Ch.103Metallic Gremlin (1)

# Space Survival

Space Survival, as a game set in space, features various types of species. While some intelligent species live in civilizations and social communities like humans, there are also predator species like AMorph that view all living beings merely as food. The charm of Space Survival is that players can enjoy completely different gameplay experiences depending on which species they choose.

However, as mentioned earlier, Space Survival is a game set in space. