235
-x-X-x-
Although The Amorph is limited in how many nests it can create, the process itself isn't particularly difficult.
Compared to the Outspacer, whose nesting conditions are extremely stringent, it's almost like having no conditions at all.
However, just because the process is simple doesn't mean that raising a proper nest is easy. The Amorph still has to consider various factors if it wants to grow a nest successfully.
Factors like its evolutionary stage, the energy it possesses, and the suitability of the surrounding environment all need to align to establish a large-scale nest.
And right now, I have fulfilled all the conditions to create the best possible nest.
There's a lake here where the wounded Gallagon have gathered, which helps the slime spread easily.
But that's not all. The dragon's nest is located in an area with a high concentration of psychic power. The walls of this cavern, where I'm standing, are brimming with intense psychic energy, providing plenty of nourishment for the slime that has detached from my body.
In an instant, I dyed the lake black and attached symbiotic spores to the fallen Gallagon.
Some were so severely injured that I immediately threw them into the contaminated lake after implanting the symbiotic spores. Among them was Nel Germa.
｢Black Kin｣ ｢Nel Germa｣ ｢Nest｣ ｢Defense｣ ｢Failed｣
[ZZZ ZZZZZ (It's okay. Don't worry about it.)]
Nel Germa had a severe wound in her abdomen, so deep that her internal organs were visible. It was an injury that would have killed any creature not as robust as a Gallagon.
But not all of them were as resilient as she was.
｢Great One｣ ｢Kin｣ ｢Dead｣
Adhai sent a telepathic wave as she stood before the corpse of a Green Gallagon. Her deep sorrow echoed throughout the cavern.
'So many have died.'
As I moved the wounded Gallagon, I counted the survivors. Including Nel Germa, only 13 adults had survived. Four White Gallagon and nine Green Gallagon.
Most of the Gallagon we had fought so hard to acquire had perished.
[ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Adhai, check if the young ones are safe.)]
Since the Gallagon gave their lives to protect the nest, the young ones should be unharmed. They're probably hiding, waiting for the nest to become safe again.
To comfort Adhai, who was overwhelmed by the loss of her kin, showing her that the Blue Gallagon were still alive would be far better than any words.
｢Understood.｣
｢Great Adhai｣ ｢This way.｣
A relatively less injured Green Gallagon led Adhai away from the clearing.
'I didn't expect it to come to this.'
The greatest prize from hunting Odd Grad had actually been the Gallagon horde. My plan had been to lead them to attack apex creatures or space fortresses on other planets.
But those damn Screamers outside completely ruined my plans. Even if the young ones survived, it will take a long time for them to grow.
'How dare they touch my Gallagon?'
It's been a long time since I've been this furious. Not since my evolution was interrupted during a game have I felt such rage.
I won't let those disgusting scraps of metal go unpunished.
'There's only one way to kill them all.'
I lay down on the lake, filled with sticky black liquid. As my secondary organ beneath my jaw touched the lukewarm slime, my senses were drawn downward.
My consciousness detached from my heavy carapace and the hard scales of my physical body, merging with the vast cavern and the expansive lake. My senses expanded further along the tunnels connected to the cavern.
How can I describe this feeling? It's similar to the sensation when your body regains feeling as you wake up. In fact, it's not all that different. My consciousness has passed into the nest, making the lake my heart and the black slime my limbs.
In the past, I have connected with nests in various places—MegaCorp research ships, space cities, and more—to observe and plan where and when to strike the enemies.
This time is no different.
Having successfully linked with the nest, I began to closely examine the structure of the Gallagon's home.
I could sense what was happening along the network of tunnels branching out like an ant's nest. The trembling Blue Gallagon, as large as Adhai, checking on their young and feeling relieved, and the completely empty caves.
'No need to see everything.'
I shifted my focus away from Adhai and directed it toward the entrances in the cliffs.
There were a total of four entrances, including the cave we had entered. There were also several other tunnels, but they were all dead ends—false entrances.
At my will, the slime forming the nest rapidly extended toward the passages connected to the cliffside entrances. The elements needed to maintain the nest were abundant, allowing for rapid expansion.
At this rate, all the tunnels leading to the entrances will be coated in slime within a few hours.
I disengaged from the nest and summoned Number 26 and PS-111.
[ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (We'll lure the enemy here and trap them.)]
In this naturally formed labyrinth, I plan to wipe them out in one fell swoop. But to do that, I'll need their help.
"How do you plan to deal with their suicide attacks?"
"I don't think they'll resort to that."
If we were outside, it might be different, but the likelihood of them triggering a suicide attack after entering the nest is low. If that were their plan, they would have already attempted a suicide charge to bury the dragon's nest.
There's only one reason they haven't done that.
'Gallagon genes.'
As PS-111 mentioned, Pyra Eleven needs genetic information to produce mutant Screamers. Not just any genetic information, but high-grade genes like those of a Sea Demon.
Since this can't be manufactured on a ship, they have to acquire it from outside. And there's probably no place more enticing than the Gallagon nest. Even if their suicide tactics succeed, if all the Gallagon are buried, the Screamers gain nothing.
Moreover, they've fought me before. They know full well that I won't die even if the cliff collapses.
Therefore, instead of suicide attacks, they'll try to subdue me using other methods.
'Whatever they attempt, it's meaningless.'
There's no place the Amorph fights better than in a dark, narrow labyrinth full of tunnels.
I explained to Number 26 and PS-111 how we would fight.
The Screamers who dared to attack the dragon's nest will pay dearly.
---
"Enhanced detection equipment capability applied."
"Newly acquired 'Gallagon' and dangerous creature 'Helside Hornet' biological characteristics reflected."
"Long-range attack capabilities need improvement."
In the frozen forest, countless Screamers prepared for battle. Due to recent consecutive battles, their numbers had been greatly reduced to 100 units.
The total number of units deployed for the Gallagon nest assault and the Special Target A construction mission was 209.
189 S-models and 20 PS-models were deployed, but the remaining numbers were 90 S-models and 10 PS-models. More than half had been deactivated.
Despite this, the android Pyra Eleven of the Mechanical Committee did not give up. That's because the remaining 100 units had been significantly reinforced, compensating for their previous weaknesses.
Thanks to the genetic information supplied by the debris of destroyed Screamers and the drones from the ship, the remaining 100 Screamers were vastly different from before.
Regardless of model, all Screamers originally had eight legs, but the 100 Screamers present here had varying numbers of legs. Some had 16, others had 12.
Apart from the metal skeletons, the biological tissue had become even more grotesque. Some units had red flesh rapidly expanding, covering the tubes and skeleton, while others had long, scythe-like claws protruding from various parts of their bodies.
No two of the 100 units were alike, but they all shared one common trait.
They looked as if they had been sculpted by a demon from hell—utterly horrifying.
From a human perspective, they were monstrosities, but not to Pyra Eleven. To it, the 100 units present were the perfect killing machines, optimized for slaughter and massacre.
Among them, a PS-model with eight large eyes attached to its body relayed Pyra Eleven's orders.
"Deploy detection units."
Ten S-models, fitted with large mechanical components, leaped toward the opposite cliff. Previously, they would have fallen straight into the river flowing between the cliffs, but not anymore.
As the Screamers spread their legs, wide membranes unfolded between them. Gliding like flying squirrels, they landed at the cave entrance on the opposite cliff.
"Detection commencing. Tracking life signals."
When the ten models opened their mouths, ultrasonic waves were emitted, penetrating deep into the cave. This ability was acquired by absorbing the genetic information of the Cave Goyle, which inhabits the icy terrain of this planet.
"Confirmed four entrances leading to the nest."
"Deploy combat units. Proceed in stages."
Twenty S-models and two PS-models, grotesquely modified, moved in pairs. Outside, two PS-models remained to coordinate with Pyra Eleven.
A total of four teams slowly entered the entrances, one by one.
Outside, PS-model PS-005 synthesized the incoming data from the commanders inside and issued orders.
[B Team entering.]
[C Team encountered a fork. Moving right.]
[D Team found a cavern. Evidence of Gallagon activity detected.]
[E Team detected life signals 220 meters ahead. Preparing for combat.]
"E Team, continue tracking life signals. D Team, investigate activity traces."
Despite the powerful psychic energy emanating from the Gallagon's nest, there were no significant issues with their communications. This was due to the use of a unique psychic circuit derived from Sea Demon genetics.
And within 10 minutes of entry, a report came in from E Team, which had detected life signals.
｢Identified as a symbiotic creature of Special Target A. Sample collected and transmitted.｣
"Confirmed."
PS-005 waited for the small drone to bring back the genetic sample. However, even after several minutes, there was no sign of the drone.
"Request confirmation from E Team. The sample transport drone has not arrived."
｢It was dispatched 5 minutes and 45 seconds ago.｣
Five minutes should have been more than enough time for the drone to show up. PS-005 issued another command.
"Recheck the entry route."
｢Confirmed… anomaly detected.｣
"Report the nature of the anomaly."
｢The passage… is… bzzt… changing… bzzt… re…scanning nee…bzzt｣
"Circuit malfunction detected. Verify with other teams.｣
｢B Team reports no anomalies.｣
｢C Team reports no anomalies.｣
｢D Team reports… life signs detected 100 meters ahead. Preparing for comb…bzzt｣
Now, even D Team's communication was starting to experience interference, just like E Team.
