Chapter 66
by Afuhfuihgs
Chapter 66
From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.
Episode 66: Celestine Incident- Bay No. 1 (3).
Merlin had gained renown as a biologist later in her career.
Maxwell’s Legion, often described as a realm of steel monsters, bore a striking resemblance to a living organism in its fundamental structure. This was in stark contrast to Darwin’s army, which seemed to multiply endlessly, as it possessed both the strengths and vulnerabilities inherent to biological beings.
Merlin’s expertise extended to the behaviors, habits, and vulnerabilities of spiders. This knowledge allowed her to precisely target and pierce Lyzlactia’s spinning gland with a plasma sword.
“Huoook…”
The grotesque sound erupted from the Incarnate, confirming my suspicion: Lyzlactia’s core was indeed located within her silk-producing gland. Almost as if to validate my theory, a status window appeared.
The Incarnate ‘Lyzlactia’ has suffered a critical hit.
Thud!
The sickening sound of an eyeball bursting echoed. Unable to withstand the pressure, two of Lyzlactia’s eight eyes dissolved into a viscous, honey-like substance. A thick, tar-like fluid seeped out.
[“W-who was that just now…? Who was it just now…?”]
The sound of heavy machinery echoed through the hull, creating an oppressive atmosphere. Merlin hiccuped and quickly blended into the crowd, her short stature aiding her in slipping away unnoticed.
Even if Lyzlactia had spotted Merlin, a pursuit was futile. The critical blow had been dealt, and EX-class inspectors were now keeping her in check.
[“Ugh, ugh! Let go…!”]
Lyzlactia’s strength was fading fast; her eight legs twitched weakly, unable to muster any effective resistance.
“Cut off her legs!”
The inspectors moved in, their blades aimed at the Incarnate’s limbs. With the last of her energy, Lyzlactia spun a barrier of adamantine threads to block their strikes.
Then, unexpectedly, she turned her gaze to me and spoke with finality.
“Even if my life comes to an end…”
Her eyes locked onto mine, fierce and unyielding.
“I will kill you…!”
Those were her last words. The Incarnate of Lyzlactia ceased to exist, but not without consequence. Her demise released a vast surge of prons, signaling her transformation into the destroyer of this ship.
Incarnate ‘Lyzlactia’ weaves
With a sharp pop, the remaining four eyes on her face burst. Her face, forearms, and all eight legs began to melt and dissolve into nothing.
This was her final assault, a desperate act of burning her own life away.
“Die, die…!”
With a resounding crunch, the copper wire pulled taut, weaving a celestial web that enveloped the entire warship. It transformed every metallic component within the vessel into a potential weapon.
“Everyone, fall back!”
The swordsmen, sensing the anomaly, widened their distance. It was rare for an Incarnate to resort to self-destruction. Even seasoned veterans found themselves flustered by such an act.
Nonetheless, there was only one viable solution to halt the impending rampage.
The activation of the area skill
The core had to be extracted before the skill was activated.
“Ha.”
Almost instinctively, my body moved before my mind could catch up, driven by a life-or-death urgency. Extracting Lyzlactia’s core felt akin to defusing a ticking time bomb, adrenaline surging through my veins.
Every instinct screamed for caution, yet a deeper, more primal part of me pushed forward.
I must stop this. I can do it.
I approached the corner where Lyzlactia lay dying and inserted the calipers into her real chest.
13,500 prons have been paid.
Using EX-grade conversion,
Click.
My fingers brushed against something solid.
It was the core.
Congratulations! You have defeated the Incarnate ‘Lyzlactia’.
You have earned 100,000 prons as a defeat reward.
You have earned an additional 15,000 prons as a collaboration reward.
While the inspectors collected coins, my reward came in the form of prons.
Fortunately, having delivered the final blow, my earnings were significantly higher than anticipated. It was quite a lucrative venture.
“Maybe you should invest in stamina?”
“Strength isn’t a bad idea either.”
The inspectors discussed their options while I assessed the situation.
I envied their ability to enhance their physical capabilities. Unlike them, my prons could only be used to augment mental faculties.
Yet, the rewards didn’t stop there.
“Here is the core from the transformed body.”
I presented the core, extracted from Lyzlactia’s chest, to the captain.
“It’s quite sizable. Excellent work, student. We’ll handle it from here.”
“Will you send it to the research lab?”
“To us, it’s merely a trophy. Why would we keep something so unsettling?”
The captain chuckled deeply, his eyes twinkling with an unusual glint as he looked at me.
Before he could comment further, I produced a note.
“If you’re sending it to the research institute, please use this address. It’s the mail route via the Stellar Physics Research Institute.”
“Thanks for the suggestion, but we have our own procedures to follow. If we don’t report it to the state, we could be charged with embezzlement.”
“Stellar Physics is also a state institution.”
“Student, I see you’re quite sharp.”
The email I provided was none other than Professor Feynman’s contact. Using it wasn’t strictly necessary, but doing so would significantly expedite the analysis of the material properties.
