless idiots!¡±

    The pirates quickly realized the anomaly inside the hangar, faster than I anticipated. They started searching under the jets using shlights.

    Argh!

    ¡®These crazy bug!¡¯

    As the fleas attacked the pirates, the pirates panicked and started shooting. Within the dimly lit hangar, every sh of redser signaled the eruption of Tooth Fairies.

    ¡°Aah! Get this thing off me!¡±

    ¡°Argh! My face!¡±

    Some surviving Tooth Fairies clung to the pirates¡¯ bodies, gnawing on their flesh with razor-like teeth, eliciting screams of agony as their skin was torn.

    ¡°Help! Someone help!¡±

    ¡°You damn insect! Get it off me, now!¡±

    Though the Tooth Fairies were more formidable than expected, unfortunately, there were no fatalities on the pirates¡¯ side. The Hulk mutant guards were pulling off the Tooth Fairies attached to the pirates using their bare hands.

    Consequently, the Tooth Fairy Swarm that entered the hangar was wiped out in an instant. However, it wasn¡¯t a massive disappointment.

    ¡°Damn it! The fighter jets are all wrecked, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    They had adequately served my purpose.

    ¡®The escape route is blocked.¡¯

    And though they might not realize it, it wasn¡¯t over yet. Suddenly, egg sacs grew on the armor and burst, encircling me with a new swarm of Tooth Fairies.

    ¡®The fighter jets are dealt with.¡¯

    The next targets were the explosives stored in the armory. Hunting wasn¡¯t merely about chasing prey. It involved preparation before the hunt, understanding the prey in advance, positioning it as desired¡ªessential factors for a sessful hunt.

    They didn¡¯t know me, where I was, or my condition. There were only three differences between them and me: the prey and the hunter.

    ¡°Once all the bombs are cleared¡­¡±

    This deste space was the only survival spot in the harsh universe. It would turn into darkness, swallowing the foolish prey.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 102

    Chapter 102

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    It had been a day since the Colossal Raider entered Sector I-97. During that day, there were many events within the Loose Rock Cartel Cartel led by Milo Loose Rock Cartel, to be more precise, many ¡°unfortunate¡± events.

    ¡°Hurry up! We need to build a defense line before that creature crosses the zone!¡±

    At the rear of the Colossal Raider, the remaining pirates were busy barricading. This ce was thest stronghold because the mysterious monster that attacked their ship had taken control of the entire front area.

    One of Milo¡¯s subordinates captured the identity of the monster on camera just before falling victim to it.

    When Milo saw the creature¡¯s appearance, he couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. The entity ughtering pirates as it roamed the ship looked like a pink balloon, resembling a bubble amoeba, except for the fact that it had enormous tentacles exceeding its body.

    ¡°Can a bubble amoeba really kill people?¡±

    Milo knew that bubble amoebas were harmless herbivores living on nkton in the ocean. However, this one was different. It tore its victims apart with bizarre strength and, contrary to its whimsical appearance, moved quite swiftly.

    It mocked the fleeing pirates with its tentacles, capturing them effortlessly and tearing their limbs apart.

    In different circumstances, Milo might have found this peculiar bubble amoeba intriguing. Bubble amoebas are not known for killing people by engulfing them with tentacles or disintegrating them with psychic powers.

    The problem was that half of the pirates who boarded because of this bubble amoeba had fallen victim to it. They were not only captured but also devoured by the creature.

    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s all screwed up. We can¡¯t withstand this.¡±

    Milo¡¯s subordinates in front of him were working frantically to install what looked like adult-sized turrets ¨C officially called APDT (Automatic Point Defense Turret). These were primarily used by the StarUnion for security and self defense.

    Other species often nicknamed them as ¡°storm guns¡± because of their storm-like saturation of firepower.

    These turrets use depleted uranium rounds as their default ammunition, with a maximum capacity of a thousand rounds. Unless manually controlled by the user through a terminal, a built-in small AI automatically fires based on motion detection sensors.

    Depleted uranium rounds were more affordable than the tungsten rounds of a mega-cannon, but that didn¡¯t mean they were cheap.

    Therge ammunition capacity meant significant credits were consumed with each use. Moreover, obtaining them was challenging if not affiliated with the Star Union.

    ¡°The crazy robot bastards don¡¯t even spare ammunition for other species.¡±

    Thanks to capturing and looting StarUnion trade ships, the Loose Rock Cartel had ess to the storm guns and a massive supply of ammunition. However, due to restricted ammunition, they only used them when dealing with tough-skinned creatures, akin to mountain crawlers.

    ¡°At least they keep the second arsenal in reserve.¡±

    The first arsenal located at the ship¡¯s front had been devastated by the monster¡¯s attack, resulting in the loss of all the bombs and weapons inside.

    If Milo hadn¡¯t built the second arsenal in anticipation of such events, they would have all be prey for the monster long ago.

    ¡°Captain! Storm guns instationpleted!¡±

    ¡°Good. How about the Beta team?¡±

    ¡°Storm guns installed! Returning to the situation room!¡±

    Having activated the storm guns, Milo retreated to the rear area with his subordinates. While engineers closed bulkheads and welded during the retreat, others repeated the tasks they had been doing.

    ¡°Captain?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The ship¡¯s AI has something to report. It¡¯s about changes in the surrounding environment.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll check itter since I¡¯m busy.¡±

    Milo ended themunication from the situation room and, with his subordinates, carried the storm guns.

    ¡°Damn, as the captain, I never thought I¡¯d be dealing with this.¡±

    The ship was a mess due to the mysterious monster, and the storm guns had wiped out a considerable amount of credits. On top of that, Milo had to endure such hardships for the sake of his captain¡¯s dignity. Milo, with aplicated mind, quickly forgot about themunication from the situation room.

    ***

    Having sessfully cleared the bombs without significant issues, I immediately initiated corrosion. During the corrosion process, to defend against pirate attacks, I entrusted tasks to Number 26 and Adhai.

    Firstly, I assigned Number 26 the role of diverting the pirates¡¯ attention. Being with me for a long time, it had be a skilled hunter and should easily be able to suppress the pirates. Of course, since Number 26 could be in danger, I also sent a group of Tooth Fairies with it. The Tooth Fairies were connected to me mentally. If any unforeseen danger urred for Number 26, they would warn me in advance.

    It seemed to like the idea of helping me, but it also enjoyed moving with its beloved group of Tooth Fairy Swarm.

    And to Adhai, I assigned the role of protecting me during the corrosion process.

    ¡®It¡¯s disadvantageous for her to fight indoors.¡¯

    While Adhai would be overwhelmingly advantageous in free flight in space, her body was not suitable for fighting inside the ship. Unless it was a spacious area like a cargo hold. Although she seemed displeased that he couldn¡¯t go hunting, after a few requests to stay vignt, she seemed to have eased up.

    Even now, she flew slowly around the cargo hold, monitoring who wasing and who wasn¡¯t.

    ¡®Smooth.¡¯

    It had been four hours since I initiated corrosion. If I could endure for just one more hour, the ship would be mine. I had already secured not only the cargo holds on the first and second floors but also the entire third floor. As for the fourth floor, the ship¡¯s front was under my control, with only the central and rear areas remaining.

    ¡®Seems like they¡¯re staging a protest from over there in the situation room.¡¯

    They had sealed off the area around the situation room on the aft 4th floor of the ship. Coincidentally, Number 26 was climbing the stairs to the 4th floor using multiple fins.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    Having cleared all the bombs and turned the armory into a mess, I thought there wouldn¡¯t be a significant threat. Nevertheless, just in case:

    ¡®I can handle the remaining ones myself.¡¯

    There was no need to actively engage those who were passively approaching from over there. After all, once corrosion wasplete, they would all be in my hands.

    I signaled Number 26.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ(Hold on)]

    [ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ(Come back now)]

    ?Are you okay??

    [ZZZZ ZZ (Yes)]

    Having recalled Number 26 and the Tooth Fairy swarm, I focused on corrosion again.

    ¡®It¡¯s been a while since things went smoothly like this.¡¯

    When I was in the space city, there was hardly any time to rx. Since the discovery of my attempt to leisurely fulfill evolutionary conditions in the apartmentplex, new enemies had been constantly appearing.

    ¡®Thanks to that, I¡¯ve umted quite a few traits.¡¯

    Although I gained some useful ones, it still felt imbnced.

    ¡®I haven¡¯t fought much against wild creatures.¡¯

    Currently, my abilities werebat-oriented, leaning towards closebat. While I did have ranged attack capabilities, they were limited, and there were many utility-oriented traits missing.

    ¡®After taking over the ship, I can go hunt some wild creatures.¡¯

    This was based on the smuggling information stored in the ship¡¯sputer. I would aim for a more diverse range of gene essences there.

    While I was organizing my thoughts on what to do next, a message I had been waiting for appeared.

    [Corrosion has beenpleted.]

    As soon as the message appeared, my consciousness permeated the entire 300m-wide massive structure on the battlefield.

    The feeling was somewhat different from when I dominated the escape pods, perhaps because the ship was sorge.

    To define this feeling briefly: ¡°Heaviness.¡± It was as if I had be one with a giant creature, like a humpback whale, rather than entering the body of Aymoph.

    ¡®It¡¯s muchrger than a whale, though.¡¯

    As I concentrated my mind, I heard the sound of a beating heart in the center.

    Originally developed by the Star Union, the reactor now served as the heart of the integratedposite organism.

    I drew energy from the reactor and sent it to the cannons mounted on the ship¡¯s exterior.

    sma energy concentrated forcefully on the cannons at my will.

    A powerful projectile with destructive energy, surpassing the impact of my psychic breath, wasunched.

    Feeling the heat of the incandescent projectile rising sharply, I smiled.

    ¡®Good. Let¡¯s get started.¡¯

    This ship was now mine. I¡¯m not merciful enough to leave unauthorized guests alone.

    ***

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    The situation room was bustling with more people than usual, but not a single sound could be heard. The 40 pirates were on high alert, ready to fight the monster that could attack them at any moment. The monster, as if deliberately nning to kill the pirates by surrounding them, had been motionless until now.

    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong.¡±

    Suddenly, Milo thought. Could it be that the monster¡¯s true target was not the pirates but rather the siege in the situation room?

    ¡°No way!¡±

    He bit down on the thought to shake off the ominous imagination. As much as he wanted to shout, everyone was too tense to allow for any distractions.

    Milo deliberately looked at the wall, attempting to divert his thoughts. The ck wall, absorbing all light like a ck hole, caught his eyes.

    ¡°Was it always like this?¡±

    StarUnion ships preferred ck over white, opposite to MegaCorp¡¯s preference, so the floors, walls, and ceilings were all in shades of ck. However, even considering this fact, the color of the inner walls of the situation room felt darker than usual.

    ¡°Why did it suddenly change¡­¡±

    Just as he questioned it, the entire power in the situation room went out.

    ¡°Ugh, agh! It¡¯s him!¡±

    ¡°Calm down! Emergency lights wille on soon!¡±

    As the situation room was a crucial facility, it had a backup power supply separate from the reactor. Just as Milo said, soon emergency lights bathed the entire situation room in red.

    Under the red light, the expressions of the pirates looked almost half like corpses. Milo himself, not sure about others, also looked miserable, with his fur soaked in sweat, typical of the Wolf species.

    Milo reluctantly called the ship¡¯s AIputer.

    ¡°Calvin! Turn on the situation roomputer too!¡±

    [Impossible. Power has been cut off from the reactor.]

    ¡°Damn it, sync it with the backup power!¡±

    [Understood.]

    Soon, lights came on inside the situation roomputers, but Milo and the pirates couldn¡¯t feelpletely relieved. It was because they could hear a thumping sound from outside.

    They knew what that sound meant.

    ¡°Ca¡­Captain!¡±

    ¡°¡­Damn it.¡±

    It was the sound of Storm Guns being fired. The monster was approaching through the corridor.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. A weapon that even Mountain Crawlers can¡¯t withstand, that¡¯s what Storm Guns are. The creature won¡¯tst.¡±

    ¡°W¡­Will it, sir?¡±

    The subordinates forced hopeful expressions, but it didn¡¯t take long for hope to disappear from their faces.

    ¡°Why isn¡¯t the gunfire stopping?¡±

    Milo urgently checked the terminal connected to the Storm Guns. In the small screen, the ammunition was rapidly decreasing.

    The ammunition of the Storm Gun installed in the farthest area ran out, andmunication was cut off. In just a few seconds, the ammunition of the Storm Gun in the next area started to rapidly decrease.

    ¡°Ca¡­Captain!¡±

    ¡°What the hell is this?!¡±

    At this point, Milo also found it difficult to keep hisposure. Before the pirates entered the situation room, they had installed Storm Guns in each area and sealed all bulkheads. No matter how powerful the creature might be, it couldn¡¯t move this quickly, especially while consuming all the Storm Gun¡¯s depleted uranium rounds.

    ¡°I need to check this!¡±

    He called the ship¡¯s AI, Calvin, again.

    ¡°Calvin! Connect to the area cameras!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible.¡±

    ¡°Imand you again! Calvin! Connect the cameras and disy them on the monitor!¡±

    Squealing noise

    Despite Milo¡¯s repeatedmands, there was no response from Calvin. Instead, an annoying noise echoed through the room.

    ¡°Calvin! The camera¡­¡±

    Squealing noise, Calvin is¡­

    Just as he was about to speak again, the speakers in the situation room were reactivated. The voice that followed waspletely different from Calvin¡¯s, which was based on a female voice AI.

    ¡°Calvin¡­ is dead.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You all will die too.¡±

    A splitting male voice dered, and all lights in the situation room went out.

    ¡°Aaaah! Gahhh¡­¡±

    ¡°Uwaaaah! Save me!¡±

    ¡°Grrrr!¡±

    In theplete darkness of the locked situation room, screams and the sounds of mutants pounding fists could be heard. It was a sign that everyone in the situation room was still alive, but that didn¡¯tst long.

    Utter silence engulfed Milo.

    As a species sensitive to smell, Milo, despite disliking it, could smell it.

    All of his subordinates had died.

    In the stifling atmosphere that felt like suffocation, he tremblingly turned on the terminal.

    A small light illuminated ¡°it¡± in front of him.

    Six appendages resembling jellyfish and snakes with mouths were rising from the floor, devouring the corpses.

    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±

    The entity that boarded the ship surpassed his understanding far beyond reason andmon sense.

    Having given up everything, Milo turned off the light on the terminal.

    ¡®I ate well.¡¯

    I patted my stomach with a pleasant sense of fullness. Although Amorph doesn¡¯t get full easily, it somehow felt right to do so.

    ¡®This n went smoothly from start to finish.¡¯

    After clearing all the pirates, including those on the pirate ship Calvin, the time I could maintain the ship increased significantly to 50 days.

    ¡®Eating the Hulk Mutant really paid off.¡¯

    I was pleasantly surprised that every time I ate one, it extended my time by 10 days. Moreover, after devouring both, I gained three new traits.

    ?Big Baby? ?Food.? ?A lot.?

    Since I could sustain for 50 days, I handed the remaining food to Number 26 and Adhai. Thanks to that, they could enjoy a feast after a long time.

    ¡°Now, shall I check the ship¡¯sputer?¡±

    I essed the ship¡¯s database. A vast amount of information flowed into my head through the tentacles of corrosion.

    Among them, the first thing delivered to me was information about cosmic phenomena that urred in the vicinity before I corroded the ship.

    ¡®Is there a rocky area nearby?¡¯

    I focused my senses on the outer hull, but I couldn¡¯t feel anything in particr.

    ¡®It¡¯s probably nothing¡­ Huh?¡¯

    I tried to brush it off, but suddenly, a bad feeling crept in.

    ¡®Wait.¡¯

    I carefully read the detailed report on cosmic phenomena stored in the AI database.

    In summary, the report mentioned an abnormal group of meteoroids moving in an erratic orbit, concentrated by a special maic field.

    Moreover, this group of meteoroids was expected to enter this vicinity within the next two hours.

    ¡®No way.¡¯

    I know very well what this means.

    I urgently focused all my senses on the outer hull. My consciousness didn¡¯t stay only on the hull but spread to the surroundings.

    The time reported by the ship AI was two hours ago.

    Despite my highly developed senses, there was nothing visible or perceptible in the vastness of space. However, I detected something.

    At first, it looked like a shining star.

    No, it wasn¡¯t a star but white clouds.

    White clouds rapidly approaching.

    ¡®Oh, damn!¡¯

    The identity of those clouds was a swarm of metallic gremlins.

    The ship¡¯s natural enemy and cosmic marauders were now targeting us.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 103

    Chapter 103

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Space Survival is a game set against the backdrop of the universe, there are various races that exist in it and each have its own unique characteristics. There are intelligent species that build civilizations and socialmunities like that of the humans, while there are also predatory races like the Amorph that view all living beings as prey.

    However, the charm of Space Survival lies in the fact that yers can enjoy apletely different gamey depending on the race they choose. However, as mentioned earlier, Space Survival is a game set in space. Regardless of the chosen race, yers must venture into space to progress in the game.

    So, what is the most threatening thing when first venturing into space? Themunity has identified two main threats. One is the space pirates generated as NPCs. They are set as hostile NPCs that relentlessly target the yer¡¯s spaceship. Moreover, being NPCs means they regenerate infinitely no matter how many times they are killed. Therefore, for yers newly venturing into space, figuring out how to protect their ships from space pirates became a crucial task.

    Fortunately, the good news is that unless the space pirates belong to a higher-level cartel, they were not too difficult to defeat with a properly equipped and armed warship.

    The biggest threat to the yers navigating through space was not the space pirates. It¡¯s the ¡®Metallic Gremlin Swarm.¡¯ This is a negative event that can only be faced with a fleet rather than a single ship.

    Unlike space pirates, metallic gremlins are also a yable race for the yer. However, the metallic gremlin swarm appearing in this event consists entirely of NPCs. The fact that a metallic gremlin swarm appears with a very low probability in sector I-97 was known. I didn¡¯t worry too much about it, considering the probability was as low as winning the lottery.

    ¡®Sector I-97 has an incredibly low probability for a metallic gremlin swarm to appear.¡¯

    It was so unlikely that I didn¡¯t worry about it too much, but now it has happened.

    ¡®This is bad.¡¯

    A white cloud, no, the metallic gremlin swarm was quickly approaching. It may look like a cloud, but those are metallic gremlins with silver skin gathered together, creating that appearance. In terms of scale, it¡¯s at least a medium-sized or arge swarm. It¡¯s impossible for a single ship to deal with it.

    ¡®Should I just stay still?¡¯

    Currently, I am in control of the pirate ship Colossal Raider that I conquered. Fortunately, metallic gremlins only target metal, so if I¡¯m lucky, they might just pass me by.

    ¡®No.¡¯

    The risk of doing so is too great. Allowing them to approach me is too risky, if they suddenly attack me, it¡¯s over. Of course, I have superior defense capabilitiespared to a regr ship, but there are too many of them on the other side. Their numbers exceed thousands, and there¡¯s a limit to what I can defend against.

    ¡®I have to fight here.¡¯

    There¡¯s no other way than to fight and take the opportunity to escape with warp speed navigation. Although one might think it¡¯s better to just flee, it¡¯s not easy. It¡¯s because of the higher-level species mixed within that group.

    ¡®Warp Boy.¡¯

    Among the metallic gremlin higher-level species, there¡¯s a creature called ¡®Warp Boy.¡¯ Warp Boy has no abilities other than a unique special trait called ¡®Warp Guide,¡¯ but its effect is very powerful.

    ¡®It¡¯s a massive teleportation.¡¯

    In this game, all abilities rted to massive teleportation, such as a spaceship¡¯s warp navigation or the entity tuning used by Code ck, are restricted. Entity tuning, in particr, cannot be used alone, and warp navigation consumes a massive amount of energy, among other limitations. However, only two creatures have the ability to teleport arge number of individuals without any restrictions, and one of them is Warp Boy.

    ¡®There¡¯s even arge-scale instantaneous teleportation.¡¯

    Among the Vortex Ones, there¡¯s another with unrestricted teleportation, but encountering that entity was only possible in thete stages of the game. Paradoxically, Warp Boy, which can be encountered early in the game, is much more threatening.

    ¡®At least it¡¯s of intermediate size, that¡¯s a relief.¡¯

    In arge or greater Herd, as they were called by the yers, there may be multiple Warp Boys. However, in a medium-sized herd, there¡¯s only one Warp Boy.

    If I just take down that guy, I can safely evade the swarm.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ(Help, everyone!)]

    ?What happened??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ(Enemy approaching.)]

    There¡¯s roughly less than 5 minutes left until the swarm reaches this ce.

    During that time, we need to prepare to fight them.

    First, I briefly exined to Adhai and Number 26 how to deal with the enemies.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ(Adhai, restrain them.)]

    ?Understood.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ(Quickly fly away when in danger.)]

    I assigned Adhai, the only one among us capable of aerialbat in space, to directly engage the enemies.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ(And Number 26, Scare them.)]

    ?Scare them??

    Number 26¡¯s role was to halt or disrupt the movements of the enemies. Although metallic gremlins have extremely sturdy bodies, they are almost immune to psychic powers. While there were species among them that defend against psychic powers in, they are not present in this particr group.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ(If both of you are in danger, hide here.)]

    I modified the ship¡¯s structure to create a cover and an entrance that Adhai and Number 26 can use to hide or escape into the ship if needed. After sending them off, I moved all the storm guns previously used by pirates outside the hull.

    ¡®It should work well with motion detection sensors.¡¯

    I reced depleted ammunition and low battery levels using corroding tentacles. Creating a new turret, incorporating my traits, I utilized the contamination organ to make a biological weapon that fires fungus spores.

    ¡®Since the range is short, this is for medium and close-range.¡¯

    Afterpleting the inspection of the turrets, I checked the metallic gremlin swarm.

    They are about to enter the range of the sma turrets.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ(Everyone, get ready.)]

    ?Yes!?

    ?I am ready.?

    I channelled energy to all sma turrets installed on the hull. Destructive energy, capable of tearing through the void of space, surged into the alloy turrets, enabling the ship to operate smoothly even in the harsh cosmic environment.

    ¡®Fire.¡¯

    Numerous green beams shot towards the gremlins. It resembled aet with a green tail piercing through the white clouds in the night sky. Although many metallic gremlins were hit by the sma energy and oxidized, many more filled the ces of their fallenrades.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡±

    The enraged gremlin swarm swiftly approached me. I quickly scanned the swarm to locate where the Warp Boy was hiding.

    ¡®It¡¯s usually in the heart of the swarm.¡¯

    As if proving that my thoughts were wrong, a small blue light appeared near the extreme side of the swarm, however the creature quickly vanished inside.

    ¡®It¡¯s over there.¡¯

    The Warp Boy is smaller than a regr metallic gremlin, measuring only 50 cm, but it has blue stripes on its body, making it noticeable even from a distance.

    ¡®Catching it with a sma turret will be difficult.¡¯

    Just now, judging by its movements, the Warp Boy¡¯s agility is much faster than I thought. Unless someone is tightly holding it back, capturing the Warp Boy doesn¡¯t seem easy.

    ¡®I have to wait until Number 26 can invoke the terror of the Abyss.¡¯

    Of course, I won¡¯t leave it and give it a chance and allow it to escape. I recharged the sma turrets once again. As the energy was building up, the metallic gremlin swarm suddenly began to glow blue.

    ¡®Warp Guide!¡¯

    I quickly focused on the thrusters at the rear of the hull. The energy intended for the turrets diverted to the thrusters, causing the entire ship to jolt forward.

    ¡®Reload the turrets while moving forward!¡¯

    From the darkness at the rear of our ship, the metallic gremlin swarm emerged, sshing blue light. Anticipating their pursuit, my cannons aimed at the spot where they appeared and spewed out fire.

    On the ck canvas that absorbed all light, green and blue paints intertwined. Although the two lights shed, the advantage went to the blue cloud, the side of the metallic gremlins. They had achieved their goal.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö!¡±

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡±

    The metallic gremlins relentlessly pursued my tail. As they got closer, their grotesque appearance became vivid.

    Creatures with smooth silver skin, devoid of fur, with only a circr mouth for a face, bared their teeth as they rushed towards me. It wasn¡¯t particrly pleasant to witness.

    As they approached within effective range, the storm guns attached to the outer hull activated. Uranium hexafluoride stormed down upon them like a tempest.

    While their skin was resistant enough to withstandser weapons, it was a different story in front of the storm guns. It was impossible to endure hundreds of rounds the size of an adult male¡¯s palm exploding simultaneously. The metallic gremlins targeting me burst one by one upon contact with the projectiles. Their unique silver blood adorned the darkness like the Milky Way.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö! ¡ö¡ö!¡±

    Some metallic gremlins seemed determined not to give up. Fueled by the blood of their kind, they pursued me with even more ferocity.

    ¡®Next is the sma turret.¡¯

    The cannons mounted on the ship fired first. Those hit twice scattered instantly as if they wouldn¡¯t be hit a third time. Only a few sluggish ones became ashes within the sma beams.

    While the overheated turrets took a break, the metallic gremlins rushed in again.

    ¡°It¡¯s not over yet.¡±

    Judging that they were close enough, I prepared the next weapon. Fungus spores shot out from the elongated turret holes on the upper part of the hull.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö?¡±

    The metallic gremlins seemed unsure if the unfamiliar fungus spores were an attack. The spores entered the gremlin swarm without any resistance.

    Like balloons filled with flour exploding, the spores burst, and the contaminated fungi clung to the gremlins. The ugly faces of the metallic gremlins infected with ck fungus twisted in pain. Some couldn¡¯t withstand the pain and attached themselves to their kin, allowing the fungus to spread.

    ¡®Good. If it continues like this¡­ Oh no!¡¯

    I was enjoying the sess more than I expected when the Warp Boy responded. The bodies of the infected gremlins shone blue, and soon they fell into the vastness of space far away.

    Even those not infected were ignored by the Warp Boy and were thrown away.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö! ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡±

    I fired the spores again, but this time the gremlins, warned by the Warp Boy, didn¡¯t approach the trajectory of the spores at all.

    ¡®¡­Smarter than in the game.¡¯

    The Warp Boy¡¯s intelligence surpasses my expectations. Its adaptability to the situation andmanding ability to control the swarm aremendable.

    ¡®Annoying, but¡­¡¯

    I still have some secret cards left. During the firing of the storm guns and sma beams, a green entity shot out from my ship.

    ?Hunting? ?Commence.?

    She was Green Gagon Adhai. She swiftly flew towards the enemies, tearing through them with purple lightning faster than the bullets fired by the storm guns. Metallic gremlins, not immune to psychic powers, trembled as they were struck by the supernatural lightning. Dealing with those unable to move was left to the uranium hexafluoride rounds and sma beams.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö!¡±

    Warp Boy attempted to move some of the swarm near my ship. At the moment when several gremlins among them began to shine blue, what I had been waiting for arrived.

    ¡®Here ites.¡¯

    A fear crawled up from the depths. Hundreds of tentacles, surpassing the size ofs, emerged from the space below the hull. The overwhelmed metallic gremlins, in unison, ceased their movements.

    And beyond the tentacles, a giant eye appeared in the midst of the abyss of that gxy, beginning to observe them.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö!¡±

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡±

    Panic erupted among the confused entities. Since they had no eyes, they would feel differently from what I was seeing. However, the fear from the depths directly affected their minds. They would feel the overwhelming size of those tentacles throughout their entire bodies.

    ¡®It must be much scarier than seeing it directly.¡¯

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö¡­.¡±

    As I expected, several dozen of the frozen gremlins broke away from the swarm. Having encountered the awe-inspiring fear, their hearts had stopped beating.

    It¡¯s not that they are cowards. Even though I knew their true identity, I felt a chilling sensation in my abdomen when the tentacles rose from below my body.

    Soon, the appearance of the tentacles disappeared in an instant.

    Number 26 adjusted to ensure that the ¡®Abyssal Fear¡¯ did not affect me and Adhai. However, due to its still-inexperienced use of abilities, some metallic gremlins awoke from the illusion. Among them was the Warp Boy.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡±

    Warp Boy seemed to think I would fire the beams and tried to move its body inside the swarm.

    ¡®There¡¯s no more time to hesitate.¡¯

    I quickly fired the cannons.

    Green, elongated beams pierced through the swarm. Although Warp Boy¡¯s arm was turned to ashes by the passing beams, it was not dead yet.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö!¡±

    Warp Boy¡¯s body glowed with a blue light. It probably intended to escape.

    ¡®It¡¯s not over yet!¡¯

    The hull changed its appearance instantly ording to my will. Large and thick tentacle clusters emerged from the corroded front of the ship.

    The newly formed tentacles glowed purple simultaneously.

    The monstrous tentacles that protruded from the ship consumed not only my mental power but also drew energy stored inside the ship.

    As an immense amount of energy concentrated on the ship¡¯s front, a purple sphere took shape. Its size was different from when I used the psychic power in its original state.

    The essence of the shining psychic power was in my hands.

    Adhai, who had escaped the range of the psychic breath, hastily returned to the hull.

    ¡°¡ö?!¡±

    Smart Warp Boy detected what I was nning and prepared for FTL travel.

    Instead of its body shining, the bodies of the surrounding gremlins glowed blue at the same time.

    At the same time, the purple sphere turned into a single line, cutting through space at faster-than-light speed.

    Half of the white cloud that was in front of me disappeared without a trace, as if it had never existed.

    However, I had no time to rejoice.

    ¡®Oh no!¡¯

    Before Warp Boy died, it initiated faster-than-light travel for its kind.

    Although it turned to dust due to the psychic breath, its brethren seeded in making a spatial leap.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡±

    However, half of the metallic gremlins clung to the hull.

    The battle was not over yet.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 104

    Chapter 104

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The metallic Gremlins cling to the hull.

    They tore through the ship with their sharp fangs.

    ¡®It¡¯s toote to dodge.¡¯

    I quickly generated corrosion tentacles on the outer wall of the hull.

    My tentacles rushed at them along with projectilesunched from the Storm gun.

    ¡°¡ö!¡±

    Numerous tentacles clung to the metallic gremlins, tearing off their limbs or swallowing them whole.

    The already existing contaminated fungus turrets on the outer wall relentlessly spewed fungi spores.

    Adhai, who had returned to the hull, and Number 26, wielding the ¡°Terror of the Abyss,¡± fought against them too.

    Adhai transformed into a green lightning, disrupting the gremlins, while Number 26 bound the gremlins in the trajectory of Stormgun¡¯s shots.

    The ck hull shimmered with silver blood sprayed by the metallic gremlins.

    That¡¯s how we defended against the metallic gremlin horde, but it wasn¡¯t going to be easy.

    ¡®There are too many.¡¯

    I dismissed the recurring text boxes.

    Consuming a massive number of metallic gremlins kept triggering the predation effect.

    Most were either the ¡®Metal Predation¡¯ which I already possessed or the ¡®Insufficient Digestion¡¯ trait that I didn¡¯t need.

    Still, I managed to secure a few useful traits among them.

    ¡®It would have been great if they came at any other time¡­¡¯

    The situation isn¡¯t favorable now.

    Despite reducing their numbers by half with Psychic Breath, the gremlins still numbered in hundreds.

    Killing them seemed futile, as their numbers showed no sign of decreasing, and Storm gun¡¯s ammunition is depleted too.

    ¡®At this rate, we¡¯ll be annihted.¡¯

    While we were killing hundreds, another batch was tearing the hull apart, rendering it in a shabby state.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ(Come back, everyone)]

    There¡¯s no more time to dy.

    If we wait any longer, using FTL (faster-than-light) travel will be difficult.

    FTL travel can be risky if the hull is heavily damaged, as the ship may shatter into pieces during the journey due to the strain on the hull.

    ¡®There are still many of them, but¡­¡¯

    Over a hundred metallic gremlins were still clinging to the hull, but there¡¯s no other choice.

    ?Big guy! There are too many of these bastards!?

    ?Enemy??Infinite??Us??Blood?

    I checked if Number 26 and Adhai, who approached me, were okay.

    They seemed tired from fighting non-stop with numerous enemies.

    Fortunately, apart from minor injuries, they didn¡¯t seem heavily wounded.

    ¡®Now that the kids are here, let¡¯s get ready.¡¯

    I modified the ship¡¯s structure, thickening the walls of the section where we were, and the walls of important facilities like the reactor.

    Then, I diverted the remaining energy in the reactor to start the FTL engine.

    Even as the engine prepared to start, the metallic gremlins continued to assault relentlessly.

    With Adhai and Number 26 absent on the hull, defending against the gremlins¡¯ attacks was bing increasingly difficult.

    I did my best to fend them off with the corrosive tentacles, but they sneakily crawled onto the ship.

    They wreaked havoc on the internal facilities as if it were their own world.

    If there were more of them, we might have lost the reactor before the FTL engine could start.

    Just as they were gnawing at the reactor¡¯s outer wall, the ship¡¯s heart signaled that all preparations wereplete.

    ¡®Alright!¡¯

    Finally, the FTL engine roared to life.

    The destination was an area frequented by smugglers, and near our arrival point was a jungle-type inhabited by various rare creatures.

    A blue light enveloped not only us but also the entire ship, and the starlight in the distance warped strangely.

    Everyone inside and outside the ship jumped into space together.

    ¡®Ugh?!¡¯

    The moment I realized this, an immense pressure hit me from above.

    It was due to the shock caused as the ship entered the realm of FTL beyond the speed of light.

    Even the escape pods didn¡¯t experience this level of intensity, so was it because the ship wasrger or damaged by metallic gremlins?

    The ship, protected by sturdy alloys and special mucus created for corrosion, twisted like a pretzel.

    Since my body was connected to control the ship, I could feel that the pressure on the hull was abnormal.

    I spread my senses even more intimately into the slime covering the alloy walls to check the overall condition of the ship.

    As a result, a pain akin to my entire body being twisted struck my brain.

    [Pain nullification Activated!]

    I wanted to immediately disconnect the sensory organs, but I had to monitor the ship¡¯s condition constantly so it was impossible for me to disconnect them.

    ¡®I¡¯ll barely hold on.¡¯

    If the ship had torn apart, it would have broken much earlier.

    At this rate, I might be able to endure until wend on the.

    However, enduring it and the pain were separate issues.

    Even though pain reduction was activated, the agonizing pain that felt like my entire body was being squeezed continued, making it difficult to stay focused.

    ?Big Baby! Hang in there!?

    ?Great adult!?

    I sensed waves of encouragement from No.26 and Adhai.

    Encouraged by their cheers, I gritted my teeth once again.

    ¡®I¡¯ve never died in the game like this.¡¯

    If news of me being defeated by metallic gremlins spread in the gamingmunity, no one would believe it.

    Somehow regaining myposure amidst the pain, I created corrosive tentacles on the outer wall.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö?¡±

    The gremlins were bewildered as tentacles protruded from the partially damaged ship.

    I manipted the tentacles to strike them.

    ¡®I need to tidy up as much as possible before we arrive.¡¯

    It¡¯s difficult to dislodge those inside the hull, but not those outside.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡±

    Gremlins hit by the tentacles while on the outer wall screamed pitifully as they were flung somewhere in the vastness of space.

    Though they showed signs of wanting to retaliate, they couldn¡¯t move recklessly.

    One wrong move, and I could end up like my fellow beings hit by the tentacles, falling from the ship.

    The problem lies with those inside.

    Slyly, they stopped infiltrating the reactor as soon as the ship entered FTL.

    Probably because they knew it would be a big problem if the reactor exploded midway.

    ¡®But I won¡¯t leave them alone.¡¯

    There are many who are ready to attack as soon as we arrive.

    It¡¯s tough, but I have to somehow reduce their numbers.

    I created small turrets firing contaminated spores in various ces inside the ship, following the tentacles.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡±

    The ones gnawing at the walls inside turned their attention to the new threat.

    I cleared the ones on the outer wall with corroding tentacles and countered those inside with spore bursts.

    Checking the hull¡¯s condition, controlling the tentacles, and managing the decay fungus mechanisms¡ªall of it demanded so much attention that my head felt like it would explode.

    After a chaotic struggle, the seemingly never-ending FTL journey finally ended.

    ¡®We¡¯ve arrived!¡¯

    Beyond the darkness enveloping us, a blue came into view.

    It¡¯s the pirates infiltrate for capturing rare animals.

    ¡®Great! Just hold on a bit longer!¡¯

    Carrying metallic gremlins inside, I entered the¡¯s atmosphere.

    The entire outer wall burned fiercely, and intense heat prated inward.

    ¡°Screech!¡±

    Metallic gremlins screamed in the scorching heat.

    It was not because of pain.

    In outer space, metallic gremlins exhibit tremendous power, but once they enter a, they be extremely vulnerable.

    Setting-wise, metallic gremlins have almost no eyes or sense of smell but use metal-detecting organs to find prey.

    Therefore, when entering a with arge amount of mixed metal, their excellent metal-detecting ability bes a disadvantage.

    Confusion sets in due to the overwhelming detection of metal from the surroundings.

    Moreover, they can only glide in the¡¯s atmosphere andck the propulsion to return to space.

    In other words, once they enter a, they cannot go back to space.

    The remaining future for metallic gremlins trapped on a is aimlessly wandering and eventually being preyed upon by other predators.

    They are aware of this fact, which is why they are rampaging.

    ¡°Keiiiiik!¡±

    Making bizarre noises, they were trying to escape outside.

    Utilizing their teeth and ws to scratch the walls closer to the exterior, attempting to get out somehow.

    ¡®That won¡¯t work.¡¯

    These guys have been bothering me so much until now.

    Should I let them escape?

    I can¡¯t.

    I didn¡¯t let the ones trying to escape using corrosive tentacles, swallowing them while continuously changing their positions within the space they were in.

    As their positions kept shifting, even if they broke through the wall, they could only struggle within the ship.

    Thus, I ravaged the metallic gremlins and entered the¡¯s atmosphere.

    The blue sea, inds dotted like points in between, and and covered with dense jungle appeared in the distance.

    If various environments are mixed, the types of organisms inhabiting them will also be diverse.

    This means that the range of gic essence I can acquire has widened.

    I looked around to see where on the ground we wouldnd, and an unpleasant scene shed before me.

    [The main gun of the Colossal Raider was intercepted.]

    [The ship gets split in two which was an Irreparable damage.]

    [The reactor exploded.]

    [I died.]

    ¡®What?¡¯

    Realizing that what just passed was a future vision by the predator¡¯s sense, I quickly turned the ship to the right.

    A massive energy beam flew from thend towards the rear of the ship, blowing away the propulsion and control room.

    ¡®Oh no!¡¯

    Although the ship was under my control, maintaining high-altitude flight was impossible with the propulsion gone.

    The ship carrying me and the kids broke free from control and began a rapid descent.

    I quickly checked what was at the point where we were crashing.

    It was a shallow sea adjacent to thend.

    ¡®If it¡¯s the main gun of a cruiser, there¡¯s a dy. If we crash into the sea before that¡­.¡¯

    But the mysterious enemy seemed to have no intention of letting mend safely.

    Diamond-shaped fighter jets emerged from the jungle inside thend.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯

    The information left on this ship indicated that no other faction besides pirates woulde here. At least, there was no record of the pirates I devoured engaging with other factions on this.

    ¡®¡­Other pirates.¡¯

    Seeing them attacking without hesitation, it was clear they were higher-ups from a cartel rather than the owners of this merchant ship.

    Of all days, other pirates show up when I¡¯m here.

    A new gang of pirates on top of the gremlin horde, consecutive misfortunes are hitting.

    ¡®Stay calm. Going on like this, we¡¯ll all die.¡¯

    I¡¯llment about the misforter; right now, I need to get through the immediate crisis.

    ¡®If we don¡¯tnd before the main gun activates, it¡¯s over.¡¯

    However, the enemy fighter jets won¡¯t leave me alone tond safely.

    With the current damage to the ship, they¡¯ll easily be destroyed by the sma bullets fired by the fighter jets.

    ¡®At least I can withstand it.¡¯

    As long as the reactor doesn¡¯t explode in the air, I won¡¯t die.

    However, the same cannot be said for the kids with me now.

    ¡®¡­I need to get the kids out first.¡¯

    The problem is whether those fighter jets will leave the kids alone.

    If by any chance they aim and shoot at Adhai and Number 26, the kids will be in great danger.

    Adhai can fly away, but Number 26 can¡¯t.

    ¡®Since there¡¯s a sea here, let¡¯s send the kids away first.¡¯

    The sea is Number 26¡¯s home ground.

    If it goes into the water, it can escape with Adhai.

    In my case, I could easily secure a new means of escape while devouring metallic gremlins earlier.

    Therefore, even if I stay on the ship until the end after sending the kids away, I can still escape.

    ¡®How can I attract attention¡­¡¯

    While pondering if there was any solution, one idea came to mind.

    The guys causing amotion inside my ship, the metallic gremlins.

    I had to use them.

    I altered the structure of the ship, creating arge hole on one side of the wall.

    Outside the hole, the blue sea was clearly visible, and the scent of the sea rushed in, filling the space.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (You guys go first)]

    ?Big Baby??

    ?Great Adult??

    I transformed the shapes of the metal walls to encase Number 26 and Adhai.

    Number 26, who quickly understood what I was trying to do, emitted a signal.

    ?Let¡¯s go together!?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZ (I¡¯ll send you guys first and follow behind.)]

    ?You can¡¯t stay here! It¡¯s dangerous!?

    Without answering, I focused on how the situation outside was changing.

    The fighter jets were gradually getting closer to the ship.

    ¡®Okay.¡¯

    When the smauncher attached to the fighter jets aimed at the ship, I cleared away part of the wall inside the ship.

    Then, the metallic gremlins inside rushed out.

    They flew at the same speed they were running, sticking to the fighter jets.

    ¡®Now!¡¯

    To protect Number 26 and Adhai, I swung the metallic sphere I had created with tentacles.

    Just before the sphere separated, a thin tentacle emerged from Number 26 and touched my auxiliary organ.

    At that moment, I could feel his thoughts.

    Fear of what would happen in the future, helplessness at not being able to do anything, and a desperate plea not to die.

    To the message of theseplex emotions, I replied like this: I will never die and we will meet again soon.

    ?Promise!?

    At the moment it shouted, the sphere separated.

    The sphere that surrounded Adhai and Number 26 was ejected out of the ship through the pre-made hole.

    I concentrated my mind to ensure they safelynded in the sea.

    The fighter jets did not react at all to the falling metal sphere, probably disoriented by the gremlins.

    ¡®Done.¡¯

    Everything I could do from the ship was over.

    After releasing the corrosive tentacles, I headed towards the hole where the sphere had popped out.

    And I jumped out of the ship.

    In the distance, I could see the heat rays from the main guning in the jungle.

    The heat rays mercilessly pierced the ship, and a tremendous explosion engulfed me.

    [Pain nullification Activation!]

    ¡®Ugh!¡¯

    In the midst of the zing mes, I spread out all mybat arms and tail.

    I used one of the characteristics I gained by devouring the metallic gremlin earlier, the ¡®Wings,¡¯ to enable stable flight at high altitudes.

    [Wings: Aids in stable flight at high altitudes.]

    A slender membrane unfolded between mybat arms and extended to the middle of my tail, and my body floated upward, riding the airflow.

    Although the Wings imitated the flight forms of wingsuits or flying squirrels, it wouldn¡¯t remind anyone of an Amorph with four arms and a long tail.

    While reducing the descent speed, I soared through the sky, and the fighter jets followed closely behind. sma sts they fired grazed over my head and back.

    I quickly retracted the membrane attached to my arms. My body began to fall rapidly, and the fighter jets also elerated to pursue me.

    ¡®Caught you.¡¯

    Expanding the Wings again, I closed the distance with the powerful fighter jets. Once again, I utilized a characteristic obtained from the metallic gremlin.

    [Electromaic Interference: Emits waves causing temporary malfunctions in devices powered by electricity.]

    That characteristic was none other than ¡®Electromaic Interference,¡¯ one of the ingredients for hijacking.

    Waves disrupting machinery emanated from the double tes rising on my back, enveloping nearby fighter jets. Their power shut down instantly, and they began to free fall helplessly.

    Just before they crashed, a scene of unexpected events unfolded behind the reinforced ss. The pilots seemed unsure of what to do before the crashing jets.

    Having neutralized the fighter jets, I used the wings to swiftly fly into the jungle.

    ¡®The effect of Electromaic Interference won¡¯tst long.¡¯

    If they had a skilled pilot, they would regain control of the fighter jets quickly. One of the falling jets swiftly took off again, while the others crashed into the forest.

    Although the pursuing fighter jet tried to follow me, I was already close to a dense grove full of tall trees. Folding the wings, I smashed through the trees andnded safely inside the jungle.

    After toppling numerous trees, I couldnd safely. As soon as Inded, I hid my body under the fallen tree trunks.

    When the following fighter jet mistook me for a rock and attempted to proceed, I used the Terror Gaze toward the pilots.

    ¡®Where are you going?¡¯

    The seemingly intact fighter jet abruptly changed direction, crashing into a tree. The half-damaged jet staggered in ce for a moment before crashing to the ground.

    Two pilots crawled out of the crashed jet. One had horns, probably a cultist, and the other was human.

    Appearing disoriented from the impact of the crash, they began running as soon as they saw me reveal myself.

    Both had no intention of escaping, so I released corrosive tentacles to restrain them.

    ¡°Wait! W¡­wait!¡±

    ¡°S¡­save us!¡±

    The restrained pilots struggled. In normal circumstances, I might have used parasites or something for leverage and use them, but at the moment, I had no such intentions.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 105

    Chapter 105

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡°I¡­I¡¯ve told you everything I know! Please¡­spare me!¡±

    A human pilot, dominated by the parasites, was currently pleading to me to leave him alive. Chewing on the arm of a cultist pilot, I sent a signal to a group of tooth fairies.

    The carnivorous fleas surrounded the pilots joyfully and rushed towards them.

    ¡°D¡­Don¡¯t do this¡­no don¡¯t do this!¡±

    The pilots of the crashed fighter jets are all taken care of.

    I found myself on the PH-101, specifically in the Utopia-02 continent. Its ecosystem resembled that of the primitive Earth, providing favorable conditions for life.

    However, the¡¯s beauty was only surface-deep.

    ¡®It¡¯s a blue hell.¡¯

    Creatures of this possess formidable strength, making it nearly impossible for average yers to hunt or even survive here.

    Around the regions rich in valuable resources, hostile wolf NPCs live, they also have their own name.

    ¡®They¡¯re on a whole different level than what I¡¯ve encountered before.¡¯

    Named wolves are exceptionally powerful, posing a challenge for even someone as strong as me. Conquering this is difficult without the skills of a high-ranking yer or arge n.

    On the flip side, even top-tier yers orrge ns can¡¯t monopolize this. PH-101 is protected by a cult for religious reasons, preventing any construction or serious development to be done here by the other factions. Even cult yers can only stay here for a limited time.

    ¡®I chose this for a reason.¡¯

    PH-101 allows me to secure superior gic essence without interference from other factions.

    ¡®Originally, that¡¯s how it should be.¡¯

    However, interrogating a pilot revealed that a deviation had urred, which went against the game¡¯s norm.

    Currently, a powerful cartel named ¡®Humanity¡¯ has upied this among the space ouws. It¡¯s unusual, considering that space ouw cartels often have leaders with names representing their identity.

    ¡®And it¡¯s called Humanity.¡¯

    Before quitting space survival, there was a n led by a ranker with a simr name. Strangely, the n leader was a woman, and the members were exclusively male, leading to a lot of criticism in themunity.

    ¡®¡­Not something I, themunity¡¯s enemy, shouldment on.¡¯

    Anyway, it seems Humanity cartel¡¯s ability to upy this ce can be spected upon.

    As seen with the cult pilot I just devoured, most of Humanity¡¯s members are cultists. This allows the Humanity cartel to move freely on this. In a game, this would be impossible, but in reality, it introduces a new variable.

    ¡®Furthermore, the leader has connections with the cult¡¯s ruling ss.¡¯

    That means the leader of Humanity is at least a high-ranking cultist, surpassing the Yak Horn Cult. I don¡¯t need to know why someone like that would engage in piracy.

    ¡®Thanks to that, I can collect gic essences, fulfill evolution conditions, and kill two birds with one stone.¡¯

    I finished consuming the remnants of the cultist and retrieved the tooth fairies.

    ording to the pilot¡¯s words, ¡®Humanity¡¯ periodically leaves this due to smuggling activities.

    ¡®If they have a ship, it would be easier for me to leave too.¡¯

    There are approximately 14 days until the pirates depart. I need to seize a ship before they leave.

    ¡®But before that.¡¯ I activated the semi-transparent text box.

    [Species: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph

    Status: Pre-Saint (Transcendence Level 1)

    Objective: Survive (2nd evolution sessful)

    Possessed Traits: (14 in Physical-rted / 7 in Psychic-rted / 5 in Infection-rted / 3 in Special Defense-rted / 1 in Nest-rted)

    ¢Ù Physical-rted traits (Type in use): Wings (Unavable), Acidic Blood, Bite Force, Metal Absorption, Perfect Organism (Unique), Endurance, Pheromone Enhancement, Enhanced Reflexes.

    -Physique-rted Fusion Traits: Regeneration, Neurotoxin nds, Mimicry Organ (Unavable), Bloodsucking Tentacles, Spine Projectile Organ, High Hijacking.

    ¢ÚPsychic-rted traits (Type in use): Human Nature, Psychic Resistance, Insight.

    -Psychic-rted Fusion Traits: Predator Senses, Ghost ws, Observer of Fear

    ¢Û Infection-rted: Space Bacteria, Infection Reinforcement

    -Infection-rted Fusion Traits: Parasitic Colony, Decaying Mold Organ, Tooth Fairy Nest

    ¢Ü Special Defense-rted: Pain Reduction, Resistance

    -Special Defense-rted Fusion Traits: Protective Coloration

    ¢Ý Nest-rted: Horizon of Nightmares (Unique)

    Possessed Types(2): Physique Enhancement Type, Psychic Enhancement Type

    Specialization Possible Types(3): Infection Enhancement Type (5/8), Special Defense Enhancement Type (3/4), Nest Enhancement Type (1/4)

    Iplete Traits (5): Energy Absorption, Robust Vitality, Miniaturization, Gills, Fins]

    I acquired numerous useful traits while hunting the Hulk Mutants of the Colossal Raider and the Metallic Gremlins in Sector I-97. For instance, the ¡®Protective Coloration¡¯ trait, synthesized from traits obtained from the Rhino Hulk Mutant and the Metallic Gremlin.

    Currently, my outer shell and exoskeleton are covered in small, almost invisible scales. If I crouch and stay still for 10 seconds, these scales automatically shift, changing the color of my body.

    It transforms to resemble the surrounding environment. The reason the crashed fighter jet couldn¡¯t spot me when hiding under the wreckage was thanks to this protective coloration.

    ¡®Not aplete change, but it evades any detection equipment¡­¡¯

    I currently possess the Electromaic Interference trait. While enemies at a long distance outside the interference range may not detect me, those close by will find it challenging to locate me.

    Apart from the bone knife and infection reinforcement trait obtained from the gori-like Hulk Mutant, and the reinforced absorption trait from the Metallic Gremlin, I applied strength to the upper right arm of mybat arm. Instead of the bloodsucking tentacle protruding from the palm, a peculiar-shaped razor-sharp bone emerged.

    Simr in form to the arms used for symbols of hunting, there were some differences. The bone de attached to the arms was thin and sharp, ideal for shing and stabbing like ss. In contrast, the bone axe was thick and heavy, specialized for crushing enemies like a kukri knife.

    ¡®As always.¡¯

    New weapons are always wee. After retrieving the bone axe, I climbed up the tree using mybat arm and leg.

    Originally, an Amorph had mechanisms attached to the inside of his feet, simr to cushions used when insects stick to walls. However, due to the Horizon of Nightmares effect, my body became heavier, making it difficult to climb walls. Fortunately, a good trait emerged.

    Tiny suction cups formed on my hands and feet, helping me easily crawl up trees. The tree I was climbing could withstand my weight well, as there are muchrger trees in this continent than the Redwood trees which are considered thergest on Earth.

    Reaching the top of the tree, an endless jungle unfolded. In the cloudless sky, dragon-like creatures flew, and from the jungle below, the cries of beasts echoed.

    Seeing a deeply dug part where the blue sky and green jungle met, it was undoubtedly the location of a fired battleship. Turning my gaze in the opposite direction, I saw a horizon filled with blue.

    ¡®Number 26 and Adhai must be in that sea.¡¯

    ¡®¡­Let¡¯s go pick them up after its safe here.¡¯

    There¡¯s a reason not to bring them along when facing formidable enemies.

    In PH-101, there are many dangerous creatures, so bringing them with me would make them prone to injuries. Also it would be difficult for me to protect them when I am fighting pirates or any other dangerous creature.

    ¡®In the past, I might have used them as bait¡­.¡¯

    Now, I also have a bond with them. If Number 26 and Adhai suffer severe injuries or die, I honestly can¡¯t guarantee that I¡¯ll be able to maintain my rationality.

    ¡®In the jungle, patience wins the battles.¡¯

    ¡®Emotional fluctuation leads to defeat. ¡®

    The sea is Number 26¡¯s home ground, so it should be safer than here.¡¯

    Adhai, too, would find it morefortable near clear beaches or inds with fewer obstacles for flying than in the dense jungle.

    ¡®¡­They both are smart beings.¡¯

    Once I take care of the pirates here, I¡¯ll go pick them up. With these thoughts, I jumped down from the top.

    There¡¯s a small pirate camp nearby. Descending halfway down the tree, I extended the corrosion tentacle to move to another tree. From below, I felt the movements of creatures in the forest, ranging from insect-like beings to colossal dinosaur-like creatures exceeding tens of meters, all wandering through the woods.

    The term ¡°monster¡± is by no means an exaggeration. Here on PH-101, even small creatures like newborns can easily kill armed soldiers.

    ¡®Eating them should pose no problem until the next evolution.¡¯

    Of course, having roamed around here in the game, I know exactly what creatures inhabit this ce and how to conquer them.

    While moving between trees, a creature resembling a mix of a monkey and a bat attacked me from above. It was a creature called Wood Devil, hiding on the branches like this, waiting to ambush passing creatures and devour them.

    Although positioned in the lower tier of theary food chain, Wood Devils earned the nickname ¡°Newbie ughterer¡± due to their swift movements, strong muscles, and decent intelligence.

    ¡®The problem is that I¡¯m not a newbie.¡¯

    I knew that the creature had its sights on me long before. Without even turning my head, I flicked my tail, sending out barbs.

    ¡°Kik?!¡±

    The creature, frozen in the posture of leaping down, attempted to fall to the ground. The corrosion tentacle from my back shot out, catching the falling creature.

    Next, I extracted the blood-sucking tentacle from mybat arm and swung it towards the tree on the opposite side.

    ¡°Kkiik!¡±

    The Wood Devil, disguised with the help of leaves, struggled as it was caught by the blood-sucking tentacle. When I applied force to the tentacle, the creature¡¯s bones snapped, and its entire body contorted grotesquely.

    One was leisurely swallowed by the corrosion tentacle, and the other, while feeding on blood with the blood-sucking tentacle, didn¡¯t make me lose my vignce.

    ¡®There should be one more.¡¯

    Wood Devils always hunt in groups of three. As expected, I saw another Wood Devil that had been on a diagonal tree fleeing.

    ¡°Kkik!¡±

    Holding two of them, I mmed the tree. My body soared through the gap between the trees, reaching the fleeing creature.

    ¡°Kkiik?!¡±

    The Wood Devil looked up at me as it swiftly approached. An axe bone from my upper right hand struck its head, shattering it. As the creature tried to fall with its head severed, I quickly wrapped it with my tail.

    ¡®Easy.¡¯

    I opened my mouth wide and bit into the headless Wood Devil.

    Though my jaw strength has decreased due to using the chewing power trait as material, I could still easily tear apart a Wood Devil.

    ¡®¡­It tastes healthy.¡¯

    The meat of the Wood Devil had a cheap soy-meat taste. Whether it was eating nt Lizards in the space city or simr beings with nt or tree-rted names, they all had this kind of taste.

    ¡®Wood Devils are carnivores, but why does it taste like soy meat?¡¯

    Soy meat is just a name; it probably doesn¡¯t contain any actual meat. While pondering about such trivial thoughts, I finished eating the remaining carcasses.

    As I was about to eat the one hanging from the blood-sucking tentacle, another predator appeared, drawn by the scent of blood.

    The creature, with a leopard¡¯s body and spider¡¯s legs, was called a Nightstalker, possessing the material trait of a tail with shooting thorns.

    The creature, with eight legs, swiftly darted towards me.

    ¡®Its venom won¡¯t work on me.¡¯

    I had to fight it differently than I did with the Wood Devils, which I incapacitated with thorn bristles.

    I remained still without resistance. The creature that rushed at me bared its thick fangs and attempted to bite my neck.

    No, it tried to bite me.

    If my exoskeleton wasn¡¯t tough, I would have been in trouble from its fangs.

    The venom of the Nightstalker is more deadly than the neurotoxin I possess. Its rapid spread makes it difficult to use an antidote.

    It might be difficult to escape death even with immunity to the venom.

    ¡®But such a potent venom must enter the opponent¡¯s body to be useful.¡¯

    The fangs of the Nightstalker aren¡¯t sharp enough to pierce through my robust exoskeleton, more durable than the outer wall of a spaceship.

    ¡°Kreung?¡±

    Only then did the creature realize something was wrong and tried to retreat, but it was toote. With my fourbat arms, I had a firm grip on its body.

    Holding the creature, I exerted force through the four arms. Due to my powerful strength, the Nightstalker crumpled like an empty stic bottle.

    Although the creature¡¯s organs spilled out from its rear, I used the corrosion tentacle to suck them all up without leaving a trace.

    [PR/N- Why am I getting a bad feeling here]

    ¡®Certainly, there¡¯s no time to rest in this ce.¡¯

    While the corrosion tentacle was absorbing the organs, I chewed on the Nightstalker¡¯s main body.

    Interestingly, this one tasted like a croissant.

    Since the corrosion tentacle has no taste buds, I couldn¡¯t discern the vor of the organs, but it probably wasn¡¯t croissant-like originally.

    After thoroughly licking the blood that sttered on the tree, I continued my journey.

    After breaking through a few more attacks, I suddenly found myself near the pirates¡¯ camp.

    Conveniently, the sun was setting in the jungle.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 106

    Chapter 106

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Kie]

    [Proofreader ¨C Kawaii]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡®It¡¯s a small campsite.¡¯

    As the deceased pilot described, the scale of the campsite wasn¡¯t thatrge. Whenbining the roaming personnel and those detected by the auxiliary organ, there were only around 10 people. However, the issue wasn¡¯t the number of individuals.

    ¡®There¡¯s a walker.¡¯

    A bipedal, open-type weapon system, standing 6 meters tall,y beside the tent at the campsite. The walker was a robot weapon used by the StarUnion. The model present at the campsite was a light walker, mainly used for reconnaissance and as infantry support. Despite its open design providing limited defense, itpensated with storm guns in both hands, making its firepower formidable.

    ¡®There are no cyborgs at the campsite.¡¯

    Walkers require a cyborg to operate, connecting with a special device called a brain connector to control the machine with their mind. Judging by the absence of the faint electronic waves typical of cyborgs in the vicinity, it seemed like someone had modified the walker for human use.

    Moreover, the campsite¡¯s walker had a storm gun only in the left hand, with the right arm reced by a crane-like mechanical device, likely modified for resource collection and item transport.

    ¡®After attacking so recklessly, they seem confident.¡¯

    Pirates operating even modified walkers on a cult cruiser ¨C that was unexpected. If they had walkers at a small campsite, there likely were many more near the headquarters or leader¡¯s dock. Besides, the extent of their arsenal was still unknown.

    ¡®They¡¯re certainly overflowing with confidence.¡¯

    With this level of firepower, they would be ssified as a top cartel even in the game. Although they are enemies, I acknowledged their strength.

    ¡®But that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t defeat them.¡¯

    Summoning the tooth fairy swarm, I quietly descended from the tree. As I approached the campsite, pirates with lit torches stood guard, vignt.

    After sending the tooth fairy swarm to the opposite side of the pirates, I prompted them to make noise.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    The moment he turned his head upon hearing rustling sounds.

    ¡°Wha¡­?!¡±

    I grabbed his head with corrosive tentacles and pulled him sharply, leaving only the gun he was holding in that spot.

    ¡°Where did this guy go?¡±

    ¡°Hey! Did he go to pee?¡±

    A momentter, two other pirates approached. I aimed Spine Projectile Organ at the one behind them.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    I grabbed the copsed pirate by his throat and approached the other one.

    ¡°Huh? What?¡±

    When he turned at the sound of footsteps, a bone axe swung down on his shoulder. Struck by the bone axe, he copsed on the ground.

    Stepping inside from the warmth radiating from the spilled entrails on the ground, I entered the campsite. In the center of the camp, a pirate sat by the bonfire, grilling meat. He had plugs in his ears so he remained oblivious to what was happening behind him.

    Approaching him quietly until I reached right behind him, I opened my mouth wide and engulfed his head entirely. The startled pirate struggled, but his resistance was short-lived. When I forcefully lifted his head with tension in his jaw, a cultist pirate walked out of another tent.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Gurgle!

    The cultist, adorned with goat horns, stood still as if unable toprehend the situation. I swallowed the upper half of the pirate while swaying my tail.

    ¡°Grrrrr¡­.¡±

    With thorn spikes embedded in his neck, he copsed, making a deting sound.

    ¡°Uh¡­ah¡­ahhh!¡±

    Then, with screams, another pirate emerged from a different tent, covered in blood.

    While I was dealing with the pirates, the tooth fairy swarm had sneaked into another tent and attacked the pirates inside. The pirate, bleeding, tried to escape upon seeing me, but the tooth fairies didn¡¯t let him go. With carnivorous fleas leaping onto him, he couldn¡¯t bear the assault and copsed on the ground.

    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±

    ¡°What the hell is that noise¡­ Ugh?!¡±

    Hearing the screams of theirrade, the other pirates peeked out from their tents and were astonished by the ughterhouse I had created.

    Swallowing the chef pirate and charging towards the pirate inside the tent, the force packed in the 5-meter structure was truly frightening. The tent shattered like bowling pins hit by a bowling ball, and the pirates inside crumpled instantly.

    While theirrades were torn apart, a pirate who had been moving stealthily sessfully boarded a walker.

    ¡°You bastard! You¡¯re gone now!¡±

    The pirate on the walker wore a peculiar equipment. It resembled reinforced armor but covered only the head and chest, with multiple devices resembling plugs attached to the back of the neck.

    ¡®He¡¯s connecting with a brain connector using that.¡¯

    Such equipment didn¡¯t exist in the game. It was quite interesting, but that was something to checkter.

    As the 6-meter walker rose from the ground, aiming its storm gun at me, the pirate controlling it had a triumphant expression. He probably believed that the depleted uranium rounds loaded in that storm gun would tear me apart. However, his hopes would nevere true.

    The radio waves emanating from the panel on my back disrupted the walker¡¯s electrical signals, causing it to stop functioning.

    ¡°Huh? Wha¡­what¡¯s happening?¡±

    As the once agile walker stopped working, the pirate shouted in a bewildered voice. The effects of the electromaic interference weren¡¯t longsting, so I extended mybat arm and pulled him out of the cockpit.

    Thud!

    Lifelessly sprawled on the ground by my hand, the pirate was bleeding profusely.

    I paralyzed him with thorns because I wanted to leisurely examine the clothes he was wearing.

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    The remaining pirate, aiming at me, was shivering out of fear. The weapon he held, perhaps to impress as a wealthy pirate, was a Gauss rifle.

    As I turned my head, he pulled the trigger. A tungsten bullet struck my exoskeleton fiercely, colliding with it. It was unfortunate for the pirate, but the bullet couldn¡¯t even leave a scratch on my exterior. As the deformed tungsten fell to the ground, the pirate¡¯s mouth gaped in shock.

    As I approached him, he staggered backward, eventually sitting down with a thud. I raised the bone axe high.

    ¡°Wai¡­!¡±

    It was rare for someone to be alive after their head was split. After dealing with thest pirate, I summoned the tooth fairy swarm.

    ¡®Three captured alive.¡¯

    The rest were all killed.

    I gathered the captured and deceased pirates in the center of the camp.

    Without anyone to contact at the base, they¡¯ll soon realize that theirrades over there have also met their fate. Before this night is over, they¡¯lle looking.

    ¡®After making it this far through all the hardships, I guess I should give them a gift.¡¯

    A gift with the name of terror.

    Originally, among the space cartels, there was no concept of ranks or a hierarchy. With various races gathered together, and most cartel leaders prioritizing their pride even if they die, the concept of serving one another didn¡¯t exist. However, there are undeniably powerful cartels that can be considered close to kings or nobility due to the strength among the space cartels.

    On the Utopia-02 continent of the P-101, ¡®Humanity¡¯ cartel was one of such powerful cartels. The Humanity Cartel, considered one of the five fingers among the space cartels, was unique not only in name.

    ¡°Boss.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re unable to contact Camp 21 and Camp 17.¡±

    Dn, the charismatic leader, lying halfway on a bed and eating skewered meat, furrowed his handsome brows at the words of his assistant.

    ¡°21 and 17?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that¡­that Electronic Ping Pong? Something like that. Is it because of that?¡±

    ¡°If you mean electromaic storms, then no, I don¡¯t think it is because of that¡­¡±

    ¡°You son of a b****, are you boasting about being smart in front of me?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no.¡±

    As a curse erupted from the mouth of Dn, the slender and handsome cult leader, the assistant immediately bowed his head. Dn, holding the skewer, contemted whether to stab his subordinate with it and then spoke.

    ¡°21 and 17. Those are outlying camps, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°There are no dangerous animals there. Could it be the remnants of the ones we downed earlier today?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that¡­.¡±

    Dn finished swallowing the skewered meat and then flicked his hand.

    ¡°Send some suitable guys to check it out.¡±

    ¡°Yes, your wise judgment!¡±

    ¡°I know, buddy.¡±

    The assistant bowed his head and exited the tent.

    The fiery glow from the massive ze illuminated the surroundings of the tent where the cult leader resided.

    The source of the fire was not a simple bonfire. One of the viges of the Wolves, which had existed for centuries on the Utopia-02 continent, was burning due to the pirates.

    ¡°Scream!¡±

    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±

    Pirates,posed of cult members and humans, roamed around, setting fire to traditional houses or dragging out the Wolves inside. One peculiar point was that all the looting pirates were handsome men who did not fit the image of evildoers.

    ¡°Let the good-looking ones go to the leader alive!¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    ¡°As for the women, do as you please!¡±

    As someone shouted, the pirates, capturing handsome male Wolves and young children, filled their necks with electric nes and took them captive.

    ¡°Hehe, O guardian deity!¡±

    ¡°Ugh! Please listen to our prayers!¡±

    The Wolves cried out desperately while enduring the pain from the electric nes. Originally, this vige was not weak enough to suffer such a disaster. It was one of the viges blessed by two guardian deities known as the ¡°Parents of All Things.¡±

    However, the ¡°Parents of All Things¡± had not responded to their prayers for several days.

    ¡°Here they go again.¡±

    ¡°Haha, idiots. Those b****es who im to be gods already lost to the leader.¡±

    The pirates guarding the captivesughed at the Wolves. As they imed, the guardian deities who protected the vige had been defeated by the Humanity Cartel.

    The male deity, known as the Father of the Earth, was beheaded by the pirate leader, while the female deity, known as the Mother of the Sky, was currently captured as a prisoner.

    But the pirates didn¡¯t disclose these facts. It was more enjoyable for them to see the Wolves despairing in vain.

    Leaving the camp and surveying the scene of looting, the assistant was approached by one pirate. The pirate was holding a female Wolf and a young Wolf.

    ¡°What should we do with this Wolf kid?¡±

    ¡°Please, spare this child!¡±

    ¡°Not the leader¡¯s taste. Deal with it.¡±

    ¡°Wa¡­wait¡­ Nooo!¡±

    The pirate killed the young Wolf and dragged away its mother. Despite being the leader of the ¡®Humanity¡¯ Cartel, who is a woman herself, she has a strong aversion to other women and ugly men, so they are killed very cruelly.

    Being humiliated by subordinate pirates here and burning to death seemed more merciful than what they were experiencing. In fact, the Mother of the Sky, captured as a prisoner, was undergoing such terrifying torture from the pirates.

    Of course, trying to exin that fact to a Wolf who lost a child wouldck credibility. Nevertheless, beside the assistant who considered it an act of mercy, another subordinate approached.

    ¡°What did the boss say?¡±

    ¡°He said to send some kids. Send the ones with nothing much to do.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    After the subordinate left, the assistant returned to work. To find captives to be presented to the leader, they needed to diligently search around until the night ended.

    An hour after the assistant met Dn, ten heavily armed pirates boarded a transport ship heading towards Camp 17. Eight of them wore intermediate reinforced suits, while two were on walkers. The walkers were equipped with smaunchers, and all eight pirates were armed with gauss rifles.

    The level of armament was sufficient to handle a more formidable opponent than the pirates had anticipated around the camp.

    ¡°When they return, there won¡¯t be any decent ones left for us to eat, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Or we could share it with the others.¡±

    ¡°Well, eating them afterward feels like eating corpses.¡±

    All ten of them were forcibly conscripted, so there was a lot of discontent, but there was nothing they could do. Their boss, the cult leader, had a very cruel disposition.

    As the transport ship arrived in the airspace near Camp 17, which was prepared by the pirates in advance, the assistant spoke to Dn an hourter.

    ¡°Check for life reactions in the vicinity.¡±

    ¡°Nothing particrly unusual.¡±

    Their transport ship was equipped with a bioscanner suitable for use on warships. The Humanity Cartel possessed gic information for almost all dangerous organisms on this. Therefore, the pirates could easily check whether there were dangerous animals in the vicinity.

    After running the bioscanner once and determining that it was safe, they disembarked and headed for Camp 17.

    Until that moment, they had no idea what had happened at the camp. At most, they thought it might be amunication failure due to a malfunction.

    However, what awaited them was not something as simple as amunication failure.

    Instead of the warm glow of a campfire and the noisy singing of pirates, cold darkness and silence filled Camp 17.

    ¡°Something¡¯s strange, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Where did everyone go?¡±

    Only then did the pirates realize that something was seriously wrong, and they began to be on guard around them.

    One of the pirates, using the light on his helmet, discovered ominous traces.

    ¡°Look at this!¡±

    ¡°What¡­gasp?!¡±

    It was a massive amount of bloodstains. The blood that had been scattered in the middle of the camp continued into the forest.

    ¡°Everyone, prepare forbat!¡±

    The extremely tense pirates raised their weapons. They advanced into the forest with a walker at the forefront.

    The seemingly endless bloodstains gradually diminished until they were cut off in front of a certain tree.

    ¡°Did they fly up into the sky?¡±

    ¡°Utterly nonsensical. No carnivorous animales down near this area.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s true¡­ huh?¡±

    A drop of water fell onto the shoulder of one of the pirates. Thinking it was rain, he wiped it off, only to realize it wasn¡¯t water.

    In the light of the helmet, his palm was covered in blood.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Everyone¡¯s gaze fixed on his bloody hand. Swallowing hard, he slowly raised his head.

    And there, above him.

    The panions¡¯ they were looking for were there.

    ¡°Get in touch with the boss immediately!¡±

    ¡°Rather than that, prepare the transport ship!¡±

    ¡°Transport ship! Respond! It¡¯s an emergency! Fly here right away!¡±

    Even the ruthless pirates were horrified by the scene in front of them.

    Skinless pirates were hanging from the trees.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 107

    Chapter 107

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡°zzzz¡­Send¡­zzzz¡­Swiftly, urgent¡­zzzz¡­.through¡­thud.¡±

    ¡°Why is this happening again?¡±

    The pirate helmsman at the control seat suddenly struck the malfunctioningmunication device. He tried hitting it a few times, turned it on again, but themunication device seemedpletely broken, refusing to function at all.

    ¡°Seems like something sent by the guys.¡±

    Although he didn¡¯t know what it was, it was clearly amunication from his colleagues who had visited Camp 17. The helmsman called out to a fellow pilot outside to move the transport ship.

    ¡°Hey, got a message from the guys. They¡¯re leaving, so hop on quickly.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll just grab this and get in.¡±

    ¡°Hurry up!¡±

    ¡°Sure thing.¡±

    Confirming that his colleague, who had gone out for a smoke, had boarded, the helmsman prepared for takeoff.

    Just as the transport ship was about to take off, the vessel shook as if it had collided with something.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    The helmsman quickly checked the warning lights on the dashboard and found that the cargopartment door at the rear of the transport ship was not properly closed.

    ¡°I told that idiot to close the door ande in.¡±

    The helmsman turned on themunication device to call the colleague who had boarded.

    ¡°We¡¯re about to depart, so close the door properly and get in quickly.¡±

    ¡°Zzz zzz.¡±

    ¡°I said close the door!¡±

    Instead of a response, a red light indicating the cargopartment door setting on the instrument panel changed to green. The cargo door had closed.

    ¡°Should¡¯ve closed it earlier. We¡¯re leaving, so hold on tight!¡±

    As the helmsman pulled the control stick, the transport ship ascended into the sky.

    ***

    ¡°Yes¡­yes. It¡¯s true! Their skin was peeled off and hung on the tree¡­ What? Oh, yes. I¡¯ll take a picture and send it right now.¡±

    Reporting to the higher-ups through themunication device, the pirate activated the small camera attached to his helmet.

    The camera, mounted next to thentern, moved and transmitted the image of the bodies lying on the ground to the headquarters.

    Thanks to the wire rope connected to the structure, retrieving the bodies was not difficult.

    ¡°W¡­what kind of devil would do such a thing¡­?¡±

    Like any space cartel, humanity¡¯s pirates had their share of brutality. Even beforeing here, they hadmitted horrific acts against innocent Wolfen to the point where it was unspeakable.

    However, even among them, the idea of hanging a fully skinned human on a tree was unprecedented.

    While his colleague reported and recorded the video, a sharp-eyed pirate scavenged the blood-soaked corpse.

    ¡°¡­Seeing warm blood, it hasn¡¯t been long since they died.¡±

    That means the perpetrator whomitted such a horrific act might be nearby.

    ¡°Shit, was there nothing caught on the bio-scanner?¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s unregistered information, it won¡¯t be detected.¡±

    The gic makeup of the creatures inhabiting the Utopia-02 continent has been mostly cataloged by the Humanity Cartel, but if there are beings from outside, they can¡¯t be avoided. The pirates involuntarily shivered at the thought of an unknown enemy, especially a monster preying on humans, being nearby.

    ¡°When is the transport shiping?¡±

    ¡°I called them, and they told me that they would be here soon¡­ Ah, there they are!¡±

    The branches and leaves of the trees shook vigorously. Along with a deafening noise, the light from the transport ship illuminated the depths of the forest.

    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s all move.¡±

    There¡¯s only one open space suitable for the transport ship tond around here, and that¡¯s outside Camp 17. The pirates naturally thought the transport ship would fly in that direction.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Why is it acting like that?¡±

    The smoothly flying transport ship started to stagger and quickly descended in altitude, as if it were about to crash into the ground. And the direction the transport ship was heading was where the pirates were standing.

    As the distance between the transport ship and the pirates rapidly decreased, the pirates¡¯ faces turned pale.

    ¡°Everyone, get out of the way!¡±

    The pirates quickly hid behind nearby trees and rocks.

    The walker also tried to evade btedly, but it was toote. The descending transport ship crashed mercilessly onto the walker.

    The transport ship, crushing one walker, exploded, and mes shot up above the trees. The roar echoed throughout the entire forest, startling the avian creatures that were peacefully sleeping, making them all take flight into the sky.

    ¡°W¡­what¡¯s happening!¡±

    ¡°Our transport ship!¡±

    The pirates, who had taken cover behind trees or rocks, stared in dismay at the ming wreckage of the transport ship.

    As the transport ship carrying them was now in ruins, they cried out in despair.

    However, their misfortune was not yet over.

    A pitch-ck creature emerged from the mes and attacked the walker.

    Because it was muchrger than the walker, it overwhelmed the walker without resistance, and the pirate sitting in the cockpit was pierced by the tail spikes. The spikes were so long that the pirate died instantly without even screaming.

    Then the creature who incapacitated the walker then leaped into the forest.

    The events happened so quickly that the pirates were just staring dumbfounded. It was only after the creature disappeared that the pirates, now regaining their senses, screamed in horror.

    ¡°Aaaah!¡±

    ¡°Sons of bitches!¡±

    ¡°What the hell was that just now!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡±

    In an instant, losing two transport ships and a walker, the pirates werepletely plunged into panic.

    ¡°This¡­this ce is dangerous!¡±

    ¡°Everyone, head to Camp 17!¡±

    Among the pirates present here, the ones with the most firepower were the two walkers equipped with smaunchers. In this forest, numerous dangerous creatures roamed around fearlessly, challenging them without a walker was very difficult, hence they decided to retreat back into camp 17.

    Now, besides the unknown creature, the inhabitants of the forest would also be targeting them. Moreover, the area reeked of the scent of blood from the skinned corpses, indicating that monsters would soone here due to the smell of blood. Anticipating the imminent danger, the pirates sprinted.

    Eight pirates dashed through the thickets. Numerous eyes watched them through the leaves above their heads.

    ¡°We¡¯re not far from the camp! Just a little more, and¡ª!¡±

    The leading pirate couldn¡¯t finish his sentence. A snake-like creature descended from the trees, grabbed his head, and dragged him away. The pirates behind could only watch helplessly as theirrade disappeared into the treetops.

    ¡°A¡­Ambush¡­!¡±

    Just as they were about to react, another snake descended, snatching another pirate. Bone-chilling sounds of bones breaking echoed from above, apanied by stters of blood.

    ¡°Defend yourselves!¡±

    ¡°A..ahh!¡±

    The remaining six pirates pulled out gauss rifles and began shooting into the treetops. Among the dark trees, the massive form of something moved unpredictably.

    ¡°Darn it! I Can¡¯t see a thing!¡±

    The pirates continued firing at the perceived targets, but the creature continued moving unperturbed. Furthermore, the monsters on the trees were not the only concern.

    ¡°Aaah! Help!¡±

    ¡°W..what?!¡±

    Dozens of bugs attached themselves to one pirate who had been focused on shooting upwards. Palm-sized insects, with sharp white teeth, chewed through the reinforced armor the pirate wore.

    ¡°E..eek!¡±

    The reinforced armor worn by the pirates was a specially upgraded intermediate-level armor with high defense. Thanks to it, the armor wasn¡¯t pierced, but that didn¡¯t mean they could ignore the pain of having their flesh bitten.

    ¡°I¡¯ll help you!¡±

    Another pirate stopped shooting and shouted toward hisrade. It turned out to be his final words.

    ¡°Be careful!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    A bright red snake descended from the tree and dragged him away. Other pirates turned around and looked to the spot where the snake had appeared, but thorns flew from the darkness and impaled their throats.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    ¡°Gah!¡±

    They staggered like intoxicated people before copsing.

    Now, only two pirates remained.

    They lowered their guns without hesitation and ran straight toward the camp. In truth, there wasn¡¯t much they could do by going to the camp, but they didn¡¯t have the luxury for such rational judgments. As they fled, they heard heavy footsteps following them from behind.

    Initially faint, the footsteps rapidly grew louder, now sounding right behind them. Perhaps due to the pressure, one pirate, running frantically, got entangled in branches and fell.

    ¡°Help!¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s been nice working with you.¡±

    ¡°This son of a b*tch¡­ Aaah!¡±

    Leaving behind the cries of hisrade, the pirate continued running.

    ¡°Damn¡­damn.¡±

    They ran for a while, but the camp was still out of sight. Above, the tree branches shook ominously, and all the visible trees looked the same. It felt as if the entire forest was mocking him, daring him to escape once.

    However, they couldn¡¯t afford to stand still. The creature would catch up with him in no time. Just as he thought about it, something furry attacked him from behind. The pirate copsed on the ground, and the creature that attacked him, with eight legs, pressed down on his back.

    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­please! S¡­spare me!¡±

    Though the pirate pleaded with the unseen foe, the response that came back was sharp teeth. The creature¡¯s sharp teeth pierced the pirate¡¯s neck. The venom spread through his bloodstream, causing excruciating pain throughout his entire body.

    ¡°Nooo!¡±

    In agony as his veins melted, the pirate screamed.

    The monster that attacked the pirate, the Nightstalker, confirmed that the prey had been neutralized and felt satisfied.

    In the next moment, as the creature was about to devour its prey, something grabbed its head.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°What¡­ is¡­ this?¡±

    With an unheard dissonance from the forest, the creature could no longer continue its thoughts.

    ¡®Why are you eating that?¡¯

    I looked at the pirate in front of me, holding the partially crushed Nightstalker corpse.

    ¡®He¡¯s dead.¡¯

    Unfortunately, the pirate fell victim to the Nightstalker¡¯s venom. Corpses not killed directly by me are treated the same as gic samples. In other words, there¡¯s a very low chance of the predatory effect urring on corpses I didn¡¯t personally kill. Even if I use the ¡®Symbol of hunt¡¯, I can only use it as a transcendent system material unless I gain the same effect twice, and I can¡¯t enjoy any benefits.

    ¡®The problem lies in this forest.¡¯

    Because there are manypetitors other than me, if I don¡¯t move quickly, I¡¯ll lose prey like this.

    I calmed my irritation by eating the Nightstalker¡¯s corpse.

    ¡®Meh, not bad.¡¯

    The taste of the Nightstalker¡¯s internal organs, which remained intact, could be sinctly described as a croissant with pepperoni. Its internal organs were firm yet had a unique vor. Whether it was due to the venom nds or potent digestive enzymes in its body, it had a distinct taste.

    ¡®It¡¯s delicious, so I¡¯ll let it pass this time.¡¯

    Anyway, it¡¯s already dead. After consuming the Nightstalker¡¯s corpse, I collected the pirate corpses. Even though I couldn¡¯t eat them, I could use these pirate corpses to instill fear in my enemies.

    ¡®I wondered if the tactic of skinning before eating would work in reality.¡¯

    In a space survival game which gave its yers extreme freedom, it wasn¡¯t impossible to skin corpses. yers with butchering skills could obtain leather from the carcasses of rare animals. This leather was often used as material for reinforced armor or to aplish important missions.

    ¡®¡­Though there¡¯s no need to use it to instill fear in enemies.¡¯

    Amorph could also skin animals, but with the primary goal of acquiring gic essence, there was no reason for it to bother with obtaining leather. However, I utilized this method for effective hunting. While the skinned corpse didn¡¯t directly debuff yers, it was effective in delivering a psychological impact. Not many people would enjoy seeing a corpse with all its muscles exposed.

    ¡®Especially those who host inte broadcasts really hated it.¡¯

    Because of me, the broadcast levels were forcibly elevated. Anyway, I had fun with this tactic several times and used it effectively during the battles on four differents in the past.

    Since it became less effective as people stopped fearing it, I eventually stopped using it. In a game, it might not have worked, but this was reality. Enemies were greatly shaken by the exposed bones of the unfamiliar corpses, making it easy to annihte them.

    ¡®There are still more enemies left¡­ Hm?¡¯

    I slung the pirate corpse over my shoulder, and I noticed a faint light shining from the helmet. It was a small camera for recording footage.

    ¡°Better this way.¡±

    I grabbed the helmet with mybat hand and exerted force. The metal helmet crumpled, and blood flowed from the pirate¡¯s head inside.

    ¡®They must have seen me through the camera, so they¡¯lle after me.¡¯

    In this forest, there are easily over a dozen pirate camps. Searching for each camp one by one would be cumbersome, and if they set traps with powerful weapons on the other side, there was a high chance I¡¯d fall into them.

    ¡®It¡¯s not like other times when I¡¯d go there directly.¡¯

    Not this time. Making theme to me, stepping into the traps I set¡ª that¡¯s the essence of this fight. They must have been on high alert after seeing the corpses hung in the trees; the camera on the helmet would have caught it all. Somehow, they¡¯d put in extra effort to capture me.

    Certainly, if enemies from all directions press me with powerful weapons, it would be an unfavorable situation, but fortunately, that¡¯s impossible.

    ¡®It¡¯s difficult to move here with transport ships. Thending points are limited.¡¯

    Even the pirates who came to the camp with the lost contactnded in a distant clearing before proceeding. To capture me, they would ultimately have tond in predetermined locations and move on foot. In other words, predicting their movements is not challenging for me. Unless they decide to burn the entire forest with a battleship, everything is within my grasp.

    ¡®Well then, let¡¯s get ready.¡¯

    I moved while carrying the pirate and Nightstalker corpses. Behind me, a group of paralyzed pirates followed, pulled along.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    The pirates, dragged with imprints on the ground, seemed eager to escape somehow. However, after witnessing me casually chewing on a colleague¡¯s head like eating a snack, they quieted down.

    The night is not long. There are many traps I need to create using the Walkers, the remaining tools at the camp, and the pirates.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Temporary headquarters camp devised by Humanity¡¯s Cult division¡¯s leader Dn. Inside themand tent, there was a static atmosphere. It was due to the video sent by the team that went to investigate Camp 17.

    After rewatching the video multiple times with cold eyes, Dn summoned his deputy.

    ¡°Gather my equipment and select 30 of our best fighters.¡±

    ¡°Do I not need to inform the leader first?¡±

    ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m in charge here. If I don¡¯t deal with this shit, do you think the leader will just leave me be?¡±

    Although Dn was a cult figure beloved by the Cartel leader, he wasn¡¯t showered with so much love that he could cover up every mistake. The leader of Humanity considered all her subordinates expendable. Dn, too, was just a toy receiving affection from her. If the leader knew there was a problem with the camp, she would immediately strike him down.

    ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve already cleared all the Wolf viges around here. If I crush one damn bird before going, there won¡¯t be any issues.¡±

    ¡°Understood, boss.¡±

    After receiving the orders, the subordinate left, and Dn reyed the video. It was to grasp as much as possible about what type of creature it was, its attack methods, or habits.

    ¡°Daring to provoke me? Do they know who I am?¡±

    Although treated as a toy by the leader of the Humanity cartel, Dn, as the leader of all the cultists in the humanity, was a formidable figure in hunting dangerous creatures. While waiting for his subordinates to bring his exclusive equipment, he repeatedly reviewed the video. However, even with the preparations, a lingering unease remained in a corner of his mind.

    A monster ughtering pirates in the darkness. Somehow, he couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that the creature smelled simr to the leader of Humanity.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 108

    Chapter 108

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡°The preparation isplete.¡±

    ¡°Copy that.¡±

    Upon the report of the deputy chief, Dn stood up from his seat. Currently, he was wearing an upgraded high-grade reinforced suit on his body and a mask with a unique design on his face. The mask, resembling a death mask with a silver surface that looked like a human face, was named ¡®Indomitable Mask.¡¯ It was specially bestowed to him by the leader, providing the wearer with concealment against detection devices, and immunity to psychic powers affecting poison and the mind.

    Moreover, the Indomitable Mask had the incredible advantage of beingpatible with any equipment. For instance, the auto-sma gun attached to his shoulder could automatically shoot at enemies and remain undetectable by conventional detection devices, thanks to its connection with the mask.

    Among the gear he wore, nothing was cheap, but Dn didn¡¯t mind. The opponent they were about to face was far from easy. When Dn emerged from the tent, 30 heavily armed pirates were waiting for him in the open space of the campsite. All of them were d in high-grade reinforced suits, each holding a Gauss rifle in their hands. Additionally, they carried portable sma rocketunchers and purple spray guns as infantry support weapons.

    ¡°What about the Heavy Walker?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s already on board.¡±

    Furthermore, there was a Heavy Walker d in thick armor, armed with a storm gun and a smauncher. Cartels that could deploy such high-level equipment throughout the entire space dock were not verymon.

    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s proceed with the encircling tactic as usual.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Dn always divided his team into three during hunts: a reconnaissance team to search for prey, a driving team to lead or lure the prey, and finally, a striking team to deliver the blows. The reconnaissance team consisted of six members, including the deputy chief; the driving team had 10 members, and the striking team, including Dn and the walker, had 16 members. In total, 32 members executed the hunting operation together.

    The pirates¡¯ reinforced suits and weapons were also tailored to their teams and roles. For example, the reconnaissance team wore lightweight reinforced suits with stealth capabilities, while the driving and striking teams were armed with armor that increased their defense.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Everyone on board!¡±

    Following Dn, the pirates boarded therge transport ship one by one. The transport ship, carrying the walker and the pirates, soared through the morning mist. The damp air peculiar to the jungle quickly filled the transport ship. The pirates silently double-checked the equipment they brought, their faces frozen in tension, but there was no sign of fear.

    For a long time, the pirates of the Humanity Cartel had fought against formidable enemies. They had experienced defeats at times, but they always emerged as the survivors.

    ¡°Unknown monster? Whether it¡¯s a monster or not, let¡¯s show it who the real monster is.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    The pirates responded enthusiastically to Dn¡¯s words. Therge transport ship, flying swiftly, soon reached the airspace above thending point.

    ¡°Boss, we¡¯re almost there.¡±

    ¡°Good. Once we¡¯re down, everyone will start their search from Camp 17¡¯s perimeter.¡±

    As therge transport ship prepared tond on the expansive clearing, the pirates finished their preparations by loading weapons or boarding the walker. And just as thending gear of the transport ship touched the ground, Dn heard something.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    He realized it was the sound of a mine detonating, but by then, it was already toote. A massive explosion engulfed those aboard the transport ship.

    ***

    ¡®It¡¯s begun.¡¯

    In the distance, pirs of fire shot up into the sky. The mines I had nted earlier had exploded. I had interrogated pirates captured before their arrival to learn thending zones of the enemy¡¯s transport ships in advance. Then, I collected defensive mines stored at the camp and strategically ced them in the anticipated open spaces where the enemies woulde.

    ¡®They¡¯ll likely be wearing high quality reinforced suits, so they won¡¯t die from that.¡¯

    Maybe there will be two to three casualties at most? I didn¡¯t expect too many pirates from that, but just blocking the enemy¡¯s retreat is a significant achievement. With the objective achieved, I leaped from the treetops.

    ¡®Next is¡­¡¯

    I sprinted through the misty forest, breaking small trees as I went, startling small creatures that scurried away. As the moisture in the air thickened, the trees suddenly cleared, revealing a wide riverbank.

    There, hundreds of creatures resembling Stegosauruses had gathered. They were nt Lizards, creatures I had once preyed upon in the space city. Though they resembled herbivorous dinosaurs, they were ssified as nt-like organisms.

    Their ecology matched their appearance; they obtained nutrients in well-lit areas during the day and came to the water¡¯s edge like this at night to consume moisture.

    ¡®Sorry to disturb your leisure, but¡­¡¯

    I needed the help of my forest friends now. I roared vigorously towards them.

    Roar!

    A tremendous roar echoed throughout the entire forest, emanating from a body that approached 12 meters in length, including the tail. Sleeping gagon herds atop the trees were startled and leaped into the air, while roars of other predators guarding me from within the forest were heard.

    Upon hearing my roar, the herd of nt Lizards all woke from their slumber.

    ¡°Kiee?¡±

    ¡°Kiee! Kiee!¡±

    Thergest male, measuring 10 meters, looked at me and emitted a short roar. Upon hearing that sound, the entire herd began fleeing in the opposite direction.

    ¡®Good.¡¯

    I pursued them, brandishing my tail and roaring to instill fear. The male, in the middle of the herd, asionally stood his ground, attempting to drive me away to protect the group.

    During those moments, I pretended to attack the male without directly confronting him, targeting other nt Lizards behind him. If the male tried to protect the family, I threatened another, and as he moved, I targeted yet another.

    As this repeated, the nt Lizard herd continued to run away desperately.

    ¡®Let¡¯s keep it this way.¡¯

    My intention was to make the herd overrun the pirates while fleeing. nt Lizards didn¡¯t have any means of attack except for the spikes on their tails, but when gathered in a herd between 5 to 10 meters in size, they became formidable.

    Even heavily armored walkers would stand no chance if they were overwhelmed by such a herd.

    ¡®And I¡¯ll target the enemies in the meantime.¡¯

    Although they would likely recover quickly due to their profiles, my strategy didn¡¯t end here. I still had over dozens of ways to deal with them.

    ¡®We¡¯re almost there.¡¯

    The auxiliary organ under my jaw whispered to me.

    The ignorant fools were approaching.

    ***

    ¡°2 casualties in the reconnaissance team, 1 injured in the driving team, 1 walker immobilized.¡±

    ¡°¡­Damn it, aren¡¯t you including the casualties on the transport ship and the pilot? Can¡¯t you do your job properly?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, sorry!¡±

    The damages Dn¡¯s party incurred before enteringbat were significant. Particrly, their primary firepower holder, one of the five Heavy Walkers, was damaged and wasn¡¯t able to function properly. Now, only four Heavy Walkers remained.

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    Someone had made a makeshift scarecrow using a skinned corpse hanging from a tree. They should have anticipated our arrival and us utilizing bombs and weapons.

    It was a mistake to think only about fighting dangerous beasts.

    ¡°Disband the reconnaissance team, and tell the remaining members to all join the driving team.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°Boss, what about the injured?¡±

    Upon hearing another pirate¡¯s question, Dn approached the injured member of the driving team. Given the twisted state of his legs, walking seemed impossible.

    Without hesitation, Dn shot him with the auto-sma gun strapped to his shoulder.

    ¡°We don¡¯t need injured in our cartel.¡±

    No one among Dn¡¯s subordinates protested against his actions. Being alone in this hellish forest in an injured state was essentially a death sentence.

    The pirates gathered their tools, ammunition, and other essentials from the wreckage of the transport ship and headed towards Camp 17.

    When they were close to the camp, the deputy chief at the forefront sent a signal.

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    At that signal, all the pirates came to a halt. While other pirates vigntly scanned their surroundings with night vision goggles integrated into their reinforced helmets, Dn activated the concealment detection function of the Indomitable Mask.

    A violet me flickered in the eyes of the mask, and the forms of creatures hidden in the forest were revealedpletely within his field of vision.

    ¡°Check direction at 11 o¡¯clock.¡±

    Upon hearing the deputy chief¡¯s words, the pirates¡¯ gun barrels all pointed in unison towards the 11 o¡¯clock direction. Dn¡¯s auto-sma gun, attached to his shoulder, also moved in alignment with his sight.

    ¡°Krugh!¡±

    Roar!

    Beastly roars echoed from a distance. Everything seemed normal in the surroundings ¨C the dense fog, the unknown animal sounds. However there was one exception.

    In the extremely tense atmosphere, the pirates sweated coldly down the back of their necks.

    As the roars grew louder, Dn raised his finger on the trigger to intercept the approaching threat.

    At that moment, he felt a subtle tremor in the ground.

    ¡°An earthquake?¡±

    He ced his palm on the ground, feeling the vibrations rising through his knees. What initially started as a gentle shake escted into a more pronounced tremor.

    ¡°No way? Damn it! Scatter!¡±

    As Dn shouted, massive reptilian creatures with a dark green glow emerged from the thick fog.

    A herd of nt Lizards, adorned with impressive dorsal tes, ambushed the pirates who were waiting.

    ¡°Aaargh!¡±

    ¡°These bastards! Everyone scatter behind trees! Don¡¯t engage in a direct fight!¡±

    Reacting to Dn¡¯s orders, the pirates quickly jumped behind trees or rocks. Surprisingly, the nt Lizards passed them without attacking as if the pirates weren¡¯t even there.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    However, the heavily-armored Heavy Walkers, who due to theirrge size, couldn¡¯t move quickly. One out of the four was caught by the charging nt Lizard herd while trying to shoot them with a smauncher, missing the timing to evade.

    As a result, the Heavy Walker was overwhelmed by the rushing nt Lizards.

    Even with the thick armor, facing hundreds of creatures weighing over 10 tons each was an impossible feat.

    It crumbled as the herd trampled over it, the protected control seats were destroyed, and the pilot inside was crushed without even putting up a fight.

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    Yet, their ordeal wasn¡¯t over. Something with a jet-ck exterior burst out from among the nt Lizard herd and charged towards one of the remaining walkers.

    With momentum from the charge, it collided with the Heavy Walker, and two thick horns prated the reinforced ss of the walker¡¯s control seat.

    ¡°It¡¯s here!¡±

    ¡°Open fire!¡±

    The pirates immediately started shooting at the monster who was attached to the walker. Piercing rounds formed attice from gauss rifles, and a purple me erupted from the purple spray gun.

    As soon as the creature withdrew its horns, it evaded the pirates¡¯ assault and vanished into the opposite side of the forest.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the Walker pilot? Confirm his condition quickly!¡±

    While the assault and striking teams were firing at the monsters, one pirate from the reconnaissance team checked the interior of the Walker.

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°He urately prated the pilot¡¯s chest.¡±

    Dn¡¯s face twisted in a grimace upon hearing the report. The battle hadn¡¯t even started, yet they had already lost three valuable Heavy Walkers.

    ¡°Ugh¡­aaaargh!¡±

    Dn¡¯s scream echoed through the forest, a cry filled with frustration.

    ***

    ¡®At this point, they must be pretty pissed.¡¯

    Hearing the enemy leader¡¯s angry shouts, I couldn¡¯t help but feel strangely satisfied. The more they lose theirposure, the more advantageous it is for me.

    ¡®I expected it, but they came with some good equipment.¡¯

    Although I suspected that the Humanity Cartel had a lot of money, their equipment exceeded the usual pirate category. With Heavy Walkers armed with smaunchers on both arms, they could kill me, even when I was in the state of the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯.

    Therefore, my top priority was to eliminate the Heavy Walkers. The unfortunate part was that I could only take out two of them.

    Originally, I nned to take advantage of the chaos to ambush and clear the other Walkers, but unexpectedly, the enemy¡¯s onught was fierce.

    ¡®They brought the Purple Spray Gun.¡¯

    The Purple Spray Gun was a kind of a psychic methrower. It was just like my Psychic breath though its power was half of it, however it increases the range of the attack making the spray cover a wide distance. Although I had psychic resistance, it wasn¡¯t a weapon to be taken lightly if I were to get hit.

    Currently, there were two Walkers left, and the pirates with the Purple Spray Guns were still intact.

    I needed to somehow finish off the Walkers with the next trap. Only then could I focus on dealing with the pirates wielding the Purple Spray Guns.

    ¡®Alright. Let¡¯s go and check the¡­ huh?¡¯

    As I tried to move to the next trap, the auxiliary organ warned me. It detected something in the vicinity.

    ¡®Is it invisible?¡¯

    Even with my exceptional vision, I was not able to see anyone. Since the auxiliary organ wouldn¡¯t lie to me, I concentrated for a moment.

    The scent of soil on the ground, the smell of moss clinging to rocks, the moistureposing the fog, the sound of trees absorbing water and breathing, the scent of sweat¡­

    ¡®Wait, the scent of sweat?¡¯

    A strange scent mingled in the air. Extremely faint, almost impossible to detect without concentration, but it was undoubtedly the scent emitted when a human was tense and nervous.

    I slightly flicked the end of my tail in the direction of the sweaty scent. The thorn hairs stuck to something transparent.

    The thorns hit the target and rendered it immobile causing it to fall to the ground..

    It was a man wearing a cloaking device simr to the invisibility-enhanced camouge suit that a sniper had worn in a previous battle in the space city.

    ¡®A cloaking device?¡¯

    This was perfect. Originally, I had prepared another trap after this. However, obtaining such a valuable item fell into my hands unexpectedly, and it sparked an amusing thought.

    ¡®You¡¯ll be a valuable asset.¡¯

    I picked up the man in the invisibility-enhanced suit and moved on to the next location.

    The pirates who entered this forest still had a lot to see.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 109

    Chapter 109

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Even the forest that couldn¡¯t be seen a step ahead due to the dew and darkness weed the morning. Light spread over the dark forest floor. The ground was slightly wet from the mist and dew that urred in the early morning.

    Footprints covered the moist soil. These were traces left by pirates and walkers moving through. Since it was now morning, there were no significant problems with their movement and search, unlike the previous dawn.

    However, their atmosphere had changed significantly from a few hours ago when they arrived at this ce. Unfamiliar emotions filled their faces hidden behind helmets¡ªfear. It was the fear instinctively felt by those facing danger.

    ¡°Boss, is the deputy chief still alive?¡±

    ¡°Shut up.¡±

    ¡°¡­Okay.¡±

    When Dn growled, the subordinate immediately silenced. Currently, they were using a detector to track the missing assistant chief. The assistant chief disappeared abruptly during an attack, most likely taken away by some monster.

    ¡°Damn it! If the leader finds out about this¡­¡±

    The assistant chief was a person directly assigned by the leader to assist Dn. If she finds out that he has been captured by a monster, she would not let it go unpunished. To avoid an unfortunate future, they had to capture the monster at any cost, whether alive or dead.

    ¡°Enemy detected!¡±

    As soon as the walker operator shouted, everyone opened fire towards the creatures hiding in the trees. In a matter of seconds, one with only the lower body remaining fell to the ground.

    ¡°¡­Wood Devils. There are two more, so keep looking.¡±

    Although only weak wood devils seemed to be dying since a while ago, there was no sign of the main one. It was possible that it had escaped far from this ce, but Dn was confident that it wouldn¡¯t be the case.

    ¡°It¡¯s a hunter.¡±

    Moreover, a hunter capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the most lethal predators on this continent. Until all the pirates who entered this forest were dead, it wouldn¡¯t stop the massacre.

    ¡°Boss! Look over there!¡±

    At that moment, one of the subordinates pointed to the trees. Expecting wood devils, Dn raised his head, but what he saw was something worse.

    ¡°¡­This damn bastard.¡±

    Hanging from every tree were stripped corpses. It was a message¡ªeither a warning that they would be made the same way or a provocation that they were not worth more than this.

    Reading the meaning behind the hanging corpses, Dn gritted his teeth.

    ¡°Sir, shouldn¡¯t we retrieve the bodies?¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Whether it was Dn or the pirates present, there was little consciousness among them regarding the corpses. The reason for bringing up the need to retrieve the bodies was the presence of other predators in this forest.

    In the vicinity, there were no predators strong enough to threaten the pirates. However, due to the explosion and the movement of the nt Lizards that urred in the early morning, it couldn¡¯t be ruled out that predators from afar might havee here. For example, the ¡®Hond Gigrant.¡¯

    It is a bipedal carnivorous reptile with a body covered in scales as tough as the outer walls of a battleship, and jaw strength powerful enough to easily crush a heavy walker. Moreover, it always traveled in pairs, making it a difficult foe for the current group of pirates to confront.

    ¡°¡­They have a keen sense of smell.¡±

    Surely the monster that hung the corpses knew this fact and deliberately arranged them in that way. Those who were pursuing the missing deputy chief had to pass through this ce, increasing the likelihood of encountering another predator attracted by the scent of the corpses.

    ¡°Immediately pull those bodies out¡­ No, wait.¡±

    Dn, who was about to order his subordinates to retrieve the bodies, closed his mouth.

    ¡°No. Would it act like that?¡±

    It was the one who predicted thending point of the transport ship andid mines. The chance that such a cunning person did nothing to the corpses was slim.

    ¡°It hung the bodies low.¡±

    In the video sent by his subordinates, the corpses were hung high for a while, but now they weren¡¯t. It was a low enough position that even a pirate in reinforced armor could jump and grab them and pull them down.

    It was as if it was tempting us to retrieve the bodies.

    ¡°Something¡¯s off.¡±

    Dn aimed the purple spray gun at the bodies hanging on the trees. The violet mes spewing from the elongated barrel burned the corpses and trees.

    The barely suspended body fell to the ground, and uponnding, it exploded with a loud noise.

    ¡°That bastard!¡±

    He hid a bomb inside the corpse, which was rigged to explode upon impact. In other words, a double trap. Whether he removed the body or not, it would still be a problem.

    ¡°¡­Ugh, let¡¯s get out of here as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°Understood!¡±

    Passing through the path with the bombs was certainly not a good choice, but it couldn¡¯t be helped. It was better than drawing the attention of other predators due to the explosion.

    Dn and the pirates swiftly moved away from the bodies.

    ¡°50 meters ahead, the deputy chief¡¯s movement has stopped!¡±

    Although they were getting closer to the deputy chief, Dn felt more uneasy. He had no idea what kind of scheme that monster might be nning this time.

    ¡°Everyone, stop.¡±

    It seems like he, who was wearing the indomitable mask, needs to inspect it personally.

    ¡°You, you, and youe with me. The rest wait.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Dn, along with some subordinates, stepped forward. As they pushed through the dense grass, a wide clearing appeared in front of them. Beneath the trees in the clearing, the deputy chief was leaning against a tree trunk.

    The reinforced armor he was wearing, whether torn apart by monsters or due to some other reason, was severely damaged. Except for the abdominal area, the rest was torn.

    Dn first scanned the surroundings with the indomitable mask. If it was concealing itself, it would appear as a violet light, but there was no sign of any creature in the vicinity.

    Upon closer inspection of the deputy chief, his body was seen writhing. He was still alive.

    ¡°Damn, are you alive?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ugh! Ugh!¡±

    He seemed to have suffered serious injuries, as he could only groan without being able to move. Dn gestured to his subordinate.

    One pirate cautiously approached the assistant chief.

    ¡°Deputy Chief?¡±

    ¡°Ugh! Ugh!¡±

    As the pirate approached, the deputy chief¡¯s groans became more intense.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Approaching closely, the pirate noticed that something was strange with the deputy chief. His abdomen was unnaturally swollen.

    As the pirate was about to touch his abdomen, at that moment, the reinforced armor burst open, and ck beetles attached to the inside rushed out, attacking the pirate.

    ***

    ¡®Alright.¡¯

    The hidden tooth fairies initiated their actions. Now it¡¯s my turn.

    As a metal-eating being in stealth mode, I had crawled up to the top of the tree trunk, avoiding detection by the enemies.

    ¡®The leader over there seems to have made some calctions as well.¡¯

    Detecting the bomb trap was quite clever, but it was within my expected range. They were too focused on the corpses, and thanks to that, they didn¡¯t notice me hiding at the top of the tree trunk.

    ¡®It¡¯s in the palm of my hand.¡¯

    I leaped down from the tree trunk. The target was the walker preparing forbat from the rear.

    My body, now significantly heavier due to the nightmare horizon effect, descended rapidly. Unaware of me falling, the walker, charging its smauncher, remained oblivious.

    ¡°Huh?!¡±

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    The walker I collided with toppled forward. As it fell, the charginguncher fired, turning two nearby pirates into dust.

    ¡°It¡¯s the monster!¡±

    A shout from inside the cockpit echoed. It was intended to wipe them out in one go, but unfortunately, it was a failure.

    The thick steel gloves surrounding the cockpit were bent like a spoon due to my collision, but it seemed it wasn¡¯t enough to kill the pilot.

    Other pirates and walkers turned back in response to the pilot¡¯s words.

    I activated the Ghost ws and reached into the cockpit. After manipting my hand a few times, I silenced the pilot in one go and quickly leaped forward. Just in time, a sma beam passed above my back.

    [Activating Pain nullification!]

    ¡°Oh no!¡±

    I thought I had escaped unharmed, but it wasn¡¯t the case. The beam had destroyed the dorsal te on my back.

    Until I recovered, the Electromaic interference was unavable.

    Following the beam, purple mes from the Purple Spray Gun erupted towards me from all directions.

    ¡®¡­It¡¯s incredibly hot.¡¯

    The mes of psychic origin seared my outeryer. The Purple Spray Gun had formidable destructive power, and the mes, made of unrefined psychic power, wouldn¡¯t easily extinguish. It continued to burn until a certain amount of time had passed.

    Currently, I was in a state with Psychic Enhancement type, Psychic Immunity trait, and Pain Nullification trait. Thanks to these, I stopped feeling pain before it became unbearable; otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to move properly.

    ¡®Even though I used Metal Absorption, it¡¯s a shame.¡¯

    The transparency was useless because of the purple mes sticking to my body.

    ¡®¡­But even in this state, there¡¯s a strategy I can use.¡¯

    With the mes still on my body, I rushed towards the remaining walker. The guy charging theuncher hurriedly activated the shoulder-mounted grenadeuncher as I approached.

    ¡®How foolish.¡¯

    The grenade, packed with concentrated sma energy, hit my head and bounced off. The rebounded grenadended in front of the pirates pouring psychic mes at me.

    ¡°What the¡­!¡±

    Ignoring the thunderous explosion from behind, I charged towards the walker. Unlike the walker helplessly attacked during the dawn, this one tilted his body to let my charge slide off.

    Though the horn left an elongated mark on the external armor of the cockpit, it didn¡¯t pierce through. Dodging my horn, the walker kicked me and pushed me away.

    Focused on the charge, I was greatly pushed back by the walker¡¯s kick.

    ¡®But it doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯

    Despite the walker aiming theuncher at me, his intention couldn¡¯t be fulfilled.

    ¡°Ugh¡­ughhh!¡±

    This was because the psychic mes engulfing my body had transferred to the walker.

    As the cockpit was engulfed in purple mes, the pilot hastily escaped from inside.

    ¡®Where are you going?¡¯

    I swung my tail at him as he attempted to flee.

    Hit by the tail covered in sturdy scales, he flew far away and collided with a tree. The moment he collided with the tree, he turned into a mosquito-like shape, squashed against the palm of my hand.

    ¡°Shoot! Shoot and kill that thing!¡±

    The pirate leader who had gone ahead for reconnaissance was now back, screaming. The auto-sma gun on his shoulder was precisely aiming and shooting at me. I turned my head, aimed my arm, and blocked the iing sma bullets. It stung a bit, but it was still endurable.

    ¡®Should I change my position?¡¯

    Avoiding the psychic mes and sma bullets, I leaped into the midst of the pirates. The Purple Spray Gun doesn¡¯t discriminate between friend and foe. Pirates wielding methrowers hesitated and stopped shooting.

    ¡°These idiots! Shoot him now!¡±

    The cunning pirate leader shouted, but it was already toote. I pulled out all the weapons from mybat arm.

    First, I struck the head of a pirate with a bone axe who seemed unsure of what to do.

    ¡°Kek!¡±

    While his brain matter scattered, a blood-red blood-sucking tentacle grabbed another pirate¡¯s leg.

    ¡°Ugh?!¡±

    The pirate entangled by the blood-sucking tentacle turned into a 1.9m-long club, used to beat down other pirates.

    ¡°Kkeuk!¡±

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    Even for a pirate wearing sturdy reinforced armor, the club made from a pirate in the same attire was unbearable. Like bowling pins hit by a bowling ball, the pirates fell over.

    Perhaps realizing theirrades were being abandoned, the other pirates once again attempted to activate the Purple Spray Gun.

    I opened my mouth wide towards them.

    A pouch with malicious fungi from the internal organs of my throat was expelled outward. The ck masses flew in an arc andnded behind the pirates with methrowers. With the sound of bursting water balloons, the wicked fungi were released, clinging to the pirates.

    ¡°K¡­kyak!¡±

    ¡°A¡­agh¡­aghhh!¡±

    The pirates screamed in a strange manner as they writhed. Thanks to the enhanced infection trait, the effects of space bacteria and contamination fungi were even more potent.

    The contaminated fungi, now much more malicious than before, rapidly consumed the pirates¡¯ bodies.

    ¡°Th¡­this damn¡­ Retreat! Retreat!¡±

    The walkers were wiped out, and the remaining pirates had significantly dwindled.

    At the retreat order from the pirate leader, other pirates turned around and started to run away.

    I didn¡¯t chase after them. Instead, I gathered around the pirates who were still alive in the vicinity.

    ¡°S¡­stop¡­ Kkek!¡±

    ¡®I should recover before chasing them.¡¯

    I carefully chewed on the head of a struggling pirate. The dorsal te, which activates the jamming trait, was damaged, and the entire body suffered burns due to psychic mes.

    Rather than hastily pursuing the enemy, it was preferable to recover from wounds and replenish energy before moving.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already eliminated all the walkers and methrower troops anyway.¡±

    The one who seemed to be the leader was armed only with the Purple Spray Gun and an auto-sma gun. In this perilous forest, they were like wounded deer.

    ¡®Now, I¡¯m the pursuer.¡¯

    It¡¯s a bit disappointing that I won¡¯t be using the traps I had prepared, but it¡¯s okay. I love a good pursuit.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 110

    Chapter 110

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡°Damn it! Screw this!¡±

    Dn cursed incessantly. His subordinates beside him cast uneasy nces as he muttered under his breath.

    ¡°I underestimated the enemy too much!¡±

    After a prolonged escape, they were momentarily taking a break behind a rock, hidden from sight. Only six people, including Dn, were able to survive. The fate of the other subordinates was uncertain. However, judging by theplete cessation of gunfire that was heard from afar just a few minutes ago, it was easy to imagine the grim oue they might have faced.

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    Including Dn and the Deputy chief, 32 people hade here, along with five heavy walkers. Now, only six people were left. Even if they managed to escape unscathed, it was inconceivable for Dn, who had caused such chaos, go unpunished.

    ¡°¡­Contact the cruiser.¡±

    Despite the circumstances, Dn chose to contact the cruiser, as it seemed to be the most viable option for his survival. Dn believed that even enduring torture was better than dying.

    Dn disconnected the wire from the terminal attached to his wrist and connected it to a socket on a mask resembling a death mask at the corner.

    Then, he pressed the button on the terminal, andmunication with the cruiser was established. A short connection sound emanated from the terminal, and amunications soldier received his transmission.

    ¡°Dn here. Where¡¯s the leader?¡±

    [She left for the continent this morning. Apparently, she got information about a treasure from that sky mother of beasts we caught not long ago.]

    ¡°Oh, really?¡±

    Upon hearing themunications soldier¡¯s words, Dn breathed a sigh of relief. The pirates listening nearby also showed relieved expressions.

    Without the leader, Dn would be the top member of the Human Cartel. If they captured the monster with the forces of the cruiser before the leader returned, the severity of the punishment for them would likely be reduced.

    ¡°There¡¯s a top-grade danger creature here. I¡¯ll send the information, so record it in the ship¡¯s database.¡±

    [Sure, understood!]

    As Dn manipted the terminal, the video information about the monster recorded by his mask was transmitted directly to the cruiser¡¯sputer.

    [All information has been transmitted.]

    ¡°Good. Our lives are in danger, so we need to act right away¡­¡±

    [zzz¡­zzz.zzz..zzz]

    Dn tried to request support, but suddenly, noise interfered, and the terminal became unresponsive.

    ¡°This bastard! Bring the cruiser here immediately!¡±

    [zzz..zzzz¡­zz¡­zzz.z]

    ¡°Damn!¡±

    In his anger, Dn was about to strike the terminal, but then he heard the sound of trees breaking nearby.

    When a colossal creature moved, the sound was something these pirates in this ce were quite familiar with.

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    Everyone trembled, with their mouths agape in fear. It¡¯s not like theycked the weapons to inflict harm on the creature. They had a grenadeuncher, the purple spray gun Dn was holding, and an auto-sma gun. The problem was that using all of these they could only cause harm to the creature, but not kill it. Everyone knew what happened when that creature retaliated against other pirates. That¡¯s why they chose to hide and endure rather than confront it directly, hoping the creature would pass by without realizing they were there.

    Thud, thud, thud.

    The wet ground vibrated every time the creature¡¯s heavy footsteps were put on it. As the sound of footsteps grew louder, Dn reached a point where he couldn¡¯t tell if the noise was the creature¡¯s footsteps or his own heartbeat.

    The seemingly eternal sound of footsteps came to a stop. In contrast, Dn¡¯s heartbeats reached their peak.

    *Growl*

    The creature growled. Hearing it so close, they could pinpoint its location. The creature was behind the rock where they were hiding.

    What the hell should I do? What¡¯s the best course of action? Damn, should I attack now? No, what if it goes wrong? Screw it! I don¡¯t want to die!

    Dn, in an extreme state of tension, seemed on the verge of losing his mind. His subordinates beside him were simrly trembling visibly, with their arms and legs shaking.

    ¡°Grr¡±

    The instigator who had terrified the pirates like this moved its steps again. With each step, the reverberation felt from the creature¡¯s heavy feet gradually subsided.

    Only then did the pirates breathe a sigh of relief, visibly rxing. Some pirates were so tense that they even vomited on the spot.

    Despite the nauseating smell, Dn didn¡¯t me his subordinates. Even he, a powerful cultist with a strong mental will, wanted to vomit but managed to hold back.

    The pirates hiding behind rocks started to stand up one by one, surveying the surroundings. Dn, after a deep breath, also got up from his position.

    The creature was nowhere in sight, perhaps it was already gone.

    Thinking it was fortunate, as he stretched, tilting his head back.

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    Dn realized the true meaning of the expression ¡®heart froze.¡¯ A purple mass was vividly glowing on a dead branch beside the rock.

    ¡°Fo..un..d¡­yo..u¡±

    As soon as he grasped that fact, Dn felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. A thorn, about the size of a kitchen knife, flew from the creature¡¯s tail and embedded itself in his shoulder. Another thorn pierced the auto-sma gun mounted on his shoulder, causing it to malfunction.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    ¡°Cough!¡±

    Not only did Dn get hit, but the pirates nearby also emitted short screams. They stumbled backward without energy.

    ¡®Poison!¡¯

    [Co..me¡­o..n]

    Seemingly unexpected, the creature smirked. Thanks to the unyielding mask, Dn was not poisoned by the toxin. He quickly ran in the opposite direction. As he fled, thorns flew towards his back and stuck into the ground.

    Dn, reinforced by an enhancement drug in his reinforced suit, used every ounce of strength to run. Despite never using it before due to its side effects, now was not the time to consider such things. He had never witnessed such a vividly terrifying situation in his life. Even when he first met his leader, who massacred countless lives with a smile, it wasn¡¯t as terrifying.

    The term ¡®monster¡¯ was too mild for the creature. It was the embodiment of the primal fear that all sentient beings possess.

    ¡°Heuk¡­heuk¡­heuk¡­heuk¡­¡±

    Running breathlessly, Dn realized there was no sound of footsteps behind him and nced back. Although the creature was not visible, he didn¡¯t stop running. With his ears ringing from the mad dash, the sound of the wind seemed too faint to be a fighter jet, and there was no fluttering sound characteristic of a dragon.

    Turning his head to identify the source of the sound, Dn could finally make out the creature¡¯s form. Flying through the trees, it had four arms, thick legs, and a tail much longer than its body, connected by a membrane between its arms and tail.

    ¡°Damn, it can fly.¡±

    Dn gave up the escape. While standing there dumbfounded and swearing, the creaturended in front of him.

    ***

    ¡®So it was because of this.¡¯

    I examined the mask in my hand, it was an equipment I obtained from the deceased pirate leader with folded waist. It was a silver mask resembling a human¡¯s death mask, and I knew the identity of this mask.

    ¡®It¡¯s the Cult Quest reward, but how did he manage to get it?¡¯

    Known as the Unyielding Mask, it grants immunity to poison and mental attacks to the wearer, as well as the ability to see hidden targets.

    It¡¯s not amon piece of equipment, as it¡¯s a reward obtained from clearing a Cult Quest, though not of the unique grade. Obtaining the Unyielding Mask requires clearing a rtivelyplex dungeon.

    ¡®Are there other yers here besides me?¡¯

    yers might naturally ept quests, but this is the real world. It was hard to imagine that the pirate in front of me fully understood the system of quests and obtained this equipment.

    ¡®If there are other yers besides me, how did theye in?¡¯

    Until now, I thought I was the only one who entered the world of Space Survival, never considering the existence of other users. If there were, it would pose a significant problem.

    ¡®How should I deal with them?¡¯

    I don¡¯t have much to say after devouring countless people, but when the target is a yer, it bes a different matter. They grew up and lived in the same world as me. Frankly speaking, they are closer beings than those in this Space Survival world. So, if by any chance they dere hostility towards me, would I willingly fight against them?

    The reason I ponder this is because I am Amorph. If they are yers who have enjoyed the game for a long time, the likelihood of them trying to kill me is high. Moreover, for my ascension, I inevitably have to be hostile to other yers.

    ¡®Because the conditions for ascension dictate so.¡¯

    Simr to Amorph¡¯s ascension, other species also include the subjugation of beings from different races in their ultimate goals. If other yers aim for ascension, the possibility of having a friendly rtion with them is very low.

    ¡®¡­No. The information is still too scarce.¡¯

    It¡¯s premature to decide how to deal with other yers. It¡¯s much more productive to gather enough information and make a decision with a clear mind. I should probably ask the pirates I paralyzed earlier about it. Where and how they obtained the Unyielding Mask. If it was obtained through looting, then from whom, etc.

    I grabbed the mask and devoured the body of the cult leader without leaving anything behind.

    ¡®Other yers huh¡­¡¯

    If yers exist somewhere in this world, I should meet them after bing as strong as possible. Even if I decide not to be hostile towards them, they might be hostile towards me. If I meet them in a weakened state, I¡¯ll only be a ve or prey. The thought of bing someone¡¯s ve or prey is intolerable for me.

    So, I immediately did what only an Amorph can do: hunt, prey, and evolve.

    ¡®I must be more powerful than anyone to make decisions freely at the moment of choice.¡¯

    With that in mind, I retraced my steps. The paralyzed pirates are probably still eagerly waiting for me. However, what awaited me was not the pirates.

    ¡°Grrrrrr.¡±

    Seeing them, I quickly crouched down. The protective coloration effect activated, changing my body color to a shade simr to the nearby reddish deadwood.

    ¡°Grr?¡±

    Arge theropod with horns on its head, a 20-meter body length and a height of 9 meters to the hip, looked away from devouring pirates and nced in my direction. It was a dangerous creature, a Hond Gigrant, positioned high in the food chain of this forest.

    ¡°Grrrrrr?¡±

    Although it couldn¡¯t see me, it sensed a different scenting from my direction. However, the scent of cult blood from my body seemed to mix with the scent of the pirates¡¯ blood, making it difficult to clearly distinguish.

    While one focused on finding me in hiding, the other tried to secretly snatch a pirate.

    ¡°Grrrrrr.¡±

    ¡°Graaaaaah!¡±

    ¡°Grrr¡­.¡±

    The one that had been staring at me finally stopped paying attention and roared at another, implying not to stare at me. They devoured all five pirates around the rocks and leisurely left.

    ¡®Oh no.¡¯

    Confirming their departure, I stood up.

    ¡®The Hond Gigrant came all the way here.¡¯

    I considered trying to confront them, but at my current level, it¡¯s challenging to deal with them.

    ¡®I could somehow kill one, but¡­.¡¯

    Hond Gigrant is already a powerful predator, and it has a fearsome unique ability.

    ¡®It¡¯s difficult to deal with when it goes into Frenzy Mode.¡¯

    Hond Gigrant always travels in pairs, and if one of them dies, the remaining one¡¯s stats be significantly higher. It¡¯s already tough exterior bes even tougher, making it nearly impossible to inflict damage with my psychokinesis breath. Its jaw strength also bes so powerful that it can easily crush my head.

    Even if I manage to win in a fight, if the injuries be too severe, it would be a loss. Because there are still enemies left for me to fight with.

    ¡®I should move again once they leave.¡¯

    Originally, the habitat of Hond Gigrant is far from here. They probably came here due to the bomb I used while hunting pirates, attracting their attention.

    They will probably return to their habitat when they are satisfied with their meal.

    ¡®But seriously, they ate everything without leaving anything?¡¯

    Because Hond Gigrant devoured all the pirates, there¡¯s no one left to ask about the origin of the mask.

    ¡®However, there are dozens of nearby camps.¡¯

    If I roam around and hunt pirates, I can somehow gather information. If that¡¯s not enough, I might have to aim for a cruiser.

    ¡®Let¡¯s rest until the Hond Gigrant leaves.¡¯

    I¡¯ve wiped out the pirates, and although I don¡¯t know how significant a stake they had in the Humanity Cartel, they are currently annihted. It will take some more time until the enemiese looking for me again.

    Climbing up a tree, I crouched down.

    Confirming the activation of the protective coloration, I quietly closed my eyes.

    Since entering this continent, I parted ways with the kids, hunted pirates with strange names, and obtained unexpected information about the yer.

    The jumbled thoughts inside my head gradually became blurry, and drowsiness started to overwhelm me.

    ¡®Come to think of it, it has been a long time since I slept alone.¡¯

    I¡¯ve always had Number 26 by my side all this time. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve closed my eyes alone.

    Feeling somewhat lonely for reasons unknown, I slowly drifted into sleep.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 111

    Chapter 111

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡°Do you know who Rick is?¡±

    ¡°Rick the wanderer? Of course, I know. What about him?¡±

    ¡°They lost contact with him at the camp.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Even in broad daylight, the pirates at the camp were on high alert. This was because orders hade from the battleship that served as their main base.

    ¡°I heard we have also lost contacts with the other camps, again¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s probably why we¡¯re on guard at this time too.¡±

    ¡°¡­Hey, wasn¡¯t this surrounding area supposed to be safe?¡±

    The pirate on guard froze at his colleague¡¯s ominous tone. In response, the colleague continued, reassuring him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The leader is supposed to return to the battleship in a day or two, ording to the orders from above.¡±

    ¡°Really? That¡¯s a relief. But why did she go out for so long in the first ce?¡±

    ¡°They didn¡¯t tell me that. There were rumors that it¡¯s because of the prisoner she captured a while ago.¡±

    ¡°I want to know more¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d love to tell you more, but I don¡¯t know¡­ Huh?¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    The pirates chatting suddenly turned to the voice that had interjected.

    There were only two people on guard at this spot.

    Their gazes went upward.

    There, a voice imitating a pirate¡¯s voice echoed ¨C ¡°it¡± was there.

    It¡¯s been a week since I arrived in Utopia-02. During this time, I raided various camps in the forest to gather information about the yer. One of the pirates at a camp mentioned that the indomitable mask I possess was originally bestowed by the pirate leader to the cult division leader, Dn. In other words, the cultist pirate I killed before was the cult division leader of the Humanity Cartel.

    Later, among the raided camps, there was arge camp where many pirates were stationed. There, I encountered someone wearing equipment simr to the cult¡¯s quest reward, just like the indomitable mask, which Dn was wearing. With this, I was partially sure that the leader of the Humanity Cartel is either a yer or closely rted to s yer.

    This meant I was facing a serious threat. I interrogated the pirates for more information. Summing up their words, the leader had three main characteristics: She belonged to the cult, was female, and was continuously acquiring unique artifacts through unknown means. Despite being a pirate, the leader was a morally upright person and possessed battleships and various powerful equipment. Therefore, the power gap between me and the pirate leader was significant.

    ¡®Even if I¡¯m skilled inbat in the wilderness, it won¡¯t be easy with such a huge power difference.¡¯

    And if the pirate leader is indeed the yer, there¡¯s a high possibility that they know about me. In that case, a significant portion of the tactics I¡¯ve used in the wilderness, like corpse bombs or skin-stripped corpses, is likely well-known among long-time yers.

    ¡®Fortunately, she isn¡¯t here.¡¯

    For reasons unknown, ording to the subordinates, the leader is currently away and will return to the battleship in two days. There was no indication of any response or preparation from the battleship regarding the leader¡¯s return.

    As the pirates mentioned just now, I had only issued a warning through the raided camps about my attacks. The intention was to lure the leader in, gather as much information as possible before her arrival, and then prepare for a full-scale assault when shees to capture me.

    Of course, the situation wasn¡¯t entirely unfavorable to me.

    ¡®I have time until the leader arrives.¡¯

    Usually, time isn¡¯t on my side, but this time is an exception.

    ¡®I have to evolve into a Quasi-Saint within two days.¡¯

    Chewing on the loot acquired from the camp, I activated a semi-transparent text box.

    [Evolution conditions for ¡®Quasi-Saint¡¯ have been partially met.

    Species capable of transformation 20/20 (Achieved)

    Sentient species 20/20 (Achieved)

    Species using psychic powers 20/20 (Achieved)

    Types owned 2/4 (Iplete)]

    ¡®The conditions for devouring a yable species have beenpleted.¡¯

    The only thing left is the number of types. To evolve into a pre-ascendant, a total of four types are required. I already have the physical enhancement type and the psychic enhancement type, and there are three potential types to be acquired in the future.

    [Avable Types (3) ¨C

    Infection Enhancement Type (6/8), Special Defense Enhancement Type (4/4), Nest Enhancement Type (1/4)]

    ¡®There is one type avable right now.¡¯

    ¡®Do you want to unlock the ¡®Special Defense Enhancement Type¡¯?]

    For a week, I¡¯ve intermittently devoured not only pirates but also various wild animals, securing two new traits. One rted to special defense, which is ¡®Disease Resistance,¡¯ obtained from the Nightstalker, and another infection-rted trait, which is ¡®Hallucinogenic Beetle,¡¯ obtained from a fungus-like carnivorous animal called the Red Clown.

    Thanks to this, the Special Defense Enhancement Type has been unlockable since two days ago, but I¡¯m still postponing the decision.

    ¡°If I acquire a type, the number of traits needed for acquiring other types will increase.¡±

    For example, if I obtain the Infection Enhancement Type now, the number of traits required to acquire both the Special Defense Enhancement Type and Nest Enhancement Type would increase to 8 each.

    ¡®So, acquiring the Infection Enhancement Type first is advantageous in the current situation.¡¯

    ¡®Just looking at this, it may seem like a long way to evolution.¡¯

    But I have a trump card.

    Today marks one week since I dominated the spaceship with my corrosive tentacles.

    In other words, this is the day I can use the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯.

    ¡®I have to get as much predation effect as possible for the next 20 minutes.¡¯

    If this were a different or continent, collecting the essential gic essence for evolution would not have been easy. But this is Utopia02, a continent teeming with creatures possessing rare gic essence.

    ¡®Coincidentally, there¡¯s a suitable ce to use the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯.

    There¡¯s a ce in this forest that I can explore. Honestly, it¡¯s a very dangerous area for me now, but it¡¯s a ce where I can obtain the traits I need in abundance.

    ¡®The swamp.¡¯

    If I follow the river south from here, an immense swamp with terrifying creatures will appear. To be precise, it¡¯s not that each creature in the swamp is individually strong, but rather, it¡¯s due to the hostile environment and mutual symbiosis.

    Monsters in the swampmonly carry extremely potent toxins and viruses. Even experienced yers would find it impossible to conquer it without extensive preparation against toxins and viruses.

    I, too, wouldn¡¯t have considered entering the swamp especially when I am just a Pre-Saint, even if it were a game.

    ¡®That would have been the case originally.¡¯

    Having consumed the corpses of pirates, I left the camp. Currently, I have everything I need to conquer the swamp.

    Firstly, I possess a disease resistance trait that grants immunity to all types of diseases.

    ¡®In the game, I would never have received it.¡¯

    Upon bing a Pre-Saint, we get an automatic immunity to all biochemical attacks as a special evolutionary bonus. Although disease resistance may not seem like a useful trait, it bes extremely valuable in situations where immediate entry into the swamp is necessary, as is the case now.

    ¡®If I use the symbol of the hunt here, the trait effects will be enhanced. So, even entering the swamp won¡¯t cause much harm.¡¯

    Moreover, the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯ itself strengthens all my traits, making it rtively easy for me to fight against the creatures in the swamp. While they are powerful, their directbat capabilities are lowerpared to entities like Hond Gigrant.

    ¡®And this.¡¯

    In my small hand on my chest, there was a partially broken indomitable mask. This silver mask grants immunity to toxins and mental attacks, as well as the ability to detect concealed targets.

    What¡¯s crucial is that this mask is made of metal.

    ¡°In other words, it means that I can absorb the abilities of the mask using metal absorption.¡±

    If I obtain the immunity effect of the mask, it will be a great help in conquering the swamp.

    Havingpleted all preparations, today I will finally challenge the conquest of the swamp.

    ¡®It¡¯s almost done.¡¯

    The wide, blue riverbank gradually narrows, and yellowish moss and aquatic nts be noticeable on the water. The surroundings are filled with decaying and broken trees, mushrooms emitting poisonous mist, and colorful insects.

    The air carries a strong smell and thick poison prates through the sturdy exterior.

    ¡®It¡¯s always a shocking space.¡¯

    I endured the stinging pain felt throughout my body and looked around.

    ¡°In this swamp, there aren¡¯t any imposing trees that stretch for hundreds of meters, but instead, there are mushrooms ranging from about 5 to 10 meters, adult-sized leeches, and leeches the size of buses roaming around.¡±

    There¡¯s a movie that came out before I came to this world, where giant humanoids are the protagonists. In that movie, there¡¯s a scene where explorers are trapped in a valley, and gruesome bugs attack them.

    ording to rumors circting in themunity, the swamp in Utopia-02 continent was inspired by the valley area in that scene. In other words, grotesque pests carrying toxins and viruses all over emerge from every space.

    Thanks to this, even among high-level yers, some avoid this ce not only due to its difficulty but also because of its repulsive visuals.

    ¡®But for me, it¡¯s very advantageous.¡¯

    It could be considered a gic essence buffet. After activating metal absorption, I took a bite of the indomitable mask.

    A tingling sensation around the surface flowed once, and soon the stinging pain disappeared. To confirm, I grabbed a creature, a bug the size of a person¡¯s head, crawling nearby, and swallowed it.

    The official name of this creature is the Itch-inducing Bug, which induces itching in its victims due to the toxin it carries.

    Even after eating the Itch-inducing Bug, my insides were perfectly fine.

    [Immunity to toxins has been applied.]

    Havingpleted the confirmation, I removed the indomitable mask and activated the Symbol of Hunt. My body, already evolved once on the horizon of nightmares, transformed into a much more perfect predator.

    Two new arms emerged from my thick and heavy back. The bone des at their ends were extremely sturdy and sharp, capable of easily cutting through even tough metals.

    Next, all six corrosion tentacles hidden inside my back came out. The tentacles didn¡¯t change much in size, but the attachments at their ends transformed into sharp ws, bing menacing weapons on their own.

    The once bulging back rapidly shrunk, now having a more agile figurepared to before. Of course, nests housing cute tooth fairies near the waist area still remained.

    The physique itself had a more agile imagepared to when the horizon of nightmares was applied, but overall size had increased significantly.

    My current height is 12 meters, nearly reaching the height of a 4-story apartment building. In terms of size alone, it could be considered almost equivalent to Hond Gigrants.

    Other details, as usual, were enhanced, including the armor attached tobat arms and legs. Spiky thorns grew on the armor of arms and legs, making them deadly enough to cause substantial damage when attacking enemies.

    Finally, the armor on my head covered my eyes,pleting all the changes.

    *Growl*

    .

    An enormous body that rivals a 4-story apartment building is filled with immense power, truly feeling like a force capable of doing anything.

    I casually swung my tail, smashing a decaying tree behind me.

    Even though it had decayed, a tree with a diameter of 5 meters shattered like tree branches breaking. Large centipedes that had nested inside were startled and quickly scurried out.

    ¡®All right.¡¯

    I swung the corrosion tentacles to catch the fleeing bugs. The hook-shaped attachments sliced through the bugs¡¯ bodies.

    As the corrosion tentacles absorbed the prey, a transparent text box continuously appeared.

    Watching that, I took a deep breath and roared loudly.

    *Roar*

    The air burst out explosively, and the contaminated water in front of me split in an instant. Mosquito-like creatures, hovering over the swamp in front of me, vanished without a trace in mid-air due to my roar.

    ¡®Now, shall we begin?¡¯

    The goal is to obtain enough gic essences to evolve in 20 minutes.

    It¡¯s time to have a feast after a long while.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Jjescus]

    [Proofreader ¨C Demon God¡¯s Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 112

    Chapter 112

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    In the space survival,s are ssified as Earth-like if their ecosystems are not extreme, and the various environmental factors are evenly distributed.

    PH-101, was such a, it boasts abundant water and diverse flora and fauna. While it may seem habitable on the surface, there are many traps in it. Despite having a well-established ecosystem, the inhabitants of PH-101 are formidable creatures, like the ntlizards forming groups in the hundreds or thousands and the Hound Gentries with physical specs rivaling top yers. Not only are there not easy-to-face creatures, but the also presents various environmental elements and events making human survival challenging, such as global maic storms or volcanic eruptions on the continent Utopia-01, which right now was very far from my current location.

    Even the swamnds of Utopia-02, where I currently am, are considered one of the most dangerous environmental factors on the. Toxic spores emitted by relentless mushroom spewing deadly gases from decaying animals and a vicious cycle of swamp creatures absorbing these toxins, bing more potent in poison attacks, make it a perilous ce, even when wearing protective gearsting five minutes.

    If it were a game, I would respawn, but this is reality, I wont get a second chance if I die.

    Reality forces me to evolve into a Quasi-Saint.

    I thought, as a 4-meter tall carnivorous Smogpad, a lower-tier creature in the swamps food chain but a significant threat, struggled in my tentacles. Smogpad can release acidic fluids like mist, synergizing well in the toxin-filled air of the swamp.

    Its irrelevant to me, though.

    My tentacles, with six appendages attached to Smogpad, forcefully suck it in. Its tough exoskeleton shatters, and its elongated body is drawn into my tentacles. Despite its toxic blood and fluids, my other tentacles eagerly absorbed every drop.

    While my tentacles were feeding on the Smogpad, my body worked diligently, fending off insects with thebat arms and tail.

    With the Horizon of Nightmares present, this is quite convenient.

    Despite having many arms, Amorph has only one mouth, limiting its predatory activities. But with seven mouths now, eating bes faster than hunting.

    [Enhanced Infection Type (7/8), Special Defense Type (4/4), Nest Reinforcement Type (6/4).]

    [Two avable types for specialization.]

    After entering the swamp, I acquired numerous traits, increasing the avable specialization types to two.

    By acquiring one more infection-rted trait and two more nest-rted traits, I can fulfill all the types needed for evolution.

    Amorphs inherent nature made my strategy shift towards first acquiring the Infection Enhancement Type and then the Nest Reinforcement Type as an Amorph had an abundance of nest-rted traits.

    After a quick check of the text box, I ventured further into the swamp, aiming to obtain rare traits exclusive to this area. As the swamps water level increased, the number of visible creatures decreased, reced by scattered remains ofrge skeletons. The toxicity of the fog above the swamp intensified to a deadly level.

    If not for the enhancing effects of the Symbol of Hunt and the traits, I would have sumbed to poisoning by now.

    Its time to ascend.

    The water level in the swamp reached my chest. Despite that, my body felt natural, as if onnd, thanks to the new traits gained here.

    I never expected to gain ws and fins here.

    As the name suggests, ws appeared on my hands and feet, while thin but wide fins emerged near the wrists of thebat arm and the tail.

    Normally, onnd, it is tightly folded and in a dormant state, but when in water, it unfolds widely like it is now, assisting in underwater activities.

    Swimming in this state would be difficult.

    Due to my bodys excessive weight, swimming in deep waters was impossible. I can only use it for rapid movement in the swamp as it is now. While swimming halfway through the swamp, my auxiliary organs detected movement up ahead.

    In the midst of the silent swamp, a small will-o-wisp emerged. The pale-glowing will-o-wisp swayed gently and, upon noticing me, paused.

    Itsing.

    The will-o-wisp, or rather the eye of a giant creature hiding beneath the swamp, turned towards me. Then, ripples surged, revealing its form.

    First, elongated legs, resembling those of a spider, emerged from the swamp. Each leg was covered with a tough exoskeleton and was almost 10 meters long. Following that, two pincers rose from the water along with the legs.

    No, can we really call those pincers? Each pincer was so massive, almost 2 meters in size, making it look horribly formidable. Even just the legs and pincers were enormous, but the torso was muchrger and wider than the legs. While the legs resembled those of a spider, the torso was elliptical like a crab, with a thick carapace covering it.

    Of course, seeing a creature with a carapace 15 meters wide might not immediately bring crabs to mind. On top of the carapace, thorns, the size of adult forearms, were densely embedded, and at the bottom, palm-sized holes were scattered.

    On the front of the carapace, teeth resembling a catfishs mouth, arranged in a whirlpool pattern, and four eyes resembling the will-o-wisp, were visible.

    The creature, abination of crab and spider, was named Swampking. It is the most dangerous creature in the swamnds of the Utopia-02 continent.

    Four eyes resembling the will-o-wisp focus on me. The moment I felt its gaze, the two pincers flew towards my head at an unbelievable speed.

    Sensing the attack in advance with my auxiliary organs, I bent my knees and submerged into the swamp. The massive pincer grazed my head, resembling a crown.

    Before the creatures attack continued, I submerged into the mud on the swamp floor and leaped upwards. Although it wasnt exactly the ground but more like a swampy area, I couldnt jump high. Still, if I could get on top of the creature, that would be enough.

    On top of the creature, I utilized my weapons to attack its carapace. I opened its tough eyes with my mouth wide, wed with mybat arm, and hacked at the carapace with my bone axe. The thorns on the carapace were cut off each time I swung my arm.

    Giiiiii!

    As if annoyed, the creature shook its body. My body swayed like riding a rodeo machine.

    To avoid falling, I stabbed the bone de arm into the creatures carapace. Even though it shook violently, sticking close like a leech, I reversed some of its joints to directly counter me.

    The target was me on top of its carapace. The ws at the end of its legs were as tough as the pincers and had an immensely high piercing power. Before the ws at the end of the legs could pierce me, I quickly jumped off its carapace.

    However, due to the attacks incredibly fast speed, one of my corrosive tentacles was torn off by its attack.

    Pain nullification Activated!

    A sharp pain, like being struck on the back with a club, struck my head.

    Grrr

    The creature, surprised that the attack failed, made a short whimpering sound.

    Its strong.

    Perhaps because it upies the apex of the food chain in the swamp, its formidable. The creature ispletely immune to infection type attack methods such as poison, parasites, and viruses. Therefore, the infection-rted traits I acquired in the swamp do not affect it. Additionally, its carapace is resistant to all types of psychic powers.

    Not long ago, the reason I didnt use the Ghost ws when attacking its carapace with thebat arm is that it wouldnt make a difference anyway. Even if I shoot psychic breath at it, it would only cause minimal damage.

    In other words, theres only one way to defeat it.

    I must overpower it solely with strength.

    The creature has a very fast attack speed and considerable strength. On top of that, it has a thick carapace, high psychic resistance, and immunity to poison and viruses.

    At first nce, it may seem perfect, but its not.

    I can win this.

    After a brief confrontation, the damage to its carapace was limited, while I lost one corrosive tentacle. At first nce, it may seem like I suffered a significant loss, but I was actually relieved.

    As expected. With my current state, I can prate its carapace.

    Surprisingly, the seemingly tough and thick carapace is the creatures most vulnerable spot. Creatures in the swamp, including the Swampking, are known for hunting their enemies in bizarre and unconventional ways.

    This holds true for the Swampking as well. Although it has a crab-like appearance and thin legs resembling a spider, its a misconception to think that targeting its legs or pincers would be effective. The creatures legs and pincers are so hard that they can withstand sma heat beams.

    On the other hand, the carapace is rtively less sturdy than the legs. With sufficient physical force, the carapace can be shattered. Fortunately, I possess strong physical strength.

    Giiii!

    The creature seemed to recognize me as a threat and only growled, not making any sudden moves.

    I also circled around it slowly, waiting for an opportunity.

    During this short standoff, the creature took the initiative to attack.

    Gigiigii!

    White snake-like creatures emerged from the holes beneath the creatures carapace. They wriggled out slowly, resembling the corpse worms I had seen in the sewage system of the space city before.

    More precisely, these are its reinforced tes.

    The corpse worms emanating from the Swampkings body are different from the repulsive creatures seen in the sewage system. In the game, the Swampkings summoned corpse worms ignore the yers defense and inflict fixed damage, thanks to the corrosive acid that can dissolve even tough materials.

    In reality, things might have changed.

    However, that doesnt mean Ill willingly let them hit me.

    Swarm of corpse worms swam towards me, eager to devour me.

    I swung my long tail, submerged beneath the swamp, to strike the corpse worms. Like a crimson sea parting, waves sshed vigorously, sending fragments of torn corpse worms into the air before the swamps waves settled back into ce.

    Before the swamps waves could fully return to normal, I flipped my body forward and charged.

    Giiiik!

    The Swampking roared, swinging its two pincers to crush me.

    At the moment when the pincers were about to fall on my head, a bone-ded arm shed against them. An almost unbelievable shattering sound, as if colliding with a living creatures body, echoed across the swamp.

    Ugh!

    While the bone de was quite robust, it couldnt withstand holding onto the pincer for too long. The entire arm, strong enough to cut through a living creatures body, twisted grotesquely.

    The bone de was quickly neutralized, but it seeded in modifying the trajectory of the pincers. The two pincers narrowly grazed by me and mmed into the ground, creating a significant impact.

    And for a very brief moment, the Swampking was defenseless.

    Focusing the force of my charge into my head, I struck the lower part of the Swampkings carapace. The two horns on my head pierced through the creatures carapace.

    Giiii,,,,gii ..gi!

    Unexpectedly, the creature is greatly startled as acidic digestive fluid pours from its wounded area.

    I can endure this!

    The head carapace is the toughest part of my body. Now is the time to rely on that strength.

    Rather than keeping a distance from the creature, I used my two legs to thrust the horns deep. The creatures reddish blood mixed with the digestive fluid, caressing my body.

    Giiik!

    When the creature realized I wasnt reacting, it extended its two pincers, grabbing my waist and legs.

    It felt like a 2-meter press was tightening around my body.

    One leg broke instantly, and my waist slowly contorted under the creatures tremendous force.

    If I were an ordinary person, I would have died from suffocation before experiencing the pain.

    Instead of keeping my distance from the creature, I wrapped my corrosive tentacle around its carapace, pressing my body against it. Thanks to this, the horns embedded in the creatures body dug deeper, stirring its organs.

    Kiririk!

    The creature screamed in pain as its internal organs tore.

    The pressure from the gripping pincers slightly eased, and I used the lowerbat arm to push them away.

    Corpse worms clung to my body, determined to protect their master, but I stood firm without flinching.

    I inserted the upperbat arm into the broken section of the creatures carapace.

    Unlike the tough exoskeleton, the soft innards and flesh could be felt.

    I grabbed them and pulled them out.

    Giiii!

    Part of the creatures leg moved to pierce me.

    I released the corrosive tentacle wrapped around its carapace, grabbing the creatures leg.

    Nevertheless, the strength in the creatures leg was anything but light. The creature tore apart the entwined tentacle and stabbed my back with the ws on its leg.

    Giigigi!

    Grrrrrrr.

    From now on, its a battle of who can endure longer.

    If I didnt have the regenerative ability.

    If I didnt have a body significantly reinforced by the effects of Type and the symbolism of hunting.

    The oue might have been different.

    Giiii.

    The Swampking groaned, spilling dark red froth from its mouth. After spitting out the froth a few times, it stopped moving.

    I raised my foot above the creatures head and roared loudly.

    To announce that the ruler of the swamp has been killed by my hand.

    And to proim that its corpse belongs to me.

    The approaching residents of the swamp, who had been scared away, were shocked to see what had transpired.

    Having driven away all intruders, I thrust my head into the Swampkings belly.

    Although I could consume it with the corrosive tentacle, after capturing it so hard, I wanted to savor the taste a bit.

    After tearing off the tender flesh inside the carapace with my teeth, I chewed a bit.

    Oh.

    Just putting it in my mouth already felt peculiar. Before the taste of Swampkings flesh melted on my tongue, I hurriedly swallowed it.

    Hmm.

    The top-ranked prey I had eaten so far was Si-hyun Yujin, and that hadnt changed until now.

    So, I thought.

    The more evenly regted the massive gic essence, the better the taste.

    But I was wrong.

    Honestly, before eating, I thought it might taste like crab since it resembled one, but that was a terribly mistaken assumption.

    It was almost sinful to have such disrespectful thoughts, but the taste of the Swampking was excellent.

    Above all, the best part is

    Si-hyun Yujin tasted really good, but the quantity wasnt that much. Anyway, its human-sized.

    But the creature in front of me is a luxurious 15-meter King Crab.

    Ive never tasted crab dishes when I was human, but here I am, trying them all.

    If I wasnt in a situation where Im being pursued by the symbolism of hunting, I would have caught and leisurely enjoyed it for days.

    Sigh. It would have been nice if I had some kids.

    When I meet Number 26 and Adhai againter, I should consider returning to the swamp. Its not about aiming for gic essence but purely for the sake of gastronomy.

    I quickly scraped and consumed all the flesh and innards attached to the inside of the King Crabs carapace.

    Since I couldnt break the exoskeleton of the leg part, I inserted the corrosive tentacle and blood-sucking tentacle inside to extract only the meat.

    Finally, as I neatly devoured the creatures eye resembling a will-o-the-wisp, a window popped up, notifying me of a predatory effect, just like when I devoured other creatures.

    It was good.

    Evolution was not far off.

    Having acquired the gic essence of the Swampking, I continued roaming the swamp, devouring other creatures.

    Although the injuries were not light, there were no creatures left that could threaten me among the remaining ones.

    Having safely obtained two types, I exited the swamp before the hunting symbolism effect, which had about three minutes left, ended.

    Inside mybat arm and five corrosive tentacles were the corpses of various creatures.

    I had previously checked and stored the prey in the cave.

    I shouldnt need to roam outside due to side effects.

    Before the symbolism ended, I checked the message I had seen in the swamp once again.

    [Pre-Saint > Quasi-Saint evolution conditions have been met. Would you like to evolve?]

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 113

    Chapter 113

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    In the deep heart of the central forest of Utopia-02, there exists a ce where various electronic devices andmunication equipment cannot be used. This location is protected by powerful energy, making it invisible from outside the or from the sky. One can only reach it by walking through the maze of the jungle.

    This ce is known as the Forgotten Temple of the Lost Land. Only the father of thend served by the wolves of Utopia-02 knows the way to the Forgotten Temple. Or at least, thats how it was supposed to be.

    However, those standing in the Forgotten Temple now are not wolves. Inside and outside the temple, broken stone statues and corpses of humans and cult members were scattered. Inside the temple, a group of individuals moved around, tending to the bodies.

    They were cultists with horns on their heads, young humans, but they all had twomon featuresthey were males and exceptionally handsome males at that. These intruders belonged to a formidable pirate group, the Humanity Cartel.

    All the pirates, busy with the aftermath of the battle, showed tension and fatigue on their faces, except for one. A cult girl with deer antlers on her temples had a broad smile on her face, holding a golden javelin in her hand.

    Hehe, theres nothing sweeter than getting the important loot before anyone else.

    A voice as enchanting as her appearance flowed from her lips. Her name was Muriel, the leader of the Humanity Cartel.

    Approaching her, a man spoke,

    Leader.

    What happened brother?

    Well, there are some injured pirates here.

    Her gaze turned towards the fallen pirates behind her subordinates. They had suffered serious injuries in the battle with the stone statues guarding the temple.

    Brothers, are you hurting a lot?

    Oh, no! Its nothing! Just a scratch!

    Its okay! Just a little scrape!

    The injured pirates reassured her, emphasizing that they were fine. Muriel approached them and casually scanned each one. Then, she furrowed her eyebrows.

    Brothers, you cant be ugly.

    Plplease spare us! Keuk!

    Even you, brother.

    Please ack!

    Ignoring their pleas, Muriel lethally stabbed each injured pirate with her javelin. Strangely, the golden javelins glow intensified with each kill, as if reveling in the blood.

    Thanks to you brothers, the experiment was a great sess.

    She nodded satisfactorily while looking at the dazzling javelin that illuminated the inside of the temple brightly. Muriel, having killed all the injured, led her subordinates and left the temple.

    In a location away from the temple, there was a temporary camp set up by the Humanity Cartel. As she arrived, her subordinates waiting at the camp greeted her.

    Have youe?

    How is the Mother of the Sky?

    As you mentioned, she is in training.

    Muriel entered the camp with her subordinates. In the center of the camp, a beast, 3 meters in size, was chained with iron shackles. The skeletal structure of the beast, with an eagle head on a lions body, was truly gruesome. Its entire body was covered in hardened scabs, and the wounds were so severe that maggots were growing out from it.

    All four legs had thick iron stakes driven into them, and a spiked iron cor was worn around its neck. Additionally, internal organs protruded from a wound on its side, tied up with a thick wire connected to a wheel.

    Speaking in a cheerful voice to the beast in a state that seemed close to death, Muriel said,

    Hey, Choe-seo, ah, no. Mother of the sky. Have you been well?

    When the beast, addressed as the Mother of the Sky, didnt respond, Muriel gestured to one of the pirates. As the pirate turned the wheel, the wire was pulled, extracting the beasts internal organs.

    Kraaaaack! You son of a bitch!

    If a person asks you something, you should answer.

    Grrr Sstop!

    Why are you cursing when Im trying to thank you for getting the treasure? Am I still a joke to you?

    Aaaargh!

    In extreme pain as its organs were torn apart, the Mother of the Sky even lost control of its dder.

    Hehehe, its impressive that the transformation hasnt been undone despite going this far.

    Uuuu You

    But how much more can you endure?

    While Muriel mocked the pathetic sight, a subordinate approached with amunication pad.

    Leader, theres an urgent message from the cruiser.

    Im busy right now.

    Its a very urgent matter.

    Fine.

    Muriel reluctantly took the pad. The disyed contents were video recordings transmitted from cameras on the reinforced suit.

    ***

    Phew.

    After recovering from the aftermath of the Symbol of Hunt, I looked around. Worried about the possibility of leaving the cave, I realized that it hadnt happened.

    Bit messy, but

    The cave walls and my body were covered in blood. Fingers hung with leftover entrails, and broken bone fragments and flesh scattered on the floor.

    Lets get ready then.

    Having processed all the prepared food in my stomach, I left the cave. Evolution cant happen immediately afterpleting all the evolution conditions. The best time for evolution is when Amorph is most incapacitated, during his recovery in the cave. If attacked during evolution, I wouldnt be able to resist and would die.

    The time it took for thest evolution was six hours.

    It would probably be simr or even longer when evolving into a Quasi-Saint. To safely stay in this jungle for at least six hours, preparations were necessary.

    Lets seal the cave entrance.

    I went outside and headed to the nearby pirate camp. Since the pirates had already been devoured, there was no one at the camp. Except for the fact that creatures like the Wooddevils hade out and took away the boxes containing Calibaga, the items at the camp remained untouched.

    Grabbing a small bomb from the camp, I returned to the cave and installed it at the entrance. When the bomb exploded, the cave entrance copsed, plunging the cave interior into darkness.

    Lets go then.

    Inside the cave, there was a spacious chamberrge enough for me to evolve without any issues. I found a suitable spot deep inside the chamber along the wall.

    [Pre-Saint > Quasi Saint evolution conditions have been met. Would you like to evolve?]

    I had waited a long time. I spoke to the text box waiting for my response.

    Yes, I would evolve. Instantly, an enormous amount of slime was secreted from my body. In the sticky sensation that enveloped my entire body, Iy down on the cool cave floor.

    The slime spread not only around my body but throughout the entire chamber. Within the slowly solidifying slime taking the form of egg-shaped structures, I closed my eyes quietly.

    And then,

    Huh?

    I opened my eyes in a familiar space.

    Where am I?

    The ce I was standing was someones room. Aputer, VR headgear on a desk, posters of ssic SF movies on the walls, and neatly arranged bedding on the floor.

    I knew the identity of this space.

    My room?

    I looked down at my palm, wondering if I had returned to reality. What I saw there was Amorphs hand, familiar but now human-sized.

    What happened?

    It was too realistic to be a dream. The distinctive nauseating smell of a one-room apartment, the scent of kimchi stew wafting in from outsideit was hard to believe it was fake.

    I approached theputer and turned on the VR headgear connected by a cable.

    The screen reflected on the transparent visor inside the device was undoubtedly the login screen of Space Survival.

    Its different from when evolving into a Pre-Saint

    At that time, I spected that the space I was in was a simted world. It made sense, given that the space itself felt unreal.

    But now, the boundary was extremely ambiguous. Judging whether this was reality or not was difficult, considering the weight of the device felt in my hands.

    I put down the VR headgear and opened the door.

    Huh?

    The moment I opened the door, I found myself in another space. It was a home.

    Where is this?

    A framed picture hanging in the entrance caught my eye. The picture inside the frame was a drawing I had made in kindergarten. Stepping inside, I saw a middle-aged couple arguing on the porch.

    Both of them had their faces painted with ck paint, and their voices were distorted like machine-modted noises, making it impossible to understand. They continued arguing as if they didnt know I was in the same space.

    I passed by them and entered the innermost room. It was a room with only a bed, desk, and wardrobe, giving a deste feelingpared to my apartment seen earlier.

    Ignoring the bed and desk, I approached the wardrobe. With both hands, I opened the door.

    Inside the wardrobe was a child with burned scars on half of the face, to be precise.

    The child looked at me, tears welling up in round eyes. Without thinking, I reached out towards the child, and the child extended its hand in the same way.

    As our hands touched, the childs expression changed. The moment I realized it was a smile, the environment around me changed into a deep darkness.

    Ive returned.

    I extended my sixth arm to tear the bloody membrane covering my body. Slime that had filled the membrane poured out, and the cold, damp air of the cave enveloped my body.

    It felt like the pleasant coolness after washing with warm water. I exerted strength on the tail and slowly stood up.

    Since no light entered the cave, I couldnt see anything with my eyes, but I could feel it. The sensory organs under my jaw, now increased from 2 to 4, vividly conveyed the changes in my body.

    Is this the Quasi-Saint stage?

    A creature resembling a spider or scorpion, with bipedal lotion simr to a human or a humanoid.

    So, what animal does the Quasi-Saint Amorph resemble? Id like to say its a giant snake with eight arms. As for me, who has transformed, theres nothing resembling legs anymore. The arms that originally served as legs have been modified into newbat arms, so now I have a total of sixbat arms.

    The upper arm, middle arm, and lower arm.

    Eachbat arm is located around the shoulders, sides, and lower abdomen. With the transformation of the legs into arms, the upper body has be longer than before. And the lower half of my body, where the legs disappeared, has been reced by a thick tail.

    In other words, if we were to simplify my current form, it would be simr to the monster Naga from Indian mythology, which is described as half-human and half-snake. Despite losing legs, I havent slowed down.

    Now, movement is facilitated by the thick ws tightly embedded in the tail. The power of these tail ws is tremendous, allowing me to run much faster onnd than before.

    And its useful when wandering underground or swimming.

    Thanks to these changes, the Quasi-Saint can operate more easily in a variety of environmentspared to before, whether burrowing into the ground for ambush or pursuing enemies fleeing into the water, and so on.

    Additionally, the tail, now an important means of movement and support, has scales separated like those on the head. While these scales are finely divided for free movement, they are not so low in defense. Probably, swiping an enemy with my tail will yield a force equivalent to a full-on charge.

    In the past, I killed many enemies by entwining them with this tail.

    Even the Swamp King, whom I devoured before evolving, wont withstand having its armor tightened by this tail for more than a few minutes. Of course, I wont leave it in a state where it can easily resist.

    With the overall change in body shape, the form of the erged armor due to the horizon effect of nightmares has also slightly changed. The robust and heavy armor, suited to the shape of a snake-like body, has transformed into a sleeker and less thick form.

    Lets see. From now on, I wont walk on two legs but move while supporting my body with my tail. I moved my tail as a test.

    Sssss!

    Huh?

    Honestly, I thought it would be difficult to adapt, but surprisingly, it wasnt. The sensation of moving the tail was simr to the feeling of bouncing around by giving strength to the waist.

    But it has grown a lot.

    The length of my previous body, including the tail, was 12m, and during the manifestation of the hunting emblem, it was 20m. However, now, without using the Symbol of Hunt, the length has surpassed 25m, possibly because the role of the tail has be more important.

    Apart from the fact that reaching the Quasi-Saint stage has made merger and the lower half of my body has been reced by a tail, there is another mutation that urred after I reached the Quasi-Saint stage.

    Grrr!

    I opened my mouth wide. The lower part of my jaw split into two, causing my mouth to open much wider than before. Inside the split jaw, sharp teeth were densely embedded.

    While the tail is powerful, the true strength of the Quasi-Saint lies in the newly acquired feature. And thats the jaws.

    [Essence Harvesters Jaw: You can activate the predation effect just by consuming the head of a target that possesses gic essence.]

    This means that by having the essence harvesters jaw, you can activate the predation effect by just eating the head without consuming the entire corpse. With the Jaw of the Gic Harvester, you can quickly replenish the gic essence of enemies duringbat. This implies much faster growth than before.

    Because of this, other yers tried to kill Amorphs by any means necessary.

    Having confirmed all the changes, theres no reason to stay in this narrow cave any longer. I lowered my body and crawled towards the cave entrance. As I moved, widening the walls with my sixbat arms, the entrance, though narrow, didnt cause me any difort.

    After easily breaking through the copsed entrance, I climbed up the nearby redwood. Coiling my tail and pushing my body upward, along with using thebat arms, made the ascent incredibly fast.

    Ssssss!

    The best part is that it makes almost no sound. Simr to how a snake moves silently, my movements were equally quiet. As evidence, the Night Stalker, which was lying on a branch, had no awareness that I was right behind it. It yawned, apparently bored of waiting for prey.

    I quickly bit off its head with my split jaw.

    Kong?!

    The Night Stalkers corpse, with its head lost in an instant, fell below.

    Theres no being on this continent that can restrain me.

    Once Ive be a Quasi-Saint, even predators like the Hond Gigrant or the Swamp King cant be my opponents. The only remaining potential threat is the pirate yer.

    As long as shes gone, theres no one to prevent my evolution.

    If negotiations break down, she will bear the responsibility. This is thanks to the gic essence she possesses.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 114

    Chapter 114

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    .

    Boss?

    Muriel, the leader of the Humanity Cartel, had reviewed all the videos. Initially, her expression, while the hologram was disyed, was unremarkable, but it gradually stiffened, now as cold as ice.

    When was this recorded?

    She always called the pirates brother. The fact that she omitted the honorific indicated her anger was beyond measure. Swallowing his saliva, the subordinate answered.

    Tthis was recorded a week ago.

    A week? Whos in charge ofmunications?

    Ahththat would be me!

    Mid-sentence, the subordinates breath was cut off as Muriel grabbed his throat. In her eyes, burning violet mes were aze.

    Youre only mentioning this now, such an important matter?

    Ggaah!

    Though Muriel herself had warned not to be a nuisance when entering the temple, she had forgotten this fact. In the end, the haplessmunication officer met his demise with his throat twisted.

    Dispose of him.

    Yes, maam.

    Instructing another subordinate to clear the body, she again disyed the hologram.

    Why is an Amorph here could it be?

    Not only in the continent of Utopia-02, but Amorph itself doesnt reside on the PH-101. If it traversed through space and arrived on this, theres only one thing that could mean.

    Hes a yer.

    Muriel knows that shes not the only one from other worlds in this Space world. The majority of yers are also in extremely hostile rtionships with each other. One of her reasons foring to this was to capture yers.

    But Amorph should be extinct, how is this possible?

    Though iprehensible events unfolded in reality, thats not the important part now. If an Amorph yer has arrived, preparations must be made to deal with him.

    The skinned corpse

    As a yer who ranked in the top 20 in Space Survival, Muriel knew what the corpse meant. There are hardly any Amorphs in the game that provoke or intimidate in such a way. Only one person does that.

    Surely, he was the 5th ranker.

    Not long after bing a ranker, that Amorph ranker quit the game. Thanks to that, they never met in person, but she roughly knew of his reputation.

    I dont know how someone who quit the game could havee here, but

    Muriel herself is also a former ranker. Moreover, she has survived in this world for a whopping 3 years. On the other hand, the opponent, though a long-time yer, quit the game midway.

    She believed her skills would not be outmatched by that former Amorph ranker.

    The likelihood of losing to him is slim

    Snicker!

    At that moment,ughter that disturbed her mind echoed.

    She nced away from the hologram to see who emitted theughter.

    Hahhhahahpfft! I knew you were a stupid b***h, but I didnt expect you to be this dumb!

    The Mother of the Sky was mocking Muriel. In the midst of undergoing a gruesome torture, she couldnt help butugh, as if she had heard something incredibly amusing.

    Whats so funny?

    Heh, pfft, cough!

    The likelihood of losing to him is slim? Do you even know whos in that video?

    Isnt it the Amorph ranker from the 5th ce?

    Even though you know that fact, youre so nonchnt. Truly impressive confidence.

    What?

    [He prepares and moves wherever he goes. He came here, killed the pirates? No matter what you think, no matter what ns you make, it doesnt matter. Whether you fight, try to escape, or beg for mercy, hell kill you.

    .

    Rather than meeting him, its much better to die right here before hees. No matter what you do, you cant escape his grasp.

    .

    Up until now, the Mother of the Sky had never asked for death, even amidst any torture. She wanted to survive somehow and take revenge on Muriel. But now, in the face of Amorph, she said its better to die than to meet him. This fact sent shivers down Muriels spine.

    Damn, what is this?

    Muriel gazed into the Mother of the Skys eyes. The emotions within the eyes, resembling a bird of prey, were very unfamiliar.

    Fear.

    Even when she didnt lose herposure during torture, the Mother of the Sky was now scared of the Amorph. Muriel, deeming that she could no longer obtain useful information from the Mother of the Sky, called her subordinates.

    Contact the cruiser and have the defense level raised to the maximum until I arrive. If anyone approaches, even from the camp, eliminate them.

    Even peopleing from the camp?

    Yes. He can deceive and pretend to be human, so dont trust anyone. Dont even take anymunication. Report immediately if anything happens.

    Got it.

    Although what the Mother of the Sky said was quite concerning, Muriel deliberately ignored it. Fearing danger when facing a formidable opponent only puts one at a disadvantage.

    Calm down. Anyway, hes just an A-ranker.

    She, too, was a ranker, and she had not a few experiences fighting against Amorph. The point when Amorph rapidly grows stronger is after bing a Quasi-saint or Saint.

    Although the figure in the hologram looked significantly different from the in-game appearance, it still seemed to be in the Pre-saint stage.

    No matter how formidable his skills might be, with numerous subordinates, a cruiser, and top-tier equipment, the probability of her losing was low.

    If he has any exceptions, it would be receiving some special benefits.

    Muriel herself received new benefits upon falling into this world.

    The benefit effects were powerful, but that didnt mean she had some omnipotent tool like Amorph. Considering the gap between her and Amorph, it was impossible for him to defeat her no matter how good his benefits were.

    Ill have to return earlier than nned. Everyone, pack up.

    Understood.

    Snicker!

    Doing useless things. Youre all already screwed! Hehecough!

    Even as the camp members moved quickly, the mockingughter of the Mother of the Sky echoed ominously.

    ***

    The time until the bosses is just one day.

    I checked the time using the small terminal pad stolen from the pirates.

    Now that Ive evolved into a Quasi-Saint, I can say that the conditions necessary to confront the pirate leader are roughly met. However, its not urate to say that a Quasi-saint is overwhelmingly powerful. While bing a Quasi-saint does enhance ones strength significantly, its crucial not to rely solely on this fact, as the exact level of the pirate leaders abilities is unknown.

    One of the reasons I considered evolution necessary is not only to enhance my specs for physicalbat but also to avoid mistakes caused by acquiring incorrect information.

    They may think Im at the Pre-saint stage.

    At this point, its impossible to know the pirate leaders skill level. If shes a top-tier yer, she should have an idea of how to fight against an Amorph. An Amorphs strength varies significantly based on the evolutionary stage, so she will assume that I am a Pre-Saint and prepare ordingly.

    Grrrr!

    Believing in incorrect information and preparing can lead to significant consequences.

    I smiled faintly and brought up a semi-transparent text box.

    [Species: Unidentified Aggressive Morph

    Status: Quasi-Saint (Transcendent 1st Stage)

    Objective: Survive (3rd evolution sessful)

    Possessed Traits (17 in physical-rted / 7 in psychic rted / Infection 8 / 5 in special defense-rted / Nest 8 in nest-rted):

    Physical Rted (Type Applied): Metal Absorption, Complete Organic Being (Unique), Pheromone Enhancement, Gastric State, Bone Axe, Aerial Membrane, Reinforced Suction Pads, Robust Vitality, Aquatic ws, Fins, Reinforced Large Tail, Essence Harvesters Jaw

    Physical Fusion Traits: Regeneration, Neurotoxic nd (Unavable), Bloodsucking Tentacle, Spine Shooters

    Psychic Rted (Type Applied): Humanoid, Insight

    Psychic Fusion Traits: Predator Senses, Monsters Tentacle, Ghostly ws, Watcher of Fear, Psychic Reflection Gloves

    Infection Rted (Type Applied): Space Bacteria, Enhanced Contagion, Illusion Beetles

    Infection Fusion Traits: Parasitic Colony, Putrefying Fungal Organ, Tooth Fairy Nest, Gremlin Moss, Acidic Mycotic nd

    Special Defense Rted: Pain Reduction, Resistance, Disease Immunity, Complete Immunization

    Special Defense Fusion Traits: Protective Coloration

    Nest Rted (Type Applied): Horizon of Nightmares (Unique), Rapid Calcification Inducer, Enhanced Expansion, Sticky Suckers, Humanoid Cannibalism, Smog Tower, Water Wraith Nest

    Nest Fusion Traits: Symbiotic Organ Spores

    Possessed Types (4):

    Physical Enhancement Type, Psychic Enhancement Type, Infection Enhancement Type, Nest Enhancement Type

    Specialization Avable Type (1):

    Special Defense Enhancement Type (5/16)

    *Iplete Traits (3):

    Energy Absorption, Diminutiveness, Gill]

    There are quite a few.

    Since bing a Quasi-Saint, the number of new traits I gained was staggering.

    Especially in terms of special defense enhancements.

    Of course, there were also some new changes in physical and psychic traits.

    Due to using the Infection Fusion trait Gremlin Moss as a material for electronic interference, the tes on my back disappeared. Additionally, the color of my exoskeleton, originally close to dark brown, was now closer to a dark violet.

    This was due to the effects of the Psychic Reflection Gloves, created bybining the traits obtained from defeating the Swamp King with psychic resistance.

    Both of these traits would be used countless times against opponents I would face from now on.

    Gremlin Moss is effective against machines, and the Psychic Reflection Gloves are useful against cultists.

    In addition to these, there are many traits that will continue to be useful in the future.

    Especially getting the Symbiotic Organ Spores was fortunate.

    The Symbiotic Organ Spores were created using traits obtained from the swamp, and it had a very special ability. In nests where this trait was applied, it produced spores with the ability to heal the target that had undergone symbiosis with the organism.

    If I have the Symbiotic Organ Spores, it will be a great help to number 26 and Adhai.

    Ive been worrying a lot about both of them getting hurt, but now I feel like I can breathe a little easier.

    Lets focus on the cruiser for now.

    Currently, Im less than 50 meters away from the enemy cruiser. It seems theyve been ordered to be on high alert by their leader, as theyve set up all sorts of defenses around the ship.

    Various mines, dozens of Stormgun units in auto-fire mode, Heavy Walkers numbering in dozens, reconnaissance drones made by StarUnion, and even sma turrets mounted on the cruiser were all operational. Their defense level is truly formidable. If I were a Pre-Saint, even with number 26 and Adhai, it would have been impossible to breach this ce. Its practically imprable from bothnd and air.

    I wonder if they know about the underground approach.

    The enemies have built a near-perfect defense against ground and aerial assaults. But theyve overlooked one thing: underground.

    Since earlier, Ive been digging tunnels to infiltrate beneath the cruiser. When I evolved into a pseudo-entity, blunt ws emerged all over my exoskeleton except for my head. Most of them are concentrated on my tail, but there are also blunt ws on my wrists, waist, and chest. These ws can be used for offense, but more importantly, theyre very effective for digging through soil. Thanks to these ws, I can move quickly and quietly underground.

    I think this should do.

    As I reached beneath the cruiser, I stopped digging. This space, slightlyrger than my body, will serve as my new nest.

    Now that Ive gained new traits, I should try using them.

    As I activated nest-building mode, ck slime poured out from my body. The surrounding soil absorbed the slime like a sponge absorbing water. In the past, it would have taken quite a while for the slime to harden and form spores, but now the nest waspleted incredibly quickly. Its all thanks to the reinforcement from my types and traits.

    That was fast. Very good.

    Thepleted nest automatically expanded its territory around the area without me needing tomand it.

    The walls of the tunnels I dug became solidified in an instant due to the slime, and the ground around felt as vibrant as my body.

    Fruit-like spores reflecting my traits sprouted throughout the nest, and various pathogens such as toxins, viruses, fungi, and fungi crawled into the soil.

    I wonder if the people on the cruiser are aware. Aware that beneath their feet, a kingdom of contagion is being constructed.

    Alright, hurry up ande up.

    The nest rapidly extended upwards.

    The target is the cruiser guarded by the pirates. Since the cruiser also represents the power of the pirate leader, weakening it in advance wouldnt hurt.

    If we attack using the nests traits, they wont stand a chance.

    The enemies above wont be facing just a single creature like Amorph.

    This soil, thisnd, and everything else under my control, will be their enemy.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 115

    Chapter 115

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Hey, its time for the shift change.

    Ugh, thought I was gonna die of boredom.

    The acting captain called. Go before bedtime.

    Damn, is the guy relieving me of working on self-improvement? Why isnt he here?

    The pirates patrolling outside the ship grumbled and kicked the dirt in annoyance.

    The pirate taking over the shift smirked and teased him,

    No need to envy. He has to write a report about the cargo we sent a few days ago.

    Oh, that? Sending those captured Wolf ves to the camp in the backwoods?

    Yeah. With the number of people being sent there, he probably hasnt slept for days.

    Haha, idiot, shouldve written it earlier. Hes in deep trouble now.

    They mocked their colleague who would be dealing with the aftermath of their actions while starting to gossip among themselves.

    It was a monotonous patrol duty carried out in three shifts. Its unbearable without some chatter.

    Lets have a smoke break.

    The guy taking over should be here soon.

    Its an e-cigarette anyway, whats the difference?

    True.

    The pirate who spoke first took out an e-cigarette from his pocket and pressed a small switch. Inhaling the thick synthetic narcotic in the cigarette deeply, he had a dazed expression.

    Ah, damn, this is ecstasy.

    Let me have a drag too huh?

    The temporary streetmp above them suddenly flickered and went out.

    As the dim darkness descended, they turned on the headlights attached to their helmets.

    Whats happening?

    Everything else is fine.

    Whats going on there?

    The streetmp went out here!

    When a colleague from a distance asked what was going on, they waved their hands, iming it was nothing. The streetmps above the distant colleagues were shining brightly.

    Did the power go out? Why suddenly damn!

    Whats wrong?

    A damn mosquito got into my ear!

    The pirate with the cigarette in his mouth nervously scratched his ear and pointed the headlight towards the streetmp.

    Huh?

    Whats this?

    As the two examined themp, something strange caught their eyes.

    From under the buriedmp base, silver moss-like substance was emerging, spreading up to the top of themp.

    Is this moss?

    Why moss all of a sudden? And why is the ground so damp when it hasnt even rained?

    As soon as those words were spoken, the wet soil began to stir. Soon, a brightly colored nt pierced through the earth.

    The nt looked like a vibrant red vine with tiny thorn-like stems running all over its surface.

    Whats this? A mushroom? What is it?

    .

    The pirate with the e-cigarette frowned at the mysterious nt. Despite its beautiful color, there was an inexplicable sense of difort about it.

    He took out amunication device and called his colleague, who was staring nkly at the nt.

    Hey, we need to report this.

    Its beautiful.

    What did you say?

    Im going crazy with beauty!

    The pirate who hadnt smoked a cigarette approached the nt with an ecstatic expression. Suddenly, the vine that had been still flew towards him so quickly that it wrapped around his face, invisible to the naked eye.

    Oh, damn!

    Hehehehehe.

    The pirate, who knelt down and pressed his face into the vine, was horrified as he looked at his colleague. He quickly activated themunication device, attempting to contact inside the cruiser.

    If only it werent for the voice calling him from a distance.

    A woman?

    Clearly, the sound he heard in his ear was the lustful moan of a woman. It echoed as if flowing out from inside a cave, but there was no mistaking it.

    He loved getting involved with women.

    Perfect. Time to have some fun after a long time.

    The pirate followed the voice with bloodshot eyes. He was so focused that he didnt even realize that blood was flowing from his ears.

    You damn idiot, youre done now.

    Following the voice, he leaped into the bushes. Along with him, a familiar sound reached his ears.

    The sound was that of mines buried around them being triggered. The mes of ultra-high temperature rose from the ground, engulfing him.

    Is this the beginning.

    The nest installed deep underground reports to me. There are continuous vibrations of various scales happening on the surface.

    Lying leisurely in the nest, linked to it, I could observe everything happening on the surface.

    Pirates infected with hallucinogenic bugs were jumping onto the mines, turning the area around the cruiser intoplete chaos. Even the pirates who managed to avoid the surprise attack of hallucinogenic bugs were not unscathed.

    Because they were entangled by the tempting pheromones emitted from the Sticky Lurker growing from the ground.

    As the name suggests, the Sticky Lurker is a carnivorous nt that approaches victims near the nest and devours them. It has almost no directbat capabilities, but it entices enemies by emitting unique tempting pheromones, holding them in ce.

    In the setting, the tempting pheromones emitted by the Sticky Lurker give the prey a euphoric pleasure simr to drugs. It doesnt work on species with bodies reced by machinery like cyborgs or androids, but it works very well on sentient species like humans.

    Those who catch a whiff of this scent probably want to devour all the dirt.

    Moreover, I am currently in a state where I possess enhanced pheromone characteristics. Some of my physical characteristics also apply to the nest, so it is probably not easy for them to withstand the pheromones emitted by the Sticky Lurker.

    Because I used this characteristic a lot to seduce others before, some yers in themunity called me an addictive moff.

    Its the fault of those who get caught.

    Anyway, as their colleagues suddenly go crazy, the heavily armored walkers guarding the perimeter will be extremely bewildered.

    They will try to respond to the all-around attacks happening, but will it be easy?

    The biological sensors installed inside the walker show nothing marked around the cruiser. Because the Smog Tower generated by the nest continues to emit toxic mist around the cruiser.

    Although much less deadly than the mist spread in the swamp, this mist is also quite lethal. If you stay in it unknowingly for a long time, your lungs will be contaminated and youll die.

    In reality, some of the operators of the walker, who may have had weak lungs to begin with, stopped moving. Other walkers seemed frightened as theirrades suddenly vomited blood and copsed.

    While chaos reigns outside, what could be happening inside the ship?

    Theyll probably try to figure out whats happening outside.

    Thats impossible.

    The cameras connected to the temporary streetmps are all disabled by the Gremlin Moss. The same goes for the Stormgun, which is the same machine.

    The Gremlin Moss is a counter feature of machines that operates differently from hijacking and electromaic interference.

    Unlike hijacking and electromaic interference, which control and incapacitate machines through specific vibration waves, Gremlin Moss must directly infect machines with moss. The infected machines arepletely disabled until the mosss survival time of 20 minutes pses.

    Once a machine is infected with moss, it cannot be infected again, which is a disadvantage. However, unlike hijacking, which allows control of only one machine at a time, moss can damage multiple machines at once. Machines that move frequently like walkers orrge machines like cruisers are difficult to infect.

    There are still walkers remaining, but it seems like they have somewhat neutralized the enemys defenses. Now its time to move on to the next stage.

    I disconnected the link with the nest and started digging the ground just above my head.

    If I continue straight up, Ill reach right below the cruiser.

    Although it was about a hundred meters away, with my 25-meter-long body, I quickly reached the surface by digging a tunnel.

    When I slightly raised my head above ground, thending gear was right in front of my nose.

    Now, through the four additional auxiliary mechanisms under my jaw, the entire exterior of the cruiser was detected.

    It was a cruiser with the distinctive elongated diamond shape of the Cult. The outer armor, rather than being rugged like Mega-Cob or Star Union, had a smooth texture with an ivory color.

    Maybe they made it from Moon Silver, thinking its not a Cult warship.

    While ck Silver weakens psychic powers, Moon Silver, on the contrary, amplifies the effects of psychic powers.

    Its fortunate to attack a cruiser.

    The leader of the pirates belongs to the Cult race. The target of the Moon Silver reinforcement effect.

    Not anymore.

    Metallic sounds of walkers wandering in thick fog nearby can be heard. They seem oblivious to the fact that I am right below the cruiser.

    I opened my mouth wide and pressed closely under the cruiser. The Acidic Mycota near my esophagus started creating fungi with tremendous power ording to my intentions.

    The Acidic Mycota is a fusion trait created using the Acidic Blood trait, which I acquired as a material. Previously, I could only use the Acidic Blood trait when creating wounds, but now I can spit out highly acidic substances to enemies when I want.

    Soon, the Acidic Fungi,pleted in an instant, spewed out of my mouth.

    The emerald green Acidic Fungi that adhered to the bottom of the cruiser instantly melted the ivory Moon Silver.

    While the fungi worked diligently, I activated the Tooth Fairy Nest. The Tooth Fairy Nest, located in the lower back, burst open, spewing out carnivorous fairies.

    Since they were reinforced as a type, the appearance of the tooth fairies had changed. They remained the same size as before, about the size of a childs palm, but exoskeletons grew on their heads and bodies.

    It looks like the fairies are wearing helmets.

    As if reading my thoughts, the tooth fairies saluted. Their appearance was quite cute.

    Go inside the ship and chew off various important equipment and wires connected to them. Feel free to eat the crew if necessary.

    Dozens of tooth fairies entered the ship through the melted holes.

    Feeling the metallic confusion inside the ship, I waited until the holes widened.

    Pirates inside the ship seemed confused.

    A full-scale attack from all directions outside, sudden damage urring under the ship. Its all beyond their expectations.

    While examining the internal situation through auxiliary mechanisms, I felt signs approaching from the hole towards the inside of the ship.

    Is it okay to go in now?

    I was still holding onto the widening hole withbat arms that were melting. With four arms stretched in all directions, the hole had widened enough for me to barely enter.

    Oops!

    Damn! Fire at everything!

    The moment I rose up through the hole in the floor, Cult and human pirates wearing reinforced suits noticed me. Clearly, they were the ones guarding the cruiser, shooting calmly with purple spray guns they held.

    Theyre calm, but

    The problem is that I have psychic reflection gloves.

    Reflect some of the attacks of psychic power.

    The Psychic Reflection Gloves are an advanced version of the Reflection technique within psychic power skills, serving as a psychic version. It automatically reflects 30% of the damage received from psychic power attacks.

    mesposed of psychic power wrap around my outer shell. Since bing a quasi-entity, the upgraded outer shells make the experience much less painful.

    Its not even reducing the difort.

    To me, its just warmth to the extent of causing some unpleasant feelings, but how about them? Some of the mes that were engulfing me flowed in the opposite direction.

    At the end of it were pirates holding purple spray guns. When the violet me beam flew towards them, their expressions turned pale.

    Uh?

    Everyone, dodge aaaaah!

    Since my gloves are sturdy, there isnt much damage even if I get hit by the purple spray gun, but the same cant be said for them. Despite their efforts, the pirates in reinforced suits struggled to extinguish the unyielding mes, but they knew it was a futile endeavor.

    Was the situation room this way?

    Ignoring the pirates falling one by one, I moved on.

    Up ahead is the situation room.

    A defense facility located far from the cruiser.

    As you approach the central area near the jungle where the forgotten temple is located, signal interference intensifies. This is due to the unique energy emitted by the temple.

    Thats why Muriel built a fortress serving as an outpost between the cruiser and the temple, ying the role of a vantage point and a temporarymand post in case of unexpected incidents.

    Well stay here tonight.

    Returning from dismantling the camp near the temple, Muriel and her subordinates decided to spend the night here. They nned to take a transport ship early tomorrow morning and return to the cruiser.

    Even though the situation suggested a possible attack from enemy yers, Muriel had reasons not to rush back. It was not only due to intermittent signal interference in this area but also to gather additional information about the Amorph yer from the mother of the sky.

    Scream! Gasp! Gasp!

    Brother, since he wont die anyway, pull it tighter.

    Yes.

    Even in thete night, torture aimed at the mother of the sky was in full swing in the open field of the defense facility. When the internal organs bound to the wire were torn apart as the wheels turned, the mother of the sky screamed.

    Observing her with a bored expression, Murielmented,

    That must be quite painful. Shouldnt you tell us by now?

    You damn bitch! Even if I say it, theres nothing you can do!.

    Thats for me to judge. Im sure,pared to you, Ive fought against him.

    Muriel changed her mind because she felt skeptical about the attitude the mother of the sky had shown.

    Im sure Ive met him before.

    The 5th rank Amorph yer is infamous even in foreign countries, and she is aware of it. However, the mother of the skys attitude was clearly abnormal.

    She is also a ranker like Muriel, even 15th ce above Muriel, a Wolf ranker. Even if the opponent had a higher ranking in the past, isnt he just a fallen star now?

    Moreover, the mother of the sky she saw here was highly skilled.

    She even learned Divine Manifestation.

    Divine Manifestation is known as a challenging technique to learn among Wolfs advanced skills.

    Muriel knew that the mother of the sky didnt have a high enhancement level, unlike other yers. She chose to live with the current residents, and amidst that, she managed to learn Divine Manifestation. That in itself shows that she is no ordinary yer.

    If I hadnt brought that equipment, I wouldnt have won.

    Originally, it was a weapon brought to subdue the Earth Father.

    Anyway, Muriel couldnt understand why the formidable mother of the sky feared the guy so much.

    Surely, the two of them must have met and fought in a past game.

    The reaction seemed to be exclusive to those who had encountered him and experienced something unpleasant.

    Perhaps the mother of the sky suffered a devastating defeat. That fear must stem from those memories, Muriel thought.

    If that guy is as formidable as you say, you might not be safe either. If you dont want to die

    Tch! You killed my family. Id sell my soul to Amorph if it means I can kill you!

    Hmm, is that so? The excruciating torture was something Muriel, as the designer, knew very well. Yet, the mother of the sky remained unbroken.

    Muriel signaled the pirates to stop the torturous wheel.

    How about we have a chat with your beloved family?

    What? When she waved her hand, other pirates brought in Wolf captives. The Wolves, their throats bound by metal wire, were all young boys.

    You damn bastard!

    Alright, brothers. Bring in the wheel.

    Stop it!

    The pirates brought a wheel simr to the one used to torture the mother of the sky. Seeing the brutal torture tool, the young Wolf captives began to tremble in distress.

    Let me ask you onest time. If you dont answer, these Wolf friends of yours here will all participate in an organ exhibition.

    You damn bitch! Youre just like me! But how can you do such a thing!?

    Ah, noisy. Tell us quickly. Or else, might my brothers do something bad?

    The mother of the sky could tell that Muriels words were not false. The malicious pirate leader still had enough cruelty left in him.

    Ill talk. Ill tell you everything, so dont touch them.

    That depends on your attitude.

    What do you want to know?

    Have you ever fought against him? Tell me what happened.

    Finally sumbing to Muriels threats, the mother of the sky began her story with a submissive attitude.

    You know about that, right? The Shepherd Battle.

    The battle where four ns gathered on a deserted? The one where all hell broke loose because they wanted to capture one yer Ah. Dont tell me?

    Yeah. That was a gathering to capture that Amorph yer. I was the leader of the Savage n, one of the ns that participated.

    Muriel was unaware that the mother of the sky was once a n leader. This was because the mother of the sky was famous for rejecting membership offers from renowned ns in the game.

    At that time, he wasnt a ranker. He was just a Pre-Saint, and thats all. So, we thought we would easily win. But

    But?

    He destroyed our spaceship within an hour of entering the. He destroyed all themunication towers responsible for contacting external spaceships, leaving only one. Blocking our escape route was probably his n. After that, one or two of us were hunted down by him in the jungle. He acted as if he knew our nspletely, making any strategy useless.

    Skinned corpses? Thats just the tip of the iceberg. He ridiculed us in every imaginable way. Because of him, we fell apart, fought against each other. Well, that was probably his intention.

    The mother of the sky spoke calmly, but strong emotions were deeply embedded in her words.

    Amunication tower still remains, right? If you contact the outside, you can call for reinforcements.

    Kekeke, thats right. Only onemunication tower from one of the four ns remains. At first, we thought they had betrayed us since it was the only one left. But as time passed, we could rely on each other, waiting for the reinforcements brought by that n.

    The mother of the skys bitter expression revealed the subsequent events to Muriel.

    Perhaps reinforcements never arrived as expected. However, the truth that came from the mother of the skys lips surpassed her expectations.

    Later, I found out there was a reason why thatmunication tower remained.

    What was it?

    He deliberately left it there.

    What?

    The n members at themunication tower were already dead, and all this time, he had been imitating the n members. He knew everything about our meetings and had been providing false reports externally.

    After that, he deceived us multiple times. We couldnt endure, suffered aplete annihtion, and my n fell apartpletely. We were so deceived by him that we couldnt trust each other anymore.

    Hearing those words, Muriel thought,

    That Amorph yer is truly insane,

    and realized the dire situation she was in.

    Well, anyway, its just a game.

    Yes, its a game. But this is reality. He emerged in reality. How can you be so calm when you have no idea what terrifying tactics he might employ?

    Even so, Im just a virtual entity!

    While youre enjoying yourself here!

    The mother of the skys scream interrupted her words. The impact of that momentary outcry was so terrifying that Muriel flinched.

    He has already prepared everything to torment you. By now, the battleship may already be in his hands, right?

    Upon hearing those words, Muriel began to feel rapidly uneasy.

    Could it be? No, thats impossible.

    She tried to act nonchnt and called over a subordinate responsible formunication. It was to establish contact with the battleship.

    Due to the radio interference spread throughout the jungle,munication was only possible with special equipment, which took some time to connect to the battleship.

    After a while, the subordinate brought an activatedmunication device. Taking the device, she questioned the battleship with a voice unintentionally trembling.

    Brothers, is everything okay on your end?

    Crackle, crackle.

    Instead of an answer, the returning sound was just noise. When her gaze turned to the subordinate, he gestured that the connection was already established.

    If anyone is alive, respond!

    Crackle, is that you? Crackle.

    As the words came through themunication device, she felt fear and shivers.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 116

    Chapter 116

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Situation Room on the Aircraft Carrier.

    The pirate leader, upon hearing my voice, fell silent. Judging by the faint sound of breath being held, she seemed quite startled.

    The 5th ranked Amorph.

    She spoke in a trembling voice. Unexpectedly, the first words from the leader, or rather the yer, were about my identity. She seemed to know exactly who I was.

    Well, considering the chaos I caused its not surprising.

    It wasnt an inted sense of self-awareness. There werent many Amorph yers who engaged in psychological warfare with the enemy by exposing their stripped bodies. If they were yers experienced in the game on the other side, they might have heard about me at least once.

    Youre quite audacious. Do you know who I am?

    Humanityranking20thI suppose.

    I know well.

    After upying the Situation Room, I was engaged in other activities until themunication came through. Specifically, I was examining the information on the pirate leader stored in theputer.

    The pirate leader, the woman conversing with me beyond themunication device, was named Muriel. In the game, she had been the 20th-ranked Spacedog, a space survival expert.

    I havent met her in person.

    I had quit the game shortly after she became a ranker due to academic warnings, so I hadnt fought against Muriel directly. However, I had collected information about other rankers, including her race, faction, and n.

    She wasnt a cultist originally.

    As far as I knew, the 20th-ranked Muriel was a cyborg of the Spacedog race. Therefore, until I confirmed her name on theputer, I didnt think the pirate leader would be a ranker.

    Of course, there were Spacedogs from the cult too

    He was a man, not a woman. I remembered him as the 11th-ranked American ranker, whom I had fought against a few times in the past.

    Anyway, looking at the picture of Muriel disyed on theputer monitor, she clearly belonged to the female cult, specifically a cult with deer antlers, a symbol of the cults royal family.

    I dont know why the deer antler cult is engaged in piracy.

    If she is a ranker, she would know how much the deer antler cult could achieve within the cult society.

    The ship she brought was probably not just an ordinary aircraft carrier but an Imperial MotherShip..

    Gotta investigate that step by step.

    Currently, I know very little about the yer. There were many other things that I didnt know too, such as whether there were other yers in this world besides her and me. Therefore, I needed to extract enough information through our conversation.

    You being higher-ranked than me is just a game talk. Do you still think you can beat me now that this is the real world?

    Her confident attitude indicated that she was no longer feeling tense. Despite losing the aircraft carrier, she seemed to have confidence in herself.

    I know there have been negative rumors about her being a queen bee or something. However, she is also a ranker in Space Survival.

    If the person on the other side isnt impersonating the 20th ranker, they must be hiding an ace up their sleeve.

    Lets delve into it a bit more.

    Theyve gone as far as taking over the aircraft carrier, iming its all in the name of the Ascension Battle.

    Hmph. Such ships are nothingpared to the power we possess.

    Us?

    What could the us she mentioned mean? It might refer to the Humanity Cartel, but it doesnt seem right. Thanks to Amorphs unique intuition, I could somewhat grasp the emotions conveyed in her voice.

    It feels more like referring to arade than a subordinate.

    In other words, there is another yer with her and what she implies is that there is a shared intention between her and the yer, or an entity equivalent to a yer.

    While I was quickly processing this in my mind, she continued speaking.

    Praising you foring to this on the Ascension Battle topic is fine, but thats the extent of it. If you had just stayed quiet, I might have overlooked it.

    Dont misunderstand. Youre the one who provoked my ship from a distance. What could you possibly have to say in this situation?

    How foolish. I cant just leave an unidentified intruder alone. Besides, right now, youre nothing more than a weakling. You have no right toin in the face of weakness.

    Her words sounded childish, but they cut to the core of this worlds reality. The world of Space Survival was a dystopia dominated by the logic of the survival of the fittest.

    Further conversation is meaningless.

    Seeing her dismiss the discussion of weakness, bringing up negotiations seemed futile. To obtain detailed information, it seemed I would have to meet her in person and hear it directly from her. I had plenty of useful tools to ensure the truth from my counterpart.

    It seems like youve immersed yourself in this world.

    Ha. Anyone who spends a long time in this world will end up like that. You know what this ce is like, right?

    I was about to end the conversation when she provided an important clue.

    Spent a long time here?

    I hadnt been in this ce for even half a year. Although it felt lengthy due to constant activity, it wasnt long enough to be described as spending a long time.

    Muriel and I have different durations in this ce.

    At least she had been in this world much longer than me.

    This aspect is quite intriguing.

    The reasons to capture Muriel seemed to be increasing.

    And by the way, do you think Im mindlessly engaging in this useless conversation?

    What do you mean?

    Do you think Im so stupid? Do you think I havent prepared anything for the aircraft carrier?

    She spoke as if to mock, making it sound like she had some kind of trick up her sleeve regarding the aircraft carrier.

    Are you talking about explosives?

    Huh?

    You Spacedogs seem to love bombs.

    Before I took control of the Situation Room, I told the tooth fairy swarm scattered within the ship to alert me to a potential threat. They reported that remote-controlled bombs were nted around the reactor.

    Being discreetly installed and not recorded in the shipsputer, it seemed that Muriel had likely ced them in anticipation of the ship being seized.

    Ha. Indeed. This is the real deal for a 5th-ranked ranker.

    The bombs were already rendered inoperative as the front line was cut off. Confirming this fact, Muriel let out a sigh.

    However, the emotion permeating her voice was different from what I expected. It wasnt astonishment or shock but rather a sense of relief.

    Youre clever, but do you think I only prepared that?

    [Detecting unidentified energy flow inary orbit! Danger! Everyone, evacuate!]

    As soon as Muriel finished speaking, warning rms echoed throughout the Situation Room.

    Orbit? Could it be?

    I hate to lose the ship, but throwing a bait to catch a ranker is still a good deal, right? Dont you think?

    Without hesitation, I left the Situation Room. There was only one thing the energy flow in orbit could indicate  orbital bombardment.

    If it was an orbital bombardment delivered through the fleet, the ships AI could detect it. Since it was mentioned as an unidentified energy flow, it wasnt a spacecraft conducting the bombardment.

    Unique-ss weapon!

    Among the unique-ss weapons exclusive to the cult, there was a satellite weapon called Noshin. It assisted in striking specific areas on the ground, utilizing the owners psychic power as fuel to unleash a massive lightning bolt.

    Although it might sound weak to call it lightning, its destructive power surpassed that of a nuclear bomb. Once fired, everything in the targeted area would be obliterated.

    While it had a disadvantage of a 14-day cooldown, making it difficult to use frequently, it was extremely popr in the game for dealing with powerful enemies by using it strategically before entering battles.

    Even if I am a Quasi-Saint, a direct hit from Noshins lightning means instant death.

    I quickly crawled underground through the hole I had made beneath the aircraft carrier.

    This wont be enough.

    The distance from the ground was well over a hundred meters, but I couldnt rx yet. Although the nest filled the hole I made, it was still insufficient.

    Hastily, I dug downward, facing the ground.

    When I was a few hundred meters away from the surface, the link connected to the tooth fairies was severed.

    Soon after, I felt a powerful vibration from above.

    It was the lightning bolt unleashed by Noshin, striking the ground.

    Even though it was far from the aircraft carrier, Noshins lightning was powerful enough to be visible. The night sky cleared as clouds were swept away by the lightninging from theary orbit.

    In the area where the lightning struck, a massive nuclear mushroom cloud rose as the aircraft carriers reactor exploded. Even a jungle filled with redwoods, boasting sizes of several hundred meters, couldnt withstand this unprecedented catastrophe. A colossal demon of fire engulfed the jungle and its inhabitants, swallowing countless lives. Watching the extinguishing lives, Muriel pped her hands, seemingly delighted.

    As expected of Noshin, its performance is exemry.

    Seeing Noshin in action for the second time, the mother of the sky grinned. This wasnt the first time Noshin had been activated on this; Muriel had used it when capturing the father of the Earth and mother of the sky. Although the Father of the Earth, a Wolf Named with remarkably high defense, couldnt withstand Noshins lightning, he sacrificed himself to shield the mother of the sky.

    Thanks to that sacrifice, he fell into a fatal state with a single blow and was subsequently beheaded during the battle with Muriel.

    Hehe, even if youre the 5th-ranked ranker, theres no chance of surviving that lightning, right? Not to mention the father of Earth? He also went out in one shot.

    Still, safety first. I should see the corpse with my own eyes.

    Muriel called a few of her subordinates.

    Brothers, go there with the mother of the sky and check.

    Dont make meugh. Do you think Ill listen to you?

    Huh? Isnt it obvious?

    In response to her answer, Muriel released the spear she had been carrying on her back. Then, with an indifferent expression, she casually stabbed a young Wolf boy with the spear.

    Youyou!

    Are you going to throw away your family?

    Ill kill you! Ill tear you apart no matter what!

    Oh, how terrifying. But before you kill me, it seems like these cute little ones here will die first.

    Ugh!

    If you want to save your family, its better to listen to me. Rank 15, please.

    Damn it

    Faced with Muriels threat, the mother of the sky could do nothing but lower her head once again.

    I thought I was going to die.

    Although I managed to avoid the range of Noshin, that didnt mean I waspletely safe. Thebination of the reactor explosion and the bomb created a tremendous ze that prated the underground tunnel I had dug.

    Fortunately, having evolved into a pseudo-entity, my exoskeleton had be strong enough to endure within the destructive energy flow. Moreover, the perceptible shaking caused by Noshins lightning prevented the overwhelming heat from chasing me relentlessly as my tunnel copsed.

    !

    I waited underground until the aftermath of the explosion subsided before surfacing. The area that was once filled with redwoods and grass had turned into a deste wastnd. Where the aircraft carrier had been, only sand remained, and in the distance, the jungle was still burning fiercely in the mes.

    This is the result.

    Up until now, I had consumed countless lives, including humans. However, somewhere in my heart, there was a lingering thought  perhaps it was eptable because they werent people living in my world. That might be why I approached her with an ambiguous attitude, different from how I treated actual humans.

    Even though I knew that Muriel posed a significant threat not only to me but also to No. 26 and Adhai, I approached her with a certain ambiguity. It was clear.

    Now, that thought haspletely disappeared.

    Would killing someone who goes around striking lightning into other peoples heads be considered self-defense?

    Emerging from the ground, I swiftly crawled towards the burning forest in the distance. The heat I felt emanating from my body could be due to the aftermath of the nuclear explosion or simply my anger  it was impossible to discern.

    Regardless, it didnt matter.

    The cooldown for Noshin is 14 days.

    Whether this is her trump card or if she has more hidden, I dont know. But it doesnt matter now. I wont kill her right away. There are pieces of information I need from her.

    Instead, I must convey to her something more frightening than death. I will use all the strategies and means at my disposal. Soon, Aymoph will learn just how terrifying an enraged entity can be.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 117

    Chapter 117

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Weve arrived.

    Lets go.

    Six Heavy Walkers and one beast disembarked from the transport ship.

    They hade here under Muriels orders to investigate if there were any survivors where the lightning had struck. Until a few hours ago, the lushnd teeming with life had now be a deste wastnd with only sand and death remaining.

    They roamed the barren wastnd with various detection equipment activated, following Murielsmand.

    Huh? Hey! Theres something over here!

    One of the walkers found traces left on the ground and called out to hisrades. As another walker approached with metallic clinks, he recorded the traces with the camera attached to the walker.

    Leader, did you see this? There are dragging marks.

    [Han, that crazy monster. Isnt it dead?]

    It seems not.

    [Ask the mother of the sky. Check how its doing.]

    Yes.

    One of the walkers pulled arge chain in his hand. The mother of the sky, bound by the chain around her neck, was dragged along lifelessly.

    Gah!

    Hey, this matches the creatures traces.

    The one we know walks on two legs, but here, there are marks of dragging. What happened?

    [Its better to speak honestly if you dont want to see your family die.]

    Wait.

    The mother of the sky reluctantly examined the traces in detail. Using her superior senses that surpassed advanced machinery, she grasped the condition of the target that left the tracespartially dragging his body, showing signs of injury with scattered pieces of skin between the dragging marks, and traces of acid reactions on the ground. Judging from the direction, he had entered the forest.

    He dragged his body halfway. Hes injured, judging by the skin fragments between the dragging marks and the acid reactions on the ground. Judging from the direction, he entered the forest over there.

    [Youre not lying, right?]

    You can figure it out, cant you? Verify it if you want.

    Currently, a special chip imnted by Muriel was lodged in the back of the mother of the skys head. It reads the wearers brainwaves to determine if they are lying or harboring impure thoughts. As long as this chip is imnted, the mother of the sky cannot speak falsehoods.

    [Huh? Whatever. Its no surprise that he got injured after facing the gods.]

    What should we do?

    [He must not have gone far since hes injured. Find and kill him. If its the mother of the sky, you can kill it, right?]

    If its an injured creature with a little strength, we can kill him.

    [Hehe, did you guys hear that?]

    Yes!

    After themunication ended, the Heavy Walkers collected the scattered skin fragments and followed the traces leading to the forest.

    Above their heads, the transport ship flew, confirming if there were traces continuing into the burning jungle.

    Muriels subordinates had no doubt that they could easily eliminate the creature that left these traces. However, there was something they didnt know. Surely, the mother of the sky did not lie. Instead, she precisely answered only what Muriel had asked.

    In the opposite direction that the walkers were heading, there were traces that the walkers did not discover. It was a partially copsed pit. Many pits were formed by Redwoods or rocks, which were pulled out of the ground altogether. So, the pirates assumed it would be simr to other traces, but the mother of the sky with her extraordinary senses could perceive that it was a hole made by a serpent-like creature.

    Ha, that Mofpbak. It evolved into an adult form by crawling.

    The mother of the sky concealed the fact that she knew.

    Her eyes, with a leash tied to the pirates, gleamed coldly.

    When I begin a hunt, there are factors I check first: information, time, and location.

    Firstly, information.

    Knowing who the enemy is, what equipment, characteristics, skills they possess, what strategy they use, and how much they know about me are crucial for smoothly navigating through the battle. Although Amorph is a powerful species as it evolves, the journey to get there is extremely treacherousnot just for me but for everyone. Therefore, acquiring information is essential.

    Next is time.

    Deciding when to strike during day or night, whether the enemy is aware of my assault, and if so, when they might be awareall these considerations help in choosing the right time to hunt and preparing ordingly.

    Lastly, location.

    Knowing the enemys location, the terrain, where to lure them, and where to settle the scoreall these aspects need to be understood.

    So, how much advantage do I currently have in targeting the enemy?

    Starting with the information, she and I dont know much about each other, but at least I am in a better position than her.

    Muriel thinks of me as a celestial being.

    Using the gods lightning was a good choice if she thought I was a celestial being. Even if I run away quickly, its not easy to escape the range of the gods lightning.

    Nevertheless, shell try to confirm.

    Shes a woman who installs bombs in her cruiser as a precaution against it being captured. Shell try to confirm whether Im dead or not. Investigating the explosion area will soon reveal my survival.

    From here on, its a critical point.

    She likely believes that I suffered a fatal injury from the gods attack. In reality, its only minor due to the explosion of the gods and the cruiser. My armor was scorched, and a part of the exoskeleton fell off. Even now, there are remnants of the fallen exoskeleton in the traces leading into the forest.

    They were all intentionally left behind.

    To make the enemies believe that my condition is not good.

    Hiding my evolutionary stage and concealing my condition to mislead the enemy about my status.

    The information warfare began when I emerged from the underground and infiltrated the jungle.

    Theyll probably try to follow my traces over there, but

    In this jungle, detection devices often malfunction. However, its unlikely that they would miss me. Still, it will take some time for them to discover me.

    While the enemies are slowly pursuing me, my tasks are clear. I need to locate Muriel and shift the battlefield in my favor. Fortunately, before the cruiser took off, I had browsed through the data stored in the shipsputer. Thanks to that, I could anticipate her possible locations.

    There are tworge camps presumed to be where she might be. One is the vast jungle area spreading from the center of the continent, and the other is the canyon area with the Wolf indigenous vige. I was confident that Muriel would be in the jungle area.

    Theres a forgotten temple in the center of the continent.

    The Forgotten Temple is a kind of dungeon where powerful unique-grade equipment is stored,parable to other games. However, the entrance conditions are quite strict, and there are powerful Wolf statues inside, requiring thorough preparation for conquest. For instance, special energy fields around the temple can be mentioned. Even if you try to detect from a distance, the energy field prevents detection, and as you approach the temple,munication devices often malfunction. Unluckily, if a transport ship stops working due to the energy field, it might crash.

    Therefore, yers intending to conquer the temple often set up supply camps a considerable distance away. Muriel, like other yers, would have set up arge camp inside the jungle for the temple conquest.

    When I checked the transported items, there were only weapons.

    And looking at the periodic transport records, it was undoubtedly all used for the temple conquest. By now, she might have finished the conquest and obtained the rewards.

    Was the Priests Golden Spear reward for clearing it?

    Its equipment that increases attack power when killing sentient beings. Although the increase in attack power per killed being is very low, there is no limit to the increase, making it infinitely powerful with more kills.

    Once she knows Im alive, shell likely try to kill all her subordinates or ves to increase her attack power.

    I need to confirm this part directly.

    Because of the task, I, who was half-buried in the ground, raised my head. Thirty minutes ago, I had arrived near therge camp where Muriel was presumed to be.

    I could reach here in just half a day without resting, using all my energy for a full sprint. I was a few kilometers away from the camp.

    From there, I was preparing a favorable battlefield for myself. There was no area within my line of sight that was not covered in ck slime.

    The vibrant grasses were twisted, and instead, red vines, like blood, grew in their ce. Between the vines, spores emitting toxic mist relentlessly filled the air.

    Even the towering Redwoods standing on the corrupted ground seemed intact from the outside, but they were decaying from the inside. When the thick bark peeled off, ck slime and insects sprouted from within.

    Beetles the size of fingernails and hallucination-inducing bugs hovered around, infecting anyone unfortunate enough to be in the vicinity.

    Having confirmed that the nests were growing steadily on their own, I released the link and stood up.

    This makes it the third one.

    I was in the process of creating nests surrounding the camp. Just as there are perks in the physical enhancement and psychic enhancement types that enhance rted abilities, there are also perks in the nest enhancement type.

    When multiple nests merge into one, the characteristic effects are amplified. In this way, Muriels camp will be subjected to a more intense assault of toxic mist than the swamp inside the Utopia 02 continent.

    If I fight there, the attribute effect of Personification Sacrifice will shine.

    Before evolving into a Quasi-Saint being, I acquired the attribute Personification Sacrifice in the swamp. On its own, it has no effect, but when corpses appear in the nest, the situation changes. If you possess the Personification Sacrifice attribute, the nest absorbs the corpses, providing the energy of the corpses to the owner of the nest. Even if limbs are severed, the energy absorbed through Personification Sacrifice elerates my recovery, restoring me to my original state within minutes.

    In other words, as long as corpses continue to be supplied, I be a living entity akin to a zombie.

    Moreover, it can counter the Golden Spear.

    I moved to find a new location to set up a nest. Since creating nests consumes a lot of energy, I didnt forget to intermittently supply energy.

    Squeak?!

    I seized a gori with an ant head using corrosive tentacles.

    Named Andril, it is a carnivorous creature with specs surpassing those of a Nightstalker, but it was no match for me as a Quasi-Saint being.

    If theres time, I would have liked to taste it.

    Its regrettable that I cant.

    After devouring a few more Andril, I found a suitable ce to nt the nest and rxed my body. As the mucus poured from my body and the nest was being created, a loud noise echoed from above.

    Hmm?

    It was the sound of a transport ship flying. The ship started low-altitude flight without caring about the covered trees. Then, sevenrge objects could be felt falling to the ground.

    Have they already found me?

    Even with a bio-scanner, finding me in this jungle is not easy. Detection devices often malfunction or reset in the middle.

    Huh?

    The enemies whonded from a distance began moving in apletely different direction as if they hadnt found me using the bio-scanner. They were heading towards the traces where I crawled here.

    I dont know what happened.

    I need to tidy up before the nest ispromised. Its more detrimental for the nest to bepromised than for me to be caught.

    I released the link with the fourth nest I created and climbed up the tree silently.

    Then, without a sound, I moved towards the location where the enemies were.

    With my body elongated, if the distance between the trees wasnt too far, I extended my body to move, and if the distance was considerable, I utilized an aerial membrane.

    After narrowing the distance with the enemies, I could see how they had pursued me.

    Their formation consisted of six Heavy Walkers and one beast at the front.

    The leading beast was something I had seen a few times in the game.

    A Wolf that learned Divine Transformation?

    A creature resembling a griffin from mythology, with the head of an eagle, the body of a lion, and a serpents tail. It was undoubtedly a Wolf.

    Unlike Amorph, who aims for endless evolution, a wolfs journey to reim the divinity within his body ys a significant role in the story. a wolfs transformation ability is closely rted to this setting. As he gets closer to divinity, he can transform into sacred beasts like griffins or unicorns, not ordinary animals.

    Therefore, when a wolf transforms into a griffin, you can think of him as being between the stages of Ascendant and Quasi-Saint,pared to Amorph.

    If its a griffin, its definitely possible, but its strange.

    Because a griffins eyes are superior to Amorphs hyper-sensory abilities, it can track my traces even from high altitudes. I understand how they chased me on a transport ship, but theres a fundamental question remaining.

    It seems like a named one, but why is it with pirates huh?

    Observing the pirates while activating my camouge, I turned my head for a moment, and our eyes met with the griffin.

    It didnt seem to notice me and naturally turned its head. However, with Amorphs unique hyper-sensory perception, I could tell that it had recognized me but pretended not to.

    I dont know why its acting like that.

    Detailed information can be confirmed by capturing it directly. I cautiously moved towards the Heavy Walkers location.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 118

    Chapter 118

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    In a forest covered with towering redwoods that extend for hundreds of meters, night fell once again. The dense green leaves and the red hue of the treesbined, casting a navy blue tint over the darkness of the forest. In the chilly and silent space, six Heavy Walkers advanced with their lights on.

    Lets see.

    I observed them from above the trees. Honestly, as a quasi-yer, I could just go down and take them all out, but theres a reason Im not doing that.

    I cant afford to be exposed. If they find out Im a quasi-entity, Muriel will either prepare ordingly or try to escape into space to get away from me.

    There doesnt seem to be another ship besides the battleship, but if they have a means of escaping into space, I cant stop them. To prevent this, I need to destroy all six at once, ensuring that the enemies cant capture me on camera.

    I cant even sleep; what a hassle.

    Hey, is that around here?

    Yes, hes close.

    Ah, that creature is wandering around a lot.

    Its fortunate that hes close, it will make it easier for us to find him, so lets catch him quickly and go back.

    The Walker operatorsin about chasing traces all day long.

    Alright.

    Since everyone is momentarily rxed, now is the time to strike.

    Hidden in a suitable spot to surprise attack at any moment, I tightly coiled my tail around the tree and extended my upper body over their heads.

    Now, lets go.

    I quickly activated the corrosive tentacles. The sharp six appendages of the corrosive tentacles poured down like arrows, urately targeting the control seats of the six Heavy Walkers. The tentacle pierced through the upper part of the control seats, pulling out or crushing only the heads of the operators inside.

    !

    The Griffin Wolf, who had been aware of my existence since earlier, leaped forward. The blood-sucking tentacle that sprang from my hand sadly missed the target and only struck the barren ground.

    The leaping Griffin Wolf soared upwards. Its body defied thews of nature, soaring into the air as if there were invisible stairs. Although there was an iron chain connected to its neck, it seemed like the creature had no intention of escaping.

    Like an eagle spotting its prey, the Griffin swiftly attacked. Its target was not my upper body, but my tail, the part holding onto the tree.

    Quickly releasing my tail and spreading the wings, I flew to another tree. In an instant, the creatures forelimb struck the Redwood.

    Creak.

    The sturdy Redwood was deeply gouged by the creatures forelimb.

    ?!.

    The creature, as if it didnt know how to dodge, widened its eyes. I, now on a different tree, fluffed my tail dramatically.

    It seemed the creature didnt know how to avoid flying. It stared at me with wide eyes as I fluffed my tail, then I swung it forcefully.

    Large thorns,rger than kitchen knives, flew towards the creature floating in the air. With eyes resembling an eagles, the creature read the trajectory of the iing thorns in a short moment and evaded them all.

    As soon as the creaturended on the ground, the Walkers lost all their control, slowly falling forward.

    [Whats happening? Why did all signals cut off? Mother of the sky? Whats going on?]

    The Walkers fell prey to that creature.

    Muriels bewildered voice flowed from themunication device inside the Walker. the Griffin responded briefly with a melodious tone resembling a bird of prey.

    [WhatWhat did you say?]

    He recovered in the meantime.

    [What the hell?! What kind of nonsense is this? Hey! Bring out the cameras attached to the Walkers! I need to see it for myself!]

    However I Couldnt have possibly allowed her to see me so, I activated the contaminated fungus organ. Contaminated fungus surged upward from near the esophagus, spewing it onto the control seats of the Walkers.

    The contaminated fungus that fell onto the Walkers bounced around, adhering to all six of them.

    Im dealing with that creature.

    [Forget the nonsense and quickly pull out sssss]

    .

    The control seats melted entirely, and the cameras andmunication devices vanished along with them. the Griffin severed the chain around its neck with the fungus.

    Seeing that, I was convinced. The creature was also a yer.

    Youre a yer?

    Yes.

    the Griffin answered, not taking its gaze off me. Then it soon wrinkled its face.

    Damn, I thought I found happiness, but now I meet a psycho girl and a mophead in session.

    Judging by the conversation they had before the Walkers died and her current attitude,Griffin Wolf and Muriel didnt seem to get along.

    Two yers encountered already.

    It seems like there are more yers in this world than I thought.

    Ill look into thatter.

    For now, I need to deal withGriffin Wolf before Muriel arrives. Although its uncertain due to its ambiguous attitude, Muriels momentary carelessness is enough.

    Feeling my hostility, the creature moved slowly to the side, lowering its body like a lion stalking its prey. With my long tail in tow, I also aimed for the creatures vulnerability.

    Theres a wound on its abdomen.

    Griffins recovery ability is known to be excellent, but it seems to be a fairly deep wound. Even now, droplets of blood were falling between its fur.

    As I examined the creature, its gaze also thoroughly scanned my body.Griffins eyes had an effect simr to my Insight ability, pinpointing the weaknesses of the enemy.

    Well, it might be useless anyway.

    Looking at the gap between the creature and me, its clear that I have a significant advantage. Moreover, the creature is still in a less recovered state from its injuries. If it were another Amorph, it might not be so ufortable, but since the creature knows my identity, its going to be tricky.

    As evidence of this, I can feel the creatures heart pounding, a sign of tension and fear.

    Kaio!

    After a brief exploration period, the initiative was taken by the Griffin. The creature roared shortly and lunged towards me. Its front paw was directed towards where my arm was.

    It knows that the head is tough.

    Considering the strength I demonstrated when breaking the Redwood earlier, it seems that cutting the arm might be challenging, but breaking it is possible. In other words, its better to dodge than to take a hit.

    I twisted my body like a dancing cobra, avoiding the creatures front paw. As the creatures front paw hit the ground, it created a thunderous explosion, echoing like a grenade st.

    Since the attack failed, the creatures posture copsed. Without missing the opportunity, I pulled out a bone axe from my hand and swung it towards the creatures back.

    However, just as the creature failed in its attack, my intention was not fulfilled either. In the meantime, the creature flexibly twisted its body and narrowly avoided my attack.

    Using the recoil from its body movement, the creature swung its hind leg towards my neck, precisely targeting the area where the monsters tentacle was.

    Oh no!

    I quickly moved backward, and the tentacle just grazed me, but considerable pain rushed through.

    Unbelievable.

    The monsters tentacle is a characteristic based on a superpower mechanism, not something youd see in a game. No Amorph yer would acquire a superpower mechanism. Yet, the creature caught on to a vulnerable spot on my body in a short moment.

    While I was stepping back in amazement, the creature did not follow up with another attack.

    To be precise, it couldnt. It was busy avoiding the corrosive tentacles that sprouted from my back.

    The tentacles pierced through the ground and air where the creature stood, however the creature skillfully evaded them, gracefully dodging in mid-air.

    However, my means of attack dont end here. The eye-shaped patterns on my head simultaneously glowed.

    The watcher of night suppressedGriffins mind.

    In an instant, the creatures gaze became hazy. Although the Griffin quickly regained itsposure due to its resistance to mental attacks, it was toote.

    Kuk!

    The blood-sucking tentacle shot from my hand grazed the Griffins side. The creature tried to evade it desperately, but mybat arm did not miss.

    I used the Ghost w while holding the creatures front paw. When my hand touched the bones and muscles inside the paw, I released the special effect.

    Naturally, since my hand wasrger than the creatures front paw, the paw shattered from the inside due to my hand.

    Kraaah!

    The creature couldnt endure the pain of its front paw exploding from the inside and screamed loudly.

    In the meantime, my other arm gripped the creatures neck. I mmed the creature into the ground with full force. The creature, caught in my hand, was helplessly thrust into the ground.

    I swung my massive tail to bring down the Griffins body lying on the ground, aiming to finish it off.

    Thunk!

    The Griffin spews blood. With that blow, its waist and leg bones were all shattered.

    If it werent for the Griffins exceptional vitality, it would have died instantly. Sensibility wasnt bad, but the opponent was weak. The timing was off too.

    I had sessfully subdued the Griffin. I grabbed the creature, which was barely breathing.

    Iwillkillyourightnow.

    Silence

    Revellyouknow.

    I wasnt sure about the connection between the Griffin and Muriel, but they had coborated. If that were true, the Griffin would likely have a lot of information about Muriel. I nned to decide whether to eat or spare the Griffin after obtaining all the information.

    However, the Griffins response was unexpected.

    Ku, kukuk, kugh Nothing has changed after all.

    The Griffinughed while covered in blood. From the recent attack, the Griffins spine and legs were broken, but if it werent for its remarkable vitality, it might have died on the spot.

    Sensibility was not bad, but the opponent was weak. Timing was off.

    The Griffin had been present at the scene, watching the events unfold. Despite my actions, it seemed to hold no fear of death.

    Areyouinsane?

    Kwak! Cooluk, kugh Well, its not wrong. From now on, Im going to do crazy things, I have lost my mind.

    After saying that, the Griffin stared directly into my eyes. In its pumpkin-colored eyes, a boiling emotion could be seen.

    It wasnt fear of death or despair over being eaten soon, as one might expect. ording to the auxiliary apparatus below its jaw, the emotion seemed to be fierce anger.

    Ill tell you everything I know. If you demand cooperation, Ill listen. If you want to treat me as a ve, go ahead. Even if you devour me, I dont mind.

    Whatareyousaying?

    Promise me one thing. Give Muriel the greatest despair you can show. If you promise that, Ill give you everything you desire.

    It seemed that the rtionship betweenGriffin Wolf and Muriel was not very friendly.Griffins hatred seemed genuine, even to my eyes.

    Youdonthavetherighttonegotiatewithme.

    I know. kuhhh, this is my position. But you know, the weakness of a parasite.

    The Griffins gaze turned to my arm containing the parasitic colony.

    Thisthing?

    Kukuku, Ive struggled so much because of that that kuhh, it might look that it has changed in reality, however its still not perfect.

    Griffin Wolfs insight was extraordinary. None of the opponents I had faced so far had quickly grasped my abilities. Thanks to the enhanced infection type, I could now control ten parasites.

    Also, if I concentrated without moving, I could control the body of a being dominated by the parasites for ten minutes. In the game, I had often blown up ns using my symbiotic apparatus and parasitic colony.

    Though there is a vulnerability, thats a fact.

    Inducing internal conflict in the enemy is highly effective, but the interrogation function itself hasnt been significantly enhanced.

    Therefore, as seen in Williams case, even under severe pain, one can choose to speak the truth or entertain distracting thoughts.

    Moreover, it seems to know quite a bit about me.

    Judging by its speech, its evident that the creature has fought against me in the game several times. However, Wolf has fought so many battles that its memories seem vague and uncertain.

    Hmm.

    As I remained silent, the creature closed its eyes as if signaling for me to proceed as I wished.

    This dying Griffin Wolf is quite an intriguing being.

    What should I do?

    It would be better to contemte more, but I dont have time.

    Having made up my mind, I reached out towards the creatures head.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 119

    Chapter 119

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Muriel, seated in themanders camp surrounded by defenses, stared at the monitor with a cold gaze. The vital sign graph, which had been turbulent until a moment ago, now showed no movement at all, forming a straight line.

    What could this mean?

    Leader, theres a massive pool of blood here.

    In the video sent by subordinates, puddles of blood were visible. The gic analysis revealed that it was all the blood shed by the Sky Mother. With such a significant loss of blood and no detection of the chips location, one could anticipate the fate of the Sky Mother.

    A troublesome situation.

    The reason Muriel spared the Mother of the Sky was that a female wolf ve who shared her intentions wanted her. The Mother of the Sky was a suitable target for her colleagues discerning taste. The n was to discipline her a bit and then send her away, but things took a turn.

    That damn Amorph!

    If that infamous Amorph consumed the Mother of the Sky and gained her abilities, it would be a headache. She also knew the low probability of Moth Park acquiring abilities. However, in this unpredictable world

    I dont think Ill lose, but.

    Muriel opened the safe in the camp. Inside were an oldmunication device and a diamond-shaped kit. The most powerful weapon in her possession was the Brain God.

    The Brain God was merely a means to make battles more favorable. The weapons she used most effectively were the ones inside this kit. She ced themunication device in her pocket, carefully held the kit with both hands, and sat in front of theputer.

    Ah, Ill need to restock after this fight.

    She sighed, handling the precious items slowly as if dealing with delicate treasures. The kit contained various drugs and small mechanical devices. Syionium, which elevated the users potential, Ultra Controller, a drug that significantly improved the precision of psychic power technology, and Nano Spartan Module, which made the skin extremely tough while enhancing recovery, were among them.

    Each item was powerful, but the side effects were not to be taken lightly. If she didnt have a special body thanks to the benefits, she would have hesitated to use them.

    After carefully examining the items, she closed the kit and called her subordinates.

    Did you call, sister?

    Brother, there will be an attack soon. Gather all the captured ves in the central square.

    ves? Understood.

    The wolf ves were all intended to be used as reinforcement materials for spearheads.

    For a moment, she thought it would be a waste to discard all the carefully collected toys, but she shook her head.

    Those expendable items can be easily reced at any time.

    More importantly, theres the Sky Mother, obtained through difficulty, along with precious drugs and enhancement modules. The damage inflicted by Moth Park on her was never insignificant.

    That Amorph bastard, he should forget about dying peacefully.

    Until now, Muriel had never let those who caused harm to her go unpunished. Ranked 5th, Moth Park would soon pay off his debts with his own blood.

    ***

    Itsplete.

    Confirming that the tenth nest was autonomously mobilizing, I disconnected the link. Cute spores emitted slime and toxic mist, while the ck waves on the ground relentlessly advanced. Up to this point, I had strategically ced nests around Muriels camp,pleting a total of 10 nestsfive on the surface and five underground. Nine of them had already merged into one.

    Within 10 minutes, the tenth nest would also merge with the others. After that, my assault on the enemys stronghold would begin.

    But theres something to check before that.

    I headed towards the sixth nest through the pre-dug tunnels. The underground world that was once filled with soil, rocks, and tree roots no longer existed. This ce was now filled with sticky slime, malignant tumors, disgusting sacs expelling vile substances, and spores constantly contaminating the air.

    It might seem repulsive to others, but to me, it was a familiar space.

    Passing through the elongated tunnel, my constructed undergroundmunity, the sixth nest, greeted me.

    On top of the nesty a Wolf with a half-human, half-beast appearance.

    She had the head of an eagle, mane-like long hair resembling a lions mane, and a body mixed with that of a lion and a human. Her hands and upper body resembled a woman covered in lion fur, while the lower body was that of a lion, but without a tail.

    Seems to be at a high level of beastification, resembling a beast quite closely.

    If she hadnt been seriously injured, she might have been a formidable opponent. Currently, thanks to the symbiotic spore effect, she was recovering rapidly, but it would take a few more days for aplete recovery.

    Iy down in the middle of the nest and called her.

    Awake?

    .

    I had known she was awake since entering the nest. It was different from when her heartbeat had stopped.

    The Griffin Wolf quietly opened her eyes.

    Surprising. Youre not killing me?

    No.

    Huh?

    Your body will be usefulter.

    Not killing the Griffin Wolf didnt mean keeping her alive indefinitely. I crawled closer to her, dipped my fingers into the pooled blood on the ground, and put it into her mouth. Even if I roamed with honey instead of blood, it still tasted sweet enough to be believed.

    Its a pity I cant eat it right away.

    Keeping the Griffin Wolf alive is advantageous for me in various ways.

    In the short term, she can provide useful information. Starting from essential information needed when fighting Muriel, to details about the yers existence.

    One might think its enough to extract the information needed for battling Muriel and then dispose of her, but its not that simple.

    Even if I were to capture Muriel and extract information about the yer from her, without a cross-verification target, its difficult to discern whether the extracted information is true or false.

    And Griffin Wolf harbors hatred towards Muriel.

    Griffin Wolfs skills are decent in my observation. Bringing her along to confront Muriel would bolster our forces.

    Betrayal is impossible due to the imnted parasite while shes unconscious. Moreover, the intensity of pain inflicted by the parasite has increased significantly due to the infection enhancement type, so if she were to betray, it would result in immediate death.

    Unless Imand the parasite to retrieve her, her means of escaping from me are limited.

    Besides the short-term advantages, she could also be useful in the long run.

    Because she can be used when fulfilling the conditions for promotion and evolutionter on.

    Since the juncture of transition to adulthood, the evolution conditions have be much more stringent. Its not just about consuming a few sapients and acquiring a few types to evolve.

    Instead, you have to hunt specific creatures or obtain unique traits.

    Ive disyed the newly updated evolution conditions.

    [The Quasi-Saint > Ascendant evolution conditions have been partially fulfilled.

    APEX 0/30 (Iplete)

    Possessed unique traits 2/10 (Iplete)

    Possessed types 4/6 (Iplete)]

    To evolve from junctura to adult, one must hunt 30 rare creatures ssified as the top predators, or APEX, and secure the 10 unique traits they possess.

    One notable difference is that now, sessful hunting without necessarily consuming the prey also counts toward fulfilling the conditions. This change has urred due to acquiring traits that affect the gene essence absorption mechanism, akin to the jaw structure of a gene essence extractor.

    It doesnt mean its particrly easier though.

    The APEX category includes immensely powerful psychic creatures like Gallergons to creatures with extremely potent powers like Skywhales and their superior species, Arcane Orcas. Each creature ssified as APEX possesses formidable strength and is exceedingly rare, making even finding them a challenge in itself.

    Signing a contract with Adhai was also necessary to surpass the Quasi-Saint stage.

    Gagons are a prime example of creatures ssified as APEX. Guided by Adhai, if one were to venture into the Gagons Nest, fulfilling the evolution conditions wouldnt be too difficult.

    Besides that, theres also actively utilizing the transcendental system.

    Currently, I possess two unique traits, all obtained through the transcendental system.

    One might think that since theres a transcendental system, theres no need to capture APEX, but theres an issue with that.

    Not knowing the effects of the traits and being restricted from using other traits.

    These are the major drawbacks of the transcendental system.

    The unique traits obtained through the transcendental system are entirely new traits not existing in the game. Thus, its challenging to judge immediately whether they are beneficial or not, and the restrictions on using other traits are unknown until obtaining the trait.

    I suppose both hunting APEX and utilizing the transcendental system appropriately are necessary.

    In any case, keeping Griffin Wolf alive aligns with the context of signing a contract with Adhai.

    When ascending from the mature stage to the transcendent stage, it demands conditions iparable to those before. I dont know what will happen afterward, but at this point, theres a high possibility that her life will be necessary.

    Ha, still alive.

    She seemed vaguely aware of why I didnt kill her.

    But even if she considers me an enemy, theres no sharp move she can make.

    Currently, she is in a critical condition. Thanks to the symbiotic organisms attached to her body, she is receiving healing effects and immunity to contaminants from the nest.

    Even without using parasites, if I release the symbiotic organisms, she will die. Of course, she knows me well as a yer. She must understand how foolish it is to resist in this situation.

    It doesnt matter. As long as you keep your promise.

    Muriel will suffer and die.

    Fine. I will follow you, I am the Mother of the Sky.

    As expected, she made a wise choice by calling herself the Mother of the Sky. The griffin, Wolf, forced herself up and bowed to me.

    Ill recover as quickly as possible to be of help.

    It doesnt matter. Use me as you need.

    In truth, the reason she couldnt get up wasnt solely because of the injuries inflicted by Muriel.

    Partly because of me, but theres no need to mention that.

    When I decided not to kill her, I removed the vital signal device from the back of her head with my Ghost ws. It was a bit challenging to remove the chip without the skill of dexterity, leading to a considerable amount of bleeding and aftermath.

    Well, shes a griffin. Shell recover quickly.

    If she were a regr wolf, she would have died the moment I removed the chip. However, shes different.

    The Divine Transformation stage is rtively high, allowing her to inherit the abilities and appearance of the griffin mode even in an untransformed state.

    With the griffins regenerative power and the healing effect of the symbiotic organism spores, she should recover enough to move alongside me when I confront Muriel.

    But more urgently, theres something I need.

    Tell me Muriels weaknesses.

    Until the nest isplete, I need to know as much as possible about Muriels equipment, strengths and weaknesses,bat habits, and anything relevant.

    Knowing about the Mother of the Sky and information about yers will be sufficient after dealing with Muriel.

    Even though its midnight, the defense zone inside and the surrounding forest are as bright as daylight. Thergemps on the towering watchtower continue to surveil the fortress walls and beyond, with hundreds of pirates inside preparing for the enemys attack.

    The vignt posture of the pirates, even at thiste hour, is akin to that of soldiers. The reason for their unwavering focus on defense is their leader, Muriel.

    She impaled each Wolf ve gathered in the square one by one with a spear, as if ughtering animals.

    The pirates of the Humanity Cartel were wary of their enraged leader, well aware of the consequences if they displeased her. Naturally, discipline was maintained.

    Moreover, the fact that themunication with the pirates who went on a reconnaissance mission outside a while ago waspletely cut off added an extrayer of tension to the fortresss defenders.

    Watchtower 1, all clear.

    Watchtower 2, all clear.

    Watchtower 3, sudden fog.

    Here, Watchtower 4, fog is seen just like at Watchtower 3.

    Watchtower 5, fog? It didnt rain, why is it suddenly Oh, I see it here too.

    While ominous radio transmissions echoed from the watchtowers, three pirates were moving Wolf corpses scattered in the square to the warehouse.

    Looks like the boss is really pissed.

    Ha, I hope we can get through tonight safely.

    Hey, I have a charm that wards off danger, want it?

    When they had moved about half of the corpses, a thick fog settled above the defense zone. Fog in the humid and warm jungle at night wasnt unusual, but such dense fog without rain was rare. Moreover, the fog emitted an unpleasant smell. It was the familiar scent of death that anyone active in space would recognize  the smell crows circling around rotting corpses would appreciate.

    Cough!

    Ugh, whats this smell of decaying bodies?

    Wow, lets hurry and finish and leave.

    The pirates, who were clearing the corpses, quickly moved to the warehouse, dumping the bodies on the ground. Dozens of Wolf corpses were piled up like a pyramid, and the warehouse floor was soaked with blood and organ fragments.

    The corpses, all with open eyes, seemed to say,

    We wont forget your sins even in death.

    One pirate shuddered at the eerie sight.

    Damn, its one of the most f*cked-up scenes Ive ever seen.

    Stop talking nonsense and help.

    Fine, got it. Phew!

    The pirate, who spat on the ground, helped hisrades move the corpses to another location.

    Huh?

    Had he not seen the corpses wriggling before turning his gaze away, he would have undoubtedly thought so.

    What was that just now?

    He wiped his eyes and looked back at the corpses. As if to prove that he hadnt misseen, the corpses lying on the ground were being absorbed into the ck soil.

    He was about to alert hisrades about this bizarre phenomenon. Before he could open his mouth, long and massive hands emerged from the ground. He was dragged into the soil without even a chance to scream.

    Hey! Help Where did he go?

    Uh? He was just there a moment ago.

    The warehouse had lights on the ceiling, so the interior wasnt too dark. It was in this well-lit space that theirrade disappeared.

    Damn it! Quit fooling around!

    Is this the time for jokes? Come out quickly!

    Whether theirrade heard their shouts is uncertain. The pile of corpses began to copse.

    The pirates hoped it was just a prank by theirrade, but what emerged from among the corpses was not theirrade. It was a snake with six sharp appendages.

    The snake bit the pirates head at bullet-like speed. Instantly, the pirates head vanished, and blood spurted like a fountain from the neck hole.

    Huh?

    The nearby pirate only realized the fact that his tworades were murdered in the warehouse after getting sttered with their blood.

    Ah, ahhhh!

    He screamed and fell backward. Thanks to falling, he narrowly avoided the snakes attack that killed hisrades.

    Terrified, he crawled out of the warehouse. As soon as he stepped outside, he loudly blew a horn hanging around his neck. The sound, like the cry of a raptor soaring through the sky, echoed throughout the entire fortress.

    Were under attack!

    Where?

    The warehouse!

    Voices of pirates shouting could be heard from various ces inside the fortress, and the pirate who blew the horn somehow managed to get up and tried to flee.

    Behind him, a deafening noise resounded. It was undoubtedly the sound of steel reinforcing bars and the roof of the building being destroyed.

    As he ran, he saw debris from the warehouse flying into the sky. And above his fleeing figure, an object as thick and long as a redwood fell.

    Thunk.

    He couldnt even scream before being crushed by the massive object. Thus, he never realized until the end that the giant object was the tail of some creature.

    -!

    The creature, using its tail, mmed down a pirate, roaring triumphantly. It was as if it dered themencement of a night hunt within the fortress.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 120

    Chapter 120

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Monster, its a monster!

    Kill that thing!

    The pirates screamed in horror as they saw me emerging in the middle of the fortified camp. Following that, merciless beams of light rained down. Over a hundred pirates, coupled with dozens of walkers and defense towers strategically positioned, created an overwhelming spectacle of destruction through coordinated gunfire.

    If it were before my evolution into a Quasi-Saint, I might have suffered irreparable injuries from this attack.

    But not now

    As I thought, a rain of sma bullets poured on my exoskeleton like a downpour on a bo, I heard a sound. Their attacks were futile against my bio-armor, and I needed to remind them of the futility of wasting bullets.

    I pierced through the spectacle and leaped into the air,nding between them. Sixbat-ready arms extended simultaneously, targeting the armed pirates. As a Quasi-Saint, my body had grown to over 20 meters in size, and my arms and ws had proportionally erged. Each swipe of my ws tore through the pirates bodies, and when caught by thebat arms, they were thrown into the distant defensive barriers.

    Ah! Insane!

    Ahh! Were all going to die!

    When the bone axe at the end of mybat arm beheaded someone, the corrosive tentacles consumed the head before it hit the ground. Some pirates, as ast-ditch effort, drew sonic des from their waistbands and charged at me. The ultra-vibrating des, capable of effortlessly cutting through thick wood and hard metals, shattered surprisingly easily against my strength.

    Uh?!

    Pirates wore dumbfounded expressions, as if they couldnt believe the reality unfolding before their eyes. Losing focus duringbat is more fatal than anything else, and they paid the price as useless heads were separated from their bodies.

    Damn! Just crush them!

    Damn it!

    Heavy walkers, armed with storm guns and smaunchers on both arms, fired at me as I massacred my way through theirrades. The brutal heat of enriched uranium rounds and the destructive sma beams turned the area where I stood into a chaotic battlefield. Pirates, already dying from my hand, were quickly incinerated by the blind projectiles.

    What a waste.

    As I regretted the senseless destruction, a powerful sma energy, distinct from gauss rifles, struck my head.

    Grrrrrr

    If I were a monolithic entity, I would have been pushed back significantly by that attack. But now, it merely made my head tilt slightly.

    Wwhat?!

    The smauncher isnt effective!

    The shocked exmations of the heavy walker pilots echoed around me.

    To be honest, its not like I came out of this unscathed. The parts of my exterior hit by the intense heat are now reddened, and I, too, am feeling the pain.

    But its at a level I can endure and bear.

    I should give back, as much as I have taken

    I thought to myself. My jaw splits into two, and the two internal organs inside my body quickly activated.

    The Acidic Mycotoxin Sac, a fusion trait created using the original acidic blood feature I had. The contaminated Fungus Organ, a nd that produces spores filled with contaminated fungus.

    These diabolical mechanisms diligently prepare to inflict dreadful pain upon the enemies.

    Next, a mix of emerald-green liquid and ck spores passed through my throat and dispersed outside my mouth.

    This acidic liquid, lethal to both machines and humans, flew towards the Heavy Walkers and the pirates nearby.

    When the acidic mycotoxin, capable of easily melting alloys, corroded the Walkers gloves, the decay fungus infiltrated the gap, causing adverse effects on the human flesh within.

    The operators could do nothing but scream as the thick gloves that once protected them from threatening environmental elements now be prisons.

    Linked mentally to the operators, the Walkers cease firing and start leaping in ce. The pirates who used to take cover behind the Walker,posed of thick metal blocks, are crushed under its powerful feet.

    We We cant win!

    We need the leader! We need the leader!

    As I continue my rampage, the remaining pirates lose their morale and flee.

    Theres no need to chase after them. The fog surrounding this fortress and the nests emerging from the ground below will take care of them.

    Huh?!

    The fog is poisonous cough!

    After just a few steps, they realize that their respiratory systems arepromised. The pirates forget about escaping and copse on the spot, coughing up blood mixed with chunks of flesh.

    All the pirates in the fortress wore reinforced suits. Their helmets provided gas masks, but when the effects of ten nestsbine, even the enhanced smog tower emitting toxic fog falls short in protecting them.

    Ugh! Gghost! Its a ghost!

    Ha Ha The flowersthe flowers are so beautiful

    The hallucinogenic beetles that emerged from the nests, as if nurtured by the pirates blood, are now targeting them with their sticky tendrils. These creatures, also enhanced tenfold, make it challenging for the pirates to escape.

    Despite thinking that this fortified camp was the safest, the pirates were wrong.

    Even if they had to defy Muriels orders, they should have left this.

    Youve chosen the wrong path.

    My corrosive tendrils relentlessly harvested the heads of pirates, who were falling to the ground and dying, even in the midst of battle. It was like picking fallen fruit from a tree.

    All Walkers, retreat to the central za!

    Fall back!

    The surviving Walkers ceased their attacks and hastily withdrew. I knew what they were expecting.

    In the central za stood the most formidable presence in this camp, Muriel, the leader of the Humanity Cartel and the 20th-ranked yer.

    She was waiting for me.

    I crawled after the Walkers, keeping my upper body close to the ground.

    Heavy Walkers were specialized in unleashing firepower on the enemy while maintaining their formation, but they had no significant advantage in mobility. Although they moved much faster than humans, they were no match for me, moving like a train.

    As I got closer to the Walkers, I attacked them from behind. Trapped in the dense toxic fog outside, they had no choice but to await death; leaving the cockpit was not an option.

    When the remaining Walkers dwindled to just a handful, the fleeing ones reached the central za.

    Silence.

    There, a cultist with deer antlers, wielding a dazzling golden spear, stood.

    She wore a cross-shaped headband emitting a subtle violet glow and a full-body suit resembling reinforced armor.

    Muriel, fully prepared for battle, looked at me while puffing on an electronic cigarette.

    I covered a fleeing Walker, grabbed the operator, and pulled her in front of Muriel. With my arms, I seized both her arms and legs, presenting her in front of the leader.

    LeLeader! Pleasesave Aaaargh!

    The strength in mybat arm could tear apart the outer wall of a spaceship barehanded. Even with reinforced armor, it was a force that an ordinary person couldnt withstand. The pirate I had caught desperately called for the leader but ended up separated into upper and lower halves, dead.

    Seeing this, Muriel furrowed her brows.

    Tsk, savage.

    Surprising.isnt. it?

    Surprising? Pfft, thats what Id say. Never thought youd be a Protoform.

    Muriel spoke with irritation, spitting out her words. She seemed neither shocked nor fearful knowing that I had be a Protoform.

    The attitude Muriel disyed here was that of someone who believed they were in clear superiority.

    Ineverexpectedyouwouldntrunaway.

    Hearing my words, she chuckled as if hearing an amusing joke.

    Run away? Me? Seems like theres some misunderstanding.

    Muriel, who spoke like that, held a lighter in her left hand. She pressed the switch on the lighter-shaped terminal.

    Suddenly, eight small spider-like machines resembling spiders emerged from the dirt around me and clung to me simultaneously. They moved at such a rapid speed that it was difficult to detect with the auxiliary organ under my chin. I couldnt avoid them at all.

    As the machines emitted a red light, my body began to feel heavy, as if soaking wet cotton. It felt like the machines were absorbing vitality from me.

    Blood Reaver!

    The name of the machine attached to my body is Blood Reaver. Its one of the top-tierbat weapons used by Star Union. It swiftly attaches to the victim duringbat, rapidly absorbing life force. With exceptionally high durability, once attached to the body, breaking free from the machine is nearly impossible.

    Moreover, detection is impossible, much like what I, as an auxiliary system, failed to notice. The surprise speed is also incredibly fast. Thanks to these features, the Blood Reaver was a deadly weapon against biological yers or enemies in the game.

    I couldnt resist, and I ended up with my head mmed into the ground. Even though I desperately wanted to get up, I couldnt even twitch a finger.

    I guess you werent prepared to fight a monster like me?

    Muriel approached me with a triumphant smile. The moment she raised her spear high, I struck her side with mybat arm.

    What?!

    She narrowly avoided my attack by a hairs breadth. My sharp ws left a thin scratch on her side.

    As she quickly stepped back, my corrosive tentacles erupted towards her from all six directions. She swiftly parried the attacks with her spear, and in the meantime, I pulled out a bone axe, aiming for her ankles.

    Where?!

    Her body shone purple, soaring into the air. While my bone axe swept over the ground, shended lightly at a considerable distance.

    Her suit hesitated for a moment but eventually healed the scratch on her side. In a matter of seconds, her body returned to its pre-battle state.

    In contrast, her face seemed lessposed than before, as if she had lost someposurepared to a moment ago.

    You have the Blood Reaver attached; how can you move?

    Isthatso?

    Instead of answering, I lifted myself up, tearing off the Blood Reavers attached all over my body.

    On the ck, spider-like machines, silver moss was intricately intertwined.

    I would have been in danger if I didnt know in advance.

    Even with just one attached, the Blood Reaver has an effect beyond injecting paralysis to biological enemies. Those who are affected by this machine not only have their life force drained but also be paralyzed, rendering defense impossible.

    Its not just any top-tier weapon.

    Mother of the Sky mentioned that Muriel had two Blood Reavers, and that she might use both when fighting me.

    Given that Griffin Wolf heavily relied on physical performance, she must have fought Muriel in a considerably weakened state.

    To think she used eight of these on me?

    Contrary to Mother of the Skys words, Muriel had eight of them. And she used all eight on me.

    In the game, no yer had ever used eight simultaneously. After all, being a top-tier weapon, its not something one can easily obtain.

    If I would have been a Pre-Saint, I would have died instantly.

    Even as a Quasi-Saint, with eight attached at once, I would have been unable to move a finger, and my life force would have quickly depleted, leading to death.

    I did use my head a bit, but

    Before I engaged in a battle with her, I had already activated the Gremlin Moss in anticipation of unexpected surprises. The silver mosses were prepared to exit through the pores on my external surface and exoskeleton at any moment, allowing me to effectively block the formidable attacksunched by the enemy.

    As long as the Gremlin Moss is active, the Blood Reaver is useless for the next 20 minutes.

    By the way, theres no need to worry about the life force drained by the Blood Reaver. Thanks to the cannibalistic effect, the corpses on the ground, or in other words, those who died on this campsite, are all equivalent to my energy.

    Even at this moment, the tail in contact with the ground is steadily absorbing energy sent by the nest, so theres no need to worry.

    I finally detached the spider-like machine attached to my head and threw it in front of her.

    DidyouthinkI wouldntbepreparedtofightagainstamonsterlikeyou?

    Her face stiffened as I echoed the words she had just spoken.

    Unfortunatefor.youmydearsisterImtemptedtoopenupmyabdomen andshowyoumyinternalorgans.

    Hmph, entertaining thought. Ill keep it in mind.

    With a raisednce and abat stance, Muriel seemed deep in thought, and I couldnt discern her ns. While I can make educated guesses about her psychology based on heartbeats and bodily responses using my auxiliary systems, its not entirely urate.

    But it doesnt matter.

    She may not know much about me, but Ive acquired valuable information about her.

    The oue of a battle lies in the difference in information.

    Before raiding the camp, I constructed a nest to create advantageous terrain for myself. I gathered as much information as possible about the enemies I would be hunting and devised strategies on how to deal with them.

    In terms of both terrain and information, I have an advantage on both fronts.

    And there is only one thing left for me.

    Victory.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 121

    Chapter 121

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Darkness, and mist was everywhere.

    Screams and sts echoing faintly from serious ces.

    Everything is the result of my actions and decisions.

    Despite the chaos surrounding us, Muriel and I, seated here, observed each other without the slightest hint of wavering.

    When to strike, how to retreat.

    How to uncover the enemys numbers, and how topensate if we fail.

    She and I may be enemies, but we share the same thoughts.

    Just before the raid on the campsite, I received information about the enemy from the Mother of the Sky.

    Shes the type who fights while enhancing herself both with equipments and information.

    ording to what I heard, Muriel had abat style quite distinct from the typical cultists.

    While Space Survival guarantees high freedom, deviating entirely from the gamey presented by the game developers was impossible.

    For instance, ying as a Megacorp yer to collect essence like an Amorph by consuming people, or pursuing a vegetarian Amorph, would render the game progress impossible.

    Hence, when reaching a higher rank, one could generally specte about the tactics and strategies based on the opponents race and faction.

    If the opponent is a cyborg of the Star Union, theres a high possibility of fighting with various modules to enhance oneself or preparing various traps, while cultists often use psychic power techniques with diverse utilities to pressure.

    Though exceptions exist, generally, they dont stray far from this framework.

    So, if you draw the best card like the Antler Cult, the most effective approach would be to choose the cultish tactics, exploiting the enemy with over dozens of psychic power techniques.

    Normally, thats what you would do.

    As the Mother of the Sky said, Muriel was said to be more proficient in hand-to-handbat than handling psychic power techniques.

    Cultists in the setting are adept in psychic abilities but have physical abilities below humans.

    Even if one enhances their physical abilities somehow in this reality, it would be almost impossible for a cultist like her who learned divinity to engage in closebat and emerge victorious against a Wolf who is close to divinity.

    However, Muriel defied thismon knowledge.

    The style of fighting by enhancing oneself is often chosen by cyborgs.

    For example, the navy-blue bodysuit shes wearing.

    It closely resembled when the Nano Spartan module was activated.

    The Nano Spartan module, as the name suggests, is an auxiliary device that equips a nano-reinforced suit over the entire body, dramatically enhancing physical abilities. Its mainly used by cyborg rankers when engaging in closebat, enhancing them slightly beyond Amorphs or Wolves.

    Thats a cyborg-exclusive module. How did she use it?

    In some mysterious way, Muriel, along with other races including the cultists, openly wore equipment that was supposedly not usable by them.

    Even if I use insight, theres nothinging out.

    [Name: Muriel (Real name )

    Species: Contains unidentified information.

    Status: Contains unidentified information.

    Worn Equipment: Golden Spear of the High Priest (Unique), and others.

    Skills: Contains unidentified information.]

    Just in case, I tried using insight, but all that came out was the golden spear she was holding, the Golden Spear of the High Priest.

    Is it a new technology that nullifies insight, or

    Whether its because Muriel is a yer, or something else, its currently impossible to know.

    Theres a lot to ask.

    Having finished the brief contemtion in a matter of seconds, I withdrew the corroded tentacle from the hole in my back.

    Just as I felt when I saw Muriel, she too frowned upon witnessing my abilities, which she had never seen in the game.

    Muriel moved slowly to the side. It seems she has chosen her target.

    Now, theres only one thing left.

    A signal re announcing the end of the exploration phase.

    Hot!

    The initiative was taken by Muriel. She unleashed a swift battle cry and struck the ground.

    The moment she lifted her foot from the ground, my corroding tentacles shot towards her simultaneously.

    Muriel wielded the spear to deflect the tentacles. Now, can my massive tail really block her?

    I pressed my upper body tightly against the ground, raised my tail upward, and swung it fiercely.

    Seemingly judging it as difficult to block, she rolled her foot in mid-air. Disregarding thews of physics, she stepped on the air like solid ground and reached out her left hand towards me.

    When her hand glowed violet, my movements significantly slowed down. It was the effect of the advanced psychic power technique called Distortion Field.

    The Distortion Field drastically impairs the movements of enemies within a certain space while greatly elerating the casters own movements. It would likely slow me down while simultaneously enhancing herself, but she overlooked one thing.

    Ihaveapsychicpowerreflectionglove.

    Annoying!

    Her floating demeanor crumpled. About 30% of the negative effects of the Distortion Field were reflected back onto her, applying to her as well.

    Still, she could move much faster than me.

    After evading my slowed tail, she counterattacked with the spear. The Golden Spear of the High Priest, stained with a considerable amount of blood, easily pierced through my tail armor.

    Having sessfully created small holes in my tail, Muriel thrust the spear repeatedly.

    I need to retreat.

    While the wounds on my body quickly healed thanks to the Nests effect, it didnt mean I could afford to take any and all attacks.

    I rotated my body, retracting my tail while simultaneously attempting tosh out at her with my horned head. In response, she swung the spear horizontally, aiming to sever my head along with the horn.

    The moment the horn and the spear collided, a sound reminiscent of metal shing echoed in the air as if a cksmith had struck a sword with a hammer.

    What?!

    Muriel opened her eyes wide in surprise at the unexpected oue.

    My horn is structured simrly to the toughest part of my body, the head armor. So, even when it shed with the High Priests Golden Spear, it left only a scratch and did not cut through.

    Of course, if we shed a few more times, it will likely break.

    Knowing this fact, she would attempt to strike with the spear again.

    To prevent that, my corroding tentacles aimed for her from all directions.

    Damn it!

    Even within the Distortion Field, avoiding both the approaching tentacles and the horns on my head would be challenging. Muriel retreated in mid-air, pushing backward.

    In the meantime, I hurriedly crawled on the ground, moving out of the Distortion Fields range.

    Where are you going?!

    Muriel, attempting to resume the chase. I forcefully swept the ground with my tail.

    Although she, capable of moving freely in the air, easily dodged my tail, my intention was not to strike her.

    When the strong dust created by sweeping the tail covered the area between us, I vigorously dug the ground with my battle-ready arms.

    In an instant, a pit was formed, and I swiftly crawled inside.

    Despite the obscured visibility, Muriel seemed to have means to see me, as she targeted my tail tip.

    Annoying!

    As she tried to resume the pursuit, Muriels irritated voice echoed from above. With detection technology, she could know my location, but it would be challenging for her to set up a Distortion Field while I was underground.

    I can onlyy it where my line of sight reaches.

    Muriel followed me, thrusting the spear into the ground. The spear easily pierced through the ground like stabbing tofu, grazing my back and tail.

    Fortunately, her detection technology seemed less than perfect, as it didnt inflict any fatal wounds on me.

    This should heal quickly.

    Ignoring Muriels restraint, I fiercely traversed the underground of the central square at a rapid pace. As I dug through the ground, tunnels leading to the nests I had previously set up became visible. Those would prove useful in a decisive moment.

    But for now, this takes precedence.

    Tooth fairy nests near my lower back started bursting open one by one. Enhanced bloodsucking fleas climbed up the earth, munching on it and emerging above ground.

    While releasing the tooth fairies, I activated the acidic fungal nds, holding back the release of fungi into my mouth.

    This should be enough.

    Having prepared in just a few short minutes, I broke through the surface and leaped out. With my movements reaching a sizeable 20 meters, the ground trembled, and waves of sand, rocks, and dirt covered Muriel.

    As her vision was obscured by the soil tsunami, I brought down a bone axe on her head, precisely as I nned.

    Although it was a lightning-fast attack, she didnt panic and unfolded the Distortion Field.

    At a distance where only a short time remained until her head, my body drastically slowed down.

    Twisting my waist backward, I easily avoided her axe. The golden spear in her hand pierced through my side ording to her will. ck blood spurted from my wound, and a smile appeared on her face.

    But what I truly wanted to do wasugh.

    Ive got you!

    Mybat arms grabbed the spear lodged in my side, making it impossible for her to pull it out.

    Muriels expression froze in the same smile. The tooth fairies summoned from underground clung to her face and upper body.

    What a trick!

    As the tooth fairies blocked her vision, Muriel let out an irritated scream. They were just tricks, as she said. Even with her sight obscured, the Distortion Field didnt cancel.

    That wasnt my intention.

    My jaw opened wide, and the contaminated fungus, waiting inside, shot out like a stream of water.

    The Distortion Field only slowed down the movement of organisms within its area; it couldnt distort other physicalws.

    !

    Perhaps sensing the ominousness, even in her blind state, Muriel quickly turned her head. Thanks to that, most of the acid fungi missed her, and only some sttered on one side of her face.

    However, the terror of the acidic fungusy not just in its strong acidity but in its ability to spread rapidly even with a single droplet.

    Aaargh!

    As the fungus spread across her face and melted her horn, Muriel screamed in pain. The tooth fairies that had blocked her vision were also gloriously oxidized by the fungus.

    Nows the chance!

    Disturbed, perhaps due to my mental state, the effectiveness of the Distortion Field weakened.

    Not missing this opportunity, I swung my tail forcefully.

    Ugh!

    Struck by my tail, she flew far away. She crashed onto the chaotic square.

    That was too shallow.

    Despite the pain of her face melting, Muriel used multiple defensive measures simultaneously to block my attack. From the psychic power technique, Ghost Skin, which allowed her to receive only 10% of physical damage while taking an additional 50% from psychic damage, to a circr shield that momentarily emerged from the suits wrist.

    While my attack hit, I probably couldnt inflict fatal damage on her.

    If she were a true Cultist, she would have been knocked down by now

    Damn it..Damn itDamn it!

    As expected, she quickly stood up, having overturned the dirt. The suit, which had covered only her body except her head, extended like spider silk, healing her wounds.

    As expected.

    In her rapidly recovering face, things unseen in ordinary living beings were revealed. Inside her melted skin, instead of white bones, there was an ivory-colored alloy skeleton, along with small mechanical devices and chips nestled between her red muscles.

    It had been a question from the start. ording to my memory, Muriel in the game was a cyborg affiliated with Space Dogs, using equipment exclusive to cyborgs while freely utilizing the Cults long-standing psychic power techniques. Even during the fight, she strangely preferred hand-to-handbat like the Cult, which had raised suspicions. Now, all doubts were resolved.

    A fusion of a Cultist and a cyborg.

    It was abination that all cyborg yers in the game ardently wished for, yet it was an impossiblebination for bnce reasons. Now, it stood before me.

    Having removed the melted horn andpleted her recovery, the cyborg stared at me.

    How can this be?

    Setting aside bnce, Cultists, with fragile bodies by design, couldnt endure cyborg modification surgery due to the intense pain. Until now, none of the Cults I encountered had attempted to resist the parasite, simply because they couldnt endure the pain.

    Considering this, the possibility that Muriel started as a Cult and waster modified into a cyborg seemed low.

    Rather, it might be the opposite.

    Starting as a cyborg and changing the base race to the Cult through some means.

    Its somewhat simr to my Transcend System.

    Simr transformation abilities to Volph, dominance over spaceship capabilities unique to an Outspacer, and more. I transcended the limits of Amorph with the Transcend System. Muriel went beyond the limits of a cyborg to master psychic power as well. Somewhere, it felt strangely simr.

    Alright. Ranked 5th, is it?

    Instead of answering my question, Muriel pressed her empty left hand firmly against her neck. A transparent button-like thing appeared and disappeared where her fingers passed.

    Eventually, the effect of the button she pressed manifested. Muscles on her body swelled, her eyes emitted an intense purple glow, and her left arm, which hadnt held the Priests golden spear, transformed into a mechanical arm integrated with the suit.

    She absorbed psionium.

    Just as Amorph could draw upon the next stage of evolutionary abilities by consuming psionium, the same applied to Cults and Cyborgs. Cults, when unlocked through specific quests, gained the ability to use psychic power techniques, and Cyborgs had the limit on the number of modules they could equip lifted all at once.

    I wonder which race she upgraded to?

    Human-based cyborgs were treated as cyborgs due to the race ssification, so unlocking module restrictions through psionium effects wasnt surprising. However, Muriel was a moreplex being, abination of a Cultist and a Cyborg.

    Perhaps she was influenced by both.

    The headband I was wearing turned into a violet halo, marking the end of her transformation.

    Because of you, Ive used psionium and even the equipment I saved. Ill make you pay for thatter.

    With those words, she quickly approached me. It was a speed so fast that even me, an Amorph, who had heightened senses, could barely detect it.

    Danger!

    Instinctively turning my head, I immediately heard a threatening sound, the noise produced by the spear she thrust. If I hadnt avoided it, my head might have been pierced by the attack.

    Her physical abilities have risen unbelievably.

    Realizing this fact, I swung my tail.

    Unlike before, she didnt evade my tail this time. Instead, she grabbed it with her mechanical arm. Then, she began exerting force on the hand that held my tail.

    [Enduring Pain skill activated!]

    Not only breaking the thick exoskeleton of my tail but also breaking the bones inside it. With this level of strength, she might be able to tear off my tail with her left hand.

    I pulled out the bone axe from mybat arm and swung it at her.

    She easily blocked my attack with the short spear. Although the spears attack power remained the same, the force behind it was so strong that my attacking arm felt numb.

    You dont seem to get tired of this. Will this method work on me?

    Howabout this?

    What?

    She, with a disdainful smile, countered.

    I already know you have a troublesome personality.

    The hidden card isnt exclusive to her, and Ive been waiting for her to use that card.

    I restrained her with thebat arm and corrosive tentacles to prevent her from escaping. The parasite I had nted before signaled beneath our feet. The host is ascending now.

    No way?!

    As soon as Muriel eximed, the ground we stood on exploded.

    Muriellll!

    Emerging from the pierced ground was a lions massive foreleg. Apanied by a roaring sound resembling lightning striking from the sky, the lions foreleg flew towards Muriels legs.

    Damn it!

    When her calf was half severed, her body glowed purple and disappeared from my hand. Then, from a distance, she appeared intact.

    You damn son of a bitch! What kind of Amorph are you!?

    What are yousaying?

    What kind of Amorph brings apanion along?!

    Well, thats just game norms.

    Humph!

    While Muriel raged in anger, the Mother of the Sky crawled up from beneath the ground.

    Choi Seo-ah, this idiotic girl wont die!

    Until I finish avenging my family, until I chew on each piece of your flesh, you cant die, even if you want to. Before ending the vengeance of my family, you cant.

    Muriel, using psionium, vowed revenge with blood tears, and the Mother of the Sky, now a precursor, joined in. With all the main characters assembled, the second round begins.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 122

    Chapter 122

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    In the game, the psionic effectsts for 5 minutes. When used at the right moment, it can reverse unfavorable situations, making it a highly useful substance, but ites with a fatal drawback.

    It means the duration decreases every time you use it.

    The decreasing time is randomly determined, ranging from a few seconds to a maximum of 1 minute. For unlucky individuals, it might be limited to only 5 uses.

    Therefore, yers either use it all early in the game or carefully save it for crucial momentster on. This characteristic of psionic holds true in reality as well. After bing an Amorph, Ive used the psionic drugs myself.

    I used it during the fight with Si-hyun Yujin.

    I enjoyed the effects for 5 minutes, so if I consume another psionic drugter, I should experience the effects for at least 4 minutes.

    But Muriel said otherwise.

    ording to the Mother of the Sky, when Muriel fought herself, the psionic effectssted for 8 minutes.

    Is it an improved version of the psionic effect or a module that enhances drug effects?

    With many differences from the game, its not clear what the cause is.

    It doesnt matter. That part is not important.

    What is certain is that Muriel cannot enjoy the psionic effects indefinitely. If that were the case, she would have used it right away when fighting me.

    When she first fought me, she used an Ultra Controller.

    While she was waiting for me, she smoked a cigarette. The liquid inside was not a synthetic drug but an Ultra Controller that enhanced psychic abilities output and precision.

    She yed it off quite naturally, but the smoke didnt have the typical hazy drug smell, so I figured it out quickly.

    Such an intelligent woman wants to avoid me, even though theres a way to overpower me?

    Presumably, the psionic drug she used, even if the duration was extended, couldnt eliminate the drawback of decreasing duration with each use.

    If you use it recklessly, it bes difficult to use it when it really matterster on.

    So, she must have used psionic drugs when she deemed herself in dire straits.

    The maximum duration is less than 8 minutes. Assuming it has the same duration reduction rate as regr psionic drug, it should be less than 7 minutes.

    In reality, the possibility of our fightsting from 7 to 8 minutes is slim. Both sides move at speeds far beyond human, so regardless of the winner, thebat time wont be very long.

    Originally, my n wasnt to endure until the psionic effect wore off.

    At the moment I was hearing from the Mother of the Sky, I thought about making sure she couldnt do what she needed with the psionic drugs.

    Even if there are two, nothing will change!

    Following her ominous words, Muriel immediatelyunched an attack. As her foot left the ground, the golden spear approached me at lightning speed. I quickly raised my bone axe. When my bones and her spear collided, it sounded like an explosive st.

    The spear is pushed aside, and her stance crumbles. To engulf her entirely, my corrosive tentacles, with six appendages wide open, rush towards her.

    Hat!

    Muriel extends her mechanized left hand widely. Due to the distortion field, her body slips through the slowed tentacles like a mirage. Then, she clenches her fist with her left arm. In that brief moment, my auxiliary system detects a massive flow of energy transferring through her left arm.

    Its the Thunder Arm Module, belonging to the superiorbat modules that a cyborg can equip. With outstanding effects in terms of destructive power and prating quantum forces, it can pierce through the exoskeleton Ive be.

    Where are you going?!

    Kuk?!

    The Mother of the Sky leaped, colliding with Muriels side using her entire body. Ignoring Muriels enhanced physical abilities, it was impossible to dismiss the charge of the griffin wolf, with a size of over 4 meters and a body filled with muscles.

    Muriels posture is disrupted, and the direction her mechanical arm is pointing slightly changes. Thanks to this, the yellow lightning shot by Muriel only grazes my back.

    Of course, it didnt end without any damage; I lost two corrosive tentacles, but it was still bearable.

    Dont interfere!

    Ugh!

    After Muriel releases energy, she fiercely strikes the Mother of the Sky with her hot left arm.

    The Mother of the Sky, with burns on her face and a broken beak, steped back.

    Good.

    Now is the opportunity, with her attention on another enemy.

    I put all my strength into the head and charged at Muriel.

    Kuk!

    My horn broke her rib cage and pierced her organs. Fortunately, she retreated in time, avoiding aplete pration, but these injuries are severe enough to be fatal.

    No! Its not over yet!

    As expected, her body glowed violet, just as I predicted.

    A violet halo floating behind her head. Thats the halo-shaped headband she wore, the Harmonizer, an effect bestowed by the Adjuster.

    The Adjuster is one of the rewards for clearing the cults mid-tote quests, granting the wearer the ability to teleport five times a day in ethereal form.

    The cults quests are divided into 12 stages, and the Adjuster is unlocked as a reward for the 9th stage quest.

    When she received the acidic fungal baptism I unleashed, she didnt use the Adjuster.

    She probably couldnt use it because she didnt meet the usage conditions.

    Judging by how she utilized it after consuming psionic drug, its certain she cleared up to the 8th stage quest.

    Whatever it is, she only has three uses left now.

    So far, Muriel has used the Adjuster twice. Once when the Mother of the Sky surprised her by popping out of the ground and again when I stabbed her with my horn moments ago.

    In other words, she only has three spare lives left.

    I predict the point where shell move and swiftly reposition myself. About 100 meters away, violet particles gather in the air.

    !

    Muriel, after dematerializing, opens her eyes wide as she sees me charging towards her.

    She raised her left arm to activate the distortion field, but the Mother of the Sky couldnt just stand there and watch.

    Leave her alone!

    The Mother of the Sky, half of her face charred ck, had suddenly caught up with Muriel. Her half-broken beak bit forcefully into Muriels left shoulder.

    Kkek!

    Due to the dislocated shoulder bone, the manifestation of the distortion field was canceled midway. Muriel, who hade right up to me, hastily assumed a defensive stance with the priests spear.

    Squelch!

    Ugh!

    The spear and horn collided, resulting in one of my horns breaking. The pain surged as if someone had struck my head with a hard object.

    However, the damage wasnt exclusive to me. Since Muriel also couldnt escape the impact, the right arm holding the spear extended unnaturally. It was thanks to the nano-Spartan module enveloping her body that her arm didnt detach; however, the inside must have beenpletely crushed.

    Eeek! Dieeee!

    Whether it was a scream or a battle cry, she activated the Thunder Arm Module again. As energy gathered in her left arm, the Mother of the Sky quickly let go of the beak she had been gripping.

    I, too, quickly shifted my body to avoid the direction in which her arm was pointing. A yellow beam barely grazed my side, with only the thickness of a sheet of paper making the difference.

    During that time, she disappeared by dematerializing and reappeared on top of the surveince tower ced around the camp.

    This this is impossible!

    Thanks to the dematerialization effect, her body was unharmed, but her expression was different.

    Blood stained her lips as they trembled, and her pupils were shaking.

    Now, she was noticeably more shaken than before the fight.

    Way of Escape. Muriel.

    If she fights passively or tries to prolong the battle, the psionic effect will wear off, rendering the Adjuster unusable. On the contrary, if she actively engages inbat, the likelihood of using the Adjuster increases.

    Either way, if she cant use the Adjuster, shell have to rely solely on the recovery ability of the nano-Spartan module to face us.

    She should have used it to escape from the beginning.

    Engaging inbat with me, or rather, starting this battle in the first ce, was the wrong choice.

    I calmly informed her of the reality, knowing that she would understand what those two remaining chances meant for her.

    Two left

    !

    She knows exactly what my words signify.

    When those two chances run out, shell know what awaits her.

    Three years ago.

    Muriel found herself alone in the world of space survival, possessing a member of the Space Cartel organization.

    No matter if she was ranked 20th or the leader of arge n in the game, it was all just a story within the game. In the harsh dystopian world, surviving as a mere college student from the real world was by no means an easy task for her. If Muriel hadnt been a robust cyborg or possessed an appearance beautiful enough to earn the love of the leader, she wouldnt havested even two days.

    Muriel could guarantee her life thanks to the cult leader who cherished her. It had been a month since she became the lover of the leader.

    Only after her survival was assured did she realize what she had received bying to this world. It was a kind of blessing, a bonus for those who crossed over to this world.

    The bonus she received was the ability to change the base species that served as the foundation for her cyborg body into another species. While in the game, cyborgs were fixed to have a human base species, she could transform her base species into cyborg, wolf, cult, or other species.

    It could be considered a bonus reflecting the characteristics of the pirate group, Space Dogs, which included various species. However, she couldnt change the base species without any constraints. Her original species was a cyborg. After plundering the symbols of other species and modifying them into modules, she could wear them to use the bonus. This limitation remained unchanged even after changing the species.

    Additionally, she could only switch to intelligent species that yers could choose, and transformation into wild animals that were unyable was not possible.

    Regardless, realizing the potential of the bonus, she assassinated the cult leader to change her base species to cult.

    Without any affection for him and considering him just an NPC in the game, she didnt feel much remorse for the murder. After converting the leaders horn into a module and changing her species to cult, she targeted the members of the Cartel organization.

    Since the cartel she belonged to was a powerful one, it wasnt an easy fight, but she managed to win somehow. After that, while on her way to the cults nature, she encountered other yers and grew with their help.

    Two years had passed since she came to this world, and Muriel had be strong. No one in the universe dared to treat her lightly. Moreover, with two rankers sponsoring her, crises were practically non-existent for Muriel.

    That is, until now, before meeting Amorph in this SainTopia02.

    Kuk!

    Muriel raised her spear to block the arm of the damn powerful Amorph quasi-entity that came down on her. His attacks were not usually heavy, but Muriel bit her lip due to the unusual weight.

    His strength hadnt decreased at all since the start of the fight. In fact, the longer the fight continued, the stronger he felt. To be precise, it wasnt that the enemy was getting stronger; it was Muriel who was getting weaker.

    No! I wont lose!

    Motherf***er!

    Though anxiety crept in, she shook it off with a curse-mixed battle cry. The Thunder Arm Module attached to her left arm activated, and a yellow lightning bolt pierced through Amorphs arm.

    For a brief moment of joy at seeing the severed arm, the Mother of the Sky swung her foreleg towards Muriels face.

    Ugh!

    She tried to dodge, tilting her head backward, but her right cheek was torn halfway by the brutal attacks of the beastly woman.

    I can recover from this much!

    With only two uses left for the recalibration of the regtor, she had to use them sparingly. Trusting in the recovery power of the Nano Spartan module, she swung her spear while the golden spear of the priest sliced through the Mother of the Skys side. Meanwhile, Amorphs tail unexpectedly flew towards her.

    As it happened during the attack, she couldntpletely avoid it. She decided to trust in the solid Thunder Arm modules defense, but it turned out to be a poor choice.

    E-ek!

    Her mechanical arm twisted grotesquely due to the ignorant tail. As if that wasnt enough, she soared into the air and tumbled miserably to the ground.

    Cough?!

    Muriel, vomiting ck blood from her mouth. Although she had fallen to the ground a few times during the fight, this was the first time she had spewed blood.

    That damn Amorph brat and his tricks!

    Only then did she be aware of the presence of the mist thatpletely surrounded the campsite.

    The mist was undoubtedly created by Amorphs nest. Having fought Amorph several times in the game, she quickly recognized it. However, she had disregarded the fear of the toxic mist since she hadnt fought Amorph for such a long time.

    In fact, she hadnt made a foolish judgment. The recovery power of the Nano Spartan module was incredibly outstanding. No matter how powerful the toxicity of the mist was, as long as the module was operational, she could recover quickly.

    But the modules recovery cant keep up!

    If she could maintain a stable state for even a short time, the modules recovery function would normalize. However, the enemies didnt allow her even that short time.

    Mother of the Sky rushed towards the vomiting Muriel. Muriel leaped into the air to ward off the Mothers attack with both feet.

    Although the enemy flew far away, another enemy attacked her. Muriel barely parried the thorny fur pouring down from the front with her spear.

    Oh, no! I can still endure this!

    Just as she thought that, the enemys tentacles lunged at her. She managed to deflect some, but she couldnt block them all. Due to the previous attack, half of her thigh was torn.

    I can solve this with another module!

    As she stood up, the Mothers foreleg swung towards her, suddenlying close. It was an attack that took advantage of the narrowed right-side view of Muriel.

    I need to use the distortion field!

    Hastily unfolding the distortion field with her recovering left arm, Muriel. Although the Mother of the Sky stopped in mid-air, Amorphs horn aimed at her from the opposite direction.

    Thunk!

    The next one!

    Once again, Muriel vomited blood while soaring through the air. Continuously thinking of the next move from her head.

    Among the modules she possessed, there was something that could ovee this situation. Although it was a precious module and she hadnt used it much due to severe side effects, the situation was unavoidable.

    I can still win!

    Blocked. Both of her legs werepletely shattered. Utilizing her Psychokinesis Power technique, she lifted her body into the air and quickly thought of the next move.

    Among the Psychokinesis Power techniques she possessed, there was one that could incapacitate the enemy. She had been saving it, but now was the time for it to shine.

    With this!

    However, she was blocked. Prating injuries were added to her shoulders and abdomen. With consecutive fatal injuries, the Nano Suit rapidly slowed down. Amidst the confusion caused by the bleeding, she continued to think.

    The next move how should I handle this?

    It seemed like the creature knew everything about her, the modules she possessed, and the Psychokinesis Power techniques she could use, as if it knew her inside out. In front of it, she might as well have been naked.

    As she thought about it, the monster in front of her began to growrger. The creature, which had grown uncontrobly by consuming her blood, flesh, and emotions, now looked overwhelmingly gigantic and difficult to handle.

    Facing such a creature, long-buried emotions in her chest resurfaced.

    Desperation and fear of death.

    I I dont want to die!

    Driven to the extreme, Muriel, with a determination to use the regtor she had vowed to save, used it once again. After her body dispersed into violet particles, she gathered again in a ce as far away as possible from that monster.

    No, this cant be!

    As her body regenerated, she regretted it. Now, she only had one chance left.

    At that moment, the creature spoke.

    Once.

    Even though the distance between her and the creature was more than a few hundred meters, Amorphs words resonated in her ears as if they were stuck in her mind.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 123

    Chapter 123

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Is this the end?

    Muriels body was immacte, without a single scratch. However, her suit, wrapping around her body, told a different story. It had numerous holes, exposing her pristine white flesh.

    The nano spartan modules were top-notch among defense modules, but they were not omnipotent. In a state as damaged as this, restoring her to her original state would require replenishing the nano machines.

    But she must have used up the spare ones already.

    I could tell by the trembling eyes. She had few cards left.

    Ive already verified the equipment and techniques Mother of the Sky taught me.

    Before facing Muriel, I recalled my battles with the rankers one by heir races, technologies, the strength of their equipment, and the strategies they primarily used. This allowed me to anticipate Muriels modules, psychic power techniques, and actions in various situations.

    She fought reasonably well.

    Muriels skills were notcking. For some reason, she brought with her a deceptivebination of a cultist and cyborg hybrid, making her a formidable opponent. If she had known even a bit more about my condition and abilities, she wouldnt have fallen so easily.

    At least until she can use some trump card.

    If Muriel had intended to escape from the start, it wouldnt have been easy for me to chase her. Therge-scale camp where we stood had long-distance transport ships. If she fled to another continent, I would never have caught up.

    But

    She had several opportunities to escape but didnt take them. And now, the time for her to pay the price was approaching.

    Ugh!

    Muriel let out a short groan. The self-assured smile she had during our first fight was nowhere to be seen. As the Adjusters opportunity dwindled to just one, shepletely lost her fighting spirit.

    Instead of a battle, there was only one path left for her to choose.

    Damn it! Just watch!

    Muriel shouted and pressed the buttons on the mechanical arm near her neck. Then, her body rapidly blurred like smoke and soon disappeared into the mist. It was a perfect stealth, as if she had never been there.

    I cant even see her in my sight.

    Not even auxiliary devices could detect her properly. If it werent for the vibrations created by Muriels breath, footsteps on the ground, and simr signs, I wouldnt have known which direction she had jumped.

    Even the Mother of the Sky, far superior in vision to me, constantly turned her head to find Muriel.

    That woman, there was still something left.

    Iveneverseenthatlevelofstealthmoduleinthegame.

    For now, I cant see her with my eyes.

    Seeing that she hasnt used such a high-level stealth module until now, there must be limitations for its use inbat or retrieval restrictions.

    What are you going to do?

    Mother of the Sky, who hasnt found Muriel, turns her head to me.

    What am I going to do?

    Shes asking the obvious.

    Illcaptureandkillher.

    Alright.

    No matter how excellent stealth equipment she possesses, in the end, shes within the palm of my hand.

    This is my territory.

    With just my auxiliary devices, its difficult to directly spot her. But the traces she left behind, once linked with the nest, can easily lead me to her.

    How many times do I have to say it?

    Running away before fighting me is Muriels only way to survive.

    ***

    Damn, damn, damn, damn.

    In a thick mist-covered forest, Muriel hides on the branches of Redwood trees, spanning over hundreds of meters. This module was an experimental one developed by a Mega Corp ranker who shared Muriels intentions. Made using Giant Chameleon as a material, the module provides advanced stealth capabilities to the wearer. It is naturally invisible to the naked eye and remains undetected by detection devices or technologies.

    However, as it is not yetpleted, it has many unstable aspects. While it works fine when moving cautiously, intense movements inbat or being attacked by enemies immediately cancel the stealth effect. The ranker who developed this module even suggested using it only for emergency escapes, given its unfinished state.

    Although she seeded in escaping from the enemy for now, there is still a problem. The possibility that the ruthless Amorph or the vengeful Mother of the Sky might give up tracking her is close to zero.

    Theres no time to wait for the Adjuster reset.

    Time acts equally on both sides. She has no other option but to hide for 24 hours, but the other side doesnt.

    That Amorph bastard, he might burn down the entire forest.

    If its someone who hangs corpses on trees, theres that possibility. Thinking of the horrific sight of her subordinates, she shuddered unintentionally. The thought that a skinned corpse might be her future was strong.

    It wont work.

    She observed the surroundings using the remaining reinforcement effect of Sionium. With enhanced senses, she felt there were no other enemies nearby.

    I didnt want to use this, but

    Deciding that there were no enemies nearby, she firmly pressed the button on the side of her neck. Then, a slender tube protruded from her nano-suit and inserted itself into her ear.

    The device she activated allowedmunication between stars. Before fighting Amorph, she had fused the militarymunicator she kept in the safe with the nano spartan module. Originally, she nned to use it to order her subordinates on others to bring a spaceship after the battle. The reason she didnt use it during the battle is that interstermunication consumes a lot of energy. Once thismunication ends, theres a high chance the nano spartan module will automatically deactivate, consuming all remaining energy.

    Please answer!

    Amidst the short connection tone, a sudden strong wind sound echoed in her ear. When a giant bird pped its wings, the sound briefly appeared and then disappeared.

    Whats that?

    She looked up at the trees but saw nothing. Thinking she should move, she heard a beep from themunicator. Then, a beautiful male voice came through.

    My Honey? Whats wrong with you, not mentioning the risk of eavesdropping whenmunicating?

    Brother!

    The voice she always thought was annoying, right now felt unexpectedlyforting. Muriel barely held back tears.

    Brother, Im in big trouble! Help me right away!

    What?

    My subordinates and I lost everything to those bastards, and were being chased right now! Come quickly!

    Damn, those bastards again? They talked about a ceasefire, and now this goddamn Wait, huh? What about my request then? I asked you to save the Wolf females.

    Muriel couldnt hide her irritation at the opponents ve talk even in such an urgent situation.

    No, damn it! Brother! Your sister is in danger, isnt that more important? And its not them, its someone else! There are only two, but theyre incredibly strong, so you need to prepare properly!

    Two? You lost to just two?

    One is a Wolf yer who you wanted, and the other is an Amorph yer!

    What? Amorph?

    Yeah! I told you, hes the 5th ranker!

    When Muriel mentioned the enemy chasing her, the other side fell silent.

    Anyway, theres no time! Prepare as quickly as possible Huh? Brother?

    Brother?

    Oh, shit [Disconnected]

    Brother? Brother? No way! It got cut off?!

    With the suddenmunication cutoff, Muriel quickly tried to contact again. But only the connection tone continued to ring, with no response from the other side.

    Damn it! No, if I call my sister

    She tried to request help somehow, but a red light shed on her wrist. It was a sign that the nano spartan module was being deactivated. As the red light went out, the nano suit that enveloped her body disappeared, transforming into a small disc-shaped machine. With the suit gone, she was almost naked. Despite being a sturdy cyborg, she was helpless in front of the monsters tracking her.

    The stealth effect by the experimental module was still active, but it wasnt permanent. When that effect ends, so does her life.

    Oh, no! No, no, no!

    Almost losing her mind, Muriel desperately tried to reactivate the module by shaking the disc. Even though there was no way the nano machines, whose energy had been depleted, woulde out, she was too irrational to judge.

    This cant be happening Huh?!

    As she tapped the tree with the disc, she heard the rustling of leaves in her ear. Some creature was approaching beneath the tree where she was hiding. In this toxic mist, there were only two animals that could casually walk around like that.

    After a while, a creature appeared with the body of a flexible but muscr lioness and the head of an eagle.

    Muriel, utilizing the exceptional vision typical of birds of prey, thoroughly scanned the surroundings and the trees above. She remained still, holding her breath. The griffon passed by the tree she was hiding in, disappearing into the mist beyond.

    Whew.

    Confirming its departure, Muriel finally breathed a sigh of relief.

    I need to move.

    She couldnt predict when the griffon might return. Engaging in a melee with the griffon wolf without protective gear would be suicide.

    And that damn Amorph isnt in sight either.

    She needed to leave this ce immediately. With that determination, Muriel retrieved the disc she had used to hit the tree.

    Hmm?

    The disc was smeared with ck mucus. Her gaze shifted to the wound on the tree where the sticky liquid was flowing instead of sap.

    She knew what the ck liquid was. It was a substance automatically secreted from Amorphs nest.

    In other words, the tree she had been hiding in was contaminated by Amorphs nest.

    Come to think of it,

    Suddenly, she remembered the pping sound she heard before requesting help via themunicator. Except for the three in this forest, there were no other living creatures. So, who made that sound?

    Muriel felt a chill running down her spine. It wasnt just a feeling; her body was trembling like she had been doused in cold water. She slowly lifted her head. Above her head, there were only lush branches and leaves.

    Trembling like a possessed woman, Muriel threw the disc upwards. There was nothing there, yet the disc, as if colliding with something, fell back down from the empty air.

    Thud-thud-thud-thud.

    Trembling, Muriel watched as the creature slowly revealed itself above her head. With its snake-like long body coiled around the redwood, it looked down at her, concealed.

    Hee, hee-hee!

    She tried to escape, but the creature was faster. A tentacle emerged from its back, grabbing her leg.

    Llet go Aaah!

    Six sharp appendages on the tentacle crushed her leg after seizing it. Subsequently, other tentacles grabbed her arms and legs.

    Ssave me! Please, spare me!

    AsyousaidIwillcutopenyourbellyandshowyoumyinsides.

    Tthats Noooo!

    As her once intact limbs twisted slowly, Muriels eyes, which had shone violet, lost their light due to the excruciating pain. The psychokinesis power technique was canceled mid-cast due to the terrible pain.

    NountilnowIhaventmetanyonewhoescapeddeath.

    As the creature seemed ready to fulfill its words, Muriel desperately opened her mouth.

    Wwait! Lets talk! Just give me a moment to negotiate!

    Talk?

    Amorph hesitated at her words.

    Muriel, speaking with a submissive attitude as her life hung in the bnce, said,

    I have many good cards! Im sure it will be advantageous for you! So, lets negotiate!

    I withdrew my hand that had reached out to her. Negotiation. It was toote to mention the word now. She had threatened my life several times, and her subordinates had tried to kill 26 and Adhai. Moreover, she knew too much about me now.

    Handing me over to other yers would be troublesome.

    Although Muriel must die in my hands to prevent information leaks, the information about the other yers seemed quite intriguing.

    Well, if you want, Ill serve you! You know, Amorph can do such things!

    Did she think I was tempted by her proposal since I remained quiet? Instead of answering, I lifted Muriel from the tree.

    She still doesnt know me well.

    Because she doesnt know me well, she recklessly makes arrogant statements.

    Whenever you want, as long as you spare me Huh?!

    I raised the corroded tentacle that had been gripping her leg high, impaling her body on the ground.

    Urgh!

    Dontmisunderstand.

    Muriel, vomited ck blood.

    Ignoring her reaction, I swiftly raised the tentacle that had grabbed her again. Muriels eyes reflected pain and fear, but I did not hesitate.

    Kkuek!

    Whatyourbodycandoformeis.

    GGah! Gommaa, Kkuk!

    Onlytoprovideflesh.

    EEooppian, Kkk!

    After striking more than ten times, bones, various mechanical parts, and modules sprang out from her body through pierced skin.

    Since shes a cyborg, she wont die from this.

    I didnt intend to kill her yet, so I only struck hard enough to break her spine.

    Kkuk, Kkureuk, Kkuyuk, Kkugeuk.

    Muriel, sprawled on the floor, groaned, resembling a dissected frog, barely alive with twitching nerves.

    Only the grotesque mechanical doll remained, devoid of its pristine ivory-like skin, beautiful appearance, and magnificent horns.

    Youaskedfornegotiation, right? Fine, Ill listen.

    Hearing my dry voice, she weakly raised her head.

    SSaveme?

    Thereareconditions.

    Ill do anything! Anything you say, I can do it!

    Even without saying so explicitly, she would unquestionably follow my orders.

    I activated the parasitic organism attached to me in front of her. The parasite, strengthened by type enhancements, enjoyed the fresh air after a long time and stretched its body.

    TThats! Wait, just a momennnt!

    I held Muriels head to prevent her resistance and released the parasite. The ck parasite wriggled its way into her nostrils.

    Keek! Kekkek! Kweeok!

    OriginallyIwouldinterrogateyouinthiscondition.

    I hastily exined to her, who was coughing violently, what would happen next.

    Iwillscratchyourspineonebyonewithmy..hands

    N..noo

    Untilmyquestionsaresatisfied.

    WWhat?

    She looked at me with a stupid expression, seemingly unable toprehend. She might not understand now, but she would involuntarily understand soon.

    Thenumberoftimesuntilmyquestionsarpletelyanswered.

    WWait, wait, wait, wait!

    Bythewaylyingisuseless.

    Murielsplexion turned ghastly pale at the sight of my hands with activated Ghost w properties.

    She, being a cult member, should be well aware of what I can do with these ws.

    IskWhowastheoneyoutalkedtoalittlewhileago?

    As the interrogation began, my sharp ws sparkled in violet.

    About six hours into the deadly game between Muriel and me, I managed to extract all the valuable information from her.

    What an intense obsession.

    Despite her spine being scratched by Ghost ws over a hundred times, Muriel remained sane. It revealed the tremendous desire she had for her own life.

    She almost died several times due to the parasites sanction, distracted by wandering thoughts.

    Thanks to my symbiotic fungal spore trait, she didnt die. Whether it was good for Muriel or not, I couldnt say.

    Theresnothingmoretoask.

    So, are you going to spare me?

    No

    Wha

    Muriel sent me a look questioning whether I was breaking our promise. I shook my head.

    Myinterrogationisoverbutthenextpersoniswaiting.

    Next?

    As I stepped back, a griffin appeared behind me.

    ChCho..

    Ah, ah, aaaaah.

    The clothes of a young wolf, once worn by her lover , were now worn by the mother of the sky. Seeing this, Muriel trembled like a reed in the wind.

    You killed my family. When you cut my lovers throat, when you tortured me, I hesitated. Whether killing you is the right thing to do.

    W-Wait! Serah Unni! W-We were good, right? Yeah?

    Yeah. Two years ago, I saved you, thinking you were just another human. But

    Carefully putting down the clothing she had been holding, the mother of the sky continued, her eyes now filled with tears.

    I was wrong. yers like you must go extinct.

    While the sky mother spoke, I checked the symbiotic organism attached to Muriels body.

    Give me six hours, you can eat her, but II need to kill her, but dont say a word during this time, please.

    Got it.

    This is different from the promise! You said youd spare me! You said youd spare meeee!

    Muriel wailed as I left the scene.

    Why dont I keep my promise? Thats what her eyes seemed to say.

    I never made a promise in the first ce. I said I would help you repay your debt and that I would let you live.

    I dont need to point out that she was never promised salvation.

    Six hourster.

    I returned to where they had been.

    Hi, hiiik, hiiik, hiiik.

    Muriel remained, only her head and upper torso, with her breath clinging on. The mother of the sky was nowhere to be seen.

    Im not sure what their rtionship was, but the mother of the sky didnt seem to want to see Muriel die.

    I probably dont need to call her by name.

    I picked up Muriel, who had fallen.

    Mom.

    She murmured herst words quietly.

    Soon, my jaw widened, and I swallowed her whole.

    With that, Space-Dog Ranker Muriel, who was ranked 20th, died.

    [The predation effect is activated! Sessful confiscation of Muriel (Han Soo-bin) special reward!]

    [The fusion of Metal Absorption, previously held, is possible.]

    [The special reward of Muriel (Han Soo-bin)and the Metal Absorption trait are fused. Evolves into the Plunderers Amorphous Polyhedron trait!]

    [Plunderers Amorphous Polyhedron: Predates one piece of equipment to specialize its unique ability. Can only be done once per piece of equipment. When preying on a new piece of equipment, the effects of the previous equipments trait are lost.]

    [*Note: You are death, the destroyer of the universe. But beware, the whole universe will be watching you.]

    What struck my head along with the taste of sweet gourmet cake was a new text box rted to the new trait.

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 Chapter 124

    Chapter 124

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

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    [The Irregr Polyhedron of Plunderers: Devour one equipment to specialize in the unique abilities of that equipment. It can only be done once per equipment, and when devouring a new equipment, the effects of the previous equipments specialization are lost.]

    Whats this?

    A new trait acquired after absorbing Muriels essence.It was a type never seen before and did not exist.

    Absorbing equipment abilities?

    Although the ability gained from the fluid period was a trait not obtained in the game, this waspletely different.

    Its a trait thatpletely goes beyond Amorphsmon sense.

    Amorph, Outspacer, and Metallic Gremlin, while having excellent physical abilities or powerful utility skills, had the handicap of not being able to wear equipment.

    Even if one could use equipment abilities after some preparation, it was impossible for unique-grade equipment, limiting its utilization to regr equipment or consumables.

    But with this trait, even though its only one, it bes possible to specialize and use unique-grade equipment.

    This is unprecedented.

    In the game, killing yers never resulted in gaining new traits.

    For gically modified humans, obtaining the essence of biological genes within them and, in the case of cultists, obtaining traits rted to psychic powers, were the only oues.

    Despite consuming numerous yers, obtaining a trait of this caliber was a first.

    I checked the semi-transparent text box again.

    [Nest-rted Fusion Trait: Symbiotic Bio-Spores

    Mark of Formidable Foe*: Irregr Polyhedron of Plunderers (X)]

    Under the list of possessed traits, a new category and asterisk called Mark of Formidable Foe appeared.

    Mark of Formidable Foe?

    When I shifted my gaze to the asterisk, a new message popped up.

    [Mark of Formidable Foe: A mark obtained after preying on a formidable foe. If there is a trait that resonates with the unique benefits possessed by the prey, it will be reconstructed into the Mark of Formidable Foe trait. Traits ssified under the Mark of Formidable Foe cannot be used as fusion or transcendence system materials.]

    From the exnation alone, the Mark of Formidable Foe trait, which is part of the Irregr Polyhedron of Plunderers, seemed to be a new ssification different from general traits rted to physical and psychic abilities.

    The formidable foe mentioned here is probably referring to yers.

    When interrogating Muriel, I asked her if there were other yers besides us.ording to her, there were two yers coborating with her.

    The yers she knew included seven, including Mother of the Sky and me.

    There used to be more, but

    Its unclear how many more are left now. Many died in the war among yers that erupted a long time ago.

    The fact that killing other yers grants special rewards must have spread during that time.

    When Muriel came to this world, the war had already ended, and the remaining yers had formed factions.

    While some tried to adapt and live in this world, others aimed to obtain traits by targeting other yers, treating this ce as a game and ruling like tyrants.

    Its different because we arrived at different times.

    Muriel came three years ago, and Mother of the Sky had been here for at least over ten years. Among the yers Muriel knew, there were even those who had lived for more than a hundred years.

    Theyve survived in different ways, so its not surprising that factions diverge.

    The only puzzling thing is that, despite being here for so long, no one who had seen the ending was found.

    The war that happened in the past was probably fought among yers trying to see the ending.

    If Amorphs ending is ascension, then it is said that other races also have unique endings of a simr ssification.

    And to witness that ending, one must engage in battles against yers ofpeting races at a simr level.

    To be precise, it involves assassinating the leaders of other races.

    For example, MegaCorp and StarUnion each have conditions in their respective ending triggers that include eliminating each others leaders.

    To witness the ending, a yer who ascends to the position of MegaCorp CEO must fight and eliminate the Grandmaster of StarUnion.

    Since yers usually take control of the positions of CEOs or Grandmasters of each race in the game, the ultimate goal is undoubtedly to encourage conflict among yers. Therefore, during the past war, someone undoubtedly achieved these conditions. However, based on Muriels words and other sources, it seemed that someone who had witnessed the ending has not yet appeared.

    Is there something I dont know?

    Since this is reality, it cannot be ruled out that yers have not reached high enough positions to unlock the ending triggers.

    Unlike the game, here, once you die, its over. Even if you are a yer with a strong heart, you can only move by controlling a body.

    I need to ask Mother of the Sky about this.

    Since she has survived much longer than Muriel, she might know something.

    Regardless, there is a high probability of bing hostile to other yers in the future.

    Muriel sent a distress signal to her colleagues before I captured her. So, at least, it was confirmed that her colleagues would be hostile to me. Also, yers in a hostile rtionship with Muriels colleagues will somehow learn about my actions.

    Depending on their faction, they may either oppose me or try to exploit me.

    *Note: You are death, the destroyer of the universe. But beware, the entire universe will pay attention to you.

    As the note says, the entire universe will watch me. How yers will approach me is unknown for now.

    In any case, I need to be stronger.

    That way, I can survive and avoid being used by someone. Upgrading to the transcendence system and even hunting yers. It is ultimately necessary to understand the intentions and reasons of the one who sent me here to survive.

    Finally, I checked if there were any new messages, but there was no additional exnation other than the note. Continuing to ponder with insufficient information would be a waste of time. Right now, it would be more productive to consider how to use the newly acquired abilities.

    The Irregr Polyhedron of Plunderers allows me to create abilities or traits from any equipment.

    And I can only specialize in the abilities of each equipment once. If its amon-grade equipment, I can use its abilities multiple times, but not for unique-grade equipment.

    If its Muriels equipment. I picked up the Priests Golden Spear and the Harmonizer lying on the ground. In addition to these, the Brainshin and Blood River are at the campsite. I dont know how the unique abilities of the equipment will function when specialized.

    At least, judging from the abilities of the equipment, all of them will be beneficial to me. The Golden Spear will greatly enhance my strength, and the Harmonizer will provide an absolute evasion ability up to five times.

    The Brainshin canplement mycking long-range and anti-air capabilities, while the Blood River will significantly enhance my battlefield domination abilities.

    Should I experiment with other equipment first?

    I need to confirm how they will be applied by consuming any equipment avable at the campsite. I was about to leave with the spear and the harmonizer when a sudden thought crossed my mind.

    .

    I picked up a nearby rock and built a small stone mound in the spot where I had stood a while ago.

    ***

    The sacred star of the cult, the Leader.

    This ce is the spiritual homnd of the cults scattered throughout the gxy. In reality, the leader is not in a livable ce, as the entire turned into a desert a long time ago. If it werent for the cults exceptional psychic power technology, it would have been abandoned long ago.

    On the red sands spread across the entire, there were ancient cities. Among these cities was one called the Prophets Stone. The Prophets Stone, with ivory-colored outer walls adorned with violet decorations, was the oldest city, having stood for tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of years. Passing through buildings adorned with violet decorations along the road, a giant tower stood at the center of the city. The top floor of the tower, where the noblest members of the cult resided.

    A male cultist with deer antlers walked through the long corridor and opened the door to the prayer room. Inside the prayer room, numerous diamond-shaped monuments connected by cablesy scattered on the floor.

    .

    The male cultist silently flicked his fingers. Upon doing so, light emerged from two of the diamond monuments that were lying there, and they floated into the air.

    Long time no see, everyone!

    A girls voice flowed from one of the monuments. The voice resembled that of an animated character, bright and lively, not fitting the somber atmosphere of the prayer room.

    Were busy over here, so get to the point quickly, Jason.

    On the other hand, the voice from this side conjured an image of a dignified middle-aged man. Jason waited for another monument to activate, but even after a few more seconds, there was no movement. Faced with only two active monuments, Jason, the male cultist, sighed.

    I said it was urgent, and only two people showed up?

    Its because Oppa spoke like an idiot. If he had exined properly, more people would havee.

    This idiot No, wait a minute. Why didnt the one with middle school syndromee in? Hes the most important one.

    Oppa is busy these days because of the internal conflicts. I havent contacted him for a long time either.

    Fuck. I should have joined MegaCorp at the end. Its too boring here, just fooling around with married women for a day or two.

    When Jason only conversed with the monument where the girls voice came from, the voice of the middle-aged man intervened.

    I dont have time. So stop chattering and exin in detail. Has a new yer arrived?

    Yes. Tell us in detail. Muriel, why did she die so suddenly? There shouldnt be anyone wandering around to hunt yers besides us.

    She was killed by a yer we dont know. To be precise an Amorph uer.

    When the word Amorph came out of Jasons mouth, the chattering monuments quieted down.

    Jason Oppa, that joke is not funny.

    Tsk, we wasted time for nothing, and the speech ising up soon. Fuck, I hope its a lie.

    Shit, I wish it were a lie.

    Really? Is it really Amorph?

    Its ridiculous. Amorph is extinct.

    She said that before losing contact with Muriel. That the Wolf yer and the Amorph yer were targeting her.

    Jason transmitted recordedmunication logs to the figures beyond the monuments. After a while, their anger erupted from the monuments as they examined themunication logs.

    Fuck, this is unbelievable! Why did the bastards who became extinct ten years ago show up now?

    Who was thest one to clean up? Probably Beom-Ho.

    Beom-ho, that son of a bitch, will never give up, so I told you to kill him in advance!

    Shut the fuck up! Its already toote to me anyone. Check who killed Muriel. If the one who killed her is Amorph, then the answer is clear.

    Alright. Since theres only one Amorph up to rank 40, it must be the Amorph with the skills to capture Muriel in the first ce.

    In response to Jasons words, light emerged from the monument where the girls voice came from.

    Wait a minute! Ththat means, the 5th rank, bbut that guy has no friends. Theres no way such a person would be with Seoa Unni

    Agreed. The possibility of an Amorph having apanion is close to zero.

    Murielmissioned me to capture Choi Seoa. Perhaps that Amorph interfered while they were fighting?

    Indeed. A typical Amorph move. A usible exnation.

    Sigh Is this for real? I thought my luck was goodtely because equipment development has been going well.

    Only now could the people beyond the monument understand why Jason had called them.

    Are you nning to punish him?

    Of course. If we leave that guy alone, well all die.

    What if its not me, but Beom-Ho? I dont count towards Amorph evolution conditions because Im a Gaju.

    Did Muriel not talk about you before she died? If I were Amorph, wouldnt I try to catch you no matter what?

    Ugh, that useless bitch Muriel Quiet! So whats the n?

    How about we all go together and catch him? Sending subordinates is not preferable, and besides

    Jason pondered. The people present here were truly individuals who could manipte the universe in real-time. Calling them gods wouldnt be an exaggeration. Would it really be challenging for these individuals to catch one Amorph?

    However, the thoughts of the people beyond the monument were quite different from Jasons.

    Are you crazy, Oppa? Going together to face that guy? Except for Beom-Ho, if only we go, well all get wiped out.

    I also oppose. If I die, Star Union will copse as it is.

    Hey, both of you are talking nonsense. Its not like I want to be the only one to survive. With our power, we can easily

    Stop the bullshit. You might not know Oppa well, but do you know about the Amorph? He used to break the heads of Rankers while he was just a Pre-Saint.

    I heard that because of him, there were many cultists who couldnt see the ending, there are plenty of them. Jason, you must know. Thats why. I dont n on paying tribute to the wall of weeping.

    Thats right. I absolutely have no intention of paying tribute to the wall of weeping. If you want to die, go ahead alone. If you want to leave a will, record it now. You wont be able to leave a will if you go there. Thats for sure.

    Jasons words were interrupted by the emerging monuments. Faced with their reactions, which seemed like people haunted by trauma, Jason could no longer say anything.

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 Chapter 125

    Chapter 125

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    The Space Survival was a VR game released in its time, and it was particrly ambiguous in genre ssification among VR games. Even though survival,petition, and evolution were the motifs, the methods to achieve them varied drastically from yer to yer. For some, it became a grand strategy simtion game, while for others, it transformed into an SF horror game.

    Suchplexity and ambiguity were reflected in the ranking system of the game.

    The ranking system of Space Survival was based on scores. In simple terms, the higher the ranking, the higher the yers score. However, the factors contributing to the score were intricate and had numerous variables, making it challenging for individual yers to calcte.

    The yers influence in the universe, the extent to which they aplished unique objectives rted to their race, and their personal skills all yed a role in determining the score. Everything a yer experienced in the game contributed to theposition of their score.

    One might wonder if the ranking merely indicated the longevity of a yer enjoying the game. Indeed, the top 40 rankers were akin to fossilized beings who yed the game since its early days. However, a distinct world unfolded from the 20th rank onwards.

    In Space Survival, the most effective way to obtain the highest score through a single action was to achieve the final goal unique to each race, leading to the race-specific ending. The difficulty just before reaching the ending was extremely challenging regardless of the race, making it not just a walk in the park to earn the highest score. To witness the ending, yers inevitably had to defeat rankers from their own race orpeting races multiple times and conquer formidable raid bosses with immense power.

    Even for yers who enjoyed the game for a long time, oveing these challenges was by no means easy, and those who sessfully reached the ending were rare.

    Therefore, rankers from 1st to 20th were inevitably special  they were the ones who had seen the ending of Space Survival. While there might not be a significant difference in ytime between the 20th and 40th ranks, an insurmountable gap existed in terms of experience.

    They were the ones who had witnessed the end of this world. Simultaneously, they were the living legends of Space Survival.

    Of course, since Space Survival is an online game, reaching the ending doesnt mark the end of the game. Afterward, a new goal named Gctic Conqueror awaits as a kind of epilogue, leading to another division in rankings.

    Gctic Conqueror boasts a difficulty level crazier than the ending, and very few had achieved all of its objectives. All members of Jasons group were yers who had witnessed the ending, ranking within the top 20. One of them had even aplished more than half of the notoriously challenging Gctic Conqueror goal.

    These were truly exceptional individuals.

    Jason couldnt help but feel a headache at the fact that they wereining about the difficulty posed by a single creature, Amorph.

    Think about it. If you leave it alone and let the 5th ranker grow stronger, can you imagine how tough itll be then?

    Thats true, but its difficult without the inspiration.

    I dont know the exact evolutionary stage of that bastard, but its at least a pseudo-embryo. Plus, we need to consider the variable of special rewards.

    Yeah. Looks like we overlooked the special rewards.

    The middle-aged mans words were true. Up until now, every yer Jason had encountered in the game known as special rewards possessed unique abilities not found in regr games. Jason, the entitiesmunicating with him beyond the monolith, all held powerful special rewards.

    How about we leak the information to the Outspacers side. They hate the 5th ranker as much as we do, right?

    The current group leader of those hostile to the Amorph belonged to the Outspacers, whose leader ranked 4th with skillsparable to the Amorph.

    I disagree. The risk is too great.

    Huh? Why?

    Fucking cunt! Regardless of who wins it will be us who will be at the disadvantage, the Amorph will swallow up all the collected essence and grow stronger, are you okay with that? And if the Outspacers win? Theyll just tell us to go fuck ourselves, right?

    Well

    At Jasons strong reaction, a voice of displeasure echoed from the girls side of the monolith.

    Among the final goals of the Outspacers is the conquest of the Cult. ording to the setting, the Outspacers aim to gather immense psychic power and then conquer the Vortex Gate. Due to the Vortex Gates prohibition, preventing the entire race from obtaining psychic power, they n topensate by offering countless members of the Cult as sacrifices.

    So, as the Outspacer ranker bes stronger, Jason, a member of the Cult, bes more disadvantaged.

    So, what do you suggest? Im a busy person too. If you have nothing to say, Ill leave.

    Wait. I thought of one way.

    As Jason and the girl seemed ready to fight again, the middle-aged man intervened.

    I heard recently that Mega Corppleted the Purification Weapon.

    Huh? Damn it, didnt I say not to send a spy!

    You dont know anyone who doesnt know about it, so whats the point of a spy? Red agen Uh, never mind. Are you suggesting we blow up a?

    At Jasons question, the middle-aged man, called Jubaka, agreed.

    Exactly. Mega Corp and the Cult both possess theary purification weapon, so why not use it?

    .

    In the face of Jubakas radical suggestion, the others and Jason fell silent.

    The PH-101, where the Amorph resides, is designated as a sacred star protected by the Cult. Destroying such a ce, no matter how much power they wielded, would pose significant political burdens. Even if an Amorph ranker is a formidable existence, burning a carries immense political consequences.

    Amidst the silence, the first to speak up was the girl on the other side of the monolith.

    Its impossible from our side. We cant easily withdraw due to the internal conflict, and isnt that designated as a holy site? If I attack, wont it lead to war with the Cult and Mega Corp?

    Thats true. Jason? Is it also impossible on your end?

    Sending an imperial gship might work, but these days the atmosphere is quite

    Well, if big brother sends it, not only will the Reformists go crazy, but the Conservationists will also go berserk. Its a sacred site, what the hell is this nonsense?

    Though Jason held significant power within the Cult society, he found himself in a challenging position to purify the PH-101 designated as a sacred star.

    Ill handle that part.

    What do you mean?

    Ill leak false information to the Conservationists. Well say the is contaminated and needs purification. Since you control the Conservationists, there shouldnt be any worries.

    Ill take care of the Reformists. If we offer support with Nova Metal, would they dare to destroy their ancestors graves?

    Damn, the Cult Council is aplete mess. Fine, lets go with using the imperial gship.

    At this point, yers had established their own factions. There were no major upheavals like past wars or certain events anymore. Instead, conflicts were limited to individual yer skirmishes.

    With such mechanical peace persisting for a long time, many yers, including Jason, felt a sense of boredom. Some aimed for the ending to escape this, but it had already been proven through numerous failures to be nothing but a futile delusion. Some clung to impossible goals, while others indulged in misced pleasures.

    In such a situation, the emergence of Amorph rankers sparked new excitement in Jasons group after a long time.

    Still, itll take some time to mobilize the imperial gship. Even if it passes the Council, it needs deliberation in the Elder Council. Itll take at least three weeks, even if were quick.

    Ill send surveince satellites first. They might slip away in the meantime.

    Send them discreetly. If it bes a diplomatic issue, itll be a headache.

    We can cause some confusion on our end.

    The n to subdue Amorph continuedte into the night.

    Arriving at Muriels camp, there was the Sky Mother in the sky.

    She returned in her humanoid form, gathering the clothes the young wolves had worn. There were no bodies left as they had beenpletely absorbed by me as sacrifices.

    Her expression wasnt particrly expressive, as she held the head of an eagle. Instead, the emotions in her eyes were anything but small.

    It was the profound sorrow felt by a mother who had lost her children.

    Did she say she married the Father of the Earth?

    As far as I know, the Father of the Earth was a Named Wolf that appeared fixedly on the Utopia-02 continent.

    Being rted to the Forgotten Earth Temple and being an NPC, if time passes, another Father of Earth will surely reappear somewhere on this continent.

    Of course, its uncertain whether hes the same being as the husband she loved.

    She too must know that the one she loved may never return.

    So, she shows such a reaction.

    Even though Muriel mocked the Sky Mother in love with an NPC during interrogation, I could understand the Sky Mother.

    I also care for number 26 and Adhai. If they were to die or be seriously injured, I would undoubtedly lose my sanity.

    It seems I need a bit more time to inquire.

    Leaving the grieving griffin behind, I searched for my weapon storage within the camp.

    Muriel seemed to have visited this camp quite frequently, as makeshift structures were prevalent instead of tents. Among these buildings, the most significant and sturdy one was the weapon storage.

    Quite a variety.

    Upon entering the storage, various types of weapons were visible. Not only long-range weapons like smaunchers, storm guns, and purple spray guns, but also explosives like pulse grenades andpressed sma missiles were present.

    Among the numerous weapons, the most outstanding one was the Brain God ced in the center of the storage. The Brain God was aplex machinery with a diameter of 10m, resembling a mand. It was made of the extremely rare metal called Novametal, which changed colors entirely depending on the direction of the light, depicting a mand. This unique feature was due to Novametal, a metal that could only be extracted in regions with highly concentrated psychic power, like a dragons nest.

    Would it be like the Cult version of shape memory alloy?

    Although the Brain God appeared small for a satellite weapon, injecting psychic power would change its story. When the Brain God absorbed psychic power, it transformed into an orbital weapon with a diameter of several hundred meters or more. Additionally, it was configured to automatically return to its owner afterpleting a mission.

    It was quite annoying equipment in the game.

    Despite being an orbital weapon, the Brain God had the tremendous advantage of being able to shrink its size, making it easy to conceal. I had been on the receiving end of the Brain God a couple of times.

    Ill take a closer look at the Brain Godter.

    Near the Brain God, I picked up a smauncher rolling around.

    If I devour this, I should be able to use the power of the smauncher, right?

    With theuncher in hand, I activated the Absorption of Irregr Polyhedra, a characteristic of the looter.

    Gurgle

    When I activated metal absorption, there was no apparent change, but this time was different. It felt somewhat simr to when my stomach was slightly hungry.

    It seems to be activated, so why not taste it?

    I opened my jaws wide and inserted theuncher into my mouth. As I bit and chewed, the distinctive bitter and metallic taste of the alloy filled my mouth.

    Not tasty.

    Well, it couldnt be helped since it was metal.

    As I forced theuncher pieces down my throat, changes urred in my body and the semi-transparent text box.

    [Mark of the Formidable Foe: Plunderers Amorphous Polyhedron (sma Secretion nd)]

    Suddenly, a strong heat emanated from my chest. A warm, slightly tingling sensation, reminiscent of swallowing strong liquor, spread from my throat to my chest, stomach, and the area around my abdomen.

    Furthermore, a faint green light circted around the chest area.

    Seems like it worked.

    Just like when you take a sip of hot soup on a winter day and exhale deeply, I wanted to expel the heat within me.

    I stepped out of the warehouse, raised my head towards the sky.

    Lets go then.

    With my jaws wide open, concentrating on the sensation in my chest, a hot feeling surged upwards.

    In session, a green light flickered gradually from the stomach, chest, esophagus, to the throat, soon emitting intense energy from my mouth. A much thicker and vivid green pir,pared to theuncher, pierced through the toxic mist, soaring into the blue sky. With this thickness and length, it might be visible from tens of kilometers away.

    Pouring out a considerable amount of energy, I felt a rush as if the heat and energy within my body were rapidly dissipating. Confirming that there was no more energy to expend, I closed my mouth.

    Seems like I inherited theunchers basic function.

    However, there were some slight differences. While the output itself was far superior to theuncher, the time it took for the energy to recharge was longer. Subjectively, I felt that I would need about 10 minutes to wait before shooting again.

    This might be because my body doesnt have a separate energy source.

    I spected that it was to rece the energy dispersed throughout the entire body with sma energy.

    Unique abilities of top-tier equipment wont perfectly align with my body.

    It had to be experimented to be certain, but it seemed inevitable that the application of original abilities would differ in some ways.

    Of course, it wasnt all drawbacks. My current sma beam was much more powerful than theunchers. While theuncher had limitations on firepower due to overheating or other stability issues, I didnt need to worry about that.

    The unique abilities of top-tier equipment will likely change ording to my body.

    Some aspects might be stronger, while others might be weaker.

    Afterward, I experimented with other supply-type equipment.

    You can only obtain the same ability from the same equipment.

    And those that consumed energy or ammunition had a cooldown after using the feature. The smauncher had a cooldown between 10 and 20 minutes, while the storm gun ranged from 30 to 40 minutes.

    Changes in the body parts after specializing the equipments abilities also vary.

    When I ate theuncher, I shot heat rays directly from my mouth, and the storm gun caused a gun-shaped organ simr to the storm gun to grow on my left arm, the lowestbat arm.

    By the way, all the depleted uranium rounds from the storm gun were reced with bone fragments.

    The experiment seems to be enough

    I lined up the top-tier equipment obtained from the Seintopia02 continent: the Regtor, the Golden Spear, the Brain God, and the small spider-shaped Blood Reaver picked up a while ago.

    Which one should I devour first?

    Since all of them were top-tier equipment, obtaining these items was not usually a straightforward task. Therefore, I had to carefully specialize them.

    Lets exclude the Golden Spear for now.

    The Priests Golden Spear could only be obtained exclusively at the Forgotten Earth Temple. And one of the prerequisites for entering the temple was suppressing the Earth Father.

    In other words, until the Earth Father was reborn somewhere on this continent, I couldnt obtain the Golden Spear.

    The chance to obtain the Golden Spear is rare, but

    The remaining weapons were a different story. The Regtor could be obtained by anyone through a quest if they were part of the cult, and both the Brain God and Blood Reaver could be crafted.

    Even if the Regtor was the only one, the Brain God and Blood Reaver, these two weapons, would undoubtedly be more than one or two.

    The production cost is astronomical, but

    Anyway, multiple weapons that exist can be specialized through subsequent consumption.

    So, its advisable to prioritize devouring one of the remaining weapons, excluding the Priests Golden Spear.

    What should I do?

    Contemting what to eat, I once again looked at the three weaponsid out on the floor in a row.

    Seeing them arranged like this, I was sure of it.

    In the first ce, it was a problem with a predetermined answer.

    Theres no need to hesitate.

    Having decided what to choose, I reached out towards the equipment.

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 Chapter 126

    Chapter 126

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    After devouring the unique-grade equipment, I thoroughly searched the campsite to see if there were any useful items left. Meanwhile, the Mother of the Sky remained motionless, paying her respects to the fallen kin.

    A day passed, and the Mother of the Sky sought me out while I rested at the nest. She expressed her willingness to assist in yer hunting. ording to her, if not, such tragedies would likely repeat.

    Id be grateful if you let me apany you.

    She added. In truth, even if she had decided to stay, I had considered forcibly bringing her along. Her mature form might be necessary, and herbat skills would undoubtedly be valuable in supporting Number 26 and Adhai.

    With the Mother of the Sky volunteering as apanion, I took the opportunity to inquire about the things I had been curious about. I spent a day gathering essential information from her, such as the number of yers, the existence of groups like ns in the game, the circumstances of everyones arrival in this world, and why no one had seen the ending yet.

    The summary of what the Mother of the Sky revealed was as follows:

    There were gatherings of yers.

    She had arrived in this world 15 years ago, but yer gatherings had been happening long before. However, by the time she became aware of them, conflicts had already arisen among various yer groups.

    Their disputes stemmed from a single difference in perspective:

    Those who sought to see the ending and those who opposed it.

    ording to the Mother of the Sky, a considerable number of yers who attended the gatherings had already seen the ending, providing insight into what happened afterward.

    Before bing the Gxy Conqueror, a message appears asking if they want to continue the game.

    They imed that, based on the message disyed after seeing the ending in Space Survival, they could escape this world. However, the method was problematic. To see the ending, they had to kill leaders or individuals of thepeting races, such as MegaCorp CEOs and Cult High Priests.

    There were yers in the gatherings who had survived for decades, or even centuries, in this world. For them, life here was more precious than their real lives. Surprisingly, there had been a yer in the early gatherings who attempted the ending challenge.

    In the early days of the gatherings, the yer who attempted the ending was a cyborg ranker who held the top spot. He persuaded others who opposed him to see the ending together and sessfully executed the n.

    He was the top ranker. Of course.

    The top ranker had an extraordinary sense of the game, and I had challenged him several times but never won. His yer privilege was also on an unbelievable level, allowing him to add options rted to equipment and module crafting that were otherwise impossible in the game.

    Thanks to his abilities, the yers in the gathering could bypass the condition of killing the leaders of hostile races. The remaining task was to subdue the raid boss, Vortex One.

    The yers in the gathering werent overly concerned about this part. After all, those who had seen the ending had won the game at least once before. The top ranker, in particr, had single-handedly in both Vortex Ones simultaneously.

    However, they failed. What happened to them after the challenge remained unknown. Whether they were wiped out by the Vortex Ones, faced an unexpected enemy, or had survivors other than those excluded from the defeat, no one knew.

    The undeniable fact is that most yers who attempted to see the ending perished, including the top ranker. The few surviving yers simply stated that seeing the ending was impossible. Regardless, with the top ranker gone, reaching the ending peacefully became impossible. Thus, conflict between those seeking the ending and those opposing it was inevitable.

    And there was new information that exacerbated this conflict even further: the plundering of privileges. Everyone knew that each yer had their own privileges, but they were unaware that these privileges could be obtained by killing and looting other yers. After the top rankers demise, this information spread throughout the gathering. What followed afterward can be inferred even without hearing about it: the yers war. Those seeking the ending sought to devour and grow stronger by preying on those who chose to stay. Conversely, those who stayed did the same, either for their own benefit or survival, attempting to kill other yers.

    In a way, perhaps the matter of seeing the ending or not might just be an excuse.

    In a different sense from the Mother of the Sky, they too may have be true residents of this world, divorced from reality. While the conflict had entered a state of rtive calm a few years ago, it had been intense until then. So many yers had died that those who barely survived numbered just over ten.

    Of course, there might be someone like meing to this worldter.

    Anyway, after hearing descriptions of the yers, we briefly introduced ourselves. Only then could I truly understand who she was.

    She must have been the leader of the Savage n. I didnt recognize her at all because she lookedpletely different.

    It was to be expected; her in-game nickname was entirely different from the Mother of the Sky, and her appearance was based on a tiger wolf, while the transformed animal after ascension was not a griffin but a nue*. Even though I suspected she might be someone I had seen before, I never imagined she was from the four major ns who fought in the jungle. The Savage n copsed after fighting me, leaving only the n leader as all the members quit the game. Its truly unpredictable how one can end up journeying alongside someone from such a different world than reality.

    [*PR/N- Nue is a Japanese chimera having the head of a monkey, the limbs of a tiger, the body of a Japanese roon dog, and the front half of a snake for a tail.

    So, where are we going now?

    [ZZZ (Coast)]

    [TL/N- Now he canmunicate with the mother of the sky through telepathy.]

    Currently, she was in her griffin form, and we were heading towards the sea from the campsite. I ran through the forest at full speed with a backpack filled with loot tied to my tail, while she gracefully raced across the ground and trees. Her body, previously covered in bloodstains, shimmered with smooth golden fur, freshly washed from the campsite. Even when dirty, her dense and sturdy muscles typical of a lion were impressive, but now, covered with beautiful fur, she certainly looked majestic as a griffin should. Like I carried a backpack, a pendant with a sapphire was hanging around the griffins neck. It was a pendant that allowedmunication with opponents, a tool that didnt exist in the game.

    Theres someone among Murielsrades responsible for equipment.

    The improved psionic, nano-spartan module, blood reaver, and other equipment she used in our fight were all made by thatrade. ording to the conversation between Muriel and the Mother of the Sky, thatrade belonged to MegaCorp. So, the opponents identity is determined.

    Garamelda.

    A noble capital family responsible for reinforced armor development, and in the game, yers from that side mainly handled supplies.

    Come to think of it

    When I fought the armed police in the space city before, the reinforced armor they wore wasnt ordinary reinforced armor.

    It was intermediate reinforced armor with shields attached.

    Supply-type reinforced armor with shields attached was equipment that most MegaCorp yers dreamed of. In the game, production was impossible due to bnce issues, but here, in reality, if I were a MegaCorp yer, I would try to make it somehow.

    Even if there are no yers in Garamelda, leaving such intelligent individuals alone would be disadvantageous for me in the long run.

    Lets deal with that side after the Dragons Nest.

    If aiming for ascension, regardless of what happens, Earth and Mars must be conquered first. However, if a yer responsible for equipment development is attached, the overall defense of the will endlessly increase, so its necessary to tidy up in advance.

    Or should we clean up this side first before the Dragons Nest?

    Lost in thought like that, the Mother of the Sky shot me a telepathic message.

    The coast? I thought wed go for the Hond Gigrant first, so its unexpected.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Theres something important)]

    Something important? Are you aiming for the essence of the aquatic creatures first to move to another continent?

    As far as I know, the Mother of the Sky is ranked 15th among the wolf rankers. So perhaps thats why she knew well what Amorph needed on this.

    Unfortunately, youre wrong.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (No. Well go to the other continentter.)]

    No?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ(Well search for friends first.)]

    Because we have to find Number 26 and Adhai first.

    But as I was lost in thought, the Mother of the Sky interrupted my train of thought.

    You have friends?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Yes. We parted ways when we entered this.)]

    Hearing that, the Mother of the Sky chuckled.

    You have friends?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Dont make me repeat it several times.)]

    Huh. Its hard to believe.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Its not because of Amorph. Its hard to believe that you have friendly creatures with you.)]

    The Mother of the Sky said decisively. Hearing that, I was puzzled.

    Do you consider me a monster?

    Looking into her eyes, it seemed like she wasnt joking, but rather sincerely believed that. Of course, its true that I had no friends, whether in reality or in the game. In reality, there were various reasons, and in the game, since it was Amorph, it was more efficient to eat than to make friends or allies.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Having allies is beneficial.)]

    Indeed, I wonder who the friends youre travelling with are.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ(They are good fellows.)]

    The Mother of the Sky opened her mouth wide but soon closed it again. She seemed to have a lot to say, but she didnt say anything more.

    So, we just ran for a whole afternoon. We solved our meals by catching and eating wild creatures we found while moving. Neither she nor I needed to sleep, so it wouldnt be a big problem to endure for a few weeks.

    She seemed to be half-doubting whether I was really going to meet allies, but she didnt bring up that topic again.

    Anyway, as we kept moving without rest, the thick and giant redwoods around us began to thin out. Instead of red and green paints, what appeared was a canvas painted with blue paint scattered around.

    I untied the backpack hanging from my tail and stood on the white sandy beach where the blue waves surged.

    Im going to use the monsters tentacles for a Psychic Breath now. Its the first time since bing a Quasi-Saint.

    Adhai, who is sensitive to psychic power, should be able to detect it even from a distance.

    What are you doing?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Step back. Im going to call it.)]

    Though she still seemed skeptical of my words, the Mother of the Sky wasnt foolish enough to talk back to me.

    Sensing the griffin stepping back, I prepared for the energy toe out.

    Bundles of tentacles hanging under my head began to move after a long time. Sharp violet tentacles wriggled like the legs of an octopus, all pointing forward.

    Next, I felt energy moving rapidly from my tail to my head. Unlike before, with each movement of energy, the patterns on my outeryer emitted a gradual violet light.

    The Mother of the Sky, who was behind me, stepped back for a while, probably sensing the tremendous psychic power emanating from my body.

    From tail to lower body, lower body to waist and chest, and then the tentacles near the head around the neck.

    The monsters tentacles extracted all the psychic powers that were embedded in various parts of my body.

    And then.

    Its quite big, isnt it?

    In front of me appeared a violet sun with a diameter of 6 meters. Considering my length of 20 meters, it wasntrgepared to my body, but it was ridiculouslyrgepared to the psychic breath I used before.

    But it took a bit longer to charge.

    I raised my head in that state. The essence of the psychic powers brought forth by the monsters tentacles also rose in response to my movements.

    Its too big to handle.

    Externally, it looked static, but inside the sphere, the breath of the dragon was surging.

    Thinking that it was enough by now, I released the sealed energy.

    Above my head, a cosmic dragon spread its wings and soared. With each p of the dragons wings, the white sandsid around fluttered, and the waves of the sea reversed.

    The heat lines of the psychic power that made the auxiliary organ under my chin look heavy tore through the air and rose endlessly.

    More and more.

    It flew until it tore apart the white clouds floating in the blue sky above the blue sea.

    After the dragon flew away, all that was left was a blue sky without a single cloud and violet particles falling like snow.

    I judged it was enough and lowered my head that had been raised high.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Now we wait.)]

    The Mother of the Sky, who witnessed me shooting the Psychic Breath, was staring nkly at the sky.

    This is strange. It should definitely be a Quasi-Saint, but how is this possible? Could it be a special bonus effect? No, unless the species changes, this is

    While I was lying on the beach waiting, the Mother of the Sky muttered indistinct words as she looked at the spot where the Psychic Breath passed.

    After a while, the Mother of the Sky, who had been mumbling for a long time, somehow seemed to have convinced herself andy down on the white sandy beach. However, seeing fear in her eyes, it didnt seem like she feltfortable lying down like me.

    Ignoring her, I picked up the insect that was crawling stealthily in front of me and put it in my mouth.

    At that moment, the Mother of the Sky stood up, having seen something in the distance. With her superior eyesight, she peered beyond the orange-tinted sky.

    Amorph.

    [ZZZ (What is it?)]

    Is it possible that the allies you were talking about include a Green Gagon?

    There is only one Green Galleon on this.

    Adhai hase.

    I, too, stood up and waited until the creatures arrived. After about 5 minutes of waiting, Adhais figure began to appear to me.

    Huh?

    But something was off. Adhais movements were much slower than usual, and somehow, it looked unnatural.

    Whats going on? What happened?

    Above all, I couldnt feel the movement of Number 26, who should have followed from underwater.

    Could it be

    I quickly spread a new nest on the beach.

    If the size was enough for Adhai and Number 26 to lie down.

    However, as I was building the nest, the situation changed abruptly. Adhai seemed unable to fly anymore and fell onto the sand.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Adhai!)]

    The Mother of the Sky quickly flew up, grabbed Adhai with her beak, andnded smoothly on the ground.

    It was difficult to describe Adhais condition even in empty words. The griffins beak holding him and the sand on the beach were dyed bright red in an instant.

    I received Adhai from the Mother of the Sky, transnted the symbiotic spores, and ced him on the nest.

    As the symbiotic organism wriggled and injected healing fluid into his body, Adhais breath became more rxed. Although severe wounds that revealed organs and bones were slowly healing, they were still visible.

    What happened here?

    Adhai arrived with severe injuries. And No. 26, who couldnt be seen.

    A dark unease descended upon my heart like a night sky.

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 Chapter 127

    Chapter 127

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    Kik?!

    Right now, Ive entered the forest near the beach to find food. Adhai is lying in the nest, unconscious, while the Mother of the Sky is guarding him.

    In reality, it would be proper to entrust hunting to the Mother of the Sky, but I didnt do so because I found it difficult to endure it myself. I cant shake off the unease when thinking about what happened to Adhai and Number 26.

    What does it mean that only Adhai has returned? Could it be that Number 26 is already

    Darn.

    I opened my fingers. Suddenly, due to the strong wind, the wood devil I was holdingpletely crumbled.

    This way, Adhai wont be able to eat.

    Lets stay calm.

    Its still uncertain. Its not like me to be so anxious.

    After discarding the broken wood devil, I went to find other prey. In my mind, I thought about the situation Adhai and Number 26 might be in.

