130
-x-X-x-
'Then, where should we start?'
The methods of hunting survivors at the research base are endless. You can break the outer walls of the base, disrupting the internal pressure and causing them to die. Alternatively, you can destroy the underwater elevator, slowly causing them to die off. The first method isn't bad, but there's a problem. If we accidentally cause the base to collapse, it could harm Number 26.
'Since we have to eat anyway, let's go with the traditional method.'
Tracking and tormenting the remaining survivors until they die. That's been the method so far.
'But before that, should we block the escape routes?'
I, who decided how to cook the researchers, moved with Number 26. Our area doesn't have a passage connected to the elevator; to reach the central area with the underwater elevator and submarine, we have to go through other zones.
/We should destroy the underwater elevator and submarine before the survivors arrive./
If we only destroy them, this base won't be a place to save humans but rather a prison that confines them.
'Fishrians might not know, but humans haven't undergone any modifications.'
For humans without an escape route, there are only two choices left: die at my hands or end their own lives. Even if they manage to escape with another submarine, there's no future for them.
'The Fishrian village, in collaboration with the base's humans, is under attack by the The Mother of Sky and Adhai. A Griffin at the level of high sanctification can easily handle a village of this size.'
'Moreover, she is a Ranker. Whether facing many or few Fishrians, she probably has experience in battle.'
'When fighting sea monsters, it gets boring after a while. Boss-level marine creatures like Sea Demons and Pale Masks offer excellent rewards, so top players often hunt them. Even The Mother of Sky, who is a clan leader, must have experience dealing with Fishrians.'
'I've put a lot of effort into preparing for this raid alone.'
'Ocean bosses have many useful traits, so if you're an Aymoph, you must catch them. Therefore, when other players have already caught almost all of them, I often used the method of catching up and dealing with both.'
'I've suffered a lot preparing for the raid alone.'
'Anyways, one of the gruesome raid bosses that preys on disgusting merfolk is right next to me. It continues to chatter incessantly with waves of sound.'
｢Big guy, big guy, have you met the little one?｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Of course. It was thanks to her that I was able to come this far.)]
｢I remember that she was hurt. Is she okay now?｣
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (She is fine now. I treated her. Don't worry.)]
｢Treated? What's treating?｣
[ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (It means making the sick better.)]
｢Wow, that's amazing! Big guy, you're cool!｣
Number 26 has been chattering non-stop since it met me. I, too, didn't find the conversation burdensome or unpleasant, so I continue to indulge it.
｢The humans who beg for mercy because of the little ones are bad.｣
[ZZ (Yes.)]
｢Many of our kind died because of ugly humans.｣
[ZZ (Huh?)]
｢I tried to help before my strongest friend died, but humans caught me. So I couldn't help.｣
What Number 26 said next was totally unexpected.
"My friend's family got into big trouble because my friend died. A bad one came and made their life miserable!"
Number 26 calls me "big guy." There's only one being it could refer to as family or kin.
'It can be a Bubble Amoeba.'
However, a Bubble Amoeba wouldn't be much stronger, so the one it was referring must undoubtedly be a Sea Demon.
'A Sea Demon died?'
Considering only this planet, there aren't many beings that can hunt a Sea Demon.
'Could it be Muriel?'
I briefly entertained that thought, but it's unlikely. From Number 26's words, it seems the Sea Demon died after we arrived on this planet.
'Strange. I don't see any powerful weapons capable of killing a Sea Demon.'
Even if there were weapons I couldn't detect, the likelihood of them attacking the Sea Demon is low. If that were the case, the Fishrians wouldn't cooperate.
'Wait a moment.'
Let's reconsider.
Before Adhai came looking for me, the entities that inflicted significant wounds on him were a coalition of humans and Fishrians. Until now, I thought Fishrians worshiped Sea Demons. Humans are demanding cooperation from them, using Number 26 as a hostage. I thought Number 26, who was lured into this Black Silver base, would have been rendered powerless.
"I started off on the wrong foot."
Fishrians, who venerate marine predators, wouldn't just stand quietly while Number 26 was getting imprisoned in the cell, weakened. It wouldn't make sense for them to simply ignore a weakened Number 26. Therefore it means the Fishrian village in this island doesn't worship Sea Demons.
'Have humans and Fishrians formed a cooperative relationship against a common enemy?'
But there are still unanswered questions. Fishrians are an extremely hostile race, usually the first to consider sacrificing other creatures.
'How did they manage to enlist such hostile beings on their side?'
The possibility of enticing them with weapons or equipment is low. Even if they provided information about Sea Demon weaknesses, it's doubtful the primitive fish-like creatures would accept that alone.
'Information is too scarce. Let's stay cautious for now.'
The only clear fact is that there exists a marine monster worshipped by Fishrians, apart from Sea Demons.
'If not Sea Demons, Pale Masks are the most likely.'
While there are Dread Hydras at the level of Sea Demons, they don't venture out of their territory. Their body structure makes it difficult for them to move in water. Dread Hydras reside in the deepest parts of the abyss and rarely come into contact with Fishrians.
On the other hand, Pale Masks are different. They actively hunt prey not only in the abyss but also in a wide range of areas. Sometimes they hunt near the sea surface, bringing them into occasional contact with Fishrians.
'If it's Pale Masks, it's actually fortunate.'
Pale Masks are one level below Sea Demons in terms of deep-sea predators. Even if I lack traits related to underwater combat, facing them is possible.
'And I have Number 26 with me.'
While The Mother of Sky is likely stronger, Number 26 has a lot of experience fighting alongside me. With its assistance, we can have a significant advantage even against Pale Masks.
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Let's see after punishing the one who begged for mercy for the family)]
｢Yeah, sure.｣
When dealing with humans, it's wise to leave one alive.
With my thoughts sorted out, I and Number 26 submerged into the dark waters.
***
"How much damage do you predict happened to the base?"
"Seeing water entering Zone A, it is expected that additional damage has occurred in Zone H."
"After checking the elevator area, it's currently functioning normally."
"Phew, that's a relief."
In the corridor within Zone B. Twenty researchers were moving through the flooded corridor. After a massive impact, water constantly poured into the first situation room, making it impossible to stay. They had no choice but to abandon the situation room, put on emergency reinforced suits, and plan their escape.
The reinforced suits worn by the researchers had a similar appearance to space suits, designed only for the user's safety and survival functions, allowing them to withstand the cold water.
But it was too early to feel relieved. The most dangerous factor where they were right now wasn't the temperature.
"However, with the influx of a large amount of water, the internal pressure has become unstable. The central area where the elevator is located is still fine, but we don't know how much longer it can hold."
Zones A and B, overseeing the entire base, were already submerged. Commanding the central computer to drain the water was no longer possible.
"…Damn it!"
The mutant Sea Demon's status was unknown, and this valuable research base was flooded. Runan, the chief researcher and "captain," knew well how expensive and versatile this research base was. Regardless of his impressive achievements, causing such a mess alone could be considered a serious offense.
"Which area hasn't been flooded yet?"
"C and D zones."
"Since this is Zone B, it seems we need to head over there and use the elevator in the central area."
"Not a bad idea."
While Runan was vigorously calculating profits in his head, the team concluded their discussion on the next steps.
"What should we do?"
"…."
"Team leader?"
After being asked for their opinion, Runan, who had been silent, finally spoke.
"…First, let's move to Zone C. Finish oxygen replenishment there and head straight to the elevator in the central area."
"Yes."
"And, while going, manually close all the unclosed bulkhead doors. That way, we might buy some more time."
Calculating profits is only possible if one survives. Inside the facility, a massive amount of water is pouring in real-time. Moreover, what's chasing them is not just seawater.
"Closure complete."
"Good. Let's move again."
While moving through the corridors of Zone B, they had delays at every open bulkhead door, but it was inevitable. The creature that caused this situation was following them.
Thump, thump, thump.
"Darn, that sound again."
"…It seems closer than before."
"Damn it, don't say ominous things."
As evidence, the loud noise has been constant since the initial collision with the facility. It was a periodic sound that began after that event.
Everyone in the research team knew what that sound was.
It was the sound of closed bulkhead doors colliding with something.
