140
-x-X-x-
The intense smell woke me up. As soon as I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the sharp scent of chemical agents. It was so strong that it irritated the apparatus beneath my chin.
'Where am I?'
Upon opening my eyes, I saw numerous tubes resembling ancient catacombs in a dark communal space. Green glass tubes, hundreds, if not thousands of them, were laid out inside, resembling some kind of ancient burial ground rather than a research facility.
'Why am I here?'
When I transcended into the astral state, and then from astral to transcendent, I experienced visions. The former involved a meeting with Amorph, while the latter was a fantasy involving memories from my childhood. Both were different kinds of illusions, but they were based on elements I had seen or stored in my memory. However, this place was a completely unfamiliar space, not encountered in reality or any game.
'Moreover, there were no such occurrences during transcendence.'
Is the second stage of transcendence different from the first? Does displaying hallucinations during evolution mean that it enhances one's growth?
'…It might be an unfamiliar place in my memory but could be an important clue.'
After all, there's plenty of time until transcendence is complete. I approached one of the nearby glass tubes.
Inside, it was filled with a viscous green chemical substance. The liquid was so opaque that it was impossible to see what was inside, but the apparatus's assessment was different.
There's something inside that liquid.
I brought my face close to the experiment tube. As the slender apparatus was about to touch the surface of the tube, the communal space I stood in changed to a white space in an instant. The glass tube in front shattered, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Instead of the harsh chemical scent, a familiar antiseptic smell permeated, and the sound of life support devices measuring a patient's vital signs echoed. I knew where this was. But what caught my attention more than anything was what I had seen a moment ago.
'What was that just now?'
Before the experiment tube disappeared, the object inside was briefly exposed. It was the offspring of some creature, strangely familiar but unidentifiable.
"If you hadn't taken them that day, this wouldn't have happened!"
A sudden scream, as if trying to erase my thoughts.
Two adults with unseen faces argued in the corridor in front of the hospital room.
"Are you blaming me for that? Do you know who's paying the expensive medical bills?"
"Huh. Medical bills? You don't even care about the kid."
"What?"
"All that cuteness for the camera or for our lovely child is just an act. Have you ever hugged our child at home?"
Their conversation was filled with the same arguments I had heard since childhood. They always fought with the same repertoire.
But now, there's something more important than that.
The experimental subject I saw earlier, it was undoubtedly similar to Amorph's hatchling.
'Not entirely the same, though.'
The number of arms and the absence of auxiliary devices were quite different from the Amorph I knew. The creature's arms were less developed than Amorph's hatchling, and there were no auxiliary devices under its chin.
As I contemplated the creature, the half-open door of the hospital room in front of me revealed a child. The child had their face tightly wrapped in bandages. Seeing that sight, a memory suddenly flashed.
'Ah, was it back then?'
The hallucination I was witnessing was one of the pivotal moments in my life. Recalling that fact, I could no longer continue thinking about the experimental creature.
It was the day I realized that what was once a precious gift in my household had become a burden.
Whether the nurse saw the child or not, the child closed the door as I unconsciously reached for the doorknob. The moment my fingers touched the doorknob, my consciousness once again plunged into darkness.
In a forest in the Seintopia 02 continent, despite being daytime, it was quite dark due to the giant redwoods that rivaled high-rise buildings. The dense branches and leaves obscured the light.
In the midst of this dark forest, there was a group of individuals. A total of 10 people, all wearing reinforced suits that covered their entire bodies, adorned with special symbols on top.
The symbol, a purple diamond within an ivory triangle, was the emblem of the 'Warriors,' the military force of the Cult race.
True to their name, they carried various types of weapons, from melee weapons like axes, knives, and spears to long-range firearms like bows, rifles, and net guns. They also had alloy shields, shield activation devices, medical kits, and other defense and support equipment.
The Cult Warriors always prepared thoroughly to handle any enemy they might encounter. Therefore, they were excessively armed to easily deal with any adversary they might face.
"Here's Warrior Chief Lice. What about your side?"
[This is Edrin. The village has been completely razed. There are no survivors.]
"Again? What in the world is happening? How about the other villages?"
[This is Orlai. I checked the memory site, but nothing came up.]
This Warrior group, affiliated with the Imperial flagship 'Damos 08's Adjudicator,' had come down in advance under the captain's confidential orders before the purification operation commenced.
The order was to capture and bring back the native Wolves before the purification operation began. However, despite having arrived on the continent where the Wolves reside hours ago, not a single Wolf was found.
"Could it be that we were detected?"
"That's unlikely. Detecting the Imperial flagship's warp navigation by primitive tribes is impossible."
"What about the structures of those monkeys wandering outside the planet? Could that be the cause?"
"We haven't confirmed any intelligence indicating that MegaCorp is collaborating with the Wolves on this planet. It's currently unknown, so refrain from making assumptions."
"Yes, sir!"
"For now, Edrin, Orlai, continue your search since we have time."
[Understood, Warrior Chief.]
"Yes."
"We will commence the fleet bombardment in six hours. Investigate until two hours remain, and if nothing is found, return."
Warrior Chief Lice pressed the button on his helmet to terminate the telepathic link. The helmet he wore was quite different from the reinforced headgear worn by primitive tribes.
Though it shared the same front-face protection, the Cult's helmets had gaps around the occipital region due to the horns adorning their heads. Additionally, the helmets had built-in shield and telepathy functions. Thanks to the internal devices, communication with allies at a distance was possible without the need for special communication devices.
However, the drawback was the significant mental energy consumption, making it impractical to keep the telepathy function always active.
Beside him, the sub-commander warrior, Isabel, approached.
"Warrior Chief, have we still not found anything?"
"It's incomprehensible. It's as if someone swept away all the Wolves. Why would anyone do such a thing?"
Initially, he considered the possibility of piracy, but Lice deemed it unlikely. Wolf slaves were not as valuable as the pirates would target. In places where the Cult had some presence among their various planets, obtaining Wolves was easy and inexpensive.
If the Wolves on this planet were not unique, capturing other creatures would bring in much greater profits. For example, rare predators like Gel Armana in the swamp or the horned king, Manuk Arma, in the volcanic zone.
By the way, the creatures known as Manuk Arma, called Hound Gargants by humans, were living perfectly well. Before Lice and the Warriors arrived in this forest, they had checked the Wolf settlement near the territory of those creatures.
"Didn't the captain, who usually detests the slave system, order to bring the Wolves? Don't the natives get dried up without them? Looks like there's something for the Wolves to eat here."
Laughter escaped from the helmets of the other warriors next to her at her innuendo. Seeing that, Lice furrowed his brows.
"Isabel, being the vice-commander, your statement is not only disrespectful to the captain but also denies the 'order' of the Cult. Exercise restraint."
"Oh, I-I apologize!"
In response to Lice's cold words, Isabel quickly lowered her head. The other warriors also immediately stopped their laughter, following Isabel's lead.
Seeing this, Lice clicked his tongue.
"Seems like you've all had enough rest. Let's get moving again."
"Yes, sir!"
Despite the displeasure of their commander, the Warriors efficiently picked up their equipment and stood up. Their well-coordinated movements showcased their highly trained warrior skills.
However, even as Lice watched his well-trained subordinates, he couldn't shake off the dissatisfaction. He knew why the captain of the Imperial flagship sent them to this planet, going so far as to break his beliefs. It was to prepare a gift to present to the leaders of the Cult in exchange for the future of his subordinates.
To think that these young warriors, vibrant in their blue uniforms, were making jokes without understanding the captain's noble intentions. Lice was filled with frustration.
'I guess I'll have to start from scratch when I get back.'
As Lice contemplated how to manage his subordinates, the Warrior group continued deeper into the forest.
There were occasional encounters with Wood Devils or Night Stalkers, but the Warriors remained unfazed. They were seasoned soldiers and a proficient regular army. Unless they encountered a predator like Manuk Arma, there was no creature on this continent that could pose a threat to them.