This had never happened before, and PS-005 couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Their communication circuits didn't rely on ordinary mechanical devices. They used the biological organs within their bodies to communicate, making malfunctions seemingly impossible.
Hurriedly, it reported the situation to Pyra Eleven while issuing the standard command for such situations.
"D Team? Report again."
｢Bzzt… no issues… bzzt… confirming… bzzt｣
"D Team, circuit malfunction detected. Please confirm again."
｢Confirmed. No circuit malfunction, but a new issue has arisen.｣
"Report."
｢Structural changes in the nest have been detected.｣
｢E Team confirms that the entry route has changed. Initiating re-scan.｣
Although communication had returned to normal, the reports that followed were baffling.
Structural changes in the nest? Unless it was a living organism, such a thing should be impossible.
But as more reports came in, PS-005 was forced to reconsider.
｢B Team detects life signs from all directions.｣
｢C Team detects life signs… correction: life signs detected simultaneously 10 meters in front and behind.｣
｢D Team observes changes in the current terrain. Scanning function ineffective.｣
｢E Team detects life signs from all directions. Unpredictable. Unpredictable.｣
｢Unpredictable. Unpredictable. Unpredictable.｣
All the PS-models were reporting the same thing.
The passage they were standing on, the vast Gallagon nest, was alive.
——————
Screamers are controlled entirely by machines connected to their brains. While the original consciousness remains, all physical control is dominated by the machinery.
Despite their name, 'Screamers' can't even let out a sound of their own will. They're essentially moving prisons.
This holds true for the new mutant Screamers as well.
Though there are differences, such as the uncertain identity of the modified subjects and the ability to alter organic parts through gene absorption, they are still bio-weapons under machine control.
The greatest advantage of an AI-controlled combat unit is its lack of fear.
Whether witnessing a comrade being vaporized by a plasma round or seeing a Hulk Mutant tear apart a regular soldier, they remain unfazed. They simply continue advancing toward their objective.
Of course, the consciousness within the creature serving as a Screamer might feel fear, but that doesn't matter. Once the emotion control module connected to their brain is activated, their emotions won't influence their actions.
In any case, Screamers don't fear unexpected situations.
Even if space itself starts shifting, or if life signs suddenly appear throughout the entire cave, they remain undeterred.
"D Team, recalibrate your detection system."
｢B Team switching to thermal detection. Heat detected throughout the passage, making it ineffective.｣
｢C Team confirms that the sonic detection system acquired through 'Cave Goyle' genes remains effective.｣
｢E Team's psychic detection sys...bzzt, testing...bzzt｣
｢Reporting to Pyra Eleven. All units stand by...bzzt｣
"Psychic interference detected. Communication lines need restructuring."
At the command of the mutant Screamer responsible for D Team's communications, the other units went on standby. The monstrous creatures, with their grafted features from various organisms, used their respective detection organs to monitor their surroundings.
Then, from deep within the cave, gray smoke began to slither out. A Screamer in the vanguard detected it and reported.
"Toxic substances detected in the air."
"Connect the resPyratory tubes."
Some tubes connected to their metal skeletons and life-support systems detached and plugged into their mouths.
｢Kuuuu｣ ｢Analyzing harmful elements in the air.｣
｢78% probability of enemy ambush｣ ｢Kuuuu｣
The Screamers of D Team communicated in harsh mechanical voices, their mouths sealed by the tubes.
Toxic mist seeping into the narrow passageway signalled an imminent enemy attack. The Screamers drew their weapons and focused on the direction ahead.
｢Kuuuu｣
A rough breathing sound echoed through the cave, mixed with another noise. The squelching sound of footsteps on muddy ground. Someone was approaching.
｢Kuuuu｣ ｢Magmigator's ignition organs confirmed to be effective.｣ ｢Kuuuu｣
｢Initiate preemptive strike.｣ ｢Kuuuu｣
Several Screamers with abnormally swollen flesh moved forward. Metal pipes nestled within their bloated flesh aimed toward the front.
A moment later, intense flames burst forth from the pipes, engulfing the passage. The fire, fueled by gas and flammable substances stored within their bodies, consumed the corridor.
Then, from deep inside the passage, a purple energy bolt shot out, striking one of the flame-spewing Screamers. Flesh burst open, and the flammable substances inside spilled out, covering the nearby Screamers.
The mutant Screamers' metal skeletons and mechanical parts were highly resistant to heat. Their organic exteriors were genetically engineered to withstand high temperatures. None of them cared that their bodies were burning.
Of course, the original minds within them were screaming in silent agony from the searing pain.
｢Confirmed Gallagon presence.｣ ｢Kuuuu｣
｢Commence counterattack.｣
The Screamers aimed their newly attached limbs forward, firing translucent purple energy bolts. These were psychic rifles, formed by absorbing Gallagon genes.
As psychic energy bolts rained down over the roaring flames, the dark passage was instantly illuminated. At the end of the long corridor, a small, red-skinned Gallagon quickly retreated.
｢Commence pursuit of the target.｣ ｢Kuuuu｣
｢Confir...｣
Just as D Team's Screamers prepared to pursue, a PS unit in the rear suddenly collapsed mid-response. All eyes turned to the fallen unit.
Its head was completely gone.
And then, another dark blue energy bolt flew from behind, once again targeting the head of the PS-model unit serving as the commander.
The D Team's commander unit raised its metal leg to block the attack. The leg vanished without a trace, as if it had been hit by a Cultist's disintegration weapon.
｢Confirmed effect similar to the Cultist disintegration weapon 'Demolisher'.｣ ｢Kuuuu｣
｢Kuuuu｣ ｢Deploying countermeasures for obfuscation attacks...｣
｢Ambush from the side.｣
｢Ambush...｣
Just as they were preparing to target the enemies ahead and behind, the black walls on both sides of the passage suddenly melted away. From within, white-scaled Gallagons sprang out.
The Screamers had assumed they were standing in a straight tunnel, but they were wrong.
This place was originally a junction.
---
"Communication with D Team is poor. Attempting to restore the connection."
｢B Team and C Team have merged and entered a large chamber.｣
E Team continued to attempt communication with the commanders of the teams that had gone ahead.
Mutant Screamers, with genes spliced from Sea Demons and various psychic organisms, were experiencing communication disruptions—an impossible situation. They weren't using electronic devices but rather their unique psychic powers to communicate, so who could possibly interfere?
A powerful psychic entity, like a Sea Demon, could disrupt the connection, but that was impossible. The former ruler of this nest, the Black Gallagon, was already dead, and there were no Sea Demons on this planet.
Two commander models of E Team were trying to figure out the cause of the communication disruption when a command came through from outside.
｢Transmitting orders from Pyra Eleven. Consider it a trap and retreat immediately.｣
"Order acknowledged. Retreating."
There had been interference since earlier, so they were lucky to have received the message. E Team quickly prepared to exit the nest.
Although they hadn't made contact with the Screamers of D Team, that was something for Pyra Eleven, the overall commander, to handle. They, serving as mere intermediaries, didn't need to worry about it.
"The map records are meaningless due to periodic structural changes."
"Based on our current position, breaking through the wall seems most effective."
"Confirmed. Preparing to break through."
A Screamer with many legs moved forward. Those with genes from the Hellside Hornet had very large claws attached to their legs.
The Hellside Hornet uses its scythe-like claws to dig through the soil in the caves it inhabits. Just as the original did, these Screamers intended to dig through the wall to escape.
The Screamers with scythe-like forelegs began excavation. Each movement of the sharp claws tore through the solid wall as if it were sand.
"There is an unidentified substance mixed in with the soil."
"Life signs detected within the substance."
The scythe-like claws were covered in a black, viscous material.
That substance might be what was interfering with their communication. The commander-level PS models in the rear immediately relayed this information externally.
"Anomalous material not found in Gallagon nests detected. Drone usage is not possible, so transmitting relevant information only."
｢Chhzz, material, zzzt, confirmation, chzz, confirmed...｣
"New material detected, transmitting data. Please confirm."
The previously stable communication suddenly deteriorated rapidly. As the E Team commanders tried to report again, another transmission came through.
｢Zzzt, zzzt, confirmed, zzzt, malfunction, zzzt, malfunction...｣
"Communication failure. Please confirm."
｢Zzzt, malfunction, chzzzt, malfunction, malfunction, zzzt, malfunction, malfunction...｣
"PS-005?"
｢Malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction malfunction...｣
The sudden communication overload forced the PS models to quickly cut off the connection. When they tried to reconnect, it was completely dead.
But that wasn't the only problem. Simultaneously with the communication cutoff, an overwhelming flow of psychic power was sensed from behind them. Even the Screamers digging through the wall sensed it and turned around.
A pink, balloon-like object was now sitting in the black passageway.
Even to the Screamers, it was a completely out-of-place object, but the commander-level units immediately recognized what it was. It was something that should never exist on this planet, something that must not be here.
"Enemy... enco...!!!"
The PS model attempting to issue a command froze mid-sentence. The units that were about to charge at the pink balloon also stopped in their tracks.
As if time had stopped, every Screamer present ceased all movement. Not only that, but their bodies began to slowly rise into the air.
And then, as if being crushed by an invisible force, their bodies started to merge and compress.
The high-strength alloy skeletons bent like rubber, and the mechanical components connected to the organic parts sparked and shattered. The mutant Screamers' bodies contorted as if they had been thrown into the crushing depths of the ocean.
"Da-da-da-danger, danger, danger."