One of the team members, as if muttering to himself, realized that the sound was getting closer each time.
"…."
"Gulp."
Every time that sound echoed, the researchers felt their hearts being squeezed. It must feel similar to what a death row inmate feels climbing the steps to the gallows.
And on top of that, there was an additional factor increasing their anxiety.
"Hyack?!"
"Wha…what?"
"A corpse…"
One team member encountered a drowned body floating in the flooded corridor and fell backward.
A colleague who had shared meals and attended meetings together until yesterday was now a pale corpse floating in the water.
"You scoundrel! What about the body? Don't just stand there and get it out!"
Frustrated by the subordinate's foolish action, Runan almost shot him with the gauss rifle he held in his hand. Suppressing his irritation, he scolded the team members.
"Team leader, there are traces of something on the body…"
One team member noticed something strange about the corpse. Although they couldn't tell if it was from underwater creatures entering or not, there were signs of small organisms nibbling on the body.
"Shut up! We don't have time to spare! We need to move quickly!"
"Yes, yes!"
However, Runan, who was already at his mental limit, ignored the opinions of the team members.
"Why do I have to go through such misfortune!"
Runan continued to curse silently. According to the cult's teachings, those who do not follow the doctrine and commit sins go to hell. There is a type of hell where sinners are tortured with ice water, and the current situation felt exactly like that.
Was it because they continuously moved without rest in this rapidly deteriorating atmosphere?
The end they longed for was approaching. One team member shouted loudly.
"Team leader! We are only 20 meters away from Zone C! We're almost there!"
"Oh, thank goodness!"
"Whew, we can finally take a break."
Thinking that the high ground was not far away, everyone pushed themselves harder and moved with all their strength, thanks to the enhanced suits allowing them to withstand the high pressure even in these conditions.
As they pushed through the water, one team member at the back felt an itching sensation around his waist.
"Huh?"
He had been feeling an itch on his legs since he fell earlier, but now it was more intense.
It felt like something was moving along his back. He initially thought it was just an itch, but that thought didn't last long.
"Uh, uh? Uh-uh-uh-ugh!"
"Hey? What's wrong?"
When the colleague following him suddenly screamed, the nineteen researchers who were moving all turned around simultaneously.
"Oh, something got into my suit!"
"What?"
"Take it out, take it out, uh-uh-uh-ugh! I…It's devouring me!"
The researcher, writhing and screaming, was trying to brush something off his body.
Although it would have seemed highly comical to an onlooker unfamiliar with the situation, no one here found it amusing.
"Damn it! Wait a moment!"
"What's this?"
Two other team members checked the communicator attached to his wrist. Discovering the intruder inside the reinforced suit, they were horrified.
Several palm-sized creatures were tightly attached to the researcher's waist area, constantly crawling upwards, devouring the researcher wearing the reinforced suit.
"Cough!"
Thud
A moment later, the researcher vomited blood inside his helmet. The inside of the helmet turned a sickly shade of red, and the team member's body slumped.
"Wait a minute? Hey? Is this for real?"
"I…I'll check his condition!"
"You fools! Don't open it!"
Although Runan shouted belatedly, another researcher had already slightly opened the fallen colleague's helmet. Inside, half a dozen insect-like creatures squirmed in a mess of blood.
"Ahhhh!"
"Heeeyek!"
While the researchers were appalled, those creatures suddenly jumped out of the helmet and disappeared to the other side of the water.
As unfortunate as it was for the survivors in this place, this was just the beginning. After the bugs vanished into the darkness, an immense noise was heard.
The previously passed bulkhead had been breached.
"Everyone run!"
Runan yelled. Hearing that sound, the team members, now awakened and running like mad, started sprinting.
"Huff, huff, huff, huff!"
"Heck, heck!"
While only the panting sounds were heard from the communication device connected to the helmet, "it" was rapidly approaching.
"Huh?!"
"Huuk!"
The surprised groans of the two people who had their backs bitten were briefly heard through the communicator. And that was their last testimony.
"Crack, thud"
With the sound of bones breaking, the communication was cut off. Everyone who left their communicators on heard that sound.
Silently, they ran and arrived at the bulkhead of C-zone.
"Open it quickly!"
"T…time is running out!"
"Damn it! Hey, you, you, and you three! Go now and stop that thing!"
"What? Are you crazy?"
"How do we stop that thing?"
Seeing the protesting team members, Runan aimed his Gauss rifle at them.
"A sacrifice for our comrades, I won't forget it. Go and stop that thing."
"N…No you bastard!"
"If you shoot that thing with that weapon…"
"I say it for the last time. Go and stop it quickly."
As Runan sent the researchers as bait, another team member succeeded in opening the bulkhead door. As they entered the isolation space, similar to the aerolock found in the middle of the area, the sixteen individuals quickly filled the confined space, wearing exosuits resembling spacesuits.
"I knew it would come to this, that's why I sent three of them,"
Runan briefly praised, even in urgent situations demonstrating seasoned judgment. The other team members also sighed in relief.
However, their misfortune was far from over.
"Team leader!"
"What's wrong?"
"That… that thing…"
A team member called Runan, pointing towards the door. Upon seeing where his finger pointed, Runan swallowed hard.
Behind the small reinforced glass in the aerolock, "it" had eyes.
The creature's white eyes moved slowly, scrutinizing the interior of the aerolock. It seemed determined to remember every person inside, one by one.
In shock at the persistence of the creature, Runan, as if screaming in agony, shouted, "Quick, drain the water! Drain it!"
"Yes!"
A team member hurriedly operated the terminal in the aerolock. Only after the water flooded within the isolation space was expelled could they enter C-section.
"What's this? It's an underwater area too!"
"Team leader, what's the plan?"
Thud.
"Darn it! It's following us!"
"Everyone run!"
Without wasting a moment, they sprinted through the partially submerged corridor of Zone-C, not bothering to take off their exosuits.
-x-X-x-
I tried to see who did this. During my journey here, someone had closed all the blast doors in the corridor. Trying to confirm who did this annoying task, I pressed my face against the reinforced glass, only to find the survivors utterly exhausted.
The ones in the isolation zone quickly argued and escaped as soon as the door on the other side opened. As I observed their fleeing figures, I pulled my head back from the reinforced glass.
"Ah-ack!"
Turning my head, I locked eyes with a survivor who had grabbed me. He made a choking sound like a suffocating chicken. Though his expression was hidden behind the helmet I was wearing, it was easy to sense his feelings.
It seemed like I needed to end his fear quickly. I exerted force with my combat-ready hand, squeezing his body.
"Aga-gak-gak!"
As the figure in the reinforced suit contorted, incomprehensible sounds echoed from inside the helmet. With the final squeeze, the human went limp in my hands.
I used my nails to remove his reinforced suit and tore pieces of flesh to feed into my mouth.
'Chewing should be enough.'
The reinforced suits they wore were designed solely for the wearer's survival, making them highly resistant. In simpler terms, they were tough. Of course, it doesn't mean I can't eat them; it's just that chewing becomes a hassle due to their teeth getting in the way.
Chewing on the captured humans while leisurely breaking through the doors in the isolation zone, the seawater that filled my area rushed out into the C zone corridor.
'Now, shall we go to another area?'
Slowly following the current, I changed direction towards the D zone instead of where the survivors had fled.
After all, their actions are within my grasp.
I already know what the survivors are thinking. They might believe I can't catch up because they think their movements are faster or breaking through the blast doors is challenging for me. No.
I just took the time to bring despair to those who tormented Number 26 and Adhai.
'Hope can be the driving force of life, but…'
Conversely, it can also become a source of pain.
Being where they fled to is not salvation because the one seeking revenge against the 'bad humans' is waiting for them.
'I'd like to see it hunting, though.'
Many people live in this facility. I need to extract information from them quickly.
Just as the water in the corridor reached a level where my prone body could barely float, I felt an unfamiliar movement.
'Hmm?'
The scent of a fundamentally different metal wafted from the moving object.
There were a total of five massive metal masses, roughly around 4 meters in size.
The hesitation was brief, and I quickly realized the identity of those metal masses.
Similar to Star Union's Walkers but different, MegaCorp's exclusive construction equipment, MCAE (Multipurpose Construction Auxiliary Equipment)."