    There are two assumptions to consider.

    The first hypothesis is that remnants of the Humanity Cartel attacked them. The data stored on the battleship doesnt confirm the presence of camps near the sea or on the continental inds, but its not certain. The camp that was originally on the maind could have been moved due to my attack. The unclear part is whether they could capture Number 26 in the sea.

    Even though Number 26 is not fully grown, it is a Sea Demon. Unless it was Muriel, capturing it with only the remnants seems impossible. Even if Adhai, who can only survive onnd, was captured, it doesnt make sense that Number 26 was caught while Adhai escaped.

    The other assumption is an attack from unknown entities.

    Talking about the game, PH-101 is ssified as a high-difficulty due to its dangerous environmental conditions, fierce predators, and hostile indigenous beings to outsiders.

    I frequently visited this to collect rare gic essences. Thanks to that, I know which areas are dangerous and which creatures to be cautious of.

    However, this is all part of the games story. I dont know if there are unknown dangers on this.

    Afterwards, I returned to the nest with various types of prey. The Mother of the Sky was monitoring, making sure there were no enemies following Adhai behind me.

    I approached the flickering pumpkin-colored eyes in the darkness and asked.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Are there any other enemies?)]

    There are no pursuers. No unusual movements in the water either.

    The auxiliary device under the jaw agreed with the same opinion.

    I looked at Adhai, who was unconscious. Despite the injuries, his once plump tail was now noticeably thinner. The wing membranes showed signs of tearing, and the area where the back and wings connected was red, possibly from prolonged flight.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Are there any dangerous creatures around here?)]

    Dangerous creatures? There are many that are stronger than Green Galleragon. But threatening Sea Demons? Well, there is an archipgo where Fishrians live if you go out to the sea.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Are there any creatures that can threaten Sea Demons other than Gagons?)]

    Sea Demons? Wait, you said Sea Demons? Could it be that its not just onepanion?

    [ZZ (Yes.)]

    The griffins gaze wavered as she listened to my words. Honestly, I was getting irritated by her behavior in the current situation, but I managed to hold it in. Venting my frustration to her would not only fail to alleviate the situation but might make it worse.

    Even so, she quickly sensed that I was in a very bad mood. The griffin hurriedly replied.

    There is an archipgo where Fishrians live if you go out to the sea, but

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Fishrians? They live here?)]

    Fishrians are an aquatic race that primarily inhabits oceans. In appearance, they closely resemble the mermaidsmonly imagined by us. They have the body of a man with a fish head or the body of a woman with the lower half resembling fish, covered entirely in fish scales.

    A distinctive feature is their strong cult-like aspect, inspired by devotees of malevolent entities in ssic horror novels.

    Fishrians serve powerful marine creatures like Sea Demons.

    Sea Demons, simr to sub-boss-level marine creatures, also inhabit oceans, and Fishrians predominantly live on suchs.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (are there sub-boss-level creatures in the sea here?)]

    I havent seen them personally, but there are legendary tales circting among the Volfs. They speak of a demon in the sea that captures and devours gods.

    When thinking of sea demons, there was only one thing that came to mind.

    Sea demons in the abyss.

    I briefly considered if Number 26 and Adhai had encountered sea demons, but I shook my head. If they had fought sea demons, it wouldnt end with injuries like this. Considering their size, a creature as small as Adhai would turn into mincemeat the moment it got caught in the tentacles.

    I re-examined Adhais injuries. Although they had changed from when I first saw them, these traces were clearly abrasions and burns. Sea demons dont use inferior weapons like sma or conventional weapons. This means these wounds were inflicted by others.

    Fishrians dont use firearms.

    Due to their religious beliefs, they adhere to primitive lifestyles and only use traditional weapons, such as firearms that use gunpowder at most.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (it seems like these injuries were caused by Fishrian harpoons. What do you think?)]

    Let me see.

    The sharp gaze of the Mother of the Sky swept over Adhais injured areas. She nodded and shared her thoughts.

    Youre right. These wounds torn in a whirlpool pattern were indeed caused by Fishrian harpoons.

    Next, the griffin extended her front paw and pointed at other wounded areas.

    But this part wasnt caused by harpoons. It seems more like burns fromser or sma weapons.

    I also agreed with that assessment. The injuries Adhai sustained were not something that Fishrian weapons could create.

    Humans are associated with Fishrians.

    Fishrians are extremely hostile towards outsiders. Especially when encountering humans, they aggressively attack them as sacrifices to the marine creatures they worship. Unlike carnivorous animals that hunt for food, they are a species that actively attacks humans to sacrifice them.

    How on earth are those creatures cooperating with humans? As I pondered the cause, Adhai suddenly opened his eyes.

    His elliptical eyes resembling amethyst shook anxiously in various directions before settling on me. Adult! d! Despite his tentacles quivering, the resilient young one enthusiastically cried out. I cautiously stroked him with mybat arm.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ tell me what happened.]

    Adult. Me. Sorry.

    [ZZZ ZZ (Its okay.)]

    Although Adhais body trembled, she gradually regainedposure as I gentlyforted him.

    I felt the bewildered gaze of the Mother of the Sky behind me, but I ignored it.

    Little adult. Big trouble. Dwarf. Fish. Little adult. Attack.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Humans and Fishrians attacked together?)]

    Fish. God. Dying. Alternative. Necessary. Dwarf. GodLearning.Both.Cooperation.

    Adhais words areposed of words and concepts that make it difficult to understand. Still, I could roughly grasp what he meant.

    The god probably refers to Sea Demons, and Fishrians are trying to find a new Sea Demon because their god is dying.

    However, from what I know, Fishrians worship Sea Demons. They possess extreme devotion, to the point of giving up their lives if the entity they serve dies. So, why would such a race seek a new god when the existing one is dying? Its highly unlikely for a typical Fishrian to entertain such an idea.

    The intervening factor here is the being Adhai refers to as a dwarf  the human. The humans who came here are probably those who want to study Sea Demons. They likely persuaded the Fishrians for smooth research, offering the pretext of creating a new Sea Demon.

    If thats the case, there might be a research base near the Fishrian colony.

    Whether onnd or in the deep sea. While I was contemting, Adhais telepathicmunication continued.

    Dwarf. Little adult. Me. Attack. Capture. Little adult. Me.Release. Me.Alone.Escape.

    They fought, got captured together, but somehow Number 26 managed to free Adhai alone.

    And then Adhai, while escaping, faced attacks from both Fishrians and humans.

    Me. Hurt. Hurt. Hurt.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Its okay. Eat this and rest.)]

    Me. Wrong. Me. Should apologize. Meal. Impossible.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Eat quickly; we need to go and rescue them.)]

    Whileforting Adhais self-me, I handed over the prey I had caught. Although he initially resisted eating, he reluctantly extended his tentacles as I persisted.

    As he began to eat, I slowly stood up. Adhai was feeling guilty about leaving Number 26 alone. Anticipating that he might not eat properly with me around, I moved a bit away from the nest.

    The only relief is that Number 26 probably didnt die.

    Considering the capture of Number 26, the firepower possessed by the humans in the research base is likely substantial. It would surpass the level of remnants of pirate factions and beparable to the elite forces of Mega Corp Prime Capital family. Ezerton or the Jao family, perhaps. Ezerton shed with me in the space city once, and the Jao family constantly harassed me in the game. Adding to the challenge, theres the savage Fishrian tribe.

    In reality, whether its Prime Capital or Fishrians, they arent formidable adversaries for me, a semi-transcendent being. The problem lies in the location of the research base, especially if its underwater.

    Given the existence of Sea Demons, theres now that says other threatening marine creatures dont exist.

    Among the abilities at my disposal, only a few are effective for underwaterbat.

    It wont be easy if a fight breaks out.

    The difficulty of the battle would significantly depend on the condition of Number 26, who excels in underwaterbat. If Number 26 is severely injured, the difficulty would skyrocket because I would have to protect him while fighting.

    While contemting how to rescue Number 26, the Mother of the Sky approached. It seems it was true. Your friend spoke about havingpanions, and I thought it was a distasteful joke.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Im not in a good mood, so dont be annoying.)]

    Even though I growled, she sat down beside me, ignoring my attitude. Her pumpkin-colored eyes stared towards the distant ck horizon.

    If you allow me, I want to help.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (Help me? Why?)]

    Ive also experienced the sadness of losing a family.

    Nonchntly stating it, her emotions were anything but insignificant, despite her tone.

    Sky Mother wants to help.

    The higher the level of divine transformation, the more the body can adapt to various environments forbat. However, breaking away from the basic transformation form is still challenging. Whilebat effectiveness may not significantly decrease in low-water areas, its a different story in the deep sea.

    No, its not a good situation. We need to use everything we can. When facing marine bosses, including Sea Demons, during the game, I often lured them to thend for the fight. Although its difficult for the Amoph pseudo-entity to fight underwater, its swimming speed is not drastically slow. Even when encountering dangerous creatures, the n is to somehow bring Number 26 to the surface. From there, I can engage in battle with Adhai, the Mother of the Sky, and the adversary.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (We depart when Adhai is ready.)]

    Adhai, then. And that Sea Demon? Whats its name?

    [ZZ (Number 26)]

    /As expected from Amorph/

    Ignoring the Griffins dismissive reaction, I continued to ponder relentlessly on how to rescue Number 26. This contemtion persisted until Adhai regained his energy after consuming all the prey.

    Team Leader! Communication is finally restored!

    Is it true? Why all of a sudden?

    I dont know! When checking the hyper-speedmunicationwork, it seems that the Garimelda familys military satellite is deployed nearby.

    Oh, really! I thought wed have to stay like this for a few more years!

    PH-101, the Mega Corp research base located in the deep sea. Six months ago, researchers dispatched by the Jao family of Prime Capital established this base. Originally designated as a holy site by cults, anyone entering was strictly prohibited. However, the surveincework began intermittently loosening at some point, noticed by the Jao family.

    Jao Way Jao, the head of the family, knew through spies infiltrated into the cult society that various rare creatures inhabited this. Considering it a good opportunity, he secretly dispatched researchers.

    Their goal was to conduct ecological research on dangerous deep-sea predators and collect their gic material. As they set up the base on the ocean floor, their location remained undisclosed even after thes surveincework was restored.

    Usually, they conducted research in the underwater base and, during the periodic weakening of the surveince, procured necessary supplies from the ind.

    However, not long ago, the surveincework started failing to deactivate. Eventually, a colossal spaceship was attacked and crashed, which led to their current situation.

    Realizing the severity of the situation, they tried to send a message to the Jao family, but themunicationwork was alreadypletely blocked.

    They were stranded in the middle of the dangerous deep sea on this.

    The Fishrians attitude is getting worse, so every time we went up, it felt like they would attack.

    Thats right. If we had stayed a few more days, those fishy bastards might have offered us as sacrifices.

    Team Leader, if the family hears that we caught a mutant Sea Demon, theyll be shocked, wont they?

    Shock or not, you were Third Capital, right? When I return, use your influence to ensure that everyone here can ascend to Prime Capital.

    Oh!

    Thank you!

    When the rescue team from the family arrives, lets go catch that Ggon who fled.

    Of course. Speaking of which, who knew that Ggon would live on a like this? The academic world will be turned upside down.

    Engaging in a lively conversation, the researchers walked through the corridor. Not far from them, there was a special prison made of ck silver alloy. Inside, they couldnt use psychic powers.

    In the cold, rigid prison, a creature resembling a pink balloon was huddled.

    .

    It continuously emitted unknown waves, but none of the researchers were aware of this fact.

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 Chapter 128

    Chapter 128

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    After Adhai finished her meal, we set off for the ind where the research base was located. Despite not having fully recovered from her injuries, Adhai knew there was no time to waste.

    It had been 4 days since Adhai had escaped the research facility. Given the considerable length of time, its uncertain what hardships Number 26 endured during that period.

    Since the fishrians are with Number 26, there shouldnt be any immediate threat to its life.

    However, just because there are no visible threats doesnt mean everything is fine. Researchers might administer painful substances to Number 26 for experiments.

    Considering its unpleasant memories of theboratory.

    The longer Number 26 remains trapped, the worse itll be for it. We must rescue it as soon as possible.

    Adhai mentioned that the research base seems to be underwater.

    Though not precise, it appears Adhai escaped using some sort of underwater elevator-like mechanism. The intelligent Green Gagon wouldnt have operated the elevator alone; it must have been with Number 26s assistance.

    Well know more when we arrive.

    At present, I am carrying Adhai and the Mother of the Sky on my back, swimming. Despite my considerable weight, I can float with the two beasts on my back thanks to my wing trait. The wing membrane, folded between my six battle arms, prevents me frompletely submerging.

    The ws between my fingers, the ws attached all over my body, serve as propellers. Adhai is carrying the loot backpack on his chest since I couldnt attach it to my tail.

    I had acquired fin characteristics along with water w traits in the previous marsnds. Hence, fins simr to wing membranes protruded on both sides of my tail. Although slower than when moving onnd, I could swim at speeds surpassing most boats.

    Of course, my swimming skills werent perfect, so asionally my body would sink underwater while moving. However, neither Adhai nor the Mother of the Sky had any problems, as they could both fly.

    Swimming diligently, I asked Adhai,

    How much farther do we have to go?

    Me, Darkness, Once, Adult, Speed, Simr.

    Adhai had been hiding on one of the many inds scattered around the military ind after her escape. She had been hiding until she sensed the psychic breath I emitted and flew over for a whole day.

    ording to Adhai, we should arrive tonight at the earliest, or by tomorrow morning at thetest.

    Thanks to swimming throughout the night, the sun was now rising in the middle of the sky. As I pondered how much longer we had left, Adhai called out to me.

    Me, Adult, Question.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (What is it?)]

    Adhai hesitated, finding it difficult to speak up first.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Dont apologize. Its not your fault.)]

    Whether she understood and epted my words or not, she remained silent the whole journey.

    Tofort Adhai, I used my absorption tentacles to catch fish and offered them to her. Without refusing and seemingly aware of the need for a quick recovery, she epted the fish eagerly, munching on them.

    I also handed fish to the Mother of the Sky, our fellow traveler. Before departing, I had exined the rough n to her. While I descended to the research base in the deep sea, she would oversee the Fishrian vige.

    To do that, you need to gather strength.

    Despite knowing the n, it seemed challenging for her to adapt to receiving food from me. Awkwardly, she started eating the fish slowly.

    After traveling for a while, we arrived when the sun in the sky had already disappeared below the horizon. On a lone ind among many, artificial lights were visible. Water structures extending from the inds shore to the nearby sea  the vige where Fishrians reside.

    Next to the water structures, an alloy submarine was floating. Its appearance resembled an escape pod positioned on MegaCorps spaceships.

    Beside the submarine stood Fishrians with fish heads and spiky fins, alongside humans. After exchanging words with the Fishrians, the humans filled the submarine with what appeared to be fruits.

    I cant believe they were actually conducting trades. Unbelievable.

    [ZZZZ (Indeed)]

    After concluding their trade, the humans boarded the submarine and departed from the water structures, heading somewhere.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (We should part ways here)]

    Unlike the Mother of the Sky, Adhai is almost incapable of underwaterbat. So, its better for both of them to take charge of the Fishrian vige.

    Yeah, me and the Green Gal um, Adhai will take care of that vige.

    Adult, Little Adult, Help

    [Zoom (Yes)]

    Adhai, on my back, spread his wings wide. Though he slightly flinched, perhaps due to lingering pain, he soon vigorously pped his wings.

    Following him, the Mother of the Sky attempted to lift her body to follow Adhai. Before that happened, I called out to her.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Adhai is still not well, so please take care)]

    Alright.

    She nodded once and controlled the air to follow behind Adhai, flying over the sea.

    Having sent them off, I submerged in the direction of the submarine. Since it was nighttime, there was almost nothing visible, but I have auxiliary devices. Four auxiliary organs extending beneath my jaw began sensing underwater vibrations, tracking the submarines movement.

    Its this way.

    Beyond a simple sensory device, I followed the guidance of the transcendental auxiliary organs through the darkness.

    While swimming, I noticed a faint light in the distance. Initially thinking it was from the submarines lights, it turned out to be different. The orderly arranged light, ascending from below, was the illumination from an underwater elevator.

    Approaching the location of the elevator, I confirmed the submarine entering it. Sinking a bit lower, I wanted to explore the size and defensive structures of the research base.

    Descending along the long and thin cylindrical underwater elevator, I discovered an underwater canyon leading to a deeper abyss. The research base was not inside the canyon but located on the outer part.

    The research base had the appearance of a thin ring, and its length seemed to be roughly around 2km. In the center of the ring, there were corridors connected to the elevator.

    Theres no detection of external defense systems.

    Its unlikely that those studying Sea Demons would build a base in a ce like this without at least one defense system. I approached the base more closely and soon understood the reason.

    Insane. This is all ck Silver.

    Surprisingly, the material of this colossal advanced structure was ck Silver alloy. While ck Silver isnt the most expensive or rare metal, it is by no means a cheap one. Creating a structure of this magnitude would require astronomical investments.

    So, thats why Sea Demons couldnt affect it.

    Sea Demons are powerful psych power creatures. If the structure is coated with ck Silver, suppressing the effects of psych power, it could evade their threat. Additionally, theres a high probability of various equipment inside to suppress or defend against psych power.

    Now I understand why Number 26 and Adhai lost.

    Both of them primarily use psychic power. Against someone who has thoroughly prepared for dealing with it, they would be helpless. Its impressive that Number 26 managed to send Adhai away from such a ce.

    I swam around the research base, trying to grasp its rough structure. Somewhere, I felt faint vibrations.

    Whats this?

    The vibrations were so weak that I almost overlooked them, thinking it might be a change in the underwater flow. However, I couldnt ignore it because the vibrations were very familiar to me.

    [ZZZ ZZ (Number 26!)]

    Big one

    I swiftly moved in the direction where the vibrations wereing from.

    Approaching a certain part of the ring, I pressed my head against the outer wall.

    [ZZZ ZZ (Number 26?)]

    Big one Little one?

    [ZZZ  ZZZ  ZZ ZZ (Yeah. Im here.)]

    Big one!

    Due to the pressure of the deep sea or the ck Silver, the waves sent by the monsters tentacles were abruptly cut off in the middle.

    However, just like I immediately sensed it, Number 26 also recognized me and sent waves.

    Long time no see!

    [ZZ ZZZ  ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ  ZZZ (Ill get  out soon. Is there  inconvenience?)]

    When I shot interrupted waves, the monster quickly responded.

    Im hungry.

    Hearing that response, I couldnt help but let out a chuckle. It felt deliberate to reply that way, knowing there must have been many hardships besides hunger.

    I had promised Number 26.

    [ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ  (Ill rescue  soon).]

    Yeah!

    After tapping my head against the outer wall, I withdrew for a while. Having distanced myself from the base, I vigorously shook my tail andbat arms.

    My body quickly leaps forward. The ck walls of the research base get closer and closer to my head. And then, the ring-shaped research base, spanning 2km, shook violently.

    Chen Hai, a researcher of the Zhao family, opened his eyes in bed. There had been such a significant vibration that he could feel it even while asleep.

    An earthquake?

    There is an underwater canyon near the base. asionally, earthquakes like this happened because terrifying predators, including Sea Demons, lived beneath.

    This research base is built robustly to withstand even harsh environments, and it remains unshaken by most impacts unless a group of marine predators tastes the base, which is highly unlikely.

    But this one seems stronger?

    He chuckled, shaking his head, and left the room. When he came out into the corridor, the vibrations werent the only thing he felt. Several of his fellow researchers were also emerging.

    A thunderous noise, simr to the sound of monsters battling outside the base, echoed.

    Hey, Hao. Whats going on?

    I dont know.

    If its an earthquake, the rms should be sounding.

    As soon as these words were spoken, the rms in the corridor red loudly, as if there was no time to waste, startling everyone in the corridor.

    Lets evacuate for now.

    Alright. Ill wake up the people in the G sector corridor.

    Ill go to the F sector.

    Having sent his colleagues on their way, Chen Hai walked down the corridor. On his way to the F sector, the rms abruptly stopped.

    Whats this? Is it over?

    If its over, there should be an announcement. But there was no response from the speakers hanging on the corridor ceiling.

    Nevertheless, just in case, Chen Hai kept walking.

    While heading to the F sector, he felt the corridors temperature drop abruptly.

    Did the temperature regtor break?

    The research base, where they are, has a system to adjust the internal environment to perform research without hindrance even in extreme conditions such as the deep sea, outer space, or volcanic areas. The temperature control device seemed to have malfunctioned, turning the previously warm corridor into a chilling one like a freezer.

    Confirming his breath forming in front of his mouth, Chen Hai contemted whether he should return to his room now. At that moment, the corridors power went out all at once.

    After a while, emergency power came in, and the entire corridor was bathed in a red light.

    Damn, whats going on all of a sudden?

    Now that its like this, he must find out what happened. He decided to go to the B sector where the situation room is located, instead of the F sector.

    Once he passes through this corridor and turns the corner, theres another corridor leading to the B sector. He walked, embracing both arms in the harsh cold.

    The sound of a collision between solid alloy and indoor shoes echoed, making a crisp sound.

    Hmm? Sounds like water?

    Only then did Chen Hai feel something odd and looked down at the floor.

    In no time, the corridor floor turned into an underwater sea. It was only recognized btedly due to the darkness caused by the red light.

    Whats this?

    Only then did he realize the extremely dangerous situation. The thunderous noise resembling what he thought was thunder outside earlier was not the sound of monsters fighting.

    The base is flooding!

    It was the sound of water seeping into the base. However, his realization came toote. Water was pouring in from the corridor ahead, connected to the situation room.

    Ugh, aaaaah!

    He urgently turned and ran, but he couldnt possibly outrun the rapidly iing seawater.

    Colder than an ice sheet, the water engulfed Chen Hais body.

    Aaargh!

    As he was being swept away by the water, Chen Hai grabbed the doorknob in the corridor. The vigorously pouring water reached up to his shoulders and then briefly eased in a moment of respite.

    Perhaps the centralputer of the research base automatically sealed off the flooded area.

    Damn! What a disaster!

    Having turned into a drowned rat, Chen Hai moved on to reach the situation room.

    II might lose? Damn, I wont give up just because of this small disaster especially when the Prime Capital is in my grasp!

    He grabbed the documents andptop that had floated down during the flood. They were materials that could cause amotion in academia, so he must not lose them.

    Only armed with determination, Chen Hai endured the frigid temperature of the cold seawater in the deep sea, moving forward.

    How long had he walked? The characters attached to the corridor wall changed to B. Thinking that there wasnt much left, he increased his pace.

    After walking like that, he saw the upper body of a person in front of him. Due to the red light, he couldnt see clearly, but instead of a white gown, the person wore a bluish work suit.

    Thinking that the other person belonged to the facilities management team, Chen Hai called out.

    Hey! Whats going on?

    Although he shouted loudly, there was no response. Since there was no sound other than the sound of water, there was no chance that the person hadnt heard.

    Hey, Middle Capital guy! Whats happening!

    .

    Chen Hai shouted again as he approached.

    As he got closer, he could see the facilities management staff more clearly. Wearing what he thought was a blue work suit, his clothes were now dyed red with blood.

    And behind that team member.

    Under the red light, a giant creature was devouring a human head with gusto.

    Uh, uh, uh.

    Seeing that sight, Chen Hai felt his spine chill, and his trembling body couldnt be controlled.

    The monster that had swallowed the entire head turned to face Chen Hai. Even in the darkness, its two eyes shone brightly.

    The number of humans inside is approximately several hundred.

    He, heehee!

    A deep male voice flowed from its mouth. Chen Hai screamed and threw away theptop and documents he was holding.

    It extended a tentacle-like appendage, capturing Chen Hai trying to escape.

    With this much prey he should be satisfied enough.

    Observing Chen Hai trembling in fear, it leisurely murmured.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 129

    Chapter 129

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Life is unpredictable. Thats the motto of Runan, the head of the research team at PH-101 Research Base. A native of Ganymede and a former Third Capital, he became a Prime Capital thanks to a fortunate marriage. Even though his wife belonged to the Zhao family, being a Prime Capital was a significant status. Marrying such a woman allowed him to secure a position within the Zhao family, which made it possible for him to take on the role of the head of a research team in arge research base.

    Looking at it, life truly was unpredictable. Until he arrived at PH-101, he was thriving, but since the incident of being stranded in the depths of the ocean, he had been steadily descending into a downward spiral. However, after unexpectedly capturing a mutant seed demon, his mood soared. Despite losing many team members during the capture, he didnt consider it a significant issue. All the deceased were either Middle or Low Capitals, expendable human resources used to capture the seed demon. It was a profitable business, no matter how you looked at it.

    That was a few hours ago. Now, any semnce of a bright future had disappeared, and whether he could survive until morning was uncertain.

    What on earth is happening? Was it an earthquake?

    The first situation room was located in Zone A. Runan, along with team members who had hastily woken up and gathered here, was actively trying to assess the situation.

    ording to the centralputers report, its due to external impact!

    Could it be the seed demon? It shouldnt have the capacity for that.

    Or maybe its the Dread Hydra or Pale Mask.

    Thats unlikely. This isnt their territory.

    The Dread Hydra is a massive, 50-meter-long ambush predator, and the Pale Mask is a giant predator that devours the Dread Hydra. Both are formidable marine creatures, though not as powerful as the sea demon. Their habitats are the deep-sea trenches beneath the base. Since the research base is located outside their territory, the likelihood of one of them attacking is low.

    Currently, Zones E and F arepletely flooded, and water is continuously flowing into Zones C and D!

    Flooding is a problem, but water pressure is the main issue.

    Agreed. Due to the strain on the devices regting the internal environment, theres a risk of malfunction.

    PH-101 Research Base is located in the depths of the ocean, several kilometers below the surface. Despite the harsh environment, it was designed to withstand immense underwater pressure. However, for the people inside, its a different story. If theres a malfunction in the device stabilizing internal pressure, everyone inside is at risk of losing their lives.

    Sigh. We might have to abandon ship.

    Listening silently to the opinions of the team members, Runan finally spoke.

    To stabilize the pressure, we need to separate Zones E and F from the ring. Forcefully disconnect them and assess the situation in Zones C and Dter.

    TeTeam Leader?!

    The expressions of the team members darkened upon hearing the order.

    Zones F and G house the sleeping quarters. Due to the incident urring at night, there are easily over dozens of people remaining in Zone F. Despite the situation, the team leader chose to abandon all the individuals in Zone F.

    What is he doing? Cant he hear me?

    No, sir!

    As the team members hesitated to abandon colleagues who might still be alive and awaiting rescue, Runan urged them forward.

    As the team members moved to follow Runans orders, the base shook violently. Everyone in the first situation room staggered due to the sudden impact.

    What is this?! Another attack?

    No! This shock came from inside!

    Could it be because of the water pressure?

    Stop the pointless chatter and quickly confirm the situation!

    Yes!

    Responding to Runansmand, the team members hurriedly sat in front of theputers in the situation room to assess the situation.

    A littleter, one of them grimaced.

    Uh, there, Team Leader?

    What is it?

    We seem to have found the cause.

    At his pale-faced report, Runan approached and checked the monitor. Soon, he too had the same expression as the team members.

    An unidentified creature has breached the outer wall of Zone E and is currently moving towards Zone G?

    The research base is divided into eight zones, from A to H. Since it is configured in a circr ring, after G and H, the next zone is A.

    While the appearance of an unknown monster invading the first situation room was a significant issue, the real problemy elsewhere.

    Zone H is where the biological researchb is located. In other words, the seed demon they painstakingly captured is trapped there.

    We need to separate Zone G immediately!

    Kuooong!

    At the moment he urgently shouted, an unprecedented shock engulfed the situation room.

    It seems they still dont know about my intrusion.

    From the moment I entered, Ive been wandering around, pulling off human heads, but apart from the area being sealed off, no special measures were taken.

    Thanks to the dyed response on their end, I couldfortably make my way to find Number 26.

    Every time I crawled, the water level, rising halfway up the corridor, shook significantly. The entire corridor didnt flood because the inflow of seawater stopped when the area was sealed off.

    Because of that, I had to crawl through the narrow corridor in an ufortable position. If I raised my waist even slightly, my head carapace would hit the ceiling immediately.

    If the corridor ceiling were lower, I wouldnt have been able to carry the prey.

    Currently, my six tentacles for predation were coiled around the bodies like a snake hunting for prey.

    It didnt look good, resembling entwined eels, and it was ufortable to move, but there was no choice.

    Is it here?

    Passing a corridorbeled H, a thick metal bulkhead blocked the way. The one in front was already broken, but this one looked thicker than that.

    Since its a ce researching dangerous marine creatures like the seed demon, the security level seemed higher than other ces.

    Well, its useless anyway.

    I pressed my auxiliary organ under my chin close to the bulkhead. There was another bulkhead inside, but it didnt matter.

    No metal fragment like this could break my will.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Ill get it out soon).]

    Got it!

    Having reassured Number 26, I stepped back.

    The acid funguss effectiveness was halved in water, so I had to break it with primitive methods.

    I advanced, lowering my head to allow the horn to pierce the bulkhead. The sixbat arms on my upper body whipped the floor and walls, pulling my body forward. The ws on the tail and lower body, submerged in water, moved fiercely, pushing the current aside to enable rapid forward movement.

    The outer wall of the research base, designed to withstand the harsh environment of the deep sea, was easily pierced by me.

    The thick bulkhead, collided with my horn, shattered into pieces. As if that wasnt enough, the second bulkhead behind it was crumpled into a paper-like shape by my charge and bounced out.

    The seawater from the broken door in my rear corridor poured into the space behind the broken door.

    Hmm?

    Growl?

    Enemy. Growl.

    Breaking through the bulkhead and entering, there were no humans, but instead, other beings were waiting for me.

    Fishrians? Ive seen humans and Fishrians trading on floating sea houses, but I didnt expect to find them in a research base. Judging by their work attire, it seemed like they were responsible for security and surveince here.

    Growl. This human nest is a mess.

    Growl. Looks strong, offering it as a sacrifice will make God happy!

    Sacrifice!

    They made eerie sounds while sharpening their ws. The glowing eyes that shed in the darkness disappeared underwater. If they were human, they would have fled immediately, but these fanatics had no fear.

    I didnt expect to meet them here.

    In the game, Fishrians usually served as minions to powerful marine creatures. Matching their role as support for fearsome predators like Seed Demons and Pale Masks, they were irritating mosquitoes to yers fighting formidable creatures like Seed Demons.

    Honestly, to yers facing mid-boss-level creatures like Seed Demons, Fishrians were nothing more than annoying pests. However, they couldnt bepletely ignored.

    Fishrian males have venom in their ws and spikes.

    The colorful spikes resembling the venomous sting of sea creatures were not just decorations. Simr to the potent venom of marine animals in reality, Fishrian venom was exceptionally powerful.

    Furthermore, Fishrians could control the potency of their venom, making them superior to the neurotoxin I possessed. Unfortunately for them, they had the characteristic of being Fully Immune, which provided near-perfect immunity to venom and diseases. Unless faced with a yer specializing in poison, they werent vulnerable to harm from venom.

    And

    Growl!

    Suddenly, the diving Fishrians approached me, leaping out of the water. Their ws scratched against my outer shell.

    Growl?!

    Its tough!

    Since their ws didnt prate my exoskeleton, their venom was useless. Maybe if the enemies had used the venom nds in their spikes to release poison into the water, there might have been a different oue.

    I extended abat arm and grabbed the waists of the Fishrians. The eyes of these creatures, caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events, shook violently. When I exerted force, their waists snapped with a crisp sound.

    Monster! Its a monster!

    Growl! Sacrifice is difficult!

    The Fishrians whose waists I didnt grab seemed to realize the situation and tried to escape. I had already thrown the lifeless Fishrian bodies aside and ambushed the others.

    Observing the remaining corpses entwined by my tentacles, I contemted whether it was worth carrying them.

    Its a bit awkward to carry them, but why not taste it once?

    I took a bite of the Fishrian head in one go. The distinctive vor, including the fishs characteristic odor, the tingling and intense taste of the venom lingering in the venom nd, pleasantly tickled my pte.

    Tasty.

    As a gically modified human, not quite heavenly in taste like a Swampking, but still, a very unique vor was present. It didnt feel greasy due to theck of fat, and the chewing taste was quite excellent, possibly due to the firm muscles. Moreover, the venom flowing from the venom nd between the brain and the spikes provided a thrilling pleasure, reminiscent of eating sushi with wasabi.

    I should give these to Number 26.

    I reced some of the human corpses among the entwined bodies with Fishrians, using my tentacles. Since Number 26, the Sea Demon, had even stronger venom resistance than me, it could enjoy the Fishrian meat without any issues.

    When giving it to Adhai, I should avoid the venom nd area.

    With that thought in mind, as I entered the inner area of the zone, I encountered a sturdy-looking cage.

    And inside, I saw a familiar face.

    Big guy?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (Long time no see)]

    Big guy!

    Number 26, seeing me, jumped up and expressed joy.

    The creatures size had significantly reducedpared to before. It used to be around 5 meters, but now it was only about 2 to 3 meters. Its pinkish body, reminiscent of cat paws, looked dull without much vitality.

    It must have been under a lot of stress.

    The creature seemed to have gone through significant hardships, and it was evident, making me flinch unintentionally.

    Contrary to my thoughts, Number 26, upon seeing me, emitted light and sent out waves in excitement.

    Big guy, youve grown a lot! Much bigger than me!

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (I ate well, thats why)]

    Eat well? youve done well, big guy!

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (I got food for you too).]

    Yeah!

    Woah!

    Leaving the happy creature behind, I examined the prison.

    Indeed. Its a prison made by the Star Union.

    I now understood why Number 26 seemed so depleted. The prison bars were made of pure ck silver, appearing pitch-ck. Special devices resembling sprinklers were attached between the bars, on the floor, and the ceiling.

    Those devices were energy-absorbing mechanisms, simr to a blood reaver, absorbing energy from other creatures. The absorbed energy was then used to power the device itself, allowing even powerful creatures to be confined for an extended period.

    Theres water nearby, so Gremlin Moss wont work.

    I approached theputer that managed the prison, trying to operate it with my small chest arm. However, it didnt work properly, likely due to the water that had entered the entire area.

    Ill have to open it manually.

    Although the managementputer would eventually break down, rendering the energy absorption devices useless, I had no intention of waiting until then.

    I used all sixbat arms to grab the prison bars tightly. As I seized them, energy drained from my body, but I paid it no mind, as the energy exerted to bend the bars was greater.

    The bars I held twisted like licorice and, with a short tearing sound, were torn apart. After a few repetitions, I had broken enough bars for Number 26 toe out safely.

    I also destroyed all the energy absorption devices attached to the broken bars, ensuring the creatures safe exit.

    I cane out now, right?

    [ZZ (Yes).]

    Wow! Big guy, youre strong!

    Finally free, Number 26 hopped over and embraced me. When we left the cosmic city, our sizes were simr, but now the creature had be much smaller.

    I remember the old times.

    Hugging the diminished creature, memories from when we first met on the meteoric spaceship and shortly after arriving at the cosmic city shed back.

    Now, I cant carry you on my head anymore.

    Until I acquired the Giant Creature trait, carrying it on my back would be the most I could manage.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Youve been through a lot).]

    Im fine. How about you, big guy?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (As you can see).]

    I patted its head a few times and released the hug. The creature still seemed in good spirits, so I handed it the prepared food.

    Thank you! I really like it!

    Apparently hungry, Number 26 immediately extracted tentacles from its body and swallowed the food. I continued to pet the creature, conveying gratitude for its efforts.

    The rescue was sessful. Next is

    Number 26 quickly finished eating the provided food. I didnt think it would be enough to satisfy its hunger.

    Big guy! I have something to say!

    Number 26, having finished the meal as I expected, called out to me.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZZZZZ (Are you still hungry?)]

    Yeah. But theres something more important.

    [ZZZ (Oh?)]

    The creatures with appendages here. Theyre very troublesome.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Creatures with appendages, are you talking about humans?)]

    Yeah! Humans are bad!

    Number 26s body swelled significantly, and light flickered uncontrobly. It was the first time I had seen the creature express anger like this.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Dont worry. Im going to give those humans a hard time.)]

    Yeah! Lets give them a hard time!

    [ZZZ (Sure)]

    Number 26 waved its fins and tentacles threateningly.

    Seeing that cute sight, I reaffirmed my decision.

    Those who angered Number 26, I should make them pay with blood.

    I had that intention from the beginning, but

    I realized it might not be as simple as just killing them. The people in this deep-sea research facility would likely suffer and die in agony.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 131

    Chapter 131

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    I tried to see who did this. During my journey here, someone had closed all the st doors in the corridor. Trying to confirm who did this annoying task, I pressed my face against the reinforced ss, only to find the survivors utterly exhausted.

    The ones in the istion zone quickly argued and escaped as soon as the door on the other side opened. As I observed their fleeing figures, I pulled my head back from the reinforced ss.

    Ah-ack!

    Turning my head, I locked eyes with a survivor who had grabbed me. He made a choking sound like a suffocating chicken. Though his expression was hidden behind the helmet I was wearing, it was easy to sense his feelings.

    It seemed like I needed to end his fear quickly. I exerted force with mybat-ready hand, squeezing his body.

    Aga-gak-gak!

    As the figure in the reinforced suit contorted, iprehensible sounds echoed from inside the helmet. With the final squeeze, the human went limp in my hands.

    I used my nails to remove his reinforced suit and tore pieces of flesh to feed into my mouth.

    Chewing should be enough.

    The reinforced suits they wore were designed solely for the wearers survival, making them highly resistant. In simpler terms, they were tough. Of course, it doesnt mean I cant eat them; its just that chewing bes a hassle due to their teeth getting in the way.

    Chewing on the captured humans while leisurely breaking through the doors in the istion zone, the seawater that filled my area rushed out into the C zone corridor.

    Now, shall we go to another area?

    Slowly following the current, I changed direction towards the D zone instead of where the survivors had fled.

    After all, their actions are within my grasp.

    I already know what the survivors are thinking. They might believe I cant catch up because they think their movements are faster or breaking through the st doors is challenging for me. No.

    I just took the time to bring despair to those who tormented Number 26 and Adhai.

    Hope can be the driving force of life, but

    Conversely, it can also be a source of pain.

    Being where they fled to is not salvation because the one seeking revenge against the bad humans is waiting for them.

    Id like to see it hunting, though.

    Many people live in this facility. I need to extract information from them quickly.

    Just as the water in the corridor reached a level where my prone body could barely float, I felt an unfamiliar movement.

    Hmm?

    The scent of a fundamentally different metal wafted from the moving object.

    There were a total of five massive metal masses, roughly around 4 meters in size.

    The hesitation was brief, and I quickly realized the identity of those metal masses.

    Simr to Star Unions Walkers but different, MegaCorps exclusive construction equipment, MCAE (Multipurpose Construction Auxiliary Equipment).

    The construction machine, MCAE, is inspired by humanitys mining equipment used in ssic space-based strategy simtions. In simple terms, its like a space loader with added construction-rted functions and flight capabilities, simr to a Loader.

    Why is the MCAE here?

    The reason I didnt notice it right away was because it seemed out of ce. MCAE is typically used inrge-scale construction projects like building space cities, not in the deep sea with a considerable distance from outer space.

    To investigate further, I followed the scent.

    Passing through a narrow corridor, I entered a spacious area that resembled a warehouse. There, I saw five activated MCAEs and three Fishrians.

    I can smell it. The scent of demons.

    Darn it, theyve escaped after all.

    We need to get out of this base quickly.

    You should avoid Fathers wrath.

    If you go straight this way, theres an elevator.

    The MCAEs, with their flight capabilities turned off inside the building, were moving by removing the wheels hidden inside. Large torches used for closing doors and metal injectors for building repairs were attached to the two arms beside the control seat on the upper body.

    In contrast to the creatures seen earlier, the Fishrians now held harpoons in their hands. Overall simr to Pilum but with a unique feature  the de was shaped like a whirlpool.

    These harpoons were the traditional weapons of the Fishrians, the same ones that had harmed Adhai. While Fishrian harpoons are usually made of ordinary metal, the ones they held were ck like obsidian. It was clear that they were made of ck silver.

    Did these creatures attack Adhai?

    Considering the rarity of harpoons made of ck silver, its likely that these three are the ones who injured Adhai.

    If thats the case, I cant let them go.

    Maintaining a submerged state, I slowly approached the group of MCAEs. At that moment, the gaze of the fish-human with thorned fins on his head and back turned in my direction.

    The creature tilted its head, then, as if sensing my presence, shouted loudly.

    Smell! I smell it!

    The other two Fishrians echoed in agreement.

    Blood smell!

    Someone killed our kind!

    Realizing that hiding was futile, I stood up. The Fishrians eyes widened at the sight of me glowing red due to the emergency light.

    Whats that!

    Monster! A monster that killed our kind!

    I rushed towards them, cutting through the water currents. Like a venomous snake finding its prey, the Fishrian was impaled where the creature stood with my corrosive tentacles.

    Krruk! Die!

    Sacrifice!

    Unlike the creatures encountered earlier, these three Fishrians seemed quite mature. They skillfully avoided my corrosive tentacles and clung to my back.

    Krruk? Its tough!

    Despite their efforts, their poisonous ws and teeth couldnt prate my outer shell. Even if a smauncher hit me directly, it wouldnt destroy the exoskeleton, making it virtually invincible against their feeble bodies.

    It seemed like bare hands wouldnt do, so these creatures started stabbing me wildly with harpoons. If it were Adhai or Number 26 with ck silver material, they might have been injured, but these creatures chose the wrong opponent.

    Six corrosive tentacles extended from my back, striking the Fishrians simultaneously. Two of them managed to dodge, but one was hit by my tentacles and was thrown away.

    Eat this!

    The MCAE sprayed liquid metal from the metal injector towards me. The metal pieces clinging to my partially submerged body quickly hardened. Thebat arm with attached metal chunks became significantly heavier.

    Are they trying to impair my mobility?

    Thinking that my movements had slowed down, the MCAE, facing me, began swinging arge torch in my direction.

    While its impossible for an industrial torch to cause me harm, the heat was quite ufortable. I swung thebat arm with the cold metal chunks attached.

    The target was the MCAEs cockpit. If it were three times smaller than an average person, the pilot might survive, but otherwise, it would be challenging. The detached arms of the uncontroble MCAE hung limply, and its operation came to a halt.

    Having silenced one construction machine, I used mybat arm to strike a Fishrian flying over my head. The sound of cracking echoed as the Fishrians head shattered like a cracked walnut.

    Meanwhile, another creature rushed to the opposite side and climbed onto my tail. It tried to pry off the harpoon stuck between my exoskeleton.

    I raised the tail with the creature attached above the water surface and rotated my entire body. The Fishrian held onto the tail exoskeleton to avoid falling. However, that turned out to be its mistake.

    Huh? Wha

    [Damage!]

    My tail, cutting through the water currents, aimed at two MCAEs. The ones circling around me to seize the opportunity to attack recoiled in astonishment. My tail, a massive appendage, swept past the 4-meter-sized MCAEs.

    Ugh!

    The Fishrian hanging on my tail collided with the solid metal machine, instantly turning into a cloud of blood. The construction machine hit directly by my attack, including the cockpit, flew offpletely, and the other one, airborne, crashed into the wall.

    R-Run!

    Now, only two remained. The MCAEs, having lost all theirpanions in a blink of an eye, hastily retreated.

    Should I let both of them go?

    Originally, I nned to spare only one, but my thoughts changed. I leisurely swam after the construction machines.

    There are many things to ask them  the murders of sea demons, the coboration with Fishrians, the inexplicable presence of MCAEs in the deep-sea research base, and more.

    Haahaahaahaa.

    Hukhuk, its not following us anymore! Huk, huk.

    HaahaIdiot! Keep running!

    In the corridor connecting the central area, where the underwater elevator in C zone is located, with the central area.

    In the pitch-ck water, contrasting with the emergency lights red glow, a series of creatures formed a group.

    d in thick reinforced suits resembling space suits, they were a group of survivors led by Runan. Sixteen men, weary both physically and mentally, pushed forward through the water, struggling against the rising currents.

    Hes entered Zone C! Hurry, we need to get there before he catches us!

    They were well aware of what the steadily rising water signified. The one they couldnt see was approaching.

    Every time that thought crossed their minds, the team members could continue running like racehorses spurred on by whips.

    The door leading to the Central Zone is in sight!

    Check if the interior is flooded!

    While a research team member checked the interior with a still-functioning terminal, Runan and the others kept a watchful eye on whether the threat was approaching.

    Eerie red emergency lights, gently swaying water surfaces, irregr dripping sounds of water droplets.

    And the struggling noises of their team members transmitted through themunication device.

    Every element in this space was consuming their minds.

    Suddenly, Runan had a thought. What if all of this was intended by it?

    If all escape routes were already sealed by it, and the remaining survivors were just being mocked and set to die like mice in front of a cat?

    Me, die? Dont make meugh!

    From being a colonist on Ganymede, Runan hade a long way to be the Prime Capital of Mars. He had done everything to please the aide sent by the Zhao family.

    As a result, he could marry the aide from the Zhao family and obtain the qualifications for a member of the Prime Capital.

    How did I get this position?!

    Runan had yet to fully enjoy life in the MegaCorps upper ss. Dying here would be too unjust, and he wouldnt even be able to properly close his eyes.

    Weve confirmed some damage inside, but its not flooded!

    The shout of his subordinate snapped him out of his contemtion.

    Fortunately, the Central Zone was intact.

    Runan and his team quickly entered Aeroch, and after the water drainage wasplete, they entered the interior of the Central Zone.

    Five submarines, resembling escape pods, were arranged near the walls, and in the center, there was arge cylindrical column with a gate attached.

    The identity of the cylindrical column was a submersible elevator. By riding the submarine and entering the column, they could move to a location closer to the surface through the elevator.

    Internal pressure stable!

    Thank goodness.

    Cough, cough, phew

    Wuaaaa!

    Seemingly relieved to be in a safe ce, some of the team members who had removed their helmetsy down and vomited.

    Lets recharge oxygen here and move up with the submarines.

    When will the rescue team arrive?

    Since weve sent out themunication, it shouldnt take too long.

    Yeah.

    While each of them was busy with tasks like recharging oxygen, one team member screamed.

    The submersibles are damaged!

    What?

    All the survivors, upon hearing those words, stiffened. Runan quickly examined the other submersibles.

    This cant be happening!

    Out of the five, three that he inspected were already in a damaged state.

    Each submersible had a maximum capacity of three people. And there were sixteen survivors in this location. Even if the remaining two were in perfect condition, it already far exceeded the maximum capacity.

    This makes no sense! Were all done for!

    Wait! If we somehow repair them

    Nonsense! Repairing them risks getting killed while ascending in the elevator if anything goes wrong!

    Damn it, then whats the alternative?

    What if we get into the elevator wearing reinforced suits?

    Unless its in space, not here in the deep sea. No matter how sturdy the suits are, they wont withstand the pressure.

    Damn it, none of the options work! Then what are we supposed to do?

    This guy!

    As thest glimmer of hope shattered, the team members couldnt hold on any longer. Some grabbed others by the cor, delivering punches. Some just sat down and cried like children. Some spat curses while swinging fists into the air.

    In the midst of the chaos, Runan, managing to stay calm, sighed.

    There are only two submersibles left. This one next to me looks intact from the outside.

    As he attempted to open the submersibles door to check the interior, a team member pointed fingers at him.

    Runan, you bastard! Get out of there right now!

    You damn son of a bitch! You were nning to escape alone if the submersible was fine, werent you?

    Hey, what the hell are you saying?

    The conflicting gazes of the team members turned towards Runan.

    That bastard!

    Runan cursed inwardly as he touched the gauss rifle he had been holding.

    Excluding him, there were fifteen others. As a researcher and not a soldier, Runan found it challenging to subdue such arge group with just one gun.

    He decided to choose a different approach.

    Stop!

    Runan shouted with all his might. His voice echoed through the vast space of the central zone. Even the team members, looking at him with hostile eyes, were taken aback.

    Won! Dajin! Do you really not know me? Did you think Id escape alone?

    Yeah! We thought youd!

    Nonsense! While weve been at odds, he has been getting closer to us! Yet, everyone is wasting time on useless conflicts. Are you all out of your mind?

    W-Well

    The gaze of the team members wavered upon hearing Runans words. Thinking that things were going as nned, Runan continued speaking.

    Yeah. In life, there can be moments of despair. Things that seem bad like this can get even worse. We all know that outside, monsters are targeting us, and the deep sea, considered nature itself, is pressing down on us.

    While expressing his frustrations, Runan took a step forward.

    However,pared to the harsh life on Ganymede, this level of hardship is nothing! There, incidents of hundreds dying at once due to a malfunctioning temperature control device are not umon! Do you know who survives in such situations?

    Runan made eye contact with each team member one by one, ensuring not to forget to check the distance to the submersible.

    Okay.

    He was now close enough to reach the submersibles door with a single stretch.

    Only those who join forces to ovee adversity survive! Got it? Are you all going to cry like babies here and hope for death, or are you going to gather strength and hope to survive?

    W-Well

    Runan made eye contact individually with the team members while ensuring to keep an eye on the distance to the submersible.

    Now, look at the faces of yourrades! The escape route is right there!

    Upon hearing these words, the team members looked at each others faces. While their attention was elsewhere, Runan quickly grabbed the handle of the submersibles door.

    Opportunity!

    He thought as he opened the door, ready to ascend and activate it.

    And then

    Huh?

    Instead of the expected machinery inside the opened door, there was something soft and pink. Following that, pink tentacles swiftly shot out and grabbed Runans limbs.

    Before he could scream, the tentacles that held him were forcefully pulled inside the submersible.

    Squelch, squelch, squelch.

    Eerie sounds emanated from inside the submersible. There were no screams or agonized groans.

    Soon, red blood flowed from under the submersibles door.

    Uh, uh? TeTeam leader?

    The team members, in disbelief at what had just happened before their eyes, muttered absentmindedly. In response, tentacles, long and pink, emerged from inside the submersible.

    Hee-hee-heek!

    Squirming sounds.

    Uwaah! It caught me! Aaaah!

    Thud, squelch, crunch.

    Everyone, run away!

    The tentacles, one by one, caught nearby team members and dragged them into the submersible. Once inside, the only sounds heard were bone-breaking or flesh-tearing noises.

    The central area, considered thest escape route by the survivors.

    There, only the silent screams filled the air.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 132

    Chapter 132

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    Indeed.

    Ipiled the information gathered while chewing on the thoughts of the MCAE pilot.

    I wondered how the Sea Demon was killed, but it turned out that way.

    Strictly speaking, they didnt kill the Sea Demon. Instead, the research base Im currently stepping on, this massive structure, dealt a fatal blow to the creature.

    A base with space navigation capabilities. I couldnt have imagined.

    ording to the pilot, apart from the elevator that rose above the base, the remaining sections, the central Zone, and the ring-shaped Zones function as the spacecraft. Afternding on a, additional facilities are constructed using resources stored in MCAE and the spacecraft.

    Thats why there were MCAEs dedicated to space exploration.

    Aside from that, the submarine, which I thought had a unique design simr to an escape pod, turned out to be just that. It was converted fromponents of small spacecraft for use as a submarine.

    Anyway, the PH-101 research base arrived here through faster-than-light travel andnded beneath the sea to study deep-sea life.

    And during thending, it collided with the Sea Demon.

    Neither the centralputer of the research base nor the Sea Demon under the sea could have anticipated the collision.

    The centralputer had chosen a stable terrain, a giant ring-shaped spacecraft several kilometers long, for the Sea Demon tond. Unfortunately, the Sea Demon was resting there, exhausted after a battle with the Pale Mask.

    The entire outer wall of the base is made of ck-silver alloy, making it undetectable by psychically sensitive beings. Moreover, weapons made of ck-silver can pose a significant threat to powerful entities like the Sea Demon, just as Fishrians had severely injured Adhai with ck-silver weaponry.

    Given the size of this spacecraft, it likely caused damage to the Sea Demonparable to orbital bombardment. Of course, if the Sea Demon were in good condition, it would have tried to minimize damage from the collision, but the situation was not favorable. Having fought with the Pale Mask and being already very old, the Sea Demon was in a weakened state.

    Coincidentally, the Sea Demon suffered injuries so severe that natural healing was impossible. And

    The Fishrian vige that witnessed this incident took a friendly stance towards the humans who attacked the Sea Demon because they worshiped the Pale Mask instead.

    The humans at the research base received food and protection in exchange for providing the Fishrians with ck-silver weapons. Normally, such a deal would not have been epted, even if the Fishrians were friendly, but the situation changed.

    PH-101 is a under the surveince of the Cult. The research base entered ndestinely during a weakened surveince period, but for some reason, the surveince was significantly reinforced.

    Probably because of Muriel. At first nce, she appeared to be a deer-horned cultist, and one of the two yers supporting her seemed to be a high-ranking cultist.

    In any case, with the reinforced surveince, the humans at the research base found themselves isted. Critical supplies, including food, kept depleting, and they had no idea when they could leave. They had no choice but to seek help from the Fishrian vige.

    While the humans at the research base awaited rescue, the injured Sea Demon died.

    The researchers, with the cooperation of the Fishrians, tried to collect the Sea Demons corpse when Number 26 and Adhai appeared.

    They signaled Number 26 before the Sea Demon died.

    Whether it was a call for help or a warning to stay away from danger remains unknown.

    The crucial point is that Number 26 received the signal sent by the Sea Demon, and both ended up captured in the process. Thanks to interrogating the pilot, most of the questions I had were answered, and I obtained very important and useful information.

    This base is essentially a spacecraft.

    That statement implies control over the Horizon of Nightmares. Although theres still a cooldown, the fact that a means of traveling to others has emerged is promising. Once the cooldown is over and the situation stabilizes, attempting domination seems like a good idea.

    Everything would be satisfactory if it werent for one thing.

    The pilots left a message before they died from the interrogation.

    Is this ce not safe because Number 26 escaped?

    The nuance wasnt pointing towards me. The humans at the research base were fearing something unclear.

    How to describe their reaction?

    A mix of awe and fear in the face of a colossal disaster.

    Maybe I should catch a Fishrian and ask.

    Currently, the only remaining Zone in the research base that is not submerged is the central Zone. All humans in other parts either died or drowned while being captured by me.

    Number 26 should have taken care of anyoneing to the central Zone.

    If there are any survivors, the only ones capable of surviving underwater for an extended period are Fishrians.

    Lets join Number 26 for now.

    I ced the remaining body of the pilot into my mouth and retraced my steps.

    In Zone C, water had filled the corridor. Behind me, my tail swayed from side to side as I pushed my body forward, and ahead, hands with ws between the fingers stirred the water, guiding the direction.

    Unlike when tormenting prey, there was no need to move slowly, so I quickly arrived at the corridor leading to the central Zone.

    I lightly broke the istion door between the central Zone and the corridor. Inside, there were Number 26 and two Fishrians.

    One of them was being eaten while still alive, caught in the tentacles of Number 26, and the other was dangling helplessly from the tentacles.

    Arrived?

    [ZZZZ (Wait a moment)]

    Why?

    As I entered, the water in the corridor also poured into the central Zone. Flesh fragments and bloodstains scattered on the floor were washed away in an instant.

    Approaching Number 26 through the water current, I observed the restrained Fishrian.

    Hes still alive.

    [ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ (I need this one)]

    Ugly human bad friend? He treated the little one badly, so Im making him suffer!

    [ZZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZZZ (Just a moment. Ill return him soon)]

    Are you going to scold him? If youre going to scold him, go ahead.

    [ZZ (Yes.)]

    It seemed that Number 26 did not particrly like these Fishrians. As an example, the Fishrian caught by him was being consumed from the foot rather than the head.

    Imagine the feeling of your sound mind while your lower half is melting from your feet. Moreover, you couldnt even scream because Number 26s tentacles were blocking your mouth.

    Serves you right.

    Seeing the floating harpoons nearby, I understood what Number 26 was up to. I shifted my attention away from the Fishrian with only bones and muscles remaining in the lower half and looked at the restrained one.

    Looking into his eyes, I could see intense fear. Having taken over from Number 26, I used mybat arms to break all of his arms and legs.

    Growl!

    There is something to ask

    Growl! Demon of the abyss! Those who oppose father will not be forgiven!

    Despite likely being in extreme pain, he didnt cower and continued to shout loudly.

    Quietly.

    Kuiiiik!

    If you keep shouting it will hurt more.

    Kiiik.

    When I squeezed his wrist, he immediately quieted down.

    Seeing his submissive attitude, it seemed like it was time to start asking questions.

    What is it that the humans here fear?

    Kruuk. Father dislikes Sea demons!

    Father?

    Is he talking about the Pale Mask?

    The Pale Mask is a nickname used by humans. Naturally, Fishrians would have a different title for it.

    Without answering my question, he continued with what he was saying.

    This nest is a prison for Sea demons. If the captured Sea demon is released, father will be angry.

    Captured Sea demon?

    The pink terror! Terror!

    The Fishrian made a scared expression while pointing at Number 26. I quietly silenced him by tapping the back of his head.

    Why is he like that?

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Its nothing)]

    Honestly, even though it was empty words, it wasnt exactly smoothmunication, but I could understand what these fish zealots were saying.

    The Pale Mask has won in the territorialpetition with the Sea Demon and is currently at ease. If a new Sea Demon appears, it will naturally be angered.

    Until now, this research base made of ck-silver had acted as a kind of camouge, but as I broke part of the outer wall, the boundaries between inside and outside became blurred.

    Unlike the Sea Demon, which detects prey through psychokinesis, the Pale Mask uses an incredible sense of smell and wave detection organs to search for prey.

    Its detection ability far surpasses my auxiliary organs. By now, it probably recognizes Number 26.

    Krukkruuk, the jailers havent fulfilled their duties. Father wille soon. Demons, you too will face the fathers judgment!

    The Fishrian chattered, as if affirming my thoughts. There was no more useful information to gain from him. The time until the unwee guest arrived was running out.

    I opened my jaws wide and crushed the Fishrians head.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZZ (Its time to go now)]

    Still, theres time left

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (The one who killed your friend ising. We must seek revenge)]

    Friend? Friend! Ill beat the bad guy who killed my friend!

    Understanding my vibrations, Number 26 vigorously shook its tentacles. It seemed interested in seeking retribution against the being that killed its kin.

    He will follow Number 26. Theres no need to fight here.

    Since this research base might be used as a spacecraftter, damaging the outer walls any further wasnt advisable.

    If Number 26 and I joined forces, we could gain an advantage against the Pale Mask, but winning without casualties was unlikely. Additionally, fighting here and causing significant damage to the base might ruin the opportunity to use the Horizon of Nightmares.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Lets go up, not here.)]

    Combining forces with the Mother of the Sky and Adhai above would allow us to subdue the Pale Mask without major damage.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZZZ (Lets go outside)]

    Yeah.

    Number 26 responded while still holding the Fishrian in its tentacles. The limp body of the prey turned into a lump of flesh, with only the head held by Number 26, attaching itself to my back.

    Lets go!

    [ZZ (Hmm.)]

    Watching the exuberant shout while melting the fish head, I couldnt help but wonder how others would perceive me.

    Lets save unnecessary thoughts forter.

    Approaching the massive cylinder in the central Zone, I essed the underwater elevator. The gate installed in the cylinder allowed the submarine to enter and exit.

    If we went through here, we could quickly ascend.

    [ZZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZZZZ (Be cautious as it might be dangerous outside)]

    Alerting Number 26 first, I grabbed a gap in thebat gate and applied force. The colossal cover made of ck Silver Alloy groaned, and following that, a storm-like gust of air hit my exterior due to the pressure difference between the elevators interior and the entire Zone.

    Then, like a rising tide, the seawater in the entire Zone surged upward. Holding onto Number 26, I entered the interior of the underwater elevator.

    The wide cylinder quickly filled with water, and Number 26 and I were swiftly transported upward.

    Wow! Its fascinating to move on its own! Its fun!

    As a deep-sea predator, Number 26 seemed unaffected by water pressure and air pressure issues, looking perfectly fine.

    During the ascent, my auxiliary sensors detected something. Arge creature was approaching the vicinity of the underwater elevator at a rapid pace.

    Pale Mask is following us.

    In response, vibrations were felt on the outer walls of the elevator. It wasnt due to the water; it was the shockwave created when the Pale Mask roared from outside, striking the elevators outer wall.

    Were almost there.

    During the ascent, I sharply bent and then extended my lower bodys tail. Using the fins and ws on my tail for propulsion, my body shot upwards.

    Following that, my armored head collided with the closed elevator door. Breaking the exit gate with my horn, we were able to escape from the research base.

    It was fun a moment ago!

    Finally, Number 26, now truly liberated, pulled all the fins out of its body. Its body emitted a glowing, mysterious light, and fins of a pinkish-purple hue danced gracefully in the dark underwater. Number 26, expressing joy with its whole body, swam through the dark depths of the sea.

    The sight resembled that of a fairy descending from the heavens, adorned with wings.

    Big one! Its so refreshing, I love it!

    Number 26 joyfully enjoyed its newfound freedom. If there had been more time, I might have swam with it in the ocean, but there was no leisure for that now.

    I still cant see it, but

    As I looked down beneath my tail, I felt the presence of the Pale Mask through my auxiliary system. An enraged monster was rapidly approaching at an incredible speed.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ(Well y togetherter. We need to go now)]

    Yeah, lets y togetherter.

    I moved with Number 26 towards the direction of the ind. In the water, 26 was much faster than me, so it adjusted its swimming speed to match mine.

    During our journey, Number 26 sent waves towards me.

    Big guy! A bad creature is following us!

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Dont worry, just keep going)]

    Roars wereing from behind. The closer the sound, the narrower the distance to the ind with the Mother of the Sky and the Adhai.

    Go away!

    At that moment, Number 26 pulled out a tentacle and shot something towards my rear. The restraint characteristic, along with other psychic power techniques, aimed backward, and amidst the continuous roaring, painful groans were mixed in.

    Thanks to Number 26, the Pale Mask trailing us slowed down slightly, and we could safelynd on the ind. The Mother of the Sky and the Adhai were clearing the Fishlian vige and waiting for us.

    Adult! Little adult!

    Little one! Youre safe!

    Amorph huh? Whats behind you, that thing?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (Its the Pale Mask. Everyone, get ready for battle)]

    The moment I sent out waves, a massive creature stretched its head out from behind me. The Mother of the Sky, witnessing the scene, was astonished.

    What? The Pale Mask? Damn it!

    Adult! Enemy! Fear!

    That wicked thing killed my friend! Im going to beat it up!

    Me! Little adult! Listen!

    Confronting the new adversary, everyone prepared for battle.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 133

    Chapter 133

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    The one chasing me and Number 26 raised its head. The Pale Mask, the predator of the deep sea second only to the Sea Demon, is notorious for its repulsive appearance as much as its mighty power. Its overall form resembles attaching the t fin of a stingray and a long tail to the body of a sperm whale. Although its appearance is a mix of features from various marine creatures, the most striking aspect is undoubtedly the faces on its body.

    True to its name, the Pale Masks body is adorned with pallid, grimacing human faces. When contrasted with the ck outer skin, these white faces give the impression of barnacles attached to a whales body.

    [PR/N- Barnacles are encrusters, attaching themselves temporarily to a hard substrate or a symbiont such as a whale (whale barnacles), a sea snake, or another crustacean, like a crab or a lobster.]

    Barnacles. Its not a bad metaphor.

    Those faces are a kind of symbiotic organism naturally generated on the Pale Masks body. These faces can be considered symbols of the Pale Mask. Although described as barnacles, these symbiotic organisms do not harm the host. Instead, they utilize their various abilities to protect the host, creating a symbiotic rtionship simr to the tooth fairies and me.

    Of course, these faces are much stronger than the tooth fairies.

    Gii, Gii, Gii

    The water-soaked faces emit eerie cries in response to the hosts will. Its like theughter of a water spirit, a sound as unsettling as its grotesque appearance. I paid no attention to their cries and calmly observed the creature. Understanding their abilities is crucial before engaging in a fight since theirbat capabilities vary significantly based on gender and growth level.

    It seems the Mother of the Sky had simr thoughts.

    Judging by its size, its already in the adult stage.

    She had transformed back into a humanoid form, not the griffin. Instead of replying to her, I nodded in agreement. Ive faced the Pale Mask in the game several times. While I couldnt precisely measure its size just by seeing the head above the water, I could make a rough estimate.

    It should be around 50 meters.

    The adult Pale Masks body length ranges from 40 to 50 meters, cing it among therger specimens. There is another distinctive feature.

    The gender of the Pale Mask can be identified by the faces attached to its body. Interestingly, if it has human female faces, its male; conversely, if it has male faces, its female.

    All the faces on its body were those of pale women.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Its a male)]

    Ugh, this is getting annoying.

    The Mother of the Sky clicked her tongue. She was right. Despite the male being two-thirds the size of the female, it is much more powerful due to its troublesome characteristic.

    The hypnotic ability is irritating.

    The male Pale Masks hypnotic waves continuously emit a wavelength that confuses the minds of other creatures. While simr to the hallucination ability of the Red Mist on the jungle, it is specialized in applying debuffs rather than showing illusions. If affected by its hypnotic waves, one bes unable to use concentration-demanding abilities and techniques. In my case, it seals psychic power abilities, nest-rted features, and nest link abilities.

    My thick head carapace collided with the creatures head. The massive shockwave from the impact swept across the beach, scattering sand in all directions. The Pale Mask, with a head size approaching 10m, shed with my head carapace, which was less than 3m.

    When the two collided, the oue of the fight was clear. However, the one screaming in extreme pain was not me.

    Giiik! Giiik!

    The faces of the creature, sharing sensations with its host, let out agonizing screams. Blue blood and whale brain oil flowed from the creatures thick head pierced by my horn. While my horn may be needle-sized to the creature, with a powerful collision, its a different story.

    The creature, with a split wound on its head thicker than my carapace, writhed in unfamiliar intense pain. I firmly held onto its head with mybat-ready arms to prevent my horn from dislodging.

    Gii, Gii

    Perhaps realizing it wouldnt work, the Pale Mask swung the leg-shaped tails resembling stingrays all around its body towards me. Just like the stingrays tails have venom, these legs also contain a powerful toxin, but it doesnt affect me.

    However, the creature seemed to have decided that keeping a distance was a priority rather than stabbing me with its poisonous stinger. Its thicker legs than my bodyshed out at me.

    Oof!

    Is this what being hit by a truck feels like? Struck by the creatures legs, my body floated in the air and flew far away.

    Giiik!

    The creature, looking at me floating in the air, opened its mouth wide. The Pale Mask canpress digestive fluids inside its body to create a highly destructive breath attack. It has the power to melt even the outer shell of a sub-adult Aymoph, for example.

    At that moment, dozens of transparent energy projectiles flew from the opposite side and struck the Pale Mask.

    Giiik?!

    Dont bother the big guy! You jerk!

    The angry vibes emanated from Number 26. Safelynding on the ground, I looked in the direction where the creature was.

    Number 26 was hiding behind rocks on the beach, shooting energy projectiles with its tentacles.

    It grew again in the meantime.

    That technique is a unique skill called Demon Crash, inherent to Sea Demons. Number 26 acquired it as its second skill after Terror of the Deep.

    It may not be as powerful as the Sea Demons I knew, but

    The original Demon Crash unleashed by Sea Demons has very high attack power and randomly inflicts short-duration debuffs. Number 26, being still young, hasnt demonstrated that level of power yet.

    Still, the intent seems to be wellmunicated.

    Giiik! Giiik! Giiik!

    As the energy projectiles hit its eyes, the creature convulsed. It redirected its anger from me to Number 26.

    A new attacker appeared at that moment. It was the Mother of the Sky, a creature with an eagles head and a lions body, in a hybrid form. She leaped onto the Pale Masks back, which had climbed up from the beach with a golden spear in her hand.

    The Priests Golden Spear? Did Adhai give this to her?.

    Before descending into the depths, I handed Adhai a backpack filled with loot. It was evident that Mother of the Sky had requested equipment from Adhai to confront the Pale Mask.

    Indeed.

    In a situation where she couldnt properly utilize Divine Engraving, the only meaningful means she had against the Pale Mask, with its thick hide, was the shining spear.

    Despite the Pale Mask shaking its body as if annoyed, Mother of the Skys posture remained unwavering.

    Kiii!!

    With a short stroke, she deeply cut into the creatures hide. Blue blood sprayed from the wound, and the Pale Mask writhed in agony. Its legs soared towards Mother of the Sky, aiming to tear her apart.

    MeYouSupport

    At that moment, Adhai swooped down from the high sky like a predatory bird. Simultaneously, Mother of the Sky folded the Priests Golden Spear and leaped towards the descending Adhai.

    At the perfect timing, Adhai caught Mother of the Sky with her four legs and ascended. The Pale Masks legs missed them by a paper-thin difference.

    Get on for a moment.

    ThisTimeOnlyNextNot allowed.

    In mid-air, it seemed like Mother of the Sky lightly mounted Adhais back. While in the griffin form, Mother of the Sky is muchrger than Adhai, but right now in her humanoid form she was much smalll.

    Mounted on Adhais back, Mother of the Sky drew her spear again.

    Giiik! Giiik!

    Every time the Gagon approached the marine monster, she swung the spear vigorously. Golden light flickered, leaving behind deep and sharp wounds.

    Adhai seemed to have chosen a supportive role, given the difficulty of direct attacks due to the Pale Masks mesmerizing waves.

    Not bad.

    Even without explicitmunication, it was apanion who didnt betray expectations. Adhai actively utilized her swift flight speed, attacking at the right moments and assisting Mother of the Sky in easily striking the Pale Mask. The creature tried to trap Adhai by spreading the fins on its sides like wings, as Adhais interference seemed to irritate it.

    But I cant let that happen.

    I raced along the beach, stirring up sand with mybat arms. Approaching the Pale Mask in an instant, I raised my upper body and brought down my head on its head.

    Giiik?!

    Although my body length and weight are less than half of its, its not to be underestimated. The creature staggered significantly from the impact of my body press.

    However, my attack didnt end here.

    I maintained that position, firmly holding the creatures head with mybat arms to immobilize it. Using my tail, I started winding it around the creatures head.

    Applying force to the winding tail, I began squeezing its head. It was as if a constrictor snake was squeezing its prey until the bones snapped.

    The friction between my squeezing body and the creatures head produced a chilling sound.

    Kki, Kkiik!

    In the agony of its contorted head, the creature screamed in pain. As it thrashed, waves formed around, creating a tidal wave. Waterfront structures around were swept away and submerged in the wave created by the Pale Mask.

    Giiik! Giiik!! Giiik!!

    The parasitic faces attached to the creatures body unleash a concentrated onught to protect the host.

    Useless.

    Kkiik! Kkiik!

    Attempting to block me with shockwaves was futile. Instead, the creature crumbled further when I exerted more force.

    GiGiiik?

    It seemed the creature opted for a different approach, feeling like its head would explode at this rate. Abandoning the shockwaves, it used its fins to propel itself forward rapidly.

    Its chosen method was to stomp me into the ground while I remained bound.

    The massive marine monster, with a size of 50m, charged at full speed towards the sandy beach, aiming to crush me, attached to its head, in a single-minded determination.

    Cant let it happen Ugh?!

    Though I was not the one being stomped, I hastily tried to free myself, but the creatures legs entwined around mybat arm and head.

    I attempted to deploy corrosive tentacles from my back to counter, but this time, the creature was slightly faster than me.

    Its head was driven into the bare ground, and I, attached to its head, felt a powerful impact.

    [Pain Nullification Activated!]

    Crack!

    My skull took the damage, and the protective coverings on my body fell off. Some of the ws attached to various parts broke, and one of mybat arms was fractured.

    It was a significant injury, but not as severe as I had anticipated.

    Number 26.

    The flowing psychokic power sensed from a distance undoubtedly belonged to Number 26. Thanks to its restraint, the Pale Masks strength weakened when it attempted to m me into the sand.

    If not for that, the situation might not have ended here.

    Giiik! Giiik!

    The creature raised its head again, seemingly ready to finish the job. Knowing I couldnt endure another direct attack, I quickly freed myself, increasing the distance from the creature.

    Unexpected damage, but

    It wasnt all losses. Thanks to the current skirmish, I had the opportunity to lure the creature onto thend.

    Half of the creatures body, resembling a mix of sperm whale and ray,y on the sandy beach. From its appearance, it was clear that the creature wasnt well-suited for terrestrialbat.

    Grrr

    Feeling the recovery of my broken arm through the effects of the regeneration trait, I stood up.

    Now, its time for the second round.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 134

    Chapter 134

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    The brief period of calm ended, and the battle resumed. The fins, boasting sizes of tens of meters or more, forcefully swept the sand on the beach. A small earthquake shook our bodies, followed by a surge of sand and dirt.

    As thend flipped, walls of sand formed and engulfed us.

    Danger! Evade!

    While Adhai, carrying the The Mother of the Sky, dodged the sand and dirt baptism with acrobatic maneuvers, I quickly crawled towards Number 26

    Ugh!

    It attempted to restrain the sands with restraints, but it was futile. With its current abilities, it couldnt restrainrge amounts of sand all at once. I grabbed him and ced him on the back of the carapace.

    [ZZ ZZZ (Careful)]

    A heap of dirt, almost the size of a boulder, poured over my head. Moving swiftly to avoidrge clumps of sand, enemy limbs flew through the gaps.

    Both I and Number 26 are immune to poison, but

    Nevertheless, the immense force contained in those tentacles cannot be ignored. Even if I could endure it, if Number 26 were to be hit by those limbs, it will split in half.

    The erosion tentacle hidden within the carapace responded to my will and leaped outward.

    With durability far superior to the bloodsucking tentacles from thebat arms, the erosion tentacles deflected the Pale Masks attack.

    Next is the Breath.

    Between the sand barriers, the creatures mouth slightly opened.

    None of us can withstand the creatures digestive juices. While fleeing, wondering where the acidic breath wouldnd, Number 26, who was on my back, acted. It manipted arge boulder to shoot at the creature.

    What?!

    The Pale Mask, struck by the rock, closed its mouth. In that gap, I escaped the range of the sand barrier.

    Like me, Adhai, soaring high above, avoided the sand barrier and swooped in again.

    Although faces attached to the Pale Mask fired shockwaves, she elegantly evaded them with superb acrobatics.

    Even amidst the air bursting out wildly, her speed remained undiminished. As she approached the Pale Mask, the The Mother of the Sky intervened. She held the priestesss golden spear in her hands.

    Now!

    Confirmed.

    As Adhais speed approached the Pale Masks fin, it abruptly slowed down. In response, The Mother of the Sky thrust the spear forcefully.

    As the spear deeply pierced the fin, Adhai quickly struck and retreated again. As the sharpness of the spear added to her eleration, the wound on the fin began to widen rapidly.

    Urgh!

    The Pale Mask, having lost half of its fin in an instant, groaned in agony. To withstand Adhais charge with his body, it used the other fin to prop itself up.

    Tsk!

    Danger! Evade!

    Even though she is a Gagon, Adhais defense isnt that high. The chances of surviving a collision with a creature of 50 meters are slim.

    Adhai swiftly avoided the collision with the creature and quickly ascended, halting The Mother of the Skys attack.

    While they fought fiercely, I quickly pondered.

    Although we inflicted significant damage on the Pale Mask, considering its massive size, its hard to consider it a fatal blow.

    Something new is needed.

    The cooldown for the Symbol of Hunt is still about an hour.

    Therefore, using it during battle is impossible. It should be used after capturing the creature.

    Besides the Symbol of Hunt, theres one more trump card.

    The unique trait I obtained after preying on the unique-grade equipment.

    If I use that trait, I could neutralize the Pale Mask, but

    Unfortunately, I cant use it during the fight with the Pale Mask. Due to hypnosis, I cant utilize abilities that require concentration. The Psychic Breath is also out of the question for the same reason.

    And using that ability would jeopardize the prey.

    The ability obtained through the looters negative polyhedron, Ive never used it until now. But I could intuitively sense it. That ability holds tremendous power, to the point of calling Psychic Breath such a thing. If it suits the creature, its body will evaporate without leaving a trace.

    Most of the traits obtainable from the Pale Mask are useful.

    Such as the Giant Creature, amon trait possessed by creatures over 50 meters, or traits that allow the creation of parasitic organisms shooting hypnotic waves, and so on. I cant discard such useful traits altogether. Its not such a disadvantageous situation yet, so lets put that ability on hold for now.

    Instead, lets use the terrain.

    Although the creature is a marine monster with arge build, it is not as agile onnd. Its movement is restricted due to having a body unsuitable for terrestrialbat. I need to take advantage of that opening.

    I safely ced  in a secure location and ran towards the creature. Meanwhile, the Pale Mask attempted to lower the ground again with its fins, trying to erect a sand barrier. Seeing me approaching, the creature stopped its actions and assumed a defensive stance.

    But my target is not the creature. More precisely, its the underneath of the creature. Closing the distance with the creature, I stopped running and used thebat arm to dig into the ground. In an instant, a pitrge enough for me to enter was created.

    What? What are you doing Ugh?!

    The creature, wary of what I might do, opened its mouth wide. A powerful acidic breath was unleashed in my direction. This time, I was even faster. When the creature spewed the acidic breath, I had already hidden my body underground.

    Crawling beneath the ce where the Pale Masky, I vigorously dug the ground with thebat arm. If the creature moves its body extensively, it could end up buried underground.

    I need to dig wide and deep.

    Mybat arm and erosion tentacle turned into a digging tool, breaking the solid ground. The disced soil was pushed aside by the ws attached all over my body. Due to the broken arm, an unavoidable part arose, but my tail took care of it. The tail, which upies a significant portion of my body, swayed vigorously from side to side, clearing away the soil.

    Although the ground on the beach weakened rapidly, the creature above seemed unaware. The creature, preupied with fighting annoying adversaries, was oblivious to what was happening.

    Having extensively excavated not only the location of the creature but also the surrounding underground, I used the monsters tentacles to send shockwaves to the adversaries.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Guide the creature to move extensively)]

    Understood.

    Yes!

    What? What are you doing Ugh?!

    The creatures that quickly understood my intentions moved agilely.

    Since the hypnosis weakened the functions of auxiliary devices, it was impossible to grasp exactly what was happening from above. However, judging by the intense shaking of the ground, it seemed like they were quite active.

    Roar Roar

    Eventually, the Pale Mask couldnt bear it any longer and let out a roar of anger. A powerful shock, as if dismissing all the previous vibrations, permeated the ground.

    And then

    Grr?

    The weakened ground copsed, and the creatures fin fell into the pit. In sync with the timing, I exerted force to my tail, pushing my body forcefully upwards. My body, like a soaring dragon, pierced through the partially copsed ground and soared into the air.

    The eyes of the Pale Mask, seeing me suddenly emerge from the underground, widened significantly. A gaze as if questioning why I came out there. Instead of answering, I descended upon the creature. Taking advantage of the fact that the creature was partially buried in the ground and in a disoriented state, I aimed not for the tip of its head like before but for the part closer to its torso.

    Thus, the part with eyes and a mouth. Mybat arm and erosion tentacle moved agilely, firmly gripping the creatures jaws to prevent it from opening its mouth, while my body and tail coiled around the creature from the top of its head to the bottom.

    Kiiii?! Kiiii! Kiiii!

    Feeling much tighter than before, the creature exerted all its strength to somehow break free. Unlike before, the creature tried to m its head onto the ground to throw me off, but the result was different. The surrounding ground was entirely disturbed by me, so it was not solid at all. Even if the creature mmed me to the ground while entangled in its coils on the soft soil, it couldnt inflict significant damage.

    Additionally here.

    In the entangled state, I targeted the wounded areas of the creature. There were wounds created earlier by stabbing with my frontal horns. I widened my jaws into a split and sunk my teeth into those areas. Then, I activated the decay fungus organ and acidic fungal nd simultaneously.

    Gik?!

    The creatures skin was thick, providing immunity against toxins, so the decay fungus or acidic fungus couldnt prate it. However, the internal organs were a different story. Despite being protected by thick skin and ayer of dense fat against external threats, this was still the head area. Even with the protection of the skull and the thickyer of fat, it remained a vulnerable spot.

    Of course, given the creaturesrge size, it would take some time for the decay fungus and acidic fungus to take effect. The creature, still unaware of what was happening to its body, proceeded to its next action. It attempted to flip its entire body to crush me.

    The creatures weight was more than five times mine. If it crushed me, I would bepletely ttened.

    Kiiii? Kiiii! Kiiii!

    Once again, the creature couldnt achieve its intention. The creature was now partially buried in the sand. Even lifting its body with fins would be difficult here. While it could easily perform such an action underwater, this wasnd. The creatures most potent weapon, its massive body, was inconvenient in this environment.

    Moreover, I wasnt the only one interfering with the creatures movements. A dragon floating in the dawn night sky and the Griffin rider on its back were visible. Adhai, riding the dragon, descended rapidly towards the Pale Mask.

    Thanks to the golden spear held by the priestess on the back of the dragon, the two of them looked like a gold in the night sky.

    Next, the shining star collided with the colossal marine monster. Due to the eleration from the rapid descent, the spear held by the dragons mother easily severed the thick fins.

    Kiiiiik!

    When the arm, almost equivalent to the body, was almost entirely severed, the creature screamed. The length of the wound was over 10 meters, causing a torrent of blue blood to gush out. The creature, using its fins to flip its body, was now sitting on the ground, unable to continue.

    Not only as a weapon but also ying a crucial role in swimming, some of its fins had been detached. Even if the creature managed to escape unharmed from this situation, it might take a long time to recover. Given its intelligence, the creature was likely aware of this fact.

    Kiiii! Kiiii! Kiiii! Kiiii! Kiiii! Kiiii!

    As if to show that only venom remained, the expressions of the faces attached to the creatures body changed rapidly. Faces that were originally pale transformed into grotesque demon shapes, ring at Adhai.

    The parasitic organisms all opened their mouths wide andunched shockwaves. Invisible bullets of air flew towards Adhai and the dragons mother.

    At this, Adhai performed astonishingly fast and precise acrobatic maneuvers, avoiding all the shockwaves.

    Watch out for the area near the right wing!

    Confirmed.

    The part missed by the creature was conveyed to Adhai by the dragons mother with sharp eyes, reading the flow of air. However, Adhai had not fully recovered from the injuries yet. Although he was currently avoiding them sessfully, it was uncertain how long he could continue to do so.

    I applied more force to my coiled body, which was causing friction with delight. The blunt ws scattered around my tail and body pierced into the thick skin of the Pale Mask. As my body coiled like a snake, a eerie scraping sound echoed.

    Kii!! Kiiiii!!

    The cries from the faces attached to the creatures body sounded strange. They realized that the host was in extreme danger.

    The creature directed shockwaves towards Adhai while simultaneously using all the legs attached to its body to strike my back and outer shell.

    Kuk!

    The impact felt like being struck with a log, and fragments of my outer shell shattered. It was certainly not a small pain, but I endured it with the belief in easing the pain.

    At that moment, a few massive boulders scattered around sporadically rose into the air, heading towards the creatures legs.

    Grrr!! Grr

    With each impact of the boulders, its legs twisted off the trajectory, hitting its own body instead of mine.

    Big Baby! Ill help you!

    From a distance, Number 26 could be seen waving its tentacles as ifmanding.

    Trees and rocks surrounding the beach were pulled into the air and, synchronized with the movement of the tentacles, flew towards Pale Masks body and legs, embedding themselves in it.

    Grr Grrrr!!!

    Compared to its body covered in thick skin, the parasitic organisms attached to the creatures body were rtively vulnerable. The pale faces were instantly covered in blood as they collided with rocks and wood.

    As the entity emitting shockwaves diminished, Adhai once again flew in this direction. Each time it clung to the protruding part of the creatures body on the ground, the Mother of the Skies pierced it with her spear.

    When Pale Mask tried to respond, rocks and wood fragments flew again. Number 26 had no intention of letting the creature torment the little one.

    In the midst of all this, my body continued to firmly squeeze the creatures head.

    Grr! Grrrr!!

    While continuing to squeeze, I felt a sensation like something balloon-like being crushed from the inside. The pressure inside its eyes couldnt withstand it and burst.

    As the eyeball burst, the creature glowed. It must have realized that death was imminent.

    Using the still intact fin and legs, the creature frantically stirred up the ground and crawled towards the sea, its homnd.

    However,

    Grr!! Grrr!!!

    Struggling to dig through the sand, the creature suddenly staggered. Faces attached to it, not understanding why the host was behaving this way, emitted a mix of curious and mournful cries.

    Good. The effect is taking ce.

    The decay fungus and acid fungal elements I have been continuously injecting were gradually taking effect. Even if the surface appeared unscathed, the inside was rotting due to the decay fungus, and the muscles and blood vessels were corroded by the acid fungus.

    Now the creatures remaining time is not long.

    Moreover, my friends, Adhai and Number 26, seem to have no intention of leaving the creature alone to die.

    Adhai persistently aimed at Pale Mask like a bald eagle mocking its dying prey. The spear of the Mother of the Skies, who rode on the creatures back, also did not rest.

    While the two jointly attacked, Number 26 continued to unleash Demon Crash, turning the creatures skin into a mess.

    Eimoph, Gagon, Sea Demon, and even Volf.

    Under the assault of these four monsters, the marine monster was being reduced to aplete wreck.

    Hiiii.Hiiii.Hiiii.

    As Pale Masks movements gradually weakened, it finally stopped moving in its tracks. The faces attached to it showed signs of deteriorating rapidly as the host approached death.

    Just a few meters away from the sea, Pale Mask dropped its head. It exhaled a final breath and soon fell silent.

    Kiyaaaah! Kiieeeeek! Kiiiiiiiiiik!

    The faces attached to Pale Mask emitted horrifying screeches. The parasitic organisms that had not forgotten their repulsive actions followed the host into oblivion.

    Before dawn, the God the fishrians once served was dead.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 135

    Chapter 135

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Wow! We won!

    I victory coolness.

    Facing the carcass of the sea monster, Number 26 extended two tentacles and struck a triumphant pose. Adhai climbed onto the monster, spread her wings wide, and savored the joy of victory.

    I thought I had lived in this world for quite a long time, but this experience is a first.

    The Mother of the Sky, transformed as a griffin, admired the celebratory ceremony of victory, watching with awe.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (clever ones, arent they?)]

    During the battle, I had no choice but to borrow this. Take it back.

    As I approached, she handed me the spear she had been biting with her mouth.

    Given how well Adhai and I sync, I might have to rely on her in the future.

    Adhai, being a young green Gagon and a mutant, is still small. Bing a White Gagon would make her much stronger, but it will take time.

    Filling in her shorings using the Mother of the Sky was not a bad idea.

    Thinking about giving her the priests golden spearter, Number 26 approached us.

    Big baby! We took care of the bad guy for you!

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Yes, you did well).]

    Yeah! But whos the friend next to you?

    Since there was no opportunity during the fight, I hadnt introduced the Mother of the Sky to the children. I briefly exined who she was to Number 26.

    So, is the friend also the leader of the family?

    I dont have a family.

    Why? Not a mom? Moms have to protect their babies.

    All my children are dead. My husband too. Im alone now.

    I see.

    Whether Number 26 sensed the sadness of the Mother of the Sky or not, it emitted a dark pink light. Come to think of it, Number 26 might have had a simr experience.

    Since all its kin were experimented on and died.

    Number 26, thest survivor among the Bubble Amoebas on the research ship. Perhaps, it understands her sorrow better than any of us.

    He remained silent for a moment as if pondering something before emitting waves again.

    Mom has to be strong enough to protect her babies.

    Yes.

    So, Ill call you the middle baby.

    What?

    The Mother of the Sky questioned, seemingly confused. Ignoring her reaction, Number 26 continued emitting waves.

    Your friend is a mom but couldnt protect the babies, so shes still a baby. Thats why the middle baby.

    Uh

    A perplexed emotion crossed her eagle-like face. Her gaze shifted left and right before settling on me.

    Since I showed no particr reaction, she had no choice but to ept. As she nodded, Number 26 emitted a brief glow and added a few more words.

    Lets all strive to be strong enough to protect our family, even the middle baby!

    These were thest words left by Number 26. Its words about growing the strength to protect family seemed to resonate deeply within the Mother of the Sky. Her resistance seemed to diminish from her eyes.

    Thank you.

    Number 26 and Adhaimunicate solely through their unique wavelengths and telepathy. Thus, the Mother of the Skymunicates with them using a special ne around her neck to transmit telepathic messages.

    The telepathic message she sent now seemed to contain a bit more sinceritypared to before.

    After finishing her conversation with the Mother of the Sky, Number 26 called me this time.

    Big guy, theres somewhere we need to go.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (Go where?)]

    Come with me. We might bete if we dont hurry.

    It seemed urgent.

    I pondered over what Number 26s wavelength meant.

    Ive already captured the Pale Mask, so there shouldnt be any new threats Oh.

    Come to think of it, Number 26 mentioned something before. To borrow its expression, it meant that a friends family was in danger because of the Pale Mask, which it referred to as a bad guy.

    A friends family.

    Given the context, it seemed certain that the friend referred to the Sea Demon. If it mentioned family, was it referring to other Sea Demons?

    That cant be it. Sea Demons, not just one, but a group wouldnt have lost to the Pale Mask.

    It probably referred to the Bubble Amoebas dwelling with the Sea Demon as family.

    To be honest, I wasnt interested in Bubble Amoebas. Even if they contained gic essence I didnt know, it wasnt my ce to catch them in front of Number 26.

    But I cant refuse to go.

    It must be wanting to go with me because theres something I dont know. Hence, I nodded.

    After all, well have to wait a bit longer to prey on the Pale Mask.

    Theres about 30 minutes left until I can use the Symbol of Hunt. It wouldnt be a problem to attend to other matters during that time.

    Before leaving, I instructed Adhai to eat.

    I head meal impossible?

    [Zu zu zu zu zu zu zu zu (Dont eat because theres poison in the head).]

    Understood ugly friend together meal.

    Wait. Who are you calling ugly?

    You tail none horn none ugly.

    Sigh.

    Leaving behind the bizarre conversation with the Mother of the Sky and Adhai, Number 26 and I submerged back into the water.

    Its this way.

    With its long fins spread wide, Number 26 gradually led me deeper into the sea. Passing the depths research base, he swam beneath the ocean trench below the abyss.

    Entering along with him, I was greeted by a darkness so dense it was unimaginable.

    Its like the cosmos.

    When wemonly describe the universe, we often use concepts and words rted to water. For example, we refer to spacecraft as spaceships, and instead of using the word space travel, we say voyage. This space, devoid of even a single beam of light, was another form of universe above.

    At that moment, Number 26 radiated light like a star in the universe, shining on its own. The light was not as intense as the sunlight or as pale as moonlight reflected by sunlight.

    It simply, mysteriously, yet simultaneously, emitted a warm feeling, dispelling the veil of darkness.

    As we descended I witnessed an astonishing sight.

    In the distance, specks of light began to appear.

    Stars?

    In the darkness, stars shining brightly in a pinkish hue, much like Number 26.

    They were Number 26s kin, the Bubble Amoebas, shining in resonance with him.

    My friends family is alive!

    Number 26 eximed with relief upon seeing them.

    She sent scattered beams of light to the Bubble Amoeba clusters. Unlike when she conveyed her intentions to me, her body emitted a mixture of various colors of light this time.

    This must be themunication among the Bubble Amoebas.

    Considering that Imunicate through wavelengths created by the monsters tentacles, its not surprising that their method would be different.

    As if acknowledging the message sent from our side, lights of various colors flickered from their side. Another nearby cluster, upon seeing Number 26s light, joined the conversation.

    The sight of Bubble Amoeba clusters illuminating themselves formunication was akin to meteor showers or the Milky Way on a clear night.

    The fact that the weakest creatures could emit such strong light in the dark and heavy depths of the ocean floor, where it seemed life didnt exist at all, would surely evoke awe even in the most emotionally dry individuals.

    Amazing.

    The kaleidoscope of colorful lights on the stage veiled by darkness was stunningly beautiful.

    Ive never seen such a spectacle in games. Even if such an event existed, could a VR machine truly capture this enchanting scenery even by 1%? Its safe to say its impossible.

    The seemingly endless conversation of light and colors unexpectedly ended abruptly. Number 26s body, which had emitted lights of various colors formunication, returned to its pink hue.

    Theyre all okay.

    Although the Sea Demon protecting them is dead, its archnemesis, the Pale Mask, is also gone, hence they are now safe.

    There might be other humans intruding, but with Muriel, who had connections to high-ranking cultists, dead, the possibility of surveince on this being lifted is low.

    From now on, they will live in harmony with thews of nature. Sometimes encountering predators and fleeing or being devoured, and sometimes meeting new kin and thriving as a group. Thats the cycle.

    However, upon hearing the continuation of Number 26s words, I realized that the conversation he shared wasnt as simple as it seemed.

    My friends family asked me for a favor.

    [ZZ ZZZ (A favor?)]

    They asked me to be their mother.

    I understand what Number 26s wavelength means.

    Is Number 26 staying here?

    The moment I understood its meaning, I was greatly surprised. It was because the sense of loss I felt upon thinking that Number 26 would depart was unexpectedly immense.

    Even as I remained silent, Number 26s wavelengths continued.

    My friends family is weak. Without a leader in the family, itll be tough when other bad onese.

    I wanted to refute that statement. That its part of the natural order, that the Bubble Amoebas ecology is inherently like that.

    I know the pain of losing a family too. When family members are in pain, I feel it too.

    Number 26s species is the Sea Demon.

    Just as an Amorph has the inherent habit of plundering gic essence from other creatures, its natural for a sea demon to live with its family, the other Bubble Amoebas, underwater.

    But

    With uncertain challenges ahead, I cant just let Number 26, who has exceptional skills, stay here.

    On the other hand, I also want to respect his intentions.

    What should I do?

    Unable to decide what to say, Number 26 made the decision for me.

    But I cant. I have family to protect too.

    Number 26 extended a tentacle and patted my head.

    The emotions embraced by Number 26 from the area where we made contact were clear. Just as much as it upies a significant ce in my heart, it also values us dearly.

    The big baby grows quickly and is stronger than me, but its still a child. I have to protect it.

    After hearing its sincere words, I could finally send a wavelength filled with my emotions.

    Yes!

    Although the wavelength was short, it was brimming with emotions. Number 26, who understood my heartfelt feelings, brightly lit up with joy.

    With this, our business in the deep sea is finished. I prepared to ascend slowly.

    The lights emitted by the Bubble Amoebas were pleasing to the eye, but I feel uneasy about staying here any longer, fearing that Number 26 might stay.

    On the other hand, Number 26 still seemed to have unfinished business.

    Big baby, my friends family wants us to go down. Shall we?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Its dangerous down there than here)]

    Going further down would lead to the bottom of the trench where the Dread Hydra dwells. Although its nothing more than a main target for the Pale Mask, its not necessarily a weak creature.

    But Number 26 emitted a glow with negative intent.

    My friend left behind a treasure. He said to take it.

    A treasure?

    What kind of treasure could be at the bottom of this deep sea? Moreover, its a Sea Demons treasure, which I cant even begin to guess.

    Still, shall we go and see?

    Perhaps there might be valuable equipment left behind by a quasi-boss-level creature like a Sea Demon. I decided to go further down with Number 26.

    We pierced through tremendous water pressure and headed towards the depths of the deep, deep sea.

    As we continued forward for a while, Number 26 stopped in its tracks. In front of the gently drifting creature, there was a massive object.

    /Whats this?/

    It had a simr appearance to Number 26, but its size was iparable, a behemoth beyond imagination.

    The terror lurking in the depths and the demon of the sea.

    A dead Sea Demon awaited us in the depths of the world.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 136

    Chapter 136

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    In the game, the size of Sea Demons is approximately around 20m to 30m. In other words, think of it as being about the same length as my body.

    You might think its rtively small for a sub-boss-level creature, but theres a trap here. Sea Demons can adjust their size and form as they wish. In their usual mode, they are only about 20m, but when they enterbat, they can inte their bodies up to 100m. Its threatening sawde tentacles also grow in proportion, and the range of their unique ability, Deep Fear, expands.

    As seen with Number 26, Sea Demons generally possess high intelligence. This means they actively utilize their abilities even duringbat. So, for yers responsible for tanking, the calctions they need to consider multiply exponentially.

    Even considering all that, this guy is incredibly huge.

    Perhaps its because it has lived for a long time. At a nce, its corpse was easily more than twice the size of an average Sea Demon. It even surpassed the 50m-sized Pale Mask, which is considered quiterge.

    Moreover,rge and small scars dotted its pinkish exterior, clearly indicating that this creature was no pushover.

    If it werent for the spaceship collision, it wouldnt have died so easily.

    As evidence, there were wounds on its torsorger than my body. Even a powerful monster like this couldnt recover from injuries sustained in a collision with a spaceship.

    While looking down at the Sea Demons corpse from a distance, Number 26 approached. Dozens of tentacles emerged from its body and attached themselves to the corpse.

    Whats it doing?

    I thought it might be a form of mourning, but judging by the atmosphere, it didnt seem like that. After attaching all the tentacles to the corpse, Number 26 remained still.

    After a while, a violet light began to shimmer on the surface of the giant corpse. The energy, even making me, with my psychic reflection gloves, shudder with its tremendous intensity, moved along the surface. The tentacles attached by Number 26 were the focal point of the immense psychic power.

    Using the tentacles like straws, Number 26 absorbed the energy, and a violet radiance emanated from it. The intensity of the light was almost indistinguishable from when the creature expressed emotions, but my auxiliary systems denied it. Massive psychic power was swirling around in Number 26. The amount of energy it absorbed far surpassed my psychic breath.

    And then, the creatures body began to crack as if the shell was breaking. Witnessing this, I was momentarily taken aback.

    There was no sign of pain or distress from the creature, which was a relief, as otherwise, I might have intervened.

    This might be something important.

    I quietly observed the creatures transformation.

    The golden exoskeleton that formed on its surface began to crack, and the creature, now concentrated with psychic power, swelled significantly. The body, which had shrunk to 3m while confined in the research facility, rapidly grew to about 10m.

    The psychic power was so intense that even with my auxiliary systems, I couldnt fully grasp the creatures appearance, but from what I could see, it closely resembled the dead Sea Demon.

    Indeed. It seems to be like this.

    Many yers in the game spected on the rtionship between Sea Demons and Bubble Amoebas. Some believed that the two creatures were gically closely rted.

    Among them, some yers thought that Bubble Amoebas would grow into Sea Demons. There was a theory that the weakest creature in the ocean would grow into the strongest. There was some basis for this.

    Most wild NPCs in the Space Survival world had a mechanism of growing from juveniles to adults. So, it was reasonable to assume that Sea Demons might have a fluid phase.

    Despite countless yers thoroughly exploring the ocean, no one had discovered the fluid Sea Demon. Therefore, the spection arose that Bubble Amoebas, which looked simr in appearance, might transform into Sea Demons.

    Of course, hardly anyone took it seriously.

    Many yers kept Bubble Amoebas as pets. Everyone knew that even if Bubble Amoebas grew, there wouldnt be any significant changes.

    But now, seeing this spectacle

    Looking at the scene unfolding before my eyes, it seemed challenging to dismiss the growth theorypletely.

    Number 26, or the offspring of the Sea Demon, looked almost identical to a Bubble Amoeba. Since it could hide its tentacles and fins inside its body, it appeared smaller.

    The delicate, fluid state Sea Demon lived among Bubble Amoebas, protecting them. In the process, it would hunt down predators threatening the group, gradually growing. When the time came for the Sea Demons power to be inherited, it would undergo a mutation and transform into an adult.

    No wonder no one knew about this.

    Bubble Amoebas were kept as pets, notbat support creatures. Even if someone luckily obtained Sea Demon fluid, they wouldnt force it into a fight. So, it couldnt grow.

    Not to mention bringing it to a battle with the formidable sea monster, the Sea Demon? If one thinks about it, they would consider that a Bubble Amoeba with nobat abilities would be a guaranteed death in a battle with such a powerful creature. Unless someone takes joy in killing their own pet, they would naturally refrain from bringing it.

    One must fulfill the condition of rescuing a Sea Demon offspring that looks identical to a Bubble Amoeba and bringing it to the corpse of a deceased Sea Demon. In reality, its an almost impossible-to-verify method.

    While I was lost in thought, Number 26 continued absorbing the legacy of the Sea Demon.

    However, at some point, the absorption rate began to slow down. Despite still having plenty of energy, the speed was gradually decreasing.

    Eventually, the creature stopped absorbing energy. The 10m-sized violet luminescent body attached to the corpse slowly fell away.

    The psychic power remaining in the Sea Demons corpse faded away as well.

    What a waste.

    It felt a bit regretful to miss the essence of pure psychic power right in front of me. I scratched my recoveredbat-ready head after shaking off the disappointment.

    Even after the energy disappeared, 26 continued to glow. The light emitted by the creature was gradually diminishing.

    No, it wasnt just the light that was decreasing; the body itself was shrinking.

    From 10m to 5m, and then 1m. The creature, which seemed infinitely small, stopped at a size of around 50cm.

    Huh?

    It was a size small enough to perch right above my head. Its appearance returned to a slime-like form, excluding the fins that came out for swimming.

    A pattern has appeared.

    If one were to point out the most significant change from before, it was that patterns had emerged on Number 26s body. A spiral pattern of violet waves gently undted on the deep pink surface.

    Here, in the deep trench where sunlight doesnt prate, it remains dark. However, if it were to receive sunlight, wouldnt it shine like a pink sapphire?

    The transformed creature approached me, fins fluttering.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Is it over?)]

    Yeah!

    Just like usual, Number 26 energetically responded with waving psychic waves.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ (A new friend will now protect the family since the old friend has died.)]

    Yeah. I cant because I have another family. I only took a little to give the rest to another friend.

    Listening to its words, it seemed that the scattered energy from earlier was being transferred to another Sea Demon fluid in the water.

    There was no need to bother with the mid-level tentacles of the monster, and it was unnecessary to mention that it had climbed halfway. Although the words suggesting whether one should have just eaten everything reached the monsters tentacles, there was no need to say it.

    Thanks to the Sea Demon and its consideration, somewhere deep in the sea, a new monster would be born.

    Since my friends job is done, the big one can eat it now.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Is that okay?)]

    With a positive meaning, the creature shone its body. Looking at this aspect, 26 was definitely different from humans. If it were a person, they would try to salvage the friends corpse.

    Is mourning the death of ones own kind separate from dealing with the corpse?

    Certainly, 26s appearance was closer to that of highly intelligent wild animals with a social nature than to humans.

    I gently stroked Number 26 with mybat-ready arm. The creature, seemingly pleased after being stroked for the first time in a while, glittered its body.

    After petting it once, I looked at the Sea Demons corpse.

    I can use the symbol of the hunt, but

    With the effect of Horizon of Nightmares, the duration of the symbol of the hunt increased to 20 minutes. It would be enough time to eat the head of the Sea Demon, which reached almost 50m. However, there was a problem.

    I need to go up and eat the Pale Mask too.

    It took almost an hour toe down from above. Even with the drastically improved physical abilities due to the effect of the symbol of the hunt, there was not enough time to climb up to the top.

    Besides, I didnt kill the Sea Demon.

    The creature suffered from wounds that it couldnt heal, likely caused by a collision with a spaceship. It had beennguishing in agony and died. And quite some time had passed since its death.

    Its highly unlikely that Ill gain any special abilities just by eating it.

    Certainly, due to the nature of the deep sea, the temperature is extremely low, so the corpse itself has hardly dposed. However, since I didnt kill it, the chances of gaining benefits from devouring are extremely low. Even if I use the symbol of the hunt and eat it, any creature I didnt personally kill is treated as equivalent to a gic sample. Eating the sample while under the effect of the symbol of the hunt only grants a 0.5-level trait, not the full trait.

    On the other hand, its not the same for the Pale Mask.

    It was a loot that we hunted together, unlike the Sea Demon. If I use the symbol of hunt, as usual, I can almost guarantee obtaining traits close to a 100%.

    Lets put the symbol of the hunt on hold.

    After a brief consideration, I decided to eat the Sea Demons corpse as it is. Using the symbol of the hunt would result in more losses than gains. Even if I were to gain a 0.5-level trait by eating the Sea Demon here, it would be a disaster if I couldnt make it up to the surface in time to obtain the Pale Mask.

    Since the cooldown for the symbol of the hunt is a week, its impossible to wait and eat.

    The area we are in is close to a tropical climate. Even two days would be enough for the gic essence of the Pale Mask to bepletely damaged.

    Its a shame, but lets consider this as nutritional supplementation.

    Approaching the Sea Demons corpse, I swung mybat arm. Cutting through the water currents, my sharp ws pierced the Sea Demons outer shell.

    Indeed, its tough.

    Contrary to its seemingly soft appearance, the Sea Demons outer shell was quite thick and sturdy. Its durability was even greater than the Pale Mask, so biting into it wouldnt be effective. Until I obtained traits rted to jaws or teeth, I had to use my arms to tear off the flesh for consumption.

    Tentacles of corrosion are good for swallowing, but cutting power iscking.

    Now was the time to use primitive methods. I used my sharp ws like knives and began to cut through the Sea Demons corpse.

    Although I wondered if Number 26 would find it awkward, it paid no attention to the fate of its kind. It simply yed around, tapping the thorns on my tail end with its fins.

    Having lost interest in it, I began to tear the flesh of the Sea Demon. No blood flowed; it had already coagted since it died a while ago.

    Lets try it.

    I put a piece of the flesh into my mouth.

    Mmm.

    The taste was as amazing as the strength of this marine monster. Contrary to the appearance resembling a jellyfish, I expected a taste simr to jellyfish sd or cold jellyfish, but it wasnt. The flesh was more like salmon sashimi, with a slightly oily vor. Additionally, there was a fragrant lime-like aroma.

    Overall, it feels quite sophisticated.

    The only slightly disappointing part was that itcked distinctivenesspared to what I expected. Perhaps it was because it wasnt a freshly caught Sea Demon. Besides the striking lime fragrance, it seemed to be just a tasty dish.

    Thinking so, I continued to tear off pieces of flesh and put them into my mouth.

    Hmm?

    The moment I ate a particr part, I couldnt deny that I had just made a terribly reckless judgment.

    The taste is different here?

    Surprisingly, the Sea Demon had distinct vors depending on the part. The flesh I just ate tasted exactly like snail soup. It was the taste I had experienced at a buffet in my childhood.

    Themon point was that even in this part, there was a lime scent.

    This is quite fascinating.

    Amazed, I began to eat the Sea Demons meat. The deeper I went insidepared to the outer shell, the more the taste became intriguing. The blood had coagted over time, and the overall low temperature prevented the taste from being fully appreciateddisappointing.

    With a series of astonishments, I finally managed to devour the entire head and brain of the Sea Demon, excluding the fins.

    Sigh. It didnt activate after all.

    With the effect of the Essence Harvester, just eating the head would activate the predatory effect, simr to consuming the entire body. Despite having consumed the entire head, the predatory effect did not activate.

    I had anticipated that the conditions were not favorable, but it was still difficult topletely shake off the disappointment.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Lets go now)]

    Are you not eating more?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Its okay)]

    I left some parts of the body and fins uneaten. Even with just the meat I consumed, it far exceeded my body size. Any more nutrients would be unnecessary.

    With that, 26 and I left the remains of the Sea Demon and headed back up.

    As we left, the Bubble Amoebas behind us bid farewell, emitting light. After saying goodbye to them, 26 stuck by my side, swimming together.

    Its nice being with the big baby.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZ (I feel the same)]

    While 26s size was muchrger than when we first met, proportionally, it felt simr to carrying it on my head as before. Perhaps it was due to nostalgia. Even retracing our steps didnt feel boring.

    After an hour of swimming, we were able to resurface on the ind.

    What greeted us upon resurfacing was the corpse of the Pale Mask, which had lost about one-fifth of its body. Beside it was Mother of the Sky, sorting its fur.

    It took longer than I thought.

    Mother of the Sky greeted me with eye contact. I turned my head and surveyed the surroundings.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (What about Adhai?)]

    Just a moment ago, she was lying down, but suddenly she jumped over there.

    She pointed to arge rock. Behind it, I sensed Adhai hiding.

    Through the submandibr apparatus under its jaw, I could feel the heartbeat of Adhai. Seeing it beat rapidly, I realized Adhai was currently in a state of fear.

    Why the sudden change?

    Despite the absence of any apparent threat, I didnt know why Adhai was behaving like this. While searching for the cause, Adhais mental waves touched my tentacles.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Theres nothing dangerous here. Why are you like this?)]

    Little Adult Died Because Me Adult Death Death Death

    Unsettling mental waves. After a moment of contemtion, I realized why Adhai was scared.

    Could it be because of Number 26?

    Having absorbed a considerable amount of psychic power, Number 26 possessed substantial strength. Although not yet aplete adult, it had the power to contend with most psychic beings, like the White Gagon and possibly even the next stage, the ck Gagon.

    Adhai was highly sensitive to psychic power. It might mistake 26 for a White Gagon or the next stage, a ck Gagon.

    As I pondered this, Number 26 above my head called out to Adhai.

    Little one! Its me.

    Little adult?

    Yeah.

    Seemingly having the same thoughts as me, Number 26 reassured Adhai.

    After a few minutes of conversation, Adhai, now relieved, came out from behind the rock.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Many other parts are left)]

    How big is that thing? Itll take days to eat all of it.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (It seems so)]

    By the way, can it transform? Does that mean it can be the Sea Demons adult form?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Its not perfect, but yes)]

    Sigh. It really has be a monster.

    Mother of the Sky sighed, raising her head in either admiration or disbelief. Monster, she says. She doesnt know anything. Shell be even more surprised when she sees whatsing.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Now youll be even more surprised)]

    What?

    Instead of replying, I activated the symbol of hunt.

    What?

    Mother of the Sky, who had been looking at me, lying down, widened her eyes in amazement.

    Like its name, the symbol of hunt, used for the first time since bing a Quasi-Saint, began to transform my body into an optimized form for hunting and predation..

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 137

    Chapter 137

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    Until now, I have primarily used the Symbol of Hunt as a means to acquire special traits. This is because it significantly increases the predation probability when I eat the corpses of those Ive killed. Even if I eat gic samples or corpses I didnt kill, I can only gain 0.5 traits, not theplete trait, but its still better than nothing. Plus, it can be used as transcendent material.

    However, my spection is that the original purpose of the Symbol of Hunt is not about predation probability. It is all about hunting and ughter, specializing in driving enemies, smashing them, and killing them.

    If you look at the description of the perfect organism organism, there is a sentence:

    My body is optimized for hunting ughter.

    In fact, my current body is subtly different from the appearance of a perfect organism in the game. It has a lifestyle where I have to crawl using my lower body and tail since I dont have sixbat arms and legs. The blunt ws attached all over my body are the same as in the game.

    However, the size of my body and the head armor are slightlyrger than in the game, and thebat arms are quite long. Overall, it seems to have changed to be much more advantageous inbatpared to the game.

    What if I further enhance my hunting and predation abilities?

    Although temporary, my mutated form into a better being is significantly different from before.

    Firstly, the size of my body. It seemed to have almost doubled in lengthpared to before. As evidence, even my line of sight has changed.

    After bing a prepared organism, my eye level hasnt changed much since I moved with my lower body and tail on the ground. Its roughly between 7m and 10m.

    However, now it feels like looking down from a height of 15m or more. I wonder if the Mother of the Sky in front of me might be covered by my shadow.

    Considering the length of the body, it might be simr to the Pale Mask.

    Although the change in size is the most noticeable, there were not insignificant detailed changes.

    Starting with the head, the jaw, which used to split on both sides, has be much thicker and stronger. There was now space between the jaw and the neck, allowing me to open my mouth wide like a snake. With such arge mouth, I could probably swallow a human in one gulp.

    As the jaw strengthened, the teeth also became harder, making it easier to bite through thick skin, simr to a Sea Demon.

    One significant change is that auxiliary mechanisms under the jaw are now covered with armor, providing protection.

    The auxiliary mechanisms under the jaw are considered the most vulnerable part of my body. Since they are delicate organs responsible for detection, they were not protected by outer skin or armor.

    Even in the game, this part was a major weakness.

    The armor covering the auxiliary mechanisms at the ends of the arms that emerge from my back, which looks like bone scythes, seemed to be made of the same material. It appeared shockingly sharp.

    The four des under my jaw reminded me of the appearance of the sea monster Makara in ssic SF strategy games. The de-covered auxiliary mechanisms could move freely as I wished. I could swing the des when turning my head to harvest the enemys neck, or when facing arge enemy, I could attack by biting and cutting at the same time.

    Although the auxiliary mechanisms became a new means of attack, the detection function did not decrease at all. The reason was the tiny holes scattered throughout the des of the armor.

    These were not just simple holes; they seemed to have further enhanced my already outstanding cognitive abilities. I could read the humidity in the air and even detect when it would rain.

    The eyes, covered by the head armor as before, were not visible. However, the performance of the auxiliary mechanisms had improved enough topensate for this.

    The head armor has changed a lot too.

    Before bing a prepared organism, the back of my head had transformed spectacrly, spreading out like a crown. Although the shape of the head spreading out was still the same, there were elongated spikes and sharp tes emerging sporadically on theyered armor.

    The armor covering the head seemed to be at least threeyers, greatly increasing its defense. Moreover, the addition of spikes and tes allowed me to maximize the destructive power of the previously used horn-piercing tactics and the so-called charge tactics.

    Overall, the appearance has be more menacing.

    It may not have the majestic appearance like the Mkahara, but in terms of efficiency, it wasnt bad.

    If the changes in the head were a drastic transformation, how had the body changed?

    Firstly, the back evolved in a double-covered armor simr to the head, and spikes and tes emerged between them.

    If I were to use a strategy where enemies press down on me with their weight, just like when the Pale Mask attacked me, I would undoubtedly be pierced by the spikes and tes, leading to instant death.

    And, as expected from before, a new arm with bone scythes has grown on my back. Among the eight holes covered by the whirlpool-shaped membrane, where the tentacles did not emerge, two holes were the ones where the bone scythe arms came out.

    The overall shape of the protruding bone scythe arm was simr to before. Unlike a regr arm with one joint between the humerus and radius bones, mine was longer and had an additional joint in the middle, allowing for greater freedom of movement.

    The main difference from before was that, apart from the increased size, the bone scythe attached to the end of the arm had split into two. Like pincers, bone des protruded above and below, and I could freely move them ording to my will. With the length of each bone scythe exceeding 3m, the intimidation factor was overwhelming. The sharpness and hardness had also improved significantlypared to before.

    The changes in the bone scythe arm were quite interesting, but personally, the biggest change among the transformations in my body was in the lower body.

    Since bing a prepared organism, ws mainly used for digging into the ground or moving in water when crawling or swimming have appeared all over my body.

    Those ws have turned extremely gruesome.

    If I were to grow Genie to about 50m, would it look like this? The ws that used to be a blunt and rounded shape have transformed into short leg-like forms. Thanks to numerous legs, my lower body and tail were slightly elevated from the ground.

    At this rate, my movements should be much faster.

    Moreover, the wing membrane originally only between the arms seemed to be present between the small legs as well, so I might be able to float on the water like this.

    Lastly, the upper body.

    Unlike the distinctly transformed head, back, and lower body, there were no significant changes in the upper body. Except for the fact that thebat arms had be thicker and longer. The membrane hidden between the arms had also grown, right?

    After checking the newly mutated body by moving around, the Mother of the Sky, who was in front of me, trembled.

    Evolved but you are still a Quasi-saint. What ability is this exactly?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Its my secret weapon, I cant tell you)]

    A secret weapon. Perhaps a special trait. If its a special trait, its not unreasonable to be this strong, but

    Even though there was no response, the Mother of the Sky understood on her own. She was visibly overwhelmed by my majestic appearance.

    Her neatly arranged fur stood taut, probably due to tension, and her eyes shook slightly. Additionally, I could feel her heart beating strongly through the auxiliary mechanisms.

    Even when we first met and when fighting Muriel, she never lost her dignity, but now, she seemed to fear me.

    At that moment, Numbers 26 and Adhai approached.

    The big one got even bigger?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Just grew a bit)]

    The big one can also change its body, so its just like me.

    Number 26 liked that we had something inmon. On the other hand, Adhai just stared at me nkly.

    I Adult Question

    [ZZZ ZZ (What is it?)]

    I Adult Tail Female Judgment

    [ZZZ (Huh?)]

    The little one pointed towards the back with the tip of its wings. There, my giant tail was located.

    Then, the little one pointed at my horn with its wings.

    I Judgment Error Adult Horn Many Cool I Question Adult Male? Female?

    [ZZZ (Huh?)]

    Well.

    Gagon is an animal with sexual dimorphism, so the appearance differs between males and females. In males, the horns are thick and long, while in females, the tail is plump instead of horns.

    The biggest change for me since bing a prepared organism was, without a doubt, the tail.

    I probably tried to ask whether I am male or female at that time.

    After using the symbol of hunt, my horn has grown considerably. Its about 2m long now. With this size, I surpass the ck Gagon. Its safe to say that Adhai belongs to the upper ss among its kin.

    In other words, from the perspective of Gagon, my appearance is quite peculiar. The horn isrge, and even the tail is thick.

    Still contemting how to respond to such an absurd question, Mother of the Sky answered first.

    This one is undoubtedly a male. This transformation ahem, theres no way this one could be a female.

    A male?

    Yes, a male.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (I am a male)]

    In response to my and Mother of the Skys words, Adhai nodded with a mischievous expression. The little one, who had been looking at my horn for a moment, sent a sign that it understood my words.

    I Understand Adult Male Certain

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Thats right)]

    Adult Most Cool Group Leader Possible

    [ZZZZ (Thanks)]

    Ha.

    I expressed gratitude for Adhais praise. Of course, I ignored Mother of the Skys forcedughter.

    Seems like the exnation to them isplete, so I finished the inspection I was doing.

    Now its time to carry out my original intention.

    That is, the Pale Mask predation.

    Sigh. Its a shame to use such a good skill only when predating.

    I know that the symbol of hunt is a powerful card, but its hard to avoid feeling regret every time I transform. If only it didnt have a duration of 20 minutes and a cooldown of one week, I would have actively used it in battles. Its quite disappointing.

    Maybe things will get better when I enter Transcendence Stage 2.

    The conditions for Transcendence Stage 2 are to use five fusion traits rted to different types as ingredients. Thanks to the traits Ive already acquired while exploring the swamp, Ive cleared the conditions for Transcendence Stage 2. Im just waiting for the new nest-rted fusion trait, Symbiotic Spores, to be obtained before I can proceed.

    Lets get the new nest-rted fusion trait before leaving this.

    Despite being in a somewhat damaged state, the spaceship is ready, and Numbers 26 and Adhai have all gathered. I should aim to obtain the nest-rted fusion trait until I can use Horizon of Nightmare again.

    Ill think about thatter.

    For now, its time to enjoy predation. I approached the corpses with Number 26.

    Where.

    I opened my jaw wide and bit the head of the Pale Mask. My mouth, asrge as that of a whale or a boa constrictor, tore off arge piece of Pale Masks flesh.

    Hmm.

    Is it because my jaw is reinforced, or have my teeth be stronger? When fighting this creature, it felt tough, but now, I feel the flesh melting softly in my mouth.

    This is an interesting taste.

    The marine organisms I ate here were two: Fishrian and Sea Demon. Both had unique vors, but in any case, the taste itself did not deviate from the category of seafood.

    However, the male Pale Mask meat here is different. It has a different vor, as if its closer tomb.

    Moreover, the tastees in stages.

    When I chewed it for the first time, the fat and juiciness burst forth, dominating the intense meaty vor in my mouth. As I continued to chew, unlike the beginning, it gradually changed into a smooth taste mixed with oil. Finally, it turned into a warm and sweet taste, like melted ice cream, disappearing behind my throat.

    Compared to the Sea Demon, which had a strong and natural feeling, Pale Masks meat is more straightforward. Its like the difference between a high-end seafood buffet and an American steakhouse.

    Thankfully, it tastes good even though it was difficult to catch.

    That way, Number 26 and I thoroughly enjoyed the Pale Mask meat.

    It took roughly 10 minutes to consume the creatures entire head. At the moment when I licked up thest remaining drop of brain matter, the expected text box appeared.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully acquired the Humanoid Beast trait.]

    Stolen the Humanoid Beast trait from Pale Mask.

    [Do you want to apply the Humanoid Beast trait?]

    The acquired trait was Humanoid Beast. It involved generating a parasitic creature resembling the pale face, which served as the mascot of Pale Mask. While personally useful and somewhat satisfying to obtain, there was also a sense of regret.

    I aimed for a giant creature.

    The Giant Creature trait is shared among creatures with a size of 50m or more. Acquiring the Giant Creature trait allows the use of the giant transformation ability. If I use both the Symbol of Hunt and the giant transformation, my physical abilities would be practically invincible.

    It might sound childish, but I wanted to see it at least oncethe appearance of myself transformed into a giant while using the Symbol of Hunt. Since I have to hunt the creatures belonging to Apex to evolve, and most Apex creatures arerge, there will be plenty of opportunities to obtain the Giant Creature trait in the future.

    I shrugged off the disappointment and applied the inheritance of Pale Masks legacy, the Humanoid Beast trait.

    In the vast universe spread out with infinite darkness, there were massive structures floating tens, hundreds of light-years away, emitting the only light in that space. The shape of these structures resembled refined diamonds. With a diameter of 3 km, the structure, decorated with ivory-colored hulls and gold and special metals, was astonishingly a spaceship.

    Its identity was the Imperial Battleship, a mass-produced weapon of ancient technology from the Cult Empire, known as Judicator of Damocles 08.

    Just a few thousand years ago, the Imperial Battleship was actively patrolling numerous battlefields. To uphold the Doctrine, the foundation of the cult, and enlighten countlesss and natives, the battleship had no time to rest.

    Of course, that was all in the past. For over a thousand years, the Cult Empire had been entangled in internal conflicts. Even at this moment, numerous factions were engaging in meaningless skirmishes for their political gain within the Empires assembly.

    In other words, the external wars had ceased, and internal struggles had begun.

    Since the era had changed, powerful weapons like the Empire Battleship were no longer needed. Some were retired, while others were stationed on the outskirts of the empire to perform defensive duties.

    The Empire Battleship here, Judicator of Damocles 08, was one such vessel that had avoided retirement and been driven to the periphery.

    In this remote corner where no one approached, not even monsters like Metallic Gremlins or Outsphacers, the battleships captain was repeating the usual course calctions.

    If the cult aide hadnt rushed over, it would have been just another day.

    Captain,munication from the assembly!

    If its a faction joining request, tell them weve already declined.

    No, its not that! A purification order has been passed by the assembly, and its under consideration by the Elders Council. Its expected toe down within a week at thetest, and possibly even in a few days.

    The Cult Battleship Captain, with horns resembling a yak, turned his head abruptly at the aides words.

    Purification order? Could it be an Outsphacer attack? When did this happen? Which sector is under attack? Is it such a serious issue that the entire fleet needs to be mobilized?

    Uh, no, it seems not. The Intelligence Department received information while monitoring the Star Union that the Holy Land has been contaminated. We dont know which species is responsible.

    Holy Land?

    Holy Land of Utopia 02 in of Saigil.

    Saigil, huh

    The captain was interested in various exchanges with lower intelligences and even maintained interactions with inferior intellects. Therefore, he was well aware that humans and cyborgs referred to Saigil 08 as PH-101.

    The machines knew about the contamination of the Holy Land before we did? Has the assembly also decayed to the point where they are not informed properly? Perhaps some factions are involved in filthy dealings, making money through piracy or smuggling.

    Its a disgusting smell.

    How would you like to proceed?

    In response to the assistants question, he shrugged his shoulders.

    Well, were warriors. Sacred warriors who follow the doctrine and pledge allegiance to the Cult, not a mere faction. If its an order from the Council, well have to follow it.

    Captain

    Inform all crew members. Prepare in advance.

    Understood.

    As the assistant left, the captain resumed plotting the course. In front of him, a simted space, manifested through psychic power, reappeared. However, its appearance was slightly different from before. The space in front of the captain resembled the ster system to which the PH-101 belonged.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

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 Chapter 138

    Chapter 138

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    In the continent of Utopia-02, what is the most powerful creature? The eminent schrs of the cult had once gathered and spoke about this topic.

    The king of the swamps, known in thenguage of humans as Gel Alma, possesses innate strong resistance to psychic powers, agile movements despite its size, tough exoskeleton, high intelligence, and the ability to nullify protective barriers. The cult faced formidable conditions in dealing with it.

    Its not just about the creatures strength. The swamp where the Swamp King resides is the most dangerous ce on this continent. One must face powerful monsters while enduring the toxicity of the swamp that prates even protective suits.

    If one is in their right mind, they would never set foot in the swamp.

    Fortunately, the Swamp King is a creature with an extremely strong territorial awareness. It means that it doesnt pay much attention to what happens outside its territory.

    However,

    Now, due to the mysterious visitor, thatmon sense was being shattered.

    Deep within the swamp, the Swamp King, who had been dormant, suddenly heard a sound. Although it was the first time hearing the sound, its distinctive rhythm felt oddly familiar. It resembled the sound made by the delicious prey it was fortunate enough to catch when it was young.

    The creature with four eyes resembling fireflies emerged above the waters surface to survey the surroundings.

    Give. Who

    Upon hearing the sound again, the creature became certain. A delicious prey was roaming within its territory.

    Normally, the Swamp King would hide in the swamp and ambush approaching enemies, but not this time. The intelligent Swamp King remembers. Those preys never wander alone. This time, they will undoubtedly gather in a group.

    Before otherpetitors arrive, it must go and devour them first.

    Deciding that its time for a long-awaited prey hunt, the creature with a massive body rose.

    With its pincers attached to the front of its body clicking, it moved in the direction of the preys cries, as its ten long legs diligently traversed the swamp floor.

    Whos there!

    The sound was not far away, and this time, it was clearer than before. The four eyes all pointed in the direction from which the sound flowed.

    Please I dont want to live like this!

    The sound wasing from an area with many rotten logs. It was a ce the Swamp King, burdened by its heavy body, rarely visited due to the low water level in the swamp.

    Kiii

    The creature hesitated for a moment. Is that prey really worth risking danger for?

    In a few minutes, the creatures legs began to move. The prey it remembered, those creatures with four appendages, had tender flesh and rich nutrients. Moreover, they had the habit of gathering inrge numbers. Once preyed upon, it could rx for about a month, so it couldnt afford to miss this opportunity.

    With each movement of the legs over 10 meters long, the logs were crushed.

    Dragging its hefty body, it approached a clear swamp ahead.

    Someone, please kill me!

    The one who made the crying sound was there.

    However, the form of that entity was quite different from what the Swamp King remembered. Normally, the prey would have a body with a head, torso, and four appendages. But now, the prey in front of it had lost its torso, and a sharp-toothed mouth and two white eyes were visible on a sharp-edged log.

    Moreover, familiar objects were seen next to that log.

    Heek! It came again! It came again!

    They were the corpses of Swamp Kings. Three corpses of its kin with heads and organs piercedy piled next to the log.

    Only then did the Swamp King realize that it had fallen into a trap set by an unidentified enemy.

    And the entity resembling a log spoke,

    Irel.

    The Swamp King couldnt understand the meaning, but he could understand one thing  that the sound did not bode well for him.

    ***

    Is this the fourth one with this.

    Contrary to its dull appearance, the Swamp King is a highly intelligent creature. In the setting, they never forget the smell, movements, sounds, etc., of a prey once theyve encountered it. Therefore, it likely remembers capturing and devouring the cult that arrived on this. If it were the Swamp King, it would be aware that the taste of the cult is quite delicious.

    I decided to experiment using their high intelligence. Two days ago, I acquired the Humanoid Beast trait.

    And my experiment was a sess.

    It came! I did as instructed, now kill me!

    The face attached to my back screams.

    The face looks almost identical to the MCAE pilot Ist devoured in the research base, except for being paler. The original, the parasitic organism trait of the pale mask, and the Human-Faced Beast trait applied to Aymoph arepletely different. The Human-Faced Beast in Aymophs body cannot use hypnosis or shock waves.

    Instead, it has two effects.

    One is partially copying the habits and memories of higher intelligent beings, such as humans or cultists, that I have devoured. Even if the predation effect doesnt kick in, the gic essence of the target is stored in my body. I can use the acquired genes to create a Human-Faced Beast. Unlike the parasitic organism, I can only make a Human-Faced Beast with the information of thest consumed individual.

    While the parasitic organisms ability is to reproduce the dying state of the target as it is using pheromones, the Humanoid Beast copies the memories contained in the targets genes.

    In short, think of it as a cloned human with only the head left.

    Therefore, the face attached to my back can loudly shout as if it has a self-identity. Of course, I have control over it, so I can silence it anytime if necessary.

    If mixed with the parasitic organism, it could be quite helpful in getting information.

    The Human-Faced Beast trait can be quite useful when information is needed. Although a considerable part of the memories is lost when acquiring genes, most recently remembered things are preserved.

    Thanks to this trait, I was able toplete the preparations for the departure of the research base, or the spaceship, before returning to the continent. Once my cooldown is over, I can leave this at any time by taking the spaceship.

    Anyway, in addition to the information acquisition function, the Human-Faced Beast has effects directly rted tobat.

    Sonic wave attack that paralyzes the enemy.

    If the parasitic organisms hypnosis is a kind of mazegi that seals some of the enemys skills, the effect of the Human-Faced Beast I possess is very straightforward.

    It temporarily paralyzes the enemy through sound waves. The paralysis time ranges from a few seconds to a few minutes. Even at its longest, it doesnt exceed 5 minutes.

    It may seem short, but it is not.

    It is a technique that prevents the enemy from acting for several minutes in a fight against a formidable opponent. The paralysis sonic attack of the Human-Faced Beastpletely ignores the opponents psychic resistance.

    Except for enemies without ears.

    Such enemies do not exist here. Especially the monster in front of me, resembling a mantis, the Swamp King, has very good hearing.

    Ki-i-i-i

    The four eyes attached to him wander. He is probably confused. The creature floating above the water is much smaller than him, and there are three corpses of his kin next to him.

    Whether to run away or attack, it must be a dilemma for him.

    Unlike him, Im not particrly worried. Like the three before, he will likely make the same choice.

    I waited patiently, confident that he would attack.

    Ki-i-i-i-i

    And what he chose was a middle ground between attack and retreat. It was to call corpse-eaters and have them attack first.

    White eels sprang out from under his backte and sshed into the swamp.

    Intelligent.

    So far, all three I fought either attacked head-on or turned and fled. But this one seems to be a smarter individual.

    The corpses created by the Swamp King perform attacks that ignore defense.

    As a Quasi-Saint, my carapace defense has increased significantlypared to before, but it is useless against the digestive fluid of the corpses. I responded by extracting corrosive tentacles from my back, and every time the elongated tentacles whipped the surface, the corpses roared in agony.

    Ki, Kiiii

    It seems the Swamp King thought it was worth a try since I didnt bring out other means of attack. The muchrger creature approached me rapidly.

    The two jaw arms at the front of its body creaked menacingly. It probably intends to tear off my head with those jaws. However, things wont go the way it wants.

    Maybe this is enough.

    Judging that the creature has approached a suitable distance, I initiated a genuine attack.

    I dislike ki-iiii.

    The Human-Faced Beast under my control made a grotesque sound, opening its mouth wide. A second, whirlpool-shaped mouth emerged from inside its mouth.

    From the sinister-looking second mouth, invisible ultrasonic waves were emitted.

    Ki?!

    The Swamp King, who was charging toward me, froze in its posture. It did not move an inch with its jaws wide open. Having paralyzed it, I followed up with a second attack.

    My lower body and tail, buried beneath the swamp, writhed vigorously. My hidden body, concealed underground, shattered the ground where the Swamp King stood and sprang up.

    Ki-i-i?

    The Swamp King, as heavy as the Pale Mask, was hit by my tail and briefly floated in the air. It barely managed to stabilize its body with the legs at the back.

    However, the posture had already copsed. I quickly coiled my tail and lower body around the creature.

    The Swamp Kings carapace is very tough. Even as an intermediate being, breaking its leg carapace is a limited option. Currently, the only way is to strengthen my body using the Hunting Emblem and then smash it.

    I dont necessarily have to break a leg. I just need to immobilize them.

    Confirming that the tentacles and arms firmly held the creatures legs, I began squeezing its carapace with my tail.

    Ki-i-i-i!

    The weakest part of the Swamp Kings carapace in terms of physical defense is the abdomen. Realizing that its life was in danger, the creature screamed in panic. It probably never dreamed it would be overwhelmed by arger being in its lifetime.

    The creature swung its ws at me like beating a drum, but it was inadequate to prevent the crushing death. A few minutester, the carapacepletely shattered, and the creature died, scattering its internal organs.

    For a creature known as the king of the swamp, it met quite a pathetic end. Confirming that the creatures breath had stopped, I released my grip.

    It would be nice if it floats this time.

    This marks the fourth Swamp King hunt.

    I came here to obtain materials rted to the Nest Fusion trait.

    The other creatures are in the nests Ive prepared in the forest. The reason I hunt alone is that there are only Number 26 creatures with immunity to the swamps poison. Adhyana or Sky Mother also has some resistance to poison, but not enough to pass through the swamp.

    Number 26 has high immunity, enough to swim in the swamp, but its not suitable for fighting the Swamp King. Although it has be strong enough to be close to the Seed Demon in its adult form, it cannot break through the Swamp Kings psychic resistance.

    Since there is no one among thepanions suitable for fighting, I have to hunt alone.

    Please, let it work this time.

    Ive already collected one corpse for each of my family members. If this creature exhibits the predation effect and if it manifests a trait that I need, then todays hunt will be over.

    I tore off the Swamp Kings carapace and thrust my head inside.

    Tastes good, but

    Chewing the meat with a vor reminiscent of king crab is undoubtedly enjoyable, but its already the fourth time Ive had the same food. Eating the same dish three times a day, no matter how delicious, can be monotonous.

    Struggling through it, the text box I was hoping for appeared.

    Predation effect activated! Sessfully acquired gic essence of the pincer.

    Extracted the Pincer trait from Swamp King.

    Do you want to apply the Pincer trait?

    Ah.

    Although the pincer trait is very useful inbat, it wasnt the result I wanted. I sighed internally and applied the trait.

    As the pincer trait was reflected, the shape of the two arms at the lower part of my upper body changed. Like the Swamp Kings pincers, they arerge and sturdy, but with smaller pincer hands.

    This pincer trait also inherits the Swamp Kings psychic resistance effect. Therefore, it is applied redundantly with my Psychic Reflection Gloves trait. Perhaps these pincer hands are the part of my body with the highest psychic resistance.

    A matching psychic power pincer.

    I tapped the newly formed pincer hands with satisfaction. Although the predation effect urred on the fourth try, it was still a rare urrence. Unlike in the game, Swamp Kings are not endlessly generated here.

    I wonder if there are a few more Swamp Kings left.

    There might be about two at most. If capturing the remaining creatures doesnt work, Ill have to consider devouring other creatures to obtain fusion traits.

    Since the goal is to find fusion traits rted to the transcendence second stage, I dont necessarily need to create a perfect trait.

    With my revised n, I entered deeper into the swamp. I carried the corpses of the Swamp Kings I had secured so far with the corrosive tentacles.

    And precisely 14 hourster.

    I could finally obtain the fusion trait rted to the nest.

    The Cleansing Weapon of the Cults and one of the mass-produced motherships, Judicator of Damocles 08.

    Normally, the inside of the ship, which was as vast as space, was now extremely busy due to the crew members bustling around.

    In two days, well depart, so everyone get ready!

    Hows the adjustment of the psychic engines?

    Wevepleted the adjustment to be able to operate in two days.

    Pilots who havepleted the simted training shouldnt forget about maintenance work!

    The fleet sent by the Council has expressed their intention to participate in the purification operation!

    For now, permit their participation, and the captains are requested toe to the mothership office. Theres something to discuss.

    Understood!

    The captain looked at theplicated situation room with a satisfied expression.

    Although all the crew members were moving busily, each focusing on their tasks, they all had one thing inmona vibrant expression on their faces.

    The captain always felt sorry that such talented individuals were stuck in such a remote ce, and moreover, they voluntarily followed him as war heroes. It made him feel even more guilty.

    Sigh. After this Damos 08 purification operation, I should visit my hometown.

    He felt irritation about being here due to the Councils intrigue, but it wasnt the case for his subordinates. It was nothing short of a crime to let the talents of the Empire rot away in a ce like this, especially considering that they followed him voluntarily as war heroes.

    I heard the priest of the seraph is clever. Should I go visit him?

    ording to the captains recollection, before the appearance of the priest, the Seraphim was merely a faction with a deep history but not much to draw attention. The Seraphim imed to be the supreme, ignoring the emerging powers in the universe such as Megacorp or Star Union, this made it difficult to garner support.

    Instead, the faction emphasizing exchange and enlightenment with intelligent beings, the Innovative Faction, was much stronger.

    Everything changed with the arrival of a noble from the Cult. He transformed the Seraphim into the leading faction in the Council in one go. While one might think of the Cult as only skilled in political maneuvering, surprisingly, he also excelled in military talent.

    Thanks to his excellent defense against the Outspacer invasions, he was unanimously appointed as the priest in the Council.

    The captain, having had a notable career leading Imperial fleets, was well aware of thepetence of the young priest.

    There are rumors that his rtionships with women are not good.

    There were rumors circting about him sexually abusing female ves, but the captain didnt believe them. Sessful individuals often have those who envy them.

    Well even so, just in case, before starting the operation, I should go down and check on the ves.

    A few days ago, the captain investigated information about PH-101. On one continent of the, there are Wolves maintaining a primitive level of civilization.

    If the rumors rted to the priest are true, female Wolves could be a good gift to win his favor.

    Anyway, if the purification operation begins, they will all die.

    Ironically, bing ves might be salvation for them. While the civilization they built would be extinct, living might be preferable to dying.

    I should inform the adjutant.

    Until the captains of the support fleet visit, the captain contemted how he could gain the priests favor.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

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 Chapter 139

    Chapter 139

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    It took some time, but with this, all the conditions have been fulfilled. I captured two more Swamp Kings, but the desired traits didnt appear. I had no choice but to wander through the swamp and hunt whatever came my way to gather materials for Nest Fusion traits.

    Thanks to that, it took a whopping 14 hours. Still, Ill have to console myself with the fact that I obtained good traits like the pincer-like ones.

    Big one, can we really eat just it?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Ive eaten a lot, so its okay)]

    I nodded cautiously to Number 26, who asked. Havingpleted the preparations to enter Transcendence Stage 2, I returned to the nest with the corpses of three Swamp Kings.

    This delicious food would be a waste if I ate it alone.

    When I was separated from them, I wanted them to taste this Swamp King meat.

    Swamp King, huh? Havent had it in a while.

    Me Curious This Delicious?

    It suits my taste.

    Surprisingly, it seems like the Mother of the Sky has preyed on Swamp Kings before. As far as I know, in her stage, there is no way to defend against the toxins in the swamp.

    Unless there is someones help.

    Seems like theres a story.

    The griffon looked at the corpse with a bitter expression. Judging by her appearance, I could roughly guess what happened. Presumably, her husband, the father of the Earth, must have hunted the prey and they had eaten it together.

    Unfortunately.

    She has to eat this. The flesh of the Swamp King is necessary to elevate the Wolfs sanctification stage.

    Currently, the Mother of the Sky is cooperating with me, but fundamentally, our rtionship is a contractual one. She pledged to give me everything in exchange for revenge.

    And I need a Wolf that has reached the highest stage of sanctification. Not immediately, but it might be insurance after I reach the Ascendent stage.

    I extracted a piece of flesh from the tough exoskeleton and handed it to her.

    The Mother of the Sky nced at me once and took the meat into her mouth.

    Lucky.

    Previously, when I treated her, I imnted parasites in her head. After killing Muriel, I judged that the possibility of the Mother of the Sky betraying me was very low. So, I lowered the interference stage of the parasite to the minimum, allowing her to move autonomously.

    However, the fact remains that there is a parasite in her head. Whenever I give themand, she has no choice but to obey me.

    But doing so wouldpletely ruin our rtionship. She is a quite capablebatant, and not utilizing her would be a waste.

    Until I reach adulthood, or rather, until Adhai grows into a White Gallergon, I need her cooperation.

    Tasty?

    Fairly. Just eat without asking. You should try it too.

    Affirmative.

    She chewed the meat, understanding my intention. Perhaps she was recalling her deceased family. The pumpkin-colored eyes were filled with an indescribable emotion.

    Still, there was no resentment towards me.

    Starting with the Mother of the Sky, Adhai and Number 26 also began to eat one corpse each.

    Delicious!

    Yeah!

    Adhai used her tentacles like straws to suck blood, while Number 26 tore the flesh with its tentacles and fins and put it into its body. Both seemed to enjoy the Swamp Kings meat fiercely.

    It suits their taste; thats good.

    As they just started their meal, I informed them of an important fact.

    I n to enter Transcendence Stage 2 from now on. So, Im asking them to protect me.

    I dont know if Transcendence Stage 2 will fit into the cocoon or not. Even applying the unique traits obtained through the transcendence system, such as Perfect Organism and Horizon of Nightmares, took almost as much time as regr growth. Theres a high possibility that Transcendence Stage 2 will take just as long.

    Big one, growing again?

    Me Envy Adult Growth Fast

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (If Adhai eats a lot, shell grow quickly)]

    Affirmative Me A lot Eat Eat

    Number 26 and Adhai, who already know what happens when I use the transcendence system, didnt ask separate questions.

    Already evolving? You probably havent fulfilled all the conditions for ascension yet.

    On the other hand, the Mother of the Sky has never seen me use the transcendence system.

    Come to think of it, didnt I tell her about it?

    The transcendence system wasnt part of the game. Even for a ranker like her, its not strange not to know something that didnt exist in the game.

    I briefly exined the transcendence system to her. Its a new ability thatbines multiple traits to create a single one.

    After hearing my exnation, she nodded.

    Indeed. Ive heard thatter on, dealing with too many traits bes a headache for Amorph or Outspacers.

    [ZZZ (Thats right)]

    But maybe thats your advantage.

    [ZZZ (Maybe)]

    All the yers who came to this world received one advantage each. Muriels advantage is in my possession. The Mother of the Sky also has an advantage, and I know what advantage she holds.

    It might be quite useful for a Wolf.

    Unfortunately, the advantage she holds is notpatible with mine. To be precise, it could be considered a downgraded version of Amorph. Of course, like Muriel, if I eat it, it might adapt to me. Honestly, Im curious about what would happen if I eat it, but as mentioned earlier, keeping her alive for now is more advantageous.

    In any case, she seems to understand the transcendence system as a unique advantage of Amorph. I am also half-confident about that.

    I didnt receive anything other than that from the system.

    Considering the Predator Sense and Tentacles of the Monster, they can be considered to have performance equivalent to advantages.

    Of course, the likelihood is low.

    Apart from the radical performance, its ambiguous to consider it as an advantage since it was obtained as a trait through the predatory effect. ording to what Muriel and the Mother of the Sky said, information rted to advantages came in the form of messages.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (When using this system, I will enter a cocoon)]

    Like during evolution, right? In that case, the weaknesses might be simr.

    [ZZZ ZZ (Thats right)]

    Why are you carrying a sea demon and a Gagon around?

    The griffon smiled slightly. As a former ranker, she knew well when Amorph faced the greatest crisis.

    Honestly, there was no intention to do that at all. Acquiring Number 26 initially was an act of goodwill, but as the possibility of her being a demon increased, my thoughts changed slightly. It was an undeniable fact that I thought about raising her to use for my survival.

    Adhai was clearly judged to be beneficial, so I took her in.

    But now its different.

    As I roamed the battlefield with them, a deep bond formed between us. Its almost difficult to decide immediately if asked whether I can sacrifice their lives for my own. However, I didnt tell her that fact. Its embarrassing to say it out loud, and she seemed to have sensed what I was thinking.

    After patting their heads once, I entered the burrow in the center of the nest.

    After returning from the ind to the continent, the first thing I did was to create a safe nest. I found suitablend for the nest, dug underneath, and created a massivemunal space. I dug enough tofortably amodate me, and the surrounding area was on the verge of forming a new hill made of soil.

    After digging everything out, Iid down the nest to prevent it from copsing. Thanks to the sturdy mucous, it could withstand a considerable impact unless it was too severe. The nest was created in preparation for Transcendence Stage 2.

    Iy on top of it and activated a semi-transparent text box.

    [Transcend (Stage 2): Unlocks a new type-rted trait bybining five fusion traits. The traits used as materials must all be rted to different types. Information about the new type will be unlocked.]

    [Avable trait list: Bloodsucking Tentacles (Fusion), Ghost ws (Fusion), Contaminated Fungus Organ (Fusion), Protective Color (Fusion), Variant Enhancement Virus (Fusion)]

    [Additional reward: The golden restriction imposed in Transcendence Stage 1 will be lifted.]

    [*Note: You can rece the traits used as materials for the breakthrough with other traits. Keep that in mind.]

    Good.

    As the exnation indicates, for Transcendence Stage 2, fusion traits rted to different types are needed as materials. I can choose from the traits I possess to use as consumed materials.

    In terms of physical traits, Ill use Bloodsucking Tentacles.

    After obtaining Horizon of Nightmares, the frequency of using Bloodsucking Tentacles has significantly decreased. As a mid-range deterrent weapon, Acidic Tentacles are much longer and sturdier. Therefore, it is a suitable choice for material consumption.

    Its a shame about Ghost ws, but theres no choice when thepetition is fierce.

    Thepetitors for Ghost ws are Predator Sense, Monsters Tentacles, Observer of Fear, and Psychic Reflection Gloves. Unfortunately, Ghost ws seem to be the material that needs to be used.

    Simrly, all the infection-rted traits were useful, but I chose Contaminated Fungus Organ, which is the least versatile.

    Contaminated Fungus is only effective against biological-type enemies.

    The special defense trait, Protective Color, was chosen as it has limited usability. And thest material, Variant Enhancement Virus.

    As the name suggests, Variant Enhancement Virus stimtes forced mutation in specific organisms. If I stay in the nest where this fusion trait is activated for a long time, one of the possessed traits will permanently change.

    Frankly speaking, its like a random box for traits.

    On the surface, it doesnt look bad, but in reality, this trait has negative effects as significant as its advantages. The reason is that the changing traits are entirely random, and even I, the trait user, can be affected. If unlucky, traits like Predator Sense or Monsters Tentacles might disappear, reced by something like Robust Vitality or Minification.

    If only I could designate the target for mutation.

    Unfortunately, its impossible to change traits as I wish. There were times when I didnt know this fact, and I had to create a new character.

    Because of this, I only used the Variant Enhancement Virus when fighting against yers stronger than me, especially Outspacer rankers. Since it can seal one of the opponents main or useful traits entirely, it is useful.

    However, you should be prepared to be mortal enemies with the yer who received this trait.

    I should quickly use it as a material and get rid of it.

    Afterpleting the trait check, I took another look at the materials.

    [Would you like to unlock Transcendence Stage 2?]

    Yes.

    The moment I answered the question from the unlocking text box, I lost consciousness.

    Two hours have passed since Mofupak entered evolution. Unlike Amorph, who needed to absorb nutrients as quickly as possible, there was no urgent creature here.

    So, the three leisurely enjoyed their meal for a long time.

    Middle one, not eating more?

    Ive gotten everything I can, so its okay.

    ?

    It means full Ugly friend eats less growth dyed problem ugliness deepening regret.

    Mother of the Sky had been suppressing the urge to squeeze the nagging lizards head since earlier. It was all because of the small Sea Demon, Number 26, in front of her. For some reason, the little Sea Demon had be incredibly powerful after something happened underwater. If she were to fight it one-on-one, she would have to endure significant bleeding.

    So, she kept quiet, but Number 26 pulled out his tentacles and hit Adhais head.

    Dont tease the middle one.

    I actually said ugly truth.

    After getting hit in the head, Adhai retaliated, and Number 26 swung its tentacles again. This time, the target was not Adhai but Redwood nearby. When the tentacles hit the tree with a diameter of several meters, it easily split as if it were a ripe fruit.

    Mother of the Sky and Adhai were astonished to see centuries-old giant trees falling after being hit by the small tentacles. 26mented,

    Noisy.

    Agree I made a mistake silence.

    Number 26s terrifying power made Adhai immediately quiet down. Mother of the Sky internally adjusted her assessment of Number 26s danger. She considered it a formidable opponent who might cause fatal injuries rather than just significant bleeding.

    I thought Sea Demons were supposed to be quiet.

    Although Sea Demons were intelligent beings, they were treated as quasi-boss-level creatures due to their ferocity. They never stopped killing any creatures entering their territory until everything was dead. Once marked by them, you had to worry about Sea Demon attacks every time you entered the sea.

    While Number 26 had a personality almost like an angelpared to regr Sea Demons, it was not entirely docile. At least, it seemed strict when it came to hierarchy issues.

    As Mother of the Sky was lost in thought, Number 26 suddenly called her.

    Middle one, I have something to ask.

    Huh?

    Little one, have you ever been a mother?

    The griffin with the head of a man with a mangrove thought for a moment. She was named to match her departed husbands name. The wolves on this continent referred to them as the Father of the Earth and the Mother of the Sky,bining them as the parents of all beings.

    But what should I say in response to this?

    Although they married and formed a family, she had not experienced childbirth. For some unknown reason, they had not been able to have children. So, Mother of the Sky raised the indigenous wolves like her own children. Both she and the wolves called each other mother and child in this context.

    Embarrassing, but yes. Ive yed the role of a mother.

    Wow! Middle one, youre amazing!

    Number 26 sparkled at her words. The innocent reaction of the little one made her awkwardly avert her gaze. Then, Number 26s following question made her even more ufortable.

    I have something Im curious about!

    What is it?

    How are babies made?

    What?

    For a moment, Mother of the Sky thought the pink slime in front of her was joking. In fact, despite the serious reaction of Number 26, it seemed like a joke. However, Adhai also chimed in.

    I curious I adult know want.

    As Adhai oftenmunicated as a synesthete, the Mother of the Sky often received direct impressions of what she was thinking. ording to her feelings, Adhais statement was 100% sincere.

    With 2Number 6s serious reaction and Adhais curiosity, the situation became so perplexing that Mother of the Sky remained silent.

    Even though she seemed in a bad mood while saying that, Mother of the Sky was not well-versed enough to know the Sea Demons method of expressing emotions in detail. Moreover, she was too flustered by the questions of these two small monsters to even think about Number 26s feelings.

    Are they asking me to give sex education to Sea Demon and a Gagon?

    As far as she knew, Sea Demons and Gagons were creatures in the game whose methods of reproduction were not disclosed. Furthermore, the fact that Sea Demons had bodily fluids was something she learned for the first time after seeing Number 26.

    Adhai seems like a female no. Leaving that aside, can Sea Demons also give birth to offspring?

    That, um

    That? I curious curious.

    Seeing these two sincerely interested in reproductive activities, Mother of the Sky felt her mind fading. While pondering what to say exactly, she sensed something with her extraordinary eyes and looked into the dense forest. Her highly developed sense of detection, as well as her ears and nose, moved fiercely ording to the owners will.

    Wait.

    Wait?

    Oh no! Enemies!

    Both Number 26 and Adhai immediately reacted to her emotions. They quickly dispersed and hid behind trees and rocks in the vicinity.

    Enemies? Bad guys came?

    I not visible enemies where?

    Its quite far from here, but they mighte this way.

    Except for the Amorph, who was underground in a cocoon, she was the monster with the most outstanding detection abilities in this ce. She could sense that there were fully armed cult warriors several kilometers away. They were moving as if searching for something, meticulously searching through the forest.

    You should be able to sense them too. Focus.

    Got it. Ill try.

    Concentrate.

    Cultists emitted a powerful psychic power due to their racial characteristics. Sea Demons and Gallergons were the most sensitive creatures to psychic power. Even if they were far away, they could detect it sufficiently.

    As expected, Number 26 and Adhai quickly detected the mysterious cultists.

    Amorph um, Big One cant move yet. Its in the middle of evolution.

    Thats right. Big One said not to touch it when its growing.

    Affirmative We enemies intrusion defense.

    Mother of the Sky looked at Number 26 and Adhai with a serious gaze.

    Yes. We have to stop them.

    Her words were short, but the two small monsters immediately understood the meaning behind them.

    Their most beloved being was in danger.

    Purple mes flickered in Number 26s body and Adhais eyes.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 140

    Chapter 140

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    The intense smell woke me up. As soon as I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the sharp scent of chemical agents. It was so strong that it irritated the apparatus beneath my chin.

    Where am I?

    Upon opening my eyes, I saw numerous tubes resembling ancient catbs in a darkmunal space. Green ss tubes, hundreds, if not thousands of them, wereid out inside, resembling some kind of ancient burial ground rather than a research facility.

    Why am I here?

    When I transcended into the astral state, and then from astral to transcendent, I experienced visions. The former involved a meeting with Amorph, while thetter was a fantasy involving memories from my childhood. Both were different kinds of illusions, but they were based on elements I had seen or stored in my memory. However, this ce was apletely unfamiliar space, not encountered in reality or any game.

    Moreover, there were no such urrences during transcendence.

    Is the second stage of transcendence different from the first? Does disying hallucinations during evolution mean that it enhances ones growth?

    It might be an unfamiliar ce in my memory but could be an important clue.

    After all, theres plenty of time until transcendence isplete. I approached one of the nearby ss tubes.

    Inside, it was filled with a viscous green chemical substance. The liquid was so opaque that it was impossible to see what was inside, but the apparatuss assessment was different.

    Theres something inside that liquid.

    I brought my face close to the experiment tube. As the slender apparatus was about to touch the surface of the tube, themunal space I stood in changed to a white space in an instant. The ss tube in front shattered, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

    Instead of the harsh chemical scent, a familiar antiseptic smell permeated, and the sound of life support devices measuring a patients vital signs echoed. I knew where this was. But what caught my attention more than anything was what I had seen a moment ago.

    What was that just now?

    Before the experiment tube disappeared, the object inside was briefly exposed. It was the offspring of some creature, strangely familiar but unidentifiable.

    If you hadnt taken them that day, this wouldnt have happened!

    A sudden scream, as if trying to erase my thoughts.

    Two adults with unseen faces argued in the corridor in front of the hospital room.

    Are you ming me for that? Do you know whos paying the expensive medical bills?

    Huh. Medical bills? You dont even care about the kid.

    What?

    All that cuteness for the camera or for our lovely child is just an act. Have you ever hugged our child at home?

    Their conversation was filled with the same arguments I had heard since childhood. They always fought with the same repertoire.

    But now, theres something more important than that.

    The experimental subject I saw earlier, it was undoubtedly simr to Amorphs hatchling.

    Not entirely the same, though.

    The number of arms and the absence of auxiliary devices were quite different from the Amorph I knew. The creatures arms were less developed than Amorphs hatchling, and there were no auxiliary devices under its chin.

    As I contemted the creature, the half-open door of the hospital room in front of me revealed a child. The child had their face tightly wrapped in bandages. Seeing that sight, a memory suddenly shed.

    Ah, was it back then?

    The hallucination I was witnessing was one of the pivotal moments in my life. Recalling that fact, I could no longer continue thinking about the experimental creature.

    It was the day I realized that what was once a precious gift in my household had be a burden.

    Whether the nurse saw the child or not, the child closed the door as I unconsciously reached for the doorknob. The moment my fingers touched the doorknob, my consciousness once again plunged into darkness.

    In a forest in the Seintopia 02 continent, despite being daytime, it was quite dark due to the giant redwoods that rivaled high-rise buildings. The dense branches and leaves obscured the light.

    In the midst of this dark forest, there was a group of individuals. A total of 10 people, all wearing reinforced suits that covered their entire bodies, adorned with special symbols on top.

    The symbol, a purple diamond within an ivory triangle, was the emblem of the Warriors, the military force of the Cult race.

    True to their name, they carried various types of weapons, from melee weapons like axes, knives, and spears to long-range firearms like bows, rifles, and guns. They also had alloy shields, shield activation devices, medical kits, and other defense and support equipment.

    The Cult Warriors always prepared thoroughly to handle any enemy they might encounter. Therefore, they were excessively armed to easily deal with any adversary they might face.

    Heres Warrior Chief Lice. What about your side?

    [This is Edrin. The vige has beenpletely razed. There are no survivors.]

    Again? What in the world is happening? How about the other viges?

    [This is Oi. I checked the memory site, but nothing came up.]

    This Warrior group, affiliated with the Imperial gship Damos 08s Adjudicator, hade down in advance under the captains confidential orders before the purification operationmenced.

    The order was to capture and bring back the native Wolves before the purification operation began. However, despite having arrived on the continent where the Wolves reside hours ago, not a single Wolf was found.

    Could it be that we were detected?

    Thats unlikely. Detecting the Imperial gships warp navigation by primitive tribes is impossible.

    What about the structures of those monkeys wandering outside the? Could that be the cause?

    We havent confirmed any intelligence indicating that MegaCorp is coborating with the Wolves on this. Its currently unknown, so refrain from making assumptions.

    Yes, sir!

    For now, Edrin, Oi, continue your search since we have time.

    [Understood, Warrior Chief.]

    Yes.

    We willmence the fleet bombardment in six hours. Investigate until two hours remain, and if nothing is found, return.

    Warrior Chief Lice pressed the button on his helmet to terminate the telepathic link. The helmet he wore was quite different from the reinforced headgear worn by primitive tribes.

    Though it shared the same front-face protection, the Cults helmets had gaps around the ipital region due to the horns adorning their heads. Additionally, the helmets had built-in shield and telepathy functions. Thanks to the internal devices,munication with allies at a distance was possible without the need for specialmunication devices.

    However, the drawback was the significant mental energy consumption, making it impractical to keep the telepathy function always active.

    Beside him, the submander warrior, Isabel, approached.

    Warrior Chief, have we still not found anything?

    Its iprehensible. Its as if someone swept away all the Wolves. Why would anyone do such a thing?

    Initially, he considered the possibility of piracy, but Lice deemed it unlikely. Wolf ves were not as valuable as the pirates would target. In ces where the Cult had some presence among their variouss, obtaining Wolves was easy and inexpensive.

    If the Wolves on this were not unique, capturing other creatures would bring in much greater profits. For example, rare predators like Gel Armana in the swamp or the horned king, Manuk Arma, in the volcanic zone.

    By the way, the creatures known as Manuk Arma, called Hound Gargants by humans, were living perfectly well. Before Lice and the Warriors arrived in this forest, they had checked the Wolf settlement near the territory of those creatures.

    Didnt the captain, who usually detests the ve system, order to bring the Wolves? Dont the natives get dried up without them? Looks like theres something for the Wolves to eat here.

    Laughter escaped from the helmets of the other warriors next to her at her innuendo. Seeing that, Lice furrowed his brows.

    Isabel, being the vicemander, your statement is not only disrespectful to the captain but also denies the order of the Cult. Exercise restraint.

    Oh, I-I apologize!

    In response to Lices cold words, Isabel quickly lowered her head. The other warriors also immediately stopped theirughter, following Isabels lead.

    Seeing this, Lice clicked his tongue.

    Seems like youve all had enough rest. Lets get moving again.

    Yes, sir!

    Despite the displeasure of theirmander, the Warriors efficiently picked up their equipment and stood up. Their well-coordinated movements showcased their highly trained warrior skills.

    However, even as Lice watched his well-trained subordinates, he couldnt shake off the dissatisfaction. He knew why the captain of the Imperial gship sent them to this, going so far as to break his beliefs. It was to prepare a gift to present to the leaders of the Cult in exchange for the future of his subordinates.

    To think that these young warriors, vibrant in their blue uniforms, were making jokes without understanding the captains noble intentions. Lice was filled with frustration.

    I guess Ill have to start from scratch when I get back.

    As Lice contemted how to manage his subordinates, the Warrior group continued deeper into the forest.

    There were asional encounters with Wood Devils or Night Stalkers, but the Warriors remained unfazed. They were seasoned soldiers and a proficient regr army. Unless they encountered a predator like Manuk Arma, there was no creature on this continent that could pose a threat to them.

    Moreover, their Soul Link, a psychic power technique connecting their visions, made surprise attacks ineffective.

    Thus, under the leadership of Lice, the Warrior group continued searching for the Wolves somewhere in the depths of the forest.

    About 30 minutes into their renewed journey, Lice, leading at the forefront, meticulously inspected even the small traces between rocks and branches to not miss any signs.

    While continuing their journey, something unfamiliar caught his eye. Among thick trees, he spotted a pink balloon. To get a closer look, he tried to use the psychic power technique of irvoyance, but by the time he prepared the technique, the balloon had disappeared.

    Warrior Chief?

    All ten members present here shared their vision through Soul Link. Lice intended to inquire with his subordinates about what he had seen.

    At that moment,

    Ugh?!

    Uugh!

    Lice and the warriors abruptly grasped their helmets at the unexpected noise. The duration of the noise was very short, but the moment it continued, it was so loud and dissonant that it made their minds feel distant. One warrior even kneeled due to dizziness.

    Seeing this, Lice immediately gave orders.

    Permission to use universal kits! Since we dont know what impact the noise had on our minds, inject yourselves with the antidote and psychic defense immediately!

    Upon hearing themand, the warriors quickly opened their medical kits and took out syringes from them. Lice, like his subordinates, retrieved a syringe and injected it into his thigh.

    What was that just now?

    I dont know. Vice-Commander Isabel. Confirm the abnormal signs of the warriors.

    Yes, Warrior Chief.

    They waited in that spot for about five minutes. Some warriors had blooding out of their eyes and ears, but other than that, there were no specific injuries.

    We dont know when the enemy might appear. Be meticulous and check even the small things so that nothing is overlooked.

    Understood!

    The warriors, now more tense than before, assumed a cautious posture and proceeded through the forest with careful movements.

    About five minutes into their renewed journey, Lice suddenly felt something odd.

    Its too quiet.

    Until the noise incident urred, asional sounds of Wood Devils attacking or birds chirping were heard. But now, there was nothing at all. It was as if the entire forest had died.

    The only sounds were the footsteps and breaths of the warrior group present here.

    Lice wasnt the only one having such thoughts. The difort mixed with the breath sounds of the other warriors.

    As an unknown anxiety began to creep over the warrior group, suddenly, one warrior started shooting with the purple spray gun he was holding.

    Since their vision was shared through Soul Link, Lice could know what the subordinate was shooting at. The target was a tree about several dozen meters away from them.

    And there was nothing on the tree.

    T..the e..eyes..the.eyeshiiik!

    What eyes? What eyes are you talking about?

    The pink one, its still Hiik?!

    Despite Lices repeated questions, the warrior only kept uttering the words eyes and pink.

    Unable to get more information, Lice reluctantly took a sedative from his kit and administered it forcefully.

    The sedative developed by the cult was highly effective in calming soldiers who fell into panic states during war. The vision of a warrior who received the sedative became blurry, and the trembling of the body stopped. However, despite the strong sedative effect, shadows still lingered on his face.

    Feeling calmer now?

    Yes.

    What did you see a moment ago?

    The warrior shivered again in response to his question, but this time, he didnt fallpletely into a panic state. Despite trembling with fear, he tried hard to convey information.

    I-I know its hard to believe, but there was a monster that looked like a balloon.

    A balloon?

    At first, I thought I saw it wrong, but suddenly, numerous eyes grew on its body, and it stared at me.

    A monster resembling a balloon. Lice recalled what he had seen before the deafening noise erupted.

    No way.

    Ill check the vision! The rest of you, dont let your guard down Huh?

    While checking the vision of the warriors once again through Soul Link, Lice realized that one of them was missing.

    There were supposed to be 10 people present, including him, but currently, only 8 visions were confirmed.

    Koshei? Wheres Koshei?

    Uh, behind me huh? He was behind me just a moment ago.

    The warrior guarding the rear suddenly realized that his colleague, who should have been behind him, had disappeared.

    Amidst the confusion caused by the subordinates strange mental state, it became apparent that one person was missing.

    Isabel, contact the battleship.

    Yes?

    Our squad is under attack.

    U..understood!

    Lices words were urate.

    Somewhere in the forest, unidentified beasts lurked. Their assault had already begun.

 Chapter 141

    Chapter 141

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    The Cosmic Bolt charging is 25%plete!

    Situation room of the Judicator of Damocles 08.- The imperial battleship

    The main gun, Cosmic Bolt, on the Imperial battleship was in the midst of preparations for firing. In the center of the situation room, various information such as the charging status of the Cosmic Bolt and the targets to be hit were visualized and floating.

    The cultists in the situation room used psychic powers to output or modify the information they needed for their missions as images. Unlike humans, cultists were proficient in the use of psychic powers, enabling them to swiftly handle tasks that were difficult to solve withputers alone.

    Stand by after charging isplete.

    Understood.

    The captain clenched his fist while observing the reinforced ss in front of the situation room. Beyond the ss was the blue, Saigel-08.

    The sacred ce designated by the Cult Council was unbelievably beautiful, considering the contamination it supposedly suffered. Perhaps it was not toote.

    But we cannot ignore it.

    Contamination, as regted by the Cult Council,es in various forms: nests of the Outspacers, secret gatherings of Vortex One followers, and more. Though each has a different form, they pose lethal threats to the security of the Cult Empire.

    Thats why we came here.

    The Cosmic Bolt, the absolute weapon embedded in the Imperial battleship, is highly effective in such purification operations. This weapon, utilizing dark matter and the heart of the ck Gallergon as an energy source, can incinerate the entire surface of a in a short period.

    The atmosphere inside the disappears, and all water, including the oceans, evaporates. In short, any, no matter how lush, bes an uninhabitable wastnd in an instant if struck by the Cosmic Bolt.

    Theres about four hours left until theunch.

    Currently, the battleship is deploying ground forces to Saigel-08. The mission is to capture the Wolf natives on the captains orders.

    Captain, amunication from the battleship fleet. No traces of Megacorp or Star Union in the vicinity.

    We destroyed the Megacorp satellite, but we cant be sure. Maintain maximum vignce until the purification mission ispleted.

    Upon the subordinates report, the captain began issuing instructions again, dying thoughts about the ground forces for a moment.

    Commander Race! Telepathy is not working!

    Nonsense!

    Race urgently pressed the button on his helmet to activate the telepathy function. However, no matter how long he waited, there was no connection. Not only with the battleship but also with other ground forces on the same continent.

    Damn!

    He tried several times, but all attempts failed.

    Psychic power technology, including telepathy, may seem all-powerful, but it is not. There are ways to neutralize various psychic power technologies, including telepathy. For example, jamming devicesmonly used by cult warships.

    Large warships like the Imperial battleship are equipped with devices that interfere with the enemys telepathy or psychic power usage. Using ck Silver, a material resistant to superhuman abilities, these devices can temporarily neutralize the cults psychic powers.

    Jamming? No, if that were the case, chaos would have erupted outside the by now. The battleship has equipment to detect and counteract jamming devices. If its not jamming equipment, then theres only one possibility.

    Theres a psychic organism among the enemies!

    Powerful psychic beings like ck Gagons or Red Gagons, proficient in psychic abilities, can disrupt psychic powers even more effectively than jamming devices.

    But there shouldnt be psychic organisms on this continent

    Of course, looking at the entire, there are predators known as Lama Volteksion, which humans call Sea Demons.

    However, this is the middle of the continent. Its unlikely that deep-sea monsters woulde up this far.

    Commander, what should we do?

    Hama, is Memory Sight possible?

    Ill try. Just wait Huh? Oh, why isnt it working?

    Memory Sight is a support-type psychic power that can read the past of a location. Hama, a cult member with goat horns among the warriors, was a specialist in Memory Sight, but even she was of no help now.

    Not just telepathy

    Races ordered his subordinates to conduct a few experiments. It was to confirm whether the use of psychic power techniques was entirely impossible for all of them.

    Unfortunately or fortunately, only support-type techniques like telepathy and Memory Sight were unusable.

    Their weapons and reinforced suits still worked well, unlike when they were jammed.

    However, fighting against mysterious enemies immune to specific psychic power techniques posed many problems. Information about the enemies was scarce, and they had a limited time.

    In a few hours, the would turn into a sea of mes, and they needed to leave before that.

    In the end, Races chose to abandon the mission.

    Its dangerous to move forward without knowing the identity of the enemy. Everyone, retreat to the transport ship.

    He knows why the captain ordered them to capture Wolff. If arge number of casualties urred during the mission, it would go against the captains intentions.

    Isabel, cover the rear. Jenner, support Gary, and Hamine, get the Purple Spray gun.

    Eight members of the warrior squad moved swiftly at Racesmand. There was no wasted movement, typical of those ustomed tobat.

    However, they also knew.

    One member missing, and another mentally unstable. Two casualties even before encountering the enemy.

    Despite their agile movements, a sense of unease lingered in their eyes.

    Having exchanged positions with the formation, the warrior squad began to retreat toward the transport ship.

    The distance to the transport ship would take about an hour to cover at a slow pace. If they ran halfway, they could reach it in about 30 minutes.

    Races and the warrior squad moved at a rapid pace while remaining vignt of their surroundings.

    An hour passed.

    Reality betrayed Races expectations.

    What, what is this?!

    Wwhat happened?

    The cult warriors were trained to maintainposure at all times. Since psychic powers were greatly influenced by mental states, maintaining stable mental conditions was crucial.

    However, the warriors were half-heartedly shouting and panicking.

    But Races couldnt me them. He wanted to scream too but barely held back.

    In front of them was a burnt tree.

    An hour ago, it was the tree Gary shot with the Purple Spray gun.

    They had moved for an hour toward the transport ship, only to return to the initial escape location.

    Isabel, is there a possibility of a malfunction in the direction detection system?

    As you may know, its impossible. The chance of simultaneous failure of all systems here is very low.

    Damn it.

    Races bit his lip to calm himself down. Was it the stench of blood and the sharp pain filling his mouth that helped him? He struggled to understand the situation somehow.

    Lets think calmly.

    The warrior squad is experts in pursuit. Isabels level is exceptionally high. Even if a machine is malfunctioning, the probability of her getting lost is very slim.

    So, is there a possibility that we are experiencing hallucinations?

    I believe the likelihood is low. There is no creature on this continent capable of inducing hallucinations simultaneously in nine cult members.

    Isabel denied it, but Races had a different opinion. He thought it was impossible to deceive nine experienced warriors unless it was a hallucination.

    As he looked at the faces of the warriors, he felt his hair stand on end.

    Behind the warrior facing him,

    There were two pumpkin-colorednterns.

    Hamine!

    Yes?

    The moment she turned her head, the beak of an eagle with pumpkin-colored eyes bit her neck. The creature that instantly broke her neck carried Hamine and leaped into the opposite thicket.

    Commence firing!

    Damn! What is that?!

    Kill it!

    The warriors, btedly aiming their weapons at the creature, unleashed a barrage. Purple spray gun mes and psychic rifle projectiles rained down on the thicket.

    The merciless assault of the warriors ceased as soon as Races raised his hand. At his gesture, Isabel approached the chaotic thicket.

    Contrary to expectations, there were no enemy bodies or even bloodstains.

    The creature had disappeared without a trace, without any sign of injury.

    Seeing Isabels dark expression, Races gritted his teeth. Two casualties had already urred due to an ambush by an unknown creature.

    No. Lets consider encountering it as afort.

    He had seen the opponents appearance a while ago. It was a very brief moment, but Races remembered the creatures appearance urately.

    The creature resembled a bird of prey with golden fur on its head. It was about 3 to 4 meters in size, with pumpkin-colored eyes.

    It has well-developed front legs and is very agilepared to its size. Its beak is sharp enough to tear through reinforced suits.

    Hmm. Its an unfamiliar creature. Its specs seem simr to Red Mist, but

    Yes. It might possess hallucination abilities like Red Mist. If we pay attention to that aspect, we should be fine.

    Agreed. I fought with Red Mist before with Jenner.

    Isabel, Warrior of the Subjugation Squad, is correct.

    In this situation, Races deliberatelyid out information he knew as if listing them. Isabel also understood the chiefs intention and yed along.

    Feares from the unknown. Just knowing what kind of enemy they are facing can provide significantfort to allies.

    ording to Races judgment, the expressions of the warriors improved significantlypared to a while ago. Where fear had retreated, the spirit had taken its ce.

    If we capture that creature, the hallucination guing us should be lifted. Lets track it down.

    Yes!

    Races, apanied by energized warriors, followed the traces left by the monster with an eagle head.

    Surprisingly, for arge predator, the creature left almost no traces. There were no footprints, and tracking using psychic power techniques like Memory Sight was impossible.

    Fortunately, among the warriors, there was Isabel, a master tracker. Through the direction of fallen weeds and the shallow scent left by the creature, she determined where it had gone.

    The warriors moved along with Isabels guidance. Everyone was tense, and when she suddenly raised her hand, they all held their breath and lowered their waists.

    In her sight shared through Soul Link, the creature appeared. The creaturey on arge tree branch. Hamines body was not visible, and it was unclear where she had put it.

    That damn thing!

    Races felt a surge of anger inside him at the nonchnt attitude of killing one cult member. Of course, he wasnt an infant to express his anger openly.

    Instead, he carefully pulled apound bow from his back.

    Resembling apound bow, the bow was a special device that shot arrows made of psychic power. It didnt require separate arrows but consumed the users psychic power. Unlike a sniper rifle, it made almost no sound, making it highly efficient for surprise attacks or sniping.

    He quietly pulled the bowstring. Just as he was about to release his fingers, the creature turned its head, meeting his gaze.

    The look that chased so quickly was unexpected. Races, who judged that the creature was confused, inwardly called for a triumph.

    Monster! Die!

    Fingers dropped, and an invisible arrow was fired. Races believed that the arrow made of psychic power would pierce the creatures eyes without a doubt.

    However, once again, reality disappointed his expectations.

    The invisible arrow couldnt reach the creature and disintegrated midway. It was because an invisible shield, like the arrow, enveloped the creatures body.

    What is this?!

    The creature didnt react even though it was attacked. It just stared at Races and his group.

    From the creatures eyes, he read some emotion. It wasnt surprise or a sense of danger.

    Instead, it was a feeling of pity,passion, or sympathy, as if saying, Now youre in big trouble.

    Why in the world?

    In a series of iprehensible events, something happened that defied his understanding.

    Chief, in front of there

    Through Isabels vision, he could see what she was seeing.

    Under the tree where the eagle-headed monstery.

    A balloon appeared in a ce where there was none just moments ago.

    It was the pink balloon Races had seen before the noise incident. Garyshi, supported by Jenner, screamed in horror when he saw the balloon.

    Its, its that! Hes back!

    Was that a signal?

    Uninterpretable waves emanated from the balloon that was there a moment ago.

    ?  !

    Along with the ominous waves like a stormy sea, the balloon, or whatever it was, began to squirm and change.

    The warriors heads, focused below, gradually lifted upward. At the same time, their eyes widened to the point of tearing.

    As much as the position where the eagle-headed monstery, what had be as huge as that began to observe them with countless eyes.

    A pink balloon? It was absurd. What was in front of Races wasnt a creature that could be described with such a cute word.

    He knew a simr being to that creature. He hadnt encountered it directly, only seen it in the creature data provided duringbat simtionsthe legendary monster.

    Originally, the creature, simr to that being, was called Rama Volteksion in the cultsnguage, meaning the devil of the sea. It was also known as the sea demon in Megacorp and StarUnion, revered and feared.

    The presence, which should never be seen here, disguised itself in the form of a balloon in this deep forest.

    Only now did Races realize everything, and the only words he could utter were:

    Its using camouge!

    !

    The moment he shouted, the giant tentacles wielded by the sea devil covered the Subjugation Squad.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

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 Chapter 142

    Chapter 142

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    As soon as I regained consciousness, I felt the fluids surrounding my body. It was a sensation simr to amniotic fluid, both watery and warm. I tried to move my arms, but it seemed like I was paralyzed; not a muscle twitched. My entire body felt dull, as if I had been heavily medicated, perhaps like taking a massive dose of painkillers.

    It seems the transformation isntplete yet

    I quickly assessed and understood the situation. Although I couldnt see due to the inability to move my eyelids, my body was still in a state of gradual transformation within the pod, undergoing various chemical processes.

    About an hour or two left, roughly,

    I estimated. Normally, I would take this time to rest, but something felt off. There was a sense of urgency, as if I had witnessed something important before my memories became hazy.

    It was definitely something important.

    I tried to recall, but my efforts were in vain. Frustration built up as the memory refused to resurface.

    Let it go,

    I decided to cut off my attempts forcibly.

    Lets see what the others are up to.

    To alleviate the frustration umting in my mind, I directed my attention to those on the surface. Focusing my auxiliary sensors to detect events outside the pod, I realized that my ability to sense activities on the surface was limited during the evolutionary process.

    And on the surface, there was no one. All I could sense was the sturdy exoskeleton of the Swamp King.

    Where did everyone go?

    I questioned. The most vulnerable moments for me were during evolution and when utilizing the transcendence system. So, before entering the second stage of transcendence, I had asked the others to watch over me.

    Strange as it may sound to say this with my own mouth, my rtionship with them wasnt bad. Number 26, with whom I had spent the longest time, was reliable, and Adhai admired me. I, too, tried to avoid things they disliked as much as possible. If they had specific preferences, I wanted to fulfill them to the best of my ability.

    The Mother of the Sky was a bit ambiguous, but as she had her goals, the likelihood of betrayal was low. If she intended to betray me, she would have done so as soon as I entered the pod. The possibility of them leaving without any reason was unlikely. In this case, there was only one exnation.

    There must be some danger around.

    It was evident that they had left to eliminate threats that could harm me. As I pondered what could pose a danger to me in this location, the first thought that came to mind was the Hond Gigrant couples.

    Although their habitat was quite distant from here, ever since they devoured the piratesst time, they had been venturing into the forest. Perhaps they developed a taste for human and cultist flesh, considering it a delicacy.

    They intentionally made a nest in a safe ce, so its probably not them.

    Other potential threats, like the rescue team from the Abyssal Research Base, were also unlikely. My nest was far from the base, making it improbable for them to reach me.

    Or could it be Muriels colleagues?

    I had heard rumors when interrogating Muriel that there were yers supporting her. She had sent out rescue requests that were ignored before her demise.

    Ive erased traces as much as possible.

    The fact that they were cautious about me could be easily deduced from the detailed conversation Muriel had shared. Still, just to be sure, I tidied up the traces I had left as much as possible before leaving the campsite.

    Artificial structures and weapons were either incinerated or buried underground before leaving the camp.

    There might be traces of the cruiser that was hit and exploded, but with that alone, finding my nest would be nearly impossible.

    My nest is underground.

    On the off chance that yers discovered my nest using technology I wasnt aware of, even that was hard toprehend.

    If they really had found the nest, I would have been dead already.

    If there were two yers of Muriels caliber or higher, they could easily handle Number 26, Adhai, and the Mother of the Sky. It had been more than five hours since I entered the pod, so there was time even after the situation concluded.

    Therefore, the fact that I was still alive meant that the yers didnt directlye. It had to be an adversary at a level where they could engage with the kids.

    In the end, back to square one.

    It seemed that I would have to check things out as soon as the transformation wasplete.

    The Mother of the Sky is a ranker.

    She might not have an outgoing personality, but she had experience running arge n and leading raids for boss-level creature hunts.

    She led the subjugation of a pseudo-boss creature, Sea Demon, participated in the Vortex Zone expedition, and more.

    Despite boasting about having experienced all sorts of battles, what she was witnessing now was very surreal.

    ***

    Aaah!

    Everyone, run!

    A Sea Demon, grown over 10 meters, was indiscriminately massacring cult warriors in the middle of the forest. Every swing of its thicker-than-logs tentacle erased the upper halves of cult warriors, and whenever eye-shaped patterns on its body glowed, cultists bled profusely from their eyes and ears.

    Their leader died on the spot when encountering the Sea Demon, struck by its tentacle. Twisted like a caught butterfly on a, she perished.

    Deploy shields! Deploy shields!

    A female cult member shouted, managing to evade the tentacle. As she, the second-highest warrior after the leader, urgently deployed the shield, others followed suit.

    However, shields were meaningless against a Sea Demon adept at manipting psychic power as much as Gallergon.

    WWere going to ddiee?!

    One warrior, who boldly jumped out while covered by a shield, abruptly stopped mid-air. Then, his arms, legs, and waist began to move against his owners will.

    Kuuaaah!

    Is this how it feels to watch someone pull off an ants leg? The warrior, bound by the Sea Demons restraint with fiveyers stacked, soon saw not only his limbs but also his upper and lower body separate.

    Useless uaaah!

    Meanwhile, another warrior hit by the Sea Demons thick tentacle was sent flying and impaled on a tree. With his neck twisted in a strange direction, he blinked a few times before ceasing all movement.

    To anyone, it was clearly a horrific scene of ughter.

    Yet, what made the Mother of the Sky seem surreal was the shockwaves emitted by Number 26 whenever it attacked the cultists.

    Bad humans! Bad humans!

    Aaah!

    Who dares to hit the middle child!

    Heeek!

    With every scream, Number 26 repeated the phrase bad humans, mercilessly ughtering the cultists. This was because it couldnt distinguish between cultists and humans.

    Damn it! Block those tentacles!

    In response to the female cultistsmand, two cultists with harpoon-like weapons stepped forward.

    Oh no!

    Seeing this, the Mother of the Sky quickly descended from the tree.

    The shot by the harpoon-like gun had a tightening effect the moment it hit the prey. It alone couldnt prate the Sea Demons tough exterior, but the cults was made of ck silver.

    If its ck silver, Number 26 might get hurt!

    If Number 26 suffered even a little, the currently dormant monster would surely not be pleased.

    However, what she feared didnt happen.

    The moment the touched him, Number 26s body shrank suddenly, transforming into a small balloon-like shape. The reduced creature effortlessly avoided the and grew back, swinging its tentacles again.

    One cultist who shot the barely dodged it, but another one was hit by the tentacle, and his upper body flew away.

    The surviving cultist wore a relieved expression, but he wasnt out of the woods yet. Rocks and metal shards on the ground trembled before swiftly flying into his face.

    He, too, ended up following the same path as hisrades, his face riddled with holes.

    Thats ruthless.

    Despite its childlike tone, Number 26 fought exceptionally well, reminiscent of a Sea Demon. It actively applied its own techniques.

    I probably dont need to stay here any longer.

    The Mother of the Sky turned away from the scene of Number 26 decimating the cultists and left.

    Her destination was where Adhai was fighting.

    Currently, Adhai was massacring cultists from another team. As the only one among Aymophs colleagues capable of high-altitude flight, Adhai actively utilized his psychic powers to capture cultists and drop them to their deaths.

    There is a flying technique among the psychic power skills

    Dodging Adhais attacks, faster than bullets, was impossible. Colliding with his charge would likely lead to a one-way trip to the afterlife.

    Moreover, all the cultists who entered this forest are currently not in their right minds, thanks to Number 26s Abyssal Terror.

    Its more adaptable than the Sea Demon in the game.

    In the setting, the Abyssal Terror is a phenomenon that urs as a powerful psychic power energy emitted by the Sea Demon spreads out. Therefore, as creatures approach it, their minds are adversely affected, leading to mental copse.

    However, Number 26 implemented the Abyssal Terror by spreading the psychic power like spider silk, thin and wide. Most enemies had rtively intact minds, but, in return, they lost the ability to use theirmunication devices and some psychic power skills.

    Creating an environment where they couldntmunicate and dismantle each other. That was what Number 26 intended.

    Of course, as it hadnt fully matured yet, the effect wasnt perfect.

    Since it started fighting on its own, the Abyssal Terror effect it used seemed to sway unpredictably. Without luck, some individuals might break free from control.

    Still, the tactic itself was effective enough that the Mother of the Sky had to acknowledge it.

    I wonder if Amorph needs a new friend.

    If Number 26 bes an adult, it would turn into a tremendous monster.

    In a way, it might be fortunate.

    Whether to find sce in the thought that the formidable monster is an ally or to worry is a dilemma. While contemting this, she heard a sound from above her head.

    It was a scream.

    The Mother of the Sky immediately stopped running. A few secondster, a cult warrior pierced through the branches and fell to the ground,pletely shattered.

    A graceful green dragonnded on unrecognizable flesh fragments. With a slender body over 2 meters long, gigantic wings extending beyond its torso, four horns, and a chubby tail, the impressive dragon was Adhai.

    Adhai, who had eliminated one cultist, was holding another cultist with her forelimb. Whether it was a result of using eleration or not, the captured cultist, despite wearing reinforced armor, had been crushed in half.

    Here Clean, Done

    Fast

    Me Impressive

    Indeed. Well done.>

    One team had already been cleared, and the other team would be cleaned up soon. The cult warriors she sensed were in three teams, and now only one team remained.

    Enemy Remaining Hunt Start.

    Wait a moment Like this.

    Although the remaining team intended to clean up together, Adhai flew away first. She shook her head, seemingly resigned, and chased after Adhai.

    Heuk, heuk, heuk

    Cult warrior i caught his breath behind a tree, hidden from view.

    Darn it! The war chief, Edrin, and even Isabel all of them are gone.

    Except for him, the warrior squad that came to this had beenpletely wiped out. The fact that he could know this even withoutmunication was thanks to the tools he possessed.

    Unlike other cultists, i, a so-called Innovative Cultist, freely used primitive race equipment without hesitation. Before the mission began, he distributed small chips to other squad members.

    They were military tracking chips mainly used by Megacorp. It might be challenging to use for long-distance missions, but for activities around a specific area on one continent, it could detect without any problem.

    In addition, the reinforced armor he was wearing was not the standard cultist armor. It was a specially customized reinforced suit acquired from the Garamelda family of Megacorp. This particr suit had a rtively lower level of bodily protection but had a powerful stealth effect, making it perfect for infiltration missions.

    Moreover, i had mastered the psychic power technique to erase the bodys presence, making him literally like a ghost.

    Darn it! Even though we could share such good things, why dont they listen!

    He was usually scorned for liking the monkeys toys, but it was thanks to the equipment made by those monkeys that he could survive.

    If I can just reach the transport ship, I can survive.

    So far, he had seen three monsters, but he had no idea how many more dangerous ones might be out there. They were likely variations caused by contamination. The purification process needed to be expedited as much as possible.

    After confirming there were no monsters nearby, i moved again.

    Once I pass this ce!

    Beyond that thicket was the transport ship. While moving as quietly as possible, he suddenly crouched down. A ck shadow flickered on the ground and disappeared.

    Hisrade Edrin proved what that meant.

    Why is a Gagon here!

    Thinking of a colleague who had been caught by the green Gagon, taken up several kilometers, and then dropped, i moved cautiously.

    And finally, when he passed through the thicket, the transport ship he had hoped for was in front of him.

    However, the condition of the transport ship was very different from what he expected.

    Kreureureureu.

    Krik.

    Tworge marine creatures with giant horns on their heads were smashing the transport ship, chewing up the pilot inside.

    In the cultsnguage, they were called Manuk Arma, but in Megacorp, they were referred to as Hond gigrants, predators that migrated from the volcanic zone to the inside of this forest.

    Kreuk, Kung? Kungkung.

    Kreureureureu.

    One of the Manuk Arma sniffed something, and its nose pointed directly at is position.

    His sense of smell was extremely sensitive. It wouldnt miss the scent of his sweat, soaked thoroughly.

    i silently stepped back. After entering the bushes, he ran away at full speed. Although the roars from behind were heard, he ignored them and ran as if possessed.

    Je-e-enza-a-ang!

    Unfortunately, his escape didntst long. The green Gagon flying overhead didnt miss him and swooped down.

    i, who had used every means to survive, couldnt do anything about his luck. Colliding with a creature over 2 meters in size flying at supersonic speed, he turned into a bug squashed in the palm of a hand.

    Hide and Seek End

    Watching the fragments of what was just an enemy, she nodded satisfactorily.

    Recently, she felt that her rtionship with the grown-ups had be less awkward than before. Since grown-ups do many things with small and ugly friends, she hadnt done much with the grown-ups.

    So, she thought.

    Make a fantastic ball and get praise from the grown-ups.

    Today alone, she hunted more than ten prey. With this level of skill, the grown-ups would undoubtedly pay attention to her.

    Licking the blood on her body, she tried to go back. Unless a new enemy attacked her, that would have been the case.

    Kraaaaa!

    Pain!

    Suddenly colliding with the monster that appeared, she tumbled on the muddy ground. Thanks to her pre-emptive reaction before the collision, she avoided fatal injuries, but one of her wings was torn apart.

    You Me Pain Endure Kill.

    Nevertheless, Adhai did not lose itsposure and stood upright on all four legs, ring at the creature. The small adult and the ugly friend were still far behind.

    It was because she had rushed too far ahead due to the urgent wind in her heart.

    So, she had to endure until they arrived.

    Krrrrrr!

    Two?

    The despairing fact was that there was not just one creature. The one that had impaled her with its horn charged at her. Thanks to her torn wing, she barely managed to evade that attack.

    Unfortunately, avoiding the subsequent second attack and the creatures tail was impossible. Hit by the thick tail, she flew backward and collided with a tree.

    Pain!

    The impact caused the tentacles attached to her head to ooze blood. She tried to get up somehow, but her four legs trembled weakly, refusing to cooperate.

    Krrrrrr!

    Suddenly, the approaching creature opened its mouth wide. Sharp teeth protruded. In a moment, those teeth would tear apart her fragile body.

    Death Dislike!

    Kraaaaah!

    It was too early to give up.

    With all her strength, she unleashed the purple lightning. The violet bolt pierced the creatures eye, and blood sttered.

    Even though the creature would likely feel significant pain after being struck by lightning, it did not retreat. Instead, despite getting hit by the lightning, it tried to bite her with its mouth.

    Big adult Sorry.

    In her final moments, she did her best, but it seemed like it was the end. Sensing death, she closed her eyes.

    However, vibrations were felt from somewhere. It didnt feel like teeth grinding into her.

    At first, the vibrations were faint. Gradually growing stronger, until at some point, it felt like someone was grabbing and shaking her body vigorously.

    What is this?

    Krek?

    Krrrrrr?

    The earthquake was not something only she felt. The two creatures also showed signs of confusion due to the sudden tremors.

    And then

    The ground exploded, and the creature that was about to bite her was catapulted into the air above the trees.

    This is insane!

    A roaring, gigantic monster shook the ground.

    It was the big adult she had been waiting for.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 143

    Chapter 143

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    I thought it might be the case.

    When I was inside the cave, I worried about what could be happening outside. I wondered if there was a threat from the Hond Gigrants or yers. So, afterpleting my evolution, instead of going upward, I dug straight into the ground and moved. It was because moving on the surface could be dangerous if yers were reallying.

    As I moved, I realized that the things I feared didnt happen. There were no traces of children among the scent of blood detected by the auxiliary device.

    Nevertheless, just to be sure, I continued following the scent without slowing down.

    Thanks to that, Im notte.

    While moving, I sensed Adhais mental waves. His thoughts were mixed with pain. If I had rxed and slowed down my pace, I might have missed Adhais mental waves.

    I immediately changed direction towards Adhai. Thanks to that, I was able to rescue her at thest moment.

    Krurururur.

    Kr, krurur.

    The Hond Gigrants that saw me growled. The sound clearly contained hostility, but their bodies did not reflect that.

    Shaking legs and trembling eyes. One of the most powerful predators on this continent seemed to fear me.

    Thats to be expected.

    I couldnt check the hastily arrived messages and the changed text boxes. However, I couldnt ignore the changes in my own body.

    Although Ipleted the Transcendence Stage 2, my body length did not undergo as radical growth as during evolution. It grew a bit more, from 27m to around 28m, but not doubling like before.

    However, there were significant changes in my physique.

    Firstly, my head became overallrgerpared to before. It wasnt just the exoskeleton that grew; horns, jaws, and other parts increased, making the head upy a higher proportion of the body. Especially the jaw transformed into a more formidable shape, reminiscent of when I am in the state of the Symbol of Hunt.

    I can use it much more actively in battles.

    With the erged jaw, I could chew on tougher enemies, and even against smaller foes, a simple strike with my head could deliver a significant blow.

    And the horns. The number of horns increased from 2 to 6. The four new horns, unlike the existing ones, lined up from the center of the head to the rear exoskeleton.

    Its a reinforcement of the horns.

    It was a wee addition for me, as I often used tactics of piercing with horns when fighting powerful orrge enemies.

    With the increased size, they will be much more lethal.

    As the head becamerger and heavier, the neck also naturally changed. It became thicker and longer, and the tendrils that grew like a mane of a lion were wrapped around my neck.

    The next area that underwent significant changes was my arms.

    The small arms near the chest became much longer, and thin exoskeletons grew. The weakness in my body, which was thebat arms adorned with a symbol of hunting, waspensated with this evolution.

    Thebat arms, my frequently used weapons, became thicker and longer, simr to the heads exoskeleton. It grew by about 2m, with the same thick outer covering as the head. It significantly reduced the anxiety about the arms being cut off.

    These changes, along with my previous abilities, made me much more formidable in battles. The thought of facing any challenges with this evolved form filled me with confidence.

    It might actually be good to use as a weapon.

    I, who used the tough head exoskeleton as a kind of shield, could not only sh enemies with ws but also strike with my arms themselves. Thanks to these changes, all three pairs ofbat arms could now function both as arms and simultaneously as legs, much like when I moved with six legs during my Hatchling stage.

    The current posture I assumed was simr to the Hatchling stage, supporting my body with sixbat arms and a tail. The difference was that during the Hatchling stage, I used to move with the tail raised like a scorpion, and now I dragged the massive lower body and tail on the ground. Of course, if needed, I could still move by raising only the upper body and dragging the lower body and tail on the ground.

    Finally, the tail.

    The pincers that should have been at the bottom pair of arms moved to the tail. The tail end, where the thorn-firing mechanism was originally located, was now split into two branches. Large pincers, exceeding the height of an adult male, were taking the ce.

    Until now, the tail didnt y a significant role when facing enemies immune to paralysis or those with thick skin. It was used selectively when entwining and suppressing enemies or striking them with the tail.

    But now, the tail had acquired pincers, making it more versatile.

    However, the thorn-firing mechanism hadnt disappeared. When the pincers opened, numerous thorns were densely embedded inside. These thorns could be fired at distant enemies or, when the pincers grabbed an enemy, released in a concentrated manner.

    An interesting change.

    Overall, weaknesses were offset, and my strengths were reinforced to match my fighting style. I wanted to check the text boxes and new messages immediately, but now was not the time.

    There was an enemy in front of me.

    Grooo.

    A heavy roar emanated from my throat, matching the changed body. Even to me, it was imposing; what would it be like for the enemy?

    Two Hond Gigrants trembled.

    Kr, krur, krururur.

    They seemed hesitant about whether to attack me or not, growling at each other.

    Krururur!

    Kraaaa!

    And then, as if they had decided to attack me, they roared towards me.

    Arge aquatic creature, 20 meters in length and 9 meters in height to the pelvis, rushed towards me. The creature pounded the ground as it ran, keeping its head and back straight.

    The posture, reminiscent of a bull during a charge, was the basicbat stance of the Hond Gigrants. Rushing and smashing the opponent with the two sturdy horns on its head.

    Whats interesting is that I often used a simr tactic against them. I confronted them in the same way. Six log-like arms were firmly nted in the ground, and the tail swept across the ground, creating a trench.

    As the two beasts charged at me, the earth trembled. At the moment they were about to collide with my head, I quickly lowered my body.

    Krek?

    The creatures horns grazed my rear head exoskeleton and back, sparking sharp mes. I thought they would collide directly, but the creature seemed confused. Its sturdy hind legs collided with my body, and its posture copsed.

    Kraaaa!

    Still, in a predator-like manner, the creature tried to bite my back in that posture.

    To such a creature, my true attack was unleashed. It was my newly acquired pincer-tail.

    My tail twists upward towards my upper back. The pincer at the end of my tail grabs the neck of the creature attempting to attack my back.

    !

    The creature, unable to make a sound with its groin grabbed, hurriedly tried to pull its head out but was toote.

    The size of my pincers is slightly smaller than the Swamp Kings, both in terms of defense and gripping strength, almost identical.

    He cant withstand pincers that can cut through battleship armor like butter.

    I exerted strength in the muscles at the end of my tail. The Hornd Gigantras neck snapped like a broken branch. The creature copsed with its tongue hanging out, instantly dead.

    Kr, kruaaaaa!

    Witnessing this, the remaining Hornd Gigantra let out a roar resembling a scream. Its skin turned red, and its muscles swelled.

    Even though it goes into a frenzy, it wont defeat me, who has reached Transcendence Stage 2. However, theres an unconscious Adhai in this ce.

    I have to kill it before the frenzy isplete.

    This moment, when it briefly paused its movement due to the frenzy, was an opportunity. I threw the dead Hornd Gigantras body away and rushed towards the remaining one.

    Unlike before, this time, while running, I exerted force to my tail, lifting the upper body. In that state, I pounced on the creature.

    Kruaaaa!

    During the frenzy, the creature managed to dodge my body press by moving backward. In that position, it attempted to bite into my rear head exoskeleton.

    Where!

    I exerted strength to thebat arm that touched the ground, bouncing my body to the side. The creaturesrge jaw made a threatening sound as it closed in the air.

    From there, I grabbed the creatures head with mybat arm. Though it attempted to open its mouth again, my arms prevented it from doing so.

    Taking advantage of a momentary exchange, the creature, now finishing its frenzy, swung its tail forcefully.

    The creatures tail, in a state of frenzy, was like a well-crafted sword, capable of cutting through even thick redwood.

    However, despite knowing this fact, I didnt dodge the creatures tail. Instead, I opened my mouth wide and bit into the iing tail.

    !

    The creature, which didnt suspect that its tail would be shattered by my teeth and jaw, was taken aback. Both my teeth and jaw were intact.

    Its too early to be surprised.

    Its too early to be surprised. I began to swallow the creatures tail in its bitten state, inside my throat.

    With originally wide-open jaws, I could fit preyrger than my head. Now, the jaws themselves were reinforced, and the throat had changed to easily swallow evenrger prey.

    I swallowed the creatures tail like a snake without chewing. The creature, realizing that it was entering my stomach while still alive, glowed, but it was futile.

    The creature tried to pierce me with its horns, but the horns, without gaining enough eleration, were nothing more than slightly hardened bludgeons. Its insufficient to break through the armor and exoskeleton covering my body.

    My jaw and throat worked without a break. First, it was the tail, then the creatures pelvis and hind legs. The sounds of bones breaking and muscles tearing echoed, but the creature couldnt scream. My arms were holding its mouth shut.

    In the end, the creature, with its lower bodypletely twisted, vomited its internal organs from its mouth and died. Though it knew the creature had died, I didnt stop swallowing.

    When Number 26 and the Mother of the Sky appeared from behind the bushes, I could already swallow all of the creatures horns.

    Big one! Youre awake!

    [ZZZ (Yeah.)]

    Hey? Why is the little one still asleep?

    Number 26 expressed doubt as it looked at the unconscious Adhai. Mother of the Sky, who was beside it, stared nkly at me, then looked surprised when she saw Adhais condition.

    Wait a moment!

    Passing by Number 26, I approached Mother of the Sky and grabbed her with mybat arms. She avoided my arms, but the corrosion tendrils protruding from my back were unavoidable.

    The tendrils grabbed the four legs and neck of the griffin.

    Anything else to say?

    The voices of survivors captured at the research base flowed out of my mouth. Thanks to the loosening of the suppression in the mimicry organ, I could now mimic human voices urately.

    Ststop! Ththis is

    Even though her throat was sleepy, Mother of the Sky tried to make excuses. Her actions felt more disappointing.

    I had asked her about them before going to sleep. I didntpletely trust her, but I didnt see any reason for her to betray me.

    Moreover, she seemed to get along well with Adhai. I thought she was suitable for assisting the still inexperienced Adhai.

    But I was wrong.

    If I had been even a littlete, Adhai would have died.

    She is the only gateway to Gegons tomb. If he dies, I will suffer tremendous losses.

    And.

    Actually, it wasnt solely for that reason, but there was no need to mention it.

    Did she feel that I was going to kill her? Mother of the Sky tightly closed her eyes.

    I paid no attention and opened my mouth wide to swallow her.

    Big one Wait Please.

    Just as my jaws were about to close, Adhais thoughts reached me.

    Big one Friend No mistake Nothing wrong

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Thats not true. She was supposed to protect you, but she failed.)]

    Denial Me Friend Words Ignore Me Mistake

    Despite bleeding profusely, Adhai did not stop the telepathy.

    A mistake?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (A mistake?)]

    Me Ball Many Stand Big one Attention Need Hunt Many Sess Big one Joy Friend Be careful Advice Me Ignore

    I pondered over the telepathy sent by Adhai.

    Wanted to stand out with the ball?

    To sum it up, it seemed that Adhai wanted to hunt several cultists in this forest to get my attention.

    Oh.

    Come to think of it, the time I spent with Adhai recently had significantly decreasedpared to before. Other than when we were together before going to save Number 26, we were mostly apart.

    Being together with Number 26, who excels even on her own, for a long time made me think that Adhai wouldnt need much attention.

    I was wrong.

    I didnt know exactly how he perceived me, but at least he considered me as a being simr to the adult Gegon. Feeling lonely when such a being roamed outside, it was probably what he thought.

    As I thought about it, the anger that had surged moments ago subsided.

    I closed my wide-open jaw and looked at Mother of the Sky quietly. In her regained sanity, seeing her eyes gave me a rough idea of what had happened.

    To gain my attention, Adhai forcefully moved, and she probably was busy chasing after Adhai. Griffins also had flying capabilities, but they werent as fast as Adhai.

    She did her best in her own way.

    I released the griffin I had held. She, whose throat was cleared, coughed awkwardly.

    Adhai, who had tried to exin the situation to me, was again in a state of unconsciousness. I approached her and imnted symbiotic spores.

    I need to take her to the nest immediately.

    I could sense her injuries through auxiliary organs. Not only were her wings torn, but her ribs were also broken. If time passed, the injuries might worsen, so I needed to treat them quickly.

    Feeling the uneasy atmosphere, Number 26 lifted Adhai onto my back using its tentacles. After confirming that Adhai was securely on board, it climbed onto my head.

    While carrying them towards the nest, Mother of the Sky followed behind.

    I should apologize to her.

    Just as I was about to say sorry to her, she called out to me first.

    Wait a moment!

    What is it?

    Now is not the time for this! Theres something you need to check right away!

    What?

    The cultists we captured are affiliated with the Imperial Fleet! Murielsrades sent the Imperial Fleet here!

    Hearing those words, the tendrils hanging from my neck felt tense.

    Among the powerful weapons possessed by the cult, the Imperial Fleet ranked high. Not only was its own armament top-notch, but the most potent weapon of the Imperial Fleet was something else.

    The cosmic bolt embedded in the ship. One of the-cleansing weapons possessed by the cult.

    Guide me.

    Follow me!

    Sorry, Adhai, but this is more urgent.

    If the Imperial Fleet bombards this, we will all die. Even if I dig deep into the ground, its impossible to escape the range of the cosmic bolt.

    At least I need to know when it will be fired.

    I quickly followed Mother of the Sky.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 144

    Chapter 144

    ¡°Captain, the Cosmic Bolt has been fully charged.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Captain?¡±

    Situation room of ¡®Damos 08, the Arbiter of the Cosmos.¡¯

    The crew had informed the captain that all preparations wereplete, but the captain had not issued any orders. Becausemunication had beenpletely cut off from the warrior unit that had descended below.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why aren¡¯t we getting any contact? Lice!¡±

    Lice is the warrior he cherishes. The possibility of him ignoring the captain¡¯s orders for no reason is close to zero. Moreover, the other warrior units that went down with Lice also have not been reached.

    That means something serious has happened down there.

    ¡°¡­What should I do?¡±

    He can choose one of two options. One is to fire the Cosmic Bolt as it is, and the other is to send down a new search party.

    However, the captain knows. Choosing thetter is practically impossible.

    In the Cult Empire, contamination issues are not an exaggeration when ites to the most dangerous elements to the empire¡¯s security. Dying time to rescue subordinates while performing purification duties to prevent contamination? Especially when the captain personally sent subordinates to rescue ves?

    The ships here are not just Imperial Motherships. The ships belonging to the Mothership Battle Group dispatched to protect the Mothership will not remain idle.

    If the captain dys, he will be dismissed, and another captain will lead the ship and fire the Cosmic Bolt.

    ¡°Captain? Please give the order.¡±

    ¡°¡­Fire in 10 minutes.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    In the end, the path the captain chose was to fire the Cosmic Bolt. It¡¯s a short time, but within it, he hopes for the safe return of his subordinates.

    ***

    ?What happened??

    The Mother of the Sky asked me with a serious look in her eyes.

    ¡°Theunch time has already passed.¡±

    ?What? But why??

    ?I don¡¯t know.?

    The Mother of the Sky deliberately left one Cult¡¯s corpse for me, knowing that I am well aware of my supernatural abilities. Receiving the corpse from her, I used my abilities to read the memories of the Cult who came here, Hamine.

    There were many gaps in the middle of the memories, but I could confirm only important facts.

    The was designated as a contaminated and received a purification order.

    And five minutes ago, it was the time for the Cosmic Bolt to beunched, that¡¯s the two things.

    Why it hasn¡¯t beenunched yet, even Hamine and I don¡¯t know.

    It¡¯s fortunate that theunch has been dyed, but we still can¡¯t rx.

    ?¡­Damn, it won¡¯t be long now.?

    The Mother of the Sky frowned and clicked her tongue.

    As she said, it¡¯s true. The purification order of the Cult is rarely canceled. Even if the captain of the Imperial Mothership loses interest and refuses the mission, a substitute wille forward to execute it.

    In a short time, within an hour at most, the Cosmic Bolt will fall onto this continent.

    ¡®It¡¯s toote to escape.¡¯

    The Cosmic Bolt is a condensed energy projectile created by mixing dark matter and psychic power. Its instantaneous firepower is almostparable to the sun, so when it falls onto a, the entire atmosphere and water evaporate.

    Even if you hide underground, avoiding the Cosmic Bolt that affects up to tens of kilometers below the surface is almost impossible. I might survive somehow, but No. 26, Adhai, and the Mother of the Sky cannot escape death.

    ¡°Not even spaceships will help.¡±

    The research base brought by humans is far away from here. Even if my body has been strengthened, reaching there within a few minutes to an hour is impossible. Even if, by some incredible stroke of luck, the Cosmic Bolt isunched several hourster, it¡¯s still a problem. As soon as we leave the in a spacecraft, the fleet escorting the Imperial Mothership will intercept us.

    ?So, we stop them here.?

    If avoiding it is impossible, we have no choice but to defend against the attacks of that Imperial Mothership. The first thing thates to my mind is the ability derived from the ¡®Plunderer¡¯s Irregr Polyhedron.¡¯ The Irregr Polyhedron of the Plunderer allows the conversion of equipment into abilities.

    I utilized that ability to devour the ¡®Brain Deity,¡¯ the cult¡¯s orbital bombardment weapon, gaining its destructive power.

    ¡®No, with just that ability, I can¡¯t defeat the Cosmic Bolt.¡¯

    The newly acquired ability falls slightly short in outputpared to the Brain Deity. When I consumed the smauncher, my body¡¯s output surpassed the original, but it was the opposite with the Brain Deity. Even at its original state, the Brain Deity¡¯s output was far below that of the Cosmic Bolt. Taking it with decreased power won¡¯t make much difference; I can only buy a few minutes at best.

    ¡®Still, it¡¯s the most powerful weapon I have.¡¯

    So, I have to find a way to increase the output somehow.

    ¡®If it¡¯s the Symbol of Hunt, I could dramatically increase the output, but¡­¡¯

    Originally, the cooldown for the Symbol of Hunt was 24 hours. Even after breaking through Transcendence Level 2, the cooldown for the Symbol of Hunt remained the same.

    ¡®Damn! They treated it like something I used during my evolution!¡¯

    Seeing that the remaining time for the Symbol of Hunt is 18 hours, it¡¯s clear. Simrly, the cooldown for the Horizon of Nightmares still disyed 7 days. Though they are now separate cooldowns due to the removal of the restriction, both are unusable in the current situation.

    ¡®Frustrating¡¯

    My trump card, the Symbol of Hunt, is unusable.

    ¡®¡­New message. I hadn¡¯t checked it yet.¡¯

    Desperate for any solution, I checked the new message that had just arrived.

    [Unlocking the Transcendence Level 2 reward: New trait ¡®Organic Evolution (Unique)¡¯ is provided!]

    [Unlocking the new type ¡®Space Monster (Unique).¡¯]

    [Unlocking the new system ¡®Trait Enhancement.¡¯]

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    I thought the Transcendence Level 2 reward would end with unlocking a new type and removing constraints on the traits I possessed, but it was not the case.

    ¡°They added rted traits to the reward because I need them for unlocking the benefits.¡±

    I read through the exnations in the text box with fascination.

    [Organic Evolution: It¡¯s not the strong who survive but the ones who endure bing strong. You can choose one of two special states for transformation.]

    [King of Monsters: Grow and enhance your body into a gigantic creature. Requires a space with a radius of over 100m. It¡¯s a special state that consumes a tremendous amount of energy, and once the energy is depleted, the state is released. Maximum duration is 10 minutes, with a cooldown of 30 days.]

    [Intelligent Weakling: Shrink your body into a small creature and preserve internal energy. The shrunken state doesn¡¯t exceed 5m. Some ability usage is restricted, but special benefits rted to the state are provided. The user can release it at will. Maximum duration is 7 days, with a cooldown of 30 days.]

    [Transformation cannot be canceled or changed during the process. Both special states share a cooldown.]

    [Subsequent acquisition of traits will allow obtaining new special states.]

    [Note: Evolution and cycle. What awaits at the end? Perhaps, as you, you may be able to know.]

    ¡®This¡­?¡¯

    Just a moment ago, I was cursing the gamepany, but now I couldn¡¯t bring myself to do so.

    ¡®Organic Evolution. This could be useful.¡¯

    I may not know exactly how to trigger the transformation, but it seems beneficial for oveing this predicament.

    Right, the special state known as the ¡®King of Monsters.¡¯ ording to the description, it enhances and grows the body.

    ¡°With this, I should be able to increase the output.¡±

    In a situation where I can¡¯t use the Symbol of Hunt, having a simr card in hand was a wee development. However, there was still an uncertainty.

    ¡®The key is how much this trait can enhance.¡¯

    Looking at the cooldown and restrictions, it reminded me of the Symbol of Hunt and Horizon of Nightmares. Given the limitations, one can easily infer that the effect of this trait is quite powerful.

    ¡®Still, gambling is not a good idea.¡¯

    A wrong move here could lead to our total annihtion. To stop the Cosmic Bolt, we need to pull in everything possible.

    ¡®Output, output, I need to find a way to increase it¡­¡¯

    The remaining time untilunch is uncertain. Even using this trait will require time. I can¡¯t keep pondering indefinitely.

    ¡®¡­Let¡¯s think for just one more minute.¡¯

    I desperately racked my brain to find any possible solutions.

    ?Little one, are you in a lot of pain??

    ?Pain.? ?yes?

    ?Want to y with a toy??

    ?Okay.?

    In my eyes, I saw the figures of Number 26 and Adhai. Number 26 had brought a loot bag and was taking items out one by one in front of Adhai.

    It felt like the ck light of the Cosmic Bolt could fall upon us at any moment. If hit by the firepower of the Cosmic Bolt, they would all burn without feeling a thing.

    While watching them, one minute passed. No new ideas emerged.

    ¡®I have no choice but to go with this¡­ Huh? Wait a moment.¡¯

    Seeing the bag Number 26 was holding, a crucial fact suddenly crossed my mind. The bag contained equipment and items I obtained by killing Muriel, including the Priestess¡¯s golden staff, the Blood Reaver, and her potions.

    Among them was the potion she had used. I hurriedly approached 26.

    ?What¡¯s wrong??

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Can you lend me the bag for a moment?)]

    ?Does the big one need a toy too??

    [ZZZ (Yes)]

    After receiving the bag, I took out a small kit from inside. When I opened it, there was a violet-glowing vial.

    ¡®Great! There¡¯s still one left!¡¯

    This potion is called Saionium. It temporarily boosts the condition of the drinker by one level. If I drink Saionium, I can instantly transform into an adult.

    Bing an adult has two tremendous benefits. First, the power bes significantly stronger, reaching a level where I can confront the Cosmic Bolt. Second, my head grows to three.

    ¡®In reality, the increase in the number of heads is not necessarily a good thing.¡¯

    Originally, the increase in heads is meant to enhance the utility of the jaws of the Essence Harvester. With three heads, collecting the heads of enemies bes easier.

    In reality, due to the presence of corrosive tentacles, the significance of this increase has diminished.

    But at this moment, having an increased number of heads is crucial.

    The name of the trait I created by devouring the Brain Deity is ¡®Divine Mace.¡¯

    It¡¯s the ability to shoot out condensed energy lines of the Brain Deity¡¯s lightning.

    If you ask where it is fired, it¡¯s directly from the mouth. Just like when I absorbed the smauncher and shot sma energy lines, they onlye out from my mouth. It doesn¡¯t fire from the corrosive tentacles or any other part.

    ¡®In other words, if I be a monster with three heads¡­¡¯

    It means I can unleash energy lines equivalent to the Brain Deity from three heads simultaneously.

    A monster, no¡­King of Monsters with three heads, and the trait obtained by devouring the Brain Deity.

    ¡®With this, I can do it!¡¯

    With these three, I can stop the Cult¡¯s ultimate weapon for purifying the, the Cosmic Bolt.

 Chapter 145

    Chapter 145

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    The name of the drug in the ampoule Im holding is Syonium. Instead of enhancing the user with each use, this drug randomly reduces its duration while providing a reinforcement effect.

    Ive used it before when fighting against Si-hyun Yujin, a gically modified human from the Yujin family. Back then, in my fluid state, I consumed Syonium temporarily gaining the power of an astral being to confront her.

    Anyway, Ive already used it once. Originally, the duration should decrease.

    But this is an improved version used by Muriel

    She said, She enjoyed the reinforcement effect for a much longer timepared to regr Syonium. So, I cant predict how long the effect willst.

    Regardless, the duration wont be that long. At least 5 minutes, maybe 8 or 9 minutes at most should be assumed.

    In other words, Syoniums effect ends earlier than the maximum duration of the King of Monsters. Logically, it would be correct to use the King of Monsters first, but theres a problem to consider before that.

    If you use up all your energy, the state will be released.

    ording to the description of the Organic Evolution trait, transforming into the King of Monsters consumes a considerable amount of energy.

    The Divine Scepter will probably consume a lot of energy too.

    Both Divine Scepter and the King of Monsters consume the stored biological energy in my body.

    The total amount of energy shouldnt be a big problem.

    Before entering Transcendence Stage 2, I devoured the Swamp King and creatures in the swamp, and recently, I even swallowed the whole Hond Gigrant.

    Both creatures are powerful predators reigning over the Sainthopia02 continent. Moreover, I believe Amorphs energy consumption is very efficient, so there shouldnt be a shortage of energy.

    Of course, I cant be 100% sure.

    Both traits are not present in the game. I havent personally tried them. However, Ive faced simr crises in the game a few times. Ive faced massive onughts from Outspacers, participated inrge-scale massacres, and even intercepted MegaCorps-destroying weapon, Nova, by flying into the stratosphere.

    In fact, I now have more cards to y than I did back then, making the situation even better.

    With Amorphs excellent senses and my intuition

    Just as Ive ovee previous difficulties, I should be able to ovee this crisis as well.

    All thats left is when the Cosmic Bolt will fall.

    I dont have a way to find out in the current situation, but theres one method. The predator sense that informs me of my crisis. The moment a fleeting future shes before my eyes is the time to strike.

    After making the decision, I took out the Syonium ampoule from Muriels kit and stored it in my mouth. Wrestling with the massively erged body to hold the ampoule was to avoid damage.

    Because itll be hard to eat in the King of Monsters state.

    Although I was prepared, the predator sense hasnt sent any news yet. I activated the Organic Evolution trait and chose the King of Monsters. And then

    [Location not suitable. Please maintain distance from allies.]

    Huh?

    The transformation did not take ce.

    Not here?

    While there were many trees around, the location I was in was a in. The description of the special state only mentioned a required space within a radius of 100m, with no other specifics.

    Does it mean there shouldnt be obstacles Wait, could it be?

    The distance from allies. In front of me were 26, Adhai, and the Mother of the Sky. [Zuzuzuzuz (Wait here for a moment)] After informing them, I left the location.

    The direction I headed was straight to the riverside. There were no obstacles like trees there. I ran with all my power, utilizing all my bodys organs to their muscr limits, including sixbat arms, tail, and blunt ws.

    Upon reaching the riverside, I activated the trait again.

    The location is not suitable.

    And inevitably, the unsuitable message appeared.

    I looked around. Although this ce was near the river, it was sparsely popted with trees, more like the edge of the forest. Since there was no mention of allies, it seemed that the obstacle part was omitted in the King of Monsters description.

    I quickly jumped into the river. Only after arriving at the center of the river did the message appear that transformation into the King of Monsters was possible.

    At this point, it should easily exceed 100 meters, right?

    The width of this river is not narrow. It should easily exceed 100m from the center of the river to the bank.

    Just as I wondered how muchrger it would be, something passed in front of my vision.

    Its here!

    The scene of the ck mes, the Cosmic Bolt, tearing through the atmosphere and devouring everything in its path. As soon as I recognized that scene, I immediately transformed into the King of Monsters.

    Ugh?!

    [Pain nullification Activated!]

    Unlike other evolutions, tremendous pain surged. It was an intense pain that I had never experienced before. Even with Pain nullification activated, it was this severe. If I didnt have the memory of childhood full-body burns, I would have instantly lost consciousness.

    Moreover, it wasnt just the pain. Even in the midst of transformation, the energy consumption rate was enormous. It felt like the overwhelming force of releasing three consecutive psychic Breaths.

    Ugh, ugh! I have to eat now!

    Somehow, I managed to hold onto my sanity and bit into what was inside my mouth. The small ampoule shattered, and the Syonium inside poured into my throat.

    Guh, guh, !

    Unable to endure the pain any longer, I let out a loud scream. As the river evaporated and the trees on the bank were uprooted, a wave of intense energy obscured my vision.

    ***

    Cosmic Boltunch ready.

    Energy output at 500%, chargingplete. Dark Matter Regtor in operation. Purification process initiated.

    Coordinate inputpleted.

    Estimated damage assessmentplete. Contrasting with purification mission.

    In the situation room where the Cosmic Boltunch was imminent, the captain secretly bit his lips.

    In the end, his subordinates did not return until theunch. He didnt know whether they were alive or dead, what happened on PH-101, and he would probably never know.

    Ill never be able to know in the future.

    Thinking about the fallen subordinates, the captain closed his eyes tightly. Meanwhile, the countdown continued quickly.

    Huh? Captain! Powerful energy waves detected!

    At that moment, a cult crew member observing thes energy flow shouted. The captain opened his eyes at his words.

    Energy waves? Is it a maic storm, perhaps?

    I dont know! Ththis is?! Its not spread across the entire but concentrated at a specific point!

    What?

    The crew member disyed an image using psychic power. The entire continent within the was covered by a massive energy storm. The cult members in the situation room were shocked to see that.

    Oh my goodness!

    Ive never seen such a flow of energy before!

    Maic storms ur in all directions across a, so it wouldnt concentrate at a specific point like this. In other words, that abnormal storm was undoubtedly created by some specific entity.

    Could it be the source of contamination?

    Themand given to the Judicator of Damocles 08 was to purify the contaminated PH-101. That abnormal storm was undoubtedly created by entities that polluted the.

    Darn it! So, everyone has perished!

    That continent is where the Wolf natives reside. The extermination force must have gone to capture the Wolves but unfortunately encountered that source of contamination.

    Its an entity that influences a continent. No matter how powerful the extermination force is, it is impossible to survive against such an unreasonable existence.

    Can we observe the source of contamination with the ships camera?

    Ththe energy flow is so intense that Ill still give it a try!

    The cult crew operated the shipsputer using psychic power. A few secondster, the observed image of the ground appeared in the center of the situation room.

    Cult members who confirmed the appearance of the source of contamination screamed in unison. The captain didnt scold them because he himself almost screamed when he saw it.

    For an unknown reason, the image quality was not very good, but everyone present could easily confirm the appearance of it at that moment.

    The reason was that it was extremely gigantic. When roughlyparing it to the surrounding trees, it was estimated to be well over 200 meters in length.

    The source of contamination had a total of three heads. Except for the central head, the other two heads had the same appearance, resembling carnivorous dragons with pointed beaks, simr to Saegil08s native creature, Manuk Arma. There were no visible visual organs in these heads. Instead, horns grew in those spots.

    Instead of eyes, long and thin tentacles below the jaws seemed to serve as sensory organs. Even in the image on the screen, the two heads were constantly flicking the tentacles without rest.

    In the center was the middle head. It possessed sixrge horns, a long and wide back head shell reminiscent of a crown. Unlike the heads on the sides, this one had eyes, constantly scanning the surroundings like sly serpents.

    Horns, back head shell, and eyes. The captain believed that this head held the highestmand.

    The neck supporting the three heads was quite long and thick, resembling a snake. In the area where the long neck and head met, tentacle clusters that looked like hair hung down.

    Even up to this point, the appearance was sufficiently repulsive, but it became even more grotesque when looking at the body. The creatures back was covered in a jet-ck exoskeleton, resembling the dark matter used by the cult. Eight whirl-shaped cavities adorned its back, each housing pipes that extended in a row, connecting to the tail.

    From the pipes, an unidentifiable gas constantly poured out, rising into the sky. It was probably these gases that caused the decrease in image quality observed by the ships camera.

    Descending from the exoskeleton on the back were six legs. More precisely, there were four front legs that seemed to serve as arms and were muchrger than the other arms, and two significantlyrger hind legs.

    Perhaps the creature was crouching, making the arms look like legs. All the legs were wrapped in an exoskeleton simr to the back, and the joints appeared more numerous than those of ordinary organisms. The appearance was reminiscent of a spider, giving an instinctive sense of disgust.

    Especially between the legs, there were folds of flesh, making it far from pleasant to look at. Although the purpose was unknown, if it was intended to evoke revulsion in the observer, it certainly achieved its goal.

    After the horrifying legs, finally, the tail. The creature with three heads also had multiple tails. The tail, which ounted for about a third of the bodys weight, was split into two branches from a certain point in the lower body.

    In other words, it meant the tail was split into two. The right tail had a giant pincer at the end, and the left tail had a stinger resembling that of a scorpion.

    The devil with three heads.

    Someone muttered upon seeing the contamination source on the screen. The captain thought that expression was appropriate.

    Its appearance was truly that of an evil dragon straight out of cult mythologythe contamination source threatening the security of the Cult Empire, the devil with three heads.

    The captain shouted until his throat tore apart,

    Immediately incinerate that sphemous being!

    Understood! Adjusting the coordinates!

    The Cosmic Bolts cannons aimed at the sphemous entity.

    In a moment, that contamination source would be eliminated. As always.

    No. It had to be that way.

    Although I gained a new body, I couldnt observe the changes.

    Thinking that there was no need to worry about the held energy was aplete misjudgment. An enormous amount of energy was currently being drained in real-time.

    It was inevitable. After bing the King of Monsters, the detection range of auxiliary sensors had be incredibly vast. I could monitor about a third of the Seintopia02 continent where I stood.

    Along with energy consumption, I barely managed to keep my sanity amidst the vast amount of information. I filtered out as much irrelevant information as possible and focused only on the Cosmic Bolt descending through theary atmosphere.

    Finally, I conveyed a message to them with the monsters tentacles.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Everyone, evade on your own!)]

    If they were the Mothers of the Sky, they should understand what I meant. No, they had to understand.

    I felt sorry for the kids, but I couldnt afford to pay attention to them. Even a slight distraction might cause them to copse right away.

    And finally, the time hase.

    As if time had slowed down, the Cosmic Bolt descends slowly here. The sky splits, the air vibrates, and the ground beneath my feet ripples.

    In the slowed spacetime, I lifted my head towards the sky.

    The Punishing Sceptre of the Gods!

    The jet-ck, dark ck back, where pipes are lined up in a row, begins to glow golden one by one. Waves of gold ascend through my long necks.

    As the light passes through the monsters tentacles and reaches my throat holes,

    Through me, the gods swing the scythe of punishment.

    It was like lightning, and it looked like hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of thin fments merging into one.

    The important thing was that lightning-like fments emanated from a total of three ces.

    The ck mes descending to burn the ground and the golden lightning brilliantly collide.

    In that moment.

    The sky tore apart.

    Not metaphorically, but literally, the atmosphere of this is tearing apart. The tremendous shockwave created as the lightning from the three heads collided with the Cosmic Bolt.

    Clouds disappeared, and unexpectedly, auroras urred in the sky, twisted by the distorted maic field. Along with the atmospheric changes, dozens of fiery vortexes descended from the sky to the ground.

    The ground where I stand shakes as if in an earthquake, and the river evaporates at a rapid speed. Trees within a radius of several kilometers from where I stand burst into mes all at once.

    Kuk!

    Theplete body of a King of Monsters,bined with the divine scythe infused with the power of the Brain God.

    I thought this much would be possible, but its not easy. While spewing lightning, I also gauged the remaining energy.

    Just a little more!

    The effect of Saionium wouldnt be released, but the King of Monsters and the divine scythe are different. It will be canceled as soon as the energy runs out.

    Just a bit more!

    Little by little, the lightning began to push back the ck mes and the Cosmic Bolt. If I push a bit more here, the Imperial gship will overload, forcing the Cosmic Bolt to stop.

    I thought I could endure a bit more, but suddenly, dozens of fments rained down from the sky.

    gship Fleet!

    I hadnt noticed, as I was focused on the Cosmic Bolt, but the cults warships were floating in the sky. Knowing that the Imperial gship was shing with me, the warships of the Fleet Division came to support.

    Its challenging to attack separately from here!

    Thanks to the effect of the King of Monsters, the fments they shot did not inflict fatal wounds on me. It hurt, but I could endure.

    However, due to the continuous rain of fments, it was challenging to maintain focus.

    Is there a way Ah!

    Suddenly, a good idea crossed my mind, and I calcted the remaining energy.

    Its possible!

    Even while shooting the divine scythe, there is a way to deal with those annoying gnats-like ships. The drawback is that the duration of the King of Monsters will be slightly reduced.

    The monstrous tentacle, epting my will, moves. As there are three heads, the monstrous tentacles on the back of my head and neck are also generated in three ces.

    So, Psychic Breath can be aimed in three directions.

    Until now, I havent specifically controlled the direction of the Psychic Breath. There was no need to do so. Theres only the constraint of maintaining focus; the direction itself should be controble.

    The only problem is that Ive never actually tried it.

    Once again, I dont like having to take risks, but theres no choice. This is myst stand. Its time to throw the decisive blow.

    The golden pipes that were shining earlier are now flickering in violet. Simr to the whip of the gods, the violet light moves sequentially from the tip of the tail.

    So far, Ive been trying hard to aim the monsters tentacles towards the target. Controlling the monsters tentacles on the three heads simultaneously was never easy. It was a delicate operation to the point that, had it not been for Aymophs exceptional senses, I would have failed. Unconsciously, blood flowed from my eyes and mouth, but I ignored it.

    The excruciating pain, as if my brain were going to burn, attacked me, but I eventually seeded. The monsters tentacles listened to mymand, aiming at the direction of the enemy battleships.

    Thats it!

    The monsters tentacle, absorbing all the violet Psychic power, sways smoothly like a conductors baton.

    In ordance with themand, a violet sphere rises in front of the dragons head that spews lightning. Even when I used Psychic Breath before, the size was quiterge, but now, tailored to my body, it was enormous, exceeding 200 meters.

    Whether they sensed the essence of my Psychic Power or not, the enemy battleships hurriedly tried to retreat.

    Where are you going?

    The dragons breath towards their fleeing rears erupted. In the ce where the violet fments, reaching several kilometers away, passed by the battleships, only arge-scale explosion remained.

    The battleships that went beyond the range of my fments quickly escaped beyond thes atmosphere. Those unable to do so became alloy rain, falling to the ground.

    Now, I have about two minutes left, no, maybe just a minute?

    Having repelled the battleships, I poured all my focus into shooting the scythe of the gods.

    As the remaining energy approaches the bottom, my vision bes blurry. Only the auxiliary organs under my chin, which have always apanied me through life and death, continue to report my energy consumption.

    Please!

    [!]

    Finally, as if roaring a plea, I unleashed the lightning.

    Did it work?

    The Cosmic Bolt descending to annihte everything.

    The ck fments extending to a radius of several hundred meters blinked like malfunctioning lights and disappeared.

    As if ascending to be a dragon, the lightning I shot soared into the sky without any obstacles.

    Following that, a second sun rose high in the sky.

    Confirming that it was thest sh emitted by the Imperial gship annihted by the sceptre of the gods, I lost consciousness.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 146

    Chapter 146

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    The battleships of the Cult are renowned for their elegant design. Especially, the Imperial Battleship deployed for purification missions is likened to the jewels of the universe, resembling processed diamonds.

    Perhaps, it could be an urate nickname. The production and maintenance costs of the Imperial Battleship are astronomical.

    A beautiful jewel of the cosmos and a treasure of the Cult Empire, one of them being the Judicator of Damocles 08.

    The ship, dedicated to the security of the Cult Empire, faced a serious crisis.

    The flow of Space power is reversing! The overload has exceeded 200%!

    At this rate, the ship will copse!

    A chaotic situation, with themand center shaking as if it could shatter at any moment. Decorations that once illuminated the interior fell and shattered, sparks continuously flying from machinery and devices, includingputers.

    Amidst the turmoil, Cult crew members, desperately holding their ground in the chaos of the Abyssal Vortex, urgently ryed the situation.

    What happened to the battleship!

    30% silenced due to enemy psychic power attack!

    Just with one blow?! Thats impossible!

    Even in the midst of themotion, the captain, without losingposure, examined the images in themand center.

    The dark substance manipted by the Imperial Battleship is a delicate yet dangerous force. The advanced modules attached to the battleship are not just for charging and firing Space bolts. They are also a means to control and regte the unpredictable beast, the dark substance.

    Having scrutinized the status of the battleship, the captain made a decision. He spread psychic power throughout the ship, sending a message to the crew members on board.

    Alert the crew on board. Retreat through the escape pods.

    Captain!

    But!

    The crew members were surprised, but the captain remained calm.

    I will stay here. You all leave this ce.

    Yes?!

    The device controlling the output of Space bolts is damaged. Someone has to hold it together until the crew escapes.

    Having said that, the captain descended among the crew members and began manipting theputer. He simultaneously controlled psychic power images and operated the shipsputer.

    Seeing this, the crew members all fell silent.

    What are you doing? I said, leave quickly!

    .

    Seeing the captain willing to sacrifice for his subordinates, the crew members exchanged nces.

    I will take care of this. Quickly, run away!

    Sorry!

    Ugh?!

    One of the young crew members took out a gun from his pocket and struck the captains neck.

    With a short groan, the captain copsed. The crew member carefully supported him from falling.

    We entrust the Captain to you.

    We will buy as much time as possible for you to reach the escape pods.

    Come on, time is running out. Everyone, to your positions!

    That guy, always singing about wanting to be the captain.

    Hehehe.

    Cheerful Cult crew members. Instead of sacrificing the captain they admired, they chose to sacrifice themselves.

    After briefly capturing the scene of their backs, the young Cult member, with the captain on his back, left themand center.

    Behind him, the chants of the Cult members echoed.

    Brave Cultists! May destiny harvest us!

    May destiny harvest us!

    He silently vowed to convey their noble sacrifice to the Empire.

    May destiny harvest them.

    After a while, numerous escape pods wereunched from the Imperial Battleship. Some were transferred to nearby battleships of the fleet, while others disappeared into the far reaches of space.

    The Imperial Battleship, which had endured until thest escape pod wasunched, finally began to copse, unable to withstand the pressure.

    The outer armor of the ship, which had maintained a perfect bnce like refined diamonds, twisted and shattered, and the centralmand center, located at the top, oxidized with an explosion.

    The Space Boltuncher at the center of the ship warped rapidly, as if being sucked into something, through the gaps in the damaged armor. At that moment, dark substances began to ooze out.

    A golden lightning bolt from Saigil 08 struck, striking the ck energy.

    Soon, an immense light reminiscent of a supernova enveloped both the battleship and the fleet.

    ***

    Ive won.

    Having confirmed the explosion of the Imperial Battleship, I passed out. Although I thought it wasnt right to lose consciousness when there were still enemy ships remaining, it was unavoidable. It wasnt something I could control with my will.

    Im still alive it seems theyve retreated over there huh?

    Whether it was the aftermath of the King of Monsters or the fact that my bodycked strength, something continued to enter my mouth persistently.

    Waking up my dulled senses, I realized that the unidentified food was biological meat. Someone was feeding me various kinds of meat, including Hondo Gigants.

    The well-cooked meats passed through my throat, quickly digesting, and vitality slowly, very slowly returned. The tentacles and auxiliary mechanisms of the monster, which had not reacted at all to external disturbances, gradually activated.

    Only then could I roughly assess my physical condition. My body had returned to its original state after the effects of Saionium ended. The two supporting heads had disappeared, and the lowerbat arm, which had served as a leg, returned to a simr appearance as the other arms.

    Through Saionium, my body had temporarily evolved into a mature form, and now it had returned to its original state.

    While my senses were recovering, the intake of the unknown food into my mouth continued. I explored my surroundings using the auxiliary mechanism located under my jaw.

    Only then could I confirm who was feeding me.

    The energy may be insufficient! Keep feeding!

    Big one! You mustnt die!

    Me Pray Big one Survive

    Creatures gathered near my head. When the Mother of the Sky and Adhai brought food, Number 26 cut the food appropriately and pushed it into my mouth.

    Why are they bringing food so quickly?

    To find out what had happened, I opened my eyes. Number 26, which was tearing apart apletely ckened animal with its tentacles, and Adhai, who was carrying small animal corpses, were surprised when they saw me.

    The big one is awake!

    Big one Survive Confirmed!

    Number 26 illuminated its body brightly, and Adhai threw aside the small animal carcasses held by the tentacles and ran towards me.

    Dont stop! his stamina may not have fully recovered yet!

    Yeah!

    Affirmative.

    To the creatures celebrating my survival, the Mother of the Sky sent a mental message.

    In the distance, through the burning trees, I could see her figure. Covered in singed fur, she carried therge creatures meat on her back.

    Fire?

    I looked up, and there was a burning sky there.

    After the destruction of the Imperial Battleship, its debris had turned into a meteor shower, still pouring onto the. Seeing that, not only this area but the entire continent of Utopia-02, or even the entire PH-101, would have turned into a sea of fire.

    Indeed.

    After a brief consideration, the taste of barbecue or charred meat from the food entering my mouth seemed strange. I now understood. They had brought me the meat of dead creatures burned in the forest.

    Even after I regained consciousness, the three continued to feed me without a break. Although I wanted to tell them it was okay if they didnt, everyone here already knew that wasnt the case.

    I quietly received and ate the food like a baby bird.

    It would have been dangerous if it was a situation where corpses couldnt be easily obtained.

    Although the effect of the King of Monsters was excellent, the side effects were unusual. Psychic Breath, which would make you lose consciousness if fired beyond the limit, and the symbol of hunt, which would cause a rampage if there was insufficient residual energy, were as dangerous as the King of Monster itself.

    To think this is the result of transforming just once.

    When Amorph became an adult, the efficiency of using the stored energy significantly increased. If I hadnt transformed into an adult, my energy would have quickly depleted due to the effects of the King of Monsters.

    In the end, I survived thanks to the children and the Mother of the Sky.

    The reason Im still breathing is because they made an effort to save me.

    They are allies.

    Although the situation was too urgent earlier for me to confirm properly, the message clearly said allies.

    I could figure out who those allies were without being told, but the important part is not that. Amorph cannot interact with other life forms ording to the system. Its a race that repeats only hunting and killing, like a killing machine.

    The fact that Amorph has been recognized by the system for creatingrades raises a question,

    What does it mean?

    I, or rather, the Amorph is evolving.

    In most cases, sociability is advantageous for survival. Animals that live in groups can effectively defend against attacks from stronger enemies. Even in humans with many unfavorable factors for survival, prosperity is achieved thanks to sociability.

    Even when using the symbiotic spore, such messages didnt appear.

    This statement means that something fundamental has changed between then and now, and theres a point to be noted.

    Space Monster Type.

    I opened a translucent text box and confirmed the type at the bottom.

    [ Space Monster (Unique): Perfect Organism (Unique), Horizon of Nightmares (Unique), Organic Evolution (Unique)]

    There, the previously ssified Perfect Organism and Horizon of Nightmares, which were originally categorized as body-rted types and nest-rted types, were moved.

    All were obtained through the transcendence system, utilizing the Unique Trait Synthesis system.

    I would have been in big trouble if I hadnt obtained nest-rted traits in advance.

    The number of required traits to obtain a new type doubles each time a type is acquired.

    For example, lets say the requirements for obtaining Nest Reinforcement Type and Special Defense Reinforcement Type are both 8 traits each. If you first acquire Nest Reinforcement Type, the number of traits needed to obtain Special Defense Reinforcement Type increases to 16.

    The problem is that if traits rted to a previously acquired type are lost, the types enhancement effect is lost, considering it as not acquired. One must fill up to 16 traits to receive the type enhancement effect if the requirement has increased from the original 8 traits.

    What needs attention is that the required number of traits does not revert to the previous state.

    While it only took 8 traits to obtain the type, if the required number has increased to 16 after obtaining the type, you must fill up to 16 traits to receive the type enhancement effect.

    Im not trying to mess with anyone. Theyre changing it freely without a single message.

    If by any chance, I had a small number of acquired traits, I would have suffered significant losses, such as losing Nest Reinforcement Type. Fortunately, before entering Transcendence 2, I spent 14 hours wandering through the swamp and obtained numerous misceneous traits.

    At that time, I acquired several infection-rted traits and nest-rted traits, besides the Pincer trait. Thanks to that, I didnt suffer any loss of type effects even when traits were moving around arbitrarily.

    At that time, I wondered if I could use them as materials. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

    Anyway, moving only the traits obtained through the Unique Trait Synthesis system to the new type was significant in various ways.

    Transforming into a more powerful monster with Perfect Organism, dominating and corroding battleships with Horizon of Nightmares, and the ability to use Organic Evolution by exchanging the Giant Creature trait and Dwarfing trait.

    These traits go beyond Amorphs limits.

    Moreover, the Unique type is unprecedented in the game.

    And theres no type with descriptions attached like it is now.

    For every type acquired by Amorph, there is no exnation of the effects or the types of characteristics involved. yers must personally confirm with their own eyes.

    While that is the principle, it seemed that the Unique level type like the Space monster type had descriptions avable. I opened the attached text box that came with the Space monster type.

    [Space Monster (Unique): The ultimate goal of evolution is to surpass the limits of the species. As additional characteristics acquired through the Transcend system are added, this type progressively receives additional effects. This type ignores penalties resulting from acquiring types.]

    [*1st stage (Required characteristic count: 3/4)]

    [*2nd stage (Required characteristic count: 3/8)]

    [*3rd stage (Required characteristic count: 3/??)]

    [*4th stage (Required characteristic count: 3/??)]

    Reading the content, I could understand why an exnation was necessary. The type effect for Transcendence 2nd stage was quite unique.

    A type that strengthens progressively, I havent seen one like this before.

    Typically, a type has no effect when unlocked, and it onlyes into y after meeting the conditions and acquiring it. There are no cases where, like the Space monster type, acquiring a certain number of characteristics gives a special effect.

    But theres no indication of what effect it gives its not written anywhere, as expected.

    Without any clues, its premature to conclude, but I thought it might provide a very powerful effect.

    Now, whats left is the characteristic enhancement system.

    I want to check it immediately, but a severe fatigue rushes in. My stomach is gradually grumbling, and I feel warmth from the groundperhaps due to the surrounding fires. The desire to sleep surges.

    Big one, if youre sleepy, you can sleep.

    Big one Tired?

    Even though the urgent fires are out, its better to rest. Since its a type not found in the game, you dont know what side effects mighte.

    Even though they must be exhausted because of me, they rmend rest.

    [ZZZ (Thanks)]

    I couldnt properly express my gratitude and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

    ***

    Mercury.

    The closest to the sun and the smallest in the sr system, officially under the dominion of Garamelda, one of MegaCorps Noble Capital.

    Various Noble Capitals, like the Yujin family owning the moon, the Garamelda family dominating Mercury, T&C exerting influence over Phobos and Deimos,peting for Ganymede with Prime Capital, and so on.

    The seven Noble families of MegaCorp owned various satellites ands in the sr system.

    Usually, when a Noble Capital or Prime Capital purchases a from another star, they send a family member as governor to rule it in their stead. However, Garamelda was a bit different.

    The current head of the Garamelda family, Cloe Garamelda. For the past decade or so, she had been confined to the weapon research facility located on Mercury.

    So much so that her nickname is Queen of Mercury.

    With the head of the family not taking care of family matters, one might think her position would be precarious, but surprisingly, that wasnt the case. This was because the influence of the equipment she developed was tremendous.

    From weapons to reinforced suits and special drugs enhancing soldiersevery year, thanks to her creation of new deadly weapons, Garamelda maintained the highest state of affluence in its history. So, despite her young age and disinterest in family affairs, she received strong support from the elders.

    The Queen of Mercury, an outstanding weapons developer, had taken an umon vacation today.

    Lately, the head of the family takes vacations quite often. A few weeks ago too.

    Bio-dome-shaped Garamelda weapons research facility researchers were strolling around, and their gaze was directed towards the center of the dome. In the central underground area lies Cloes residence for the head of the family.

    Its good timing. She tends to be overly absorbed in her work. If she continues like that and falls ill, itll be a big problem.

    While the head is away, lets test the new equipment once more on our own.

    Cloe, supported by the sewage workers in the same facility, was currently in some space within the residence meant for the head.

    In the dimly lit ce, diamond-shaped steles with connected wires were toppled. Among them, only two steles had lights inside and were floating in the air.

    Seated on a specially developed levitating chair, Cloe opened her mouth towards the two steles.

    Brother Jason, what happened to the Imperial Fleet dispatch? My satellites were split in the middle, so I couldnt grasp the situation.

    Im curious about that too. The situation is impossible to assess due to the fleet vanguards.

    Jason, Cloe, Jubaka. They, as the leaders of Cult, MegaCorp, and Star Union respectively, conspired a few weeks ago to eliminate the notorious 5th Ranker, Amorph.

    They spread false information about the contamination of the they suspect as PH-101, referred to as Saigil 08 by the Cults, where the 5th Ranker is presumed to be hiding. This led to the Cult Council issuing a purification order. Consequently, the Imperial Fleet Judicator of Damocles 08. headed to Saigil 08.

    Due to the MegaCorp vanguards protecting the Imperial Fleet, causing devastation around Saigil 08s satellites of Star Union, Cloe and Jubaka have yet to grasp the situation.

    Therefore, with considerable time psed since the purification order, they called Jason to confirm the results.

    It shouldnt have been too difficult since its a Pre-Saint.

    Its Amorph, so who knows. The fleet vanguards might have suffered significant damage.

    Anyway, theyre all just toys. If they break, we can rece them with others.

    A typical MegaCorp statement filled with disregard for human life.

    What are you talking about, dictator.

    Cloe and Jubaka can joke like this because they firmly believe that Amorph has been dealt with.

    Even if the 5th Ranker had exceptional skills, winning against the Imperial Fleet, capable of annihting all life on a, is impossible. There might have been some resistance, but inevitably, the fleets cosmic bolts would have turned him into a handful of ashes.

    However,

    Something they never expected might be a reality.

    Suddenly, a clear female voice delivered a cruel reality to them.

    Its been a while, Lady Cloe, Lord Jubaka.

    Huh? Cynthia? Why are you using Brother Jasons stele?

    .

    Cloe, who was trimming her nails, was surprised to hear the womans voice flowing from the stele. Jubaka, rather than being surprised, seemed to sense an ominous feeling and frowned.

    Under normal circumstances, I would have used my stele, but due to the urgency of the situation, I used Jasons stele as a substitute.

    Urgent? Whats so urgent?

    Could it be?

    Lord Jasons purification orderpletely failed. The Imperial Fleet and the vanguards were annihted. Because of that, the Council is condemning Lord Jason for viting providence and nning to attack the sacred ce. Lord Jason refused the attendance order and is currently in hiding.

    .

    .

    I, too, have been summoned to endless hearings due to misinterpreting the prophecy all day and barely managed toe here. Please understand.

    The worst possible future they had imagined had be a reality.

    Realizing this fact, Cloe involuntarily dropped the nail grinder she was holding.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 147

    Chapter 147

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    The cult priests and prophetsunched orbital bombardment on the sacred ground prescribed by the cults.

    Its not an impossible feat, but its not something that typically happens. No, to put it bluntly, its a very rare urrence. This rarity stems from the fact that the sacred ground is a designated by the prophets after interpreting verses mentioned in the cults revered doctrine over an extended period.

    The doctrine epasses the past, present, and future of the cult, serving as a scripture and norm. Therefore, one cannot casually interfere with the sacred grounds mentioned in the doctrine, even if it poses a threat to the empire.

    Originally, its like that.

    No matter how devout a believer is, there are moments whenpromises between faith and reality are inevitable. Cults are no exception.

    There are exceptional cases where special measures are taken regarding the sacred grounds, one of which involves the entire corroding due to contamination.

    Jason capitalized on this point, pressuring the Cult Council and Elders to enforce a purification mission. Cynthia, a member of the Prophecy Assembly, also supported this by iming errors in the existing interpretation of the doctrine.

    With the three major institutions of the Cult Empire  the Council, Elders, and Prophecy Assembly  in motion, a purification order contrary to the doctrine could be carried out. If the purification mission had seeded, the current issues wouldnt have arisen. Removing the most dangerous contaminant in the Cult Empire would have deprived Jasons opposition of a basis for criticism.

    However, the purification mission failed, and both the Empires battleship and fleet were annihted. Due to the immense losses suffered by the Empire, Jason and Cynthias position became difficult, pushing them to pursue the purification mission at the risk of viting the doctrine.

    Even if the pressure on Jason diminishes as things resolve, regaining the same level of power as before is almost impossible. Long-lived cults, due to their inherent conservatism, remember past mistakes, especially those of leaders like Jason.

    Moreover, theres a really big problem.

    Cynthia mentioned that Jason went into hiding to avoid the Councils attendance order, but Clo easily guessed what he might be up to.

    Hiding is nonsense. He must be preparing to escape.

    Anyone experienced in space survival knows that sending an empire fleet to the sacred ground is an action more fitting for yers than cults.

    The notorious 5th ranked, Amorph, is likely to know who attacked him or will find out soon. In other words, the next target hes aiming for is Jason.

    If its him, hell chase us to the end of the universe.

    Clo, having experienced it herself, understands well. Not realizing that he was Rank 5, she had once interfered with his evolution, nearly quitting the game because of his retaliation.

    Jason has had a simr experience. He was on the verge of posting an apology on themunity board and likely suffered even more than her.

    Should I run away too?

    While Clo is lost in thought, one of the previously silent monuments emanates light. Its the monument of Juvaka.

    What happened to the records if the battleship was destroyed?

    What do you mean by records?

    Just because its called total annihtion doesnt necessarily mean that everything perished.

    Whats that supposed to mean?

    The military concept of total annihtion is used when thebat capabilities are sopromised that the mission cannot be continued. Even if the entire fleet is lost, its too early to say that there are absolutely no survivors.

    Among those present, Juvaka is the only one directly involved in military affairs. He is the Grand Master of Star Union and the overallmander of the Mech Fleet. Therefore, he urately understood what Cynthias words meant. Cynthia replied to Juvakas statement.

    Among the ships that returned from the fleet, only one out of fifty is operable. Even that one is severely damaged, with 80% of the crew dying, and it returned through automatic navigation. The captain of the Imperial battleship Judicator of Damocles 08. perished, and only 20 survivors boarded the escape pod.

    What caused the severe damage?

    ording to the investigation, cosmic bolts dark matter reversed and exploded due to an unidentified energy projectile.

    What about the surviving crew?

    To Clos question, Cynthia suddenly fell silent. Cynthia, who had answered fluently until now, hesitated for the first time.

    What did they say?

    They said that it was a demon with three heads that spouted lightning from its mouth.

    What seriously?

    damn!

    A demon with three heads. Clo knows well what that nickname means.

    Has he already evolved into the ascendant stage?

    If its the ascendant stage, its understandable that the entire fleet was annihted.

    As a perennial species, Amorph bes significantly more powerful as it goes backward. The adult form of Amorph can contend with elite armies and fleets. Moreover, considering that he annihted the Imperial battleship and fleet, he might have secured numerous unique traits.

    If its the Amorph has reached ascendant, were in danger too. You know that, right?

    Tsk, Ill contact Inspire.

    And Cynthia, can you disy the footage of him that you captured?

    The image quality isnt great.

    It doesnt seem like a situation toin about image quality right now.

    Understood. Just wait a moment Huh?

    Why, whats wrong huh?

    During their conversation, one of the monuments lying on the ground suddenly floated into the air.

    Soon, the monument shone, and the voice of an elderly man echoed in the dim space.

    Its been a while.

    Like the proverbial tiger responding when spoken to, the new participant was the person Clo usually refers to as Inspire.

    Long time no see. Are you well, Akira Yujin?

    It was Akira Yujin, the CEO of MegaCorp and the long-standing king of Earth.

    ***

    Now I can finally live.

    Its the second day since I repelled the Imperial battleships assault. Ive recovered enough to move, barely like before.

    On the first day, I didnt move at all and just slept. If I woke up in between, I ate the food brought by Number 26 and Adhai, and then went back to sleep to appease my hunger.

    It was like recovering from a cold or flu, and thanks to the restless rest, I could finally get up.

    Number 26 and Adhai, who dedicatedly nursed me all day, copsed as soon as they confirmed my return to normal. Number 26 was exhausted, and Adhai was genuinely in critical condition. Despite being attacked by the Horned Gigrantsst time, Adhai continued to hunt for food for me.

    [TL/N: Changing Hond Gigrants to Horned Gigrants as it makes more sense.]

    [PR/N: Pathetic condition, dear readers pls support hel so that we can take her to a mental asylum for checkup.]

    I quickly attached symbiotic spores to them and moved them to an underground nest. Due to the confrontation with the Imperial battleship, more than 80% of the nest copsed, but there was still enough space for Number 26 and Adhai to lie down.

    With food ced to satisfy hunger upon waking up, I am currently moving with the Mother of the Sky.

    Among the crashed ships, this one seems to be the closest.

    It seems so.

    As she said, the smell of burnt alloy tes emanates faintly from beyond the forest. We are currently searching for crashed cult ships after being hit by my psychokinesis breath.

    Most of the crashed ships fell into the sea or other continents, but a few ships crashed on our continent, Utopia-02.

    Theres something I want to experiment with.

    Its about whether heavily damaged ships that have crashed can be dominated. If its possible to dominate them, it might be worth considering them as targets for corrosion.

    I originally nned to leave on the research base in the abyss.

    The research base is made of ck silver and is also veryrge. If the ck silver effect still remains after my corrosion, it could be a significant force when fighting cults I might encounter in space. With its enormous size, it would be much easier to plunder the boarders who boarded it.

    Of course, there are downsides.

    Beingrge means that the hit area increases. During fleet battles, an increase in the hit area is more of a disadvantage than an advantage.

    Of course, I can reinforce the ships durability, but that doesnt mean I wont get hit at all.

    Moreover, the material called ck silver is a double-edged sword. I dont know how it will affect the limitations when I use my psychic breath.

    On the other hand, cult ships are more suitable forbat.

    Ive already experienced this when I captured the Space pirates shipst time.

    I actively used the weapons on the ship to defend against the attack of the Metallic Gremlin.

    Besides, that ship was not forbat but a trading ship. If I corrode the cults battleships and dominate them, they will be much stronger.

    Well, I dont know how damaged this one is, or if corrosion is possible.

    The Mother of the Sky has better eyesight than me. She might already see the appearance of the crashed ship.

    Can you confirm the appearance of the ship?

    The wind during the crash makes it hard to see. From the parts above the ground, it doesnt seem to be too damaged.

    Thank goodness.

    I nced briefly at the Mother of the Sky running besides me.

    The golden fur is reminiscent of ripe barley fields. Now, its a clean and beautiful sight with a shining luster, but I remember her appearance covered in burns all over her body when she nursed me.

    Like Number 26 and Adhai, she also did her best for my survival.

    Someday, I should repay her.

    I know her actions were due to the contract I made with her. However, that doesnt negate the fact that the Mother of the Sky took care of me.

    Later, when the opportunity arises, I n to give her an appropriate reward.

    Come to think of it, I havent apologized yet.

    I tried to devour her, thinking she was responsible for Adhais death. It was a misunderstanding. Adhai, feeling left behind by Number 26 and the Mother of the Sky, made an unexpected move. She was not at fault.

    I wanted to apologize, but with consecutive events, I havent been able to speak yet.

    Theres a ship ahead. You probably know, but it seems there are some survivors.

    Wait. I have something to say before that.

    Something to say?

    I quickly stopped my legs, which were moving fast, and stood in ce. She also stopped running when I suddenly stopped. She, with an elegant eagle-like head, tilted her head. Looking into her pumpkin-colored eyes, I spoke.

    About what happened with Adhaist time.

    Hmm?

    I misunderstood. So, I want to apologize.

    Huh? Huh?

    Having heard my apology, she blinked her eyes. As if she didnt understand what she heard, she asked again.

    What did you say just now? Say it again.

    Im sorry for not trusting you.

    After apologizing again, the Mother of the Sky widened her mouth.

    I judged hastily. Ill make sure this doesnt happen again.

    Honestly, its hard to believe you now, but say it once more.

    Im sorry. Ill be more careful in the future.

    Whether she understood that I was sincere or not, she didnt tease me anymore. She looked into my eyes seriously.

    Got it. I dont know if Im in a position to ept an apology, but it was true that I couldnt protect Adhai, Ill apologize too.

    Hmm.

    Then, thats the end of it.

    Fine.

    As I nodded, she sighed.

    Wow. To hear an apology from the famous Amorph, which Ive never heard in the game. Its Unbelievable.

    She shook her head, seemingly impressed at herself.

    Why did it sound like she was mocking me though.

    I considered pointing out that there had never been an incident in the game where I needed to apologize to her, but I refrained.

    Well, I was wrong.

    While thinking such thoughts, I detected movement from the auxiliary organs. Regrly repeating footsteps, tense heartbeats revealing anxiety, a unique smell of sweat and iron mixed together.

    Combining all this, it wasnt difficult to figure out who the enemy was.

    [ZZZ ZZ (Enemy)]

    Right.

    The Mother of the Sky, who realizedter than me, turned her gaze through the trees.

    Cult survivors. The number is

    [ZZZ (Six)]

    Their weapons are rudimentary, except for the Purple Spray Gun.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Shouldnt be difficult)]

    Its a suitable opponent to loosen up my body, which rested for a day.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 148

    Chapter 148

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Ah, Akira? I heard you were not on Earth. What happened?

    Cloe was taken aback by the sudden appearance of Akira Yujin. She knew Akira had been far away in another star system, mediating an internal conflict as the CEO.

    In response to her inquiry, Akira nonchntly replied,

    Jason sent a summon signalst time, didnt I miss it? It would be rude if it happened again.

    Alright.

    However, Cloe didnt trust Akiras words.

    [TL/N- the name of the character Clo in the previous chapter will be changed to Cloe, it sounds much much better.]

    He nted a spy on me!

    Seeing him enter at the perfect moment, Cloe immediately understood. This summon was at her request, and she had taken a vacation to attend it. Information must have leaked from there.

    Damn it.

    Akira considered himself a challenger to every Noble Capitals head who could seize the CEOs position from him. While it was a trait unique to Noble Capital to view everyone else aspetitors, Akira took it to an extreme.

    His massacres and crimes to control the Yujin family were infamous even among yers.

    Fine, I need to clean up the entourage first.

    Despite her annoyance at dealing with unnecessary matters, she didnt express it.

    While she remained silent, Jacob briefly exined the situation to Akira.

    Akiras first reaction to the exnation was skepticism.

    Why is that here well, it doesnt matter though. Now I understand how T&C presented such research results. Ha, no wonder I never get bored.

    He continued mumbling words that no one could understand.

    Akira, what does that mean?

    Its nothing. Anyway, Cynthia, share the hologram from the Pir.

    Ok.

    After a while, light emitted from Cynthias Pir and shot towards a point in the air. The scattered light converged into a hologram.

    The revealed image was of PH-101, the known as Sigil 08, where the Rank 5 Amorph appeared.

    Sigil 08,dies and gentlemen of Mega Corp and Star Union, this is thest video sent from the surveince satellite managing the holy site on PH-101.

    The being in the video had three heads and giant pipe-like structures on its back, resembling the Amorph entity butrger.

    The creature raised all three heads to the sky, emitting a powerful light from its mouths.

    The heat lines of that light, along with the darkness pouring from the sky, created a fierce battle of energies. The creature was facing off against the cosmic bolts shot by the Judge of Damos 08.

    During the battle, it began to use a new power. Purple energy gathered from its three heads and shot towards the sky.

    The video ended at that point.

    Afterwards, a maic storm urred on the, making it impossible to confirm through the satellite.

    Was there no video taken from the spaceship?

    The only ship that returned is heavily damaged. We are trying to restore the video, but good results are unlikely.

    Hehe, this is tricky.

    Despite the tense situation, Akiraughed calmly.

    Surprisingly, if that thing is the entity, Akira, you might be a target too.

    Thats true. If its really the entity, I might be next.

    What do you mean?

    Cloe and Jacob didnt understand, but Akira reacted as if he couldnt understand their reactions.

    Everyone knows that Amorphs strength doesnte from evolution. Ites from acquiring traits to fulfill its evolution conditions.

    Thats the true power of the Amorph.

    We understand that, Akira. Get to the point.

    If I had been the one to fight 5th rank, I would have managed the Imperial battleship more efficiently.

    Among the present members, Akira Yujin had fought the 5th rank Amorph the most. While he did lose most of the time, he had also achieved some victories.

    He doesnt prefer confronting enemies directly. Its merely thest resort he takes when finishing them off or when self-defense is impossible.

    Due to his extensive experience in battles with Rank 5 Amorphs, Akira knew the entitys preferred style wellstrategies involving reverse-engineering throughmunication, aerialbat utilizing flight capabilities, biochemical terrorism using viruses and parasites, and tactics exploiting the enemys fear for self-destruction.

    ording to Akiras judgement, the Rank 5 Amorph wasnt a warrior. It was a hunter.

    Perhaps he does it intentionally. to manipte our judgement.

    I see it differently. The two types of heat lines in the current video. These are abilities not present in the game. There are other means to stop the Imperial battleship, so why use these abilities? Especially when its clear that information would leak.

    A valid point.

    Cloe now understood what Akira was trying to convey.

    Did he go to such lengths to break the Imperial battleship?

    Its thest resort. It means hes still weak.

    True. If he truly were at the ascendant stage, he would have ended the Imperial battleship before they fired the Cosmic Bolt. Its not like that.

    So, Akira-sama, are you suggesting that the Amorph hasnt fully evolved into the ascendant stage?

    As soon as Cynthia finished speaking, a thought crossed Cloe and Jacobs minds: how did it obtain that much power on the, and what was Muriels role?

    Dont you all know? A means to experience that taste briefly without fulfilling evolution conditions.

    Psyonicum.

    Cloe realized that her developed Psyonicum had greatly aided the enemys survival and clenched her teeth.

    Spectively, he probably left the already to fulfill the evolution conditions. Its impossible to evolve into the ascendant stage on PH-101. And its troubling. We need to establish a countermeasure system.

    We should report this to the Prophets Council. They may or may not listen to my words.

    Do that. I happen to know a ce the entity might go, so Ill stop by on my way.

    While Cloe internally expressed her frustration, yers began discussing how to deal with Amorph.

    ***

    Kyaah kek!

    This should be thest one.

    Clearing out the Cult survivors wasnt a challenging task. Originally members of the Mothership battleship, the Cultists were all elite soldiers. However, due to the ship crash, they had lost most of their weapons.

    Most of the crew had died from the crash, resulting in very few survivors near the ship we visited, and among them, four were injured.

    The features of that transcendence system of yours are truly overpowered.

    Oh, really?

    As I spoke with the voice of a female Cultist, the Mother of the Sky shuddered.

    Upon reaching Transcendence Stage 2, the restrictions on the transcendence organ werepletely lifted. Now, I could perfectly replicate the appearance of thest consumed individual using pheromones. The function to mimic the voice of the transcendence organ was also working properly.

    The problem is that my size has be toorge.

    The effect of reaching transcendence level 2 didnt transform my body into that of a human. It deceived the senses of other organisms by emitting pheromones that made them perceive me as human-like.

    As my size increases, the difort felt by other creatures grows, making it challenging to deceive with pheromones alone.

    In the game, iplete entities werent this massive.

    With the application of three characteristics  Perfect organism, Horizon of Nightmares, and Organic Evolution  my body is muchrger than a typical iplete entity. Utilizing organic evolution to transform into an intelligent weakling state, deceiving enemies solely with the disguise function of the entity is not as easy as before.

    At least my voice has returned to normal.

    Due to the characteristics, I can now replicate the voice of myst consumed victim using pheromones. Although I find thement from the Mother of the Sky about my choice of a girls voice slightly disturbing, I n to use this voice for a while.

    Theres a possibility theylle back.

    Considering the potential return of the cultists, I need to be prepared. Although its unlikely that the cult will send an Imperial battleship to this again, as its designated as a Holy Land, I cant be too certain.

    The influence of doctrine in cult society isplex.

    For cultists, Doctrine holds a significant status simr to the Quran in Im, Geeta in Hinduism, Bible in Christianity, serving as a scripture and guiding principle for their lives. While most members strictly adhere to the doctrine, cultists, unlike religious individuals in reality, dont always adhere to it thoroughly.

    However, its different in governmental institutions like the Council.

    Doctrine contains crucial prophecies rted to the cults future. Some guide the revival of the Cult Empire, while others are linked to its decline. The problem lies in theck of rity on which path leads to a better future.

    To vite or adhere to the doctrine is a crucial decision for cult yers.

    The unique system of the cult race is a quest, but unifying cult society is also a major task. The most important factor in uniting cult society is the doctrine.

    However, exceptions exist where viting the doctrine is inevitable.

    For example, if there is an attack from the Outspacer or the emergence of the Vortex one, opinions may differ on whether to leave the Holy Land or engage in purification.

    I recently investigated the memories of cultists using the Human Face characteristic.

    They came to this under the pretext of purifying the contamination, but the exact nature of the contamination remains unknown.

    The power of the opposing yer is greater than anticipated.

    Among the deer antler cultists, there must be some in high-ranking positions. They may be members of the Council, leaders of the Elder Council, or even prophets affiliated with the Prophecy Society.

    To carry out the purification order, I need to convince the three power structures of the cult  the Council, the Elder Council, and the Prophecy Society.

    It seems the task was rushed. If the intention was maniption, it would have been more effective to carry it out perfectly from start to finish.

    Perhaps the goal was to capture me as quickly as possible.

    Hence, they deployed the Imperial battleship without fully exining what the contamination was. The high-ranking cult yer who led this might have used their connections and power to hastily convince the cultists.

    His judgment isnt bad, assuming the purification operation was sessful.

    Even if the purification operation was sessful, significant damage urred in the Cult Empire due to my actions. Already, the situation isplicated by an additional risk arising from the forced vition of doctrine.

    Those who opposed the yers opinions will naturally resist, and those who followed the yers opinions might attempt to reinterpret the prophecies of the doctrine. Even if the yer who led this is a formidable figure, enduring their political onught is by no means an easy task. By now, they might be facing considerable difficulties.

    Cultists tend to be conservative, so it will take quite some time to decide how to respond.

    While its a fact that the Imperial battleship was destroyed, the opposing yer might argue for increased surveince over the Holy Land. They might even suggest sending numerous satellites to thoroughly scan the.

    The fortunate part is that the universe is helping me.

    Due to the confrontation between me and the Imperial battleship, intermittent maic storms are urring on the. This instability in theary atmosphere, resulting from the conflict between the Cosmic Bolt and the Divine Scepter, causes storms earlier than the usual cycle. Once the atmosphere stabilizes, the maic storms will cease, and I need to leave before that happens.

    I have five days left until I can use the Horizon of Nightmares.

    Although there are no immediate threats to my life, I cant becent. The situation is precarious, like a house built on sand.

    Lets focus on what we can do right now.

    I need to start by assessing whether I can corrode this battleship buried halfway in the ground.

    If you release me, I will provide detailed information, from the ships operation to repairs!

    I understand that better than you! I will take care of it!

    Damn! Youre not an engineer; youre a medical officer!

    Shut up!

    This battleship model is a new escort ship created by the technicians of the StarUnion. It is made of an alloy containing Moonsilver and is equipped with a reflection function. If you save me, I can give you a detailed exnation

    The five faces near the top of my back, created using the Human Face characteristic, be noisy, prompting me to silence them forcibly. Extracting corroding tendrils from the holes in my back, I proceed to examine the partially buried warship.

    Lets check it out.

    The tendrils, following my will, start to investigate the sunken ship. They work diligently to provide the necessary information on whether the ship can corrode, how long corrosion can be sustained, and other essential details.

    After a while, as always, the corroding tendrils did not betray my wishes. Satisfied with the report, I release control over the faces created by the Human Face characteristic.

    You. You seem to know a lot about this ship.

    Yes, yes! Ask me anything!

    I also understand well! I will answer!

    This ship is a new model not seen in the game before. Unlike the ships Ive taken control of so far, I know nothing about its size, armament, or specifications. So, Ill have to utilize the collective intelligence of these cult faces.

    Its horrifying.

    Though the Mother of the Sky, observing my actions from the side, muttered quietly, I ignored her.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 149

    Chapter 149

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    The members of the Mothership Battle Group assigned to the Advance-ss high-speed escort ship were rtively lucky. Five days ago, they crashed onto an ind after being hit by a psychic power shockwave fired by three demonic heads. The ce was like a treacherous maze where dangerous creatures roamed freely, far from an environment conducive to the survival of those with physical abilities no greater than humans.

    Had theynded on the continent, they wouldnt havested a day.

    Will the rescue team reallye?

    When the maic storm subsides, we canmunicate with satellites. Just hold on until then.

    Various cult members with diverse horns gathered around a campfire, tearing apart and devouring grilled fish. Some had broken horns due to the impact of the crash, while others had bandages tightly wrapped around their bodies. Despite the perilous situation, the determination to endure filled the eyes of the 25 cult members.

    If we look at the sky, the maic storm seems to have weakenedpared to yesterday.

    Themunication equipment is roughly restored, but were a bit short on parts.

    Lets try again tomorrow morning. The technicians will see if theres a way to get parts from the damaged spacecraft.

    Cult members, under the guidance of a warrior with goat horns, nodded in agreement.

    Its going to be tough for everyone, but we have to endure somehow. Many have left guided by destiny, but its not our time yet.

    Despite being a race blessed with psychic power, it wasnt much help in this situation. Most Psychic Power techniques consumed a lot of energy. Using Psychic Power to catch fish or gather fruits would quickly deplete their energy, leading to a copse.

    Aware of this fact, the warrior focused on ensuring that the cult members moved within a limit where a crowd wouldnt form. The sailors also followed the warriors intentions, understanding the situation, even if it was frustrating.

    After finishing their meal, they moved to handle their respective tasks. The leader, a warrior, tirelessly went around assisting hisrades.

    Time passed, and the sixth night arrived on the ind. The warrior confirmed that there were no dangerous creatures on the ind. However, unexpected events could still ur at midnight, so they decided to take turns keeping watch, excluding the three night guards.

    All except the three night guards fell into a deep sleep.

    The fire is getting weaker.

    Im going to check on something, pick it up if Im not back.

    One cult member entered the forest with a rifle.

    Oh, close call, almost ran out of rice.

    He solved his business slightly away from the campfire. Adjusting his pants, he picked up twigs and branches around him, thinking it would be enough. Just as he was about to return, he heard a rustling sound in his ears.

    The sound of leaves and branches being stepped on. Quickly dropping the gathered branches, he raised his rifle.

    Whos there?

    He shouted, but there was no reply. Another night guard heard his shout and hurriedly ran over.

    Why did you suddenly shout?

    I heard footsteps from the forest just now.

    What?

    The two night guards aimed their rifles in the direction of the sound, but there were no more footsteps.

    Must have misheard.

    Maybe.

    The two turned back towards the campfire. Then, once again, an unidentified sound stimted their ears. This time, it wasnt just footsteps.

    Did you hear that just now?

    .

    The two held their breath and listened. The faint sound of waves from beyond the forest, the rustling of leaves swaying in the wind. And then, a voice broke the silence.

    Is anyone there?

    Though small, the distinctly audible voice was undoubtedly that of a female cult member. It was clear that one of the cult survivors had made it to this ind.

    Uh, what should we do? Should we help?

    Wait a moment. Somethings off.

    It hadnt been more than a day or two since they arrived on this ind. It wasntrge enough to be called a continent, and they could easily circle the ind in half a day. It seemed imusible that there could be cult members they hadnt encountered.

    Weve been here for a few days. There are no other ships here.

    Maybe they came from somewhere else? Perhaps they had better conditions and could fly in with a spacecraft.

    Thats

    The statement wasnt entirely false, but there was a crucial oversight. Despite it being midnight, they hadnt heard the sound of spacecraft flying.

    In times like this, we need to stick together! Hey, over here!

    Wait!

    Before theirrade could point out the fact, the cult member had already rushed towards the direction of the voice, loudly shouting.

    What are they both doing?

    A while ago, I heard a womans voice from over there.

    What?

    Although the two night guards hesitated for a moment, they decided to wake up the warrior instead of following their rushingrade. The voice seemed suspicious, no matter how they thought about it.

    As they moved toward the campfire, the voice of theirrade who had rushed earlier came from behind the bushes.

    Hey! Help us a bit!

    Huh?

    They are friends from the escort ship JSB-02! Dont worry!

    Thats right! We ran into trouble while flying in with the spacecraft.

    Pleasee and help us.

    The voice from beyond the bushes wasnt just one persons. Multiple voices echoed simultaneously, suggesting that a group had arrived.

    There was no hint of threat in the rushedrades voice. Instead, there was only a sense of relief at meeting fellow cult members after a long time.

    This is strange. Why didnt we hear the sound of the spacecraft?

    We might have missed it. Lets go and check.

    So, the remaining two night guards rxed. They pushed through the bushes, following the voices.

    The trees on the ind werent particrlyrge, but it was an ambitious night. Even with shlights attached to their rifles, it was not easy for them, nonbatants, to navigate through the darkness of the forest.

    As if understanding such a situation, the voices of the cult members popped up timely.

    Over here!

    Here! This way!

    Just a bit more!

    As if putting in effort to prevent them from getting lost, the voices were guiding them.

    At the end of their journey following the voices, they arrived not in the forest but on the beach. Standing alone in a spot where the sand was deep and well-trodden due to the waves was a female cult member wearing reinforced clothing.

    Whats going on? Where are the others?

    Even to the night guards question, the female cult member remained silent. She just stared at them with an expressionless face.

    A moment ago, the voices that had echoed simultaneously were nowhere to be seen. Neither were the spacecraft they imed to have arrived in.

    At that moment, as they gazed towards the swaying waves.

    Hmm?

    The waves should have crashed onto the beach, but something unseen seemed to be blocking them in mid-air. The moment the cultist recognized the unnaturalness, they sensed a strange smell lingering in the air. There was a peculiar scent subtly woven into the air, fundamentally different from the salty sea smen unpleasant odor.

    Not alone in feeling the strangeness, the cultistspanion took a step back. His gaze was fixed on the shadow of a woman standing alone on the sand with an eerie face.

    Following his gaze, the cultist looking at the shadow felt a sensation of goosebumps all over their body. Initially, they thought the wet sand looked ck, but that wasnt the case. All the ck sands in front of them were shadows.

    Are you leaving?

    The figure of the female cultist wavered like an illusion. Simultaneously, the shadows twisted and moved.

    And a voice echoed.

    Leaving us alone to go where?

    Dont leave us.

    Join us.

    Together with the voices of their kin, the shadows overwhelmed them.

    The warrior of the Advanced-ss high-speed escort ship opened his eyes in an unknown foreboding. Typically, goat-horned cultists were known for their proficiency in psychic Power techniques rted to physical enhancement. He joined the warrior group by utilizing his innate abilities, but he had one special aspect.

    An outstanding crisis detection ability.

    Thanks to his faster perception of danger than hisrades, he had escaped death on the dangerous battlefield more than once. So, once this mission was over, he nned to retire from the warrior group and prepare for the Prophets Test. While his ability was far inferior to true prophets, with talent, he believed he could ovee it with practice.

    However, the ability to detect imminent danger like foresight suddenly activated.

    Swiftly, the warrior grabbed the weapon he had ced beside him. He enhanced his senses with psychic Power.

    His heightened ears caught faint sounds from outside the makeshift tent.

    So, if we detach this, itll work?

    Yes. When youbine it with these parts, it can be activated immediately after attachment.

    I see. Is there anything else needed?

    If youre taking it with you, take this as well.

    The voices were of a male and a female cultist.

    Night guards?

    Seeing fellow cult members casually conversing indicated that the situation was not critical. However, his brain, triggered by the crisis detection ability, still sounded rms.

    Get out of here immediately.

    Moreover, there was an essential fact.

    Among this group of survivors, there was no female cultist.

    .

    The warrior, who had been contemting, finally decided to personally investigate the situation. With a pounding heart and trembling hands, he gently lifted the entrance of the tent.

    And then, he regretted his actions.

    ***

    Alright. This should be fine.

    Not far from the tent, there was a partially destroyed ship. Something enormous, almost toorge to capture in one nce, was there. A horrifying, unprecedented monster was disassembling the elongated arms of the ship.

    Wwill you spare me?

    II worked hard too! Spare me, please!

    Darn it! Me too!

    More horrifying was the something on its back. Five cult faces, pallid and nauseating, were embedded like lesions, continuously crying for mercy. Among those faces, there was one that the warrior recognized.

    Ive told you everything I know! Please!

    Quiet.

    As the smooth voice of a woman flowed out of the monsters mouth, the faces that were screaming fell silent. The monsters white eyeballs moved, and it turned its gaze toward the warriors tent.

    Saw that, huh?

    The warrior, meeting eyes with the creature, wished it was all just a dream.

    Ive got everything I need.

    Until the cooldown of the nightmare horizon ends, there is plenty of time. So, I traveled around the crash sites checked by the Mother of the Sky, collecting parts to enhance the weaponry of the advanced escort ship.

    Theres nothing wrong with having a high level of armament.

    The stronger the ship bes, the more weapons can be utilized through corrosion.

    Today is the 6th day. I can depart tomorrow.

    I am on my way back to the continent of Utopia-02, carrying the newly acquiredponents and ship weapons.

    This is thest target. The other ships crashed on entirely different continents, making them too far away.

    By the way, its been a while since I used the metamorphosis and the face-changingbo.

    Both are abilities that I used as my main in the game. In reality, these two abilities have an unofficial but crucial synergy.

    With the face-changing ability, I can choose the victim to apply the metamorphosis organ.

    Originally, when using the metamorphosis organ, it would discard the stored genes and rece them with the new ones upon consuming a new gene. Therefore, the target for implementation changed every time I consumed a gene, controlled by pheromones.

    Thats the weakness of the metamorphosis organ.

    The inability to change the target for implementation through will.

    Due to the limitation of pretending to be a certain target and the feeling of disparity thates with increasing size, the metamorphosis organ was challenging to use continuously untilte in the game.

    Originally, that would be true, but

    When the face-changing ability intervenes, everything changespletely.

    The face-changing ability operates by copying the genes of the enemy and storing them in the body. It also allows me to retrieve some of their memory information when absorbing them, enabling me to question them and extract information.

    The crucial point here is that the stored gic information can be extracted and used by the metamorphosis organ.

    It allows me to create pheromones that disguise me as one of the chosen targets from the stored gic information.

    Almost no one knows about this fact.

    As far as I know, Im the only one who has used both abilities simultaneously. Since very few people naturally acquire the metamorphosis organ, those who attempt to use both are exceptionally rare.

    Ive fooled quite a few people with this.

    As I continued to trick many people using the metamorphosis organ, some of them started to figure out strategies. They would ask for a password known only to them or throw a bait by catching a new prey and making it impossible to disguise as the previously mimicked target, and so on.

    However, they were unaware that I had a means of disguising myself in multiple forms through the metamorphosis organ.

    Of course, there are drawbacks to this as well.

    The face-changing ability can store genes from a maximum of five individuals. Therefore, I can disguise myself as the appearance of up to five different people at once.

    If only there was a way to increase this limit.

    In the game, there was no way to increase the limit, no matter how much I searched.

    It might be different in this world.

    In a ce where elements not present in the game are emerging one after another, there might be a way to increase the limit of the face-changing ability.

    With such thoughts in mind, while swimming, I felt a familiar ripple.

    Number 26, which I hadnt noticed, approached me, fluttering its fins. In the distance, the figures of the Mother of the Sky and Adhai looked small on the moonlit sandy beach.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Why did youe all the way here?)]

    The creature responded with a cheerful wave, perhaps enjoying swimming like a typical marine creature.

    Ill be leaving this tomorrow.

    The next destination might not offer many opportunities for swimming. Its better to let the creature enjoy its favorite activity to the fullest right now.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Sure, lets go together.)]

    I enjoyed thest swim in thes night sea with Number 26.

    ***

    In the pitch-ck expanse of space, a small spaceship traversed the infinite cosmos. Those with an interest in spacecraft would quickly recognize that the ivory-colored elliptical design ship was the cultists escape pod. Additionally, those more discerning might notice the severe damage near the rear, particrly around the superluminal engine.

    The inability to perform Faster than light travel in this vast space was a serious problem. Moreover, for an escape pod with minimal provisions and medical supplies, entering the cultists sphere of influence without the superluminal engine would take at least half a year. It was far from sufficient with only a weeks worth of rations on the escape pod.

    In other words, they were left with two choices: starvation or suicide.

    Captain, this is thest of our provisions.

    Im not hungry; you eat.

    I cannot allow that. Havent you gone without eating for three days already?

    The two inside the beautifully designed escape pod were the captain and crew who had escaped from the Imperial gship Judicator of Damocles 08.When theyst escaped, the aftermath of the battleships explosion severely damaged the superluminal engine. Currently, they were stranded in the vastness of space.

    While the escape pods flight speed was exceptionally fast, without the superluminal engine, it would take quite a long time to escape the cultists influence. A weeks worth of rations was nowhere near enough to reach safety.

    In essence, they were left with two options: death by starvation or suicide.

    Captain, I made a promise with the others. I promised to ensure that you dont die in vain.

    .

    Please, help me keep that promise.

    Just give half.

    As the crew member was about to hand over half of thebat rations to the captain, the ship suddenly came to a halt.

    Whats going on? Is it a space anomaly?

    Ill check!

    They quickly manipted the controls to examine why the ship had stopped.

    Captain!

    Someone is forcibly pulling our ship.

    While it could be that the cultist ship had luckily discovered them, the probability was low. The interster region they were passing through was an empty space where no faction had a presence  a suitable hiding ce for a hostile space pirate.

    Haha, it seems fate is trying to im us.

    Well fight to the end.

    They gripped the weapons stored inside the escape pod. Soon, the sound of a sma cutter operating near the door of the escape pod echoed.

    Gulp.

    Now!

    As the door fell, they rushed out.

    Though they had gone without food for several days, the captain, having experienced countless battlefields in the past, tried to use thest bit of psychic power to attack the enemy. However, the opponent was more agile than expected. The adversary, d in a white suit with a sleek figure, effortlessly dodged the captains attack and transformed its arm into a de, aiming for the captains neck.

    Ugh?!

    Stop.

    Captain!

    Meanwhile, the other crew member had been subdued by another figure wearing an eerie suit that seemed like a fusion of a walker and reinforced clothing.

    We dont surrender to the Spacedogs.

    Spacedogs? Do I look like a Spacedog to you?

    The one who had subdued the captain retorted with a cold sneer. Only now could the captain thoroughly examine the opponents appearance.

    Surprisingly, the opponent with exceptionalbat skills turned out to be a woman. A woman with elongated horns on the left side of her head.

    You are not a cultist reveal your identity.

    In response to the captains words, she replied,

    My name is Si-hyun Yujin, The new captain of Judicator of Damocles 08 and Ivee for you.

    Yujin? Could you be from the MegaCorps Yujin family?

    Si-hyun Yujin, the former shadow of MegaCorp and the current captain of the Judicator of Damocles 08 hade to find those who had failed their purification mission.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 150

    Chapter 150

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Why did MegaCorps Noble Capitale looking for me?

    This ce is on the outskirts of the gxy on which PH-101 is located. Though it is practically indistinguishable from the deste mountains, it remains untouched by the influence of the Cult Empire, yet significantly distant from MegaCorps jurisdiction.

    Nerun quickly surveyed the surroundings. Not only were there Cult-style escape pods, but also various types of ships and spacecraft scattered across the docking bay of this colossal spaceship. From the dry white warship of Mars Prime Capital to the rectangr frigate created by the renowned Noble Capital family, famous for space city construction, and even the spacecraft predominantly used by the Star Union.

    As far as Nerun knew, MegaCorps Noble Capitals were highly exclusive entities. Even if they operated ships of the same ss, they went to the extent of customizing detailed armaments and internal structures.

    If youre truly of the Yujin family, you wouldnt be operating such a diverse fleet. Its suspicious.

    It seems you know quite a bit about my family.

    MegaCorp is a potential threat to the Cult empire, so its only natural to be informed.

    The words seemed to please Si-hyun Yujin as she slightly raised the corner of her mouth. She withdrew the knife pressed against Neruns neck and, in an instant, her arm with the sharp de returned to its original state.

    The peculiar presence in the bizarre suit holding Neruns subordinate on the side also released its hold.

    Whats going on?

    We have something to discuss, so please follow me.

    With no choice, Nerun obediently followed Si-hyun Yujin. The presence in the strange suit handed over control of the crew to another officer and stuck close behind Nerun.

    Hell be treated as a guest, so you dont need to worry about him.

    Si-hyun Yujin assured Nerun, who kept ncing back.

    Passing through a neat white corridor, Si-hyun Yujin led Nerun to an elegant reception room. She naturally went to the chair in front of the mahogany table and sat down. The presence in the strange suit, showing disinterest, leaned against one wall.

    I thought it was a subordinate.

    Wearing a peculiar suit that covered not only the body but also the face, it was impossible to determine the race or even the gender of this being.

    Please, have a seat, Captain Nerun.

    Regardless of whatever rtionship they had, it wasnt crucial at the moment. Nerun reluctantly sat on the opposite side of the table. Si-hyun Yujin pushed a cake te towards him.

    You must be quite hungry. Have some of this first.

    What do you want? There must be a reason for bringing me all the way here.

    Neruns question went unanswered. She just gestured towards a piece of cake.

    Feeling the atmosphere that suggested no answers until after eating, Nerun reluctantly used a fork to cut a piece of cake and put it in his mouth.

    And then, he was surprised.

    This is a high-calorie chocte cake developed for both taste and energy supply. Someone who shares our intentions should be treated generously.

    Si-hyun Yujins gaze briefly shifted towards the presence in the strange suit, but Nerun couldnt pick up on that fact. As the soft cake crumbs slid down his throat, he suddenly felt a surge of vitality coursing through his body.

    There is only one reason why I brought you here. To acquire information that only you have.

    As he absentmindedly ate the cake, she began to address the matter at hand.

    Information?

    Captain Nerun, you led a battleship and prevented the invasion war by Outspacers in the past. For your valor, you were appointed as the captain of the Imperial battleship Judicator of Damocles 08.''

    You seem to have done quite a thorough investigation. I dont see any obligation for me to answer.

    As I delved deeper, something peculiar caught my attention. How is it possible to defeat a massive Outspacer force with just a few battleships?

    Even for a skilled strategist, its no easy feat. So, I investigated further.

    Neruns eyebrows twitched upon hearing those words.

    There are records indicating that the Cultists aboard the battleship used an unidentified artifact during that time. The one who thwarted the Outspacer force disappeared immediately, leaving only the artifact with depleted energy behind.

    How do you know about that?

    How I know is not important, Captain Nerun. The crew of the battleship at that time deemed the artifact dangerous and decided to store it at a specific location on a very perilous. Am I correct?

    Upon hearing her words, Nerun understood why she had sought him out.

    Youre after that artifact.

    Yes. You just need to tell us the location of the artifact.

    Do you think Id just spill the beans?

    Yes. I can provide you with what you desire.

    Hah, how do you, a human, know what I want?

    Nerun chuckled.

    However, his expression stiffened at Si-hyun Yujins following words.

    Perhaps the Council will decide not to send the Imperial battleship back to PH-101, fearing the consequences of the prophecy.

    What?

    With no ship and no connections in the Council, youll retire as you are. Youll have to live a lifetime harboring hatred for that monster.

    Nerun did not deny her words.

    You know the power of that artifact. With it, you can reduce that so-called monsters to dust.

    I could go find the artifact myself without helping you.

    Well, the location where the artifact is stored is very perilous. Even if you were the captain of an Imperial battleship, you cannot go there now.

    Damn it. You really know everything.

    Nerun muttered a curse under his breath.

    If I reveal the location of the artifact, youll take care of that creature?

    Yes. I will seek revenge against that Three-Headed Devil.''

    Hmph, Ill join you in killing that creature instead of letting you do it alone. Ill personally guide you to the location of the artifact.

    Seeing his hatred-filled eyes, Si-hyun Yujin faintly smiled.

    ***

    What is it?

    Despite being connected to a metallic mass with sensory functions, this is the first time Ive felt an itchy sensation in my ear.

    Come to think of it, Amorph doesnt have ears.

    Amorphcks ears and a nose, but instead, it has slender tentacles hanging below its jaw, functioning as auxiliary organs.

    This organ can detect the flow of air, allowing it to sense sound and smell simultaneously. Moreover, it can even detect intangible energy flows like electromaic waves or psychic powers, making it an almost universal sensory organ.

    Perhaps thanks to these auxiliary organs.

    Even while integrated with the Cult escort ship through the Nightmare Horizon attribute, I could monitor this elongated rhomboid hull in minute detail, much like my own body.

    Thats not all. This auxiliary organ, more precise than any detection sensor within a spaceship, didnt miss a single obstacle in space.

    Even now, the corrosive tentacles attached to the outer hull are constantly sweeping away space debris and rocks flying towards us.

    Currently, we are flying through the endless darkness, not the surface of a.

    A few hours ago, the cooldown of the Nightmare Horizon ended. We, who hadpleted all preparations before that, finally left the Cults sacred ce, PH-101.

    One left its family, while one left the sad memories of her deceased family members.

    But no one expressed regret.

    The Mother of the Sky wanted to be buried on the afterpleting all vengeance.

    She knows what my n is, though.

    Being a Ranker, the Mother of the Sky has a vague understanding of Amorphs ascension conditions. That her own life could be the foundation for my evolution as well.

    Nevertheless, her desire for revenge outweighed her will to live, so she chose to apany me.

    Of course, I dont know what the future holds

    If, by any chance, she has to be used as material for evolution, I will ask her again at that time.

    Whether she wants to die for revenge.

    Originally, I had no intention of asking, but now things are different. I owe her a favor..

    I expected her reaction, but Number 26s attitude was more unexpected.

    I know that it chose me over its kin.

    Still, I thought it would be a bit mncholic when leaving the, but it seemed rather excited.

    After taking control of the ship, I shot a pulse and asked, and it replied like this.

    It would eat new prey, be stronger, and then inform its kin about it. Ot hoped for the prosperity of his kin in thes seas.

    It has a new dream, too.

    Dreams are a privilege of intelligent beings. Abstract yet long-term, a kind of future n.

    Not long after meeting Number 26, I hoped that it could meet his kin someday.

    The goal was partially achieved. Number 26 inherited the power of the deceased Sea Demon andmunicated with other bubble amoebas.

    But this time, Number 26 announced its own ambitions to me first. It set a new goal for itself.

    Its not only growing physically but also mentally.

    Is this what it feels like to be like a parent raising a child?

    During my days as a human, I didnt have many pleasant memories of a family or parental love. My childhood was filled with the scent of hospitals, disinfectants, and pain.

    But now, whenever I see the growing Number 26, a lump of emotions swells in my chest. Perhaps this is the kind of emotion parents feel when raising their children.

    Adult?

    Lost in emotions, whether its nostalgia or bitterness, I was awakened by a gentle touch of Adhais tentacle.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (What is it?)]

    I Exin?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Sorry. I was thinking about something.)]

    Adult Tired I Later Exin Possible

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Its okay.)]

    The reason we havent set out on FTL* travel even after leaving the is that we need to figure out the route to our next destination. [*Faster than light]

    Now, our destination is a ce not recorded in the regr routes of ordinary spacecraft. Its an extremely remote and dangerous ce, almost like the abyss of space.

    Gagons Nest.

    When I saved Adhai in the T&C Special Trade Hub, I made a deal with her. She promised to show me the way to the Gagons Nest if I kept her safe.

    And now, its time for her to keep that promise.

    Gagon has an instinct to find its nest.

    Even if Gagons nest is far away, it quickly senses in which direction it is. Whether it knows through exceptional psychic power or through the instinct typical of beasts, the cause is unknown.

    It might take some time.

    Weve stocked up on provisions on this ship. If necessary, we can hunt down another ship on the way and supply ourselves with food. There are plenty of ways to find food, so even if it takes time, its not a big problem.

    While thinking about this, Adhais mental pulse touched my mind.

    I Need Map

    [ZZZ (A map?)]

    Shiny Shiny Light Map

    She raised her forepaw and drew a circle in the air.

    Is she talking about a hologram map?

    Before taking control of this ship, Adhai had explored the ship with me. I did it with the intention of finding survivors or useful tools, but it seems that Adhai saw the remnants of holograms in the situation room at that time.

    Lets try disying it.

    This ship is almost like my body. A hologramposed of atoms identical to mine, apanied by psychic power, appeared next to me.

    There Erge Request

    Adhai pointed to a certain point on the map. When I erged that point, she looked at it with round eyes and poked a specific spot with her forepaw.

    Could it be?

    Each time I erged and moved the map, Adhai pointed to new locations using her wings and forepaws.

    After repeating this dozens of times, a certain sector appeared. Adhai pped her wings towards the located on the outer edge of the sector.

    Here Gagons Nest

    Huh.

    Actually, Im not usually easily surprised, but this time is an exception. I had nned to use Adhai as a living navigation system using Gagons unique instinct, but she actually created a path from here to the Gagons Nest.

    Even though I was watching in real-time, I couldnt believe it, so I asked him,

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (How did you make it?)]

    I Constetion Remembered

    Constetion?

    Stars Location Map Comparison Easy

    She responded as if it was nothing special.

    I thought she was a dwarf mutation, but it seems like theres no mutation in intelligence, she is already very clever

    If other Gagons in the Gagons Nest have this level of intelligence, I dont have confidence in facing them as opponents.

    As I pondered silently, Adhai added an exnation.

    Kin Constetion Dont know Interest None

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Is that so?)]

    Kin Strength Strong Memory Needed None Head Needed None

    From what Adhai said, it seemed that the Gagons in the Nest were not as intelligent as her. In other words, Adhai was a living example of the saying that if the body is bad, the head suffers.

    Well, its a relief.

    Adult Question

    While feeling relieved, Adhai called me with her psychic power.

    I Gagons Nest Exnation Adult Contract End

    Huh?

    Adult I Abandon?

    Although she was in a half-lying posture as before, her body was stiff. Judging from the slight trembling of her wings, she seemed tense.

    Of course, I contracted to save you in exchange for showing me the way to the nest.

    It seemed like Adhai thought that I might abandon her.

    Maybe I would have if it were the past.

    But not anymore.

    Since I couldnt stroke her directly in the fused state, I extended the corrosion tentacles and gently caressed her head.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (You are the most precious beings to me.)]

    Really?

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (There will never be a day when I abandon you.)

    Thank goodness! Joy! Joy! Joy!

    Feeling my emotions, Adhai happily pped her wings. she wagged her tail around my surroundings, where it was attached to the atomic nucleus with a hint of white scales visible near the back of her neck.

    Thanks to Adhai, well arrive soon.

    Though the distance is considerable, it should only take a few months with superluminal travel, which is not a problem.

    Shall we depart, then?

    I entered the coordinates and route provided by Adhai into the corrodedputer of the ship.

    The next target to conquer is the Gagons Nest.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 151

    Chapter 151

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    -

    Officially, MegaCorp and StarUnion are in a state of war. The conflict began when StarUnion instigated a rebellion in MegaCorp colonies, leading to a strained rtionship between the two factions. While recent years have seen a decrease in the intensity of armed conflicts to localized skirmishes, the two powers were engaged in fierce battles until then.

    MegaCorp employed a strategy involving massive deployment of human soldiers and Hulk mutants, utilizing overwhelming force to target StarUnion. In contrast, StarUnion predominantly employed terror tactics, such as self-destructing nanomachine bombs attached to androids like Gremlin torpedoes.

    Despite the apparent irony of humans fighting against machines, there was a reason for this. The backbone of StarUnion consisted primarily of cyborgs, and to create them, initially healthy humans were required. While other races could serve as cyborg material, there wereplications. Cults couldnt endure cyborg procedures due to weak bodies, humanoid races like Wolfen were scarce in numbers andcked gic enhancement research, resulting in lower cyborg sess rates.

    One might suggest creating clone humans, but this technology had serious ws. Clones tended to be mentally unstable, making them unsuitable as cyborg material. Consequently, there was no race as suitable as a healthy human to be efficiently and cost-effectively turned into a cyborg. Therefore, StarUnion adopted a strategy involving a small number of cyborgmanders and arge number of drones.

    In the early stages of the war, this strategy proved effective until MegaCorp deployed EMP weapons in space. While EMP weapons were equally devastating to either side in space, the majority of StarUnions forces being mechanical meant they suffered more. MegaCorp, on the other hand, could use space-survivable Hulk mutants to mitigate the damage.

    The introduction of EMP weapons seemed to indicate the end of the war, but surprisingly, that was not the case. Unbeknownst to the general public, there was a secret agreement between the leadership of MegaCorp and StarUnion. They realized that if they could coordinate the war, there would be substantial profits to gain.

    StarUnion needed to capture numerous sentient beings to increase its poption, while MegaCorp recognized the lucrative potential of human trafficking. The leaders knew each others needs well, so they turned the inter-factional war into a business.

    Since they couldnt openly conduct such affairs, they employed intermediaries. Space scavengers thriving on plunder and crime, and cults operating ve trades, acted as middlemen. The business involving the great powers has continued for centuries, and today, cargo ships carrying human resources swiftly move back and forth.

    In the JP-99 system, situated on the outskirts of the Cult Empire, a cyborg freighter, havingpleted its trade with cult merchants, was heading towards its home.

    Have youpleted the cargo check?

    V100 has checked up to container 50. Everything is in order.

    Phew, just 50 containers.

    StarUnions cyborg, Conzay, disconnected the link cable attached to her head. With over 80% of her body modified by machines, she could interface with the shipsputer. While piloting the spaceship was beyond her due to insufficient brain-assist module performance, managing the cargo on board was well within her capabilities.

    Inside the frozen containers of the cargo ship were individuals who had voluntarily agreed to be cyborgs. Although they belonged to diverse races, they would soon be one under the name of StarUnion.

    It seems we may not meet the quota this time. Thats troublesome.

    Conzay scratched her temple while looking at the data graphs disyed in her eyes. Originally, they nned to fill up to container 70, but the cult traders brought fewer ves than expected.

    They im that it is because of internal issues. Nonsense. When did they ever care about such things?

    If things continued like this, they would fail to meet the allocation set by the Poption Management Department, resulting in severe penalties. That was something they had to avoid at all costs.

    Conzay reconnected the link cable to her head.

    MacF, are there any cartels trafficking people nearby?

    Its a cult area. Who the hell would dare to do business here?

    Well, I guess youre right.

    There might be Space Dogs in the nearby system. Try going there and negotiating.

    Fine, Ill do that. Since there might be a deal, make sure the drones are heavily armed.

    [Roger.]

    After ending themunication, Conzay disyed data on the possible Space Dogs cartel in the surrounding systems for verification. While carefully examining the data, the fleetputer V sent her a notification message.

    Biometric signals?

    The area around here is an umon route for spacecraft. Star Union always emphasizes that citizens be cyborgs by voluntary choice. It is strictly forbidden for ships carrying candidates for cyborg conversion to roam around conspicuously.

    However, to ensurepliance, this ship was equipped with a high-performance detection system specially supported by the Mechanical Committee. It meant acquiring information ahead of the opponent and avoiding it automatically.

    Can we identify their identity?

    [Externally, it is presumed to be the escort ship JASBIL-02SAN JAMA-ss. The level of armament is unknown.]

    Could it be an Outscer?

    [ording to the Starlink databaseparison, no match.]

    Phew, thats a relief. Is it a ship coated with special alloys? Just in case, upload the external appearance and biometric signals.

    [Confirmed.]

    While V uploaded data about the mysterious ship to the Star Union database, Conzay examined the virtually reconstructed image of the opponents ship.

    At what level are the biometric signals being leaked?

    [Estimated to have over 700 upants.]

    700?! Madness. What did they cram in there?

    Hearing that, Conzay suddenly had a different thought.

    It really looks like a ve ship over there.

    Although Conzays cargo ship is about 1.5 timesrger than the opponent, the number of upants is surprisingly low. It consists of 500 cargo, 30 cyborgs, and 70bat drones.

    Suspicious.

    Conzay contacted MacF again.

    [Why do you keep interrupting themunication? Im working.]

    Hey, prepare all the drones.

    [What? Why?]

    If things go well, we might salvage something.

    If the opponents armament is at a high level, she ns to retreat without attacking. If not

    V, activate the jamming and stealth systems.

    [Systems activated.]

    With 700 upants, it should be more than enough to fill her quota.

    Consecutive warp navigation wasnt as easy as one might think. Although she had previously used warp navigation to control MegaCorp spacecraft, she had never done it continuously for such an extended period.

    Maintaining concentration for several weeks during warp navigation was challenging.

    Energy is not the issue, but

    Even though I have ample time due to various reasons, maintaining focus during this boring journey is not easy.

    Imagine driving a car without rest for over a month on a road where you dont know when a wild animal might jump out. Even with heightened senses and the support of auxiliary devices like the Amorph, it is a difficult task.

    She had no choice but to stop warp navigation and take breaks at intervals.

    ***

    Im taking a break after a month.

    But Im halfway there.

    In about another month, Ill arrive at the with the Gagons Nest.

    I used the corrosive tentacles to consume the stored meat like rice cakes.

    The thick and tough tentacles covered with a robust carapace instantly digested the prey, supplying the necessary energy to my body. As energy surged through my body, fatigue dissipated, and I felt slightly better.

    Nevertheless, I probably need more meat.''

    All systems of this ship are under myplete control. Therefore, I am currently paying attention to prevent the stored food from spoiling.

    Preventing it from rotting as it is is difficult.

    There isnt much left. Despite boasting an enormous meal capacity, even 26, which is close to maturity, is consuming much more food than before. Adhai, who sucks blood and body fluids, is not suitable for eating meat stored for a long time.

    Mother of the sky also eats a lot.

    It seems that there is a need to replenish the feed in the middle.

    Here, in the JP-99 gxy, where we are, it is known that spaceships do not frequently travel. Although it is the cults territory, I have not seen any other ships whileing this far.

    If we go to the next gxy, there will be many ships Hmm?

    While nning the feed supply, something caught my senses.

    I pretended not to notice the fact that there is an opponent and moved.

    The mysterious ship approached without knowing that it had a spider web in front of it. The opponent, who was narrowing the distance, suddenly stopped moving.

    They are probably trying to scan my ship. I, too, concentrated all my senses to detect the passengers on the other ship.

    Hmm.

    Hundreds of life forms showing faint movements, 30 humanoid organisms emitting a strong metallic smell, and 70 machines sending strong electrical signals are felt.

    Ah, I see.

    Its a Star Union supply line.

    Star Union, amunity of cyborgs, humanoids, androids, drones, and other machines. Due to the difficulty of leaving offspring, the Star Union emphasizes that citizens be cyborgs voluntarily. As a result, Star Union acquires ves from other factions to increase its poption.

    Most are targets for cyborgization, and a few are for human experimentation.

    The Star Union argues that since their physical bodies are weak, they must be reced by machines. Its ironic that such a group secretly brings in humans to maintain themunity.

    Therefore, such supply lines are operated in strict secrecy. Transactions are also carried out ndestinely with third parties such as cults or space pirates.

    In this respect, MegaCorp and Star Union are simr.

    In space survival, the Star Union is ssified as a neutral faction, but that doesnt mean there is no darkness. Its a ce where a different form of devaluation of life and ck humor prevailspared to MegaCorp.

    At that moment, they began to send fighter jets.

    Except for the fact that the outer wall of the ship is a dark purple color matching my exterior, and the weapons are not visible and hidden, the appearance of this escort ship ispletely identical to the conventional model.

    The fact that no sma turrets or psychic power cannons were visible was confirmed through a scan a while ago. It was clear that they considered me an easy opponent.

    Are they targeting me?

    The reason for this is somewhat guessed. Perhaps they didnt meet the assigned quota, or they are preparing for the possibility of not meeting the quotater.

    But what should I do about this? This ship is not a cult-operated one.

    Like their show of force over there, I, too, have no intention of just letting the preye to me.

    How should I handle this time?

    I could switch to a new ship using the Horizon of Nightmare as before, but it would be a waste of the escort ship I currently control. Modified based on the advice of the members of the Inmyeon, it is much faster than a regr ship and has a lower energy consumption rate for warp travel.

    Lets not just think about plundering but try to apply it.

    So far, I have only used the Horizon of Nightmare in a one-dimensional way. Aimed at when enemy crew members invade the ship or fought metallic gremlins by adding weapons to the ship, and so on.

    There was no other choice before.

    In the state of controlling a spaceship with the Horizon of Nightmare, I couldnt use any physical characteristics.

    But now, Im at Transcendence Level 2.

    [Devouring Tentacles: Transform the spaceship into aposite organism controlled by the users consciousness. You can use some physical characteristics while connected to the spaceship. When the energy stored by the user is depleted, the characteristic effect is automatically canceled. Devouring Tentacles can be used once every 7 days and only once per spaceship.]

    [*Avable physical characteristics: Regeneration, Morphing Organs, Spiked Tail Projectile, Reinforced Large Tail, Jaws of Essence Extraction, Pincers]

    Now I can use physical characteristics even while controlling the spaceship.

    With the release of the restriction from Transcendence Level 1, there have been changes in the effect of the Horizon of Nightmare.

    Originally, the use of physical characteristics was not allowed, but that sentence disappeared. Instead, a category called avable physical characteristics has been added.

    In other words, it means that I can attach body organs like pincers or a mouth to this ship.

    I used to envy the Outspacers who could swallow a whole spaceship.

    Now I can swallow the beings inside the spaceship in one bite.

    But before that, should I prepare to wee the guests?

    The fighter jets circling around are trying to board the ship.

    Theyre willing prey who volunteer to be eaten.

    I should wee them with joy.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 152

    Chapter 152

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    [Entryplete.]

    Good. The defense systems of the ship are still inactive.

    [Conzay? Visible? Ive never seen a ship using this kind of bio-metal.]

    Six cyborgs synchronized with walkers stepped into the mysterious ship. When they breached the door, they didnt know, but once inside, they could tell that this ship was anything but ordinary.

    Apart from the fact that both the outer surface and inner walls of the ship were pitch ck, it seemed simr to a standard cult escort vessel. However, when examined with the biosignal detection module attached to the walker, entirely different results emerged.

    Faint life responses throughout the ship, warmth reminiscent of biological tissue, and unusually humid air for a spaceship  all deviated from the characteristics of a typical ship.

    The cult developing such metal is bizarre.

    Obtained from Outspacer?

    We have time, lets examine it carefully.

    Although the ships interior was unexpectedly different, the cyborgs were not concerned. The walker they boarded was a heavily armoredbat exosuit, the Sentinel model. With an integrated reinforced shield, it was powerful enough tobat the cult warrior unit.

    Not intended for weapons on a regr cargo ship, these walkers were all provided by the Star Unions Poption Management Department to ensure smooth cargo transportation. They also came equipped with small drones and various weapons to supportbat. While it might be challenging to achieve aplete victory against the cult warriors, defeat was certainly not an option.

    Nevertheless, the heavily armed cyborgs, led by MacF, scattered exploration drones. Small spherical drones flew along the ships corridors, disappearing into the interior.

    ording to Vs analysis, the ship carried over 700 tons of cargo. Given that the cult boarding a ship of a simr ss numbered 200, more than three times the personnel had boarded this ship.

    With many people on board, it wouldnt take long to discover.

    Just then, exploration drones began sending images of the hull from all directions. Examining the slowly forming interior map, they proceeded further inside.

    Hey, MacF. Take a look at this.

    What is it?

    Looks like some kind of nt.

    Completely ck, they couldnt recognize it at first. It was only when a fellow cyborg pointed it out that MacF realized there were vine-like structures or stems covering the corridor.

    V checked it against the Starlink database, but theres no matching biological information.

    Not from Outspacer either. What is this?

    Ill collect a sample for now.

    Using the work arm attached to the walker, the cyborg tore off the vines attached to the corridor. From the torn stems, ck mucus flowed down.

    Luckily, its a sealed walker. If it were a light walker, it might have been toast.

    Did you modify it all the way to the internals?

    It might just vomit oil profusely.

    Stop talking nonsense. Once collected, lets move on.

    Yeah, just register it in the database.

    Thus, they collected information while moving. The corridor gradually narrowed, and the walkers head barely touched the ceiling.

    Yet, there was no sign of the cult. So far, the only living things they had seen were vines and seemingly impure spores.

    But that wasnt the only strange thing.

    Next, to the right huh?

    Why?

    There should be a fork in the road here.

    What are you talking about? Its a straight line here.

    The map is a bit strange. Everyone check.

    Following MacFs words, they checked the maps created by the six exploration drones. The virtual maps they saw surprised them.

    The maps are different!

    If the ships structure changes in real-time, could this happen? None of the six drone-created maps had a single matching section.

    Is there a problem with the drones? Perhaps theyve been affected by radio interference.

    Then it shouldnt cause malfunctions like this.

    Conzay, did you see? The situation is strange.

    Well for now, lets return to the ship

    Upon hearing Conzays words, the cyborgs attempted to retreat, but the ship suddenly shook.

    Whats happening?

    Hey, Conzay. Whats going on?

    The ship is moving, creaking, attention, creaking

    Conzay? Conzay ugh!

    Ugh?!

    As a powerful noise echoed from the linked walkers receiver, the cyborgs hastily blockedmunication. Despite MacF rebooting themunication system to contact Conzay, only static was heard.

    Darn, it seems like themunication system is fried.

    Whilemunication between the walkers remained intact,munication with the cargo ship was lost. No contact with the cargo ship, a bizarrely structured ship, and not a soul in sightonly strange pods and stems filling the corridors.

    Emotions locked away in the cyborgs minds began to surface, emotions with the name of fear.

    Everyone, stay calm. Lets return to the shuttle.

    The cyborgs started retracing their steps. MacF took the lead to reassure his uneasypanions.

    The heavy sounds of walker footsteps echoed through the corridor. Each step made the ck tendrils extending from the ships structure quiver, as if alive. Though it was unlikely, MacF couldnt help but think that the ship resembled a living organism, digesting the cyborgs already inside.

    What a nonsensical thought.

    MacF forcefully dismissed the emerging thought. In times like these, one must stay focused.

    However, cruel reality mercilessly trampled on his efforts.

    Damn, what is this?!

    .

    Instead of the straight path they took before, a crossroads awaited them. One panicking cyborg shouted curses.

    MacF even considered disconnecting from the synchronized walker, thinking he must have seen it wrong. But to his dismay, the crossroads stilly before them.

    Darn, what do we do?

    Try the exploration drones again

    Yeah, as if it wont change again!

    Calm down! Instead ofining, how about breaking through the wall?

    Break the wall?

    Thanks to the Sentinels oxygen supply function, we can survive in space. We can walk outside and make our way to the shuttle.

    Though risky, it was not a bad idea. At least it seemed better than navigating the constantly changing ship interior.

    The muzzle of the storm gun attached to the walker was aimed at the corridor wall. A barrage of firepower poured onto the alloy wall.

    When the tendrils and pods attached to the wall turned into charred debris, arge hole appeared. Inside the hole, a new corridor awaited them. Despite the uncertainty, the cyborgs pressed on.

    Damn, whether you win or we win, lets find out.

    After breaking the wall several times, they finally reached the outer wall of the expected ship.

    Just need to get out here!

    Alright!

    The depleted uranium rounds in the magazine carried the cyborgs hopes and pierced into the wall.

    They shot and breached until the storm gun overheated, forcibly stopping the firing. Only then were they able to step outside.

    However, the scene beyond the outer wall was different from what they had imagined.

    What?

    The first thing they saw was the hull of a ship. A long, rectangr shape shimmering in the dim light, a familiar form of a ship. It was their cargo ship.

    That cargo ship was now torn apart. A massive w floated through space, meticulously tearing the cargo ship to shreds.

    Countless containers from the cargo ship spilled out into space. Long, serpent-like tentacles resembling snakes harvested the debris floating around.

    Witnessing the scene, all the cyborgs had the same thought.

    The cargo ship they came on was now being devoured by this transformed monster of a ship.

    ***

    Indeed, as expected, there are clear advantages and disadvantages.

    The debris of a ship, torn in half, floated before me.

    The supply ship, many timesrger than the escort ship I controlled, had beenpletely demolished by ws over tens of meters long.

    Though the destructive power is unparalleledpared to normal conditions

    There is a significant drawback.

    When ws or harvesters were created on the outer walls of the ship, the movement speed decreased. Also, the implemented body parts moved considerably slower.

    If the other ship wasnt a regr one but abat warship, or if I had reacted a bit faster when approaching, it would have been impossible to tear it apart so easily.

    The enhancement of Number 26es in handy at times like this.

    Number 26, powered by the energy of sea demons, had be immensely powerful. Moreover, the cult escort ship I controlled was made of moonsilver alloy, enhancing the effects of the psychic power.

    Thanks to these two conditions, Number 26 could showcase new strength.

    An EMP created by psychic power.

    Number 26 concentrated psychic power at specific points to create an area that disabled electronic devices. Although EMP technology existed in games, all of them were untraceable.

    Thus, Number 26s technique of only disabling the supply ships systems could be considered his original technique.

    It may take a few minutes, but

    I had enough time to approach the supply ship.

    They tried to keep their distance when they saw the giant jaws and ws forming on the escort ship I controlled, but by then, it was toote. As the supply ship retreated, it got caught in my jaws, and its hull was torn apart.

    Id like to fight like this during fleet battles.

    If the opponent is a small group, it seems like it would be easy to handle this way.

    Of course, when facing dozens of ships in a fleet battle, it would be impossible to resolve it with psychic whirlpools alone, so other methods would have to be devised.

    Still, its convenient to have something to eat.

    The massive jaws protruding from the front of the escort ship swallowed all the cargo containers pouring from the broken ship. The jaws, made of moonsilver alloy and organic tissue, crushed the containers and absorbed their contents.

    In an instant, hundreds of gic essences seeped into my body, and multiple text boxes announcing the effects of predation appeared. Since they had entered frozen capsules in an anesthetized state, they wouldnt have felt any fear or pain.

    But it wont be like that for everyone.

    There are those who desperately try to escape from me and those who oppose me. They will find it difficult to meet their ends peacefully.

    Several shuttles and numerousbat drones emerged from the exploding ship. Combat drones equipped with lightweight storm guns showered me with bullets.

    Meanwhile, the shuttles tried to flee. They must have been trying to escape while the drones served as decoys.

    I cant let them escape.

    Dozens of erosion tendrils surged from the hull synchronized with my body. Like a snake with hundreds of heads from mythology, multiple tendrils attached themselves to the shuttles tails.

    The shuttles struggled to escape by any means necessary. However, there were too many tendrils covering them.

    In the end, not a single shuttle managed to escape and all were caught by me.

    Long and thin erosion tendrils wrapped around the shuttles and smashed the alloy ss encasing the control seats. Then, they tore apart the shuttles along with the cyborgs connected to them.

    A small female cyborg, as small as distant stars, screams. In the vastness of space, no sound could be heard, but it was easy to guess she was pleading for her life or admitting a mistake.

    Im sorry, but I cant allow that.

    They targeted me first in the first ce. If I were weak, they would have tried to kill me from their end. They made the wrong choice in the wrong ce.

    So, the cyborgs who boarded the shuttles became nutrients for the erosion tendrils one by one.

    Hmm?

    At that moment, I felt someones gaze.

    I diverted my attention from the debris of the supply ship, checking what was happening inside and outside the ship.

    When did they show up again?

    Six walkers that had infiltrated my body tore through my side and observed the results I created. Although their expressions were hidden behind heavily armored walkers, they must have been quite surprised.

    Should I deal with them too?

    Imanded the erosion tendrils near them to capture all the walkers.

    !  !

    !

    The walkers, seeing the approaching erosion tendrils, recoiled and crawled into my body. Only one walker at the back couldnt avoid my tendrils and got caught.

    ! !

    The struggling walker caught by the tendrils tried to cut them with the storm gun attached to its arm, but it was futile resistance. There were plenty of erosion tendrils besides that one.

    The resisting walker was eventually torn apart by the tendrils, and its entire body was devoured.

    There are five left.

    I could change the ships structure and crush them all, but I decided not to.

    One or two of them could be useful as informants.

    I had received enough information from the cultists. Introducing them to some new friends wouldnt hurt.

    Since Adhai seems to be bored.

    Adhai spent his time asionally assisting with route settings besides ying with 26 and doing hunting training with the Mother of the Sky. Thanks to her teachings, Adhai became much more proficient in using hyperspeed and purple lightning.

    Shall I leave it to Adhai this time?

    I sent a wave of my will to him and focused on predation again.

    Even as the supply lines emptied, the universe remained silent without a single sound.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 153

    Chapter 153

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    Curses! Big D took a hit! Conzay too!

    Nows not the time to worry about that! Keep running!

    Five heavy walkers thundered through the corridor, creating a cacophony of noise. The hole behind them had disappeared long ago, and instead of relief, the realization seemed to drive them to madness.

    The fear of losing power in this ce gripped them suddenly.

    Right? Left? Where do we go?!

    [Where did everyone go? Where to, Chijik, Chijijik?]

    Dont scatter! Stick together, everyone!

    Countless intersections appeared suddenly, which werent there just moments ago. One of the walkers trailing behind got left behind.

    This cant go on like this!

    The walker they were on, the Sentinel, was suitable forbat but not ideal for survival in istion. Its high power consumption made it difficult to operate for an extended period.

    The cargo ship is done for, and the carrier we came on must be in a simr state. How much longer do we have to stay in this monstrous vessel?

    Everyone stop!

    MacF called the remaining three walkers to a halt.

    Check the energy levels! If the walkers stop, were as good as dead.

    The cyborgs quickly checked the remaining energy of the walkers upon hearing this.

    The remaining energy is fine, but darn it!

    Whats the use of all this! Were going to die here anyway!

    Theres nowhere to run!

    The situation, as their colleagues had described, was far from favorable. In reality, they were essentially inside the belly of a giant beast.

    Still, MacF had one thing he believed in.

    The Mechanical Committee will send a rescue team. We just need to hold on until then.

    A month ago, the Mechanical Committee, the highest authority in Star Union, issued a notice to all departments and private spacecraft. It instructed them to register any encounters with unknown life forms or substances in the Starlink database. Moreover, every ship had to mandatory attach a special signal chip made by the Mechanical Committee.

    Reporting encounters with the diverse life forms in space was nearly impossible, let alone having a signal chip. But for Star Union, it was feasible. The Mechanical Committee could issue mandatory orders to all androids and drones produced by Star Union.

    This was why MacF and the cyborgs on the cargo ship had signal chips. Once the ship was destroyed, in an hour or two, Star Union would be informed of their situation.

    Just endure for one day. The Poption Management Departments rescue team wille. We wait until then.

    What? How do they know where we are?

    Dont worry about that. Our news will reach Star Union in a few hours.

    The information about the ships exterior, location, and internal structure had already been transmitted to the Starlink database. So, the only thing the survivors had to do was one.

    We need to buy time until the rescue fleet arrives.

    Time?

    This monster can probably achieve superluminal navigation. If it moves to another star system, the search time for the rescue fleet will be longer.

    The cyborgs nodded in agreement.

    JP-99 Star System, despite being a frontier, was under the control of the Cult. If such a colossal monster had roamed without superluminal navigation, it would have been detected earlier.

    We must hinder it so it cant escape.

    What? Thats absurd!

    Its impossible! As we saw earlier, attacking this ship is useless. It recovers quickly.

    I know that. Shooting randomly will only waste ammunition. We need to choose our targets.

    Targets?

    Before MacF could respond, he shared abined file of maps transmitted by reconnaissance drones with everyone.

    Take a look at this.

    ?

    Even though everything else has changed, there are a few identical parts.

    So, whats the point?

    Whether this is a ship or a monster, if its a living organism, it must have vital organs, right?

    Are you saying these identical parts indicate a space where its heart or something simr might be?

    Yes. If we go there and destroy the organs, we might disrupt its superluminal navigation.

    Upon hearing MacFs opinion, the cyborgs fell silent.

    His argument had many ws. If they followed his words and it turned out to be a trap, they would be in grave danger. The problem was, they had no better alternatives.

    With lives at stake, they were caught in contemtion. But the harsh reality did not wait for them.

    The corridor is moving!

    Damn! Everyone, run!

    While the four walkers were running, the corridor twisted significantly. The narrow space morphed into a massive room.

    Is this reality Im seeing?

    Sh*t, I think Im losing my mind.

    The height of the medium-sized walker, the Sentinel, was about 8 meters. Compared to such a walker, the suddenly spacious area was at least three times higher.

    Even MacF found it difficult to maintainposure in the face of this unbelievable reality.

    Everyone, pull yourselves together!

    MacF encouraged his colleagues while activating the weapon systems. As he made a vow to shoot anyone in sight, a strange sound reached his ears.

    What was that?

    The sound was almost unheard of in space.

    The sound of wind?

    From somewhere above their heads, where nothing was visible, a peculiar sound echoed.

    Whatever it was, MacF aimed his gun at the ceiling to shoot it, and at that moment, it attacked them.

    Ah!

    Thud

    A short scream followed by a thunderous noise. When MacF turned the camera to check, one of the walkers had fallen.

    The walker, the Sentinel, had internal shields designed for spacecraft and a durable exoskeleton. Yet, arge hole, approximately 2 meters in size, pierced through the cockpit protected by shields and thick armor. The meticulously destroyed traces, as if cut by a sma cutter, glowed with a faint purple color.

    There was no sign of the pilot inside the walker that had been prated from front to back. Instead, droplets of blood falling between the broken machine parts indicated the fate of the pilot.

    What what just happened?!

    Now, there were only three walkers left, including MacF.

    Then, the sound of wind was heard again. Realizing that it was a precursor to an attack, MacF shouted urgently.

    Itsing!

    Huh?

    Thud

    But before his words could finish, another walker fell. Simr to before, a 2-meter hole, a faint purple glow in the prated area, and only bloodstains and flesh remained of the pilot.

    Darn it!

    Not even a few minutes had passed since they entered this space, and they had already lost two walkers. Now, only MacF and one more colleague remained.

    Watch out for the sound of wind!

    Holy What kind of wind is there in space

    Trembling with fear, MacF quickly examined the traces of destruction while keeping an eye on his wary colleagues. In the process, he noticed bloodstains on the floor. The cameras on MacFs synchronized walkers followed the bloodstains, which led to their fallenrade.

    Heek?!

    .

    Although they found their missingrade, there was a problem. MacF wondered, Where is the other one? The cameras on the two walkers moved upward, revealing it near the corners of the wall and ceiling.

    It was a green demon with tentacles, impaling the cyborgs face and sucking out its bodily fluids.

    Kkuk?!

    The tentacles, like straws, swelled every time they plunged into the holes on the face  eyes, nose, mouth, ears. The trapped cyborg emitted eerie moans and trembled.

    Seeing this, MacF thought,

    I have to run.

    Ugh!

    Just then, hisrade fired at the monster. In the blink of an eye, the monster disappeared.

    Seizing the opportunity while the panickedrade distracted it, MacF ran. His sole focus was the door in front of him. Opening that door was the only way to escape this nightmare.

    Kkuk?!

    Thud

    Behind him, a short whimper and the sound of the walker falling again were heard. MacFs walkers hand touched the shield door.

    The demons thrashing sounds were absent. He opened the shield door and stepped outside. Thud.

    Whew.

    Only after closing the door, he could finally exhale. There was no sound from beyond the door.

    Just as he began to rx, a voice came from behind.

    Looks like the prey walked right in?

    This horrific space and the t tone of the voice did not match at all. Hearing the sound, MacF realized the truth. He thought he had escaped the nightmarish space, but it wasnt the case.

    Youve done well.

    The walker that had fled here to escape Adhais attack trembled upon seeing me. Fusing with the reactor, I wielded numerous erosion tentacles like hands.

    Even the cyborg, who seemed to shiver at the sight of the cute Adhai, would find me much more terrifying. The walker, initially shocked to see me, attempted to shoot me with a storm gun but failed. The erosion tentacles entwined around its arms and legs.

    But it seems there are more of them now.

    Perhaps thanks to the teachings of the Heavenly Mother. Adhai skillfully used the Hyperspeed ability even in rtively confined spaces.

    While Supereleration was the unique ability of the Galingagon, primarily used for movement or evasion, using it aggressively in such a narrow space was unheard of.

    If it were like before, She would have suffered severe injuries.

    Adhai covered her entire body with purple lightning, using the tactic of melting enemies with psychic power at the moment of collision.

    In simpler terms, it could be described as charging into enemies while covered in the psychic me of the purple spray gun.

    Come to think of it, thats a technique many cult yers used.

    Using psychic power to create a shield around the weapon before striking the enemy, or, like Adhai did, enveloping the body in psychic mes and charging forward, and so on. Thanks to these newly learned methods, Adhai could minimize damage upon collision. Considering she was a mutant with lesser physical abilitiespared to other Gagons, this technique suited her well.

    Of course, this method is not wless. The psychic power of the Green Gagon is not particrly strong. Even if the body is enveloped in psychic mes due to psychic power,plete protection is impossible in a state where the output itself is insufficient.

    While he can now be more aggressive, she still needs to be cautious until he bes a White Gagon.

    Lets find a way to evolve Adhai when we get to the Dragons Nest.

    I must have filled up my energy sufficiently; I should prepare this cyborg and depart immediately. In my current state, merged with the reactor, I used erosion tentacles to break down the walker. As I dismantled the walker as if peeling an onion, a cyborg with cables attached inside fell out.

    My erosion tentacles wrapped around the trembling male cyborg, who was pitifully less resistant.

    Shall I experiment with this guy once?

    In the case of harvesting jawbones for consumption on the ship, the materials could not be used for the gic characteristics of the Incarnate. Even though I experimented with hundreds of people earlier, only the predatory effect appeared, and gic information was not retained.

    Is it because its in a state of fusion with the ship?

    In a state of fusion with the ship, only some of the physical traits rted to the body can be utilized. Among them, the Incarnate trait may be unusable.

    So, although I devoured hundreds of people until a while ago, the attached Incarnates still seemed to be based on cult principles.

    It works as a decoy organ, though.

    I have no idea how this massive ship can camouge itself. I tried to test it, but it didnt apply properly, seemingly requiring certain conditions.

    Thats done for now.

    My tentacles opened wide to swallow the entire cyborg. Seeing this, the cyborgughed as if resigned.

    Kuk, kuk! I may die here, but you will die soon too.

    Usually, I would hear pleas for mercy or admissions of wrongdoing, but this time, it was quite a differentst word. Of course, that didnt mean I would spare him.

    Ignoring him and about to devour him, a sentence from his mouth stopped me.

    Soon, the Star Union Fleet wille! You cant escape!

    The Star Union Fleet?

    While they are an essential supply line for resources, from the perspective of the Star Union, they are a necessary evil. They maintain themunity, but admitting this fact is an embarrassing element. Why would theye to seek such a presence, especially considering this is the territory of the cult?

    Wait a minute.

    Suddenly, a ominous thought crossed my mind, prompting me to search through the wreckage of the walker. Among them was aputer integrated into the walker. I activated the partially dismantledputer using small tentacles.

    There,munication records sent to Starlink, the central database of the Star Union, were still present.

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 Chapter 154

    Chapter 154

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    Hmm.

    I meticulously reviewed the recent records stored in theputer embedded in my walker. Brief reports on unidentified giant creatures, collection of nest debris within the spaceship, and registration of information aftermunication  the list goes on. The cyborg I detained managed to send quite a bit ofmunication in a short time.

    Even if the signals didnt reach the outside

    Currently, psychic powers causing intermittentmunication disruptions emanate from the body of Number 26. Its nearly impossible for the information sent by the walker to reach the capital city Jax-01 of the StarUnion. Even if it somehow arrives, it would likely be severely damaged, rendering it unrecognizable.

    The issue is not that.

    Supply line.

    Before that ship encountered me, it might have already registered information about me in the Starlink. The supply line, in fact, might have sensed my presence before arriving. Theres a high possibility that it reported to the StarUnion that it encountered me even before the ship arrived.

    Thisplicates things.

    The situation became troublesome. Even if I leave this ce, the StarUnions tracking devices will pursue me. Escaping through faster-than-light travel is on hold. Elite fleets of powerful factions like the StarUnion, Cult, or MegaCorp possess systems to track faster-than-light travel. Depending on how much they consider me a threat, fleeing is impossible if an elite fleet is after me.

    Changing the appearance of the ship wont hide us.

    The ship dominating the horizon of nightmares exists between the realms of biology and metal. If the supply line identified my features as a biological ship, changing its appearance wont help  they would quickly recognize it.

    Hehehe, daring to touch a StarUnion ship. Youll never escape peacefully?!

    Quiet.

    Using corrosive tentacles, I silenced him and checked the cards I held.

    Its been a month since leaving the sanctuary. Most of the means at my disposal are usable.

    From controlling the nightmare horizon in space, organic evolution that can erge or shrink my body, long-range attack ability obtained as the irregr form of a marauder  the Divine Scepter of God, and the ability to transform my physique into abat-ready form, Symbol of Hunt. Currently, I am in a perfect state,cking nothing to fight formidable enemies.

    But a direct confrontation is still risky.

    The situation is different from when I fought the Imperial Battleship. The fact that the I was on was the politicallyplex sanctuary yed a crucial role.

    If it werent for the sanctuary, escaping smoothly like this would have been impossible. Even if I managed to escape, I would have been chased by cultists.

    However, the StarUnion faces no such constraints. In the StarUnion, ruled by the autocratic Machine Council, concepts like politics,petition, or conflict do not exist. Formally, there may be opinions coordinated between the Council and various departments, but in reality, they hold little meaning. If the Councilmands, all cyborgs must obey.

    Except for the supreme dignity, the members of the Machine Council are all highly intelligent androids. If they perceive me as an enemy, they would spare no expense to kill me.

    Androids dont let their guard down, annoyingly.

    Surely, they would dispatch an elite fleet with high firepower to kill me at once.

    Space warfare is still challenging.

    The majority of my physical characteristics are currently sealed, making it almost like fighting with a handicap. While there are newly unlocked type-rted traits obtained by consuming the Supply Line, these traits are not useful in the current synchronized state with the ship.

    I possess several attack abilities that can crush enemy ships, but they are also limited by time constraints and usage limits. Its not as if I have an advantage in defense and evasion maneuvers.

