Chapter 2333 - ESM 2

What is the essence of Amorph play?

Space survival games ensure high freedom, but they aren't without established gameplay 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 slaves due to racial characteristics.

So, what's the conventional way of playing Amorph? What sets Amorph apart from other races?

'They are Hunters.'

Gathering enemy information in advance, laying traps, luring them, and ambushing them from behind. No matter how many genetic essences you accumulate and become stronger in the late game, the essence of Amorph remains that of a hunter.

Even in the late game after finishing essence farming, the same formula holds. The reason I could become the best in the game as Amorph was simple.

'I was good at hunting.'

Unlike other players, I had to fight alone without party members.

My physical abilities weren't better than young players. I had fewer equipment and attributes than long-time players. 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 accumulated 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, slamming her desk.

She had been observing from above the laboratory 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 another laboratory and started manipulating the terminal.

I didn't know what she was trying to do, but it didn't seem pleasant for the creatures inside the laboratory. 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. The laboratory 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 the lab 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 the lab 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 escalated 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 dilation 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 class. The hierarchy is completely 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 outcome.

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. But laws 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 intelligence compared to the others, her body is that of an ordinary woman.

"…We'll see about that later."

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 planet 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.

Her last destination was the restroom. She was accompanied by two guards.

Normally, at least one guard should have accompanied 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 ventilation ducts surrounding the restroom, I prepared for the assault.

I loosened two screws with my claws and carefully removed the grate, making sure not to make any noise. I hung it up while keeping my claws 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.

"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 delay. My legs pounded against the steel floor. My body, transformed into a deadly projectile, was launched towards her. The distance between us was still considerable, but now was the time to use my wings.

I had been eagerly awaiting the command 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 flapped.

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, overcome 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 collapsed 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 grew larger 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 clamping 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 had come 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 genetic 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 place.

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 accept.

Even if my auxiliary systems hadn't sounded an alarm, 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 playing 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, similar 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 I launched a surprise attack, I could kill him.

My body entered combat 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 penetrated his ear, was slowly withdrawn. He had been instantly killed by the paralytic poison injected close to his brain. As he collapsed 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 ventilation 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 finally come.

After one last look around, I accepted.

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, layer by layer.

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 becoming 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 had completely 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 is complete.

***

Above the cooling room, in the ventilation duct.

It was a place 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 to come out.

After a few more shakes, a crack appeared on the surface of the cocoon. The shell fell to the ground, and something black emerged from the inside.

It was an alien form, covered in black 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.

-x-X-x-

The Airship's conference room.

This is where the senior leadership of the ship gathers for meetings when something important comes 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 splashed 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 slashed 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 playthings.

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 surveillance 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 results come 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 become 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 become 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 the lab."

"…"

"…Ugh."

"If you don't want to end up with just your brain and subjected to electro-torture, you have to come up with some kind of plan."

The word "brain" and "electro-torture" made everyone in the room shudder. To avoid the worst possible outcome, they all desperately put their heads together.

"Accident 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 slammed their desk forcefully.

"Quiet!"

He was the Crisis Management officer who commanded the soldiers.

"All this internal squabbling only complicates the situation."

After calming everyone down in an instant, he paused for a moment and then spoke.

"Captain, our current location is near Planet 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 alarms."

Samuel stroked his chin.

The Space Dogs were marauders who roamed space, looting and pillaging. 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 occur.

In the process, 'unfortunate accidents' 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 accept 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 a completely 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 claws, 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 some complex 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 operating computers or terminals, using weapons, and tools, among other things.

But the changes didn't stop at the arms.

My previous reptilian-like body, which moved on land, had evolved into a bipedal form. In accordance 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 musculature. 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 become long and thick, much like a dinosaur's tail. This change likely happened to maintain balance.

Together with the tail, the stinger had also grown larger, 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 growth compared to before.

'Now that I've become 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 balance.

'Now that survival is more or less sorted, it's time to think about what's next.'

