Chapter 2343 - ESM 12

As the sound of footsteps above my head gradually diminished.

'It's time to move.'

I pressed the terminal on the reinforced suit I was holding. The energy to activate the enhancement suit was almost depleted, but since I wouldn't be the one wearing it, it didn't matter.

'I only need to activate the stealth function, the rest will be handled by my outer shell.'

'It's working.'

As I manipulated the terminal on my right wrist, the enhancement suit glowed faintly and soon disappeared before my eyes. It worked well' now it was my turn.

I activated the metal absorption feature and bit into the enhancement suit. The tough synthetic fibers were torn apart by my teeth, and the metal fragments mixed in between were absorbed into my body. Then, the special effect was triggered, and my body began to blur.

｢Adult?｣

As my figure completely disappeared, Adhai looked around with a puzzled expression.

｢What's wrong, little one?｣

｢Adult｣ ｢Vanished.｣

｢There, He's over there.｣

｢I｣ ｢feel｣ ｢But｣ ｢Not visible｣

Number 26 couldn't detect changes in my body visually, probably because it didn't rely on sight for perception. On the other hand, Adhai, who perceived the surroundings with its eyes and tentacles, seemed perplexed that it could feel my presence but not see me.

[ZZ ZZZ (I'm here.)]

｢Adult.｣｢Not visible｣.

[ZZ ZZZZZ (I'm hiding.)]

｢Adult｣ ｢Hiding｣｢Perfectly｣

Adhai nodded, as if it was admiring my hiding skills

'The effect seems to have been validated.'

Feeling relieved, I was about to leave the nest, but number 26, who could now see me, followed.

[ZZZ ZZZZZ(This time, no.)]

｢Why?｣

[ZZZZ ZZZ(This time,I must go alone.)]

｢Can't I help?｣

[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (No, This is something I have to do alone)]

｢Yeah…｣

Being refused by me, the little one sulked and shrunk down. Adhai, who followed, also noticed and huddled together with it.

While I could conceal myself, they couldn't. Seeing a giant jellyfish and a lizard with flying tentacles, people definitely wouldn't think positively about them.

I tried to leave them behind but felt their eyes on my back.

'…Maybe I should do it this way?'

In case something went wrong and a big battle erupted within the hospital, I couldn't completely rule out the possibility of new enemies visiting the hospital. Given that the Council move is imminent if something goes wrong, it's not entirely a bad strategy to keep them nearby just in case.

Having made up my mind, I called them.

[ZZZ ZZZZ(Follow me)]

With them in tow, I headed towards the hole connecting to the subway tracks.

On the way, I explained the plan to them.

[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ(But you can't come with me)]

｢Yeah.｣

[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Instead, wait for me where I told you)]

｢Like we did before?｣

[ZZ (Yeah.)]

｢I got it.｣

I took out a communication device from the bag I had kept while devouring the reporter and showed it to Number 26. I planned to use the communication device that the sniper had.

After entering the reporter's contact information into the sniper's communication device,I handed the reporter's communication device to Number 26.

[ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (If this vibrates, it's the signal)]

｢Yeah.｣

Number 26 extended its tentacles and firmly held the communication device.

After handing over the communication device, I explained to Number 26 where I would be and how they could find me. Perhaps due to its increased intelligence, the little one quickly understood my explanation.

As the explanation was coming to an end, we arrived at the hole leading to the tracks. I told the kids to wait here and approached the hole.

'My body has grown, so I need to widen it a bit more.'

Perhaps because my strength had increased significantly, breaking the walls around the hole was very easy.

[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ(I'll be back)]

｢Be careful.｣

Leaving the worried kids behind, I crawled into the tracks.

Avoiding passing trains, I ran along the tracks towards the direction of the hospital. The wide passage, enough for two subway trains to pass simultaneously, was filled with the sound of moving trains and my footsteps.

'The noise is louder, maybe because I've gained weight.'

Once I entered the hospital, I would need to stick close to the walls and ceilings. Leaving marks on the walls might raise suspicion among the androids, but it was better than getting caught due to noise.

Even though the body had enhanced, the distance to the hospital that would have taken five minutes by teleportation took less than three minutes by running.

Although it was getting late at night, there were still quite a few people on the platform. I carefully adhered to the wall and waited.

After a while, a train arrived, and the platform filled with people getting off and on the train. The commotion created by the crowd was short-lived.

After the train left, there were almost no people left on the platform. I cautiously crawled along the wall and exited the platform.

Seeing the few remaining people on the platform, I created some traces for the tourists passing by and chattering about it. Fortunately, due to the advanced optical camouflage effect, no one noticed my presence.

After leaving the station, I ran towards the hospital.

Although there were still people on the streets, no one noticed my existence. Some people heard my footsteps and turned their heads, but that was all.

Arriving easily at the front of the hospital, I chose to head to the back entrance instead of the main entrance. After confirming that no one was visible from the back entrance, I quickly entered and went straight up the emergency stairs.

'I initially considered using the windows.'

However, I couldn't enter through the windows because my body had grown too large. Crawling along the wall, I was trying to climb from the second floor to the third, but the door to the stairs opened.

"Noise detected."

An android appeared. The moment it closed the door, my tail pierced through the android's head like lightning.

With my increased size, the tail had grown to almost the size of a blade attached to a pole. It was more appropriate to call it a poisonous sword than a poisonous sting. The android's head was instantly crushed in place.

'It won't be captured on the camera anyway.'

Before it could switch to infrared detection, there was no chance of me getting caught. Just in case, I destroyed the memory storage device inside the android's body too.

After pushing the android's remains into a corner of the stairs, I cautiously used my auxiliary organs to sense the situation outside. Another android had entered a nearby room as soon as the one before closed the door.

While ensuring that no one was around, I opened the door and stepped into the corridor.

'William is… this way.'

Following the guidance of my auxiliary organs, I moved towards the end of the left corridor, leading to the intensive care unit.

Just as I was about to open the door to a patient's room, my auxiliary organs detected something strange.

'What's this?'

There's something below.

A very powerful energy mass. It was a high-density energy conglomerate that could not be compared to androids—four of them were moving up from the first-floor lobby.

'If it's stronger than an android…'

There was only one possibility.

'Superior Reinforced Suits!'

Being able to detect it from such a distance meant that it was undoubtedly a reinforced suit with high output and high firepower.

'Why is an advanced reinforced suit that you can only see on the front lines here?'

Enemies are coming up the stairs on the opposite side. They might come this way, so I quickly hid in the nearby operating room.

"I sense that the door has opened…."

Only a cleaning android remained in the operating room. Before it could finish speaking, I hit him on the head using my combat arm.

After removing the android, I quietly held my breath. Beyond the corridor, I could hear the mechanical sound generated by the thick and sturdy armorsuit.

"It seems to be here."

"I don't know why the Vice Commander ordered us to guard this person."

"The Vice Commander gave strict orders. He said to pay special attention."

"We are the Vice Commander's sword. We follow orders when they are given."

The tone sounded like it belonged in a historical drama, but due to the distortion caused by the mechanical sound, it sounded strangely intriguing. It felt like characters from a classic sci-fi game, space knights of some intergalactic empire.

'A space knight.'

Two forces come to mind.

First and foremost is Garmelda.

Noble Capital, responsible for reinforced suits and android development within the MegaCorp, is a significant player. Since reinforced suits are crucial to MegaCorp gameplay, many MegaCorp users choose this faction.

'It can't be Garmelda. They wouldn't communicate like that.'

As far as I knew, within the MegaCorp, Eden was the only family with a feudalistic political structure on Mars. The head of the family was referred to as a lord, and elders or leaders were called lords. It had a unique culture where people addressed each other as lords.

'Is Eden family supporting them with reinforced suits?'

The Eden family was originally specialized in fleet battles in space, not particularly strong in ground battles. The MegaCorp families responsible for ground battles were the Yujin family and the Garmelda family, not them.

'The situation keeps evolving, like the armed police before. Enemies are evolving too.'

Unthinkable incidents kept occurring as if it were a game. The major families in MegaCorp had a tense relationship, and such cooperation among them was almost nonexistent unless it involved players.

Is this difference due to the fact that this is reality, or did a new system update, similar to the transcendence system, occur?

'It's a problem I can't solve right now.'

I again focused on the conversation coming from the adjacent room.

"The android mentioned that it would take about three hours for this person to wake up."

"Did the Vice Commander say anything else?"

"He said that when this person wakes up, bring the physical examination data and the doctor's diagnosis together."

"Do they suspect mental issues? Although this person was mentally challenged, I was really surprised when they suddenly shot themselves with a gun."

Listening to the conversation, it seemed like they planned to take William with them once he woke up.

'I need to handle this situation here.'

I pressed the auxiliary organ under my chin against the wall. This was to understand the positions of the enemies and how they were moving, in the intensive care unit which was next to the operating room.

'Four enemies. Two near the door, one next to William, and one getting closer to this side.'

While keeping the auxiliary organ pressed against the wall, I prepared my tail for a surprise attack in case If an enemy came close, I planned to pierce them with my tail against the wall.