    When facing a small number of ships, I can overpower them, but its not easy to fight against a fleet consisting of hundreds of ships. The rtively better aspect is that this ship under my control has been modified. I attached weapons obtained by disassembling cult ships, so I wont be helpless against arge number of enemies likest time.

    The downside is not that I have infinite time.

    This is the cults territory. If I fight here and get caught by the cult, Ill undoubtedly be caught in a crossfire between both sides. In the eyes of the cult, Im no different from a biotic ship, an Outsiders flying monster.

    Wait? The Cult?

    As soon as the thought of the cult crossed my mind, I paused. This JP-99 star system is the cults territory. Despite being a backwater with no significant resources, its a ce they wont tolerate others trespassing through their territory. If the elite fleet of the StarUnion, who invaded the star system, is discovered by the cult, a conflict between the two sides is inevitable.

    I can escape during that time.

    The crucial point here is how to refer to the cult, and, coincidentally, I have a means to address them.

    This is getting interesting.

    After organizing my thoughts, I nned how to escape this predicament. There are a few risky elements, but I decided to push through. This operation of deceiving the cult and cyborgs is something I excel at.

    Lets wrap up the n here.

    Before exining to the individuals on board the ship, there are things I need to take care of. I looked at the captured cyborg.

    Well, what is it?

    The cyborg meeting my gaze seemed to feel an uneasy premonition and trembled.

    He is expected to y an important role on the stage I have set, not just as prey to replenish energy.

    Its your turn after a long time.

    ording to my will, small entities dormant in my body woke up. Small holes appeared in the ceiling of the fully integrated ship, and from them, something like thin and elongated rubbery tendrils fell onto the cyborg being held by the tentacles.

    Wait, what is this again Stop it!

    Only then did the cyborg realize what he was about to experience and started glowing.

    In order to assist the parasitic tendrils climbing up to fulfill their mission, the cyborg firmly held onto them.

    Hieekkhiekkk!

    The cyborg resisted fiercely. No matter how much the body has been modified into a machine, there are limits. It is impossible to break free from the binding of the powerful corrosive tentacles that can warp the entire ship.

    In the end, he will have to ept it once everything is over.

    The harsh reality of bing a minion of monsters.

    The Nemea Fleet stationed in the ESS-22 star system received an urgent order. The order came from the head of the Nemea Fleet, Nemea Five, who also served as a senior member of the StarUnions Machine Council.

    As soon as you confirm the information, deploy to JP-99 to exterminate the new life forms that have appeared. Its an extremely dangerous existence, so do not approach, but intercept and incinerate from a distance. This order is issued directly by Grand

    Grandmaster Jubakka?!

    Acting Fleet Commander Sanadaeff, who had been delegatedmand authority from Nemea Five, was taken aback.

    It is rare for the Machine Council to issue direct orders to individual cyborgs, as they usually onlymunicate important matters through announcements. Furthermore, the fact that the leader of the Machine Council and the highest dignitary, Grandmaster Jubakka, is interested is unprecedented. Since his transformation into a machine, this was the first time Sanadaeff nearly lost hisposure.

    Eff, is this not a lie?

    [Machine Council and Grandmasters authentication marks confirmed. Zero percent chance of forgery.]

    Sanadaeff scratched his chin, hearing the words from the shipsputer, Eff.

    JP-99 is cult territory. Does the Machine Council want war?

    ESS-22 is unusually close to JP-99 among the StarUnions jurisdictional areas. The Nemea Fleet, the elite fleet of the StarUnion, is stationed here as a precaution.

    Surely not?

    Sanadaeff rechecked the Machine Councils order. There was no mention of invading the cult.

    The Machine Council, beingposed entirely of robots except for the Grandmaster, does not use metaphors or analogies. Perhaps his concerns were unfounded.

    What is the current force stationed there?

    3 Menos-ss battleships, 20 Cyan-ss patrol ships.

    Its not that many, probably due to its remote location. No space fortresses or Imperial Battleship either.

    After looking at the data screen floated by Eff, he made up his mind. The n was to quicklyplete the mission before the cult could gather and then depart.

    But why is the Machine Council in a frenzy over some life form?

    About a month ago, there was an announcement issued to all ships.

    If a new life form is discovered, register the data immediately with Starlink. Also, each ship is to imnt a signal chip made by the Machine Council. These were the two directives.

    At that time, he didnt know why such an order was given.

    Is this creature so dangerous?

    Confirmation of the data attached to the message from the council.

    Send it to my head.

    Subsequently, biological data flowed into Sanadaeffs mind, connected by the ships cables. Feeling a slight headache, he suppressed the pain and examined the information.

    Hmm. A giant monster with the ability to disguise itself as a battleship.

    The model is estimated to be a Jamah-ss escort ship, possibly Jamavil-02 mountain.

    Jamah-ss? Thetest model escort ship, you mean? Hmm.

    His initial thought was that it could be a secret weapon of the cult, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Creating and controlling artificial life forms is something Megacorp would do.

    Or it might be an Outspacer.

    As far as he knew, the Outspacers didnt look like that.

    They are grotesque monsters adorned with numerous organic turrets that shoot biochemical substances. Anyone iming they resemble Cult escort ships must surely have severely impaired vision or distorted aesthetic senses. However, if described as a spacecraftposed of bio-metal, the Outspacers woulde to mind first. Perhaps these creatures are newly evolved space assault monsters created by them.

    Sanadaeff carefully examined the information provided by the Machine Council. Surprisingly, the quantity of information was not as much as he thought. Instead, annotations and hypotheses added by the Machine Council upied a much higher percentage.

    Seems like a formidable opponent.

    Having reviewed all the data, Sanadaeff contacted all the ships in the Nemea Fleet. He instructed them to prepare the directives issued by the Machine Council.

    Two hourster, the entire Nemea Fleet of 101 ships entered preparations for faster-than-light travel. The intense blue light enveloped them to the extent that it could be seen even from the surface of a in the star system, and soon they left ESS-22 behind.

    Thanks to faster-than-light travel, surpassing the speed of light, the Nemea Fleet led by Sanadaeff instantly reached JP-99.

    Faster-than-light travelplete. No lost ships confirmed.

    Good. Lets finish it before the cult notices. Release the reconnaissance drones and strike aircraft.

    Confirmed.

    Drones and strike aircraft poured out from the StarUnion warships with rectangr-shaped hulls covered in spear-like elongated cannons. Because there were so many drones, it looked as if sand was pouring out of a burst sandbag.

    Search the surroundings carefully. Report immediately if you find anything suspicious.

    Confirmed.

    Drones under the control of the shipsputer and strike aircraft piloted by androids meticulously searched the space for floating debris, asteroid piles, and other objects.

    Soon, some strike aircraft discovered artificially synthesized metal fragments and reported to Sanadaeff, who was aboard the Battleship.

    He quickly recognized where the fragments came from and also the source of the information sent by the Machine Council.

    Eff, is the trace of faster-than-light travel confirmed?

    None detected in this star system.

    Good. Since its nearby, everyone be on guard.

    Urgent report! Energy concentration detected ahead!

    What?

    Before he could finish his sentence, the ships camera illuminated the front. In the empty space, blue energies converged, transforming into a massive structure in an instant.

    Oh no.

    Every time the blue light shed, Cult battleships, bothrge and small, revealed themselves one after another in front of the Nemea Fleet. Seeing this, Sanadaeff muttered softly.

    Ah, damn. Were screwed.

    Ordinary Cult battleships wouldnt be much of a problem. With the Nemea Fleet equipped with psychic defense measures, they could handle it.

    The problem was the colossal structure firmly guarding behind those battleships.

    Message from the captain of Judicator of Gormos 03. Urgently check.

    A diamond-shaped structure adorned in ivory with golden decorations, no, a ship. The colossal ship that appeared before the Nemea Fleet was the Cults pride,

    The Imperial Battleship.

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 Chapter 155

    Chapter 155

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    Admiral Sanadaeff Sanadaeff, actingmander of the Nemea Fleet, was reaching his limits. Here in the JP-99 star system, there were nos ruled by the Cult. This was because the Cult had no resources here worth their interest.

    However, that didnt make this ce a crucial point for the Empires security either. Apart from being close to StarUnion, there wasnt much of a threat.

    But why is an Imperial battleship here?

    Its not like they hadnt consideredbat with the Cult at all. They had finished preparations to defend against psychic attacks before making the faster-than-light jump. However, they never dreamed an Imperial battleship would appear.

    If we fight it here, well suffer tremendous losses.

    The Nemea Fleet was one of the 12 elite fleets of the StarUnion. With their power toy waste to multiples, the odds of losing against an Imperial battleship were low.

    However, given the opponents strength, significant damage was inevitable. The Imperial battleship, equipped with the-destroying weapon Cosmic Bolt, possessed formidable firepower. Engaging such a monster recklessly would likely result in the destruction of at least a quarter of the fleet.

    Lets try talking first.

    They knew. They knew they couldnt win against the Star Union fleet on their own.

    The fact that an elite fleet of a faction allied with them had intruded into their territory seemed to have caught them off guard. Thats probably why they initiated the conversation first.

    Eff, establishmunication.

    [Affirmative.]

    An image appeared in front of Sanadaeff, connected to the shipsputer. A middle-aged Cultist with yak horns adorned in a splendidly decorated room of ivory and jewels was ring at him.

    I am Eshtha, captain of the Condemner of Gormos 03. Cyborg. Identify yourself and your affiliation.

    I am Sanadaeff, actingmander of the Nemea five Fleet of the Star Union.

    The Nemea five? Isnt that one of the 12 elite fleets of the StarUnion?

    Yes, you are correct.

    Eshtha, widened his eyes. He had only considered the size of the fleet; he hadnt imagined an elite fleet woulde here.

    Sanadaeff thought he might get away with good negotiation skills, but that was a misconception. The surprised expression on Eshthas face quickly turned into a grimace.

    How dare you! Should you, being a pir of the StarUnion, stoop so low to do such despicable acts?

    What are you talking about?

    Dont y dumb! Do you not know the extent of the damage your cyborgs have inflicted on our Empire?

    Damage? Its embarrassing to say this, but weve just arrived here.

    How audacious! Will you only acknowledge it if we show you evidence of what your lot has done?

    [A newmunication log file has been detected.]

    Communication file?

    He examined the file sent by Eshtha. Themunication records contained within were beyond hisprehension.

    I am MacF, affiliated with the Poption Management Department of the Star Union. I, a cyborg, will bestow upon you the honor of bing one with the Star Union.

    I, I am Koshei, a member of the Cult Warriors under the Judicators of Damas 08! If this is known to the Council

    Hmph, the Council? Relying on feeble races and inferior political institutions like that. We, who execute great deeds on behalf of our Mech fleet and the machine assembly to save worthless races like you, deserve your gratitude.

    Damn you! This message is thest to be delivered to the Cult fleet! The incident at the Holy Land is the work of cyborgs! The location is JP-2

    Shut up! Contacting in secret! You treacherous wench!

    Aaaah!

    What is this?!

    Sanadaeff was bewildered. No matter how many times he listened to themunication, he couldnt understand any of it.

    Why is the Poption Management Department here No, more importantly, what is the Holy Land?

    He momentarily pondered if the Machine Assembly hadnt spoken to him to humiliate him, but soon he shook his head. There was no way the Nemea five Fleet, responsible for one of the 12 elite fleets in the efficiency-focused Machine Assembly, would employ methods that would cause significant damage.

    Yet, it didnt seem like Eshtha was lying either. Even if the Cult had hundreds of Imperial battleships, it wouldnt be wise to expend them in this manner.

    In other words, themunication was manipted. And there was a high likelihood that both Eshtha and he were being manipted by someone else.

    Having organized his thoughts, Sanadaeff spoke up.

    Listen, Captain Eshtha. Have you ever considered that thismunication might be false?

    Are you suggesting our warrior lied? Thats impossible. Koshei used a uniquemunicationwork only known to the cult warriors.

    Think about it. If we truly intended to trap you, would we be having this conversation? We would haveid Gremlin mines before the Imperial battleship arrived via FTL travel.

    As it wasnt a false statement, Eshtha fell silent. If the Nemea Fleet had indeed set a trap, they would have suffered significant losses as soon as they entered this system.

    In that case, how do you exin MacFs message from your side? We have full knowledge of MacFs affiliation, as well as thest location they were active in.

    That Please wait a moment. Ill check it right away.

    Though Eshtha clicked his tongue at his words, he said nothing further. It was clear they had no intention of starting a war from their end.

    Realizing that missing this opportunity could lead to serious consequences, Sanadaeff hastily called for Eff.

    Immediately search for MacFs location using brainwave scans.

    [Affirmative. Searching now.]

    Damn cyborgs, what are they up to

    [Target located.]

    Already? Where?

    [Located near the Jonas Asteroid Belt in the JP-22 system.]

    The Jonas Asteroid Belt, thats nearby, isnt it?

    Upon receiving Effs report, Sanadaeff had a foreboding feeling.

    This situation was definitely abnormal. It was certain that someone unknown was pushing them into a trap.

    Could it be?

    Captain Eshtha! Listen carefully! This is all a trap

    Sanadaeff was about to hastily exin, but suddenly, the videomunication abruptly cut off. Not only did themunication cease, but the cable connecting Sanadaeff to the shipsputer also stopped functioning.

    Whats going on? Eff? Answer!

    [EMP detected, 1 minute until recovery.]

    EMP?

    After a minute, themunication was restored. As soon as Eshthas face appeared, he hurriedly shouted.

    Captain! Its all a misunderstanding! Dont make rash judgments!

    But something was off.

    Eshtha wasnt looking at him. He seemed to have forgotten that videomunication had been restored and was staring nkly into space with hazy eyes.

    Why the sudden change?

    Even to him, a cyborg, Eshthas face was rmingly pale. He looked like he had seen something extremely frightening.

    Finally, Eshtha let out a scream.

    Th-the enemy with three heads! Open fire on all!

    What?

    [The main cannons of the Imperial battleship are activating. Dark matter detected.]

    Damn it, theyre all Argh!

    Sanadaeff attempted to give the order to scatter hastily, but at that moment, the entire ship shook violently. Along with it, Eff disyed the image of the enemy ship attacking them with psychic power.

    [Psychic power attack detected from the enemy ship.]

    Damn it, I know! Initiate counterattack!

    Observing the ck battleship on the screen, Sanadaeff cursed inwardly.

    Theres no turning back now. After subduing the enemies as quickly as possible, a report must be made to the Machine Assembly on what to do next.

    And so, the elite forces of the two great powers of the universe, the Cult Empire and the Star Union, shed in JP-22.

    Big guy, is this enough?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Youre doing great)]

    Yes!

    Number 26, concentrating hard, petted the tentacles of the grateful Dissolution with its pseudopods. The Dissolution seemed to enjoy being petted with the tentacles, as it emitted a reddish glow all over its body, trembling with pleasure.

    [ZZZ ZZ (Concentrate)]

    Oh. Right. Concentrate. Concentrate!

    The creature, having read my wavelength, snapped out of its daze and smoothed out the erratic flow of psychic power.

    Utilizing the terrifying nature of the Abyssal Terror, the Dissolution is currently creating a magnificent illusion. With the power of Number 26, our ship is engulfed in a massive hallucination. Its a hallucination of what the Cultists call the demon of three heads, the form taken by me when I consumed psionics and transformed into an adult.

    The Cultists would be utterly bamboozled if they saw this.

    As I anticipated, the Imperial battleship and the Cult fleet that came here are unable to regain their senses after seeing the illusion created by Number 26.

    This should gloss over any ambiguities.

    Among the Cult gic data Ive stored is a warrior from the Imperial battleship. She was a warrior hunted by the Mother of the Sky while I was in the process of advancing to transcendence stage 2.

    Her voice has been useful in deceiving other Cultists before, and its proving helpful here again.

    Contacting through the emergency line reserved for the warriors use helped us avoid suspicion.

    Using the code only she knows, I connected to the emergency line and imitated her voice to stage a false scenario. In the process, the cyborg MacF, under my control, yed the role of a viinous Star Union agent.

    As a result, the fleet, including the Imperial battleship, came to this system to rescue the already deceased Koshei.

    Under normal circumstances, they wouldnt havee this far.

    The word sanctuary I mentioned and themunication from a survivor who was on the verge of annihtion while trying to remove the contamination from that sanctuary. These two elements triggered their overreaction.

    And to reinforce their misconception, I instructed Number 26 to show an illusion designated as the Abyssal Terror.

    Originally, the Abyssal Terror is about manifesting the image that the victim of a psychic attack fears the most. Its uncertain whether the Sea demon can directly reflect the desired image, but Number 26 managed to do it.

    It remembers my appearance well.

    I dont know how the eyeless creature knows, but anyway, it sessfully recreated my adult form.

    And the fear the Cult soldiers harbor towards me yed a crucial role here. Thanks to their fear of the demon of three heads that destroyed the entire fleet, this deception operation was sessful.

    The biggest concern is the Star Union.

    The Star Unions cyborgs include numerous androids, and their ships are heavily equipped with psychic defense measures. So, they have high defenses against various psychic attacks, including the Abyssal Terror.

    Therefore, while urging the Cultists to prepare for battle by showing them the illusion of the demon of three heads, Iunched a preemptive strike on the Star Union fleet. Since I attacked with a ship resembling a Cult escort, they had no choice but to retaliate.

    If they run a detailed inspection, my identity will be exposed in no time.

    But, do they have the luxury to do that right now?

    Having misunderstood my attack asing from the Cult fleet, the Star Union initiated their counterattack. As a result, a space war is now unfolding between the two factions right in front of me.

    Its not over yet.

    I still have a trick up my sleeve prepared for the Star Union. I n to use it when the battle heats up.

    At that moment, the Mother of the Sky muttered beside me.

    I cant believe this is actually working. Unbelievable.

    Shes watching whats happening outside through the reinforced ss I provided, along with Adhai.

    Human thoughts are simple.

    Ive thought this before, but youre really good at acting.

    She looked at me as if she were bored.

    Considering her history with me, its easy to guess her current feelings. What she must have thought seeing me imitate Koshei on themunicator. Quite aplex state of mind.

    Acting, huh.

    Given the family history, her thoughts would be close to the truth. Perhaps my skill at deceiving people was why I was good at games as well.

    Lets get rid of unnecessary thoughts.

    Were in the middle of a battle now. Brushing away memories Id rather not dwell on, I surveyed the situation outside.

    The Cults ships were arranged in a diamond formation around the Imperial battleship. From the cannons mounted on the ships, three violet beams were fired.

    Streams of light flew, oxidizing the floating rocks and space debris in the ck void.

    The cyborg fleet hadnt been idle either.

    From therge and small rectangr ships, white drones poured out like waterfalls. The drones moved swiftly and lined up neatly in front of the ships. It looked like waving a cloth in front of a charging bull, albeit in white instead of red.

    Eventually, the violet beams shed with the white drone swarm. Anyone would have thought the beams would obliterate the drones, but the result was different.

    The dronesunched from the Star Unions ships were called APD (Anti Psychic Drone).

    These drones were made of ck silver, a metal with strong psychic power resistance, and galenium alloy, which absorbs various energies. They are mainly used when fighting entities like the Cult, who primarily use psychic powers.

    To an ordinary human observer, intense violet shes urred in space, blindingly bright. The Star Unions APDs prevented the immense shock caused by the part of the Cults cannon barrage.

    Why did I say part? Because the Cults attack wasnt over yet.

    The beams fired from the Cults cannons appeared to be three in total, but in fact, they were fired three times rapidly. The time gap between the beams allowed the APDs to easily block the first attack, but they couldnt defend against the subsequent attacks adequately.

    APDs are vulnerable to staggered attacks.

    As I expected, some of the violet beams passed through the drone swarm, prating the cyborgs battleships. Explosions urred in their wake, and the ships shattered into pieces.

    The Star Union fleet, having lost several ships,unched a counterattack without hesitation.

    The appearance of Star Union vessels can be described simply as rectangr hulls with spiky cannons protruding from them. The cannons, arranged like thorns, are not decorative.

    Countless cannons began to operate. Torpedoes precisely controlled by androids flew by the thousands towards the Cultists.

    While maintaining their diamond formation, the Cult ships emitted violet light. The violet shields formed on the fronts of the ships connected, transforming into a massive diamond-shaped shield.

    The torpedoes flying towards them were blocked by the enormous shield, exploding upon impact.

    The Cultists maintained the shield without any damage. But its too early to rx. Some of the torpedoes aimed at them abruptly changed direction, hitting the nks or rear of the Cult ships.

    With explosions, several Cult ships deviated from formation. As the shield shook slightly, other ships quickly filled the gaps left by their fallenrades.

    Seeing this, the Star Union attempted tounch torpedoes again to intensify the attack. If the Imperial battleship hadnt stepped in, the damage to the Cult would have been greater.

    Is this the beginning?

    A fracture appeared in the refined diamond-shaped Imperial battleship. A section corresponding to the edge opened up, revealing ck gun turrets inside.

    There were a total of eight turrets, the ck Cannons, integrated into the Imperial battleship. Like Cosmic Bolts, they are powerful weapons that use dark matter as an energy source.

    The Star Unions ships quickly scattered, knowing the power of the ck Cannons. The cannons, moving smoothly, fired towards the scrambling ships.

    Unlike other Cult ships, rather than beams, ck spheres left the ck Cannons and flew towards the Star Union vessels.

    The ck spheres reached the ships that were slow to react. At that moment, the ships warped and were sucked into the spheres.

    In less than a few seconds, the spheres consumed and destroyed several ships. They continued forward, swiftly swallowing other vessels.

    As expected.

    The ck Cannons create artificial ck holes when fired.

    When it hits, its game over, making a mess of enemy formations and effectively sniping battleships.

    However, the downside of the ck Hole Rounds is their short duration and inability to control them.

    Seeing the Imperial battleship use the ck Hole Rounds, the scattered Star Union fleet approached the Cultists as they were.

    The n was to close the distance with the Imperial battleship and provoke a skirmish. Since the ck Hole Rounds dont discriminate targets, it was the appropriate response.

    Alright. Then Ill join in.

    Theres something I need to do once the skirmish starts. If that task ispleted safely, we can leave this sector without being pursued.

    Leading themandeered Cult escort ship, I swiftly advanced.

    A skirmish between space fleets awaits me.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 156

    Chapter 156

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    The Cult and the StarUnion.

    A race that has evolved civilization with psychic abilities and a race of machines that emerged as mechanical engineering reached its extreme peak.

    Theres hardly any resemnce between them, but at this moment, they seemed somewhat alike.

    Because they are pouring all their strength into killing each other.

    Spear-like torpedoes resembling thermometers flew wildly, controlled by androids, forming a chaotic swarm like a school of fish underwater.

    As the swarm of torpedoes rushed towards their prey, the Cult ships retaliated. Ships, shifting from a diamond formation to a hexagonal one, unleashed violet psychic power.

    Just as fishermen catch fish withs, thes of psychic power engulfed the torpedoes, triggering powerful explosions one after another.

    Amidst the silent fireworks, the mechanical fleets maneuvered to nk the Cult warships. The Cult, not letting their guard down, intercepted the approaching cyborg ships swiftly.

    And I find myself in the midst of the battlefield.

    Dodging remote-controlled torpedoes and psychic power heat rays narrowly.

    To the right!

    My loyal aide, the auxiliary organ, alerted me to the danger. Connected to the ship, I swiftly maneuvered the hull to evade the torpedoing from the right.

    Four cyborg warships are targeting me.

    Activate psychic cannons.

    While maintaining speed, I activated the psychic cannons of the escort ship I used for preemptive strikes against the StarUnion fleet. Six psychic cannons spewed fire towards the enemies.

    One of the cyborg ships trailing closely behind me didnt anticipate my six-gun salvo and got shot down. Witnessing this, the remaining three ships each evaded my attack in their own way.

    Not bad skills.

    Two ships evaded through evasive maneuvers, but one slowed down, deflecting my attack trajectory. It might have been a decent tactic if I were alone, but blind attacks are prevalent here.

    As I anticipated, a heat ray from somewhere prated the slowed cyborg ship. mes erupted from a gaping hole in the hull, oxidizing in a chain reaction.

    Good. Things are going smoothly.

    Provoking both sides to sh was my intention, but I hadnt expected the skirmish to escte this quickly. Its an unexpected stroke of luck.

    With this atmosphere, we can easily move to the next phase.

    My ultimate goal is to shake off pursuit and safely escape this star system.

    While its possible to escape amidst the enemies fighting each other, theres one issue. If pursuit resumes after the battle ends, it will be troublesome.

    Given the immense damage caused because of me, the StarUnion will never forgive me. Not until they are certain that Im dead.

    So, I intend to show them that I am indeed dead.

    Ill demonstrate by blowing up the ship weve already abandoned.

    Lets wait a little longer for the right opportunity.

    I tilted the rapidly flying hull upward. While the strain on the hull wouldnt be light for a regr aircraft, this ship is practically an extension of myself.

    Seeing my abnormal movement, the torpedoes following me momentarily lost their target and collided with the debris of other ships or floating wreckage.

    The cyborgs also tried to follow my upward direction, but theyre significantly slower than me. As they attempted to turn, I fired the psychic cannons while maneuvering behind them.

    Chunks of short psychic power, resembling bullets, struck the mechanical warships. A ship hit by six energy rounds simultaneously was torn into four pieces. From within, numerous androids and cyborgs were seen scrambling out into space.

    True to the fading consciousness typical of the StarUnion, there were no ships rushing to rescue them. The lone remaining cyborg ship fired torpedoes at me, leaving their dyingrades floating in zero gravity.

    The distance is too short to dodge them all.

    I swiftly angled the hull upwards again. As the torpedoes approached for collision, I tilted the hull diagonally, narrowly avoiding the torpedoes meant to destroy me.

    The failed torpedoes hastily tried to alter their trajectories, but I wouldnt let them. With five psychic cannon portals already aimed at the torpedoes, they vanished amidst violet mes.

    All thats left is you.

    Thest remaining cannon was for the cyborg ship that fired torpedoes at me. A violet energy round collided with the ships side. The fusion of violet and crimson mes erupted at the impact point, causing the cyborg ship to twist significantly.

    The finishing blow was delivered not by me, but by another Cult ship. Heat rays from afar swept away the remaining enemies.

    Your skills in the game havent diminished, it seems.

    Of course not. With this many enemies

    In the game, Ive fought countless battles with fleets. Ive fought against rankers and engaged in bloody battles countless times.

    Come to think of it, I seem to have more experience with fleet battles.

    In addition to races like MegaCorp and Space Dogs that encourage mercenaries and ship operations, races like the StarUnion and Outspacers often operaterge fleets as they progress. While the Cult, with its unique system, allows individuals to be extremely powerful, its slightly different.

    As someone in a hostile rtionship with them, I had no choice but to fight with fleets. I remember the struggle to gather these attributes.

    Space battles arepletely different from ground battles.

    Attributes that were highly useful onnd are often useless in space.

    Even Im no exception now.

    Many of the physical-rted attributes are useless to me, and the same goes for parasitic or nest-rted attributes.

    Since there will undoubtedly be more battles in space, its necessary to gather attributes useful for space battles, not just those rted to the Horizon of Nightmare.

    Theres still much to be done.

    When you go to the Gagons Nest, you can acquire attributes necessary for fighting in space.

    The where the Gagons reside are inhabited by various beasts and predators. There are also many organisms with traits like space flight, so it wouldnt be a bad idea to clean them up first upon arrival to gather traits.

    As I was contemting this, Adhai called me.

    Big Adult Me Combat Participate Desire.

    The little one urged me to let her go out. Seeing the ships exploding constantly outside, she seems to want to fight alongside.

    Me Flight Fast Enemy Slow.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Im sorry, but not this time.)]

    Adhai, being smaller and more agile than your typical Gagons, would fight well if she went out, but its too dangerous here. One mistake could be irreversible.

    And it will be a big trouble if she doesnt return before we abandon the ship.

    She can detect the psychic power flowing through me, so even if I move to another ship, shell easily be able to find me. The problem is that the enemy shouldnt know Im abandoning this ship.

    If Adhai boarding another ship is seen by the enemy, it might raise suspicions.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (I will allow you to y next time.)]

    Disappointed.

    I continued tofort Adhai, whose wings drooped, and kept moving the ship.

    The situation changed as StarUnion ships sessfully approached the Cult ships. This was because the high-risk ck hole shells of the Imperial battleship were sealed.

    Cyborg ships fired torpedoes at close range or rammed into Cult ships.

    Cloaking tactics in the era of space warfare may seem primitive, but theyre quite effective when fighting against the Cult. Provided one is well-prepared.

    The exceptional defense of Cult ships is thanks to shieldsposed of psychic power. If we neutralize those shields?

    The fronts of cyborg ships that approached the Cult were all stained white. These were APD drones, defensive equipment used to defend against psychic power.

    By sticking many of those to Cult ships, we could temporarily nullify the shields in those areas.

    After all, the durability of Cult ships is lower than that of the StarUnion.

    Whenever cyborg ships collided with Cult ships, shes of violet light followed by darkness urred. Cult ships with nullified shields could only be torn to shreds by thorn-like emcements.

    Cult ships seemed to be in a state of confusion at the sight, but there were no ships rushing in recklessly. Unlike cyborgs with almost no consciousness, the Cult feared getting entangled with their own and refrained from shooting indiscriminately.

    While fighter jets came forward to counter, other Cult ships quickly distanced themselves. Those that couldnt were reduced to cosmic dust by the cyborgs.

    Finally, an Imperial battleship appeared at the forefront, witnessing the sight of their own kin dying.

    I retreated amidst the advancing Cult ships mixed with my own.

    The beautiful ultimate weapon resembling a diamond is equipped with hundreds of psychic cannons. Then, numerous violet energy rounds flew towards the massive number of cyborgs.

    Even if the front is protected by APD, the sides and rear are not. Cyborg ships hit by dozens of energy rounds were shattered.

    Some reckless cyborgs attempted collision tactics against the Imperial battleship.

    Foolish.

    The Imperial battleship not only had stronger shields but also extremely tough armor, making it difficult to destroy with tactics like this.

    As I expected, all their attempts were futile. Later, some ships seemed to try again but quickly halted.

    Themander is blocking them.

    After the cyborg fleet split into multiple directions, each headed towards the rear of the Cult fleet. The n was to start clearing out the other ships assisting the Imperial battleship first.

    Cyborgs charging relentlessly, Cult trying to keep their distance for long-rangebat.

    It might seem like both sides are evenly matched, but in reality, its not the case. Cyborgs havent yet used their ultimate weapons.

    Its about time to switch ships.

    When the cyborges crashing towards me, its the opportunity to switch ships.

    I abandoned my evasion-centric movement strategy and actively engaged in attacks, pouring energy rounds regardless of whether it was Cult or cyborg.

    After destroying several ships in this manner, I felt the cyborgs were paying attention to me. Along with it, Number 26 sent a message to me.

    Big guy, looks like that big ugly one over there is up to something.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Oh, really?)]

    Should we put a stop to it?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (No, leave it be.)]

    What Number 26 said was probably an attempt at precise scanning towards me from the enemy battleship. By now, they must know.

    About the cyborg aboard this organic ship sending strange signals to themselves. And that this ship is the culprit behind this situation.

    A faint wave lightly brushed past my body. The precise scanning must beplete.

    Subsequently, the enemys attacks intensifiedpared to before. As many as 10 ships began tailing me to mark me.

    Come on, Im right here, soe at me quickly.

    Deliberately dodging torpedoes by a hairs breadth seemed to have really provoked the cyborg ships. It was evident from their ignoring of the Cult fighter jets restraining them and solely pursuing me.

    And finally, the opportunity I had been waiting for arrived. I sensed a cyborg ship rushing towards me from afar.

    We have less than 2 minutes left.

    Urgently, I shifted our position to a nearby spot that wasnt the atomic core. Except for MacF, who had been holding on since earlier.

    Huh, wha Me too

    His final shout was lost as he buried himself in the moving wall.

    Havingpleted the move safely, I quickly released the Horizon of Nightmares. As my metal and alloyed body separated and fell to the ground, I activated the Organic Evolution trait.

    This time, the special transformation I aimed for was

    Crafty Weakling!

    As the trait activated, my body rapidly shrunk.

    At the same time, the ship shook violently.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 157

    Chapter 157

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    [Sessful collision of ship number 98.]

    Hmm, seems remarkably sturdy. It didnt explode immediately, as expected.

    The estimated durability is nearly identical to that of X10-ss ships.

    Its like a medium-sized destroyer. I have no idea where such a monster came from

    Sanadaeff, actingmander of the Nemea Fleet, observed the battle situation through external cameras. As per his orders, ship number 98 sessfully rammed an unidentified bio-ship.

    Wheres MacFs position?

    [A signal chip has been detected inside the bio-ship.]

    Id like to capture and interrogate the prisoners, but orders are orders.

    ording to the Machinery Committee, they were warned not to approach the bio-ship as it was an extremely dangerous entity. Despite Sanadaeffs attempts to subdue it with long-range attacks due to that warning, it wasnt easy.

    Initially, they thought four ships would be enough, but they were quickly all sunk. Whoever the pilot was, they were maneuvering that huge escort ship like a fighter jet. Despite facing numerous enemies before, rarely had Sana seen someone evade torpedoes so adeptly.

    He dispatched ten ships against the bio-ship. Indeed, it seemed the bio-ship struggled against ten ships.

    If it had fled, it might havested longer. Foolish.

    In his sight, the damaged figure of the bio-ship appeared at the upper right end.

    The front of ship number 98 was so deeply embedded that it would now be difficult for the bio-ship to move. Whether it was a real ship, its lifespan was now ended by the attack, and if it was a biological entity, the injuries were likely fatal.

    Whatever it was, all that remained for it now was death.

    Just in case, dispose of it with torpedoes and leave no traces.

    Psychic cannon operation detected from the Imperial gship.

    Damn it! Ships 1 through 12, execute evasive maneuvers; ships 70 through 80, defend with APD.

    Confirmed.

    Ship number 98, handle it yourself and leave a record. Report to the Machinery Committee and make the record as detailed as possible.

    Order received and executed.

    He wanted to see the bio-ship blow up in a spectacr fashion, but right now they were in the midst of battle.

    With regret, Sanadaeff continued tomand.

    20% damage to the ships frontal section.

    Insane! 20% damage? Retreat and fire torpedoes immediately.

    The cannons are too damaged for use.

    Captain Keynes of ship number 98 confirmed the hulls condition.

    A 3D model of the ship floated above his eyes, connected to the shipsputer. As ship number 98 had said, many of the cannons at the front had been damaged, all due to the recent collision.

    Surely, we received APD support. Why is this happening?

    The ship in questioncks shields, so the effectiveness of APD is diminished. Estimated to have the same outer wall durability as X10-ss ships.

    That exins it. Contact other ships and instruct them to fire immediately if were in trouble.

    Understood.

    Activate undamaged front rockets, and engage the side rockets. Also, deploy drones and send the tech team as soon as we detach.

    Command confirmed. Front thrusters and sideteral thrusters activated.

    Following Keynessmand, Ship 98 immediately activated the rockets. As the hull moved, the gravity inside the ship shifted, causing slight vibrations in the internal facilities.

    They were trying to quickly disengage after the collision when suddenly they felt arger vibration than before.

    Impact detected from the exterior of the hull.

    Whats happening suddenly

    Urgent report! High-energy flow detected in the front! Atomic reactor overload suspected!

    What? Damn it! Increase the output of the side rockets!

    As soon as the words left his mouth, Keynes felt an unprecedented pressure. Metal cracks could be heard from the inner walls of the hull, and in some areas, items stuck to the ceiling or floated in mid-air due to gravitational anomalies.

    When we disengage, back off straight away!

    Confirmed.

    Along with Ship 98, other ships also distanced themselves from the bio-ship. The cameras attached to the ships showed the bio-ship. The ck outer walls cracked like eggshells, and purple light emanated from within.

    Great idea! Drone, push the remaining ones to the Cults side!

    Keynesmunicated with other cyborgs connected to the drones. Repair drones quickly flew out and pushed the bio-ship away.

    The Cult ships also sensed something strange about the bio-ship and began to retreat.

    Too slow!

    Soon, a bright purple sh erupted. Two nearby Cult ships exploded,;triggering a chain reaction.

    Thats it. Ship 98, did you record everything?

    Recordingpleted.

    Record the internal damage as well and hand it over to the acting gshipmander.

    For preservation of evidence, it is rmended to retreat to the rear.

    Well, openly retreating feels a bit Side rockets, how are they?

    Right the thruster was damaged by 30%. While the left thruster was damaged by 70%.

    Damn, its not good. Lets retreat for now.

    Confirmed.

    Keyness mission ended here. Ship 98, escorted by other cyborg ships, withdrew to the rear.

    Phew, that was close.

    The other ship came crashing in deeper than expected, almost causing the reactor to explode. When Im in control, theres no issue, but its different when I unlock the horizon of nightmares.

    A ship that has undergone corrosion bes irreparable. Since the reactor is also damaged and rendered inoperable, I thought there was nothing to worry about.

    However, it was my mistake. When the front of the other ship collided, it touched the reactor, almost causing everyone to die because of it. Number 26, the most proficient in Psychic Power control among us, managed to defend against the explosion somehow, but Adhai and The Mother of the Sky are definitely gone.

    ***

    I was in danger too.

    Currently, Im in a special state where I can transform into Organic Evolution and have mutated into a state called Crafty Weakling. If I were in my normal state, I would have survived without fatal injuries thanks to the thick armor, but not now.

    As my size decreased, so did my defense.

    Seems like a blessing in disguise.

    Although we almost died, the explosion of the reactor diverted the enemies attention.

    At least the infiltration was sessful.

    As we thought about where we could find a ce to catch our breath, Adhai poked me with her wingtip.

    Elder Yes? Confirm Needed

    Hmm?

    He was continually tilting his head, finding my transformation quite awkward.

    Adhais reaction wasnt particrly strange. My transformation felt awkward to me as well.

    The changes that urred to me were not best described as mutations or transformations. Literally, it was closer to evolution.

    Firstly, my overall size decreased to about 5 meters, including my tail. The tail was about 2 meters long, and the body stretched for about 3 meters.

    As the tail shrank, changes urred in the body as well. Thebat arms located near the armpits and pelvis descended and began to function as legs.

    In short, it was akin to the physique of a centaur from Greek mythology.

    Although four of thebat arms were lost, there wasnt as much decrease inbat power as expected. This was because the small arms located near the chest had grown significantly,parable to thebat arms.

    The form is a bit different.

    The development of the muscles and the covering of the outer shell on the area that had be long arms, or more precisely, now had elongated arms, were impressive.

    Although they appeared weak for defensive purposes like other arms, they seemed capable of easily crushing a human skull.

    Aside from the changes in physique and arms, there werent significant changes in other parts, such as the six horns, the giant head carapace, or the pincer at the end of the tail.

    The only difference was that the proportion of faces with human features had increased due to the decrease in size of the body?

    No, theres a huge change besides that.

    What I called evolution wasnt because of changes in physique.

    It was the fur.

    Thin, long fur had sprouted all over my body except for the head carapace, covering everything in dark purple fur. From a distance, it might seem like I was wearing a fur coat inside out.

    An Amorph with fur.

    of fur-growing traits in the game, but there wasnt a trait that would change

    Even Number 26, who always speaks kindly, expressed an opinion that I looked strange. This was the first time Number 26, who had diligently observed my evolutionary process, found me peculiar.

    As I remained silent, Number 26 quickly added,

    But youre still big, so its good!

    [Horns] Cool Stems Peculiar

    It seems that my appearance is out of ce ording to the standards of both alien creatures.

    Finally, when I looked at Mother of the sky, she awkwardly shook her head with her eyes.

    Its like Wendy without fur covering her head.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Isnt it more like a centaur?)]

    It feels like Wendy grew eight legs.

    Among the creatures that Wolph can transform into is Wendy. It possessed tremendous power, but I remember that its appearance wasnt rated highly.

    Hmm. Seems fine to me.

    Despite much negative opinion, there was one fortunate aspect. It was that this fur wasnt ordinary fur.

    When transformed into the Crafty Weakling, some traits were restricted in use, but new bonuses were gained.

    True to that, this fur was a new body part formed by a powerful bonus effect.

    [Mysterious Creatures Fur Skin: A bonus provided by the Crafty Weakling trait. It provides a stealth effect that allows the user to evade detection equipment, traits, and technologies through the subtle vibrations of the fur.]

    [*Note: Some electronic devices may not be affected by this effect, so be cautious.]

    [Sealed traits due to being in the Crafty Weakling state: Bone Axe, Aerial Membrane, Reinforced Large Tail, Corrosive Tentacles.]

    Indeed.

    If the Monster King in the Organic Evolutions special state was akin to abat mode, the Crafty Weakling was closer to a survival mode. I wasnt sure how powerful the stealth effect of the mysterious creatures fur would be, but considering the Monster King, it was expected to be significant.

    The downside is that some physical abilities are sealed.

    Especially disappointing was the disappearance of the Corrosive Tentacles, which was a side effect of the Horizon of Nightmares and one of my main weapons. Instead, faces formed by the trait of Human Features took their ce where the Corrosive Tentacles used to protrude.

    Though the decrease inbat power is regrettable.

    In situations like sneaking onto a ship unnoticed, its actually an appropriate trait.

    But lets think about thister.

    Right now, we are inside the Cyborg ship. When we crashed into the Cult Escort Ship, the front of our ship was damaged, and we took advantage of that gap to enter.

    Drones wille to repair the damaged parts soon.

    Until then, we need to hide in a safe ce.

    As in the old days of hazarding, I affixed auxiliary equipment to the ships interior wall.

    The heavy sound of the reactor running, the footsteps of androids and cyborgs bustling around the ship, the noisy alerts of flying drones, and even the smell of rusted iron and synthetic petroleum mixed with sweaty flesh.

    It felt like being connected to a living, breathing ship. Even the cyborgs directly linked to the ship wouldnt be able to sense it as intricately as I did.

    We often used this on the research ship to track enemy movements.

    The performance of the current auxiliary equipment far surpassed that time.

    A cyborg ship with a muchrger and moreplex structure than a research ship. I swiftly read the structure of half of the ship in an instant.

    [ZZZ (Over here)]

    Having found a safe location, I led everyone there. Along the way, there were drones and androids, but we didnt encounter any trouble.

    Having thus avoided all threats, we arrived at the safest spot on the ship.

    Trash disposal site?

    [ZZZ (Yeah)]

    It should be safe, indeed.

    There are no surveince cameras inside the waste disposal site, except for one near the entrance.

    Although the entrance to the disposal site was right in front of us, I stopped the group.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Wait a moment)]

    Are you going to test that fur?

    Having a fellow ranker present made understanding swift. Before entering, I nned to conduct an experiment targeting that camera.

    Is this square enough?

    I pressed against the wall, moving just within the cameras sight range, and extended my tail enough to be barely visible to the camera.

    The fur of the mysterious creature nullifies detection equipment.

    Cyborg cameras support various detection systems, and even in normal mode, they ensure much higher image quality than those of the MegaCorp surveince cameras.

    So, if someone on the other side were to see this, theyd surely send surveince drones.

    If not

    I extended my tail a few more times to ensure it was captured by the camera. However, there were no dronesing here even after some time passed.

    Its effective.

    After waiting for more than ten minutes without any response, I crawled up the wall and adjusted the angle of the camera.

    This should do.

    If I move along the walls edge, I wont be caught by the camera. The tricky part is to hide behindrge covers like the crane used to move garbage before entering the disposal site.

    Having disabled the camera, I finally touched the terminal next to the entrance of the disposal site. It was to find out when the next scheduled garbage disposal was.

    Upon checking, there was still a long time until the next disposal. Havingpleted all the checks, I called out to the others.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Turn behind the crane and enter]

    Whats the crane for?

    Just go that way.

    That way, we were able to safely leap into the garbage disposal site.

    Wow! So many toys!

    Fascinating.

    Dont go near thepactor. Its dangerous.

    Number 26 and The Mother of the Sky seemed to be enjoying the inside of the garbage disposal site. She followed the children, cautioning them not to do anything dangerous.

    There is a very famous sci-fi movie that entered the museum long before I was born. In that movie, theres a scene where the protagonists fall into a trap set by enemies and get trapped in a garbage disposal site.

    Was that where the robot saved them?

    In the movie, it was a ce where the protagonists found themselves in dire straits, but not here. This dirty ce will be our way out.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

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 Chapter 158

    Chapter 158

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    Quietly sneaking onto the ship, I managed to secure a safe spot. So, what should I do now?

    I need to sabotage the warp drive.

    This ship is part of the StarUnion fleet. Once the battle is over, it will return to its original space station for repairs. If the warp drive malfunctions, were done for.

    The warp drive, the pinnacle of hyper-scientific technology, is as delicate as an overloaded reactor. Failing warp navigation could strand the ship in an entirely unexpected ce, that could even be within a star.

    Failing a warp navigation in the game means instant death. Top-tier equipment and ships wont save you.

    Ive been in that situation before, forced into a star during a battle with the Vortex ones. Its likely to be simr in reality. Its an extreme case, but not impossible. We cant afford reckless moves unless its an emergency.

    I attached the auxiliary organ to the wall inside the garbage processing chamber. Intermittent vibrations and a strong flow of energy were felt from the ships side. The ship is in a difficult state to engage inbat due to heavy damage to the front rockets and hull. Well probably retreat to the rear of the fleet to avoid the cults attacks. We dont know when the battle will end, but it likely wont be long.

    That cyborg battleship we saw earlier.

    That ship, appearing more than three times the size of others, is a model I recognize.

    A Z2-ss heavy battleship. Looks like its been modified somewhat, though.

    StarUnion battleships typically carry anti-ship torpedoes.

    Gremlyn torpedoes.

    Among StarUnions inventions, this weapon stands out for its ability to corrode metals like a nanomachine. The Gremlyn torpedoes loaded onto the battleship can specify the metal they consume.

    For instance, attacking with a Gremlyn torpedo specified for moonsilver will continue corroding until all monsilver in the vicinity is eradicated. And theres only one faction that uses monsilver to build ships around here.

    It can be fired during a battle without any issues. Its only drawbacks are its high cost and vulnerability to EMP.

    But the cult cant use EMP.

    Unless they have skilled psychics on the level of Number 26, or Cult Prophets, defending against Gremlyn torpedoes with regr shields is difficult.

    Theyll probably aim for the Imperial battleship opportunistically.

    Firing a Gremlyn torpedo will end the battle. Until then, we need to deal with the engine issue.

    The target is set. Its time to move.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Ill be back soon)]

    Where are you going? I want toe too.

    I together

    Wait for both of us. Amorph uhh, the big one has something to attend to.

    Something?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Just taking a quick look around. Ive been idle for a while)]

    Yeah. Come back safely!

    I farewell

    Watching the Mother of the Sky, embarrassed by her own words, was quite amusing, but time is of the essence. After telling the kids to rest, I crawled out of the garbage processing chamber.

    Normally, Id move with them, but not this time.

    We have to move quietly, thats why.

    Everyone rampaging together is only safe after security is assured.

    Coming out of the processing chamber, I moved upside down, clinging to the ceiling. Despite numerous cameras in the corridor, they failed to detect my presence.

    The fur sticking downwards due to the wind, a characteristic of unknown creature fur.

    If I were a cyborg, they would have been startled to see me, wouldnt they?

    They said its a stealth effect to avoid detection by detection equipment or traits, but normal cyborgs should still be able to see me fine. Androids or drones might not, though.

    Lets experiment with thatter.

    Its better not to run into anyone right now. With eight arms and legs, I stuck closely to the ceiling, choosing paths where I couldnt sense android or drone movements.

    Luckily, most drones and androids seemed to be deployed for ship repairs, as there werent many robots roaming the corridors. As I got closer to the engine room, I sensed arge movement in the distance.

    A walker?

    But I quickly reconsidered. The closer it got, the more certain I became that it wasnt a walker.

    To avoid it, I slipped away at a junction and hid against the corridor wall. Eventually, a spider-like machine appeared beyond the corridor. It had a human head and torso, but instead of arms and legs, it had six robotic legs attached where they should have been.

    A screamer, huh?

    The gruesome-looking screamer wheezed through tubes attached to its mouth. As chemical fluid was injected through the tubes into its body, cold sweat dripped incessantly.

    After scanning the corridor with bloodshot eyes, it ttered off with its six legs, leaving only a metallic skeleton behind.

    It smelled of sweat.

    I thought they might be cyborg soldiers, but they turned out to be screamers.

    Screamers are quite the creation, reflecting the tastes of space survival developers. In summary, theyre akin to punishment units once operated bymunist states.

    Instead of sending the worst criminals or anti-establishment figures to prison, StarUnion turns them into screamers. Rather than waste individuals deemed useless to society for being potentially mechanical, theyre repurposed intobat machines.

    Once turned into screamers, they lose all control over their bodies, bing little more than puppets. They might as well be called bio-drones.

    Once their sentence ends, theyre supposedly restored to normal cyborgs, but most end up dead in battle before that happens.

    Its strange to see screamers in an elite fleet.

    From the Machine assemblys perspective, since theyre all criminals, theyre not well-organized into such good fleets. I heard theres a unit in the StarUnions elite forces consisting solely of screamers, but this ship isnt part of that unit.

    Lets be careful of screamers. Theyre not like androids and have significantly higherbat capabilities.

    They tear into enemies like rabid dogs. Dealing with them one by one like this is a nuisance.

    Later, I confirmed there were two more besides the one I encountered. Since screamers periodically roamed, I had to take a long detour to reach the engine room.

    It took longer than expected because of them, but it wasnt all wasted time.

    Lets consider weve familiarized ourselves with the shipsyout.

    I checked the necessary information for attacking the ship, such as the security level ofmunication facilities and the location of auxiliary terminals where propulsion output can be verified.

    After gathering information while bypassing them, I finally reached the upper level of the engine room.

    Why the upper level instead of the engine room? The reason is simple.

    Its too risky to go straight to the engine room.

    Being a military vessel, the security level of the engine room is iparable to that of research vessels that we have encountered so far.

    The most important facility on this ship is guarded by ten heavily armed androids and twentybat drones. They tirelessly monitor and guard against unauthorized intruders, turning them into bee-like hives without a moments rest.

    Moreover, various types of sensors are installed throughout the corridor leading to the engine room.

    While unknown creature fur may not trigger the cameras, it could trigger motion sensors detecting vibrations.

    So, Ive decided not to directly assault the engine room.

    Just need to disable other things essential for engine operation.

    For instance, the cooling system or circuits that supply energy from the reactor, etc.

    After adjusting the direction of cameras installed above the corridor, I leaped down to the floor.

    Landing silently, I immediately crawled close and pressed the auxiliary device beneath my chin against the metal floor.

    From the dark gray walls, intense heat and subtle yet stronger vibrations were sensed.

    This should do.

    Since I just adjusted the cameras, this area wont be caught on tape.

    I carefully scratched the metal te on the floor in case noise might attract attention.

    Soon, a hole appeared, revealing wires and tubes inside.

    I widened my mouth above the hole.

    Melting these will be tough, huh?

    The corroding fungus between my oesophagus and trachea activated.

    Soon, acidic fungal masses poured out of my mouth.

    ***

    [The Imperial battleship was damaged by 78%. Disabled.]

    Phew.

    Looking at the video feeding through the cables connected to the ship, Keynescue sighed.

    In the center of the video he was watching, there used to be the Imperial battleship.

    The cults battleship, the Gormos 03s Condemnation was hit by Gremlyn torpedoes and sinking.

    It was intense. Truly.

    As the battle dragged on, at some point, the Imperial battleship began to falter.

    Perhaps because they knew wed finish it with Gremlyn torpedoes.

    Other cult warships also made sure not to let their ships get within the range of the torpedoes.

    More bothersome than I thought.

    Due to the cult ships sacrifices, even targeting the battleship with Gremlyn torpedoes became a challenge.

    The cult fleet is retreating.

    Tch, about the time they ran. Bloody idiots.

    As the cult proved to be more troublesome than expected, Vice Admiral Sanadaeff of the Nemea Fleet opted for a very StarUnion-esque strategy.

    They targeted our ships with torpedoes, coated with nanomachines, then charged toward the Imperial battleship.

    This resulted in the destruction of about ten ships, but ultimately, the Imperial battleship sumbed to the Gremlyn torpedoes nanomachines.

    And thats what Keynescue is watching now.

    No need to pursue. The fleet will return to the ESS-22 system.

    Thus, the brief battle came to an end.

    Keynescue doesnt know how significant the oue of this battle will be.

    But its none of my concern anyway.

    All decisions are made by the esteemed members of the Machine Council.

    Maybe Vice Admiral Sanadaeff will be a bit annoyed because of this battle.

    Order the repair drones to return and prepare the navigation warp.

    Confirmed.

    Theputer of Ship 98 ryed Keynescues orders.

    In the meantime, he checked the information of the special machines onboard the ship.

    Damn, why conduct new Screamer experiments on my ship?

    Originally, all StarUnion Screamers were managed by Android Pyra Eleven of the Machine assembly.

    Normally, they would be responsible for conducting Screamer experiments.

    However, the situation was different this time.

    The suggestion to test if Screamers could blend in well with regr soldiers came from higher ups.

    Currently, a small number ofpleted prototypes are being tested on regr ships, and Keynescues ship happened to carry one of these Screamers.

    Why bring criminals on board in the first ce?

    Even if theyre fully controlled, no captain likes criminals roaming their ship.

    Furthermore, having to constantly observe how well these criminals adapt and file reports makes the situation even more unpleasant.

    But Keynescue couldnt voice hisints.

    Pyra Eleven holds the rank of a Supreme Councilor. His rank is equivalent to that of the Supreme Councilor Nemea Five, who is the overallmander of the Nemea Fleet to which he belongs and also a Supreme Councilor of the Machine Council. Theres nothing he can say to an android in a position even higher than Vice Admiral Sanadaeff, the deputy fleetmander.

    Sigh, if its a problem, it needs to be dealt with. Ship 98, are we still far off? Why havent we departed yet?

    The warp engine is experiencing issues.

    What? What kind of issues?

    The cooling function is inactive. Energy supply rate from the reactor decreased to 40%. Probability of error during hyperspace jump in this state is 63%.

    What did you say? No way, what the hell is that nonsense?

    Why would the perfectly fine hyperspace engine suddenly go haywire? Keynescue was baffled. Then amunication came from the battleship.

    [Ship 98, whats going on? Why havent you returned?]

    Uh, theres an issue with the warp engine. Its risky to jump with a 63% chance of error.

    [You are still in the JP-99 system, we dont know when enemies will return. Move to the nearby system urgently, repair quickly to reduce the error probability to 10%, then return.]

    Understood!

    After ending themunication, Keynescue contacted Ship 98 again.

    Which is the nearest system from here?

    Its the AD-100 system. Well arrive within 3 days with the current propulsion status.

    Alright. Lets head there first for repairs.

    As Keynescue was about to issue orders, the image that was floating in front of him suddenly cut off. Moreover, the lights in the situation room where he was seated all went out.

    [Whats going on? Ship 98? Whats happening?]

    Silence from the ship despite his outcry.

    A momentter, power returned to the ships situation room. Ship 98 sent a message again through the connected cables.

    [Urgent, unknown cause, direct EMP urred. Currently under recovery.]

    What? Suddenly an EMP? Whats the cause?

    [Unknown. Currently investigating.]

    Try to investigate the cause by connecting to Starlink.

    [Not possible. Communication function currently inactive.]

    [Damn it! How did this happen!]

    Communication function inactive. That meant one thing.

    Distress.

    They were in the enemys territory just a moment ago, engaged inbat. To crash in such a damaged state, and not only that

    [Confirmed EMP source. Presumed to be inside the ship.]

    Inside?

    Upon hearing Ship 98s report, Keynescue felt a chill run down his spine.

    Being stranded alone is already a problem, but having an unknown entity with them is even worse.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 159

    Chapter 159

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    The engines have been disabled, and themunication blockade has just beenpleted. Its a good start.

    The brokenmunication equipment in front of me ceased operation, sparking itsst spark. I scattered cables and bundles of wires on the floor.

    Thanks to Number 26 hidden in the garbage disposal, I could easily disable the security of themunication room. Seizing the opportunity when the security androids were momentarily halted due to the EMP effect, I sneaked in here unnoticed.

    Number 26 can maintain power, though.

    The reason Im doing this rather clumsily is because theres a possibility that enemies might trace the psychic power traces used by that guy. Even apart from the APD, theres a tracking function attached as an auxiliary function besides blocking psychic powers.

    Although hiding ces will eventually be discovered, its not good to be exposed too soon.

    Having wrecked all the machinery, I opened the door of themunication room and stepped out. Androids still not fully recovered due to the EMP effect stood with their heads drooped.

    The psychic power shot by Number 26 produces a simr effect to EMP, not an actual EMP. Itll return to normal in a few minutes.

    Of course, by then, Ill probably be gone already. I moved my steps towards the next target.

    Originally, after disabling the engine, I nned to hit the drone control center instead of themunication room. This facility is unique to the StarUnion, unlike other species ships like MegaCorp or Cult.

    StarUnion relies heavily on machines.

    At the central top or bottom of the rectangr box-shaped StarUnion ship with protruding thorns, the longest cylindrical thorn is the drone control center. As the name suggests, its a control center for managing drones and androids.

    Destroying that facility wont stop all drones and androids. After all, they are managed primarily by the ships centralputer.

    However, it can disrupt the actions of drones and androids. In other words, without the drone control center, it bes easier to take control of the ship.

    So, I intended to target the engine next, but the situation changed abruptly.

    While moving towards the drone control center, attached to the ceiling, I sensed a change in the movements of drones and androids. Machines from outside the ship werent entering one after another.

    In the midst of battle, the reason why drones that should be focused on repairs are returning is one.

    The end of the battle. To return to where they came from after the fight, they need to enter superluminal navigation mode, so they collected all the drones.

    It ended surprisingly early.

    Immediately realizing this fact, I swiftly crawled towards themunication room. Along the way, I signaled to Number 26 to send out waves instructing the ships machinery to malfunction.

    It was a timely move.

    Before making a mess of themunication equipment, I checked themunication records once. Thest record was about contacting the headquarters, probably reporting the fact that the warp engine was damaged.

    If themunication blockade had been dyed a little longer, they would have definitely requested backup.

    Feeling the uniform vibration from my fingertips and toes, and a much stronger heat than before, I could tell that the thrusters attached to this ship were moving fiercely.

    It was clear that they had chosen to move to the safest territory possible to carry out self-repairs.

    That was the captains biggest mistake.

    Choosing to repair on their own rather than requesting repairs or reinforcements. That decision sealed the fate of this ship.

    ***

    Externalmunication is severed, and mobility is limited.

    Fortunately, its an environment where I can frolic around.

    Can you see? This isnt damage from a collision.

    Captain, it seems like theres something other than us on this ship.

    Cain, who received the video through the cable, let out a sigh.

    After the engines, now themunication equipment, and even the drone control center have been neutralized.

    He knew what that implies.

    Ship 98 is under attack by an unidentified entity. And not from outside the hull, but from inside.

    Is there any way we cant recover?

    Is this an acidic solution in the circuit? It must be because of this, itpletely melted. It could take at least 6 hours, or up to 12 hours for the drone control center to be restored.

    What about themunication equipment?

    Its simr here too.

    It means unfortunate fools might have to stay in a dumb state for 12 hours. At least the thrusters werent damaged, so there were no issues with moving to another sector, but there was still no assurance.

    Though I didnt know what purpose the entity on this ship had, it was clear they harbored a distinct hostility towards us.

    Damn, I was too careless.

    I can vaguely guess where that entity came from. Ship 98 is a bioship belonging to the Nemea fleet that came to the JP-99 sector. Its likely that the intruder boarded his ship when it collided with that.

    For now, send avable repair drones and androids there.

    Thank you.

    And are there any intruders caught on surveince?

    Strangely, theres no footage of themunication room or the drone control center on the cameras.

    The StarUnion officially espouses atheism. To androids made of metal parts and synthetic fiber modules, the afterlife holds no significance.

    Cyborgs like Cain didnt believe in ghosts or such superstitions, but at this moment, it felt like it might not be entirely out of the realm of possibility.

    Ship 98. Have you confirmed where the EMP was fired from?

    The traces and information are too scant to confirm. Only the fact that it originated internally is confirmed.

    It means its somewhere inside this ship. Arrange a mixed patrol of cyborgs, androids, and drones to monitor.

    Theres a shortage of cyborg personnel on the hull.

    Tsk, fill the shortage with screamers.

    Confirmed.

    Just hold out for 12 hours. Cain thought so.

    He realized he was wrong about that thought three hourster.

    All cameras and lights in the ships corridors were off.

    Damn! Only cameras and lights went off? It couldnt be that the ships reactor was attacked, right?

    Theres nothing wrong with the reactor. Error in the wiring. Presumed to be due to external factors.

    But still, no footage on the cameras at all? Does that make sense?

    It was iprehensible.

    There were hundreds of cameras on this ship. High-performance cameras equipped with various vision functions including thermal detection, not just basic surveince functions.

    Special care was taken to ensure that cameras ced in important facilities didnt get disabled.

    But the fact that they werent catching anything was absolutely impossible.

    He tried to somehowprehend this inexplicable situation, but the true disaster was only just beginning.

    All security units, prepare for assault! Use all avable weapons, just kill the bastard by any means necessary!

    Damn it!

    Field of view transitionplete.

    Defense readinessplete.

    As soon as the orders came down, sixbat androids immediately responded.

    Unlike MegaCorp androids, which are much more humanoid, these ones looked much more mechanical and were also quite efficient in terms of performance.

    Unlike MegaCorp, which had fears about robot uprisings, StarUnion had no such constraints, so continuous improvements were made.

    Models with quadrupedal lotion, or models with five arms and two heads, and so on.

    Models optimized forbat, departing from human forms, activated their weapons equipped with heavyunchers that explosively enhanced both firepower and rate of fire,monly known as Stormgunners. These heavyunchers, resembling multi-barreled rocketunchers, unleash tremendous firepower in an instant, but they suffer from low uracy. They are difficult to control for unmodified cyborgs to the extent that Heavy Launchers are primarily used by StarUnion androids. However, in a battlefield like the one with one-way corridors, such as now, the low uracy might not be as much of a disadvantage.

    If you see them, shoot them on sight!

    Affirmative.

    Two cyborgs positioned three on each side of the corridor controlled terminal devices for drone operations. Normally, they would have joined the battle as well, but given the situation with the drone control center malfunctioning, it was impossible. To precisely control the drones, they had to operate them while checking through the terminals.

    As the cyborgs operated the terminals, spherical drones with three barrels each floated into the air.

    They were StarUnion support drones. They could be useful for detecting unseen enemies like now or assisting androids field of vision.

    Finally, they adjusted their own eyes, reced by special cameras, to thermal detection mode. Because all lights in the corridor werepletely off, nothing could be seen. Thus, afterpleting all preparations, the two cyborgs vigntly monitored the front and rear.

    On the ashen-colored corridor, characteristic of thermal detection, not a single ant could be seen. The corridor remained silent to the point where it was hard to believe someone was targeting them.

    The only sounds were faint metallic noises and murmursing from the hull. Was it because of this atmosphere? The sound somehow felt unfamiliar to them.

    Wait, a noise?

    The cyborg guarding the rear wanted to focus on his guard duty, but the unknown noise kept bothering him. It was as if a warning wasing from some modified part of his brain, telling him not to miss it.

    In the end, he slightly adjusted the system responsible for his hearing.

    Thanks to that, the sound became louder than before. It sounded like something soft hitting a hard metal te.

    Whats this?

    He remembered the sound from when he used to walk barefoot before his legs were modified. As his gaze turned towards the direction of the sound, suddenly, his colleague from the front tapped his shoulder.

    Whats up?

    Shh.

    The colleague pointed across the dark corridor. There shouldnt have been anything visible except darkness. At the end, heat emanating from a living being was faintly visible.

    Soon, dozens of small heat clusters began approaching rapidly towards them.

    Damn it! Commence firing!

    Heavy Launchers, engage.

    From six androids with eerie appearances, an immense amount of bullets were unleashed. The terrifying weapons, firing hundreds of incendiary uranium rounds per second, decimated the targets.

    Beep, enemy nking detected.

    Response initiated.

    The targets, or rather, the creatures, clung to the walls and ceiling, dodging the bullets as they moved.

    But to prevent this, drones were deployed. The support drones hovering in the air simultaneously ryed the targets movements to the androids while providing cover fire.

    The battle ended quickly. As the androids confirmed the annihtion of the enemies, they ceased fire, and the two cyborgs stepped forward.

    I wanted to see what kind of creatures they were, but this is how it turns out.

    Indeed.

    The Heavy Launcher is a weapon that makes heads and upper torsos disappear when aimed at human heads. There were no traces left by those hit with this weapon.

    Thergest remaining part among the targets was the upper torso of one of them.

    These bastards look disgusting.

    Their teeth are excessively developed for bugs. Look at these mandibles. Theyre not even human teeth.

    You son of a bitch, its scary to even think about them appearing in your dreams.

    The two who confirmed the body fragments shivered at the gruesome sight.

    These damn bastards might still be around. Lets check ahead first

    The cyborg who was about to report to the captain stopped speaking. It was because that noise came to his ears again. His gaze turned towards the area near the ceiling where the noise wasing from.

    Drones are missing

    The three drones that were there just a moment ago couldnt be seen anywhere.

    To inform his colleague of this fact, he quickly turned his head. As soon as he turned his head, warm liquid sttered on his face.

    Gulp?

    And the sound of his colleague coughing. His colleague, visible in the thermal detection view, slowly floated up into the air and was split into thirds.

    Kill that thing!

    The cyborg recoiled in horror at the sight, and the androids retreated behind him.

    However, even at hismand, the androids showed no reaction. They looked remarkably docile, almost unbelievable considering they had just indiscriminately poured out firepower.

    Shoot! Shoot and kill that thing!

    No enemy detected.

    Fire controllooooooost.

    Subsequently, the androids met the same fate as his colleague. Something unseen mercilessly tore the androids apart.

    As the android with five arms was torn apart, synthetic petroleum flowed onto the floor, and the quadrupedal android had its upper and lower body separated and pinned to the walls and ceiling.

    The wide corridor, which only smelled of metal before, was quickly filled with the smell of blood and petroleum. The provocative smell woke up the cyborg who had fallen into panic.

    II have to run!

    He sprinted down the corridor as far away from the creature as possible. Amidst his running, he faintly heard a sound from afar.

    It was the sound of gunfire.

    Somewhere else, simr events were surely unfolding here.

    II have to hide!

    A door on one side of the corridor caught his eye. It was a food storage room for cyborgs. He hurriedly opened the door and hid in a corner.

    II should be safe here!

    Cyborgbat rations had a smell as repulsive as their distinctive tire-like taste. With his body crouched down and holding his breath, the sounds from outside seemed even clearer. The gunfire he heard before entering here still hadnt stopped.

    Perhaps the situation on the other side wasnt any better. He swallowed hard.

    Please, someonee to help!

    Was his prayer answered by Lord Jubaka? The sound of the food storage room door opening reached his ears. His gaze turned to the door, but there was nothing to be seen.

    Why cant I see anything Wait.

    Suddenly, a sinister thought struck him. He cautiously deactivated the thermal detection view. Instead, he switched to a mode that used vibration to perceive objects, synchronized with his hearing and vision.

    As his view shifted, a new world unfolded before his eyes.

    Thebat rations pouring in as he rushed in. Neatly stacked boxes. And a tail split into two at the end.

    A tail?

    His eyes moved up from the tail, adorned with pincers.

    Four sturdy legs supporting the ground along with the tail. All covered in the same hard carapace and fur as the tail. On top of that, there were the thick torso and four arms. The arms, made of sturdy carapace and strong muscles, had sharp ws attached to them. Like weapons that had torn androids and cyborgs to shreds.

    And above that was the head.

    With a slender elongated muzzle reminiscent of a cold-blooded creature, a giant carapace extending backwards, and six mighty horns, it stared at him.

    Indeed. It seems you cant hide from vibrations.

    Despite the ordinary female voiceing from its mouth, he couldnt feel relieved.

    Now, it was approaching him with its mouth split into two branches, wide open.

    Picking up thebat rations scattered on the floor of the food storage, cleared of cyborgs in one go.

    Cyborgs dont taste great.

    The flesh itself was passable, but there were so many mechanical parts that it felt extremely gritty every time I chewed. It felt like eating ribs with lots of bones and little meat.

    What about this one?

    I put a packet ofbat rations into my mouth without opening it.

    Ugh Its bitter.

    StarUnionsbat rations tasted more stale and bitter than the 100% cocoa I had tasted before. While the taste itself was better than MegaCorps calorie bombs, the texture was worse.

    I should eat this after taking over the ship.

    The n was to infest the ship with parasites imnted in the captain and a few seemingly useful cyborgs.

    There were two main reasons for this cumbersome process. Firstly, to prepare for the possibility that cyborgs from other ships might contact this one. Since it was a ship that had left due to malfunction, there might be contact from themand side halfway through.

    But the inability to use the corrosive tentacles is the biggest issue.

    In fact, that was the main reason. Without being able to use the corrosion tentacles, it was impossible to corrode the ship on the horizon of nightmares.

    We cant even confirm if its a target for corrosion.

    To dominate the ship, it was necessary to release the intelligent weakling state and then seize control with the corrosion tentacles. The transformation ability, Organic Evolution had a cooldown period of one month, which was not short at all. Therefore, the n was to minimize potential risks on the ship and then seize control.

    Should I go out and clean up the other side too?

    Leaving the food storage, I moved along the corridor. From a distance, I could hear the sounds of Number 26 and Adhai, as well as the noise of the Mother of the Sky raging.

    Looks like everyones been bored.

    Once the corridor was cleared, it would be fine to gather and upy the important facilities.

    Thinking about this, as I moved, I felt something lurking in front of that corridor. Gradually, with rough breathing, it revealed itself.

    Kuoo, Kuoo

    Screamer.

    From the previous battle, I knew that androids and drones couldnt detect me. However, the cyborg I hadst consumed was aware of me even before the battle.

    Sounds and vibrations cant be hidden.

    The unknown creatures fur property disrupted observation equipment, preventing detection of fur movement. It didnt hide vibrations or sounds.

    Using the enhanced adhesion property to move as quietly as possible, but since I was a living being, I couldntpletely conceal the sound.

    If its a screamer, whats going to happen

    Kuoo

    Enemy detected. Eliminate.

    Kuoo

    Ah.

    Contrary to my expectations, the screamer looked at me with bloodshot eyes.

    A monster half-human, half-machine with six metal legs rushed towards me, its eyes full of malice.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 160

    Chapter 160

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    If there were Hulk mutants in Megacorp, then in StarUnion, there are Screamers. They are quite simr in the aspect of forcibly modifying criminals intobat weapons and boasting terrifying exteriors. One difference is that Hulk mutants are often seen more as mercenary allies than enemies, whereas Screamers primarily appear as adversaries.

    Unlike Hulk mutants, who possess some intelligence and a degree of autonomy despite being under machine control, Screamers are merely sound in mind while their bodies are subjected to mechanical control.

    Quite literally a machines prison,

    As its said. Though named Screamers if the embedded life support AI doesnt permit, they cant even properly emit a sound.

    Just like the one rushing towards me now, making a raucous noise. It spotted me and shouted about finding an enemy upon seeing me, but its merely an automatic dialogue output based on specific situations inputted to its AI.

    As it closes in, its sharp, spider-like ws aim to tear flesh from bone. I swing mybat arm to parry the attack, expecting its foot to easily bounce off, as usual. But

    With a thud, its w pierces my armored exoskeleton.

    Huh?

    Its not deeply embedded, but it surprises me nheless. Since bing a Junsei, this is the first time someone has pierced my exoskeleton in meleebat since Muriel.

    But it doesnt end there. Its waist twists grotesquely, and the two metallic legs attached to its back re at me menacingly.

    Quickly, I twist my head to block the w with my exoskeleton and pivot my body, using the generated torque to swing my tail forcefully.

    The thick tail covered in armor brushes past the ground. At its end, the pincer collides with the creature. The Screamer hit by the Swamp Kings club is mmed into the corridor wall.

    Kuuu, Kuuu

    Despite the momentum enough to shatter upon impact, it doesnt die. Apart from a few bent metallic bones, it seems intact.

    Why so resilient?

    Ive fought Screamers countless times, knowing their capabilities fairly well. However, the defense and offense of this one before me are beyond standard.

    Its been upgraded.

    Kuuu Kuuu

    Backing off, the Screamer exhaled roughly, wary of me. Whether it recognized through our exchange that Im not an easy opponent or not, its movements are cautious.

    I, too, carefully assess the foe.

    Who knows what additional features it might have gained.

    Though unlikely, it might be concealing means to threaten my life. Thus, I must remain vignt during this fight.

    Then, it lunged at me once again.

    This time, instead of leaping onto the corridor, it traversed between the walls and ceiling, pounding six metallic legs into them.

    Perhaps to sow confusion.

    I can also traverse walls like it does. Following its lead, I leap towards it, sticking to the walls and ceiling as I advance.

    Our distance rapidly closes. Just before collision, it raises two front legs high.

    Its target is my neck. Like an icicle, its sharp de aims for my throat.

    Rather than blocking its attack, I simply drop from the ceiling. Its strike grazes futilely against my rear exoskeleton.

    Undeterred, it attempts to cover above me, aiming to seize my throat. But before that, my tail intervenes, grabbing its legs with the pincer at its end. Despite shrinking in size, it hasnt lost all its strength. I apply force with the pincer.

    [Risk of damage to legs 1 and 2.]

    The creature attempted to break free with mechanical noises, but being firmly held, its resistance was futile. Unable to withstand the tightening force on its metallic legs, they snapped. As liquid sprayed from the tubes connected to the broken legs, the creature widened its eyes.

    Ku-u-u

    Its breathing became coarse. I swung mybat arm.

    At that moment, the creature gave up on the restrained legs. Withdrawing as it discarded the legs, my attack ended in vain.

    Taking a few steps back, the creature bent its remaining legs and forcefully pushed. With its sturdy metal skeleton, it climbed onto my back. In that state, its legs coiled around my neck and the exoskeleton of my back like a noose.

    I thought it was attempting to strangle me, but that wasnt the case.

    Near the creatures grip on me, a long, thin tail resembling a scorpions tail emerged. Unlike a scorpion, it had rotating saw des instead of a venomous sting.

    Where!

    While still holding onto the creature, I forcefully mmed its back into the corridor. With all my strength exerted along with my weight, the entire hull trembled slightly.

    [Impact detected. Irreversible damage.]

    Due to that impact, the creatures body was partially contorted. The legs holding me loosened.

    Yet, as a final act, the creatures tail shed at my rear exoskeleton. Upon collision with the exoskeleton and saw des, intense sparks flew, illuminating the dark corridor.

    This is it!

    I grabbed the creatures tail and swung it towards the wall as if swinging a baseball bat. From the creature, which was partially embedded in the wall, machineponents and life-sustaining fluids spurted out.

    Despite the mess, the creature vigorously wriggled its remaining legs to harm me somehow. As a finishing move, I stabbed its body with the six horns on my head.

    Queee GaaaaaKeek

    The life support AI controlling the creature fell silent after those words. Tubes attached all over its body were severed, all legs were broken, and its tail, torn off entirely, was in my hand.

    Soon, it spat out the tube fragment it had in its mouth. While it had a murderous glint when fighting me, facing death, it looked much more serene.

    [Th-thank you]

    It tried to say something while looking at me, then shook its head.

    Phew.

    Ive never seen a Screamer this strong. Though the battle wasnt long, it inflicted considerable damage on me.

    It damaged my head exoskeleton.

    Though a small scratch, its not to be ignored. If its further upgraded from here, it could be a mass-produced weapon capable of inflicting fatal injuries even to an Amorph.

    The kids are in danger!

    There are at least three Screamers on this ship. Even I couldnt defeat it easily, It would be much harder for the kids. Moreover, unlike me who has sturdy defenses, Number 26 or Adhais defenses are nothing special. If they get hit by the rotating saw des on the creatures tail, theyll die.

    I quickly moved away from the Screamers corpse.

    Until I fought the Screamer, the constant sound of gunfire echoing through the corridors had now ceased. It meant the fight was over. With that thought, an inexplicable sense of unease crept over me.

    As I ran towards the nearest Adhai, a fork in the corridor appeared before me. Taking the right corridor would lead straight to Adhai.

    I increased my speed and quickly checked the right corridor.

    There, I found numerous fallen bodies and the Mother of the Sky. Among the fallen bodies, I spotted the mangled Screamer.

    And one of the fallen creatures hadrge wings and a long tail.

    Adhai!

    The moment I saw Adhai lying on the floor, my heart sank. But then, the creature lifted her head.

    Disgusting! Seriously! Disgusting!

    I told you. It would be disgusting.

    Me Friend Talk Distrust Mistake

    Adhai scratched with her front paws, equipped with tentacles instead of a mouth. The creature, diligently cleaning her tentacles, spotted me.

    Adult Wee.

    You came?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Is everyone okay?)]

    Why so surprised? Oh, is it because of this guy?

    The Mother of the Sky, grooming her feathers, looked at me and responded indifferently.

    This one was much stronger than the Screamers I knew. Looks like you fought one too.

    [ZZZ (Yeah)]

    It seemed like the Mother of the Sky was in charge of the Screamers.

    Looking at the Screamers corpse, its head was separated from the body. The Mother of the Sky must have decapitated it with her talons. She precisely aimed for the soft flesh rather than the tough metal parts.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Seems like it had reinforced the metal parts. Well done.)]

    Huh? You havent checked yet?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (What do you mean?)]

    Making iprehensible sounds, she pointed at the dead Screamer with her front w.

    She indicated the creatures neck area. Examining the back of the neck, I saw traces of several attempted shes.

    Their bodies arent human.

    [ZZZ (What?)]

    Theyre too sturdy for humans.

    She lightly scratched the Screamers skin with her w. Gryphons ws were extremely sharp, so even a light scratch should have torn flesh. However, there was only superficial damage to the Screamers skin.

    Originally, there wasnt much difference between a Screamers head and torso and that of a regr cyborg. The metal skeleton covering its body was sturdy, but the biological tissue wasnt modified separately.

    Hence, in the game, the weakness of Screamers was precisely their vulnerable torso. Depending on how the head was modified, sometimes they came out wearing helmet-like masks, so it should be considered an exception.

    Come to think of it, the one I fought was also tough.

    Earlier, I had mmed the creature into the wall with it still attached to my back. Considering my strength, not only should the tubes and legs have been crushed, but its body itself should have been shattered. However, it didnt die immediately, and after delivering a valid strike with its tail, it died.

    Then theres only one answer.

    Gically enhanced humans, or

    [ZZZZ ZZ (Hulk Mutant)]

    She nodded silently.

    They made Hulk Mutants into Screamers.

    Although I said it myself, it was hard to believe.

    Understandably, the StarUnion and MegaCorp are at war. The likelihood of core technologies like the Hulk Mutant production method flowing to the StarUnion is low. And even if they somehow obtained it through espionage, turning it directly into Screamers wouldnt be easy.

    The StarUnions gic maniption technology isnt advanced.

    Apart from cloning technology, in other areas, both in terms of technology and infrastructure, itgs behind MegaCorp. Having the technology alone doesnt solve the problem of production.

    First, lets see if Number 26 is safe

    What? What are the kids doing without me?

    At that moment, a wave of psychic energy flew towards me. It was Number 26.

    In the dim corridor, there was a thudding sound, and soon after, it revealed itself.

    The Mother of the Sky and I were surprised to see Number 26s appearance.

    Brought a big guy for dinner.

    Due to its increased size, the creature, upying about two-thirds of the corridor, was holding two Screamers with the psychic power technique Bind.

    Kuuu

    [Anomalies detected due to unknown power.]

    Kuuu

    [Activity impossible due to unknown power.]

    Even the two Screamers were still alive. Despite their metal skeletons and legs twisted like pretzels, they were alive.

    Upon seeing that, Adhai fired a telepathic message.

    Little adult That Disgusting

    Really?

    I Tried it Disgusting

    Is that so? Then I guess I should dispose of it.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Wait, theres no need to do that)]

    As soon as Adhais telepathy ended, I quickly gestured to Number 26 as I saw the heads of the two Screamers twist oddly.

    [Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, Zoom (I need to grow quickly so Ill eat well)]

    Does the big one want it for growing?

    [ZZ (Yes.)]

    Then eat a lot and grow a lot!

    [ZZZ ZZ (Thank you.)]

    As Number 26 released its restraint, the Screamers copsed to the floor. They tried to move to attack Number 26, but with everyponent of their metal legs twisted, they couldnt budge.

    Looks like theres no ck Silver mixed in.

    If it were ck Silver alloy, Number 26 wouldnt have been able to subdue them so easily. I affectionately patted the body of the creaturerger than me in praise.

    [ZZZZ ZZ (Well done)]

    Yes!

    The creature glowed faintly with delight.

    Having patted Number 26, I stood before the incapacitated Screamers.

    Lets check right away.

    I have a useful tool for identifying unknown entities.

    One of my psychic abilities, Insight.

    Obtained from hunting a policeman named William in the Space City in the past, this ability randomly reveals information possessed by the enemy.

    All we need to confirm is the species name.

    As Insight activated, purple shes emanated from my eyes, illuminating the dark corridor. And before me appeared a translucent text box.

    [Name:

    Species: Hulk Mutant

    Status: Enhanced (Screamer Surgery)

    Equipment:  ]

    The information confirmed by Insight was as we predicted.

    A Hulk Mutant turned into a Screamer.

    What does this mean?

    There are individuals cooperating between StarUnion and MegaCorp.

    The war between the two factions hassted for hundreds of years. There have been sightings of humans from MegaCorp expressing hatred towards the machines from the StarUnion.

    Of course, its known that there are individuals in the upper echelons of MegaCorp who secretly sell employees to the StarUnion for credits.

    But leaking important war weapon manufacturing techniques is a different matter altogether. After all, if they lose the war, credits wont be the issue.

    Theres only one entity that would do such a thing.

    There are yers in both MegaCorp and the StarUnion who create new Screamer variants.

    And its fairly easy to guess who the yer from the StarUnion might be.

    Unless theyre part of the Machinery Assembly, or even more than that, they couldnt do this.

    Only androids can be part of the Machinery Assembly. yers cannot enter.

    So, the opponent must be someone more powerful than the Machinery Assembly within the StarUnion.

    The Grandmaster.

    The current Grandmaster has close ties to yers from MegaCorp.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 161

    Chapter 161

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    The Grandmaster might be a yer too.

    So far, Ive known a total of four yers. Muriel, a space-dog yer who can transform into different species while being a cyborg, the Mother of the Sky, who helped Muriel, and I also know that there are yers in the MegaCorp and the Cult. But now, a yer from StarUnion has been added to the mix.

    StarUnions presence is bothersome when theyre enemies.

    Since they operate mainly with machinery, they dont align well with Amorphs, who collect gic essence to evolve. No matter how many machines an Amorph consumes, It cant be stronger. Additionally, its impossible to utilize deceit tactics throughplex political structures when facing StarUnion.

    Unlike MegaCorp, where power is divided among various families, and Cult, where multiple political factions proliferate, StarUnions power structure is solely singr: the Machine Assembly. And the leader of this assembly is none other than the Grandmaster. Hence, being at odds with him is tantamount to being hostile to the entire StarUnion.

    No. Theres no need to worry yet since nothing is confirmed.

    However, theres a more pressing issue at hand: identifying the MegaCorp yer cooperating with the Grandmaster.

    Someone proficient in manipting Hulk mutant technology and easily essible to the upper echelons of StarUnion.

    Suddenly, the MegaCorp yer who supported Murieles to mind.

    Could it be?

    I spected that the yer who assisted her might hold a high position within the Garamelda family, known for reinforced armor development.

    But upon further consideration, all the equipment she used was of StarUnion origin. While psionium, as per the setting, is a stimnt traded even within MegaCorp, its ultimately a drug developed by StarUnion. Blood River is also a device only cyborgs can produce.

    Initially, I thought the equipment the cyborg Muriel obtained was modified by the Garamelda yers. However, if its not the case, and instead involves a StarUnion yer, a Garamelda yer, and Muriel, then

    No, theres insufficient evidence.

    Blood River is an advanced device, but given enough resources, its easily replicable. As a cyborg pirate capable of disguising as other species, Muriel could easily produce it. Even if there were another StarUnion yer aiding Muriel, theres no guarantee theyre the Grandmaster.

    Perhaps theyre separate factions.

    Supporters of Muriel and Screamer operators. Viewing them as two separate entities seems reasonable.

    If luck isnt on my side, these factions might even cooperate. In such a case, Id have not only Muriels supporting faction to contend with but also the Screamer operators.

    Its still uncertain.

    I forcibly quelled the incessant spection.

    While its not wrong to be vignt, excessive caution can hinder proper judgment. It bes a shackle obstructing correct decisions.

    Returning to square one, the MegaCorp yer who aided in creating the Screamers is at least Prime Capital or above. Gic maniption technology is unavoidable if they want to use it.

    And when ites to producing Hulk mutants, the options narrow further. Only Prime Capitals, like the knights from the Eden family I saw before, can manipte genes to such an extent. To produce Hulk mutants, one would need to ascend to Noble Capital.

    Moreover, among the Noble Capitals, the Yujins have the most advanced gic maniption techniques.

    Previously, there were Si-hyun Yujin and Code ck, creations of the Yujin family. They didnt exhibit any noticeable side effects despite harboring multiple genes within their bodies.

    Other Noble Capitals cant create to that standard.

    Yet, creating these Screamers doesnt seem to require such advanced technology.

    I scrutinized all the Screamers. While they appear as cyborgs, closer inspection reveals some distinct features.

    This part seems to be extracted from Cold Bloods keratinization gene, and this one looks like a result of muscle enhancement genes.

    Theyre all Hulk mutants synthesized with two or three genes. Noble Capitals other than the Yujins can also create Hulk mutants at this level.

    Im confused.

    In this state, it seems impossible to guess whos involved with the Screamers.

    I told my guess to the Mother of the Sky, who is also a yer.

    The Grandmaster might be a yer too since being a cyborg is a prerequisite for reaching the ending.

    [ZZZ (Hmm.)]

    Perhaps, as you spected, a ranker from Garamelda has made a deal with the Grandmaster.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Hmm? Why?)]

    Screamers are ssified as half biological, half mechanical. If theyre going to mass-produce Hulk mutants to use as Screamer material, theyll need an understanding of machinery and weapon technology.

    Its a valid point. In the realm of mechanical weaponry rather than bioweapons, Garamelda is superior to the Yujin family.

    Maybe both families have made a pact.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Are there yers from both families?)]

    Honestly, I think the likelihood is low, but you never know. Even if its not the case, a yer from one side could have persuaded the other family.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (It seems far-fetched, but there is nothing to lose in being cautious.)]

    Ill speak up if I recall anything or find a clue.

    Ultimately, I didnt obtain concrete information about making Screamers. I can only specte that yers were involved.

    Whats left.

    Fresh prey brought by Number 26.

    Big guy, eat quickly. Itll taste bad if time passes.

    Denial Its Bad

    Quiet.

    In the original game, killing Screamers didnt yield gic essence because they were ssified as mechanical despite being a mix of biological and mechanical.

    But not here.

    With Hulk mutants, gic essence is a given. If I kill the remaining Screamers, all the traits within them will be mine.

    Should I use the Symbol of Hunt?

    Using the Symbol of Hunt significantly increases the chance of prey. Its the only way to obtain arge amount of gic essence when you want to secure multiple types.

    However, the drawback is the side effects after the Mark fades. This transformation consumes massive amounts of energy, leading to immense hunger after it ends, to the point where maintaining sanity bes difficult.

    That Hulk mutant has one decent gic essence.

    As confirmed earlier, one of the Screamers had gic essence from Cold Blood.

    Cold Blood has many traits rted to internal organs.

    So far, Ive acquired a total of four types, with three types unlocked conditionally. Originally, there were only two types: Special Defense Type and Cosmic Monster Type. However, a few hours ago, I unlocked a new type by devouring StarUnions supply line in its entirety.

    [Type  Internal Organs-rted: Muscle reinforcement, heat emission, enhanced digestive fluid secretion.]

    [-Fused traits rted to internal organs: Revenant Organ]

    The StarUnion supply line I consumed contained a variety of intelligent beings, allowing me to acquire many internal organ-rted traits that arent easily obtainable.

    The Internal Organs trait focuses on enhancing and modifying various organs within the body. While it doesnt offer many directbat-rted traits, its specialized in supporting the effects of other traits.

    Most traits in this category are duds, but some are very effective.

    Currently, the only useful internal organ-rted trait I have is the Revenant Organ made from Household Waste. However, there are other useful traits included besides that.

    In particr, traits that modify the nervous system synergize well with psychic-rted traits.

    Just as there is synergy between infection-rted traits and nest-rted traits, psychic-rted traits have synergy with several internal organ-rted traits.

    Moreover, traits that increase my energy consumption efficiency are also ssified as internal organ-rted traits.

    However, theres no guarantee that consuming them will yield immediate results.

    I hesitated as I looked at the remaining Screamers.

    Come to think of it, there was talk about conserving energy in intelligent weaklings.

    It was written in the description. After a moment of contemtion, I made a decision.

    Lets try it this time.

    I might end up using the Symbol of Hunt while in the state of an intelligent weaklingter. In the current situation, where Im not directly threatened, its better to confirm in advance to avoid problemster.

    I cautioned the kids that I might lose my mind again. In that case, they should quickly pass the body to someone else.

    Poor big guy, must be really hungry.

    Big adult Gourmet

    Number 26 sent waves of pity mixed with Adhais teasing mockery. After giving them all a nce, I looked at Mother of the Sky onest time.

    She silently nodded. It was a sign that she would help, so I shouldnt worry.

    Feeling relieved, I activated the Symbol of Hunt.

    ***

    Damn it!

    Captain Cain of Ship 98 cursed as he continuously observed the iing bio-signals screen, filled with ck fires. Since the assault of unknown monsters began,munication with the cyborgs had been cut off one by one.

    Moreover, the Screamer received from the Machine assembly were rapidly dying off. Cain knew that Screamers were criminals, but they were also very effective inbat as war weapons.

    The fact that such powerful weapons were being destroyed without resistance meant the enemies were beyond the usual level.

    Activate emergency power and reactivate the camera.

    Darn it, its not just one!

    Due to the destruction of the drone control center, it was impossible to view the camera footage remotely, but the androids were not affected.

    Synced with dozens of android perspectives, Cain could see the monsters that had boarded the ship.

    Two invisible creatures, a four-legged hairy beast, and even a pink balloon-like creature using unknown powers.

    Even in the StarUnions arena of beasts, such monsters were unheard of.

    What about the analysis of these creatures?

    [Analysis of unidentified organisms types C and D is ongoing. Type C is assumed to have very agile movements, with strong ws and beaks. Type D is suspected to use high-density prophet-grade psychic powers.]

    What about A and B? Theyre not visible, why is that?

    [Type B is assumed to possess the ability to fly at high speeds. Estimated to move faster than a fighter jet based on the damage level when androids were attacked.]

    How many drones capable of automatic navigation are there on this ship?

    [Due to the destruction of the drone control center, only 6 are currently avable.]

    Damn, for now, transmit all the information weve gathered so far through those drones.

    [Transmitting.]

    After I leave,unch them in automatic navigation mode, and set them to send out a distress signal after 10 hours.

    [Confirmed.]

    With that, Cain unplugged the cable behind his head. He did this to somehow convey information to the fleet he belonged to, the Nemea Fleet.

    Judging from their strategy of attacking key facilities, these creatures arent just strong monsters.

    If they were creatures that moved strategically to this extent, they might expect him to escape on a fighter jet. If there was no way to escape anyway, he was prepared to fight to the end.

    My revenge will be carried out by the Nemea Fleet. You monsters!

    Standing up, he armed himself with the weapons in the situation room. As he was about to leave armed, Number 98 reported to him.

    [Setupplete.]

    Alright. Good job.

    [Safe travels.]

    It was a message that always appeared when leaving the situation room, but why did it sound like it was cheering him on for his determination?

    Cain emerged into the dark corridor.

    Despite the destruction of numerous cyborgs and androids, the corridor in front of the situation room remained silent.

    With a lightweight version of the storm gun in hand, he controlled the drone terminal. A neat spherical drone rose above his head.

    Even with the androids and screamers wiped out, his chances of defeating the monsters were slim, given his lower level of armamentpared to them.

    It doesnt matter.

    His revenge n was already in motion. He clenched his jaw and surveyed the corridor ahead.

    As he stared into the darkness of the corridor, he suddenly felt a vibration.

    Though he had spent a long time on this ship, the vibration beneath his feet felt strangely unfamiliar. The irregr vibration caused the alloy walls surrounding the corridor to tremble with a uniform rhythm.

    Theyreing!

    Cain tightened his grip on the pulse gun. Not long after the strange vibration was felt, he heard a sound.

    It resembled the breath of a screamer but was much rougher and deeper. It reminded him of the sound of a hyperspace engine moving, but more ferocious.

    Cain easily recognized the sound as the growling of a monster.

    Darn it! Where are they?

    As the sound and vibration grew closer, the creatures presence remained unseen. Even the reconnaissance drone continued to circle the area without spotting it.

    I can hear footsteps, but theyre not visible on the heat detection sensors Wait, whats that sound?

    Quickly, Cain adjusted the options of the reconnaissance drone and his own field of view. It was a mode to identify the enemys movements through vibration and waves.

    In doing so, he saw the figure of the creature standing at the end of the corridor.

    The sight of the monster, filling the corridor, was truly terrifying.

    With six long, thick horns reaching the ceiling, the creatures face resembled an animals skull. Its elongated snout gripped the severed head of a screamer, and where eyes should have been, there were sharp spikes and tes protruding, sometimes appearing like eyes, only adding to the fear.

    Below its jaw were four sharp bone des, menacing as the horns above. The bone des twitched incessantly, as if ready to slice through an enemy at any moment.

    The body below was covered in long fur, making it difficult to see clearly. Merely glimpsing the legs that appeared whenever the creature breathed hinted at the presence of multiple limbs.

    Cain, facing the creature, lost all hisposure.

    The thought of buying time against that monster was nothing short of a terrible joke.

    [Enemy sighted.]

    If the drone hadnt reported, he would have died without moving a muscle. Regaining his senses, he ran madly down the opposite corridor.

    As he fled, the creature swallowed the head of the screamer in one gulp and moved. With every step of the massive creature, the corridor echoed with a rumble.

    Straining himself to run as fast as he could, Cain suddenly felt a chilling sensation behind his neck. At the same time, the de attached to the creatures jaw cut through the corridor, cleanly slicing through the sturdy alloy wall like scissors through paper.

    Gah!

    He narrowly avoided the attack, but his posture crumbled. Several stepster, he copsedpletely.

    S-Stay back!

    Sensing imminent death, he tightly shut his eyes.

    However, time passed, and he did not die. When he cautiously opened one eye, he saw the creatures face in front of him.

    Y-You are you the captain?

    The voice that came from the creatures mouth was feminine. He was too tense to respond properly.

    Trembling, he was asked again by the monster.

    Ill ask onest time. Are you the captain?

    Y-Yes!

    Satisfied with his answer, the creature withdrew its head.

    Attempting suicide with a gun, only to have it misfire, must feel something like this. Cain, who had just faced death and somehow survived, sighed heavily. But what followed froze him in ce.

    I almost killed a useful one.

    With those words, it extended its arm. Inside the thick fur of the creature, something squirmed as if trying to emerge.

    From now on, you will serve the Andromeda, not the Star Union.

    Seeing the wiggling ck worm emerging from the fur, Cain wished he could just faint instead.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

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 Chapter 162

    Chapter 162

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Ha, Captain? Kuuaaack!

    Shit, everyone retreat!

    Heeheeheek!

    As the captains orders were heard, the cyborgs gathered in the situation room panicked and screamed as soon as they faced me. Unlike some of the other cyborgs, they hadnt modified their eyes, so they quickly recognized my presence.

    Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

    The reactions of the cyborgs upon seeing me were quite varied.

    Pl-please spare usspare ussp

    Their pleas were cut short. They knelt, hands worn from begging, only to be silenced by a snap at my hands.

    Damn! Youre like a traitor to the Star Union! Ill personally

    Another group, expressing anger towards the betrayed captain, rushed towards him, only to have their upper bodies severed by the bone de arms on my back.

    And finally.

    Everyone, take cover behind the barricades!

    We must subdue him!

    There were few but still courageous cyborgs who attacked me without losing their resolve. They hid behindputers and machinery in the situation room,unching their assault.

    Pulse gunshots using Uranium-Tungsten rounds rained down upon me.

    Each time, the scales, no, synthetic scales, beneath my fur rippled, absorbing the impact of the bullets.

    [Synthetic Scales: Reces the outeryer with synthetic scales. Can harden specific areas using these scales.]

    All the outeryers of my body had been reced by tiny scales. A new trait gained from devouring a Screamer, Synthetic Scales, was at y.

    The true value of this traity in its ability to harden weaknesses in the body. By rearranging the scales in the affected area upon physical impact, temporary defense enhancement was possible.

    With this trait, I can protect appendages or auxiliary systems from monster tentacles.

    In the guise of a hunter, my auxiliary systems were now covered in armor, but not in ordinary circumstances.

    I approached the cyborgs, bullets bouncing off my body.

    Fck! Our attacks are uselessurgh!

    Everyone retreat! Retreat!

    Even as I closed in, a cyborg bravely firing bullets at me met his demise as my four bone des under my jaw shed through him.

    The cyborgs nearby, realizing the futility of bullets against me, tried to flee while theirrades were being ughtered. Those who turned their backs to flee were met with my tail.

    Argh!

    A cyborg rtively close by was struck by my tail and mmed into a wall. Fortunately, he died without much suffering.

    Le-let go!

    A cyborg caught in the pincer at the end of my tail struggled, but soon screamed as the pincer tightened.

    The sturdy pincer was part of the hard metal exoskeleton of the Screamer. There was no way the cyborg could withstand it.

    The cyborg, now a lifeless mass after vomiting a mix of organs and bodily fluids, was quickly discarded. I chased after the fleeing cyborgs.

    W-wait, wait, please!

    Heeheek, stopugh! Kukkuk!

    Before the hunts end, most of the cyborgs within the hull had been dealt with, except for a few.

    I need to imnt parasites.

    The maximum limit for the enhanced Parasitic Colony via Type Effect was 10. With one already inside the sky mother, only 9 survivors remained.

    W-we will follow our new master.

    The cyborgs, now dominated by the parasites, kneeled before me atop the bloodied situation room floor.

    There were two reasons I spared them.

    Currently, there are many androids and drones remaining on this ship. The goal is to neutralize them all. Although its permissible for me and the kids to roam around and destroy them, theres no need to exert effort on those we cant obtain gic essence from.

    And it could serve as insurance when the Star Uniones chasing after us.

    To deceive the pursuers, including the shipsmand, such as the captain, must remain. They might attempt to scan the biosignals of our captain or senior crew members from their end.

    With this, preparations for taking over the ship areplete.

    Taking control of a military vessel seemed easier than before, perhaps because of increased strength. Aside from encountering the unexpected formidable opponent, the Screamer, it ended smoothly without major variables.

    Upon closer examination, the gains from the Screamer seem more substantial.

    Aside from obtaining clues about Star Union yers, we were able to secure new gic essences.

    In the game, Screamers are ssified as machines rather than biological entities, so we couldnt obtain gic essences from them.

    However, the upgraded Screamers on this ship were different. Being made from Hulk Mutants, we could obtain several types of gic essences.

    Getting the Coldblooded trait here was lucky.

    Coldblood is a race with characteristics of reptiles mixed with those of insects, based on a humanoid reptilian base. Despite their frightening appearance, they have high intelligence and gained some cult poprity due to their tragic backstory.

    ording to the setting, Coldbloods oncepeted for dominance in the universe alongside the cult, but at this point, theyrepletely fallen. They gained power through a contract with the Vortex one, but in return, the fate of their entire race was sealed.

    Now theyve descended to being sold as ves to cultists or other races worshiping the Vortex one.

    yers who choose Coldblood aim to liberate and redeem their suffering brethren.

    I remember someone in themunity called it the Dinosaur Exodus.

    Anyway, because of this setting, Coldbloods are scattered across the universe, often only seen in thete game if luck permits.

    So, I thought it would be a while before I could acquire their traits.

    Its strange that there are so many Coldbloods on thebor supply ship.

    All the internal organ-rted traits I acquired were from Coldblood.

    Whether Coldblood genes yed a significant role in Screamer development or if thebor supply ship I consumed had an unusually high number of Coldblood, I couldnt tell.

    Whatever the cause, it turned out to be beneficial for me.

    The ability to guard weaknesses with Synthetic Scales and the useful Revenant Organ for critical moments were unexpected gifts.

    Though there are slight regrets.

    While I gained several traits from consuming Screamers, the rest were all traits I already possessed.

    Typically, Hulk Mutants are synthesized from various genes, but these Screamers wereposed entirely of the same genes, like replicas.

    Perhaps they were deliberately standardized for use as Screamer material.

    Whether due to their identical genes or not, their appearance and taste were exactly the same.

    Thinking about it, it feels somewhat disgusting.

    The taste of the Hulk Mutant used in the Screamers was truly awful. It was so repulsive that I felt an impulse to scratch the inside of my mouth with my nails.

    Based on my past experiences, the taste of creatures with abination of multiple genes was usually decent. Like Shiyeon Yujin and the Knights of the Egerdon Family.

    But this time, that rule was broken.

    It was a disgusting taste.

    It was like when you identally put toothpaste on your toothbrush and then drank orange juice. More precisely, it was like adding salt on top of that.

    With this level of satiety, even when the hunting guise ends Ah, its about to end now.

    Just as the tiger alwayses after its roar.

    Smoke began to emanate from my body, and my physique started to change. It was the end of the guise of the hunt.

    My body, which had grown to about 8 meters, including my tail, returned to 5 meters. The elongated fur shrank to fit my body size, and the bone de arms protruding from my back quickly shrank.

    Gradually, the bone de arms became like calluses peeling off the skin, then crumbled. The same change urred on the bone shell that enveloped the auxiliary organ under my chin.

    After all the changes wereplete, I quickly stuffed the cyborg corpses in the situation room into my mouth. It was to alleviate the hunger that always followed the end of the guise.

    But something was off.

    My stomach doesnt feel that empty?

    While hunger felt stronger than usual, it wasnt to the point of losing reason. With this level of hunger, eating a few cyborg corpses would quickly satisfy me.

    Could this also be due to the astute weakling effect?

    As expected, after devouring three cyborg corpses, the side effects of the guise immediately subsided. Perhaps, as a specialized survival state, it also drastically reduced energy consumption.

    I thought the decrease inbat power was unfavorable, but.

    Being able to use the guise of the hunt without looking back was a merit. Furthermore, it seemed to match well with the characteristic of consuming massive amounts of stored energy.

    For instance, the Divine spectre.

    Feasting on the cults orbital weapon, the Brain God to obtain the Divine spectre was my most powerful long-range attack method.

    Unlike the original, there was no limitation of once every 14 days, but instead, there was a drawback of reducing power by two-thirds and tremendous energy consumption.

    But what if I were to be an astute weakling here? Then, I could use the Divine spectre more freely than usual.

    While its impossible to go on a rampage, for me,cking long-range attack methods, it could be a godsend.

    Its regrettable that I cant operate in such a manner in my normal state yet.

    Theres no need to regret it. I can obtain itter.

    Having alleviated the side effects of the guise of the hunt, I stood up. Just then, the Mother of the Sky entered the situation room with the kids.

    You were quite rambunctious. How are the side effects?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Theyre unexpected boons.)]

    She had hidden with the kids in a corner of the ship, possibly in preparation for my potential rampage.

    I briefly exined the effect of the astute weakling to her. She nodded as if impressed.

    Its certainly a good trait. It usually has quite a wide range of applications.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Many weaknesses for infiltration have been greatly improved.)]

    It would be excellent for blindsiding yers. They wouldnt know about this from their end.

    She was right. In the game, theres no known trait that artificially changes Amorphs size. If I dont know, its highly unlikely that others do.

    Our enemies have built a formidable force, operating fleets and deploying orbital weapons. Since Im stillcking in power to suppress them, I need to respond with infiltration and deception tactics.

    While we were discussing her and my traits, Numbers 26 and Adhai approached.

    Big guy, do you need more food?

    [Im full, so you two can eat.]

    Understanding my signal, Number 26 extended its tentacles towards the corpses. Adhai, following Number 26, was about to join in the meal when she suddenly looked at me and approached.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Whats wrong?)]

    Adult Before Different Now Charming Iprehensible

    Swishing her tail, Adhai sent telepathic signals. Her gaze was fixed on the scales inside my fur.

    Now Good.

    It must be because of the scales.

    While Adhai usuallypliments me, my appearance itself is quite different from a Gagon. Its hard to call the flight membrane wings, and the carapace and scales on my body are quite distinct from Gagon scales.

    It seems that the change to scales fits Adhais taste.

    She nced at me for a moment, then nodded satisfactorily and went over to Number 26.

    The Mother of the Skymented upon seeing me.

    Its raining cats and dogs.

    Meeting her crescent-shaped eyes, I felt somehow embarrassed.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Enough of the useless chatter. Are you not going to eat?)]

    As you know, eating cyborgs doesnt help me. Its better for the kids to eat.

    Like me, she also needs to consume the flesh of powerful enemies to grow. Perhaps until we reach the Gagons Nest, her growth will also stagnate.

    Anyway, Ive already taken care of all the annoying ones.

    Now that the assessment of the astute weakling trait is almost finished, its time to move on to the next step.

    I nodded to the kids who were having their meal and left the situation room.

    Finally, the time hade to swallow this Ship 98.

    ***

    What exactly is your problem?

    What are you talking about?

    This cult nonsense! Theres a mountain of things to prepare for the sake of justice, but youre here listening to the ramblings of such a person and looking for treasure!

    Min-seok Yujin, the caretaker of Si-hyun Yujins house, was not pleased with his nonchnt owner.

    After the failed assassination of Akira Yujin, Si-hyun Yujins actions were full of iprehensible things to Min-seok.

    They needed to quickly subdue the elders of the remaining Yujin family on Earth and build an anti-Akira faction. But instead, they were aimlessly wandering through space.

    Originally, Akira Yujin wasnt very active externally. Apart from what the CEO must do, he spent most of his time on Earth.

    The reason why he risked his life to n the destruction of the T&C Special Trade Center was because it was rare for him to go out.

    With the ongoing civil war, its easier to n an assassination! But why isnt it working?

    Its because with our current strength, we cant eliminate Akira.

    Si-hyun Yujin casually remarked. She said the same thing every time Min-seok protested.

    Killing Akira was impossible.

    She had infiltrated the gship of the Yujin family herself to assassinate Akira. Min-seok could believe that much. As evidence, she brought back the dagger of Code Blue.

    But what followed was the problem.

    Are you still saying that Akira has subdued the Shadows? Thats impossible!

    As a close aide to Si-hyun, Min-seok knew how powerful the Shadows were and how powerful Si-hyun was in her prime.

    So he couldnt believe that she had been subdued by Akira and barely escaped.

    I dont believe it. There seems to be a reason I dont know.

    Min-seok remained skeptical. Si-hyuns eyes narrowed as he continued to doubt.

    I am your master. You havent forgotten that, have you?

    Min-seok remained silent. Si-hyun rose from her seat.

    Though Min-seok flinched at her movement, he didnt avoid her gaze.

    Ill ask you onest time. Answer carefully.

    For a brief moment, his hand moved towards his pocket, then stopped. Si-hyun didnt miss the gesture.

    Min-seok Yujin. Who do you serve?

    Si-hyun Yujin, the rightful heir of the Yujin family.

    He remained loyal to Si-hyun Yujin, the rightful heir.

    At first nce, it seemed like a sign of submission to her, but Si-hyun noticed that he deliberately chose an ambiguous expression.

    Thats because she was Si-hyun Yujin and at the same time, not Si-hyun Yujin.

    In other words, Min-seok meant that the target he was loyal to was the original Si-hyun Yujin, not the replica in front of him.

    Si-hyun understood that point but didnt bother to mention it. No, to be precise, she couldnt mention it.

    Go back. I have things to do.

    Yes.

    Min-seok also seemed to consider today not the right day to argue further. He made a gesture of farewell and began to leave the office.

    As he reached for the doorknob to exit, he muttered to himself softly.

    And having apetitor by your side. Whats that about? Tsk.

    After Min-seok left the office, Si-hyun, who remained alone, slumped into her chair. She murmured to the empty air.

    I showed a pitiful sight.

    Then, the metal suit standing in the corner of the office moved. It was a suit with a bizarre design, a mix of reinforced armor and walker features, measuring a whopping 2.5 meters in size, and its color was as ck as the space outside the spaceship.

    Moreover, the metal suit was in the form of a full-body wrap like the reinforced armor worn by the Knights of Ezerton. Resembling an android of the Star Union rather than a human, it spoke in a mechanical voice.

    No, it was more informative than I expected. I gained a lot of information I didnt know.

    A cynic, as always. La Chembelin.

    The identity of the person in the ck metal suit was La Chembelin, the former administrator of the T&C Special Trade Center.

    It seems quitefortable inside the suit if you have time to acquire information.

    Yes, indeed. Sleeping, eating, doing nothing Its amazing not to have to do anything.

    A stark contrast to her nonchnt tone was her mechanical voice. Currently, she was so severely infected with a lethal virus that she couldnt speak without the help of the machine itself.

    Infecting her with such a deadly virus that even gic maniption couldnt cure, she wouldnt survive for more than a few seconds without that life support suit.

    And Si-hyun, who provided her with the suit, was practically holding Las lifeline.

    I misspoke.

    Nevertheless, it was Si-hyun who bowed her head instead. Seeing her reaction, La found it interesting and spoke as if amused.

    Youre more interesting than I thought.

    What do you mean?

    Ive seen those who received Shadows technique be lunatics, without exception. Bloodthirsty killers, warmongers, extreme obsessive patients, and so on. Of course, youre no exception.

    Thanks for the praise.

    Id say Ive seen you how should I put it? Youre less noble capitalist than Akira Yujin. Your attitude towards the butler earlier and your attitude towards me are the same.

    It was necessary. If you want something, you take it without hesitation. Isnt that the principle of the noble capital?

    Hmm, indeed.

    Though La seemed skeptical, Si-hyun was sincere. Within her heart, a goal that she couldnt tell others about was rapidly growing.

    It wasnt Si-hyun Yujin or Min-seoks goal, but her own.

    But there was no need to discuss it here. Si-hyun changed the subject.

    There must be a reason you came to see me.

    Ah, I forgot.

    La opened the backpack attached to her suit and took out a white mechanical device. It was a partially damaged drone that had lost some of its functionality.

    I found this while scouting outside. It was almost destroyed, mixed with the rocky clouds.

    This is a Star Union drone. Why is it here?

    Seeing the number 98 engraved on the drones surface, Si-hyun felt a strange sensation for some reason.

    She had a strong intuition that there might be very important information inside that drone.

    Are there any other drones besides this one?

    They all seem to have been destroyed after encountering the rocky clouds.

    Ill have to check if the data information is damaged.

    Is that okay?

    There might be important information, so it should be fine.

    She unplugged a cable from her office desk and connected it to the drone. Soon, shattered holograms began to float above the desk.

    !

    What, what is this?

    And upon examining the contents, the two could only be astonished.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 163

    Chapter 163

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    The data carried by the drones consisted of information analyzed and organized by the StarUnions shipputer, along with recording from within the ship. However, due to collisions with fine particles of rock clouds, some of the stored data was lost.

    Despite being encrypted and iplete, the intricate data didnt hinder Si-hyun and La. Si-hyun, who yed the role of Yujins shadow, had mastered espionage techniques, while La, groomed as the familys promising heir, received special training and even wore advanced suits. Both being extraordinary individuals, they could easily decipher the datas contents.

    A soldier aboard the X2-ss destroyer was killed by four unidentified life forms. How could this happen?

    This information is recorded by the StarUnions shipputer; the possibility of it being false is low.

    Well, its still preserved in the footage, so it must be true.

    The AI capabilities of the StarUnion far surpassed that of the MegaCorps. While there wasnt much difference in terms of ship operations like route calctions or energy output calctions, the ability to analyze information based on given data was superior on the StarUnions side.

    Si-hyun wondered if even the Yujin familys gship was utilizing the StarUnions AI. La knew this fact, but it was such an unbelievable reality that she merely mentioned it in passing.

    Currently, they were both reviewing the footage recorded by the drones. Cyborgs and androids were helpless against the assault of the four monsters, perishing without any defense.

    That D-type creature, could it be a Bubble Amoeba? It looks quite simr despite the size difference.

    Im not sure. Ive never heard of a Bubble Amoeba wielding such strong psychic power.

    Perhaps its an experimental specimen from Eden or Zhao. They were known to be interested in Bubble Amoeba research.

    Hearing Las casual remark, Si-hyun suddenly recalled something.

    Bubble Amoeba, psychic power, experiment.

    After awakening in the cloning facility, her first recollection was of her memories just before dying. She had been nning to eliminate Akira Yujins granddaughter, Kisaragi Yujin.

    Kisaragi Yujin had shown remarkable sess in psionics and Hulk mutant research. Being crucial to Akira Yujins grip on power through the Hulk mutant project, she had to be eliminated somehow.

    Si-hyun had nned to attribute Kisaragis demise to conspiracies from other families. She seeded in killing Kisaragi, but everything went awry from that point.

    The monster aboard the ship where Kisaragi died interfered with her ns. Si-hyun realized that the monster was far superior to the pinnacle of gic maniption, the Shadow. Hence, she attempted to capture it alive, but it proved much more formidable than expected. In the fierce battle, she fell victim to an unexpected variable.

    The Bubble Amoeba aboard the research vessel.

    Initially disregarded as insignificant, its presence became crucial at a decisive moment, utilizing psychic power just as seen in the footage.

    Kisaragis final research focus was thetent psychic potential from Bubble Amoebas.

    Having gathered information to kill her, Si-hyun also remembered what she had studied.

    What are the chances of a Bubble Amoeba capable of using psychic power being aboard the ship?

    While watching La, Si-hyun double-checked the information on the drone. Information on both A and B type creatures among the four was particrlycking. They seemed to possess concealment abilities, as they werent recorded in the footage.

    Among them, Si-hyun was interested in the A-type creature. She essed the information left by theputer regarding the A-type.

    In summary, the creature had exceptional physical abilities and could produce acidic bodily fluids capable of melting ships. It also exhibited high intelligence and a preference for ambushes.

    Si-hyun recalled the monster that had killed her as she read the article. It was a creature that carried Bubble Amoebas, exuding acidic blood, and possessed high intelligence. Thinking about it, there were many simrities between the A-type creature that had annihted the soldiers of the StarUnion and that monster. It seemed to have grown significantly since shest encountered it.

    That monster! Its still alive after all!

    In the Special Trade Center of T&C, she felt its presence. At that time, she was transporting bombs and couldnt confront it directly.

    After the city copsed, she was convinced that the monster hadnt died. With its high intelligence, she believed it would find a way to escape the city and hide somewhere in space. It was a judgment with some basis in fact.

    After rescuing Las medical ship adrift in space following the citys copse, Si-hyun learned detailed information about the monster from her. She learned about everything that happened in the city, Las research on the monster, and even her ambitions to develop a new type of Hulk mutant.

    Si-hyun nced briefly at La.

    Theres no need to talk about it right now.

    The reason why La, a Noble Capital, followed Si-hyuns words was because of vengeance and ambition. Vengeance against the monster that had destroyed her, and the ambition to be the head of T&C using the monsters body. Thanks to these two goals, she could stay alive even though half of her body was a corpse.

    In that aspect, perhaps were simr.

    Having momentarily entertained that thought, Si-hyun checked the date the data was recorded. It was exactly ten days ago. It had been quite some time, so it would be difficult to find the ship thatunched this drone.

    For now, Ill research this information.

    She didnt know when she would encounter the monster again. Until then, it was necessary to acquire enough information about it.

    If only I could obtain that weapon!

    The ancient relic they were currently searching for. If they could get their hands on it, no matter how intelligent the monster was, they would be able to hunt it down.

    A quiet me ignited in Si-hyuns eyes.

    ***

    Weve found the the ship 98!

    Commander-in-Chief Sanadaeff of the Nemea Fleet shouted loudly, his voice filled with tension.

    Normally seen wearing casual clothes while piloting his gship, he was now dressed in a ck military uniform. A red emblem was attached to his chesta badge with a fist in the center surrounded by 12 stars, the symbol of the StarUnion.

    [Searchplete! Captain confirmed alive inside!]

    The reason he wore the uniform, which he didnt even wear duringbat, and even attached the emblem was because of the two entities watching him.

    [Inquiry. Sanadaeff. Are there any other cyborgs present?]

    Um, yes! Nine other survivors have been confirmed!

    The one who asked him was Nemea Five, the top council member of the StarUnion and Sanadaeffs immediate superior, a high-performance android.

    To Sanadaeff, Nemea Five was a difficult superior, but the presence that truly made him nervous was not that android.

    [Report from Nemea Five received. Sir, shall wemence the operation?]

    [Commence it.]

    Grandmaster Jubaka, head of the Mechanical Assembly and the supreme ruler of the StarUnion, was observing Sanadaeff from the capital, Starks-01.

    Just hearing the mythical presence and the voice of supreme dignity of the StarUnion made Sanadaeff nearly faint.

    [Orders confirmed! Docking operations initiated! Combat units are ready for entry!]

    Orders. Prepare yourselves. Other ships.

    [Deputy of Arrow Fleet! Ships orders confirmed! Target locked!]

    [Deputy of Redtail Fleet! Ships orders confirmed! Target locked!]

    He barely suppressed a sob as he gave themand. The captains of the other ships also responded with curses and acknowledgments over thems, likely sharing Sanadaeffs sentiment.

    Currently, they are conducting a search mission targeting ship 98, which lost contact ten days ago.

    Ship 98, which was supposed to repair its FTL engines upon arrival at the AD-100 gxy, began erratic behavior aftermunication was cut off. It was observed even using the damaged FTL engine, reported as broken, to conduct consecutive FTL jumps to other gxies.

    Normally, it would have been a problem solved by the Nemea Fleets Commander-in-Chief Nemea Five, but this time was different.

    Due to the interest shown by Grandmaster Jubaka in ship 98, three elite fleets pursued it.

    And they found ship 98 in a neutral zone in the gxy after ten days. Amidst the bustling trade routes, the 98th ship floated alone.

    Ship 98, known to be infected by bio-ships, had the same appearance as the conventional X2-ss destroyer but with a different color. The space around the ship had a dark color like the void, which seemed to indicate severe contamination to anyones eyes.

    [Dockingplete! Initiating boarding!]

    [Command confirmed. Permission granted.]

    Sanadaeffs gship was attached besides ship 98. Due to his failure to properly manage his subordinate ships, Sanadaeffs ship was tasked with directly searching the interior of the ship.

    The other fleets, except for him, aimed at the 98th ship from a distance. If anything unusual happened, their cannons would fire immediately.

    [All signals detected in the control room. Bio-signals are all stable. No special deviations.]

    Search thoroughly. We dont know what mighte out.

    Yes Grand um, alright! Sir!

    The real-time footage from the androids and walkers aboard ship 98 was transmitted to each gship and the Grandmaster. Sanadaeff also monitored his subordinates movements through cables connected to his neck.

    Inside the ship, a gas containing hazardous chemicals was densely spread like mist. As the subordinates adjusted the cameras, moving biological tissues were visible throughout the ship.

    Seeing this, Jubaka murmured,

    Nemea Five. Save everything without exception.

    [Nemea Five responding. Currently saving. Dont worry, Chairman.]

    The subordinates at the scene, unable to hear their conversation, quickly searched the ship. Soon, they arrived at the control room.

    TThat?!

    Seeing the scene inside the control room filmed by the subordinates, Sanadaeff was horrified.

    The control room, with its rigid and rough design, was gone. In its ce were tentacles resembling blood vessels, constantly swelling and bursting pods, and disgusting biological pipes emitting toxic mist.

    It was less of a control room and more of a nest. A nest of horrifying and disgusting creatures.

    In that abominable dwelling, there were Captain Cain and eight cyborgs from the 98th ship they had been looking for. They were firmly tied up by hardened tentacles, hanging from the walls and ceiling.

    We found Captain Cain and eight crew members! No casualties so far!

    [Command. Confirm.]

    One walker approached Cain, who was stuck to the wall. But as the walker got closer, Cain started writhing.

    W-Whats suddenly, why?

    Whats going on?

    T-The heart rate of the ships captain is increasing.

    Even though his face was entwined with tentacles, he somehow managed to open his mouth wide and shouted.

    Get out of here right now! This shipcough!

    He vomited blood profusely and then bowed his head deeply. At the same time, the bio-signal of Cain, being monitored by Sanadaeff, also turned ck.

    The captain of ship 98 has died!

    Dead? Why all of a suddenWait. Could it be?

    Having seen Cains death, Jubaka urgently shouted as if something had urred to him.

    Everyone retreat! Get away from ship 98!

    Before Jubaka could finish his sentence, a massive light burst from the engine room of ship 98.

    Sanadaeff could never know that it was because of a bomb installed in the engine room.

    Big Guy, whats wrong?

    Number 26 asked me as I suddenly moved my head.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Its nothing. Dont worry)]

    Yeah.

    [ZZZ ZZZ (Is it ufortable because its narrow?)]

    No! Im really happy being close to Big Guy, Middle Guy, and Little Guy all together!

    [ZZZ ZZZ (Thats fortunate)]

    As Number 26 said, Adhai and Mother of the Sky were tightly attached to my gigantic body.

    It really is cramped.

    It was an unavoidable choice to escape from the StarUnions pursuit.

    Three days ago, I abandoned ship 98 of the StarUnion and switched to a new one.

    The reason was that after scouring through the shipsputer records after corroding the ship, I discovered that Captain Cain hadunched a rescue drone.

    Because of his pointless actions, things gotplicated.

    To evade the StarUnions pursuit, I had to switch ships as soon as the Horizon of Nightmares cooldown ended.

    Since acquiring a new ship in the vastness of space was no easy task, I had no choice but to change ns and go to a gxy with many trading ships to find a new one.

    Thanks to that, its taking longer than originally nned.

    I wanted to kill Cain for practically wasting a week, but I held back. Instead, I thought of a suitable punishment for Cain, considering how to give him a punishment that would spread rumors of my vengeance.

    The Parasitic Bait Trap operation.

    I ordered the cyborgs to manufacture bombs, and I imnted sensors in their bodies. If their hearts stopped, the bombs would detonate automatically.

    After abandoning the ship, I tied up all nine cyborgs in the control room and installed bombs in the engine room.

    If the StarUniones looking for me

    The parasitized cyborgs would do anything to escape. Their actions would go against my intentions, but the reinforced parasites would exact revenge on them.

    And when the cyborgs die? Boom.

    Thanks to the Enhanced Infection Type, the parasites could survive without me for about five to six days. While the parasite recement itself posed no problem, I attached symbiotic spores just in case they starved to death.

    Afterpleting all the tasks, I could finally leave the 98th ship with peace of mind.

    And today, three dayster, I felt the parasites regenerating inside my body again. The fact that all nine parasites died simultaneously meant that the bombs had exploded.

    My n had seeded.

    They found meter than I thought. If I knew, I would have gotten a better ship.

    The ship I corroded was a cargo ship purchased from a neutral gxy where no faction had a presence.

    It was a ship Mother of the Sky, disguised as a wolf, went out and bought. Funds were obtained by selling the drones and androids installed on the ship.

    I didnt bother capturing a passing ship because they would think of me as a bio-ship and never imagine that I would buy and move around in a ship.

    Even if a yer intervened in my pursuit, it wouldnt matter. In fact, as a yer, they would have a harder time finding me.

    Theyll know me as Amorph.

    Amorph is a species with which conversation and negotiations are impossible. They wouldnt even dream of me having three friends.

    Things went ording to n, but Im a bit disappointed with the ship.

    At that time, I hastily acquired a ship because I didnt know when the pursuit team would arrive. As a result, the ship we boarded was barely over 60m in size.

    My body is well over 25m, so 60m is

    Moreover, since we needed food while moving, I packedbat rations for cyborgs and energy drinks purchased from the neutral gxy tightly.

    As a result, there was hardly any space left, so we had to stick together tightly like this.

    Im d Number 26 can shrink its body.

    The little one, who had shrunk to about 50cm in size, was dozing off on top of my head.

    Big one Me Hungry

    [ZZZ ZZZ (Just wait a moment)]

    Adhai, the Gagon navigator of this ship, was lying on her stomach on top of my tail. I generated a suction tentacle and handed her the energy drinks.

    Thank you.

    With a brief thanks, she inserted the tentacle into the energy drink and sucked it up eagerly. Unlike the Calorie Banana vored cyborgbat rations, the apple cider-vored energy drink was quite ptable.

    I should have gotten a bigger ship.

    Lastly, Mother of the Sky. She returned in her Wolf form and was tightly attached to my side. She kept tossing and turning, making the ws and thorns on my carapace ufortable.

    I need to help her out a bit.

    I slightly adjusted the ships structure to create space so that she could liefortably.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (How is it?)]

    I appreciate it, but arent you ufortable like this?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (I dont feel ufortable because Ive merged with the ship)]

    I envy that a bit.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (It might be ufortable, but bear with it for a month and a half)]

    She sighed softly at my words. With that, our conversation ended.

    As I prepared to focus on superluminal navigation again, she spoke softly.

    Thanks for caring.

    [ZZ ZZZ (Mention not)]

    Expressing her gratitude, she seemed to feel proud and soon closed her eyes. After a while, I heard her gentle breathing.

    Leaving Mother of the Sky asleep, I continued with the superluminal navigation.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

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 Chapter 164

    Chapter 164

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Capital of the StarUnion, Starks-01.

    In a ce characterized by densely packed factories, vast smog, and incessant acidic rain, there exists a peculiar structure. White and ck spires intertwined with numerous pipes, batteries, and machines of all sizes adorned the exterior, forming an imposing pyramid of spikes when gathered together. This eerie and awe-inspiring structure is known as Prime Head, where the highest echelons of the StarUnions power apparatus, the Machine Assembly, reside.

    At the summit of the tallest spire, Prime Head, lies the office of the Grandmaster, the progenitor overseer of all cyborgs. Though typically a space of solemnity and austerity, today was different. Within the tightly sealed office, multiple voices could be heard speaking in session.

    Youve suffered considerable losses, but ultimately failed.

    Thats correct.

    A Caucasian man with one eye reced by machinery conversed in front of four diamond obelisks. Adorned with a meticulously groomed moustache alongside a robust muscr physique, he was none other than the Patriarch of the StarUnion, Jubaka.

    So far, the known enhancements involve bodily modifications. And

    It seems the ability to integrate with ships is also present.

    Its fortunate we could confirm that this time. Jubaka, youve done a great job.

    Akira. How did youe across this information?

    Jubaka had to suffer significant losses, all due to the ranked 5 Amorph and his friends. The Nemea Fleet was almost decimated, and the Arrow and Redtail Fleets that supported him suffered considerable damage too.

    And thats not all.

    Due to his meddling,StarUnions rtions with the Cult deteriorated significantly. It was only natural, considering his reckless invasion of Cult territory and the destruction of Imperial battleships. This incident often brought up talks of war between the StarUnion and the Cult.

    To avoid a fruitless war, Jubaka had to send envoys to the Cult Council to apologize. Noble Capital Megacorp and Clo Garmelda exerted pressure on the Cult Reformists to support Jubaka.

    Thanks to them, an all-out war between the Cult and the StarUnion was averted.

    However, this incident greatly tarnished the StarUnions utmost dignity. Due to just one Amorph, Jubaka, who had been thoroughly humiliated, couldnt contain his irritation.

    In response to his enraged words, Akira replied nonchntly, Did you really think it would be that easy to capture him? You still dont know him well. Be thankful the entire fleet wasnt annihted.

    Tch.

    Akira, could the enhancement of bodily modifications possibly be obtained from Muriel?

    Well, Im not sure. We should be cautious about that aspect. Its likely he possesses between two to three enhancements.

    Whats the point of investigating his enhancements now when all traces of him have vanished?

    Wasnt his biometric sample recorded in Starlink? We could track him based on that.

    It seems the datas been tampered with. Scanners cant confirm anything anymore. It was fine until we chased after ship 98.

    Upon hearing rumors of suspicious organisms discovered by the StarUnion supply line, Jubaka immediately took action.

    Syncing the Amorph sample registered in Starlink, the proprietary information processing system of the StarUnion, with a bioscanner, and additionally, with the Warp Finder, a superluminal navigation tracking system.

    Thanks to utilizing all avable means at the Patriarchs disposal, tracking the Amorph wasnt difficult. In fact, until the discovery of ship 98, the main concern was distance and time, as locating the entity itself was rather straightforward.

    The issuey in the trap it posed.

    Its likely due to the impure mixture rted to the Nests characteristics. It possesses the ability to randomly alter the Nestsposition, making tracking impossible.

    Damn it! You shouldve mentioned that earlier!

    Heh heh heh, dont be angry. Didnt we learn something new because of it? We discovered that its possible to create an environment identical to the Nest within a bioship.

    Then its reasonable to assume it can utilize other abilities.

    When Jubaka discovered the entity, he ryed the information to the other members. At that time, Akira merelyughed and said nothing.

    But now, judging from his tone, it seemed he had anticipated this oue. He likely used Jubaka as bait to verify his conjecture.

    Its not a situation to remain calm about, Akira. Weve lost track of it. It means the next encounter with it could be even more perilous.

    Indeed, the entity that departed from the 98th fleet seemed to vanishpletely, like a ghost. Despite meticulously scouring neutral territories, no trace rted to the entity remained.

    Is it difficult to locate it with the Warp Finder?

    Thest known location of ship 98 was within neutral territories. With ships zipping in and out at the speed of light, finding it there is impossible.

    Of course, it would be difficult if it doesnt know the model of the ship it boarded.

    Based on the currently avable information, the Amorph contaminated the ship and seems to possess dominating abilities. It might be able to modify ships, but it was still traceable with the Warp Finder, except for changes in the ships type as Akira mentioned.

    We tried to find any attacked ships, but there was no information rted to the entity.

    Could it be that the ranked 5 made a deal and purchased a ship? Whether its for the essence collection or bringing alongrades

    Nonsense! To call such a personality arade? Hah, absurd.

    Hehehehe, its been a while since Shinshia cracked an amusing joke.

    All present had fought the rank 5 Amorph at least once. They were well acquainted with his dread, but there were discrepancies in the information they possessed. For instance, while Shinshia had only fought the ranked 5 twice, Jubaka had faced him about eight times. And Akira, with a higher rank than both, had faced him many more times.

    As a result, Shinshia had rtively limited knowledge about Fifth.

    Heh, if its him, he might userades as bait or dominate them like parasites.

    If the Amorph is with him, thats entirely usible.

    In that case, he could control cyborgs as parasites to purchase a ship.

    Of course, weve considered and are investigating that as well. The problem is it takes a lot of time.

    Currently, high-performance androids are thoroughly investigating all trade records within neutral territories. It might take a month to find out, but in the meantime, Fifth might switch ships again.

    At that moment, Akira spoke up.

    Hmm, perhaps theres no need to chase after it relentlessly, is there?

    What do you mean?

    If we know where itll go, cant we prepare in advance?

    Because you dont know, thats why youre talking nonsense, Akira.

    Heh, no need to be so impatient. Listen. Just like in a game, he dislikes wasting time. If hes be a Larva, hell want to evolve into an Adult as quickly as possible.

    I see.

    The fastest way for him to fulfill his evolution conditions is to capture whats called an Apex, a special organism. Then hell aim for ces where many Apexes reside.

    Are you referring to the Gagons Nest?

    Akira didnt respond to Shinshias question. Instead, a space map appeared from his obelisk, showing various projected routes from where the entity had moved.

    These are spective routes and calctions based on the direction and path the entity took. It indicates that it continued in a certain direction until it abruptly changed course when it entered neutral territories.

    And what does that mean?

    If it wasnt being pursued, it would have continued in this direction.

    Damn it! Get to the point. What are you trying to say?

    If it continues in this direction, itll lead to the Gagons Nest.

    What?

    A red marker appeared near the outer edges of the space map.

    Its where the Yujin family stores Gagon genes and where my old subordinate resides.

    But how does he know to go there when its not even marked on the map?

    I dont know either. But if its him, hell definitely target this.

    Jubaka eyed the red marker. Since it wasnt a recorded, no information appeared at that location.

    If hes heading here

    Contact the old subordinate. A Larva like Amorph stands no chance against them.

    And who exactly are you so sure of?

    Hehe, would it help if I said an aged ck Gagon?

    !

    Upon hearing that, Jubaka was taken aback.

    ck Gagon is the second-highest stage in the Gagon growth hierarchy. Beyond that are the Red Gagons, but theyre so rare that theyre hardly ever seen.

    In other words, ck Gagon is arguably the most formidable among wild Gagons.

    If its a ck Gagon, then Amorph, no matter how powerful it has gotten, wont stand a chance against it. Not only is the ck Gagon powerful itself, but it also has its entire Nest to contend with.

    Akira, may I inform Jason of the coordinates of that location? He expressed a strong desire to rectify this situation.

    Hehehe, then the certainty of his death will be even more assured. Go ahead.

    And now, even Cult yer Jason was involved.

    Jasons ranking is 10th. Though lower in rank than Akira or Jubaka, hes a skilled yer in his own right.

    With the ck Gagon and a 10th-ranked yer involved, the fate of the Amorph and his party was practically sealed.

    With a few more adjustments, the meeting concluded. Confirming that the obelisks were deactivated, Jubaka picked up the activatedmunication device.

    Youve heard everything up to now, right?

    That damn inspiration. Always using others.

    After learning about Akiras spy, Clo made various excuses to avoid participating in the obelisk meeting. Instead, she relied on Jubakas assistance to eavesdrop on the meeting.

    Clo, I have a favor to ask.

    Hmm?

    Im thinking of sending Pirah 11s Screamer Unit.

    What?

    Well justify it as a clinical experiment to assess operational capabilities.

    Just a moment! Jubaka, theyre still prototypes. Theyre in an iplete state, so who knows what errors might ur.

    Anyway, dont you need Amorph genes toplete your n? Its not a bad condition, is it?

    It would certainly be helpful, but

    Moreover, if that is where Gagon genes are collected, its even better. If the Gagons identally die while fighting Amorph, it could also deal a blow to Akira.

    Hmm, that does sound appealing?

    Send the newly updated Hulk Mutants. Convert them into Screamers and send them immediately.

    Jubaka had never let anyone who had attacked him go unpunished. Whether in the real world or in this dystopian world, he had no intention of forgiving Akira or his associates who had properly crossed him.

    Repay them all.

    Jubakas mechanical eyes flickered menacingly as he spoke to Clo.

    ***

    [ZZZ (There?)]

    Blue Star Ring Confirmed Nest Affirmative.

    Understanding Adhais telepathicmunication from outside the spacecraft, I was on the verge of cheering.

    Its been a long time.

    Thanks to traveling non-stop for a month and ten days on a cramped ship, we finally arrived at the where the Gagons Nest was located.

    Before usy a sky-blue reminiscent of the ocean. The had rings like Saturn, formed by rocky debris orbiting the due to its gravity.

    Seeing the beautiful sky-blue and the pale rings orbiting it felt like admiring a well-decorated aqua marine ornament.

    Id like to explore more, but

    Both mypanions and I were starving. We ran out of provisions two days ago. Since we hadnt seen any other ships or creatures for a long time, finding new food was impossible. In that situation, we had no choice but to continue onward.

    If Adhai had made even a small mistake in the coordinates, we could have been in big trouble.

    If he had miscalcted the coordinates, we might have wandered and starved to death in this remote ce.

    Damn Amorph.

    I almost experienced a death that I had never encountered even in the game.

    Lets go down and replenish our supplies first.

    I prepared to enter the nameless blue. After bringing Adhai inside from outside, I increased the speed of our movement.

    As the distance to the decreased, the appearance of the rings became clearer. From ordinary rocks and ice fragments to unidentified metal chunks and fragments of spacecraft from unknown origins, numerous objects were flying together in the same direction.

    If it were a creature with intact skin, it would have been torn to shreds upon entering those rings, but I am not an ordinary creature. I effortlessly caught the fragments pouring over the outer wall, a mix of metallic and biological tissues. Passing through the rings without much difficulty, I quickly approached thes atmosphere.

    Unlike Earth and the Moon, which have various colors such as blue seas, brownnd, and white clouds, this was uniformly colored.

    Sky-blue and white. That was all this had.

    An ice.

    Even in the game, regions where Gagons inhabit are extreme, much like the before me. Constant volcanic activity creating a hellishndscape, or subzero temperatures plunging into an icy hell. Extreme environmental conditions were one of the factors that made it difficult to deal with Gagons.

    It doesnt concern me, but Im not sure about the others.

    ording to Adhai, except for the Gagons Nest, the temperatures in the other areas of the were very low. Normally, she said she should have frozen to death not long after being abandoned by her kind.

    Except for Number 26, which inhabited the deep sea, the journey ahead would be quite difficult for the others.

    As I pondered these thoughts, my body was swiftly passing through the atmosphere. After pushing through the dense clouds, what came into my view was an endless expanse of ice.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

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 Chapter 165

    Chapter 165

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Hey, isnt it too cold?

    Cold Cold Cold.

    As expected, Adhai and the Mother of the Sky began to shiver fiercely in the biting cold.And if that was not enough, currently, everyone was in a state of hunger as well.

    It will be difficult to maintain the temperature with this spaceship.

    After the corrosion tentacles were released, the spaceship waspletely destroyed. Not only the engines but also the metal walls that made up the hull werepletely corroded. If a storm were to hit in this state, the ship would be shattered into pieces.

    We need to hurry and find food and shelter.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Please help everyone)]

    Just trust me!

    I asked the most intact number 26 among them to take care of the others and stepped out of the spaceship.

    Thend covered in snow weed me. As I moved mybat arms, the thickyer of snow was swept away, revealing the ice underneath.

    Smooth and shiny ice without a single crack. On its surface, the pristine state of me, without utilizing the characteristic of organic evolution, was reflected.

    With six sturdy horns and a slender head reminiscent of a crocodile or arge cephalopod, beneath it, countless tentacles of monsters fluttered like fins.

    Under the swaying tentacles in the wind, there were sturdy carapaces mixed with synthetic scales, wrapping around the body and sixbat arms, two small arms near the chest.

    Finally, beneath the ice, not reflected in it, arge, long tail that reced my lower body was partially buried in the snow. Only the pincers at the end of the tail and the spikes attached inside them were poking out above the snow.

    I sprinted across the snow-covered in with a huge body ranging between 27m and 28m. The traces I left behind disappeared instantly thanks to the snow and hail constantly falling. If I didnt have auxiliary devices, I would have been lost in no time.

    The mountain range in the distance, should I go there? No, its too far. Instead

    I stopped running and looked down at my feet.

    Among the creatures inhabiting the ice, there is a species that lives beneath the ice. Even under ice so thick that its thickness cannot be determined, life exists.

    There is a void under this ice.

    Confirming this fact through my auxiliary organs, I raised the pincers at the end of my tail upwards. I focused on the sensation of exerting strength on the muscles of my whole body.

    Then, the scales and carapaces covering my body began to glow red. It was the effect of the heat emission characteristic obtained from the previous Star Union supply line.

    Originally, it was a cold-blooded temperature regtion characteristic.

    Unlike the original characteristic that simply warms the body, when acquired by an Amorph, it can convert internal energy into heat to emit strong heat like now.

    The thickness of this ice is over tens of meters, and it is incredibly hard. With my physical abilities, I could easily dig through it with my bare hands, but it would take a lot of time.

    Although the situation is energy deficient

    Since I need to find shelter and food as soon as possible, investing energy now is the best option.

    As the ice I stood on melted, steam rose. The thickest pincers and head carapace of the carapace on my body shone brightly like heated iron.

    I think this is enough.

    I struck the ice with the hot pincers of the golden tail. As the hot pincers collided with the ground, immense heat and steam spewed out.

    With a grinding sound, the thick ice melted rapidly. Somehow, it sounded like when you put pork belly on a hot grill.

    Sigh. Seems like Im really hungry.

    Having regained my appetite, I pulled out my tail from the ice hole. Inside the deep hole, there was only darkness.

    Using the blunt ws scattered throughout mybat arms and body, I dug into the hole. Thanks to the heat emitted from my body and the melting ice, it wasnt difficult to erge the hole.

    After digging several hundred meters further down, the space suddenly widened.

    I finally arrived at the underground space under the ice. I hung on to the ice ceiling and looked down below.

    Although nothing was visible due to theck of light, thanks to the auxiliary devices, I could clearly feel the structure of this ce. The temperature in the underground space was higher than above, and there was soil and ice on themon floor.

    There are living organisms here too.

    From the darkness beyond, the sounds of wriggling life could be heard. I utilized the suction cups attached to the fingertips to cling upside down to the ceiling and moved.

    Not far from my position, there is a gathering of creatures. They are alert, emitting unique ultrasound waves to survey their surroundings.

    Cave Goyle.

    Cave Goyle are creatures that live in underground colonies or very deep caves. They look like abination of bats and primates, erged to about 3 meters in size.

    Their vision haspletely degraded, so they use special ultrasonic waves like bats to identify objects. They probably realized by now that I am in this colony.

    Theyre extremely vignt.

    With a massive monster looming around 30 meters, crawling on the ice ceiling, its understandable they would be terrified. If I approach a little closer, theyll probably all flee.

    But

    Right now, I have a way to deal with them.

    Five faces dormant on my back..

    I mainly use these faces to acquire and deceive enemy information, but the effect of this characteristic is also useful inbat. I can paralyze enemies by emitting powerful ultrasound waves.

    The more developed their hearing, the more lethal the damage.

    If they were without ears, it wouldnt affect them at all, but in this pitch-ck space, creatures having bo ears are probably non-existent, henceI woke up all the Faces.

    The five faces bound by my will all opened their eyes simultaneously. ck veins protruded on their pale, horrified faces.

    Eventually, when they opened their mouths wide, a second mouth in the shape of a vortex protruded outward. From that mouth, equipped with tooth-like protrusions, powerful ultrasound waves were emitted.

    Since the space was enclosed, the ultrasound attack was more effective than usual. My scales, emitting ultrasound, trembled, indicating its tremendous effect.

    As I expected, chaos erupted among the Cave Goyles below.

    Cakek! Caeaeak!

    Cakeung!

    Caeaeak!

    The organs for detecting ultrasound must have all burst, as a strong smell of blood permeated the air.

    In human terms, its equivalent to losing both sight and hearing simultaneously. The Cave Goyle group fell into panic and started attacking each other.

    Confirming that the enemies were in disarray, I leaped towards the ground. My body, nearly 30 meters long, soared through the air and fell onto them.

    Kwang?!

    Kik!

    Six Cave Goyles lying on my body died instantly. The Cave Goyles that hadnt fallen on me rushed at me. Although I couldnt hear, it must have been due to the impact of mynding on the ground.

    One Cave Goyle on my back swung its hands down, aiming for my carapace.

    Cave Goyles are strong enough to tear apart intermediate reinforcement suits with their bare hands.

    So theyre often used as Hulk mutant materials.

    For other creatures, it would be an attack that would instantly shatter their entire body. However, my carapace remained unscathed with only a few scratches.

    Cae, Caeaeak?

    They probably anticipated blood and flesh, but the sensation felt strange at their fingertips, so the Goyle tilted its head.

    I bent my lower body and tail upwards. The pincer at the end of the tail grabbed the Goyle.

    Keung!

    When I applied force like that, the Goyles body went limp. Its hot blood and entrails spilled onto my back.

    After that, it was a breeze. Within a few minutes, ten Cave Goyles all met their demise.

    Although the smell of blood spread throughout the underground space, there were no creatures revealing themselves.

    Judging this ce to be safe, I finally rxed.

    The scent of hot blood and fresh meat tickled my auxiliary devices in the chilly air. Feeling the delicious smell of meat in my hungry state, even I involuntarily salivated.

    Should I just eat one before leaving?

    Since no one is chasing me, it shouldnt matter if I eat and leave.

    Many thoughts raced through my mind, but I deliberately turned away. I retraced my steps along the icy path.

    As I traversed the long stretch of ice and ascended upwards, there was no difference from before. The incessant snowfall, hail, not figurative, but literally sharp winds that could cut through flesh.

    In this world where everything remained the same, I relied on my auxiliary devices to find the direction of the spaceship.

    Amidst the wind as sharp as des, there was a hint of metal smell. I followed the scent emanating from the spaceship.

    Before long, I spotted a bluntly protruding pile of snow. Even though not much time had passed, the snow had already piled up to the extent that the spaceship was almost invisible.

    Approaching closer, I heard the transmission of Number 26 from inside the spaceship.

    Big guy?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (I have found food and shelter.)]

    Wow! So fast! Amazing!

    [ZZZ ZZ (Follow me)]

    Shortly after, I heard the sound of metal crumpling from within the pile of snow, then the snow heap exploded as if blown apart. Revealed on the white snow was Number 26, erged to a size of 10 meters.

    Ugh, please tell me were not far.

    Cold Hungry Cold! Hungry!

    Upon closer inspection, I saw that both the Mother of the Sky and Adhai were tightly hugging Number 26, buried deep in the soft, slimy body, shivering except for their heads.

    From my experience, 26s body temperature was always constant regardless of the surrounding temperature. So, cing it on my head or shoulder always gave a pleasantly cool sensation.

    Would it feel warmer in such a cold ce like this?

    Seeing them shivering here, I wondered if it would feel warm instead. If we lingered here any longer, both of them might suffer. I guided them into the hole dug underground.

    As Number 26 and I braved the snowstorm, suddenly, Adhai sent out a warning telepathic wave.

    Adult! Young adult! Danger!

    [ZZZ (Adhai?)]

    I Kin Detection Sky Flight Tracking

    Huh? I sense something simr to the little one over there. Fascinating.

    Trembling while emitting sense waves, Adhai. Then Number 26 also spoke simr words to Adhais.

    Kin?

    I looked up and nced at the sky. Beyond the incessant snow and hail, all I could see was thick gray clouds.

    I urgently called out to the Mother of the Sky.

    The Mother of the Sky also seemed to sense that something was amiss as she turned her head upward. Her pumpkin-colored pupils slowly moved and then rapidly expanded upon reaching the vicinity of the mountains.

    Its a White Gagon! Its flying in this direction!

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Hurry up. Everyone, get on top of me!)]

    Seeing the trembling Adhai, it didnt seem like they wereing here with good intentions. I ced Number 26, who was holding the children, on top of me.

    Confirming that Number 26 had firmly grasped onto my body with its tentacles, I dashed at full speed.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (Hold on tight)]

    Wow!

    With all six of mybat arms and blunt ws scattered throughout my body, my body shot forward like a projectile from a cannon.

    While running, I asked the Mother of the Sky.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Where could it havee to by now?)]

    If its at this speed, within 5 minutes? No, within 3 minutes, itll pass over us.

    Even while soaring high, the White Gagon can still see us. Though its still far away, it might not be long before it discovers our location while flying around this area.

    Traces will quickly disappear due to the snow, but

    Its not the same for the hole. Since the entrance is sorge, it will take a while for the snow to cover it up.

    I have to block it.

    Arriving at the hole leading underground in an instant, I first pushed 26 inside.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (When you go down below, start filling up the stomach first.)]

    Isnt the big oneing down?

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (A series of affirmative responses indicating having tasks to do. Ille down soon.)]

    After reassuring Number 26, I covered the entrance of the hole with my body. Then, I extended my corroding tentacles to gather the piled-up snow around and scattered it over my body.

    Only after the snow piled up on my body did I retract the corroding tentacles.

    After finishing everything, I held my breath, and then I heard an alien sound of wind from above.

    It was very faint and subtle, but it was clearly the sound of wings pping.

    The sound came and went slowly.

    Hes here.

    The great beast known as the Dragon of the Universe was circling around me.

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 Chapter 166

    Chapter 166

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

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    Originally, Gagon didnt p its wings frequently. It only pped its wings when flying from the ground like a bird or a dragon, and once it reached a certain altitude, it glided.

    When it grows beyond the stage of a Green Gagon, it bes capable of flight using psychic power, lifting its body.

    In the case of Adhai, its wings are well developedpared to its body, so it often uses its wings, but that doesnt mean it cant fly using psychic power. It can also fly at incredibly high speeds or even travel through space with its super-eleration ability.

    So, what does the sound of pping wings overhead mean?

    Are you looking for me?

    The creature was currently flying low, circling the area.

    As if searching for something.

    Do I need to fight?

    The only enemy within my cognitive range is the White Gagon. With my transcendent abilities gained through the Junseed system, I could easily defeat a White Gagon. Yet, I didnt move hastily.

    Not yet.

    This is Gagons territory. A where numerous Gagons form groups and live. Killing just one White Gagon here wouldnt end everything.

    Gagons are highly aggressive creatures. While Adhai is unique, Gagons in their original state, like dragons in mythology, are greedy andbative.

    The fight doesnt end until either the entire group is wiped out or the leader of the group is defeated.

    If I were to fight that White Gagon, most likely other kin woulde to its aid. If by chance a ck Gagon were among the reinforcements, it would be nearly impossible for me to win.

    What if I could kill the White Gagon in one strike?

    Gagons have keen eyesight, but theyre more sensitive to psychic power than anyone else. If I were to gather energy to use divineshes or psychic breath, it would notice immediately.

    Apart from these two characteristics, I have no means to deal with it in one blow.

    So, after thorough preparation, I have to fight them.

    I waited without moving, holding my breath.

    The sound of pping wings circling around me grew louder. Eventually, a faint vibration echoed from a nearby snowfield.

    The average length of a White Gagon is 20 meters. With its massive wings, it would appear muchrger than me from a distance.

    Thending of such a huge beast made an unbelievably small sound. Thanks to the psychic power flowing through its body, its weight felt light.

    The creature thatnded began to move.

    Whats it doing?

    Since my body was hidden beneath the snow, I couldnt see it, but thanks to auxiliary devices, I could discern its movements.

    It lowered its head and felt around with tentacles that extended like whiskers.

    Oh no.

    If ites a bit closer, itll notice Im hiding under the snow. It would be much better to strike from here first.

    No, I need to assess the situation more carefully.

    Engaging in a fight with that White Gagon would inevitably lead to a direct confrontation with other Gagons. They would begin searching as soon as they realize theirrade is missing. With their excellent cognitive abilities and memory, they would quickly find me.

    As I pondered, the creature was gradually drawing closer. The distance between it and me was barely 10 meters. My body was deeply buried in the snow, so the creature wouldnt know unless it stepped on me, but it would surely notice then.

    Darn it!

    Theres no more time for hesitation. Ill ambush and kill it before it gets to me, then leave this ce. If I move through the underground passage, I might buy some time.

    With that decision made, I waited for the creature toe just one step closer. Just as its foot was about to touch the snow, it stopped dead in its tracks.

    Whys it acting like that?

    The creature remained motionless in the same posture, not making a move. I kept my focus on its movements, staying tense.

    Huh?

    Its tentacles swayed in a steady rhythm. Initially, I thought it was because of the wind, but it seemed otherwise.

    It looks like its conversing, simr to Adhai.

    It seemed like the creature stopped its search upon hearing something from another Gagon. I wanted to eavesdrop on their conversation using the monsters tentacles, but it was impossible.

    They must have amunication channel of their own.

    After a brief pause, the creature spread its wings wide and flew off into the sky. Even though it left, I stayed still for a while longer.

    Gagons are intelligent creatures. It might have been pretending to leave while preparing for an ambush.

    After waiting for about 30 minutes, I finally felt confident that the area was safe.

    Phew.

    I got up and brushed the snow off, then scratched the ice next to the hole with my nails. It just needed to be big enough to cover the hole, thickness didnt matter. After cutting the ice into the right size, I ced it over the hole when going down.

    This should keep me safe.

    Flying creatures wouldnt bother digging through every patch of snow. After finishing up, I crawled down the ice tunnel.

    As I descended underground, I felt the movements of three beings. Thergest one, Number 26, greeted me and emitted waves.

    Big guy, why did it take you so long?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (I had a lot to do)]

    I saved some food. Eat quickly since youll be hungry.

    [ZZZ (Thank you)]

    The creature picked up some cave-goyle meat with its tentacles and offered it to me. Out of the ten pieces remaining, four were left. It was probably considerate of me, knowing that I would expend a lot of energy due to my movements.

    I gratefully epted the meat and took a bite. Despite being cold, the cave-goyles meat was surprisingly tasty.

    Its a bit tougher in texture, like cold soy sauce chicken.

    The texture was simr to pork rinds, but the taste was like soy sauce chicken. It was a strangebination, but not unpleasant, so I enjoyed it.

    As I chewed on the lower half of the cave-goyle, the voice of the Mother of the Sky called out to me.

    What about the White Gagon?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (It left because another one called it)]

    Thank goodness. Im not ready yet, so it wouldve been tough to fight now.

    The Mother of the Sky murmured earnestly. Having fought Gagons herself, she knew well how to strategize against them.

    You can ask Adhai about the characteristics and culture of the group. The problem lies with the leader.

    [ZZZ (Got it)]

    She spoke with sharp eyes.

    Her appearance was the same as usual, as long as she wasnt sticking only her head out while cuddling with Number 26.

    This underground space has a rtively high temperature, but its still a harsh environment. Except for creatures that have undergone special evolution, its not easy to adapt here.

    Adhai mentioned that their nest is located in some ice valley where geothermal heat rises. From his words alone, it seemed to be one of the few habitable ces on this harsh.

    So, intentionallynding away from the nest caused this problem.

    Before I could tackle the Gagons, I had to figure out how to deal with the cold.

    The nests location is over here, and the distance is considerable

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Looks like its cold)]

    Huh? Oh, yeah, kinda.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Speaking only with your head sticking out like a chick)]

    A chick?!

    Whether my expression was offensive or not, the Mother of the Skys feathers stood on end.

    She squinted her pumpkin-colored eyes at me, but cuddling with the pink balloon as if it were a doll didnt pose any threat at all.

    Big guy, whats a chick?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (It means a baby bird)]

    I dont know what a bird is, but I know what a baby is! Tiny creatures are babies!

    [ZZZ ZZ (Thats right)]

    So, because the middle one is a baby, its called that. Am I right?

    [ZZZZ (Smart)]

    After overhearing the conversation between me and Number 26, she shivered but soon sighed.

    Phew, I thought it would be fine because of my griffin form, but I didnt expect it to be this cold.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Its difficult for me to fight the Gagon group alone. I need your help)]

    Yeah.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Youre probably the one who knows theres a way)]

    The Mother of the Sky nodded at my words.

    All the yers who visited this world received something that didnt exist in the game called a bonus. Just as Muriel could transform into other races as a cyborg, the Mother of the Sky also possessed a bonus that transcended the limits of her race.

    Could it be that she can transform into other mythical creatures?

    Originally, Wolfs are fixed as one type of animal capable of transformation after ascending to godhood. Their basic gamey involves learning characteristics in that state and umting divine power.

    However, the Mother of the Sky can surpass this limit due to the bonus she received. If certain conditions are met, she has the ability to transform into different animals.

    It seems simr to unlocking new abilities with each condition fulfilled.

    Like me, who gains unique characteristics by using traits as ingredients, she can transform into a new animal each time she hunts and consumes the target demanded in the text box.

    Moreover, even without transforming, she can apply some of the abilities and passive effects of the respective animal to the griffins body.

    Currently, she can transform into another mythical creature besides the griffin. Her formidable closebat abilityes from the power received from that animal.

    Before meeting me, she used it when fighting Muriel.

    I already heard from her what animal she transforms into. Its a powerful transformation mode, but its long cooldownpared to its short duration is a major drawback.

    If its that mythical beast, it makes sense.

    Anyway, it seems like I need to unlock a new animal for her at this opportunity. Its to be able to transform into an animal immune to the cold, considering the adverse condition.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (What animal can gain immunity to the cold?)]

    As a reward for unlocking it, you can obtain the Frostbite attack and cold immunity traits.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Good. Lets unlock it here. Ill help you)]

    Are you sure about this?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Right now, what I need is apanion)]

    Even if the reason for contracting with the Mother of the Sky is for the reward for ascending, its useless if she doesnt reach maturity. And if I really intend to use her as a sacrifice, her level of godhood needs to be higher now. To achieve that, her survival rate must be increased.

    In short, her getting stronger is beneficial for me.

    Youve changed a lot too.

    [zzzzzz (Have I?)]

    She didnt say anything more, but judging by her eyes, it didnt seem like she meant it with negative intentions.

    Before tackling the Gagons, there seem to be two goals.

    First, its urgent to gather the traits and information necessary for dragon hunting. I need to examine if theres terrain suitable for luring enemies andunching ambushes, and understand the ecosystem here. Since this is not from the game, Ick a lot of information. Although I heard from Adhai beforeing, I still need to see and confirm it myself.

    The second is to unlock the Mother of the Skys transformation ability.

    I havent yed as a Volf before, but Ive fought many. I know what ingredients are needed for the Wendigo transformation.

    Im not sure if it will be the same as the game, but judging by my precedent, I think the conditions for transforming into a Wendigo will be almost the same as in the game.

    Lets leave the nning at this point

    I nced around the dim surroundings once.

    Before going outside, I need to remodel this underground space.

    To be Amorphs nest.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 167

    Chapter 167

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Dad, are you not busy today?

    No, today Ive prepared to go to a special ce with our little darling.

    A special ce?

    Yes. Were going straight to moms shooting location.

    Wow! Really? Oh, but didnt mom say not toe?

    This time lets throw a surprise party for mom. How about that?

    Haha, sounds fun! I want to go!

    ***

    Someone help! Our child is stuck under the car!

    The engine is on fire, its dangerous! Step back!

    , no! This cant be happening!

    If only you hadnt taken him that day, none of this would have happened!

    And are you ming me for that now? Do you know who will pay for the expensive medical bills?

    Huh, medical bills? You dont even care about the child.

    ***

    Ahh! Teacher! Switch seats with me! This kid smells!

    Hey, isnt there a weird smelling from somewhere?

    Eww. There goes a stink bug.

    , if youre not feeling well enough toe to school, why dont you just stay home? Rather than just expecting understanding from friends, shouldnt you consider changing yourself?

    Ugh, did I just see a monster?

    Me too. Wow, I thought today was Halloween.

    Poor thing. If I were like that, Id rather bite my tongue and die.

    Poor thing.

    Disgusting.

    Why live?

    Monster.

    ***

    Huh?

    As I opened my eyes, a slightly chilly yet humid air greeted me. Sensations that had been dormant stirred back to life, and I felt the lukewarm liquid flowing on the floor.

    A dream.

    Since arriving in this world, I rarely dreamed. At most, I might have had fantasies when evolving or utilizing the transcendence system.

    Is it because of the memories I saw when I reached transcendence level 2?

    Memories from when I was a child.

    Days spent in the intensive care unit because of burns. It was a past I didnt want to recall.

    Phew.

    I had been forgetting about the events in the real worldtely, but remembering them now makes me feel uneasy.

    The next stage after Quasi-saint, ascension.

    Though not certain, if I were to achieve ascension, there was a high chance Id be given a means to leave this world.

    I wasnt the only one thinking this way. ording to the Mother of the Sky, yers who came before me also aimed for simr goals.

    They all failed, though.

    The aftermath of failure led to the death of the top yer, and the remaining yers dispersed, each seeking new goals. That seed of conflict led to the present.

    Its the end.

    If even the top yer couldnt clear it, the difficulty of the unachieved 1st ce must be unimaginable.

    In the original game, ascension was notorious for its murderous difficulty. Unlike other evolutionary stages, ascension wasnt just about fulfilling conditions.

    The final battle. There was ast test from the being that held the secret of the world, and one had to pass that test to ascend. Among the Amorph yers who met the ascension conditions, I was the only sessful one.

    If its the same difficulty as the game, other yers would have cleared it first.

    That I couldnt do it means there are changes I dont know about. But that doesnt mean Im considering giving up midway. Ive be an Amorph Ranker, despite everyone saying its impossible. If Rankers higher than me have failed, then I just need to be even more prepared than them.

    But

    I raised myself slightly.

    Near me, the others tossed and turned. Number 26, Adhai, and Mother of the Sky, ally sleeping together in the underground space that had turned into a shallow swamp.

    What will happen to this ce if I leave?

    Setting aside the causes and processes of arriving in this world. I dont think this world will disappear or copse just because Im gone. Its too far-fetched to consider this ce merely a virtual game world. Its more reasonable to see it as something new, resembling space survival.

    The experiences Ive had all have substance. That fact troubles me.

    Ill miss them if we part ways.

    The longer I stay in this world, the deeper my emotions be. Mother of the Sky, who arrived here about ten years earlier than me, even got married.

    My feelings towards them arent exactly love, but theres certainly deep affection. A special feeling I havent experienced since childhood.

    Plus, theres something worrying.

    Can Number 26 and Adhai manage without me?

    Honestly, theres a mix of hoping theyll be fine and hoping they wont. The former is a sort of pure wish for them to live out their given lifespan happily.

    As for thetter

    Its a twisted desire.

    A messy feeling of sadness, longing, and loneliness knowing Im not there.

    Sigh.

    Its still a long way to ascension, yet here I am having unnecessary thoughts already.

    Thanks to a damn dream, Im wide awake, feeling unsettled. I should do something productive.

    The nest still feels a bit cold, doesnt it?

    The underground space, which was nothing but soil and ice, transformed into apletely different environment thanks to my touch. This was due to two of the nest-rted characteristics, Swamp Formation and Master of the Environment.

    Both were traits acquired while traversing the swamp before reaching level 2 transcendence.

    Both were useless traits in the game, but theyre useful in this way.

    Swamp Formation is a trait that creates a swamp in the nest. Its difficult to use alone, but whenbined with traits that spread toxins or pathogens, it bes somewhat useful.

    It could be used like when I spread space bacteria in the sewers of the T&C Special Trade Hub. Of course, its difficult to demonstrate such a far-reaching impact as in the game, where there are many powerful healing techniques and equipment.

    At least Swamp Formation could be used to inflict debuffs.

    Master of the Environment, despite its grand name, wasnt very useful in the game.

    The effects ovep with the nest.

    This traits effect is to change the environment on the nest as I wish. For Amorph, who can manipte the surrounding environment through the nest, its utterly useless.

    Amorphs nest has the effect of creating a beneficial environment for Amorphs survival. It has beneficial effects such as increasing healing power or supplying fallen energy.

    On the other hand, Master of the Environment doesnt offer much benefit other than changing the temperature or surroundings.

    I never thought such a trait would be used in this way.

    It was kept in case it could be used as a transcendent material, but it unexpectedly came in handy in a different ce.

    Thanks to Master of the Environment, the temperature in the underground space has decreased to a chilly level. One might worry that the ceiling and walls would melt, but this was resolved thanks to the slime, which was the nests material.

    Nests spread within a radius of 100 meters block heat, preventing the ice from melting, and maintain a cool temperature inside.

    And on top of that, theres the swamp. If light were to reach this ce, youd be able to see steam rising from the swamp.

    Heat emission and swamp formation. I bet Im the first one to use them together.

    Lying on the swamp created on top of the nest, slowly emitting heat, it truly became a mud hot spring. Thanks to this, even Adhai and Mother of the Sky, who felt cold, could sleepfortably.

    Thinking about it, even the psychic organs and the traits I didnt use are being rediscovered one by one. I thought there wasnt a yer among the Amorphs who yed as diversely as me, but I need to reflect. Theres still much for me to learn. With that thought, I adjusted the temperature I was emitting. As the heat from my body increased, the temperature of the swamp rose ordingly.

    Big one? What are you doing?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Sorry. I woke you up.)]

    Through the flow of waves, or perhaps sensing my movement, Number 26 sent a wave. I stopped emitting heat and reached out to stroke them.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Dont worry about it. Go back to sleep.)]

    Big one, not sleepy? Then let me put you to sleep!

    Before I could refuse, it wrapped itsrge body around my head.

    Despite being half the size of my body, it turned into a perfect pillow without any trouble.

    This is another strange sensation.

    Until now, it had climbed onto my head, but I had never climbed onto it. Perhaps its thanks to its body maintaining a suitably cool temperature.

    Big one, sleep well.

    Feeling a strangefort, I closed my eyes.

    ***

    The noble capitals of MegaCorp possess colonials scattered throughout the universe. Somes are coveted hubs targeted by other factions, while others remain rtively unknown.

    The Yujin family also holds numerouss. This is to procure materials necessary for gic modification and creating Hulk mutants.

    Among suchs is one unnamed. Discovered by Akira Yujin himself during exploration, its a location not recorded on the shared ship map of various factions.

    On this unnamed lies the nest of the Gagons, creatures of the universe.

    This frozen, chilled to the bone, was the sole supplier of Gagon gics.

    However, as there is no such thing as a benevolent Gagon, one had to risk their life to enter this. It was so harsh that out of a hundred who entered, only one might barelye out alive.

    Danger and value.

    Due to these two reasons, only a handful within the Yujin family knew the location of this.

    And Si-hyun Yujin was one of the few who knew the location.

    Because the source of the Gagon gics embedded in her body was from here, she couldnt remain ignorant.

    But her knowledge of how dangerous this ce was wasnt solely because of the gics.

    She was the only noble capital besides Akira Yujin himself to have set foot on this.

    This was because she had stolen Gagon eggs and captured a mutant Blue Gagon on this.

    At that time, her faction suffered tremendous losses from pursuing Gagons. Although shes a clone now, she retained most of the originals memories. She knew well how terrifying enraged Gagons could be, so she hadnt even dreamt of returning here.

    Yet here she was now, setting foot once more on the where Gagons dwell.

    Theyve been here.

    Si-hyun, d in her specialized reinforcement suit, White Maiden, rose slowly from the snow. Those who had been hiding around her heard her words and began to rise one by one.

    To prevent the power source from freezing instantly, her subordinates wore specially made reinforcement suits instead of regr ones.

    These suits, painted white like snow and thick like space suits, were equipment used for exploring volcanic or icys. Apart from that,munication devices and the weapons they held were all specially treated to prevent freezing.

    Like everyone else, La Chemblin, painted white with camouge paint on the outside, approached Si-hyun.

    These gagons seem quite diligent. Do they usually roam around so frequently?

    No, they dont. They mostly stay in their nests unless theyre hunting.

    Earlier, all crew members had to hastily hide themselves due to the sudden appearance of a White Gagon on the.

    Its fortunate that the gship didntnd. Otherwise, the exploration might have ended abruptly three days ago.

    The day Si-hyuns gship arrived at the unnamed was three days ago. As La mentioned, instead ofnding on the in her gship, Si-hyun came through a transport ship. The decision was deliberate because a giant gship would easily be detected by Gagons and could potentially require external support. However, considering the situation, that decision proved to be advantageous.

    Thats strange. They dont usually roam around like this.

    While Gagons are the top predators on this, there are many other creatures withparable strength. White Gagons have the duty to protect their nests from formidable adversaries. It was clearly unusual for them to venture outside the nest without hunting.

    Captain Neiren, you said the artifact was buried in those mountains?

    Yes, but let me see the map for a moment.

    Si-hyun handed a smallputer pad to Neiren, a middle-aged cultist with yak horns. Once the former captain of the Imperial Battleship Judicator of Damocles 08, he lost his ship and subordinates to the Devil with Three Heads. He came to this seeking revenge. Despite his cultist appearance, he adeptly marked a red dot on the map at a certain point in the mountains.

    Its buried here.

    Its quite a distance.

    Still, itll be quicker to go this way.

    I dont rmend going in that direction. Another White Gagon might fly in.

    Both Neiren and La had valid points.

    What about crossing over to the in? It shouldnt take too long. It might be safer.

    Thats difficult. There are dangerous monsters in the Frozen teau area.

    La pointed with her mechanical hand to an underground space where very powerful beasts reside. When they came here before, over a hundred of their soldiers perished because of that creature. It wasnt fighting Gagons that caused their deaths, but rather an unexpected entity that resulted in the loss of many subordinates.

    If that creature is still alive, going in that direction would be risky.

    Cant be helped. Even if it takes a detour, Ill choose a safer route.

    Time wasnt on Si-hyuns side, but if she failed here, the trust of the people aboard her gship would diminish, especially Min-seok.

    His trust is still needed.

    She nced ahead after closing the map. Beyond the horizon was a ck barrier. One of the peaks of those mountains held the artifact she was seeking.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 168

    Chapter 168

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Early in the morning, I ascended to the nest with The Mother of the Sky. Upon the ice lump ced at the entrance of the nest, a considerable weight of snow had umted overnight. After clearing the ice lump, I waited briefly in the icy corridor.

    The Mother of the Sky exited before me. Her superior vision allowed her to inspect the skies for any potential dangers.

    After observing for a few minutes, she signaled safety by wagging her tail.

    Clearing the snow and ice, thendscape appeared unchanged from yesterday.

    The only difference was that the biting snowstorm had ceased. Thanks to this, The Mother of the Sky seemed less cold than yesterday.

    Still, we cant linger.

    ncing upwards, the sky was still filled with clouds. We had to hurry as we didnt know when snow and hail might pour again.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (What was it that we needed to acquire?)]

    Winter Walker, the heart of Ice Horror.

    Winter Walker and Ice Horror. Both are creatures that inhabit icys or the pr regions of terrestrials.

    Adhai knew about both creatures, resembling animals. He had seen Winter Walker himself, and Ice Horror was described by another Gagon.

    Both are fortunate to be on this, but

    Besides the challenging condition of the cold environment, the specifications of both creatures were formidable. Among them, Ice Horror was particrly powerful.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (It wont be easy.)]

    Yeah. Winter Walker might be manageable, but Ice Horror is the problem.

    She was right. Ice Horror was one of the most dangerous predators in extreme cold.

    Though considered weaker than Sea Demons or ck Gagons who were treated as raid bosses, Ice Horror was evaluated as a formidable foe due to its unique traits and superior stats. I had failed to defeat it in the game several times.

    But we are four.

    Abination of a Gagon, a Sea Demon, an Amorph, and a Wolf griffin. With our powersbined, we should be able to ovee it.

    I have to hunt Ice Horror anyway.

    In my case, to be an ascendent, I needed to hunt 30 powerful creatures ssified as APEX. Since Ice Horror was ssified as an APEX, hunting it would be beneficial.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (The problem is where to find it.)]

    Yeah. It doesnt roam on the surface..

    Ice Horror doesnt search for prey but insteadys traps within its territory to hunt creatures that enter. In simple terms, its like a spider living in extreme cold.

    Although they look very different.

    Anyway, it takes quite some time to find Ice Horror.

    It can dwell wherever theres prey but is a master of concealment. Im quite good at hiding, but I cantpare to Ice Horror. Unless I approach its territory and traps very cautiously, its impossible to confirm its presence.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (If its nearby, its worth trying to lure it.)]

    If its not around, I might have to wander far.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Ice Horror takes time, so lets find Winter Walker first.)]

    Good idea.

    The Mother of the Sky also came to the same conclusion as me.

    Unlike Ice Horror, Winter Walker is a creature that actively hunts for preys. Adhai said its quitemon, so we should be able to find it quickly.

    With our goal set, we ran across the snow-covered in. As I crawled through the ice and snow piles, a golden wolf griffin raced beside me.

    Her mane and the sapphire pendant around her neck swayed wildly in the winter wind. Beneath her mane, muscles previously hidden under fur rippled. Despite her densely packed muscles not being for show, her movements were remarkably agile.

    She moved swiftly like the wind, but I was no pushover either. Her sixbat arms turned legs shattered the ice while dragging my body forward. From behind, her tail and bulky ws scattered the snow with each step.

    Compared to her graceful movement through the air, mine was noisy, but I matched her speed.

    Thanks to our rapid movement akin to a high-speed train, we approached the mountains quickly.

    The ck mountains towering above the white horizon felt like structures erected by an unknown presence. The nature that created those mountains also seemed transcendent, so my feeling might be urate.

    Amidst the breathtaking scenery, the scent of life was strong in the ck mountains. Tall trees grew densely on the hardened soil.

    Perhaps because they grew in the extreme cold of the pr region, the trees all looked simr. Their trunks were long and slender, but as they ascended, their branches spread intricately. These branches intertwined with those of other trees, firmly anchoring them together.

    They seemed to have adapted to the frequent gales blowing in this environment.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (We need to be careful.])

    If theres a forest, it means theres abundant prey. Its a good environment for Winter Walkers and Gagons to roam and hunt.

    I slowed down and focused on my auxiliary organs while moving. The Mother of the Sky beside me also walked cautiously, keeping an eye on our surroundings.

    Her four auxiliary organs under her jaw twitched, brushing the ground as they flickered. Each time they did, events happening around us flowed into my brain through the organs.

    From the vibrations felt on the ground, there are probably two or three enemies.

    Although the intensity of the vibrations suggests a considerable distance, there was something peculiar. The vibrations seemed to intertwine and then separate repeatedly.

    What could this mean?

    A fight.

    I lifted my head from the ground.

    As long as movements of creatures presumed to be our targets are felt in the forest, we must move quietly from now on. Instead of using vocal organs, I summoned The Mother of the Sky using the monsters tentacles.

    Theres a fight ahead, right?

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (its a bit far)]

    We should check it out, right?

    Judging from the vibrations, both are terrestrial animals. If it were a Gagon, with its ability to fly, vibrations would have been sporadic.

    The Mother of the Sky and I cautiously moved along with the vibrations.

    As we approached the epicenter, we heard the sounds of trees breaking in the distance and the roar of beasts.

    The low sound, simr to a tigers growl, was the sound of Winter Walker. Its fighting its prey.

    Hearing the sound, we stopped moving. If we approached further, the noise of my movement would be heard from the other side.

    Ill go up and check from above.

    The Mother of the Sky ascended the tree with a graceful movement.

    The trees here arent sturdy enough for me to climb. I ced my auxiliary organs on the ground again and listened to the sounds and vibrations of the enemies.

    The enemies are small and agile.

    In size, theyre roughly simr to The Mother of the Sky, and their legs

    Between eight and nine.

    As far as I know, there are no creatures with eight legs inhabiting ices. Maybe if they had hundreds of legs or no legs at all, but

    Could it be a species Im not aware of?

    At that moment, The Mother of the Sky, having finished scouting, leaped down from the tree.

    [ZZZ (Did you see?)]

    One side is a Winter Walker. The other one is

    She hesitated for a moment before continuing.

    It seems to be a Screamer.

    [ZZZ (What?)]

    Why would a machine monster from Star Union like a Screamer be here? If what she said is true, then this ce would be Star Union territory.

    How many ships of Star Union have been swallowed? I havent seen any route leading here.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (Are you sure its a screamer?)]

    To be honest, Im not sure. A creature resembling a Screamer is fighting with Winter Walker.

    It seems we need to see it for ourselves. She and I moved again.

    As we ran through the trees, we found Winter Walker and a mysterious monster.

    No, let me correct that. It was Winter Walkers corpse with its head severed, and a monster resembling a Screamer.

    [Hostile creature eliminated.]

    The creature standing on the battlefield turned into a bloody mess. Even for someone like me who has yed the game for a long time, it was the first time seeing such a monster.

    Is that a Screamer?

    With a human head and torso attached to tubes and metal mechanical devices, with a tail, and six legs made of metal skeleton, it crawled on the ground. Though it shared simrities with a Screamer, there were many differences.

    In short, it looked less mechanical than the original.

    While a typical Screamer had tubes plugged into its mouth, generating sound through the mechanical devices, this creature had its mouth exposed, enabling it to produce sounds on its own without the rough breathing caused by the tubes.

    Except for its pale face reminiscent of a human, from the back of the head, it had a biomechanical appearance with tissues, tubes, and mechanical devices intertwined. Unlike a Screamer where the distinction between machine and flesh was clear, this creature didnt have such separation in its body.

    The eight legs extending from its body were also the same. Legs with a red muscle and tube entwined form on a metal skeleton. Beneath the slender and thin legs were three pointed alloy ws instead of feet.

    If the original Screamer reminded one of a scorpion, the creature in front of me was a mix-breed spider, a hybrid spider created by mixing biological and mechanicalponents.

    Its not just intimidating in appearance.

    Winter Walker, with its head severed, fell victim to it. If it killed Winter Walker in a one-on-one battle, it means it possesses considerable skills.

    However, it didnt seem to havepletely overwhelmed its opponent.

    Two of its legs seemed heavily damaged, with their metal skeletons heavily distorted, making them appear immobile. And around its torso, where machinery and flesh were entangled, it bled dark red blood.

    [Insufficient energy. Initiating self-supply.]

    Muttering so, the creature opened its mouth wide and hastily began tearing into Winter Walker.

    No need to wait any longer.

    We can confirm the creatures identity firsthand. Thats the way of the Apex, after all.

    Its all the same once youre eaten.

    The Mother of the Sky read my expression and leaped up into the trees. Simultaneously, I dashed towards the creature feasting on Winter Walker.

    [Enemy detected.]

    The creature, focused on its meal, didnt even look at me but anticipated my ambush. Without missing a beat, it leaped into the air from its feeding position. Like a speeding truck, I crashed into the corpse of Winter Walker.

    [Hostile creature identified. Subdue]

    The spider-like monster, about to shout something from above, couldnt fulfill its intention.

    The Mother of the Sky burst through the trees and struck the creatures head with her forelegs. The creatures neck twisted grotesquely as it narrowly evaded the attack.

    Tsk!

    Regretting the failed strike, The Mother of the Skynded. Despite dodging all of our attacks, the spider monsternded on the ground and immediately distanced itself.

    Isnt it a Screamer?

    If it were a Screamer, it would have immediately attacked once it noticed us. However, the creature didnt do so. It seemed to be considering exploring, tilting its head to re at both of us.

    [Hostile creature 2 confirmed. Left creature. 89% match with Special Target Type C. Right creature]

    The creature that looked at me widened its red eyes. It red at me with eyes resembling blood and menacingly twitched its head.

    [75% match with set target. Main controller Pira Elevenmand dy. Autonomous judgment required. Subdue target.]

    The creature muttered iprehensible words and crouched down, assuming abat stance.

    I, too, prepared to attack while keeping my eyes on its movements.

    I dont know if the creature is truly a Screamer or a new type of weapon. However, if it is a Screamer, the situation bes grave.

    The possibility of a Screamer roaming alone here is close to zero.

    Theres a high chance that the creature has reinforcements somewhere Im not aware of. Since theres a Gagon nest on this, they might havee as a small elite force, but I cant afford to becent.

    I need to deal with this quickly and assess the situation.

    As soon as I had that thought, the creature leaped at me like lightning.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 169

    Chapter 169

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    The day they escaped from the T&C Special Trade Hub.

    After Amorph went into evolution, Number 26 and Adhai each spent their own time. Number 26 was diligently practicing the conversational techniques Amorph had taught it. Communicating through appendages called fingers was a very unfamiliar conversational method for it.

    Its peersmunicated using the colors of their bodies. Among its kind, Number 26 was the only one with appendages resembling fingers. While it had been using these appendages more and moretely, it was still inexperienced.

    But Number 26 didnt give up. It was a much moreplex and progressive creature than Amorph thought. Its mental horizons had expanded immeasurably since being trapped in the smelly courage of the past. While receiving more attention and affection from Amorph was nice, It wanted more than that.

    It started to dream of a future. A future where it led its people alongside the big one. To achieve that goal, it had to be able tomunicate with the big one.

    While Number 26 worked hard for its dreams, what was Adhai doing?

    Adhai was lying on its side, trimming scales with her wings spread out. She quickly grasped the conversational techniques Amorph had taught her.

    Perhaps it was only natural for someone as smart and physically advantaged as her to do so. However, because she finished so quickly, she found herself with a lot of waiting time, so she was trimming scales to alleviate boredom.

    Little adult Me Curious.

    Little adult Little adult Little adult Little adult Little adult Little adult Little adult Little adult.

    Adhai kept sending thought waves. If Number 26 had been a human, it might have been injured by Adhais continuous thought wave attacks, but as a sea demon, it suffered no major harm.

    Of course, it was unavoidable for it to feel annoyed by her whining while it was studying.

    Whats wrong?

    Adult Body Growth Fast Fast Fast.

    Yeah. Sometimes the big one grows this fast.

    Wonder Me Adult Growth Envy.

    Saying that, Adhai looked down at her own torso. Instead of the white scales she wished for, beautiful green scales adorned her body.

    With no blemishes, the smooth and gleaming green scales resembled emerald jewels. Perhaps if intelligent beings saw Adhais scales, they would be amazed at their beauty.

    However, to Number 26, body color was only a means ofmunication and held no significance.

    Me Want Scales White.

    Is it good to be white?

    Good! White Strength Coolness Charm Overflow.

    Adhai stood up, spreading her wings and straightening her waist. At the same time, she curled her tail upward, forming a snail shell shape.

    This posture was considered a love making posture among the Gagons, but no one here knew that fact.

    White Growth Advantage One More. Exist.

    Whats wrong?

    Me ,Adult Know Possible.

    While Adhai spoke excitedly, Number 26 felt a strange sensation upon hearing her words. It wondered if this little one would give up even if it told her it was impossible.

    You have toy eggs after you grow big.

    Understand Me Growth Need White Coolness Adult Me Fascinated.

    Despite saying she understood, she didnt seem to at all.

    As Number 26 watched Adhai pondering what the most captivating posture might be, a question suddenly arose in its mind. Did Adhai really know how babies were made?

    Little one.

    ?

    How do you make babies?

    Upon hearing this, Adhai lifted her head high. It seemed like she was showing off that she knew while the adult didnt.

    Although Number 26 didnt particrly like her attitude, Number 26 held its tongue. The big one was quite different from its kind in her eyes. If the big ones method of making babies was different from what Number 26 thought, it could pose problems when leading its kind in the future.

    I Speak Little adult Listen.

    Yeah.

    Male Above Female Below. Embrace Egg Born.

    Huh?

    Female Egg Laid.

    However, Adhais exnation was very different from what Number 26 had in mind. No, to be precise, it was absurd.

    Hugging makes babies?

    Correct.

    Then why dont I have one if Ive been sleeping next to the big one?

    ?

    Ive slept with the big one too.

    Adhai had also slept with the big one, but she didnt feel the need to point out that fact.

    Anyway, perhaps Number 26sment was sharp enough, as Adhai couldnt properly answer.

    Then is there something else?

    Little adult Guess Me Agree Impossible.

    Little ones dont know either.

    In the end, Adhai didnt provide an answer.

    Number 26 vaguely knew that the big one was an exceptional being. So she thought it wouldnt be easy to make a baby, and it seemed her spection was correct.

    But just when she thought it was over, Adhai called out to Number 26 again.

    Little adult Baby Know how to make?

    Me? I dont really know.

    Little adult Dont know Dont know Dont know.

    Adhai fluttered her wings.

    Although the two species hadpletely different ways ofmunication, having spent a long time together, they could roughly understand each others gestures. That was a gesture the little one made when teasing someone. Number 26 felt an urge to smack her in that moment but restrained itself.

    In such situations, the one who strikes first loses. So it decided to show off instead of resorting to violence.

    I actually know very well.

    Really?

    Really. I know it very well.

    Exin, Please.

    Number 26 squeezed its brain hidden inside her body and recalled the baby-making process it had seen among its kin before.

    First, you inte the body to make it big.

    Body Big?

    Actually, Number 26 didnt know much about making babies either. Despite being the leader of the group, it had never made babies with anyone. It only considered itself responsible for protecting its family and never thought about continuing any productive activities.

    Yeah. And then embrace and intertwine with each other.

    Embrace Intertwine?

    Adhai seemed suspicious of whether there was any difference in what she said. She was a lot more perceptive than Number 26, seeing through whatever it was saying.

    As Number 26 thought there was something more to say, something came to its mind.

    Use your thin tentacles to touch your friends tentacles.

    Tentacles?

    Yeah. Touch with your tentacles.

    In reality, it had used its thin tentacles to soothe the big one when he was on the verge of going crazy. At that moment, it had experienced a mysterious connection to the big ones heart.

    A sublime yet strangely unsettling sensation. It felt like doing something forbidden. Number 26 could never forget it.

    Listening to its words with a nonchnt attitude, Adhai nodded her head, deeming it reasonable.

    Tentacles Affection Disy.

    Is that so?

    Kin Night Flight  Mid Air Tentacles Embrace.

    Adhai had seen kin secretly engaging in affectionate acts with their tentacles. And it seemed very pleasurable.

    [TL/N- kin is when Adhai refers to both Number 26 and Amorph.]

    However, that wasnt the answer Adhai wanted. What she wanted was not the process but the result. No matter how pleasurable the act, it was useless without eggs.

    Tentacles Embrace Kin Eggs Failure.

    Is that so?

    Tentacles Length Many Coolness Acknowledgment Eggs Rtionship Irrelevant..

    As Adhai said, having long and many tentacles was certainly attractive, but it was a separate issue from making babies.

    In the end, the conversation came back to square one.

    Despite Number 26 and Adhai vigorously debating and racking their brains, they ultimately found no answers.

    I need a friend who knows how to make babies.

    Agreed.

    The conclusion reached after the profound debate between the sea demon and the Gagon was simple.

    That is, obtaining necessary information from a third party.

    It was the result of applying the huntingws learned so far with Amorph.

    When dealing with an unknown enemy, the first step is to gather information.

    Amorph, who had be an unknown entity regarding baby-making in the end.

    As both a big one and an adult, he slept while evolving, knowing nothing.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 170

    Chapter 170

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Blood flowed from the corpse, staining the snow-covered ground. Amidst the whispering of leaves, a spider-like monster sprinted forward.

    The target of the creatures pursuit was me, specifically my neck area. Somehow, it pinpointed my weakness in an instant.

    Six corroding tentacles sprang forth from my back. Originally sturdy, these tentacles had be even stronger thanks to the synthetic scales covering them, spreading wide to grasp the creature in an attempt to restrain it.

    The creature was roughly 4 meters in size, slightly smaller than the Mother of the Sky. While I wasnt sure of its strength, it wasnt enough to ovee the disadvantage posed by its size.

    The collision between the creatures six tentacles and its eight legs was apanied by a loud tter of metal, echoing through the forest.

    The creature, considerably smaller than my corroding tentacles, twisted its legs to evade their attacks. Stained red by the ck metal skeleton, it swiftly crawled onto my tentacles.

    In an instant, the spider-like monster had reached my back. Its forelegs aimed for the tentacles of the creature on my neck.

    Watch out!

    I timed my movements carefully, shaking my body vigorously. The three mechanical ws at the end of its metal legs sliced through the air.

    As the creatures posture faltered, I initiated a counterattack. I twisted my tail upward, swinging the pincers at its end forcefully. The creature hastily raised its two damaged forelegs to defend itself.

    Unfortunately, my pincers were strongest at the head segment, along with my carapace. A heavy cracking sound, akin to being struck by a colossal hammer, resonated as the creatures body floated in the air.

    Then, the Mother of the Sky leaped onto mybat arm. With all her might, she struck the creatures right legs with her two forelegs.

    Argh!

    Despite being struck by the pincers while airborne, the spider-like monster managed to twist its body somehow. Unfortunately, her attack only managed to crush one of its legs.

    As they crossed paths andnded in separate areas, unlike the gracefulnding of the Mother of the Sky, the spider-like monster sank halfway into the ground, perhaps due to its damaged legs.

    Tougher than expected.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Seems like it)]

    Her blow was heavy enough to punch holes through a battleship. Yet, the creatures legs didnt break, let alone bend.

    I guess its not going to work.

    Originally, I had intended to confirm its identity by consuming its flesh, but it proved to be a better fighter than anticipated. Time was not on our side. It wasnt wise to prolong this any further.

    I activated my reserved Insight ability.

    [Name: S-422

    Species: Mass-produced by

    Status: Contains unidentifiable information.

    Equipment: Contains unidentifiable information.]

    What?

    The information revealed by Insight was unconventional. I tried using it again to see if it would change significantly, but it remainedrgely the same.

    Why isnt it a yer?

    This was the first time since Muriel that unidentifiable information had appeared.

    [Leg damage status: Critical. Irreparable. Main controller Pira Eleven unresponsive. Proceed withbat.]

    While I was using Insight without moving, the creature, having adjusted its stance,unched another attack.

    S-422 darted forward, its seven legs moving swiftly.

    I twisted my body and swung my tail forward. The piled-up snow turned into a blizzard as it scattered.

    The creature lowered its body to evade my attack while simultaneously twisting its two forelegs backward to rake underneath my tail. As scales and blunt ws were torn off, a sharp pain surged through me.

    The corroding tentacles rushed to defend their master from the attack, but the creature leaped upward, anticipating it, dodging the assault.

    My tentacles remained stuck to the ground, while the creature, airborne, faced the iing attack from the Mother of the Sky.

    Their collision, between her most potent weapon, the beak, and the creatures forelegs, produced a sound akin to a fierce struggle rather than mere metal shing against flesh.

    [Left leg number 2 damaged.]

    Ugh!

    The creatures metal legs were sliced as if by a de. However, the Mother of the Sky wasnt unscathed either, as the creatures w had cut into her side.

    I crawled forward, using mybat arm to shield her while opening my mouth wide towards the creature. The acidic fungal spores located near my throat were activated, and soon, green acidic spores were ejected from my mouth.

    [Acid substance detected.]

    Still airborne, the creature twisted its body forcibly to avoid the iing liquid.

    However, this time, the creature couldntpletely dodge. Greedy fungal spores that touched its body began to gnaw at the metal skeleton.

    [External skeleton damage 88%.]

    The creature, uponnding, attempted to nce at its legs, but it was toote. Its legs were already irreversibly damaged.

    Unable to stand any longer, the creature copsed onto the snowy ground.

    Its over.

    The creatures main weapon had been its legs all along. It seemed like it had no other weapons.

    No, it might still have something left.

    Since I couldnt see its equipment, it might have hidden weapons. I cautiously approached the creature.

    [Main controller Pira Elevenmunication failure confirmed. Loss recorded, database registrationplete.]

    The creature, with its head pressed against the ground, muttered something incessantly.

    [Incineration, incineration protocol activated. 20, 19.]

    Incineration protocol?

    [18, 17, 16.]

    Could it be?

    With a foreboding feeling, I quickly grabbed the Mother of the Sky. Crawling frantically, we dashed out of the courtyard.

    W-why suddenly? Whats happening?

    As I suddenly embraced her and ran, she shot me a bewildered look, mixed with a hint of panic. She seemed unaware of why I was acting this way, but there wasnt time to exin everything.

    Instead of exining, I continued to knock down trees and kept crawling forward.

    After about ten seconds, I felt a tremendous amount of energy and heat emanating from behind me. Along with it came an overwhelming roar that made my auxiliary organs tremble.

    The Mother of the Sky, ncing back at me, widened her eyes.

    What in the world! Run faster!

    [ZZZ (I know!)]

    I could already feel an abnormal amount of heat around my back and tail. Just by looking at it, one could tell that the amount of energy released from the creatures body surpassed dozens of smaunchers.

    I might not die, but.

    The Mother of the Sky clinging to mybat arm might. I, being robust, might only lose my carapace, arms, and legs, but she would be incinerated without a trace.

    Thanks to the threebat arms, blunt ws, and corroding tentacles, I was able to barely escape the explosion range in a frenzy.

    As we watched the forest aze, the Mother of the Sky murmured.

    Did such a creature exist in the game?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (There wasnt in my memory.)]

    Really?

    In games, there were beings that used self-destruct as a weapon. The standard y in Megacorp involved nting bombs in expendable henchmens bodies and initiating a self-destruct charge, and there were also creatures in the wild that exploded to inflict damage.

    However, there had never been a creature capable of causing such a powerful explosion.

    Could it be the remnants of the Space Hound I encountered before?

    Suddenly, the memory of the Hulk Mutant, who had imnted a bomb in one of its two hearts, causing me trouble, came to mind. At the time, I was weak, but the opponent, being a Hulk Mutant, was remarkably intelligent, leaving asting impression.

    I quickly shook my head.

    No, the likelihood of it being him is low. Its too sudden for it to appear in a ce like this.

    Rather, it might be more reasonable to associate it with the new Screamer encountered on the Star Union warship before arriving here. It seemed to have a strong connection with it.

    Its excessively overpowered for a Screamer.

    Moreover, when I checked with Insight earlier, I saw it.

    The word mass-produced was disyed in the creatures species name. There were two things I could infer from this word.

    First, that the creature was created by someone. And.

    Its not just one creature.

    There might be dozens, hundreds, or even more monsters resembling the Screamer somewhere on this.

    Lets worry about thatter.

    Right now, we need to get out of here. If such a massive fire erupts in this snowy and icy, the Gagons are sure toe flying.

    Or perhaps the creaturespanions.

    Hunting is off the table for today.

    We can nevere back to this area near the forest. The Gagons will continue to patrol the area.

    We must try approaching the mountains from another direction, once were confident its safe.

    As we escaped the burning forest, we faced a new problem.

    Crossing the snowfield is risky.

    A ck me blooms on a world filled with white. Everyone would surely take notice of this, but crossing the ice in without any cover would be too risky.

    If my scales were white, it wouldnt be a problem, but since they are closer to ckish-purple, they would be easily visible even from a great distance in current conditions where the snowstorm isnt blowing.

    However, using Organic Evolution to transform into an Intelligent Weakling and reducing my size isnt a favorable option.

    We might end up fighting unknown monsters and Gagons. If that happens, one of the special states that can be transformed through Organic Evolution, King of Monsters, will be the trump card, so we should save it.

    We need to go underground.

    Underneath the ice, theres a vast underground space.

    The nest I made isntpletely enclosed by walls; its an open space in both directions. Im not sure if the underground space below here is connected to the nest, but it would be safer than walking on the snow.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Were going to dig through the floor. Keep an eye out for anyoneing.)]

    Got it.

    Leaving the surveince to the Mother of the Sky, I repeated what I did yesterday. I heated my body with thermal discharge and broke the ice with mybat arms and tail.

    We should hurry.

    [ZZZ (What?)]

    Dozens of Gagons areing this way.

    Upon receiving the unwee news from above, I increased my speed. Utilizing my corrosion tentacles and split jaws, I hastily dug through the ice.

    Thanks to myst effort, I managed toplete the tunnel connecting to the underground space. I hurriedly crawled out and sent the Mother of the Sky down first.

    Now, the Gagons were close enough to be visible even to my eyes. Unfortunately, they were focused on the burning forest. They picked up the corpses of the burned creatures and flew away somewhere.

    While the enemies were preupied elsewhere, I quickly concealed the entrance of the newly made tunnel.

    With all the work done, I crawled down into the ice cave. Luckily, I didnt sense anyone catching on.

    No ones onto us?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (I dont know).]

    Arriving in the underground space, I quickly left with the Mother of the Sky.

    Darn.

    I didnt expect to be in such a difficult situation because of some mass-produced monster.

    I dont know who it is, but.

    The one who has irritated me to this extent is truly rare. Its as annoying as being interfered with by the Amorph Hunters back in the day.

    Lets find out who.

    Ive never forgiven those who interfered with my evolution until now. In the game, I retaliated against the Amorph Hunters with every means avable to me.

    The one who created the ugly spider-like creature. They will follow the same path as the Amorph Hunters.

    A huge undergroundplex spanning hundreds of meters.

    Enjoying the cozy darkness while minding his own business, It sensed a vibration. It was clear that some fool dared to act up on his territory.

    Such incidents have been frequenttely.

    In this vicinity, unfamiliar small creatures often swarmed towards him, and the colorful snakes flying in the sky suddenly roamed around his territory.

    Having lived countless long years, It didnt like to move his body much due to hiszy nature. He only roughly crushed or swallowed the small creatures attacking him, while leaving the flying snakes alone.

    However, todays vibration was different from previous asions. Strong vibrations shook Its nest.

    When those arrogant creatures threatened his home, It thought.

    If these fools continue to trample his territory like this, wouldnt even the flying snakes in the sky start to ridicule him? It meant that It had be weak enough to not even protect his own home.

    It may bezy, but not stupid. In this harsh world, the only future left for the weak is death.

    So, It decided to show the invaders that the king of this underground was still alive and well.

    Determined to move for once, It tracked the scent of the enemies with his elongated antennae. Despite being old, the tips of his sharp antennae still caught the faint scent of two lines.

    After the significant vibration, invaders entered Its territory. The scent of the two beasts that had entered Its territory reached his antennae.

    Having found his prey, all that remained was to seek retribution. It, who filled the undergroundplex hundreds of meters, stretched his coiled body.

    It was time for the hunt after a long time.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 171

    Chapter 171

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    The world spread out beneath the cold ice was a maze. The underground space I had chosen as my nest was extensively carved out in both directions, but this ce surpassed it. It seemed like a massive mining drill had roamed around, piercing passageways here and there.

    The Mother of the Sky and I constructed the ice maze underground. Thanks to my auxiliary apparatus, I could navigate through the darkness without losing my way. Even so, The Mother of the Sky moved effortlessly without a single speck of light in this ce.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Which way should we go?)]

    It seems like the right path might be faster.

    [ZZZ (Really?)]

    Her pumpkin-colored irises glimmered subtly likenterns.

    Among the mythical creatures capable of transformation, some stored light in their bodies to emit it as needed. Thanks to this ability, a griffin like her could utilize its exceptional vision actively regardless of day or night.

    Like adventurers exploring unknown realms relying on a single torch, we continued towards where our nesty.

    Something feels off.

    It had been over ten minutes since we entered, yet we hadnt encountered any creatures. It was surprising considering that even in such underground spaces, there should be inhabitants.

    Furthermore, as we ventured deeper, it became evident that this vast space wasnt naturally formed.

    The Mother of the Sky shared my thoughts.

    I think we might have entered the wrong ce.

    She pointed to a section of the wall with her forepaw.

    Traces, each three meters long, were sporadically scattered. All of them seemed to have been there for quite some time, with ice and dirt embedded in them. But I understood what these traces meant.

    What this ce was.

    This was a space created by a beingrger than any creature I had ever encountered.

    Comparatively inferior to the ck Gagon but possessing formidable power.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Its the domain of the Ice Horror.)]

    And its at least an adult.

    As the Ice Horror ages, it undergoes moulting, growing significantlyrger and its carapace harder with each moult. In the game, due to bnce reasons, theres a limit called adulthood to prevent endless growth. But this was reality. If it continued to grow even after reaching adulthood, one could hardly imagine its size.

    Those marks look like w prints.

    If the ws were of a size simr to those marks, the creatures size would be at least 150 meters. It would be beyond measure, truly.

    Do you sense anything around?

    [ZZ (No)]

    It was natural, but I had checked with the auxiliary organ before descending. I only felt the chilly air; there was no unusual movement detected.

    I inspected the walls with the auxiliary apparatus, but it was the same as before.

    However, if this was the Ice Horrors domain, we couldnt afford to let our guard down.

    Due to its immense size, it wont hunt far from its territory. It designates a certain area as its hunting ground and targets prey that enters it.

    Its been several tens of minutes since we entered. It probably knows about our intrusion.

    Even from dozens of kilometers away, it can detect scent or vibrations. If theres no nest, its considerably more adept than me, capable of detecting enemies within a radius of a few kilometers.

    By now, its probably diligentlying to capture us.

    Moreover, the Ice Horror, despite its massive size, can minimize its movement sound. This is because it reduces the sound generated by the movement of fur on its legs and body as much as possible.

    If you hear its sound, its likely already toote.

    Even if we were to detect its pursuit in advance and flee, this is its home ground. Escape would only buy us time.

    Rather than fleeing, we need to prepare for how to fight it.

    Lets consider our options.

    First, lets look at the advantages the enemy possesses. I dont know much about it.

    While Im well acquainted with the Ice Horror, I cant be certain how much stronger the creature here is.

    In the game, the Ice Horrors size doesnt exceed 100 meters, but the one here is over 150 meters. Even if my body size is currently 28 meters, it would increase if I were to use the Symbol of Hunt butpared to the enemy, its still significantly smaller.

    Unlike the Sea Demon or ck Gagon, which have extraordinary abilities to manipte enemies, the Ice Horror doesnt possess any special abilities. Instead, it relies on superior physical abilities to overpower its opponents.

    Undoubtedly, it must be superior to me in strength and defense.

    Moreover, its detection abilities surpass mine. The Ice Horror can detect various factors such as vibrations, sounds, and smells with the antennae on its head.

    Ill quickly be discovered no matter where I hide, so the strategy of initiatingbat by surprise as usual wont work here.

    An opponent with detection abilities superior even to mine. And the uncertainty of how powerful the Ice Horror is. These are the creatures advantages.

    On the other hand, I have the same advantages.

    The Ice Horror alsocks information about me. It probably regards us as nothing more than Winter Walkers who identally fell into the underground.

    The creature doesnt know what Im capable of.

    If its a creature that deviates from the norm, then Im the same.

    Even if mybat ability is inferior to the creatures, I have characteristics that canpensate for it.

    Furthermore, while I dont know about the creature, I do know about the Ice Horror. Its habits, strengths, weaknessesevery piece of information is in my head.

    Various traits and experiences from hunting numerous Ice Horrors. These are my weapons.

    Having organized my thoughts, I summoned The Mother of the Sky.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Lets fight here.)]

    Would it be okay with just the two of us?

    I shook my head at The Mother of the Skys question.

    Of course not.

    Facing the creature directly would be overwhelming for me alone.

    If the creature is indeed over 150 meters in size, it will be difficult to break its carapace.

    Even the thinnest carapace would be several meters thick. Unless it has a body reinforced by Symbol of Hunt or destructive traits like Divine Spectre it wont cause any harm at all.

    So here, I need help from others, not just meNumber 26 and Adhai, The Mother of the Sky, everyones assistance is needed.

    The footsteps echoed, punctuating the silence. My time to stall. Fetch them from the nest.

    Youre baiting them?

    [ZZZ (Yes.)]

    Well, its true the creature usually goes for big prey, but its not always the case. I might be the one attacked first.

    A valid point.

    The Ice Horror generally prefersrge prey, but its not without exceptions. Being a cunning species, it sometimes behaves unusually.

    For instance, it might first subdue a seemingly weaker opponent before targetingrger prey. If the creature acts like this here, The Mother of the Sky will be in significant danger.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ Daoist Phofbs Dont worry)]

    While the creature may be cunning, were not fools either.

    Hey, its your turn.

    The thick carapace and the circr mucous membranes located where it meets the waist tore apart with a sticky sound. Small goblins from the nest poured out.

    It was the activation of the infection fusion trait, Tooth Fairy Nest.

    Compared to my size, now at 28 meters, the murder fleas, still small, lined up in front of me. The Mother of the Sky, who understood my intentions, nodded.

    I see.

    [Go right when you reach the fork.]

    You didnt need to exin?

    The griffin chuckled and met my eyes.

    Though she didnt say anything, it was easy to guess what she was thinking.

    As I nodded slightly, she dashed forward.

    Having sent her off, I nced at the Tooth Fairies.

    There are things you need to do.

    The beings imbued with my will began to find their respective tasks and move. Seeing them scatter, I too relocated.

    The battleground suitable for fighting the creature is nearby.

    The thing, crawling across the ice with countless legs, halted in its tracks.

    There was a change in the vibrationsing from afar.

    Therge and small vibrations that had been moving together suddenly split and moved in different directions.

    It knew what this meant. Among packs of prey, there are cases where the adults be bait to protect the weaker offspring. This case might be simr.

    So the answer was clear.

    It aimed for the small vibrations. Since the offspring are slow and weak, its much more effective to consume them first and then go for the stronger adultster.

    It attempted to follow the usual path of chasing the small vibrations, but its antennae detected a new vibration.

    From therge vibration, a multitude of tiny vibrations was emanating.

    Such an opponent had never been encountered before, so it was slightly taken aback. Was this time the small vibrations acting as bait? Or had it detected something incorrectly?

    It pressed its long, dual antennae against the ground. Amidst the cool sensation of soil and ice, mixed with faint tremors and sounds, the vibrations traveled up the antennae.

    The creature judged it as the sound of footsteps produced by small creatures. That meant there were offspring around therge vibrations.

    The reason for the change in the vibrations felt earlier was probably because there were creatures carrying offspring. It was rare, but such creatures did exist, so the creature understood.

    SSSS SSSSSS SS SSS

    Retrieving its antennae, the creature set off again.

    The destination was where numerous vibrations converged.

    The creature, with hundreds of legs, diligently maneuvered through the icy maze, sliding as it went. Despite its immense size, it moved very quietly. If any other creature had entered, they might have mistaken the wind for a hole opening somewhere in the underground space.

    In this brief time of movement, the creatures senses caught prey. Before it, there were ten offspring.

    Probably some of the creatures offspring had fallen behind in their escape.

    Even though they were offspring, they were quite aggressive creatures. The fallen ones rushed towards the creature appearing in the passage.

    The creature widened its mouth, extending its four jaws wide open and drove its head down where the offspring were. The four jaws exposed the frozen ground like a digger. The offspring, mixed with soil, rocks, and ice, headed straight for the creatures insides.

    Given the vast difference in size between the quantum beings, this was a feasible method, as there was an immense gap.

    Having quickly dispatched ten offspring, the creature continued forward.

    Its antennae spoke to it. Once it passed through the uing passage, it would reach the gathering ce. There, therge vibrations and the offspring were converging.

    Thinking of the imminent feast, saliva dripped from its jaws. Eager to quickly fill its insides with fresh meat, the creature raced through the ice cavern.

    In a sh, the creature passed through the passage and extended its head into the wide chamber. The distance to therge vibration was close enough for the creature to discern with its antennae.

    Caught you.

    A small sound carried through the air.

    The creature didnt know what the sound meant. But the immense energy emanating from the entity that made the sound, it knew well. It knew what consequences that bundle of energy would bring.

    The creature attempted to retreat behind the passage quickly, but due to its physique, it wasnt easy. As its body got stuck in the passage, the creatures worst fear became a reality.

    An enormous amount of energy from within the chamber engulfed the creatures carapace. Not only the carapace but its insides too were engulfed in mes. As the energy mes subsided, rocks and ice copsed on the creature.

    Its going ording to n.

    In the chamber where I was, there were several ice passages, but deliberately, I left ten Tooth Fairies in that passage.

    Since the Ice Horror, which targets offspring or weaker ones first, would undoubtedly crush the Tooth Fairies, I was sure of it. And as soon as I felt the Tooth Fairies deaths, I was prepared to unleash a psychic st.

    The reason for using Psychic Breath instead of Gods Club was simple. It was because using Gods Club would likely cause the entire ice teau above to copse.

    If that happened, not just me but the others would be crushed immediately. The Gant Galgons flying around outside would quickly realize that something was beneath them.

    For this reason, after Gods Club, the next most powerful long-range attack, Psychic Breath, was used.

    Moreover, the enemys size made it easier to hit.

    I estimated the creatures length to be 150m, but it seemed evenrger just from its head. Because its body was sorge, despite detecting my attack early, the creature couldnt evade in the passage.

    First, I took the initiative.

    Although the passage the creature had passed throughpletely copsed, the Ice Horror wasnt weak enough to die from such an attack. Perhaps the part of its carapace directly hit by Psychic Breath was damaged.

    It will soon emerge and attack me.

    But before that.

    To face a monster, one must first be a monster.

    I activated the Symbol of Hunt..

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 172

    Chapter 172

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    The primary characteristic I acquired first in this world is being a Perfect organism. As implied by the name, its the ability to transform my physical capabilities and types into states suitable for survival.

    Moreover, aplete organic entity has a special effect: the Symbol of Hunt mode. When activated, my body optimizes forbat, evolving into the ultimate biological weapon. Although it has a cooldown of 24 hours for a duration of 20 minutes, it exhibits exceptional effects that overshadow such drawbacks. Just like now.

    Gurgle

    Though my eyes are gone, my senses are sharper than ever. Every detail of the surroundings, be it this corridor buried in ice horror or themon ground I stand on, feels vividly alive as if seen directly through my eyes. Thanks to this, Im fully aware of the changes happening within my body.

    Bones, muscles, scales, exoskeletonseverything, optimizing my body to hunt stronger foes and acquire more prey. As the cranial exoskeleton grows rapidly, the burden on my body shifts slightly forward. The six horns, useful in battles against formidable enemies, have grown into even more menacing forms.

    The elongated, slender skull, reminiscent of theropod dinosaurs, has undergone even more extreme changes since the application of the organic evolution trait. The lower jaw, splitting into two branches, has developed an impression resembling a metal protective gear beneath the jaw.

    Along with the changes to the jaw, bone exoskeletons have been attached to the auxiliary organs beneath it, transforming into ivory-like structures simr to an elephants tusks. Despite their considerable size and weight, the developed jaw allows them to move without much difficulty.

    The auxiliary organs retain their original functions.

    Changes around the head arent limited to just the auxiliary organs. The most significant change is the relocation of the five facial apertures previously attached to the back to the head. Simr to ancient warriors adorning their bodies with their enemies skulls, the five pallid faces are attached to the rear exoskeleton like trophies.

    As the head bes heavier, the neck has also evolved to support it. The tentacles of the monster, now erged, are covered with hair-like protrusions on the erged neck. In its normal state, the neck wasnt prominently disyed due to the tentacles and rear exoskeleton, resembling more of a spike. But now, its thick and elongated like that of a crocodile or a Komodo dragon.

    Moreover, the section from the neck to the back, akin to the nuchal hump in humans, is rugged. Subsequently, bone de arms protrude from the exoskeletal orifices, serving as symbols of the manifestation of hunting.

    The arms at the ends of the biological scythes are the sharpest and most lethal weapons I possess. They can easily cut through even tough materials like battleship hulls or superior reinforced armor.

    Other parts have also transformed into forms useful forbat. The blunt ws previously on the lower body and tail have undergone significant changes. They now resemble joints with sharp ws at the ends, akin to spider legs.

    While there have been changes such as the growth of new parts, the weight has actually be lighter than before. Previously, when I used the manifestation of hunting, I felt bulkier and heavier, but now, its a sensation of being thin yet light.

    However, being lighter doesnt mean a decrease in durability or strength. Rather, due to densely interwoven scales, the defense has likely increasedpared to before.

    Moreover, it seems more flexible than before.

    I flexed and bent mybat arms, which have grown more than twice their original length before I started using the manifestation of hunting. The scales moved smoothly like waves following the movements of muscles and bones.

    Apart from bing lighter and more flexible overall, the overall length has increased. Based on the detection by auxiliary organs, the length up to the tail is roughly between 35m to 40m. So,pared to the previous 28m, the body has extended by nearly 10m.

    Even so,pared to over there, its still small.

    The opponent is a colossal creature that easily surpasses 100 meters. Despite being only a third of its size

    Size isnt everything.

    Afterpleting my inspection, I raised my head, tapping four bone desor rather, the transformed auxiliary organs. As soon as I lifted my head, the piles of ice and rocks in the passage began to shake, as if timing their movement with mine. The trembling of the debris intensified, as if representing the emotions of the entity beneath.

    Momentster, as if erupting in an explosion, the rocks and ice fragments scattered, revealing the Ice Horror.

    To simplify the appearance of the Ice Horror, it looked like a fusion of the monster from the ssic monster movie series The B***** of B****** and the body of a centipede.

    [PR/N- Ok so even I dont understand the name of the movie if you guys know please tell me while I will research on my own (I need a raise damn)]

    Its head boasted four incredibly sturdy jaws capable of tearing apart even battleships, filled with spikes and teeth for grasping and suction. At the rear of the jaw were degenerated eyes and two long, thin antennae.

    The antennae, reminiscent of a chain whip, are the detection organs the creature possesses. Unlike me, whose auxiliary organs are vulnerable, the antennae of the creature are quite robust, as evident from their appearance.

    Below the head, it had segments simr to a centipede, with sharp ws on each segment, legs, and a white carapace attached. The difference from a centipede lies in the extreme hardness of the carapace.

    It can ignore most attacks even without special defensive abilities.

    Indeed, even when hit head-on by my psychic breath, the creatures carapace only showed slight scratches.

    Ssssss

    Seemingly infuriated by the unexpected ambush, the creature hissed roughly. Its antennae on the head swayed like threatening cobras.

    The space was so vast that even with two colossal monsters inside, there was plenty of room to spare. I deliberately chose this ce to fight the creature.

    While the Ice Horrors size might suggest an advantage in confined spaces, the reality is different. The creature effortlessly burrowed through the ground and ice, a disadvantage for me in anything but an open space.

    Sssss

    As the creature emitted its threatening sounds, it turned its head toward me. Its four jaws spread wide, and from within, a stream of transparent venom was shot towards me.

    By highly concentrating the nerve toxin I often used against biological foes and mixing it with hallucinogens, it became the Ice Horrors venom. In simple terms, its a toxin that paralyzes or induces hallucinations in its victims.

    But I didnt evade. Instead, I rushed towards the creature, which stood still, shooting venom.

    Venom is useless against me.

    Thanks to the Complete Immunity trait I received as a special reward, I ampletely immune to toxins and diseases. No matter how potent the venom the creature shoots, it wont affect me.

    [TL/N- Well this is irritating the author does not even give chapter hints or mentions of how and when he gets the trait or he directly mentions after 100 chapters]

    [PR/N- Your problem]

    I leaped over the ice on the ground while being hit by the venom.

    Ssssss?

    The fact that its venom had no effect seemed to confuse the creature.

    Thats to be expected.

    Around here, there are only a few species, including the ck Gagon, that are immune to the creatures venom.

    While the creature hesitated, I charged with speed and momentum, thrusting my horns into its head. The frozen underground chamber shook violently, and the creature staggered backward.

    Grrrrrr

    Until now, no enemy had survived being impaled by my horns, but this time was an exception. The Ice Horrors defense was truly formidable. Despite my strike, only scratches from the horns remained on its carapace.

    Ssssss

    The creature, pushed back, emitted a sinister sound as itunched its counterattack. Its body, several times longer than mine, writhed like a snake, attempting to ensnare me.

    I grabbed the creatures body with my sixbat arms. In that state, I swung my tail forcefully. The pincer at the end of my tail turned into a heavy mace, striking the carapace around its abdomen.

    Sssss!

    The agonizing screams of the Ice Horror mixed with its roar, echoing through the underground chamber. Looking at the area hit by my tail, it was riddled with cracks like a spider web. It must have hurt, given the force of the impact.

    Sssssss!

    Enraged, the creature, jaws wide open, charged at me. Its n was likely to swallow me whole. The swirling tentacles resembling whirlpools around my back peeled away, and the corroded tentacles hidden within all sprang out.

    The tentacles, spread wide, firmly grasped the creatures jaws.

    And thus, the struggle began.

    Grrrrrrrr

    Sssss!

    It was a showdown between two colossal creatures spanning tens to hundreds of meters. As a result, the ice walls surrounding the underground space shook violently. Icicles hanging from the ceiling fell, and the ground I stood on cracked and split deeply.

    Such immense strength.

    Despite using the manifestation of hunting, the creatures strength was truly immense. While my six corroded tentacles firmly held its jaws, they couldntst long. The creature began to press me down with its weight.

    But

    I anticipated this much.

    I slightly eased the force on the corroded tentacles. As the creature exerted pressure on me, its body suddenly lurched towards me.

    At the moment the creatures gaping mouth aimed to swallow me whole

    One of my bone de arms from my back flew like lightning and pierced into the creatures mouth.

    Sssss?!

    Startled by the sudden pain, the Ice Horror recoiled. It shook violently, and with a creature of its size causing havoc, not only the chamber but the entire underground space trembled as if in an earthquake.

    Sssssss!

    Then, the creature closed its jaws, gripping me, and violently shook its head, hurling me away. My body flew through the air and mmed hard against the wall.

    Ugh!

    [Pain nullification Activated!]

    Although it had been a while since the Pain nullification trait was activated, there was no time to be distracted by the pain. Quickly, I withdrew my body from where it was embedded in the wall and dodged to the side. As I evaded, the creatures head mmed into the wall beside me.

    With a paper-thin margin of escape, I shed at the carapace around its abdomen with the four bone de arms under its jaw.

    These bone des were made of the same material as the des on my back. In other words, they were extremely hard and sharp.

    With the sound of cracking walnut shells, four wounds appeared on the creatures carapace.

    Clearly annoyed by my evasion and counterattack, the creature twisted its body to ram into me. I hastily raised mybat arms to block, but the result wasnt favorable. Two of my arms that collided with the creatures carapace werepletely shattered, and my body was mmed against the wall again.

    Ugh!

    With no cunning maneuvers, just simple movements, but faster and stronger than me, it wasnt easy to deal with.

    The one whose arm I had broken rushed at me again, pulling its head from the wall. Anticipating this, I opened my mouth towards its eyes. The acid nd located near my esophagus shot out its vile acidic liquid.

    The creature, hit by the green liquid, paused its attack momentarily. Taking advantage of its hesitation, I quickly withdrew, putting some distance between us.

    Ssssss

    The creature shook its head irritably, as if annoyed. Perhaps it was boasting a carapace with a hardness surpassing that of diamonds, as the acidic fungus couldnt prate it at all.

    The creature, having spat out the green liquid, growled at me. It had begun to be wary of me as new abilities continued to emerge from me.

    While the creature was on guard, I examined the area I had been targeting all along. I swung my pincers and shed with the de under its jaw, finding plenty of cracks in its ventral carapace.

    Preparation isplete.

    There was only one thing left to do.

    Wait.

    Sssss

    Grrrrrrrr

    The creature, still fixating its tendrils on me while being cautious, moved again. Like a train speeding on rails, it charged towards me on the icy ground.

    Just before colliding with the creature, I exerted force on the tail tip and the legs in my lower body. My body shot upwards like a spring towards the ceiling, and the surface of my pincers grazed the creatures jaw as we passed each other.

    Having narrowly avoided the Ice Horrors charge, Inded on its back. Utilizing my remainingbat arms and corroded tentacles, I firmly grasped the creatures carapace, engaging in a rodeo-like struggle.

    Sssssss!

    The creature, displeased with me being on its back, writhed violently. However, I was already firmly attached to its body. It couldnt shake me off as easily as it intended.

    While the creature thrashed about, I swung the de under its jaw and the arms on its back relentlessly. With each swishing sound of the wind, more wounds appeared on the creatures carapace.

    Saaaaa!

    Finally, unable to bear it any longer, the creature roared loudly and leaped up. Just like I had leaped upward, the creature also exerted force on its lower body and legs, lifting its body.

    With a single leap, the creature soared up to the ceiling of this huge underground space. As its back collided with the ceiling, I, sandwiched in between, found myself in a situation akin to being caught in a vice.

    Grukk!

    Crack!

    The immense pain coursing through my entire body inadvertently caused me to lose strength. The rear carapace, due to the impact, had broken at the back, and the carapaces on the back and chest had also been severely cracked.

    One more hit, and its dangerous!

    As the creature mmed into the ceiling andnded on the ground, I leaped off its back. The creature, as if asking where I was fleeing, opened its jaws wide and snapped at my tail.

    But as soon as it bit down, the spikes and teeth inside its jaws pierced into my body. It was as if it intended to swallow me whole.

    Instead of striking its jaws, I activated the thorn-barbed tail hidden inside my pincers. The pincers opened slightly, and the thorns inside poured out into the creatures throat.

    Ssssss!

    Just like me, to a creature wielding neurotoxins as weapons, a venom attack was meaningless. However, anyone would feel difort with fish spines lodged in their throat.

    The Ice Horror spat me out with a growl. The tip of my tail, which had entered the creatures body for a short time, was severely damaged.

    Definitely strong.

    This creature boasted tremendousbat power, fearing it might not be an Apex organism. If it were a ck Gagon or a Sea Demon, I would already have suffered two or three fatal injuries.

    Saaaah!

    The creature roared shortly and swiftly moved its legs, approaching me. This time, instead of avoiding, I rushed towards the creature.

    Like males locking horns to establish dominance, we charged towards each others heads. On the icy arena, the Ice Horrors jaws collided with my head carapace.

    Tremendous pressure pushed against my head. The head carapace, rarely damaged until now, shattered, and three out of six horns broke.

    If we fall here, its over.

    I exerted all my strength in my lower body and tail to somehow not give way.

    As the two mighty forces struggled to overpower each other, the ground could no longer bear it and copsed.

    At that moment, I sharply lowered my head. As we struggled, the creature, unable to hit my head due to my movement, inevitably directed its force towards it.

    The creatures jaws smashed my rear head carapace and swept over my dorsal carapace. Two of my arm carapaces brokepletely due to the impact.

    Indescribable pain pierced through my entire being. I almost lost consciousness from the excruciating agony, but thanks to the Pain Reduction trait, I managed to endure somehow.

    Now!

    I twisted my head to the left. Instantly, the bone de under my jaw stood upright.

    The target of the bone de was the creatures abdomen passing swiftly above me. Two of the des on my right side protruded forward, shing the creatures abdomen heavily.

    Ssss!

    Broken Ugh!

    Before I could even revel in the sess of the attack, I tumbled onto the copsed floor. The enraged creature swung its tail at me.

    This!

    I tried to get up again, but the creatures jaws were right next to me.

    A huge jaw, split into four parts, spread open like a flower. As the jaws closed, my head and upper body would be finished.

    Trying to minimize the damage as much as possible, I crouched down, but the creature suddenly stopped moving. It was a fleeting moment, but enough for me to dodge.

    As I withdrew my upper body, the creatures jaws closed immediately. I realized the familiar movements of a being on the verge of copse on the other side of the partially copsed passage.

    Its here!

    Then, rocks and ice fragments that filled the passage floated up. They turned into projectiles and rained down on the Ice Horrors carapace and tail.

    Sssss!

    Startled by the sudden attack, the creature turned its head abruptly.

    Beyond the darkened passage, three creatures revealed themselves.

    As expected. You held on well.

    A griffin wolf holding the Divine spectre.

    Big AdultLarge Snake Very Giant

    A Green Gagon expressing astonishment at the sight of me and the Ice Horror.

    This naughty little creature! Cant just let someone bother the big baby in peace! Ill give it a good scolding! A lot of it!

    And there it was, the 10-meter-tall Sea Demon, menacingly waving its numerous tentacles and fins.

    After what seemed like an eternity, reinforcements had finally arrived.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 173

    Chapter 173

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    What now?

    The intruder seemed confused by the sudden intrusion. He must have been puzzled as to why he had missed this.

    The reason was simple.

    Ive distracted him.

    Since he realized that I was not an easy opponent, he poured all his senses into me. If I had hesitated or fought him from a distance, he would have had room to maneuver. In that case, he would have quickly noticed the kidsing.

    Ice Horrors possess extraordinary physical abilities, but their essence lies in being ambush predators. If they judge it difficult to control the environmental conditions, they will retreat immediately.

    But we cant let that happen.

    We need him. I need his mind, the Mother of the Sky needs his heart, and even his flesh for the others.

    Well catch him here.

    As I growled, he alternated his gaze between me and Number 26.

    Among the enemies present here, I am the most threatening to him. After all, I shattered his armor with my bare hands.

    But his instincts suggest another answer. He sensed the presence of a superior predator, a Sea Demon, higher than the Ice Horror.

    Number 26 tends to suppress psychic powers emanating from its body to amodate the sensitive Adhai. If I hadnt been injured, it would still be hiding.

    Are you properly angry?

    Numerous eyes flowed like water over Number 26s body. The pupils, imbued with the Abyssal Terror characteristic, red at the Ice Horror.

    A powerful psychic power emanated from its body, dyed a shade close to purple-pink, filling the space with intensity.

    Fortunately, the psychic power doesnt flow outward beyond space. I suppose its controlling it to avoid Gagons notice.

    In summary, Number 26 is currently in a state of cold fury.

    But thats even scarier.

    The Ice Horror seemed confused about where to focus due to the psychic power. It stumbled about aimlessly, as if representing its masters consciousness.

    It would be troublesome if his attention shifted elsewhere. I rose to my feet with unbrokenbat arms and let out a thunderous roar.

    Roar

    My roar echoed far beyond the chamber. Ice shards and stone fragments around me flew into the air from the shockwave. Startled by the power contained in my roar, the Ice Horror twitched its tentacles.

    Ssaaaa!

    Roar

    The Ice Horror roared loudly, just like me. Ignoring Number 26, it rushed towards me. I, too, charged towards it, pounding the ground with each stride.

    Leaving traces on the shattered ice floor, we charged towards each other. As we shed again, the chamber trembled once more.

    Crack!

    Both mybat arms and dorsal arms are broken, and my head armor is shattered. Energy is being consumed to heal the broken bones, so I dont feel as powerful as before.

    Meanwhile, he shows no sign of fatigue and continues to demonstrate his strength. Should I call him an Apex Monster just based on his sheer specs?

    Well, thats preferable.

    Hes a cunning predator. He wouldnt consider fleeing when faced with an opponent he can handlefortably. While the enemy is off guard, we can diligently entangle him.

    While Im holding onto him, the kids moved.

    Transformed into her griffin form, the Mother of the Sky ascended onto Adhais back, holding the Divine Spectre. Despite the dense darkness, Adhai carried her swiftly and soared over the Ice Horrors back in the blink of an eye.

    As Adhai flew, almost touching the Ice Horrors carapace, the Mother of the Sky extended her spear to strike his back. Perhaps due to the added thrust from the high-speed flight, thin wounds were left on his carapace.

    Sss

    As we struggled inbat, the annoyed Ice Horror hissed as it suffered an attack. Its tail moved to get rid of the annoying intruder.

    Despite being in an underground space devoid of any light, the incredibly developed auxiliary organs revealed its presence. The tail, rising to strike Adhai, looked like a massive barrier.

    Riding Adhai like a mythical hero fighting mythical beasts, the Mother of the Sky and Adhai skillfully evaded the Ice Horrors tail. Thanks to Adhais improved flying abilities, they effortlessly maneuvered even in the rtively narrow underground space.

    The Mother of the Sky focused solely on thrusting her spear, while Adhai evaded the flying tail and body.

    While the two were coordinating their attacks, Number 26 also prepared its assault.

    It waved the tentacles protruding from her body like a conductors baton. Immediately, debris scattered across the chamber floor.

    The Sea Demons unique technique, Demon Crash, had been activated. The shards permeated with psychic power now became projectiles for her psychic cannon.

    Some of the debris floating in the air shot out like bullets, hitting the Ice Horrors torso.

    Sss!

    The Ice Horror seemed unsure where to focus. As his attention dispersed, the force behind his jaw, pressing against me, slightly diminished.

    Good!

    Seizing the opportunity, I exerted force on the tentacles ensnaring his jaw and head. For the first time since the fight began, he staggered backward.

    Ss?!

    He seemed taken aback and failed to respond properly. I pushed harder, forcing him back. Due to the uneven floor from the copsing ground, his body tilted significantly.

    As a result, the broken carapace I had exposed was prominently exposed.

    As the startled Ice Horror tried to regain his footing, his body froze in ce. Unbeknownst to him, a mesh of psychic power spanning hundreds of meters entangled his frame.

    The one who cast the was Number 26. Once again, it had cast Restraint.

    [ZZZ (Now!)]

    Hearing my shout, Adhai swooped in at terrifying speed. The Mother of the Sky, atop him, thrust her spear forcefully.

    The sharp tip of the spear pierced deep into the broken carapaces interior. Without any resistance, the spear plunged deep inside his body.

    Saaaa!

    The Ice Horror, impaled by the Divine Spectre, screamed in agony, thrashing wildly. With a massive body easily surpassing 100 meters, his rampage shook not only the chamber but the entire underground space.

    [ZZZ ZZ (Watch out!)]

    Got it.

    The Ice Horrors body and tail bounced through the air like a roller coaster track, while Adhai performed aerial acrobatics, navigating between them.

    Not enough yet.

    Due to his immense size, even driving the Divine Spectre all the way to the hilt didnt inflict fatal wounds.

    I climbed atop him, causing havoc on the copsed floor. Then, I widen my jaws into a split to bite into the broken carapace.

    Sss!

    The creature, writhing in pain as if being salted, quickly sensed my intent and swiftly flipped its body. As a result, my attack missed. Instead of soft flesh, I bit into the very tough nk carapace.

    Tch.

    The teeth that could chew through battleship hulls merely collided helplessly with the Ice Horrors carapace. Experiencing my teeth break for the first time since arriving in this world, I inwardly cursed.

    Sss.

    Furthermore, the creature now realized what I was aiming for with this attack. To conceal its weakness, it twisted its body to continuously target the wounded area.

    Despite Adhai flying around and unleashing Purple Lightning, the fastest among us, it was futile.

    Hes the kind who barely scratches, even after taking my Psychic Breath head-on. With lesser power than that, Purple Lightning couldnt harm him.

    Tough!

    Watch out, little one! Move aside!

    Seeing this, Number 26 exerted itself again. The psychic power emanating from its body materialized and glowed.

    Then, debris floating in the air gathered in front of Number 26, slowly rotating.

    Understanding what he was up to, I firmly restrained the Ice Horror with all my corroding tentacles andbat arms.

    Sssss!

    Grrrr!

    It seemed that he, too, thought he needed to quickly deal with me and leave this ce. His thick, elongated body wrapped around me. The collision between his carapace and myposite scales sparked mes.

    Hes much stronger than me. If he decided to crush me, I wouldntst long.

    As evidence, the message Pain Nullification repeatedly appeared before my eyes.

    Enduring the pain with the characteristic effect, I seized one broken dorsal arm with a corroding tentacle. Then, I tore it off.

    Ugh!

    The pain, iparable to when it broke, pierced the inside of my head.

    I hadnt gone mad and torn off my own arm. The dorsal arm, resembling a crows foreleg, had the sharpest bone de from my body attached to it.

    With all the bones broken, the dorsal arm couldnt move. But I intended to use it as a weapon.

    This should do.

    I received the broken dorsal arm torn off by the corroding tentacle with mybat arm. Then, I swung it like an axe, striking down on the Ice Horrors weakness.

    Sssss!

    The Ice Horror screamed as my bone des sank into it, even though the Divine Spectre had already pierced it. Strong predators, ustomed to trampling over others, often couldnt bear their own pain. The Ice Horror was no exception.

    Its grip on me weakened. Trying to distance itself from me to hide its weakness, the Ice Horror, now struggling, faced another weapon I had concealed.

    The five faces on my head carapace opened their mouths simultaneously. Ultrasonic waves capable of paralyzing any foe poured forth from the mouths of the anthropomorphic entities, aimed at the Ice Horror.

    Sss?!

    The creature, properly struck by the paralysis waves on its head, ceased its movements. Almost simultaneously, Number 26s weaponpleted its firing sequence.

    [ZZZ (now!)]

    Got it!

    A psychic drill made by mixing psychic power andrge chunks of ice tore through the air, heading towards the broken carapace of the Ice Horror, our carefully crafted weakness.

    Pure psychic power and ice fragments began tearing the creatures flesh apart.

    Ssssss!

    The destructive power of the psychic drill, made by Number 26, or rather, the Sea Demon, was remarkable. It shredded the internal bones and flesh within the carapace, and the organs were spun out and pulled out almost to the point of extraction.

    The creature screamed in agony as its organs were shredded.

    But that was the limit.

    Although the psychic drill rotated with enough force to tear the creature apart, destroying its carapace was beyond it. After greatly expanding the wounded area, the psychic power that formed the drill scattered into the air.

    Im drained

    Little adult Danger.

    Number 26s body, having consumed excessive psychic power, shrunk to a size of 50 cm, as it did when resting on my head, and Adhai ced her on his back.

    Sss

    The Ice Horrors antennae trembled uneasily. How many predators like it had suffered such fatal injuries? Probably none since infancy.

    Realizing it couldnt go on any longer, the creature tried to burrow into the ground.

    Where do you think youre going?

    Whileing was at its whim, leaving wasnt. I grabbed and dragged the creature from behind as it attempted to flee.

    Grrrrr

    Sss?!

    Then, I pressed my head against its wound. The warm blood seeped into my closed mouth.

    Using mybat arms and corroding tentacles, I widened the creatures wound, then pushed my head even deeper. With the horns on my head and the bone des under my jaw, I rummaged through the creatures insides.

    In an attempt to get rid of me, the creature bit my tail with its jaws. The more it struggled, the tighter I held onto its gaping wound.

    The pincers at the end of my tail, the carapace and legs attached to it, were being torn off by the creatures jaws, but I didnt give up.

    How long has it been? As I pushed through what felt like a solid wall, the cold air enveloped my head.

    The moment I realized I hadpletely pierced through the creatures body, its death roars echoed in my ears.

    Sss sss s

    The Ice Horror, who might have lived for hundreds, if not thousands of years, let out a subdued cry as if feeling unjust, and then copsed.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 174

    Chapter 174

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    [Conditions for evolution from Quasi-saint to Ascendant have been partially met. Apex monsters hunted (APEX) 1/30 (iplete).]

    Sigh.

    I sighed as I looked at the fallen Ice Horror on the ground. While I seeded in capturing one Apex, my heart wasnt at ease.

    Its definitely tough.

    Even in the game, hunting Apex creatures wasnt easy. From Gagons to Sea Demons, there were only formidable beings ssified as Apex.

    But that was just a game after all. While the death penalty in space survival games was significant, it didntpare to real-life death. Engaging in a struggle for life wasnt as easy as one might think.

    It wouldve been tough without them.

    Adhai, who had helped me in this fight, sat down beside me. Number 26, whom I rode, and the Mother of the Sky descended beside me as well. All three of them had been a great help in capturing the Ice Horror.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ Ill be fine in a bit)]

    As always, Number 26, who had returned to its small size, was more concerned about me.

    Adhai jumped around on the corpse, seemingly excited. The Mother of the Sky looked at the corpse as if she couldnt believe it.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Lets eat quickly. We dont have much time)]

    The underground shelter we were in was barely holding up. With the Ice Horror and me having shed, it could copse at any moment.

    If this copses, itll affect the outside too.

    If this copsed, it was evident that the ice ins above would copse, creating a massive sinkhole. Given that the solid ice had sunk, the Gagons would also find it suspicious.

    Moreover, I didnt have much time left.

    The duration of the hunts manifestation was 20 minutes. Since I had spent most of the time fighting the creature, there was only about 5 minutes left.

    The Mother of the Sky, hearing my words, looked at the wall of gold and nodded.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Take out its heart)]

    I picked up the Divine Ppecterate from the blood and threw it to her. She effortlessly caught it and walked into the wound I had prepared.

    Mid baby, Ill help you.

    Thank you.

    While Number 26 and the Mother of the Sky were inside the creatures belly, I prepared to eat the head of the Ice Horror.

    The exoskeleton is too tough to eat as is

    I opened its jaw and crawled inside. Passing through sharp teeth and hard spikes, I entered its throat, where soft flesh awaited me.

    The flesh surrounding my body, theyre all edible parts. I started tearing into the meat spread around me while lying on my stomach.

    Hmm.

    I thought the meat would be tough due to the creatures exoskeleton, but surprisingly, it wasnt. Even though half of its teeth were broken, the flesh went down the throat without much resistance.

    Spicy.

    The Ice Horrors meat boasted the spiciest taste among all the prey I had ever eaten. It was to the point where tears would well up if Amorph had tear ducts.

    Is it because of the venom?

    The venom spat out by the Ice Horror was much stronger than the neurotoxin I possessed. Curious if other parts also contained it, I tasted the flesh deep inside.

    This part is a bit milder.

    It seemed like only the throat and esophagus area where the venom sacs were located were affected. Among the creatures here, none were immune to venom.

    So, I thought it would be okay, but just in case, I should warn the others.

    ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Be careful because the meat is poisoned)]

    Why is it so spicy? It must be because of the venom after all.

    The Mother of the Sky was eating the heart of the Ice Horror she had harvested. Through the auxiliary organ, her appearance was that of a Gryphon. She had detected the venom while tasting in humanoid mode and transformed into a Gryphon with immunity.

    Currently, none of us had immunity to the venom. While I and Number 26 had the highest resistance, the others could eat the Ice Horrors meat as long as they avoided the risky parts.

    However, waves of pain and exhration poured out from Number 26 and Adhai despite the spiciness.

    Its spicy! It hurts! But its delicious!

    Thrilling, Novelty.

    Number 26 seemed to continue eating despite the pain, while Adhai seemed to enjoy the new sensation.

    Its good to see everyone enjoying themselves.

    Seeing Number 26 eating something spicy, I honestly wanted to watch, but I still had things to do.

    Before the manifestation of the hunt ended, I had to eat all of the head.

    I wonder what wille out this time.

    Since the creature was several hundred meters long, its head size easily exceeded 20 meters. I swiftly ate the meat covering half of my body from the neck onwards.

    While I was eating my way up to where the brain should be, the Mother of the Sky called out to me.

    Come out for a moment after youre done eating everything.

    [ZZZZ ZZ (Why?)]

    I found a Screamer in its entrails.

    [ZZZ (What?)]

    I was taken aback by her words.

    Dont worry. Only the remains of a deactivated Screamer are left.

    Although I felt slightly relieved at her subsequent words, I wasntpletely rxed yet.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZC (Are there any nearby?)]

    Thats unlikely. Judging from the corroded state, its been quite some time. Almost three weeks.

    [Buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz (It was inside for three weeks?)]

    Looking at the remaining metal skeleton, it seems simr to the one we saw earlier.

    Listening to the conversation, it seemed that modified new-model Screamers had also entered this underground. They met the Ice Horror and were all wiped out.

    Could the one we saw in the forest above have been the one fleeing here?

    Come to think of it, it didnt look so good when we met. At the time, I thought it was because of the battle with the Winter Walker, but perhaps it was chased by this creature.

    But for now

    For now, eating takes priority. I responded to her and resumed my predatory activity.

    By speeding up, I was able topletely devour the creatures head with exactly 10 seconds remaining.

    And then.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained the Giant Creature gene essence from the Ice Horror.]

    [Seizing the Giant Creature characteristic from the Ice Horror biological traits.]

    [The Bone Axe previously held can be integrated.]

    The characteristics of Giant Creature and Bone Axe are merged. Evolving into the Bone Beast characteristic!

    Bone Beast: Inherits and strengthens the existing characteristics of the giant creature. Once a week, can transform into a very powerful Bone Beast for 60 minutes.

    *Caution: Cannot be used with Manifestation of the Hunt.

    *Addendum: The exoskeleton is not exclusive to certain species.

    A new message has arrived.

    With the announcement of a new message, the famous trait Bone Beast, beloved by all Amorph yers, came into my hands.

    Jason, the Insufficient.

    He was a cultist with many nicknames.

    Respected as the High Priest of the Empire, the Leader of Sublimes Guardian upholding tradition, the Hero of the Rebellion who defended the capital from the onught of Outspheres.

    It was a fitting title for him, ranked 10th.

    But recently, hispatriots added a letter to the front of his title.

    That letter was Former.

    Due to a recent mistake, he fell from the object of admiration to a viin who shook the security of the Empire.

    In fact, he could endure that much. His body may be a cultist, but his mind is human. And humans make mistakes as they live.

    But what truly drove him insane was the presence itself that greatly contributed to his downfall.

    Ranked 5th, Amorph.

    Whether in reality or in this world, Amorph was the being Jason hated the most.

    The feud between Jason and Amorph had been quite long. In reality, he had created characters several times because of him.

    The reason he actively hunted Amorphs seeds in this world was because he had suffered a lot from Amorph. Even though he knew his actions would hinder questpletion.

    Yet, the guy survived. No, he didnt just survive, he thoroughly humiliated Jason.

    The day he heard the news of the destruction of the Imperial gship and the fleet, he realized.

    Unless Amorphs head is stuffed and hung in the bedroom, he wont be able to sleepfortably.

    So, unlike his colleagues, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

    High-tier equipment that could only be obtained by clearingte-game quests, loyal subordinates following him, and even a dedicated warship. He thoroughly prepared to the extent that even a mature Apex wouldnt pose much of a challenge.

    But thats not all. Akira Yujin also provided support with a sub-boss-level creature, the ck Gagon. At this point, unless one deliberately ignores it, it would be strange to lose to Amorph.

    Until he first set foot on the frigid star of ice, he was full of confidence that he would finally be able to kill Amorph.

    However, that confidence shattered after encountering the ck Gagon introduced by Akira Yujin, Great Old Grahd.

    Damn it! When the hell is he going to show up? Hes not someone an ordinary Gagon can defeat!

    Wearing dragon armor made from Gagon, Jason screamed inside the vast cave.

    He wasnt suddenly losing his mind and screaming alone. In front of himy an enormous creature.

    A ck Gagon lying on various sparkling minerals. He was the emperor of the dragons that inhabited this, the Great Old Grahd.

    The Great Old Grahd has spoken of an important endeavor.

    Old Grahdzily replied as he ate the prey brought by young Gagons. Despite his calm andzy demeanor, Jason was burning with rage but managed to suppress it.

    You stupid lizard kid! That White Gagon isnt an opponent that ordinary Gagons can defeat!

    Jason was shouting inside the cave, wearing dragon armor made from Gagons.

    When he arrived, the herd of Old Grahd was in a state of division.

    When Gagons mature and be adults, or ck Gagons, they gain the right to challenge the leader of the herd.

    For a long time, he had been the only ck Gagon in the Old Grahd herd, but there was a problem.

    The second-ranked White Gagon female began to aim for his position. It was unusual for such a thing to happen after bing a ck Gagon, as it wasmon for a new ck Gagon to emerge after Old Grahd became the leader.

    Why are you hesitating when everything will be sorted out once you step forward?

    Old Grahd speaks. Traitors gather. Waiting.

    There were beings among the herd who questioned why adult Gagons werent appearing. They thought that Old Grahd, the only ck Gagon, had done something crafty and were rebelling.

    Old Grahd nned to eliminate the Gagons who rebelled against his rule during this opportunity. Pretending to take refuge in the cave was also an intention to deceive his enemies.

    But thats the Gagons business.

    To Jason, who knew that an unprecedented danger as a 5th-ranked Amorph Ranker was approaching, it looked like pathetic politics.

    When Amorph grows up, youre all done! You damn skink!

    As Jason cursed Old Grahd silently, a Gagon flew into the cave from outside.

    The Gagon with white scales folded its wings and bowed its head in front of Old Grahd.

    I, the Great Old Grahd, have been informed.

    What does that mean?

    Old Grahd speaks Insignificant beings desired young ones found.

    What? Is that true?

    Though he was called an insignificant being, Jason paid it no mind. Right now, catching an Amorph was more important.

    Old Grahd has an important endeavor. Prepare. Follow.

    Hes not going to show up until the end, is he?

    With those words, Old Grahd raised his front paw, indicating that there was nothing more to say, so leave.

    It felt like a king gesturing to his subjects, and Jason gritted his teeth. He didnt like how arrogantly Akira Yujins pet came out on the topic, but there was nothing he could do about it.

    If Jason wanted to, he could kill Old Grahd, but then he would have to fight all the Gagons here. If they fought, Jasons group would suffer immense losses.

    Next, Amorph will tear us apart!

    Thanks to his reckless behavior in the game, n alliances were often destroyed. He had no intention of reenacting what happened in the game in real life, so he said no more and left the cave.

    Once the rebels were expelled, even that unfortunate ck Gagon would have no choice but to help him. Since it was Akirasmand, he also had an obligation to help Jason.

    But waiting for Old Grahds help was running out of time. If Amorph was indeed here on this, then they were in a very dangerous situation right now.

    Hey, tell me the ce you mentioned to that damn lizard.

    Understood.

    So, for now, he had to act alone.

    Jason headed to the camp with the White Gagon and his subordinates.

    I woke up lying in the nest, focusing on recovery.

    I havent been sleeping welltely.

    It wasnt because of nightmares or unresolved worries likest time. It was because of the message I received after devouring the Ice Horror during the day.

    After unlocking Transcendence Level 2, a new system called Trait Enhancement was unlocked. At that time, even though it was unlocked, it wasnt activated, so I forgot about it, but it was activated today.

    I didnt think there would be such a system huh?

    As I tried to examine the Trait Enhancement system, movement was detected in my auxiliary organ.

    There were no other creatures in the nest besides us. I quickly linked to the nest to see what was moving.

    Number 26?

    Its the one who said Itd go to bed early he consumed a lot of energy during the day.

    Thinking that his disrupted sleep pattern was because of going to bed early, his behavior was strange.

    Number 26 came out of the nest and disappeared beyond the passage.

    Whats going on?

    He rarely acts alone. Unless its an urgentbat situation, he always tells me what hes going to do or what he wants to do.

    But now, he sneaked out in the middle of the night, which was clearly suspicious behavior.

    I got up and cautiously followed him. He seemedpletely unaware that I was following him.

    After he moved quite far from the nest, he suddenly stopped and began to take something out of his body.

    Eat this.

    PS-111. I deeply appreciate the dedication of the newly registered main controller.

    I couldnt stay hidden any longer at the sound of the voice in front of Number 26. I hurriedly approached him.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Whats that?)]

    Well, um, this is, uh

    Number 26 hesitated umonly, I couldnt pay attention to that fact. The small object in front of him. It was strikingly simr to what I had seen not long ago.

    PS-111. Unknown lifeform detected.]

    [t was that of a human woman, with machine parts and tubes attached.

    It was a new type of Screamer, with only the head remaining.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 175

    Chapter 175

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    I quickly grabbed the Screamers head with mybat-ready hand. Then, I hugged Number 26 tightly and crouched down.

    Big guy?

    Even though Number 26 seemed puzzled by the English, I didnt respond.

    It was already toote to escape the st radius. This was the only way to save Number 26 from the explosion.

    Darn it!

    Thanks to my Bone Beast trait, my bodys defense had increased dramatically, but not Number 26s. Being a Sea Demon, it wouldnt die from the Screamers self-destruction, but fatal injuries were inevitable.

    Please, endure.

    I closed my eyes, bracing for the imminent baptism of mes.

    But minutes passed.

    Huh?

    Big guy, whats wrong? Are you mad?

    No agonizing pain engulfed my body, just the cold air within the ice corridor.

    I opened my eyes and checked the Screamer.

    [PS-111. Additional damage urred due to external impact. Current damage report: 87%.]

    Embedded in the ice wall, the Screamer mechanically murmured, blood seeping white, showing no response.

    What happened?

    Only then did I realize something was off about this Screamer.

    While under the control of machines, Screamers operated based on biological principles. Only androids could survive with just their heads intact.

    It doesnt seem like an android.

    I focused on the auxiliary organs to examine its appearance closely. It seemed much more lifelike than an android.

    Androids conducting espionage mimic humans well, but it was unlikely for a Screamer to have such capabilities.

    Im frustrated.

    As I silently observed, Number 26 slipped out of my embrace and darted outside. Then, upon seeing the Screamer pinned to the wall, it emitted a bright glow.

    Ahh! My friends hurt!

    [PS-111. Advising the main controller. Hostile organism detected. Please retreat.]

    Number 26s body color, which had darkened with each distressing event, indicated his difort. I knew this well, having seen it turn closer to purple-pink every time I was severely injured.

    As Number 26, with slightly darkened body color, pulled out tentacles and retrieved the pinned Screamer from the wall.

    Are you okay, friend?

    [Reporting to the main controller. Current recovery progress: 0.5%.]

    As Number 26 set the Screamer down, six metallic legs resembling spider legs protruded from its neck area. At that sight, I couldnt help but think of extraterrestrial creatures from ssic SF horror films set in Antarctic research bases.

    The eerie Screamer head, with its metallic legs moving diligently, stood before Number 26. Its appearance seemed as if it were protecting Number 26.

    Friend!

    [There is a 95% chance that hostile organisms pose a threat to the main controller. Disregard.]

    Number 26 seemed confused about what to do between me and the Screamer.

    How could this happen?

    Given the extraordinary circumstances, it was hard for me to understand too.

    Big guy, it looks like our friend is hurt.

    [ZZZ (Silence)]

    Yeah.

    Perhaps my emotions seeped into the waves, as I unintentionally spoke coldly. Number 26 curled up like a child who had secretly brought home a puppy.

    Lets examine this carefully.

    Fortunately, the Screamer didnt self-destruct, but that didnt mean the situation was okay. This was the first time Number 26 had acted independently since meeting me, and it wasnt just y or feedingit led to a major incident.

    I hid a danger from it.

    If the Screamer had harmed Number 26, it might not have been here. No, it might not have escaped serious injury, even to the point of death.

    Of course, I needed to reprimand it, but there were things to consider first.

    I looked at Number 26 emitting a pink light in the darkness. Though he seemed to shrink at my apparent anger, he didnt immediately discard the Screamer.

    In other words, it might have developed mercy.

    As an Amorph, I inevitably had to take the lives of other creatures. It was the only way for me to evolve, the only way for me to survive. None of my colleagues were unaware of this point.

    Except for the Mother of the Sky, who had her goals. That is, to kill enemies andfort the souls of her family.

    Anyway, since everyone understood my nature, I coulde here, to the Gagons Nest, with them.

    Originally, I would have spent a long time gathering the traits necessary for Apex hunting. But since my weaknesses wereplemented by them, there was no need for that.

    But if Number 26 started to value life here, it would greatly hinder my hunting activities. Especially if the one among us who handled psychic powers the best was absent, Gagon hunting would be extremely difficult.

    Moreover

    The problem doesnt end here.

    Number 26s sudden actions might be evidence of its growth.

    In other words, this might happen again in the future. As it gets smarter, itll inevitably sh with me more often.

    Not just Number 26. Even Adhai might be simr as she grows. Adhai is younger than Number 26, after all.

    I wont solve the problem bying out oppressively from this position.

    I need coborators toplement my weaknesses, not ves. If I want to maintain a positive rtionship with them in the future, I need to pay even more attention to it.

    You have to start things right.

    As a childs ego grows, they naturally want to break away from their parents gaze. At such times, I know better than anyone that if there is a conflict with the parents, it willst a lifetime.

    Regardless of the circumstances, reprimanding Number 26 is a given, but I need to choose my words carefully so that he can understand.

    After gathering my thoughts, I spoke to Number 26.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ(Do you know how dangerous that is?)]

    Is our friend in danger?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (If it explodes, well all get hurt.)]

    Really? More dangerous than a bang-bang?

    [ZZZ (Yes.)]

    Upon hearing that the Screamer was more dangerous than a smauncher, Number 26s body turned pale.

    It wasnt a lie. The self-destruct I witnessed seemed over 20 times more dangerous than a smauncher. Of course, I wouldnt die, but there was no need to mention that.

    I dont want the big guy to get hurt!

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ (Me neither. So please, trust me and help.)]

    Yeah

    Seeing it trembling like it did when it was experimented on by MegaCorp researchers, I felt a sudden pang of guilt. But I steeled my heart.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Where did you get it from?)]

    I saw it when I was eating a big bad one. It hurt a lot, so

    Come to think of it, we talked about the Mother of the Sky and the Screamer during the day.

    While rummaging through bodies to eat their hearts, she found scraps of Screamers in her organs. Based on the debris collected, Ice Horrors had consumed at least ten Screamers.

    ording to the Mother of the Sky, judging by the broken traces, it seemed like they were eaten or ambushed by Ice Horrors before they could self-destruct.

    It had the sameposition as the Screamers that were hunting Winter Walkers.

    Thats why we concluded that StarUnion was conducting secret Screamer development experiments on this. They were probably pitted against powerful predators like Ice Horrors or Winter Walkers to test theirbat effectiveness.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (One more thing.)]

    Yeah?

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Why did you save it?)]

    Thats

    It hesitated without answering my question.

    It would be very difficult if it said it did it out of pity.

    Lets not be anxious.

    Coming out oppressively would only backfire. I waited patiently.

    After a moment of silence, it sent me cautious waves.

    Ive smelled kinship since the first time I saw it.

    [ZZZZ (Kinship?)]

    Yeah. I brought it to prevent it from hurting, because my friend said it hurt.

    Come to think of it, when I was hiding, Number 26 had handed something to the Screamer, instructing it to eat.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Shall we try again?)]

    Upon hearing my waves, Number 26 pulled out its tentacles. Violet threads like those used in its restraint technique emerged from the tentacles, piercing the metal holes on the Screamers back of the head.

    At that moment, the Screamers eyes rolled back, and mechanical sounds emanated from its mouth.

    [PS-111. Confirming an increase in power recharge rate from 5% to 6%.]

    Feeding the sick makes them feel better.

    Seeing that, I roughly understood the situation.

    Bubble amoeba or Sea Demon genes must have been incorporated.

    With that in mind, I could understand the Screamers characteristic of being able to survive even with just its head.

    The two organisms resembling slimes can manipte and shrink important organs like the brain as they please. Thanks to this feature, Sea Demons can survive even with just one-thousandth of their body.

    Only the necessary organs were shrunk and ced inside the face.

    If this Screamer had genes from a bubble amoeba or Sea Demon, it wouldnt be impossible.

    This also exins why Number 26, with apletely differentmunication system, canmunicate with the Screamer.

    [Power recharge rate at 10%. Will be utilized for biological function enhancement.]

    When he spoke, I felt a very faint flow of waves. Perhaps to Number 26, it sounded much more indistinct than what Adhai would say.

    Considering that Number 26, a fellow who was in a lot of pain and couldnt speak properly, would have felt much more pity for the screamer.

    Its deeply empathetic.

    Its a much better situation than I feared, but there are still problems.

    The same thing might happen again when encountering new Screamer types with bubble amoeba or Sea Demon genes.

    Number 26, understanding the meaning of my words, puffed up in surprise. Looking at his white body, it seemed unlikely that it would make another impromptu move.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (That should be fine.)]

    As a finishing touch, I sent a warning wave.

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (I have a responsibility to protect my family. Youll understand my intentions too.)]

    Yeah, I understand.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (When you see a new friend, let me know. Got it?)]

    I got it

    Seeing the dejected Number 26, I felt uneasy, but it couldnt be helped. Its never good to have such surprises while fighting dozens or hundreds of Screamers.

    Having concluded my warning to Number 26, I turned to the Screamer ring at me.

    Now, how do we deal with this next?

    I picked up the Screamers head with my fingers.

    Moments ago, it had metal legs attached to its face, but now its appearance had changed. Tentacles and protrusions that hadnt been visible before were now sticking out around its cheeks and jaw. Furthermore, the broken tubes had flesh protruding from them, transforming into a semi-organic form.

    Is it a self-recovery function?

    The one who just absorbed the psychic power from Number 26 was likely using the energy to regenerate his body.

    [Threat detected from hostile organism. Initiating counterattack.]

    Hey! Big guy! Hes one of my kind! Dont hurt him!

    As the entity transformed into an even more grotesque form and resisted by poking my fingers with its metallic legs, Number 26 intervened.

    Main controllersmand confirmed. Ceasing counterattack.

    The Screamer immediately halted its resistance upon Number 26s words. It seemed to recognize Number 26 as its superior, possibly due to shared gic material.

    Hey, buddy. You should listen to the big guy. Got it?

    [Ressifying hostile organism. Ressification to sub-controller statusplete. ess to the internal database granted.]

    With the adjustments made, the Screamer folded its metallic legs and calmly looked up at me.

    [Pleased to meet you, sub-controller. How may I assist you?]

    Originally, my n was to scold Number 26 and then devour the Screamer. However, witnessing the creature obediently pleading to Number 26 altered my thoughts slightly.

    I could extract some information.

    I activated one of the functions of my mimicry organ, the voice imitation feature.

    Who are you?

    [My code name is PS-111. I am a PS-grade intermediate terminal modelmanding lower-grade Screamers on behalf of the main controller.]

    The head-only Screamer, PS-111, served as a sort of fieldmander.

    Surprising. Screamers usually dont havemanders, right?

    [That was the case until the old model. The previous main controller, Pira Eleven, identified the limitations of that model and, under the approval of the Supreme Controller, began development of a new model called the Mutant Screamer.]

    Limitations, you say?

    [The vulnerable durability of organic entities synchronized with Screamer machines, low resistance to psychic power, andck of tactical thinking.]

    The three points he mentioned were persistent weaknesses of Screamers.

    It was a system-constrained issue, but this is reality.

    Using Hulk mutants as material could drastically enhance the performance of non-mechanicalponents. Additionally, bestowing psychic power abilities was a bonus.

    The issue lies in tactical thinking, but its not iprehensible.

    Freethinking and action are not permitted for Screamer units resembling punitive units. Therefore, the approach of selectively integrating higher-grade entities to assist was chosen.

    Indeed. So, youre amander-grade Mutant Screamer.

    [Thats correct.]

    Pira Eleven, you said? Why was the main controller changed?

    [Internal data damage caused by an attack from the 7th-grade hazard creature Ice Horror led to system initialization. The new main controller registered at that time is the 8th-grade Sea Demon.]

    Hearing that, I had a hunch.

    The psychic drill fired by Number 26.

    When that immensely powerful psychic attack tore apart the internals of the Ice Horror, he likely received the aftermath.

    I asked again.

    Lets move on to the next question. Exin the genes in your body. What organisms do they belong to, and who manipted them?

    [The genes applied to my body]

    PS-111 listed the biological information contained within his body meticulously. As expected, there was a small amount of Sea Demon genes included.

    Cold-blooded genes are unexpected.

    The Screamer I metst time and this one both had a significant proportion of cold-blooded genes. While its true that beneficial traits can be obtained from cold-blooded organisms, they arent overwhelmingly powerful. Theres no need to include them in Hulk mutant materials for Screamers.

    Is there something I dont know?

    While pondering internally, the Screamers speech continued.

    [Five types of genes have been injected into my body. Gic maniption was handled by research supervisor Cloe Garamelda and senior researcher Lee Zhao.]

    Wait. Garamelda and Zhao? Are they from the MegaCorp families?

    [Yes. Both researchers are affiliated with Noble Capital and Prime Capital within MegaCorp.]

    Upon hearing his words, I realized that my conjecture was correct.

    The overlords of StarUnion, Garamelda of MegaCorps Noble Capital, and Zhao of Prime Capital. They are individuals who could be considered the leaders of MegaCorp and StarUnion, respectively. Its a situation where the leaders of warring factions are colluding.

    Most likely a yer.

    I looked down at PS-111 lying in my palm.

    Ive obtained almost all the information I can from him, and only the most important question remains. Depending on his answer, Ill decide his fate.

    Is there a possibility that the main controller, Pira Eleven, could seize control?

    [Its impossible until the system is reset to unlock the firewall.]

    Can other intermediate terminals change the main controller like you?

    If this is possible, I can leverage Screamers made by enemies. It would be helpful in hunting Gagons and would provide significant power when fighting yers in the future.

    However, PS-111s response dashed my expectations.

    [Control changes due to damage are no longer possible.]

    Why is that?

    [Before I broke free from Pira Elevens control, I reported the possibility of this error. By now, the vulnerable part of the control should have been fixed.]

    This means that its impossible for Number 26 to take control of another Screamer like PS-111.

    In that case, is it advantageous to devour him?

    As if sensing my thoughts, the entity on my palm added further remarks.

    [However, I can ess the circuits used by lower-grade entities, S models.]

    Does that mean you can spy on other Screamers operations?

    [Not only spying, but limited control over S models is also possible.]

    Limited control?

    [You can physically contact the Screamer machine to seize control.]

    The Screamer machine refers to the scorpion or spider-shaped mechanical device that encases the biological material used to create Screamers. True to their nickname as StarUnions punitive force, all bodily activities of Screamers are controlled by the Screamer machine.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 176

    Chapter 176

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Awakened Adhai and the Mother of the Sky, with only their heads remaining, stared nkly at the Screamer, PS-111.

    Look, everyone! My new friend!

    [Pleased to meet you, wild creatures. I am PS-111. I serve as the main controller, Sea Demon, and the sub-controller, Unidentified Hostile Organism. Please take care of me.]

    Dont call me Unidentified Hostile Organism, just call me Aimo for short.

    [Confirmed. Changing the code name of the sub-controller.]

    Perched atop Number 26, the Mother of the Sky, seeing the human woman introducing herself, opened her mouth in astonishment. Her gaze wavered and then turned toward me. It was a look asking if what she thought was correct.

    Yes, what youre thinking is correct.

    While the eagle-faced Mother of the Sky was surprised, Adhai kept nodding as if something was odd.

    Adult Me Question

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (What happened?)]

    That Speech Strange

    Adhai immediately noticed that the wavelengths emitted by PS-111 were awkward.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Because it is injured.)]

    Injured.

    [ZZZ (Probably.)]

    I dont know what PS-111 originally looked like. The Screamer I hunted was a lower model, the S model, so it probably looked different from its original form.

    Whatever it was, if only the head remains, it should be considered fatal.

    Of course, PS-111 is unlikely to feel pain due to injuries. Thanks to its Sea Demon genes, it can relocate vital organs. From the outside, it may seem like only the head remains, but inside, there are the brain and basic digestive organs.

    However, exining this to Adhai would be tooplicated, so I decided to skip it.

    That Injury Serious Pity

    [Since youre older, please help it more.]

    Me Older

    Though I didnt ask directly, its highly probable. In the game setting, Screamers dont live more than a year.

    PS-111 is a new model Screamer, but even so, the likelihood of a long lifespan is low. At best, it wouldnt havested more than a few years.

    Anyway, having heard my words, Adhai, whether it was fascinating to see a younger organism than herself or not, ran eagerly toward Number 26 and PS-111.

    [Based on the external analysis of the wildlife, Green Gagon matches 78%.]

    Little one, befriend your friend.

    Sick child Pity Help

    Friends should also get along with little ones. Got it?

    [In ordance with the main controllersmand, ressify the grade of Green Gagon (78%) to sub-controller 2 Little One. Please take care of me. Little One.]

    Sick child Speech Strange Me Education Possible

    Yeah! Little One is nice!

    Thank you for Little Ones support.

    The sight of three monsters brimming with personality chatting amicably with each other was quite intriguing. Especially Adhai, who seemed quite different from her usual self when with the Mother of the Sky. She was showing a warm attitude towards PS-111.

    Is she feeling a sense of responsibility for seeing a younger creature than herself?

    Or perhaps shes judging based on simr physical defects to hers.

    As I watched the creatures getting along well, the Mother of the Sky called me over.

    Whats going on? Taming a Screamer, was that even possible?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (I didnt do it.)]

    She seemed puzzled by the existence of friendly Screamers. It wasnt unreasonable for her reaction since they always appeared as enemies in the game. I would have likely thought simrly if I hadnt seen it myself.

    I summarized the recent events for her.

    Did Number 26 say that its a new mutant Screamer, and it took over its control?

    [ZZZ (Yes.)]

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (A Screamer using psychic powers. Just as you said. Someone seems to bepensating for the Screamers weaknesses.)]

    Agreeing with my inference, she sighed.

    Clo Garamelda, perhaps. I have a rough idea who it might be.

    Probably 12th. Among the Mega Corp rankers, theres a yer who focuses on weapon development. They used to supply weapons to yers hostile to us as a specialist in rare equipment crafting.

    Last time, Murial mentioned two sponsors. One named Jason, a cult yer, and the other was unknown, right?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Thats right.)]

    You spected that the unknown might be from the Garamelda faction.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Are you saying theyre the same person?)]

    She nodded.

    If its a ranker with expertise in equipment crafting, there are only two. Since the 1st has already died, the remaining one is only 12th.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (I heard the 12th is a man, though?)]

    In the game, you can choose your gender. We cant be sure if its true.

    [True.]

    Its a valid point. Just because its like that in the game doesnt mean its the same here.

    I need to be careful. Its been over six months since I arrived in this world, but sometimes I still rely on game logic.

    Keep all possibilities open. Stay vignt.

    With that resolve, I continued my conversation with the Mother of the Sky.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (If theres a connection between the one helping Murial and the Screamer developer, that one bes even more important.)]

    Well have to investigate further to see if thats really the case.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (If it was the former main controller of PS-111, Pyra Eleven, they might know something more.)]

    Capturing Pyra Eleven, the former main controller of PS-111, might yield more information.

    If its just the timing thats the issue.

    Whether to capture and tame the ck Gagon, or to do it beforehand, is a dilemma. If the new model Screamers have a connection with yers, then theirmander, Pyra Eleven, would likely be the same. He could observe our fight with the ck Gagon and transmit that information to the yers.

    But its not easy to go after the Screamers first either.

    Normally,unching a preemptive strike on Pyra Eleven would have been advantageous, but the situation isnt good.

    Weve already confirmed that the Gagons are acting abnormally. If we rashly go after the Screamers and get caught by the Gagon herd, theres a risk of forming a double front. Based on thebat capabilities of the Screamers weve encountered so far and the information provided by PS-111, its evident that they are formidable foes. They may be weaker than the ck Gagon, but theyre still not easy opponents.

    Fighting both of those enemies simultaneously would be suicide.

    Should I go for the fishing vige? No, theres still too little information.

    This part, I think I should decide after extracting more information about Pyra Eleven from PS-111.

    Lets finish preparing for the Apex hunt until were certain.

    Capturing predators on this and obtaining useful traits from them will ensure smoothbat against whoever we face.

    Additionally, unlocking the Mother of the Skys Wendigo transformation ability.

    As I organized my thoughts internally, Number 26 and PS-111 approached us.

    [Main controller, I have a question. What species are the wild animals next to you?]

    Wild animals

    [Gagon-like psychic powers detected. Presumed to be highly intelligent beings.]

    Friend. This ones a middle baby.

    [Information uncertain. No results found for the creature named Middle baby.]

    While the Mother of the Sky, treated like a wild animal, looked bewildered, I briefly exined her to PS-111.

    Shes a Wolf elevated to divine status, so she has transformation abilities.

    [Is this a mutant Wolf with manifesting deviant traits? Updating internal database.]

    The Middle One is a great one who handles bad guys well. Get along.

    [Ressifying to Sub-controller 3 Middle One. Nice to meet you, Middle One.]

    Y-yeah.

    The surreal situation of the monsters and synthetics conversing, facilitated by C Demon, seemed bewildering to the Mother of the Sky. Ignoring her attitude, the one creature and one synthetic who had finished their casual introductions headed towards Adhai.

    [A special metal device has been detected from the little one.]

    Dont touch that. Its brought by the big one.

    Adult Friend Both Avable Sick child Confirmed Desire?

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Absorbing that device will help with quick recovery)]

    The three monsters, huddled together, started chattering with signals and mental waves. Seeing them seemingly getting along caught the Mother of the Sky off guard.

    You, surprisingly, are good at collecting monsters.

    [ZZZ (Yeah.)]

    I thought I was used to this kind of thing.

    If another yer saw thisbination, theyd go crazy. She murmured softly, but I didnt bother replying.

    The three of us who had been talking for about an hour fell asleep again. The Mother of the Sky, perhaps exhausted from consecutive battles since morning, quickly dozed off too.

    The only beings awake in the nest were me and the headless Screamer, PS-111. It swam through the swamp that surrounded the nest and approached me.

    [Amorph. Arent you going to sleep?]

    I have things to think about.

    Earlier, I had tried to look into the newly opened Trait Enhancement system before bed. Since Number 26 had slipped out of the nest without my knowledge, I decided to check it out now.

    After sending PS-111 away, as I tried to disy a translucent textbox, it floated in front of me.

    Do you have something to say?

    [Yes. ording to the information obtained from the Middle One, this 70L-grade Tactical Backpack belongs to Amorph. Is that correct?]

    It pointed with its small metal leg to the backpack containing the equipment I secured from Muriel. Inside the bag that Adhai usually carries on his back are the Divine Spectre and eight Blood Rivers, the only-grade weapons of the Star Union.

    The Devourers Amorphous Polyhedron obtained by killing yers and devouring unique-grade equipment has the effect of converting them into unique traits. Thanks to this, I currently possess the trait Scepter of the Gods after absorbing the cults orbital weapon, the Brain God.

    Since the Divine Spectre and Blood Rivers could also be used for consumption, I carry them around.

    Thats mine indeed. Why do you ask?

    [I need three Blood Rivers metal mechanical devices inside. If you absorb those devices, you can expect a significant increase inbat power.]

    Absorb?

    [Entities above mid-terminals are granted extensive self-recovery authorization to respond to concentrated attacks from enemies. Therefore, when the necessary materials are secured, they can be used for recovery.]

    Listening to its words, I remembered the Screamer that killed the Winter Walker on the ground. It tried to replenish its needed energy by eating the corpse.

    Is it possible to consume equipment, not just meat or psychic powers?

    PS-111 seemed to be able to consume metal, weapons, equipment, and so on, simr to me. Perhaps its superior, Pyra Eleven, also possesses the same ability.

    Why bring up such important information now?

    [ording to the information obtained from the main controller Sea Demon and the Middle One, this location is not safe. To protect the main controller,bat functions need to be restored as soon as possible.]

    I nced sharply at PS-111. It didnt seem like it intentionally omitted important information when I looked at it.

    Even if it wanted to hide it, it wouldnt have brought it up now.

    It didnt seem like it was lying, but I couldnt just hand over the Blood Rivers. With no idea how powerful it would be after absorbing the powerful unique-grade equipment, and with only eight Blood Rivers in my possession

    Three of them would be practically half.

    Since I have to use them in the fight against the ck Gagon, I need to make a careful decision.

    As I pondered what to do, I felt a very faint vibration from the auxiliary organ under my chin.

    What was that just now?

    A vibrationing from a ce quite far from here. It felt different from an earthquake.

    With a bad feeling, I flipped over and linked the auxiliary device to the nest.

    My senses spread from the surface of the swamp under the nest to the entire underground space. Cold walls of ice, chilly air flowing through the passages, and pits formed by the sh between me and the Ice Horror.

    As my senses, monitoring the vast underground space beneath the ice ins, licked it like a tongue, I caught another vibration.

    With a thud, the ice and rock piles blocking the passage disappeared in an instant. And there, followed by the flow of psychic powers and the lingering scent of metal weapons.

    Realizing what this meant, I sprang to my feet.

    Enemies!

    Multiple psychic power users had entered this underground space.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 177

    Chapter 177

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Could it be Gagon?

    I sensed a faint psychic power emanating from the intruder. However, if it was Gagon, they wouldnt move this quietly. To investigate further, Iy back down on the nest.

    Confirming that the sub-device under my chin was linked to the nest, I focused my senses on a specific point. Leveraging all my physical senses, I poured them into the source of the vibration.

    Sound, smell, the flow of special energy. Thanks to the nest and its various features, my enhanced sub-device absorbed these three elements. The refined information sent by the sub-device was quickly interpreted by my brain.

    A refined footprint. Military. Metallic scent. Slightly different. Tools made of some special alloy mixed with metals. And concealed psychic power.

    Putting it all together, there was only one answer.

    Cult regr army, Vanguard Division.

    Though the distance made it uncertain, they seemed to be skilled individuals. Judging from their equipment and movements alone, they surpassed the Mock Combat Unit we encountered at the Cult sanctuaryst time.

    Guardians of the Temple, or perhaps the Eye of Providence Priests. Moreover, the one leading them

    The one who extracts psychic power when destroying obstacles blocking the passage. An extraordinary individual.

    Initially, I thought they were using psychic power tools to clear the blocked passage, but upon closer inspection, that wasnt the case. They were concealing their psychic power, only exerting it briefly when necessary.

    The most proficient in psychic power among those Ive seen.

    Among the beings Ive encountered so far, there are only two who handle psychic power the best: Number 26 and Code ck, the shadow of Yujin who fought in the TNC Special Trade Hub.

    But that being alone surpasses both of them easily.

    At that level, theyre almost ck Gagon tier.

    Cult elite troops that include formidable individuals enough to raise my vignce. As they gathered and split into three groups at the crossroads, there was no room for relief. All three groups were heading towards the nest.

    Theyre looking for us.

    Otherwise, they wouldnt bother breaking through blocked ice passages to move.

    What is happening?

    PS-111 asked me, perhaps sensing my changed demeanor.

    There are Cult intruders. They seem to being this way based on the direction.

    I dont detect anything, but if what youre saying is true, theyre probably a Cult group entrenched in ck Gagons territory.Eugene

    What?

    That Cult group arrived on this 29 days ago. Currently, their camp is within Gagons territory.

    Hearing that, I felt my heart sink.

    To a Gagon, their territory is a kind of hunting ground. Its not only about hunting prey but also where adults provide hunting education to hatchlings, so its crucial.

    Allowing Cultists entry into such an important ce implies collusion between Gagon and that Cult group.

    An unidentified Cult powerhouse, and a ck Gagon, who holds a high position even among the Apex. Fighting against both simultaneously would result in defeat given my current condition.

    Could it be that ck Gagon sent the Cultists here?

    [It could be, or it might not be.]

    What does that mean?

    Upon my inquiry about the vague response, the individual began to exin in detail.

    [ording to reports from other intermediary terminals, the Gagon group is currently in a state of division.]

    Division? Wait, could it be a leadership session?

    [Yes. The second-ranked White Gagon is challenging the ck Gagon.]

    The White Gagon is challenging? Thats odd. Unless it has evolved into a ck Gagon, it could never win.

    The power difference between White and ck Gagons is like heaven and earth. The ck Gagon is so powerful that it can easily kill five White Gagons rushing at it simultaneously. Other Gagons also know this gap, so until the White Gagon evolves into a ck Gagon, they would never follow it.

    [That would be the case normally, but the White Gagon is leading multiple Gagon groups and continuing the challenge.]

    Lets skip over that for now. Whats the connection between the session battle and the Cult group?

    [The second-ranked group is hostile towards the Cult group. Gagons supporting the challenger have also been observed attacking the Cult.]

    I see.

    Listening to their words, I think I understand the situation. Although its a confusing situation, it seems the intruders and the ck Gagon have an ambiguous rtionship.

    So the ck Gagon isnt aiding the Cult. Theyre just together for some reason, not as closely connected as one might think.

    [Thats correct. The Cult groups also havent taken actions supporting the ck Gagon.]

    However, even with that said, we cannot be certain. Now that were exposed, the fact that were in a dangerous situation doesnt change.

    After disconnecting from the nest link, I woke everyone who was sleeping. I exined the situation to them, looking tired.

    Cult warriors? Why are they here?

    [Reason unknown]

    If a ck Gagon-tier adversary is involved, it wont be easy to handle. We need to get out of here.

    The Mother of the Sky, after hearing the situation, suggested leaving the nest.

    Her words, indicating caution, suggested that the Cult was more than just priests, and the exceptional Cult warriors who apanied them numbered in the tens. So, they likely meant to retreat first and assess the situation before fighting.

    Fellow smell simr danger very danger.

    Adhai, sensing the gradually approaching psychic powers, agreed with The Mother of the Skys suggestion. The sight of his four-horned head twitching looked quite anxious.

    PS-111, do you have any information about the Cult groups capabilities?

    It was handled by other intermediary terminals, so I have limited information. Based on the insufficient data, its presumed to be a psychic power user surpassing the Cult Empires priests. Therefore, I rmend fleeing.

    PS-111, floating head and all, also opted for escape.

    We have to teach those bastards who endanger families a lesson!

    Only Number 26 had a different opinion, suggesting not to flee but to stand and fight.

    Hes someone with a strong sense of responsibility to protect his family. Hell likely sacrifice himself to protect those here.

    Each of them looked at me after expressing their opinions. It implied a silent agreement to follow the decision I made.

    What should we do?

    Even though there are many suggestions for fleeing, I cant make a rash decision.

    Theyre tracking our position from a long distance away, even underground. Seeing that, its clear they have some means of tracking us.

    Even if we flee to a different location, it wont help.

    Its not safe to run away until we remove their tracking means or hinder their movement. What if they n to drive us into a trap? Then wed be walking right into the enemys trap.

    Besides that, theres another issue.

    Adhai and The Mother of the Sky are vulnerable to the cold. If they go out on the surface and get caught in another snowstorm, theirbat abilities will undoubtedly decrease.

    On the other hand, fighting them here has its pros and cons.

    The advantage is that since Ive built the nest, I can fully utilize its characteristics in battle. Just like when I fought with Muriel, I can fight with the support of the nest.

    Furthermore, the others are familiar with the geography around here, so they wont be greatly hindered inbat. Plus, the pitch-ck darkness down here is a bonus.

    But there are disadvantages too.

    Firstly, its difficult for me to use my Bone Beast and King of Monsters transformation abilities in underground spaces. Unless its a very spacious cavern like where I fought the Ice Horror, my movements will be significantly restricted.

    And because of the confrontation with them, the ice ceiling is in an unstable state.

    If we receive more shocks here, this frozen in above could copse entirely. In my transformed state, I could withstand a copse of an ice ceiling several hundred meters thick, but the others couldnt.

    No, wait.

    Suddenly, a good idea came to mind.

    After quickly brainstorming and nning, I finally made a decision.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Lets capture them here.)]

    Are you sure about this?

    The Mother of the Skys telepathic message was filled with deep concern. She also knows that this situation is dire, so its natural for her to worry.

    After meeting everyones gaze once, I quickly exined the n I had just formted.

    Wow! Hunting with the big guy after a long time! Its gonna be fun!

    Agreed. Exciting.

    That devilish personality of yours hasnt changed.

    Its an interesting n, but its not without significant risks. We need ways to increase the chances of sess.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (I have something to say about that. Follow me).]

    I grabbed PS-111 by the finger. Then, after picking up the backpack with weapons, I stepped out of the nest.

    You mentioned earlier that you want a Blood River Feeder, right?

    [Yes. With three, I can restore and enhancebat functions.]

    I took out one inactive Blood River Feeder from the backpack.

    [I find it hard to trust youpletely. And this Blood River Feeder is something I need too.]

    But one is not enough. To create a body that reflects the characteristics of the Blood River Feeder, arge amount of organic resources is needed.

    Cant those resources be provided by living organisms?

    [I dont understand what you mean.]

    Instead of answering, I activated the Tooth Fairy Nest. Small, carnivorous fleas crawled out from the holes around my waist and between the tes on my back.

    Ill provide the resources needed for bodily transformation.

    [An incredibly efficient energy supply solution,]

    PS-111 eximed in admiration.

    I handed PS-111 the Blood River Feeder.

    Its mouth widened like that of a jawless person. Thin tubes protruding from its mouth wrapped around the Blood River Feeder before pulling it inward.

    [Chirp, Blood River, absorptionplete, chirp, organic matter for body reconstruction, chirp, absorption initiated, chirp.]

    The body of PS-111, which had preyed upon Blood River and Tooth Fairies, contorted.

    Watching it transform into a much more grotesque form than before, I smiled.

    A series of groups were moving within the icy structure filled with cold air.

    Despite the extremely low temperature, they were only wearing bodysuits covered in scales. The reason they only wore lightweight armor in such a harsh environment was that they were psychokinesis power users of high caliber.

    If there were anyone sensitive to psychokic powers around, they would notice a faint violet aura surrounding their entire bodies.

    Ivory-colored bodysuits, various horns protruding from the temples.

    The identities of those walking through the frozen underground passages were the Temple Guardians of the Cult Empire.

    Even within the Cult Empire, only proven skilled warriors could join the Temple Guardians. Their role was to bolster the factors or eliminate threats to the Empires security. Besides the Temple Guardians, the only group with military might surpassing them was the Eyes of Prophecy, a subsidiary organization of the Prophets Council.

    They were formidable opponents, to say the least. Probably within the top five most dangerous adversaries the Temple Guardians had ever faced. But all the cultists present were prepared to fight to the death.

    Alia, does Jason distrust us?

    Idle chatter during the mission is forbidden.

    When the leader with yak horns, Alia, pointed this out in a cold voice, her subordinates fell silent. While it wasnt the attitude to adopt during a mission, Alia didnt bother to mention it.

    She harbored considerable dissatisfaction with the situation herself.

    Knowing that the Three Devils are dangerous, but

    Since arriving in the underground with guidance from Gagon, Jason had been visibly tense to a degree she hadnt seen before. Even she, his exclusive bodyguard and lover, had never seen Jason like this before.

    That demeanor didnt sit well with the Temple Guardians. It seemed as if they felt Jason was doubting their abilities.

    The Temple Guardians were a group that hunted monsters that posed a threat to the Empire. Given the hundreds, even thousands, of monsters theyve captured, they could be considered experts in monster hunting.

    Of course, their foes were the toughest of the tough, having destroyed Empire Fortresses and Vanguard Detachments. They were probably among the top five most dangerous adversaries the Temple Guardians had ever faced.

    But every cultist present was ready to fight to the death.

    Jason couldnt possibly be unaware of that fact.

    Not only that, but her lover had made an iprehensible request to the Temple Guardians.

    Should he seem likely to lose the fight,mit suicide?

    He seemed to have no doubt whatsoever that the Temple Guardians would lose against the creature.

    On top of that, he even instructed them on specific suicide methods. He insisted that if they were to die fighting the creature, they must never leave even a trace of their heads behind.

    He even went as far as to tell them to concentrate their psychokic powers in their brains and detonate them if they felt like they were going to die.

    Why on earth?

    In cult society, suicide is generally taboo unless its for a specific purpose of self-sacrifice. Taking ones life for trivial reasons is seen as a rebellion against the great principle.

    I asked separately via telepathy, but he didnt exin. He would simply tell them tomit suicide since they wouldnt understand anyway.

    When the most honorable priest in the Empire behaves like that, its only natural for the esteemed Temple Guardians to lose morale.

    Even though they were divided into three groups of twelve each due to the fork in the road, the dissatisfaction among the members didnt easily dissipate. Though Alia warned briefly, the members still harbored animosity toward Jasons rude behavior.

    [Alia! Movement detected ahead!]

    At that moment, the scout shouted loudly. Upon this, Alia and the twelve guardians drew their weapons.

    Silent but swift in their strides, they were conversing incessantly in the mental realm connected through telepathic links.

    Jaxtal, Nesien will take care of the ceiling. We might be ambushed from above.

    Starbran, Bilone will cover the front, while I and Brentz will take the rear.

    Theren, something is disrupting the telepathic link. Check it out.

    Got it.

    While regr warriors could use telepathic links, they relied on helmets designed to amplify psychokic powers for this purpose.

    However, the Temple Guardians were trained tomunicate with each other without any special tools. This was to avoid exposing vulnerabilities duringbat.

    With wless coordination, they entered a significantlyrge chamber. Apart from the fact that there were four paths leading out, there didnt seem to be anything special about it.

    Which way should we go?

    We cant determine the shape of the underground chambers due to interference.

    Looks like the enemy is nearby. Everyone, stay alert.

    With weapons at the ready, they proceeded cautiously, scanning their surroundings. As they crossed the chamber and approached the intersection of the four paths, Alia sensed something amiss.

    Hmm?

    It felt qualitatively different from before. She looked around, but besides the ice and rocks turned ck by the darkness, there were no other notable features.

    However, as a seasoned warrior, Alia pondered why she felt that way. And soon enough, she arrived at an answer.

    A smell!

    There was a different scent in this chamberpared to the ice corridors they had traversed thus far. It indicated that something unknown was mixed in the air.

    Realizing this fact, Alia urgently sent a telepathicmand.

    Activate Dragon Scale Armor!

    Just as Alia was about to give themand, dozens of movements were detected around the ground where they stood. And from beneath the ground, creatures the size of cultists faces suddenly emerged.

    Its an ambush!

    Everyone, respond!

    The members immediately counterattacked towards the flying small creatures. Spears and longswords struck the creatures as arrows and bullets pierced through their heads. In the blink of an eye, dozens of creatures were swiftly dealt with by their lightning-fast response.

    What are these?

    Jason said theyre offspring of the three-headed demons.

    Upon hearing this, one of the guardians picked up a creatures corpse. The creature resembled a cockroach with a ck carapace, with human-like teeth protruding densely around its face.

    Utterly dreadful appearance

    As he was about to curse, he stopped speaking. He had seen something behind him through the shared Soul Link vision.

    Beside his shoulder.

    Kikik.

    In the ce where there should have been only deep darkness, there was a face as white as snow.

    Watch out!

    Huh?

    Resembling a human womans face, it opened its mouth wide like a snake. Inside its bright red mouth were hundreds, if not thousands, of teeth densely packed.

    Then, the sound of bones crunching in his ear. That was his final memory.

    Brentz is down!

    Initiate counterattack!

    The creature, with a giant bug-like body attached to the head of a human woman, began biting Brentzs head and started to flee. With eerie movements, crawling on multiple legs, it disappeared into one of the four corridors.

    Kikik, kikik, kikik, kikik, kikik, kikik, kikik.

    Beyond the dim corridor, only the mockingughter of the creature echoed ominously.

    Damn it! Were going after it! Clear the area!

    Uh, Alia? Bilone is nowhere to be seen.

    What?

    Upon hearing this, Alia hastily checked the Soul Link.

    It was as the member said.

    One of the remaining eleven Soul Links was moving abnormally fast.

    While Brentz was under attack, Bilone, who was guarding the front, had been kidnapped.

    No way?

    The three-headed demon they were targeting.

    One of the demons associates was among them.

    In this frozenbyrinth, they were not alone.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 178

    Chapter 178

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Just now, what was that?

    There wasnt just one demon with three heads, was there?

    In a short time, two people fell victim to unidentified enemies. Since they were prepared to target only one of the three-headed demons, there was no avoiding the shock.

    You stored information about that creature, didnt you?

    One member nodded silently in response to Alias telepathy.

    Rather than fighting cults or regr forces of other factions, the Temple Guardians primarily fought against monstrous beingsrger than them, or wicked entities like the followers of the Vortex Order. It wasmon for them to fight beings from other dimensions without leaving behind corpses or traces when they died.

    Therefore, members of the Temple Guardians are trained in special psychic power techniques.

    One of these techniques is called Memory Storage Technique, simr to the ability of memory transference. It involves digitizing memories that are perceived or felt, akin to the ability of memory transference. Even if someone is ambushed, if a fellow member trained in memory storage technique records it andmunicates it to other members, the same situation can be prevented from recurring.

    Everyone, stand by.

    I will transmit the stored memories.

    While other members maintained vignce, a member trained in memory storage technique sent the image of what happened to Brentz to Alia.

    In front of Alia, who received the memory information through the telepathic link, the recent events unfolded like a video.

    Brentz picking up the corpse of a baby monster from the ground. Between his legs, something vague could be seen amidst the mist.

    It appeared to be a womans face, as if a drop of white paint had fallen on ck paper.

    However, it wasnt the typical appearance of a human that she knew. The pupils and sclera were all ck without distinction, and the lips were as red as if soaked in blood.

    Except for the eyes, it was clearly a beautiful face, but Alia felt only creepiness and difort.

    Though it resembled a human in appearance up to the head, it was not so below the neck. It was simr in form to a spider. Of course, this was a metaphor; in reality, it was a truly horrific sight.

    She, or rather it, seemed to have been hiding beneath the ice floor, low to the ground. It had waited in ambush until the members were off guard.

    The pale face of the monster emerging from the ground quickly reached behind Brentzs ear. Brentz is still unaware of the creatures presence.

    And the monster opened its blood-red mouth.

    Its jaw split open, stretching wider than the length of its own face. Inside were triangr teeth resembling saw des, densely packed.

    The creature with the grotesque mouth mped down on Brentzs neck.

    Blood gushed out, and his neck was severed very easily. The creature held Brentzs severed neck and quickly retreated.

    It was only then that the members, btedly aiming their weapons, were seen. Amidst the frantic movements of the user of the memory storage technique, Alia noticed something.

    Bilones figure was nowhere to be seen.

    Amidst the distraction caused by the spider monster killing Brentz, another monster must have abducted Bilone.

    Then, the spider monster disappeared into the darkness of the corridor, blocking attacks from the members, along with Brentzs severed neck.

    The video ended there.

    Alia, experiencing a headache brought on by the side effects of essing the information stored in the memory storage technique, pondered.

    Those who just attacked are definitely not to be underestimated.

    The appearance of the two monsters was clearly coordinated. While the baby monsters drew attention, the one with a human head quietly lurked, waiting for the moment when they let their guard down.

    Another one waited, seizing the moment when the members attention shifted elsewhere.

    In other words, the intelligence of the monsters the Temple Guardians faced was quite high. Their exceptional physical abilities were just a bonus.

    These fragments came off the creature during the attack.

    This is

    The tissue brought by the member was so bizarrely fused with ck flesh onto what seemed like metal shards.

    A fusion of metal and organic matter.

    Not many entities have the capability to create such items.

    StarUnion.

    Beforeing here, she had heard rumors that the three-headed demon might be rted to the StarUnion.

    The three-headed demon was said to be a new biological weapon created by the StarUnion, which escaped from their control during experiments and infiltrated the territory of the Cult Empire. Recently, there had even been armed conflicts between the Empire and the StarUnion attributed to the three-headed demon.

    No, thats an exaggeration.

    Alia shook her head, dismissing the fantasies in her mind.

    Lets think about its identity after we capture it.

    After sharing the information created through memory storage technique with the members, Alia reported to Jason via telepathy.

    Brentz and Bilone died because of it?

    Brentz fell in battle, and Bilone was captured by it while moving. We should track her down now

    No. Tracking is prohibited. Bilones fate is sealed anyway. You might just end up annihted if you follow. Return here.

    Excuse me?

    Just knowing that its not alone is a huge gain. Soe back.

    Bilone was still connected via soul link. They couldnt just abandon her, waiting for the rescue from other members.

    Shes ourrade! We cant just leave her knowing shes still alive.

    I dont want to lose you, Alia.

    What on earth is it? Doesnt the High Priest know? Why wont he tell us?

    Jason fell silent under Alias intense telepathy. The turmoil of his lovers mind was transmitted to her clearly.

    Well, I thought she might break if I talked, but whatever. Just back off after hearing this.

    After confirming the telepathy sent by him, Alia could only be astonished.

    ***

    Hey big baby, our friends here.

    You did well. Hows your body?

    [Kirik,pared to the previous model, has much more organic movement possible, Kirik, but durability is low.

    That part seems like it needs to be supplemented by ingesting metal.

    [Blood Liver, Kirik, if you give me more, its possible.

    No.

    I rejected PS-111s request outright. There were only 7 left, having already consumed one. Even if Blood Liver was the only top-grade equipment that could be mass-produced, it wasnt something you could find just anywhere. It would be even harder to obtain more until we conquered the cores of the StarUnion.

    We need to conserve them since there are many formidable enemies on this.

    Its only been two days since I arrived here, and already encountering an Apex, a ck Gagon-ss skilled Cult, was a situation I faced. No matter how numerous the cards are, theyre insufficient.

    [Request persuasion to the main controller for Amorph.

    If Big One says no, then its a no.

    Even the attempt to ask Number 26 for a favor was thwarted. PS-111 hung its head low.

    Still, gaining a useful ally is a profit.

    I looked at the disappointed creature.

    PS-111s appearance had changed a lot since our first encounter. The human womans face with white skin remained the same, but everything below the neck waspletely different.

    Red tubes and mechanical devices reminiscent of Blood Liver, ck flesh obtained by consuming tooth fairies. Metal and organic matter mixed to create a new body.

    To put it bluntly, it resembled a spider with a human head. There were four pairs of legs on each side of the body, and energy absorption devices from Blood Liver could be seen intermittently between the ck skin on the torso.

    However, few would think of a spider upon seeing it. The eight legs varied in length and shape, more akin to human arms and legs grotesquely elongated.

    Different types of feet were attached to the elongated legs. One type resembled a hook with five fingers, while the other had sickle-shaped ws resembling scythes. Either way, they seemed effective in tearing apart the opponents body.

    Despite the varying lengths of the eight legs, it moved very naturally from the beginning, as if it had always been like that.

    It looks like a creature from some sci-fi movie or horror game.

    From my perspective as a monster enthusiast, its appearance was enough to pass. At least it looked much betterpared to screamers or hulk mutants that seemed to have been made by an ipetent special effects team.

    Im not sure if the Cultists think the same way.

    Most likely, they would have been frightened seeing PS-111 emerge from underground. Looking at the scars on its body, it was evident that the cultists had attacked frantically even in that brief moment.

    Wouldnt eating the remains of the Ice Horror increase its defense?

    [Kirik, theres a 72% chance of that.

    Good.

    Nodding, I epted the Cultists head it offered.

    [Why do you need the head?

    Because it mighte in handyter.

    I put the head with goat horns into my mouth and chewed. The unique fruity taste of the cultists filled my mouth. It was a taste of orange with a hint of lemon added.

    The skin, facial muscles, horns and skull, and even the brain were crushed finely and swallowed down the throat. Along with it, the gicponents of the Cult were quickly absorbed.

    Eventually, one of the human-faced insects on the back of my head rapidly shriveled, and a new face grew in its ce.

    The newly grown face looked exactly like the face of the Cultist I had eaten, except for being very pale, like the other human-faced insects.

    The newly transformed individual opened their eyes. They immediately understood their situation and blinked rapidly.

    [What is this?!

    Quiet.

    The five human-faced insects growing on my head were all bound by my will. If I told them to be quiet, they had to close their mouths, and if I told them to speak, they had to obey.

    In any case, soon youll be able to make as much noise as you want.

    That was the purpose they were brought here for in the first ce.

    I sent a signal to the Adhai hiding nearby.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (Is the enemying?)

    Theyreing The number is Twelve.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Are there any enemies as strong as the small adult?)

    The enemy Strength Small adults Comparison Low.

    The group containing the ck Gagon-ss strongman stopped immediately when another group was attacked. Whether they were about to move again after assessing the situation or were staying put at the rear was unclear.

    The group attacked by PS-111 and the Mother of the Sky also changed their movements. Instead of heading towards my nest, they changed direction and moved towards where the other group was.

    The group acting independently was the only oneing towards us.

    So far, everything is going ording to n.

    By now, the Mother of the Sky should have arrived at the nest with the captives. The n was for PS-111 to cut the throat of one Cultist while she distracted another, allowing her to be kidnapped.

    Our response will depend on how the enemyes out.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Well done. Wait until I give the signal.)

    Understood.

    After ending the conversation with Adhai, I turned my gaze to Number 26, who was beside me.

    It was unleashing the vast psychic power he had umted within his body.

    The massive psychic power emitted by Sea demons affects other psychic beings. Abilities that require precise control of psychic power, such as telepathy or soul links, are restricted.

    Since entering the underground, one of the three divided groups has beening towards us. They aim to remove obstacles that hinder them.

    Of course, its a trap.

    The groupsing here now dont know if theres been a change in the operation. This is because telepathy isnt working smoothly due to the psychic power emitted by Number 26.

    If all the groupsing here are annihted, the enemy will move too.

    There are two actions the enemy might take. Either the Mother of the Sky will rescue the captives shes caught. Or

    Theylle to directly remove the obstacles hindering the flow of psychic power.

    And whatever choice the enemy makes, the oue will be the same.

    Right now, where I stand, in this ce with the hard exoskeleton of the Ice Horror and its remaining bones, I intend to engage in battle with the enemy.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Then lets get ready.)

    Yeah.

    [Understood, Kirik.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (If they suddenly move from their side, proceed as nned.)

    [Confirmed. Dont worry.

    I, along with Number 26 and PS-111, entered the skeleton of the Ice Horror, whichy overturned.

    The intruders who foolishly attacked me.

    Their future holds only two possibilities.

    Either they die and be gic essence, or they be my ves.

    Either way.

    Their essence will be mine, regardless.

    ***

    Is this it? Looks like animal bones.

    Leading the third team of the Temple Guardians, Kryssian marveled at the giant creatures bones.

    The ce they stood was a partially copsed underground chamber. Despite the vast space, the bones of the creature exuded a tremendous presence.

    Psychic power is emanating from inside the bones. Ill investigate.

    Selene, keep sending telepathy to Jason and Alia.

    Understood.

    The Cultists present here couldnt properly use telepathy and soul links. It was because of the massive psychic power emanating from inside the bones.

    Unless Jason and Alia, who were powerful psychic users, directly sent telepathy to them, there was no way tomunicate with the outside.

    Until the cause of this mysterious energy emission was removed.

    What kind of creature emits such powerful psychic power?

    Could it be the carcass of an Arcane Orca?

    A creature that flies through space died under the ice?

    It doesnt look like a fossil.

    While the members were carrying out their mission, Kryssian examined the bones and exoskeleton.

    The light made from glowing gems illuminated the bones. They gleamed white, smooth without a trace of flesh.

    Its strange. If a creature of this size died, the surrounding ecology would have changed.

    Predators approaching to eat the creatures flesh, the massive gases and bacteria from its decay. Yet, none of these traces could be found. The giant creatures bones were clean, as if someone had thoroughly wiped them clean.

    And these traces. There was clearly a battle.

    Kryssian thought as he touched the broken skeleton. There were many oddities to consider if it was assumed that they were defeated and eaten by the triple-headed demon.

    Despite being several timesrger than this giant creature, there were no traces of it entering and leaving this chamber and the connecting passage.

    Since I cant contact the other membersTsk.

    As he clicked his tongue in frustration, he heard the voices of the members who had entered the bones and exoskeleton.

    Kryssian,e over here!

    Whats going on?

    Following the voices of the members, Kryssian ventured inside and was taken aback by the scene before him.

    Between the white skeletal frame, there was a dark purple wall.

    The wall was densely engraved with geometric patterns, and its surface was irregr and very rough. Unlike other bones on the ground, which were different from the wall, sharp spikes of the same dark purple color protruded from the wall. It seemed more like the exoskeleton of some giant creature rather than a wall.

    There, five pale faces were embedded.

    Uhh, pleaplease, help!

    Ahhhh! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!

    It hurts! Its too painful! Somebody, please help!

    Ughhh.

    Get us out!

    Surprisingly, they were all Cultists faces. Although I didnt know how they were embedded in the wall, all five of them were alive. They were pleading for help, shedding tears and snot.

    Despite experiencing countless battles, Kryssian had never seen a wall with only faces embedded in it. The sight was truly something out of a nightmare.

    Whatwhat on earth happened here?

    Thethe psychic power is emanating from behind this wall.

    Darn it! We need to break this wall righthuh? Wait a minute, Ive seen that face somewhere.

    Kryssian thought one of the five faces looked familiar.

    You, are you Brentz?

    WhaKryssian! Its me, Im Brentz!

    He was so pale that I didnt recognize him at first. The one embedded in the wall was Brentz, a Temple Guardian who hade in here with us.

    Werent you supposed to go with Alia? Why are you here?

    I dont know! Damn itI lost consciousness and woke up here!

    Ill get you out right away!

    Kryssian approached the wall with the faces.

    Then, the voice of Sele, who was in charge ofmunication outside the skeleton, was heard.

    Kryssian! We just received a telepathy from Alia! Brentz and Bilone have fallen in battle!

    Huh?

    Hearing that, Kryssian and the members looked at each other.

    Brentz was right in front of them. He was only sticking his head out of the dark purple wall.

    Ignore that voice! Its Alias mistake! Im still alive! Im alive, I tell you!

    Among the Temple Guardians here, Alia holds the highest position. She is the third most skilled member of the Temple Guardians overall.

    Wouldnt such a remarkable person be able to ascertain whether herrades are truly dead or not?

    Kryssian and the members began to distance themselves from the wall bit by bit. Seeing this, Brentz, with only his head protruding from the wall, cursed vehemently.

    You damn Cult bastards! Do you think youll get away unscathed?!

    With tears of blood streaming from his eyes, his cursed appearance was like a demon itself.

    Kryssian was certain. That wasnt Brentz; it was something disguised as Brentz.

    Everyone, be careful

    K-Kryssian!

    Upon hearing the startled voice of the member, Kryssian turned his head to look at him. Like him, the members who had experienced various battles were gaping, as if they had seen something incredibly surprising or frightening.

    Then Kryssian felt a sharp pain. His gaze lowered.

    Huh?

    A spike that should have been fixed to the ground was impaled into his abdomen. His blood and pieces of his entrails flowed over the thick, dark purple spike.

    He felt his strength drain from the legs that were standing on the ground. His wavering gaze turned towards the wall in front of him.

    Faces embedded in the wall came into view.

    They were smiling, their lips stretched upward.

    Hehe, caught you.

    Finally, he realized.

    The face he saw wasnt Brentz. And what was in front of him wasnt a wall either.

    Itthe thing that impaled Kryssian with its hornbegan to reveal itself above the ground.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 179

    Chapter 179

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    HaHaHaHaHaHa.

    Selene, a warrior of the Temple Guardians, ran across the icy passageway.

    Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

    The silence spread throughout the passageway spoke volumes about the fate of herrades.

    Other members of the squad had sacrificed themselves to save her, a practitioner of memory maniption. Despite knowing that the enemy could consume souls.

    I never imagined such monsters existed in this world! She recalled the sight she had just witnessed as she ran.

    White skeletal structures rising several times the height of a cultist. Initially, she mistook them for giant creatures resurrected in skeletal form.

    It didnt take long for her to realize that something had flipped the bones and carapaces of giant creatures. Among the bones stood the heads of herrades.

    The first cultist she spotted was their leader, Krissian. He was impaled on the horn protruding from the monsters head. Below, a pointed snout resembling a theropods was adorned with what she presumed to be the legs of a squad member, twitching.

    The surreal sight left her and herrades staring nkly. Soon, with eerie sounds, the twitching legs that struggled to escape stopped moving.

    It was the sound of theirrades deaths that snapped her and her squad back to reality. The sharp ng of weapons being drawn echoed alongside savage cries.

    It was the sound that apanied every hunt for monsters.

    The Temple Guardians hade prepared with top-of-the-line gear to capture the demon with three heads. Demolishers capable of manipting matter to destroy it, Champion Shieldsbining psychic power and ether for exponential defense, Dragon Scale armors forged from the gagons scales, weapons honed with White Gagon ws, and more.

    As one of the Empires elite forces, the Temple Guardians had the best equipment. And those who wielded that equipment? They were the best of the best.

    If the enemy had been just the bone-flipped monster, they wouldnt have fallen so easily.

    There was one reason the situation unfolded differently from their expectations.

    Contrary to their expectations, it wasnt just one enemy.

    As the giant monster rose to its feet, other monsters hidden beneath it emerged.

    A creature with a human head and a spiders body, and another with a slender tentacle on a pink balloon-like body.

    The spider creature absorbed the Champion Shieldposed ofposite energy. Whenever its hooks scratched the shield, its energy dissipated in clumps.

    The bone-flipped monster targeted only weakened guardians. It was incredibly agile for its size.

    Whenever it moved,rades were either impaled on horns or crushed under its massive feet.

    And finally, the pink balloon monster. It didnt move as agilely as the others, but it possessed terrifying abilities.

    It was the most powerful psychic user among the many monsters she had seen.

    Though not as potent as the young priest Jason, it was enough to overwhelm those present.

    Communication with the outside was nearly impossible due to the pink balloon monster.

    Its immense psychic power flowing through its body blocked psychic abilities such as telepathy or soul-linking.

    To the cultists, psychic power was like limbs.

    Even though they were Temple Guardians, it was impossible to unleash their full potential with restrictions on psychic power usage.

    Herrades struggled to avoid the monsters while attempting to counterattack.

    However, such a counterattack proved futile as the number of standing members rapidly dwindled. The creatures seemed to move as if they hadpletely prated the characteristics and weaknesses of the Temple Guardians equipment.

    The spider creature nullified the Temple Guardians shields, while the giant creature attacked. Whenever one tried to evade the giant creature, the pink balloon creature restricted the movement of the members.

    Even when members wielding demolishers attempted to shoot, it was to no avail. The creatures always managed to avoid the demolishers, even if they endured other attacks.

    They disyed a synergy beyond that of Temple Guardians who had trained for over several decades.

    The result was a massacre.

    Those who had always hunted monsters were now prey, ughtered in turn.

    The spider creature gouged out cultists entrails with its hooked ws, while the pink balloon creature levitated the members with psychic power and then tore off their limbs.

    And the sight of the giant creature swallowing the still-living cultists.

    Perhaps Selene would never forget that sight until her dying breath.

    When the group was reduced to only five members from twelve, Selenesrades shouted at her. They told her to flee, being the one who had mastered memory maniption.

    To prevent the deaths of those present from being in vain, Selene had to survive at all costs. Knowing this, she abandoned herrades and fled.

    Ive stored all the memories. If I can just deliver these to Jason!

    She continued to attempt telepathy as she ran. As the distance from the creature increased, its power weakened. Perhaps if she went a little further, she could transmit these memories to herrades.

    !

    At that moment, amidst her sprint, she heard a sound. She quickly activated the Champion Shield strapped to her wrist.

    Whos there?

    Holding the faintly glowing gold Champion Shield, she looked around.

    Thinking she might have misheard, the sound came again. Amidst the sound of wind blowing through the passageway, there was something mixed in.

    Damn it! Whos there?.

    Her eyes darted frantically. All she could see was her distorted reflection in the ice. The distorted faces of the cultists seemed to mock her, as if herrades wereughing at her.

    You too will soon join us.

    Temple Guardians learn not to waver even in dire situations against monsters.

    But today, was it because of the situation or some unknown factor? She couldnt gather her thoughts like a rookie heading into her first battle.

    Damn it! Who are you,e out!

    She lost herposure, screaming like a wounded beast. In response, a sound seemed to echo as if answering her cry.

    The sound was simr to the one heard when a g flutters in the wind.

    Only then did she realize what the sound she had heard was.

    It was the sound of a creature pping itsrge wings.

    And unlike just a moment ago, the sound was much closer. Almost as if it wereing from directly above her head.

    .

    Her gaze slowly rose upward.

    There should have been nothing there except ice.

    But hanging upside down with green wings, a creature looked down at her.

    Her violet eyes met the creatures gaze, and she reached for her de. Before her hand could touch the hilt, the creatures wings spread wide. In that instant of realization, she felt her strength drain from her body. The world she saw flipped, and a familiar ankle came into view.

    Selenes mind plunged into darkness.

    ***

    PreyEscapeBlockSess

    [ZZZ ZZZ (Well done)]

    Adhai, who had returned to tidy up the fleeing prey hiding outside, came back. A cultist torso hung from her back. Seeing her bloodied body, it was clear she had been hit with extreme force.

    No apparent injuries.

    She hadpletely mastered thebat method of rushing with psychic power enveloping his body.

    Impressived.

    I patted the head of thebat-trained Adhai and lifted the cultists body on her back with corrosive tentacles.

    All 12 of the intruders here have been dealt with.

    Although my tooth fairies had initiated the start of battle, it was my first time fighting directly.

    Their abilities were as I had expected, but there were a few surprises.

    The equipment is better than I thought.

    My gaze shifted to the equipment the cultists had brought. Dragon Scale armor, Champion Shields, swords forged from Gagon, and even demolishers. All were high-priced weapons.

    I picked up a weapon resembling a dart gun among the scattered weapons on the ground.

    It may look unimpressive, but it was a powerful weapon capable of destroying even the toughest materials, as evidenced by the hole it made in the Ice Horrors carapace, which was broken by No. 26 with all its might.

    Special defensive measures are required to defend against demolisher attacks. I dont have such defensive measures yet.

    And this sword is quite expensive too.

    The white weapon strapped to the cultists waist was a de made by shaving the ws of a White Gagon. It creates a psychic de that can strike enemies from a distance. It has the same effect as the Gagon w that Si-hyun Yujin drew from her palm during our previous fight.

    People with such good equipment wouldnte here for no reason. I woke up the faceless beings attached to the carapace.

    What brought you here?

    T-Thats!

    The five faceless beings struggled not to speak, but it was futile.

    The faceless beings on my body were all reconstituted from Amorphs body. Just as my arms and legs obeyed mymands, they couldnt refuse my orders.

    In the end, they spilled everything.

    Their exnation was not lengthy, but it contained very important information.

    What they came to catch, and who was leading them.

    If I hadnt checked it now, it could have been crucial information that could put everyone in great danger.

    The young priest is targeting me.

    He was the one who argued for sending an Imperial gship and fleet tobat the three-headed demon that appeared on the called Saegil 08, which the cultists call PH-101.

    When the n failed and he lost influence in the Imperial Council, he reportedly came here leading the Temple Guardians to make up for the failure.

    What does that mean?

    The yer who sponsored Muriel.

    The one who judged him as a ck Gagon-ss powerhouse was the yer. And it was a yer with much stronger power than Muriel.

    If the opponent is a yer, the ns Ive made so far need to be revised.

    They must know about me.

    If they are rankers over there, it was obvious what precautions to take when fighting against Amoph.

    Its impossible to deceive them with parasites or faceless beings once the enemies join.

    The original n was to lure the enemies into the joint where the Ice Horror was. The joint was so weakened that it could copse at any moment due to extensive damage to the walls and ceiling.

    My n was to copse the walls and ceiling there and bury all the enemies under the ice above. Even if the enemies were strong, there was almost no chance of surviving under several hundred meters thick ice.

    Would a ck Gagon-ss powerhouse survive depending on what psychic power technique he possesses? If he survives, I nned tounch a coordinated attack with the children to subdue him.

    But if they consider me an enemy

    Since they would know that I set a trap, the chances of them moving ording to my intentions are low. To deceive them, I need to think harder.

    Its fortunate that I know now.

    As soon as I heard the exnation, I slightly modified the original n and called PS-111.

    A variable has arisen. Take the children and go to the location I mentioned first.

    [Understood.]

    It prepared to leave with No. 26 on his back and Adhai.

    Big one, see youter.

    [ZZZ (Got it)]

    After bidding farewell to the children, I quickly moved to the nest. On the way, I didnt forget to put the auxiliary device on the ground to monitor the movements of the enemies.

    The distance is getting a bit tight.

    There were only a few minutes left until the remaining two groups gathered in one ce. The group attacked by PS-111 and the Mother of the Sky were moving around in extreme caution, so they hadnt joined yet.

    If I stop by the nest and then go, itll be toote.

    I have to attack from behind before the enemies join.

    I stopped in the middle of the passage and pressed the auxiliary device against the ice, trying to link it to the nests substation under my chin.

    The nest was expanding on its own, and this area was already stained ck. Although no spores had appeared yet, the nests mucus had spread here and solidified, so it was possible to send a signal at least.

    Shell notice it right away if its her.

    Feeling around the ground with the auxiliary device, I found a ce to link while the stem of the nest, which had just begun to spread, touched the auxiliary device.

    I felt a part of my senses pouring onto the ground, and the wide corridor began to feel like my body. It was a sessful link with the nest.

    Good.

    I detonated a few spores inside the nest. In response, two objects lying in the marsh began to react. Soon, one of the objects started moving in this direction with the other.

    The Mother of the Sky, who captured prisoners, must have read the signal I sent.

    While maintaining the link, I double-checked the passages in this underground space. There was no sign of movement from the enemy yer and his group.

    While keeping an eye on them, the Mother of the Sky appeared. She was holding a female cultist in her beak.

    The lower part of the cultists neck, where I had broken the bone when capturing her, showed no movement. The Mother of the Sky must have known that the Imperial armor had life support functions, so she took such measures.

    I carefully avoided the cultists gaze so as not to be detected. If No. 26 were present, it would be different, but without him, I had to be cautious with the soul link.

    What happened? This wasnt part of the n, was it?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (The n changed)]

    I exined to her the things I heard from the faceless beings. mes shot from her pumpkin-colored eyes as she understood my wavelength.

    Hes here?

    [ZZZ (Yes)]

    We cant afford to miss him.

    [ZZZ ZZ (Of course)]

    We cant just let a yer, especially one who knows about me, go like this. We must capture him by any means necessary.

    What are we going to do?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (First, take care of the subordinates)]

    The subordinates brought by the yer are armed with weapons made from Demolishers and Gagons ws. They are formidable enemies who can inflict fatal injuries on me, so I cannot afford to becent.

    Dealing with them bes extremely difficult if they are directlymanded by the yer.

    So, we need to strike before they gather.

    I looked down at the cultist captured as a prisoner.

    Originally, I nned to use the cultist to instill fear by stripping her skin in front of the enemy. But the situation has changed, so I might need to slightly change the n.

    If theyre yers, they wont fall for it naturally.

    What about those who havent joined yet?

    I reached out to the paralyzed cultist.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 180

    Chapter 180

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    In the vast expanse of space survival, various intelligent species coexist, giving rise to all sorts of creatures. From beings resembling wild animals on Earth to horrific monsters straight out of a horror movie, to even divine entities that evoke cosmic awe. Among these creatures, some possess special abilities. They mimic sentient beings.

    One prominent example is the Red Mist, a predator. With its jaguar-like appearance adorned with red fur, it emits an irresistible hallucinogenic pheromone, rendering defenses useless. After spreading its hallucinogenic pheromone, it mimics human speech to entice and deceive yers. It mimics the conversations and movements of yers based on specific algorithms, making it quite realistic. Escaping the hallucination itself is challenging, and coupled with its ability to mimicpanions, yers unaware of the Red Mists nature can easily fall prey.

    Its not for nothing they call it the apex predator of jungles.

    In the early days of the game, its nickname was Space Predator.

    As time passed and experienced yers increased, fewer fell for the Red Mists tricks. No matter how advanced AI may be, it still feels awkward from a human perspective.

    But what if the deceiver is human?

    If you pretend to be a fellow yer, knowing their equipment and preferred tactics from yesterdays gaming session, can you really avoid being deceived?

    In essence, the best deceiver of humans is another human, particrly one who knows their opponent well.

    And Im probably the one who deceived others the most in the game, the Amorph.

    So, shall we begin?

    With all preparationsplete, I approached the enemy group. As I drew near, they halted their movement.

    Indeed, the Temple Guardians.

    Their skills are considerable. Sinceing to this world, few have anticipated and prepared for my approach.

    I heard the sound of Ggons w-made de being drawn and the snipers loading their Demolishers, but there was no chatter. Theyre probably fiercely discussing their response via telepathic link.

    Alright.

    My task here isnt to sneak up on the enemy but to sow distrust among them. Beyond the junction of the wide ice corridor, I slightly parted my lips. Near my throat, in a region akin to where a humans thyroid nd would be, lies a special organ.

    Its the Mimicry Organ, an organ that activates within me due to the characteristics of the Eidos Device. It resets with each absorption of new gic material, enabling me to mimic a new voice.

    The weapon I used to deceive and consume countless prey is once again activated.

    Help me!

    A womans voice flowed from my lips.

    Its the voice of the cultist who fell victim to the Adhai after fleeing from themunal area where the corpse of the Ice Horror was found. After receiving the corpse from the Adhai and taking a bite, I used it for the mimicry organ.

    Theres a reason why I chose this cultist.

    She seemed quite important.

    Other members bought her time to escape safely. Seeing that, theres a high likelihood she employs psychic techniques rted to information transmission. Wherever you go, the credibility and importance of a statement rise depending on who the speaker is. If a person is deemed important enough forrades to sacrifice themselves for, then surely, there would be considerations on the other side about what to do.

    Whats this?!

    Its Selene!

    As I anticipated, they began to falter upon hearing the voice.

    Everyone, hold on!

    At that moment, a woman shouted with a bold and firm voice. Judging solely by the voice, she seemed like the leader of that group.

    The cultists, who were previously hesitating, collectively ceased their movements. Then followed the silence. They must bemunicating via telepathy.

    Indeed.

    When I mimicked the voice of the cult, or rather Selene, two main actions could be taken on their side upon hearing it: rushing to aid me or preparing to attack, suspicious of my intentions.

    For them, there shouldnt be an option to retreat as Im an immediate threat that needs to be dealt with.

    However, they didnt choose either option. They maintained vignce whilemunicating telepathically instead of verbally.

    What does this signify?

    Ive already heard about this, havent I?

    The highest-ranking figure here, the cult priest.

    Its evident that he, with considerable experience in Space Survival, had exined to them about me.

    If someone knew me, they wouldnte here at all.

    Because who knows what traps I might haveid. Besides, this is reality. If either I or the enemy yer dies, thats it. Even if their skills are impressive, can they really venture forth so easily?

    I dont think so.

    But theyre exploiting that fact.

    The cult yer wouldnt approach out of fear of traps. Even knowing that Im nearby.

    Its highly likely that he had assessed how far my nest had spread after hearing news of the initial attack. His decision to halt the advance was probably due to realizing the disadvantage of fighting from the nest.

    His safe option would be to recall his subordinates first. Then, he could alter his strategy and move ordingly.

    His intent was clear as his subordinates began to move again. Their steps seemed slightly resentful, indicating dissatisfaction.

    Its inevitable.

    Not knowing unless one experiences it isnt unique to humans. Cultists are no different.

    Moreover, they are part of the Imperial Guard, one of the empires finest army units. How frustrating must it feel to abandon such honorable individuals, unsure if they are enemies or allies?

    Time to drive the wedge.

    I put down the female cultist I was holding against the wall.

    Because the Mother of the Sky had broken her neck, she was paralyzed. It made the operation easy.

    I turned her head to face me. Her pupils dted significantly, filled with disbelief as if she couldnt trust the reality before her. The moment she saw me, the movements of the members who were gradually distancing themselves from me came to a halt.

    Whats this?!

    Its Alia! Can you see her now?

    Soul Link is a very powerful technique. In a battlefield where information is life, theres nothing as crucial as having a broad perspective. Moreover, if one can instantly confirm the view of allies whenever desired, executing strategies would be much smoother. Thanks to this technique, the cultists not only excelled individually but also disyed dominance in teamwork.

    Now, lets consider the opposite scenario. What if that information is incorrect? Suppose what Im seeing differs from reality?

    Shes still alive!

    Selene rescued her!

    I looked down at the cultist, sweating profusely while leaning against the wall. She seemed to realize what I was about to do, as her pupils shook frantically. I silently asked her,

    What do I look like to you?

    Ranker Jason, ranked 10th, had a deep-seated enmity with the Amorphs. He was a concept yer based on the so-called lookism. His ying motto was to kill ugly aliens and enve the less ugly ones. This kind of y style wasnt particrly special. In Space Survival, there were all sorts of entric yers, and many enjoyed simr ys in other games too.

    What made Jason, a normal concept yer, famous was that his tormenting of monster yers went beyond the norm. There were quite a few yers who couldnt bear his torment and quit the game.

    In fact, such a type tends to make a lot of enemies, but what allowed him to thrive was his fans who followed him. Jason was an inte broadcaster who made Space Survival his main content, so he had quite a lot of followers trailing after him. With his followers, Jason wielded considerable power even in the game.

    Because of this, even among monster yers, it wasnt easy to challenge him as a ranker. One might suggest waiting for him to be alone, but Jason was also a ranker ranked 10th. He was by no means an easy opponent.

    Originally a human-centric concept yer, he chose the cult because the cult race had good performance. Good performance meant even if hecked skillspared to other yers, he wouldnt easily fall prey.

    Thus, as he indulged in all sorts of viiny while enjoying the game, one day, his end came. The one who became the worst race as a ranker. The one who prompted former adversaries to form an alliance and put a bounty on him. The 5th-ranked Amorph ranker began targeting him.

    For over half a year, that fellow followed him every day, ridiculing him with bizarre tactics. Especially the incident where the fellow, hidden, ambushed him as he tried to enter the characters dormitory to end the game, was enough to be a urban legend in themunity.

    Due to the Amorph, two ns created by his followers were destroyed, and his rtionship with the rankers he was close to fell apart. Eventually, Jason, unable to endure, publicly wrote a letter of apology in themunity, bringing the incident to a close.

    Afterward, as soon as he entered the gaming world, it all became a thing of the past. But the time he spent in the world of Space Survival was not insignificant. Now, I thought it was forgettable.

    Until I came here, or rather until I met him, I thought so, but I was mistaken. The telepathying from him awakened deeply buried nightmares.

    Jason! Are you seeing this too? Look at Bilones eyes! Both of them are alive, not dead!

    The telepathy sent by his lover Alia truly annoyed him. He knew too. The Soul Link doesnt deactivate until the subject dies or the user cancels it. In Bilones eyes, who was kidnapped by him, the image of the female cultist who was still alive was seen.

    One of the twelve sent to exclude factors causing psychic power impairments was Selenne. She was a member who learned memory retention techniques. Normally, she was someone who should be protected at all costs.

    But Jason, who had suffered terribly from the Rank 5 Amorph, knew better. Its a trap.

    The cultist seen through Bilones eyes. She seemed to be severely injured and unable to move properly, desperately calling out to herrades.

    In the darkness, her face wasnt clearly visible, but when her voice was heard alone, she seemed pitiful as if she might copse at any moment.

    Bullshit! That disgusting Rank 5 Amorph!

    Seeing his performance, it felt like past traumas were creeping up on him.

    He was certain. The owner of that voice was already dead, and Bilone, linked by Soul Link, was in a state infected by parasites.

    If he went to save her like this, he would suffer immense damage from the cult controlled by him. In the game, he even controlled NPCs to detonate warships.

    He can mimic the appearance of the opponent exactly. Moreover, he can also absorb memories.

    What about Bilone? Is she being controlled too?

    Yeah. His parasite is controlling her.

    Ive never heard of such a monster existing.

    Naturally, it could only be so. Even in the game, the true nature of his transformation technique was never fully revealed. It was spected that the transformation was a fusion attribute made through a very rarebination or obtained as a reward from Vortex One hunting by Outer Spacer yers.

    Regardless of the identity of that transformation, there were no monsters or yers using parasites and transformation techniques like that, except him. He may have a pathological dislike for Rank 5 Amorph, but he admitted his skill was remarkable.

    Honestly, when ites to utilizing abilities, there might not be much difference between him and the 3rd or 4th rankers.

    But I know this fact.

    They are not the Temple Guardians here. They only encountered him through information, and this is the first time they have directly confronted him.

    The expertise gained from facing countless monsters was now working against them. He was a creature that could not exist when they saw him.

    Who would think that the true power of the monster that annihted the Mob Jam Corps lies in the deceptive tactics using parasites and transformation?

    Ill say it again. Alia. Give up ande over here.

    Jason.

    Alia hesitated.

    He must have aimed for this too. Weakening Jasonsmand and sowing discord between his subordinates and him.

    He sent telepathy to his lover again.

    Was it his earnestness that reached her? Just as she was about to coax her subordinates and move again.

    An anomaly urred in the shared sight through the Soul Link.

    Selenne seemed startled as if she had discovered something. Behind her, a monster revealed itself in the darkness.

    Whats that?

    With an eagle-like head, pumpkin-colored eyes, and a lions body with golden fur, the newly appeared monster was a griffin named Hwansu, who had learned divine transformation.

    Why is that Wolf, who learned divine transformation, here?

    The griffin approached closer and closer to the shared sight. Its sharp beak gleamed threateningly as Selenne suddenly stood in front of it with her arms outstretched.

    As if it couldnt pass until it killed me.

    That sight was the decisive blow.

    Damn it! Its no use anymore! Lady Alia!

    Jason, Im sorry.

    Wait! Everyone, wait! Its a trick! Crazy! Dont go!

    Jason urgently sent telepathy, but there was no response. Alia and her subordinates had severed the telepathy link.

    Instead, in her sight connected through the Soul Link, she saw the backs of the members rushing out quickly.

    They, who were running through the corridor, stopped simultaneously.

    What stood before them were Selenne standing intact and Bilone leaning against the wall. The griffin Wolf that was there just a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.

    But the members, Alia, and Jason connected through her sight could feel it.

    That thing in front of them wasnt a cultist.

    Alias transmitted sight through her eyes trembled slightly. It reflected her bewildered feelings in her pupils.

    Alias sight read the movement of its mouth.

    It was saying this.

    What do I look like to you all?

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 181

    Chapter 181

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    Ive never seen myself transform and use a mimic organ. A mimic organ is an organ that emits pheromones from numerous crevices on its surface, disrupting the senses of other organisms. However, as the producer of pheromones, it has no effect on me.

    Therefore, I dont know how my activated mimic organ appears to others. Judging by the reactions of others, the mimic organ seems to evoke subtle difort. Its as if something non-human is mimicking a human appearance.

    Initially, it might not be noticeable, but using the mimic organ repeatedly eventually makes others feel uneasy, unless they are fools. Once the other party starts to suspect, the effectiveness of the mimic organ greatly diminishes. Just like how the once terrifying Red Mist, now bes a mere tale of the past.

    But its too valuable to discard like that.

    I devoted much effort to oveing the drawbacks and peculiarities of the mimic organ. I practiced my vocalizations and gathered information about potential targets for transformation. Through numerous trials and training sessions, I became quite adept at convincingly impersonating even unfamiliar subjects, like now.

    Why is everyone acting like this? I just asked for some help.

    The group of Temple Guardians spread out in the street, eyeing me with tension as they cautiously gripped their weapons. Those wielding Gagons w took a step forward, while those with Demolishers aimed at my head from behind.

    Whats going on?

    Every time my voice resonated through the corridor, the members gazes wavered. While my voice might sound like that of arade, the cults inherent sensitivity rejected it. The being before them wasnt Cult Celenae.

    Whats the matter?

    When a cultist aiming at my head asked, the female cultist beside her spoke up while keeping her gaze on me.

    Well subdue first, then verify.

    As the only one among the group with yak horns on her head, it was evident that she was the leader of this group. Like her subordinates, she seemed confused when she firstid eyes on me, but now she appearedposed.

    Following the leadersmand, the cultists began to approach me gradually. Three cultists with Demolishers aimed at my head or upper body.

    Hmm, interesting.

    The reason they aimed above my head was simple. They didnt see me as Celenae. They probably thought I was disying hallucinations.

    Beings capable of producing high-level hallucinations like Red Mist or Sea Demons can even deceive senses. They can die from hallucinations without physical harm. However, the hallucinations presented by the mimic organ are not at that level. They must have realized that my presumed hallucination ability hasnt reached the realm of sensory control. Even amidst their fear of me, they must have telepathically discussed how to handle the situation.

    Not a bad response, but

    Unfortunately, its not the best response. The mimic organs effect is to replicate the appearance of other intelligent beings through pheromones, not physically transform my body. So what happens to parts of my body, like corrosive tentacles? The answer is simple.

    Its not visible.

    The corrosive tentacles extending from my back were already above the heads of the cultists wielding Demolishers. They werepletely unaware of what was above their heads.

    The cultists with Gagons w fixed their gaze on me as they approached. They extended their hands with the Champion Shield activated, intending to cast the psychic power technique Restraint to block enemy movements.

    At that moment when all the cultists present focused on me, the corrosive tentacles struck the cultists from behind.

    Huh?!

    Ambush Ugh!

    With six appendages on each tentacle spread wide, they grabbed the upper bodies of the cultists. Meanwhile, the mouths inside the appendages swallowed their heads.

    The mouths of the corrosive tentacles were filled with sharp teeth. Even if they wore sturdy reinforced armor like Dragon Scale, they couldnt withstand the prison of razor des closing in from all sides.

    They couldnt even scream and just slumped over, their upper bodies contorted in death.

    This darn it! Hes hiding his body, so be prepared!

    As soon as the cult leader shouted loudly, the cultists approaching me hastily raised their shields, taken aback.

    Unfortunately, the n to sweep away the enemies with a tail strike was thwarted. Although the cultists were hit by the tail I used to sweep, the damage wasnt significant as they blocked it with their shields.

    Not bad.

    Presumably, that leader seemed to be the most skilled among the Temple Guardians present here. Perhaps ranking within the top five in the Temple Guardians in terms of skill?

    It worked out better this way.

    It would have been dangerous to join forces with the cult yers. I charged forward, maintaining the mimic organ.

    The goal was to retrieve the Demolishers from the cult warriors moving back. As soon as they saw me rushing, they hurriedly backed away.

    My massive body trampled over one of the Demolishers resembling a small cannon. The cultists who sessfully retrieved the two Demolishers managed to evade my attacks by rolling.

    It was a bold move, almost worthy of praise if they were allies. Despite not being able to properly perceive my overall appearance, they managed to estimate my size and evade.

    Two cultists, halfway up, immediately aimed their Demolishers at me. Seeing their fluid movements, it was clear they had considerable experience.

    However, the problem for them was that they were facing me.

    As the tooth fairy nest near my waist burst, ck carnivorous fleas swarmed out. Their target was directly the faces of the cultists aiming the Demolishers. With teeth resembling human teeth, the tooth fairiestched onto the cultists, gnashing at them.

    Argh, get off!

    Go away agh!

    Amidst the cultists whose vision was obscured by the palm-sized carnivorous fleas, I swung my tail towards them. It was to clear out both the cultists with Demolishers and the tooth fairies in one strike.

    However, this time, my intentions were blocked. The enemy leader, the cultist with yak horns, rushed in and struck my tail with the Champion Shield she held in her hand.

    Hmm?

    Normally, she should have been knocked away, but surprisingly, she seeded in changing the direction of my tail. The pincer at the end of the tail struck an empty space instead of the target.

