On a black 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 that later.'
For now, I had to get out of this place.
[Don't let go.]
The research ship had blast doors in each section, and I was currently in the Nest, the area densely packed with facilities related to the ship's reactor. The blast 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 blast door. Upon manipulating the terminal next to the door, there was a hissing sound as the blast door closed. From the other side of the door, I faintly heard the alarm 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 spike launcher 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 been compressing 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 overlapped.
'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 a large 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 players 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 Gallagon's claw.
'Then I'll enjoy this.'
I needed to eat quickly and then go clean up the cyborgs in the command 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 to completely 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 playing 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 the command 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 cyborgs later.
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 the complex corridors.
It was late 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 plasma launcher that was standing in the corner.
｢Flash!｣
[Zzz zzzz zzz zzzzz (yes, it did flash)].
Number 26 adjusted the color of its body to match the energy projectile's color from the plasma launcher, turning it green. Although it didn't quite grasp the concept of a plasma launcher, it seemed to remember that people would explode whenever the green light flashed.
The plasma launcher looked somewhat similar to the ultimate weapon from classic 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 the launcher, aiming it at the closest section of the outer wall.
[Charging 10… 20… 50… 80… 100%.]
As I manipulated the terminal on the launcher, it began to charge energy. Number 26, who had been watching, climbed onto my shoulder.
In just a few seconds, the launcher finished charging. I pulled the trigger.
The immense recoil transmitted through my arm as a green beam shot out from the launcher'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, I landed on the target.
｢Woah! This is fun!｣
Number 26, who had witnessed the endless night, exclaimed in excitement. There we were, on a ship that resembled a white paper floating in a black sea, where there was no oxygen or gravity.
A six-legged monster was running on a ship with a woman's corpse and a plasma launcher 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 minutes later, I arrived at the cargo container and activated the plasma launcher. 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 plasma launcher, having completed 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 the launcher.
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 the command 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 uncomfortable seat because of the tail.'
I broke the uncomfortable 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 glass 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 place where my journey of growth and evolution had begun.
***
***
'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. Any later, 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 particular, 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 accidentally triggered the bomb moments ago. Nonetheless, 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 preoccupied 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 planned to escape using an escape pod, but he must be hiding because he didn't want to abandon the ship.'
There was no lack 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 have come 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 plasma pistol!"
"What? Plasma 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. Plasma 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 plasma 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 flaw.
The plasma pistol was an extremely lightweight version of the powerful plasma 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 plasma 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 to laugh, 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 contemplated 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 succeed in killing the monster. Or maybe another passing ship will come to their aid.', he thought.
However, a miracle had occurred. 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!!'
｢Awww, 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-calculated 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 similar.
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 plans 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 flavor 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! Successfully obtained 'Gallagon's Claw' genetic essence]
[Extracted the 'Gallagon's Claw' from the biological characteristics of 'Si-hyun'.]
[Do you want to apply 'Gallagon's Claw'?]
[Predation Effect Activated! Successfully obtained 'Camouflage Skin' genetic essence.]
[Extracted the 'Camouflage Skin' from the biological characteristics of 'Si-hyun'.]
[Do you want to apply 'Camouflage Skin'?]
[Predation Effect Activated! Successfully obtained 'clairvoyance' genetic essence.]
[Extracted 'clairvoyance' from the biological characteristics of 'Si-hyun'.]
[Do you want to apply 'clairvoyance'?]
-x-X-x-
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 Gallagon, 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 could compare them to elves, demons, and dragons, more or less.'
Gallagon, also known as the dragon of space, is extremely rare, and ordinary players 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 similarities with dragons, such as a massive reptilian body, wings on their backs, and horned heads, there's a significant difference – instead of a mouth, they have a cluster of tentacles where it should be.
Gallagon 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 Gallagon's colour represents its growth level, distinguishing it from dragons.
'The 'Gallagon Claw' trait I got from Si-hyun represents the genes of a white Gallagon. If we compare it to a scale of power, it's somewhere in the middle, leaning towards the higher end.'
'It's incredibly rare to acquire a Gallagon Claw so quickly.'
Even a mature Blue Gallagon, which is considered to be one level below, would be challenging to capture. Needless to say, a White Gallagon two levels higher is even more remarkable.
'I have no idea where they obtained something as precious as a 'Gallagon Claw', but I'm grateful for it.'
The next trait I obtained after the Gallagon Claw is 'Camouflage 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 Gallagon.'
Since Giant Chameleons are herbivores, they are not particularly powerful in combat. 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 magnetic field from the spikes on their skin.
This magnetic field makes it impossible to observe them with equipment or traits. None of my auxiliary devices, traits like camouflage, electronic devices, psychic powers, and so on can penetrate 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 of planets, how would you know where to look?
