'If reporters have started looking for me, I need to finish this as quickly as possible.'
Being a profession reliant on social networks, journalists frequently share information among themselves. It's not safe to assume that only one person is investigating me. People who know me or have connections will multiply in no time.
'So, controlling them like parasites is difficult.'
It's not that they have a strong journalist's spirit or resistance. The reason it's difficult to control them is the same as why journalists can be a challenge to handle – it's all about social connections. As a profession that involves meeting various people, some completely unknown or through networking, any deviation from their usual behavior would quickly raise suspicions.
In other words, it's more advantageous for me to use her as bait rather than turning her into a slave.
I picked up the communication device again and asked William, "What's her mode of transportation?"
[She came on foot. She'll probably use the subway to cross the city.]
If she's from a newspaper, she's likely located in the commercial district. However, there are no newspapers around the manhole.
If the distance is too far, it's not easy for me to go and get her. However, calling William to bring her poses its own set of problems.
'If she disappears, William will become the prime suspect.'
He's still a useful pawn. I kept him alive for a reason, and it would be a waste to lose him so soon.
'Wait, the subway?'
Some parts of the secret passage where my nest is located are very close to the subway tracks. There are cameras at the platforms, but no separate cameras on the tracks.
'Was there a part connected between the subway tracks and the secret passage?'
I don't remember such a place in the game, but this is reality. If there's a part close to the tracks and the secret passage, I can break through the wall to connect them.
I hadn't considered the subway station before because there were too many cameras, but if I can access the tracks, my field of operation will expand significantly.
'The nest is complete. Let's check it out.'
I lay down on the floor and connected the auxiliary system under my chin to the nest. My senses were pulled and expanded by something. The link was established, and I began receiving information about the events happening in the city.
'It's noisy.'
The lives and movements of the inhabitants, in contrast to the static research vessel, felt incredibly chaotic due to the vast amount of information.
The movements of trains heating the metal tracks, the sounds of people's footsteps, the breaths and coughs of those in the subway, the unpleasant scent of sweat and odors. The elements emerging from the city's veins stimulated my five senses.
'The subway is covered. Now, where's the point closest to the tracks?'
After expanding my senses and surveying my surroundings, I found several places where I could easily access the tracks with a little corrosion of the metal walls.
'Among these, there are three places I could attempt.'
Two in the entertainment district and one in the commercial district. There were a few more points near the tracks, but I excluded them due to various issues. Some were too narrow for me to maneuver through, while others were too close to the platforms, increasing the risk of detection despite my efforts to create a passage.
'It seems to be related to the number of stations.'
In this city that I know, the entertainment district had the most stations, followed by the commercial district.
'I'll check the commercial district later after I break through the entertainment district.'
I disconnected the link and stood up.
As I was heading towards the secret passage closely connected to the tracks, Number 26 spoke to me.
｢Where are you going?｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ Z (Just for a walk).]
｢Alright, come quickly.｣
With that said, the little guy cuddled up to Adhai and fell asleep again. Both of them were wild animals, so they got along well, perhaps sharing some kind of unspoken bond.
'It's a sight you don't often see in the game.'
Amorph was naturally a race that forced solo play, and most other races I had tried were not very compatible with party play.
'Thinking about it, I've played more of a playstyle that destroys parties than participates in them.'
I've had my fair share of clashes that led to clan disbandment.
'When I used to fight on the forest planet, I was really at my best.'
Once, when I was just a lower-tiered entity, four major clans joined forces to surround me on a forest planet. Since there were many rankers involved, it was difficult for me to win.
At that time, I used every possible method and trick that Amorph could use.
Many of the strategies I use in battles now were first used or developed during that battle.
'That fight helped me a lot. Of course, I'd never want to do it again.'
However, the clans that came to capture me fell for my trickery, fought among themselves, and ended up annihilating each other.
Three of the four clans disbanded afterward, and even the relatively intact clan suffered significant losses as its members mass-quit, reducing their numbers from 100 to 60.
'It's ironic that I used to break up parties, and now I have companions with me.'
And all of this in a world where the in-game background became reality.
As I reminisced about old memories while walking, I quickly reached my destination. I hadn't expanded my nest to this area in the residential district yet.
'Should I set up another one here too?'
Each time I evolve, the number of nests I can create increases by 2, so as a current Pre-saint, I can create a total of 5 nests. I've already created one, leaving me with 4 more.
'I should create one after devouring the journalist.'
I resolved to use the energy provided by this prey for a new nest and touched the wall. Compared to the other walls, the wall I touched transmitted the vibrations caused by the moving train more distinctly.
'Let's get started, then.'
I used my fingernail to create a cut on my palm. Acidic blood, which could easily melt even tough alloys, oozed from the wound. The blood flowed from my palm to the metal wall, which began to emit smoke as it melted.
Once the wound healed, I repeated the same process. After about 10 minutes, a hole appeared in the wall.
'That should do it.'
I stopped inflicting wounds and kicked the wall around the hole with my foot. Thanks to the enhanced properties of my strength, my kick was enough to warp even the thick alloy wall. After enlarging the hole with my hands, I peeled away the melted metal.
As a result, I had created a hole of sufficient size for me to crawl through. When I crossed over to the tracks, I was greeted by the distinctive fine dust of the subway. The strong scent of iron emanating from the steel rails, and the faint flow of electricity through the rails, caressed my auxiliary organ.
As I examined the old tracks, I noticed a light in the distance. A train was approaching.
'The path is open.'
Now, all that's left is information about the prey I'm going to hunt. I'll have to ask William when I meet him.
***
It was 10:30 PM. By the time the light in the commercial district had almost disappeared, Kevin was able to leave the DailyMass office.
'Ah, it's so late.'
Despite the late working hours, she didn't feel bad at all. The office manager was very satisfied with the coverage she had brought, and she mentioned considering her promotion after the board meeting.
'Does a promotion mean I'll get into the Administrative District?'
Or perhaps it could lead to her being transferred to a better planet, away from this wretched city.
With such happy thoughts in mind, Kevin waited for the subway at the station.
There was no one on the platform except her, but she didn't feel scared. The subway station was equipped with numerous cameras, and security personnel were watching for any issues beyond the camera's view.
However, something unexpected happened that went against her common sense. The lights inside the platform suddenly went out.
"Ahh!"
Kevin was startled and sat in place in the dark. While she remained frozen, a message came over the station's speakers.
[We apologize. We are currently conducting power checks on the interior lighting of the subway station as part of the preparations for the board meeting. We will activate emergency power for those inside the platform. Please wait for a moment.]
The message played, and soon, red emergency lights illuminated the platform's interior.
"Damn, why are they checking the power at this hour?" Kevin muttered while brushing her knees.
Lately, the entire subway station had been conducting power checks during the last train hours as part of the preparations for the board meeting. However, Kevin had no way of knowing this, as it wasn't something typically known to the subway security staff.
The red lighting created a somewhat eerie atmosphere inside the platform. Kevin clenched her bag tightly, waiting for the train. She was frustrated, wondering when the train would arrive.
'Anyway, when's the train coming… Huh?'
In her anxious gaze, Kevin spotted a man who had not been there a moment ago. He was standing on the same line as her.
While it was unnerving to be alone in the red light, it was somewhat reassuring to have someone else there with her.
As she pondered the mysterious man, she suddenly noticed a strange smell.
'Where is this smell coming from…?'
The peculiar, damp smell of the underground subway station was different in quality from the norm, and it reached Kevin's nostrils for the first time in her life.
'Is it because of the smell?' She couldn't help but feel an unknown unease.
'Come to think of it, when did that guy get in?'
The man was standing close to the staircase leading down to the platform. Even if he had arrived while the lights were off, shouldn't she have heard his footsteps if that was the case? It couldn't have been that he crossed over from the pitch-black railway tracks on the other side.
"…."
It's strange how people's thoughts work. Trying not to think about something eerie only makes more unsettling thoughts surge.
'Maybe it's better not to travel alone at night.' William's words suddenly came to mind. She swallowed hard and glanced sidelong at the suspicious person.
And then, she was startled. Unbeknownst to her, the suspicious man had turned his body to keep an eye on her. The man who had been observing the side where she stood began to move. He slowly approached her.