Although I planned to loot all the genetic essence within the ship, I needed to plan ahead. What would be my goal moving forward?

[Race: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph

Status: Metamorph

Objective: Survive (1st Evolution Successful)

Special Traits: Predator Sense (Fusion), Wings, Chitinous Exoskeleton, Robust Vitality, Paralyzing Stinger, Enhanced Exoskeleton, Acidic Blood.

Type: Undetermined]

When I displayed the text box, there was new text next to the objective.

'1st Evolution Successful must refer to becoming 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 players have seen the species ending in Space Survival. I can check the list of players 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 similar.'

If I succeed 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'?]

Becoming a Metamorph marked a significant turning point for Amorphs. It was the moment when they determined their 'Type'. In comparison to other species, you could think of a Type as a profession. The difference was that when you obtained a profession, related 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 related abilities.

For example, if you had many physical enhancement attributes, you might unlock the Physical Enhancement Type. In that case, your existing physical combat-related attributes would become much stronger.

'Considering my attributes, I might become 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 available. 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 becoming a Metamorph, I could secure a total of six attributes related 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 explain that.'

To obtain genetic 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 had latent 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 genetic essence intact.

'Let's start with the corpse.'

I decided to leave the nest recovery for later and prioritize obtaining the traits. I exited the refrigeration room.

'The first place 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 enlarged 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 become more intricate. Although the range hadn't expanded, they had become 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 for later 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 surveillance cameras, so I could proceed without being monitored.

As I walked, I entered an area where the ventilation 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 place where the deceased were laid to rest. The space where the dead found their final peace was right below me.

-x-X-x-

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 are laid 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 their comrades would gather, so it's best to avoid combat 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 ventilation 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. Black blood oozed out from the thin wound. Droplets of blood fell onto the alloy plate, and the alloy plate 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 ventilation 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 black 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 penetrate 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 dilated 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 placed the lifeless doctor on the ground. Fortunately, the guards stationed at the door seemed oblivious to the murder that had just occurred. Their movements remained unchanged.

'It wasn't a hunt I was counting on, but it was successful.'

To be honest, it wasn't a bad outcome. 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 place like this, little more than a research vessel, how often would people die? Finding her wasn't too difficult.

On a cold cart lay 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 become 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 place.

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.'

Having completed 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 flavor. The hair was a bit rough, but I considered that part to be a matter of personal preference.

All in all, the taste of a human head was quite interesting. It was naturally delicious, but how could I describe it compared to a cat?

'A different dimension of flavor.' That seemed like an appropriate way to put it.

What I mean is, a cat can be compared to a franchise fast-food restaurant. It's a form that competes with a taste that has been rigorously tested and validated through strict experiments.

It's closer to a stimulating taste that immediately captivates your brain.

But humans are different. Like a seasoned chef who has spent years preparing a dish, the taste is complex.

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 genetically 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 this come 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! Successfully obtained 'psychic organ' genetic 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 accept, 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 the large 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 playing 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 become 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 the compartment 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 plain delicious compared 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 newcomers. I had obtained valuable information that there were few reinforced suits available, 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 – 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 contemplated 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 overcoming my crisis.

-x-X-x-

Officially, MegaCorp doesn't have a capital city. The entire nation has been corporatized, replacing all terms with words used by companies. 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 place that could be called the center of MegaCorp, and that place 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 becoming a giant corporation that dominated the galaxy.

The ancient capital of a country that no longer existed had become the Yujin family's mansion. It wasn't a metaphor; the entire city had become 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 other planets, this place 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 solar system, had served as MegaCorp's CEO three times in a row.

Despite being over 200 years old, thanks to genetic modification treatments, he looked no older than middle age.

Two men in suits stood near the garden. One was an elderly man with white, combed-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 owner commands 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 young lady."

"Young lady?"

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 young lady'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."