The greater the number of nuclei in the metamorphic body and the swifter the analysis, the more it would benefit graviton bomb research. Understanding how to dismantle the inner shell of the nucleus could vastly enhance the destructive capacity of a warhead as it approaches a black hole.
After a moment of hesitation, the captain took my note.
“Anyway, the casualty count is complete, and you performed admirably, student. Might I inquire about your name?”
“My name is Aidel.”
“Very well, Student Aidel. I am Lucardo. Your skills are quite remarkable for one so young. The weapon you wield appears to have unique properties. Was it bestowed upon you by a deity?”
Lucardo gestured towards my calipers as he spoke. I confirmed that it was indeed the case. Lucardo responded with admiration, “Its design is intriguing. It seems particularly effective against those Incarnates.”
“How do you know?”
“I’ve been a soldier for years, so it’s only natural I’d know. By the way, you seem to be quite favored by a high-ranking sponsor.”
“What do you mean?”
“Typically, you can’t easily obtain such weapons. You need to have a deep connection with your sponsor. At the very least, it requires trust, acceptance, and love. Essentially, it’s a gift you receive only when you have a bond as close as siblings or spouses.”
That was quite the explanation.
However, I received this weapon shortly after meeting Cartesia.
It seemed his theory might not apply to everyone.
“Student Aidel,” Lucardo said, giving me a thoughtful look.
“Have you considered joining the military?”
“That might be challenging with graduate school commitments.”
Lucardo’s expression soured slightly. Had I said something wrong? He managed a strained smile.
“Ah, I see. Well, take care. We’ve repaired the orbital elevator, so you can head down to the lobby with your friends. We’ll check our craft and follow shortly.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
I nodded respectfully to the inspector and entered the elevator. With that, the chaos on the first floor was behind us.
But the ordeal wasn’t entirely over yet.
We still had the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th bays to clear. The Incarnates lurking there needed to be defeated, one way or another.
The conditions seemed irrelevant. Lost in thought, I was jolted back to reality when Welton nudged my shoulder.
“Christine should have seen you.”
“Why?”
“She always calls you corrupt and whatnot. Didn’t this prove that your admission wasn’t unfair? True skills can’t be hidden.”
I sighed. Welton’s tone was light, joking even, but I could tell he was still tense. Encountering an Incarnate without a constellation was a terrifying experience for anyone ordinary.
“By the way, what exactly are you?”
Welton’s question came out of nowhere, likely spurred by the string of bizarre events from the reassignment exam to the present.
If the question was too difficult to answer, I usually just laughed it off. This time, I decided to divert the conversation.
“Keep worrying about Christine.”
“I am,” he replied.
Welton’s face clouded over. Christine had been rushed to the emergency room, her condition uncertain. All we could do was hope, regardless of whether we believed in a higher power or not.
“She’s a good kid; it would be tragic if she died like this. She has to survive. There’s still a year and a half until she graduates,” someone murmured.
I bowed my head, absorbing the weight of those words. Across from me, Merlin leaned against the wall, sighing and sniffling. It wasn’t the right time to approach her.
She wasn’t alone in her silence. Everyone was too drained to speak. I also kept quiet, only speaking when spoken to, as I tried to organize my jumbled thoughts.
In the background, I could hear Matus and James conversing.
“I’ve heard that the other ships are in chaos too. None of them can communicate. We’re lucky to have survived, but I’m worried about the students on those ships,” said James.
“What can we do? Those who will live will live, and those who will die will die,” Matus replied curtly, his tone tinged with irritation. Yet, his face betrayed him; it was clear he was in a state of deep emotional turmoil.
“Guys, we’re at the 1st Bay. Get off,” announced Enabet, our EX-class inspector who was escorting us. Her words seemed to breathe some life into the previously silent students.
As we disembarked and made our way back to the base planet, what greeted us was beyond comprehension.
“W-What is this?” I gasped.
The lights flickered erratically, casting eerie shadows across the room where liquids pooled in dark, irregular patches. The overpowering stench of blood mingled with the cold, musty air.
Limbs lay scattered, severed from their owners, amidst columns that jutted out at odd angles, distorting the once orderly space. Displaced eyeballs aimlessly rolled as if searching for something they had lost.
“Sh-shit,” Matus cursed under his breath.
“What the hell is this goddamn nightmare?” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Around him, the female students crumpled to the ground, their legs buckling under the weight of terror. Even Merlin, usually so composed, covered her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears.
“N-no, I don’t want to be here…”
The scene was a grotesque tableau of horror.
The effect of
We were caught off guard.
I clicked my tongue and was the first to step out of the elevator. Ms. Enabet, who had been standing there dumbfounded, finally snapped to attention and drew her sword.
“Weren’t there any EX-level inspectors in the lobby?” I asked.
“There were. About one squad.”
“Then how is this possible? Shouldn’t EX-level be able to hold out against an Incarnate to some extent?”
“Wait a minute…”
Her eyes, previously darting under my barrage of questions, suddenly fixed on a point in the distance. It was only then that I, too, sensed something amiss.
The bodies of the inspectors were nowhere to be seen.
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