'Oh, please don't!' She wanted to run away, but her body had frozen, leaving her unable to move.
Her colleagues at DailyMass referred to her as 'Lunatic Kevin.' It was a nickname she earned because she fearlessly pursued special news stories, regardless of who the subject was.
In reality, she wasn't that brave. The reason she could act this way was due to her belonging to the DailyMass organization, and even more so, the aura of the Zhao family.
Daily Mass, without the protection of the Zhao family, was nothing more than a minor tabloid publication. Kevin was only something significant because of the Zhao family's influence. Without it, she was nothing.
As the man got closer and Kevin was feeling desperate, a rescue sound reached her ears. Behind the man, on the other side of the tracks, a train was approaching with its lights on.
As the train pulled in, the man stood in place. As soon as the train reached the platform, its doors opened, and Kevin hurriedly got inside.
The man hesitated and tried to get on the train belatedly, but the doors had already closed.
"■■ ■■■!"
The man's mouth moved, and he shouted something, but it didn't reach her.
"You crazy son of a ****."
While Kevin cursed him in her mind, the train started moving.
"What a ****ing weirdo."
The suspicious man had moved away, and the train was now running towards the next station. Relieved, she took her seat.
As her tension eased, a sudden drowsiness overcame her. She considered closing her eyes briefly until they arrived.
'Is that smell again?'
The unpleasant odor grew stronger, and she opened her eyes. She looked around, but her train car was empty.
'If that unpleasant smell from earlier hadn't come back to my nose, I might have actually fallen asleep.'
As she glanced around, her gaze fell on the adjacent car, where someone was seated.
The person in the next car wore a suit that resembled a wetsuit, with black alloy plates added as armor.
'Is that a cop?' She was familiar with the attire due to her being a journalist. The suit resembled the reinforced gear worn by heavily armed police officers.
'Why would they wear a helmet and a mask in the middle of the night? Where could they be going like this?'
Not only the attire but also the behavior was peculiar. Despite no one in the adjacent car, the police officer stood, not sitting.
The outfit was strange, and their behavior was peculiar. In an empty car, the police officer stood rather than sitting down, maintaining the same posture throughout.
'What a strange fellow.'
But she didn't suspect that a fully armored police officer could be anything out of the ordinary, so she lost interest and closed her eyes.
While she had her eyes closed, the police officer who had been standing still moved closer to her. When he opened the door to her car and stepped inside, the car shook slightly.
"Miss, what… huh?" Due to the car shaking, she was roused from her half-sleep.
The shaking of the car had disrupted her nap. Opening her eyes, she could finally see the interior of the car reflected on the reinforced glass.
Inside the car she had boarded, the only 'human' was herself.
***
"Where are you going?"
I lowered my tail and tripped Kevin, who was trying to escape. Thanks to the pheromone effect of my exoskeleton, she tripped over it.
"Hieek, please, spare me!"
Of course, I couldn't spare her. To silence her noisy pleas, I decided to use my poisonous stinger.
'Sigh, I almost messed up earlier.'
Originally, I had planned to ambush and sting her while she was lured during the light inspection. However, a random man had interfered, almost blowing my cover. Unfortunately, he had spotted me climbing up from the other side of the tracks.
But it wasn't easy to deal with the man. He was located near the stairs, close to the lights, and was fully exposed to the cameras. Trying to eliminate him along with the journalist was too risky.
Killing her was easy; one sting of my poisonous barb would do it. However, dealing with the aftermath would be the issue.
Thanks to the man, I had to rethink my plans. Fortunately, the train arrived just in time. As Kevin boarded the train, I followed her inside.
The man belatedly shouted for her to run, but Kevin didn't hear him.Thanks to the man, I had to rethink my plans. Fortunately, the train arrived just in time. As Kevin boarded the train, I followed her inside.
The man belatedly shouted for her to run, but Kevin didn't hear him.
'A journalist who doesn't listen to others, even when her life is at stake.'
Life was inherently ironic. Her face was a mess, with mascara smudged from her tears, her mouth wide open from screaming, and drool dripping down her chin.
"…."
What could she be thinking right now? Did she not want to die, or was it just fear of facing a monster?
It didn't matter much. What mattered was that she would soon become the nourishment for my nest.
I reached out and grabbed her head, twisting it with a sound of rubber tearing. Her head was pulled off.
A journalist who had tormented others with words all her life, had her last moments in silence. I opened my mouth wide and swallowed her head in one gulp.
'Mmm, not bad.'
For a journalist, her taste wasn't too terrible. Among the humans she had eaten since coming to the space city, this one had a decent flavor.
'It's strange. Wolves, being closer to animals, didn't taste like this when I ate them. It's fascinating how humans have this flavor.'
Wolves didn't taste bad, but their fur made it a bit inconvenient to eat. Hairs kept getting stuck in my teeth while I ate them.
'On top of that, there's a human smell.'
And I have to eat 18 more of those Wolf-like creatures.
'Come to think of it, she does have the tooth strengthening trait. I hope the predation effect activates.'
'…Well, let's finish the meal.'
Shaking off my unnecessary thoughts, I finished my meal.
And then…
['Pre-saint > Quasi-saint' evolution conditions partly have been met]
[Conditions: Transformable species 2/20 (Incomplete), Humanoid species 13/20 (Incomplete), Psychic Power-Using species 0/20 (Incomplete)]
[Predation effect activated! Successfully obtained 'Carnivorous Power' genetic essence.]
[Extracted the 'Carnivorous Power' from the biological characteristics of 'human'.]
[Do you want to apply 'Carnivorous Power'?]
'Huh?'
An unexpected stroke of luck had occurred.
I thought I might have seen it wrong, but the transparent text box shimmering in the air didn't disappear.
'It's real. It's a bit different from what I was thinking.'
I wanted a trait that would enhance my teeth, but 'Carnivorous Power' doesn't seem to be a problem. Amorph's carnivorous power isn't particularly weak. After all, it can easily chew through human skulls, making it superior compared to Earth's animals.
However, in a world of space survival filled with highly protective armor and equipment, that level of biting strength isn't anything special.
'Amorph's mouth structure is closer to a mix of snakes and common animals.'
The way it opens its mouth wide to firmly grasp its prey is snake-like, but the subsequent careful chewing is similar to that of typical carnivorous animals.
'If I gain the 'Carnivorous Power' trait, it can become a weapon in itself.'
In the game, 'Carnivorous Power' was considered a decent trait. It wasn't necessary, but it was a useful attribute, like the claws of a predator.
To use the Transcendence System, I needed to have a total of 13 physical-related traits. Currently, I was lacking in each of those traits, so having this one was much better than having none.
'With 'Carnivorous Power,' I'll have a total of 12. I just need one more to go.'
I accepted it, and my head started to change. My jaw slightly ached, and then the sound of bones colliding followed as my size increased. My head grew larger accordingly. As my head and jaw grew, the auxiliary mechanism underneath my jaw also became longer and thicker.
The change wasn't just about size; my teeth seemed to tingle, and the structure of my teeth was slightly different from before.
It wasn't a significant mutation, so it didn't take long to complete. After the mutation, I examined my face reflected in the reinforced glass of the subway.
Overall, my head had become larger, giving a slightly different impression. My previous head felt pointed, like a lizard, whereas now it felt thicker and more robust, like an anaconda.
And my teeth had changed as well, making them longer in the part of my teeth that corresponded to human canines. If they grew a bit more, you could even call them fangs.
'They looked cute in the game…'
Was it because it was reality? I now had a much more intimidating appearance.
Not only did it look scary, but thanks to the 'Carnivorous Power,' I should be able to chew through the alloy inside the spaceship without any problems.
'I'd like to test it, but…'
It's a shame, but it's time to get off. We'll arrive at the next station in a few minutes, so I need to prepare to disembark. I picked up the bag that the journalist had dropped.
'So, how am I going to get out?'
As William had mentioned, the train was the last one for now. Even if we reached the next station, the chances of finding people there were low, but there was one problem.
'The man from the platform earlier.'
When the train was departing, judging by his demeanor, it was highly likely that he had reported me.
Back when I was on the platform, I had already activated my camouflage mechanism, so he probably saw me as a police officer rather than a monster. Not being seen as a monster was fortunate, but the issue was that he saw me crawling from the tracks to the platform.
'I should open the door on the opposite side of the platform.'
A few moments later, a broadcast announced that we would be arriving at the station soon. I crossed over the car and moved to a car as far away from the platform as possible.
The moving train gradually slowed down, and the sharp sound of friction between the wheels and the tracks echoed.
'Just as I expected.'
With my body crouched down, I looked out the window. In the distance, subway security personnel were waiting for the train. I grabbed the door on the opposite side of the platform with my combat arms. Thanks to Amorph's robust strength, the door opened easily.
Before arriving at the platform, I jumped out of the slowly moving train. It might be different if I was running at full speed, but I could easily endure this level of impact.
Landing safely on the tracks without any special equipment, I moved quickly before they could board the train.
"What's going on? Hey, this door is open!"
"What are you talking about?"
Ignoring the startled security personnel's voices, I crawled into the darkness of the tracks.
***
When I returned to the nest, Numbers 26 and Adhai were awake. Number 26 was playing with spores, and Adhai was grooming its wings with its tentacles.
Number 26, who saw me, greeted me by emitting light from his body.
｢You're back?｣
[ZZZ(Yes)]
｢Big Baby, something's different.｣
Number 26, who noticed the change in me, approached me. It seemed intrigued, extending its tentacles to gently touch my face.
｢Big baby grew really fast!｣
[ZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (I'm in the midst of growing).]
｢Impressive.｣
Adhai, too, appeared to have developed curiosity and came closer to me.
｢Adult｣, ｢Changed｣.
[ZZ ZZZ (That's right)]
｢Mouth｣ ｢Tentacles｣ ｢Cool｣ ｢Features｣ ｢Great young one!｣.
Adhai seemed particularly pleased with my enhanced auxiliary mechanisms, which had grown thicker compared to before. It sent out a wave of praise, then lowered its body.
'Gallagon seems to like the shape of my tentacles, even though it's not in the settings.'
Gallagon is an NPC creature, and being rare, not much is known about its ecology. I'm well-informed about its weaknesses and what to be cautious of, but I don't know much about their ecology.
'Still, it's nice to be appreciated from that side.'
Unlike Number 26, Adhai is in a contractual relationship with me. So, if he takes a liking to me, that's a good thing.
｢Big baby, since you're still young, eat a lot and grow quickly.｣
[ZZ ZZZZ (Yes, thanks)]
｢I want to grow quickly too.｣
The little one who was perched on my shoulder suddenly seemed a bit down. It seemed like I was growing quickly, but it wasn't able to, which was probably bothering it.
'Hmm.'
When thinking about the future, it was important to accelerate Number 26's growth.
Last time, when I was fighting with the androids in the apartment, I realized that even with all my abilities, there were limitations to fighting alone. Maybe if I had all the traits, it would be different, but in my current situation, hunting enemies at ease wasn't easy.
If those two hadn't been there last time, I would have had a much harder time. Without luck, I might have been defeated while fighting alone.
'In the game, it's fine to die, but it's not reality.'
In reality, suffering a fatal injury is much more disadvantageous compared to games. In games, you simply respawn after dying, but in reality, it's not that simple. Fatal injuries increase the likelihood of defeat, and defeat ultimately leads to death.
'To avoid that, I need to pay more attention to Number 26's growth.'
However, not being able to know the growth conditions and process of the sea demon is undoubtedly a problem. Sea demons are not as rare as Gallagons, but they are not creatures that players can easily study, so their ecology is not well-known.
'Still, I can make educated guesses.'
Sea demons are creatures that exist only in the deep sea of the ocean planet. By selecting creatures with similar characteristics to those that inhabit the deep sea and feeding them to Number 26, it might be possible to make it grow quickly.
So far, I have mainly provided them with creatures that I don't need, but I might need to change my approach slightly. I mean, providing creatures that don't help me much but can be helpful to Number 26. Fortunately, there are still a few creatures in the smuggling list that meet these criteria.
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZ (If you eat a lot, you'll grow quickly.)]
｢Really?｣
[ZZ ZZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (Yeah. Let's try it.)]
｢Yeah!｣
｢I'm hungry too.｣
[ZZZ (You too)]
It seems like I'll have to call William again.
***
E-District Apartments in the Residential Zone.
A man was spending his time watching Virtual TV. Like most of the people living in this residential zone, he seemed to be immersed in the stimulating virtual reality with a carefree expression.
At that moment, a communication device next to the man chimed softly. The man's hazy gaze instantly sharpened.
"…"
The man turned off the virtual TV and checked the communication device. A short message was displayed on the small screen.
[Operation ready.]
"Finally, it's here," muttered the man, Jade Russell.
A year ago, Jade Russell received a specific order from Si-Hyun Yujin. The order was to secretly smuggle a Gallagon disguised as a Fairy Wing into the space city before the Council's announcement. Jade was also tasked with infiltrating along with it.
Although it hadn't been officially announced by the Council, Si-Hyun Yujin was known as Akira Yujin's shadow. Obtaining crucial information related to Noble Capital was not a difficult task for him.
The reason for disguising the Gallagon as a Fairywing was partly because their appearances were somewhat similar, but mostly because smuggling with Fairywings was almost nonexistent. Si-Hyun and Jade both knew that smuggling often occurred in the Special Trade Zone, so this was a precaution to prevent any potential smuggling attempts.
After completing all the preparations, Jade pretended to smuggle the Gallagon disguised as a Fairy Wing at the Special Trade Zone. He intentionally got caught by the Smuggling Animal Control Team. Once the Gallagon was handed over to the team, the first objective was accomplished, and he managed to escape secretly from the detention center.
"It's time to put this ability to good use again."
Jade looked down at the communication device in his hand. Suddenly, the battery ran out, and the body of the communication device slowly disintegrated, being absorbed into the palm of his hand.
A few minutes later, the communication device had completely vanished, leaving only some metal dust and a set of sharp teeth on his palm.
The Russell family consisted of individuals raised directly by the Yujin family, or more precisely, Si-hyun Yujin. Si-hyun gave each individual in the Russell family specific roles and provided them with what they needed according to those roles.
For example, Arnold Russell received a valuable weapon, a plasma pistol, suitable for his role, while Jade Russell received the genes of a rare and hard-to-acquire creature.
The original source of his genetic material was a Metallic Gremlin, a notorious creature known as a predator on spaceships. Metallic Gremlins were about 30-80 cm in size and resembled hairless primates. The key difference was that their skin was entirely metallic in color, they had no eyes on their faces, and they had a large, circular mouth that could cover half of their face.
The grotesque appearance of the Metallic Gremlins aside, what made them the symbol of dread for the crew were their habits. These creatures gathered in swarms, floated through space, and sought out their prey. And the prey of the Metallic Gremlins was metal.
Drifting through space, when they encountered a spacecraft, they immediately clung to the outer hull and ruthlessly tore and devoured the metal with their voracious, lightning-fast mouths. Their speed was so swift that even a massive battleship, if caught by a group of Metallic Gremlins, would be reduced to a mere skeleton within a day.
These formidable creatures were challenging not only due to their threat but also because of their small size, making them difficult to detect on a ship's radar, even with advanced technology that struggled to distinguish them from space debris or small asteroids.
Furthermore, even if they were discovered early, their bodies, composed of metal, made them resilient to laser weapons. This often led to cases where a presumed-dead Gremlin would later launch another assault.
As a result, many spacecraft continued to be the prey of Metallic Gremlins, leading to the inevitable end of their operational life.
If it weren't for the Yujin family, extracting and using the genes of these threatening creatures would have been unthinkable.
"Thanks to this ability, escaping was not difficult."
While he was imprisoned, he used the abilities of the Metallic Gremlin to break free. After that, he received help from his comrades, underwent plastic surgery, and had been in hiding until now.
"I need to retrieve Gallagon."
Jade stood up from his seat. It was time to prepare for the mission his owner, Si-Hyun Yujin, had entrusted him with.
The container where Gallagon was stored was protected by a high-level encryption, but it didn't matter. With his abilities, he could easily unlock it.
Jade took out another communication device and contacted the colleagues who had been in hiding with him. They needed to keep Gallagon in a deep freeze until Si-Hyun Yujin arrived.
"Let's get going."
Everything was perfect, or so he thought. That's why he didn't anticipate what was about to happen.
The most crucial part of his plan, the Blue Gallagon, was now roaming beneath his feet with some strange creatures.
-x-X-x-
Jade, who had left the house, was waiting for his comrades in front. Around the time he finished smoking two cigarettes, a black sedan appeared in the distance. Jade waved his hand with a cigarette in his mouth, and a dignified-looking midsize sedan approached him.
The car came to a halt, and Jade opened the front passenger door. Inside, a woman with goat horns and white hair was behind the wheel.
"You said to come secretly."
"Just in case, bringing an inconspicuous vehicle might raise suspicion."
The woman's name was Jeanette Russell. Her appearance clearly indicated her cultist background.
"Anyway, for all five of us to ride, this size is necessary."
"…Well, you're not wrong. What about the others?"
With a tongue click, Jade got into the passenger seat. As he did, a man in the back seat revealed himself, removing his camouflage.
"Dwayne Russell. I received orders and have returned"
"It's been a while."
With a gloomy appearance, Dwayne Russell, a lanky man, had been assigned the role of a sniper among Yujin's subordinates who had infiltrated this place. That's why he was wearing an enhanced suit with optical camouflage effects added.
Originally, an advanced enhanced suit was something akin to powered armor. However, the suit Dwayne was wearing had been modified at great cost, to the point where it couldn't be compared to the original.
In return, its defensive capabilities had significantly decreased to the level of an intermediate enhanced suit, but that wasn't a significant issue since Dwayne's role was to support his teammates from the rear.
"All that's left are Frost and Hope."
"Frost is in the Entertainment District, and Hope is…Here he comes."
A man with a sporty haircut, Hope Russell, was carrying a cello bag and heading there way. Hope went to the back of the car and tapped on the trunk.
"Open it."
"It's an expensive car, you know."
Jeanette grumbled as she opened the trunk. Hope, who had put the cello bag in the trunk, sat in the rear seat.
"It's been a while, everyone."
"No problem with the weapons, right?"
"Of course not. To be honest, I'm not sure if we'll even need them."
"Don't let your guard down. You never know when an unexpected incident might occur."
"Yeah, yeah, Mom. Dwayne, my man, how have you been?"
Hope casually brushed off Jade's advice and struck up a conversation with Dwayne, who was sitting next to him.
"Ugh, that bastard is annoying every time I see him."
"Why are you picking a fight again, you bitch?"
"…Jeanette, don't talk nonsense. Let's just get going."
"Got it."
The Russell children, who had infiltrated the T&C Special Trade Center, always operated as a team. With over dozens of operations performed together, they could rightfully be called a veteran team.
"Jade is right. Soldiers must always be prepared."
Dwayne Russell had the most soldier-like personality among the team members. He was responsible for rear support and sniping.
"What's the point of those weapons? They're useless if we run out of ammo. Superpowers are way better than that."
Jeanette Russell, the focal point of the group, was not only a cultist but also possessed an incredibly powerful and rare ability.
"You stubborn bastard. You'll come to your senses when a grenade explodes under your ass."
Hope Russell, who handled various weapons but specialized in using explosives, was a hot-tempered individual. However, in combat, he was more reliable than anyone else.
"…You guys fight every time you meet."
The leader and demolition specialist, Jade Russell. Thanks to receiving the Metallic Gremlin genetic material from Si-hyun Yujin, he could destroy almost all types of metals.
Lastly, there was Frost Russell, who played the role of the vanguard in the team, although he was not present at the moment.
They each had their own specialized roles and, having operated together for a long time, they had a well-established synergy. However, it was difficult to say they had a good relationship with each other. Jade, who played the leadership role, was the only one who got along with everyone, while the others had a more distant relationship with each other.
'They're fine during missions, but outside of that, they're always like this.'
Nevertheless, they were all professionals and had clear boundaries between work and personal matters. So, Jade didn't intervene much in their interactions.
The car speeding through the late night came to a halt near the Entertainment District's border. After a short wait, a cyborg sprinted from the distance.
"I'm the last to arrive."
"Long time no see, Frost."
"Nice to see you too, Jade."
The cyborg, Frost Russell, hopped into the back seat with a cheerful smile. However, the expressions of the others in the back seat soured as soon as he got in.
"Crazy, who did you pick up again?"
"Huh? Tina?"
"Yeah, this bastard. He reeks of blood."
"Hehe."
All the people in the car were experts in killing, having each taken the lives of hundreds of individuals, but Frost stood out with his extraordinary intuition.
'Even when there's no mission, he keeps killing people.'
Frost, who had undergone over 80% of full-body modifications and was closer to an android, was a unique cyborg among the Russell family. As the one responsible for close-quarters combat in the team, he was the most violent member among the Russell family.
Among cyborgs who had shifted to becoming space pirates, there were often cases like Frost's. They involuntarily turned into machines, which shattered their minds, leading them to seek only extreme stimulation.
For instance, torture, murder, and acts of violence towards others, among others.
Generally speaking, among the converted cyborgs, 80% chose the path of space pirates since they were closer to the space scum in terms of their mental state. The remaining 20% came to places like the T&C Special Trade Center, where 'entertainment' was well provided. Frost fell into the latter category.
'Still, he doesn't seem to have any issues with mission performance, which is fortunate.'
Frost was known to selectively kill only those who could be killed when not on a mission, so Jade wasn't particularly worried. The constant smell of blood emanating from him was a burden, though.
"We've arrived."
Jade, lost in thought, was interrupted by Jeanette. Through the front passenger window, they could see a stack of containers piled high.
"Get out and get ready, everyone."
While the other team members checked their equipment, Jade approached a chain-link fence surrounding the cargo yard. He grasped the fence with his hands, and as he stood still, there was a snapping sound as the fence began to tear.
"Is this enough?"
Now, there was a hole in the fence large enough for three people to enter at once. Jade crossed the fence and entered the cargo yard. After completing their checks, the other team members followed him.
"Where should I go?"
"It's this way, Dwayne. As always, you're in charge of rear guard duty."
"Yes."
With his response, Dwayne's body dissolved into thin air, becoming a shadow.
Excluding Dwayne, the rest of the group walked with Jade through the forest of containers. Thanks to the Metallic Gremlin gene, Jade could easily distinguish which container he was looking for, even if they all looked the same from the outside.
The rest of the team followed Jade through the forest of containers. Thanks to his Metallic Gremlin genetics, Jade could easily distinguish which container he was looking for by the metallic scent, even if they all looked the same.
He guided the team effortlessly, as if he were reading a map. Soon, they arrived at a container, and Jade placed his hand on a terminal.
As his hand touched the terminal, sparks flew from the device, and then, with a solid click, the door inside the thick steel wall opened.
"Huh?"
Inside the container, Jade, who had just stepped in, felt something was amiss. Normally, there should be a cold sensation due to the cryogenic chamber where the Gallagon is stored, but the inside of the container felt warm.
"What's going on?"
Jade, with a sense of unease, quickly rushed to the cryogenic chamber and opened the lid.
"…"
"Huh? Is this the right place?"
Following him, Jeanette entered, and Jade couldn't say anything in response.
There was nothing inside the cryogenic chamber.
***
"This is the container containing the mentioned creatures."
William, who has been summoned by me twice, still maintained a polite attitude. Whenever he had negative thoughts about me, the parasite in his brain caused him pain.
Despite his politeness, he regularly took painkillers, likely because he harbored considerable resentment towards me.
'Why doesn't he just give up?'
Suddenly, I became curious about what kind of traits I might gain from eating William's flesh. Of course, there was no guarantee that I would get a 100% genetic essence, but if I did, what kind of traits would manifest?
'This is the epitome of human nature, isn't it?'
Even with a significant amount of pain, William continued to resist attacking me. His determination to keep fighting, even though he knew he was going to die, was remarkable. He was better suited for this than being a pirate quartermaster.
'I should hope he loses his usefulness.'