Some of the Screamers fired off psychic energy bolts, but it was futile. The bolts froze mid-air, as if they too were being held in place by an unseen force.
"Sw-sw-swap to cluster bombs, cha-cha..."
"Ca-ca-cannot, ca-cannot resis..."
"Re-retreat, re-re-rtrtrtrt!"
They attempted to switch from energy bolts to physical weaponry, but it was futile. With their internal modules and metallic skeletons in shambles, there was nothing they could do.
All they could manage was a final death cry.
Minutes passed, and the passage fell silent.
The dozens of Screamers that had been there were no more. Instead, a large, blood-red sphere floated in the air.
As the pink balloon disappeared into the darkness, the sphere split open, spilling its contents.
A gruesome mix of blood, flesh, shattered metal fragments, and foul-smelling chemicals spilled out.
The remains scattered across the floor were quickly absorbed by the black slime coating the cave walls.
Soon, nothing was left.
---
While others were under attack, B Team and C Team continued to advance deeper into the cave.
Before the communication was cut off, their last received orders were to search the nest and eliminate Special Target A. They had decided to proceed with the exploration to gather as much information as possible needed to achieve the objective.
After advancing for some time, they came upon a massive chamber unlike anything they had seen before.
"Chamber detected. High moisture levels in the air."
"Traces of numerous creatures detected."
Within the chamber was a large swamp. One of the Screamers approached the swamp and dipped one of its legs into the water. Given the high temperature, this was likely a place where Gallagons rested.
"Given the environmental characteristics, the presence of a swamp is unnatural."
"Confirmation required."
"Commence internal investigation of the swamp."
"Confirmed."
The S-model Screamers of B and C Teams entered the swamp. Outside, the commander-level units waited in the passage connected to the chamber, prepared to retreat if necessary while the lower-ranking units bought them time.
"Multiple life signs detected."
"No movement detected."
It was a strange situation—life signs were detected, yet there was no movement. All other sensors produced contradictory results.
As the search continued, one unit noticed an unnatural ripple across the surface of the water. Periodic waves were emanating from the center of the swamp, disturbing the surface.
The Screamers quickly spread out, forming a perimeter. The unit that had detected the anomaly slowly approached the source of the waves.
Pushing through the sticky, black liquid, it saw the tip of a black rock. The surface around the rock rippled faintly, as if the waves were originating from it.
"Submersion needed for confirmation."
"Permission granted."
The Screamer plunged its head deep into the murky swamp water. Thanks to its aquatic gene modifications, it could easily assess the situation beneath the surface.
What lay before it wasn't so much a rock as it was a massive, tumor-like growth. Several long, thin tendrils extended from the rock-like object. The tendrils were long enough to reach under the feet of the Screamers encircling the 'rock'.
As the Screamer examined the tendrils, it turned its gaze to the rock itself. The moment it saw the rock, it realized the truth.
The rock—or rather, the thing that only looked like a rock—was watching it with a wide-open eye.
"Special targ—"
The Screamer tried to report the enemy, but it was too late.
A massive arm shot out from beneath the swamp and grabbed it. The Screamer's organic components shriveled and shattered upon contact with the creature's hand.
Having absorbed the Screamer's energy, the creature—no, Special Target A—began to rise slowly from the swamp.
——————
Combat in 'Space Survival' is typically loud and chaotic.
In the sky, enormous ships hundreds of meters long rain down energy cannons, while on the ground, soldiers in exosuits clash with various monstrous creatures.
Some players prefer commanding from the flagship, while others dive directly into the battlefield. Regardless of which faction a player belongs to, war feels like a dazzling, noisy festival.
It's actually quite unusual for stealth and surprise attacks to be encouraged, as is the case in the later stages with the Amorph.
Speaking of which, there is one more entity that fights as silently as the Amorph.
The Screamers.
Controlled by machines, they only speak when necessary, producing little to no other sounds. The screams of wounded soldiers, the cries of those longing to return home—common noises on the battlefield—are entirely absent.
Perhaps that's why the place we're fighting, a swamp lake within a cliff, was eerily quiet. Despite the dozens of Screamers moving to attack me, there was no sound. Only the rippling water disturbed the silence.
Dormant beneath my thick carapace, my invasive tendrils suddenly awoke.
The targets were the Screamers positioned in the rear. My tendrils, with six limbs fully extended, swam through the swamp like serpents, seizing them one by one.
The Screamers closest to me drew their weapons.
Since I last saw them, they had undergone further modifications, giving them even more unique appearances. Some had multiple legs, others had sagging flesh that made them look obese, and some even had extra eyes.
When I encountered PS-111, it had integrated five different species into its form and used materials like Blood Reaver claws and Gallagon blades for its reconstruction.
The Screamers that had ventured into the Dragon's nest were similar. They had augmented themselves by incorporating the remnants of fallen Screamers into their bodies.
'They seem far more unstable than PS-111.'
Though they had many genes applied, they were still a mess compared to PS-111, which had completely restructured its shattered body. Their designs were poor, and their efficiency seemed lacking. At this rate, their energy consumption would be excessively high, and maintaining their various configurations would be challenging.
They were clearly designed for short-term combat, with everything invested in killing me.
'But they still can't defeat me.'
Even now, my friends were picking off Screamers throughout the nest. Some would lie in wait behind mucus-covered walls, launching ambushes at the right moment, while others would attack from behind when the Screamers were distracted by the smog created by the Smog Tower.
When the enemies died, the black mucus would absorb their corpses and transfer the nutrients to me, thanks to the nest's 'Human Sacrifice' trait.
'And then there's the Blood Reaver.'
A Screamer lunged at me, climbing onto my back and beginning its assault.
It seemed to have integrated the genes of a Hellsight Hornet, as several of its legs were armed with scythe-like claws. Each time its claws flashed, deep gouges appeared in my carapace, and long gashes were torn into my invasive tendrils.
While it attacked, other Screamers charged in. Normally, I would have dodged, but there was no need for that now.
I reached into the swamp floor and pulled out a combat arm, grabbing the approaching Screamer.
As the 'Leeching Hand' effect activated, the flesh on its body rapidly withered, turning into a high-energy source almost instantly. All that remained was its durable metallic skeleton.
When one Screamer died, another was revived. The life force I absorbed from the Screamer spread throughout my body. My broken carapace and bleeding wounds healed as if they had never been injured.
The Screamer on my back hesitated. Its AI likely couldn't comprehend what was happening.
I unfurled my coiled tail. When combined with my snake-like lower body, my massive tail extended over 20 meters, rising from the water's surface.
The Screamer perched on my carapace tried to flee upon seeing the tail. After all its attacks, I had no intention of letting it escape.
I brought down the pincer at the end of my tail, smashing the Screamer against the hardest part of my body, the carapace around my head. Its metal skeleton shattered completely.
But that wasn't the end. I swung my tail wide, left and right. The Screamers approaching me quickly retreated, but not all of them escaped.
Some were struck by the tail and flung into the chamber's ceiling or walls, while others were caught by my pincers. I could have split them in two, but I didn't.
With my mouth wide open, I pulled my tail, along with the trapped Screamers, towards me. They thrashed, realizing what I was about to do, but their resistance was futile.
The Screamers flailed their limbs to avoid being eaten. Three synthetic claws dug into my maw, and flames erupted from their bodies, scorching my palate.
The pain was brief. As wounds formed, the nest healed my body.
Once I neutralized their resistance, I clamped my jaws shut like a snake, crushing their upper bodies and heads, which flowed down my throat.
'Tasteless.'
It was a horrible mix, like eating peppermint candy, orange juice, and yokan all at once. Perhaps I had been eating too much delicious food, like Gallagons, recently, and my tolerance for bad tastes had worsened.
Without savoring it, I swallowed and tossed the remains—their headless, upper bodies—into the swamp. The Screamers that had retreated unleashed a barrage of various projectiles at me.
Cluster bombs, high-velocity impact rounds, conventional weapons of the Star Union, and energy-based weapons like psychic-powered energy bolts—all aimed to inflict damage and pain.
But that was all they could do.
Even if they destroyed my body, I wouldn't die. The Amorph nestled above the nest was fully prepared; stronger weapons were necessary to take it down.
I braced myself as I absorbed the enemy's attack and prepared my next weapon.
The tentacles that had been hanging limp below my neck began to twitch and rise. Thanks to the heart I took from the Black Dragon, my psychic power quickly recharges.
In an instant, the tentacles of the fully energized creature spewed flames.
The dragon's breath devours everything. Even the metal skeletons that gleam with a purplish shine as the light reflects off them, and the rough breaths escaping from the mouths buried in flesh.
The thieves who invaded the Dragon's lair try to flee as they watch their comrades burn in the fire.
From behind them, I spread my winged arms wide. Like Nyx, the goddess of the night from Slavic mythology, unfurling her cloak, my wings filled the space above the swampy lake.
PR/N: Nyx is a greek goddess but here it is referred as slavic goddess as per author.
No one can leave here without my permission.
No one.
-
Outside the nest, PS-005 was aware that the battle was turning against them.
Contact had been lost with the four squads, totaling 98 Screamers, that had entered the cave on the opposite cliff. Although it could simply be a communication failure, the AI embedded in its head did not think so.
The reason was the last messages left by the Screamers before communication ceased. An environment, enemy, and all other factors being completely unpredictable is unusual.