"The last 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 uncommon occurrence. At that moment, two men in black 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 amount comparable to the development cost of a new battleship."

"…"

"Even genetic 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't compete with the Noble Capitals, they still vied for the position of MegaCorp's rulers.

"Then, could it be Eden's plan? 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 figure compared 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 credits come from T&C."

The Butler didn't show it, but he was internally shocked. He had only been speculating, 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 plans 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 into laughter 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 stopped laughing, 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 planning to outmaneuver me before the council meeting."

"We have the rightful claim, 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 related 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 genetically modified mutants with extreme enhancements, known for their immense combat 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 consolation sent to those somewhere out there in the cosmos, the Butler quietly withdrew.

Meanwhile, on some distant corner of Earth, a massive war and ruthless slaughter 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 collapsing.

Before him lay what used to be the mortuary, but now only ashes remained in the place 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 explained what they had witnessed.

"We smelled something strange inside, sir, and saw smoke coming out. So we decided to investigate."

"Is that so?"

According 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 place where there's only corpses?"

"What… what happened here?"

The chief of the medical team, who had arrived late, was shocked at the scene.

Seeing the state of their captain, who was unable to respond, the Crisis Management officer briefly explained the situation.

Having heard the story, the medical officer stiffened his expression.

"It's possible that the chemical compounds stored in the morgue ignited, but it's highly unusual for a fire of this magnitude to occur."

"What do you mean?"

The medical team leader sealed his lips, cautiously glancing 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 place where the research team leader's remains were stored was glaringly 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 particularly difficult due to severe burns, but they could identify the subordinate by the ring on their hand.

As the medical officer contemplated the bitterness of the subordinate's death, he completed 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 play.

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 placed 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 chemical compounds 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 flames quickly erupted.

'Enhanced exoskeletons are fire-resistant.'

The flames 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-proclaimed conquerors of the cosmos yet labeled as cosmic trash by others. They occasionally 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.

Speculation suggests that the captain planned the docking to shift the blame 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 are composed of various species, so the range of genetic essences I can obtain is broader. If the pirates were to raid the research ship, I could easily acquire various genetic essences.

'The downside is that the genetic 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 genetic 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 glanced 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.

"Cargo container?"

The officer hesitated for a few minutes in front of the cargo container. After confirming that no one was coming, 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 replaced the smooth alloy plates 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—his sweat, the foreign substances stuck to his feet, and the traces they left behind served as my guide. The place where he had stayed the longest was in front of a particular container.

'I'll need an ID card and fingerprint recognition for this.'

Containers seemingly connected to the officer had a higher level of security compared 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 planned 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 black market and selling them to the upper echelons.

Before boarding the ship, he had acquired something from the black market—an 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. According 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 planet 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 to complain. 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 claimed 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-strength composite 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 playing 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 glanced 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 at last, he hastily entered the access 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.

He lay 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 his composure 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 access code.

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.

A cheerful alert sounded out of place as the door lock was released, and the door opened slowly.

***

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 the last 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 salary.

He should be thankful to me. I'm reducing the number of people wasting their salaries.

'Thanks to that, I'm doing well.'

Originally, I had planned 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 surveillance 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 occasionally 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 a laser weapon couldn't penetrate 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 seemingly comfortable mattress was against the wall. There were cabinets 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 placed 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 have lacked 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 relatively 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 survival competition.

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 genetic essence.

Strengthening traits like super-sense through identical genetic essence is extremely helpful in the early stages.

I had hoped to acquire genetic 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 genetic essences.

[Race: Unidentified Aggressive Space Morph

Status: Metamorph

Objective: Survive (1st Evolution Successful)

Special Traits: Predator Senses (Fusion), Wings, Chitinous Exoskeleton, Robust Vitality, Neurotoxin Glands (Fusion), Enhanced Exoskeleton, Acidic Blood, psychic organ, Enhanced Angular 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 available only in the mid to late 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.

'Genetic 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 black abyss, never to be heard again.