The construction machine, MCAE, is inspired by humanity's mining equipment used in classic space-based strategy simulations. In simple terms, it's like a space loader with added construction-related functions and flight capabilities, similar to a Loader.
'Why is the MCAE here?'
The reason I didn't notice it right away was because it seemed out of place. MCAE is typically used in large-scale construction projects like building space cities, not in the deep sea with a considerable distance from outer space.
To investigate further, I followed the scent.
Passing through a narrow corridor, I entered a spacious area that resembled a warehouse. There, I saw five activated MCAEs and three Fishrians.
"…I can smell it. The scent of demons."
"Darn it, they've escaped after all."
"We need to get out of this base quickly."
"You should avoid Father's wrath."
"If you go straight this way, there's an elevator."
The MCAEs, with their flight capabilities turned off inside the building, were moving by removing the wheels hidden inside. Large torches used for closing doors and metal injectors for building repairs were attached to the two arms beside the control seat on the upper body.
In contrast to the creatures seen earlier, the Fishrians now held harpoons in their hands. Overall similar to Pilum but with a unique feature – the blade was shaped like a whirlpool.
These harpoons were the traditional weapons of the Fishrians, the same ones that had harmed Adhai. While Fishrian harpoons are usually made of ordinary metal, the ones they held were black like obsidian. It was clear that they were made of black silver.
'Did these creatures attack Adhai?'
Considering the rarity of harpoons made of black silver, it's likely that these three are the ones who injured Adhai.
'If that's the case, I can't let them go.'
Maintaining a submerged state, I slowly approached the group of MCAEs. At that moment, the gaze of the fish-human with thorned fins on his head and back turned in my direction.
The creature tilted its head, then, as if sensing my presence, shouted loudly.
"Smell! I smell it!"
The other two Fishrians echoed in agreement.
"Blood smell!"
"Someone killed our kind!"
Realizing that hiding was futile, I stood up. The Fishrians' eyes widened at the sight of me glowing red due to the emergency light.
"What's that!"
"Monster! A monster that killed our kind!"
I rushed towards them, cutting through the water currents. Like a venomous snake finding its prey, the Fishrian was impaled where the creature stood with my corrosive tentacles.
"Krruk! Die!"
"Sacrifice!"
Unlike the creatures encountered earlier, these three Fishrians seemed quite mature. They skillfully avoided my corrosive tentacles and clung to my back.
"Krruk? It's tough!"
Despite their efforts, their poisonous claws and teeth couldn't penetrate my outer shell. Even if a plasma launcher hit me directly, it wouldn't destroy the exoskeleton, making it virtually invincible against their feeble bodies.
It seemed like bare hands wouldn't do, so these creatures started stabbing me wildly with harpoons. If it were Adhai or Number 26 with black silver material, they might have been injured, but these creatures chose the wrong opponent.
Six corrosive tentacles extended from my back, striking the Fishrians simultaneously. Two of them managed to dodge, but one was hit by my tentacles and was thrown away.
"Eat this!"
The MCAE sprayed liquid metal from the metal injector towards me. The metal pieces clinging to my partially submerged body quickly hardened. The combat arm with attached metal chunks became significantly heavier.
'Are they trying to impair my mobility?'
Thinking that my movements had slowed down, the MCAE, facing me, began swinging a large torch in my direction.
While it's impossible for an industrial torch to cause me harm, the heat was quite uncomfortable. I swung the combat arm with the cold metal chunks attached.
The target was the MCAE's cockpit. If it were three times smaller than an average person, the pilot might survive, but otherwise, it would be challenging. The detached arms of the uncontrollable MCAE hung limply, and its operation came to a halt.
Having silenced one construction machine, I used my combat arm to strike a Fishrian flying over my head. The sound of cracking echoed as the Fishrian's head shattered like a cracked walnut.
Meanwhile, another creature rushed to the opposite side and climbed onto my tail. It tried to pry off the harpoon stuck between my exoskeleton.
I raised the tail with the creature attached above the water surface and rotated my entire body. The Fishrian held onto the tail exoskeleton to avoid falling. However, that turned out to be its mistake.
"Huh? Wha—"
[Damage!]
My tail, cutting through the water currents, aimed at two MCAEs. The ones circling around me to seize the opportunity to attack recoiled in astonishment. My tail, a massive appendage, swept past the 4-meter-sized MCAEs.
"Ugh!"
The Fishrian hanging on my tail collided with the solid metal machine, instantly turning into a cloud of blood. The construction machine hit directly by my attack, including the cockpit, flew off completely, and the other one, airborne, crashed into the wall.
"R-Run!"
Now, only two remained. The MCAEs, having lost all their companions in a blink of an eye, hastily retreated.
'Should I let both of them go?'
Originally, I planned to spare only one, but my thoughts changed. I leisurely swam after the construction machines.
There are many things to ask them – the murders of sea demons, the collaboration with Fishrians, the inexplicable presence of MCAEs in the deep-sea research base, and more.
"Haa…haa…haa…haa."
"Huk…huk, it's not following us anymore! Huk, huk."
"Haa…ha…Idiot! Keep running!"
In the corridor connecting the central area, where the underwater elevator in C zone is located, with the central area.
In the pitch-black water, contrasting with the emergency light's red glow, a series of creatures formed a group.
Clad in thick reinforced suits resembling space suits, they were a group of survivors led by Runan. Sixteen men, weary both physically and mentally, pushed forward through the water, struggling against the rising currents.
"He's entered Zone C! Hurry, we need to get there before he catches us!"
They were well aware of what the steadily rising water signified. The one they couldn't see was approaching.
Every time that thought crossed their minds, the team members could continue running like racehorses spurred on by whips.
"The door leading to the Central Zone is in sight!"
"Check if the interior is flooded!"
While a research team member checked the interior with a still-functioning terminal, Runan and the others kept a watchful eye on whether the threat was approaching.
Eerie red emergency lights, gently swaying water surfaces, irregular dripping sounds of water droplets.
And the struggling noises of their team members transmitted through the communication device.
Every element in this space was consuming their minds.
Suddenly, Runan had a thought. What if all of this was intended by "it"?
If all escape routes were already sealed by "it," and the remaining survivors were just being mocked and set to die like mice in front of a cat?
'Me, die? Don't make me laugh!'
From being a colonist on Ganymede, Runan had come a long way to become the Prime Capital of Mars. He had done everything to please the aide sent by the Zhao family.
As a result, he could marry the aide from the Zhao family and obtain the qualifications for a member of the Prime Capital.
"How did I get this position?!"
Runan had yet to fully enjoy life in the MegaCorp's upper class. Dying here would be too unjust, and he wouldn't even be able to properly close his eyes.
"We've confirmed some damage inside, but it's not flooded!"
The shout of his subordinate snapped him out of his contemplation.
Fortunately, the Central Zone was intact.
Runan and his team quickly entered Aeroch, and after the water drainage was complete, they entered the interior of the Central Zone.
Five submarines, resembling escape pods, were arranged near the walls, and in the center, there was a large cylindrical column with a gate attached.
The identity of the cylindrical column was a submersible elevator. By riding the submarine and entering the column, they could move to a location closer to the surface through the elevator.
"Internal pressure stable!"
"Thank goodness."
"Cough, cough, phew…"
"Wuaaaa!"
Seemingly relieved to be in a safe place, some of the team members who had removed their helmets lay down and vomited.
"Let's recharge oxygen here and move up with the submarines."
"When will the rescue team arrive?"
"Since we've sent out the communication, it shouldn't take too long."
"Yeah."
While each of them was busy with tasks like recharging oxygen, one team member screamed.
"The submersibles are damaged!"
"What?"
All the survivors, upon hearing those words, stiffened. Runan quickly examined the other submersibles.
"This can't be happening!"
Out of the five, three that he inspected were already in a damaged state.
Each submersible had a maximum capacity of three people. And there were sixteen survivors in this location. Even if the remaining two were in perfect condition, it already far exceeded the maximum capacity.
"This makes no sense! We're all done for!"
"Wait! If we somehow repair them…"
"Nonsense! Repairing them risks getting killed while ascending in the elevator if anything goes wrong!"