I've only obtained Giant Chameleon Essence three times in my time playing 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 a large 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 'Camouflage Skin', I have some information that even Rankers don't know.
You can actually combine mimicry and Camouflage 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 that combines mimicry and camouflage 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 somewhat complex, but let me explain it briefly. First, the mimicry organ analyzes the genetic 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 guerrilla 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 depict complex emotional changes like joy or sorrow, aside from simple actions. As a result, the uncanny valley phenomenon is quite severe. Even someone who is completely clueless would feel discomfort and unease when in the same space.
It also shares the downsides of mimicry, such as being unable to speak long and complicated 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 'clairvoyance'.'
The first two traits are excellent, but clairvoyance is a somewhat subtle trait.
'Although it's a good trait…'
In Space Survival, clairvoyance 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 similar to reality that it's called 'clairvoyance' just for the sake of it. In a way, it can be seen as similar to abilities in the precognition category.
Up to this point, you might feel that it's somewhat similar to something else.
It's similar 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 clairvoyance, clairvoyance becomes a hindrance.
'But still, it counts as a psychic-type power.'
It's not immediately useful, but it's a valuable trait related to psychic powers. Moreover, it can be used for fusion later on, so it's better than not having it.
The inspection of the traits is complete. The text box has been waiting for my response from the beginning.
I accepted the application of all traits.
['Gallagon Claw' trait has been applied.]
[Can be merged with the existing 'Psychic Organ' trait.]
['Gallagon Claw' 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.]
['Camouflage Skin' trait has been applied.]
[Can be merged with the existing 'Mimicry' trait.]
['Camouflage 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 place 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 glass, they would surely faint.
[PR/N: Trypophobia is an aversion to the sight of irregular 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 Gallagon's mouth.
As far as I know, Gallagon 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 swordstorm composed of psychic energy is good, but the Monster's Tentacles have a wide range of uses beyond just offense. It's an unexpected outcome, but not a bad one.
'I guess the Mimicry Organ is as expected.'
Lastly, clairvoyance 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-related type.
'Now I have four psychic-related traits.'
Predator Sense, Human Nature, Monster's Tentacles, and Clairvoyance, 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-related 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 accepted 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 similar in appearance and have similar 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-related traits.'
It's a trait called 'Abyssal Terror' that drives people within a certain range insane. It's similar to the illusion trait of Red Mist, but the range is incomparable, 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 Gallagon's claws.'
And there might be someone who possesses that trait right in front of me, albeit in a much weaker state compared 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. Accepting 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 planet under the jurisdiction of MegaCorp, which was the original target of the research vessel.
'But there's no need to go there.'
MegaCorp's planets were heavily fortified with large-scale troops. Depending on the planet, the details might differ slightly, but it was impossible for me to confront them in my current state.
'Where's the nearest place from here?'
I searched my memories for places 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 place for players trading various gene essences. It was also a place where all sorts of genetic samples were gathered, so I visited it regularly.
'Thanks to that, I got a lot of insults.'
The cowardly players 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 become 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.
I lay 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 black 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 planet, 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 immaculate 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 black hair and a slender figure, she was a beautiful lady. 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 genetic modification was not yet complete, she had taken out insurance for the future. If she were to die, her cloned self would take her place.
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 become a clone…"
Si-hyun looked at her body. Her skin was as white as a newborn's, with smooth and flawless 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 genetic abilities she had, like Gallagon's claws 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 plan.
"…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 his communication device beeped.
Bleep!
[Hey, Carpenter, are you busy?]
"Howard? What's up?"
[The MegaCorp escape pod just arrived.]
"Where did it come 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 a lavishly 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 occurred 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 manipulating 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 black, without a single light. Carpenter, wearing a helmet with a lantern, 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 place 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 discomfort 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.
-x-X-x-
'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 light coming in.
Number 26, nestled in my arms, emitted a feeling of discomfort.
｢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 glamorous on the surface, but I knew well what this city was really like.
'It's a sick place.'
It may not be as significant as the 'Earth', which serves as MegaCorp's capital, but this place is no ordinary interdimensional landscape. There are plenty of people who treat human lives like flies, and individuals driven to heinous crimes by hedonism are abundant.
While many come here for tourism or job opportunities, it's also a place where many depart, but not by choice. That's the T&C Special Economic Zone for you.
'So that's why I chose this place. 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 places where MegaCorp citizens indulge their secret desires with'employed' slaves. Just like the surveillance is lax in real life due to the preferences of high-ranking individuals, it's the same here. There are hardly any surveillance cameras, but combat 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 place, 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 place 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 place 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 surveillance cameras guard it, and entering there would surely cause a commotion.
I've infiltrated this place 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 was completed.
'At least this place is mine.'