It wasn't hard to guess what would happen to those who had fallen into the trap. Most of them likely wouldn't return.
Of the 209 units sent to attack the Gallagon's nest, nearly all had been decimated. Now, only it and another PS model beside it remained.
If it were not a machine, it would have fled long ago, but it waited for orders from Pyra Eleven.
And soon, the awaited response came.
"Prepare to retreat."
"Confirmed."
The information gathered before the communication with the infiltrating force was cut off was transmitted.
They had lost nearly 200 units, but it wasn't a complete loss. They had acquired some information about Special Target A, and with that, they could formulate a new strategy.
After cutting communication with Pyra Eleven, they left the cliff.
The half-biological, half-mechanical entities with multiple metal legs moved through the forest. Even though they had been away from the cliff for some time, the forest was still dark.
Of course, for those who could switch between various modes of vision, this level of darkness meant nothing. Switching to infrared detection, they moved quickly, their randomly positioned legs scuttling.
While running toward the Ice Canyon where Pyra Eleven was stationed, PS-005 heard a sound.
The faint crack of frozen earth. Such a sound occurs when the native creatures of this planet move.
The two Screamers stopped and scanned their surroundings. Naturally, they had to.
There were no wild animals in this forest. Before attacking the Gallagon's nest, they had wiped out the creatures living in the forest.
In other words, that footstep belonged to something that didn't exist in this forest before.
PS-005 remained on alert while releasing a small reconnaissance drone. The drone began to move between the trees, initiating its search.
As PS-005 synced with the drone to check for any moving targets, the drone's view suddenly shook.
When the sync was forcibly cut, PS-005 deployed its implanted biological weapons, and the Screamer beside it prepared for battle.
They moved to the location where the drone had been destroyed. Not far away, they found the wrecked drone.
Strangely, the drone's remains were on a tree rather than the icy ground.
The camera used for thermal detection had been pierced by a metal spear that had flown from somewhere.
PS-005 replayed the last thing it saw before the view was cut off.
Before the drone froze, a beam of light had flown toward it. After confirming where the spear had come from, it ended the replay. PS-005's gaze shifted toward the location from which the beam, no, the golden metal spear, had been launched.
"Confirmation needed."
"Will confirm."
The Screamer beside it crawled toward the location from which the spear had been thrown.
Meanwhile, PS-005 switched to a detection system that could sense physical projectiles in advance.
Since arriving here, it had never seen a creature using such primitive weapons. This planet, with its extremely volatile climate, is not a suitable place for civilization to develop.
Whoever it is, it doesn't matter—capturing it will be enough. Even if the creature doesn't want to talk, its genes will hold the answers.
Within seconds, it switched to the detection system and looked ahead.
The Screamer that had moved forward to investigate the source of the spear was visible.
Or rather, the Screamer whose head and body had been separated was visible.
And before it stood a massive quadrupedal wild beast.
Its head, based on a raptor from Earth, was adorned with sharp horns, and its body resembled a large feline predator. Its fur was dark gold with black ripples.
It crushed its comrade's head with a massive forepaw. Even in the dark forest, its amber eyes, glowing brightly, fixated on PS-005.
A creature it had never seen anywhere on this planet. PS-005 knew what this creature was.
"77% match with Special Target C."
Special Target C, though not as high-priority as Special Target A, is also a target for elimination.
PS-005 chose to retreat rather than fight the beast. There was no guarantee it could kill the creature alone, and above all, reporting this to Pyra Eleven was the priority.
Quickly retreating from the location, PS-005 reactivated communication with Pyra Eleven. As its many legs moved swiftly, it prepared to transmit the recently gathered information to the commanding officer.
Perhaps it was because of this.
PS-005 neglected to remember that it had switched its detection system to detect physical projectiles. It only realized its mistake when it saw a purple thermal beam coming from the trees on the opposite side, but by then, it was already too late.
-
｢I thought it was odd that the nest suddenly disappeared, and as expected.｣
Mother of the Sky did not return to the dragon's nest with Nel Germa. Since Ham Ort's injuries were not fully healed, she remained at the nest created by the Amorph.
After resting for another day, Ham Ort was almost fully recovered. She planned to head to the dragon's nest in another two days, but suddenly the nest stopped expanding and began to wither.
She understood what it meant for the Amorph's nest to decay.
Having fought the Amorph several times, she knew there were limitations to the nest's installation. Once the limit of how many nests can be maintained is exceeded, the most recently installed nest is automatically deactivated.
Seeing the black swamp in the small cave dry up, she realized that the Amorph had established a new nest. She also understood that this was related to the Amorph's current crisis.
The Amorph acts as if it was born to be one, not a human. Such a being wouldn't set up nests indiscriminately without reason.
And there is only one place nearby where the Amorph could set up nests up to its limit.
｢Daughter of the Meteor, is it safe?｣
｢I believe it will be fine if it's that creature. The Amorph... if it's a black kin, it will surely try to protect it.｣
｢I trust you.｣
Mother of the Sky also knew how powerful the Amorph's nest could be. She had experienced a similar situation in the game where her clan was destroyed.
'It seems to be remnants moving in the opposite direction from the Dragon's nest.'
Returning to her griffon form, Mother of the Sky approached the Screamer that had lost half its body.
The fact that Ham Ort's wings were not fully healed turned out to be advantageous as it allowed her to fly slowly. As a result, she was able to spot moving Screamers beneath the trees while heading to the nest.
She crushed the wriggling head of the completely wrecked Screamer with her forepaw.
Given the risk of Screamers activating their self-destruct system if only their heads remained, it was dangerous to leave them alive. They might escape or cause damage by activating their incineration systems.
｢These creatures must have their heads crushed. Otherwise, they will self-destruct, so be cautious.｣
｢Understood.｣
Mother of the Sky, having warned Ham Ort, retrieved the golden spear from the tree. Grasping the spear with her beak, she mounted Ham Ort.
｢I understand, but there might be creatures fleeing like this one. Please go a bit slower.｣
｢Understood.｣
Even as they flew through the branches on top of Ham Ort, her amber eyes remained focused on the forest below.
——————
"Defense impossible. Incineration proto..."
I opened my jaws wide and bit down hard on the Screamer's head. Its body, having lost its command center, collapsed helplessly.
'It's over.'
It took quite a while to deal with all of them since there were so many. Around me were the remains of partially melted metal skeletons. Black mucus was diligently dissolving them, converting the debris into nutrients.
'Should I check the other side?'
It was unlikely, but the others might have missed something by accident.
I swallowed the Screamer head in my mouth and linked with the nest.
My senses spread throughout the cave, detecting movements over the black mucus. Many creatures were moving around, but there were no Screamers among them.
'No Gallagons died in battle.'
We had no losses. It was a small relief, especially given how many Gallagons had already died.
Two of the victorious ones are coming this way. I disconnected from the link and waited as Number 26 and PS-111 appeared from behind the passage.
｢We taught those bad friends who hurt the little ones a lesson.｣
[ZZZ (Well done)]
Honestly, I was a bit worried that Number 26 might hesitate, but it was unnecessary.
After seeing Adhai mourn the loss of the Gallagons, it showed no mercy to the Screamers. Whenever it confronted them, the energy supplied through sacrifices surged explosively.
PS-111 also performed well. Maybe it was because it had fought alongside Adhai and the Gallagons multiple times. They took turns acting as bait, effectively confusing the enemy.
｢Where is the little one?｣
"Adhai went to protect the Gallagon hatchlings."
As it said, Adhai didn't return but went to check on the hidden hatchlings. Thanks to my link with the nest, I knew the Blue Gallagons were safe, but Adhai didn't have that reassurance.
'She must be worried, given how many Gallagons have died.'
Even though we won without any losses, the fight was more of a setback than a gain. Many had been killed by the enemy before I returned.
'Let's leave her be for now.'
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Adhai needs time)]
｢Okay.｣
Number 26, having lost its kin to MegaCorp, didn't say anything more. It probably understood that Adhai needed time too.
To change the subject and confirm something important, I called PS-111.
"How did the task I assigned you go?"
"I rebooted some of the S-model Screamer systems as you ordered."
It proudly presented the result of its work.
'What's this?'
When I first met PS-111, it mentioned that if the opponent was a lower-tier S-model, it could be controlled to some extent.
At that time, it added that physical contact was required. I didn't expect everything to go smoothly, but I also didn't anticipate this outcome.
'Only the heads are left?'
Its three hooked claws each held a Screamer's head.
Beneath the torn necks dangled spines with small chips attached. The sight of it holding the heads, with spines loosely hanging down, reminded me of a finishing move from an old fighting game.
When I didn't say anything, it seemed to realize this wasn't what I had in mind. It added a word of explanation, almost as if making an excuse.
"The resistance was too strong. This was the only way to subdue them."
"Can these heads regenerate their bodies like you?"
"These heads cannot."
"Why?"
"The S-models lack self-repair capabilities. Additionally, their life-support functions rely entirely on me. They will perish as soon as they are disconnected."
Only after hearing this did I notice that the ends of the three spines were all connected to metal hoses extending from its back.
'I'll just have to settle for the information this time.'
This wasn't what I had originally planned.
I had intended to assemble a legion of S-models if it succeeded in hacking the Screamers.
'It's disappointing, but there's still a chance.'
If the opponent is unable to resist, perhaps I can leave their bodies intact and take control. For instance, right after they've been produced and are awaiting final adjustments.