"Damn it, then what's the alternative?"
"What if we get into the elevator wearing reinforced suits?"
"Unless it's in space, not here in the deep sea. No matter how sturdy the suits are, they won't withstand the pressure."
"Damn it, none of the options work! Then what are we supposed to do?"
"This guy!"
As the last glimmer of hope shattered, the team members couldn't hold on any longer. Some grabbed others by the collar, delivering punches. Some just sat down and cried like children. Some spat curses while swinging fists into the air.
In the midst of the chaos, Runan, managing to stay calm, sighed.
"There are only two submersibles left. This one next to me looks intact from the outside."
As he attempted to open the submersible's door to check the interior, a team member pointed fingers at him.
"Runan, you bastard! Get out of there right now!"
"You damn son of a bitch! You were planning to escape alone if the submersible was fine, weren't you?"
"Hey, what the hell are you saying?"
The conflicting gazes of the team members turned towards Runan.
"That bastard…!"
Runan cursed inwardly as he touched the gauss rifle he had been holding.
Excluding him, there were fifteen others. As a researcher and not a soldier, Runan found it challenging to subdue such a large group with just one gun.
He decided to choose a different approach.
"Stop!"
Runan shouted with all his might. His voice echoed through the vast space of the central zone. Even the team members, looking at him with hostile eyes, were taken aback.
"Won! Dajin! Do you really not know me? Did you think I'd escape alone?"
"Yeah! We thought you'd…!"
"Nonsense! While we've been at odds, he has been getting closer to us! Yet, everyone is wasting time on useless conflicts. Are you all out of your mind?"
"W-Well…"
The gaze of the team members wavered upon hearing Runan's words. Thinking that things were going as planned, Runan continued speaking.
"Yeah. In life, there can be moments of despair. Things that seem bad like this can get even worse. We all know that outside, monsters are targeting us, and the deep sea, considered nature itself, is pressing down on us."
While expressing his frustrations, Runan took a step forward.
"However, compared to the harsh life on Ganymede, this level of hardship is nothing! There, incidents of hundreds dying at once due to a malfunctioning temperature control device are not uncommon! Do you know who survives in such situations?"
"…"
Runan made eye contact with each team member one by one, ensuring not to forget to check the distance to the submersible.
'Okay.'
He was now close enough to reach the submersible's door with a single stretch.
"Only those who join forces to overcome adversity survive! Got it? Are you all going to cry like babies here and hope for death, or are you going to gather strength and hope to survive?"
"W-Well…"
Runan made eye contact individually with the team members while ensuring to keep an eye on the distance to the submersible.
"Now, look at the faces of your comrades! The escape route is right there!"
Upon hearing these words, the team members looked at each other's faces. While their attention was elsewhere, Runan quickly grabbed the handle of the submersible's door.
'Opportunity!'
He thought as he opened the door, ready to ascend and activate it.
And then…
"Huh?"
Instead of the expected machinery inside the opened door, there was something soft and pink. Following that, pink tentacles swiftly shot out and grabbed Runan's limbs.
Before he could scream, the tentacles that held him were forcefully pulled inside the submersible.
Squelch, squelch, squelch.
Eerie sounds emanated from inside the submersible. There were no screams or agonized groans.
Soon, red blood flowed from under the submersible's door.
"Uh, uh? Te…Team leader?"
The team members, in disbelief at what had just happened before their eyes, muttered absentmindedly. In response, tentacles, long and pink, emerged from inside the submersible.
"Hee-hee-heek!"
Squirming sounds.
"Uwaah! It caught me! Aaaah!"
Thud, squelch, crunch.
"Everyone, run away!"
The tentacles, one by one, caught nearby team members and dragged them into the submersible. Once inside, the only sounds heard were bone-breaking or flesh-tearing noises.
The central area, considered the last escape route by the survivors.
There, only the silent screams filled the air.
-x-X-x-
'Indeed.'
I compiled the information gathered while chewing on the thoughts of the MCAE pilot.
'…I wondered how the Sea Demon was killed, but it turned out that way.'
Strictly speaking, they didn't kill the Sea Demon. Instead, the research base I'm currently stepping on, this massive structure, dealt a fatal blow to the creature.
'A base with space navigation capabilities. I couldn't have imagined.'
According to the pilot, apart from the elevator that rose above the base, the remaining sections, the central Zone, and the ring-shaped Zones function as the spacecraft. After landing on a planet, additional facilities are constructed using resources stored in MCAE and the spacecraft.
'That's why there were MCAEs dedicated to space exploration.'
Aside from that, the submarine, which I thought had a unique design similar to an escape pod, turned out to be just that. It was converted from components of small spacecraft for use as a submarine.
Anyway, the PH-101 research base arrived here through faster-than-light travel and landed beneath the sea to study deep-sea life.
'And during the landing, it collided with the Sea Demon.'
Neither the central computer of the research base nor the Sea Demon under the sea could have anticipated the collision.
The central computer had chosen a stable terrain, a giant ring-shaped spacecraft several kilometers long, for the Sea Demon to land. Unfortunately, the Sea Demon was resting there, exhausted after a battle with the Pale Mask.
The entire outer wall of the base is made of black-silver alloy, making it undetectable by psychically sensitive beings. Moreover, weapons made of black-silver can pose a significant threat to powerful entities like the Sea Demon, just as Fishrians had severely injured Adhai with black-silver weaponry.
Given the size of this spacecraft, it likely caused damage to the Sea Demon comparable to orbital bombardment. Of course, if the Sea Demon were in good condition, it would have tried to minimize damage from the collision, but the situation was not favorable. Having fought with the Pale Mask and being already very old, the Sea Demon was in a weakened state.
'Coincidentally, the Sea Demon suffered injuries so severe that natural healing was impossible. And…'
The Fishrian village that witnessed this incident took a friendly stance towards the humans who attacked the Sea Demon because they worshiped the Pale Mask instead.
The humans at the research base received food and protection in exchange for providing the Fishrians with black-silver weapons. Normally, such a deal would not have been accepted, even if the Fishrians were friendly, but the situation changed.
'PH-101 is a planet under the surveillance of the Cult. The research base entered clandestinely during a weakened surveillance period, but for some reason, the surveillance was significantly reinforced.'
Probably because of Muriel. At first glance, she appeared to be a deer-horned cultist, and one of the two players supporting her seemed to be a high-ranking cultist.
In any case, with the reinforced surveillance, the humans at the research base found themselves isolated. Critical supplies, including food, kept depleting, and they had no idea when they could leave. They had no choice but to seek help from the Fishrian village.
While the humans at the research base awaited rescue, the injured Sea Demon died.
The researchers, with the cooperation of the Fishrians, tried to collect the Sea Demon's corpse when Number 26 and Adhai appeared.
'They signaled Number 26 before the Sea Demon died.'
Whether it was a call for help or a warning to stay away from danger remains unknown.
The crucial point is that Number 26 received the signal sent by the Sea Demon, and both ended up captured in the process. Thanks to interrogating the pilot, most of the questions I had were answered, and I obtained very important and useful information.
'This base is essentially a spacecraft.'
That statement implies control over the 'Horizon of Nightmares.' Although there's still a cooldown, the fact that a means of traveling to other planets has emerged is promising. Once the cooldown is over and the situation stabilizes, attempting domination seems like a good idea.
'Everything would be satisfactory if it weren't for one thing.'
The pilots left a message before they died from the interrogation.
'Is this place not safe because Number 26 escaped?'
The nuance wasn't pointing towards me. The humans at the research base were fearing something unclear.
How to describe their reaction?
A mix of awe and fear in the face of a colossal disaster.
'Maybe I should catch a Fishrian and ask.'
Currently, the only remaining Zone in the research base that is not submerged is the central Zone. All humans in other parts either died or drowned while being captured by me.
'Number 26 should have taken care of anyone coming to the central Zone.'
If there are any survivors, the only ones capable of surviving underwater for an extended period are Fishrians.
'Let's join Number 26 for now.'
I placed the remaining body of the pilot into my mouth and retraced my steps.