At that moment, I heard the enemies talking.

"Even though we're guarding, let's activate the surveillance system."

'I'll do the same.'

"Huh?"

"Hmm?"

Following that, a regular warning tone flowed from their thick armor.

'Oh no.'

I quickly detached myself from the wall. Almost simultaneously, the wall was shattered, and bullet-like fists appeared from the other side.

Beyond the dust, four silver-armored knights pointed guns that resembled handgun-type missile launchers at me.

'Plasma Bolter!'

That's dangerous.

I urgently smashed the wall and leaped into the corridor. A green light flashed behind me, and the operating room turned into actual powder.

The Plasma Bolter is a kind of transitional weapon that came before the development of the Plasma Pistol.

It looks like a pistol-type missile launcher based on a concrete nail gun, but instead of conventional ammunition, condensed plasma energy is fired from the barrel.

While the destructive power of plasma weapons is excellent, they are extremely heavy due to a failure in lightweighting.

Nevertheless, apart from its weight, it had no particular disadvantages, making it suitable as a general-purpose weapon for combat units wearing superior reinforcement suits.

Thanks to the strength enhancement function in the superior reinforcement suit, it can easily handle the weight and recoil of the bolter.

Although the Plasma Pistol was developed later, the Bolter could still maintain an active position.

"An unidentified alien life form."

"I'll handle the patient as his escort."

"I'll be counting on you."

"Let's go then."

Three enemies in superior reinforcement suits were approaching. Seeing them heading straight toward my hiding spot, it seemed like my bio-signals were detected by their surveillance system.

'This renders my camouflage useless.'

With a superior reinforcement suit and a plasma bolter, they are not easy opponents at all.

In the last encounter, I did fight a sniper wearing a superior reinforcement suit, but the circumstances then and now are different.

'With high-output and high-armor upgrades, their defense must be extremely high.'

Their armor was likely comparable to the outer hull of a battleship. Although my claws were enhanced with type effects of 'Perfect organism', breaking through a superior reinforcement suit in one go seemed impractical.

The Spine Projectile Organ, with excellent penetration effects, is a weapon that can directly deal effective damage to the enemy.

'Should I use the monster's tentacles?'

I hesitated for a moment, then immediately shook my head. Using it without acquiring the Transcendent ability would be risky, if I were counterattacked, it would be irreversible.

'…Should I use that ability?'

While sensing the movements of the enemies, I opened up the text box.

[*'Symbol of the Hunt': While active, the chance of predation effects significantly increases. All effects of possessed traits are enhanced. Resistance to all types of attacks is granted. Duration is 10 minutes.]

Symbol of Hunt, usable once a day. Due to restrictions, I haven't used this skill yet.

The Symbol of the Hunt, usable once a day. I hadn't used it yet due to restrictions. Originally I planned to use it for mass hunting of genetic essences on Commercial district, but circumstances have changed because of William.

'No, let's think positively.'

Since it was a technique that needed testing sooner or later, it was a good opportunity. With a suitable demonstration target ready, I activated the Symbol of the Hunt.

The moment it activated, my vision was engulfed in darkness.

'What's happening?'

The outer covering over my head rapidly grew, covering everything except my mouth and auxiliary organ. Vision disappeared, but the precision of the sensory input from the auxiliary organ increased to the extreme.

Thanks to that, I could accurately perceive the changes in my body.

'Right now, my body is evolving.'

-x-X-x-

In the world of Space Survival, there are over thousands of different traits. Some are so powerful that they can completely change the situation, and there are traits whose approval through the review process raises questions. With various effects, traits related to physical transformation are naturally present.

Among them are traits like body transformation, which I acquired from the wolf I devoured earlier. They are beings reminiscent of space-age werewolves who have the ability to transform into beastly form for a limited time duration. In fact when the players used to play as wolves, their primary objective was to unlock its beastly form.

In pursuit of better existence and evolution, they might be somewhat similar to Amorph.

The reason I'm mentioning this is that my current body changes resemble the transformation of the wolves. Although my original form was already monstrous, the new transformation was more akin to a beast than a monster.

The outer covering that covered my head grew rapidly, covering my eyes obscuring my eyes, and the horns became long and massive just like spears. The originally 3m tall body became much larger, making it impossible for me to fit inside the room.

Thanks to the effect of Perfect Organism, the muscles attached to the reinforced combat arms became thicker and more powerful, totally reshaping them. Only the covering at the wrist grew unevenly, resembling small shields with tiny thorns that could be used not only for defense but also for offense.

The Spine Projectile Organ of the lower left arm also changed significantly.The original rifle-like shape changed to that of a cannon.

'Moreover, it has three barrels?'

That means it can shoot three rounds at once, consecutively or simultaneously. Thanks to this, there was now no shortage of long-range firepower.

Even up to this point, it was shocking, but the most significant change occurred on my back.

'My arms have elongated?'

Two additional arms emerged from my back which unlike my other arms had four joints with crescent-shaped, elongated bone blades designed exclusively for combat and killing.

'Was this the reason why I was not able to use my wings?'

Given that the sensation while moving the arms was almost identical to the feeling of moving wings, the arms on the back were undoubtedly devices replacing wings.

I swung the arms on my back a few times. Every time I swung the bone blade attached to the end of the arm, there was a threatening sound as the air was cut.

Certainly, the 'Symbol of the Hunt' was a change that lived up to its name.

'And even though I can't see it, this vivid feeling explains it all.'

'The enhanced auxiliary organ compensated for my lack of vision, so I don't regret losing it for now.'

Thanks to them, I could not only sense the changes in my body but also read the movements and appearances of people throughout the entire building. I could even hear the heartbeats of the four individuals in reinforced suits.

Powerful traits come with a cost, and such dramatic changes in my body inevitably demand immense energy, risking starvation as a post-effect if not managed carefully. As I contemplated stepping out, a plasma bolter-wielding knight aimed at my room, unleashing its destructive force— the plasma energy.

'I need to get out of here first…'

"This way!"

And…

"What?!"

A voice distorted by mechanical sounds reached my ears. The emotions within it were filled with confusion. Surprisingly, despite the impact, my outer skin remained largely intact, merely scorched. Sensations akin to a slight tongue burn from hot coffee was what I felt.

'Is it okay?'

I brushed off the soot on my outer covering with the combat arm, then crawled out of the room. Due to my large size, I was unable to bend my waist, so I moved in a semi-leaning position, sticking the combat arms to the ground. Even then, my massive frame filled the corridor completely, and unlike before, the enemies seemed overwhelmed by my increased size, staggering back.

Grrrr

"Pl-Plasma bolter doesn't work on him!"

"E-Everyone retreat!"

When I growled, the enemies quickly began to retreat. The situation was quite amusing.

I put strength into my tail and swung it forcefully. The tail not only broke the corridor wall but also struck the knight at the back of the enemies. The reinforced suit, which was easily able to destroy concrete walls earlier, crumpled at the impact.

'Crack!'

The waist of the knight hit by my tail bent unnaturally. It was a fatal injury that should have resulted in instant death, but he didn't die, perhaps he was equipped with a life support system as an option.

"Fifeild!"

"Damn it, it's too late! We need to retreat and regroup!"

"Shit!"

Instead of chasing the other knights, I approached the injured one called Fifield.

'Since my jaws are now reinforced, there should be no problem in eating him as it is.'

I activated the metal absorption effect, and with the thought of returning to the nest, I left the current ongoing stealth function intact.

I grabbed the knight with my combat arms. The superior reinforced suit he wore was a thing close to an armor suit. Therefore, despite being nearly 3m tall, he still had to look up at me as my height was even more than him.

"Cough, our Silver Lion Knights, you…"

Though his voice was modulated by machinery, the cough couldn't be concealed. Blood pulsated within his armor as if he had coughed up blood.

I stopped attacking for a moment.

Not to save him but because one word in his sentence caught my attention.

'Silver Lion Knights.'

The only faction in Megacorp that uses the term 'Knights' is the Eden family.

'They sent someone here.'

If you play as the Eden family, you will be provided with mercenaries called the Eden family's knights as a perk when you become the head of the family. In the game, the name is determined randomly, but in real life, it seems to be called the Silver Lion Knights.

Well since the board meeting is going to be held soon all the seven must have sent their representatives.

It was highly likely that individuals from other families would also bring a substantial number of escort forces, similar to these Silver Lion Knights.

Some of the noble families have mercenaries whose existence is fixed in the system, as the Eden family have the Silver Lion Knights. However, not all families have such mercenaries, so I need to confirm that myself. Anyway, since there was no more information to extract from the prey. I swung my tail at the knight's head.

The sharp and sturdy bone blade pierced through the visor helmet of the advanced reinforced suit, lodging into the guy's forehead. As the blade was pulled out, blood and brain matter splattered, and the reinforced suit stopped functioning upon the owner's death.

Inside the destroyed helmet, the face of a young and handsome Caucasian man appeared. He might have been quite popular In his lifetime, but now he was nothing more than a corpse with brain matter oozing from the hole in his forehead.