"If you seize control of the production systems, you may achieve your desired outcome."
PS-111 voiced a thought similar to mine.
Since we were on the topic, I decided to ask it the most critical question.
"Where are their ships and Pyra Eleven?"
"I'll check."
It closed its eyes to access the information. The Screamer heads it was holding began to tremble.
"Gggggrr..."
"Aaaaargh..."
"Grrrrr..."
The Screamer heads, with their eyes rolled back, emitted sounds resembling beats and mechanical noises. It would have been a terrifying sight for any normal human, but there were no ordinary people here.
｢Our friend is acting strange. What's happening?｣
[ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ (It's searching for important memories)]
｢Memories? How does it search for those?｣
Number 26 seemed intrigued by PS-111's actions. While PS-111 was extracting information, I made small talk with Number 26.
｢Watching memories looks fun.｣
[ZZZZ (Does it?)]
｢Yeah. It's like becoming just like your friend.｣
[Z ZZZZ (It's a bit different, though)]
｢Is it different?｣
It was surprising to see it show interest in something like this, especially after being so down about Adhai. Who would have thought it would be curious about understanding or reading another being's thoughts?
'Maybe it thinks there's something to learn from its kind?'
Number 26 had considered PS-111 one of its own from the moment they first met. So, it might believe that if PS-111 could do something, it could too.
'Reading memories, huh.'
There's a psychic ability that allows one to read actions from traces left by another. But as far as I knew, Sea Demons didn't have that trait in the game.
'Then again, who knows.'
Given Odd Grad's case, it's hard to just rely on the game's standards. Maybe Number 26 could acquire abilities I'm unaware of.
'Though if that were the case, it would've happened by now.'
Looking at it, this seemed more like curiosity than gaining a new power. It wanted to learn something its kind didn't know.
'Learning is always a good thing.'
Sea Demons are incredibly powerful creatures, but in this vast universe, there are countless threats to its life. If it continues to follow me, it'll face beings far more terrifying than itself. To survive these foes, or to hunt them, it must keep learning.
Feeling a sense of pride, I patted it. It expressed its happiness at my touch but didn't stop asking questions.
While we talked, PS-111, having extracted all the information from the Screamers, opened its eyes.
"The location has been confirmed. Pyra Eleven and the ship are in the same place."
"That's good."
Now that we know the enemy's location, all that's left is to strike.
'But first, we need to bring Mother of the Sky and Ham Ort.'
The Dragon's Nest was vast, so I spread the nest to its limits. The previously set nests automatically decayed. Mother of the Sky had gone to the previous nest with Ham Ort to heal her. She would understand what it meant for the nest to disappear.
'She's fought me enough times to know.'
Maybe she's already on her way here by now.
"I'll hear the details later."
"Understood."
｢Friend, I have a question.｣
"Ask me anything."
Leaving the two who were deep in conversation, I headed toward the cave entrance.
As I walked along the long, dark passage, my steps sticky with mucus, I began to see the entrance.
The light streaming in from outside suddenly dimmed. Someone was blocking the entrance.
｢So, seeing you out here means it's already over?｣
｢The Black Kin｣ ｢What about the Daughter of the Meteor?｣
Speak of the devil, and she shall appear.
It seemed I no longer needed to go searching for them.
---
An unknown planet, with no name or recorded route leading to it.
Due to the clouds that covered the atmosphere, it appeared as a dull, ashen gray from the outside. But lately, this place had become suddenly chaotic, disturbed by the sudden arrival of external invaders.
The clouds parted, revealing the planet's surface, and the impact of massive energy clashes rippled across the entire world.
The artificially generated energy storm affected not just the inner regions of the planet but its outer layers as well.
"Captain Min-seok, the atmosphere has stabilized."
"Good. Report to me as soon as the communication lines and satellite radar are restored."
"Yes, sir!"
In the command room of Si-hyun Yujin's flagship, the crew was busy moving about. Recent weather anomalies had disrupted communication with the planet's interior, and restoring it was proving to be a daunting task.
Amid the bustling bridge, Acting Captain Min-seok Yujin stared at the holographic map of the planet with a grim expression.
A red marker hovered over a particular spot on the spherical map, representing the planet.
That was the location where Min-seok's master, Si-hyun Yujin, had led the exploration team.
'Damn it.'
Min-seok was growing increasingly displeased with the actions of Si-hyun Yujin's clone.
The master he served had dedicated her life to ensuring the righteousness of their family. Her goal was to bring Akira Yujin, who had usurped the head of the family, to justice and to ensure that the rightful bloodline would govern. That was Si-hyun Yujin's purpose, and the purpose of everyone here.
But this clone of Si-hyun Yujin seemed more interested in other things than in the grand objective.
And that wasn't all. The clone was straying from the path Si-hyun Yujin was supposed to walk. Instead of meeting with key figures of the family to secure alliances, she was wasting time on these pointless pursuits.
Currently, a civil war was raging within the Megacorp between Noble Capital T&C and Prime Capital Egerton. CEO Akira was preoccupied with mediating the conflict, making this the perfect opportunity to rapidly expand their influence without interference.
Si-hyun Yujin was undoubtedly aware of this but had chosen to come to this remote planet instead of heading to Earth.
'I could understand if the goal was to secure credits, but….'
When the satellite radar was functioning, Min-seok saw it. This planet was a treasure trove of resources. It was rich in Nova Metal, which was highly prized by cults, and teeming with creatures carrying rare genes. Properly exploited, these resources could bring Si-hyun Yujin's faction an enormous amount of credits.
But instead of focusing on earning credits from the planet, Si-hyun Yujin was obsessed with some unheard-of relic.
'Ancient relics? Ridiculous.'
Most of the Megacorp's Noble Capital factions owned multiple planets. The Yujin family was continually exploring planets to expand their genetic pool.
Because of this, Min-seok knew well that there were no secrets left in this universe.
The secret weapons of a fallen empire, ancient civilization relics, treasures powered by super-scientific principles—none of these things exist. They're all just concepts made up to deceive the gullible masses.
It was common knowledge among the Megacorp elite, but Si-hyun Yujin was ignoring it.
'…A defective product?'
Though it was a deeply blasphemous thought, Min-seok was half-convinced. The clone that had gone down in pursuit of a worthless goal was defective.
'I'll have to take action when she returns.'
Without Si-hyun Yujin's approval, creating a new clone wasn't possible. But excluding her would be an even graver issue. After all, everyone here had gathered to follow the only rightful bloodline of Jung-woo Yujin.
There was only one option left.
'I'll have to use what she left behind.'
Before Si-hyun Yujin died, she left something behind, worried about possible defects in her clone. Using it might be the only way to guide the clone down the right path.
Min-seok's cold gaze remained fixed on the red marker hovering above the holographic map.
-x-X-x-
I explained the situation to the late-arriving Mother of the Sky and Ham Ort.
I told them that there was a Screamer attack and that many of the Gallagons had been killed.
As soon as Ham Ort heard this, she rushed off to where Adhai was. Number 26, who had been with us just moments before, followed her to the other side of the cave.
｢I suspected it, and it turned out to be true.｣
Mother of the Sky also mourned the loss of the Gallagons. Her amber eyes, now in her griffon form, were filled with sorrow.
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (It seems like it will need time)]
｢…Indeed.｣
She closed her eyes, forcing herself to calm down. When she opened them again, her gaze was cold with anger.
｢So, where exactly is this place?｣
"Below the canyon located beyond the Ice Plains."
"There's only one Ice Plain around here. You mean the place where we captured the Ice Horror and Jason?"
"Yes, that's correct. If you move in the opposite direction from the forest, you can verify it."
It said that Pyra Eleven and its ship were in the exact opposite direction of this place, where the forest and mountain range are located.
'The canyon, huh.'
One of the Apex candidates I considered for Adhai's training was a creature that primarily inhabited the Ice Canyon. However, since it was a flightless creature, I chose the Hellside Hornet instead for her flight training.
'I had planned to retrieve its genetic essence later, but I didn't expect things to turn out like this.'
｢If it's the canyon, could it be a Gigantarium?｣
[ZZZ (Possibly)]
The Gigantarium, like the Ice Horror, only inhabits regions with extremely low temperatures. It's a creature that looks like a mix of an elephant, a bear, and a gorilla.
"The Screamers have already eliminated the 'Gigantarium.'"
"Really? It doesn't seem like they integrated it."
The Gigantarium, true to its name as the 'Giant Beast', is massive and incredibly strong. Its trunk and tusks, resembling those of a mammoth, are particularly striking.
Among the Screamers I've seen, none had the biological characteristics of the Gigantarium.
In response to my doubt, PS-111 nodded.
"The flesh and genes of the Gigantarium were entirely used in the restoration of Pyra Eleven."
"That means Pyra Eleven is a Screamer too, right?"
"At this point, that seems to be the case."
｢At this point? Does that mean it wasn't before?｣
"Pyra Eleven suffered fatal damage after arriving on this planet and was in a dormant state. During the repair process, its damaged body was replaced with resources available on the planet."
The resources it mentioned likely refer to the biological tissue of various creatures like the Gigantarium.
'From what it says, it sounds like Pyra Eleven was originally an android and became partially Screamer.'
Given the image of Screamers from Star Union, Pyra Eleven definitely wouldn't be a cyborg. A cyborg would rather choose death than become a Screamer.
On the other hand, an android, which prioritizes efficiency, wouldn't mind changing its body.