In Zone C, water had filled the corridor. Behind me, my tail swayed from side to side as I pushed my body forward, and ahead, hands with claws between the fingers stirred the water, guiding the direction.
Unlike when tormenting prey, there was no need to move slowly, so I quickly arrived at the corridor leading to the central Zone.
I lightly broke the isolation door between the central Zone and the corridor. Inside, there were Number 26 and two Fishrians.
One of them was being eaten while still alive, caught in the tentacles of Number 26, and the other was dangling helplessly from the tentacles.
｢Arrived?｣
[ZZZZ (Wait a moment)]
｢Why?｣
As I entered, the water in the corridor also poured into the central Zone. Flesh fragments and bloodstains scattered on the floor were washed away in an instant.
Approaching Number 26 through the water current, I observed the restrained Fishrian.
｢He's still alive.｣
[ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ (I need this one)]
｢Ugly human bad friend? He treated the little one badly, so I'm making him suffer!｣
[ZZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZZZ (Just a moment. I'll return him soon)]
｢Are you going to scold him? If you're going to scold him, go ahead.｣
[ZZ (Yes.)]
It seemed that Number 26 did not particularly like these Fishrians. As an example, the Fishrian caught by him was being consumed from the foot rather than the head.
"..."
Imagine the feeling of your sound mind while your lower half is melting from your feet. Moreover, you couldn't even scream because Number 26's tentacles were blocking your mouth.
'Serves you right.'
Seeing the floating harpoons nearby, I understood what Number 26 was up to. I shifted my attention away from the Fishrian with only bones and muscles remaining in the lower half and looked at the restrained one.
Looking into his eyes, I could see intense fear. Having taken over from Number 26, I used my combat arms to break all of his arms and legs.
"Growl!"
"There… is… something… to… ask…"
"Growl! Demon of the abyss! Those who oppose father will not be forgiven!"
Despite likely being in extreme pain, he didn't cower and continued to shout loudly.
"Quietly."
"Kuiiiik!"
"If… you… keep… shouting… it… will… hurt… more."
"…Kiiik."
When I squeezed his wrist, he immediately quieted down.
Seeing his submissive attitude, it seemed like it was time to start asking questions.
"What… is… it… that… the… humans… here… fear?"
"Kruuk. Father dislikes Sea demons!"
'Father?'
'Is he talking about the Pale Mask?'
The Pale Mask is a nickname used by humans. Naturally, Fishrians would have a different title for it.
Without answering my question, he continued with what he was saying.
"This nest is a prison for Sea demons. If the captured Sea demon is released, father will be angry."
"Captured Sea demon?"
"The pink terror! Terror!"
The Fishrian made a scared expression while pointing at Number 26. I quietly silenced him by tapping the back of his head.
｢Why is he like that?｣
[ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (It's nothing)]
Honestly, even though it was empty words, it wasn't exactly smooth communication, but I could understand what these fish zealots were saying.
'The Pale Mask has won in the territorial competition with the Sea Demon and is currently at ease. If a new Sea Demon appears, it will naturally be angered.'
Until now, this research base made of black-silver had acted as a kind of camouflage, but as I broke part of the outer wall, the boundaries between inside and outside became blurred.
Unlike the Sea Demon, which detects prey through psychokinesis, the Pale Mask uses an incredible sense of smell and wave detection organs to search for prey.
'Its detection ability far surpasses my auxiliary organs. By now, it probably recognizes Number 26.'
"Krukkruuk, the jailers haven't fulfilled their duties. Father will come soon. Demons, you too will face the father's judgment!"
The Fishrian chattered, as if affirming my thoughts. There was no more useful information to gain from him. The time until the unwelcome guest arrived was running out.
I opened my jaws wide and crushed the Fishrian's head.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZZ (It's time to go now)]
｢Still, there's time left…｣
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (The one who killed your friend is coming. We must seek revenge)]
｢Friend? Friend! I'll beat the bad guy who killed my friend!｣
Understanding my vibrations, Number 26 vigorously shook its tentacles. It seemed interested in seeking retribution against the being that killed its kin.
"He will follow Number 26. There's no need to fight here."
Since this research base might be used as a spacecraft later, damaging the outer walls any further wasn't advisable.
If Number 26 and I joined forces, we could gain an advantage against the Pale Mask, but winning without casualties was unlikely. Additionally, fighting here and causing significant damage to the base might ruin the opportunity to use the Horizon of Nightmares.
[ZZ ZZZ ZZ (Let's go up, not here.)]
Combining forces with the Mother of the Sky and Adhai above would allow us to subdue the Pale Mask without major damage.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZZZ (Let's go outside)]
｢Yeah.｣
Number 26 responded while still holding the Fishrian in its tentacles. The limp body of the prey turned into a lump of flesh, with only the head held by Number 26, attaching itself to my back.
｢Let's go!｣
[ZZ (Hmm.)]
Watching the exuberant shout while melting the fish head, I couldn't help but wonder how others would perceive me.
'…Let's save unnecessary thoughts for later.'
Approaching the massive cylinder in the central Zone, I accessed the underwater elevator. The gate installed in the cylinder allowed the submarine to enter and exit.
If we went through here, we could quickly ascend.
[ZZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZZZZ (Be cautious as it might be dangerous outside)]
Alerting Number 26 first, I grabbed a gap in the combat gate and applied force. The colossal cover made of Black Silver Alloy groaned, and following that, a storm-like gust of air hit my exterior due to the pressure difference between the elevator's interior and the entire Zone.
Then, like a rising tide, the seawater in the entire Zone surged upward. Holding onto Number 26, I entered the interior of the underwater elevator.
The wide cylinder quickly filled with water, and Number 26 and I were swiftly transported upward.
｢Wow! It's fascinating to move on its own! It's fun!｣
As a deep-sea predator, Number 26 seemed unaffected by water pressure and air pressure issues, looking perfectly fine.
During the ascent, my auxiliary sensors detected something. A large creature was approaching the vicinity of the underwater elevator at a rapid pace.
'Pale Mask is following us.'
In response, vibrations were felt on the outer walls of the elevator. It wasn't due to the water; it was the shockwave created when the Pale Mask roared from outside, striking the elevator's outer wall.
'We're almost there.'
During the ascent, I sharply bent and then extended my lower body's tail. Using the fins and claws on my tail for propulsion, my body shot upwards.
Following that, my armored head collided with the closed elevator door. Breaking the exit gate with my horn, we were able to escape from the research base.
｢It was fun a moment ago!｣
Finally, Number 26, now truly liberated, pulled all the fins out of its body. Its body emitted a glowing, mysterious light, and fins of a pinkish-purple hue danced gracefully in the dark underwater. Number 26, expressing joy with its whole body, swam through the dark depths of the sea.
The sight resembled that of a fairy descending from the heavens, adorned with wings.
｢Big one! It's so refreshing, I love it!｣
Number 26 joyfully enjoyed its newfound freedom. If there had been more time, I might have swam with it in the ocean, but there was no leisure for that now.
'I still can't see it, but…'
As I looked down beneath my tail, I felt the presence of the Pale Mask through my auxiliary system. An enraged monster was rapidly approaching at an incredible speed.
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ(We'll play together later. We need to go now)]
｢Yeah, let's play together later.｣
I moved with Number 26 towards the direction of the island. In the water, 26 was much faster than me, so it adjusted its swimming speed to match mine.
During our journey, Number 26 sent waves towards me.
｢Big guy! A bad creature is following us!｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (Don't worry, just keep going)]
Roars were coming from behind. The closer the sound, the narrower the distance to the island with the Mother of the Sky and the Adhai.
｢Go away!｣
At that moment, Number 26 pulled out a tentacle and shot something towards my rear. The 'restraint' characteristic, along with other psychic power techniques, aimed backward, and amidst the continuous roaring, painful groans were mixed in.
Thanks to Number 26, the Pale Mask trailing us slowed down slightly, and we could safely land on the island. The Mother of the Sky and the Adhai were clearing the Fishlian village and waiting for us.
｢Adult!｣ ｢Little adult!｣
｢Little one! You're safe!｣
｢Amorph… huh? What's behind you, that thing?｣
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (It's the Pale Mask. Everyone, get ready for battle)]
The moment I sent out waves, a massive creature stretched its head out from behind me. The Mother of the Sky, witnessing the scene, was astonished.