I opened my mouth wide and bit into the knight's corpse. Due to my enlarged body and flexible jaw, I could fit his entire chest into my mouth at once.

Applying force to my jaw caused the advanced reinforced suit to shatter immediately. Flesh, blood, and organs spilled out, flowing into my body.

It felt similar to chewing on a piece of candy with a delicious filling.

'Looks like this guy underwent some modifications too.'

The taste was truly exceptional.

Although the reinforced suit, nearly indistinguishable from a chunk of metal, was a minus factor, the interesting texture made it somewhat palatable.

The knight in the reinforced suit became nutrient for my body in just a few minutes. With my enlarged body, I easily consumed the 3m tall prey.

After finishing the meal, a semi-transparent text box appeared, but I ignored it.

'Now is still the time for hunting.'

I need to diligently catch the prey that's running around until the effects of the symbol of hunt disappear.

***

"Your Excellency, Chief Administrator Laila has prepared a bouquet for you."

"Huh, when did she prepare that?"

"As you may know, she is Samdam Chemblin's daughter. Her resourcefulness shouldn't surprise us.."

"Tch, Samdams got a lot of luck."

Denver praised the now-adult Laila Chamblin's skills.

Currently, he is staying in the top-notch room located within a luxurious room in the Monument skyscraper, a high-rise building in the administrative district. There seemed nothing special about it until he entered the room.

Every facility and decoration in the room matched precisely with how it was in Denver's office. It wasn't just the appearance; even the materials and vintage of the furniture were identical.

'He's a well-organized guy with his kids.'

Unbeknownst to the public, a clandestine alliance existed between Prime Capital's Eden family and Noble Capital's T&C, ever since Denver had ascended as the head of the T&C, which provided funds for Denver's ambitious project, the Hulk Mutant development, securing Eden's votes in return. Denver had conversed with Samdam beforehand, sealing this deal.

In return for the money, Denver was required to vote for Samdam Chemblin of T&C in the board meeting. Laila might not know, but Denver had already finished negotiating with Samdam and had come here for another purpose.

'Anyways, I was thinking of calling William, whom I haven't seen in a long time, but I didn't expect such an incident to occur.'

Upon witnessing an old subordinate attempting suicide right in front of him, Denver was quite surprised. The William in his memory wasn't someone who would contemplate taking their own life.

[Please…]

Denver mulled over William's last words. What could the old subordinate of his have requested from him? In the past, when the first project concluded in an unfortunate manner, Denver had ensured substantial compensation for the project team members.

'It can't be because of credits.'

Even if credits were urgently needed, would it be more urgent than one's life? Denver didn't think William would resort to self-harm for such trivial reasons.

'A problem he couldn't solve on his own. And a very urgent matter.'

Unfortunately, Denver wasn't well-versed in the affairs of the T&C Special Trade Center. While he had intricate knowledge of the political issues within the T&C, understanding what kind of problem would drive a regular police officer to risk their life seeking help was challenging.

'I need to gather information about William.'

Having organized his thoughts, Denver inquired of the Vice Commander, "What happened to the one who attempted suicide?"

"He is currently at the hospital in the commercial district. The surgery went well, and he's currently in a recovery capsule."

"Hmm. Since he's an old friend and subordinate of mine, be considerate in your dealings with him."

"I have assigned four members of the Silver Lion Knights to his security. They're all veterans, so you don't need to worry."

"If it's you, I can be rest assured."

True to the deputy commander's affirmation, it was a neatly handled matter. Denver, nodding in approval, issued additional instructions to the deputy commander.

"Also, look into the recent public safety issues in the city for me."

"Public safety issues? Is there anything specific you're curious about?"

"Yeah. I have some questions."

"Understood. I'll investigate and report back by tomorrow."

Denver nodded and as he had to prepare for the banquet, the Vice Commander stepped outside the room. While he couldn't understand why Denver was so concerned about a police officer who had disrupted the welcoming ceremony, the deputy commander didn't question it. As he was familiar with his unpredictable commands.

Similar to the Silver Lion Knights, they were merely the eyes and arms of the monarch. It was not their place to doubt the one wielding the black blade*.

[*PR/N – prolly a weapon used by the soon to be head of the Eden family]

Back in his quarters, the deputy commander summoned another knight. This was to fulfill Denver's instructions.

"I will investigate along with the members."

"I appreciate it."

After dispatching his subordinates to fulfill Denver's orders, the deputy commander took out an elegantly decorated communication device.

"I should double-check the situation in the hospital as well."

The Silver Lion Knights were one of the top special forces in the city of Eden, composed of seasoned veteran warriors armed with advanced reinforced armor and various deadly weapons. Given their status, the deputy commander wasn't particularly concerned. He only intended to verify that everything was proceeding as usual.

However, today's operation didn't go as planned.

[Aargh!]

[Damn it! Milburn is down!]

"Deputy Commander! We need reinforcements! Fifield and Milburn are already down… aghh!"

From the other end of the communication device, hell was unfolding.

-x-X-x-

Suddenly, William woke up from his sleep. It wasn't someone deliberately waking him up; it was the vibrations he felt from something covering his body.

'Where am I?'

As he opened his eyes, a lukewarm liquid tickled his eyes. After blinking a few times, his eyes gradually adjusted. Currently, he was submerged in a healing capsule, wearing a respiratory device.

'I'm not dead.'

At the time of his suicide attempt, William had resigned himself to death. It was because the Noble Capital had made a mess of the welcoming event for the Prime Capital because of him. Laila Chemblin, the owner of this city, was a rational lady but not exactly merciful

Originally, William shouldn't have been waking up in a healing capsule with his brain intact; he should have been dead. The fact that he was safe in the hospital was probably thanks to Denver protecting him.

That meant William's plan had partially succeeded.

'I hope His Majesty understands my intentions'

Thud!

Once again, the liquid surrounding him vibrated. Something, possibly the healing fluid or the entire healing capsule he was in, shook due to some external force.

'What's going on?'

There can't be an earthquake. There shouldn't be any seismic activity in an artificial structure floating in zero-gravity space.

Thud!

This was a vibration occurring within the hospital as if something heavy was shaking the whole hospital.

'Could it be'

Thud!

William felt a chill running down his spine. The fact that something substantial enough to shake the hospital was moving around this late at night meant only one thing.

'It' had come for him.

Thud!

The vibrations grew stronger. 'It' was getting closer to him.

At that moment, the door to the intensive care unit opened, and a person clad in silver armor rushed in.

His expression was hidden by the armor, but his frantic movements hinted at his state of mind.Amidst the chaos, the knight noticed William, who was awake inside the healing capsule. Operating the terminal, the treatment liquid drained out of the capsule's openings.

"Are you awake?"

William nodded as he came out of the capsule. The knight handed him a patient gown.

"I am not sure what's happening in this hospital, but an unidentified creature is attacking us."

"…"

William knew who was pursuing him, but he couldn't answer. There was still the parasite inside his head. If he spoke or even thought of 'It' in a disrespectful manner, the parasite would cause excruciating pain. The higher the disrespect, the more intense the suffering.If he mentioned the parasite to the knight now, the agony he'd faced until now would be child's play. Revealing the parasite in this situation would only worsen things.

Regrettably, silence was his only option.

"What about the people in the hospital?"

"All my comrades were killed by that thing. The people in this hospital, probably…"

He didn't finish the sentence, but William could understand.

"Central AI likely detected the crisis and called the police. I've also requested reinforcements. We have to hold on until they arrive."

"…Understood."

William felt a sense of déjà vu.

A similar situation had occurred before, during the battle in the apartment. Back then, he had believed that he and the android could handle it without much difficulty.

And what was the result? They lost all their comrades leaving only one police officer alive who was also made deprived of his freedom turning into a puppet.

Thud!

At that moment, a loud noise came from across the door.

It had reached the door.

The knight stood in front of William, wielding a plasma bolter in one hand and a blade claw in the other. William, a former soldier, knew well what a blade claw was.

The blade claw was an enhanced version of a sonic blade, a weapon with two ultrasonic saws attached to the back of the hand. It was much heavier than a sonic blade but had superior durability and cutting power,it was primarily used by armored soldiers or hulk mutants.

If it were any other creature, William wouldn't be concerned, but the problem was that the knight was facing an adversary that was 'It.'

'Engaging in close combat with that thing is suicide.'

Having fought against the monster before, William was convinced that the knight had no chance of winning.

'I should get out, it won't start a rampage outside. It avoids human eyes.'

Having been a slave to the monster for a while, William knew what it feared.The vicious creature avoided direct confrontation with the city and only operated in the dark. It only fed on what William offered, occasionally attacking the ones chasing him.

This gruesome hunting occurred only during the hours when there were no people, usually in the early morning.

Therefore, William intended to persuade the knight to jump out of the window.

Certainly, many civilians would get hurt, but it was better than losing his life. If William died, the damage would be far greater.

However, there was something he didn't know – the current state of the monster.

With a roaring sound, the steel door was blown away like a piece of paper. The wall partly collapsed, and dust filled the air.

"It's here!"