Moreover, their Soul Link, a psychic power technique connecting their visions, made surprise attacks ineffective.
Thus, under the leadership of Lice, the Warrior group continued searching for the Wolves somewhere in the depths of the forest.
About 30 minutes into their renewed journey, Lice, leading at the forefront, meticulously inspected even the small traces between rocks and branches to not miss any signs.
While continuing their journey, something unfamiliar caught his eye. Among thick trees, he spotted a pink balloon. To get a closer look, he tried to use the psychic power technique of clairvoyance, but by the time he prepared the technique, the balloon had disappeared.
"Warrior Chief?"
All ten members present here shared their vision through Soul Link. Lice intended to inquire with his subordinates about what he had seen.
At that moment,
"Ugh?!"
"Uugh!"
Lice and the warriors abruptly grasped their helmets at the unexpected noise. The duration of the noise was very short, but the moment it continued, it was so loud and dissonant that it made their minds feel distant. One warrior even kneeled due to dizziness.
Seeing this, Lice immediately gave orders.
"Permission to use universal kits! Since we don't know what impact the noise had on our minds, inject yourselves with the antidote and psychic defense immediately!"
Upon hearing the command, the warriors quickly opened their medical kits and took out syringes from them. Lice, like his subordinates, retrieved a syringe and injected it into his thigh.
"What was that just now?"
"…I don't know. Vice-Commander Isabel. Confirm the abnormal signs of the warriors."
"Yes, Warrior Chief."
They waited in that spot for about five minutes. Some warriors had blood coming out of their eyes and ears, but other than that, there were no specific injuries.
"We don't know when the enemy might appear. Be meticulous and check even the small things so that nothing is overlooked."
"Understood!"
The warriors, now more tense than before, assumed a cautious posture and proceeded through the forest with careful movements.
About five minutes into their renewed journey, Lice suddenly felt something odd.
"…It's too quiet."
Until the noise incident occurred, occasional sounds of Wood Devils attacking or birds chirping were heard. But now, there was nothing at all. It was as if the entire forest had died.
The only sounds were the footsteps and breaths of the warrior group present here.
Lice wasn't the only one having such thoughts. The discomfort mixed with the breath sounds of the other warriors.
As an unknown anxiety began to creep over the warrior group, suddenly, one warrior started shooting with the purple spray gun he was holding.
Since their vision was shared through Soul Link, Lice could know what the subordinate was shooting at. The target was a tree about several dozen meters away from them.
And there was nothing on the tree.
"T..the e..eyes..the.eyes…hiiik!"
"What eyes? What eyes are you talking about?"
"The pink one, it's still… Hiik?!"
Despite Lice's repeated questions, the warrior only kept uttering the words 'eyes' and 'pink.'
Unable to get more information, Lice reluctantly took a sedative from his kit and administered it forcefully.
The sedative developed by the cult was highly effective in calming soldiers who fell into panic states during war. The vision of a warrior who received the sedative became blurry, and the trembling of the body stopped. However, despite the strong sedative effect, shadows still lingered on his face.
"Feeling calmer now?"
"…Yes."
"What did you see a moment ago?"
The warrior shivered again in response to his question, but this time, he didn't fall completely into a panic state. Despite trembling with fear, he tried hard to convey information.
"I-I know it's hard to believe, but there was a monster that looked like a balloon."
"A balloon?"
"At first, I thought I saw it wrong, but suddenly, numerous eyes grew on its body, and it stared at me."
A monster resembling a balloon. Lice recalled what he had seen before the deafening noise erupted.
"No way."
"I'll check the vision! The rest of you, don't let your guard down… Huh?"
While checking the vision of the warriors once again through Soul Link, Lice realized that one of them was missing.
There were supposed to be 10 people present, including him, but currently, only 8 visions were confirmed.
"Koshei? Where's Koshei?"
"Uh, behind me… huh? He was behind me just a moment ago."
The warrior guarding the rear suddenly realized that his colleague, who should have been behind him, had disappeared.
Amidst the confusion caused by the subordinate's strange mental state, it became apparent that one person was missing.
"Isabel, contact the battleship."
"Yes?"
"Our squad is under attack."
"U..understood!"
Lice's words were accurate.
Somewhere in the forest, unidentified beasts lurked. Their assault had already begun.
-x-X-x-
"The Cosmic Bolt charging is 25% complete!"
Situation room of the 'Judicator of Damocles 08.'- The imperial battleship
The main gun, 'Cosmic Bolt,' on the Imperial battleship was in the midst of preparations for firing. In the center of the situation room, various information such as the charging status of the Cosmic Bolt and the targets to be hit were visualized and floating.
The cultists in the situation room used psychic powers to output or modify the information they needed for their missions as images. Unlike humans, cultists were proficient in the use of psychic powers, enabling them to swiftly handle tasks that were difficult to solve with computers alone.
"Stand by after charging is complete."
"Understood."
The captain clenched his fist while observing the reinforced glass in front of the situation room. Beyond the glass was the blue planet, Saigel-08.
The sacred place designated by the Cult Council was unbelievably beautiful, considering the contamination it supposedly suffered. Perhaps it was not too late.
'But we cannot ignore it.'
Contamination, as regulated by the Cult Council, comes in various forms: nests of the Outspacers, secret gatherings of Vortex One followers, and more. Though each has a different form, they pose lethal threats to the security of the Cult Empire.
'That's why we came here.'
The Cosmic Bolt, the absolute weapon embedded in the Imperial battleship, is highly effective in such purification operations. This weapon, utilizing dark matter and the heart of the Black Gallagon as an energy source, can incinerate the entire surface of a planet in a short period.
The atmosphere inside the planet disappears, and all water, including the oceans, evaporates. In short, any planet, no matter how lush, becomes an uninhabitable wasteland in an instant if struck by the Cosmic Bolt.
'There's about four hours left until the launch.'
Currently, the battleship is deploying ground forces to Saigel-08. The mission is to capture the Wolf natives on the captain's orders.
"Captain, a communication from the battleship fleet. No traces of Megacorp or Star Union in the vicinity."
"We destroyed the Megacorp satellite, but we can't be sure. Maintain maximum vigilance until the purification mission is completed."
Upon the subordinate's report, the captain began issuing instructions again, delaying thoughts about the ground forces for a moment.
"Commander Race! Telepathy is not working!"
"Nonsense!"
Race urgently pressed the button on his helmet to activate the telepathy function. However, no matter how long he waited, there was no connection. Not only with the battleship but also with other ground forces on the same continent.
'Damn!'
He tried several times, but all attempts failed.
Psychic power technology, including telepathy, may seem all-powerful, but it is not. There are ways to neutralize various psychic power technologies, including telepathy. For example, jamming devices commonly used by cult warships.
Large warships like the Imperial battleship are equipped with devices that interfere with the enemy's telepathy or psychic power usage. Using Black Silver, a material resistant to superhuman abilities, these devices can temporarily neutralize the cult's psychic powers.
'Jamming? No, if that were the case, chaos would have erupted outside the planet by now. The battleship has equipment to detect and counteract jamming devices. If it's not jamming equipment, then there's only one possibility.'
"There's a psychic organism among the enemies!"
Powerful psychic beings like Black Gallagons or Red Gallagons, proficient in psychic abilities, can disrupt psychic powers even more effectively than jamming devices.
"But there shouldn't be psychic organisms on this continent…"
Of course, looking at the entire planet, there are predators known as 'Lama Volteksion,' which humans call Sea Demons.
However, this is the middle of the continent. It's unlikely that deep-sea monsters would come up this far.
"Commander, what should we do?"
"Hama, is Memory Sight possible?"
"I'll try. Just wait… Huh? Oh, why isn't it working?"