｢What? The Pale Mask? Damn it…!｣
｢Adult!｣ ｢Enemy!｣ ｢Fear!｣
"That wicked thing killed my friend! I'm going to beat it up!"
｢Me!｣ ｢Little adult!｣ ｢Listen!｣
Confronting the new adversary, everyone prepared for battle.
-x-X-x-
The one chasing me and Number 26 raised its head. The Pale Mask, the predator of the deep sea second only to the Sea Demon, is notorious for its repulsive appearance as much as its mighty power. Its overall form resembles attaching the flat fin of a stingray and a long tail to the body of a sperm whale. Although its appearance is a mix of features from various marine creatures, the most striking aspect is undoubtedly the faces on its body.
True to its name, the Pale Mask's body is adorned with pallid, grimacing human faces. When contrasted with the black outer skin, these white faces give the impression of barnacles attached to a whale's body.
[PR/N- Barnacles are encrusters, attaching themselves temporarily to a hard substrate or a symbiont such as a whale (whale barnacles), a sea snake, or another crustacean, like a crab or a lobster.]
'Barnacles. It's not a bad metaphor.'
Those faces are a kind of symbiotic organism naturally generated on the Pale Mask's body. These faces can be considered symbols of the Pale Mask. Although described as barnacles, these symbiotic organisms do not harm the host. Instead, they utilize their various abilities to protect the host, creating a symbiotic relationship similar to the tooth fairies and me.
'Of course, these faces are much stronger than the tooth fairies.'
Gii, Gii, Gii
The water-soaked faces emit eerie cries in response to the host's will. It's like the laughter of a water spirit, a sound as unsettling as its grotesque appearance. I paid no attention to their cries and calmly observed the creature. Understanding their abilities is crucial before engaging in a fight since their combat capabilities vary significantly based on gender and growth level.
It seems the Mother of the Sky had similar thoughts.
｢Judging by its size, it's already in the adult stage.｣
She had transformed back into a humanoid form, not the griffin. Instead of replying to her, I nodded in agreement. I've faced the Pale Mask in the game several times. While I couldn't precisely measure its size just by seeing the head above the water, I could make a rough estimate.
'It should be around 50 meters.'
The adult Pale Mask's body length ranges from 40 to 50 meters, placing it among the larger specimens. There is another distinctive feature.
The gender of the Pale Mask can be identified by the faces attached to its body. Interestingly, if it has human female faces, it's male; conversely, if it has male faces, it's female.
All the faces on its body were those of pale women.
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (It's a male)]
｢Ugh, this is getting annoying.｣
The Mother of the Sky clicked her tongue. She was right. Despite the male being two-thirds the size of the female, it is much more powerful due to its troublesome characteristic.
'The hypnotic ability is irritating.'
The male Pale Mask's 'hypnotic waves' continuously emit a wavelength that confuses the minds of other creatures. While similar to the 'hallucination' ability of the Red Mist on the jungle planet, it is specialized in applying debuffs rather than showing illusions. If affected by its hypnotic waves, one becomes unable to use concentration-demanding abilities and techniques. In my case, it seals psychic power abilities, nest-related features, and nest link abilities.
My thick head carapace collided with the creature's head. The massive shockwave from the impact swept across the beach, scattering sand in all directions. The Pale Mask, with a head size approaching 10m, clashed with my head carapace, which was less than 3m.
When the two collided, the outcome of the fight was clear. However, the one screaming in extreme pain was not me.
Giiik! Giiik!
The faces of the creature, sharing sensations with its host, let out agonizing screams. Blue blood and whale brain oil flowed from the creature's thick head pierced by my horn. While my horn may be needle-sized to the creature, with a powerful collision, it's a different story.
The creature, with a split wound on its head thicker than my carapace, writhed in unfamiliar intense pain. I firmly held onto its head with my combat-ready arms to prevent my horn from dislodging.
Gii, Gii
Perhaps realizing it wouldn't work, the Pale Mask swung the leg-shaped tails resembling stingrays all around its body towards me. Just like the stingrays' tails have venom, these legs also contain a powerful toxin, but it doesn't affect me.
However, the creature seemed to have decided that keeping a distance was a priority rather than stabbing me with its poisonous stinger. Its thicker legs than my body lashed out at me.
'Oof!'
Is this what being hit by a truck feels like? Struck by the creature's legs, my body floated in the air and flew far away.
Giiik!
The creature, looking at me floating in the air, opened its mouth wide. The Pale Mask can compress digestive fluids inside its body to create a highly destructive breath attack. It has the power to melt even the outer shell of a sub-adult Aymoph, for example.
At that moment, dozens of transparent energy projectiles flew from the opposite side and struck the Pale Mask.
Giiik?!
｢Don't bother the big guy! You jerk!｣
The angry vibes emanated from Number 26. Safely landing on the ground, I looked in the direction where the creature was.
Number 26 was hiding behind rocks on the beach, shooting energy projectiles with its tentacles.
'It grew again in the meantime.'
That technique is a unique skill called 'Demon Crash,' inherent to Sea Demons. Number 26 acquired it as its second skill after 'Terror of the Deep.'
'It may not be as powerful as the Sea Demons I knew, but…'
The original Demon Crash unleashed by Sea Demons has very high attack power and randomly inflicts short-duration debuffs. Number 26, being still young, hasn't demonstrated that level of power yet.
'Still, the intent seems to be well communicated.'
Giiik! Giiik! Giiik!
As the energy projectiles hit its eyes, the creature convulsed. It redirected its anger from me to Number 26.
A new attacker appeared at that moment. It was the Mother of the Sky, a creature with an eagle's head and a lion's body, in a hybrid form. She leaped onto the Pale Mask's back, which had climbed up from the beach with a golden spear in her hand.
'The Priest's Golden Spear? Did Adhai give this to her?.'
Before descending into the depths, I handed Adhai a backpack filled with loot. It was evident that Mother of the Sky had requested equipment from Adhai to confront the Pale Mask.
'Indeed.'
In a situation where she couldn't properly utilize Divine Engraving, the only meaningful means she had against the Pale Mask, with its thick hide, was the shining spear.
Despite the Pale Mask shaking its body as if annoyed, Mother of the Sky's posture remained unwavering.
Kiii!!
With a short stroke, she deeply cut into the creature's hide. Blue blood sprayed from the wound, and the Pale Mask writhed in agony. Its legs soared towards Mother of the Sky, aiming to tear her apart.
｢Me｣｢You｣｢Support｣
At that moment, Adhai swooped down from the high sky like a predatory bird. Simultaneously, Mother of the Sky folded the Priest's Golden Spear and leaped towards the descending Adhai.
At the perfect timing, Adhai caught Mother of the Sky with her four legs and ascended. The Pale Mask's legs missed them by a paper-thin difference.
｢Get on for a moment.｣
｢This｣｢Time｣｢Only｣｢Next｣｢Not allowed.｣
In mid-air, it seemed like Mother of the Sky lightly mounted Adhai's back. While in the griffin form, Mother of the Sky is much larger than Adhai, but right now in her humanoid form she was much smalll.
Mounted on Adhai's back, Mother of the Sky drew her spear again.
Giiik! Giiik!
Every time the Gallagon approached the marine monster, she swung the spear vigorously. Golden light flickered, leaving behind deep and sharp wounds.
Adhai seemed to have chosen a supportive role, given the difficulty of direct attacks due to the Pale Mask's mesmerizing waves.
'Not bad.'
Even without explicit communication, it was a companion who didn't betray expectations. Adhai actively utilized her swift flight speed, attacking at the right moments and assisting Mother of the Sky in easily striking the Pale Mask. The creature tried to trap Adhai by spreading the fins on its sides like wings, as Adhai's interference seemed to irritate it.
'But I can't let that happen.'
I raced along the beach, stirring up sand with my combat arms. Approaching the Pale Mask in an instant, I raised my upper body and brought down my head on its head.
Giiik?!
Although my body length and weight are less than half of its, it's not to be underestimated. The creature staggered significantly from the impact of my body press.
However, my attack didn't end here.