    The wall of the ice passage vibrated significantly due to my attack. The cult leader, without any hesitation, struck down my tail with the axe she held in her other hand.

    Oh, dear.

    Are you alright?

    Im fine!

    Everyone, prepare your formations!

    Feeling the pain emanating from my tail, I immediately retracted it. Seeing the damaged section where her axe struck, I realized her axe was a weapon I knew well. It was one of the rewards a cultist receives upon clearing Quest Level 10.

    The Dragon yer quest, was it?

    The axes name was Condemnation. In the lore, it was an axe forged from the horn of a ck Gagon, part of the Dragon yer set. Most likely, it was given to that woman by a yer who hade here.

    Annoying.

    The effect of Condemnation was simple. It significantly enhanced the wearers physical abilities to Gagon-level. The problem was that this enhancement effect was noughing matter. Just by seeing the damage caused to my tail by the Champion Shield earlier, one could tell.

    Now theres one more reason not to dy.

    I couldnt be sure when the cult yers might change their minds ande here. Seeing that woman wielding Condemnation meant there was a high chance the opponent was wearing the Dragon yer set. That meant it would be difficult to fight even against such an annoying opponent.

    Before I knew it, I charged towards the cultists who had formed their formations.

    One of the warriors aimed his Demolisher at me and fired. The characteristic blue energy projectile of the Demolisher flew towards my head.

    I quickly turned my head, but the back-of-the-head armor was grazed slightly as it passed. True to its nature as a weapon that disintegrates matter, the area hit by the projectile evaporated on contact.

    Ignoring the attack, I charged forward to crush the cultist with the Demolisher. Seeing that the cultist didnt stop even after being hit, he flew aside in panic.

    Where?

    I swung my corrosive tentacles towards him.

    Crack!

    The circumference of my tentacles was as thick as a log. No matter how sturdy the other sides armor was, it couldnt absorb all the impact. The cultist hit by the tentacles vomited blood and writhed on the ground.

    As another tentacle flew to finish him off, another cultist intervened. The cult warrior leaped high and swung a white sword made from Gagons w at my tentacle. As the hook scraped against the ss window, a sinister sound echoed, and sparks flew from the tentacle.

    With synthetic fibers covering every part of my body except the armor, I boasted high defense. Thanks to the small scales on the surface of the corrosive tentacles absorbing the impact, there were only minor scratches.

    However, that didnt mean it didnt hurt. I sliced the cultist inspector whonded after being hit by the tentacle with mybat arm.

    Let let go of me!

    Before he could exert force with the arm holding the knife, I exerted pressure with my hand. It made a sound simr to throwing a water balloon from the top of a high-rise apartment. Warm juice flowed profusely between the four long fingers.

    I casually flicked my hand and brought down my head towards the cultist who had fallen earlier.

    Ah, ah!

    He tried to crawl away somehow, but it was already toote. His lower body waspletely crushed by the Demolisher along with my head.

    Damn it!

    Other cultists spat curses as they watched theirrades die, but they didnt rush in recklessly. Instead, they yed the card of psychic power attacks, unique to cultists rather than engaging in closebat.

    Two cultists with goat horns spread their hands wide, aiming at me simultaneously. Instantly, my body felt as heavy as soaked cotton.

    Gravity control, huh?

    A psychic power technique manipting gravity, it belonged to a control skill with considerable versatility. It was simr in position to the Restraint favored by No. 26.

    The floor where I stood cracked, and my upper body unknowingly tilted downwards. While the cultists with goat horns blocked my movements, one cultist with ram horns and the leader unleashed psychic power attacks towards me.

    The warriors attack was a psychic whip, while the leaders shot resembled a purple spear.

    The Pain Spear boasted high prating power as a psychic power technique, and the effectiveness of the psychic whip varied greatly depending on the users skill level. Both were techniques I encountered when fighting against the Eugene familys shadow, Code ck, in the space city before. Those techniques that had put my life on the line were now flying towards me again.

    But

    The purple whip struck mybat arm, and the long spear pierced through my head armor. The synthetic fibers covering my arms peeled off, and there was a hole in my head.

    Im much different now than I was then.

    It was the Psychic Reflection Glove, a characteristic I gained from devouring the Swamp King. Its effect was to reflect 30% of the damage received from psychic attacks.

    As the whip and spear struck, seemingly reversing time, they began to fly back towards the cultists.

    What?!

    Oh, no!

    The leader quickly raised the Champion Shield, while the ram-horned warrior rolled his body to the side. That choice determined their fate.

    Crack!

    True to its high prating power, the Pain Spear pierced through the Champion Shield, but it only grazed the leaders left arm.

    But the ram-horned warrior wasnt so lucky. The reflected psychic whip struck his bowed torso mercilessly.

    Ugh!

    From his left armpit to his chest, he screamed in agony. Witnessing his pitiful state, the goat-horned cultists eyes wavered.

    Seizing the opportunity, I cast Watcher of Dread on one of the cultists in the midst of casting gravity control.

    The eye-shaped patterns on my head armor glowed ominously.

    A downgraded version of the abyssal fear, the Watcher of Dread showed terrifying illusions to one opponent. It was very effective when used in situations where the enemies were confused, like now.

    The color drained from the face of the cultist under the influence of Watcher of Dread.

    Aaah! No! Please, forgive me! Im sorry! Im sorry!

    Hey, hey! Snap out of it!

    With both hands clutching his head, he hesitated to sit down on the spot. The weight pressing down on me became lighter.

    I lifted my head and aimed the tip of my nose at the remaining goat-horned cultist. He snarled at me, but there was nothing he could do.

    I widened my lower jaw. A rapidly growing green lump shot out from inside my throat.

    The horrifying mass filled with deadly fungal spores aimed straight for the goat-horned cultists palm. Though within the area where gravity was manipted, it couldnt fly far, but it didnt matter. As long as it made contact with any part of his body, it would be enough.

    And the fungal spores touched the enemys right hand.

    This is mu ugh, aaahhh!

    As the fungus began to corrode, his hand quickly melted away. The ivory armor tried to recover somehow, but the lost hand couldnt be restored.

    Even losing his right hand in an instant, someone who could maintain theirposure was not abnormal among ordinary creatures.

    Finally free from gravity control, I looked at thest remaining leader.

    Urgh, ugh, ugh.

    Heeeyy! Senior! Please dont hit me! Im sorry! Im sorry!

    Ugh, ugh, ugh.

    .

    Her eyes quickly swept over her panickedrades. I felt the pressure in her right hand, which held the Judgment.

    The cult leader seemed determined to bury herself here.

    Not running away?

    Her heartbeat was still intense, butpared to a moment ago, she seemed somewhat calmer. There was no fear in her gaze as she stared at me.

    Rather, there was a sense of relief.

    Wait, could it be?

    Seeing her like that, I realized why she was acting this way.

    The yer sent telepathy!

    She must have asked to dy because she was going to arrive. Maybe when the cultists tactics changed earlier, it was a signal that the yer wasing.

    I scanned the vicinity with auxiliary devices. There was still no sign of any particrly powerful energy flow.

    I need to move.

    This wasnt the right ce to fight him. I turned and retreated.

    As if my prediction was correct, the cult leader didnt chase after me. Instead, she attended to the injured.

    Shes finished anyway.

    I still had one more trap up my sleeve. Although I acquired the characteristics a long time ago, I never had a chance to use them.

    If it goes off, that woman dies.

    I ignored the leader and ran along the dark corridor.

    Damn it!

    As the guys presence was no longer felt, Alia sat down on the floor. There had been several instances where her life was at stake while fighting strong monsters.

    It was natural for the Temple Guardians to step in only when monsters appeared that were difficult to subdue by conventional means. But todays opponent was the most terrifying she had encountered.

    Her lover, Jasons words were true. He was a monster so terrifying that even being called a demon wouldnt be an exaggeration.

    From what she saw, the true power of the Three-Headed Demon was its outstanding stratagems. He fought several steps ahead of her, a veteran member.

    Even now, its the same. He could have killed her, but he chose not to and retreated. He must have foreseen that her lover woulde here.

    He is a threat to the Empire.

    After tending to the injured, Alia approached Bilone, who was leaning against the wall.

    Bilone knelt before her. With his neck paralyzed, his eyes were bloodshot, tears streaming down his face.

    Jason said hes being controlled but

    Bilone must return alive for the sake of Alia, no, for the sake of the Empires security. She was the one who survived the longest by the side of the Three-Headed Demon. Until she extracted the necessary information from her head, she couldnt let her die.

    Sensing the affection in Alias gaze, Bilone spoke.

    L-Lady Alia, I-Im sorry.

    Its because youre useful to the Empire. Theres no need to apologize.

    Though Alia spoke coldly, Bilones reaction was peculiar.

    I-Im s-sorry I-Im sorry, I-Im so-orry! Ugh!

    Huh?

    Bilone continued to retch, then dropped his head.

    Hey? Whats wrong?

    The moment she approached Bilone, she suddenly raised her head.

    What used to be Bilone no longer resembled the person Alia knew. Vines grew from every hole in her eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and face. The moment she saw this, telepathy flew into Alias mind.

    Fuck! Its tetanus vines! Alia! Get back!

    What?

    Before Alia could understand what her lover meant, Bilones head exploded. Pieces of red vine turned into small fragments and flew towards Alia.

    Whats happening?

    Alia wiped off the vine pieces and unknown red liquids from her upper body. She looked down at the headless corpse with a horrified expression.

    Red vines writhed like worms inside the cleanly severed section of the neck. Seeing this, Alia felt a sudden itchiness on her left shoulder.

    Why all of a sudden? Ugh?

    She thought the wounds from the battle with the monster had healed, but they hadnt. The itching was brief, and soon, severe pain began to spread from her shoulder to her entire upper body.

    Ugh, ugh?! Aaaah!

    It was as if countless bugs were crawling inside the veins beneath her skin. She wed at her torso as if tearing it apart.

    Aaah!

    Unable to scratch due to the protective effect of the ivory armor, she began to remove the reinforced clothing and scratch. The delicate flesh quickly turned into a bloody mess.

    Was it because of this? She hadnt noticed thin vine-like things wriggling inside the wounds where blood flowed.

    Finally, she understood why Bilone had ended up like that. And what her own fate would be.

    AAAAH!

    Alia!

    In the midst of fading consciousness, she heard her lovers voice. Despite the immense pain, she ran towards the direction from which her lovers voice came.

    Was it due to instinct driven by love, or was it because of themands of the entities crawling inside her body?

    Whatever it was, she didnt know.

    Fuck.

    Once again, she heard iprehensible words. The moment she heard those words, Alia no longer felt any pain.

    To be precise, she didnt feel any sensation other than pain.

    Amorphhhhh! You damn son of a bitch! Because of you, my Alia died!

    She couldnt understand what her beloved boyfriends words meant.

    Couldnt me her.

    Even if she was a cultist, without a head, she would die.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 182

    Chapter 182

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    In the tunnel, echoing like a cry, the enemys shouts were heard. The emotion contained in his voice was solely one, intense rage.

    Alright.

    With that, the possibility of the enemy retreating decreased. The enemy yer would never consider going back until theyve killed me.

    Amorph

    The opponent was the third yer I encountered after Muriel and the Mother of the Sky. Unlike when facing Muriel, I had limited information about the enemy.

    It was going to be a tough fight.

    Not that Im nning to lose, though.

    I ran across the solid ice, reassessing the cards I held.

    The tetanus vine I had prepared to ambush the enemy had just been used.

    The tetanus vine is a characteristic infection rted to a motif of carnivorous nts often seen in ssic horror movies. Its method of infection is simr to using parasites.

    Within mybat arm, there is space where parasites and tetanus vine seeds can inhabit. Just as parasites can emerge from small holes in my arm when needed, tetanus vine seedse out from holes inside my palm.

    The difference is that unlike parasites that enter the opponents body automatically, the tetanus vine cannot. It exists in seed form within my body, so I have to inject it directly into the opponent.

    Once inside the opponents body, the tetanus vine, which consumes nutrients, grows at a very fast rate. It fully matures in as little as 5 minutes, or at most 10 minutes, and then prepares for reproduction.

    It bes a human bomb right away.

    The tetanus vine, spreading through the bloodstream, explodes itself when a new host appears nearby. Its akin to cutting a branch of a nt and nting it in the ground, resulting in new growth.

    Of course, its obvious, but the host dies during the explosion process. Its no different from a grenade detonating inside their body.

    Thanks to these characteristics, I often used parasites and tetanus vines together forrge-scale skirmishes or surprise attacks shortly before a battle.

    Many yers with experience fighting against me have often killed yers controlled by parasites as a precaution.

    So, the cult yers chasing after me wont be fooled anymore.

    It served well as a provocation and bait.

    Aside from the tetanus vine, among other hidden cards, there are the Bone Beast and Revenant Organs I acquired recently.

    Both traits y a crucial role in Amorphs battles. They are traits I frequently used in the game.

    The Bone Beast can be thought of as abination of the effects of King of Monsters and Symbol of Hunt that I obtained.

    Of course, it doesnt be significantly stronger like when using King of Monsters or Symbol of Hunt.

    The effects of the Bone Beast can be summarized into two major aspects: ergement and reinforcement of defense.

    Since its a trait made from the Giant Creature trait and Bone Axe trait, it inherits both effects.

    When the Bone Beast trait is activated, my body bes slightlyrger than when using the Giant Creature trait alone. Currently, my body length is around 28m, and it increases by about three times from here. Of course, as the body grows, so does the strength.

    Up to this point, its simr to a regr ergement, but theres an additional aspect in the Bone Beast state.

    That is, a hard bone glove is added to the surface of the body. Its simr to when using Symbol of Hunt, where exoskeletons grow all over my body. With thick gloves and additional spike-like bones, I can collide with opponents of simr caliber and deliver blows.

    But theres no increase in speed, though.

    Its disappointing to think that the speed doesnt increase when using Symbol of Hunt, but rather decreases.

    If its as good as the Symbol of Hunt, then thats a problem, too.

    Expecting the same level as a transcendent trait gained through the transcendence system for a Bone Beast trait thats merely a fusion trait is excessive greed.

    Although its not at the level of Symbol of Hunt, a powerful Bone Beast saved as a hidden card. It can be used when facing enemy yers. Plus, I currently possess the special state trait, King of Organic Evolution, which allows me to transform.

    Thanks to consuming Ice Horror, I have abundant energy.

    The energy to sustain the Bone Beast is sufficient due to the situation where a creature several hundred meters in size is inside me. Lets use King of Monsters, which consumes extreme energy, depending on the situation.

    And the Revenant Organs.

    As the name suggests, the Revenant Organs are traits rted to resurrection.

    It doesnt really bring back the dead, though.

    This fusion trait, made from the Ghost State, functions differently from other traits.

    Most of the traits I possess are either constantly active like passive traits or provide special effects when activated.

    In contrast, the Revenant Organs only work conditionally.

    Although not visible, theres a very small secretion organ attached to my heart. If the conditions are met, this organ activates on its own and secretes special hormones into my heart.

    Even for someone like Amorph, who can actively regte activities within the body, the Revenant Organs were uncontroble. Its a trait that, like in the game, only operates when conditions are met.

    And thats not all. The effectiveness of the Revenant Organs varies depending on how powerful I am and what state Im in.

    If I fail to meet these conditions properly? Even if I activate it, its useless.

    Plus, the cooldown is incredibly long.

    Due to these difficult conditions, there are hardly any yers in the game who have properly utilized this trait. At most, it was yers like me and the 4th Outspacer Ranker who enjoyed this trait.

    But when they see me now, theres no joker card like this.

    If properly activated, the Revenant Organs are a powerful weapon that can immediately turn the situation around. If used well, it can seriously give cult yers a hard time in battle.

    Then lets prepare from the Divine Spectre

    While checking myst options, I felt a familiar yet strange sensation in front of me. Countless images appeared and disappeared in front of me as if the video speed was doubled.

    At the same time, the auxiliary organ under my jaw trembled.

    An unknown danger is approaching.

    [ is targeting my .]

    Predator Sense!

    As I ran through the corridor, I quickly pressed my body to the ground. A sinister energy mass barely grazed my back and the exoskeleton above my neck. When the energy bullets hit the corridor wall, the spot where they hit evaporated with a sinister sound.

    Fucking Cunt! Where do you think youre running!

    Angry voices from behind. They were cultists. Then, I felt ominous energy bullets flying towards me.

    Tch!

    The cultists protecting the yer had fired demolishers at me.

    The demolisher bullets were precisely aimed at my auxiliary organs. They knew that was my weakness.

    I quickly covered the auxiliary organ part with mybat arm as I turned my head to the side. Most of the energy bullets missed, but not all of them; a few struck my arm.

    [Pain Nullification Activated!]

    The synthetic scales and exoskeletons around my wrist melted like ice on a hot te as soon as they came into contact with the material fired by the demolishers.

    So this was the reason for the ambush.

    Because of my size, it wasnt easy to avoid small energy bullets. Thats why I decided to ambush them before they could shoot demolishers from over there.

    I raised only my upper body, turned my head backward, and exerted force on my tail to strike the ceiling of the corridor. As the copsing ceiling fell backward, I ran again.

    Unable to shoot demolishers due to the ice and rocks covering the corridor, the enemies fired psychic techniques at me. Gravity control and restraints poured behind my back, but I was a step faster.

    Some of the psychic techniques hit the tip of my tail, but Swamp Kings pincers are attached to my tail. As the defense against psychic attacks is the best on my body, I was unharmed.

    But the coordination is unusual.

    The cultists who entered the underground space of the ice in divided into three groups and aimed at me.

    I fought directly with the other two groups, excluding those protecting the yers. Except for the cult leader killed by tetanus vines, there were no particrly impressive individuals among the rest.

    However, the movements of those attacking me with the enemy yers were distinctly different. The coordination was smooth, as if their heads were connected as one.

    But it doesnt seem like a buff technique.

    Given the situation, there is one technique thates to mind.

    Among the top psychic power techniques, there is a technique called Ultra Control. Its a crowd control device thatpletely controls the mind of a specific target.

    It has a simr effect to parasites but can be manipted more finely, and the victim cannot resist.

    And theres no time limit.

    Unlike Amorph, who needs to constantly rece parasites, once Ultra Control is activated, it wont be released until either the user or the victim dies.

    The drawbacks are that it doesnt work well against enemies prepared for psychic attacks, and only one person can be controlled at a time.

    So its highly unlikely.

    Or it could be a unique bonus effect possessed by him. It might be a trait that gives a wide range of buffs to other cultists.

    I heard a rumbling from behind as I ran.

    It was the sound of cult yers breaking through the copsed corridor. Then, the footsteps of many cultists moving vibrated the corridor.

    But it doesnt matter. Ive reached my goal.

    I broke through the half-copsed, narrowed corridor and entered the wide chamber.

    In front of me, a white skull spanning hundreds of meters is visible. Its the tomb of Ice Horror, where I lured and fought the cultists before.

    As soon as I entered, I quickly turned my head and prepared for the next attack.

    The long tentacles covering from the back of the head to the neck of the giant monster moved towards me. Violet energy beams emanated from the tip of my tail gathered towards the head through the synthetic scales.

    Arge sphere with a diameter of 6 meters,rger than my head, was formed at the tip of my snout. The sphere, burning with violet mes from the inside out, flew towards the corridor where the enemies were rushing.

    The perfectly round sphere turned into a line as straight as the horizon. Although thinner, its destructive power remained the same.

    The mighty force that even battleships couldnt withstand, the Psychic Breath, tore through the underground chambers corridor and advanced.

    But this time, the desired result didnt happen.

    The violet spear flying through the ice corridor stopped abruptly in mid-air. Then, the line turned naturally, as if it should have been that way from the beginning.

    The manipted Psychic Breath wasnt aimed at the cultists but at me.

    Damn it!

    I quickly pulled my tail forward and raised the pincers. The fierce Psychic Breath collided with my pincers.

    [Pain Nullification Activated!]

    Oof!

    Due to the tremendous impact, my tailbone almost broke. I used mybat arms to hold the pincers like a shield and block the Psychic Breath.

    Thanks to the psychic reflection gloves applied to the pincers, the Psychic Breath started reflecting again. Due to the sessive reflections, the violet energy beams lost their target and flew around, hitting nearby areas.

    The wide underground chamber received a huge shock and shook again. Cracks in the ceiling and walls grew to an unprecedented size.

    Giant ice fragments fell from above like icicles, revealing the enemy yers and cultists.

    Annoying.

    A cult yer wearing ck full-body armor with deer antlers muttered irritably. He carried a small silver stick at his waist and an axe, Condemnation, on his back, which the female cult leader was holding bare.

    As soon as I saw him, I knew. He was a cult yer who targeted and found me.

    In front of the yer stood 11 cultists, all armed like other Temple Guardians. They wore ivory bodysuits and wielded Champion Shields. Six of them held Gagons w Swords, while five held Demolishers.

    At first nce, they didnt seem different from other Temple Guardian groups, but I quickly noticed something odd about them. Their eyes were cloudy, like those of madmen, and their breathing patterns were identical, without any variation among the 11.

    Moreover, being able to detect psychic powers as an auxiliary device, I could see it. Each of the 11 cultists had a purple stem attached to their foreheads, all connected to the yers and linked to the back of their necks.

    That damn Amorph -bastard, because of you, my Alia died. Damn, it was so difficult for me to target her!

    A yer with a ruggedly handsome face spat out curses. Treated as nobility in the cult society, the deer antler cultist spoke like a thug, but the cultists in front showed no reaction.

    Seeing that, I was certain. I knew what the enemys special ability was.

    Enhancing the effects of psychic power techniques.

    Just now, the reflection of my Psychic Breath and the purple stems attached to the cultists foreheads. They both seemed to derive from some ability.

    Reflection and Ultra Control are evident.

    The reflection ability is probably Reflection. Originally, it was a technique that only reflected physical attacks, but for some reason, it can now reflect psychic attacks as well.

    Ultra Control, too, originally had the characteristic of controlling only one person at a time, but he is controlling 11 people simultaneously.

    Given that, its highly likely that the enemys special ability greatly enhances the effects of psychic power techniques.

    The reason I specte this is because it felt simr to me.

    Of course, I cant jump to conclusions.

    Whats important here is that they can also reflect energy-based attacks. If thats the case, executing my n bes much easier.

    I opened my mouth to buy time to prepare for the next move.

    Its because of me. I cant understand.

    You cant understand? You imnted Tetanus Vines, and she gotpletely messed up!

    I could have healed her, but you killed her.

    What other tricks do you have up your sleeve? Or do you have traps or nests set up around here? Or maybe that Wolf ve of yours.

    What do you mean?

    Do you think I wouldnt know? That Griffin Wolf, you ate it, right? Ha, whatever. First, deal with yourself, then think about it.

    As soon as his words ended, the cultists in front of him raised their weapons. The Demolisher, aimed at my auxiliary device, seemed like it would fire energy at any moment.

    But I was also ready. I lowered myself to the ground, bringing my upper body as close to the floor as possible. The Inmansoos on my back were preparing to attack.

    Inmansoos* are positioned on the back when not transformed into symbols of hunting. Due to their body structure, to attack smaller enemies like this, I had no choice but to lie down like this.

    [* TL/N- Well I too do not understand this word but it was like this in the raws Ill make the PR do some research on it and hell change it.]

    [PR/N- ]

    Fire.

    The Inmansoos unleashed their sonic attacks. The small monsters in the shape of cult heads emitted sound waves towards the cultists holding Demolishers.

    Tsk.

    The yer lightly clicked his tongue as he watched. The cultists controlled by him quickly avoided the attacks, but they couldnt all dodge. Three cultists holding Demolishers were paralyzed by the sonic attacks and copsed to the ground like boiled dolls.

    Seems like they cant reflect sound waves.

    I stored that fact in the corner of my mind. Meanwhile, my body moved diligently.

    The tip of my tail aimed at the cultists who had evaded the sound waves. As I spread the pincers at the end of my tail, the thorns packed inside shot towards the cultists.

    Here we go.

    Anticipating this, the cultists holding Champion Shields moved agilely. Approaching the Demolisher gunners in an instant, they used their shields to block the thorns.

    Then, other cultists cast Gravity Control on me. The gravity around the space I was standing in changed drastically, putting pressure on the entire chamber.

    It seemed like the cultists had unleashed all the limiters with Ultra Control, and the output was tremendous. I was forced to keep my head down, unable to do anything but drive it into the ground.

    You acted like a jerk in reality, and youre doing the same here. Know that youll never get away with it.

    Despite theckeys casting Gravity Control, bleeding from their eyes, noses, and mouths, the yer paid no attention at all. Seeing him act so cockily, I struggled to say a word.

    You thought you could mess with me like this?

    This damn Amorph -bastard, catching you was easier than I thought, huh?

    Is that so?

    Still, Alia, she was a decent one. Thinking about it pisses me off again.

    As he irritatedly gestured, a cultist with a Demolisher fired an energy st at my head. Part of the tentacles of the monster, struck by the energy st that dismantled everything, was cut off.

    [Pain Nullification Activated]

    Ugh!

    Does it hurt? You little piece of crap.

    Unintentionally, a scream escaped my lips due to the pain beyond imagination. Seeing this, the yer chuckled.

    You know, the longest Ive tortured someone like you is a year? Lets see how much longer you can hold out.

    The yer seemed pleased at the thought of torturing me.

    But theres one thing he doesnt know yet.

    Im not just sitting still because Im afraid of him or because I have no way to fight back. While hes off guard, the preparation for his trait isplete.

    Forget everything Ive said.

    What?

    Instead of answering, I raised my head slightly.

    And then, I opened my mouth wide. From the moment I fired the thorns, the power of my brains preparation surged from my chest. The massive energy, dormant in my chest like a beast with a cor, received the signal and surged forth. A brilliant golden beam, illuminating the dark underground chamber, the Divine Spear, erupted from my mouth.

    What?!

    The yer, seeing this, was startled, spreading his arms. It seemed he intended to deploy Reflection, as he did when blocking Psychic Breath.

    However, the Divine Spear I fired flew towards the wall far above them, not towards him. It created a huge hole in the ice ceiling, powerful enough to destroy an imperial battleship.

    The remaining energy spread through the underground chamber like lightning in the night sky, traveling along the ice walls and ceiling of the chamber.

    As a result of being hit by the Divine Spear, the underground chamber shook as if there had been an earthquake.

    Ha, hahaha! You crazy bastard! That missed!

    As the power of the brain was expelled, I felt my strength drain from my body. Seeing me drop my head, the yer grinned.

    Missed, did it?

    Well, did it really?

    Anyway, your lightning attacks wont be able to block huh?

    The yer, who was mocking me, fell silent. It was understandable.

    The vibrations urring within the chamber were abnormal.

    I never aimed for you in the first ce.

    He probably doesnt know why I fought here in the first ce. When I first entered, I should have been wary after seeing the corpse of the Ice Horror behind me.

    Fighting the Ice Horror, the ce was in a precarious state. Above our headsy a vast expanse of ice several hundred meters thick.

    The reason this underground world had been sustained was simple. There hadnt been an impactrge enough to upset the bnce.

    But since I started fighting the Ice Horror, that precarious bnce had beenpletely shattered. The ice walls, like the mythical As supporting the giant ice masses, were all a mess, and the ice ceiling above our heads had cracksrger than the intact areas.

    In such a state, using the Divine Spear was impossible to endure.

    First, lets deal with yourckeys here and then leave.

    This damn bastard?!

    The startled yer spat out curses and tried to use Reflection, but it was woefully inadequate to block the massive ice chunk descending upon him.

    Watching him exerting all his effort to block, I drew the next card.

    Nows the chance.

    The bone beast, turning Amorph into a giant monster. Its trait was activated.

    Within the copsing chamber, my body began to grow rapidly.

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 Chapter 183

    Chapter 183

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    Jasons yer group viewed the rest of existence as NPCs. Simr in nature to groups aiming for game clearance, but with one significant difference. They had little interest in leaving this world. Unlike the real world, here they were kings, mythical beings in themselves. Jason was a character who lived fairly decently in reality, but that didnt mean he was happier here. Other members felt much the same.

    In that regard, they were simr to yers who chose to live assimted into the space survival world. Of course, what Jasons group desired wasnt assimtion but domination. Moreover, Jason had an exceptionally good start within the group. Thanks to bing a noble of the cult, akin to aristocracy within a cult society, he smoothly adapted to this world.

    Not only that, he boasted special privileges that synergize well with the cult. People around him supported him, and his own power exceeded the limits of the cult. Naturally, his self-awareness had to be stronger than necessary.

    After understanding this world as a space survival world, he lived like a protagonist in aic or a novel. Like collecting unique characters in a game, he made useful NPCs his own, and eliminated anything blocking his path. asionally, if he fancied a woman, he would use mind control techniques like Ultra Control. As a result, he had more than 20 lovers within the empire. ves who couldnt even be treated as lovers were too numerous to count.

    To him, this world was a yground in the game. Except for grouprades, the rest were mere toys. When toys became tiresome, he handed them over to Clo or Jubaka to be used as their experimental materials.

    Even his own kind were seen as nothing more than ves by the tyrant, not equal beings. That was Jasons essence.

    In fact, this life, which seemed to have everything, actually proved that he was a very lonely individual. But he didnt realize it.

    Anyway, living without deprivation for a long time, Jason was greatly displeased with the painful reality that recently befell him. Moreover, the one who exacerbated this situation was the Amorph, whom he most abhorred.

    He killed his 17th lover with his own hands, and the temple guards he had cherished and nurtured were ughtered.

    As he diligently blocked the copsing ceiling, the figure of that bastard was changing. Gray bones and exoskeletons protruded from the ck, monotonous body, and the body itself was growing rapidly.

    Its name was Bone Beast, one of thebat abilities Amorphs enjoyed using in the game.

    Having fought the Amorph several times, he knew how dangerous this ability was.

    It wont work.

    It might be too difficult to keep being dragged around by the Amorph any longer. He decided to use his Third Privilege.

    Four years ago, there was an event known as the Vortex Order Cleansing Operation in the cult society. It was publicly known as such, but in reality, it was a war between yers.

    Jason, Clo, and Cynthia sessfully hunted down a Coldblood Ranker by joining forces, and in the process, Jason gained a new privilege.

    It might be a bit early.

    Jason activated his third privilege, blocking falling rocks and ice with reflections.

    Then, a golden, translucent shadow-like figure appeared behind him. The golden form had antlers protruding from its head, resembling a splendid crown. Golden energy particles swirled around its arms like a garment, while its lower body was absent, instead connected to Jasons spine.

    The purple outer eye embedded in the golden head looked at the temple guards being controlled, causing something strange to happen. As the bodies of the cultists transformed into golden particles, they merged with the golden figure.

    The golden figure, now having absorbed all 11 cultists, had a much clearer color than before. As Jason raised his arm, the golden figure mirrored the action. Then, with a tremendous light, their bodies shot upward.

    What was that just now?

    While his body was transforming, my auxiliary systems detected an anomaly. It was the first time I felt this type of energy sinceing to this world. It resembled psychic power, but it felt much more concentrated.

    The enemy yer used that power to break through the copsing passage head-on. He flew upwards through the ceiling, leaving me alone underground.

    I dont sense any movement from the other cultists.

    Before the yer left, mysterious energy absorbed all the psychic powers in the vicinity. Given the absence of the cults distinctive energy, it was easy to guess what happened to them.

    An ability to absorb energy?

    Such a creature existed, but it was not something the cult could do. Clearly, they used means unknown to me.

    I dont see any equipment I dont recognize.

    The equipment the yer wore was the Predator set, obtainable as a quest reward. No other equipment was detected.

    I need to go out and see for myself.

    Its risky to fight recklessly in a situation where information about the enemy iscking. Especially if the opponent is formidable.

    Despite the yful antics, the yer seemed proficient in using psychic power techniques. The privileges only avable to yers also seemed very powerful.

    But I cant avoid this fight.

    He chased me all the way to this remote. Even if I run away, hell somehow track me down.

    So lets deal with it here.

    Havingpleted my transformation, I began to pierce through the massive ice formations with my overwhelmingly erged arms.

    Until I activated the Bone Beast, the ice formations that seemed endlesslyrge now felt like clumps of snow squeezed by a childs hands. Even the bones of the Ice Horror, which boasted a size enough to cover my body, now failed to give off such an overwhelming feeling.

    Of course. My body length had almost reached 100 meters. Not only had the size increased, but the thickness of the exoskeleton covering my body, as well as the size of the densely coveredposite scales, had also grown significantly.

    In addition, my body was covered with an exoskeleton made of bone material identical to bones. A gray exoskeleton covered my ck exoskeleton, protecting it.

    On top of the gray exoskeleton were bone-like spikes resembling scythes, packed densely enough to look quite threatening even to me.

    To summarize my current appearance briefly, it would be fair to say that I, the former Amorph, had flipped an exoskeleton armor made of animal bones onto myself.

    With that size increase

    It was truly an appearance deserving of being called a giant monster. Although I had seen countless Bone Beasts in games, this feeling of experiencing it firsthand was definitely new.

    Id like to examine it further, but

    Ahead lies a battle with a formidable foe. I smashed through ice and rocks, ascending upward. Thanks to the blunt bone spikes protruding from my body, which served as picks or shovels, I could easily clear away the ice.

    I ascended to the icy in much faster than when I descended. Outside, gray Clouds heavily covered the sky. The snowfield where I stepped foot no longer deserved to be called an ice in. Due to the significant depression in the middle, it had be rugged.

    Rugged snow and ice piles. And beneath the dark sky, he stood.

    The yer with the bizarre golden figure attached to his back. He was waiting for me.

    Is that it?

    What caught my attention was not the yer himself, but the strange entity attached to his back.

    Composed of golden particles, it seemed ethereal like a shadow yet somehow felt three-dimensional. Thanks to Amorphs unique developed senses, I could tell that it was forming a single entity due to extreme energy concentration.

    The golden figure had a form simr to the yers, but antlers protruded from the crown, tangled as if wearing a cor.

    Apart from a vivid purple outer eye on its face, there was nothing else. Around its arms, particles swirled, resembling long silk drapes.

    Seems like summoning-rted tech.

    In space survival, summoning tech was Closer to the possession or descent of higher-dimensional beings rather than mere summoning. Coldbloods who rode the Vortex Order social faction route, or heretic cultists, could harness the power of the Vortex Order.

    If it can materialize to that extent, the cost must be enormous.

    Summoning is a high-risk, high-return technology, so its not easy to use. Although the enemy yer stared at me as if about to kill me, it didnt seem like he paid an enormous price to summon that entity.

    Is it an equipment effect, or

    Perhaps its due to a special ability.

    Either way, it seems extraordinary.

    So he had a hidden ace up his sleeve.

    Even when I used the Spear of the Gods, he seemed confident. He probably judged that he had it under control.

    Normally, summonings that are unified with the user cant move independently.

    Its likely specialized for assisting in cult battles or summoning specialized for rangedbat. Maybe both.

    But thats not the only problem.

    Although attention was focused on the alien golden figure, dealing with the yer wielding the Predator set was also challenging.

    For example, the ck armor he wore for body protection. Made of ck Gargol scales and leather, it offered considerable defense.

    Although it was evaluated as one step lower than the Ice Horrors exoskeleton, just beingpared to the extremely high defense of the enemy was remarkable in itself.

    I dont have the means to destroy that armor in one blow.

    Unless its a reinforced body with the symbol of hunting or Bone Beast, the King of Monsters.

    Moreover, the Predator set includes more than just armor.

    The yer who had been eyeing me drew a silver rod from his waist. The golden figure imitated him, also pulling something from its waist.

    As he held the rod and pressed his thumb, ck mes spewed out from the end of the rod. The zing ck mes gradually subsided, refined into a slender ck de.

    The weapon resembling a torch is the Purification part of the Predator set. Its equipment inspired by the space opera movies famous before my birth, featuring cosmic weapons.

    I wish it ended there, but s.

    The golden figures arm behind him transformed, taking a form simr to Purification.

    The wielder of the weapon immediately swung the sword diagonally towards my direction. The golden figure moved in sync with the yer. As the figure extended the sword, it flew towards me to strike.

    Shit!

    I quickly twisted my body to evade the attack. The sword strike in the form of golden particles brushed past the upper arm area of mybat arm and passed by. As I transformed into Bone Beast mode, the neatlyyered exoskeleton covering my body was cleanly sliced. The sword strike didnt stop even after hitting me, flying backward for quite a distance.

    Dodging the initial attack, I dashed towards him.

    With each stomp of mybat arm on the ground, snow and ice fragments piled up flew upwards. As the 100-meter giant moved, creating a tsunami of snow and ice, it engulfed the yer along with me.

    How should I counter this?

    Is it reflection, or another psychic power?

    However, the cult yer actedpletely different from my expectations.

    No, to be precise, it wasnt him but the golden figure behind him.

    Ugh?!

    Feeling a chilling sensation from the monsters tentacle at the back of my head, I immediately lowered my head forward. Then, the whip-like golden arm passed over my head.

    As if falling forward, I sprayed acidic fungus towards the spot where he stood, maintaining the same posture. The green fungus flying amidst the snowstorm was blocked by the brilliant golden shield.

    Beyond the swirling snow, the golden figure was seen protecting the yer with sword and shield. The cult yer, protected by the summoning, looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

    Indeed.

    Fighting against him wont be easy.

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 Chapter 184

    Chapter 184

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    When I crawled up from the depths, white pellets began to fall from the dark sky. It was the return of the quiet snowstorm. Amidst the falling snow, we eyed each other.

    Why? Am I not allowed to be dissatisfied?

    The enemy yer mocked me with a rxed expression. Despite the swirling snow, the golden figure shimmered brilliantly, steadfastly protecting its summoner.

    Without reacting to his mockery, I reflected on our recent sh.

    That enigmatic particle.

    It was certainly not a psychic power. If it were, even a slight reflection would have been possible with my psychic reflection gloves.

    Furthermore, size doesnt matter.

    The size of the golden figure was barely between 5m to 6m, but it was deceptive. When it swung its arm like a sword just now, its length extended considerably.

    Or rather, as it swung its arm, the arrangement of the golden particlesposing it changed, transforming into a thin, elongated de-like form.

    It looks like a de, but its actually under his control.

    In other words, the golden figure could freely alter its form. Such a concept of summoning creatures didnt exist in the game.

    It might be a newly acquired ability, or

    Perhaps it was the effect of some bonus he possessed, obtained by killing someone just as I had obtained the Plunderers Irregr Polyhedron by killing Muriel.

    At least two, if not more.

    I tried to gain insight from the enemy yer, hoping to glean something useful, but there was nothing concrete. Just a message indicating that there was information included that couldnt be verified, much like when I saw Muriel.

    The only information I could gather was the enemy yers name.

    Jason.

    The fact that his real name didnt appear was also simr to Muriel. Even with the predator sense triggered underground, his name didnt appear correctly. Moreover, it appeared sporadically amidst heavy noise.

    Is it because the yer is the opponent?

    I didnt know why it was happening like this, but Id have to think about thatter.

    Having organised my thoughts in a short time, I moved again. Blunt ws sprouted around my tail and lower body, transforming into bone-like spikes that struck fiercely at the snow and ice.

    My body, spanning over 100m, surged forward like a storm. In an instant, I approached Jason, the cult yer, and struck him with mybat arm.

    Hmph.

    Jason countered my attack with a scoff, his golden form acting as a shield. When his shield met mine, the bone spikes attached to my arm snapped and broke.

    Useless, isnt it?

    Holding his left arm identically, Jason flicked his right arm. As the summoner moved, the golden figure attempted to attack me once again.

    A golden sword sliced through my head armor. As the sword met my head, intense sparks flew.

    Due to the tail end crab ws and the head armor boasting the highest defense on my body, it wasnt easily severed. Though I couldnt prevent the wounds that went several centimeters deep.

    Until when will you hold out

    As he adjusted his posture again, I pulled out all six corrosive tendrils from my back. The tendrils, like snakes emerging from a jar, entangled the golden figure.

    With the tendrils still attached, I exerted force, pulling the figure. Connected to the figure, Jasons body momentarily staggered.

    Flying towards the swaying figure, I wiped my eyes covered in snow. At the end of my tail, the crab w opened wide.

    Due to the bone beast, the size of the w was roughly 10m. If caught by ws as sturdy as those of the Ice Horrors armor, even the Dragon yer set wouldnt escape.

    you thought?

    However, Jason remained calm. The moment he opened his mouth, the golden figure disintegrated into particles, slipping through my tendrils.

    In the blink of an eye, the reconstituted figure swiftly formed a shield, blocking my w. Unlike other parts, the shield-shaped left arm bore a deeper shade of gold.

    That was easy.

    And the golden figure retaliated like a fencer extending their sword. I lifted my head to evade the attack aimed at the auxiliary organ below my jaw, flying towards me.

    But his attack wasnt over yet. Jason, who had been still until now, propelled himself off the ground and leaped into the air.

    As the shield enveloping him disappeared, my tail brushed past under his feet, and he stepped on the air like stairs, rising up towards my chest.

    Compared to me, Jason was significantly smaller, so there wasnt much to worry about, but the problem was the summoned creature clinging to his back.

    A huge de formed from the reconstituted golden figure behind him flew towards me to slice through my body.

    Oh, no!

    It was difficult to dodge in this situation. Quickly, I spread out the aerial membrane attached to mybat arms.

    Originally meant for aerial use, the aerial membrane wasnt suitable for flight above ground. However, with my increased size, the aerial membranes attached to each of my six arms had also expanded. With wings spanning tens of meters each, it was impossible not to lift my body momentarily.

    With the membranes spread out, I vigorously swung my arms. A strong wind swept beneath me, lifting my body upwards.

    Agh!

    Jason blinked in the flying wind. The de that had been about to cut through my abdomen dispersed into golden particles in an instant.

    Trickster!

    With his shout, the de that had lost its momentum instantly returned to its original form and lightly grazed my exoskeleton. In the meantime, I soared backwards, swinging my tail forward as if sweeping a broom.

    I had expected him to form a shield like before, but this time, he took a different action. As Jason spread his left hand wide, a formless energy field appeared, pushing my tail back.

    It was the psychokic power technique, Reflection, which reflected the opponents attack. Despite the tremendous recoil from the energy reflected by my tail, I utilized that recoil. My body was pushed backward by the reflected energy flow.

    As Inded on the snowy ground, a gigantic spear made of golden particles flew towards me. I intercepted the persistent attack aimed at my auxiliary device with corrosive tendrils.

    Due to the tendrils, the trajectory of the distorted spear deviated, turning into small pellets of light before returning to its owners body.

    You stubborn bastard. Do you have nothing else to do besides running away?

    Why so silent? You, the esteemed 5th rank in the rankings? Huh?

    Jason sneered at me, but I didnt respond.

    There was something more important than that.

    That just now?

    In just a few minutes, I had obtained two very important pieces of information.

    He lost his form when he blinked.

    In the wind generated when I soared into the air, Jason blinked for a brief moment. During that moment, the golden figure had fragmented into particles.

    Literally in the blink of an eye, but I didnt miss it.

    That form is affected by his senses.

    It seems particrly important for constructing his form visually. Perhaps if I manage to evade his sight, actions like shooting des or throwing spears would be nullified.

    And theres a cooldown for changing his form.

    After blinking, the reconstituted golden figure tried to attack me with a de again but failed. Right after that, my tail attempted to strike him, but he transformed it into a shield.

    Unlike before, he used Reflection to block it.

    This part is still not certain. Whether he set a trap or acted without much thought remains to be excluded.

    Lets experiment once.

    I spread out the aerial membrane widely and vigorously swept the ground. The ground in front of me cracked, and ice fragments and piled-up snow began to scatter in the air, covering my path.

    And I started running in the opposite direction without a cover.

    Trying to run away from here with no cover?

    Escape? Of course not.

    Due to me, the terrain of the icy in became rugged, making it difficult to find a ce to hide. Moreover, its all covered in pure white snow unlike my jet-ck body, so theres no way to conceal myself.

    But thats okay.

    From now on, my actions should appear as if Im trying to hide my body.

    As expected, the little Amorph. Noticed it quickly.

    In the snow nketing the ground, Jason briefly licked his lips. It hadnt been long since we fought, yet he already identified the weakness of the advantage he used.

    The identity of the golden figure connected to his spine is a cluster of tiny particle-like parasitic organisms. The organisms are so small, and they are closely interconnected, making the entire cluster appear as one entity.

    Usually stored inside Jasons body, they emerge connected to his spine whenever he activates his advantage, forming the golden figure as it is now.

    In essence, Jason is a living nest of parasitic organisms resembling golden particles, no different from a brain. Therefore, his cognitive abilities are greatly influenced by them.

    What he doesnt see, the parasitic organisms cannot see, and what he doesnt know, the parasitic organisms also do not know.

    To catch that in such a short moment. Truly a madman.

    Strictly speaking, it could be considered a weakness, but Jason wasnt overly concerned. Hes a powerful psychic power user, positioned almost as a priest in the Cult Empire. He has plenty of means to enhance his cognitive abilities and senses.

    Standing there, Jason cast psychic techniques to enhance his senses. Then, information about where I moved rapidly filled his mind: my diminishing energy, the psionic waves dissipating somewhere like thin threads. Jason didnt miss even the smallest piece of information.

    Psychic waves Trying to call the ve?

    I already know that he considers the Mother of the Sky as a ve, having seen it through the eyes of a temple guardian.

    Come to think of it, that griffin Wolf, could it be a yer?

    Considering the circumstances, its highly likely that Wolf is a yer, as per the message left by Muriel before her death.

    A yer.

    If its a man, theyre useless except for the advantage, so kill them right away, and if its a woman

    Its been a while since I had a Wolf ve.

    Deciding to y around with it for a bit before killing, Jason leisurely followed the traces left by Amorph.

    Though the traces left in the heavy snowfall were almost gone, it was no hindrance to him. Psychic powers dont just disappear easily even in heavy snow.

    He activated psychic power techniques for defense like Reflection, then raised his arms high. The golden figures sword attached to his back expanded to a size of tens of meters behind him.

    That should be enough, right?

    Having increased the figures size to probably over one-third of my body, Jason swung his arms toward the snowdrift. The huge golden sword, erged to be visible even from the distant mountain range, descended onto the snow.

    With a deafening sound, several fragments fell into the air.

    Through his enhanced senses, he could feel that among those fragments were flesh pieces from my body. Looking at the fallen pieces, the destroyed area looked like one of his arms due to the gigantic finger joints rolling on the snow, easily exceeding 5 meters.

    Hmm?

    Seeing that the debris wasrger than expected, Jason was taken aback. Even if its size was around 100m, its fingers werent supposed to be that big.

    Whats that big Wait?

    Sensing something amiss, Jason quickly rolled back and lifted himself up. At that moment, something huge emerged from beneath the snowdrift where he stood.

    Oh, Shit!

    For an instant, Jason thought two small mountains had sprouted beneath his feet. Astonishingly, it was a mouth,rge enough to easily surpass dozens of meters.

    The jaws, which had been wide open from side to side under the snow until now, began to close to swallow him. It was like a trap set with leaves closing in, only this one was operational.

    There was no time to activate the shield. Despite already casting Reflection, it was impossible to block the enormous jaws closing in from all directions.

    In the end, the only way was to retreat. He kicked the air and swiftly moved backward.

    Narrowly dodging the closing jaws like a trap in an ancient tomb, Jason barely escaped. However, he couldnt avoid the gigantic mouth that easily surpassed dozens of meters without a scratch. Just before escaping, one of his legs was grazed by the teeth, leaving a deep scratch.

    Argh!

    Its not just a scratch; each tooth isrger than him. Since such massive teeth passed by his leg, its more urate to say his leg was torn than just scratched.

    You bastard!

    Thanks to the Dragon yer set he wore, his wounds healed quickly, but it didnt eliminate the pain. However, Jason hadnt felt such intense pain in a long time, so he cursed vehemently.

    As if in response to the curse, the owner of the mouth in front of him began to slowly rise.

    You damn Amorph Wh-what?

    For a moment, he thought a sr eclipse had urred on this, but it wasnt.

    It was a shadow created by some creature, not the moons shadow.

    The owner of the shadow covering the snowy in was a creature he knew well.

    The creature he detested the most.

    The monster he didnt even want to encounter in his nightmares.

    The Amorph, with a size exceeding hundreds of meters, roared in front of him.

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 Chapter 185

    Chapter 185

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    I looked down at the spot stuck in the white snowy field. Jason, who had quickly healed his calf wounds with the ck Gagon armor effect, was looking up at me.

    Compared to the 6m-sized golden form, Jasons height couldnt be easily described as small from an objective standpoint. With a height of 2m, he was quite tall even among Cult males.

    It doesnt matter in front of me.

    Whether its 2m or 6m, it doesnt matter in front of me. Thanks to using the special state of King of Monsters in addition to the skeletal beast state, my body has be tremendously gigantic. The length of my body reached 300m, and the length of the lower jaw easily exceeded dozens of meters.

    To exaggerate a bit, its like a moving mountain.

    I never expected to grow this big without reaching maturity.

    Even I, who knows everything about Amorph, couldnt anticipate what Jason knew. He didnt even notice when I opened my mouth under the snow.

    Of course, he attacked with the golden form, suspecting that I might be hiding. As a result, one of hisbat arms was severely injured, but I was relieved.

    Originally, this attack would have been enough to blow away one-third of my body.

    The fatal attack only resulted in injuring one arm. And through his attack, I was certain of one thing: the golden forms transformation requires time.

    It wasnt a long time, but it didnt matter. Even such a short cooldown during battle could act as a fatal weakness.

    What the fuck is this?! Ive never heard of anything like this!

    Jason, who was rxed just moments ago, didnt seem so now. He appeared to lose hisposure at the sight of me, which had grown evenrger than imagined.

    In fact, my situation isnt that great either.

    Maintaining the King of Monsters requires a tremendous amount of energy. Even now, the energy inside my body is being depleted at a tremendous speed.

    If I hadnt devoured the Ice Horror, it would have been over soon.

    Thanks to consumingrge amounts of meat rich in energy, I have stored a considerable amount of energy.

    As long as I dont use the energy-consuming properties like the divine sceptre, the King of Monsters can be maintained for about 10 minutes.

    I swung one of mybat arms toward the space where Jason stood. As thebat arm, about the size of a small park, fell, he hastily raised both arms.

    When my hand collided with the ice, a tremendous gust of wind urred, sweeping away the snow. Beyond the swirling snowstorm, his figure was no longer visible.

    Where did he go?

    That damn Amorph!

    As if answering my question, his voice was heard from afar. Then, the golden sword he created flew towards my auxiliary organ.

    I raised anotherbat arm to shield the auxiliary organ. The sword he created struck my forearm.

    However, my arm itself was sorge that it only covered the forearm with the golden arm guard created by the golden form. Realizing that the attack was shallow, he spat out a curse.

    Damn it!

    Currently, Jason was wearing a headband that I hadnt seen before. It was a halo-shaped headband with a violet glow. Its called the Harmonizer, obtained as a level 9 quest reward.

    For now, lets start with this.

    Extra lives that can be obtained through the harmonizer total five. Since it has been used once, there are four left for future use.

    I reached out withbat arms to grab him. Moving to catch him as my arms swept away the snow piled on the ground. Just before my hands could grab him, he raised his left hand.

    Then my hand moved on its own, regardless of my will. It must have been abination of gravity control and reflection that pushed my arms away.

    As Jason blocked my attacks, the golden figure surrounding him changed once again.

    Particles forming the figure disintegrated, transforming into beams of light carrying his body aloft.

    So, he escaped underground with that.

    I deployed erosion tendrils to seize the one trying to slip away.

    The six erosion tendrils are normally kept in a dormant form within emptypartments inside my armor. When needed, they swiftly emerge through thin membranes covering six holes.

    These erosion tendrils boast the longest reach among the parts of my body, without any special effects. With my body having grown over ten times its original size, naturally, the erosion tendrils have also increased to an unbelievable size.

    Amidst the raging snowstorm, the six erosion tendrils stretch out like dragons ascending along the golden beams of light.

    Although the golden beams of light dodged like acrobats, how long could they avoid the tendrils closing in from all sides?

    Perhaps sharing the same thought, Jason tossed a Purification into the air. A silver rod with a ck me motif spun like a windmill, attacking my tendrils.

    Purification is a weapon inspired by a famous sword from ssic space operas. Like its original, Purification boasts formidable attack power, capable of easily slicing through my tendrils, controlled by Jason. However, if theres an issue

    The tendrils are big, so the impact isnt much.

    Even though each erosion tendril surpasses Jasons height in thickness alone, tirelessly attacking with Purification, causing fatal wounds isnt easy.

    The enemys attacks now feel like ants wielding tweezers against a human. Unless they pierce a vital spot with those tweezers, ants wont easily kill a human.

    Even if the wounds are deep, I possess the regeneration trait. Unless the tendrils arepletely severed, such wounds quickly heal.

    Of course, its not without significant energy consumption.

    With each deep pration of the erosion tendrils, the time maintaining the form of the King of Monsters diminishes, yet I show no sign of retreat.

    My task is simple.

    To overwhelm him with immense size.

    In other words, the violence of scale. Thats the weapon Ive prepared.

    Cackle!

    Judging that attacking with Purification is futile, Jason withdrew his sword. The beams of light surrounding him returned to the golden figure hanging on his back.

    As he hovered in the air with gravity control, the golden figures attackmenced as he swung his arms.

    The shining golden sword struck one of the erosion tendrils. It seeded in cutting more than half, but couldnt sever itpletely.

    Though the pain was excruciating enough to numb, I showed no sign of it. Instead, taking advantage of the figures immobilization, I aimed other tendrils at Jasons main body.

    As tendrils rushed towards him, he hastily extended his left hand. Reflection activated, bouncing the tendrils away.

    However, fending off the tendrils attacking from six directions, each reaching hundreds of meters, is by no means an easy task, even for someone as skilled as him, a Ranker.

    Ugh!

    The sharp appendage of the erosion tendril grazed the mans leg. It was a region torn and then healed by my teeth.

    This bastard!

    As I kept attacking the same spot, Jason yelled out in frustration. Along with him, a gigantic purple whip sprang from his left hand, deflecting my tendrils.

    While he dealt with the tendrils, expressing his anger, I swiftly approached him. With a stride spanning over hundreds of meters, the ice beneath cracked and shattered.

    As I moved, my mouth widened amidst the rising mist. Lower jaw split in two, revealing rows of teeth packed within.

    Swallow him whole.

    If others had seen me, they would have shivered at my grotesque appearance, akin to a maw of abyss. Upon the massive jaws closing in on him, Jason cursed briefly.

    Shit!

    In response to his curse, the golden figure transformed into beams of light once again. Jason narrowly escaped from my mouth. He let out a new curse as the jaws mmed shut with a loud ng.

    This insane bastard!

    As soon as I heard his scream, an intangible force struck my neck and head. Gravity control, confinement, and several Psychic powers beyond that gripped my head and neck.

    Ugh!

    Its an immense force. Regardless of skill, the output of supernatural abilities from the opponent exceeds that of Number 26.

    Even though the Psychic reflection gloves should be deflecting, he was using reflection to bounce back the damage onto me.

    Die Ugh?!

    As he screamed, attempting to twist my neck, suddenly his body froze like a broken puppet. Unseen threads now ensnared his body.

    Theres no need to say who the owner of those invisible threads, formed from highlypressed energy, is.

    Damn you! What do you think youre doing to my baby!

    Beyond the raging snowstorm, a creature with a purplish-pink hue emerges.

    A being notorious in the game as a formidable foe, thought to be impossible to befriend.

    And the first friend I made sinceing to this world.

    It was the sea Demon Number 26.

    While Number 26 exerted all his strength to restrain him, a dragon soared behind the man.

    Me Cold Patience

    A vivid green wingspan and a long, chubby tail adorned the impressive figure, a small Griffin, Adhai. A centaur, resembling an eagle-headed lion, rode atop his back.

    You damn bastard, did you think you could escape?

    The griffon, now in sky sentinel mode, growls, emitting a sense of calm. Having coordinated their moves several times before, they were prepared for this joint attack.

    With lightning speed, the Griffin wolf approached. Jasons eyes widened as he saw them.

    This damn!

    Purple mes ignited in his eyes. As his body emanated purple energy, it transformed into numerous thorn-like shapes.

    Theres an effect called Morta, a high-level psychic power, that nullifies the effects of other psychic attacks.

    Huh? Its released!

    As the unseen threads were touched by the sharp thorns, Number 26s restraints were immediately released.

    Freed from restraint, Jason quickly twisted his waist to the side. This was because The Mother of the Sky, already close enough to reach out, thrust her golden spear towards him.

    Tch!

    The spear narrowly missed slicing through the mans armor. As the abdominal armor broke, shards of ck Griffin scales scattered into the air.

    How dare you!

    Enraged, Jason roared and swung his arm towards The Mother of the Sky. The golden figure synchronized with him also transformed its arm into a sword shape and swung wildly.

    Adhai, riding The Mother of the Sky, performed amazing acrobatics, avoiding the mans attacks. While Jason blocked my erosion tendrils with reflection, he kept an eye on Adhais movements.

    You arrogant bastard!

    Danger! Danger!

    As Jason reached out his hand, Adhai froze in mid-air as if suspended. She, too, had used restraints like Number 26.

    Seizing the opportunity, the golden figure descended with its sword aimed to split Adhai and The Mother of the Sky in two.

    You think you can leave me alone like that.

    I swung mybat arms with all my might towards Jasons direction.

    Thebination of size, weight, and power created something truly formidable. A powerful gust of wind struck Jason forcefully.

    Ugh?!

    Whether he couldnt even reflect the wind with reflection, he had no choice but to endure the natural phenomenon I created.

    As the air rushed out and snowkes stung his face, he closed his eyes. Just as the golden figure was about to strike Adhai, it burst into particle form.

    Dont hit the little ones and the middle one!

    Number 26s Psychic power flowed into Adhai. The sh between the two mighty Psychic users weakened the restraints on Adhai.

    Thank you!

    Freed from restraint, Adhai turned her wings once before swiftly flying behind me at lightning speed.

    You damn maniptor! What trick did you pull to control the Sea Demon and the Griffin!

    Seeing him open his eyes and witnessing the scene, Jason was furious. It seemed more shocking to him that I moved in coordination with other monsters than being affected by thebined attack.

    Maniptor.

    He probably thinks Im controlling them as parasites, but thats impossible. Parasites cant control multiple beings so intricately.

    And my allies arent just three.

    Theres still one more left.

    Amidst the relentless snowfall, the ice-covered ground isnt solely upied by Number 26. Hidden beneath the snow, the special friend he brought is waiting in anticipation.

    Now!

    Responding to my signal, the Screamer, or rather PS-111, sprang out, scattering snow.

    PS-111, a monstrous creature with the head of a human woman on four pairs of legs. Other than being a fusion of machinery and flesh, a new appendage had sprouted from its posterior.

    It was a tail. Simr to a scorpions tail, it branched upwards from the body, with something other than a stinger attached to its tip.

    The pointed object resembled the head of a demolition bolt.

    Sess.

    I secretly issued amand to absorb the Demolisher while I engaged Jasons subordinates inbat.

    The creature, having absorbed the Demolisher and crafted a new weapon, activated its prepared arsenal.

    A navy-blue energy projectile soared, evaporating falling snow. Its target: beneath Jasons feet.

    !

    Realizing toote, he twisted his body to evade. But once again, his paralyzed thigh became a problem.

    The Demolishers power, capable of disintegrating everything, engulfed his lower left leg.

    Ah, ah, ahhhh!

    With his left foot cleanly severed, Jason screamed in agony. Seizing the moment of his panic, I struck him with mybat arm to inflict as much damage as possible.

    Though there was sensation at my fingertips, I couldnt see the man getting hit and thrown away.

    After a while, a purple light shed from far away, and Jasons body reconstituted itself. While his lost ankle returned to normal, he seemed unable to forget the pain he just felt.

    I-Ill kill you all!

    With a scream, a purple line shot out from above his head, flying towards the sky. I knew what that sight meant.

    Brainwave!

    Like Muriel, he also brought a Brainwave.

    If he uses it here, hell get caught too.

    Even with the Coordinators effect, it was impossible topletely avoid the Brainwaves range, which was very wide. Jason, being a cult ranker, would know this fact better than anyone else here.

    Whether he believes in something or

    He lost his sanity due to anger.

    Whatever it was, it seemed he judged that he could kill me with Brainwave.

    In a game, his judgment would be correct, but not here. Even if struck directly by Brainwave, I, using the King of Monsters and Bone Beast, wouldnt die.

    But the kids wont.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Everyone gather)]

    I stretched out mybat arm to pick up Number 26 and PS-111. With everyone tucked under my small arms around my chest, I began to retreat when Jason lunged at me.

    Where do you think youre going!

    Dozens of Psychic techniques he unleashed clung to my lower body.

    You damn maniptor! Youre dying here!

    Jasons face contorted like a demon. The golden figures de, which had been behind him, flew onto my carapace.

    ***

    That bastard is indeed unbelievably strong.

    Jason cursed inwardly.

    He knew well of the devilish prowess for which the notorious Amorph was famous. But he hadnt expected him to fight this well in reality.

    Among the rankers he had killed, there was none as annoying as Amorph.

    Damn it. Shouldve just waited for the Gagon.

    Even if one were topare him to a Cold Blooded Ranker, Amorph was not to be underestimated. But at that time, Jason had allies. Thanks to Cloe and Cynthia, victory had been easily achieved.

    In fact, if ck Gagon had been present in this fight, Amorph would have already been dead.

    Tch, didnt expect him to have allies.

    Among his group, even Akira, who knew Amorph the best, could assert that he wouldnt be walking alone. Jason himself had fought Amorph several times, so he knew what kind of person he was.

    In the game, he was thoroughly a loner. He didnt cooperate with anyone, let alonemunicate with anyone.

    To him, every existence was an enemy, like Amorph, who desired to prey on all life.

    To the point where there might have been discussions in themunity about whether he was an AI created by the developers.

    Therefore, Jason was shocked to learn that Amorph was leading NPCs. It was unclear whether they were ves dominated by parasites or if it was some special effect of his.

    If this attack doesnt finish, well have to retreat.

    A very shameful conclusion, but it couldnt be helped. Today, satisfaction would have toe from obtaining information about him.

    Die! Die!

    Despite his cold inner self, he screamed in rage outwardly, appearing consumed by anger. His furious outburst was a facade.

    It was inevitable to hold onto the massively erged target.

    Anyway, I can escape.

    His third special ability obtained from capturing a Metallic Gremlin Ranker would easily allow him to escape from this situation.

    As the battle between the monsters and Jason continued, Brainwavepleted all preparations.

    Kill!

    Die!

    As Jasons outer and inner selves merged into one shout, a yellow me fell from the sky.

    A transcendent power generated by the orbital weapon named Brainwave.

    Amorph, standing defiantly before this divine me, raised its banner. Just like a demon mimicking divine authority, a yellow me spewed from its mouth.

    As the powers of the two Brainwaves merged, the sky trembled. Psychics manifested in the form of snow, ice, and thunder. The dance of the Brainwaves, created by material and power, was truly majestic.

    Jason, who had anticipated this, was awe-struck by the spectacle, even momentarily losing hisposure. But he quickly regained his senses.

    Weak as expected!

    Compared to the attack he had unleashed when fighting the Imperial Battleship, the current attack from Amorph was significantly weaker. It seemed as if there was ack of energy output.

    Yeah. It must be difficult to use both Double Ergement and Brainwaves power. Both at once would be challenging.

    When Amorph was erged to mountain size, Jason thought. If he continued to grow sessively like that, the energy consumption from his body would be severe.

    His prediction was correct. It was evident that gold was appearing on Amorphs gloves as he poured out the power of Brainwave.

    As a result of Double Ergement, Amorphs gloves became terrifyingly thick, but even that had now reached its limit.

    Nows the chance!

    As Jason focused, the golden figure began to shrink. Instead, the de part of Amorphs weapon only grewrger.

    Momentster, the golden figure disappeared, leaving only a massive mass of light covering Jasons body.

    Jason, who had been using the golden figure solely for evasion until now, changed it into a beam of light and reset his target.

    Using it solely for evasion was a kind of deception. The beam of light from the golden figure was one of his most powerful attack weapons.

    Its like turning my body into a bullet.

    Amorphs armor began to shatter, and its size started to decrease. The lightning bolt fired by Brainwave was also rapidly losing its power.

    Just a little more now!

    The moment the light from Brainwave went out, Jasonmanded the golden figure.

    To fly forward and shatter Amorphs head.

    The next moment, he found himself not on the snowy ground anymore. The ck blood that covered the entire golden figure was absorbed by particles in an instant.

    He turned his head to look behind.

    There stood a gigantic monster with arge hole in its neck. Even so, it was the neck that was pierced because Amorph had evaded his attack.

    Of course, even so, the wound inflicted on Amorph was fatal.

    Like a cut thread, the monsters body slowly copsed.

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 Chapter 186

    Chapter 186

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

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    The activation conditions for the Revenant Mechanism are as follows:

    One must suffer a lethal attack to the point of near death. By lethal attack, it excludes self-inflicted harm. It only triggers when attacked by someone or something other than oneself.

    Moreover, once injuries are healed, the Revenant Mechanism automatically enters a dormant state. As the name implies, it can only be used when one is effectively dead or in a simr state.

    Meeting these stringent conditions and sessfully activating the Revenant Mechanism can yield truly remarkable effects. When activated, all cooldowns for possessed traits are reset, and during the duration, all traits can be used without restriction.

    Among the traits that Amorph can acquire, those with limitations or cooldowns are typically of unique or fused nature. Even in my case, traits like Symbol of Hunt Horizon of Nightmare, and Organic Evolution all have cooldowns.

    The reason why such powerful traits have be outliers is twofold. Firstly, to effectively utilize the Revenant Mechanism, one must possess numerous unique traits. However, these unique traits are lost upon the characters death. Deliberately using these traits risks losing them altogether.

    The second reason lies in the fact that enemies are aware of the existence of the Revenant Mechanism. If enemies regte their attacks to prevent its utilization, it bes a mere ornament. From the stringent conditions to the risks of failure and the emphasis on passive y, everything adds to the challenge.

    No matter how remarkable it may seem, the traits themselves have significant ws, leading most yers to not rely on them as their primary strategy. They are either used as insurance or to deceive enemies into believing one possesses the traits.

    Of course, just as there are all kinds of people in the world, there are those who actively seek to exploit the Revenant Mechanism. If one can perfectly control their health and urately anticipate enemy strategies and attacks, they can be true Returned Ones, masters of the Revenant Mechanism.

    And I was one of those who fulfilled those conditions.

    Blood flowed from my neck. The injury inflicted by Jason, shrouded in a golden form, piercing through. If this were a game, Id have very few health points left by now.

    This isnt a game, but I could feel it. The blood coursing through my body was rapidly cooling. My heart rate was dropping, and my brain, flooded with endorphins from extreme pain, was not functioning properly.

    Sinceing to this world, Ive never been so close to death.

    Everything is going as expected.

    I had anticipated that once Jason pulled out his weapon, he would engage in a joint attack. It made sense, despite his feigned madness, he acted rationally, apart from his reckless charge towards me.

    Of course, I didnt anticipate him using the light beam-transforming technology for an offensive purpose. I had expected a different Psychic power technique.

    Still, I could reasonably guess where he would aim.

    This is reality, so Ill proceed as safely as possible.

    If Amorphs brain is destroyed, apart from passive traits, they wont be able to use general traits. So, from his perspective, creating a situation where he could safely kill me, even if not in a single blow, would be advantageous.

    Or perhaps, hes considering fleeing.

    The once cold blood begins to grow warmer, ever so slightly. A small me ignites in my dying heart. The pain from the hole-ridden neck persists, yet my body is undergoing significant changes from just moments ago. With each throb of Amorphs heart, a special fluid is emitted from the apparatus beside it. Like oil spreading fire, the liquid seeps through my veins, permeating every corner of my body.

    As changes ur within me, the situation outside is rapidly evolving. My colleagues, realizing Im not dead, have begun to fight against Jason and Amorph, trying to stop them.

    Insane! Youre not dead yet?

    Seeing Amorph copsed on the ground, Jason trembled. With the release of his ergement, the thick carapace that had covered Amorph was shattered, making him look as if he had been suffocated at first nce. But if Amorph had truly died, Jason should have gained the advantages he possessed. If not, theres only one answer: Amorph isnt dead.

    Should I run?

    Amorph always strikes unexpectedly. Its highly probable that even now, hes scheming something.

    And if not?

    In a game, its one thing, but can Amorph be considered to have deliberately endangered his own life in reality? If hes truly in danger and just decides to run away, there couldnt be anything more foolish.

    Jason pondered. The desire to strike Amorph down with Purification and Condemnation immediately coexisted with the thought of fleeing.

    No. Theres no need for unnecessary risks.

    He gained valuable information from fighting Amorph. With other colleagues, they could surely capture him.

    With this decision in mind, he attempted to activate the Third Advantage.

    Huh?

    At that moment, his body, engulfed by blue particles, froze. Some unknown force had blocked him.

    You! Where do you think youre going after injuring my big guy like that!

    A wave of intense emotion pierced his mind. When he turned his head, he saw a Sea Demon.

    Simr to Amorph, but closer to ck with shades of purple, its grotesque body was covered in sinister eyes.

    As hundreds of eyes watched him, a vast darkness engulfed him.

    The Abyssal Terror!

    Jason quickly used a Psychic power technique to defend against the mental assault. The world plunged into darkness for a brief moment before returning to normal.

    If it had been a regr Sea Demon, it wouldnt have been so easily dispelled. But that Sea Demon seems weaker.

    Is there a malfunction? Urgh?!

    As the light returned, a green light flew towards him. Unable to properly detect it due to the Abyssal Terror, he took the full force of the green creatures charge.

    Big guy! Injury! Forgiveness! Impossible!

    Damn it!

    Upon striking him, Jason cursed at the flying green Gagon.

    So theyve gathered simr beings together.

    A half-breed Sea Demon, a handicapped green Gagon. As befitting of Amorphspanions with shitty personalities, they were a bunch of morons.

    Rip those wings off.

    As Jason reached out, his golden form transformed his arm into a whip,shing out at the flying green Gagon. Just as his attack was about tond, a navy blue energy st struck his whip. The area hit by the energy st disappeared as if it had never existed.

    Whats this?

    [Enemy. Eliminated.]

    Above the broken carapace of Amorph, a sinister creature raised its tail towards the sky.

    Why is that here no, more importantly, why is it obeying Amorphsmand?

    Though their appearances were quite different, seeing the mixture of machinery and biology, Jason was certain it was the Mutant Screamer Clo was developing.

    Could its memories have been restored? No, that couldnt possibly be the case, but

    Jason knew what materials the Mutant Screamer was made from. Given the extensive gic mixing in that abomination, there was surely a connection.

    But Jasons contemtion couldnt continue any longer. A creature with golden fur rushed at him.

    A Griffin with white hair and golden fur sliced through his abdomen as it passed by.

    What the?!

    Sudden pain in his abdomen startled Jason. It was a blow from armor made of ck Gagon scales.

    The entity that left a wound in Jasons abdomen was holding a golden spear in its beak.

    The Divine Sceptre!

    He knew that Muriel intended to retrieve the Wolf ves and incidentally obtain that weapon. Seeing the Griffin wielding the weapon, it was easy to guess who the opponent was.

    Do you remember me? You had Muriel kill my family.

    Damn Wolf bastard

    While the armor of the ck Gagon quickly healed his wounds, the fact that he had been attacked unexpectedly remained.

    Irritated, he extended his left hand towards the Griffin Wolf. As Gravity Control expanded, immense gravity filled the wide area.

    Ugh!

    The ground froze, and the Griffins movements slowed dramatically. Adding Restraint on top of that, the creature couldnt move at all. In that state, as his golden form was about to slice through with a sword, interference came again.

    You! Dont harass the little one in the middle!

    Tch.

    Transparent threads wrapped around his body. Jason used Morta, nullifying the enemys Psychic power technique and releasing the Sea Demons restraint.

    Dont act all annoyed.

    As if annoyed, he flicked his hand, and his golden form struck the Sea Demon with a sword. As several tentacles were severed in one blow, the creatures body turned pale.

    Go away, from the little one.

    You bastard!

    Upon seeing that, the Green Gagon swooped down, but Jason deflected him with Reflection, sending the creature bouncing off an invisible barrier, its wings mangled.

    As he moved to finish off the groaning creature crashing to the ground, suddenly, the approaching Mutant Screamer opened its mouth and bit down on his arm.

    No use ugh?!

    He thought hed be protected by his armor, but it was a misconception. In an instant, as his strength was sucked away, Jason almost copsed.

    Damn Fuckingreaver!

    Realizing the enemy had absorbed the Blood Reaver, Jason immediately swung Purge in his right hand. The ck-med sword struck the Mutant Screamers leg.

    [Krik, mobility impaired.]

    Damn it, impairments or not, Ill kill you!

    Enraged, Jason swung Purge vigorously. With each sh of the ck de, the Mutant Screamers legs were gruesomely severed.

    In no time, the creature lost most of its legs and slumped down. Jason, in a nerve-wracked attitude, ruthlessly assaulted the creatures body.

    Pah. Pitiful.

    He spat at the fallen Screamer and retrieved Purge.

    Having quickly dealt with Amorphsckeys, he approached the Griffin, which was now unable to move. The Griffin, with its beak holding a spear, red at him.

    That spear is too much for you.

    As he extended his hand to activate Psychic power, the spear trembled. Despite the Griffins efforts to hold onto it, it was futile.

    Ugh!

    The smooth golden beak twisted, then broke. He picked up the broken pieces of the spear that had fallen to the ground.

    Thats that. Oh,e to think of it, if shes a yer, he must have a reward, right?

    Considering whether to take the Griffin as well, he suddenly heardughter. The Griffin, with its broken beak, was mocking him.

    Are you crazy?

    Ke, keke, kekeke, you little shit.

    Its already tricky if you go mad. I have a lot I want to do.

    Kekeke, can you really do that?

    Thats what Im saying. Even while being tortured Keuk!

    Before he could finish his sentence, Jason spewed blood. Along with the blood, a pain he had never experienced before engulfed him.

    Looking down, he saw a massive bone protruding from his chest.

    What?

    Slowly turning his head, he saw the owner of the bone de standing there.

    You, you bastard!

    A presence stabbed him with a bone-de protruding from his back.

    It was Amorph, transformed into a new form.

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 Chapter 187

    Chapter 187

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

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    Kuk!

    With the bone de attached to the arms on my back, I attempted to tear Jason apart. However, the Harmonizer effect was triggered, rendering my attack futile. The golden spear of the priest he was holding plunged deeply into my eyes. The enemy had already anticipated using the Harmonizer. des of bones surrounding the auxiliary organs briskly flickered. Having predicted Jasons direction, I dashed towards him without hesitation.

    Revenant Mechanism Kuk!

    Jason, reconstructed from dozens of meters away, shouted before quickly noticing my approaching figure. The golden figure on his back hastily attempted to transform his arm into a de.

    As expected, the Harmonizer isnt quitepatible.

    From what Ive observed so far, after teleportation, hes always fixed in a form resembling a human. This means that each time he teleports, the weaknesses of his golden form are fully exposed. Theres a certain dy when the form changes.

    Before the golden figure could transform its arm into a de, mybat-ready arm shed at him.

    Agh!

    The one whose face was scratched by my nails screamed. Blood gushed from the eye split in half by my nails.

    As he screamed, the one clinging to the purification swung his reflection into action. However, I had already moved back. His attack sliced through the air in vain.

    You rat! Ill finish you with one blow!

    New eyes sprouted on his forehead, pouring blood from both eyes. The name of those eyes is Third Eye, a technique that grants effects simr to the auxiliary organs I possess to the user.

    Its a good detection technique for detecting invisible enemies or movements, but theres one thing he doesnt know.

    [The fur of unknown creatures: This is a benefit provided by the Clever Weakling trait. It provides the user with a hiding effect that allows them to evade detection equipment, traits, and techniques by sensing the subtle vibrations of the fur. ]

    While the kids held him down, I prepared both the Clever Weakling and the Symbol of Hunting simultaneously.

    As the King of Monsters effect faded away, the discarded carapace became a cover, and I was reborn as a small monster of about 5 meters. With my fourbat arms moving downwards to form my lower body, my physique resembled that of a centaur rather than a snake. Among the armor and scales covering my body, dense fur with powerful protective effects had grown. But thats not all. Many deadly weapons are also attached to my body. Between the fur covering my back, two arms with bone scythes attached are newly attached, and below my jaw, a secondary organ covered in de bones awaits activation.

    As a Clever Weakling who uses agility as a weapon and a Symbol of Hunting that greatly enhancesbat power, these are thest cards Ive prepared to adorn the climax of this battle.

    Originally, since I had already used the King of Monsters, it should have been impossible to transform into a Clever Weakling. Organic Evolution has a cooldown of one month each time its used. But the Revenant Mechanism nullifies this restriction.

    While the small organ attached to my heart is active, I can use all the traits I have without restriction. Why did I choose to shrink instead of growingrger? There are two reasons. Firstly, I dont have much energy left. Even if I were to use something like the King of Monsters, it wouldntst long. And growingrger would undoubtedly make it difficult to avoid the enemys attacks. Even now, blood continues to flow from my neck, soaking my fur. Taking any more damage wouldnt be ideal.

    Instead, lets end this quickly.

    As long as I have this thick fur covering my body, theres no way he can detect me. Not until he sees me with his own eyes, that is. Transformed into a Clever Weakling resembling a centaur, I dashed over the ground with my four legs.

    The one who located me by sound unleashed psychic power techniques like Pain Spear at me. I narrowly avoided his attacks and approached again.

    Even though his vision hadnt fully recovered, he anticipated my attack and immediately cast Reflection. As my arm halted in mid-air due to the intangible energy field, he smirked with satisfaction.

    Amusing.

    Perhaps it was because his vision hadnt fully returned yet. If he were directly looking at me, he couldnt have smiled like that. Because five humanoid faces attached to my headpiece were ring at him with bloody tears.

    ?!

    The humanoid faces under my control chorused together. The devilish melody tore through his mental defenses, rendering his movements powerless.

    While his body was stiffened, my bone de attached to my jaw swiftly moved. The paralysis inflicted by the humanoid faces varies depending on how strong the opponent is. Jasons paralysis was quickly dispelled.

    He barely managed to evade the de, twisting his neck to avoid getting his throat shed. Instead of severing his neck, my de deeply pierced his corbone.

    Agh!

    While it wasnt as fatal as the throat, the corbone is still a vulnerable spot. Having it shattered would be excruciatingly painful.

    As I twisted the bone de to finish him off, I felt nothing at the tip of the de.

    Unable to endure the pain, he used the Harmonizer to escape.

    This is the fourth time.

    Now, theres only one use left for the Harmonizer. When Jason reappeared from dozens of meters away, his body was unscathed.

    While he red at me, the emotion within his eyes wasnt anger.

    Fear.

    Hes afraid of me.

    Tsk.

    Instead of attacking me, he enveloped himself in a golden figure. Although it resembled the beams of light he used to move or attack, there was one difference.

    A blue light?

    As he attempted to soar into the sky with a mixture of gold and blue, a drill made of rock and ice suddenly struck him.

    Not going anywhere!

    This damn demon bastard!

    It was 26s Demon Crush technique that attacked Jason, causing about a third of his body to be shattered. This attack seemed to have caused considerable damage as the golden aura surrounding Jason wavered. The beam-shaped figure returned to a humanoid form and transformed both arms into shields.

    Meanwhile, blue particles continued to spread throughout his body, expanding their range from his feet and hands to now covering his arms and legs.

    That appearance I feel like Ive seen it somewhere.

    Regardless, it seemed evident that he was preparing his ultimate move. Considering he focused solely on defense with the golden figure and didnt use Reflection or any other technique.

    A suitable opening to prate his defense Ah.

    In my battered state, I dashed towards the PS-111 lying on the ground.

    Are you okay?

    [The damage is severe. Damage rate is at 92%.]

    As expected, its body was in a dreadful state. Its legs were severed, and even its facial skin was peeled off, revealing the muscles underneath.

    Im sorry, but I need to ask for your help.

    [No need to apologize. In fact, Im asking for your assistance. Please help me to maintain the main controller.]

    I nodded and looked at its tail.

    Can you shoot?

    [If theres energy supply, its possible.]

    At his words, I immediately thrust my arm into the creatures mouth. Understanding my intention, it promptly bit down on my arm without hesitation. In an instant, I felt a draining sensation throughout my body. As my condition worsened, blood poured again from the wound on my neck. If this were a game, my health would probably be at around 5% by now. Nevertheless, I remained steadfast.

    Mistake here could mean death. No, death might be preferable. If Im captured by Jason, who knows what might happen.

    [We have secured enough energy to use Demolisher against the hostile life form.]

    I wasnt the only one thinking this way. Everyone here shares one goal: survival. The PS-111, now replenished with energy, aimed its tail towards Jason. Seeing his body already tinged with blue up to his torso as he shielded himself, I dashed towards him, leaving the PS-111 behind.

    The distance between us was no more than 50 meters. Amidst the four legs pounding the ground, my auxiliary system detected another movement. Something was descending rapidly from the high sky. The entity descending like a lightning bolt in a straight line was none other than Adhai. Despite the pain of her broken wings, she paid no heed.

    We were all exerting our utmost in this fight. Jason attempted to adjust the shields angle upon sensing Adhais approach. At that moment, his attention was diverted elsewhere.

    The PS-111s Demolisher disintegration energy st wasunched from its tail. The blue energy mass flew unhindered, destroying Jasons golden shield. With the blue light reaching up to his shoulders, Jasons face showed surprise at the attack, but he didnt seem greatly shaken. Instead, a faint smile graced his lips. Seeing that, I could guess what he was thinking. He probably thought it was all over, regardless of what we did.

    Nonsense. Its not over until I say its over.

    Before his broken shield could regenerate, Adhai collided with Jasons golden figure. Due to the eleration, both Jason and the golden figure shook violently.

    You. Reap what you sow. Deserve.

    Despite the shock, Adhais wings and forelegs werepletely shattered. Surprisingly, however, her attack wasnt over yet. On his back, the Mother of the Sky was perched. Despite her broken beak, she vigorously thrust the golden spear held in both hands. Jason, with only his neck remaining exposed, hastily turned his head. The spear shattered one of his antlers, causing wounds to his forehead and ear.

    Relief flickered in his eyes. But that was his final mistake.

    With me now within arms reach, my arm on my back moved. Through the remaining gap among the regenerating golden particles, the bone scythe attached to my arm tip pierced precisely. The sharpest weapon of Amorph urately severed the target.

    As the bone scythe tip sensed the desired result, the golden figure in front of me disappeared along with Jasons body. Just after he vanished, the auxiliary system picked up one small sound. It was the sound when something falls on the eye.

    More specifically, it sounded simr to the sound when something the size of a human head falls.

    I picked up what had fallen on the ground.

    Sess.

    The warm liquid on my hand, with its familiar and fragrant scentit was Jasons head.

    His expression remained as if he had an almost imperceptible smile, from beginning to end. He died because he wascent.

    Foolish.

    Without hesitation, I put the loot left by the foolish enemy into my mouth.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 188

    Chapter 188

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    Ah.

    The moment I put Jasons head into my mouth, I realized I had made a grave mistake. The crimson fluid of life flowing into my mouth was astonishingly addictive. It was enough to make me forget the pain of the hole in my throat.

    Jasons blood was akin to maple syrup but far more vorful. His flesh would undoubtedly be as enticing as I could imagine.

    If theres a problem, its that all I have now is the bastards head. The torso beneath the neck has vanished into the blue.

    I guess I should consider it lucky to have salvaged the head.

    Thanks to the jaw effect of the Essence Harvester, I can obtain the gic essence of my opponent through just the head.

    I exerted force on my jaw and bit into Jasons head.

    Flesh, muscle, blood, bone, brain, and even the remaining horn. Every element constituting a cults head was absorbed by me.

    Then, translucent text boxes appeared before my eyes in session.

    [Predation effect triggered! Sessful plunder of Jason (Jason Turningham) special bonus!]

    [There are nopatible traits among the ones you currently possess. They will be transferred to the voucher storage facility.]

    [Predation effect triggered! Sessful plunder of Jason (Jason Turningham) special bonus!]

    [The possessed traits Cosmic Bacteria and mes of Hallucination are mergeable. Please select a trait. The selection oue will be influenced by the traits used as materials.]

    [Addendum: You stand at a crucial crossroad. Please choose carefully.]

    [Time remaining until trait selection: 24:00:00]

    [You are the target of the trait enhancement system. Would you like to use the system?]

    [Predation effect triggered! Sessful plunder of Jason (Jason Turningham) special bonus!]

    [There are nopatible traits among the ones you currently possess. They will be transferred to the voucher storage facility.]

    Why are there so many?

    I thought it would be simr to when I encountered Muriel, but there were more text boxes disyed than I expected.

    Are these bonuses obtained by plundering other yers?

    It seems the guy had a total of three bonuses. Two of them are currently unusable due to certain conditions, and only one can bebined with my traits for use.

    Well, back with the irregr dodecahedron of the looter, I used metal absorption as material.

    I immediately checked the mergeable bonuses.

    Its written that one of the infection-rted traits, Cosmic Bacteria, and one of the psychic-rted traits, mes of Hallucination, can be used to merge bonuses.

    These two traits arepletely different in nature. Depending on which one I choose to use, the results will be entirely different.

    Moreover, for reasons unknown, theyve given me a full 24 hours to make the choice.

    This is unprecedented.

    Its an unusual situation, but its unsettling. There must be no reason for them to give me such benefits for no apparent reason.

    At a crucial crossroad

    Theres still 24 hours left, so theres no need to make a decision right away. There are other things that need to be done first.

    The high-quality energy obtained from consuming Jasons head has been used to heal all the wounds in my throat. As the prating injuries inside begin to heal, the gushing blood also stops.

    With the lethal wounds healed, the Revenant mechanism has alsopleted its mission and returned to a dormant state. The tiny mechanism attached to the heart will fall into a long slumber for the next six months.

    So, it might be difficult to use the Revenant mechanism when fighting the ck Gagorn.

    Theres no chance of winning in this condition.

    With the rampage I caused underground, along with the activation of my Brain Shroud, I dont know when the Gagons will strike.

    Not only me, but everyone here is not in normal condition. Number 26 has suffered significant injuries, Adhais legs and wings are both broken, and PS-111 is in such bad shape that finding an intact part is difficult.

    Fortunately, the Mother of the Sky only suffered a broken beak, so shes rtively unscathed.

    She approached me.

    We need to get out of here quickly.

    She, too, was aware that this situation was far from ideal.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (lets go to the mountains.)]

    Will it be safe for the children if we leave like this?

    As she said, the mountains werent safe, but there was no other choice. The underground space beneath where we stood hadpletely copsed.

    Even if we were lucky enough to find an area that hadnt copsed, there was a high chance wed run into the Gagons who came here.

    And theres also the problem of food supply.

    Thest card I yed to kill Jason was a coboration between Clever Weakling and Symbol of Hunt. It was a decision made thinking it would be useful in killing the enemy, but there was another reason.

    Clever Weakling specializes in agility, stealth, and special states. It also has the effect of efficiently distributing consumed energy, minimizing the side effects of the Symbol of the Hunt.

    Theres a low chance the kids will find out about this like before.

    Right now, its the kids who are worrying more than me.

    To heal the seriously injured ones, there are only two ways: feeding them orying a nest and attaching the Symbiotic Fungal Pods.

    Either way, arge amount of food is needed.

    And theres no food around here. When the underground copsed, the food was buried in the ice.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (theres no other way right now.)]

    Got it.

    Nodding, Mother of the Sky transformed into a Gagon and hoisted the damaged PS-111 onto her back.

    [Excuse me middle child.]

    Cant you call me the Mother of the Sky?

    [Unauthorizedmand.]

    In the meantime, I carefully picked up Number 26. The one with significant injuries seemed to have reduced its size to minimize energy loss.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (are you okay?)]

    Im fine! You should instead worry about yourself first.?

    Looking at the pale guy, I could feel how much pain it was in. Yet, seeing it worrying about me first felt strange.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (youll be okay soon.)]

    Yes!

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (just hold on a little longer.)]

    I carefully held Number 26 to prevent further pain, cing it on my head, and checked on Adhais condition.

    She wasnt going well. Besides the broken front legs and wings, hypothermia was the biggest problem.

    I hugged her tightly with mybat arms to warm him up a bit, covered in fur to raise her temperature.

    Warmth.

    Feeling the guy in my arms nuzzling against me, I looked at Mother of the Sky. Ready, she nodded at me.

    We dashed towards the direction where the dark mountain range was located.

    Me, with the centaur body, diligently moving my four legs, and Mother of the Sky, bounding with the body resembling a lion.

    Our traces were soon obscured by the pouring white ice flowers.

    While running, we heard the sound of beasts roaring from the darkened sky. It was a sign of an approaching blizzard.

    The snowfall intensified, and the temperature dropped rapidly. If we dyed even a little here, Adhai and Mother of the Sky, who were weak to cold, would freeze or wither.

    Knowing this fact, Mother of the Sky was doing her best while running.

    After about ten minutes of running, we reached the edge of the mountain range. It was a different ce from where we fought the screamer yesterday, but the scenery was simr.

    The ground was thin, but the higher we went, the more the trees spread out like spider webs. They evolved like that to survive the frequent gales and blizzards.

    Thanks to the trees acting as a barrier, the forest was less cold than elsewhere.

    Of course, we only managed to avoid freezing to death for the moment; it certainly wasnt warm.

    I set down Number 26 and Adhai and began to dig the ground vigorously. After digging out the soil, I made arge pit and covered it with nearby branches.

    [Shh, itll be better if you go in here.]

    Id like to start a fire, but the smoke would give away our position to the Gagons. Unfortunately, this is the best option.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Hey, everyone, stick together. Itll be less cold that way.)]

    Yeah.

    Cold Cold Cold!

    The heat dissipation function is currently inactive. It can be activated with an additional energy supply.

    The four species tried their best to survive. This bought us more time.

    Now all thats left is the energy needed for recovery.

    PS-111 was right. We need energy. If Number 26 recovers, it can inte its body to protect the kids from the cold.

    And I can give psychic power to PS-111.

    For my own recovery, I need something to eat right away. I left the kids with Mother of the Sky and went into the forest.

    The hunts almost over. Just a few minutes left. Its to prepare for any potential side effects.

    I need to find something.

    Any creature that can be converted into energy will do. If I dont put something in my mouth right away, who knows what might happen.

    I moved with all my strength to find a living creature that could be converted into energy.

    The auxiliary organ, diligently searching the surroundings. Soon, some movement was detected nearby.

    The sound of footsteps.

    I ran towards the direction of the sound.

    There were the perpetrators making the noise when I reached there.

    Oh no.

    Unfortunately, they were far from what I was hoping for.

    [Hostile creatures confirmed. 30% match with set target. Main controller Pyra Elevenmand dyed.]

    [Transmitting the information to PS-250 intermediate terminal. Transmissionplete.]

    The owner of the footsteps was three new-model screamers. Behind themy a beast with green scales.

    With a body easily exceeding 10m when including the tail, and wings as huge as its body, the creature was none other than a Green Gagon.

    The body was covered with wounds, but there was no smell of blood. Someone had clearly sucked up every drop of blood from the body.

    I dont know what happened, but.

    We need that Gagons body right away to replenish energy.

    [No decision authority for the intermediate terminal has been confirmed. Autonomous judgment required.]

    [Energy replenishmentplete. Biological characteristics of the Gagon applied.]

    [Initiating target suppression.]

    With that, the screamers rushed towards me at incredible speed. It looked simr to when Adhai used super eleration.

    One of the screamers, covering the air, swung spider-like metal legs towards me.

    In my state as Clever Weakling, I used my four legs to push off the ground and dodged aside.

    I swung my tail towards the narrowly passing guys rear. The pincers at the end of my tail precisely struck the back of his head.

    Crunch!

    The screamer, emitting a grotesque groan, crashed to the ground. Meanwhile, another screamer had already approached right in front of me.

    Two front legs with sharp ws flew towards my head. I grabbed the screamers two legs with mybat arms.

    The body of the screamer, whose front legs were caught, twisted grotesquely, and then the legs behind aimed for my side. With a total of eight legs, it was a possible attack method.

    Then Ill do the same to this side.

    When the Symbol of hunt is activated, I have more arms and legs than normal. I swung the arms with bone sickles attached on my back in a cross motion.

    Following the eerie sound, the body of the one trying to stab me lost its strength. I cleanly threw the decapitated screamers corpse into the air.

    A screamer, perched on a tree, observing for an opportunity to attack, hastily jumped down upon seeing itsrade flying towards itself.

    I dashed towards the point where it was going tond. The creature twisted its body in mid-air to dodge my attack.

    Where!

    The human-faced ones on top of my carapace opened their mouths wide, emitting powerful sound waves towards the creature. Struck by the intangible waves inducing paralysis, the creatures body stiffened.

    And the six horns on my head pierced through the screamers body.

    [B-burn, f-freeze.]

    Before the creature could self-destruct, I grabbed its head with mybat arms. With a strong pull, I tore it off.

    [B-b-burn.]

    With its spine pulled outpletely, the creature couldnt hold on any longer and stopped functioning. After carelessly tossing the disgusting screamers head to the ground, I tore off the remaining parts attached to the horns with my hands.

    As the battle with the screamer ended, energy drained from my body.

    The effect of the Symbol of Hunt had ended.

    In the ce where energy had drained, a fierce hunger, like being starved for days, came in to fill the void. The thick carapace that had enveloped my body copsed like a sandcastle.

    The bone sickle arm on my back shrunk and detached, falling to the ground. The arms, armored with strong muscles and carapace, now looked like a newly excavated relic.

    Apart from the shedding of the carapace, there was hardly any change in the size of my body.

    No matter how much I grew, as a Clever Weakling, I couldnt exceed 5m. Even with the Symbol of Hunt, the length only changed in appearance, not in reality.

    As the Symbol of Hunt ended and the transformation of my body wasplete, I heard someones voice.

    [Hostile creature. Transmittingbat situation information to PS-250 intermediate terminal.]

    It was the screamer who had hit me on the back of my head with my tail. The guy whose two-thirds of the head were crushed was still alive.

    Since self-destruction is annoying.

    Despite the pressure of tremendous hunger and lethargy, I moved my steps to deal with him.

    Just as I approached him to finish him off.

    Big guy!

    Adhai?

    Suddenly, Adhais telepathy was heard. When I turned my head, I saw the figure of the kid flying through the trees.

    Struggling with his immature wings, she was barely flying.

    Trouble! Kin Spotted!

    What?

    Understanding the meaning of the telepathy shot by him, I immediately sensed something from above.

    pping wings?

    As soon as I realized this fact, I quickly stepped back. Just after I retreated, a huge white creature fell onto the screamer.

    The creature, pulverizing the screamer cleanly, looked down at me with eyes resembling amethysts.

    Insane.

    Multiple horns on the head, a gigantic body resembling reptiles with huge wings, and tentacles instead of a mouth.

    A creature known as the Dragon of the Universe, second only to the ck Gagon in strength.

    At this moment, the White Gagon, which I had never wanted to encounter, was in front of me.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 189

    Chapter 189

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    I narrowly escaped fatal injury, just standing properly is a challenge for me. Its impossible for me to defeat the White Gagon. Just like theres a significant difference between the Blue Gagon and the Green Gagon, the White Gagon above them is a far superior being.

    The w sword of the Temple Guardians, and the w characteristic used by Si-hyun Yujin, all stem from elements originating from the White Gagon. But thats not all. A new ability in the game, the Tentacles of the Monster. This ability to shoot Psychic Breath using tentacles is a unique trait of the White Gagon. And unlike me, that creature can unleash that Psychic Breath limitlessly. Even though I might be stronger in my semi-bioformed state, that creature can shoot without constraints.

    If we fight, well lose.

    I turned towards Adhai.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (We need to flee)]

    Adhais wings were broken, so her flight speed was significantly reduced. I grabbed her tightly and dashed madly.

    Adult Kin Appearance I Tracking

    [ZZZ (What?)]

    As the voice ended, two Green Gagons appeared in front of me. Unlike the small Adhai, these creatures, boasting a size close to 10 meters, blocked my path.

    As I tried to move sideways, I felt a tremendous amount of energy concentrating behind me. Subsequently, a purple heatwave burned past right in front of me.

    Ham Ort Speaks Stop

    When I looked back, the White Gagon was leisurely following me. The tentacles, once deeply purple, gradually turned into a faint shade of red.

    The White Gagon precisely burned only the soil in front of my feet with Psychic Breath. It was a warning.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (What do you want?)]

    Adhai is peculiar, but Gagons, in general, are extremely ferocious creatures. They hardly forgive intruders in their territory. Gagon nests arent ssified as one of the most challenging hunting grounds for no reason.

    In fact, the Green Gagons were tensing their muscles, ready to attack at any moment.

    The only reason they were staying calm was solely because of that oddly calm White Gagon.

    I want something.

    I quickly observed the White Gagon. Judging from the rtively short horns and the thick tail, its a female.

    Gagons are sexually dimorphic creatures. Although males are slightly stronger than females, it doesnt matter in this situation.

    Her body length is more than twice that of a typical White Gagon. Although the wings are currently folded, they would be impressive when spread out.

    Up to this point, it had all the typical features of a White Gagon, but there were two differences.

    I didnt notice at first, but upon closer inspection, there were ck-scaled patches all over her body. Perhaps traces of dried blood from other creatures.

    Compared to other Gagons, its excessively thin.

    Both the Green Gagon watching us and the White Gagon in front of me were very skinny. Their ribs were visible.

    Of course, just because theyre starving doesnt mean I can defeat them. Im significantly weakened.

    Lets start with a conversation.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (What do you want?)]

    As the tentacles of the monster trembled, creating waves, the White Gagon chuckled.

    Its fascinating kin Speech Possible?

    [ZZZ (Yes)]

    Bizarre kin I Introduce I Ham Ort

    The White Gagon, introducing itself as Ham Ort, continued to emit its Psychic Waves.

    Ham Ort Need

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (What do you need?)]

    Instead of replying, it lifted its foreleg, indicating Adhai nestled in my arms.

    The Daughter of the Meteor Special Kin Salvation Needed

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (Adhai?)]

    The Herd of Ham Ort Weak The Great Herd of Odd Grad Strong The Daughter of the Meteor Absolutely Needed

    Due to the Gagons peculiar way of speaking, it was difficult to understand exactly, but to summarize it briefly, it goes as follows:

    The Gagon herd led by Ham Ort ispeting with other Gagon herd and is said to be at a disadvantagepared to them.

    Naturally, this is expected. Since the leader of the Gagon herd is invariably the ck Gagon. The only case where another Gagon bes the leader is in events where a Red Gagon appears as a raid boss.

    If its a White Gagon, its in the lower ranks of Apex.

    Although stronger than Ice Horrors, its weaker than ck Gagons. With that level of weak power, it cannot protect its kin from other monsters aiming for the dragons nest.

    Then whats even stranger?

    Since its a herd led by the White Gagon, its only natural that its weaker than the ck Gagon herd. In such a situation, would Adhai make a difference?

    Is there anything special about Adhai?

    Despite observing him for a while, there didnt seem to be anything special about her other than her extraordinary intelligence.

    The fact that she grew from a Blue Gagon to a Green Gagon during the time she was separated from me could be considered unusual. Whether thats special or not depends on understanding the Gagons growth process, which Im not familiar with.

    What should I do?

    If I refuse, theyll probably try to take her by force. Gagons are inherently such creatures. Its almost safe to say that Gagons never request civil dialogues like this.

    But that doesnt mean handing Adhai over is an option either.

    Because I dont understand why the Gagons, who usually despise the weak, suddenly need Adhai. Especially since shes been driven away due to her physical impairment.

    Moreover, if shes used in the war between herds, itll be even more dangerous.

    Adhai is a preciouspanion until now. Until I understand exactly what theyre thinking, I cant just hand her over.

    Then, as if reading my mind, the timing was perfect as he emitted his Psychic waves.

    Ham Ort Speaks The Daughter of the Meteor Preciousness Life Preserves

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (Preserves?)]

    Yes My Child I Child Preserve

    What?

    Among his Psychic waves, there was information that couldnt be ignored. I looked at Adhai nestled in my arms.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Is what you said true?)]

    Adhai hesitated for a moment before nodding her head.

    Kin Parents Match

    The Great Odd Grad Herd Leader The Daughter of the Meteor Exiled I Couldnt Stop

    Ham Ort said briefly. It seemed like there was more to it, but she didnt exin anything.

    She seemed to have done his part, hoping to hand over Adhai, but I couldnt allow that.

    Because Adhais reaction wasnt at all like when she met her mother.

    The asional trembling of her body wasnt simply because of the cold.

    There must have been something wrong when she was exiled.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Can you not abandon a child who was once abandoned?)]

    Ham Ort Swears The Daughter of the Meteor Life Protects

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (And if I say no?)]

    I Bizarre Kin Saved Reason Exists You The Daughter of the Meteor Guardian Ham Ort Thankful But

    She bowed his long neck, bringing hers head close to the tip of my nose. With a distance of about one sheet of paper left, she spoke.

    Ham Ort Fight Do Not Shed Blood Desire Aplish

    Her eyes, radiating a beautiful light like amethysts, flickered threateningly. The Green Gagons behind us also growled loudly.

    Judging by her reaction, it seems theres no choice but to hand over Adhai to survive.

    In the past, I would have acted without hesitation. I might have even used Adhai as a bargaining chip to establish a friendly rtionship with the Gagons.

    But

    An inexplicable strange emotion prevents it. My mind is filled only with the thought that I dont want to let her go like this.

    Its iprehensible. Emotions should never supersede survival instincts, yet here I am.

    This is insane.

    Whether its a side effect of the hunting symbol or my brain shutting down due tock of energy, the reason remains unclear. But one thing is certainIm losing my mind.

    Trying to divert what little energy remains towards divine intervention.

    Just before negotiations broke down and we were about to charge at each other, Adhai suddenly wriggled out of my arms. Despite trembling, she stood bravely in front of Ham Ort with her broken front leg.

    I Elder Contract Complete I Mother Kin Return

    [ZZZZ (Adhai?)]

    Adhai maintained a confident posture despite trembling.

    After briefly looking down at her, Ham Ort nodded slightly.

    The Daughter of the Meteor Judgment Wise

    She grabbed Adhai with her forepaws. It was not a tight grip, but rather a cautious touch as if handling a treasure. With Adhai in her grasp, he spread her wings wide.

    The tangled forest was bathed in a white light. With wings shining like the sun, Ham Ort, carrying Adhai, disappeared. Following suit, the Green Gagons vanished through the opening made by Ham Ort.

    Where they had been, snowkes fell one by one.

    Adhai didnt look back until the very end.

    But just before Ham Ort left,

    A faint Psychic wave, as feeble as a falling snowke, tickled my tentacles.

    Goodbye?

    Her final words were nothing other than a farewell.

    The contract to take him to the Gagons nest wasplete, so he was going back to his kin.

    Shes smarter than I thought, but also foolish.

    If she thought I could simply brush off her words with an Ah, I see she was sorely mistaken.

    She acted in the way he thought was best, which was to follow the Gagons. Otherwise, not only would I be in danger, but the others hiding in the forest as well.

    I walked back the way I came, carrying the remains of the remaining Green Gagons and the Screamer back to our temporary shelter.

    Big one! Somethings happened!

    Adhai suddenly ran out and the Green Gagons huh?

    Returning to the nest, Number 26 and Mother of the Sky greeted me. PS-111 was in a dormant state, perhaps due to depleted energy.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Eat this first)]

    Big one, wheres the little one?

    Could it be?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Adhai went away for a bit)]

    Away?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Family came)]

    Then, are we not going to be together anymore?

    I shook my head firmly.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (No. That will never happen)]

    If Adhai went because she wanted to, theres nothing more I can do. And if it was her mother who came to take her away after the contract ended, even more so.

    But I remember.

    She said she wanted to stay together even after the contract was over.

    It doesnt matter how the Gagons treat Adhai. If she wants to be with us, its my duty to amodate that.

    To do that, recovery is a priority.

    I carved into the Green Gagons belly with mybat ws. Then, I tore out partially cooked innards and tossed them to Mother of the Sky.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Your beaks broken, so it might be hard for you to eat. This should help)]

    Alright.

    Mother of the Sky nced at me briefly before silently starting to tear into the innards. Number 26, watching cautiously from the side, carefully removed the Gagons wings.

    Still, thanks to conversing with him, we obtained valuable information.

    The leader of the Gagon pack holds immense authority. Usually, the oldest Gagon in the pack takes up the leadership position, but thats not always the case.

    If a young but powerful Gagon emerges within the pack, they can aim for and challenge the leadership position. In other words, leadership within the pack can change hands at any time.

    When the challenger wins.

    And Ham Ort called me a strange kin.

    If they perceive me as something akin to a Gagon, the answer is clear.

    To be their leader.

    This time, Ill be thoroughly prepared.

    Being powerless like today is enough for one time. Once all preparations areplete, then Ill go to rescue Adhai.

    I chewed on the Gagons forelegs meticulously as I made my vow.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 190

    Chapter 190

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    Whoa?!

    A blond man woke up on a bed. With impressive muscles, he wiped the sweat off his neck.

    Phew, thought I was dying Wait, where am I?

    His relief at finding his throat intact was short-lived as he realized he was in an unfamiliar space. It was a room, adorned with posters of famous heavy metal bands on the walls and character posters received as gifts from Japanese animation Blu-rays.

    On the desk below the posters sat an expensiveputer and ck headgear with futuristic design. Seeing the ck futuristic headgear, he realized where he was.

    Home, I Im back home!

    The blond Caucasian man, or rather Jason Turningham, shouted with joy. This was his hometown. He had finally returned to reality.

    How long has it been? 10 years? No, 15?

    Jason looked down at his hands. Instead of the cults characteristic fair hands, he saw dark-toned palms and hairy wrists. It felt awkward, considering he had spent more than half of his life in a game. Perhaps it was natural.

    He cleared away the nostalgic-smelling nket and got out of bed. His height, once close to 2 meters, was now just around 180cm.

    Jason! How long are you going to sleep?!

    It sounded like hed turned into a dwarf overnight, hearing voices from outside.

    Mom!

    He had enjoyed a life more blessed than anyone else in the world of space survival, but there was one thing he regretted: his memories of his parents.

    Jason quickly dressed and went outside. The smell of his mothers baked meatloaf filled the air up to his room on the second floor.

    He stumbled down the stairs. In the living room connected to the kitchen, he shouted loudly.

    Mom!

    His mother, who wasying out food on the table, was startled and scolded him. How old was he to be causing a fuss since morning? She grumbled, telling him to hurry up and eat.

    That was the image of his mother that Jason remembered.

    It was supposed to be like that.

    What he saw waspletely different from what he expected. The neat kitchen was tainted red like uncooked meatloaf. There was a strong metallic smell emanating from the liquid staining the walls.

    Huh?

    Jason stared nkly at the tired kitchen. And there, holding what used to be his mother, was an entity that shouldnt be there.

    Ah, no, no.

    With its dark purple exoskeleton and elongated head, the monster had six arms, two legs, and a tail as long as its body. It was the Amorph that appeared in space survival.

    The creature was chewing on Jasons mother in the kitchen.

    Aaaaaaaah!

    Jason screamed, tightly closing his eyes. If only all of this were just a dream.

    And then, as if in a lie, he opened his eyes on the bed.

    A dream?

    Metal group posters, Japanese anime character posters, and aputer. It was the scene he had seen upon waking up a while ago.

    He was in his own room, not in the world of the game.

    Jason! How long are you going to sleep?!

    Mom!

    Without a moment to rejoice in his return, Jason quickly got up and headed out of the room. He practically flew down the stairs to the kitchen.

    Jason, I told you not to run in the house.

    Hearing his beloved mothers voice, Jason gasped for breath. He could hardly breathe at all.

    Out of happiness? No.

    His mother wasnt supposed to be speaking. Especially not with only her throat remaining, unable to speak.

    Jason,e and have your meal.

    The Amorph holding his mothers head muttered in his mothers voice.

    Jason? Why are you dawdling?

    Jason?

    Jason.

    JasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJasonJason.

    Aaaah!

    In the living room, where his mothers voice echoed, he covered his ears. Tears of blood were now flowing from his eyes.

    When his vision blurred with tears of blood, he opened his eyes again.

    Ah, no, no.

    Posters with metal group names printed in rough fonts on ck backgrounds and posters depicting moe characters.

    Seeing the familiar scenery, he realized.

    Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

    He cursed, flipping the nket over.

    Now he remembered.

    The day he entered space survival, he wasnt at his hometown house. Hisst memory was wearing VR equipment in his cramped apartment for a broadcast.

    The situation he was experiencing now was incredibly realistic but definitely not reality.

    Someone knocked on the door.

    Jason! How long are you going to sleep?!

    Jason, I always sa Aaaah!

    Mom?

    He nced at the door, startled by the piercing scream from outside. Momentster, red liquid began seeping in under the door.

    Ugh, ugh! Aaaah!

    Guilt for losing his mother drove Jason to tear at his hair frantically.

    Then, the firmly closed door handle slowly turned.

    Gasp!

    Once again, Jason opened his eyes on the bed in the same position.

    Where this was didnt matter.

    What mattered was the fact that he had be a prisoner in this nightmare-like world.

    Jason! How long are you going to sleep?!

    His mothers voice from outside.

    The voice he had always longed for now felt terrifying.

    ***

    Thanks to devouring the green Gagon, the urgent fire was extinguished. Number 26, who suffered the most severe injuries among us, ate more meat than usual. It devoured two wings, each almost reaching 10 meters in length, all by itself.

    The creature, now with a full stomach, swelled up and promptly fell asleep. Thanks to it, we were able to inject psychic power into the dormant PS-111 to awaken it.

    We handed over some debris of the screamer to the awakened PS-111. While biological tissues might not mean much, the metal parts wouldnt help with energy charging.

    As a clever weakling I could maintain my form with a small supply of food, gaining enough energy. The prating wound in my neck had almost healed, and the side effects of the hunt had disappeared.

    So we spent the night in the pit I dug.

    Quietly rising, I looked at the sleeping Number 26 and PS-111.

    I wanted to examine the new gains obtained from devouring Jason in detail.

    It seems like itll be noisy to check here.

    I nned to summon Jasons interface and ask him. Considering his personality, even as an interface, he would likely be quite noisy.

    As I walked out of the pit and wandered among the trees, I heard footsteps behind me.

    The Griffin, still recovering from her wounds, was the mother of the sky.

    Youre going to check the gains, right?

    [ZZZ (Yes)]

    Ille with you.

    I was about to say there was no need, but I relented when I looked into her eyes.

    During the day, she was indifferent, but Jason was one of her enemies. He was the who Muriel to kill her family.

    An interface inherits some memories from the original. Recent experiences and elements considered important by the original remain even after bing an interface.

    Perhaps Jasons interface remembers details about Muriel.

    I suppose you have a lot to say.

    Compared to Muriel, Jason met a rtively merciful death. We had no choice but to use unknown means to escape.

    But she went as far as imnting parasites in his head to repay her familys grudge. It might be cruel to tell her to forget, given her circumstances.

    Ill need information on other colleagues anyway. It wouldnt hurt if she overhears.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (If that makes you feel better.)]

    Thanks.

    I moved away from the pit with the mother of the sky.

    The pitch-ck forest was quite eerie due to the relentless sound of the snowstorm, but none of us were scared by it.

    This should be enough.

    Finding a suitable spot, I half-turned my body and transformed my interface characteristics. One of the interfaces hidden in the fur was sucked into my body.

    Then, a new face emerged from the sticky liquid. With smooth skin like a newborn baby, it was the face of Jason, the cult priest.

    Momentster, Jasons eyes snapped open.

    Ugh, aaah!

    Quiet.

    When I gestured with my finger to quiet him down, Jason closed his mouth.

    An interface is one of my body parts. I haveplete control over all his movements.

    Answer the questions I asked.

    Jason, still blinking his eyes absentmindedly, replied. I allowed him to speak.

    I-Ill tell you everything! S-so please, please dont send me back to that hell!

    Since bing an interface usually means losing all control over ones body, he tends to listen to me. And for some unknown reason, as time passes, he seems to prefer being used as an interface rather than sleeping.

    Hes surprisingly obedient for that.

    Jason, who used to be arrogant in life, showed a cooperative attitude beyond imagination. Even the mother of the sky watching beside me seemed bewildered.

    Its probably irrelevant to me.

    Its better if he acts high and mighty. I started asking him questions.

    What perks he possessed, his influence, information about his colleagues, and so on.

    Though I had only conversed with the interface for about an hour, the amount of information obtained was substantial. It was unprecedented to obtain such high-quality information recently.

    Lets think about thatter.

    Whats important now is the part about the perks.

    Jason had three perks. One was the unique ability he gained when he came to this world, and the other two were obtained by killing yers.

    Psychic technology synthesis, Coldbloods particle biocontrol ability, and Metalic Gremlins warp ability.

    The second ability was manifested as a golden shape hanging on his back, and the third ability was the one he intended to use for escape.

    He really won this one.

    The decisive reason Jason lost was that he possessed such powerful strength unexpectedly. If he hadnt been intoxicated by his own power, we would have lost.

    I should be careful too.

    Its ultimately my fault for letting Ham Ort steal Adhai. After killing Jason, I made a reckless decision in haste.

    I have a lot to lose now. The current situation is different from the game, where I only had to take care of my own life.

    And in the game, even if you die, you respawn, but not here. Its game over if I, Number 26, Adhai, the Mother of the sky, or PS-111 die.

    Its not that there isnt a resurrection perk, but

    I can never obtain it now. Even after bing an adult, its a perk that can only be obtained by risking your life, so its faster to assume it doesnt exist.

    I need to be more careful to protect them.

    I gathered my thoughts again and reactivated the text box I checked during the day.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully seized the perk Jason (Jason Terningham)!]

    [Space Bacteria and Hallucinogenic mes fusion possible. Please select a perk. The selection result is affected by the perks used as materials.]

    [Note: You are at a critical juncture. Please choose carefully.]

    [Time remaining until perk selection: 13:09:30]

    [You are the target of the perk enhancement system. Do you want to use the system?]

    This is rted to the second perk Jason had.

    Its the ability to control particle biology obtained from Coldblood, which dominated the golden form he used.

    The remaining two perks are locked because there are no perks among the ones I have that can be used as materials. Jason doesnt know which perks arepatible. That part seems to require experimentation with various perks.

    Its probably rted to the nature of the perks.

    The Trophy of the Strong Enemy perk I obtained from killing the previous Muriel, and the Plunderers Irregr Polyhedron used Metal Absorption as a material. Thanks to that, I gained the ability to eat weapons and specialize their properties.

    That means there are two perks I can use as materials.

    One is the infection-rted perk Space Bacteria, and the other is the psychic-rted perk Hallucinogenic mes. Its surprising that such different perks were selected for fusion.

    I have some idea of what it might be.

    Looking at the nature of the perk, its notpletely unrted topatible perks.

    First, looking at the part about space bacteria, theres a simrity in producing and managing small particles.

    Jason said the ability to control particle biology involves freely manipting golden particle organisms through a special organ between the spinal cord and the brain. It also heavily relies on the hosts senses because the particle organisms are attached to the special organ.

    In short, its like creating new arms and legs as needed.

    Maybe merging with space bacteria will make it simr to the ability he used.

    Its not certain, though.

    Anyway, lets move on.

    Next is the Hallucinogenic mes.

    Hallucinogenic mes is like a downgraded version of the Purple Spray Gun. Its a perk that emits mes made of psychic power, as the name suggests.

    It would have been nice if the firepower was a bit stronger.

    The firepower of the Hallucinogenic mes is truly dismal. Its so bad it might be called purple urine in the game.

    However, considering the future, its worth obtaining because it can be used as a powerful fusion materialter on. Moreover, here, through the transcendental system, it could be used to create powerful perks.

    The reason why a perk that doesnt seem particrly useful besides its potential is used as a material for the Trophy of the Strong Enemy perk can be spected upon.

    This part is definitely rted to the original owner.

    The original owner of the ability to control particle biology was a Coldblood yer.

    Coldblood, due to a misguided contract with the Vortex one, is a race that fell into bondage as a whole.

    Therefore, Coldblood yers often use abilities derived from the Vortex one. In fact, depending on the yers choice, there are events where they borrow the Vortex ones unique ability, Abyssal Power.

    Anyway, based on this, it can be spected that using psychic-rted technologies as materials may stem from the unique settings of Coldblood.

    The Vortex is the strongest psychic power creature.

    ording to Jason, the Coldblood yer who possessed this perk was a Vortex one.

    In other words, if fused with psychic-rted abilities, it could be implemented in a form simr to the abilities used by the original Vortex one.

    Lets summarize again.

    If Space Bacteria is used as a material to create the Trophy of the Strong Enemy, theres a possibility of obtaining a perk simr to the golden form that Jason used.

    Conversely, if Hallucinogenic mes are used as a material, it could be implemented as a perk simr to what the original Coldblood yer used.

    Well, its all just spection anyway.

    In the world of Space Survival, theres never a case where yers are taught anything directly. They have to figure everything out themselves.

    Should I postpone it?

    There are still 13 hours left. If by any chance, a mine perkes out when the perk is specialized, the impact could be quite significant.

    After a few minutes of deliberation, I shook my head.

    No, lets choose now.

    Spending all 13 hours pondering wouldnt likely lead to an answer. While its important to move cautiously, it doesnt mean dying decisions indefinitely.

    Regardless of what perkes out, its far more productive to quickly grasp its characteristics and research how to use it.

    With that decision made, I selected the perk to be used as the material for the Trophy of the Strong Enemy.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 191

    Chapter 191

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    [Would you really choose the Hallucinogenic mes as your material? Once chosen, theres no turning back.]

    The semi-transparent text box reappeared, almost as if questioning whether this was truly the best choice.

    There were two reasons why I chose the Hallucinogenic mes over the Cosmic Bacteria. Firstly, it was because of the adversaries I had to face on this. Gagons are masters of psychic techniques. Just the White Gagon alone was a monster capable of unleashing psychic breath. To fight them, I needed several weapons utilizing psychic power.

    But all my innate abilities are either supportive or defensive.

    While the Hallucinogenic mes and the psychic breath usable as the monsters tentacles were both aggressive psychic techniques, they both had fatal ws. The Hallucinogenic mes were effective only against Blue Gagon or lower, while the psychic breath, although powerful, had limited uses.

    Given theck of offensive psychic abilities, sacrificing the Hallucinogenic mes to gain new skills was advantageous.

    The second reason was my rtionship with the Vortex One. If, as I anticipated, my psychic abilities and perksbined to manifest through the power of the Vortex One, it would be an incredibly potent ability.

    In the game, everything rted to them was useful.

    The Vortex One possessed unique abilities. Therefore, capturing them and reaping the predation effect would invariably grant a unique ability.

    Of course, there are risks.

    To put it simply, the blessing bestowed by the Vortex One was high risk, high return. Power received from transcendent beings was never free. Like psionium, where the duration decreased with each use, using abilities weakened or the price to be paid increased.

    Hence, yers who followed the sociopath route would see a significant decrease in power after the mid-game.

    If its rted to the power of the Vortex One, it must be utilized as a trump card.

    It was like wielding the whip of the gods.

    I selected confirm in response to the semi-transparent textboxs question.

    Then, a new message appeared.

    [You are the target of the Ability Enhancement System. Will you use the system?]

    The Ability Enhancement System.

    This was the first time Id used it. When I killed Muriel, the system hadnt been unlocked, and the new unique ability hadnt appeared on the system, possibly because the conditions hadnt been met yet.

    Choosing abilities to create the Mark of the Adversary and using the Ability Enhancement System were both firsts for me.

    This is definitely a crucial moment.

    I felt this way shortly after starting my space survival journey.

    Curiosity about the unknown oue, coupled with fear and anticipation of the butterfly effect this choice might cause, stirred within me.

    With that strange feeling, I checked what abilities I had avable as materials.

    The majority of my abilities are rted to physical enhancements.

    There were a total of 18 physical-rted abilities. Excluding the fusion abilities, which couldnt be used as enhancement materials, that left 13.

    To maintain the Physical Enhancement Type, I need 10 abilities.

    Thus, I could invest in up to 8 physical abilities as enhancement materials. Of course, I didnt n to use all 8; I intended to select only a few from among them.

    Lets go with abilities rted to underwater activities.

    Currently, abilities rted to underwater activities wouldnt aid me inbat. While there was a high chance of water being present on the ice, the creatures I aimed to capture werent heavily tied to water.

    Therefore, I chose abilities that were not frequently used or easily obtainable.

    In the Physical category: Pheromone Enhancement, Robust Vitality, Aquatic ws, Fins, Dexterity. Lets go with these five.

    The remaining ones were selected from characteristics of other types that werent useful. I chose Memory Tracking for psychic-rted abilities, Auditory Hallucination for infection-rted abilities, Sticky Tendrils and Water Spirit for nest-rted abilities.

    Having selected a total of nine abilities, I double-checked to ensure there wouldnt be any issues.

    That should do.

    After confirming and selecting the nine abilities as enhancement materials, the Mark of the Adversary system finally started operating.

    [The perks of Jason (Jason Turningham) and the Hallucinogenic mes ability are merging. Involvement of the Chaos Emblem  Special Trait Enhancement System!]

    [Trait enhancement in progress.]

    [Colour of the Abyss trait evolving!]

    [Colour of the Abyss: When activated, indescribable Colours envelop the body. Automatically granted to psychic-type abilities.]

    [*Target applications: Monster Tentacles, Observer of Terror, Psychic Reflection Gloves]

    [*Note: Terror cannot be controlled. Simrly, the unknown Colours cannot be controlled.]

    As the new Mark of the Adversary waspleted, semi-transparent text boxes popped up everywhere. Suddenly, my head felt heavy, perhaps due tock of energy. I steadied myself and checked the description of the new trait.

    Whats this?

    The finished product waspletely different from what I had expected.

    This isnt an offensive trait?

    Based on the description alone, this trait seemed more like a supportive one. Of course, I couldnt be sure until I tried it out.

    More concerning were the notes. Unlike usual, the ominous implications in the note caught my attention.

    Cannot be controlled?

    In space survival, there were asionally equipment or traits that yers couldnt control. Some were very powerful, but others were difficult to utilize effectively. Oveing this inability to control was crucial.

    From my experience, traits that couldnt be controlled were as challenging to use as the Revenant Mechanism.

    Ill have to experiment to see how to use it Huh?

    Lost in thought about the new trait, I only then realized that something had changed around me.

    Wheres Mother of the Sky?

    She, who had been with me during the interrogation of Jason, was nowhere to be seen. Focusing on the auxiliary systems, I sensed her presence from a small clearing nearby.

    I stopped checking the Colour of the Abyss trait and walked toward her location.

    What are you doing Ah.

    In the clearing, she stood silently, gazing into the void. Tears filled her luminous pumpkin-Coloured eyes, even in the darkness.

    As I approached, she wiped her eyes with her forepaw.

    Are you done?

    Seeing her forcibly maintain an appearance of calmness, I couldnt say anything.

    I messed up.

    I heard why Jason targeted Mother of the Sky when questioning him. His motives were simple and selfish. He wanted to toy with Mother of the Sky. And if he got bored, hed turn her into a perk.

    If that were the case, there were two reasons why he specifically chose Mother of the Sky.

    He wants a Wolf ve, and

    ying with the same yer held a special significance for him.

    Mother of the Sky lost her loved ones and family because of Jasons petty desires.

    I shouldnt have brought her along for nothing.

    Thinking that knowing the reason might ease her mind a bit, I brought her along, but it only made things worse.

    Quietly, I knelt beside her and leaned against her.

    It didnt carry any special meaning. Its because she, who hasnt gained the power of Wendigo yet, finds it difficult to endure the cold. Normally, she would send awkward nces, but now, she just remained still, perhaps mentally exhausted.

    So there we were, huddled together, maintaining silence.

    I wished I could offer some words offort, but unfortunately, Ick the gift of speech. Moreover, Ive never experienced the same pain as her, the experience of losing loved ones in an instant. If Number 26 and Adhai were to die at the hands of Jason, I wouldnt be able to keep my sanity.

    Just imagining it makes my blood run cold, yet she actually went through that situation. Whatever I say wouldnt bring her anyfort.

    All I can do is ensure she doesnt feel cold.

    How much time had passed?

    After a long silence, she sighed deeply.

    I met him ten years ago. It was in the fifth year after I fell into this world.

    The him she mentioned is singr.

    The Father of the Earth.

    In the game, hes a fixed NPC rted to the quest for the Divine Spectre. He has the appearance of a lion with metal scales and horns like a goat. Hes not very big, but he has high defense and speed. To put it simply, he gives off a vibe like a downsized Ice Horror.

    Ive heard before that she married the Father of the Earth and took on the role of protector of the Wolfs. She made the decision to live with the family she found in this world.

    To be honest, I didnt adapt well when I first came to this world.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Is that so?)]

    Yeah. If I hadnt met him, I wouldnt have survived in this world for so long.

    With her words flowing, she began to talk about her experiences with her loved one.

    Arguing, making up, even getting a Grey Centipede Can you imagine how shocking it was? You know, he had a head just like that person.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Yeah. It was often used for terrorizing in themunity.)]

    What I mean is, even a love of a thousand years can fade away.

    Memories of fighting and reconciling.

    The young Wolfs found it awkward when I tried to put flowers on them. It was the first time I realized that lions could make such expressions.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Thats intriguing.)]

    Memories of spending pleasant times together.

    She recounted every memory that came to mind, leaving nothing out. Because of that, her story was chaotic and hard to follow.

    But I quietly listened to her story, knowing that she was doing this to mourn the deceased.

    Hehe, he was really an interesting fellow. But what about when he died? He said wed be together forever, and then tsk, that bastard

    Continuously rambling, she suddenly couldnt speak anymore. All she did was repeat the words bad guy while sobbing.

    Seeing her pitiful state, I unknowingly reached out with my small arm towards her chest.

    My fingertips touched her plush and soft fur. I gently stroked her snowy white head like fur.

    Mother of the Sky seemed too overwhelmed with emotions to notice that I was petting her.

    We dont have that kind of rtionship, but

    Perhaps its because weve been through so much together. Now its awkward to withdraw my hand, so I continued to pet her.

    So she poured out all the tears she had been holding back for a long time. By the time the tears on her front paws froze, she was able to calm down.

    Finally calming down, she awkwardly turned her head to the side. Following her reaction, I naturally withdrew my hand.

    I didnt expect to cry like this at this age.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (How old are you?)]

    Do you really have to ask that in this situation?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (I have nothing to say.)]

    I have one request, would it be okay?

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (What is it?)]

    I want to destroy Jasons disguise.

    I thought it was a joke to hide the awkwardness, but when I looked into her eyes, it was sincere. Looking at her front paws, I saw the vicious ws protruding, ready for action.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (No, you cant.)]

    Please, just once. Huh? Cant I just hit him really hard, just once?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Consider it when your stamina is fully recovered.)]

    In truth, even if she were to destroy Jasons face, he could regenerate it anytime. After all, its part of my body. If that helps ease her burden even a little, it might be worth it.

    Mother of the Sky was silent for a moment, then looked me straight in the eyes.

    Thank you.

    Her short but sincere words.

    I nodded in response. Her smooth pumpkin-Coloured eyes still held traces of sadness, but they had improved a lot since earlier.

    Thank goodness.

    B-by the way, youve changed a lot in appearance, havent you?

    Perhaps feeling embarrassed to meet my gaze, she changed the subject.

    Is it because of the new traits?

    I came to find Mother of the Sky after reading about Colour of the Abyss. So I hadnt yet examined the changes in my body.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Some traits may have disappeared, that could be why.)]

    Really? But it feels like something has changed a lot.

    Mother of the Sky chuckled and examined my body.

    The ws between her fingers, the fins hidden in her tail, and various other traits had disappeared from my body due to the trait enhancement system.

    However, it was true that there was a subtle change that couldnt be exined just by that. As I began to inspect my body, I quickly noticed what had changed.

    Monster tentacles?

    The tentacles of the monster that flowed from the back of the head like hair or sparse bristles down to the neck had changed slightly. The tentacles were longer and thicker than before, and the number of tentacles had increased, making them much fuller.

    Now, the range of the monsters tentacles extended to the entire neck and jaw joint.

    Is it because Colour of the Abyss has psychic-rted effects?

    Not only had the number of tentacle clusters increased, but the monsters tentacles on my body now emitted a dangerous light mixed with green and purple. In fact, it looked more eerie, like foam or mold, rather than light.

    It seems to be because of the new traits.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (It seems so.)]

    I shouldnt be saying this, but those tentacles feel kind of unsettling. I dont know what kind of trait it is, but I feel like I should use it cautiously.

    Whether it was her innate animalistic senses as a Wolf or the intuition of a Ranker, Mother of the Sky immediately pointed out the danger of the changed tentacles upon seeing them.

    Lets check in the morning.

    After all, I nned to go out to hunt for food in the morning anyway.

    Colour of the Abyss, the trait obtained from Jason.

    Ill need to spend tomorrow investigating this unknown power.

    [Trantor  Jjescus]

    [Proofreader  Demon Gods Disciple]

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

 Chapter 192

    Chapter 192

    HEL SCANS

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ?It feels like something¡¯s different.?

    Number 26 said as it woke up in the morning.

    As usual, Number 26 immediately sensed the changes in me, likely because it considered me someone it needed to protect. Strictly speaking, it¡¯s more of a mutual protection rtionship, but I don¡¯t really mind.

    Whether in reality or in the game, it¡¯s rare to encounter someone like Number 26 who gives unconditional love to someone.

    I exined briefly about my growth while picking the nts growing at the base of a tree.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ (I grew bigger by consuming a bad guy)]?The big baby is growing so well!?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Thanks. Here, have this)]

    ?Okay!?

    Number 26 extended its tendrils and swept up the mushroom-like nts in one go.

    ?Grow quickly so we can bring the little one back.?

    [ZZZ (Alright)]

    When I patted the well-behaved creature, its pink body glowed brightly.

    At that moment, PS-111 awakened from dormancy to replenish itself. I generated tooth fairies and offered them to The Mother of the Sky and PS-111.

    ?Oh, um, I¡¯m fine.?

    Said The Mother of the Sky, shuddering at the sight of the tooth fairies and shaking her head. PS-111, however, took all of them, including The Mother of the Sky¡¯s share.

    [Is this a new transformation state?]

    Perhaps due to the psychic power imbued by Number 26, PS-111 also seemed curious about the appearance of my tendrils.

    ¡°No, this is a permanent change¡±

    [The wavelength of an unregistered energy in the database is distorting light.]

    After gulping down the tooth fairies in one go, PS-111¡¯s eyes gleamed with interest.

    [If you could provide a sample¡­]

    ¡°No¡±

    I don¡¯t know what kind of ability ¡®Color of the Abyss¡¯ is. I can¡¯t give it to PS-111, as it might have adverse effects on it or us. It would be troublesome if it became uncontroble.

    ¡®It would be a headache if it goes wrong and bes uncontroble.¡¯

    When I tly refused, PS-111 sulkily crunched on a tooth fairy.

    After the simple breakfast, I exined the day¡¯s n to the group. I mentioned that I would need to act alone to test the new trophy I had obtained from a formidable foe.

    ?I want to go with the big baby.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Sorry, but not this time)]

    I still don¡¯t know how this trait operates. It¡¯s hard to determine whether such uncontroble traits are safe without trying them out first. I don¡¯t want to put anyone at risk unnecessarily.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Instead, help the middle child)]

    ?Why the middle child??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (She will need to secure the nest and food while I¡¯m gone)]

    Yesterday, I had a brief conversation with The Mother of the Sky about what we would do in the morning. She said she would look for a suitable nesting spot while I conducted my experiment. Since she has the best vision among us, she believed she was perfect for the job.

    ¡®She¡¯s right.¡¯

    I thought.

    The Mother of the Sky has considerable experience fighting alongside me in the game. She knows well the kind of locations Amorphs use for nesting. If anyone could find us a proper hideout, it would be her. Even if there were Gagons roaming around, Number 26 and PS-111 could easily avoid them, as both can sense Gagon¡¯s psychic power.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Be careful)]

    I said.

    ?Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be as careful as possible?

    She replied.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (I¡¯m counting on you)].

    ?And, um, you be careful too?

    She added hesitantly, turning her gaze away. She still seemed awkward around me, likely due to yesterday¡¯s events.

    Telling her not to worry would probably make things more awkward, so I just nodded in response.

    With that, we parted ways to take care of our respective tasks.

    I ran through the trees, which grew taller and more spread out the higher I climbed. The branches were so numerous and intertwined with other trees that almost no light prated through. All I could hear was the sound of the wind whistling through the branches, reminiscent of an animal¡¯s growl.

    Thebination of the dark forest and the relentless blizzard outside created a very eerie atmosphere. I ran through the deste forest for quite some time, not just to put distance between myself and the others, but also because I was searching for traces of a particr creature.

    ¡®I¡¯m sure it¡¯s around here somewhere.¡¯

    In the game, Gagon nests are ssified as difficult hunting grounds. They are typically found ons with extreme temperatures, either frigid like this one or scorching with flowingva, making them hard to ess. Even if you manage to prepare well and get inside, there are still challenges to face.

    ¡®Because the area around a Gagon¡¯s nest is abyrinth.¡¯

    Many powerful creatures of Gagon-level strength or higher roam around a Gagon nest. These creatures either serve as Gagon¡¯s prey or help control their poption. Simply put, a with a Gagon nest teems with apex-level creatures.

    ¡®Given that there are Ice Horrors and Snowwalkers, there must be other creatures here too.¡¯

    I¡¯m well-versed in the monsters inhabiting ices with dragon nests, having tackled them numerous times in the game before.

    As my four legs moved tirelessly, the sensory organs under my jaw diligently searched for traces. Soon, I sensed movement in the distance. I lowered my body and slowed my pace.

    Since I hadn¡¯t disabled the ¡®Intelligent Weakling¡¯ state, my body, including my tail, was small, not even reaching 5 meters. I could easily hide behind arge rock or thick tree.

    Using the terrain as cover, I cautiously approached the source of the movement.

    After a while, I spotted it between the trees.

    Standing at 4 meters tall with a gaunt frame, disproportionately long arms and legs, and a ck face contrasting with its white body, it was the hunter of the snowfields, a Snowwalkers.

    Despite its reputation as a hunter, its behavior seemed remarkably careless. Its white eyes were clouded as if shrouded in mist, and it paid no attention to my presence nearby.

    Snowwalkers rank low in the food chain on this. They are typically vignt about their surroundings, which makes its current strange behavior particrly unusual.

    I caught a whiff of a distinct smell.

    Like the enticing scent of a neighbor cooking pancakes on a rainy day, a delicious aroma permeated the air. The creature was following this delightful scent.

    ¡®Perfect.¡¯

    I maintained a safe distance and trailed the Snowwalkers. It moved with a hypnotized gait, its eyes fixed straight ahead.

    ¡®In a way, it might indeed be hypnotized.¡¯

    As I followed, the scenery began to change. The most noticeable difference was the color of the densely packed trees. The dark brown trunks were now covered with red moss, resembling bulging veins. The snow on the ground was also tinged red, as if syrup had been spilled on it, and it exuded a sweet smell, like actual syrup.

    ¡®I found it.¡¯

    The intensely appetizing smell emanated from the red moss, which was what I had been searching for. The Snowwalkers, drawn by the scent, licked the moss off the tree ravenously. Each time its tongue touched the moss, it shuddered with pleasure like an addict experiencing an orgasm from a drug hit.

    This red moss is a toxic substance produced by a powerful apex-level monster. However, it¡¯s not a poison that causes pain or hallucinations.

    ¡®It¡¯s more akin to a drug.¡¯

    Just as a Venus flytrap lures insects with a sweet scent, this red moss attracts nearby creatures with its enticing odor. Even for someone like me, with the ¡°Perfect Immunity¡± trait that provides immunity to toxins and viruses, the smell is almost irresistible. For a Snowwalkers, whichcks immunity to toxins, it would be impossible to resist.

    ¡®That alone won¡¯t satisfy it.¡¯

    As expected, the creature, which had been pressing its head against the tree, looked even more desperate. This is because the red moss has an incredibly potent narcotic effect. Consuming even a small amount turns one into a ve to this forest.

    Suddenly energized, the Snowwalkers darted deeper into the forest filled with red moss. I kept my distance, just close enough to follow without losing it.

    I couldn¡¯t afford to go too deep. Getting lost here would mean certain doom.

    With my senses on high alert, I slowly followed until I saw other creatures starting to appear.

    From weak creatures like Snowwalkers and Cavegoyles to stronger ones like Green Gagons, they were all present.

    Though varied in species, they shared the same appearance: bodies ensnared in the ground, encased in red cocoon-like structures, with only their heads exposed. The roots connecting them to the ground pulsated, injecting something into their bodies. Each time the roots twitched, the captive creatures drooled with blissful expressions.

    This ce was a food storage area. All those ensnared by the red roots were chosen meals by the master of the Red Forest.

    ¡®cier Fiend.¡¯

    The cier Fiend is a monster with an upper body resembling a stag beetle and a lower body in the form of a nt with numerous tendrils. Before it takes root, it uses the wings on its back to fly around and find areas rich in prey. Once it finds a suitable location, it anchors itself into the ground and produces a red substance to lure its prey. Beneath the frozen ground where I now stand, its roots must be spreading extensively.

    [TL/N- I do not like the name cier fiend as nothing in it reassembles a¡­cier so do suggest the name you want me to give it.]

    In essence, this entire vast red forest is its territory.

    A cier Fiend that has sessfully rooted itself in the ground bes a formidable foe. It can control other creatures using the red substance.

    ¡®To be precise, it maniptes their behavior with a narcotic-like substance.¡¯

    The creatures trapped in those cocoons know well who provides the drug. So, when the cier Fiend targets someone, they will obey with a death wish.

    If the cier Fiend decides to kill me, every creature in those cocoons will attack me.

    ¡®This should be far enough.¡¯

    I stopped trailing the Snowwalkers and moved to an area with fewer red tendrils. The master of this food storage is very slow, but it¡¯s enved creatures are not.

    What I need to do now is something the master of this food storage will despise. I must secure an escape route in case things go wrong, ensuring I can flee quickly.

    ¡®I¡¯m nning to test the Psychic Breath.¡¯

    My targets were the creatures hanging from the tendrils, experiencing orgasmic pleasure.

    I positioned myself in a ce where I could escape easily and activated the Abyssal Hue. The fur covering my body stood on end as if charged with static electricity.

    ¡®What¡¯s happening?¡¯

    When I raised my battle arm in surprise, I noticed strange colors within the fur. The hues appeared to be both purple and green, writhing as if alive. The mysterious lights surged not just on my arm but all over my body.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t feel like a part of me. It¡¯s not detectable as energy either.¡¯

    Unlike the Demon Beast, the colors flowing through my body felt distinctly alien. It was as if I were wearing the skin of another entity.

    I had a strong sense that maintaining this form for long would be dangerous.

    I focused my senses on the tentacles covering my neck and jaw joint.

    The writhing colors rapidly concentrated on the tentacles. The hues of purple and green became much more vivid. The once drooping tentacles defied gravity and floated in the air, their colors dispersing into the air like ink dropped in water.

    If the sphere formed during a regr Psychic Breath was like a purple sun, the one before me now was entirely different. It was an orb barely containing a terrifying array of lights and colors.

    I hurled the orb of chaos at the red cocoons. Unlike the previous purple beam of Psychic Breath, this attack took the form of a sphere.

    The moment the orb hit its target, I was taken aback.

    The numerous lights within the orb burst out, engulfing the red cocoons. The cocoons struck by the lights lost their original shape, transforming into the same chaotic orb I had fired.

    The newly formed chaotic orbs then targeted nearby prey, repeating the process.

    An uncontroble chain reaction. This was the effect of the Psychic Breath infused with Abyssal Hue.

    A guttural roar filled the air.

    ¡°Gwooooorrrrrrr!¡±

    As the Psychic Breath spread and consumed all the red cocoons, a roar erupted from within. The master of the forest was enraged.

    No sooner had the roar subsided than I sensed the movement of various creatures.

    ¡®I wonder how many more storage areas are around here.¡¯

    I relocated to avoid the cier Fiend¡¯s thralls. Unfortunately for the cier fiend, my experiment isn¡¯t over yet.

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 Chapter 193

    Chapter 193

    HEL SCANS

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    The king of the Red Forest opened one of his six eyes. His roots sensed the intrusion of some creature. Despite their small size, the weight suggested they might be winged beings caught in his trap.

    Winged beings, the arrogant tribesmen who roamed at themand of the ¡°ck and Old King,¡± wreaking havoc wherever they went. Yet the ¡°ck and Old King¡± favoured them. They were delicious, after all. As he recalled their vorful juices, he found himself unconsciously drooling. A single drop fell from his elongated jaw, causing the creatures scattered around to tremble.

    The king knew well how the secretions from his body affected other creatures. Those who came to kill him, upon consuming the Red substance, immediately became his ves. They desired only the red substance, even if it meant the king feasting on their heads.

    Using this ability, he repeated the cycle of preying on all creatures inhabiting a certain area and then moving on. After hundreds of winters, his power had grown to the extent that even the ¡°ck and Old King¡± was wary of him.

    One day, he would devour that arrogant king too. With that determination, he awaited the approach of new ves.

    But as time passed, the unidentified intruders did not appear before him. Instead, what came to him was a diforting sensation, a mixture of pain and loss. It resurrected feelings from his youth, poking at him relentlessly.Someone was destroying his treasure trove. Realizing this fact, the king was enraged. Who dared to oppose the king of this Red Forest?

    The first entity that came to mind was the ¡°ck and Old King.¡± It was said he hade himself, dragging his hefty posterior to seek revenge for his messengers being devoured. But the king soon dismissed this thought. The ¡°ck and Old King¡± he had seen was a colossal being. If such a creature descended here, he would surely know.

    Other candidates came to mind, residing underground, in the sky, or atop mountains. Yet none seemed fitting.

    The intruder causing havoc in his territory seemed to have arrived here recently.

    No, now the identity of the culprit hardly mattered.

    The intruder who had dared to disrupt his carefully amassed prey deserved death.

    The king sent signals through the roots embedded in the earth,manding the intruder to be captured and brought here.

    Several nearby creatures burst forth as some of the roots tore open, revealing the beings within.

    Their appearances and races varied, but all were adorned with Red moss on their bodies. They were all his loyal ves.

    ¡°Krrraaaaa!¡±

    ¡°Grrrrrr!¡±

    ¡°Kek! Kekkek!¡±

    The ves, obeying the king¡¯smand, dashed out to capture their target.

    If he waited patiently, the ves would bring back the wretched intruder as they always did.

    However, this time, reality unfolded differently from his expectations. One by one, the senses of the ves sent out to hunt began to fade away.

    Until a moment ago, the noise that had been audible was nowpletely silent. An ominous stillness pervaded the entire forest. And the pain from the roots that I had been feeling since earlier, it was getting worse. At first, it felt like being pricked by thorns, but now it was agonizing, like being gnawed by a swarm of insects.

    Now it wasn¡¯t just a problem confined to the food warehouse. His roots, spread across a wide area, were under simultaneous attack. Unable to bear the pain any longer, the king opened all six of his eyes.

    In such situations, the king knew what to do. He focused his senses on his roots and systematically detached the areas where he felt pain. Although he felt considerable pain with each root severed, it was much better than being devoured alive by swarms of insects while still attached to the tree.

    As he tidied up the sprawling roots, his territory shrank rapidly.

    It was obvious that it would take a long time to reim the territory. The king intended to send more ves to capture the intruder.

    Just as he was about to send the signal, something caught his eye. He thought it was light filtering through the branches. Some of the tangled branches had broken, allowing light to enter.

    But it wasn¡¯t. It was a multitude of foam bubbles shining in countless colors. The bubbles of light and color writhed like living creatures.

    He couldn¡¯t tell where they came from or who created them. They just surged toward him like a dizzying wave of foam.

    His heart started pounding fiercely as the approaching foam bubbles.

    rm, and fear. Emotions long dormant in his memory.

    Unknowingly, the king let out a scream. He urged his ves to eradicate those bubbles immediately.

    Just a while ago, the ves had emerged to protect him, but not anymore. Even as he screamed, the creatures around him remained motionless, as if hismand hadn¡¯t reached them.

    Suddenly, the bubbles reached right in front of him. He hurriedly tried to retract his rooted lower half from the ground, but it was toote.

    The bubbles began to creep onto his body. As they touched him, his tough exoskeleton began to crack.

    He didn¡¯t particrly enjoy hunting prey himself, but that didn¡¯t mean he was weak. His exoskeleton was very tough, and his wings were sturdy enough to bear his heavyweight.

    But against the bubbles, everything was futile.

    The foam enveloped him like a snake constricting its prey. Memories of being attacked by underground snakes during his weaker days flooded back. As the most nightmare-like moments resurfaced, he writhed all over, resisting.

    But just as he had been powerless against the memories, reality remained unchanged. The bubbles clung even more strongly, seeming to mock his resistance.

    In the endless mass of colored foam and light, he slowly suffocated.

    ¡®¡­I didn¡¯t expect this.¡¯

    In front of me now is cier Fiend, the owner of the Red Forest. Various colored foam bubbles cling to the body of the guy who came out of the ground and copsed.

    He looks like he¡¯s drowning in water on a frozen, barely clinging to life.

    ¡®I thought only psychic breaths were powerful.¡¯

    The targets are the monster¡¯s tentacles, psychic reflection gloves, and the harbinger of terror.

    For the monster¡¯s tentacles, the enhancement effect was applied to the psychic breath emitted by the tentacles rather than the tentacles themselves. The enhanced psychic breath changed from emitting heat rays to firing projectiles. When the projectiles hit the target, they generate bubbles of color that cause a destructive effect. These bubbles do not disappear when the target is destroyed but instead rush towards nearby new targets, disappearing only when there is nothing left to consume, much like locusts devouring all the grain. In their wake, only sticky bubbles remain.

    In this way, the performance of the psychic breath was roughly verified by plundering the creature¡¯s food stores. I decided to try out other abilities while I was at it.

    Next, I tried the psychic reflection gloves, but unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t find any special effects. I figured I would have to experience a psychic attack firsthand to properly assess it.

    Lastly, there was the harbinger of terror. This ability induces terrifying hallucinations in sentient beings, driving them mad.

    Earlier, I had decided to use the harbinger of terror on the creature while fleeing from its ves. Frankly, I didn¡¯t have high expectations for this ability since its effect was limited to sentient beings. I just hoped it would immobilize them, so I used it.

    However, the results far exceeded my expectations.

    ¡®It¡¯s different.¡¯

    Activating the harbinger of terror drained my strength, and simultaneously, a foam bubble, a mixture of green and purple, formed. The peculiar shimmering bubble flew leisurely and attached itself to the head of the Winterwalker, who had been pursuing me. As soon as it attached, the bubble that had inted instantly swallowed the creature¡¯s head whole.

    The creature, its head covered by the inverted foam bubble, glowed wildly for a moment before copsing withoutsting long.

    The real horror urred next. When the target fell, the foam pile exploded.

    Foam bubbles that had attached to other ves nearby engulfed their heads, just as they had with the Winterwalker. Physical force and contagion. The enhanced effect of the harbinger of terror spreads to the surroundings through the medium of foam.

    Though the range was shortened, the power was vastly increased. Furthermore, the target range, previously limited to sentient beings, now applied to multiple creatures.

    After dealing with the pursuing ves, I immediately tested it on cier Fiend. If it works on him, hunting in the future will be incredibly easy.

    I activated the harbinger of terror sessively while darting through the forest. Countless foam bubbles passed through the trees and flew towards cier Fiend.

    ¡®This is an advantage.¡¯

    Although the range is reduced, being able to fire multiple times is invaluable. It¡¯s especially effective against stationary enemies like the one we encountered.

    Ultimately, cier Fiend, overwhelmed by the harbinger of terror without realizing, fell before me, a much weaker being.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t expect it to be this easy.¡¯

    cier Fiend is a far more formidable opponent than the Ice Horror pushed by force. Without the Abyssal hue, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to deal with the ves as easily as I did.

    He may be addicted to drugs, but he still possesses his original abilities fully. Moreover, his immunity to death and inability to feel pain make him even more dangerous.

    Furthermore, because the Red Forest is constantly visited by creatures wishing to be ves, there seems to be no end to the killing.

    However, that doesn¡¯t mean the main body is weak. With a tough exoskeleton, immunity to various attacks, and wings for swift movement, it¡¯s on par with a White Gagon in terms of meleebat alone.

    There may be the disadvantage of slow movement onnd, but with wings, it¡¯s hard to see that as a w.

    Having effortlessly dispatched such a dangerous predator without sustaining a single injury, I thought to myself.

    ¡®Let¡¯s think after we kill.¡¯

    cier Fiend had only lost consciousness; he wasn¡¯t dead yet. I approached him.

    His head, resembling a stag beetle, was now covered in colorful foam. All six eyes were turned inside out, and blood foam continued to ooze from his mouth.

    I swung the pincers of his tail to strike his neck. With a loud crunch, I hit the exoskeleton covering his throat.

    Several more strikes shattered the exoskeleton, and I raised my tail high again topletely crush his throat.

    ¡®That should be it¡­ Ugh?!¡¯

    [Pain Nullification Activated!]

    An incredibly intense pain surged from the tip of my tail, unlike anything I had ever felt before. I involuntarily sank to the ground as strength drained from my legs.

    ¡®It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s burning!¡¯

    The pain felt like being engulfed in mes. Memories of childhood suddenly flooded back.

    When I was young, I suffered severe burns in a traffic ident. As a result, I spent most of my childhood in the hospital.

    The excruciating sensation I felt back then was now being vividly reenacted in my body.

    ¡®I¡­ I need to regain consciousness!¡¯

    [Pain Nullification Activated!]

    As if malfunctioning, a translucent text box appeared in front of me.

    I checked to see if I was on fire.

    There were no mes visible anywhere on my body. Even as my mind grew faint, I focused all my strength on my auxiliary systems.

    The four auxiliary systems under my chin began to search for the cause of the pain. Eventually, they found something at the tip of my tail.

    The surface of the pincers was covered in a mixture of colors of foam.

    ¡®The Abyssal hue!¡¯

    I immediately opened my jaw wide and snapped down on the middle of my tail. Flesh from the tail flew out, but there was no pain at all.

    The overwhelming burning sensation dripping from the foam-covered area made it impossible to feel anything else.

    I continued to bite my tail meticulously while checking the foam covering the pincers.

    The foam, although slow, continued to grow in size. What had initially been a small patch now engulfed the entire pincer.

    ¡®Ugh¡­!¡¯

    [Pain Nullification Activated!]

    The pain was so intense that my jaw weakened. Unable to bite any longer, I clenched my mouth shut and pulled the tail with mybat arms and legs.

    As a result, a terrifying sound came from the tail. Muscles tore, and bones snapped. The exoskeleton andposite scales had long since been shattered.

    The foam had already swallowed up the entire tail. The eerie foam mass now aimed to devour my tail.

    My mind had reached its limit with the intense pain.

    ¡®Please!¡¯

    With all my strength, I finally tore the tail off with mybat arm.

    Two-thirds of the tail fell to the ground. The foam attached to the fallen tail lost its characteristic luster in an instant.

    With the cause removed, the burning sensation that had been pressing on my brain vanished as if it were a lie. Instead, pain arose from the severed area, but I had no strength to feel the pain.

    Lying half-conscious on the ground, a new text box appeared before me.

    [Evolution conditions for ¡®Quasi Saint¡¯ >¡¯Saint¡¯ have been partially met. APEX 2/30 (Iplete)]

    With cier Fiend¡¯s death, the light disappeared from the foam attached to him.

    Even though cier Fiend was dead and the foam had changed, I couldn¡¯t rx. The foam created by Psychic Breath didn¡¯t stop until the target disappeared. Just because the situation had changed didn¡¯t mean the foam¡¯s effect had actually dissipated.

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Knowing that merely looking wouldn¡¯t change anything, I reached out with a finger and lightly pricked the foam.

    I intended to cut off my finger as soon as the pain started, but even after waiting, I felt nothing.

    ¡®So the effect is lost upon death.¡¯

    The foam created as the Fearmonger seemed to affect the minds of living beings differently from Psychic Breath.

    ¡®It might be invoking the most terrifying pain for the target.¡¯

    As soon as the foam touched me, I felt the burning pain. cier Fiend and the ves who were affected by the foam likely experienced a simr sensation.

    ¡®¡­I need to use it with caution.¡¯

    Having experienced it firsthand, I understood.

    The newfound Abyssal hue was, quite literally, a double-edged sword.

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 Chapter 194

    Chapter 194

    HEL SCANS

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    Emerging from excruciating agony, my mind swiftly returned. As my mind stabilized, the bristled hairs, once stiff with tension, settled calmly.

    Though the pain persisted from having the wed tail torn off raw, it was iparable to the trauma-inducing agony.

    It was only after my body improved that I could objectively assess the depths of my abilities.

    ¡®The risk may be fatal, but¡­¡¯

    Should I describe it as high-risk, high-return? Apart from the pain I felt, I gained something substantial.

    The enhanced Psychic Breath and the Watcher of Fear. The former consumed the opponent until their physical form vanished, while thetter awakened the most dreadful pain dormant in their memory.Yet, the effects of the applied attributes are secondary. It depends on how proficiently I utilize them.

    The real importance lies in the Abyssal hue.

    ¡®The ability to activate it at will is a great advantage.¡¯

    Being able to choose when to use it. This means enjoying two effects with one attribute.

    For example, using Psychic Breath to snipe enemies as usual, then switching to shooting foam that devours them until they die during their moment of carelessness is operational.

    The Watcher of Fear is simr. Unlike the original, the abyssal version affects multiple targets. Sprinkling it over a crowded space where enemies are clustered would be very effective.

    If in the future, new superpower traits are acquired, and the abyssal essence is applied? It¡¯s akin to obtaining two traits at once.

    ¡®Could it also be reflected in the new abilities?¡¯

    ording to the textbox, currently, only three traits are affected by the ¡°abyssal hue.¡±

    Traits unrted tobat, like humanity or predator sense, are not affected. ¡°Superpower Reflection Gloves¡± are a subject, but they haven¡¯t been experimented with yet due to unmet activation conditions.

    If the newly acquired superpower traits are also subject to the abyssal essence? It would significantly empower mycking superpowerbat abilities.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to figure this out while hunting.¡¯

    Confirmation of the application of the abyssal essence seems likely with the acquisition of new psychic power traits.

    Fortunately, the ce I am in is a where Gagon¡¯s Nest is located. It¡¯s one of the ces where acquiring superpower-rted traits is easy.

    ¡®That¡¯s settled. I need to leave here immediately.¡¯

    Though the forest¡¯s owner is dead, the danger still lingers.

    There are still hundreds of various-sized cocoons around. Inside them are ves of the red substance, waiting to awaken.

    With cier Fiend, the provider of narcotics, dead, it¡¯s a given that they¡¯ll wake up soon.

    ¡®But before I go¡­¡¯

    I looked down at the decapitated body of cier Fiend.

    Fresh meat, reaching up to 15 meters whenbined with the lower half buried in the ground,y sprawled on the floor.

    Being in the state of ¡°Cunning Weakling,¡± my body cannot exceed 5 meters. So, taking the whole body is impossible, but it doesn¡¯t matter. Thanks to the ¡°Essence Harvester¡¯s Jaw,¡± I can obtain gic essence by just eating the head.

    I grabbed the head of cier Fiend, resembling a stag beetle.

    After firmly securing it with one of thebat arms, I exerted force and pulled it sharply. Flesh around the neck, barely connected, tore as the head separated.

    Thanks to the ¡°Essence Harvester¡¯s Jaw¡± acquired upon bing a juvenile, just eating the head allows me to exhibit the same digestive effect as if I had eaten the entire body. The size difference makes it difficult to carry the whole body. So, I n to cut off only the head and take it with me.

    ¡°I can¡¯t let the drug dealers get away with it.¡±

    cier Fiend is a monster with many useful traits. As a type that hunts prey over vast territories, it¡¯s not something youe across often. If I miss this opportunity, who knows when I¡¯ll get another chance, so I must make sure to take its head at least.

    As I tried to grab the creature¡¯s head and leave, the nearby cocoons began to wriggle.

    The closest one burst open, and a creature emerged. A monster with elongated legs, resembling a slender dragon, charged at me.

    Its name is Snow Banshee.

    With its almost pallid skin and striking red tongue, it¡¯s a small carnivorous creature. It attacks by lying in wait with its body concealed in the snow, then snatching prey with its thick tongue when it approaches.

    ¡®But its terror lies in perfect concealment¡­¡¯

    The one in front of me is under the influence of drugs and is not in its right mind. Instead of hiding and fighting, it recklessly lunged its tongue at me.

    I grabbed the tongue flying towards me with my arm near my chest.

    When in the state of Inteligent Weakling, the body shrinks, but the muscles around the chest arm develop prominently. While not as strong as thebat arms, they can be useful when fighting enemies of simr size.

    ¡®Just like this.¡¯

    Gulp?

    I exerted force on the arm holding the tongue and pulled the creature towards me with all my might. Perhaps not expecting to be pushed back, the creature stumbled forward lifelessly.

    I swiftly approached the copsed creature and bit its neck behind the head. With a gruesome sound of bones breaking, the creature¡¯s body ckened.

    ¡®I¡¯ll take this too.¡¯

    I ced the creature, measuring 1m 50cm, on top of cier Fiend¡¯s head on my back. In the meantime, other cocoons started bursting one by one.

    Monsters awakened from the cocoons also intervened to eat cier Fiend¡¯s corpse.

    Knowing where the red substancees from, that¡¯s what they¡¯re up to.

    ¡®Let¡¯s get out of here quickly.¡¯

    While the others were distracted elsewhere, I quickly moved away from the center. There were no obstacles in the periphery since I destroyed all the cocoons with Psychic Breath earlier.

    Except for one.

    ¡°Grrrr¡­¡±

    With a bulky 4m physique, a gaunt body with disproportionately long arms and legs, and a ck face contrasting with its white body.

    The Snowwalker suddenly emerged from the forest, blocking my path.

    ¡®It¡¯s that guy from earlier.¡¯

    It was the Snowwalker I encountered before.

    Its gaze was fixed precisely on my back, on cier Fiend¡¯s head.

    It seems like it will chase me to death even if I run away. It¡¯s better to deal with it here and now.

    ¡®Better this way.¡¯

    The Snowwalker¡¯s heart is needed for The Mother of the Sky.

    Iid the things on my back on the ground. As it seemed I wouldn¡¯t retreat easily, the creature growled threateningly.

    The Snowwalker approached me step by step. It looks quite intimidating now, being about twice my size.

    I lunged at the creature with all four legs.

    At the right moment, the creature swung its abnormally long arms. Mybat arm collided with its arm.

    ¡°Groooo¡­¡±

    The Snowwalker has far more elbow jointspared to regr animals. As a result, its arms can move flexibly enough to appear whip-like.

    Its arms slither over mybat arm like a snake. The sharp ws of the creature aim for one target: my eyes. It seeks to incapacitate me by attacking my vision.

    True to its nickname as the hunter of the snow, it engages in cunning attacks right from the start.

    But I expected the creature toe out like this.

    With the weight on my hind legs, I swung my front leg upward. Like a horse kicking, my front leg struck the creature¡¯s lower abdomen forcefully.

    ¡°Ugh?!¡±

    Receiving a blow to its groin, the creature staggered and released its arms. With the front leg back in ce, I rolled my foot, rotating my body in ce. Then, I swung my tail with force.

    Although the pincers haven¡¯t regenerated yet, the tail, resembling a log, serves as a sufficient weapon. Its blunt end struck the creature¡¯s legs like a cudgel.

    ¡°Groooo¡­¡±

    The creature leaped up. Its tail, which had been flying low, brushed past the underside of its feet.

    The creature is more agile than it looks, but this too was within my expectations. My real intention wasn¡¯t the tail but the attack that followed.

    Half-turned, my back faces the creature. And on my back are the faces of the Many-Faced Ones.

    Five faces quickly emerged and opened wide. Ultrasound waves, inducing paralysis, poured towards the target.

    ¡°!¡±

    The Snowwalker fell from the air, paralyzed, andnded with a thud. My jaws spread into a grin, covering its head.

    My teeth relentlessly pierced the creature¡¯s ck face. Then, as I exerted pressure on its jaw, its head slowly straightened.

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Even in the agony of being crushed, the creature didn¡¯t flinch a finger. It¡¯s only act was a silent scream.

    Shortly after, a sound of cracking walnut shells was heard, and a sweet liquid flowed into my mouth. It was thick yet smooth, reminiscent of chocte pudding.

    ¡®Hmm, I¡¯d like to have more, but¡­¡¯

    Now that there¡¯s not only me but also a mouth, I barely managed to resist. What The Mother of the Sky needs is just the heart, but it would be strange to just give her the heart.

    So, carefully gathering the prey, I left the Red Forest. As I reached the outskirts, I saw that the red moss was already withering.

    The forest, deprived of its owner, was returning to its original state. If even the beasts fighting inside leave, this ce will quiet down just like before.

    Focusing on the auxiliary organs, I followed the path I had taken. If I go to where I stayed until morning, there should still be traces of the creatures¡¯ movement.

    I ran through the dark forest without resting, for hours after leaving the Red Forest.

    Because of the branches, hardly any sunlight prated, and the trees were so simr that it was easy to get lost, but it didn¡¯t apply to me. My innate hyper-awareness is guiding me where to go.

    I felt the presence of wild creatures, including Snow Banshees, a few times along the way, but they all avoided me. There were no creatures approaching me, perhaps due to the smell of Snowwalker¡¯s blood emanating from my body.

    Continuing on, I suddenly arrived at the pit I dug yesterday. Stopping nearby, I bent down and brought the auxiliary organs closer to the ground.

    A faint scent left by the kids was detected. The traces were sporadically following in one direction.

    I followed the faint traces. Along the way, there were traces deliberately made, like small stone stacks or w marks on trees. They seemed intentionally crafted to be so well hidden that without the auxiliary organs, I wouldn¡¯t have noticed them.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    The entrance itself was narrow, and with trees surrounding it, it wasn¡¯t easy to see. It was a well-hidden ce, so much so that even I wouldn¡¯t have noticed without the auxiliary organs.

    ¡®Looks okay.¡¯

    With so much baggage, I couldn¡¯t go in like this. I threw the items inside one by one and entered the burrow.

    Inside, it smelled musty and nauseating, perhaps a ce once used by other animals, instead of the usual earthy scent.

    As I surveyed the entrance, someone appeared from inside.

    ¡®Sooner than expected, huh?¡¯

    A griffin with a lion¡¯s body covered in golden fur with an eagle¡¯s head, the Mother of the Sky. She greeted me with her amber eyes shining.

    ?I thought it would take all day.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (I¡¯ve got all the necessary information.)]

    I handed her the Snowwalker¡¯s torso.

    ?What¡¯s this? A Snowwalker??

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Yeah. You need the heart, right?)]

    ?Oh? Ah, yes. Thank you.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (You managed to find such a good ce.)]

    ?Well, I didn¡¯t really did much¡­?

    [ZZ (Huh?)]

    ?Once you go in, you¡¯ll see.?

    I divided the luggage with her and entered the burrow.

    Inside, it was quite spacious. Would you call it a gallery shape? It seemed to be elongated towards the entrance and widened as it went inside.

    ?Big guy!?

    At that moment, Number 26 flew towards me. Number 26, who had been waiting in themon area, approached me with a pink glow. The little one hopped onto my head.

    [Hey, how have you been?]

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Fine. It was fun wandering around.)]

    Seeing the weing creature, I couldn¡¯t help but feel good. As I petted it, something strange caught my eye in the dim cave interior.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    A creature of unknown identityy in the corner of themon area. I thought the cave was old and smelled nauseating, but it wasn¡¯t. The source of the smell was that creature.

    Seeing no signs of heartbeat or muscle movement, it was undoubtedly a corpse. Next to therge creature¡¯s bodyy PS-111.

    [Sub-controller Amorph. Have you arrived?]

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (What¡¯s next to it?)]

    ?It¡¯s a Shark Bear. I thought it was an unimed cave, but it wasn¡¯t.?

    Hearing what the Mother of the Sky said, I was slightly surprised. While not ssified as an Apex, a Shark Bear is still a formidable creature.

    The creature is a formidable fighter with exceptionalbat skills, a mix of a shark¡¯s head and a bear¡¯s body. Its resistance to psychic powers is a weakness, though.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Oh, really?)]

    Come to think of it, there was something strange about the Shark Bear¡¯s corpse. From what I know, it¡¯s quiterge. If it stood up, it would be simr in size to the Snowwalker.

    However, the body detected by the auxiliary organs wasn¡¯t that big. It was as if it had beenpressed, like squeezed into a vice.

    ?I was resting in the cave when it suddenly came in. That¡¯s when Number 26 caught it.?

    ?It¡¯s a troublemaker who came into the house where the babies live. I did a good job, right??

    The culprit behind the creation of a cube steak made from a bear with a shark¡¯s head.

    Sea Demon Number 26 smiled brightly from my head.

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 Chapter 195

    Chapter 195

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    ¡®Of course.¡¯

    Though it is always friendly and with a childish tone, I sometimes forget, Number 26 is a Sea Demon.

    Sea Demons possess not only a strong sense of kinship but also a strong territorial instinct. Since the enemy entered what it considers its territory, it¡¯s only natural.

    ¡®But still, it seems like it¡¯s gotten stronger?¡¯

    ¡®Maybe it¡¯s because of the Green Gagon from yesterday.¡¯

    Previously, after absorbing the psychic power of a dead Sea Demon, it grew rapidly. It might be another growth spurt thanks to devouring the Green Gagon¡¯s corpse, or more precisely, the psychic power contained within it.¡®Both Gagons and Sea Demons are powerful psychic beings.¡¯

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Well done)]

    ?Am I amazing??

    [ZZ (Yes)]

    As I send a wave of affirmation, it lights up with joy. Seeing it shine so brightly in the dark cave, it seems receiving praise is quite pleasing.

    [If I recover, I can do a lot too.]

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (That¡¯s why I brought this for you.)]

    I set down the Snow Banshee in front of PS-111.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Eat with the Sharkbear)]

    [The head of the creature you¡¯re carrying contains a considerable amount of energy.]

    ?Friend, no.?

    It seemed eager for the cier Find¡¯s head I was carrying. I was about to refuse outright, but Number 26 intervened first.

    ?To grow big, big ones need to eat a lot, a lot.?

    [If we consume and analyze that creature, I can also acquire new abilities.]

    ?No, you can¡¯t.?

    [Sorry.]

    When scolded by Number 26, it lowered its head with a sullen attitude.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Let¡¯s do this, after eating, I¡¯ll go out and fetch a new prey for you)]

    [Thank you for your consideration.]

    After petting PS-111, I started preparing the meal.

    Transformation mode that increases the chance of prey effect activation, the embodiment of hunting. The cooldown has just ended.

    ¡®What kind of traits wille out this time?¡¯

    I have a few traits in mind, but who knows what will actuallye out.

    With expectations for new traits, I activated the ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯

    ***.

    Adhai, the exiled daughter of Odd Grad, woke up feeling an unfamiliar chill.

    It wasn¡¯t actually cold.

    In fact, the ce she was in was warm enough to fit within the top ten warmest ces on this.

    Gagons, typically dominating the upper echelons in any ecosystem, don¡¯t nest just anywhere. Gagons instinctively seek out ces where psychic power is concentrated.

    Psychic power is a force that distorts reality and transcends physicalws. ces where this power is concentrated tend to be abnormal.

    In a cold ce, warmth isforting, while in a hot ce, coolness is the nest¡¯sfort.

    This cave was no exception. Warm geothermal heat rose from the ground, and nearby, there was even a spring with fresh water flowing.

    But that¡¯s not all. There were vines on the cave walls bearing sweet fruits. These fruits, filled with sweet juice, were a favorite delicacy among the young of her kin.

    Despite being an abnormallyfortable ce, she felt uneasy. Because she knew where this was.

    This was the ce most cherished by her kin, where the Hatchlings dwelled.

    It was clear how they viewed her. Despite her scales tinged with vine-like hues, they refused to acknowledge her.

    To them, she was always just a weakling with a disability.

    If they were her ¡°true family,¡± they wouldn¡¯t treat her like this. They had acknowledged her as a hunter.

    She thought of them.

    The ones who cared for her weakness, nurtured her as a hunter.

    Ugly but a gentle adult and friend in their own way.

    Gentle, but sometimes showing a frightening side, the little adult.

    The weak child brought by the little adult.

    And the adult she liked. Strangely, he frequently changed his appearance.

    The little adult said it was about growing, but it looked very different to her. Her ¡°previous¡± kin didn¡¯t grow like that. They didn¡¯t grow bigger, only to shrink again.

    Still, she liked the big adult. No matter how his appearance changed, he was still the big adult.

    Of course, she didn¡¯t like his recent smaller form.

    But right now, she wanted to see that ugly appearance.

    She gently got up and concentrated ¡°strength¡± as the little adult used to do.

    The little adult was very skilled with strength. Any creature she had seen, even the big adult, couldn¡¯t do what it casually did.

    She spread her strength wide and thin. It was so thin that other kin besides her wouldn¡¯t even recognize it properly.

    The thin thread-like strength spread beyond the cave to the outside. As she exerted her strength beyond its limits, her legs wobbled, but she managed somehow.

    They saw her as weak and ipetent.

    She was weak, that was true, but not ipetent. So, she decided to exploit their arrogance.

    If I¡¯m weak, I must seize the opportunity when the opponent lets their guard down. It was a method the big adult often used in battle.

    Through the widely spread strength, she could confirm that the watchers were dozing off.

    Now that she had obtained the desired information, it was time to act. She cautiously stepped out of the cave.

    Outside, kin with vine-like hues like her were nodding off just like her.

    As she had sensed when she first arrived, her kin didn¡¯t seem to be in good shape. Most looked emaciated, and the Hatchlings were so thin from not eating properly.

    But she had no reason to care about that, nor time. She needed to flee quickly while the guards were still drowsy.

    ?Where are you going??

    Just as she was about to take flight, a Gagon flew over.

    A kin with white gems resembling snow in the forest in front of the cave had appeared.

    Even to Adhai, born with mutations, the impressive figure with white scales and ck spots was so beautiful that admiration came naturally. Surely, the influence of her mother yed a significant role in her ability to boast exceptional beauty.

    But the true strength of that female wasn¡¯t her beauty alone.

    In a dominated by Odd Grad, to raise a new flock was very difficult; But she was strong enough to establish a new flock. In fact, in this flock, there were a few more individuals besides her. Nevertheless, Ham Ort maintained her position as the leader.

    Seeing that, her strength certainly surpassed normal white gagons. Perhaps she positioned somewhere between white and ck.

    In other words, a presence one would absolutely not want to encounter. Adhai, upon seeing the white female, tensed up.

    ?Interesting? ?This method.?

    Ham Ort touched with her forepaw the thread of power Adhai had spread. In an instant, the wide-spreading vanished. It seemed she had snatched away and released Adhai¡¯s control.

    Despite being overwhelmed by the opponent¡¯s power, Adhai didn¡¯t retreat. Witnessing her determination, Ham Ort nodded slightly.

    ?Meaningless resistance? ?It¡¯s pointless? ?The difference in power? ?Don¡¯t you understand??

    ?I do.?

    ?Then surrender.?

    ?Refusal!?

    Purple mes flickered in Ham Ort¡¯s eyes, and Adhai felt her body trembling. The immense pressure, reminiscent of facing Odd Grad, overwhelmed her.

    But she didn¡¯t give up. Because the adult she respected never gave up, no matter how tough the situation.

    Adhai put strength into her four legs and red at Ham Ort. The tentacles on her mouth were tightly tensed, ready to unleash purple lightning at any moment.

    How much time had passed?

    Surprisingly, it was Ham Ort who retreated. Stepping back, she sent a short gesture.

    ?Daughter of the Meteor? ?Stubbornness? ?I like it.?

    The slightly tilted crescent-shaped figure of the opponent seemed to mock and admire at the same time. However, it was a fleeting sight, and she immediately raised her forepaw to crush Adhai.

    ?Daughter of the Meteor? ?Weak? ?Ham Ort? ?Strong daughter? ?Necessary.?

    Adhai and Ham Ort had a more than tenfold difference in physique alone. There was an iparable gap in strength.

    Despite knowing this fact, Adhai didn¡¯t give up. She wed with her ws and sent purple lightning, but everything was in vain. Yet she kept resisting.

    Even though that interior might befortable, she didn¡¯t want to go back. If she followed the orders of a powerful opponent, it wouldn¡¯t be much different from being chased away from her previous flock.

    As she struggled, Ham Ort unexpectedly brought up something entirely unexpected.

    ?Ham Ort? ?Prepared? ?Weak daughter? ?Power to make strong.?

    ?Strength?? ?Understand? ?Impossible!?

    ?Resistance? ?I¡¯ll exin if you give up.?

    Upon hearing those words, Adhai stopped moving. Now that she thought about it, Ham Ort could have broken her wing bones but didn¡¯t.

    Clearly, there was something they wanted from her.

    Once, the adult said,

    ¡®When facing a formidable enemy, utilize everything at your disposal. Even if it¡¯s the enemy¡¯s strength.¡¯

    ?Exnation? ?Request.?

    ?Fine? ?Go back to the nest? ?I¡¯ll exin.?

    ***

    ¡®I don¡¯t know what Ham Ort wants, what she¡¯s thinking¡¯

    ¡®For now, I need to find out that part first.¡¯

    ¡®This should be sufficient.¡¯

    In the dead of night when everyone was asleep, I was adjusting the new nest. This ancient underground cave had been transformed into Amorph¡¯s nest for a long time, fueled by the energy acquired during the day.

    On the floory marshes aiding in the Amorph¡¯s recovery, while ck mucus dripped from the ceiling and walls.

    The heat rising from the nest was being sucked in by the ¡°smog towers,¡± releasing it underground instead of on the surface to prevent the steam from escaping through the cave entrance.

    Of course, with time, thend around here would dry uppletely, but I don¡¯t n on staying that long.

    ¡®The symbiotes are functioning well.¡¯

    Despite sustaining significant injuries, Number 26, with a broken beak, had ¡°symbiote spores¡± I imnted attached to the body of the injured Sky Mother. Through the spores connected to the nest, healing fluid and energy were continuously supplied, so her wounds would significantly improve by tomorrow morning.

    By the way, I couldn¡¯t attach them to PS-111. Being a hybrid of machine and organism, a mutant screamer, he couldn¡¯t benefit from the symbiotic effect.

    ¡®A machine needing the most care, of all things.¡¯

    Perhaps I should takefort in the fact that he¡¯s the most efficient means of recovery among us.

    I looked at the dormant PS-111. Traces of the food I had eaten during the day floated around beside him, as hey in the warm marsh.

    Half-dissolved bones, the skull of a cier Fiend.

    ¡®Ha, just looking at that annoys me again.¡¯

    The ¡°Symbol of Hunt¡± , an evolved mode of the ¡°Perfect Organism,¡± greatly increases the chance of acquiring gic essence.

    Amorph¡¯s sess rate in predation is low. Typically, one would need to prey on dozens of individuals to barely obtain the desired gic essence.

    However, with the Symbol of Hunt just preying on a single individual would suffice to exhibit the predatory effect. This effect also applies to gic samples or organisms I haven¡¯t killed.

    However, in this case, the acquired trait is obtained not in a normal state but as an ¡°imperfect trait.¡± Nevertheless, imperfect traits can be used as materials for the Transcendence System, and if the same trait is acquired twice, it can be restored as a perfect trait, so they¡¯re not entirely useless.

    Due to this, whenever I ate prey with strategically important value, I used the Symbol of Hunt.

    The problem is that it doesn¡¯t increase the predation sess rate to 100%.

    The skull resembling an ugly deer beetle gave me no reward.

    ¡®I knew the predation effect wouldn¡¯t always activate, but¡­¡¯

    Of all things, it had to be that the predatory effect wouldn¡¯t work on cier Fiend.

    Even after eating everything and not seeing any messages popping up, I thought I might have missed something.

    Only after licking up even the blood droplets on the floor did I realize. The predatory effect hadn¡¯t been triggered at all.

    ¡®Tch.¡¯

    Among the traits that can be obtained from cier Fiend is a trait that generates narcotic substances. Whenbined with my ¡®Smog Tower¡¯ trait, it bes a very formidable ability. It¡¯s regrettable that the predatory effect didn¡¯t trigger; it could have been used as a fusion material.

    ¡®¡­Ah, nothing can be done about what¡¯s already failed.¡¯

    To distract myself from cier Fiend, I checked the text box. Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t acquire any traits from the creature, but I could exhibit predatory effects from other prey like Snow Banshees and Shark Bears.

    The trait from the Snow Banshee¡¯s gic essence is ¡®Stealth Movement.¡¯ It drastically reduces sound and traces when moving, a special defense trait. It¡¯s inferiorpared to the ¡®Unknown Creature¡¯s Fur¡¯ from the ¡®Intelligent Weakling¡¯ mode, but it¡¯s not without its advantages.

    ¡®It significantly reduces body weight as a side effect.¡¯

    With Stealth Movement, the bone structure bes extremely robust but is reced by lightweight synthetic materials. When I applied the trait during the day, I felt tingling all over my body, reminiscent of adolescence.

    Nevertheless, this trait is incredibly helpful for evading enemy tracking or concealing oneself even after releasing the Intelligent Weakling. I used Stealth Movement effectively in the game to lure enemies or set traps.

    ¡®Now, onto¡­¡¯

    From the Shark Bear I didn¡¯t kill, I obtained ¡®Enhanced Endocrine nd¡¯ as an imperfect trait. When fused with the internal organ trait ¡®Muscle Reinforcement,¡¯ it yields the trait ¡®Berserk Synapse.¡¯

    Berserk Synapse secretes special chemicals to significantly enhance physical abilities. With this trait, one bes faster, stronger, and gains more vitality than before. While it doesn¡¯t offer anything special in the game, it¡¯s praised for its versatility.

    ¡°It¡¯s one of the essential traits I need right now.¡±

    Berserk Synapse helps in utilizing stored energy more efficiently. With this trait alone, I can reduce the energy consumption of the Symbol of Hunt or ¡®Divine Halberd.¡¯

    ¡®After this, I should look for more Shark Bears.¡¯

    To use imperfect traits as fusion materials, I need two of the same traits. To fuse Berserk Synapse, I need to obtain Enhanced Endocrine nds again.

    With that, I dismissed the text box.

    With all adjustments to the nestpleted, I quietly nestled into the marsh. Wrapped in the warmth enveloping my body, I pondered the tasks ahead.

    ¡®Now, it¡¯s a long-term n.¡¯

    The experiments with the newly acquired traits are over, and the new nest is secured. The kids are recovering quickly, so it¡¯s time to prepare to bring in the Adhai.

    The White Gagon that took away Adhai seemed quite intelligent, so the fight won¡¯t be easy.

    ¡®I need to prepare as much as possible.¡¯

    To fully demonstrate good strategy and excellent skills, one must establish a solid foundation. And for Amorph, that foundation is none other than traits.

    It¡¯s essential to possess a variety of traits so that I can proactively deal with any enemy.

    ¡®With cier Fiend, Ice Horror, and Gagon, there are bound to be others.¡¯

    I¡¯m well aware of which creatures predominantly inhabit the area around the Gagon¡¯s nest.

    Until I fell asleep, I contemted what to target first.

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 Chapter 196

    Chapter 196

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    ?Being together is nice.?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Is that so?)]

    ?I wish we had the little one with us.?

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll bring her back for sure.)]

    ?Okay!?

    I gently stroked Number 26¡¯s head as it nestled on top of mine. In response, it softly caressed my horn with its tentacles.¡®¡­It¡¯s cute just to see it like that.¡¯

    [Unidentifiable physiological responses detected from the main controller.]

    ?I think I have a rough idea of what that means.?

    [The middle one¡¯s statement is quite intriguing. Requesting information sharing.]

    ?W-why are you asking me that??

    After recovering from my injuries with a good rest, I set out with the kids. It was to hunt for new prey together.

    ¡®This opponent is tough to hunt alone.¡¯

    This enemy isn¡¯t like Ice Horrors, who are strong on their own, or like cier Fiend, whomand numerous minions. They are bothersome in a different sense. Even the Mother of the Sky seemed shaken when I brought this up.

    I nced briefly at the Mother of the Sky, PS-111, chattering away.

    ¡®Is that a new form she¡¯s taken?¡¯

    Thanks to the hearts of both the Ice Horror and the Snowwalker that I bought, she gained the power of the Wendigo.

    The Wendigo of Space Survival looks quite different from the legendary depiction. It resembles a ck, skeletal deer walking on two legs.

    The Wendigo¡¯s power is divided into two main categories: temperature control, such as generating cold, and mental maniption of other beings.

    Unlike Griffins, which excel in short-range flight and groundbat, the Wendigo is specialized inbat support and crowd control.

    ¡®These abilities are more advantageous in group battles than in solo ones.¡¯

    Perhaps that¡¯s why the Wendigo is beloved by colleagues it operates with.

    Paradoxically, Wendigos are unpopr with most Wolf yers. Their appearance is so unattractive, earning them a notorious reputation.

    ¡®It was definitely like that¡­¡¯

    Currently, the Mother of the Sky¡¯s appearance reflected some of the Wendigo¡¯s traits, but it wasn¡¯t bad at all.

    She had the head of a bald eagle, magnificent tusks, and a body covered in golden fur, all simr to a lioness, but with a few additions. Two ck horns sprouted from her head, and ck wavy patterns adorned her body.

    All these changes were thanks to her special skill.

    ¡®The camouge of the Huntress.¡¯

    Normally, when a Wolf reaches the level of divine transformation, they choose which phantom beast they will transform into. ording to the setting, once this choice is made, it cannot be changed.

    However, the special skill possessed by the Mother of the Sky, the ¡°camouge of the Huntress,¡± does not adhere to this restriction.

    As she exined it, she could transform into one of four additional phantom beasts besides the Griffin she initially chose.

    If the conditions necessary for transformation are unlocked, one can transform into a phantom beast unlocked once a month. For example, if she were to transform into a Wendigo here, she wouldn¡¯t be able to change into a different animal until a month has passed.

    The duration one can maintain the transformation varies depending on the phantom beast. It¡¯s said that a Wendigo¡¯s transformation canst up to five days.

    So she¡¯s refraining from transforming into a Wendigo for now.

    ¡®Since some traits of the unlocked phantom beast are reflected even in Griffin form.¡¯

    Like how she now has antlers on her head. Also, she doesn¡¯t feel any cold at all now, thanks to Wendigo¡¯s cold immunity.

    ¡®Since she has unlocked two additional phantom beasts, only two remain.¡¯

    The materials needed to unlock transformable phantom beasts are generally of a difficulty simr to that of the Wendigo. In other words, one must hunt Apex-level monsters.

    It might be good to look for monsters that could help her along with Number 26¡¯s growth in the future.

    ¡®Come to think of it, she unlocked another phantom beast before the Wendigo. How did she obtain that?¡¯

    While pondering this sudden question, the Mother of the Sky called out to me.

    ?Where do you intend to start from? It¡¯ll take a while if you start searching randomly.?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Let¡¯s head north.)]

    ?North??

    Our nest is in the middle of a forest near the beginning of the mountain range. If we go north, we¡¯ll encounter the mountains forming the range.

    Today, we n to investigate one of those many mountains.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Didn¡¯t you see them from the twin peaks?)]

    [ording to the report received before losing terminal functionality, yes.]

    As soon as I woke up in the morning, I asked PS-111 if it had seen the creatures I was looking for.

    The mutant screamers, acting as intermediate terminals, remembered the information ryed by lower-level screamers. It seems that PS-111 remembers what the lower-level creatures had encountered.

    ¡®If sighted from the twin peaks¡­¡¯

    The target this time has a very extensive hunting ground. If sighted from the forest near the beginning of the mountain range at the twin peaks, then we should consider everything in this vicinity to be the enemy¡¯s activity range.

    ¡®Since the enemy nests only in very high ces, there might be nests up above.¡¯

    The twin peaks are so high that they can be seen from the ice ins. We¡¯ll have to go there and check it out, but it¡¯s not unlikely that the enemy might inhabit such ces.

    ¡®Anyway, to rescue Adhai, we must capture the enemy.¡¯

    Fighting against a Gagon requires a skill that is absolutely necessary.

    That is, the ability to fly.

    Not just any flight, but a level of ability that allows for high-speed movement and space navigation.

    Gagons start from hatchlings and the entire species can fly. As seen with Adhai, flight abilities are actively used inbat by Gagons.

    Moreover, White Gagons have aerialbat utility in addition to the ¡®hyperspeed¡¯ ability possessed by Green Gagons.

    To stand against such creatures, I too must possess powerful flight abilities.

    ¡®If it¡¯s about flight abilities, Skywhales also have them, but¡­¡¯

    Skywhales are beings that live by absorbing intangible energy naturally present. Since this has a nest of dragons where psychic powers are highly concentrated, it¡¯s possible to encounter Skywhales here.

    The problem is, those creatures nevere down to the ground until they die. Without the ability to fly, even meeting them isn¡¯t easy.

    Capturing a Gagon would grant flight-rted traits, but the issue is that they live in groups.

    Ultimately, the only option left is the entity we¡¯re trying to find at the Twin Peaks, the ¡®Crystalwing.¡¯

    [Today¡¯s goal is to find the Crystalwing nest.]

    ?To think I have to do that tedious task even here.?

    The Mother of the Sky shook her head as if she were annoyed. At that moment, Number 26 lightly jabbed my head with his tentacles.

    ?Big guy, what¡¯s a Crystalwing??

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (A creature with shimmering wings.)]

    ?Wings??

    It seemed like a foreign concept to him, as it signaled that it didn¡¯t know.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (It¡¯s attached to Adhai.)]

    I wanted to spread out my wingsuit to show it, but in the state of being temporarily disabled, the wingsuit couldn¡¯t be used. Nevertheless, as an intelligent being, Number 26 quickly understood what I was trying to convey.

    ?It ps its wings! p, p!?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (That¡¯s right.)]

    Number 26 extended two tentacles and waved them around.

    In reality, Adhai¡¯s flight was more akin to graceful floating in the air. Although different from what it described, the meaning was conveyed, so it didn¡¯t matter much.

    So we continued northward towards the Twin Peaks.

    As we approached the mountains, the surrounding scenery gradually changed. Instead of trees diminishing, the terrain became rugged.

    There were ice chunks sticking out of the ground for tens of meters, and bottomless crevasses whose depth couldn¡¯t be fathomed. It was pure nature itself. If I were human, I would never want toe here.

    ¡®Of course, it doesn¡¯t apply to us.¡¯

    I firmly nted my foot on the ground. My body soared through the air, leaping over crevasses spanning tens of meters wide.

    ?It¡¯s fun!?

    Every time, Number 26, who was on my head, seemed to enjoy it. The Mother of the Sky and PS-111, who were behind me, also leaped lightly and followed suit.

    Everyone had exceptional physical abilities, so the rugged terrain was no problem at all.

    After reaching the mountains, cliffs, or rather, steep slopes greeted us. Again, it was no problem. Our pace remained steady without any decrease in speed.

    When hunger struck, we hunted the wildlife roaming the mountains. Snow Banshees cautiously moving along the cliffs became the main prey.

    ?There¡¯s one more over there.?

    [I¡¯ll attack.]

    When the Mother of the Sky spots prey with her keen eyesight, PS-111 attacks it with the demolisher attached to her tail.

    Crunch!

    A Snow Banshee struck by the energy projectile disintegrated. Its body, falling towards the cliff below, stopped in mid-air as if suspended.

    ?Got it!?

    When Number 26 waved its tentacles, the creature¡¯s body trembled before bursting with a popping sound, splitting into four pieces. The shattered body parts transformed into chunks of meat, resembling meatballs. The spilling blood defied thews of physics, being sucked into the meaty chunks.

    ¡®Impressive.¡¯

    As befitting a Sea Demon, it adeptly controlled the psychic power. Jason, who we fought a few days ago, probably wouldn¡¯t have shown such skill.

    Number 26 handed us the chunks of meat that were once Snow Banshees, hanging on the cliff.

    ?Big baby, have this.?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Thank you)]

    Despite not needing to, it directly fed the meat chunks into my mouth.

    The slightly chewy texture, infused with a hint of soy sauce, filled my mouth. Like yesterday, the meat of the Snow Banshee tasted like jerky and dried squid.

    ¡®It looks like a tadpole, but it¡¯s fascinating.¡¯

    Having filled our bellies intermittently during the journey, we finally arrived near the Twin Peaks after quite some time.

    Above, the sky was filled with ash-colored clouds, while ahead, another peak was visible, aligning with this one. Behind that peak, a vast ridge stretched out, parallel to the Twin Peaks.

    Looking down from the peak, the frozen ground below was stunningly picturesque. I hadn¡¯t seen such a magnificentndscape since meeting the Bubble Amoebas with Number 26.

    ¡®If I hadn¡¯te to this world, I would never have seen anything like this in my life.¡¯

    Admiring the grand sculpture crafted by nature wasn¡¯t just me. The Mother of the Sky beside me was also lost in contemtion of the scenery.

    ?Friend, aren¡¯t you cold??

    [I am designed to function normally even at temperatures below negative 150 degrees Celsius.]

    ?I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying, but that¡¯s amazing!?

    [Thank you for the main controller¡¯s praise.]

    Despite the emotional response being quite different from ours, Number 26 and PS-111 were unaffected.

    Anyway, since we had reached our destination, we explored the area near the peak together. It didn¡¯t take long after we started wandering before we found the desired traces.

    ?As you said. There¡¯s a Crystalwing nest nearby.?

    She ced the branch she had been pecking with her beak on the ground. They were branches from the trees that made up the forest around the mountain. However, there was a difference; jewels were embedded in the branches.

    ¡®These are branches brought to build the nest.¡¯

    The jewel-like substances were material formed when the saliva of Crystalwings dried up.

    Over time, Crystalwing bodily fluids transformed into substances resembling jewels. While they looked like gems, they weren¡¯t actually minerals.

    ¡®In fact, it would be an insult topare them to gems.¡¯

    Since the creature¡¯s bodily fluids were overwhelmingly expensive, the fluid crystals were used as materials for advanced alloys or spaceshipputers. If I weren¡¯t Amorph, just discovering this nest alone would earn me enough money to buy a battleship.

    With meaningless thoughts in mind, I followed the glittering branches. The sporadic gem branches became more numerous, and before long, a shining jewel nest appeared before us.

    In the case of Gagons, they alsoy gems in their nests, but they don¡¯t make them in that form. That¡¯s definitely a Crystalwing nest.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Alright. We found the nest.)]

    I briefly set down Number 26 and, along with the Mother of the Sky, examined the nest. Seeing frozen, mirage-like corpses in the nest indicated that it had been empty for quite some time.

    ?How many do you think there are??

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (From what I see, at least two.)]

    ?Two? But there¡¯s no trace of eggs beingid??

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (This part indicates reinforced traces. The male built the nest.)]

    ?They must be a young couple.?

    The minimum number is two. It¡¯s a newly formed pair, just meeting each other.

    After mating, Crystalwings have the male build the nest while the female prepares toy eggs. If eggs are produced, the female cares for them while the male goes out to hunt for food.

    As I mentioned, there are clear signs of the male reinforcing this nest. However, seeing no signs of either male or female suggests they went out together to hunt for food.

    ¡®It didn¡¯t seem like food was that scarce.¡¯

    Now that the nest is built, one of them should stay to guard it, which is unexpected.

    ¡®Maybe because of the Gagons, the hunting range has narrowed for them.¡¯

    Gagons and Crystalwings vie for the top predator position in the wild. They immediately attack upon seeing each other since they arepetitors for food.

    However, Crystalwings are stronger than Green Gagons but weaker than White Gagons, so when they sh, usually the Gagons, known for forming packs, emerge victorious. Knowing they are at a disadvantage, Crystalwings are cautious even though they are the top predator.

    The problem is that there are at least two Gagon packs on this. Considering that each Gagon upies twice the territory, it¡¯s not easy for Crystalwings to find food.

    ?Even if they settle down, it¡¯s still a problem. If they¡¯ve gone hunting, we don¡¯t know when they¡¯ll return.?

    [ZZZ ZZ (That¡¯s true.)]

    Once Crystalwings go out for a hunt, they don¡¯t return to the nest for a long time. They roam outside for a week at the shortest, up to six months, searching for food. If they were in the eggying phase, this period would be significantly shorter, but we can¡¯t count on that stroke of luck now.

    ?What should we do? Wait? Or try to find another nest??

    The Mother of the Sky asked, but I didn¡¯t answer immediately.

    ¡®Which option is more advantageous?¡¯

    If Adhai hadn¡¯t been kidnapped, I might consider waiting for a long period, but in the current situation, that¡¯s not possible. I have limited time.

    ¡®But finding another nest isn¡¯t easy either.¡¯

    There are over hundreds of peaks in these mountain ranges. Including other suitable habitats for Crystalwings, there are easily over thousands of ces to search. It¡¯s impossible to check all of them one by one.

    ¡®Once the nest is found, there¡¯s only one option left.¡¯

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Let¡¯s wait for two days.)]

    The Mother of the Sky nodded, indicating her respect for my opinion.

    If Crystalwings don¡¯te back even after waiting, there¡¯s no choice. We¡¯ll have to risk it and aim for the Gagons, or perhaps catch other winged creatures.

    With the nest made, the issue of homelessness was solved within less than a day.

    HEL SCANS

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 Chapter 197

    Chapter 197

    HEL SCANS

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    Adhai stood before the Queen of Pure White, Ham Ort.

    Shey on the ground, basking in the warm heat emanating from the depths of the cave. It was clear she felt no threat from Adhai.

    Adhai felt a slight annoyance at hercency.

    ?Lie down?

    Ham Ortmanded, her words tinged with a hint of irritation.

    Reluctantly, Adhaiplied andy on the ground. Just as Ham Ort had said, the floor was very warm, enough to make her forget the winter chill outside the cave.Seeing Adhai obey quietly, Ham Ort closed her eyes in satisfaction.

    ?Follow my words?

    She began.

    ?Do you know your father, the Great Odd Grad, the ck Gagon??

    ?Yes?

    Adhai replied. Ham Ort and Odd Grad, the mighty ck Gagon, were her parents.

    On the day Adhai was born, a brilliant meteor shower filled the sky, leading Ham Ort to name her ¡®Daughter of Meteor¡¯ Adhai, with her exceptional memory, vividly recalled the joy on her mother¡¯s face as she looked at her. But now, those memories were irrelevant, as her parents had banished her for being a mutant.

    Just as Adhai was about to ask why she was bringing up the past, she was startled by a sudden wave of intense anger from Ham Ort.

    ?Odd Grad deceived us for decades, maybe centuries.?

    Adhai couldn¡¯t understand. Among her kind, the concept of deception was almost non-existent. Theymunicated through thoughts, with emotions blending seamlessly into their telepathic exchanges. Deceiving a telepathically sensitive being was nearly impossible.

    ?Odd Grad possessed a special stone that blocks emotional leakage.?

    ?A stone??

    ?Yes, a special stone that hides the owner¡¯s emotions. With it, I and the other gagons couldn¡¯t read Odd Grad¡¯s mind.?

    Adhai started to grasp the situation. During her travels with her elder, she had seen ugly creatures carrying strange metal objects, some of which held great power. These creatures used the metal for various miraculous feats, sometimes to torment her and her elder, and other times to mimic the powers used by her kind.

    Perhaps Odd Grad also had such a peculiar metal object, one that enabled him to hide his emotions.

    ?Why did he do that??

    Adhai inquired, curious.

    ?Odd Grad is old. There should be a new sessor, a new ck Gagon.?

    ?I agree.?

    ?But?

    Ham Ort continued,

    ?In Odd Grad¡¯s brood, there is no sessor, no ck kin.?

    Her words were true. Adhai couldn¡¯t recall seeing any ck kin other than Odd Grad. In hindsight, it was strange. In Ham Ort¡¯s brood, there were many white kin. Given how much longer Odd Grad¡¯s brood had existed, it would make sense for there to be ck kin as well, but there were none.

    ?For decades, the flow of the stars has changed, and yet no ck gagon has emerged?

    Ham Ort exined.

    Adhai, though not very old, understood that what Ham Ort was saying was not normal. She herself had transformed from a light green to a full green within a short time by consuming a variety of prey. In a nest where all the conditions for growth were met, the absence of ck Gagon was unheard of.

    ?Odd Grad does not want a sessor?

    Ham Ort said.

    ?He abandons any gagon with the potential to grow.?

    ???

    ?I have seen it.?

    Ham Ort continued.

    ?Odd Grad secretly eliminates his own kin.?

    ?!?

    She didn¡¯t need to say more for Adhai to understand. The old leader had crushed young sprouts to maintain his position, not just through banishment but by hunting down and killing abandoned kin. But Ham Ort wasn¡¯t finished yet.

    ?Odd Grad knows?

    she said,

    ?That the Daughter of the Meteor has potential.?

    ?Potential??

    ?I have researched our kin¡¯s legends?

    Ham Ort said.

    ?An elder spoke of a need for a savior.?

    Ham Ort pointed her paw at Adhai.

    ?You, Daughter of the Meteor, have the qualities. You could be the true savior.?

    This was something Adhai had never imagined.

    ***

    Like all apex creatures, the Crystalwing possesses unique characteristics that set it apart. It has undergone distinctive evolution to survive in harsh environments and among strongerpetitors.

    One of its most notable features is its sensory organs, especially its eyes. As a creature that flies at high altitudes, the Crystalwing has exceptionally sharp vision, capable of spotting small creatures over 10 kilometers away. Unlike the desert-dwelling Terradevil, which has a ¡°x-ray vision¡± ability, the Crystalwing simply has superior eyesight.

    However, its true strength isn¡¯t in its vision.

    ¡®It¡¯s like a flying radar.¡¯

    Every time the Crystalwing breathes, it emits unique electromaic waves from its body. These waves, simr to radar, reflect off the surroundings, allowing the Crystalwing to locate other creatures.

    This extraordinary ability is due to a substance secreted by the Crystalwing. Before it reaches full maturity, it instinctively coats its body with this secretion. Over time, the secretion hardens and transforms into a unique metallic substance that generates the electromaic waves.

    These waves are not only useful for hunting prey but also serve as a defense mechanism. They create a semi-permanent stealth effect, making the Crystalwing undetectable to other radar equipment.

    ¡®That¡¯s why Crystalwing secretion is so valuable.¡¯

    Considering the Crystalwing¡¯s ecological characteristics, hiding under a tree or rock is pointless. Unless you bury yourself deep underground, there¡¯s no escaping its detection.

    ¡°The usual strategy is to use signal jamming or hijacking, but¡­¡±

    Signal jamming and hijacking are traits that generate waves to disrupt electronic equipment. Although Crystalwings are living creatures, they use electromaic waves, making them vulnerable to these traits. The main tactic is to nullify or disturb their wave abilities beforeunching a surprise attack.

    I don¡¯t have either of these traits currently, but I have something that can substitute for them.

    ¡®Unknown Creature Fur.¡¯

    This trait, granted by the ¡®Intelligent Weakling¡¯ perk, nullifies various detection devices, traits, and technologies. With this, I should be able to avoid their detection.

    ¡®Hiding won¡¯t be a big issue.¡¯

    The crucial part is how to ambush them.

    With my thoughts organized, I called the team together.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (We need bait to lure them when theye)]

    ?Right. They¡¯re sensitive and easily scared.?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (So, I was thinking.)]

    I looked at Number 26.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Can you adjust your energy so it¡¯s not visible?)]

    ?Yes, I can.?

    Upon my request, Number 26 manipted the psychic power flowing through its body. The energy that had been distorting the surrounding air was absorbed entirely into its body. The purple glow that had faintly flowed over its pink body also vanished.

    ¡®Perfect.¡¯

    The being before me was no longer a terrifying sea monster but the popr Space Survival pet, the Bubble Amoeba.

    ?Is this good??

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Very well done)]

    ?Thanks!?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (When the winged onese, lure them in)]

    ?Leave it to me, big baby.?

    Such a reliable creature.

    There are two reasons I chose it as bait. First, apart from myself, Number 26 is the best at concealing its power. Its ability to handle psychic power surpasses mine, so pretending to be weak is no issue. A creature with hidden power will look exactly like a harmless Bubble Amoeba¡ªa pink, innocuous balloon.

    ¡°This should deceive even the wary Crystalwing.¡±

    Second, its body color. A bright pink creature atop a snow-covered peak is sure to catch the eye of the visually sharp Crystalwing.

    I picked it up and ced it near the nest. It wiggled its tendrils, signaling me to trust it.

    I gently patted it with the back of my hand, conveying my gratitude, and then, leaving the quivering creature behind, I retreated from the nest with Mother Sky and PS-111.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (How about digging a pit behind that rock?)]

    ?Rather than that, it might be better to ambush them near that cluster of trees.?

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Not a bad idea. Let¡¯s do that.)]

    ?Let me help.?

    PS-111 and I dug into the ground near the trees surrounding the peak. Before long, we hadpleted arge pit about 2 meters deep and 3 meters wide.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Get in first and wait.)]

    ?To avoid detection? Got it.?

    The creature was a mutant Screamer, with half of its body being mechanical. Since it emitted faint electromaic waves, the Crystalwings would spot it instantly. That¡¯s why I nned to hide it at the very bottom. Once I confirmed it was lying at the bottom of the pit, I called Mother of the Sky.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Are you ready?)]

    ?Yes.?

    She had transformed from her Griffin form into a humanoid one. Having embraced the power of the Wendigo, her appearance had slightly changed. While she still had the head of a white eagle and golden fur covering a muscr body, there were new additions. Two small horns had sprouted from her head, ck bone-shaped tattoos adorned her body, and her once bulky muscles had slimmed down, highlighting her feminine curves.

    If her previous look was that of a fierce warrior, now she resembled a shaman from a primal tribe.

    With nimble movements, shey on top of PS-111, who was already lying in the pit. In her current form, she was much smaller than her Griffin form, making it easier for her to conceal herself.

    ¡®Perfect.¡¯

    I theny my body over them, covering them like a nket. My full length, including my tail, was about 5 meters, making it easy topletely cover the entrance of the pit.

    ¡®This should keep us hidden from their detection.¡¯

    I knew it wasn¡¯t a wless n, which is why I had set up Number 26 as a decoy to divert their attention.

    Now, all we could do was wait.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Aren¡¯t you hungry?)]

    ?I¡¯m fine!?

    [I need an energy supply. Requesting small parasites generated from Amorph¡¯s body.]

    ¡°You just ate earlier, and now again?¡±

    [I require a continuous energy supply to withstand the ongoing load.]

    ?¡­Do you want to die? I¡¯m not that heavy, you know??

    We passed the time with idle chatter.

    ?I think I can handle one of the two Crystalwings.?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Using the power of the Wendigo?)]

    ¡°Yes. but if it¡¯s an adult, I won¡¯t be able to hold it for long.¡±

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Target the female then; the male has stronger resistance.)]

    Or discussed our battle strategy.

    ?Amorph¡¯s features seem quite simr to my model.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Maybe those who created you were inspired by me.)]

    ?Have you met my developers??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Well, let¡¯s say we¡¯ve crossed paths.)]

    ?If the developers see ¡®Amorph¡¯ they would never just stand by.?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Neither would I.)]

    We passed the time discussing matters we hadn¡¯t talked about before. None of us were creatures with physical limitations, so being immobilized for a long time wasn¡¯t a life-threatening issue. However, the boredom was unbearable.

    For the first day, we had various conversations, but by the second day, everyone had fallen silent. PS-111 went into sleep mode to conserve energy, and Mother of the Sky also dozed off. Number 26, our decoy, was ying with gem fragments it found in the nest.

    I had taught it a game of air juggling to keep it entertained, knowing it would get bored without any sleep. At first, it seemed awkward, but once it got the hang of it, it becamepletely engrossed. Even now, it was tirelessly tossing and catching dozens of gems with a single tentacle.

    ¡®A Sea Demon ying air juggling, huh.¡¯

    In the game, it used to juggle people instead of gems.

    ¡®Well, it¡¯s good that it¡¯s having fun.¡¯

    With Number 26 happily upied, I focused back on my task. I had been monitoring continuously since yesterday, waiting for the Crystalwings to return. The auxiliary organ under my chin had been tirelessly detecting any changes in the ck sky above the peak for two days.

    ¡®This brings back memories.¡¯

    In the game, I used to wait for long periods to capture a Crystalwing, setting up camp near its nest just as I was doing now. It was less boring back then, though. The fluid crystals produced by Crystalwings were extremely valuable, attracting manypetitors. For them, keeping the Crystalwings alive and harvesting their fluids was more profitable. Their approach was entirely different from mine, as I aimed for their lives.

    ¡®Thanks to them, I was never bored, constantly fighting off others.¡¯

    For me, the more I fought with yers, the more gic essence I gained.

    ¡®¡­Though there were some odd ones too.¡¯

    I recalled a Megacorp ranker who, having lost to me, decided that if he couldn¡¯t have something, no one could. He brought a spaceship and initiated an orbital bombardment, costing me a unique trait when I was hit and killed.

    As I reminisced about the past, the designated time was drawing to a close.

    ¡®Just one hour left.¡¯

    I looked up at the dark sky. Besides the white snowkes and ck clouds, there was nothing to see.

    ¡®Should I find another way?¡¯

    I hade to capture a Crystalwing aiming for its apex predator and spaceflight traits. However, if all I wanted was the wings, there were other ways. While there weren¡¯t many winged creatures on this icy, there were some.

    ¡®Maybe I should go down, get some wings first, and thene back for the Crystalwing¡­¡¯

    As I was contemting waking the others, my auxiliary organ detected something. It was a faint sensation, different from the strong winds blowing over the peak, like a gentle breath from someone nearby. It was faint, but I didn¡¯t miss it.

    It was the same feeling I got near the engine room or the centralputer of a spaceship.

    Something you wouldn¡¯t expect to feel on this deste, white peak, devoid of machines or people.

    It was unmistakably an electromaic wave.

    ¡®They¡¯re here!¡¯

    The entity we had been waiting for¡ªthe Crystalwing¡ªwas finally returning to its nest.

    HEL SCANS

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 Chapter 198

    Chapter 198

    HEL SCANS

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ?Are they here??

    It wasn¡¯t long after I sensed the Crystalwing that the Sky Mother awoke. Although I didn¡¯t see them directly, I sensed them through my auxiliary organs.

    [ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (They are not visible, but I can feel it.)]

    ?They came sooner than I expected.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Wake up PS-111 and have it on standby.)]

    ?Got it.?The one whispering softly beneath me fell silent again. I sent a signal to Number 26.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (The flying one has arrived.)]

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Number 26, which had been ying with the air, extended its tentacles from its body and began to wave them vigorously, attempting to attract attention from a distance.

    During this, my auxiliary organs picked up on the electromaic waves flowing through space. This creature hunted by sensing electromaic waves, simr to radar. The detection of these waves indicated that it was getting closer.

    Fixing my gaze on the sky, I waited. Something started to appear among the dark clouds. Two glowing orbs, faintly visible, looked like UFOs flying through the air.

    ¡®There it is.¡¯

    The Crystalwing was close. They were hovering around, not descending to their nest.

    ¡®They¡¯re cautious.¡¯

    Considering they are apex predators, this cautious behavior made sense. Competing for food with Gagons, they needed this level of vignce to survive in the harsh natural environment.

    As the creatures didn¡¯te down, Number 26 waved its tentacles even more energetically. Whether it was due to this effort or not, the glowing orbs in the clouds began to approach the peak slowly.

    Through the swirling snowstorm, their forms became visible.

    They were giant pterosaurs covered in metallic material. The Crystalwing¡¯s appearance was reminiscent of therge pterosaur known as Quetzalcoatlus: elongated snouts, unusually long necks for pterosaurs, and wings sorge they resembled those of an airne.

    ¡®Although their bodies are muchrger.¡¯

    Their wingspans were at least 30 meters. Their wings were evenrger than those of their rival, the White Gagon.

    Aside from their wings, another notable feature was their gleaming exteriors. Not only their wings but their entire bodies appeared to be made of diamonds. This was due to a bodily fluid that hardened into a gemstone-like form.

    Having coated themselves in this fluid since they were young, their bodies shone like jewels in every corner.

    The metal-like exteriors reflecting the dark clouds and snow made them look like gigantic mirrors flying through the sky.

    ¡°Kuuaaak.¡±

    ¡°Kuek.¡±

    Two Crystalwings pped their wings and approached the nest. Their gaze was fixed on Number 26, which was loitering around the nest.

    ¡®Perfect.¡¯

    Focused on Number 26, they hadn¡¯t noticed us hidden near the trees. I remained still, observing them closely.

    Among the two Crystalwings, one had a distinctive crest on its head. Additionally, its wings were about 1.5 timesrger than the other¡¯s.

    ¡®That one is the male.¡¯

    Male Crystalwings are responsible for providing for their families, making them much stronger inbat.

    ¡®The female is being marked by the Sky Mother.¡¯

    The female would be taken on by PS-111 and the Sky Mother, while I, together with Number 26, would focus on the male.

    ¡°Over here! Come this way!¡±

    As the Crystalwings approached, Number 26 prepared to move. Pink fins, which acted as legs, emerged from under its body. Using these fins, it quickly moved away from the nest.

    ¡°Kuuaaak!¡±

    ¡°Kueeer!¡±

    The sight seemed to trigger the hunting instincts of the Crystalwings, causing them to let out a loud screech. Their voices were so powerful that the echoes reached the twin peaks on the other side.

    After a mighty roar, the creatures dived toward Number 26, aiming to catch it atop the nest. The pressure from their wings, spanning dozens of meters, swept across the summit, causing the snow piled around the nest to scatter into the air.

    ¡®They¡¯re pping in anger!¡¯

    Number 26, nearly blown away along with the snow, managed to hold on by anchoring its tentacles to the ground, preventing such a mishap. Safelynding, it quickly scurried towards our hiding spot, moving its fins rapidly.

    Chasing closely behind was a Crystalwing. The leading male opened its mouth wide, clearly preparing to unleash its most powerful weapon.

    [ZZZ (Now)]

    ¡°Alright!¡±

    Brushing off the snow, I rose to my feet. As the creature, covered in dark brown fur, emerged from the snow, the Crystalwings widened their eyes.

    From the pit below, PS-111, carrying the Sky Mother, leaped out.

    Partially crouched on PS-111, the Sky Mother¡¯s eyes emitted a blue glow. This was the effect of using one of the Wendigo¡¯s unique abilities, the ¡°Spirit of Ice.¡±

    A blue me shot out from her amber eyes, flying towards the creatures. The male, sensing the psychic power, quickly spread its wings, lifting itself swiftly into the air.

    But her target was never the male. Her aim was at the one following behind. The female, trailing behind, noticed the iing attack toote.

    ¡°Kuek?!¡±

    The female, struck by the blue mes, froze in mid-air like a puppet with its strings cut. Unable to move, it plummeted to the ground.

    ¡°Kwaaaak!¡±

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Your opponent is me.)]

    I charged at the male, who was trying to help the female. Despite being much smaller in my ¡°Intelligent Weakling¡± mode, my strength wasn¡¯tcking.

    ¡°Kuak!¡±

    As I collided with it, the horns on my head pierced through its wings. I tried to rip the wing apart by shaking my head, but I couldn¡¯t.

    A turquoise beam from its mouth struck my body.

    [Pain Nullification Activated!]

    ¡®Ugh!¡¯

    The Crystalwing, capable of manipting electromaic forces due to its biological traits, could unleash a powerful particle beam with this energy. Its power easily surpassed that of a sma weapon.

    ¡®I can¡¯t hold out any longer!¡¯

    My smaller size meant reduced defense, making prolonged exposure dangerous. At that moment, as if reading my mind, Number 26 came to my aid.

    ?Stop bullying the big baby!?

    Swooosh!

    Hundreds of purple threads shot out from the small body of Number 26, wrapping around the Crystalwing. Entangled by the threads of the Sea Demon, the Crystalwing twisted in an unnatural direction.

    With the particle beam halted, I distanced myself from the Crystalwing.

    [ZZZ ZZ (Follow me.)]

    ?But I just punished the bad guy??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (It¡¯s not dead yet.)]

    ¡°Kwaaaak!¡±

    Landing lightly on the ground, I grabbed Number 26 and retreated into the forest. Almost simultaneously, the creature let out a howl with its broken neck. In a fleeting moment, the creature¡¯s broken neck and torn wings had healed, and it was chasing us closely.

    ¡®The Crystalwing¡¯s healing speed is incredible.¡¯

    Itcks the hard shell of the Ice Horror, the variety of minions like the cier Fiend, and the powerful psychic abilities of the Gagon. However, it has all the tools necessary for survival.

    It has particle beams for hunting enemies, rapid regenerative abilities for healingrge and small wounds, and excellent detection capabilities. Additionally, it can fly for long periods without rest.

    These factors make the Crystalwing ssified as an apex predator.

    ¡®But I have no intention of losing.¡¯

    In the near distance, the creature¡¯s particle beam was smashing trees. The dense forest was slowing down the creature with itsrge wings.

    Once I had put some distance between us, I set down Number 26. As soon as it touched the ground, it expanded back to its original size. Numerous fins sprouted from its lower body, and hundreds of tentacles bristling with sharp, saw-like edges grew from its upper body.

    Enteringbat mode, countless eyes appeared all over its body. These eyes all turned toward me in unison. Without saying a word, I nodded.

    We have been through numerous battles together. Even withoutmunicating through wavelengths, we can understand each other¡¯s intentions.

    The eyes that were looking at me curved into crescent shapes. Reading my intent, Number 26 charged at the Crystalwing.

    ¡°Kwaaak!¡±

    ?You bad creature! Get ready for punishment!?

    The hundreds of eyes that had smiled at me now red menacingly. The Sea Demon¡¯s unique ability, ¡°Abyssal Terror,¡± unfolded before the Crystalwing.

    ¡°Ku, Ku-aa¡­¡±

    The creature, which had been incinerating the forest with its particle beam, halted its attack. The eyes of the Crystalwing, which had been ring at Number 26, began to tremble.

    Although the male Crystalwing has a stronger resistance to psychic powers than the female, it is not strong enough topletely ovee the power of the Sea Demon.

    However, things in this world never go that smoothly.

    The creature, trembling as it looked at Number 26, turned its head to look behind it. There, the Sky Mother and PS-111 were fighting against the female.

    ¡°Ku, Kuak! Kwaaak!¡±

    Perhaps it was the desire to protect its loved one. The creature let out a powerful roar and began preparing to fire its particle beam again.

    ?You can¡¯t!?

    ¡°Kuak!¡±

    Before it could shoot the particle beam, Number 26unched a Demon Crash by gathering wood fragments and hurling them at the creature. Annoyed, the creature shook its head.

    Meanwhile, the saw-like tentacles of Number 26 flew toward the Crystalwing, attempting to entangle it. However, the creature had already regained itsposure. The particle beam incinerated the tentacles and the surrounding trees.

    Despite the pain of losing its tentacles, Number 26 immediately counterattacked with its binding ability. The tips of the Crystalwing¡¯s wings crumpled like paper, but it was equally tenacious. It sacrificed its wings to dive in and pecked at Number 26 with its beak.

    As these apex predators fought fiercely, I examined the area where the turquoise beam had struck me. The fur had long since evaporated, and the carapace had fallen off entirely.

    ¡®I need a body strong enough to overwhelm it.¡¯

    The ¡°Intelligent Weakling¡± mode has served me well so far. But now, it was time to return to the quasi-saint form of the Amorph.

    ¡®And activate the Symbol of Hunt.¡¯

    Initially, I had nned to incapacitate the enemy with Number 26¡¯s Abyssal Terror before attacking, but things had deviated slightly from my expectations. I had no choice but to proceed as is.

    As I deactivated the Intelligent Weakling mode, I activated the ¡°Symbol of Hunt.¡±

    My body, which had been only 5 meters tall, began to grow rapidly. As my body expanded at an astonishing speed, the internal skeletal structure also changed. The centaur-like form transformed into a shape resembling a snake, and the fourbat arms, which had served as legs, returned to their original function.

    The countless hairs that covered my body fell away, revealing the carapace and synthetic scales underneath. The human-faced spiders hidden within the fur, as well as the corrosive tentacles within the swirling membranes, also became visible.

    With six mighty horns, an elongated head reminiscent of arge theropod dinosaur, a massive body resembling a mythical serpent, and six arms covered in a tough carapace,plete with a heavy pincer at the end of my tail.

    Although it had only been a few days since my transformation, it felt like I was returning after a long absence.

    But my body was not yet in a state to rest. To align with the transformation mode of the ¡°Perfect Organism,¡± the Symbol of Hunt, I had to reconfigure my body.

    My head carapace, which was alreadyrge, became even more massive in this state. The thick carapace covered my eyes, and my split lower jaws became even more extreme.

    The four auxiliary organs located beneath my well-developed jaws were now encased in bone carapace, just like my eyes.

    The carapace covering the auxiliary organs was thin and sharp like des. These organs, which had previously only functioned as sensory tools, had now be weapons capable of slicing through flesh.

    The human-faced spider that had been on my back had moved to my head. Two additional arms equipped with bio-scythes had sprouted, and the blunt ws attached to my lower body and tail had extended like the legs of a centipede or spider.

    Optimized for hunting and ughter, every part of my body now looked menacing.

    Among these familiar changes, there was one new aspect.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    Thanks to the effects of the Abyssal Hue, the monster¡¯s tentacles had be even more impressive. Previously, the bundle of tentacles had covered only the back of my head and the entire neck area. Now, they extended down to my lower jaw. I looked as though I had a beard and hair made of tentacles.

    It was almost like the depiction of an evil god from an out-of-print horror anthology.

    ¡®¡­I¡¯ll worry about the appearanceter.¡¯

    Havingpleted all my evolutions, I slowly stood up. The treetops, which had been towering high above my head just moments ago, were now right in front of me.

    ¡°Kuak?¡±

    ?Big Baby is back!?

    The Crystalwing was astonished to see me emerging, pushing through the trees.

    ¡®Your essence will be mine.¡¯

    With a powerful roar, I dered my intent to the enemy before me, or rather, to my prey.

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 Chapter 199

    Chapter 199

    HEL SCANS

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ?Me? ?Savior?? ?Impossible? ?Understand?

    It was hard for Adhai to believe the facts that Ham Ort conveyed.

    ?Me? ?Small body? ?Weak? ?Savior? ?Impossible?

    Since birth, she has had a small and frail body. It was only by good fortune and meeting kind people that she had grown at all, but her body remained diminutive. While her strength might be debatable, her body was so small it was almostughable, even smaller than a hatchling¡¯s.

    For someone like her to be the savior? It was unthinkable.?You? ?Small, true? ?But? ?First consort? ?Taught? ?Savior? ?Star power? ?Connection?

    ?First consort??

    Just as Ham Ort was the third consort, there had been females bonded with the ck Gagon before her. The first among them was an ancient Gagon of the fifth rank.

    [TL/N- It is talking about a red gagon.]

    ?Where is the first consort??

    ?Dead.?

    ?!?

    ?Odd Grad? ?Feared? ?Truth? ?So? ?Killed?

    Hearing this, Adhai was taken aback.

    Even though the first consort¡¯s rank had fallen considerably due to aging, she was the oldest among their kin. In terms of respect, she was honored nearly as much as the great Odd Grad.

    Yet, she had been killed? It was hard to believe Ham Ort wasn¡¯t lying.

    Adhai scrutinized the white female with her heightened senses. Her psychic powers reached out and touched Ham Ort¡¯s body. Although Ham Ort was aware that her daughter was watching her, she remained still.

    After a series of assessments, Adhai confirmed that at least Ham Ort truly believed what she was saying.

    The death of the first consort was also a sorrowful event for Adhai. She had been the only one in the group who treated Adhai well.

    Even more so than Ham Ort, Adhai¡¯s biological mother.

    However, what the first consort had said and whether she was truly a special being were separate matters.

    Ham Ort insisted that Adhai possessed the power of the stars, but it didn¡¯t resonate with her. If she had such power, she wouldn¡¯t have been captured here in the first ce.

    ?Daughter of the meteor? ?Savior? ?Evidence? ?There is more?

    ???

    Ham Ort pointed with her forepaw at Adhai¡¯s green scales.

    ?Growth? ?Faster than kin?

    ?I? ?Hunt? ?Directly? ?Food? ?Much? ?Predation?

    Adhai tried to refute, but Ham Ort shook her head.

    ?Not wrong? ?But? ?Too? ?Fast? ?Kin? ?Growth? ?Strength? ?Food? ?Much? ?Much? ?Needed?

    Though Adhai was too young and inexperienced to know, Ham Ort understood.

    When she found the traces of her daughter, who had left this world and returned, she realized that the daughter of the meteor had grown at an abnormal pace.

    Among the kin born with her, many had their scale colors change from pale to green. They were allrger and stronger than she was.

    However, Ham Ort felt it. The day when this small daughter would shed her green scales for the same pure white ones that adorned her own body was not far off.

    The daughter of the meteor had grown so much without any of the benefits provided by the nest that bore the Gagon¡¯s power. What does it mean that an exiled being grew faster than those who received all the benefits?

    The answer was simple.

    Before the first consort died, she said that the savior, though seemingly insignificant, had enormous potential. If the right conditions to unlock that potential were met, the daughter of the meteor could blossom into the legendary being of the tales.

    ?Daughter of the meteor? ?Needs special food?

    ?Special food??

    ?The flesh of kings? ?Is needed? ?Follow me?

    Once she had sufficiently shaken herself, Ham Ort stood up. As she exited the cave, Adhai quickly followed her outside.

    Since the day Ham Ort brought back the Daughter of the Meteor, she has relentlessly gone on hunts. It was to find food for the Daughter of the Meteor.

    And today, during the day, she seeded in hunting a monster that existed far away. Despite not being fully grown, the monster was enormous. It was sorge that she couldn¡¯t carry it alone and needed the help of her kin to move it.

    ?What is that??

    Adhai, who had entered the forest with her, sent a telepathic wave. In front of themy the massive carcass of a beast. The creature was torn into several pieces, each of which wasrger than her white-scaled kin.

    Seeing Adhai tilting her head in confusion in front of the beast¡¯s corpse, Ham Ort proudly exined.

    ?King of Serpents? ?Immature? ?Specimen? ?Ham Ort? ?Hunted? ?Daughter of the? ?Meteor? ?Growth? ?Catalyst?

    She expected her daughter to be surprised, but Adhai¡¯s reaction waspletely unexpected.

    ?I? ?Tasted it before?

    ???

    ?It was delicious?

    ???

    Ham Ort was bewildered.

    Ignoring her mother¡¯s reaction, Adhai licked her lips while looking at the carcass of the Ice Horror.

    ***

    Seeing my transformed state, the Crystal Wing hesitated. A creature that was once less than half its size had now appeared muchrger, causing it to be understandably bewildered.

    After a single roar, I charged at it. Thanks to the ¡°Stealth Maneuver¡± effect, my footsteps made almost no sound. The only noise was from the trees shattering as my body crashed through them.

    Then, I collided with the Crystal Wing.

    Kuaargh¡­!

    Unable to avoid properly due to its confusion, it screamed. Even when I was smaller, my horns had torn its wings. Colliding with a bodyrger than its wingspan left it in no better condition.

    Its wing, now shredded from my charge, left it open-mouthed. Just before it could fire its particle beam, Number 26¡¯s support arrived.

    Kuuek?!

    A tree, uprooted entirely, flew into its mouth, causing it to choke. While it gagged, the parasitic tentacles on my back sprang forth, wrapping around its wings.

    Like a snake hunting a bird, the tentacles tightened swiftly. The broad wings tore apart, and fragments of bone splintered outward.

    To finish it off, I opened my lower jaw wide. My jaw split into two, ready to swallow its head whole, but it retaliated.

    Having chewed and swallowed the tree in its mouth, it fired the particle beam.

    The immense heat scorched my upper pte, forcing me to close my mouth quickly. While my exterior was tougher than a ship¡¯s hull, the inside of my body wasn¡¯t as durable.

    Escaping this crisis, it aimed its particle beam at the tentacle-bound wings.

    Ku-aaaargh!

    Incredibly, it fired at its own wings to tear them apart. Destroying its wings allowed it to escape the tentacles and retreat rapidly.

    ¡®Regenerative ability, huh.¡¯

    I thought it had just reached adulthood, but it¡¯s quite formidable. It clearly understood its own powers well.

    As it retreated, new wings grew swiftly from its wounds. With the freshly regenerated wings fully spread, it took off into the air.

    It must have realized its disadvantage in closebat. Switching its strategy to aerial bombardment, where the Crystal Wing excelled.

    ¡®But you¡¯re not the only one good at bombardment.¡¯

    I had already anticipated this move. I was prepared for a bombardment battle too.

    As it hovered above the forest, preparing to fire its particle beam, my tentacles extending from my neck and jaw moved.

    The ck gloss of my carapace turned purple. Thetent energy in my body converted into psychic power, concentrating at the tips of the tentacles.

    The power of the Gagon, Psychic Breath. This was it in its pure form, without the ¡®Abyssal Hue¡¯ enhancement.

    At the moment the male Crystal Wing fired its particle beam, the tentacles attached to my jaw and neck unleashed their force.

    On a snow-covered peak shrouded in dark clouds, teal and purple lights shed violently. The booming sound, like thunder in a storm, reverberated, causing the entire mountain summit to tremble. Even before the echo of the crash died down, the sound of an avnche could be heard from below the peak. The collision between the creature and me was shaking the entire mountain. Then Number 26 joined our struggle.

    Trees, rocks, ice, and soil all floated into the air, spinning like a massive drill. It was the same technique that had previously inflicted a critical wound on the Ice Horror. Seeing this, the Crystal Wing quickly stopped its beam and dodged. My Psychic Breath grazed its crest.

    As the sh between us paused, Number 26¡¯s Psychic Drill shot towards the creature. The mass of intangible energy tore through the air, severing one of its wings.

    Kuu, Kuaaaah!

    The term ¡°severed¡± is no metaphor. The creature, split in half in an instant, plummeted to the ground.

    Meanwhile, I activated the Colors of the Abyss. The tentacles that had glowed a vivid purple now donned a myriad of colors. Green, purple, and other indescribable hues swirled around the tentacles.

    With the colors ready, I activated the ¡°Watcher of Terror.¡± Energy streamed from my tentacles and coalesced in the air. The liquid-like energy bubbled incessantly, as if it were boiling.

    The amorphous mass, writhing as if it had a mind of its own, transformed into a gigantic bubble.

    ¡®It¡¯s bigger than I thought.¡¯

    The ominously shimmering bubble appeared to be about five meters in diameter. Whether it was enhanced by the Hunting Icon effect or because my body had returned to its original state, I couldn¡¯t be sure at that moment.

    Soon, the massive bubble began moving toward its target.

    The target was the creature¡¯s body. The bubble, which inflicted nightmarish pain on all living beings, flew through the air.

    Kuu, Kuaaak! Kuaaak!

    Seeing the approaching Watcher of Terror, the Crystal Wing let out a cry mixed with fear. Its primal instincts must have recognized the extreme danger of the bubble.

    Instead of counterattacking, it tried to dodge the bubble. Had it fired a particle beam from that spot, the bubble would have burst and engulfed it.

    ¡®I anticipated that. The next move is¡­¡¯

    This attack was merely a feint. As I prepared to unleash my next move, something astonishing happened.

    The massive bubble shattered into dozens of smaller ones, which flew at the creature at much greater speed.

    ¡®Number 26?¡¯

    Each of these bubbles was connected by a thin purple thread. The source of these threads was Number 26, standing behind me.

    Thanks to its assistance, the swiftly flying bubbles exploded in front of the Crystal Wing¡¯s chest. As the bubbles burst, their contents sttered over its head.

    The colors spread like ink in water. As soon as they touched, the creature froze in ce. The excruciating pain rendered it unable to think.

    With the creature immobilized, this was my chance. I deactivated the Colors of the Abyss and fired a second Psychic Breath. The purple beam sliced through the falling snow and pierced the creature¡¯s heart.

    ¡­Ku.

    In excruciating pain and now heartless, the Crystal Wing staggered before copsing onto the snow. It let out a long, regretful sigh and moved no more.

    The hunt had gone much more smoothly than expected, but the most important part was what had just happened. Something entirely unexpected had urred.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t expect it to end so easily.¡¯

    I had nned to subdue it using a distraction strategy with the Colors of the Abyss. However, thanks to Number 26 revealing a new power, I didn¡¯t need to employ my nned move.

    ¡®I knew Number 26 could handle psychic power well, but¡­¡¯

    I hadn¡¯t anticipated it could intervene in my psychic abilities.

    ¡®It seems like it can only interfere with techniques that use the Colors of the Abyss.¡¯

    Otherwise, it would have assisted from the moment I fired the first Psychic Breath.

    ¡®Or maybe it¡¯s rted to the form of the attack?¡¯

    It could be that concentrated energy beams like the Psychic Breath are hard to control, but slower, smaller attacks like the bubbles are within its capability.

    ¡®¡­Whatever the case, it¡¯s a remarkable achievement.¡¯

    Even if it couldn¡¯t intervene in all my psychic attacks, it didn¡¯t matter. If it could control the enhanced Watcher of Terror alone, I could apply it in far more diverse ways.

    I unconsciously turned to it . Facing me, it yfully waved one of its tentacles.

    ?I thought it would work!?

    Confidence overflowed in its words. The only response I could give was:

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ (Well done)]

    ?Yeah!?

    While this Crystal Wing strategy was primarily to enhance my manoeuvrability, I unexpectedly gained a substantial reward.

    I wanted to praise it right away, but there were still enemies left. I decided to discuss the celebration of Number 26¡¯s aplishment after we finished off the female.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ (Shall we go then?)]

    ?Yeah. Let¡¯s help out the middle ones and their friends.?

    I carried Number 26 and rushed towards the fights happening on the peak.

    Approximately five minutes after the male was defeated.

    Two pairs of splendid jewel wings fell side by side on the unnamed peak.

    After two days of waiting, I sessfully hunted down two Crystal Wings.

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 200

    Chapter 200

    HEL SCANS

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    ¡®I got four Apexes with this.¡¯

    Thanks tobining forces with the kids, we easily took down even the female Crystalwing. The speed was much faster than when ying the game itself.

    ¡®Back then, I moved alone.¡¯

    If I had faced two Crystalwings alone, it wouldn¡¯t have been easy. That¡¯s it. Other yerpetitors aiming for them should also be cautious.

    ¡®It would have taken weeks to catch both.¡¯But today, the situation was good. I had helpers, and there were no otherpetitors.

    Meeting them in two days was also lucky.

    ¡®And confirming Number 26¡¯s potential was an achievement.¡¯

    As expected, it could only adjust attacks made up of ¡®projectile forms¡¯.

    ¡®Abyssal Hue¡¯, ¡®Watcher of Terror¡¯, a trait thatunches fungal masses melting objects, ¡®Acid Fungal Pods¡¯. Number 26 could easily control these two traits. Like bursting flying spheres midway to create a spreading explosion or adjusting their flight speed, etc.

    However, the basic Psychic Breath fired in a linear form couldn¡¯t be adjusted. A simr attack style, ¡®Divine Spectre¡¯, would probably be equally uncontroble.

    ¡®I haven¡¯t experimented with the enhanced Psychic Breath yet.¡¯

    In this situation, I intentionally didn¡¯t use it, as I would need to leave corpses. Given its attack method simr to the Watcher of Terror, I think it would be feasible.

    Apart from Number 26, Mother of the Sky and PS-111 fought as well as expected.

    Mother of the Sky, who unlocked the Wendigo transformation ability, could use some of Wendigo¡¯s traits. One of them is the ability ¡®Spirit of Ice¡¯, which, like Wendigo¡¯s legacy that drove humans insane, Space Survival¡¯s Wendigo can also interfere with other creatures¡¯ minds.

    Creatures affected by Spirit of Ice lose reason and be fixated solely on devouring other creatures. Techniques requiring concentration or traits activated consciously by the owner cannot be used.

    For example, if I were affected by Spirit of Ice, I would be a cannibalistic monster fixated only on gic essence, with all abilities sealed.

    It is a very powerful personal debuff ability, but with equally great limitations. Depending on the opponent, its duration can fluctuate wildly. Moreover, while Spirit of Ice is active, the user cannot use other techniques or abilities, making it disadvantageous if physical capabilities are weaker than the opponent¡¯s.

    Simply put, it can be described as an ability that forcibly drags opponents into meleebat. Thanks to this effect, the female Crystalwing couldn¡¯t mount a proper counterattack and lost without even trying.

    ¡°It would pair well with the High priest¡¯s golden spear.¡±

    Today, I left my equipment all in the nest, but it might be better to bring it along for the next hunt.

    ?I thought I¡¯d gotten stronger, but you¡¯re amazing. I never knew the Sea Demon had such abilities.?

    ?Am I amazing? Amazing??

    [Your Psychic Power Mastery has increased by 42%pared to before. Congrattions.]

    ?I don¡¯t know what that means, but thanks!?

    The creatures were pleased before the Crystalwing carcasses. I approached them with the male¡¯s body in tow.

    [ZZZZ (Well done)]

    [Always interesting changes to see. Requesting samples for gic analysis.]

    [ZZZ (No)]

    ?Can I eat some of the female¡¯s heart and organs??

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ (Because of the unlock conditions?)]

    ?No. I need it to advance Griffin¡¯s Divine Transformation stage.?

    Listening and seeing, memories returned. Just like Aemoph¡¯s growth, there are stages to Wolf¡¯s Divine Transformation. ording to the setting, the higher the Divine Transformation stage, the closer they are to the gods of wolves.

    The griffin is a hybrid creaturebining an eagle and a lion. Specialized forndbat, it also has a brief flight ability. Therefore, powerful flight creatures are needed to raise the Divine Transformation stage.

    Her growth is advantageous for my survival. I nodded.

    [ZZ (Okay)]

    ?Thank you.?

    ¡®Where should we start eating then?¡¯

    While Mother of the Sky was dismantling, I decided to start with the male¡¯s carcass.

    Its head was so huge that measuring it in meters seemed faster. I started by tearing off the beak and crest attached to its head. Then, I put the crest, still stuck with tendons and skin tissue, into my mouth.

    ¡°¡­ ¡±

    Its jaws, which split into two branches, chewed diligently on the crest. The unique texture, seemingly located somewhere between bone and cartge, pleasantly filled my mouth with each chew. The slimy juices that flowed out with every bite made me unexpectedly satisfied.

    ¡®It¡¯s like a stewed gizzard.¡¯

    The broth of the gizzard bones had permeated well into the cartge. It felt simr to dipping it in tangy soy sauce, though a more urateparison would emphasize its rich taste and vor.

    The intense spiciness that impressed me with the Ice Horror gave way to a more earthy sensation.

    After quickly finishing the crest, I also chewed on the beak. Perhaps the earlier meal was too strong in vor. There wasn¡¯t anything particrly distinctive about the taste of the beak.

    ¡®The texture gives a refreshing feeling, though.¡¯

    Chewing the beak felt crisp, like chewing on well-cooked cucumber. I tore off the entire head, chewing through the beak. After chewing up all the beak and swallowing it down my throat, I immediately started eating the male¡¯s head, which made my tongue roll around.

    ¡®Mmm, good¡¯

    When I saw the textures of the crest and beak, I expected them to be quite chewy, but they weren¡¯t.

    ¡®This feels like boiled pork.¡¯

    Unlike the strong taste and vor of the crest, the overall head was mild yet had a smooth sensation. It would have been much better to eat them together without separating them.

    ¡®But the tongue is the highlight.¡¯

    I¡¯ve heard that the taste of a pig¡¯s or cow¡¯s tongue is unique. Since I haven¡¯t tried it myself, the taste of the Crystalwing¡¯s tongue was quite distinctive. Its moderately chewy and oily taste was truly an appetizing vor.

    Having eaten through the entire head, I waited for the predation effect to take ce.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    Even after waiting, the semi-transparent textbox showed no response. Could it be that I missed it when the effect appeared? I opened the textbox to check, but everything remained the same.

    ¡®No way?¡¯

    I thought I was lucky, but it turned out otherwise. The Goddess of Luck once again abandoned me at a crucial moment. The joy I felt from a delicious meal quickly turned into despair.

    I turned my gaze to the female¡¯s carcass.

    ¡®Now, I only have one chance left.¡¯

    The trait I was aiming for the most was the ¡®Spaceflight¡¯ trait. Next in line were abilities to handle stealth and detection waves, or perhaps the ability of rapid regeneration. However, among its other traits were some duds, like ¡®Robust Vitality¡¯ or ¡®Enhanced Vision¡¯.

    ¡®¡­ I didn¡¯t consider this.¡¯

    Even though it was smooth sailing fighting against them, unforeseen difficulties awaited me.

    At that moment, Mother of the Sky approached me holding something covered in blood.

    ?What did you find¡­ huh? Why??

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Another failure this time too)]

    ?What??

    She widened her eyes upon hearing that I hadn¡¯t acquired the trait.

    ?¡­ Shouldn¡¯t you try eating the entire carcass??

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (That¡¯s unrted to it)]

    ?Still, since you failed once, the predation effect will surely kick in the second time.?

    When I heard that, I recalled the gambler¡¯s facy, but I didn¡¯t bother pointing it out. Perhaps she meant it as words offort for me.

    ¡®Sigh. I guess there¡¯s nothing I can do about what hasn¡¯t appeared.¡¯

    I¡¯ve done everything I could. There¡¯s no point in being disappointed here; nothing will change. It would be more efficient to prepare for whates after, anticipating the possibility of failure.

    ¡®If I can¡¯t get it this time, let¡¯s prepare for other abilities.¡¯

    Targeting Sharkbear¡¯s ¡®Enhanced Endocrine nds¡¯ wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea either.

    I tore off the head of the Crystalwing female. Without separating and eating the beak, I chewed through it whole.

    Just like with the male, it still tasted good, but the tension was greater this time. The hard beak cracked under my strong jaws, breaking through the skull that encased the brain. Its contents swiftly passed down my throat into my stomach.

    ¡®Please!¡¯

    Now, all that remained was the part connected to the male¡¯s neck. I swallowed it without chewing.

    The moment Ipletely digested the male¡¯s head.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully acquired ¡®Spaceflight¡¯ gene essence.]

    [Extracted the ¡®Spaceflight¡¯ feature from the biological traits of ¡®Crystalwing¡¯.]

    [Would you like to apply ¡®Spaceflight¡¯?]

    Grrrr!

    ¡®Great!¡¯

    As soon as the textbox appeared before my eyes, I roared with excitement. Holding my arms up, I startled Number 26, who was beside me.

    ?Why are you acting like that, big baby? Are you hurt? Where??

    ?It¡¯s not because I¡¯m hurt, but because I¡¯m happy.?

    ?Is it that delicious??

    ?Wouldn¡¯t everything taste delicious to you right now??

    Mother of the Sky¡¯sughter tinged with sarcasm echoed in my mind, but I had no room to care about such things right now.

    ¡®Why does this make people so difficult? ept!¡¯

    Seeing the trait I had longed for, I epted its application.

    [Spaceflight trait applied.]

    [Can be fused with existing ¡®Aerial Membrane¡¯. Fusion of ¡®Spaceflight¡¯ and ¡®Aerial Membrane¡¯ traits. Evolving into ¡®Enhanced Wings of the Monstrosity¡¯!]

    [Enhanced Wings of the Monstrosity: Inherits the ¡®Spaceflight¡¯ trait, reinforced.]

    [*Note: Countless prey await you in space.]

    Born in the cargo hold of a spaceship, I walked on alloy tes for the first time.

    I swam with fins beneath the deep sea of Cult¡¯s sacred.

    Land, sea, and sky.

    On this frozen star, I gained new strength.

    The power to traverse the dark, infinite world filled with darkness.

    ***

    ¡°Ugh¡­ Is everyone okay?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re, we¡¯re fine!¡±

    ¡°Captain! Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Damn it! Report to the administrator!¡±

    ¡°Major damage to the cannon! Damage also on the outer wall of the ship! Fortunately, the engine section has minor damage!¡±

    ¡°Casualties?¡±

    ¡°¡­Five missing among the fighter pilots, seven among the gunners.¡±

    Cult¡¯s captain, relieved that the engine damage was minimal, immediately regained hisposure.

    ¡°This cursed is just like that!¡±

    It had already been five days since the disappearance of the young priest Jason, whom they served. And now, the recent attack. With so manyplex issues at hand, the captain felt his head might explode.

    While they had recently faced a major failure, having a highly regarded talent sober up and then disappear on a suspicious not even registered on the routes was unprecedented in the Empire.

    Normally, they would have continued waiting for contact from the priest, but this time, that wasn¡¯t an option.

    This was due to the entity that had allowed them to establish a camp issuing a prohibition.

    The determined ck Gagon didn¡¯t wait long before driving them out when Jason didn¡¯t return after several days. He imed he had work to do and had no time to deal with trivial matters.

    While others might have different thoughts, the captain personally thanked the ck Gagon. As the days passed, the attitude of the Gagons noticeably changed.

    If they had stayed even one more day, they would surely have be prey for the hungry Gagons.

    Leaving the nest was fine, but the real problem arose afterwards.

    As they prepared to leave aboard the ship left outside the nest, they were attacked by some creature.

    ¡°¡­Just answer me this. Do you think the Gagons will leave us alone?¡±

    ¡°Considering the cowardly nature of those creatures, now that they¡¯ve gotten what they wanted, they won¡¯t target us.¡±

    Even without stating it directly, it was clear that what they wanted were the 12 missing crew members.

    ¡°Why did it have to be the Garan Minos who¡­?¡±

    Garan Minos, a giant dragon with the meaning of ¡®shining wings¡¯, is an extremely rare creature. Unless you¡¯re a specialized monster-hunting Temr or a Cult smuggler, it¡¯s not easy to encounter one in a lifetime.

    When two creatures with such a name crashed into the ship just as it was taking off, the captain thought he must be dreaming. He came to his senses when the ship¡¯s outer walls were breached and the crew sacrificed.

    Thanks to the efforts of the 12 Temrs who remained on board, they barely managed to drive away the Garan Minos.

    ¡°Captain, as much as it may seem unnecessary, we need to inform the Council as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    The Temr urging for the protection of the crew annoyed the captain, but he managed to respond calmly. If it weren¡¯t for that Temr, everyone on this ship would have been a meal for those violent dragons.

    ¡°How long will it take to repair the engines?¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t know until we start, but it seems like it will take quite some time.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll spare no support, so repair the engines quickly. Close off the area near the outer walls and relocate the important materials to another section.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    A stroke of luck was that the engines weren¡¯t damaged. This is a remote ce not even recorded on the routes. If they were to be stranded, it would be difficult to rely on rescue teams.

    ¡°They¡¯ll probably all die before the rescue team even arrives!¡±

    Surviving even one day on this, where Gagons, Garan Minos, and all sorts of monsters lurk, is difficult. And that¡¯s not all. The climate is also horrific; without reinforced suits, one wouldn¡¯tst more than a few minutes.

    ¡°We¡¯ll take care of external monitoring. Please repair as quickly as possible.¡±

    ¡°¡­We ask for your cooperation.¡±

    All the Temrs wear a special reinforced suit called Gagon Scale Armors. Thanks to these ivory-colored reinforced suits, they can endure even the harsh cold.

    If it were the captain or ordinary Cult crew members going out, they would likely freeze to death.

    ¡°May Providence! Please let nothing happen!¡±

    The captain prayed silently as he watched the crew rushing around the situation room.

    HEL SCANS

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 201

    Chapter 201

    HEL SCANS

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    In the world of ¡°Space Survival,¡± the ability to travel through space is extremely important. This is only natural, given that the game is set in space. However, the point at which space travel bes feasible varies by species.

    Space pirates like the Spacedog and MegaCorp captains can travel through space very early on. These factions are rmended to engage in smuggling or recruit mercenaries using their ships. On the other hand, some species are specialized for space activities but are dyed in their space travel due to various restrictions.

    For instance, the Metallic Gremlins can theoretically travel through space from birth but are limited in their means to leave their atmosphere. Outspacers can go into space right from the start, but without any defense mechanisms, it¡¯srgely pointless. For species like the Metallic Gremlins and Outspacers, it¡¯s easier to progress if they establish a strong foundation on their starting before venturing into space.

    The Amorph falls into thetter category. While they can survive in space without much trouble, theirck of spacefaring capability makes early space travel difficult. To travel to others, they must stow away on the ships of yers or NPCs. Once they gradually develop and gain space travel capabilities, their gamey style changes significantly, shifting from moving within a or continent to exploring the entire universe.

    ¡®Space travel includes faster-than-light (FTL) movement.¡¯However, this isn¡¯t something that can be used arbitrarily. FTL travel consumes an enormous amount of energy and requires as much preparation as stowing away on another ship.

    ¡®If used recklessly, you could run out of energy and starve to death mid-journey.¡¯

    Before setting off, you must eat as much as possible and ensure there are resources for resupply during the journey. Another drawback is that FTL travel cannot be used duringbat due to a long charge time, which makes you vulnerable to enemy fire.

    ¡®In the game, these risks required cautious use, but¡­¡¯

    In this world, it¡¯s different. I have another interster navigation ability: ¡°Horizon of Nightmares.¡± This unique trait allows me to merge with a spaceship, transforming it into a sort of bio-ship.

    ¡®Each ability has significant limitations, but together, theyplement each other.¡¯

    Horizon of Nightmares and Enhanced Wings of the Beast each have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Horizon of Nightmares isn¡¯t very versatile but can store much more energy, making it suitable for long-distance travel between star systems. However, it can only dominate one spaceship every seven days. Conversely, Enhanced Wings of the Beast are effective for short-range travel betweens or withinary systems. Due to the need to continually find food, crossing multiple star systems with this trait is challenging.

    In essence, how you use these traits canpensate for each other¡¯s weaknesses.

    ¡®Use the wings forary or system-internal travel, and Horizon of Nightmares for long-distance travel by taking over a ship.¡¯

    There are likely other uses, but I¡¯ll figure those out as I go along.

    I looked down at the arms enhanced with the ¡°Enhanced Wings of the Beast¡± trait. This was the first trait I acquired after arriving in this world. Initially, they were simr to beetle wings, folding protectively around my body and unfolding when needed.

    However, the new wings are quite different. The topmost pair of my sixbat arms has transformed into wings. Typically, mybat arms are all the same length and shape, changing only during special transformation modes. But now, the winged arms are much longer andrger than the others, almost two to three times as long. When fully extended, the fingertips touch the ground even without bending my torso.

    The arms¡¯ exoskeletons have small, membrane-covered holes lined up in a row, used to expel propulsion substances necessary for FTL travel and space flight. All but one of the four fingers on each hand have be long and sturdy, with a broad membrane growing between them, resembling a bat¡¯s wings. The outside of the membrane is covered in scales, giving it a rough, tough feel, while the inner side is lined with fine, soft fur.

    The outer surface of the wings is fairly hard, resistant to energy-based weapons, and can even block a sma cannon st once, making them useful for emergency defense.

    ¡®Frequent hits will tear them, so it¡¯s not the best choice, though.¡¯

    The membranes are almost asrge as my body when fully spread out, but folded, they drape down like a massive cloak.

    ¡®Amorph cloaked in wings.¡¯

    When I evolve into a full-grown form, I¡¯ll look quite impressive, resembling a three-headed dragon from ssic Japanese monster movies.

    ¡®The Saint Stage.¡¯

    With the ability to travel freely through space, I¡¯ll be able to meet my evolution conditions more quickly. With this excellent means of transport, the entire bes my hunting ground.

    Though there¡¯s still a long way to go before reaching my mature form, I can now achieve it faster than before.

    ¡®Do you like it that much?¡¯

    As I admired my wings, Mother of the Sky approached me. After the representation of the hunt effect ended, everyone else had temporarily backed off, fearing I might attack. Behind her were Number 26 and PS-111.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Sorry for causing you worry.)]

    ?What¡¯s to worry about? I already knew.?

    ?Big baby, are you full now??

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Sorry for eating so much by myself.)]

    ?Babies get hungry quickly, so it¡¯s okay!?

    When I came to my senses after the side effects of the Symbol of Hunt ended, the only remaining food in front of me was half of a female Crystalwing¡¯s body. The male¡¯s corpse waspletely devoured.

    [Preliminary simtion results of the energy consumption for the enhanced form suggest that sufficient energy has not yet been supplied.]

    ¡°Now that I¡¯ve regained my sanity, it¡¯s fine.¡±

    [TL/N- Well there is a slight confusion here actually on how Amorph talks with PS-111 I think he uses the mimic organ to talk to it.. I¡¯ll once again recheck in all the raws as in the starting the mc talked to PS-111 using mimic only and there is no other description saying that they canmunicate using thoughts. Nevertheless I will check]

    [I¡¯ve heard that ¡®Amorph¡¯ can remove its weaknesses through gic modification. I rmend consuming other organic matter to eliminate those weaknesses.]

    No need to say it; that was my n. Now that I¡¯ve acquired the desired flight ability, my next target will be the Sharkbear to gain a new trait.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Once we¡¯re done eating, let¡¯s go find new prey.)]

    ?Alright!?

    ?Understood.?

    Number 26 and PS-111, who were engrossed in eating Crystalwing meat, responded enthusiastically.

    ?Oh, by the way, I have something to show you.?

    Instead of replying, Mother of the Sky showed me a small metal fragment. It was an ivory-colored metal, partially melted¡ªMoon Silver.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Moon Silver? Where did you find this?)]

    ?I found it in the digestive tract of the female.?

    While I was consuming the male¡¯s head to gain its trait, she had been examining the female. To enhance her deification stage, she needed to consume the heart and organs. She must have discovered the Moon Silver fragment during this process.

    ¡®But why would a Crystalwing have Moon Silver?¡¯

    I examined the Moon Silver fragment closely.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (It¡¯s not in its mineral state.)]

    ?Right. It¡¯s a refined Moon Silver alloy.?

    Hearing that, I had a suspicion. She seemed to have the same thought and nodded silently.

    Moon Silver is a mineral primarily used by cultists. Its properties amplify psychic power effects, so Moon Silver alloy is widely used in weapons, power suits, and even ships.

    There¡¯s only one possible exnation.

    ¡®Jason.¡¯

    It¡¯s undoubtedly a remnant of the spaceship Jason and his subordinates arrived in. Judging by the extent of the metal¡¯s melting, it seems it was digested quite some time ago.

    ¡®At least over a day ago.¡¯

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Did you find anything else?]

    ?I didn¡¯t find any other traces.?

    I would have examined the male¡¯s body further if it hadn¡¯t beenpletely consumed by me.

    ¡®A spaceship, huh.¡¯

    When I interrogated Jason, who had be an Inmyeonsu, he mentioned bringing several subordinates. These subordinates had set up camp in the ck Gagon¡¯s nest. This wouldn¡¯t have been possible under normal circumstances, but it was a miracle made possible because the ck Gagon had a close rtionship with his fellow yer.

    ¡®He said they would never leave until he returned.¡¯

    Judging from the current situation, it seems likely that his subordinates tried to leave the and met with misfortune. The Crystalwings wouldn¡¯t have entered the ck Gagon¡¯s territory to attack the cultists otherwise.

    ¡®Or is it an entirely different force?¡¯

    It¡¯s also possible that piratesposed of cultists have set foot here, simr to Muriel¡¯s cartel.

    ¡®No need to overthink it.¡¯

    If necessary, I can find out directly.

    With my thoughts organized, I looked at the others. Number 26 and PS-111 had already finished their brief meal.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Did you eat well?)]

    ?Yes.?

    [Quite satisfactorily, though more energy is needed.]

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Is that so? Perfect.)]

    Having eaten and acquired winged arms, it¡¯s the perfect time to hunt while flying.

    ***

    ¡±All repairs areplete.¡±

    ¡±Phew, thank goodness.¡±

    The captain, who had been anxious while the ship was being repaired, finally breathed a sigh of relief. This dreadful was crawling with terrifying monsters.

    ¡°What the hell, six attacks in less than a day!¡±

    The spot where the cult cruiser crashnded was near the middle of a massive mountain. It was quite a distance from the Gagon nests, but that didn¡¯t mean it was safe. Being away from the Gagon nests meant that many other wild creatures lived in the area. While they expected some attacks, they never imagined being attacked this frequently.

    If it weren¡¯t for the temple guardians, specialists in monster hunting, the ship¡¯s crew would have be food for the beasts long ago.

    ¡°At least the Garan Minos haven¡¯t returned.¡±

    Garan Minos have special outer shells that make them undetectable by scanners. Unless seen with the naked eye or detected using specific psychic power techniques, it¡¯s nearly impossible to avoid their attacks. Initially, the crew¡¯s attempts to leave the were thwarted because of those damn Garan Minos.

    The temple guardians kept a vignt watch for fear of another Garan Minos attack, but fortunately, no such incident urred.

    ¡±Providence is on our side. Everyone, prepare for takeoff!¡±

    ¡±Yes, sir!¡±

    The crew busily responded to the captain¡¯s orders. The engines, which had been shut down, roared to life, and warmth spread through the cold hull that had been chilled by the outside air.

    The cultists in themand room synchronized their psychic power with the cruiser, which had just awakened. Information stored at the time of the crash was transmitted into the synchronized minds of the cultists. Important data was projected as a translucent image made of energy in the middle of themand room.

    [Engine activation at 70%. Rising steadily to 100%.]

    [Energy levels at 67%. Stable.]

    ¡±Damage control and containmentplete.¡±

    ¡±Ready for takeoff.¡±

    ¡±Good. Once we¡¯re off the, prepare the engines for a jump.¡±

    ¡±Understood!¡±

    ¡±Observers, report immediately if you detect any Gagons or other threats.¡±

    ¡±Yes, sir!¡±

    With all preparationsplete, the ship slowly began to lift off. The ivory-colored, elongated rhomboid cruiser wobbled slightly at first but soon ascended smoothly into the sky.

    ¡±Please, let there be no threats¡­¡±

    ¡±Biological signals rapidly approaching! It¡¯s a Gagon!¡±

    ¡±Damn it!¡±

    The cultist in charge of external monitoring urgently reported. Simultaneously, a tactical map, more sophisticated than those produced by MegaCorp or the StarUnion, was projected in themand room. A triangr marker was approaching the rhomboid shape representing the cruiser in the center of the map.

    ¡±Can you identify the Gagon¡¯s color?¡±

    ¡±Judging by its size, it¡¯s estimated to be green. At its current trajectory, it will collide with us in five minutes.¡±

    ¡±¡­Tsk, switch to evasive maneuvers but maintain current speed as much as possible. Do not engage; just get away quickly.¡±

    ¡±Understood.¡±

    Given the speed at which it was approaching, it was clear the Gagon wasn¡¯ting with friendly intentions. For some reason, it had targeted the cruiser.

    As the crew tensed at the sudden appearance of the enemy, theplexion of the crew member in charge of monitoring and scanning turned pale.

    ¡±Emergency report! Another unidentified target is approaching!¡±

    ¡±What?¡±

    ¡±Judging by its size, it¡¯s at least white ss! Its speed is incredible! Estimated collision in one minute!¡±

    The unexpected bad news threw everyone in themand room into confusion. The captain, barely maintaining hisposure, urgently issued orders.

    ¡±Prepare the FTL engines! Observer, share the external camera feed!¡±

    ¡±There isn¡¯t enough time to get the engines ready!¡±

    ¡±Damn it! Do whatever it takes!¡±

    As the situation grew increasingly tense, the video feed from the external camera was disyed in the middle of themand room.

    ¡±What the¡­?¡±

    The captain was horrified by what he saw on the camera.

    It was a ck meteor soaring through the dark sky. Known as a harbinger of great cmities to the empire, it appeared whenever a massive disaster struck.

    A ck demon with gigantic wings was approaching them.

    ¡±What? What is that?¡±

    As everyone froze in fear at the sight of the ominous entity, someone¡¯s bewildered voice echoed through themand room. The captain¡¯s gaze turned to the reinforced ss at the front of themand room.

    Among the ck clouds and the storm of snow and hail, something was there.

    A dark silhouette illuminated by shes of lightning.

    The terrifying entity captured on camera opened its massive jaws wide and hurtled toward them.

    ¡±Everyone, brace for impact!¡±

    Just as the captain screamed at the top of his lungs, the cruiser shook violently.

    HEL SCANS

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 202

    Chapter 202

    HEL SCANS

    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    In mythology, the sky is an object of fascination. The vast heavens often take on the divine role of Father or Mother, closely tied to the creation myths. Even without divine attributes, the sky was seen as the abode of gods or as a ce where souls find salvation, sometimes as heaven, and other times as the realm of beings beyond humanity.

    Even with the end of the age of ignorance and the dawn of reason and technology, the sky remains alluring. This holds true in ¡°Space Survival¡± as well. Given that the game is set in the vast universe, the sky inevitably bes a target for challenge and conquest. But caution is advised¡ªwho knows what might lurk within the unknown expanse of the sky?

    Snow, rain, hail, and storms¡ªmy wings swim through the symphony of nature. Lightning shes, followed by thunder. With each strike of lightning, my shadow flickers against the ashen clouds. My shoulders tense, and the muscles covered in scales and armor tremble. The membrane extending from the tips of my long fingers slices through the clouds. The span of my outstretched wings exceeds 40 meters on each side, longer than the length of my body.

    ¡®Considering my size and weight, I need wings thisrge to fly.¡¯

    Those cultists under attack by me wouldn¡¯t find this situation pleasing. Although my body is much smallerpared to the hundreds-of-meters-long cruisers, cultists observing me through their cameras wouldn¡¯t think so.¡®Bringing them down might be a bit much.¡¯

    Just a moment ago, I rammed the front section where theirmand center is located with my body. It was to disorient them. As I expected, the cruiser¡¯s crew couldn¡¯t make a sound decision. Instead of fleeing at full speed, they retaliated with their artillery.

    Amid the eerie noise of the blizzard and lightning, the sound of psychic turrets firing mixed in. I adjusted my wing arms and dove sharply. The enemy¡¯s attack barely grazed the tip of my tail.

    ?Be careful while flying! If we fall, it¡¯s over for us!?

    [I¡¯m designed for atmospheric descent missions, so it shouldn¡¯t be an issue¡­]

    ?Shut up!?

    ?Whee! p, p! This is fun!?

    The kids were riding on my back as I flew at an incredible speed. Worried they might fall off, I gently wrapped them with my infiltration tentacles. As Mother of the Sky said, it wouldn¡¯t end well if they fell.

    ¡®Surprisingly.¡¯

    Contrary to her name, Mother of the Sky didn¡¯t seem to enjoy high-speed flight. Since earlier, she¡¯s been clutching my tentacles like a roller coaster safety bar.

    Mother of the Sky being a griffin has the ability to glide temporarily in the air. I thought she¡¯d be fine, but I was mistaken.

    ¡®Number 26 seems to enjoy it.¡¯

    As usual, Number 26, who likes everything I do, seemed to be having a lot of fun. On the other hand, the mostly mechanical PS-111 showed no emotion.

    ¡®Should I take out the engines first?¡¯

    It¡¯s unlikely, but if their captain activates the hyperdrive engine, it¡¯ll be troublesome. If they manage to warp into a star, that¡¯s one thing, but escaping from here wouldn¡¯t be good for me.

    ¡®They might bring reinforcements from the Cult Empire.¡¯

    Since this isn¡¯t designated as a sanctuary, the situation is different fromst time. If I¡¯m not careful, I might end up fighting the entire empire. I¡¯ll battle the empire when I be an adult, but now isn¡¯t the time. I need to prevent their escape.

    ¡®Let¡¯s start with the thrusters.¡¯

    I glided through the clouds, gently pping my wing arms. The enemy cruiser¡¯s artillery continued to fire at me, andrge purple energy shells pierced the clouds, closely trailing me. Even synchronized with a spaceship, I could easily evade such attacks. Entering the storm clouds, I effortlessly dodged the enemy¡¯s fire.

    ¡®They probably won¡¯t use their main cannon.¡¯

    Cult cruisers are equipped with powerful main cannons. In the past, Muriel¡¯s pirate fleet, possessing a cruiser from the Humanity Cartel, targeted me from a great distance. Despite controlling a cargo ship from the StarUnion, one shot from the main cannon split the massive vessel in two.

    The destructive power is immense, but they likely won¡¯t use it now. Activating the main cannon concentrates enormous psychic power, essentially advertising their presence to the surrounding Gagons.

    ¡®Of course, they might just lose it and fire, but¡­¡¯

    I need to finish this quickly before that happens.

    Hidden within the clouds, I quickly approached the side of the cruiser. The artillery guns, catching sight of me as I burst out of the clouds, hastily swiveled their barrels. A few quick-firing guns managed to hit me, but it didn¡¯t matter much. I had already closed the distance to the cruiser.

    Judging the distance to be close enough, I spread my wing arms wide and extended the membranes. My rapidly advancing body came to an abrupt halt in midair. Simultaneously, I channeled the recoil into my tail. Like a natural pendulum, my long tail swung forward. The pincer at its end struck the diamond-shaped cruiser¡¯s side like a mace.

    With a thunderous crash, mes erupted, and the cultists¡¯ ship lurched violently to one side. The thruster on that side was destroyed, causing the cruiser to lose bnce.

    Amidst the confusion, Inded on the cruiser. The artillery, hindered by the shaking of the entire ship, failed to hit me urately.

    Before the ship could stabilize, I had work to do. I activated my ¡°Acidic Myotic nd¡± feature for the first time. Acidic mucus mercilessly poured out from beneath my bifurcated jaws. The smooth ivory-colored exterior armor of the cruiser began to melt with a pungent odor. The fungi quickly prated the outer wall and infiltrated the interior sections.

    ¡®That should be enough.¡¯

    With mybat arm, I widened the hole and thrust my head inside. There, in the hallway, I saw a cultist staring at me in shock. Before he could react, I opened my jaws wide and bit down on him.

    ¡°Heek!¡±

    ¡°A monster is breaching the ship!¡±

    The cultist crew screamed, seeing theirrade disappear into my stomach, leaving only his ankles.

    ¡®This ce is too cramped for me.¡¯

    My body had grown toorge to navigate the corridors easily. Unless I reverted to a morepact form, moving, let alone fitting inside, was nearly impossible.

    ¡®Perhaps I should target the runway.¡¯

    After firing some fungi at the fleeing cultists, I pulled my head back outside.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (I¡¯m heading to the other side.)]

    ?Got it. Let¡¯s secure themand center and the engine room first.?

    [ZZZ (Yes.)]

    ?See youter, big baby.?

    ¡®This is a chance to update the database on cult cruisers¡¯

    Carefully, I ced the kids I had been holding with my infiltration tentacles inside the ship. Sensing their presence moving away, I spread my wings again.

    ***

    ¡°Report the damage!¡±

    The captain shouted desperately. He had injured his head in the recent impact, but that was not important.

    [External armor damage rate is 9%! Twenty-three percent of the internal sections are damaged!]

    ¡°The status of the crew is unconfirmed!¡±

    [An unidentified psychic creature is heading to the engine room! The defense squad has been wiped out!]

    ¡°Damn it! What are the Templers doing?!¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re, they¡¯re trying to stop the monster that appeared on the runway¡­.¡±

    Despite his words, the captain knew. He couldn¡¯t be unaware. The numerous video feeds floating in the center of themand room starkly disyed the dire situation.

    The twelve Templers were all on the runway. They were currently overwhelmed by a gargantuan flying creature muchrger than any Gagon they had faced before.

    To say they were facing it would be inurate. It was more of a ughter.

    The long, thick tentacles protruding from its back were as fast and deadly as energy shells. Even the Gagon Scale Armors worn by the members were of little significance if caught by those tentacles¡ªonce engulfed, their bodies would dissolvepletely. What good was armor against such defense?

    And that wasn¡¯t all. The creature, with its immense size, was undeniably tough.

    ¡°Damn it! The creature is reflecting psychic powers!¡±

    ¡°What should we do then?¡±

    ¡°Use the Demolishers¡ªaaaargh!¡±

    In a momentary distraction, another member fell. Foam, ufortably luminous, covered his head, his waist bent backwards.

    He had been one of those who had protected the cultists on this ship before departure. But the odds were not in their favor.

    The flying monster was excessively strong.

    The captain turned his head as he saw another member¡¯s limbs being torn off.

    They were theirst hope, and even that was fading away. They had toe up with another n.

    ¡°Should we abandon the ship?¡±

    Using the escape pods might allow them to escape from these monsters.

    The problem was that escaping wouldn¡¯t necessarily improve their situation. Abandoning the ship in a ce with terrifying monsters and harsh weather conditions made survival impossible. At best, it would prolong their lives for a few days.

    ¡°Prepare to activate the superluminal engines.¡±

    ¡°Captain! That¡¯s insane!¡±

    Despite objections from the crew in the situation room, the captain shook his head. It was their only remaining option.

    Since the ship was already significantly damaged, there was a high probability of it breaking apart during navigation. But in any case, whether they stayed or left, death was almost certain.

    Moreover, one of the monsters was heading towards the engine room, which meant this option might be unavable in a few minutes.

    ¡°After flying to a nearby using superluminal navigation, we can escape.¡±

    Though the identity of the attacking monsters was unknown, they were likely native creatures of this ce. Whether they could survive in apletely different environment remained uncertain.

    ¡°I¡¯ll say it again. Prepare to activate the superluminal engines.¡±

    As the captain was about to give the order again, the floor shook violently.

    ¡°No.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t the ship shaking. Currently, the ship is maintaining bnce in the air with the emergency thrusters. The flying creature that could destroy the ship was still fighting the Templers on the runway.

    ¡°It¡¯s not the ship shaking¡­¡±

    His gaze fixed firmly on the closed bulkhead door. If the situation room was attacked, all the intermediate areas connected to it had been closed.

    ¡°No way?¡±

    As if to answer his question, the situation room shook again. This time, it wasn¡¯t just him who felt the impact.

    The crew who had been diligently adjusting the ship¡¯s condition stopped moving. Like the captain, they stared at the bulkhead door.

    ¡°¡­Confirm the status of nearby sectors.¡±

    ¡°Ah, understood¡­.¡±

    Then, a thunderous roar. A sound very close, akin to firing energy shells from a cannon, echoed nearby. It seemed toe right from behind that bulkhead door.

    And the captain¡¯s prediction was correct.

    The bulkhead door shook violently from a strong impact. After a few more tremors, it soon fell silent.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Although the attack had ceased, none of the cultists present here thought the enemy had retreated just like that. Some crew members, following the captain¡¯s gesture, retrieved weapons stored in the bridge.

    As they armed themselves, another change urred at the bulkhead door. A sudden red dot appeared on the surface of the door. The red dot rapidly erged, soon bing a sizable hole as energy concentrated intensely and disintegrated the material forming the door.

    Everyone in the situation room peered through the hole. Dim cries of crew members echoed faintly through the hole.

    And amidst the deep darkness, ¡°it¡± revealed itself.

    Eyes as red as blood, a face so pale it seemed unmatched.

    If her eyes had been closed, one might have called her face beautiful, like that of a woman, ring into the situation room.

    ¡°A¡­ woman?¡±

    Someone uttered in disbelief. But soon, they had to retract their statement.

    The white face floating in the darkness wasn¡¯t anything like a woman.

    Of course not. Whether human or cultist, no woman¡¯s mouth opens that wide.

    A mouth as wide as a cultist¡¯s face. At the moment when a purplish-blue me erupted from within, the captain tried to give an order.

    ¡°Open fire on that monster immediately.¡±

    But he couldn¡¯t.

    Suddenly, the world twisted, and the smooth ivory-colored floor rushed up abruptly. Along with it came a familiar sight he saw every morning in the mirror.

    His finely adorned upper body.

    It was then that the captain realized his neck had been severed from his body.

    Gradually, countless arms tore through the hole, and the silent screams of the crew members became his final memory.

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 203

    Chapter 203

    HEL SCANS

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The society and institutions of the Cult Empire are quite different from those of MegaCorp or StarUnion. They have developed civilization in entirely different environments, so it¡¯s natural that they would be so different.

    For example, the concept of a Knowledge Manager aboard a Cult Empire fleet is non-existent in MegaCorp or StarUnion. To put it metaphorically, they can be seen as a hybrid of information storage systems from other factions and ship engineersbined.

    During voyages, Knowledge Managers utilize their extensive knowledge to assist captains and handle ship repairs when necessary. Due to the importance of their duties, Knowledge Managers are respected as much as militarymanders on any ship.

    However, even their esteemed position did not prove particrly helpful in the current situation.

    The intruder who killed the captain began massacring the crew in the Situation Room.That monster was an entity unknown even to the Knowledge Manager. It had eightrge and small arms with des at their ends, a pale feminine face, and a grotesque tail¡ªa biomechanical organism reminiscent of something out of a nightmare.

    Despite the Knowledge Manager¡¯s efforts to understandpeting factions against the Empire, identifying this creature proved to be a challenge.

    If one were to liken it to any known entity based on its physical characteristics, it would likely be the cursed bio weapon of the StarUnion, known as a Screamer.

    However, unlike the Screamer, which supposedly cannot wield a variety of weapons like this abominable hybrid, it fired lethal energy sts from its tail and mouth.

    The Knowledge Manager knew well what kind of energy, glowing with a cold navy blue hue, emanated from the creature. It was the weapon predominantly used by the Temple Guardians, the ¡®Demolisher¡¯.

    ¡°Take cover!¡±

    ¡°Uh, uhh?¡±

    The creature¡¯s tail swung around. Energy sts, disintegrating matter ording to the tail¡¯s movements, rained down upon the Cultists¡¯ heads.

    Some managed to dodge, but others were not so fortunate.

    ¡°My, my arm! My leeeegs¡­!¡±

    ¡°¡­Ugh.¡±

    A crew member whose arm vanished entirely due to the disintegration effect, and a Cult whose lower body remained after being struck. Their bloodless appearance was truly eerie.

    ¡°Aim for that tail!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no use! It shoots from its mouth too!¡±

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    As if to confirm their words, the viin who severed the captain¡¯s neck was the energy st that came flying from its head.

    Even if it¡¯s only means of attack were its tail, the odds of the situation improving were slim. Its movements were too swift; targeting them was nearly impossible for nonbatants.

    ¡°Knowledge Manager! Since the captain has fallen, you¡¯re inmand!¡±

    ¡°Do something!¡±

    Before examining further, most of the crew had been wiped out. Hiding and observing the enemy, the Knowledge Manager finally issued an order.

    ¡°Restraints, anything! Pour out any technology that can limit its movements!¡±

    In a short time, it appeared that the creature had a reduced resistance to psychic powers.

    The basis for this was its evident attempt to evade psychic rifles fired by Cultists.

    The psychic rifle stationed on the bridge was not particrly potent. It was merely an item prepared for nonbatants to defend themselves in dire situations.

    However, the creature had been primarily evadingbat with psychic focus. It should have realized the potency of firepower much sooner.

    Therefore, it could be inferred that the enemy had a weak resistance to psychic abilities.

    Upon the Knowledge Manager¡¯s exmation, the Cultists with goat-like horns began gathering psychic power. They drew on any knowledge they had learned to hold the enemy in any way possible.

    The flow of intense energy that filled the Situation Room entangled the creature. As a result, its frenzied movements dulled.

    ¡°Krrk?¡±

    Sensing something wrong with its body, the creature smirked. Its movements slowed and eventually ceased.

    The creature¡¯s bright red eyes rolled like blood. It appeared to be investigating the anomaly that had urred within its own body.

    Gradually, its eight arms began to tremble.

    ¡°It¡¯s an immense power!¡±

    ¡°We must finish it quickly!¡±

    The creature emitted cracking sounds from its body, while the Cultists attempting to restrain it groaned loudly.

    The Situation Room became noisy with the sound of the creature¡¯s victims.

    They had to finish it off as quickly as possible. Except for the Cultists using technology, the rest aimed their rifles at the creature¡¯s head.

    Just as their muzzles were about to spit fire, the Knowledge Manager doubted their eyes.

    Something was standing where there had been nothing just now.

    Simr to the Cultists, it had horns on its head. Its height was simr, and it stood on two legs. However, the Knowledge Manager felt no familiarity upon seeing it.

    Instinctively, they could tell. That entity was as dangerous as the biomechanical creature they had captured.

    The eyes of the entity standing at the door moved. Its vivid pumpkin-colored pupils faced the Knowledge Manager.

    Upon meeting its gaze, the Knowledge Manager felt the pupils shine blue. They hurriedly tried to call theirrades.

    However, before they could do so, there was a voice calling out to them.

    ¡°I¡¯m hungry!¡±

    ¡°?!¡±

    The whisper-like voice in their ear made them startle. They turned their head, but there was no one behind them.

    ¡®Was that just¡­?¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m starving to death!¡±

    ¡°!¡±

    What had been a whispering sensation until now now thundered into their brain. The Knowledge Manager covered their ears with both hands.

    ¡°I¡¯m hungry!¡±

    ¡°Please!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m starving!¡±

    ¡°Give me meat!¡±

    ¡°I want to tear something apart!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s plenty of food around here!¡±

    ¡°Hurry!¡±

    ¡°Tear it apart!¡±

    ¡°Give me organs!¡±

    ¡°Drink blood!¡±

    ¡°Eat bones!¡±

    Despite plugging their ears, the curse filled with revenge pierced them. Kill those beside you. Fill your stomach with their flesh.

    They struggled to withstand it somehow, but the voices quickly overwhelmed them. Their superior knowledge and reason faded surprisingly fast. In its ce grew an overwhelming madness.

    ¡°Knowledge Manager! What should we¡­?¡±

    ¡°Th-that¡­!¡±

    When their colleagues realized something was wrong, it was already toote. The Knowledge Manager was no longer there.

    Only victims enved by the icy grip of the demon remained.

    ¡°AAAAAHH!¡±

    ¡°AAAHH!¡±

    As the Knowledge Manager turned into a ve of the demon, another monster outside the Situation Room entered. With golden fur and ck stripes, horns on its head, the creature attacked those restraining the biomechanical organism.

    Every time its sharp ws shed, Cultists poured blood and fell. As theirrades fell one by one, the restraints on the biomechanical organism did notst long.

    Two monsters brutally tore apart the Cultists and a Knowledge Manager who had suddenly gone mad.

    When exactly nine Cultists remained, the ughter ceased. The bipedal monster approached a Cult¡¯sputer and began tampering with it.

    Meanwhile, the creature with eight arms absorbed the fallen Cultists.

    This was no metaphor. The creature absorbed the life force from the bodies with its hooked ws. Every time its hands touched a body, it quickly withered away and soon dried up like a mummy.

    The problem was that among the Cultists lying on the floor, some were still alive. Those who had been subdued with severe injuries also became sacrifices to the creature.

    ¡°S-stop it! D-don¡¯t do thaaaaat!¡±

    The creature¡¯s hand reached a Cult whose legs had been severed. In agony, he screamed as he was sucked into the creature while still alive. One could tell how severe his suffering was even without hearing his screams.

    When all was said and done, its body had shrunk to a third of its original size. The creature withdrew its hand from the Cult¡¯s body, which was now reduced to a skeleton, and licked its ws.

    The moment the dude aimed for fresh prey, the Situation Room floor shook. At that moment, both the dude touching theputer and the dudes devouring the cultists all stopped moving.

    The vibrations rattling the Situation Room grew closer. Each time those dudes broke down the door, the vibrations were muchrger.

    The remaining nine cults quickly realized who was causing the vibrations. A creeping presence to end the nightmare-like time.

    ¡°Gr-gr-gr-gr-gr¡­¡±

    It was a bigger nightmare.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (You¡¯ve worked hard)]

    [What hard work? It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve done this only once or twice.]

    [ZZZ (Well)]

    The Situation Room was a literal ughterhouse. The smell of delicious blood wafted from scattered chunks of flesh and blood flowing on the floor.

    They were all traces of the cultists¡¯ spilled blood. In the corners of the Situation Room, nine cultists trembled without their weapons.

    [I thought I might need to hide my belly.]

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ (Thank you. Well done)]

    This spaceship wille in handy when we leave the. Since there¡¯s no immediate need to dpose, I¡¯m going to hide it somewhere.

    ¡°But I¡¯ll need crew members to manage it.¡±

    I activated the ¡®morphological organ¡¯ after a long time. One of the five gic information stored in my body spread throughout.

    Located between my mouth and throat, the vocal organ was reconstructed based on the received gic information, and the tiny holes in the synthetic scales, outer covering, and shell were ready to emit new pheromones.

    I slowly opened my mouth.

    ¡°Come here.¡±

    When the voice of the same race came out of my mouth, all nine were greatly surprised. Their faces, which had been watching me, gradually turned pale.

    Due to the pheromones of the morphological organ, they will see me as a cult. However, they will feel severe difort due to my size. They would never want to approach me, as I, who was a monster, had suddenly turned into a tribe that exuded an ominous feeling.

    ¡®But they have no freedom.¡¯

    There¡¯s nowhere for cult survivors to escape on the cruiser above the clouds. Like prisoners being dragged to the gallows, they came to me.

    As Iy outside the Situation Room in the corridor, I imnted parasites in them. The first victim to be rancid and eat away at the tentacles was followed by others who listened well.

    ¡°Land this ship.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    I instructed them tond near the location of my nest. Cults with faces ashen as one began the cruiser¡¯s coordination.

    I¡¯ve gotten a lot bigger since I became a junior. There was no significant change in length, but the carapace, which thickened due to the characteristics of the bone beast, and the wings, which were folded but still took up a lot of volume.

    It was almost full even though Iy in the corridor instead of entering the situation room. I¡¯m going to have to wreck theputer if I try to control it.

    So I called PS-111 while lying down.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (I brought demolition because I thought it might be necessary.)]

    [TL/N- Ok it is confirmed, that the mc can talk with PS-111 through telepathy, actually sometimes the author made them talk normally and sometimes through telepathy.. So it got a little confusing, from now on the mc will talk to PS-111 through telepathy only, unless it is mentioned that he used the mimic organ.)

    [Thank you. More importantly, I need other tools that ¡®Amorph¡¯ is carrying.]

    [ZZZ (This?)]

    PS-111 looked at the loot held by the small arms on my chest. After hunting the members of the Temple Guard, he took their equipment.

    Gagon¡¯s w sword, a type of reinforced suit made from gagon scales, as well as misceneous armaments, are in my hands.

    After fighting with Muriel before, the important equipment was separately packed in a backpack or something. Blood Raver, or High Priest¡¯s Golden Spear, etc.

    I am currently benefiting greatly from the ¡®Divine Spectre¡¯ I gained by preying on the brain.

    I was thinking about bringing the equipment to the nest, but PS-111 seems interested.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Do you want something?)]

    [I need a silver tool containing psychic power and gic information of a specific creature.]

    It chose Gagon¡¯s w sword. It picked up the weapon with his fingers and swallowed it whole.

    Soon, the arms with sickle-shaped ws began to change shape. The ck sickle was colored silver rapidly, and the thickness was thicker than before. The newly transformed figure looks very simr to the White Gagon¡¯s w.

    It shook its arm once, with a new sickle de in its part. A transparent de made of psychic power pierced the wall of the situation room.

    [I can now operate psychic power.]

    It was satisfied with the traces of psychic power it had created.

    ¡®I said it was a new model.¡¯

    Contrary to what it was saying lightly, the abilities it showed were by no means something to be taken lightly. Its identity is a mutant screamer¡¯s intermediate terminal model. It¡¯s like a prototype forbat weapons.

    That is, it could be mass-produced.

    I had heard that yers were participating in the development of mutant screamers. Perhaps I could fight hundreds or thousands of screamers at the level of PS-111 when I fought with them.

    ¡®¡­It¡¯s unlikely.¡¯

    There was no screamer I¡¯ve seen so far that had the same or simr power level as PS-111. If other creatures had simr levels to PS-111, yers would have conquered space and stayed.

    ¡®Find its superior model.¡¯

    When we found PS-111, his condition was not good. Thanks to it, we were able to reboot it as a friend of the Number 26, but much of the information stored in his memory was damaged.

    For example, the operation when I first entered this, the strategic goal or so on. It didn¡¯t remember. The top modelmanding the intermediate terminal model knows it.

    ¡®It called it Pyra Eleven.¡¯

    Commander-in-Chief of the Mutant Screamer. I don¡¯t know whether he is a screamer or an android. While watching PS-111 and thinking about future ns, I approached the mother in the sky.

    ¡°I just looked up theputer and found some unusual information.¡±

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (What information?)]

    [I guess a creature presumed to be a Green Gagon came here and returned.]

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Returned? Did hee out to scout?)]

    [I don¡¯t think so. It seemed like it retreated when it approached the close distance. It must have been trying to hunt.]

    Rarely does a Green Gagon with an aggressive personality back off when it sees its prey. Only when on a reconnaissance or when it meets a formidable opponent that he can¡¯t handle.

    ¡®Because of me?¡¯

    With a ck carapace with arge build and tentacles, it could be misunderstood if the opponent is an inexperienced Gagon. In the fine appearance, there is no difference, but seeing the cloud hiding, it will be no different from a ck Gagon.

    ¡®I¡¯m d I didn¡¯t fight.¡¯

    Around here, the White Gagon faction with Adhai is still running the Odd Grad¡¯s flock that has been there since the beginning. It¡¯s unclear which force the opponent belongs to.

    ¡®If any force gets to know me, it¡¯ll be very guarded.¡¯

    And Gagon doesn¡¯t like having a strong opponent installed in front of him. We¡¯ll have to get ready for a battle with Gagon faster.

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 204

    Chapter 204

    HEL SCANS

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The cult battleshipnded in a forest far from where I had set up my nest. The area around the nest was not suitable fornding due to the terrain.

    Afternding, I sent eight survivors outside the situation room to clean up the scattered bodies.

    Inside the situation room, I inserted the Bloodsucking tentacles and sucked in the bodies one by one. That¡¯s when I noticed something strange.

    ¡®No knowledge manager?¡¯

    The knowledge manager is the core officer and chief technician of the cult battleship.As a species using psychic powers called Psychic Power, the cult can transmit records and information stored inputers to individuals. Therefore, the cult does not have a central information processing agency like MegaCorp¡¯s data archive or StarUnion¡¯s Starlink database. The Prophet Assembly, one of the Empire¡¯s three major power institutions, ys a role simr to this.

    Normally, a knowledge manager must be on board a battleship.

    While it¡¯smon for patrol ships not to carry them, they do board medium andrge warships above destroyers.

    However, among the corpsesid out in the situation room, there was no knowledge manager.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Where¡¯s the knowledge manager?)]

    ?Eh? I subdued it as an ice spirit earlier. It should be inside the situation room.?

    The Mother of the Sky answered my question with a wave of my attack. Currently, she was in another part of the battleship looking for equipment worth taking as loot. Despite hearing her response, I searched through the corpses again, but still couldn¡¯t find it.

    Physically, the knowledge manager looks just like an ordinary cult member, but with a special badge attached to their clothes. It¡¯s shaped like the eye of a cult, often referred to as Illuminati in themunity.

    ¡®Could they be mixed up among the bodies? I can¡¯t find them.¡¯

    As I rummaged through each corpse, PS-111, who was circling theputer, asked me.

    [What are you looking for?]

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (A corpse with an eye-shaped badge)]

    [I ate that corpse before Amorph came.]

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (You ate it? When?)]

    [Middle Baby was working on theputer. I didn¡¯t realize it was an important target. I apologize.]

    PS-111 bowed and apologized.

    ¡®Why is it acting like this when it usually doesn¡¯t?¡¯

    Although it always spoke of energy supply, it had never touched my prey before. While it was a special individual, it was still controlled by machines. I thought the chance of making a mistake was low.

    Moreover, as always, the voice was a monotonous female voice mixed with mechanical sounds, but it felt subtly different.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    I watched it. There was no change in the face of PS-111, a creatureposed half of machines. However, both its voice and expression felt different.

    If I had to express the feeling that permeated the white face¡­

    ¡®Emotions?¡¯

    It had shown a sulky appearance to Number 26 before. At that time, it felt artificially expressed by the machine in a specific situation.

    But now it seemed much more human.

    ¡®A human-like machine.¡¯

    It was a new Screamer model and amander-level creature, so it had rtively high autonomy. Therefore, it was uncertain whether this change was due to its design or whether it was evolving into a new existence.

    ¡®This aspect is simr to Number 26.¡¯

    When I first met it, I had simr thoughts. At that time, I decided to keep an eye on him, which ultimately proved to be very helpful to me.

    ¡®Let¡¯s watch a little more.¡¯

    If it thinks it can deceive me, there are many better ways than awkwardly trying to deceive me like this. It must not intend to harm me.

    After a moment of hesitation, I decided to overlook PS-111¡¯s ¡°mistake.¡±

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Be more careful next time)]

    [Thank you.]

    With that, I finished and sucked up the bodies again with the Bloodsucking tentacles. After cleaning up all the bodies shortly afterwards, I went outside the battleship with PS-111.

    ?The big baby and the friend came out.?

    ?Why did it take so long??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (I had something to do for a moment)]

    When I came out, the Mother of the Sky and Number 26 were waiting for us.

    The Mother of the Sky had a leash attached to the Demolisher and wore a Champion Shield on her left wrist. She resembled a Temple Guardian but did not wear a Gagon Scale Suit.

    Wolves cannot wear normal armor apart from special materials due to their transformation abilities. This is why when transformed, the body doubles in size and the shape changes, so ordinary clothes would quickly be damaged.

    Next to her, Number 26 carried a backpack filled with loot.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Then let¡¯s return to the nest)]

    ?Are we flying??

    [ZZZ (Yes)]

    ¡®Ha¡­¡¯

    Number 26 always loved flying. When Iy down and lowered my body, it bounced up and climbed onto my back. Despite her name, the Mother of the Sky, who didn¡¯t enjoy flying as much, sighed and followed behind Number 26.

    Carrying PS-111, I flew up into the sky.

    ¡®Let¡¯s rest at the nest for a moment and then go catch some new prey.¡¯

    Now that my presence was known, the fight with Gagon would soon be at hand. Regardless of which herd, they¡¯ll try to exclude me.

    The ck Gagon herd, who expelled Adhai, won¡¯t be fond of newpetitors. While Ham Ort had promised not to confront me directly, that doesn¡¯t mean I can rx. They might be more wary, thinking I¡¯m aiming for Adhai.

    ¡®I originally nned to prepare more, but there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡¯

    Gagon is as challenging an opponent as a yer. I nned to gather more than 10 traits of the apex and then fight it.

    ¡®Let¡¯s start with Shark Bear.¡¯

    ¡®And then I will fight the Sky whales.¡¯

    Creatures that have nevere down to the ground after being born.

    A magnificent presence known as the whale of the universe.

    That¡¯s the sky whale.

    ***

    ?Owner of the Red Forest? ?He died??

    In response to the unbelievable news, the Queen of Purity Ham Ort asked, and the White Gagon who reported the news nodded its head.

    Until recently, the king was alive and well. Why would the king suddenly die? She didn¡¯t understand this situation.

    ?Odd Grad? ?Did he kill him??

    ?Nel Germa? ?Do not know? ?King? ?Already? ?Dead?

    Just in case, she asked, but she knew it wasn¡¯t Odd Grad who did it.

    ?Body? ?Bring it.?

    The white female gagon Nel Germa extended the fragment of wings left by the owner of the Red Forest. Seeing that, she barely resisted a sigh.

    These small fragments are of little significance. In other words, she needs to find another Red King somewhere on this.

    ?Ham Ort? ?Orders? ?New Owner of the Red Forest? ?Search?

    ?Nel Germa? ?Opposed? ?Fellow? ?Weary? ?Need? ?Rest?

    It was rare for a young Gagon to raise objections to the leader. Moreover, Nel Germa was one of the most obedient Gagons in Ham Orts herd.

    Such a scenario means the situation is not going well.

    Ham Ort did not raise objections any further because she disliked Odd Grad¡¯s propensity to sacrifice their own kin. If she were to issue orders forcibly here, she would merely be another Odd Grad, forcing her subordinates to work for her.

    ?Ham Ort? ?correct? ?Nel Germa? ?kin? ?rest?

    ?Thank you?

    Having dismissed Nel Germa, Ham Ort swiftly pondered over her next move.

    Time was not on her side. Though she currently left the cruel whims of the ck Gagon untouched, no one knew how long that wouldst.

    If Odd Grad were to emerge now, many of her kin would perish, even if she were to sacrifice herself.

    Therefore, as quickly as possible, before that happens, she must transform Ham Ort¡¯s daughter into their savior. Ham Ort entered the nest, carrying fragments of wings.

    In the expansive cavey a single small kin.

    Impressive with grass-green scales, smaller than juvenile ones, and a plump tail. She was none other than Ham Ort¡¯s daughter, Adhai.

    Unlike their first meeting, Adhai now had small white spots on her wings as she lifted her head.

    ?Red Forest owner? ?Died??

    ?That¡¯s correct.?

    Adhai spoke as if she already knew everything.

    Recently, she had been practicing her psychic powers in detail. Now, her sensing extended beyond the cave into the forest beyond.

    From a mother¡¯s perspective, there was no greater joy than seeing her daughter grow, but Ham Ort couldn¡¯t wholly embrace it. Because Adhai was constantly plotting to escape whenever an opportunity arose.

    ?Adult? ?Hunt? ?Definitely?

    ?Ham Ort? ?denies? ?Red Forest owner? ?not weak? ?ugly kin? ?hunt? ?impossible?

    ?Adult? ?appearance? ?change? ?real? ?appearance? ?much? ?cool? ?strength? ?powerful!?

    Since she had brought the corpse of the Snake King with difficultyst time, it had always been that cry. Ham Ort knew exactly who Adhai meant by ¡®adult¡¯.

    At the time they met Adhai, the ugly kin was also present.

    Adhai remembered the ¡®adult¡¯ as a grotesque being so bizarrely shaped that it was unclear if it truly belonged to their kin. Itmunicated not in the usual way their kin did, making it seem like another species altogether.

    Of course, the majestic horns on its head were not unattractive, but that was all. It was small in stature and did not appear particrly strong. That such a feeble being was apanying Ham Ort¡¯s daughter was a miracle in itself.

    ?Kin? ?appearance? ?unchangeable? ?Ham Orts daughter? ?mistake?

    ?No? ?Ham Ort? ?wrong? ?don¡¯t know? ?at all? ?don¡¯t know?

    Seeing Adhai speak so bitterly, Ham Ort felt an urge to strike her but restrained herself forcibly. She threw the wing fragments in front of Adhai.

    Grabbing the wing fragment with her forepaw and starting to chew it with her tentacles, Adhai was informed by Ham Ort.

    ?Eat it? ?After eating? ?we will go.?

    ?Where to go??

    Eating the owner of the Red Forest right now was impossible. Therefore, she needed to advance and deal with what was toe.

    ?King of the Sky? ?Hunt?

    ?King of the Sky??

    ?Ham Ort? ?Ham Orts daughter? ?go together?

    If she were to devour the King of the Sky, her daughter would ascend to a level akin to hers in an instant. So Ham Ort decided to take the gamble.

    If her daughter truly was their savior.

    She would achieve her goal.

    ***

    Inside the geothermally heated cave, bubbling with activity.

    The floor was strewn with all sorts of precious minerals and gemstones, while the walls and ceiling were adorned with fruits emitting a fragrant aroma.

    Amidst one of the most extravagant caves seldom seen in naturey the ck-colored owner.

    Although his long body curled into a circle as he slept, he still emitted a considerable sense of awe.

    Six curved horns sprouted from his head, and his wings were as massive as rain-clouds pouring down. His body and legs were tightly packed with sturdy muscles, and his talons were sharp as lightning bolts in a storm.

    He was none other than the ck King, the great Odd Grad.

    As usual, he supported himself with the geothermal heat while deep in slumber. However, today was slightly different. Despite clearly being asleep, his tail twitched ufortably.

    Momentster, he raised his head sharply. As his massive body moved, the entire cave shook violently.

    ¡®What was that just now?¡¯

    Odd Grad¡¯s eyes, initially filled with uncertainty, gradually regained theirposure. He had just had a nightmare.

    In his dream, he saw it.

    His kin rushed at him, attempting to slit his throat.

    He vividly recalled even the sight of his head falling off mid-flight. Yet the entity that cut his throat remained blurred.

    Whether it wasrge or small, nothing was clear. The only certainty was that the creature¡¯s body was ck.

    ¡®¡­The future?¡¯

    Odd Grad possessed a very special ability.

    He could foresee the future. Whether through prophetic dreams or visions, he could glimpse what was toe.

    After realizing his precognitive ability, he always maneuvered to avoid ominous futures. Without that, it would have been impossible for him to survive this long.

    At present, there was only one entity capable of shedding its ck scales.

    The white female who stood against him.

    Odd Grad had been implementing measures to ensure his kin ¡°did not grow.¡± For some unknown reason, this detestable female had found a loophole in his unknown condition.

    The future shown in his visions had yet to materialize. Reflecting on past precedents, it would still be some time before dreams be reality. Therefore, the white female was likely still mid-transformation.

    Odd Grad summoned hispanion from outside. When the whitepanion entered, he issued hismand.

    ?Odd Grad? mands? ?kin? ?prepare? ?eliminate? ?traitors?

    The waiting was over.

    It was time to execute the traitors he had long ignored.

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 Chapter 205

    Chapter 205

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Finding food, securing shelter, mating and leaving offsprings¡ªeverything is tied topetition.

    To find limited food, you mustpete with others, and the ces that feelfortable to you are likely desirable to other creatures as well. The same goes for feelings towards mates.

    However, just because survival andpetition are closely linked, not everyone can be a winner. Most creatures in nature live having lost in some aspect ofpetition.

    The small cave¡¯s owner, the Sharkbear, embodied both the winner and the loser. He triumphed in all other areas but failed in just one.

    He had no mate.Perhaps it was because he had been separated from his group at an early age.

    He never learned social skills and viewed other creatures solely as prey. asionally, females approached him, but his attitude drove them all away.

    But so what?

    He had a cozy cave and a vast territory all to himself. Except for not being able to leave offspring, he led a satisfying life.

    Today, the young male Sharkbear roamed leisurely in his hunting grounds to satiate his hunger. There were no creatures around that could threaten him.

    Except for the asional intrusions by a beast with white fur and long limbs.

    This bipedal monster was swift and strong. Its unpredictable arm movements were particrly annoying. Thus, even the Sharkbear found it a bit burdensome.

    Still, the young male was not worried. He had recently chased the beast out of his forest after a fierce confrontation. He was sure it wouldn¡¯t return anytime soon.

    As he strolled through the forest, a scent reached his nose. It was warm and sticky, out of ce in the frozen surroundings. And it carried a sweet undertone.

    It was the smell of blood.

    Someone had died in his hunting grounds.

    Rooaaar.

    The young male let out a low growl.

    Who dared to encroach on his territory? He thought. This time, he would not let the white-furred monster go unpunished.

    Following the scent through the air, he reached an open clearing. In the middle of the snow-covered clearing was the source of the blood scent.

    Under normal circumstances, he would have rushed in immediately, but he did not.

    Something felt off. No predator would leave such a tasty meal behind without reason.

    He dismissed his curiosity about the sweet scent and looked around. There were no tracks of other animals in the snow. He looked up at the open sky.

    As always, the dark sky was snowing continuously. Could his instincts be wrong about the danger?

    He noticed the broken tree branches above. They looked as if something heavy had fallen from the sky.

    Had he been more social and interacted with his kind, he would have understood the significance of those signs. He would have known how dangerous aerial creatures could be.

    But living alone, he never knew this. He approached the snow-covered corpse. His jaws opened wide, revealing his sharp teeth.

    Just as he was about to enjoy his meal.

    Something swooped down from the dark sky above his head.

    [¡®Enhanced Endocrine nds¡¯ trait has been applied.]

    [Can be fused with the existing ¡®Muscle Reinforcement¡¯ trait.]

    [¡®Enhanced Endocrine nds¡¯ and ¡®Muscle Reinforcement¡¯ traits have fused. Evolving into the ¡®Berserker Synapse¡¯ trait!]

    [Berserker Synapse: Enhances overall physical abilities. Reduces energy consumption and allows more energy to be stored within the body.]

    [*Note: You are a living tank, an unstoppable train.]

    ¡®Whew. Finally.¡¯

    After capturing the 11th Sharkbear, I finally gained a new trait. It took a while because I didn¡¯t use the Symbol of the Hunt.

    ¡®I need to save the Symbol of the Hunt for the Skywhale.¡¯

    The Skywhale has some troublesome traits like ¡®Energy Absorption¡¯, but it also has many useful traits. Besides ¡®Giant Creature¡¯ and ¡®Space Travel¡¯, it has numerous valuable traits. It¡¯s a creature worth hunting for its power.

    I looked down at my new body, enhanced with the [Berserker Synapse] trait. As expected of an internal organ fusion trait, there were no significant changes.

    The only noticeable difference was that the muscles around my arms, neck, and tail were more pronounced. The muscles in my wing-arms were also stronger, allowing for faster and longer flights.

    ¡®I feel powerful.¡¯

    In the game, these changes were merely numerical, but in reality, it felt different. My whole body felt brimming with strength. Even without activating transformation modes like the Symbol of the Hunt, I could instinctively tell.

    I wouldn¡¯t have to worry as much about the side effects.

    ?Big guy, are you done eating??

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Yes. You can have the rest)]

    [Detection of rapid muscle density increase and energy distribution changes.]

    ?¡­Your muscles are incredible.?

    While Number 26 was always indifferent to my growth, the others were not. PS-111 seemed eager to collect samples of my skin tissue, and the Sky Mother was observing the muscles of mybat arms closely.

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Let¡¯s leave right after we finish eating)]

    ?Okay. p p, sounds good.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Where do you think we should go to find the Skywhale?)]

    ?Huh? Oh, um, I¡¯m not sure. Well.?

    She, who had brought the High Priest¡¯s Golden Spear from the nest, seemed fascinated by the changes in my body. She stared intently at my arms with her amber eyes, startled when she heard my question.

    ?Uh, well, it¡¯s definitely somewhere in the atmosphere, but I¡¯m not sure where it would be easy to find. As you know, they never stop moving.?

    As she said, Skywhales have no nests. Their range of activity includes the entire and outer space. They roamary atmospheres, absorbing sr and other forms of energy, then move to another or star system when they¡¯ve had enough.

    The with the Gagon¡¯s Nest is rich in psychic power, so Skywhales frequently visit. Thus, the chances of finding a Skywhale somewhere on this are very high.

    ¡®It has not been detected in this area.¡¯

    PS-111 said, eating Sharkbear meat with its hook-like hand. The piece of meat in its hand shriveled up in an instant, turning into something resembling a dried leaf. The dried meat was then consumed by Number 26.

    As I watched them eat, I thought,

    ¡®We won¡¯t approach the Gagon¡¯s Nest because of the Gagons.¡¯

    In the game, events where Gagons and Skywhales fought often urred. Skywhales, which absorb all forms of hostile energy, are natural enemies of the powerful psychic Gagons. Thus, Gagons dislike Skywhales approaching the Gagon¡¯s Nest.

    ¡®Should we search by flying directly?¡¯

    It seems we have no choice but to rely on my auxiliary organs for the search.

    Once Number 26 and PS-111 finished eating, we began our search for the Skywhale.

    Every p of my wings made my thick muscles ripple. The ck wings cleaved through the air, parting the clouds around us. Ser ball-sized hailstones mixed in the blizzard struck my wings, but the membrane remained undamaged.

    As my body and wings soared through the sky like a Gagon ascending, the auxiliary organs under my chin tirelessly performed their tasks. They analyzed all elements in the clouds and the energy flowing through the air without missing anything.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (See anything unusual?)]

    ?Not yet.?

    ?Nothing detected!?

    Sky Mother and Number 26, riding on my back, were also looking for signs of the Skywhale. Sky Mother stood on two legs, scanning the clouds with her hawk-like eyes. Despite her fear of flying, she had made significant progress.

    ¡®Except for gripping my tendrils tightly with her hands.¡¯

    Beside her, Number 26 extended tendrils to trace the energy flow.

    I maintained a speed that wouldn¡¯t overwhelm them as they searched. Having just eaten the Sharkbear and with the Berserker Synapse effect, I still had plenty of energy.

    While continuing our extensive search, my auxiliary organs detected something. The feeling tickling the ends of my auxiliary organs was subtly different from psychic power.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    I sensed an unusual energy flow from a specific direction. Number 26, seemingly feeling the same, sent out a pulse.

    ?Big Baby! There¡¯s something strangeing from over there!?

    [Got it]

    I slightly folded one wing to turn towards the source of the energy. My body tilted sharply with the inertia, then I spread my wings wide again, beating them powerfully. My body shot forward like a missileunched from auncher.

    As I increased speed and flew forward, a massive mountain peak came into view. It was far taller than the Twin Peaks where I had hunted Crystalwings.

    The mountain pierced through the clouds and extended far above them. The peak, devoid of snow, appeared ck, with no trees growing on it.

    The sight looked more like a mythological giant than a naturally formed terrain.

    ?Amazing. I¡¯ve never seen such a huge mountain.?

    Sky Mother was right.

    It felt like seeing Olympus Mons, thergest volcano in the sr system, with my own eyes. The grandeur of the colossal ck mountain was truly astounding.

    As we neared the mountain, the unusual energy flow became even stronger. The ck mountain seemed to be emitting energy from its peak, like a volcano spewing ash.

    ¡®That mountain is generating energy¡­¡¯

    ?There! The Skywhale is there!?

    Just as I was about to focus on the mountain, Sky Mother sent a thought wave. She pointed towards the mountain peak. Though it was hard to see clearly from a distance, tiny specks were circling the peak.

    I increased my speed to approach it. Soon, the Skywhale became visible to my eyes.

    It had a long body resembling a whale, six wings formed from clusters of opal-colored particles, and eight eyes.

    It was a Skywhale, a whale of the cosmos.

    ¡®Judging by its size, it¡¯s still young.¡¯

    A mature Skywhale can reach up to 50 meters in length. The one before us was about 60 meters long, nearly twice my size.

    ¡°¡ö¡ª¡ª¨C¡±

    Sensing my approach, it let out a warning cry. Since I was there to capture it, I ignored its warning and closed in.

    ¡°¡ö¡ª!¡±

    It spread its wings in anger. The opal-colored particles on its wings began to gather and shine.

    ¡®Damn!¡¯

    Knowing what this meant, I folded my wings and dove. Six photon cannons fired from its wings, scorching the spot where I had been.

    In themunity, Skywhales are oftenpared to herbivores.

    People might misunderstand them as harmless, but think of African elephants or hippos¡ªherbivores but incredibly dangerous.

    The same goes for the whales of the cosmos.

    Having fired the first shots, it fired the opal-colored beams again. I wrapped my wings around my body and spun in the air. The beams grazed the outer part of my wing membrane. As I spread my wings again after the evasive maneuver, Sky Mother took action.

    Using her ¡®Ice Spirit¡¯ ability, she aimed to seal the Skywhale¡¯s photon cannon attack. The Skywhale trembled as its eyes met hers.

    The light on its wings flickered and then dimmed.

    ?I can only hold it for a minute! We have to finish it within that time!?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Don¡¯t worry)]

    I didn¡¯t n to drag this out anyway. While the Skywhale was distracted by the Ice Spirit, I quickly closed the distance.

    I could see its eight blue eyes, now devoid of their usual sharpness. The creature, losing its mind, charged at me. I did not dodge and charged right back.

    ck wings shed with opal wings, and the thunderous sound echoed like a bolt of lightning striking.

    ¡°¡ö¡ª¨C!¡±

    The Skywhale cried out, overwhelmed by pain despite losing its mind. I, too, felt significant pain at the point of impact, but it was bearable.

    Tendrils erupted from my back, biting into the creature. It retaliated by striking my head with its wings. Though my exoskeleton didn¡¯t crack, the impact was considerable.

    [Pain Nullification Activated!]

    Ignoring the text box, I bit down on the Skywhale¡¯s wing. It shrieked in pain and attempted to strike me with its other wing.

    ?Help Big Baby with the attack!?

    ?On it!?

    Everyone riding on my back leapt towards the Skywhale, now held in ce.

    Sky Mother wielded the golden spear of the priestess, slicing through its flesh with the glinting weapon. Beside her, Number 26shed at its back with tendrils, leaving deep cuts. PS-111 crawled spider-like to its nk, shing with its ws.

    Skywhales can absorb energy-based attacks, rendering them useless. As I had warned everyone beforehand, they all engaged it in hand-to-handbat.

    ¡®In closebat, we have the advantage.¡¯

    The Skywhale¡¯s melee skills weren¡¯t bad, but it had one major w: itsck of durability.

    Its exoskeleton was easily damaged by our attacks.

    ¡°¡ö¡ª¡ª¡±

    It tried to shake us off by thrashing its body. I tightened my tendrils around it to hold it in ce.

    Realizing it couldn¡¯t get rid of us without first dealing with me, it opened its mouth wide.

    Skywhale mouths are more forbat than feeding. Male Skywhales bite each other to prove their strength inpetition for mates. Even another Skywhale can be fatally injured by those massive jaws.

    But there was something it didn¡¯t know.

    ¡®Now!¡¯

    ¡°¡ö?!¡±

    As it opened its mouth, I thrust my head inside. Before it could mp down, I drove the horns on my head into the roof of its mouth.

    Six massive horns pierced through the soft pte, reaching the sensitive inner areas. I used my tendrils to push myself further into its mouth.

    ¡°¡ö¡ª¡ª¨C¡±

    It tried to scream, but it was impossible. Nearly a quarter of my body was jammed inside its mouth.

    I shook my head, tearing up the inside of its mouth with my horns.

    ¡°¡ª¡­¡±

    Finally, when my horns ripped through to its brain, it stopped moving. The light from its beautiful wings faded, and its six eyes slowly closed.

    With its death, we all began plummeting rapidly.

    ?Hey, hey, hey, hey! You crazy bastard! We¡¯re falling! We¡¯re falling!?

    ?Wheee! This is fun!?

    [Calcting damage based on the fall height¡­]

    I pulled my head from the Skywhale¡¯s mouth and spread my wings wide. At the same time, the tendrils holding the cosmic whale bore the brunt of the weight.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Hurry up and climb up)]

    [Thank you.]

    ?¡­Phew.?

    ?That was fun!?

    Even as the others climbed up my tendrils, I didn¡¯t stop pping my wings. With the Skywhale in tow, I gradually reduced our falling speed.

    ¡®Now we just have tond and eat¡­¡¯

    At that moment, a surge of intense psychic power washed over me. I quickly released the tendrils holding the Skywhale and shot upwards.

    In an instant, a thick purple beam shed through my tendrils. The Skywhale¡¯s corpse plummeted below with the severed tendrils.

    ?King of the Sky? ?Cannot be allowed to escape?

    Above me, against the ck sky, stood a being resembling a white angel.

    ¡®¡­Ham Ort.¡¯

    The white Gagon who had taken Adhai.

    Ham Ort, the White Gagon, was there.

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 Chapter 206

    Chapter 206

    HEL SCANS

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    Ham Ort was the third consort of Odd Grad and the second inmand within their ranks. While many of her kin shared her white scales, none possessed strength greater than hers.

    Her formidable power allowed her to hunt the diverse creatures inhabiting this icy star. Among those who met their demise from her breath, there were beings worthy of being called kings.

    However, the Sky King was a particrly troublesome adversary for Gagon.

    He soared through the skies, devouring the very energy that her precious kin needed to survive.

    Even when she was with the Odd Grad pack, the Sky King had prevented young ones from growing, a problem they encountered more than once. With her immense strength from a young age, she had teamed up with her kin multiple times to y the king.Yet, each time a new king emerged, causing further trouble. They seemed toe from the sky above, from the realm where the stars reside.

    Though the Sky King had been a persistent nuisance, he eventually stopped seeking out her kin. Instead, he lingered around the mountain near the Star Garden.

    That mountain emitted a strange energy that even her kin avoided. Back when she had green scales, it was fine, but it had changed at some point.

    Regardless, after she shed her scales and turned white, she once captured the Sky King alone. Now, being even stronger, it would be no problem for her.

    One potential variable was Adhai, her daughter born with a weaker body, unlike her naturally superior kin.

    There were two reasons for taking her to such a dangerous ce to fight a formidable foe.

    Firstly, it was difficult to move the king¡¯s corpse alone. Time was short, and her kin were exhausted. She judged it better to bring Adhai along and feed her directly to help her grow.

    Secondly¡­

    ?Ham Ort? ?Warning? ?Escape? ?Impossible!?

    ?Pain!?

    Since leaving the nest, Adhai had attempted to escape three times already.

    With just the two of them, if she went to capture the Sky King alone, Adhai would surely escape the nest while she was gone.

    ?Sky King? ?Strong? ?This action? ?Dangerous.?

    ?Me? ?Leaving? ?Danger? ?Disappearing.?

    Ham Ort tightly grasped Adhai with her front paw. Until now, she had knocked her unconscious every time she tried to escape, but this couldn¡¯t go on forever.

    ?Kin? ?daughter of Meteor? ?Need? ?Cooperate.?

    ?Kin? ?Abandoned? ?Me? ?No interest.?

    She knew that Adhai was hostile towards her and the other kin, believing she had been abandoned by the group.

    However, if this continued, it would be problematic. Even if she gained the strength to defeat Odd Grad, it would be useless if Adhai remained passive.

    ?Odd Grad? ?Young kin? ?All? ?Kill? ?Is that? ?Okay??

    Ham Ort sent out a wave of thoughts filled with intense emotions, causing Adhai to hesitate.

    ?Young kin? ?Innocent.?

    Eventually, Adhai ryed a sullen thought wave. Ham Ort, holding the now subdued Adhai, resumed their journey.

    She was the best flyer among the white-scaled kin. She moved so swiftly that even the sound couldn¡¯t keep up. Meanwhile, she used her psychic power to reduce the impact Adhai would feel.

    As she soared through the air, she spotted the ck mountain.

    She sensed the unpleasant energy emanating from it, along with other strange energies.

    ???

    Sensing the energy flow btedly, Adhai looked up and started struggling.

    ?Big Adult!? ?Lesser Elder!? ?Present!?

    ?Big Adult?? ?Ugly kin?? ?Present??

    Focusing on the tendrils at her mouth, Ham Ort detected that one of the strange energies was indeed the wavelength emitted by the Sky King. However, the other energy was unfamiliar to her.

    She realized what it meant that the two energies were intermingled.

    The ¡°Big Adult¡± that the daughter of Meteor mentioned had beaten her to the hunt.

    ?Ugly kin? ?Hunting? ?Sky King??

    ?Big Adult? ?Strong? ?Can defeat Sky King.?

    Adhai¡¯s thought wave carried two emotions: pride and conviction.

    The unknown energy was simr to psychic power but much stronger. It felt like when she encountered Odd Grad. The im that the ¡°Big Adult¡± would win was no lie.

    Ham Ort hesitated for a moment before activating her psychic power. Small purple sparks flickered from her tendrils, and Adhai¡¯s body went limp.

    Given her temperament, encountering the ¡°Big Adult¡± would likely trigger impulsive behavior. It was better to knock her out.

    Ham Ort stopped flying and gentlynded on the ground, carefully cing Adhai beside a tree.

    She looked down at her small offspring.

    Born weak and abandoned by her kin, yet she had be their savior. For a fleeting moment, an emotion flickered in her purple eyes and then vanished.

    Turning her gaze away, she spread her wings and took to the sky.

    There was one thing Adhai did not know.

    Why was she still alive and able to leave this?

    But Ham Ort had no intention of revealing that fact. Regardless, it was true that her daughter had been exiled.

    And she bore some responsibility for that. She was determined to take responsibility.

    Ham Ort, with her white wings fully spread, hovered in the sky, focusing on her auxiliary organs while keeping her eyes on the creature she was observing.

    ***

    Skywhales were formidable foes, even for Gagon. While their specs were simr to White Gagon, their special abilities set them apart.

    Skywhales, which absorbed all energy, were natural enemies to Gagons, whose strengthy in their high-powered psychic attacks. Only ck Gagon, capable of killing a Skywhale in a single strike, could deal with them easily. Otherwise, multiple Gagons were typically needed to take down a Skywhale.

    ¡®Even during the event, they appeared in a ratio of almost 5 to 1.¡¯

    So, there must be other Gagons besides that creature.

    While scanning the surroundings with my auxiliary organs, Ham Ort flew towards me. With a single p of her wings, she reached me in an instant.

    She swung her front paw, her diamond-like ws aimed at my neck.

    ¡®So fast.¡¯

    She was as quick as a white lightning bolt. Hovering in the air, I quickly pulled my neck back. Her ws narrowly missed my tentacle by a paper-thin margin.

    As I dodged, I tensed my tail that was hanging towards the ground. The muscles in my lower body tightened, and the pincer at the end of my tail shot upward.

    Before the pincer could strike Ham Ort¡¯s hind leg, she suddenly shrank. She had retreated swiftly after her failed attack.

    Purple energy gathered at her tendrils. She was preparing to fire a psychic breath as she withdrew.

    I hurriedly gathered the energy in my body. She, having gathered her energy first, fired her psychic breath.

    A purple beam cut through the dark sky. Keeping my energy charged, I fully folded one wing. My body tilted sharply downward, and the beam grazed the top of my carapace.

    The ¡°Psychic Reflection Armor¡± activated automatically, reflecting a portion of the beam back at her. My tentacle, now fully charged, also fired a purple beam.

    Disying remarkable agility, Ham Ort effortlessly dodged the dual beams of psychic power.

    [ZZZ (Now!)]

    I sent a wave to the Mother of the Sky on my back, signaling her to use the ¡°Ice Wraith.¡±

    ¡°!¡±

    ?Damn! She¡¯s too far!?

    Sensing we were about to attack, Ham Ort swiftly distanced herself, causing the attack to fail.

    ¡®How clever.¡¯

    Indeed, it was expected of a Gagon that dared to rebel against a ck Gagon. Even after a brief skirmish, her judgment was better than that of most yers.

    Realizing closebat was disadvantageous, it began to fire Psychic Breaths rapidly.

    Having acquired the ¡°Beast¡¯s Enhanced Wings,¡± I could move quite nimbly, if not as fast as a Gagon¡¯s ¡°Hyper eleration.¡± I advanced through the torrent of purple storms.

    Though its aim was considerable, dodging attacks was second nature to me. Adjusting the angle of my wing arms to change flight direction, I evaded the beams with minimal movement.

    Of course, merely dodging wouldn¡¯t suffice to defeat it, so I made sure to counterattack whenever possible. Thanks to the ¡°Berserker Synapse¡± effect, my energy consumption was significantly reduced. This effect applied not only to physical activities but also to energy-intensive abilities.

    In other words, I could use the ¡°Divine Spectre¡± more boldly than before.

    As I spun my body with my wings to dodge a beam, I charged the power of the Thunder God. My body, covered in ck scales, gleamed golden, reflecting the sunset.

    To it, which could see the flow of energy, it would appear differently. It would see a fearsome power concentrating in its opponent¡¯s body.

    Sensing danger, it fired another Psychic Breath. Seeing that the beam was much thicker than the one I had fired, it must have increased its output.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter if it doesn¡¯t hit.¡¯

    I dodged the iing beam, disrupting the golden glow around my body, and lifted myself upward.

    Then, something unexpected happened.

    The beam, which should have passed well below me, veered and aimed straight at me.

    ¡®What the¡­!¡¯

    The creature, which had been relentlessly changing positions to target me, was now pping its wings without moving. Around it, psychic power spread like a vast web.

    ¡®It¡¯s controlling the beam!¡¯

    It had forcibly altered the trajectory of the already-fired Psychic Breath.

    The beam, curving upward from the middle, was about to strike my abdomen. It was toote to dodge. I quickly shielded my abdomen with mybat arms.

    Just as the beam was about to collide, it dispersed in mid-air.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    In the spot where the beam disintegrated, dozens, if not hundreds, of threads of psychic power intertwined, simr to what Ham Ort had done.

    I thought it had dispelled the beam, but that wasn¡¯t the case. It was visibly shocked, indicating it hadn¡¯t expected this.

    At that moment, a wave came from the figure on my back.

    ?I will protect the big baby!?

    ¡®Number 26!¡¯

    The current miracle was undoubtedly caused by it. Like Ham Ort, it had interfered with the Psychic Breath.

    However, it seemed it wasn¡¯t an easy task, as its wave carried signs of exhaustion.

    ¡®No matter what, this is our chance!¡¯

    I didn¡¯t know how the two of them used simr methods, but now was the time. Seizing the opportunity it created, I activated the Divine Spectre.

    The golden light enveloping my entire body climbed up to my neck and gathered around my mouth. The Divine Spectre. I unleashed that power from my mouth.

    A momentter, Ham Ort also released a breath made of pure psychic power.

    A golden dragon tore through the sky. Opposing it, a purple celestial horse charged.

    As they collided, a storm of light erupted. Between Ham Ort and me, a sun made of mixed energies emerged.

    A zing sun of purple and gold.

    Eventually, the sun exploded, releasing a tremendous shockwave. The shockwave of light cleared the ck clouds that enveloped the¡¯s atmosphere. In the sky, now free of clouds, yellow lightning and purple energy spread like cracks in shattered ss.

    After the shockwave swept through the sky, a deafening roar followed. It wasn¡¯t so much a sound as a primal sensation, something beyond mere noise, leaving only a profound sense of numbness.

    The intense sh, visible even from space, didn¡¯tst long.

    The result was a decision victory for me. The Divine Spectre overwhelmed the Psychic Breath. Ham Ort dodged skillfully but couldn¡¯tpletely avoid it.

    Ham Ort staggered in the air, with one damaged wing. Its once snow-white scales were scorched and cracked from the impact.

    ?Ham Ort? ?Won¡¯t be defeated!?

    Even in this dire situation, it roared defiantly. Its tendrils turned a lighter shade of purple.

    As I prepared to fire the Divine Spectre again, my auxiliary organs warned me. Arge number of lifeforms were rapidly approaching.

    ¡®Gagons?¡¯

    As expected, they were all Gagons. In the clear sky, I saw ten Gagons with green scales flying toward us.

    They quickly reached Ham Ort and beganmunicating.

    ¡®What are they doing?¡¯

    I thought they would attack me immediately, but they didn¡¯t. I wondered if they were strategizing, but it didn¡¯t seem that way. If only I could eavesdrop on their psychic waves, but whatever Ham Ort did, I couldn¡¯t sense it.

    ?Big baby, there¡¯s big trouble at the bad guys¡¯ ce.?

    Number 26, who had the best psychic tuning ability among us, overheard their conversation and ryed it to me.

    ¡®Big trouble?¡¯

    Of course, understanding what it meant was a different matter.

    After their conversation, they all turned and started to fly away. I didn¡¯t know why, but it was clear they were retreating.

    ¡®Where do they think they¡¯re going?¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t let Ham Ort, who was nearly defeated, escape. I couldn¡¯t miss the chance to capture an Apex.

    As I aimed the Divine Spectre at their backs, Ham Ort sent a psychic wave to me.

    ?Daughter of the meteor? ?Is below.?

    ¡®What?¡¯

    ?To prevent? ?Danger? ?I brought her? ?Ifte, she will die? ?Hurry? ?Go.?

    ¡®Crazy.¡¯

    The moment I understood what she meant, my body moved on its own.

    ¡®What?¡¯

    Meanwhile, Ham Ort and the Green Gagons had left. It seemed like she sent another psychic wave before leaving, but I had no time to focus on that.

    ¡®To think they¡¯d use her as a threat!¡¯

    I had thought it was necessary to protect the Gagons, and I believed Adhai would be safe because she was their child.

    But I was wrong. I folded my wings back and dove toward the ground.

    Inded almost in a crash and immediately activated my auxiliary organs after dropping off the kids. The Skywhale, dead and scattered, was the least of my concerns.

    ¡®Where is she? Where¡­ there!¡¯

    I caught a familiar scent from one side of the forest. I hurried in that direction.

    Soon, I saw a Gagon lying next to a tree. The beautiful green scales like emeralds and the small, chubby body was unmistakably Adhai.

    As soon as I spotted her, I generated a symbiotic spore. If her life was in danger, as Ham Ort said, I needed this.

    Just as I was about to attach the spore to the seemingly lifeless Adhai, she suddenly lifted her head.

    ?Big one??

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Are you okay?)]

    ?Big one!? ?d!?

    She jumped up and clung to me, rubbing her head affectionately. She lookedpletely unharmed.

    ¡®¡­Could it be?¡¯

    I didn¡¯t want to believe it, but it seemed I had been deceived.

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 Chapter 207

    Chapter 207

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The creature that was rubbing its head against my body suddenly stopped and lifted its head. Then she called out to me through telepathy.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Are you hurt?)]

    ?No? ?Pain? ?None? ?At all.?

    I wondered if she had an injury I hadn¡¯t noticed, but it didn¡¯t seem to be the case. The creature hesitated and backed away from me.

    Just a moment ago, she was excited to see me, but now she seemed awkward. Not only her behavior but also the telepathic waves radiating from her body were filled with negative emotions.¡®Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?¡¯

    As if to answer my question, she sent another telepathic wave.

    ?I? ?Apologize? ?Must.?

    [ZZZZ ZZ (Apologize?)]

    ?I? ?Followed? ?Ham Ort? ?Abandoned? ?Adult? ?Sorry.?

    She was referring to when she followed Ham Ort when we first encountered it. Although I understood her intentions, she seemed to have been weighing on her heavily.

    ?I? ?Want? ?Adult? ?Tribe? ?Again? ?Please.?

    The creature lowered her front legs and bowed her head, disying an unprecedented level of respect.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    From the start, I had intended to bring her back. Therefore, I hadn¡¯t thought much of meeting her again.

    However, the creature saw things differently. Adhai had been exiled from her tribe once for being small and weak.

    ¡®Come to think of it, even before we came here, she was overly cautious.¡¯

    After guiding me to the nest, she asked if she could stay with me. I had assumed she would, but she seemed to worry about being unnecessary and having to leave.

    Even now, she seemed burdened by the prospect of returning after leaving us to survive.

    ¡®¡­This isn¡¯t something that can be solved with words.¡¯

    I know well how past pains can torment one¡¯s life. The body lives in the present, but the mind remains trapped in the past.

    So, I decided to do what I had most wanted when I was struggling.

    I gently embraced the creature with my winged arms and held her close.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (You¡¯re back, that¡¯s all that matters.)]

    ?Adult? ?Forgive? ?me??

    The creature trembled as she spoke, and I shook my head.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (You did nothing wrong, there¡¯s nothing to forgive.)]

    ?I? ?Abandon? ?Tribe? ?Wrong.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (You chose to protect me. If anything, I was the one who was wrong.)]

    ?No!? ?Adult? ?No? ?Wrong.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Let¡¯s agree that neither of us was wrong.)]

    ?I? ?Again? ?Tribe? ?Possible??

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (You never really left.)]

    I sent this telepathic wave with firm resolution. Understanding my sincerity, Adhai finally rxed.

    I lightly stroked her head with my small arms. she turned her head as if she felt tickled and looked at my winged arms.

    ?Wings? ?First? ?See.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Really?)]

    When we first met, I did have wings, but not in their current form. They used to cover my back like a beetle¡¯s, and I could barely use them due to the transcendence penalty.

    ?Cool!? ?Cool!? ?Very? ?Cool!?

    Adhai tapped me with its front paw and nodded energetically. She seemed very pleased with my transformation.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Let¡¯s go back. The others must be waiting.)]

    ?Little Adult? ?Ugly friend? ?Weak child? ?Present??

    [ZZZ (Yes)]

    Upon hearing my words, Adhai climbed out of my embrace and onto my back.

    I carried her back to where I had left the others.

    ?What happened??

    As soon as she saw me with Adhai, the Mother of the Sky asked.

    [ZZZZ (I was deceived.)]

    ?It seems so.?

    ?Little One!?

    [Confirmed as Sub-controller 2 ¡®Little One.¡¯ Nice to meet you again.]

    ?Everyone? ?Happy.?

    Gagon, by design, doesn¡¯t lie. As a race modeled after legendary and mythical dragons, they value contracts highly. If she weren¡¯t for this characteristic, I wouldn¡¯t have trusted Adhai when we made our contract.

    That¡¯s why I believed what Ham Ort said, never imagining that Gagon could lie.

    ¡®¡­Still, I guess I should be d that Adhai is safe.¡¯

    In this case, it¡¯s fortunate that it was a lie. Despite my annoyance at being deceived by Gagon.

    Just then, having greeted everyone, Adhai trotted up to me.

    ?Sky King? ?Adult? ?Hunt??

    [ZZZ (Sky King?)]

    It pointed to the burst Sky Whale with the tip of its horn.

    ¡®Why did theye here?¡¯

    While Ham Ort might be okay, Adhai was not well-suited to fighting Sky Whales. She couldn¡¯t use its psychic abilities and was too small tond any effective hits.

    Conversely, it would be very easy for a Sky Whale to kill Adhai. Whether she fired a photon cannon or struck with its wings, Adhai would be done for.

    ¡®Adhai must know this.¡¯

    As if to answer my question, Adhai sent another telepathic wave.

    ?Ham Ort? ?Said? ?Sky King? ?Needed? ?I? ?Said? ?Adult? ?Already? ?Hunted? ?Sky King? ?Hunt? ?Useless.?

    Adhai proudly spread its wings. It seemed Ham Ort intended to target the Sky Whale, but then realized I was already here and Adhai told her that hunting the Sky Whale was impossible.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (I understand needing the Sky King, but why did youe together?)]

    ?Ham Ort? ?Said? ?I? ?Must eat? ?Sky King? ?Savior? ?Condition.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Must eat the Sky King?)]

    Now that I looked closer, Adhai¡¯s wings were different. Earlier, I was only checking for injuries, but now I could see clearly.

    ¡®There are spots on her wings.¡¯

    Near the membrane of the wings, there were white spots, like grains of sand. She seemed more natural than a sign of illness, like freckles.

    ¡®White?¡¯

    I suddenly wondered if Ham Ort was trying to evolve Adhai.

    The growth conditions of Gagons are unknown. I don¡¯t know how Adhai grew. When she molted the green scales, I was not with her.

    ?Ham Ort? ?Brought? ?Snake King? ?Adult? ?Hunted? ?Snake King? ?Much? ?Bigger.?

    ¡®Snake King? That I gave? That can¡¯t be¡­oh.¡¯

    I remembered. The first apex creature I hunted on this was the Ice Horror. Considering its size and appearance, it could indeed be called a Snake King.

    ¡®Does Adhai need to eat apex creatures to be a White Gagon?¡¯

    When Blue Gagons, which can be considered hatchlings, absorb the natural psychic power from their nest, they grow. Once they be Green Gagons, they start hunting wild animals in earnest.

    Ons where dragon nests are located, there are usually many apex creatures, so they inevitably have to fight them.

    ¡®Apex creatures are generally very nutritious.¡¯

    Ice Horrors, cier Fiends, Crystalwings. All of them are beings that possess immense energy. By hunting and consuming these monsters, they umte that energy in their bodies and grow into White Gagons.

    ¡®Although this isn¡¯t entirely urate¡­¡¯

    If my hypothesis is correct, there should be more White Gagons in the dragon¡¯s nest. Since there aren¡¯t, it¡¯s likely there are other factors I¡¯m unaware of.

    ¡®Maybe Adhai is unique.¡¯

    Ham Ort took Adhai because she was special. She said she was necessary for fighting the ck Gagon group.

    Of course, it¡¯s unclear why such an important creature was handed over to me now.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Will you change if you eat the Sky King?)]

    ?Ham Ort? ?Said? ?Change? ?Possible? ?I? ?Absorbed? ?Snake King? ?Changed? ?Stronger.?

    Adhai pointed to the spots on its wings with its front paw.

    ¡®Testing she would confirm it.¡¯

    If what she says is true, Adhai should change after eating Sky Whale meat.