'Memory Sight' is a support-type psychic power that can read the past of a location. Hama, a cult member with goat horns among the warriors, was a specialist in Memory Sight, but even she was of no help now.
'Not just telepathy…'
Races ordered his subordinates to conduct a few experiments. It was to confirm whether the use of psychic power techniques was entirely impossible for all of them.
Unfortunately or fortunately, only support-type techniques like telepathy and Memory Sight were unusable.
Their weapons and reinforced suits still worked well, unlike when they were jammed.
However, fighting against mysterious enemies immune to specific psychic power techniques posed many problems. Information about the enemies was scarce, and they had a limited time.
In a few hours, the planet would turn into a sea of flames, and they needed to leave before that.
In the end, Races chose to abandon the mission.
"It's dangerous to move forward without knowing the identity of the enemy. Everyone, retreat to the transport ship."
He knows why the captain ordered them to capture Wolff. If a large number of casualties occurred during the mission, it would go against the captain's intentions.
"Isabel, cover the rear. Jenner, support Gary, and Hamine, get the Purple Spray gun."
Eight members of the warrior squad moved swiftly at Races' command. There was no wasted movement, typical of those accustomed to combat.
However, they also knew.
One member missing, and another mentally unstable. Two casualties even before encountering the enemy.
Despite their agile movements, a sense of unease lingered in their eyes.
Having exchanged positions with the formation, the warrior squad began to retreat toward the transport ship.
The distance to the transport ship would take about an hour to cover at a slow pace. If they ran halfway, they could reach it in about 30 minutes.
Races and the warrior squad moved at a rapid pace while remaining vigilant of their surroundings.
An hour passed.
Reality betrayed Races' expectations.
"What, what is this?!"
"W…what happened?"
The cult warriors were trained to maintain composure at all times. Since psychic powers were greatly influenced by mental states, maintaining stable mental conditions was crucial.
However, the warriors were half-heartedly shouting and panicking.
But Races couldn't blame them. He wanted to scream too but barely held back.
In front of them was a burnt tree.
An hour ago, it was the tree Gary shot with the Purple Spray gun.
They had moved for an hour toward the transport ship, only to return to the initial escape location.
"Isabel, is there a possibility of a malfunction in the direction detection system?"
"As you may know, it's impossible. The chance of simultaneous failure of all systems here is very low."
"Damn it."
Races bit his lip to calm himself down. Was it the stench of blood and the sharp pain filling his mouth that helped him? He struggled to understand the situation somehow.
'Let's think calmly.'
The warrior squad is experts in pursuit. Isabel's level is exceptionally high. Even if a machine is malfunctioning, the probability of her getting lost is very slim.
"So, is there a possibility that we are experiencing hallucinations?"
"I believe the likelihood is low. There is no creature on this continent capable of inducing hallucinations simultaneously in nine cult members."
Isabel denied it, but Races had a different opinion. He thought it was impossible to deceive nine experienced warriors unless it was a hallucination.
As he looked at the faces of the warriors, he felt his hair stand on end.
Behind the warrior facing him,
There were two pumpkin-colored lanterns.
"Hamine!"
"Yes?"
The moment she turned her head, the beak of an eagle with pumpkin-colored eyes bit her neck. The creature that instantly broke her neck carried Hamine and leaped into the opposite thicket.
"Commence firing!"
"Damn! What is that?!"
"Kill it!"
The warriors, belatedly aiming their weapons at the creature, unleashed a barrage. Purple spray gun flames and psychic rifle projectiles rained down on the thicket.
The merciless assault of the warriors ceased as soon as Races raised his hand. At his gesture, Isabel approached the chaotic thicket.
Contrary to expectations, there were no enemy bodies or even bloodstains.
The creature had disappeared without a trace, without any sign of injury.
Seeing Isabel's dark expression, Races gritted his teeth. Two casualties had already occurred due to an ambush by an unknown creature.
"No. Let's consider encountering it as a comfort."
He had seen the opponent's appearance a while ago. It was a very brief moment, but Races remembered the creature's appearance accurately.
The creature resembled a bird of prey with golden fur on its head. It was about 3 to 4 meters in size, with pumpkin-colored eyes.
"It has well-developed front legs and is very agile compared to its size. Its beak is sharp enough to tear through reinforced suits."
"Hmm. It's an unfamiliar creature. Its specs seem similar to 'Red Mist,' but…"
"Yes. It might possess hallucination abilities like 'Red Mist.' If we pay attention to that aspect, we should be fine."
"Agreed. I fought with 'Red Mist' before with Jenner."
"Isabel, Warrior of the Subjugation Squad, is correct."
In this situation, Races deliberately laid out information he knew as if listing them. Isabel also understood the chief's intention and played along.
Fear comes from the unknown. Just knowing what kind of enemy they are facing can provide significant comfort to allies.
According to Races' judgment, the expressions of the warriors improved significantly compared to a while ago. Where fear had retreated, the spirit had taken its place.
"If we capture that creature, the hallucination plaguing us should be lifted. Let's track it down."
"Yes!"
Races, accompanied by energized warriors, followed the traces left by the monster with an eagle head.
Surprisingly, for a large predator, the creature left almost no traces. There were no footprints, and tracking using psychic power techniques like Memory Sight was impossible.
Fortunately, among the warriors, there was Isabel, a master tracker. Through the direction of fallen weeds and the shallow scent left by the creature, she determined where it had gone.
The warriors moved along with Isabel's guidance. Everyone was tense, and when she suddenly raised her hand, they all held their breath and lowered their waists.
In her sight shared through Soul Link, the creature appeared. The creature lay on a large tree branch. Hamine's body was not visible, and it was unclear where she had put it.
'That damn thing!'
Races felt a surge of anger inside him at the nonchalant attitude of killing one cult member. Of course, he wasn't an infant to express his anger openly.
Instead, he carefully pulled a compound bow from his back.
Resembling a compound bow, the bow was a special device that shot arrows made of psychic power. It didn't require separate arrows but consumed the user's psychic power. Unlike a sniper rifle, it made almost no sound, making it highly efficient for surprise attacks or sniping.
He quietly pulled the bowstring. Just as he was about to release his fingers, the creature turned its head, meeting his gaze.
The look that chased so quickly was unexpected. Races, who judged that the creature was confused, inwardly called for a triumph.
"Monster! Die!"
Fingers dropped, and an invisible arrow was fired. Races believed that the arrow made of psychic power would pierce the creature's eyes without a doubt.
However, once again, reality disappointed his expectations.
The invisible arrow couldn't reach the creature and disintegrated midway. It was because an invisible shield, like the arrow, enveloped the creature's body.
"What is this?!"
The creature didn't react even though it was attacked. It just stared at Races and his group.
From the creature's eyes, he read some emotion. It wasn't surprise or a sense of danger.
Instead, it was a feeling of pity, compassion, or sympathy, as if saying, 'Now you're in big trouble.'
"Why in the world?"
In a series of incomprehensible events, something happened that defied his understanding.
"Chief, in front of… there…"
Through Isabel's vision, he could see what she was seeing.
Under the tree where the eagle-headed monster lay.
A balloon appeared in a place where there was none just moments ago.
It was the pink balloon Races had seen before the noise incident. Garyshi, supported by Jenner, screamed in horror when he saw the balloon.
"It's, it's that! He's back!"
Was that a signal?
Uninterpretable waves emanated from the balloon that was there a moment ago.
｢■■■■■ ■■■■? ■■ ■■!｣
Along with the ominous waves like a stormy sea, the balloon, or whatever it was, began to squirm and change.
The warriors' heads, focused below, gradually lifted upward. At the same time, their eyes widened to the point of tearing.
As much as the position where the eagle-headed monster lay, what had become as huge as that began to observe them with countless eyes.
A pink balloon? It was absurd. What was in front of Races wasn't a creature that could be described with such a cute word.