William squinted his eyes due to the dust. Standing on the fallen debris was a figure wearing armor identical to the silver knight.

'What is this?'

No, precisely speaking, he only appeared to be standing. It seemed as if he were suspended in the air, caught by something.

"Charlie!"

"R-Run… Ugh!"

The one called Charlie tried to say something but couldn't finish his words. His body twisted grotesquely, and a cracking sound emanated from the armor.

Charlie's desperate scream turned into three distinct cries. His body was torn into three pieces. Red blood, organs, and bone fragments mixed and splattered on the ground.

"Oh my God…"

Some of the blood from the corpse flowed down, carrying something invisible in the air. It was then that William understood why the knight didn't run outside.

"It" had somehow turned invisible. Moreover, it was implemented at such a high level that was usually possible with the help of highly advanced technology.

Despite the blood obscuring his vision, William, with keen eyesight, recognized 'It.' Ordinary people wouldn't be aware of its existence even if they went outside to check.

"Get Down!"

"!"

The knight grabbed William's head and pushed it down. Thanks to that, William barely managed to bow his head in time. Something barely missed his head.

He didn't know what it was wielding, but the creature's weapon seemed immense. It was enough to slice through not just the healing capsules but also the entire wall. Due to the creature's attack, people inside other healing capsules were also sliced in half. The floor was covered in a pink liquid mixed with blood and treatment solution.

"Damn! I'll hold that thing off. Survive until backup arrives! I must inform our leader!"

"I, I will…!"

"Please!"

Without waiting for William's response, the knight rushed towards the invisible monster.

***

'This is troublesome.'

The knight had interfered just as I was about to kill William with my tail. Perhaps due to the detection equipment embedded in his advanced reinforced suit, the knight accurately perceived my movements.

"Go anywhere, just run quickly!"

"Damn it!"

Ignoring the knight's words, William leaped through the collapsed wall. I had no intention of letting him escape. I swung my tail towards him but my intention to rip his limbs apart was thwarted by the plasma shot from the knight. The trajectory of my tail deviated to another direction because of it.

Instead of piercing William's side, the poisonous stinger at the end of my tail stuck into the wall of the corridor. Startled, William clutched his head with both hands and escaped.

"Hyaaah!"

Since that attack failed, I decided to finish it with my bone spikes, but the knight, with a war cry, forcefully shouldered me, hindering my attack.

With the weight of over several hundred kilograms of reinforced armor and propulsion that exceeded the output of a small spacecraft's power source, the combined force was terrifying enough to bring down my body, which weighed more than twice that of the reinforced armor.

Due to the knight's charge, I was pushed through the broken corridor to the opposite side of the critical care unit. As the walls crumbled, the patients and on-duty doctors hidden inside were startled and rushed outside.

"Kyaa, Kyaaaah!"

"Save us!"

Even though my current form was not visible to others, I couldn't let them escape as is. I launched my spike bones from the tip of my lower left arm, piercing through the backs of those who were exposed.

"Kek!"

"Ack!"

Unfortunately, I was only able to kill a maximum of three people with one shot of the spike bones. One survivor sprinted away at a speed that made me wonder if someone could run that fast.

'Where did William go?'

While I was capturing the survivors, William had already distanced himself from me. Confirming that he ran through the emergency stairs, I turned my head again and faced the knight.

The knight had no intention of protecting the innocent victims. Instead, he kicked the bodies spread on the floor, seemingly annoyed by their obstruction.

"You are killing innocents, you vile monster!"

The knight's actions didn't match his words, but it wasn't particularly strange. The knights of Eden was a special unit composed of the upper-class members of the MegaCorp. Their concept of honor was designed to build a positive image externally but had little to do with reality.

They probably know that the patients staying in the hospital are of low class, so they treat them like that on purpose.

'But they are all potential sources of food.'

Looking at the knight, who seemed to have had no training in how to prepare for the dinner table, I calculated the remaining time.

'The effect will last for about 8 minutes.'

I had planned to kill William first and then leave, but the knight kept bothering me. I estimated the remaining time until the effect wore off.

Ignoring me, the knight activated the blade claw on his arm.

'Blade Claw.'

In a normal situation, the plasma bolt would be a far superior weapon to the blade claw, but in the current limited circumstances, the blade claw was not a bad weapon. Like the Sonic Blade, the blade claw specialized in destroying armor with high defense.

"Die!"

The knight, firing suppression shots with the plasma bolter, rushed towards me.

Plasma shots flew towards the tentacle under my chin. I wasn't sure if he deliberately aimed there, but the auxiliary system wasn't reinforced under the effect of the' symbol of hunt'. I crossed the upper combat arm over the lower one to block the plasma shots heading towards the tentacle.

In the meantime, the knight approached me and swung the blade claw from bottom to top.

He wasn't targeting my head but my combat arm. Two saw blades made a gruesome sound, cutting through the air.

I stepped back, widening our distance, and used my arms as a shield to block the two spinning blades. The collision between the ultra-vibration saw blades and my alloy-reinforced shell generated sparks.

He calmly aimed the plasma bolter at me from close range, showing no signs of surprise. His composure was excellent, but his intent was bound to fail as I still had plenty of weapons at my disposal.

My tail targeted his waist, piercing through the darkness and dust.

"Kuk?!"

Instead of firing the bolt, the knight twisted his waist just in time to avoid my tail. I swiftly grabbed his hand holding the plasma bolter before he could step back.

"You dare!"

Thinking we were engaging in a power struggle, he exerted force on the arm holding the bolter. Because of the enhanced strength from the advanced reinforced suit he was wearing, his strength was comparable to mine.

Our combined weight, exceeding that of a ton, pressed down on the hospital floor without both of us moving.

He grabbed my arm with his other arm as the concrete floor cracked from our fight, probably planning to push me away.

But he was mistaken. My intention was not to engage in a strength contest with him. The bone blade on my rear arm flew towards his shoulder.

"Kweuk!"

The blade, at least 50 cm in length, pierced through the knight's body, invisible due to the darkness and dust. The blade lodged deep inside him, turning his insides into a complete mess.

I shook the rear arm a few times to worsen his injuries before pulling it out. With no strength left to stand, he slumped down on the floor.

"I, forgive me, my lord…"

There was no time to listen to his last words. I kicked his head with my legs while he was still kneeling.

Even with a heavily armored suit covering the entire body, it couldn't protect the neck or joints. When the rubber plug burst, I fell back with the knight's lifeless body. The fallen knight's corpse had a neck much longer than when he was alive.

'I need to eat everything here and leave.' To maximize the effect of the 'Symbol of the Hunt,' I had to eat every strand of genetic essence over here.

'Anyways, with the parasite inside his body, William can't escape.' The parasite was saying that William hadn't left the hospital yet.

I checked his movements while stuffing the corpses into my mouth. Some were delicious, some were not, and I wasn't able to fully enjoy the meal due to the limited time I had.

The text boxes kept popping up after each meal, but I ignored them. I planned to check them later because there wasn't enough time now.

'I don't need new traits right away.'

The time it takes for the absorption of traits to be automatically canceled when not acquired is 10 minutes. There is still plenty of time before trait selection.

Fortunately, the corpses of ordinary people seemed to transition smoothly, perhaps because they were wearing patient gowns. Thanks to that, the meal ended earlier than expected.

'Only took 2 minutes, huh?'

The remaining time for metal absorption should be around 10 minutes. It was enough time to capture and consume William.

'Now, let's go.'

The signal was coming from upstairs. I led my massive body there, ready to find the traitor.

***

"Heuk, heuk, heuk…."

William panted heavily, leaning against a cabinet as if he was about to be engulfed. The gust of wind caused the cleaning tools inside to spill out.

William gripped a high-pressure washer, a rather pathetic weapon against the monster, but he had no other choice. It wasn't certain if he could even wield it against the creature in the first place, considering the parasite was still alive in his head.

"Damn…."

William lamented. He had been loyal to MegaCorp. He was closer to someone who captured those doing wrong rather than being someone doing wrong. MegaCorp, however, was an organization that inflicted pain on many, a group far from justice. Loyalty to such an organization might not be considered just, but at least William believed his convictions still held some values.

However, his beliefs were powerless in the face of a disaster that an individual could not handle.

He, a courageous soldier unafraid of death, was different when it came to that monster. The overwhelming terror paralyzed him and awakened a primal emotion within him—'Fear.'

"..."

William grasped his trembling thighs together, trying to calm himself down

Moments ago, he could still hear androids causing a commotion outside, but now it was quiet. He held his breath, pressing his ear to the door. The sound of a patient murmuring in the corridor reached his ears. The voice sounded muffled, like it was coming from a broken radio.

Seeing a survivor indicated that the creature had likely moved to another floor. His reasoning was based on the absence of the heavy footsteps that the creature made while walking.

'Now's my chance.'

William cautiously opened the door, but what greeted him in the hallway outside the tool room was a ruined corridor. The ceiling lights were all destroyed while some were sparking sporadically.

The patient beds, once neatly arranged, were either bent or broken, seemingly having hit with a powerful impact.He was the only person on the hallway that was so damaged that it was impossible to imagine a clean image of the hospital.