I maintained that position, firmly holding the creature's head with my combat arms to immobilize it. Using my tail, I started winding it around the creature's head.
Applying force to the winding tail, I began squeezing its head. It was as if a constrictor snake was squeezing its prey until the bones snapped.
The friction between my squeezing body and the creature's head produced a chilling sound.
｢Kki, Kkiik!｣
In the agony of its contorted head, the creature screamed in pain. As it thrashed, waves formed around, creating a tidal wave. Waterfront structures around were swept away and submerged in the wave created by the Pale Mask.
Giiik! Giiik!! Giiik!!
The parasitic faces attached to the creature's body unleash a concentrated onslaught to protect the host.
'Useless.'
Kkiik! Kkiik!
Attempting to block me with shockwaves was futile. Instead, the creature crumbled further when I exerted more force.
Gi…Giiik?
It seemed the creature opted for a different approach, feeling like its head would explode at this rate. Abandoning the shockwaves, it used its fins to propel itself forward rapidly.
Its chosen method was to stomp me into the ground while I remained bound.
The massive marine monster, with a size of 50m, charged at full speed towards the sandy beach, aiming to crush me, attached to its head, in a single-minded determination.
'Can't let it happen… Ugh?!'
Though I was not the one being stomped, I hastily tried to free myself, but the creature's legs entwined around my combat arm and head.
I attempted to deploy corrosive tentacles from my back to counter, but this time, the creature was slightly faster than me.
Its head was driven into the bare ground, and I, attached to its head, felt a powerful impact.
[Pain Nullification Activated!]
'Crack!'
My skull took the damage, and the protective coverings on my body fell off. Some of the claws attached to various parts broke, and one of my combat arms was fractured.
It was a significant injury, but not as severe as I had anticipated.
'…Number 26.'
The flowing psychokinetic power sensed from a distance undoubtedly belonged to Number 26. Thanks to its 'restraint,' the Pale Mask's strength weakened when it attempted to slam me into the sand.
If not for that, the situation might not have ended here.
Giiik! Giiik!
The creature raised its head again, seemingly ready to finish the job. Knowing I couldn't endure another direct attack, I quickly freed myself, increasing the distance from the creature.
'Unexpected damage, but…'
It wasn't all losses. Thanks to the current skirmish, I had the opportunity to lure the creature onto the land.
Half of the creature's body, resembling a mix of sperm whale and ray, lay on the sandy beach. From its appearance, it was clear that the creature wasn't well-suited for terrestrial combat.
Grrr
Feeling the recovery of my broken arm through the effects of the regeneration trait, I stood up.
Now, it's time for the second round.
-x-X-x-
The brief period of calm ended, and the battle resumed. The fins, boasting sizes of tens of meters or more, forcefully swept the sand on the beach. A small earthquake shook our bodies, followed by a surge of sand and dirt.
As the land flipped, walls of sand formed and engulfed us.
｢Danger!｣ ｢Evade!｣
While Adhai, carrying the The Mother of the Sky, dodged the sand and dirt baptism with acrobatic maneuvers, I quickly crawled towards Number 26
｢Ugh!｣
It attempted to restrain the sands with 'restraints,' but it was futile. With its current abilities, it couldn't restrain large amounts of sand all at once. I grabbed him and placed him on the back of the carapace.
[ZZ ZZZ (Careful)]
A heap of dirt, almost the size of a boulder, poured over my head. Moving swiftly to avoid large clumps of sand, enemy limbs flew through the gaps.
'Both I and Number 26 are immune to poison, but…'
Nevertheless, the immense force contained in those tentacles cannot be ignored. Even if I could endure it, if Number 26 were to be hit by those limbs, it will split in half.
The erosion tentacle hidden within the carapace responded to my will and leaped outward.
With durability far superior to the bloodsucking tentacles from the combat arms, the erosion tentacles deflected the Pale Mask's attack.
'Next is the Breath.'
Between the sand barriers, the creature's mouth slightly opened.
None of us can withstand the creature's digestive juices. While fleeing, wondering where the acidic breath would land, Number 26, who was on my back, acted. It manipulated a large boulder to shoot at the creature.
｢What?!｣
The Pale Mask, struck by the rock, closed its mouth. In that gap, I escaped the range of the sand barrier.
Like me, Adhai, soaring high above, avoided the sand barrier and swooped in again.
Although faces attached to the Pale Mask fired shockwaves, she elegantly evaded them with superb acrobatics.
Even amidst the air bursting out wildly, her speed remained undiminished. As she approached the Pale Mask, the The Mother of the Sky intervened. She held the priestess's golden spear in her hands.
｢Now!｣
｢Confirmed.｣
As Adhai's speed approached the Pale Mask's fin, it abruptly slowed down. In response, The Mother of the Sky thrust the spear forcefully.
As the spear deeply pierced the fin, Adhai quickly struck and retreated again. As the sharpness of the spear added to her acceleration, the wound on the fin began to widen rapidly.
"Urgh!"
The Pale Mask, having lost half of its fin in an instant, groaned in agony. To withstand Adhai's charge with his body, it used the other fin to prop itself up.
｢Tsk!｣
｢Danger!｣ ｢Evade!｣
Even though she is a Gallagon, Adhai's defense isn't that high. The chances of surviving a collision with a creature of 50 meters are slim.
Adhai swiftly avoided the collision with the creature and quickly ascended, halting The Mother of the Sky's attack.
While they fought fiercely, I quickly pondered.
Although we inflicted significant damage on the Pale Mask, considering its massive size, it's hard to consider it a fatal blow.
Something new is needed.
"The cooldown for the 'Symbol of Hunt' is still about an hour."
Therefore, using it during battle is impossible. It should be used after capturing the creature.
Besides the 'Symbol of Hunt', there's one more trump card.
The unique trait I obtained after preying on the unique-grade equipment.
'If I use that trait, I could neutralize the Pale Mask, but…'
Unfortunately, I can't use it during the fight with the Pale Mask. Due to hypnosis, I can't utilize abilities that require concentration. The Psychic Breath is also out of the question for the same reason.
'And using that ability would jeopardize the prey.'
The ability obtained through the looter's negative polyhedron, I've never used it until now. But I could intuitively sense it. That ability holds tremendous power, to the point of calling Psychic Breath 'such a thing.' If it suits the creature, its body will evaporate without leaving a trace.
'Most of the traits obtainable from the Pale Mask are useful.'
Such as the 'Giant Creature,' a common trait possessed by creatures over 50 meters, or traits that allow the creation of parasitic organisms shooting hypnotic waves, and so on. I can't discard such useful traits altogether. It's not such a disadvantageous situation yet, so let's put 'that ability' on hold for now.
'Instead, let's use the terrain.'
Although the creature is a marine monster with a large build, it is not as agile on land. Its movement is restricted due to having a body unsuitable for terrestrial combat. I need to take advantage of that opening.
I safely placed ' in a secure location and ran towards the creature. Meanwhile, the Pale Mask attempted to lower the ground again with its fins, trying to erect a sand barrier. Seeing me approaching, the creature stopped its actions and assumed a defensive stance.
But my target is not the creature. More precisely, it's the 'underneath' of the creature. Closing the distance with the creature, I stopped running and used the combat arm to dig into the ground. In an instant, a pit large enough for me to enter was created.
｢What? What are you doing… Ugh?!｣
The creature, wary of what I might do, opened its mouth wide. A powerful acidic breath was unleashed in my direction. This time, I was even faster. When the creature spewed the acidic breath, I had already hidden my body underground.
Crawling beneath the place where the Pale Mask lay, I vigorously dug the ground with the combat arm. If the creature moves its body extensively, it could end up buried underground.
'I need to dig wide and deep.'
My combat arm and erosion tentacle turned into a digging tool, breaking the solid ground. The displaced soil was pushed aside by the claws attached all over my body. Due to the broken arm, an unavoidable part arose, but my tail took care of it. The tail, which occupies a significant portion of my body, swayed vigorously from side to side, clearing away the soil.
Although the ground on the beach weakened rapidly, the creature above seemed unaware. The creature, preoccupied with fighting annoying adversaries, was oblivious to what was happening.