He knew a similar being to that creature. He hadn't encountered it directly, only seen it in the creature data provided during combat simulations—the legendary monster.
Originally, the creature, similar to that being, was called "Rama Volteksion" in the cult's language, meaning the devil of the sea. It was also known as the sea demon in Megacorp and StarUnion, revered and feared.
The presence, which should never be seen here, disguised itself in the form of a balloon in this deep forest.
Only now did Races realize everything, and the only words he could utter were:
"It's using camouflage!"
｢■■ ■■■ ■■!｣
The moment he shouted, the giant tentacles wielded by the sea devil covered the Subjugation Squad.
-x-X-x-
As soon as I regained consciousness, I felt the fluids surrounding my body. It was a sensation similar to amniotic fluid, both watery and warm. I tried to move my arms, but it seemed like I was paralyzed; not a muscle twitched. My entire body felt dull, as if I had been heavily medicated, perhaps like taking a massive dose of painkillers.
'It seems the transformation isn't complete yet'
I quickly assessed and understood the situation. Although I couldn't see due to the inability to move my eyelids, my body was still in a state of gradual transformation within the pod, undergoing various chemical processes.
'About an hour or two left, roughly,'
I estimated. Normally, I would take this time to rest, but something felt off. There was a sense of urgency, as if I had witnessed something important before my memories became hazy.
'It was definitely something important….'
I tried to recall, but my efforts were in vain. Frustration built up as the memory refused to resurface.
'Let it go,'
I decided to cut off my attempts forcibly.
'Let's see what the others are up to.'
To alleviate the frustration accumulating in my mind, I directed my attention to those on the surface. Focusing my auxiliary sensors to detect events outside the pod, I realized that my ability to sense activities on the surface was limited during the evolutionary process.
And on the surface, there was no one. All I could sense was the sturdy exoskeleton of the Swamp King.
"Where did everyone go?"
I questioned. The most vulnerable moments for me were during evolution and when utilizing the transcendence system. So, before entering the second stage of transcendence, I had asked the others to watch over me.
Strange as it may sound to say this with my own mouth, my relationship with them wasn't bad. Number 26, with whom I had spent the longest time, was reliable, and Adhai admired me. I, too, tried to avoid things they disliked as much as possible. If they had specific preferences, I wanted to fulfill them to the best of my ability.
The Mother of the Sky was a bit ambiguous, but as she had her goals, the likelihood of betrayal was low. If she intended to betray me, she would have done so as soon as I entered the pod. The possibility of them leaving without any reason was unlikely. In this case, there was only one explanation.
'There must be some danger around.'
It was evident that they had left to eliminate threats that could harm me. As I pondered what could pose a danger to me in this location, the first thought that came to mind was the Hond Gigrant couples.
Although their habitat was quite distant from here, ever since they devoured the pirates last time, they had been venturing into the forest. Perhaps they developed a taste for human and cultist flesh, considering it a delicacy.
'They intentionally made a nest in a safe place, so it's probably not them.'
Other potential threats, like the rescue team from the Abyssal Research Base, were also unlikely. My nest was far from the base, making it improbable for them to reach me.
'Or could it be Muriel's colleagues?'
I had heard rumors when interrogating Muriel that there were players supporting her. She had sent out rescue requests that were ignored before her demise.
'I've erased traces as much as possible.'
The fact that they were cautious about me could be easily deduced from the detailed conversation Muriel had shared. Still, just to be sure, I tidied up the traces I had left as much as possible before leaving the campsite.
Artificial structures and weapons were either 'incinerated' or buried underground before leaving the camp.
There might be traces of the cruiser that was hit and exploded, but with that alone, finding my nest would be nearly impossible.
'My nest is underground.'
On the off chance that players discovered my nest using technology I wasn't aware of, even that was hard to comprehend.
'If they really had found the nest, I would have been dead already.'
If there were two players of Muriel's caliber or higher, they could easily handle Number 26, Adhai, and the Mother of the Sky. It had been more than five hours since I entered the pod, so there was time even after the situation concluded.
Therefore, the fact that I was still alive meant that the players didn't directly come. It had to be an adversary at a level where they could engage with the kids.
'In the end, back to square one.'
It seemed that I would have to check things out as soon as the transformation was complete.
The Mother of the Sky is a ranker.
She might not have an outgoing personality, but she had experience running a large clan and leading raids for boss-level creature hunts.
She led the subjugation of a pseudo-boss creature, Sea Demon, participated in the Vortex Zone expedition, and more.
Despite boasting about having experienced all sorts of battles, what she was witnessing now was very surreal.
***
"Aaah!"
"Everyone, run!"
A Sea Demon, grown over 10 meters, was indiscriminately massacring cult warriors in the middle of the forest. Every swing of its thicker-than-logs tentacle erased the upper halves of cult warriors, and whenever eye-shaped patterns on its body glowed, cultists bled profusely from their eyes and ears.
Their leader died on the spot when encountering the Sea Demon, struck by its tentacle. Twisted like a caught butterfly on a net, she perished.
"Deploy shields! Deploy shields!"
A female cult member shouted, managing to evade the tentacle. As she, the second-highest warrior after the leader, urgently deployed the shield, others followed suit.
However, shields were meaningless against a Sea Demon adept at manipulating psychic power as much as Gallagon.
"W…We're going to d…diee?!"
One warrior, who boldly jumped out while covered by a shield, abruptly stopped mid-air. Then, his arms, legs, and waist began to move against his owner's will.
"Kuuaaah!"
Is this how it feels to watch someone pull off an ant's leg? The warrior, bound by the Sea Demon's 'restraint' with five layers stacked, soon saw not only his limbs but also his upper and lower body separate.
"Useless… uaaah!"
Meanwhile, another warrior hit by the Sea Demon's thick tentacle was sent flying and impaled on a tree. With his neck twisted in a strange direction, he blinked a few times before ceasing all movement.
To anyone, it was clearly a horrific scene of slaughter.
Yet, what made the Mother of the Sky seem surreal was the shockwaves emitted by Number 26 whenever it attacked the cultists.
｢Bad humans! Bad humans!｣
"Aaah!"
｢Who dares to hit the middle child!｣
"Heeek!"
With every scream, Number 26 repeated the phrase "bad humans," mercilessly slaughtering the cultists. This was because it couldn't distinguish between cultists and humans.
"Damn it! Block those tentacles!"
In response to the female cultist's command, two cultists with harpoon-like weapons stepped forward.
'Oh no!'
Seeing this, the Mother of the Sky quickly descended from the tree.
The net shot by the harpoon-like gun had a tightening effect the moment it hit the prey. It alone couldn't penetrate the Sea Demon's tough exterior, but the cult's net was made of black silver.
'If it's black silver, Number 26 might get hurt!'
If Number 26 suffered even a little, the currently dormant monster would surely not be pleased.
However, what she feared didn't happen.
The moment the net touched him, Number 26's body shrank suddenly, transforming into a small balloon-like shape. The reduced creature effortlessly avoided the net and grew back, swinging its tentacles again.
One cultist who shot the net barely dodged it, but another one was hit by the tentacle, and his upper body flew away.
The surviving cultist wore a relieved expression, but he wasn't out of the woods yet. Rocks and metal shards on the ground trembled before swiftly flying into his face.
He, too, ended up following the same path as his comrades, his face riddled with holes.
'That's ruthless.'
Despite its childlike tone, Number 26 fought exceptionally well, reminiscent of a Sea Demon. It actively applied its own techniques.
'I probably don't need to stay here any longer.'
The Mother of the Sky turned away from the scene of Number 26 decimating the cultists and left.
Her destination was where Adhai was fighting.
Currently, Adhai was massacring cultists from another team. As the only one among Amorph's colleagues capable of high-altitude flight, Adhai actively utilized his psychic powers to capture cultists and drop them to their deaths.