.

"I've fou…nd." Then, the voice resounded again.

Only now did he realize who the owner of the voice he heard was. He thought the sound didn't transmit well through the blocked door, but that wasn't the case. The voice was naturally like that, eerie and distorted, like coming from a broken radio.

The creature had been waiting for him to come out from behind the door.

William tightly closed his eyes. As soon as his eyes closed, his body was thrown into a disarray by something transparent.

-x-X-x-

"Damn it! Peter! Charlie!"

Vicus, the vice commander of the Lion Knights, continued to attempt communication. However, the sounds emanating from the communication device were nothing but ominous static.

The last message he received was from Peter, informing him that his colleagues Milburn and Fifeild had perished. Since then, there has been no word from Peter or Charlie. This could only mean one thing –they might all have been wiped out

"This won't do. I need to dispatch the knights quickly and report about this to the Lord," Vicus quickly summoned the waiting knights. With the troops guarding Denver and those investigating security dispatched elsewhere, he had a force of only 20 knights at immediate disposal.

The armed knights filed into the spacious guest room allotted to the Vice commander, each removing their helmets. The knights were of different races and gender—among them there were, a fair-skinned woman with reddish-blonde hair, a caucasian man with black hair, and a black-skinned man with a shaved head.

Despite their differences they all shared one common trait: their exceptional facial features and their towering height.

While the public praised Denver for prioritizing his image, Vicus knew the truth.

They were the results of genetic enhancements under Denver's directives, known as the Hulk Mutant Project

"Vice commander, did you call for me?" The black-skinned man respectfully bowed before Vicus, drawing him back to the present. Vicus briefed them on the situation

"The situation is dire. We've lost contact with the team assigned to protect the police officer under Lord's orders."

"What?"

"We sent Charlie, Peter, Milburn, and Fifield to the hospital. Since Peter's last communication five minutes ago, no one else has responded."

Silence fell among the Lion Knights. Everyone present in that room knew the extent of the force of the Lion Knights. Therefore, the news that four of their own had fallen was not something they could easily overlook.

"So, I will report to the Lord immediately. Jacob, I entrust the command of these men to you in my absence."

"I will do my best, sir."

"…for such an incident to occur right before the council meeting."

After sending the knights to the hospital, Vicus hurriedly headed towards the banquet hall.

"The Lord wishes for Samdan Chemblin to become the CEO, and now this happens."

As Denver's closest confidant, Vicus was well aware of what he was aiming for. Before coming to this city, Denver had met Samdan in advance to discuss how the council meeting would proceed. During the discussions, Samdan expressed high expectations for his daughter Laila, and Denver understood Samdan's intentions.

Although Vicus wasn't sure how Laila felt about it, he had no ill feelings towards her. Therefore, before coming here, he made many preparations to assist her.

With all the preparations done, now only the smooth progress of the council meeting remained. Yet, such a major incident occurred.

"Finding out who killed the knights in the hospital is important, but the more important thing here was…"

The fact that an agent of Prime Capital died on the territory of Noble Capital.

Competitors of Samdam are not likely to let go of such a good opportunity. If they just let this slide, it will undoubtedly be talked about.

Before the CEO election between T&C and Eden, the CEOs traditionally engage in a verbal battle. While conspiracy and plots are expected during the CEO voting process, any irregularities on the surface were unheard of.

Officially, MegaCorp is an organization that elects its CEO through democratic procedures, and any irregularities are not tolerated.

'T&C and Eden were in alliance with each other', if this gets leaked ahead of the CEO election. it could undermine the legitimacy of the CEO appointment and even jeopardize the T&C family's status in Noble Capital and would also cause Samdam to be excluded as a CEO candidate.

"But Denver's hard stance might pose problems too." Deliberate criticism of T&C could backfire, especially among Eden's elders who were unaware about this alliance. They might opt for a different candidate, rendering T&C's financial support for Denver's hulk mutant project futile

"How can I handle this…?"

His thoughts racing, Vicus could see the door to the banquet hall in the distance. A woman was being inspected by security guards before entering the door.

She was Laila's secretary, someone Vicus knew well. Up close, he could see that her complexion had turned pale.

She must have come here for the same reason he did.

"Even Lady?"

"Vice Commander too?"

They exchanged glances, saying nothing but understanding each other's thoughts. It seemed like tonight's banquet would be a long one.

***

'The existence that annoyed me is now dead. Despite judging it as competent and deciding to spare it, the outcome turned out to be a mixed bag of gains and losses.'

A reflection on an individual's assessment. I have to keep in mind that this is Reality, my life is at constant risk here. I have to be extremely cautious, especially when dealing with humans, at least until I acquire the infection enhancement type.'

'Time to dismantle the central AI and exit.'

Carrying the now-deceased William, I descended to the basement, as I was going down I took a bite of his upper body first.

'I should have eaten a bit earlier.'

Maybe because he suffered due to me, his taste was bland, the quality of the meat was good but it felt like the meat got rotten due to improper storage in the refrigerator.

While eating, a parasite came out of the corpse's nostrils as if asking not to be eaten. It went back to his house on my arm.

When only one leg remained, I arrived in front of the server room where the main computer was located. I put down the leg I was eating and smashed the door with the horn on my head.

The 10cm thick alloy door, powerless against Amorph's formidable strength, broke with a loud bang. The central AI, detecting my intrusion, loudly warned..

[Warning! Warning! Unidentified life form detected!]

I destroyed the speakers hanging on the ceiling corners with a swing of my tail, and put an end to the irritating noise, leaving only the regular noise of the air conditioning in the server room.

'Let's break the cooling system computer first.'

Although there were numerous computers in the server room, I had raided many hospitals when I played the game. Once you get here, it's not much difficult afterwards.

I systematically knocked down the computers lined up at the right end. Sparks flew, and the red light in each computer diminished.

A moment later, all the internal fans stopped, and the temperature inside began to rise rapidly. The sensitive electronic devices inside screamed at the rise in temperature that even surpassed a sauna.

'This is not the end.'

Using all my arms, I successively destroyed all the data server devices one-by-one.

All the computers were either shred to pieces by my combat arms or were turned into unrecoverable waste.

Thanks to my enlarged body, destroying all electronic devices in the spacious server room was easy and didn't take that long.

Now that I've destroyed the important devices, I decided to finish the rest with another method. I bit my arm and created a wound and sprayed acid all over.

Thanks to the effects of 'Perfect organism', the effect of the acid inside me had increased significantly, the electronic devices touched by the droplets melted without a trace. Then, a short circuit occurred in the broken computer's wires, and flames suddenly erupted all over the room.

'It's enough for here.'

I walked smoothly through the fire and entered the inside of the server room. The fire was unable to do anything to me thanks to my Reinforced Exoskeleton.

Inside, there was a cylindrical computer wrapped in reinforced glass. That was the main computer containing the central AI and controlled the whole hospital. Green numbers constantly appeared and disappeared on its matte surface in a non-reflective black color.

That cylindrical computer had a design unique to MegaCorp, and looked like the AI computer inside the spaceship.

["Warning! Warning! Central AI under threat of damage!"]

The AI, issued its final warning in electronic sounds as if not wanting to die, but it was meaningless.I launched bone spikes towards the reinforced glass, the glass wall shattered.

It not only broke the glass but also pierced through the main computer. However, I was not satisfied. I had to completely destroy it so that the enemies won't be able to retrieve the data.

'I remember making a similar mistake back then.'

I once infiltrated a hospital in a space city in the game to kill someone. At that time, I was a Quasi-saint with six types in my possession. Therefore, assassinating enemies without getting caught was very easy.

Perhaps because it was too easy. I became careless, and because of that, my abilities were exposed to the central AI.

The organization members of the hostile clan that I killed were easily able to obtain my information through the central AI. They sought revenge by spreading the strategies I used in the hospital on the community forum.

'It became challenging to create new strategies as the old ones became useless.'

Of course, I later paid them back twice as much, but I don't want to recreate those memories. I sprayed my acid blood to completely dissolve the main computer.

"It all went well."

After leaving the blazing server room, I finished eating William's remaining leg.

Once again, a text box related to the predation effect appeared, and as I was about to skip it I saw something.

'Wait? What's this?'

I quickly checked the text box.

[Predation effect activated! Successfully obtained 'Insight' genetic essence.]

[Extracted the 'Insight' among the biological characteristics of 'William'.]

[Do you want to apply 'Insight'?]

'Huh?'

Insight.

I'm familiar with this ability too. When activated, it allows me to see the unique features, traits, skills, etc., of a living being or object with my naked eyes.

I can't know everything, and the information I can obtain is randomly determined, limited to five times a day.

For example, if you use 'Insight' on someone wearing reinforced armor, you might get information about the armor instead of the wearer. Or sometimes if you want to know about the information of the armor you will get information on the wearer.

Also if you tried to use 'Insight' more than five times a day, it would become unusable and you won't be able to use it in the future.

'I was curious about what would come out of William, but for this to come out.'