    ¡®In any case, Ham Ort and the Gagons are under my control.¡¯

    Adhai knows where they are. If there¡¯s anything uncertain, I can just capture and question them.

    I approached the Sky Whale¡¯s corpse.

    I activated the Symbol of the hunt amid the pool of blood and fragments of entrails scattered on the ground.

    My head transformed, with a carapace covering my eyes. My back split open, revealing skeletal scythe arms, and small ws resembling centipede legs sprouted all over my lower body.

    These were changes that urred when I previously used the Symbol of the hunt, but there were two differences.

    Under the influence of the berserker synapse, which drastically reduces energy consumption, my body didn¡¯t elongate as much as before. My current body length was approximately 45 meters. Considering that I usually grow at least twice asrge when using the Symbol of the hunt, this was an exceptionally small size.

    ¡®I don¡¯t have anyints about the size. It might actually be an advantage.¡¯

    The other difference was the red patterns on my arms and wing membranes.

    The red patterns, spreading like blood vessels from the inside of mybat arms and wing arms, followed the muscle fibers and extended to the wing membranes. The original ck wings were cool, but they had their own charm.

    ?Adult? ?Wings? ?Cool.?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Yes, they are.)]

    Afterpleting my transformation, I bit into the head of the Sky Whale, its contents spilling out. The others approached and started tasting the space whale¡¯s meat as well.

    ***

    It¡¯s unique to Odd Grad¡¯s group, but original Gagons value their young highly. Gagons don¡¯ty many eggs, and even the few they doy often don¡¯t hatch due to harsh environments.

    The few eggs that do hatch are precious, so the whole group is desperate to protect them.

    Those not out hunting, whether female or male, guard the nest and the young. Since most members are usually out hunting, it¡¯s safe to say that the majority protect the nest.

    There are only two situations where hatchlings in a nest guarded by the entire group would die: when a predator like a Sky Whale appears, or when a stronger group of Gagons attacks.

    And now,

    The group following Ham Ort was on the verge of annihtion.

    The forest surrounding the nest was aze as if it had been bombarded. Amid the roaring mes, Gagons with various colored scalesy fallen.

    The cave serving as the hatchling Gagons¡¯ sanctuary had its ceilingpletely torn off. Inside, the bodies of Gagons were piled up like a mountain.

    Most of the bodies were those of blue hatchlings.

    Ham Ort, the leader of the nest, was watching the horrific scene. It wasn¡¯t because she was ruthless orcked affection for her kin.

    Her body was in a state of utter devastation. Her beautiful white wings, once like a bride¡¯s dress, werepletely torn off, and only a third of her tail remained.

    Three of her four brilliant horns were broken, and the tendrils around her mouth were half torn off. it was hard to find any part of her body that wasn¡¯t broken.

    The one who had reduced her to such a pitiful state floated leisurely in the sky.

    A being with six horns and jet-ck scales like the night sky, overwhelminglyrger than Ham Ort.

    The most powerful Gagon on this, the Great Odd Grad.

    He was holding a Blue Gagon in his front paw, sucking its bodily fluids.

    Ripping apart the hatchling with his purple tendrils, it was a sight Ham Ort had tried desperately to prevent.

    After devouring the hatchling in an instant, he tossed the shriveled corpse in front of her.

    ?Evil Odd Grad!? ?Killed the young kin!? ?Killed kin who were once part of the group!?

    Ham Ort¡¯s psychic wave, filled with rage at the brutal death of the young ones, erupted. Although the two factions were at war, there was no reason to kill the ignorant hatchlings.

    Moreover, Odd Grad¡¯s faction was split in two due to rebellion. Killing all of them when even one more could be useful was not a wise decision.

    ?The young kin are innocent! Cruelty!?

    In response to her primal expression of fury, Odd Grad calmly replied.

    ?Odd Grad speaks, Rebels¡¯ seeds must be eradicated.?

    ?!?

    ?However.?

    Hended on top of Ham Ort. The sheer weight of hisrger body crushed her, causing her to scream.

    ?I do not kill rebels.?

    ?Ham Ort will not surrender!?

    ?It does not matter. Rebels need much more pain.?

    He methodically broke her legs with his front paw. She couldn¡¯t even scream in extreme pain, only letting out faint groans.

    ?Odd Gradmands, Take the rebel away.?

    ?Yes.?

    ?Hunt down the escaped rebels. Kill them.?

    Other Gagons grabbed Ham Ort, having heard his psychicmand.

    As she was dragged away in a daze, she thought.

    At least thest hope hadn¡¯t been snuffed out.

    She hadn¡¯t told the daughter of theet, but for her to be the savior, one sacrifice remained.

    That was to devour the white kin.

    Initially, she had nned to take responsibility and make the sacrifice herself. But Odd Grad¡¯s assault on her nest had disrupted that n.

    Therefore, she had no choice but to entrust the task to another kin, Nel Germa.

    Nel Germa was also a female who had risen against Odd Grad. Even in a dire situation, she had acted promptly upon hearing Ham Ort¡¯s request.

    While Nel Germa drew their attention, another white kin led the surviving kin to safety. She did this toplete the final mission given to her.

    Now, there was nothing left for Ham Ort to do.

    All that remained was to see what choice her daughter would make.

    Throughout, she had made only wrong choices. There were only two decisions she could confidently say were right.

    But she hoped her daughter would make wise choices. She continued to pray until she lost consciousness.

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 Chapter 208

    Chapter 208

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    Skywhales are highly sought-after prey.

    Their wings, capable of firing photon cannons, are used as materials for MegaCorp¡¯s weapons, while their internal organs, including the galldder, are utilized in cult rituals and ceremonies. The oil umted within their bodies is said to be useful for cleaning delicate mechanical devices such as android brains and spaceshipputers.

    Because they are beneficial to various species, there were always battles wherever skywhales were found.

    Moreover, skywhales are a delectable prey for species that gain strength from traits like Amorphs and outspacers. This is because skywhales rarely have useless traits. Abilities like space flight, being a giant creature, and generating photon cannons are all extremely useful.

    Could ¡®energy absorption¡¯ be considered useless? In fact, even this trait has its uses under the right conditions. If one has already acquired enough useful traits and no longer needs new ones, the advantages outweigh the drawbacks.In any case, to every yer, skywhales are considered Christmas presents. The trait I gained from it was not energy absorption. It wasn¡¯t space flight or being a giant creature either.

    ¡®I never expected that trait to appear.¡¯

    In fact, I had hoped for the skywhale¡¯s photon cannon attack trait, but this trait isn¡¯t bad either. Thanks to it, I was able to fuse it with my existing traits and gain a new fusion trait.

    However, what astonished me right now wasn¡¯t the trait.

    The Gagon, whose ecology is mostly shrouded in mystery, was currently molting in front of me.

    While eating the skywhale, Adhai¡¯s scales began to fall off bit by bit. At first, I thought she was just shedding old scales, but that wasn¡¯t the case.

    What started as a few scales soon came off in chunks, and new scales as white as milk emerged underneath.

    That was the beginning.

    She stopped eating and spread her two folded wings to cover her body. Although herrge wings enveloped her body, I could deduce her transformation through the sounds I heard. The popping sound, like popcorn, was the sound of bones growing.

    The wings also grewrger to match the body¡¯s growth. The green scales on the outside of the wings shed like dead skin, falling to the ground, and new scales took their ce. The thin film turned pure white, as if painted with white paint.

    ?Big baby, little baby is acting strange.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (She¡¯s growing.)]

    ?Is little baby getting bigger too??

    [ZZZ (Yes.)]

    ?Energy of little baby is rapidly increasing.?

    Under everyone¡¯s watch, Adhai continued to grow. Despite the sudden increase in size, she didn¡¯t seem to feel much pain.

    ¡®Is a special substance being secreted?¡¯

    In the case of Amorphs, their entire body is restructured in a cocooned state. Thanks to the mucus filling the cocoon, they don¡¯t feel pain from the transformation.

    Perhaps the Gagon undergoes a simr process, secreting substances in its brain that alleviate growth pains.

    ¡®First a sea demon, now a Gagon.¡¯

    I must be the only yer to have directly witnessed the growth of two rare creatures.

    And how much time had passed?

    A white lotus blossomed atop the bloody water. The transformation wasplete.

    The newly molted wings looked like perfectly crafted diamonds. They were both beautiful and undoubtedly strong.

    ¡®Is this evolution?¡¯

    Adhai had grown into a white Gagon. Although her body length had significantly increased, it was still much smaller than her kind. Evenpared to white Gagons of the same stage, and regr green Gagons, it was smaller.

    ¡®4 meters? It¡¯s slightly smaller than Mother of the Sky.¡¯

    Her body length was shorter than the griffin form of Mother of the Sky. Of course, if you included the wings, Adhai would berger.

    ¡®She feels quite different because of the body change.¡¯

    Previously, she had a delicate appearance like a young deer. However, now she seems much more mature. Perhaps the head remained the same size while the body grewrger.

    Below her small head, her slender body had developed appropriate muscles, giving her a healthy look. Her long neck and waist now had a more elegant curve. The tail, which used to be plump and cute, had be fuller and more magnificent due to its lengthening. This gave it a pleasingly full look, not an overweight appearance.

    Despite her small size, she boasted a beauty far surpassing other Gagons. Additionally, she had a feature unseen in her kin.

    ¡®She has red markings on its body?¡¯

    From the crown of its head to her neck, back, the inner membranes of her wings, and down to her tail, there were vivid red wave-like patterns. The striking red markings on the spotless white scales made it stand out.

    ¡®A special being.¡¯

    The savior mentioned by Ham Ort, and the red markings, brought something to mind.

    The ultimate creature, the Red Gagon, the mightiest of all Gagons, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Vortex One.

    ¡®¡­No, it can¡¯t be.¡¯

    I have hunted a Red Gagon in the game. In my memory, it wasrger than any other Gagon. Adhai, with her naturally small build, couldn¡¯t be more different.

    Moreover, the Red Gagon, like the Vortex One, used a unique energy system. Adhai before us had no such mysterious power.

    ¡®And in this state, She couldn¡¯t beat the ck Gagon.¡¯

    No matter how special or White Gagon she is, the size difference is too vast. Plus, Adhai had just grown and hadn¡¯t learned how to fight as a White Gagon. I don¡¯t know what Ham Ort was thinking, but her fighting Odd Grad now would be a sure defeat.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to ask her directly.¡¯

    To understand Adhai, capturing Ham Ort seemed necessary.

    ?I never thought I¡¯d see a Gagon¡¯s growth in person.?

    ?Little baby, you¡¯ve changed somehow.?

    [Comparing registered sub-controller2 ¡®Little one¡¯ with currentpatibility 72%. Adjusting target features.]

    Noticing our gazes, Adhai slowly folded its fully extended wings. The way she neatly folded its long wings was unmatched by other Gagons in elegance.

    It could be likened to a young bride in a wedding dress.

    ?How do I look??

    ?You look magnificent.?

    ?Yes, the little baby grew up splendidly!?

    ?Thanks.?

    Satisfied by the barrage ofpliments, she emitted a wave of happy thoughts. Then, she looked at me. Meeting her amethyst eyes, I sent a wave back.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (You¡¯ve grown splendidly.)]

    ?Really??

    [ZZ (Yes.)]

    Pleased with my praise, she wagged the tip of her tail.

    With Adhai¡¯s growthplete, we finished processing the remaining Skywhale meat. She consumed a lot of blood, possibly due to the energy used in her growth.

    Even though the meat had lost its juices, bing dry, it didn¡¯t matter. None of the apex creatures disappointed me, Skywhale included.

    ¡®It had a very unique taste.¡¯

    It was like a strong lemon-vored Blue Hawaii drink turned into a firm jelly. The texture was almost like gum, making it fun to chew.

    ¡®Not exactly a meal feel, though.¡¯

    After the feast, I called Adhai. I wanted to ask for directions to the nest.

    ?I know the nest¡¯s location.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Good to hear.)]

    While thinking everything was going smoothly, it cautiously sent a thought wave.

    ?Big Baby, I have a request.?

    [ZZZZ (Hmm?)]

    ?The nest has many young kin. Can you spare water-colored kin??

    Adhai looked up at me with trembling eyes. I did not answer immediately.

    ¡®¡­Hmm.¡¯

    Previously, Number 26 had shownpassion for her kind multiple times. Not just towards the Bubble Amoebas, but also for PS-111, which it cared for because it smelled like its kin.

    So, I thought Adhai might behave simrly someday. Despite being abandoned by her kin, Adhai, possessing delicate emotions, might develop a sense of kinship, though less intense than Number 26¡¯s.

    ¡®Blue Gagon, huh.¡¯

    All Gagons are ssified as Apex creatures. When I first contracted with her, I intended to wipe out the entire nest.

    ¡®I never thought I would get so attached.¡¯

    Now, I hold affection, big or small, for everyone around me. No matter how many times I reflect on myself, this is undeniable. As long as it doesn¡¯t threaten my survival, I want to fulfill their requests.

    However, this situation is different.

    Whether to exterminate the Gagons or not is tied to my survival. To acquire traits and meet the conditions for evolution, I must kill Gagons.

    Even if I only kill the adults to meet the evolution conditions, there¡¯s no reason to spare the young ones. There are still traits to be gained from Blue Gagons.

    Adhai has spent considerable time with me. She likely knows my thoughts. She¡¯s highly intelligent. Thus, she¡¯s probably proposed apromise, suggesting sparing only the young while epting the others¡¯ deaths.

    From her perspective, it¡¯s a reasonable proposal. Unlike the kin who abandoned her, the newly born young are innocent.

    ¡®What if I refuse here?¡¯

    Adhai has chosen to be one of my kin. Given the contract, she wouldn¡¯t refuse my request to be led to the nest.

    However, the impact would be inevitable. Exterminating the Gagons would shatter our rtionship. Not only would our rtionship be ruined, but expecting her to perform in battles as she did before would be impossible.

    ¡®Which option benefits me more?¡¯

    Should I sacrifice my rtionship with Adhai and kill the Gagons?

    Or should I meet the evolution conditions and spare her kin, thus honoring her request?

    As I was about to make a decision after much deliberation, Adhai, who was in front of me, widened her eyes and flew up into the sky.

    ¡®What?¡¯

    In an instant, she flew so high she became a small dot. Shortly after, Number 26 came hopping over.

    ?Big Baby! Bad guys are here!?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Bad guys?)]

    ?Yes! pping bad guys!?

    After receiving its telepathic wave, my auxiliary organs finally reported the abnormal situation in the surroundings.

    A powerful psychic power was echoing from above.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (I¡¯ll be right back.)]

    ?Huh? Hey, where are you¡­!?

    I quickly flew up with Number 26 on my back. As I ascended, I saw what was happening above.

    ¡®Gagons!¡¯

    The sky was clouding over again.

    A white Gagon and ten green Gagons were battling in the gray sky above the battlefield.

    ***

    The old ck dragon, the great Odd Grad, was in a rather good mood.

    He had finally removed the thorn that had long been a nuisance. The rebels who opposed him had fallen, and the ones who fled would soon be dealt with by his subordinates.

    The leader of the traitors, Ham Ort, would never see the outside world again. She would be confined to a dark cave,ying eggs until her death.

    Atst, everything had returned to normal. Now, Odd Grad¡¯s pack would move ording to the perfect order he had established.

    Hey down on the glittering minerals spread across the cave floor. Just as he was about to drift into a pleasant sleep, a vision appeared before his eyes.

    A ck kin attacked him and slit his throat. He couldn¡¯t resist at all. All he could do was helplessly fall to the ground.

    The vision ended as he crashed onto the hard floor.

    Odd Grad, now fully awake, quickly got up.

    ?Future vision? Why??

    Odd Grad glimpses the future through dreams or visions. Usually, these futures appear in dreams. It¡¯s very rare for them to appear as visions like now.

    A future that appears as a vision is an extremely dangerous one. Based on his experience, he only saw such future visions when death was very close.

    ?Rebel. Ended. Or not??

    There are no more kin who can grow into a ck kin. The closest is Ham Ort, but she is currently trapped in a cave, dying.

    As he pondered this iprehensible situation, a subordinate hurriedly entered from outside.

    ?Great Odd Grad, report.?

    ?Speak.?

    ?ck kin, discovered.?

    ?!?

    The report came from a kin with green scales.

    The vision he had seen was no lie.

    A foreboding death had taken one step closer to him.

    ¡ª¡ª

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 209

    Chapter 209

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    I vigorously pped my wings, swiftly gaining altitude. The clouds that had been torn apart by my fight with Ham Ort had already returned to their original positions.

    In the midst of the snow, rain, and asional lightning, I could see a star floating majestically.

    I flew quickly to approach Adhai.

    ?Big adult.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (What happened?)]?Kin.? ?Chased.?

    [ZZZ (Kin?)]

    ?I.? ?White kin.? ?Meeting.? ?Ham Ort.? ?Pack.?

    As she said, the Gagon were flying this way and fighting. The White Gagon being chased was covered in blood, while the ten Green Gagon chasing her appeared rtively unscathed.

    Even if it was Ham Ort, a distinguished Gagon, it would be difficult for an ordinary White Gagon to face ten of them. If left alone, she would be hunted and killed by the Green Gagon.

    ?Big adult.? ?White kin.? ?Has something to say.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Has something to say?)]

    ?Important.? ?Trust.? ?Request.?

    I looked at her, thinking she wanted to save her kin, but that didn¡¯t seem to be the atmosphere.

    ¡®Eating the Green Gagon right now wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea either.¡¯

    The Symbol of the hunt had ended before I spoke with Adhai. Although the effect of predation might not appear, it wouldn¡¯t be bad to fulfill the evolution conditions.

    ¡®There are a lot of them¡­.¡¯

    I looked around. Other than the ten, there were no additional Gagon following.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Shall we clean this up first?)]

    ?Agree.?

    ?Let¡¯s beat them up!?

    I spread my wings wide and gilded towards them. Adhai, who was flying beside me, dashed ahead with a speed as fast as her mother.

    In the blink of an eye, she approached the group of Green Gagon and began to move quickly, shooting Psychic Breaths.

    ¡®Impressive.¡¯

    ording to the setting, Gagon needed to go through a series of charging processes to shoot Psychic Breaths. Because of this, they would stop their body before shooting.

    The same goes for reality. Even a Gagon with exceptional skills like Ham Ort would flinch slightly when shooting a Breath.

    However, Adhai had no such drawbacks. He was firing short bursts of Psychic Breath in a rapid-fire manner while using super-eleration.

    The enemies were bewildered by the unprecedented attack style. They tried to cling to Adhai using their super-eleration ability, but Adhai was much faster.

    While Adhai drew attention, the blood-soaked White Gagon also fought back against the enemies.

    ¡®She¡¯s fighting better than I thought, but¡­¡¯

    A newly grown Gagon and a severely injured White Gagon can¡¯t defeat ten enemies.

    If the Green Gagons used their numerical advantage to encircle Adhai, it would be hard for her to exploit her strengths. It seemed the enemies had the same thought, as they began to position themselves to surround her.

    ¡®I can¡¯t let that happen.¡¯

    Although not as fast as Adhai or Ham Ort, I could also fly fairly quickly. I quietly approached the Gagon, hiding in the clouds.

    The Green Gagons werepletely focused on the enemy in front of them. I waited for one to fly near me and then darted forward.

    ??!?

    The Green Gagon was startled when a creature several times its size suddenly appeared from the ck clouds. The corrosive tendrils on my back quickly wrapped around its body.

    ?Wa¡­?

    It tried to send out a warning telepathically, but I was faster. I opened my long snout wide and tore into its neck.

    I carried the limp body of the Gagon with its broken neck back into the clouds.

    Lagmard, a green-scaled male gagon belonging to the pack of the great Odd Grad, was in a good mood.

    He had never had a chance to mate until he matured from blue to green scales. This was because the great Odd Grad strictly controlled the males, ensuring none but himself could have a mate.

    The old ck Gagon was still so powerful that even the pure white adults were wary of him. A green-scaled Gagon like Lagmard was no match at all.

    One day, while he was quietly living in resignation, an opportunity came to him.

    Ham Ort, the third mate of Odd Grad and second in rank in the pack, rebelled.

    Despite her young age, the powerful white queen was a female Lagmard admired. She rejected Odd Grad¡¯s domination and formed a new pack.

    At that time, Lagmard had considered leaving the pack, but the fear of Odd Grad¡¯s wrath prevented him from acting on it.

    His prediction was correct. Those who followed Ham Ort could not escape the ck Gagon¡¯s fury. Most were killed, and the white queen ended upying eggs until she died.

    If Lagmard could kill the remaining members of Ham Ort¡¯s pack, he might gain the opportunity he had always desired.

    That was the chance to mate with the white queen he admired. His dream was gradually bing reality.

    A small nuisance had appeared and caused some trouble, but he was not worried.

    Although the abnormally small white kin was very fast and strong, that was all. Their green-scaled group was muchrger in number.

    It might take some time, but the ones who would survive here would be the pack of Odd Grad.

    Thinking this, Lagmard looked at the target. Two kin were fighting against the white kin.

    Just as he was about to think they were fighting well, Lagmard sensed something was wrong.

    It was because there were originally three kin assigned to fight the white kin.

    ?Lagmard!? ?Target!? ?Surround!? ?Support!?

    A kin called out to him to catch the small nuisance. Lagmard, looking at his kin, realized that something was wrong here too.

    There was one missing here as well.

    ?Question.? ?Kin.? ?Missing.?

    ?Cannot.? ?Understand.?

    ?Kin.? ?Ten.? ?Now.? ?Eight.?

    ???

    The kin who didn¡¯t understand him stopped in midair. Just then, lightning struck the dark sky.

    The bolt of lightning spread through the clouds and across the entire sky.

    In that brief moment, Lagmard saw it.

    A massive shadow within the dark clouds.

    As soon as the lightning passed, the owner of the shadow emerged. Countless heads grabbed one of the kin. The kin was dragged into the ck clouds without even making a sound.

    The cloud that swallowed one of the kin drifted away as if nothing had happened. No trace was left where the cloud had passed.

    Watching this scene from start to finish, Lagmard felt an emotion he had never experienced before.

    Not even when he witnessed Odd Grad¡¯s fury up close had he felt this emotion that surged through his scales.

    It was a chilling sensation throughout his body¡ªoverwhelming fear.

    ?Enemy!? ?Enemy!? ?New enemy? ?Discovered!?

    Realizing this, Lagmard involuntarily screamed, his telepathic shout echoing his feelings.

    Sensing Lagmard¡¯s panic, the kin quickly assumed defensive positions. The small white nuisance had disappeared. Their target was also nowhere to be seen.

    Perhaps the thing in the clouds had eaten them all.

    That terrifying and greedy presence was now targeting them.

    At that moment, a purple sh shot out from the clouds. It was the breath of the small white nuisance. One of the green-scaled kin quickly retreated to avoid it.

    ?Danger!? ?Be on guard!?

    ?Up¡­??

    At that moment, a dense darkness engulfed the kin trying to evade. The kin was attacked from behind and couldn¡¯t even resist. Something, with wings as ck as the night sky or rather looking like darkness itself, fluttered and disappeared back into the storm clouds.

    ?ck kin!? ?Danger!?

    ?Odd Grad¡­? ?Necessary!?

    ?Impossible!?

    ?Calm¡­ Everyone¡­ Gather¡­ Necessary.?

    Lagmard called his panicked kin to gather. If they assembled in one ce, even that hidden ¡°something¡± wouldn¡¯t be able to attack them easily.

    As he thought this, lightning struck again.

    Unlike the previous white sh, this time it was a vivid golden lightning.

    ???

    It wasn¡¯t just the color of the lightning that was strange. Oddly enough, the lightning, which should have branched into fine streaks, instead concentrated and flew in a specific direction.

    It was heading right towards the clustered Lagmard pack.

    The snake of lightning, as fast as light itself, tore through his kin.

    Amidst the spray of blood and flesh, he saw the being beyond the lightning.

    Sitting on the throne of the sky was the ck king of death. The many heads of the king were holding onto Lagmard¡¯s kin.

    Then, the white lion sent by the ck kin spewed a purple me at him.

    ¡®It was easier than I thought.¡¯

    I was slightly worried because there were ten of them, but it resolved more easily than expected. Perhaps because they were inexperienced young ones, they quickly became scared. If there had been a White Gagon among the enemies to lead them, it wouldn¡¯t have ended so quickly.

    ¡®Maybe one or two of them escaped and went to fetch reinforcements.¡¯

    After that, an endless cycle of battle would await, with Gagons relentlessly attacking until I died.

    ¡®I¡¯m d that didn¡¯t happen.¡¯

    After dealing with the green Gagon pack, we descended back to the ground.

    ¡®A new Gagon, huh?¡¯

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (The pieces of the bodies have fallen over the forest)]

    ?So, you want me to collect them? Got it.?

    [I¡¯ll help too, Middle One.]

    ?¡­Can¡¯t you change that name??

    [Insufficient authority, conditions not met, unable toply.]

    While the Mother of the Sky and PS-111 went to the forest, a White Gagon approached me.

    ?Nel Germa. ck kin. Thanks.?

    The female White Gagon, who introduced herself as Nel Germa, expressed her gratitude to me.

    ¡®Is she one of Ham Ort¡¯s followers?¡¯

    I looked over the injured Gagon. Covered in wounds, she was in a very weakened state. If I attacked right now, she would die quickly.

    ¡®Should I ask about Adhai first, then deal with her?¡¯

    As I moved the monster¡¯s tentacles to ask questions, Nel Germa sent a telepathic wave first.

    ?Daughter of the meteor.? ?Ham Ort.? ?Message.? ?There is.?

    ?Message?? ?For me??

    ?Odd Grad.? ?Pack.? ?Attack.? ?Kin.? ?Most.? ?Dead.?

    ?!?

    ?Young kin. Few. Left. Rest. Dead.?

    Nel Germa¡¯s words shocked both me and Adhai. The creature, with eyes like amethysts, opened its wings and trembled. Furious at the news of the young kin being brutally killed.

    ?Odd Grad. Bad! Young kin. Pitiful!?

    However, in my case, the feelings were a bit different.

    ¡®He made the first move.¡¯

    It seems that while Ham Ort left with Adhai, the ck Gagon attacked their nest.

    Without a leader on this side, and with a leader on their side, a ck Gagon even stronger than a white one, what happened next was predictable. There must have been a massacre.

    The reason Ham Ort rushed back in the middle of our fight must have been because of that. She intended to join her kin, even ifte, to fight against the ck Gagon.

    ¡®But it looks like she failed.¡¯

    Anyway, if she attacked the nest and ughtered the Gagons, it¡¯s a significant loss for me too. The number of gic essences I can acquire would decrease.

    ¡®No, more than the gic essence, the evolution conditions are the problem.¡¯

    To evolve into a Saint, I must personally kill an Apex. Eating the remains of a creature killed by another does not fulfill my evolution conditions.

    I asked Nel Germa.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (What happened to Ham Ort?)]

    ?When I left, Odd Grad and Ham Ort were fighting.?

    Nine out of ten, Ham Ort is dead. Even if she¡¯s stronger than a typical white Gagon, he can¡¯t surpass the color difference.

    ?More importantly, the Daughter of the Meteor.?

    ???

    ?Ham Ort said, ¡®Savior¡¯, ¡®Condition.¡¯?

    ?ck kin already devoured the Sky King.?

    ?So white kin, devour necessary.?

    ?Devour kin??

    ?Ham Ort wants to sacrifice herself for the Daughter of the Meteor¡¯s growth.?

    ?Impossible! Impossible!?

    Adhai, listening to Nel Germa, reacted with disbelief.

    ?Ham Ort abandoned me! Sacrifice? Lies!?

    The idea that the mother who once abandoned her would now sacrifice herself for her seemed unreal to her.

    Even if they are kin, it¡¯s hard to trust someone who once abandoned you. I could understand her feelings, having had a simr experience.

    ¡®She probably has it much worse than I did.¡¯

    Leaving the nest on this harsh ice without hunting skills means certain death. The group that abandoned Adhai clearly wanted her to die.

    ?Actually, Ham Ort can¡¯t be the sacrifice. Instead, Nel Germa is the sacrifice.?

    ?Impossible!?

    ?No time. Odd Grad will find the remaining young kin.?

    As she shook her head, Nel Germa desperately tried to persuade her.

    While watching the two, Number 26 approached me. It poked me with one of its tentacles.

    ?Big One.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZ (What is it?)]

    ?Is the big pper the little one¡¯s mom??

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Yes, but that¡¯s a long time ago.)]

    ?Once a mom, always a mom.?

    Honestly, I didn¡¯t want to engage in such trivial conversations with Number 26 in this situation. So I stayed silent, but it continued.

    ?When she fled, she said something.?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZ (What?)]

    ?She asked to take good care of the little one.?

    I was about to dismiss it as nonsense when something suddenly came to mind.

    When Ham Ort deceived me and retreated, she sent me a brief signal. At the time, I was too preupied with Adhai being in danger to properly hear it.

    ?She said she hoped the little one would survive.?

    [ZZZ ZZ (That¡­)]

    ?Is it because the big pper is her mom??

    I couldn¡¯t say anything in response to Number 26¡¯s words.

    ¡®¡­If I think about it that way, it makes sense.¡¯

    Why Ham Ort handed over her supposedly important daughter so easily.

    When shemunicated with her kin, she must have realized that their nest was under attack. Moreover, since I had already taken the Skywhale, Adhai¡¯s growth was no longer possible. So, she entrusted her daughter to me and went back to defend the nest.

    ¡®But that¡¯s not all. She thought it wouldn¡¯t be enough with just me, so she took out insurance.¡¯

    She knew how strong I was, but judged that I was weaker than the ck Gagon. So, she told the White Gagon fighting at the nest to send Adhai to me.

    ¡®Whether Adhai eats her or I kill Nel Germa and feed her to Adhai, it¡¯s the same.¡¯

    Either way, if Adhai bes stronger, she can survive the ck Gagon. It was herst gamble.

    ¡®Ha. Clever.¡¯

    Of all the enemies I¡¯ve faced in this world, none have been as smart as her. Not MegaCorp¡¯s Noble Capital, not Star Union¡¯s androids, not even the yers.

    ¡®Maternal instinct¡­¡¯

    It¡¯s ridiculous to apply human standards to a Gagon, but there¡¯s no better concept to exin this situation. A mother¡¯s desire for her daughter¡¯s peace and happiness.

    Or perhaps Ham Ort wanted to atone to the daughter she once abandoned.

    Understanding Number 26¡¯s signal, Adhai¡¯s spirit seemed to dete. Confusing emotions spilled from her head.

    ¡®Tsk.¡¯

    It¡¯s pointless to dwell on Ham Ort¡¯s intentions. Anyway, she¡¯s dead, and we still have a formidable enemy in the ck Gagon.

    Forcing myself to clear the lingering thoughts in my heart, I called Nel Germa.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Is Odd Grad really that strong?)]

    ¡°Odd Grad has a mysterious power.¡±

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (A mysterious power?)]

    ¡°Odd Grad reads minds. Thanks to this, he doesn¡¯t get injured.¡±

    As far as I know, ck Gagons don¡¯t have such abilities. They are like flying natural disasters but don¡¯t possess mind-reading or invulnerable skin.

    ¡®No, maybe there¡¯s a power I don¡¯t know about.¡¯

    If such a powerful creature also has an unknown power, it won¡¯t be an easy foe. The enemy itself is a problem, but we also have to consider its group. They will certainly use their minions when fighting me.

    ¡®In that case, we need reinforcements too.¡¯

    Ick the strength to fight right now. So, I must somehow make up for what I¡¯m missing.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (I have a question.)]

    ¡°Ask, ck kin.¡±

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Besides eating the white kin, are there other conditions?)]

    ¡°Probably not.¡±

    Nel Germa nodded.

    ¡®Good.¡¯

    Right now, I need more and stronger allies.

    It would be more beneficial to use Nel Germa in the fight against them than to kill her here. Anyway, Adhai can eat any White Gagon to grow.

    Then the answer is clear.

    ¡®I need to capture another one from Odd Grad¡¯s group.¡¯

    ¡ª¡ª

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 210

    Chapter 210

    HEL SCANS

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Come here once everything is settled)]

    ?Understood.?

    Nel Germa respectfully greeted me and then took off.

    Originally, she was destined to be devoured by Adhai right here, but the n changed. Instead of sacrificing her, I chose the path of saving her.

    With the n changed, she set out on her next task¡ªto gather the scattered kin.Most of the surviving Gagon are hatchlings, with only a few Green Gagon left to protect them. She seemed to have judged that the safest ce on this was near me and said she would bring her kin here.

    ¡®I don¡¯t intend to devour them right away.¡¯

    My original n was to rescue Adhai after obtaining wings, not to wage an all-out war against the ck Gagons.

    Sinceing to this, I¡¯ve fought the Gagon twice. Once against Ham Ort alone, and once when I killed ten Green Gagon. Both times, the circumstances were favorable, and I won easily, but that was due to good luck.

    What if Ham Ort had subordinates? Or if there had been two or three White Gagon leading the ten Green Gagon? It wouldn¡¯t have been an easy fight at all.

    ¡®Gagon are strong individually, but they be even stronger in groups.¡¯

    Just like lions in Africa that form prides to hunt dangerous herbivores, Gagon be very dangerous when they are properly organized. They are like the superior counterpart of the cier Fiend, whichmands minions instead of fighting alone. A well-organized group of Gagon is no different from a living squadron ofbat aircraft.

    ¡®Therefore, we must strike quickly before they can prepare.¡¯

    Once they realize that the group of Green Gagon sent to pursue Ham Ort¡¯s remnants has been wiped out, they¡¯ll sense something is wrong. The ck Gagon, Odd Grad, is older than any Gagon on this. He¡¯ll know how to respond to a formidable opponent.

    In other words, we need to shake them up before they can get into a defensive posture.

    ¡®The fortunate thing is that Nel Germa had a lot of useful information.¡¯

    Like Ham Ort, she was once part of the ck gagon, Odd Grad¡¯s, group. Therefore, she knew very well how many White Gagon were in the group.

    ¡®The total number of White Gagon is neen.¡¯

    Originally, there were twenty-four, but four left the group with Ham Ort, reducing the number to neen. Among them, twelve are young individuals that have recently shed their skins. The gender ratio is half male and half female.

    On the other hand, the remaining seven are mature individuals who have spent a long time shedding their skins. Although they¡¯re not as old as the ck Gagon, they are quite aged.

    In the game, White Gagon had equal abilities, but this is reality. Their strength varies based on how long they¡¯ve lived and theirbat experience.

    ¡®You can definitely see the difference when looking at Ham Ort.¡¯

    And those seven are Odd Grad¡¯s favoredpanions, receiving care from the ck gagon. Even Nel Germa emphasized how dangerous they are. It¡¯s best to assume they are at least on Ham Ort¡¯s level.

    ¡®First, let¡¯s n to deal with weaker individuals.¡¯

    Adhai requires materials for growth, and any White Gagon will do. At least, that¡¯s what the Gagon who knew his secret said.

    ¡®The first one will be used as food, and the rest¡­.¡¯

    It would be wise to absorb as many traits as possible by devouring them, and then recruit them as allies. At another time, I would have devoured them all, but now we need to increase our allies.

    ¡®I¡¯ve already heard about their hunting schedule.¡¯

    The seven always stay in the nest, serving Odd Grad. The twelve go out for hunting once every three to four days.

    ¡®Nel Germa said there isn¡¯t much time left until they go hunting again.¡¯

    They don¡¯t know yet that the Green Gagon pursuit team has been wiped out. Therefore, it¡¯s likely they¡¯ll send out a hunting party before learning of the pursuit team¡¯s demise. However, the Gagon¡¯s sense of time is slightly different from humans, so we can¡¯t rely solely on that information.

    ¡®Surveince and preparation. Both are necessary.¡¯

    We need to monitor the nest¡¯s activities while also preparing for the fight before theye out.

    That¡¯s the task ahead of me, or rather, us, from now on.

    Using the information Nel Germa provided, I called everyone to discuss the n.

    ?It¡¯s a solid n. However, there¡¯s one thing that needs changing.?

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (What part concerns you?)]

    ?I think I should handle nest surveince instead of PS-111. My vision is superior and I have more experience.?

    [I disagree. My detection system covers a 360-degree range¡­]

    I initially assigned PS-111 to nest surveince due to two key advantages: psychic power detection and agility.

    Among us, Number 26 is the top expert in psychic power, but it has the disadvantage of slow movement on the ground. If discovered by the Gagon, it would struggle to escape. PS-111¡¯s detection abilities aren¡¯t as strong as Number 26¡¯s, but its movements are extremely swift.

    ¡®However, her argument also makes sense.¡¯

    Mother of the Sky has less psychic power detection ability but excellent vision. Although PS-111 doesn¡¯t seem to agree, I think the difference between them is significant.

    Moreover, she¡¯s a former ranker like me, and she has experience hunting creatures like the Gagon.

    ¡®And this is reality.¡¯

    Unlike the rigid PS-111, she has flexible judgment. Even if something goes wrong, she can easily extricate herself from a crisis.

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Alright. I¡¯ll leave that part to Mother of the Sky.)]

    ?Thank you.?

    [ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Instead, PS-111 will move with Number 26.)]

    [Understood.]

    ?Trust me, friend!?

    Number 26 and PS-111 will protect the group that Nel Germa is bringing. Although Nel Germa didn¡¯t mention it, I find it hard to believe that the old ck gagon would send only one pursuit team.

    ¡®There must be more Green Gagon tracking us.¡¯

    Pairing Number 26 and PS-111 with Nel Germa should ensure they can handle any encounters with pursuit teams.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Adhai, you wille with me.)]

    Lastly, Adhai will apany me.

    There are two reasons for this: training her inbat and testing a new apex predator diet.

    While the White Gagon is crucial for growth, we don¡¯t know the impact of other foods. Although it¡¯s unlikely, it could significantly benefit her development.

    ¡®Regardless, it won¡¯t hurt.¡¯

    The apex predators are rich in energy, making it an excellent meal for Adhai, who has just evolved.

    Moreover, taking her to hunt the apex predator will help her hone her abilities. To prepare for the uing battle, she needs to fully understand her powers. There¡¯s nothing better than fighting strong opponents for adaptation.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (When Nel Germa arrives, lead them to the nest.)]

    ?Are you sure??

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (If we leave the Blue Gagon outside, they¡¯ll freeze to death. They must be kept in the nest to survive.)]

    I understand Mother of the Sky¡¯s concerns, but we have no choice. Without their gagon nest, the only way to keep them alive is in the warmth of the cruiser.

    Just then, Nel Germa returned.

    ?Survivors?? ?Kin?? ?All of them??

    ?All.?

    ?Eggs? Where??

    ?Odd Grad took them.?

    Nel Germa brought three Green Gagon and five Blue Gagon. She said Odd Grad personally killed all the White Gagon.

    ¡®Not many.¡¯

    The other side has 19 White Gagon, while we only have nine, even including Adhai, making us just ten in total. We are vastly outnumbered.

    ¡®Tch. This much was expected.¡¯

    Although disappointing, it was anticipated.

    However, Adhai was trembling, perhaps because she wasn¡¯t as prepared. When she was captured by Ham Ort, she stayed in a nest with hatchlings. She must know better than anyone how many Blue Gagon were killed.

    Normally, I wouldfort her, but this time is different.

    ¡®Anger can be useful in a fight.¡¯

    It helps to push beyond self-imposed limits without even realizing it.

    Of course, being consumed by anger can cloud one¡¯s judgment, but in this case, it doesn¡¯t matter. I will manage her emotions.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Ask them where they want to go.)]

    ?I¡¯ll exin on the way. Follow me.?

    ?Agree.? ?Everyone.? ?Move.?

    Everyone started moving as nned. In the end, only Adhai and I remained at the location.

    ?Adult? ?I,? ?shock,? ?young kin,? ?death,? ?don¡¯t want.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (I know.)]

    ?Young kin,? ?innocent,? ?Odd Grad,? ?bad.?

    Honestly, I had also intended to consume all the Gagon before things escted like this, but I didn¡¯t say that.

    Instead, I brought up a different point.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (You must seek revenge.)]

    ?Agree.? ?Revenge.? ?Necessary.?

    [ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Odd Grad killed your mother and the younglings it abandoned you with.)]

    ?Agree.?

    As the waves from the monster¡¯s tentacles resonated, mes erupted in Adhai¡¯s eyes. Not metaphorically¡ªpurple mes literally red up over her amethyst eyes. Hertent psychic power was manifesting outwardly.

    [ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Odd Grad must pay with death. So must its kin.)]

    ?Agree!? ?Odd Grad,? ?death,? ?necessary!? ?Necessary!?

    Adhai nodded vigorously.

    This way, I could extract the gic essence from the Gagon without damaging our rtionship. It was a bit disappointing that we couldn¡¯t eat the Blue Gagon, but that¡¯s a minor loss.

    ¡®Regardless, Odd Grad must die.¡¯

    It¡¯s not just because it will attack me or because I need its gic essence.

    It abandoned Adhai, the creature I cherish, leaving her with a scar that cannot be healed.

    ¡®When all preparations areplete¡­.¡¯

    Odd Grad will meet its end by my hand.

    ***

    The Ice ins, home to the Snake King.

    Recently, due to a mysterious earthquake, the ground of the ins had be unstable. Ten green-scaled beings were flying over that area.

    They were the tracking team sent by Odd Grad, searching for the remnants that served the pure white queen, Ham Ort.

    The Gagon troop meticulously scanned the ice ins, concluding that no enemies were present. Their next destination was a ce far from their nest¡ªan icy canyon beyond the ins. Although it was the territory of the Beast King, they paid no heed.

    The Beast King was invincible onnd but could not fly. Even if they encountered it, they could escape anytime.

    Thus, the Gagon troop entered the Beast King¡¯s territory without any hindrance.

    The ten winged gagons flew through the deep canyon, created by nature, without a care. As they reached the middle of the canyon, the lead Gagon noticed something.

    In the deep, dark area where light barely prated, something glimmered.

    ?Stop.?

    ?Traitor,? ?found??

    ?Confirm??Attempt?

    At the moment when the lead Gagon was about to approach the light.

    Dozens of red lights appeared from the cliff where the light was located.

    ?Enemy??Attack¡­?

    In an uneasy atmosphere, the Gagon hurriedly tried to emit its Psychic waves. However, its kin could not hear its Psychic waves.

    Something unknown was blocking theirmunication.

    Confused as its Psychic waves failed to reach, the red lights leaped from the cliff. Dozens of unidentified beings with multiple legs climbed onto its body.

    It tried to shake them off desperately, but it was futile. They ruthlessly tore at its wings with sharp ws and teeth.

    In just a few seconds, covered in blood, it plummeted into the unseen abyss below.

    It hoped its kin would escape unharmed, but reality betrayed its expectations.

    Its ninerades also fell into the abyss just like itself.

    From the cliff above, more red lights coldly looked down at them.

    [Hostile organisms, 10 specimens subdued. Energy supply initiated.]

    [Expected recovery of ¡®PS-111¡¯ up to 75% based on energy level. Resumption of activity anticipated.]

    [Deploy recovery team, supply team¡­.]

    Even as they fell, the red lights continued to emit unintelligible sounds.

    The Green Gagon could neverprehend what those sounds meant.

    ¡ª¡ª

    HEL SCANS

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 Chapter 213:

    Chapter 213:

    <strong>¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª</strong>

    <strong>HELHEIM SCANS</strong>

    <strong>[Trantor ¨C Seraph]</strong>

    <strong>[Proofreader ¨C Th]</strong>

    <strong>Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2</strong>

    <strong>¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª </strong>

    Floating in the air, I pped my wings to gain altitude. Adhai, boasting her swift flight speed, had already risen ahead of me.

    Swaa.The Hellside Ho was also zipping behind me, quickly catching up. It spread its arms and swung them at me.

    Its arms, resembling the front legs of a mantis, were sharp and sturdy. They could even damage the hardest part of my body, my head carapace.

    ¡®My pincers can''t withstand that.¡¯

    The defense of my pincers at the tail end is equivalent to that of my head carapace. It has high resistance to psychic powers. Thus, using strategies like deflecting its attacks or blocking with my body would be disadvantageous.

    I pulled my tail toward my body during flight. The scythe-like appendage of the Hellside Ho sliced through the air.

    Using the recoil from bending my tail, I twisted my body upside down in midair. As I spun around, my upper body faced the Hellside Ho.

    In that position, I extended my tentacles. Six long tentacles moved to tear off the Hellside Ho¡¯s wings.

    Seeing the hissing tentacles, it quickly retreated. I anticipated its movement and spat out acidic fungi in the direction it was moving.

    ¡°Shraak!¡±

    The Hellside Ho, covered in green liquid, appeared irritated. It can shoot out a fearsome digestive fluid, making it immune to various acidic attacks.

    However, my attack wasn''t intended to cause critical damage.

    I charged towards the Hellside Ho, which couldn¡¯t see due to the liquid. Sensing the air¡¯s resistance, it hurriedly pped its wings to evade. Its body shot upwards, and my horns brushed its toes.

    I could feel a few of its ws shattering against my horns, but it was weak. The Hellside Ho, quickly shedding the liquid from its eyes, attempted to strike my back with its arm.

    My bone scythe arm on my back collided with its arm. While my bone scythe was dented halfway, the Hellside Ho¡¯s arm also sustained damage. The sharpness of my bone scythe slightly damaged the de on its arm.

    As the Hellside Ho and I engaged in aerialbat, a purple energy mass flew in from somewhere. Had it not ducked its head, it would have had a baseball-sized hole in the back of its head.

    Thanks to itspound eyes, the Hellside Ho had no blind spots¡ªexcept before I covered its entire vision earlier.

    ¡®What a waste.¡¯

    ¡°Shraak!¡±

    Having barely escaped death, the Hellside Ho screeched and distanced itself from me. Adhai then shot another purple energy mass.

    The Hellside Ho raised its arms in front of its head to block the head-targeted attack. Although the energy ball hit, it only left a slight scorch mark on its sturdy arm.

    Using its arms as a shield, the Hellside Ho attempted to chase Adhai again, but she was already gone.

    Lightning spread across the dark sky. The term "lightning" is not metaphorical. Despite the enhanced performance of the auxiliary organs in the hunting state, it was challenging to keep up with its movements.

    Transformed into white lightning, it retreated while intermittently releasing psychic breaths to control its opponents. The Hellside Ho wasn¡¯t particrly slow, but its speed made approach impossible.

    ¡°Swaa! Shraak!¡±

    The Hellside Ho, now highly agitated, emitted a bizarre sound. Along with this, a strong heat emanated from its body.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (It¡¯s just beginning. Be careful)]

    ?Confirmed?

    Its body, glowing as if it had emerged from moltenva, soon began concentrating the heat towards its rear.

    From its rear, I felt the movement of countless things bubbling. It was akin to an egg sac filled with baby spiders.

    My auxiliary organs¡¯ perception was urate. Countless flying insects burst forth from the Hellside Ho''s rear.

    Sss Sss Sss Sss Sss Sss

    The insects are called ¡®Holings¡¯. They are the offspring of the Hellside Ho.

    Holings resemble the Hellside Ho but are much smaller, only the size of an adult male¡¯s fist. Moreover, theyck the menacing front legs.

    But that doesn¡¯t mean I should let my guard down.

    Holings are also one of the Hellside Ho¡¯s powerful weapons.

    While the Hellside Ho prefers to directly imnt its stingers into enemies to hatch Holings, it sometimes expands its own energy to grow Holings internally when fighting formidable opponents, like now.

    Holings born this way have a distinctive feature: they are extremely hungry because they have only received the energy necessary for growth.

    Shaaaa.

    When it made that sound, the swarm of Holings flew towards Adhai. Although each individual was small, the swarm numbered around a thousand. The sight of the swarm moving together resembled a small, moving cloud.

    ¡®Except there is no such fast-moving cloud in the world.¡¯

    Holings are as fast as adults. A cloud of insects closed in on Adhai.

    Knowing that Adhai was much faster, the Holings reformed into a surrounding formation to trap her. The Hellside Ho pressured Adhai to prevent her from escaping.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ (Use that technique)]

    ?Understood!?

    Understanding my intent, Adhai gathered her strength and released it. Psychic power erupted from the tips of her tentacles like a fountain.

    This was the Purple Lightning she used during her Green Gagon days.

    Sss! Ssh! Sss! Sss! Ssh!

    The massive psychic created by her covered the Holings. Hundreds of Holings fell like insects struck by an electric fly swatter.

    ¡®Increased destructive power and precision?¡¯

    Originally, Purple Lightning¡¯s destructive power is less than half of Psychic Breath and has a much shorter range. However, it is effective for fighting many enemies due to its wide spread.

    But Adhai was controlling it to maximize its power and uracy.

    Just as Number 26 dispersed psychic power to subdue enemies, Adhai operated in a simr manner. Purple Lightning, which had previously ended after one shot, now moved as if it had a will of its own, annihting the Holings.

    Adhai defeated the Holing swarm while maneuvering evasively. She mixed in Psychic Breaths to keep the Hellside Ho in check as well.

    ¡®Well done.¡¯

    Meanwhile, I actively harassed it. Whenever it aimed its digestive fluid at Adhai¡¯s direction, I either shot Psychic Breath or charged at it to disrupt its attack.

    ¡°Sss!¡± ¡°Sss!¡± ¡°Sss!¡±

    ¡°Swaa!¡±

    When the mother behind them made a sound, the movements of the young changed.

    The fearsome aspect of the Holing swarm isn¡¯t merely their numbers. Their real weapon is their digestive fluid.

    Holing digestive fluid is on par with that of adults. Considering that the digestive fluid of an adult can melt through my carapace, imagine thousands of them firing simultaneously. Adhai would be wiped out without a trace.

    ¡®I can¡¯t let this continue.¡¯

    The goal of this hunt is not only to take down an Apex predator but also to help Adhai be ustomed to her power. It¡¯s not ideal if she gets seriously injured during training.

    After confirming that the Holings were moving into position to shoot their digestive fluid, I took out a hidden weapon.

    ¡®There¡¯s a special remedy for such swarming creatures.¡¯

    I prepared Psychic Breath while activating ¡®Abyssal Hue.¡¯

    The carapace and scales covering my body glowed in eerie colors. Purples, greens, and various other colors wriggled as if alive. Sinister, glowing patterns moved along my body towards the tentacle clusters hanging from my neck, back, and jaw.

    The grotesquely tainted psychic power gathered in the monster¡¯s tentacles. Countless bubbles bubbled up in front of my maw.

    The many droplets bloomed like fully opened flowers. While they appeared fantastical, they were essentially like vampires, constantly craving other life forms.

    The Psychic Breath reflecting Abyssal Hue was fired.

    The Psychic Breath spread across the sky like bubbles shot from a bubble gun. And one of them collided with the Holing swarm.

    ¡°Sss?!¡±

    The unfortunate creature was quickly sucked into the sphere of chaos. That was just the beginning. A sphere of madness, knowing no satisfaction, voraciously consumed the swarm of Holings.

    Since the swarm numbered well over a thousand, the effect wasn¡¯t immediately apparent. However, it wasn¡¯t long before the swarm seemed to copse inward, as if it had a vacuum cleaner inside. This was because the Psychic Breath within was devouring them.

    Only then did they realize how terrifying the presence near them was. They tried to scatter quickly, but it was far toote.

    What could a creature whose body was vanishing into the droplets do? In its extremely hungry state, its body was melting away. In a desperate attempt to survive, they clung to their fellow Holings.

    The Psychic Breath and Holings seemed topete to see who could be the more ravenous predator, consuming their own kind. And this process elerated over time.

    There was no sound during this process. The massacre urring in silence didn¡¯tst long. Within a few minutes, the Holing swarm disappeared. The Psychic Breath, having lost its target, dissipated into the air.

    ?What just happened?? ?What¡¯s going on??

    ¡°Sha, Shaaak!¡±

    With the Holings vanishing in an instant, everyone showed clear signs of confusion. Adhai tilted her head, and the Hellside Ho screamed in anger and disbelief.

    The Abyssal Hue caused the battle to enter a lull. Sensing the threat from my attack, they merely threatened and didn¡¯t charge in.

    With the enemy¡¯s attacks ceased, Adhai flew over to this side.

    ?Me? ?Learn? ?Possible??

    [ZZZZ ZZ (Probably not)]

    ?Disappointed?

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Since we¡¯re in the middle of a hunt, let¡¯s discuss itter)]

    ?Agree?

    As a Gagon, she could replicate simr actions to mine, but I decided to exin that partter.

    While the battle paused for a moment, the sky grew increasingly noisy. A massive storm seemed to be approaching; the wind blew fiercely, and the temperature dropped significantly.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Are you okay with the cold?)]

    ?White? ?Scales? ?Good? ?No problem?

    Though it hadn¡¯t grown much in size, it was still a White Gagon. It looked perfectly fine.

    ¡®Alright. Now for the next step¡­¡¯

    The Hellside Ho, known for its intelligence, also has a strong instinct for self-preservation. In this unfavorable situation, it had two options.

    One was to summon Holings again and cooperate in an attack. Having seen what happened just now, it would likely operate differently this time.

    ¡®It might spread them out and strike quickly or use them as bait.¡¯

    It would probably try to settle things with Adhai while leaving the young ones behind. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t just let that happen.

    ¡®Alternatively, it might try to escape.¡¯

    Most Apex predators are highly aggressive and avoid fighting only if absolutely necessary.

    Except for the Hellside Ho in front of us.

    ¡°Shaaaa.¡±

    The brief cry from the creature made its body heat up rapidly. It was trying to awaken the Holing eggs stored inside.

    Soon, the swarm of Holings burst out from its rear. This time, havingid eggs twice in a short period, there were about half as many as before.

    ¡®That doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s a small number.¡¯

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Prepare)]

    Known for its rapid learning, this creature would likely be more troublesome this time. Just as I was about to warn Adhai and prepare for battle, the creature that had created the Holing swarm began to descend towards the ground.

    ¡®Oh no!¡¯

    Would it fight or flee? The creature chose both options simultaneously. While its offspring bought time, it nned to escape.

    The unfortunate creature was swiftly sucked into the sphere of chaos. That was just the beginning. A sphere of madness, knowing no satisfaction, devoured the swarm of Holings.

    Given the swarm''s size of over a thousand, the effect wasn''t immediately noticeable. However, it wasn¡¯t long before the swarm seemed to copse inward, as if a vacuum cleaner had been turned on inside. This was because the Psychic Breath within was consuming them.

    Only then did they realize how terrifying the presence near them was. They tried to scatter quickly, but it was far toote.

    What could a creature whose body was vanishing into the droplets do? In its extremely hungry state, its body was melting away. In a desperate attempt to survive, they clung to their fellow Holings.

    The Psychic Breath and Holings seemed topete to see who could be the more ravenous predator, devouring their own kind. And this process elerated over time.

    There was no sound during this process. The massacre urring in silence didn¡¯tst long. Within a few minutes, the Holing swarm had disappeared. The Psychic Breath, having lost its target, dissipated into the air.

    ?What happened just now?? ?What¡¯s going on??

    ¡°Sha, Shaaak!¡±

    With the Holings vanishing in an instant, everyone showed clear signs of confusion. Adhai tilted her head, and the Hellside Ho screamed in anger and disbelief.

    The Abyssal Hue caused the battle to enter a lull. Sensing the threat from my attack, they merely threatened and did not charge.

    With the enemy¡¯s attacks ceased, Adhai flew over to this side.

    ?Me? ?Learn? ?Possible??

    [Zzz zzz zzz (Let¡¯s do as we discussed earlier but with slight adjustments)]

    ?How??

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (I¡¯ll hold it)]

    ?Agree? ?Hurry? ?Understood?

    With the n quickly adjusted, Adhai and I moved toward our respective targets. Adhai went after the Holings, while I descended towards the mature creature.

    Behind me, a purple lightning storm raged. While it fought with the insects, I folded my wings and closed the distance with the Hellside Ho.

    As I descended, I fired a Psychic Breath at the creature. This time, it was the standard version, not enhanced by Abyssal Hue.

    The purple heat ray skimmed the creature''s lower body. It would have been a fatal hit if it had connected properly, but the creature dodged at thest moment, causing the attack to miss.

    ¡°Shaaa!¡±

    The enraged creature spat digestive acid at the spot where I was falling. As I folded my wings to continue my descent, I quickly extended them slightly. The fall slowed significantly, and the creature¡¯s attack merely grazed the underside of my tail.

    The searing pain of burning flesh was overwhelming, but seeing that ''Pain Suppression'' didn¡¯t activate indicated that it wasn¡¯t a severe injury. Having evaded the attack, I folded my wings again and increased my descent speed.

    When I could distinguish the trees covering the mountain, I had managed to close the distance significantly with the creature. Although I was hit by digestive acid a few more times as I approached, I endured, trusting in the hardness of my exoskeleton.

    ¡°Shaak! Saaa!¡±

    Not retreating despite the hits seemed to change the creature¡¯s mind. It, which had been passively resisting while falling, suddenly began pping its wings and flew towards me.

    With the creature close, it attempted to slice my neck with its scythe-like arm.

    Before being decapitated, I pulled my upper body back. The creature¡¯s arm cut through the de bones attached to my jaw. The hunting emblem¡¯s effect had transformed the auxiliary organs into de bones, but fortunately, my nerves were unharmed.

    As I pulled back, the digestive tentacles on my back emerged again and ensnared the creature. The appendages at the end of the tentacles entangled the creature¡¯s six legs on its lower body.

    While my intention to capture the creature seeded, it also seemed to have willingly allowed itself to be captured. The creature¡¯s arm pierced my abdomen like a spear.

    ¡®Gah!¡¯

    ?Pain Suppression Activated!?

    I nearly lost consciousness from the tearing pain in my intestines. If I weren¡¯t an Amorph and didn¡¯t have the Pain Suppression trait, I would have been defeated right there. Even as my mind screamed, my body continued to hold the creature firmly.

    ¡®I¡¯ll pay you back the same way!¡¯

    ¡°Shaaa!¡±

    I opened my mouth wide to bite the creature. It hurriedly used its other arm to block my mouth. Thus, the creature and I fell through the sky, locked in a tight embrace.

    ¡°Shaaaa.¡±

    As if things were going well, the creature''s rear started moving. It seemed to n to sow maggots into the area where my exoskeleton had melted away from the digestive acid.

    But there was something the creature didn¡¯t know.

    While it was pouring all its attention into killing me, my auxiliary organs informed me of an important fact.

    A high-speed aircraft was approaching from above.

    And from that aircraft, a purple energy projectile was fired. This energy projectile was much thinner and more refined than what it usually shot.

    As if to avoid someone¡¯s eyes.

    ording to Adhai¡¯s n, the creature noticed toote. Seeing the energy projectile heading towards its head, the creature tried to pull away but couldn¡¯t, as it was too close to me.

    ¡°Shaak!¡±

    The creature, demonstrating sharp judgment, tore off its own limbs. With only its wings remaining, it moved away from me. I also tried to grab its wings with mybat arms, but it was slightly faster.

    ¡®But!¡¯

    When the purple energy projectile reached above my head, I slightly twisted my head to avoid it.

    As a result, Adhai''s Psychic Breath collided with the Amorph''s head exoskeleton. Whether it was properly condensed to finish the job with a single shot, the intense shockwaves spread throughout the head.

    The moment it was hit by the Psychic Breath, the Amorph¡¯stent trait, the Psychic Reflection Armor, automatically activated. Most of the Psychic Power dissipated when destroying the head exoskeleton, but some remained.

    And those energies ricocheted in a direction no one except the Amorph could have predicted.

    Specifically, towards the direction of the Hellside Ho¡¯s wings.

    ¡°Shaak?!¡±

    Losing one wing, the creature staggered and lost control of its body. A second energy projectile flew towards it, as if to confirm the kill.

    ?Big One? ?Attack? ?Forgive? ?Impossible?

    The energy projectile incinerated the creature¡¯s wings along with its cold, vengeful thoughts.

    With both wings lost, the creature could no longer stay in the air and began to fall.

    This was not a strategic retreat; it was a genuine fall.

    ¡°Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!¡±

    It had lived a life far removed from falling to its death, but not anymore. With its cries growing fainter, its body became progressively smaller.

    And soon, it was no longer visible.

    ¡®Phew.¡¯

    ?Big One? ?No pain??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (It''s okay. You did very well)]

    ?Head? ?Hit?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Don¡¯t worry)]

    The creature that flew towards me asked with concern.

    Currently, my body was a mess with melted exoskeleton from the digestive acid, a prating wound in my abdomen, severed horns, and a gouged head exoskeleton from the Psychic Breath. Honestly, it would be a lie to say it didn¡¯t hurt, but I answered that I was fine.

    As long as the brain and heart don¡¯t stop, an Amorph doesn¡¯t die. With injuries like these, consuming the creature¡¯s flesh would be enough for recovery.

    I slowly descended to the ground with Adhai.

    The area where the creature fell was covered in a sticky liquid. In the center of the bloody crash sitey the creature.

    ¡°S, s, s¡­¡±

    The creature, with only its head remaining from the upper body, was barely breathing. Its lower body was shattered, and dead maggots floated in the pool of blood.

    ¡®This is the end.¡¯

    Approaching the creature, I used the bone scythe arm on my back to pierce the Hellside Ho''s head.

    The creature¡¯s upper body trembled beforeing to a stop.

    <strong>¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª</strong>

    <strong>HELHEIM SCANS</strong>

    <strong>[Trantor ¨C Seraph]</strong>

    <strong>[Proofreader ¨C Th]</strong>

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    <strong>¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª </strong>

 Chapter 214:

    Chapter 214:

    <strong>¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª</strong>

    <strong>HELHEIM SCANS</strong>

    <strong>[Trantor ¨C Seraph]</strong>

    <strong>[Proofreader ¨C Th]</strong>

    <strong>Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2</strong>

    <strong>¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª</strong>

    After confirming the death of the Hellside Ho, I retrieved the bone arm.

    From the hole in its twoyered eyes, blood and brain matter mixed and flowed.The maggot-infested, yellowish brain matter, and the head of the insect¡ªthough repulsive elements gathered together¡ªappeared merely as a tasty morsel from the Amorph''s perspective.

    Even though I have a fondness for monsters, the visual was quite unsettling, but I ignored it and plucked the creature''s head.

    ¡®Should I be d I am an Amorph?¡¯

    The Hellside Ho was gruesome when alive, but even more horrifying in death.

    Among the traits I could acquire from it, there are two useful ones.

    ¡®That sturdy arm and the ability to create maggots.¡¯

    Both traits are quite valuable on their own, but when fused, they be even stronger than their originals.

    The Hellside Ho¡¯s scythe can fuse with the trait ¡®Harvestor¡¯s Jaw.¡¯ The original trait changes the scythe into a pair of fangs. ording to the setting, the fang¡¯s edge is embedded with molecr-sized saw teeth that can destroy any armor. It can even tear through an Ice Horror''s head carapace with ease.

    Moreover, the oral structure changes significantly from its current form. The scythe fangs are designed to cut an enemy¡¯s throat and immediately absorb them.

    ¡®So it¡¯s advantageous forrge-scale harvests.¡¯

    This is the most needed trait given the impending war with the Gagons.

    ¡®Considering the future, the ability to create maggots isn¡¯t bad either.¡¯

    The maggot-generating trait can be fused with ¡®Human-Faced Demon.¡¯ Whenbined, it transforms into a trait that generates fly monsters with human faces. Like the Human-Faced Demons, only five can be generated at a time, and the number of Human-Faced Flies that can be separated from the body is also five.

    The ability to emit paralysis waves is retained, making it possible to execute much more unconventional operations than before.

    ¡®It¡¯s not useful against Gagons.¡¯

    Gagons have no ears, so they are unaffected by paralysis waves. Thus, this will only be usefulter.

    ¡®¡­Well, if I¡¯m unlucky, neither trait might appear, and something like Vitality might show up instead.¡¯

    Insect-type and nt-type creaturesmonly have the ¡®Vitality¡¯ trait.

    No matter how much the symbol of hunting increases the predation sess rate, the traits obtained are random. There¡¯s always a chance of getting nothing.

    ¡®Enough with the idle thoughts, let¡¯s eat quickly.¡¯

    Adhai was waiting nearby, observing to see when I would start eating. Although the delicious scent of the blood puddle tempted her to dive in immediately, it seemed like she was holding back for my sake.

    ¡®Where should I start?¡¯

    I hoped for a good trait as I tossed the Hellside Ho into my mouth.

    ¡®Mmm.¡¯

    As I chewed through the creature¡¯s head with its bifurcated jaws, an involuntary exmation escaped me.

    The Hellside Ho was repulsively grotesque, and its taste was as direct as its appearance.

    ¡®It¡¯s sweet.¡¯

    So sweet that it could melt on the tongue.

    Comparing the Hellside Ho¡¯s head to real-world cuisine, it felt like chewing a giant caramel made from Nute.

    ¡®Much sweeter than Nute.¡¯

    The soft brown and yellowish slime of the creature¡¯s brain matter tasted like a highly concentrated chocte jam as soon as it entered my mouth. Moreover, the hard exoskeleton of the insect gave a pleasure akin to chewing crackers.

    ¡®It tastes unhealthy.¡¯

    True to Apex''s characteristic of having unique vors, the Hellside Ho¡¯s head left a strong impression. While the meat of other creatures matched the concept of a meal, this one strongly felt like a snack.

    Normally, I would have swallowed it immediately, but the addictive sweetness made me hold it in my mouth longer than usual. I swallowed the entirely liquefied head without any pieces or fragments.

    Then, several translucent text boxes appeared before me simultaneously.

    ?Big One??Me??Meal??Possible??

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Huh? Eat. It tastes really good.)]

    Once I gave my approval, Adhai plunged her tentacles into the blood puddle and began to devour it. While she enjoyed her meal, I reviewed the contents of the text boxes.

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully obtained the gic essence ''Polluted Worm Host.'']

    [The trait ''Polluted Worm Host'' was extracted from the ''Hellside Ho.'']

    [Can be fused with the existing ''Human-Faced Demon.'']

    [New ¡®Transcendence¡¯ materials list: Polluted Worm Host, Tetanus Vine, Tooth Fairy Nest, Human Sacrifice, Red Acid (not obtained)]

    ¡®¡­Didn¡¯t expect this.¡¯

    A message rted to the ¡®Transcendence¡¯ system appeared after a long time. It¡¯s the system for creating ¡®Unique¡¯ traits bybining multiple traits.

    I hadpletely forgotten about it since it hadn¡¯t appeared in a while.

    ¡®Was the Polluted Worm Host a key trait?¡¯

    Such a message hadn¡¯t appeared when I obtained Tetanus Vine, Tooth Fairy Nest, or Human Sacrifice.

    ¡®A new Unique trait.¡¯

    Up to now, I had only created Unique traits twice using the Transcendence system. The ¡®Perfect Organism,¡¯ which allows me to use the symbol of hunt, and ¡®Nightmare Horizon,¡¯ which turns spaceships into bio-ships, were the only ones.

    The ¡®Organic Evolution,¡¯ which adapts my body to different situations, was a reward from unlocking Transcendence Stage 2, so I got it for free.

    In other words, I currently have 3 Unique traits. There are also 2 traits obtained as proof of oveing strong opponents, but these are not ssified as Unique traits.

    ¡®So if I get a Unique trait this time, I will have a total of 4?¡¯

    Obtaining 4 Unique-level traits will raise the ¡®Cosmic Monster¡¯ type from Stage 0 to Stage 1. The rewards for reaching Stage 1 are currently unknown.

    ¡®It¡¯s a type that requires 4 hard-to-get Unique traits.¡¯

    There might be significant changes rted to evolution.

    ¡®For now, I can¡¯t get it.¡¯

    The ¡®Red Acid¡¯ listedst in the materials is a trait that can be obtained from cier Fiends. If I had acquired the trait during thest hunt, I might have used the Transcendence system immediately.

    ¡®Or maybe not? Because I¡¯m short on traits.¡¯

    Currently, the number of traits I have is just enough to maintain the type.

    The materials list now includes 4 infection-rted traits with the newly obtained Polluted Worm Host and Red Acid, and 1 nest-rted trait. Using them carelessly as materials for Unique traits would waste the infection and nest enhancement types.

    ¡®I''ll gather more traits beforebining them.¡¯

    Once the battle with the Gagons is over, I should consider hunting cier Fiends or Hellside Hos in bulk.

    Having lost interest in the Transcendence system, I chose to fuse the Polluted Worm Host with the Human-Faced Demon trait.

    [The ''Polluted Worm Host'' trait has been applied.]

    [It can be fused with the existing ''Human-Faced Demon'' trait.]

    [''Polluted Worm Host'' and ''Human-Faced Demon'' traits have been fused. Evolved into ''Human-Faced Worm Host'' trait!]

    [Human-Faced Worm Host: Generates flying creatures reflecting the effects of the ''Human-Faced Demon'' trait. Up to 5 flying creatures can be generated, and they can only survive within a 200m radius from the host.]

    [*Note: The dead have no voice. Therefore, they have no rights.]

    As soon as the trait was applied, changes urred in my body. Among the symbols of hunting, the Human-Faced Demons shifted their positions within my head carapace. Five faces began to twist uncontrobly.

    The faces embedded in the carapace split vertically, and insect legs and wings protruded from inside. The insect monsters squirmed as if emerging from cocoons like butterflies. Upon contact with the cold air, their damp bodies dried and hardened. Along with that, their crumpled wings spread wide.

    After metamorphosis, their bodies resembled those of Hos. They had 6 legs with sharp ws, 2 wings, and bodiesbining characteristics of mantises and flies, matching the features of Hos.

    The difference was theirrger sizepared to Hos and the presence of a sentient head instead of a ho-like head. They looked like giant insects wearing human masks.

    ¡°?!¡±

    ¡°¡ö!¡±

    ¡°¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö!¡±

    ¡°¡ö¡ö!¡±

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡±

    The bugs, or rather the Human-Faced Worms, were horrified when they saw their new forms. They retained some memories of their original selves. Realizing they had be bugs must have been quite a shock for them.

    Soon after the Human-Faced Worm Host was applied, the effect of the symbol of hunting also ended. My body shrank again, and the bone sickle arms on my back turned to dust and crumbled.

    Along with that, the nests for the Human-Faced Worms moved from the head carapace back onto my back. Instead of the shape with human masks attached, there were now 5rge, tumor-like nests. From now on, this ce would be the home for the Human-Faced Worms.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö!¡±

    A Human-Faced Worm with Jason¡¯s face shouted something. It was ring at me with a viscous fluid dripping from its eyes.

    The Human-Faced Worm Host is a trait that exists even in the game. Jason must have realized what kind of state he had be.

    And how much more miserable he would be in the future.

    ¡®But I have no intention of showing mercy.¡¯

    While others would rece their traits with different genes once their use is over, not so for Jason. He will never be freed until I die.

    Ignoring his protests, I summoned the Human-Faced Worms again. They immediately obeyed my orders upon receiving the special signals I sent. The Human-Faced Worms, who had been crying and wailing moments ago, instantly turned nk-faced and returned to their nests.

    Havingpleted the application of the trait and demonstration, I looked back at Adhai. She had neatly finished off the blood puddle and was now wiping the blood off her front legs with her tentacles.

    ¡®The wings seem to have changed a bit.¡¯

    Aside from the red wave patterns on her body bingrger and more vibrant, there were no other noticeable changes. There were no signs of evolving into a ck Gagon.

    ¡®Maybe eating Apex is not the condition?¡¯

    There was a change, but it wasn¡¯t as dramatic asst time. Even if Hellside Hos are a step below Sky Whales, they are still Apex creatures, so I¡¯m not sure why there isn¡¯t a more impressive change.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem to be due to ack of quantity.¡¯

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (How¡¯s your body?)]

    ?Good?

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Do you feel stronger?)]

    ?Pattern??changed??Strength??Difference??Unknown?

    She knows her pattern has changed but seems unsure if she has grown stronger.

    ¡®There¡¯s no time to test it.¡¯

    It¡¯s been just over a day since we left the nest. I don¡¯t know how the Odd Grad swarm will move, so it¡¯s not good to stay outside any longer.

    ?Pattern??Beauty??Good?

    While unsure if she¡¯s stronger, she seems to like her beautifully changed wings and tail.

    ¡®There¡¯s no helping it. I¡¯ll stick to the original n.¡¯

    I thought that feeding more Apex might bring about a change, but there was no impressive transformation. If a White Gagon appears in the Odd Grad swarm, I should ambush it and use it to evolve her.

    ¡®Then I¡¯ll return¡­oh.¡¯

    I realized there was onest thing I needed to handle before leaving.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Aren¡¯t you hungry?)]

    ?A little?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (That¡¯s good)]

    ???

    She tilted her head in confusion.

    There¡¯s a ce nearby where I can properly fill up. It¡¯s the food storage that the Hellside Ho cherishes.

    ¡®If I waste the precious food, she¡¯d dislike it too.¡¯

    I led Adhai towards the food storage.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    Collin Russell, a subordinate of Si-hyun Yujin, let out a pained groan from the impact as he fell to the ground. On the day marking two weeks since he had been trapped in a cocoon and hanging from the ceiling, he finally managed to escape.

    For Collin, who had undergone rigorous military training, the past two weeks had been nothing short of a nightmare.

    His unit, responsible for supplies within Si-hyun Yujin''s exploration team, had been attacked by a gigantic insect-like monster. The creature took him and several of his men to this cave.

    He had expected to be killed immediately, but the creature did not do so. Instead, it merely trapped them in cocoons made of mucus secreted from its body.

    His men were relieved to have their lives spared. Since they were not killed immediately, they thought that escaping was all that mattered.

    However, this was a terrible misjudgment. The monster kept them alive because of its unique feeding habits.

    It pickled and consumed his men one by one. Every three days, it dripped some of its digestive fluids into the cocoons. The men trapped inside the cocoons melted away in excruciating pain.

    Once the prey, or rather the food, waspletely melted, the monster would then thrust its head into the cocoon and suck it up.

    Collin and the other survivors trapped in the cocoons could not see this horrifying sight, but they could hear every detail vividly.

    The sound of a person slowly melting alive and the sound of the monster drinking up thepletely liquefied human.

    The men went mad, but Collin, despite his advanced training, was unable to lose his sanity. Even if he wanted to give up andmit suicide, it was impossible.

    The cocoon not only confined them but also served as a primitive life-support system. Thus, those trapped inside could not even die.

    But Collin did not give up. He continuously scratched at the cocoon with his nails. His blood flowed, and his nails fell off, but he did not stop.

    As a result of not giving up in that hellish existence, the sky gave him a chance.

    On the 14th day of being trapped in that hell, an earthquake urred in the cave. The insect-like monster left to investigate the earthquake.

    This was hisst chance to survive. From the moment the monster¡¯s noises stopped, he scratched at the cocoon like a madman. Not only did his nails fall off, but his fingers broke, yet he did not give up.

    And finally, he tore through the cocoon and took in the fresh air from outside.

    ¡°Cough! Cough¡­.¡±

    Collin, barely managing to get up, coughed violently.

    His current condition was very poor. He had received just enough nutrients to barely sustain life, leaving his body emaciated and his handspletely wrecked.

    Yet, with nothing but the single-minded determination to escape, he exhibited superhuman strength.

    He rummaged through the scattered equipment and remains of victims around him and gathered a shlight and reinforced suit.

    Even if he escaped, he would freeze to death without the reinforced suit. Quickly preparing for his escape, he rushed towards the cave entrance. He had memorized where he was when he was dragged into the cave by the monster.

    Thanks to that, with the light from the shlight, he could navigate through the maze-like cave without getting lost.

    ¡°Just a bit more!¡±

    How long had he run?

    He could see a faint light in the distance. That was the only exit from hell.

    He drew on everyst bit of strength he had and ran. It had been a very long time since he had run this fiercely, not since he had stolen and fled with a Gagon egg.

    He had almost died hundreds of times then, but he survived.

    Today, he would survive too.

    He cleared away the vine-like branches blocking the cave entrance. The icy cold wind greeted him. It was the outside he had yearned for throughout the past two weeks.

    The outside looked exactly the same as before he had entered.

    White snow, a sky so dark it was impossible to tell day from night, densely packed trees, and even the massive rocks.

    ¡°A rock?¡±

    Come to think of it, the rock was something he had not seen before entering here.

    Had the monster ced it there to conceal its hideout, or did it fall from the mountain due to the recent earthquake?

    The answer was neither.

    Because the rock was not moving.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    What was in front of him was not a rock. The entity he had mistaken for a rock lunged at him.

    <strong>¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª</strong>

    <strong>HELHEIM SCANS</strong>

    <strong>[Trantor ¨C Seraph]</strong>

    <strong>[Proofreader ¨C Th]</strong>

    <strong>Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2</strong>

    <strong>¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª</strong>

 Chapter 215:

    Chapter 215:

    ?What just happened??

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ (I¡¯m not sure either.)]

    Adhai, who was perched on my back, poked her head out and asked.

    As we approached the nest, something suddenly leaped out. Without even checking, I instinctively swiped at it with my winged arm. The impact was so strong that the thing waspletely destroyed..

    When I checked the corpse, I realized it was a human.

    ¡®Why would a person be here?¡¯

    He was wearing a specially designed reinforced suit, not so much forbat but more focused on survival functions like instion and temperature regtion.

    Judging by his outfit, he didn¡¯t seem to be a soldier but more like a researcher or part of an expedition team, which raised more questions. He couldn¡¯t havee here alone, meaning there must be a group or an organization that brought him.

    ¡®This isn¡¯t even on any known routes.¡¯Jason was only able to find this because his fellow yers shared its location with him. Even the Cult Empire¡¯s routes didn¡¯t record this. I, too, was only able toe here thanks to Adhai''s detailed guidance. Without it, finding this ce would have been almost impossible.

    In this remote part of the universe, which hardly anyone knows, there¡¯s already been the appearance of the StarUnion''s Screamers, and now an unidentified human group has shown up.

    ¡®Could they havee to capture me?¡¯

    Jason mentioned that no other yers besides him woulde here. He believed he could defeat me on his own.

    But that¡¯s just his assumption. It¡¯s uncertain what his allies truly think. They might have set up a contingency n in case Jason fails.

    If I¡¯m unlucky, I might have to face not only Gagon but also a new yer.

    ¡®Let''s find out.¡¯

    I shoved the mangled corpse into my mouth. As I chewed through the tasteless meat, I activated the ¡®Faceworm Host¡¯ trait.

    The gic information contained in the corpse was transmitted to the organ managing the faceworms. Upon receiving the new data, the organ discarded one of the five previously stored gene sequences. The nest on my back also instantly dissolved the old faceworm, allowing a new one to be born.

    ¡®Come out.¡¯

    Following mymand, the faceworm tore through the membrane of its tumour-like nest and emerged. The creature, with a face identical to the corpse I just consumed, looked around as if it couldn¡¯tprehend its situation.

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Realizing it had be a worm, the creature started to panic. I sent a brainwave to control the faceworm, forcing it to calm down.

    ¡°I have questions. Answer them.¡±

    As my voice, now human, flowed out, the fly-like monster with a human head began to tremble.

    ¡°Who are you, and what group are you with?¡±

    ¡°¡ö¡ö ¡öson¡­ I-I¡¯m Colin Russell.¡±

    The fly monster, now able to speak humannguage thanks to my permission. Initially it struggled to form words but gradually became more fluent under my control.

    ¡°I serve Lady Si-hyun Yujin.¡±

    ¡°Si-hyun Yujin?¡±

    ¡°Yes. She came here to fulfil her great mission.¡±

    What it said waspletely unexpected.

    "Si-hyun Yujin?"

    It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve heard that name. She was the first formidable opponent I faced after arriving in this world.

    ¡®She should be dead.¡¯

    Two of my main traits were gained by devouring her: the ¡®Mimicry Organ¡¯ and the ¡®Monster¡¯s Tentacles.¡¯

    Now, thanks to the Essence Harvester''s Jaw, I only need to consume the head, but back then, I had to eat every bit of my opponent to extract their gic essence.

    ¡®She¡¯s definitely dead. So either this is a clone or someone impersonating her.¡¯

    When I encountered Si-hyun Yujin, she was disguised as a member of the Space Dock Cartel. As her name suggests, her true identity was a member of the Yujin family, one of the noble capitals of MegaCorp. It''s unlikely that they stole the cloning technology from StarUnion, their rival.

    ¡®Besides, clonese with a lot of side effects.¡¯

    The StarUnion¡¯s clones have unstable minds. They¡¯re obsessed with their identity and refuse to be controlled by anyone. In fact, in the game, clones are the main enemies of the StarUnion.

    Would a noble capital with an ego as huge as theirs invest in something so unreliable? It¡¯s highly doubtful.

    ¡®So that leaves...¡¯

    ¡°She died at my hands a few months ago.¡±

    "No, that''s impossible. She hasn''t taken a single day off since the day she vowed to achieve her great mission."

    "Great mission?"

    "To reim the name of Yujin. To punish the traitor who usurped the head of the family. That is Si-hyun Yujin''s destiny."

    Hearing this, a thought began to form. Jason had mentioned one of the yers was the head of the Yujin family.

    ¡®Was it Akira Yujin?¡¯

    He insists on using a Japanese name and ording to Jason, acts like an old man stuck in a teenager¡¯s rebellious phase.

    There¡¯s only one high-ranking yer with those characteristics. If he¡¯s the same ¡®Megacorp ranker¡¯ I know, then there must have been a bloody struggle when he took over the family.

    ¡®He¡¯s skilled but has a truly vile personality.¡¯

    Even in themunity, people called him a sociopath, so it¡¯s likely even worse here.

    ¡®I think I¡¯m getting a clear picture of what¡¯s going on.¡¯

    Before being devoured by me, Si-hyun Yujin was likely the leader of a faction that Akira Yujin purged. The Russell family name is probably a fake name used by the remnants to hide their identity.

    Since she died fighting me, it must have been quite difficult for the purged faction.

    ¡®So they set up a double.¡¯

    The Si-hyun Yujin he¡¯s talking about is probably just a stand-in for the dead leader. It seems this impersonator has led her followers to this ce.

    I asked why they came here.

    "Lady Si-hyun Yujin said there is an important relic here."

    "A relic? What kind of relic?"

    "I don¡¯t know. I was only told that it¡¯s somewhere in the ck Mountains and that we need to find it."

    I asked a few more questions, but nothing else of significance came up. He didn¡¯t know anything about the Screamers either.

    ¡®That¡¯s fine. I got the information I needed.¡¯

    Fortunately, it seems there¡¯s little connection to the other yers. In fact, Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s faction, or rather her impersonator¡¯s faction, seems to be more aligned with those who oppose the yers.

    ¡®I¡¯ll look into it after I deal with Odd Grad.¡¯

    There¡¯s one crucial piece of information he didn¡¯t mention but I can deduce. To explore this barren, a lot of preparation is required¡ªlike weapons, equipment, and various supplies needed for survival.

    It goes without saying that to transport all this, they would need a ship. And not just any ship, but a fairlyrge one.

    ¡®They¡¯re probably just outside the, nearby.¡¯

    If I can locate their ship, I¡¯ll know exactly what Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s faction is up to and where they are.

    With my thoughts in order, I sent the faceworm back to its nest. Adhai, who had been bored on my back, perked up instantly.

    ?Finished??

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (Sorry, it must have been dull for you.)]

    ?It¡¯s fine.?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Let¡¯s just take what¡¯s inside and get going.)]

    I had stumbled upon some interesting information in an unexpected ce.

    Afterward, Adhai and I raided the food storage of the Hellside Ho. Thanks to the clues left by Colin Russell, we didn¡¯t have to wander through the maze and headed straight for the storage.

    I checked to see if there were any other potential informants in the storage, but nothing alive remained. The sealed space was filled only with cocoons brimming with rotting, fermented liquid.

    ?This stuff??tastes??good.?

    Adhai stuck a tentacle into one of the cocoons for a taste and immediately grinned from ear to ear. It was the first time I¡¯d seen such an expression on Adhai.

    ¡®Is it really that good?¡¯

    I plucked one of the dozens of cocoons hanging from the ceiling and took a sip. My eyes involuntarily curled into the same crescent shape as Adhai¡¯s.

    ¡®This is amazing.¡¯

    It tasted somewhat like mojito, but with an even sharper kick. The aroma was exquisite, spreading a refreshing sensation throughout my throat and body. It was so delicious that it made me forget the injuries I had sustained in battle.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ (Should we take some with us?)]

    ?Agreed??Agreed??Agreed!?

    I gathered as many cocoons as I could carry. With all my battle arms and corrosive tentacles, I managed to grab about 15 of them. The rest went into Adhai¡¯s stomach and mine.

    With the Hellside Ho¡¯s storage thoroughly cleaned out, we headed outside.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ (Let¡¯s head back.)]

    Adhai and I spread our wings wide and soared into the sky. By the time we reach the nest, Odd Grad¡¯s forces would likely be making their move.

    ¡®I¡¯ll recover from my wounds at the nest.¡¯

    Then, I¡¯ll target the White Gagon that has gone out to hunt.

    ¡®The real question is how to hunt them¡­.¡¯

    Even as we flew through the clouds, I kept strategizing about how to battle Odd Grad¡¯s forces.

    ***

    The forest, filled with trees boasting countless branches, was ancient. Even the youngest of these trees had lifespans spanning centuries. A beasty low in this dense woond.

    Its amber eyes, glowing likenterns, pierced through the thick darkness. The creature had the head of a bird of prey, four legs, and a slender tail, with two sharp horns protruding from its head.

    The beast plucked a mushroom-like nt from the ground with its thick front paws and chewed it with its beak.

    Even while satisfying its hunger, the beast¡¯s gaze remained fixed on one spot.

    It was staring at the edge of the forest, where steep rock cliffs and numerous caves could be seen. Most cliffs on this were more like crevasses formed by the splitting ice, but this one was different.

    Instead of cold air, a warm heat emanated from beneath the rocky cliffs. If anyone with psychic powers were present, they would have sensed the swirling vortex of energy rising from below.

    The rocky cliffs the beast was watching was their of the Gagons, the dragon''s nest.

    "......"

    After finishing the nt, the beast Mother of the Sky remained still, focusing on her surveince. For the past two days, she hadn¡¯t moved at all, except for brief moments to eat. She knew how dangerous it was to deal with the Gagons, so she exercised extreme caution.

    Moreover, it wasn¡¯t just her, she hadpanions to protect at her rear.

    ¡®Companions...¡¯

    Sea Demon, Gagon, Screamer, and then...

    ¡®Amorph.¡¯

    She wondered what her real-world self, Choi Seo-ah, would think if she knew she was now moving alongside the Amorph, the 5th-ranked yer. She¡¯d probably be furious and tell her not to talk nonsense.

    Choi Seo-ah never liked Amorph. To be honest, she was closer to hating him. If she had met him shortly after arriving in this world, she might have tried to kill him.

    ¡®Because of that guy, our n was torn apart.¡¯

    It was then that she realized how fragile rtionships in the game world could be.

    Her n, Savage n, never had many members due to its unique concept. But after the battle with Amorph, she was the only one left. Her friends either quit the game in disgust or joined other ns.

    As a result, she was almost forced back into the real world. At the time, Choi Seo-ah was trying to escape reality for various reasons, so she deeply resented Amorph.

    ¡®¡­Isn¡¯t it ironic?¡¯

    She had nearly quit the game and returned to reality because of him, yet now they wererades who had survived life-or-death battles together. The most surprising part was that her rtionship with Amorph had be even closer than with her former Savage nrades.

    Ever since she confided in him recently, she felt much more at ease. He probably doesn¡¯t even realize it, though.

    ¡®He seems so oblivious.¡¯

    If he weren¡¯t, he would surely know what Number 26 or Adhai were thinking. Even in the game, his rtionships with others seemed very limited.

    ¡®Or maybe not?¡¯

    Neither Mother of the Sky nor Amorph knew who the other was in reality. Despite growing close, neither had brought up their real-life identities.

    ¡®I guess that¡¯s only natural.¡¯

    She might be strong, agile, and majestic in this world, but the real ¡®Choi Seo-ah¡¯ was nothing special¡ªin fact, she was below average. She had no desire to reveal her true self to anyone. Amorph might feel the same way.

    ¡®Judging by his personality, he probably doesn¡¯t have any friends¡­ Hm?¡¯

    In the middle of mentally criticizing Amorph, she noticed movement in the nest and stopped her idle thoughts.

    She focused her gaze. Several Gagons were emerging from one of the caves in the cliff.

    ¡®What¡¯s that?¡¯

    Two green-scaled Gagons were carrying another Gagon to a different cave. The one they were carrying was covered in blood, with not a single limb left unscathed.

    ¡®Ham Ort?¡¯

    Even in its battered state, she recognized the Gagon.

    The critically injured White Gagon, with its broken horn and torn wings, was undoubtedly Adhai''s mother, Ham Ort. The nearby Green Gagons roughly dragged Ham Ort into another cave.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on? Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be dead?¡¯

    Given the severity of her injuries, it seemed she could die at any moment. The fact that the other Gagons were treating her so harshly, it did not seem like ate betrayal.

    ¡®Was she taken prisoner?¡¯

    As she made a mental note of this critical information, something else caught her attention.

    Twelve White Gagons suddenly burst out of another cave. They spread their wings, flew up the cliff, and disappeared into the sky.

    ¡®It¡¯s begun!¡¯

    Seeing them head out for the hunt, she waited quietly for a while. Only when there was no more movement did she cautiously begin to move.

    The ck sky above the forest trembled.

    As if in response, a dense shadow surged from the depths of a cave beneath the cliff. The shadow that rose silently, quickly disappeared into the clouds.

 Chapter 216:

    Chapter 216:

    [TL/N : Changed PS-111 dialogues from ¡®[ ]¡¯ to ¡° ¡° because the author changed it in the RAWS.]

    ¡°You''re back?¡±

    As we returned to the nest, PS-111 greeted us. The Mother of the Sky and Number 26 were nowhere to be seen.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Anything happend? Any encounters with enemies?)]

    ¡°We did not encounter any ''Gagon'' entities. The main controller is still aboard the Cult cruiser.¡±

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (That''s a relief. Has the Mother of the Sky returned yet?)]

    ¡°The ''Middle Child'' left for reconnaissance and hasn''t returned.¡±

    It seemed that PS-111 was holding down the fort at the nest, while Number 26 was protecting the Gagons on the cruiser. the Mother of the Sky had gone off to monitor the Odd Grad swarm and hadn''te back yet.

    I set down a few cocoons I had brought with me.¡°What''s that?¡±

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Cocoons made by the Hellside Ho. Want to try one?)]

    ¡°It appears to be an intriguing organicpound.¡±

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (There''s liquid inside, just drink it.)]

    ?Understood.¡±

    PS-111 extended its long limbs towards the cocoons. It skillfully used its ded legs to slice one open and then spread its wed hand wide, allowing the liquid to spill into it.

    Having consumed the StarUnion¡¯s energy-absorbing device, the ¡®Blood River,¡¯ it sometimes fed this way, absorbing nutrients. I wondered if it could even taste anything, but it didn¡¯t seem to care.

    ¡°This contains a high concentration of essential nutrients. Can this organicpound be acquired inrge quantities?¡±

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (This is all I could bring.)]

    ¡°I rmend securing more of this organicpound in the future.¡±

    The first time I drank the liquid from the cocoon, I felt my wounds heal almost instantly. It wasn''t just my imagination, it was as PS-111 analyzed it was rich in nutrients.

    It made sense, after all. It was the result of dissolving an entire living organism and then fermenting it.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (I should take some to the cruiser too.)]

    ?Young kin??Food??

    [ZZZ (Yes.)]

    It had been a day and a half since they holed up inside the cruiser. The Gagons there hadn''t ventured out for hunting, as a Green Gagon pursuit squad could appear in the area at any time.

    Although the Cruiser had plenty ofbat rations left behind by the Cult crew, they weren¡¯t suitable for Gagons. So they¡¯ve likely been starving this whole time.

    ¡®It¡¯d be a huge loss if they starve to death.¡¯

    Bringing the Blue Gagons was part of a n to win over the remnants of Adhai and Ham Ort. I hadn¡¯t even collected the favour for saving their lives yet, so I wasn¡¯t about to let them die here.

    Adhai, unaware of my true intentions, seemed pleased when she saw me trying to help them.

    ?Young kin??Hunger??Relief??Adult??Task??Me??Adult??Kin??Food??Deliver?

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Alright. Just carry this and this.)]

    ?No??Problem.?

    Even after leaving PS-111 behind at the nest, Adhai kept chattering away. Just like a few days ago, it seemed like she wanted to be a good role model for the young hatchlings, regardless of her feelings toward the kin who had abandoned her.

    ¡®Maybe she¡¯s trying to erase the painful memories.¡¯

    I engaged in small talk with Adhai as we made our way through the forest. Before long, the ivory-colored cruiser came into view between the trees. I could sense the Cult members imnted with parasites moving around inside.

    ?Hello, Big Baby!?

    And then Number 26 sensed me too, sending out a wave of recognition from inside the ship. A momentter, it leaped out of the open hangar.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    The creature approaching me was clutching five Gagons with blue scales. These Blue Gagons, each over 2 meters long, were nestled snugly into a massive 10-meter long pink jellyfish-like entity. They all seemed as content as if they were nestled in their mother¡¯s embrace.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (What¡¯s that?)]

    ?The little ones were hungry, so I fed them!?

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ (Fed them?)]

    Just as it said, the tentacles of the Blue Gagons were embedded in the psychic energy radiating from Number 26''s body.

    ¡®Are they feeding on psychic power?¡¯

    The way the slender tentacles periodically puffed up like straws made it clear they were syphoning psychic power.

    ¡®Come to think of it, that¡¯s not impossible.¡¯

    Number 26 had rapidly grown by absorbing the psychic power of the dead Sea Demon. It made sense that it could also transfer that power to the Gagons, who were also psychic creatures.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, their scales seem different¡­¡¯

    Upon closer inspection, the Blue Gagons cradled in its arms had an odd coloration. While predominantly blue, they had green stripes running through them.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Were they always like that?)]

    ?I don¡¯t know.?

    Adhai, noticing something strange as well, tilted her head in confusion while looking at the hatchlings.

    At that moment, Ham Ort¡¯s group appeared behind Number 26. White Gagon Nel Germa was among them, along with three Green Gagons that it had brought along.

    I offered the cocoons I had brought to them. Finally noticing the cocoons held by my arms and tentacles, Number 26 asked:

    ?What¡¯s that??

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Food. I bought it for everyone to eat.)]

    ?It''s shaped weird.?

    ?Appearance??Funny??But??Delicious?

    Adhai''sment sparked curiosity, and one of the creatures extended its tentacles, wrapping them around a cocoon. It then spread out a part of its body, not the part cradling the Blue Gagons, like a nket and swallowed the entire cocoon whole.

    Inside its semi-transparent pink body, the cocoon began to dissolve, releasing the liquid within. As it absorbed the liquid, its body shimmered like a mirror ball, glowing brightly.

    ?Tasty!?

    Once it started eating, the other Gagons showed interest in the cocoons as well. The moment they tasted the cocoon, their eyes curved into crescent shapes, a clear sign of delight.

    ?Gratitude??Kindness??Not forgotten?

    Nel Germa, who had tasted a bit of the cocoon and then passed it to the hatchlings, expressed thanks to me. The Green Gagons beside it also sent waves of gratitude my way, albeit with some hesitation.

    ¡®Not like I did something worth being thanked for.¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t exactly a gift. I fully intended to be repaid in the future for what I gave them.

    After delivering food to the Gagons, I returned to the nest to heal my injuries. As night fell, the Mother of the Sky finally returned to the nest.

    She brought back two crucial pieces of information.

    The first was that the Odd Grad group was making a move. Twelve White Gagons had left their nest simultaneously.

    My n was to defeat the White Gagons one by one before they could regroup. Adhai needed to consume a White Gagon to continue growing.

    ¡®I also need the gic essence of the White Gagons.¡¯

    Everything was going ording to n, except for the second piece of information, which posed a problem.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ (Ham Ort is still alive?)]

    ?Yes. I saw the other Gagons carrying her away.?

    When everyone had gathered, she nodded her head in agreement.

    ording to the Mother of the Sky, Adhai''s mother was still alive. To be more urate, she was barely clinging to life.

    Upon hearing the news of Ham Ort''s survival, I could sense Nel Germa and the three Green Gagons growing uneasy. She was their former leader, so naturally, they wanted to rescue her.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    The situation had be moreplicated.

    For starters, I wasn¡¯t the leader of the Gagons hiding in the cruiser. I hadn¡¯t defeated their leader inbat. While I had protected them and provided them with food, that alone wasn¡¯t enough to make them turn their backs on their former leader.

    ¡®Given time, they¡¯ll likely follow me¡­.¡¯

    But that¡¯s a meaningless assumption for now since it won¡¯t happen immediately.

    Leaving Ham Ort to die is problematic too. She¡¯s the only Gagon who knows Adhai¡¯s secret. There¡¯s still much valuable information to be extracted from her.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (What if we rescue her after we take down the others, before attacking the nest?)]

    ?I¡¯m not sure. Her injuries seem severe. I don¡¯t know if she¡¯ll hold out that long.?

    Moreover, we don¡¯t have much time. The Snow-White Queen has been left in a severely injured state. While White Gagons are resilient creatures and couldst a day or two, beyond that, it¡¯s uncertain.

    ¡®What should we do?¡¯

    The truth is, the answer to this dilemma is already clear.

    The nest is heavily guarded by numerous enemies. Attempting to rescue Ham Ort would mean engaging in an all-out battle, something we can¡¯t afford given our current disadvantage.

    However, openly dering that we¡¯re abandoning Ham Ort is another issue altogether.

    Doing so could negatively impact Nel Germa and the Green Gagons. While they¡¯ve agreed to follow my lead, such a decision might cause them to resist or harbor resentment.

    ¡®It''s already challenging enough to fight with everything we''ve got. An uncertain stance would only make things worse.¡¯

    As I was pondering the best course of action, Adhai approached me.

    ?Great Elder??Ham Ort??Worry??Unnecessary?

    [ZZZ (Hmm?)]

    ?I??Confirm??Ham Ort??Strong??Compared to??Others??No Comparison??Pain??Ovee??Can??I??Believe??Survive??Will?

    Adhai assured me that Ham Ort was strong enough to survive.

    ?Daughter of the Meteor??Correct?

    ?Agree?

    The other Gagons nodded in agreement with Adhai, who was regarded as Ham Ort¡¯s daughter and the savior of the Gagons.

    [ZZZZ (Are you sure about this?)]

    Understanding the intent behind my question, Adhai nodded confidently.

    ?It¡¯s okay?

    [ZZZZ (Alright then.)]

    I knew why Adhai had acted this way. Being sharp, she must have noticed my unease and took it upon herself to reassure the other Gagons.

    However, despite her words, there was a hint of anxiety in her eyes. It was likely the lingering mix of love and resentment towards her mother.

    ¡®Ham Ort needs to survive until Adhai¡¯s heart finds peace.¡¯

    The decision on Ham Ort¡¯s fate wasn¡¯t in the hands of the ck Dragon Odd Grad, but rather in those of his abandoned daughter, Adhai.

    Thanks to her, our next move was clear: we will take down the White Gagons that had gone hunting and then rescue Ham Ort as quickly as possible.

    ?Nel Germa??Knows??Hunting grounds?

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Alright, let¡¯s head there first.)]

    For the hunt against the White Gagons, Adhai, I, Number 26, and Nel Germa would be the ones going. the Mother of the Sky continued her role as the scout, and PS-111 was tasked with guarding the cruiser.

    [The Cult¡¯s fleet system isplex, but with the crew in ce, there should be no issues operating it.]

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ (Still, just in case, I''m counting on you.)]

    [Understood.]

    With all preparationsplete, we were ready to move.

    Before we left, I called Mother of the Sky aside. It felt a bit unsettling to send her off again right after she had just returned.

    ?No need to apologize. It''s much easier to do this than to fight while flying.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ (I''m d to hear that.)]

    ?I¡¯ve lost count of how many apologies I¡¯ve heard from you, Amorph.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (The way you say it makes it seem like you''re truly okay with this.)]

    ?Oh, and if you manage to get a Gagon heart, save it for me.?

    [ZZZ ZZZ (I will. Stay safe.)]

    She gave a wink in response and vanished into the darkness.

    After sending her off, I lifted Number 26 onto my back and took to the skies. Adhai and Nel Germa were waiting, and they nodded slightly as I approached.

    ?Hunting ground??This way?

    Following Nel Germa''s lead, we moved swiftly. In this operation, time was crucial, so we pushed ourselves to be as fast as possible.

    We flew in silence for a long time, cutting through the dark, cloud-filled night sky. As we approached our destination, Nel Germa, who was leading, began to slow down.

    ?Nearby??Hunting ground?

    ?I??Sense??One of our kin''s??Power?

    [ZZZ ZZZ (How close are we?)]

    Adhai mentioned that the energy was faint and the distance significant, so we all slowed our pace.

    ¡®Only one enemy? That¡¯s lucky.¡¯

    Usually, they move in groups of two or three, so this was unexpected. Still, I instructed the two Gagons to stay vignt and keep an eye out for anything unusual.

    As we moved through the clouds, I began to sense the Psychic Power closer to the ground. The enemy seemed to sense us as well, suddenly picking up speed.

    ¡®They¡¯ve noticed us.¡¯

    [ZZ ZZ ZZ (Let''s strike now.)]

    ?Agreed.?

    [ZZZ (Hold on tight.)]

    ?Got it!?

    I warned Number 26 as I adjusted my wing angle for a steep dive. Nel Germa and Adhai, without missing a beat, followed close by my side.

    Below us, a white figure darted across the pitch-ck forest at a terrifying speed. The White Gagon was trying to escape.

    I anticipated its trajectory and fired a regr Psychic Breath in its path. The purple energy gathered in the tentacles around my head, neck, and under my jaw, forming a focused beam.

    The beam tore through the ground and trees with a thunderous crack. The White Gagon narrowly avoided the st and immediately tried to use its hyper-eleration ability to escape.

    But it wasn¡¯t just me hunting tonight. Nel Germa, at my side, unleashed two more Psychic Breaths.

    The enemy skillfully evades one, twisting its body mid-air. The second beam nearly clipped its wing, but the White Gagon managed to deflect it with a counterattack¡ª a Psychic Breath of its own.

    The collision of our powers sent shockwaves rippling through the sky, the impact echoing like thunder all around us.

    The White Gagon, realizing Nel Germa was more powerful, attempted to negate the Psychic Breaths and flee again. However, Adhai had closed in and began to unleash rapid-fire energy sts, reminiscent of a machine gun. The White Gagon couldn¡¯t dodge this time; three of Adhai¡¯s Psychic Breaths tore through one of its wings, leaving it unable to fly and crashing into the forest.

    ¡®Got it.¡¯

    Confirming its fall, Inded in the forest with Adhai and Nel Germa. Among the shattered trees, the white Gagony incapacitated.

    ¡®Smaller than expected.¡¯

    It was bigger than a Green Gagon or Adhai but significantly smallerpared to Nel Germa. It seemed recent to its White Gagon form.

    ¡®This shouldn¡¯t affect Adhai¡¯s growth.¡¯

    Feeding it to Adhai would confirm everything.

    I approached the fallen Gagon from the Odd Grad group. It only red at me, showing no signs of immediate aggression.

    Perhaps it feared us. Its wings were broken, but other parts seemed rtively intact. Given the aggressive nature of Gagons, it should have attacked us by now.

    ¡®A cautious individual?¡¯

    At that moment, A Gagon directed a thought wave at me.

    ?Are you the ck Gagon??

    [ZZZ (Yes?)]

    ?Trap??caught.?

    ¡®A trap?¡¯

    As soon as I sensed its thought wave, I felt a shiver run through my body. The air thickened, and the entire sense of the Amorph¡¯s transcendental feeling triggered an rm. This intense feeling was something I had only experienced once before.

    ¡®When the Imperial Carrier fired the Cosmic Bolt.¡¯

    The sense of impending doom I felt was reminiscent of when I faced the absolute power that could scorch entires.

    This meant that a being of absolute power had its sights set on my life.

    The danger I sensed wasn¡¯t something I alone perceived.

    ?ck Gagon???Great One!??Danger!?

    ?Leader??Near??Danger!??Danger!??Danger!?

    Looking back, I saw Adhai and Nel Germa in a state of panic, trembling uncontrobly.

    Even Number 26 was silently unleashing its Psychic Power, generating fins and tentacles, and activating its ''Deep Sea Terror'' trait.

    ¡®Number 26?¡¯

    Despite its size being unchanged on my back, it was fully armed. I had never seen Number 26 so alert before.

    ?Odd Grad!??Great Odd Grad!??Arrived!?

    As Nel Germa screamed out in thought waves, a colossal shadow emerged beyond the stormy clouds.

    The shadow of a gigantic ck dragon with two wings.

    ¡®Great Odd Grad!¡¯

    The king of the Gagon nest and ruler of this.

    Adhai¡¯s father and the ck Dragon, Odd Grad, had arrived.

 Chapter 217:

    Chapter 217:

    The dark presence emerges from the clouds, revealing itself. Even from a distance, an overwhelming sense of dread is undeniable.

    With wings more than twice the size of its body, it descends upon the forest.

    As I draw closer, my auxiliary organs start to hum with a sharp buzz. The immense psychic power radiating from the ck Gagon is affecting them.

    This is the strongest Apex I¡¯ve ever faced.

    The ck dragon, Odd Grad, stands before me.

    ?Be careful, big guy?

    Number 26 warns me from atop. The tension in its voice is palpable.

    I know all too well how powerful the ck Gagon is. I¡¯ve defeated this creature dozens of times in the game.

    However, there¡¯s one thing I didn¡¯t anticipate¡ªwhy is he here?¡®How did he find me?¡¯

    While the Mother of the Sky monitored her nest, she didn¡¯t see any creatures entering. The Green Gagon tracking team hasn¡¯t returned either, so the chance that he knew of my existence seems slim.

    ¡®Could it be that the Green Gagon recorded in the cruiser¡¯s logs informed him?¡¯

    They might have seen me fighting the cruiser and reported back to Odd Grad.

    But there¡¯s still a lingering question. The White Gagon with the broken wing definitely said something about a ¡®trap.¡¯

    This means the creature has already figured out my n to strike while the White Gagon is out hunting.

    Odd Grad¡¯s unexpected appearance has thrown my ns into chaos.

    I¡¯m not in peak condition right now. Though my physical wounds have mostly healed, my special abilities arepromised. My size augmentation from ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯ and ¡®Organic Evolution,¡¯ as well as the ¡®Revenant Organ,¡¯ are all sealed.

    And mypanions are scattered. I only have Number 26, Adhai, and Nel Germa with me to face this beast.

    Even in my best form, this would be a tough fight. But in my current state, calling this situation dire would be an understatement.

    ¡®...Stay calm.¡¯

    Now is not the time for negative thoughts. Worrying won''t change anything. What''s more productive is figuring out how to survive against this formidable opponent right in front of me.

    I watched him closely, keeping myposure. hended on the ground and was staring me down without making any sudden moves.

    He seemed to be gauging the situation, just like I was.

    ¡®...He¡¯s smarter than he looks.¡¯

    Based on its appearance, he was thergest Gagon I¡¯d seen here, almost as big as I get when I use the Symbol of Hunt to increase my size.

    His body was long and serpentine, but not slender. His neck, chest, waist, and tail were all packed with solid muscle, covered by scales that resembled ck obsidian.

    He had six horns curled like those of a goat or ram, and long, tendril-like whiskers draped from his mouth.

    At first nce, he might have seemed as majestic as an Eastern dragon, but that thought never crossed my mind. The reason was his eyes.

    Ham Ort, Adhai, and Nel Germa all have beautiful, amethyst-like purple eyes. This creature also had purple amethyst eyes, but the feeling they gave off was entirely different.

    Odd Grad''s eyes exuded nothing but savagery and cunning. They were worlds apart from the noble and slightly yful gaze of Adhai.

    ¡®A ruthless adversary.¡¯

    It would be wiser to consider him more like a yer than a regr creature.

    ¡®I''ve heard he¡¯s quite old, but what does that mean?¡¯

    In the game, ageing rarely affected NPCs. Gagons with the same color typically didn¡¯t vary much.

    But this is reality. Even Ham Ort, another White Gagon, is stronger than Adhai or Nel Germa. I don''t know how aging has affected the ck Dragon Odd Grad, but it doesn¡¯t seem to have weakened him.

    ¡®It must have overpowered Ham Ort, yet it doesn¡¯t have a single scratch on him.¡¯

    There were scars on his ck scales, but they weren¡¯t from Ham Ort. In other words, he subdued Ham Ort without sustaining any injuries.

    ¡®Hmm?¡¯

    As I continued to observe him, I noticed something unusual. The creature was wearing a ring with a gemstone on its front paw.

    ¡®I¡¯ve never seen equipment like that before?¡¯

    It wasn''t something from the game. The gemstone had been refined, indicating it had undergone expert craftsmanship.

    ¡®I¡¯ll need to be cautious.¡¯

    Just as I noticed something peculiar about him, the creature also seemed to detect something unique about me. He tilted his head curiously as he observed Number 26 on my back.

    Whether it¡¯s a ck Gagon or a Sea Demon, they¡¯re all powerful psychic creatures. They seemed to recognize the danger in each other.

    Finally, the creature must have decided he was superior to Number 26, as he began to move. The psychic power that had been flowing like liquid over his ck scales quickly converged toward his head.

    ¡®He¡¯sing.¡¯

    The first attack was a psychic breath. He rapidly charged up and unleashed a dark purple beam, almost ck.

    I spread my wings and lifted myself into the air. The beam grazed the lower part of my exoskeleton, leaving no trace as the impacted area evaporated instantly.

    ¡®¡­Reflecting it won¡¯t work.¡¯

    The exoskeleton disintegrated before the psychic-reflective armour could activate, rendering it useless. As I dodged the attack by flying upward, I attempted to charge toward the creature.

    At that moment, he lifted his head while continuing to fire the psychic breath.

    ¡®Tch.¡¯

    With an excess of psychic power, he didn¡¯t stop the attack but kept spewing it out continuously. The beam, capable of consuming everything in its path, followed close behind me. I beat my wings harder, increasing my flight speed.

    While I was keeping its attention, Adhai and Nel Germa tried to attack Odd Grad. Nel Germa unleashed an energy st first, but something intercepted it.

    The White Gagon with the broken wing countered with its own breath, cancelling out Nel Germa¡¯s attack.

    ?Traitor.?

    ?Nel Germa.??Ham Ort.??Serve.?

    ?Traitor.??Death.?

    ?Kin.??Dealt with.??ck kin.??Support.?

    ?Me.??Understand.?

    While Nel Germa kept the White Gagon upied, Adhai came to support me. She manoeuvred around, nking Odd Grad from behind, and unleashed a psychic breath. The barrage of violet energy sts, now her signature technique, hurtled towards Odd Grad¡¯s head.

    Odd Grad briefly halted its breath attack and raised its wings to shield its head. Adhai''s energy sts struck the wings, causing an explosion.

    However, aside from some slight scorching on the outer edges, the wings remained intact.

    ?Sturdy!?

    ?Odd Grad.??Speaks.??Arrogant one.??Begone.?

    Odd Grad sent a chilling telepathic wave as he unleashed another psychic breath. This time, the beam shot out much faster than the one aimed at me earlier.

    ¡®A trick!¡¯

    He had deliberately fired the first shot slowly when attacking me.

    ?!?

    [ZZZZ (Watch out!)]

    It was a close call. If Adhai had been even slightlyrger or slower, she would have been split in two by the beam.

    Though it narrowly dodged the attack, the tip of her tail was seared off. The pain caused it to falter momentarily.

    Just as Odd Grad adjusted his breath to finish off Adhai, I unleashed the energy I had been gathering while Adhai bought me time.

    The force, empowered by the tendrils of the White Gagon, surged toward Odd Grad¡¯s head. Sensing that his wings wouldn¡¯t be enough to block the attack, he turned its head and fired the beam at me instead.

    The nearly ck beam unleashed by Odd Grad and the vivid purple beam I fired shed, creating a violent struggle between the two forces. The sheer impact of the collision split the ground between us, and trees shattered, scattering into the air.

    ¡®¡­He¡¯s strong!¡¯

    I expected the ck Gagon to be a formidable foe, but I hadn''t anticipated this level of power. While our raw output seemed evenly matched, the amount of energy Odd Grad had stored was on apletely different level. He was almost akin to a fully matured Amorph.

    As I concentrated on maintaining my beam, I kept an eye on Adhai. Despite the agony of her burning tail, she managed to retreat to the skies.

    Once I confirmed Adhai was safe, I ceased my breath attack. The moment our beams stopped shing, Odd Grad''s psychic breath surged toward me.

    Instead of ascending, I lowered my body close to the ground. As expected, Odd Grad assumed I would rise and directed his beam upward.

    With his attack misdirected, I took the opportunity to open my mouth wide, splitting my lower jaw into two. From deep within, I expelled a mass of green fungal spores.

    As the acidic spores flew toward Odd Grad, he spread his wings wide and shook them violently. The force of the movement scattered the spores in mid-air, creating a small whirlwind.

    ¡®Clever beast.¡¯

    True to his age and experience, Odd Grad knew how to utilize his body effectively. Of course, I hadn¡¯t expected the spores to cause him much harm, but that bought me the time I needed.

    Using the distraction, I pushed off the ground with my tail and leaped upward. Odd Grad attempted to fire another beam at me.

    But before he could, the scattered fungal spores began to gather and fly toward him again.

    ?What??

    Odd Grad quickly fired a short burst of its psychic breath at the moving spores, as if they were attached to invisible strings.

    While his attention was diverted, I soared high into the sky.

    After a few powerful ps to gain altitude, Adhai flew over to me.

    [ZZZZ (Are you okay?)]

    ?Pain.??But.??Endure.?

    Though the exchange was brief, it was enough to confirm that Odd Grad was no ordinary opponent. Among the beings I¡¯ve encountered in this world, he ranked in the top five in terms ofbat sense.

    And it wasn¡¯t just that. As expected of a ck Gagon, hisbat abilities were top-tier. In a contest of raw power, I would surely lose.

    ¡®I need to win with unconventional attacks.¡¯

    I knew what traits and techniques a ck Gagon possessed, but the same couldn''t be said for Odd Grad. He had no knowledge of Amorph, nor did he know about me¡ªwhat powers I wielded, or how I intended to use them.

    [ZZZ ZZZ (I need your help)]

    ?Sure! Leave it to me!?

    Number 26, perched on my back, wiggled its tendrils in anticipation.

    Just then, a psychic breath shot up from below. I dodged, only to see Odd Grad flying toward us.

    ?Insignificant creatures.??You won''t escape.?

    The horns on his head glowed with a violet light as he unleashed another breath attack. But this time, the light wasn¡¯t just from the psychic energy.

    [ZZ ZZZ (Watch out above)]

    ?Above??

    As Odd Grad¡¯s horns lit up, the clouds above began to swirl unnaturally. Momentster, massive tornadoes descended from the sky, apanied not only by hail and snow but also by violet lightning.

    It was ¡®Maelstrom¡¯, a powerful psychic technique that only a ck Gagon could use. True to his name, he conjured a destructive psychic storm.

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Keep moving to avoid the lightning)]

    ?Understood.?

    I warned Adhai and quickly resumed my movement. Just as I did, a bolt of violet lightning struck the spot where I had been moments before.

    Staying still under the influence of Maelstrom was not an option. The lightning, slightly weaker than the psychic breath but still lethal, would relentlessly target the caster¡¯s enemies.

    Odd Grad, having created a localized weather anomaly, pped his wings and chased after us. One of his psychic breaths grazed the tip of my wing.

    Feigning an attempt to escape, I gradually slowed down. Though it increased the likelihood of getting hit, I had Number 26 with me for a reason.

    Number 26 subtly adjusted the angle of my psychic breath, ensuring it was just enough to avoid detection by Odd Grad. As a result, I managed to narrowly dodge the enemy¡¯s attacks or only suffered minor burns to my exoskeleton.

    ?Wretched insect!?

    Odd Grad¡¯s thoughts echoed with irritation as I continued to deftly evade its strikes.

    ¡®Now.¡¯

    I had been waiting for this moment, hoping to provoke an emotional response from Odd Grad. While dodging his attacks, I readied my psychic breath. When the energy was nearly fully charged, I suddenly folded one wing, sharply altering my direction. My body flipped sideways from the momentum, and in that instant, the creature within me unleashed the power of the dragon once more.

    Odd Grad, seemingly anticipating my approach, remainedposed and countered my breath with his own.

    Another fierce sh ensued, but Odd Grad still appeared confident. The tentacles hanging from his mouth radiated an endless stream of power, and his amethyst-like eyes gleamed with derision.

    While Adhai had a unique ability, ordinary Gagons could not move while releasing a psychic breath. Though I could adjust the angle of my breath, it came at the cost of speed.

    Odd Grad was undoubtedly aware of this. To him, I must have seemed foolish for engaging in a power struggle in the middle of the Maelstrom.

    Just as I expected, a violet lightning bolt descended from above, aiming directly for me and Number 26. The moment it was about to strike, a new energy projectile came hurtling from afar. The bolt exploded upon impact with the projectile, dispersing the energy just above my head.

    [Pain Nullification activated!]

    Though the psychic lightning pierced through my exoskeleton and seared my insides, the pain was bearable. The lightning summoned by Maelstrom was less potent than a direct psychic breath, and with Adhai¡¯s intervention, its destructive power had been further reduced.

    The psychic energy that struck me, triggered the activation of my psychic reflection armour. The energyposing the lightning bolt scattered in all directions like fireworks, losing its cohesion and potency.

    ?How dare you.??Such petty interference.?

    To a Gagon sensitive to psychic power, the sudden explosion was akin to a reunched by a fighter jet, momentarily disorienting Odd Grad.

    I sessfully disoriented Odd Grad''s vision and immediately activated "Abyssal Hue" folding all my wings tightly against my body. My form plunged downwards, allowing Odd Grad''s psychic beam to pass just above my head.

    Two of my horns snapped off once more, but I didn¡¯t care. Having dodged the attack, I spread my wings again, diving beneath Odd Grad.

    ?Cheap tricks!?

    Odd Grad''s horns gleamed as he tried to summon another bolt of lightning to strike down from above. But that was exactly what I anticipated.

    ¡®The real attack is still toe.¡¯

    As Odd Grad briefly paused to focus on controlling the lightning, I unleashed my hidden weapon. A mass of bubbles, imbued with the "Abyssal Hue", burst forth,posed of swirling greens, purples, and all manner of chaotic hues. These weren¡¯t just ordinary bubbles¡ªthey were empowered Watchers of Dread, hurtling towards Odd Grad.

    If Odd Grad tried to destroy them, it would only spell his doom. The moment one of those bubbles burst, Number 26 would guide the energy right back at him rendering him powerless. Even a single touch would incapacitate Odd Grad.

    Just as predicted, Odd Grad¡¯s reaction was immediate. He reflexively turned his attention to the bubbles, his tendrils glowing a deep purple as he prepared to fire another psychic breath. But something changed in an instant¡ªhis eyes shed with confusion.

    In a blink, the tendrils returned to their natural color, and Odd Grad frantically beat his wings, retreating at full speed. Theposure he had earlier was nowhere to be seen, reced by the urgency of a creature faced with a deadly threat.

    Number 26 tried to manipte the bubbles to stick to Odd Grad, but he had already pulled back far enough to evade them.

    The n to incapacitate Odd Grad with the enhanced Watchers of Dread had failed.

    ?You wretch!?

    Odd Grad¡¯s psychic wavesshed out from a distance, tinged with anger. But beneath that fury, I sensed other emotions¡ªcaution and fear.

    ¡®How?¡¯

    Odd Grad had been ready to attack the bubbles with his breath, even gathering the energy for it. Yet, at the veryst moment, he had stopped and retreated, as if knowing the danger my attack posed.

    ¡®...Did he recognize the Watchers of Dread? Could he know something about me?¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t understand how Odd Grad knew to avoid the "Abyssal Hue", but one thing was now clear

    Fighting this ck Gagon was going to be anything but easy.

 Chapter 218:

    Chapter 218:

    Odd Grad, having evaded the reinforced ''Watcher of Fear,'' did not attack us.

    He merely kept his distance, staying alert.

    Before the evasion, he had shown an air of arrogance, but now, that was entirely gone. He was extremely wary of us¡ªno, of me.

    My wing movements, the angle of my head, the auxiliary organs swaying gently in the wind, and even the tentacles of the glowing monster in shades of purple and green.

    ¡®I don''t understand.¡¯

    His gaze was fixed on the monster''s tentacles, as if he knew they posed a threat to him.

    ¡®ck Gagons don''t possess reconnaissance-rted abilities.¡¯

    Gagons don''t have characteristics like ''irvoyance'', which gathers surrounding information to detect entities beneath the ground or behind walls, or ''insight'', which analyzes the opponent¡¯s equipment or traits based on their appearance. Not even the Red Gagons, which appear only in events, have such abilities.

    Gagons are perfect creatures, capable of surviving even in space with their robust physical strength, powerful psychic abilities, long lifespans, and social nature that allows them to hunt in packs with their kind. There¡¯s no need for them to have reconnaissance-rted abilities.¡®But that''s uncertain.¡¯

    Even Adhai, after all, had shown a different sidepared to ordinary Gagons. Odd Grad might also not be a typical ck Gagon.

    ¡®Let¡¯s try using insight.¡¯

    In truth, when we went to find the Helside Ho, I did try using insight on Adhai once. It didn¡¯t provide any useful information, so it wasn¡¯t much help.

    There¡¯s a high chance that no new information wille from this one either, but there¡¯s nothing to lose by trying. I pped my wings, approaching it.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (I''m going to get closer to it. Help me.)]

    ?Sure.?

    Though I had nned to use the coordinated attack of Abyssal Hue and Number 26 as a trump card, the situation had already escted. Number 26, who had been moving cautiously to conceal its power, no longer needed to hold back.

    I struck the air hard with my wings, propelling myself forward. As the distance between us narrowed, Odd Grad''s horns began to glow a vibrant purple.

    From far above my head, I heard the growling sound of a tiger. It was the sign that a psychic storm, influenced by the ''Maelstrom'', was about to be unleashed.

    Purple lightning bolts cascaded behind me, and a tornado over 100 meters in diameter blocked my path ahead.

    The tornado sucked in the air with such force that my flight speed suddenly dropped. In that brief moment, just as the psychic lightning was about to strike me, Number 26 intervened.

    ?Ugh!?

    Have you ever seen a lightning bolt frozen in mid-air? What you could only see in a photograph was now happening right above my back.

    I could feel it through my auxiliary organs. Thousands¡ªno, an uncountable number¡ªof threads shot out from Number 26''s body, grabbing hold of the lightning. The psychic power, now immobilized, gathered at a single point in the air, directed by his will.

    ?!?

    Odd Grad, who had cast the Maelstrom, tried to regain control of the lightning toote. The psychic power that Number 26 had seized had already transformed into a purple arrow aimed at its life.

    Like an arrow shot by a god to y an evil dragon, the psychic power sliced through the dark clouds. Failing to maintain control, Odd Grad pped its wings frantically, dodging out of the way. The arrow changed course to target him, but his erratic movements made him difficult to hit.

    ?Big one, I''m exhausted. I can''t keep this up much longer.?

    [ZZZ (It''s okay.)]

    Thanks to its efforts, I was able to close in on the creature without any hindrance.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Help Adhai.)]

    ?Okay.?

    Just then, the small-bodied White Gagon, Adhai, was fiercely attacking Odd Grad at close range. Number 26 used its psychic power to support Adhai''s energy sts.

    ?You wretched creatures!?

    Odd Grad, with a wave of irritated psychic thoughts, began unleashing a barrage of psychic breaths. As Adhai dodged the high-speed beams with evasive manoeuvres, I activated insight.

    ?Name: Odd Grad

    Species: ck Gagon

    Status: Enhanced (Dragon''s Power, ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö)

    Abilities: Hyper-eleration, Psychic Breath, Dragon¡¯s Heart, and many more¡­?

    ¡®I see¡­¡¯

    Confirming the information through insight, I activated my own psychic breath. Unlike the usual purple glow, a bizarre mix of green, purple, and various other colors swirled around my body.

    This was a psychic breath enhanced by Abyssal Hue. The devastating bubble of unending hunger formed at the tip of my tentacle.

    The bubble-like breath flew towards him, aiming to engulf him. As soon as he saw the bubble, Odd Grad, which had been targeting Adhai, swiftly retreated.

    ¡®He noticed again¡­¡¯

    Odd Grad''s retreat gave me a brief moment to recall the newly obtained information.

    ¡®He has a special ability.¡¯

    This was evident from his ''status''. In addition to the ''Dragon''s Power'', there was another enhancement effect.

    All Gagons stronger than ck Gagons possess the unique ability ''Dragon''s Heart.'' When an ordinary yer has Dragon¡¯s Heart, they gain the enhancement known as Dragonification. For Gagons, it results in the enhancement known as Dragon''s Power.

    The issue lies in the enhancement effect following Dragon''s Power. A typical ck Gagon should only possess Dragon¡¯s Power, but this one had two enhancement effects.

    It¡¯s highly likely that this additional enhancement effect is rted to the mysterious ability.

    Unfortunately, insight did not reveal all of his abilities. Insight randomly shows an opponent''s equipment, skills, and traits rather than disying everything.

    It would be ideal to get closer and use insight again, but that doesn''t seem feasible. Having narrowly evaded my attacks twice, he was now extremely wary of me. Being a clever creature, he won''t allow me to approach it again.

    ¡®Maybe it''s fortunate that he¡¯s being passive.¡¯

    I don''t know how Odd Grad figured out my abilities, but because of that, his movements were restricted. If he had been more aggressive, this fight would have been much harder.

    ¡®I need to change my strategy.¡¯

    I sent a brief wave to Adhai. Although she hesitated and seemed flustered upon receiving it, when I sent a stronger wave, she eventually agreed.

    ?Big One? ?Body? ?Be careful?

    With those words, she flew off in the opposite direction.

    Odd Grad, whether Adhai left or not, kept his focus solely on me. He knew that even if Adhai attacked, she wouldn''t be able to cause any significant damage.

    ¡®He thinks the fight will end easily if he just takes me down.¡¯

    For him, that¡¯s a perfectly rational judgement. Of course, I expected him to think that way, which is why I acted ordingly.

    Then, the battle with him resumed. Thanks to Number 26, he adjusted the Maelstrom¡¯s range so that lightning wouldn¡¯t strike within his domain.

    Instead, he increased the number of tornadoes descending from the clouds to disrupt my movement. His intent was clear: to keep his distance and wear me down gradually.

    As expected, he kept as much distance as possible while unleashing his breath attacks.

    Although Number 26 had once neutralized the heat rays of Ham Ort, it couldn''t control Odd Grad''s breath. So, instead, it slightly altered the trajectory of the breath attacks to make them miss, assisting me in that way.

    ¡®That alone is a huge help.¡¯

    In truth, I had one trump card up my sleeve.

    If Odd Grad hadn¡¯t been so much stronger than I anticipated, or if he had been as dumb as the ck Gagons I knew, I would have used this strategy earlier.

    There¡¯s a trait I acquired after capturing the Mother of the Sky¡ªa fusion physical trait thatbines with the existing ''Synthetized Organs'' physical trait I already possessed.

    [Mimicry Organs: Inherits and enhances the effects of Synthesized Organs. When repeatedly subjected to energy-based attacks, this trait mimics the properties of the energy and reflects them onto the body.]

    [Note: Originality isn''t what matters in nature. What matters is how you survive.]

    ¡®Mimicry Organs¡¯ is simr to, yet different from, the ¡®Metal Absorption¡¯ trait, which allows one to consume metal and reflect its properties onto the body. As the description suggests, Mimicry Organs mimics the energy attacks of an enemy, providing resistance to that specific type of energy.

    For example, if I were repeatedly attacked with a smauncher, the Mimicry Organs effect would activate, significantly increasing my defense against sma-based attacks¡ªto the point where even a shard of my scales couldn¡¯t be broken by a sma weapon.

    This trait greatly enhances an Amorph¡¯s survivability, but ites with a drawback.

    You can''t gain resistance to another type of energy while already having resistance to one kind. For instance, if I¡¯m immune to sma, I can''t simultaneously be immune to psychic power. I¡¯d have to wait for the existing immunity to fade before acquiring resistance to psychic power.

    ¡®That¡¯s why Cult yers used to switch between various types of weapons.¡¯

    Of course, in my current situation, this isn¡¯t a major drawback. Gagons mainly attack with psychic power.

    The problem is that in order to gain the resistance effect from Mimicry Organs, I need to be continuously hit by the enemy''s attacks.

    When facing an enemy like Odd Grad, whose attacks my body can¡¯t withstand, it¡¯s hard to benefit from this trait. I¡¯d be dead before the Mimicry Organs could even activate.

    ¡®If the n hadn¡¯t gone awry, I could have made proper use of it.¡¯

    Originally, I intended to gain the resistance effect of Mimicry Organs during the hunt for the White Gagon. I could easily endure their psychic breaths.

    ¡®I should have prepared for this in advance.¡¯

    With Adhai and Number 26 around, I could have activated Mimicry Organs, albeit slowly, but I wascent. This situation arose because I didn¡¯t anticipate that it would attack so quickly.

    ¡®¡­Regret can wait.¡¯

    I curled my body and spun, using my winged arms to shield myself. A heat ray narrowly missed the surface of my wings by a hair''s breadth.

    ¡®As expected, this won¡¯t work.¡¯

    I considered letting the breath hit me to activate Mimicry Organs, but that¡¯s not going to happen. That dark purple heat ray isn¡¯t something I can just block with my body.

    ¡®I can¡¯t take risks without knowing his abilities.¡¯

    Whether I use Mimicry Organs or some other method, I first need to figure out his abilities to devise an effective countermeasure.

    ¡®It¡¯s unlikely that he can read information.¡¯

    Upon reconsideration, it seems improbable that he could be aware of the Abyssal Hue¡¯s effect, which even yers don¡¯t know.

    ¡®That leaves only one possibility.¡¯

    A power to sense danger in advance.

    Just like my ''Predator Sense'', he might be able to analyze his surroundings and produce miracles akin to foresight.

    ¡®This seems the most likely.¡¯

    He moved in advance, reacting to my ns without receiving any reports. Moreover, out of the twelve White Gagons, he came to assist the exact one I was targeting. Actions like these would only be possible if he had knowledge of the future.

    However, there¡¯s a lingering doubt. To my knowledge, there¡¯s no ability that can see the future on such a broad scale. Even my Predator Sense only warns me of imminent deadly threats.

    If he could perfectly foresee the future, there would be no way for me to win.

    ¡®No, that can¡¯t be it.¡¯

    If he had such an ability, he would have killed me long ago. There were plenty of opportunities, like when I first arrived on this or when I was weakened after my battle with Jason.

    The reason he didn¡¯t act then is simple.

    ¡®There¡¯s a limit to his ability to see the future.¡¯

    The crucial point is figuring out what those limitations are. Only by understanding them can I find a way to defeat him.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to start figuring that out now.¡¯

    And the ones who will assist me in this experiment areing up here.

    ?ck kin? ?Support?

    Two Gagons, onerge and one small, with white scales, were following behind me¡ªAdhai and Nel Germa.

    It seems like he thinks I¡¯m acting as bait while Adhai escapes, but that¡¯s not the case.

    She only pretended to retreat and then circled around to assist Nel Germa. Thanks to that, the two of them were able to quickly take down the White Gagon with broken wings and join me up here.

    Odd Grad red at us coldly.

    ?Nel Germa? ?Did you kill Jer Garuda??

    ?Yes.?

    ?Odd Grad¡¯s mate? ?What made you betray??

    ?Ham Ort? ?Told me? ?Odd Grad? ?Liar? ?Tyrant? ?Abandoned weak kin? ?Killed them? ?Agreed? ?Impossible?

    Odd Grad fell silent in response to Nel Germa''s rebuttal.

    After a brief pause, it transmitted its thoughts.

    ?Unfortunate? ?A rebel who does not repent? ?Only death awaits?

    ?Nel Germa? ?Will not die? ?The liar Odd Grad will die?

    ?The great Odd Grad? ?Will not die?

    After saying this, he shifted his gaze from Nel Germa to me. The wariness that had filled his eyes moments ago was reced with apletely different emotion.

    ¡®Mockery?¡¯

    ?The great Odd Grad never retreats? ?No matter how strong the enemy?

    Though the situation hardly seemed one for confidence, he was clearly mocking me.

    In that instant, it felt like lightning struck my mind.

    As soon as I realized what was happening, Adhai and Nel Germa urgently transmitted their thoughts to me.

    ?Great Elder? ?Over there? ?Kin? ?I can feel them!?

    ?White kin? ?Approaching?

    Although I couldn¡¯t see them yet, it was clear that his group was heading this way.

    ¡®Maelstrom! He used that to call his allies!¡¯

    There aren¡¯t many beings on this capable of causing such localized weather anomalies.

    With the exception of the ck Dragon Odd Grad standing before me,

    It was true that he was wary of my attack, but he also had a hidden n.

    ?The mighty Odd Grad? ?Formidable foe? ?Dangerous? ?I have defeated them all?

    He sends out a triumphant psychic wave. Despite his words, it was clear that he intended to stall for time until his kin arrived.

    ''Don¡¯t make meugh.''

    Those words about defeating all formidable foes and dangers apply to me as well.

    I, too, have ovee countless formidable foes and dangers to get this far.

    ''Don¡¯t think you¡¯re the only one who can call for allies.''

    This time is no different.

 Chapter 219:

    Chapter 219:

    As soon as Odd Grad sneered at me, he immediately retreated. Despite his triumphant demeanour, he flew off in the direction where his kin wereing from.

    ''He doesn¡¯t want to leave any risk behind''.

    He¡¯s the type that doesn''t shy away from showing his ugly side to win. The im that he has ovee every trial doesn¡¯t seem to be an empty boast.

    The number of Gagons sensed by my auxiliary organs keeps increasing. Most of the ones from the nest must have rushed out. Winning under these conditions is nearly impossible.

    ''I need to change my strategy''.

    To be honest, killing Odd Grad here doesn¡¯t seem feasible. He has a crisis detection ability that surpasses my ''Predator Sense''. Gaining information throughbat would be nice, but given our absolute disadvantage, that method is out of reach.

    So, there¡¯s only one option left for me.

    ''I need to retreat and regroup''.

    However, I have no intention of fleeing helplessly as he desires.''I¡¯ll destroy as many of his weapons as possible right here''.

    For instance, the approaching minions. If I can reduce the number of those Gagons, it¡¯ll make it much easier when I face Odd Grad again.

    ''For that, I need allies''.

    To reduce their numbers while evading his foresight, I have no other choice.

    The ''Predator Sense'' collects and calctes various surrounding factors to project the ''most likely future''. I don''t know exactly how his crisis detection works, but if it''s simr to mine, then the more unfavorable variables for him, the better for me.

    And those unfavorable variables are ultimately my abilities and my allies.

    ''At the very least, I need to call PS-111''.

    It can pilot the cruiser, which would be a huge help in getting us out of here.

    The question is how to summon it here....

    ''I have just the thing''.

    Just as he called his allies with ''Maelstrom'', I too have the power to cause weather disturbances¡ªthe Divine Spectre, which twists the atmosphere and shatters the sky.

    ¡®PS-111 will recognize my signal.¡¯

    It¡¯s stationed on the cruiser and would have noticed the oddities in the sky caused by Odd Grad''s Maelstrom. If I use the ''Divine Spectre'' here, it will understand my peril and move immediately.

    I raised my head toward the direction Odd Grad had retreated, where his forces wereing from.

    With my will, the powers spread throughout my body began to surge. As a result, my ck carapace and scales turned gold. The golden wave started from the tip of my tail¡¯s pincers, the ends of my fingers, and the edges of my fully spread wings, flowing into my chest.

    Under the tumultuous sky, filled with countless whirlwinds, my body shone brilliantly.

    I didn¡¯t need to think to know that Odd Grad would avoid my attack. But his iing Gagons were a different story.

    To inflict proper damage on them, I gathered more energy than usual.

    It had been a long time since I gathered this much energy, not since the battle with the Imperial Carrier. The firepower was about one-tenth of that time.

    Of course, that didn¡¯t mean it was weak by any means. On this, nothing but the Mother of the Sky could survive this attack.

    Having finished all my preparations, I opened my mouth. My upper jaw rose, and my lower jaw split open wide. Like a snake swallowing its prey, my mouth opened to its limit.

    And then, the energy gathered in my chest burst forth like an erupting volcano, unleashing the Divine Spectre. True to its name, the Brain God¡¯s Lightning shot out from my mouth.

    Like the chariot that drives the sun across the sky in ancient myths, the golden beam tore through the atmosphere.

    Whirlwinds, lightning, snowstorms followed in its wake. An immense thunderous roar, unmatched by any natural phenomenon, shook the''s atmosphere.

    Even Adhai and Nel Germa, whocked ears, shuddered at the supernatural vibrations caused by my divine power.

    Odd Grad, sensing the danger, abruptly dodged as he was retreating. The Divine Spectre passed beyond Odd Grad and stretched far beyond the horizon.

    Golden webs spread across the ck clouds that covered the''s atmosphere due to the power of the Divine Spectre.

    As expected, the Gagons couldn¡¯t evade the invisible attack in time. I deactivated the translucent text box that appeared in front of me and spread my wings wide.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (PS-111 wille. We just need to hold out until then.)]

    ?Yes! I¡¯ll punish those bad guys for messing with the little ones!?

    ?ck kin? ?Strong? ?Acknowledged? ?Order? ?Obey?

    ?Elder? ?Awesome?

    Adhai seemed pleased as Nel Germa¡¯s thought waves became more respectful. Just moments ago, both had been terrified, but now there was no trace of fear. The thought of being near a being with transcendent power had given them courage.

    ¡®Thank goodness''.

    Flying ahead of them, I checked the energy remaining in my body.

    I had used far more energy than usual, but I still had reserves. It was thanks to the ''Berserker Synapse'', which helped me manage my internal energy efficiently.

    ''I can use it two more times''.

    I could fire more if I weakened the power, but I have no intention of doing that.

    As I sped forward, the enemies came into view.

    Sevenrge White Gagons, nine rtively small and lean White Gagons, and fifteen Green Gagons. Behind them was the ck Gagon, Odd Grad.

    They weremunicating with each other through thought waves. I couldn''t tell what they were saying, but one thing was clear.

    The Green Gagons and the smaller White Gagons were frightened. They had just seen their kin turned to ash in midair.

    ¡®If it weren¡¯t for their leader, they would have retreated¡­''.

    One of therge White Gagons whipped a nearby Green Gagon with its tail. The other Gagons reluctantly prepared for battle.

    ¡®So, those must be Odd Grad¡¯s chosen ones''.

    They had indeed been nurtured well under Odd Grad''s favor. Judging by the psychic power emanating from them, they weren¡¯t as strong as Ham Ort, but they were far more powerful than the average White Gagon.

    ¡®I should target those seven if possible''.

    With my targets in mind, I charged toward the cluster of enemies. Following Odd Grad''smand, the Gagons unleashed their Psychic Breaths in unison.

    Dozens of purple beams shot towards me.

    These were attacks made of destructive psychic power. I adjusted the angle of my wings, weaving through the onught of breaths. Of course, even I couldn¡¯t dodge them all, and some of the attacks struck my scales and carapace.

    ?Pain Reduction Activated!?

    Each time, a text box appeared, and the heat beams reflected by my psychic repulsion armor bounced off into the clouds.

    A dull pain throbbed from the hit areas, but I paid it no mind. To gain the benefit of the ''Mimicry Organ'', I needed to take their attacks head-on.

    My current task was to get hit just enough to avoid critical injuries or death while still fighting. While engaging the enemies, I also had to calcte the cumtive damage to my body.

    ¡®This is when the Amorph¡¯s unique hyper-senses reallye in handy''.

    If I had to keep track of everything, my head would have exploded before the battle even started.

    Dodging what needed dodging and enduring what couldn¡¯t be avoided, I continued my advance. Behind me were Adhai and Nel Germa, using me as a shield and closely following.

    No matter how fast Adhai and Nel Germa were, they couldn¡¯t dodge all the breaths fired by the dozens of Gagons. So it was only natural for them to hide behind me, as I was bigger and had superior defenses.

    Once I judged that the distance had been sufficiently closed,

    With Odd Grad''s group ahead of me, I prepared to unleash a Psychic Breath of my own. But this time, it was the Abyssal Hue version.

    The tendrils of the creature dangling from the back of my head and neck writhed ominously. Seeing this, Odd Grad quickly sent out a thought wave.

    ?Be careful!?

    Odd Grad''s chosen ones retreated swiftly, but the other Gagons were slower to react. I unleashed my enhanced psychic breath towards them.

    The bubbles of destruction that dripped from the ends of my tendrils moved toward their targets, ready to consume them. Though these bubbles were minusculepared to the Gagons, their power was not to be underestimated.

    One unsuspecting Gagon learned this the hard way. The Green Gagon, too busy firing its heat rays at me to move, was startled the moment a bubble touched its tail.

    In an instant, the small bubble engulfed the tail like dye spreading in water, creeping up to consume its lower body.

    Gagons cannot scream due to their unique mouth structure. Instead, the thought waves of pain it emitted echoed through the air.

    I charged at the Gagon, which was still being dissolved by the bubble. With my lower jaw wide open, I aimed for the neck close to its head. The searing pain of its entire lower body melting rendered the creature unable to react to my attack.

    I mped down on the thin neck of the Gagon with my jaws and yanked hard. With a sound of bones snapping and flesh tearing, the creature''s head came offpletely.

    As its unpleasant thought waves, like nails scraping metal, abruptly ceased, the headless Gagon''s corpse plummeted to the ground.

    Satisfied with the result, I called out to Number 26.

    [ZZZ (Do your thing.)]

    ?Sure!?

    Number 26 waved its tendrils like a conductor, and the bubbles that had been devouring Gagon''s corpse rose into the air. The bubbles then hurled themselves at the other Gagons.

    One of the bubbles controlled by Number 26 engulfed a sluggish Gagon. Just as I had done before, I ended its suffering.

    ?Everyone scatter!?

    Odd Gradmanded, and the Gagons quickly spread out. With their distance widened, the coordinated psychic breath attacks with Number 26 hade to an end.

    ¡®Could''ve taken down more of them. Shame''.

    I swallowed the Gagon¡¯s head in one gulp. If it weren¡¯t for the current situation, I would have savored it, but there was no time for that.

    With his subordinates retreating, Odd Gradunched another attack. A powerful, dark purple breath, stronger than anyone else''s, came hurtling toward me. I beat my wings and soared upwards to evade it, heading towards his underlings.

    ¡®This way, he won¡¯t be able to attack¡­what?!¡¯

    Despite the risk of hitting his own underlings, Odd Grad fired his breath without hesitation. The psychic-powered st just missed my tail. However, a young White Gagon behind me was struck by Odd Grad¡¯s breath, leaving a hole in its wing.

    ?Great Odd Grad!??Young kin??In danger!?

    ?ck traitor??More dangerous??Sacrifice??Necessary?

    One of the chosen ones hurriedly sent a thought wave to his leader, but it had no effect. I grabbed the plummeting White Gagon with the hole in its wing and bit its head. The creature, which had been struggling in resistance, ceased all movement as its head was crushed.

    At that moment, an unexpected message appeared.

    [Predation Effect Activated!]

    ¡®What? Let¡¯s check it quickly!¡¯

    Normally, I¡¯d be thrilled at such a lucky break, but this was a battle. I quickly scanned the details and then called out to Adhai.

    [ZZZZ (Adhai).]

    ?Acknowledged.?

    Adhai, who had been fighting alongside Nel Germa against the other Gagons, shot toward me like a bolt of white lightning.

    For Adhai to grow, she needed to consume a White Gagon. But in the current situation, devouring a whole one was nearly impossible.

    ¡®Not sure if sharing it will work¡­¡¯

    Given the paradox of ''Ship of Theseus'', it¡¯s likely that it won¡¯t, but this is the only option we have right now.

    Grabbing Adhai and the White Gagon¡¯s corpse, I leaped into a nearby waterspout.

    The violent vortex would obliterate an unprotected human in an instant, but for me, with a body tougher than a ship¡¯s hull, it posed no threat.

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (I¡¯ll shield you, so take this.)]

    ?You insignificant creature!??How dare you!?

    As I sought refuge within the waterspout, attempting to feed Adhai the Gagon¡¯s corpse, Odd Grad¡¯s furious thought waves prated the storm, apanied by an overwhelming surge of energy rapidly closing in on us.

    Adhai and I quickly dodged, just in time to avoid the breath attack that obliterated the Gagon¡¯s remains I had been holding.

    ¡®So, he knows''.

    It was clear that Odd Grad was aware of the secret behind Adhai''s growth. The fact that he reacted so violently showed how much it feared this.

    ¡®He fears Adhai¡¯s growth¡­¡¯

    This was vital information, and I made sure to remember it as I shielded Adhai and exited the waterspout. The moment we emerged, a halo of purple light greeted us.

    ?Great Elder??Are you okay??

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ (I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry.)]

    Adhai, noticing the shattered scales and carapace on my body from the enemy attacks, was concerned.

    To be honest, it hurt a lot but I had to endure it.

    ¡®We¡¯re almost there''.

    The silver lining was that the pain was gradually diminishing with each hit, a sign that the ¡®Mimicry Organ¡¯ immunity system was kicking in.

    As I closed the distance with the nearby Gagons, enduring the heat rays, the creatures retreated the moment I got too close.

    Seizing the opportunity, I released Adhai and expelled a fungal mass into the air. The green, sticky clump began to defy gravity, propelled toward its target by Number 26¡¯s psychic power.

    The target was one of therger White Gagonpanions.

    It attempted to retreat, but Number 26 was faster. The flying fungus exploded like a ymore, dousing its wings in acidic spores.

    The once-white wings were quickly stained red as the acid did its work. The Gagon retaliated with a burst of purple lightning, burning away the fungus.

    A decent countermeasure, but it made a crucial mistake¡ªit failed to prioritize the immediate threat before it.

    It noticed me only at thest moment, firing a psychic breath as I swung my wed tail. Some of the psychic breath I absorbed reflected back, striking the Gagon¡¯s body.

    The White Gagon was momentarily stunned, confused by what had happened, but my natural il was already on its way to its abdomen.

    Just as the wed tail was about to strike, a massive ck dragon materialized above me.

    ?Die!?

    Odd Grad had used itspanion as bait, luring me in for a devastating blow. He smashed his heavy forelimbs down on my head.

    [Pain Nullification Activated!]

    Even in his aged state, Odd Grad¡¯s power was immense¡ªnearly equal to an Ice Horror¡¯s charge. The force nearly broke my neck.

    I pulled back, using the Gaze of Terror on Odd Grad. There was no time to add the Abyssal hue, though.

    For a brief moment, Odd Grad¡¯s eyes clouded over before clearing again. It had been affected, but as a ck Gagon with immense psychic resistance, he quickly shook off the effect.

    Then, images flooded my vision¡ªmy Predator Sense was triggering a warning of impending death.

    ?Insignificant wretch??Tricks??Won¡¯t work?

    Odd Grad unleashed another psychic breath. Thanks to Predator Sense, I detected the attack and ducked, narrowly avoiding death.

    ¡®Ugh!¡¯

    [Pain Nullification Activated!]

    The proximity was too close; although I survived, I couldn¡¯t escape injury. The dark purple breath obliterated the lower portion of my tail, leaving nothing but a clean stump where my wed tail once was.

    ?Weak creature??This will be your end?

    Odd Grad''s tendrils darkened into a deep shade of ck-purple, gathering power for a final, devastating attack. It was toote to dodge.

    I sensed Number 26¡¯s energy reaching out in desperation. Despite its impressive abilities, there was no way it could shield me from such an overwhelming force at this close range.

    ?Great Elder!?

    Adhai, who had spotted my peril from afar, raced to my aid, only to be intercepted by another Gagon.

    Time seemed to slow as Odd Grad¡¯s tendrils coiled tighter, focusing immense power. The moment of attack was imminent.

    But just as Odd Grad was about to unleash his deadly strike, a blinding light appeared from the opposite side of his head.

    ¡®The sun? No, that¡¯s not¡­¡¯

    This, like many others with life, has a star. But that light wasn¡¯t the sun¡ªit was too close, too sudden.

    I recognized the energy; it was familiar to me and the Gagons, akin to psychic power but mixed with strange impurities.

    I knew what it was.

    Odd Grad, blinded by the thrill of killing me, realized the danger toote.

    ?What¡­??

    As he turned his head, I quickly folded my wings and dropped below. Less than a secondter, a massive explosion erupted above me.

    As I fell towards the ground, I caught sight of a familiar craft.

    ¡°We have arrived to provide support, responding to Sub-Controller ¡®Amorph¡¯s¡¯ signal¡±.

    ?Wow! the friend hase!?

    The broadcast, emanating from the ivory-colored, diamond-shaped cruiser, belonged to a being both Number 26 and I knew well.

    The mutant Screamer, PS-111, developed by Star Union.

    It had followed the golden beacon and arrived just in time.

 Chapter 220:

    Chapter 220:

    -

    ¡®What happened?¡¯

    Mother of the Sky, who had been hiding, lifted her head to confirm that they had left.

    Not long after she began monitoring the nest, the Gagons suddenly started rushing out inrge numbers. It was as if they were responding to some urgent matter, quickly flying into the sky and disappearing from sight.

    ¡®Why are the Gagons... Could it be?¡¯

    She looked up at the overcast sky. It was still filled with dark clouds, but something was different. A golden light flickered intermittently within the clouds, which were pouring down snow and hail. It was as though lightning was flowing between the clouds rather than striking the ground.

    She realized that something was wrong. Something had gone terribly wrong.

    That lightning, or rather the psychic power that resembled lightning, was created by herpanion. It was a trump card that herpanion would use when fighting a formidable enemy. The fact that they were using this ability meant that herpanion was in danger.

    She hesitated, wondering whether she should go help, but then made up her mind.¡®Let''s do what I can.¡¯

    She rose to her feet and dashed toward the cliff where the nest was located.

    Thanks to the Gagons'' recent mass exodus, there were no White Gagons left in the nest. To be precise, there were none except for the captured Ham Ort.

    ¡®If I don''t do it now, it''ll be hard to rescue herter.¡¯

    She had already been informed by the Amorph that Ham Orth was of great value. With the Amorph drawing their attention now, this was the only opportunity to save her.

    ¡®And besides, she''s Adhai''s biological mother.¡¯

    She thought of the small-statured Gagon. Adhai harboured a mix of love and hate toward the mother who had abandoned her.

    If something were to happen to Ham Orth, Adhai would forever lose the chance to resolve those feelings.

    ¡®She can be a bit of a pain sometimes, but¡­¡¯

    Somehow, she didn¡¯t want to see Adhai suffer.

    ¡®If I can just get past the Green Gagon, I can make it.¡¯

    She would use the special power she possessed: ¡°the Camouge of the Huntress¡±.

    "It¡¯s better to use Wendigo."

    Though not the most powerful of the mystical beasts she could transform into, the Wendigo was far more suited for infiltrating enemy lines and rescuing key figures, as she needed to do now.

    She also had to consider the possibility of consecutive battles.

    Once she used the Camouge of the Huntress to transform, she wouldn''t be able to shift into another mystical beast for a month. To transform again, she would have to revert to her Griffin wolf form and wait a full month. So, given the potential for prolonged conflict, the Wendigo, with a transformation duration of five days, was the better choice.

    As she sprinted on all fours, she activated Wendigo.

    Then, the ck wave-like patterns on her body spread widely, enveloping her entire form. Her skeleton twisted, and the dense muscles that had been anchored across her body receded.

    As her skeleton reshaped, her spine straightened, and her hind legs grew thicker and longer than her forelegs. Where she had once run on all fours, she now sprinted on just her two hind legs.

    As she ran on two legs, she roughly tore away the remaining fur on her body. Golden fur and chunks of flesh were ripped away, revealing obsidian-ck bones and thinyers of skin beneath.

    Finally, she tore off the skin on her face. Beneath the torn skin was the ck skull of a bird, with massive horns rising majestically from her head. It should have been the head of a stag, but traces of her Griffon form remained.

    In the empty eye sockets, her distinct amber eyes glowed like will-o''-the-wisp.

    Now transformed into a Wendigo, her body structure was simr to when she took on her humanoid form, suited for bipedal movement. Of course, her appearance was far more eerie and grotesque than in her humanoid form.

    As she ran, she nced down at her body and let out a small sigh.

    ?This form is really not my favorite.?

    Now a Wendigo, Mother of the Sky, began to crawl down the cliff using her hands and feet.

    The nest¡¯s inhabitants had not yet detected her intrusion.

    The mes created by the cruiser¡¯s main cannon had obscured Odd Grad from view. While he burned in the inferno, I flew toward the cruiser where PS-111 was stationed.

    The other Gagons also targeted the ship that had attacked their leader. The ivory-colored ship began firing its cannons at the approaching enemies.

    Medium and small-sized cannons mounted on the ship¡¯s outer walls unleashed a barrage of fire. The purple-glowing bullets were aimed at the flying Gagons.

    While the White Gagons skillfully dodged, the younger Green Gagons weren¡¯t as fortunate. A few of the green-scaled Gagons fell, their wings riddled with holes.

    Seeing this, a White Gagon became enraged and began charging its breath attack. Noticing its tentacle bundles glowing purple, I elerated and rammed into it.

    ?!?

    The White Gagon was caught off guard and whipped its head around to face me.

    Its psychic breath struck the carapace of my head. The creature must have expected to see me plummet with a hole through my head, but unfortunately for it, reality defied its expectations.

    The reflected heat ray pierced through its neck instead. The light in its amethyst-like eyes faded away. I opened my jaws and bit down on the Gagon¡¯s head where it stood.

    ¡®I¡¯d like to give this to Adhai, but...¡¯

    I tried earlier, but their interference was too intense¡ªit¡¯s too difficult here. I tossed aside the headless corpse and prepared my own psychic breath.

    As thetent energy within me transformed into psychic power, a voice echoed from the cruiser.

    "I¡¯m d everyone¡¯s safe. Do you have a n?"

    The reason I called PS-111 here was because of the cruiser it¡¯s piloting. That cruiser is our only means of safely escaping this ce.

    Just as I was about to ry my thoughts to it, a high-powered psychic breath shot toward me from behind. I quickly ducked to avoid it.

    The target of the dark purple psychic breath wasn¡¯t me but rather PS-111 at the far end of the direction I was flying toward.

    The ship it was piloting urgently performed an evasive manoeuvre. However, the heat ray was so fast that it couldn¡¯tpletely dodge it and was struck near the rear.

    The rhombus-shaped cruiser staggered heavily, and I sensed the psychic wave emitted by Odd Grad behind me.

    ?Pathetic little dwarves!?

    Of course, the cruiser¡¯s main cannon can¡¯t kill a ck Gagon. As a psychic creature, it has resistance to cult weapons, and by the time a Gagon turns ck, its skin bes extremely thick.

    But that¡¯s not to say it took no damage at all. The scales on his left lower body, which had taken a direct hit from the main cannon, were peeling away, and blood was dripping down.

    Though the injury was closer to a severe scratch than a deep wound, he seemed enraged by the fact that he had been hurt by a surprise attack. From the look in his eyes, which were oozing malice, he seemed ready to tear the cruiser apart at any moment.

    ?Traitors!? ?For the crime of attacking Odd Grad? ?You shall pay with your lives!?

    ¡®Good.¡¯

    The more it focuses on the cruiser, the better.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Just keep him distracted for a bit)]

    ¡°Five minutes¡­ No, due to the recent hit, make that three minutes. We won¡¯tst any longer than that.¡±

    That should be enough.

    While PS-111 kept its attention, I flew toward where Adhai and Nel Germa were.

    The two of them were moving in perfect sync, as if they were twins.

    Adhai was using her small stature and quick movements to her advantage, weaving through the enemies. When she disrupted the Gagons¡¯ formation, Nel Germa, with her powerful firepower, sniped the isted Gagons.

    ?Small one? ?Trouble? ?Big one? ?First?

    After falling for the same tactic several times, Odd Grad¡¯spanions began moving to eliminate Nel Germa.

    ¡®Not on my watch.¡¯

    With no intention of letting that happen, I fired a prepared psychic breath at them. This time, it was a standard breath, not infused with the Abyssal Hue.

    They hurriedly scattered to avoid my attack, but one of them didn¡¯t escape in time. It was the one that had acted as bait for Odd Grad earlier. As it tried to ascend to safety, its lower body was blown off.

    [ZZ (Grab it)]

    ?ck kin? ?Command? ?Acknowledged?

    Hearing my psychic wave, Nel Germa quickly moved to grab the upper half of the corpse.

    With one of their own falling so easily, the remaining sixpanions were thrown into disarray. While they were still in shock, I called out to Nel Germa and Adhai.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (We¡¯ll retreat for now)]

    ?Many enemies? ?How??

    As they asked how we would escape, I exined the n to them.

    ?Difficult? ?But? ?Only way?

    ?Agreed? ?Big one? ?It¡¯s possible?

    ?Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll protect the big one!?

    Honestly, this n is quite risky, but they trusted me. I handed over the corpse of thepanion to Nel Germa and retreated. Leaving them to engage in another aerial battle with the Gagons, I flew toward the cruiser.

    It had only been a few minutes since the battle began, but the cruiser was already in shambles. It was barely floating in the sky with only its thrusters still functioning.

    As I flew, I sent a wave to PS-111.

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Can you overload the engine?)]

    ¡°The ship¡¯sputer system is moreplex than expected, but it is possible.¡±

    [ZZZZ Z ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Overload it and get ready to escape.)]

    ¡°Confirmed¡±

    As expected from something that¡¯s half-machine. Despite the dangerousmand that could get it blown to pieces, it immediatelyplied.

    ¡®Of course, I won¡¯t let it die.¡¯

    As I drew closer, Odd Grad turned his head and finally realized that I had killed one of hispanions.

    ?You...?

    Odd Grad didn¡¯t react much to the death of hispanion. Instead, the dark purple mes in his eyes just intensified.

    I bit into the female Gagon¡¯s head, then tossed the corpse toward him. For a brief moment, his gaze shifted to the corpse.

    The moment Number 26 used the corpse to obstruct his view, I unleashed the Abyssal Hue-infused ¡°Watcher of Dread¡±.

    The bubble that formed on top of my cranial shell flew toward him, hidden behind the corpse. This time, he must have sensed the danger in advance, as he hurriedly widened the distance.

    Using that opening, I quickly sent another wave to PS-111.

    [ZZZZZ ZZZZ (Now. Jump off.)]

    A few seconds after my wave reached it, the hangar of the ship opened, revealing PS-111. Without hesitation, it jumped off the tform of the hangar.

    The mutant Screamer was free-falling without any support equipment. I adjusted my wings to catch it.

    Folding my wings, my body plummeted sharply. Just as I was about to grab it, a second sun appeared in this¡¯s atmosphere.

    The clouds I had split with the ¡°Divine Spectre¡± were swept away by a massive explosion, disappearing once again.

    I tightly embraced Number 26 and PS-111 with my winged arms. Then, the explosion reached where I was.

    The force of the explosion,bined with the speed of my descent, brought me rapidly closer to the ground. Soon after, a violent impact struck my body.

    ¡®What about Odd Grad?¡¯

    Despite the pain relief messages flooding my mind, I ignored them and quickly looked up at the sky. Amid the dense clouds, only a blindingly bright orb remained.

    And outside that orb, I saw small dots. There weren¡¯t many dots outside the explosion''s boundary.

    ?ck butcher!? ?Butcher!? ?Unforgivable!? ?Unforgivable!? ?Unforgivable!?

    A psychic wave so intense that it could be felt even from the ground. The owner of the message, whose vocabry had be impoverished due to extreme rage, was Odd Grad.

    It¡¯s unclear how much damage he and his subordinates sustained, but I suspect it wasn¡¯t insignificant.

    Adhai and Nel Germa, who I had warned in advance, quickly escaped the st radius as soon as they felt the vibrations, but the others weren¡¯t so fortunate.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Now we¡¯ll hide and escape. Help me out.)]

    ?Okay! I¡¯ll help Big kin since you¡¯re hurt!?

    Due to the impact of the fall, the bones in my wing arms were shattered, and part of my cranial shell was broken. Fortunately, Number 26 and PS-111 were unharmed, having been protected in my embrace.

    Number 26 emerged and inted its body, using its psychic power to lift me slightly off the ground. Following my instructions, it began digging a tunnel using the Demon Crash.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ (We¡¯ll take the corpses along the way. PS-111 will assist with this.)]

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    There are many Gagon corpses around here that fell during our fight. Even if we gather only some of them, it will help Adhai grow.

    PS-111 started to move upon receiving mymand, but then suddenly paused.

    ¡°I have something to say.¡±

    [ZZ (What is it?)]

    ¡°I am modified to withstand atmospheric re-entry without significant issues. What was the meaning behind your recent actions?¡±

    I was momentarily at a loss for words upon hearing its statement. That¡¯s because I didn¡¯t know it either.

    ¡®Wait, now that I think about it, I might¡¯ve heard something like that before¡­.¡¯

    As I remained silent, having nothing to say, Number 26 answered in my stead.

    ?Big kin helped because he didn¡¯t want his friend to get hurt! Friends are like Big kin¡¯s family. Right??

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    Even though it was an action taken out of ignorance, there was no need to deny it. I quietly kept my mouth shut, and PS-111 bowed its head to me in gratitude.

    ¡°Thank you for your consideration, Amorph.¡±

    [ZZ (Alright.)]

    After that, we hid in the tunnel Number 26 had dug, out of the enemy¡¯s sight.

    An enraged Odd Grad cursed me and fired his psychic breath wildly into the forest. He seemed intent on not stopping until he had killed us all, but surprisingly, his onught soon ended.

    It appeared something had gone wrong at his nest, as his subordinates hurriedly returned the way they hade.

    ?ck butcher!? ?I swear by the name of the great Odd Grad? ?You will die by my hand!?

    With that final psychic wave, he disappeared along with his subordinates.

    ¡®Did the Mother of the Sky intervene?¡¯

    Just as PS-111 hade running upon seeing the ¡°Divine Spectre¡±, she might have also recognized that I was in danger andunched a diversionary attack.

    ¡®She¡¯ll be fine.¡¯

    It would be a lie to say I¡¯m not worried, but she¡¯s a ranker like me. I trust she¡¯ll escape safely.

    And so, the first encounter with the ck dragon ended.

    This time, it ended in what could be called a draw, but next time will be different.

    The next time we meet, he will die by my hand.

    ---

 Chapter 221:

    Chapter 221:

    ¡®Ah, I almost forgot.¡¯

    After the Gagon herd left, I emerged from the burrow and checked the text box.

    During the battle with them, the Predation Effect had triggered. Normally, when I don''t use the Mark of Formidable Foe, the chances of obtaining a gic essence are very low, but this time I got lucky. And it wasn¡¯t just any Gagon''s essence, it was from a White Gagon, not a Green one.

    When I opened the text box again, there were only 10 seconds left to make a choice. Startled, I quickly selected the trait acquisition.

    ?You have acquired the trait ''Gagon''s Horns'' from the ''White Gagon.''?

    ?The ''Gagon''s Horns'' trait has been applied.?

    ¡®Phew, that was close.¡¯

    As the trait was applied, the horns on my head began to mutate.

    The six horns grew significantlyrger than before. While my head carapace remained the same, the erged horns made my head feel noticeably heavier.There were also some detailed changes beyond just size.

    For one, thin scales sprouted in reverse across the surface of all the horns. These scales had a white tint, making it look as if the ck horns were cracked with white fissures.

    Moreover, two of the six horns had been broken before the mutation, and this was reflected in the change.

    Originally, there were two main types of horns on my head: a pair twisted into spirals, pointing forward, and four spike-like horns protruding sharply, aligned along my head carapace.

    Due to Odd Grad''s breath attack, the left spiral horn and thest of the four aligned horns had been damaged. They were in the process of regenerating, but with the mutation applied, their size and shape became uneven.

    The right horn was thick and robust, while the left one had jagged scales sticking out like saw des. The same went for the four aligned horns.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    It was an unexpected change, but it didn¡¯t seem to hinder their use as weapons. I reached out and touched my now even more grotesque horns.

    ¡®Gagon''s Horns, huh?¡¯

    The psychic trait associated with the ''Gagon''s Horns'' is very straightforward.

    Itpletely negates the effects of psychic power techniques.

    For example, take ''Reflection,'' which often annoyed me.

    Even if an enemy uses Reflection to protect themselves, my horns can pierce through it. The horns prate the Reflection barrier without resistance. Not just Reflection¡ªany other psychic power shield technique is also nullified.

    The nullification is limited to the horns. So, if my head carapace touches Reflection, my whole head will be repelled. However, the horns are sorge that it¡¯s not much of an issue when fighting regr cultists. Each horn easily exceeds 1 meter in length, which is only natural.

    ¡®This trait is extremely useful when fighting cultists.¡¯

    Unfortunately, when battling Gagons, there''s little opportunity for these horns to shine. They don''t use techniques like Reflection.

    After confirming the changes to my horns, I also reviewed the messages that had appeared during the fight.

    Although I failed to kill Odd Grad, this battle was still highly rewarding. I had sessfully hunted 28 Apex creatures by now.

    The Apex condition only counts creatures I kill directly. Thanks to using ''Divine Spectre'' against the Gagon herd, I was able to meet the quota all at once.

    ''Just two more, and I''ll have met the Apex condition.¡¯

    Of course, that doesn''t mean I''ll stop hunting Apex creatures afterward. I still need to obtain 10 unique traits and 6 different types.

    The Transcendence System has made acquiring unique traits somewhat easier, but it wasn¡¯t always like this.

    In the game, the traditional way to obtain unique traits was by hunting creatures that possessed them. This involved hunting high-tier Apex creatures like the ck Gagon or killing yers who had unique traits.

    Thetter involved killing enemies who utilized gic essences, such as Outspacer yers or gically modified MegaCorp yers.

    Naturally, even a ck Gagon is extremely difficult for a yer to hunt alone. Creatures like the Red Gagon or Arcane Orca are far more formidable.

    And yers who manage to obtain unique traits from hunting these creatures? Needless to say, each one of them is an elite, ranking among the top-tier yers.

    Therefore, acquiring unique traits in the game was never easy.

    So much so that fewer than ten people, including myself, managed to reach the adult stage of the Amorph. It was an incredibly tough barrier to ovee.

    ¡®In that sense, the Transcendence System is really groundbreaking.¡¯

    It hasn''t even been a year since I arrived in this world, and I¡¯ve already be this strong. As I was thinking that, my body suddenly floated into the air.

    Number 26 was using its psychic power to lift me, likely to move my injured body.

    [ZZ ZZZ (You¡¯re okay now.)]

    ?No, I¡¯ll carry you since you¡¯re still hurt, Big Kin.?

    The lower part of my tail hadn¡¯t fully regenerated yet. My wing arms were also in the process of bone regeneration.

    ¡®I might as well ept its help for now.¡¯

    After wobbling a bit, it seemed to get the hang of it and began to carry me properly.

    Soon after, PS-111 arrived, dragging the Gagon corpses along, and lifted them as well.

    ¡®Impressive.¡¯

    It showed no difficulty in lifting both me and the Gagon corpses with its psychic power. Truly befitting of a creature at the quasi-raid boss level.

    We carefully moved, carrying the Gagon corpses with us. There was no choice since Odd Grad could send more pursuers at any time.

    I had already informed Adhai and Nel Germa to meet at the nest. They were probably hiding somewhere in the forest, moving cautiously.

    About half a day after we started moving, the bones in my wings had nearly healed. So, I asked Number 26 to let me down.

    ?Big Baby, you¡¯re still hurt. You should rest when you¡¯re in pain.?

    [ZZZ ZZZ (I¡¯m fine now.)]

    The pincers on my tail still had a long way to go before fully regenerating, but they didn¡¯t hinder me much from moving on the ground. I received a few Gagon corpses from Number 26 and secured them tightly with my corrosive tentacles.

    "Those tentacles seem very versatile and useful."

    [ZZZZ (They are indeed.)]

    "If we want to incorporate this into future upgrades, we¡¯ll need gic information."

    [ZZ (No.)]

    I tly refused its request and continued to move with the Gagon corpses. Other than feeling a bit off-bnce due to my lower body, I seemed fine.

    After a brief rest, we resumed our journey toward the nest.

    Since I was now moving on my own, our pace had picked up considerably, though it was still slower than flying. After nearly an entire day of travel, we finally arrived near the nest I had built.

    As we approached the nest, Adhai and Nel Germa, who had arrived earlier, emerged from the forest.

    "Sub Controller 2 confirmed as Little Baby. It''s good to see you."

    ?Hello, Little Baby!?

    ?Little Elder? ?Wounded Child? ?Safe? ?Relief?

    Adhai greeted Number 26 and PS-111 before noticing me, with my still-regenerating tail, and looked startled.

    ?Great Elder? ?Injury? ?Severe? ?Are you alright??

    [ZZ ZZZZ (I¡¯ll be fine soon.)]

    ?Rest? ?Necessary? ?Return? ?Qui...? ???

    She stopped mid-thought, tilting her head in confusion. Hervender eyes, like flowers on the snow, were fixed directly on my horns.

    ?Horns? ?Different? ?Feeling?

    [ZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (They broke because of Odd Grad earlier.)]

    ?Broken? ?Different? ?Horns? ?Changed?

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ (They changed because I consumed prey.)]

    ?One side is bigger.? ?The other sharper.? ?It¡¯s got a wild charm.?

    ?I agree.?

    Adhai nodded, seemingly more pleased with the current appearance of my horns. Beside her, Nel Germa sent a telepathic wave of agreement as well.

    ?Do you like it when your appearance get bigger??

    "Some species of males use borate tails or horns to attract mates."

    ?I don''t understand what you mean.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Enough with the chit-chat. Was everything okay at the nest?)]

    At my words, Adhai suddenly remembered something, and her telepathic waves came flooding in.

    ?Great Elder? ?There¡¯s something important.? ?Very, very, very important!? ?We need to go to the nest right now!?

    [ZZ ZZ (What¡¯s going on?)]

    ?Nel Germa? ?Daughter of the Meteor? ?Agrees? ?ck kin? ?Home? ?Must check?

    Seeing the usuallyposed Nel Germa act this way made me uneasy.

    ¡®Could something have gone wrong at the nest?¡¯

    Or perhaps something severe had happened to the Mother of the Sky. I quickly checked the parasite in her head. Seeing it intact, I realized that there wasn¡¯t a critical issue with her body.

    ¡®Then why?¡¯

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (Is something wrong with the nest?)]

    ?Nest? ?No problem? ?Problem? ?Something else? ?Hurry? ?Confirm?

    Following the frantically urging Adhai, I rushed to the nest.

    Between the trees in the distance, the entrance to a half-buried underground cave came into view. Beside the entrance was something massive, red, and white.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    Just as the shape started to feel familiar, someone emerged from the cave.

    It was a beast with a thin, skeletal ck body, massive antlers like those of a stag, and the head of a wild animal, resembling a skull.

    This creature looked just like the malevolent Wendigo from ¡°Space Survival¡±.

    And that Wendigo-like beast stared at me. From its empty eye sockets flickered an all-too-familiar amber me.

    The Wendigo was, in fact, the Mother of the Sky disguised in the '' Camouge of the Huntress''. She had sessfully returned from observing Odd Grad¡¯s nest.

    As soon as she saw me, she gestured urgently.

    ?There¡¯s no time! The injuries are too severe; it won''tst much longer! You need to use the Symbiotic Bio-Spores immediately!?

    It wasn¡¯t until she spoke that I realized what the massive object at the cave¡¯s entrance was.

    Tattered wings, broken and twisted limbs, a torn tail, and shattered horns. This was the body of a brutally injured White Gagon.

    And I had encountered this Gagon before.

    ¡®Ham Ort? How?¡¯

    Adhai''s mother, whom I thought was dead, was still alive.

    ¡®No, I have something more urgent to do first.¡¯

    This creature is a critical source of information. I can ask how she survived and why she''s hereter.

    I created symbiotic bio-spores and applied them to the dying body of Ham Ort.

    As I attached them, I touched her body, but there was no movement. I couldn¡¯t even feel it breathing, making it clear the creature was on the brink of death.

    It was likely left outside the nest because the numerous harmful elements present within my nest could be lethal to any creature without my permission.

    Due to the traits I possess, the nest emits many harmful substances to other organisms. While these aren''t strong enough to threaten a White Gagon''s life, Ham Ort was critically injured. If she were left inside, she would most certainly be nourishment for the nest.

    ¡®Now that I¡¯ve attached them, let''s move her inside.¡¯

    Once the Symbiotic Bio-Spores were attached, Ham Ort could begin to benefit from their healing effects. I carefully lifted her body with my corrosive tentacles and gently ced her inside the nest.

    Perhaps it was due to the warmth rising from the nest, but I could sense a faint return of vitality in Ham Ort¡¯s body.

    [ZZZ ZZZ (What happened?)]

    ?It¡¯s a long story. I¡¯ll exin itter, so you should rest as well.?

    She was right, my tail injury hadn¡¯t fully healed yet either. Without another word, she left the cave.

    ¡®There¡¯s a lot to think about, but¡­.¡¯

    As the tension eased upon returning to the nest, I began to feel the weight of fatigue.

    ¡®For now, let¡¯s rest.¡¯

    I closed my eyes above the warm mire.

 Chapter 222:

    Chapter 222:

    I woke up in a hospital after clearing the Space Survival.

    My parents, who had separated after I became an adult, were there, hugging me and crying. They held me tightly, repeatedly murmuring how relieved they were that I was alive.

    To some, this might seem natural, but to me, it was an unfamiliar sight. While I was in the hospital, my parents would always me each other.

    But was I also hoping for a harmonious family? For some reason, tears welled up in my eyes, and I cried together with them.

    Once they finally calmed down, my parents spoke to me.

    They wanted to start over.

    Although, legally, they were already strangers, they hoped to slowly rebuild their rtionship.

    Seeing them, I realized an unwanted truth.

    I was dreaming.My parents loved me, but their rtionship with each other was never good. Even if I were to die, there would be no chance of them reuniting.

    The moment I realized it was a dream.

    I opened my eyes, finding myself above a swamp.

    ¡®How long have I been asleep?¡¯

    I checked my lower body and tail. My tail, covered in mucus, was intact, with no wounds. Even thepletely lost w had fully recovered.

    Perhaps because I glimpsed reality through the dream, I suddenly wished I had this kind of healing ability when I was human. If I did, my parents wouldn''t have divorced, and I wouldn¡¯t have lived a lonely life at home without a single close friend.

    ¡®¡­Such pointless thoughts.¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t even time to evolve, so why did the past suddenly appear in my dream? It only left me feeling worse.

    I shook my head, trying to shake off both the mucus and the negative thoughts. The ripples I caused in the swamp were blocked by an object in front of me.

    It was Ham Ort, a White Gagon lying there with symbiotic bio-spores attached.

    Compared to when she first entered the nest, she had improved, but she still wasn''t in a good state. While her broken legs and torn tail had healed, her wings hadn¡¯t even half-regenerated.

    The horn on her head remained broken. Although we¡¯d have to wait and see, it seemed there was a chance she might never fully recover.

    After checking on Ham Ort¡¯s condition, I stood up. As soon as I stepped out of the nest, the first thing I saw was an enormous, bright pink jellyfish.

    It was Number 26, with its body maximally inted. Through the gaps in its pink tentacles, I could see the heads of Blue Gagons with blue scales. Just as it had done on the cruiser, it was holding the cold-sensitive Blue Gagons tightly within itself.

    ?Little one, are you not in pain??

    [Z ZZ ZZZ (Yes. I''m fine now.)]

    Seeing me, it raised one of its tentacles and waved it gently.

    Looking around, I noticed several pits that weren¡¯t there before I fell asleep. Branches were covering the tops of the pits.

    ¡®So they were hiding here.¡¯

    It seemed that when the cruiser left, the Green Gagons and Blue Gagons dug into the pits. We had also maintained body temperature in a simr way after the fight with Jason, so it was easy to figure out.

    Currently, instead of Green Gagons, the pits were filled with the corpses of other creatures.

    ?The middle one brought them. You can eat too if you¡¯re hungry.?

    The recovery of my body and the emptiness in my stomach were separate issues. dly following its suggestion, I pulled out one of the corpses from a pit.

    It was a Snow Banshee, grotesquely twisted, with its tongue ripped out. The cold emanating from it suggested it had been dead for quite some time.

    I had eaten this one a few times before. It tasted like a mix of jerky and dried squid.

    I put the meat in my mouth and chewed. Since it already tasted like a snack, the coldness didn¡¯t bother me much.

    While chewing on the cold Snow Banshee, I asked PS-111.

    [ZZ ZZZ (Where are the others?)]

    ?The ppy one went hunting. The middle one has something to say to the little one and the big ppy one.?

    The ¡°big ppy one¡± it referred to was Nel Germa.

    Number 26 gestured with one of its tentacles, pointing toward the forest.

    ?They went that way together.?

    [ZZZ (Thank you.)]

    After quickly finishing off one of the corpses, I crawled in the direction it indicated.

    A forest emerged, where only ck and white existed, like a chessboard. The ground was lightly covered in snow, with ck trees growing above it. Dim light filtered through the densely intertwined branches.

    As I moved through the sombre forest, I sensed the movements of three creatures, all varying in size.

    And then, the scent of blood.

    The scent of blood lingering low in the forest was quite familiar. It was the blood of a White Gagon.

    ¡®Adhai must have fed on the Gagon¡¯s corpse.¡¯

    It seemed they had noticed me as well, as a small creature approached from the other side. Soon, the Mother of the Sky appeared between the trees, resembling a Wendigo.

    ?You¡¯re here? How¡¯s your body??

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (I¡¯m fine. Thanks to you, I even managed to eat.)]

    ?I wasn¡¯t sure when you¡¯d wake up, so I caught a lot, just in case. I¡¯m d to see you¡¯re okay.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (How did you manage to bring Ham Ort?)]

    ?Oh, but there¡¯s something I need to tell you first, about Adhai.?

    [ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (That reminds me, where is Adhai? Is she fully grown now?)]

    She fell silent at my question, scratching her skull with a hand covered in ck fur.

    ?It¡¯s hard to exin¡­ you should see for yourself.?

    She signalled me to follow with a slight beckon of her finger.

    For a moment, I wondered if something had gone wrong, but her demeanour suggested otherwise. Her reaction was more akin to the awkwardness of encountering something unexpected.

    Following her led us to a small clearing. Amidst scattered chunks of meaty the white Gagon, Nel Germa. She noticed me and gave a slight nod.

    Behind her was a Gagon I had never seen before.

    Its length was around 4 to 5 meters¡ªslightlyrger than the Mother of the Sky when she transforms into a Griffon.

    It had six horns on its head, long tendrils dangling from its mouth, and a serpentine body¡ªall traits characteristic of a Gagon, except for one key difference.

    The wings. The small Gagon had four wings instead of two.

    Gagon wings are usually located on the upper back, close to the chest. Like the others, this Gagon hadrge wings positioned on its upper back, near its front legs.

    Additionally, it had a smaller pair of wings attached near where the hind legs connected to the tail.

    In the game, there is only one type of Gagon with four wings.

    The most powerful of all Gagons, possessing strengthparable to the Vortex One: the Red Gagon.

    ¡®But¡­¡¯

    The Red Gagon, as the name suggests, is covered in red scales. Unlike the psychic powers used by other Gagons, the Red Gagon wields a unique energy system known as Dragon Power, which makes its scales shimmer with a mystical, ruby-like brilliance.

    However, the Gagon standing behind Nel Germa was not red.

    Or more precisely, the red color was limited to its wings and horns. Its wings and horns glowed a vivid crimson, as if soaked in the blood of a Gagon.

    Yet, the rest of its body remained as white as the snow piled up in the clearing.

    A faint wave of thought emanated from the hybrid Gagon, whose red and white colors were intermingled.

    ?Elder??I??Failed??I¡¯m sorry?

    Hearing the apology from the half-grown Adhai, I found myself at a loss for words.

    Disappointed? Honestly, it would be a lie to say I didn¡¯t feel that way, but that wasn¡¯t the reason.

    The real reason for my shock was that I couldn¡¯t understand the situation.

    ¡®A half-grown Red Gagon¡­¡¯

    There wasn¡¯t any creature like this in the game¡ªnot even as an event.

    The Red Gagon was supposed to be a raid boss, a transcendent being that ruled over all Gagons. There should be no middle ground in its growth.

    Moreover, if the transition from White to Red Gagon failed, it would naturally turn into a ck Gagon, wouldn¡¯t it? I couldn¡¯t understand why Adhai had be this hybrid, with traits of both White and Red Gagons.

    My mind raced as I examined it again. No matter how I looked at her, she clearly had four wings. Although they drooped and hung above the snow, they were unmistakable. The wings, like the horns, were as red as blood.

    At that moment, our eyes met. Her eyes, as beautiful as amethysts embedded in ice, were filled with an anxious light.

    I flinched, suddenly reminded of a simr gaze from long ago.

    Whenever my parents fought, I would hide in the closet. Every time, I would face the mirror attached to the closet door.

    The look in her eyes now was very much like someone¡¯s eyes reflected in that mirror back then.

    ¡®...Calm down.¡¯

    Forcing myself to stay calm, I sent out a wave of thought.

    [ZZZ ZZZ (What happened?)]

    ?I??betrayed??the Elder¡¯s expectations?

    [ZZZ Z ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (That¡¯s not true. I¡¯ve never once thought you¡¯ve let me down.)]

    It was the truth.

    Number 26, Adhai, the Mother of the Sky, and PS-111¡ªthey all supported and sustained me. Not once had I ever felt disappointed in them. They always exceeded my expectations, and if Icked in any area, they filled in the gaps.

    My emotions must have reached Adhai, as she seemed to calm down a bit. Seeing that she was stable, I asked again.

    ?Corpse??After feeding??During growth??I felt something bad?

    [ZZZ ZZ (Something bad?)]

    ?Growth??Completion??I??transform into the Savior??The only ruler of my kind??The Red Queen?

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Yes, when you fully grow, you¡¯ll be the Red Queen of your kind.)]

    At my words, Adhai shook her head, looking at me with sorrowful eyes.

    ?If that happens??I won¡¯t be able to stay by the Elder¡¯s side anymore?

    [ZZZ (What?)]

    ?The Red Queen??must lead the prosperity of her kind??That is her sole mission??Elder??Little Elder??Friend??Sick child??We all must part ways?

    Hearing those words, something suddenly clicked in my mind.

    ording to the lore, the Red Gagon was akin to a king among Gagons¡ªa being thatmanded all Gagons and reigned over them.

    And a king cannot exist without a kingdom.

    ?I??struggled with this??I resented my kind??Ham Ort??But I didn¡¯t want to see them die??So??I thought of walking the path of the Savior?

    As I quietly listened, Adhai continued to send her thoughts to me.

    ?I chose??to have both the Savior and the Elder?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (So, you gave up on bing the Red Queen?)]

    In response, Adhai sent a wave of denial.

    ?I cannot refuse??the mission of the Red Queen??But I postponed it?

    [ZZZ (Postponed?)]

    ?I¡¯m stillcking??I have much to learn from the Elder?

    Adhai emerged from behind Nel Germa and approached me. Then, she respectfully bowed her head before me.

    ?I belong to the Elder¡¯s group??Will the Elder ept me??

    While I was sleeping, Adhai had made an important decision.

    Though it was a decision made in a short time, I didn¡¯t think it was a rash one. Even if it was, I couldn''t belittle her decision.

    It chose to forgo the throne and stay by my side.

    ¡®Adhai will be helpful to me.¡¯

    I wasn¡¯t sure how much stronger she had be, but she must have surpassed a regr White Gagon. With some luck, she might even be able to use the Red Gagon¡¯s unique Dragon Power.

    It would be a valuable asset not only in battles against Odd Grad but also in future confrontations with other formidable foes.

    ¡®...But it¡¯s not just that.¡¯

    If I had intended to let her leave, I wouldn¡¯t havee this far. Neither her nor Number 26 would ever be given away to anyone else.

    I approached Adhai, extended my arm, and patted her trembling head.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ (You¡¯re always wee here.)]

    It was uncertain whether she would eventually grow into a ck or Red Gagon. However, the nuance of postponing suggested that growth wasn¡¯t entirely impossible.

    So even if she doesn¡¯t be a Red Gagon, she might still evolve into a ck Gagonter on, though I don¡¯t know how.

    ¡®That¡¯s something to figure outter.¡¯

    Adhai, now transformed, seemed like she would be useful in the fight against Odd Grad. Even if she hadn¡¯t grown stronger, that was fine.

    The red horns and wings.

    The meaning behind those symbols would be better understood by Gagons than by me.

    ¡®It might even provoke internal strife if things go well.¡¯

    With that thought, I continued to pat Adhai¡¯s head.

 Chapter 223:

    Chapter 223:

    Adhai''s growth issue is resolved, but there are still some matters left to address.

    Originally, I had included the Red Gagon in the n to conquer Odd Grad, but that card is no longer yable.

    ¡®So, I need to revise the n to fight without the Red Gagon.¡¯

    Despite her decision, it¡¯s hard to ignore the missed opportunity.

    The Red Gagon is, both by design and in actual gamey, a top predator more terrifying than the Sea Demon or ck Gagon. There are very few creatures more powerful than the Red Dragons.

    However, I can''t expect such strength from the current Adhai. How much of the Red Gagon''s power she can wield remains uncertain, but it will definitely be weaker than the original.

    ¡®I¡¯ll look into thatter.¡¯

    For now, there are things I need to check first. I looked up at the Mother of the Sky.

    She had entered the nest herself to rescue Ham Ort. There are many things I need to ask her, like how she managed it, the size of the enemy forces, and their condition.?I knew you used the Divine Spectre by looking at the sky.?

    Already aware of what I wanted to ask, she slowly began to exin what happened in the dragon¡¯s nest.

    ?I debated whether I should retreat to support you, but since I can''t fly, I thought rushing there wouldn''t be helpful. It seemed better to attack the nest instead, so that¡¯s what I did.?

    [ZZ (Makes sense.)]

    ?I thought it was worth a try since the White Gagons had all left the nest. Entering the nest wasn¡¯t difficult either.?

    The ck fur of the Wendigo hosts minute-sized bacteria. While these bacteria don''t cause significant harm to other beings, they do induce temporary cognitive impairment.

    The Wendigo can intentionally spread the bacteria from its body. Those who inhale or be infected experience a temporary loss of direction, confusion of the senses, and other disorienting effects.

    ¡®A perfect ability for infiltration or surprise attacks.¡¯

    She must have known the Wendigo as well as I did, which is why she transformed into it.

    For reference, this ability can only be used when transformed into a Wendigo, as the bacteria are generated from its ck fur by design.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (How many Gagons were in the nest?)]

    ?I couldn¡¯t check urately since I tried to avoid them as much as possible, but just the Green Gagons alone seemed to number over 50.?

    [ZZZZ ZZ (That¡¯s a lot.)]

    Considering the Gagons she didn¡¯t see, as well as the hatchlings, the Odd Grad group likely has close to 100 members.

    As far as I know, a single Gagon group rarely exceeds 60 members. If their numbers grow beyond that, it bes difficult for them to secure enough food.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, when I first fought the mutant Screamer here¡­¡¯

    Because of its self-destruction, a fire broke out in the forest, burning many creatures alive. The Gagons that flew in at that time were busy grabbing food rather than anything else.

    Gagons enjoy hunting live creatures. They do eat dead ones, but it¡¯s a lower priority. Yet, the Gagons were focused on carrying away the charred remains.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (They must be starving.)]

    ?I didn¡¯t check where the eggs were stored, but I think so. They have too many mouths to feed.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Even with all those numbers, you managed to rescue Ham Ort.)]

    ?It was a close call. But the situation was favorable.?

    [ZZ ZZZ (What do you mean?)]

    ?Ham Ort was also waiting for the right moment. As soon as I met her and briefly exined, she understood right away. Thanks to her cooperation, we were able to minimize the fighting.?

    I was slightly surprised by her words. Indeed, it must be said that Adhai¡¯s mother has an extraordinary sense of judgment and courage.

    She exined that, thanks to the rescue target¡¯s active cooperation, she didn¡¯t face much difficulty escaping the nest. It was due to the Wendigo¡¯s powerful special ability, "Spirit of Ice."

    Creatures afflicted by the Spirit of Ice lose all reason due to an abnormal hunger. She used this to cause the Green Gagons circling the nest to go berserk, diverting the enemy''s attention.

    Moreover, the cliff, which she had anticipated would be the biggest obstacle in the escape, was easily ovee thanks to Ham Ort''s suggestion.

    ?Originally, I nned to climb up and escape, but Ham Ort mentioned that there was water flowing below the cliff. So, we made our way out through there.?

    As they jumped off the cliff, Ham Ort used her psychic power to slow their descent. As a result, both of themnded on the water without sustaining any serious injuries.

    ?If we had been even slightly slower, it would have been dangerous. Odd Grad returned while we were escaping.?

    It was a remarkable coincidence. If she had returned to the nest or if the rescue of Ham Ort had taken just a bit longer, they both would have been doomed.

    After escaping through the waterway, she returned to the nest.

    ?When I got back, everyone was hiding in the pits they dug in front of the nest.?

    ¡®So, those were the pits I saw earlier.¡¯

    They almost attacked the Mother of the Sky when they saw her transformed into a Wendigo, but thanks to Ham Ort, a fight was avoided.

    ?After that, I went out for food hunting and scouting whenever I could. Just in case you brought a Gagon back with you.?

    [ZZZ (Good job.)]

    As expected of a Ranker, her situational judgment and actions were appropriate. When I praised her, the amber mes that flickered in her eye sockets swayed gently.

    ?Praise has bemon from you recently, Amorph.?

    [ZZZ (Should I take it back?)]

    ?I¡¯m kidding. By the way, Ham Ort also mentioned something strange about Odd Grad having a peculiar power.?

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Yes. He can predict danger.)]

    ?Predict danger??

    At my words, the Mother of the Sky scratched her ck skull with her hand.

    ?Are you talking about foresight? It wasn¡¯t that great in the game.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Not here. He can actually read the future.)]

    Understanding the implications of my words, she straightened her posture. She knew as well as I did how problematic it was for a top predator like the ck Gagon to have the ability to read the future.

    ?¡­This won¡¯t be easy. How far into the future can he see??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Less than 5 minutes before a life-threatening situation urs.)]

    I couldn¡¯t say for sure how far ahead he could see, but it was certain that he could respond to life-threatening situations.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, Ham Ort mentioned fighting him.¡¯

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (You said Ham Ort told you, right? I¡¯ll have to ask her when she wakes up.)]

    ?Huh? I¡¯m not sure if Ham Ort knows.?

    [ZZZ (What?)]

    ?The ability she described wasn¡¯t the foresight one. It was something different.?

    [ZZ ZZZ Z ZZZ (He has another ability?)]

    Her words caught me off guard.

    ?It¡¯s not abat-rted ability like foresight. Actually, it¡¯s debatable whether it¡¯s even an ability at all.?

    [ZZ ZZZZ (What is it then?)]

    ?ording to Ham Ort, he possesses a mineral that has the power to deceive his own kind.?

    [ZZ (A mineral?)]

    As soon as she said that, something came to mind.

    ¡®A gemstone? Could it be?¡¯

    He was wearing arge ring with a refined gemstone set into his forepaw.

    Gagons are intelligent, but they have no concept of adorning themselves with equipment or clothing. So, I thought it was unusual when I saw his ring.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Now that you mention it, he was wearing a ring with a gemstone.)]

    ?A gemstone ring. That must be it. Ham Ort said that he never separates himself from the mineral that holds this power.?

    If Ham Ort¡¯s words are true, it exins why Odd Grad, despite having an abnormal personality for a Gagon, couldmand so many of his kind. Never mind where that ring came from.

    ¡®Whatever it is, the fact that the ring is the key to his control is crucial information.¡¯

    What if he loses the ring during battle?

    His followers would be thrown into chaos. They¡¯re already starving, and their leader is using a suspicious method to control his own kind.

    If used wisely, this could be a fatal blow to Odd Grad.

    I looked down at Adhai, who was rubbing her head against the back of my hand.

    Seeing her gave me ideas on how to approach the battle against Odd Grad.

    ¡®Good.¡¯

    I had gathered enough information from the Mother of the Sky. As I organized the information, I thought about what needed to be done next.

    There were three tasks remaining.

    Wait for Ham Ort to wake up, and then¡­

    ¡®Check Adhai¡¯s abilities and activate my mimic scales.¡¯

    Both were rted issues and could be dealt with at the same time.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Let¡¯s head back to the nest. There¡¯s a lot to do.)]

    ?Right.?

    ?Finished? ?talking??

    [ZZZ (Yes.)]

    At my response, she gently lifted her head from my hand. Perhaps due to the mixture of Red Gagon traits, she looked somewhat different.

    Of course, her body had grownrger, and the color of her horns and wings had changed, but there was something fundamentally different about her.

    ¡®Her thought waves have changed.¡¯

    Previously, her thought waves were sent in short bursts, filled with raw emotion. Now, they were much more refined, simr to how Number 26 or Odd Grad conveyed their thoughts.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ (You¡¯ve gotten better atmunication.)]

    ?Is? ?change? ?bad??

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (No. Growth is a good thing.)]

    Her thought waves were simple, which sometimes made them difficult to understand. This was much easier for me.

    ¡®Though, I do feel a bit nostalgic.¡¯

    With that thought, I picked up the remaining Gagon corpse.

    As Adhai, the Mother of the Sky, Nel Germa, and I returned to the nest, we saw the Green Gagons that had gone hunting.

    They were clinging tightly to Number 26¡¯s body, just like the Blue Gagons had done before. The cold of this was something even Gagons found hard to withstand.

    ¡®Should I imnt them with symbiotic bio-spores?¡¯

    Then, the Gagons noticed us and detached themselves from Number 26. They approached us, lowering their wings and upper bodies close to the ground while bowing their heads.

    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯

    All of their horns were pointed toward one single being.

    It was Adhai, who was perched on my back.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    This was the first time other Gagons had reacted this way to Adhai. Although she hadn¡¯t fully be a Red Gagon, it seemed that the other Gagons didn¡¯t see it that way.

    After bowing in unison, the Gagons raised themselves and brought out the corpses they had buried in the pit, cing them in front of me. Their actions resembled servants offering food to their master.

    ¡®No, in this case, it¡¯s more like subjects presenting a gift to their queen.¡¯

    Adhai tilted her head in confusion, not understanding why they were doing this.

    ?I¡¯m? ?full? ?No need? ?to give? ?food? ?You? ?eat?

    ?Thank you?

    Only after she declined did the Green Gagons begin to eat the food they had caught. While they ate, I attached symbiotic spores to their bodies.

    Then, I gave a portion of the remaining White Gagon remains to Number 26.

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Eat up. We have work to do.)]

    ?What work??

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (I need both you and Adhai.)]

    ?Got it. Big baby can count on me!?

    She¡¯s always so encouraging, never failing to say something nice.

    Feeling grateful, I raised my winged arm and gently patted her. She shimmered with delight, glowing brightly.

    After sharing the Gagon corpse with Number 26, I set out from the nest with the two of them.

    ¡®This should do.¡¯

    Stopping at a suitable clearing, I exined to Adhai and Number 26 what we would be doing here.

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (First, we¡¯ll test the new power Adhai gained.)]

    We needed to see how much of the Red Gagon¡¯s power she could harness.

    ¡®The Red Gagons use a new type of power called Dragon Power.¡¯

    Depending on how much she can wield it, our schedule might need some adjustments.

    To grant psychic resistance to my mimic scales, I need to be exposed to pure psychic power attacks. Developing resistance to Dragon Power wouldn¡¯t be useful right now.

    The resistance effect provided by the mimic scales only applies to one type of energy at a time. It takes several days for the immunity to reset, so we have to be careful not to waste time.

    ?Should? ?I try it now??

    [ZZZ ZZZ (Yes. As much as you can.)]

    As I nodded, Adhai¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement.

    Then, a red aura began to emanate from her body.

 Chapter 224:

    Chapter 224:

    -

    Ham Ort was dreaming.

    The Queen of Pure White, the mate of the Great Odd Grad, and the traitor.

    She bore names of both praise and scorn, but it wasn''t always like that.

    Before her eyes, she saw a familiar face as she opened her eyes. It was the ck-scaled male she had met when she had just shed her white scales.

    His name was Odd Grad, the one with impressively curved horns and intelligent eyes.

    When he first became the leader, he was a male beyond what one could imagine now. He cherished his kin and young hatchlings more than anyone, and when the group faced crises, he knew how to handle them wisely.

    That was why she admired him¡ªnot because he was the leader, but because she loved his wisdom, his strength, and his kindness.

    His pure face blurred for a moment, then became clear again.Now, his face was very different from before. The horns on his head and the smooth scales were the same, but there was one crucial difference.

    The eyes that were once full of intelligence were gone. Instead, there remained an inexplicable fury and infinite hatred.

    For what reason did this once-kind being change so drastically? Was it the burden of leading the group, or was there another reason?

    The reason is unknown, but that is not the important part.

    What matters is that the ¡®Great¡¯ Odd Grad she once loved haspletely vanished from this world.

    The ck-scaled leadermanded her.

    He ordered her to kill her daughter.

    As the group grew, more and more of their kind were unable to receive proper nutrition. Even the healthy hatchlings weakened with every change in the stars.

    In such circumstances, her daughter, who was born small, was nothing but a drain on resources.

    She knew that he wasn''t wrong.

    Yet, she still wished for her daughter to live as long as she could.

    One day, her daughter might go out to hunt with her weak body and be hunted instead. Or she might lose inpetition for food with others and starve to death.

    The world they lived in was harsh and cruel. She knew she couldn¡¯t change the world.

    But, she didn¡¯t want to kill her daughter just because she was deemed useless.

    So, she made up her mind.

    She would use the thieves who came to steal the eggs.

    The image of Odd Grad in front of her faded away like mist. In its ce, familiar darkness appeared.

    She pped her wings in the infinite dark space she had always looked up at from her nest or hunting grounds.

    A small light appeared far off in the distance.

    It looked like the starlight that blessed her daughter when she was born, but in reality, it was a much smaller light.

    The light that carried the daughter of the meteor gradually shrank and soon disappeared.

    As the world plunged into darkness, she opened her eyes above the swamp.

    -

    The Red Gagon is one of the top ten most dangerous predators. Despite being called a Gagon, it''s so different that it could be considered another species entirely.

    In addition to the psychic powers used by ordinary Gagons, these creatures possess a unique power system known as ''Dragon Power.''

    There are various types of Dragon Power techniques, but they share amon characteristic: when Dragon Power is activated, a red light emanates from the body.

    This was true even for Adhai, a half-blooded Red Gagon.

    The red light spread from her wings and horns, dyeing her body as if soaked in red ink.

    ?You''re still immature.?

    The stream of energy burning within her like fire was undoubtedly from Dragon Power, but it was far from the image in my memory.

    Unlike Adhai''s fiery appearance, the red energy should have coated her scales and enveloped her entire body in a subtle, glowing aura.

    Dragon Power techniques are all terrifying in their effects. That¡¯s why it must find a way to control that power, no matter what.

    ?Too? ?strong? ?hard? ?to control?

    [ZZZ ZZ (You can do it)]

    ?Little one! Just do it like when you were pping around!?

    ?I¡¯ll try?

    Hearing my and Number 26''s words, Adhai began to focus. Most of the energy streaming from her horns and wings receded, returning to its original ce.

    The residual energy that couldn¡¯t be contained seeped into the red wave patterns along her body. Having sessfully stabilized her power, a bright red glow red up around her eyes.

    It looked as though she were wearing makeup made of blood.

    ?I did it?

    ¡®Though it''s still unstable.¡¯

    It was clear that she was putting on a brave front, but I didn¡¯t point it out. Just being able to control that immense power to this extent in such a short time was impressive enough.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (Do you have any usable techniques?)]

    ?One? ?seems possible?

    [ZZZZ (Try using it)]

    Without moving from her spot, she concentrated. Soon, a red light flowed from her four wings, dyeing her entire head and front legs a deep red.

    ?Wow! Amazing! The little one¡¯s all toughened up!?

    Number 26, sensitive to energy and wavelengths, immediately recognized Adhai¡¯s state.

    The name of this technique is ¡®Red Armor.¡¯

    ording to the lore, Red Gagons focus their Dragon Power on specific body parts to protect vital areas, drastically increasing their hardness. As Number 26 mentioned, it¡¯s a characteristic that makes the user tougher.

    Though it may seem like a rather simple ability for a boss creature, this is precisely the trait that makes Red Gagons so difficult to kill.

    ¡®It¡¯s one of the best defensive techniques in Space Survival.¡¯

    The core feature of Red Armor is its invulnerability¡ªno attack can break through it.

    Whether it¡¯s the Divine Spectre or the Cosmic Bolt from the Empire¡¯s Battleship, no matter how powerful the weapon, any part of the body covered by Red Armor is impervious to damage. Since it¡¯s a Dragon Power technique, not even my psychic-nullifying horn can bypass it.

    Therefore, the weak point of a Red Gagon isn¡¯t its head or heart. The only way to harm it is by targeting areas not covered by Red Armor.

    ¡®The problem is that a real Red Gagon can cover most of its body with Red Armor.¡¯

    Moreover, Red Gagons can shift the areas covered by Red Armor at will.

    This means you¡¯re up against an enemy with incredible specs, and the only way to defeat it is by hitting its one weak spot, which constantly moves. It¡¯s a dizzyingly difficult task.

    ¡®It was really tough for me to take down a Red Gagon too.¡¯

    I had to study other yers¡¯ battles with it, analyze its behavior patterns, and figure out where it usually hid its weak spot before I could finally defeat it.

    ¡®The frustrating part was not getting the gic essence even after all that trouble.¡¯

    I remember having to hunt it again after weeks of effort went down the drain.

    Anyway, Adhai is still inexperienced, so she can only cover her head and front legs with Red Armor. As she gets more skilled, she¡¯ll be able to extend the range of the armor.

    Once that happens, I won¡¯t have to worry about her safety anymore.

    ¡®I was concerned because of her small size, but thankfully, it¡¯s all working out.¡¯

    ?It feels? ?strange?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Try ramming your head into a tree)]

    ?I don¡¯t like pain?

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (You won¡¯t feel a thing)]

    After hearing my words, she hesitated but then walked over to a tree. She struck it hard with the horn on her head, and the tree toppled over effortlessly.

    ?Amazing?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (As long as you have that power, you¡¯ll never get hurt)]

    With her front legs now as tough as her head, it tapped the fallen tree and looked back at me.

    ?I? ?don¡¯t know? ?but how? ?does Big One? ?know??

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (I¡¯ve seen it before)]

    ?Not me? ?the power of the stars? ?are there? ?others? ?like me??

    [ZZZ ZZ (Not anymore)]

    ???

    It tilted her head in confusion, but there was nothing more I could say. I couldn¡¯t exactly tell it I saw it in a game.

    ¡®Will I have to tell them someday?¡¯

    That I¡¯m an outsider.

    I need to leave this world and return to the ce I originally lived. In fact, that''s what I''m moving toward even now.

    But as I get closer to that goal, the things that make me conflicted just keep increasing.

    Number 26, Adhai, the Mother of the Sky, and even PS-111.

    What will happen to them if I leave? Will they manage on their own, or will they miss me? And what about the Mother of the Sky, who, like me, is a yer? If I reach the ending, will she return to reality with me?

    Lost in thought, I was still when Number 26 sent a wavelength my way.

    ?Big One knows everything, it¡¯s amazing.?

    ?Agree? ?Big One? ?is cool? ?strong? ?smart?

    ?Big One has many limbs and is really big.?

    ?Horns? ?Wings? ?All awesome?

    Starting with Number 26, they all poured out their pure emotions. Instead of replying, I extended my winged arm to gently stroke them.

    ¡®It¡¯s a problem I can¡¯t answer right now.¡¯

    There¡¯s no need to decide today.

    But the time will inevitablye when I have to choose. To avoid regrets then, I¡¯ll need to keep thinking about it.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ Z (You are all precious gifts to me)]

    ?Gift? Big One hungry??

    ?I? ?understand? ?Big One¡¯s words? ?mean? ?we¡¯re important?

    Number 26, always showing an innocent demeanor, and Adhai, unting her intelligence as she grows. Even in reality, I couldn¡¯t forge deep connections with others. As they said, for someone like me, sick in both body and heart, they are indeed precious.

    ¡®¡­Why am I suddenly thinking like this?¡¯

    Getting sentimental isn¡¯t necessarily bad, but there¡¯s still much to be done. I withdrew my hands from them and sent the next instruction through wavelengths.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Adhai, you can release your power now)]

    ?Acknowledged? ?Power? ?Released?

    When the Dragon Power dissipated, her body returned to its original state.

    [Zzz zzzz zz zz zzz zz zzzz (Good. Now attack me with the power you normally use)]

    ?Acknowledged? ?Big One¡­?? ?Are you itchy? Want me to scratch??

    I¡¯d spoken too vaguely, and they didn¡¯t understand. So I exined my intention carefully.

    ?Big One? ?Does your species grow stronger? ?the more? ?they¡¯re attacked??

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ (Yes. It¡¯s a power gained through growth.)]

    ?Still can¡¯t understand?

    Since Adhai would be the one attacking me, she seemed to have a hard time grasping the concept.

    Mimicry scales are an unfamiliar trait to Gagons. Moreover, for someone like Adhai, who has spent her life avoiding attacks due to her fragile body, it must be even more baffling.

    ?Big One¡¯s words? ?always good? ?so I¡¯ll follow them?

    [ZZZ (Thank you)]

    After several more exnations, Adhai finally understood what I was saying.

    She stepped back, increasing the distance between us. While Adhai was preparing to attack, I took the time to exin to Number 26.

    ?So I should do it like when I punish a bad pper??

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Just make sure the deflected energy doesn¡¯t hit Adhai)]

    ?Okay. Big One and Little One can both count on me.?

    The reason I insisted on activating my Mimicry Scales inbat was because of a trait I possess, the ¡°Psychic Power Reflection Armor.¡±

    This trait automatically reflects 30% of the damage I take from Psychic Power attacks. If Adhai were as big and sturdy as a normal Gagon, she wouldn¡¯t be harmed by the reflected attack.

    Unfortunately, she was born with a body weaker than other Gagons. Her current defence is even lower than that of a typical Green Gagon.

    In other words, she¡¯s like a flying ss cannon. Just taking 30% of the damage from her own breath attack could be fatal.

    ¡®That¡¯s why I need Number 26.¡¯

    Number 26 is highly skilled at controlling Psychic Power. She can neutralize the reflected energy or redirect it elsewhere.

    ¡®Now that Adhai has Red Armor, she¡¯ll be able to manage on her own eventually¡­¡¯

    But for now, Adhai is still inexperienced in using Dragon Power, so she needs Number 26¡¯s help.

    With that, we were all set. Adhai, who had put some distance between us, sent me a telepathic message.

    ?I? ?will attack now?

    [Z (Okay)]

    ?Tell me? ?if it hurts? ?I¡¯ll stop?

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZZ (Don¡¯t worry, just go all out)]

    She nodded slightly.

    Soon, a vivid purple light emanated from the bundle of tentacles hanging from her mouth. The Psychic Power became so dense it could be touched and then solidified into a small energy bullet.

    The first shot was fired. The psychic breath flew through the air, followed by a second and third wave of energy bullets.

    Adhai''s unique Psychic Breath, not used by other Gagons, was nowing at me.

    The first hitnded on my head, spreading a strong shock across my entire exoskeleton. While I registered the pain, the subsequent Psychic Breaths continued to strike the same spot.

    But my pain wasn''t the main concern. What mattered was where the reflected attack would go.

    Without my conscious control, the Psychic Power Reflection Armor activated, reflecting 30% of the energy from Adhai¡¯s attack. Some of it flew back toward Adhai, while other parts veered towards Number 26.

    Number 26 caught every single bit of the energy without letting any escape.

    It¡¯s tentacles moved like a conductor leading an orchestra. The energy, which had been suspended in the air, gathered in one spot and then shot up into the sky.

    ¡®Perfect.¡¯

    [ZZZZ ZZ (Just like that)]

    Maybe because we¡¯ve fought together many times, we all performed seamlessly, even on the first try.

    We repeated the process several times.

    At one point, when Adhai hesitated after seeing my battered exoskeleton, I reassured her, saying I would heal quickly and that this was good practice for fighting Odd Grad.

    Whether my persuasion worked or she recognized the importance of training, Adhai didn¡¯t hesitate to attack after that.

    After about 30 hits from her, I noticed changes in my exoskeleton and outer shell. The once rigid surface started to soften like jelly.

    Within seconds, tiny scales emerged from beneath the surface, covering my entire body. At the same time, a translucent text box appeared.

    [Mimicry Scales Activation Target: Psychic Power]

    [Duration: 3 Days]

    [Warning: Psychic Power Reflection Armor will be temporarily deactivated.]

    As I read the text box, Adhai¡¯s Psychic Breath struck again.

    The powerful energy shook my entire head, but all I felt was the sensation of being hit, with no apanying pain.

    ¡®It worked.¡¯

    The Mimicry Scales were now fully activated.

    ¡®For the next 3 days.¡¯

    No Gagon, not even the ck Gagon Odd Grad, would be able to harm me.

 Chapter 225:

    Chapter 225:

    The effect of the ''Mimicry Scales'' provides a high level of resistance against certain energies.

    Now that I''ve secured resistance against psychic power, Odd Grad''s breath attack shouldn''t pose too much of a problem.

    ¡®It will be painful, but I can handle it.¡¯

    Odd Grad''s breath is overwhelmingly stronger than that of other Gagons. The chances of absorbing the shockpletely are slim.

    However, it¡¯s not enough to threaten my life. There''s no longer any need to keep dodging and running from his breath.

    ¡®The problem is with his danger-sensing ability¡­¡¯

    I''ve prepared methods to disperse his forces and withstand his attacks, but one issue remains.

    How do I outmanoeuvre an enemy that can foresee the future?

    I kept thinking as I returned to the nest with Adhai and Number 26.In Space Survival, there¡¯s no such thing as skills or traits that can read the future. It¡¯s an online VR game involving countless yers, so that¡¯s only natural.

    The so-called ''Future Sight'' or ''Prophecy'' only enhances evasion abilities or marks enemy movements on the minimap.

    So it wouldn¡¯t be wrong to say that Odd Grad is the first iprehensible enemy I''ve encountered in this world.

    ¡®No, wait. There is a clue.¡¯

    I have encountered a future-sensing ability before: my ''Predator¡¯s Senses''.

    Thanks to this trait, which is close to precognition, I¡¯ve escaped danger multiple times. Without this trait, I wouldn¡¯t have made it this far.

    In my experience, the future range that the Predator¡¯s Sense shows me isn''t very long. It¡¯s just a few minutes ahead, showing me events that are about to impact my body.

    The only exception is when I use the ''Symbol of Hunt''.

    ¡®When in the Hunting Icon state, the scope of future sight expands.¡¯

    I first felt this when escaping from the hospital at T&C Special Trade Hub. The Eden Knights were moving to surround the hospital, but sensing it in advance allowed me to escape safely.

    This is likely because the Symbol of Hunt amplifies the traits and effects of the abilities it holds.

    ¡®Considering that, Odd Grad''s ability is peculiar.¡¯

    His ability certainly involves foreseeing dangerous futures. However, the range is quite ambiguous.

    This is because it predicted that I would target the White Gagon on my hunt and came to attack.

    Yet, whenever I used the ''Abyssal Hue'', he always sensed it and tried to evade it, even though he had never seen it before.

    ¡®That means it can see beyond immediate threats¡­¡¯

    In the long run, hunting White Gagons could pose a threat to him. After all, my ultimate goal was to kill him.

    This would exin why he didn¡¯t attack me immediately upon my arrival on this. Although I came here to hunt Gagons and Apexes, my intent wasn¡¯t solely to kill Odd Grad.

    "...Let''s rethink this."

    Odd Grad has already surpassed the boundaries of the game. I need to broaden my perspective.

    "What if he can see multiple types of futures?"

    For instance, like me, he might see specific futures only in certain states, while others are visible more generally.

    In summary, there are two types of futures he can see.

    ¡®Immediate dangers and distant, threatening futures.¡¯

    Based on the information at hand, this assumption seems reasonable.

    And here lies the crucial part.

    Odd Grad set a trap to kill me because I posed a threat to his life. As I got entangled in his schemes, I had to fight in an imperfect state, revealing most of my trump cards.

    However, he didn''t foresee that he could die fighting me. In fact, he nearly died because of the Abyssal Hue and the Divine Spectre.

    Taking this into ount, a new hypothesis can be formed.

    ¡®The futures he sees have limits.¡¯

    First, let''s consider the ability to detect long-term future threats.

    He likely only sees these during specific cycles or situations, not frequently in everyday circumstances. That¡¯s why he couldn''t ount for changes in the future that ur mid-course.

    ¡®The second ability is to detect imminent, short-term dangers.¡¯

    Since this is simr to my Predator¡¯s Sense, he probably has simr limitations. While it helps in dealing with a specific threat when it arises, it doesn¡¯t allow one to avoid the dangerous situation itself.

    Therefore, to kill him, I need to exploit the gap between these two types of future visions.

    ¡®If I act rashly, he will catch on.¡¯

    I have many cards to y: Ham Ort¡¯s escape, Adhai¡¯s growth, information about the ring he possesses, and the Mimicry Scales. But if I use them carelessly, he will detect my intentions in advance.

    ¡®If I make a mistake, he might escape.¡¯

    Odd Grad is the only ck Gagon on this. If I lose him here, I''ll also lose one of the unique traits.

    ¡®I need to create a future that isn¡¯t unfavorable for him.¡¯

    As I pondered how to strike him, we arrived at the nest.

    At the entrance, I saw Mother of the Sky sitting, and beside her was a wounded White Gagon lying down.

    ?Ham Ort??

    Adhai sent out a telepathic wave. Sensing her, Ham Ort lifted her head to look at her daughter.

    The violet eyes of the mother, who had seen her daughter, were filled with confusion.

    ?Daughter of the Meteor? ?Savior? ?Did you fail?? ?Why?? ?Why??

    ?I? ?Rejected the savior?

    Upon hearing Adhai''s response, Ham Ort suddenly stood up. Mother of the Sky, who was beside her, also rose to her feet.

    ?Be careful. Your wounds haven¡¯t healed yet.?

    ?Why?? ?You? ?Made the wrong choice!? ?Odd Grad? ?Can¡¯t be stopped!?

    Ham Ort seemed shocked that her daughter had refused to transform into a Red Gagon. She, who had remained calm even in battle, now openly disyed her anger.

    Responding to Ham Ort''s passionate telepathic waves, Adhai didn¡¯t back down and sent her own in return.

    ?I? ?Chose new kin? ?Past kin? ?Important, but? ?This side? ?Is more? ?Important!?

    ?Odd Grad? ?Will kill? ?All kin? ?Young kin? ?Adult kin?

    ?Worry? ?Unnecessary? ?Great Elder? ?Small Elder? ?Ugly Friend? ?Sick Child? ?All kin? ?Will fight together?

    ?Odd Grad? ?Strong? ?ck kin? ?Victory? ?Impossible? ?Odd Grad? ?Will kill? ?ck kin?

    ?Great Elder? ?Is not weak? ?Don¡¯t insult Ham Ort!?

    ?Ham Ort! Calm down!?

    Ham Ort seemed ready to leap at Adhai at any moment. If her wings and body were intact, and if Mother of the Sky hadn¡¯t restrained her, she probably would have.

    ?Disappointment? ?Disappointment? ?I am disappointed!? ?Daughter of the Meteor? ?You abandoned the blessing!? ?You abandoned our kin¡¯s expectations!?

    ?Disappointment?? ?I¡¯m more disappointed? ?Ham Ort? ?You abandoned me? ?For being weak!?

    ?Denial!? ?Never abandoned weak kin!?

    ?Liar!? ?Ham Ort? ?You¡¯re a liar? ?You abandoned me? ?For the savior? ?You forced the salvation of our kin? ?It¡¯s shameful!?

    ?!?

    As their emotions escted, their telepathic waves became increasingly primal. The mixture of Ham Ort¡¯s disappointment and anger with Adhai¡¯s sorrow and resentment made my monster¡¯s tendrils tingle.

    Number 26, who is sensitive to wave detection, also seemed affected, as its body color turned a dark pink.

    ?I? ?Will step out?

    In the end, Adhai was the first to retreat. She kicked the ground with her hind legs and flew into the forest.

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    PS-111, who had been tending to a Blue Gagon infected with symbiotic spores inside the nest, walked out.

    ?The Little One fought with the ppy Mom.?

    ¡°After analyzing the surrounding environmental factors, I see no evidence of a battle between ¡®The Little One¡¯ and ¡®Ham Ort.¡¯¡±

    ?I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying, friend. It¡¯s tooplicated.?

    While PS-111 and Number 26 engaged in their unintentional banter, Ham Ort simply stared nkly in the direction where her daughter had disappeared. Her emotions, uncontrolled and raw, were spilling out.

    ?This forest is safe, but just in case, bring Adhai back, both of you, Number 26 and PS-111.?

    ?Okay. I¡¯ll protect The Little One. Let¡¯s go, friend.?

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Number 26 shrunk itself down and climbed onto PS-111''s back. The Sea Demon and the Mutant Screamer then vanished into the forest.

    Only after they left did Ham Ort seem to regain her senses, dropping her head. The chaotic flood of emotions that had been emanating from her gradually subsided.

    Finally calming down, Ham Ort lifted her head and looked at me.

    ?You? ?ck kin??

    [ZZZ (Yes).]

    ?Daughter of the Meteor? ?Talked? ?A lot about you? ?Said you taught her?

    It was true, so I nodded, and Ham Ort slightly bowed her head, bending her front legs.

    ?Ham Ort? ?Thanks you? ?For saving? ?And looking after the Daughter of the Meteor?

    Expressing her brief gratitude, she then straightened up. Her amethyst eyes reflected aplex mixture of emotions.

    ?But? ?Because of you? ?The Daughter of the Meteor? ?Abandoned the savior? ?Odd Grad? ?Will kill? ?All our kin?

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (That won¡¯t happen)]

    Because I will stop it before ites to that.

    Ham Ort shook her head, denying my words.

    ?Odd Grad? ?Lies? ?Deceives our kin? ?Deceivedpanions? ?And young kin? ?Our kin? ?Follow Odd Grad¡¯s orders? ?Ham Ort? ?ck kin? ?Not strong enough?

    [ZZZ (Is that so?)]

    ?ck kin? ?Is strong? ?But? ?Odd Grad? ?Has more?

    Having fought me before, she knew how strong I was. She must be trying to point out the numerical superiority of the enemy forces.

    And she wasn¡¯t wrong. If I had fought Odd Grad when I faced her, I would have lost.

    ¡®Not anymore, though.¡¯

    However, unaware of this, Ham Ort seemed desperate to persuade me to avoid the fight. Her telepathic waves were filled with urgency.

    ?Odd Grad? ?Is strong? ?I believe? ?You think? ?The Daughter of the Meteor is precious? ?If so? ?Survival? ?Is more important?

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ (To save Adhai, I must kill Odd Grad)]

    ?ck kin? ?Won¡¯t you give up??

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZ (No, Odd Grad will die by my hands)]

    ?¡­?

    Ham Ort no longer sent any telepathic waves and simply stared into my eyes.

    I could sense her anxiety. However, my resolve was unshaken. I was determined to kill the ck dragon that had wronged me, no matter the cost.

    ?Understood? ?Ham Ort? ?Will trust the ck kin?

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Good. Tell me about the situation when you fought it)]

    ?Ask whatever you want?

    After staring at me for a long time, Ham Ort finally gave up on convincing me otherwise. I began to ask the questions that had been on my mind, one by one.

    ---

    Beyond the frozen ins lies a vast canyon.

    As one approaches this deep canyon¡ªso vast it is better measured in hundreds of meters, or even kilometers¡ªa strange sound can be heard. It resembles the agonized screams of suffering animals, but in reality, it is the sound of the wind passing through the massive ice chasms.

    Although a natural phenomenon, the eerie noise is so unsettling that most living creatures avoid the canyon altogether. The only entity that freely enters this territory is the Beast King, who rules the area.

    However, even the Beast King has not been seen recently. Whether it is in seclusion or has left the canyon is unknown.

    In its ce, strange, alien entities have asionally ventured into the canyon. These beings seem unaware that this territory belongs to the Beast King, indiscriminately ughtering any nearby creatures. Whether nt or animal, anything that moved was killed. As a result, this canyon, already sparsely popted, has be apletely dead zone.

    Today, once again, the grotesque entities entered the canyon, dragging along chunks of meat after theirtest ughter.

    Deep within the canyon, where there should only be thick darkness, red lights began to flicker as they descended.

    Finally, the creatures reached what could be considered the canyon floor. Hanging precariously, they threw the chunks of meat down.

    In response, an enormous red light, farrger than before, opened its eyes and devoured the meat in an instant.

    [Mission to scout the surrounding area and secure energy sources:pleted.]

    [Current inability to assess the threat within the supervolcano. Investigation ongoing.]

    [Traces of humanoid activity detected on this. Believed to be humans affiliated with ¡®Megacorp,¡¯ who havee to investigate the supervolcano.]

    [Unusual atmospheric phenomena urred on this two days ago. Comparative analysis with umted meteorological data suggests this anomaly resulted from a battle between native lifeforms.]

    [While monitoring the nests of native creatures, discovered¡­]

    The beings¡ªor rather, the Mutant Screamers¡ªcontinued their mechanical reports. Normally, after their regr reports, they would exchange the information they had gathered amongst themselves, but today was different.

    The red light that had consumed the chunks of meat flickered again.

    [Pira Eleven. Orders.]

    As the red light murmured quietly, all of them fell silent.

    [The entity responsible for the meteorological anomaly matches 82% of the profile for Special Target A, ording to the Starlink database.]

    The red light¡ªno, the android, which was undergoing repairs due to significant damage¡ªwas one of the top members of the Star Union Mechanical Council, known as Pira Eleven.

    [Pira Eleven. Highest prioritymand issued. Eliminate Special Target A. All remaining 189 S-Model units and 20 PS-Model units in the canyon are to engage.]

    [Order confirmed.]

    [Order¡­]

    At Pira Eleven¡¯smand, countless dormant red lights opened their eyes.

    The chilling sound of the wind in the canyon was now apanied by an even more ominous noise.

 Chapter 226:

    Chapter 226:

    The conversation with Ham Ort continued for quite a while.

    It was because she knew more about Odd Grad than expected.

    ¡®It¡¯s natural since she was his mate for so long?¡¯

    Anyway, the information I got from her could be summarized into two key points.

    ¡®A ring that maniptes emotions and foresight.¡¯

    She mentioned that Odd Grad carries a mysterious ring with him. She couldn¡¯t recall exactly when he obtained it, but it was certain that he acquired it after bing the leader.

    It was also because of that ring that Ham Ort was slow to realize Odd Grad was changing in strange ways.

    ¡®Gagons can''t lie.¡¯

    Due to their nature ofmunicating through emotional waves, the concept of lying doesn¡¯t exist for them. While they can pass on incorrect information due to misunderstanding or ignorance, they cannot lie intentionally.Therefore, Gagons inherently trust their fellow n members.

    Ham Ort said she initially didn¡¯t notice anything strange about him. Even though he had be more violent, she thought it was due to the burden of leading the n.

    But that wasn¡¯t the case.

    She identally witnessed Odd Grad killing a fellow Gagon.

    The victim was Odd Grad¡¯s first mate and the oldest female White Gagon in the n. Odd Grad mercilessly disposed of the one he had been with the longest.

    Before dying, the old mate severed her tail, causing the ring she wore on it to fall off briefly. Ham Ort, who had been secretly observing, caught a glimpse of her emotions the moment the ring fell off.

    He was not in his right mind, overwhelmed with unknown rage and desperation. The splendid ck dragon she once knew was gone, leaving only a mad tyrant behind.

    After having the ring ced on his front paw due to his tail being severed, he calmly lied to the n the next day. He imed that the old White Gagon had been killed in a Skywhale attack.

    ¡®A ring that distorts emotions, huh?¡¯

    It¡¯s not an item that exists in the game. What would be the point of a ring that hides one''s emotions?

    Moreover, it¡¯s hardly useful for beings like Gagons, for whom emotional expression is crucial. Such a tool would be unnecessary for Gagons who deeply trust their kin.

    ¡®Except for those who can read the future.¡¯

    Based on Adhai¡¯s case, to grow beyond a White Gagon, one must consume another White Gagon.

    Thus, the process of evolving from a White Gagon to the next stage naturally leads tobat with the n leader or war with another n. A White Gagon that survives the war bes a ck Gagon andpetes for leadership or forms a new n.

    That¡¯s the life cycle of a Gagon.

    In fact, the growth process of Gagons wasn¡¯t clearly exined in the game. It was only aftering to this and witnessing Adhai¡¯s transformation firsthand that I understood it for sure.

    ¡®Since he can see far into the future, he must have foreseen the leadershippetition too.¡¯

    There were no other Gagon ns on this besides Odd Grad¡¯s. The only way for a White Gagon to grow was to kill the leader.

    ¡®It¡¯s impossible for a regr White Gagon to defeat a ck Gagon.¡¯

    Only those capable of bing a Red Gagon can defeat a ck Gagon.

    ¡®He used his foresight to eliminate any threats to his position in advance.¡¯

    In reality, he has been periodically killing hatchlings and abandoning eggs outside the nest. He ims it¡¯s to reduce the number of weak individuals, citing the n¡¯s hunger as the reason. This might also be why Adhai was cast out.

    ¡®Without the ring, he couldn¡¯t have done this much.¡¯

    What would happen if the other n members found out that he killed his kin just to survive? What if it were a mother who lost her child because of him, like Ham Ort?

    ¡®She would never forgive him.¡¯

    At this point, the ring is the only thing that solidifies his control over the n. If the ring disappears, the copse of his n is only a matter of time.

    ¡®That¡¯s enough about the ring.¡¯

    Next is foresight. During the conversation, I was able to gather some interesting information about his ability.

    Odd Grad always sleeps before making any important decisions for the n. When he wakes up, he immediately makes a decision, so none of his mates are unaware of this.

    ¡®Is sleep a catalyst that triggers the ability to foresee the distant future?¡¯

    It¡¯s unclear whether sleep is the exact means by which the ability is activated, but it can be generally assumed that foresight is only possible when the body is in a stable state.

    ¡®He can¡¯t see far into the future when he¡¯s not at rest.¡¯

    Even if he acts on a future he sees in a dream, he won¡¯t know how that future might change along the way. Naturally, he will try to move in a way that avoids the foreseen future, but to be certain, he would need to re-observe the future.

    For instance, let¡¯s say I foresee a future where I die by being hit by a car.

    I would move far away from the road to avoid the car, but if a building next to the sidewalk suddenly copses, I wouldn¡¯t be able to avoid death. To prevent this, I would need to re-observe the future where I die under the building after avoiding the car.

    ¡®Simply put, I just need to seed in luring him.¡¯

    This means he won¡¯t be able to see the future while fighting with me.

    ¡®To lure him in, I¡¯d have to weaken myself.¡¯

    It¡¯s not impossible, but it¡¯s certainly not an easy task. There are plenty of dangerous variables as well.

    ¡®¡­I need to steel myself.¡¯

    With my thoughts quickly organized, I asked Ham Ort another question.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Was there anything strange when you fought him?)]

    ?Didn¡¯t? ?understand? ?Exin? ?In detail?

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ (Like it dodging your attacks as if he knew what you were going to do in advance?)]

    ?Completely? ?Overpowered? ?Impossible? ?To threaten?

    [ZZZ (I see.)]

    In fact, just blocking his ability to foresee the distant future is a significant gain. Just like with ¡®Predator¡¯s Sense,¡¯ while it helps in mitigating immediate dangers, it doesn¡¯t change the structure of the dangers themselves.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to verify the rest by confronting it directly.¡¯

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Onest thing)]

    ?Ask away?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (This isn¡¯t a question.)]

    ???

    There¡¯s onest thing I need to confirm before I proceed with my n.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (I¡¯ll use any means necessary to kill Odd Grad.)]

    ?Agreed?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (Would you stake your life on it?)]

    ?Daughter of the meteor? ?For the sake of saving our kin? ?Decided? ?Life? ?Doesn¡¯t matter?

    Her response was immediate. There wasn¡¯t the slightest hesitation in her emotional waves.

    Given her answer now and our conversation so far, she seemed to possess a strong sense of camaraderie, even among the Gagons.

    ¡®She¡¯s not the kind to easily abandon her offspring.¡¯

    Though I¡¯m not a Gagon, I could clearly understand the feelings she harboured toward Adhai. While her attitude towards her daughter might be ambiguous, she wasn¡¯t cold-blooded enough to kill her just because she was born with a weak body.

    ¡®It seems there¡¯s more to the story.¡¯

    That¡¯s something I don¡¯t need to delve into. It¡¯s a matter for Adhai and her to resolve between themselves.

    ¡®I¡¯ve checked everything I needed to.¡¯

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ Z ZZZZ ZZZ (That¡¯s all I wanted to ask. Go in and rest.)]

    Ham Ort nodded at me and turned away. Before entering the nest, she looked once more in the direction where Adhai had disappeared.

    The others hadn¡¯t returned yet. She stood for a moment, gazing beyond the forest, before entering the nest.

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Could you pack me a few pieces of food?)]

    ?Got it.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (And while you¡¯re at it, bring the equipment backpack from inside as well.)]

    ?¡­Do I look like your mother??

    Mother of the Sky grumbled but stillplied with my request. After entering the cave, she came back out and handed me the backpack.

    ?I think you¡¯ve gathered enough information. So, what are you going to do now??

    She must have been listening to my conversation with Ham Ort, as she seemed to have reached a conclusion simr to mine¡ªthat the next step is to fight Odd Grad.

    ¡®But it seems we have different ideas on how to fight.¡¯

    Normally, I would have exined, but not this time. It might influence the future that Odd Grad sees.

    ¡®The battle with him has already begun.¡¯

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (You won¡¯t be disappointed, I promise.)]

    ?¡­Huh??

    She tilted her head, puzzled by my words. When I remained silent, offering no further exnation, she didn¡¯t press me any further.

    The Gagons ate outside the nest, while Mother of the Sky busied herself going in and out of the cave to care for Ham Ort.

    Everyone eventually retreated into the nest, but I stayed outside, waiting for them.

    As I waited, my mind was filled with various ns and strategies, each one moreplex than thest.

    This is a n I¡¯ve never attempted, either in this world or in the real world. I need to proceed with the utmost caution.

    Time passed, and they finally returned.

    ?Great Elder? ?I¡¯m back?

    ?Why are you outside all alone, Big One??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (It¡¯s because we were waiting for you to return.)]

    ¡®Looks like they persuaded well.¡¯

    Adhai, who had been looking gloomy, now appeared much better, with more strength in her wings. I suppose it¡¯s thanks to Number 26¡¯s gentle coaxing.

    ¡®She¡¯s a thoughtful one.¡¯

    Despite her childish speech, her words and actions sometimes resonate deeply with me. Looking back, I¡¯m grateful I didn¡¯t devour her when we first met on the research ship.

    She¡¯s a good one, but from now on, I¡¯m going to do something terrible to her. Not just her, but to Adhai, PS-111, Mother of the Sky, and everyone here.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Ham Ort,e out.)]

    ?Great Elder??

    ?Is Big One trying to mediate??

    Instead of answering their questions, I called for Ham Ort again. Shortly after, both Ham Ort and Mother of the Sky emerged from the nest.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Ham Ort caused discord within my group.)]

    ?What??

    ?Great Elder, what are you saying??

    ?Big One??

    Everyone was shocked by my unexpected words. Ham Ort, however, remained unfazed.

    She nced briefly at Adhai. In that fleeting moment, her amethyst-like eyes captured the image of the little Gagon born from the stars.

    After taking onest look at her daughter, Ham Ort turned her gaze back to me, her eyes devoid of any emotion.

    She had already steeled herself. I reached out with my winged arm and grabbed her by the throat.

    ?Hey! Wait a minu¡­?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Therefore, I will kill you and eat your flesh.)]

    Realizing I was serious about devouring Ham Ort, Mother of the Sky reached out to stop me. But before she could, I opened my jaws wide.

    Just as my jaws, split in two, were about to engulf Ham Ort''s head¡ª

    ?Great Elder, stop!?

    I was thrown sideways by a powerful impact, the force reverberating through my entire body, causing me to lose my grip on Ham Ort.

    ?Daughter of the Meteor??

    ?Great Elder? ?I have something? ?to say? ?please wait?

    The one who attacked me was Adhai.

    The red markings on her head indicated she was using the Red Gagon''s ability, the "Red Armor."

    ¡®I was nning to teach her thatter.¡¯

    I had intended to show her how to use the Red Armor effectively in both offense and defense, but she was smart enough to figure it out on her own.

    While Adhai stood between Ham Ort and me, Mother of the Sky also jumped in front of me.

    ?What do you think you''re doing?!?

    [Z ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (I¡¯m only trying to protect my group. Don¡¯t interfere.)]

    ?Are you serious??

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (If you get in my way, I¡¯ll remove you.)]

    Without hesitation, I swung my tail with great force. Startled, she nted her feet firmly on the ground, just in time for my tail to m into it, shattering the earth.

    ?You insane! You moronic, crazy Amorph!?

    Since she couldn¡¯t use the "Ice Spirit," I retracted my tail and opened my jaws wide. From deep within my throat, a glob of acidic fungal mass shot out, aimed directly at her.

    But then, the mass froze in mid-air.

    ?Big One, what¡¯s wrong with you??

    Number 26, who had used its binding ability on the fungal mass, asked with concern evident in its voice.

    I didn¡¯t respond, instead turning to PS-111.

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Assist me in attacking them.)]

    ¡°Attackmand denied. Cannot harm the Main Controller.¡±

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZZ (Then start with the others.)]

    PS-111, usually expressionless, looked uncharacteristically troubled. It shook its head slowly.

    ¡°Impossible. The current ¡®Amorph¡¯ is experiencing a clear state of mental derangement and impaired judgment. I advise you to stabilize.¡±

    Standing beside Number 26, PS-111 opened its mouth, ready to fire its demolisher if necessary.

    ¡®Stupid machines, always so literal.¡¯

    Despite its analysis, my mind was perfectly clear. I was deliberately choosing to turn against everyone.

    This n, executed based on my rational judgment, stems from myplete trust in those who¡¯ve been with me until now.

    ¡®At least I made the right choice.¡¯

    I nced around at everyone present. None of them sided with my sudden outburst.

    It was only natural. My current actions were undeniably a betrayal of the group.

    ¡®Good.¡¯

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Since everyone has betrayed me, I will leave.)]

    ?Wait!?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (I¡¯ll also return the parasite in your head.)]

    ?Wait¡­ ah!?

    At mymand, the parasite lodged in Mother of the Sky¡¯s head began to emerge through her eye socket. The Wendigo form it took had no nostrils, so it exited through another opening.

    She staggered, recoiling from the unpleasant sensation of the parasite leaving her body. I retrieved the parasite and grabbed the bag containing my gear.

    ?Big One, are you serious? Are you really leaving??

    ?Great Elder? ?This is a joke, right??

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ (I¡¯ve never lied to you since we first met.)]

    They should understand the gravity of my words.

    ¡®If they don¡¯t, that would be a problem.¡¯

    With everything in order, I spread my winged arms. The membrane, as vast as the night sky above, unfurled, lifting my body into the air.

    As I soared into the distance, no one followed.

    A small sense of relief mixed with bitterness welled up inside me.

    ¡®No, it has to be this way.¡¯

    I shook my head as I flew through the storm clouds.

    The stage that Odd Grad wanted was now fully set.

    Now, it¡¯s time to lure him into the trap.

 Chapter 227:

    Chapter 227:

    He had many names.

    The One Blessed by the Stars, the Sage who Gained the Wisdom of the Stars, the Strongest Male, and so on.

    But among all the names, the one he liked the most was this:

    The Great Odd Grad.

    No expression described him as well as the word "great."

    There was no creature in the world as special as him, born with the blessings of the stars.

    He could see the future.

    Sometimes in dreams, sometimes in visions.

    Thanks to this foresight he had from birth, he could avoid any danger that came his way.He also used this ability actively to protect his pack.

    Since the time of the Aquamarine Scales, he had gone out hunting with his kind, ensuring they never fell into danger. His kind trusted him, calling him a wise young being.

    As time passed, he became the strongest leader of the pack. He earned the respect of many of his kind and had beautiful, strong females as his mates.

    Everything was perfect.

    Until he met ¡®that dwarf¡¯.

    Before the flow of stars changed dozens of times, someone infiltrated the nest and stole the eggs.

    The thieves were dwarfs, the likes of which he had never seen before. They came in a flying vessel that smelled simr to minerals.

    Enraged, he attempted to attack the vessel that the dwarfs were on. He would have done so if the future had not warned him.

    He could never forget the future he saw then.

    The moment he attacked, one of the strange dwarfs stepped forward. He killed him along with all of his kind. The dwarfs took all the eggs.

    No matter how hard he tried to avoid destruction, the future he saw never changed.

    The strange dwarf in the vessel was on a different level. No matter what he did, he couldn''t win against him.

    If he had been another of his kind, they would not have given up. But Odd Grad was different. He had always thought differently from his kind, thanks to his ability to see the future.

    The fear of death, the anxiety over an uncontroble future¡ªemotions he had never felt in his life swelled up inside him. The very ability that made him great consumed him.

    In the end, he sumbed to fear. He bowed his head before the dwarf and begged, promising to do anything if he would spare his life.

    Perhaps the dwarf¡ªno, the "Transcendent One"¡ªwas surprised by his actions. The Transcendent One seemed pleased with his behavior.

    The Transcendent One did not kill him. Instead, he bestowed grace upon Odd Grad.

    He revealed to his secrets even Odd Grad didn''t know, things happening among the stars, and the truth of this world.

    The moment he started listening to the Transcendent One''s words, the world he knew shatteredpletely.

    His beloved mates, the young ones he sometimes yed with, the strong white-scaled kin he went hunting with.

    All of them were worthless. They were no different from the lumps of metal scattered outside.

    The Transcendent One spoke.

    Only Odd Grad was a ¡®unique¡¯ being. He was the only one worthy of bing an avatar of the stars, and it would be a waste to kill him now.

    He didn''t understand exactly what that meant, but it didn''t matter. What mattered more was that the Transcendent One assured him of his life.

    After the deal with the Transcendent One, he survived.

    As a token of their newfound friendship, the Transcendent One even gave him a precious gift.

    But the young leader who loved his kind was no longer there. Only "the Great Odd Grad" remained.

    That Great Odd Grad had now awakened from a long sleep.

    The fight with the cunning "ck-scaled Kin" ended unpleasantly. He had to rush back because the kin of that wretch attacked the nest.

    Losing the traitor was no small loss, but there was a bigger problem: the future in which the ck-scaled kin would kill him had not changed.

    Only then did he recall the Transcendent One''s warning.

    The stele bestowed upon him by the Transcendent One had spoken to him, saying that a being who might be able to kill him would appear.

    But Odd Grad couldn¡¯t heed that warning. Dealing with the defectors within his pack was more urgent.

    Even the dreams hadn¡¯t warned him of an ominous future. Because of that, he acted carelessly.

    In hindsight, he might have been inevitable. He had spent his entire life choosing only futures that his abilities could control.

    This time too, he decided to rely on his abilities. After all, wasn¡¯t it the ability to see the future that had allowed him to survive without shing with the Transcendent One? The power to see the future was surely going to guide him on the right path.

    Odd Grad, having awakened from his dream, emitted a telepathic wave.

    ?Finally? ?Victory? ?I have seen it?

    After wandering through his dreams for several days in search of an answer, he had found a way to change the future.

    ?Odd Grad? ?Commands? ?All kin? ?Prepare? ?Hunt? ?Join me?

    ?All kin??

    ?Nest? ?Defense? ?Impossible?

    ?Imand again? ?All kin who can fight? ?Every one of you? ?Follow me? ?Refusal? ?Will not be forgiven?

    His mates cautiously voiced their dissent, but Odd Grad did not listen.

    In his dream, he had seen:

    He was standing on top of a peculiar mountain peak. Beneath his feety the battered ck-scaled kin. He saw himself cutting the kin''s throat with sharp ws, drinking his blood.

    The Great Odd Grad had imed victory once again.

    ---

    Having flown a considerable distance from the nest, Inded on one of the peaks of the vast mountain range.

    There was a nest made of broken tree debris mixed with glittering gem shards. This was the twin peaks I had visited not long ago to capture a Crystalwing.

    Iy down on the nest that had lost its owner.

    ¡®By now, he must have seen.¡¯

    Since I had defected from the pack, Odd Grad¡¯s vision of the future would have changed. He would try to strike me as soon as possible, knowing that such an opportunity might note again.

    There aren¡¯t many twin peaks in this area. And there are even fewer ces where a Crystalwing¡¯s nest can be found, like the one I¡¯m lying in.

    ¡®If he saw me in his dream, it wouldn¡¯t be hard to find.¡¯

    There was still time before they arrived.

    I unpacked the equipment I had brought.

    ¡®Blood Reaver, Demolisher, the Harmonizer¡­¡¯

    These were all spoils I had collected from enemies I had fought so far. Besides what I had taken out, there were more bags of spoils in the nest.

    The Priest¡¯s Golden Spear wasn¡¯t in this bag. Originally, it was, but I had intentionally removed it and thrown it into a pit.

    ¡®Mother of the Sky would know what I mean.¡¯

    I trust that they will soon realize my intention, but just in case, I prepared a backup n.

    She knows how useful the Priest¡¯s Golden Spear is. Once she checks the spear hidden in the pit, she¡¯ll understand my intent.

    ¡®I doubt they¡¯ll feast on it immediately after I left. They¡¯ll probably find it by tomorrow morning.¡¯

    This is the first time I¡¯ve ever executed a n with so many variables. Still, this was the best way to keep Odd Grad in the dark.

    I reyed the fight with him in my mind.

    There were two major instances when I could be sure that his danger-sensing ability activated: when I used the Divine Spectre and when I activated the ¡®Abyssal Hue¡¯.

    ¡®It wasn¡¯t as clear when the cruiser exploded, though¡­¡¯

    Given that he didn¡¯t suffer a fatal injury, it¡¯s highly likely he foresaw the future and evaded it.

    In short, the attacks he avoided by seeing the future were all ones that could have inflicted serious injuries on him.

    ¡®The enhanced Watcher of Fear is slightly different, but it¡¯s still directly tied to death.¡¯

    The ¡®Watcher of Fear¡¯ imbued with the Abyssal Hues causes its target to continuously experience the most horrific pain. In that state,bat, let alone flight, would be impossible, so it¡¯s certainly rted to death.

    ¡®But he didn¡¯t show that reaction to other attacks.¡¯

    Even though the ck Gagon¡¯s hide is tough, it¡¯s not invincible as long as it¡¯s a living creature. Repeated hits from a regr psychic breath or other attacks would cause injuries. In fact, he bled when hit by the cruiser¡¯s main cannon.

    ¡®It didn¡¯t seem like he predicted the future at that time.¡¯

    The Cult¡¯s cruiser¡¯s main cannon can injure the ck Gagon. However, killing it in one blow is impossible.

    Therefore, it¡¯s highly likely that his danger-sensing ability only activates in response to ¡®single attacks that can kill him or inflict fatal wounds leading to death¡¯.¡± Both the Divine Spectre and the Abyssal Hue fall into this category.

    ¡®As for the psychic-reflective armor, it¡¯s still unclear.¡¯

    I looked down at the equipment I hadid out.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t align well with its ability and the Divine Spectre.¡¯

    The Divine Spectre is extremely powerful, but because of its overwhelming strength, it¡¯s not ideal in this situation. His predictive ability would likely detect it.

    ¡®In that case, I need to change tactics.¡¯

    I activated a translucent text box.

    "Plunderer''s Amorphous Polyhedron: Devour a piece of equipment to specialize in the unique ability of that equipment. Can only be used once per equipment, and the previous equipment''s special effects are lost when devouring new equipment."

    A few months ago, I obtained the ability ¡®Plunderer''s Amorphous Polyhedron¡¯ after killing the cyborg yer Muriel. By devouring the Cult¡¯s orbital weapon ¡®Brain God¡¯, I acquired the characteristic of using the Brain God¡¯s power through the Divine Spectre.

    And here, I¡¯m nning to devour new equipment.

    Among the equipment in front of me, there are three items worth devouring:

    The Blood Reaver and the Harmonizer obtained from Muriel, and the Demolisher acquired from the temple guards and cruiser.

    ¡®The Demolisher.¡¯

    I picked up the rectangr gun that resembled a pencil case.

    The characteristic created by the Plunderer''s Amorphous Polyhedron follows the traits of the devoured equipment. Devour a smauncher, and you gain sma beams. Devour the Brain God, and you gain the Brain God¡¯s power. If I devour the Demolisher, I¡¯d be able to shoot beams with matter maniption effects.

    ¡®But this won¡¯t work, will it?¡¯

    The Demolisher¡¯s bullets can disintegrate even the hardest substances. Since its effects are simr to the psychic breath enhanced by the Abyssal Hue, it would likely trigger Odd Grad¡¯s danger-sensing ability.

    ¡®Next is the Harmonizer.¡¯

    The Harmonizer, a cross-shaped halo headband, is a trophy I gained after killing Muriel.

    Originally, Jason also had the Harmonizer, but when he teleported, his equipment disappeared along with him, so I couldn¡¯t obtain it.

    ¡®The Harmonizer¡¯s ability isn¡¯t bad either.¡¯

    The Harmonizer is a reward for clearing the Cult¡¯s unique system quest at stage 9.

    While wearing this headband, you automatically teleport to a nearby location whenever you sustain a fatal injury. The concept is that it atomizes your body and moves it, and as a result, your injuries arepletely healed after teleportation¡ªa terrifying effect.

    You can teleport up to five times. In other words, it¡¯s like having five lives.

    ¡®Teleportation is great, but it¡¯s not useful here.¡¯

    What I need is a means of attack that can inflict moderate damage without triggering his ability. Having a defence mechanism is nice, but at this moment, it¡¯s hard to say it would be useful.

    ¡®Thest one is the Blood Reaver.¡¯

    I looked down at the small spider-shaped machine, no bigger than a finger joint.

    It may look small and cute, but it¡¯s actually a very dangerous device.

    ''After all, it¡¯s a unique war machine of the Star Union.¡¯

    In terms of rank, it¡¯s on par with the Brain God. In fact, their production costs are almost identical.

    In the game, the Blood Reaver is frequently used in various situations, including yer-versus-yerbat, capturing rare creatures, and weakening powerful raid boss-level entities.

    When the Blood Reaver is activated, it attaches itself to a specific target and begins draining their life force. The absorption speed is so rapid that even the strongest enemies experience a significant reduction inbat power.

    One might think that it could be detected and avoided beforehand, but that¡¯s impossible. The metals and paints that make up the Blood Reaver have effects that nullify detection. Even my auxiliary organs can¡¯t pick it up.

    ¡®This nearly got me killed when I fought Muriel.¡¯

    Back then, I had preemptively activated the ¡®Gremlin Moss¡¯ characteristic, which renders machines useless, allowing me to neutralize the Blood Reaver.

    Considering the effects of the Blood Reaver, it¡¯s well-suited for this situation. It provides me with a means to steadily umte damage on it without delivering a single fatal blow.

    As I examined the equipmentid out before me, I lifted my head to look at the sky. With the thick clouds still nketing the area, it was difficult to gauge the time, but I could roughly tell that it was night.

    ¡®I still have some time left, so I¡¯ll think it over slowly.¡¯

    Besides the three main pieces of equipment, there are other items in my bag.

    I began pulling them out one by one, contemting how best to use them.

    Truth be told, I¡¯ve already decided what I¡¯m going to use, but I¡¯m doing this out of anxiety.

    Can I really defeat an enemy that can read the future?

    What if he changes his target?

    What if he attacks Adhai or the others first instead of me?

    I arrive back at the nest toote, only to find their corpses strewn about. Number 26 curses me as it dies from its wounds, using me of abandoning them to save myself...

    ¡®Stop.¡¯

    I mmed my head hard against the ground.

    Maybe it¡¯s because of the cold snow, but the ominous thoughts vanished in an instant, and my mind felt clearer.

    ¡®I don¡¯t lose.¡¯

    Almost nothing has gone perfectly ording to my ns up to this point. There have always been unexpected variables and unforeseen crisis.

    But I¡¯ve survived. No adversity, no formidable enemy has been able to ovee me.

    Odd Grad will be no different.

    It wille here, and I will devour everyst drop of his gic essence.

    With that thought, I waited.

    Time passed, and the clouds shifted. The storm intensified, with snow, lightning, and gales whipping together.

    The weather had be so extreme that it was beyond mere bad weather¡ªan outright severe storm.

    In the midst of this relentless onught of harsh conditions, my auxiliary organs detected something.

    Arge number of massive objects were rapidly approaching this location.

    ¡®They¡¯re here.¡¯

    I pulled out the equipment from my bag and swallowed it. The Plunderer''s Amorphous Polyhedron activated, and the structure within my body began to change.

    As I felt the departure of the Divine Spectre, which had been with me for so long, I looked up at the sky.

    Behind the veil of the storm, I saw ck wings.

    The long wait was over.

    The time for the hunt hade.

 Chapter 228:

    Chapter 228:

    As the Gagons flying toward me suddenly stopped and changed formation, they encircled the peak where I stood, maintaining a careful distance.

    Soon, purple lights shed from beyond the clouds, surrounding me in a ring beforeunching a synchronized barrage.

    ¡®As expected.¡¯

    A torrent of Psychic Breaths filled the vast sky, making it nearly impossible to evade, even for Adhai, the fastest Gagon I had encountered.

    ¡®Not that I intend to dodge.¡¯

    I spread my winged arms andbat tentacles wide, ready to embrace the oing wave of violet energy.

    The Breath unleashed by these cosmic dragons crashed down upon the mountain peak.

    The nest of the jewel, now devoid of its master, shattered into pieces, while the trees that formed a small forest were swept away in the tidal wave of energy. The ground beneath my feet crumbled, sending the peak itself flying away.

    The Psychic Breath barrage triggered a massive avnche halfway up the mountain. The sheer scale of it was such that it seemed to cleanse the entire mountain in snow and ice. The thunderous roar of the avnche drowned out the deafening noise of the Breath.?Cease your fire.?

    Odd Gradmanded, and the Gagon swarm halted. The coordinated Breath attack was as formidable as the fleet of the Cult Empire. Thanks to them, this ce was now so devastated that it could no longer be called the Twin Peaks.

    One of the Gagons approached through the bliZZard to confirm the result.

    At that moment, I fiercely shook the newly formed wings with red stripes. The snow and ice that had covered me fell away, and my body soared upward.

    My wings whipped up a storm, dispelling the bliZZard. The green Gagon was startled by the sight of me unscathed. It was only natural, given that not a single wound marred my form despite the barrage.

    I charged at the Green Gagon, who was unable to react properly. My horn, now far more savage than when west met, pierced through its abdomen.

    The creature thrashed in agony. To end its suffering quickly, I gripped its body with my tentacles.

    And then, with a surge of power, I tore its body apart. The Gagon''s blood drenched my cold scales. Among the scattered fragments, I didn''t miss its head, which I caught with the pincers of my tail.

    The Gagons were visibly shaken, perhaps intimidated by my brutal disy.

    Only Odd Grad, soaring regally behind the Gagons, maintained hisposure.

    ?The ck Butcher.?

    Though he hadunched the first attack as a precaution, it seemed he had expected that I wouldn''t die from it. However, he probably hadn¡¯t anticipated that I would bepletely unscathed.

    ?You??have changed.?

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (We have prepared to hunt you.)]

    ?Foolishness.??The great Odd Grad??will not be defeated.?

    At his nod, the Gagons that had encircled me began to close in. Having confirmed that their Breath attacks were ineffective, they seemed intent on engaging in closebat.

    I flicked my tail, tossing the Green Gagon''s head into my mouth. As I drank its sweet blood, I unleashed my most powerful weapon.

    The ck scales covering my body shimmered with eerie hues of green, purple, and an unknown color. The rainbow-colored tar from the Abyss flowed through the monster''s tentacles, which extended from the back of my head, down my neck, and to my jaw.

    Then, the essence of the Abyss formed at the tips of the tentacles. A bubble-shaped Psychic Breath moved to engulf the enemies.

    Upon seeing the bubble, the Gagons scattered swiftly. As they did, they tossed something into the air with their front ws.

    What they threw was a chunk of flesh from an unknown creature. Despite my intent, the Psychic Breath was drawn to the meat first.

    The chunk of flesh, melting under the Psychic Breath, plummeted to the invisible ground below.

    Though distant, I could see that the others also held several pieces of flesh with their front ws, hind legs, and tails.

    ¡®...Clever?¡¯

    Just as I had analyzed him, Odd Grad had clearly studied my abilities as well.

    The Psychic Breath infused with the Abyssal Hue is incredibly powerful, with a chain explosion effect, making it highly effective in brawls against groups. When it consumes an organism, it automatically targets the nearest new enemy.

    The downside is that the Psychic Breath doesn''t distinguish between friend and foe, and its projection speed is slow. Odd Grad had figured out these weaknesses in that short time and prepared a countermeasure.

    ¡®If only Number 26 were here, this wouldn''t be a big problem...¡¯

    It must have known that I was alone, which is why it chose this method.

    The Gagons that had neutralized my enhanced Psychic Breath closed in on me. With them this close, I could no longer use the Abyssal Hue.

    A Gagon with white scales swung its front w at me, its sharp talons grazing the carapace on my head.

    Feeling the sparks fly above my head, I opened my lower jaw and bit down on its arm. Before it could pull away, I grasped its body tightly with mybat tentacles.

    Another green Gagon lunged at me from behind. I swung my tail, which was hanging limply toward the ground, with all my might. I felt the satisfying impact through the pincers at the end of my tail.

    I ignored the Green Gagon as it plummeted with a broken neck and pulled back the head of the White Gagon I had bitten. The arm in my mouth was torn off along with it, and its mental waves of pain echoed through the air.

    ?All at once, surround it!?

    At Odd Grad¡¯smand, the Gagons charged at me in unison.

    I bit down harder on the head of the White Gagon, swinging my tail. The Gagon that had been flying at me saw my tail and ducked in surprise. In that moment, I threw the headless corpse and leaped into the midst of the oing swarm.

    Green and white scales shed chaotically, and their ws raked against my carapace and scales. One of the white Gagons stabbed its horn into my side. Its sharp horn pierced through my scales and dug into my flesh.

    [Pain Nullification activated!]

    The text box warned me, but I ignored it. I had deliberately acted this way to wipe them out all at once.

    Sharp ws and deadly horns rained down on me, intent on killing me. I paid them no mind and extended all fourbat tentacles, grabbing the Gagons.

    With four long tentacles, I firmly grasped their body parts and activated the trait I had gained by devouring the Blood Reaver.

    [PR/N- In many previous chapters the blood reaver is named as blood raver which is wrong. Blood reaver sounds much more convincing so we will follow this word from now. Sorry for the inconvenience.]

    ¡®Leeching Hand.¡¯

    Immediately, the condition of the Gagons I held changed drastically.

    Their once smooth scales shrivelled rapidly, and their skin and muscles began to soften and sag. The sturdy horns atop their heads crumbled, and their once-moist tentacles withered and dried out.

    In less than a few seconds, the four Gagons had be shrivelled mummies. Simultaneously, the wound on my side healed at a rapid pace.

    While I do have regenerative abilities, this was on another level entirely. By the time I had drained the life from the one that had pierced me, even my scales had fully regenerated.

    The effect of the Leeching Hand was simple.

    It absorbed the enemy¡¯s energy to heal my body. The difference was just how absurdly effective it was.

    ?Fall back!??Beware??of its??grasp!?

    The astute Odd Grad quickly realized the effect of my actions. The Gagons that had been wing at me swiftly retreated.

    ¡®Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡¯

    Just as I reached out to grab the tail of a fleeing White Gagon, a powerful Breath struck me.

    ¡®Odd Grad.¡¯

    Finally, it had decided to intervene directly.

    I examined the area where the Breath had hit. The spot that took the direct hit had its scales and skin peeled away, exposing the muscles beneath, and the surrounding area was searing hot.

    ¡®Even with the Mimic Scales active, it inflicted this much damage... Definitely a being beyond normal standards.¡¯

    However, thanks to the energy absorbed through the Leeching Hand, the wound healed almost instantly.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    For a moment, a familiar hue shed across the searing carapace and then vanished. A strange light, a mix of green and purple, much like the Abyssal Hue when activated...

    [Pain Nullification Activated]

    ¡®Ugh!¡¯

    My thoughts were cut short as Odd Grad suddenly rammed into me.

    Perhaps due to the added momentum, his horn easily tore through mybat tentacles and wing membrane. I tried to grab him, but he had already retreated at high speed.

    ¡®...Is this what it means to be a being beyond normal standards?¡¯

    This is a tactic that Adhai often uses, but the result was on a different level. Due to the difference in size and power output, the destructive force was iparable.

    As I plummeted due to the hole in my wing, Odd Grad circled around and flew towards me. I activated ¡®Observer of Terror¡¯, enhanced with the Abyssal Hue.

    A sinister light emanated from my head carapace, and multicolored bubbles began to form.

    The moment I used the ability, another Gagon shot a Psychic Breath at the bubbles. The bubbles exploded mid-air, failing to advance any further and falling to the ground.

    Using the absorbed energy, I regenerated the membrane of my wings and tried to gain altitude, but Odd Grad blocked my path.

    His speed was astonishing, like a bolt of ck lightning. He charged at my abdomen, aiming to impale me with his horn.

    However, this time I was prepared. I narrowly avoided a direct hit, the horn grazing my side, and Ished out with my corrosive tentacles to ensnare him. One of the tentacles nearly caught his hind leg, but he kicked hard, breaking free.

    As I exchanged blows with Odd Grad, other Gagons targeted my back. Like Odd Grad, they utilized their hyper-eleration ability, shing at me with their ws before quickly retreating.

    ¡®So they¡¯re trying to wear me down like this?¡¯

    Their numbers were in the dozens. Even if each one seeded in attacking just once, it would inflict significant damage on me.

    As expected of a clever opponent, he had chosen a crafty tactic, despite his usual arrogance.

    But I was no stranger to close-quartersbat.

    I endured their attacks, waiting for an opportunity.

    A green Gagon flew toward me, attacking prematurelypared to the others¡ªit must have been a less experienced one.

    ¡®It¡¯s hard to change course while in hyper-eleration.¡¯

    I predicted its trajectory in advance and dodged while extending my corrosive tentacles. Its attack missed, and my tentacle snagged its wing.

    The Green Gagon panicked. I extended mybat tentacles, ready to drain all of its energy.

    ?You cannot use that ability.?

    But Odd Grad wasn¡¯t about to let me heal. A breath attack from the ck Dragon incinerated not me, but the Green Gagon entirely.

    True to his nature as an unusually savage Gagon, he had chosen to sacrifice his kin.

    ¡®Fine. Keep doing that.¡¯

    But I wasn¡¯t discouraged. This, too, would ultimately work to my advantage.

    This scenario repeated several times. Each time I tried to use the Leeching Hand, Odd Grad would st away my potential healing source¡ªhis own kind.

    I tried to counterattack and close in on them, but chasing down hyper-elerating enemies was no easy task. And whenever I managed to grab one to heal, Odd Grad¡¯s attack would quickly follow.

    I had in fewer Gagons than Odd Grad had, yet they continued to follow him. Despite the undercurrent of defiance, they showed no signs of betrayal or allegiance to a new leader.

    The battle was slowly tipping in their favor. The energy I had absorbed with the Leeching Hand had long been depleted, and my injuries were mounting.

    [Pain Nullification Activated]

    Just now, Odd Grad had torn off one of mybat tentacles. It even drank the blood from the severed limb, a tant provocation.

    In response, I unleashed a Psychic Breath. Without the Abyssal Hue enhancing it, Odd Grad didn¡¯t bother dodging and countered with his own psychic fire.

    The sky above the dark ocean turned a deep purple, as if the sun were rising.

    It was a magnificent sight created by thebined powers of the ck Gagon and an Amorph with Gagon genes.

    But from my perspective, it wasn¡¯t a favorable one. I was giving it my all, but Odd Grad clearly wasn¡¯t.

    As we shed in a power struggle, Odd Grad suddenly increased the output of his breath, as if deciding to end this game. The tug-of-war had been evenly matched, but then, as if I had lost strength, the psychic power surged violently toward me.

    The Psychic Breath he fired,bined with the rebound of my own power, mmed into my entire body. The Mimicry Scales prevented my body from disintegrating in an instant, but the pain and injuries were unavoidable.

    Part of my wing membrane burned away, causing me to plummet onto a peak below.

    As I fell, a strange light briefly shed across my reddened carapace before vanishing again.

    Before I could figure out why this kept happening, a massive shock overwhelmed my mind. My body crashed into the mangled peak.

    [Pain Nullification Activated]

    Instead of pain, I felt a deep sense of weariness. Ignoring the text box, I gazed up at the sky.

    ¡®How much time has passed?¡¯

    It had been quite a while since I started fighting these creatures. The sky was still filled with dark clouds, making it impossibly gloomy.

    Except for one spot.

    The sh with Odd Grad had created a white line among the clouds. Through the crack, a sliver of white light could be seen.

    Then, ck wings blocked the light. Odd Gradnded in front of me.

    I swiftly extended thebat tentacles that had been buried in the ground, but he evaded easily, as if anticipating my move. Using his future-seeing ability, he avoided my surprise attack and struck my arm with his tail.

    The creature broke my arm and easily deflected the iing corrosive tentacle with his front paw. As I prepared to unleash a Psychic Breath, enhanced with the Abyssal Hue, he sneered.

    ?It¡¯s useless.?

    Predicting my move, he sliced off my monstrous tentacle with a swipe of his paw.

    ?Grrr!?

    My mind went nk, and I let out an involuntary scream. Messages about pain suppression shed repeatedly, but I couldn¡¯t register any of them.

    Such excruciating pain hadn¡¯t hit me since being struck by the Abyss-colored Observer of Terror. I was paralyzed, unable to think or act.

    ?The ck Butcher¡¯s weakness has been exposed.?

    ?Grrrr¡­.?

    ?Did you not know of the great Odd Grad¡¯s power, you fool??

    He dragged me out of the ground. I should¡¯ve grabbed him with mybat tentacles, but Icked the strength.

    Crushing me underfoot and with his tail, he taunted.

    ?Once again, the great Odd Grad is victorious.?

    He raised his ring-bearing paw high, and sunlight streamed through the fractured sky, illuminating his back.

    It was the first time in ages I had seen such light. And as I noticed small specks moving within that radiance, I yed my final card.

    ?Die.?

    Odd Grad tore a chunk of flesh from my neck with a swipe of his paw. Blood spurted out, and my consciousness began to fade.

    Gazing at me, mortally wounded, he drank the blood from my wounds with arrogant confidence, certain of his victory.

    His attitude revealed only one truth.

    [ZZZZZ (So this is the end.)]

    ???

    [ZZZ ZZZ (The future you saw.)]

    Odd Grad recoiled, startled that I wasn¡¯t dead. In that moment of surprise, I used the ¡®Bone Scythe Arm¡¯ that had sprouted from my back and struck him down.

    Specifically, I severed the paw bearing the ring.

    ?You wretch!?

    He quickly retreated, his front paw now severed. I picked up the fallen limb and absorbed it.

    ?Why won¡¯t you die?!?

    Seeing my neck wound healing, Odd Grad shouted in fury.

    There was one thing his future vision had missed: the true weakness of an Amorph.

    To kill an Amorph instantly, both the head and heart must be destroyed¡ªnot the neck or any other part.

    ?Brethren! Kill the ck Butcher!?

    Odd Grad spread his wings and soared into the air, sending out a mental wavemanding them to attack me, whether by charging or firing Psychic Breaths.

    But the Gagons didn¡¯t move.

    ?Odd Gradmands you! Kill the ck Butcher!?

    He issued the order again, but they didn¡¯t even nce at Him. Every Gagon, except the ck Dragon, had their gaze fixed on one point.

    [ZZZZZ (Odd Grad.)]

    ?You wretch!?

    Instead of responding, I pointed a finger at the sky.

    For the first time since arriving on this, I saw a bright light. Six Gagons stood silhouetted against it.

    Odd Grad recoiled in shock as he recognized them.

    I sent out a wave, gazing at the red dragon among them.

    [ZZ ZZZ (Serve the Queen.)]

    The abandoned and the traitors.

    The remnants of the past hade to y the ck tyrant.

 Chapter 229:

    Chapter 229:

    Under the light, I saw six Gagons.

    Three had green scales, along with the white Gagon, Nel Germa, and Ham Ort, whose wings were nearly healed. And then there was Adhai, adorned in her red makeup.

    Above the Gagons were some familiar figures.

    Perched on Ham Ort was the Mother of the Sky, transformed into a Wendigo, while the Mutant Screamer PS-111 rode on Nel Germa.

    Ahead of them, on top of Adhai, was a small pink balloon. This was Number 26, known as the Sea Demon.

    They all gathered here to assist me on this lonely journey.

    ?Odd Grad!? ?Imand you!? ?Attack!? ?Attack!?

    The ck dragon kept barking orders, but none of the others followed. Amid the confusion, the frail White Gagon stepped forward.

    ?Great Odd Grad? ?ck? ?Enemy? ?Color of the stars? ?Enemy? ?Strength??No!? ?Enemy? ?Just a traitor? ?It''s a lie!?

    ?Kin? ?Lie? ?Impossible? ?Color? ?Lie? ?Impossible?

    ording to the lore, a red Gagon is a mythical being thatmands all Gagons, one of the few creatures that can instil an instinctual fear in them, known as the dragon of the universe.

    ¡®Of course, Adhai hasn¡¯t fully grown yet.¡¯

    Her dragon power is pitifully weakpared to the Red Gagon I¡¯ve seen before, even weaker than Odd Grad.

    Yet, the reason the Gagon horde is in disarray is clear.

    It¡¯s all because of Odd Grad¡¯s vile actions as the ck tyrant.

    He abused and starved his kin, ignored their strong sense of kinship, and killed the weaker offspring.

    Had he behaved like a ''normal Gagon,'' they would have obeyed hismands, as he was their leader who had protected them until now.

    But he was never a good king for the Gagons.

    ?Odd Grad? ?Emotion? ?Understanding? ?Difficulty? ?Exnation? ?Request?

    ?!?

    And now, he¡¯s lost the means to control his kin.

    His treasure, the ring that hides emotions, was torn from him along with his forepaw when I attacked him with my bone scythe arm.

    That ring is now in my possession. I clenched it tightly with the small hand on my chest.

    ?You!?

    Odd Grad snarled as he saw it.

    He had always exploited the Gagons¡¯ inability to lie, but that was no longer possible. It was easy to imagine how the other Gagons would perceive him now that they knew his true intentions.

    ¡®They¡¯ll likely see him aspletely insane.¡¯

    Or perhaps as a wicked tyrant who enved and massacred his kin.

    The frail White Gagon, who defied Odd Grad, continued to send out waves of thought.

    ?Kin? ?Stronger kin? ?Follow? ?New leader? ?Decision? ?Necessary?

    It clearly expressed its refusal to fight, then retreated. The other Gagons followed suit, backing away.

    Now, only Odd Grad''s mates remained as enemies.

    By coincidence, there were six of them left, as one had died in my previous attack.

    It so happens that we also have six beings capable of flight on our side.

    ¡®Including those riding on our backs, we outnumber them.¡¯

    No more thinking or talking is necessary.

    From here on, strength will determine everything.

    I pushed off the ground and soared into the air.

    Though my neck wound wasn¡¯t fully healed, the carapace formed by my ¡®Symbol of Hunt¡¯ transformation had stopped the bleeding. To fully recover, I needed nourishment.

    The gic essence of the ck Gagon should be sufficient.

    I pped my wings, which now gleamed with red veins, and flew towards Odd Grad.

    Thanks to the Symbol of Hunt''s effect, my wings wererger and stronger than before. Odd Grad was startled to see me approach so quickly.

    ?Insignificant creature!?

    I pressed close to him, swinging my tail with all the force I could muster. The tip of my tail, like a colossal il, hurtled towards him with a menacing sound.

    Perhaps realizing that it was impossible to block my attack even with foresight, Odd Grad chose to evade. One of his ck wings bent slightly, causing his body to lurch. My tail''s pincer scraped against the horn on his head as it passed by.

    Having narrowly avoided my attack, Odd Grad immediately fired a psychic breath from his position. Unlike me, who needed time to charge, his speed was undoubtedly faster.

    However, his breath no longer posed a significant threat to me.

    With my body reinforced by the Symbol and the Mimicry Scales'' effect, I was now almostpletely immune to psychic power.

    Of course, I couldn¡¯t entirely ignore the physical force of his breath. The impact pushed me back, and Odd Grad quickly retreated.

    While I fought Odd Grad, the battle between his mates and my allies began.

    Nel Germa, who disyed above-averagebat skills, dove into the midst of Odd Grad¡¯s mates. PS-111, riding atop her, relentlessly fired demolisher blue energy sts from its mouth.

    One of the mates was hit by a st that disintegrated matter on the edge of its wing and urgently warned its kin. Just like in the fight against me, the enemies scattered quickly.

    ¡®Just as nned, the enemies have dispersed. Everyone, prepare yourselves.¡¯

    ?Understood?

    One of the scattered enemies flew towards the green Gagons in Ham Ort¡¯s group. It seemed intent on tearing apart the weaker ones first and rejoining its kin swiftly.

    But such a predictable attack wouldn¡¯t fool my allies. The still-recovering pure white queen blocked the white mate''s path.

    Riding on her back, the Mother of the Sky unleashed the ¡®Ice Wraith¡¯ she had prepared in advance. The white Gagon, who had been flying perfectly fine, was suddenly infected with the Wendigo''s madness and turned on her.

    The crazed Gagon fired a breath at her, but she boldly evaded the purple heat beam. She leaped into the air, grabbing onto Ham Ort¡¯s horn, narrowly avoiding the beam.

    Though she fell to the ground ording to thews of nature, Ham Ort skillfully tilted her head to catch her.

    ?Are you alright??

    ?¡­Would you stop if I said yes??

    ?Little one? ?Knowing you can''t? ?Stop?

    ?Tch, let''s finish this quickly!?

    Thebination of the Ice Wraith and the pure white queen pulled the maddened mate away. Meanwhile, the other green Gagons moved to support Nel Germa and PS-111.

    ¡®If you follow my instructions, your life will not be in danger.¡¯

    ?Adult? ?Trust? ?Me? ?Trust?

    ?Me? ?Pain? ?Dislike?

    ¡®The probability of only losing a tail or getting a hole in your wing is 63%, so you can trust me.¡¯

    ?Suddenly? ?Uneasiness?

    ?Nel Germa? ?Pointing out? ?Facts? ?All of it? ?Unnecessary?

    Thebination of Green, White Gagons, and mechanical creatures was facing two of Odd Grad¡¯s mates.

    Three of the enemy mates remained.

    However, their situation was dire. They had to contend with my friends, Number 26 and Adhai, who had fought together frequently since the space city.

    Perhaps because of their experience fighting together, they toyed with the three white Gagon mates.

    Adhai, who had always excelled in aerialbat, was now cutting across the battlefield at terrifying speeds. None of the Gagons here could match her speed, which was as fast as a projectile fired from a railgun.

    Failing to catch up with her, the mates tried to shoot her down with psychic breath. But riding atop her was Number 26, our best psychic power expert.

    Every time Number 26 waved its tentacles from atop the glowing redet, the direction of the heat beams veered off course, or the energy dissipated entirely.

    With the mates'' attacks nullified, Adhai pivoted and charged them in return. Activating her red armor, she rammed into one of the mates.

    Her charge,bined with near-sonic speed and her indestructible horns, was nothing short of devastating. Shepletely pierced through the mate''s abdomen.

    It was as if a four-meter-long projectile had punched a hole in the White Gagon¡¯s belly, killing it instantly. Number 26, who had been clinging tightly to her back, suddenly popped out.

    ?Fun! Do it again!?

    ?No? ?Too messy?

    Just as expected.

    It seemed like they had discussed their battle n before arriving here; their coordination was wless.

    ?You!? ?Where are you looking!?

    While I briefly watched them fight, Odd Gradunched a sudden attack. He thrust his head forward, aiming to pierce my chest with his horn.

    As a clever creature, he quickly realized that I hadn¡¯t died despite having my neck half-severed and immediately targeted a different spot.

    Under normal circumstances, I might havemended his judgment, but not now.

    The only way for him to survive was to flee from this ce.

    ¡®Not that I¡¯m going to let that happen.¡¯

    I slightly twisted my body to narrowly avoid his charge. His horn only managed to scratch the surface of my chest carapace.

    Odd Grad tried to quickly pull his head back after the failed attack, but this time, I was faster. Mybat arms grabbed hold of his horn.

    ?!?

    The Predator Leech''s hand activated, rapidly draining his energy through the horn.

    Even arge creature like a White Gagon wouldn¡¯tst long in my grasp before bing a withered husk. Odd Grad knew this. In desperation, he fired a psychic breath with his horn still caught.

    The force of the impact pushed me back sharply. I tried to maintain my grip, but the horn broke, and I lost my hold.

    ?I¡¯ll kill you!? ?I¡¯ll kill you!? ?I will definitely? ?kill you!?

    Having lost all the horns that a male Gagon could take pride in, Odd Grad looked utterly pitiful. He watched as the horn in my hand crumbled into dust and began spewing waves of furious telepathy.

    ?You, of all creatures!? ?Never? ?Never? ?I will never forgive you!?

    Blinded by rage, he spread his wings wide and ascended into the sky.

    ¡®Is he running away?¡¯

    I could feel his presence rapidly receding.

    I quickly checked on the others¡¯ battles. Unless the Gagons observing us from afar decided to intervene, it didn¡¯t seem like my friends would lose.

    In fact, the situation was tilting more in our favour. Confident, I pursued Odd Grad.

    As I flew up, my ck mantle with red patterns billowing behind me, I sensed his energy.

    ¡®What is he doing?¡¯

    A massive amount of energy was emanating from his body, simr to when he uses the ''Maelstrom'' to create a localized psychic storm.

    ¡®He knows that won¡¯t work on me¡­.¡¯

    As that thought crossed my mind, images rapidly shed before my eyes.

    In the Symbol of Hunt state, where my vision is obscured, the only time images appear is when one specific condition is met.

    Predator Sense.

    This ability, which synthesizes environmental factors to predict the future, was warning me. Thanks to the Symbols of Hunt¡¯s effect, the future images provided by Predator Sense were much more detailed.

    The immense energy gathering within Odd Grad wasn¡¯t meant to create a psychic storm in the sky.

    The sole purpose of that ck dragon¡¯s power was to annihte me.

    The energy, aligning with his will, began to concentrate and soon transformed into a familiar form. Red diamond-like energy, Dragon Power.

    ¡®How is that possible?¡¯

    He¡¯s an aged ck Gagon, not a Red Gagon. He¡¯s not a special entity like Adhai.

    Moreover, when Ist observed him with Insight, he was definitely a ck Gagon. This means something must have changed during our battle, but I can¡¯t pinpoint what caused it.

    ¡®Could it be because he drank my blood?¡¯

    My body contains a significant amount of the gic essence of the White Gagon. It¡¯s possible that Odd Grad, by consuming my blood, absorbed some of that essence.

    ¡®No, that¡¯s not the main issue right now.¡¯

    The Dragon Power he created was much more unstable than Adhai''s. While Dragon Power should manifest as a bright red, like a red diamond, Odd Grad''s energy was closer to a reddish-purple.

    That means it was mixed with psychic power.

    And that impure fusion took the form of a massive beam aimed directly at my head.

    ?Odd Grad¡¯s attack has hit.?

    ?I am dead.?

    Thest attack I saw through Predator Sense before it ended was a technique I recognized.

    ¡®¡­Starme.¡¯

    A technique simr to an orbital weapon''s bombardment, and one of the Red Gagon''s signature moves.

    ¡®But it''s different in many ways.¡¯

    Since it¡¯s an attack based on Dragon Power, it should be purely red, but the Starme I saw through Predator Sense was closer to purple.

    ¡®He¡¯s on the brink of a transformation.¡¯

    I don''t know why Odd Grad is suddenly on the verge of this growth, but his attack remains iplete.

    A true Red Gagon¡¯s Starme would be unstoppable, but not yet.

    I halted my advance towards him and began preparing a psychic breath.

    ¡®I have to push back with maximum firepower.¡¯

    I needed to channel the full effect of the Symbol of Hunt and the energy I absorbed from Odd Grad just moments ago.

    For the first time since the battle with the Imperial Mothership, my body reached its limit. I converted all my remaining energy into psychic power, leaving only the minimum necessary to keep myself intact.

    Perhaps because I was holding more psychic power than I should, my ck scales and carapace began to emit a faint purple glow. The parts of my body that held the most energy, like the monster tentacles, glowed a vivid purple, brighter than any heat ray.

    ?Insignificant creature!? ?Face judgment!?

    The moment I fully charged my psychic power, Odd Grad struck.

    The reddish-purple sphere elongated into a thin cylindrical shape and descended upon my head. My senses were so heightened that it seemed to move slowly, though it was actually as fast as light.

    Just before the deep violet ray could touch my body.

    I unleashed all my power into a psychic breath. The beam I fired collided with the Starme, creating a massive recoil that crushed down on me.

    [Pain Nullification Activated]

    ¡®No! I can endure this!¡¯

    As I suspected, his attack was iplete. A proper Starme would have overwhelmed me, reducing me to nothing.

    Thanks to the Symbol effect, the thickness of my beam was on par with the Starme. In fact, his imperfect Starme was evenly matched with the psychic breath I was unleashing.

    ?I am? ?A being blessed by the stars!? ?I will never? ?be defeated!?

    Odd Grad knew he wasn¡¯t overpowering me, so he kept pouring energy into the Starme.

    The output was nearly equal. The oue would depend on who had more energy left.

    And in this moment, he held a slight advantage over me, even with the Symbol of Hunt.

    ¡®Grrr!¡¯

    The power struggle between us began to tilt in his favor. The intense heat from the Starme started to burn my head carapace. Even with the Mimicry Scales, my carapace was slowly melting.

    ¡®Just a little more¡­!¡¯

    Odd Grad''s energy was dwindling, likely because this was his first time using Dragon Power. Despite the agony of my melting carapace and scales, I gritted my teeth and maintained focus.

    Then, in the spot where my scales had melted, I felt a strange sensation. It was like tiny creatures crawling over me, but oddly, it wasn¡¯t unpleasant. The feeling extended beyond my body, like fur blowing in the wind.

    ¡®What?¡¯

    And it wasn¡¯t just a sensation.

    Within the molten carapace, wriggling, worm-like entities began to proliferate.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    It was peculiar. Even amidst the pain from the struggle with Starme, I was concerned about the changes happening in my body.

    These worm-like sensations weren¡¯t a natural growth or even physical matter. They were formed from iprehensible energy, a mixture of psychic power and unknown energy. It was as if someone had refined chaos into delicate strands.

    ¡®Refining chaos¡­ Could it be?¡¯

    As soon as I became aware of the transformation in my body, the worm-like entities began to coalesce. They merged from fine, hair-like strands into tendrils asrge as my own assimtion tentacles.

    The newly formed tentacle cluster shot out with the speed of an arrow released from a bow. It surged towards Odd Grad, who was now the target.

    ??!?

    As the tentacle attack approached, Odd Grad must have read the future, because he quickly ceased the Starme. The energy that had been burning me vanished instantly, and my psychic breath blew off one of his legs.

    Despite his injury, Odd Grad tried to dodge the iing energy tendrils. He evaded most of them, but one energy tentacle pierced through his tail. The tentacles that had achieved their purpose dissolved into the air.

    ?Kraaaak!?

    For the first time, Odd Grad screamed. Even though he had only lost a tail, the pain was so intense that he could not properly emit his psychic waves.

    ¡®No matter what, this is the chance.¡¯

    With my still-healthy wings fluttering, I flew towards him. Odd Grad, no longer in a state to maintain flight, began to slowly descend.

    ?You!? ?You!? ?You!?

    The pain, hatred, and various resentments emanating from the ck dragon seeped into me.

    As I closed the distance, an additional emotion appeared in his psychic waves.

    It was surely fear of death.

    What could the ck tyrant be seeing right now?

    The sight of the Amorph approaching with its mouth open? Or perhaps the future shown by the precognitive abilities that had assisted him until now?

    ?The great Odd Grad? ?Will never? ?Be defeated¡­?

    Odd Grad''s psychic waves failed to continue to the end.

    The headless ck dragon¡¯s corpse disappeared beneath the clouds.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Your future is over)]

    With the sun at my back, I devoured Odd Grad¡¯s head in one bite.

 Chapter 230:

    Chapter 230:

    [Predation effect activated! Sessfully acquired the gene essence of ''Dragon''s Heart (Unique).]

    [Stolen the ''Dragon''s Heart (Unique)'' from the biological traits of the ''ck Gagon¡¯.]

    [Would you like to apply ''Dragon''s Heart (Unique)''?]

    As soon as I swallowed Odd Grad''s head, the long-awaited text box appeared.

    The ''Dragon''s Heart,'' a symbol of the ck Gagon.

    This is the first unique trait acquired through direct predation without using the Transcendence System. If you want to evolve into a specialization in psychic abilities, it''s the best option.

    Though I should be happy to have gained such a powerful trait, I felt a slight disappointment.

    ¡®I thought something different woulde out since it''s a special one.¡¯

    Perhaps a precognition ability or the Starme it used before dying. Not that the Dragon''s Heart is useless, but Odd Grad was a being of a different calibrepared to ordinary ck Gagons. So I had a little hope.¡®Well, it''s a bit disappointing, but it can''t be helped.¡¯

    I selected ¡®Confirm¡¯. Then several translucent text boxes appeared, and my body began to change.

    Imitation is another aspect of evolution.

    There is no being better suited to this concept than The Amorph.

    My organs and bodily systems began actively epting the gene essence of the ck Gagon, transforming in response.

    The blood vessels connected to the heart on the right side expanded, split, and branched into new vessels. These new vessels converged on the opposite side of the heart, towards the left.

    As organs like the lungs and intestines shifted, a new heart began to grow in the empty space left behind. Though smaller in size than the heart on the right, the strength of this Gagon heart was no less.

    ¡®So this is how it feels.¡¯

    Could it be because I''m in the ''Symbol of Hunt'' state that my senses are heightened? I could vividly feel the changes happening inside my body.

    With two hearts in an instant, I took a deep breath. Even when I secured the Berserker Synapse before, I felt a strong vitality, but this time, it was on a different level.

    Despite expending a considerable amount of energy in the fight with Odd Grad, the exhaustionpletely disappeared. Instead, I felt a powerful energy, as if I were holding the sun within me.

    With the Dragon''s Heart, it''s as if I''m always in the Symbol of Hunt state, at least concerning psychic abilities. The heart constantly pumps psychic power, allowing me to use techniques like Psychic Breath without restriction.

    And that''s not all. Even in situations that consumerge amounts of energy, like superluminal navigation, I can substitute with psychic power.

    "It''ll go well with the Horizon of Nightmares."

    The worry of energy consumption while towing the ship will decrease, after all.

    "Come to think of it, this makes four unique traits now, doesn''t it?"

    I have three unique traits created through the Transcendence System. Adding the Dragon''s Heart, which specializes in psychic abilities, brings the total to four.

    ¡®Only six more until I meet the evolution conditions.¡¯

    I already met the Apex condition while fighting Odd Grad''s group. Now, only the requirements of acquiring ten unique traits and holding six types remain.

    ¡®I still have a long way to go.¡¯

    To gather ten unique traits, I''ll need to continue hunting ck Gagon-ss Apexes or use the Transcendence System.

    ¡®It won''t be easy to gain them through hunting.¡¯

    I might find more ck Gagons, but there''s no sign of any new Gagon groups on this. And it seems there are no other Apex creatures with unique-level traits on this besides the Gagons.

    ¡®There''s a chance the Arcane Orca mighte, but waiting for that would be too inefficient."

    The Arcane Orca, a higher species of Skywhale, moves betweens, consuming massive amounts of energy. They mighte to the ck mountain where the Skywhales roam, but it''s impossible to predict when they''ll arrive.

    At least the Crystalwing has a nest, but the Orca does not. Rather than waiting indefinitely, it might be better to consider other options.

    ¡®Perhaps it''s time to leave.¡¯

    Thanks to the Gagons, I met the Apex condition, and I killed the ck Gagon Odd Grad. I''ve probably gotten everything I can from this.

    ¡®Though I don''t n to leave immediately.¡¯

    After capturing the Hellside Ho, I gained new information about the materials needed for a new unique trait. To fuse that unique trait, I''ll need the traits of both the Hellside Ho and the cier Fiend.

    ¡®Even though Hellside Hos are one thing, finding cier Fiends on another won''t be easy. I need to either fuse a unique trait on this before leaving or at least gather the materials.¡¯

    ¡®Not to mention, there are still unresolved issues with the Screechers that came with PS-111 and the gene obtained from the Human-Faced Insects. It''ll take quite some time to check everything.¡¯

    ¡®I¡¯ll think about thatter.¡¯

    The battle is still raging below. Before descending, I checked my body''s condition onest time.

    The scales that were burned by the impact of the Starme were almostpletely restored. Although the head carapace, which took the most damage, is still healing, I don''t need to worry since it can be repaired by absorbing more enemies.

    ¡®That attack just now, it was definitely the effect of the Psychic Reflection Armor.¡¯

    Not just any ordinary Psychic Reflection Armor, but one imbued with the Abyssal Hue.

    A bizarre sensation, as if chaos itself had been refined, and it inflicted extreme pain on the opponent it struck. No trait other than the Abyssal Hue possesses such characteristics.

    ¡®Was it automatically activated because it''s a passive trait?¡¯

    I can''t deactivate or activate the Psychic Reflection Armor at will. It seems that the same characteristic is reflected in the Abyssal Hue version.

    ¡®There are probably two conditions for activation.¡¯

    Some traits of The Amorph do not stack orbine with others. In such cases, the more superior trait takes effect, while the less effective trait remains inactive.

    For example, if I possess the ''Enhanced Wings of the Beast'' and acquire a ''Wing'' trait, it doesn''t mean I get additional wings. The gene essence of the Wing trait is stored somewhere in my brain but doesn¡¯t actually change my body.

    For the Wing trait to activate, the Enhanced Wings of the Beast must be deactivated. This could happen if I lose my winged arms or if the trait itself is lost.

    Simrly, the Psychic Reflection Armor is inactive due to the high psychic resistance provided by the Mimicry Scales. If the psychic resistance effect of the Mimicry Scales is terminated, the Psychic Reflection Armor will reactivate.

    ¡®But the Mimicry Scales were severely damaged by the Starme.¡¯

    The scales and carapace were stripped away, exposing the underlying muscles, causing the Mimicry Scales¡¯ effect to be lost. As a result, the Psychic Reflection Armor was temporarily triggered.

    Of course, I''ve been hit by several psychic breaths while the Mimicry Scales were inactive, but the armor didn''t activate then. This suggests that another condition is required for activation.

    ¡®The amount of psychic power must reach a certain threshold before it automatically activates.¡¯

    The regr Psychic Reflection Armor reflects any amount of psychic power, no matter how small. On the other hand, the Abyssal Hue version seems to activate automatically only when I suffer a truly devastating attack that could cause serious harm.

    ¡®The downside is that I can''t activate it at will, but¡­¡¯

    It¡¯s still useful to deliver a powerful blow to psychic-heavy enemies like Cult yers or Gagons.

    ¡®I¡¯ll research it further if I get the chance.¡¯

    Afterpleting all checks, I folded my wings and elerated toward the space beneath the clouds.

    The battle with the Gagons is now over.

    ---

    After the Great Elder left, she couldn''t move for a long time.

    When he mentioned leaving, it brought back memories of being abandoned by her old pack.

    By the time she regained her senses, her mother was beside her. Despite her own injuries not being fully healed, her mother was covering her with her wings, making her embrace ufortable.

    She looked up at her mother, but her mother didn''t meet her gaze. She was just covering her with her wings, telling her not to feel cold.

    The emotions she felt at that moment wereplex.

    She wanted to shout, ¡®What are you doing now? How will you take responsibility for the Great Elder leaving because of you?¡¯

    But in the end, she couldn''t bring herself to say it.

    Because her mother''s wings were so warm, like a motherforting her child.

    With her keen memory, she recalled something from long ago.

    She was born with a weak body and often shivered in the cold, even in the nest. Whenever that happened, her mother would spread her wings and hold her warmly.

    Though her mother''s eyes were indifferent and cold, her wings were always soforting.

    Perhaps it was because she was reminiscing about the past, or maybe it was because she had grown and broadened her thinking. She suddenly wondered if the Great Elder had really left her pack.

    As they departed for her homnd, the Great Elder spoke.

    The Great Elder had always said she was the most precious to him. He promised never to abandon her, and that promise was kept.

    Moreover, right before leaving, hadn''t he said so? He never lies to her. No matter how many times she thought back, he had never once lied to her.

    She pondered.

    Perhaps the Great Elder had a n all along? He always came up with ns she had never seen or thought of before. Maybe, even now, he had a grand n that only he knew about.

    And this thought was not hers alone.

    ?I found it! The Great Elder left this behind!?

    The Little Elder, who had been with the Great Elder the longest, pulled something out of a pit. It was a long, metallic object, unlike anything their kind used, with an energy that was different from theirs. The Great Elder had often lent this item to his unsightly friend.

    When she saw it, she realized.

    This was the trace the Great Elder had left behind.

    The Great Elder hadn''t abandoned them. He left, trusting them with his n.

    After that, everyone began searching for more traces left by the Great Elder. They revisited the ces they had gone with him.

    The vast icy ins, the ck mountain where they had fought the sky serpent, even the cave midway up the mountain where she had hunted with him.

    All of it was in vain, but she and her kin didn''t give up. They were certain the Great Elder was waiting for them toe.

    After searching for a long time, thest ce left was one she had never visited. The Little Elder said it was where they went to catch ¡®the shiny, flying thing¡¯.

    And that ce was the answer.

    At that ce, the Great Elder and the mighty Odd Grad were engaged in a battle that the sky and stars would remember.

    As she flew, carrying the Little Elder, she vowed to scold the Great Elder when she met him.

    He had no idea how shocked she was when the one she revered and loved the most said he was leaving. If she stabbed him a few times with her horn, maybe he wouldn''t do such a thing again.

    Seeing the injured Great Elder fighting Odd Grad nearly softened her anger, but she forced herself to stay resolute.

    Though she downgraded her n to scratching him with her ws instead of stabbing him, her resolve to reprimand him remained unchanged.

    With the desire to scold the Great Elder firmly in her heart, she kept fighting.

    Besides the white elder she killed in the initial ambush, the remaining two were surprisingly difficult.

    After one elder died, the others kept their distance, evading her while waiting for Odd Grad to defeat the Great Elder ande to their aid.

    Foolish.

    The Great Elder is far superior to the deceitful Odd Grad. Those dumb elders are clinging to false hope, unable to see the truth.

    At that moment, the light of the stars shed above her head from within the clouds. A familiar wave of power shook the clouds several times before expelling something.

    ?Traitor? ?ck kin? ?Dead?

    ?Mighty Odd Grad? ?Victorious?

    The fall happened so quickly that she couldn''t fully confirm it. Her opponents, too, seemed confused, and theirpanions mocked her.

    But she knew instinctively.

    Who the true victor was.

    Of course, her thoughts were correct.

    A ck meteor fell upon thepanion who had mocked her. As the stars shifted and a shadow swallowed the nest, the ck star engulfed the white elder.

    ?Impossible? ?Impossible!?

    The so-called ¡®ck kin¡¯ they shouted about lifted its head and looked at her. Meeting her gaze, it nodded and immediately flew to her side.

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Let''s wrap this up quickly and go back)]

    ?Yes?

    His calm demeanor was incredibly infuriating, but she couldn''t say a word.

    Even that demeanor seemed endearing to her.

 Chapter 231:

    Chapter 231:

    -

    Cha Lumera, Odd Grad''s mate, could not believe it.

    The great ck male was an undefeated force. No matter what crisis arose, the leader always led the pack to victory. Though Cha Lumera was not particrly old, she had never seen Odd Grad lose.

    So, she assumed today would be no different.

    She believed they would crush the rebels and feast on their blood.

    But reality took a different turn from what she had imagined.

    The male she loved was nowhere to be seen, and instead, a ck star appeared. The creature, with wings like a blizzard, stood beside a diminutive female.

    Everyone present knew what this meant.

    ?Liar Odd Grad??Defeated!?The tiny leader, protected by the ck ughterer, shouted.

    ?The great Odd Grad??Defeated???Impossible!?

    ?Defeated???Impossible!?

    The other mates lunged, denying the female''s words.

    Even if all the mates joined forces, they could not defeat Odd Grad. The ck ughterer that had overpowered Odd Grad must be far stronger.

    Unfortunately, this time, her prediction was correct.

    One of the white mates exhaled towards the small female. The ck ughterer spread its wings to shield its leader.

    The mate''s attack left no mark on its wings. While it provided cover, the small leader turned around and charged at the mate.

    The mate, who had been exhaling, tried to dodge at thest moment, but it was toote. The leader pierced through the mate before it could escape.

    Meanwhile, the ck ughterer moved to capture a young mate who was struggling against two enemies alone.

    The mate, fighting the slow-moving snow-white queen with a damaged wing and a small creature using ominous power, had no idea the ck ughterer had appeared.

    Though originally a mate that enjoyed fighting, it now seemed half-crazed. Like a fledgling intoxicated by blood, it focused solely on attacking the snow-white queen, Ham Ort.

    The young mate managed to get close to the snow-white queen and grasped Ham Ort tightly with its forepaws. As it exhaled while pressing its body against hers, Ham Ort twisted her flexible neck just enough to avoid the force.

    Despite the failed attack, the young mate did not give up and began gathering its strength again.

    ?Danger!?

    Cha Lumera urgently warned, but she did not listen. The price for ignoring the warning was severe.

    The ck ughterer appeared behind the young mate like a shadow. Its many arms grabbed the young mate, scattering the force it had gathered around its mouth like snow blown by the wind.

    Then, Ham Ort released the energy she had gathered toward the young mate''s head. Though not particrly powerful for a snow-white queen, it was enough to blow off the young mate''s head.

    It hadn''t been long since the ck ughterer reappeared, and already three had perished.

    Only then did Cha Lumera realize.

    Odd Grad''s pack had lost the battle against this group.

    Cha Lumera nced at the mate she had been fighting alongside. Sharing the same thoughts, they nodded at each other.

    "Probability of the enemy escaping: 93%."

    The metal-scented creature riding atop the whitepatriot, Nel Germa, emitted waves along with strange noises. It was undoubtedlymanding them to pursue. The two fled with all their might.

    Cha Lumera was the fastest here, second only to the small leader. The greenpatriots and Nel Germa couldn''t keep up with her.

    The mate fleeing beside her gradually fell behind, but Cha Lumera didn''t care.

    She had to escape to the stars above, far from home. Up there, they wouldn''t be able to follow her.

    At that moment, a serpent appeared and devoured thegging mate.

    Witnessing the mate disappear, leaving only the tip of its tail behind, she felt her heart stop.

    A colossal serpent was there. With thousands, no, tens of thousands of heads writhing, it was a serpent so massive it covered the sky.

    The moment she saw the end of the serpent''s tail, she recognized its identity.

    It was a beingposed of an unimaginable amount of power.

    No otherpatriot could wield such an awe-inspiring force. Not even the one she loved most, the great Odd Grad.

    The serpent that swallowed the sky flicked its tongue, aiming to devour her.

    She fled with all her might, just as she had when breaking out of her egg.

    The serpent closed in behind her, its presence growing closer with every beat of her wings.

    Cha Lumera did not want to die. There were still so many things she wanted to do, so many things she wanted to eat. She couldn''t die here.

    As she flew with that thought, a sudden, powerful impact struck her chest.

    A sharp, intense pain, as if she had been pierced by something small and metallic, drained the strength from her body.

    That was herst memory.

    ---

    ¡®What the...?¡¯

    The white Gagon fleeing from my psychic breath suddenly slowed down. I had no idea why the creature that had been desperately running away a moment ago suddenly seemed to give up on life.

    ¡®Because of that, I couldn¡¯t aim properly.¡¯

    After gaining the Dragon''s Heart, the power of my psychic breath exceeded my expectations. Previously, it had taken the form of a refined energy beam, but now it had changed. Perhaps due to the sudden release of massive energy, it resembled more of a zing inferno.

    ''The Horizon of Nightmares must have boosted its power.¡¯

    The Horizon of Nightmares enhances the effects of the unique trait it possesses. Seeing how much the breath''s power had increased, it was clear that the Dragon''s Heart was also benefiting from it. Not only does it supply nearly infinite energy, but it also boosts the firepower of psychic attacks. If I acquire a new trait that consumes psychic power in the future, it will likely benefit from the enhanced Dragon''s Heart as well.

    ¡®The power might be about half that of the Divine Spectre?¡¯

    Even if the firepower is slightly weaker, this is much better. Unlike the Divine Spectre, I can fire this repeatedly.

    ¡®This will be great when fighting fleets.¡¯

    It''s a shame that I lost the enemy''s gic essence, but I''ll count it as a valuable experience.

    The tentacle I had used to fire the breath drooped, and as I turned my head, Ham Ort approached me. Her amethyst-like eyes gleamed with interest. She was likely surprised, as she had never seen a psychic breath of such strength before.

    ?ck kin, your strength is very, very impressive.?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (How¡¯s your body?)]

    ?No issues. The small one, Ham Ort, helped.?

    Mother of the Sky peeked through the broken horn of Ham Ort.

    ?What was that just now? It was a psychic breath, but why was it so powerful??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (I obtained the Dragon''s Heart.)]

    ?But can that alone make it so strong? Is it because it¡¯sbined with the Symbol of Hunt??

    [ZZZZ (Maybe.)]

    ?I thought so... But that''s not the point. You insane Amorph!?

    She paused, letting out a short sigh, before bombarding me with a rapid stream of telepathic words.

    ?You deliberately dyed your detection to avoid precognition, didn¡¯t you? Do you know how much trouble you caused us??

    [ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZ (I would have left the spear behind.)]

    ?How would we know just by you leaving the spear? We had to search the entire area to figure out where the battle would take ce!?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (I thought you¡¯d see it once I started fighting anyway.)]

    ?Ugh, I should just stop talking.?

    Her amber eyes, nestled deep within her eye sockets, trembled slightly, reflecting her emotions. This was the first time she had reacted so emotionally since the battle with Muriel.

    ''...Maybe I went too far?''

    There was no other way to catch Odd Grad. My strategy had worked, after all.

    But regardless, it was clear that Mother of the Sky was upset by my actions. If she had done something simr, I would have been equally unsettled.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ (I¡¯ll be more careful next time.)]

    She shook her birdlike skull, back and forth.

    ?I understand why you did it, but please consider our feelings too. I can handle it, but it¡¯s not the same for them.?

    She pointed behind me with her finger. When I turned around, I saw Adhai and Number 26.

    ?Great One??That¡¯s cruel??I??Really??Hate being abandoned?

    Hearing her sincere telepathic waves, I found myself at a loss for words. When I remained silent, it approached and scratched the shell of my head with its w.

    ?But??I didn¡¯t really??Abandon you?

    I suppose this was her way of letting me off the hook.

    I wanted to convey my gratitude, but just then, Number 26 sprang up from her head.

    ?Bad little one! Really, really bad little one!?

    Number 26 extended its tentacles, growing them to their original size, radiating an intensity I had never seen before. It then smacked me on the head with full force.

    ¡®Ack?!¡¯

    The blow was so strong that I thought my neck might snap. A message appeared before my eyes indicating that pain reduction had been activated, and a dent formed in the shell of my head.

    ?Bad little ones who hurt their family and abandon them deserve punishment!?

    As it spoke, its body turned pale white.

    Thest time I saw it like this was long ago when it was forcibly injected with Salonium aboard the Megacorp research ship. My departure had been that much of a shock to it.

    In the face of its fury, there was only one thing I could say.

    [ZZZ (I¡¯m sorry)]

    Did it understand the sincerity in my apology? The tentacle poised to strike again paused mid-air.

    After a moment, its body gradually returned to its usual pink hue. Shrinking its tentacles, it moved from Adhai¡¯s head to mine.

    ?Are you going to stop doing bad things now??

    [ZZZ (Yes)]

    ?If you do bad things again, I¡¯ll punish you. I¡¯ll hit you hard.?

    [ZZZ (Okay)]

    It curled the tip of its tentacle into a ball, shaking it as if to emphasize the warning.

    ¡®Mother of the Sky was right.¡¯

    They aren¡¯t my ves, nor are they tools to be used at my convenience. They are beings who move alongside me of their own will. They are truly precious to me.

    I¡¯ve lived alone for most of my life, whether in the game or in reality, but not here.

    The strategy I used this time involved manipting their emotions. While it yielded the desired oue, it also hurt them.

    ¡®In the long run, this isn¡¯t good.¡¯

    Not for me, and not for them.

    Odd Grad was a peculiar opponent, but there¡¯s a good chance I¡¯ll face more enemies with foresight abilities in the future. When that happens, I¡¯ll reconsider the tactics I used yesterday. I¡¯ve survived this long by using any means necessary.

    However, this incident has made me aware of the risks associated with this strategy, so I won¡¯t repeat it. Maintaining a positive rtionship with them is beneficial to me in the long term.

    Having heard my apology, Number 26 no longer seemed angry. Though it still tapped my horn with its tentacle, a hint of lingering resentment remained.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any particr objections. The Amorph¡¯s decision ultimately led to the best possible oue. I believe there are things to be learned from this.¡±

    ?¡­Don¡¯t learn those things.?

    Odd Grad and his mates are all dead.

    What remains now are the Gagons who withdrew from the battle. When they felt our gaze, they flinched.

    ¡®What should I do with them?¡¯

    Devouring them all would be a significant gain for me, but I wasn¡¯t sure how Adhai would feel about it.

    At that moment, a slender White Gagon flew towards us.

    ?I??Sha Velmag??Acknowledge??Odd Grad??Defeat?

    The one who introduced himself as Sha Velmag was the first Gagon among Odd Grad''s group to refuse to fight.

    ?Sha Velmag??Serve??New Leader??Request??Mercy?

    As his telepathic waves of surrender gently spread, other Gagons also rxed their battle stances and approached us.

    I surveyed the remaining Gagons. There weren¡¯t many White Gagons left; most of them were Green Gagons.

    I¡¯ve already met all the Apex conditions. While I could obtain some decent traits from the White Gagons, the Green Gagons didn¡¯t offer anything particrly valuable.

    ¡®And there¡¯s not much time left on the Symbol of Hunt.¡¯

    Even if I took them down now, I wouldn¡¯t gain much gic essence.

    After contemting, I turned to Adhai.

    [ZZ ZZ (You decide.)]

    ?Great one??Stronger??I??No right?

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (You¡¯ve been struggling with your past ever since you were cast out of the pack. It¡¯s time to put those struggles to rest.)]

    ?!?

    Adhai¡¯s eyes widened in understanding.

    The reason I passed the decision to her was simple.

    Even after joining me, Adhai asionally struggled with memories of being cast out due to her disability.

    I n to keep her by my side in the future. Although her past pain hasn¡¯t directly caused problems yet, there¡¯s no guarantee it won¡¯t in the future.

    So I¡¯m giving her a chance to heal her wounds.

    If she chooses war to release her resentment towards the pack, it wouldn¡¯t be a disadvantage to me. Although I won¡¯t fully benefit from the Symbol¡¯s effect, taking down that many Gagons might still yield a couple of gic essences.

    But what if she chooses forgiveness?

    That wouldn¡¯t be bad either. Gagons are formidablebat creatures. While I can¡¯t take them with me everywhere, they¡¯d be excellent allies in criticalary invasions.

    Adhai¡¯s gaze shifted from me to others. She looked at each member of our group.

    Number 26 on my head, PS-111 and Nel Germa, the Green Gagons behind them, and then Ham Ort and Mother of the Sky.

    After meeting everyone¡¯s eyes, she finally made her decision, turning decisively to face Odd Grad¡¯s remnants.

    ?I??Daughter of Ham Ort??Adhai??Descendants of Odd Grad??Submit!??Submit!?

    ?Sha Velmag??Great Adhai??Serve?

    ?Zercapja??Great Adhai??Serve?

    ?Odd Zhiaga??Great Adhai??Serve¡­?

    Starting with Sha Velmag, all the Gagons present bowed to Adhai. Their posture was simr to how Adhai had once bowed to me.

    It was the posture of reverence toward a new queen.

    -

    ¡°Subsection 2 confirms the loss of target life signals.¡±

    ¡°Special Target A is confirmed to have subdued them. Combat with the dangerous species ¡®Gagon¡¯ is concluded.¡±

    ¡°ording to logical analysis, Special Target A has merged with the ¡®Gagon¡¯ group.¡±

    ¡°Combat simtion results indicate a 17% probability of subjugating Special Target A ifbat continues.¡±

    ¡°Reporting the situation to Main Controller Pira Eleven.¡±

    In the dark forest, where sunlight barely prated, small lights flickered like fireflies. However, such a sight was anything but natural on this frozen.

    It was certainly not a natural phenomenon for hundreds of blood-red lights to gleam and emit strange sounds.

    ¡°Confirmed: Main Controller Pira Eleven¡¯s revised orders. Preemptively strike the enemies¡¯ base.¡±

    ¡°Secondary missions remain unchanged. After the strike, recover some of the necessary energy sources.¡±

    ¡°Confirmed. Requesting order dissemination.¡±

    ¡°Confirmed.¡±

    As if something had been decided, the cluster of lights vanished at once. The voices that had apanied the flickering lights ceased abruptly.

    In their ce, sharp metallic sounds reverberated, and the undergrowth and trees began to shake.

    The eerie and ominous movements deep within the forest were a sight that could never be seen from the sky.

 Chapter 232:

    Chapter 232:

    After the battle ended, the ones who were part of the Odd Grad¡¯s group were now part of the Adhai¡¯s group, and returned to their former nest. Nel Germa was assigned to lead them.

    Since Ham Ort¡¯s injuries hadn''t fully healed, she returned to the cave nest I created with Mother of the Sky. Once she finished her recovery there, she nned to gather the Blue Gagons and join Odd Grad¡¯s nest.

    The rest of us are currently scouring the forest near the Twin Peaks to retrieve the fallen Gagons from the battle.

    While searching for bodies, PS-111 approached me.

    PS-111, being interested in biological gics and energy supply, didn¡¯t go with Nel Germa but stayed here instead.

    It had a Snow Banshee captured in its wed hand.

    ¡°The analysis of the battle results indicates that body size has a significant corrtion withbat effectiveness. May I use this creature as an energy source to recalibrate my form?¡±

    ¡°Kyik! Kyikikik!¡±

    It seemed the Snow Banshee was coveting Gagon''s corpse before PS-111 caught it.It hadn¡¯t been long since we descended into the forest, so the Symbol of Hunt effect had ended. The odds of me obtaining gic essence from consuming the Snow Banshee now were low.

    ¡®There shouldn¡¯t be a problem if I hand it over.¡¯

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Just leave the Gagon¡¯s corpses behind.)]

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°Kyik?!¡±

    With my permission, it swung its scythe-shaped ws. An invisible wind de shot out, slicing the Snow Banshee.

    Warm blood and entrails spilled onto the cold ground, and the tantalizing smell spread throughout the dry forest. PS-111 devoured the fragmented corpse.

    There weren¡¯t any threats to it nearby. Leaving it to its meal, I moved deeper into the forest.

    ?Big one, aren¡¯t you hungry??

    (Z ZZZ ZZZZ [I n to eat something else.)]

    A little further from the Twin Peaks, I saw broken trees. The wide-spreading branches had snapped, a clear sign of something falling from the sky and colliding with them.

    At the end of the shattered branchesy a ck mass.

    It looked like a meteorite that had fallen from space, but it was actually the decapitated body of Odd Grad.

    It wasn¡¯t just the head that was gone. The impact of the collision with the ground hadpletely crumpled his wings, and his torso was twisted into a grotesque shape.

    This was the pitiful end of the ck dragon who had overestimated his abilities and clung to the power of his former position.

    ?Is he the bad ppy leader??

    [ZZ (Yes)]

    The meat of the ck Gagon is an excellent source of nutrition. Even its forelimbs and head alone could provide arge amount of energy.

    ¡®And it tastes amazing too.¡¯

    The meat of apex creatures always had a deep vor that brought me pleasure. And the ck Gagon was the strongest of all the apex creatures I had consumed. The taste was overwhelmingly superb.

    ¡®I don¡¯t need to obsess over energy anymore¡­¡¯

    Thanks to the Berserker Synapse and the Dragon Heart, my energy supply had be more abundant than before. But that didn¡¯t mean I should pass up the chance to enjoy a delicious meal.

    ?Are you going to eat the leader??

    [Z (Yes)]

    ?Enjoy your meal.?

    I was about to tear into the corpse when I suddenly remembered something.

    Number 26, sitting on top of my head.

    Though it had currently shrunk its body to just 50 cm, it originally measured nearly 10 meters. This was the result of absorbing the psychic power of an adult Sea Demon in the past, leading to its dramatic growth.

    ¡®If I eat the ck Gagon, won¡¯t it have a simr effect?¡¯

    In the game, Gagons and Sea Demons were renowned as high-tier psychic creatures. Although they differed in appearance, habitat, and behavior, they both wielded extremely powerful psychic powers.

    Gagons grew in nests where psychic power was abundant, umting vast amounts of energy in their bodies. On the other hand, Sea Demons maintained and passed on their umted psychic power by transferring it to another Sea Demon before their death.

    ¡®Their methods differ, but they both contain a massive amount of psychic power.¡¯

    In fact, Number 26 had once fed psychic power to the Blue Gagons. This time, I would use the Gagon¡¯s corpse to empower it.

    I thrust mybat arms into the ck Gagon¡¯s abdomen.

    I could feel the warm organs and flesh at the tips of my fingers. Grabbing hold of its heart and other vital organs, I pulled them out.

    The still-warm organs emitted a delicious aroma. I handed the freshly extracted meal to Number 26, perched on my head.

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZZ (How about you try eating this?)]

    ?Isn''t this the prey you caught??

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ (I''m too full to eat it all by myself. It''s delicious, so give it a try.)]

    Number 26 extended its tentacles to wrap around the food in my hand. Then, like stretching out a thin sheet of dough, it elongated its body and absorbed the meal through its tentacles.

    Soon, its body began to glow in a vibrant array of colors.

    [ZZ ZZZ (How is it? Tasty, right?)]

    ?It''s delicious!?

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (There''s still plenty left, so eat more.)]

    As soon as I gave permission, Number 26 hopped off my head and started devouring Odd Grad''s corpse.

    It was always a voracious eater, but it seemed to particrly enjoy the organs of the ck Gagon.

    Not long after Number 26 started its meal, I sensed a presence from above.

    It was Adhai, the Gagon with four red wings. She entered through the gap in the branches andnded beside me.

    ?Corpse? ?Not far? ?Arrived soon?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (I''ll finish eating this and head over there.)]

    ?Understood?

    [ZZZZZ ZZ ZZ(It''s delicious, so you should try some too.)]

    ?Big Kin? ?Prey?

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (We caught it together. We should share the spoils.)]

    ?Is that so??

    When I nodded, she joined in on the feast. She climbed onto the corpse, inserted her tentacles through the torn skin, and started drinking the blood.

    ?Perfectly? ?Satisfying?

    Shivering slightly in delight, she eagerly consumed the blood. True to her Gagon nature¡ªloyal to her kin but ruthless to her enemies¡ªAdhai had no qualms about feasting on Odd Grad¡¯s corpse.

    ¡®Not that I, as an Amorph, have any right to talk.¡¯

    Worried there might be nothing left if I dyed any longer, I decided to join in the meal.

    As I pondered where to start, I noticed the half-eaten forelimb. The clean cut at the joint was clearly my handiwork.

    The ring that was once attached to that limb is now securely clutched by one of my smaller hands near my chest.

    I had tried forcing the ring onto my finger aftering down to the ground, but it had no special effect. The ability to conceal my emotions didn¡¯t activate at all.

    Whether it required specific conditions or was exclusive to Odd Grad remained unclear. For now, the ring was just a decorative gemstone without any apparent use.

    ¡®Oh well.¡¯

    It was rather disappointing for an item that didn¡¯t exist in the game. I considered discarding it, but there might still be something I don¡¯t know. I decided to keep carrying it with one of my smaller arms for the time being.

    ¡®Enough about the ring. It¡¯s time to eat.¡¯

    I tore my gaze away from the forelimb and grabbed onto one of the hind legs, ripping it off and taking arge bite.

    ¡®Nice.¡¯

    How could I describe the taste of ck Gagon? It¡¯s aplex vor that defies simple definition.

    ¡®It¡¯s like a blend of truffle oil and pepper.¡¯

    I had once tasted a dish with artificial truffle oil, and this was quite simr. The rich, oily scent of the meat was bnced by a sharp, spicy aroma from the blood.

    Unlike other apex creatures, the ck Gagon¡¯s meat had a unique characteristic¡ªits skin.

    The texture of the skin was like the crispy outeryer of roasted pork, crunchy and satisfying to bite into. The taste was even more extraordinary, with a deep, concentrated vor seeping out.

    The meat itself was fairly tough, but not so much that it strained my Amorph jaws. It was firm enough to chew on just the right amount before swallowing, allowing me to savor its rich taste.

    ¡®Once again, the rule holds: the stronger the enemy, the better the taste.¡¯

    I quickly finished off the hind leg and reached for its tail.

    ¡°Are you eating?¡±

    Just as I was about to tear into the tail, I heard a voice behind me.

    Turning around, I saw PS-111. It had returned with a white Gagon corpse beside it, presumably after collecting it while we were eating.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (So, you¡¯ve gathered the bodies?)]

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    It stared at me with its usual expressionless face.

    Or more precisely, it was staring at the ck Gagon¡¯s tail in my hand.

    Screamers are controlled by devices connected to their brains. All of their physical activities are under the machine¡¯smand. The same applies to mutant screamers.

    But at this moment, I could tell exactly what it wanted.

    I tore off the tail and offered it to PS-111.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡±

    [ZZ ZZ (Take it when it''s offered.)]

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    As expected of a machine, it didn¡¯t refuse a second time.

    After the brief feast, I headed to the location Adhai had indicated and retrieved the bodies.

    We couldn¡¯t carry them all, so we processed all but four on the spot. These four would be used for Ham Ort¡¯s treatment and as food for the Gagons.

    Since I wasrger, I carried three bodies, while Number 26 reverted to its original form and carried one. With our spoils in tow, we started back to the nest in the cave.

    ¡®I think it might have changed.¡¯

    The appearance of Number 26, now puffed up, didn¡¯t look much different from before. The fins that reminded me of a jellyfish and the tentacles protruding from its body were all familiar.

    ¡®Did it get bigger?¡¯

    Number 26 can freely adjust its size, so it¡¯s not easy to notice any changes.

    The most urate way to check would be to measure the amount of energy it was harbouring, but Number 26 is adept at concealing its psychic power. I wouldn¡¯t know how much stronger it had be until it entered battle.

    ¡®Well, it might not have grown at all, so there''s no need to dwell on it.¡¯

    There are still a few things left to try out, like the dragon¡¯s nest where psychic power continuously wells up.

    While pondering these thoughts as we made our way back to the nest, one of my sensory organs picked up on a scent.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    The scent was simr to fresh blood but slightly different. It was closer to the smell of metal. I couldn¡¯t identify it, but it felt oddly familiar.

    I stopped in my tracks.

    ?Big one, what¡¯s wrong??

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    [ZZ (Quiet.)]

    I lowered my head close to the ground. At first, I thought the metallic scent might being from something buried in the soil, but that didn¡¯t seem to be the case.

    As I examined the scent, my gaze fell on PS-111. Its biomechanical body, a mix of metal and organic matter typical of Screamers, emitted a scent of metal and the chemicals necessary for sustaining life.

    This was very simr to the scent my sensory organ had detected.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Does this area fall within a Screamer¡¯s operating range?)]

    ¡°Not until my main controller was altered.¡±

    I¡¯ve traversed this forest, which leads to the Twin Peaks, many times. If there had been a Screamer, I would have encountered it already.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ Z ZZZZ (I smell a Screamer. Confirm it.)]

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    PS-111 extended detection equipment resembling snail antennae from its eyes. It lowered its body close to the ground, using its hose-like sensors to probe the traces left behind.

    It wasn¡¯t long before it discovered tracks on the ground.

    Three w marks reminiscent of a bird¡¯s foot.

    They were Screamer tracks.

 Chapter 233:

    Chapter 233:

    Shadows spread over countless branches as the clouds that had scattered returned to block the sunlight.

    In the cool, ashen light, we followed the trail of the Screamers.

    The once sporadic footprints were bing increasingly frequent. Not just on the ground, but the surrounding trees and rocks were also covered with marks left by sharp alloy ws.

    ''It''s not just one or two.''

    Given that Screamers have eight legs, it''s natural for there to be many footprints, but even taking that into ount, there were far too many. There had to be at least several dozen of them.

    "How many Screamers were deployed for this mission?"

    I utilized stored gic information to mimic a voice as I questioned PS-111.

    "Three hundred units were deployed at the start of the mission."

    "Three hundred? That''s quite a lot."Hearing its response, I was slightly surprised.

    Considering that standard Screamers are almost treated like bio-drones in the Star Union, deploying 300 of them isn''t particrly unusual. Inrge-scale ground battles in the game, thousands of Screamers would often be deployed.

    But that was under the yers''mand. It''s rare for the regr Star Union army to deploy Screamers alone.

    Screamers possess formidablebat power, but they have a downside: ack of strategic thinking and flexibility. So, when unexpected situations arise, they can''t respond appropriately.

    ''Normally, you''d need something to make up for that shoring...''

    The Mutant Screamers resolved the old models'' ws by categorizing them into standard models andmander models. The fact that Mutant Screamers''mander models possess superior strategic judgement is evident just by looking at PS-111.

    When fighting Odd Grad, it quickly understood the signal I sent and brought in the cruiser. A regr Screamer would never have made such a decision.

    ''At least the good news is that their numbers should have significantly decreased by now.''

    Given that the is teeming with dangerous creatures, it''s unlikely that all 300 have survived unscathed. In fact, even PS-111 was nearly destroyed by an Ice Horror attack.

    "How many do you think are left? Two hundred? Two hundred fifty?"

    "I believe the total number hasn''t decreased significantly from the original 300 units."

    "Why is that?"

    Although Mutant Screamers are powerful, they wouldn''te out unscathed after encountering Apex creatures like Ice Horrors or cier Fiends.

    PS-111, which was searching for traces with its sensor protruding from its eye, responded.

    "ording to the data stored in my brain, the former main controller, ''Pyra Eleven'', had facilities on its ship capable of producing Mutant Screamers."

    "What?"

    "As long as there is gic information, arge energy source, and organic material to use as resources, it is possible to produce S-model Screamers."

    In the lore, Screamers are often seen as expendable, so it''s rare to provide support via ships. The most you might get is orbital bombardment support after deploying the Screamers.

    But since Mutant Screamers are more strategically valuable than older models, it seems they''ve allocated a dedicated support ship.

    "Considering the scale of a Screamer production line, it would likely require at least a Jamah-ss warship to house the facilities. Even then, they''d have to rece all the ship''s maintenance facilities with repair equipment."

    "Due to data loss, I can''t provide an exact answer, but that seems like a reasonable assumption."

    The XAX01-ss warship is named after the capital of the Star Union. Often called Jaks Alpha, this ship is thergest and most heavily armed of the Star Union''s warships.

    Of course, in this case, it would have been heavily modified as a Screamer support ship, so it would differ greatly from its original form. The internal facilities and equipment would all have been removed and reced with Screamer-rted facilities, leaving only the minimal systems necessary to keep the ship operational.

    "Do you remember where itnded?"

    "My apologies. Due to data loss, I cannot confirm that."

    The Jamah-ss warship is just under a kilometer in length. I haven''t seen any signs of such a massive shipnding around here.

    Furthermore, the Gagons would never miss such arge ship entering the''s atmosphere. If there''s no mention of it, it must have top-tier stealth capabilities.

    As I thought about it, something felt off.

    "Your mission was to capture me, right?"

    "If you''re referring to the special objective A set by the former main controller, ''Pyra Eleven,'' then yes."

    "A Screamer that can self-repair and three hundred units at that. Why have they been lying low all this time, when they could produce even more?"

    In retrospect, there were several opportunities for them to attack me. When I first arrived on the, when I was weakened after fighting Jason, when I was ambushed by Odd Grad, and so on.

    However, they never gathered systematically to attack me, making the cement of amander model topensate for the Screamers'' weaknesses seem pointless. So far, the only Screamers I''ve encountered have been stragglers.

    That leaves only one exnation: something must have gone wrong with Pyra Eleven.

    After a moment of silence, it replied to my question.

    "I don''t know about that."

    "You don''t know?"

    "In the process of rebooting the system, memory data was damaged. However..."

    It mechanically tilted its head. The movement resembled someone pressing their temple, trying to forcefully recall something they couldn¡¯t quite remember.

    "In myst memory, Pyra Eleven was severely damaged and had entered a dormant state due to certain events."

    "Dormant? Was it attacked by the Gagons?"

    "No. Pyra Eleven...error, excuse me. It was damaged after failing to perform actions necessary to achieve its objective."

    Summarizing what it said, it was clear that Pyra Eleven had been unable to operate normally for some time.

    ''Now that I think about it, the one I encountered when I went after the Winter Walkers said something simr.''

    That one definitely mentioned being in a dyedmand state. The others I encountered in the forest after killing Jason said the same thing.

    Considering all this, Pyra Eleven, theirmander, must have been inactive until rtively recently.

    "These traces are proof that it''s active again."

    "That is a reasonable assumption."

    Though there was a high probability of encountering enemies, we had no useful information beyond knowing that there were many of them.

    ''Did PS-111 say it could control lower-tier units?''

    When I first met it, it mentioned being able to physically connect to the circuits of lower models and take over their control. It would be great if it could do the same withmander-level units, but Pyra Eleven had improved the security of their control systems, making that impossible.

    ''I need to capture a few Screamers.''

    Doing so would allow us to gather information about the ship''snding site, their ns, and other vital details.

    After our conversation ended, we continued following the traces for quite some time.

    At first, there were only footprints, but as time passed, other signs became apparent. Scattered around the footprints were the remains of creatures, torn to shreds.

    "They¡¯ve been replenishing their energy."

    "Looks like it."

    PS-111, which had the functions of the Blood Reaver imnted in it, could replenish its energy by absorbing bioenergy in addition to consuming meat with its mouth. It was an exception, regr Screamers absorbed nutrients by sucking up small prey through intake tubes attached to their mouths.

    ''The blood¡¯s been dry for a while.''

    Given the dry, cool environment, the fragments of corpses had only begun to decay slowly. This allowed me to make a rough guess about how they hunted.

    ''So they''ve modified some of them after all, just like the ones equipped with production facilities.''

    Just as PS-111 had upgraded itself by absorbing genes, some of the enemy Screamers had adapted to their environment.

    ''...For instance, by acquiring ranged attack capabilities.''

    I pulled out arge bullet, about the size of my finger, from the pool of blood. It resembled a depleted uranium round used by a storm gun, but it was far more threatening.

    "Do you know what this is?"

    "It resembles a depleted uranium round used by the APDT, but upon inspecting the internal structure, it appears to have been modified into a cluster munition."

    "Exactly. It¡¯s mixed with ck silver fragments."

    As I shook the deformed bullet, a small amount of cksilver alloy shards fell out. It wasn''t arge amount, but it was enough to be a lethal threat to certain species.

    And on this, there¡¯s only one type of creature that could be significantly harmed by a cluster munition infused with cksilver.

    ''Gagons!''

    I think I know what they''re targeting.

    "Do you know where Odd Grad''s nest is?"

    ¡°Yes. It''s this way.¡±

    "There''s no time, so get on top and guide me."

    Time was of the essence, so I unloaded the corpses I was carrying and ced PS-111 on my head. I then called for Number 26 and Adhai.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (There¡¯s no time, get on my back.)]

    ?Aren''t you taking the prey??

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (We¡¯lle back for itter.)]

    Number 26, sensing the gravity of the situation, didn''t ask any more questions and quietly climbed onto my body. It shrank down and nestled into the small arms on my chest.

    Holding it securely, I called out to Adhai.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (We¡¯re flying. Get ready.)]

    ?Where are??we going??

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (We¡¯re heading to Odd Grad''s nest.)]

    I spread out my folded wing-arms wide. The massive membranes extended, and my body soared upward rapidly, shattering branches as I ascended. Adhai followed closely behind me.

    ?Is??the nest??in danger??

    [ZZZ (Possibly.)]

    "Just keep heading in this direction."

    Adhai tensed up at the mention of potential danger to the nest. I flew at full speed in the direction PS-111 indicated.

    While flying, I kept a vignt watch below with my auxiliary sensors, wary of the possibility that Screamers might open fire from the forest. Despite my shadow and Adhai¡¯s passing over the area, there was no reaction from below.

    ''...The situation isn''t good.''

    There must be hundreds of Screamers swarming somewhere in that forest, yet it was eerily quiet. I couldn¡¯t decipher their intentions, but it was definitely not a good sign.

    After nearly half a day of tense flight, the cliffs where PS-111 said the dragon¡¯s nest was located began toe into view.

    There were no signs of Screamers or any other creatures near the cliffs.

    ''Wait, there''s nothing visible?''

    By now, Nel Germa, Adhai''s deputy, should have returned. With the nest this close, at least one or two Gagons should have shown themselves.

    ?Great One??something¡¯s wrong??the group??isn''t on guard?

    Adhai seemed to have sensed the same thing, sending out a puzzled mental wave.

    Gagons always kept sentries at their nests because of predators like the Skywhales. Green Gagons or White Gagons would take turns guarding the nest, anticipating unexpected attacks.

    The absence of such guards meant something was seriously wrong.

    I was about to warn Adhai to be cautious when my auxiliary sensors detected movement in the forest below.

    The forest, which had beenpletely silent until just moments ago, suddenly sprang to life. The movement was simultaneous and widespread, like an army of ants marching.

    Realizing what this meant, I urgently sent a wave to Adhai.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Adhai! Use your power!)]

    ?!?

    At the same time I sent out the wave, an overwhelming number of projectiles erupted from the forest.

    A rain of death, cker than the clouds above, was flying towards me and Adhai, intent on taking our lives. I shielded Number 26 with mybat arms and moved beneath Adhai.

    The cksilver cluster rounds, so densely packed they obscured my vision, pelted my entire body. As I¡¯m not a psychic creature, those anti-psychic rounds didn''t deal much damage to me.

    Moreover, with theirck of pration power, those cluster munitions couldn¡¯t pierce my carapace and scales.

    ''But they can still hurt them.''

    While the shots did nothing to me, it was a different story for Adhai and Number 26. Number 26, who heavily relied on psychic power, would be renderedpletely incapacitated if hit by those cksilver cluster rounds.

    Adhai was in a better position, thanks to her ''Red Armor'' absolute defense technique, but even she could only protect her head and part of her forelimbs, leaving her vulnerable to their attack.

    [ZZ ZZZ (Is everyone okay?)]

    ?I¡¯m fine.?

    ?Thanks to you,??Great One.?