'There is a flying technique among the psychic power skills…'
Dodging Adhai's attacks, faster than bullets, was impossible. Colliding with his charge would likely lead to a one-way trip to the afterlife.
Moreover, all the cultists who entered this forest are currently not in their right minds, thanks to Number 26's 'Abyssal Terror.'
'It's more adaptable than the Sea Demon in the game.'
In the setting, the Abyssal Terror is a phenomenon that occurs as a powerful psychic power energy emitted by the Sea Demon spreads out. Therefore, as creatures approach it, their minds are adversely affected, leading to mental collapse.
However, Number 26 implemented the Abyssal Terror by spreading the psychic power like spider silk, thin and wide. Most enemies had relatively intact minds, but, in return, they lost the ability to use their communication devices and some psychic power skills.
Creating an environment where they couldn't communicate and dismantle each other. That was what Number 26 intended.
Of course, as it hadn't fully matured yet, the effect wasn't perfect.
Since it started fighting on its own, the Abyssal Terror effect it used seemed to sway unpredictably. Without luck, some individuals might break free from control.
Still, the tactic itself was effective enough that the Mother of the Sky had to acknowledge it.
'…I wonder if Amorph needs a new friend.'
If Number 26 becomes an adult, it would turn into a tremendous monster.
'In a way, it might be fortunate.'
Whether to find solace in the thought that the formidable monster is an ally or to worry is a dilemma. While contemplating this, she heard a sound from above her head.
It was a scream.
The Mother of the Sky immediately stopped running. A few seconds later, a cult warrior pierced through the branches and fell to the ground, completely shattered.
A graceful green dragon landed on unrecognizable flesh fragments. With a slender body over 2 meters long, gigantic wings extending beyond its torso, four horns, and a chubby tail, the impressive dragon was Adhai.
Adhai, who had eliminated one cultist, was holding another cultist with her forelimb. Whether it was a result of using acceleration or not, the captured cultist, despite wearing reinforced armor, had been crushed in half.
｢Here｣ ｢Clean,｣ ｢Done｣
｢Fast｣
｢Me｣ ｢Impressive｣
｢Indeed. Well done.>
One team had already been cleared, and the other team would be cleaned up soon. The cult warriors she sensed were in three teams, and now only one team remained.
｢Enemy｣ ｢Remaining｣ ｢Hunt｣ ｢Start.｣
｢Wait a moment… Like this.｣
Although the remaining team intended to clean up together, Adhai flew away first. She shook her head, seemingly resigned, and chased after Adhai.
"Heuk, heuk, heuk…"
Cult warrior Olai caught his breath behind a tree, hidden from view.
"Darn it! The war chief, Edrin, and even Isabel… all of them are gone."
Except for him, the warrior squad that came to this planet had been completely wiped out. The fact that he could know this even without communication was thanks to the tools he possessed.
Unlike other cultists, Olai, a so-called Innovative Cultist, freely used primitive race equipment without hesitation. Before the mission began, he distributed small chips to other squad members.
They were military tracking chips mainly used by Megacorp. It might be challenging to use for long-distance missions, but for activities around a specific area on one continent, it could detect without any problem.
In addition, the reinforced armor he was wearing was not the standard cultist armor. It was a specially customized reinforced suit acquired from the Garamelda family of Megacorp. This particular suit had a relatively lower level of bodily protection but had a powerful stealth effect, making it perfect for infiltration missions.
Moreover, Olai had mastered the psychic power technique to erase the body's presence, making him literally like a ghost.
"Darn it! Even though we could share such good things, why don't they listen…!"
He was usually scorned for liking the monkeys' toys, but it was thanks to the equipment made by those monkeys that he could survive.
"If I can just reach the transport ship, I can survive."
So far, he had seen three monsters, but he had no idea how many more dangerous ones might be out there. They were likely variations caused by contamination. The purification process needed to be expedited as much as possible.
After confirming there were no monsters nearby, Olai moved again.
"Once I pass this place!"
Beyond that thicket was the transport ship. While moving as quietly as possible, he suddenly crouched down. A black shadow flickered on the ground and disappeared.
His comrade Edrin proved what that meant.
"Why is a Gallagon here!"
Thinking of a colleague who had been caught by the green Gallagon, taken up several kilometers, and then dropped, Olai moved cautiously.
And finally, when he passed through the thicket, the transport ship he had hoped for was in front of him.
However, the condition of the transport ship was very different from what he expected.
"Kreureureureu."
"Krik."
Two large marine creatures with giant horns on their heads were smashing the transport ship, chewing up the pilot inside.
In the cult's language, they were called 'Manuk Arma,' but in Megacorp, they were referred to as Hond gigrants, predators that migrated from the volcanic zone to the inside of this forest.
"Kreuk, Kung? Kungkung."
"Kreureureureu."
One of the Manuk Arma sniffed something, and its nose pointed directly at Olai's position.
His sense of smell was extremely sensitive. It wouldn't miss the scent of his sweat, soaked thoroughly.
Olai silently stepped back. After entering the bushes, he ran away at full speed. Although the roars from behind were heard, he ignored them and ran as if possessed.
"Je-e-enza-a-ang!"
Unfortunately, his escape didn't last long. The green Gallagon flying overhead didn't miss him and swooped down.
Olai, who had used every means to survive, couldn't do anything about his luck. Colliding with a creature over 2 meters in size flying at supersonic speed, he turned into a bug squashed in the palm of a hand.
｢Hide and Seek｣ ｢End｣
Watching the fragments of what was just an enemy, she nodded satisfactorily.
Recently, she felt that her relationship with the grown-ups had become less awkward than before. Since grown-ups do many things with small and ugly friends, she hadn't done much with the grown-ups.
So, she thought.
Make a fantastic ball and get praise from the grown-ups.
Today alone, she hunted more than ten prey. With this level of skill, the grown-ups would undoubtedly pay attention to her.
Licking the blood on her body, she tried to go back. Unless a new enemy attacked her, that would have been the case.
"Kraaaaa!"
"Pain!"
Suddenly colliding with the monster that appeared, she tumbled on the muddy ground. Thanks to her pre-emptive reaction before the collision, she avoided fatal injuries, but one of her wings was torn apart.
｢You｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Pain｣ ｢Endure｣ ｢Kill.｣
Nevertheless, Adhai did not lose its composure and stood upright on all four legs, glaring at the creature. The small adult and the ugly friend were still far behind.
It was because she had rushed too far ahead due to the urgent wind in her heart.
So, she had to endure until they arrived.
"Krrrrrr!"
｢Two?｣
The despairing fact was that there was not just one creature. The one that had impaled her with its horn charged at her. Thanks to her torn wing, she barely managed to evade that attack.
Unfortunately, avoiding the subsequent second attack and the creature's tail was impossible. Hit by the thick tail, she flew backward and collided with a tree.
｢Pain!｣
The impact caused the tentacles attached to her head to ooze blood. She tried to get up somehow, but her four legs trembled weakly, refusing to cooperate.
"Krrrrrr!"
Suddenly, the approaching creature opened its mouth wide. Sharp teeth protruded. In a moment, those teeth would tear apart her fragile body.
｢Death｣ ｢Dislike!｣
"Kraaaaah!"
It was too early to give up.
With all her strength, she unleashed the purple lightning. The violet bolt pierced the creature's eye, and blood splattered.
Even though the creature would likely feel significant pain after being struck by lightning, it did not retreat. Instead, despite getting hit by the lightning, it tried to bite her with its mouth.
｢Big adult｣ ｢Sorry.｣
In her final moments, she did her best, but it seemed like it was the end. Sensing death, she closed her eyes.
However, vibrations were felt from somewhere. It didn't feel like teeth grinding into her.
At first, the vibrations were faint. Gradually growing stronger, until at some point, it felt like someone was grabbing and shaking her body vigorously.