'An android leading an army of mutant Screamers.'
Even in the game, there was an android that led a Screamer unit.
"A High Commissioner, perhaps."
Officially, Screamers are not meant for combat. Their stated purpose is to reform criminal cyborg offenders, essentially serving as an educational tool.
Since they are a unit meant to enlighten others to follow the Star Union's will, one of the High Commissioners from the Supreme Authority, the Machine Council, would oversee them. Following this logic, Pyra Eleven is likely a member of the Machine Council.
'And the mutant Screamers are new weapons.'
Not just ordinary weapons, but biological weapons incorporating the latest technology from enemy nations. Considering their importance, it makes sense that someone at the level of a High Commissioner would be in charge.
｢What caused it to malfunction?｣
"Being a lower model, that information wasn't stored in its memory unit."
｢If it hadn't malfunctioned, it would have been easier to figure out.｣
Mother of the Sky glanced at me, likely because of my 'Gremlin Moss' trait.
Gremlin Moss is a trait that disables mechanical devices that come into contact with my body. With this trait, it wouldn't be difficult to subdue a High Commissioner.
'It didn't work on the mutant Screamers, so it probably won't work on the High Commissioner either.'
Since it modified its body with biological tissue, the paralyzing sound waves of the Faceless Worm might be more effective. It's a double-edged sword.
"How many genes are embedded in its body?"
"Most of the genes of native creatures found on this planet have been implanted."
"They must have also used genes from the support ship. Which ones did they use?"
"That information can only be accessed with Pyra Eleven's authority. However, it is certain that unidentified genes have been added in addition to those applied to the PS model."
To summarize, Pyra Eleven is a monster based on PS-111, with additional genes from the Apexes on this planet and unidentified organisms.
Of course, unless it's an Outspecies or the Amorph, synthesizing genes infinitely, especially within a short time, isn't an easy task. There would likely be significant side effects, or it might not be able to fully utilize the implanted genes.
'But it's probably at least on par with a Megacorp's shadow.'
Moreover, it has absorbed many of the Apex genes from this planet, much like I have.
It's uncertain how skilled Pyra Eleven is in combat, but if we're unlucky, it could show prowess similar to that of high-ranking players on the leaderboard.
'To know for sure…'
"We'll just have to ask it directly."
｢Indeed.｣
"I will do my best to gather useful information."
Our next opponent is the leader of the mutant Screamers, Pyra Eleven.
｢So, when do you plan to go?｣
Now that we know its condition and location, we need to decide on the timing of the attack.
In reality, we don't have much time. We don't know when the support ship it has might produce new soldiers.
'I could go right now without much trouble…'
The cooldown for the Symbol of the Hunt is already over, and my body is overflowing with energy thanks to the massive amount energy I've absorbed. But while I'm fine, the others aren't.
The Gallagons' injuries haven't fully healed yet, and Adhai still needs more time to collect herself. Mother of the Sky hasn't had a proper rest either, with taking care of Ham Ort, fighting, and then rushing here over the past few days.
[ZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Let's move tomorrow at midday)]
Now that one battle is over, we decided to take some time to rest.
[ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZZZZ (Take a look around the nest while you rest)]
｢…Are you telling me to explore the Amorph's nest? Do you know how many times I've died in a nest?｣
It's been so long that I don't remember well, but it was around 57 times. Still, I didn't bother mentioning that.
She looked at me with a mix of disbelief and exasperation before letting out a small sigh.
｢Alright. Since this was the Gallagons' nest, there might be something interesting here.｣
"If we find rare metals, I can upgrade. I will join you."
After sending them off, I headed toward the entrance.
In my haste to return to the nest, I had left the bodies of the White Gallagons outside. I couldn't just abandon the valuable spoils I obtained from fighting Odd Grad.
'There's also something I want to test.'
I retraced my steps, gathering all the bodies over the course of half a day.
I hadn't consumed them because I wanted to experiment to see if the Gallagons could grow stronger from them. Just as Adhai grew, other White Gallagons might also evolve into black dragons by consuming the corpses of White Gallagons.
By the time I returned with the bodies, night had fallen. The area, already dim due to the overcast sky, was now even darker with the night's shadow.
As I crossed the cliff with the bodies, I noticed someone on the opposite side.
A Gallagon with wings glowing bright red even in the darkness, and a body as white as snow—Adhai.
Next to her was another White Gallagon with a wounded wing. It was Adhai's mother, Ham Ort.
From what I know, Adhai has mixed feelings toward the mother who abandoned her. But right now, the two didn't seem to be on bad terms. Ham Ort was wrapping one of her wings around Adhai.
'Did they reconcile… huh?'
Upon closer inspection, there was a small pink figure between them. Number 26 had extended two thin tendrils, connecting with the tendrils of the two Gallagons.
'Is it mediating between them?'
Or perhaps it was comforting the two in their grief. Whatever the case, it seemed that Number 26 had positively influenced their relationship.
I considered approaching them but decided against it.
The pain of losing family or kin isn't something I can console. Someone like Number 26, who has experienced something similar, or Mother of the Sky, could offer better advice.
Certainly better than someone like me, who ran away rather than confronting reality.
'…Pointless thoughts.'
Shaking my head, I turned and entered the cave.
—
A canyon of ice, hundreds of meters deep.
A place where light should never reach, where only darkness should reign.
Yet, the bottom of the canyon now glowed bright red.
｢Pyra Eleven. Record verification complete.｣
In the red glow, hoses of flesh and metal writhed.
Calling them 'hoses' didn't quite capture their essence. Ordinary hoses aren't casually tens of meters long, with a minimum thickness of several meters. The sight of multiple such hoses in motion resembled a group of Ice Horrors coiling together.
With every movement of the massive body, the red light flickered.
｢Pyra Eleven. Conclusion reached. Utilizing the S and PS models for the mission is disadvantageous. Alternative methods are necessary for mission completion.｣
｢Pyra Eleven. Proposing an alternative method. Reinvestigation of the supervolcano is required.｣
｢Pyra Eleven. Denied. Threats have not yet been eliminated. Further damage is unnecessary. The investigation will be assigned to the Screamers.｣
The immense entity, or rather Pyra Eleven, continued its self-dialogue as if it had multiple minds.
｢Pyra Eleven. Proposing an alternative method. Based on the information relayed by the S and PS models, bodily restructuring is required for the direct construction of Special Target A.｣
｢Of the remaining Screamers, it would be beneficial to absorb all but 10 S models and 2 PS models for exploratory purposes.｣
｢The auxiliary brain for gene manipulation will utilize the ship's AI.｣
As the red light intensified, the colossal hoses began to move with agility.
Soon, sparks flew from beneath the canyon with the sound of welding. Even as the red light deepened, there was no scream from the Screamers.
——————
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a pink jellyfish.
It was Number 26, who had grown to a size of 10 meters, asleep while leaning against me.
Beside Number 26 were Adhai and Mother of the Sky. Not long ago, Mother of the Sky in her griffion form had been much larger than Adhai, but that was no longer the case.
After evolving into a White Gallagon, Adhai had grown to be similar in size to Mother of the Sky, and now, with the power of the Red Gallagon, Adhai was even longer, especially when considering her wings.
'It seems her heart has softened.'
I expected her to be with the Blue Gallagons, but surprisingly, she was here. It seems the comfort from Number 26 and Ham Ort was quite effective.
As I lay there, simply observing, I noticed white and green islands submerged in a black swamp. These were the White and Green Gallagons that were still recovering from their injuries.
Fortunately, most of their wounds had healed. However, their horns, which took longer to regenerate, remained broken for some.
While I was checking on their conditions, a light flickered from the passage connected to the chamber.
'What was that?'
Though it was brief, having seen it, I couldn't just ignore it.
Carefully, I got up.
Normally, Number 26 would have woken up at the slightest movement from me, but it must have been extremely tired because it didn't stir. I moved cautiously to avoid waking it and stepped outside the swamp.
'Speaking of which, where is PS-111?'
It was nowhere to be seen inside the chamber.
Heading towards the passage where the light had flashed, I found PS-111.
It was in the middle of syncing with a Screamer head. When it noticed me, it stopped what it was doing and turned to face me.
"You're awake."
Just like Number 26, PS-111 also matched its actions to Number 26's daily rhythm. When Number 26 slept, it would partially power down its system, and when Number 26 ate, it would replenish its energy.
It was rare for it to act on its own initiative unless given orders.
"Did you find something?"
"Yes. I had some memory data that needed verification."
"Is it about Pyra Eleven?"
"No. I found a few interesting memory fragments."
Despite its usual lack of expression, something about it seemed different today. Perhaps it was a hint of emotion.
After a brief silence, it spoke again.
"During the process of being digested by the Ice Horror, most of my memory data was lost. It's impossible for me to know what memories or thoughts my original body held."
"Were you trying to see if others were in a similar situation?"
"Yes."
PS-111's body had been severely damaged by the Ice Horror's attack. When Number 26 found it, only its head remained.
It had managed to cram the minimum life-support functions into its small head to stay alive. In the process, its organic parts and the AI that controlled its actions formed a symbiotic structure.
'It seems the original memories and personality were lost in the process.'
To be precise, it would be more accurate to say that the two merged.
After receiving energy from Number 26, its body had been restored to a state where machine and organism achieved perfect balance. In other words, it had become a new entity where biological tissue and machinery were seamlessly integrated.