William always had sharper intuition than others, so it made sense that he had such an extraordinary ability in him.It was probably because of that he found out about my weaknesses, and forced me to corner myself.

Come to think of it, William was the first one who cornered me in this city. Although he was not as powerful in combat as Si-hyun Yujin or the Hulk Mutants, he targeted my weaknesses with just his intuition.

Though I had infected him with a parasite, he didn't give up and continued to be a headache for me until the end.

'The one who used to be an enemy is giving me a gift at the end.'

Although he was an enemy in the past, it was forgivable at this point as he gave me such an amazing gift.

As shown in the system panel, 'Insight' is advantageous in player-vs-player fights, or PK. It's not an ability I immediately need since I don't fight players one on one

'Yet, I'm happy.'

Because Insight is a psychic trait.

Including 'Insight,' I now have a total of 6 psychic traits. This means that I have successfully fulfilled all the conditions for the Psychic Reinforcement type.

The acquired traits from eden knights and the patients are still pending until they are canceled, but the newly obtained Insight is different.

'It's an opportunity to acquire a type; I can't miss this.'

I immediately accepted the acquisition of Insight.

As the trait applied, I felt a change in the structure of my eyes. It was as if the inside of the eyeball became stiff, similar to the feeling when tired, and there was a twitch in the brow.

Despite the tingling sensation, I remained still as the natural changes due to the trait application occurred.

Perhaps because the applied area was not large in size, the transformation quickly ended. I activated Insight and looked around.

'Huh?'

Despite acquiring it, there was no change. There should be random information about objects, but I couldn't see anything.

'Right, I won't be able to see anything now'.

Insight is a trait that must be confirmed with the naked eye for its effects to take place.

Currently, my vision is obscured due to the effect of the 'Symbol of Hunt'. Naturally, I can't see anything.

'Well, it doesn't matter because there are more important things to do right now.'

I decided to check the effect of Insight later and brought up the text box I had been waiting for.

[There exists one 'Type' that can be specialized.]

[Do you want to unlock the 'psychic Reinforcement Type'?]

After acquiring the first Type, the second Type was waiting for me.

-x-X-x-

In the game Space Survival, all traits and skills exist within specific categories. For instance, the wings I initially obtained and special traits like the chitinous exoskeleton fall under the Physical category, while the psychic power organ I gained by devouring Keisaragi belong to the Psychic category.

Among these categories, the most potent and strongest traits are concentrated in the Abyssal Force and Dragon Power categories, where exclusive Vortex One's traits and traits of the Red Gallagon are found.

Vortex Ones are the species that appear as bosses in the final mission for Outspacers. As boss-exclusive entities, they naturally exhibit overwhelming power. The Red Gallagon is one of the most formidable creatures in the game, posing a significant challenge even for high-rank players. Consequently, the powers of these two entities are not accessible to regular players.

Even the Dragon Power of the Red Gallagon can only be used to a limited extent by the Cult, and that too through a specific artifact acquired with a low probability in the late-game quest. Only a handful of players would have access to it.

Now, let's slightly modify the question. Among the categories containing traits and skills accessible to players, which one is the most powerful? The answer to this question may vary among high-rankers, but most would likely point to the Psychic category.

The Psychic category offers a variety of versatile traits and skills applicable in various situations. While the Physical category also provides potent techniques, it has decisive limitations. It leans heavily toward physical attacks and defenses, making it vulnerable to non-material assaults.

On the other hand, Psychic powers can exert formidable physical force while possessing destructive capabilities against the mind, soul, and more. Due to this imbalanced game structure, Outspacers and StarUnions' cyborgs, who cannot obtain Psychic powers directly, became increasingly disadvantaged in the late game, relying solely on equipment to counter Psychic powers.

Players who choose biological races like MegaCorps can acquire Psychic powers through genetic modification. However, competing without Psychic powers against them is naturally challenging.

One drawback of Psychic traits and skills is that obtaining them is not easy. However, this issue can be resolved if you play as a Cultist.

'Wasn't the Cultist user base around 30% in the game?' Rankers, in particular, had a much higher proportion of being Cult members compared to regular users. Considering that 9 out of 20 rankers in the game were Cultists, one can guess how popular the Cult faction was. Notably, one of these nine was a Korean, a fact I deduced because I competed directly against him.

This Korean Cultist proved to be a formidable opponent. His skills surpassed my expectations of him as a high ranker. His creative use of psychic powers, often associated with traits like telekinesis and telepathy, introduced me to new strategies during our intense battles, despite my eventual victory, I learned a lot from our fights, he also broke my misconception that 'Cultists may have good equipment, but there are a few cult players who are actually skilled.'

While I already utilized psychic traits, my understanding increased significantly after battling this Korean Cultist. Now, applying this experience, I sought to become a 'Perfect organism' for the application of Psychic Enhancement Type, enhancing all my psychic power traits. It is a necessity if one wants to properly use traits related to psychic powers.

While I often utilized psychic traits, my understanding of psychic powers increased significantly after battling the Korean Cultist. Anyway, it's time to start applying the experience I gained back then.

'To properly use traits related to psychic powers, a Type is necessary.'

Acquiring the Psychic Enhancement Type makes me a complete organism for its application, enhancing all the psychic power traits I possess.

There are currently two external devices on my body for using psychic powers: the auxiliary organ below my chin and the cluster of tentacles at the back of my head. Though there weren't any significant changes to the auxiliary device, the tentacles related to the 'Monstrous Tentacles' trait underwent substantial changes.

Firstly, the shape of the exoskeleton covering my head transformed.The Previously smooth and simple structure, now expanded more widely to protect the tentacles at the back of my head.

Additionally, intricate patterns and grooves appeared on the outer surface, giving it a more complex appearance than before. If the previous head exoskeleton could be linked to a helmet with a horn at the center, the current design resembled that of a giant crown.

Though the size will decrease once the effects of the 'Symbol of Hunt' ends, the fact that the appearance has become more impressive than before, made me satisfied. Along with the changes to the exoskeleton that covered my head,the tentacles also underwent significant changes; they became thicker, longer, and more vibrant purple in color.

As soon as the transformation of the tentacles concluded, my entire body felt a tingling sensation. The psychic power resistance enhancement effect manifested itself on the exterior in the form of a vivid purple tattoo on the monochrome exterior.

The tattoo, following the course of veins, was etched across my entire body. Though I was not able to see it because my vision, which was currently obscured due to the effect of the 'Symbol of the Hunt', but the developed auxiliary organ allowed me to feel the changes in my body as if I were seeing them directly.

With these enhancements, I gained a heightened sensitivity to psychic energies around me, perceiving faint purple energies that were previously unseen, even in situations where the cultists aren't directly using psychic powers, I can detect psychic powers.

In the game, it was limited to simply highlighting psychic power users on the mini-map in violet. But in reality, I could experience the same astonishment and freshness I felt when I first came inside the game and became a Hatchling.

'With this level of sensitivity I might be able to detect the psychic power users even before they attack me, it would be highly useful when fighting against the Cult members.'

Originally, I could detect the flow of psychic powers with my auxiliary organ, but it was not as precise as it is now. It will be much easier to fight against Cultists or enemies using psychic powers in the future.

Satisfied with obtaining the type, I ascended to the first floor of the hospital. The metallic absorption effect is still ongoing. Now, all that's left is to return to the nest where the kids are waiting.

Just as I was about to step out into the lobby, my senses picked up a strange feeling.

[Twenty knights wearing advanced silver reinforced armors emerge from the alley.]

[A knight with bikini-shaped armor at the front speaks, "Divide into three groups. Group 1 with me, Group 2 with Tennessee, and Group 3 with Paris."]

[The knight with an eagle shaped armor responds," Understood. Group 2, this way".]

[The knight with a shield says," Sir Jacob, People are gathering around the hospital".]

[The knight, Jacob responds, "Reporters, I presume. Leave their handling to the police".]

With that, the sensation, like watching a sped-up video, stopped.

'Predator Sense?'

The method of displaying the video is the only similarity, though it is also too detailed; everything else is different.

'Predator Sense' activates only when there is any life-threatening situation. Moreover, it doesn't show the future as it did now but rather depict a fragmented representation of the upcoming danger.

What I just saw was much more detailed than usual. It showed who was speaking, where they were coming from—everything.

'Did Predator Sense also get influenced by the effect of the 'Symbol of the Hunt'?'

The 'Symbol of the Hunt' enhances all the traits I possess, and with the psychic enhancement type I just got, 'Predator Sense' might have improved too, depicting a future danger more precisely than it usually used to do.

'If that's the case,then there is still time for them to arrive.'

One might suggest fleeing during that time, but if I did, Predator Sense wouldn't have been triggered.

'There's a station near the path they're taking.'

The concealment effect is still active, but the issue is that they can detect me. Going out like this will undoubtedly expose me.

'Fighting them isn't the problem, but…'

There are too many enemies. Even if I manage to annihilate them somehow, the time of the concealment effect would most likely be over during the fight.

'Even if I go around them, there is still group three consisting of six knights waiting in front of the station, there's no way I can avoid a fighting with them.