"What is this?"
"Krek?"
"Krrrrrr?"
The earthquake was not something only she felt. The two creatures also showed signs of confusion due to the sudden tremors.
And then…
The ground exploded, and the creature that was about to bite her was catapulted into the air above the trees.
｢This is insane!｣
A roaring, gigantic monster shook the ground.
It was the big adult she had been waiting for.
-x-X-x-
'I thought it might be the case.'
When I was inside the cave, I worried about what could be happening outside. I wondered if there was a threat from the Hond Gigrants or players. So, after completing my evolution, instead of going upward, I dug straight into the ground and moved. It was because moving on the surface could be dangerous if players were really coming.
As I moved, I realized that the things I feared didn't happen. There were no traces of children among the scent of blood detected by the auxiliary device.
Nevertheless, just to be sure, I continued following the scent without slowing down.
"Thanks to that, I'm not late."
While moving, I sensed Adhai's mental waves. His thoughts were mixed with pain. If I had relaxed and slowed down my pace, I might have missed Adhai's mental waves.
I immediately changed direction towards Adhai. Thanks to that, I was able to rescue her at the last moment.
"Krurururur…."
"Kr, krurur…."
The Hond Gigrants that saw me growled. The sound clearly contained hostility, but their bodies did not reflect that.
Shaking legs and trembling eyes. One of the most powerful predators on this continent seemed to fear me.
'That's to be expected.'
I couldn't check the hastily arrived messages and the changed text boxes. However, I couldn't ignore the changes in my own body.
Although I completed the Transcendence Stage 2, my body length did not undergo as radical growth as during evolution. It grew a bit more, from 27m to around 28m, but not doubling like before.
However, there were significant changes in my physique.
Firstly, my head became overall larger compared to before. It wasn't just the exoskeleton that grew; horns, jaws, and other parts increased, making the head occupy a higher proportion of the body. Especially the jaw transformed into a more formidable shape, reminiscent of when I am in the state of the Symbol of Hunt.
'I can use it much more actively in battles.'
With the enlarged jaw, I could chew on tougher enemies, and even against smaller foes, a simple strike with my head could deliver a significant blow.
And the horns. The number of horns increased from 2 to 6. The four new horns, unlike the existing ones, lined up from the center of the head to the rear exoskeleton.
'It's a reinforcement of the horns.'
It was a welcome addition for me, as I often used tactics of piercing with horns when fighting powerful or large enemies.
'With the increased size, they will be much more lethal.'
As the head became larger and heavier, the neck also naturally changed. It became thicker and longer, and the tendrils that grew like a mane of a lion were wrapped around my neck.
The next area that underwent significant changes was my arms.
The small arms near the chest became much longer, and thin exoskeletons grew. The weakness in my body, which was the combat arms adorned with a symbol of hunting, was compensated with this evolution.
The combat arms, my frequently used weapons, became thicker and longer, similar to the head's exoskeleton. It grew by about 2m, with the same thick outer covering as the head. It significantly reduced the anxiety about the arms being cut off.
These changes, along with my previous abilities, made me much more formidable in battles. The thought of facing any challenges with this evolved form filled me with confidence.
'It might actually be good to use as a weapon.'
I, who used the tough head exoskeleton as a kind of shield, could not only slash enemies with claws but also strike with my arms themselves. Thanks to these changes, all three pairs of combat arms could now function both as arms and simultaneously as legs, much like when I moved with six legs during my Hatchling stage.
The current posture I assumed was similar to the Hatchling stage, supporting my body with six combat arms and a tail. The difference was that during the Hatchling stage, I used to move with the tail raised like a scorpion, and now I dragged the massive lower body and tail on the ground. Of course, if needed, I could still move by raising only the upper body and dragging the lower body and tail on the ground.
'Finally, the tail.'
The pincers that should have been at the bottom pair of arms moved to the tail. The tail end, where the thorn-firing mechanism was originally located, was now split into two branches. Large pincers, exceeding the height of an adult male, were taking the place.
Until now, the tail didn't play a significant role when facing enemies immune to paralysis or those with thick skin. It was used selectively when entwining and suppressing enemies or striking them with the tail.
But now, the tail had acquired pincers, making it more versatile.
However, the thorn-firing mechanism hadn't disappeared. When the pincers opened, numerous thorns were densely embedded inside. These thorns could be fired at distant enemies or, when the pincers grabbed an enemy, released in a concentrated manner.
'An interesting change.'
Overall, weaknesses were offset, and my strengths were reinforced to match my fighting style. I wanted to check the text boxes and new messages immediately, but now was not the time.
There was an enemy in front of me.
"Grooo."
A heavy roar emanated from my throat, matching the changed body. Even to me, it was imposing; what would it be like for the enemy?
Two Hond Gigrants trembled.
"Kr, krur, krururur."
They seemed hesitant about whether to attack me or not, growling at each other.
"Krururur!"
"Kraaaa!"
And then, as if they had decided to attack me, they roared towards me.
A large aquatic creature, 20 meters in length and 9 meters in height to the pelvis, rushed towards me. The creature pounded the ground as it ran, keeping its head and back straight.
The posture, reminiscent of a bull during a charge, was the basic combat stance of the Hond Gigrants. Rushing and smashing the opponent with the two sturdy horns on its head.
What's interesting is that I often used a similar tactic against them. I confronted them in the same way. Six log-like arms were firmly planted in the ground, and the tail swept across the ground, creating a trench.
As the two beasts charged at me, the earth trembled. At the moment they were about to collide with my head, I quickly lowered my body.
"Krek?"
The creature's horns grazed my rear head exoskeleton and back, sparking sharp flames. I thought they would collide directly, but the creature seemed confused. Its sturdy hind legs collided with my body, and its posture collapsed.
"Kraaaa!"
Still, in a predator-like manner, the creature tried to bite my back in that posture.
To such a creature, my true attack was unleashed. It was my newly acquired pincer-tail.
My tail twists upward towards my upper back. The pincer at the end of my tail grabs the neck of the creature attempting to attack my back.
"!"
The creature, unable to make a sound with its groin grabbed, hurriedly tried to pull its head out but was too late.
The size of my pincers is slightly smaller than the Swamp King's, both in terms of defense and gripping strength, almost identical.
'He can't withstand pincers that can cut through battleship armor like butter.'
I exerted strength in the muscles at the end of my tail. The Hornd Gigantra's neck snapped like a broken branch. The creature collapsed with its tongue hanging out, instantly dead.
"Kr, kruaaaaa!"
Witnessing this, the remaining Hornd Gigantra let out a roar resembling a scream. Its skin turned red, and its muscles swelled.
Even though it goes into a frenzy, it won't defeat me, who has reached Transcendence Stage 2. However, there's an unconscious Adhai in this place.
'I have to kill it before the frenzy is complete.'
This moment, when it briefly paused its movement due to the frenzy, was an opportunity. I threw the dead Hornd Gigantra's body away and rushed towards the remaining one.
Unlike before, this time, while running, I exerted force to my tail, lifting the upper body. In that state, I pounced on the creature.
"Kruaaaa!"
During the frenzy, the creature managed to dodge my body press by moving backward. In that position, it attempted to bite into my rear head exoskeleton.
'Where!'
I exerted strength to the combat arm that touched the ground, bouncing my body to the side. The creature's large jaw made a threatening sound as it closed in the air.
From there, I grabbed the creature's head with my combat arm. Though it attempted to open its mouth again, my arms prevented it from doing so.
Taking advantage of a momentary exchange, the creature, now finishing its frenzy, swung its tail forcefully.
The creature's tail, in a state of frenzy, was like a well-crafted sword, capable of cutting through even thick redwood.
However, despite knowing this fact, I didn't dodge the creature's tail. Instead, I opened my mouth wide and bit into the incoming tail.
"!"