Whether William knew that I was trying to consume him or not, he simply lowered his head, offering no resistance.
'Enough of that. Where should I check?'
I shifted my focus away from William and opened the container.
Inside the container were thirty Waking Woods.
Waking Woods were plant-like creatures that lived on jungle planets, similar to Plantizens.
About 30 cm in size, these cute and fairy-like Waking Woods were sleeping inside cryogenic capsules, completely unaware of the danger they might be in.
'They were popular in the game too.'
Just like Bubble Amoebas were popular due to their appearance, Waking Woods were also loved by many for their small and cute appearance. There were even enthusiasts who collected Waking Woods, so it wasn't surprising.
I had also hunted down many Waking Woods in the past. In my case, it was not because of their cuteness but rather because of the traits they possessed.
The trait that Waking Woods had was 'Natural Healing,' which was a component of the 'Regeneration' trait I possessed. When an Amorph obtained more than one trait with similar effects, the one with the higher effect took precedence. In other words, if I had both 'Natural Healing' and 'Regeneration,' 'Regeneration' would be the active trait.
However, situations where 'Regeneration' didn't work against attacks that nullified the trait were rare, so 'Natural Healing' didn't come into play often.
'So, for now, it's not necessary.'
Having 'Natural Healing' wouldn't be immediately beneficial to me. Of course, it could serve as material for the Transcendence System, but it didn't provide significant advantages otherwise.
That's why this time, I decided to give it to Number 26.
'Perhaps a prey with healing-related traits might aid in its growth.'
If the outcome of the mutated Bubble Amoeba's evolution was a Sea Demon, then it would consume and evolve through consuming other creatures on the same planet with the same habitat. Therefore, providing it with prey from the oceanic planet was the best choice.
While there weren't any aquatic animals among the smuggled creatures, that didn't mean I was giving up.
I formed a new hypothesis. Could consuming a creature with specific genes or traits lead to evolution?
So far, Number 26 had consumed various creatures without showing any significant changes. This indicated that obtaining nutrients was a separate process.
Reflecting on the circumstances surrounding the increase in its tentacles, it had only happened when it defeated Si-Hyun Yujin and when it consumed smuggled animals. Both instances had no significant relation to marine creatures.
It seemed that powerful enemy hunting and consuming special creatures were the conditions for growth, similar to Amorphs. That led me to believe that the evolution into a Sea Demon might also involve acquiring specific traits. Therefore, I intentionally chose creatures with self-healing abilities, similar to deep-sea creatures.
'Now, let's begin by examining the traits of the prey.'
I called Number 26.
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Hungry? It's time to eat.)]
｢Yeah!｣
Number 26 rushed to the cryogenic chamber as if it was hungry. Using its tentacles, it operated the terminal naturally, just like I did.
'It seems like it's learned.'
Perhaps it had become smarter as it grew. Without any difficulty, it easily opened the cryogenic chamber.
As the cold air escaped and the lid opened, Number 26 used its tentacles to pick out a Waking Wood.
｢Keck!｣
The Waking Wood, awakened from its slumber, had its waist broken, and it died. Number 26 inflated its entire body and swallowed the Waking Wood's corpse in one gulp.
After about 5 minutes of absorbing the corpse, Number 26 immediately targeted the next cryogenic chamber.
'It seems to digest faster.'
Whether it was due to the small size of the Waking Woods or the growth of Number 26, I wasn't sure, but its digestive fluid seemed stronger than before. At this rate, it was almost as potent as my acidic blood.
While I watched attentively, Number 26 devoured ten Waking Woods. It seemed more active, probably because it was full now.
｢I'm full.｣
[ZZZZ ZZZZ (Just one more)]
｢Okay.｣
I didn't expect Number 26 to eat all of them anyway. There was another waiting behind it. Adhai, perched on top of my head, was patiently waiting for its turn, drooling in anticipation.
[ZZZZ ZZZZ (Just a little more patience)]
｢I｣, ｢Patient｣, ｢Patient｣.
[ZZZ (Alright)]
I petted Adhai once to express my gratitude.
In the meantime, Number 26 was digesting the eleventh Waking Wood. When there were almost no remains of the Waking Wood left in its pink, semi-transparent body, Number 26 suddenly began to tremble.
'!'
Its body started to expand. I was momentarily startled, thinking something was wrong, but fortunately, there was no sign of it being in pain.
Number 26's body swelled, and its shape changed slightly. It used to have a round, bun-like appearance, but now the upper part had become thicker, and small fin-like limbs had emerged at the bottom.
The original three tentacles had increased to six, and its body size was much larger, approximately 60 cm in length. While it used to be smaller than Adhai, it had now reversed.
'It looks similar to the Sea Demon.'
If it grew its body to around 20 meters and made the fins much longer and thicker, it would be a combat form similar to the Sea Demon.
Number 26 seemed unfamiliar with the changes in its body as it moved awkwardly with its small fins. Its small fins looked quite cute compared to its body size, but I knew better. Those fins would later transform into incredibly brutal weapons that couldn't be compared to the saw-toothed tentacles.
As Number 26 wandered around the container, it looked at me strangely and then lit up its body, as if something was amiss.
｢The big baby got smaller.｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (No, it's you who got bigger)]
｢I got bigger?｣
It seemed like this was the first time it had experienced something like this, and the little one didn't quite understand. I explained my own changes to it using a metaphor.
[ZZZ (Yes)]
｢Wow!｣
The little one jumped up with joy upon realizing that it had also grown. Not only had its volume increased, but its weight had also gone up, causing the container to shake slightly.
'I should be careful when taking it with me for surprise attacks.'
Before, I used to carry it on my shoulders or head, but now that seems impossible.
After the celebratory ceremony of joy, Number 26 retracted its tentacles and legs into its body. When it did so, it returned to its original Bubble Amoeba form, only larger.
｢I'll protect the big baby!｣
[ZZZZ (Thank you)]
I petted it in appreciation. Its change in size had noticeably altered its texture. Previously, it felt like a water balloon, but now it had a softer, plush pillow-like sensation.
"…The monster got bigger."
William, who was watching Number 26 from outside, murmured with a troubled expression.
Watching the transformation of Number 26 seemed to stimulate Adhai, and it poked my head with its hand.
｢Adult｣, ｢Me｣, ｢want｣, ｢Grow｣, ｢too｣.
[ZZZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZZ (If you eat, you'll grow too.)]
｢Good｣
Honestly, I didn't know how Gallagon grew. Since it wasn't a typical organism, I assumed it required specific conditions, but I couldn't be sure at the moment.
'Gallagon might be related to creatures with psychic powers.'
After acquiring the Type, I would also need to consider Gallagon's growth.
The remaining walking woods were all consumed by Adhai.
After finishing our meal, we left the container. As I was about to send William away and leave, several scenes flashed before my eyes.
[Reinforced alloy rounds pierced my head.]
[I died.]
'What?'
The predator sense suddenly kicked in, and I quickly turned my head.I quickly turned my head as a bullet tore through the tentacle behind my head, narrowly missing me.
'Someone is attacking.'
I focused on the sensations from my two tentacles below my chin, and using auxiliary sensors, I determined the source of the attack. My entire sensory perception was directed towards my auxiliary sensors, which analyzed the flow of air disturbed by the passing bullet.
In the distance, near the boundary of the Harbor Earth, I sensed something. The distance was too great for me to pinpoint the exact location.
'Sniper!'
I gestured to the others and William to take cover behind the containers and rapidly changed my position. There were no more shots from the enemy's direction.
'Why all of a sudden?'
Since William wasn't saying anything, it wasn't likely to be the police. The journalist who was following me had died not too long ago, so it wasn't likely to be someone connected to her.
'A round powerful enough to pierce my head, and not a regular gun.'
There is only one plasma weapon-class sniper rifle that uses reinforced alloy bullets- Sniper coil gun.
'Not many people in this city would have a sniper coil gun.'
If someone did, the heavily armed police would have brought it. If this were during the Council, the newly arrived security personnel might have had them, but the Council was still several days away.
'Who would want to assassinate me with an expensive weapon like this?'
As I considered this, one person came to mind: Arnold Russell, the man who had nearly killed me on the research ship.