I muttered to myself as I lifted the rusty manhole cover in front of me.
This place, located at the border of the harbor district, is my own little passage.
***
Among MegaCorp's noble capital families, the T&C Clan had a particularly strong business-oriented character.
This was not surprising considering that the T&C Clan had its origins in an insurance company located in a city once known as New York.
Perhaps that was why.
The motto of the royal family of Earth, the T&C Clan, was as follows:
'To stand in one place, one must keep running.'
The Red Queen effect, frequently mentioned in business management, was their survival philosophy. Just as the Yujin family had become kings of Earth through genetic research, the T&C Clan 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 solar 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.
Planned as a trade hub connecting the solar 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 place to see the historic structure created by humanity.
The office of the contraband animal surveillance 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 black 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 welcoming ambiance of those lights.
'Who should I play 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, displaying the faces and personal histories of the staff the shop offered, along with their service details.
This was a place where MegaCorp officially'employed' individuals to provide special services. It was a place where customers had to obey any request. For someone, it was hell, but for someone else, it was paradise – that was the special entertainment establishment.
'I'll take her.'
Ras picked a woman who looked like a coworker. He didn't feel particularly guilty. He was well aware that the coworker was a regular here anyway.
With a whistle, Ras entered the shop.
Two hours later.
Ras stood in the bathroom of the establishment, washing his blood-stained hands. He occasionally enjoyed this ritual, even though he had replaced 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 glanced 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.
It wasn't exactly comfortable. The dim and dirty apartment, along with poor security, led Ras and his team to dub the place as a 'chicken coop.'
"Damn it! Who broke another streetlight?"
Normally, the streetlights should illuminate the streets, but they were all smashed in various places. 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 flashlight from his bag. Light emanated from the end of the flashlight, illuminating his path.
Crunch! crunch!
The sound of stepping on broken glass shattered the stillness of the residential district. It was a route he walked regularly, 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 profanity-laced 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 place had been a pitch-black wasteland. Seeing someone standing still in such a place, holding that strange ball-like object, was suspicious.
"What are you doing?"
"Just heading home."
The young man responded calmly with a flat tone. His voice seemed entirely ordinary compared 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 glanced 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 played 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-black, 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 black, 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 discomfort.'
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 glanced 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 incomprehensible.
'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.
-x-X-x-
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 place, 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 stay late 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 quite late. 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 apartment complex.
"Phew."
As he passed through the entrance to the complex, 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-black 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 his communicator.
***
'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 apartment complex.
'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 available.
'It's a good thing that the species I need to eat to evolve into a Pre-saint is difficult to obtain.'
Evolution conditions become more complex after reaching the Pre-saint stage.
'I have to eat a total of 60 playable 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 player versus player combat. 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 occur.
So, most Amorph players give up at this point and focus on raising other species. It might be a wise decision since the conditions for evolution beyond Saint become much more challenging.
'A special trade hub like this attracts many extraterrestrial species, making it easier to collect genes in one place.'
Collecting genetic essence by going to planets where the required species live is inefficient. Storming a place 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 unoccupied. When I evolve into a Saint, my weight will significantly increase, and the people downstairs will soon notice something unusual happening upstairs.
'I've calculated that, but… huh?'
My auxiliary system gave me a warning signal. Someone is approaching in the corridor.
[ZZZ ZZZZ (come here)]
｢Baby, what's going on?｣
[ZZZZ ZZZZZZZZ(Someone's coming)]
I called Number 26 and calculated 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 with law 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 nonchalant 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 claimed 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 class. 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 class, 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, come on, clean up your room."
Ignoring Ras' annoyed glares, they shook their heads. One of the officers inspected the bathroom, while the other checked the balcony.
"Nothing in particular?"
"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."
"There's no way! I saw it clearly with my own eyes!"
"Tsk tsk, if you're a cyborg, you should replace your eyes first."
Despite the police officers' offensive comments, 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 place 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 place 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 had come 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 clad 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 contemplated. 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 collapsed onto the bed. His house might be small, but he had purchased a relatively large bed because he wanted to sleep like an Upper Capital.
'Feels good.'
The spacious and plush bed enveloped him. The intoxication and comfort 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 work late, 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 sound coming from another house, but the annoying noise resonated too closely. It was as if something were hiding just under his large 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 uncontrollably, 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 place 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 place 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 correlation between health and taste', I mused.
He didn't appear to have a healthy diet, and I couldn't help but worry about consuming similar beings in this apartment complex.
'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 planned to finish things on the MegaCorp Research Ship, but it seemed I had come a long way.
[ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ(I'll become an egg for a moment)]
｢An egg? But you're just a baby, why are you becoming 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 accepted the evolution.
The time had come to enjoy the majesty of the sub-adult body, which I had briefly tasted with the Psyonium.