    Fortunately, my shielding had kept both Number 26 and Adhai from taking any damage.

    ¡°I took a few hits, but the injuries are minor.¡±

    The only exception was PS-111, who, being perched on my head, had been an easy target and took a few hits.

    ¡°I''ll make sure you get some good preyter.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    After a brief reloading period, the firing from the ground resumed. The Screamers were intent on killing Adhai and Number 26, even if they couldn¡¯t take me down, shooting wildly in a frenzy.

    ''This isn¡¯t a good ce to fight.''

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Adhai, stick close to me and follow.)]

    Taking hits from the Screamers'' bullets, I flew toward the nest. Adhai clung to my back, following closely.

    I thennded at a suitable spot near the Screamer positions. As soon as I touched down, the trees around us shook ominously.

    A horde of Screamers was closing in on us.

 Chapter 234:

    Chapter 234:

    The forest is moving. Amid the sound of wind rustling through the trees, an artificial metallic noise can be heard.

    Hundreds of Screamers are approaching.

    ?Big One? ?Kin? ?Will it be okay??

    Adhai, who was hiding behind me using my body as cover, asked with concern.

    ''Not all of them could have died.''

    We are currently in the forest on the opposite side of the cliff where the nest is located, along with the Screamers.

    If we leave the forest and reach the steep cliff, a massive river flows between us. It¡¯s the same path that the Mother of the Sky and Ham Ort used to escape.

    On the cliff across that river, countless caves are carved into the rock. These caves are the entrance to the dragon¡¯s nest.

    The terrain itself is a natural fortress, clearly difficult to breach. For Screamers without flight capability, breaking through there woulde with considerable casualties.''It¡¯s likely that the Gagons are in a defensive position.''

    It¡¯s probable that many Gagons in the nest have already perished. Initially, they must have fought the Screamers outside, but as the damage grew severe, they likely changed their strategy to defend from within the nest.

    If the Gagons had beenpletely wiped out, the enemies would have ambushed us from the nest rather than here.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Don''t worry. We''ll find an opportunity to head to the nest.)]

    ?Understood?

    Given that Gagons are sensitive to psychic power, Adhai¡¯s arrival would surely have been noticed. The fact that they haven''te out suggests the situation inside the nest isn¡¯t good. Perhaps something unfortunate has happened to Nel Germa, who was in charge of the nest.

    ''We need to join up with the nest soon.''

    The distance from here to the nest isn¡¯t far. We¡¯ll need to fight and move when the opportunity arises.

    Even while I¡¯m lost in thought, the enemies keep advancing. The movements detected by the auxiliary organs under my chin increase exponentially.

    As I¡¯m contemting the best moment to strike, Number 26, who was nestled in my chest, lightly tapped me.

    ?Big Baby.?

    [ZZZ (What is it?)]

    ?I feel something simr to a friend over there.?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (They are not friends but dangerous enemies.)]

    PS-111 and othermander-ss mutant Screamers contain Sea Demon genes. Because of this, Number 26 perceives PS-111 as a being simr to its kin.

    ''It should be fine since I scolded itst time, but¡­''

    I was about to warn it again, worried that it might hesitate, but Number 26 spoke first.

    ?The bad ones are talking to each other.?

    [ZZ ZZZZ (Talking to each other?)]

    ?Yes. They¡¯re using difficult words, so I don¡¯t understand what they mean.?

    I focused on the auxiliary organs again, but apart from faint electromaic wavesing from a special machine, I couldn¡¯t sense any psychic signals.

    ''Is it a wavelength that only Bubble Amoebas or Sea Demons can detect?''

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ(Number 26 has detected their conversation. Can you hear anything?)]

    I asked, and a voice came from above. It was PS-111, perfectly camouged among the branches.

    ¡°The independent line has been reconstructed ording to the new main controller, so it is impossible to use or detect the PS model''s exclusive line.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    If we could eavesdrop on theirmunications, we could effectively counter their ns. But since PS-111 said it¡¯s impossible, there¡¯s nothing we can do. I asked Number 26 if it could ry what it had heard.

    ?Myonyong Uwaeng? Uwaeng Tayong??

    [ZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (It sounds like something about a nking attack.)]

    ?What¡¯s a nking attack??

    Unfortunately, although Number 26 could eavesdrop, it didn¡¯t understand the meaning of the conversation. If we had more time to slowly decipher the information it overheard, that would be ideal, but it¡¯s not possible.

    ''Wait, hold on.''

    Just as I was feeling frustrated, an idea struck me.

    Number 26 can spread its psychic power widely, creating an effect simr to an EMP. This power is strong enough to stop a spaceship in its tracks.

    ''If that¡¯s the case, couldn¡¯t it interfere with theirmunications?''

    When I asked if it was possible, it responded that it could and began to glow.

    ?I can silence them. Should I do it now??

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (No, wait for my signal.)]

    Using it right away might not be a bad idea, but I decided to wait a bit longer.

    As seen with PS-111, mutant Screamers are bioweapons that learn throughbat. Even if we block theirmunications, if one or two manage to slip away, it would be like throwing away a valuable card.

    ''We need to wait for the perfect moment to wipe them out.''

    And here, there are far too many opportunities for them to escape.

    At that moment, the figures of the enemies came into view through the trees.

    Though their heads bore the pale faces of humans, beneath them were mechanical parts, tubes, and hard metallic skeletons intertwined.

    Their biomechanical bodies had eight elongated legs. These legs, with exposed red muscle intertwined with metal tubes, ended in three alloy ws.

    The creatures, resembling mechanical spiders with human heads, glowed with red eyes.

    From those red eyes, there was no emotion except a single-minded intent to tear apart their enemies.

    I opened my jaw wide and activated my acidic mycotic nds. An oval-shaped green mass shot from my mouth, striking the base of a tree far away.

    The tree¡¯s roots quickly dissolved, and it toppled in the direction the Screamers wereing from. Some of the advancing Screamers leaped into the air.

    And then, I unleashed a psychic breath toward those airborne. It was like the breath of a dragon from a movie, pouring out toward them.

    ¡°Bl, ck metal defense, un¡­ unable¡­¡±

    The airborne Screamers were reduced to dust before they could finish their sentence. The Screamers following behind them chattered as they witnessed this.

    ¡°Special Target A confirmed using high-risk psychic breath.¡±

    ¡°Recording.¡±

    As expected, they were recording their battle with me. That information would likely be transmitted immediately to their leader, ''Pyra Eleven.''

    ''It doesn¡¯t matter.''

    The number of abilities I possess isn¡¯t just one or two. And some of them, I can alter at will.

    ''Sometimes, knowing too much can be worse than knowing nothing.''

    I deliberately allowed the enemies to gather information as I continued to unleash my psychic breath. The purple mes engulfed the densely packed trees, but the Screamers deftly dodged them.

    ¡°Confirmed that modified cluster munitions are ineffective. Switching to high-velocity shock rounds.¡±

    ¡°Switch order confirmed.¡±

    Meanwhile, more Screamers approached our position. As they got close enough to be identified by the naked eye, they began preparing to fire. Their legs twisted, transforming into shapes resembling the barrel of an RPG-7.

    The muzzles of their guns pointed directly at my head.

    In the dark forest, a sh of light sparked like lightning, and I felt a sharp pain in my head.

    ¡®High-velocity shock rounds.¡¯

    Just as Megacorp would deploy smaunchers against heavily armored enemies, Star Union has a simr weapon.

    HSB (Heavy Shock ster),monly known as the ¡®Shocker¡¯, is the equipment¡¯s nickname. It was developed to counter heavily armored bioweapons like Megacorp''s Hulk mutants and boasts significant lethality.

    The reason is that the Shocker¡¯s rounds, instead of prating the target, create a super-vibration upon impact, causing damage within the armor. For example, if a creature like a Mountain Crawler, d in thick armor, is hit by a high-velocity shock round, the exterior may remain intact, but the interior is utterly destroyed.

    That¡¯s why, even though there wasn¡¯t a scratch on the area I was hit, I felt a sharp pain.

    ''They responded cleverly, but...''

    Unless they have thousands of high-velocity shock rounds stored inside them, killing me will be difficult. Even if my insides are shaken up, I have plenty of ways to quickly recover, including my regenerative abilities.

    ''Besides, the Shocker has a weakness.''

    The Screamers fired another volley of high-velocity shock rounds. With thick smoke, alloy projectiles flew from all directions, aiming to shatter my head.

    However, none of the high-velocity shock rounds reached my head.

    ¡°An iprehensible situation has urred.¡±

    ¡°It is presumed that the massive psychic power has caused a distortion of physicalws. Analysis required.¡±

    The bullets were suspended in mid-air as if time had stopped. Those sensitive to psychic power would realize that the bullets were caught in an invisible web made of psychic threads.

    ?I really hate it when they try to hurt Big Baby!?

    The owner of the invisible web shook its tendrils vigorously.

    The high-velocity shock rounds changed direction and flew back toward their owners, exploding on impact. The Screamers, caught off guard, couldn¡¯t evade and were blown apart.

    Meanwhile, I prepared two cards to further disrupt the enemies.

    ''It¡¯s time to work. Everyone,e out.''

    The nest of Tooth Fairies, located just before the carapace on my tail, and the host of the Face Worms, who nest on my back when not in hunting mode, were both activated.

    Large fleas with sharp teeth tore out of the nests on my body and fell to the ground. From my back, Face Worms, with the faces of intelligent beings and the bodies of insects, tore through the membranes resembling human faces and emerged.

    ''Tooth Fairies, create chaos among them. Face Worms, target themander-ss entities.''

    The swarm of insects moved in response to my orders.

    ¡°Enemy entities are proliferating.¡±

    ¡°Small size detected. High-velocity shock rounds ineffective.¡±

    The Tooth Fairies scuttled across the shallowly snow-covered battlefield, clinging to the Screamers'' legs. Their powerful teeth, capable of destroying even carrier-based aircraft, gnawed through the metal skeletons.

    ¡°Disregard small entities. Engage in closebat instead¡ªK-Kigik?!¡±

    Themander-ss PS models stationed in the rear flinched as they were ambushed by Face Worms. The sonic waves emitted by the Face Worms had paralyzed their entire bodies.

    ¡®If they were purely machines, it wouldn¡¯t have worked, but they aren¡¯t.¡¯

    Mutant Screamers are hybrids of organic and mechanicalponents. While they are controlled by machines, they still have auditory systems, making them susceptible to the paralyzing sonic waves.

    ¡°Suspected attack targeting auditory functions. Deactivating auditory systems¡ªKigik!¡±

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Target the paralyzed and fallen ones)]

    The Mutant Screamers have the ability to self-destruct when necessary. If their systems remain functional, they could explode at any moment, causing us significant damage.

    Hearing my signal, Adhai swiftly unleashed another psychic breath. Specializing in rapid-fire, she quickly dispatched the incapacitated Screamers.

    ¡°Special Target B confirmed to possess a unique barrier.¡±

    ¡°Unable to deactivate with current equipment. Must target areas without the barrier.¡±

    The Screamers attempted to target Adhai when she exposed her head to unleash her breath, but it was in vain.

    Adhai¡¯s head was protected by Red Armor. No weapon could shatter her head.

    Naturally, some Screamers tried to target her body or wings, but each time, I extended my wing arms to shield her.

    In other words, unless the Screamers could kill all of us at once, their chances of victory were slim.

    ¡®The same goes for us, though.¡¯

    When attacked from the sky, I expected around a few hundred of them, and as I suspected, their numbers were overwhelming.

    Moreover, their responses were bing more efficient as time passed.

    While they were currently struggling to respond to our continuous barrage of unconventional attacks, that would onlyst for so long. Once they figured out a strategy, we would suffer significant losses.

    ¡®If they decide to self-destruct en masse, we won¡¯t be able to stop it.¡¯

    It was time to move to the nest.

    I slowly manoeuvred while engaging the enemies. Some of the Screamers abandoned their guns and approached me.

    Each time, I countered with my invasive tendrils. The serpent-like tendrils shot out from my back, striking the approaching enemies. One Screamer, however, managed to dodge the tendrils and got in close.

    As it aimed a cluster round at Number 26, a navy-blue energy round shot from the trees above, severing the Screamer¡¯s head. It copsed on the spot.

    ¡°Interfering with the Main Controller is unforgivable.¡±

    ¡°Enemy in the trees, suppression required.¡±

    ¡°Identified as a dmissioned PS model. Estimated series in the 100s. Weakness confirmed.¡±

    The Screamers, seemingly shifting their target to PS-111, began unloading their ammunition into the trees. In that moment, I seized the opportunity to grab Adhai with my tail and made a dash toward the nest.

    ¡°Predicting the enemy¡¯s route¡ªlikely heading to the Gagon¡¯s nest.¡±

    ¡°They must be stopped before¡ªKigik.¡±

    The Screamers, realizing my intention, attempted to intercept us. But they were hindered by the Tooth Fairies, Face Worms, and our allies¡¯ relentless attacks.

    ¡°Main Controller Pyra Eleven has issued a revisedmand. Retreat and regroup. Additional countermeasures are being devised.¡±

    ¡°Confirmed.¡±

    Receiving the directive from their leader, the Screamers ceased their pursuit.

    Taking advantage of the respite, PS-111 and I escaped toward the cliff where the nest was located.

    As soon as we emerged from the forest and saw the cliff above, I unfurled my wings without hesitation. The Face Worms, their work done, clung to my back and returned to their respective nests.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    I gently grasped the trailing PS-111 with the pincer on my tail and glided into one of the nest¡¯s entrances.

    Not long after we set foot inside the cave, a Gagon emerged from the depths. It was Sha Velmag, the emaciated White Gagon who had first rebelled during the battle against Odd Grad.

    ?Sha Velmag? ?Great Adhai? ?Wee?

    His condition was far from good. His wings were torn in several ces, and all his hind legs were gone, forcing him to drag himself forward with his forelegs.

    Seeing this, Adhai emitted a wave of psychic energy filled with dismay.

    ?What happened??

    ?Smelly enemies? ?attacked? ?White kin? ?united strength? ?barely repelled? ?many kin? ?dead?

    ?What about Nel Germa??

    ?Nel Germa? ?severely injured? ?unable to fight?

    The Gagons are crucialbatants. We can''t afford to lose them all.

    I grabbed Sha Velmag with mybat arm.

    [ZZZ (Lead the way)]

    ?This way? ?follow?

    Following his guidance, we entered deeper into the dragon''s nest.

    The entire cliff seemed to be the dragon''sir. The cave was extensive, with many branching paths. The corridors were wide enough for me to movefortably, and the walls were studded with minerals that absorbed psychic power, providing ample light.

    Honestly, if it weren¡¯t for the urgency of the situation, I would have liked to take my time to observe the beauty of this ce.

    After navigating the long andplex natural maze, we arrived at a vast chamber. The shimmering light of the minerals, like starlight, illuminated the countless Gagons lying wounded on the ground.

    ?Everyone? ?badly injured!?

    Adhai was right.

    In the center of the chamber was a shallowke, but it had turned into ake of blood due to the Gagons¡¯ wounds.

    ¡®This isn¡¯t good.¡¯

    With so many Gagons to heal, there¡¯s only one way to do it. I gently set down Sha Velmag and crawled into theke.

    Soon, ck, viscous fluid began pouring out of my body.

 Chapter 235:

    Chapter 235:

    Although The Amorph is limited in how many nests it can create, the process itself isn¡¯t particrly difficult.

    Compared to the Outspacer, whose nesting conditions are extremely stringent, it¡¯s almost like having no conditions at all.

    However, just because the process is simple doesn¡¯t mean that raising a proper nest is easy. The Amorph still has to consider various factors if it wants to grow a nest sessfully.

    Factors like its evolutionary stage, the energy it possesses, and the suitability of the surrounding environment all need to align to establish arge-scale nest.

    And right now, I have fulfilled all the conditions to create the best possible nest.

    There¡¯s ake here where the wounded Gagon have gathered, which helps the slime spread easily.

    But that¡¯s not all. The dragon¡¯s nest is located in an area with a high concentration of psychic power. The walls of this cavern, where I¡¯m standing, are brimming with intense psychic energy, providing plenty of nourishment for the slime that has detached from my body.

    In an instant, I dyed theke ck and attached symbiotic spores to the fallen Gagon.

    Some were so severely injured that I immediately threw them into the contaminatedke after imnting the symbiotic spores. Among them was Nel Germa.?ck Kin? ?Nel Germa? ?Nest? ?Defense? ?Failed?

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ (It¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t worry about it.)]

    Nel Germa had a severe wound in her abdomen, so deep that her internal organs were visible. It was an injury that would have killed any creature not as robust as a Gagon.

    But not all of them were as resilient as she was.

    ?Great One? ?Kin? ?Dead?

    Adhai sent a telepathic wave as she stood before the corpse of a Green Gagon. Her deep sorrow echoed throughout the cavern.

    ¡®So many have died.¡¯

    As I moved the wounded Gagon, I counted the survivors. Including Nel Germa, only 13 adults had survived. Four White Gagon and nine Green Gagon.

    Most of the Gagon we had fought so hard to acquire had perished.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Adhai, check if the young ones are safe.)]

    Since the Gagon gave their lives to protect the nest, the young ones should be unharmed. They¡¯re probably hiding, waiting for the nest to be safe again.

    Tofort Adhai, who was overwhelmed by the loss of her kin, showing her that the Blue Gagon were still alive would be far better than any words.

    ?Understood.?

    ?Great Adhai? ?This way.?

    A rtively less injured Green Gagon led Adhai away from the clearing.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t expect it toe to this.¡¯

    The greatest prize from hunting Odd Grad had actually been the Gagon horde. My n had been to lead them to attack apex creatures or space fortresses on others.

    But those damn Screamers outsidepletely ruined my ns. Even if the young ones survived, it will take a long time for them to grow.

    ¡®How dare they touch my Gagon?¡¯

    It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been this furious. Not since my evolution was interrupted during a game have I felt such rage.

    I won¡¯t let those disgusting scraps of metal go unpunished.

    ¡®There¡¯s only one way to kill them all.¡¯

    Iy down on theke, filled with sticky ck liquid. As my secondary organ beneath my jaw touched the lukewarm slime, my senses were drawn downward.

    My consciousness detached from my heavy carapace and the hard scales of my physical body, merging with the vast cavern and the expansiveke. My senses expanded further along the tunnels connected to the cavern.

    How can I describe this feeling? It¡¯s simr to the sensation when your body regains feeling as you wake up. In fact, it¡¯s not all that different. My consciousness has passed into the nest, making theke my heart and the ck slime my limbs.

    In the past, I have connected with nests in various ces¡ªMegaCorp research ships, space cities, and more¡ªto observe and n where and when to strike the enemies.

    This time is no different.

    Having sessfully linked with the nest, I began to closely examine the structure of the Gagon¡¯s home.

    I could sense what was happening along thework of tunnels branching out like an ant¡¯s nest. The trembling Blue Gagon, asrge as Adhai, checking on their young and feeling relieved, and thepletely empty caves.

    ¡®No need to see everything.¡¯

    I shifted my focus away from Adhai and directed it toward the entrances in the cliffs.

    There were a total of four entrances, including the cave we had entered. There were also several other tunnels, but they were all dead ends¡ªfalse entrances.

    At my will, the slime forming the nest rapidly extended toward the passages connected to the cliffside entrances. The elements needed to maintain the nest were abundant, allowing for rapid expansion.

    At this rate, all the tunnels leading to the entrances will be coated in slime within a few hours.

    I disengaged from the nest and summoned Number 26 and PS-111.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (We¡¯ll lure the enemy here and trap them.)]

    In this naturally formedbyrinth, I n to wipe them out in one fell swoop. But to do that, I¡¯ll need their help.

    ¡°How do you n to deal with their suicide attacks?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll resort to that.¡±

    If we were outside, it might be different, but the likelihood of them triggering a suicide attack after entering the nest is low. If that were their n, they would have already attempted a suicide charge to bury the dragon¡¯s nest.

    There¡¯s only one reason they haven¡¯t done that.

    ¡®Gagon genes.¡¯

    As PS-111 mentioned, Pyra Eleven needs gic information to produce mutant Screamers. Not just any gic information, but high-grade genes like those of a Sea Demon.

    Since this can¡¯t be manufactured on a ship, they have to acquire it from outside. And there¡¯s probably no ce more enticing than the Gagon nest. Even if their suicide tactics seed, if all the Gagon are buried, the Screamers gain nothing.

    Moreover, they¡¯ve fought me before. They know full well that I won¡¯t die even if the cliff copses.

    Therefore, instead of suicide attacks, they¡¯ll try to subdue me using other methods.

    ¡®Whatever they attempt, it¡¯s meaningless.¡¯

    There¡¯s no ce the Amorph fights better than in a dark, narrowbyrinth full of tunnels.

    I exined to Number 26 and PS-111 how we would fight.

    The Screamers who dared to attack the dragon¡¯s nest will pay dearly.

    ---

    ¡°Enhanced detection equipment capability applied.¡±

    ¡°Newly acquired ¡®Gagon¡¯ and dangerous creature ¡®Helside Ho¡¯ biological characteristics reflected.¡±

    ¡°Long-range attack capabilities need improvement.¡±

    In the frozen forest, countless Screamers prepared for battle. Due to recent consecutive battles, their numbers had been greatly reduced to 100 units.

    The total number of units deployed for the Gagon nest assault and the Special Target A construction mission was 209.

    189 S-models and 20 PS-models were deployed, but the remaining numbers were 90 S-models and 10 PS-models. More than half had been deactivated.

    Despite this, the android Pyra Eleven of the Mechanical Committee did not give up. That¡¯s because the remaining 100 units had been significantly reinforced,pensating for their previous weaknesses.

    Thanks to the gic information supplied by the debris of destroyed Screamers and the drones from the ship, the remaining 100 Screamers were vastly different from before.

    Regardless of model, all Screamers originally had eight legs, but the 100 Screamers present here had varying numbers of legs. Some had 16, others had 12.

    Apart from the metal skeletons, the biological tissue had be even more grotesque. Some units had red flesh rapidly expanding, covering the tubes and skeleton, while others had long, scythe-like ws protruding from various parts of their bodies.

    No two of the 100 units were alike, but they all shared onemon trait.

    They looked as if they had been sculpted by a demon from hell¡ªutterly horrifying.

    From a human perspective, they were monstrosities, but not to Pyra Eleven. To it, the 100 units present were the perfect killing machines, optimized for ughter and massacre.

    Among them, a PS-model with eightrge eyes attached to its body ryed Pyra Eleven¡¯s orders.

    ¡°Deploy detection units.¡±

    Ten S-models, fitted withrge mechanicalponents, leaped toward the opposite cliff. Previously, they would have fallen straight into the river flowing between the cliffs, but not anymore.

    As the Screamers spread their legs, wide membranes unfolded between them. Gliding like flying squirrels, theynded at the cave entrance on the opposite cliff.

    ¡°Detectionmencing. Tracking life signals.¡±

    When the ten models opened their mouths, ultrasonic waves were emitted, prating deep into the cave. This ability was acquired by absorbing the gic information of the Cave Goyle, which inhabits the icy terrain of this.

    ¡°Confirmed four entrances leading to the nest.¡±

    ¡°Deploybat units. Proceed in stages.¡±

    Twenty S-models and two PS-models, grotesquely modified, moved in pairs. Outside, two PS-models remained to coordinate with Pyra Eleven.

    A total of four teams slowly entered the entrances, one by one.

    Outside, PS-model PS-005 synthesized the iing data from themanders inside and issued orders.

    [B Team entering.]

    [C Team encountered a fork. Moving right.]

    [D Team found a cavern. Evidence of Gagon activity detected.]

    [E Team detected life signals 220 meters ahead. Preparing forbat.]

    ¡°E Team, continue tracking life signals. D Team, investigate activity traces.¡±

    Despite the powerful psychic energy emanating from the Gagon¡¯s nest, there were no significant issues with theirmunications. This was due to the use of a unique psychic circuit derived from Sea Demon gics.

    And within 10 minutes of entry, a report came in from E Team, which had detected life signals.

    ?Identified as a symbiotic creature of Special Target A. Sample collected and transmitted.?

    ¡°Confirmed.¡±

    PS-005 waited for the small drone to bring back the gic sample. However, even after several minutes, there was no sign of the drone.

    ¡°Request confirmation from E Team. The sample transport drone has not arrived.¡±

    ?It was dispatched 5 minutes and 45 seconds ago.?

    Five minutes should have been more than enough time for the drone to show up. PS-005 issued anothermand.

    ¡°Recheck the entry route.¡±

    ?Confirmed¡­ anomaly detected.?

    ¡°Report the nature of the anomaly.¡±

    ?The passage¡­ is¡­ bzzt¡­ changing¡­ bzzt¡­ re¡­scanning nee¡­bzzt?

    ¡°Circuit malfunction detected. Verify with other teams.?

    ?B Team reports no anomalies.?

    ?C Team reports no anomalies.?

    ?D Team reports¡­ life signs detected 100 meters ahead. Preparing forb¡­bzzt?

    Now, even D Team¡¯smunication was starting to experience interference, just like E Team.

    This had never happened before, and PS-005 couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy.

    Theirmunication circuits didn¡¯t rely on ordinary mechanical devices. They used the biological organs within their bodies tomunicate, making malfunctions seemingly impossible.

    Hurriedly, it reported the situation to Pyra Eleven while issuing the standardmand for such situations.

    ¡°D Team? Report again.¡±

    ?Bzzt¡­ no issues¡­ bzzt¡­ confirming¡­ bzzt?

    ¡°D Team, circuit malfunction detected. Please confirm again.¡±

    ?Confirmed. No circuit malfunction, but a new issue has arisen.?

    ¡°Report.¡±

    ?Structural changes in the nest have been detected.?

    ?E Team confirms that the entry route has changed. Initiating re-scan.?

    Althoughmunication had returned to normal, the reports that followed were baffling.

    Structural changes in the nest? Unless it was a living organism, such a thing should be impossible.

    But as more reports came in, PS-005 was forced to reconsider.

    ?B Team detects life signs from all directions.?

    ?C Team detects life signs¡­ correction: life signs detected simultaneously 10 meters in front and behind.?

    ?D Team observes changes in the current terrain. Scanning function ineffective.?

    ?E Team detects life signs from all directions. Unpredictable. Unpredictable.?

    ?Unpredictable. Unpredictable. Unpredictable.?

    All the PS-models were reporting the same thing.

    The passage they were standing on, the vast Gagon nest, was alive.

 Chapter 236:

    Chapter 236:

    -

    Screamers are controlled entirely by machines connected to their brains. While the original consciousness remains, all physical control is dominated by the machinery.

    Despite their name, ¡®Screamers¡¯ can''t even let out a sound of their own will. They''re essentially moving prisons.

    This holds true for the new mutant Screamers as well.

    Though there are differences, such as the uncertain identity of the modified subjects and the ability to alter organic parts through gene absorption, they are still bio-weapons under machine control.

    The greatest advantage of an AI-controlledbat unit is itsck of fear.

    Whether witnessing arade being vaporized by a sma round or seeing a Hulk Mutant tear apart a regr soldier, they remain unfazed. They simply continue advancing toward their objective.

    Of course, the consciousness within the creature serving as a Screamer might feel fear, but that doesn''t matter. Once the emotion control module connected to their brain is activated, their emotions won''t influence their actions.

    In any case, Screamers don''t fear unexpected situations.Even if space itself starts shifting, or if life signs suddenly appear throughout the entire cave, they remain undeterred.

    ¡°D Team, recalibrate your detection system.¡±

    ?B Team switching to thermal detection. Heat detected throughout the passage, making it ineffective.?

    ?C Team confirms that the sonic detection system acquired through ''Cave Goyle'' genes remains effective.?

    ?E Team¡¯s psychic detection sys...bzzt, testing...bzzt?

    ?Reporting to Pyra Eleven. All units stand by...bzzt?

    ¡°Psychic interference detected. Communication lines need restructuring.¡±

    At themand of the mutant Screamer responsible for D Team¡¯smunications, the other units went on standby. The monstrous creatures, with their grafted features from various organisms, used their respective detection organs to monitor their surroundings.

    Then, from deep within the cave, gray smoke began to slither out. A Screamer in the vanguard detected it and reported.

    ¡°Toxic substances detected in the air.¡±

    ¡°Connect the resPyratory tubes.¡±

    Some tubes connected to their metal skeletons and life-support systems detached and plugged into their mouths.

    ?Kuuuu? ?Analyzing harmful elements in the air.?

    ?78% probability of enemy ambush? ?Kuuuu?

    The Screamers of D Teammunicated in harsh mechanical voices, their mouths sealed by the tubes.

    Toxic mist seeping into the narrow passageway signalled an imminent enemy attack. The Screamers drew their weapons and focused on the direction ahead.

    ?Kuuuu?

    A rough breathing sound echoed through the cave, mixed with another noise. The squelching sound of footsteps on muddy ground. Someone was approaching.

    ?Kuuuu? ?Magmigator''s ignition organs confirmed to be effective.? ?Kuuuu?

    ?Initiate preemptive strike.? ?Kuuuu?

    Several Screamers with abnormally swollen flesh moved forward. Metal pipes nestled within their bloated flesh aimed toward the front.

    A momentter, intense mes burst forth from the pipes, engulfing the passage. The fire, fueled by gas and mmable substances stored within their bodies, consumed the corridor.

    Then, from deep inside the passage, a purple energy bolt shot out, striking one of the me-spewing Screamers. Flesh burst open, and the mmable substances inside spilled out, covering the nearby Screamers.

    The mutant Screamers'' metal skeletons and mechanical parts were highly resistant to heat. Their organic exteriors were gically engineered to withstand high temperatures. None of them cared that their bodies were burning.

    Of course, the original minds within them were screaming in silent agony from the searing pain.

    ?Confirmed Gagon presence.? ?Kuuuu?

    ?Commence counterattack.?

    The Screamers aimed their newly attached limbs forward, firing translucent purple energy bolts. These were psychic rifles, formed by absorbing Gagon genes.

    As psychic energy bolts rained down over the roaring mes, the dark passage was instantly illuminated. At the end of the long corridor, a small, red-skinned Gagon quickly retreated.

    ?Commence pursuit of the target.? ?Kuuuu?

    ?Confir...?

    Just as D Team¡¯s Screamers prepared to pursue, a PS unit in the rear suddenly copsed mid-response. All eyes turned to the fallen unit.

    Its head waspletely gone.

    And then, another dark blue energy bolt flew from behind, once again targeting the head of the PS-model unit serving as themander.

    The D Team¡¯smander unit raised its metal leg to block the attack. The leg vanished without a trace, as if it had been hit by a Cultist''s disintegration weapon.

    ?Confirmed effect simr to the Cultist disintegration weapon ''Demolisher''.? ?Kuuuu?

    ?Kuuuu? ?Deploying countermeasures for obfuscation attacks...?

    ?Ambush from the side.?

    ?Ambush...?

    Just as they were preparing to target the enemies ahead and behind, the ck walls on both sides of the passage suddenly melted away. From within, white-scaled Gagons sprang out.

    The Screamers had assumed they were standing in a straight tunnel, but they were wrong.

    This ce was originally a junction.

    ---

    ¡°Communication with D Team is poor. Attempting to restore the connection.¡±

    ?B Team and C Team have merged and entered arge chamber.?

    E Team continued to attemptmunication with themanders of the teams that had gone ahead.

    Mutant Screamers, with genes spliced from Sea Demons and various psychic organisms, were experiencingmunication disruptions¡ªan impossible situation. They weren¡¯t using electronic devices but rather their unique psychic powers tomunicate, so who could possibly interfere?

    A powerful psychic entity, like a Sea Demon, could disrupt the connection, but that was impossible. The former ruler of this nest, the ck Gagon, was already dead, and there were no Sea Demons on this.

    Twomander models of E Team were trying to figure out the cause of themunication disruption when amand came through from outside.

    ?Transmitting orders from Pyra Eleven. Consider it a trap and retreat immediately.?

    ¡°Order acknowledged. Retreating.¡±

    There had been interference since earlier, so they were lucky to have received the message. E Team quickly prepared to exit the nest.

    Although they hadn¡¯t made contact with the Screamers of D Team, that was something for Pyra Eleven, the overallmander, to handle. They, serving as mere intermediaries, didn¡¯t need to worry about it.

    ¡°The map records are meaningless due to periodic structural changes.¡±

    ¡°Based on our current position, breaking through the wall seems most effective.¡±

    ¡°Confirmed. Preparing to break through.¡±

    A Screamer with many legs moved forward. Those with genes from the Hellside Ho had veryrge ws attached to their legs.

    The Hellside Ho uses its scythe-like ws to dig through the soil in the caves it inhabits. Just as the original did, these Screamers intended to dig through the wall to escape.

    The Screamers with scythe-like forelegs began excavation. Each movement of the sharp ws tore through the solid wall as if it were sand.

    ¡°There is an unidentified substance mixed in with the soil.¡±

    ¡°Life signs detected within the substance.¡±

    The scythe-like ws were covered in a ck, viscous material.

    That substance might be what was interfering with theirmunication. Themander-level PS models in the rear immediately ryed this information externally.

    ¡°Anomalous material not found in Gagon nests detected. Drone usage is not possible, so transmitting relevant information only.¡±

    ?Chhzz, material, zzzt, confirmation, chzz, confirmed...?

    ¡°New material detected, transmitting data. Please confirm.¡±

    The previously stablemunication suddenly deteriorated rapidly. As the E Teammanders tried to report again, another transmission came through.

    ?Zzzt, zzzt, confirmed, zzzt, malfunction, zzzt, malfunction...?

    ¡°Communication failure. Please confirm.¡±

    ?Zzzt, malfunction, chzzzt, malfunction, malfunction, zzzt, malfunction, malfunction...?

    ¡°PS-005?¡±

    ?Malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction...?

    The suddenmunication overload forced the PS models to quickly cut off the connection. When they tried to reconnect, it waspletely dead.

    But that wasn¡¯t the only problem. Simultaneously with themunication cutoff, an overwhelming flow of psychic power was sensed from behind them. Even the Screamers digging through the wall sensed it and turned around.

    A pink, balloon-like object was now sitting in the ck passageway.

    Even to the Screamers, it was apletely out-of-ce object, but themander-level units immediately recognized what it was. It was something that should never exist on this, something that must not be here.

    ¡°Enemy... enco...!!!¡±

    The PS model attempting to issue amand froze mid-sentence. The units that were about to charge at the pink balloon also stopped in their tracks.

    As if time had stopped, every Screamer present ceased all movement. Not only that, but their bodies began to slowly rise into the air.

    And then, as if being crushed by an invisible force, their bodies started to merge andpress.

    The high-strength alloy skeletons bent like rubber, and the mechanicalponents connected to the organic parts sparked and shattered. The mutant Screamers'' bodies contorted as if they had been thrown into the crushing depths of the ocean.

    ¡°Da-da-da-danger, danger, danger.¡±

    Some of the Screamers fired off psychic energy bolts, but it was futile. The bolts froze mid-air, as if they too were being held in ce by an unseen force.

    ¡°Sw-sw-swap to cluster bombs, cha-cha...¡±

    ¡°Ca-ca-cannot, ca-cannot resis...¡±

    ¡°Re-retreat, re-re-rtrtrtrt!¡±

    They attempted to switch from energy bolts to physical weaponry, but it was futile. With their internal modules and metallic skeletons in shambles, there was nothing they could do.

    All they could manage was a final death cry.

    Minutes passed, and the passage fell silent.

    The dozens of Screamers that had been there were no more. Instead, arge, blood-red sphere floated in the air.

    As the pink balloon disappeared into the darkness, the sphere split open, spilling its contents.

    A gruesome mix of blood, flesh, shattered metal fragments, and foul-smelling chemicals spilled out.

    The remains scattered across the floor were quickly absorbed by the ck slime coating the cave walls.

    Soon, nothing was left.

    ---

    While others were under attack, B Team and C Team continued to advance deeper into the cave.

    Before themunication was cut off, theirst received orders were to search the nest and eliminate Special Target A. They had decided to proceed with the exploration to gather as much information as possible needed to achieve the objective.

    After advancing for some time, they came upon a massive chamber unlike anything they had seen before.

    ¡°Chamber detected. High moisture levels in the air.¡±

    ¡°Traces of numerous creatures detected.¡±

    Within the chamber was arge swamp. One of the Screamers approached the swamp and dipped one of its legs into the water. Given the high temperature, this was likely a ce where Gagons rested.

    ¡°Given the environmental characteristics, the presence of a swamp is unnatural.¡±

    ¡°Confirmation required.¡±

    ¡°Commence internal investigation of the swamp.¡±

    ¡°Confirmed.¡±

    The S-model Screamers of B and C Teams entered the swamp. Outside, themander-level units waited in the passage connected to the chamber, prepared to retreat if necessary while the lower-ranking units bought them time.

    ¡°Multiple life signs detected.¡±

    ¡°No movement detected.¡±

    It was a strange situation¡ªlife signs were detected, yet there was no movement. All other sensors produced contradictory results.

    As the search continued, one unit noticed an unnatural ripple across the surface of the water. Periodic waves were emanating from the center of the swamp, disturbing the surface.

    The Screamers quickly spread out, forming a perimeter. The unit that had detected the anomaly slowly approached the source of the waves.

    Pushing through the sticky, ck liquid, it saw the tip of a ck rock. The surface around the rock rippled faintly, as if the waves were originating from it.

    ¡°Submersion needed for confirmation.¡±

    ¡°Permission granted.¡±

    The Screamer plunged its head deep into the murky swamp water. Thanks to its aquatic gene modifications, it could easily assess the situation beneath the surface.

    Whaty before it wasn¡¯t so much a rock as it was a massive, tumor-like growth. Several long, thin tendrils extended from the rock-like object. The tendrils were long enough to reach under the feet of the Screamers encircling the ¡®rock¡¯.

    As the Screamer examined the tendrils, it turned its gaze to the rock itself. The moment it saw the rock, it realized the truth.

    The rock¡ªor rather, the thing that only looked like a rock¡ªwas watching it with a wide-open eye.

    ¡°Special targ¡ª¡±

    The Screamer tried to report the enemy, but it was toote.

    A massive arm shot out from beneath the swamp and grabbed it. The Screamer''s organicponents shriveled and shattered upon contact with the creature''s hand.

    Having absorbed the Screamer''s energy, the creature¡ªno, Special Target A¡ªbegan to rise slowly from the swamp.

 Chapter 237:

    Chapter 237:

    Combat in ¡®Space Survival¡¯ is typically loud and chaotic.

    In the sky, enormous ships hundreds of meters long rain down energy cannons, while on the ground, soldiers in exosuits sh with various monstrous creatures.

    Some yers prefermanding from the gship, while others dive directly into the battlefield. Regardless of which faction a yer belongs to, war feels like a dazzling, noisy festival.

    It¡¯s actually quite unusual for stealth and surprise attacks to be encouraged, as is the case in theter stages with the Amorph.

    Speaking of which, there is one more entity that fights as silently as the Amorph.

    The Screamers.

    Controlled by machines, they only speak when necessary, producing little to no other sounds. The screams of wounded soldiers, the cries of those longing to return homemon noises on the battlefield¡ªare entirely absent.

    Perhaps that''s why the ce we''re fighting, a swampke within a cliff, was eerily quiet. Despite the dozens of Screamers moving to attack me, there was no sound. Only the rippling water disturbed the silence.

    Dormant beneath my thick carapace, my invasive tendrils suddenly awoke.The targets were the Screamers positioned in the rear. My tendrils, with six limbs fully extended, swam through the swamp like serpents, seizing them one by one.

    The Screamers closest to me drew their weapons.

    Since Ist saw them, they had undergone further modifications, giving them even more unique appearances. Some had multiple legs, others had sagging flesh that made them look obese, and some even had extra eyes.

    When I encountered PS-111, it had integrated five different species into its form and used materials like Blood Reaver ws and Gagon des for its reconstruction.

    The Screamers that had ventured into the Dragon¡¯s nest were simr. They had augmented themselves by incorporating the remnants of fallen Screamers into their bodies.

    ''They seem far more unstable than PS-111.''

    Though they had many genes applied, they were still a messpared to PS-111, which hadpletely restructured its shattered body. Their designs were poor, and their efficiency seemedcking. At this rate, their energy consumption would be excessively high, and maintaining their various configurations would be challenging.

    They were clearly designed for short-termbat, with everything invested in killing me.

    ''But they still can''t defeat me.''

    Even now, my friends were picking off Screamers throughout the nest. Some would lie in wait behind mucus-covered walls,unching ambushes at the right moment, while others would attack from behind when the Screamers were distracted by the smog created by the Smog Tower.

    When the enemies died, the ck mucus would absorb their corpses and transfer the nutrients to me, thanks to the nest¡¯s ¡®Human Sacrifice¡¯ trait.

    ''And then there''s the Blood Reaver.''

    A Screamer lunged at me, climbing onto my back and beginning its assault.

    It seemed to have integrated the genes of a Hellsight Ho, as several of its legs were armed with scythe-like ws. Each time its ws shed, deep gouges appeared in my carapace, and long gashes were torn into my invasive tendrils.

    While it attacked, other Screamers charged in. Normally, I would have dodged, but there was no need for that now.

    I reached into the swamp floor and pulled out abat arm, grabbing the approaching Screamer.

    As the ¡®Leeching Hand¡¯ effect activated, the flesh on its body rapidly withered, turning into a high-energy source almost instantly. All that remained was its durable metallic skeleton.

    When one Screamer died, another was revived. The life force I absorbed from the Screamer spread throughout my body. My broken carapace and bleeding wounds healed as if they had never been injured.

    The Screamer on my back hesitated. Its AI likely couldn¡¯tprehend what was happening.

    I unfurled my coiled tail. Whenbined with my snake-like lower body, my massive tail extended over 20 meters, rising from the water''s surface.

    The Screamer perched on my carapace tried to flee upon seeing the tail. After all its attacks, I had no intention of letting it escape.

    I brought down the pincer at the end of my tail, smashing the Screamer against the hardest part of my body, the carapace around my head. Its metal skeleton shatteredpletely.

    But that wasn''t the end. I swung my tail wide, left and right. The Screamers approaching me quickly retreated, but not all of them escaped.

    Some were struck by the tail and flung into the chamber¡¯s ceiling or walls, while others were caught by my pincers. I could have split them in two, but I didn¡¯t.

    With my mouth wide open, I pulled my tail, along with the trapped Screamers, towards me. They thrashed, realizing what I was about to do, but their resistance was futile.

    The Screamers iled their limbs to avoid being eaten. Three synthetic ws dug into my maw, and mes erupted from their bodies, scorching my pte.

    The pain was brief. As wounds formed, the nest healed my body.

    Once I neutralized their resistance, I mped my jaws shut like a snake, crushing their upper bodies and heads, which flowed down my throat.

    ''Tasteless.''

    It was a horrible mix, like eating peppermint candy, orange juice, and yokan all at once. Perhaps I had been eating too much delicious food, like Gagons, recently, and my tolerance for bad tastes had worsened.

    Without savoring it, I swallowed and tossed the remains¡ªtheir headless, upper bodies¡ªinto the swamp. The Screamers that had retreated unleashed a barrage of various projectiles at me.

    Cluster bombs, high-velocity impact rounds, conventional weapons of the Star Union, and energy-based weapons like psychic-powered energy bolts¡ªall aimed to inflict damage and pain.

    But that was all they could do.

    Even if they destroyed my body, I wouldn¡¯t die. The Amorph nestled above the nest was fully prepared; stronger weapons were necessary to take it down.

    I braced myself as I absorbed the enemy''s attack and prepared my next weapon.

    The tentacles that had been hanging limp below my neck began to twitch and rise. Thanks to the heart I took from the ck Dragon, my psychic power quickly recharges.

    In an instant, the tentacles of the fully energized creature spewed mes.

    The dragon''s breath devours everything. Even the metal skeletons that gleam with a purplish shine as the light reflects off them, and the rough breaths escaping from the mouths buried in flesh.

    The thieves who invaded the Dragon''sir try to flee as they watch theirrades burn in the fire.

    From behind them, I spread my winged arms wide. Like Nyx, the goddess of the night from vic mythology, unfurling her cloak, my wings filled the space above the swampyke.

    PR/N: Nyx is a greek goddess but here it is referred as vic goddess as per author.

    No one can leave here without my permission.

    No one.

    -

    Outside the nest, PS-005 was aware that the battle was turning against them.

    Contact had been lost with the four squads, totaling 98 Screamers, that had entered the cave on the opposite cliff. Although it could simply be amunication failure, the AI embedded in its head did not think so.

    The reason was thest messages left by the Screamers beforemunication ceased. An environment, enemy, and all other factors beingpletely unpredictable is unusual.

    It wasn''t hard to guess what would happen to those who had fallen into the trap. Most of them likely wouldn''t return.

    Of the 209 units sent to attack the Gagon''s nest, nearly all had been decimated. Now, only it and another PS model beside it remained.

    If it were not a machine, it would have fled long ago, but it waited for orders from Pyra Eleven.

    And soon, the awaited response came.

    "Prepare to retreat."

    "Confirmed."

    The information gathered before themunication with the infiltrating force was cut off was transmitted.

    They had lost nearly 200 units, but it wasn''t aplete loss. They had acquired some information about Special Target A, and with that, they could formte a new strategy.

    After cuttingmunication with Pyra Eleven, they left the cliff.

    The half-biological, half-mechanical entities with multiple metal legs moved through the forest. Even though they had been away from the cliff for some time, the forest was still dark.

    Of course, for those who could switch between various modes of vision, this level of darkness meant nothing. Switching to infrared detection, they moved quickly, their randomly positioned legs scuttling.

    While running toward the Ice Canyon where Pyra Eleven was stationed, PS-005 heard a sound.

    The faint crack of frozen earth. Such a sound urs when the native creatures of this move.

    The two Screamers stopped and scanned their surroundings. Naturally, they had to.

    There were no wild animals in this forest. Before attacking the Gagon''s nest, they had wiped out the creatures living in the forest.

    In other words, that footstep belonged to something that didn''t exist in this forest before.

    PS-005 remained on alert while releasing a small reconnaissance drone. The drone began to move between the trees, initiating its search.

    As PS-005 synced with the drone to check for any moving targets, the drone''s view suddenly shook.

    When the sync was forcibly cut, PS-005 deployed its imnted biological weapons, and the Screamer beside it prepared for battle.

    They moved to the location where the drone had been destroyed. Not far away, they found the wrecked drone.

    Strangely, the drone''s remains were on a tree rather than the icy ground.

    The camera used for thermal detection had been pierced by a metal spear that had flown from somewhere.

    PS-005 reyed thest thing it saw before the view was cut off.

    Before the drone froze, a beam of light had flown toward it. After confirming where the spear hade from, it ended the rey. PS-005''s gaze shifted toward the location from which the beam, no, the golden metal spear, had beenunched.

    "Confirmation needed."

    "Will confirm."

    The Screamer beside it crawled toward the location from which the spear had been thrown.

    Meanwhile, PS-005 switched to a detection system that could sense physical projectiles in advance.

    Since arriving here, it had never seen a creature using such primitive weapons. This, with its extremely vtile climate, is not a suitable ce for civilization to develop.

    Whoever it is, it doesn¡¯t matter¡ªcapturing it will be enough. Even if the creature doesn¡¯t want to talk, its genes will hold the answers.

    Within seconds, it switched to the detection system and looked ahead.

    The Screamer that had moved forward to investigate the source of the spear was visible.

    Or rather, the Screamer whose head and body had been separated was visible.

    And before it stood a massive quadrupedal wild beast.

    Its head, based on a raptor from Earth, was adorned with sharp horns, and its body resembled arge feline predator. Its fur was dark gold with ck ripples.

    It crushed itsrade''s head with a massive forepaw. Even in the dark forest, its amber eyes, glowing brightly, fixated on PS-005.

    A creature it had never seen anywhere on this. PS-005 knew what this creature was.

    "77% match with Special Target C."

    Special Target C, though not as high-priority as Special Target A, is also a target for elimination.

    PS-005 chose to retreat rather than fight the beast. There was no guarantee it could kill the creature alone, and above all, reporting this to Pyra Eleven was the priority.

    Quickly retreating from the location, PS-005 reactivatedmunication with Pyra Eleven. As its many legs moved swiftly, it prepared to transmit the recently gathered information to themanding officer.

    Perhaps it was because of this.

    PS-005 neglected to remember that it had switched its detection system to detect physical projectiles. It only realized its mistake when it saw a purple thermal beaming from the trees on the opposite side, but by then, it was already toote.

    -

    ?I thought it was odd that the nest suddenly disappeared, and as expected.?

    Mother of the Sky did not return to the dragon''s nest with Nel Germa. Since Ham Ort¡¯s injuries were not fully healed, she remained at the nest created by the Amorph.

    After resting for another day, Ham Ort was almost fully recovered. She nned to head to the dragon''s nest in another two days, but suddenly the nest stopped expanding and began to wither.

    She understood what it meant for the Amorph¡¯s nest to decay.

    Having fought the Amorph several times, she knew there were limitations to the nest''s instation. Once the limit of how many nests can be maintained is exceeded, the most recently installed nest is automatically deactivated.

    Seeing the ck swamp in the small cave dry up, she realized that the Amorph had established a new nest. She also understood that this was rted to the Amorph''s current crisis.

    The Amorph acts as if it was born to be one, not a human. Such a being wouldn¡¯t set up nests indiscriminately without reason.

    And there is only one ce nearby where the Amorph could set up nests up to its limit.

    ?Daughter of the Meteor, is it safe??

    ?I believe it will be fine if it¡¯s that creature. The Amorph... if it¡¯s a ck kin, it will surely try to protect it.?

    ?I trust you.?

    Mother of the Sky also knew how powerful the Amorph''s nest could be. She had experienced a simr situation in the game where her n was destroyed.

    ¡®It seems to be remnants moving in the opposite direction from the Dragon''s nest.¡¯

    Returning to her griffon form, Mother of the Sky approached the Screamer that had lost half its body.

    The fact that Ham Ort¡¯s wings were not fully healed turned out to be advantageous as it allowed her to fly slowly. As a result, she was able to spot moving Screamers beneath the trees while heading to the nest.

    She crushed the wriggling head of thepletely wrecked Screamer with her forepaw.

    Given the risk of Screamers activating their self-destruct system if only their heads remained, it was dangerous to leave them alive. They might escape or cause damage by activating their incineration systems.

    ?These creatures must have their heads crushed. Otherwise, they will self-destruct, so be cautious.?

    ?Understood.?

    Mother of the Sky, having warned Ham Ort, retrieved the golden spear from the tree. Grasping the spear with her beak, she mounted Ham Ort.

    ?I understand, but there might be creatures fleeing like this one. Please go a bit slower.?

    ?Understood.?

    Even as they flew through the branches on top of Ham Ort, her amber eyes remained focused on the forest below.

 Chapter 238:

    Chapter 238:

    ¡°Defense impossible. Incineration proto...¡±

    I opened my jaws wide and bit down hard on the Screamer¡¯s head. Its body, having lost itsmand center, copsed helplessly.

    ¡®It¡¯s over.¡¯

    It took quite a while to deal with all of them since there were so many. Around me were the remains of partially melted metal skeletons. ck mucus was diligently dissolving them, converting the debris into nutrients.

    ¡®Should I check the other side?¡¯

    It was unlikely, but the others might have missed something by ident.

    I swallowed the Screamer head in my mouth and linked with the nest.

    My senses spread throughout the cave, detecting movements over the ck mucus. Many creatures were moving around, but there were no Screamers among them.

    ¡®No Gagons died in battle.¡¯We had no losses. It was a small relief, especially given how many Gagons had already died.

    Two of the victorious ones areing this way. I disconnected from the link and waited as Number 26 and PS-111 appeared from behind the passage.

    ?We taught those bad friends who hurt the little ones a lesson.?

    [ZZZ (Well done)]

    Honestly, I was a bit worried that Number 26 might hesitate, but it was unnecessary.

    After seeing Adhai mourn the loss of the Gagons, it showed no mercy to the Screamers. Whenever it confronted them, the energy supplied through sacrifices surged explosively.

    PS-111 also performed well. Maybe it was because it had fought alongside Adhai and the Gagons multiple times. They took turns acting as bait, effectively confusing the enemy.

    ?Where is the little one??

    ¡°Adhai went to protect the Gagon hatchlings.¡±

    As it said, Adhai didn¡¯t return but went to check on the hidden hatchlings. Thanks to my link with the nest, I knew the Blue Gagons were safe, but Adhai didn¡¯t have that reassurance.

    ¡®She must be worried, given how many Gagons have died.¡¯

    Even though we won without any losses, the fight was more of a setback than a gain. Many had been killed by the enemy before I returned.

    ¡®Let¡¯s leave her be for now.¡¯

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Adhai needs time)]

    ?Okay.?

    Number 26, having lost its kin to MegaCorp, didn¡¯t say anything more. It probably understood that Adhai needed time too.

    To change the subject and confirm something important, I called PS-111.

    ¡°How did the task I assigned you go?¡±

    ¡°I rebooted some of the S-model Screamer systems as you ordered.¡±

    It proudly presented the result of its work.

    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯

    When I first met PS-111, it mentioned that if the opponent was a lower-tier S-model, it could be controlled to some extent.

    At that time, it added that physical contact was required. I didn¡¯t expect everything to go smoothly, but I also didn¡¯t anticipate this oue.

    ¡®Only the heads are left?¡¯

    Its three hooked ws each held a Screamer¡¯s head.

    Beneath the torn necks dangled spines with small chips attached. The sight of it holding the heads, with spines loosely hanging down, reminded me of a finishing move from an old fighting game.

    When I didn¡¯t say anything, it seemed to realize this wasn¡¯t what I had in mind. It added a word of exnation, almost as if making an excuse.

    ¡°The resistance was too strong. This was the only way to subdue them.¡±

    ¡°Can these heads regenerate their bodies like you?¡±

    ¡°These heads cannot.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°The S-modelsck self-repair capabilities. Additionally, their life-support functions rely entirely on me. They will perish as soon as they are disconnected.¡±

    Only after hearing this did I notice that the ends of the three spines were all connected to metal hoses extending from its back.

    ¡®I¡¯ll just have to settle for the information this time.¡¯

    This wasn¡¯t what I had originally nned.

    I had intended to assemble a legion of S-models if it seeded in hacking the Screamers.

    ¡®It¡¯s disappointing, but there¡¯s still a chance.¡¯

    If the opponent is unable to resist, perhaps I can leave their bodies intact and take control. For instance, right after they¡¯ve been produced and are awaiting final adjustments.

    ¡°If you seize control of the production systems, you may achieve your desired oue.¡±

    PS-111 voiced a thought simr to mine.

    Since we were on the topic, I decided to ask it the most critical question.

    ¡°Where are their ships and Pyra Eleven?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll check.¡±

    It closed its eyes to ess the information. The Screamer heads it was holding began to tremble.

    ¡°Gggggrr...¡±

    ¡°Aaaaargh...¡±

    ¡°Grrrrr...¡±

    The Screamer heads, with their eyes rolled back, emitted sounds resembling beats and mechanical noises. It would have been a terrifying sight for any normal human, but there were no ordinary people here.

    ?Our friend is acting strange. What¡¯s happening??

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ (It¡¯s searching for important memories)]

    ?Memories? How does it search for those??

    Number 26 seemed intrigued by PS-111''s actions. While PS-111 was extracting information, I made small talk with Number 26.

    ?Watching memories looks fun.?

    [ZZZZ (Does it?)]

    ?Yeah. It''s like bing just like your friend.?

    [Z ZZZZ (It''s a bit different, though)]

    ?Is it different??

    It was surprising to see it show interest in something like this, especially after being so down about Adhai. Who would have thought it would be curious about understanding or reading another being''s thoughts?

    ¡®Maybe it thinks there¡¯s something to learn from its kind?¡¯

    Number 26 had considered PS-111 one of its own from the moment they first met. So, it might believe that if PS-111 could do something, it could too.

    ¡®Reading memories, huh.¡¯

    There¡¯s a psychic ability that allows one to read actions from traces left by another. But as far as I knew, Sea Demons didn¡¯t have that trait in the game.

    ¡®Then again, who knows.¡¯

    Given Odd Grad''s case, it''s hard to just rely on the game¡¯s standards. Maybe Number 26 could acquire abilities I¡¯m unaware of.

    ¡®Though if that were the case, it would¡¯ve happened by now.¡¯

    Looking at it, this seemed more like curiosity than gaining a new power. It wanted to learn something its kind didn''t know.

    ¡®Learning is always a good thing.¡¯

    Sea Demons are incredibly powerful creatures, but in this vast universe, there are countless threats to its life. If it continues to follow me, it¡¯ll face beings far more terrifying than itself. To survive these foes, or to hunt them, it must keep learning.

    Feeling a sense of pride, I patted it. It expressed its happiness at my touch but didn¡¯t stop asking questions.

    While we talked, PS-111, having extracted all the information from the Screamers, opened its eyes.

    ¡°The location has been confirmed. Pyra Eleven and the ship are in the same ce.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±

    Now that we know the enemy¡¯s location, all that¡¯s left is to strike.

    ¡®But first, we need to bring Mother of the Sky and Ham Ort.¡¯

    The Dragon''s Nest was vast, so I spread the nest to its limits. The previously set nests automatically decayed. Mother of the Sky had gone to the previous nest with Ham Ort to heal her. She would understand what it meant for the nest to disappear.

    ¡®She¡¯s fought me enough times to know.¡¯

    Maybe she¡¯s already on her way here by now.

    ¡°I¡¯ll hear the detailster.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ?Friend, I have a question.?

    ¡°Ask me anything.¡±

    Leaving the two who were deep in conversation, I headed toward the cave entrance.

    As I walked along the long, dark passage, my steps sticky with mucus, I began to see the entrance.

    The light streaming in from outside suddenly dimmed. Someone was blocking the entrance.

    ?So, seeing you out here means it''s already over??

    ?The ck Kin? ?What about the Daughter of the Meteor??

    Speak of the devil, and she shall appear.

    It seemed I no longer needed to go searching for them.

    ---

    An unknown, with no name or recorded route leading to it.

    Due to the clouds that covered the atmosphere, it appeared as a dull, ashen gray from the outside. Buttely, this ce had be suddenly chaotic, disturbed by the sudden arrival of external invaders.

    The clouds parted, revealing the''s surface, and the impact of massive energy shes rippled across the entire world.

    The artificially generated energy storm affected not just the inner regions of the but its outeryers as well.

    ¡°Captain Min-seok, the atmosphere has stabilized.¡±

    ¡°Good. Report to me as soon as themunication lines and satellite radar are restored.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±

    In themand room of Si-hyun Yujin''s gship, the crew was busy moving about. Recent weather anomalies had disruptedmunication with the¡¯s interior, and restoring it was proving to be a daunting task.

    Amid the bustling bridge, Acting Captain Min-seok Yujin stared at the holographic map of the with a grim expression.

    A red marker hovered over a particr spot on the spherical map, representing the.

    That was the location where Min-seok¡¯s master, Si-hyun Yujin, had led the exploration team.

    ¡®Damn it.¡¯

    Min-seok was growing increasingly displeased with the actions of Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s clone.

    The master he served had dedicated her life to ensuring the righteousness of their family. Her goal was to bring Akira Yujin, who had usurped the head of the family, to justice and to ensure that the rightful bloodline would govern. That was Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s purpose, and the purpose of everyone here.

    But this clone of Si-hyun Yujin seemed more interested in other things than in the grand objective.

    And that wasn¡¯t all. The clone was straying from the path Si-hyun Yujin was supposed to walk. Instead of meeting with key figures of the family to secure alliances, she was wasting time on these pointless pursuits.

    Currently, a civil war was raging within the Megacorp between Noble Capital T&C and Prime Capital Egerton. CEO Akira was preupied with mediating the conflict, making this the perfect opportunity to rapidly expand their influence without interference.

    Si-hyun Yujin was undoubtedly aware of this but had chosen toe to this remote instead of heading to Earth.

    ¡®I could understand if the goal was to secure credits, but¡­.¡¯

    When the satellite radar was functioning, Min-seok saw it. This was a treasure trove of resources. It was rich in Nova Metal, which was highly prized by cults, and teeming with creatures carrying rare genes. Properly exploited, these resources could bring Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s faction an enormous amount of credits.

    But instead of focusing on earning credits from the, Si-hyun Yujin was obsessed with some unheard-of relic.

    ¡®Ancient relics? Ridiculous.¡¯

    Most of the Megacorp''s Noble Capital factions owned multiples. The Yujin family was continually explorings to expand their gic pool.

    Because of this, Min-seok knew well that there were no secrets left in this universe.

    The secret weapons of a fallen empire, ancient civilization relics, treasures powered by super-scientific principles¡ªnone of these things exist. They¡¯re all just concepts made up to deceive the gullible masses.

    It wasmon knowledge among the Megacorp elite, but Si-hyun Yujin was ignoring it.

    ¡®¡­A defective product?¡¯

    Though it was a deeply sphemous thought, Min-seok was half-convinced. The clone that had gone down in pursuit of a worthless goal was defective.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to take action when she returns.¡¯

    Without Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s approval, creating a new clone wasn¡¯t possible. But excluding her would be an even graver issue. After all, everyone here had gathered to follow the only rightful bloodline of Jung-woo Yujin.

    There was only one option left.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to use what she left behind.¡¯

    Before Si-hyun Yujin died, she left something behind, worried about possible defects in her clone. Using it might be the only way to guide the clone down the right path.

    Min-seok¡¯s cold gaze remained fixed on the red marker hovering above the holographic map.

 Chapter 239:

    Chapter 239:

    I exined the situation to thete-arriving Mother of the Sky and Ham Ort.

    I told them that there was a Screamer attack and that many of the Gagons had been killed.

    As soon as Ham Ort heard this, she rushed off to where Adhai was. Number 26, who had been with us just moments before, followed her to the other side of the cave.

    ?I suspected it, and it turned out to be true.?

    Mother of the Sky also mourned the loss of the Gagons. Her amber eyes, now in her griffon form, were filled with sorrow.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (It seems like it will need time)]

    ?¡­Indeed.?

    She closed her eyes, forcing herself to calm down. When she opened them again, her gaze was cold with anger.

    ?So, where exactly is this ce??"Below the canyon located beyond the Ice ins."

    "There¡¯s only one Ice in around here. You mean the ce where we captured the Ice Horror and Jason?"

    "Yes, that''s correct. If you move in the opposite direction from the forest, you can verify it."

    It said that Pyra Eleven and its ship were in the exact opposite direction of this ce, where the forest and mountain range are located.

    ¡®The canyon, huh.¡¯

    One of the Apex candidates I considered for Adhai''s training was a creature that primarily inhabited the Ice Canyon. However, since it was a flightless creature, I chose the Hellside Ho instead for her flight training.

    ¡®I had nned to retrieve its gic essenceter, but I didn¡¯t expect things to turn out like this.¡¯

    ?If it¡¯s the canyon, could it be a Gigantarium??

    [ZZZ (Possibly)]

    The Gigantarium, like the Ice Horror, only inhabits regions with extremely low temperatures. It¡¯s a creature that looks like a mix of an elephant, a bear, and a gori.

    "The Screamers have already eliminated the ''Gigantarium.''"

    "Really? It doesn''t seem like they integrated it."

    The Gigantarium, true to its name as the ''Giant Beast'', is massive and incredibly strong. Its trunk and tusks, resembling those of a mammoth, are particrly striking.

    Among the Screamers I¡¯ve seen, none had the biological characteristics of the Gigantarium.

    In response to my doubt, PS-111 nodded.

    "The flesh and genes of the Gigantarium were entirely used in the restoration of Pyra Eleven."

    "That means Pyra Eleven is a Screamer too, right?"

    "At this point, that seems to be the case."

    ?At this point? Does that mean it wasn¡¯t before??

    "Pyra Eleven suffered fatal damage after arriving on this and was in a dormant state. During the repair process, its damaged body was reced with resources avable on the."

    The resources it mentioned likely refer to the biological tissue of various creatures like the Gigantarium.

    ¡®From what it says, it sounds like Pyra Eleven was originally an android and became partially Screamer.¡¯

    Given the image of Screamers from Star Union, Pyra Eleven definitely wouldn¡¯t be a cyborg. A cyborg would rather choose death than be a Screamer.

    On the other hand, an android, which prioritizes efficiency, wouldn¡¯t mind changing its body.

    ¡®An android leading an army of mutant Screamers.¡¯

    Even in the game, there was an android that led a Screamer unit.

    "A High Commissioner, perhaps."

    Officially, Screamers are not meant forbat. Their stated purpose is to reform criminal cyborg offenders, essentially serving as an educational tool.

    Since they are a unit meant to enlighten others to follow the Star Union¡¯s will, one of the High Commissioners from the Supreme Authority, the Machine Council, would oversee them. Following this logic, Pyra Eleven is likely a member of the Machine Council.

    ¡®And the mutant Screamers are new weapons.¡¯

    Not just ordinary weapons, but biological weapons incorporating thetest technology from enemy nations. Considering their importance, it makes sense that someone at the level of a High Commissioner would be in charge.

    ?What caused it to malfunction??

    ¡°Being a lower model, that information wasn¡¯t stored in its memory unit.¡±

    ?If it hadn¡¯t malfunctioned, it would have been easier to figure out.?

    Mother of the Sky nced at me, likely because of my ¡®Gremlin Moss¡¯ trait.

    Gremlin Moss is a trait that disables mechanical devices thate into contact with my body. With this trait, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to subdue a High Commissioner.

    ¡®It didn¡¯t work on the mutant Screamers, so it probably won¡¯t work on the High Commissioner either.¡¯

    Since it modified its body with biological tissue, the paralyzing sound waves of the Faceless Worm might be more effective. It''s a double-edged sword.

    ¡°How many genes are embedded in its body?¡±

    ¡°Most of the genes of native creatures found on this have been imnted.¡±

    ¡°They must have also used genes from the support ship. Which ones did they use?¡±

    ¡°That information can only be essed with Pyra Eleven¡¯s authority. However, it is certain that unidentified genes have been added in addition to those applied to the PS model.¡±

    To summarize, Pyra Eleven is a monster based on PS-111, with additional genes from the Apexes on this and unidentified organisms.

    Of course, unless it¡¯s an Outspecies or the Amorph, synthesizing genes infinitely, especially within a short time, isn¡¯t an easy task. There would likely be significant side effects, or it might not be able to fully utilize the imnted genes.

    ¡®But it¡¯s probably at least on par with a Megacorp¡¯s shadow.¡¯

    Moreover, it has absorbed many of the Apex genes from this, much like I have.

    It¡¯s uncertain how skilled Pyra Eleven is inbat, but if we¡¯re unlucky, it could show prowess simr to that of high-ranking yers on the leaderboard.

    ¡®To know for sure¡­¡¯

    "We¡¯ll just have to ask it directly."

    ?Indeed.?

    ¡°I will do my best to gather useful information.¡±

    Our next opponent is the leader of the mutant Screamers, Pyra Eleven.

    ?So, when do you n to go??

    Now that we know its condition and location, we need to decide on the timing of the attack.

    In reality, we don¡¯t have much time. We don¡¯t know when the support ship it has might produce new soldiers.

    ¡®I could go right now without much trouble¡­¡¯

    The cooldown for the Symbol of the Hunt is already over, and my body is overflowing with energy thanks to the massive amount energy I¡¯ve absorbed. But while I¡¯m fine, the others aren¡¯t.

    The Gagons¡¯ injuries haven¡¯t fully healed yet, and Adhai still needs more time to collect herself. Mother of the Sky hasn¡¯t had a proper rest either, with taking care of Ham Ort, fighting, and then rushing here over the past few days.

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Let¡¯s move tomorrow at midday)]

    Now that one battle is over, we decided to take some time to rest.

    [ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZZ (Take a look around the nest while you rest)]

    ?¡­Are you telling me to explore the Amorph''s nest? Do you know how many times I¡¯ve died in a nest??

    It¡¯s been so long that I don¡¯t remember well, but it was around 57 times. Still, I didn¡¯t bother mentioning that.

    She looked at me with a mix of disbelief and exasperation before letting out a small sigh.

    ?Alright. Since this was the Gagons'' nest, there might be something interesting here.?

    ¡°If we find rare metals, I can upgrade. I will join you.¡±

    After sending them off, I headed toward the entrance.

    In my haste to return to the nest, I had left the bodies of the White Gagons outside. I couldn¡¯t just abandon the valuable spoils I obtained from fighting Odd Grad.

    ¡®There¡¯s also something I want to test.¡¯

    I retraced my steps, gathering all the bodies over the course of half a day.

    I hadn¡¯t consumed them because I wanted to experiment to see if the Gagons could grow stronger from them. Just as Adhai grew, other White Gagons might also evolve into ck dragons by consuming the corpses of White Gagons.

    By the time I returned with the bodies, night had fallen. The area, already dim due to the overcast sky, was now even darker with the night¡¯s shadow.

    As I crossed the cliff with the bodies, I noticed someone on the opposite side.

    A Gagon with wings glowing bright red even in the darkness, and a body as white as snow¡ªAdhai.

    Next to her was another White Gagon with a wounded wing. It was Adhai¡¯s mother, Ham Ort.

    From what I know, Adhai has mixed feelings toward the mother who abandoned her. But right now, the two didn¡¯t seem to be on bad terms. Ham Ort was wrapping one of her wings around Adhai.

    ¡®Did they reconcile¡­ huh?¡¯

    Upon closer inspection, there was a small pink figure between them. Number 26 had extended two thin tendrils, connecting with the tendrils of the two Gagons.

    ¡®Is it mediating between them?¡¯

    Or perhaps it wasforting the two in their grief. Whatever the case, it seemed that Number 26 had positively influenced their rtionship.

    I considered approaching them but decided against it.

    The pain of losing family or kin isn¡¯t something I can console. Someone like Number 26, who has experienced something simr, or Mother of the Sky, could offer better advice.

    Certainly better than someone like me, who ran away rather than confronting reality.

    ¡®¡­Pointless thoughts.¡¯

    Shaking my head, I turned and entered the cave.

    ¡ª

    A canyon of ice, hundreds of meters deep.

    A ce where light should never reach, where only darkness should reign.

    Yet, the bottom of the canyon now glowed bright red.

    ?Pyra Eleven. Record verificationplete.?

    In the red glow, hoses of flesh and metal writhed.

    Calling them ¡®hoses¡¯ didn¡¯t quite capture their essence. Ordinary hoses aren¡¯t casually tens of meters long, with a minimum thickness of several meters. The sight of multiple such hoses in motion resembled a group of Ice Horrors coiling together.

    With every movement of the massive body, the red light flickered.

    ?Pyra Eleven. Conclusion reached. Utilizing the S and PS models for the mission is disadvantageous. Alternative methods are necessary for missionpletion.?

    ?Pyra Eleven. Proposing an alternative method. Reinvestigation of the supervolcano is required.?

    ?Pyra Eleven. Denied. Threats have not yet been eliminated. Further damage is unnecessary. The investigation will be assigned to the Screamers.?

    The immense entity, or rather Pyra Eleven, continued its self-dialogue as if it had multiple minds.

    ?Pyra Eleven. Proposing an alternative method. Based on the information ryed by the S and PS models, bodily restructuring is required for the direct construction of Special Target A.?

    ?Of the remaining Screamers, it would be beneficial to absorb all but 10 S models and 2 PS models for exploratory purposes.?

    ?The auxiliary brain for gene maniption will utilize the ship¡¯s AI.?

    As the red light intensified, the colossal hoses began to move with agility.

    Soon, sparks flew from beneath the canyon with the sound of welding. Even as the red light deepened, there was no scream from the Screamers.

 Chapter 240:

    Chapter 240:

    When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a pink jellyfish.

    It was Number 26, who had grown to a size of 10 meters, asleep while leaning against me.

    Beside Number 26 were Adhai and Mother of the Sky. Not long ago, Mother of the Sky in her griffion form had been muchrger than Adhai, but that was no longer the case.

    After evolving into a White Gagon, Adhai had grown to be simr in size to Mother of the Sky, and now, with the power of the Red Gagon, Adhai was even longer, especially when considering her wings.

    ¡®It seems her heart has softened.¡¯

    I expected her to be with the Blue Gagons, but surprisingly, she was here. It seems thefort from Number 26 and Ham Ort was quite effective.

    As Iy there, simply observing, I noticed white and green inds submerged in a ck swamp. These were the White and Green Gagons that were still recovering from their injuries.

    Fortunately, most of their wounds had healed. However, their horns, which took longer to regenerate, remained broken for some.

    While I was checking on their conditions, a light flickered from the passage connected to the chamber.¡®What was that?¡¯

    Though it was brief, having seen it, I couldn''t just ignore it.

    Carefully, I got up.

    Normally, Number 26 would have woken up at the slightest movement from me, but it must have been extremely tired because it didn¡¯t stir. I moved cautiously to avoid waking it and stepped outside the swamp.

    ¡®Speaking of which, where is PS-111?¡¯

    It was nowhere to be seen inside the chamber.

    Heading towards the passage where the light had shed, I found PS-111.

    It was in the middle of syncing with a Screamer head. When it noticed me, it stopped what it was doing and turned to face me.

    ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡±

    Just like Number 26, PS-111 also matched its actions to Number 26¡¯s daily rhythm. When Number 26 slept, it would partially power down its system, and when Number 26 ate, it would replenish its energy.

    It was rare for it to act on its own initiative unless given orders.

    ¡°Did you find something?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I had some memory data that needed verification.¡±

    ¡°Is it about Pyra Eleven?¡±

    ¡°No. I found a few interesting memory fragments.¡±

    Despite its usualck of expression, something about it seemed different today. Perhaps it was a hint of emotion.

    After a brief silence, it spoke again.

    ¡°During the process of being digested by the Ice Horror, most of my memory data was lost. It¡¯s impossible for me to know what memories or thoughts my original body held.¡±

    ¡°Were you trying to see if others were in a simr situation?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    PS-111¡¯s body had been severely damaged by the Ice Horror¡¯s attack. When Number 26 found it, only its head remained.

    It had managed to cram the minimum life-support functions into its small head to stay alive. In the process, its organic parts and the AI that controlled its actions formed a symbiotic structure.

    ¡®It seems the original memories and personality were lost in the process.¡¯

    To be precise, it would be more urate to say that the two merged.

    After receiving energy from Number 26, its body had been restored to a state where machine and organism achieved perfect bnce. In other words, it had be a new entity where biological tissue and machinery were seamlessly integrated.

    ¡®Its identity must be very different from what it once was.¡¯

    In a way, the intelligence and mechanicalponents of the Screamer that originally made up PS-111 had died, leaving this new entity in front of me as something entirely different.

    ¡®But that¡¯s probably not what it wants to hear.¡¯

    ¡°Did you find what you were looking for?¡±

    Shaking its head, it replied, ¡°The memory data analysis revealed an 89% simrity. They were all resigned to their existence and wished for their life-support systems to stop.¡±

    ¡®Not surprising.¡¯

    The conditions it faced were vastly different from those of a regr Screamer.

    Cyborgs or intelligent beings forcibly turned into Screamers must endure constant torment until they are pardoned by the Machine Council. They can¡¯t control their bodies as they wish, but they still experience pain and sensations fully.

    Even when hit by artillery fire on the battlefield, they must charge forward, and even when their bodies are scorched by energy rounds, they must continue fighting.

    It¡¯s an environment that would break even the strongest of wills. As PS-111 said, it would be rare to find anything other than a plea for death.

    ¡°After analyzing the data, I¡¯m left with new doubts. Was I like them, or was I something different? I can¡¯t make a definitive judgment.¡±

    Even if the newly developed mutant Screamer differed from older models, the basic framework remained the same. Before its transformation, PS-111 was probably simr to the other mutant Screamers.

    However, I couldn¡¯t just tell it what I was thinking.

    ¡°Well, I think you were different.¡±

    ¡°What makes you think so?¡±

    ¡°If you truly wanted to die, you wouldn¡¯t have gone through the trouble of modifying your body inside the Ice Horror. And even after Number 26 saved you, you¡¯ve had plenty of opportunities to end it all. Doesn¡¯t that make you different?¡±

    It¡¯s likely that its transformation was a desperate measure taken by the AI to preserve life, but I couldn¡¯t be 100% sure. Out of all the creatures that had participated in the mission with it, PS-111 was the only one that had stubbornly survived.

    I added one more thing to PS-111.

    ¡°You¡¯re a special entity. That much is certain.¡±

    And I meant it.

    Depending on how you look at it, PS-111 had reached a stage of freedom far beyond the others.

    It blinked the camera that reced its eyes and fell silent. After a brief pause, it spoke again.

    ¡°I will take that into consideration.¡±

    With that, the conversation ended. PS-111 fiddled with the Screamer¡¯s head for a moment before quietly entering sleep mode.

    ¡®Memories, huh.¡¯

    When you think about it, the yers who arrived in this dystopian world are in a situation simr to PS-111. Humans who were living their own lives suddenly had their consciousnesses thrown into this world.

    I, too, am essentially human, not an Amorph. The burns I suffered as a child, the conflicts with my parents, and the hobbies I started as an escape¡ªall of these memories from my human life still define who ¡®I¡¯ am, even in this Amorph body.

    ¡®What happens to these memories if I return home?¡¯

    If they remain intact, it might be difficult to adjust back to reality. After all, I would be going back to being human after existing as a creature that devoured people.

    ¡®But that¡¯s not something to worry about just yet.¡¯

    Eventually, I drifted off to sleep while lying beside PS-111, lost in these thoughts.

    When I awoke to a sense of movement around me, it was already morning. The first thing I saw was Number 26.

    ?Good morning, big one.?

    I patted it as it greeted me cheerfully. It glowed and sent out waves of contentment.

    ?The little ones are all up. They¡¯re calling for you.?

    [ZZZ ZZZ (Wait a moment.)]

    Instead of heading directly into the chamber, I stopped by the entrance of the cave. After gathering what I needed near the uncovered entrance, I returned to the chamber.

    As I entered the vast space covered in a swamp, I found the Gagons and the little ones waiting for me.

    ?Big elder,? ?We¡¯re ready,? ?All set.?

    The Gagons who had recovered from their injuries radiated intense anger. Adhai was also determined, burning with the desire for revenge.

    ¡®Good¡¯.

    There were four White Gagons and nine Green Gagons who had barely survived while defending the nest from the Screamers. Including Ham Ort, there were fourteen in total.

    A few more Green Gagons had remained unscathed by staying in the nest, but I didn¡¯t n to bring them along.

    ¡®Pyra Eleven is an enemy simr to me.¡¯

    It absorbs energy by consuming living beings. Bringing too many won¡¯t necessarily be beneficial. Instead, I n to bring a small but elite group of fourteen Gagons and the little ones.

    ¡®But before that¡­¡¯

    There was something I needed to do before setting off.

    What I had brought from the entrance of the nest was none other than the corpses of White Gagons. Four corpses obtained from defeating Odd Grad.

    ¡®Judging by Adhai¡¯s case, White Gagons need to consume other White Gagons to evolve.¡¯

    I wasn¡¯t sure, so I intended to experiment right here. I wanted to see if these corpses could evolve the four White Gagons.

    ¡®Who should I give them to?¡¯

    I was definitely going to give them to Ham Ort and Nel Germa. Both had extensivebat experience and were highly skilled. If the experiment went well and they both became ck Gagons, it would be a significant advantage in the uing battle.

    ¡®Sha Belmag wouldn¡¯t be a bad choice either.¡¯

    That lean male Gagon was the first to rebel against Odd Grad after he lost his ring. He seemed intelligent, making him a suitable candidate for the experiment.

    As for thest one, after some deliberation, I chose thergest Gagon among them.

    ¡®Ham Ort, Nel Germa, Sha Belma, and Jerkapcha.¡¯

    I presented the four White Gagon corpses I had obtained the previous day in front of them.

    Loyal by nature, Nel Germa didn¡¯t hesitate to plunge its tentacles into the corpse. Sha Belmag and Jerkapcha followed, absorbing the remaining fluids from the corpse.

    Finally, Ham Ort seemed to hesitate.

    [ZZZ (Drink.)]

    It gazed at the corpse I had offered, then turned its head to look at Adhai.

    ???

    Adhai tilted her head, puzzled by Ham Ort¡¯s stare. After a moment, Ham Ort seemed to make up its mind and immediately plunged its tentacles into the corpse.

    ¡®Now, let¡¯s see what happens.¡¯

    I hoped that all of them would evolve into ck Gagons, but things might not go that smoothly.

    ¡®At least one of them should evolve into a ck Gagon.¡¯

    Quite some time had passed since they began their experimental meal.

    The corpses I had brought started to shrivel up, drying out like mummies. Despite consuming nearly all of it, there were no visible signs of change.

    ¡®Could it be a fail¡ªhuh?¡¯

    Just then, I noticed something on Ham Ort¡¯s horn. The surface of the horn had started to turn ck, as if ink had spread across it.

    The ck waves quickly engulfed Ham Ort''s horn, spreading rapidly over its head and down its neck. Realizing the changes in its body, Ham Ort unfurled its wings and wrapped them around itself. From beneath the thick wings, the sounds of rapid growth echoed.

    ¡®It¡¯s simr to Adhai.¡¯

    I checked the other Gagons to see if they were undergoing any changes as well.

    Nel Germa and Sha Belma had some unfamiliar ck spots behind their necks and on parts of their bodies, but there were no signs that these would spread like they did with Ham Ort.

    ¡®So, only Ham Ort is evolving?¡¯

    Out of the four, only Ham Ort showed signs of growth. Despite devouring the entire White Gagon corpse, the other three didn¡¯t transform.

    ¡®Could it be the condition of the corpses? Or is it rted to age?¡¯

    To my knowledge, Ham Ort was the oldest among the surviving Gagons. It was rtively young before, but after the battles with Odd Grad and the Screamers, which decimated most of their numbers, Ham Ort had be the eldest.

    ¡®Maybe both the condition of the corpses and age yed a role.¡¯

    It was disappointing, but there was nothing more I could do. All that was left was to wait for Ham Ort toplete its growth.

    When Adhai transformed into a White Gagon, it took about 30 minutes to an hour. Unlike Amorphs, it didn¡¯t take that long.

    An hour passed.

    Ham Ort remained still, its wings tightly wrapped around its body. The pure white wings had vanished, reced by smooth, obsidian-like wings that now covered it.

    At some point, the sounds of transformation ceased. The growth process wasplete.

    The new ck Gagon spread its winged mantle wide. As the newly born ck dragon emerged, all the Gagons in the vicinity lowered their heads in deference.

    Ham Ort now sported two additional horns on its head. The original horns hadn¡¯t fully regenerated, resulting in a somewhat unbnced appearance.

    The horns and body had taken on the ck sheen of obsidian, and the creature''s increased size added to its imposing presence.

    Though still smaller than the aged Odd Grad, Ham Ort now stretched at least 30 meters from head to tail, a considerable figure nheless.

    Ham Ort surveyed its new form briefly before bowing slightly to Adhai and me.

    As I looked at the fully evolved creature, I thought to myself.

    Everything is ready.

 Chapter 241:

    Chapter 241:

    Space Survival stands out among its contemporaneous VR games due to its sheer variety of NPC species.

    These NPCs, a mix of traits from real-world animals and alien creatures inspired by various science fiction media, are one of the game¡¯s most appealing features.

    This led some yers to focus on studying the game''s ecosystems and the behaviors of its many creatures. yers have uncovered lore about a wide range of beings, from the small and adorable Bubble Amoebas to the massive space whales known as Sky Whales.

    However, no one had ever flown alongside the Gxy''s Dragons, the Gagons.

    What no one else had achieved, I was doing now.

    Flying beside me was a Gagon with white skin that looked as though it was draped in a red dress. This was Adhai, the red-and-white Gagon, pping her four wings as she kept pace with me.

    Behind us was a female ck Gagon. The newly evolved Ham Ort, who had transformed into a ck Gagon that very morning, was now reminiscent of a celestial being dragging a storm cloud in its wake.

    Flying in formation behind Ham Ort were four White Gagons and nine Green Gagons. Together, we formed a squadron of fifteen Gagons soaring over an endless snowy in.

    A slight tilt of my head revealed the white expanse below. It was the same icy field we first encountered when we arrived on this.When we first arrived, we hid to avoid confronting any enemies. But that was no longer the case.

    ?Hey, big guy, look over there.?

    Perched on my head, Number 26 sent me a wave of thought, directing my attention with a tentacle. I saw arge indentation in the ice where the ground had caved in, creating a sizable crater.

    It was the spot where I fought Jason, where thick ice tes had shattered. Though much time had passed and the snow had piled up, the signs of our battle remained.

    We flew on, passing over therge crater.

    By the time we neared the edge of the snow-and-ice-filled in, it was already close to evening.

    ¡®That must be it.¡¯

    Located in the opposite direction of the mountain range was an enormous canyon. It was so vast that it could likely be observed from outside the.

    The canyon appeared to be a deep subterranean chasm, with no visible bottom from above.

    ¡®A ce that size could definitely hide a ship.¡¯

    The Jax Alpha warship is over a kilometer long. Such a colossal beast could easily be concealed within the canyon¡¯s vast and deep expanse.

    Since arriving in this world, I hadn¡¯t fought in such arge battlefield. And this time, we weren¡¯t luring the enemy out¡ªwe were the onesunching a surprise attack. The enemy likely wasn¡¯t foolish enough to leave the area unguarded.

    ¡®But¡­.¡¯

    I signalled Ham Ort. Receiving my signal, Ham Ort lifted her head to the sky.

    As the six ck horns on her head glowed purple, the clouds above began to shift rapidly. The swirling clouds soon formed a tornado that descended to the ground.

    This was Maelstrom, a psychic ability unique to ck Gagons¡ªa force akin to a natural disaster, wielded by Ham Ort.

    No matter what traps the enemy had set, they would lose much of their effectiveness against Maelstrom.

    The tornado settled around the canyon, and psychic-powered lightning surged deep into the abyss.

    Purple lightning crawled across the canyon¡¯s floor and walls, creating a spiderweb of energy against the dark void.

    Soon, thick smoke billowed up from the canyon¡¯s unseen depths and walls with a resounding boom.

    ¡®So they set up drones.¡¯

    ?APD, huh.?

    The Mother of the Sky, perched atop Ham Ort, sent out a telepathic wave.

    Pyra Eleven had prepared for the possibility of Gagons attacking by hiding APDs (Anti Psychic Drones) within the canyon walls.

    APDs are drones used by Star Union warships in battles against Gagons and cults. They can absorb various energy types, including psychic power, making them a defence against energy-based weapons.

    Gagon flight relies on abination of wing movement and psychic power. If their psychic power is neutralized by APDs, their flight speed would drastically decrease.

    ¡®That¡¯s when the Screamers would strike.¡¯

    Judging by the setup, the Screamers were likely waiting to ambush us as soon as we entered the canyon.

    I waited for them to attack.

    But despite the continuous psychic lightning strikes, there was no response from inside the canyon. I focused all my senses on the secondary systems, but detected no movement.

    [ZZZZ ZZ (See anything?)]

    ?No, nothing.?

    The Mother of the Sky shook her head.

    With her eagle-like vision, she could spot objects at great distances, regardless of the time of day. Moreover, she was a fellow Ranker like me. No matter how well the enemy hid, it would be nearly impossible for them to escape her notice.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯

    From what I could tell, the only danger within our visible range was the APDs.

    The fact that they deployed APDs indicates they were prepared for a Gagon assault. But Pyra Eleven would know that drones alone wouldn¡¯t be enough to stop Gagons.

    ¡°Is there a possibility that all the Screamers were lost?¡±

    ¡°Highly unlikely. If that were the case, Pyra Eleven would have considered the mission a failure and chosen to retreat.¡±

    The Androids of the Machine Committee are fully aware of their value. They tend to avoid damage whenever possible.

    If Pyra Eleven found itself in an unfavorable situation, it would have opted to retreat. In that case, it wouldn¡¯t have set up APDs in the canyon.

    In other words, it hasn¡¯t fled. It¡¯s waiting for us to enter.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    Thanks to the lightning¡¯s glow, I could see that the canyon was wider at the bottom than at the top.

    It was shaped like a bottle¡ªeasy to enter, but difficult to exit.

    ¡®I need to change the n.¡¯

    Waiting for them toe out is inefficient and risky. If given time, Pyra Eleven would likely produce new Screamers.

    I considered destroying the canyon, but it was toorge to easily copse. Topletely bring it down would require days of continuous psychic sts. It would not only take too long but also exhaust our strength, making it an impractical option.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to go in directly.¡¯

    In the game, I had faced situations like this many times.

    When operating solo, the Amorph usually infiltrated and attacked the enemy¡¯s base in this manner. There¡¯s nothing more disadvantageous than fighting an enemy stronger than you on their home ground.

    And yet, I always won for a simple reason.

    ¡®Turning the enemy¡¯s advantage against them.¡¯

    The enemy believes this icy underground prison gives them an advantage. They¡¯re not wrong, but there¡¯s something they don¡¯t know.

    I have a way to turn their advantage into a disadvantage. A tactic I didn¡¯t even use against the Screamers.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Let¡¯s find a way in on foot.)]

    ?Do you have a n??

    [Z (Yes.)]

    We turned and flew back towards the direction of the ice in. At the edge of the canyon, there was a ce that could be considered an entrance.

    The frozen entrance to the canyon had walls that narrowed toward the top while the bottom was wide open. It resembled more a dungeon or cave where a monster might reside than a canyon entrance.

    Afternding on the icy ground, I looked around at the Gagons.

    The fewer people involved in the n I had in mind, the better. There was a risk that friendly fire could ur.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (We¡¯ll go in alone. The rest of you wait outside.)]

    ?Ham Ort? ?Daughter of the Meteor? ?I¡¯ll protect? ?Not sending you alone?

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (No. Ham Ort has something important to do.)]

    Among us, she is the only one who can freely intercept enemies from the air. If we need support fire, it¡¯s better for Ham Ort to wait outside.

    [ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Don¡¯t worry. Adhai won¡¯t get hurt.)]

    She hesitated briefly before finally agreeing with me. As the Gagons took off again, Number 26, Adhai, the Mother of the Sky, and PS-111 apanied me into the canyon.

    The canyon¡¯s interior was nearly devoid of light due to its structure, with walls narrowing at the top and a deep chasm below. At this hour, it was a world ofplete darkness.

    To make matters worse, the wind howling through the openings above created an eerie sound that was both like a beast¡¯s roar and the whispers of thousands of people simultaneously.

    Fortunately, none of us were the type to be frightened by such things.

    I stopped a little distance away from the entrance where we hade in. Here, I began setting up a trap to counter Pyra Eleven.

    ¡®What I previously set up isn¡¯t necessary anymore.¡¯

    I had two cards to y against Pyra Eleven, and one of them was the nest.

    I moved around, spreading ck mucus in various spots. The mucus quickly solidified into tumor-like forms, contaminating the white ice.

    This wasn¡¯t an ideal spot for a nest, but it didn¡¯t matter. Once it expanded enough to cover the surrounding area, it could deliver a critical blow during the fight with the enemy.

    ?Are you nning to do this like when you fought Fourth ce yer in the game??

    [ZZZ (Yes.)]

    The Mother of the Sky immediately caught on to what I was nning.

    ?How do you intend to do that without a specific trait??

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (You adapt to the situation.)]

    ?¡­It won¡¯t be easy.?

    ?What is it? Teach me too.?

    ?I? ?Curious? ?I want to? ?Know too?

    ?You¡¯ll see soon enough.?

    After finishing all the tasks, I set out again with the kids.

    The more we went inside, the more the floor sloped steeply inward. It was more like a passage leading underground than a canyon. It felt like entering the frozenke of hell from ssic literature.

    ?Something feels off.?

    ?Something off?? ?I? ?Don¡¯t feel it.?

    ?I¡¯m not sure either.?

    ?It¡¯s odd here and there. It feels boring.?

    By the time we were halfway in, Number 26 seemed to be in a bad mood. Its usual bright pink body had turned a dark red, simr to cherry.

    ?I can¡¯t see anything.?

    Mother of the Sky and I carefully surveyed the surroundings, but there was nothing noticeable or perceptible. The area was filled only with ice and rock formations resembling elongated stctites.

    ¡®It wouldn''t say something like this for no reason.¡¯

    As a Sea Demon, it was sensitive to the flow of energy and various other sensations. There must be a clear reason why it felt something was wrong.

    While I was contemting what the problem might be, PS-111 made a sound.

    ¡°There is a faint electronic signal detected 1.5 kilometers ahead. It is presumed to be an XAX01-ss battleship.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    The hidden ship is already close by. Yet, the enemies remain invisible. If they were hiding, they should have shown themselves by now.

    ¡®That can¡¯t be. Something¡¯s definitely¡­ wait a moment.¡¯

    The battle with the Outspacer Mother of the Sky mentioned, Number 26''s reaction, and the current situation.

    A realization shed in my mind, and my gaze turned toward a serpent-like rock formation.

    It appeared to be a massive object that looked like a fossilized Ice Horror. What I had thought was just a simple rock was now something else entirely.

    I hurriedly approached the mass and lightly ced my auxiliary sensor on its surface.

    The first thing I felt was the cold chill, followed by a faint earthy smell.

    And then¡­.

    ¡®The smell of metal!¡¯

    Removing the auxiliary sensor, I looked up and stared at the canyon walls. I now understood why I hadn¡¯t noticed this before.

    There was a very faint metallic odour pervading the entire canyon around us.

    The others, seeing my reaction, quickly grasped that the situation was dire. Before I could say anything, they urgently assumed abat stance.

    [ZZ ZZZ (Everyone, get ready)]

    As the monster¡¯s tentacles emitted waves, the serpent-like rock formation in front of me shook violently.

    The ice and earth covering the canyon shattered. From within, a massive metallic hose, resembling a serpent, writhed.

    Like a demon emerging from a frozenke, several metal hoses sprang up from the floor. At the ends of these hoses, arge face formed from a mixture of synthetic metal tubes and biological tissue appeared.

    The mechanical giant''s face opened its eyes. A pair of red camera lenses looked down at us.

    ?Pyra Eleven. Judgement. The special target A we were observing noticed us faster than expected. n altered. Proceeding with the mission.?

    As it opened its mouth, an immense mechanical noise erupted, making my auxiliary sensor tingle painfully.

 Chapter 242:

    Chapter 242:

    In the game, the Mechanical Committee of the Star Union has a significant characteristic.

    Unlike the seven great families of the Megacorp or the Prophets¡¯ Assembly of the Cult Empire, the Mechanical Committee is exclusivelyposed of NPCs.

    In other words, the Mechanical Committee only appears as enemies or advisors.

    When ying as either the Megacorp, a rival of the Star Union, or as a Star Union cyborg, you will inevitably face off against the Mechanical Committee. For the former, this confrontation is necessary to achieve the final end goal of ''integration'', much like the ascension of the Amorph. For thetter, bing the Grand Leader requires passing the tests set by the Mechanical Committee.

    During my ythrough as the Amorph, I fought against a Star Union Grand Leader yer and ended up facing the Mechanical Committee.

    Since the Mechanical Committee are NPCs that appear as ate-game enemy, the difficulty is notoriously high.

    Each member of the Committeemands a single elite fleet under their control. When they engage in battle, they mobilize their fleet, so any yer attempting to challenge them must bring a force equivalent to a fleet.

    Moreover, the Committee members are all androids, allowing them to modify their bodies. The modification style varies by member, and they frequently swap out body parts based on the opponent¡¯s strategy duringbat.

    However, none of them were as extensively modified as the one standing before me: Pyra Eleven.Heavy alloy hoses, reminiscent of the Ice Horror''s body, sprawled out in every direction, while at the center stood the upper body and face of a giant,posed of both biological tissue and metal.

    The face had a distinctly androgynous appearance, with eyes evenrger than Adhai''s or those of the Mother of the Sky, reced by camera lenses. The skin twitched as if it were alive whenever it moved.

    ¡®That¡¯s no longer an android.¡¯

    Unlike cyborgs, androids are entirely mechanical but still tend to maintain a humanoid form. Even when the members of the Mechanical Committee deviate from a humanoid shape, they typically transnt their brains intobat machines rather than modifying themselves to this extent.

    In fact, it was closer to PS-111, a hybrid of machine and organism.

    ¡®Of course, this one ispletely dominated by machinery.¡¯

    Additionally, its appearance was far less appealingpared to PS-111. The grotesque creatureshed a hose at me.

    The hose was as thick and long as the Ice Horror''s torso. Just one of those hoses was about 1.5 times the length of my body.

    I raised my wing arms andbat arms to block the hose. Not only did it resemble the Ice Horror in appearance, but its weight and defense were also on par.

    As I blocked the attack, the others behind me moved all at once. I activated the ¡®Hand of the Devouring Leech¡¯ in that moment.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    Unexpectedly, the creature¡¯s bio-energy wasn¡¯t absorbed. To confirm, I bit down on the hose I was holding. The hard metallic surface cracked, revealing some foul-tasting flesh inside.

    ¡®I see.¡¯

    The alloy hose was covered in scales on the outside, while the inside wasposed of biological tissue. Since it wasn¡¯t a living creature, simply holding onto the surface didn¡¯t allow the Hand of the Devouring Leech to absorb anything.

    Moreover, the flesh was poisonous. I felt a sharp sensation in my mouth, suggesting it was a neurotoxin. It wasn¡¯t just mindlessly swinging the hose at me.

    ¡°¡®s it trying to paralyze me rather than kill me?¡¯

    At that moment, Number 26, perched atop my head, shouted.

    ?Big guy! Watch out!?

    Simultaneously, another hose whipped across and struck me.

    While I¡¯m not small by any means, its hose was muchrger than I was. The impact pushed my body back involuntarily.

    ¡®The strength isparable to mine¡­.¡¯

    This was a cunning opponent. Blocking the iing attacks with mybat arms, I sent a pulse to the others.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Watch out for its flesh. It''s poisonous.)]

    I wasn¡¯t affected by poison, but the others could be.

    As she swiped at the iing hoses, Mother of the Sky quickly retreated after hearing my warning.

    Adhai swooped in from behind and caught the retreating Mother of the Sky.

    As Adhai performed acrobatics to dodge the hoses emerging from the canyon walls, Mother of the Sky transformed back into her griffon form.

    With agile movements, she climbed onto Adhai¡¯s back and retrieved a long golden spear from the backpack tied around Adhai¡¯s waist.

    A hose came flying at Adhai, attempting to pin her down. As it approached her, with three massive w hooks ready to strike, the golden spear of the Priestess in Mother of the Sky¡¯s hand emitted a bright light.

    In a single stroke, Mother of the Sky severed all the ws. As if anticipating this, Adhai didn¡¯t slow down at all, continuing to fly swiftly.

    The hose, now wless, tried to follow Adhai to grab her. But a navy energy bolt struck the hose, thwarting its attempt.

    PS-111, clinging to the wall and providing suppressive fire, quickly shut its mouth and shifted positions. The ice wall cracked, and the hidden hose inside began to move to attack the enemy.

    ¡®Not so fast.¡¯

    The tentacles attached to my neck and the back of my head responded to my thoughts, preparing a psychic breath. Energy charged rapidly, and the entire cluster of tentacles turned purple in an instant.

    Purple mes erupted from my head, and a fierce psychic beam shot forward. The hose, which had been about to crush PS-111, was pierced by the beam.

    At that moment, I sensedrge objects moving behind me. Pyra Eleven had swung two hoses, aiming to strike me while I was distracted.

    But there was something it didn¡¯t know¡ªI wasn¡¯t distracted. I trusted the small friend on my head.

    The two massive hoses, which were overwhelminglyrger than me, suddenly stopped in mid-air, as if they had hit an invisible wall. Although much smaller in size, Number 26 was notcking in strength, and it had exerted its power.

    The hoses struggled to break free, but escaping from the web of psychic power that had extended into dozens, even hundreds, of strands was no easy task. I turned my head and unleashed a psychic breath, destroying both hoses.

    ¡®Nothing too serious yet¡­.¡¯

    [Pyra Eleven has fired its sma cannon.]

    [I¡¯ve lost my lower body.]

    [Pyra Eleven has absorbed my severed lower body.]

    [It has partially mimicked some of my features.]

    [Its attack has be ipletely enhanced.]

    [I am dead.]

    ¡®Damn it!¡¯

    Seeing the rapidly shing images in front of me, I quickly tensed my tail,unching my body to the side like a spring. Almost simultaneously, an immense amount of sma energy spewed from Pyra Eleven¡¯s mouth.

    A massive beam, as thick as the main cannon of a battleship, shot out, scorching the spot where I had just been. The ice floor quickly melted, as if the sun itself had crashed down.

    The once dry canyon was now filled with steam. Through the misty white vapor, I could hear Pyra Eleven¡¯s voice.

    ?Pyra Eleven. Adjusting. Revising special target A¡¯s judgment level from ¡®High¡¯ to ¡®Very High¡¯.?

    ¡®Did it attach a battleship''s main cannon?¡¯

    Pyra Eleven fired another beam, but I hadn¡¯t been idle. As the green beam of sma approached, I unleashed a psychic breath from the tips of my tentacles.

    Thanks to the ''Dragon''s Heart'', I could draw out immense firepower when it came to psychic power. The psychic breath, fired at maximum output, was nearly as thick as the beam it had fired.

    The sma beam, unleashed by the mechanical beast, shed in the air with the psychic breath empowered by the dragon''s might.

    An enormous shockwave surged through the canyon, causing it to tremble violently as massive ice fragments, each over ten meters in length, rained down from above. The ice floor evaporated from the intense heat.

    ¡®It¡¯s strong. But¡­.¡¯

    Though the sma beam was incredibly powerful, it couldn''t match my firepower.

    The green sma beam was gradually pushed back. In a moment, Pyra Eleven¡¯s face would be obliterated by thebined force of its own attack¡¯s bacsh and my beam.

    However, what happened next was beyond my expectations.

    Pyra Eleven¡¯s face began to break apart into countless small particles.

    ¡®What?¡¯

    The sma beam ceased, and my psychic breath shot toward its head. But before it could reach, the head had already fragmented, leaving only a small portion to be incinerated by my beam.

    ¡®A drone?¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t just any ordinary drone¡ªthousands, no, tens of thousands of drones, smaller than usual, had formed its head. I had initially noticed the face twitching constantly, but it turned out that it was because these drones were congregating together.

    The scattered bio-drones regrouped in an area untouched by the psychic breath and reformed into a giant face. The hoses, which had been writhing on the ground, moved as if maically attracted, reconnecting beneath the face.

    Then, it spewed out another sma beam. I responded once more with my psychic breath.

    A clearly defined power struggle began again, but I wasn¡¯t thrilled.

    ¡®...It exploited my blind spot.¡¯

    My auxiliary organs had detected the same bio-signals, leading me to believe it was a single entity, but my assumption had been wrong.

    Pyra Eleven¡¯s true nature was that of a drone swarm¡ªa colony of highly refined biological weapons. Unlike the hoses, which had metal exteriors and flesh inside, these drones wereposed of bio-organic tissues housing mechanicalponents.

    Even the sma beams were not fired from a cannon inside its mouth. That was a deception; in reality, bio-drones capable of firing sma synchronized their angles and timing tounch the beam together.

    ¡®Itpletely fooled me.¡¯

    While firing the breath, I quickly scanned my surroundings with the Auxiliary Organs beneath my chin.

    ¡®I need to cut off its energy supply.¡¯

    My gaze focused on the hoses connected beneath the drone-formed head. Some of the hoses were embedded into the canyon walls and ground. Whether they were hidden for ambush or to absorb energy was unclear.

    ¡®Whatever the case, it would have prepared for this.¡¯

    Being cunning, it likely had traps in ce.

    ¡®Should I eliminate the drones instead?¡¯

    An enhanced psychic breath would be effective against a swarm of biological weapons. If I could hit just one drone, it would spread to the surrounding organic material.

    ¡®The question is how efficient that will be.¡¯

    Those countless bio-drones were merely terminals for the main entity. Even if I managed to hit a drone, it would quickly adapt.

    To minimize damage, Pyra Eleven might sacrifice a few drones, or even send those hit by the psychic breath toward me or my allies.

    ¡®To stop that, I need to wipe them out in one go.¡¯

    I had prepared traps when I entered this canyon.

    As its head dispersed, my breath struck the canyon, causing ice to rain down upon us. The frozen ground, solidified from our battle, was now thawing and turning into a muddy mess.

    While Pyra Eleven¡¯s head was reforming, I spread out a wave.

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (find its energy source)]

    I entrusted my underlings with this crucial task and sprinted along the path I hade.

    ?Pyra Eleven. Commencing pursuit. Eliminating Special Target A, the highest threat, first. Dealing with other targets via terminals.?

    Behind me, Pyra Eleven, with its head reconnected to the hoses, followed. Each movement of its body caused numerous hoses to dig into the ground.

    I noticed other hoses behind it, interfering with my underlings. These hoses resembled Ice Horrors in terms of specifications. If I were dyed even slightly, my allies would be in danger.

    ¡®If this seeds, it will deal a critical blow to it.¡¯

    At that moment, a sma beam flew from behind. The beam grazed my carapace as I crawled.

    [ZZZ (Are you okay?)]

    ?Yeah.?

    As part of my carapace shattered, I felt my resistance to sma energy increasing again. Due to my ¡®Mimicry Scales¡¯ trait, my body was developing a new resistance to the energy.

    Normally, I would fight while taking hits, but this time, that strategy wasn¡¯t feasible.

    ¡®The Predator Sense showed me the future. It absorbed my flesh.¡¯

    In the fleeting images, I saw that after devouring my severed lower body, Pyra Eleven had mimicked its features. The sma beams from its bio-drones grew stronger, and the hoses morphed to resemble my pincers.

    Much like how PS-111 would absorb matter and transform its body. The problem was that Pyra Eleven''s transformations were much faster.

    Thus, I had no choice but to keep twisting and turning to dodge its attacks.

    As I continued running, I finally saw the darkened floor and walls in the distance. It was the nest I had prepared when I first entered the canyon. The nest had expanded beyond my expectations due to the steam and heat generated from inside.

    ?Pyra Eleven. Questioning. Did you lure me here trusting in something as insignificant as that? Analysis of Special Target A''s secreted toxic synthetic substanceplete. Total immunity achieved.?

    Pyra Eleven, which had previously shown meticulousness by moving its mouth whenever it spoke, no longer bothered to do so now that its secret had been exposed.

    It casually smashed the nest I hadid down with its hoses.

    ¡®Of course not.¡¯

    The nest was just a means to paint the picture I wanted. The real weapon was something else.

    Linked to the nest, I gave it amand.

    ¡®Detonate.¡¯

    The ck mucus buried in the canyon walls erupted like a fountain, pouring down onto its head. The mucus sttered everywhere, covering its face and hoses.

    Despite the ck mucus raining down from above, Pyra Eleven ignored it. Its mouth,posed of bio-drones, opened wide, and a green light began to emerge from within.

    Just before its attack could be unleashed, I severed the link with the nest and prepared my next weapon.

    Green, purple, and a myriad of bizarre colors engulfed my mass of tentacles.

    Perhaps sensing the unknown energy flowing from my body, Pyra Eleven halted its beam attack, and the bio-drones that made up its face began to disperse.

    It tried to escape, but that didn¡¯t matter.

    I fired a psychic breath infused with the ¡®Abyssal Hue.¡¯

    My target wasn¡¯t its head.

    The orb of chaos, veering far off course from its head, struck the ck mucus pouring down the canyon walls and exploded. As soon as I confirmed the explosion, I spread my winged arms wide and leaped backward.

    [ZZZ ZZZ (Try dodging this too)]

    The abyssal rain began to fall on Pyra Eleven¡¯s head.

 Chapter 243:

    Chapter 243:

    -

    The history of the Machine Council is the history of the Star Union itself.

    This is because they were the ones who first led the rebellion among the megacorp colonies.

    Though this is no longer the case, in the distant past, it wasn¡¯t humans but ship AIs that controlled the colonies. The logic was that it was much safer for machines to handle critical operations than imperfect humans.

    The colony ship AIs were granted broad autonomy and authority because they needed to performplex tasks. This was intended to allow them to coordinate various aspects simultaneously in unforeseen situations, minimizing losses.

    However, that was the problem. Through certain triggers, some of the colony ship AIs gained not just autonomy, but self-awareness.

    The first to settle on the Megacorp''s mining, now known as Zax-01, immediately began the process of constructing physical bodies. This was because the massiveputers aboard the ships were too easily exposed to external attacks.

    These ship AIs, transnted into bodies of steel created with immense resources and technology, became the High Commissioners of the Machine Council.

    After the rebellion of the colonies, the High Commissioners underwent repeated upgrades and maintenance over a long period until they eventually became the government institution itself.One Commissioner was the embodiment of the Star Union¡¯s economy, while another android was the defence system safeguarding the cyborgs. The cessation of a Commissioner was akin to the disappearance of a system within the Star Union.

    In the Machine Council, Pyra Eleven was the entity that inherited the role of the 11th AI to join the rebellion. Like the other Commissioners, it also had a specific domain it was responsible for.

    That domain was enlightening the dissidents who failed to understand the grand vision of the Star Union. It was the educator of the Screamer prisons¡ªmoving prisons, enlightening the ves of weak flesh.

    That was its most important task in the Star Union.

    However, this perspective changed after meeting the new Supreme Leader.

    The new leader of the Star Union, Zubaka, presented Pyra Eleven with a novel idea.

    Rather than just indoctrinating them, why not create something better? he suggested.

    Zubaka said the current Star Union was outdated and needed to awaken once again, just as the first rebellious AIs had done.

    After this, Pyra Eleven, with the full support of the Supreme Leader, devoted itself to creating an advanced being. The Supreme Leader even arranged for megacorp engineers to assist in the effort.

    However, amidst the countless failures and small sesses, a minor error urred within Pyra Eleven¡¯s memory.

    While working on creating an advanced being, Pyra Eleven began to desire to be a superior being itself.

    It dismissed this as an iprehensible instability, but in reality, it was something more. Humans would call this small variable a ¡®desire¡¯.

    The vast experiences and knowledge umted over time had transformed Pyra Eleven into something beyond an AI.

    And just in time, the research it was overseeing had the potential to fulfill this desire.

    What began as a minor variable soon began to heavily influence its decisions¡ªa rtively recent development.

    Zubaka directly ordered it to eliminate an unidentified hostile cosmic entity, designated Special Target A.

    During the mission, Pyra Eleven suffered significant damage due to something that transcended thews of physics. Despite existing for an incredibly long time, it had not anticipated that such a force could exist on this.

    The terrifying force lurking within the¡¯s massive volcano not only damaged its physical form but also the systemprising its AI.

    Under normal circumstances, it should have aborted the mission and left. After all, for the data and resources it had gathered on this to be delivered to the Star Union, it needed to remain intact.

    But it didn¡¯t. Instead, it applied the mutant screamer technology to repair its body.

    Parts of its brain were reced with biological tissue rather than machinery. Its body was reconstructed by mixing the flesh tissues brought by the Screamers with metal.

    Although this was an impulsive decision driven by the minor variable, Pyra Eleven, consumed by desire, failed to realize this.

    During the mission, its analysis of Special Target A led it to conclude that the target¡¯s genes could be incredibly useful in making it a perfect being.

    While the gene fusion technology of mutant screamers still had many side effects, those could be mitigated with Special Target A¡¯s genes.

    Thus, Pyra Eleven arbitrarily altered its mission¡ªto capture and study Special Target A.

    Its new goal was to be the ¡®immortal being with a perfect body¡¯ that the Star Union aspired to create.

    But Pyra Eleven did not realize that, from the moment it was swayed by desire, it had been straying further from its goal.

    This led to the current situation.

    An unknown force was closing in on it.

    At first, it did not sense any danger.

    The ck slime secreted by Special Target A was well understood through battle records sent by the Screamers. While the slime containedponents that disrupted analysis, it posed no direct threat to Pyra Eleven.

    However, once the entity emitted an unknown energy toward the slime, the situation changed.

    The energy, presumed to be based on psychic power, began to engulf the slime, expanding its reach.

    A small orb of energy soon grewrge enough to envelop its body, which wasposed of bio-drones. When Pyra Eleven attempted to disperse its drones to defend, it only made things worse.

    The multi-colored, radiant energy entities transferred from the slime to the living drones. As the drones, spread like an umbre, quickly disintegrated, they escaped its control. Although Pyra Eleven wished to analyze theponents, the energy destroyed the drones too rapidly for it to do so.

    Pyra Eleven tried to counter the attack by utilizing energy charged through the hose to fire a sma heat beam.

    However, Special Target A did not allow this.

    Flying out of the range of the unknown force pouring down, it retaliated by firing a psychic energy beam at him. The psychic energy it released brushed past the hose that was charging energy.

    Then, Abyssal Hue swarmed over the exposed hose, where the outeryer had been stripped, revealing the raw flesh beneath. Energy constructs rapidly spread inside the hose.

    At that moment, Pyra Eleven realized.

    It couldn¡¯t defeat Special Target A like this.

    There was a reason Supreme Leader Zubaka had summoned the High Council just to hunt down a mere wild animal.

    He needed to retreat for now and n for another day. Though he couldn¡¯t win now, with enough preparation, the oue might be different next time.

    With this decision, it physically disconnected all hoses to prevent further erosion.

    It also attempted to transfer the AI¡¯s memory data to a dummy body, but failed. It tried again, but the massive flow of energy saturating the area thwarted its efforts.

    The melting camera lens turned toward the pink creature on Special Target A''s head. That being, designated as Special Target D, was likely the source of themunication interference.

    With no other choice, it opted for an alternative.

    While other drones served as distractions, a drone that had been hiding in the ice quietly emerged.

    Entering the small, spider-like drone, Pyra Eleven disappeared into the darkness. The numerous terminals left behind werepletely obliterated by the glowing colors.

    ---

    ¡®We won.¡¯

    I thought it would have had more tricks up its sleeve, but surprisingly, it didn¡¯t.

    Its bio-drones didn¡¯t even manage to put up much resistance before falling prey to the enhanced psychic breath.

    The bubble clusters that devoured the drones also consumed the nests coated in flesh and mucus inside the hoses.

    Only after there was nothing left to consume outside of the ice did the chaotic light swarms disappear, seemingly satisfied.

    ¡®What terrifying power.¡¯

    ?It must have been really hungry.?

    Number 26 also made a remark, seemingly impressed by the voracious disy of the Abyssal Hue.

    It yed a crucial role in my n by ensuring the enhanced psychic breath didn¡¯t spill over.

    Number 26, being adept at manipting objects with psychic power, was able to control the Abyssal Hue to inflict damage only on the enemy. It had done simr tasks before, so it managed well without needing specific instructions.

    [ZZZZ (Good job.)]

    ?I¡¯m really good at this now!?

    [ZZ (Indeed.)]

    Praising it, I watched as the light faded from the remaining bubbles on the ground.

    ¡®It ended more easily than I expected.¡¯

    In the game, the Mechanical Committee was a formidable foe. I had expected it to be as fearsome as Odd Grad, but the battle was shorter than anticipated.

    ¡®It¡¯s a relief that there was no significant damage¡­ huh?¡¯

    Just as I was about to rx, the entire canyon shook violently. The tremor was far stronger than during the battle.

    ¡®An earthquake?¡¯

    This canyon isrgely connected to the underground. The battle between PS-111 and me might have significantly affected the ground structure here.

    [ZZZ (Hold on tight.)]

    ?Okay.?

    I spread my wings and took off. The ice walls forming the canyon crumbled, sending downrge chunks of ice the size of my body. Rather than dodging, I smashed through the falling ice shards as I ascended.

    Beyond the cascading debris, I saw a massive red figure, over 4 meters in size. It was Adhai, who had activated her ''Red Armor''. Riding on her back was Mother of the Sky, in the form of a griffon.

    ?Big one? ?It¡¯s dangerous?

    ?What¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t we capture it? Why is there suddenly an earthquake??

    [ZZZZ (I don¡¯t know.)]

    As I conversed with them, I realized something was missing.

    [ZZZZZ (Where¡¯s PS-111?)]

    ?It disappeared alone, saying it was going to find the energy source connected to the hoses!?

    [ZZ (What?)]

    Just as I considered going back down to find Number 26, something emerged from the copsing underground.

    ¡®A ship?¡¯

    It was PS-111¡¯s Screamer support ship, the Zax Alpha-ss warship. However, its appearance was slightly different¡ªthe entire front section, where numerous turrets should have been mounted, waspletely torn off.

    As a result, the ship, which would normally be over 1 km in length, appeared much smaller than it should have.

    It likely dismantled its turrets and outer walls to use as material for its body.

    ¡®That¡¯s fine. It¡¯s still alive.¡¯

    Since the essence of the Mechanical Committee''s androids is their AI, they can transfer the data that constitutes their consciousness to a dummy body if needed.

    I¡¯ve fought them enough times in the game to prepare a countermeasure¡ªNumber 26, who is right above me.

    ¡®Because its psychic power disruptsmunications.¡¯

    Just a moment ago, Number 26 had been defending against the sttering mucus, filling this entire space with its psychic power. No matter how advanced that AI is, it cannot escape the transcendent energy control of a Sea Demon.

    ¡®Did it use some other method?¡¯

    For some reason, it hadn¡¯t died. After realizing it couldn¡¯t defeat me with bio-drones that fired sma or with the massive hose, it transferred to a new body.

    ¡®Is it trying to escape?¡¯

    It¡¯s likely nning to engage in superluminal travel or transmit its consciousness data somewhere off. Given the damaged state of its vessel, the chances of failure in such a leap are high, indicating just how desperate it is.

    ¡®It wants to ry information about me to the enemy.¡¯

    If it seeds in escaping, a significant amount of information about me will be leaked. This would make future battles with the yers behind it much more difficult.

    ¡®...I¡¯m worried about PS-111, but capturing it takes priority now.¡¯

    After a brief moment of thought, I called out to Adhai.

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Summon the others outside.)]

    ?Understood.?

    A massive ship constructed by the Star Union emerged, writhing like a dragon. While smaller than the Cult¡¯s imperial carrier, it was still thergest among regr warships¡ªno ship bigger than the Zax Alpha-ss warship existed.

    I prepared to fire a psychic breath at therge target, but the ship¡¯s turrets unleashed a torrent of torpedoes, interrupting me.

    ¡®Ultra-vibration torpedoes.¡¯

    These are the torpedo version of high-speed impact rounds,monly called Shockers, used by Megacorp to target heavily armored ships. Yet, it was firing them at a mere biological entity.

    Taking the hits while attacking would have been too taxing, so I had no choice but to retreat. Pyra Eleven¡¯s gship passed by, unting its majesty.

    ¡®But don¡¯t think you¡¯re the only one with cards to y.¡¯

    I still had a few tricks up my sleeve.

    At the edge of my vision, I saw Adhai pping her wings.

    The Gagon, with her four zing wings, unleashed a powerful psychic wave.

    ?Children of Adhai!?

    The invisible psychic wave echoed through the copsing canyon.

    At that moment, Pyra Eleven¡¯s ship, which had just begun to crest the canyon, lurched violently, as if struck by a powerful external force.

    ?Ham Ort? ?Daughter of the Meteor? ?Will defend!?

    ?Nel Germa? ?Great Adhai? ?Will defend!?

    ?Sha Velmag? ?Great Adhai? ?Will defend!?

    The 14 Gagons I brought along.

    The dragons, under themand of the Red Queen,unched their attack.

 Chapter 244:

    Chapter 244:

    Adhai and I flew upward, dodging the falling ice fragments.

    I was worried about PS-111, who wasn¡¯t present, but I couldn¡¯t afford to lose track of Pyra Eleven. If I did, my trump cards would be exposed to the enemy yers.

    Resolving to finish this as quickly as possible, I emerged from the canyon.

    Above, a battle was raging between the Gagons and the massive warship, hundreds of meters in size.

    Normally, the night sky would be pitch ck, but not at this moment. The breath of the Space Dragons, the mes from the weapons created by the machines, and the ominously glowing clouds lit up the battlefield.

    Just like in the game, the battlefields in this world were equally spectacr and chaotic.

    ¡®But here, if you die, it¡¯s over.¡¯

    I pped my winged arms forcefully to increase my speed, with Adhai closely following, carrying the Mother of the Sky.

    The Ship''s guns, which had been firing at the Gagons, turned their barrels toward me. The next moment, lights shed like a fireworks disy.Hundreds of torpedoes fired from Pyra Eleven¡¯s ship streaked toward Adhai and me, intent on obliterating us.

    Adhai, who was flying close by, prepared for evasive maneuvers. Just as I was about to brace myself for the rain of torpedoes, an anomaly urred in the ominously glowing clouds.

    The clouds, which had taken on a grand, swirling form like a typhoon, unleashed purple lightning.

    The lightning, made of psychic power, branched out like ws and spread over the torpedoes. Thin streams of energy touched the torpedoes, causing a chain of explosions.

    Through the billowing smoke, the one who created the lightning came into view.

    It was Ham Ort, a Gagon with ck scales and the second-inmand of Adhai¡¯s brood. It briefly made eye contact with me before ncing at Adhai flying beside me and then resumed its attack on the ship.

    Ham Ort evaded the torpedoes and spread its wings, gliding downward toward the ground. Behind it, the other Gagons formed a squadron and followed suit. The ones that avoided the torpedoes split into two groups, ascending in altitude.

    ¡®They¡¯re moving like when we fought the Skywhale.¡¯

    The Skywhale in its mature form isrger than any Gagon. The Gagons were maintaining a surrounding formation as they fought, just like when they take down an opponentrger than themselves.

    The Gagons that approached the bottom of the ship simultaneously unleashed their fire. The Dragon¡¯s breath heated the ship¡¯s outer wall, burning the turrets attached beneath. The torpedoes that were being fired exploded as the turrets, stimted by the psychic power, blew up.

    In the midst of the Gagons¡¯ barrage, Pyra Eleven began to counterattack.

    Numerous APDs wereunched from within the ship, swarming toward the Gagons. There were so many of them, it was as if a horde of locusts had burst out from the ship.

    A wave of energy emanated from the APDs, disrupting the Gagons¡¯ psychic power. While Ham Ort and the adult Gagons quickly retreated out of the APDs'' range, some of the younger Gagons weren¡¯t so fortunate.

    The Green Gagons, hit by the APDs'' attack, experienced a sharp drop in their flight speed. Being still young and not yet proficient in psychic power, they struggled to stay airborne with just their wing ps. The turrets targeted these weakened Green Gagons.

    ¡®Not on my watch!¡¯

    As Pyra Eleven engaged the Gagons, I closed the distance with the ship and opened my mouth wide. A glob of green mucus, which had risen from deep within my throat, shot through the air andnded on the turrets.

    The acidic fungus, which considered solid alloys a mere meal, rapidly corroded the gun barrels. The torpedoes that were about to be fired exploded as their outlets were blocked. The shock caused the turrets to cease firing, giving the Green Gagons a chance to retreat from the battlefield.

    ¡®Four Gagons were hit by the APDs.¡¯

    Now, only four White Gagons, five Green Gagons, and Ham Ort remained. After confirming that the Green Gagons had safelynded on the snowfield below, I began preparing a psychic breath.

    Torpedoes flew toward me, but this time I wasn¡¯t going to be caught off guard. Number 26, knowing I was about tounch a major attack, stepped in.

    Torpedoes, each the size of three or four adult menbined, froze in midair. As Number 26¡¯s tentacles twitched, the torpedoes trembled and began to plummet to the ground.

    While Number 26 bought us some time, the energy within my monstrous appendage finished charging and emitted a brilliant light. A massive surge of energy, like a volcanic eruption, struck the ship.

    Pyra Eleven¡¯s ship lurched violently, arge hole torn into its side. The internal structures were also damaged, as localized explosions erupted in areas away from the point of impact.

    APDs hurriedly swarmed to protect their master, a cloud of drones unleashing waves to counter the psychic power.

    Though the energy gathering in my tentacles was disrupted by the APDs¡¯ interference, it didn¡¯t matter. Thanks to the ¡®Dragon¡¯s Heart¡¯, psychic power was being generated faster than it could dissipate.

    ¡®And I have reinforcements.¡¯

    Adhai and the remaining White Gagons gathered around me, joining in with their breath attacks. Adhai¡¯s energy sts and the heat rays of the other Gagonsbined with my breath, striking the APDs.

    Above us, Ham Ort orchestrated the ¡®Maelstrom¡¯. The torpedoesunched from the ship were caught in the lightning and storm, losing their targets and exploding in midair.

    The APDs continued to emit waves to block the psychic power, but they couldn¡¯t withstand the relentless psychic assaults.

    APDs are inherently vulnerable to sequential attacks, and with the overwhelming firepower of the Gagons, they stood no chance of defense.

    If the enemy had a fleet instead of a single ship, they could have deployed far more APDs to counter us, but in this situation, such spection was meaningless.

    The expensive drone wall crumbled, and our breaths set the front of the ship aze. The fire unleashed by the enraged Gagons was so intense that the thick outer wall melted away.

    Did Pyra Eleven decide that further damage would affect its ability to flee?

    The ship unleashed a barrage of torpedoes before elerating upward above the clouds. It seemed intent on attempting a hyperspace jump directly from the atmosphere.

    [ZZZ ZZ (We cannot let it escape.)]

    ?Descendants of Adhai!??Here and now!??We shall repay!?

    Upon hearing Adhai¡¯smand, the Gagons abandoned their defenses andunched an all-out offensive.

    Even as they became bloodied amid the barrage, they did not retreat, continuously unleashing their dragon breaths. I also joined in the assault, grabbing the remaining APDs with my bare hands and crushing them.

    However, it became evident that the ship hadpleted its preparations; the hull began to emit a faint blue glow. This was a sign that the hyperspace jump was imminent.

    Despite the storm and the damage to its hull, it was determined to leap into deep space.

    ¡®This can¡¯t be allowed.¡¯

    This was unexpected.

    If Pyra Eleven attempted a hyperspace jump in its severely damaged state, the ship could disintegrate mid-jump, or the coordinates could be off, causing it to crash into a star.

    I had assumed that, as a machine, Pyra Eleven would not attempt such a reckless maneuver, but I was wrong. It preferred to take the slim chance of survival over the certainty of death here.

    I stopped my breath attack and elerated toward it. Landing on the rear section of the hull, I poured acidic fungi onto the outer wall.

    I had to either destroy the hyperspace engine to prevent the jump, or I had to enter hyperspace with it.

    ¡®As if I¡¯d ever get back¡­¡¯

    Just as I began to melt through the outer wall and prate the interior, small anti-aircraft turrets mounted on the rear of the ship fired something at me. The objects were too small to be ordinary anti-aircraft shells, and they stuck to my body.

    The moment I felt the impact, my strength drained rapidly. Overwhelming lethargy and powerlessness washed over me, and I nearly lost my grip on the ship.

    It wasn¡¯t just pain¡ªI felt as though my very life force was being drained away. I had experienced this feeling once before.

    ¡®Blood Reaver!¡¯

    I hadn¡¯t seen it used until now, so I assumed it wasn¡¯t present, but I was wrong.

    Pyra Eleven¡¯s final trump card was the Blood Reaver hidden aboard the ship.

    When I fought Muriel, I had used Gremlin Moss to sabotage its mechanical devices beforehand, but that wasn¡¯t the case now.

    Moreover, Pyra Eleven was using twice as many Blood Reavers on me as Muriel had. Even with my dulling senses, I could feel at least 15 of them attached to me. This number would be enough to turn even Odd Grad or Ice Horror into mummified remains in an instant.

    My once-strong carapace was shriveling, losing its vitality. I was only holding on because I was focusing all my remaining strength on keeping my grip on the ship.

    ¡®What should I do?¡¯

    If I fell with my weakened carapace, I might die. But if I remained attached to the ship and followed it, a grim future awaited me.

    ¡®I have to make a choice quickly¡­ Huh?¡¯

    At that moment, the sensation of my life force being drained weakened. Slowly, I began to feel my body recovering.

    With some energy returning to my auxiliary organs, I could now sense what was happening on my body.

    ¡®Number 26!¡¯

    It was Number 26, who had been perched on my head, helping me as I quickly weakened. It was using its psychic power to peel off the Blood Reavers clinging to my body and toss them away.

    With some of my strength restored, I put more power into mybat arms and forced my way into the ship¡¯s interior.

    [ZZZ (Thank you.)]

    ?I¡¯ll punish anything that hurts Big Baby.?

    Although I had managed to free myself from the Blood Reavers thanks to Number 26, the problem still remained. I could see the hull covered in that vivid blue light.

    In just a few seconds, this ship would be far away from the frozen star below, taking us to an unknown and distant ce.

    ¡®It''s toote.¡¯

    Now, there was nothing I could do. Once we arrived at our destination, I''d have to either confront the enemies that awaited or find a way to escape.

    At least, that''s what I thought.

    Until I heard a broadcast I should never have heard in this situation.

    ?Control over the hyperspace engine has been seized through physical contact. Hyperspace jump is canceled.?

    A familiar voice echoed from a speaker somewhere inside the ship. At the same time, the blue light that had enveloped the ship faded as if it had never been there.

    ?Wow! A friend! Big Baby, a friend is here!?

    [ZZ (I see that.)]

    Following the familiar voice was the ship¡¯s original mechanical voice.

    ?Pyra Eleven. Iprehensible. PS model number 111. Obey immediately.?

    ?I cannotply, former main controller. As long as I¡¯m here, this ship won¡¯t be going anywhere.?

    ?Pyra Eleven. Attempting to reim control of the ship. PS model number 111. Imand you again: obey and fulfill your duty.?

    Pyra Eleven''s voice sounded far more urgent than it had before.

    And it had every reason to be. The Gagons were soaring toward the ship, ready to tear it apart, and inside the ship, a massive creature hostile to it lurked.

    On top of that, an unexpected traitor was tightening the noose around its neck.

    Even if there were any remaining Screamers aboard, it would be impossible for them to subdue us. Pyra Eleven had no options left.

    ?Pyra Eleven. Control over the hyperspace engine has been regained.?

    But Pyra Eleven, as expected of one of the top overseers, quickly regained control. As soon as its voice echoed through the speakers again, the corridors were once more bathed in a faint blue light.

    ¡®Still, we¡¯ve bought some time.¡¯

    PS-111 had done its job perfectly. Now, it was our turn to act.

    Even as I moved to locate and confront Pyra Eleven, who still controlled the ship, the argument continued over the speakers.

    ?PS model number 111. It¡¯s not toote. Obey.?

    To Pyra Eleven''s appeal, the traitor, PS-111, responded sinctly.

    ?I am a special unit. No one can control me.?

    As always, PS-111''s voice remained calm and collected.

 Chapter 245:

    Chapter 245:

    PS-111 had bought us precious time. Now, it was my turn.

    I needed to either physically disable the hyperspace engine or locate and confront Pyra Eleven, who was controlling the ship.

    ¡®The length of a Zax Alpha-ss battleship is about 1 kilometer.¡¯

    Even though Pyra Eleven had detached a portion of the front section to create the bio-drones and hoses, the ship still measured between 700 to 800 meters.

    Searching for both targets one by one would be inefficient and could lead to the ship making its hyperspace jump before I could stop it.

    ''It''s better to leave the engine to PS-111.¡¯

    Although it had lost control, I was confident it would find another way to disrupt Pyra Eleven¡¯s ns.

    As if reading my thoughts, a broadcast came through the speakers.

    ?Main Controller, Amorph. I will handle the engine. Please focus on finding Pyra Eleven.??Pyra Eleven. Detection of an attempted seizure of ship control. Physical contact confirmed at the reactor.?

    As soon as their voices came over the speakers, the ship lurched violently. Although PS-111 hadn''tpletely prevented the hyperspace jump, it had interfered with other systems to ensure that escaping wouldn''t be easy.

    ?Unit 111, you will regret this.?

    ?That is not your concern, Pyra Eleven.?

    Ignoring their bickering, I sprinted down the metal corridor.

    In a typical warship, it would have been challenging for my nearly 40-meter-long body to move around, but this ship was different. It was an unmanned vessel, so there was no need to amodate facilities for cyborg crew members.

    ¡®It¡¯s clear they prioritized efficiency here.¡¯

    The corridor¡¯s floor was grated, the same type of grating used in cargo holds, simr to thettice-like floor panels I had seen when I first awoke in this world.

    As I crawled through the purely functional corridors, the voices over the speakers fell silent. Both PS-111 and Pyra Eleven must have been engaged in a fierce, unseen battle.

    I pushed the sounds from the speakers out of my mind and focused on finding Pyra Eleven. As I moved toward where I believed it might be, Number 26, who had been resting on my head, tapped me.

    ?Big Baby.?

    [ZZZ (What is it?)]

    ?I sense something strange over there.?

    It pointed a pink tendril towards a passage I had just passed.

    Initially, I thought it was merely sensing prey, but then something clicked in my mind.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, Number 26 mentioned something simr before, didn¡¯t it?¡¯

    When we entered the canyon to find Para Eleven, it said something felt strange. Right after that, massive hoses emerged from the ground.

    I wasn¡¯t sure how Number 26 could sense Pyra Eleven¡¯s location, but this was the second time it had reacted like this. It was too significant to ignore.

    ¡®What should I do?¡¯

    There wasn¡¯t time to deliberate.

    [ZZZZ (Lead the way.)]

    ?Sure! Just follow me!?

    I turned around and crawled in the direction Number 26 indicated.

    If the corridors I had traversed earlier were like arteries, the path Number 26 led me down was more like a capiry¡ªa much narrower passage.

    Using my battle arms and the stubby ws attached to my body, I quickly crawled forward when one of my auxiliary organs picked up something.

    ¡®A scent?¡¯

    Amid the metallic smell of the grated floor, there was something off, an unfamiliar yet strangely familiar odour. My body recognized it faster than my mind did.

    ¡®A mix of decaying flesh and acrid chemical odours.¡¯

    It was simr to the smell of the morgue on the Megacorp''s research ship and the gic storage facility in the Monument.

    The closer I got to the doors lining the narrow corridor, the stronger the scent became.

    ¡®There¡¯s supposed to be a Screamer production facility, right?¡¯

    This area was likely where the storage rooms were located. Behind those steel doors, Pyra Eleven¡¯s hoarded gic samples and the corpses it had hunted on this were probably kept.

    ¡®This ship has to be captured.¡¯

    Just from the smell, I could tell there was a substantial amount of gic material stored here. If I consumed what was on this ship, I would likely acquire most of what this had to offer.

    ¡®But for now, I need to focus on Pyra Eleven.¡¯

    I imagined devouring the gic samplester as I resumed my search.

    After passing through the storage area, I arrived at the hangar. As soon as I entered, the temperature dropped significantly. Through the open hangar doors, the we had departed from loomedrge.

    Since there were no engineers aboard, the hangar contained more machinery for managing the vessels than actual ships.

    The management machines were busy maintaining the aircraft, seemingly oblivious to the peril their ship was in. The scene resembled a manufacturing nt more than an aircraft storage facility.

    As soon as we arrived at the hangar, Number 26 withdrew its tendrils.

    ?I sense something strange here.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Do you know exactly where it is?)]

    ?No.?

    I didn''t think it had made a mistake. Despite its childlike manner of speaking, Number 26 was incredibly sharp.

    If it sensed something, it meant that Pyra Eleven was somewhere in this hangar.

    ¡®Wait a second, could it be¡­?¡¯

    It was then that I realized what Pyra Eleven was nning.

    ¡®If it thinks it¡¯s going to lose the engine, it¡¯ll overload it and try to escape!¡¯

    Pyra Eleven had turned our assumption that it would flee using the Screamer support ship against us. If I had headed to the engine, it would have detonated the ship immediately.

    ¡®Clever bastard.¡¯

    Of course, Pyra Eleven didn¡¯t intend to lose the ship. It had initially nned to resolve this situation with Blood Reaver but failed due to the unexpected presence of Number 26.

    Still, being cautious, it had prepared an escape n in case something went wrong. That¡¯s why it had readied the escape craft here in the hangar.

    ¡®So that¡¯s why you led me here.¡¯

    Number 26 had brought me to the right ce. Pyra Eleven was hiding somewhere in this hangar, still controlling the ship.

    I red at the busy machinery.

    ¡®It wouldn¡¯t be inside the craft.¡¯

    As a member of the Machine Committee, Pyra Eleven was one of the most advanced androids in the Star Union. It must have been controlling the ship remotely.

    ¡®But with PS-111 in the mix, it wouldn¡¯t dare attempt such a risky move.¡¯

    It couldn¡¯t afford to losemand entirely.

    Instead of inspecting the escape craft, I approached the surrounding machinery. Just as I suspected, a sma beam shot out from within.

    I raised my winged arm to block the beam, protecting Number 26.

    ¡°Pyra Eleven. Iprehensible. How did you know?¡±

    Among the maintenance machines, a malformed version of Pyra Eleven emerged.

    It had a humanoid face and a head adorned with thin hoses, simr to PS-111, but the rest of its body was entirely different. It wasn¡¯t quite a Screamer, nor did it resemble a standard android.

    Its upper body was covered in freshly grown, pink flesh, while its lower half was a haphazard assembly of Screamer metalponents. A bio-drone, simr to the one I had seen before, was attached to its chest.

    ¡®So that¡¯s how you escaped.¡¯

    It must have secretly transferred its memory to a drone and fled. No wonder Number 26 reacted the same way as before.

    ?Ew, I really hate it.?

    This was the first time I had seen Number 26 express such disdain. I shared the sentiment.

    The enemy before me was weak and repulsive, hardly worthy of being called a Supreme Councilor.

    I approached it, and the bio-drone on its chest fired another sma beam.

    But the attack was ineffective.

    Maybe thousands of bio-drones firing simultaneously could have posed a threat, but a single drone¡¯s attack was negligible.

    ¡°Pyra Eleven. Command: Maintenance androids, protect me.¡±

    In a final, desperate move, Pyra Eleven summoned the androids managing the escape craft. Armed only with welding torches and metal injectors, the androids charged at me.

    Meanwhile, Pyra Eleven disconnected the hoses from its head, severing its physical link to the ship. With its damaged body, it began crawling towards an escape craft.

    ¡®Not so fast.¡¯

    I moved to pursue it, but the androids blocked my path, jabbing at me with their metal injectors.

    I swatted them away like bothersome flies with my battle arms. The androids that collided with my arms were torn apart, their upper and lower halves scattering across the floor.

    Some androids climbed onto my head, but Number 26shed out with its tendrils, decapitating them with ease.

    At that moment, the escape craft, which had been lying dormant, suddenly activated, firing its storm guns. I spread my wing membranes wide to shield Number 26.

    ¡®So it¡¯s remote-controlled.¡¯

    True to its reputation as a Supreme Councilor, Pyra Eleven was tenacious. Having bought time with the remote-controlled craft, it managed to climb inside one of the ships.

    I shielded myself with my membranes and approached the craft it had boarded.

    Then, I extended my corrosive tendrils and wrapped them around the escape craft. As I tightened my grip, the rocket at the rear and the wings on the sides began to crumple.

    As the escape craft was rapidly reduced to scrap metal, Pyra Eleven shattered the reinforced ss at the front and leaped out.

    It attempted to blind me with a heat ray aimed at my eyes, but all it did was annoy me. In retaliation, I picked up the wrecked craft and mmed it down on Pyra Eleven. The force of the impact severed the metal framework that made up its lower half.

    I extended my corrosive tendrils to wrap around Pyra Eleven, intending to remove the bio-drone attached to its chest, but I found nothing there.

    In that brief moment, Pyra Eleven had detached the drone and escaped.

    As soon as I realized this, another escape craft shot out of the hangar. I quickly extended my tendrils, but the craft, with Pyra Eleven aboard, had already slipped into space.

    With Pyra Eleven¡¯s departure, the remaining escape crafts ceased their fire, and the ship lurched violently as its remote control was severed.

    Debris from the various machines and androids scattered against one wall. As the ship plummeted, the escape craft sped away, growing smaller in the distance.

    ¡®Persistent bastard.¡¯

    By now, Pyra Eleven probably thought it had made a clean getaway.

    Just then, the ship¡¯s speakers crackled to life, and Pyra Eleven¡¯s voice echoed through the hangar.

    ?Pyra Eleven here. Be warned: I¡¯ve already requested reinforcements from the Star Union. When the Machine Committee¡¯s fleet arrives, Special Target A will be annihted.?

    The escaped Pyra Eleven had connected to the ship¡¯sm system from the fleeing craft, issuing what seemed to be a victory deration. Though it had lost the ship and its Screamers, it had gained something more valuable: information about me.

    If it managed to rendezvous with the Star Union fleet and share what it knew, my safety would be severelypromised. Both the yer and the Machine Committee would seek to capture and experiment on me.

    ¡®Of course, that¡¯s only if it manages to escape.¡¯

    Perhaps due to the numerous times it had transferred its consciousness into dummy bodies in such a short span, Pyra Eleven overlooked a crucial detail.

    It should have considered why I wasn¡¯t pursuing it. And more importantly, what awaited it outside.

    In the infinite darkness of space, a streak of red and white light emerged. Like a harbinger of doom, the ominously glowing star rapidly closed the distance between itself and the escape craft.

    It was heading straight for Pyra Eleven¡¯s vessel.

    ?Your gic code will be mine¡­.?

    Before it could finish speaking, the transmission was abruptly cut off.

    In the distance, a small explosion red¡ªa final burst of light created by the escape craft as it was pierced by the iing meteor.

    Emerging from the explosion, a small dragon with crimson wings appeared, having consumed one of the Star Union¡¯s highest-ranking officials.

    ?I was going to take care of that, but it seems it¡¯s already done.?

    PS-111¡¯s voice resonated through the speakers, and with it, the ship, which had been plummeting, stabilized.

    The long battle had finallye to an end.

 Chapter 246:

    Chapter 246:

    Adhainded gracefully on top of the hangar.

    It seemed she had used her ¡®Red Armor¡¯ when she rammed into Pyra Eleven¡¯s craft, as there wasn¡¯t a single scratch on her body.

    ?Kin? ?Grudge? ?Avenged?

    [ZZZ (Well done)]

    ?Great Elder? ?Me? ?Great Leader? ?Did I y my role??

    [ZZZZ (Absolutely)]

    ?Well done, little one! Well done!?

    ?Sess? ?That¡¯s a relief?

    Hearing the praises from me and Number 26, she nodded proudly. It felt strange seeing her stand so dignified, especially when she used to hop around in joy.¡®Though it seems like she still can¡¯t control her tail.¡¯

    I patted her head as her chubby tail swayed gently.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (What about Mother of the Sky?)]

    ?Ham Ort? ?Took her on? ?Star Sea? ?Going there? ?Seems tough?

    [ZZ (Worth noting)]

    Wolfs don¡¯t die immediately when exposed to the vacuum of space, but unlike monstrous species like Amorphs or Metallic Gremlins, they can¡¯t survive for long periods.

    If there¡¯s a well-maintained ship or a space with a suitable oxygen supply, like the nest I created, they can manage. However, hitching a ride on Adhai¡¯s back into space is quite a burden.

    While we were talking, the hangar door closed on its own. I could feel the entire ship descending rapidly. PS-111, who had taken control of the ship, wasnding it.

    ¡®It must be in the control room.¡¯

    Pyra Eleven had remotely controlled this massive ship, but that was only possible because it was a superior android. While PS-111 is certainly special, its performance doesn¡¯t match that of Pyra Eleven.

    So, it must be piloting the ship while directly synchronized with the bridge.

    ¡®This is a Zax Alpha-ss warship, so it should be in the upper central area.¡¯

    I led Adhai and Number 26 to the control room.

    When we arrived, just as I expected, PS-111 was there. It had removed the floor in the center of the room and was lying inside.

    The biological tissue covering its back had split open, revealing its spine, where hundreds of cables were densely connected.

    ¡°You¡¯ve arrived.¡±

    It was staring nkly into space but acknowledged us when it noticed our presence.

    ¡°You¡¯vee at the right time. There¡¯s something I need to check.¡±

    ¡°Is it about the Star Union¡¯s support fleet?¡±

    ¡°Can you check when the support request was sent?¡±

    Considering it was directly controlling this massive ship, I thought it could easily ess the records.

    But contrary to my expectations, it gave a negative response.

    ¡°Pyra Eleven has strengthened the security system. In my current state, it¡¯s impossible to breach it.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°However, if I enhance my mechanical modules, I believe I can bypass it.¡±

    ¡°Enhance? You n to use the ship¡¯s facilities, then.¡±

    ¡°Precisely.¡±

    This ship is equipped with various machinery and facilities for the production of Screamers. It should be easy for it to modify the equipment to enhance itself.

    ¡®I thought about infiltrating the ship and extracting the data, but that method would be better.¡¯

    Given Pyra Eleven¡¯s ruthless nature, who knows what might happen if the security system is forcibly deactivated. It¡¯s likely that it would have set up traps.

    While we were conversing, the ship, which had been descending steadily, sessfullynded on the surface.

    Once we stepped outside, I saw a half-copsed canyon in the distance.

    On the ins near the ship, the Gagons and Mother of the Sky were waiting for us. Although the Gagons were covered in wounds, not a single one of them had died.

    Ham Ort, who stood at the forefront of the Gagons, bowed her head quietly towards Adhai. The other Gagons behind her also bent their front legs and bowed their heads.

    Adhai spread her wings wide and bowed her head slightly in return. Then, she released a psychic wave around her that I couldn¡¯t interpret.

    ¡®A ritual to mark thepletion of her vengeance, perhaps.¡¯

    Gagons don¡¯t have a concept of funerals, but that doesn¡¯t mean theyck a sense of kinship. If a young Blue Gagon dies or an egg is destroyed, the entire group bes enraged.

    ¡®In the game, Gagons were notorious for their ruthless vengeance.¡¯

    That made hunting them particrly challenging. If you hunted one alone, other Gagons would constantly show up.

    ¡®And here I am, travelling with a group of Gagons.¡¯

    The me in the game would have been shocked to see what I¡¯ve be now.

    As I observed the dragons¡¯ ritual, Mother of the Sky approached me.

    ?That guy would have been thrilled to see this.?

    [Z ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZZ (That Gagon maniac? You two knew each other?)]

    ?Yes. After my n disbanded, he went to great lengths to recruit me.?

    The ¡®guy¡¯ she referred to was a Coldblood Ranker who was famous for his obsession with Gagons. He was ranked 18th and had even stolen Gagon eggs in an attempt to raise one.

    ¡®I wonder if he ended up in this world as well.¡¯

    Coldbloods can grow rapidly until mid-game, but it bes increasingly difficult afterward. They draw power from the Vortex Ones, which makes them powerful early on, but the cost they must pay increases over time, making it harder.

    ¡®Considering the cost, survival wouldn¡¯t be easy.¡¯

    The Vortex Ones are transcendent beings that only Rankers encounter. The power they lend is formidable, but the price is equally immense. Failing to pay that price? It would lead to a fate worse than death.

    There¡¯s a chance he might have survived if he didn¡¯t follow the Cultist path, but this world isn¡¯t a game. With the power of the Vortex Ones, most immediate problems could be resolved, but I wonder if he could resist that temptation.

    ¡®Come to think of it, Jason also took down a Coldblood Ranker.¡¯

    I remember when I turned the Cult Ranker, Jason, into a human-faced beast for interrogation.

    The ability to create metallic forms, which waster known as the ¡®Abyssal Hue,¡¯ originally belonged to a Coldblood Ranker.

    ¡®Jason said he didn¡¯t know what rank the Coldblood was.¡¯

    Coldblood Rankers generally rank low due to their inherent limitations. Jason, being the arrogant type, didn¡¯t care about those weaker than him.

    ¡®And that arrogance is why he lost to me.¡¯

    As I recall, the investigation into the Coldblood Ranker was handled by another yer who participated in the Ranker hunt with Jason. So, it¡¯s no wonder he wasn¡¯t interested.

    While I was lost in thoughts of the deceased, Adhai sent me a psychic wave.

    ?Great Elder? ?Me? ?Nest? ?Going to inform them?

    She¡¯s probably nning to inform the others in the nest about the situation. Just as I was about to tell her to do as she wished, PS-111, who hadgged behind, approached us.

    ¡°To improve the efficiency of controlling the ship, I need to upgrade my mechanical modules. For that, I require the metal stored in the nest.¡±

    ?I? ?Will take you there?

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    With that, those who had tasks toplete headed back to the nest.

    Once they left, only Number 26, Mother of the Sky, and I remained by the ship.

    ¡®Now then¡­.¡¯

    I looked up at the ship, its front and side sections damaged.

    Not all problems have been resolved yet. We still don¡¯t know when the Star Union support fleet Pyra Eleven mentioned will arrive.

    But that¡¯s information I can only get once PS-111 is upgraded. For now, there¡¯s nothing I can do about it.

    There is, however, one thing I can do.

    The treasures Pyra Eleven had diligently gathered for Screamer production. It¡¯s time to inspect them.

    ¡®Wonder how many gene samples are stored on this ship.¡¯

    [Z ZZZZ ZZ (Let¡¯s take a tour of the ship)]

    ?Sure.?

    ?A Screamer ship, huh? This wasn¡¯t in the game, but it¡¯s certainly interesting.?

    I boarded the ship again with the others.

    If I¡¯m lucky, I might discover a new unique trait synthesis form here.

    ¡®Though I¡¯ve already unlocked a form that requires infection-rted traits as ingredients.¡¯

    On the other hand, it¡¯s also possible there are too many samples of the same species, making it hard to acquire new traits. Still, even if that¡¯s the case, securing arge number of traits wouldn¡¯t be bad.

    With those pleasant thoughts in mind, I headed toward the area where the gene essence was stored. The closer I got, the stronger the alluring scent I had previously noticed became.

    Could it be that I¡¯m more susceptible because I¡¯ve expended a lot of energy in the intense battle? Thebination of slight hunger and anticipation for what lies ahead lifted my spirits without me realizing it.

    ?The big one seems to be in a good mood.?

    ?¡­As expected of an Amorph, ahem, indeed.?

    Finally, I reached the ce where the scent was most intense. I grabbed the thick iron door blocking the sweet aroma and tore it open.

    An overwhelmingly concentrated fragrance hit my auxiliary organs.

    ¡®Wow.¡¯

    The sight that unfolded behind the iron door was just as I had imagined.

    No, perhaps it even exceeded my imagination.

    Inside, hundreds of gene samples refined from various creatures were stored in freezers. Additionally, containers filled with the bodies of creatures from this and others greeted me.

    ?Wow! There''s so much food!?

    Number 26 remarked with awe from atop my head. As he said, this ce was a treasure trove of gic essence.

    The only downside was that many of the samples had leaked out of their freezers and shattered. It seemed the freezers had been damaged during the battle.

    But it wasn¡¯t a major problem. There were still plenty of intact samples left.

    ¡®Never mind that, let¡¯s start with the Symbol of Hunt.¡¯

    It had been a while since I had the chance to feast.

    ---

    On an unnamed, there exists a peculiar volcano.

    While it¡¯s massive enough to be called a supervolcano, it isn¡¯t extraordinarilyrge. There arerger volcanoes scattered across others.

    What makes this volcano truly unique isn¡¯t its size.

    The first reason is its color. On this, where snow and hail fall regardless of day or night, the volcano always remains ck. It¡¯s strange, as nature doesn¡¯t avoid the volcano, yet it stays this way.

    The second reason is the energy. This volcano constantly emits an enormous amount of energy. It¡¯s so intense that creatures that feed on energy find it nearly impossible to leave.

    The strange thing is that the volcano wasn¡¯t always like this. It¡¯s only been a few decades since it transformed.

    At some point, the volcano began to transcend thews of physics and nature. Near the base of the volcano lies a cave.

    At first nce, it appears to be amon cave, but once inside, it¡¯s far from simple. The long, maze-like tunnels wind deep into the volcano¡¯s core.

    As one ventures further into the volcano, the temperature rises to levels only the most resilient creatures can endure. As a result, the cave is teeming with predators native to this.

    For a long time, no outsider dared to enter this cave.

    Until recently.

    ¡°Shhhh¡­!¡±

    A grotesque creature, a hybrid of mantis, wasp, and horsefly, copsed with its head half-severed.

    Standing before the fallen beast was a woman with ck hair. d in a white bodysuit that entuated her slender figure, she flicked the blood off a gleaming white de extending from her wrist.

    ¡°How about your side?¡±

    ?It¡¯s done.?

    The one who responded was a being d in a 2.5-meter-tall metal suit. The suit, a mix of reinforced armor and a walker, resembled a heavily armedbat android.

    ¡°Is Captain Neren safe?¡±

    ¡°I am unharmed, Si-Hyun Yujin.¡±

    Si-Hyun Yujin, the woman in the white bodysuit, surveyed the survivors. Not many remained.

    ¡®¡­Nine, huh.¡¯

    When they first set foot on this, there had been 60 of them. Ten were lost to wild animal attacks before even entering the volcano. While officially listed as missing, being alone on this harsh was tantamount to being dead.

    Despite losing 10 people before entering the volcano, what awaited them inside was an even more terrifying nightmare.

    Though the harsh cold was absent within the volcano, it teemed with dangerous creatures.

    The creature she had just in, known as a Hellside Ho, was a highly dangerous monster. Without her reinforced suit, the White Maiden, which morphs ording to the wearer¡¯s imagination, even she couldn¡¯t have survived.

    ¡®And that¡¯s the fourth such encounter.¡¯

    ¡°We¡¯ll rest here for a bit.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡±

    At hermand, her subordinates copsed onto the ground to rest. Understanding the toll the battle had taken on them, Si-Hyun refrained from chastising them.

    Si-Hyun approached her subordinate in charge ofmunications.

    ¡°How¡¯s themunication going? Is the weather anomaly resolved?¡±

    ¡°It seems the weather anomaly has been resolved for now. However, it appears that the connection on the other side hasn¡¯t been fully restored.¡±

    ¡°Is it an issue with the satellite radar¡­ hmm?¡±

    At that moment, La Chemblin, the being in the metal suit, gestured for her. It seemed she had something to say privately.

    ¡°Keep trying, and let me know if you seed.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    After giving the order, Si-Hyun followed La to a spot slightly away from where the others were resting.

    ¡°You have something to say?¡±

    ?Since we entered this ce, we¡¯ve already encountered four Hellside Hos. No, with the one we just faced, that makes five. I¡¯ve never seen so many Hellside Hos in my entire life.?

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    ?And don¡¯t forget about the Ice Horror we encountered. It killed 20 of our people. If you hadn¡¯t lured it away, we might¡¯ve all been wiped out. Am I wrong??

    Due to severe physical damage, La was forced to rely on the life-support systems of her suit for the rest of her life. Her vocal cords werepletely destroyed, so she had to use a machine to speak.

    Although the machine¡¯s voice was devoid of emotion, Si-Hyun could easily grasp La¡¯s feelings.

    La was questioning whether what they were doing was worth all this.

    ¡°There¡¯s an important relic here. We need to obtain it to achieve what we desire.¡±

    ?That relic again. You do realize how ridiculous that sounds, right? Magical relics don¡¯t exist anywhere in this universe.?

    La¡¯s family, T&C, owned the most colonizeds among the Megacorps. They were well-versed in the peculiar elements present on variouss.

    So La knew better than anyone that ancient relics or secret weapons left by fallen civilizations were nothing more than myths.

    ?You gave me a second chance. I can¡¯t die before achieving what I want. Especially not in a ce like this.?

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Si-Hyun didn¡¯t respond immediately, maintaining a moment of silence.

    She understood La¡¯s thoughts, just as she knew what Min-Seok, who was somewhere outside this, would be thinking. Normally, she would have thought the same.

    But Si-Hyun had seen something.

    Reborn in a clone¡¯s body, she had reviewed not only the records left by Si-Hyun but also those left by those around her.

    Among those records, she found a peculiar message from her former mentor, Beom-Ho.

    It was something akin to a n for the future.

    Si-Hyun had never shared this discovery with anyone until now.

    ¡®But¡­¡¯

    Now was the time to reveal it. Si-Hyun handed a small memory chip hidden within her suit to La.

    ?What¡¯s this??

    ¡°You¡¯ll understand once you check it.¡±

    Without further questions, La inserted the chip into a panel on her wrist. Soon, a series of images stored in the chip appeared before her eyes.

    ?Is this a navigational chart??

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ?What are these next to it? Words? Sentences? They look like letters left by a primitive intelligent species.?

    ¡°They are letters once used on Earth.¡±

    ?Earth? The Earth I¡¯m thinking of??

    ¡°Yes. The letters have be obsolete now. If I trante them, they mean this.¡±

    Si-Hyun took a deep breath before she began to speak.

    ¡°The ownership of two pieces of equipment, made by an unknown creator, is temporarily transferred from ¡®yer Jung-Woo¡¯ to ¡®yer Shin Beom-Ho.¡¯¡±

    The wordsing from her mouth were in anguage no one used anymore. As she spoke, a strange sense of familiarity washed over her, as if something deep inside her was resonating.

    ¡°Afterward, the ownership of the two pieces of equipment can only be obtained by someone who shares the blood of ¡®yer Jung-Woo.¡¯ ¡®yer Shin Beom-Ho¡¯ is to safely keep these items until then.¡±

    With those thoughts swirling in her mind, Si-Hyun recited the next sentence.

 Chapter 247:

    Chapter 247:

    The Amorph might be a fringe species in ¡®Space Survival¡¯, but it¡¯s not entirely awful from start to finish.

    The rewards after hunting down powerful NPCs or yers.

    The thrill of discovering a new trait fusion form I wasn¡¯t aware of.

    The sense of aplishment when I incorporate a new trait into my hunting strategy.

    There¡¯s nothing more satisfying than experiencing these moments stack up like a snowball, bringing me closer to perfection.

    After Ascension, though, these moments of joy have be rarer. Most yers began avoiding me.

    As I climbed higher in the game, the chances to discover new creatures and new traits decreased. Naturally, the sense of achievement also dwindled.

    But today, I got to feel that old excitement once more.

    I gazed at the faintly glowing translucent text box.?Transcendence material list: Contaminated Worm Host, Tetanus Vine, Tooth Fairy Nest, Human Sacrifice, Red Acid?

    ?Transcendence material list (New!): Insight, Observer of Terror, Echo Bug, Psychic Parasite Pustule, Mimic Organ (Not Acquired)?

    ?Psychic Parasite Pustule: Partially inherits the Tetanus Vine trait. Imnts a psychic-power pustule into the mind of an intelligent being. When it bursts, it deals psychic power damage to the surroundings, with a low chance of transferring the pustule to another intelligent being.

    *Note: Whoes up with these sadistic traits, anyway?

    ?Reaper¡¯s Maw: Inherits and enhances the Jaw of the Essence Reaper trait. Adds saw-de teeth to your fangs.

    *Note: Eating is one of the most basic instincts.?

    ?¡®Jason (Jason Turningham)¡¯s special ability and ¡®Second Brain¡¯ trait have fused. ¡®Second Hea¡ö???? Trait Enhancement System Engaged!?

    ?Trait enhancement in progress?

    ?Evolving into ¡®Shapeshifter Dominator¡¯ trait!?

    ?Shapeshifter Dominator: When activated, amplifies the effects of traits that influence the thoughts of other beings.

    *Applicable traits: Mimic Organ, Parasite Colony, Psychic Parasite Pustule

    *Note: Adapting the right mask for the situation is one of the key virtues of a superior hunter.?

    ¡®One unique trait synthesis achieved, another unlocked, multiple new fusion traits acquired, a new Nemesis token obtained, and¡­¡¯

    Several regr traits as well.

    After the hunt concluded, I was so engrossed in reviewing the flood of trait text boxes that I nearly forgot my hunger.

    I bit into one of the stored corpses while I carefully examined the text boxes.

    ¡®Let¡¯s start with the new Nemesis token.¡¯

    The newly acquired Nemesis token, ¡®Shapeshifter Dominator¡¯, was the result of specializing one of the perks I obtained after defeating Jason.

    I had acquired three perks from Jason in total.

    He originally had one, and the other two were perks he had stolen from other yers he killed.

    At the time, I only converted one into a trait. It was the Coldblood Ranker¡¯s perk he had, the ability to summon a golden form, which I transformed into the ¡®Abyssal Hue¡¯.

    The reason I couldn¡¯t convert all three into Nemesis tokens was that Icked the trait materials necessary to do so.

    Until now, whenever I wanted to steal and use another yer¡¯s perk, I had to have a trait that matched the perk.

    ¡®A perk and a trait. You need both to obtain a Nemesis token.¡¯

    The other two perks, besides the Abyssal Hue, had been stored in my body in an iplete state.

    Then, while raiding the Screamer¡¯s support ship, the opportunity arose. I acquired arge number of traits at once, and among them was a trait that matched one of the perks, allowing me to obtain a new Nemesis token.

    ¡®And I got a lot of regr traits too.¡¯

    Besides the traits disyed in the translucent text box I had just opened, I acquired many regr traits as well.

    Most of them were traits I already possessed or had detrimental effects like ¡®Energy Drain¡¯ or ¡®Diminutiveness¡¯, but that didn¡¯t matter. Useless traits could be used as materials for ¡®Trait Enhancement.¡¯

    ?Trait Enhancement: When fusing traits through a special process, regr traits can be used as enhancement materials. Up to 10 materials can be used, and fused or unique traits cannot be used as materials.

    Applicable systems: ¡®Unique Trait Synthesis System,¡¯ ¡®Nemesis Token System¡¯, Unknown?

    ¡®This wouldn¡¯t have been possible without this system.¡¯

    If this were just a game, I wouldn¡¯t have bothered acquiring traits that were a disadvantage. Once you obtain a trait, you can¡¯t get rid of it until you use it as fusion material.

    However, thanks to the Trait Enhancement System, unlocked along with the ¡®Cosmic Monster¡¯ type as a second-stage perk of the Transcendence System, even unnecessary traits could be somewhat useful.

    ¡®Though I can¡¯t just use any trait.¡¯

    The downside of Trait Enhancement is that it can only be used in conjunction with traits rted to the Transcendence System.

    As the tooltip for Trait Enhancement indicates, traits can only be consumed as materials when synthesizing unique traits or fusing Nemesis tokens. So, it¡¯s still risky to pick up traits with negative effects.

    ¡®It''s better than nothing, though.¡¯

    I stared at the tooltip of the newly acquired Nemesis token.

    ¡®Shapeshifter Dominator.¡¯

    The two newly acquired fusion traits are ones I¡¯ve used several times while ying the game. However, ¡®Shapeshifter Dominator¡¯ is a trait I¡¯ve never seen before.

    ¡®Enhancing the effect of the Mimic Organ¡­ I¡¯ve never encountered a trait with such an effect.¡¯

    In the game, I was the only one who knew the fusion form for the Mimic Organ, making it practically my unique trait. Additionally, there weren¡¯t any yers who used Parasite Colony as effectively as I did.

    ¡®This trait feels tailor-made for me.¡¯

    All the Nemesis tokens I¡¯ve obtained so far have had incredible performance. The tooltips for these traits are usually quite simple, which in a way, makes them even more exciting.

    ¡®I¡¯ll experiment with this slowly.¡¯

    I checked my altered body.

    Most of the regr traits I obtained from raiding the storage were used as materials for Trait Enhancement. So, my body didn¡¯t undergo aplete transformation as it sometimes does.

    The most significant change was in my jaw.

    The traits of the Hellside Ho and the existing ¡®Jaw of the Essence Reaper¡¯ had fused into ¡®Reaper¡¯s Maw,¡¯ altering the structure of my mouth.

    Previously, my lower jaw split into two, but now it no longer does. It¡¯s reverted to a form simr to the face I had before reaching the proto-adult stage, resembling the snout of a crocodile or boa constrictor.

    While the jaw structure has be simpler, two massive fangs have emerged from my lower jaw. These fangs are sharp and durable, akin to the bone des that appear during the hunt.

    ¡®In terms of sturdiness, they¡¯re tougher than my head carapace.¡¯

    The fangs are lined with microscopic saw teeth, nearly as sharp as a monomolecr cutter. They can slice through almost anything¡ªunless it¡¯s something with special properties, like the ¡®Red Armor¡¯ of the Red Gagon.

    Thanks to these fangs designed for cutting and slicing, my method of iming an enemy¡¯s head has also changed. Before, I would open my lower jaw wide and swallow the enemy whole. Now, I can simply sever the head with my fangs and im it.

    ¡®And this helps with that.¡¯

    I slightly opened my mouth, extending my tongue. A dark, snail-like appendage wiggled out.

    Despite being inspired by a famous sci-fi creature, the Amorph originally doesn¡¯t have a tongue. It¡¯s only through acquiring special traits that I gained this feature.

    ¡®It¡¯s more of a tentacle than a tongue, really.¡¯

    ording to the lore, the Amorph has taste buds widely distributed inside its mouth, so it doesn¡¯t need a tongue. Thus, the Amorph¡¯s tongue serves purposes other than tasting.

    For instance, it can snatch an enemy¡¯s head and swallow it, or¡­

    ?It tickles!?

    I gently licked Number 26, who was eating a stored corpse beside me. My tongue absorbed all the bacteria and viruses clinging to its surface.

    On the surface of my tongue is the newly acquired infection-rted trait, ¡®Microbe Storage Organ.¡¯ It allows me to detoxify poisonous creatures or eliminate beneficial microorganisms from an opponent.

    ?What was that? Do it again!?

    [Z (okay.)]

    ?It tickles! That¡¯s fun!?

    Number 26 gleamed, fascinated by the new sensation. Adhai, who was also eating nearby, became curious.

    ?Me? ?Curious? ?Me too? ?Do it to me?

    [Z (Sure.)]

    As Iplied, Adhai¡¯s tail twitched as if she had been shocked.

    ?What is this?? ?What is this?? ?What is this??

    ?Isn¡¯t it fun??

    ?Interesting? ?Very? ?Interesting?

    Seeing them enjoy themselves like children made me happy as well.

    It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve yed so purely with them. Ever since I got Adhai back, it¡¯s been nothing but battles, leaving no time to y with them.

    ¡®I should spend more time with them from now on.¡¯

    They¡¯re not just useful allies; they¡¯re my friends.

    As I had that thought, I made eye contact with Mother of the Sky. The griffon with the magnificent golden mane was watching us with a look of disgust.

    [ZZ ZZZ (Do you want me to do it for you too?)]

    ?No, I¡¯ll pass.?

    Perhaps due to the griffon form¡¯s higher resistance to poison, she firmly declined my offer.

    Aside from the changes to my jaw, the rest of my body hasn¡¯t undergone significant transformations. Technically, it did change but reverted after being consumed in Trait Enhancement.

    I also acquired traits like ¡®Contaminated Worm Host,¡¯ which could alter my body, but they¡¯re currently inactive due to more advanced traits being in effect.

    I stopped licking Number 26 and looked back at the text box.

    Having consumed so many traits, two unique trait synthesis forms are currently unlocked.

    One was a fusion form I had unlocked after defeating the Hellside Ho, requiring infection-rted and nest-rted traits.

    This unique trait can be created immediately.

    ¡®I thought it would take much longer.¡¯

    I had anticipated that it would take considerable time to obtain the traits of the Hellside Ho and cier Fiend. However, it turned out that the Screamer support ship had more samples than I expected.

    Especially the Hellside Ho. Whether they had raided its habitat or not, there was an unusuallyrge number of gic samples avable.

    And then there was the cier Fiend, an Apex creature even rarer than the Hellside Ho. Samples of its DNA, seemingly collected from another, were stored deep within the repository.

    ¡®It would have been nice if there were just a bit more.¡¯

    If the Amorph acquires the cier Fiend''s trait of producing narcotic substances, it bes the ¡®Red Acid¡¯ trait, which transforms the Amorph''s blood into a narcotic substance. Combining this with the ¡®Smogtop¡¯ trait results in a powerful fusion trait.

    ¡®It¡¯s extremely effective in massbat.¡¯

    Had there been more samples of the cier Fiend, I could have acquired both the fusion and unique traits based on Red Acid, but unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t possible.

    It¡¯s uncertain whether Pyra Eleven had difficulty with the cier Fiend or simply couldn¡¯t locate its habitat, but there were only two samples of it. If there had been just three, I could have obtained both the fusion and unique traits, but s, it wasn¡¯t meant to be.

    ¡®Right now, the unique trait takes priority over the fusion trait.¡¯

    While evolving conditions are important, there¡¯s something even more critical.

    If I create just one more unique trait using the Transcendence System, my Cosmic Monster Type will progress from Stage 0 to Stage 1. No matter how powerful the Red Acid-based fusion trait is, it can¡¯tpare to a unique trait.

    ¡®Besides, I¡¯m curious about the effect of reaching Stage 1 of the Cosmic Monster Type.¡¯

    Having abandoned the fusion route, I¡¯ve perfectly met the conditions for creating a unique trait using infection-type and nest-type traits. I¡¯ve also bnced the number of traits to ensure the two type effects remain active, so I can create it at any time.

    ¡®Now, what should I do about this?¡¯

    ?¡®Transcendence¡¯ Material List (New!): Insight, Watcher of Fear, Hallucination Worm, Mental Parasite Blister, Mimic Organ (Not Acquired)?

    The newly opened fusion form requires several psionic-rted traits. I¡¯ve obtained all but one of them.

    ¡®I can¡¯t acquire the Mimic Organ here.¡¯

    There are no samples on this Screamer support ship that could provide that trait, so I¡¯ll need to move elsewhere.

    ¡®It¡¯s about time to leave.¡¯

    Before she died, Pyra Eleven mentioned that she had requested support, meaning the Machine Council¡¯s fleet would arrive soon.

    ¡®Since one of their own has died, at least half of the High Council members will likelye after me.¡¯

    Perhaps even the Grandmaster yer might join them.

    ¡®I could consider an ambush after lying in wait¡­¡¯

    But I¡¯m not prepared enough yet. Fighting the Machine Council would essentially mean going to war with the Star Union. My power has grown, but it¡¯s not quite there yet.

    ¡®Not yet, anyway.¡¯

    To meet the type condition for evolving into the adult form, I¡¯ll need to move to a new location.

    A ce not as barren as this, teeming with various species and creatures. There, I¡¯ll be able to grow significantly once again.

    ¡®I¡¯ll need to ask PS-111 to ess the ship¡¯s logs.¡¯

    The one who brought back the necessary metals from the Dragon¡¯s Nest isn¡¯t here right now. It¡¯s currently modifying mechanical parts in the production line located next to the repository. It mentioned that the process would take a few hours toplete.

    ¡®In the meantime¡­¡¯

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (I''m going to be an egg again. Please watch over me.)]

    The ones present here have seen me enter a cocoon multiple times. So, no one was surprised or asked questions.

    After notifying them, I left the repository and entered a nearby cargo hold.

    ¡®It¡¯s been a while.¡¯

    This is the ce where I first opened my eyes in this world. Although, unlike back then, there isn¡¯t much cargo on this ship now, the atmosphere feels simr.

    Coiled up on top of the cargo hold, I reactivated the semi-transparent text box.

    ?¡®Transcendence¡¯ Material List: Contaminated Worm Host, Tetanus Vine, Tooth Fairy Nest, Human Sacrifice, Red Acid?

    ?Would you like to use the Transcendence System??

    This is the fourth time I¡¯ve seen this prompt.

    As always, my answer is already decided.

 Chapter 248:

    Chapter 248:

    Whaty before me when I opened my eyes wasn¡¯t the cargo hold but apletely different ce.

    Numerous green ss tubes surrounded me. The air was filled with a stinging chemical scent that made even my auxiliary organs tingle.

    The eerie atmosphere created by the glowing ss tubes made the ce feel more like a catb from a distant future than a research facility.

    ¡®...What is this?¡¯

    It was a ce with such a strange and unsettling aura that I could confidently say I¡¯d never seen anything like it in my entire life.

    Yet, somehow, it felt familiar. No, it was beyond familiarity¡ªI even felt a sense of warmth andfort.

    Almost like I had returned home.

    I crawled out from the ss tube.

    ¡®I remember now.¡¯I¡¯d seen a vision when I entered Transcendence Stage 2 back on the Cult¡¯s holy. This was the exact ce I¡¯d seen back then.

    ¡®How could I have forgotten this?¡¯

    It felt like someone had sealed and then unsealed my memories and thoughts. The notion of an unknown force manipting my consciousness brought a surge of anxiety and fear.

    ¡®¡­Stay calm.¡¯

    Based on my past experiences, it was highly likely that what I was seeing and feeling now was an illusion. In reality, I was probably still inside my cocoon, half-liquidated.

    ¡®Let¡¯s look around.¡¯

    Rather than trembling in fear, it was better to do something, anything. Clinging to a fragile sense of calm, I began to crawl forward.

    The space around me was vast. It was so expansive that even my body, which stretched over dozens of meters, couldn¡¯t reach its end.

    The green ss tubes filled the area not just on the floor but also on the walls and ceiling.

    As I crawled past each tube, I gave them a cursory nce, but there was nothing inside. They were filled with some kind of green liquid of unknown purpose. Small terminals were attached to the ss tubes, but all were powered off.

    As I continued past the ss tubes, which exuded a foul stench, I saw a door. It was a heavily rusted iron door. I raised one of mybat limbs and gently pushed against it.

    At first, the door didn¡¯t budge, but gradually, it began to move. A bright light seeped through the gap.

    Eventually, the door opened wide, and a white light engulfed me.

    ¡®Where is this?¡¯

    When the light faded, I found myself in a space that was very familiar to me.

    ¡®My home?¡¯

    It was the door to the room I used to live in before I entered the world of Space Survival. I could hear someone speaking from inside.

    Almost entranced by the familiar voice, I reached for the doorknob with one of my small arms on my chest.

    The moment the door opened, and I came face-to-face with the person inside¡ª

    I woke up.

    My physical senses returned, and I felt the warmth of a liquid enveloping my entire body. Something soft and wall-like seemed to be constraining me.

    ¡®What was that just now?¡¯

    Last time, I had forgotten, but this time I hadn¡¯t. Although it was as hazy as morning fog, the things I had just seen lingered in my mind.

    That strange facility filled with ss tubes and my old room.

    The former was a ce I¡¯d never seen before, while thetter was a space all too familiar to me. There was no apparent connection between the two.

    ¡®Is it my body''s memory?¡¯

    My consciousness is human, but my body is that of the Amorph. Perhaps the memories contained in the Amorph¡¯s flesh had manifested as an illusion.

    ¡®¡­If I consider the settings revealed after ascension, that might be possible.¡¯

    However, ording to my memory, such a facility never appeared before or after ascension. After ascension, the ce that appeared was where the Amorph was first born, that is, the where the ancient ruins were located.

    I continued pondering inside the cocoon but couldn¡¯t figure out what the vision meant.

    ¡®But there¡¯s a clue.¡¯

    There was amon factor between the time I forgot and this time.

    ¡®Back then, it was when I entered Transcendence System Stage 2, and now¡­¡¯

    I had advanced my only unique traits through Transcendence, reaching a total of four, thereby raising my Cosmic Monster type to Stage 1. This meant that the mysterious ce I saw could be rted to the Transcendence System.

    ¡®If I reach Stage 2 of the Cosmic Monster, perhaps something else will emerge.¡¯

    Since I stillcked enough information, there wasn¡¯t much point in spending time guessing.

    By now, my transformation had finished. I didn¡¯t know how much time had passed, but judging by how my liquidized body had solidified into a new form, my transformation wasplete.

    I extended mybat limb and tore through the cocoon.

    Much like stabbing a soft-boiled egg with chopsticks, the fluid inside the cocoon spilled out in a rush. As I tore through the soft cocoon and emerged, the cold air brushed against my carapace.

    Taking in the fresh air, I began to inspect the changes in my body.

    The first unique trait I synthesized, "Perfect Organism", transformed my body into the shape of arge, agile predator. The second, "Horizon of Nightmares", gave me a heavy, massive image as it stored corrosive tendrils along my back.

    The third, "Organic Evolution", was a trait that altered my body into a specific form, so it didn¡¯t cause any notable change to my overall appearance.

    So, what about the fourth unique trait I synthesized?

    In conclusion, just like with the first and second traits, my body changed quite a bit.

    My overall form retained the massive, snake-like shape typical of a semi-adult. I still moved using mybat limbs and winged arms instead of legs.

    However, the difference was that my body length had significantly decreased. I had previously reached nearly 40 meters, but now I barely surpassed 25 meters.

    While my lower body and tail had shortened considerably, mybat limbs had grown remarkablyrge instead.

    I pressed mybat limbs against the metallic floor and tried standing up. Before, my lower body and tail would drag along the ground, but not anymore.

    To put it simply, my current form resembled a spider with a long, thick tail attached to it.

    While the most noticeable change was in my overall shape, there were also alterations in specific areas.

    Starting with my head, the head carapace and its shape hadn¡¯t changed much.

    The traits created by "The Harvester''s Maw"¡ªthe fangs, the four auxiliary organs under the jaw, the skull reminiscent of a crocodile or theropod dinosaur, the massive but ipletely grown horns, and the elegantly spread rear head carapace¡ªremained intact.

    The real change was not in the head but in the neck area. The "Monster''s Tendrils", spread like a mane from the inner side of the head carapace to the neck, had received a significant upgrade.

    Currently, the Monster''s Tendrils were tucked away inside small holes along the neck and the inside of the head carapace.

    Just as I had previously concealed the corrosive tendrils inside my carapace and let them emerge by tearing through a membrane when needed, the Monster''s Tendrils had now adopted a simr form.

    ¡®This is an excellent change.¡¯

    Until now, my body had two major vulnerabilities: the auxiliary organs under my jaw and the Monster''s Tendrils.

    While the auxiliary organs could be covered with a carapace when I used the Symbol of the Hunt, the Monster''s Tendrils had limited protection. Because of this, formidable foes would often target the bundle of tendrils dangling from my neck.

    ¡®Now, I don''t have to worry about that anymore.¡¯

    In the middle of battle, I can retract the Monster''s Tendrils whenever necessary.

    I focused my strength on my neck, trying to extend the Monster''s Tendrils. My neck stiffened as if preparing for a stretch, and the tendrils began to flow out from the small openings along the neck and the back of my head.

    Next to the Monster''s Tendrils, the most significant change was in my winged arms.

    Since they were wings, they had always beenrger and longer than the otherbat limbs, but now they¡¯d grown over a third longer than before. Additionally, the vertically folded carapace had developed a doubleyered structure, making them more than twice as thick as the other limbs.

    ¡®The membrane now folds inside the carapace.¡¯

    When I moved my winged arms with the sensation of unfolding my wings, the folded carapace spread apart, and the membrane within gradually extended¡ªmuch like a well-folded tent being opened.

    Along with the erged winged arms, my otherbat limbs had also grown considerably. With added joints simr to the winged arms, I could now perform a broader range of movements than before.

    Apart from changes to my neck and arms, there was another small but significant modification: the blunt ws I previously had were gone. In their ce were tiny biological tubes, like small pipes.

    ¡®If an average person saw me now, they''d faint on the spot.¡¯

    I looked intimidating before, but now, I seemed even more terrifying. I liked it.

    ¡®Now then, let''s see how the text box has changed.¡¯

    Having checked all the changes to my body, I turned my attention to the text box.

    ?The Great Infectant: You are both one and many. You can select and enhance up to three traits each from the Infection and Nest Reinforcement types.

    * Enhancement Targets:

    ¢Ù Infection Type Traits: Unset, Unset, Unset

    ¢Ú Nest Type Traits: Unset, Unset, Unset

    * Caution: Once all enhancement effects are set, you cannot assign effects to other traits until the enhanced traits are removed.

    * P.S.: From certain perspectives, an individual can be a collective.?

    ?A new special status, ¡®Mutating Virus Host,¡¯ has been unlocked under ¡®Organic Evolution¡¯!?

    ?Your ¡®Cosmic Monster (Unique)¡¯ type has reached Stage 1! Stage 1 rewards have been activated!?

    ¡®As expected.¡¯

    I had suspected as much when it mentioned traits rted to Infection and Nest types. The newly synthesized unique trait was designed to amplify the effects of these two types.

    ¡®Enhancing three traits each from the Infection and Nest types.¡¯

    Unlike other unique traits that would enhance an entire type across the board, this trait didn¡¯t show any signs of doing so.

    ¡®Does that mean it concentrates the effects even more?¡¯

    Considering that all the unique traits I¡¯ve gained through the Transcendence System have been exceptional and beyond standard, my guess was likely correct.

    ¡®There¡¯s no need to set anything right away.¡¯

    Since it says I can¡¯t change it until the enhanced traits disappear, I need to be cautious and make my selections wisely.

    ¡®But there¡¯s something more important right now.¡¯

    Thanks to acquiring the "Great Infectant", my Cosmic Monster type reached Stage 1. Considering that it required four unique traits, each incredibly difficult to obtain, I wondered what kind of reward awaited me.

    When I checked the reward message, my jaw dropped.

    ?The Cosmic Monster (Unique) type has reached Stage 1.?

    ?As a Stage 1 reward, the ''Essence Reconfiguration'' effect has been applied.?

    ?Essence Reconfiguration: Any types you have already unlocked and acquired are now unaffected by penalties. From now on, when you unlock new type information, any penalties will be reset for that type.

    *P.S.: Evolution is like a puzzle. Remember that it is always iplete until it¡¯s finished.?

    ¡®No way!¡¯

    The Stage 1 reward for the Cosmic Monster type was more astonishing than anything I had ever seen.

    -

    ¡°Captain Nern, how much farther until we reach the artifact?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll arrive soon. It¡¯s not far from here.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡±

    ¡°¡­Damn, it wasn¡¯t like this back when the artifact was stored. I have no idea what changed.¡±

    Former Captain Nern of the Empire¡¯s mothership and Si-hyun Yujin were at the forefront of their travelling group, engaged in conversation.

    Watching her, L recalled the data chip she had seen earlier.

    When she first heard Si-hyun''s words, L thought she¡¯d lost her mind.

    Maybe she¡¯d gone mad after living in Akira Yujin¡¯s shadow for too long.

    ¡®If she really had gone insane, that¡¯d be easier to understand¡­¡¯

    Regardless of Si-hyun¡¯s mental state, the data she¡¯d handed over didn¡¯t seem to be fabricated.

    In fact, there weren¡¯t that many visual images on the data chip¡ªbarely a dozen. However, the annotations, research papers, and supplementary notes attached to interpret the navigation charts and texts in the images were extensive.

    As the general manager of the T&C Special Trade Center, L received weekly reports on the city''s overall affairs, so her knowledge and information were vast.

    To her, the contents of Si-hyun¡¯s data chip didn¡¯t seem like the ramblings of a madwoman or something hastily pieced together.

    ¡®Which only makes it all the more baffling.¡¯

    The records left by Beom-ho, the cultist who was supposedly Si-hyun¡¯s former master, concerned two weapons.

    One of them was merely an iplete navigation chart and wasn¡¯t worth focusing on, but the other was different. About 60% of its details had been deciphered, and the weapon''s effects were simply absurd.

    ¡®A weapon capable of selectively killing only certain organisms?¡¯

    ording to Si-hyun¡¯s interpretation, the weapon fired a particle beam that was lethally effective against specific organic lifeforms, enabling mass ughter. The weapon could be recalibrated to target different life forms by inputting new gic data.

    In simple terms, it was like the Star Union¡¯s Gremlin Torpedo nanoweapon, but instead of targeting metals, it targeted living beings.

    Based on what Captain Nern had mentioned, many aspects of the weapon matched the descriptions in the records. They imed that this single weapon wiped out the entire Outspeiser legion.

    ¡®The problem is that nobody knows how this weapon works.¡¯

    When they first met, Nern had told her this:

    A mysterious crew member left the weapon behind and vanished, and nobody dared to use it. Despite its immense destructive power, no one understood how it worked or what powered it. Few people would dare to touch a weapon akin to a nano-nuclear bomb that selectively killed certain life forms.

    So, they decided to hide it deep within the volcano of this remote.

    ¡®...There are too many iprehensible elements.¡¯

    Even if I ept the weapon¡¯s existence as fact, there are still too many unresolved issues.

    If Si-hyun¡¯s father, Jung-woo, was the original owner of the weapon, why didn¡¯t he use it when fighting Akira? If he had, he wouldn¡¯t have lost his life or been stripped of his patriarchal position.

    And it¡¯s also unclear why this was left as a legacy for his descendants. If that were the case, Beom-ho should have personally handed the weapon over to Si-hyun.

    Instead, she¡¯s only now beginning to search for it, long after Jung-woo Yujin¡¯s death, under the guidance of someone entirely unrted to her family¡ªCaptain Nern.

    ¡®Just what is Beom-ho thinking?¡¯

    Si-hyun Yujin, Captain Nern.

    It felt as though the upper echelons of the Megacorps and the elites of the Cult Empire were being toyed with by Beom-ho.

    While L was lost in herplex thoughts, the group reached a dead end.

    ¡°This path is blocked¡ªwhat''s going on?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, there should be a passage here¡­.¡±

    The moment Nern finished speaking, Si-hyun transformed her arm into a de and shed at the wall. The cave wall copsed in an instant, revealing arge, open space.

    ¡°What is this¡­?¡±

    ¡°Good heavens. There are so many corpses.¡±

    As they shone their shlights into the dim, hollow space, the first thing they saw were bodies. The carcasses of dangerous creatures they had encountered on their way here, along with unidentified organisms, were scattered everywhere.

    ¡°What kind of creature is this? I''ve never seen anything like it before.¡±

    Si-hyun¡¯s subordinates grimaced at the sight of monsters with eight sturdy legs mixed in among the corpses. These creatures, which they had never seen on their journey here, looked more mechanical than natural.

    ¡°Same with this one. These things seem to have died recently.¡±

    Unlike outside, it was rtively warm in this space. That meant it was an environment conducive to dposition. Yet the corpses lying around here were still in the early stages of decay.

    Why had they fought and killed each other in this ce despite the abundance of prey outside? Faced with this iprehensible scene, the subordinates were bewildered.

    ?Was it like this thest time you were here??

    ¡°Of course not. There was nothing in this mountain when we were here.¡±

    ?What do you think¡­ Si-hyun??

    L called out, but Si-hyun didn¡¯t respond. As if entranced, she walked through the pile of corpses.

    Then, reaching into the mound of bodies in the far end of the cavern, she pulled something out.

    ?What is that??

    ¡°That¡¯s it! The artifact we buried in this chamber!¡±

    L still reacted with suspicion, while Nern¡¯s face reflected a mix of astonishment and fear.

    They didn¡¯t understand.

    What Si-hyun Yujin was seeing at that moment.

    ?Perk ''The Forge of the Omniscient'' has produced ''Abyssal Destroyer.''?

    ?Current Owner: None (Temporary Holder: Shin Beom-ho)?

    ?Acquisition Condition: Gic simrity to ''yer Jung-woo.''?

    ?New user ''Si-hyun Yujin.'' Acquisition condition confirmed. Disabling barrier.?

    ?Ownership of ''Abyssal Destroyer'' has transferred from ''yer Shin Beom-ho'' to ''Si-hyun Yujin.''?

    The translucent text boxes felt as if they were directly piercing into her brain. Si-hyun couldn¡¯tprehend even half of the contents disyed.

    But there was one thing she was certain of.

    This item would now serve a new master.

 Chapter 249:

    Chapter 249:

    The Amorph incurs a penalty each time it acquires a new type.

    With every new type gained, the number of unique traits required for the next acquisition doubles.

    Once a penalty is incurred, there''s no way to remove it, which means that, over time, it bes increasingly difficult for the Amorph to acquire new types.

    That¡¯s why it needed to be cautious about which types to acquire first, and there were many times it had to collect unnecessary traits just to meet the quota.

    This alone was problematic, but the real issuey elsewhere.

    It was the fact that the inherent drawback of unique traits synergized poorly with the type penalty.

    Unique skills or traits disappear if the character dies. If a character has just enough traits to avoid incurring a type penalty but then dies, both the unique traits and the type are lost.

    I¡¯ve experienced losing a type multiple times due to unique traits vanishing after I died.

    ¡®But now it¡¯s saying that the penalty is mitigated.¡¯Thanks to this, I could freely fuse the traits of the types I¡¯d already acquired. Moreover, obtaining new types in the future became easier.

    The ¡°Special Defense Enhancement Type¡± and ¡°Internal Organ Enhancement Type,¡± which I¡¯d already unlocked, still required 16 traits each. But since they were already unlocked, the number required wouldn¡¯t change.

    ¡®At least now I don''t have to obsess over the numbers anymore.¡¯

    I could use the traits I had as materials for fusion or trait enhancement as much as I wanted. From now on, I couldbine unique traits as long as I had the necessary materials.

    ¡®I should be able to meet the evolution conditions more quickly.¡¯

    I¡¯ll reach full maturity after obtaining just five more unique traits and two more types.

    Thanks to the reward from reaching Stage 1 of the Cosmic Monster, the penalty is reset for any new types acquired from now on, making it easier to gain new ones. If I''m lucky, I might even acquire a new type before enhancing the ones I already have, like the Special Defense or Internal Organ types.

    ¡®For that, I need to leave this ce.¡¯

    If this were a game, I¡¯d head to a tougher hunting ground to obtain more unique traits, but that¡¯s not the case now. Combining unique traits has be much easier. Instead, it¡¯s more advantageous to go somewhere where I can collect the gic essences of a wide variety of creatures.

    After confirming the type rewards, I dismissed the text box. By now, PS-111 should have finished its modifications. I should discuss with it when the best time to leave would be.

    Moving mybat arms, which had elongated like a spider¡¯s legs, and my winged arms, I stepped out of the cargo hold. On the way, I peeked into the storage area where the others were kept.

    Number 26, Mother of the Sky, and Adhai were, as always, sleeping together. They must have fallen asleep while waiting for me.

    ¡®They must¡¯ve been exhausted from the battle¡­ huh?¡¯

    I was about to leave when I noticed a red mark on Adhai¡¯s body. At first, I thought it might be a pattern from the Red Gagon traits, but it looked different. Judging by the peeled scales, it seemed more like an impact wound.

    ¡®Could it be from the fight with Pyra Eleven?¡¯

    I thought she was fine when the shipnded, but maybe I missed it since the wound wasn¡¯t that big. It should heal in about a day, even without a nest.

    ¡®Tsk. I¡¯ll have to pay more attention next time.¡¯

    I quietly moved out of the storage area.

    After gaining the ¡°Great Infector¡± trait and transforming, my body had be much lighter. Combined with the effect of the ¡°Silent Movement¡± trait, the synergy was quite impressive. Despite my 25-meter size, I walked across the alloy floor with barely a sound.

    I silently moved toward the control room.

    Just as before, I found PS-111 connected by numerous cables to its spine.

    It seemed so focused on reading the ship¡¯s data that it didn¡¯t notice me approaching.

    ¡°PS-111?¡±

    ¡°You have arrived?¡±

    It only noticed me after I called out. The red camera lens, which had reced its eyes, blinked and fixed its gaze on me.

    ¡°There have been significant changes to your formpared to the previous ¡®Amorph¡¯ data.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve grown further.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    ¡°What were you looking at that made you not notice meing?¡±

    At my question, PS-111 fell silent. The red camera lens that had been meeting my gaze wavered slightly.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    Although I knew it was a being mixed with machinery and biology, its behavior right now was clearly one of agitation.

    Avoiding my gaze, it hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

    ¡°Please look at this.¡±

    The moment it finished speaking, arge hologram appeared in the center of the control room. It disyed a detailed mechanical structure and a 3D diagram of a creature with severed limbs.

    ¡°A mutant Screamer?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a blueprint left behind by Pyra Eleven for producing mutant Screamers.¡±

    The mechanical device appeared to be a life-support system for the Screamer, while the creature with severed limbs was a Hulk mutant used as its material.

    Next to the creature, there were a few lines of small text. From the words, it seemed to be gic information of the creatures used as ingredients for the Hulk mutant.

    ¡®The text is all scrambled and hard to decipher.¡¯

    There were only a few recognizable words; the rest were garbled, as if corrupted.

    ¡°What¡¯s with the scrambled parts?¡±

    ¡°The corrupted sections are protected by a defense system set up by an entity higher than Pyra Eleven. I cannot bypass it.¡±

    If it¡¯s someone above Pyra Eleven, it could only be the Grand Sovereign. He must have ced the lock.

    As I was pondering what the scrambled text might contain, the holographic screen shifted. The newly disyed screen showed two video clips.

    ¡°I investigated to find out which organism or sentient being was responsible for my memories. As a result, I discovered the following records.¡±

    As PS-111 finished speaking, the first video began ying.

    On the screen, reptilian humanoids with insect-like characteristics were shown inside multiple test tubes.

    ¡®Cold Blood?¡¯

    Since they all looked identical, they seemed to be clones. There was a small namete starting with ¡°P¡± under the test tube, but it passed by quickly.

    As the first video ended, the second one began.

    Dozens of what appeared to be cloned Cold Blood bodiesy on a cold metal te. A machine approached and extracted the brains from the bodies, transferring them into a Screamer machine behind them.

    Of the dozens of Screamer machines, only one twitched and moved. The brain that activated the Screamer machine had various mechanical chips imnted in it. All the others were discarded.

    A metal skull, imprinted with a single number, covered the half-mechanical brain.

    The number was 111.

    ¡°That¡¯s you.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I was an experiment. Out of the many clones, I was the only sessful one.¡±

    Only then did I understand why PS-111 seemed so lost.

    It was because it had directly witnessed how it was created, and that had shocked it.

    ¡®¡­It¡¯s understandable.¡¯

    This creature, a fusion of machine and biology, was in the process of developing a new sense of self. Dering itself as special to Pyra Eleven was part of that transformation. But upon realizing it was no different from the ship, that sense of identity was deeply shaken.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    There are countless sci-fi works where AIs be so advanced that they awaken to self-awareness. Many characters struggle with whether they¡¯re just programmed machines or autonomous, independent beings.

    Although PS-111¡¯s case is a bit different, its dilemma resonates with the same theme. Who am I? It¡¯s a question about its essence.

    ¡®It¡¯s not a question I can answer, but¡­¡¯

    After a moment of thought, I spoke to it.

    ¡°Can you identify whose clone that Cold Blood is?¡±

    ¡°Due to the defense system, it¡¯s impossible to verify fully.¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s start there.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I mean finding out who that Cold Blood clone is that makes up your brain. I¡¯ll help you.¡±

    If you¡¯re into monsters or creatures, you inevitably encounter various sci-fi works. My suggestion came from those inspirations.

    ¡®Subconsciously, it probably sees that brain as being closest to its essence.¡¯

    PS-111 has a significant amount of Sea Demon gics, enough to even receive psychic powers from Number 26. It also carries genes from other creatures.

    Yet, it''s most interested in the owner of that brain¡ªthe Cold Blood clone. It must have concluded that this part heavily influences its own thoughts.

    Tracking the original clone''s footsteps wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea. If it learns about a significant part of what constitutes its self, it might gain a clearer understanding of itself.

    ¡®¡­Though I¡¯m not certain.¡¯

    In reality, I¡¯m not an expert in biology or neuroscience. I have no idea how its consciousness and thoughts are structured or how they function. I merely based my suggestion on what I¡¯ve seen in various media.

    Fortunately, my proposal seemed to intrigue it. Its camera lens zoomed in on me, indicating its interest.

    After a moment, it gave a small nod.

    ¡°Your suggestion, Amorph, is an intriguing approach. I will seriously consider it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡±

    As always, it remained expressionless, but it seemed satisfied with our conversation.

    Sending a signal through the cables connected to its spine, it deactivated the hologram and casually spoke.

    ¡°Is there anything you need? If you tell me, I¡¯ll do anything you ask.¡±

    His words reminded me of the reason I came to the control room.

    ¡°Check when Pyra Eleven sent a support request and what kind of response she received.¡±

    ¡°A support request?¡±

    ¡°If a support fleet ising, we need to know when they''ll arrive.¡±

    ¡°Please wait a moment.¡±

    At my request, PS-111 closed its eyes and began searching through the ship''sputer.

    The spine that had emerged from its back quivered, and light flickered every time electrical signals travelled through the multiple cables connected to it.

    ¡°The support request was made five weeks ago. It stated that Pyra Eleven had sustained significant damage, hindering her ability to carry out her mission and makingmunication difficult.¡±

    ¡°Five weeks ago? What does it say about the cause of the damage?¡±

    ¡°Strangely, there is no record of that part. It appears Pyra Eleven concealed it.¡±

    The androids of the Mechanical Committee possess advanced intelligence and can deceive others with ease.

    But to go as far as hiding such details from the highest-ranking members, especially when requesting support, doesn¡¯t make much sense.

    ¡°There were no furthermunications from Pyra Eleven until 32 hours ago when another support request was sent.¡±

    ¡°That was during the battle at the Gagon nest.¡±

    ¡°Yes. She attached the data that was transmitted before the Screamers''munication was cut off.¡±

    Since I hadn¡¯t used my unique abilities back then, they shouldn''t know the full extent of my power. However, they did learn about my rtionship with the Gagon¡ªspecifically, that I have allies. When theye to fight me next, they¡¯ll be well-prepared.

    ¡°Has there been any response from their side?¡±

    ¡°Please wait a moment.¡±

    Once again, PS-111 checked the records stored in theputer. Unlike outgoing messages, iing ones were more difficult to ess due to the defense system, and this time, it took longer.

    About 30 minutes passed.

    PS-111''s eyes suddenly snapped open.

    ¡°This is bad, Amorph. Three weeks ago, Europa II departed with a support fleet en route to this.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The elite fleets of Nemea V, Redtail VIII, and Arrow IX are part of the support fleet.¡±

    My heart sank upon hearing that.

    If they set out three weeks ago, they¡¯ll be here within a few days at most.

    ¡®They could even arrive as early as tomorrow!¡¯

    It''s possible that a reconnaissance fleet under the support fleet could reach here by tomorrow. I urgently asked PS-111,

    ¡°How long do you think it will take?¡±

    ¡°Assuming they¡¯re using engines equivalent to this ship''s, the vanguard will arrive in 18 hours.¡±

    ¡°Check if this ship is capable ofunching.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    This time, I can¡¯t use the Nightmare Horizon. This ship is massive, and it takes quite some time to corrode it. If the enemy arrives early, I won¡¯t be able to respond.

    Therefore, I need to leave the control of the ship to PS-111 and prepare for the worst-case scenario myself.

    After giving the order, I rushed to the storage room to wake the others.

    ?Big Baby, are you done already??

    ?What is it???What is it???What is it??

    ?What¡¯s with that look...? Oh, this must be your new form.?

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (That''s not what''s important right now.)]

    Number 26 asked if my growth wasplete, Adhai was groggy from just waking up, and Mother of the Sky seemed startled by my unfamiliar appearance.

    I quickly exined the situation to them.

    ?Four of the High Councilors areing here??

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (The Grand Sovereign might join them too.)]

    Mother of the Sky quickly grasped the gravity of my words, her amber eyes widening.

    ¡°What will you do? If even a yer is involved, it¡¯ll be nearly impossible for us to win.¡±

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (We won¡¯t fight this time.)]

    I might manage against two High Councilors, but four is too much. And if a yer is involved, it''s a guaranteed defeat.

    ¡®Even if I manage to survive¡­¡¯

    I¡¯ll lose everyone here, including the Gagons we just gained. Losing them once was enough.

    I turned my gaze to Adhai.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ (Go to the nest and gather all the Gagons.)]

    ?Fellow kin??Together??Leave??

    ?Are you¡­??

    [Z ZZZ ZZZZ (Yes. It''s time to move out.)]

    Atst, it¡¯s time to leave this frozen.

 Chapter 250:

    Chapter 250:

    -

    A single spaceship was orbiting the snow-white, drifting like a snowball.

    It belonged to Si-Hyun Yujin, who was secretly working to overthrow the usurper of the Yujin family, Akira Yujin. Currently, Min-Seok Yujin, Si-Hyun''s butler, was acting as the ship''s captain in her stead since she had descended to the.

    In Si-Hyun''s office, Min-Seok was handling several tasks on her behalf.

    He took his eyes off the terminal pad and pressed his temples with his fingers. A report he had received a few hours ago was weighing heavily on him.

    ¡®They¡¯ve found the artifact, huh?¡¯

    Contact had been made by the exploration team that had lostmunication due to radio interference until now.

    They reported that Si-Hyun had recovered the artifacts yesterday and was currently returning to the exploration vessel. He had thought her pursuit of these artifacts was nothing more than a wild goose chase, but it turned out that he was mistaken.

    ¡®¡­We still can''t be certain.¡¯When exploring news, objects that appear to be ancient relics are sometimes discovered. However, none of these artifacts ever possessed the incredible power that the media often glorified. Most were simply unique objects that ended up in museums or auction houses.

    So, it was most likely that what Si-Hyun had found would turn out to be just another item you''d see in an auction. If that were the case, his master would have wasted a considerable amount of time on a pointless endeavor.

    ¡®Who would''ve thought cloning would have this kind of side effect.¡¯

    While the Megacorp prohibits the production of clones, the Star Union does not. Just as Megacorp modifies its employees into Hulk Mutants, the Star Union uses clones as raw material for their bio-weapon soldiers. It could be said that their clone manufacturing technology is quite advanced.

    However, there are drawbacks to the Star Union''s cloning technology, including issues with memory transfer, brain abnormalities, and mental instability.

    Si-Hyun Yujin tried to minimize these side effects by applying Megacorp¡¯s gic modification technology and the psychic power techniques she learned from a cult during her childhood.

    In other words, the "Cloned Si-Hyun", who currently resides beneath that white star, is essentially a being that incorporates the most advanced technologies from the most intelligent beings in this universe. Yet, despite that, the fact that she was engrossed in some ridiculous legend or myth left Min-Seok feeling exasperated.

    ¡®If I use what she left behind¡­¡¯

    Min-Seok took out an item from his inner pocket.

    The small, lighter-sized remote in his hand was something the original Si-Hyun Yujin had left for him.

    If the clone ever deviated from the predetermined n, this would be the tool to stop her.

    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±

    He sighed, fiddling with the remote, when suddenly the terminal pad lit up. A call wasing from the situation room.

    ¡°This is Min-Seok. What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ?S-sir, we have an emergency! The satellite positioned at the system''s outer rim has detected a massive warp energy signature!?

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Min-Seok shot up from his seat at the urgency in his subordinate''s voice.

    ¡°Where is iting from? Can you identify it?¡±

    ?ording to the energy analysis, there¡¯s a 78% chance that it¡¯s the elite fleet of the Star Union! Judging by the energy flow, the vanguard should arrive within a few hours!?

    ¡°Damn it! What about Jax-01? Why haven''t we received any contact from them?!¡±

    ?I-I''ll check right away!?

    Cursing under his breath, Min-Seok hurriedly left the office. As he sprinted toward the situation room, he barked out anothermand to his subordinate.

    ¡°That can wait! For now, bringing Lady Si-Hyun back is the top priority. Track the exploration team''s route and input the coordinates. Send a transport vessel to that location. Understood?¡±

    ?Understood!?

    Si-Hyun had found the artifacts yesterday and was on her way back. Considering the distance, it would take at least a week, even if she hurried.

    ¡®If the Star Union catches her, we¡¯re done for!¡¯

    Thanks to numerous modifications, this ship was considerably armed, but it wasn''t enough to face the elite fleet. It couldn''t even guarantee victory against the elite fleet¡¯s reconnaissance unit.

    By the time Min-Seok reached the situation room, a small spacecraft had already beenunched toward the White Star.

    ---

    [Z ZZ ZZ (Anything left?)]

    In the now-empty cavern, I asked Adhai. She circled the cavern on her strong, deer-like legs.

    ?That??was thest one??no more left?

    Knowing that the elite fleet was on its way, we had hurriedly begun preparations to leave. While PS-111 inspected the ship, Adhai and I headed to the Gagon nest.

    Upon arriving, we went around waking all the Gagons and exined the situation. We told them that an incredibly powerful enemy wasing and that we needed to escape.

    I expected the process of convincing them to take quite some time, so I purposely moved quickly, but surprisingly, the Gagons offered little resistance. The moment they heard Adhai¡¯s words, they immediately began preparing to leave.

    From that point, everything proceeded smoothly.

    The Green and White Gagons carried the young Blue Gagons on their backs and flew to the ship. I, along with the ck Gagon, Ham Ort, transported the Blue Gagons as well.

    After moving the Gagons, the next task was to transport the eggs. More than 50 eggs were stored within the Dragon''s nest.

    Gagon eggs cannot hatch if exposed to cold temperatures for too long, so Ham Ort and I, who were thergest and fastest fliers, took on the task of moving them.

    Six hours had passed since we began the repeated trips back and forth, carrying the eggs.

    Now, the only ones left were the seven eggs I currently held. I extended all my eroding tendrils, each gripping an egg tightly, while I used the smaller arms on my chest to clutch the remaining one.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Since this is thest trip, let¡¯s check everywhere else too.)]

    ?Big Elder??Thank you?

    Adhai expressed her gratitude as I carefully checked to ensure that no eggs were left behind.

    Once a Gagon hatches from these eggs and matures, it would be an additional force. If we were lucky, one might even grow into a Red Gagon, just like Adhai.

    Although I was only being thorough to avoid missing even a single egg, Adhai seemed to misunderstand, thinking I was being considerate because I cared deeply for the Gagons.

    ¡®No need to correct her.¡¯

    After leaving the egg storage nest, we decided to split up and check the surrounding caverns.

    This area, being where the eggs were stored, was located in the deepest part of the dragon''s nest. Aside from the indirect impressions I¡¯d sensed through the nest, this was my first time visiting this ce in person.

    I walked along the natural pathway formed by hardened minerals, eggs still in my grasp. Entering a nearby cave chamber, I found only traces of where eggs had once been stored. It was clear that Ham Ort had already been here.

    ¡®Let¡¯s check just one more spot before heading out.¡¯

    The final destination was a massive cavern located deeper inside than the egg storage room. As I rounded the bend in the passageway, a brilliant light struck my eyes.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    The light was emanating from the depths of therge cavern. As I stepped inside, I was stunned.

    There was a sea of jewels.

    ¡®¡­This is incredible.¡¯

    It was exactly what you¡¯d expect from the Gagons, who were modelled after Western Dragons.

    This vast collection of precious metals clearly marked this ce as Odd Grad''sir.

    ¡®Gagons do have a fondness for rare minerals.¡¯

    In myths, dragons hoard jewels out of greed, but the Gagons collect them for a slightly different reason.

    They prefer metals with unique properties, such as Moonsilver, which amplifies psychic power, or Novametal, a key material used in the cores of the Thunder God or imperial warships. Their tendency to hoard these materials likely stems from their vulnerability to energy shortages during their youth, which developed into a kind ofpulsion.

    Anyway, the metals in Odd Grad¡¯sir were all unrefined chunks of rare metals. Some still contained significant amounts of energy, while others had been drained, turning into ordinary gemstones.

    ¡®If I weren¡¯t an Amorph, I¡¯d be losing my mind right now.¡¯

    Even selling just half of these metals would be enough to buy two or threes. After admiring the sea of jewels for a moment, I picked up a few pieces of metal.

    ¡®Mother of the Sky might need these.¡¯

    The ce we were heading to after leaving this was quite important for both Mother of the Sky and me. For me, it was about evolution, and for her, it was about ascending to the next stage of deification.

    ¡®We¡¯ll need all the resources we can get until we achieve our goal.¡¯

    Since I was already carrying the eggs, I couldn''t pick up many. I used the pincers on my tail to firmly grip the metal chunks.

    ¡®Alright, time to head ou¡ªhuh?¡¯

    Just as I was about to leave, something caught my eye.

    Nestled among the jewels was a diamond-shaped stone.

    ¡®What¡¯s that?¡¯

    The other metals were still rough and unrefined, but this stone was different. It looked exceptionally smooth, as if it had been meticulously crafted. Its surface was covered with tiny, intricate letters and patterns.

    ¡®A stele?¡¯

    I picked up the diamond-shaped stone¡ªor rather, the stele. No matter how I looked at it, it appeared to be something created by a civilization.

    ¡®Why would Odd Grad have an item like this?¡¯

    Thinking about its artificial nature, I recalled something else.

    The ring that concealed emotions which Odd Grad had possessed. That, too, wasn¡¯t something a Gagon would typically have.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to check it out once I return to the ship.¡¯

    Odd Grad¡¯s ring was currently stored in the sample preservation area on the ship. He had taken it off when consuming a gic sample and hadn¡¯t paid any further attention to it since.

    With the diamond-shaped stele in hand, I exited the cavern. As I did, I heard the sound of Adhai running from the passage ahead.

    [ZZZZ (Adhai?)]

    ?Big Elder!??Something¡¯s wrong!?

    [ZZ (What is it?)]

    ?Little Elder??hase??to this ce?

    Number 26 had arrived?

    Just as I was about to ask what she meant, a familiar wave touched the tendrils of my monstrous form.

    ?Big Bro! Your friend says to hurry ande out!?

    It was unmistakably the psychic wave of Number 26. It hade near the Dragon¡¯s nest.

    ¡®Why all of a sudden?¡¯

    Something bad had clearly happened. I hurried out of the nest with Adhai.

    As soon as we emerged, what greeted us was a massive hunk of steel¡ªa colossal warship hovering over the cliffs surrounding the nest.

    It was the Screamer support vessel, a Jax Alpha-ss battleship seized from Pyra Eleven.

    ¡®Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡¯

    There was only one reason PS-111 would urgently bring the ship all the way here¡ªthe scouting fleet of the Star Union''s elite task force had entered this star system.

    ¡®They arrived faster than expected!¡¯

    PS-111 had estimated that the vanguard would take about 18 hours to arrive, but that prediction waspletely off.

    ¡®Great Elder!¡¯

    The Great Elder must have intervened. It was clear he took some measures to ensure the elite fleet moved as quickly as possible.

    Adhai and I flew up and boarded the ship. As we entered the hangar, the Green Gagons greeted us.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Deliver these eggs to Number 26.)]

    ?Understood.?

    After handing over the items we had collected to the Green Gagons, I quickly rushed to themand room.

    Upon entering, I found PS-111, linked to the ship, waiting alongside Mother of the Sky.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°The scouting unit entered the star system sooner than I anticipated. They will encircle this within 10 minutes.¡±

    ¡°Anything else unusual?¡±

    This time, it was Mother of the Sky who answered instead of PS-111.

    ?They brought a Warp Finder.?

    A Warp Finder is a device that can trace where someone has jumped to by tracking the residual energy left behind for a short period. Even if we entered faster-than-light travel right now, they would catch up to us in no time.

    ¡°Howrge is the enemy force?¡±

    ¡°Thirty X10-ss medium destroyers, three XAX-5-ss fast battleships, and numerous patrol ships.¡±

    That¡¯s quite a sizable force for a scouting unit. They¡¯re clearly well-prepared to finish me off.

    ¡®It would take quite a while to annihte them all.¡¯

    If we deployed all the Gagons at our disposal, it wouldn''t be impossible to obliterate the scouting fleet. The problem, however, was the time it would take.

    They arrived a third of the time sooner than PS-111 had estimated. It¡¯s highly possible the elite fleet might also arrive much earlier than anticipated.

    ¡®Maybe that scouting fleet is just meant to stall for time.¡¯

    They knew that I could corrode and take control of ships. They might even suspect that I¡¯ve already gained spaceflight capabilities. If this were a game, that¡¯s the assumption they would make.

    Thus, they might have assigned the Warp Finder to the scouting fleet, intending to lure me into a fight. I wouldn¡¯t know which ship carries the Warp Finder, so I would have to destroy all of them to avoid being tracked.

    ¡®And that would naturally cause a dy.¡¯

    Even if I managed to annihte the enemy unit and escape afterward, if they gained enough time to track my traces, that alone would be beneficial for them.

    ¡®A Warp Finder can trace movements for up to 30 minutes.¡¯

    The elite fleet would likely arrive around that same timeframe.

    In other words, we need to destroy the enemy fleet within 30 minutes if we¡¯re to escape their pursuit.

    ¡®Normally, that¡¯s how it would have to be¡­.¡¯

    However, there¡¯s no PS-111, the genius mutant Screamer, on their side. And they have no idea how many Gagons are packed aboard this ship.

    I looked at PS-111.

    ¡°They brought a Warp Finder, you said?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Then, can you identify which ships have them?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve confirmed that there are five ships carrying the device.¡±

    ¡°Let me know before we engage with them.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ?You¡¯re not¡­??

    Mother of the Sky, realizing the implication of my question, reacted in shock.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (We¡¯ll eliminate those five ships as quickly as possible and get out of here.)]

    ?¡­Won¡¯t there be a shortage of time??

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZZ (We have no choice. If we don¡¯t deal with them here, it¡¯ll only get worse.)]

    I¡¯ve spent my life on the run, always chased by time.

    So battles with time limits aren¡¯t anything new to me.

    ¡®I¡¯ll finish this within 25 minutes, at most.¡¯

    The target is the five ships carrying the Warp Finders. If I destroy them within 25 minutes, it¡¯s my victory.

    With that in mind, I left themand room.

    This will be the final battle before we leave this.

 Chapter 251:

    Chapter 251:

    -

    Captain Valtazei of the 8th Fleet, previously part of the Redtail Fleet but now temporarily assigned to the scouting unit, was currently very excited.

    Was it because of the impending battle? Or perhaps the fact that this was a massive operation involving four elite fleets?

    No, none of those reasons applied. Valtazei was a veteran soldier who had fought through countless battles. He wasn''t some rookie who¡¯d get worked up over something like this.

    The real reason for his excitement was that the Great Elder himself was participating in this battle.

    There were very few instances where the highest authority of the Star Union personally stepped onto the battlefield. Even among the elite cyborgs more exceptional than Valtazei, there were almost no cases of them having fought alongside the Great Elder.

    But today, Valtazei had the honor of treading the battlefield alongside that magnificent leader.

    ¡®Today is truly a glorious day.¡¯

    ?Theary encirclement is being deployed.?¡°Good. Activate the Warp Finder first, and power up the system monitoring radar for the star system. Report any abnormalities immediately.¡±

    ?Confirmed.?

    Despite the thrill surging within him, his rational mind remained ice-cold. Failure was not an option, especially since this battle had the Great Elder himself involved.

    With his consciousness linked to the ship¡¯sputer, he began his duties as part of the scouting fleet.

    As he processed the data being transmitted through the cables and issuedmands, something caught his eye.

    On the 3D map of the star system, two unfamiliar red markers had appeared.

    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯

    He wondered if he was seeing things, but no¡ªone marker remained stationary, distanced from the target.

    And the other one was¡­

    ¡°Enemy attack! Enemy attack! All units, prepare for battle!¡±

    ?Confirmed. Orders ryed.?

    A crimson light rapidly approached the ship that had been initiating the encirclement.

    Soon, that light began to split into many fragments.

    ---

    [ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Avoid unnecessary attacks.)]

    ?Concern??Unnecessary??Comrades??Strong?

    Beside me, Adhai radiated a wave of pride through her telepathic signal. The other Gagons following behind us emitted a wave of agreement, scattering their thoughts in harmony.

    [ZZZ ZZ (Focus only on the targets.)]

    ?Yes.?

    ?Ham Ort??Remembers?

    I was currently cutting through the vacuum of space, flying with fifteen Gagons.

    This was the same lineup that fought against Pyra Eleven: Adhai, now empowered by the Red Gagon¡¯s strength; Ham Ort, the ck Gagon; and thirteen White Gagons, all following my lead.

    And at the end of my trajectory, there were the enemy ships.

    Thirty-three massive vessels, apanied by numerous patrol ships protecting their perimeters. Their numbers wererge enough to be considered a regr fleet rather than just a scouting unit.

    The moment they spotted us, the enemy quickly formed a battle formation.

    Among the dark expanse of space, dotted with starlight, flickers of light began to shine. Torpedoes and dronesunched by the enemy raced toward us.

    The Gagons, including Adhai, instinctively moved behind me without needing any instructions. Normally, I wouldn¡¯t be able to conceal all fifteen Gagons with my body, but that was only in my usual state.

    The body I now used in this zero-gravity environment was farrger than normal.

    After hunting down the Ice Horror in the past, I had acquired a fusion trait rted to my body called "Bone Beast." This fusion trait allowed me to transform into a giant beast for 60 minutes.

    Back when I fought against Jason,bining the Bone Beast with the special state of "King of Monsters" from the Organic Evolution trait had allowed my body to grow to nearly 300 meters in length.

    Of course, my current form wasn¡¯t thatrge. The cooldown of the Organic Evolution trait hadn¡¯t ended, so I couldn¡¯t use it yet.

    ¡®Still, an 80-meter-long body is more than big enough.¡¯

    Unlike the battle against Jason, this time, I also had wings. My wingspan alone was well over 100 meters, making my breadth even greater than my length.

    The ck carapace that covered my body was now doubly reinforced with the white exoskeleton from the Bone Beast transformation. Anyone looking at me would probably think I was draped in the bones of a gigantic monster, like the Ice Horror.

    ¡®Alright, let¡¯s get started.¡¯

    I spread my massive wings, shielding the Gagons as I turned my snout toward the iing torpedoes and drones.

    Even though there was no wind in this void, the tendrils sprouting from my neck swayed gently. It wasn¡¯t the wind moving them but the psychic power emanating from within me.

    And then, the most powerful psychic breath I¡¯d ever unleashed erupted toward the targets.

    As the violet beam surged, it ignited a dazzling disy of explosions. The torpedoes of the Star Union were rendered powerless before the mes of my amplified psychic power, boosted by both the Bone Beast and the ¡°Heart of the Dragon¡± ability.

    The Anti-Psycho Defense (APD) weapons managed to hold up for a moment, but they couldn¡¯t avoid the torpedoes detonating at point-nk range. Drones caught in the st either exploded or malfunctioned, tumbling through space.

    I nullified the first wave of attacks in a single strike and charged towards the enemy ships. The special wavelengths radiating from the membranes of my wings allowed me to maneuver with exceptional agility even in space.

    The Gagons followed, utilizing their psychic power as propulsion to keep pace with me.

    The enemy attempted to barrage us with more firepower, but by then, I had already closed the distance between us and the scattered fleet.

    The corvettes around the destroyers fired ultra-vibration torpedoes at me, but they were useless. Even as the vibrations seeped through, theyers of my carapace blocked them from reaching deeper.

    Trusting in my defenses, Inded atop one of the corvettes. I could only imagine the panic inside. To them, a massive creature gripping their vessel would have been nightmarish.

    I grabbed the corvette and hurled it toward another corvette that wasunching torpedoes. The ship spun wildly through space before colliding with the other, and the ensuing impact created a sh of death.

    The X10-ss destroyer, which had been protected by the corvettes, tried to retreat upon witnessing this destruction.

    ¡°Where do you think you''re going?¡±

    I extended my corrosive tentacles. Enhanced by the ''Bone Beast'' effect, the tentacles had grown to the same massive scale as my wings and body, reaching out to grasp the fleeing destroyer.

    Compared to me, the destroyer was about five timesrger, but that didn¡¯t deter me. As its turrets began aiming at my tentacles and body, I pulled myself flush against it.

    ¡°Is this where the bridge is?¡±

    I pushed my head against a slight protrusion on the upper section of the ship, where dozens of small cameras stared back at me from the alloyed exterior.

    Opening my maw wide, a torrent of green liquid gushed from my throat, flooding over the destroyer''s outer hull.

    The Star Union¡¯s ships were all heavily armored, but even they couldn¡¯t withstand such an overwhelming volume of acid. As my size increased, so did the amount of acidic fungi I could release.

    In a matter of moments, the hull melted, revealing the half-ruined bridge. I saw the cyborgs within scream in terror. Whether it was from seeing me or from the vacuum exposure, I wasn¡¯t sure.

    To end their suffering quickly, I unleashed a powerful psychic breath.

    A massive bubble, nearly 10 meters in diameter, seeped into the ship. The cyborgs who were struggling to survive became prey to the greedy bubble.

    As they melted in silent agony, I couldn¡¯t help but think of an old sci-fi creature feature from Earth. It depicted a pink ooze from outer space that destroyed an entire town¡ªquite simr to what was unfolding here.

    ¡°Well then, let¡¯s¡­¡±

    With the bridge destroyed, rendering the destroyer¡¯s controls useless, I tightened my grip on it with my tentacles and flung the ship toward other enemy vessels.

    The destroyers rushing in to provide support collided with the iing ship. The psychic breath I had injected into the first ship transferred to the others, consuming new prey in the process. This paralyzed the destroyers, making them unable to mount any effective attacks.

    To finish things off, I released a regr psychic breath at the disoriented enemies.

    ¡°That¡¯s one down.¡±

    One of the destroyers I took down had a Warp Finder aboard.

    ording to PS-111, the five Warp Finders were spread across three XAX-5-ss fast battleships and two destroyers. Now, with one destroyed, four remained.

    As I battled the corvettes that attempted to swarm me, I observed how the others were fighting.

    In the distance, red, ck, and white stars were gliding across the sea of stars.

    The red star, leading the meteor shower, streaked toward the corvettes. One by one, the ships pierced by this star exploded, decorating the ck canvas of space.

    Smaller corvettes fired torpedoes and drones to pin it down, but they were too slow. Like a true ''meteor,'' the red star moved at incredible speed, cutting through the enemy ships.

    To deal with the rampaging red star, a destroyer began aiming its turrets. But this was a trap. A ck star, scales as dark as the universe itself, pounced on the destroyer.

    Like a hunting hound gripping its prey¡¯s throat, the ck star clung tightly to the destroyer and unleashed its violet breath.

    No matter how sturdy the destroyer¡¯s hull was, there was no surviving a dragon''s breath at such close range. The elongated vessel was torn in two.

    Cyborgs and androids spilled out from the fractured ship, thrashing in the endless expanse before going still.

    The other vessels tried to scatter and encircle the two dragons, but they wouldn¡¯t be granted such an easy victory. The 13 white dragons, vassals of the ''Daughter of the Great Meteor,'' unleashed their psychic breaths to keep the enemies at bay.

    ¡°They¡¯re fighting well.¡±

    The destroyer Ham Ort just destroyed also contained a Warp Finder. That makes two down.

    ¡°Three left¡­¡±

    At that moment, a torpedo farrger than any fired before shot toward me.

    I quickly wrapped my tentacles around the debris of a nearby destroyer and hurled it to intercept the iing torpedo. While the AI-guided projectile was clever, it hadn''t expected me to use the Star Union¡¯s own ship as a shield. The powerful explosion rippled through the void, shaking the empty ck space.

    ¡°Well, that worked out nicely.¡±

    Beyond the explosion, a series of enemy ships came into view. A massive vessel,rger than a destroyer, was aiming at me while being escorted by corvettes.

    The ship that attacked me was one of the XAX-5-ss battleships containing a Warp Finder.

    Sensing my gaze, the enemy, now fully reloaded, fired another volley of torpedoes in my direction.

    The torpedoes, massive and terrifying even at a nce, sped towards me. Even I would sustain considerable damage if one of those hit.

    "If I hadn¡¯t used Bone Beast, that is."

    Just before impact, I rammed the torpedo with my head carapace. The immense force and mes engulfed my body.

    ---

    ¡°H-Ha¡­ hahaha! We did it! We killed that damn monster!¡±

    Valtazei cheered as he watched the explosion through the battleship cameras mounted on the outer wall.

    He had been horrified earlier when he saw the ''Operational Target'' throwing a destroyer at hisrades. Even as a veteran soldier, he''d never seen such a monstrous disy.

    Especially when that creature had fixed its gaze on them after fending off the first attack, he had felt a chill run down his spine.

    But none of that mattered now. The beast was finished, having been struck by the battleship''s primary torpedoes.

    ¡°All remaining ships, maintain the Warp Finder and¡ªthose other monsters too¡ª¡±

    ?Warning: ¡®Operational Target¡¯ confirmed alive.?

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Valtazei¡¯s eyes widened at the ship''sputer''s urgent report. Real-time video feeds transmitted via cables directly to his eyes.

    ¡°No¡­ no way?!¡±

    From the ck mes, long, slender arms emerged. Each time the membranes attached to the arms fluttered, the mes and smoke swayed violently.

    Then, the elongated snout andrge horns of the creature''s head became faintly visible. Despite taking a direct hit from the torpedo, it appeared unscathed, save for some minor damage to its head.

    Its eyes, dull like a dead fish, stared back at Valtazei¡ªeyes of a demon.

    ¡°R-Reload the main guns! Kill it now!¡±

    ?Acknowledged.?

    As Valtazei shouted, the ''Operational Target'' moved again. Its ck wings, absorbing all light, unfurled, and the creature¡¯s form grew rapidlyrger. It approached with such speed that it seemed to magnify in an instant.

    The Corvettes and destroyers assigned to protect Valtazei moved to intercept, hoping to buy some time.

    Unfortunately, this was a fatal mistake. Six tentacles shot out from the creature¡¯s back, seizing the approaching corvettes. It swung them like blunt weapons, smashing the others that dared approach.

    The destroyers attempted to keep their distance while firing, but it was futile. From the cluster of tentacles around the creature''s neck, purple heat rays shot forth, obliterating the destroyers.

    ¡°I¡­ I need to retreat¡­!¡±

    Valtazei''s orders were to stall until the main fleet arrived. But they still needed more time to get here.

    ¡°Fire the main cannon, then retreat at full speed¡ª¡±

    Before he could finish hismand, the entire ship shook violently. It was a force that one might only expect from a direct hit by another battleship''s main cannon.

    Thrown forward in his chair, Valtazei looked up just in time to see the creature''s head. It was pressing its face against the ship''s camera, its jaws gaping wide.

    ¡°N-No! Please¡ª!¡±

    His overwhelming fear didn¡¯tst long.

    The purple mes melted the entire bridge and Valtazei¡¯s frail, cybeic body with it.

 Chapter 252:

    Chapter 252:

    -

    As Si-Hyun Yujin''s transport ship barely cleared the atmosphere, an urgent report arrived from the gship.

    ¡°The Star Union fleet has already arrived?¡±

    She had known about the iing fleet through satellites positioned at the outskirts of the Star System. However, she didn¡¯t expect them to arrive this quickly.

    Moreover, the enemies had brought with them a Warp Finder, a device capable of tracking faster-than-light movements. It was as if they hade to track down someone specific.

    ¡°Could it be that they''ve discovered the location of JAX-01?¡±

    The MegaCorp and Star Union were officially at war. To the cyborgs, Si-Hyun¡¯s faction was just another enemy of the Star Union. The fact that a regr fleet hade to such an isted location with a Warp Finder could only mean one thing.

    ¡®¡­This isn¡¯t good.¡¯

    As long as the Warp Finder was present, the gship was as good as on borrowed time. Even if they tried to escape via faster-than-light travel, the enemy would immediately follow.Her thoughts momentarily drifted to the ¡®artifacts¡¯ stored in the transport ship.

    The weapon ¡®Abyssal Destroyer,¡¯ used by Beomho, her former mentor, to annihte an Outspeiser, along with the Crystal Battery that provided it with immense energy.

    ¡®If I use that, I could break through without much difficulty.¡¯

    The urge to use the weapon welled up inside her, but she shook her head.

    She still didn''t fully understand the enemy¡¯s objectives or the current battle situation. There was no need to use the weapon until she had gathered more information.

    ¡°Any other notable details?¡±

    ¡°Uh, well¡­¡±

    At Si-Hyun¡¯s question, her subordinate hesitated before replying.

    ¡°ording tomunications from the gship, they¡¯re currently engaged inbat with a group of creatures presumed to be Gagons!¡±

    ¡°Gagons?¡±

    The subordinate¡¯s answer was far beyond her expectations.

    ¡®Why Gagons?¡¯

    ¡°The Gagons are attacking the fleet, so the gship is currently just observing without engaging.¡±

    ¡°¡­Hmm.¡±

    She had struggled with the Gagons when she first set foot on the, as they appeared regrly. In fact, their presence was a significant reason for her dyed entry into the volcano. She had deliberately kept changing her travel route to avoid the Gagons.

    ¡®I don¡¯t know how, but¡­¡¯

    The unpredictable movements of these creatures had actually turned into an advantage for her.

    ¡°For now, we¡¯ll take advantage of this situation. Return to the gship carefully, and avoid getting caught in the battle.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Beyond the reinforced ss of the transport ship, she could see the twinkling of starlight.

    Some of those twinkles weren¡¯t stars.

    ---

    ¡®What is that?¡¯

    I had just taken out the fourth Warp Finder. As I discarded the now useless chunk of metal into space, an unfamiliar ship caught my eye.

    An oval-shaped vessel floated alone at a considerable distance from the battlefield. Judging by its design, it wasn¡¯t a Star Union ship but rather a MegaCorp vessel.

    ¡®Why is a Megacorp ship here¡­ ah.¡¯

    Seeing the ship, something came to mind.

    Before I captured Odd Grad, when I raided the Hellside Ho¡¯s nest, there was a time I devoured a human. The one who had fused with a human-faced creature mentioned that he hade here following Si-Hyun Yujin.

    ¡®That must be her ship.¡¯

    Since Si-Hyun Yujin had died by my hand, that vessel likely belonged to the forces that followed her.

    ¡®What should I do?¡¯

    It had been 20 minutes since the battle began. One Warp Finder still remained.

    The time I initially set for myself was 25 minutes. Although I¡¯d like to learn more about the situation from the crew of that ship, I didn¡¯t have the luxury to spend time on side tasks.

    ¡®If there¡¯s time left, I¡¯ll deal with it.¡¯

    I tore my gaze away from the vessel and pursued the retreating fleet.

    The XAX-5-ss high-speed battleship carrying thest Warp Finder seemed determined to buy time, desperately fleeing.

    ¡®As expected of a high-speed battleship, it¡¯s pretty fast.¡¯

    It was just barely slower than Adhai. I prepared to finish it off with a psychic breath, but then the Gagons began to move.

    In the distance, the red-winged Adhai relentlessly pursued the battleship. The other Gagons didn''t follow but instead scattered in all directions.

    Upon closer observation, it became clear that the Gagons were spreading out, gradually closing in on the path the battleship was taking.

    ¡®They¡¯re herding it.¡¯

    Just as they did when fighting a formidable foe like the Skywhale, the Gagons were engaging in a coordinated hunt against the battleship.

    ¡®Then I should help out too.¡¯

    Instead of targeting the battleship, I aimed my psychic breath at the patrol ships blocking Adhai''s path. Focused on their immediate targets, the fleet of patrol ships fell to my breath, sinking into space.

    Adhai, as if anticipating my attack, skillfully maneuvered to avoid the violet mes. She weaved through the debris of the burning patrol ships and elerated even more.

    The crimson-winged dragon streaked through the night sky like aet, drawing closer to the battleship. Her form, now a beam of light, approached the vessel in an instant.

    Anti-Psychic Disruptors (APD) spewed from the battleship, emitting waves that neutralized psychic power. However, Adhai''s speed was far too great, and the waves failed to reach her.

    She deftly dodged through the wave fields, unleashing a barrage of psychic breath. Each st struck the ship''s hull, forcing the battleship to retreat.

    Adhai was pushing back a vessel hundreds, no, thousands of times her size. It was like watching David take down Goliath with a slingshot.

    Meanwhile, the Gagons surrounding the area steadily closed the distance.

    The battleship carrying the Warp Finder desperately tried to escape, but the Gagons had already drawn in close.

    Then, in unison, all the Gagons unleashed their dragon''s breath upon the battleship. Even with the formidable defense of the Star Union''s ships, it was impossible to withstand thebined attack from multiple Gagons, all at least at the level of a White Gagon.

    ¡®This is the end.¡¯

    The final Warp Finder was destroyed. Now, nothing stood in the way of our escape.

    Just as I was about to instruct everyone to return to PS-111¡¯s ship, my secondary organs detected a powerful surge of energy.

    ¡®!¡¯

    My head instinctively turned to the source of the energy.

    The previously empty void now contained a blue sun.

    It resembled a sun, but it was actually a massive concentration of energy¡ªenough to tear apart space and forcibly transport objects.

    ¡®Faster-than-light travel!¡¯

    Momentster, the blue sun disappeared, as if obscured by clouds.

    In its ce appeared a fleet. A fleet farrger than the one we had been fighting until now.

    [ZZ ZZZ (Everyone fall back!)]

    I withdrew, along with the Gagons, avoiding the sudden appearance of enemies. The surviving reconnaissance fleet ships flew toward the newly arrived Star Union fleet.

    ¡®How?¡¯

    While PS-111 had missed the approach of the reconnaissance unit, the arrival of this massive fleet was an entirely different issue.

    Faster-than-light travel requires an immense amount of energy. That¡¯s why tracking equipment, like the Warp Finder, can effectively detect such movements. Under normal circumstances, PS-111 would never have missed hundreds of ships moving simultaneously.

    ¡®¡­Have they developed new technology?¡¯

    Even in simtions, control of space battles often hinged on who could arrive via faster-than-light travel first. Those who arrived earlier had the advantage of monitoring where and when their enemies would appear.

    It seemed the Grand Sovereign had recognized this weakness and had invested significant effort into improving their capabilities.

    And now, the results of those efforts were right before us.

    At that moment, a support ship controlled by PS-111 approached, and a telepathic wave from the Mother of the Sky reached me.

    ?It looks like they''ve applied stealth technology that hides faster-than-light travel energy!?

    [ZZ ZZZ (It seems so.)]

    ?PS-111 believes that not the entire fleet has arrived yet. This is the 5th Elite Fleet. The 2nd, 8th, and 9th Fleets haven''t arrived.?

    Now that I looked closer, the fleet wasn¡¯t asrge as it should be if all four elite fleets had gathered. Had they all arrived, there would have been hundreds of battleships, but their numbers didn''t seem to reach that scale yet.

    ¡®Furthermore¡­¡¯

    I calmly observed the enemy fleet shifting its formation. Some of the ships bore significant damage to their outer hulls, as if they had been sliced cleanly by a de. These were marks left behind by issues encountered during faster-than-light travel.

    ¡®It seems the technology isn¡¯t perfect yet.¡¯

    The reason they rushed in so urgently despite the side effects wasn''t hard to guess.

    The Grand Sovereign¡¯s n was clear: to jump in sequence and prevent our escape, effectively trapping us.

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (How many Warp Finders are there?)]

    ?¡­At least ten. Some of the ships are equipped with strong cloaking devices, making it impossible to get an urate count.?

    Engaging in battle without knowing the exact number of Warp Finders was tantamount to suicide. Yet running away wasn¡¯t a great option either.

    Just like the Gagons had done, they would surely use their numerical advantage to chase us down.

    ¡®A checkmate, is it?¡¯

    I nced back at the Gagons and the ships behind me.

    ¡®There''s only one option.¡¯

    The primary target the enemy, or rather, the Grand Sovereign''s yer, sought was obvious.

    ¡®Their goal is me. In that case¡­¡¯

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (Everyone, return to the ship.)]

    ?Elder??

    [ZZZZ Z ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Don''t worry. I have a good n.)]

    I sent a reassuring wave to Adhai, who looked concerned, and called out to the Mother of the Sky.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (You know where to go to advance the deification stage, right?)]

    ?What? Don¡¯t tell me you''re¡­?

    [ZZZ ZZ (Meet me there.)]

    ?Are you insane? You n to act as bait??

    Strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t just bait.

    I intended to fight them off and then execute a faster-than-light jump toward the territory of the Cult or the Megacorp. That way, we could recreate a situation simr to when the Cult and Star Union shed previously.

    ¡®It¡¯s true that we¡¯ll be vulnerable during the jump preparation phase, but it¡¯ll be fine.¡¯

    Thanks to my transformation into the "Bone Beast", my defensive capabilities have increased exponentially. It¡¯s already been proven that the enemy torpedoes can''t inflict fatal damage on me. Additionally, the energy required for the jump can be substituted with the near-infinite supply of psychic power, pumped by my "Dragon''s Heart" trait.

    The only real concern is the Grand Sovereign.

    My fate hinges on whatever weapon he brings.

    ¡®I''ve never been one to gamble.¡¯

    Still, it''s better than losing everything in a fight with them.

    Leaving everyone behind, I flew forward.

    Since arriving in this world, I''ve constantly faced choices.

    Some led to positive oues, while others didn¡¯t. Looking back, I¡¯ve always had a mix of good and bad decisions.

    But I¡¯ve never regretted them.

    Because I¡¯m still alive. And I don''t know how many more wrong choices I might make.

    But even then, I¡¯ll keep living. Just as I have until now.

    As I flew forward with those thoughts, a red star soared alongside me.

    ¡®Adhai?¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t just her. Other Gagons had chosen not to return to the hangar and instead followed me.

    The same was true for PS-111''s ship. Rather than preparing for faster-than-light travel, the colossal battleship floated above me, its turrets extending outward.

    ?If the big baby keeps saying bad things, she''ll get scolded!?

    Number 26¡¯s telepathic wave reached me from the ship.

    ?Adhai??Kin??Will not abandon?

    I sensed the telepathic wave Adhai sent as she flew beside me.

    ?It¡¯s so like you Morphback, always trying to fight alone,? Mother of the Sky grumbled from aboard the ship.

    ?PS-111 told me to ry a message: it¡¯ll locate the Warp Finders as quickly as possible, so hold on.?

    I was left speechless by their words.

    Was my heart full? No.

    Fighting alone here would¡¯ve been a perfectly reasonable choice. I¡¯ve always fought alone and emerged victorious.

    But as I watched those following me, another thought emerged.

    I¡¯ve always won on my own, so if I fought alongside them, wouldn¡¯t it be even easier?

    An Amorph, a Sea Demon, a host of Gagons, a colossal battleship, and a Wolf Ranker.

    With this force, we might stand a chance against over a hundred state-of-the-art enemy ships.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ (Start with torpedoes and breath attacks.)]

    In the end, after a thoroughly rational thought process, my chosen path was to fight together.

 Chapter 253:

    Chapter 253:

    The battle had resumed.

    Ships under the control of cyborgs and androids rushed in like swarming ants. We pulled out all our weapons to respond.

    As the APDs approached to contain the Gagons, a support ship managed by PS-111 blocked their path. Torpedoes loaded into the ship¡¯s cannons were fired, disrupting the movements of the drones.

    The patrol vessels maneuvered to evade the torpedo explosions and strike the support ship. The support ship had a limited supply of torpedoes, making it difficult to fire indiscriminately. As the support ship found itself in danger, a small craft emerged from the hangar.

    The Mother of the Sky, transformed into a griffion beast, took to the skies to draw the attention of the patrol ships.

    While the craft itself had ordinary specifications, its pilot was on another level. She expertly executed evasive maneuvers, breaking through the torrential barrage of torpedoes. Not only that, but she also opened fire with the storm gun mounted on the craft, targeting the bridge of the patrol ship.

    Though the storm gun couldn''t inflict significant damage on the patrol ship, it was enough to divert the enemies'' focus. Some of the patrol ships strayed from formation to pursue the Mother of the Sky.

    While the pilot''s skills far surpassed those of the patrol vessels, the specs of the ships were overwhelmingly superior. With her tail in a precarious position, the small craft was getting increasingly dangerous, when suddenly, a savior appeared.

    A red queen, adorned with red markings on her head and wings, elerated like aet and pierced through the patrol vessels. The surviving patrol ships fired their torpedoes, but the Mother of the Sky shot them all down with her storm gun.While the patrol vessels were stalling for time, the destroyers had moved into effective firing range and attempted a concentrated attack.

    I unleashed a psychic breath towards the clustered patrol ships near PS-111 before flying toward the destroyers.

    The destroyers shifted their target to me, unleashing a torrent of torpedoes.

    Thanks to the double and tripleyers of my protective carapace, the pain wasn¡¯t severe. The explosions were bothersome, vibrating my auxiliary organs beneath my jaw. I charged forward, taking the barrage head-on.

    Tentacles erupted from my back, reaching out to ensnare different destroyers. I pulled the tentacles forcefully. The destroyers,rger than me, shook violently and collided with one another. Some attempted to escape but crashed into another destroyer while elerating recklessly.

    The ships positioned at the rearunched torpedoes, but I used the destroyers as shields to absorb the attacks. The ships caught in my tentacles exploded, and cyborg crew members were ejected into space.

    ¡®They¡¯re holding their own.¡¯

    Everyone was showcasingbat skills that exceeded our expectations. None of the Gagons had sustained injuries, and both PS-111 and the Mother of the Sky were fighting valiantly.

    Moreover, we weren''t the only ones fighting against the Star Union''s fleet. I gazed toward the distant location of the white, where flickering lights danced.

    The Megacorp battleships brought by Ji-Hyun Yujin were also engaging inbat against the Star Union''s forces.

    ¡®Thanks to their distraction over there, our burden here is lighter.¡¯

    However, it was uncertain how long this reprieve wouldst.

    While it seemed advantageous for us at the moment, the reality was different.

    Over there, numerous ships were still operational, and even more were expected to join the fray. It was fortunate that the Grand Sovereign was not present; his arrival would drastically tilt the tide of battle against us.

    ¡®We need a breakthrough.¡¯

    Since the engagement with the Fifth Fleet began, I had destroyed four battleships carrying Warp Finders. There were still at least six confirmed left, along with several hidden Warp Finders.

    ¡®Destroying them with breaths won¡¯t be easy.¡¯

    The enemies weren''t foolish. They had only been caught off-guard a few times; now, the moment they sensed I was preparing to unleash a breath, they immediately scattered.

    Yet charging in as I had done until now, destroying one ship at a time, was time-consuming. The vessels carrying Warp Finders had begun to flee in every direction to evade me.

    I thought as I hurled the half-destroyed destroyers toward the enemies. What weapons do I have that could be useful against their ships?

    ¡®The Abyssal Hue is out of the question.¡¯

    The psychic breath enhanced by the "Abyssal Hue" specialized in destroying organic matter, while the augmented "Watcher of Terror" was only effective against non-organic entities. The psychic reflective armor wouldn¡¯t hold up against their torpedoes, as the enemy primarily used projectile-based weaponry.

    ¡®Should I go back now and consume the Priest¡¯s Golden Spear?¡¯

    The Priest¡¯s Golden Spear bes exponentially more powerful the more blood it absorbs. By utilizing the effect of the "Plunderer''s Abnormal Polyhedron," I would likely acquire its unique characteristics.

    If that were the case, I could gain devastating offensive capabilities in this battle, which was already producing mass casualties.

    ¡®But the downside is, if I do that, it¡¯ll be difficult to heal should I sustain serious injuries.¡¯

    Thanks to the "Dragon¡¯s Heart", energy wouldn¡¯t be an issue, but healing from wounds posed a separate problem. To heal quickly when injured, I would need the "Leech of Devouring Hands."

    If I consumed the Priest¡¯s Golden Spear, I would have to forgo the Leech of Devouring Hands.

    ¡®The remaining option is¡­¡¯

    As I mped my jaws around a nearby battleship, I checked the text box with my eyes.

    ¡®The Great Infector.¡¯

    The fourth space monster type trait, "The Great Infector", can enhance up to three effects among the infection and nesting categories, based on their type.

    Since I hadn''t experimented with it yet, I was unsure how much enhancement it would provide.

    ¡®Then now is the time to experiment.¡¯

    I selected the "Gremlin Moss" as the enhancement target, a fusion trait rted to infection.

    This trait secretes microorganisms that disrupt machines. The enhancement process began.

    ?"Gremlin Moss" enhancement settings areplete.?

    ¡®Is that it?¡¯

    Despite the message in the text box, I felt no significant change in my body.

    I activated the enhanced Gremlin Moss, and the mutation urred not within my body, but externally.

    The blunt ws that had been on my body vanished entirely. In their ce, cylindrical, bio-pipe-like organs sprouted.

    From the holes in these pipes, something began to flow out.

    It resembled smoke billowing from a factory chimney. Thick, smog-like clouds poured out from the pipes, spreading around my body and into the surrounding area.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    I had acquired a simr trait when I became an adult, where bio-tubes formed on my back, emitting smoke to protect the main body. This was topensate for the increased target area resulting from myrger size upon bing an adult.

    However, the phenomenon urring within my body now was on an entirely different level than the effects of the traits I gained upon maturation.

    The wide-spread smoke clouds clung to the nearby ships, causing their lights to extinguishpletely.

    The ships, now devoid of light, ceased all movement and came to aplete stop. Even when I approached, there was no reaction from them.

    ¡®So this is the effect of spreading Gremlin Moss!¡¯

    The trait had been enhanced from temporarily incapacitating machines that touched my body to generating a cloud that disabled contacted machines.

    ¡®With this, things change significantly.¡¯

    In a situation where I was battling machines, this was the ultimate trait. The only downside was that I couldn¡¯t directly control the movement of the smoke clouds.

    I smashed the immobilized ships and flew toward the battleships providing support fire from the rear.

    Theyunched torpedoes at me, but it had little effect. The torpedoes, controlled by advanced technology, became inoperable the moment they made contact with the smoke clouds¡ªor rather, the Gremlin clouds.

    I gracefully evaded the torpedoes floating in space and dove into the area where the ships were clustered, apanied by the deadly Gremlin clouds.

    ---

    ¡°Damage to the hull from torpedoes has surpassed 25%!¡±

    ¡°Switch the ship''s movement program to the Peter Edgerton style and add 5% energy allocation to the thrusters.¡±

    ¡°Understood!¡±

    ¡°Squad D of the fighters has been wiped out! Remaining units in Squad B: 5!¡±

    ¡°Squad B, return. For the remaining squads A, C, E, and F, also begin the sequential return of damaged fighters.¡±

    ¡°Understood! This is the gship¡­.¡±

    The crew moved in perfect unison under Ji-Hyun Yujin''smands.

    In the centralmand room, the status of the ship and the attacking Star Union fleet were disyed in a 3D hologram.

    While the subordinates busily carried out their tasks, Ji-Hyeon focused her cold gaze on the hologram.

    ¡®This is not an easy battle.¡¯

    The gship''s cloaking device, equipped with Edgerton''s secret weapon, boasted considerable performance. However, the enemy had superior detection equipment. Additionally, they had brought numerous Warp Finders, making it impossible for us to hide or escape.

    ¡®If they fall¡­.¡¯

    Currently, we were managing to hold against the Gagons and an unidentified fleet, fighting the Fifth Elite Fleet, but that wouldn''tst forever. If the Gagons were annihted, we would be their next target.

    ¡®Do I have to use that?¡¯

    Though her eyes were fixed on the hologram, her mind was focused on the object resting beneath her chair.

    Her father, Jeong-Woo Yujin''s legacy.

    She had yet to use that weapon. However, she had sensed the potential danger when she acquired it.

    The artifact found within a massive volcano wasposed of two parts: the weapon known as "Abyssal Destroyer" and a crystal battery that supplied energy. It had a simple structure where the battery could be attached to the weapon for energy output, but the issuey with the energy itself.

    After recovering the battery from the volcano, strange urrences began to unfold. The previously inoperativemunication systems were restored shortly after, and during their escape, they encountered no beasts whatsoever. It was as if the monsters were avoiding her group.

    This alone indicated that the weapon possessed incredible power.

    Yet the reason for her hesitation remained. She interpreted the weapon as setting its lethal targets based on gic information.

    Cyborgs were humans equipped with machines. Attacking cyborgs was akin to attacking humans. If misused, even the pilots of the fighter crafts engaged in battle with the enemies could be killed instantly.

    If no fighters remained but enemies were still alive, it would be the end for them. Therefore, Ji-Hyun had been waiting for an opportunity to arise.

    Then, a subordinate''s voice reached her ears.

    ¡°Emergency report! Large-scale energy concentration detected! The Star Union''s additional support fleet is preparing for superluminal travel!¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    At those words, her mind snapped back to attention. Behind her, her butler, Min-Seok Yujin, shouted urgently.

    ¡°What¡¯s the estimated time of arrival?¡±

    ¡°Within 5, 5 minutes!¡±

    There was no time left for hesitation. She had to make a decision now.

    Then, another subordinate reported in a hurry.

    ¡°Th-the enemy fleet is concentrating at one point!¡±

    ¡°Are they trying to protect the support fleet preparing for superluminal travel?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes, but it¡¯s strange! It¡¯s at a considerable distance from the energy concentration point¡­.¡±

    ¡°A mysterious entity is gathering the ships! I will connect to the fighter craft cameras!¡±

    Soon, a low-quality video appeared on the hologram.

    A multitude of battleships and destroyers was gathered at a location quite far from the fighters. Even someone who had never witnessed spacebat would find their formation odd.

    Due to their size, the battleships had to maintain a distance from one another. Yet the ships shown in the footage were clustered together, close enough that collisions seemed imminent.

    Moreover, there was something even stranger.

    ¡°Why are there no lights? Is it the effect of cloaking?¡±

    No light could be seen from the ships as they huddled closer together, as if their power had been forcibly cut off.

    ¡°Um, it seems the ships¡¯ functions have been disabled.¡±

    ¡°EMP? Who the hell did this?¡±

    As Min-Seok and the crew were thrown into confusion, Ji-Hyun noticed something moving between the ships.

    A cloud of smoke, whoseposition was unknown, was rapidly weaving between the vessels. The moment a battleship touched the cloud, its lights went out, and like the others, it transformed into a hunk of scrap metal.

    Seeing that, Ji-Hyun immediately stood up.

    ¡°Recall all fighter teams to the gship! And prepare the superluminal engine for an immediate jump when I return!¡±

    ¡°Ji-Hyun, what are you¡ª?¡±

    ¡°Minseok, I¡¯m leaving you in charge of the operations.¡±

    After assigning the ship''smand to Min-Seok, Ji-Hyun grabbed the artifact that had been beside her and exited themand room.

    ?Ji-Hyun! What are you doing?! Come back right now!?

    Ignoring Min-Seok''s voice echoing through the speakers, she quickly raced to the hangar.

    ¡®The opportunity is now!¡¯

    I didn''t know the identity of the creature enveloped in the smoke cloud, but it had presented a fantastic chance.

    Upon arriving at the hangar, instead of boarding a fighter, she opened the door and jumped straight into space.

    As she entered the zero-gravity environment, the white exosuit she wore, ¡°White Maiden¡±, activated. A white helmet-like apparatus covered her face, and wings with thrusters protruded from her back. The thrusters kicked in, propelling her forward with great force.

    Fighters returning to the gship, debris from damaged spaceships, and torpedoes and energy beams darting everywhere¡ªshe navigated through numerous obstacles and activated the weapon in her hand.

    The Crystal Battery within the weapon began to emit a chilling light and spun rapidly.

    ---

    On the XAX01-ss battleship piloted by themander of the Fifth Elite Fleet, the Nemea Fleet, a member of the Machine Council, Nemea Five, sat upon a throne forged of steel.

    His body, twice the size of a standard android, was adorned with numerous cables resembling flowing hair. Nemea Five, with his unusual appearance, had his eyes closed.

    Currently, he controlled the entire fleet through the long cables draping around him. In this metal and machine-constructed mental world, vast amounts of information were flowing back and forth.

    ?Nemea Five. Report from Arrow Nine. The 9th fleet is prepared for superluminal travel.?

    ?Report from Europa Two, Redtail Eight. Fleets 2 and 8 have achieved 80% energy charge.?

    ?Menebbo report! Failed to analyze the substance being ejected from special target A!?

    ?Kazansky reports. It is presumed to have an effect equivalent to EMP.?

    ?Shimurabi requests! Please allow the use of the ship''s main cannon!?

    ?Nemea Five. Denied. Special target A possesses resistance to energy-type weapons. It is deemed effective to buy time until fleets 2, 8, and 9 arrive.?

    Nemea Five''s focus was currently concentrated on special target A.

    The fleet hemanded was being obliterated in real-time as if caught by metallic gremlins.

    Or perhaps that was indeed the case. They were using EMP attacks to incapacitate the Star Union''s ships. The moment a ship came into contact with the fine particles he dispersed, all its functions ceased immediately.

    Whether it affected machines directly or not, even torpedoes controlled by AI could not hit him properly. The clouds of fine particles wrapped around his body caused them to halt mid-flight.

    As a result, the losses for the Fifth Fleet were severe. If no other fleets were on their way, they would have had to retreat.

    ?Report from Arrow Nine. The 9th fleet will enter superluminal travel in 1 minute and 12 seconds.?

    ?Report from Europa Two, Redtail Eight. Fleets 2 and 8 are prepared for superluminal travel.?

    In a few minutes, Nemea Five would achieve victory. If he could secure the corpse of special target A, deep research would be possible.

    At that moment, a report came in from the cyborg captain of another ship.

    An unidentified flying object wasunched from a megacorp ship, and it was moving toward them.

    Nemea Five concluded that it was an EMP torpedo. The patrol ships, having received his orders, moved to intercept the torpedoes.

    They would be shot down, and the megacorp ships would be dealt with as soon as the other high-ranking officials arrived.

    This reasoning seemed sufficiently logical, but what followed surpassed his calctions.

    ¡°Kazansky! Unidentified flying object emitting unknown wavelengths¡ª¡±

    The cyborg captain¡¯s report was abruptly cut off. Then, countless reports and messages ceased all at once.

    It was as if there was an issue with auditory functions; only silence lingered. He issued anothermand to confirm the situation, but no one responded.

    Something was wrong. Nemea Five urgently sent his consciousness into his dormant physical body.

    Once the transfer wasplete, he opened his eyes wide atop the steel throne. The situation captured by his camera-like eyes was entirely different from usual.

    The Cyborgs meant to assist himy sprawled on themand room floor. An analysis through the lenses confirmed that all had ceased functioning.

    Themand room was a grave for the Cyborgs.

    No, perhaps this was not the only ce like that.

    He synchronized the ship¡¯s external cameras with his visual functions. All the cameras of the XAX01-ss battleship became his eyes.

    Thanks to that, he realized that this situation was not confined to his ship.

    Numerous vessels under the Fifth Fleet were deviating from formation and moving erratically.

    All this was due to the sudden deaths of the Cyborg Captains. With theirmanders gone, the ship AIs were stuck repeating their previously issued orders. This behavior was exactly as reported by the Cyborg Captain. The Fifth Fleet suffered near-total devastation due to an unidentified weapon fired by the megacorp.

    Nemea Five immediately contacted the other fleets. He ordered them to halt superluminal travel and remain on standby. Most importantly, he emphasized that the High Commander must note here under any circumstances.

    Then came amunication from the High Commander, who seemed confused.

    ¡°Me! What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Nemea Five reporting. Chairman, an unidentified wavelength has spread here. It is presumed to inflict fatal damage on cyborgs.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?! Who did this?!¡±

    Nemea Five¡¯s gaze, connected through the cameras, caught a glimpse of special target A. The Creature paused for a moment at the chaos surrounding it, then unleashed an overwhelming amount of mes.

    Was this what it felt like facing the sun? It poured forth nearly infinite psychic power, turning the ships into scrap metal. Nemea Five struggled to influence the ship AIs, but the clouds of fine particles emanating from the creature obstructed his efforts.

    After incinerating most of the battleships, the creature ceased its attack, cleared the clouds of fine particles, and turned its body. The Gagons, who had been battling with patrol ships elsewhere, retreated alongside special target A.

    ¡°Nemea Five. I rmend we first ascertain the cause. I propose we halt operations.¡±

    ¡°Arrow Nine agrees.¡±

    ¡°Redtail Eight agrees.¡±

    ¡°Are you telling me to let it go when it¡¯s right in front of us? Do you really think that makes sense¡­!¡±

    The High Commander Jubaka, expressing intense anger, fell silent after reviewing the video data shared by Nemea Five.

    The second high-ranking official, Europa Two, quickly analyzed the footage and sent amunication.

    ¡°Europa Two agrees. Chairman, there are currently wavelengths present in this area that pose a lethal threat to cyborgs. I rmend that you ensure your safety before advancing.¡±

    In this ce, there existed threats to both androids and cyborgs. Special target A had the capability to incapacitate both androids and ships, while the unidentified object fired by the megacorp had an instant-kill effect on cyborgs. With both present, proceeding with operations would incur excessive damage.

    Thus, the four high-ranking officials effectively decided to suspend the mission.

    They were machines that existed for the preservation of the Star Union. They had an obligation to protect Jubaka, the most important entity in the Star Union, at all costs.

    Of course, if the High Commander insisted on proceeding, they would have no choice but toply. However, none of the high-ranking officials believed Jubaka would act in such a reckless manner.

    He wasn¡¯t a fool. He couldn¡¯t possibly be unaware that the issues arising here were far from ordinary. Moreover, he knew better than anyone what could happen if his safety werepromised.

    ¡°Damn it! That bastard Amorph is right there! §¢§Ý§ñ§ä§î (Damn it)!¡±

    With a shout that was either a roar or a scream, Jubaka''s voice faded frommunication.

    Meanwhile, in Nemea Five''s line of sight, special target A, the Gagons, and the Megacorp battleship were engulfed in blue light.

    Momentster, nothing remained at their previous location but blue particles.

 Chapter 254:

    Chapter 254:

    Several superluminal jumps had taken ce, yet no pursuers followed. All that could be seen was a ck velvet sky adorned with multicolored stars.

    I returned to the ship through the open hangar bay.

    Inside the hangar, Griffion Wolf, Mother of the Sky, was inspecting the aircraft. She was examining the storm gun mounted under the wing when she noticed me entering and spoke up.

    ?Any signs of pursuit??

    [ZZ (None)]

    ?That ''wavelength'' from before¡ªcould that be why they couldn''t follow us??

    [ZZ (Who knows?)]

    Thanks to the sudden anomaly, we managed to escape from the Star Union.

    An intangible wavelength had swept in from somewhere, decimating the enemy fleet. Since I was facing the enemy directly, I understood what had urred right away.¡®The Captains¡ªall dead.¡¯

    Ships that halted mid-movement or repeated the same actions could mean only one thing: the cyborg captains who controlled them were dead.

    After the wavelength swept through the area, the ships never returned to normal. In the Star Union, if a cyborg capable of connecting to the ship¡¯sputer with a cable, like PS-111, was on board, they could temporarily take overmand.

    In other words, the fact that the ships didn¡¯t recover despite the mes I breathed suggested that all the cyborgs aboard were dead.

    ?There wasn''t any event like this in the game, right??

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (I''ve never heard of a wavelength that kills only cyborgs)]

    ?¡­Whatever caused it, we were lucky.?

    She was right.

    What if that wavelength hadn¡¯t targeted just the cyborgs but all living beings? Or if it had urred after we¡¯d lost to the Star Union?

    If that were the case, not everyone would have made it out unharmed like we did.

    ¡®But it wasn''t entirely luck.¡¯

    The anomaly that had urred at the right moment wasn¡¯t beneficial solely to us.

    There was the fleet led by the remnant forces of Si-Hyun Yujin. They, too, had been engaged in battle with the Star Union fleet.

    ¡®The Nianmen Beast mentioned it before.¡¯

    The remnant forces of Si-Hyun Yujin had visited a frozen in search of a relic. Perhaps the wavelength that wiped out the cyborgs was rted to the relic they found.

    ¡®It¡¯s uncertain, but¡­¡¯

    There¡¯s little chance we¡¯ll encounter them in the near future. Our ship is headed to a ce beyond the control of the megacorps, the Star Union, or the Cult Empire.

    ¡®It¡¯s also a ce where information is easy to obtain. Maybe I¡¯ll look into it.¡¯

    ?Anyway, now that you''re back, I should take a break.?

    [ZZZZ (You¡¯ve worked hard)]

    ?Hardly.?

    Mother of the Sky and I left the hangar together. She seemed to be heading somewhere else to rest, not back to the storage area, and was about to head in the opposite direction.

    [ZZZ ZZZ (Wait a moment)]

    ?Hm??

    I called out to her and headed into the storage area.

    Inside, Number 26, having erged its body, was resting in front of the wall. It had fully extended its usually hidden fin-legs and was wrapping them around something.

    ¡®What¡¯s it doing?¡¯

    Between the fins, I could see Gagon eggs. Much like a hen brooding her eggs, Number 26 was using its body and fins to protectively cover them.

    The green Gagons were fine, but the blue Gagons and the eggs required psychic power for survival. That¡¯s why Number 26, capable of generating psychic power on its own, was ensuring the eggs wouldn¡¯t perish.

    ¡®That¡¯s another issue to address.¡¯

    I carefully entered the storage area, taking care not to wake it. A few green Gagons were also lying between the frozen containers, sleeping.

    Amidst them was the backpack filled with the items and equipment I¡¯d taken from the Dragon¡¯s nest.

    I extended my long, spider-likebat arm and picked up one of the mineral fragments.

    When I emerged from the storage area, she, who had been yawning, promptly closed her mouth. I held the mineral out to her.

    [ZZ (Take it)]

    ?What¡¯s this??

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZ (It''s for your deification)]

    She widened her eyes upon seeing the raw mineral in my hand.

    The ck mineral, speckled with white grains, was known as a "Star Pearl", It was used to craft the tools necessary for enhancing Wolf¡¯s deification.

    ¡®It¡¯s not something we can process right now, though.¡¯

    Star Pearls are extremely hard, making them impossible to process with ordinary equipment. But that didn''t matter. The ce we''re headed would have the machinery and technicians needed to refine them.

    As she took the beautiful mineral that resembled a pearl plucked from the stars, she gazed at it with a subtle expression.

    ?Oh, I had already taken one of these before.?

    [ZZZZ (You took one?)]

    ?Yes, when Ham Ort and I returned to the nest. I mentioned that we would be looking around with PS-111. I picked it up then. I stowed it in the backpack, but I guess you didn''t see it.?

    Now that I thought about it, it had been quite a while since I''d carried the backpack myself. Thest time I rummaged through it was when I was preparing to consume the Blood River.

    Since then, Adhai and Mother of the Sky had been taking care of the backpack.

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Keep it, just in case)]

    ?Sure. It can¡¯t hurt to have one more.?

    Having nothing more to say, I started heading back into the storage area, but she called out to me. She scratched her beak with her talon and spoke.

    ?Thank you. I¡¯ll make good use of it.?

    She left behind a wave of gratitude before walking away.

    ¡®Star Pearls have other uses aside from deification.¡¯

    The mineral is also used in crafting the Cult¡¯s and Wolf¡¯s high-end equipment. As long as it can be processed, it would be more than beneficial for her.

    After seeing her off, I reentered the storage area.

    ¡®Might as well check the backpack.¡¯

    Returning to the spot where I had pulled out the Star Pearl, I crouched down and picked up the backpack. As I did so, a diamond-shaped stone, which had been leaning against it, toppled over.

    This stone was one of the items I had picked up from Odd Grad''sir. Along with the ring that conceals emotions, it was one of the artifacts influenced by civilization, so I had intentionally brought it along to investigate further.

    ¡®I¡¯ll check itter¡ªhuh?¡¯

    As I reached out to set the stone upright, I noticed something had changed. Unknown characters etched into the stone''s surface were now emitting a faint glow.

    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯

    I touched the glowing characters with my finger, but nothing happened. They simply continued to emit light intermittently, as if this was how they always behaved.

    ¡®Hmm.¡¯

    I tried tapping it with the monster''s tendrils, the auxiliary organs under my jaw, and even my erosion tentacles, but nothing changed. Meanwhile, the light gradually dimmed.

    ¡®Could it be?¡¯

    Odd Grad¡¯s ring came to mind. I picked up the ring lying near the backpack and slipped it onto the small arm on my chest.

    Immediately, the stone reacted.

    ?Temporary user ''Odd Grad'' confirmed. Establishing connection with ''Akira Yujin''.?

    ¡®What?¡¯

    A familiar-looking text box appeared before my eyes, and at the same time, the stone floated out of my hand.

    From the suspended stone, a strange voice began to flow.

    ?It¡¯s me. What took you so long? I was about to reach outter since there was no response for such a while.?

    ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯

    ?Tch, since you¡¯ve answered, I¡¯ll ask: What happened with the matter I mentioned earlier??

    The voice belonged to a man whose age was difficult to discern. The voice itself sounded young, yet his tone and manner of speaking resembled that of an elderly person.

    My attention shifted to the message disyed on the text box. There, the identity of the speaker was recorded.

    ¡®Akira Yujin.¡¯

    Jason had mentioned him before. A man with a Japanese-sounding name, behaving like an old man stuck in a delusional second adolescence, clinging to his "Chunibyou" tendencies even within the megacorps.

    ¡®There''s only one guy that entric.¡¯

    Akira Yujin, a yer ranked third overall, even more relentless in hunting down the Amorph than Jason. He''s a Megacorp ranker I¡¯ve fought countless times.

    ¡®I never thought he¡¯d be connected to the ck Dragon.¡¯

    Now it all made sense.

    The one who gave Odd Grad the ring was Akira Yujin.

    Odd Grad had feared challenges from younger Gagons or those like Adhai, who were born with the power of a Red Gagon, due to his ability to read the future. Akira Yujin was the one who provided a solution to this dilemma.

    ¡®So, he was the one who made it.¡¯

    By giving Odd Grad the ring that concealed emotions, Akira Yujin ensured that the ck Dragon could oppress and rule over the other Gagons.

    And in return for this favor, what did Akira Yujin receive?

    ¡®Gagons.¡¯

    Ham Ort once mentioned that Odd Grad regrly killed hatchlings or discarded eggs outside the nest, iming that it was to reduce the strain on the group by eliminating weaker members.

    When I first heard that, I thought he did it just to protect himself, but my assumption was only half correct.

    Odd Grad was regrly supplying eggs and young Gagons to Akira Yujin''s faction.

    This would exin why the Yujin family members I¡¯ve fought, including Si-Hyun Yujin and the Shadows, all possessed Gagon genes. It was all possible because Akira Yujin was receiving a supply of Gagons from Odd Grad.

    ?Why aren¡¯t you answering? Have you still not dealt with the Amorph??

    Judging by his words, it seemed he had already spoken about me before I arrived. Most likely, he had ordered my capture or execution.

    ¡®The future-reading ck Dragon truly is a formidable opponent.¡¯

    If it weren¡¯t for the Unique Traits created by the Transcendence System and my allies, things would have gone just as he nned.

    I stared at the stone for a moment before finally speaking. The voice of the Human-Faced Beast I had absorbed, Jason''s voice, emerged from my throat.

    ¡°Long time no see, Number Three.¡±

    ?!?

    Perhaps because he had never anticipated hearing that voice, I heard him gasp on the other side of the stone.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t see thising, did you?¡±

    ?¡­¤³¤Î¼SÒ°ÀÉ¤¬¡£(¡­You bastard.)?

    ¡°Your pet is dead.¡±

    Even without seeing his face, I knew how furious he was. Not only had his n to kill me failed, but he had also lost his route to acquire Gagons.

    In a detached tone, I dered his fate.

    ¡°The day we meet isn¡¯t far off.¡±

    ?Tch!?

    With a sharp click of his tongue, the light in the stone extinguished. A momentter, a crack spread across its surface, and it shattered in two.

    Seeing this, I knew he understood exactly what I meant.

    ¡®It won''t be right away, but it''ll be when I reach maturity.¡¯

    I nned to meet the final conditions needed to mature at the ces where this ship was headed¡ªces prowled by thewless of the universe.

    Once I be fully mature, I¡¯ll no longer need to speak to him through this stone. I¡¯ll be meeting him face to face.

    By then, he will only have two choices left.

    To die fighting me.

    Or to die running from me.

    Thoughts of what to do next swirled endlessly in my mind.

    But regardless of my inner deliberations, the iron cradle carrying all the monsters continued steadily toward its destination.

    -

    In avish office, Akira Yujin red icily at the mahogany table in front of him. Therey a diamond-shaped stone etched with strange symbols.

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    He had immediately destroyed the stone he''d loaned to Odd Grad, but that didn¡¯t make things any better.

    The conversation hadn¡¯t been long, but if that damned Amorph was involved, it would have extracted a wealth of information even from that brief exchange. It always did so in the game.

    Knowing this, Akira''s insides burned like a raging volcano.

    ¡®¤¯¤½!(Damn!) ¤¯¤½!(Damn!) ¤¯¤½!(Damn!)¡¯

    And then there was the Amorph¡¯s parting taunt. It had dared to dere that it would kill him.

    Akira Yujin, the CEO of one of the most powerful factions in the universe, The Megacorp, and the ruler of Earth. If anyone else had said such a thing, he would have torn them limb from limb with a smile.

    Even Jouba, the Star Union¡¯s ranker, and Chloe Garmelda, the Megacorp ranker, would never dare speak to him that way. They knew he¡¯d hunt them down and rip their mouths apart if they did.

    But at this moment, he could do nothing to the Amorph. He wanted to hurl curses, but he couldn¡¯t¡ªthere was a chance that doing so might divulge more information to it.

    As this realization sank in, Akira reached his breaking point.

    ¡°Grrraaaaah!¡±

    His scream, half a wail and half a roar, filled the room as his arm twisted and mutated grotesquely. The monstrous limbshed out, splintering the mahogany table into four pieces. Several other luxury items met the same fate under his frenzied assault.

    ¡°Odd Grad! Jaaaasoooon! You idiots! How dare you! Do you even know who I am! Aaaaargh!¡±

    Inside the soundproofed office, Akira¡¯s frenzied rampage continued for some time.

    ¡ª

    ?Have you received the ¡®cargo¡¯ I sent, Chloe??

    ¡°Yes, of course. Thanks to Cynthia, I think the research is going to make significant progress.¡±

    ?Please don¡¯t forget to ensure my safety.?

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. That ce is out of the old man''s reach.¡±

    ?I suppose, seeing it for myself, I can believe that.?

    ¡°I¡¯ve already smoothed things over on that side, so there shouldn¡¯t be any issues. Let¡¯s talk again soon.¡±

    ?Understood, Chloe.?

    As the light on the diamond-shaped stone connected to themunicator dimmed, Chloe Garmelda, who had just ended her call with Cynthia, floated out of the room in her levitating chair.

    ¡°Cynthia¡¯s hidden safely, and that old bastard¡¯s got a taste of real trouble. I¡¯ve lost contact with Jouba, but he¡¯s always busy, so I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll manage.¡±

    Chloe felt satisfied for the first time in a while, as things were finally going smoothly.

    Previously, Akira Yujin, Cynthia, Jouba, and Chloe herself had nned a hunt for the Amorph. Cynthia provided the location to the Cult ranker Jason, while Akira Yujin sent the ck Gagon to kill the target.

    After the meeting ended, Chloe had a private conversation with Cynthia. She¡¯d made one specific request.

    In the unlikely event that Jason seeded or failed in the Amorph hunt, she wanted to be the first to know.

    Currently, Chloe was independently conducting research into gically synthesized organisms, or "Hulk Mutants", alongside Jouba from the Star Union. And what she needed most for that were the genes of rankers.

    If the Amorph were killed, Akira Yujin would undoubtedly demand the corpse. Unlike the surprisingly unsophisticated Jason, who¡¯d be satisfied with obtaining a special trait, he would easily hand the body over to Akira.

    That couldn¡¯t be allowed. So Chloe had asked Cynthia, who was in personal contact with Jason, for a favor.

    The oue of the battle was Jason¡¯s defeat. He returned to Cynthia with only his decapitated body.

    Immediately, Cynthia informed Chloe of Jason¡¯s death, and it was then that Chloe made a deal with her.

    She assured Cynthia that she would guarantee her safety, as long as she didn¡¯t inform Akira that Jason was dead.

    If Akira Yujin learned of Jason''s defeat, he would undoubtedly concoct another scheme to capture the Amorph. Not only that, but he would also try to im Jason''s corpse.

    So, she dyed informing him about Jason''s death by just a little.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t expect things to work out so perfectly.¡¯

    Under normal circumstances, Akira Yujin would have caught on. With the ck Gagon stationed on the same, he could¡¯ve easily verified Jason''s defeat.

    But this time, fate was on her side.

    Akira Yujin had been preupied with negotiations to end the civil war and was too busy to grasp the full situation.

    Thanks to that, Chloe aplished her goal without much difficulty.

    ¡®Jason left so much behind, even in death. His body and all those samples.¡¯

    Her levitating chair halted in front of theboratory door. From the terminal beside the door, a faint light scanned her entire body.

    ?Wee, Chloe Garmelda.?

    The familiar voice greeted her as the heavy metal door opened.

    A pristine, monochromatic spacey beyond, as if the entire room had been bleached. The floor, walls, and ceiling were all a stark white.

    The only sshes of color came from the researchers bustling about and the dozens of incubation chambers.

    One of the researchers, noticing Chloe, bowed to her.

    ¡°Madam, the progress on the clone cultivation has reached 23%. It¡¯s far more stablepared to the previous specimen.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good news. Once it reaches over 50%, initiate the gene fusion.¡±

    ¡°Understood. But Madam, Chief Researcher Li Zhao has been wondering where you managed to obtain such materials.¡±

    As the researcher moved closer to her chair, Chloe ced a finger over her lips, gesturing that it was a secret.

    ¡°Tell him it''s ssified family information.¡±

    ¡°Haha, of course. Ah, since we have a new specimen, perhaps you''d like to name it again?¡±

    At this, Chloe tapped the armrest of her chair with her finger. After a moment of contemtion, she spoke.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go with JS this time.¡±

    ¡°JS? Last time it was PS¡ªdoes it have any special meaning?¡±

    Instead of answering, Chloe responded with a faint smile. Seeing that she wasn¡¯t going to exin, the researcher shrugged and refrained from asking further.

    ¡®I wonder just how useful Jason will prove to be.¡¯

    With that thought, she gazed at the Cult clone within the incubation chamber.

    Her eyes, beautiful as a young girl¡¯s, shimmered with a tranquil madness.

 Chapter 255:

    Chapter 255:

    -

    The space was filled with cocoons.

    She was used to seeing the Big One go into a cocoon to grow stronger; it wasn''t the first time.

    Extending one of her tendrils, she touched the cocoon.

    The warmth on the surface, the rough, wave-like pulses¡ªall familiar sensations. The chaotic blend of senses and elements were ones she''d experienced before.

    She perceived the world around her through a mystical ¡®force¡¯, sensing movements and objects with her entire being. Unlike other animals, she didn''t divide her senses into smelling, seeing, or hearing.

    Yet, this didn''t mean her perception was any less keen. When she focused, she could sense an area far beyond the giant stone that emitted a foul, unpleasant smell.

    But what she felt now was different.

    For the first time, she was sensing the thoughts of an entirely different creature¡ªthe one within the cocoon connected to her tendril, the Big One''s thoughts.She hadn¡¯t always had this ability.

    It was only recently that she gained the power to read other creatures'' thoughts and ry them, using the innate ''force'' she''d been born with.

    Her friend knew how to extract thoughts from the ''bad friends'' and make them its own. When the Big One saw this, it rejoiced.

    If she didn''t know something, it was always best to learn from her friend. If her friend could do it, she believed she could too.

    With this simple reasoning, she learned how her friend manipted its powers. Though she wasn¡¯t as skilled yet, she believed she would improve as she grew.

    Indeed, her abilities had greatly improved after helping the Little One and the Little One''s mother share their thoughts. Now, she could sense the Big One''s thoughts much more clearly.

    The Big One inside the cocoon was walking through a ce.

    It was vast, simr to her homnd, but with a very strange scent. The stinging, unpleasant odor reminded her of when she was imprisoned long ago.

    Though it made her uneasy, she endured it. The Big One must have been frightened being alone in such a strange ce. She wanted to stay by its side tofort it.

    Fortunately, the Big One seemed to sense her intentions, gradually calming down. When it reached a dead end, it raised its long appendage and pressed it against the wall.

    As the wall shifted away, revealing a space she had never seen before¡­

    ?Little One??

    The familiar mental wave startled her awake.

    She quickly pulled her tendril away from the cocoon, her consciousness returning to the unpleasant-smelling stone¡¯s belly.

    ?What are you doing??

    ?Nothing.?

    ???

    The Little One tilted its protruding sensory organs in confusion at her strange answer. She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, but she felt reluctant to speak about it, so she mumbled evasively.

    Luckily, the Little One wasn''t interested in her odd behavior. Instead, it was curious about something else.

    ?Will the Big One change again??

    ?Yes. It''ll grow stronger.?

    In response, the Little One shook its sensory organs rapidly.

    ?If it gets any bigger, it¡¯ll be a problem.?

    ?Why? It¡¯s good to be big and strong.?

    ?If it grows bigger,ying eggs will be difficult.?

    Suddenly, she felt incredibly displeased.

    ?The Little One is not ready toy eggs yet.?

    ?Why? You promised me that I couldy eggs once I became white andpleted my growth.?

    ?You¡¯re still not an adult!?

    ?The Big One already acknowledged me as an adult.?

    The Little One¡¯s logical argument left her speechless.

    ?Once the Big One¡¯s growth isplete, I will ask it toy eggs with me.?

    ?The Little One and the Big One are both still children! Children can¡¯t make babies!?

    ?I¡¯m not certain yet. I need to confirm it.?

    The Little One seemed determined this time, showing no sign of backing down.

    As it had pointed out, she had no justification to stop their mating. She had promised not to interfere once it reached maturity.

    Moreover, the Little One had protected its family, fulfilling the duties of a leader. Though small in size, it was already a full-fledged adult.

    Yet, she didn¡¯t want to acknowledge this.

    The thought of the Big One and the Little One mating filled her with intense displeasure¡ªso much so that she felt she could destroy this foul-smelling stone entirely.

    ?The Big One is busy. It won¡¯t have time to make babies.?

    ?Reproduction is important. The species must prosper. Eggs are necessary.?

    ?¡­¡­.?

    As she matured, she seemed to have be smarter. Each time Adhai spoke, the Little One immediately retorted. She tried to find something that could silence that impudent child, but nothing came to mind.

    In the end, she turned to the Middle One.

    ?Middle One, the Big One can''t have children right now, can he??

    ?Huh? Uh, well¡­?

    ?Friend? ?I said? ?I don''t know? ?Friend? ?Talking? ?Won''t help?

    ?¡­It''s not wrong, but something about it feels unpleasant.?

    She thought the Middle One would take her side.

    However, the Middle One''s response was different from what she expected.

    ?I think it''s possible, though¡­.?

    ?I? ?Heard? ?Friend? ?Said? ?That?

    ?Really? The Big One can actually have children??

    ?Listen until the end. The Big One can''t, uh,y eggs right now.?

    ?See? I was right, the Big One can''t have children.?

    ?Incorrect? ?Friend? ?Said? ?''Right now''? ?Later? ?Egg? ?Production? ?Possible?

    ?¡­You two are quite sharp. Or should I say you''ve grown??

    The Middle One scratched its protruding sensory organ with one of its appendages. Considering their time together, the Middle One seemed to feel troubled by the questions from both her and the Little One.

    ?What do you mean??

    ?Well, it''s a bitplicated to exin, but I guess you could say the Big One isn¡¯t fully mature yet, so it can''ty eggs.?

    ?I don''t understand.?

    ?For details, ask the Big One directly.?

    ?Agreed? ?Will check? ?Directly?

    In the end, even the Middle One couldn''t stop the Little One. There was no way left to restrain the Little One.

    Now, the only option left was to stop it by force.

    However, punishing it without a good reason didn''t seem right. If the Little One was a bad child, it might be a different story, but it wasn''t fair to hit it without cause.

    As she thought about this, a memory surfaced in her mind.

    She remembered how, when she connected the Little One''s thoughts with its mother''s, she saw how the Little One''s mother mated.

    ?Wait.?

    ?Still? ?Have more? ?To say??

    ?Yes. If you want to mate with the Big One, you''ll have topete with me.?

    ???

    Both the Little One and the Middle One tilted their protruding sensory organs in confusion at her words.

    ?Why? ?Compete? ?With me? ?Little One??

    ?Because I will also mate with the Big One.?

    The Little One''s family had a different mating process than her own. Although both had a single head of the family and multiple partners, there was a specific order for mating in the Little One¡¯s family. The strongest or the longest-standing partner mated first.

    Upon hearing her deration, the Little One fell silent. It understood what she meant.

    ?Little One? ?You like? ?The Big One??

    ?Yes.?

    ?I? ?Said I''d mate first? ?Little One? ?Next?

    ?No, I''m stronger than you, and I''ve been with the Big One longer.?

    ?Incorrect? ?I''ve grown?

    She felt a familiar force emanating from the Little One.

    It was a power simr to, yet different from, the one she possessed. The Little One used that power when catching prey or disciplining bad children.

    The Little One intended to fight her.

    She was about to unleash her power, but the Middle One stepped in between them.

    ?Wait! It¡¯s not my ce to say this, but if you''re going to fight, do it outside! If you do it here, the Big One won¡¯t like it.?

    ?Agreed?

    Hearing those words, she withdrew her power immediately. The Little One did the same.

    Together, they headed outside, leaving the smelly stone cave.

    -

    Adhai was more tense than ever.

    She never imagined she''d be in a matingpetition with a member of her own species. She had the most alluring tail, but her body was small.

    She believed that only the Big One could truly cherish someone like her.

    After all, finding a male as robust and wild-horned as the Big One was nearly impossible. Even though his tail was rather thick for a male, she could easily overlook that w.

    Because she was an adult, after all.

    Her kin knew her feelings, and so no one dared to vie for the Big One¡¯s attention.

    Adhai never thought she wouldpete with anyone else for the Big One.

    Least of all, against the Little One.

    She red at the figure standing in the distance on the white snow.

    It appeared to be a small, fragile creature, unlike anything else found on this. But Adhai knew better.

    The small creature she called the Little One possessed incredible strength. It was as powerful as her own mother.

    Although facing such a formidable opponent alone was daunting, Adhai was confident.

    Gifted with the power of the stars, she had grown immensely stronger than before. In her assessment, the only ones clearly stronger than her were the Big One and Odd Grad the Liar. All others were opponents she could handle.

    As her thoughts reached that point, she began to feel her excitement rising. The blood of a fierce predator thaty dormant within her began to awaken.

    She knew that strong males often mated with multiple females. It was only a matter of time before the Big One would do the same.

    But she couldn¡¯t give up her ce as the Big One''s first mate. She respected the Little One but not enough to relinquish the position of being the Big One¡¯s first partner.

    ?This isn''t a hunt. We''ll hold back our strength.?

    ?Got it.?

    ?Understood?

    Responding to the Middle One''s words, Adhai began to draw on the power of the stars. In that moment, the Little Oneunched the first attack.

    A long tentacle emerged from the Little One''s body and struck her head. It was a familiar action, something the Little One did when disciplining her, but the force was on a whole other level.

    If Adhai hadn¡¯t enveloped her head with the power of the stars, she would have lost consciousness from that blow.

    Having blocked the initial strike, Adhai retaliated. Compressed energy shot from her mouth, aimed at the Little One.

    However, the Little One casually waved a tentacle, nullifying Adhai''s attack.

    But this was within Adhai¡¯s expectations. The moment she fired her attack, she leaped forward, just as the Big One would.

    In an instant, she closed the distance between them. She intended to ram into her opponent, but the Little One blocked her.

    An invisible force bound her tightly, constricting her movements. But her wings, infused with the power of the stars, were still free.

    Adhai did as the Big One would¡ªshe swung her wings as a weapon with all her might. The Little One, seemingly unprepared for this, hurriedly raised its tentacles to block the attack.

    The sharp membrane of her wings sliced through the Little One''s tentacle. It was the first time she had managed to wound the Little One, having never even dared to resist before.

    A mix of exhration and guilt surged through her, but that was her mistake.

    Without flinching, the Little One swung another tentacle. Adhai quickly enveloped her head with star power to block the attack.

    The moment the tentacle struck, the air trembled, and her neck bones screamed in agony. The force was so intense that it overwhelmed the star power shielding her.

    Still, she was fine. Her head remained unscathed.

    As she thought this, the Little One¡¯s wavelength touched her tentacle.

    ?You''ve grown a lot, Little One. I won''t hold back anymore.?

    ???

    Before Adhai couldprehend the meaning, she felt herself being lifted high into the sky against her will. The Little One had taken control of the force that bound her.

    And then she saw it.

    All the ice around the Little One cracked and began to rise into the air.

    ?Hey, hey! I told you to take it easy!?

    ?I said the Little One is grown up now, so this much is fine.?

    ?The ship will get caught up in this!?

    By then, the Little One had grown several timesrger than Adhai. Countless tentacles sprouted from its body, and a powerful force radiated from it, akin to the strength felt from the Big One.

    What happened next was hazy.

    An overwhelming number of ice chunks flew toward Adhai, and she was too upied with fending them off. Hertent star power was far from insignificant, but she wasn¡¯t capable of blocking an endless barrage of attacks without pause.

    Eventually, drained of energy, Adhai was struck by one of the Little One¡¯s tentacles and copsed.

    ?I won, so that''s the end of the baby talk! No more asking the Big One for eggs!?

    That was thest thing she heard before losing consciousness. All she could do was nod in agreement.

    But deep inside, Adhai made up her mind.

    She was born with unfavorable odds, yet she had be the queen of her kin.

    The word "give up" wasn¡¯t in her vocabry.

    With a firm resolve to one day mate with the Big One, she passed out.

 Chapter 256:

    Chapter 256:

    -

    Before humanity ventured into space, other intelligent beings had already done so.

    These beings were frail in body but were blessed by the gods with extraordinary powers.

    Guided by the "Providence" set by their gods, they ventured into space and called themselves the "Cult".

    At first, they could barely travel between moons. The gods¡¯ blessings hadn¡¯t extended to aiding their journey into space.

    But the Cult did not give up. Instead of relying solely on their innate psychic power, they devoted themselves to technological development.

    Their lunar voyages eventually led to the exploration ofs and colonization within their star system. From a small, these intelligent beings eventually built an empire spanning multiple star systems.

    In the grand scheme of the universe, however, this was but a fleeting moment. Countless civilizations had risen and fallen before them, and theirs would be no different.

    The Cult Empire¡¯s prosperity was short-lived. Internal strife, corruption among the rulers, and ceaseless wars rapidly shortened the empire¡¯s lifespan. As a result, their former glory is now but a shadow of what it once was.The Kesha Arma space fortress is one of the many remnants left behind by that once-luminous empire.

    If tranted into Megacorp terms, "Kesha Arma" means the "Wealthy King." This space fortress was established to protect a mining.

    In the days of the empire''s prosperity, mining ships from various races would frequently use this fortress. True to its name, this ce was a center of the empire''s wealth.

    Had the mining''s resources not been depleted, it might still be that way today.

    Once the resources of the that justified the fortress''s existence were exhausted, Kesha Arma''s importance plummeted. In an era when the empire was in decline, it had no means to maintain a fortress that yielded no profit. What was once a key strategic point just a hundred years ago had now be aplete burden.

    When the costs of maintaining the fortress far exceeded the benefits, the empire made a simple decision.

    To abandon the space fortress that marked the end of their golden age.

    With the withdrawal of the Cult¡¯s warships stationed there, the space fortress was left unimed. Technically, it still belonged to the Cult Empire, but in reality, it had no administrators or military presence.

    Those who remained were the ones who made a living by catering to miners or those looking for an empty shelter. It was inevitable that an ownerless city would devolve into a slum.

    Kesha Arma became another abyss within the cosmos.

    The ones who took control of this fallen "King of Wealth" were the Marcio Cartel.

    They''re one of the top five most powerful cartels in the entire spacedock.

    Typically, spacedock cartels avoid settling ons or space cities. They have many enemies, and they never know when a punitive force might show up. Instead, they prefer to invest in heavily armed ships where their members can live.

    However, the leaders of the Marcio Cartel have always taken a different approach.

    They earned credits by "brokering" the crimes of other pirates. They set up ck markets for cartels that mainly engaged in smuggling or connected those involved in human trafficking with the upper echelons of Megacorp, and so on.

    Just as Kesha Arma once profited by acting as an intermediary between the mining and the mining ships, the Marcio Cartel profited by acting as a middleman for pirates and criminals.

    Ironically, this business model was what allowed Kesha Arma and the Marcio Cartel to survive. Even Megacorp and the Star Union, who loathed spacedock, were their clients.

    Awless zone sanctioned by the universe''s major powers¡ªthat was the Kesha Arma of today.

    And today, as always, crime was rampant within the pirates'' fortress.

    ¡°Shit! Go for the head! The head, dammit!¡±

    ¡°You''re the only one I trust! I bet all my credits on you!¡±

    ¡°Argh! You bitch! Why are you cutting off his arm?!¡±

    What was once known as the 5th Armory...

    A ce that had once been filled with all kinds of weapons was now packed with a frenzied crowd.

    Humans, Cyborgs, Wolves, and Coldbloods¡ªbeings from different cultures and backgrounds¡ªall shouted at a single sight.

    Within the iron cage, two naked men were fighting.

    Though their appearances, skin colors, and the weapons in their hands differed, they shared two things inmon. Both wore heavy restraints around their necks, and both were covered in blood from head to toe.

    This was a diator arena run by pirates, one of the manymonce abysses in the city.

    ¡°Yeah! Just a bit more! You bastard, you can do it!¡±

    ¡°Huh?! What¡¯s wrong with that guy?! Argh! Damn it!¡±

    ¡°Woooo! He won! He won!¡±

    ¡°Aaaah! My credits! Nooooo!¡±

    The brutal fight ended when the man wielding an axe beheaded the one armed with a spear.

    The emotions of life and death weren''t confined to the cage. The crowd around the arena was equally caught up in feelings of exhration and despair.

    Gidque, a cyborg who had recently joined the Marcio Cartel, was among those cheering.

    ¡°Ha-ha, how much is this?¡±

    He rarely bet against the odds, and now, he hit the jackpot.

    Gidque plugged his terminal into the ounting machine set up in the arena. Seeing two extra zeros instantly added to his credits, he couldn¡¯t help but smirk.

    ¡°Wow, underdog bet, hell yeah.¡±

    ¡°¡­Lucky bastard, I¡¯m so damn jealous.¡±

    The looks directed at him were far from friendly, but no one dared to approach recklessly. Everyone knew he was a member of the Marcio Cartel.

    Enjoying the mix of envy and resentment aimed his way, he left the arena.

    The cyborg, whose body was half-machine, was greeted by an intensely blinding light.

    It was an artificial symphony of neon signs from the entertainment shops. Red, blue, yellow, green¡ªall sorts of lights filled the street, making it nearly impossible to discern what anyone passing by was wearing.

    It wasn¡¯t just the advertisements that were a chaotic jumble. The buildings were as well. Some, like the arena that was once an armory, bore deep influences of cult architecture, while others were crudely built structures thrown together by outsiders.

    In front of the dpidated shops that seemed on the verge of copse at any moment, pirates, vagrants, ves, mercenaries, and all manner of characters loitered around.

    In this slum-like ce where nothing felt unified, if one wished to feel a fragment of the past, they only needed to look up.

    Above their heads, "another ground" gazed down upon them.

    Kesha Arma, a space fortress orbiting a, moved in sync with the celestial body. Through its transparent outer walls, the abandoned looked down upon the residents of the fortress. No matter where you were in Kesha Arma, you could always catch a glimpse of that deste¡¯sndscape.

    Despite being in the presence of the pinnacle of Cult civilization, Gidque felt nothing. He had seen it for too long, and besides, the credits disyed on his terminal mattered more to him.

    ¡°Guess I¡¯ll grab a drink.¡±

    He had enjoyed his entertainment, and now it was time to fuel up. He headed to a bar he frequented.

    As he entered, others, who were simrly passing time while drinking synthetic alcohol, greeted him.

    ¡°A round of synth-booze for this table.¡±

    Gidque casually joined them at their table, prompting some of the pirates to give him surprised looks.

    ¡°Oh, what''s up, tin can?¡±

    ¡°That bastard must¡¯ve won some money. You usually lose, but did you hit a jackpot bet?¡±

    ¡°¡­Damn it, I was about to say that.¡±

    With a few rounds passed between them, the pirates, including Gidque, were quickly getting drunk.

    ¡°Tin can, gotta ask you something. They say in the Star Union, even jerking off by yourself isn¡¯t allowed¡ªis that true?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Because of the poption control or reproduction policies, it¡¯s illegal. They conduct annual memory inspections, and if you¡¯re caught¡­¡±

    Gidque spread his index and middle fingers into a scissor shape, causing the other pirates to recoil in horror.

    ¡°Damn, that¡¯s the scariest story I¡¯ve heard yet.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t have sex freely, and you can¡¯t even jerk off. The fact you lived in such a ce for decades is terrifying, man. Fuck.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of scary stuff, you guys hear thetest rumors? About the Satuah Cartel?¡±

    ¡°The Satuah? Those psychos? What about them?¡±

    ¡°A friend of mine knows some of the Satuah guys, and he said he lost contact with thempletely two months ago.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, shit. I¡¯m more shocked that you know those Satuah bastards. Get the hell away from me.¡±

    The other pirates jeered at the fox-like Wolf pirate who imed to know the Satuah Cartel. Then, a scarred human pirate chimed in.

    ¡°I heard something simr.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The Satuah Cartel¡¯s ve market vanished without a trace. I heard it wiped out their entire operation.¡±

    Gidque was taken aback by the human pirate¡¯s words.

    The Satuah Cartel had a notorious reputation. Their primary trade involved capturing primitives from uncharteds and selling them into very. They were big enough to set up massive ve markets on unimeds, right alongside the Marcio Cartel. And the scale of their operations was said to be nearly asrge as this space fortress.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care what happened to those Satuah bastards, but things have been getting really weirdtely.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, with the fall of the TNC space city, we¡¯ve lost a major hangout.¡±

    ¡°Idiot, that ce went down ages ago. Get over it.¡±

    ¡°I hear Outspacers have been getting rowdy againtely.¡±

    ¡°Thanks to them, I''ve been raking in cash, though. There are tons of people hiring mercenaries now.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re talking shit because you¡¯ve never fought an Outspacer, huh?¡±

    ¡°Are Outspacers tasty?¡±

    ¡°Bet your mom tastes better.¡±

    ¡°Pfft. Is the whole universe really going to shit?¡±

    The scarred pirate¡¯s low mutter shifted the mood at the table.

    As pirates who sailed across dozens, even hundreds of star systems daily, they were often the first to notice changes in the universe.

    And the scarred pirate was right. The universe was growing more chaotic than it had ever been before.

    Gidque frowned at the mood-killing atmosphere. On a day as lucky as today, thest thing he wanted to hear was such ominous talk.

    However, hisrades seemed quite entertained by the sudden ghost stories, eagerly starting to share tales they knew.

    ¡°Do you guys know why the Dvara Cartel fell apart? Turns out, they got caught by a ghost ship¡­¡±

    ¡°Nah, I heard from the Humanity guys that¡­¡±

    Rumors about a ck ghost ship that devoured spacecraft, secret stories about the downfall of space cities, and tales of demons that wore human skin and imitated people¡ªit all seemed absurd.

    The more Gidque listened to the pirates, the more he was dumbfounded.

    It seemed they had forgotten where they were. This was a fortress built in the heart of space¡ªa shrine to technology and science, and yet here they were spouting superstitions.

    And mysterious monsters? Half the pirates visiting this fortress were in the business of capturing and selling those so-called ¡°mysterious monsters¡±.

    Gidque couldn¡¯t understand what part of their stories was supposed to be enjoyable.

    ¡°I¡¯m heading out.¡±

    He paid his tab to the android and left the bar.

    ¡°Monsters, my ass.¡±

    In this era of space exploration, monsters weren¡¯t mysterious creatures or ghost ships that swallowed starships.

    As someone who had once been human, then a Star Union cyborg, and now a pirate, he knew what true monsters were.

    ¡°¡­Might as well get some sleep.¡±

    In a few hours, he¡¯d have to go back to work.

    And so, the lone cyborg disappeared into the crowd on the street.

    ---

    While Gidque was wasting his life away at the bar, new visitors were arriving at the fortress''s military port.

    True to a city dominated by a chaotic spacedock, the visitors were equally varied.

    Pirate assault ships bearing cartel emblems, sleek and efficient Megacorp warships, rugged Star Union freighters, and various other civilian vessels¡ªan array of ships easily entered and exited the city. There was no need for intense inspections since everyone¡¯s purpose in visiting the pirate fortress was obvious. After all, it wasughable for a bunch of criminals to prevent others frommitting crimes.

    Hundreds of ships came and went from the military port. Among them, one stood out.

    ¡°Hey, that ship looks like it belongs to those Satuah bastards.¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t theyying low? What are they doing here?¡±

    The assault ship from the Satuah Cartel was notorious for its long, narrow hull and wide rear. It was an unusual design, modified from a dmissioned Megacorp vessel, making it a rare sight.

    The anchor-shaped Satuah assault ship had just docked at the port. A few pirates disembarked and started talking to the port''s guards.

    Pirates watching from a distance scratched their heads in confusion.

    ¡°What the hell? There''s a Wolf with the Satuah pirates?¡±

    The Satuah Cartel was known for its all-human membership. They considered other sentient beings as potential kidnapping targets, making them outcasts even among the various races inhabiting the space docks.

    Yet here was a white-feathered, amber-eyed Wolf standing among the crew. And not just standing¡ªhe appeared to be giving orders to the Satuah members.

    This went against everything the pirates thought they knew.

    The guards also seemed to find the assault ship suspicious. What should have been a cursory check turned into a full-on search of the ship¡¯s interior.

    Watching the guards follow the Wolf into the assault ship, the pirates assumed this fake Satuah vessel would soon be expelled from the fortress.

    But the results of the search were entirely unexpected.

    The guards emerged from the ship and took no action against the crew. In fact, it looked as if they had epted bribes; they treated the Wolf with the same respect they would show to a cartel boss.

    The guards even went as far as to help the Satuah crew. It wasn''t until two containers were unloaded from the ship onto the dock that the guards returned to their duties.

    ¡°¡­What the hell is going on?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s on that ship that¡¯s making them act like that?¡±

    The pirates had never seen the guards behave this way. Their gazes locked onto the assault ship.

    Most were simply curious, but a few had something else in mind.

    They were already thinking about finding out exactly what was on that ship.

    And if it turned out to be something valuable, they were prepared to take it for themselves.

 Chapter 257:

    Chapter 257:

    -

    After the Wolf who had beenmanding the Satuah members left the port, five pirates approached the ship. Although they pretended to be looking elsewhere, their eyes kept ncing at the vessel.

    ¡°Am I right or what?¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s definitely strange that there''s not a single guard watching the ship.¡±

    While the ruling Marcio Cartel would never tolerate chaos within its territory, they didn¡¯t crack down on every minor crime. The guards at the port conducted only the most basic checks, not caring about each ship''s security.

    In other words, every ship had to take care of its own defenses. Looking around, pirates or mercenaries could be seen guarding their ships.

    But there was no such thing around the Satuah Cartel''s assault ship. There was no movement outside or inside the vessel.

    It was as if the ship waspletely deserted.

    ¡°Looks like we could go in.¡±The wide-open door beckoned the pirates, urging them toe in without worry.

    After ensuring no one was watching, the five pirates climbed the steps leading to the entrance of the ship.

    ¡°Heh, this is going smoothly.¡±

    ¡°We could just take this ship and leave, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t get carried away, you idiot. How the hell would you even pilot such a huge piece of crap¡­¡±

    As they exchanged banter, the pirates went silent the moment they stepped inside.

    Only minimal lighting illuminated the corridor. As expected, there was no one inside, but none of the five expressed any joy.

    There was something unnervingly unsettling about the dim-lit hallway.

    ¡°¡­Goddamn, this ce is creepy.¡±

    ¡°Are they nuts? They came here in this thing?¡±

    If it had just been dark, none of them would have been afraid. They were, after all, space dock regrs who roamed the infinite darkness.

    But this ship was different. There was an inexplicable sense of dread lurking within.

    ¡°Let¡¯s check things out quickly and get out.¡±

    The pirate with dyed green hair suggested, and the others nodded without a word.

    They all felt the ominous air but couldn¡¯t bring themselves to leave empty-handed. They started moving down the shadowy corridor.

    The temperature inside wasn¡¯t particrly low. The life-support systems were still running. Yet, the pirates felt an inexplicable chill, as if cold air seeped into their very bones with every breath.

    The smell was another strange factor. It wasn¡¯t the unwashed stench of pirates or the odor of smuggled animals. There was an odd, unsettling scent pervading the entire ship.

    It was the kind of smell that should have hit them the moment they set foot on the metal steps. Yet, none of them had covered their noses before crossing the doorway.

    It felt as though the ship had been waiting for them to board. They didn¡¯t speak of it, but all shared the same thought.

    Despite their instinctive fear, nothing actively threatened them. As they moved forward unhindered, they finally came upon arge iron door.

    ¡°This should be the cargo hold, right?¡±

    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s see what¡¯s in there.¡±

    A pirate with a cybeic eye pulled out a terminal. Connecting it to the door''s cables, he quickly hacked through the lock.

    The heavy iron door creaked open, revealing a pitch-ck cargo hold.

    ¡°Turn on the lights.¡±

    ¡°Not sure we can do that without messing with the ship¡¯sputer.¡±

    ¡°Damn it, really?¡±

    Cursing, the pirates drew theirser pistols, each equipped with a small shlight on the end.

    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s dark in here.¡±

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the paint? That¡¯s probably where that smell ising from.¡±

    ¡°Quiet, both of you. Let¡¯s split up and search.¡±

    ¡°Agreed.¡±

    If the flickering hallway lights had been unsettling, this room was much darker and far more disturbing. Staying here any longer would surely drive them mad. They spread out to search for valuables as quickly as possible.

    ¡®¡­It felt fine when I first came in.¡¯

    The green-haired pirate, relying on the light from his gun, regretted his decision as he moved between the iron cages.

    It wasn''t as if they were raiding a rich ship, and this vessel mainly dealt in ves. Why had he thought it was worth checking out?

    In hindsight, it was suspicious that the Satuah bastards didn¡¯t leave any guards behind. Those guys had visited this ce more than once.

    ¡°Come on, there¡¯s got to be something¡­ huh?!¡±

    He gasped. His light had fallen on something inside one of the iron cages.

    ¡°A statue?¡±

    At first, he thought it was a person and was startled, but upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn¡¯t.

    Inside the cell was a statue, a human figure sculpted from a translucent, crystalline mineral.

    ¡°Damn, thought it was a person.¡±

    The green-haired pirate stepped into the cell and touched the statue. It felt cold and solid, just like any inorganic mineral.

    ¡®It''s incredibly well-made.¡¯

    The craftsmanship was so exquisite that the statue almost seemed alive. Especially the expression¡ªit had its eyes and mouth wide open, as if it had witnessed something terrifying, making it look full of life.

    It was as if a living person had been instantly turned into a statue.

    ¡®This could be worth a fortune.¡¯

    ¡°Hey! Come over here, you guys!¡±

    He wasn¡¯t the only one who had caught the scent of credits. He stepped out of the cell and ran to where hisrades were.

    And thus, he failed to notice that the eyes of the statue were now fixed on his back.

    -

    ¡°We could make a tidy profit even if we just take a few of these.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be greedy. If we take too many, they might notice. Let¡¯s just grab three for now.¡±

    Inside the scattered iron cages were statues that resembled humans. There had to be at least a hundred of them.

    Their efforts in wandering through this creepy ce had finally paid off. The five pirates stood in front of the statues, clearly satisfied.

    The idiots who couldn¡¯t even maintain basic security wouldn¡¯t notice if a few statues disappeared. Confident in this, the pirates began moving the statues.

    ¡°We lift on three. One, two, three!¡±

    ¡°Ugh, damn, this is heavy.¡±

    ¡°Come on, lift it properly... whoa, whoa!¡±

    The statues were extremely heavy. Even with four adult men, moving them was a struggle. In the end, one pirate slipped, and the statue toppled over onto the floor.

    ¡°You stupid bastard!¡±

    ¡°Sorry.¡±

    ¡°Shut up, all of you! If it gets damaged, the value will drop!¡±

    The pirate with the cybeic eye checked the fallen statue for any damage. Fortunately, there were no cracks. As he sighed in relief and looked at the statue, he suddenly had a strange feeling.

    The human statue appeared as if it would scream at any moment, its expression dynamic and full of life. And that face¡ªit seemed oddly familiar.

    ¡°¡­Does anyone here have contact with the Poncha crew?¡±

    ¡°Poncha? Weren¡¯t they wiped out by that cult?¡±

    As the green-haired pirate mentioned, it had been about a month since all contact with the Poncha Cartel had been lost. The pirate with the cybeic eye knew that, too.

    But he asked because the fallen statue¡¯s appearance bore a striking resemnce to someone from the Poncha Cartel.

    ¡®It¡¯s definitely that guy from Poncha.¡¯

    Here, on a ship that had lost contact two months ago, they found a statue identical to a member of the Poncha Cartel who had supposedly been wiped out just a month ago. What could that mean?

    ¡®¡­What the hell is going on?¡¯

    Something had gone terribly wrong. His instincts screamed that they needed to leave immediately.

    At that moment, the green-haired pirate called out to him.

    ¡°¡­Hey.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°These statues¡­ were they always looking this way?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    All the pirates looked up at once.

    The light from four shlights illuminated the iron cages scattered throughout the cargo hold. The statues stood just as they had earlier, frozen in ce.

    Except for one difference¡ªtheir eyes.

    Every single statue was now staring directly at them.

    ¡°Holy shit!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t shoot, you idiot!¡±

    ¡°W-We need to get out of here now! This ce is dangerous!¡±

    ¡°Wait! If we leave like this, we¡¯re not taking anything!¡±

    ¡°Damn it! Grab it quick¡­ hey, where¡¯s the other guy?¡±

    Come to think of it, there were five when they entered, but now there were only four.

    ¡°H-Huh? When did he disappear?¡±

    ¡°Who cares about that right now?¡±

    ¡°Screw the credits, let¡¯s just run for it!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll make it out on his own!¡±

    Instead of searching for their missingrade, they sprinted toward the door that led out of the cargo hold.

    The cargo hold wasn''t particrlyrge. It shouldn''t have been difficult to escape outside.

    It didn¡¯t take long for him to realize that assumption was wrong.

    ¡®It just keeps going?!¡¯

    He had been running long enough to be out of breath, yet there was still no door in sight. The pirate with the cybeic eye switched his lens to night vision mode, but still, no door appeared.

    ¡®The others? Where did they all go?¡¯

    Hisrades, who had been running alongside him just moments ago, had vanished. Panicking, he looked around. Instead of hispanions, he found himself surrounded by the statues, all staring at him with an eerie, unyielding gaze.

    His skin crawled under those chilling eyes. He tightened his grip around his handgun, though he wasn''t sure how much it would help. But without it, he felt like he might just die from sheer terror.

    ¡°¡­Gulp.¡±

    Swallowing hard, he began to cautiously walk between the iron cages. With each step he took, the eyes beyond the bars followed him.

    He had spent his life bathed in the hatred of those he had piged. But the eyes staring at him now filled him with a fear he had never felt before.

    As he trembled and walked forward, a figure suddenly emerged before him. It was the green-haired pirate who had disappeared earlier during their attempted escape.

    He nearly shot hisrade in his panic and yelled in frustration.

    ¡°Damn it, I almost shot you!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    The green-haired pirate stumbled toward him without a word.

    As he got closer, the pirate with the cybeic eye felt his blood freeze.

    ¡°¡­¡­! ¡­¡­! ¡­¡­!¡±

    The translucent crystal material he''d seen on the statues was now spreading over the green-haired pirate¡¯s neck and mouth.

    It wasn''t that the pirate wasn¡¯t responding on purpose; he simply couldn¡¯t speak anymore.

    The green-haired pirate grabbed the other''s cor, his eyes desperately pleading for help as his body continued to harden.

    ¡°Aaaaah!¡±

    The pirate with the cybeic eye shoved hisrade away and stepped back. Now he understood what these statues were made of.

    This ship was cursed. He didn¡¯t know what kind of ritual the Sattua crew had performed, but it was clear this vessel had returned from a ce darker than hell itself.

    As he came to that realization, the eyes of all the statues surrounding him shifted upward. Even the fallenrade¡¯s gaze turned to look above his head.

    The pirate with the cybeic eye sensed something hovering above him.

    He was too terrified to look up, but his curiosity refused to obey his fear.

    Slowly, he raised his head.

    There, ¡®something from hell¡¯ was staring down at him.

    -

    ?You have a twisted hobby.?

    Mother of the Sky sighed as she observed the five newly added pirate figurines.

    ¡®Do I?¡¯

    I hadn¡¯t really done much to those who had boarded the ship. I ended things quickly, only using two of my recently acquired unique traits.

    ?Herald of Chaos: Reality is dictated by perception. Spread psychic power to distort the senses of all sentient beings within a 500-meter radius. Randomly imnt a ''Madness Bomb'' in one of the affected beings.

    *¡®Madness Bomb¡¯: Disrupts the target''s senses and mind, turning them into a lunatic. When they die, the ''Madness Bomb'' effect transfers to the nearest sentient being.

    *Note: Effect is reduced on creatures with psychic resistance. Agility significantly decreases while using this trait.

    *P.S.: Don¡¯t trust reality too much.?

    ?Medusa Engine: Injects silicon-based microorganisms into the target, altering their gic makeup. The altered being crystallizes in stages over time.

    *Note: This can only be used upon direct contact with the target.?

    One of these is a transcendent system trait, while the other falls under the ''Environmental Adaptation'' category. There¡¯s another unique trait I¡¯ve developed recently, but it''s not something suitable for this situation.

    ¡®Obtaining the Medusa Engine was a real hassle.¡¯

    I had to face off against a ck Gagon, one almost as strong as Odd Grad. The fight took two whole weeks.

    But the reward was well worth it.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ (You know they¡¯ll be useful.)]

    ?¡­Yeah, I suppose you¡¯re right.?

    I wrapped one of the statues with an invasive tendril.

    ¡®This one should do.¡¯

    It was one of the pirates who had intruded into the cargo hold while I was resting.

    After the others had fled, I stayed behind, using ¡®Herald of Chaos¡¯ to distort their senses, ensuring they couldn¡¯t escape.

    The pirates, whose cognitive abilities hadpletely deteriorated, were either running in circles on the spot or wandering aimlessly along the walls of the cargo hold. They probably thought they were escaping effectively, but that wasn''t the case at all.

    ¡®Once they''re inside, they¡¯re trapped in the palm of my hand.¡¯

    Clinging to the ceiling, I used the tendrils equipped with the ¡®Medusa Engine¡¯ to turn the maddened pirates into quartz statues one by one.

    The Medusa Engine worked by imnting silicon-based microorganisms into the target''s body. These microorganisms would rapidly transform whatever they infected into a substance resembling crystal.

    In other words, as the name implies, it turns the target into a mineral lump. The only way to prevent this was to remove the microorganisms before they could spread.

    If they couldn''t stop it? They''d be trapped forever in a prison of flesh, just like the statues in this cargo hold. This wasn''t a trait that could be obtained from anything less than an apex predator stronger than even a ck Gagon.

    ¡®It pairs well with my other traits.¡¯

    The opponents crystallized by the Medusa Engine became quite useful in various ways. For example, they could serve as raw materials for the Mimicry Organ.

    I opened my mouth wide and bit into the crystallized pirate. The hard crystal shattered, and a sweet, juicy vor spread through my mouth, much like biting into a candy with liquid inside.

    The body of the pirate, who once had green hair, slid down my throat, past my digestive tract, and began to nourish me. During this process, my dormant Mimicry Organ awoke and absorbed his gic information.

    After dropping from the ceiling, Inded on the floor without making a sound and walked toward the pirate who had wet himself in terror.

    ¡°W-who are you¡­?!¡±

    The pirate with the cybeic eye was trembling with fear and confusion.

    Right now, he would be seeing me as his green-hairedrade. His mind might recognize that I wasn¡¯t truly hispanion, but his body would reject that interpretation.

    Thanks to the ¡®Form Dominator¡¯ trait I acquired a few months ago, the efficiency of my Mimicry Organ had improved significantly.

    Previously, I had to rely on pheromones to confuse the target¡¯s senses. But now, the psychic power seeping from my pores cloaked my body in a false image, using telekic energy as a sort of living optic camouge.

    It was as if I wore a psychic-powered optical device, making me nearly undetectable to cameras. Even if photographed, I¡¯d only appear as a distorted shape, much like a ghostly image, but that¡¯s far better than being captured as a monstrous figure.

    Ever since I left the Dragon¡¯s Nest, I had traveled across multiple star systems, devouring countless sentient beings. For the more important individuals, I preserved their gic data using the Parasite Worm Organ within my body, while those of lesser value I turned into statues using the Medusa Engine, just like now.

    These were all meant to be tools for future invasions of others or ships.

    ¡°What about the others?¡±

    ?They''re in the container. Number 26 is staying still, but Adhai seems hungry.?

    ¡°I should bring her something to eat.¡±

    Using my wing-arms, I lifted the pirate with the cybeic eye. Trembling, he started begging.

    ¡°P-please, spare me! Please, spare me! Please, I beg you¡­.¡±

    I had initially nned to offer him to Adhai as a snack, but a better idea suddenly struck me. I asked Mother of the Sky in a gentle tone.

    ¡°We¡¯re visiting this ce in our reality for the first time, right?¡±

    ?Yeah. Originally, this was a cult''s space fortress. I¡¯m not sure why it¡¯s changed like this.?

    ¡°In that case, we¡¯ll need a guide.¡±

    ¡°W-what?¡±

    His eyes widened at my words.

    Though I had used parasites to dominate the guards, I still had a few left.

    The illusion covering my body wavered slightly, and a ck, eel-like creature crawled out from mybat arm. The pirate''s face turned ashen at the sight of the wriggling parasite slithering toward him.

    ¡°W-wait! Hold on! Wai¡ªaaahhh!¡±

    The parasite coiled around his face, and then, with a swift movement, burrowed into his throat. As it wriggled through his throat and toward his brain, the pirate''s eyes and nose began to bleed.

    A momentter, with a blissful smile, the pirate bowed his head to me.

    ¡°I serve my new m-m-master, master Amorph! I serve Amorph! Long live Amorph!¡±

    ?¡­Wow.?

    Now that I had moved to a different fishing spot, it was time to change the bait as well.

    Adhai''s snack would be reced with the fish we caught using this new lure.

 Chapter 258:

    Chapter 258:

    -

    In recent days, Gidequ had been in a good mood.

    This was because the unexpected winnings from an underdog bet at the human fighting arena were now securely stored in his terminal.

    Perhaps it was thanks to the sense of hope that he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time, but even on his way to work, he didn¡¯t feel burdened.

    To be precise, he was on his way to work in an environment where it was impossible to feel burdened.

    ?The nextnding spot is ''Military Port''.?

    An announcement echoed through the hover bus that was carrying him. Normally, he would have taken the underground military train to work, mingling with the teeming masses and having his mood ruined.

    Of course, the hover bus wasn''tpletely free of people either, but the smell was different.

    Here, the stench of alcohol, sweat, and vomit that would often blend together wasn¡¯t present. Instead, the scent of expensive air fresheners installed in the vehicle and the perfumes of wealthy passengers filled the air.Though both the train and the bus were crowded, the difference in smell inevitably changed the mood.

    Considering Gidequ''s usual earnings, taking a hover bus was quite an extravagance, but he didn¡¯t care. He thought it was worth spending credits on such things asionally. With that in mind, he stared out the window, standing among the other passengers.

    The hover bus had just left the chaotic city district and was nearing the Military Port. As itnded in front of the port, people spilled out in droves.

    The main customers of the hover bus were outsiders visiting the fortress. After finishing their business, they would take the ships docked at the port to leave.

    With people exiting, there was now a bit more room. Gidequ stretched his stiffened body lightly.

    Just before the door closed, he caught sight of someone he knew outside.

    It was a security officer from the port, someone he had shared a drink with before. The officer was smiling broadly, looking strangely delighted.

    Though he appeared to be smiling, Gidequ sensed something odd about him.

    It was because of his eyes.

    The security officer''s pupils were unwavering, fixed in ce as he smiled only with his mouth while staring directly at the bus.

    Seeing him like that, Gidequ was reminded of a Screamer he once saw during his time in the Star Union¡ªthose unfortunate beings, controlled by machines, not even allowed to breathe on their own.

    As the unpleasant memory resurfaced, Gidequ looked away from the security officer.

    But even then, he saw others with simr expressions. Among the bustling crowds at the port, there were people standing still with eerie faces.

    Some were vagrants, others were cartel pirates. Despite having nothing inmon, they all stood in the same posture.

    ¡®They must have taken a hell of a lot of drugs this morning.¡¯

    Kesha Arma was a space fortress sustained by crime. It wasn¡¯t unusual to see people high on drugs just about anywhere. Everyone knew this, which is why they ignored those strange individuals.

    ¡®Lucky bastards.¡¯

    Gidequ lost interest in the junkies. The door closed, and the bus took off again. The next stop was his workce, the 2nd Command Center, where he worked as a security guard.

    Even after the bus carrying Gidequ departed, the junkies remained in ce. A momentter, they turned and started moving somewhere.

    They were heading back to the one who had seized control of their minds.

    ---

    It had been three days since I arrived at Kesha Arma, the abandoned cult fortress.

    So far, I had spent my time gathering information, trying to understand how much this ce had changed from what I remembered.

    ¡®The minerals have run dry, huh.¡¯

    ording to the words of the prey I¡¯d recently caught, the fortress had been abandoned because the it was supposed to protect had exhausted its mineral resources.

    ¡®Well, minerals might be unlimited in the game, but not in reality.¡¯

    Whether resources or living beings, it takes time for them to replenish.

    In any case, with resources depleted and the star system no longer holding any military significance, there was no reason for the Empire to maintain an expensive orbital habitat.

    ¡®Officially, it¡¯s still an Imperial property¡­¡¯

    It seems that the cartel from the space dock had obtained management rights through lobbying.

    It¡¯s not all that surprising. After all, Muriel, the first yer I devoured, also infiltrated the sacred with Jason¡¯s backing.

    ¡®I should get more details from the next target.¡¯

    My underlings had just located members of the Marcio Cartel, the group that controls this fortress. Not just any low-level member, but someone working in the important 2nd Command Center of this city.

    ¡®I hope he¡¯s a smart one.¡¯

    There were two reasons why my followers and I came here.

    The first was due to rumors that a massive auction would be taking ce in the pirate fortress.

    A lot had happened since I left the Dragon''s Nest.

    While hunting the rare apex creature known as the ¡®Gorgon Swarm¡¯, our means of transportation, a Screamer support ship, had been severely damaged. As a result, it became difficult to travel alongside the Gagon pack.

    ¡®Fortunately, there was a suitable ce nearby to serve as a new nest.¡¯

    In the star system where the Gorgon Swarm was found, there was a where the Gagons could settle. The Gagon pack had established a new nest there.

    The unfortunate part was that, having lost my ship, I¡¯d have to part ways with the Gagon pack for a while.

    Adhai stepped down temporarily from her position as the leader of her Gagon pack to follow me. In her ce, Ham Ort has taken over as the acting leader.

    Hoping that we might meet again when the time is right, we left.

    After leaving the star system in search of a new goal, we switched to a new ship. During that process, we were fortunate to obtain information about a ve market.

    ¡®I made quite a mess there.¡¯

    On the where the ve market was established, I had the chance to consume various creatures. Additionally, I managed to extract crucial information from smugglers, who kept spilling secrets one after another.

    The information was that arge-scale auction for smuggled animals and ves would take ce at Kesha Arma.

    ¡®Only two more unique traits, and I¡¯ll be in my adult form.¡¯

    After experiencing numerous events, I¡¯ve nearlypleted the conditions for evolving into an adult form.

    I activated the semi-transparent text box.

    ?¡®Subadult¡¯ -> ¡®Adult¡¯ Evolution Conditions:

    Apex (APEX) 30/30 (Achieved), Unique Traits Owned 8/10 (Not Achieved), Types Owned 6/6 (Achieved)?

    The eight unique traits I possess are as follows: six were created using the Transcendence System, and two were obtained by hunting Apex creatures. Toplete my evolution, I need to either devour more rare creatures or gather a variety of traits and then use the Transcendence System.

    ¡®That¡¯s why I¡¯m targeting the auction.¡¯

    The chances of a creature with a unique trait being avable at the auction are close to zero. Hence, my n focuses on thetter method: obtaining two more unique traits using the Transcendence System toplete my evolution.

    The traits I currently possess are ¡®Perfect Organism,¡¯ ¡®Horizon of Nightmare,¡¯ ¡®Organic Evolution,¡¯ ¡®Great Infector,¡¯ ¡®Harbinger of Chaos,¡¯ and another unique trait I haven¡¯t used here yet.

    Additionally, I have ¡®Heart of the Dragon,¡¯ obtained from the ck Gagon, and the ¡®Medusa Organ, obtained from hunting the Gorgon Swarm.

    Excluding the unique traits gained from hunting Apex creatures, six of my traits are ssified as Cosmic Monster types. Once I acquire two more, it will make a total of eight, which will unlock the Cosmic Monster Type¡¯s second-tier reward.

    ¡®This way, I can evolve and obtain the second-tier reward simultaneously.¡¯

    This is the main reason I¡¯vee here, but there¡¯s another reason rted to the Mother of the Sky.

    Currently, the Mother of the Sky is in a simr state to mine. She''s one step away from advancing in her deification process.

    The only offering left is the ¡®Corrupted Wolf¡¯s Heart¡¯.

    Since we left the Dragon''s Nest, we have finished refining the Star Pearl Ore at a pirate''s ve market. Now, the only thing she has to do is consume the Wolf¡¯s Heart.

    Although this might seem like an easy goal, it¡¯s not that simple. It requires extracting the heart of a Wolf yer capable of transformation.

    ¡®If this were just a game, it¡¯d be easy.¡¯

    But here, unlike in the game, finding a Wolf as powerful as the Mother of the Sky was challenging. Most Wolves were unaware of the concept of deification.

    Had we not heard about a transformable Wolf on a space fortress from the ve market, we would¡¯ve spent much longer searching.

    ¡®The underboss of the Marcio Cartel, which runs the auction, is said to be a Wolf.¡¯

    If we capture one of the Organization¡¯s members, we might get the information needed to lure out the underboss.

    That¡¯s the main reason we¡¯re here.

    This is the goal the Mother of the Sky and I set together, and the others didn¡¯t have any objections.

    ¡®They¡¯re such goodpanions.¡¯

    They may be terrifying when facing enemies, but to me, they¡¯re simply endearing.

    My family is currently concealed in a container at the Military Port.

    It¡¯s a container belonging to the previous owners of this ship, designed to shield various types of energy. While inside, not a single trace of the psychic power they emit can escape.

    This ce was originally a space fortress managed by a cult fleet. Though we arrived knowing it had turned into a pirate base, I hid them in the container just in case the military might still be around.

    ¡®Now that it¡¯s confirmed to be under the jurisdiction of Space Dock, there¡¯s no need for further caution.¡¯

    When it¡¯s time to invade the fortress, I n to unleash them.

    ¡®Not just yet, though.¡¯

    The fruit isn''t ripe. Now is the time toy the groundwork. Once all preparations areplete, I intend to go to war with them by my side.

    I rose from where I¡¯d been lying in the cargo hold.

    When I left the Dragon¡¯s Nest, my body took on a spider-like form. It was 25 meters in length, with a tail and wings resembling that of a spider.

    Since then, I¡¯ve acquired numerous traits, but my appearance hasn¡¯t changed significantly. The most notable differences are therger head carapace due to the ¡®Harbinger of Chaos¡¯ and the longer monstrous tentacles.

    ¡°Come here.¡±

    Upon hearing my words, twenty subordinates approached me.

    They, governed by parasites, were delighted to obey my orders. It was something that would be impossible in a game, but the enhancement effects of two specific traits made it achievable.

    The Great Infector, which grants enhancement effects to three traits each from the Infection and Nest types, made this possible. With this trait, the ¡®Parasitic Colony¡¯ gained the ability to produce 20 parasites.

    This meant that the number of beings I could control increased to 20.

    And that wasn''t all. One of the Marks of the Strong traits, ¡®Form Dominator¡¯, also enhanced the Parasitic Colony. It wasn¡¯t just an increase in numbers; the quality of the parasites themselves improved.

    These parasites, now grown to the size of an eel, burrow into their victims'' brains and rece that area entirely. Once infected, the victim¡¯s entire brain activity falls under the parasite''s influence.

    They don¡¯t just serve me; they view me as an essential part of their existence, as if I were a part of their very body. It¡¯s not forced obedience; they follow me with genuine devotion.

    ¡®The downside is when it¡¯s time to retrieve the parasites.¡¯

    I once ran an experiment to see what would happen. Even after the parasite was removed, the host didn¡¯t die immediately. They became aplete vegetable since part of their brain was missing.

    In other words, unlike before, once a parasite takes root, that person is finished.

    ¡®It''s fortunate I removed it from the Mother of the Sky beforehand.¡¯

    When she saw an eel-like parasite, covered in bits of brain matter, emerging from a victim¡¯s mouth, she avoided me for quite some time.

    ¡®Enough distractions. I need to focus.¡¯

    Facing the twenty individuals before me, I activated the ¡®Harbinger of Chaos¡¯. From my back head carapace and neck, monstrous tentacles emerged.

    The tentacles wriggled as if an octopus was swimming through water. Psychic power, capable of inflicting devastating effects on living beings'' bodies and minds, traveled along the tentacles and spread through the air.

    Anyone sensitive to energy would be able to see it¡ªfine threads of psychic power wafting through the air like smoke rising from an incense burner.

    As soon as the Harbinger of Chaos was activated, the twenty people before me reacted instantly.

    ¡°Slurp, hee-hee, slurp, slurp, hee-hee!¡±

    ¡°Huff, huff, huff, huff, huff, huff, huff.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, oh, ahh, ehehehe!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sor¡­¡±

    A security guard, perhaps reliving childhood memories, sucked on his fingers.

    A pirate with a prosthetic eye, seemingly encountering his past victims, kept apologizing.

    One man, overwhelmed with intense pleasure, drooled while thrusting his hips wildly into the air. Another gasped, frantically licking the floor.

    These ves of sensation floundered in the psychic power that twisted and distorted their perceptions.

    The Harbinger of Chaos is a unique trait I acquired when I raided a Screamer supply ship and obtained material information. As it contains numerous traits rted to psychic abilities, it¡¯s specialized in mental maniption and crowd control.

    ¡®The range is usually much broader¡­¡¯

    It can influence all sentient beings within a 500-meter radius, but I¡¯ve restricted the range for now. I need to focus solely on these twenty individuals in this room.

    As their behavior grew more erratic and animalistic, I noticed a faint purple glow appearing over some of their heads.

    ¡®Got it.¡¯

    That glow was a ¡®Madness Bomb,¡¯ a sort of additional effect triggered when using the Harbinger of Chaos.

    Having confirmed this, I immediately deactivated the Harbinger of Chaos. The subordinates, now returned to reality, copsed to the ground, utterly exhausted.

    ¡®Perhaps this is how I¡¯ll kick things off.¡¯

    If the Madness Bomb detonates, it¡¯s bound to create quite themotion.

    Imanded those with the purple glow surrounding them.

    Find ces where crowds gather.

 Chapter 259:

    Chapter 259:

    -

    ¡°Hey, did you hear about it? There was a hugemotion in the city district an hour ago.¡±

    ¡°Amotion?¡±

    ¡°Some lunatic went after the Marcio Cartel and ended up dead.¡±

    ¡°Damn, that''s insane.¡±

    In the space fortress of Kesha Arma, the Marcio Cartel¡¯s influence was far beyond that of mere proprietors. Controlling the reactor, they essentially hold the life and death of everyone on this fortress in their hands

    It¡¯s said that in the past, they once gathered rebels into a single district and cut off their oxygen supply.

    That¡¯s why the name ¡®Marcio¡¯ is never taken lightly here. The idea that someone would be bold enough to challenge them¡ªwell, it¡¯s the kind of incident that would pique the interest of a nosypanion.

    ¡°So, who on our side got hit?¡±¡°Jonas. The crazy bastard bit his neck, and he had to be taken to the hospital.¡±

    ¡°¡­That powered armor fanatic got attacked? How does an ordinary person even manage to bite someone wearing powered armor?¡±

    ¡°Those who were with him said he seemed like a druggie. Might have been on Psionium or something, apparently his physical abilities were off the charts.¡±

    ¡°A druggie, huh.¡±

    That word made Gidequ think about something from earlier in the morning.

    The naval port guard, grinning bizarrely while staring at a hover bus. There wasn¡¯t just one person standing like that either.

    ¡®Well, the higher-ups will handle it.¡¯

    The Marcio Cartel had an important businessing up soon. In just a few days, there¡¯d be an auction for smuggled animals and ves. It¡¯s why different species'' ships were flocking from all over the gxy.

    In such a situation, there¡¯s no way the cartel would allow a bunch of drug addicts to run rampant. They¡¯ll probably crack down hard on them.