The creature, which didn't suspect that its tail would be shattered by my teeth and jaw, was taken aback. Both my teeth and jaw were intact.
'It's too early to be surprised.'
It's too early to be surprised. I began to swallow the creature's tail in its bitten state, inside my throat.
With originally wide-open jaws, I could fit prey larger than my head. Now, the jaws themselves were reinforced, and the throat had changed to easily swallow even larger prey.
I swallowed the creature's tail like a snake without chewing. The creature, realizing that it was entering my stomach while still alive, glowed, but it was futile.
The creature tried to pierce me with its horns, but the horns, without gaining enough acceleration, were nothing more than slightly hardened bludgeons. It's insufficient to break through the armor and exoskeleton covering my body.
My jaw and throat worked without a break. First, it was the tail, then the creature's pelvis and hind legs. The sounds of bones breaking and muscles tearing echoed, but the creature couldn't scream. My arms were holding its mouth shut.
In the end, the creature, with its lower body completely twisted, vomited its internal organs from its mouth and died. Though it knew the creature had died, I didn't stop swallowing.
When Number 26 and the Mother of the Sky appeared from behind the bushes, I could already swallow all of the creature's horns.
｢Big one! You're awake!｣
[ZZZ (Yeah.)]
｢Hey? Why is the little one still asleep?｣
Number 26 expressed doubt as it looked at the unconscious Adhai. Mother of the Sky, who was beside it, stared blankly at me, then looked surprised when she saw Adhai's condition.
｢Wait a moment!｣
Passing by Number 26, I approached Mother of the Sky and grabbed her with my combat arms. She avoided my arms, but the corrosion tendrils protruding from my back were unavoidable.
The tendrils grabbed the four legs and neck of the griffin.
"Anything else to say?"
The voices of survivors captured at the research base flowed out of my mouth. Thanks to the loosening of the suppression in the mimicry organ, I could now mimic human voices accurately.
｢St…stop! Th…this is…｣
Even though her throat was sleepy, Mother of the Sky tried to make excuses. Her actions felt more disappointing.
I had asked her about them before going to sleep. I didn't completely trust her, but I didn't see any reason for her to betray me.
Moreover, she seemed to get along well with Adhai. I thought she was suitable for assisting the still inexperienced Adhai.
But I was wrong.
If I had been even a little late, Adhai would have died.
She is the only gateway to Gellagon's tomb. If he dies, I will suffer tremendous losses.
'…And.'
Actually, it wasn't solely for that reason, but there was no need to mention it.
Did she feel that I was going to kill her? Mother of the Sky tightly closed her eyes.
I paid no attention and opened my mouth wide to swallow her.
｢Big one｣ ｢Wait｣ ｢Please.｣
Just as my jaws were about to close, Adhai's thoughts reached me.
｢Big one｣ ｢Friend｣ ｢No mistake｣ ｢Nothing wrong｣
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZ (That's not true. She was supposed to protect you, but she failed.)]
｢Denial｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Friend｣ ｢Words｣ ｢Ignore｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Mistake｣
Despite bleeding profusely, Adhai did not stop the telepathy.
'A mistake?'
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZ (A mistake?)]
｢Me｣ ｢Ball｣ ｢Many｣ ｢Stand｣ ｢Big one｣ ｢Attention｣ ｢Need｣ ｢Hunt｣ ｢Many｣ ｢Success｣ ｢Big one｣ ｢Joy｣ ｢Friend｣ ｢Be careful｣ ｢Advice｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Ignore｣
I pondered over the telepathy sent by Adhai.
'Wanted to stand out with the ball?'
To sum it up, it seemed that Adhai wanted to hunt several cultists in this forest to get my attention.
'Oh.'
Come to think of it, the time I spent with Adhai recently had significantly decreased compared to before. Other than when we were together before going to save Number 26, we were mostly apart.
Being together with Number 26, who excels even on her own, for a long time made me think that Adhai wouldn't need much attention.
'I was wrong.'
I didn't know exactly how he perceived me, but at least he considered me as a being similar to the adult Gellagon. Feeling lonely when such a being roamed outside, it was probably what he thought.
As I thought about it, the anger that had surged moments ago subsided.
I closed my wide-open jaw and looked at Mother of the Sky quietly. In her regained sanity, seeing her eyes gave me a rough idea of what had happened.
To gain my attention, Adhai forcefully moved, and she probably was busy chasing after Adhai. Griffins also had flying capabilities, but they weren't as fast as Adhai.
She did her best in her own way.
I released the griffin I had held. She, whose throat was cleared, coughed awkwardly.
Adhai, who had tried to explain the situation to me, was again in a state of unconsciousness. I approached her and implanted symbiotic spores.
'I need to take her to the nest immediately.'
I could sense her injuries through auxiliary organs. Not only were her wings torn, but her ribs were also broken. If time passed, the injuries might worsen, so I needed to treat them quickly.
Feeling the uneasy atmosphere, Number 26 lifted Adhai onto my back using its tentacles. After confirming that Adhai was securely on board, it climbed onto my head.
While carrying them towards the nest, Mother of the Sky followed behind.
'I should apologize to her.'
Just as I was about to say sorry to her, she called out to me first.
｢Wait a moment!｣
"…What is it?"
｢Now is not the time for this! There's something you need to check right away!｣
"What?"
｢The cultists we captured are affiliated with the Imperial Fleet! Muriel's comrades sent the Imperial Fleet here!｣
Hearing those words, the tendrils hanging from my neck felt tense.
Among the powerful weapons possessed by the cult, the Imperial Fleet ranked high. Not only was its own armament top-notch, but the most potent weapon of the Imperial Fleet was something else.
The cosmic bolt embedded in the ship. One of the planet-cleansing weapons possessed by the cult.
"…Guide me."
｢Follow me!｣
'Sorry, Adhai, but this is more urgent.'
If the Imperial Fleet bombards this planet, we will all die. Even if I dig deep into the ground, it's impossible to escape the range of the cosmic bolt.
'At least I need to know when it will be fired.'
I quickly followed Mother of the Sky.
-x-X-x-
"Captain, the Cosmic Bolt has been fully charged."
"…"
"Captain?"
Situation room of 'Damos 08, the Arbiter of the Cosmos.'
The crew had informed the captain that all preparations were complete, but the captain had not issued any orders. Because communication had been completely cut off from the warrior unit that had descended below.
"What's going on? Why aren't we getting any contact? Lice!"
Lice is the warrior he cherishes. The possibility of him ignoring the captain's orders for no reason is close to zero. Moreover, the other warrior units that went down with Lice also have not been reached.
That means something serious has happened down there.
"…What should I do?"
He can choose one of two options. One is to fire the Cosmic Bolt as it is, and the other is to send down a new search party.
However, the captain knows. Choosing the latter is practically impossible.
In the Cult Empire, contamination issues are not an exaggeration when it comes to the most dangerous elements to the empire's security. Delaying time to rescue subordinates while performing purification duties to prevent contamination? Especially when the captain personally sent subordinates to rescue slaves?
The ships here are not just Imperial Motherships. The ships belonging to the Mothership Battle Group dispatched to protect the Mothership will not remain idle.
If the captain delays, he will be dismissed, and another captain will lead the ship and fire the Cosmic Bolt.
"Captain? Please give the order."
"…Fire in 10 minutes."
"Understood."
In the end, the path the captain chose was to fire the Cosmic Bolt. It's a short time, but within it, he hopes for the safe return of his subordinates.
***
?What happened??
The Mother of the Sky asked me with a serious look in her eyes.
"The launch time has already passed."
?What? But why??
?I don't know.?
The Mother of the Sky deliberately left one Cult's corpse for me, knowing that I am well aware of my supernatural abilities. Receiving the corpse from her, I used my abilities to read the memories of the Cult who came here, Hamine.