Having extensively excavated not only the location of the creature but also the surrounding underground, I used the monster's tentacles to send shockwaves to the adversaries.
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Guide the creature to move extensively)]
｢Understood.｣
｢Yes!｣
｢What? What are you doing… Ugh?!｣
The creatures that quickly understood my intentions moved agilely.
Since the hypnosis weakened the functions of auxiliary devices, it was impossible to grasp exactly what was happening from above. However, judging by the intense shaking of the ground, it seemed like they were quite active.
Roar Roar
Eventually, the Pale Mask couldn't bear it any longer and let out a roar of anger. A powerful shock, as if dismissing all the previous vibrations, permeated the ground.
And then…
Grr?
The weakened ground collapsed, and the creature's fin fell into the pit. In sync with the timing, I exerted force to my tail, pushing my body forcefully upwards. My body, like a soaring dragon, pierced through the partially collapsed ground and soared into the air.
The eyes of the Pale Mask, seeing me suddenly emerge from the underground, widened significantly. A gaze as if questioning why I came out there. Instead of answering, I descended upon the creature. Taking advantage of the fact that the creature was partially buried in the ground and in a disoriented state, I aimed not for the tip of its head like before but for the part closer to its torso.
Thus, the part with eyes and a mouth. My combat arm and erosion tentacle moved agilely, firmly gripping the creature's jaws to prevent it from opening its mouth, while my body and tail coiled around the creature from the top of its head to the bottom.
Kiiii?! Kiiii! Kiiii!
Feeling much tighter than before, the creature exerted all its strength to somehow break free. Unlike before, the creature tried to slam its head onto the ground to throw me off, but the result was different. The surrounding ground was entirely disturbed by me, so it was not solid at all. Even if the creature slammed me to the ground while entangled in its coils on the soft soil, it couldn't inflict significant damage.
'Additionally here.'
In the entangled state, I targeted the wounded areas of the creature. There were wounds created earlier by stabbing with my frontal horns. I widened my jaws into a split and sunk my teeth into those areas. Then, I activated the decay fungus organ and acidic fungal gland simultaneously.
Gik?!
The creature's skin was thick, providing immunity against toxins, so the decay fungus or acidic fungus couldn't penetrate it. However, the internal organs were a different story. Despite being protected by thick skin and a layer of dense fat against external threats, this was still the head area. Even with the protection of the skull and the thick layer of fat, it remained a vulnerable spot.
Of course, given the creature's large size, it would take some time for the decay fungus and acidic fungus to take effect. The creature, still unaware of what was happening to its body, proceeded to its next action. It attempted to flip its entire body to crush me.
The creature's weight was more than five times mine. If it crushed me, I would be completely flattened.
Kiiii? Kiiii! Kiiii!
Once again, the creature couldn't achieve its intention. The creature was now partially buried in the sand. Even lifting its body with fins would be difficult here. While it could easily perform such an action underwater, this was land. The creature's most potent weapon, its massive body, was inconvenient in this environment.
Moreover, I wasn't the only one interfering with the creature's movements. A dragon floating in the dawn night sky and the Griffin rider on its back were visible. Adhai, riding the dragon, descended rapidly towards the Pale Mask.
Thanks to the golden spear held by the priestess on the back of the dragon, the two of them looked like a golden comet in the night sky.
Next, the shining star collided with the colossal marine monster. Due to the acceleration from the rapid descent, the spear held by the dragon's mother easily severed the thick fins.
Kiiiiik!
When the arm, almost equivalent to the body, was almost entirely severed, the creature screamed. The length of the wound was over 10 meters, causing a torrent of blue blood to gush out. The creature, using its fins to flip its body, was now sitting on the ground, unable to continue.
Not only as a weapon but also playing a crucial role in swimming, some of its fins had been detached. Even if the creature managed to escape unharmed from this situation, it might take a long time to recover. Given its intelligence, the creature was likely aware of this fact.
Kiiii! Kiiii! Kiiii! Kiiii! Kiiii! Kiiii!
As if to show that only venom remained, the expressions of the faces attached to the creature's body changed rapidly. Faces that were originally pale transformed into grotesque demon shapes, glaring at Adhai.
The parasitic organisms all opened their mouths wide and launched shockwaves. Invisible bullets of air flew towards Adhai and the dragon's mother.
At this, Adhai performed astonishingly fast and precise acrobatic maneuvers, avoiding all the shockwaves.
'Watch out for the area near the right wing!'
｢Confirmed.｣
The part missed by the creature was conveyed to Adhai by the dragon's mother with sharp eyes, reading the flow of air. However, Adhai had not fully recovered from the injuries yet. Although he was currently avoiding them successfully, it was uncertain how long he could continue to do so.
I applied more force to my coiled body, which was causing friction with delight. The blunt claws scattered around my tail and body pierced into the thick skin of the Pale Mask. As my body coiled like a snake, a eerie scraping sound echoed.
Kii!! Kiiiii!!
The cries from the faces attached to the creature's body sounded strange. They realized that the host was in extreme danger.
The creature directed shockwaves towards Adhai while simultaneously using all the legs attached to its body to strike my back and outer shell.
'Kuk!'
The impact felt like being struck with a log, and fragments of my outer shell shattered. It was certainly not a small pain, but I endured it with the belief in easing the pain.
At that moment, a few massive boulders scattered around sporadically rose into the air, heading towards the creature's legs.
Grrr!! Grr
With each impact of the boulders, its legs twisted off the trajectory, hitting its own body instead of mine.
｢Big Baby! I'll help you!｣
From a distance, Number 26 could be seen waving its tentacles as if commanding.
Trees and rocks surrounding the beach were pulled into the air and, synchronized with the movement of the tentacles, flew towards Pale Mask's body and legs, embedding themselves in it.
Grr Grrrr!!!
Compared to its body covered in thick skin, the parasitic organisms attached to the creature's body were relatively vulnerable. The pale faces were instantly covered in blood as they collided with rocks and wood.
As the entity emitting shockwaves diminished, Adhai once again flew in this direction. Each time it clung to the protruding part of the creature's body on the ground, the Mother of the Skies pierced it with her spear.
When Pale Mask tried to respond, rocks and wood fragments flew again. Number 26 had no intention of letting the creature torment the 'little one.'
In the midst of all this, my body continued to firmly squeeze the creature's head.
Grr! Grrrr!!
While continuing to squeeze, I felt a sensation like something balloon-like being crushed from the inside. The pressure inside its eyes couldn't withstand it and burst.
As the eyeball burst, the creature glowed. It must have realized that death was imminent.
Using the still intact fin and legs, the creature frantically stirred up the ground and crawled towards the sea, its homeland.
However,
Grr!! Grrr!!!
Struggling to dig through the sand, the creature suddenly staggered. Faces attached to it, not understanding why the host was behaving this way, emitted a mix of curious and mournful cries.
'Good. The effect is taking place.'
The decay fungus and acid fungal elements I have been continuously injecting were gradually taking effect. Even if the surface appeared unscathed, the inside was rotting due to the decay fungus, and the muscles and blood vessels were corroded by the acid fungus.
Now the creature's remaining time is not long.
Moreover, my friends, Adhai and Number 26, seem to have no intention of leaving the creature alone to die.
Adhai persistently aimed at Pale Mask like a bald eagle mocking its dying prey. The spear of the Mother of the Skies, who rode on the creature's back, also did not rest.
While the two jointly attacked, Number 26 continued to unleash 'Demon Crash,' turning the creature's skin into a mess.
Eimoph, Gallagon, Sea Demon, and even Volf.
Under the assault of these four monsters, the marine monster was being reduced to a complete wreck.
Hiiii….Hiiii….Hiiii….
As Pale Mask's movements gradually weakened, it finally stopped moving in its tracks. The faces attached to it showed signs of deteriorating rapidly as the host approached death.
Just a few meters away from the sea, Pale Mask dropped its head. It exhaled a final breath and soon fell silent.
Kiyaaaah! Kiieeeeek! Kiiiiiiiiiik!
The faces attached to Pale Mask emitted horrifying screeches. The parasitic organisms that had not forgotten their repulsive actions followed the host into oblivion.
Before dawn, the God the fishrians once served was dead.