'Its identity must be very different from what it once was.'
In a way, the intelligence and mechanical components of the Screamer that originally made up PS-111 had died, leaving this new entity in front of me as something entirely different.
'But that's probably not what it wants to hear.'
"Did you find what you were looking for?"
Shaking its head, it replied, "The memory data analysis revealed an 89% similarity. They were all resigned to their existence and wished for their life-support systems to stop."
'Not surprising.'
The conditions it faced were vastly different from those of a regular Screamer.
Cyborgs or intelligent beings forcibly turned into Screamers must endure constant torment until they are pardoned by the Machine Council. They can't control their bodies as they wish, but they still experience pain and sensations fully.
Even when hit by artillery fire on the battlefield, they must charge forward, and even when their bodies are scorched by energy rounds, they must continue fighting.
It's an environment that would break even the strongest of wills. As PS-111 said, it would be rare to find anything other than a plea for death.
"After analyzing the data, I'm left with new doubts. Was I like them, or was I something different? I can't make a definitive judgment."
Even if the newly developed mutant Screamer differed from older models, the basic framework remained the same. Before its transformation, PS-111 was probably similar to the other mutant Screamers.
However, I couldn't just tell it what I was thinking.
"Well, I think you were different."
"What makes you think so?"
"If you truly wanted to die, you wouldn't have gone through the trouble of modifying your body inside the Ice Horror. And even after Number 26 saved you, you've had plenty of opportunities to end it all. Doesn't that make you different?"
It's likely that its transformation was a desperate measure taken by the AI to preserve life, but I couldn't be 100% sure. Out of all the creatures that had participated in the mission with it, PS-111 was the only one that had stubbornly survived.
I added one more thing to PS-111.
"You're a special entity. That much is certain."
And I meant it.
Depending on how you look at it, PS-111 had reached a stage of freedom far beyond the others.
It blinked the camera that replaced its eyes and fell silent. After a brief pause, it spoke again.
"I will take that into consideration."
With that, the conversation ended. PS-111 fiddled with the Screamer's head for a moment before quietly entering sleep mode.
'Memories, huh.'
When you think about it, the players who arrived in this dystopian world are in a situation similar to PS-111. Humans who were living their own lives suddenly had their consciousnesses thrown into this world.
I, too, am essentially human, not an Amorph. The burns I suffered as a child, the conflicts with my parents, and the hobbies I started as an escape—all of these memories from my human life still define who 'I' am, even in this Amorph body.
'What happens to these memories if I return home?'
If they remain intact, it might be difficult to adjust back to reality. After all, I would be going back to being human after existing as a creature that devoured people.
'But that's not something to worry about just yet.'
Eventually, I drifted off to sleep while lying beside PS-111, lost in these thoughts.
When I awoke to a sense of movement around me, it was already morning. The first thing I saw was Number 26.
｢Good morning, big one.｣
I patted it as it greeted me cheerfully. It glowed and sent out waves of contentment.
｢The little ones are all up. They're calling for you.｣
[ZZZ ZZZ (Wait a moment.)]
Instead of heading directly into the chamber, I stopped by the entrance of the cave. After gathering what I needed near the uncovered entrance, I returned to the chamber.
As I entered the vast space covered in a swamp, I found the Gallagons and the little ones waiting for me.
｢Big elder,｣ ｢We're ready,｣ ｢All set.｣
The Gallagons who had recovered from their injuries radiated intense anger. Adhai was also determined, burning with the desire for revenge.
'Good'.
There were four White Gallagons and nine Green Gallagons who had barely survived while defending the nest from the Screamers. Including Ham Ort, there were fourteen in total.
A few more Green Gallagons had remained unscathed by staying in the nest, but I didn't plan to bring them along.
'Pyra Eleven is an enemy similar to me.'
It absorbs energy by consuming living beings. Bringing too many won't necessarily be beneficial. Instead, I plan to bring a small but elite group of fourteen Gallagons and the little ones.
'But before that…'
There was something I needed to do before setting off.
What I had brought from the entrance of the nest was none other than the corpses of White Gallagons. Four corpses obtained from defeating Odd Grad.
'Judging by Adhai's case, White Gallagons need to consume other White Gallagons to evolve.'
I wasn't sure, so I intended to experiment right here. I wanted to see if these corpses could evolve the four White Gallagons.
'Who should I give them to?'
I was definitely going to give them to Ham Ort and Nel Germa. Both had extensive combat experience and were highly skilled. If the experiment went well and they both became Black Gallagons, it would be a significant advantage in the upcoming battle.
'Sha Belmag wouldn't be a bad choice either.'
That lean male Gallagon was the first to rebel against Odd Grad after he lost his ring. He seemed intelligent, making him a suitable candidate for the experiment.
As for the last one, after some deliberation, I chose the largest Gallagon among them.
'Ham Ort, Nel Germa, Sha Belma, and Jerkapcha.'
I presented the four White Gallagon corpses I had obtained the previous day in front of them.
Loyal by nature, Nel Germa didn't hesitate to plunge its tentacles into the corpse. Sha Belmag and Jerkapcha followed, absorbing the remaining fluids from the corpse.
Finally, Ham Ort seemed to hesitate.
[ZZZ (Drink.)]
It gazed at the corpse I had offered, then turned its head to look at Adhai.
｢?｣
Adhai tilted her head, puzzled by Ham Ort's stare. After a moment, Ham Ort seemed to make up its mind and immediately plunged its tentacles into the corpse.
'Now, let's see what happens.'
I hoped that all of them would evolve into Black Gallagons, but things might not go that smoothly.
'At least one of them should evolve into a Black Gallagon.'
Quite some time had passed since they began their experimental meal.
The corpses I had brought started to shrivel up, drying out like mummies. Despite consuming nearly all of it, there were no visible signs of change.
'Could it be a fail—huh?'
Just then, I noticed something on Ham Ort's horn. The surface of the horn had started to turn black, as if ink had spread across it.
The black waves quickly engulfed Ham Ort's horn, spreading rapidly over its head and down its neck. Realizing the changes in its body, Ham Ort unfurled its wings and wrapped them around itself. From beneath the thick wings, the sounds of rapid growth echoed.
'It's similar to Adhai.'
I checked the other Gallagons to see if they were undergoing any changes as well.
Nel Germa and Sha Belma had some unfamiliar black spots behind their necks and on parts of their bodies, but there were no signs that these would spread like they did with Ham Ort.
'So, only Ham Ort is evolving?'
Out of the four, only Ham Ort showed signs of growth. Despite devouring the entire White Gallagon corpse, the other three didn't transform.
'Could it be the condition of the corpses? Or is it related to age?'
To my knowledge, Ham Ort was the oldest among the surviving Gallagons. It was relatively young before, but after the battles with Odd Grad and the Screamers, which decimated most of their numbers, Ham Ort had become the eldest.
'Maybe both the condition of the corpses and age played a role.'
It was disappointing, but there was nothing more I could do. All that was left was to wait for Ham Ort to complete its growth.
When Adhai transformed into a White Gallagon, it took about 30 minutes to an hour. Unlike Amorphs, it didn't take that long.
An hour passed.
Ham Ort remained still, its wings tightly wrapped around its body. The pure white wings had vanished, replaced by smooth, obsidian-like wings that now covered it.
At some point, the sounds of transformation ceased. The growth process was complete.
The new Black Gallagon spread its winged mantle wide. As the newly born black dragon emerged, all the Gallagons in the vicinity lowered their heads in deference.
Ham Ort now sported two additional horns on its head. The original horns hadn't fully regenerated, resulting in a somewhat unbalanced appearance.
The horns and body had taken on the black sheen of obsidian, and the creature's increased size added to its imposing presence.
Though still smaller than the aged Odd Grad, Ham Ort now stretched at least 30 meters from head to tail, a considerable figure nonetheless.
Ham Ort surveyed its new form briefly before bowing slightly to Adhai and me.
As I looked at the fully evolved creature, I thought to myself.
Everything is ready.
—————
Space Survival stands out among its contemporaneous VR games due to its sheer variety of NPC species.
These NPCs, a mix of traits from real-world animals and alien creatures inspired by various science fiction media, are one of the game's most appealing features.
This led some players to focus on studying the game's ecosystems and the behaviors of its many creatures. Players have uncovered lore about a wide range of beings, from the small and adorable Bubble Amoebas to the massive space whales known as Sky Whales.
However, no one had ever flown alongside the Galaxy's Dragons, the Gallagons.
What no one else had achieved, I was doing now.
Flying beside me was a Gallagon with white skin that looked as though it was draped in a red dress. This was Adhai, the red-and-white Gallagon, flapping her four wings as she kept pace with me.
Behind us was a female Black Gallagon. The newly evolved Ham Ort, who had transformed into a Black Gallagon that very morning, was now reminiscent of a celestial being dragging a storm cloud in its wake.
Flying in formation behind Ham Ort were four White Gallagons and nine Green Gallagons. Together, we formed a squadron of fifteen Gallagons soaring over an endless snowy plain.
A slight tilt of my head revealed the white expanse below. It was the same icy field we first encountered when we arrived on this planet.
When we first arrived, we hid to avoid confronting any enemies. But that was no longer the case.
｢Hey, big guy, look over there.｣
Perched on my head, Number 26 sent me a wave of thought, directing my attention with a tentacle. I saw a large indentation in the ice where the ground had caved in, creating a sizable crater.