There were many gaps in the middle of the memories, but I could confirm only important facts.
The planet was designated as a contaminated planet and received a purification order.
And five minutes ago, it was the time for the Cosmic Bolt to be launched, that's the two things.
Why it hasn't been launched yet, even Hamine and I don't know.
It's fortunate that the launch has been delayed, but we still can't relax.
?…Damn, it won't be long now.?
The Mother of the Sky frowned and clicked her tongue.
As she said, it's true. The purification order of the Cult is rarely canceled. Even if the captain of the Imperial Mothership loses interest and refuses the mission, a substitute will come forward to execute it.
In a short time, within an hour at most, the Cosmic Bolt will fall onto this continent.
'It's too late to escape.'
The Cosmic Bolt is a condensed energy projectile created by mixing dark matter and psychic power. Its instantaneous firepower is almost comparable to the sun, so when it falls onto a planet, the entire atmosphere and water evaporate.
Even if you hide underground, avoiding the Cosmic Bolt that affects up to tens of kilometers below the surface is almost impossible. I might survive somehow, but No. 26, Adhai, and the Mother of the Sky cannot escape death.
"Not even spaceships will help."
The research base brought by humans is far away from here. Even if my body has been strengthened, reaching there within a few minutes to an hour is impossible. Even if, by some incredible stroke of luck, the Cosmic Bolt is launched several hours later, it's still a problem. As soon as we leave the planet in a spacecraft, the fleet escorting the Imperial Mothership will intercept us.
?So, we stop them here.?
If avoiding it is impossible, we have no choice but to defend against the attacks of that Imperial Mothership. The first thing that comes to my mind is the ability derived from the 'Plunderer's Irregular Polyhedron.' The Irregular Polyhedron of the Plunderer allows the conversion of equipment into abilities.
I utilized that ability to devour the 'Brain Deity,' the cult's orbital bombardment weapon, gaining its destructive power.
'No, with just that ability, I can't defeat the Cosmic Bolt.'
The newly acquired ability falls slightly short in output compared to the Brain Deity. When I consumed the plasma launcher, my body's output surpassed the original, but it was the opposite with the Brain Deity. Even at its original state, the Brain Deity's output was far below that of the Cosmic Bolt. Taking it with decreased power won't make much difference; I can only buy a few minutes at best.
'Still, it's the most powerful weapon I have.'
So, I have to find a way to increase the output somehow.
'If it's the Symbol of Hunt, I could dramatically increase the output, but…'
Originally, the cooldown for the Symbol of Hunt was 24 hours. Even after breaking through Transcendence Level 2, the cooldown for the Symbol of Hunt remained the same.
'Damn! They treated it like something I used during my evolution!'
Seeing that the remaining time for the Symbol of Hunt is 18 hours, it's clear. Similarly, the cooldown for the Horizon of Nightmares still displayed 7 days. Though they are now separate cooldowns due to the removal of the restriction, both are unusable in the current situation.
'Frustrating'
My trump card, the Symbol of Hunt, is unusable.
'…New message. I hadn't checked it yet.'
Desperate for any solution, I checked the new message that had just arrived.
[Unlocking the Transcendence Level 2 reward: New trait 'Organic Evolution (Unique)' is provided!]
[Unlocking the new type 'Space Monster (Unique).']
[Unlocking the new system 'Trait Enhancement.']
'Huh?'
I thought the Transcendence Level 2 reward would end with unlocking a new type and removing constraints on the traits I possessed, but it was not the case.
"They added related traits to the reward because I need them for unlocking the benefits."
I read through the explanations in the text box with fascination.
[Organic Evolution: It's not the strong who survive but the ones who endure becoming strong. You can choose one of two special states for transformation.]
[King of Monsters: Grow and enhance your body into a gigantic creature. Requires a space with a radius of over 100m. It's a special state that consumes a tremendous amount of energy, and once the energy is depleted, the state is released. Maximum duration is 10 minutes, with a cooldown of 30 days.]
[Intelligent Weakling: Shrink your body into a small creature and preserve internal energy. The shrunken state doesn't exceed 5m. Some ability usage is restricted, but special benefits related to the state are provided. The user can release it at will. Maximum duration is 7 days, with a cooldown of 30 days.]
[Transformation cannot be canceled or changed during the process. Both special states share a cooldown.]
[Subsequent acquisition of traits will allow obtaining new special states.]
[Note: Evolution and cycle. What awaits at the end? Perhaps, as you, you may be able to know.]
'This…?'
Just a moment ago, I was cursing the game company, but now I couldn't bring myself to do so.
'Organic Evolution. This could be useful.'
I may not know exactly how to trigger the transformation, but it seems beneficial for overcoming this predicament.
Right, the special state known as the 'King of Monsters.' According to the description, it enhances and grows the body.
"With this, I should be able to increase the output."
In a situation where I can't use the Symbol of Hunt, having a similar card in hand was a welcome development. However, there was still an uncertainty.
'The key is how much this trait can enhance.'
Looking at the cooldown and restrictions, it reminded me of the Symbol of Hunt and Horizon of Nightmares. Given the limitations, one can easily infer that the effect of this trait is quite powerful.
'Still, gambling is not a good idea.'
A wrong move here could lead to our total annihilation. To stop the Cosmic Bolt, we need to pull in everything possible.
'Output, output, I need to find a way to increase it…'
The remaining time until launch is uncertain. Even using this trait will require time. I can't keep pondering indefinitely.
'…Let's think for just one more minute.'
I desperately racked my brain to find any possible solutions.
?Little one, are you in a lot of pain??
?Pain.??yes?
?Want to play with a toy??
?Okay.?
In my eyes, I saw the figures of Number 26 and Adhai. Number 26 had brought a loot bag and was taking items out one by one in front of Adhai.
It felt like the black light of the Cosmic Bolt could fall upon us at any moment. If hit by the firepower of the Cosmic Bolt, they would all burn without feeling a thing.
While watching them, one minute passed. No new ideas emerged.
'I have no choice but to go with this… Huh? Wait a moment.'
Seeing the bag Number 26 was holding, a crucial fact suddenly crossed my mind. The bag contained equipment and items I obtained by killing Muriel, including the Priestess's golden staff, the Blood Reaver, and her potions.
Among them was the potion she had used. I hurriedly approached 26.
?What's wrong??
[ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Can you lend me the bag for a moment?)]
?Does the big one need a toy too??
[ZZZ (Yes)]
After receiving the bag, I took out a small kit from inside. When I opened it, there was a violet-glowing vial.
'Great! There's still one left!'
This potion is called Saionium. It temporarily boosts the condition of the drinker by one level. If I drink Saionium, I can instantly transform into an adult.
Becoming an adult has two tremendous benefits. First, the power becomes significantly stronger, reaching a level where I can confront the Cosmic Bolt. Second, my head grows to three.
'In reality, the increase in the number of heads is not necessarily a good thing.'
Originally, the increase in heads is meant to enhance the utility of the jaws of the Essence Harvester. With three heads, collecting the heads of enemies becomes easier.
In reality, due to the presence of corrosive tentacles, the significance of this increase has diminished.
But at this moment, having an increased number of heads is crucial.
The name of the trait I created by devouring the Brain Deity is 'Divine Mace.'
It's the ability to shoot out condensed energy lines of the Brain Deity's lightning.
If you ask where it is fired, it's directly from the mouth. Just like when I absorbed the plasma launcher and shot plasma energy lines, they only come out from my mouth. It doesn't fire from the corrosive tentacles or any other part.
'In other words, if I become a monster with three heads…'
It means I can unleash energy lines equivalent to the Brain Deity from three heads simultaneously.
A monster, no…King of Monsters with three heads, and the trait obtained by devouring the Brain Deity.
'With this, I can do it!'
With these three, I can stop the Cult's ultimate weapon for purifying the planet, the Cosmic Bolt.