'… He came for Gallagon.'
Of all the days, it had to be today. And it seemed like he wasn't alone.
Within the detection range of my auxiliary sensors, four unfamiliar individuals were approaching.
-x-X-x-
'It's a tough fate.'
Even back on the research ship, Arnold Russell tried to kill Keisaragi Yujin, but I devoured him first.
Here, someone named Jade Russell brought a Gallagon for terrorism, but that Gallagon is now accompanying me.
'They must have targeted me after seeing that I have a Gallagon.'
Since Adhai always rides on my head, it's not strange for the enemies to think that way. In any case, the enemy's attack has already begun. We need to be prepared to face it.
Currently, there are four approaching enemies, but the sniper is likely not among them.
'The sniper coil gun has an effective range of 1.5 km. It's highly likely they shot from a high point beyond the boundary of the Harbor Earth.'
Compared to regular sniper rifles, it's not easy to consider it as having a long effective range, but it has a significant advantage in firepower and penetration. It can easily penetrate even the toughest part of my head.
Therefore, unlike other sniper rifles, the sniper coil gun snipes at relatively close ranges to exploit its advantages. The enemy probably shot me from a high point about 1 km away.
'The problem is that I can't pinpoint the sniper's exact location'
Excluding the sniper, there are currently four entities within my sensory range. Three of them are relatively close, and one is further back.
From the incoming entities, I could tell that there were no androids, as there was no artificial skin smell and no faint electrical signals running throughout their bodies.
There was one person among the enemies who exhibited movements reminiscent of machines, but judging from the stronger smell of blood rather than a rubber smell from their skin, they were likely cyborgs.
'Plus, there's a cultist among them too.'
I sensed a faint flow of psychic power from the person in the back among the enemies. The quantity of power was slightly better than Adhai, but it's still unclear whether they are strong or weak.
The reason cults' psychic powers are frightening is due to their diversity and uniqueness. Cults are a rare species that have the potential for various types of psychic power techniques. It's easy to fall prey to bizarre and extraordinary psychic power attacks by cults if you underestimate them.
'To check their abilities, I need to see their appearance first.'
The auxiliary system comprehensively analyzes various factors such as scent, sound, vibration, etc., to ascertain the opponent's condition. It's difficult to read every detail of appearance, so if you want to know their appearance, you have to look at it with your naked eyes. Under normal circumstances, I would rely on the auxiliary system, but it's different when dealing with cults.
'Each horn signifies a specialized psychic power.'
Cults are a species where appearance is highly important, as it helps determine whether they have an aggressive style or a supportive style based on the unique psychic power of each horn.
In other words, horns are one of the few weaknesses among the many strengths of the cults.
Cult players also know well about the weaknesses of horns and usually deceive their opponents by trimming or hiding them. However, I was confident that the enemy would not do that.
'Cults place a high value on their horns according to their beliefs. In the cult society, a person's job is determined based on the appearance of their horns, so damaging the horns is considered a serious crime. So, unless they are players, they will never touch their horns.'
'Even if they were to change the appearance of the horns, they would only go as far as decorating them like jewelry.'
While analyzing the enemies from a concealed position, something small flew towards me from a distance.
'Grenade!'
I quickly moved away from that spot. Soon after, a powerful explosion occurred where I had been. The explosive force was immense, causing containers weighing tens of tons to fly into the sky.
The enemy didn't seem to have any intention of hiding their rampage in this city. Otherwise, there would be no reason to fire a grenade that caused such a massive explosion visible beyond Harbor Earth's boundary.
'Ugh, this is going to be a headache.'
Currently, I am being tracked by the armed police. While William is helping to disrupt them, causing such a commotion will surely get us caught.
'I need to clean this up quickly, anyway.'
Those who put me in danger won't be spared.
'So far, the detected enemies include cult member, cyborg, a heavy weapon user, a sniper… and one more?'
There was definitely one more, but their whereabouts weren't visible. Since it wasn't detectable by the auxiliary system, it seemed like they were far away, waiting for an opportunity to attack.
'Excluding the missing person, that's four.'
I need to decide who to eliminate first.
'It would be best to kill the sniper first, but it's difficult under the current conditions.'
I have two long-range attack methods: the Spine Projectile Organ and the Monster's Tentacles.
The monster's tentacle consumes a lot of energy, so I can't use it. In practice, the Spine Projectile Organ is my only long-range weapon.
'If it's the Spine Projectile, I can face the sniper, but…'
The problem is that the enemy is in a high place, while I am in a low position. Moreover, the effective range of the Spine Projectile is 500m. Compared to the weapon the other side is carrying, it has less than half the effective range. To fight properly, I need to somehow close the distance with the sniper.
Unless the enemies are fools, they won't just leave me alone. The guy among them who is equipped with heavy weapons will most likely try to block my approach.
'I need to find a way to get closer… oh no.'
The auxiliary device reported that the enemy's armor-piercing rounds were coming through the containers towards me.
I immediately leaped towards the front. The bullet that aimed for my head once again failed to hit its target, only striking the barren ground.
'Why would they shoot from a position where they can't see me?'
This was clearly an attack that defied common sense. Just a moment ago, I was lying on the ground, completely hidden behind the container. To see me, they would have to either approach my position closely or go to a high point where the entire harbor view could be seen.
'Could it be?'
I, who had figured out how the enemies were reading my movements, dashed towards the front. Within a few seconds, two grenades landed on top of the container where I had been. If I had stayed in that spot just a bit longer, I would have been swept away by the explosion.
As expected, the enemies are reading my invisible movements and coordinating. I know where this ability comes from.
'It's the Cult's Soul Link technology.'
Among the psychic powers used by the Cult, there is a technique called "Soul Link." It's a psychic power that connects the senses of specific allies to assist each other. For example, if there are players A, B, and C, when A links their vision to B and C, all three share the same field of vision.
In the game, this effect of shared vision was often implemented in a mini-map format at the top or bottom of the screen, and it was commonly used by players who enjoyed support roles.
'So, they might be a support type with Soul Link.'
If that's the case, the enemy Cult's horns are probably similar in appearance to goat horns. If they happen to have deer-like horns, it would be hard to guarantee their victory, but it's probably not the case.
'It seems all the enemies are sharing their vision.'
Coincidentally, the effective range of Soul Link is up to a radius of 700 meters, centered on the caster. It automatically disconnects if you go beyond that range. So, the sniper attacking me is most likely doing so from a location not far from the effective range of the Soul Link.
'I can speculate the sniper's location, but…'
While jumping between containers, the enemy's attacks didn't stop. Due to their indiscriminate attacks, the number of containers containing the genetic essence I need was rapidly decreasing.
'I should deal with the heavy weapons specialist first.'
If this continues, there won't be a single genetic essence left for me.
While running, I fired the Spine Projectile Organ behind me. The sharp, icicle-like biological bullets flew towards the enemy's head.
The enemy wasn't wearing protective gear on their body. There was no way to avoid my bone spikes.
Or so I thought, but my expectations were wrong.
"Hehe, I can't just let it happen like that."
The cyborg, wearing thick gloves, deflected the bone spikes with a hammer. I was more surprised by the extraordinary reflexes of the opponent than the toughness of the hammer.
'They deflected it?'
For a cyborg to exert such strength, they would have to replace most of their body with machinery. This was a level that you wouldn't see outside of the StarUnion, and I didn't expect to encounter such a formidable opponent here.
'These enemies are no joke.'
I had never anticipated encountering such a strong adversary in such an unexpected situation.
'I need time to regroup.'
If I continue like this, I won't even be able to retaliate once. Just as I was thinking this, an enemy protected by the cyborg fired a grenade at me.
'Damn it.'
I was a moment late in dodging, and I was caught in the explosion. While my outer shell had some resistance to fire, it couldn't completely negate the pain. I grit my teeth and kept moving despite the burning pain.
"Damn bug won't die!"
Ignoring the enemy's profanity, I took cover behind another container. While the enemy was reloading the grenade, I quickly assessed the abilities I had.
'Due to that cyborg and the cult member, using the Spine Projectile attack won't be easy. The Serrated Tentacle? It would render me defenseless if I used it in combat and got sniped. But getting into close combat isn't a good idea either.'