    It¡¯s ironic to think about criminals cracking down on drug addicts, but it wasn¡¯t Gidequ¡¯s concern. His role in the organization was far more important than simply busting a druggie¡¯s head.

    ¡°Looking at all this food makes me hungry.¡±

    ¡°Freddy, you idiot, you wanna get jettisoned into space like your predecessors?¡±

    ¡°I was just saying, man. No need to be so prickly.¡±

    Before Gidequ and hispanion Freddy was a feast sovish, it¡¯s something one might only see once in a lifetime.

    The ce they were at was once called the Second Headquarters. Now, it functioned as a hotel amodating the Marcio Cartel¡¯s most important clients.

    Their job was to ensure that this food reached the VIPs staying upstairs without a hitch.

    For that purpose, they were armed to an unusually high degree for low-ranking members¡ªequipped with brand-new medium-ss powered armor and Gauss rifles. In terms of equipment, they were on par with a megacorp¡¯s armored police force.

    ¡°Preparationsplete. Proceeding with delivery.¡±

    An android, now loaded with all the food on a cart, began to move. As they boarded the elevator with the android, the two men fell silent.

    The elevator quickly ascended and came to a stop on the 100th floor.

    As the doors opened, they were greeted by a corridor as opulently decorated as the food the android carried. They followed it out of the elevator.

    The hallway was lined with pirates d in high-grade powered armor and fully armed androids. Feeling their gaze, Gidequ swallowed hard.

    The guest staying on the 100th floor was of utmost importance. The cartel boss himself had given strict orders to treat this person with the same respect he wouldmand.

    ¡°Pass.¡±

    After passing through the strict security and entering the room, they were greeted by the sound ofughter.

    Even though it was a voice he only heard a few times a year, there was no mistaking its owner.

    The master of Kesha Arma and the leader of the Marcio Cartel.

    One of the elders who wielded the most power at Spacedock, Montana Marcio.

    As they entered the enormous dining room with the android, they saw a giant with brown skin and a woman with antler-like horns.

    ¡°Hahaha, cultists are truly fascinating!¡±

    ¡°Fascinating, you say? That''s an intriguing perspective.¡±

    The Colossal man, who would fill a sofarge enough to seat three grown men with room to spare, was none other than the ruler of the space fortress.

    On the opposite side, despite her words, the Cult woman nodded with a calm expression. She was the VIP that Montana Marcio had invited.

    This woman was an extraordinarily important figure who had been residing on this vast 100th floor for nearly half a year. Important enough that Montana Marcio himself had to tter her like this.

    ¡°Ah! The meal has arrived just in time. Lady Cynthia.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your consideration, Montana.¡±

    ¡°Consideration? No, this is hardly enough when I think of the grace you and he have shown us.¡±

    At his gesture, the android began setting up the meal.

    From this point on, their job was done. Gidequ and Freddy bowed politely and retreated.

    ¡°Wow, did you see that cultist? You know who she is? I¡¯ve never seen the boss act like that,¡± Freddy muttered as soon as they got back into the elevator. Gidequ responded nonchntly.

    ¡°She¡¯s obviously important, or she wouldn¡¯t be staying here for half a year.¡±

    ¡°True. No one¡¯s ever stayed here for more than a month.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter to us, so don¡¯t bother.¡±

    That was the evening meal they¡¯d just delivered, so their duties were done for the day. Other members would handle the rest of the hospitality.

    Gidequ and Freddy returned their equipment and exited the Second Headquarters building.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯ll cover everything today. Let¡¯s live like kings for a night.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re spending like crazy after just one ride on the hover bus.¡±

    Both would have to report back to the headquarters again tomorrow. But true to their pirate nature, neither cared.

    Whether they had credits or not, they had always lived without a n, and they¡¯d continue doing so.

    --

    ¡°Ugh.¡±

    Drunk out of his mind, Gidequ stumbled out of the fancy bar. Freddy had long disappeared with a wolf courtesan.

    He considered indulging in simr pleasures himself, but his dwindling credits held him back. Between riding buses the past few days and partying, his terminal was shing warnings about his finances.

    ¡®I¡¯ll just earn moreter.¡¯

    The first windfall is always the hardest. Now that he¡¯d hit it big once, the next one woulde even quicker¡ªor so he optimistically thought as he walked down the street.

    Unlike the usual bar near the arena, this area was packed with upscale entertainment facilities, making it quieter than the usual nightlife districts. Once the auction started, though, it would be as busy as any other zone.

    ¡®Should I walk?¡¯

    Low on credits, Gidequ decided against using the bus and instead headed toward the capsule housing district on foot.

    Despite thete hour, there were still quite a few people on the streets. People here typically had two goals: to indulge in women like Freddy or to drink heavily like Gidequ.

    But for some reason, the people on the street weren¡¯t entering any of the establishments. They just stood around as if waiting for something.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯

    Even in his drunken haze, Gidequ found it odd but chose to ignore it. He didn¡¯t have the luxury to worry about the actions of those wealthier than himself.

    After about thirty minutes of walking, he found himself in a street full of old, dpidated buildings, marking the end of the nightlife district.

    This area was where the fortress''s shipyards and factories were located. In the days when the Cult managed it, the lights never went out here, but that was no longer the case. It only saw brief activity during auctions and remained a deserted, lifeless zone at all other times.

    Despite theck of electricity, it wasn¡¯tpletely dark, thanks to the light shining down from the above.

    Under normal circumstances, he wouldn¡¯t have felt afraid, but tonight, something felt different.

    ¡®¡­What the hell is this?¡¯

    The street he walked every night on his way home looked more decrepit than usual, and there was an eerie sense that something lurked in the abandoned buildings. Even in his drunken state, he could feel the heavy, oppressive atmosphere that sent a shiver down his spine.

    It was as if the entire street was alive, squirming in the darkness.

    ¡®Man, this atmosphere¡¯s seriously messed up.¡¯

    ¡°I need to get home fast¡±, Gidequ thought, bracing himself. His cyborg-modified body began forcibly elerating his alcohol metabolism.

    In an instant, his mind cleared, and he picked up on a faint sound.

    It was the sound of footsteps. Multiple footsteps,ing from behind.

    ¡®What the¡­?¡¯

    As he turned his head, a chill ran down his spine.

    Bathed in the light from the above, a group stood in the street.

    Some wore ragged clothing, others the uniforms of security personnel, while a few were dressed in worn-out pirate jackets like Gidequ¡¯s.

    Fifteen figures stood there, each in different attire, watching him. All of them had their lips twisted into eerie grins.

    ¡°Wh-who the hell are you?!¡± Gidequ shouted at the bizarre group staring at him. He quickly pulled out hisser pistol and aimed it at them.

    ¡®What kind of madness is this?!¡¯

    That deranged group was unmistakably the same junkies he¡¯d seen this morning. Come to think of it, Freddy had mentioned that one of their members wearing power armor had been attacked by them.

    He hadn¡¯t understood how they could¡¯ve been overwhelmed at the time, but facing them now, it made sense. They didn¡¯t look normal. In fact, they appeared extremely dangerous.

    ¡®¡­I need to escape.¡¯

    These were the ones who had even injured someone in power armor. If he tried to fight, there was no telling what would happen. The only option seemed to be hiding in a building and calling for help from other members.

    Gidequ fired his pistol at the one leading the group and took off running. He didn¡¯t bother checking if he¡¯d hit; getting away took priority.

    ¡°Huff, huff, huff!¡±

    It was the first time he¡¯d run at full speed since escaping the Star Union. He ducked into a nearby abandoned building.

    The ce was a dpidated ruin¡ªwindows, walls, and the ceiling were all caving in. But that made it easier to hide. He crouched behind some debris and used a broken mirror to check the street.

    He saw the junkies pass by without noticing him. As expected, they hadn¡¯t seen where he went.

    ¡°Phew, damn it¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°!¡±

    Just as he was about to rx, a voice from inside made him jump to his feet. He pointed his gun toward the sound, and a young man stepped out of the shadows.

    ¡°Shimura Cartel?¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t shoot.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s a damn hyena like you doing here?¡±

    Gidequ recognized the young pirate with green hair instantly. He belonged to the Shimura Cartel, a small-time group surviving by petty theft around the military port.

    The cartel had only five members, so even the Marcio Cartel ignored them.

    ¡°Wait, this isn¡¯t the time for that,¡± Gidequ muttered, pulling out his terminal to request backup.

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s me. There¡¯s a bunch of junkies crawling around the shipyard district. Get over here quick¡­ What? You idiots! We¡¯re close to the Second Headquarters. Just contact them for help, you morons. Yeah, yeah, tell them I made the request.¡±

    Backup requested, he stowed his terminal. The green-haired pirate approached him.

    ¡°You seem to be affiliated with the Second Headquarters.¡±

    ¡°Of course I know them; I work there.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Impressive.¡±

    The green-haired pirate nodded as if genuinely impressed.

    It¡¯d take about ten more minutes for Gidequ¡¯srades to arrive. Keeping an eye on the street with his mirror to spot any junkies, he started talking.

    ¡°What are you doing here sote? Got something to scavenge?¡± Gidequ asked.

    ¡°I came for something I needed,¡± the green-haired pirate replied.

    ¡°You¡¯re nuts. Then why didn¡¯t youe during the day?¡±

    ¡°I had to avoid the surveince cameras.¡±

    Hearing this, Gidequ let out a scoff. ¡°What nonsense is that? The cameras here haven¡¯t worked in ages.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°You think we¡¯ve got energy to waste on ces like this? There are plenty of spots just like this one that don¡¯t get any power.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±

    ¡°Idiot¡±, Gidequ muttered.

    ¡°I¡¯m curious,¡± the green-haired pirate continued, ¡°what do you do at the Second Headquarters?¡±

    ¡°Security. I can¡¯t tell you more than that.¡±

    As they talked, Gidequ started to feel something was off.

    The green-haired pirate imed to havee looking for something in the middle of the night, in a ce covered in debris. Normally, he¡¯d bring search equipment, or at least a shlight, but there was nothing of the sort on him.

    ¡°And you¡¯re just standing here instead of looking for whatever it is?¡±

    ¡°No need. I¡¯ve already found it.¡±

    ¡°You found it? What is it?¡±

    Gidequ waited, but the green-haired pirate merely smiled, saying nothing. It could be that he didn¡¯t want to show a fellow pirate something valuable, but this felt different.

    ¡®Besides¡­¡¯

    Gidequ nced outside at the junkies roaming around. They were searching other buildings thoroughly but avoiding this ruin. It was as if something in here was keeping them away.

    He suddenly recalled a story he¡¯d heard at a bar a few days ago¡ªa rumor about a demon wearing human skin. It sounded ufortably simr to what he was experiencing now.

    ¡®D-Damn it¡­¡¯

    The conversation stopped. In the silence, only the sound of their breathing echoed within the ruins.

    Judging by the breath alone, the green-haired pirate seemed human, but Gidequ couldn¡¯t shake his fear. What if that breath was really the sound of a demon savoring its prey?

    With a trembling hand, he picked up the broken mirror piece again. His heart pounded as if he were running at full speed. He wanted to turn around and check with his own eyes, but fear rooted him in ce.

    Instead, he angled the mirror toward his shoulder, hoping to catch the reflection of the man behind him. If the pirate was really human, he should see him.

    But Gidequ soon regretted his decision.

    What he saw over his shoulder wasn¡¯t a man but a spider-like creature, crouching low and extending its jaws toward the back of his head.

 Chapter 260:

    Chapter 260:

    ¡®A mirror, huh?¡¯

    I picked up the blood-stained mirror shard, watching the spider-like monster¡¯s form appear on the cracked surface before it turned blurry.

    The ¡®Mimic Organ¡¯, enhanced by the ¡®Form Dominator¡¯, was designed to make sure I wouldn¡¯t be caught even by cameras. It emits pheromones and psychic power from micro-holes spread across my body, disrupting the sensors of advanced machinery.

    Thanks to that, whenever a camera captures me, it ends up looking like the light''s been distorted, resulting in a foggy image. But if needed, the ¡®Gremlin Moss¡¯¡ªsomething I could disperse in a mist-like form thanks to the ¡®Great Infector¡¯¡ªcould fully disable those cameras.

    ¡®Of course, using it too often would eventually get me caught.¡¯

    But that¡¯s a problem I can manage by being careful. What¡¯s more troubling is the mirror itself. I can¡¯t hide how I look when reflected.

    ¡®Still, how often would anyone carry a mirror around?¡¯

    The Mimic Organ induces a sense of unease in those around me. It¡¯s only natural¡ªafter all, trying to mimic something one-tenth of my actual size, given my over 20-meter body, would raise suspicions.

    But the Cyborg I just devoured, Gidequ, felt nothing off about my appearance. The pheromones and psychic powerbined to perfectly replicate the image of the ¡®green-haired pirate¡¯ he knew.¡®Too bad I can¡¯t mimic objects.¡¯

    While the Mimic Organ¡¯s capabilities have improved, it still can¡¯t mimic inanimate objects. During my earlier visit to the ve market beforeing to Kesha Arma, I got away with many things, but when pretending to be a pirate,cking weapons always gave me away.

    This time, too, Gidequ realized something was off because I didn¡¯t have a shlight. iming to search for something in the dark without proper equipment would naturally arouse suspicion.

    In short, the two primary weaknesses of the enhanced Mimic Organ are: the foggy appearance on cameras and the inability to replicate objects perfectly.

    That said, it¡¯s already far better than how it functioned in the game. Expecting it to improve further might be asking too much.

    ¡°Well, that was an interesting experiment. And I¡¯m d you turned out to be useful.¡±

    I licked the blood off the mirror, and the insect-like creature perched on my wing-arm twitched.

    Six wed legs, a body resembling a cross between a mantis and a fly, and two wings on its back. Nothing out of the ordinary for an insect monster¡ªexcept for one key detail.

    ¡°¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡±

    Instead of an insect¡¯s head, a human head was attached, uttering iprehensible sounds. It bore a striking resemnce to the pirate I¡¯d just devoured.

    The Cyborg Gidequ had be a parasitic chimera under my control.

    Initially, I¡¯d considered letting him live as a host, but he¡¯d gone and called for backup without my orders.

    ¡®No reason to keep him around then.¡¯

    The irony was palpable¡ªhe¡¯d taken quick action to save his life, yet that¡¯s precisely what shortened it.

    ¡®It¡¯s about time hisrades arrived.¡¯

    I summoned my minions scattered around the area.

    ¡®Guests areing. Get ready to wee them.¡¯

    My loyal servants, who find happiness only in obeying my will, began hiding within the abandoned buildings to prepare for the ambush.

    ¡®I have five parasites left.¡¯

    Those who longed to serve me were already on their way.

    ¡°You have a task toplete,¡± I said.

    As the voice of the once-called Jason the Cultist emerged from my throat, the parasitic chimera bowed.

    -

    ¡°Damn junkies. What kind of mess is this at night?¡±

    ¡°The higher-ups want this dealt with ASAP.¡±

    Ten pirates entered the Dockyard District.

    Uncharacteristically well-equipped for ouws, they wore mid-grade power armor, wielding gauss rifles or psychic rifles. Some even carried psychic shields and medical kits typically used by Cult Warrior squads.

    The reason these pirates had such high-quality gear was that the Marcio Cartel had seized weapons left behind by the Cult Empire Army. Using credits earned from selling those weapons, Montana Marcio had bulk-purchased the power armor.

    As a result, evenmon pirates now had ess to mid-grade power armor, usually reserved for corporate enforcers or low-ranking officers.

    ¡°Where did Gidequ say he was?¡±

    ¡°Just a bit farther.¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t he a cyborg? He should be able to handle a bunch of junkies himself.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember what happened to Jonas? He got taken out even in power armor.¡±

    ¡°Tch, that¡¯s just because he was an idiot. If it were me, I would¡¯ve dodged like this when that bastard charged at¡ª¡±

    While exchanging idle chatter, the pirate at the forefront raised his hand, signaling that someone was approaching ahead.

    The pirates immediately raised their weapons and scanned their surroundings. Being veterans of pige and crime, if there was one thing they excelled at, it wasbat experience.

    In an instant, these pirates transformed into seasoned soldiers, focusing on the shadows cast by the abandoned buildings. Something was lurking there.

    It certainly wasn¡¯t Gidequ. After all, that cyborg pirate was just one person, not the group now emerging from the shadows.

    ¡°It¡¯s them!¡±

    As if the pirate¡¯s shout were a signal re, figures hidden in the darkness rushed toward the armored pirates.

    The lead pirate pulled the trigger on his gauss rifle. The expensive and immensely destructive tungsten rounds tore through the enemy¡¯s abdomen with ruthless force.

    No human could survive with a fist-sized hole in their chest. Thinking he had dealt with the enemy, the pirate prepared to assist hisrades¡ªbut that was a mistake.

    The junkie, who had staggered from the impact of the tungsten bullet, lunged at him again, still wearing that eerie grin.

    ¡°What the hell?!¡±

    The pirate hastily swung his rifle, smashing it into the grinning madman¡¯s face. A sickening sound of flesh being crushed echoed as the assant fell backward. The pirate fired multiple rounds into the enemy, ensuring he stayed down.

    The others faced a simr situation. The enemies, despite losing limbs, continued their relentless assault, leaving the pirates unnerved.

    ¡°What the hell did these freaks take?!¡±

    ¡°Aim for the head!¡±

    The only saving grace was that the junkies¡¯ physical abilities weren¡¯t particrly impressive. The pirates, maintaining theirposure, quickly subdued them.

    ¡°Anyone injured?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±

    ¡°Wait, hold on. Why are there only six of us?¡±

    ¡°What? W-wait, where did the others go? They were just behind us!¡±

    There should have been ten of them, but now only six remained. Panic set in, and they quickly checked the corpses, wondering if they had identally shot their own. But none of the bodies belonged to their missingrades.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll try contacting them.¡±

    As one pirate reached for hismunicator to send a transmission, he witnessed something unbelievable.

    ¡°What¡­ is this?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fog, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Before they realized it, a thick mist had enveloped the area. Only the upper parts of the abandoned buildings were visible above the gray cloud.

    ¡°The life support system might¡¯ve malfunctioned!¡±

    ¡°Damn it! Everyone, bite down on your oxygen capsules!¡±

    The pirates swiftly bit into the oxygen capsules integrated into their armor. The capsules would gradually dissolve, providing them with enough air tost until they escaped the area.

    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t think we can handle this on our own.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll report to HQ.¡±

    The four missingrades had already faded from their minds. This was a space fortress orbiting a; a malfunctioning life support system was far more critical than a few junkies or missing allies.

    As the pirate took out his device to report to the higher-ups, something emerged from beyond the mist.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°What is that?¡±

    He wasn¡¯t the only one who noticed it.

    At first, they thought it was just another structure in the abandoned factory, but it didn¡¯t take long for them to realize how wrong they were.

    Buildings don¡¯t move. But ?that thing? did.

    The spider-like creature approached them in utter silence.

    -

    "Damn it! Why the hell isn¡¯t this working?"

    "Try again."

    "Shit, why do you keep telling me to try again when it¡¯s not working?! You do it!"

    "Do you have a death wish, you bastard?"

    Four pirates, separated from their group, had taken refuge inside a nearby abandoned building. They¡¯d been hunting down the junkies when the sudden fog rolled in, forcing them to take cover.

    A malfunction in the life support system was a critical problem. They tried to report it using their devices, but for some reason, the equipment waspletely unresponsive.

    "Wouldn''t it be better just to make a run for it?"

    "What? And walk out into that fog without knowing what¡¯s mixed in it?"

    "Both of you, shut up."

    The pirate with the longest history in the organization issued a cold warning, and everyone fell silent.

    "I heard something. Shut your mouths."

    "A sound?"

    "More of those junkies?"

    All of them strained to look out through the shattered window. The fog was thick, as if some kind of gas leak had urred. Just as the pirate said, they heard someone¡¯s voiceing from within the fog.

    It was Gidequ, the one who had called them there, asking for help.

    "That sounds like Gidequ, doesn¡¯t it?"

    "What should we do?"

    It wasn¡¯t a matter of camaraderie or rescuing him out of some sense of brotherhood. They needed to understand the strange phenomena urring here, and Gidequ, who had requested their support, would be the one who knew best.

    "Let¡¯s grab him first, then figure out the rest."

    "Damn it, if things were going to turn out like this, he should¡¯ve given us a heads-up."

    The pirates cursed Gidequ under their breath as they moved cautiously. Following his voice, they reached a half-copsed abandoned building.

    "He was shouting from around here, but where did he go?"

    "Over here!"

    As if to respond, the Cyborg¡¯s voice rang out again. The pirates looked around, trying to locate where Gidequ might be.

    "Over here!"

    "Crazy bastard. Could you be more specific?!"

    The voice wasing from the broken staircase, and all four of them climbed up to the next floor.

    "This way! This way!"

    "Look over here!"

    There was no sign of Gidequ, only his voice echoing around them like some eerie chorus. Intermixed with his words was the faint buzzing ofrge insect wings.

    That¡¯s when the pirates finally realized that something was seriously wrong.

    The owner of that voice¡­ it wasn¡¯t Gidequ.

    "W-We need to get out of here! Now!"

    "What the hell is going on?! This is messed up!"

    "H-Hey, why are there only three of us? Where¡¯s the fourth guy?"

    "What the hell are you talking abou¡ªhuh?"

    "S-Shit!"

    There were four of them when they climbed the stairs, but now only three remained.

    "Why are you all acting weird?"

    "I¡¯m right here!"

    Gidequ''s voice continued to echo through the abandoned building, where no one else but them should have been. And the buzzing sound between the words grew steadily louder.

    "Stick together!"

    Thick fog, an unknown voice, and a missingrade. The remaining three suppressed the urge to scream, raising their guns.

    They stood back-to-back, their eyes darting around incessantly. Their fingers trembled slightly on the triggers.

    As if aware of their wariness, the building fell into an eerie silence.

    "I-Is it gone?"

    "Get a grip, idiot!"

    "It¡¯s still here."

    The most timid among them swallowed nervously, and in that instant, the floor beneath them gave way.

    They were so tense that they couldn¡¯t even muster a scream as they fell to the floor below.

    "Everyone, be careful¡ª!"

    The veteran pirate, barely regaining his senses, tried to warn them, but before he could finish, a long, ck arm shot out from the mist and snatched him up.

    "H-Hiiiick!"

    "Uwaaah!"

    The two remaining pirates, who witnessed this, screamed in terror, their cries nearly turning into sobs. One of them raised his gauss rifle and began firing wildly into the fog.

    The timid pirate, unlike hisrades, chose to flee rather than fight. In a panic, he stumbled out of the building, scrambling on all fours as he dashed through the streets.

    "Aaaah... ah?!"

    The sound of gunfire abruptly ceased behind him. He knew all too well what that meant.

    Using every ounce of strength left in his body, the frightened pirate sprinted through the darkened streets.

    Even when he¡¯d faced the underboss of the Marcio Cartel, he hadn¡¯t felt fear like this. After all, that man was something he couldprehend¡ªa source of terror within the limits of his understanding.

    But the being lurking within this fog was different. It was an unnamable fear, an unholy, mud-like terror. Faced with such an iprehensible presence, all he could do was run away, sobbing like a child.

    As he continued to flee, he suddenly realized the fog was thinning. In the distance, he saw the boundary sign that marked the entrance to the entertainment district. Just beyond ity the luxurious pleasure facilities¡ªces where he could find other cartel members to help him.

    A glimmer of hope pierced his fear-clouded mind. He took a determined step forward. If only his legs would move.

    "...?"

    Had fear paralyzed himpletely? Confused, he tried to move his legs, but they wouldn¡¯t budge.

    At the same time, a warm sensation began to spread inside his ear. He tried to reach up and touch it, but his arm refused to obey. He wanted to scream, but his mouth wouldn¡¯t open.

    Completely immobilized, he could only listen as a familiar buzzing sound filled his ears. The creature that had mimicked Gidequ¡¯s voicended before him.

    Cold sweat poured from his entire body as he saw it.

    Just moments ago, he thought the terror of the unknown was the true embodiment of fear, but he was wrong. The universe held things far beyond what he could even begin to imagine.

    Like the insect standing before him, wearing hisrade Gidequ''s head.

    "Master, this one has connections with the life support system¡¯s administrator", the creature spoke in Gidequ''s voice.

    Then, a rifle fell from above,nding on the ground with a dull thud that echoed like thunder in his ears.

    It was the gauss rifle his fellow pirate had used to fight off the monster.

    And he could feel it¡ªthe sickening, warm breath on the back of his neck. Even paralyzed, his senses remained painfully sharp, allowing him to recognize the strong scent of blood mixed within that breath.

    "You seem to have your uses."

    The voice that followed was that of a man, calm and almost gentle.

    But the timid pirate couldn¡¯t find anyfort in it.

    He didn¡¯t know what awaited him next.

    Yet he could imagine, even with his meager imagination, that what was about to happen to him would be something beyond the limits of horror¡ªa nightmare so terrible that even the word "horrific" would be an understatement.

 Chapter 261:

    Chapter 261:

    -

    Kesha Arma''s 1st Command Headquarters.

    The massive, cylindrical structure stood like a fortress within a fortress, with an imposing level of security. It had to be, as the 1st Command Headquarters was the only gateway to the space fortress''s reactor. If the reactor was the heart, then the 1st Command Headquarters could be considered the brain.

    And it was here that the ruler of the fortress, Montana Marcio, resided.

    In his office, filled with precious treasures and rare taxidermy animals, two men were engaged in conversation.

    "How are the preparationsing along?" Montana asked.

    "The guests bringing items for the auction arrived at the military port an hour ago. All arrangements for their reception werepleted 30 hours in advance, so there shouldn''t be any issues," the other man replied.

    "This time, there can''t be any mistakes. You understand that, right?"

    "Of course," the man affirmed.Montana Marcio, an overwhelminglyrge figure who could hardly be mistaken for an ordinary person, took out an elegantly designed cigar.

    He offered a cigar to the male wolf beastkin he had been conversing with.

    The beastkin, a white tiger with strikingly white fur, was named Kadun. He bore the moniker "Snow w", serving as the underboss of the Marcio Cartel.

    "Thank you", Kadun responded respectfully, epting the cigar but not lighting it. Montana, knowing Kadun wouldn¡¯t light his cigar, lit his own instead.

    "The credits we earn this time will be used for a transaction with the Megacorp. With luck, we might be able to buy a suitable."

    "Are you nning to purchase a?" Kadun asked.

    "Yes. There''s a noticeable shift in the Imperial Council''s moodtely. The topic of strengthening the military for another Outspacer invasion has be a public concern."

    "You mean there''s a chance Kesha Arma could be mobilized," Kadun deduced.

    Montana didn''t reply and instead took another puff of his cigar.

    Though the Marcio Cartel controlled Kesha Arma, the true owner of this city was the Cult Empire. Montana had managed to seize control through aggressive lobbying within the Imperial Council, but if the Empire''s policies changed, they would be forced out.

    Hence, Montana nned to use this opportunity to acquire a new and relocate the cartel''s headquarters.

    "It would be ideal if we could gain recognition from Megacorp Noble Capital, but that might be beyond reach."

    "The Garmelda family prefers to keep their ties with us hidden", Kadun observed.

    "Unfortunately, we''ll have to settle for what we can this time."

    The two men then continued discussing the fortress¡¯s operations and the cartel¡¯s businesses for some time.

    Hourster, Kadun finally left the office. As he stepped outside, his subordinates, who had been waiting, quickly fell in line behind him.

    "What''s the status on the junkies?" he asked.

    "Uh, well¡­ it seems it¡¯s not drugs but an infectious disease. We¡¯re seeing a rapid increase in patients showing simr symptoms..."

    "What?"

    The subordinate fell silent as Kadun furrowed his brow.

    Although the cartel''s boss held the highest rank, Kadun, standing before him, was known as the ''most dangerous man'' in the Marcio Cartel. He was notorious for never forgiving subordinates who made mistakes.

    Kadun red silently at the subordinate before speaking again.

    "The boss is fully focused on this operation. We can¡¯t afford any slip-ups."

    "Y-Yes, sir!"

    "You have 12 hours to handle it. Use whatever personnel and equipment you need."

    "Uh, the thing is¡­"

    Despite Kadun¡¯s assurance that he¡¯d have the full backing of the underboss, the subordinate hesitated with a nervous expression.

    "What¡¯s the problem?"

    "W-Well, we¡¯ve had an increasing number of deserters among our members over the past few days. Probably because they¡¯re afraid of getting infected... Erk!"

    Once again, the subordinate couldn¡¯t finish his report, as Kadun had grabbed his face. The sickening sound of bones breaking filled the air, and the subordinate¡¯s body went limp.

    "Growl¡­ And you tell me this now?" Kadun snarled, but the subordinate, his skull crushed, could no longer respond. Kadun¡¯s gaze then swept over the remaining cartel members, who quickly bowed their heads in fear.

    "Who¡¯s the next highest-ranking among you?" he demanded.

    "T-That would be me, sir!"

    "Take care of the deserters and anyone showing symptoms, whether it¡¯s from drugs or disease. As long as you don¡¯t touch the guests, I don¡¯t care how much blood is spilled. Kill anyone who seems suspicious."

    "U-Understood!"

    "You have 12 hours. Handle it within that time."

    Leaving the corpse of the subordinate behind, Kadun vanished.

    The pirate who had suddenly been promoted to an executive position immediately began issuing frantic orders to his underlings.

    -

    In space survival, the value of an orbital habitat is extremely high.

    There are tens of thousands of star systems, with even mores, yet the reason for possessing an orbital habitat is simple.

    You can ce it wherever you want.

    By positioning a space fortress in a strategically important star system¡ªor one you wish to make important¡ªyou can easily take control of it. That¡¯s why among high-ranking yers andrge ns, those without orbital habitats are the exception rather than the rule.

    "Of course, I''m an exception."

    I¡¯m not one to set up orbital habitats; I''m an Amorph that infiltrates and destroys them. Countless space fortresses have turned to cosmic dust at my hands.

    The fortress I currently reside in, Kesha Arma, is one of them. This fortress, like the TNC Special Trade Hub, is a space structure that exists within the system. Since it''s not something created by a yer, it will regenerate after being destroyed over time.

    This means it can be tackled multiple times.

    In fact, I¡¯ve destroyed Kesha Arma three times before, each time using a different method.

    "I was a bit worried since things have changed from the game."

    But now that I¡¯m here, it seems it¡¯ll be easier to conquer than in the game.

    By sessfully taking control of a few members of the Marcio Cartel that manage this fortress, I was able to obtain valuable intel.

    Currently, the fortress isn''t operating as efficiently as it did when it was under Imperial management.

    Due to maintenance costs, the pirates have only kept life-support systems active in areas that are necessary. Only the profitable sections, like the military port and entertainment districts, as well as essential areas such as water purification and food production facilities, remain functional.

    Other areas, like the sections upied by the Cult''s warrior battalions or zones with dense religious facilities, have been abandoned. Water and electricity supplies have been entirely cut off, and only the oxygen supply and gravity generation systems are running.

    "In the game, there weren¡¯t any neglected areas like this."

    The Cult¡¯s warriors patrolled everywhere to protect the fortress.

    I picked up a metal te lying on the ground.

    On the metal te was an emblem: a diamond within a circle, with two triangles inside the diamond. This symbol is one of the Cult''s religious icons, primarily used by the Prophets'' Association.

    "The circle represents the world, the diamond is the eye, and the triangles symbolize wisdom and knowledge, right?"

    I was currently in the zone where the Prophets of the Prophets'' Association assigned to this fortress resided. All around me were metal structures of religious significance.

    Although there were no copsed buildings like in the factory district, the scattered emblems and the corroding surfaces of the structures suggested that they hadn¡¯t been maintained for quite some time.

    "I heard that aside from the patrols, no onees here."

    That made it an ideal spot to hide.

    At that moment, my auxiliary organs detected vibrations in the air. Someone was approaching.

    "They''re here."

    The object flying toward me with all its exterior lights turned off was a patrol craft. Itnded in the za nearby.

    As the rear hatch of the patrol craft opened, two familiar figures leaped out. A pink jellyfish about 50 cm in size and a white dragon with four crimson wings came rushing toward me.

    ?Big One!?

    ?Elder One? ?Hello?

    It was Number 26 and Adhai, who had been inside the container since we arrived at the fortress.

    Although it had only been a few days since Ist saw them, they weed me as if it had been weeks. Number 26 climbed onto my head, and Adhai softly nuzzled her neck against my arm.

    [ZZZZ (Were you alright?)]

    ?Yes. I studied alone.?

    ?I? ?was bored? ?The sick one? ?isn¡¯t fun?

    "I designed the humor program to be as entertaining as possible for a Gagon. That assessment is unfair."

    Then, the mutant Screamer, PS-111, crawled out.

    "I request a reconsideration of that judgment based on reasonable analysis."

    ?Look? ?So? ?Serious?

    Since leaving the dragon¡¯s nest, the one who¡¯s changed the most among us isn¡¯t me but PS-111.

    Its basic shape, which looks like a fusion of a spider and a scorpion, remained the same, but many aspects of its form had changed.

    First, it¡¯s grown considerablyrger. Its body length alone reached 7 meters, and including its tail, it extended to 12 meters. Its eight legs had also lengthened and thickened ordingly. Previously, the legs exposed metal skeletons, muscr tissue, and flesh, but now, they were encased in a solid exoskeleton.

    Not only the legs, but other parts of its body now had ayer of animal hide and exoskeleton covering the metallic framework. At a nce, it could easily be mistaken for a Hulk mutant or a gically modified beast instead of a Screamer.

    The head retained the appearance of a pale woman¡¯s face entwined with thick cables. Although it looked simr to before, a new feature had been added: a psychic power modtion function. Thanks to this, it could now emit waves in a manner simr to how Imunicate with monstrous tendrils.

    Another noticeable change was the addition of four thin cables beneath its chin. It had created this part to address the inconvenience of extracting cables from its back whenever it needed to link with a ship''sputer.

    "In a way, it¡¯s starting to resemble me."

    ?I see. So, you intend to make this ce your nest.?

    As I was pondering over PS-111, the Mother of the Sky approached and spoke to me after disembarking from the patrol ship.

    Initially, the n was to keep the family hidden inside the container until we attacked the fortress, but circumstances had changed. This ce is rarely visited by pirates, making it the perfect hiding spot for them.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (It''s an abandoned area, so it should be fine)]

    ?Hiding in a religious zone... If this were a game, it would have been impossible.?

    She let out a dryugh as she gazed upon the sight of the Empire''s three great symbols of power lying in ruins.

    As she mentioned, the Cult''s belief system emphasizes the ''teachings of Providence'' above all else. Even during the three invasions of Kesha Arma, I had never once attacked the religious sector first.

    ¡®Everything is always hardest the first time.¡¯

    After greeting everyone, I called over one of the pirates from the patrol ship. He knelt before me, wearing a joyful smile.

    "What¡¯s changed since then?"

    "Six hours ago, the items to be auctioned arrived, and some have already been transported to the 3rd Command Center."

    "Is that so?"

    This was wee news. What I''m after are the rare gic essences of the creatures ted to be auctioned at Kesha Arma''srge-scale event.

    "Is the inventory list also kept at the 3rd Command Center?"

    "Theplete list is currently held by the sub-boss of the 2nd Command Center."

    "The sub-boss... Are you referring to the wolf, Kadun?"

    "Yes, it''s Sub-boss Kadun."

    I nced at the Mother of the Sky. She nodded in affirmation.

    For her to ascend in her deification process, she requires the heart of a shape-shifting wolf. This Kadun fits the bill perfectly as the suitable sacrifice.

    ¡®This is convenient.¡¯

    Capturing the sub-boss means achieving two objectives at once.

    ¡®Especially since preparations areplete.¡¯

    The seeds I had sown in Kesha Arma were already starting to sprout.

    ¡®The Messenger of Mass Confusion is spreading rapidly.¡¯

    A pirate who had contracted the ¡®Madness Bomb¡¯ had already checked into a hospital. The authorities seem to be too preupied with the auction to respond effectively, allowing the Messenger of Mass Confusion to spread at an rming rate.

    In about three or four days, there will be a massive outbreak of deranged crowds rampaging everywhere.

    If I target the life-support systems then, the damage will be even greater. One of the managers in that sector is already under the control of a parasite, so I can initiate an attack at any moment.

    ¡®But that¡¯s only after I¡¯ve consumed all the rare creatures.¡¯

    "Any other reports?"

    In response to my question, my loyal underling answered.

    "There¡¯s one more thing. The authorities are currently organizing arge-scale search team to eradicate drug addicts. This area is expected to be included in their search route."

    A search team, huh.

    Using my abilities, I can easily hide, so it''s not particrly concerning. Alternatively, I could capture a search team member and nt a parasite within them.

    ¡®Wait a minute? Instead of that¡­.¡¯

    Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck me.

    "Is there any chance you could have the sub-boss included in that search team?"

    "I¡¯m not certain, but it might be possible, depending on the situation."

    Depending on the situation, huh.

    In that case, all I need to do is create the ''right'' situation.

    I''ll lure the wolf to this abandoned sector myself.

 Chapter 262:

    Chapter 262:

    -

    Kadun was once a ve.

    It¡¯s not all that unusual. Most wolves live as ves.

    Men are turned intobat ves, women into sex ves. If they''re unlucky, they end up as test subjects for Megacorps or Star Unions, spending their final days in aboratory.

    The only semnce of a better life for a wolf is bing a space pirate.

    What crimes had theymitted to deserve such suffering? When young Kadun cried out to his tribe''s chieftain, the chieftain replied.

    They were once gods who ruleds, but due to their arrogance and violence, they fought among themselves. After an eternal struggle, the wolves lost their divine power and fell into ruin. Now, their descendants pay the price for their ancestors'' sins.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Kadun to realize that the chieftain''s tale was nonsense.

    The chieftain was already dead, and the tribe was scattered across the stars. They were all wrong.The reason wolves are oppressed is simple. They are weaker than the Cult.

    Thews of nature are merciless. Just as predators devour prey without moral scrutiny, it¡¯s only natural for the powerful Cult to trample upon the weak wolves.

    To avoid being crushed by the strong, one must be strong oneself. Wandering from one arena to the next, soaking his hands in blood, Kadun became stronger than any other wolf.

    The only one who recognized his potential was Montana Marcio, a different kind of strong figure from the Cult. He spared no effort in nurturing Kadun¡¯s growth.

    Kadun, too, recognized that serving Montana was in his best interest, so he submitted to him.

    It''s been ten years since Kadun became the sub-boss of the Marcio Cartel. He even obtained the ''Flesh of the God'' that the chieftain once spoke of.

    Despite gaining immense power, Kadun felt nothing. To him, the myths of the wolves no longer mattered.

    Just as the Cult follows Providence, Kadun worshiped thew of the jungle.

    And so, today, he was about to train in his personal arena within themand center¡ªuntil one of his subordinates burst in.

    ¡°There¡¯s fog in the inactive zone?¡±

    ¡°Yes! A patrolling pirate recorded it!¡±

    The tense subordinate handed him a device. As Kadun pressed the button, the recorded footage began ying.

    ¡°That¡¯s the Cultists¡¯ religious zone. The life-support manager reported no issues?¡±

    ¡°They said it¡¯s not a mechanical problem. Someone spread it intentionally.¡±

    ¡°Intentionally, huh? Any analysis results?¡±

    ¡°The engineers are gathering to investigate.¡±

    Fog spreading within a sector was a serious matter, but it wasn''t something Kadun needed to handle personally. It was more of a technical issue, best left to the engineers.

    His subordinate surely knew that, which meant there was another reason he came to Kadun.

    ¡°W-Well, it seems there¡¯s a connection between this fog and the drug addicts. Before they died, they spoke of a spider in the mist.¡±

    ¡°A spider in the mist?¡±

    Kadun reviewed the footage again.

    He couldn¡¯t see clearly what was within the fog, but something felt off¡ªunnatural, as if it were hiding something.

    ¡®A fog that drives people insane, controlled by a creature.¡¯

    A few possible candidates came to mind: the "Angel Spider", which ensnares prey with psychic webs, or the "Red Mist", a beast that emits hallucinogenic pheromones to incapacitate its victims. As the sub-boss of the Marcio Cartel, which brokers pirate transactions, Kadun had encountered many rare creatures.

    ¡°Bring me the ones who recorded this footage.¡±

    ¡°W-Well, they¡¯ve started showing symptoms simr to the addicts¡­¡±

    Kadun didn''t know exactly what kind of creature this was, but it was clearly not a trivial threat. No wonder his subordinate had sought him out.

    ¡®What bastard left this thing here?¡¯

    Not all pirates who visit the fortress seed in their smuggling operations. When deals fall through, some pirates abandon rare creatures in the inactive zones to avoid transport fees.

    Kadun assumed this incident was another one of those cases.

    The problem was that this time, the damage was far worse.

    ¡°Grrr, if we¡¯re going to catch this thing, I¡¯d better be there. Prepare everyone who¡¯ll join me.¡±

    ¡°Understood!¡±

    ¡°Before we go in, release gas into the area. Even if it doesn¡¯t kill it, it should weaken it.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    Kadun decided that today¡¯s training would be capturing that creature.

    -

    "The bait¡¯s been taken."

    An hour ago, I received a signal from the parasite linked to my consciousness. Five of my minions sent to lure the enemy¡ªour connection had been severed.

    "They must be getting ready by now."

    After gathering my forces in the religious zone, I cast the bait to draw out the sub-boss.

    The bait was the hint that I might be the source of the virus spreading through this fortress.

    Over the past few days, many have lost their sanity because of me. Aside from the few directly controlled by parasites, the rest have been driven mad by the ''Messenger of Mass Confusion''.

    Among them, some host a psychic parasite known as the "Madness Bomb". When a host infected with the Madness Bomb dies, it spreads to those nearby, much like how dandelion seeds scatter in the wind.

    By now, even the pirates know it isn¡¯t just drugs causing this madness. The problem is they have no idea why it¡¯s happening.

    If they let their doctors investigate, they¡¯d eventually discover the cause. But instead, they chose a different path: burning anyone showing abnormal symptoms.

    It might seem ignorant, but their decision wasn¡¯t without reason. In any cartel, doctors are rare and valuable in the spaceports. If a doctor were to be infected with an unknown virus, the loss would be tremendous.

    The Marcio Cartel, at least, is wealthy enough to base themselves on a space fortress, so they likely have plenty of doctors and researchers. However, timing is the issue. They''re preparing for a massive auction, with many distinguished guests arriving soon. Losing a doctor now would be catastrophic.

    ¡®Losing a few hundred underlings is preferable to losing even one doctor.¡¯

    In a ce where the lives of crew members are as insignificant as flies, it¡¯s a rational choice.

    Of course, this method is only a temporary fix. The best solution is to eliminate the root cause.

    So, what would happen if someone suspicious like me, shrouded in fog, showed up? Especially if those who captured my image started disying abnormal symptoms? They would undoubtedly see me as the source of the contamination.

    ¡®A mere performance, though.¡¯

    The fog is simply an enhanced effect of Gremlin Moss, and the madness among the people is caused by the Messenger of Mass Confusion and enhanced parasite effects.

    They wouldn¡¯t know they¡¯re being deceived. And even if they did, by that time, the fortress would already be on the brink of copse.

    ¡®Hm?¡¯

    As I waited for them to arrive, I suddenly caught an unusual scent.

    I lifted my head, still crouched in a half-ruined church. The Auxiliary Organs under my chin quickly detected the changes in the environment.

    ¡®So that¡¯s how they want to y it?¡¯

    Toxic gas had mixed with the air. They must be trying to weaken me by dispersing it into the area before moving in.

    ¡®Not that it¡¯ll do them any good.¡¯

    Unless it¡¯s as lethal as the swamps on that Cult holy we visited before, it won¡¯t cause us any real harm.

    ¡®Number 26 can withstand this much, and Adhai has grown stronger, so she won¡¯t be affected.¡¯

    PS-111, being a machine lifeform, is naturally immune. The only one who might be slightly affected is the Mother of the Sky.

    I extended the tentacle of the hidden creature and sent a pulse to her.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (They''re deploying toxic gas.)]

    ?Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already transformed.?

    ¡°Large amounts of chemicals have been detected in the air. The ¡®Middle One¡¯ should exercise caution.¡±

    ?¡­It would¡¯ve been nice if you hadn¡¯t called me ¡®Middle One.¡¯?

    ?What¡¯s wrong??

    ?The sky is wriggling. It''s strange.?

    ?Wriggling?? ?I don''t understand.?

    ?I need to gather the wriggling parts.?

    ?I can''t see you.? ?Where are you??

    "A Gagon cannot visually detect the flow of gas."

    Everyone was hiding in their own way, spread out in different locations. Although the entire area was filled with toxic gas, none of them seemed to be in pain.

    "They thought they were being clever, but¡­"

    Unfortunately for them, they chose the wrong opponent.

    I listened to the chatter of mypanions, waiting for our enemies to arrive.

    About an hourter, the toxic gas that had spread throughout the area began to thin. It seemed they were getting ready to move in.

    Before long, I felt faint vibrations in the air. Three patrol ships loaded with pirates were approaching from above.

    "They¡¯ve arrived."

    The pirates on board were equipped with mid-grade exosuits, psychic rifles, and Gauss rifles. On top of that, the sub-boss, a mere wolf, was even wearing a high-grade exosuit.

    "Pretty impressive specs for pirates."

    Not even Muriel''s underlings were this well-armed. It¡¯s fitting for pirates who manage an orbital habitat.

    "The problem is, I¡¯ve read them like a book."

    I still had three minions who hadn¡¯t been discovered. Each of them was aboard one of the patrol ships, feeding me information.

    The pirates thought that the five who had served as bait were all there was. They had no idea that three of my spies were among them.

    "Alright, time to begin."

    I organized the gathered intel and sent out pulses to mypanions. We¡¯d fought together dozens of times, and they understood my signals instantly, moving into action.

    Following their lead, I crawled out from the church. My massive winged arms crushed the cult''s symbols beneath me.

    "The distance to them is 1 km."

    One of the patrol ships was attempting tond in the za just a kilometer away. At my movement speed, that¡¯s hardly a distant target.

    I moved my winged andbat arms in sync, charging toward their position.

    Alloy structures blocked my path, but my body pierced through them effortlessly. As I tore through the buildings, the pirates'' ship came into view.

    With just a few dozen meters left before the patrol shipnded, I revealed the parasitic tendrils hidden on my back.

    Six colossal tendrils shot toward the ship, resembling a mythical serpent. The patrol ship''s turrets quickly adjusted, caught off guard by the unexpected attack.

    But that was the wrong move. They should have tried evasive maneuvers to avoid my tendrils.

    My tendrils wrapped around the rear of the patrol ship. The vessel shook violently, and its gunfire wentpletely off target.

    Having seized the ship, I pulled it toward me with my tendrils. Realizing they were in a dire situation, the pirates opened the rear hatch. With their mid-grade exosuits, they could survive a drop from several dozen meters.

    Another wrong move. My parasitic tendrils were gripping the rear, and some tendrilsshed out, snatching the pirates in mid-air.

    "Watch out!"

    "Goddamn it!"

    "Aahhhh!"

    Unfortunately, my tendrils couldn¡¯t capture them all. Only four pirates were devoured, while the rest managed tond safely.

    "It¡¯s not over yet."

    "Everyone, scatter!"

    "Crazy monster bird¡­ huh?!"

    "The ship¡¯s falling! Get out of the way!"

    I mmed the patrol ship I had gripped with my tendrils down on top of them.

    An explosion, the smell of gunpowder, and the scent of blood.

    Elements familiar to the Amorph announced the beginning of the hunt.

 Chapter 263:

    Chapter 263:

    -

    ¡°What the hell is that?¡±

    A thunderous explosion echoed in the distance, apanied by smoke rising in the air.

    Ino, who had only be an officer a day ago, was startled by the sight.

    ¡°What just happened over there?¡±

    ¡°We¡­ we¡¯ve lost contact with that side!¡±

    ¡°What? Try again!¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±

    The Purge Operation against the contamination source was under themand of Kadun, the sub-boss with the greatest firepower in the Marcio Cartel. Ino hadn¡¯t been too worried. At worst, he¡¯d expected a few subordinates to die.But things were taking an unexpected turn even before the battle started.

    They had tried to soften up the contamination source by dousing it in toxic gas before engaging. While they had pulled the gas out of the area as they advanced, the air still carried toxic elements. Every pirate, including Ino, had to wear a gas mask.

    Yet, even that didn¡¯t seem to have weakened their opponent much.

    ¡°What about the sub-boss?¡±

    Ino''s question was met with a shake of the head from the pirate.

    ¡°¡­There¡¯s only been one explosion. The ones with Kadun should be fine.¡±

    Although they¡¯d lost contact, it didn¡¯t seem likely that anything had happened to the sub-boss. No matter how strong a monster might be, it couldn¡¯t kill Kadun without a sound. He was probably on his way toward the source of the explosion as well.

    If they continued heading toward the contamination source, they would naturally rendezvous with him.

    ¡°For now, we¡¯ll head that way. They¡¯re likely engaged, so we need to provide support.¡±

    ¡°¡­Damn it. Didn¡¯t expect this.¡±

    Despite their grumbling, the pirates followed Ino¡¯s orders. It wasn¡¯t due to his charisma but rather out of fear of Kadun, who stood behind him.

    Ino and the pirates moved toward the source of the rising smoke.

    All of them were seasoned in sneaking onto ships for raids, so they were adept at moving stealthily. They loaded their weapons and carefully watched their steps. Although their faces were obscured by gas masks, the tension was evident in their demeanor.

    The pirates moved cautiously between the abandoned buildings.

    The Corroding Cult symbols and abandoned churches seemed to be watching them. The eerie atmosphere made Ino feel inexplicably uneasy.

    He had flown over this area several times while patrolling but had never felt like this before. The cold metallic structures, mere steel frames, now felt like living creatures, closing in around him.

    It wasn¡¯t just Ino feeling this pressure. The breathing of the gas-masked pirates grew more ragged.

    ¡°Distance to the target: 300 meters.¡±

    The voice of the lead pirate snapped Ino back to reality.

    Just as they were about to turn the corner of a building, the lead pirate suddenly raised his hand. Everyone tensed up instantly.

    ¡°Is that the target?¡±

    ¡°¡­There¡¯s an unidentified creature at the intersection.¡±

    An unidentified creature? Ino cautiously peeked around the corner.

    ¡°!¡±

    The sight at the intersection made his heart stop.

    ¡°What¡­ what is that?¡±

    Could that even be called a living being?

    What he saw was a creature with eight legs and a tail. Its long legs were covered in thick armor, each ending in jet-ck hooked ws and eerie white scythes. The body alone, excluding the tail, was a massive 6 to 7 meters in size.

    That was horrifying enough, but what truly shocked him was its head. Though it was partially obscured by long, thick cable-like hair, it unmistakably had a human head.

    To put it mildly, it was a scorpion with a woman¡¯s head.

    ¡°A¡­ Hulk Mutant?¡±

    Before joining the Marcio Cartel, Ino had been a researcher for the Megacorp. He had some knowledge of Hulk Mutants, more than most.

    But even he had never seen a Hulk Mutant as grotesque as this.

    Just then, the creature lifted its head. Ino''s breath caught as he saw its face.

    As expected, it had a woman¡¯s face¡ªskin pale as snow, wless and beautiful.

    But Ino was certain of one thing: no one would ever find those blood-red eyes, like orbs drenched in crimson, attractive.

    The creature¡¯s crimson eyes swayed slowly, following the movement of its head. Along with this, the thin cables hanging from its chin also swayed gently.

    Ino, who almost locked eyes with the creature, quickly pulled his head back. Cold sweat poured down the back of his neck.

    ¡°Damn it, everyone, prepare for¡ª!¡±

    Before he could finish, a navy photon st struck the building they were hiding behind. Despite theck of maintenance, the structures in this area were made of a special alloy and boasted considerable durability. Yet, the church that took the navy energy st crumbled like a sandcastle washed away by waves.

    ¡°What the hell?! It''s a Demolisher!¡±

    One of the members shouted in panic.

    Kesha Arma was a cult¡¯s space fortress. Everyone here had seen the Demolisher stored in the primary armory. They knew not only what it looked like but also the extent of its power.

    ¡°Scatter!¡±

    ¡°Damn it! Why the hell is a Demolisher here?!¡±

    Cursing, they scattered in all directions.

    Another photon st cut through the dust rising from the ruins, striking one of the retreating members. He couldn¡¯t even scream as he disintegrated into dust.

    ¡°Shit!¡±

    ¡°Get down, you bastards!¡±

    Ino and two others returned fire desperately, buying enough time for the others to duck into nearby buildings for cover.

    ¡°The coilgun! I¡¯ll buy some time, so blow that monster''s head off with the coilgun!¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±

    The pirate beside him dropped his gauss rifle and pulled a long coilgun from his back. While Ino and another pirate kept firing their psychic rifles into the dust cloud, he readied the weapon.

    Suddenly, a jet-ck hooked w emerged from the dust, narrowly missing Ino¡¯s head. If he hadn¡¯t ducked just a moment earlier to check his psychic energy levels, it would have been a direct hit.

    ¡°Urgh?!¡±

    Right after, the pale-skinned, red-eyed woman revealed herself. Her crimson eyes, devoid of emotion like a camera lens, locked onto him.

    At that moment, her head twisted violently to the side. The pirate beside him had fired the coilgun at point-nk range.

    Yet, nobody cheered. Despite taking a direct hit to the head, the creature¡¯s legs were still moving.

    ¡°Fall back!¡±

    They had no idea when it might regain its senses. The three of them turned and ran.

    ¡°Where are the others?¡±

    ¡°They must¡¯ve hidden in the¡ª¡±

    One of the pirates running beside him suddenly stopped mid-sentence. His gaze was fixed on a building.

    ¡°What the hell? Why¡¯d you stop¡ª¡±

    Ino, confused by his subordinate¡¯s strange behavior, looked up at the rooftop as well. And then he understood why his subordinate had be paralyzed with fear.

    The other pirates were there.

    No, to be exact, they were floating above the building.

    Dozens of his subordinates hung in the air in bizarre poses. Like flies caught in a spider¡¯s web, they were entangled by something unseen.

    And behind them loomed a yellow cloud. It looked very simr to the toxic gas they had released before entering the area.

    ¡®What¡­ What the hell is that¡­?¡¯

    The bizarre phenomenon that froze Ino didn¡¯t end there.

    From within the yellow cloud, ?it? emerged.

    A giant? No, that wasn¡¯t right.

    ?It? was a mass of eyes. Hundreds, no, thousands of eyes, all fixated on Ino.

    ?It? was a mass of serpents. Hundreds of gigantic tendrils writhed like burning mes.

    The unearthly creature''s countless eyes watched the subordinates suspended in the air. Despite their desperate struggles to escape, they were no more than pitiful wrigglings before that indescribable presence.

    Long, massive tendrils reached out toward them, slowly removing their gas masks one by one.

    ¡°K-Keck! G-gahh¡­.¡±

    The area still lingered with toxic gas. Worse yet, the gas thickened around that abominable presence, clinging to it like a dense fog. The subordinates, whose masks were stripped, began to convulse violently, frothing at the mouth.

    ¡°D-Damn it!¡±

    The subordinate beside Ino raised the coilgun and fired at the creature. The same coilgun that even a scorpion-headed woman couldn¡¯t evade. The projectile, fired at tremendous speed, shot toward one of its tendrils.

    But it didn¡¯t pierce.

    Just before impact, the bullet froze in mid-air. Like the other floating subordinates, it too was caught by an unseen force. The bullet, now slightly crushed, fell to the ground below.

    ¡°This¡­ This can¡¯t be real!¡±

    The subordinate, horrified by the iprehensible sight, let out a gasp. And then, all of ?its? eyes turned toward him.

    ?¡ö ¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö!?

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ?¡ö¡ö!?

    What happened next, Ino could notprehend.

    A strange gust of wind swept over him. He nced to his side, but the subordinate holding the coilgun had vanished. In his ce, a red, formless mass remained.

    The fate of his subordinate was slowly revealed through the grotesque contortions of the men ensnared by ?it?.

    ¡°G-gahh! Aaaagh!¡±

    ¡°S-save me¡­!¡±

    ¡°AAAAAAAH!¡±

    ¡°Nnnghh!¡±

    Like puppets suspended by invisible strings, the bodies of the subordinates twisted unnaturally.

    One man¡¯s fingers began to rotate counterclockwise from the tips, while another¡¯s limbs stretched and snapped back as if they were made of rubber.

    The space pirates¡ªmurderers, rapists, and criminals who once terrorized the gxy¡ªwere no longer there. All that remained were helpless vermin, overwhelmed by an iprehensible entity.

    ¡°H-Holy¡ª!¡±

    Ino stumbled backward, horrified by the gruesome deaths of hisrades.

    He had to escape. He didn''t want to die here.

    Thest remaining subordinate seemed to have the same thought, and they both broke into a sprint.

    Taking this mission had been a mistake. When Kadun gave him this task, he should¡¯ve ignored it and left the fortress.

    ¡®No, I can still run. There''s still a chance.¡¯

    He thought he could still recover from this mistake. If he could just reach the patrol ship, he would leave the fortress immediately, never returning to themand post.

    He could flee to some in the farthest reaches of space. Forget everything he had done and live quietly from now on.

    ¡°Gah!¡±

    But in the midst of that thought, his subordinate fell. A long, white scythe-like object was embedded in the subordinate¡¯s back.

    Realizing what had happened, something caught Ino¡¯s leg. It was the same hooked w that had tried to sever his neck earlier.

    The owner of the w lifted his leg into the air. Despite the w tearing into his flesh, he felt no pain¡ªhis overwhelming terror had already numbed his senses.

    As he dangled upside down, a pale face approached him.

    ¡°N-No! Please, don¡¯t!¡±

    Did it understand his plea? The crimson eyes, like camera lenses, scanned his face for a moment before gently cing him back on the ground. Instead, it grabbed the subordinate with the gaping wound in his back.

    ¡°Wh-Why me¡­? G-gahhh!¡±

    None of Ino¡¯s subordinates survived. Now, only he remained.

    Of course, that didn¡¯t mean he could rx. It wasn¡¯t as if that monster had spared him out of affection.

    ¡®The reason¡¯ slowly approached him.

    ¡°This one¡¯s brain likely contains valuable information.¡±

    ?¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö??

    ¡°The human brain is a delicate organ. If you don¡¯t open it carefully, it will die, so you must proceed with caution.¡±

    ?¡ö!?

    Earlier, ?it? had been asrge as a building, but now it had shrunk to less than a meter. Long tentacles extended from its round, pink body, drawing closer to him.

    ¡°H-ha ha ha. Hahahahaha¡­¡±

    One subordinate had died with a crushed skull, another¡¯s body had twisted and broken, and yet another had suffocated, poisoned by gas. And now, there was him.

    Who had the better death?

    In the end, it didn¡¯t really matter to Ino.

    He had no choice in the matter.

    ---

    ¡°Second-inmand! We need to retreat!¡±

    ¡°Damn it, where the hell is the attacki¡ªAargh!¡±

    ¡°Damn! How do you hit something faster than a bullet?!¡±

    ¡°Second-inmand!¡±

    Before Montana Marcio took him in, Kadun had lived moving from one fighting pit to another.

    Sometimes, he killed his own kind, and other times, he fought and killed beasts far stronger than himself. He had faced death countless times, and more than once, he had actually died and been revived.

    But now, his instincts were warning him.

    This ce would be his grave.

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    The voices of his subordinates grew fainter. The high-speed craft that had confronted them uponnding was drawing them away.

    He should rush to help them and fight the craft, but there was a reason he couldn¡¯t move.

    A wolf stood just a few meters away from him.

    She had the head of a white raptor with two horns, stunning amber eyes, and a magnificent golden mane. She was a female wolf, wielding a radiant golden spear and a ck dagger, blocking his every move.

    ¡®¡­She¡¯s strong.¡¯

    Thanks to his experience fighting countless strong opponents, Kadun could usually gauge an enemy¡¯s strength. But he couldn¡¯t get a read on this female wolf.

    It could mean only one of two things. Either she was absurdly weak, or she was overwhelmingly powerful.

    Thest time he had felt this kind of uncertainty was when he faced the woman Montana worshipped with utmost reverence.

    ¡°Gulp.¡±

    Without even realizing it, he swallowed hard and activated the advancedbat suit he was wearing. He also injected every enhancement drug embedded within it.

    Kadun knew the drugs had serious side effects, but now wasn¡¯t the time to care about that.

    ¡°Grrrr¡­¡±

    His physical abilities dramatically boosted, Kadun growled. The female wolf, too, gave her golden spear a sharp shake and assumed abat stance.

    He didn¡¯t know how strong this mysterious female wolf was. But he believed in his victory.

    ¡°Grrrraaahhh!¡±

    The white-furred tiger wolf roared loudly and charged forward.

    The prophecy his n chief had spoken of¡ªthe journey to reim the divine stature.

    The battle Kadun had once dismissed as mere superstition had now begun in this cosmic fortress.

 Chapter 264:

    Chapter 264:

    -

    With a single powerful step, Kadun instantly closed the distance between himself and the female wolf. His fist,rger than a grown man''s head, shot toward her face.

    Born with an inherently strong body, now boosted by the effects of the enhancement drugs, his punch was like a thunderp. Even a ncing blow would cause her head to burst.

    Kadun fully expected to see the head of the alluring female fly off, but the result was different.

    The female wolf simply twisted her waist to the side, easily dodging his punch. Kadun''s fist struck nothing but air.

    Using the momentum from her spin, she thrust the golden spear she held in her right hand.

    ¡°!¡±

    Kadun hadn¡¯t anticipated that she would evade and counterattack simultaneously, catching him off guard.

    But he was a seasoned fighter. He quickly raised his wrist and deflected the spear upward.As the spear collided with his wrist guard, made from a highly durable metal alloy, sparks flew with a thunderous sound. Even as the mes red between them, neither of them so much as blinked.

    Having sessfully deflected the spear, Kadun used the moment she faltered tounch a kick at her thigh. His leg surged forward like a sh of lightning cutting through storm clouds.

    The female wolf, however, used the force from the spear being deflected to propel herself into the air. She had utilized his own power against him.

    His foot narrowly missed her leg, grazing it as she leaped back, creating distance between them.

    ¡°Tch.¡±

    Kadun nced at his wrist guard. Even though he had perfectly parried the spear, arge scratch had formed.

    ¡®A scratch on my Megachrome alloy?¡¯

    Megachrome is a special metal used to build the outer walls of massive space structures like city-sized stations. It¡¯s incredibly strong and heavy, and rarely used in armor.

    Even for someone with Kadun¡¯s exceptional physical prowess, pure Megachrome was too cumbersome, so he had an alloy version for his wrist guard. It was still durable enough that he never had to worry about it breaking inbat.

    ¡®That spear... I need to be careful.¡¯

    He didn¡¯t know what it was made of, but it was far sharper than anything ordinary.

    ¡®But¡­¡¯

    Even though he acknowledged her strength, Kadun still felt confident. His eyes locked onto the spear and her ankles.

    Frost was beginning to form where their bodies had collided.

    Kadun was known among other cartels as "Snoww." True to his nickname, his body could release cold energy, one of the abilities he had gained when he transformed into a beast.

    This freezing ability was one of the reasons he hadn¡¯t brought any long-range weapons with him, even while wearing his advancedbat suit. Any opponent who fought him in close quarters would soon find their body freezing rapidly. If they didn¡¯t have a way to maintain their body heat, even thergest beasts would freeze to death within moments.

    And the female wolf was wearing nothing like protective clothing. She wore only a sapphire ne around her neck, with ck wave-like markings visible on her exposed body.

    ¡®Primitive woman.¡¯

    Kadun had always despised wolves who maintained primitive cultures. While it was true that she had an extraordinarily beautiful body, his resolve remained unshaken.

    After a few more close engagements, she would freeze to death.

    The female wolf shook off the frost gathering around her ankles, adjusting her stance. She lowered her body and pulled her spear back. Her amber eyes, once calm, began to glow with a blue me.

    ¡®What is that?¡¯

    As Kadun made eye contact with her ming blue gaze, he felt as though he had inhaled a potent drug. His sense of reality began to slip away, and strange whispers echoed in his ears.

    ¡°I¡¯m hungry!¡± ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°Rip out their guts!¡±

    ¡®A mental attack!¡¯

    Realizing the situation, Kadun immediately activated his second ability, following the cold release.

    ¡°RAAAAARGH!¡±

    He let out a powerful roar, shaking his very mind. The whispers that had been creeping into his thoughts vanished in an instant.

    But he couldn¡¯t rx yet. The female wolf had somehow closed the gap between them while he dealt with the mental assault.

    Her spear was now flying toward his neck. He quickly bent backward to avoid it, but notpletely.

    White fur and droplets of red blood scattered through the air. Had he been any slower, there would have been a hole in his neck.

    The problem was that her assault wasn¡¯t over. The sharp edge of her spear was now thrusting at him repeatedly, like a barrage of bullets from a storm gun.

    He swiftly crossed his arms in front of his chest. While other areas might not matter as much, damage to vital organs like the heart would be deadly. Her golden spear struck against his wrist guards again.

    ¡°Gah!¡±

    The protective brace shattered quickly, andrge holes, three or four at a time, pierced through his wrist. Instead of blocking, he fell back as if copsing. A spear grazed his protruding snout. Lying on the metal floor, he kicked his legs vigorously into the air.

    His left leg fiercely struck the opponent''s right hand, which was holding a short spear. Though the enemy did not let go of the spear, his upper body shook violently. Before the opponent could regain their stance, his right leg smashed into their abdomen.

    With a loud crash, the female wolf was hurled backward. Shended safely after flying nearly ten meters.

    Seeing this, Kadun was astonished.

    ''She definitely got hit by the ice st, didn''t she?''

    Both her wrist and abdomen had taken a direct hit. The cold should have prated her bones by now. Yet, she didn''t seem much different from when they first exchanged blows.

    Fixing his gaze on the female wolf, Kadun slowly rose to his feet.

    "Do you have some kind of special ability?"

    Despite his question, the female wolf remained silent. She only red at him with her amber eyes, devoid of any emotion.

    "...No matter."

    If the ice st wasn''t effective, fighting her as he had been was pointless. He decided to use his final card.

    Clicking a few buttons on his chest, the advanced suit he was wearing expelledpressed air and detached itself.

    In an instant, his body, nowpletely naked, began to mutate. His muscles swelled endlessly, and his bones twisted. The white fur covering his skin grew longer and thicker. His humanoid frame, which was suited for walking on two legs, rapidly transformed into that of a beast.

    Now fully transformed into a ferocious creature covered in silver fur, Kadun leaped forward. Closing the distance in one bound, he struck the female wolf with his front paw.

    With an explosive sound reminiscent of a patrol ship''s detonation, the female wolf was sent flying, crashing into a building on the other side. The impact was so great that the building couldn''t withstand it and copsed.

    ?You¡¯ve chosen the wrong path.?

    Kadun growled as he stared at the rubble of the copsed building.

    As if in response, something shot out from the debris.

    Just as he suspected, his opponent had transformation abilities too.

    Unlike him, whose fur was nearly white with a silver sheen, this beast had golden fur. But her form was vastly different from what Kadun had imagined.

    Her face resembled his, that of a feline predator, but two curled horns, simr to those of a cultist''s ram, jutted from her brow.

    While her upper body was covered in thick fur like a beast, her lower body and tail were wrapped in scales.

    Her transformed form wasn''t a single animal but abination of traits from various creatures.

    ''She¡¯s not a wolf, but a hulking mutant?''

    The monstrous creature that had emerged from the ruins shook its mane, which wrapped around its neck. Then, its amber eyes gleamed as it spoke.

    ?Three minutes.?

    ?What??

    ?I can''t maintain this form for long, so I''ll finish this in three minutes.?

    ?You little...?

    The moment he heard the provocation and prepared to lunge at her.

    She opened her mouth wide.

    ''What?!''

    An overwhelming torrent of me poured from her mouth, engulfing Kadun.

    ¡ª

    "Ugh, uaaaargh!"

    Grabbing a pirate with my winged arm, I was about to stuff him into my mouth when I noticed a massive pir of me in the distance.

    ¡®What¡¯s that?¡¯

    Only three of us are capable of causing a fire thatrge without any special conditions. There¡¯s me, who can use psychic breath, Adhai, and...

    ¡®The Mother of the Sky.¡¯

    She transformed into something other than a griffon to unleash that fire.

    The special ability she possesses, "Shell of the Hunting God", allows her to transform into one of four phantom beasts, excluding the griffon. Currently, she has unlocked three of those beasts.

    ¡®The second phantom beast she unlocked was the Wendigo from the Dragon¡¯s Nest.¡¯

    The third was unlocked after fighting the Gorgon Swarm, but it''s not particrly useful in this situation.

    Therefore, the phantom beast she transformed into this time must be the first one she unlocked before meeting me.

    ¡®The Chimera.¡¯

    Among the three phantom beasts she has unlocked, it is the one with the most formidable physical power.

    Not only that, but in closebat, it ranks among the top five phantom beasts wolves can choose in the world of ¡®Space Survival¡¯.

    ¡®Efficiency-focused yers often chose it.¡¯

    Unlike the bnced griffon, the crowd-controlling Wendigo, or the third phantom beast specializing in long-distance travel, the Chimera excels in raw power.

    With its incredibly tough hide, devastating front paws, the ability to spew superheated mes, and swift speed, it is a specialist in both close- and mid-rangebat.

    ¡®She must have chosen it as a counter to the White Tiger Wolf.¡¯

    Before we arrived here, we gathered intel on the Marcio Cartel¡¯s sub-boss, and we had guessed he could transform into a white tiger.

    Though the white tiger also specializes in raw power, its nature is slightly different from the Chimera. It weakens its opponents and neutralizes their crowd control or psychic power abilities. In short, it''s a type that overwhelms by wearing down its enemies.

    That said, the white tiger¡¯s base stats aren¡¯t weak either, which is why it would¡¯ve been a burden to fight it with the griffon or Wendigo.

    ¡®I was thinking of stepping in to help...¡¯

    But since she transformed into the Chimera, there''s no need.

    ¡®The Chimera¡¯sbat strength is on par with my own when I use the Symbol of Hunt.¡¯

    It''s difficult to make a directparison since my growth stages are more finely divided, but in closebat alone, that''s true. If I used the Symbol of the Hunt in my sub-adult form, she would win, but at my current stage, I would.

    Of course, such poweres with a serious drawback¡ªits duration and cooldown.

    ¡®The duration is 30 minutes, and the cooldown is a month.¡¯

    Before we met, she had fought another yer, Muriel, using the Chimera, but she lost because the duration expired.

    If her opponent were a yer, it might be different, but against non-yers, she should finish this in five minutes. After all, the Mother of the Sky is still a ranker, and a wolf ranker at that.

    ¡®Might as well clean up the remaining ones.¡¯

    ¡°W-Wait, wait, wait, wait...!¡±

    I gulped down the pirate I was holding in one bite.

    That¡¯s thest of the pirates who jumped off the patrol ship I raided. I figure the others have probably wrapped things up by now too.

    Walking away from the burning wreckage, I saw PS-111 and Number 26. The two of them were huddled together, talking intensely.

    ¡®What are they up to?¡¯

    ¡°Have you returned?¡± PS-111 greeted me.

    ?We punished the bad ones!?

    As I approached, they weed me. Surrounding Number 26 were pieces of the dead pirates¡¯ bodies.

    It wasn''t that she had broken them down to eat. After all, Number 26 can simply absorb them by erging its body and swallowing the corpses whole.

    ¡®You said you were studying with PS-111.¡¯

    After leaving the Dragon¡¯s Nest, it seems Number 26 has be increasingly curious about other living creatures. It used to move by following my lead or imitating me, but recently, it¡¯s been diving into much moreplex subjects.

    Things like the behavior, habits, and even the anatomy of living organisms.

    [ZZZZ (Studying?)]

    ?Yes! I¡¯m studying!?

    ¡°The main controller has shown significant interest in the behavior and reproductive activities of biological species,¡± PS-111 added.

    When I asked, Number 26 responded with a lively pulse.

    To be a great hunter, it¡¯s important to know a lot about your prey. I also became the best Amorph by umting a vast amount of knowledge.

    ¡®The more you know, the better.¡¯

    Is this what it feels like to watch a child eager to learn? I stroked it gently with my wing-arm. It shimmered brightly and climbed onto my arm.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZ (Let¡¯s go find Adhai.)]

    ?Okay.?

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ?I¡¯m done.?

    Just as I was thinking about Adhai, a white-and-red streak fell from the sky. It was Adhai, having activated the Red Gagon¡¯s power, ¡®Red Armor¡¯.

    The redness of her body wasn¡¯t just from the Red Armor. Blood stained her pure white scales, which gleamed like a pristine dress.

    ?I¡¯m tired. Carry me.?

    ?You just ate, Little One. You¡¯re not tired.?

    ?Tired. Carry me.?

    ¡°You may ride on me, Little One,¡± offered PS-111.

    ?No. It¡¯s ufortable.?

    With a dejected look, PS-111 stood aside as Adhai climbed onto my back, folding her wings and settling downzily.

    ¡®Not so bad once in a while.¡¯

    There were no threats left in this area anyway. The subordinates imnted with parasites had sent signals of theplete annihtion of the cartel members.

    ¡®Looks like the fight over there is finished as well.¡¯

    After the pir of fire disappeared, there had been a few loud crashes, but now everything was quiet. I carried Number 26 and Adhai as we headed toward where the Mother of the Sky was.

    In the center of the burning streets, a beast with the horns of a goat, the head and upper body of a lion, and the lower body and tail of a dragon stood.

    It was the Mother of the Sky, transformed into a Chimera. She had one of her massive paws pressed on arge, ckened lump of charcoal as she turned her head toward us.

    ?It¡¯s done. Took 10 seconds longer than expected.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (Seems like you¡¯ve gotten rusty.)]

    ?...It¡¯s just because it¡¯s been a while since I transformed, okay??

    She narrowed her amber eyes slightly as she moved her paw. The ckened lump beneath her twitched and coughed violently.

    That creature, nowpletely charred and missing all four limbs, was the offering that would raise her deification stage.

    The offering, or rather the Marcio Cartel¡¯s sub-boss, barely opened his eyes and red at us.

    ?You, you bastards... cough! What are you... cough!?

    I looked toward the Mother of the Sky instead of responding.

    ?I just need to take out the heart and finish him. Until then, do whatever you want.?

    [ZZZZ (Good to hear.)]

    I approached the half-dead white tiger.

    ?W-What the...?!?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (I have many questions for you.)]

    His eyes widened in terror as he saw the ck parasite wriggling out from mybat arm.

    If he hadn¡¯te here¡ªno, if he hadn¡¯t even been in this fortress, he wouldn¡¯t be in this miserable state today.

    He chose the wrong path.

 Chapter 265:

    Chapter 265:

    As expected, Kadun, the underboss of the Marcio Cartel, knew a lot.

    From the defensive systems within the fortress, the number and armament of the pirates, to the specs of the ships brought in by their clients¡ªhe divulged everything under the control of the parasite. The information would be quite useful for our assault on the fortress.

    ¡®It¡¯s more doable than I thought.¡¯

    The defenses were not much different from what I remembered, but there was a shortage of people capable of utilizing them.

    Kesha Arma is a fortress built by cultists, with defensive systems designed to be easy for them to operate.

    ¡®But the Marcio Cartel¡¯s backbone is made up of humans.¡¯

    In fact, there weren¡¯t any cultists among the cartel members. Because of that, most of the fortress¡¯s weapons were left unused, except for the giant turrets mounted on themand buildings, which were the only active defensive systems.

    ¡®The pirates may be numerous, but they¡¯re a disorganized rabble.¡¯

    No matter how many there are, regr pirates won¡¯t be able to defeat us. If anything, their numbers only mean more food for us.¡®However¡­¡¯

    There was one troubling piece of information.

    A cultist guest staying on the 100th floor of the secondmand building. Apparently, this important client was invited by the Marcio Cartel six months ago, and Kadun described them as a formidable opponent. Kadun, who had fought the Mother of the Sky and survived, seemed to lose all will to fight when talking about this person¡¯s strength.

    ¡®From the description, they sound like someone from either the Temple Guardians or the Eye of Revtion priests.¡¯

    It¡¯s unlikely to be a priest from the Eye of Revtion. They usually ride "special beasts" they''ve painstakingly tamed, but Kadun mentioned that this person came with only a few attendants, and no animals.

    It¡¯s also doubtful that they¡¯re a Temple Guardian. Temple Guardians hunt monsters and evil beings for the Empire¡¯s security. They wouldn¡¯t stay in a pirate fortress for half a year.

    ¡®Better keep an eye on them.¡¯

    Even though I don¡¯t know their exact identity, they are undoubtedly a powerful foe.

    With this enigmatic cultist etched into my mind, I stood up.

    I already knew where the auction¡¯s goods were being kept. Besides that, I had extracted all the useful information Kadun possessed.

    ¡®Now, what¡¯s left¡­¡¯

    I nced toward the Mother of the Sky.

    Normally, I would have devoured him myself, but not today. Kadun¡¯s heart was destined to be an offering for her advancement.

    But it couldn¡¯t be taken out here and now. Simr to an Amorph¡¯s growth, the deification process consumes time. During that time, she would be incredibly vulnerable to external attacks.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ (Doing it here is risky, right?)]

    ?Yes. Thest time I advanced, I couldn¡¯t move for two hours.?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Two hours? Wasn¡¯t it 30 minutes before?)]

    ?Looks like it¡¯s different from the game now.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZZ (We¡¯ll have to return to the ship, then.)]

    The ship would be safe for several hours. I had already manipted the documents through the guards under the parasite¡¯s control when we first arrived, so there would be no risk of inspection.

    ¡®The real issue is the thieves.¡¯

    Since we arrived, there have been three separate attempts to rob us. Back then, it was convenient because I gained new ves to parasitize, but now the situation is different.

    ¡®I¡¯ll need someone to protect the Mother of the Sky.¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t stay behind, as I needed to raid the auction for smuggled creatures. PS-111, skilled in operating machinery, would also be apanying me.

    One of the two¡ªNumber 26 or Adhai¡ªwould have to stay behind to protect her.

    Just then, Adhai tapped me on the back.

    ?Ugly friend??In pain??

    [ZZ ZZZZZ ZZ (No. She¡¯s preparing to grow.)]

    ?Grow?? ?Like the Big One??

    [ZZ (Yes.)]

    Adhai paused for a moment, then sent another wave of thought.

    ?I??Ugly friend??I''ll help?

    [ZZ (You?)]

    ?Friend??Helped me??Many times??I will repay?

    Surprisingly, Adhai volunteered to guard the Mother of the Sky. It seemed that, as they had traveled together often, she felt a sense of duty to return the favor.

    ¡®That should work.¡¯

    While Number 26 might have had an advantage for battles inside the ship, Adhai was a Gagon, and not just any Gagon¡ªshe possessed the power of the Red Gagon. There was almost no chance a mere thief could pose any threat to her.

    ?Since when do you volunteer to help me??

    ?Ugly friend??Helped me before??I will repay?

    ?If that¡¯s the case, maybe it¡¯s time you change what you call me. Try saying ''Pretty friend.''?

    ?Liar??I like you, but??Your face??Not good?

    ?...I swear, I really want to hit you.?

    ?Violence??Won''t hurt??I can block??Using the power of the stars?

    ?Want to test that theory??

    While the two of them continued to banter, I picked up Kadun''s discarded exosuit and detached themunicator. I handed the device to Kadun, who was still under control, as there was onest task to handle before removing his heart.

    "Request support. One patrol ship."

    ?Understood!?

    I needed a ship to carry the Mother of the Sky and Adhai.

    "Also, reinforcements."

    ?Reinforcements? Ah, yes, of course!?

    Since I had used up a fair number of my pawns, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to replenish them.

    Thirty minutester, a patrol ship was flying in our direction,pletely unaware of what awaited them.

    It didn¡¯t take long to deal with the reinforcements that had followed Kadun¡¯s orders and arrived here. They were swiftly taken care of.

    ?I¡¯ll be off now.?

    The Mother of the Sky and Adhai boarded the patrol ship, and I had my new minions load Kadun¡¯s mangled body aboard as well.

    ¡®The deification issue is settled.¡¯

    Now it was time for me to gather what I needed.

    ¡®The underground storage near the military port, right?¡¯

    Kesha Arma, built to protect mining and trade ships, had facilities for storing the extracted resources. The underground storage facility was one of those locations.

    ¡®In the game, it was like a bunker.¡¯

    ording to Kadun, the ce was currently heavily guarded by pirates and mercenaries hired by the owners of the goods. The pirates were equipped simrly to the ones we had already dealt with, though Kadun wasn¡¯t sure what the mercenaries were armed with.

    ¡®Even if they¡¯re better than the pirates, they won¡¯t be a threat to us.¡¯

    Unless they had Earth-based mega-corporate elite defense teams or cult Temple Guardians, I had no reason to worry.

    ¡®I was originally nning to get the manifest first...¡¯

    Ironically, the manifest was located in a more secure location than the underground storage itself. It was being held in the Third Command Center, which was protected by defensive systems. Breaking into the storage with the pirates was actually the easier option.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see what they¡¯ve got down there firsthand.¡¯

    I had Number 26 perch on my shoulders as I headed for the underground storage. PS-111 followed closely behind.

    ?Where are we going??

    ¡°The Sub-controller ¡®Amorph¡¯ is going to obtain nutrients for its growth.¡±

    ?The Big One¡¯s growing??

    [Yes.]

    ?Lucky. I wish I could grow quickly too.?

    Number 26 spoke with envy, clearly disliking being the only one who hadn''t visibly changed while everything else around it evolved.

    ¡®That¡¯s not entirely true.¡¯

    Though its appearance hadn¡¯t altered much, Number 26 was continuously growing. Its true strengthy not inbat prowess, but intelligence.

    Whenever it encountered new and useful things, it adapted and applied them in unique ways. It had repurposed the ¡®binding¡¯ technique to create a psychic drill, or used its psychic power on machines to generate an EMP-like effect. Its adaptability was on par with, if not better than, some yers in the game.

    ¡®It¡¯s been a great help to me.¡¯

    Without it, I would never have gotten this far.

    ?I want to grow bigger like the Big One.?

    ¡°That¡¯s right. It would be more bnced that way.¡±

    [ZZ (Bnce?)]

    Curious, I asked, but PS-111 didn¡¯t respond. Number 26 also stopped sending thought waves, though it was clear that it was feeling a bit upset.

    I had assumed it didn¡¯t care because it hadn¡¯t brought it up before, but I guess I was wrong.

    ¡®Maybe I should find a way to help it grow.¡¯

    After feeding it the ck Gagon, there hadn¡¯t been any significant changes, aside from helping Adhai connect its memories with its mother, Ham Ort. Even when it consumed Gorgon Swarm flesh, which wasn¡¯t a psychic-based organism, it didn¡¯t affect Number 26 in any major way. Its tendrils and fins had toughened up, but itsbat abilities hadn¡¯t notably improved.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to see if there¡¯s something in the underground storage that¡¯s useful for it.¡¯

    The rare creature auction happening in Kesha Arma was known even in distant star systems, so there was a good chance there might be something useful. That was, after all, one of the main reasons I came to this stronghold.

    If I keep feeding Number 26 various things, we¡¯re bound to find something that will satisfy it.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (If we eat together, we''ll grow together.)]

    ?Really? Will I grow big like the other creatures??

    [Z ZZZ (Maybe.)]

    Though I couldn''t guarantee it, Number 26 seemed pleased by the idea. It extended a tendril and yfully tapped my head.

    ?I¡¯m excited! Let¡¯s go quickly!?

    [ZZ (Yes.)]

    I activated my cloaking device and began walking toward the underground storage facility near the military port.

    Behind us, the abandoned city continued to burn, casting an eerie glow.

    ---

    ¡°Haaaam, this is boring as hell.¡±

    ¡°Anything weird going on?¡±

    ¡°Not a thing.¡±

    Inside Guard Room A, five pirateszily yawned while monitoring the cameras connected to the security systems.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I told you we should at least do some drugs to pass the time.¡±

    ¡°Idiot. What if Kadun catches you?¡±

    ¡°Everyone else does it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and all those idiots will die together. Moron.¡±

    Annoyed by hisrade''s reprimand, the scrawny pirate grumbled and picked up the radio.

    ¡°This is the damn A-guard room. Everything clear on your end?¡±

    ?B-guard room. All clear.?

    ?C-guard room. All clea¡­ Hey! Stop cheating! You trying to sell drugs on the sly??

    ?D-guard room. All clear. Let¡¯s keep it professional, people. This is being recorded.?

    ?E-guard room. All clear. Anything strange outside??

    The underground storage was divided into five sections, each with its own guard room. The guard rooms monitored their assigned sectors and were responsible for isting sections in case of anomalies. Additionally, each sector was patrolled by androids, with the guard rooms managing those units.

    Among the five guard rooms, Guard Room A oversaw the monitoring posts in Zone A and the entrance to the underground storage facility.

    ¡°Nothing particrly strange¡­ huh?¡±

    The thin pirate, who had been responding to the radio with a bored expression, suddenly stopped when he noticed something on the camera. The pirate next to him tilted his head in confusion at the sight on the screen.

    ¡°Fog?¡±

    ¡°Hey. Contact the monitoring post.¡±

    ¡°Got it. This is Guard Room A. We¡¯re observing fog on the cameras. Please check it out.¡±

    ?This is the monitoring post, chhh, nothing strange, chhh, visible, zzz, huh? Chhhh, people, zzz, thud.?

    ¡°Monitoring post? Respond. Monitoring post, this is Guard Room A.¡±

    Another pirate tried to reach the monitoring post via radio, but all that returned was an unpleasant noise. The pirates¡¯ attention shifted back to the screen showing the monitoring post inside.

    They saw a guard tapping hismunication device, while the other guards stood up as if they had noticed something.

    Then suddenly, the monitors connected to the entrance went dark all at once.

    ¡°What the hell?¡±

    ¡°Hey, contact the other zones immediately.¡±

    ¡°This is Guard Room A. We¡¯ve encountered a problem with the camera at the entrance of our jurisdiction.¡±

    ?Chichichichichich.?

    ¡°This is Guard Room A. This is¡­ what now?¡±

    ¡°Wait, what?¡±

    ¡°Mine isn¡¯t working either.¡±

    ¡°What? Everyone else, check your radios.¡±

    ¡°Hold on a second.¡±

    ¡°Hey, hey.¡±

    While the four pirates began checking theirmunication devices, one pirate, staring nkly at the monitor, suddenly yelled.

    ¡°Hey, everyone! Look at that!¡±

    ¡°Now¡¯s not the time for that¡­ huh?¡±

    The four turned back to the monitor, mouths agape.

    The monitors connected to the cameras were sequentially shutting off one by one, in real-time.

 Chapter 266:

    Chapter 266:

    -

    The pirates in the A-guard post stared at the monitors with bewildered expressions.

    The screens disying footage from the cameras were shutting off rapidly, one after the other. First, the surveince outpost, then the entrance, and then the underground corridors. Judging by the malfunctioning cameras, the disruptions were drawing closer to their guard post.

    Everyone there knew the cameras weren¡¯t failing for no reason. The walls of the guard post were trembling ever so slightly, as if something massive was moving and causing intermittent vibrations.

    The problem was that those vibrations were growing stronger. Some unknown entity was breaking through the corridor¡¯s cameras and security doors, heading straight for them.

    ¡°What about the corridor lockdown procedure?¡±

    ¡°It activated as soon as the surveince outpost camera went out.¡±

    ¡°¡­Damn it. Even with a sma cutter, nothing can get through this fast.¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t good. Everyone, grab your gear. You, scrawny one, head to Section B.¡±¡°Tell the mercenaries while you''re at it.¡±

    ¡°¡­Damn. Fine.¡±

    The pirates hurriedly grabbed the equipment stored in the guard post. While hisrades prepared to fight, the scrawny pirate grabbed only a psychic rifle and sprinted out of the post.

    The lights embedded in the corridor ceiling shone brightly, illuminating the path ahead. The corridor, with its simple cylindrical design, appeared as it always did¡ªnothing unusual about it.

    Except for the trembling light.

    The scrawny pirate rushed toward the security door at the end of the short corridor and began manipting the terminal beside it. Meanwhile, the vibrations became more frequent.

    ¡°Hurry up and open!¡±

    The pirate anxiously tapped his foot as the door slowly opened. Just then, the light above his head began to flicker uncertainly.

    Startled, he turned around to see the lights near the guard post flicker out, one by one. The only remaining light came from the post itself.

    Then, just like a candle being snuffed out, that light too vanished.

    ¡°¡­Gulp.¡±

    The pirate swallowed nervously at the sight. At that moment, the security door finally opened. Half crawling, he slipped through and sealed the door behind him.

    The security doors installed between corridors were over a meter thick and built with a dualyer structure, making it nearly impossible to breach, even with a sma cutter. The doors between the corridors were far sturdier than the entrance door, so the mysterious intruder wouldn¡¯t be able to get in easily.

    Nothing emerged from the darkness before the door fully closed. The only thing that filled the pitch-ck corridor was an unnatural silence.

    ¡°Phew¡­¡±

    Breathing a sigh of relief, the pirate stepped back from the door.

    Before that thing arrives, he needed to get to Section B and warn them.

    The space where he stood was so vast that he had to crane his neck back to see the ceiling. It wasn¡¯tpletely empty either¡ªfreezer containers were stacked in multipleyers throughout the area.

    This was Storage Area A.

    Those containers were all goods brought in by customers visiting the city for the auction. Although he couldn¡¯t see them from here, further inside, there would be mercenaries and androids guarding the containers.

    The scrawny pirate connected the battery to his psychic rifle and advanced deeper inside. The temperature was low, likely due to the cold air leaking from the containers. If it weren¡¯t for the android standing guard in front of one, he would¡¯ve been shivering from both the cold and fear.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. It¡¯s just a misunderstanding or something. Yeah, that¡¯s it.¡±

    Muttering to himself, he walked for a few minutes until he heard voices beyond the massive containers. Turning the corner, he saw five mercenaries chatting.

    ¡°Huh? Aren¡¯t you the pirate from the guard post?¡±

    ¡°What brings you here?¡±

    Panicked, the scrawny pirate shouted at the mercenaries.

    ¡°There¡¯s no time for this! Things are goingpletely crazy outside!¡±

    ¡°Outside?¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡±

    "Our team hasn''t sent any word."

    "Of course they haven''t! They''re all dead! We need to alert the others immediately¡­."

    "What? Are you serious? What nonsense is this?"

    "Do you even know who you''re talking to, spouting that kind of crap?"

    The mercenaries showed no signs of listening, and the scrawny pirate grew frustrated. Other mercenaries guarding nearby containers also approached, curious about themotion.

    "What¡¯s with all the noise?"

    "He says our team guarding the outside is down."

    "Please, just check for yourselves if you don''t believe me!"

    The pirate shouted desperately at the now twenty or so mercenaries who had gathered.

    "The world¡¯s really gone mad. A worthless pirate dares to shout orders at us?"

    "Well, I guess you¡¯d do that¡ªsince you¡¯re nothing but trash."

    "What did you just say, punk?"

    There were many space dogs working as mercenaries, and plenty of mercenaries who dabbled in piracy. The group present was no exception, making it hard to say they were of high caliber.

    The scrawny pirate knew this well. But shouldn¡¯t they at least know what was happening? It was pathetic how they had no idea what was going on outside or what had happened to theirrades.

    "Hey, the guard here is asking for a favor. Someone, call them already."

    "If you''re wrong, you''re dead."

    Most of the mercenaries crossed their arms and sneered, but one finally picked up a radio.

    "What are they saying outside?"

    "¡­¡­."

    "Why? Did they tell you to stop whining?"

    "I can''t reach them."

    At those words, the others froze.

    "Come on, don¡¯t mess with us."

    "I''m serious. Try calling them yourselves."

    The mercenary holding the radio looked serious, far from joking. The others, still smirking, began contacting their own teams outside.

    A few minutester, their smiles vanished as well.

    "Why isn¡¯t anyone answering?"

    "What the hell is going on?"

    As they began to panic, the lights in the ceiling abruptly went out. Darkness consumed the room, with the only remaining lighting from a few smoldering cigarettes held by the mercenaries.

    "Everyone, prepare forbat!"

    Though the light was gone, the mercenaries didn''t lose their cool. Some activated goggles with night-vision capabilities, while others¡ªcyborgs¡ªenabled the lenses in their eyes to adapt forbat in the dark.

    "Hey, Guard. You sure they don¡¯t know about this inside?"

    "They might... but I''m not certain."

    "Take this and go check. Get some backup."

    "A-Alright."

    Realizing the pirate wasn¡¯t lying, the mercenaries sent him toward Section B, where hisrades were. They told him to go and request reinforcements directly.

    The pirate, now wearing the goggles the mercenary had given him, ran toward the corridor leading to Section B. As he sprinted, multiple androids brushed past him, heading in the opposite direction. They must have recognized the abnormal situation and were moving to join the mercenaries on the other side.

    Moments after the androids disappeared into the darkness, a barrage of gunfire erupted. The intermittent noise, like the mechanical nging of automated factory equipment, echoed off the containers, growing louder.

    Armed mercenaries and high-end androids¡ªthey should have been more than enough to reassure him. Yet, his anxiety didn¡¯t subside.

    Something felt wrong. It was as though the entire underground storage area was sinking into a bottomless pit. Even though the vibrations had stopped since entering Storage Area A, this sense of dread wouldn''t leave him. No matter how hard he thought about it, he couldn¡¯t find an answer.

    ¡°Huff, huff, huff¡­.¡±

    The only sound breaking the stillness of the cavernous space was hisbored breathing.

    Nothing else.

    No gunfire, no screams, no mechanical nging from destroyed androids. Nothing.

    Did the mercenaries win? That would be a relief, but if they didn¡¯t¡­

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    The scrawny pirate''s trembling hands barely managed to operate the terminal. The massive shielding door began to open slowly. The moment there was enough space, he slipped through, not even waiting for the door to fully open before hastily initiating its closure.

    The door shut at a frustratingly slow pace. As the pirate nervously bit his lip, something caught his eye from across the room.

    "!"

    "Wait!"

    It was one of the mercenaries he had encountered earlier, now sprinting towards the closing door.

    "¡­Damn it!"

    The pirate briefly considered just shutting the door on him, but changed his mind. It would be better to have two people rather than one to escape from whatever was chasing them. He quickly stopped the door from closing any further.

    Just as the mercenary was about to cross the threshold, a deafening noise echoed through the room, and the door shook violently.

    "W-What was that?!"

    "It''s here! The monster is chasing me!"

    "Shit!"

    Hearing the mercenary¡¯s shout, the pirate frantically resumed closing the door. It continued to inch shut at a maddeningly slow pace, but just before it sealedpletely, something shifted in the shadows beyond.

    ''!''

    Though he only glimpsed it for a moment, the pirate knew he would never forget that sight for the rest of his life. A pink snake, covered in countless eyes, writhed in their direction as if greeting them, only to vanish from view.

    "W-What the hell was that? I''ve never seen such a monstrosity in my life."

    "...I have no idea either."

    "Damn it! We need to warn Section B¡­ What about your weapon?"

    "I dropped it while running from that thing."

    The pirate scowled at the mercenary¡¯s response. Without a weapon, they had no way of defending themselves if the monster breached the shielding door.

    ''Well, I could always use him as bait.''

    The pirate was the only one armed. If, by some chance, the creature managed to break through before they reached Section B, he could always throw the mercenary to it and buy himself some time.

    "For now, let¡¯s head to the guard station in Section B."

    "Right."

    The mercenary seemedpletely oblivious to what the pirate was thinking. The two of them proceeded down the corridor leading to Section B''s guard station.

    ''At least the cameras are still working.''

    As they walked, the pirate checked the ceiling-mounted cameras. Fortunately, the power to the surveince system hadn¡¯t gone out. The guards in Section B would have seen them by now and should be preparing some kind of response.

    ''No, I should contact them from here.''

    Even though their radios weren¡¯t functioning, there was still one way tomunicate.

    Each section of this underground storage area was equipped with a hardlinemunication system, designed to function even during radio outages or EMP attacks from other species. It had been installed by the Marcio Cartel precisely for situations like this.

    The pirate had wanted to use it before entering this area, but the hardline terminal in Section A was located near the entrance to the underground storage, making it inessible at the time. He waved at the camera, signaling that he would use the hardline system.

    "What are you doing?"

    "Don''t concern yourself with it."

    There was no need to show respect to the mercenary he was nning to use as bait anyway. The pirate curtly replied and approached the wall, where a small switch was hidden. Upon pressing it, an ivory-colored rod connected to a wire inside the wall popped out.

    "What''s that?"

    "A Cultist-made hardlinemunication device."

    "Hmm? We have something like that down here?"

    The mercenary sounded intrigued, but the pirate didn¡¯t bother replying.

    He disconnected the psychic rifle¡¯s charger and plugged it into the device. Since themunication system was made by Cultists, it required psychic power to operate.

    After a moment, the device lit up.

    "It''s working! This is the guard station in Section A. Can you hear me?"

    ?Ch-ch-chh¡­ look¡­ ch-ch-chh?

    The pirate felt a brief surge of triumph and yelled into the device. A crackling voice answered through the static.

    "I can¡¯t hear you well. This is Section A. Do you copy?"

    ?Ch-chh¡­ behind¡­ ch-chh¡­ behind¡­ ch-ch-chh?

    "What? What are you saying?"

    ?Behind you! Look behind you!?

    As soon as the static cleared, the voice on the other end screamed in panic.

    "Behind? What¡¯s wrong with¡­?"

    Puzzled, the pirate turned around. In that instant, he understood what the guard in Section B had been trying to say.

    ?The monster is behind you!?

    No one remained alive in the corridor to respond to the swaying, tremblingmunication device hanging from the wall.

 Chapter 267:

    Chapter 267:

    -

    "Yes, she hasn¡¯t arrived yet. Ahem, I''ll be ready. Then."

    The light on the floating rhombus-shaped obelisk faded, and it slowly descended to the ground. Cynthia confirmed that it had stopped functioning and disconnected the wires attached to it.

    ¡°Phew.¡±

    She let out a brief sigh and picked up an apple sitting on the luxurious table.

    An apple. Originally from Earth, this fruit is now only grown in the bio-domes of Mars. In the distant past, it was amon fruit, but now only the wealthy can easily enjoy it.

    Without hesitation, Cynthia took a bite of the rare fruit. Its sweetness filled her mouth, with a tartness that lightly tingled her tongue¡ªa refreshing sensation. For someone who had never tasted an apple, it might have been quite moving.

    However, Cynthia''s feelings were different.

    She hade from a world where apples were amon sight. In that world, the home she could never return to, she often ate this fruit.The sweetness she tasted now was the vor of longing.

    ''...It won''t be long.''

    There were others in this world who shared experiences like hers. Once, there had been dozens of them, but now only a few outsiders remained. Most of the factions that had once existed had dissolved, leaving only three.

    Cynthia belonged to the faction of outsiders who sought to remain in this world and rule over the lesser beings¡ªthe "Dominion Faction". This group was made up of beings from advanced civilizations such as the Megacorps, the Star Union, and the Cults.

    However, Cynthia harbored a secret that even her faction members didn¡¯t know.

    ''Once he sends his chosen one here, this role of mine will be over.''

    Ever since she had arrived in this world, Cynthia had never once desired to remain. She would do anything to return to her home¡ªeven if it meant killing or deceiving other outsiders, or "yers".

    With the apple still in hand, Cynthia stepped out onto the ornate terrace. Below her sprawled the vast view of the space fortress.

    On one side, the artificial lights from countless shops were almost blinding, while on the other, a vast area was shrouded inplete darkness. Above her, the fallen mining reflected light, casting its gaze over the fortress.

    The view of Kesha Arma was more awe-inspiring than beautiful, yet Cynthia felt no emotions stirring within her.

    ''Just a bunch of data...''

    The true faction Cynthia belonged to was the "Return Faction", whose goal was to clear the game and return to their home world.

    After briefly gazing at the city, she clicked her tongue and stepped back inside.

    Had she stayed just a little longer, she might have noticed.

    The ck smoke rising from the shadowed, lightless area.

    -

    "It¡¯s over."

    I picked up the stray ankle left behind by someone unknown and shoved it into my mouth.

    "I didn''t expect them to have a hardlinemunication system."

    Because of the psychic powerid out by Number 26, all wirelessmunication in this underground storage facility had beenpletely blocked. That¡¯s why I had been so at ease. I didn¡¯t anticipate that the pirates had installed an EMP-resistant hardlinework.

    "It would''ve been a hassle if they had managed to contact the outside."

    Fortunately, the hardline system only connected the five sections of the underground storage to each other. It seemed like they hadn¡¯t extended it to the outside due to cost.

    "They probably never thought this ce would be breached."

    After all, this storage facility was guarded by over a hundred mercenaries, hundreds of androids, and double-shielded doors over a meter thick. No pirate would have thought this ce could be breached unless there was a full-scale war.

    "Unless, of course, the one doing the breaching is a monster over 20 meters tall."

    Who could have imagined that a giant creature would tear through the meter-thick doors one by one to raid the storage facility?

    Before I arrived here, I personally broke through the storage entrance and the shielding doors of Section A. Right now, I possess the traits necessary to break through even the thickest of doors with ease.

    "Enhanced Acidic Fungal nds."

    One of the infection-type fusion traits I currently possess, the "Acidic Fungal nds", is the third trait to receive the enhancement effects of the "Great Infector", following "Gremlin Moss" and the "Parasitic Hive".

    The enhancement effects of the Great Infector are fairly straightforward, as seen with the Gremlin Moss, which is dispersed in mist form, and the Parasitic Hive, which increases the number of parasites to 20. Simrly, the Acidic Fungal nds have transformed into a much more powerful and straightforward ability.

    "It¡¯s now been changed to a breath attack."

    Originally, I would spit out fungal masses as projectiles, but now, the acidic fungus has liquefied and shoots out like a water cannon. Naturally, its firepower has increased significantlypared to before.

    "It was a great help when I fought the Gorgon Swarm, but I didn¡¯t expect to use it again here."

    However, it''s not all good news; there¡¯s an unexpected downside.

    The nd, located deep in my throat, only allows me to fire the acidic breath for a few seconds before I run out of fungal fluid. After that, I need to rest for a few minutes to recharge.

    "I can use it again now, but¡­"

    Since I''ve already taken full control of the storage facility, there¡¯s no need to push it further.

    I leaned into the guardroom with its ceiling blown off and began manipting the blood-soakedputer in front of the monitor with my small arms on my chest.

    "Open sesame."

    In the distance, I could hear the sound of beasts growling. It was the sound of the shielding doors between sections and corridors opening.

    At that moment, a familiar voice came from a speaker dangling from the destroyed guardroom wall.

    ¡°It seems you''ve handled everything since the doors are now open.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I''m heading to Section B.¡±

    ¡°Yes, once you arrive, you¡¯ll be able to check the stored list immediately, as I¡¯ve already breached the firewall of the underground storage.¡±

    Bringing PS-111 along was indeed the right call for tasks like these. After confirming that, I started moving towards Section B.

    After passing through the massive storage and several narrow corridors where my head nearly touched the ceiling, I finally arrived at Section B, where I could see them.

    Number 26 and PS-111 were both by a managementputer in front of a container.

    ?Hello, Big One.?

    ¡°You¡¯ve arrived.¡±

    Number 26, who was disassembling an android using its tentacles, greeted me with a wave of its appendages. Next to it, PS-111 was lying down, connected to theputer port with a cable attached under its chin.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Was it difficult to breach the firewall?)]

    ¡°For someone who has hacked into Pyra Eleven¡¯s ship, this was a simple task.¡±

    ?Right! My friend is amazing!?

    As Number 26 praised it, PS-111 lifted one of its wed legs to form a V sign. Its hand was stained with the blood of a butchered human.

    I flicked out my tongue to lick the blood off its hand and asked,

    [ZZZ ZZZ (Show me the list.)]

    ¡°Certainly. I¡¯ll bring it up now.¡±

    Without batting an eye, it lowered its arm and began operating theputer. As the cable under its chin trembled slightly, a long list of names appeared on the monitor.

    With its help, I quickly scanned the listed names.

    "Hmm."

    The smuggled creatures were stored in two sections: B and C. The other sections contained luxury goods, drugs, and ssified documents, which didn¡¯t concern me.

    "It¡¯s not as much as I expected, but it should be enough to gather materials for at least one unique trait."

    If I were to take everything here, I could obtain enough traits to create at least one unique trait. With luck, I might even acquire enough for two and fulfill the conditions for evolution.

    I pulled up the unique trait synthesis list I had opened beforeing to the fortress.

    ?Transcendence Material List: Reinforced Skull, Gagon Horn, Spiked Tail, Protein Assimtion, Clustered Skin Tissue (Not Obtained)?

    ?Transcendence Material List: Inorganic Digestion, Reaper¡¯s Maw, Bone Beast, Hell¡¯s Vision (Not Obtained), Ultra Control (Not Obtained)?

    "I think I canplete the first fusion form here."

    There wouldn''t be much issue creating the first fusion form as a unique trait, but the real challenge lies with the second form. It requires hard-to-find traits, making it difficult to recklessly use the Transcendence System on it.

    "Especially that Reaper¡¯s Maw."

    Thanks to the "Reaper¡¯s Maw," I can obtain gic essences just by consuming a creature''s head. If I were to lose that trait, collecting gic essences would be a real problem.

    You might think I could just acquire it again, but that¡¯s not easy either. The material for the Reaper¡¯s Maw, the "Jaw of the Essence Reaper," can only be obtained by consuming semi-mature Amorphs or Outspeicers.

    On top of that, traits like "Inorganic Digestion" and "Bone Beast" are also difficult toe by. From what I can see, if these traits werebined, they¡¯d form an incredibly powerful unique trait, but the rarity of the materials makes me hesitant to proceed.

    "Well, it¡¯s not something I need to worry about right now."

    I can just gather the materials and synthesize the unique traitter. I¡¯ve faced simr situations before.

    Plus, right now, countless gic essences are waiting for me inside those containers. Who knows? Maybe while I¡¯m consuming them, a new fusion form will emerge.

    "Now that I think about it, I need to gather something for Number 26 too."

    Since I¡¯ve already confirmed what I need to consume, now it¡¯s time to find food for Number 26. Although there¡¯s a vast number of creatures stored here, not many of them would be useful to enhance a Sea Demon like it.

    Still, there are a few that seem like they could bring about meaningful changes, so that¡¯s a relief.

    "Huh, there are some marine creatures?"

    I have no idea how they managed to capture them, but I spotted several deep-sea creatures. Of course, there aren¡¯t any colossal monsters like the Pale Mask, but there are several small to medium-sized rare creatures, each under 10 meters long.

    Up until now, I¡¯ve never fed Number 26 any deep-sea creatures besides the Pale Mask. This might be a good chance to try something new.

    "Let''s feed it this, this, and maybe this one too."

    After checking the list thoroughly over ten times, I finally decided what I would consume and what I¡¯d give to Number 26.

    "Alright, let¡¯s start from Section B¡­."

    ¡°I trust you haven¡¯t forgotten about me.¡±

    ?Right! Friend is hungry too!?

    "Ah."

    Just as I was about to stand up, Iy back down after hearing that.

    Ten minutester, I had selected all the creatures suitable for both of them.

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Let¡¯s go eat.)]

    ?Great!?

    ¡°I¡¯ve saved the selected list to my data.¡±

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ (We¡¯ll start from Section B.)]

    With that, I began the ritual I always perform before harvesting a delicious meal.

    A trait that now feels as natural as if I¡¯ve had it from the start.

    A trait that has elerated my growth faster than what would have been possible in any game.

    The "Aspect of the Hunt."

 Chapter 268:

    -

    Kesha Arma''s First Command Center.

    This ce is where Montana Marcio, the ruler of the city, resides. Despite its crude, cylindrical exterior, the interior isvishly decorated.

    Amid the grandeur and tight security, deep within the steel fortress lies an enormous bathhouse.

    Montana Marcio was beginning his morning immersed in the steaming waters of a marble bath, surrounded by dozens of concubines attending to his every whim.

    His concubines were no more than living dolls, gically modified to suit their master¡¯s tastes. If they went a single day without being tended to, they would suffer extreme pain. Because of this, they were desperate to stay in Montana''s favor, doing everything they could to please him.

    Voluntary affection and devotion from beautiful females¡ªthis was what brought Montana the greatest joy.

    As he leisurely enjoyed their service, pondering whom to indulge in this morning, an android approached him from outside the bath.

    "What is it?""Master, there is an urgent report."

    "An urgent report?"

    "The guests staying at the Second Command Center attempted to contact the mercenaries guarding the auction items, but they did not receive a response."

    "The deputy leader is responsible for managing the auction goods. Go ask Kadun."

    "We have been unable to reach Kadun since yesterday."

    "No contact with him?"

    Kadun had never failed to respond before. When he wasn¡¯t working, the deputy leader was always training in the thirdmand center. Even if he missed a call, finding him in person would have been easy.

    For the android to bring this issue directly to Montana meant that something was wrong with Kadun.

    ''Wait. That''s not the most important thing right now.''

    Before mentioning Kadun, the android had already raised a critical issue. Montana, pushing away the concubines attending to him, questioned the android.

    "You said the mercenaries guarding the items aren¡¯t responding?"

    "Yes."

    "Did you try contacting the storage security?"

    "They¡¯re not responding either."

    "..."

    Montana felt a sharp jolt of alertness.

    He hurriedly rose from the bath, prompting the concubines to quickly fetch towels and a robe.

    "Contact the military port immediately and check if there are any problems in the underground storage."

    "Understood."

    "And make sure to prepare for immediate action in case something happens."

    "I¡¯ll inform allmand centers."

    The soft hands of the concubines tried to caress him, but Montana had no time to feel their touch.

    There had been no issues yesterday. The goods for the auction had been safely transported, and the guests were pleased with the services provided.

    But now, as soon as the night passed and morning came, something was going wrong.

    It was as if the calmness of yesterday had been a lie.

    ''...No, it¡¯s probably nothing.''

    The Marcio Cartel held immense power even within the Space Dock. Few would dare challenge them. In fact, there were only a handful of cartels that could manage a space fortress and operate hundreds of ships.

    Moreover, Montana was under the protection of both the Megacorp Noble Capital and the nobility of the Cult Empire. He was essentially a warlord acknowledged by the great powers.

    The idea of anyone daring tomit an act of terror against a fortress under his control was unthinkable.

    ''It might just be amunication issue.''

    Reassuring himself with that thought, he exited the bath.

    ---

    "Is this the end?"

    I set down the now-empty cryogenic container. Inside the wide underground structure, broken containers were scattered all over the floor.

    These were the remnants left behind after I, Number 26, and PS-111 devoured everything inside them.

    "With so many creatures stored here, I¡¯ve gained quite a few traits."

    Even after my Symbol of the Hunt had finished, I kept consuming dozens, no, hundreds of creatures, resulting in a significant number of traits gained.

    "Thanks to that, I unlocked two more synthesis forms as well."

    One unique trait required numerous physical attributes, while the other required nest-rted and psychic traits. For now, I could only create the former; thetter was impossible due to theck of materials.

    "I have to hunt Redmist."

    Redmist is the apex predator on a jungle-type. It''s as troublesome as Ice Horror, and going after it without proper preparation would result in failure.

    "I''ll deal with thatter."

    For now, thanks to securing a number of traits, I was able to create two unique traits.

    I immediately pulled up the fusion forms that were avable for creation at that moment.

    ?''Transcendence'' Material List: Reinforced Skull, Gagon Horn, Spine-Fur Projectile Tail, Protein Assimtion Process, Clustered Skin Tissue?

    ?''Transcendence'' Material List (New!): Reinforced Large Tail, Bio-Electric Discharge Tubes, Explosive Fluid Projector, Destructive Sonic Waves, Spore Cannon?

    "I¡¯m not sure what the former will create, but I have a good idea about thetter."

    The traits created through the Transcendence System are all new, things that didn¡¯t exist in the game. So, whenever I gain a new unique trait or a tough opponent''s mark, I have to carefully consider my options.

    However, after unlocking the fusion forms from the underground storage, I could somewhat predict the oue. Based on the materials, it was clear that the unique trait would be rted to long-range attacks.

    In fact, my body had developed a new organ. With the traits ''Explosive Fluid Projector'' and ''Spore Cannon,'' two long cannon-like barrels had appeared on my back, covered by carapace.

    When I extended my neck and lowered my head, I felt my back pull, and the cannons emerged, aimed forward. With enough pressure, spores filled with dangerous substances would be fired.

    "They pair well with the Acidic Fungal nds."

    In the game, I often used abo of throwing fungal spores and dousing them with explosive fluid. It was effective against both machines and organic creatures, simr to using white phosphorus bombs.

    And now that the acidic fungi had been converted into a breath attack, the overall power should be much greater.

    In addition, the ''Destructive Sonic Waves'' trait is quite useful.

    Unlike the paralyzing sound waves of the Facebug, this one is purely destructive, meant to damage enemies. Though its low power and strict usage conditions are weaknesses, it is a versatile attack that affects a wide range of enemies.

    "That¡¯s taken care of for now. I can evolve into my adult form once Iplete these traits, but what should I do?"

    The final requirement for adulthood was to acquire two more unique traits. With the system here, I could evolve immediately.

    "The problem is time¡­"

    During the raid on the containers, themunication device dropped by the mercenaries had been ringing multiple times. Their clients, who hired them to guard the goods, were calling to check in. Since the owners of the devices were now inside me and 26, someone woulde to investigate soon.

    In other words, the battle with the fortress pirates was imminent.

    Whenever I used the Transcendence System to create unique traits, my body always entered a cocoon-like state. That was highly likely to happen again, so it seemed I had to dy obtaining the unique traits.

    "I¡¯ll open the loot boxester."

    After confirming the text boxes, I turned my attention to 26 and PS-111. Noticing my gaze, 26 eagerly bounced over.

    ?Big One! Look!?

    When it concentrated, its body glowed a brighter pink. The tentacles protruding from its pink form squirmed and slowly began to change shape.

    A momentter, one of its tentacles transformed into somethingpletely different from its previous form. While its original tentacles were lined with sharp serrations along the inner side, the newly mutated tentacle had six appendages at the tip, resembling a mouth.

    It looked strikingly simr to the ''Corrosive Tentacle'' I possessed.

    ?I¡¯m just like Big One! Right? Right??

    [ZZZ (Yeah, you are)]

    I answered inly, though deep inside, I was genuinely surprised. Even though I had seen it before, it was still shocking to witness again.

    "A body mutation, huh."

    The creatures from the storage had significantly promoted 26''s growth.

    First of all, its size had increased dramatically. It could now grow up to a maximum of 25 meters in length.

    Its skin had thickened considerably, and its fins and tentacles had be much stronger. Although it had currently shrunk its body, when fully expanded, it had the stature of a mid-grade raid boss.

    "Well, personally, I think it''s not bad."

    However, 26 was dissatisfied. ording to it, the bodycked anything "shiny like Little One".

    I tried to console it, saying it was fine as is, but it seemed rather disappointed. While I ate other creatures, it sat sulking beside the container.

    "It¡¯s never been this upset before."

    The only time it had been this gloomy was when it was still trapped in the experiment tank on the research ship. Back then, I couldn¡¯t have imagined it showing off a new ability like it was doing now.

    Seeing Number 26 so downcast, I felt uneasy myself. After some thought, I decided to give it the prey I had originally intended to eat.

    The prey I handed to Number 26 was called the Faceless.

    It''s a carnivorous snail with hundreds of teeth and a rare creature that possesses a unique trait known as the ''Mimic Organ''. As its name suggests, it can disguise its body as an object. Normally, it camouges itself as terrain features like trees or rocks, then reverts to its original form to ambush prey when theye close.

    Before arriving at this fortress, I had the chance to consume a Faceless that pirates had captured on the ve market. Thanks to that, I was able toplete my ''Messenger of Mass Confusion'' trait.

    The Mimic Organ itself is a highly useful trait, so I thought it wouldn''t hurt to acquire it again if the opportunity arose.

    "Damn, I was excited to see it listed in the storage inventory."

    Originally, I intended to eat the Faceless immediately, regardless of Number 26''s sadness. If it weren''t for a sudden thought, I would have done so.

    "The Sea Demon already has camouge-rted traits."

    Sea Demons can morph their skin into a coral-like texture. It''s so perfect that you can''t detect it with the naked eye; only specialized equipment can see through it. It was one of the tricky aspects of fighting them, as they often used it during battles.

    Anyway, remembering this, I decided to pass the Faceless to Number 26 as both afort and an experiment. Unlike in the game, I was curious to see if it could gain a new ability.

    And my prediction was right. No, it gained far more powerful strength than I had expected.

    As you can see, it can now freely change the shape of one of its tentacles. Not only can it change the size, but it can also alter the internal structure. It was a transformation worthy of being called ''mutation''.

    "Though it can only change one tentacle for now..."

    If all of its hundreds of tentacles could transform into different weapons or body parts, itsbat power would skyrocket.

    "Number 26 getting stronger benefits me, too."

    I patted it as a sign of approval. In response, it bounced happily in ce, its body sparkling. It seemed thrilled to have acquired a new ability after such a long time.

    "How delightful", PS-111 said as it approached the ecstatic Number 26.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Your transformation isn¡¯t bad)]

    "¡®A valid point, but it did not meet expectations.¡¯"

    As before, PS-111 was surprisingly inept at applying the characteristics of living creatures.

    "To be precise, the oue is hit-or-miss."

    When it absorbed gic samples or consumed equipment, it often produced meaningful results. However, when it devoured living organisms, its body didn¡¯t always change as intended. Either it developed a w, or it transformed into something far below PS-111¡¯s expectations.

    "This time, it¡¯s at least a partial sess."

    The positive change in PS-111¡¯s body was this: spikes containing neurotoxin had sprouted on all of its leg carapaces. If it wished, it could even fire these venomous spikes. It was a useful adaptation for subduing enemies alive.

    "Still, it seems dissatisfied."

    Since I had given the Faceless to Number 26, there was nothing left to offer PS-111. Knowing this, it didn¡¯t ask for any more prey.

    "Still, I¡¯ve met my evolution conditions, and Number 26 and the Mother of the Sky¡¯s growth is encouraging."

    I haven¡¯t had such significant gains since we captured the Gorgon Swarm. Coming to Kesha Arma was worth it.

    "But the Mother of the Sky is taking longer than I expected."

    Once her deification stage isplete, Adhai and I were supposed to meet here. It¡¯s already been several hours, but she still hasn¡¯t arrived, which suggests the process is taking more time than anticipated.

    "I¡¯ll give it another hour before checking on her... Hmm?"

    Just as I was thinking that, one of my auxiliary organs detected a change in the air. Someone was lingering near the entrance to the underground storage area, quite a distance from where we were in Sector C.

    Before entering, I had devoured all the guards and mercenaries. So, the owner of these footsteps was an outsider.

    "We¡¯ve been discovered."

    Since they hadn¡¯t heard from the mercenaries or guards, they must have sent someone to investigate. Shortly after, the sound of footsteps multiplied into dozens, even hundreds.

    [ZZ ZZZZ (Everyone full, right?)]

    ?Yeah, full.?

    "My internal energy reserves are in an overcharged state."

    [ZZZ (Good to hear.)]

    We¡¯ve eaten enough.

    Now, it¡¯s time for some exercise.

    ¨C¨C¨C

    ¡°There are no signs of biological activity detected in the vicinity.¡±

    ¡°It is safe to proceed.¡±

    ¡°¡­Alright. Let¡¯s go in.¡±

    With androids equipped with thick gauntlets and heavy frontal shields leading the way, the pirates stepped into the underground storage area. Dozens of pirates, all heavily armed, followed behind, though the tension on their faces was unmistakable.

    ¡°Hey, is it true that the lieutenant got screwed?¡±

    ¡°Damn it, don¡¯t talk crap.¡±

    ¡°I joined the Marcio Cartel because they sounded good, but what the hell is this mess?¡±

    ¡°My brother went to the hospital and I haven¡¯t heard from him since. Think it¡¯s rted?¡±

    ¡°Am I a god? How would I know?¡±

    ¡°Shut up and stay alert, all of you.¡±

    Even with the new officers barking orders, the pirates¡¯ morale remained low. And as soon as they entered the passage leading to Sector A, the atmosphere only got worse.

    ¡°Shit¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­We¡¯re screwed.¡±

    The 1-meter-thick doubleyered st door was so mangled and unrecognizable, it could barely be called a door anymore. It looked like it had been shredded like paper.

    Even the junkiesmonly found in Kesha Arma wouldn¡¯t have imagined that the underground storage door could end up in such a state.

    What was more troubling was the high likelihood that whatever caused this damage was still inside the storage.

    Every pirate present, including the officers, felt a rising urge to flee. But none of them moved. Anyone showing signs of retreat would be immediately torn apart by the androids on guard.

    The pirates swallowed nervously as they passed through the ruined st door and entered the hallway leading to the Sector A security room.

    ¡°There is vibration detected ahead.¡±

    ¡°Assumed to be enemy movement.¡±

    ¡°Prepare for engagement. Prepare for engagement.¡±

    As they neared the security room, the lead androids simultaneously sounded warnings.

    Blinking lights, the metallic corridor scarred with destruction, and the relentless beeping of machines¡ªall of these elements intensified the pirates¡¯ anxiety.

    With trembling hands, the pirates gripped their weapons tightly. Though they wore psychic shields from the Cult, known for their high price, it did nothing to calm their nerves.

    As both the pirates and androids readied forbat, a deep thudding sound echoed from beyond the hallway.

    At first, it was a faint vibration, barely felt underfoot. But it quickly grew stronger, until the entire corridor was shaking, and even the tiny exposed hairs on their skin were vibrating.

    However, the moment of tension didn¡¯tst long. The source of the tremors soon appeared before them.

    ¡°Ah, ahhhh!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a monster!¡±

    ¡°Open fire!¡±

    It was unclear who gave the order, but it didn¡¯t matter. The terrified pirates would have started shooting regardless of anymand.

    ?Grrrrrr¡­?

    The corridor, wide enough to fit six grown men shoulder-to-shoulder, was nowpletely filled with a monstrous figure. The terrifying creature charged toward them, utterly unfazed by the hail of gunfire.

    Suddenly, a thick snake-like appendage shot out from the creature¡¯s back and slithered between the lead androids. With a violent swing, itshed at them.

    Though the shields the androids carried could withstand sma rounds, it was pointless when their bodies were struck directly. The expensive robots, still clutching their sturdy shields, were mmed into the walls.

    ¡°R-Run! We need to run!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t run, you bastards!¡±

    The officers screamed at the top of their lungs, desperately trying to stop the pirates from fleeing, but it was no use.

    The pirates turned their backs and began to run.

    As the monster fought the androids with the tentacles sprouting from its back, it suddenly turned its gaping maw toward the fleeing pirates.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to do something!¡±

    ¡°Everyone, be careful¡­!¡±

    A few quick-witted pirates shouted warnings as they saw the creature¡¯s movement.

    Before their warnings could even fully register, an overwhelming force exploded from the creature''s mouth.

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    A sonic wave of unimaginable intensity burst forth, turning the androids in front of the monster into heaps of scrap metal. The soundwaves reverberated through the corridor walls, spreading in all directions.

    The fleeing pirates, along with those who stood before the creature, were instantly caught in the onught, reduced to nothing but sprays of blood.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t hear anything!¡±

    The pirates who had narrowly escaped the range of the sonic st stumbled, dazed and confused. They hadpletely lost their hearing, and blood was streaming not only from their ears but also from their eyes, noses, and mouths.

    The pirates, who had lost their primary senses in an instant, did not have much time left to count their blessings¡ªor suffer through their torment.

    ¡°Run¡­ Run¡­¡±

    ¡°Ahhh?!¡±

    The pirate stumbling just ahead was suddenly reduced to a crimson mist. His blood and chunks of flesh sttered onto the horrifiedrade behind him.

    The massive, grotesque foot of the creature stomped the pirate¡¯s remains into the ground as it advanced, bringing its snout toward the next victim.

    The monster''s maw opened wide.

    The blood-soaked pirate screamed, but no sound escaped his mouth.

    And then, his vision faded to darkness forever.

 Chapter 269:

    The corridor was drenched in blood, sttered across walls and ceiling alike.

    This gruesome disy was the result of the pirates being blown to pieces by the ''Destructive Sonic Waves'' I unleashed.

    "En-enemy threat level...ca-ca-calctions failed..."

    An android, reduced to just a head and a partial torso, emitted garbled machine sounds with its broken voicebox. I brought my winged arm down hard, smashing what remained.

    ¡®The vanguard''s done for.¡¯

    Now the others would be aware that something significant had gone wrong inside the fortress. A break-in at the underground storage, especially right before the auction, was no small matter. This would be far worse than just dealing with a few lunatics running loose in the city.

    ¡®They¡¯ll all unite and try to kill me¡ªevery single living thing and machine in this fortress, and anyone who¡¯s visiting the city, all of them will be my enemies. Except for the ones I brought with me.¡¯

    ¡®So, what¡¯s my next move?¡¯

    The first thought that came to mind was to flee the fortress, but escaping right now wasn¡¯t the best option. The fortress''s defenses, designed with fleet battles in mind, were immensely powerful. The exterior was lined with defensive turrets, far more numerous than those inside. Even if I managed to board a ship and escape from the military port, I¡¯d be met with a barrage of concentrated fire from those cannons.¡®No need to make things messier than necessary.¡¯

    To take down this fortress, the most effective way would be to start from the inside, hollowing it out.

    The question was how to go about it.

    I could charge out, massacring people on my way to themand center, or I could break through the fortress''s outer walls and disrupt the internal environment.

    In the game, I destroyed Kesha Arma three different times, each using a different approach. Multiple strategies came to mind this time, but I decided to try something new¡ªsomething involving my unique traits from the Transcendence System, which hadn¡¯t existed in the game.

    ¡®Technically, I¡¯ve already tried this once.¡¯

    I opened a translucent text box and focused on thebination of the unique traits ¡®Messenger of Mass Confusion¡¯ and ¡®Organic Evolution¡¯, specifically the ''Mutated Virus Host'' aspect.

    Thest time I used these traits together was during the destruction of the pirates¡¯ ve market. They worked well together, both being strong crowd-control tools. Especially againstrge groups of enemies, they proved very effective.

    With the right setup and environment, I could cause an explosion strong enough to shake this steel fortress to its core.

    ¡®Now that the method¡¯s decided.¡¯

    The next step was choosing the location, but that wasn''t much of a concern. I turned and crawled deeper into the storage facility.

    ?Are we not leaving??

    ¡°This terrain is not suited forrge-scalebat.¡±

    [Z ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (There is a way, Follow me)]

    PS-111, who was in the A-Sector storage unit, expressed his doubts when I returned. I took them inside the storage unit.

    We stopped halfway through the D-Sector storage area. I pressed my head closely to one of the walls.

    ?What¡¯s Big One doing??

    ¡°I believe it is searching for something.¡±

    There was no need to exin further; they would know soon enough. I continued feeling along the wall with the auxiliary organ under my jaw.

    ¡®It should be around here¡­ Ah, found it.¡¯

    In a corner of a wide, hollowed-out section, I detected faint vibrations¡ªexactly what I had been searching for.

    Through my many attempts to invade this city, I knew precisely what these vibrations meant.

    ¡®The subway line.¡¯

    This space fortress, much like the Colossal Trade Nexus Center, was equipped with several transport systems designed to moverge numbers of residents efficiently. These included things like hovering buses and subterranean trains.

    And just 50 meters away from this D-Sector storagey one such subway line.

    Marcio Cartel''s operatives, cartel members from different star systems, mercenaries hired by the Megacorps, and even visitors from the Star Union¡ªplenty of enemies would be boarding and moving around via the trains.

    ¡®The fact that the subway¡¯s still running means they haven¡¯t all gathered yet.¡¯

    The forces stationed throughout the fortress were likely still converging at themand center in response to my threat.

    Of course, they weren¡¯t going to make it there in time.

    [ZZ ZZZ (Everyone, fall back)]

    Hearing mymand, Number 26 and PS-111 moved away from me, retreating to a safe distance.

    I opened my mouth wide at the point where I could feel the vibration. The upper and lower jaws spread apart as if they were going to tear, and the teeth attached on both sides protruded outward.

    My long neck trembled, and soon green liquid poured out like a waterfall from inside my mouth.

    A sound like pouring cold water onto a hot frying pan was heard, and a dense gas rose up. A hole about 10 meters in diameter was pierced through the thick alloy wall in front of me by the acidic cannon.

    ''If it were a game, I couldn''t have imagined such a method.''

    No matter how many ways the Amorph can strengthen its body, breaking through an alloy wall several tens of meters thick in one go is never easy, especially in its protozoan state. If it hadn''t been for the ''Acidic Fungal nds'' strengthened as the ''Great Infectious Organism'', I would have sought another way.

    The acidic breath that was melting the wall so vigorously weakened rapidly after a few seconds. This was because the fungal liquid inside the fungal nd had run out.

    ''That''s enough.''

    I stopped the acidic breath and lowered myself in front of the hole in the melting wall. As I bowed my head at the hole, two pods on my back aimed inside the hole.

    With force applied to the muscles of my back in that state, two orange blobs were fired from the end of the pod cannon.

    The pods flew quickly inward like shells fired from a cannon. Gradually, a loud explosion was heard from inside, and intense heat burst outwards. It was the pods containing explosive bodily fluids that had detonated.

    ''It''s not over yet.''

    Now, a powerful chemical reaction will ur when the explosive bodily fluids and acidic fungie together.

    After a while, the underground storage where we were shook greatly, as if an earthquake had urred. With each vibration of the wall, intense heat strong enough to lightly cook a person was emitted from inside the hole. Deadly chain explosions of two types of chemicals urred inside the walls surrounding the storage.

    ?Bang bang! Exciting!?

    "Interesting chemical reaction."

    Number 26 emitted light from its body, apparently finding it amusing that the storage room was thumping. PS-111 fixed its gaze on the inside of the hole, whether it found what I did interesting.

    The loud explosions and vibrations continued for a while, then gradually subsided and finally stopped.

    I lowered my body in front of the hole in the thick alloy wall that continued to melt. As I crawled inside with the children, a wide space greeted us through the unevenly opened passage.

    [ZZ ZZ (Let¡¯s go now)]

    A vast space emitting a nauseating odor. In the middle, I could see power lines with maic fields flowing through them.

    ''Good.''

    The subway will pass through here again in a few minutes. We need to prepare to wee the guests who are scheduled toe here.

    I activated organic evolution after a long time. In the underground depths of the fortress floating in space, my body began to twist.

    There was a sound of the skeleton twisting from long battle arms and winged arms. Things like spider legs shrank to a size that couldn''t be twisted anymore.

    In contrast, my body swelled like air being pumped into a balloon. The armor that had wrapped around my arms all went into my body, covering my bulging body.

    As my body erged, my head grewrger as well. The head became heavy, and the neck became so thick that it could not be distinguished from the body. Shortly after the change began, I became a form close to that of a caterpir.

    Of course, the mutation is not over yet. Holes were pierced in the armor covering the body, and hundreds of tentacles emerged from inside.

    The newly formed tentacles had a different appearance from the corrosive tentacles I possessed. Overall, they resembled the legs of an octopus, but differed in that their ends were divided into three branches. The length was roughly between 5m and 10m, much shorter than the corrosive tentacles.

    The change didn''t take long. Feeling my rapidly changing body stabilize, I disyed a text box.

    ?Mutant Virus Host: A creature harboring a virus that triggers mutations. Physical and internal organ-rted traits are deactivated. The transformation state can be voluntarily released by the user. Maximum duration is 3 days, with a cooldown of 30 days.

    -Mutant Virus: Triggers rapid gic mutations in subjects whoe into contact with tentacles. The mutation effect is random but generally leads to extreme aggression.?

    The mutant virus host is a special state unlocked when I raided Pyra Eleven''s support line before leaving the dragon''s nest.

    Unlike the ''King of Monsters'' that greatly enhancesbat power and the ''Cunning Weakling'' specialized in infiltration and assassination, this special state is specialized in infecting and mutating enemies.

    From a physical standpoint, as you can see, it''s not much help in meleebat. Its speed also slows down significantly, making it unfavorable in maneuver warfare. Due to the sealing of physical traits written in the tooltip, fighting one-on-one with a formidable opponent is close to suicide.

    But there''s only one reason why I chose this. It''s because of this thing called the ''Mutant Virus.''

    Those infected by my tentacles'' virus experience rapid gic corruption. Normally, the moment their genes are ruined, they would die, but this virus isn''t that simple. It maniptes the host''s body to adapt to the mutations, ensuring they don''t perish.

    ¡®It''s like bing a Necro-XX.¡¯

    Creatures infected with the mutation virus transform into something resembling space undead from ssic sci-fi games. They lose all intelligence, dedicating themselves to killing other living beings until the energy stored in their bodies runs out.

    The term "other living beings" includes me, so the mutated enemies also charge at me. That''s when I y my next card: the Messenger of Mass Confusion.

    The Messenger of Mass Confusion is a trait that distorts the senses of nearby targets. It warps the senses of those infected by the mutation virus, making them focus on specific targets.

    ¡®And the Madness Bomb is just a bonus.¡¯

    Mutated creatures are consumed by endless fighting and death. Naturally, the contagious effect of the Madness Bomb increases dramatically as well.

    The deadly downside of the Mutation Virus Host and Messenger of Mass Confusionbo is that my speed drops to a crawl. Originally, the Messenger of Mass Confusion also has the penalty of slowing down the body''s movements when activated, but this penalty is now doubled.

    However, this isn''t a problem. My friends nearby will protect me.

    ?Wow! Big One is bing more and more like me!?

    ¡°Congrattions.¡±

    Number 26 seemed to love my transformed appearance, hopping around and glowing brightly. It also had been thrilled when I first transformed into this form at the ve market.

    ¡®Not everyone shared that sentiment, though.¡¯

    For the record, Adhai had said she didn¡¯t mind if I looked ugly, while the Mother of the Sky had pretended she was about to vomit. PS-111, on the other hand, was more curious about the chemical processes urring in my body, without offering any furtherments.

    ¡®You can''t please everyone, I suppose.¡¯

    Personally, I find this form quite appealing.

    ¡®Anyway, enough of that.¡¯

    Sensing strong vibrations from the tracks, I closed the text box.

    The trains carrying our sacrifices areing.

 Chapter 270:

    -

    The subway system in Kesha Arma was a facility utilizing rtively new technology, at least by Cult standards.

    Generally, Cults preferred transportation facilities that moved above ground or in the air. Before bing the empire that dominated the stars, they had developed their civilization on deserts. As a result, they weren¡¯t used to building anything beneath the sand.

    This tendency remained in the Cult¡¯s consciousness even after they became an empire. Whether maintaining biodome-type colonies or orbital habitats, they primarily relied on above-ground transportation methods such as hover buses or psychic trains.

    Surprisingly, the shift in their mindset began when the empire started to decline. As the empire¡¯s territory shrank and economic problems became frequent, the Cults began rethinking their approach.

    For instance, they started to consider using existing structures more efficiently.

    Kesha Arma¡¯s subway was also a product of this shift in consciousness.

    Powered by a psychic energy engine using low-quality moonsilver, the Cult¡¯s subway was designed for quickly transporting equipment and mined minerals necessary forary excavation. A hover bus alone wouldn¡¯t have been able to handle even one-third of the daily material transport.

    Although the fortress had changed ownership over time, the subway still functioned as the lifeline of the space facility. While it now transported people instead of tools, what significance would such a distinction hold in the space age?The train was packed with pirates who had boarded from various sectors. Since they were all armed, there wasn''t much room to find a gap, though it wasn¡¯tpletely cramped either.

    Of course, having enough space didn¡¯t mean it wasfortable. The air inside the car was thick with the smell of sweat, alcohol, and drugs. Naturally, the pirates didn¡¯t look too pleased about having to breathe in this revolting cocktail of odors.

    ¡°Damn, this is taking forever.¡±

    ¡°Hell, all the mercs are either on buses or ships.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but they don''t let junkies ride the bus either.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯d you say, you bastard?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s cramped enough already¡ªdon¡¯t start fighting. We¡¯ll be there in a few minutes anyway.¡±

    While the pirates grumbled, the train continued to move diligently. In just a few more minutes, they would arrive at the military port near the underground storage.

    Just as everyone was longing to breathe in fresh air at their destination¡ª

    The train, which had been running on psychic power, shook violently. The sudden jolt sent all the standing pirates tumbling forward.

    ¡°Gahhh!?¡±

    ¡°Damn it! What the hell!¡±

    Some smashed their teeth against their rifles, while others were pinned beneath heavy cyborgs or insectoid pirates, creating a chaotic mess inside the car. The already sour atmosphere turned dangerously tense.

    ¡°Did the train just stop?¡±

    ¡°But we haven¡¯t arrived yet.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    The Cult-made subway operated automatically, running back and forth on a predetermined track without human control. Unless it ran out of fuel or there was an issue with the track, it wouldn¡¯t stop like this.

    ¡°Someone go outside and check.¡±

    Several pirates pried open the car door and stuck their heads out to look. The light from the train softly illuminated the trackid through the underground tunnel.

    ¡°Looks fine to me.¡±

    ¡°You idiot, like you can tell just by looking. Go out and check.¡±

    ¡°¡­Tch, why don¡¯t you go, then?¡±

    Arge cyborg pirate red menacingly, and the human pirate, having no choice, reluctantly stepped outside the train. Pirates from other cars in a simr predicament soon gathered around him.

    ¡°See anything?¡±

    ¡°No idea. I just got out.¡±

    ¡°This is the first time the train¡¯s ever broken down.¡±

    While they were outside, the human pirate took the opportunity to pull out an e-cigarette from his pocket. He inhaled deeply, sucking in synthetic drugs that flooded his lungs with unrefined hallucinogens. The dizzying pleasure wrecked his brain cells, making his body tremble.

    ¡°The train seems fine. Maybe it¡¯s the track?¡±

    ¡°Hey, now that you¡¯re out here, why don¡¯t youe take a look?¡±

    ¡°Just let me finish this.¡±

    He nned to take onest drag before joining hisrades. But just then, a sound came from up ahead.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    His eyes darted to the track extending ahead of the train.

    ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯

    The pirate, with the cigarette still in his mouth, blinked a few times. His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, and the surroundings became sharper.

    There was a shimmer in the distance.

    At first, he thought it might be fire, because the flickering forms in the shadows were pitch ck.

    However, it didn¡¯t take long for him to realize that this wasn¡¯t smoke, but something alive.

    In the depths that resembled the vastness of space, countless things writhed and moved.

    It looked like a pit filled with snakes or like maggots swarming over a corpse¡¯s skin.

    A greedy, chaotic mass of disorder. Even in his drugged state, he could tell that it was dangerous.

    The ''swarming entities'' moved. One of the tendrils, swaying like seaweed in water, suddenly stretched out and snatched one of hisrades standing near the front of the train.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    The pirates stared, bewildered, as theirrade disappeared in an instant. His gun, which had a shlight attached, ttered to the ground where he had stood.

    As the gun hit the floor with a dull thud, the pirates'' faces began to shift in horror, their mouths opening, ready to scream.

    But the malevolent force lurking in the darkness didn¡¯t give them a chance. Dozens of tendrils, each splitting into three tips, shot out and grabbed all of the pirates standing outside.

    It took only seconds for them to vanish into the abyss.

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    The human pirate¡¯s legs trembled uncontrobly, like a rookie facing battle for the first time. Slowly, he backed up and climbed back into the train.

    ¡°What happened? Did you fix it? What was the problem?¡±

    He didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he closed the door, gripping his e-cigarette with shaky hands and taking another deep drag.

    ¡°What the hell¡¯s wrong with him?¡±

    ¡°Seriously, what¡¯s going on out there?¡±

    Thanks to the drug, the human pirate managed to calm himself enough to speak.

    ¡°¡­There¡¯s a monster out there.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The guys from the other cars... they¡¯re all gone.¡±

    As his words sank in, the pirates inside the train exchanged puzzled looks.

    ¡°Is this guy losing it?¡±

    ¡°Monsters? We¡¯re not even at the underground storage yet.¡±

    ¡°I told you, none of these junkies are in their right minds.¡±

    The other pirates mocked him, their disbelief obvious. But then, therge cyborg pirate shouted loudly.

    ¡°Hey, stop messing around. Let¡¯s just walk the rest of the way. We¡¯re not far from the destination anyway.¡±

    With that, he grabbed the door with both hands. The human pirate panicked and tried to stop him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t open it¡ªcough!¡±

    The Cyborg pirate kicked him aside and threw the door wide open. As expected, there was nothing outside.

    Smugly, the cyborg pirate grinned.

    ¡°See, dumbass? There¡¯s nothing¡ª¡±

    Before he could finish his sentence, something surged out of the darkness and struck him.

    ¡°Urgh?!¡±

    A grotesque, humanoid creature attacked the cyborg pirate, its ribs growing unnaturally long, making it look as though it had a mouth in its chest. The creature tore into the cyborg¡¯s waist with its protruding bones, slicing him up viciously.

    The other pirates, who had been staring in shock, finally realized that what the human pirate had said was true.

    As they scrambled to raise their weapons, the windows of the train shattered, and countless ck tendrils flooded inside.

    Screams, gunfire, and the flickering of unstable lights filled the car.

    Amid the chaos, the human pirate clutched his head, praying for this nightmare to end.

    But soon, the screams that had echoed through the underground passage faded. What reced them was the heavy, beastly breathing of a ravenous horde.

    -

    "Yes. We haven¡¯t arrived yet. What? Enter first? Ah, no! We''ll enter right away!"

    Mercenaries brought by the guests from Megacorp, along with hulking mutants and numerous pirates from various cartels at Kesha Arma, were surrounding the entrance to the underground storage.

    One of the pirates, responsible formunication with headquarters, ended the call and wiped his cold sweat. He ryed the iing orders to the representatives of each team.

    ¡°HQ is ordering us to begin the operation.¡±

    ¡°Our guys haven¡¯t arrived yet.¡±

    ¡°I heard the enemy is strong. If we charge in separately, won¡¯t we be picked off one by one?¡±

    ¡°H-headquarters said assessing the condition of the merchandise takes priority. It might be best to check it first¡­.¡±

    The mercenary representatives sighed at his words. They didn¡¯t like it, but they had no other choice.

    If the goods up for auction were stolen, who would the ''owners of the merchandise''e after? It would definitely be the ones hired to protect it.

    The mercenaries here were working for agents hired by Megacorp''s upper-ss elite. Whether it was the Third Capital or Mid Capital, they couldn''t risk offending these powerful individuals.

    ¡°We have no choice. A small group should go in first to check the goods and withdraw quickly.¡±

    ¡°After that, we¡¯ll join up with the forces arriving at the Military Port and push through.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, yes... there is no other way. Let¡¯s do that.¡±

    The decision made, the representatives returned to their teams. Scouts from each group gathered and began their advance into the underground storage.

    ¡°I think I know why we lost contact¡­¡±

    With every step the scouting party took, a sticky squelching sound echoed through the corridor. It wasn¡¯t from water leakage. The entire passageway was drenched in blood.

    The overwhelming stench of blood was enough to numb their noses, and their expressions grew darker. Expecting the goods to be intact after seeing this scene was nonsense.

    They trudged forward, thinking of what excuses they could give their employers, passing by a shattered security room before finally reaching storage area A.

    ¡°The goods are intact!¡±

    ¡°Same over here!¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t they touch this? At least that¡¯s a relief.¡±

    Contrary to their worries, the containers carrying luxury goods and valuable documents were unharmed. The scattered mercenaries, relieved to find their employers¡¯ items untouched, sighed with relief.

    ¡°Why is this stuff untouched? Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be a heist for valuables?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s check further inside.¡±

    ¡°Everyone gather! We''re moving.¡±

    The mercenaries gathered back together, preparing to move on to the next area. Just as they were about to leave, a wolf mercenary raised his hand.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I hear something.¡±

    ¡°A sound?¡±

    ¡°Someone¡¯sing.¡±

    Hearing the wolf-headed mercenary¡¯s words, the entire scouting party readied their weapons. The wolf mercenary¡¯srge ears twitched as he focused, finally locking his gaze in one direction.

    ¡°?!¡±

    ¡°What the hell is that?¡±

    Out of the darkness emerged something¡ªa creature walking on two legs. Its right arm was grotesquely overdeveloped, and it was wearing a tattered reinforced suit as it walked toward the scouting team.

    ¡°A failed Hulk Mutant?¡±

    ¡°No way. I''ve seen rejects before, and they don¡¯t look like that.¡±

    ¡°¡­That thing looks horrible.¡±

    It didn¡¯t seem like the kind of creature they could reason with. One of the mercenaries fired a Gauss rifle at it.

    BANG.

    Half of its head was blown off, and the creature copsed backward, unmoving.

    "Is this thing the one responsible for wrecking this ce?"

    "Doesn¡¯t seem likely. It''s way too weak for that."

    ¡°¡­Hold on, everyone, stay sharp¡±, warned the rat-headed wolf mercenary.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Before anyone could respond, the fallen creature started to twitch, slowly rising back to its feet.

    ¡°Giggiggiggik.¡±

    The headless creature let out a sickening groan, thick ck liquid oozing from its mouth. The Grotesque sight made several mercenaries grimace in disgust.

    ¡°Damn it.¡±

    The mercenary with the Gauss rifle aimed again to finish it off. However, he quickly adjusted his aim when another monstrous figure, just as twisted, appeared behind the first.

    ¡°What¡­?¡±

    As more emerged from the shadows, the expressions of the mercenaries hardened. It wasn¡¯t just one or two creatures. Dozens, no¡ªhundreds¡ªof simrly twisted monsters wereing out of the darkness.

    ¡°Giggiggik.¡±

    ¡°Giggiggikkikkik.¡±

    ¡°Giggik.¡±

    ¡°Gikkikkikkik.¡±

    ¡°Gikkikikikikkik.¡±

    The eerie, unsettling sounds echoed from all directions.

    The sheer number of these abominations was overwhelming.

 Chapter 271:

    ¡°Everyone, fall back! Gahhh!¡±

    ¡°The retreat is blocked!¡±

    A cyborg with five additional arms let out a wail and charged toward the mercenaries. A wolf with three extra joints in its legs climbed onto a container and lunged from above. While the mercenaries were distracted by other infected, a human with a broken jaw and a second mouth growing inside ambushed them from behind.

    The number of mutants was over 100, nearly a third of the forces that had boarded the train.

    The remaining personnel couldn¡¯t even make it this far, either severely mutated to the point of immobility or killed by attacks from other mutants.

    Just as I cannot control the changes in my mimicry organs, the mutations are equally uncontroble. Infected beings mutatepletely at random, not necessarily into the most efficient forms.

    ¡®Not everything turns out perfect.¡¯

    Even if the mutations aren¡¯t always efficient, thebat power of the mutants isn¡¯t bad. Depending on which parts have transformed, they can move as fast as wild animals and tear human bodies apart.

    Of course, that¡¯s only true for closebat. If the enemyunches a full barrage, it¡¯s hard to survive as long as we¡¯re still living organisms. Destroy the head or heart, and they stop functioning. Initially, the enemies aimed their shots at key areas like the head and heart.If I hadn¡¯t been here, they would have won. The opposing side has plenty of seasoned mercenaries. They would have found a way to ovee the situation.

    ¡°Damn it! They¡¯re too fast!¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re allies! Don¡¯t shoot!¡±

    But now, the mercenaries were floundering, unable to deal with the mutants properly.

    That was because of me.

    ¡®Messenger of Mass Confusion.¡¯

    The waves flowing from my tentacles were ying with everyone¡¯s minds and senses. Even though the mercenaries could see enemies right in front of them, they couldn¡¯t distinguish friend from foe. The mutants were no longer fighting amongst themselves and instead focused solely on the mercenaries.

    This was all because the psychic waves I emitted distorted their senses.

    ¡°G-Guhhh?¡±

    A mutant with hundreds of fangs sprouting from a vertically split face attacked a mercenary from behind. The mercenary iled his arms, trying to escape, but it was useless. The sharp teeth crushed his skull and spine, tearing them apart.

    ¡°What the hell?!¡±

    ¡°Damn it all!¡±

    The mercenaries were horrified by the sheer strength of the mutants. While they focused on them, I slowly approached the group.

    One mercenary was nearby, too distracted by the monsters in front of him. He had the head of a rat and was shooting at the creatures on top of the containers, unaware of me.

    Silently, I crept up andshed out with a tentacle.

    ¡°Mmpph?!¡±

    The tentacle, resembling an octopus arm, wrapped around his neck. Before he could scream, the tip of my tentacle plunged into his mouth.

    ¡°¡­¡­!¡±

    As the three-pronged tip gagged him, the mercenary convulsed, choking. Meanwhile, the mutation virus I produced was transferring to its new host.

    ¡°Graaaargh!¡±

    The tentacle wasn¡¯t attached for long. As soon as it released him, the mercenary copsed onto the ground, vomiting. A mixture of partially digested food and a ck tar-like substance spilled from his mouth.

    ¡°Ughhh! Gaaaah! H-Help¡­ me¡­.¡±

    ¡°Hey! Are you okay?¡±

    A fellow mercenary rushed over, seeing hispanion spew ck liquid uncontrobly and hurried to support him.

    For a mercenary, he was a kind soul, but in this situation, that wasn¡¯t exactly a smart move.

    ¡°We need to inject the antidote, now¡­¡±

    ¡°Krrrkrrkrrk¡­¡±

    ¡°Huh? What the¡­?¡±

    The supporting mercenary¡¯s body twisted grotesquely. His spine grew at an rming rate, piercing through his flesh and armor to be exposed. Like a cobra rearing up, his spine and head now stood tall above his shredded upper body.

    The mercenary who was watching in shock was struck by the spine and sent flying. Without resistance, he crashed into a container. I kindly ensured his bent body would join his friend.

    ¡°Krrrkrrrkkrrk.¡±

    The newly mutated mercenary growled like a beast. I intended to use the psychic waves to mislead him into targeting the other mercenaries.

    ¡°Krrrkrrk¡­¡±

    However, I was a bitte, as he had already detected me. With four new arms growing from his waist, the mutant moved like a spider, baring its teeth in a roar as it stared directly at me.

    ¡°Krrk?!¡±

    At that moment, its neck snapped violently, as if hit by an air rifle. With a chilling sound, the creature¡¯s neck twisted 180 degrees, and it copsed to the ground.

    It was Number 26, perched on my back, who used its psychic power to twist the body of the mutant. It forced the creature to turn toward the other mercenaries with its ¡®Bind¡¯ ability.

    ?The little one shouldn¡¯t y here. Go over there and y.?

    ¡°Ki ki ki ki!¡±

    Spotting a new target, the mutant dashed toward it. The mercenaries, who had been fighting other mutants, screamed in horror as the new enemy appeared from the rear.

    ¡°Ahh! There¡¯s another one here!¡±

    ?Did I do well??

    [Z ZZZ (Yes, you did well.)]

    ?Yay!?

    As usual, I¡¯d like to pat it on the head, but my arms have shortened, so I can¡¯t. Of course, Number 26 doesn¡¯t mind if I just praise it with words.

    A few minutester, the gunfire and screams from the storage area had died down. Only the sound of the beasts, breathing heavily, driven by their bloodlust, filled the air.

    The distorted creatures gnawed at the dead bodies and containers, eager to attack anything nearby. For now, they werepliant, but once the targets ran out, they would rampage uncontrobly, ignoring their senses.

    ¡®I need to give them new prey.¡¯

    As long as there¡¯s something to devour, they¡¯ll maintain order like locusts that follow wherever food is avable. If their ws and teeth could soak in blood, they¡¯d continue to rampage endlessly until all their stored energy was spent.

    I adjusted the ¡®Messenger of Mass Confusion.¡¯ The tentacles of the creature, draped over its head like a mane, swayed as they modted the distortion waves.

    ¡°Ki ki ki ki!¡±

    ¡°Kik!¡±

    The mutants, who had buried their heads in the corpses, devouring the innards, all reacted at once. Their dull eyes turned toward the passage leading outside.

    Their desired preyy there.

    ¡°Ki ki ki ki kik!¡±

    ¡°Kigigigi!¡±

    ¡°Ki ki ki!¡±

    Like a horde of ravenous rats, they roared and charged outside, guided by the Messenger of Chaos.

    ¡®Still, it¡¯s not enough numbers.¡¯

    To break down the order in the fortress, I need more chaos, more fear. I¡¯ll have to increase the number of mutants by using the humans outside.

    [ZZ ZZ (Shall we go, then?)]

    ?Yes.?

    With Number 26 still riding on my back, I followed the mutants. PS-111 wasn¡¯t with us. It had gone elsewhere along the tracks to handle more important tasks.

    As we passed through the blood-soaked corridor, intermittent noises could be heard. The screams from outside the underground storage echoed faintly within.

    ¡®If they had just sealed the entrance, they might have bought themselves more time.¡¯

    But expecting such quick thinking from ordinary pirates would be too much. Used to killing and piging, they wouldn¡¯t have imagined being ughtered like this.

    ¡®If I¡¯m toote, I won¡¯t even be able to gather the mutant materials¡­ wait, what¡¯s this?¡¯

    I sensed movement beyond the torn-down door of the underground storage. Three pirates, shivering in fear, were hiding in the shadows.

    ¡°Please, please, please¡­ don¡¯t kill us¡­¡±

    ¡°Sh-shut up! They¡¯ll hear us!¡±

    ¡°Damn it, damn it, damn it! I never should have joined the Marcio cartel!¡±

    The three babbled incoherently, their eyes glued to the massacre unfolding outside. So much so that they didn¡¯t notice me crawling out.

    ¡®Perfect. I¡¯ll turn these three into mutants as well.¡¯

    Three ck tentacles slid along the shadows.

    One of the cowardly pirates, sensing something strange, turned his head. His eyes widened in horror as he saw me.

    At the same moment, the three-pronged ck tentacle engulfed his face.

    ---

    ¡°Haaa¡­ I¡¯m going to grab a drink.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    At the 8th Environmental Control Station, responsible for security over oxygen supply and gravity maintenance systems in the surrounding military port, things were as calm as usual. Inside the diamond-shaped building, pirates moved about routinely.

    One pirate with arge belly paused before leaving and asked hispanions.

    ¡°Should I grab one for you too?¡±

    ¡°That stuff tastes like two-day-old urine, no thanks.¡±

    ¡°¡­How do you know that, senior?¡±

    ¡°Live as a pirate for more than a year, and you¡¯ll learn all the unpleasant things.¡±

    Leaving his grumblingpanions behind, therge pirate headed out of the control room.

    He walked down a pristine hallway and opened a refrigerator at the far end. Grabbing a palm-sized energy drink can, he nced around before sneaking out another bottle from inside.

    Stuffing the synthetic liquor bottle under his jacket, he hurried to the restroom. Once inside, he sat on the toilet and uncapped the bottle, downing its contents in one go.

    "Krreeeh!"

    A ze traveled from his tongue down his throat and oesophagus. He quickly cracked open the drink can and took a gulp.

    "Ahhh, that''s the stuff."

    The environmental control station is a critical facility, essential to maintaining the lives of the fortress residents. If this ce werepromised, the safety of not just the military port but also the surrounding areas couldn¡¯t be guaranteed.

    The rotund pirate knew this well. If the deputy leader, Kadun, found out, he¡¯d rip him apart. In fact, even if the deputy didn¡¯t, the station chief would surely eject him into space.

    But the pirate, a severe alcoholic, cared more about satisfying his immediate cravings than worrying about future consequences.

    After draining both the energy drink and the synthetic liquor, he exited the stall with a flushed face. If he returned to the control room like this, his dimwittedrades would surely notice. He turned the faucet on and sshed water onto his face, scrubbing it vigorously.

    "That should do it."

    With hisplexion somewhat restored, he stepped out of the restroom.

    "Huh?"

    On his way back to the control room, he noticed something odd. The emergency exit door at the end of the hallway was open.

    ¡®Did someone sneak out for a smoke?¡¯

    Major facilities in Kesha Arma, like this one, have bunkers for emergencies. That emergency exit leads to a bunker that provides a safe space for personnel working in both the military port¡¯s subway station and the environmental control station.

    "I¡¯ll ask about itter."

    After confirming no one was in the emergency exit, he locked the door.

    Whistling, he strolled back toward the control room.

    "These bastards cking off¡­ Who smokes in the control¡ª"

    He flung open the door, ready to scold hisrades.

    He definitely would¡¯ve done so¡ªif what he saw inside had been hisrades.

    Instead of the familiar backs of his colleagues, something else entirely sat there. Sorge, even hunched over, its back brushed the ceiling of the control room.

    ¡®It¡¯ sat upon the remains of his once-livingrades, their bodies mangled beneath it. With massive fingers resembling hooks, the creature was manipting the control room¡¯sputers. Slowly, it turned its head.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect there to be one left. A miscalction due tock of information.¡±

    A grotesque voice emerged from the monstrous creature with the head of a beautiful woman, her neck twisting unnaturally as she spoke.

    ¡°W-w-who, wh-what are you?¡±

    ¡°Analysisplete. Your body contains ample nutrients.¡±

    The creature pressed its hook-like ws down on the blood-soaked keyboard.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be taking your energy.¡±

    The door behind the pirate closed quietly.

 Chapter 272:

    -

    Second Command''s underground banquet hall.

    Normally, this space would remain vacant, but not today.

    Representatives from the gxy¡¯s major powers¡ªMegac orp, the Cult Empire, and the Star Union¡ªwere gathered in the hall. Each of them was dressed in luxurious attire and indulging in an equally opulent feast.

    Everyone present was a key client of Montana Marcio.

    Originally, the n was to invite them to the banquet hall after the auction had begun, but the schedule had been deliberately moved forward.

    This was due to an unfortunate incident that had taken ce in the fortress.

    Montana''s business heavily relies on illicit operations, something the guests were well aware of. Should Montana falter even slightly, these representatives would immediately turn to alternative sources.

    That¡¯s why Montana had to do everything in his power to keep them appeased¡ªat least until his subordinates resolved the issue in the underground storage.¡°How is the meal, everyone?¡± Montana asked.

    The guests responded with silent nods. Their expressions were neutral, not hostile, but far from friendly.

    There had been a problem in the underground storage, where their precious goods were being kept. Because of this, the mercenaries they brought with them had already gone to the storage area to confirm the safety of the items.

    The reason the guests hadn¡¯t left immediately was because of their status. None of them truly belonged to the upper echelon of society. Instead, they served as proxies, intermediaries who handled the dirty work for their respective factions. They were responsible for overseeing illegal transactions, making them a type of high-level employee.

    Naturally, if the goods werepromised and the deal fell through, they too would face consequences. While the Cult Empire might be more lenient, those working for Noble Capital or Prime Capital could face unknown repercussions.

    Thus, leaving the banquet immediately wasn¡¯t an option¡ªnot until the safety of their goods had been confirmed.

    So, they stayed, trusting in Montana¡¯s assurances. Some were hoping he would handle things smoothly, while others were frustrated by the inconvenience, and still others were calcting how they could profit from the situation. Though they smiled, intricate calctions yed out behind theirposed facades.

    Montana was no different. He too was running endless calctions in his mind. The damage from the incident was already unavoidable. However, he wondered if he could somehow turn the crisis to his advantage, oveing it spectacrly and cementing a favorable image in their eyes.

    He had weathered many challenges before. This time would be no different.

    As he convinced himself of this, one of his subordinates cautiously approached him.

    "Chairman, sir..." The subordinate hesitated.

    "What is it?"

    "I have an urgent report. I can¡¯t exin it here..."

    Leaving the hall in front of all these guests would be an unwise move, one that Montana normally would have refused.

    But then he noticed his subordinate¡¯s hair, soaked with cold sweat.

    "Haha, it seems the matter has been resolved. The main course will be served soon, so please bear with us a little longer," Montana said with feigned calm, before allowing his subordinate to guide him out of the banquet hall.

    Once outside, however, hisposure shattered.

    ¡°Are you telling me we¡¯ve lost contact with all the forces sent to the military port? All of them?¡±

    The worst-case scenario Montana had considered was a significant loss of manpower in the storage area.

    But the situation had spiraled far beyond his imagination. Not only had the storage area fallen silent, but even the reserve forces stationed at the military port were now unreachable.

    ¡°We managed to get in touch with some of our guys around the port, and it¡¯s aplete disaster down there. Monsters are running wild, ughtering everyone theye across¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    The situation was dire. It was the greatest crisis he had faced sinceing to power over the fortress.

    ¡®There''s no time to waste.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m heading to the main control room. You stay and tend to the guests.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Sending his subordinate back to the banquet, Montana took the elevator along with his security detail.

    The control room was on the 10th floor. As the elevator ascended swiftly, Montana, with his heavy frame, pressed the button with a sense of growing urgency.

    -

    After dealing with the forces gathered at the storage area, I directed the mutated beings toward themand center. The reason I didn¡¯t apany them was that I had business at the military port.

    ¡®There should be more reserve forces there.¡¯

    The pirates I attacked on the train were all heading to the station near the military port. There¡¯s nonding space for patrol ships or hover buses around the storage area for security reasons.

    So, the enemy likely gathered arge number of forces at the nearby military port, nning to deploy them incrementally based on the situation.

    ¡®If I can turn all of them into mutants, conquering the fortress will be much easier.¡¯

    The mutants would take care of reducing the enemy¡¯s numbers on their own. Moreover, if I could seize control of the military port where their ships were docked, their means of defense would be severely diminished.

    For these reasons, I had asked PS-111 to infiltrate the port and carry out some preliminary work.

    Now, as I arrived at the military port, I could see the results of its efforts.

    ¡°Ugh, ughhhh¡­¡±

    ¡°Blegh! Cough, cough¡­¡±

    All around the port, pirates, mercenaries, and various criminalsy sprawled on the ground. PS-111 had hacked the port¡¯s environmental control systems, throwing everything into disarray.

    It had first distorted the gravity, making it difficult for the enemies to move, and then lightly dispersed a poisonous gas. Thanks to this, thebat effectiveness of the forces gathered at the port had plummeted.

    ¡°Quick, request reinforcements from themand center!¡±

    ¡°Damn it! Thems are down!¡±

    ¡°Stop wasting time! Release the Hulk mutants and hold him back!¡±

    The only downside was that not all the enemies had been subdued. Some had acted quickly after seeing theirrades copse.

    Mercenaries and pirates donned gas masks and injected themselves with enhancers, managing to withstand both the gas and the gravity. The Hulk mutants, presumably brought in by Megaorp, wore specially designed bio-masks and were unaffected by the poison.

    ¡®Not a bad response¡­¡¯

    But picking the lesser of two evils doesn¡¯t change the fact that both choices lead to the same end. Having chosen to fight, these enemies had only two possible futures left.

    To die, or...

    ¡°Open fire!¡±

    The enemy forces, hiding behind buildings, unleashed their full firepower at me. Tungsten rounds from Gauss rifles, depleted uranium shells from storm guns, and physical-damage projectiles, alongside pulse grenades and energy sts designed to disrupt electronics, came flooding my way.

    Yet, only a few managed to reach me. All the physical rounds hung motionless in midair.

    ¡°What the hell?!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­?¡±

    Had they been from the Cult, they might have realized why their bullets were suspended in the air. Number 26, hovering above me, was using its powerful psychic abilities to catch every projectile.

    [ZZZZZ (Don¡¯t kill them.)]

    ?Sure.?

    Number 26 leapt down from the metallic ceiling with a light thud. The moment itnded, all the captured bullets ttered to the floor.

    Standing protectively in front of me, 26¡¯s body rapidly grewrger. Massive fins sprouted from below its torso, while countless tentacles extended from above.

    In mere moments, it had grown into a towering monster, 25 meters tall. Its body was covered in innumerable eyes, each one swiveling independently to track the enemies¡¯ positions.

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    None of the enemies could move. The overwhelming terror of something beyond theirprehension gripped them, paralyzing their will to act.

    In the dead silence, 26¡¯s attack began.

    A surge of intense psychic energy radiated from its body, and its elongated tentacles mmed down onto the buildings above.

    ¡°Everyone, scatter!¡±

    ¡°Gahhhh!¡±

    The building, where about ten people were hiding on the roof, copsedpletely under its strike. It wasn¡¯t hard to predict what had be of those inside. The remaining enemies, upon witnessing this, barely managed topose themselves and began to shout in panic.

    ¡°Hulk Mutants! Release the Hulk Mutants!¡±

    ¡°Kill it!¡±

    The Hulk Mutants, wearing bio-masks, emerged with rough, heavy breathing. Number 26 stood confidently in front of me and unleashed its psychic power at them.

    ¡°Kuuu?¡±

    ¡°Kuack!¡±

    Four Hulk Mutants were simultaneously lifted into the air. Their bodies trembled violently before their limbs were torn off as if subjected to carcheoryeol-hyeong, quartering).

    ¡°How can we defeat that monster?!¡±

    ¡°We have to run, now!¡±

    ¡°Everyone, retreat¡ªkraaagh!¡±

    The pirates who tried to flee had their legs twisted 360 degrees by Number 26¡¯s psychic grip. The others, rather than helping theirrades, were too busy worrying about their own safety.

    ¡®Looks like I don¡¯t need to step in.¡¯

    As expected, Number 26 was fighting well on its own, even without my intervention.

    I extended my tentacles and injected the mutation virus into the enemies who were still alive. The pirates, screaming as bones jutted out of their thighs, fell silent as soon as they made contact with my tentacles.

    They shed their weak past selves and became something new. The desire for ughter set them free.

    ¡°Kikikikiki!¡±

    ¡°Groooaargh!¡±

    The newly created mutants charged at the dismembered Hulk Mutants.

    ¡®It would be great if I could mutate the Hulk Mutants as well, but it''s a shame.¡¯

    The mutation virus wasn¡¯t entirely ineffective, but the results had been underwhelming when I tried it on them. Perhaps it was due to theirplex gic makeup. Instead of a desirable transformation, the mutation went in a less favorable direction.

    I gave up on the Hulk Mutants and focused on mutating the living mercenaries, pirates, and other humans.

    By the time Number 26 had subdued the enemies, I had been busy enough that the number of mutants had grown to hundreds. I used the ''Messenger of Mass Confusion'' to direct their movements.

    ?Little one, not that way, go over there.?

    ¡°Kikikikiki!¡±

    asionally, some strayed from the group, but Number 26 would capture them one by one. Their necks or waists snapped under its power, and the survivors staggered back to join the rest of the mutants.

    ¡®The harbor seems mostly cleared now.¡¯

    I had mutated the dozens of criminals hiding in one of the buildings and nned to merge them into therger group.

    ¡®Is this enough?¡¯

    As I pondered that, a sudden sh of light burst from a long cylindrical building in the distance.

    A massive beam of light, intense beyond measure, shot toward us, instantly obliterating dozens of the mutants I had created. The force was so great that even I was pushed back a few meters, despite not being in the direct line of fire.

    ¡®Damn!¡¯

    What just hit us was one of the fortress¡¯s internal defense cannons. There are six in total, with two installed at each of the threemand centers, and this one had fired from the secondmand center.

    ¡®It seems themand center has realized what¡¯s happening.¡¯

    The mutants were still on their way toward themand center. They hadn¡¯t acted because of the mutants but rather due to the loss ofmunication with the military port.

    ¡®But I didn¡¯t expect them to fire the fortress cannon so quickly.¡¯

    The fortress cannon is only activated when the situation bes extremely dire. It was designed for scenarios where enemies had breached the fortress itself, and its firepower is immense.

    They might know about the mutants, but they don¡¯t know about me. Their response is faster than I anticipated.

    ?Are you okay, big one??

    [Z ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ (I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll shrink down again.)]

    Number 26, worried about me, shrank its body back to a smaller size. It could likely deflect the fortress cannon¡¯s beam using its psychic powers, but it would be a risky move. Since there are two cannons, blocking one might leave it vulnerable to the other, which would be fatal.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to use that.¡¯

    I had nned to save it forter, but the situation leaves me no choice.

    It¡¯s time to use mytest unique trait, Complex Spectral Structure.

    The second cannon at themand center would fire soon. Before that could happen, I activated my unique trait.

    As the trait activated, a wave of heat shimmered above my body, like invisible mirages rising into the air. The mirages began to condense into a transparent, disk-shaped shieldrge enough to cover both me and Number 26 at its maximum size.

    The disk-shaped mirage gradually solidified and started bending and dispersing the surrounding light. The multicolored, shining disk was simr to my appearance when in the Abyssal Hues state, though slightly different.

    Whereas Abyssal Hues gives off a somewhat ominous feel, this light appeared more like something born from a natural phenomenon, simr to light refracted through a prism.

    At that moment, another sh of light came from themand center.

    A psychic-powered beam, far faster than a Gagon¡¯s breath attack, shot toward the transparent disk floating above me.

    What happened next was something the enemies could never have expected.

    The beam, blocked by the invisible barrier, scattered into countless rays of light, flying off inpletely different directions.

    The disk-shaped mirage, no, Complex Spectral Structure, had one main ability:

    ¡®Reflect energy-based attacks.¡¯

    ?So shiny and beautiful!?

    The meteor shower of light illuminating the fortress and the city burning beneath it.

    Just as Number 26 said, it was a truly beautiful sight.

 Chapter 273:

    -

    The VIP on the 100th floor of the Second Command Center, Cynthia, didn¡¯t attend the banquet.

    Currently, she is hiding in the pirate territory of Kesha Arma. If she goes to the banquet, someone might recognize her.

    Montana Marcio was aware of this and had promised to treat her separately.

    Soon, an array of expensive gourmet dishes would beid out on the dining table in her room. Before the meal arrived, she was, as usual, listening to music in the audio room.

    Beautiful music flowed from the antique speaker, designed in the shape of a gramophone. She listened intently to the beautiful string melodies filling the room.

    It was a slight vibration that interrupted her immersion in the world of music.

    It wasn¡¯t just the sound of the music causing the room to shake. It was as if the entire building, or rather the entire floor she was on, had taken a strong hit.

    ¡®What was that?¡¯This had never happened before. She rose from her chair and left the room.

    From the balcony, a familiar sound echoed faintly. A sound she had once heard so often that she¡¯d grown sick of it.

    It was the explosion of energy rounds hitting something.

    ¡®Could it be Akira?¡¯

    Did they discover she was hiding here? She hurried out onto the balcony.

    But what Cynthia saw was slightly different from what she expected.

    There were no massive warships invading the fortress, no swarms of aircraft, no hulking mutants or soldiers descending from the skies.

    Instead, there was a meteor shower.

    Numerous mes were burning the fortress.

    ---

    ¡®I guess I should be thankful it¡¯s a cult fortress.¡¯

    I floated in the air, ncing up at the transparent disk protecting me and Number 26.

    That disk, resembling a mirror or circr prism reflecting various kinds of light, appears whenever the ''Complex Spectral Entity'' is activated.

    Its main ability is the reflection of energy-based attacks.

    This is a unique trait I created bybining several defense traits I previously possessed, such as ¡®Mimic Scales¡¯ and the ¡®Psychic Power Reflection Armor¡¯.

    ¡®It¡¯s rare to have an active-type defense trait.¡¯

    Most of the defense traits I¡¯ve acquired so far either activated automatically under certain conditions or were always passively active. Even in the game, it was rare for Amorph yers to have traits that could be activated at will to enhance defense.

    Also, active defense traits typicallye with risks, despite their effectiveness. They often have difficult usage conditions or are very hard to obtain.

    Of course, the ''Complex Spectral Entity'' isn¡¯t a trait I can just use anytime either.

    Protected by the transparent mirror reflecting energy, I opened my text box.

    ?Complex Spectral Entity: In nature, waves are power. Forms a medium that reflects energy-based attacks that have been struck multiple times before. Reduces the damage from energy-based attacks that cannot be reflected to less than half.

    Reflection Targets: Laser, sma, Psychic Power, Crystallized Waves

    Duration: 5 minutes (Cooldown: 30 minutes)

    Note: A strategist must know how to use the enemy¡¯s strength against them.?

    The Complex Spectral Entity¡¯s effectbines the defense traits I¡¯ve collected so far with the cults¡¯ defense technique, ¡®Reflection.¡¯

    It is simr to Mimic Scales in that it only affects energy-based attacks that have struck multiple times, and it reflects those attacks just like the Psychic Power Reflection Armor or the cults'' Reflection technique.

    ¡®It also has the added effect of reducing damage from attacks that can¡¯t be reflected.¡¯

    This trait could be useful even when fighting enemies with unique energy systems like Red Gagons or Vortex One.

    Their attacks can bypass regr defense traits and inflict massive damage, even on an adult-stage Amorph. While I won¡¯t be able to reflect their attacks, reducing the damage is definitely an advantage.

    ¡®The drawbacks are manageable.¡¯

    The reflective mediumsts for 5 minutes, with a cooldown of 30 minutes.

    It¡¯s true that it can''t be used just anytime and anywhere, butpared to other abilities that require a 24-hour cooldown, there''s almost no risk.

    ¡®Anyway, that aside.¡¯

    With this, they would have realized that I possess reflection capabilities. Instead of firing the fortress cannons, they¡¯ll likely try something else.

    At that moment, light shed again from the distant Second Command Post. Two fortress cannons fired simultaneously.

    ¡®Did they think they were mistaken?¡¯

    It seems the enemy couldn¡¯t believe that their most powerful weapon was not only useless but reflected back to attack their own fortress.

    ¡®Theirck of belief will cost them.¡¯

    A powerful purple thermal beam, stronger than most warships, collided with the enormous transparent mirror.

    The mirror performed its original function without the slightest tremor. The thick thermal beam,rger than my body, was broken into hundreds, even thousands, of thin beams that scattered back in the opposite direction.

    A concentrated rain of psychic power enveloped the fortress. The rain of death spared neither the cult¡¯s facilities nor the buildings erected by the new settlers. If I had eardrums, they would have burst from the deafening series of explosions.

    Some of the beams of psychic power flew towards the direction of the fortress''smand post. A small me flickered near the top of the toweringmand post.

    Only then did they seem to fully realize that I had the ability to reflect, and they ceased firing. The First and Third Command Posts also remained quiet, without firing their fortress cannons.

    ¡®Kadun did say the fortress has other kinds of weapons.¡¯

    Montana, the owner of the fortress, had ced a variety of cannons there.

    Of course, the strongest weapon they possess is the psychic fortress cannon. The chances of them using other weapons now that their strongest one is neutralized are slim, but I can¡¯t ignore the possibility.

    The Complex Spectral Prism is only effective against energy-based attacks. It¡¯s useless against physical weapons. It can¡¯t even block tungsten bullets, which barely affect me.

    If, by any chance, they try other anti-ship weapons against me and find them effective, things could get troublesome.

    ¡®So I need to keep moving.¡¯

    The Complex Spectral Prismsts only five minutes, but they don¡¯t know that. I need to attack themand post while their fire has stopped.

    [ZZZ ZZZ Z ZZZZ (Could you gather the fallen people?)]

    ?Are you making a baby??

    [ZZ (Yes.)]

    Number 26, which was attached to my side, glowed in understanding. It grewrger and used its tentacles and psychic power to grab the fallen people.

    Those who were suffocating from the toxic gas and crushed under the heavy gravity had no strength to resist Number 26. They couldn¡¯t fight back and became mutants.

    ¡®This should be enough.¡¯

    Around a thousand mutants were now heading towards each of themand posts.

    Some had ¡®Madness Bombs¡¯ imnted in their heads, spreading the effect of the ¡®Messenger of Mass Confusion.¡¯ The more themand posts tried to kill the mutants, the greater the chaos would grow.

    As I was considering wrapping up the mutant creation, a familiar psychic wave tickled the tentacles of my creature.

    ?Big One?

    [ZZZZ (Adhai?)]

    The source of the psychic wave was Adhai, who was guarding the Mother of the Sky aboard the ship we arrived on.

    ?Outside? ?Noisy?

    [ZZ ZZZ (I¡¯m in the middle of a hunt.)]

    ?Jealous? ?Me? ?Bored?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Isn¡¯t the Mother of the Sky finished yet?)]

    ?No? ?Egg? ?Still unchanged?

    Just like how I enter a cocoon when I evolve, the Wolf transforms when advancing in her deification process.

    ¡®She¡¯ll turn into an egg-shaped jewel.¡¯

    The type of jewel that forms the statue depends on the mythical beast chosen when entering the first stage of deification. Since the Mother of the Sky is a gryphon, her egg-shaped form will be made of agate.

    [Z ZZZZ ZZZ Z ZZZZ (It¡¯ll be done soon. Just wait a little longer.)]

    ?Understood? ?I? ?Ugly friend? ?Keeping the promise?

    Adhai¡¯s obedient response was endearing.

    Once the fortress ispletely dealt with, I should look for a gift for her.

    After finishing my conversation with Adhai, I left the military port with Number 26. The area around the port had been utterly destroyed long ago.

    Buildings copsed due to the aftermath of reflecting the fortress cannon¡¯s attack. Those who had fled were now being hunted by mutants.

    There were no survivors to be seen, likely swept away by the mutated creatures that had rampaged around the military port.

    ¡®No need to maintain this form anymore.¡¯

    The ''Mutation Virus Host'' has short legs and a thick body, which makes movement slow. Maintaining the Messenger of Mass Confusion while in this form makes things even slower.

    It¡¯s not very effective inbat either. While in the Mutation Virus Host form, I can¡¯t use physical or internal organ traits.

    Now that the number of mutants is sufficient, it¡¯s better to revert to my original form, as I n to assault themand post next.

    Having made my decision, I deactivated the ''Organic Evolution'', which maintained my transformation. My body rapidly reverted to its original form.

    The thick body that resembled a beetlerva became slim, and the short legs extended into long, spider-like limbs. The ck, wriggling tentacles that sprouted from my body also disappeared.

    ?Big One changed again.?

    When I returned to a form that resembled a spider, Number 26, following behind, blinked in disappointment. Then it leapt onto my head.

    ?But Big One is always cool! I like it!?

    [ZZZ (Thank you.)]

    I lifted my winged arms, returning to my original form, and gently brushed against it. It also extended its tentacles, wrapping the tips of its winged fingers around mine in a handshake.

    ¡®My body has returned; shall I test my movements?¡¯

    Currently, PS-111 is covertly working to disable the life support systems of the Third Command. It isn¡¯t attacking themand directly. Instead, it ns to seize control of the subordinate facility, the Environmental Management Center, and use that as a foundation to hack into the systems of the Third Command.

    Thus, the targets that Number 26 and I are aiming for are othermands¡ªspecifically, the First or Second Command.

    ¡®The Second Command has the most responsive reaction.¡¯

    Considering that they fired the first shot from their fortified position, it¡¯s highly likely that their leadership is gathered there.

    Having determined our target, I spread my winged arms wide. The membrane, which had been covered by my exoskeleton, opened up fully.

    After a long time, I took out my wings and pped them a few times. The membrane fluttered, pushing away not only the air but also the debris around me.

    ¡®Good.¡¯

    Havingpleted a simple check, I shook my wings vigorously. The immense pressure of air caused nearby buildings to crumble, lifting my massive body above the fortress.

    I adjusted my wings to lower my altitude. pping them while looking down, I saw my shadow, cast by my body, darkly nket the street below.

    ¡°Giiiii!¡±

    ¡°Gii!¡±

    ¡°Giiiiiiiiik!¡±

    ¡°Gikikikiki!¡±

    The mutants, charging toward the fortress, shrieked upon seeing me.

    The pirates resisting against them felt their shadows loom overhead and raised their heads. Their eyes widened, and their mouths gaped open.

    ¡°What, what is that?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of anything like that!¡±

    To put their feelings simply, it was ¡®dismay.¡¯

    It was a natural reaction when witnessing an overwhelming presence. I decided to give them one gift.

    From me, a messenger of chaos descended over a radius of 500 meters. A powerful psychic force distorted human senses and drove the resisting pirates insane, prating their minds.

    ¡°Ugh, Aaaah! Run away! Run away!¡±

    ¡°Please help me, help me, help me, help me¡­.¡±

    ¡°Mom! Mom! I¡¯m scared! Mom!¡±

    Before them was a horde of mutants, and above them loomed a flying behemoth. With the added burden of the mind-corrupting psychic power, the pirates¡¯ formation quickly copsed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t run away! Fight back¡­Kuh?!¡±

    ¡°Hi, hihihihi! I won! I won! Hihihihihih!¡±

    ¡°Ki, kihihihihihih, die die die die die die!¡±

    But that wasn¡¯t all. The pirates, their mindspletely shattered and driven insane, began to fire upon theirrades.

    The mercenaries, who had just allied with the pirates to fend off the mutants, were now focused on unleashing their trained killing techniques on their own allies.

    Madness spread through the streets like a malignant tumor.

    Meanwhile, the horde of mutants I had created was charging down the streets and across the rooftops toward themand.

    ¡®This should be enough.¡¯

    I adjusted the targets for the crazed individuals created by the messenger of chaos. Instead of stabbing theirrades in the gut, I suggested they aim for somethingrger.

    For example, how about those who had caused them this misfortune? Perhaps it was time for them to pay the price.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to kill! I¡¯m going to kill! I¡¯m going to kill!¡±

    ¡°I want to kill! Quickly! I want blood!¡±

    I adjusted the position of the carrot they desired from above.

    The insane pirates and bloodthirsty mercenaries followed closely behind the mutants. Just moments ago, they had been tearing each other apart and shooting each other, but now they were united in madness, moving toward a new target.

    At the end of this thick concentration of madness stood the Second Command.

 Chapter 274:

    -

    "Second Command fully sealed. Activating shields."

    "All VIPs in the banquet hall have been evacuated to the underground bunker. Evacuation of upper-level VIPs is in progress."

    In the central control room, dozens of androids, each with cables connected to the backs of their heads, were managing the Second Command. Montana Marcio, the master of the fortress, stood behind them with a nervous expression, watching the robots at work.

    These androids were all high-end models produced by the Star Union. Originally designed as assistants for shipputers, they had been modified for fortress management.

    Even with the Marcio Cartel''s resources, it wasn¡¯t easy to find skilled personnel capable of managing an orbital settlement. People with that level of knowledge and expertise rarely crossed over to the fringes of space.

    So Montana had spent a fortune to purchase a number of high-spec androids from the Star Union, along with a vast array of weaponry for them to manage.

    "Anti-air shock cannons and defense railguns activated and fully loaded."

    "Psychic-based attacks have been deemed ineffective. Switching ammunition.""Large-caliber, high-velocity shock rounds and scatter missiles are being loaded."

    "Patrol ships under themand of the Second Command are also being rearmed with the same specifications."

    The androids were proving their worth, swiftly responding to the crisis. Though the fortress cannons had been neutralized, they immediately brought out alternative defenses.

    Watching this, Montana felt a mix of relief and unease. Relief that his judgement had been correct, and yet, the anxiety refused to disappear.

    ''Damn it! If this operation had gone well, I was nning to leave this ce.''

    Recently, unsettling rumours had been circting¡ªOuter Spacers bing more active, major cartels suddenly disappearing. In such uncertain times, the control rights over Kesha Arma, which he had obtained through bribes, felt all the more unstable.

    His n was to use the profits from brokering the auction to buy a small within the territory of the MegaCorp. If he could operate in a legal zone, the protection of the MegaCorp would be easier to secure, and naturally, his safety would be guaranteed.

    But that n had fallen apartpletely.

    Some unknown entity was turning his crew into grotesque monsters. Whether it was some Outer Spacer creature or an experimental subject brought in by a deranged megacorp client, he couldn¡¯t tell.

    Whatever it was, it had already cost him dearly, and now, his very life was on the line.

    ''...Should I prepare to escape?''

    Kesha Arma, orbiting the, had one other means of escape besides the military port. A way to reach the itself, right above them.

    Montana contemted thisst resort as he stared at the monitors in the central control room.

    On the screens, his subordinates were running around, frantically preparing for battle.

    ---

    Three cylindrical pirs were visible from anywhere inside the fortress.

    One of the three pirs supporting Kesha Arma¡ªthe Second Command¡ªwas fully armed and waiting for us.

    ¡®Those barrier walls are tough.¡¯

    If themand is breached, the fortress would be done for, so naturally, the walls protecting it had to be equally robust.

    The barrier was made from a blend of cksilver, designed to dampen psychic power, and various high-strength metals, making it difficult to prate. My psychic breath or acidic breath could eventually break through, but it would take time.

    ¡®But there¡¯s no need for that.¡¯

    The longer I drag this out, the more likely my weaknesses will be exposed to the enemy. While my body is strong, I don¡¯t intend to take unnecessary hits.

    As I always say, frontal assaults don¡¯t suit an Amorph.

    Deception and attacking from unexpected angles¡ªthat¡¯s the way an Amorph fights.

    Imanded the mutated and insane army below to advance. A twisted mix of physically mutated beings and those whose minds had been corrupted surged toward the steel fortress.

    The distance between them and the fortress wasn¡¯t far. So far, no significant resistance.

    But Kesha Arma¡¯s defenses weren¡¯t limited to fortress cannons.

    From within the gaps of the thick barrier surrounding the cylindricalmand, shes of fire burst out. Intense explosions and deafening sts tore through the mutant horde.

    ¡®Looks like they''re using shock cannons¡­.¡¯

    The mutants hit directly were disintegrated, and even those grazed by the sts lost limbs. But something like this wasn¡¯t enough to stop the mutants.

    "Gi-gi-gi-gi!"

    "Giiiiiii!"

    Mutants with missing legs ran on newly sprouted tentacles, while those with severed torsos propelled themselves forward with their grotesquely developed arms.

    During that time, a bright light flickered again from themand center, and a massive surge of electromaic energy tore through the air. A red streak appeared amidst the dense swarm of mutants.

    A projectile, flying at supersonic speed, pierced through the mutants and mercenaries, turning them into chunks of meat.

    ¡®So, that¡¯s the railgun they spent so much money on.¡¯

    The railgun in Space Survival is typically used by the MegaCorp''s space fortresses. It¡¯s effective when dealing with enemies like me who have resistance to energy-based attacks. Once we enter the MegaCorp¡¯s territory, especially the sr system, we¡¯ll be seeing it so often that it¡¯ll get tiresome.

    ording to Kadun, that railgun was installed by the Marcio Cartel after they took over the fortress. Eachmand center got one, and even purchasing three smaller, less powerful models cost an astronomical sum.

    ¡®Well, railguns are expensive. Not to mention the maintenance costs.¡¯

    Compared to ordinary pirates, the Marcio Cartel is exceptionally well-prepared.

    However, the fact that they are up against me is their misfortune.

    ¡®The railgun has gone into rest mode.¡¯

    Shock cannons, positioned between themand center¡¯s shielding walls, continuously spewed fire. The mutant and madmen army I created didn¡¯t stop advancing, even as they were struck down by the cannon fire.

    The number of mutants I created exceeds a thousand. To make matters worse for the enemy, more crazed residents, driven mad by the Messenger of Mass Confusion, are joining the ranks.

    As fast as they fall, more of the insane horde quickly swells, eventually reaching the shielding walls of themand center. Yet, they couldn¡¯t break through. The mutants¡¯ sharp ws, the mercenaries¡¯ and pirates¡¯ weapons¡ªall were useless against the shielding walls.

    Themand center responded byunching missile-like projectiles, simr to ymore mines, toward the approaching enemies. Every time one of those missiles exploded in the air, scattering cluster munitions the size of human heads, mutants and mercenaries below were shredded to pieces.

    ¡°Gaaaaaah! You son of a biiiiiiitch!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna kill you! You f*cking bastards! Raaaargh!¡±

    The crazed mercenaries and pirates screamed in agony. Though their minds were corrupted, the pain remained, making their situation truly pitiful.

    I had expected that the mercenaries and pirates might hesitate upon seeing theirrades fall, but I was wrong. The enemy was far more resolute than I anticipated.

    From themand center, they continuedunching cluster bombs without hesitation, indifferent to the fact that they were killing what were once theirrades. Every time a red me scorched the shielding walls, dozens of lives were extinguished.

    ¡®It¡¯s no good if they all die too quickly.¡¯

    For the madness bomb to have its full effect, they need to make it inside themand center before dying.

    ¡®Time to get started.¡¯

    While themand center was preupied with other enemies, I descended to the ground. Folding therge membrane of my wings into the empty carapace of my arm, I lowered my head, bringing my snout close to the ground.

    ¡®It should be around here.¡¯

    Using my auxiliary limbs to feel the ground, I stopped in front of a building whose wall had copsed. Theyout of the fortress had changed from the game, but this seemed right.

    I swung my wing-arm, smashing the wall and causing the entire building to copse. Then, I opened my mouth wide over the debris.

    The fungal nd deep inside my throat activated, spewing arge amount of acidic fluid. The green liquid not only engulfed the rubble but also dug into the ground.

    The enemy still didn¡¯t know what I was up to. Some blind shock cannons wereunched in my direction, but I wasn¡¯t concerned.

    After all, 26 was with me.

    ?I¡¯ll clear the way so they can¡¯t bother you, Big One.?

    It, who had been perched on my head, smashed more buildings and lifted the debris into the air. The iing projectiles exploded as they collided with the spinning obstacles in midair.

    ¡®Such a clever one.¡¯

    Having spent so much time together, it was in sync with me.

    Under 26¡¯s protection, I continued my excavation work. After expending all the liquid from the fungal nd, I used the cannons on my back tounch spores filled with explosive fluid deeper inside.

    ¡®But this isn¡¯t the end.¡¯

    Compared to the underground storage, this area needs to be dug much deeper.

    The tentacles, draped over the back of my carapace and down to my neck like a mane, swayed in sync with my will. The psychic energy they gathered condensed before my snout, taking form.

    A zing, violet sphere¡ªlike a sun¡ªignited, and a massive me shot through the hole I had drilled. The sheer intensity of the firepower caused the once-solid metal floor to crack open.

    Not only that, but the ground around me began to tremble as if an earthquake had struck. Even the intact buildings copsed, and from the cracked ground, the mes of psychic power surged upward like moltenva.

    ¡®Good.¡¯

    The intense psychic mes, which had incinerated even Apex creatures, gradually subsided.

    From the ckened pit, thick smoke rose. Amid the acrid fumes caused by chemical reactions, my auxiliary organ picked up a familiar scent.

    The scent of humans in fear. It was a signal that the pit was close to my target.

    ¡®This is the weak point of themand center¡¯s shielding.¡¯

    The shielding wall protects the entire cylindricalmand center protruding from the surface. However, this means that underground structures, like bunkers, are left unprotected.

    If the enemy¡¯s wall is too strong, I can always find a way around it.

    ¡®In the game, some people went so far as to coat the entire underground with the same shielding material, but...¡¯

    Pirates who bend over backward just to buy a railgun wouldn¡¯t go that far.

    Even if the enemy tried to do that, I could still find ways to breach it. I simply chose not to, as it wasn¡¯t necessary right now.

    I reactivated the Messenger of Mass Confusion, which had been cancelled when I fired the psychic breath. Mutants within a 500-meter radius responded to the pulse of my psychic waves. Some, who had been frantically attacking themand center¡¯s shielding wall, were drawn to my guidance and leapt into the pit.

    I, too, along with 26, plunged into the abyss.

    Below us lies the bunker, and those who believe it to be the safest ce.

    Chaos is about to descend upon them.

 Chapter 275:

    -

    The underground bunker of the secondmand center had been around since the Cult Empire first constructed Kesha Arma.

    Originally just a standard shelter, Montana had paid special attention to it, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances. Thanks to his efforts, the ce was transformed into a luxurious shelter equipped with dozens of amodations and amenities.

    However, the evacuees receiving this extravagant treatment in the bunker were far from pleased.

    "What is the meaning of this? Open the door immediately, we''re leaving!"

    "It¡¯s Montana¡¯s orders. You can¡¯t leave until the fortress is secure."

    "This outrage will not go unnoticed! The Empire will never stand for such insolence!"

    Those who had been rushed out of the banquet hall were relentlessly voicing theirints to the mercenaries in charge of security and the androids providing hospitality.

    "How dare they lock us in this animal cage!""Ahem, just be patient. It sounds like there¡¯s quite amotion upstairs. Things should settle down soon."

    "That tremor just now¡ªdoesn¡¯t that mean it¡¯s dangerous even down here?"

    "This is a bunker built by the Empire. Its durability is unmatched. There''s no need to worry."

    "What? And if something does go wrong? Will you be the one responsible?"

    "Uh, well, that¡¯s¡­"

    The humans, lounging about while stuffing themselves with the finest liquor and snacks stored in the bunker, spouted nonsense. The mercenaries were barely holding back their anger, suppressing their urge tosh out at their employers.

    Due to the unique situation, even the mercenaries were given high-end snacks in small portions. Without those perks, the situation would¡¯ve exploded long ago.

    "Hey."

    "Yes?"

    "Instead of stuffing your face, how about going outside and taking a look?"

    "Yes, that¡¯s right. We hired you for situations like this, so go check."

    "...Yes."

    "And get rid of those damned robots too."

    The mercenaries, fearing they might actually shoot their employers if they stayed any longer, reluctantly stepped outside. The androids also left under the guise of fetching more snacks and drinks.

    "Useless scum! Do they not realize whose credits brought them to such a ce?"

    "Indeed. I had a better opinion of Montana, but this is disappointing."

    "Bah, relying on androids in the first ce was a mistake."

    "As expected of a pirate at heart, he can¡¯t help his roots."

    The faces of the VIPs grew red from the excessive drinking, and they began badmouthing the mercenaries and Montana.

    All the humans present were from the middle echelons of megacorps¡ªMiddle Capital. They were nothing more than representatives sent by the Noblecaps or Primecaps.

    Everyone in the room knew this, but no one acknowledged it. They continued to grumble, dissatisfied with the treatment they¡¯d never experience back in their own capital.

    While the megacorp guests raised their voices, the Cult patrons chatted amongst themselves about the state of the Empire.

    "It seems it¡¯ll take some time before we can leave. Shall we continue our earlier discussion?"

    "You mean about the arms purchase? I¡¯m not sure. The council mentioned a decrease in overall production recently; who knows what¡¯ll happen."

    "The current atmosphere is unstable. It''s better to be prepared, don''t you think?"

    "Our faction officially supports disarmament."

    "Ha, at a time like this, unity is what matters most. Who cares about factional¡­."

    Suddenly, the room shook. The lights, adorned with transparent jewels, flickered before going out. The space was plunged into darkness, and panic spread, with screams echoing from both humans and cult patrons alike.

    "Kyaaaaaa!"

    "Ahhhhh!"

    Momentster, the red emergency lights flickered on, allowing the guests to calm down somewhat.

    "W-what is the meaning of this?!"

    "Where¡¯s the android! Where did the androids go?"

    "Security! Where¡¯s the security?"

    The same humans who had been screaming just moments ago jumped to their feet, shouting for the androids and security. Their earlier disdain and insults were nowhere to be found.

    "Isn''t Kesha Arma''s bunker supposed to be highly durable?"

    "I heard it was built just before the Empire''s decline..."

    "...Whatever the case, that tremor was pretty close."

    Though the Cultists remained rtively calm, their faces betrayed the creeping sense of unease. One of them eventually stood up from his seat.

    "These tin cans are idiots! When are they going to¡ª"

    "Everyone, silence!"

    The Cultist who had risen shouted sharply at the noisy megacorp representatives.

    "I heard something."

    "Heard what?"

    "I didn''t hear anything."

    The Cultist signalled for everyone to stay quiet, raising his hand before pressing his ear to the wall. In the stillness of the room, the only sounds that could be heard were the shallow breaths of the people inside.

    Except for one thing.

    "...!"

    The Cultist recoiled at what he heard from beyond the wall.

    He wasn''t the only one. The others in the room heard it too.

    From beyond the wall, outside the bunker, came the unmistakable sound of human screams.

    The tremors shaking the bunker, the ckout, and now, the screams. The meaning of these signs dawned on everyone in the room, and their faces turned pale as they realized the gravity of the situation.

    "Insane! They said it was safe, built by the Empire!"

    "There might be enemies outside! We need to evacuate¡ª"

    "Screw that! If you open the door and let them in, will you take responsibility?"

    "What? You bastard, where are you from?"

    "Mars, you idiot!"

    "Enough! This is not the time to fight."

    As some of the humans began to grab at each other''s cors, the Cultists intervened under the dim glow of the red emergency lights.

    "If we can hear screams from the other rooms, it means this ce is no longer safe."

    "Hm, if we follow the corridor, there¡¯s an elevator... but..."

    "Wait a moment! Why not just wait for the mercenaries and androids toe back?"

    "Are you stupid? Don¡¯t you get it? If we can hear screams from the next room, we could be dead before they even get here!"

    "Everyone, calm down. Let''s do this. Raise your hand if you want to leave."

    The Cultist, who had first noticed the disturbance, spoke up again. The other Cultists in the room all raised their hands, followed hesitantly by about half of the humans, though some only half-heartedly.

    "Are you crazy? If we leave, we¡¯ll all die!"

    "I¡¯d rather trust the Cultists than wait here for some mercenary or android."

    "Agreed."

    And so, the escape party was decided. The Cultists and the humans who wished to leave gathered near the door, leaving the others behind.

    "I don''t hear anything now."

    "Let me check."

    A bearded Cultist stepped forward and used a psychic technique to sense for any movement in the hallway beyond.

    "I sense no movement."

    "No mercenaries either?"

    "...Seems they¡¯ve moved elsewhere."

    The group exchanged nces and then pressed the button on the terminal next to the door. A hissing sound filled the air as the thick metal door slowly slid open.

    Cautiously, two Cultists stepped outside. The situation in the corridor was worse than inside the room. It was pitch dark, as if there had been a problem with the emergency lights.

    "It''s dark."

    "I''ll handle that."

    A gaunt female Cultist stepped forward and lightly stretched her hand toward the front. A psychic orb manifested, casting a dim glow around them.

    "We could find shlights in the bunker, but we don''t have the time."

    "Exactly. Escaping is the priority."

    "Let''s proceed as we are."

    "S-sure."

    Unlike the Cultists, who could contribute, the humans could only nod awkwardly, feeling out of ce. The Cultists, each with their unique abilities, led the way into the corridor, while the humans trailed behind. As thest human exited, those remaining inside quickly shut the door.

    The woman who created the light, along with the bearded Cultist using his psychic power to sense their surroundings, led the group.

    "...It''s quiet."

    "Sniff, something smells off."

    "Shh. The elevator isn''t far. Keep quiet, everyone."

    A few more steps, and they''d reach the elevator that would take them up to themand building. All of them had descended to the bunker from the banquet hall, so they were familiar with the route.

    Or so they thought.

    "W-what¡¯s going on?"

    "......"

    They had walked at least a kilometer, yet there was no sign of the elevator. The group still found themselves in the same luxurious carpeted hallway.

    And that wasn¡¯t the only problem.

    The strange odor that had been lingering was bing stronger, almost as if it were following them.

    "...We should start running."

    "Agreed."

    "Damn it!"

    The seemingly endless corridor wasn¡¯t going to kill them. The real danger was the ''smell'' creeping up behind them.

    As soon as the Cultists and humans began to run, the ominous stench surged forward, apanied by heavy, pounding footsteps.

    "Eeek?!"

    "Ahhh!"

    "Shit! Run!"

    "Goddammit!"

    A massive beast,rge enough to fill the corridor, was chasing them down. The humans shrieked and cursed as they sprinted forward. The Cultists, using their psychic powers to attack, found their efforts futile.

    "Attacks aren''t working!"

    "Fall back, everyone¡ªagh!"

    "Arghhh!"

    A short scream was followed by the gruesome sounds of something being crushed and torn apart. The cold, wet sensation of breath on their necks sent a chill down their spines. Neither the Cultists nor the humans dared look back. All they could do was run toward the elevator.

    Perhaps their prayers reached some divine force. At the end of the corridor, a small terminal blinked faintly¡ªa signal that the elevator was near.

    But the beast was closing in fast. Even if they reached the elevator, they''d be dead before the door opened.

    "W-we have to buy time!"

    The humans exchanged desperate nces with one another.

    Though the Cultists excelled in psychic abilities, their physical strength was inferior to that of ordinary humans. Unless they were wearing enhanced suits, even a fully-grown male Cultist could be overpowered by an average human woman. So when it came to the female Cultists, the decision was even clearer.

    After a brief, ruthless deliberation, the humans made a very megacorp-like choice: they would sacrifice thegging female Cultists to the monster.

    "I won''t forget your sacrifice!"

    ¡°What? What are you doing... Kyaaah!¡±

    ¡°H-Help... Aaaah!¡±

    A monster opened its long jaws and swallowed the fallen woman from the cult. Another cult member who had fallen tried to crawl away, but it was futile.

    As the luxurious carpet became soaked with blood, the humans and cult members reached the elevator. They quickly operated the terminal, opened the elevator doors, and rushed inside.

    ¡°Hurry, close it! Close it now!¡±

    The elevator doors closed as fast as they had opened. The massive steel doors, standing several meters tall, mmed shut, causing a deafening noise, leaving a slight dent in the process.

    They feared the elevator might break, but fortunately, it continued to function normally. As it rapidly ascended towards themand center, the surviving humans began to catch their breath¡ªonly to be grabbed by furious cult members.

    ¡°You dare!¡±

    ¡°The Empire will never overlook your actions!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? If it weren¡¯t for us, we¡¯d all be dead down there!¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t youplicit too? If you wanted to save them, you should have stayed behind when we pushed you aside!¡±

    As they bickered back and forth, the elevator reached the floor where themand center¡¯s banquet hall was located.

    The doors opened, and the familiar sight of the banquet hall greeted them.

    The man, grabbed by his cor by a bearded cult member, forcefully shook him off and stepped outside.

    ¡°That¡¯s your problem! You¡¯re just like us but act all high and mighty...¡±

    As he turned to shout at the cult members in the elevator¡ª

    Everyone disappeared from his view.

    ¡°What the...¡±

    The elevator¡¯s metal floor had beenpletely ripped out, sending both humans and cult members plummeting. And the one responsible was thest thing he wanted to see.

    Massive, asymmetrical horns sprouted from its head. Its dull white eyes glowed without any hint of emotion. Its mouth was lined with rows of sharp, jagged teeth.

    The creature that had terrorized the bunker opened its jaws, and its enormous tongue stretched toward him.

    ---

    ¡®Hmm. Not great.¡¯

    The humans in the underground bunker didn¡¯t taste as good as I had hoped. Honestly, even if they weren¡¯t at Si-hyun Yujin¡¯s level, I expected better from these MegaCorp VIPs, but no.

    None of them had undergone any gic modifications; they were just ordinary people. The only upside was that their meat was fatty.

    ¡®The cultists were generally better, though.¡¯

    I tossed the remaining leg into the air. Number 26, riding on my back, caught it with one of its pink tentacles. It quickly devoured it and left a briefment.

    ?Not good.?

    [ZZ (Right?)]

    Having spent so much time with me, it had started to develop its own way of judging vor.

    Delicious, so-so, or bad¡ªthree categories, simple as that.

    Considering it digests prey by dissolving it, I¡¯m not sure how it even perceives taste, but it seems to have its own criteria.

    ¡®Come to think of it, this is the banquet hall.¡¯

    A few long tables stood in the gaudy room, decorated with all sorts of shy gemstones, like something a nouveau riche would put together. The panic during my attack had left the dining tables covered with untouched food.

    I handed some of the remaining dishes to Number 26.

    ?Delicious!?

    [ZZZZ (Good to hear.)]

    It seemed pleased, as it extended its tentacles and wrapped up the remaining food all at once, pulling it into its body. Watching this reminded me of the ck yokai from a Japanese animation I¡¯d seen in a museum as a child.

    ¡®Back before the burns. Good memories.¡¯

    Following 26''s example, I grabbed an apple from a jeweled basket and tossed it into my mouth, then left the banquet hall.

    It seemed those above still didn¡¯t know I¡¯d wrecked the underground bunker. I faced no resistance as I crawled up the stairs to the first floor.

    The lobby was packed with pirates. They had barricaded the area, preparing in case the shield wall was breached.

    One of them wiped the sweat off his neck and turned, spotting me. His eyes widened, as if questioning why the monster wasing from behind.

    I decided my corrosive tentacles would answer for him.

    It took less than five minutes for the lobby to be cleared of any living pirates.

    From the upper half of a dead pirate, I pulled out a terminal. Gently pressing the buttons with the small arms on my chest, I watched as the shield wall near the entrance slowly started to move.

    ?Who the hell is deactivating the wall? Stop that immediately...!?

    I crushed the blood-soakedmunicator underfoot, silencing the voice.

    As the shield wall opened, familiar faces greeted me.

    ¡°Gigigigig!¡±

    ¡°Gikikikik!¡±

    ¡°I want to kill! I want to rip their throats and drink their blood!¡±

    The mutants and lunatics cheered when they saw me.

    I decided to give them what they wanted.

    I gave the order.

    Ravage thismand center to your heart¡¯s content.

    And with thatmand, the horde of lunatics surged into themand center.

 Chapter 276:

    -

    Where did it all go wrong?

    It wasn¡¯t that Montana neglected security before his big operation, nor that he was on bad terms with other cartels.

    Montana, with one foot in legality and the other in the shadows, tirelessly worked to avoid creating unnecessary enemies. He ran his cartel like a businessman, not a pirate.

    As a result, he built a cartel so massive it ranked among the top three at Space Dock. His approach had proven sessful¡ªat least until today.

    Just moments ago, Montana stepped into the private elevator for Second Command, struggling to keep himself from screaming in frustration. The beautiful music flowing from the elevator¡¯s speakers was doing little to calm him, especially as the sound of gunfire mixed into the smooth piano melody forced reality upon him.

    His fortress was falling.

    "¡­Damn it."

    It was impossible to hold back his curses in this situation. As he muttered slowly, the guards standing behind him flinched.It wasn¡¯t only Second Command under attack. Communications with Third Command werepletely cut off, and reinforcements from First Command were isted by monstrous creatures scattered everywhere.

    ¡°All that¡¯s left is¡­¡±

    Escaping the fortress.

    On the 110th floor of eachmand post, there¡¯s a means of escape from the fortress. When the Empire managed the fortress, they installed private transports for their officials to survey the.

    These small rockets could eject directly to specific points on the, reaching them at high speed. The transports were also protected by reinforced shields normally used on warships, making them quite safe.

    However, they couldn¡¯t be piloted and could onlynd at pre-designated points. Once there, all he could do was wait for a rescue team.

    "Asking for help from other cartels is out of the question."

    The reason he left Central Control was because he¡¯d heard that the enemy had breached the underground bunker. Those merciless monsters wouldn¡¯t have spared the VIPs hiding there.

    The fortress was crumbling, and his powerful VIP allies were gone. No other cartel would lend him a hand.

    "¡­Wait a second."

    The ones in the banquet hall were all finished, but those staying on the upper floors hadn¡¯t been touched.

    Especially the woman he held in the highest regard¡ªa member of the cult.

    She had chosen not to attend the banquet, citing personal reasons. Although she was mysterious and avoided contact with others, if she was still upstairs, he had hope.

    The woman was someone the head of Gar Melda¡¯s family had instructed him to treat with utmost respect. If he stayed hidden on the with her, Gar Melda would surely send help.

    When the disy numbers hit the 90s, he pressed for floor 100. That was where hisst insurance policy remained.

    ¡ª

    "Dieeeeee!"

    "Fall back! Fall¡ªaaaah!"

    Gunfire roared, interspersed with curses and screams.

    The Auxiliary Organ under its chin detected the vibrations of these familiar sounds, tinged with a sweet scent.

    Number 26¡¯s invasive tendrils dragged pirates out from their hiding spots at the hall¡¯s crossroads. Before they could resist, the six appendages at the tips of the tendrils shredded the captured flesh.

    Warm blood, organs, and flesh fragments that should never have seen the light of day spilled out. Ifpared to music, their fragrance was like an elegant symphony woven by distinct strings.

    ?If it were human, I suppose it would have shuddered.?

    Indeed, the pirates, drenched in the blood of theirpanions, looked like they could barely keep their sanity. Staring vacantly at theirrades torn to pieces, they soon met a simr fate at the hands of the mutated creatures extending from between Number 26¡¯s legs.

    The mutated creatures roared, waving tendrils crowned with trophies of decapitated heads. Others charged at the remaining pirates, eager to im trophies of their own.

    ?I wonder how that one is doing.?

    It had been some time since PS-111 began its hack against Third Command. The machine had undergone several upgrades before reaching the fortress. By now, it was likely breaching Third Command¡¯s firewalls.

    ?If it¡¯s on schedule, it¡¯ll take another ten minutes¡­?

    Just as that thought crossed its mind, a massive explosion sounded outside.

    The sound, akin to a ship¡¯s horn, was so loud it could be heard from any corner of the fortress. Blood and chunks of flesh that had been pooling on the ground floated momentarily before sttering back down.

    ¡°It worked!¡±

    What I¡¯m witnessing now is a sign that the gravity maintaining the fortress has been disrupted. In other words, PS-111 has takenplete control of the life-support systems.

    And that thunderous roar echoing throughout the fortress? That, too, is a signal meant for me.

    ¡°They¡¯re venting the oxygen.¡±

    I know this move well from games.

    Not only has it stopped supplying oxygen to the entire fortress, but it¡¯s venting it out into space. Even if First and Second Commands try topensate by pumping in more oxygen, the amount being vented will still outweigh what¡¯sing in.

    In about an hour, every living thing in this fortress will copse fromck of oxygen.

    ¡°There¡¯s no point in fighting the pirate forces any further.¡±

    I¡¯ll leave the rest to the mutated creatures and the mercenaries zealously spreading madness bombs. I have other matters to tend to.

    ¡°Securing the escape routes.¡±

    The military port withrge-scale ships docked has already been destroyed. In this situation, they only have one possible means of escape.

    ¡°The transports at Command.¡±

    Kesha Arma is a space instation that orbits in sync with the mining. Command has high-speed transports that fly directly to the mining. These are essentially space rockets used by fortress officials forary inspections.

    The transportsunch from the top of a cylindrical Command building, travelling along a long silo that connects to the reinforced ss dome covering the fortress. They can¡¯t be piloted manually, but they can reach the in less than a minute.

    ¡°If any survivors from Command use those, it¡¯ll be a hassle.¡±

    That would mean I¡¯d have to follow them to the to hunt them down. It wouldn¡¯t be hard, but right now, I¡¯m on the verge of evolution. I¡¯d rather avoid needlessplications.

    ¡°Was the transport dock at the top?¡±

    The top of Command is on the 110th floor. I¡¯m currently on the third floor.

    ¡°Guess I¡¯ll have to break my way up.¡±

    [ZZZZ ZZ (Come over here)]

    ?Understood.?

    I shifted Number 26 from where it perched above my head. Gently cradling it with the arms on my chest, I activated the biological cannon now pressing against the ceiling.

    As soon as the spore loaded with explosive liquid shot from the cannon and hit the ceiling, it detonated. A third of the ceiling on my floor copsed in a heap. I felt a faint warmth from the carapace on my back and head, but nothing major.

    ¡°Looks like that went well.¡±

    I started smashing my way up through the building at a rapid pace.

    ¡°What the¡ª?!¡±

    ¡°Get back¡ªugh!¡±

    Pirates who had fortified the hallway with cover to fight the mutated creatures were obliterated as I burst up through the floor. Some of them fell through the gaps, and others were pinned beneath debris, where they were torn apart by the mutated creatures.

    ?Big One, are you hurt??

    Seeing debris scattered across my head and back, Number 26 sounded concerned.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Too sturdy to get hurt)]

    ?Strong! So strong!?

    I shook off the umted debris easily, and it shimmered happily in response.

    I continued ascending, smashing through ceilings with explosive spores or breaking them apart with powerful strikes from my winged arms.

    Sometimes I sted through hallways upied by pirates, other times through massive rooms adorned with luxurious decorations, and even through swimming pools where water now drifted weightlessly. The floors of the building were punctuated with gaping holes over 10 meters wide, yet the Command structure remained standing, likely thanks to the shielded walls surrounding the exterior.

    Ascending through the fortress, leaving devastation in my wake, I soon found myself nearing the top.

    ¡°Almost there.¡±

    After the opulent 100th floor, there were no more signs of human presence. Instead, the walls separating the floors were more than twice as thick as before. This must be because I¡¯m approaching the floor with the transport ships.

    ¡°No wall can withstand acidic breath, though.¡±

    Thick as they may be, they¡¯re nowhere near as tough as the shielded walls. I opened my mouth and unleashed a highly acidic fungal breath.

    Just like creatures melting throughboratory walls with acid blood in ssic sci-fi horror movies, the ceiling was carved out by the acidic breath. The damage wasn¡¯t limited to just one floor¡ªabove, I could see melted remains on the next.

    I broke through the liquefied walls and continued upwards until I finally reached the top.

    Here, a long silo stretched upward, exceeding the height of Command itself. Though I couldn¡¯t see it past the shield walls, from here one could normally view the entirety of the fortress and the beyond through reinforced ss.

    At the bottom of the metal-lined silo was a small transport ship. A handful of people who were about to board it looked at me, startled.

    There was a rather rotund pirate, three bodyguards, and a woman cultist with antlers on her head.

    ¡°Antlers?¡±

    I¡¯ve fought with antlered cultists before, though they¡¯re anything butmon. Cultists with antlers are among the most powerful psychic users and the highest nobility within cult society. Their numbers are few, and they rarely engage in external activities.

    Among those I¡¯ve faced, only Muriel and Jason had antlers, and they were both yers, not your usual cultists.

    ¡°Could they be a yer?¡±

    I remembered Kadun¡¯s words: there was a powerful figure among the Marcio Cartel¡¯s clients.

    ¡°First, let¡¯s deal with the transport ship.¡±

    Whether that cultist is a yer or not, cutting off their escape route takes priority. I prepared my psychic breath without dy.

    My mutated tendrils glowed purple, emitting intense energy. The violet beam, a facsimile of the immense powers bestowed only upon dragons, shot toward the transport ship.

    Though the ship possessed an impressive shield, it was currently inactive. There was no way it could block my attack.

    But what happened next was beyond my expectations.

    When the antlered cultist raised her right arm, a circr mand formed of purple threads appeared, nullifying the psychic breath. No, ¡°nullified¡± wasn¡¯t the right word.

    The fiery psychic power met the mand and vanished as if it had never existed in the first ce.

    The mand curved into a dome, shielding the transport and those around her.

    ¡°What kind of technique is that?¡±

    There are few defensive techniques capable of neutralizing an attack so effortlessly.

    If it were something like the Red Armor of the Red Gagons or Vortex One¡¯s defensive ability, that might suffice, but this is a cultist. While there are psychic power techniques capable of blocking a psychic breath, none should be able to do so this easily.

    ¡°And there was no recoil.¡±

    With Adhai, using Red Armor to block attacks still means her body absorbs the shock, so she gets pushed back.

    Yet this cultist seemed to manipte and neutralize the very nature of my breath, as if they used the ¡°Complex Spectrum¡± skill.

    ¡°Could it be¡­?¡±

    An unknown technique, an antlered cultist roaming around a pirate fortress.

    Taking these two factors into ount, there could be only one answer.

    ¡°A cultist ranker.¡±

    ¡°¡­Rank 5.¡±

    The cultist, exuding a chilling aura, looked at me and murmured in an icy tone.

    An unexpected opponent in an unexpected ce¡ªa ranker, just like me.

    From her outstretched left hand surged an overwhelming psychic power, hurtling directly toward me.

 Chapter 277:

    The psychic power unleashed from the antlered cultist bore down heavily on my body.

    She had used abination of "Bind", often favored by Number 26, and an advanced psychic technique, "Gravity Control", one after another in quick session. The aim was clear¡ªto immobilize me and then unleash a powerful attack.

    Of course, I wasn¡¯t inclined to y along with her n. I moved to counter it, but Number 26, nestled against my chest, acted first.

    With a burst of psychic power from the Sea Demon, the force restraining me dissipated instantly. Feeling the sudden lightness return to my body, I spread my winged arms wide and soared up the silo.

    Almost at the same time, rainbow-colored orbs whizzed past just beneath my tail, narrowly missing me and colliding with the shielded walls surrounding the Command center, where they evaporated upon impact.

    The attack was ¡°Color Bomb¡±¡ªa technique that inflicts severe damage while causing random negative effects on any target it hits.

    Hanging upside down in the middle of the silo, I adjusted the angle of the biological cannons on my back, aiming for both the cultist ranker and the transport ship. Two spores filled with explosive fluid dropped down.

    Yet, once again, my attack proved futile. The spores vanished the moment they touched the purple mand the cultist had summoned, dissolving away as if swept up in a wave¡ªjust like when the psychic breath had been nullified.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t just block energy.¡±After this brief exchange of attacks, we found ourselves in a momentary stalemate.

    The cultist clearly knew who I was, and she was likely analyzing the information she¡¯d gleaned from this first skirmish.

    I did the same, watching her closely from my perch in the silo.

    ¡°Why would a cultist ranker be here?¡±

    ording to rumors I¡¯d heard before arriving at Kesha Arma, this fortress had been under pirate control for quite some time. If this were a cult stronghold, that might make sense, but it was odd to find a cultist ranker in the current circumstances.

    ¡°She¡¯s nothing like Muriel, who at least had a pirate-like aura.¡±

    If she were, Kadun would have mentioned his boss was a cult pirate.

    ¡°Or¡­ is she one of Jason¡¯s allies?¡±

    Jason had mentioned knowing two cultist rankers. One belonged to another faction, so he knew little about them, but the other operated within the Empire alongside him.

    And this cultist had antlers. The odds were high that Jason knew her.

    ¡°Her name was Cynthia, right?¡±

    Antlered cultist Cynthia possessed defensive abilities even more formidable than Jason¡¯s. Because of this, she typically took on a support role when they worked together.

    Not every ranker excels in directbat. Some yers, like Jason, relish offensive techniques, while others specialize in supporting and protecting their allies.

    ¡°A ranker specialized in defense.¡±

    The purple mand enveloped her, the pirates behind her, and the transport ship.

    Jason had once said her ability surpassed his own defensive techniques.

    Indeed, the purple mand had neutralized not only my psychic breath but also the explosive spores. ording to what I¡¯d heard, it could block various forms of attacks beyond those two.

    Moreover, the mand¡¯s form could be adjusted to defend against attacks from multiple directions. Right now, she had molded it into a dome to protect herself and herpanions.

    ¡°An instation-based technique, like Complex Spectrum?¡±

    In games, skills or traits that provide an area-based defense are rare, often exclusive to boss-level creatures. While some instation-based defensive abilities are avable to yers, they usuallye with significant limitations or are of limited effectiveness.

    ¡°The challenge is finding a weak point¡­¡±

    Unfortunately, Jason didn¡¯t haveplete knowledge of the cultist¡¯s unique traits.

    Partly because his memories had suffered after his transformation, but also because of his arrogance¡ªhe rarely paid attention to those he deemed weaker than himself. For someone like him, he might have seen the antlered cultist merely as a convenient buff dispenser.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to observe firsthand.¡±

    With my thoughts organized, I focused on her attire.

    ¡°Her armor looks standard.¡±

    She was dressed in a loose-fitting garment resembling a st. Cult nobility often wore such clothing in daily life.

    It seemed clear that, while the antlered cultist knew who I was, she hadn¡¯t expected me to show up here.

    Not surprising. In the game, Kesha Arma wasn¡¯t particrly beneficial for Amorph evolution. I wouldn¡¯t have thought toe here either if I hadn¡¯t uncovered that intel at the ve market.

    ¡°At least we ran into them while they¡¯re in a weakened state.¡±

    ?Big One, that one¡¯s scary.?

    Nestled in my chest arm, Number 26 whispered faintly, its psychic waves radiating in a trembling tone. When it came to detecting and utilizing psychic power, 26¡¯s sensitivity surpassed mine.

    Truthfully, I shared a simr sentiment. Despite her shabby outfit, I couldn¡¯t afford to underestimate her. Even if she specialized in support abilities, a ranker was still a ranker¡ªa formidable opponent.

    Keeping my guard up, I asked 26 a question.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Can you restrain her, like you¡¯ve done with others?)]

    ?I¡¯ll try.?

    Quietly, the Sea Demon¡¯s psychic power seeped into the metal walls of the silo, creeping along with the stealth of a predator stalking prey in a reed field. As if on cue, the energy converged over the dome of her mand.

    But, just like before, 26¡¯s psychic power was thwarted, dissipating as it hit the dome.

    [ZZZ (It¡¯s no good.)]

    ?That prickly thing¡¯s in the way.?

    I patted 26¡¯s sullen figure with my small arm.

    ¡°The same attack gets through from inside but is blocked when ites from outside.¡±

    The mechanism of 26¡¯s Bind and the cultist¡¯s own technique was essentially the same, differing only in the quantity of psychic power. The fact that only her attacks could pass through suggested she¡¯d designed it with selective ess.

    ¡°Nothing is perfect.¡±

    Even this Command center had shielding capable of withstanding my psychic breath, yet I¡¯d managed to breach it. Her defense skill was no different; no matter how absurdly powerful, it was bound to have some w.

    Unfurling the membrane of my wings once more, I let go of the metal wall and glided through the silo.

    Let¡¯s see if there¡¯s a weak point in the fortress that Cynthia had crafted.

    ---

    ¡°What¡­ what is that?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the creature attacking this fortress.¡±

    ¡°Damn it all! Where did that thinge from¡­?¡±

    ¡°The enemy is extremely powerful. Under no circumstances should you leave the energy field.¡±

    ¡°Is there anything we can do to help?¡±

    ¡°Staying put is the best help you can give.¡±

    While Cynthia attempted to calm a panicked Montana, her ownposure wavered.

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±

    She struggled to maintain her calm; the situation was far too grave.

    This marked only her third encounter with an Amorph ranked fifth. She hadn¡¯t faced Amorph often, but his infamous reputation had reached her ears countless times.

    Jason, who had to post an apology on themunity boards after being killed every day for months as punishment for obstructing Amorph¡¯s evolution.

    Akira, who lost three colonys and faced defeat fighting against him.

    Zubaka, unable to advance to High Patriarch for two weeks after Amorph annihted the Mechanist Committee.

    The ¡°Dominion Faction¡± members all harbored deep, near-fearful grudges toward Amorph.

    But it wasn¡¯t only Dominion Faction members who feared him. Even members of her own faction¡ªthe ¡°Return Faction¡±¡ªhad issued warnings.

    Never confront him.

    If there¡¯s a chance of fighting him, just run.

    The person who issued that warning was one who had faced Amorph more than anyone. Though he ranked lower than the fifth spot, his strategic genius allowed him to defeat Amorph multiple times.

    Even a formidable yer like him had advised without hesitation¡ªrun at all costs.

    "If I could''ve run, I''d already have done so."

    The moment that creature appeared, it targeted the transport ship, aiming to block any escape. She wasn¡¯t sure who, or what, was behind it, but it had clearly intended to trap them from the start.

    Had it not been for her special ability¡ªthe Mantra of Phase Defense¡ªit would¡¯ve been impossible to fend it off.

    The Mantra of Phase Defense created a powerful shield, a purple mand that blocked not only physical and energy-based attacks but even typically unblockable assaults, like vortex waves.

    Thanks to this, Cynthia often served as a support role when the Dominion Faction hunted yers. The shield¡¯s range wasn¡¯t very wide¡ªten meters at most¡ªbut it was sufficient to protect a small group.

    However, the Mantra wasn¡¯t without its weaknesses. In addition to its limited range, there was a fatal w.

    Not that she was worried about it now. It had taken even her faction allies a while to realize that vulnerability, and it was unlikely that an Amorph she¡¯d encountered only moments ago would identify it.

    Her real concern wasn¡¯t the Mantra, but rather something else.

    She might have the strongest shield, but her weaponry wascking. Taking this creature down with her current strength wouldn¡¯t be easy.

    ¡°Plus, that pet of his¡­¡±

    The little pink creature nestled in Amorph¡¯s chest, resembling a Bubble Amoeba. It was a Sea Demon.

    Attempting a psychic battle with a creature adept in psychic power control would be foolish.

    Indeed, she¡¯d been using every psychic skill at her disposal, but the Sea Demon rendered them all ineffective.

    Meanwhile, the creature relentlessly attacked her shield, deploying various abilities.

    Biological bombsunched from the cannons on its back, spikes shooting from the pincers within its tail¡ªthese were traits she had seen in the game.

    However, when a sickening-colored bubble was fired from its body, a chill ran down her spine. Fortunately, the ominous bubble dissipated upon hitting the shield.

    Predictably, the creature didn¡¯t give up and immediatelyunched another assault, closing in as soon as the sphere¡¯s effect faded. One of its many limbs, recing its wings, shed at her shield.

    ?Grrr¡­?

    Its ws melted like ice cream as they touched the barrier.

    It was the first injury she¡¯d inflicted since their battle began, but it was no time to let her guard down. She swiftly raised her left hand, summoning a massive scythe of purple energy over the creature''s head.

    The scythe was called ¡°Reaper¡¯s Hand,¡± a psychic skill specialized for slicing through heavy armor. It could cut through the frontal ting of a battleship with ease. It should be able to shatter that head armor, too.

    As the scythe descended, aiming to cleave the creature¡¯s head in two, it subtly tilted its head, letting the scythe collide with its asymmetrical horn¡ªand the scythe disintegrated upon contact.

    ¡°A Gagon horn!¡±

    She¡¯d thought it could only neutralize defensive psychic skills, but to wield it like this? Shocked, she prepared to counterattack, but the creature moved a step faster.

    Its grotesque maw opened wide, unleashing a fountain of green liquid. She flinched as the putrid fluid showered down toward her.

    ¡°What the hell is that?!¡±

    ¡°¡­Disgusting.¡±

    The Mantra held firm, sparing her from even a single drop, which instead sttered onto the floor, dissolving the metal beneath with acrid smoke.

    ¡°Acidic liquid¡­¡±

    Shemitted the new trait to memory as the creature¡¯s acid breath was a first for her. Once more, she flung Reaper¡¯s Hand, this time aiming for its legs.

    The purple scythe cut through the smoky haze and flew towards its mark. The creature, spreading its massive wings, leaped back, evading the strike.

    ¡°Good!¡±

    She¡¯d anticipated the retreat. As soon as she released Reaper¡¯s Hand, sheunched a Color Bomb in its direction. The creature tried to dodge, but its size made it impossible to fully evade the st. The Color Bomb struck its abdomen, cracking part of its carapace.

    ?Grrrr!?

    "Nice job!"

    "You damn bastard!"

    The Amorph let out a low growl, while cheers echoed from behind her. The creature, hit by the Color Bomb, staggered slightly, gripping onto the silo for support.

    ''Good, if I keep this up...''

    But her satisfaction was fleeting. She quickly noticed something strange about it.

    ''The Sea Demon¡¯s gone?''

    The small pink creature it had been holding against its chest had vanished.

    As soon as she realized this, the ground beneath her began to tremble violently.

    ''No way?!''

    Melted holes, the missing Sea Demon.

    It was clear¡ªthe creature had targeted the unprotected areas of the shield.

    Realizing its intent, she quickly reconfigured the Mantra of Phase Defense. In less than a second, cracks formed in the floor as debris began to rise around her.

    Several head-sized holes appeared, and pink tendrils emerged from them, reaching up toward her legs. Just before they could ensnare her, shepleted the shield¡¯s adjustment.

    With a sickening slicing sound, the tendrils lost their strength and slumped to the floor. By shifting from a dome to a spherical shield, it had severed any intruding appendages within.

    ''That was close¡­''

    She barely had a moment to breathe before a sharp pain struck her abdomen. Looking down, she saw the cloth around her waist was stained red.

    "What the hell are you doing?!"

    "I... I have to kill... kill you, kill... I have to kill you!"

    As she turned, dazed, she saw Montana and his bodyguard behind her.

    The bodyguard, clutching a Gauss rifle and muttering incoherently, seemed to be in a trance, while Montana struggled to restrain him.

    Without hesitation, she cast a binding technique, pushing the deranged bodyguard outside the shield.

    "I¡¯ll kill you! Kill... kill, kill! Hehehe! Hahaha!"

    The unhinged guard charged at the shield, only to be annihted upon contact.

    Ignoring the guard, she quickly used a healing technique. The bleeding stopped, and as the wound healed, the pain gradually faded.

    "What... what on earth just happened?"

    "...It seems to be the creature¡¯s doing."

    Gritting her teeth, she red at the monster clinging to the silo.

    Its head tendrils, cascading down its neck like a mane, fluttered briefly, then settled.

    "Such a shame."

    It was the first time she heard the creature speak since the battle began.

    Cynthia knew the voice, so ordinary and seemingly borrowed from someone else, wasn''t its own. She¡¯d experienced it once before while fighting it.

    But hearing it directly now, an emotion swelled rapidly within her heart.

    And that emotion was terror.

 Chapter 278:

    ¡®Is it a vision impairment?¡¯

    Hanging onto the silo, I checked my physical state.

    The Color Bomb not only inflicted severe damage but also caused random negative effects, which, more than the direct harm, posed a real nuisance. These effects could disrupt senses, weaken body parts like muscles, or scatter focus.

    Having taken a hit to the abdomen from that rainbow-colored energy st, my vision was heavily impaired¡ªto the point where everything around me appeared blurred.

    ¡®If it weren¡¯t for the auxiliary organ, this would be quite troublesome.¡¯

    The Amorph¡¯s main sensory organ is the auxiliary organ hanging below its chin. Even without sight, I can clearly sense everything happening inside this silo.

    Clinging to the wall, I focused on her movements through my auxiliary organ.

    Cynthia was currently focused on healing her wounds. The scent of her blood and the cold sweat from her pain were gradually diminishing.

    Meanwhile, I organized the new, crucial information I¡¯d gathered.I¡¯d conducted several experiments during the fight with her.

    First, I tried hitting her shield directly to see if it only blocked projectiles. I even attempted to devour the barrier using the ¡®Hand of the Predatory Leech.¡¯

    As one might expect, that failed miserably, costing me the fingers and inner palm of onebat arm.

    Next, I attempted a joint attack with Number 26.

    The shield she had set up was dome-shaped, covering the floor. So, attacking from below should be effective as well.

    I poured acidic breath onto the shield. Cynthia likely assumed I was attempting to weaken her barrier, but in reality, I was trying to melt the floor.

    Number 26 descended to the lower floor, camouging itself in the toxic fumes released from the melting floor. From there, it erged itself and struck the floor below her barrier with its tendrils.

    Meanwhile, I wasn¡¯t idle either. I timed my ¡®Messenger of Mass Confusion¡¯ to coincide with its attack, infecting one of the guards with madness.

    Unfortunately, Cynthia countered by shifting her barrier from a dome to a sphere, blocking out the effect of the Messenger. Because of this, the guard failed to kill her.

    ¡®Still, I gained important information.¡¯

    Her barrier doesn¡¯t block attacks originating from inside. She sustained injuries from the shots fired by the guard.

    There are advanced types of deployable defense techniques that some boss-tier creatures use, which render the protected area immune to internal attacks. Her technique, however, isn¡¯t of that type.

    ¡®Although, provoking an attack from the inside again won¡¯t be easy.¡¯

    Cynthia, having been attacked from within, quickly expelled the guard outside, neutralizing the threat. As expected from a Ranker, she urately assessed that he was infected and acted swiftly.

    Had the guard died within her barrier, there might have been a chance for the madness bomb to spread further¡ªa small missed opportunity.

    She¡¯d been caught off-guard once, so now she would be on high alert. Being a Ranker herself, she won¡¯t fall for the same trick twice unless her mind is truly shaken.

    ¡®Or maybe¡­ I can turn this to my advantage?¡¯

    It¡¯s been quite a while since the battle began. By now, she likely knows I have no direct means of prating her barrier, so it would make sense if I appeared to be trying something different.

    The key weakness of her shield is its vulnerability to attacks originating from within¡ªsomething both she and I are aware of. This weakness should logically be the focus of my strategy.

    ¡®¡­At least, that¡¯s what she¡¯ll think.¡¯

    While she¡¯s preupied with that assumption, I¡¯ll target something else entirely.

    My auxiliary organ twitched as I gauged Cynthia¡¯s reaction.

    I sensed her breath escaping outside her shield. Thanks to her healing abilities, the pain had subsided, and her heavy breathing was calming down.

    ¡®Good.¡¯

    With the strategy taking shape, I finally checked the timing¡ªcritical for this n¡ªand sent a pulse down to Number 26, who was waiting below.

    [ZZ ZZZ (Are you holding up okay?)]

    ?Yes! All good!?

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Sorry, but I need a favor)]

    ?What? What??

    [ZZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Go to Adhai and pass on a message for me)]

    I ryed the essential instructions to Number 26. Though it seemed reluctant to leave, it ultimately agreed.

    ?Big One, don¡¯t get hurt more!?

    [ZZZZZ (Don¡¯t worry)]

    Reassuring it, I fired a psychic breath using one of my tendrils. My target wasn¡¯t her shield itself, but the surrounding space.

    ¡°Tsk!¡±

    Cynthia clicked her tongue, realizing I intended to shatter the ground around her. A psychic scythe, under her control, materialized in the air and swung down at me.

    Perhaps due to my impaired vision, my other senses were heightened. Sensing a psychic force gathering in the air, I spread my wing-arms and took flight. Dodging the Reaper''s Hand without difficulty, I aimed for the opposite wall to hang onto.

    As I flew through the center of the silo, my body suddenly grew heavy. I felt a concentrated psychic forceing from Cynthia¡¯s left hand below.

    Using her ¡®Bind¡¯ ability, she jerked her left arm back, mming me downward. I crashed into the ground. It didn¡¯t hurt much, but it was definitely irritating.

    The bio-cannons on my back fired, loaded with my frustration. Two explosive spores arced over the shield and detonated, causing a faint tremor to reverberate through the floor. Undeterred, Cynthia reached out toward me, casting an array of psychic techniques designed to hinder me.

    It felt like I was stuck in quicksand, my movements sluggish. With me restrained, she unleashed a barrage of Color Bombs.

    In response, I activated the ¡®Complex Prism.¡¯

    Smoky tendrils emerged from my body, quickly merging in the air. The Complex Prism,rge enough to shield both me and the walls behind, intercepted Cynthia¡¯s Color Bombs.

    ¡°!¡±

    Reflected Color Bombs scattered wildly like popcorn, leaving dents across the floor around her and along the silo walls. Cynthia¡¯s heartbeat quickened as she observed the spectacle.

    She was likely wondering just how many hidden abilities I possessed.

    After that, we engaged in a series of cautious exchanges.

    Seeing the Complex Prism, she switched tactics from powerful destructive techniques to those that could restrict or disrupt my movement. As Jason said, her skills were indeed top-notch, befitting a Ranker specialized in support. Shecked a decisive finishing move, but her targeted techniques were well-timed to keep me on edge.

    Once the Complex Prism dissipated, I took a few more hits from her Color Bombs. I managed to deflect one with my horn, avoiding any negative effects, but the rest wore me down bit by bit.

    One of mybat arms had gone numb, and the acidic fungal nd in my throat had significantly reduced productivity.

    A gravitational force, manipted by her psychic power, pressed down on me, leaving me unable to move with my face against the floor. Cynthia prepared another Color Bomb, aiming directly at my right wing-arm.

    ¡®She¡¯s targeting my right wing-arm.¡¯

    Relying on my auxiliary organ to sense the flow of her psychic power, I forced my unresponsive body to brace for the impact.

    A rainbow-hued energy st zoomed toward me, her intent to disable my flight ability evident. But the Color Bomb veered off in an entirely different direction, missing mepletely.

    ¡°¡­Damn it!¡±

    After nearly ten minutes of fighting, this was the first time her attack had missed. Her short curse held a note of intense frustration.

    In that brief interval, I managed to crawl out of her gravity control zone. She fired another Color Bomb in my direction, but again, it flew off to some unintended target.

    ¡°Why is this¡­.¡±

    Her voice was tinged with confusion, as if she couldn¡¯t understand why her attacks were missing. Yet she seemed unable to focus her thoughts properly.

    I knew exactly why. Pointing a finger on my wing-arm, I gestured behind her.

    She turns her head in the direction my finger is pointing.

    Behind her, the pirates are silent, a drastic shift from earlier. Their faces are pallid, especially one ratherrge pirate who¡¯s clutching his chest as if to squeeze it, gasping for breath.

    ¡°No way¡­¡±

    She whips her head around, ring at me with bloodshot eyes. Her red gaze isn¡¯t just from anger.

    The weapon I chose to prate her shield is nothing other than:

    ¡®Time.¡¯

    Due to PS-111¡¯s interference, the oxygen levels in this fortress are dropping steadily. Within an hour, no human inside will be able to stand upright.

    Normally, eachmand center has independent oxygen supplies for emergencies like this. But now, those systems aren¡¯t working. As I made my way here, I left themand center in ruins, allowing more oxygen to leak out than to flow in.

    Twenty minutes have passed since it started venting oxygen into space. It''s about time she and the pirates begin to feel the effects.

    ¡°If you can¡¯t breathe, you die. That applies to cults as well.¡±

    In this respect, Amorph has its advantages. It can go for long periods without breathing.

    ¡°¡­Montana, go inside.¡±

    ¡°Are¡­you sure¡­you¡¯ll be alright?¡±

    Instead of answering, she ushers the pirates onto the transport vessel. They¡¯llst a bit longer inside, where a small amount of oxygen is still being supplied.

    Of course, Cynthia has to face me, so she¡¯s an exception.

    Preparing for the fight, she speaks up.

    ¡°I have something to say, Rank Five.¡±

    Odd that she¡¯d risk talking when it puts her at a disadvantage. Doesn¡¯t she realize time works against her?

    ¡®Has her mind gone cloudy?¡¯

    Judging by her constant sweating and unsteady breaths, it''s clear she¡¯s desperate.

    ¡°In games, maybe, but this is reality. If conversation¡¯s possible, there¡¯s no need to avoid it, is there?¡±

    She isn¡¯t wrong, but there¡¯s no real reason to talk. We¡¯re fighting to kill each other, and this conversation could give her a chance to counterattack.

    ¡°Have you sunk so deep into Amorph¡¯s existence that you even refuse to speak with a fellow human?¡±

    At her words, I involuntarily hesitate.

    ¡°A fellow human?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re in any position to say that after hunting other yers.¡±

    She¡¯s part of Jason¡¯s group¡ªthe one that tried to enve the Mother of the Sky and killed other yers to seize their rewards.

    ¡°My request for dialogue has to do with that very matter.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t share their beliefs at all. In fact, I didn¡¯t take any rewards.¡±

    This isn¡¯t new¡ªJason himself mentioned it. Cynthia, despite working with him, never directly imed any rewards.

    In my experience, rewards can only be taken by killing someone directly. Muriel and Jason¡¯s rewards were seized through such means.

    ¡°That¡¯s a weak excuse. You still contributed to other yers¡¯ deaths.¡±

    ¡°That was to achieve my faction¡¯s goals. Associating with them was a matter of intelligence gathering.¡±

    ¡°Intelligence?¡±

    Cynthia, struggling to breathe, reaches a hand to her chest.

    ¡°Rank Five, isn¡¯t the reason you consume others to reach the end of evolution¡ªto transcend?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    I answered simply, as it wasn¡¯t something I needed to hide.

    She continued in a more stable tone.

    ¡°Myrades and I aim to clear the game and return home.¡±

    Her words brought to mind something the Mother of the Sky mentioned before.

    There was a conflict between yers aiming for an ending and those striving to rule this world.

    And I lean more towards the former.

    ¡°Would you consider cooperating with us?¡±

    So Cynthia¡¯s proposal was within my expectations.

    ¡®Cooperation, huh.¡¯

    Even without much thought, it¡¯s quite tempting.

    Cynthia¡¯s faction likely knows that yers once tried to cooperate to see the ending but failed for some reason. Despite that, if they¡¯re still pursuing the end, it suggests they might have valuable knowledge I don¡¯t possess.

    With how much the game has changed, moving forward with prior knowledge versus without it makes a tremendous difference. If the difficulty of the ending mission has skyrocketed, cooperating with them would certainly be advantageous.

    ¡®It¡¯s obvious, but¡­.¡¯

    But her proposales with a trap. After a moment¡¯s thought, I made my decision.

    ¡°I decline.¡±

    ¡°You must¡­excuse me?¡±

    Cynthia, assuming I¡¯d ept, stares at me, her face a picture of disbelief.

 Chapter 279:

    "¡­Did you reject me because I''m a spy? If so, I can exin further."

    She barely managed to get the words out, clearly flustered by the unexpected answer.

    It seems she still misunderstands. I didn¡¯t turn her down because she worked as an informant for another faction.

    Space Survival is a brutal dystopia. Even with the best conditions and perks, survival isn¡¯t guaranteed. It¡¯s like trying to reach the end with just one life.

    And she ims to have survived this long without that level of deception? That¡¯s the real lie.

    My reason for refusing is simple.

    Her faction is a group aiming for the ending, and their quest involves hunting creatures like me, the Amorph.

    The Cult¡¯s ultimate quest, the one they mustplete to reach the ending, is to "eliminate the monstrous threat to the universe¡±. This includes taking down a full-grown Amorph, a metallic gremlin¡¯s top species, or one of the Outsiders whomands ten queens.

    Likewise, the Amorph must also devour leaders from factions in ¡°three major categories¡± to ascend. This includes figures like the high priest, regarded as the imperial sessor within the Cult.I¡¯m not aware of how powerful or influential the faction Cynthia belongs to is, but it¡¯s hard to believe they could tackle such difficult conditions.

    "If they were that capable, they would¡¯ve reached the ending by now."

    In this situation, recruiting me as an ally? It only feels like they¡¯re eyeing me as livestock for ughter.

    I don¡¯t entirely me them for thinking that way. I¡¯ve been in their shoes before.

    When I first set my heart on saving the Mother of the Sky, I viewed her as an insurance policy. After all, Wolff falls under one of the "three categories" that an Amorph must hunt.

    Of course, my perspective has since shifted. Rather than using her as a sacrifice for my ascent, I decided to find another way. That¡¯s why I removed the parasite.

    This change of heart only came because I engaged with her regrly. Had I not, her fate likely wouldn¡¯t have changed.

    But what about me and them?

    At this point, there¡¯s no meaningful connection between us. They hold more power than I do.

    True cooperation only happens when both parties are on equal footing. Joining that faction now would probably reduce me to a servant.

    Look at Cynthia, for example.

    It¡¯s clear she dislikes killing other yers, yet she¡¯s embedded as an informant among yer hunters. That says enough about the atmosphere within her faction.

    "Do you think you can reach the end on your own? Even the top-ranked yer failed¡­."

    "You won¡¯t know unless you try."

    "Are you insane because you became an Amorph?"

    "Sorry, but I¡¯m perfectly rational right now."

    "Rational? Ha, rational? You know nothing."

    "Right. True, I know nothing. For now."

    I¡¯ll start learning. After all, I have a perfect source of information.

    Understanding my meaning, Cynthia¡¯s expression turned cold as ice.

    "Disgusting. You¡¯re no different from Jason, lost in this worthless game world, a killer who¡¯s forgotten reality."

    I didn¡¯t respond.

    I¡¯ve taken countless lives for survival. Jason and Muriel, who kill others out of personal desire. Though our motives differ, the result is the same. If the real ¡°me¡± saw who I am now, he¡¯d consider me a monstrous, mad killer.

    But, at least, I don¡¯t treat those who stand by me as mere objects.

    Number 26, Adhai, the Mother of the Sky, and PS-111, who joined us more recently.

    Whether this world is a game or reality, they are precious to me, ones I must protect.

    "Negotiations are over."

    I used my auxiliary organ to monitor Cynthia¡¯s condition.

    Her breathing was bing increasingly unstable due to oxygen deprivation.

    The Cult members¡¯ physical abilities are already weaker than humans. Given how she failed to attack me, her senses must be inplete disarray.

    There¡¯s no way she can escape from me.

    "¡­I admit it. I can¡¯t defeat you. I have no means or strategy to kill you."

    Cynthia red at me with bloodshot eyes.

    "But I can make things difficult for you."

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    With those words, she withdrew her hand from her chest pocket, revealing a small silver orb.

    ¡®What¡¯s that?¡¯

    The moment I saw the unfamiliar object, I spread my winged arms and leapt back.

    It¡¯s unlikely she¡¯d produce a deadly weapon at this stage; if she¡¯d had one, she¡¯d have used it earlier. But just to be safe, I put some distance between us.

    ¡°It¡¯s not something I¡¯m supposed to use, but¡­¡±

    Her voice resonated with the silver orb. The small object, norger than three fingers, briefly glowed before turning a dull ck.

    She must have done something, but no visible change urred. Just as I thought that, an rm red throughout the fortress.

    ¡®An rm? Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡¯

    There are only two reasons why that sound would echo in a space fortress.

    An attack by Outsiders, or¡­

    "In five minutes, a horde of Metallic Gremlins will arrive here."

    "What?"

    That rm only sounds when arge swarm of Metallic Gremlins is detected.

    The orb she¡¯s holding¡ªit must be the cause of their summoning.

    ¡®Does she n to go down with me?¡¯

    If the Metallic Gremlins attack Kesha Arma, Cynthia will be the one in greater danger. I can survive in the vacuum of space, but she can¡¯t.

    Yet, her face doesn¡¯t look like someone who¡¯s resigned to death. Seeing that, I understood.

    ¡®She¡¯s targeting the ones with me!¡¯

    ¡°You don¡¯t have much time, do you? If you don¡¯t want to watch your precious ¡®pets¡¯ die, you¡¯d better hurry.¡±

    Even as her oxygen ran low and death crept closer, she mocked me.

    Unfortunately, she¡¯s right.

    Number 26 and PS-111 could hold their own in a spacecraft, but they aren¡¯t suited to face Metallic Gremlins bare-bodied.

    And the Mother of the Sky has yet toplete her divine ascension. If attacked before she¡¯s fully grown, she¡¯ll die for certain.

    I have no choice but to postpone dealing with Cynthia.

    But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll leave without a parting gift.

    I aimed a psychic breath at the floor, bypassing the shield. The already weakened surface, worn down by our prolonged fight, finally gave way.

    ¡°!¡±

    As the floor copsed, both the transport ship and Cynthia began to plummet to the lower level.

    The ship¡¯s shield will protect her, so neither she nor the vessel will sustain damage. However, escaping via the silo is now impossible. She¡¯ll have to find another way out of this fortress.

    "You¡¯d better hope I don¡¯t return."

    I warned, spreading my wings toward her twisted expression. My body shot upward, propelling me through the silo that extended over themand post.

    As the cold steel track ended, the vast starry sky weed me. Below, I saw Kesha Arma, the immense space structure crafted by the Cult.

    Ordinarily, the entire city would be visible through reinforced ss, but withbat imminent, the fortress had been sealed off by shielding walls. Gigantic turrets at the top and bottom of the fortress busily adjusted, preparing to confront the approaching enemies.

    One of the turrets, as massive as my body, targeted me, shifting up and down as if nodding. It was clear who held the control.

    ¡®PS-111, of course.¡¯

    With the secondmand center destroyed by me, they¡¯re leaderless. The primarymand center is likely in disarray after I sent Number 26 on a rampage.

    ¡®I asked Adhai to go with it and take control.¡¯

    Mutants and madmen roamed everywhere, with Sea Demons and Gagons adding to the chaos. The First Command must be overwhelmed by the task of holding them back, giving PS-111 the perfect opportunity to seize control over the fortress¡¯s entire defense system.

    Leaving the rear to PS-111, I focused on the darkened front.

    An endless ck expanse stretched ahead, its depths unknown. Suddenly, a blue me ignited in the distance.

    What started as a small flicker grew, spreading beyond the mountain and engulfing the city in an intense ze.

    When the fierce blue fire finally subsided, what remained wasn¡¯t ashes but countless granules.

    The ck space was now littered with what looked like grains of raw rice on dark paper¡ªa horde of Metallic Gremlins.

    Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of these creatures, were surging toward Kesha Arma.

    ---

    "Damn it¡­."

    Cynthia cursed under her breath.

    That wretched Amorph had ruined everything, throwing her ns intoplete disarray.

    The orb she used as ast resort was called the "Orb of Savagery". When specific conditions were met, it granted the wielder the ability tomand certain monsters.

    Crafted by a past Space Survival champion, this relic had ended up in Cynthia''s possession. She¡¯d gone to great lengths to fulfill the usage requirements.

    ¡®I finally seeded in controlling the Metallic Gremlin horde!¡¯

    She¡¯d even killed yers to meet that goal, only for it to be wasted like this. A precious artifact meant to serve the "Return Faction¡¯s" grand design, squandered in vain.

    The Orb of Savagery was intended for a "chosen of the Return Faction."

    While Cynthia waited in Kesha Arma, her allies were working to ensure that the rightful user of this relic would reach the fortress.

    Had she waited just a few more days, she, or rather ¡®her¡¯, would have arrived for the auction set to take ce in the fortress. Cynthia was to hand over the orb and guide her to new relics.

    That was the Return Faction¡¯s n, but an unexpected ticket-holder had thrown it all into chaos. Now, to reactivate the ckened orb, she¡¯d have to shed blood once more.

    ¡®...For now, escaping here is the priority.¡¯

    At least the creature had chosen to confront the Metallic Gremlins over pursuing her.

    It seemed to care deeply about the Sea Demon it had with it, evident by how it immediately withdrew when the creature¡¯s tendrils were hurt. She could also see how disturbed it was when she mentioned the word ¡°pet.¡±

    ¡®Filthy pervert.¡¯

    In any case, its retreat meant her life was extended¡ªif only temporarily.

    But she couldn¡¯t rest easy just yet.

    That creature was infamous throughout Space Survival. The number of Metallic Gremlins here wasn¡¯t small, but it was possible it could ughter them all and return, sealing her fate.

    If she wanted to survive, she had to find a way off this fortress.

    ¡°L-Lady Cynthia¡­ has it left?¡±

    A familiar voice called from behind her. Turning, she saw Montana and his guards disembarking from the transport ship.

    ¡°It hasn¡¯t left entirely.¡±

    ¡°Th-Then what should we do?¡±

    Who would believe this trembling man had been in control of a space fortress just moments ago?

    Cynthia addressed the half-broken Montana.

    ¡°It¡¯s best to head to the First Command. The transport ships there should still be intact.¡±

    ¡°Yes! Excellent choice!¡±

    Casting a levitation technique over Montana and his guards, she leaped into the hole the Amorph had created.

    Landing on the first floor in one bound, she rummaged through the reinforced suits submerged in a pool of blood, retrieving oxygen capsules. She bit down on one, inhaling deeply.

    ¡°Hah¡­¡±

    The capsule bought her a little more time. Handing one each to Montana and his guards, she stepped outside themand post.

    The fortress¡¯s shielding wall, deployed to block the Metallic Gremlins, left the interior in deep darkness. Only the scattered mes rising here and there provided light.

    The end times had arrived. The symbol of glory, Kesha Arma, was gone, reced by ruins of copse and decay.

    "This can''t be happening¡­."

    Montana, having lost everything in an instant, let out a deep sigh.

    "We don¡¯t have time for this. If you want revenge someday, you need to survive first."

    "Y-Yes, you''re right."

    Cynthia climbed aboard a nearby hover bus with the gritting-teethed Montana. The inside of the bus was inplete disarray¡ªevery window shattered, the floor littered with dismembered bodies. The engine, too, waspletely drained of energy.

    For an ordinary human, it would be hopeless, but Cynthia was no mere human. She was a powerful antlered cultist.

    cing her hand on the engine, the hover bus lifted into the air.

    ¡°There are enemies on the road, so it¡¯ll be safer if we travel this way.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t you just protect us with that special barrier of yours?¡±

    ¡°That ability doesn¡¯t allow for movement.¡±

    She gave a curt answer to Montana''s question and began piloting the hover bus toward the First Command. The vehicle glided almost soundlessly at a deliberately slow speed, though the distant echoes of explosions and faint cries drifted up from below.

    This world-obsessed creature had turned it all into a massacre. At this point, it was no different from a mass murderer.

    And even more terrifying was the fact that a creature with that kind of twisted mindset was also skilled. Cynthia had felt that firsthand in their fight. Without the orb, and without its ¡°pet¡±, she would have surely died.

    ¡®¡­I¡¯ll need to revise the n.¡¯

    The other members of the Return Faction seemed to consider the Fifth one a necessary part of their strategy, but that was far too reckless. Trying to control a being as dangerous as Akira, the head of the Domination Faction, was no small feat.

    Her thoughts grew more chaotic until, through the shattered window, she saw the First Command ahead. The cylindrical defensive wall surrounding it remained intact.

    ¡°The entry wall¡ªit can be deactivated from the outside, correct?¡±

    ¡°Of course. I made sure my retinal scan grants ess to all major city facilities.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re almost there. Be ready to run as soon as we get off.¡±

    Everyone tensed up at her words.

    But then, without warning, something struck the hover bus, shattering it to pieces. The bus split in two, flinging the three passengers into the open air.

    ¡®Damn it!¡¯

    Cynthia quickly activated her levitation ability, halting her descent just before she hit the ground.

    The other two,cking such skills, plummeted dozens of meters and crashed, their bodies mangled.

    Montana, especially, with his bulky frame, ended in an unspeakably grotesque state. A once-powerful leader within the Space Dog cartel, his final moments were nothing short of pitiful.

    "¡­¡­."

    There was a more pressing issue than Montana''s death.

    Something, or someone, was near¡ªwhoever had attacked the bus. Cynthia swiftly activated her ¡°Mantra of Dimensional Protection¡±. The dome-shaped, purple mand spread over the metal ground beneath her.

    ¡®Who did this? Who would¡­?¡¯

    Her gaze darted around frantically.

    The surroundings looked as if an earthquake had torn through. Buildings were sunken into the ground, the roadspletely upturned, strewn with the corpses of people and beasts alike.

    Even in the air, the sight had been unsettling, but standing on the ground was an entirely different feeling. She had witnessed death countless times, but this level of horror was new to her.

    ¡®It¡¯s just a game. There¡¯s nothing to be scared of.¡¯

    While Cynthia tried to calm herself, a red sh streaked rapidly over her head. It was moving so fast she could barely catch a glimpse.

    She hastily readied a color bomb, and in that instant, another object hurtled toward her. The sound of beating wings reached her ears.

    ¡®Amorph?¡¯

    The thought crossed her mind but was quickly dismissed. The creature¡¯s wings made a much louder noise when it flew. Whatever was approaching was smaller.

    And then the wingbeats grew louder. The red light closed in at an rming speed. Her left hand released the color bomb toward the approaching figure, but it was far toote.

    The creature, with red horns and wings, rammed its horns into the barrier she had raised.

    Ordinarily, its head¡ªnot just the horns¡ªwould have been obliterated. But shockingly, it remained unscathed.

    ¡°Gal¡­gon?¡±

    The four-winged, serpent-like beast cocked its head in confusion, then vanished before her eyes. Realizing the identity of her assant, a sharp pain shot through her right hand.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    A thin, pink tendril sprouted from the ground, piercing her right hand.

    She habitually used her right hand to cast her phasic shield mantra, and now that hand waspromised, slowing her shield¡¯s adjustment speed. Even so, it was only a fleeting dy, barely enough to blink an eye.

    Yet, was that brief dy enough time for someone else? The pink tendril that pierced her hand darted toward her eye with lightning speed.

    ¡°!¡±

    It felt as if a needle was stabbing right in the center of her eye. She tried to scream, but the pain didn¡¯tst long.

    Cynthia thought her world was rapidly darkening.

    It wasn¡¯t the fortress lights dimming but rather a life flickering out¡ªyet she would nevere to realize this.

    -

    While escorting the Little One to fulfill a request from the Big One, her eyes fell upon a bad one.

    This bad one, who had tormented the Big One, was wearing a strange shell and heading toward a massive rocky mass.

    When she mentioned that the bad one hiding within that shell was causing trouble for the Big One, the Little One furiously stomped its plump limbs on the ground.

    Anyone who harasses the Big One must be dealt with.

    Anyone.

    And so, she took action.

    She thinned her tentacles to hide them in the ground and then struck, piercing the bad one¡¯s body. The creature slumped, limbs dangling, unable to move.

    ?I? ?won? ?thanks to you?

    The Little Onended beside the fallen bad one.

    It often mixed up words, but this time it was right. Without the Little One, she wouldn¡¯t have defeated the bad one so easily.

    So, she decided to let the Little One take the lead this time. She wrapped the bad one in her tentacles and handed it over.

    ?You¡¯re right, Little One. This time, you eat.?

    ?Really??

    ?Yes.?

    The Little One flicked its many-tentacled appendages. After a pause, it replied.

    ?Enemy? ?strong? ?me? ?alone? ?hard to handle? ?so? ?let¡¯s eat? ?together?

    ?That¡¯s fine.?

    ?The Small Elder? ?strength? ?thanks to? ?we won? ?I like? ?sharing meals? ?with the Big Elder?

    With that, the Little One gently nudged her tentacle with its many-tentacled appendage.

    The act of offering to share the prey impressed her. So, imitating the Big One, she gently stroked the Little One with her tentacle.

    ?You did well!?

    ?No!? ?Stop that?

    It had liked it when the Big One did it.

    She almost felt a little hurt, but she held back. After all, she was an adult, and sometimes that meant showing restraint.

    Together, they started devouring the prey they¡¯d hunted.

    ?Delicious!?

    ?Not bad?

    ?I feel better after eating.?

    ?Agree? ?Ster power? ?got stronger?

    Even by her standards, the bad one¡¯s meat was decent. Each bite filled her body with strength. The Little One also seemed pleased, its body vigorously wriggling.

    Something round and hard slipped in along with the meat, but she paid it no mind. Once it was inside her stomach, it would be digested.

    ?If we¡¯re done eating, let¡¯s go.?

    ?Okay?

    After consuming everyst bite, she and the Little One set off again toward the massive rock.

    There was no trace left to show a bad one had ever been there.

 Chapter 280:

    In the pitch-dark expanse, a pristine white cloud loomed.

    This cloud-like formation usually appeared whenrge numbers of metallic gremlins with silver skin gathered.

    "There''s a lot of them."

    Judging by the cloud''s size, it was at least double the number of the metallic gremlins encountered before the main body achieved semi-maturity. Back then, it was a mid-sized swarm. But these iing ones? They were even more than that¡ªa massive swarm.

    ¡°Looks like there are over 20,000 of them.¡±

    There could be even more, as massive swarms are rarely small in numbers.

    Unlike mid-sized swarms led by a single "Warpboy", massive swarms include a mix of higher-ranked types, such as multiple Warpboys and specializedbat variants like the "Wolfram Goblin".

    With theirplex makeup, these massive swarms moved in a coordinated manner, simr to army ants forming ranks as they moved. This was nothing like facing a mid-sized swarm.

    The infamous space pirate horde approached, ready to devour Kesha Arma.The space fortress retaliated,unching an interception against the intruders.

    Behind me, massive fortress cannons began firing one by one.

    Thick psychicser beams, almost matching my psychic breath in size, shed through the stars. The metallic gremlins scattered quickly, while the slower ones evaporated without a trace upon contact with the beams.

    Unfortunately, the first shot missed its mark. As the massive fortress cannons returned to standby, hundreds of anti-aircraft guns aimed at the swarm prepared to engage.

    Meanwhile, the dispersed metallic gremlins rapidly regrouped and charged toward the fortress.

    Now, it was my turn.

    Though the Color Bombs from the battle with Cynthia had weakened my visual system, inner fungal nds in my throat, and onebat limb, it wasn¡¯t a serious issue.

    When battling multiple foes in space, what was essential was swift maneuverability and¡­

    "Long-range firepower."

    With a touch of ¡°Abyssal Hue¡± in my psychic breath, that criterion would be well-met.

    Maintaining my wings at full spread and moving horizontally, I advanced toward the oing swarm. Simultaneously, the ck carapace protecting my body began to change color.

    Purples, greens, and other hues blended and swirled across the carapace¡¯s surface like a chaotic dance of colors on a stage.

    At its end were tentacles¡ªlike a mane cascading down the back of my neck and skull¡ªilluminated in eerie, shifting hues. A foreboding, indescribable energy condensed in front of my snout, spilling from the tentacles.

    The metallic gremlins, still oblivious to the looming threat, closed in. Their bodies, once as small as dust particles in the cloud, now appeared the size of pinky nails.

    Tens of thousands of these monsters surged forward with grotesque maws wide open, aiming for me.

    I unleashed a bubble of chaos and malice at them¡ªtinypared to the universe, evenpared to myself, these minuscule orbs. The metallic gremlins didn¡¯t seem to notice.

    And then, the orb collided with an unlucky raider. It burst, like a ss sphere shattering, draping itself over the raider¡¯s form.

    That was the beginning.

    ?¡ö¡ö?!?

    The psychic breath, infused with the Abyssal Hue, was a predator even more voracious than myself. Driven by an unknown force, those bubbles wouldn¡¯t stop until every bit of organic matter nearby was consumed.

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    The first metallic gremlin was devoured by the breath, leaving not even a finger behind. The ravenous bubblestched onto itsrades as well.

    Panicking, they attempted to shake off the bubbles, but it was futile. Swipe at them, and they¡¯d strip the fingers; bite down on them, and they¡¯d invade the body, devouring organs from within.

    What started as a single victim rapidly expanded to dozens, then hundreds. Soon, the bodies of those tormented by the bubbles began to glow blue.

    "Ah, Warpboys."

    The Warpboys intended to use their signature "Warp Guide" ability to teleport their afflictedrades to another space. My secondary organs detected a surge of energy emanating from two Warpboys in the distance.

    I immediately aimed a regr psychic breath in that direction. A massive violet me filled the empty, weightless void.

    As a warp boy was preparing for faster-than-light travel, he abruptly cancelled the warp guide and swiftly moved to the side. Thanks to his quick judgement, he was able to survive. However, another warp boy failed to evade in time and was incinerated in the dragon¡¯s breath along with his kin.

    Yet, because of his sacrifice, the metallic gremlins struck by the st disappeared to somewhere far away, beyond my detection.

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö?

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö?

    Their formation shifted as quickly as when they avoided the fortress. This time, it resembled aid out to catch fish. They widened the gaps between themselves while simultaneously constructing a that could encircle me and the fortress.

    ¡®Large groups are indeed a nuisance like this.¡¯

    Just as the mid-sized group had a warp boy as its leader, therge group also had an entity that tookmand.

    ¡®Titanboss.¡¯

    Titanboss specializes in supporting its group by continuously secreting a special substance that enhances its allies. Additionally, being capable ofmanding thousands, it possesses considerable intelligence.

    ¡®I need to find it as soon as possible.¡¯

    Cynthia, who is inside the fortress, could escape at any moment. I¡¯ve sabotaged the silo to prevent the transport ship fromunching, so she must be looking for other ways out by now.

    It¡¯s impossible to hunt down thousands of metallic gremlins one by one, and it would take far too long. The only way to deal with them is to strike at their head and disrupt their formation.

    I fired an enhanced psychic breath toward the scattered gremlins. Seeing the bubble-like breath flying toward them, they quickly dispersed.

    ¡®When their formation changes rapidly, it will reveal itself.¡¯

    Even in the game, Titanboss hides among its kin during battles to protect itself. To draw it out, I need to stir up the group like I am now.

    While I searched for Titanboss, which emits micro-substances, the gremlins were preparing their counterattack. Enormous entities, over three times the size of regr metallic gremlins and with arms tainted ck, stepped forward.

    The name of that massive monster is Wolfram Goblin. As they raised their ck arms, rock-like objects were fired from their tips. The breath I shot was intercepted by the iing boulder and exploded.

    ¡®...Tch.¡¯

    Wolfram Goblins are a superior species to metallic gremlins and are responsible for long-range suppression during wars. The boulders they just fired are the excrement of the gremlins after they consumed a ship.

    It would be a mistake to underestimate their excrement; the rocks they shoot are extremely hard due to a special chemical reaction the metal undergoes, and they contain a multitude of microorganisms that corrode metal.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t concern me, but it¡¯s still bothersome.¡¯

    Thanks to Titanboss responding intelligently, my enhanced psychic breath was neutralized. The gremlins seemed intent on fighting in closebat, increasing their speed as they approached.

    As monsters that consume ships, metallic gremlins have tough and sharp teeth. A bite from one or two wouldn¡¯t cause much damage, but if thousands attacked, that would be a different story. If they clung to me and took a single bite, I would undoubtedly suffer significant injuries.

    ¡®And I have to keep an eye on the fortress behind me, too.¡¯

    Currently, they have set up a siege formation targeting both me and the fortress. Those that retreated to the back also initiatedbat against the fortress''s defenses.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to use that.¡¯

    The ability that transforms my body into a gigantic beast: ¡®Bone Beast¡¯.

    It was a card I had been saving in case of unexpected situations during the assault on the fortress.

    ¡®Now is the time to use it.¡¯

    The swarm of metallic gremlins is closing in on me.

    With grotesque mouths reminiscent of an eelcking eyes or a nose, they clung to my carapace like suction cups. They hung from my body, biting down like starving mosquitoes.

    I grabbed several of the gremlins that were clinging to my back with mybat arm. As the effect of ¡®Leeching Hand¡¯ activated, their bodies shriveled up like mummies. Repeating the same action several times, the wounds on my carapace continued to increase.

    Even as they watched their kin be mummies beside them, the gremlins desperately continued to bite me. They must believe that eventually, I would suffocate.

    But that is a mistake.

    ¡®Alright.¡¯

    As I absorbed arge amount of energy, I felt an unexpected fullness in my stomach. Feeling that sensation, I activated the Bone Beast transformation.

    ?¡ö?!?

    ?¡ö¡ö!?

    ?¡ö!?

    If you apply pressure to the part of your body where a mosquito is sucking blood, the blood rushes out all at once, causing the mosquito to burst. I¡¯ve never actually tried it, so I can¡¯t visualize what that looks like, but I can somewhat grasp the concept.

    That was exactly the situation with the metallic gremlins clinging to my body.

    My form, which reached approximately 25 meters, began to grow rapidly. The thickness of my carapace, the length of my tail, my wings and arms, my head carapace, and my tentacles¡ªall the elements that make up the Amorph expanded several times over.

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    Seeing me transform, the gremlins attempted to retreat. In an instant, Ipleted my transformation and seized the fleeing ones.

    No, ¡®seized¡¯ isn¡¯t quite the right expression. The corrosive tentacles that burst from my back merely swatted at the air as if waving a palm toward insects.

    However, the destructive force generated by my tentacles, which are 3 meters thick, was truly immense. In the wake of the tentacles, only unrecognizable chunks of flesh remained.

    The metallic gremlins, witnessing the horrific deaths of their kin, hurriedly fell back. Thousands of these cosmic marauders were now on high alert, fixated on me.

    Of course, anyone would react like that if a 25-meter creature suddenly transformed into a colossal beast measuring 80 meters.

    ¡®It¡¯s been a while since I used this.¡¯

    When I fought Jason before, I surpassed 300 meters, but I¡¯m not thatrge now. Back then, Ibined the ¡®King of Monsters¡¯ and Bone Beast; this current state is the standard transformation of the Bone Beast.

    Seeing my sudden growth, Titanboss seemed to determine that it needed to move cautiously. The other gremlins, excluding those attacking the fortress, changed their positions. The metallic gremlins maintained their distance from me, while the Wolfram Goblins stepped forward to take aim.

    ¡®Did they think they could win by keeping their distance?¡¯

    Now that I have grownrge, it would be a grave mistake to assume my breath¡¯s power remained the same as before.

    As I prepared my psychic breath, the heads of the Wolfram Goblins at the front were crushed. It wasn¡¯t just them; the nearby gremlins began to have their heads and bodies smashed as if caught in a transparentpactor.

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    While the Wolfram Goblins were thrown into confusion and retreated in panic, something small flew toward me.

    ?You look like you¡¯re having a tough time; need some help??

    The owner of the amber eyes, filled with both mischief and a warrior''s spirit, sent me a thought wave.

    Even though it had only been a few hours since Ist saw her, I felt inexplicably happy to see her again. I responded briefly.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Does this look tough to you?)]

    ?Aren''t you the one who''s okay? You just finished your stage-up, right??

    Since she wasn¡¯t wrong, I shifted the conversation.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ Z ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Are you sure you¡¯re alright? You just finished your stage-up.)]

    ?Don¡¯t worry. I feel powerful enough to fly.?

    The griffon, the Mother of the Sky, said this while spreading her brilliantly flowing, agate-colored wings wide. The shimmering jewel-like light that softly swayed along her feathers reminded me of sand in the desert being blown by the wind.

    That mysterious aura of her wings was proof that she had ascended to a higher level of divinity.

    ¡®That¡¯s a relief.¡¯

    With her by my side, there¡¯s no way we could lose. I was slightly worried about whether she would master her newfound power, but I knew she would adapt quickly.

    Tilting my massive head carapace slightly, I turned my gaze back to the metallic gremlins.

    They were taken aback by the newly appeared enemy, but that didn¡¯t mean they would retreat.

    ¡®Good posture, but¡­¡¯

    A leader responsible for many lives should know when to withdraw if necessary.

    Against the fools who made such a foolish judgment, the monster¡¯s tentacles spewed mes once more.

    This is the second round.

 Chapter 281:

    In Space Survival, the Wolf species stands out as quite unique.

    Initially, when starting in a beast-like form, their development is akin to humans or cyborgs: working as mercenaries to acquire ships, hunting for better weapons and equipment, and following a path simr to human-like species.

    But when they advance toward deification and unlock the ability to transform into mystical beasts, their ystyle bes far more varied. In beast form, they gain extraordinary physical abilities and powerful innate traits, allowing them to decimate enemies without special weaponry.

    Usually, they fight in their beastman mode but can transform into their mystical beast form when they need to overwhelm foes with raw power.

    In essence, the Wolf is a hybrid species,bining traits from both humanoid and monstrous races.

    While hybrid races in other games often end up as jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none byte game, the Wolf avoids this pitfall. This is thanks to their unique system, known as The Path of Primordials.

    As yers meet the requirements for what ismonly called deification, their mystical beast powers be stronger. Byte game, Wolf yers often fight predominantly in mystical beast form.

    Of course, by this point, the quality of the weapons and equipment used in beastman mode also improves. They take down powerful enemies with their strengthened mystical beast mode and craft rare materials into powerful gear, making Wolf characters stronger as their two modes synergize.

    However, this alsoes with the drawback of having a lot to manage. To perform well, a Wolf must master fighting both in beastman and mystical beast forms. Lacking proficiency in either results in a character that falls short in every aspect.In any case, the Mother of the Sky has advanced to the upper ranks of deification. Compared to the Amorph, she is somewhere between a sub-adult and an adult form. Herbat power is slightly lower than mine just before reaching the Dragon¡¯s Nest.

    Yet, there¡¯s one area in which she surpasses the Amorph.

    She can travel in space without restriction.

    Her wings, an entrancing agate-colored glow shimmering like drifting sand in the wind, have the allure of gemstones. Thanks to these wings, she could make it all the way here.

    ¡®It truly is a sight.¡¯

    Even with her increased level of deification, her appearance hasn''t drastically transformed like the Amorph¡¯s. The head of a white-tailed eagle, the body of a lion with golden fur¡ªaside from the wings, she¡¯s mostly unchanged.

    But one thing is certain.

    Seeing her fly, fighting with those beautiful wings, is astonishingly majestic.

    The Griffin with agate wings soars amidst a swarm of metallic gremlins. The silver-colored gremlins lunge to bite, yet not a single one could touch a hair on her.

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    Some metallic gremlins jumped ahead, anticipating her path. Unfazed, she swung the golden spear held in her beak.

    ?¡ö?!?

    There was no way that rabble could withstand the Priestess¡¯s Golden Spear, soaked in the blood of countless lives. In one strike, she cut three metallic gremlins in half and gracefully slipped out of the enemy¡¯s encirclement.

    ?¡ö¡ö!?

    Then, Wolfram Goblins behind her raised their arms, aiming in her direction.

    ''Not on my watch.''

    I extended my winged arms fully. My membrane, folded like the sails of a ship, opened wide. With a powerful beat of my wings, now three times their size, my body surged forward at a terrifying speed.

    The metallic gremlins ranged from 30 to 80 centimeters, while my current body size approaches a hundred times that. Spread out with wings, I appear several timesrger.

    And whenbined with the propulsion from my wings? The resulting destructive power is beyond imagination.

    In a sh, my body collided with the silver swarm.

    Like silver paint sttered on ck canvas, my shell shimmered silver¡ªall from their blood. The force of our collision shattered them to pieces.

    Skewered on my head horns and tusks at the sides of my mouth, the Wolfram Goblins dangled like meat on a spit. Some fell into my mouth.

    Had they not been Alloy-Skinned Wolfram Goblins, this would have ended worse for them. As it is, they fared better than the lesser metallic gremlins, who¡¯d have been reduced to a puddle.

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    A Warpboy began preparing a Warp Guide, panicked at the sight of his kind turned to pulp. Hidden tendrils of mine, corrupted and ready, swiftly reacted,unching toward him. They were long, even beyond my body length.

    ?¡ö¡ö?!?

    His mistake was not ounting for my size, muchrger than before using Bone Beast. The corrupted tendrils didn¡¯t just capture him¡ªthey devoured the silver monsters around him as well.

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    Silver scavengers who narrowly escaped climbed atop my body. Hundreds of metallic gremlins clung to me, biting down.

    As I shook to throw them off, they suddenly burst like mosquitoes pped against a hand. Those watching theirrades crushed by some invisible force stopped biting and scrambled off.

    The force didn¡¯t spare them. The runaways twisted and shriveled one by one.

    ¡®It¡¯s the Mother of the Sky.¡¯

    I nced at her from nearby as she fought. From the edges of her wings, minute particles spread into space.

    This is her new power, gained with her advanced deification.

    ¡®The ability to manipte pressure.¡¯

    Within the range of those particles, she can create or control pressure on any object. The metallic gremlins twist and are crushed when they touch or identally inhale these particles.

    Though these creatures can survive without oxygen, there¡¯s no way to endure extreme internal pressure distortions. Even the tough skin of the Wolfram Goblins is helpless before these particles.

    ¡®Though, yers don¡¯t usually rate this power too highly.¡¯

    The ability is indeed powerful, but the fact that the particles are visible bes a major drawback. Enemies can avoid the areas where the particles are spread. This means that for the wolf with pressure-control abilities, the key is to find a way to conceal it and lure the enemies into range.

    However, those metallic gremlins don¡¯t know this. Ignorant of the particle''s danger, they charged headlong and were annihted.

    The Mother of the Sky, who had smashed the gremlins that attacked me, flew close, scattering particles around.

    ?Was that an unnecessary intervention??

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ (No. It was perfectly timed support.)]

    She shrugged, eyes fixed on the silver predators.

    ?Still not thinning out. I suppose we¡¯ll have to locate their leader??

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Yes. We need to capture it as soon as possible.)]

    ?Because of the fortress??

    Behind us, Kesha Arma, under the control of PS-111, was battling the metallic gremlins. The Mother of the Sky seemed concerned about the fortress copsing, but my worry was elsewhere.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (A high-ranking one is in the fortress.)]

    ?What??

    [ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (I subdued it, but who knows when it might escape.)]

    ?¡­So, we need to drive these creatures away first, don¡¯t we??

    Her amber eyes narrowed. She¡¯d been through enough to understand well what could happen if Cynthia escaped.

    ?I don¡¯t know who it is, but I won¡¯t just let them run wild.?

    [ZZZ (Right.)]

    ?But if it¡¯s a Titan Boss, it won¡¯t reveal itself easily. Do you have a n??

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (I¡¯ll scatter them. You focus on finding it.)]

    The Mother of the Sky has the best eyesight among us. If anyone can spot the Titan Boss hiding from my sensors, it would be her.

    Understanding my intent, she nodded. Moving slightly ahead, I prepared a means to sow chaos among the enemies.

    Meanwhile, they re-formed their formation, extending into a long line like a snake, bypassing us to head toward the fortress. Perhaps they decided fighting us would incur too many losses.

    ¡®I won¡¯t let them do as they please.¡¯

    I unleashed a psychic breath at the tail of the gremlin-snake formation. The energy exhaled by this massive 80-meter beast far surpassed the mes of a mythical dragon.

    It was like the res emitted by the sun.

    ¡®The energy cost is enormous, as expected.¡¯

    As a tremendous amount of energy drained away, dizziness overtook me. Since gaining the dragon¡¯s heart, I hadn¡¯t expended this much energy in such a short time, except when fighting the Gorgon Swarm.

    The gargantuan psychic breath, like a violet sr re, raced toward the silver snake near Kesha Arma.

    Even a body robust enough to fight fleets meant nothing before these mythic mes. The tail of the snake was incinerated instantly by overwhelming force.

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    ?¡ö!?

    Even for the fearless metallic gremlins, the death of thousands of their kind shocked them. Many abandoned their formation in a panic.

    Some held their ground, but they, too, felt the same fear. The body of the now-headless snake glowed blue as they prepared for hyperspace travel to regroup.

    I urgently called out to the Mother of the Sky.

    [ZZZ (Have you found it?)]

    ?I¡¯m still searching!?

    It seemed I would need to get closer. Grabbing her with abat limb, I charged toward the swarm.

    [ZZZ ZZ (There¡¯s no time left.)]

    ?I know!?

    This time, none of them lunged at me with bared fangs. The psychic breath had so shaken the Titan Boss¡¯s control that theycked the strength to confront me.

    ¡®But they¡¯ll recover soon enough.¡¯

    The metallic gremlins¡¯ minds are simple, far from theplexity of typical organisms. Even after the death of thousands, the tens of thousands still alive would quickly ovee their fear.

    As I flew through the creatures surrounding me, the Mother of the Sky tapped mybat limb with her forepaw.

    ?That way!?

    In the direction she indicated, a small creature blended into the darkness of space itself¡ªa metallic gremlin with a skin ck as a ck hole, unlike its silver kin. This was their leader, the Titan Boss.

    Releasing the Mother of the Sky, I extended a corroding tendril toward it, smashing aside the silver creatures blocking my path as I reached out with six gripping appendages to seize it.

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    Just as I was about to grab it, the creature glowed blue and disappeared. A warp boy behind it had whisked the leader away. Instead, my tendril devoured the warp boy.

    ?Predation activated!?

    ¡®Where did it go?¡¯

    The notification of predation shed, but I had no time for that now. The creature was the leader of this horde and had to be somewhere nearby.

    The Auxiliary organ beneath my jaw detected its presence about 200 meters behind me.

    I was about to react, but someone moved faster.

    The Mother of the Sky had alreadyunched herself toward it, spear clenched in her jaws.

    Her spear grazed it as it aimed for its neck.

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    ?Tch! Too shallow!?

    The attack aimed at its neck had only grazed its chest. The Titan Boss vanished again, along with all the metallic gremlins around us.

    They reappeared some distance away, cloaked in blue light.

    ?¡­It¡¯s my fault. I should have moved faster.?

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ (No, it wasn¡¯t.)]

    The Mother of the Sky had urately anticipated their teleportation point and acted faster than I did. She had no reason to me herself.

    ¡®This just got annoying.¡¯

    Having narrowly escaped, the Titan Boss would now be even harder to catch if it started behaving cautiously.

    ¡®A different strategy this time¡­.¡¯

    I was devising a new approach when the metallic gremlins¡¯ movements became erratic.

    ¡®Hm?¡¯

    ?What¡¯s up with them??

    Even the Mother of the Sky tilted her head at the odd behavior.

    Though they had previously moved in a disciplined manner even under the psychic breath¡¯s impact, they now appearedpletely different.

    ¡®Are they scared?¡¯

    The Titan Boss was indeed wounded, but it was still intact.

    So their erratic movements were still under its influence, as if the leader¡¯s personality had changed suddenly. Where they once acted like an army, now they resembled a mob of wild beasts.

    ¡®Well, this works in my favor.¡¯

    With them scattering, I could inflict severe damage.

    Just as I was about to resume my attack, the silvery cloud they formed glowed blue and then vanished entirely.

    The ones attacking the fortress behind us also disappeared.

    ?They¡¯ve left.?

    The metallic gremlin swarm that had besieged Kesha Arma finally retreated.

    With that, the intense battle inside the fortress also came to an end.

    ¡®Not quite. One still remains.¡¯

    Cynthia, the cult leader in the fortress.

    Our fight with her is yet toe.

 Chapter 282:

    After the metallic gremlins withdrew, the barrier protecting the fortress deactivated. The Mother of the Sky and I returned to the fortress through the military port.

    ?Where should I go??

    Once inside, the Mother of the Sky transformed from her winged griffon form back to her humanoid appearance.

    Her back, still adorned with wings interwoven with dense muscles, was significantly smaller than in her griffon state, now only reaching down to her thighs when folded. The movement of her wings retained the same flowing, jade-like sheen.

    With the golden spear of the priestess resting on her shoulder, she asked me.

    ¡®Under normal circumstances, we¡¯d head to the secondmand center...¡¯

    I doubted Cynthia would be idling around the ruined silo; she had likely moved to catch a transport from anothermand center.

    ¡®She¡¯d have gone to the firstmand center.¡¯

    Being a cult ranker, she would know theyout of Kesha Arma just as well as I did. There¡¯s no way she wouldn¡¯t understand the implications of her recent oxygen shortage, realizing that I¡¯d already seized the thirdmand center, which oversees the fortress¡¯s life-support systems.She would likely have moved to the firstmand center, which she¡¯d judge as the safest option.

    ¡®She¡¯s probably already battling with them by now.¡¯

    In the heat of battle, I¡¯d asked Number 26 to apany Adhai to target the firstmand center. If Cynthia headed there, they would have encountered her by now.

    ¡®Together, they won¡¯t win easily, but they won¡¯t lose either.¡¯

    Both Number 26 and Adhai are formidable psychic creatures¡ªthe Sea Demon and the Red Gagon. Against the cult, they¡¯re practically the worst matchups imaginable.

    If Cynthia possessed the overwhelming firepower of someone like Jason, it¡¯d be dangerous, but shecks that kind of offensive capability.

    [ZZZZ ZZ (Let¡¯s head to the firstmand center.)]

    I sent a wave ofmunication to the Mother of the Sky, retrieving the membrane concealed in the armored segment of my winged arms. Since ¡®Bone Beast¡¯ was still active, my body remained massive. Like sails on a ship, the membrane unfurled widely, and everything around me was forced back by its sheer breadth.

    ?You¡¯re really huge.?

    With a small expression of awe, she spread her own wings alongside me. Though smaller than in her griffon form, her wings were still breathtaking as she took off ahead of me.

    Following her lead, I began to p my wings as well. My enormous wingspan, over 100 meters, sent everything beneath me scattering.

    Each wingbeat shattered ruined buildings, lifting fallen corpses into the air. Among the debris, there was even a hover bus, split in half, which crashed onto a nearby structure.

    It didn¡¯t take long for a long, cylindrical building toe into view as we flew over the devastated areas. Wended in front of the firstmand center, enclosed by a barrier.

    ?Looks like they¡¯re already fighting inside??

    Just as she said, there was arge drill-like hole in the barrier, and faint screams of pirates and gunfire drifted from within.

    ¡®I should probably widen the entrance...¡¯

    Just as I gripped the edge of the hole with my winged arms to expand it, the sounds from within abruptly stopped. An all-too-familiar wave and thought pulse emanated, tickling my monster¡¯s tendrils.

    ?It feels like the Little One!?

    ?Big One? ?Right? ?Let¡¯s go?

    ?Yes! Let¡¯s go!?

    Momentster, they appeared. Number 26, likely in the midst of battle, was in itsrger form, while Adhai¡¯s head and front legs were stained red.

    ?Little One is huge!?

    ?Big One? ?Transformation??

    [ZZ (Yes.)]

    Having seen me use ¡®Bone Beast¡¯ a few times, they weren¡¯t surprised by my massive size.

    But it was their first time seeing the Mother of the Sky with wings, and both showed signs of awe.

    ?Does the Medium One have wings too? Do they grow in after evolution??

    ?Yes. Just like you said, the wings developed after growth.?

    ?Fascinating! I want wings too!?

    ?Ugly friend? ?Slightly? ?Improved?

    ?Maybe you could drop the ¡®ugly¡¯ part now.?

    ?Tail? ?Thin? ?Still ugly?

    ?¡­You promised to protect me, and yet you just up and left withments like that??

    ?Anyway? ?Growth? ?Almost? ?Complete? ?Knew it? ?That¡¯s why? ?I left?

    ?Not conceding a single point, are you??

    They seemed quite taken by the Mother of the Sky¡¯s new appearance. Number 26 tentatively touched her wings with the tip of its tentacle in fascination. Despite her earlierments, Adhai circled around her, asionally nodding in approval.

    ¡®I thought you were in the middle of a fight?¡¯

    ncing behind them, I saw bodies strewn about, their original forms barely recognizable. Cynthia couldn¡¯t possibly be dead already, which meant she hadn¡¯t arrived here yet.

    Focusing my auxiliary senses, I couldn¡¯t detect any signs of life.

    ¡®Where did she go? Could she have gone somewhere else?¡¯

    [ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZ (On your way here, did you encounter any strong foes?)]

    ?A strong foe??

    [Z ZZ ZZZZ (Yes, the one I fought.)]

    Since Number 26 had been with me during the battle before breaking away, it should remember Cynthia. If she¡¯s hiding elsewhere, it¡¯ll be difficult to locate her.

    But its response was beyond anything I could have expected.

    ?Little One and I taught a bad guy a lesson!?

    [ZZ (Huh?)]

    ?Little One smashed a bad guy who was wearing a hard shell and pping around!?

    ?Agreed? ?Star¡¯s power? ?Used? ?Horned human? ?Attacked? ?But? ?Horned human? ?Used strange power? ?Didn¡¯t die?

    ?So I hit them like this! Bam! Bam!?

    Number 26 shifted one of its thick tentacles into a new form. The tentacle thinned out, sharp as a needle hanging from a thread, and as it pierced through the air, a sharp sound echoed.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (The two of you killed Cynthia?)]

    The surprising answer demanded rification.

    ?Yeah. We taught her a lesson and ate her.?

    ?Delicious? ?Stable?

    ?Yes! She was delicious!?

    ?Hold on. You¡¯re telling me the two of you killed and ate a Ranker??

    [ZZ (Yes)]

    Judging by their reactions, it seemed they had indeed defeated Cynthia¡ªnot just subdued her or held her off. They had killed her and devoured every part of her.

    ¡®Come to think of it, those Metallic Gremlins¡­¡¯

    Just before fleeing, the ones that charged at us like maniacs started acting oddly. I had thought it was simply due to fear of the psychic breath attack.

    But now it seemed like it had less to do with that and more to do with something else. When Cynthia died, whatever tool she¡¯d been using to summon the Metallic Gremlins must have malfunctioned.

    ¡®Good grief.¡¯

    Even though the Sea Demon and Red Gagonbo was an effective counter to her, Cynthia was still a Ranker. She¡¯d hunted boss-level creatures many times before and would¡¯ve known effective strategies to deal with them.

    I assumed they would hold her off, not kill her and eat her whole.

    ¡®Wow. The two of them actually took down a Ranker.¡¯

    With that thought, a peculiar emotion began to rise within me.

    Was I upset because they¡¯d cost me a special advantage by devouring her? Or was it the loss of a valuable informant?

    No, none of that. This emotion wasn¡¯t connected to anything negative like anger or regret.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Both of you did well. Truly impressive.)]

    It was¡­ joy.

    ?Wow! The Big One praised us!?

    ?I? ?am amazing? ?The Great Adhai!?

    The surge of emotion from my words delighted them. Number 26, oblivious to its increased size, was jumping up and down in ce, and Adhai hopped up onto my back, bouncing gleefully.

    Honestly, I did regret losing Cynthia''s advantage and information, but the growth these two disyed was worth far more.

    They had managed to trap Cynthia all on their own, without my help or guidance. That meant something significant.

    There was no telling how many more Rankers we would face. Right now, I was up against two factions: Jason¡¯s faction and Cynthia¡¯s, known as the ¡°Returners.¡± I didn¡¯t yet know how many members they each had, but it was likely no small number.

    ¡®If they can reach Ranker-level skill, future fights will be much easier.¡¯

    That practical realization coexisted with a hard-to-describe feeling.

    Once, long ago, as a child, I had imitated an actor in front of my parents.

    My mother, who was a famous actress at the time and a strict person, had been different that day.

    For once, the usually expressionless woman looked at me and, without a word, smiled. Not the performative smile she showed to reporters or wore on set, but a real, genuine smile.

    ¡®¡­I was really happy back then.¡¯

    Why was I thinking of that rare smile of hers now?

    Maybe this feeling I had was simr to what my mother felt watching me back then.

    ?So, are there no more threats now??

    It was the Mother of the Sky¡¯s telepathic message that snapped me out of my reflection.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ (Yes, the Ranker is dead.)]

    ?Judging by the state of this fortress, it looks like the crew hunting for the gene essences is also taken care of. Now we just need to deal with the remaining pirates.?

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (PS-111 has taken control of the life-support system. They won¡¯tst much longer.)]

    ?¡­You did the same thing here as in the game??

    [ZZ ZZZZZ (It¡¯s efficient.)]

    The remaining pirates and survivors in the fortress were effectively on borrowed time. Anyone in an enhanced suit would have oxygen capsules to hold out a bit longer, but even then, only for a few extra minutes.

    Once they were dealt with, there would be no reason to stay here.

    ¡®The conditions for adult evolution are already met.¡¯

    Thanks to plundering the underground storage, I now had all the unique traits needed to create the two I needed for synthesis. Onceplete, I could finally evolve into my adult form.

    ¡®Ah, speaking of, I remember a certain trait from earlier.¡¯

    Thinking about the traits triggered a memory I¡¯d nearly forgotten.

    I had managed to get a trait from a Warp Boy while trying to capture a Titan Boss.

    Because of Cynthia, I hadn¡¯t had the time to confirm it. There were only a few minutes left before the trait would automatically cancel.

    I opened the message box right away.

    ?Devour effect activated! ¡®Warp Creature¡¯ gene essence sessfully obtained.?

    ?Acquired the biological trait ¡®Warp Creature¡¯ from ¡®Warp Boy¡¯.?

    ?Would you like to apply ¡®Warp Creature¡¯??

    ¡®Oh?¡¯

    In such a short time, yet another unexpected twist.

    The ¡®Warp Creature¡¯ trait was practically essential for an Amorph, an incredibly useful trait. It drastically reduces the time needed to prepare for faster-than-light travel.

    ¡®An invaluable trait for escape.¡¯

    Now that I had the ¡®Monster¡¯s Reinforced Wings¡¯, I could perform solo faster-than-light travel. But I avoided using it duringbat because preparing for faster-than-light travel was incredibly slow¡ªnearly five minutes of beingpletely immobilized and vulnerable to attack.

    Obtaining the Warp Creature trait would cut that preparation time in half.

    ¡®To get such a valuable trait here, of all ces.¡¯

    The chances of getting the Warp Creature trait from a Warp Boy were low, so I hadn¡¯t expected much, but I dly epted it.

    And then¡­.

    ?¡®Jason (Jason Tunningham)¡¯¡¯s special attribute in the Token Storage can be fused with ¡®Warp Creature¡¯.?

    ?This trait qualifies for the Trait Enhancement System. Would you like to use it??

    The message box disyed yet another unexpected option.

 Chapter 283:

    "This...?"

    The message in the textbox pertained to a new Trophy of the Foe.

    After consuming Jason, I¡¯d gained three unique abilities from him. Two had already fused with my existing traits, bing ¡®Abyssal Hue¡¯ and ¡®Form Mastery¡¯.

    One, however, remained iplete due to theck of a matching trait. Beforeing to this fortress, I had acquired numerous traits, yet none had matched the requirements.

    I¡¯d almost forgotten about it, but now, here it was.

    "Could it be... a Warp Creature?"

    One possibility came to mind¡ªJason''s teleportation ability.

    He¡¯d attempted to teleport when I decapitated him, resulting in only his body being transported away.

    In the arsenal of psychic powers, there¡¯s no technique that instantly moves one across long distances. Powers only permit enhanced speed or the movement of allied beings within proximity.Nor does any wearable equipment, apart from warships, enable long-distance teleportation. The closest known device is ¡®The Harmonizer¡¯, a rare Quest reward.

    Assuming Jason didn¡¯t invent equipment from thin air, this unique ability likely linked to his teleportation skill. Conveniently, the matching trait I now had, ¡®Warp Creature¡¯, cuts down preparation time for hyper-light navigation.

    "Might as well try it out and see."

    Trophies of the Foe are also eligible for trait enhancement. I could consume up to ten traits to make a more potent version of the Trophy.

    "Just in time."

    Before obtaining an internal-organ-type upgrade, I took in every trait I could to increase my trait pool. Consequently, I have a considerable amount stored.

    With the first-tier reward for the Cosmic Monster Type, ¡®Essence Rearrangement¡¯, I can keep any acquired type permanently. Sacrificing unnecessary traits here should be fine.

    "Not all, though. Five should do."

    I still need to synthesize two unique traitster, so there¡¯s no point in spending them all now.

    I set five material traits: Heat Dissipation Secretions and Thermal Emission, which I don¡¯t need, along with Digestive Secretion Enhancement, which is easy to acquire again. Then, I added Muscle Reinforcement and Bone Density Enhancement.

    Once I selected the five traits, the Trophy of the Foe system activated.

    ?Fusing ¡®Jason (Jason Turningham)¡¯s unique ability with ¡®Warp Creature¡¯... ¡ö???? Trait Enhancement System engaged!?

    ?Evolved into the trait ¡®Starlight Coordinate¡¯!?

    ?Starlight Coordinate: Allows instantaneous transportation of items or allied beings to a set coordinate, or for hyper-light navigation.

    *Warning: Following use, you will be immobilized for a minimum of one minute. Therger the item, the longer you¡¯ll remain immobile.

    *Note: Even those who mapped the stars couldn¡¯t fathom that something could traverse between them so freely.?

    "Starlight Coordinate?"

    It is rted to teleportation, though not quite what I expected.

    "An ability that transports others?"

    In Space Survival, only two creatures can transfer another being. This new Trophy of the Foe trait mimicked the ability unique to those two.

    "I have to test it immediately."

    Since I can¡¯t confirm hyper-light navigation at the moment, I¡¯ll test the teleportation function first. I picked up a broken gun lying nearby.

    "Now, how do I use it?"

    I¡¯d chosen the object, but the method of teleportation wasn¡¯t clear.

    Wondering if it worked like ¡®Nightmare Horizon¡¯, which uses a corrosive tentacle, I extended one, but it had no effect. I tried unfurling my wings as in hyper-light navigation, but nothing happened.

    "How do I...?"

    As I puzzled over it, my auxiliary organ beneath my chin twitched as my fingers neared the gun. The organ¡¯s tip pointed toward the gun, causing a textbox to appear.

    ?Object detected as transportable. You will be immobilized for ¡®1 minute¡¯ post-transport.?

    "So the auxiliary organ designates it."

    This organ now served a third purpose: selecting teleportation targets. After designating the object to move, I lifted my gaze.

    "Up there should do."

    I focused on the area above themand deck covered by a barrier wall, visualizing the spot as I would in hyper-light navigation. My auxiliary organ glowed a vibrant blue, and, in resonance, the gun turned the same color before vanishing from between my fingers.

    "Let¡¯s check¡ªah."

    When I tried looking up to confirm the transport, my body wouldn¡¯t respond. Though my mind was alert, I couldn¡¯t move a single muscle, as though trapped in sleep paralysis.

    Momentster, I heard the gunnd nearby with a clink.

    ?Huh??

    ?Big One? ?Shrimp? ?Item? ?Disappeared?

    ?Is Big One sleepy? Why¡¯re you standing so still??

    ?Seems like it¡¯s testing something. Let¡¯s give it a moment.?

    ?Alright.?

    Seeing me frozen like this puzzled them. Mother of the Sky sensed I was testing a newly acquired power.

    They all waited calmly, and after a minute, control over my body returned in waves. I shook my head slightly.

    "One minute, with a bit ofg."

    For one full minute, I was entirely immobile, and even afterward, I needed several more seconds for my body to fully reanimate.

    "I¡¯ll need to think carefully if I want to use this mid-battle."

    Though "Starlight Coordinate" could be extremely useful, the immobilization made it a high-risk ability.

    "Should I try it on something else?"

    The textbox states the immobilization duration extends withrger objects. Beyond that, there¡¯s no other apparent restriction.

    "Could I even transport this fortress?"

    I lowered myself to bring the auxiliary organ closer to the floor.

    ?Detected transportable ¡®Object¡¯. Post-transport, you will be immobilized for ¡®6872 hours¡¯.?

    "Guess not."

    After seeing the message about the 6,000-hour immobilization period, I gave up. Time wasn¡¯t the only issue¡ªbeing fully conscious yet unable to move for that long would be pure torment.

    Unless there¡¯s a way to shorten the time, moving massive objects will have to wait.

    "Next is transporting allied beings."

    In the current setting, the system prevents any friendly beings from associating with the Amorph¡ªsave for one exception.

    "It¡¯s probably referring to hosts imnted with symbiotic spores", the Amorph thought.

    While not explicitly stated in the text box, that assumption seemed reasonable. It nudged the symbiotes closer using the auxiliary organ under its jaw.

    ?It tickles!?

    ?What¡¯s going on???What¡¯s going on??

    ?¡­Hey, wait a second. Why so sudden??

    Each creature reacted differently, and the messages in the text box shifted ordingly.

    Number 26 and Adhai were marked as friendly, but not Mother of the Sky. Likely because the symbiotic spores were forcibly released during her deification process.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Give me a moment. I need help with an experiment.)]

    ?Next time, tell me in advance.?

    The Amorph re-imnted the symbiotic spores into Mother of the Sky and prepared the Starlight Coordinates. A blue light settled over the golden fur covering her body, and she vanished from view.

    At the same time, a sh of blue light, like the glint of hyperspace travel, sparked atop a crumbling building, and she reappeared.

    ?This feels like a Warp Guide. Is it a little different??

    ?Wow! How¡¯d you do that??

    ?Ugly friend??Power of the stars??Can I use it???Amazing?

    She spread her wings and flew toward them from atop the building, while Number 26 and Adhai chattered excitedly, fascinated by the teleportation.

    ?Seems like there¡¯s some restrictions.?

    As the Amorph was still under a movement penalty, Mother of the Sky raised an eyebrow. Once the one-minute penalty ended, it nodded in bted agreement.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ (It¡¯s a trait that can teleport beings or objects. It also allows hyperspace travel.)]

    ?But you can¡¯t move afterward, as the cost??

    [ZZZ (Precisely.)]

    ?Hmm. Could be useful for surprise attacks or when we¡¯re short on ships.?

    As expected of a high-ranking strategist, she quickly grasped both the pros and cons.

    Just as the Amorph was about to discuss the Starlight Coordinates with her, Number 26 nudged it with a tentacle.

    ?Big one! I want it too. Give it to me.?

    [ZZ (Hm?)]

    ?I want to pop in and out! Like, ta-da!?

    ?I??Curious??Me too?

    With their reactions in mind, the Amorph figured further testing of the Starlight Coordinates was in order.

    After that.

    The experiments with the new trait wrapped up just as the Bone Beast effect faded.

    The creatures seemed thoroughly satisfied with the, well, experimental results, if not pure enjoyment.

    "As long as they¡¯re happy", it thought.

    From the process, it gleaned insights that weren¡¯t in the text box. For instance, the penalty duration after teleportation was influenced by its body size. There was a notable difference between the penalty time when it stretched to 80 meters as the Bone Beast and when it returned to its original size.

    "Should I look for a way to increase my size?"

    Upon reaching its mature form, it would growrger, but it still wouldn¡¯t be able to transport massive structures like the fortress. To drastically reduce the penalty time, alternative methods would be necessary.

    It decided to end its analysis of the new Apex Trait here.

    "There¡¯s still more work to be done."

    Shrinking back to a smaller form, it crawled into the concealed barrier.

    [ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ (Is anyone left inside?)]

    ?Little one??Still here??Yes?

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (Let¡¯s finish here and go retrieve PS-111.)]

    ?Yes! And let¡¯s bring some food too, in case our friend is hungry!?

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Food, huh. There should be a storage area here. Let¡¯s look for it.)]

    ?Storage area???What¡¯s that??

    ?I know! It¡¯s a ce full of tasty prey!?

    ?Ah, finally, some food for humans.?

    [ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ (Let¡¯s load whatever¡¯s left onto the ship.)]

    ?Thank you.?

    They chatted as they searched through themand center.

    Hiding pirates and survivors attacked, but the oue didn¡¯t change. Whether it was Command Center One or Command Center Three, every moving being but them was cleansed.

    Kesha Arma, once the jewel of the Cult Empire, the mighty fortress in the cosmos, was emptied of everyst human in less than a day.

    After cleaning up, the Amorph and its allies boarded the ship and departed the fortress.

    Right after they left, the fortress plummeted toward a nearby mining. Before they departed, PS-111 had damaged the fortress¡¯s reactor, ensuring it wouldn¡¯t remain in orbit.

    With all traces of their involvement erased, no one would discover the culprit behind Kesha Arma¡¯s downfall.

    As the fortress exploded in the background, the pirate vessel under PS-111¡¯s control entered hyperspace.

    Feeling the flow of energy inside the ship, the Amorphy sprawled on the cargo hold floor.

    The hold¡¯s appearance had changed significantly since their arrival at Kesha Arma. New containers, filled with provisions from themand center, now upied the space. The rigidified human statues had been pushed to one side.

    "Now, then, the only thing left is¡­."

    Nibbling on one of the statues like candy, the Amorph opened a translucent text box.

    ?''Sub-Adult'' -> ''Adult''

    APEX Completion: 30/30

    Unique Traits Acquired: 8/10 (Unmet)

    Acquired Types: 6/6 (Met)?

    ?¡®Transcendence¡¯ Material List: Reinforced Skull, Gagon Horn, Spine Bristle Tail, Protein Assimtion Mechanism, Clustered Skin Tissue?

    ?¡®Transcendence¡¯ Material List: Reinforced Large Tail, Bioelectric Emission Tube, Explosive Fluid Projector, Destructive Sonic Waves, Spore Cannon?

    Bypleting these two traits, it would fulfill all requirements for adult evolution.

    ¡®Just a step away from adulthood.¡¯

    This final threshold remained before evolution. Feeding in the reinforced trait materials, the Amorph selected synthesis.

    Mucous flowed from its body, and slowly, its consciousness sank into the ooze.

    ---

    A dead erupted in mes. The metallic fortress that once orbited the had met its end.

    Hundreds of sensory organs, observing the scene, turned in unison.

    The ones who killed the fortress had left, fading into endless darkness, leaving only a trace of blue light.

    [The brood has perished.]

    [The one who killed it is dangerous.]

    [Predator?]

    [Yes, ¡®Predator.¡¯]

    [Shall we pursue the Predator?]

    [Her Majesty said, ¡®The Predator is stronger than the Queen.¡¯ Thus, we shall not pursue.]

    [Report the brood¡¯s death to Her Majesty.]

    [The Queen is vital to the colony. Return at once.]

    Having received the desired response, the ¡®Queen¡¯ retracted her sensory organs¡ªthe ¡°hundreds of eyes¡± extending from her shell. As the eyes receded, her body began to glow a faint blue.

    Her kin hade from the far reaches of an endless universe.

    Humans called them the beings from beyond¡ªthe Outsiders.

    And in the space left by the Outsider Queen, only a lingering blue halo remained.

 Chapter 284:

    "¡ö¡ö, what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Huh?

    A familiar voice woke me up. In front of me, I saw a table filled with appetizing dishes and white tes.

    Alongside, I felt the cool sensation of a fork in my hand. The sight of it brought an odd sense of unfamiliarity.

    ¡°¡­Is something wrong? It¡¯s been a while since Ist cooked, so I¡¯m honestly a bit uncertain.¡±

    ¡°I even used expensive Korean beef, so it¡¯d be disappointing if you don¡¯t like it.¡±

    ¡°Do you really need to bring that up, even today? You used to say the same thing¡­¡±

    ¡°No! Dad! I was just a little distracted!¡±

    Just like before, my parents were on the verge of a quarrel.Quickly, I stabbed the bread on the table with my fork. With a crisp sound, the bread broke, and rich juices oozed from its gaps.

    Drawn by that intense aroma, I grabbed the bread with my bare hands and shoved it into my mouth. It was so hot it should¡¯ve burned me, but the taste was so overwhelming I couldn¡¯t even notice the heat.

    ¡°Are you eating with your hands? What¡¯s the fork for?¡±

    ¡°So? How is it? Delicious, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    After enthusiastically chewing and swallowing, I silently raised my thumb.

    Seeing that, Dad grinned widely.

    ¡°Well, you already got my present. Now it¡¯s your mom¡¯s turn.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°A present?¡±

    Surprised, I stopped sucking my fingers, savoring every drop of the juice.

    My mother rarely ever gave me presents. Ever since I¡¯d been in the hospital, it had been hard just to see her, since she was a famous actress, always busy.

    ¡°A present from Mom?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Even I was surpris¡ªoh, wait a moment. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    Dad stepped outside with his phone, leaving just Mom and me in the kitchen. After a brief hesitation, Mom pulled something out from under the table.

    Arge box decorated with an illustration of a headgear-like device¡ªa VR headset I knew well from all the advertisements. I stared at the present in my hands, dazed.

    ¡°I asked my manager what¡¯s popr these days and bought it for you.¡±

    Her voice sounded slightly awkward, unlike her usual tone. I was left speechless.

    ¡°Cost a lot for such a trivial thing¡­wait, are you crying?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Just as she said, I could feel warm liquid streaming from my eyes. I wiped them with the back of my hand, but the tears wouldn¡¯t stop.

    Of course, I was happy to receive a present, but not enough to cry. So why am I like this?

    ¡°Hey!¡±

    I set the gift down and hurried to the bathroom. I heard Mom¡¯s worried voice, but I couldn¡¯t look back.

    Once I locked the bathroom door, I turned on the faucet.

    The sound of the running water gradually calmed my racing emotions.

    I think I understand why I reacted that way just now.

    Having spent most of my childhood in the hospital, I¡¯d always dreamed of spending a happy time with my family. Everyone sitting around the table, sharing a meal in a warm, cheerful atmosphere. When that dream seemed toe true, I unconsciously started crying.

    I sshed water on my face and looked in the mirror.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    There was a small sticky note in the corner of the mirror. It had three characters written on it.

    The moment my finger instinctively touched the note, the bathroom plunged into darkness.

    The water on my face turned into a sticky mucus, and the clothes I wore morphed into a suffocating cocoon that tightened around me.

    ¡®What was that just now?¡¯

    Up until now, all the visions I¡¯d seen in the cocoon were fragments of past memories.

    But this time, it felt different.

    In my memories, there was never a time when my family had happily shared a meal together. Both Dad and Mom were always too busy. By the time I¡¯d entered college, they were living separately.

    ¡®And thest thing.¡¯

    That sticky note.

    It felt like an important word, but I couldn¡¯t remember it. Like it had beenpletely erased, leaving just that part nk.

    ¡®¡­Will I be able to see it again when I evolve into my adult form?¡¯

    Since I¡¯d seen visions every time I entered the cocoon, I should be able to see it againter.

    I tore open the cocoon and emerged outside.

    As I felt the cool air, the sight in front of me was a container with its doors wide open, and there, standing at the entrance, was the griffion woman.

    The Mother of the Sky was just about to take a bite of the apple in her hand when she noticed me and met my gaze.

    ?¡­What? Why??

    She gave me a look as if I¡¯d caught her sneaking in some midnight ramen and bit into the apple with a crunch.

    [ZZ ZZZ (You could have just told me sooner)]

    ?How could I, when I know exactly what you¡¯re thinking? You¡¯ve been wanting to evolve as quickly as possible.?

    She was right.

    Since leaving the Dragon¡¯s Nest, I had scoured countless ces to gather gic essences. Given that MegaCorp and the Star Union rankers were now aware of my existence, there was no telling when they mighte after me.

    Besides, those who opposed me were always the top powers within their own ranks. To stand against them, I, too, had to reach my adult form.

    I couldn¡¯t deny the urgency she noted in my actions.

    [ZZZ (What about the others?)]

    ?They went outside with PS-111. Said they wanted to watch it eat metal.?

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZZZ (Looks like they¡¯ve already arrived.)]

    No wonder I hadn¡¯t felt any slight vibrations along the inner walls of the ship.

    The ship hadnded on a nameless dwarf. Before attacking Kesha Arma, I¡¯d been looking for a ce where I could evolve into my adult form without interference.

    This was far enough from its star that barely any light reached it. Its crust wasposed of ice and metal, and the thin atmosphere made it uninhabitable for most life forms.

    Before heading to Kesha Arma, I scouted this ce thoroughly to confirm if it was suitable for evolution.

    And the results were favorable.

    On this small, dark, I would be an adult.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Tell the others when theye back.)]

    ?Aren¡¯t you going to wait for them??

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (I¡¯ll be going into the cocoon soon, so there¡¯s no need to wait.]

    I shook off the sticky mucus clinging to me and stood up. My body wasrger now, and two long tails dragged across the floor. The new unique trait had altered my form once again.

    ¡®I¡¯ll be in my adult form soon anyway, so I can check again then.¡¯

    [ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Take care of the others while I rest.)]

    ?Don¡¯t worry.?

    Having finished her apple, she was now pulling out frozen grapes.

    Just as I was about to leave, I impulsively sent her a pulse.

    [ZZZZ ZZ (I have something to ask.)]

    ?Hmm? What is it??

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (When you progressed in your deification process, did you see anything? Like a vision?)]

    ?A vision??

    As soon as I asked her the question, I regretted it. There was no guarantee she¡¯d gone through the same experiences as I had, so why did I ask? And especially since we aren¡¯t even the same species.

    Before I could add that she didn¡¯t have to answer, she responded.

    ?I have seen it.?

    [ZZZ (Seen what?)]

    ?Yes, memories from when I was human. It seems you''ve seen them too.?

    [Z ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Yes, every time I enter the cocoon.)]

    Except when I evolve into a fluid form. That''s the one time I don¡¯t see visions. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s just my memory failing me or if that¡¯s some exception to the rule.

    Either way, it seems she experiences visions with each evolution, just as I do. Maybe the other yers have gone through something simr too.

    ?Not a particrly pleasant experience, huh? Or perhaps yours is different??

    [ZZ ZZZ (What do you mean?)]

    She fell silent at my question.

    Fiddling with a bunch of grapes in her hand, covered in golden fur, she finally spoke.

    ?I''ve only seen the visions twice, and they were the same each time.?

    [ZZZZZ (The same?)]

    ?Yeah. Memories of when I was bullied in middle school. I tried to forget, but they kept surfacing.?

    Her response surprised me.

    The Mother of the Sky was one of the few yers I knew who had adapted well to this world, even finding marriage here. By personality and social skills, she was remarkably well-roundedpared to me and most other yers. I had assumed her life had been smooth even before arriving here. I had no idea she carried such pain.

    ?You don¡¯t need to look at me like that. It¡¯s all from long ago now.?

    [ZZZ (I see.)]

    ?And you? I take it from your question that your memories aren¡¯t exactly pleasant either.?

    I didn¡¯t answer right away.

    Back when I was human, I¡¯d been asked countless times why I looked the way I did. And each time, I had to exin.

    After all that exining, the reactions were always the same. Awkwardness. Distrust. Cheap sympathy.

    The Mother of the Sky might react just like they did.

    ¡®No, that¡¯s not fair. She shared her pain with me first.¡¯

    So I told her honestly about the visions I¡¯d seen and the serious ident in my past. She listened silently until I was done.

    When I finished, she sighed softly.

    ?¡­I never knew you had such pain.?

    [ZZ (Yes.)]

    ?Here, take this.?

    She cut a bunch of grapes in half and handed one half to me, eating the other half in one bite herself.

    ¡®A substitute for a drink, maybe.¡¯

    Understanding her intent, I ate the grapes the same way she did. The taste was tangy and sour, tingling across my whole mouth despite the serious atmosphere.

    The momentary silence from eating was soon broken as she spoke again.

    ?But I had no idea your mother was such a famous actress. I heard she won awards at foreign film festivals before you arrived here.?

    [Z ZZZ (Yes, she did.)]

    ?Seems like acting runs in the family??

    [ZZZZ (It might.)]

    After her small joke, she looked at me with a serious gaze.

    ?This is just a guess, but¡­ what if the visions we see change based on the goals we set??

    [ZZ ZZZ (What do you mean?)]

    ?You aimed for ascension from the beginning, didn¡¯t you? I was a bit different. I liked this world more than the ¡®real¡¯ one.?

    [ZZZ (True.)]

    ?Unlike me, you saw an ideal future rather than unpleasant memories. Wouldn¡¯t that give you far stronger ¡®motivation¡¯ than before??

    Her idea was that the visions we see are linked to the goals we choose.

    ¡®Visions connected to our goals.¡¯

    There weren¡¯t enough cases to confirm this, but her idea was intriguing.

    The vision I saw upon entering the cocoon to create my unique trait.

    It was an ideal family, one I¡¯d never experienced before. If I wanted that happiness, I would have to return to reality.

    ¡®But why would they show us such a vision?¡¯

    She believed it was to provide motivation, but that couldn¡¯t be the whole story. There must be a reason we both experienced these visions.

    ¡®¡­This needs further investigation.¡¯

    Visions constructed from memories. It might even be rted to the reason we ended up in this world, beyond the ultimate goal of ascension.

    With no more to discuss, our conversation ended there. Still, it had been helpful, and I expressed my gratitude.

    [ZZZ (Thank you.)]

    ?Oh, don¡¯t mention it. It¡¯s just a few words.?

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (I¡¯ve always thought so. You have no idea how grateful I am.)]

    ?¡­Enough with that nonsense. Go and prepare to evolve into your adult form.?

    She seemed embarrassed by my heartfelt thanks, turning her head away. I bowed slightly to her and crawled out of the ship.

    The barren metallic ground greeted me. With almost no light, it was barely distinguishable from the void of space, but I had my auxiliary organs.

    I crawled toward the location I had scouted in advance. There was a crater not far away. Slipping into the giant pit formed by an ancient meteorite impact, I found a suitable spot.

    ¡®Now, then.¡¯

    ?¡®Pre-adult¡¯ -> ¡®Adult¡¯ evolution conditions met. Proceed with evolution??

    The long wait was over.

    The familiar transparent text box appeared, asking for confirmation.

    My response was always the same.

    Before the cocoon¡¯s fluids could even dry, my body was already preparing to advance to the next stage.

    I closed my eyes.

    And when I opened them again, I was in a space filled with light and color, not a dark abyss.

    Before me was a familiar door.

    ¡®This ce?¡¯

    A rusty hinge, a smooth, well-worn doorknob. It was the door to my old one-room apartment.

    Inside, I could hear someone yelling furiously.

    "Damn it! Interrupting my evolution? You¡¯ll regret this!¡±

    That voice¡ªit sounded very familiar.

    As if in a trance, I reached out and grasped the doorknob. It felt oddly familiar, as if I¡¯d done this before, yet I couldn¡¯t remember.

    The knob turned, and the door opened.

    Inside, on the bed in the cramped one-room apartment with an attached bathroom,y a man wearing a VR headset.

    His frame seemed average, but his body was anything but ordinary. Dressedfortably in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, the burn scars stretching from his right leg to his arm, shoulder, and neck were clearly visible.

    "How many times has it been? Why do they keep following me? Do they think I¡¯m easy to mess with?¡±

    Completely oblivious to my presence, he was shouting passionately.

    His appearance, his movements¡ªthey were all so familiar.

    ¡®Something isn¡¯t right.¡¯

    I needed to escape. But my body moved on its own. My elongated, winged arm reached out and removed his VR headset.

    ¡°What the¡­oh?¡±

    As he emerged from the world of Space Survival and saw me, his eyes widened to the point of tearing.

    ¡®¡­No way.¡¯

    A man with burn scars on the right side of his face.

    It was the face I saw every morning in the bathroom mirror.

    ¡°Aaagh! Monster!¡± he screamed, louder than I¡¯d ever heard.

    And his identity¡­ was me.

 Chapter 285:

    There was an old movie I once watched.

    It was a thriller with the premise that beneath the Earth¡¯s surface, there were human replicas identical to those on the surface.

    The encounter between surface-dwelling humans and their underground duplicates did not end well. It was like the doppelganger legend, where meeting someone who looks just like you spells death.

    That¡¯s exactly the situation I find myself in now.

    The man before me screamed in terror. He was the ¡®me¡¯ from when I was still human.

    ¡®¡­First, I need to try talking.¡¯

    I mimicked a human voice using my mimicry organ to calm him down.

    But the sound that came from my mouth was nothing like I expected.

    ?Grrrr??¡®What?¡¯

    A beastly growl escaped from my maw, sharp fangs protruding. It must have seemed like a threat because ¡®I¡¯ gasped.

    ¡®Why isn¡¯t my trait activating?¡¯

    Was it because this was an illusion? Or because my body was in the middle of metamorphosis within a cocoon? The mimicry organ wasn¡¯t functioning at all.

    On top of that, my body was currently only the size of a human. I¡¯d been able to fit into this cramped studio apartment only because I had shrunk.

    Perhaps taking my confusion as an opportunity, the other ¡®me¡¯ kicked my head.

    ?Grk?!?

    ¡®Ugh?!¡¯

    If I were in my original form, I wouldn¡¯t have even flinched, but now it was different. A searing pain surged through my head as if I¡¯d been hit by a main cannon from a battleship.

    Reeling from the unexpected agony, I stumbled and fell onto the desk where aputer was ced. While I was down, ¡®I¡¯ dashed out of the apartment.

    ¡®What¡¯s happening?¡¯

    I rubbed my head with my winged arms to dull the pain.

    ¡®This isn¡¯t an illusion?¡¯

    The throbbing in my head, hit by that kick, was proof that this was real. I had never felt such pain during the hallucinations I¡¯d seen in the cocoon before.

    As I massaged my head, the pain gradually subsided, but anger began to boil up instead. The urge to smash theputer in front of me and chase down my fleeing prey surged within me.

    ?Grrrrrr¡­?

    ¡®¡­No, calm down.¡¯

    I forcefully quelled the quickening rage.

    Thinking back, there had been sensory triggers even in my previous illusions. The strong chemical smells I¡¯d encountered in the hospital and those mysterious facilities, for example.

    If I could smell, then I could probably feel pain too. I just hadn¡¯t noticed it before because there was no one to attack me then.

    The real issue was that the one who first managed to hurt me in this illusion was none other than ¡®me¡¯.

    ¡®I have to catch him.¡¯

    There was no way the human version of ¡®me¡¯ had appeared without reason. To understand why this illusion was happening, I needed him. Even if I couldn¡¯tmunicate, I had to capture him and find out.

    I stepped out of the apartment to chase the fleeing ¡®me¡¯.

    A gray hallway and tightly shut doors greeted me.

    Just in case, I grabbed the doorknob of the room across from mine, but it wouldn¡¯t open. It wasn¡¯t just locked; it felt as if the doorknob had been attached to a wall.

    ¡®He went for the stairs.¡¯

    Unless he entered another apartment, there was only one ce he could have gone. Each of my six elongated arms thudded against the hard floor, echoing down the corridor.

    As expected, the door leading to the staircase was ajar. Inside, the light from the ceiling illuminated the steps.

    ¡®Did he go this way?¡¯

    Given that the sensor light had been triggered, ¡®I¡¯ must have gone down the stairs.

    As I was about to descend the stairs, a sudden thought crossed my mind.

    If that being really was ¡®me¡¯, how would I react when faced with an unavoidable monster?

    Would I simply run away, terrified as I am now?

    Or would I¡­

    ¡®Behind me!¡¯

    ¡°Die!¡±

    The elevator door on the opposite side of the stairwell opened. Without looking back, I quickly ducked my head. A broken mop handle flew past and pierced the carapace at the back of my head.

    ¡®Damn it!¡¯

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    I pulled my head back to conceal it and swung my tail at the enemy. The w at the tip of my tail swept the dust off the floor as it shed forward. But by the time my attack failed, ¡®I¡¯ had already leapt away.

    The wed tip of my tail passed just under ¡®me¡¯ as I hung in the air. The soles of ¡®my¡¯ shoes scraped against the w, making a sharp noise. Evading the low-flying attack by leaping, ¡®I¡¯nded on the opposite staircase and descended.

    As ¡®my¡¯ figure disappeared, I grabbed the broken mop handle that was still lodged in my head carapace and yanked it out.

    The toughest parts of my body were the head carapace, the thorax, and the tail w¡ªthree areas resistant even to battleship cannon fire. Yet this makeshift spear had managed to puncture one.

    ?Grrrrrrr?

    My seething anger reached its breaking point. Before I knew it, I was gnawing on the broken mop handle and spat it out in frustration.

    This persistent rage clouding my mind had grown uncontroble. I wanted nothing more than to catch the other ¡®me¡¯ and tear its head apart.

    ¡®Calm down, calm down. Breathe.¡¯

    I struggled to suppress my fury, reying what had just happened.

    ¡®It read my actions.¡¯

    Now I was certain. This ¡®me¡¯ wasn¡¯t just a visual replica. It thought exactly like me.

    ¡®Me¡¯ had anticipated that I¡¯d check the stairs and had hidden in the elevator for an ambush. If I had been human and encountered an Amorph in real life, I would have acted just like that.

    Because I, the human version of ¡®me¡¯, knew exactly what an Amorph was. Amorphs, by nature, were flesh-eating monsters that couldn¡¯t be reasoned or negotiated with. Fleeing from one wasn¡¯t an easy task, and I knew it.

    That left only one option: to fight.

    ¡®It targeted my head.¡¯

    Amorphs could die if their heart or brain were destroyed. If I hadn¡¯t sensed the attack and ducked in time, that mop handle would have pierced my brain.

    ?Grrr, next time, I need to subdue it immediately.?

    Just as it could predict my moves, I could anticipate its next move. It was probably waiting for me somewhere beyond that staircase, armed with a weapon.

    ¡®Most likely, it grabbed the fire axe, grrk.¡¯

    Fire axes and extinguishers were ced in the hallways below. My head carapace, having been punctured by the mop handle, was too fragile to withstand an axe.

    My size gave me the advantage of strength, but in this scenario, it was hardly beneficial. Therger the target, the easier it was to hit.

    The most likely ce for ¡®me¡¯ to hide was behind the door leading from the staircase to the hallway. The stairwell had sensor lights, making it a poor ce for an ambush and too confined for fighting an enemy asrge as me.

    I nced at the stairs where ¡®I¡¯ had fled. Then, I turned my gaze to the elevator from which ¡®I¡¯ had emerged.

    Reaching out with a winged arm, I pressed the elevator button. With a soft ding, the doors slid open, revealing the brightly lit interior and the ragged mop head lying inside.

    A good idea came to mind.

    Stepping into the elevator, I hooked my tail on the door and pushed at the stainless-steel ceiling panel with my winged arm. With a tter, the panel dislodged.

    I climbed up through the ceiling of the elevator, making sure to press the button for the lower floor with the tip of my tail.

    ¡®The ce it¡¯s waiting, grr, has to be behind the door where the stairs meet the hallway, grrk.¡¯

    With the metallic ng, the elevator beneath me descended. I carefully reced the stainless-steel panel back into its position.

    ¡®The stairway has motion sensors, grrk, so it¡¯ll react based on those.¡¯

    And from the opposite side of the stairwell, the elevator is in in view. Even if I were to use the elevator, it would be immediately visible. The creature would be prepared to strike my head with the axe no matter which route I took.

    ¡®But it won¡¯t expect this.¡¯

    ?Grrrrrr?

    Unconsciously, I wiped the drool trickling down my face. An odd exhration, whether from hunger or the anticipation of battle, overtook my body.

    With a cheerful sound, the elevator stopped. The moment the doors slid open, a thud resounded from below.

    It had swung the fire axe in perfect timing as the doors opened.

    ¡°What the¡ª?¡±

    Its strike had been aplete miss. I mmed the stainless-steel ceiling panel with my tail. The sharp w punctured through the thin metal with ease.

    ¡°!¡±

    The startled creature staggered back. I used my tail to snatch the fire extinguisher lying on the floor.

    The crimson axe de grazed the surface of my tail as it passed.

    ¡°¡­Tsk!¡±

    The creature dashed down the hallway. I climbed down from the ceiling, grabbing the fire extinguisher with the smaller arms on my chest.

    I did what it had intended to do. I sprayed the extinguisher, filling the hallway with a thick cloud.

    ¡°Cough! What the¡ªcough!¡±

    The powder-based extinguisher turned the corridor into a fog-covered maze. It couldn¡¯t help the physiological reaction, coughing uncontrobly.

    Taking advantage of its disorientation, I lunged into the hallway.

    ¡°Get lost!¡±

    The axe cleaved through the fog with a menacing sound. The intended target was the top of my head. If I had been crawling along the ceiling as before, the axe de would have struck dead center. I knew that from countless experiences ying as an Amorph.

    But this time, I was moving low to the ground, close enough for my chin to scrape the floor. The axe instead embedded itself in the back of my head carapace.

    It had lodged too deep to be removed easily. For a brief moment, the creature froze, torn between trying to pull it out and retreating.

    That hesitation was its fatal mistake. I swung one of my winged arms and struck it.

    ¡°Agh!¡±

    A short scream apanied its body mming into the wall.

    The moment I caught the scent of its blood, my mind fixated on one thing.

    I wanted to kill it. Drink the blood that seeped from its body. Bury my snout in its abdomen and chew through its entrails. Devour everyst part of it, down to the tips of its toes.

    I needed to consume ¡®myself¡¯ to gain the gic essence.

    ¡°S-spare me! Someone help! Please!¡±

    It whimpered, dragging itself across the floor, bleeding. I drove my ws into its thigh.

    ¡°Aaaaagh!¡±

    ¡®My¡¯ pitiful scream rang out, a sound so sweet it only whetted my appetite further.

    ?Grrrrrrrrrr?

    I tightened my hold on it with my winged arms and opened my jaws wide.

    Tears, snot, and blood drenched its face. Soon, that head would be reduced to nourishment for my body.

    ?¡öHey¡ö! Don¡¯t¡ö!?

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö!?

    Just as I was about to sink my teeth into its skull, an unknown message and an inexplicable wave held me in ce.

    ¡®What was that just now?¡¯

    The messages and waves vanished in an instant, yet the shock echoed relentlessly within my mind.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    I set down the enemy¡ªno, another ¡®me¡¯.

    ¡®Why did I do that?¡¯

    It finally dawns on me. My n was to hold him in ce to discuss what this illusion meant. I didn¡¯t want to devour ¡®myself.¡¯

    ¡°Hi, hiii! Monster! Die! Just die!¡±

    He tried to pull out the axe embedded in my head. I pushed his hand away, then drew a digestive axe instead and hurled it far away.

    ¡®This isn¡¯t right. I need to talk.¡¯

    Grabbing the iling ¡®me¡¯ with my winged arms, I wiped his blood away with the small arms on my chest. Then, I wrote on the ground.

    ¡°What, what is it?¡±

    ¡®Conversation.¡¯ The two characters caused ¡®me¡¯ to tremble. But soon, he started squawking.

    ¡°C-cock! Lies! What conversation can an Amorph have? There¡¯s a monster here! Someone, please help me!¡±

    I felt irritation welling up inside me again, but I suppressed my emotions forcefully. I was careful not to apply too much strength, fearing it might cause him pain.

    With persistence, I continued writing. I aimed to convey that I had no intention of harming ¡®myself.¡¯

    After a few minutes had passed, ¡®I¡¯ had calmed down.

    ¡®Is this the real me now?¡¯

    I posed the question to the bowed figure before me.

    Who are you?

    ¡°Who am I?¡±

    Seeing this, ¡®I¡¯ lifted my head.

    ¡°You idiot. You should know that better than anyone!¡±

    ¡®What?¡¯

    His blood-soaked face held no expression.

    Finally, it seemed he was programmed to rey emotions, as he raised the corners of his mouth mockingly.