'The real issue is the time.'

I'm still under the effects of the 'Symbol of Hunt', so I could easily kill the six knights, but killing without alerting anyone is the main problem.

Originally, I came to the hospital to avoid exposing my identity to the city. If I boldly reveal myself while claiming to escape unharmed, it would be a clear contradiction.

'Should I call the kids?'

The current time is 10:30 PM.

At this time, the station should be under inspection because of the upcoming council meeting. Since the council meeting hasn't started yet, there is a high possibility of inspection today as well.

'I was previously caught here only at this time.'

Before coming here, I explained this to Number 26. I told them to come out if the station is dark when I contact it.

Sea demons, creatures living in the deep sea, are sensitive to light. Probably, Number 26 can detect a broader spectrum of light than me, so there shouldn't be difficulty following the plan.

'But words and reality are two different things. I need to time the signal well.'

Our coordinated operation is not bad, but for it to succeed, it's crucial that I give the signals appropriately.

'With the improved auxiliary organ, if I focus, it won't be difficult to grasp the situation inside the station… No, wait.'

At that moment, a different thought suddenly occurred to me. I tried emitting the usual wavelength through which I talk to Number 26.

[ZZZZ ZZZ (Are you there?)]

｢…Big baby?｣

[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Hey, listen to me okay?)]

｢Hey, big baby, what's going on?｣

'It worked!'

I thought It might not work, but just in case, I tried it, and it was successful.

The means by which I communicated with Number 26 was through the psychic organ which I got after killing Keisaragi Yujin. When I didn't have this organ, I could only hear what Number 26 used to say, but it was impossible for me to talk to it.

Currently, even though it has been reborn as a tentacle of a monster, the communication ability from before still remains. Thanks to this, I've been using it well when communicating with Number 26.

I had forgotten about it because I used it so naturally.

Also, the function that helps me communicate with it is also a target for the application of the effects of psychic power enhancement that I just got.

｢Are you on your way to the nest?｣

[ZZZZZ ZZZZZ Z ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ(No, there's something else I need to do right now)]

｢What? Do you need help?｣

In this way, I don't need to bother timing my call to Number 26. I can just speak directly with it when needed.

I told Number 26 that I would give it a signal soon, so be prepared. While it is preparing, I also need to get ready.

'Just in case, let's check all the traits I've gained until now.'

When the text box initially passed by, I thought there was no immediate need for traits like 'Insight' so I ignored it since there was plenty of time to check when I got back to the nest. However, now that the situation has changed. I might be late for the nest, so I should check them right now.

The number of traits I obtained from the hospital, excluding the ones I got from William is five. I got three from the knights and two from the civilians I killed at the hospital.

The 'Symbol of the Hunt' raises the probability of activating predation effect but it does not make it 100% obtainable.Even if I've eaten many people this time, the likelihood of the predation effects activating for every one of them is very low.

Still, I obtained a surprisingly large number of traits in a short time as compared to usual.

'Let's Apply all of them quickly and get out.'

I looked at the text box and quickly scanned the contents.

[Predation Effect Activated! Successfully obtained 'Space Bacteria' genetic essence.]

[Do you want to apply 'Space Bacteria'?]

[Predation Effect Activated! Successfully obtained 'Fire Breath' genetic essence]

[Do you want to apply 'Fire Breath'?]

[Predation Effect Activated! Successfully obtained 'Endurance' genetic essence.]

[Do you want to apply 'Endurance'?]

[Predation Effect Activated! Successfully obtained 'Thorn Hair' genetic essence]

[Do you want to apply 'Thorn Hair'?]

[Predation Effect Activated! Successfully obtained 'Pheromone Enhancement' genetic essence.]

[Do you want to apply 'Pheromone Enhancement'?]

'No need to ask further. Apply them all.'

When I obtained the 'Perfect Organism', the text box left me with these words.

'There is no end to evolution.'

The body has evolved once again due to all the newly acquired genetic essence.

-x-X-x-

"Did you enjoy your meal, Mr Denver?"

"It was more than enjoyable. The T&C's reputation is well-deserved, especially the main course. It's a dish I've never tasted before."

"It is an oven-roasted dish with Earthland pork as the main ingredient. Raised through pure free-range in an environment that is similar to that of Earth, it has a very rich texture."

"Huh, I thought that all the pigs on Earth had gone extinct?"

"My research team managed to succeed in cultivating the pig seeds after coming from a difficult expedition. We plan to introduce a new brand to the market in a few years."

"Well, that's impressive. I'd definitely want to purchase it when it hits the market."

The T&C family is a pioneer in noble colonial expansion. Their power lies in the abundant resources they have secured from their numerous colonies. Thanks to this, The T&C could secure their influence in a distinct way compared to other families. 'Politics through cuisine'. That was how they exerted influence on the upper class of MegaCorp.

They own more than a few hundred colonial planets, meaning they can acquire various ingredients from planets with different environments. As a result, T&C almost monopolizes the high-end ingredient and spice market mainly targeting the upper class of the MegaCrop.

Of course, in terms of supplying food within MegaCorp, the Yujin family, which specializes in producing genetically modified foods, has a much higher share as they target all the low income groups within the MegaCorp.

However, the benefits gained by actively using fresh and rare ingredients to maintain a good relationship with the upper class are not insignificant.

In fact, it works wonders, like now Denver felt reassured after eating the banquet's cuisine, enough to anticipate seeing Laila again.

"I deliberately chose this dish to suit my taste."

The room, the cuisine—everything catered to Denver's preferences.

With this level of information, the likelihood of making a significant mistake at the council is slim. Denver, feeling relieved, picked up a crispy piece of pork skin with his fork just as the door to the banquet hall opened, and two people entered.

"Huh?"

"What's happening?"

The newcomers were Laila's secretary and Vice Commander Vicus. Both hurriedly approached their respective masters.

"My lord, urgent news."

"Urgent?"

"We lost contact with the four knights who went to protect William."

Denver's face hardened at the vice commander's words.

'All four of them?'

The Silver Lion Knights are a unit stationed with the task of protecting the flagship of Eden, which specializes in defense and assault against enemy ships and is the most crucial unit of any fleet.

Therefore, the capabilities of the Silver Lion Knights, who were tasked with safeguarding this flagship, can be considered to be the highest among the Eden families' ground forces.

Warriors of such caliber being wiped out hinted at a formidable adversity

"…What's the follow-up plan?"

"It's already in motion. I dispatched all the 20 knights available. Jacob is leading them."

"Hmm… also, recall the members sent outside immediately… Huh?"

Denver, calmly instructing Vice Commander Vicus, suddenly stopped speaking. On the other side of the dining table, Laila, receiving a report like Denver, had an unusual expression. Her usually composed face was visibly distorted.

Having heard about the reports from the secretary, she tried to maintain composure and called Denver.

"Mr. Denver. There's a report that the Silver Lion Knights forcibly attacked the civilians at the hospital in the commercial district."

"…What?"

"I'll show you."

As Laila gestured, the secretary operated the terminal pad, and a large holographic screen appeared at the banquet's wall.

[I am DailyMass field reporter Sara and I'm currently standing in front of the Commercial District Hospital No. 2, the scene where a tragedy has occurred.]

The screen showed a journalist reporting from in front of the hospital.

'Surely not?'

When Denver glanced at Vicus, he nodded slightly. That place was the hospital where William was admitted.

In the meantime, the journalist appeared with a new figure. The person in question was a man wearing a patient's gown.

[Can you explain what the hell is going on in there?]

[I was injured while working and was hospitalized. I came out to smoke at night, but I saw four people in weird clothes come in. They were trying to destroy the hospital, shooting guns and breaking the intact walls, and even shooting the people—everyone went crazy."

[You mean people in armor?]

[Yes! Armor! Those 'beep' guys in armor. They shot guns, and the walls that were intact broke, and 'beep' people also 'beep'—it was a complete 'beep' disaster!]

[Thank you for the detailed explanation. With the Council meeting just a few days away, what does the massacre of civilians by the 'armor-wearing individuals' in T&C's Special Trade Center mean? What exactly are the city administrators doing? More details…]

Midway through, Laila gestured to stop. The hologram turned off, and the banquet hall fell into pin drop silence.

Laila, breaking the silence, spoke first.

"Mr. Denver, I don't believe Eden's knights would do such a thing without reason."

"...."

"This matter is not exclusive to the Eden family. I, as the administrator of this city, have the right to know about the situations occurring in the city. So, please tell me."

It was a request to tell everything before the situation escalated, and blood was forced to shed.

During the banquet, Denver had taken a friendly attitude, making Laila realize that Denver was friendly to T&C and had no ill intentions. Therefore, she politely requested cooperation, expressing that this issue was not just a problem for Eden but for the entire city.

'The problem is, she doesn't know about the situation on Denver's side.'

Initially, the knights were sent to protect William, but since all of them had perished the possibility of William being alive was slim. The current situation became difficult for Denver, as the only one who knew the truth had died. Any mistake could lead to a war between T&C and Eden rather than an issue with the Council.