Since close combat with Spine Projectile is difficult, my usually handy Neurotoxin attribute is sealed. Wing attribute is hard to use because of the sniper's presence.
'Is there any way… Ah.'
Suddenly, an idea came to mind. Fortunately, the container containing 'It' was nearby.
I moved to a large container not far away. I didn't have the luxury of opening it gently, so I used my teeth and combat arms to tear the door open.
As expected, a huge beast was sleeping behind the iron bars inside the container. The creature, about 6 meters long including its tail, was covered with an outer shell that looked like it was made of metal, and it had six legs as large and thick as an elephant's.
It was a baby Mountain Crawler, the offspring of the creature I had devoured, which was listed in the ledger created by the cyborg Las, the second cyborg I had eaten since coming to this city.
I bent the iron bars with my combat arm and entered the container. Inside, I activated my parasitic colony. Parasites that crawled out of my fingertips entered the Mountain Crawler's ear canal.
Grumble!
Whether it was due to the strange sensation caused by the parasites or the animal's instincts, the Mountain Crawler woke up. Its four large eyeballs looked around, then fixed on me.
[Grrrr…]
Whether it was the animal's instinct or the influence of the parasites, it didn't resist me.
The creature's exoskeleton was much tougher than my outer shell. It still had a weakness in the lower part, where there was no armor, as it was a baby, but it was a living tank, to say the least.
I commanded the creature through the parasites.
Go out and rampage to your heart's content.
[Grrrrr…]
It wasn't a metaphor; it really sounded like a tank moving when the creature roared and jumped out of the bent iron bars.
As soon as it left, reinforced alloy rounds were fired at it, but piercing the incredibly tough exoskeleton of the Mountain Crawler's back was a challenge.
"What the hell is this?!"
"It's a Mountain Crawler!"
The sudden appearance of the beast left the enemies in confusion. While the Mountain Crawler bought me time, I left the container and ran in the opposite direction.
｢Are you okay?｣
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ Z(What about you guys?)]
｢Me and the little one is fine. The food is fine too｣
[ZZZZZZ (That's a relief)]
While I was running, Number 26 sent a signal. Judging by their conversation, it seems like none of them suffered any attacks.
Considering that the enemies came here to find Gallagon, they seemed to have put the attack on Adhai on hold.
"The problem is 26th and William."
Enemies are unlikely to overlook anyone other than Adhai. They'll try to eliminate me as soon as they have me under control.
Honestly, I don't know about William, but Number 26 is a useful entity to me.
In the current situation, it's not easy for me to protect Number 26. It has to fight alongside me.
'It must have grown stronger.'
It's hard to gauge Number 26's level, but it has definitely improved since before.
I'd like to observe its strength in a safe place, but that's not possible right now. I have no choice but to test its strength in battle.
'I also need to handle the situation with their field of vision.'
Even if I concentrate on the auxiliary system, I can only sense three individuals among the enemies. The sniper is far away, so I can't detect them, but there is one missing.
'There's definitely more than one person in charge of the field of vision.'
Cult is in charge of the link, and there's someone who provides a wide field of vision to everyone.
Among the enemies targeting me, there are two who handle the field of vision.
'Right now, the sniper and three others are focused on the Mountain Crawler.'
This means that the defense of the remaining one is weakened. Of course, they probably have some hidden cards on their side, but in the current situation, there's no other choice.
Having made my decision, I sent a signal to Number 26.
[ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Help that one, not me)]
｢The big one?｣
[ZZ (Yes)]
｢And the big baby?｣
[ZZZZZZZZZ (I have something to do)]
After instructing Number 26 to help the Mountain Crawler, I headed towards where the hidden enemy might be.
It's not difficult to guess where the guy is hiding. My position among the massive containers can be easily detected, but when I'm inside the container, I can't tell what he's up to.
The enemy is watching us from a very high place.
And in this container yard, there's only one place that's really high.
The container crane.
There's someone up there sharing their field of vision and overseeing the battlefield.
'I could send Adhai and Number 26 over there…'
The reason I didn't do that is because of a few factors.
First, we don't know what kind of ace card the enemy has up there. Second, it's not them but me who's experienced in this kind of combat.
Even in games, there were more than a couple of enemies who used this kind of field of vision sharing to target me.
Fighting against such opponents, I learned one thing.
A way to effectively train those who depend on each other's field of vision.
'Using Gallagon to turn this city into chaos, huh?'
They're terrorists who came to the space city to spread fear and chaos.
It seems like I have to show them what real terror is.
-x-X-x-
[Damn it! Why is the Mountain Crawler here?]
"Don't worry, it's just a kid. Focus on its weak legs and belly."
Jade was observing the battlefield from atop the container crane.
He wore specially crafted goggles on his head, equipped with various features such as heat detection and long-range target magnification commonly used by snipers. Jade invested heavily in this equipment to enhance coordination with his teammates.
[Hey, Tin can! I've got its back, so aim for its legs!]
[Are you sure?]
[I'll keep an eye on the bastard.]
[Frost, I'll provide sniper support.]
As Jade had anticipated, his teammates quickly adapted to dealing with the Mountain Crawler. Frost rushed in to strike its legs, and when the creature retaliated, Dwayne interfered with its vision by sniping its eyes. In the meantime, Hope showered it with grenades.
[Grrrrrr….]
The Mountain Crawler, just a wild animal, had no choice but to succumb to the relentless teamwork of Jade's group. The creature's cries of anger and injustice echoed even to this distant location.
'But where did it go?'
Jade suddenly realized that he couldn't see the creature anymore. He had overlooked its movements while concentrating on the Mountain Crawler.
'It must be nearby.'
To find the most dangerous monster that Jeanette had warned about, Jade manipulated his goggles.
When Dwayne first spotted the guys with Gallagon, Jade ordered to kill the unidentified man first. It wasn't a carefully considered command. Throughout their hunting experience, the most dangerous enemies were humans, not monsters.
However, Jeanette objected to Jade's order.
The truly dangerous presence was not the man but the monster carrying Gallagon on its head, she claimed.
As a cultist, Jeanette sensed a flow of psychic power from the guy that she had never encountered before. According to her, among the psychic powers she had witnessed in her lifetime, this one was the most ferocious and majestic.
It was the first time Jeanette had made such a statement, and Jade was momentarily puzzled. If he could extract the guy's genes and transfer them to Si-hyun Yujin, she would undoubtedly become much stronger.
'Capturing the guy alive would also help the lady, but…'
However, Jade was well aware of how dangerous the unidentified psychic power could be. If the capture attempt failed, it would be a real disaster. So, he ordered Dwayne to target him first.
'Though the ambush failed, we can still keep him out of our sight… Huh?'
Strange sounds reached Jade's ears as he searched for the guy. It sounded like the wind, and at times, like the vibrations when a levitating car approached.
'Where is this sound coming from?'
Scanning around the crane revealed nothing unusual. Jade called Dwayne, who wore similar goggles.
"Dwayne, check around the crane…"
[New enemies!]
[They're supporting the Mountain Crawler.]
[Aren't those the guys we saw earlier? The ones with Gallagon.]
Hastening to reevaluate the battlefield, Jade spotted Blue Gallagon, just as Hope had mentioned. Behind him, a large balloon, rising to thigh height, followed. A gaunt man hiding behind a container at a slight distance also came into view.
Having found the Gallagon he was looking for, Jade quickly picked up his communication device.
"Don't attack Gallagon! If he gets hurt, the mission is a failure."
[What should we do then? We agreed to deal with them later because of Gallagon.]
It wasn't a significant problem if Gallagon got hurt. As long as he didn't die, they could somehow treat him.
'The problem is that Blue Gallagon can call his kin.'
Although the Gallagon in the city wasn't the one, Jade had heard about an incident where they incurred significant losses while trying to rescue another Blue Gallagon. At that time, two White Gallagons and one Black Gallagon appeared to save the Blue Gallagon. Due to them, they suffered tremendous losses, losing ten warships.
'I don't know if it's fortunate or not, but the guy I brought along seems unusually quiet.'