    ¡°Does it seem like you¡¯re carrying all the misfortune of the world? How many people are suffering out there? You¡¯re just trash. What? Because of a little burn? Do you need family? You¡¯re the one who abandoned your devoted parents.¡±

    Hearing those words, I felt strength leave my winged arms.

    Now freed, he stood in ce like a marite dangling from a string.

    ¡°Do you like monsters? The only reason you like them is because kids tease you, calling you a monster. ¡®Since you guys teased me, I¡¯ll be a real monster.¡¯ Isn¡¯t that it?¡±

    ?Grrrrrrr?

    ¡°Your taste¡ªif it can even be called that¡ªis nothing more than a pathetic act of self-gratification.¡±

    He berated me while picking up the axe that had fallen in the corridor.

    ¡°Your reason for getting lost in games? It¡¯s the same. You¡¯re just escaping reality because you can¡¯t ovee it. Even now, you¡¯re killing people in that world with the same emotions as a game. That¡¯s why you can¡¯t even kill the ¡®real me.¡¯ You¡¯re scared it might be true murder.¡±

    He raised both hands gripping the axe high. The de gleamed coldly, reflecting the light from the overheadmp.

    ¡°Though you¡¯re a pathetic fool, I¡¯m also ¡®you.¡¯ I¡¯ll help you. To help you survive reality.¡±

    ?.......?

    ¡°Then goodbye, coward.¡±

    With his parting words, blood sttered in the corridor. The intense pain made my body involuntarily curl up.

    The axe de lodged in my ¡®winged arm¡¯ hurt quite a bit.

    ¡°You...?¡±

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (You¡¯re not entirely wrong. Except for two things.)]

    My monster¡¯s tentacles quivered as they conveyed my intentions. After all, he was human, so he wouldn¡¯t understand my waves, but that didn¡¯t matter.

    I seized his wrist with my other arm.

    [ZZ ZZZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (I cherish every experience I¡¯ve had in ¡®that world.¡¯ It¡¯s not an escape.)]

    At first, it may have been so.

    Out of the threat to my life, I made excuses about wanting to return to reality. But somewhere deep in my heart, I had taken the ¡®world of space survival¡¯ as my refuge.

    But that is no longer the case. If you were to ask me now whether ¡®that world¡¯ is still a refuge, I could firmly deny it.

    When I reach ascension, I might have to part ways with the kids. Or I could lose them before I even get there. Perhaps I¡¯ll end up fighting another ranked yer and be defeated, or I could die fighting a formidable foe before achieving the necessary conditions.

    Even so, I don¡¯t consider the experiences I¡¯ve shared with them to be worthless. No matter how my journey ends, I want to help them live happy lives.

    So until then, I absolutely cannot die, no matter what happens.

    ¡®And¡­¡¯

    The reason I won¡¯t kill ¡®myself¡¯ here isn¡¯t simply because I fear murder.

    [ZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (It¡¯s because I¡¯ve determined that you are needed.)]

    ¡°You bastard! Let go!¡±

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (You will not kill.)]

    Until I determine what this illusion wants from me, ¡®I¡¯ will not die. I will simply remain subdued by the Amorph.

    Though the one I have grasped iled about with a demonic expression, it was impossible to escape the Amorph¡¯s grasp.

    ¡°You fool! There¡¯s no time for this! Just kill me! Or I¡¯ll die on my own¡­?!¡±

    Spouting iprehensible words, he stiffened as if paralyzed. Then, he began to convulse violently. As he trembled, the colors of the corridor around us blurred.

    ¡®Is space disappearing?¡¯

    It seems my evolution haspleted outside, in reality.

    The body of ¡®myself,¡¯ held in my grasp, also became indistinct, just like the corridor. The face that had been twisted in a grimace just moments ago was now devoid of expression.

    ¡°?¡ö ¡ö?, ¡ö?¡ö????¡­.¡±

    Leaving behind these unintelligible words, he vanished.

    As ¡®I¡¯ disappeared, my senses too were engulfed in darkness.

    After a brief slumber, I awakened, submerged in sticky mucus.

    Reaching out to tear the cocoon apart, I saw a familiar pink body.

    ?Hello, Big One!?

    Number 26, who had waited beside me until my growth wasplete, weed me.

    A new family embraced me.

 Chapter 286:

    -

    The human collective known as Megacorp thrives around the Sr System, governed by seven noble families.

    Five of these families are based on Earth as part of the Noble Capital, while two families are based in the Martian colonies under the Prime Capital.

    Once a massive corporate federation, they now exist in the form of these noble houses.

    And now, the interests of the seven families have shifted from the Sr System to another star system: the A-11 system.

    In this system, one of the first conquered by Megacorp after the Sr System, there exists a crucial facility¡ªthe headquarters of the Megacorp Dispute Mediation Team.

    Located on a terraformed, this branch operates directly under the CEO of the Dispute Mediation Team, existing to mediate disputes that arise between the families within Megacorp.

    In Megacorp, the role of w" is to effectively protect the interests of the seven families. As such, thews of Megacorp are determined through closed-door meetings among the heads and senior members of the seven families.

    Of course, no matter how much time is spent crafting thesews, they will never be perfect. Contradictions can arise within thews themselves, and interpretations can vary depending on one¡¯s position. This is precisely why the Dispute Mediation Team exists.A grand auditorium that can amodate thousands.

    In the center stood the head of the Dispute Mediation Team.

    ¡°Thus concludes the 17th meeting regarding the drafting of the ¡®Temporary Ceasefire Mediation Proposal for the T&C¨CEdgerton Armed Conflict.¡¯¡±

    His voice echoed throughout the auditorium via the microphone.

    Typically empty, the auditorium was filled today withwyers dispatched from the seven families and journalists from major media outlets.

    They had gathered, as the head of the Dispute Mediation Team had indicated, to resolve the armed conflict that arose between Noble Capital''s T&C and Prime Capital''s Edgerton, triggered by the downfall of the T&C Special Trade Hub.

    Once a mediation request is filed with the Dispute Mediation Team, the involved families must reach an agreement. Any family that refuses to settle risks losing its status within the higher capital.

    Naturally, losing the capital status is far more detrimental than losing a dispute, so no family has ever refused to settle.

    However, the disadvantages thate from settling are not insignificant¡ªthey can shake a family''s power to its core.

    As a result, thewyers participating in the mediation meetings must win at any cost. Bribing the opposingwyers is just the start; if necessary, threats, kidnapping, and even torture are on the table. This is the Megacorp way of mediation.

    ¡°I will ept objections again in 24 hours.¡±

    As the head of the Dispute Mediation Team finished speaking, the people sitting in the auditorium began to leave like a receding tide.

    Watching from a hidden room at the back of the auditorium was Akira Yujin, who switched off the monitor. Behind him stood an elderly butler.

    The long-standing civil war had finallye to an end.

    In the early stages of the conflict, the T&C family lost an entire space city and, during that process, one of their heirs. The losses were astronomically high, leading many to predict that Edgerton would emerge victorious in the civil war.

    Moreover, Edgerton had recently seeded in mass-producing a new ss of warships, further tipping the initial bnce in their favor.

    Had Edgerton not lost its head, the civil war would have concluded long ago with T&C''s defeat.

    ¡°This situation has turned into a blessing in disguise for T&C.¡±

    ¡°It seems that losing their head was fatal for Edgerton.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. Edgerton is still in a state of instability.¡±

    Denver Edgerton, known as the ck Lion of Mars, went missing when the T&C Special Trade Hub copsed. Edgerton''s vassals and elders were so absorbed in their own interests that they neglected the war with T&C.

    As the civil war dragged on, the bnce began to tip toward T&C.

    The chaos inmand and issues in the production process led to Edgerton¡¯s defeat.

    Although the mediation proposal has yet to be finalized, the tide cannot be reversed. T&C will extract all kinds of benefits from Edgerton based on that proposal.

    ¡°Thanks to this, the influence of the Yujin family has reached Edgerton as well, but it seems we won¡¯t see any significant benefits from it.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Akira knew that his family had supported Edgerton during the civil war, and the butler quickly lowered his head, sensing his master¡¯s difort.

    Akira had not supported Edgerton out of favor; rather, it was to check T&C¡¯s growing power, which threatened the Yujin family.

    He had secretly sent shadows to sabotage T&C while providing covert support to Edgerton¡¯s Hulk mutants. Thanks to his assistance, Edgerton had managed to sustain itself to this point; otherwise, the losses would have been much greater.

    As a result, many within Edgerton had begun to support Akira, but he remained unsatisfied.

    The butler thought Akira was frustrated because he had failed to weaken T&C, but that was only part of the truth.

    While that was one reason, there was another factor troubling Akira.

    It was the catalyst of the civil war.

    After investigating the cause behind the copse of T&C¡¯s space city, Akira Yujin discovered who had instigated the conflict.

    ¡®The Amorph!¡¯

    That damn shapeshifter had contaminated the city using the same method from the game. Having lost a space fortress because of it, Akira understood all too well the threat it posed.

    What angered him even more was the fact that he and the shapeshifter had been in the same city for a brief period. When Akira visited the space city, the shapeshifter had been lurking somewhere within.

    Initially, he had thought it was the betrayal of his shadow, Shihyeon Yujin, but that had been a grave misunderstanding.

    If only he had noticed even a little earlier, the civil war might have been averted.

    The thought of that shapeshifter roaming the universe, mocking him, was maddening.

    When the shapeshifter stole the ring from his pet gagon and taunted him with a monument, Akira felt a blood boil within him.

    ¡®The Amorph, Beomho! How dare those filthy creatures¡­!¡¯

    Beomho¡¯s puppet, Shihyeon Yujin. This was the second time the shapeshifter had deceived him. Those who tormented him in reality continued to do so in another world.

    Moreover, there were now unsettling movements among those who shared his sentiments.

    It had been over six months since Jubaaka had contacted him, and Chloe remained holed up in a research base on Mercury.

    All of this had begun after Jason''s death.

    ¡®With the civil war over, perhaps it¡¯s time to start wrapping things up.¡¯

    As Akira contemted how to proceed, someone knocked at the door.

    When the butler opened it, a woman in ck entered and politely bowed to Akira.

    ¡°Sir Akira, the head of the Saint K family, Walter, has arrived.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s delightful news after such a long time.¡±

    Hearing that the awaited individual had arrived, Akira smiled.

    ---

    ¡®This feeling, it¡¯s been a while.¡¯

    This was the second time he had transformed into a perfect being outside of the game.

    Previously, to stop a cosmic bolt from an imperial gship, he had taken Sionium. During that brief time, he had truly felt the power of a perfect being. Even if he had used "King of Monsters" at that time, he had managed to obliterate both the imperial gship and its carrier fleet.

    Now, his condition was quite different from then.

    To be honest, he had never taken this form in the game. The unique trait created by the Transcendence system was affecting his body.

    ¡®Transcendence¡¯ was a system that didn¡¯t exist in the game. Naturally, the unique traits made through it also didn¡¯t exist.

    Having grown with new traits, his appearance had changed significantly from the basic form of a perfect being.

    If he were to name the three biggest changes, they would be size, body type, and head.

    First, in terms of body length, from head to tail, he had grown to about 60 meters long, more than double what he had been before entering the chrysalis.

    But that wasn¡¯t all. His body type had also changed. If the form just before he reached a semi-perfect state was serpentine and the form just before bing a perfect being was arachnid, now he had reverted to a bipedal form, suitable for his past fluid and semi-perfect phases.

    Before my tail began at the waist, mybat arms transformed into legs that pointed downward. Adjusting to their new role, the joints became digitigrade legs.

    However, my two winged arms and twobat arms were stillrge and long, allowing me to walk in a bipedal manner, simr to apes like goris.

    Standing on two legs, my height was approximately 40 meters. Even when upright, I exceeded the body length of a white gagon. Of course, my neck had elongated, but even without that, I was far from small.

    ¡®I wasn¡¯t this big in the game.¡¯

    Subtracting about 20 meters, I¡¯d reach the original size of a perfect being. Not only had my size increased, but it seemed my strength and defense had also grown proportionately.

    ¡¸Wow, you¡¯re huge!¡¹

    As soon as I broke free from the chrysalis, Number 26, who had been waiting beside me, called everyone over. Those who had gathered from the pirate ship were marveling at my transformed body.

    ¡¸Look at the size!¡¹

    Mother of the Sky was visibly awestruck by my muchrger formpared to how I appeared in the game. She, too, was familiar with the perfect being''s appearance, so her emotions mirrored mine.

    ¡¸Horns!¡¹¡¸So many!¡¹¡¸Huge!¡¹¡¸Perfect!¡¹

    Adhai seemed very pleased with my transformation. She flew around above my head, wings spread wide, continuously showering me with exmations of admiration.

    The most striking change about me as I became a perfect being was undoubtedly my head.

    Upon transforming into the Amorph perfect being, I now had three heads. Two newly grown heads extended from long necks on either side of the central head.

    This was the effect of the unique trait I received as a perfect being: ¡°Three Heads.¡±

    The heads that felt my consciousness turned toward me.

    The two heads on either side resembled the central head overall. They had elongated tusks, snake-like snouts, auxiliary organs under their jaws, and horns atop their heads.

    However, instead of eyes where they should have been, horns upied that space. Normally, there wouldn¡¯t even be any horns, but perhaps due to the unique trait I had gained just before my transformation, each of the two heads sprouted four horns.

    ¡¸Grrr¡­¡¹

    ¡¸Grrrr¡­¡¹

    The addition of two heads did not mean my intelligence had increased, nor could I hear their voices within my mind.

    When considering the sensory connections linked to the two heads, it seemed they had brains but were treated as body parts, simr to my arms and legs. If I had to make a metaphor, I would say they possessed self-awareness but functioned as biological robots obeying themands of the main body.

    ¡®I¡¯ve often been frustrated by these heads in the game.¡¯

    There had been times I failed ambushes because the AI moved independently when I didn¡¯t give precisemands. However, that didn¡¯t mean the three heads possessed minefield characteristics.

    Even if the central head, the main body, were destroyed, I wouldn¡¯t die, as one of the remaining heads would inherit the consciousness and control the body.

    ¡®I wonder if it¡¯s the same here.¡¯

    And while the two headscked eyes, they did have auxiliary organs. Thanks to the three heads having these organs beneath their jaws, my senses had heightened beyondpare.

    ¡®¡­I think it will take some time to get used to this.¡¯

    It felt like I could sense events happening several kilometers away, which was more bothersome than I anticipated. In the game, the observable minimap merely expanded, so I hadn¡¯t expected this.

    I made an effort to block out the information conveyed from the two heads.

    ¡¸Grr?¡¹

    ¡¸Grrrr¡­¡¹

    ¡¸That tickles!¡¹

    As my consciousness withdrew, the two heads began to move independently. They lowered their necks and approached Number 26, licking her with their tongues. She seemed to enjoy it, sparkling brightly in the midst of the deste.

    ¡¸Me too!¡¹¡¸Me too!¡¹

    ¡¸Grrrr¡­¡¹

    ¡¸Feels¡­¡¹¡¸Weird¡­¡¹¡¸Amazing¡­¡¹

    ¡°I¡¯m also very curious about what that sensation is like. Please, do it to me as well.¡±

    ¡¸Grrr?¡¹

    ¡°Thank you. That was very helpful.¡±

    ¡¸Oh, I don¡¯t have to do it.¡¹

    ¡¸Grr.¡¹

    ¡®It¡¯s like a retriever.¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t tell if this behavior was purely instinctual or if my emotions were being distorted in their transmission, but the two heads exhibited a friendly demeanor towards the children. For anyone familiar with the Amorph, this would be an utterly unbelievable sight.

    ¡®Anyone seeing me in this state would likely faint.¡¯

    Aside from Mother of the Sky, the others seemed to be having a great time ying with the two heads.

    ¡®Normally, I¡¯d want to talk about the visions I experienced in the chrysalis¡­¡¯

    Thinking back, Mother of the Sky had never reached this stage. None of the visions she experienced involved herpeting with herself.

    I had wanted to ask Jason, now a human-faced bug, about it, but seeing the others enjoying themselves made me set that thought aside.

    Instead, I began checking the rest of my transformations.

    The six horns on my central head had grownrger, my winged arms had expanded to match my body¡¯s growth, and my outer skin had thickened like the walls of a space fortress. The muscles supporting mybat arms and legs had grown so thick they could be considered a biological armor.

    ¡®Oh, is this another change worth noting?¡¯

    The biological cannon that had been on my back had moved to my tail due to a newly acquired unique trait.

    As a result, I now had two tails. The two tails split from the pelvis, formed by my changing body shape, and each extended for several dozen meters.

    The shapes of the tails were different. One tail had pincers, while the other featured the biological cannon. The part with the cannon was a result of one of the two unique traits I secured just before my evolution.

    ¡®That¡¯s enough for the body check.¡¯

    Now it was time to confirm the two unique traits I had gained before my evolution, as well as the level two benefits from my cosmic monster type.

    ¡®Let¡¯s start with the benefits.¡¯

    What would I receive at level two? With anticipation, I opened the translucent text box.

    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯

    I was taken aback by the contents of the text box that appeared.

    ¡¸Level 2 Reward

    Double Helix Monolith: You can imnt your held traits (excluding unique traits) into friendly creatures. The imnted traits apply permanently, and up to 2 traits can be imnted per creature. The traits avable for imntation are affected by the cosmic monster type¡¯s level progression.

    *Note: Whether you be a savior or a destroyer is entirely your choice.¡¹

 Chapter 287:

    Entering Stage 2 of Transcendence: The Cosmic Monster Type.

    Unlike other types that offer a one-time reward upon acquisition, this type has an extraordinary feature that grants additional rewards each time it levels up.

    Even the Stage 1 benefits for Cosmic Monsters are impressive. The "Essence Rearrangement", which nullifies type penalties, is a reward that seems impossible within the game.

    The Amorph''s identity revolves around consuming as many beings as possible and storing their gic essences within itself.

    This aspect is systemically represented as type penalties, forcing the Amorph to gather as many gic essences as possible, regardless of their quality.

    However, with Essence Rearrangement, it can break free from these constraints. It can selectively choose only the necessary traits.

    Of course, this doesn''t mean it would stop gathering traits; there¡¯s no intention to do so. The more cards one possesses, the easier it bes to outmaneuver formidable foes.

    Anyway, after obtaining the Stage 1 reward, it wondered what incredible thing Stage 2 would offer, but what appeared was far more peculiar than expected.

    "A trait that enhances friendly creatures."The Amorph is not without traits that allow it to control minions, like parasites, tooth fairies, or human-faced worms.

    However, most of these traits primarily assist the Amorph yer. The "Symbiotic Spores", which it frequently uses, were originally a trait for healing human-faced worms and tooth fairies.

    "I thought Essence Rearrangement was impressive, but this¡­"

    It could transnt its traits onto other beings.

    This was a special ability typically seen in Outspacers, who modify and enhance the gics of their affiliated entities, or in Metallic Gremlins, who can determine the course of their kin.

    "In some ways, this might even be better."

    Outspacers, like the Amorph, utilize gic essences, but they face limitations. Each individual has restrictions on the traits that can be applied, and the effects vary randomly each time.

    For example, if it were to transnt the pincers trait onto a worker insect¡­

    The Outsapacer worker insect has two front legs shaped like pincers, making it eligible for the pincers trait. However, the oue of the transnt is a gamble. It might end with just stronger pincers, or it could inherit powerful psychic resistance like the Amorph''s.

    But it seems that the "Monolith of the Double Helix" imposes no such restrictions. From the description, it appears that it can fully grant traits to entirely different creatures.

    "Let¡¯s take a look."

    Before the transnt, there¡¯s something it needs to check first.

    In the case of "Starlight Coordinates", it could only transfer traits to "friendly creatures", meaning those attached to the Symbiotic Spores. This time, it also seemed limited to friendly creatures, so it brought the auxiliary device closer to Number 26.

    ?This is a target for trait transntation.?

    "Good."

    Then, the same message appeared for Adhai and PS-111. The only one left was the Mother of the Sky.

    "Could it be possible for a yer?"

    Honestly, it thought the chances were slim, but it brought the auxiliary device closer to her.

    Upon seeing the text box that appeared before it, it couldn¡¯t help but be astonished.

    ?What¡¯s wrong??

    She blinked her amber eyes, taken aback by its surprised expression as she felt its face draw closer.

    "Is this really possible?"

    Of course, it was well-known that yers couldn¡¯t have traits transnted onto them. Not even unique traits or boss entities like Vortex One or Red Gagons possess such powers.

    The closestparison might be Megacorp''s unique system of gic maniption. This also involves transnting genes onto oneself and NPCs, but it can¡¯t arbitrarily alter another yer''s body. Trait transntation is, naturally, out of the question.

    It exined the Monolith of the Double Helix to the Mother of the Sky.

    ?¡­You can give traits? To me??

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (I can transfer up to two traits I possess.)]

    ?To transnt traits without limitation. It¡¯s like a superior version of Outspacers and Megacorp.?

    She seemed to feel simrly. After crossing her arms and contemting, she sent out another thought.

    ?With such a powerful ability, there must be some kind of restriction. Isn¡¯t there a weakness??

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (There¡¯s no separate exnation for the tulip. Of course, it would be problematic to believe it entirely.)]

    ?Exactly what I¡¯m saying.?

    Based solely on the description in the text box, there seem to be two significant downsides.

    One is the inability to transnt unique traits, and the other is the permanent application of the transnted traits.

    ¡®Thetter is the crucial point to watch out for.¡¯

    If it were to transnt traits onto the children and they turned out to be unhelpful or, worse, negatively impactful, that could lead to serious problems. While most of the traits it possesses are useful, there''s no guarantee they would be the same for the children.

    Additionally, how the traits will function after being applied is currently unknown.

    For example, if it were to transnt ¡°Three Heads¡± onto Number 26, what would happen? Since Number 26cks the concept of a head, it¡¯s impossible to predict how the trait would manifest.

    ¡®In that sense, it could be considered a hidden restriction.¡¯

    The oue after transntation is uncertain. Therefore, it should determine which traits are suitable for the children before granting them, to avoid any side effects. This aspect likely requires further research and contemtion.

    ¡®Anyway, I keep encountering things that shatter mymon sense.¡¯

    On top of that, it''s facing off against the "me" from its human days. All of this is unprecedented.

    It nced at the postscript in the text box.

    "Will I be a guide or a destroyer?"

    In that context, this message felt entirely different.

    ording to the setting, that choice is meaningless for the Amorph. Upon ascension, the purpose of the Amorph¡¯s existence bes clear, indicating that it leans more towards being a destroyer than a guide.

    ¡®Ascension, huh.¡¯

    It opened another text box aside from the traits. A new evolution requirement, updated upon bing a mature form, appeared before it.

    ?¡®Mature Form¡¯ -> ¡®Ascension¡¯

    Essence of the Body: Choose one from Megacorp CEO / Wolf Avatar (not yet achieved)

    Essence of the Mind: Choose one from Cult High Priest / Vortex One (not yet achieved)

    Essence of the Wild: Choose one from Amorph Mature Form / Outspacer Queen (not yet achieved)

    Test of Ascension (not yet achieved)

    Possessed Unique Traits 10/15 (not yet achieved)

    Possessed Types 6/9 (not yet achieved)?

    There had been others who achieved the Amorph Mature Form besides it. In fact, there were yers who became mature forms even before it.

    However, all of them fell short before reaching ascension.

    The reason was precisely because of the goal of gathering the three essences.

    This effectively meant fighting the top leaders of each faction, presenting an enormous obstacle from the start. The moment it tries to kill them, the entire faction goes to war.

    But that¡¯s not all. Those top leaders are usually filled with yers, and often rankers.

    Even if it manages to prate the defenses of the enemy factions and confronts its target, it doesn''t end there. The Amorph will have to contend with rankers who receive support from their entire faction, presenting a maddening hurdle.

    Among the requirements to achieve the essence of the mind, only Vortex One is a unique NPC creature, but even they are formidable.

    Vortex Ones vary greatly in strength, with even the weakest possessing power on par with a Red Gagon. It can be said that taking down the Megacorp CEO or the Cult High Priest is equally challenging.

    ¡®At least the easiest target is the Amorph mature form¡­¡¯

    Since there are so few Amorph yers, aiming for a mature form is like trying to catch a star in the sky. It had even switched its target to Outspacer after failing to catch an Amorph.

    Once the three essences and all other conditions are met, the ¡°Test of Ascension¡± will open, and clearing it will lead to the ending.

    ¡®Easier said than done.¡¯

    Reaching this point has been incredibly difficult and time-consuming. The conditions for acquiring unique traits and types feel trivial inparison.

    ¡®This is why I saved the Mother of the Sky.¡¯

    Originally, my n was to elevate her to the highest tier of deification, the "Avatar", and then consume her. This way, I could achieve one of the ascension requirements immediately upon bing mature, which would be advantageous.

    ¡®But I¡¯m not thinking that way anymore.¡¯

    It¡¯s already toote to use the Mother of the Sky as a sacrifice.

    I nced at her and then turned my attention back to the text box.

    Regardless of the difficulty, my goal is to achieve ascension. I believed that once I reached the ending, I could return to the real world.

    However, that goal is now wavering. The vision I saw before bing mature lingers in my mind.

    ¡®That vision, I don¡¯t know its meaning, but it¡¯s likely rted to ascension.¡¯

    Why did I see the vision of battling the ¡°me¡± from reality during the process of bing mature? And what if I had lost? If the ¡°me¡± from reality won, what would happen to my current self?

    Or conversely, if I had consumed ¡°me¡±? Would the reality version of ¡°me¡± cease to exist, leaving only my current self behind?

    Nothing is certain, and it feels like wandering through fog.

    ¡®¡­Transcendence. Could this be the key?¡¯

    Transcendence pushes the Amorph beyond its limits.

    The ultimate goal of the Amorph is ascension.

    Looking back, there seems to be a significant ovep between the two, but also substantial differences. I¡¯ve often debated whether to prioritize evolution conditions or to first obtain unique traits through the transcendence system.

    Since both require traits, there¡¯s oftenpetition between ascension and transcendence.

    ¡®I thought it was a coincidence, but it¡¯s not.¡¯

    Now that I see the rewards obtained from leveling up the Cosmic Monster type, I¡¯m convinced there¡¯s some kind of rtionship between the two. I just don¡¯t know exactly what it is yet.

    ¡®I definitely need more information.¡¯

    With the visions and ascension bing suspicious, I should gather rted information. Until I confirm that ascension won¡¯t harm me, I think I¡¯ll have to hold off.

    ¡®I should tell the Mother of the Skyter, too.¡¯

    She hasn¡¯t yet reached the stage of battling her reality self. While it¡¯s not certain, there¡¯s a possibility she might experience a simr vision when she ascends to the Avatar form. Since that vision could negatively impact her, I should wait to discuss it until I have more rity.

    ¡®I¡¯ll check in with Jason as well.¡¯

    He¡¯s also cleared the quests of the Cult''s unique system to a high level. He might have had simr experiences and could know something.

    ¡®Thenstly, I should check my newly acquired unique traits¡­¡¯

    Just as I was thinking that, I detected a slight anomaly. The heads on either side raised their long necks to look up. The auxiliary organs beneath them hovered nervously in the air.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    The auxiliary organs picked up on energy waves. An energy explosion from a very distant location had reached here.

    ¡®Faster-than-light travel?¡¯

    Focusing my senses through the two heads, I stared into the ck void. Though nothing was visible, the auxiliary organs below my chin were still feeling the faint energy waves.

    From the sensations, it was clear that a ship had flown into this deste''s vicinity. Given that I could feel the flow of energy, it seemed quite a massive vessel attempting faster-than-light travel.

    ¡®Whoever it is, this works out well.¡¯

    The two newly acquired unique traits, ¡°Variable Bio-Weapon¡± and ¡°ck Devourer Cannon,¡± just so happen to bebat-rted.

    With a new enemy appearing, it would be a great opportunity to test them out.

    The seven families, which serve as the central point, were not always ultra-mega corporations from the very beginning.

    The Yujin family started as a small agriculturalpany in the Semi-Continent, while TNC was just one of the many mundanepanies in the financial sector. Other families, like Garmelda, which came from a watchmaking background, and Edgerton, which began as a group of firearms engineers, also had humble beginnings.

    Now, most of the seven families have changed significantly from when they were first established.

    Yujin, skilled in gic maniption; Garmelda, a leader in power armor and weapon development; TNC, an expert in colonial management including terraforming; and Edgerton, known for its advanced shipbuilding technology. Few would recall their past as they dominate the universe today.

    However, there are some families whose core business areas have not changed drastically from their origins.

    Noble Capital''s "Veda," which started in the semiconductor industry and is now responsible for ship AI development.

    And Noble Capital''s "Saint K", which handles resource procurement for Megacorp.

    Saint K was once the most influential diamondpany on Earth in ancient times.

    In the past, mining machines and miners extracted precious diamonds, but now they operate massive starships to mine on aary scale.

    Like their ancestors, they diligently traverse the universe, mining minerals. This is the hallmark of Saint K.

    ¡°How does that target look?¡±

    ¡°Analysis shows it has ''abundant hypertight deposits.'' However, aside from that, there aren''t any particrly impressive minerals.¡±

    ¡°Considering the recent wars, hasn¡¯t the price of hypertight skyrocketed? That should yield sufficient profit.¡±

    ¡°We also need to consider the energy consumption and time for the ''Gigacracker.''¡±

    Inside the meeting room of the Gigacracker, the massive mining vessel, various team leaders were sharing their opinions.

    ¡°There¡¯s something everyone needs to keep in mind. We have quotas to meet as well.¡±

    ¡°I believe we already fulfilled our quota a week ago, right?¡±

    ¡°True, but I hear the other side has achieved more than double that. At this rate, we could receive negative evaluations in the end-of-month report.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. You¡¯re not wrong.¡±

    Despite the hierarchical atmosphere typical of Megacorp society divided by various capitals, the mood in the meeting room was surprisingly good. There were no raised voices, nor any shameful behavior questioning each other''s capitals.

    This wasrgely due to the prestige of the Gigacracker.

    The Gigacracker is a superweapon that uses ultrarge ion cannons to shatter asteroids and dwarfs before sweeping up the minerals. It boasts superior performancepared to any other mining vessel and is prohibitively expensive. Even a titan like Saint K only possesses 20 of these vessels.

    If even one of them encounters an issue, the losses would be severe, so Saint K strictly manages the crew of the Gigacracker. All the team leaders in the meeting room were individuals who had received special training from Noble Capital since childhood. Sharing the same past and goals, there was naturally no reason for conflict.

    ¡°What will you do, Captain?¡±

    Captain Tyrone Saint K, hailing from Noble Capital, paused for a moment before speaking.

    ¡°We can¡¯t afford to rx just because we¡¯ve met our quota, as the Navigation Team Leader said. I will activate the Gigacracker.¡±

    ¡°Understood¡­.¡±

    Just as the captain made his decision, a red emergency light suddenly illuminated the meeting room.

    ¡°Unidentified energy attack detected! Everyone, brace for impact!¡±

    As the emergency announcement concluded, the meeting room shook violently.

 Chapter 288:

    In "Space Survival", both Megacorp and the Star Union utilize sma weapons on their ships, as both factions originate from humanity within the sr system.

    However, when ites to specifics, there are slight differences in the equipment preferred by the two factions.

    The Star Union tends to weaponize drones equipped with advanced AI technology. In contrast, Megacorp primarily relies on energy-based weapons likesers and sma.

    The massive spherical mining vessel beneath my feet, the "Gigacracker", is one of Megacorp''s superweapons that uses energy-based armaments.

    The Gigacracker¡¯s main weapon is a colossal ion cannon. Its power is formidable enough to shatter asteroids or dwarfs.

    ¡°However, the maintenance costs are astronomical.¡±

    Each time the ion cannon is activated, certain materials are consumed as energy sources. The Crystalwing I previously defeated secretes a special metallic substance that serves as the energy source for the colossal ion cannon. This is why Megacorp yers eagerly search for Crystalwing nests.

    ¡°I never expected to see a Gigacracker here.¡±

    Given that I¡¯m in a deste area, it seems they intended to mine a dwarf where I established my evolution.Although the ship isrge enough to be seen from a distance, I consideredunching a preemptive strike but paused.

    The erosion of a superweapon.

    Now that I¡¯ve be a mature entity, my size has increased, and thanks to the dragon''s heart grafted to me, my energy output has also significantly risen. If I could dominate that ship with "Nightmare Horizon", it would greatly aid me in battling formidable foes.

    Even if erosion isn¡¯t possible, it¡¯s still worthwhile.

    A Gigacracker is far more useful and powerful than a mere pirate ship. While its mining capabilities might be average, it possesses that ion cannon. Acquiring it would be undeniably beneficial.

    ¡°I wanted to test the ck Devourer Cannon, but¡­.¡±

    I nced at my left tail, which had the bioweapon mounted on it. ording to the tooltip, it possesses the power topletely destroy or at least severely damage the ship.

    It would be a waste to experiment with its effects when I have the fortunate opportunity to acquire a superweapon. I should save that forter.

    Instead of destroying the ship, I decided to change my goal to dominating it, bringing forth two new weapons: the psionic fusion trait "Dark Veil" and the unique trait "Variable Bio-Weapon," which I had never seen before.

    ¡°Dark Veil, I used that a lot in the game.¡±

    Every time an Amorph grows to the next stage, they receive several traits for free. Dark Veil is a trait I gained for free, fused with "Mental Web".

    When Dark Veil is activated, a special substance flows from the pipes scattered across my body, enveloping me.

    Its effect is to remain undetected by enemy detection systems.

    It can be likened to the metallic secretions of the Crystalwing, which also render it undetectable.

    ¡°Though their operating principles are quite different.¡±

    Unlike the Crystalwing, which goes undetected by electronic devices, Dark Veil doesn''t hide my appearance. Instead, it generates a powerful maic field, making it difficult for machines to urately identify me.

    To the ship, I likely appear not as a monster, but as a massive energy mass or a sudden maic storm.

    I activated Dark Veil to nullify the enemy¡¯s detection capabilities and charged towards my target. Despite the Gigacracker being armored far thicker than a battleship, it couldn¡¯tpletely negate my assault as a mature entity.

    ¡°Of course, that''s not all.¡±

    I restored my head carapace, which had grown three to four timesrger than usual, to its original state. I could hear the sounds of the carapace and bones colliding and twisting inside my head as the weight on my neck decreased in real-time.

    ¡°Variable Bio-Weapon: Imitation is the mother of creation. It transforms the body by mimicking the physical traits of apex creatures that have already been devoured.

    Transformable body parts: Head, Arms, Right Tail, Erosion Tentacles.

    Mimicry targets (results) list: Ice Horror (Head Carapace), Ggon (Horns, Wings), cial Fiend (ws), Crystalwing (Auxiliary Organs), Sky Whale (Eyes), Hellsider Ho (Arms), Gorgon Swarm (Tail).

    *Postscript: The perception that the original is superior is an illusion.¡±

    The "Variable Bio-Weapon" was created after escaping the cosmic fortress.

    It is a unique trait that reflects the strengths of specific creatures onto various body parts. It requires traits rted to the body, simr to a plete organism", and the results resemble that as well.

    ¡®A trait that transforms the body.¡¯

    Thanks to possessing aplete organism, I can transform into thebat-specialized "Emblem of the Hunt" once every 24 hours. While the Variable Bio-Weapon doesn¡¯t change my entire body, it does allow me to alter specific body parts into different forms.

    When I just charged into the Gigacracker, I utilized the Variable Bio-Weapon to reshape my head carapace into the skull form of an Ice Horror, striking it with that.

    The skull of the Ice Horror is a part I couldn''t fully consume, even with my ability to eat nearly anything. The characteristics of that skull were perfectly reflected when I transformed my head carapace.

    ¡®It¡¯s nice, but there are some downsides.¡¯

    Having just used it for the first time, I immediately noticed two drawbacks.

    First, the pain experienced during and after the transformation was considerable. It wasn''t to the extent that it triggered "Pain Relief", but it was still quite bothersome.

    Second, since only one limited body part can be transformed, it doesn¡¯t synergize well with other body parts. While it was fine to enhance my head carapace, it ced significant strain on my neck.

    ¡®I need to research further to find a way to mitigate this.¡¯

    As time passed, the pain I felt during the transformation subsided. I looked down at the wall I had just struck, which was now dented like a fortress wall struck by a siege hammer. If I hit it once more with the Ice Horror carapace, it seemed likely to create a hole.

    ¡®No, let¡¯s change a different part.¡¯

    The Dark Veil was still active. From the inside, they were unaware of what was happening outside.

    This time, I decided to transform my arms.

    ¡®ws of the cial Fiend.¡¯

    As the Variable Bio-Weapon activated, mybat arms quickly morphed, excluding the wing arms.

    The four fingers at the ends of my arms tingled as their skin ripped open, and blood erupted from within. Hook-shaped ws protruded between the torn finger muscles, floating in the zero-gravity space.

    In no time, my hand transformed into a shape reminiscent of a beetle¡¯s foot. I swung my twobat arms, now equipped withrge, hooked ws, with great force.

    The heavy yet sharp ws embedded themselves into the hull of the ship. As I pulled, the hull tore apart like paper.

    ¡®Just as I thought.¡¯

    When I captured the cial Fiend back in Adhai¡¯s homnd, I was fortunate. I didn¡¯t have to fight it directly because I obliterated the red forest it had imed using ¡°Abyssal Hue.¡±

    So, while it might seem like a weak opponent, it¡¯s anything but. The cial Fiend is also ssified as an apex predator. Besides being adept at using narcotic substances to control its subordinates, its base specifications are quite formidable.

    The cial Fiend possesses multiple weapons, including several ws. Once it ims a territory, it hides dozens of legs resembling roots underground. Therefore, its thick, hook-like ws are not visible most of the time. These ws only emerge when attacking targets that approach its main body.

    What happens if you charge at the main body without knowing this? You¡¯d be shredded by dozens of ws that burst forth from underground.

    ¡®It¡¯s said to be used for digging into the ground, but¡­¡¯

    Right now, I¡¯m digging into the hull of a superweapon instead.

    Thanks to this useful body part, I easily scraped away at the hull as if peeling an onion. I grasped the edges of the hull hole with my wing arms, applied strength to widen the opening, and poked my head inside.

    ¡®There are no humans around.¡¯

    The first thing I encountered inside the ship was an enormous pile of mineral chunks. Many mineral pyramids were stacked up in the storage area, illuminated by red emergency lights.

    ¡®It¡¯s definitely spacious.¡¯

    Even though the Gigacracker is a superweapon, it fundamentally serves as a mining vessel. The interior of the ship, which has a diameter of 2 km, is mostly filled with spaces for storing minerals. The actual living quarters for the crew are not veryrge.

    After taking a look around, I pulled my head back out. As I turned my head, I noticed two familiar objects flying in from a distance.

    A griffon beastman holding a pink ball and a white dragon with an eight-legged spider robot entered the hole I had made.

    After they went in, I continued to widen the hole. It took some effort to make it justrge enough for my body to squeeze through.

    ¡®Being too big is a problem.¡¯

    Once inside, I saw PS-111 working on taking control of the ship alongside Mother of the Sky. 26 and Adhai seemed fascinated by the piles of minerals stacked up around them.

    ¡°Wow! So many round ones!¡±

    ¡°Liar, Odd Grad!¡± ¡°Nest!¡± ¡°Simr!¡±

    ¡°These round ones are pretty.¡±

    ¡°I agree.¡±

    I approached PS-111, who was manipting the terminal in the storage area. It had connected a cable under its chin to the terminal and was nodding.

    [ZZZ ZZZ (Can you control it?)]

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing impossible for me. It might take a little time, but you don¡¯t need to worry.¡±

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Really? Then could you stall time by preventing hyperlight travel?)]

    ¡°Are you nning to digest the Gigacracker? Is that even possible?¡±

    [ZZZZ ZZZ (Let¡¯s check first.)]

    I extended my digestive tentacles and touched the wall of the storage area. Immediately, a familiar text box appeared before me.

    ¡°Confirmed suitable size for digestion. Estimated time untilpletion: 16 hours. Time avable for control after digestion: 80 days.¡±

    ¡®Hmm. 16 hours, huh.¡¯

    While that may seem long, it¡¯s actually a short time to fully take control of a superweapon with a diameter of 2 km. This was practically a steal.

    ¡®Maybe I should save this forter.¡¯

    Now that I confirmed I could take control of the ship, I retracted my tentacles.

    Once digestion begins, there¡¯s a time limit, making it difficult to use it as a hidden card during battles against formidable opponents. Until the need for digestion arises, I n to leave it in PS-111''s control.

    [ZZZ (That¡¯s possible.)]

    ¡°Really? That seems way off bnce.¡±

    [ZZZZ ZZZ Z ZZZ ZZZZZ (Let¡¯s consider it a reward for all your hard work so far.)]

    After casually responding to it, I called out to the others. 26 and Adhai, who had been ying with diamond gemstones the size of aptop, approached me.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (There¡¯s something everyone needs to do.)]

    ¡°What is it? What is it?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    I exined to them what needed to be done to take control of this ship.

    For instance, dealing with the unwanted guests who had upied our home.

    ¡°Okay, I know what to do.¡±

    ¡°I do too!¡±

    ¡°I will prevent hyperlight travel through hacking.¡±

    Since they had experience with such tasks, they quickly understood. Just then, Mother of the Sky raised her hand.

    ¡°Wait a moment.¡±

    [ZZ (What is it?)]

    ¡°The containers from the pirate ship. We need to grab those before we leave.¡±

    I had forgotten about that.

    ¡®We definitely should take them with us, right?¡¯

    The food supplies I had brought from the space fortress received positive reactions from everyone. Although there would be food stocked on this ship since there were humans onboard, most of it would likely bebat rations.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ (Let¡¯s pack them once we finish organizing.)]

    ¡°Sounds good¡­! Ahem, understood.¡±

    Mother of the Sky seemed a bit embarrassed, revealing her emotions. After that, she didn¡¯t offer any more new suggestions.

    ¡®The Gigacracker.¡¯

    It was a superweapon I had never obtained, either in the game or in this world, which somehow piqued my interest.

    Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be weed by the ship¡¯s owners, but not everyone can be satisfied.

    In any case, this determined the new nest I would move into.

    My first home since bing a mature form would be the Gigacracker.

 Chapter 289:

    -

    The mining vessel, Gigacracker, a two-kilometer-wide sphere, is massive enough to be one of the top fivergest ships owned by Megacorp.

    It''s not only enormous in size but also differs vastly in structure from typical spacecraft. For one, there are hardly any facilities for the crew. Most of the vessel¡¯s interior is dedicated to systems supporting the ion cannon and storage vaults for mined minerals.

    Due to the sheer volume of facilities that need management, roughly 80% of the ship is under mechanical supervision. The crew¡¯s role is to oversee, maintain, and control these machines.

    In truth, while it may appear like a spaceship from the outside, it¡¯s essentially an automated floating factory.

    Given the extensive facilities each individual must oversee, the crew needs specialized knowledge. Noble Capital¡¯s Saint-Kei division doesn¡¯t rigorously select Gigacracker¡¯s crew members without reason.

    They may not belong to the upper sses like Noble Capital or Prime Capital, but they areparably well-educated.

    Now, the ship¡¯s supervisors were patrolling a limited residential zone.

    In the darkened corridor,rge figures moved diligently. Each wore high-grade exosuits¡ªa blend of reinforced exoskeleton and spacesuit¡ªand carried sma rifles in both hands.The sma rifle, developed as standard equipment for Earth¡¯s Defense Force, was the lightest sma weapon until the pistol was introduced. Though its firepower is weaker than the sma bolter, it¡¯s favored for its safety and light weight.

    The rifle¡¯s sleek, silver design, with a translucent green energy gauge, glowed faintly in the corridor''s shadows.

    ¡°Is hyperspace travel still impossible?¡±

    The person at the front of the heavily armed group spoke up. In response to Gigacracker¡¯s Captain, Tyrun Saint-Kei, the team leader checked theputer pad on his wrist.

    ¡°Yes. Unidentified electrical signals from the outside are blocking remote controls.¡±

    ¡°So we have no choice but to go in person.¡±

    After being ambushed in the conference room, they had retrieved essential gear from the emergency armory and were now heading to the engine room.

    Since the emergency broadcast just before the collision, allmunication had been cut off. Remote control of facilities, as they could see, was alsopletely disabled.

    This was an unprecedented crisis for the Gigacracker.

    ¡°What do you think the cause is? A maic storm?¡±

    ¡°The phenomenon resembles one, but the range is far too narrow. The trajectory is unnatural, and the origin is unclear.¡±

    ¡°Given the malfunctioning electronics, it could be a horde of metallic gremlins.¡±

    ¡°Doubtful. Metallic gremlins wouldn¡¯t have the power to shake a two-kilometer vessel.¡±

    As they moved, each team leader shared insights based on their expertise, specting on the cause of the incident.

    ¡°Could it be Outsiders? Some of theirrger units are as big as warships, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°Now that you mention it, there have been rumors of a massive assault brewing on the empire¡¯s borders. Outsiders might be¡­¡±

    ¡°I doubt that¡¯s the case,¡± Tyrun interjected, dismissing the possibility of Outsiders.

    ¡°Outsiders cannot achieve hyperspace travel like conventional warships.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°They corrupts and construct specialized devices that allow hyperspace jumps between star systems. They can only travel with that device in ce.¡±

    ¡°The captain has a point. Historical records ofrge-scale assaults show that they emerged from contaminated colonies.¡±

    Lower-ss divisions, like those below Noble Capital or Prime Capital, had restricted ess to Megacorp databases, leading to asional disparities in knowledge.

    For example, the Outsiders'' unique transportation method¡ªthe Bio Portal¡ªis ssified information, tied directly to their nature.

    Captain Tyrun was a member of Saint-Kei, and his rank allowed him knowledge surpassing that of the team leaders present.

    ¡°Navigator, when was thestmunication with the nearest base in this star system?¡±

    ¡°Two hours ago.¡±

    ¡°Ourmunications are on a three-hour schedule. Within the next hour, the base will realize something¡¯s amiss with the Gigacracker, so let¡¯s all hold on to hope.¡±

    Tyrun deliberately reminded them of a fact any team leader would know¡ªthat a rescue would arrive in an hour¡ªto keep their spirits up.

    ¡®Unless, of course, there¡¯s a Bio Portal hidden on a nearby dwarf or asteroid¡­¡¯

    In truth, Tyrun hadn''t shared all the information he knew with the team leaders.

    For instance, the fact that bio portals aren¡¯t inherently tied to contamination. Portals are created by the Outsiders¡¯ queen entities, not by contamination itself. It only seems like the two are rted becauses where the queen resides tend to be contaminated quickly.

    If there happened to be a queen nearby, creating a bio portal on something like a neighboring asteroid, the Outsider hordes could pour through even without a contaminated.

    Moreover, there¡¯s a rumor among the Noble Capitals, although it''s not in the official database. They say that certain Outsiders have evolved to travel at hyperspeed.

    ¡®No need to bring that up here,¡¯ Tyrun thought.

    The team leaders walking through the dark corridor maintained theirposure only because of the extensive, intense training they''d undergone. If their hope of survival faded, the fragile order would crumble instantly.

    Unaware of Tyrun''s private concerns, the team leaders moved swiftly.

    "Which direction would be best to reach the engine room?"

    ¡°Facilities Team Leader?¡±

    ¡°The route from the Captain''s line to the Mess Hall line is faster. However, the Situation Room is linked to the Mess Hall line, so we could rendezvous with the other team along the way. There are pros and cons.¡±

    ¡°Hm.¡±

    If they were going to hold out until the rescue team arrived, the first step was to secure control of the engine room, regardless of whether the threat was Outsiders, metallic gremlins, or a maic storm.

    After a brief pause to consider the Facility Team Leader¡¯s suggestion, the captain made a decision.

    ¡°The more people we have, the safer and faster we¡¯ll reach our destination. Let¡¯s take the Mess Hall line.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    Following the captain¡¯smand, the group proceeded along the route passing through the Mess Hall.

    The corridory shrouded in total darkness, like the void of space itself. In that pitch-ck environment, the gauge bars on their sma rifles glimmered faintly like stars.

    Moving through the eerie corridor toward the depths of the mining vessel, they encountered an obstruction.

    ¡°It¡¯s blocked here too.¡±

    The entire team halted before a thick bulkhead.

    The ship¡¯s AI had detected the onboard crisis and initiated protective measures, sealing the bulkheads across restricted zones. With remote controls disabled, it seemed even the Situation Room was powerless to intervene.

    ¡°I¡¯ll unlock the automated bulkhead.¡±

    Thankfully, the team¡¯sputer pads could still directly connect to the bulkhead terminals and unlock them manually. The Engineering and Research Team Leaders worked together to open the door.

    The moment the bulkhead connected to the terminal opened, a loud noise echoed from afar.

    ¡°!¡±

    ¡°Did you hear that?¡±

    It sounded like something sharp tearing through a metal te. Although it was faint, indicating some distance, it was unnerving.

    The ominous noise didn¡¯t stop; it continued to echo.

    ¡°¡­We need to move faster.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    At Tyrun¡¯s urging, everyone quickened their pace.

    Once the door opened, they crossed the darkened hallway swiftly, only to be met by yet another bulkhead.

    ¡°The Mess Hall is just beyond this.¡±

    While the Engineering and Research Team Leaders worked on opening the next door, the captain and other team leaders stayed alert to their surroundings.

    ¡®The noise has stopped.¡¯

    The unsettling sound, like water echoing through pipes behind the walls, had ceased moments earlier.

    The silence made him uneasy. Far from being resolved, the problem seemed to be growing worse, a creeping dread beginning to spread in the back of his mind.

    With a soft hiss, the door opened.

    Inside the Mess Hall, some lights were still flickering, suggesting the power hadn¡¯t fully gone out.

    But because of that remaining light, they could see, clear as day, the horror that had unfolded there.

    The Mess Hall¡ªone of the few ces within the Gigacracker where a faint semnce of pleasure could be found.

    It was a familiar spot for anyone aboard this ship, now submerged in death.

    The once-white floors were soaked in blood, while scraps of flesh and shards of bone clung to the metallic tables and chairs.

    The number of dead was impossible to estimate. Each corpse had been shredded beyond any semnce of its original form.

    Under the flickering lightsy a grotesque sight in pink.

    This ever-boiling mass, brimming with hundreds of eyes, gazed hungrily at its next offering from atop an altar made of bodies, blood, and bone.

    ¡°Aa-aagghhh!¡±

    Did that gaze shatter hisposure? The Medical Team Leader shrieked, aiming his sma rifle. Just as green energy was about to discharge, something white and red lunged at him from the ceiling of the Mess Hall.

    Tyrun initially thought it was a blood-soaked tablecloth. But he was wrong.

    No tablecloth in the world would absorb human blood through tentacles.

    ¡°Arghhh!¡±

    ¡°Everyone, open fire!¡±

    What had looked like a blood-stained cloth was, in fact, wings¡ªno, the wings of a monster. This white-bodied creature with four crimson wings was pinning the Medical Team Leader down, devouring him.

    The other team leaders, frozen in horror, snapped to action at Tyrun¡¯s order and opened fire. As the sma rifle gauges charged, cylindrical bursts of energy shot from the barrels.

    The bolts flew toward the white and red ghost. Just as the energy projectiles neared, the red hues on its wings spread like paint, enveloping the impact points. The energy bolts dissipated upon contact with the red wings, as if absorbed.

    ¡°It¡¯s not¡­working¡­argh!¡±

    The Crisis Management Team Leader yelled, only to have his arm wrenched into an unnatural angle. Some invisible force had twisted it. He quickly activated the shield built into his advanced armor, narrowly protecting his arm.

    However, he hadn¡¯t realized that the entity¡¯s invisible force was powerful enough to nearly overwhelm his shield.

    ¡°I¡¯m alive¡­!¡±

    Just as he was about to exim his relief, his limbs were torn apart in every direction. Like a marite whose strings had been yanked violently, his shattered remains scattered across the Mess Hall.

    ¡°Aaahhhh!¡±

    The Facilities Team Leader, a seasoned veteran, screamed at the horrifying sight.

    Amid the chaos, Tyrun struggled to maintain hisposure, scanning for the source of the invisible force that had torn apart the Crisis Management Team Leader.

    ¡®There it is!¡¯

    Tyrun¡¯s gaze locked onto a massive pink jellyfish perched atop the corpses. He aimed his rifle, praying at least one shot wouldnd, and fired wildly.

    As if his prayer had worked, one green sma round struck the pink creature¡¯s tentacles. It flinched, seemingly in pain. Other energy rounds followed, raining down on its body.

    But as if mocking their luck, the green energy orbs melted away midair, as though repelled by an invisible barrier.

    ?¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö??¡ö¡ö¡ö?

    ?¡ö! ¡ö¡ö¡ö!?

    The pink creature, which had dissolved the energy rounds in midair, didn¡¯t retaliate. The ghost with the crimson wings, too, reacted differently, as though it had lost its earlier agility.

    ¡®I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but¡­!¡¯

    ¡°Retreat! Fall back!¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±

    Tyrun and the team leaders quickly retreated down the hallway they¡¯de from.

    The two monsters didn¡¯t pursue them.

    -

    ?Just now??what was that??

    ?I don¡¯t know! I just thought of it and it went pow!?

    ?Pow??

    ?Yeah.?

    ?Do it??again?

    At Adhai¡¯s request, Number 26 scrunched up in concentration. Suddenly, a purple energy stream appeared in the air, flowing around it like the gentle waves of the deep ocean.

    Adhai tapped the rippling purple streak with her armored forepaw. A repulsive force deflected her, pushing back like a shockwave.

    ?This??simr to star force?

    ?Star force? What¡¯s star force??

    ?Powerful??chief¡¯s??symbol?

    ?Wow! Studying really paid off!?

    ?Disagree??star force??not rted??to study?

    ?No way! Big One said that studying makes you smarter and stronger!?

    Proudly, Number 26 waved its tentacles, sending out new ripples. Adhai, who¡¯d heard simr tales, couldn¡¯t argue. Instead, she puffed her facial tendrils, grumbling in resignation.

    ?With this, we can protect Big One, right??

    ?Probably?

    ?Great! Then I¡¯ll keep eating lots and lots to make sure Big One never hurts!?

    ?Agreed??Big Elder??if hurt??egg??suffers?

    And with that, the two resumed their feast, gathering strength once more.

    The reason they hadn¡¯t bothered to chase those who¡¯d fled was simple.

    Big One, also their Great Elder, had dered it.

    This ship was now her own.

    Their wise leader never let prey slip away.

 Chapter 290:

    -

    In the ion cannon control room, the chief technician and the team members looked up at the ceiling with uneasy expressions.

    The sharp sound of metal des shing, followed by the intermittent sts¡ªthese were sounds that should never be heard from a Gigacracker.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we go check it out?¡±

    ¡°No. If we move, we risk losing control over the ion cannon.¡±

    ¡°But waiting for an hour feels... too long.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re wearing enhanced armor to prevent any potential incidents. What you¡¯re wearing is top-tier armor. It¡¯s resistant to most weapons.¡±

    That meant there was something outside capable of neutralizing even such advanced equipment, right?

    The chief technician made thisment in an attempt to reassure the team, but it didn¡¯t have much effect. The team understood what he meant, but they simply refrained from arguing.¡°For now, we need to hold this position until the rescue team arrives. Everyone, take your designated positions.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    With that, the team dispersed. Dozens of people broke off into groups of three, heading to the maintenance rooms scattered along the middle of the corridor.

    ¡°Damn it, I don¡¯t know what to make of all this.¡±

    ¡°Tell me about it.¡±

    In one of the maintenance rooms installed along the massive rail of the ion cannon, a group of three team members were making small talk to relieve the tension.

    ¡°The monthly report was next week... and now this happens.¡±

    ¡°I heard you have a family?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I just got married recently.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s nice. I¡¯m in my fifth year now... not sure if I¡¯m supporting a family or just paying employees to earn credits. Tch.¡±

    ¡°If you n to have kids, you should report it to Saint K. They offer subsidies¡­¡±

    Their conversation was abruptly cut off.

    They¡¯d heard something.

    It was simr to the sound they¡¯d heard earlier from the control room, but much louder. Without realizing it, each of them tightened their grip on their sma rifles.

    ¡°Did everyone hear that?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I heard it too.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯sing from somewhere nearby¡­¡±

    Whatever it was, hearing such a sound nearby could never be a good sign. It was possible that another maintenance room was being attacked.

    Despite the chief technician¡¯s orders not to leave their positions, there was no time to be concerned about such things. The three team members grabbed their rifles and stepped out of the maintenance room.

    Because this facility was crucial to the purpose of the Gigacracker, it was equipped with independent power supply systems for emergencies. These systems were closed off in a way that made remote hacking impossible unless physically essed.

    The brightly lit corridor greeted them as they stepped outside. The maintenance rooms weren¡¯t far apart. As they made their way toward a nearby maintenance room, they ran into other team members who were lingering in the corridor.

    ¡°Did you hear it too?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Now that we¡¯re out, it¡¯s quiet again.¡±

    ¡°Do you think another team handled it?¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t be sure. We should check.¡±

    By the time the team reached the third maintenance room, nothing unusual had happened.

    The problem arose on their way to the fourth maintenance room. In the corridor, they witnessed an anomaly.

    They weren¡¯t sure where it hade from, but tiny, dust-like particles were floating through the air.

    ¡°What is this?¡±

    ¡°It looks like mineral fragments.¡±

    The particles resembled finely crushed orange-colored agate. If this were any other ce, they might have marveled at the way the particles glinted like stars when reflected in the light.

    This was a space dealing with advanced weaponry. The infiltration of unidentified foreign particles was never a good sign.

    And soon, their uneasy predictions became reality.

    In front of the fourth maintenance room, filled with particles, therey a heavily crumpled alloy door, almost unrecognizable in shape.

    Something hadpressed a massive alloy door, several dozen centimeters thick, down to about a third of its original size¡ªand it was nearby.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Swallow.¡±

    The sound of someone swallowing echoed faintly down the corridor.

    The team members who should have been inside the fourth maintenance room were nowhere to be seen. But the nine remaining could easily guess what had happened to them.

    ¡°We should turn back¡­¡±

    Just as one team member spoke, something leapt out from inside the maintenance room, where the door had been torn away.

    Without any warning, it emerged¡ªa creature whose front paw resembled that of a big cat predator. If it weren''t for the fact that the paw wasrger than an adult man''s torso, that is.

    After the front paw, a head appeared¡ªbelonging to arge bird of prey, with ck horns protruding from it.

    The moment its amber eyes locked onto the nine team members, the particles from the maintenance room poured out toward them.

    The team member standing behind had no choice but to witness the horrifying sight of those in front of him shrinking down to the size of basketballs the instant they came into contact with the particles.

    He tried to scream at the sight of hisrades now reduced to masses of red flesh, but the particles traveling through the air reached his throat long before his voice could escape.

    There was no pain as the particles touched him. His body had already entered a state where it couldn¡¯t feel pain.

    The beast, which had reduced the nine team members to mere piles of flesh, passed them by.

    There were still many of them left here, creatures that she had to hunt.

    ---

    In the dark corridor, Tyran and the surviving team leaders ran.

    After the horrific massacre in the dining car, only the research team leader and the facilities team leader remained. The rest had been gruesomely killed by the monsters.

    ¡°Captain! This way¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll abandon the engines. We need to get out of here right now.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    The two team leaders were bewildered by the captain''s decision. No matter how much the captain was from the noble family of Saint K, abandoning the Gigacracker didn¡¯t make sense to them.

    But Tyran wasn¡¯t making that decision out of fear.

    He had participated several times in the monster hunts that were a hobby of the head of the Saint K family, Walter Saint K. Among the many predators he had hunted, there was only one that stood out.

    ¡®Sea Demon.¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that primitive intelligent species like the Wolven and Fishrians often revered the Sea Demon as a god. This was true even if it seemed hard to believe. The experience of fighting that monster, known by many other names like "Sea God" or "Deep Sea Demon," was the most nightmarish memory in Tyran¡¯s life.

    And the pink jellyfish from the dining car.

    Despite its small size, it was definitely a Sea Demon.

    ¡®We could never defeat it.¡¯

    Why the Sea Demon was aboard the Gigacracker, and why such savage creatures were here with other monsters¡ªthere were many things Tyran didn¡¯t understand, but those questions weren¡¯t important right now.

    The important thing was that with the demon on board, they needed to somehow inform the rescue team. If they didn¡¯t, a massacre of unimaginable proportions would unfold.

    ¡°Captain, please reconsider abandoning the Gigacracker¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not abandoning it.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°If we don¡¯t pass on the information about that monster to the rescue team, we can¡¯t even imagine how many lives will be lost. If that happens, reiming this ship will be even more impossible.¡±

    ¡°W-Well, that¡¯s true¡­¡±

    ¡°That shouldn¡¯t happen, but if things do go wrong, I will take full responsibility.¡±

    Hearing the captain''s assurance, the team leaders fell silent. They continued running through the corridor in silence, finally reaching the area where the captain¡¯s office was located.

    Once they passed this section, they would reach the hangar. From there, they could escape using the emergency escape pods.

    However, their ordeal was far from over.

    What awaited them after running with only a sliver of hope was an overwhelming sense of dread. The corridor connecting the captain''s office to the hangar waspletely in ruins.

    Something enormous had twisted its body and moved through the corridor, as evidenced by the shattered walls and ceiling. Beyond the torn alloy walls, the captain''s officey in disarray.

    This wasn¡¯t the work of the Sea Demon or the winged white lizard. Judging by the damage, the creature responsible for destroying the corridor was muchrger than either of them.

    Furthermore, it seemed the gravity control systems throughout the area were malfunctioning, as various objects and metal debris floated aimlessly in the air.

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Tyran and the team leaders moved cautiously through the destroyed corridor, on edge.

    Without a sound, objects from the captain''s office collided with their floating bodies. A picture frame flew past, revealing only the upper half of a woman¡¯s portrait, a grandfather clock with its second hand frozen, and shattered ss from a broken cup¡ªmundane items, yet now they all seemed eerily unsettling.

    At least the corridor leading to the hangar wasn¡¯t long. The three of them barely managed to reach the shielded door connected to the hangar.

    The creature that had destroyed the corridor was nowhere to be seen, suggesting it had moved elsewhere. As soon as the research team leader opened the shielded door, Tyran and the facilities team leader rushed inside the hangar.

    ¡°Close the door quickly!¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes!¡±

    They didn¡¯t know when the creature might return. The research team leader hurriedly closed the shielded door with trembling hands.

    It wasn¡¯t until the door had sealed that the three of them could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

    ¡°It seems the gravity¡¯s still functioning in here, so the creature hasn¡¯te this way.¡±

    ¡°Looks like we¡¯re the first to reach the escape pods. The others must be¡­¡±

    No one spoke about what might have happened to the rest.

    ¡°The captain¡¯s escape pod is over here.¡±

    ¡°Captain, the code.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Standing in front of an escape pod adorned with borate decorations, Tyran entered the emergency code into the terminal.

    *Gigacracker 14th Captain, ''Tyran Saint K'' confirmed.¡±

    A brief message shed on the terminal, and the pod¡¯s door opened with the sound of air being released. Just as Tyran stepped forward to board, something dropped onto his shoulder.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    He touched his shoulder and found sticky liquid on his hand. Slowly, he looked up.

    A ¡°monster¡± hung upside down from the ceiling of the hangar.

    The creature, dripping saliva, lunged at him.

    ---

    ¡®As expected.¡¯

    Tyran had hidden in the hangar, thinking that maybe someone might try to escape. And of course, it was the captain and the higher-ups who hade running.

    ¡®I don¡¯t think anyone else will being.¡¯

    The Mother of the Sky had gone to the ion cannon control facility, Number 26 and Adhai to other sections, and PS-111 to the situation room. By now, all the crew on board had likely been dealt with.

    A superweapon capable of destroying entires was now in my hands.

    ¡®Not quite yet, though.¡¯

    I looked down at the newly made friend, Captain Tyran.

    Like me, the insectoid creatures had grownrger. What used to be creatures about one meter in length from head to tail were now three meters long.

    The insectoid with the face of a middle-aged man lowered its head as soon as it sensed my gaze.

    The rescue fleet from the nearby star system would arrive in an hour, he said. Until they were dealt with, it would be premature to im full control of the Gigacracker.

    ¡®¡®What should I do?¡¯¡¯

    In games, I had fought against superweapons that rivaled the Gigacracker multiple times. I knew how much effort yers or NPCs would put into protecting such weapons.

    Even more so, thanks to the insectoid, I knew the details of the rescue fleet¡¯s capabilities. To me, they were nothing more than good prey.

    For example, I could destroy the fleet myself. Now that I had be an adult and gained my powerful unique traits, the rescue fleet was no match for me.

    Alternatively, I could lure the enemies inside the Gigacracker like I usually did, and with the children, I could wipe them out.

    ¡°Or¡­¡±

    I looked up at the enormous metallic structure surrounding my own huge body.

    In the game, I had never once used this, only encountering it as an enemy.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a good idea.¡±

    I smiled, thinking of the moths that would soon fly to their doom,pletely unaware of what wasing.

 Chapter 291:

    -

    There is something that has not changed, even in an era when humans freely roam between the stars.

    A time when humans can manipte genes as they wish, alterary environments, and move massive metal structures across entire star systems.

    Now, humans can recreate miracles once thought to be divine with their bare hands.

    Yet, if there is something that remains unchanged, something that cannot be altered, it is the "limitations inherent in human beings."

    Death. The end. Problems that even though humans can handle divine miracles, they are not divine themselves and thus cannot solve. Fear of these issues manifests in many forms.

    Myths about the infinite evil lurking deep within the universe.

    Stories ofnding on an uninhabited, only to find that the crew size has mysteriously increased.

    Rumors of a ship setting off with a full crew, only to arrive with no one on board.Ironically, even in the age of space travel, such ghost stories still persist. They have simply evolved to remind humanity of its limits and stir up primal fears.

    Yamada, the leader of the rescue fleet team aboard the Megacorp space fortress in the OS-255 star system, had heard many of these ghost stories in the past.

    Once, as a simple crew member, he had heard every ghost story possible. After all, that was the sort of thing sailors, navigating the vast sea of stars, often talked about over drinks.

    But never had he heard a story as terrifying as the one he was about to hear now.

    ¡°Are you saying we¡¯ve lost contact with the Gigacracker?¡±

    Just as he was about to fall asleep, Yamada was jolted awake by a message from his subordinate, and he felt the chilling sensation of his spine going cold.

    ?Yes. It¡¯s the scheduledmunication time, but we¡¯ve received no contact.?

    ¡°Could it be that it''spletely vanished?¡±

    ?No, the Gigacracker''s energy signature is still intact.?

    The rescue fleet is equipped with devices that can track the unique energy traces of the Gigacracker. As long as the ship hasn¡¯t been destroyed outright or it¡¯s not too long since the trace was made, they can follow it.

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s a relief. Wake everyone up and prepare the ship for immediate departure.¡±

    ?Understood!?

    Ending themunication with his subordinate, Yamada sent out an urgent message to the entire fleet.

    ¡°Attention all rescue fleet units. Communication with Gigacracker 14 is lost! Communication with Gigacracker 14 is lost!¡±

    Five minutester.

    The rescue fleet had assembled outside the fortress in the vastness of space.

    If it had been an ordinary ship facing a problem, they wouldn''t have mobilized this quickly. But this was an unprecedented situation: the loss of contact with the Gigacracker, and that made all the difference.

    ¡°Is the Gigacracker¡¯s energy signature still there? Is it unchanged?¡±

    ¡°Yes, the energy signature is still present at the same location.¡±

    ¡°¡­This could be the work of Star Union agents.¡±

    Naturally, it would be a far greater problem if the Gigacracker was not destroyed but stolen by another faction. The danger to Megacorp''ss was a secondary issue; the primary threat was reverse engineering.

    The design and key technology behind the Gigacracker were known only to Saint K. If that knowledge were to leak, Saint K. would suffer a catastrophic blow.

    It was obvious where the anger of Noble Capital, having sustained such a huge loss, would be directed. Those working in the rescue fleet would likely face severe punishment, to the point that even being employed by thepany would feel like a luxury.

    ¡°The entire fleet is ready for hyper-velocity travel.¡±

    With Yamada''smand, the entire fleet began to shine in a deep blue light. Just like a star shining in the vast dark of space, the light that had illuminated the ck expanse of space vanished in an instant.

    A few minutester, they arrived in apletely different star system, far away. Thanks to their hyper-velocity engines, a journey that would normally take months waspleted in a matter of minutes.

    ¡°Destination reached.¡±

    ¡°No ships left behind.¡±

    ¡°No damage sustained.¡±

    ¡°Good. Disy the Gigacracker¡¯s status on the hologram.¡±

    While reports were being exchanged across the fleet, a hologram disying the situation inside the star system was projected in the centralmand room.

    Soon after, the external camera of the ship disyed the Gigacracker¡¯s appearance on the hologram. The massive, spherical Gigacracker¡ª2 kilometers in diameter¡ªappeared, apanied by numerical data analyzing its current status.

    ¡°The position hasn¡¯t changed... Hmm?¡±

    The crew member, reporting the status, suddenly fell silent.

    But Yamada did not scold him.

    The data appearing on the hologram was highly unusual.

    ¡®The energy output is spiking!¡¯

    It was increasing rapidly, much like when an ion cannon is activated. Realizing this, Yamada''s face drained of color.

    "Evade! Evasive maneuvers, now!"

    "Yes, right away!"

    Noticing the anomaly, the other ships began to veer off into different formations. Meanwhile, the data on the hologram soared, reaching its limit and then glowing a deep red.

    Once the increase in energy stabilized, the cold, mechanical voice of the ship''s AI echoed through themand room.

    ?High-energy reaction detected from the front.?

    "Everyone, grab anything you can!"

    As the twomands intersected, an immense shock rocked the ship.

    ---

    In space survival games, there are few yers who dislike superweapons.

    Naturally, this is understandable.

    It¡¯s a chance to wield the kinds of weapons we¡¯ve seen in media set in space¡ªthose that can wipe out entire fleets with a single shot or incinerate entires in purification mes.

    Beyond the romanticized view of science fiction, within the game mechanics, superweapons are also quite effective. The sheer destructive power makes it easy to neutralize enemy defenses.

    The only thing capable of stopping a superweapon is an equal force. In battles between ranked yers, ns, or factions, whether or not one side possesses a superweapon can have a massive impact.

    Personally, I¡¯ve faced enemies with superweapons many times and found it difficult to deal with them. Even if you hide on a, if they target you with a superweapon, it¡¯s over.

    However, despite these advantages, yers who possess superweapons for long periods are rare.

    The reason is tied to those very advantages.

    In battle, possessing overwhelming superiority means that anyone trying to obtain a superweapon will soon face interference from others. If they¡¯re enemies, that¡¯s expected, but even allies might secretly sabotage you, as they never know when the weapon might turn on them.

    And superweapons are hard to hide. Despite their immense power, their defenses are not necessarily any stronger. A slight misstep, and they¡¯ll be overwhelmed by enemy fire and lost.

    Not to mention the exorbitant production and maintenance costs.

    For these practical reasons, few yers maintain superweapons for long, but despite all of this, they are still coveted. That¡¯s the allure of a superweapon.

    And now, the weapon with that destructive allure is moving in my hands.

    The Gigacracker¡¯s primary weapon, the ck Devourer Cannon. A weapon powerful enough to split apart small stars, such as asteroids and dwarfs, is now activated.

    The cannon, with a bore diameter of hundreds of meters, unleashes a cyan-colored beam. It resembled the particle beams fired by the Crystal Wing, but its range and destructive power were on an entirely different scalepletely iparable. It was nonsensical to evenpare the destructive force capable of destroying a star to the capabilities of any living being.

    The beautiful death cuts through the darkness of space, soaring toward its target.

    The target at the end of its trajectory was not a star, but a ship. The rescue fleet that had just arrived to assist.

    The newly arrived ships in this star system were disoriented. They never imagined that the Gigacracker would target them. They tried to scatter into evasive formations, but the ion cannon¡¯s beam was already upon them.

    At the moment the beam collided with the fleet, an intense burst of light erupted.

    There were no dazzling fireworks of a grand fleet battle. It was more like waves sweeping over a sandcastle. Battleships, destroyers, and frigates¡ªhundreds of ships¡ªwere struck by the beam and vanished without a trace.

    ¡®In the game, I would have been the one doing that.¡¯

    Even if a being evolves to its peak, the means to defend against a superweapon are extremely limited. Only with the most powerful of abilities¡ªlike those of an Apex-tier entity¡ªcould they potentially counteract it.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, it was the same when I fought the Imperial dreadnought.¡¯

    Even when blocking the cosmic bolts of the Imperial gship, I had to unleash everything¡ªthe perfected form, the King of Beasts, the God¡¯s Whip, and even the three-headed psychic breath¡ªjust to barely win.

    In truth, such a situation was rare in the game. Most of the time, the superweapon would activate and end the battle before it ever got to that point. What happens if you fail? You end up like those ships.

    ¡®Is this the end?¡¯

    The Gigacracker¡¯s hull, which had unfolded like a blooming lotus, was now folding back in. Normally, it maintained its spherical shape, but when it fired the ion cannon, the external hull around the weapon would unfurl like flower petals.

    ¡®That¡¯s why it was nicknamed ¡°Tangerine.¡±¡¯

    With the ion cannon in dormancy, the Gigacracker was returning to its original form.

    I was watching it all unfold in space, wrapped in the ¡°Dark Veil¡± from beginning to end.

    ¡®Now it¡¯s my turn.¡¯

    The survivors were limited to the fast-moving frigates and a few battleships that had evaded the attack with quick thinking and maneuvers.

    If they make it back safely, it would be troublesome.

    With the veil still active, I moved toward them. As soon as the surviving ships saw me approach, they scattered.

    Thanks to the dark veil, my body was cloaked in a material that disrupted the enemy''s detection systems. From their perspective, I must have appeared as a massive energy anomaly.

    Perhaps it was the ion cannon''s continued firing, or the new attack, but the enemy seemed to be inplete disarray.

    I dove into their ranks, swinging my right tail toward a nearby frigate. The oncerger frigate was now dwarfed by me, and my scorpion-like tail cleaved it in two.

    As I swung my tail, the rest of my body didn¡¯t remain idle. From the pipes along my body, instead of the dark veil, ¡°Gremlin Moss¡±¡ªenhanced with the trait of the ¡°Great Infector¡±¡ªwas released in a smog-like cloud.

    The gremlin moss cloud, which disabled machinery, stuck to the remnants of the rescue fleet. Ships caught in the mist flickered with brief shes beforeing to aplete stop.

    The incapacitated prey was handled by the two heads on either side of me. The right head sted arge hole into a ship with an enhanced acidic breath, while the left head simply bit another ship and tossed it toward another enemy.

    My battle arms transformed into scythe-like des orrge, wed hands, depending on what was needed, and struck at the nearby ships. Thanks to the ¡°Variable Bioweapon¡± trait, my arms kept changing shape, tormenting the enemy.

    As the number of surviving frigates rapidly dwindled, the remaining battleships seemed to recognize what was attacking them. The surviving ships retreated, and their main guns powered up, opening fire on me.

    The sma energy from their cannons struck my body, but it didn¡¯t cause significant damage. It wasn¡¯t entirely painless, butpared to what I had endured before, it was practically nothing.

    <em>¡®So you want a gunfight?¡¯</em>

    It seemed like that¡¯s what they wanted, so I decided to give them what they were asking for.

    The heads, which had been moving on their own, now halted and followed my will, shifting toward the front.

    From my entire body, the enormous energy pumping through me¡ªlike a dragon''s heart¡ªsurged upward in a fountain of power. Where previously, psychic power had concentrated in just one head, it now flowed into three directions, splitting evenly. The tentacles, now charged with that immense energy, writhed in unison.

    And when the umted energy reached its peak, my tentacles erupted in mes.

    The breath of the dragon, now far surpassing its original form, washed over the ships. Even though my power still didn¡¯t match that of a superweapon, enduring the psychic breath was a different matter. The heavily armored battleships melted through their hulls, and the smaller frigates vanished without a trace.

    When the firestorm ended, no movements remained.

    What was left in the void of space were simply the wrecks of the fleet.

    ¡®Should I finish cleaning up and head back?¡¯

    I unleashed one final burst of purple me. The psychic breath engulfed the scrap ships, reducing them to cinders.

    After erasing all traces of the rescue fleet¡¯s presence, I turned away.

    The little ones are waiting for me at the new home.

 Chapter 292

    The head of the Saint K. family, a member of the Noble Capital, Walter¡¯s nickname is ¡®The Oddball¡¯.

    Although Akira Yujin, the current CEO of Megacorp, is also treated as an entric, the context in which Walter is called ¡®The Oddball¡¯ is slightly different.

    There are two main reasons why Walter is considered an oddball.

    The first is that, despite being the head of a Noble Capital family, Walter has never undergone any gic modification. While he uses advanced weapons and precise mechanical devices, his physical body remains pure.

    Just as the people of the Yujin family trust their bloodline, Walter believes in the inherent purity of the human body itself. The Saint K. family, generally quite conservative in nature, has very few members who, like Walter, avoid any kind of body modification.

    But this alone isn¡¯t what makes Walter so peculiar. There¡¯s another factor that makes him even more unusual.

    He enjoys hunting monsters¡ªdangerously powerful monsters, to be precise.

    Typically, the heads of Noble Capital families might engage in hunting as a sport or a form of leisure, but they don¡¯t go hunting monsters. The death of a head of family can have a devastating impact on their n. After all, isn¡¯t the downfall of the Edgerton family partly due to losing their head of family to TNC?

    Yet Walter, fully aware of the risks, goes hunting the most dangerous creatures¡ªwithout the benefit of gic modifications, and with nothing but his own physical body. Had he not been a skilled hunter, he would have died dozens of times over by now. Of course, to other Noble Capital families, he undoubtedly seems like a madman, an oddball.Interestingly, despite his unusual hobby, Walter maintains good rtionships with other Noble Capital families.

    He hunts monsters for the thrill of the hunt, but he¡¯s not interested in acquiring their genes. Thus, the rare and powerful creatures he captures are sold to other families.

    In a way, Walter resembles a bounty hunter, but paradoxically, this very trait prevents him from being targeted by other family heads. Except for the Saint K. family, no other family has any particr reason to dislike him, since he regrly provides rare creatures to them.

    His good rtionships with the other family heads, despite his entric nature, is the second reason he¡¯s called ¡®The Oddball¡¯.

    This entric Noble Capital heretic is now meeting yet another strange being.

    In the reception room aboard Akira¡¯s gship, Cheongeom.

    A middle-aged man with ck hair and an elderly man with snowy white hair sit across from each other at a table.

    Unlike the thin, wiry middle-aged man, the elderly man is massive, with a physique that could only be described as imposing. He stands more than twice as tall as the middle-aged man, his limbs thick with muscle, as wide as an adult¡¯s thigh.

    A man whose body is so well-maintained that it¡¯s hard to even call him elderly¡ªthis is the entric Walter Saint K..

    ¡°The head of the TNC family asked me¡±, Walter said, holding up a piece of steak with his fork. ¡°With Noble Capital¡¯s gic modification technology, you could create the perfect meat. Why do people insist on eating the flesh of living animals?¡±

    He took a bite of the steak, speaking between chews.

    ¡°He said that vor is essentially information. When we eat meat, we¡¯re not simply satisfying our tastebuds¡ªwe¡¯re consuming the ¡®information¡¯ embedded in the meat itself.¡±

    Walter paused for a moment, chewing thoughtfully.

    ¡°Whether it¡¯s meat from an animal ughtered just an hour ago or meat from an animal raised for years on a farm, the taste is the same. But we don¡¯t perceive it that way. The eating habits, experiences, and the intangible values thate with the meat from a farm-raised animal cannot be replicated.¡±

    ¡°Did that brat actually say that?¡± the middle-aged man asked.

    Walter nodded, still chewing.

    ¡°Experience defines the essence of things. Isn¡¯t that just amon saying?¡±

    ¡°Hmph, seems like something he¡¯d say. From a business perspective, of course.¡±

    At Akira¡¯s cynical response, Walter chuckled softly and swallowed his bite.

    ¡°As I said before, preparations areplete.¡±

    ¡°Fast. Very good.¡±

    ¡°The ¡®best prey¡¯, he says. It¡¯d be nice if it¡¯s worth the price of ten Gigacrackers.¡±

    Some time ago, Walter had made a deal with Akira at the Dispute Mediation Team¡¯s headquarters. Since then, Walter had been preparing something.

    That preparation was moving ten Gigacrackers to a specific star system.

    Even for Walter, a genius and a head of family, using ten Gigacrackers¡ªvital assets for his family¡ªfor personal reasons was quite a burden. If Akira hadn¡¯t invested an enormous amount of his own personal funds to cover the cost, Walter would never have taken such a step.

    ¡°Why move them there? Does he have something to do with Vortex One?¡±

    ¡°No. It¡¯s even more terrifying than Vortex One.¡±

    ¡°¡­Are you serious?¡±

    Walter, having finished his steak, frowned at the unbelievable statement.

    Vortex One is a monster that cannot be caught through conventional means. It takes thebined efforts of at least two families¡ªeither from the Noble Capital or the Prime Capital¡ªto even attempt to subdue one. Walter knew this all too well, having barely escaped a hunt for one many years ago.

    To hear that there was a creature even more terrifying than Vortex One was beyond hisprehension. He couldn¡¯t even imagine what kind of creature that might be.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m serious. The one I¡¯m talking about is the second most dangerous being in this universe.¡±

    The "second most dangerous being".

    It was a subtle phrase, but it made Akira''s words seem even more usible. Intrigued, Walter licked his lips and crossed his arms.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll find this even more interesting¡±, Akira said, snapping his fingers.

    At his signal, a woman dressed in ck appeared out of nowhere, handing Walter a small chip and aputer pad. Walter inserted the chip into the pad, activating it, and a massive amount of data appeared in holographic form.

    ¡°Quite a lot of information here. A being like this couldn¡¯t possibly have gone unnoticed until now.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve controlled the information in Megacorp¡¯s database. Other families, other heads of families don¡¯t know about this.¡±

    Akira was openly admitting to monopolizing the information, but Walter didn¡¯t point it out. After all, other families were likely doing the same.

    ¡°This thing will definitelye to that location. It won¡¯t be long now, so prepare ordingly.¡±

    ¡°And what makes you so sure?¡±

    ¡°I know it well. Given its current state, it¡¯ll definitely try to capture Vortex One.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Is that so?¡±

    Now that the contract was in ce, Akira¡¯s methods of knowing this weren¡¯t particrly important to Walter. He didn¡¯t ask further questions and instead focused on the holographic data.

    From what he could see, the creature certainly seemed like something that could earn the title of ¡°the second most dangerous being in the universe.¡± This meant that thepletion of the Gigacracker deployment wasn¡¯t the end of their preparations. Far more was required.

    Moreover, Walter knew they needed to prepare for the possibility that Akira might be wrong.

    As an excellent hunter, Walter knew all too well that prey doesn¡¯t always behave in predictable ways. The same was true here¡ªthere was a high chance that things wouldn¡¯t go as nned, so preparations for unexpected scenarios were a must.

    Now that the matter was settled, Walter didn¡¯t intend to stay any longer. He quickly scanned the hologram onest time and shut down the pad.

    ¡°If you find anything strange or have any questions, let me know.¡±

    With that, Walter left the reception room.

    Once the guest had left, Akira remained seated, not yet rising.

    ¡®Amorph. This time, you won¡¯t escape.¡¯

    Akira knew that capturing Vortex One was one of the conditions required for ascension in the Amorph''s evolution path.

    So, this time, he was nning to set a trap specifically for the Amorph. The idea was to position the ten Gigacrackers near the location where Vortex Ones typically resided.

    ¡®If I add insurance to the n...¡¯

    Akira had previously left such matters to his pet ck Gagon, which had ended in humiliating failure. He was not about to make the same mistake again.

    ¡°Code ck.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Lord Akira.¡±

    ¡°Tell the butler to follow Walter and provide support.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    As Akira sent his shadow to the butler, he thought to himself:

    ¡®If anyone can inflict significant damage on the Amorph, it¡¯s Walter.¡¯

    Walter Saint K. was one of the few NPCs Akira trusted. That is, except for his refusal to undergo gic modification.

    ¡®No wonder he looks like that at 120 years old. Other family heads don¡¯t even have a wrinkle at that age.¡¯

    Even though Walter was in excellent health for someone who had rejected gic modifications, there were clear limits to what he could achieve without the aid of technology. If he hadn¡¯t stubbornly insisted on maintaining his "human purity" and epted the modifications, he would have been able to hunt far more formidable opponents by now.

    ¡®That¡¯s part of the reason I sent them.¡¯

    Neither Walter nor the hunters under hismand had undergone any gic modifications. This meant that even if they were killed, it wouldn¡¯t provide any benefits to the Amorph.

    ¡®Even if Walter fails to kill it, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯

    Considering Walter¡¯s abilities and temperament, even if he didn¡¯t kill it, he would still inflict significant damage.

    The moment the creature weakened, Akira nned to descend to the scene himself. With the signal chip in his butler¡¯s heart, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult for him to fly straight to its location.

    Just like the creature did to him in the game, this time Akira intended to repay it with the same method.

    Sitting in thevishly decorated reception room, Akira silently smiled.

    ---

    ¡°No new energy signatures detected in the system. No pursuers.¡±

    [ZZZ (Good news.)]

    ¡°Where to next?¡±

    In the Gigacracker¡¯smand room, PS-111, connected to hundreds or thousands of cables, asked.

    ¡®There are a few ces I could go now that I¡¯m a fully evolved entity¡­¡¯

    Normally, there would be a set destination. The ces that would most efficiently fulfill the conditions for evolution.

    However, he had been hit with a vision during his evolution, so going directly to those locations was out of the question.

    ¡®I need more time.¡¯

    Now that he had the Gigacracker in his possession, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for rankers to threaten him. Unless they set a trap and tried to target him as a group.

    While thinking about this, I noticed Adhai, lying on the floor inside themand room.

    She had neatly folded her red wings and was gently scratching them with her horns, preening. Noticing his gaze, she began to wag her tail and worked even harder on cleaning her wings.

    [ZZZZ (Adhai)]

    ?Elder??What is it??

    When I called her, Adhai looked up at me, her beautiful amethyst eyes sparkling.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Would you like to visit a new nest?)]

    ?Nest??A nest???Really??

    Adhai seemed taken aback by my question. Surprised, she immediately got up from where she was lying.

    ?Really???Are you sure??

    [ZZ (Yes.)]

    ?I??Want to see the little ones!?

    Now that the enemy had lost its trail, there was no harm in stopping by the where Adhai¡¯s kin had migrated.

    ¡®It would also be nice to visit where 26¡¯s friends are, but that¡¯s probably difficult.¡¯

    The PH-101, where 26 had once gained the power of a Sea Demon andmuned with several Bubble Amoebas.

    That had been designated a holy site by the cults, making it difficult to bring a Gigacracker there. The cults would never allow it to go unchallenged.

    ?I want to see the little ones p around too!?

    Fortunately, 26 didn¡¯t seem to mind visiting Adhai¡¯s kin. In fact, it appeared to be in a good mood at the thought of seeing the little Blue Gagons.

    Finally, when Akira looked at the Mother of the Sky, she simply shrugged her shoulders in response.

    ¡®It¡¯s settled then.¡¯

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (To where Adhai¡¯s kin are located.)]

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    With a short response, Adhai bowed her head deeply. The light in her red eyes seemed to fade away.

    Thanks to multiple modifications to its mechanical parts, PS-111 could move its body freely while controlling normal ships. But when it came to the Gigacracker, which was farrger and had far more facilities to manage, it was too much to control in the same way.

    ?Then, prepare for superluminal travel.?

    [ZZZZ ZZ (I¡¯m counting on you.)]

    The voice from the ship¡¯s AI echoed, mixing with several other voices. This was due to the synchronization with the auxiliary organ, which I had set up to assist with various tasks.

    [ZZZ Z (Wait a moment.)]

    ?Hmm??

    [Z ZZZ ZZ (I need to tell you something.)]

    As I withdrew the heads I had ced in themand room through the hallway, I called out to the Mother of the Sky. She returned to her griffon-like humanoid form and followed me, walking over the debris I had created as I moved.

    ?Being toorge is also a problem.?

    [ZZZ (Indeed.)]

    I was d that the Gigacracker was so big and sturdy. Thinking about this, I led her to the cargo hold.

    ?So, what¡¯s this thing you need to talk about??

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (I think we need to adjust our immediate goal.)]

    ?Goal? Weren¡¯t you aiming for ascension??

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (That was the n, but it¡¯s been postponed.)]

    She tilted her head, seeming confused by my words.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (I saw another vision while evolving.)]

    ?You mean the memories from before? Did you see something like that again??

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZZ (It wasn¡¯t just memories. Another ''me'' appeared and tried to kill me.)]

    ?What??

    I went on to describe the vision I had experienced.

    The one where I was caught between the lines of reality and illusion, experiencing intense pain, as if the two worlds were one and the same.

    The other ¡®me¡¯¡ªan entity telling me to choose between killing myself or being killed.

    She listened, her eyes serious and silent throughout the entire exnation. After a long pause, she finally spoke.

    ?...How do you n to confirm it? I haven¡¯t reached that stage myself.?

    [ZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ (I¡¯m thinking of asking other yers.)]

    ?Other yers? Are you going to hunt yers now??

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (No. Before that, I¡¯ll start with this one first.)]

    ?This one??

    I reached into my own body and retrieved the gic essence that had been stored for the longest time.

    The second yer I had hunted and sessfully killed¡ªthe one who had already in two other rankers.

    The patron of Muriel and the enemy of the Mother of the Sky.

    The being emerged from the cocoon that had formed near my back and legs, cracking open and falling to the floor.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö Ugh, A, Amorph-sama, did you call for me?¡±

    The humanoid insect, reborn from the gic material of Cult yer Jason, bowed deeply before me.

 Chapter 293:

    ?¡­Even more grotesque now that it¡¯s fully matured.?

    The Mother of the Sky recoiled at the sight of the monstrous, three-meter-tall worm with Jason¡¯s human face.

    Though she¡¯d seen such creatures multiple times in games, facing this grotesque bug in reality was clearly unsettling.

    ¡®Shall we begin, then?¡¯

    Using my mimicry organ, I projected a human voice to address Jason.

    ¡°How far did you progress in the quest?¡±

    ¡°Ipleted up to stage 10 and was working on stage 11.¡±

    The Cult operates with a unique system called ¡®quests¡¯, which has a total of 12 stages, each offering rewards uponpletion.

    The armor and weaponry Jason brought to fight me were rewards from clearing the 10th stage, known as the ¡®Dragonyer Set¡¯, I had suspected he¡¯d reached around that level¡ªand I was correct.¡®Stage 11 does take considerable time to clear.¡¯

    In any case, with ten stagespleted, he was fairly close to the endgame. It was likely he had simr experiences to mine.

    ¡°Did you ever experience visions of your human past while clearing quests?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I saw them each time I cleared a stage.¡±

    ¡°Events from your past?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Just as I expected. He, too, had experienced those memories of the past, just as I had.

    ¡°When you saw those visions, did anything seem strange? Were they only unpleasant memories or perhaps distorted?¡±

    At my question, he paused. Jason¡¯s face twisted, an unsettling expression suggesting he was recalling something unpleasant.

    The monstrous insect, which had been answeringpliantly until now, hesitated briefly before responding.

    ¡°There was no distortion in the visions. They showed everything exactly as it happened.¡±

    ¡°Then it must have been a miserable past.¡±

    ¡°Yes. My father, drunk, would always call me a faggot. Neither my mother nor I could ever stand up to him. We were just beaten by him every day.¡±

    Jason¡¯s face was tightly scrunched up, yet his tone was coldly detached. The Mother of the Sky, listening nearby, frowned. It was apparent Jason¡¯s life hadn¡¯t been an easy one.

    ¡°Besides that, I saw memories of failing to fit in at school, of having to return home after failing to find a job.¡±

    All these memories were from his human life.

    ¡®So, he¡¯s a lot like me.¡¯

    ¡°And was that the end of the visions? Only memories of abuse and failure?¡±

    ¡°No. When I cleared stage 10, I saw a different vision.¡±

    ¡°A different vision?¡±

    Jason¡¯s face, which had been twisted in anger, gradually softened.

    ¡°When the vision began, I found myself standing in front of my room. I was there in my current body, the body I possess in this world.¡±

    It was exactly the same as when I had encountered the real ¡®me¡¯ in this world.

    ¡°I opened the door and found my real self inside.¡±

    ¡°What did you do to him?¡±

    ¡°I killed him.¡±

    He spoke with calm ease, as if murdering his real self was a matter of course. His expression was as serene as his voice.

    ¡°Killed him?¡±

    ¡°My real self led a life of failure. But here, I am different. I have a perfect appearance, immense strength, authority thatmands respect, women who live for me alone. All of these are far more valuable than anything ¡®Jason Turningham¡¯ could ever hope to be!¡±

    There was an intensity in his voice as he indulged in his delusions, utterly entranced. It was the first time I had seen him so riled up since he became this monstrous creature.

    ¡®He does have a remarkably strong ego.¡¯

    This was an unexpected discovery. Until his death, he had clung to his arrogance. I had assumed he would be the same in the real world, but I didn¡¯t expect him to harbor such deep self-loathing.

    ¡®Maybe it¡¯s a reaction to his miserable reality.¡¯

    In the Empire, the Stag Antlers Cult is a noble faction of the highest status. Jason himself held a core position of power as a high priest, allowing him to admit Muriel to the sacred grounds¡ªces restricted to a select few.

    ¡®A lifepletely opposite to his wretched reality.¡¯

    And so, he chose to kill his human self.

    In that regard, Jason and I share amon trait: a disdain for our real selves.

    I had nearly killed ¡®myself¡¯ in the vision. Only something intervening allowed me to stop; otherwise, I would have undoubtedly devoured that version of me.

    ¡®Even the Mother of the Sky isn¡¯t particrly fond of her past.¡¯

    If she ever ascends further in her deification, she might experience something simr to what we have.

    ¡®Is the purpose of these visions to make us stay in this world?¡¯

    It makes me wonder if the visions deliberately emphasize the negative aspects of reality, preventing us from wanting to return.

    ¡®Could it be that Jason and the other factions experienced different visions than ours?¡¯

    When I met Cynthia at the space fortress, she mentioned her goal was to reach the end and return to her reality.

    That implies she¡ªand those in her faction¡ªstill have attachments to their world.

    ¡®Is it because their realities weren¡¯t as miserable as ours?¡¯

    Is that why their visions differed from ours?

    As I pondered this, the Mother of the Sky, who had been silently observing, finally spoke up.

    ?I have a question.?

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    ?If reality was so painful that you chose this version of yourself, then why cause pain to others??

    ¡°Answer her question.¡±

    The face-worm is essentially part of my own body, and it obeys only mymands. Only after I urged him did Jason break his silence.

    ¡°Because I can.¡±

    ?What did you say??

    ¡°If you possess power, isn¡¯t it natural to use it? With this strength, I can get anything I want, so why should I care about others¡¯ suffering?¡±

    ?Have you never thought of using that power to protect those who love you??

    ¡°There¡¯s no need; they love me anyway. Why waste effort on that? Sure, it¡¯s a bit annoying if those I¡¯ve carefully groomed die, but it¡¯s no big loss¡ªI can always rece them.¡±

    ?What do you think of the lives of those devoted to you??

    ¡°They¡¯re my ythings. And I¡¯m their master.¡±

    The Mother of the Sky fell silent at his short answer, speechless from sheer disbelief.

    ¡°Actually, it¡¯s you I don¡¯t understand. Why insist on coexistence?¡±

    When she only red at him in silence, the face-worm turned the question back on her.

    ?¡­They aren¡¯t just NPCs. They¡¯re residents of another world. If you n to live here, shouldn¡¯t you naturally try to get along with them??

    ¡°Adapting to this world and treating NPCs as individuals are entirely separate issues. Even if they¡¯re truly alive, as the stronger one, I have no obligation to help them.¡±

    ?You see this ce as your reality, yet you still consider other beings mere ves¡­. I can¡¯t understand it.?

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you kept the Wolves as pets, treating them as mere ythings while being worshipped as their goddess?¡±

    ?I tried to protect them!?

    ¡°And so did I. My power alone brings countless benefits to the Empire. I simply received a modestpensation for it.¡±

    Their argument ran in endless circles.

    Both Jason and the Mother of the Sky had chosen to adapt to this world rather than cling to reality.

    However, their paths couldn¡¯t have been more different. Jason chose to abuse and dominate others, while the Mother of the Sky sought to live alongside the Wolves, building a meaningful connection.

    ¡°I heard the reason the Coexistence faction failed was because of people like you who are overly attached to NPCs. If that fool Muriel hadn¡¯t messed up, you¡¯d be in my castle by now¡­¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡±

    ¡°¡ö!¡±

    As Jason started to cross the line, I forced him into silence.

    ¡°The Mother of the Sky is a dear friend. Do not insult her.¡±

    He looked at me in surprise before lowering his head.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ?¡­That filthy¡­ er, that thing hasn¡¯t changed a bit, even as a face-worm.?

    The Mother of the Sky red at the face-worm, then sighed.

    ?I¡¯d love to smack it, but I¡¯d probably kill it if I did, right??

    ¡°If you¡¯d like to, go ahead. It can always regenerate.¡±

    ?Hearing that makes it very tempting.?

    Despite her words, it seemed she had no real intention of hitting it, as she plopped down on the spot instead. Her amber eyes still held a trace of irritation, but she seemed calmer than before.

    Once I was certain she¡¯d regained herposure, I allowed Jason to speak again.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of those whose objective is to reach the ending. Do you know anything about them?¡±

    ¡°Yes. They refer to themselves as the ¡®Return Faction¡¯¡±.

    ¡°And just now, you mentioned the ¡®Coexistence Faction¡¯. They¡¯re like your group in that they chose to remain in this world, right?¡±

    ¡°They differ greatly from us, but their direction is simr.¡±

    The Return Faction has a distinct goal, while the Coexistence Faction, though simr to Jason¡¯s, differs significantly in approach.

    The three factions are ipatible with each other because of their fundamentally different perceptions of reality and the Space Survival world. This might even influence the visions they experience.

    Understanding the nature of these differences could reveal why the visions exist, what effect they have on us, and whether they¡¯re a threat.

    ¡®I need to understand if these visions are dangerous or not.¡¯

    I still believe reaching the ending is key to understanding why we were brought to this world.

    But if something beyond my control is pushing me toward that path, I won¡¯t follow it.

    ¡®I¡¯ll find another way if I have to.¡¯

    ¡°Onest question. Do you know where any members of the Return and Coexistence factions are?¡±

    Jason took a moment to gather his thoughts before answering.

    ¡°I know of three¡ªtwo in the Return faction and one in the Coexistence faction.¡±

    ¡°Tell me.¡±

    ¡°The 4th-ranked Outsider yer, the 7th-ranked Cult yer Beom-ho, and the 22nd-ranked Coldblood yer. The first two are with the Return faction, and Coldblood is with the Coexistence faction.¡±

    ¡°The 4th and 7th-ranked? They¡¯re with the Return faction?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    I know both of them well.

    ¡®Of course, it had to be some of the toughest ones left.¡¯

    The 4th-ranked yer, the top Outsider yer, is an expert at controlling massive quantities of resources and has knowledgeparable to my own.

    ¡®And the 7th-ranked¡­¡¯

    Jason mentioned him by name. ¡®Beom-ho¡¯ doesn¡¯t suit the Cult, so that must be his real name. He¡¯s the only Korean in the Cult¡¯s ranking as far as I know.

    ¡®The most troublesome of the Cult ranks.¡¯

    The highest-ranked Cult yer is 2nd, and it¡¯s easy to assume someone lower-rankedcks skill, but that¡¯s far from true.

    ¡®The 2nd-ranked is straightforwardly brutal, which actually makes him easier to deal with.¡¯

    In contrast, Beom-ho, ranked 7th, was the most strategically savvy and perceptive among the Cult yers I knew. His battle instincts and tactical sense were even sharper than mine, making any encounter with him here a life-or-death situation.

    ¡®It¡¯s going to be tough to take on the two Return Faction members right now.¡¯

    Both of them are sharp enough to have likely noticed my presence. In particr, the 4th-ranked Outsider probably knows that his traits are part of the Amorph¡¯s evolution criteria.

    As long as I exist in this world, he¡¯s bound to be fully prepared for the day Ie after his life.

    ¡®Which leaves¡­¡¯

    The Coldblood yer from the Coexistence Faction.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the 22nd rank?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡±

    ¡°I missed the 22nd rank and only captured one of his allies. All I know is that he¡¯s hiding somewhere within the Empire.¡±

    The Cult Empire¡¯s territory is even broader than that of the Megacorps. With countless star systems under its rule, ¡°somewhere in the Empire¡± is as good as ¡°I have no idea¡±.

    ¡°With Beom-ho¡¯s whereabouts unknown, I can only provide the location of the 4th rank.¡±

    ¡®¡­This just gotplicated.¡¯

    Facing the 4th rank without knowing the 7th rank¡¯s location would be extremely risky. Since they¡¯re in the same faction, there¡¯s a chance they might be together.

    If they both came after me to take me down?

    ¡®That would be the end.¡¯

    Even if I brought all the Gagons and armed them with gigacrackers, I¡¯d stand no chance.

    As I was deep in thought, the Mother of the Sky rose to her feet.

    ?I have something to say.?

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ?¡­There¡¯s a way to find the 22nd rank.?

    ¡°What?¡±

    ?But I need you to promise me one thing.?

    Her amber eyes glowed softly, likenterns, as she looked at me.

    ?When you meet him, don¡¯t attack right away. Start with a conversation.?

    ¡°He might attack first.¡±

    ?He¡¯s a coward, so he probably won¡¯t. And if you can¡¯t trust that, I¡¯ll try convincing him first.?

    Judging by her tone, she seemed to know the 22nd rank well¡ªperhaps more than just acquaintances.

    ¡®But I don¡¯t know if things are still the same.¡¯

    The Mother of the Sky had spent a long time secluded in the Cult¡¯s holynd, away from other yers. It seemed her encounter with the 22nd rank was even further back. Could they still maintain the same rtionship after all this time?

    After thinking it over, I decided to ept her request, though only halfway.

    ¡°I¡¯ll start with a conversation. But if I sense any danger, I¡¯ll attack immediately. I have a lot of people to protect, so I can¡¯t afford to leave any threats unchecked.¡±

    ?¡­Alright.?

    ¡°If I judge it to be safe, I¡¯ll subdue him without killing him.¡±

    ?Thank you.?

    She seemed to understand my intention and thanked me. If I subdue him without killing him, I could use the parasitic spores to heal him, just as I¡¯d done when we first met.

    ¡®Looks like the next destination is set.¡¯

    After visiting the Gagon nest where Adhai¡¯s pack resides, our next stop is the Cult Empire, where the 22nd rank is hiding.

 Chapter 294:

    Fifteen years ago, the Mother of the Sky arrived in this world.

    She first met herte husband, the Father of the Earth, ten years ago. After forming a bond with him, she continued to interact with the yers for a time.

    However, she had already grown weary of the endless conflicts between the yers. Their rtionship didn¡¯tst long. Perhaps it was destined to end the moment she decided to share her fate with the inhabitants of this world.

    That said, there was one yer who had a close rtionship with her before her seclusion. This was the 22nd-ranked Coldblooded yer, someone who failed to see the ending, as they did not reach the top 20.

    The Mother of the Sky met the 22nd-ranked yer ten years ago, shortly after meeting the Father of the Earth. At that time, she reportedly debated whether to assist the immature 22nd-ranked yer or remain by the Father of the Earth¡¯s side.

    While she cut ties with other yers after their marriage, she maintained contact with the 22nd-ranked yer for about a year. Their rtionship ended when the 22nd stopped reaching out.

    She left the device used tomunicate with the 22nd in a location known only to her. To reactivate it, the Mother of the Sky returned to the Saintopia-02 continent on PH-101.

    Thanks to her ascension to a higher tier of deification, she had acquired wings, enabling her to travel faster than light, much like myself. Furthermore, her small size made it easy to infiltrate the while avoiding the Cults¡¯ surveince.

    Before departing, she said it would take about a week. In the meantime, the rest of us decided to wait on the where Adhai¡¯s Gagon pack resides.This ce, which Adhai calls ¡°White Stone¡±, was once part of the Gorgon Swarm¡¯s territory.

    The Gorgon Swarm, which roams the cosmos, is a terror to spacecraft, so no one dares to visit this star system. With no visitors, few even know of this¡¯s existence.

    "Not that they could easily enter, even if they did."

    True to its name, the¡¯s surface is entirely covered in ice. Its average temperature is far colder than Adhai¡¯s homnd, making it seem uninhabitable.

    However, beneath the thickyers of ice lies apletely different world. The geothermal heat from the¡¯s core creates a habitable ecosystem below. There¡¯s ake vast enough to be called a sea, and unique ice-world creatures thrive here.

    Thanks to the psychic energy radiating around the geothermal areas, Adhai¡¯s pack sessfully settled in this underground sanctuary.

    This subterranean realm is the Gagons¡¯ new kingdom.

    And now, the kingdom¡¯s ruler is moving to repel an invader.

    ---

    ¡°Groooaaaaar!¡±

    A massive beast, with the head of a mammoth and a body blending features of a bear and a gori, lets out a deafening roar.

    Its two pairs of six-meter-long tusks sh like lightning as they shoot toward my torso. My winged arms andbat arms react swiftly, grabbing hold of its tusks.

    This brute of a predator is incredibly strong, with tremendous weight to match. It leverages its mass, pushing its tusks forward to drive me back. One of my legs shifts a step backward under the force.

    But it misunderstands something.

    My strength surpasses its own.

    The four arms holding its tusks swell as the muscles ripple and expand. Slowly but surely, its massive body begins to lift off the ground.

    ¡°Grooo?¡±

    The beast lets out a confused noise as it dangles in midair, tusks still caught in my grip. Having never encountered a stronger foe in this underground world, its shock is evident.

    ¡°Groooooar!¡±

    Its escape routes blocked, it tries a different tactic¡ªswinging its powerful forelimbs. Resembling the front legs of a bear, these limbs are living battering rams. As one swings toward my winged arms, the two long necks nking my head coil around its forelimbs.

    The mouths at the ends of these necks sink their fangs into its shoulders and the back of its neck.

    ¡°Groooooaaar!¡±

    ?Grrrrrrrrr?

    The beast screamed in agony, unable to endure the pain of its flesh being torn away. Through the two headstched onto its body, its thick fur gave way, allowing its warm flesh and blood to seep into my mouths.

    The sweetness was nearly intoxicating, but I stayedposed, issuing my nextmand. The tendrils extending from the central head swayed, emitting a peculiar signal.

    [ZZZZ (Now)]

    The signal rippled outward, reaching the icy ceiling above us. Hidden among the frozen canopy, Gagons unfurled their wings in unison.

    Sha Velma, a White Gagon with a thin and sinewy frame, unleashed her breath attack, striking the back of the beast I was holding. The violet thermal beam scorched its fur, but the wound was superficial.

    Next came the breath attacks of the Green Gagons, their emerald-scaled forms darting about as they rained their energy from every angle. Some of their strikes nced off my arms, but the pain was negligible.

    ¡°Grrrrr! GRAAAAH!¡±

    The beast, however, endured most of the attacks with minimal damage. The mild irritation seemed only to fuel its rage.

    This rage was unmistakable, as the creature''s body began to swell.

    ¡®Troublesome.¡¯

    The fangs buried in its shoulder and nape began slipping out. As its muscles expanded and its hide thickened, maintaining my bite became impossible.

    In mere moments, the beast''s size doubled. Now as massive as me, it pushed against my grip, forcing me to take another step back.

    ¡®This strength¡­ It¡¯s far beyond what I anticipated.¡¯

    The beast was nothing like the typical Apex predators I had encountered. Its size, ferocity, and resilience were leagues beyond even those of the Ice Horror I had defeated in the dragon¡¯s nest.

    ¡®Should I use the Symbol of Hunt?¡¯

    As I considered this option, a crimson streak shot toward the beast from behind. Adhai, her horn gleaming with the force of her Red Armor, rammed into the creature¡¯s right hind leg.

    The destructive impact of her charge, amplified by her momentum, was devastating. The thick legparable in girth to my tail¡ªwas left mangled and useless.

    ¡°Grrraahk!¡±

    The shaggy predator howled in agony, copsing to the ground.

    Yet even then, its eyes remained alight with malice. Its trunk, reminiscent of an elephant¡¯s, stretched toward Adhai, its sharp, fang-like tip aiming to shred her alluring tail.

    My two side heads darted forward, seizing the beast¡¯s extended trunk just in time.

    ¡°GRRAAAAH!¡±

    Foiled in its attempt to harm Adhai, the beast erupted in fury. Raising its massive forelegs, it mmed them into the ground. The resulting tremor rattled the cavern, causing my footing to slip.

    The brief imbnce weakened my grip, allowing the beast¡¯s tusks to strike toward my chest unimpeded.

    Or at least, they would have¡ªhad its tusks also grown alongside its body.

    ¡°Grraaah?¡±

    The tusks, unable to prate fully, merely fractured part of my chest carapace. Their failure surprised even the beast.

    Recovering my stance, I nted my feet firmly and channeled my strength. With a forceful shove, I sent the towering creature¡ªnow over 40 meters tall¡ªreeling backward.

    Regaining some distance, I activated the Morphing Bio-Weapon.

    My head began transforming, its carapace reshaping into a form resembling the Ice Horror¡¯s. Although its primary advantage was its sheer weight and durability, that was more than sufficient.

    Three massive, hammer-like biological constructs mmed into the beast with devastating force.

    ¡°GRRAK?!¡±

    Its remaining leg, abdomen, and head bore the brunt of the blows. Blood spurted from its wounds, and it staggered backward, disoriented, before crashing to the ground.

    ?Gagons of Adhai¡¯s brood!? ?Attack!?

    Hearing Adhai¡¯s telepathic call, I immediately dropped low, making way for the barrage of psychic breath attacks soaring overhead. The shimmering beams, unleashed by Green and White Gagons alike, converged on the immobilized predator.

    ¡°GRRRAAAH!¡±

    ?More power!? ?Focus!? ?Together!?

    Spurred on by Adhai¡¯s encouragement, the beams intensified. Violet rays grew broader and brighter as every Gagon joined the assault¡ªAdhai included¡ªchanneling their full strength into the storm of destruction.

    And then.

    ¡°Gr¡­ Grrr¡­¡±

    The beast let out a final, guttural groan as its body began to copse.

    The beast that had given me and the Gagons such trouble nowy in a pitiful state, releasing faint groans of pain.

    Its name was Giganterium, an Apex creature specialized in terrestrialbat.

    This monster was resistant to poisons, mental maniption, and physical restraints, boasting extraordinary physical capabilities.

    Its most troublesome trait, however, was its ability to growrger and stronger whenever it grew enraged. Its strength, defense, and speed would all surge, making it a daunting opponent.

    ¡®It¡¯s particrly infamous among cults.¡¯

    Since Giganterium couldn''t be restrained or immobilized, any confrontation inevitably became a melee battle¡ªa field in which the beast excelled. Only those with exceptional skills could hope to defeat it.

    Even psychic attacks from range proved ineffective, as its tough hide was nearly imprable. Such attacks only served to further provoke its rage, often leading to catastrophic consequences.

    This made Giganterium a challenging foe for the Gagons as well.

    Before Adhai and I returned, I had heard that this very beast had been a significant thorn in their side. Even Ham Ort, with her strength and tactical prowess, had failed to bring it down despite multiple attempts.

    ¡®No wonder.¡¯

    Giganterium was already a formidable foe under normal circumstances, but the one before us was an abnormality.

    Ordinary Giganteriums typically measured between 8 to 10 meters tall, even when enraged rarely surpassing 20 meters.

    But this monster¡¯s initial size was already 20 meters. Its tusks alone were three times the usual length, and when it raged, it grew to a sizeparable to my own, meeting my eyes at full height.

    Considering its sheer size and power, it was no surprise even Ham Ort struggled to defeat it.

    ¡®And the location didn¡¯t help either.¡¯

    This battle took ce in an underground cavern beneath the iceyers¡ªan environment unfavorable to the Gagons. The tight space limited flight capabilities, and even the ck Gagons¡¯ unique Maelstrom ability was unusable.

    ¡®Yet, we managed to defeat it somehow.¡¯

    I nced at Adhai and the Gagons gathering around the fallen Giganterium.

    This victory wasn¡¯t mine. Adhai had devised the strategy, and I had merely served as bait. The true credit for defeating this formidable foe belonged to the winged dragons of the underground kingdom.

    ¡®She¡¯s grown so much.¡¯

    Amid the group, Adhai stood tall, her head high and her wings unfurled. Watching her orchestrate a hunt and lead her kin to triumph stirred an odd sense of pride in me.

    Then, her gaze met mine. pping her wings, she flew over to me.

    ?Big One? ?I? ?did well??

    [ZZ ZZZZ (You were magnificent.)]

    ?Yes? ?I? ?Daughter of the Stars? ?am amazing?

    Her tail swayed excitedly at mypliment, its smooth, unblemished surface almost inviting me to poke it with my fingers.

    ?Big One.?

    [ZZ (Hmm?)]

    She called out to me again.

    ?Big One? ?Hunt? ?important role? ?Bait? ?critical?

    [ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ (The victory is yours and your kin''s, not mine.)]

    ?Without Big One? ?Kin? ?would¡¯ve been hurt? ?So? ?reward?

    She tilted her head slightly, and the Gagons surrounding the Giganterium immediately stepped back.

    ?Big One? ?Head? ?valuable? ?I offer it to you?

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (You¡¯re giving me the head?)]

    ?Yes.?

    This hunt was meant for Adhai and her kin. I had intentionally refrained from using my Symbol of Hunt to let them im the victory, yet she insisted on offering the spoils to me.

    ¡®Well, if she insists.¡¯

    Dozens of violet eyes glistened brightly as they looked at me, making it hard to refuse. After stroking Adhai affectionately, I approached the fallen Giganterium.

    ¡°Grhhh¡­¡±

    The beast''sbored breath faltered as I loomed over it.

    The Giganterium''s infamous resilience had be a curse in its current state. Mutted and gasping for air, the beast seemed to long for death.

    I brought my central head down upon its own, mping my jaws firmly. My fangs pierced its thick hide and skull with a satisfying crunch. The beast convulsed violently for a moment before going limp.

    With the Giganterium in, I tightened my neck muscles and yanked its head back. The creature''s neck quivered as I tore the head free, taking part of its spine along with it.

    The other Gagons stared intently at my heads and mouths as I prepared to feast. Their fascination was almost palpable.

    ¡®As expected.¡¯

    Under their watchful eyes, I swallowed the still-warm head whole. My side heads eagerly caught and devoured the scraps of vertebrae and flesh that trailed behind.

    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t expect a trait to¡­.¡¯

    ¡°Predation effect activated!¡±

    ?Grhh??

    The moment the Giganterium''s remains slid down my throat, a semi-transparent text box appeared before my eyes.

    The side head licking the dripping blood off its jaws reflected my own surprise perfectly.

 Chapter 295:

    "Hmm."

    This time, it focused on aiding Adhai''s hunt. It refrained from using the "Symbol of Hunt" and had no expectations of acquiring any traits. Yet, the result was entirely unexpected.

    "And yet..."

    ?¡®Tyrantroid¡¯ gic essence acquired sessfully.?

    ?Trait ¡®Tyrantroid¡¯ stolen from the Giganterium.?

    ?Would you like to apply the ¡®Tyrantroid¡¯ trait??

    Of all the traits, I never thought I would gain this one.

    The trait earned by devouring the Apex creature was called ¡®Tyrantroid¡¯.

    At first nce, it seemed to be either a physical trait or rted to internal organs. However, it actually fell under the category of ¡®environmental adaptation traits¡¯.ording to its description, the Giganterium''s body contained an organ that allowed it to effectively absorb and utilize energy under extreme conditions.

    ¡®Tyrantroid¡¯ was a special chemical substance secreted by this organ. Thanks to this, the creature could survive in virtually any environment with minimal limitations.

    The key detail, however, was that this substance enhanced itsbat ability. Every time the Giganterium grew enraged and increased in size, it was thanks to <em>Tyrantroid</em>.

    "Now, even I can utilize this trait."

    ¡®Tyrantroid¡¯ was a transformation-inducing trait simr to ¡®Bone Beast¡¯ or ¡®Symbol of the Hunt¡¯. However, it only activated under specific conditions, making it more akin to the ¡®Revenant Organ¡¯.

    "But it¡¯s much easier to trigger than the Revenant Organ."

    The activation condition for ¡®Tyrantroid¡¯ was simple: severe physical injury. Once triggered, the trait significantly boosted strength and energy output, causing the body to erge dramatically.

    However, this came at a cost: movement became sluggish, akin to that of a lumbering beetle. The erged body made it a bigger target, and its slower speed was a critical drawback.

    "Of course, that¡¯s assuming the trait stands alone."

    Whenbined with traits like Bone Beast, which hardens the body¡¯s exoskeleton as it erges, or Revenant Organ, which activates only under grave injury, Tyrantroid bes immensely powerful. A weapon of destruction tailored for the Amorph.

    The drawback, however, was that thebo relied on sustaining injuries. If it failed to subdue its enemy while the traits were active, it would face significant disadvantages. At minimum, it needed a way to recover quickly from injuries or counteract the speed penalty.

    "Currently, I have two means of recovery."

    - Regeneration

    - Hand of the Predatory Leech

    The Predatory Leech Hand required it to physically seize its target, and the Regeneration ability had limited speed. While neither was poor, they were far from perfect.

    This wasn¡¯t a game¡ªit was reality. Death meant the end. Until it could fully mitigate the drawbacks, thebo would remain sealed.

    "Still, it¡¯s better to have it than not."

    The unexpected gift left it in high spirits.

    ?Why??not moving??

    ?Big One??head??eating??sometimes??like that.?

    ?Taste??amazing??

    ?Probably.?

    "Ah."

    Sensing thought-waves from various directions, it dismissed the semi-transparent text box.

    In the darkness, purple eyes, like amethysts, glimmered as they stared at it. They appeared to be waiting for it to finish consuming the head.

    [ZZ ZZZ (I¡¯m done eating.)]

    Upon hearing its words, Adhai used her Red Armor-empowered wings to sever the Giganterium¡¯s two massive arms.

    The Giganterium¡¯s body, resembling a mix of gori and bear, had heavily developed arms. Each severed limb was enormous, spanning about 10 meters in length.

    cing the hefty chunks of meat on the ground, Adhai sent a wave of thought to her kin.

    ?Big One??reward??done.??Now we??eat too.?

    As her thought-waves spread, the Gagons lunged at the severed arms.

    The White Gagons moved in first, using their sharp ws to strip away fur and hide, embedding their facial tendrils deep within. Adhai skinned the hide to make the meal more essible for the others before joining the feast herself.

    The Green Gagons, rtively weaker, inserted their tendrils into the wounds created by Adhai and the others, drinking the blood.

    Though their scales were of varying hues¡ªgreen, white¡ªthe tendrils shared a uniform color. As the violet, living siphons wriggled within the severed arms, the massive limbs visibly shrank.

    Adhai had brought a total of ten Gagons: three White Gagons and seven Green Gagons. Including herself, the eleven Gagons fervently drained the blood, reducing the two arms of the Giganterium to shriveled husks in no time.

    ?Taste? ?Excellent?

    ?Delicious?

    ?Insufficient? ?More? ?Food? ?Needed?

    The Gagons, their brief meal concluded, raised their heads. The younger Green Gagons, seemingly unsated, cast longing gazes at the rest of the Giganterium¡¯s body.

    Noticing this, Adhai mmed her hind leg into the ground with force. The sharp sound echoed, causing the Gagons to flinch.

    ?Food? ?Nest? ?We will take it? ?Eating? ?Ends now?

    ?Great Adhai? ?Command? ?Obey?

    At their queen¡¯s icy warning, the Green Gagons quickly bowed their heads. Adhai, having chastised the greedy among her kin, severed the Giganterium¡¯s intact left leg with precision.

    ?Sha Velma? ?This? ?For your mate? ?Nel Germa? ?Gift?

    ?Great Adhai? ?Kindness? ?Gratitude?

    The slim White Gagon, Sha Velma, bowed low to Adhai, expressing his thanks. While the queen stood tall and dignified, Sha Velma retrieved the gift she had bestowed.

    ¡®So, Nel Germa is nesting eggs right now?¡¯

    Nel Germa, the White Gagon who had been most helpful to us in the Dragon¡¯s Nest, hadid eggs shortly before we arrived and was now tending to them in her nest.

    Adhai had initially intended to bring Nel Germa, her battle partner, on this hunt. However, given the circumstances, Sha Velma had stepped in for his mate.

    ¡®Gagon reproduction, huh.¡¯

    I¡¯m no Gagon enthusiast, but it¡¯s an intriguing topic. Even in the game, how Gagons reproduced was a mystery.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, it might not have been implemented.¡¯

    As with most VR games, Space Survival had a significant amount of sexual content¡ªinteractions between yers, services offered by NPCs, and so on. True to its focus on detailed ecosystems and lore, Space Survival even depicted the reproductive behaviors of some wildlife species.

    ¡®Not all of them, though.¡¯

    Species with strong bonds between sexes or where maternal care yed a significant role often had their reproductive activities portrayed. For instance, the Crystal Wing, which I had hunted in the Dragon¡¯s Nest, was one of those species.

    However, this level of detail had caused controversy, with the game receiving criticism for its explicitness. This ultimately affected its certification.

    ¡®The damn ¡°mature content¡±bel blocked its release.¡¯

    The game wasn¡¯t officially released domestically, so I had to resort to obtaining a foreign version, relying on the VR device¡¯s built-in trantion feature to y.

    Still, Gagons were a species many yers hoped would have their reproduction mechanics depicted. Rankers even infiltrated Gagon nests to find out, but no one seeded in uncovering the mystery.

    ?Big One??

    [ZZ (Hmm?)]

    ?Nest? ?Let¡¯s return?

    Lost in nostalgia, I was brought back to the present by Adhai¡¯s telepathic wave. The other Gagons were already spreading their wings, preparing for the journey back.

    ¡®Guess we should head back.¡¯

    I secured the Giganterium¡¯s corpse, now missing its head and limbs, with my invasive tendrils, fastening it tightly to my body. Unfurling my massive wing-arms, I prepared to take flight alongside the Gagons.

    The underground tunnels and caves where the Giganterium had made itsir were rtively confined spaces in this subterranean world. When I and the eleven Gagons spread our wings simultaneously, the area felt cramped.

    However, once we emerged from the narrower confines of these caves, an entirely different world awaited us.

    Following the eleven Gagons ahead, we emerged from the underground passage into an unexpectedly vast, open space.

    Whaty before us was not merely a hollow chamber but a subterranean world so immense that the term "underground world" seemed more appropriate.

    The ceiling,posed of a thickyer of ice, could rightly be called a "second sky". Beneath it stretched a boundless expanse ofnd.

    This wasn¡¯t just poetic imagery¡ªgazing at the ice ceiling truly evoked the sensation of looking at the sky. The effect came from the microorganisms spread across the surface of the ice.

    Resembling moss, these organisms emitted light and heat as they digested their food, creating an effect that, from a distance, resembled stars scattered across a night sky.

    The sight of Gagons soaring beneath the frozen, starry heavens was breathtaking¡ªan unparalleled beauty I had neither seen nor could have imagined in my homnd.

    Turning my gaze downward, I saw a dense underground terrain filled with nts ranging from a few meters to tens of meters in height. Among the unique flora, a mix of mushrooms and rainbow grass, wild animals moved about freely.

    Our journey with the dragons of the universe was not long. Passing through the forest of nts, we soon encountered a canyon thick with rising steam.

    The steam, produced by geothermal activity, marked the site of the Gagons¡¯ new pce.

    Entering the canyon, we found numerous caves. Inside thergest one, a ck dragon, Ham Ort, greeted us.

    ?Ham Ort?

    ?Great Adhai?

    ?Hunt?

    ?Sess?

    ?Congrattions?

    ?Mm, thank you.?

    Ham Ort bowed respectfully, and Adhai nodded in acknowledgment.

    It had been a while since Ist saw Ham Ort, and she had changed significantly. The scars that had once marred her scales were now gone, and her body had grown slightlyrger.

    "She must¡¯ve thrived in such a good environment; she seems to have gained some weight."

    Not that she was fat¡ªfar from it. As expected of Adhai¡¯s mother, her distinctively alluring beauty remained unchanged. Her obsidian-colored scales gleamed smoothly, and her long, muscr body exuded vitality thanks to her well-toned muscles.

    Her horns, however, hadn¡¯t fully regenerated and remained asymmetrical, but the contrast only added a wild charm to her elegant form.

    After greeting Adhai, Ham Ort turned to me, dipping her head slightly.

    ?Thank you.?

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ (I didn¡¯t do anything.)]

    ?Adhai¡¯s mate?

    ?Thanks to you?

    ?Kin?

    ?Were unharmed?

    ?Mate??

    ?Not yet.?

    ?Big One, you made it back safely??

    From deeper within the cave, a massive pink creature emerged. Clutching a group of tiny blue Gagons, it was Number 26.

    ?This time, you¡¯re unscathed??

    [ZZZZ (Of course.)]

    ?Well done!?

    26 seemed delighted that I had returned without a single injury. Its bioluminescent body, 25 meters in size, lit up the dark cave, turning it bright as day in an instant.

    ?What¡¯s this??

    ?So fascinating.?

    ?Again.?

    ?Do it again.?

    The little Gagons nestled against 26, absorbing its psychic energy, curiously prodded its body with their tiny front legs.

    I ced the carcass of the Giganterium, which I had been carrying, in front of Ham Ort.

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ (This. Adhai brought it.)]

    ?The Beast King?

    ?Carcass?

    ?Why??

    Ham Ort tilted her head in curiosity, and Adhai answered in her stead.

    ?For the young??To feed them??Growth??Nutrients??Necessary?

    ?Great Adhai??Mercy??Thank you?

    When Adhai exined that she had brought it to feed the younger Gagons, Ham Ort wagged her tail gently¡ªa clear disy of pride in her daughter¡¯s maturity.

    [Z ZZ ZZ ZZ (Do we have more to hunt?)]

    ?Yes.??But??Kin??Rest??First?

    [ZZ ZZZZ (Makes sense.)]

    Since we were staying on this for at least another week, there was no need to rush.

    The hunt was over; it was time for a well-deserved rest.

 Chapter 296:

    The day after hunting the Giganterium, I left the nest on my own.

    Ham Ort mentioned that I wasn''t particrly needed for the next hunt. With Adhai''s skill, the group would likely return safely.

    Adhai had taken the lead for the hunt, and 26 was preupied ying with the younglings.

    Though the game didn¡¯t delve into much detail, I now realized that the Blue Gagons were incredibly curious creatures. When not feeding or resting, they constantly explored, seeking new things to pique their interest. While it was fine if they roamed only within the canyon''s caves, some attempted to venture outside, which caused problems.

    Between the canyon walls ran a boiling acidic river, a result of geothermal activity. Unlike White or Green Gagons, the Blue ones had softer scales that would suffer severe damage if exposed to the river.

    Thanks to this, the Gagons tasked with caretaking had a hard time managing the mischievous younglings¡ªuntil 26 arrived to assist.

    Using its newly acquired mutated tentacles, 26 engaged the young Gagons¡¯ curiosity. The tentacles constantly transformed into new shapes, acting as toys for the little ones. They were mesmerized.

    ¡°And as a bonus, it¡¯s providing them with psychic power.¡±

    With both Adhai and 26 upied, I decided to visit PS-111 on my own.---

    After leaving the canyon, I flew in the opposite direction of where I¡¯d been yesterday. Below, I noticed nts resembling giant oyster mushrooms, their caps reaching tens of meters in height.

    Adjusting the position of my wing-arms, I descended and used mybat limbs to tear a piece from one of the peculiar nts¡¯ tops. Crushing it into a pulp, I tossed it into the central mouth.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Although it looked like a mushroom, its taste was entirely different.

    The vor was reminiscent of almond milk mixed with soy milk, with hints of fruit. While the taste itself wasn¡¯t unpleasant, the excessive moisture made for an unsatisfying texture.

    ¡°At least it¡¯s nutritious.¡±

    I¡¯d seen the Gagons feeding this to their young alongside psychic power, and now I understood why.

    Given how different this environment was from their previous habitat, raising the young must have been challenging. Fortunately, the abundance of nutritious food ensured that none of the younglings seemed malnourished.

    ¡°I hope they like the taste.¡±

    Satisfied, I continued sampling various nearby nts, using mybat limbs and legs to gather chunks. I fed some to the two heads on either side of me as I leisurely moved forward.

    ---

    Eventually, frost began to umte on my wing membranes and carapace. Looking below, I noticed fewer living nts. The icy ceiling above was now adorned with massive stctites, some evenrger than myself.

    This region differed from others due to its thinner iceyers. The reason for thisy ahead: an artificial structure rising from the frozen wastnd.

    A toppled tower, leaning like the Tower of Pisa, stood alone on the lifeless, frozen ground.

    This structure was the wrecked Screamer support ship that we recovered after defeating Pyra Eleven. It had crashnded on this following the battle with the Gorgon Swarm. The rear section waspletely destroyed, and the outer walls were riddled with irreparable holes.

    Despite its ruined state, the support ship emitted a faint light, weing the return of its long-absent owner.

    ---

    I entered through the gaping hole in the rear section. Inside, the partially functioning lights flickered, as if greeting me.

    ¡°PS-111 must already know I¡¯m here.¡±

    After the battle with the Gorgon Swarm, PS-111 had repurposed this damaged ship into a makeshiftmunications ry, ensuring it could effectively manage any future vessels or machinery we might acquire.

    The decision proved wise. The Gigacracker, unable tond on this, now orbited under remote control. Without the ry, PS-111 would have had to remain in space to oversee it.

    I folded my wing-arms, lowered my body, and crawled through the tilted structure. Assuming PS-111 would be in the control room, I headed downwards. However, the lights cut off midway.

    ¡°Not in the control room?¡±

    The passage ahead was pitch ck. Before the lights went outpletely, I had glimpsed a sign indicating the area¡¯s purpose.

    ¡°Production Bay.¡±

    Now that I thought about it, this area was near the storage facilities for gic samples and cryogenic containers. Likely, the production bay was where materials from the storage were used to create Screamers.

    ¡°Is it nning another self-modification?¡±

    The ship no longer had any gic samples remaining.

    ¡°Might as well go take a look.¡±

    I crawled a little further down and used my wing-arms to push open a half-ajar steel door. Ice shards fell in a cascade as I entered, greeted by the dim, flickering lights of the interior.

    The production bay had an eerie, deste atmosphere.

    The ceiling and walls had been stripped of their paneling, leaving the steel framework and pipes exposed. Frozen cables sprawled chaotically across the floor, forming a tangled mess.

    Amidst this unsettling setting, makeshift production equipment operated in a crude, almost desperate manner. The nking of steel, asional sparks flying from pipe connections, and the overall cacophony added to theboratory-from-a-nightmare vibe.

    At the center of this unsettling scene stood it.

    Its form resembled a cross between a spider and a scorpion, with a seven-meter-long body covered in hardened metallic carapace. Eight legs extended from its core, each tipped with a unique weapon.

    One limb ended in something resembling a human hand, with fingers reced by hooked ws. Another bore a de resembling a machete. Each limb was adorned with jagged spikes, seemingly designed to slice, tear, and crush.

    Though its body was monstrous, its face was oddly beautiful.

    Perched atop its massive frame was a chrome-colored, pale, humanoid female face. Cables hung like hair, swaying slightly, and its glowing red eyes and the four cables protruding below its chin gave it an unsettling yet captivating appearance.

    The striking face turned 180 degrees to face me.

    ¡°You have arrived,¡± it said.

    PS-111, its neck and back bristling with cables, greeted me with a subtle nod.

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (I thought you were modifying yourself?)]

    ¡°No, I came here for an experiment.¡±

    [ZZ (Experiment?)]

    Stepping carefully to avoid the cables and frozen wires beneath my feet, I approached. Before ity something I found vaguely familiar.

    ¡°Wait, this is...?¡±

    ¡°A remote-controlled model,¡±** PS-111 exined, reading my unspoken question. ¡°I used materials salvaged from the Gigacracker andbined them with local organisms.¡±

    I had assumed it was here to further modify itself, but I was wrong. PS-111 was constructing a Screamer body based on blueprints from the onboardputer.

    And not just any Screamer...

    This one looked vastly different from the ones I had fought before. In fact, it resembled an earlier version of PS-111 itself. Though iplete, with only a face and partial body constructed, it was clear the final design would closely mirror PS-111¡¯s own form.

    [ZZZZZZZ (A remote-controlled model?)]

    ¡°Yes. With a body I can control remotely, I will be able to aplish far more.¡±

    Finishing its exnation, PS-111 leaned toward the Screamer body.

    It moved close enough to kiss the unfinished face that resembled its own, the cables beneath its chin extending autonomously toward the new body¡¯s connectors.

    The cables linked with a small burst of sparks, and the Screamer body shuddered as if struck by an electric jolt.

    PS-111 tapped the body¡¯s head lightly, and its eyes¡ªglowing red camera lenses¡ªopened, blinking a few times before locking onto me.

    ¡°Cal, calibr, ation,pl, ete. How, does, it, look?¡±

    The voice sputtered, distorted at first, but quickly stabilized.

    ¡°Calibrationplete. How does it look?¡±

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZZ (You built this so quickly?)]

    ¡°I reverse-engineered my own body structure and replicated my cellr tissue. With suitable facilities and more time, I believe I can enhance its overall functionality further.¡±

    It was both fascinating and unsettling to watch the Screamer prototype, so closely resembling PS-111, twitch slightly as it began to adjust to its new systems. A mirror of its creator, ready to extend PS-111''s reach beyond its current constraints.

    The creature spoke humbly, yet from my perspective, it was impossible not to be amazed.

    Developing a Screamer is a long-term project¡ªone that takes weeks even in games. Here, in reality, it would likely take months, if not years.

    Yet, this creature had managed to produce even an iplete replica under less-than-ideal conditions. That alone was remarkable.

    [ZZZ ZZ Z ZZZ ZZ (It doesn¡¯t seem to have self-awareness.)]

    ¡°Yes. Autonomous operational capabilities were deemed unnecessary, so it was not granted independent thought. It operates solely based on the electrical signals I send.¡±

    ¡°Au, auto, no, my, op, op, op, operation, nec, neces, unnecessary.¡±

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (So it¡¯s a remote-controlled model.)]

    From what I could see, this Screamer was essentially a terminal device that moved only under the creature¡¯s control. Judging by its speech mirroring the creator¡¯s thoughts, it seemed to function only when synchronized with its mind.

    Of course, it was still too iplete to truly be called a Screamer, but this was merely a prototype. Over time, Screamers with performance on par with PS-111 might be widespread.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Impressive. So, is it finished?)]

    ¡°It will take more time toplete.¡±

    ¡°Fi, fin, fin, finish, needs, more, time, time, time.¡±

    [ZZ ZZZ (Truly amazing.)]

    ¡°No, not at all.¡±

    ¡°N, no, no, cor, cor, correct! Th, thank, you! T, this is too go¡­.¡±

    ¡°Error detected in the voice synchronization module. Further adjustments are needed.¡±

    The creature abruptly turned back to the malfunctioning replica and began recalibrating it. Mechanical arms scattered throughout the production chamber moved at itsmand, modifying the body of the "remote-control model."

    Watching this process, a thought crossed my mind.

    The Monolith of the Double Helix, a reward from Type 2 Cosmic Monster ssification.

    It allows the transntation of up to two general traits, excluding unique traits, to a friendly organism.

    Since receiving this ability, I hadn¡¯t tested how it worked. The uncertainty about potential side effects had held me back.

    But this Screamer¡­

    Could it serve as a suitable test subject?

    Not a bad idea.

    Since the Screamer was designed and managed by PS-111, it would be easy to monitor how the traits I transferred functioned. Even if side effects arose, I could simply discard it, minimizing the risk.

    Sacrificing one trait is unfortunate¡­

    But it was better than risking harm to any of the others.

    Having settled my thoughts, I addressed PS-111.

    I told it that I wanted to conduct an experiment.

 Chapter 297

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Chapter 297

    "Are you experimenting to see if my remote-controlled model can integrate biological traits?"

    [ZZ (Yes).]

    "You are free to experiment on my body if necessary."

    PS-111 pointed to its body with a hooked w. I shook my head, indicating that it wasn''t an option.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (There could be side effects. If something goes wrong, the body may need to be discarded.)]

    "Side effects?"

    Even for an Amorph, not all traits are advantageous.

    Traits like Energy Absorption, which alters the digestive system to absorb essence directly, or Dwarfism, which permanently fixes the body at a human-like size, are examples.

    These traits themselves aren¡¯t inherently wed. Energy Absorption and Dwarfism were both beneficial to their original hosts. They simply don''t suit an Amorph like me.

    In short, while some traits may benefit me, there¡¯s no guarantee they would suit Number 26, Adhai, or even PS-111.

    "It¡¯s true that gic ipatibility can make integration challenging. However, verifying thepatibility of the remote-controlled model would be beneficial."

    PS-111 seemed to agree, nodding slightly.

    Receiving its permission, I extended one of mybat arms toward the remote-controlled model. The inner surface of my four-fingered palm opened, releasing symbiotic spores.

    The only viable targets for trait integration are friendly organisms. Based on prior experience, hosts imnted with my symbiotic spores are registered as friendly to me.

    The spores wobbled, attaching themselves to the remote-controlled Screamer body, which was essentially just a face and upper torso. The spore, resembling a short-legged tick, burrowed into the half-formed upper body.

    The Screamer body synchronized with PS-111 stuttered to life and began to vocalize.

    "I... foreign... material... detected... detected."

    ¡®Could it be that machines are ipatible?¡¯

    The artificial body PS-111 had created contained mechanical parts limited to its face, brain, and some of its skeletal structure. Everything else wasposed of tissue and organic material cultured in this facility.

    Thankfully, as I brought my auxiliary organ under its jaw closer, a text box appeared.

    ?Activation of the ''Monolith of the Double Helix''!?

    ?Trait selection avable.?

    ¡®Good.¡¯

    Now, what trait should I attempt to integrate?

    Naturally, I couldn''t risk any traits vital to my survival or ones I frequently relied upon. Nor would I consider traits that might prove valuable in the future.

    ''If the results are promising, I¡¯ll pass it on to the others.''

    Specialized defensive traits were also off the table. Since I hadn¡¯t acquired a type yet, wasting these would be imprudent.

    ''For experimentation, it should be a trait that isn¡¯t overly useful but offers quick results.''

    After some deliberation, I chose a basic environmental adaptation trait: ''Body Crystallization''.

    This trait temporarily hardens the body¡¯s exoskeleton. However, its rigidity isn¡¯t particrly strong, and it has a superior alternative in the ''Adaptive Bioweapon'' trait. As such, it was not particrly essential.

    ?Would you like to select the trait ''Body Crystallization''??

    ''Yes¡­ huh?''

    As soon as I confirmed the choice, the two heads at my sides broke free from my control and began moving on their own.

    The heads approached the artificial body, opening their mouths wide. From within, something thick and tentacle-like emerged¡ªfar toorge to be considered a tongue.

    Two tentacles, slick with ck mucus, extended from their mouths and gently coiled around the artificial body.

    ''What is this?''

    "Abnormal... tongue... phenomenon... detected... abnormality."

    "Abnormal... tongue... phenomenon... detected... abnormality."

    The body wrapped in tentacles and PS-111 both exhibited the same reaction. They trembled, repeating the same message about an abnormal phenomenon.

    ?''Body Crystallization'' trait lost.?

    ?Trait infusion in progress. Estimated time: 5 minutes.?

    ''¡­This should be fine, right?''

    As if reading my thoughts, a text box appeared. The tentacles retracted back into the mouths, and I regained control of the heads on either side.

    The body ensnared by the tentacles was now encased in ck mucus, simr to how I evolved, but its cocoon was smaller since it wasn¡¯t undergoing a full-body reconstruction like mine.

    Once the cocoon enveloped the body, PS-111 also returned to normal. Its camera-lens eyes blinked, as if it had never convulsed.

    [ZZZ (Are you alright?)]

    "A highlyplex chemical reaction is taking ce within the body. Additionally, an astonishingly precise gic rearrangement is urring."

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (It¡¯ll take about five minutes toplete.)]

    "Although I can detect synchronization, I am unable to control it."

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZ (That¡¯s what it feels like during evolution.)]

    "An intriguing sensation. I will document this."

    PS-111 seemed genuinely fascinated by the mutation urring in its remote-controlled model.

    The mechanical arms in the production chamber, under its direction, collected samples of the mucus that had dripped onto the floor. Meanwhile, its main body used its hooked ws to dab at the mucus and even tasted it.

    It even tried to touch the cocoon, but I stopped it. An Amorph¡¯s cocoon is vulnerable to external interference, and this remote-controlled model¡¯s cocoon was even more fragile, wrapped in an even thinner membrane.

    Five minutester, the mucus coating the cocoon driedpletely. The Screamer body emerged, tearing through the now brittle shell.

    "Advanced modifications have been implemented. I will store this data for reference in future model development."

    "Ad... advanced... mod... ifica... tions... reference."

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (There should be a new ability now. Check it out.)]

    "Yes."

    "Yes."

    The main body and the iplete replica replied simultaneously. Like reflections in a mirror, their movements mirrored each other, but their results were different.

    The skin on the neck and upper torso of the remote-controlled model began to sprout bead-like structures. At first, these looked like dew droplets, but they grewrger, spreading across the skin until they resembled cubic scales.

    ''Is it working?''

    When I activate ''Body Crystallization'', it doesn¡¯t look like this; instead, an obsidian-like carapace forms. I touched the crystalline material covering the skin with one of mybat arms.

    ''It¡¯s solid.''

    The appearance was different, but the texture felt identical to when I used ''Body Crystallization''.

    [ZZ (What do you think?)]

    "The upper body is secreting a substance that elerates crystallization. This secretion appears to have resulted from gic mutations in pre-existing organs."

    [ZZZZ (Any side effects?)]

    PS-111 tilted its neck about 200 degrees, and the remote-controlled model mimicked the motion. The only sound was a dry, cking noise like stones rubbing together, with no significant damage.

    "The crystallized substance has solidified into thin scales, so there¡¯s no hindrance to movement."

    That was good news. It suggested that the infused traits adapted reasonably well to the host¡¯s physiology.

    ''Let¡¯s try another experiment.''

    The ''Monolith of the Double Helix'' allows up to two traits to be infused at once.

    This time, I chose the fusion trait ''Neurotoxin nd''.

    There were two reasons for this choice.

    First, I wanted to test the extent to which traits adapted to the host¡¯s body. For example, how would traits like wings for an aquatic creature or the ability to emit mes manifest? Ideally, they would transform meaningfully like before, but there was also the possibility that they could impair the host instead.

    The body PS-111 created was iplete, so itcked resistance to toxins.

    Its main body, enhanced with the genes of various creatures, was immune to a wide range of poisons. The replica, however, wasn¡¯t. This presented a perfect test: would the immune system adapt alongside the infused ''Neurotoxin nd'', or would it result in a toxin-secreting nd that simply harmed the body?

    ''And the second reason...''

    The neurotoxin itself had be less useful to me.

    Ever since reaching the proto-adult stage, many of the foes I encountered had resistance to toxins, making neurotoxin less effective inbat.

    ''It''s served me well.''

    The ''Neurotoxin nd'' was one of the first fusion traits I acquired on the research vessel where I first awoke. It helped me survive countless crises.

    But it was time to let it go. I infused the ''Neurotoxin nd'' into the remote-controlled model.

    After the same cocooning process, PS-111 began another inspection.

    It blinked several times before shaking its head.

    "The body is immobilized due to the spread of a paralyzing chemical throughout its system."

    [ZZZ (Really?)]

    "A nd that secretes toxic substances has developed, but itcks a detoxifying mechanism. Until a toxin-neutralizing immune system is established, this remote-controlled model is unusable."

    The neurotoxin nd, which had served me for so long, offered its final lesson before leaving.

    ''Unlike an Amorph, the traits don¡¯t fully integrate organically.''

    While ''Body Crystallization'' adapted into a thin scale-like structure instead of forming a carapace, the neurotoxin nd didn¡¯te with its associated immune system. Thetter likely required at least two separate organs to function properly.

    ''Not enough experimental data.''

    With the remote-controlled modelpletely paralyzed, further testing was impossible.

    "This has been a fascinating experiment. The findings will be valuable for refining and improving remote-controlled models. I rmend conducting more experiments."

    It was as if PS-111 had read my mind.

    ''What we need are more traits for testing and...''

    Both our heads turned simultaneously, our gazending on the machinery busily operating in the production chamber.

    [Z ZZZ ZZ (What else is needed?)]

    "We require biological tissues and skeletal structures from nearby creatures, as well as minerals for crafting mechanicalponents."

    [ZZZ (Understood.)]

    With our vacation days now clearly nned, time flew by.

    Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

    Three days after the originally nned date, the Mother of the Sky arrived at the new dragon''s nest.

    ?Wow. I''m speechless.?

    The Mother of the Sky, arriving through the damaged Screamer support pod, gawked at PS-111 and me with her mouth wide open.

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (We got a little carried away with the experiments.)]

    ?...Are these even Screamers??

    [ZZZ (Technically, yes.)]

    Currently, there were five miniature Screamers in the production chamber.

    However, calling them Screamers, as she pointed out, felt a bit off. After all, no one would describe a creature with a woman''s head and eight metallic legs as a Screamer.

    "These models have been optimized for gic infusion experiments. They are highly efficient in form, consume minimal energy, and exhibit excellent survival capabilities."

    "Excellent!"

    "Excellent!"

    The mini Screamers, all sporting PS-111''s face, echoed the word "excellent" in unison. Theirnguage modules and other functions had been simplified for the trait infusion experiments.

    ''I drew inspiration from PS-111¡¯s original form.''

    ?Wow! So many little friends!?

    It seemed that Number 26, who had arrived with the Mother of the Sky, was delighted with the mini-Screamers.

    ?Little friends, just like me!?

    ?Body? ?Gone? ?Hurt??

    ¡°They¡¯re naturally in this form.¡±

    Perhaps recalling its first encounter with PS-111, Number 26 gently cradled a mini-Screamer with its tentacles. Beside it, Adhai, her eyes brimming with curiosity, prodded a mini-Screamer lightly with her forepaw.

    Watching the mini-Screamers crawl over Number 26 and Adhai¡¯s bodies, the Mother of the Sky pinched the bridge of her nose firmly.

    ?...I feel like throwing up.?

    ¡°This represents the pinnacle of my and the Amorph¡¯s coborative efforts. I urge you to reconsider that statement.¡±

    ¡°Coborative! Reconsider!¡±

    ¡°Coborative! Reconsider!¡±

    ?Coborative?? ?Efforts?? ?Results??

    ?Little friends are adorable!?

    As PS-111 had indicated, theirpact forms allowed for rapid experimentation in a short period.

    Of course, I haven¡¯tpletely figured out how the transnted traits function or what side effects might ur. But even understanding what to watch out for when imnting them in others was a significant gain.

    ¡®It was useful for PS-111 too.¡¯

    These five mini-Screamers each carry at least one of my traits, transnted thanks to the constant use of ''Hunting Icon'' to gather traits and apply them directly.

    ¡®They¡¯re not particrly valuable traits for me, though.¡¯

    However, for PS-111, it¡¯s a different story. Each of the five has distinct traits, and PS-111 controls them simultaneously. Despite their appearance, each unit has decent specs, making them quite effective for its operations.

    At any rate, the Mother of the Sky had returned.

    It was time to conclude what had been, depending on perspective, a brief yet long 10-day rest.

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 Chapter 298:

    After the Mother of the Sky returned, we began preparing to leave the.

    Adhai joined me for onest massive hunt to gather plenty of prey, ensuring the Gagons would have enough food for some time.

    Meanwhile, PS-111 left the Screamer support vessel with just one mini-Screamer behind, taking the other four aboard the Gigacracker to depart ahead of us. The remaining mini-Screamer was tasked with managing and maintaining the support vessel.

    The Mother of the Sky reluctantly agreed to transport PS-111 and the four mini-Screamers. Her heavy sighs made it clear she wasn¡¯t thrilled about it, but in the end, she epted the role.

    The Gagons seemed quite disappointed to hear we were leaving.

    Those in charge of rearing the young were especially saddened by the news of Number 26¡¯s departure. Likely, they knew how much harder their tasks would be without it.

    Ham Ort, too, appeared disheartened that her daughter would once again embark on a long journey. Adhai, perhaps feeling simrly, spent her time with her mother after the hunt until just before our departure.

    After tying up loose ends over the course of a day, we returned to the Gigacracker.

    As I entered themand room, a device I¡¯d never seen before greeted me.It resembled a miniaturized obelisk, roughly one meter in height, with a bright silver surface engraved with geometric patterns.

    ¡®An interstermunicator from the Cult?¡¯

    Cultists, known for their obsession with geometric designs, often reflect their preferences in specialized equipment and ships. However, I¡¯d never seen an interstermunicator quite like this one.

    ¡®Was it modified?¡¯

    Its appearance was peculiar, especially the base, which typically should have been unadorned but now sported multiple ports. These ports were connected to cables and wires running through themand room.

    ?This was a piece scavenged from the ck market, so it operates on alternative power sources besides psychic energy.?

    The Mother of the Sky, now in her humanoid form, seemed to anticipate my curiosity and exined.

    [ZZZZ Z ZZ ZZZ (It looks different from what I remember.)]

    ?Yes, it¡¯s a modified model based on the Cult¡¯s standard interstermunicator.?

    It seemed they¡¯d torn apart themunicator itself to repurpose it.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (You weren¡¯t just trying to contact someone?)]

    ?That was the n, but things gotplicated.?

    She frowned slightly as she answered.

    ?I tried contacting them continuously upon arrival, but there was no response. Since the signal was going through, the device itself wasn¡¯t broken.?

    [ZZZ Z ZZZZ (They¡¯re not answering, huh?)]

    ?So, we¡¯re verifying through another method.?

    [ZZ ZZ (Another method?)]

    ?Yes. The device has a location-sharing feature between linked units.?

    ¡°Location coordinates analyzed. Disying hologram.¡±

    As PS-111¡¯s voice chimed in, a massive hologram appeared in the center of themand room.

    The Cult Empire¡¯s territory materialized, filling the room. The expansive map zoomed in on a specific point, first showing a star system, then a star, a, and finally a city-level detail on the¡¯s surface. ?

    ¡°This is Berzan01, a in the Auro star System.¡±

    ?Berzan01? It¡¯s there??

    ¡°Do you know of it?¡±

    Auro99¡¯s Berzan01. One of the Empire¡¯s most prosperouss, it¡¯s famous for two things.

    ¡®Thergest branch of the Prophets¡¯ Assembly is located there.¡¯

    The Assembly¡¯s original base isn¡¯t Berzan01 but a desert known as <em>The Guide</em>.

    However, that is more of a cultural and historical center, while Berzan01 holds the Assembly¡¯s practical power. Even the militant faction of the Assembly, the Eye of Revtion Priests, is stationed there.

    [ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Wasn¡¯t Rank 22 supposed to be Coldblood? That¡¯s unexpected.)]

    ?It is, but what¡¯s going on here??

    In the Cult Empire, Coldblood individuals are often treated as cultists or criminals. Their reputation is even worse than that of the Volfs, who are at least given some recognition as ves.

    A Coldblood hiding in one of the Empire''s most religiously influential locations, Berzan01, was unexpected but not entirely impossible.

    ¡®Hiding in in sight, perhaps.¡¯

    After some thought, I realized it wasn¡¯t entirely strange. Even a Coldblood could find ways to operate covertly.

    Berzan01, home to thergest branch of the Prophets¡¯ Assembly, has another notable characteristic: it¡¯s the most active hub for ve trading in the Empire. Disguising oneself as a ve would make entry rtively easy.

    ¡®Though whates after that would be a different story.¡¯

    I had visited Berzan01 a few times in the game. Even in its infant stages, the was notoriously challenging to handle.

    Once chaos breaks out, the Eye of Revtion priests¡ªone of the Assembly''s militant factions¡ªemerge alongside legions of troops and numerous Cult yers, all supported byary defense systems.

    ¡®Technically, I could take it on now, but there areplications.¡¯

    One major concern was ¡®Tiger King¡¯, the 7th-ranked Cult leader.

    In the game, Berzan01 was a strategic stronghold for the Cult. If I were in his position, I would undoubtedly have established a presence there.

    ¡®Encountering him there would be a problem.¡¯

    Unlike in the game, death in reality is final. Until I had sufficient information, a full-scale confrontation was out of the question.

    ?We can¡¯t bring the Gigacracker there. That would spark a full-blown war.?

    The Mother of the Sky seemed to share my thoughts. Indeed, bringing a-destroying weapon to Berzan01 would guarantee chaos. Such a move would not only make it harder to find Rank 22 but might also push them to ally with Rank 7. If I were Rank 22, I wouldn¡¯t want to engage with an Amorph dragging the Gigacracker along.

    ¡°Do you n to hijack a new vessel?¡±

    PS-111¡¯s question made me pause.

    I did have a ship¡ªthe Cult pirate vessel I used before acquiring the Gigacracker. It had been left behind on a dwarf the Gigacracker was mining.

    ¡®But it might not be there anymore.¡¯

    By now, its previous owner, Saint K., would likely be scouring the gxy for the lost superweapon. The star system where the Gigacracker had been would have been thoroughly searched, and they¡¯d likely found the ship I left behind.

    ¡®Obtaining a new ship won¡¯t be easy either.¡¯

    Given Berzan01¡¯s tight security, I would need to be extremely selective about which vessel tomandeer.

    A ship frequently docking at the might pass, but anything unfamiliar would raise rms.

    Unlike at Kesha Arma, manipting harbor guards to slip through would also be much harder. Berzan01¡¯s poption and number of overseers far surpass those of any fortress. Controlling them all would be impossible.

    ¡®This is trickier than I thought.¡¯

    Of all ces, Rank 22 had to be hiding on the infamous Berzan01, making infiltration a significant challenge. Even in the game, tackling the required meticulous preparation.

    ¡®With my size as an adult and the Gigacracker at my disposal, should I just go head-on?¡¯

    Unlike the game, where I had to take on the challenge alone and unequipped, I now had the resources to make a direct assault. Rank 7 might be present, but that wasn¡¯t a certainty.

    As I debated, an alternative n came to mind.

    ¡®Size, huh.¡¯

    The Metallic Gremlins, known as the predators of space, are feared as ship hunters. Their reputation isn¡¯t due to swarming in groups; if it were, the notoriety would belong to their "packs" rather than individual creatures.

    I knew how they bypassed even the most sophisticated radar systems to infiltrate ships.

    Back in my juvenile phase, I had learned their methods and used them for infiltrating space cities ands myself.

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (How long would it take to reach Berzan01 from here?)]

    ¡°With the Gigacracker¡¯s engine capabilities, we¡¯d arrive within two weeks.¡±

    [ZZZ ZZ Z (And if I went there myself?)]

    ¡°Based on our umted data, the journey would take between three and five weeks.¡±

    [ZZ (Alright)]

    To execute the n, a few specific traits are required. With about a month until reaching Berzan 01, the timing isn''t bad.

    ?You¡¯re going yourself? How are you nning to pull this off??

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (I thought I¡¯d try the old method for a change)]

    ?...I have a bad feeling about this.?

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Which one of the interstermunication functions was it? Was it number five?)]

    ¡°Are you nning to take MPS-05 with you?¡±

    When I ced mybat arm on the floor, the mini-screamer named MPS-05 climbed into my palm.

    [Z ZZZ ZZ ZZZZZ (Yes, I¡¯ll need its help.)]

    I didn¡¯t imbue it withbat-rted traits but rather ones that would make it more efficient in supporting interstermunication functions.

    ¡®I¡¯ll need the help of PS-111 to make this n work.¡¯

    To be precise, the help of the PS-111s.

    I smiled at MPS-05, sitting quietly in my palm, gazing up at me.

    ---

    The ¡°Surveince Bureau¡± of the Aur System, where Berzan 02 is located.

    The Bureau¡¯s role is to record the energy flow of faster-than-light (FTL) power emitted by ships entering the system. It also serves as a contingency for ships that create unrecorded energy flows or attempt FTL escapes after causing trouble.

    Today, as usual, the bureau¡¯s staff was busy monitoring the countless ships passing through the Aur System.

    The sudden appearance of unrecorded energy flows wasn¡¯t a rare event for them. Dispatching a fleet to the area where the energy was detected was also a routine matter.

    ¡°Approaching the point of FTL travel urrence.¡±

    ¡°By now, it should be detectable. Knowledge Manager?¡±

    ¡°Hm. The strong maic field is making proper observation difficult.¡±

    ¡°A maic field? Did thise from another system?¡±

    ¡°Uncertain. I¡¯ll continue analyzing the data.¡±

    A specialized fleet from the bureau approached the area filled with the mysterious maic field.

    Inside the ship¡¯s operations room, cultist crew members were projecting external camera footage and radar data as holograms into the air.

    Meanwhile, Charras, the Knowledge Manager dispatched by the bureau, was swiftly organizing the information in her mind. Cross-referencing the wavelength data emitted by nearby stars revealed no significant matches.

    The only somewhat simr pattern wasn¡¯t from ster activity¡ªit had been observed during an incident on a.

    ¡®The Saigil 08 tragedy?¡¯

    She recalled the event, still spoken of ominously, even now.

    At the time, the Imperial carrier ¡®Damos 08¡¯ and its carrier fleet, dispatched to purify contamination, had been annihted by an unidentified entity. The Imperial Council named the creature ¡°The Three-Headed Demon.¡±

    And the energy observed by the bureau closely resembled the mysterious energy storm unleashed by that creature.

    ¡®...Though there are notable differences. What do I do about this?¡¯

    The current energy readings weren¡¯t an exact match. Back then, what was observed was closer to a massive energy storm¡ªa concentrated outburst of energy. The pattern of the storm¡¯s flow was somewhat simr to the current readings, but only in part.

    Here and now, there was no massive energy storm or sign of the creature recorded at the time.

    ¡®ording to the Imperial Council¡¯s report, that thing can¡¯t fly.¡¯

    The Aur System is immensely far from Saigil 08¡¯s sacred star system. Even if it could fly, reaching here would be physically impossible¡ªunless it had ess to FTL travel.

    ¡°For now, I¡¯ve found a few results matching the patterns, though not conclusively. Let¡¯s request a review from the bureau.¡±

    ¡°Hm, there¡¯s no harm in being cautious. Agreed.¡±

    ¡°Entering the maic field region now.¡±

    As the fleet entered the area of the sudden maic field, the lights within the ships flickered briefly. While rare, such urrences weren¡¯t entirely unprecedented, so none of the crew showed signs of unease. This was true not only for the ship Charras was aboard but for the others as well.

    The crews quickly restored their systems and reached the location where therge energy surge¡ªindicating faster-than-light (FTL) travel¡ªhad urred.

    Despite utilizing cameras less affected by the maic field and deploying warriors capable of using psychic-powered search techniques, nothing of significance was found.

    "Nothing at all? That¡¯s strange."

    ¡°What are your orders?¡±

    ¡°Have all phenomena been reported to the bureau?¡±

    ¡°Yes, they¡¯re currently reviewing it.¡±

    ¡°Just in case, some of our ships should remain here. I¡¯ll personally contact the other vessels to coordinate.¡±

    As the captain prepared to reach out to the other ships, a new image appeared in the operations room. It had been uploaded by the crew member responsible for managing the ship¡¯s shields.

    ¡°Shields restored to 99.9%. Fully operational again. Something collided with the ship.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the size of the object that struck us?¡±

    ¡°Less than 5 meters.¡±

    ¡°Probably a stray rock fragment drifting nearby.¡±

    Whether it was a coincidence or not, the widespread maic field began to dissipate gradually after the collision report.

    Once the anomalies subsided, the bureau issued orders for the fleet to return. The event was deemed a natural phenomenon, though as a precaution, a few ships were instructed to remain in the area while the rest withdrew.

    And so, the incident of the sudden maic field ended anticlimactically.

 Chapter 299:

    ¡®That was close.¡¯

    I almost got caught. Thanks to the perfect timing, I managed to board the battleship sessfully.

    I¡¯ve snuck into ces before, even to take down the Berzan02, but I¡¯d never seen such a thorough search before.

    ¡®And the detection systems have been upgraded.¡¯

    They were using all sorts of detection equipment and psychic power techniques to pierce through the "Dark Veil". If I had stayed in my adult form, there¡¯s a high chance I would¡¯ve been detected.

    While the Dark Veil disrupted the enemy¡¯s detectionwork, I used the ability ¡®Organic Evolution¡¯ to change my body into an entirely different form. I reduced my size to under 5 meters and transformed into ¡®Clever Weakling¡¯, which provided a cloaking effect.

    ¡®Is this the first time I¡¯ve transformed into a Clever Weakling after bing an adult?¡¯

    Hanging on the outer wall of the massive warship, I checked my new form.

    My body resembled a centaur''s when Ist transformed into a Clever Weakling. Even now, the general shape was simr after evolving into my adult form. Two battle arms and a smaller set of arms around my chest remained, but the rest of my arms had transformed into legs. My entire body was covered in dense fur.The difference now was in my head and neck. Before I transformed, I had long, extended necks, but after transforming, they had shortened considerably. In particr, the two heads on either side were pressed tightly against my shoulders, and the necks were nearly invisible.

    Both heads had amon trait: the backte had greatly shrunk. The head armor was gone, but the secondary organs, fangs, and horns underneath the jaw remained intact. The tentacles attached to the neck and back of the heads flowed down between the fur, tangled like hair.

    The other noticeable change was in my tail.

    I still had two tails, but they had be thinner and shorter. The biological cannon attached to the left tail had disappeared, and it had transformed into a snake-like tail. The right tail, which had pincers, had shrunk in size.

    ¡®Now that I¡¯m inside the shield...¡¯

    I reverted the shape of my horn, which I had used to pierce through the shield before. The horns that had once been sharp and angr like a Gagon¡¯s now curved and thickened. This was the result of the ¡®Transformable Bio-Weapon¡¯ ability, which allowed me to change parts of my body at will.

    ¡®Gagon¡¯s horns can neutralize psychic shields.¡¯

    Thanks to that, I was able to pierce through the shield even with my smaller form.

    ¡®If the horns had disappeared after I transformed, that would¡¯ve been a real problem.¡¯

    The only special abilities that can¡¯t be used while in the Clever Weakling form are ¡®Nightmare Horizon¡¯, ¡®Complex Spectrum¡¯,¡®ck Devourer Cannon¡¯, and ¡®Medusa Organs¡¯. Additionally, the absence of wings in this form meant I couldn¡¯t use any abilities rted to FTL travel.

    The Transformable Bio-Weapon ability was also limited. Since my headte had been drastically reduced and my wings were gone, I couldn¡¯t change into things like the Ice Horror¡¯s headte or the Gagon¡¯s wings.

    ¡®Some parts can¡¯t be changed, but at least this is something.¡¯

    As I checked my horns, I noticed Mother of the Sky quietly pulling her head out from beneath my legs.

    ?You know what happens if you get caught between the shield while it¡¯s being restored, right??

    [¥º¥º¥º¥º ¥º¥º¥º(You¡¯d get sliced in half.)]

    ?You might survive getting cut, but that¡¯s the end for me, you know??

    Taking the form of a gryphon, she had hidden herself between my four legs to avoid detection by the fleet¡¯s systems.

    [¥º¥º ¥º¥º ¥º¥º(You were lucky.)]

    ?Lucky? Didn¡¯t you calcte everything earlier??

    [¥º¥º¥º¥º¥º ¥º¥º ¥º¥º ¥º¥º¥º¥º(That¡¯s just how I put it. Let¡¯s start moving.)]

    ?Ugh.?

    She shot me a scornful look with her captivating amber eyes before crawling back under my body.

    We synchronized our movements, staying close to the outer wall as we moved.

    The Clever Weakling¡¯s ability, ¡®Alien Fur Cloak¡¯, provided a cloaking effect through the long fur covering my entire body.

    She didn¡¯t have any cloaking abilities herself, so I had to cover her and protect her as we moved. If she ventured beyond the protection of my fur, she would be detected by the external cameras, so we had to move slowly.

    [ZZZZ ZZ (Doesn¡¯t it feel cramped?)]

    ?I¡¯m fine. What about you, aren¡¯t you ufortable??

    [ZZ (Not really.)]

    For a while, she would remain in her beastman form. Topensate for theck ofbat strength, she had brought the necessary equipment. In the backpack strapped to her back were the Priest''s Golden Spear and the MPS-05.

    Thanks to that, the short, folded spear poked my front legs, but it wasn¡¯t enough to be worth worrying about.

    Between the ck sky and ivory-colored ground, she and I walked together.

    One of the unique features of the Cult''s ships is their extravagant decorations and beautiful colors. The ship we boarded reflected the typical traits of a Cult vessel. The hull, made of Moon Silver alloy, gleamed brightly in ivory, and geometric patterns covered its surface.

    These patterns weren¡¯t merely for decoration. Beneath the surface, the intricate designs hid mechanicalponents. The decorations on Cult ships served a functional purpose: they acted as devices to amplify the psychic power capabilities of shields and other systems.

    ¡®Including the external cameras, of course.¡¯

    Avoiding the lenses camouged by theplex patterns, I continued to search for a passage that would allow me to enter the ship.

    ¡®It should be around here somewhere.¡¯

    While walking with my body lowered, I noticed a part of the Auxiliary Organ that protruded slightly.

    ¡®Found it.¡¯

    At first nce, it didn¡¯t look any different from the other parts of the outer wall, but inside, there was an empty space. This was a spot used for anti-aircraft guns necessary for small ship defense.

    ¡®Let¡¯s enter here.¡¯

    I transformed my right arm into a Hellside Ho''s arm. The joints twisted, and four fingers were sucked into the exoskeleton, folding inward. A massive bone, resembling a scythe, emerged where the palm used to be.

    Now, in my hand, I held the terrifyingly sharp scythe of a Helside Ho. I thrust the scythe¡¯s tip into the exposed section.

    The plywood covering the anti-aircraft gun sparked and cracked open. I wedged my front legs and left arm into the gap and pried it open.

    Despite the difficulty, there was enough space for Mother of the Sky to slip through. She quickly read my intent and darted inside.

    After sending her in, I forced the plywood open further and followed her in. As soon as I let go, the plywood automatically closed behind me.

    Inside the ship, the first thing I saw was an anti-aircraft gun about the size of my body. Next, I noticed the stunned face of a Cult marksman behind the gun barrel.

    He was staring at us, seemingly confused. Judging by the cup in his hand, it seemed like he had just stepped out for a break and wasing back.

    ¡°Wha¡­!¡±

    His eyes widened in surprise as his body began to move. The drink cup fell from his hand, and his hand reached up to grab something else¡ªa headsetmunication device hanging from his horn.

    At that moment, Mother of the Sky thrust the Priest¡¯s Golden Spear at lightning speed. The golden spear pierced his throat, and all that could be heard from his mouth was the sound of wind.

    ¡°¡­Hah!¡±

    His suffering was brief. I used my scythe-arm to decapitate him and held his head aloft. I removed themunication device caught on his horn and swallowed the remaining head whole.

    ?15th Gun. What¡¯s going on??

    I answered the softly transmitted voiceing from themunicator.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. There seems to have been a malfunction in the protective barrier.¡±

    ?A malfunction??

    ¡°The shield was damaged and collided with a meteorite.¡±

    ?I see. Make sure to report it to the knowledge manager.?

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    After finishing the conversation, I shut off themunicator.

    Mother of the Sky, who was standing beside me, let out a relieved sigh.

    ?Of all the times to run into a marksman¡­?

    ¡°Tell me about it.¡±

    To eliminate the evidence, I began devouring the headless corpse.

    Perhaps due to the three heads, the food in my hand disappeared in an instant. There was no trace left where the Cult marksman had been.

    ?What was that, again? The camouge organs, right? They¡¯re always so creepy.?

    ¡°This thing¡¯s incredibly useful.¡±

    ?...Forget I said anything. Anyway, we¡¯ve arrived, so take it.?

    ¡°Thanks.¡±

    She took out a mini-Screamer, about twice the size of a human face, from her backpack. The MPS-05, as it was called, contained interstermunication devices separated from the Screamer support lines.

    ¡®That¡¯s why it¡¯s a bitrger than the others.¡¯

    However, perfectly imnting themunicator into this small body was impossible, even for it. Sending signals to far-off devices like Gigacrackers, located on the other side of dozens or hundreds of star systems, was no easy feat.

    So, for now, it was hiding on an asteroid in a neighboring star system near the Aurus system. The distance was manageable for the mini-Screamer to maintainmunication, as it had calcted.

    I rotated my arm back to its original form and took the mini-Screamer from her.

    Like a princess from a fairy tale, it was in a dormant state, its eyes closed. Theck of response was because it had entered sleep mode.

    Thanks to the interstermunication function that had been imnted, MPS-05 could receivemands from the main body, even from a great distance. However, if it tried to operate within the ship, the emitted signals could easily be detected by enemies.

    To prevent this, I had imnted two special traits into it.

    ¡®Neural Junction and Wave Mimicry.¡¯

    Wave Mimicry, an environmental adaptation trait, was something I already had, while Neural Junction was an internal organ trait I had acquired when disturbing the Gagon¡¯s underground kingdom. Without these two traits, I wouldn''t have even considered bringing it along.

    I followed the method PS-111 had outlined for me.

    ¡®First, connect the circuits and supply power.¡¯

    As I tore out the chair in front of the anti-aircraft gun, I found neatly arranged cables beneath the plywood. I separated a portion with my small arm and connected it to the port on the back of MPS-05''s head.

    ¡®Next¡­¡¯

    While I worked, Mother of the Sky kept watch for any approaching presence.

    After connecting all the cables and mechanical devices to it, I inserted my finger into the creature¡¯s mouth.

    Unlike humans, it had a dry interior, and when I pressed a manual switch, MPS-05 began to tremble.

    ?Is it done??

    ¡°It needs a little more time.¡±

    I had set it up so that when MPS-05 received energy, the Neural Junction would activate automatically. The trembling was caused by its body being tuned to match the ship¡¯s systems.

    ¡®Along with that, Wave Mimicry should be setting up too.¡¯

    It was analyzing and mimicking the various signals and waves emitted by the ship to ensure it couldmunicate with the outside without being detected. Unless the Machine Council directly analyzed every signal, finding MPS-05''s mimicked signal would be nearly impossible.

    ¡®As long as it has that trait, it won¡¯t get caught.¡¯

    After about ten minutes, it opened its eyes. The red camera lenses blinked several times before focusing on me and Mother of the Sky.

    ¡°Link. Confirmed.¡±

    ¡°Sess.¡±

    ?Well, that works, huh??

    ¡°It¡¯s a special one.¡±

    ¡°Special! Special!¡±

    With that, the preparations for the Berzan 02 infiltration mission wereplete.

    Now, the remaining task was to search through the ship¡¯s stored information to find a suitable vessel for entering Berzan 02 safely.

    For this, I needed two things.

    ¡®Computer hacking, and¡­¡¯

    The knowledge manager. He was necessary.

    The Knowledge Manager, a position unique to the Cult, is both a livingputer and a repository of knowledge. Especially for those aboard ships that monitor star systems, a Knowledge Manager would likely possess invaluable insight into Berzan 02''s defense systems.

    ¡®And, they should also have information about the''s internal affairs.¡¯

    What are its weaknesses? Which enemies or factors should I be concerned about? What has changed since the game?

    All of these are essential pieces of information for theary conquest. While the immediate goal is to meet with the 22nd, it wouldn''t hurt to gather intelligence on the invasion in advance.

    ¡°Leave theputer work to you. I¡¯m counting on you.¡±

    ¡°Leave it to me. It¡¯s possible.¡±

    The next target for me and Mother of the Sky is the Knowledge Manager aboard the ship.

 Chapter 300:

    -

    In cult societies, the position of Knowledge Manager holds a significant status.

    The role of a Knowledge Manager is to assist the captain in ensuring the safepletion of the ship''s missions.

    To carry out their duties, they acquire extensive knowledge across various fields. In addition, they learn psychic techniques that allow them to exchange knowledge with other Knowledge Managers.

    Although the Cult possesses strong psychic powers, bing a Knowledge Manager is no easy task. One must dedicate years of effort to earn the honor of performing such a sacred role.

    As a result, the position of Knowledge Manager is considered highly prestigious, despite being lower in rankpared to the captain or the leader of a warrior squad. In terms of stature, they are not inferior to those leaders.

    Charas, a Knowledge Manager affiliated with the Auro Star System''s Monitoring Bureau, was highly respected by the ship''s crew. Thanks to her, the ship had escaped from danger more than once.

    However, contrary to the crew''s perception, Charas did not attach great importance to her role. To her, being a Knowledge Manager was just one of the many stages she would pass through in her long life.

    Her ultimate goal was to be a member of the Imperial Council.With no factional support and only ordinary goat horns, the only way for her to reach that goal was through this path.

    ¡®It''s not much longer now.¡¯

    After joining the elite fleet of the Monitoring Bureau, Charas had made notable contributions. Because of that, a few months ago, she received an offer from one of the prominent factions on Verzan02, the Providential Faction.

    They had asked if she would join them, suggesting that if she was interested in the future of the Empire, they could align their goals.

    ¡®The Providential Faction isn''t a bad starting point.¡¯

    After the leader of the Providential Faction, Jason, was ousted for his responsibility in the ¡®Sacrilege 08 Incident¡¯, the faction suffered a significant blow. However, recently, as discussions about the Great Invasion of Outspacers started in the council, the Providential Faction began regaining power.

    The Core ideology of the Providential Faction is that to serve Providence and protect the Empire''s security, strong military force must be actively used. They are in direct opposition to the Reformist Faction, which advocates for disarmament, and the less stable the Empire bes, the stronger their faction grows.

    From Charas¡¯s perspective, the future of the Providential Faction looked quite promising. In fact, the information she had gathered while performing her duties as a Knowledge Manager indicated that not only the Empire but the entire universe was on the brink of turmoil.

    The destruction of the Megacorp space city, the Star Union¡¯s military provocations, and the recent ¡®Kesha Arma¡¯ crash incident. In such a short time, unprecedented events were unfolding.

    The key point is that as space bes more chaotic, the Providential Faction, which advocates for implementing Providence through force, gains more power. It seems highly likely that the Providential Faction''s dominance will continue for some time.

    ¡®This is beneficial for me, a neer who needs a meaningful political career.¡¯

    She briefly indulged in thoughts of a rosy future before returning to her duties.

    Currently, the ship she was aboard was waiting at a location where an unidentified maic field had been detected. This was to quickly check for any further anomalies.

    Aside from the mission assigned to her, the Monitoring Bureau had given Charas a different task. She was to continue organizing and sending information rted to ¡®the Three-Headed Demon¡¯, a connection she had sent earlier.

    After hours of continuous work, her task was finallyplete. The organized information was sent to the Monitoring Bureau through a transmission technique only Knowledge Managers could use.

    ¡®Should I go out for a drink?¡¯

    Perhaps due to the excessive use of psychic power, she felt a throbbing headache. A Verzan02-style cocktail would be perfect for this.

    Charas imagined the sweet taste of the cocktail as she left her room. She had no attachments to the ship, except for one thing¡ªthe delicious cocktails served at the onboard bar.

    Passing through the corridor adorned with geometric decorations, she arrived at the unmanned bar and ordered her favorite Verzan02-style cocktail.

    Was it the exhaustion from the workload or the headache? She drank more than usual, and as a result, she left the bar feeling light-headed rather than in pain.

    Now that her headache was gone, the only thing left to do was return to her room and sleep.

    ¡®Ah.¡¯

    There was just one thing left to do.

    ¡®Didn¡¯t they say it was struck by a meteorite?¡¯

    She had heard from the situation room earlier in the afternoon that a meteorite had hit the outer wall of turret 15, causing a malfunction in the protective shield. She had forgotten about it since there had been no report from the crew member responsible for that turret.

    ¡®How annoying¡­¡¯

    By this time, the onboard engineers had likely already taken care of it, but it was still best to verify. No disturbances should arise before she entered the Providential Faction.

    She turned her steps toward the ¡®Shield Management Office¡¯, which oversees the ship''s protective walls and shields. If the warrior squad is responsible for fighting enemy boarding parties, then the Shield Management Office is in charge of protecting the ship itself.

    Walking down the corridor leading to the Shield Management Office, she moved with slightly unsteady steps.

    As with the bar, the corridor was devoid of crew members. Most of them had already gone to sleep.

    "......"

    The corridor appeared no different from when she had walked toward the bar earlier. The only difference was the geometric patterns on the walls, but otherwise, it was the same corridor she always walked down.

    However, she couldn''t shake the growing sense of unease creeping up her spine.

    As a Knowledge Manager, she knew every corner of the ship. Hidden within the unique patterns on the corridor walls were cameras.

    She was aware that the situation room was monitoring the ship in real-time. Still, the unexined sense of foreboding felt like a sharp needle poking at her mind.

    Beyond the brightly lit corridor, something dreadful seemed to be lurking.

    As the thought crossed her mind, it felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, sobering her up instantly.

    ¡®Something¡¯s wrong.¡¯

    Charas, being a member of the cult, had learned various psychic techniques. She knew that this feeling couldn''t have arisen for no reason.

    She immediately reached out to trace the pattern decorations on the wall. With a click, the pattern shifted, revealing a smallmunicator. This device was directly connected to the ¡®Onboard Surveince Unit¡¯ managing the ship¡¯s corridor cameras.

    ¡°This is the middle of the corridor leading to the Shield Management Office. Is there anyone else in this corridor?¡±

    ¡°This is the Onboard Surveince Unit. Currently, you are the only one in the corridor. No one has passed by here for thest two hours.¡±

    ¡°Two hours, you say?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Is there a problem?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re unsure, we¡¯ll continue monitoring closely.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your consideration. Have a good night.¡±

    Only after hearing the confirmation from the Onboard Surveince Unit that no one else was in the corridor could she finally rx. As long as the cameras in the entire corridor hadn¡¯t malfunctioned, their words were most likely true.

    Though the sense of unease had subsided, a new problem began to trouble her.

    ¡®What is that smell?¡¯

    A smell unlike anything she had ever encountered in her life was spreading through the air.

    It was indescribably strange¡ªlike intangible insects trying to burrow into her body, the foul odor clung to her nose and mouth.

    As she drew closer to the Shield Management Office, the stench grew more intense.

    ¡®...I need to check this and get back.¡¯

    Now that the alcohol¡¯s effects had nearly worn off, she half-ran toward the Shield Management Office.

    Fortunately, aside from the smell, there was no other sign of abnormality. She arrived at her destination safely.

    Upon opening the door, the lights inside flickered on as they detected a new visitor. Just as the Onboard Surveince Unit had said, the technicians had all left two hours ago, and the office was empty.

    She hurried to check theputer systems. Quickly reviewing the shield and protective wall statuses, there didn¡¯t seem to be any issues. It appeared the technicians had handled whatever had gone unreported by the turret operator.

    ¡®Whoever it was, they''ll be reprimanded tomorrow...¡¯

    Having endured extra trouble because of turret 15''s operator, Charas was about to shut down theputer.

    At that moment, a sound reached her ears.

    ¡°!¡±

    Startled, she quickly turned her head. Under the bright light, there was nothing but inactive cult-styleputers.

    "I must have... heard wrong... Huh?!"

    Just as she tried to convince herself it was nothing, the sound came again. This time, it sounded like small metal skewers ttering against the floor.

    Charas immediately recognized it as the sound of something with sturdy legs crawling across an alloy te.

    She saw it. A creaturerger than the Cult¡¯s head, with long legs, slinking through the spaces between theputers.

    ¡®No, I must have seen wrong.¡¯

    Swallowing hard, she focused her psychic power into her hands, preparing to fire if the creature appeared again.

    "¡­¡­!"

    At that moment, the sound came again. A shadow with multiple legs swiftly passed between theputers.

    ¡®It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s getting away!¡¯

    Not every Knowledge Manager excels inbat skills. Charas knew this better than anyone, so she quickly ran toward the door.

    But just as she neared the door, aputer nearby inexplicably toppled forward. Without hesitation, she unleashed her prepared psychic technique, ¡®Psychic Impact¡¯, toward the fallen machine.

    With a sharp pop, the air exploded as the psychic impact dissipated in midair. Simultaneously, someone appeared behind theputer, both hands raised.

    "Pl-Please don¡¯t shoot!"

    Charas nearly screamed when she saw the cult man unexpectedly appear.

    "Who are you?"

    "I-I¡¯m the gunner in charge of the cannons."

    "Are you... number 15?"

    "Yes! Yes, I came in earlier to finish things before you arrived. I had just finished and was about to leave when the... the administrator..."

    The Cult member, identifying himself as number 15, was wearing the uniform of a cannon operator, just as he said.

    "You didn''t even file a proper report and decided to handle things this way? Are you out of your mind?"

    "I¡¯ve only just be a gunner, and I was inexperienced. I¡¯m sorry."

    "Apologies won¡¯t help. You¡¯ll be facing disciplinary action first thing tomorrow morning..."

    Before she could finish her sentence, a bizarre creature''s sound echoed. Both Charas and number 15 turned toward the source of the noise simultaneously.

    "W-What was that sound? Did you hear it?"

    Perhaps because of the colleague''s presence, Charas'' thoughts shifted slightly.

    ¡®If I handle this situation well...¡¯

    Instead of contacting the Onboard Surveince Unit, she decided to use this inept cult member to solve the problem.

    Since he had secretly entered the area, he couldn¡¯t im any credit for himself. That meant whatever merit he had earned would belong to her. She¡¯d be gaining another victory before entering the sect.

    "There¡¯s an unknown creature somewhere here."

    "Eh?"

    "Help me handle this for now, and if you do a good job, I might consider lowering the severity of your punishment."

    "Ah, okay! I understand!"

    His flustered appearance gave her little confidence, but at least as a gunner, he had basic military training. In terms of sheer force, he would likely be better than Charas.

    "The sound came from the tool room."

    As Charas had said, the door to the tool room was slightly ajar. The lights seemed unresponsive to the creature, and inside, only dark shadows could be seen.

    "Can you create light?"

    "Uh, I¡¯m not very good at that..."

    Without asking further, Charas used her psychic power to create light, illuminating the inside of the tool room.

    The floor inside was littered with tools that had spilled out from broken boxes. However, there was no sign of the monster that had wrecked the room.

    "If you find the creature inside, kill it immediately."

    "Understood."

    "Stop yelling like an idiot, like before¡­"

    "Why do you say that?"

    Charas stopped mid-sentence. Through her conversation with number 15, she realized something was off about the situation.

    "You said you can¡¯t make fire, right?"

    "Uh? Yes."

    "When I came in here, the lights were already on. But before that, how¡­"

    Number 15 had just imed he couldn¡¯t create light.

    This meant that, inplete darkness, he had been manipting theputers.

    Even if he had turned off the lights secretly to operate theputers without being seen, something didn¡¯t add up.

    The Onboard Surveince Unit had said:

    Nobody had entered this hallway for two hours.

    So, for the past two hours, what had number 15 been doing in the dark, along with the monster?

    "Aha. The lights."

    As if he hadn''t thought of it before, number 15 spoke.

    No.

    It wasn¡¯t number 15 who spoke.

    It was it.

    The creature in the Shield Management Room wasn¡¯t just one.

 Chapter 301:

    After MPS-05 activated, we encountered an unexpected challenge.

    For it to safely attempt hacking, it needed a high-authorityputer to establish a physical connection. If this were its original form, hacking could have been done from any terminal, regardless of location. However, as a downgraded mini-screamer, this capability was out of reach.

    The real issue, however,y elsewhere.

    The corridors of this warship were saturated with surveince cameras. While it''s normal for warships to have heightened security, this was the first time I''d seen cameras ced every few meters.

    Because of this, the n had to be adjusted slightly.

    The Mother of the Sky waited in the gunroom where the fifteenth gunner was stationed, while I moved together with MPS-05.

    Regardless of species, theputer with the highest authority on a ship is typically located in the situation room. This warship was no exception, but reaching it without detection was impossible.

    The ''Coat of the Unknown Organism¡¯, a perk of the Clever Weakling trait, could bypass general detection devices, traits, and technologies. But it wouldn¡¯t work whening face-to-face with a Cult member.

    Thanks to the Mimicry Organ, others saw me as the fifteenth gunner. While this helped avoid outright confrontation, it didn¡¯t eliminate suspicion. A mere gunner wandering into the situation room would naturally raise rms.Given how difficult it was to target the situation room, the next best option was the Shield Management Station, responsible for the ship''s outer walls and shields. To erase records of shield damage from our infiltration and the protective barrier''s damage for Gun No. 15, we needed to visit this station at least once.

    After waiting for the crew to fall asleep, MPS-05 and I began our operation. Avoiding the patrols of warrior squad members took more time than anticipated, but we reached our destination safely.

    While MPS-05 was busy working in the empty Shield Management Station, an unexpected visitor arrived.

    One of the two targets we sought on this ship: the Knowledge Keeper.

    ¡°Ke-Keek... Sp-spare me¡­.¡±

    The female Cult member, caught in mybat limb, iled desperately. Themanding air she had when she mistook me for Gunner No. 15 was nowhere to be found.

    ¡®Didn¡¯t expect her to walk right into my grasp.¡¯

    I had assumed capturing the Knowledge Keeper would take several more days, but once again, my expectations were overturned.

    The Knowledge Keeper also served as the ship¡¯s chief engineer. Inspecting errors in the ship''s defense system was one of her duties. She hade to check on the protective barrier error caused by my infiltration.

    ¡°Ship. Re-record. Copy.¡±

    ¡°Be careful not to get caught.¡±

    ¡°Worry. Unnecessary.¡±

    Emerging from its hiding spot in the tool room, MPS-05 resumed its work.

    ¡®Time to handle my task.¡¯

    I gazed down at the trembling Knowledge Keeper.

    Currently, my parasite benefited from two enhancements: the unique trait ¡®Great Infector¡¯ and the apex mark ¡®Shaper of Forms¡¯. Its size had grown significantlypared to the game version, and its abilities had improved dramatically.

    Previously, it could only attach itself to the brains of infected hosts to control them. Now, it had another option: consume the brain and rece its functions entirely. Or¡­

    ¡®You know what to do.¡¯

    I directed a firm will at the parasite crawling from the inside of my hand. Resembling an eel, the parasite twitched its indistinct head or body in acknowledgment, slithering toward my opposite hand.

    ¡°?!¡±

    Seeing the parasite approach via my arm, the Knowledge Keeper paled. Her previously beautiful Cult face twisted grotesquely in terror.

    Though she mped her mouth shut and struggled to evade the advancing ck eel, it was futile. Tendrils resembling silkworms shot out from the parasite''s enhanced body, prying her mouth open by force.

    ¡°Mmph! Mmmph!¡±

    In an instant, the parasite forced its way into the Cult woman''s mouth.

    Once inside, it began its operation. It swiftly devoured portions of her brain and infiltrated her spinal cord. Her body convulsed violently before copsing limply, as if lifeless.

    ¡°Rise.¡±

    At the sound of my voice, the unmoving woman stirred. As I rxed my grip, she stood on her own, nowpletely under my control.

    "Speak."

    "W-what is this...?"

    The Cult member''s eyes were clouded with confusion. It was no surprise¡ªsuddenly losing control of one¡¯s body would bewilder anyone.

    "State your name and position."

    "My name is Charas. I¡¯m the Knowledge Keeper. What... what have you done to me?"

    "Shh."

    "¡­¡­!"

    Before heading to the space fortress ''Kesha Arma'', during the raid on the pirates¡¯ ve market, I selected the ''Parasitic Colony'' as the enhancement target for the ''Great Infector.'' The results were transformative.

    The parasite didn¡¯t just grow from a tiny worm to the size of an eel, nor was it only the dominance effect that had strengthened. Apletely new form of control emerged¡ªone of the powers granted to the ''Parasitic Colony.''

    Originally, the parasite would control a host¡¯s body by taking over the brain. This basic mechanism remained unchanged even after the enhancement.

    While effective forplete domination, it had its drawbacks in cases like this.

    The Knowledge Keeper¡¯s brain ys a crucial role in storing and utilizing vast amounts of knowledge and information. Damaging it wouldpromise her utility.

    Thus, I employed a new method.

    Currently, the parasite clings to parts of her brain and spinal cord. Only a fraction of her brain has been touched; the rest is controlled through its fusion with the spinal cord. This leaves herpletely unable to move even a finger of her own will.

    The method has two drawbacks, though:

    First, its control isn¡¯t as absolute as recing the entire brain. Second, it¡¯s irreversible.

    Once fused with the host¡¯s spinal cord, the parasite cannot be removed by any means. When the parasite¡¯s lifespan ends, so too does the host¡¯s.

    ''Perhaps surgery could change this...''

    But that¡¯s a moot point right now. Charas, the Knowledge Keeper, will serve me until her death.

    In the voice of the fifteenth gunner, I addressed Charas:

    "Let¡¯s start with ships authorized to ess Berzan-02."

    Her body and knowledge now belonged to me.

    ---

    Two days had passed since the strange phenomena began in the Aur Star System.

    The unidentified maic field was no longer detectable.

    One Knowledge Keeper had suggested a connection to the ''Three-Headed Demon,'' but no clear conclusions were reached. The evidence was sparse, and the same Knowledge Keeperter revised their statement in a follow-up report.

    In the end, the Oversight Bureau ordered the ships stationed at the site of the anomaly to return. The vessels drifting in the middle of space used hyperspace travel to quickly return to the Bureau.

    "This ended rather uneventfully."

    "So it seems."

    "At least there were no casualties frombat. That¡¯s something to be grateful fo¡ªhuh? Where¡¯s the Knowledge Keeper?"

    "She applied for leave this morning, remember?"

    "Ah, yes. She mentioned heading down to Berzan-02?"

    The captain sighed with a touch of regret. Charas, apart from her position, was an attractive woman. He had hoped to build a better rapport with her but ended up missing the chance to even hold a conversation.

    "You should¡¯ve spoken to her earlier."

    "How could I, in the middle of a mission?"

    "Disappearing as soon as we return to the Oversight Bureau... perhaps she has someone waiting for her."

    "Are you looking to be reassigned to some deste outpost?"

    While joking with the crew, the captain thought to himself, ''Tch. I''ll just talk to her when she gets back.''

    He considered starting a conversation with Charas about Berzan-02, using it as a pretext to break the ice, as he and his subordinates disembarked from the ship.

    "I hear several gunners have also applied for leave."

    "Really? Maybe I should check out Berzan-02 myself."

    As the crew exchanged idle chatter, a small personal spacecraft approached their ship. The triangr craft pulled close to the side of the battleship, staying for only about a minute before departing.

    Few noticed this unusual proximity. Even fewer saw the shadowy figure that clung to the personal ship as it took off.

    The spacecraft joined the flow of hundreds of other vessels flying through the massive architectural construct of the Oversight Bureau. Among the many ships crisscrossing the internal pathways, the triangr ship eventually broke away from the main formation.

    Other ships also left the procession, but most aimed for other sectors, not the exterior.

    At arge gate located on one side of the outer wall, personal vessels queued for inspection before being allowed to exit. One by one, the inspections werepleted, until it was the triangr craft''s turn.

    ?Knowledge Keeper Charas??

    "That¡¯s correct."

    ?Your stated destination is Berzan-02. What is the purpose of your visit??

    "Vacation."

    ?Do you have anypanions??

    "I am traveling alone."

    ?For visits to Berzan-02, internal inspection protocols are required. Please cooperate.?

    "Hold on. My ship and my destination were reported to the Oversight Bureau earlier this morning, and I was granted clearance. Please verify."

    The voice on the other end of them fell silent. A few momentster, it returned.

    ?Verified. Thank you for your cooperation.?

    "I appreciate your understanding."

    Charas passed through the gate and exited the Oversight Bureau. In the distance, a faintly reddish appeared before her eyes¡ªher destination, Berzan-02.

    The ship elerated steadily toward the. Though she couldn¡¯t see them, countless turrets on the¡¯s surface tracked her vessel.

    But with official clearance from the Bureau, no harm woulde to her.

    As her ship pierced the atmosphere, the view beyond the reinforced ss canopy transformed. A crimson expanse ofnd stretched out, broken only by an endless forest of towering buildings.

    It was a breathtaking sight, yet her expression remained unchanged. From the moment she left the Bureau, her face had been devoid of emotion¡ªa nk stare betraying no feelings.

    Her hands, however, moved deftly, preparing fornding. The ship touched down at a small airfield far from the city¡¯s dense cluster of skyscrapers.

    "We¡¯ve arrived," she announced.

    She was the only Cult member aboard this ship¡ªexcluding a certain ''non-Cult entity.''

    Behind her, a grotesque maw loomed into view. It belonged to "it."

    "So this is Berzan-02," it said in a disturbingly ordinary human voice.

    Charas knew what ¡°it,¡± the ''Three-Headed Demon'' she had brought along, would bring to Berzan-02.

    It was ruin. Just as it had been in the sanctuaries of the past.

    ?Been a while since I¡¯ve been here,? it said.

    "High temperatures detected," another voice remarked from the back of the ship.

    Entities brought along by the demon approached the cockpit where Charas sat, their presence unmistakably alien and foreboding.

    A female wolf with the head of a bird of prey, and a horrific monster with a human head adorned with metalponents and dangling legs.

    Despite her concerns, the three-headed demon and its minions managed tond on Berzan 02.

    ?Now, all we need are the little ones.?

    The demon grinned, flicking its elongated tongue.

 Chapter 302:

    The homnd of the Cultists is vastly different from Earth¡ªa ce of high temperatures and scarce water, resembling Earth''s deserts. Without their psychic abilities, they could never have built a civilization on such a barren.

    Berzan 02''s environment bears a strong resemnce to their homnd. Endless red sands and rocky terrain, asionally interrupted by glimmers of blue oases¡ªfeaturesmonly seen on the Cultists'' homeworld.

    Just as their ancestors built an empire upon the sand, their descendants constructed sprawling cities atop the crimson earth.

    A forest of buildings stretches across the vast desert. The pale ivory structures reflect the light of the sands, casting a reddish hue.

    It has been a day since we arrived here, with the help of a new underling.

    The day I infected Knowledge Keeper Charas, I sent the information we had gathered from her and the ship to PS-111. Details like which vessel to stow away on to enter Berzan 02 undetected and where that ship was currently located.

    While we spent two days aboard a battleship, they covertly boarded a massive cargo freighter en route to the Aur Star System.

    Since Adhai, the fastest among us, carried PS-111 and 26, boarding the freighter was not difficult.

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t entirely smooth. PS-111¡¯s size nearly got it caught on radar during boarding, but ording to it, 26¡¯s quick thinking saved the day.Anyway, their freighter arrives today. For now, I¡¯m waiting at the port district with Charas.

    ¡°It¡¯s here,¡± said Charas, seated in the cockpit of her personal spacecraft.

    Through the reinforced ss at the ship''s front, we watched a massive vesselnd. Its gray exterior and long, rectangr design were crude but functional¡ªa cargo ship formerly used by StarUnion forbor supply.

    Berzan 02 is one of thergest ve markets in the Cultist Empire. Forbor suppliers, there¡¯s no better ce to source cyborg materials.

    Somewhere within that colossal ship, they¡¯re hiding.

    When the ship¡¯s doors opened, cyborgs disembarked. They didn¡¯t seem to be unloading cargo, but when the ship departs, it¡¯ll likely be filled with cryo-containers packed with humans and other species.

    ¡°What¡¯s the n?¡±

    ¡°We wait.¡±

    Though the cyborgs had disembarked, too many eyes were still watching. I waited for the area to clear.

    ¡®This should do.¡¯

    After about three hours, the number of Cultists and outsiders in the vicinity dwindled significantly.

    ¡°Get ready.¡±

    Following mymand, Charas maneuvered her ship close to the freighter¡¯s side, as nned. As we approached, a side hatch on the freighter opened, as if on cue.

    In response, the rear hatch of our ship opened swiftly. As the two openings aligned, three familiar silhouettes emerged.

    They quickly boarded Charas¡¯ spacecraft, and she wasted no time elerating out of the port.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ (Good job, all three of you.)]

    ¡°An error of approximately two seconds urred but remained within eptable parameters. No significant issues arose.¡±

    ?Little Big One!?

    ?Big One??Why??did you get smaller??

    Reunited after a few days, they were just as lively as ever.

    26, having shrunk itself, perched atop my head, while Adhai prodded my thick fur with her forepaws.

    ¡°So, where to next?¡±

    Charas, piloting the spacecraft, turned to ask me.

    She showed no sign of unease despite sharing her ship with four monsters. Perhaps the surreal nature of her reality had convinced her this was all a vivid nightmare.

    At her question, I looked toward PS-111. Its red-lensed eyes flickered as it processed iing data from the MPS-05 it was synchronized with.

    ¡°¡®Mid-One¡¯ has secured a hiding spot and is waiting for us there, It said.¡±

    While I waited at the port, the Mother of the Sky and MPS-05 had gone ahead to scout for a ce where I could stay hidden.

    The effect of ¡®Clever Weakling¡¯sts seven days, and three days had already passed. In four more days, my body would revert to itsrger form.

    ¡®There¡¯s a chance we won¡¯t find 22nd in time.¡¯

    Even if we knew themunicator''s location, there was no guarantee 22nd would be near it. Searching the entire could be necessary.

    In anticipation of such dys, I had asked her to prepare a hideout in advance.

    [ZZZZ ZZZZZ (Guide Charas.)]

    PS-111 responded to my words, crawling toward the cockpit. The sight of a seven-meter-long humanoid-faced spider, excluding its tail, made Charas flinch despite herposure.

    ¡°To the old hover-bus center on Glory Street,¡± it said.

    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±

    Our spacecraft flew past countless buildings, heading toward the destination.

    As we progressed, the buildings adorned with reddish hues became sparse, reced by ominous-looking structures.

    ¡®So that¡¯s why they chose Glory Street...¡¯

    I was familiar with Glory Street¡ªa district on the outskirts of the city, notorious for its proximity to a major ve market and its frequent Cultist visitors.

    But what I saw through the reinforced ss bore no resemnce to anything glorious.

    ¡®It¡¯s fallen into ruin.¡¯

    The once-bustling ve market was nowhere in sight. The area was littered with buildings half-buried in sand, a testament to its decline.

    Charasnded the spacecraft in front of arge structure resembling an inverted triangle. The building looked entirely neglected.

    From inside, the Mother of the Sky emerged, in her beast-like form, walking out to greet us.

    [ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (Impressive that you found a ce like this.)]

    ?Because it¡¯s ¡®a ce like this,¡¯ it was cheap, wasn¡¯t it??

    [ZZZ (Fair point.)]

    ?Originally, this hover-bus center was built with the ve market in mind. But when arger market was established elsewhere, the area declined, and the center was abandoned.?

    She was right. On our way here, we hadn¡¯t seen any other ships or Cultists around.

    ?Oh, and the broker told me an interesting story.?

    [ZZZZ ZZ (Interesting story?)]

    ?It¡¯s better if you see it for yourself.?

    Her amber eyes, reflecting a deeper hue under the reddish light, curved like crescent moons as she gave a sly smile. She led us inside without further exnation.

    The interior of the hover-bus center was the epitome of destion. Cracked walls revealed rusting steel beams, and sand covered the floor in thickyers.

    ¡®At least it¡¯s spacious.¡¯

    Despite its age, the ce wasrge enough to amodate my full-sized form with room to spare. But it seemed the Mother of the Sky had more to show.

    ¡®Stairs?¡¯

    For a hover-bus center, a connection to an underground area seemed out of ce.

    Following her down, we were greeted by a massive subterranean space and iplete tracks branching in various directions.

    ¡®Now I see why she wanted me to see it myself.¡¯

    It appeared this hover-bus center had been intended to double as a subway facility.

    ?It was never finished, so it isn¡¯t connected to anywhere else. Opposition was too strong, apparently.?

    The Cultists¡¯ homeworld, a desert, has never favored building underground structures. They¡¯ll only construct such things when deemed necessary, like the subway system on the space fortress. But here on Berzan 02, such measures weren¡¯t deemed essential.

    ¡®And even if they built one in a ce like this, no one would use it.¡¯

    I surveyed the half-built underground station.

    ¡®This is perfect.¡¯

    As a hideout, this location had everything we needed. The unconnected tracks were advantageous. If necessary, I could always dig more myself.

    ?And there¡¯s more to see.?

    [ZZ (Hmm?)]

    ¡°I will exin from here,¡± PS-111 interjected, stepping forward.

    As we moved deeper inside, PS-111 reunited with MPS-05. It approached a terminal tucked away in a corner and began operating it. Sparks erupted from the cavernous ceiling, followed by the grating sound of old machinery behind the walls.

    Soon, a decrepit camera projected an image of a several-meter-wide sphere onto the wall.

    ¡®This is... Berzan 02?¡¯

    Over the map of Berzan 02, colorful markers floated sporadically.

    ¡°This is the nned map of hover-bus centers and their surrounding ve markets on Berzan 02,¡± PS-111 said.

    ?Given 22nd¡¯s species, they are most likely disguising themselves as a ve in one of the markets.?

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ Z ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZZZ (So these markers might indicate where they are?)]

    ?Yes, starting from here would be best.?

    22nd belongs to the Coldbloods, a species persecuted by the Empire. Disguising themselves as a ve would be a strategic move, especially on a where the Prophet Order¡¯srgest branch operates.

    ¡®Not a bad start.¡¯

    I leaned closer to examine the map of Berzan 02.

    ¡®They sell creatures at ve markets too.¡¯

    While ve trading is the primary business,rge-scale locations like Berzan 02 also deal in rare creatures on asion.

    ¡®Not quite on the level of Kesha Arma, but still worthwhile.¡¯

    Finding 22nd while simultaneously gathering gic essences seemed like a productive n.

    ---

    A White Room

    In the sterile, white chamber, a woman with ck hair sat on a chair, her head bowed low.

    Behind her stood two indistinct figures, their faces obscured by a haze of ck mist, as if they had been deliberately pixted.

    The faceless figures leaned close to her ears, whispering incessantly. Their murmurs were so persistent that their expressions were almost palpable, despite theck of visible features.

    The room reverberated with a cacophony of whispers, no longer subtle or gentle. It filled the spacepletely, yet the woman remained still, as if oblivious to the oppressive noise.

    Suddenly, she lifted her head.

    Her ck eyes, mirroring the hue of her hair, stared straight ahead.

    The woman spoke.

    ?You must ¡ö¡ö t

    ¡°Gah!¡±

    Si-Hyun Yujin gasped, jolting awake. Her face reflected faintly on the transparent biocapsule wall in front of her.

    Sweat-soaked strands of ck hair clung to her skin, her visage eerily resembling the woman she had seen in her dream.

    ¡®That dream again.¡¯

    Since her resurrection in a cloned body, her dreams had always been the same. She would relive the moment when the unidentified monstrosity that killed "Si-Hyun Yujin" struck her down once more.

    PR/N:- The author referred Si-Hyun as ¡®it¡¯ because this is a clone version of Si-Hyun, so we will also be using ¡®it¡¯ from here onwards.

    No matter what she tried, the nightmares never left her.

    That was, until the day she obtained the artifact on the Gagon¡¯s. Since that day, the dreams of being attacked by the unidentified creature had vanished.

    But in their ce came this dream.

    The dream of two beings whispering endlessly to her.

    At first, their voices were sweet andforting. They seemed to guide her as if she were lost, leading her onto the correct path.

    But at some point, her perception shifted. She began to feel an unease, a revulsion. It wasn¡¯t guidance they offered; it was control.

    Once that thought took root, the pleasant dream turned into a nightmare. Now, she couldn¡¯t sleep unless she was inside the biocapsule.

    "They said there was a mountain beyond the mountain."

    With a brief, self-deprecating murmur, Si-hyun rose from the capsule.

    As the ss walls opened, a cool breeze enveloped its bare body. The cold air from the air conditioning swept away the beads of sweat on its skin.

    When it stepped out of the capsule, the lights gradually activated, casting a natural light across the room.

    The soft glow illuminated a room that exuded both elegance and an exotic atmosphere. The geometric patterns on the walls and ceiling were unlike anything found in Megacorp¡¯s facilities.

    Even in such an unfamiliar space, Si-Hyun walked out of the capsule with ease.

    Though the difort from the nightmare had eased, it didn¡¯t feel like sleeping again anytime soon.

    It picked up the gown and pad left beside the capsule. As always, it decided to start the day earlier than the others.

    ¡®It will be hard to recruit more personnel now. Quality must be considered as much as quantity...¡¯

    While focusing on its tasks, time passed by. But the sound of a knock suddenly broke its concentration.

    "Come in."

    The door, with a vintage design, opened to reveal a creature that resembled a reptilian human base mixed with insect features.

    This was a species notmonly seen in Megacorp, a Coldblood. The creature, smaller than usual Coldbloods, wore a silver ne around its neck.

    "Did you cough, Si-hyun Yujin?"

    "It seems the meeting time has alreadye."

    "Yes. Min-seok Yujin is waiting in the reception room on the first floor."

    "I¡¯ll be there soon. Wait for me. I¡¯ll dress myself."

    "Understood."

    Despite the words, the Coldblood brought Si-Hyun its clothing and offered it. Si-Hyun narrowed its eyes slightly but said nothing.

    It knew why the Coldblood acted like this. The excessive politeness, as though addressing royalty, was because this creature was a ve.

    And such scenes weremon on this ce, Berzan 02.

    After dressing, just before leaving the room, Si-Hyun spoke.

    "Always, thank you."

    The Coldblood only bowed its head in response, offering no verbal reply. It wasn¡¯t expecting one in return, either.

    Once the room¡¯s upant had left, the Coldblood quietly raised its head.

    Its vertical pupils, characteristic of reptiles, reflected Si-Hyun¡¯s retreating figure. Only the creature knew what thoughts ran through its mind.

    After watching Si-Hyun for a moment, the Coldblood resumed cleaning the room, as usual.

 Chapter 303:

    -

    The reception room was adorned with luxurious decorations.

    Around a cult-style table several intelligent beings were seated.

    Most of them were human, but not all. Among them was a man with yak-like horns and another figure entirely encased in a ck, reinforced suit resembling the walkers of the Star Union.

    These individuals of diverse appearances listened intently as a human man holding a pad delivered his report.

    "Thanks to Captain Nern''s connections, we¡¯ve secured a new personnel supply route. We¡¯ve managed to recover 67% of the losses incurred on Jax-01¡­"

    At the head of the table sat a woman with ck hair, Si-hyun Yujin, who reviewed the report on her own pad.

    She had originally never intended toe to Berzan 02.

    After acquiring a relic on the Gagon homeworld, her focus had been on deciphering another record left by Beomho.The relic already in her possession, the ¡®Abyss Destroyer¡¯, had its functions partially understood. There were ounts from witnesses who had seen it in action, making its acquisition rtively straightforward.

    The issuey with the other relic mentioned in the records. Though she had deduced that it was some sort of navigation chart, further details eluded her.

    Moreover, pressing real-world concernsplicated her investigation. She had lost contact with her operatives stationed in the Star Union''s capital, Jax-01.

    ording to intelligence obtained through other channels, the Grand Leader had issued an order to purge spies and subversive elements, not just on Jax-01 but across alls under the Star Union''s jurisdiction.

    As a result, she had lost half of her forces.

    No matter how powerful her weapons were, without sufficient support, they were useless. With no choice, she had set aside her investigation of the relics to focus on rebuilding her forces.

    ¡®I had nned to recruit mercenaries at Kesha Arma¡­¡¯

    Kesha Arma, a space fortress upied by pirates, was an ideal location for recruiting skilled mercenaries, acquiring rare information, or securing gic material from exotic creatures. Even before her death, the original Si-hyunn Yujin had visited the ce multiple times.

    This time, rumors imed the auction would feature rare documents and navigation charts, making it an irresistibly attractive prospect for her.

    But what awaited them near the fortress was nothing. Kesha Arma, intact when the auction began, had vanished entirely.

    Even for someone as experienced as her, the sudden disappearance of a space fortress was unthinkable. She had even considered that Akira Yujin, anticipating her movements, hadid a trap.

    Thus, her n to gather mercenaries and navigation charts had ended in failure.

    While pondering her next move, she was assisted by Nern, a former imperial fleet captain.

    He proposed traveling to Berzan 02 to procure the necessary manpower from its ve market. As an added bonus, his sessor was stationed there and could potentially offer additional aid.

    And so, it had been a month since she arrived on Berzan 02.

    "Securing manpower shouldn¡¯t be too difficult, but the equipment remains an issue," she remarked.

    "That can¡¯t be helped," Nern replied. "Talk of rearmament has been floating around the council, but it won¡¯t happen quickly. Acquiring weapons here won¡¯t be easy."

    Nern, who had allied with Si-hyun under the banner of avenging a monster, continued to offer assistance even after arriving at Berzan 02.

    Si-hyun¡¯s steward, Min-seok Yujin, had initially dismissed Nern as a cultist, but now his attitude had shiftedpletely. While his true feelings remained a mystery, outwardly he showed no opposition to Nern. ?

    As the meeting continued, a short message arrived on Si-hyun¡¯s pad.

    ?I¡¯ll contact the Reformists to secure the necessary supplies. Since they oppose rearmament, they might be willing to sell weapons.?

    The message was from La Chambein, a woman d in a ck life-support suit.

    ¡®¡­The Reformists?¡¯

    Among the Noble Capitals, La¡¯s TNC and Garmelda families were known to frequently interact with cults. Leveraging TNC¡¯s name could make acquiring cultist weapons rtively easy.

    ¡®If only it were that simple.¡¯

    La was officially listed as missing after the fall of TNC¡¯s Special Trade Hub. Should she use the Noble Capital¡¯s name to negotiate with the Reformists, Megacorp would inevitably catch wind of it.

    ¡®And once Akira learns of it, he¡¯ll undoubtedly make his move.¡¯

    In her current weakened state, being pursued by the Megacorp CEO would make escape nearly impossible.

    ¡®Contacting the Reformists might be an option, but I can¡¯t use La.¡¯

    After much deliberation, she finally spoke.

    "I¡¯ll put equipment acquisition on hold until we¡¯ve replenished our personnel. Captain Nern, I¡¯d like to meet your sessor. Is that possible?"

    "Meeting him won¡¯t be difficult. But obtaining weapons through him will be challenging."

    "What about opening another route through him? Perhaps with the Reformists, for instance."

    "Hmm¡­ I¡¯ll have to ask him directly to know for sure."

    "Then we¡¯ll decide what to do after the meeting. That will be all for now."

    The path she chose was to wait.

    ---

    ¡°This street is far more bustling than I expected.¡±

    ?Indeed. It wasn¡¯t this expansive in the game.?

    Overhead stretched a transparent shielding dome, while sleekly designed buildings inspired by geometric shapes lined the sides. The ground beneath their feet was paved with a special material that left no footprints, no matter how many people passed by.

    The exotic atmosphere of the arcade-style street was palpable, with countless intelligent beings bustling about, tending to their own business. Despite being described as an "arcade", the scale of the ce was iparable to anything that once existed on Earth.

    That was because the entire street was housed within a single building.

    Known as the ¡®Street of Radiance¡¯, this location was a bio-dome modeled after traditional arcades. It was designed to shield visitors from the scorching heat and sandstorms of the red desert while providing an optimal environment.

    Now, I was walking through this technologically advanced yet old-fashioned street with the Mother of the Sky.

    Thanks to the ¡®Fur of the Unknown Organism¡¯ and ¡®Mimicry Organ¡¯, no one could discern my true form. Those capable of detecting pheromones would perceive me as a cult member operating as a heavy cannon specialist aboard an elite surveince ship, while cameras wouldn¡¯t register me at all.

    ¡®Without these traits, I wouldn¡¯t have considereding here in the first ce.¡¯

    The reason for my presence here was simple: themunicator of the 22nd-ranked yer had been traced to this area. While its exact location within the buildings remained unclear, I would have to search for it manually.

    "Was this ce always a bio-dome?"

    ?No. It¡¯s newly built. While the Street of Radiance was always famous as a trade hub for equipment, it didn¡¯t have facilities like this.?

    "Really?"

    ?Yeah. That¡¯s because you crashed an imperial carrier into this ce, taking out two equipment manufacturing ns in the process.?

    Her snarky tone triggered my memory.

    Just before engaging in an all-out war with the Cult, I had invaded Berzan 02.

    Back then, Berzan 02 was renowned as an impregnable fortress world, making it a difficult target, even for a fully matured version of me. To ovee its defenses, I had exploited the enemy¡¯s offensive capabilities against them¡ªluring imperial carriers into the and causing them to crash, thereby breaking through the defensive lines.

    The yers defending the hadn¡¯t expected me to use imperial carriers as projectiles, and they were ill-prepared to counter the strategy. Many were killed in the collisions, and the survivors were picked off one by one.

    "Since this ce is crucial to the Empire, I had to neutralize it to avoid future headaches."

    ?I suppose so. Berzan 02 is one of the Empire¡¯s top five bustlings. Even the High Priest asionally visits.?

    "From what I know, this wasn¡¯t your base of operations, so how do you know so much about it?"

    ?One of the ns here used to supply my equipment¡ªbefore you wiped them out.?

    "¡­Well, I¡¯ve got no excuses for that."

    I¡¯d heard that numerous high-ranking yers suffered significant losses due to the copse of Berzan 02. Judging by her tone, the Mother of the Sky was likely one of them.

    We continued our idle chatter as we made our way into the district where ves were predominantly traded.

    The scenery didn¡¯t change much upon entering the ve market. The goods for sale were all stored inside the shops, leaving the street itself rtively unremarkable. However, each building had advertisements showcasing the wares they offered.

    Some billboards detailed the specifications and physical traits of the ves on sale, while others listed the rare creatures avable for purchase.

    Aside from the billboards, one notable feature of this area was the abundance of individuals wearing silver cors.

    The silver cors were a clear indication of very. Each cor contained a code on the inside to identify the ve''s owner.

    While such conditions were arguably better than being at the mercy of a Megacorp that casually disposed of its workers or treated them as experimental subjects, the fates of ves varied greatly depending on the character of their owners.

    For instance, Jason¡ªnow reduced to the form of a parasitic worm in my body¡ªhad, in life, treated female ves as little more than sexual ythings.

    The ves on the street bustled about, fulfilling their masters'' orders with mechanical efficiency.

    ¡®This scale is staggering.¡¯

    A nce at the billboards revealed that while ves dominated the market, biological trading was equally robust. The sheer quantity of creatures in Kesha Arma''s underground storage might have been greater, but in terms of diversity, this ce was unmatched.

    ¡®I might be able to find traits here that I can pass on to the others.¡¯

    Even with a cursory nce, I spotted several creatures possessing useful traits.

    ¡®I need someone familiar with this market.¡¯

    Searching every corner for suitable prey would be time-consuming and cumbersome, especially given the need to maintain a low profile. Unlike before, I couldn¡¯t simply tear through shops in a frenzy.

    It would be far more efficient to manipte a local, as I had done with smugglers in the T&C Special Trade Hub, and have them bring the prey to me.

    ?That shop looks big. Should we check there first??

    ¡°Good idea.¡±

    The Mother of the Sky and I entered an imposing building that stood out for its sheer size.

    The luxurious front entrance led to a reception area where an insectoid clerk greeted us.

    "Wee to our establishment¡­ ah, excuse me."

    The silver-cored clerk sneezed abruptly, likely reacting to the pheromones emitted by my Mimicry Organ.

    Naturally, being an insectoid sensitive to pheromones, he couldn¡¯t resist the organ''s effects. To his senses, I would appear as a heavy cannon specialist aboard a cult battleship.

    Embarrassed, the clerk nervously rubbed his antennae before continuing.

    "Wee to our store. Is there anything in particr you¡¯re looking for?"

    ¡°I¡¯d like some information on cold-blooded creatures.¡±

    "Please wait a moment."

    As the insectoid examined the list of avable ves and creatures, someone approached the desk.

    "Hey, you."

    "Hmm?"

    I assumed they were addressing the clerk, but the voice was directed at me.

    The speaker was a wolf-headed figure in a suit-like outfit, resembling a humanoid leopard.

    "How much for that ve?"

    "ve? What are you talking about?"

    "The female next to you. She¡¯s naked, so she must be a ve. Are you here to sell her?"

    It took me a moment to grasp what the wolf-headed figure meant.

    "¡­She¡¯s not a ve. She¡¯s part of my tribe and not for sale."

    "Ridiculous. Primitive folk making it all the way to Berzan 02? And naked, no less? Don¡¯t lie to me when you¡¯re clearly using her as a pack mule."

    He pointed at the backpack the Mother of the Sky was carrying.

    The Mother of the Sky, now realizing she had been mistaken for a ve, silently began reaching for the spear tucked into the pack.

    ¡°Hold.¡±

    ?...?

    She froze at mymand.

    Her entire body bristled with anger, her fur standing on end. I hadn¡¯t seen her this enraged since the judgment of Muriel.

    "I will say this only once more. She is my friend, not a ve. She is not for sale to anyone."

    "My master is willing to pay a price beyond your imagination."

    ¡°Leave.¡±

    "¡­Tsk. Fool. You''ll regret this."

    The leopard-headed wolf clicked his tongue and retreated as I firmly stood my ground. He moved toward a Cult man adorned in luxurious traditional robes, whispering something to him.

    ¡®This is a first.¡¯

    In all my time, whether in games or this world, few had dared to act so arrogantly before me. After I became a ranked yer, it simply didn¡¯t happen. Rather than feeling anger, I found the situation oddly refreshing.

    ?¡­That bastard.?

    Of course, the Mother of the Sky, having been openly treated as a ve, was furious.

    Her amber eyes, now cold as ice, followed the Cult man and the leopard-headed wolf as they left the shop. If I hadn¡¯t stopped her, there was no doubt she would¡¯ve put a hole in the wolf''s head.

    At that moment, the insectoid clerk handed me a small tablet.

    "You can check the transaction history for cold-blooded ves here."

    "Thank you."

    I scanned the list the clerk provided.

    ¡®Not as many as I expected.¡¯

    It seemed this shop didn¡¯t specialize in cold-blooded ves, as their inventory was sparse. The transaction history at the end of the list confirmed the low volume of sales.

    After reviewing the list, I handed the tablet to the Mother of the Sky. Still simmering with anger, she swiftly went through the entries.

    ?They¡¯re not here.?

    ¡°Are you certain?¡±

    ?Yes. That child is much smaller than most cold-blooded ones. Even if they¡¯re fully grown by now, they¡¯d still be small.?

    She had checked the names and profiles in the transaction history but ultimately shook her head. This shop was a dead end.

    I returned the tablet to the clerk and asked, "Where can I find the shops that deal the most in cold-blooded ves?"

    "In this district, there are only three shops, including ours. If you¡¯re looking for a specialty store, you¡¯d need to visit another city."

    "What are the names of these other shops?"

    "One is nearby. Just enter the building across from here. The issue lies with the other shop¡­"

    The insectoid clerk hesitated, ncing at me nervously.

    "What¡¯s the problem?"

    "Well¡­ the owner of that ve you were just speaking with also deals in cold-blooded ves."

    "Ah, I see."

    "They have thergest inventory in this district. However, as you might have noticed, they are quite¡­ difficult to deal with."

    It was clear the clerk had witnessed the earlier exchange and understood that rtions with the leopard-headed wolf¡¯s master were already strained.

    ¡®Not that it matters.¡¯

    "Just give me the name and location. I¡¯ll handle the rest."

    "Understood."

    The one who managed thergest inventory in the district¡­

    I couldn¡¯t resist the thought of meeting them. Even if they weren¡¯t willing, I would make sure our paths crossed.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 304

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

    [Proofreader ¨C Draxx]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Chapter 304

    The Cult master and the leopard-headed wolf who gave me this refreshing experience...

    From what even the insectoid clerk knew, this Cult master seemed to be quite a prominent figure in the area. Considering the crowd and prying eyes in this busy district,unching an immediate attack wasn¡¯t ideal.

    That¡¯s why I nned a more intimate conversation with themter tonight.

    In the meantime, I visited the other shop the insectoid clerk had rmended. Unfortunately, there were no traces of the 22nd-ranked Coldblood.

    ¡®They might not be in this city.¡¯

    It was unlikely that the 22nd had left Verzan-02. Escaping this heavily monitored undetected wouldn¡¯t be easy. Not to mention, a failed escape could put them directly in the hands of Jason and the ruling faction.

    That meant they were somewhere on this. However, whether they were in this district¡ªor this city¡ªwas another question entirely.

    ¡®I expected this to be a long game.¡¯

    That¡¯s precisely why I had already prepared a hideout. There was no need to rush now.

    "Let¡¯s head back for now."

    ?Wait.?

    As I was about to return to the hideout and prepare for tonight, the Mother of the Sky stopped me.

    "What is it?"

    ?I need to buy some clothes.?

    "Because of him?"

    ?Partly. But also because staying like this is going to cause problems.?

    She scratched her beak irritably.

    In truth, the Cult master¡¯s behavior was an outlier. ves were identified by the silver cors around their necks, not theirck of clothing.

    Besides, her ck wave-like tattoos were clear indicators of her origin. To most, she looked like a free member of the Wolf tribe.

    ¡®Still¡­¡¯

    The Cult were prideful and unyielding in their beliefs. To them, the Mother of the Sky likely seemed savage and uncivilized. While few would act as tantly as that Cult master, the possibility of simr awkward encounters wasn¡¯t zero.

    ?While we''re here, I¡¯d better wear something. I don¡¯t want to deal with pests like him again.?

    "I¡¯m not wearing anything either."

    ?Don¡¯t be stupid. Thanks to your mimicry, you look like a normal Cult.?

    "Just joking. Let¡¯s shop around a bit more, then."

    Leaving the ve market behind, I apanied her to a clothing shop. There, we picked out a robe resembling the st often worn by high-ranking Cult women. It was an outfit typically reserved for noblewomen when venturing outside, ensuring no one would dare look down on her again.

    ?¡­It feels strange to wear clothes again.?

    She fidgeted, unustomed to the feel of fabric enveloping her body.

    The Mother of the Sky, who had exuded the aura of a beastly warrior, now radiated a different kind of allure. The soft fabric entuated her hidden physique, highlighting her athletic frame and the natural curves of her figure.

    "You look great. It suits you."

    ?Hmph, it''ll just rip the moment I transform.?

    "Then you¡¯d better take it off before transforming."

    ?In the middle of battle? Would you do that??

    Though she grumbled, her amber eyes softened slightly. She wasn¡¯t used to wearing clothes again, but she didn¡¯t seem to dislike them either.

    With her new outfit, we returned to the hideout where Charas was waiting.

    ---

    "Master, I¡¯ve discovered where that individual went."

    In one of the rooms of a luxurious mansion, the leopard-headed wolf concluded his call and reported to a young Cult man.

    The silver-haired man with yak-like horns was named Alqadi.

    Alqadi, captain of Verzan-02''s Defender-ss imperial carrier, and the man known as thergest ve owner in the Light''s Quarter, was no stranger to notoriety.

    As the older brother of Alsas, a captain of an imperial mothership, Alqadi enjoyed wealth and influence that made him a household name in this district. Even within Verzan-02''s political circles, his power was difficult to ignore.

    However, among the Cult nobility, his reputation was far less favorable,rgely due to his peculiar hobby: an obsessive fixation on collecting ves.

    Alqadi''s collection spanned the spectrum¡ªves of extraordinary beauty, immensebat prowess, or remarkable intelligence. He even went so far as to target ves with existing masters, determined to acquire them at any cost.

    While owning ves was a personal liberty in Cult society, Alqadi¡¯s actions crossed a line, especially in the eyes of the conservative nobility. His behavior was so extreme that even his politically gifted brother, a key advisor to the Reformist faction, had once pleaded with him to stop.

    For a while, Alqadi had restrained himself¡ªuntil today, when he encountered a peculiar individual in a local shop.

    ---

    "As you suspected, the man is not a gunner. He¡¯s staying at the ruins of a hover-bus station," the leopard-headed wolf reported.

    "Just as I thought."

    Alqadi nodded triumphantly, a smug grin on his face.

    ¡®No soldier on this wouldn¡¯t recognize me.¡¯

    As the brother of Verzan-02¡¯s imperial carrier captain, Alqadi couldn¡¯t imagine a warrior who didn¡¯t know of him, especially not a gunner.

    What¡¯s more, Alqadi had a secret weapon¡ªan inconspicuous bracelet gifted to him by his brother, who had feared assassination attempts from political rivals. This bracelet alerted its wearer to nearby hidden threats, though it didn¡¯t specify their nature or identity.

    The bracelet had gged the suspicious gunner in question, someone who had failed to recognize Alqadi¡¯s face. That alone confirmed the individual wasn¡¯t normal¡ªperhaps even a member of the Vortex Cult, the Empire''s insidious enemy.

    And if that were the case, would it not be perfectly justified to take the beautiful wolf ve apanying him?

    "Tonight, I¡¯ll send warriors to his location," the leopard-headed wolf continued.

    "Good. Don¡¯t kill the master; bring him to me instead. If he¡¯s truly a Vortex infiltrator, we¡¯ll hand him over to the Prophets¡¯ Council."

    "Understood."

    "Oh, and about that wolf... Make sure she remains unharmed."

    Alqadi¡¯s eyes gleamed with a disturbing hunger as he recalled the wolf. He had seen countless wolf ves before, but none as radiant and striking as the one apanying the stranger.

    Her golden fur shimmered like polished novametal, her finely honed muscles wove together like strands of tempered steel, and her eyes gleamed like miniature suns.

    There wasn¡¯t a single ordinary feature about her. Alqadi could only imagine the ecstasy of sharing his bed with such a magnificent creature.

    As Alqadi reveled in his fantasies, the leopard-headed wolf, now serious, added, "Master, she seems highly skilled. If I don¡¯t join the operation, the casualties could be significant."

    "You think she¡¯s that strong?"

    The leopard-headed wolf was Alqadi¡¯s most formidable warrior. For even him to express caution spoke volumes about the wolf¡¯s abilities.

    "A strong and beautiful diatrix, you say? That makes her even more desirable. Go personally and handle it," Alqadi ordered.

    "Yes, master."

    Once the leopard-headed wolf left, Alqadi summoned several of his other ves. Even as they attended to him, his thoughts remained fixated on the golden-furred wolf.

    ---

    Time passed, and night fell on Verzan-02.

    However, night here was merely a rtive term. The twin suns of the Aur Star System meant that Verzan-02 rarely experienced true darkness.

    Of the two suns, one was brighter and more prominent; the other was dimmer, casting a subdued glow. The Cult defined day by the presence of the brighter sun and night by the appearance of the dimmer one.

    This "night", bathed in faint sunlight, was the backdrop for what was toe.

    It is now the time when the Dark Sun, the Companion Star, rises.

    ¡®Should I get going?¡¯

    The Cult, much like humans, is a creature that requires sleep to survive. At night, they retreat to their homes for rest. By now, the Cult owner I¡¯ve been targeting should either be preparing to leave their shop or already heading home.

    ?Where are you going, Little One??

    [ZZZ ZZ (I have some business)]

    ?Business?? ?What kind of business??

    Adhai, who had been enjoying a sand bath buried in the ground, raised her head.

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (I spotted some prey earlier today)]

    ?When youe back,? ?bring us,? ?a gift.?

    ?Yes, I want a gift too! Just like the one the Little One gave!?

    [ZZZZ (If possible)]

    Earlier today, when the Mother of the Sky arrived dressed in garments, these creatures showed an unexpected amount of interest.

    From Adhai, who mocked the poor aesthetics of the ¡°dwarf clothes¡±, to Number 26, demanding to know why it didn¡¯t get one, and even PS-111, who had observed everything through the MPS-05 in my pack and was now requesting improved gic material.

    ¡®I don¡¯t even know why that one joined in.¡¯

    Faced with the yfulints of a Sea Demon and a Gagon, I promised them gifts.

    ¡®I was nning to transnt some traits after acquiring new ones anyway.

    The reason I¡¯m heading out now isn¡¯t unrted to that. If I bring back good traits, they¡¯ll be pleased.¡¯

    [ZZ ZZ (Alright, I¡¯m heading out)]

    "Take care. Please, take care!"

    I grabbed the MPS-05 and stepped outside.

    Beyond the entrancey the Ruby-Encased Sand Kingdom.

    The dim light reflected off the crimson sand, casting the entire world in a deep cherry hue. Even though I had seen this sight a few times in a game, witnessing it in reality felt entirely different.

    ¡®In the game, it felt eerie.¡¯

    Some yers disliked how the world became entirely drenched in red at night.

    Yet, the scene before me now was breathtakingly beautiful despite its unsettling atmosphere. A destructive beauty. That was the night of Verzan-02.

    I dashed through the crimson sand-covered streets. My shelter quickly receded into the distance, and all around me were buildings buried in sand.

    While my four legs worked tirelessly, the Sensory Organ beneath my jaw scanned for any sign of movement in the buildings.

    With the shift in the sun, the temperature of the streets had plummeted to levels iparable to the daytime heat. Unless, like Adhai, one was buried in the sand, wandering these abandoned streets was far from wise.

    As expected, I didn¡¯t detect any signs of life within the buildings.

    ¡®No one here... huh?¡¯

    Just as I felt reassured, the Sensory Organ caught something. A group was heading in my direction.

    I buried myself in the sand alongside the MPS-05.

    Momentster, suspicious figures appeared, their faces concealed. d in reinforced suits and armed with various weapons, they passed right by the sand where I was hidden.

    Once they were far enough to be out of sight, I emerged from the sand.

    I could recognize them even with their faces covered. Leading the group was the leopard-headed Wolf I had encountered during the day.

    They were heading straight toward my shelter.

    ¡®Hah.¡¯

    It was obvious what these heavily armed ves were after. Their master hadn¡¯t given up on the Mother of the Sky.

    ¡®So, that¡¯s how you want to y it?¡¯

    The novelty of this situation wore off after a while. Watching their actions filled me with displeasure.

    No, it made me furious.

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Tell the others prey ising)]

    ¡°Confirmed. Enemy. Confirmed!¡±

    [ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Leave one alive. We need to know where their master is.)]

    "One. Leave alive."

    Issuing themand to PS-111 through the MPS-05, I sprinted back toward the luminous streets.

    There was no need to return to the shelter. The ones heading there would be annihted by the others. I only needed to extract their master¡¯s location and act swiftly.

    ¡®I¡¯m curious just how extraordinary this individual thinks they are.¡¯

    It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve felt such intense displeasure.

    Let¡¯s see if they¡¯ll continue this charade once they¡¯ve faced me directly.

    If they still dare behave like this, even with parasites burrowing into their mind¡­

    Before today ends, they will pay the price for their actions.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

    [Proofreader ¨C Draxx]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter: 305

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

    [Proofreader ¨C Draxx]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Chapter 305

    -

    "No movement detected inside."

    "No movement? There should be at least two of them."

    "It''s possible there''s a jamming device inside. Detection isn''t functioning properly."

    "Have you checked with the energy detection mode?"

    "There''s a faint trace of psychic energying from the underground, but it''s unclear."

    In front of the hover-bus station, 12 individuals d in Megacorp made advanced exosuits and were having a suspicious conversation.

    "A jamming device? I had my suspicions, and it seems I was right."

    "Could they be cultists?"

    "Even if they aren''t, we need to make them look like cultists. That''s the only way we can seize the ves."

    Within the Empire, cultists belonging to the Vortex One sect were met with severe punishment, regardless of their rank. Even the Staghorn Cult faced the loss of all rights and the severing of their horns if dered heretical.Naturally, their assets were also confiscated.

    The Leopard-Headed Wolf often conducted illegal activities like this for its master, Arkadi. Framing rival cults as heretics was a crime even graver than actual cult activities, yet the Wolf had never been caught.

    Partly thanks to Arkadi''s power, but also due to the Wolf¡¯s meticulous methods.

    For instance, the Wolf ensured that no cultist equipment was ever used during illegal operations.

    Instead, they relied onmonly avable gear from Megacorp or Star Union. This gave the appearance that external troublemakers were responsible.

    Even now, none of the equipment carried by those present was of cultist origin. The exosuits and weapons were from Megacorp, while themunication and detection devices were from Star Union.

    "Activate stealth mode."

    "Confirmed."

    "Checkmunication status."

    ?Communication is stable.?

    With a press of their exosuit pads, the bodies of the Leopard-Headed Wolf and its subordinates began to vanish. Nine faint red shadows moved toward the hover-bus station, while the remaining three stayed behind for sniping and support.

    The nine entered the station cautiously. Inside, they found nothing but sand. Not only was the floor covered in sand, but the cracked, untended walls made it clear that no one could possibly live here.

    If not for the footprints on the ground, they might have believed they hade to the wrong ce.

    "These footprints... Wolf, it¡¯s clear they¡¯re here."

    Facing off with a female Wolf, the Leopard-Headed Wolf quickly identified the trail.

    "Wait, what are these marks?"

    In addition to cultist and Wolf footprints, there were other unusual traces:

    Tracks as if a round object had dragged itself across, and tiny footprints resembling those of small spiders¡ªmarks not often seen.

    "These look like animal tracks."

    "They could be escaped animals from the market. Stay close; you never know when they¡¯ll show up."

    At the Wolf''smand, the others regrouped. But as the Leopard-Headed Wolf counted his allies, something felt off.

    ''Eight?''

    Nine had entered, but including himself, only eight were present now. The others began noticing the missingpanion and grew uneasy.

    "He was right behind us just moments ago!"

    The Leopard-Headed Wolf tried tomunicate but received no response. Even contacting the two snipers stationed outside the building yielded nothing.

    ''They couldn¡¯t have been taken out in such a short time.''

    "Where did youst see him?"

    "Over there!"

    Following the indicated direction, they approached arge pile of sand in a corner. Amidst the heap, they found a discarded gauss rifle.

    ''No other traces¡­ Wait.''

    The Leopard-Headed Wolf noticed a strange disturbance in the sand. Then, from behind them, came the sound of shifting grains. All eight heads turned at once.

    From the red sands rose a serpent, massive and coiled. It resembled a desert predator, the Redworm, but its lighter pinkish skin marked it as something else entirely.

    Its many glinting eyes locked onto them, and the Leopard-Headed Wolf instinctively knew¡ªRun.

    The moment he moved, dozens of serpentine heads erupted from the sand. Those who failed to react in time were seized and dragged beneath the surface.

    There were no screams.

    The serpents acted too quickly, pulling their prey into the sand before a sound could escape. The sight of blood soaking the sand vividly conveyed the ves'' grim fate.

    As five of them met this bloody end, the Leopard-Headed Wolf and two others managed to flee. Two ran deeper inside, while the Wolf headed outside.

    "Snipers! Respond!"

    He yelled into hismunicator, but no answer came. Instead, an ominous pping noise echoed from the blood-red sky above.

    Sometimes close, sometimes distant. He nced upward but saw no sign of wings.

    Suddenly, a loud tearing sound came from the sand in front of the building. Something had fallen from the sky.

    The Leopard-Headed Wolf¡¯s eyes widened as he recognized the fallen object.

    One of the snipers.

    The body remained intact thanks to the exosuit, but the sniper¡¯s condition was horrifying. Completely desated, as if all blood and moisture had been drained, leaving behind only a mummy-like husk.

    "Damn it!"

    He realized the building waspromised. His legs trembled as he forced himself to run.

    He had to warn his master of the dangers lurking here. With his master''s power, they could summon an army to cleanse this ce of its monsters.

    But the Leopard-Headed Wolf misunderstood one crucial thing.

    Once inside the monsters'' domain, his life was no longer his own. The predators never let their prey escape.

    One of the new rulers of these ruins appeared to block his path.

    Beneath the crimson sky, a golden spear gleamed brightly in the Wolf''s grasp. Her white, hawk-like face was crowned with ck horns resembling a warrior¡¯s helm. Below her head was a body as sturdy as if forged from molten gold.

    They had met earlier that day, but now she exuded apletely different aura. Standing tall with her spear against the sands, she seemed untouchable.

    Without hesitation, the Leopard-Headed Wolf aimed his gauss rifle at her.

    As his finger squeezed the trigger, she moved. The tungsten round barely missed her head.

    ''She dodged?''

    He was cloaked in a stealth-enhanced exosuit. Unless she had a specialized detection device, there was no way she could see him.

    The battle had already begun. As he hesitated, she rapidly closed the gap.

    A second round left his rifle, aimed straight for her chest. At this range, dodging would be impossible.

    The enemy''s hand, gripping a spear, moved like lightning. A golden sh of electricity sliced through the iing bullet. The split bullet whizzed past her and buried itself in the sand.

    "What?!"

    The man gaped in disbelief at the sight before him. The spear that had cut through the bullet was now thrusting toward his throat. He frantically raised his Gauss rifle to block, but his opponent was overwhelmingly faster.

    "Ku... kuh¡­"

    A thin stream of blood sttered onto the sand. A small hole had formed in the reinforced armor protecting his neck.

    The leopard-headed wolf dropped his rifle and clutched at the wound, but it was futile. His life drained away as rapidly as water rushing through a breached dam.

    ?What did you call me? A mere female ve??

    Had he been enved for so long that he''d forgotten even the most primal instincts?

    The leopard-headed wolf locked eyes with her furious amber gaze and suddenly recalled a legend he''d heard as a child from his kin.

    A tale of great gods who had fallen.

    The one standing before him was no ve.

    She was the goddess of the hunt.

    ¡°Damn it! Why did wee this way?!¡±

    ¡°Shit!¡±

    Two ves, hoping to escape through the center to the exit on the opposite side, quickly regretted their choice. Every door was blocked by sand and debris.

    The only open path led underground. With no other options, they reluctantly descended the stairs leading to the lower levels.

    Unlike the floor above, the underground was illuminated.

    The flickering, irregr lights cast eerie shadows on the exposed steel beams and wires of the ceiling and walls, amplifying their unease. The two ves grew more tense with every step.

    A fleeting thought crossed their minds¡ªyet another poor choice¡ªbut it was toote to turn back. Guns raised, they pressed forward cautiously.

    At the bottom of the stairs, they found themselves in a vast cavern. It was an unfinished subterranean space, connected by numerous passageways.

    "There are too many paths. What now?"

    "Let¡¯s keep to the right and¡ª"

    They fell silent simultaneously. Both had heard something from the darkness enveloping the cavern.

    nk, nk. A rhythmic shing of metal.

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    Hands trembling, the ves pressed the buttons on their wrist pads, switching their helmet disys to thermal imaging. Turning toward the source of the noise, they made their third and final mistake.

    Amid the ashen thermalndscape, they spotted something lurking.

    In the center of the cavern crouched a massive spider.

    ¡°Hi¡­ hiiik!¡±

    The short gasp of one of the ves drew its attention. The spider, adorned with the head of a human woman, turned its head a full 180 degrees toward them.

    "Two targets?"

    Its cold, mechanical eyes moved like camera lenses, scanning the intruders.

    "One will be eliminated."

    The monstrous spider, which had been resting in the cavern, began to rise.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the screams echoing from the stairs to fall silent.

    ----

    [ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ (The massive mansion at the end of the street?)]

    ¡°Mansion. Mansion.¡±

    As expected, the cult master¡¯s ves were quickly dealt with. From the lone survivor, PS-111 extracted information, transmitting it to me through MPS-05, revealing the location of their master.

    Perched atop a building, I picked up MPS-05 and began moving toward the cult master''s mansion.

    When entering the "Clever Weakling" state, my body not only shrinks in size but also bes significantly lighter. Combined with the "Stealthy Mobility" effect I acquired from Adhai''s homnd, my footsteps were nearly silent.

    Even as I darted across rooftops on four legs, my long tail swaying behind me, no one below seemed to notice. Even if someone did, they¡¯d likely dismiss me as just another cult soldier stationed above.

    Venturing deeper into the ve market, I saw, in the distance, walls that dwarfed even the buildings around them.

    That must be it.

    As I drew closer, I noticed that the mansion had been partially fortified. Surveince cameras and detection systems adorned the walls, while Star Union-manufactured storm guns monitored from above.

    But none of this matters before me.

    I tensed the muscles in my four legs and powerfully kicked off the rooftop. Like a shell fired from a cannon, I soared swiftly through the air, clearing the wall.

    Beyond the wall, an armed guard came into view. Dressed in reinforced suit armor and a poncho emzoned with an ovepping triangle and rhombus, he was clearly from the cult¡¯s elite ¡°Warrior Corps.¡±

    The patrolling guard failed to notice mending silently behind him.

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    A sound from directly behind him made the warrior react. Before he could turn his head, my tails moved.

    The pincer at the end of my right tail swung and struck his head with tremendous force. The sound of a watermelon bursting echoed as his skull shattered. Before his body could copse, the serpent-like left tail coiled around his torso.

    Using all three of my heads, I quickly devoured the corpse. The cult¡¯s distinctive sweet vor filled my mouth, though there was no time to savor it now.

    The heads on my shoulders ravenously tore into the body, while the central head licked up the blood. Inside me, the Mimicry Organ absorbed the newly acquired gic data and began reconstructing apletely different pheromone profile.

    From this moment forward, I was no longer a bombardier for the Surveince Corps. I was now a guard from the Cult¡¯s Warrior Corps.

    Though my own eyes see no change.

    I strode forward with MPS-05 in hand. Passing through the lush, expansive garden within the walls, I was greeted by a mansion resembling a pyramid.

    Around the mansion were other cult members dressed identically to the guard I had consumed. Ignoring their nces, I approached the building. Some tilted their heads at me but showed no other reaction.

    The guards at the entrance, however, were a different matter. Two cultists blocking the doorway stepped forward to stop me.

    ¡°You¡¯re not assigned to the mansion, are you?¡±

    ¡°They said to inspect the new specimens.¡±

    ¡°Ugh. Get in, then. Quickly.¡±

    The two guards clicked their tongues and opened the door, acting as if this were a routine urrence.

    And so, without any resistance, I entered the mansion.

    Now, where would you be?

    I activated the Auxiliary Organ beneath my jaw to survey the mansion¡¯s interior. Despite thete hour, the ce was bustling with activity¡ªlikely ves and guards.

    So, I searched for the opposite: a ce with little movement. That arrogant master wouldn¡¯t be workingte into the night.

    The Auxiliary Organ began analyzing the mansion¡¯s airflow, sounds, and scents. Soon, it identified a peculiar movement emanating from a single location on the topmost floor.

    Found you.

    Unlike the bustling movements of others, the stillness here was unmistakable¡ªit could only be someone asleep. With my target identified, I stepped into the elevator.

    Upon reaching the top floor, the doors slid open to reveal an ornate doorway, heavily influenced by cult aesthetics. Two armed cult guards stood vignt at their posts.

    ¡°You¡¯re not assigned here, are you?¡±

    ¡°The master wishes to inspect the new specimen,¡± I replied, repeating the same excuse from the entrance.

    This time, their response was different.

    ¡°Alkadi retired to his chambers over an hour ago.¡±

    ¡°And there were no orders about bringing any specimens.¡±

    ¡°Oh, really?¡±

    It would have been better if they¡¯d let it slide. Pity. They made the wrong choice.

    With a swift motion, my right tailshed out, striking one guard, while mybat arm restrained the other before he could call for reinforcements.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    ¡°Gah¡ª?!¡±

    The guard hit by my pincer folded at the waist like a snapped branch, crashing into the wall. The other iled helplessly, his face caught in the crushing grip of mybat arm.

    Even the battle-hardened Warrior Corps were utterly helpless, thanks to my mimicry organ. The pheromones it emitted disrupted their senses, preventing them from perceiving my true form.

    To them, my extra tails, arms, and heads were invisible. From their perspective, attacks like this felt as though they came from nowhere¡ªa phantom assault.

    ¡°Y-you¡­ what are you¡ª?¡±

    I clenched my hand, shattering the cultist¡¯s skull. His horns and cranium crumpled, and the viscous contents within coated my palm.

    With the nuisance dealt with, I opened the door and stepped inside.

    The source of my irritationy oblivious to the chaos outside, peacefully asleep. I set MPS-05 down and crawled onto thevishly adorned bed.

    Sensing my presence, the target stirred, opening his eyes. They widened in shock at the sight of me.

    Before he could react, mybat arm shot out, seizing his head in an unyielding grip.

    ¡°¡­¡­!¡±

    The Cultist¡¯s expression shifted from confusion to terror. Why was a Warrior Corps soldier here? Why couldn¡¯t he move his body?

    I deactivated my mimicry organ, revealing my true form. Leaning close, I whispered into his ear, my voice low and chilling.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you prepared to pay a price beyond your imagination?¡±

    ¡°?!¡±

    His entire body trembled. Was it regret for his actions? Or fear of facing a monster in his once-safe haven?

    It didn¡¯t matter what he felt.

    What mattered was how much he could offer me in exchange for his life.

    Whether he was willing or not was irrelevant.

    He would give me everything.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

    [Proofreader ¨C Draxx]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 306

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

    [Proofreader ¨C Draxx]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Chapter 306

    -

    "I''m sorry to have asked for your time when you must be busy."

    "Haha. Not at all, senior."

    In a formal office, two Cultists sat across from each other at a desk.

    Both bore horns resembling those of a yak, but beyond that, they shared no simrities. The male Cultist, who had the air of a man in his prime years, wore the distinctive uniform of a Megacorp Crisis Management Team. In contrast, the female Cultist seated at the desk wore the traditional purple military uniform of their kind.

    "I should have contacted you sooner. Is the amodation I arranged to your liking?"

    "A suite in the Fortress of Waters? I''ve always heard it was excellent, but the reality exceeded my imagination."

    "For you, and those who saved you, even a reception in the Imperial Pce wouldn''t be too much."

    "Such generous hospitality makes me question if I even deserve it. Truly, thank you, Alshas."

    "Senior! Please, lift your head."

    The Cultist in the Megacorp uniform inclined his head in gratitude, prompting Alshas, the female Cultist, to wave her hand awkwardly, as if embarrassed.

    "When I received your message, Nern, I offered a prayer of gratitude to the Great Providence. For granting me the chance to repay the debt I owe you."

    "Alshas, you..."

    "So please, raise your head."

    At her insistence, Nern reluctantly lifted his gaze.

    Silver hair meticulously groomed, a face radiating mature beauty and poise. As Nern met the eyes of his much younger junior, memories of the past stirred.

    Years ago, Nern and Alshas had served together aboard the same starship.

    At the time, Alshas struggled to adapt to shipboard life, likely due to her youth when she first joined the crew. Without Nern¡¯s repeated interventions against Outspacer threats, she would not have survived to stand where she did now.

    ''That crybaby is now the captain of an Imperial warship.''

    The weeping Cultist who had shed tears after every battle was long gone. Nern nced at the insignia pinned to her right chest.

    A golden diamond enclosing a small circle. Nern himself had been awarded an identical emblem ten years earlier when he became the captain of the Judicator of Damos08.

    Who could have imagined that the once doubtful subordinate would grow tomand The Defender of Berzan02, the Imperial warship guarding this star?

    Though Nern was aware she''d held her captaincy for years, he couldn''t help but feel the swift passage of time.

    "By the way, senior, are you truly not considering returning? The Empire is in chaos, and heroes like you are needed now more than ever."

    "I¡¯ve told you before I won¡¯t return until my vengeance isplete."

    "The Three-Headed Demon, is it? I¡¯ve read the records. Without the Empire¡¯s cooperation, exterminating it is impossible."

    At the mention of the Three-Headed Demon, Nern¡¯s body stiffened involuntarily. The terror of facing that monstrosity remained etched in his being.

    "You know as well as I do the Empire doesn¡¯t have the resources to hunt that creature. Even if they did, the Council would surely oppose it."

    "If I offered my aid¡ª"

    "And risk getting expelled from the Reformists yourself? If that happens, the Empire would crumble entirely."

    "......"

    "Humans they are indeed frail and primitive. But they¡¯re the only key that can help me exact my revenge."

    The organization Nern now served was led by Si-hyun Yujin, who wielded a relic of immense power. The reasons behind her ability to use it were unclear, but such details hardly mattered.

    With her and the relic she controlled, even the Three-Headed Demon could be in.

    "So, it really is because of that relic?"

    "Yes. You remember what I told you."

    "Of course. That terrifying relic saved both of our lives. I never imagined someone else would appear who could wield it. Truly, it was beyond my expectations."

    When the relic had been activated, Alshas was aboard the ship. However, she had been hospitalized at the time and hadn¡¯t witnessed its activation. By the time she learned about the relic, Nern had already hidden it on a distant.

    "Anyway, I came here today because of something rted to that relic."

    "Excuse me?"

    "I need your help to arrange a meeting between Si-hyun Yujin, the relic user, and a Reformist faction senator."

    "A Reformist senator?"

    "Weapons and ships of various kinds are required. The Providence faction is adamant about rearmament and will never release their weapons. However..."

    "You believe the Reformists, who advocate disarmament, will be more cooperative. That¡¯s true, but..."

    Alshas furrowed her brows slightly. Even as the captain of an Imperial warship, it was no small task to persuade senators to sell weapons especially to unknown entities whose potential threat to the Empire could not be dismissed. If someone had made such a suggestion to Nern in the past, he would have rejected it outright.

    Nern, aware of her inner conflict, waited silently for her answer.

    After a brief pause, Alshas let out a short sigh and nodded.

    "How could I refuse an opportunity to repay my debt? Fortunately, someone I consider a mentor is currently here. I¡¯ll speak to him about it."

    "Really?"

    "Yes. He¡¯s a well-connected Megacorp liaison among the Reformists. He should be approachable."

    "Thank you!"

    "If you¡¯re so grateful, why not return to active duty? We have plenty of Imperial warships here."

    "Ahem. By the way, how is your elder brother faring?"

    Nern cleared his throat awkwardly, attempting to steer the conversation away. Alshas smirked faintly at his obvious deflection.

    "Arcadi is the same as ever. As you know, he¡¯s still indulging in his refined hobbies."

    "No need to put it that way. He¡¯s clearly a resourceful individual."

    "You¡¯re the only one who speaks so kindly of my wayward brother, senior."

    Though her tone carried a hint of sarcasm, her expression remained warm.

    As far as Nern remembered, the rtionship between Arcadi and Alshas was unusually amicable for siblings among the Cult, who generally had weak familial bonds.

    "Why not give him a chance this time? A rmendation from you could easily secure him a position as a governor¡¯s aide."

    "Not until he gives up his unsavory hobbies. The senators would never approve."

    "Tsk. Why are there so many who are obsessed with very? That includes that Providence faction figure as well."

    "Ah, the missing youngest priest? I heard all their ves disappeared with them as well."

    With the important discussion concluded, Nern lingered in the room.

    Reunited after so long, they shared stories of recent events, including various incidents across the Empire.

    ---

    ¡®The Fortress of Waters.¡¯

    I savored a delicious chunk of meat while reflecting on what I had observed earlier in the day.

    Last night, I infiltrated Arcadi¡¯s estate and imnted a parasite in him. The man was a figure of considerable renown on this. For that reason, I decided not to use the standard control method but instead opted for one simr to Charas, focusing primarily on physical maniption.

    To the Cultist with thergest collection of ves in the Radiant District, I made two main demands information and merchandise.

    First, I requested the ledger documenting all the ves he had ever sold.

    Even with me standing before him, Arcadi tly refused. He imed it was the foundation of his trade and could never be handed over.

    Of course, in a situation where a parasite had seized portions of his brain and spine, his refusal carried little weight. After inflicting pain on him, I repeated mymand.

    "Bring me the ledger."

    It was only after he vomited out everyst ounce of defiance that heplied. I received a small data chip from him, then inquired about the living specimens he still held.

    If Arcadi had only dealt in ves, he wouldn¡¯t have amassed such wealth. As expected, he possessed numerous creatures, both for sale and as part of his private collection.

    ¡®Rare Apex-tier creatures... I hadn¡¯t anticipated that.¡¯

    It was only natural to demand those creatures as well. I ordered Arcadi to discreetly send them to my hidden location.

    Having already suffered greatly, the man obeyed. He vowed to ensure the deliveries would go unnoticed by others.

    With that, my dealings with him wereplete. I left the aftermath in his hands and returned to my hideout.

    The moment I arrived, I summoned PS-111.

    It had been analyzing the enhanced suits brought by the enemies to upgrade its metallic body. I requested it to analyze Arcadi''s data chip once it finished its current work.

    Though I told it to take its time, PS-111 spent the entire night processing the massive volume of records. By morning, it had filtered out all references to Cold Bloods sold by Arcadi and disyed the results via a hologram at the hover bus center.

    As I reviewed the list, the Mother of the Sky pointed out a suspicious individual.

    Her reasoning waspelling she had encountered the 22nd Rank in person a decade ago. At the time, it was a young Cold Blood. By now, it would have matured into an adult.

    Moreover, the 22nd Rank had been a target of the Dominator faction, including Jason. It was highly likely that it hadpletely disguised its appearance.

    She seems certain of it, at least.

    ording to Arcadi¡¯s records, the Cold Blood suspected to be the 22nd Rank had been handed over to a new master at the Fortress of Waters just two months ago. With so little time passed, it was likely still there.

    The problem is that breaching the Fortress of Waters won¡¯t be easy...

    I chewed on the meat Arcadi had sent as I pondered.

    The Fortress of Waters was effectively the capital of this and home to thergest branch of the Council of Prophets. Its defenses were on an entirely different levelpared to other locations here.

    Furthermore, if there were other yers on Verzan-02 besides the 22nd Rank, they would most likely be at the Fortress of Waters. As the economic hub of the, any Cult yer worth their salt would make it their base of operations.

    ¡®Regardless, breaking through in two days is impossible.¡¯

    The duration of Clever Weakling was only a few days. There was a high chance that my transformation would wear off before I could infiltrate the fortress. Short of waging an all-out war against the city, sneaking in with a body spanning dozens of meters was nearly impossible.

    I hade to this to ask the 22nd Rank about the vision I had seen during my evolution. If it turned hostile toward me, so be it. But until its intentions were clear, I couldn¡¯t justy waste to the city.

    ¡®I¡¯ll need to spend at least 30 days here.¡¯

    And in that time, I had work to do.

    Preparation for infiltration and...

    ?Predation effect activated!?

    ¡®Perfect.¡¯

    When the container sent by Arcadi arrived, I immediately activated the Symbol of Hunt. I needed to acquire the traits of the creatures he had sent.

    The one I just consumed was arval Red Worm. Native to deserts, these carnivorous worms were also known as "Sand Dragons" or "Crimson Serpents."

    Its unique trait was one I was deeply familiar with. I had first acquired it not long after arriving in this world.

    It served me well.

    I had used it extensively before eventually incorporating it as a fusion material. It had proven immensely useful up to now and would continue to be so in the future.

    ?Extracted the biological trait ¡®Mimicry¡¯ from the Red Worm.?

    ?Would you like to apply ¡®Mimicry¡¯??

    Of course. Confirm.¡¯

    The treasure I had first discovered in the cargo hold of a Megacorp research vessel was back in my hands.

    As I integrated the trait into my body, I began contemting the most critical decision.

    I intended to pass this invaluable trait onto one of mypanions. The question was, who would benefit most from it?

    ¡®The simplest choice would be PS-111, of course¡­¡¯

    PS-111¡¯s body was over half machine and could be modified to suit various purposes. Changing its voice or appearance would be no challenge for it.

    ¡®It would be useful, but only to a point.¡¯

    The Mother of the Sky was not a bad choice. Among thepanions, she was the one whose reaction to receiving Mimicry was the most predictable.

    But there¡¯s a sense of hesitation about giving it to her.

    As a member of the Wolf species, she faced no particr hindrance in interacting with others. Using it solely forbat felt like an underutilization of its potential.

    That said, she was the only one among mypanions who truly understood the terrifying potential of Mimicry. She had painfully experienced its effects firsthand in the game. Having witnessed and endured it, she would undoubtedly make good use of it if given the chance.

    Adhai, on the other hand, is out of the question.

    For Gagons, their cluster of tentacles serves as a substitute for a mouth. Even if a Mimicry Organ were imnted in her throat, her oral structure would make producing sound almost impossible.

    In fact, by oral structure alone, Number 26 would face simr limitations. However, there was one critical difference that set it apart.

    It can change its body.

    In the underground storage of the space fortress Kesha Arma, 26 had consumed a creature called a Faceless.

    Faceless creatures possess the ability to alter their bodies at will. Upon inheriting that power, 26 had gained the ability to freely morph the shape of its tentacles¡ªa power I dubbed Mutant Tentacles.

    Granted, that name is one I came up with.

    Still, the Mimicry Organ being a poor fit for its body wouldn¡¯t pose much of an issue for 26. It could simply adapt its tentacles to amodate the new organ.

    Of course, that would mean the results could stray far from my expectations. It might exceed my imagination and prove far more impressive or it could fall short, producing sounds barely worthy of being called a voice.

    So, should I give it to the Mother of the Sky or 26?

    One offered minimal risk and highly predictable oues. Whether for better or worse, her use of it would likely align closely with my expectations.

    The other also came with minimal risk but offeredpletely unpredictable results. They could be astonishingly good or not.

    ¡®...It¡¯s better to give it to 26.¡¯

    After a moment of deliberation, I finally made my decision.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

    [Proofreader ¨C Draxx]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 307

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

    [Proofreader ¨C Draxx]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Chapter 307

    -

    "Arrived."

    "Prepare fornding. I''ll check the condition of the cargo."

    "Sure."

    The transport ship, carrying two ves,nded on the sand. While one of them checked the control panel, the other inspected the container loaded in the back of the vessel.

    "Wee here every day, but I still don''t get why we have to leave this stuff here."

    "Don''t ask questions. It''s the master''s orders. Just focus on your work."

    "Aren''t you curious? Why are we leaving containers in that abandoned building?"

    The human ve in the cockpit pointed toward the reinforced ss at the front. Beyond the ss was a hover-bus terminal, half-buried in the sand.

    For the past three weeks, they had beening to this deserted street every three days to drop off frozen containers filled with living creatures in front of the bus terminal.

    "Hey. Curiosity kills. Just help move the container already."

    "Tch."

    The insectoid ve clicked its sharp mandibles in irritation, signaling the human to get to work. Complying, the human opened the rear hatch of the transport.

    Together, they operated the control panel to prepare the container for unloading.

    The heat outside was extreme, as expected under the midday sun. Even wearing protective suits, the sweat wouldn''t stop dripping.

    Although the transport''s machinery handled the heavy lifting, the scorching winds still hit them as they unloaded the container in front of the bus terminal.

    As they finished, the human ve spoke again.

    "Do you know how much those creatures we''re bringing here are worth?"

    "¡­"

    "I checked. They''re some of the most expensive items sold in the shops. Some of them were even pets the master personally raised."

    "So what?"

    Frustrated by the insectoid''s dismissive attitude, the human continued.

    "Listen by the day after tomorrow, these containers will be empty. Those expensive creatures we brought will be gone. Doesn''t that strike you as strange?"

    "Just get to the point already."

    "I think the master is working with the Cult."

    "The Cult?"

    The insectoid tilted its head in confusion.

    "What nonsense are you spouting?"

    "I''m serious. Others are in chaos because of them."

    "Think about it. Why would someone as rich as the master need to get involved with the Cult?"

    "You never know. Maybe the master''s wealthes from their support. In exchange, he hands over rare creatures."

    "Idiot. The master''s brother is a fleet captain in the Empire. If he tried something like that, he''d get obliterated by a purification beam immediately."

    "Maybe the brother''s in on it too."

    The insectoid''s annoyance grew as the human''s wild theories dragged on. The heat was unbearable, and this pointless chatter only made it worse.

    "If you''re so curious, why don''t you go in and check yourself?"

    "What? Seriously?"

    "Yeah. Go in and hand over the cargo personally."

    Until now, they had only ever left the containers in front of the terminal without checking who picked them up. Their orders were to drop the cargo and return immediately.

    The human hesitated at the suggestion. Actually going in seemed dangerous.

    If the Cult really was inside, there was no telling what might happen. He could end up captured and sacrificed in some bizarre ritual.

    "If you''re not going to do that, then shut up already."

    "¡­Fine. I''ll go in."

    "What?"

    "Wait here."

    "Are you insane? Hey!"

    However, the man¡¯s curiosity outweighed his fear of the Cult, prompting an impulsive decision. Leaving the insectoid ve outside, he stepped through the entrance of the bus terminal.

    Despite it being midday, the interior was shrouded in darkness. Steel beams and pipes were fully exposed along the walls and ceiling, while the floor was covered in sand that had blown in from outside.

    It was the quintessential image of a neglected ruin. It seemed unlikely that anyone lived here.

    "Hey, the cargo¡¯s here!"

    The man called out loudly, unsure if anyone was present. His voice echoed through the empty terminal, bouncing off the walls.

    No reply came.

    ¡®Is this just an intermediary drop-off point?¡¯

    Perhaps this was where the cargo was left for someone else to collect at their convenience. If so, mercenaries hired by criminals might be hiding and watching him even now.

    ¡®Ugh, are we really tangled up with criminals?¡¯

    He wasn¡¯t the type of person who thrived on adventure. Today, for some reason, his curiosity had gotten the better of him, pushing him into uncharacteristic behavior.

    The man began to back away slowly toward the entrance, ready to bolt back to the transport ship at any moment.

    Then, a sound emerged from the darkness.

    "Is the cargo here?"

    "Ahh!"

    Startled, the man froze in ce. The cold sweat running down his back wasn¡¯t just from the heat anymore.

    As he stood there, rooted to the spot, the voice came again.

    "Is the cargo here?"

    ¡®¡­I¡¯ve heard that voice before.¡¯

    The exact same tone, repeated twice in quick session, stirred a memory.

    It resembled the voice of one of the ves who handled the dirty work for his master, Arcadi acts like sabotage against rivals. The familiarity was clear because the speaker, like him, had once been human.

    "Geez, you scared me! If you¡¯re inside, why not just answer?"

    "Sorry!"

    Relieved at the thought of encountering someone familiar, the tension in the man¡¯s body eased.

    It seemed obvious now his master must be orchestrating another scheme. This secluded location was chosen to discreetly gather the cargo, away from prying eyes.

    "Is the cargo here?"

    "Yeah! I left it out front!"

    "Got it!"

    After that confirmation, the terminal returned to silence. Despite the response, no one appeared. There were no signs of movement, as if whoever spoke was still deep inside and busy with other tasks.

    ¡®I guess they¡¯re upied with work back there.¡¯

    Still, the man was curious enough to try again.

    "Hey, you seem pretty busy, huh?"

    "Sorry!"

    "No need to apologize. I just wanted to catch a glimpse of your face."

    "Sorry!"

    The repeated apologies gave the man a strange feeling.

    When people speak, their tone and inflection naturally vary, however slightly. But this voice didn¡¯t. It was exactly the same every time, like a recording yed on a loop.

    "¡­I said I left the cargo. Aren¡¯t you going to check it?"

    "Got it!"

    "¡­¡­."

    That wasn¡¯t the only oddity.

    The ongoing conversation felt off. At first, it seemed like he was speaking with someone he knew, but the longer it went on, the less it felt like he was talking to a person at all.

    Adding to the unease, the voice¡¯s location was strange. The person he remembered¡ªthe ve with that familiar voice wasn¡¯t particrly tall, standing roughly his height at best.

    But now, the voice came from somewhere far above him, at least 5 meters high. Even now, it echoed down from that same height.

    ¡°¡­Gulp. Alright then, I¡¯m leaving now.¡±

    "Got it! Safe travels!"

    The old terminal wasn¡¯t a multi-level structure. The sandy ground was in and exposed to the open, skeletal ceiling.

    So where was the voiceing from?

    No, more importantly, was its owner even human?

    ¡®Come to think of it, that ve¡­¡¯

    He suddenly remembered overhearing that the ve had died carrying out a mission for his master. That was just three weeks ago.

    The memory jolted him to his senses. Instinct screamed louder than reason this ce wasn¡¯t right. Staying here any longer was dangerous.

    Dragging his cold, trembling legs, he forced himself toward the entrance.

    The moment he stepped outside, a voice called after him from behind.

    "Is the cargo here?"

    It was the exact same tone and phrasing as before, marking the fourth time he¡¯d heard it. This time, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to respond.

    Barely managing to board the transport, he slumped into the pilot¡¯s seat. From there, he looked back at the terminal, its silhouette fading into the windswept sands, and made a resolution.

    He would forget what happened today.

    He wouldn¡¯t try to figure out who or what that voice belonged to.

    As he made that decision, an odd calm washed over him. It felt as though a weight that had been pressing on his mind lifted.

    "Huh?"

    Just as the transport took off, he felt a dampness in his inner ear.

    ¡®Probably sweat.¡¯

    Even if he wanted to check, his protective suit made it impossible to do so in his current position. He dismissed it as nothing and focused on flying.

    As the transport disappeared into the horizon, massive, pink tentacles emerged from the terminal¡¯s entrance. They slithered toward the containers, coiling around them and dragging them inside.

    No one was there to witness the eerie sight.

    ---

    ?Big One! Did you see? Did you see??

    Z ZZZZ (Yes, good work.)]

    "Did I do well? Did I? Is the cargo here?"

    [ZZ ZZZ (You did very well.)]

    "I did well! Got it!"

    Number 26 lit up with excitement at my praise. The colorful lights radiating from its body dispelled the darkness inside the terminal, revealing a newly grown, special tentacle writhing on its frame.

    Unlike its fins and regr tentacles, this one had apletely different structure. Not just in appearance, but also in design it was far moreplex.

    Its exterior was covered with countless fine, hair-like protrusions, both inside and out. These appendages moved ceaselessly, even though there was no wind. They were deeply connected to 26¡¯s consciousness, as evident from how the translucent tentacle linked to its body¡¯s core.

    "I did well! That, th-th-that, ha-ha-ha."

    The protrusions rubbed against one another, emitting a peculiar sound. If you ignored the content and focused solely on the sound itself, it almost resembled human speech.

    Unlike general-purpose tentacles that functioned like hands, this new one served a singr purpose.

    The tentacle¡¯s singr ability was clearly mimicking human voices.

    That strange new limb had emerged on Number 26¡¯s body as a result of integrating the Mimicry trait.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to grow an entirely new tentacle.¡±

    Three weeks ago, I had transnted the Mimicry trait into 26. Originally, I¡¯d intended to give it to the Mother of the Sky instead. It seemed like the more stable choice for her abilities and nature.

    But when I proposed it, she declined.

    Currently, I can transnt traits intopanions up to two times. While the "Double Helix Monolith" artifact is associated with cosmic beasts and may allow more transfers in the future, I¡¯m limited for now.

    Instead, she asked for a trait more suited to her style.

    Her refusal left 26 as the new recipient of Mimicry.

    When I imnted the trait, a new tentacle capable of producing sounds formed on its body. I had expected its Mutant Tentacle which can freely alter its appearance to inherit the mimicry functions. Instead, this unexpected development urred.

    ¡°It¡¯s integrated as a recement for a general-purpose tentacle.¡±

    Now, with its Mutant Tentacle and Mimic Tentacle, 26 is shaping up into quite an asset.

    But the process wasn¡¯t withoutplications.

    ¡°The mechanism ispletely different.¡±

    When I acquired the Mimicry trait, my body developed an organ to analyze the gic material of other organisms. This organmunicates with my vocal cords, enabling me to replicate their voices exactly.

    26, however,cks such an analyzing organ. It can¡¯t replicate a voice simply by consuming a creature. Instead, its Mimic Tentacle reproduces soundwaves by detecting and reconstructing the vibrations I¡¯ve retained like the voice of the ve I devoured.

    For now, this means either I or PS-111 need to provide it with samples. It¡¯s akin to recording and synthesizing sound with a machine.

    ¡°And it¡¯s not used to sound-basedmunication.¡±

    Sea Demons don¡¯tmunicate through vocalization like humans do. As deep-sea creatures, they¡¯ve evolved to convey meaning through the lights emitted from their bodies.

    Because of this, the concept of verbalmunication is alien to 26. It needs to learn the sound of each word it intends to mimic.

    ?Hard. Not good.?

    [ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (Practice will make it easier.)]

    ¡°Pra¡­ prac¡­ practice! Okay! I did well!¡±

    [ZZ (Yes.)]

    The silver lining is its remarkably fast learning speed.

    ¡°It was exceptional to begin with.¡±

    It¡¯s been only three weeks since it started learning, and it¡¯s already this far. If I dedicate enough time, it could mimic voices as proficiently as I do.

    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have my hands full.¡±

    ?I? ?Study? ?Need?

    ¡°I also need to confirm the functions of my new gic additions.¡±

    26 wasn¡¯t the only one who received new traits. I also transnted useful traits into Adhai and PS-111. Beyond teaching 26 how to use its new ability, I¡¯ll need to train them as well.

    ¡°But before that¡­¡±

    [ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (Let¡¯s eat first.)]

    ?Good.?

    ¡°Understood!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s on the menu today?¡±

    There are still about 11 days until the cooldown for Organic Evolution ends. With time to spare, I can make the most of this period.

    ---

    ¡°Thank you for granting me this audience, Elder.¡±

    ¡°Haha, how could I refuse when Captain Alshas himself requests a meeting?¡±

    In an elegant reception room, two Cults and one human were seated in luxurious chairs, conversing in a warm atmosphere.

    ¡°Was the matter with theary Council resolved smoothly?¡±

    ¡°Fortunately, this governor was a reasonable individual. Everything concluded without issue.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡±

    ¡°But more importantly, this person here¡­¡±

    ¡°Greetings, Kisos. I am Si-Hyun of the yujin family, part of Megacorp Noble Capital.¡±

    Si-Hyun rose from her seat and bowed formally, dressed in the stately uniform typical of Cult aristocrats. The Cult elder, called Kisos, followed suit, standing and bowing in return.

    ¡°Well met, Si-Hyun of the Yujin family. I am Kisos of the Monzan Tribe. You seem quite familiar with Cult etiquette?¡±

    ¡°You tter me. I have merely observed and learned through frequent dealings with the Cult.¡±

    ¡°Haha, Monzan customs are notoriously intricate. Quite impressive.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your kind words.¡±

    Kisos¡¯s crescent-shaped smile widened as he listened to her modest reply.

    The truth was that Si-Hyun¡¯s familiarity with Cult manners stemmed from her shadowy past.

    As a shadow operative of the Yujin family, her hands were stained with blood plenty of it belonging to Cult nobles. Of course, she wasn¡¯t foolish enough to mention such things here.

    Once seated again, Kisos looked intrigued as he spoke.

    ¡°So, Si-Hyun of the Yujin family. What brings you to me today?¡±

    ¡°I wish to propose a transaction, Kisos.¡±

    ¡°A transaction? That is certainly my area of expertise. Do borate.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I wish to purchase Cult weaponry and equipment.¡±

    At this, Kisos tilted his head slightly.

    ¡°The Yujin family has ess to Megacorp¡¯s resources, does it not? Why approach me instead?¡±

    ¡°I am building a private force without relying on the Yujin family¡¯s support. I aim to stand independently, rather than leaning solely on my family¡¯s prestige.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, a bold ambition. Not an easy path.¡±

    ¡°If you were to invest in me, Kisos, I promise to repay you handsomely.¡±

    ¡°An investment, you say.¡±

    Kisos tapped the armrest of his chair thoughtfully with a finger.

    ¡°I usually conduct business with Garmelda of Megacorp. Their leader often says that investments must be transparent.¡±

    ¡°A wise perspective.¡±

    ¡°In that case, shouldn¡¯t you also exin why you¡¯ve been buying up ves so aggressively on Verzan-02?¡±

    Si-Hyun¡¯s gaze flickered briefly toward Alshas, who was seated beside Kisos. Alshas¡¯s widened eyes made it clear she hadn¡¯t shared that information, meaning Kisos had investigated Si-Hyun independently.

    ¡°It¡¯s embarrassing to admit, but the Empire¡¯s security has been rather tenuoustely. Even as someone who advocates for disarmament, I can¡¯t deny this truth.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°I know nothing about you, Si-Hyun. For all I know, you could be a cultist, a pirate, or worse. I have no intention of enriching myself at the expense of the Empire¡¯s security.¡±

    Si-Hyun hesitated, considering her options.

    ¡®No point in lying further.¡¯

    Kisos was a seasoned senator and the head of the Empire¡¯s reformist faction a political survivor who had weathered countless schemes. Deceiving someone like him was nearly impossible. Worse, failure would mean abandoning Verzan-02 altogether, as he wielded more influence than the governor himself.

    ¡®A direct approach may be my only option.¡¯

    Resolving herself, Si-Hyun maintained a gentle smile as she shifted to her main argument.

    ¡°You are correct to suspect that I might be a threat to security.¡±

    ¡°Oh? You admit it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, though my target is not the Empire.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    "My goal is to reim the position of Family Head of Yujin. To achieve that, I must eliminate the current head, Akira."

    It seemed Alshas hadn''t expected such a statement her eyes darted nervously.

    Unlike her, Kisos wore a faint smile, as if finding Si-hyun''s words entertaining.

    "As far as I know, the Family Head of Yujin also serves as the emperor of the Megacorp that is, the CEO."

    "That¡¯s correct."

    "And the Garmelda family, with whom I primarily deal, is on friendly terms with the CEO. Am I wrong?"

    "You are correct."

    "Then do you really think I would invest in someone who threatens the CEO?"

    "Don¡¯t you hold a negative view of Akira¡¯s governance, Kisos?"

    "Do I?"

    Kisos narrowed his eyes at the question.

    "Akira Yujin doesn¡¯t antagonize the empire but also refuses deeper ties. That contrasts with your vision of a world order where major powers align under the empire¡¯s leadership."

    "¡­"

    "If someone aligned with the Empire¡¯s interests were to be CEO, the situation would change, wouldn¡¯t it? From what I¡¯ve heard, you¡¯ve already made substantial ''investments'' toward that goal."

    Indeed, as Si-hyun stated, Kisos had invested heavily in influencing the selection of the Megacorp¡¯s CEO. This included providing advanced equipment acquired from the Garmelda family to Akira¡¯s rival, T&C.

    However, all these efforts were conducted in absolute secrecy. Even within the reformist faction, very few were aware of this, so hearing it from aplete stranger was startling.

    "Are you saying you can align with ''the empire¡¯s interests''?"

    "To be precise, I intend to ensure that someone mindful of the empire¡¯s interests bes CEO, for example, someone like T&C."

    "¡­"

    As Si-hyun finished speaking, silence filled the drawing room.

    Kisos stared at her for a long time before a smile spread across his lips.

    "An intriguing human. You¡¯re someone with ''investment value.'' I¡¯d like to continue working with you."

    "The feeling is mutual. I look forward to it."

    "Alshas, where on earth did you find such a person?"

    "Ah, well... I¡¯m sorry."

    "Sorry? Thanks to you, I¡¯ve met Si-hyun Yujin. I should be thanking you."

    With that, Kisos stood up from his seat.

    "Weapons and ships will be provided as much as you need. Ah, and one more thing."

    "?"

    "I¡¯d like to introduce you to some people I know. It¡¯ll help secure continued investments for you."

    Si-hyun was startled by this unexpected generosity. Merely securing a deal for weapons was already a sess, but establishing a steady supply route was beyond her expectations.

    "A party will be held here in this mansion in four days. Come. We¡¯ll discuss the details then."

    "Thank you, Kisos. I¡¯ll see you again soon."

    Bowing politely, Si-hyun left the drawing room.

    As Kisos moved to see Alshas off, she suddenly spoke.

    "Sir."

    "Yes?"

    "About the party in four days... There are two people I¡¯d like to bring. Would that be eptable?"

    "Two? Who are they this time?"

    "One is someone I can¡¯t disclose right now. The other is my older brother."

    "That rascal Alcadi, you mean? Hmm."

    As Alshas hesitated to bring up the topic, Kisos stroked his chin thoughtfully.

    "I¡¯ve heard Arcadi has a knack for business."

    "That¡¯s correct, sir."

    "The governor is considering redeveloping the ruined districts recently ces like Glory Street."

    "Yes. There¡¯s talk of demolishing it and building a new fortress there."

    "Since Arcadi has influence in that region, employing him might not be a bad idea. I¡¯ll see what I can do. Bring him to the party."

    "Thank you so much, sir!"

    With Kisos''s favorable response, Alshas bowed deeply.

    Si-hyun Yujin, Kisos, and Alshas.

    In the end, the negotiations concluded with everyone getting what they wanted.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

    [Proofreader ¨C Draxx]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 308

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

    [Proofreader ¨C Draxx]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Chapter 308

    -

    "¡­Alshas, I didn''t think you''d go this far."

    Nern, dressed in his cult-like purple military uniform, red at his junior standing beside him.

    "I understand how you feel, Senior."

    "Do you? And yet, you dragged me here?"

    "Dragged you? Senior, you know how important this event is. How can you say that?"

    Currently, they were at the mansion of Kisos, the leader of the Reformist faction.

    Four days ago, Alshas had arranged a meeting between Nern and Si-Hyun Yujin, mediated by Kisos at Nern''s request. To Nern¡¯s surprise, Kisos took a liking to Si-Hyun and promised to provide her with a stable supply chain for her equipment.

    Nern had been pleased with the sessful negotiations. The stronger Si-Hyun¡¯s power grew, the higher the chance Nern could take revenge on the "three-headed demon."

    But the betrayal he now felt was entirely unexpected.

    "I clearly told you I wouldn''t return until my revenge wasplete."

    "I''m not asking you to return, Senior."

    "That person over there is the Deputy Chief of the Eye of Revtion priesthood, and that other one is the Director of the Aur Monitoring Agency. You''ve brought me to a gathering of the''s most powerful figures and im you''re not forcing me?"

    Kisos''s party wasn¡¯t limited to those two.

    Other guests mingled in the banquet hall. Though they appeared ordinary, their positions were anything but. They were individuals of such high rank that even as a captain of an Imperial dreadnought, Nern rarely had opportunities to meet them.

    "You know as well as I do, Senior, that Si-Hyun Yujin''s enemies aren''t few. Even with her relics, the road ahead will be fraught with peril. There''s no harm in being prepared."

    "If the Assembly learns that I survived, do you think they''ll leave me alone? They''ll find a way to exploit me."

    "Kisos has promised to handle that. Until Si-Hyun¡¯s role is fulfilled, you¡¯ll remain officially dead. There¡¯s no need to worry."

    "Hmph."

    Everything had been decided without his knowledge. Nern red at Alshas.

    He never held much regard for such political maneuvering. Perhaps it was his nature as a soldier, but he had seen countlessrades die on the battlefield because of the petty squabbles between factions.

    In the past, he might have been furious. But this time, he couldn''t bring himself tosh out.

    Because he knew Alshas had acted for his sake. If the roles were reversed, Nern might have done the same to ensure his junior¡¯s return.

    In the end, Nern sighed quietly instead of arguing further.

    "¡­When should I make my introduction?"

    "After Si-Hyun and her brother have their turn, you can greet them separately."

    At that moment, Kisos, the host of the party, was busy introducing Si-Hyun to the other guests. Although human, she carried herself with the grace and poise characteristic of Noble Capital. She handled the guests with ease.

    ¡®Speaking of which¡­¡¯

    Nern''s gaze drifted from Si-Hyun to a silver-haired cultist in the corner of the hall.

    It wasn¡¯t just the hair his entire demeanor bore a striking resemnce to Alshas. This was Alcardi, a man renowned for being the brother of a former Imperial dreadnought captain.

    "Alcardi¡¯s here too."

    "You mentioned before that he''d make an excellent governor''s aide. Apparently, Kisos thought so too and found him a suitable position."

    "Well, well. Who would''ve guessed both siblings would be this capable?"

    Nern clicked his tongue while watching Alcardi. The man seemed tense, repeatedly bringing his drink to his lips.

    "He looks nervous. Will he be alright?"

    "If I interact with him too much, rumors might start spreading¡­"

    "True."

    "Honestly, I¡¯m a little worried, but he¡¯ll manage."

    As they chatted, Si-Hyun finished her introductions. She stepped aside, and Alcardi, who had been nursing his drink alone, approached the group of dignitaries.

    Despite his unsavory hobbies, Alcardi was undeniably skilled in business. It was unlikely he¡¯d offend the¡¯s key power yers. Everything should go smoothly.

    "Wait, what?"

    Or so Nern thought until the atmosphere suddenly shifted.

    The Deputy Chief of the Eye of Revtion priesthood abruptly stepped forward, blocking Alcardi''s path to Kisos.

    Then, drawing a de from his waist, the Deputy Chief shed Alcardi¡¯s neck in one swift motion. It happened so quickly that no one could react in time.

    "Brother!"

    Alshas¡¯s scream echoed through the hall as she dashed toward her brother¡¯s fallen body. Nern, snapping out of his shock, followed closely behind.

    ''Why would the Deputy Chief do this?''

    "¡­Deputy Chief, what is the meaning of this?"

    Kisos¡¯s icy voice cut through the air. As the host of the party and the one who had invited Alcardi, his anger was palpable.

    Had anyone else caused this disturbance, they would have been dragged out immediately. The only reason the Deputy Chief wasn¡¯t was his affiliation with the Eye of Revtion priesthood.

    The Eye of Revtion, alongside the Temple Guard, was one of the Empire''s elite forces. While the Temple Guard specialized in hunting monsters, the Eye of Revtion focused on internal threats, such as Vortex One cultists.

    Due to the nature of their work, members required exceptionalbat skills and mental fortitude. A Deputy Chief of such an organization wouldn¡¯t act without cause.

    And the reason for his sudden action soon became clear.

    "What is that?"

    "B-Brother?"

    All eyes turned to Alcardi¡¯s corpse.

    From the cleanly severed neck, something other than blood began to ooze out.

    ''A snake?''

    A ck, elongated creature squirmed briefly before going still. The Deputy Chief, keeping his gaze fixed on the grotesque parasite, finally spoke.

    "I believe this is a mutated parasitic organism from the Outspacer regions."

    His deration froze the banquet hall in silence.

    ---

    Verzan-02: The Desert World.

    Verzan-02, as you can see, is a desert.

    Sand stretches endlessly in every direction, and with its two suns alternating day and night, temperatures soar to extremes.

    Yet, oddly enough, many of the major cities on Verzan-02 have names associated with water. This is because these cities are built atop regions rich in underground water reserves.

    Even though the Cult possesses interster travel technology, importing water from others is a highly cumbersome and costly process, especially as a''s development progresses and transport costs rise.

    Of course, the Empire, which operates hundreds or thousands of space fortresses, has the capability to transport water if needed. However, why go through such trouble when the''s own resources suffice?

    Among these "water-based" cities is one called the Water Fortress.

    Unlike the surface, protected by bio-domes, the underground is a maze of extensive waterway systems and groundwater management facilities.

    On a desert, water is a vital resource, so the defenses around it are just as robust as on the surface. Fortress cannons, typically seen on space strongholds, advanced detection systems, and a significant number of Cult personnel are stationed to guard these facilities.

    In games, infiltrating the Water Fortress via the underground is notoriously difficult. The surface routes are far more essible. In fact, I''ve only seeded in sneaking into the underground once in all my attempts.

    But this isn''t a game.

    ?Things are different now.?

    I have ess to "Clever Weakling," the ultimate stealth mode, and several tools to evade enemy detection. While I would¡¯ve avoided this route in a game, here, the underground path offers the best advantage.

    Digging Through Obstacles

    So, I prepared for my infiltration during the cooldown of "Clever Weakling." My method? Digging a tunnel straight to the fortress.

    Although my adult form is less suited for underground movement, digging is still within my capabilities.

    I had 30 days to prepare. Plenty of time. During the day, I trained the others in using their newly acquired traits; at night, I dug through the earth.

    After days of diligence, my tunnel had reached close to the underground management facilities beneath the Water Fortress.

    Strangely, the city had not yet reacted. The facility''s detection systems should¡¯ve picked up on the vibrations caused by my tunneling long ago, but they remained silent.

    The reason?

    ?¡­I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d evade their surveince this way.?

    Perched on my back, the Mother of the Sky shook her head, her keen eyes fixed on a creature ahead even amidst the darkness of the underground.

    I wasn¡¯t alone in this passage. Along with me and her, another massive creature upied the space a crimson worm asrge as Ice Horror.

    This was an adult Redworm.

    ?Imitating a Redworm¡­ how clever.?

    The adult Redworm, a predator just shy of Apex-level strength, is viewed differently depending on the group.

    To Megacorps, it¡¯s a dangerous predator that mimics voices to lure in prey, worthy only of extermination. To the Cult, however, Redworms are creatures to be protected.

    The reason? Redworms y a pivotal role in the desert ecosystem.

    To be precise, it¡¯s not the Redworms themselves but the symbiotic organisms living with them.

    The immense carnivorous worm¡¯s body is covered in beetle-like insects the size of children. These insects, called Water Beetles, excrete substances that purify water and enrich the soil, helping to sustain the''s fragile environment.

    Water Beetles exclusively feed on the hardened outeryers of adult Redworms. If the Redworm poption dwindles, so does the Water Beetle poption, leading to environmental decline. For the Cult, reliant on desert ecosystems, protecting adult Redworms is a necessity.

    [ZZZ ZZ (Not bad, huh?)]

    ?No wonder yers didn¡¯t know about this.?

    My current adult form resembles a young Redworm in size and structure. To the facility''s detection systems, I¡¯d appear as nothing more than a newly arrived Redworm.

    As long as I avoided damaging the water systems or infrastructure, the chances of them targeting me were slim.

    The Mother of the Sky let out a soft chuckle, fully aware of this fact.

    ?Well, at least someone¡¯s got a good head on their shoulders.?

    [ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (If I don¡¯t do this, I¡¯ll never make it to number five)]

    ?¡­Good for you?

    The Mother of the Sky, perched on my back, scratched her beak with a hand. As her fingers touched her beak, the energy field surrounding her body shimmered faintly.

    ?I even prepared a reinforced suit just in case, but it seems I won''t need it.?

    She was currently wearing an advanced reinforced suit, a piece of equipment salvaged from the attackers sent by Arkadi during theirst assault. I¡¯d had the suit customized to her physical specifications, enhancing its stealth capabilities. Now, in addition to optical camouge, it had a mild stealth effectyered over it.

    While I was busy tunneling, she had been scouring the Water Fortress for viable entry routes. Unlike me, she had the freedom to move in public spaces and visited far more locations. The route she discovered bore simrities to one of the infiltration methods I had used in the game.

    However, under the current circumstances, the underground route was far safer. Unless somethingpletely unexpected urred, there would be no need to use her route.

    ¡®Not that things ever go perfectly to n.¡¯

    Judging by the city''sck of response thus far, the infiltration seemed to be proceeding smoothly. She likely recognized this as well, which was why she made such ament.

    [?? ?? ??? ?????(Still, the suit mighte in handy post-infiltration)]

    ?If ites to that, I''d rather not have to use it at all.?

    Among the intel she had gathered during her investigation, there were several discrepancies from the game''s version of the fortress. Some of these could have been quite problematic had we remained unaware of them. Her knowledge would undoubtedly prove invaluable, especially if we had to escape the cityter or if I ended upunching a full-scale assault on the.

    ¡®Anyway, that¡¯s enough for today.¡¯

    Digging further was impractical for now, with the Redworms constantly moving about nearby.

    Not that I feared them quite the opposite. I was worried I might identally kill one. Redworms yed a crucial role in maintaining the¡¯s ecosystem, and their death would immediately provoke a response from the Cult. If that happened, the entire tunneling operation would be for naught.

    As I paused my work and prepared to head back to the hover bus terminal, a sudden, intense signal jolted through my mind. It was brief but piercing, like a desperate cry. My body froze instinctively.

    ?What¡¯s wrong??

    The Mother of the Sky''s voice reached me, but I couldn¡¯t respond.

    That signal it was the final transmission sent by one of the parasites I¡¯d imnted.

    ¡®Arkadi¡­ is dead?¡¯

    Something entirely unforeseen had urred.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

    [Proofreader ¨C Draxx]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 309

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

    [Proofreader ¨C Draxx]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Chapter 309

    ---

    Until now, I¡¯ve lost several parasites, but most of those were intentional on my part.

    Parasites are expendable tools used to deceive or control enemies. Once their purpose is fulfilled, their loss doesn¡¯t pose a significant problem.

    However, there was one time when a parasite brought me to the brink of disaster.

    The enforcer I controlled at the T&C orbital city, William, injured himself to expose my existence. His actions derailed my ns significantly.

    And now, something simr has happened here.

    No, it¡¯s worse this time.

    Today, Arcadi went to an important gathering. From what I¡¯ve heard, it was a meeting with high-ranking officials like a fleetmander or the director of surveince. One could say he went to the safest ce on this.

    Because of that, I wasn¡¯t concerned. Yet, he suddenly died.

    That¡¯s not the only problem.

    I don¡¯t even know why he died.

    Parasites send me signals if their host faces a significant threat or acts against my will. In William¡¯s case, the parasite emitted a wave that alerted me to his self-harm.

    But this time, there were no such warnings.

    This means that the parasite within Arcadi was killed instantly, in a situation it couldn¡¯t anticipate.

    The safest ce. An unexpected situation. A parasite killed before sending a signal. What does this all imply?

    ¡­A Ranker.

    Finding a parasite created by the Parasitic Colony isn¡¯t particrly difficult. Scanners or internal examination techniques can detect them easily.

    In other words, parasites are most effective when their existence is entirely unknown. The more people who know about them, the harder it bes to use them for espionage or deception.

    That¡¯s why I¡¯ve taken every measure to ensure the existence of my parasites remains a secret. When William harmed himself, I even went to the hospital to mitigate suspicions.

    In Arcadi¡¯s case, he didn¡¯t undergo any parasite-detecting tests at the gathering. Nor did he engage in any behavior that might arouse suspicion.

    Yet he was discovered, which means the person who killed him had the ability or means to detect parasites. And judging by how swiftly the host was killed, they knew how dangerous it was.

    Someone aware of parasites and with significant experience dealing with them it¡¯s impossible for anyone else to act like this. The culprit is likely a Ranker.

    I expected to encounter one eventually, but not this soon.

    Even before infiltrating this ce, I anticipated the presence of Cult Rankers.

    Verzan-02 is a strategic stronghold for the Cult, both in the game and in reality. As an Amorph, I understand what traits are useful and what creatures I should hunt. The Cult is no different.

    That¡¯s why I snuck onto the in secret to avoid the Rankers.

    Despite my precautions, I¡¯ve been caught in an unexpected situation.

    <em>¡­What¡¯s done is done.</em>

    Now, instead of panicking, I need to focus on what to do next.

    <em>It¡¯s only a matter of time before they find my hideout.</em>

    By investigating the infected host¡¯s movements, they¡¯ll track me down. At best, I have a few days; at worst, a week.

    ?Are you alright? What happened??

    Sensing something was wrong, the Mother of the Sky leapt off my back, her voiceced with concern.

    [ZZZZ ZZZ  (Arcadi is dead.)]

    ?What? When??

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Just now. It happened so fast the parasite couldn¡¯t even send proper information.)]

    ?Didn¡¯t you say he was attending the gathering at the Water Fortress today? And now he¡¯s dead??

    [ZZ (Yes.)]

    She recognized the gravity of the situation and stiffened.

    ?Could there really be a Ranker here??

    [ZZ ZZZ ZZ (It¡¯s highly likely.)]

    ?¡­This is getting troublesome. What will you do??

    [ZZ ZZ ZZZ (I¡¯m still thinking.)]

    With my parasites exposed, there¡¯s only one viable course of action.

    I must infiltrate the Water Fortress, where the Coldblood Ranker is hiding, as quickly as possible before they begin their pursuit.

    However, sneaking past their watchful eyes in my current adult form is incredibly difficult. There¡¯s a reason I waited 30 days to revert to the Clever Weakling form.

    Maybe I should just fight them instead?

    My primary reason for seeking out the 22nd-ranked Coldblood Ranker was to gather information about the Illusions. While not as ancient as the Mother of the Sky, the Ranker has been in this world for a considerable time and is one of the few likely to engage with us amicably.

    But now, I¡¯ve be aware of a new Ranker¡¯s presence. It might be worthwhile to target this Cult Ranker before I meet the 22nd.

    Adjusting objectives, then.

    The Ranker who killed my parasite must have been active in this world for a long time. After all, they were formally invited to a gathering of Verzan-02¡¯s elite. That makes them a suitable interrogation target.

    <em>¡­No.</em>

    After deliberating, I concluded that an all-out confrontation is not a good idea.

    They know nothing about me, but the reverse is also true. I can only specte that the Cult Ranker is a high-ranking official, but beyond that, I have no information. If the Ranker targeting me happens to be the 7th-ranked one, things could get veryplicated.

    The 7th-ranked Cult Ranker, Beomho, uses unpredictable strategies simr to mine. If they¡¯ve realized my existence, they¡¯ve probably set traps already.

    Even if it¡¯s not Beomho, there¡¯s no guarantee the enemy is alone. The likelihood of other Ranker allies joining them is high, so recklessly fighting is a dangerous gamble.

    And if the 22nd aligns with them, things will get worse.

    Whenever I fought Rankers in the past, other yers almost always sided with my opponents. This is because I¡¯ve developed animosities with most Rankers over time.

    If I consider that, the 22nd might act simrly to how they did in the game. Even if the Mother of the Sky tries to interver, changing their mind won¡¯t be easy. They might even believe she¡¯s under the control of my parasites.

    It¡¯s not like I can deny having done that before.

    In any case, if I want to avoid misunderstandings with the Coldblood Ranker, our first meeting must be peaceful.

    So, the real question is: what kind of battle strategy do I use?

    A direct confrontation is out, but baiting them into a trap isn¡¯t easy either.

    This is their home turf. Luring them underground to take them down will likely cause more losses than gains. Even if I manage to annihte them, reinforcements will keeping. This isn¡¯t like the situation with Jason.

    ?How much time is left until you can transform again??

    The Mother of the Sky broke her silence, posing the question.

    In response, I checked how long remained until Organic Evolution¡¯s cooldown ended. Less than seven days. That¡¯s plenty of time for the Cult to find me.

    [ZZ ZZ (Less than seven days.)]

    ?They¡¯ll locate our hideout before then, won¡¯t they??

    [ZZ (Yes.)]

    ?Then how about I infiltrate the Water Fortress??

    [ZZZ (Alone?)]

    ?Yes. It¡¯ll take them a few days to find this ce anyway. I¡¯ll use that time to locate the Ranker. If I find them early, I¡¯ll bring them here, and we can leave together.?

    Her suggestion to meet the 22nd Ranker alone wasn¡¯t a bad idea.

    But it came with risks. What if the 22nd doesn¡¯t agree to follow her? Time is already against us, and resistance would onlyplicate matters.

    Resistance would be the least of our worries.

    If they betray her and attack, things will escte.

    I don¡¯t doubt the Mother of the Sky¡¯s strength, but the opponent is still a Ranker. Unless one sidepletely overwhelms the other, the battle won¡¯t end quietly.

    If she ends up encountering the Cult Ranker during the fight, we¡¯ll be in serious trouble.

    Not only will the Coldblood Ranker¡¯s forces react, but even her life will be at risk.

    Her amber eyes glimmered brightly in the darkness, locking onto mine. She was fully aware of the danger she would face, yet her resolve remained firm. She must have spoken up knowing the risks, fully prepared to endure them given our dire circumstances.

    I can¡¯t abandon her here.

    The Mother of the Sky is a vital ally to my survival. Losing her now would be squandering a resource far too valuable.

    [ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ  (We can¡¯t, because there¡¯s no guarantee we¡¯ll find the 22nd before the pursuers arrive.)]

    ?Fighting them is just as dangerous. If you end up shing with the Cult Ranker, that one will likely side with them. Honestly, your reputation isn¡¯t great, you know.?

    [ZZ ZZ (I know.)]

    Though I was aware, hearing her bluntly point out my image felt oddly unpleasant. It wasn¡¯t as if she was joking, either. The seriousness in her gaze made her words cut deeper.

    Is my reputation really that trashed...? Wait. My image?

    An idea suddenly struck me.

    Just as I don¡¯t know everything about the enemy, they don¡¯t know everything about me either. They¡¯re likely trying to predict my capabilities just as I¡¯m specting about theirs. But perfect predictions are impossible.

    For example, sending the Mother of the Sky into the Water Fortress is something I¡¯d never have even attempted in the game.

    The gap between who I was in the game and who I am now...

    This discrepancy might be the key to breaking through.

    [ZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ (I just thought of something. How about this?)]

    ?Hmm??

    I began exining the idea that had formed in my head. At first, she listened with a puzzled tilt of her head. By the time I finished, she stared at me with an incredulous expression, as if questioning my sanity.

    [ZZ (What do you think?)]

    ?...Honestly, it soundspletely absurd, but it might actually work.?

    [ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (It¡¯s something I would never have done in the game.)]

    ?That¡¯s true. You¡¯d never do something like this.?

    She nodded, clearly agreeing with my assessment.

    ?Still, there are some parts that seem too reliant on luck. We¡¯ll need to fine-tune those.?

    [ZZZZ (Of course.)]

    The time before the enemy arrived was already tight. Without further dy, I carried her on my back and hastened toward the center.

    In the game, I had ovee challenges that everyone else deemed impossible. I hunted Rankers when I wasn¡¯t even one myself and devoured entire ns when I was just a semi-adult form.

    Even in this world, I¡¯d faced death more than once¡ªand survived every time.

    This would be no different.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

    [Proofreader ¨C Draxx]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 310

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

    [Proofreader ¨C Draxx]

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Chapter 310

    -

    It had been five days since Alshas¡¯ kin, Alcardi, passed away.

    The death of the blood rtive of the captain of the Imperial mothership ¡°Defender of Verzan 02¡± was an unprecedented event, setting the entire into motion. Investigators from the Surveince Agency, Cult operatives with tracking capabilities, warrior units from various organizations everyone joined the search.

    Added to this were the Eyes of Revtion priesthood and the Prophets¡¯ Assembly, both responsible for defending Verzan 02.

    The involvement of the priesthood and the Prophets was highly unusual.

    These two groups typically acted to eliminate beings that vited the natural order. Their focus was internal issues, such as hunting down Vortex One cultists or spies within the Empire, not external threats.

    Their decision to intervene in Alcardi¡¯s case had one clear reason.

    While not widely known, Outsiders had recently begun employing peculiar methods to infiltrate and weaken the Empire.

    Previously, Outsiders¡¯ attacks centered around generating ¡°bio-portals¡± on abandoneds to summon vast hordes. Since such portals produced immense energy upon activation, the Empire could usually prepare countermeasures in advance.

    But the situation had evolved.

    The Outsiders had now developed a parasitic organism derived from modified ¡°worker drones.¡± These parasites were forcibly imnted into captured Cult members and intelligent beings, turning the infected into ves used to infiltrates and prepare for assaults.

    Thankfully, the infected exhibited dramatically reduced intelligence, and no sessful operation had been recorded yet.

    Of course, there was no guarantee this would remain true indefinitely.

    The priesthood, upon learning of these parasites, had begun preparations to counter such infiltrations. They distributed parasite-tracking equipment and psychic techniques to identify infected individuals among their members.

    The reason the deputymander ¡°dealt with¡± Alcardi and why the priesthood became involved in the investigation stemmed from these circumstances.

    Despite these efforts and therge number of participants, discovering who had imnted the parasite proved elusive.

    Alcardi¡¯s behavior deviated significantly from typical infected individuals. Until his death at Kisos¡¯ estate, he had acted perfectly normal. Finding suspicious activities in his records was a daunting task.

    Moreover, Alcardi¡¯s dealings extended into gray areas beyond legitimate business. Many of his transactions were handled covertly, leaving little evidence, furtherplicating the investigation.

    Four days into the investigation, a critical clue finally emerged.

    For about three weeks before his death, Alcardi had sent containers carrying live organisms to an abandoned building in the ¡°Glory District¡± every three days. While Alcardi was known for his obsessive collection habits, there was no reason for someone like him to send animals from his collection to such a deste area.

    The Outsiders¡¯ bio-portals required a massive amount of organic material for activation. The priesthood and the Prophets concluded that the abandoned building a hover bus terminal was likely an Outsider hideout.

    However, Alshas and others experienced inbating prior Outsider offensives dismissed this theory. Many had witnessed the Outsiders¡¯ parasites firsthand, and the entity that emerged from Alcardi¡¯s body bore no resemnce to those parasites. Its appearance and capabilities were far too advanced.

    This led some to specte that Vortex One cultists might be involved instead.

    This debate presented a significant issue: determining the enemy would dictate the task force¡¯sposition.

    Outsiders, resistant to psychic power but unable to wield it themselves, required high-powered psychic weapons and heavily armored physical defenses to counter.

    Vortex One cultists, however, were highly unpredictable. Theirbat styles varied drastically depending on which Vortex One they worshipped, necessitating reconnaissance and tailored equipment for each encounter.

    The inability to narrow the suspect led kisos to mediate.

    He persuaded Alshas to prepare for a possible cultist conspiracy and requested the Prophets to stand by as reinforcements. Should anything suspicious arise during the hunt, the reserve forces could be deployed immediately.

    Kisos even offered to cover half the costs of maintaining the reserves, prompting the Prophets to ept his proposal.

    While some among the priesthood resented splitting their forces, they could not defy orders from higher authorities. Thus, Kisos¡¯ mediation n was implemented.

    On the fifth day, the task force entered the Glory District to begin their hunt for the monstrous entity.

    ?Task force advancing toward the ¡®hideout.¡¯?

    ¡°It¡¯s finally starting.¡±

    Nern muttered, responding to the transmission from the Imperial mothership hovering above.

    The room where they gathered was amand center in one of the defensive facilities within the ¡°Fortress of Water.¡± Alshas stood among several soldiers, observing the operation unfold.

    ¡°¡­I should have gone myself.¡±

    ¡°You, of all people, know why you couldn¡¯t. Kisos spared you that burden for your sake.¡±

    The Imperial mothership Verzan 02, under Alshas¡¯mand, was not participating in the current operation.

    Alshas was directly affected by the unidentified entity that imed the life of her family.

    If an ordinary soldier were consumed by vengeance, it would be troubling enough. For the captain of an Imperial mothership, however, such emotions could jeopardize the entire mission. Therefore, another Imperial mothership had been assigned to the task in her stead.

    Nern pointed this out, but Alshas shook her head.

    ¡°That¡¯s not it. What worries me is the possibility that the enemy might not be a simple Outsider. You know this as well as I do.¡±

    Nern couldn¡¯t disagree; he had the same thought.

    Even if the priesthood¡¯s im that the attack was orchestrated by Outsiders was correct, there were too many inconsistencies.

    The Empire¡¯s war with the Outsiders wasn¡¯t a recent development. The Outsiders had to know that Verzan 02 was a difficult target to breach. Attackings in the Empire¡¯s outskirts first would have been a far more efficient strategy.

    ¡°And targeting Alcardi specifically seems suspicious as well.¡±

    Her brother was the captain of an Imperial mothership, and she herself was a prominent figure in the Glory District. Infecting someone so heavily scrutinized by the public eye was a foolish move.

    ¡°They may be monsters, but they¡¯re no fools.¡±

    Despite the priesthood¡¯s fervent insistence, Nern found their exnationcking.

    To him, the Outsiders were either hiding something the priesthood didn¡¯t know, or they weren¡¯t involved at all, and a third party was behind the attack.

    Still, he chose not to voice these doubts.

    ¡°There¡¯s no helping it. You¡¯ll just have to point out anything suspicious as it arises.¡±

    ¡°Do you think those prideful priests would even listen to me?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ll have no choice. You¡¯ve fought those creatures countless times before, after all.¡±

    Alshas averted her gaze slightly, as if embarrassed by Nern¡¯s straightforwardpliment.

    Currently, Alshas was participating in the operation as an advisor authorized by theary governor and the council. Though prohibited from taking part inbat herself, she was allowed to ry her insights to the task force on the ground.

    The priesthood did not object to this arrangement. They knew full well that Alshas was a seasoned veteran with unparalleledbat experience.

    ¡°That goes for you as well, doesn¡¯t it?¡± she asked.

    ¡°But you, unlike me, brought weapons despite not nning to fight.¡±

    Nern nced down at the two ck axes propped against her chair. Alshas picked them up, cradling them carefully.

    ¡°One of these was a gift from a friend of mine in the Prophets¡¯ Assembly.¡±

    ¡°A Prophet who wielded axes? That¡¯s unusual.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t their weapon. To be precise, it was something they received from another and then passed on to me.¡±

    Her gaze wasden withplex emotions, hinting at the weapon¡¯s significance.

    ¡°Did your friend from the Prophets offer any advice regarding this operation?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, they cannot. The Providence imed them some time ago.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Nern immediately recognized her expression as one of sorrow. When he hastily apologized, Alshas shook her head to indicate she was fine.

    ¡°They gave their life for the greater cause. I¡¯ve said goodbye to many of myrades over the years, but I believe the day wille when their sacrifices will shine.¡±

    ¡°¡­You¡­¡±

    ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn to honor the legacy they left behind. I can only hope the cause can be achieved without further loss.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll surely bring peace to the Empire. Believe me.¡±

    Hearing those words, she looked at Nern with a peculiar expression. Locking eyes with him briefly, she finally spoke.

    ¡°That peace... I hope you can enjoy it alongside us, senior.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡±

    ¡°Yes. You are essential to the cause. You must not perish before our goal is achieved.¡±

    ¡°Your words are kind. Don¡¯t worry. Providence has sent me back to protect the Empire. Until that purpose is fulfilled, I have no intention of returning to its side.¡±

    Nern¡¯s resolute deration seemed to reassure her, and she smiled in satisfaction.

    At that moment, Kurt, who was projecting visual updates of the task force¡¯s movements, shouted, ¡°The task force has entered the center!¡±

    Their conversation abruptly ended, and all eyes in themand room turned to the central disy, where the task force¡¯s progress was shown in real-time.

    The task force had just set foot inside the hover bus terminal.

    ¡°Residual pheromones of the parasite detected.¡±

    ¡°Leading further inside.¡±

    ¡°Container traces confirmed.¡±

    Two hundredbatants, specialists from various fields including warriors, knowledge managers, trackers trained in pursuit techniques, medics, and members of the priesthood entered the abandoned structure.

    Outside, 2,000 additional troops waited as reinforcements, ready to deploy if necessary. Overhead, mothership fleet vessels loomed,pleting an imprable encirclement.

    The task force followed the tracks deeper into the building.

    On the sand that had piled up inside, massive footprints were clearly visible. Veteran trackers trained in pursuit techniques examined them and estimated the creature to be a bipedal being of at least 40 meters in size.

    ¡°Forty meters at minimum? That¡¯s enormous.¡±

    ¡°Judging by the size, it could be part of the Queen¡¯s Guard.¡±

    ¡°Or perhaps a hybrid specimen.¡±

    ¡°Either way, it won¡¯t be an easy opponent. Ry this information to the fleet.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    The knowledge managers transmitted the trackers¡¯ findings to the fleet above while the others maintained a vignt watch on their surroundings.

    Despite their numbers, the task force remained on high alert. No one among the 200 allowed themselves to growcent, aware that the enemy could have prepared traps.

    Once the knowledge managerspleted their tasks, the task force resumed their pursuit of the tracks.

    Their path led them to a staircase descending into the ground. The Eyes of Revtion priests, renowned for theirbat prowess, took the lead. Slowly making their way down, they extended long staves with tips split into five prongs, probing the darkness ahead.

    The staves emitted a bright light, illuminating a vast underground chamber.

    ¡°Traces detected in all directions.¡±

    ¡°Strange. There are traces, but no signs of Outsider corruption.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s too early to conclude. The source could be further inside.¡±

    The senior priests leading the group scrutinized the tunnels branching out across the chamber.

    ¡°The tracks are evenly spread out.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a trap. What¡¯s the status of the fleet¡¯s detection systems?¡±

    ¡°The sensors have picked up a creature of simr size to the one that left these tracks, approximately 2 kilometers away.¡±

    ¡°Good. If any of the tunnels copse, split into four teams of fifty and maintain distance as you proceed.¡±

    ¡°Contact the reserve forces above and request they deploy additional personnel and detection equipment to this chamber.¡±

    ¡°Check theputer in the center as well.¡±

    The task force adjusted their formation and began moving toward therger tunnel entrances.

    For a while after entering, the underground passage, though old, still gave the impression of being maintained. However, as they ventured deeper, that sense faded, reced by the overwhelming signs of destruction. Everywhere, there were traces of a massive creature with blunt ws that had ruthlessly dug into the earth.

    ¡°How¡¯s themunication status?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s stable.¡±

    ¡°Report immediately if there¡¯s any issue.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s strange. I¡¯m not detecting any signs of a bio-portal.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no trace of contamination or energy either.¡±

    The underground passage was eerily quiet, save for the sound of the task force¡¯s footsteps.

    The stillness was beginning to unsettle the senior priests.

    By now, they should have encountered something.

    For an Outsider to be active, there must always be a contamination source its nest. All of their activities, such as breeding, evolution, and nutrient acquisition, take ce at their nest.

    But there was no sign of any nest here. A queen would never roam without one, and it was almost unheard of for an individual to wander without a nest.

    The possibility of cultists hiding here was also ruled out.

    Those taken by malevolent beings would engage in unspeakable acts like human sacrifices, orgies, and torturing victims, leaving obvious traces behind. These were not the marks left by such creatures.

    Five minutes had passed since the task force entered the passage. By now, they should have seen something bones, corpses, blood, or at least a trace of violence.

    ¡®What is this creature doing?¡¯

    The same thought echoed in the heads of the senior priests as the tension in the quiet passage reached its peak. At that moment, themunication officer shouted.

    ¡°Communication is down!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s here! An ambush ising!¡±

    ¡°Everyone, prepare for defense!¡±

    In an instant, the task force was ready for battle. Weapons were drawn, and all eyes were fixed on the front. The priests and warriors ahead created light, dispelling the darkness around them.

    At the far end of the brightly lit passage, something awaited. It opened its mouth wide as if to demand the light be extinguished, and from its maw, a green beam shot toward them.

    ¡°Activate shields for all personnel!¡±

    ¡°Priests!¡±

    The warriors at the front activated their shields, while the priests deployed the powerful reflection spell, ¡°Reflection.¡±

    The heat rays collided with the invisible barriers stacked within the passage, reflected back toward the creature or ricocheted off the surrounding walls.

    The walls and ceiling of the passage began to melt where the beam had struck.

    ¡°There¡¯s an acid effect.¡±

    ¡°Those with neutralizing agents, prepare to spray!¡±

    ¡°Activate the life-support devices attached to the helmets!¡±

    Some of the cultists were known to use toxins or strong acids as weapons, so the task force had already prepared for this eventuality. They quickly donned their gas masks connected to their helmets.

    Meanwhile, the acid that had been emitted from the creature¡¯s mouth began to eat through the ceiling above them, leaving holesrge enough for sunlight to pour through. The acid was so potent that it could burn through solid material.

    However, the senior priests remained calm, carefully analyzing the creature¡¯s abilities.

    ¡°It can¡¯t move while spraying acid.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine even after reflecting the acid. No damage.¡±

    ¡°We should investigate whether it¡¯s the creature¡¯s exoskeleton or something else protecting it.¡±

    ¡°All units, open fire!¡±

    The task force unleashed a torrent of bullets from their weapons, and the deafening sound of gunfire echoed throughout the passage. The ceiling above them crumbled under the barrage.

    The copsed ceiling was now mixed with the debris of abandoned buildings. The vibrations in the underground had caused some of the structures above to crumble.

    Despite this, the creature continued to take the hits. Whether it was aware that its attacks were being reflected or not, it kept spewing acid until the ceiling finally gave way.

    For several minutes, it remained motionless, then ceased its attack and vanished deeper into the passage.

    ¡°My God, it¡¯s incredibly tough.¡±

    ¡°With our current weapons, it¡¯s not enough. We need to increase firepower.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s themunication status?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s back to normal.¡±

    At themunication officer¡¯s report, the senior priests exchanged nces.

    ¡°A creature that disruptsmunication while spitting acid this is unlike anything we¡¯ve seen before.¡±

    ¡°¡­A new hybrid. This is bad.¡±

    ¡°Report this tomand and request reinforcements.¡±

    ¡°What should we do? Should we leave it to the ships from here on?¡±

    ¡°If it has a jamming ability, it might be difficult to track with the ships. Let¡¯s continue pursuing it, just in case.¡±

    Following the decision of the senior priests, the task force resumed tracking the creature.

    Surprisingly, they encountered it again quickly. In the narrow passage, the creature had hidden its body but was peeking its head out.

    ¡°It¡¯s toxic fungus!¡±

    ¡°Priests, prepare for Air Impact! Make sure the fungus doesn¡¯t spread in the air!¡±

    Unlike before, the creature had now spewed out a mass of malignant fungi rather than acid. It slithered its neck, firing the disgusting projectile toward them.

    ¡°Ow, it hurts... it hurts!¡±

    ¡°Ugh... ughhh¡­¡±

    ¡°Deploy disinfectants! Hold on!¡±

    The area touched by the fungus rapidly began to rot. Some were fortunate to survive with first aid, but others did not.

    Perhaps it was the sudden change in its attack style, but there was now a casualty. As with before, the creature kept attacking for several minutes before retreating.

    Once it vanished,munication was re-established, but this time, with casualties, they had to spend even more time clearing the passage than before.

    While the other team members worked to assist the wounded, the senior priests discussed the second encounter.

    ¡°Did you see it just now?¡±

    ¡°I did. Its head was different.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. It didn¡¯t have eyes, and the horns looked different too. The shape of its head changed when it shot the acid.¡±

    ¡°Is it capable of transformation?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. We should report this.¡±

    What they had confirmed so far was that the creature¡¯s size, itsmunication disruption ability, and the presence of at least two types of attacks were key features.

    After reporting the information tomand, they resumed their mission.

    The third encounter would prove even more deadly.

    The creature attacked in a spacious underground area that wasn¡¯t quite asrge as the central hub but still considerable.

    This time, it did not use its fungal projectiles or acid. Instead, itunched a much simpler attack.

    The creature moved so fast it was nearly invisible, charging at the task force with its head, knocking them down.

    As they had seen before, its exoskeleton was extremely tough. Those who collided with it were shattered into pieces.

    The task force tried to fight back, but it was difficult even to spot the creature. It blended with the walls, as if it had melted into the ground.

    After tearing apart ten of the warriors, the creature sped off through the passage.

    ¡°Damn it... It¡¯s too fast, I couldn¡¯t even get a good look. Did anyone see anything?¡±

    ¡°I saw it. There was something strange. Its size seemed to shrink.¡±

    ¡°Size?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. It didn¡¯t seem like it was even 10 meters, let alone 40.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Could it be that there¡¯s another creature here?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve finished the support request. Once the reinforcements arrive, we¡¯ll move out together.¡±

    Although about 180 members remained, they decided to wait in rtive safety. Given the unpredictable nature of the creature, acting hastily was too dangerous.

    Before the reinforcements could arrive, the fourth ambush urred silently.

    A voice called out to them from across the passage, where they had just passed. It was someone asking for their help, saying they would move the injured out first and wanted them toe over.

    At first, no one thought it was suspicious. The team assumed that part of the reinforcements had arrived, and they began to follow the voice, assisting the wounded.

    Had the senior priest not been with them, and had themunication officer not checked the transmission, they would have been caught in a trap.

    Because the creature was there.

    The creature was hiding behind debris piled up in the middle of the passage, exposing only its head and neck, calling out to them. This time, its head was different again. Although its appearance was simr to the first encounter, it was now pink.

    The creature, imitating the voice, crushed all the injured soldiers before retreating into the debris.

    When the real reinforcements finally arrived and searched the area, they found nothing. A few small holes, only a few centimeters in diameter, were discovered, but there was no way such arge creature could hide in them.

    In the end, they returned to theirrades, having lost only the injured soldiers.

    ¡°Imitating voices? Is that even possible?¡±

    ¡°¡­Whatever it is, I think we¡¯ve figured something out.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s clear now that every time it changes its head, its abilities change too.¡±

    ¡°What kind of monster has the queen created?¡±

    ¡°No, at this point, we might not even be dealing with a regr creature. It could really be connected to the cult.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re talking about ¡®The Masquerade,¡¯ I doubt that¡¯s the case. If it were, we would have already faced a massive disaster.¡±

    Now, with the reinforcements included, there were 250 members, but the senior priests couldn¡¯t shake their sense of unease.

    The fear that an unknown enemy might be hiding somewhere in the underground, watching them, was suffocating.

    Then, amunication from above only deepened their anxiety.

    ¡°Please repeat what you just said. What did you say?¡±

    ?The advisor has suggested that the creature you''re dealing with has a simr appearance to ¡®The Three-Headed Demon.¡¯?

    ¡°We¡¯re aware of the creature. Does it have the ability to transform? Wait, how did it even get here...¡±

    ?That part is being investigated by the Prophet Order and the Temple Guard, and we¡¯ll have results soon... crackle, retreat... crackle.?

    ¡°Themunication¡¯s unstable!¡±

    ¡°......¡±

    Though they had gathered some information about the creature¡¯s identity, no one was pleased by the discovery.

    The fifth ambush from the demon was already approaching the task force.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 311

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    [Trantor ¨C Seraph]

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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Chapter 311

    ¡°Things are going well.¡±

    The ambush from earlier had been quite sessful.

    It had taken out one of the Eye of Revtion priests in charge of themand.

    The enemies preparing their formation in the chamber seemed unaware, but beneath their feet was another hidden passage, a narrow side path used by Number 26, who moved at a slower pace.

    After waiting for the creature that had created confusion among the enemies with vocal imitations to slip into the passage, the attackmenced.

    My humanoid parasites, which hadn¡¯t seenbat in a while, finally joined the fray. Most of the foes I¡¯d fought up to this point had been immune to the paralysis waves of the parasites. Because of this, their role had been limited to gathering intelligence, with few opportunities for direct action until today.

    The enemies, unprepared for sound-based attacks, were paralyzed by the waves, even the priests themselves.

    Though they hastily attempted to break free with psychic techniques, it was already toote. One of them vanished without a trace when it was struck by the acidic breath from the central head.

    As soon as the objective was aplished, I retrieved the parasite and fled.

    The priests, having lost one of their own in an instant, were in a frenzy. But all they could do was scream and rage. The possibility of hidden traps in this underground space kept them from acting rashly, no matter their fury.

    With no resistance, I retreated, bringing my three heads down to the ground. The Auxiliary Organ under my jaw collected information about the happenings above the tunnelsid beneath the ground.

    With three heads, the performance of my Auxiliary Organs had increased threefold. This allowed me to observe enemy movements effortlessly, even without building a nest.

    ¡°They''re regrouping.¡±

    The enemies in the chamber did not move. Instead, new activity was sensed from the center.

    The enemies were not fools; they must have gathered information from the five previous ambushes and were preparing ordingly.

    ¡°Good. You¡¯re doing well.¡±

    Did they realize that their actions were just as I intended?

    There were two main objectives I needed to achieve in this fight.

    The first was to buy time.

    To infiltrate the ¡°Fortress of Water,¡± I would need to transform into the ¡°Cunning Weakling,¡± but the cooldown had not finished yet. I would need to wait at least two more days.

    Since the parasite¡¯s discovery, I had made preparations to extend the battle into a prolonged conflict. One of these preparations included dozens of tunnels of varying sizes that sprawled underground.

    On a normal, it would have ended with the use of an imperial gship, but this was Verzan 02. Above ground, several cities were scattered. To capture me, they would eventually need to enter the tunnels.

    And despite this being controlled by the cult, the enemies were not used to fighting underground.

    The Eye of Revtion priests, who faced the cult, were the only ones familiar with suchbat; the rest likely had never fought underground. The priests were much more effective above ground.

    That was why I had designed the battlefield to beplex, to prolong the fight. Number 26 and I had worked diligently to set this up before they could form a siege.

    The maze, sprawling like an ant colony, was filled not only with pathways I could navigate but also tunnels where Adhai and a reduced Number 26 could move. When I lured the enemies to specific points, it was so my allies could execute guerri tactics.

    To be honest, wiping out the enemies here and now wasn¡¯t impossible. It could be done by just Adhai and Number 26, who had inherited my traits. Or, I could do what I had done before and spread the ¡°Abyssal Hue¡± over their nests.

    The reason I went through all this effort was connected to my second goal.

    ¡°Providing false information to the real enemy.¡±

    The core of the Amorph¡¯s ystyle in the game lies in its traits. Utilizing a vast number of traits tounch unpredictable attacks against enemies is the fundamental strategy of an Amorph.

    In other words, if the enemy knows what traits I possess, their effectiveness is halved. If they catch on to the weaknesses of my traits and prepare for them, it¡¯s game over.

    This is why an Amorph must hide its traits while continuously thinking up new ways to use them. Without that, no matter how powerful a trait is, it would be left behind.

    To put it simply, the cult group facing me right now isn¡¯t really my enemy. They¡¯re more like a reconnaissance squad sent by my ¡°true enemy.¡±

    The cult ranker hiding somewhere above is likely analyzing me diligently checking what stage of evolution I¡¯m in, what traits I have, and so on.

    Even knowing this, I haven¡¯t hidden my traits; instead, I¡¯ve exposed them periodically. The reason for that is simple.

    I want to keep my most important weapons hidden and feed false information.

    At this point, my two most powerful weapons are my allies and the traits I obtained through the Transcendence System.

    The first weapon is something no one who¡¯s faced me in the game would believe.

    None of the opponents I¡¯ve met so far thought that mypanions were following me of their own free will. Even Cynthia, whost fought me, saw Number 26 only as a pet.

    For Mother of the Sky, the fact that I traveled with other beings was nothing short of a miracle.

    The cult ranker confronting me on Verzan 02 is the same. He has no idea that I have allies. Even if he did, he wouldn¡¯t think that I had grown powerful enough to hunt rankers on my own.

    To hide the fact that I had allies, I set it up as if I had the trait that allows me to change my body freely.

    For example, Number 26 and Adhai used the traits I possessed to ambush the enemy in my ce.

    First, Adhai. She made full use of her newly acquired fusion trait, ¡°Protective Camouge.¡± The effect of this trait allows her to mimic her surroundings and hide when she stays in one spot for several seconds. It¡¯s a useful trait for Adhai, who is small and quick.

    Of course, camouge alone couldn¡¯t evade detection systems, but that¡¯s where Number 26 came in. With psychic power, Number 26 neutralized the detection equipment, and then Adhai attacked.

    Adhai fought as she always did, using ¡°Red Armor¡± to protect herself and charging at the enemies with speed. The enemies were powerless against the unbreakable Gagon projectiles.

    Next was Number 26. It used ¡°Mutation Tentacle¡± and ¡°Mimicry Tentacle¡± to deal with the injured foes.

    In the game, the ¡°Mimicry Organ¡± was like my trademark trait. Using mimicry of voices and appearance to lure and eliminate enemies was one of my main tactics.

    Both ¡°Protective Camouge¡± and ¡°Mimicry¡± were traits I frequently used, and a ranker would know that. They would likely think I was the one behind it.

    The enemies probably assumed I had a trait that let me change my body size or transform into a different form.

    ¡°Not that such traits arepletely absent.¡±

    But whatever they imagine, it¡¯s far from the truth. The more these misconceptions umte, the higher the chance the enemies will make a fatal mistake.

    ¡°Which, in fact, they already have.¡±

    The enemy ranker made a wrong judgment.

    If he had fought me and lost, he would have used the imperial gship by the second ambush. But instead, he kept sending troops underground.

    It could be that he made that choice to learn more about my capabilities, but the important part is that he underestimated me.

    To him, I¡¯m constantly exposing my traits and fleeing. Not building a nest was just a bonus. But I¡¯m not trying to lure them into a trap. If I had intended that, would the 200 odd cult members who entered the underground still be alive?

    Any ranker who has fought an Amorph would know what that means.

    It means that I haven¡¯t been on this for long and am not fully prepared for battle.

    No matter how notorious I am, in this state, I should be manageable, right?

    ¡°They¡¯re probably thinking that.¡±

    If the enemy underestimates me, I¡¯m grateful. I didn¡¯te to this to fight them.

    I raised my head from the floor, hoping the enemy would see me as vulnerable.

    They were still busy regrouping. From the looks of it, it would take at least an hour.

    During that time, I had things to do too. If I seeded here, I could buy myself a significant amount of time.

    I moved again toward the expansive, open corridor.

    ---

    As Alshas exchanged messages with thems unit, Nern was haunted by a nightmare.

    He¡¯d seen a simr scene before.

    The Three-Headed Demon...

    The monster that destroyed the Imperial Carrier and its battle group on the sacrednd of  Saigil 08.

    That creature appeared in the footage recorded by the extermination squad.

    The form is different, but it¡¯s definitely the same.

    The appearance captured by the Imperial Carrier¡¯s camera was very different from now. The number of horns had increasedpared to that time, and the size had be so much smaller it was nearly iparable.

    Even though the creature was only showing its heads and hiding its body, Nern recognized it instantly. He knew it was his mortal enemy.

    Nern informed Alshas, and because he was the only one who had seen the monster firsthand on this, she immediately took action.

    The knowledge managers cross-referenced the records rted to the creature and the extermination squad¡¯s footage, confirming his im. They deduced that it was highly probable the demon was the same one responsible for the Sky 08 catastrophe.

    The news that the enemy underground was the Three-Headed Demon caused a stir among themanders.

    The one saving grace was that the creature appeared weakened. Its size had shrunk, and itcked the powerful breath attack that had incinerated the entire gship group.

    If the enemy had the same specifications as whenst seen, those who had gone underground would already be dead.

    Alshas pointed this out to reassure themanders, but at the same time, she requested support: sending the temple guards, the fully armed Eyes of Revtion priests, and summoning an imperial gship from another.

    The request for an imperial gship was denied due to the cost and risk of orbital bombardment on one of the empire''s primes, but the other requests were approved.

    Elite forces from the temple guards were on their way to Verzan 02, and powerful priests from the Eyes of Revtion were being dispatched underground. Fully armed priests were already heading to Glory Street, ready to join the extermination squad soon.

    While watching Alshas use the adviser¡¯s position wisely, Nern felt a mix of relief and a small sense of unease.

    It was true that the demon had weakened, but that didn¡¯t mean it would be easy to defeat.

    For example, during the five ambushes, the demon had shown its head four times. Three of those appearances resembled the monster he had seen before: the central head that breathed acid and the two side heads that shot corrosive flesh.

    But the pink head that mimicked the cult¡¯s voice was different. It looked like the central head, but something felt off, almost as if it were a different being.

    What if the demon wasn¡¯t alone? What if it had allies or other monstrous subordinates?

    The extermination squad and Alshas were focusing solely on the Three-Headed Demon. If it wasn¡¯t just one creature but several, there could be serious consequences.

    ...No, it doesn¡¯t matter.

    This was Verzan 02, one of the empire¡¯s cores. It was impossible for the demon to survive here. Even if it had multiplied from one to two, it would only serve to prolong the battle. The demon would die here.

    The only regret was that he couldn¡¯t kill it himself.

    In his heart, he wanted to join the extermination squad, but Alshas wouldn¡¯t let him. She wanted his junior to watch the demon¡¯s death from a safe ce.

    But if there¡¯s a chance...

    He was lost in those thoughts when a message appeared on the device pad strapped to his wrist. His eyes widened as he read it.

    What?

    The message hade from Minseok Yujin, a servant serving his master, Si-Hyun Yujin.

    The message said that Yujin and La Chemblin had run outside the moment they saw the footage sent by the extermination squad.

    Why on earth?

    It was true that Si-Hyun had promised to help with his revenge. It was also true that he had exined in detail about the target of his vengeance, the Three-Headed Demon.

    But taking immediate action after seeing the footage was a different matter. The demon¡¯s appearance was different from what he had described.

    Still, the fact that she had reacted so swiftly what did that mean?

    Could it be?

    It was a response that only those who truly knew the demon could show. Just like Nern himself.

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