'I have to tell everything.'

Taking a deep breath, Denver briefly explained the situation to Laila; he told her about William and the orders he had given to his subordinates.

"Does that mean there's a connection between the so-called William and the police?"

"That's right."

"A few days ago, a mysterious smuggling organization failed to smuggle a Mountain crawler from Harbor Earth, and they fled. I heard that. It might be related."

"Whether the culprit is the Mountain crawler or not, check it yourself, Vice Commander."

"Yes."

"Contact Jacob, We need to understand the situation there, so tell him to turn on the cameras."

"Understood."

The vice commander Vicus contacted Jacob through the communication device, and as Laila's secretary did before, operated the terminal pad.

[Reporting. Silver Lion Knights' Jacob greets the Commander. The camera is synced, and we are approaching the 2nd Hospital.]

[Team 2 Tennessee, sync completed. Arriving at the back gate.]

[Team 3 Ferris, sync completed. No abnormalities.]

As Jacob operated the terminal on his helmet, the cameras attached on his helmet and Vice Commander vicus' terminal synchronized.

Through the hologram, the scene of the hospital, which was shrouded in smoke, was revealed.

***

'Team 2 is entering through the back, and Team 3 is on standby.'

Figures clad in silver armor were swiftly encircling the hospital with smooth and agile movements. Their coordination and agility showed that they were proper elites, and on a whole different level as compared to the opponents I've encountered so far.

'If I were in the hospital, it would have been quite a challenge to fight against them.'

'But I'm already outside.'

I was currently observing the enemies from a nearby media building, having left the hospital. The auxiliary device on my chin was continuously collecting information on the movements and conversations of the enemies, who had their full attention on the blazing hospital.

While there isn't a significant change in it's appearance, the upgraded auxiliary device is capable of detecting even the conversations exchanged through communication devices.

Thanks to their verbal communication, I know exactly where the enemies are entering and how they plan to attack me.

[Team 1, enter!]

[Team 2, enter!]

After confirming their entry, I descended down through the wall of the building. Since all the journalists rushed out to the front of the hospital in search of breaking news, the building was devoid of people.

As I landed on the ground, I ran towards the station.

Although my footsteps made loud noise, due to the surroundings being extremely noisy with police, journalists, ambulances, and fire trucks present. No one noticed my presence.

[Team 1, confirm a fire inside the building. Team 2, switch to the vibration detection system instead of the heat detection.]

[Team 2, switch completed.]

[Team 3, on standby.]

Even while running, the auxiliary organ did not stop gathering information. Among the plethora of information, it extracted the part where enemies communicated through communication devices and relayed it to me.

'There's not much time left.'

While there's still some duration left for metal absorption, the 'Symbol of the Hunt' is the issue. Out of the limited 10 minutes, I spent around 8 minutes in the hospital. The remaining time is roughly two minutes.

'I need to devour as many journalists at the station as possible before the effect wears off.'

The Eden Knights are all genetically modified humans. While not as extensive as Hulk mutants or experimental subjects like Si-Hyun Yujin, they are prey with more useful genes than ordinary citizens.

'Might as well take advantage of the situation.'

To truly become an Amorph, I need to devour everything the enemies possess.

Thanks to the 'Symbol of the Hunt,' the time taken to reach the station from the hospital was extremely short.

I saw six knights standing guard in front of the station.

They didn't notice me running towards them. Hence I decided to utilize my newly acquired long-range attack.

[Thorn-Spine Launch Tail: A mechanism that launches lethal thorn-spines is developed on the tail, replacing the Spine Projectile Organ.

*Note: Unlike hedgehogs, Amorph doesn't have to worry about dilemmas, which must be nice.]

The appearance of my tail changed significantly. The end of the tail is now covered with long spine needles, reminiscent of a porcupine or a hedgehog with densely packed needles.

The combination of the spine needle feature and the Spine Projectile Organ resulted in a new capability.

'Unlike the Spine Projectile Organ, this one shoots in volleys.'

If the previous one resembled a sniper rifle, this one could be considered a machine gun. While it lacks the penetration power of the spine bone, it has the advantage of burrowing into the opponent's body upon impact, causing wounds to go inward. Additionally, it can apply a neurotoxin effect to it, making it effective in battles against multiple enemies.

Since the Spine Projectile Organ feature disappeared, the left lower arm returned to its appearance as another combat arm, but I didn't mind. Each feature has its own strengths and weaknesses.

In a situation where I need to subdue multiple enemies simultaneously, the Thorn-Spine Launch Tail is a much better option..

While running, I did not stop the tail and launched a volley of spine needles towards the knights.

[Team 1 here, Team 3 on alert. Report the situation.]

[Team 3 here. No visible enemies… Boom!]

Dozens of thorn-spines, each the length of a hand, pierced the bodies of the knights. The enemies reacted with surprise to my attack.

"It's an enemy! Everyone, prepare to counterattack—what?"

"We can't move!"

"The thorns are stuck in the joint parts!"

Due to the superior defense of their high-level reinforced armor, the spine needles could only penetrate their armor but not pierce through. However, they were stuck in the joint parts, restricting the movements of the enemies.

'These thorn-spines are quite sturdy.'

Of course, considering the effectiveness of the advanced reinforced armor they were wearing, it was only a matter of time for time to pass, but that's enough.

'They haven't switched from heat detection in their field of view yet, right?'

Teams 1 and 2 entered the burning hospital, after changing the surveillance system in their helmets to a different format, but these 6 haven't done it yet.

I opened my mouth wide. The internal incendiary mechanism activated, and soon an enormous amount of flames poured out through my throat.

"Ah!"

"He's shooting fire!"

The magma gaiter's trait, the 'Fire Breath', erupted against the knights. Black smoke rose from the flames spreading in front of the station, penetrating even inside the station.

"Everyone, switch your sight!"

Despite the blockade of movement and vision, the enemies calmly responded.

Of course, I'm not going to wait for them to get ready.

I charged at the journalist who was in charge of communications. The journalist, who took the brunt of my charge, couldn't even scream as his whole body was crushed.

[Team 1 here. Team 3, respond! What's going on?"

"This is Rex! Ferris is down!"

With little time left, I picked up the dismembered body of the fallen knight and immediately placed it in my mouth.

Meanwhile, another knight, who had switched the surveillance system, aimed a Plasma bolter at me.

"Huh?!"

His intention to shoot me with a plasma bullet did not succeed.

There's a single reason why I shot fire.

To block the enemies' line of sight.

Here, the term 'enemy' doesn't just refer to the knights in front of me. The 'enemies' I mentioned also include the cameras installed in the station as well.

｢Big baby, we're here.｣

My underground friends. They were hiding in the smoke, ready to assist me.

"Ugh, guh!"

The knight affected by Number 26's 'Restraint' floated in the air. Like a child grabbing a bug and tearing off its limbs, his arms and legs attached to his body danced independently.

"Ah!"

"Rex!"

Following the sound of bones detaching, his arms and legs fell off with the sound of a firecracker. The knight, now resembling an octopus, fell into a puddle of blood, twitching for a moment before becoming still.

[This is Team 3! We're under attack! Requesting supp… ack!]

[What the hell is happening?]

[This is Team 2! We'll provide support right away!]

[Damn it! Tennessee, stay in your position!]

The confused voices of the enemies through the communication device, the journalists thrown into panic after losing a colleague in an instant.

It was a familiar scene.

"Retreat! Retre… urgh!"

One knight, trying to flee, was shot in the throat. It was Adhai who accurately aimed at the enemy's weakness.

｢Organism｣, ｢Throat｣, ｢Weakness｣.

Through the smoke, Adhai transmitted a low-frequency wave.

If the knight had activated the psychic shield embedded in his advanced reinforced armor, he would have survived. It was his mistake to expose his back during the battle.

After that, it was a swift process to clean up the station completely.

Within a few minutes of starting the fight, the journalists, having lost half of their comrades, were not in their right minds. The Knight Order, which has always brought victory to their masters, perished.

There were only herds trembling with fear.

As for what a herd without a leader could do in front of a wolf, there was only one thing.

Just cry pitifully.

Like there was no wolf to save a herd crying.

Having dealt with the remaining three knights, I quickly picked up two corpses and rushed into the station.

After dealing with the three remaining knights, I quickly picked up two bodies.

'Hurry, hurry!'

I cut the bodies and poured them into my mouth, while swiftly entering the station.

[ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (Get everything you can eat and go back to the nest)]

｢Can't we eat here?｣

[ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZZ ZZ (No time. Grab as much as you can and follow me)]

｢I｣ ｢Hungry.｣

｢Got it. I'll take care of what's left.｣

Knowing that I was in a hurry, Number 26 quietly reached out its tentacles and picked up two bodies. Adhai also tried to pick up one, but it was too heavy, so it gave up.

That's how we carried four bodies with us and returned back to the nest.

Just before the effects of the 'Symbol of the Hunt' wore off, I could hear it.

One of the late-arriving enemy knights screaming in frustration.

In the smoke and darkness which engulfed the surroundings, I smiled.