Whether the heavens were helping Jade or not, the creature still hadn't called its kin.
However, they couldn't predict how long the creature's patience would last. They needed to quickly stun it and put it in the cryo-container.
'…Looks like we'll have an adventure here.'
Determined, Jade gave orders to his teammates through the communication device.
"…The plan was to deal with them after securing the area, but we have no choice. Eliminate everyone except Gallagon."
[Only need to be cautious with Gallagon? Alright.]
[Yeah.]
"Hope, be careful with the grenades."
[Got it, Mom.]
[Wait, there's something wrong with that pink balloon!]
"What?"
Jade's attention turned to the creature that looked like a balloon at Jeanette's urgent transmission.
The appearance of the balloon-like creature was different from earlier. Fins had appeared beneath its round body, and six long, slender tentacles sprouted from its body.
As the monster shook its tentacles, Frost, who was confronting the Mountain Crawler, froze in place.
[Oh my God! Psychic power!]
[This is insane! Is this creature also a psychic monster?!]
[Frost!!! Get back immediately!]
Unable to move due to the psychic power, Frost took the Mountain Crawler's charge and was thrown far away.
"Don't worry! Frost has replaced his skeleton with Black Silver, so he'll be fine!"
[That's right! That tin can has a reinforced skeleton, so he'll be okay!]
[Hope! Activate the shield right away! I'll reinforce it!]
[I'll switch to AP (Anti-Psychic) rounds.]
[Hey! Gallagon is about to attack!]
"Do not attack Galagon! I repeat! Do not attack Galagon!"
[Damn it!]
The appearance of new enemies kept the communication busy. The whole team was in chaos due to the balloon using psychic powers, and Jade was no exception.
So, he didn't realize that a giant monster was flapping its wings above his head.
***
'Number 26 is putting up a good fight.'
I watched from the sky as they battled.
Number 26, in coordination with the Mountain Crawler, skillfully defended against the enemy's attacks. Thanks to our shared hunting experiences, it supported the fight against the unfamiliar monsters effortlessly.
Since Adhai was of the Gallagon species, it effectively countered the enemies with psychic attacks.
Of course, since the enemies had a cultist as their allies, they were prepared for psychic attacks. Among the enemies I encountered, their defense against psychic abilities was one of the best, if not the best.
'That's an AP round on the shield.'
Unlike the inferior equipment brought by the armed police before, what these beings carried was a genuine shield attached to advanced reinforced armor. If it weren't for that shield, Number 26's massacre would have unfolded, leaving much to be regretted.
'The cyborg seems to have been upgraded with Black Silver.'
Black Silver is a metal that weakens the effects of psychic powers, and it is one of the main materials for shields. If it were another cyborg, their upper body would likely have separated due to Number 26's psychic attacks. However, this cyborg, perhaps due to the upgrade with Black Silver, could resist psychic powers, though not move freely.
'Normally, the soul link would have been nullified by Blacksilver as well but….'
The enemies seemed to know about that too and had prepared countermeasures. Unlike the teammates, the cultist wore a tiara on her head instead of goggles.
Ring of Enhancement. It's an artifact that enhances the psychic power abilities of a psychic. Thanks to that tiara, even the cyborg with Black Silver embedded in its body could be Soul Linked
'They've brought everything.'
It seemed as if an experienced player had recommended this setup to a beginner.
'No way. That can't be.'
I brushed away my thoughts and slowly descended behind him.
He focused only on the battlefield in front of him.
Quietly approaching him from behind, I used one of my combat arms to block his mouth.
"!"
After blocking his mouth, I grabbed his right arm with another arm and twisted it. He trembled in pain, but it wasn't over yet.
His limbs were unnecessary for my plan.
"Ugh!"
The creature, whose limbs were twisted in an instant, foamed at the mouth. It seemed like he wanted to scream or signal to his allies, but it was futile.
Currently, I was holding his head, keeping it fixed in the same position as before the assault.
Thanks to this, the enemies thought his vision was shaking, thinking he had been attacked in some way.
'Soul Link is released when the subject loses consciousness or moves out of the applied range.'
This also means that I can take advantage of enemies who are Soul linked, as long as I avoid the release conditions.
I maintained the state of holding him and slowly descended with the crane. I mimicked the movements as if he was grabbing the ladder and descending normally.
It was an impossible plan for a regular human, but thanks to the body of the Amorph, which had more arms and transcendent senses compared to humans, it was possible.
[Captain?]
[What's wrong? Why did you come down all of a sudden?
Voices of perplexed teammates came from the communication device. However, The owner of the communication device was not in a position to respond.
When I was first sniped, it was highly likely that the enemies had already prepared for our members.
'One human and one Gallagon, they probably assumed there was an unidentified monster.'
If there were more humans among us, or if I were at least an intellectual being, the enemies might have questioned the current situation. Humans can be threatened to move forcibly, after all.
But the only human among us is over there, shivering and hiding next to the Gallagon.
Therefore, they only think that their teammate is acting unpredictably, and they don't even consider the situation where the monster is 'holding and moving' him without killing him.
Of course, unless the enemies are fools, they would recognize that there's a problem with the teammate and try to respond.
And it's precisely their logical actions that I'm aiming for.
[Jade! Answer me!]
[Dwayne! Jade is heading your way!]
"The line of sight doesn't reach. Check it out right away."
"Off…"
The man I'm holding seems to be Jade Russell, the man who brought the Adhai to this city. I haven't seen his face in detail yet because facing him directly would reveal my identity.
'I had a feeling it was him, and it turned out to be true.'
"Off…"
Jade, or rather, the man, tried his best to convey this fact to his teammates, even though his limbs were twisted and he was being held by me.
'I can't just leave him like this.'
I bit his shoulder. The neurotoxin coursing through my bodily fluids burrowed quickly into his body.
"..."
Startled like a goat, Jade, frozen stiff, became silent with that.
With the doll-like limbs whimpering, I moved on to the next target.
'Next is the sniper.'
I didn't know where he was when I was attacked earlier, but not now.
The sniper is within the Soul Link range and at the same time positioned to shoot within Jade's field of view, which I am holding. Calculating the enemy's position through this narrows down the range significantly.
'If I get closer, the sniper will probably show up to check up on his teammate.'
Entering the suspected range where the sniper might be, I laid Jade on the ground next to the container. I waited for the enemies to react from outside Jade's field of view.
'It's time to move slowly.'
Since the sniper is likely sharing his sight with Jade, he should quickly figure out where Jade is. I focused on my auxiliary senses and continued to monitor the surroundings.
After a few minutes, my auxiliary senses detected movement. It was an agile movement, almost mistakable for a mouse or cockroach.
'It's him.'
Quietly, I maneuvered to avoid being caught in the agile sniper's line of sight. Most likely, the sniper, like Jade, wears equipment that assists their vision, so I need to stay away from this spot.
'This should be far enough.'
Keeping a certain distance, I hid in the shadows and waited. The sniper approached cautiously, like a mouse aiming for a piece of cheese in a trap.
Even though it was a distance where he would gradually become visible, his figure was not seen. Instead, I could feel through my auxiliary senses that the opponent might be wearing optical camouflage gear.
'Well, it won't matter if I hit his head.'
When he stops moving to check Jade's condition, that would be the opportunity.
[The Mountain Crawler is taken care of! The rest won't be much longer!]
Bad news came through Jade's communication device. If the Mountain Crawler is dead, Number 26 and Adhai won't last much longer.
'…No. Let's trust them.'
I shook my head despite the negative thoughts.
From my experience so far, Number 26 is not weak. It should be able to hold on until I go to help.
I waited patiently. Negative stories continued to come through the communication Device, but I gritted my teeth and endured them.
And finally, my auxiliary senses brought good news.
The sniper was standing on the roof of the container in front of me.
I aimed with the Spine Projectile Organ at his location. The target was his heart.
Although not visible to the naked eye, the super-senses of my auxiliary system easily captured the quiet heartbeat of the sniper.
"This is Dwayne. I've got a visual on Jade…."
Before he could finish his sentence, a bone spike was launched from my fingertips.
As expected, Amorph's senses didn't betray me.
The sniper didn't get to finish his sentence before he crashed down into the container.