It was the spot where I fought Jason, where thick ice plates had shattered. Though much time had passed and the snow had piled up, the signs of our battle remained.
We flew on, passing over the large crater.
By the time we neared the edge of the snow-and-ice-filled plain, it was already close to evening.
'That must be it.'
Located in the opposite direction of the mountain range was an enormous canyon. It was so vast that it could likely be observed from outside the planet.
The canyon appeared to be a deep subterranean chasm, with no visible bottom from above.
'A place that size could definitely hide a ship.'
The Jax Alpha warship is over a kilometer long. Such a colossal beast could easily be concealed within the canyon's vast and deep expanse.
Since arriving in this world, I hadn't fought in such a large battlefield. And this time, we weren't luring the enemy out—we were the ones launching a surprise attack. The enemy likely wasn't foolish enough to leave the area unguarded.
'But….'
I signalled Ham Ort. Receiving my signal, Ham Ort lifted her head to the sky.
As the six black horns on her head glowed purple, the clouds above began to shift rapidly. The swirling clouds soon formed a tornado that descended to the ground.
This was Maelstrom, a psychic ability unique to Black Gallagons—a force akin to a natural disaster, wielded by Ham Ort.
No matter what traps the enemy had set, they would lose much of their effectiveness against Maelstrom.
The tornado settled around the canyon, and psychic-powered lightning surged deep into the abyss.
Purple lightning crawled across the canyon's floor and walls, creating a spiderweb of energy against the dark void.
Soon, thick smoke billowed up from the canyon's unseen depths and walls with a resounding boom.
'So they set up drones.'
｢APD, huh.｣
The Mother of the Sky, perched atop Ham Ort, sent out a telepathic wave.
Pyra Eleven had prepared for the possibility of Gallagons attacking by hiding APDs (Anti Psychic Drones) within the canyon walls.
APDs are drones used by Star Union warships in battles against Gallagons and cults. They can absorb various energy types, including psychic power, making them a defence against energy-based weapons.
Gallagon flight relies on a combination of wing movement and psychic power. If their psychic power is neutralized by APDs, their flight speed would drastically decrease.
'That's when the Screamers would strike.'
Judging by the setup, the Screamers were likely waiting to ambush us as soon as we entered the canyon.
I waited for them to attack.
But despite the continuous psychic lightning strikes, there was no response from inside the canyon. I focused all my senses on the secondary systems, but detected no movement.
[ZZZZ ZZ (See anything?)]
｢No, nothing.｣
The Mother of the Sky shook her head.
With her eagle-like vision, she could spot objects at great distances, regardless of the time of day. Moreover, she was a fellow Ranker like me. No matter how well the enemy hid, it would be nearly impossible for them to escape her notice.
'What's going on?'
From what I could tell, the only danger within our visible range was the APDs.
The fact that they deployed APDs indicates they were prepared for a Gallagon assault. But Pyra Eleven would know that drones alone wouldn't be enough to stop Gallagons.
"Is there a possibility that all the Screamers were lost?"
"Highly unlikely. If that were the case, Pyra Eleven would have considered the mission a failure and chosen to retreat."
The Androids of the Machine Committee are fully aware of their value. They tend to avoid damage whenever possible.
If Pyra Eleven found itself in an unfavorable situation, it would have opted to retreat. In that case, it wouldn't have set up APDs in the canyon.
In other words, it hasn't fled. It's waiting for us to enter.
'Hmm.'
Thanks to the lightning's glow, I could see that the canyon was wider at the bottom than at the top.
It was shaped like a bottle—easy to enter, but difficult to exit.
'I need to change the plan.'
Waiting for them to come out is inefficient and risky. If given time, Pyra Eleven would likely produce new Screamers.
I considered destroying the canyon, but it was too large to easily collapse. To completely bring it down would require days of continuous psychic blasts. It would not only take too long but also exhaust our strength, making it an impractical option.
'I'll have to go in directly.'
In the game, I had faced situations like this many times.
When operating solo, the Amorph usually infiltrated and attacked the enemy's base in this manner. There's nothing more disadvantageous than fighting an enemy stronger than you on their home ground.
And yet, I always won for a simple reason.
'Turning the enemy's advantage against them.'
The enemy believes this icy underground prison gives them an advantage. They're not wrong, but there's something they don't know.
I have a way to turn their advantage into a disadvantage. A tactic I didn't even use against the Screamers.
[ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (Let's find a way in on foot.)]
｢Do you have a plan?｣
[Z (Yes.)]
We turned and flew back towards the direction of the ice plain. At the edge of the canyon, there was a place that could be considered an entrance.
The frozen entrance to the canyon had walls that narrowed toward the top while the bottom was wide open. It resembled more a dungeon or cave where a monster might reside than a canyon entrance.
After landing on the icy ground, I looked around at the Gallagons.
The fewer people involved in the plan I had in mind, the better. There was a risk that friendly fire could occur.
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZ (We'll go in alone. The rest of you wait outside.)]
｢Ham Ort｣ ｢Daughter of the Meteor｣ ｢I'll protect｣ ｢Not sending you alone｣
[ZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZ (No. Ham Ort has something important to do.)]
Among us, she is the only one who can freely intercept enemies from the air. If we need support fire, it's better for Ham Ort to wait outside.
[ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ (Don't worry. Adhai won't get hurt.)]
She hesitated briefly before finally agreeing with me. As the Gallagons took off again, Number 26, Adhai, the Mother of the Sky, and PS-111 accompanied me into the canyon.
The canyon's interior was nearly devoid of light due to its structure, with walls narrowing at the top and a deep chasm below. At this hour, it was a world of complete darkness.
To make matters worse, the wind howling through the openings above created an eerie sound that was both like a beast's roar and the whispers of thousands of people simultaneously.
Fortunately, none of us were the type to be frightened by such things.
I stopped a little distance away from the entrance where we had come in. Here, I began setting up a trap to counter Pyra Eleven.
'What I previously set up isn't necessary anymore.'
I had two cards to play against Pyra Eleven, and one of them was the nest.
I moved around, spreading black mucus in various spots. The mucus quickly solidified into tumor-like forms, contaminating the white ice.
This wasn't an ideal spot for a nest, but it didn't matter. Once it expanded enough to cover the surrounding area, it could deliver a critical blow during the fight with the enemy.
｢Are you planning to do this like when you fought Fourth place player in the game?｣
[ZZZ (Yes.)]
The Mother of the Sky immediately caught on to what I was planning.
｢How do you intend to do that without a specific trait?｣
[ZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ (You adapt to the situation.)]
｢…It won't be easy.｣
｢What is it? Teach me too.｣
｢I｣ ｢Curious｣ ｢I want to｣ ｢Know too｣
｢You'll see soon enough.｣
After finishing all the tasks, I set out again with the kids.
The more we went inside, the more the floor sloped steeply inward. It was more like a passage leading underground than a canyon. It felt like entering the frozen lake of hell from classic literature.
｢Something feels off.｣
｢Something off?｣ ｢I｣ ｢Don't feel it.｣
｢I'm not sure either.｣
｢It's odd here and there. It feels boring.｣
By the time we were halfway in, Number 26 seemed to be in a bad mood. Its usual bright pink body had turned a dark red, similar to cherry.
｢I can't see anything.｣
Mother of the Sky and I carefully surveyed the surroundings, but there was nothing noticeable or perceptible. The area was filled only with ice and rock formations resembling elongated stalactites.
'It wouldn't say something like this for no reason.'
As a Sea Demon, it was sensitive to the flow of energy and various other sensations. There must be a clear reason why it felt something was wrong.
While I was contemplating what the problem might be, PS-111 made a sound.
"There is a faint electronic signal detected 1.5 kilometers ahead. It is presumed to be an XAX01-class battleship."
"What?"
The hidden ship is already close by. Yet, the enemies remain invisible. If they were hiding, they should have shown themselves by now.
'That can't be. Something's definitely… wait a moment.'
The battle with the Outspacer Mother of the Sky mentioned, Number 26's reaction, and the current situation.
A realization flashed in my mind, and my gaze turned toward a serpent-like rock formation.
It appeared to be a massive object that looked like a fossilized Ice Horror. What I had thought was just a simple rock was now something else entirely.
I hurriedly approached the mass and lightly placed my auxiliary sensor on its surface.
The first thing I felt was the cold chill, followed by a faint earthy smell.
And then….
'The smell of metal!'
Removing the auxiliary sensor, I looked up and stared at the canyon walls. I now understood why I hadn't noticed this before.
There was a very faint metallic odour pervading the entire canyon around us.
The others, seeing my reaction, quickly grasped that the situation was dire. Before I could say anything, they urgently assumed a combat stance.
[ZZ ZZZ (Everyone, get ready)]
As the monster's tentacles emitted waves, the serpent-like rock formation in front of me shook violently.
The ice and earth covering the canyon shattered. From within, a massive metallic hose, resembling a serpent, writhed.
Like a demon emerging from a frozen lake, several metal hoses sprang up from the floor. At the ends of these hoses, a large face formed from a mixture of synthetic metal tubes and biological tissue appeared.
The mechanical giant's face opened its eyes. A pair of red camera lenses looked down at us.
｢Pyra Eleven. Judgement. The special target A we were observing noticed us faster than expected. Plan altered. Proceeding with the mission.｣
As it opened its mouth, an immense mechanical noise erupted, making my auxiliary sensor tingle painfully.
——————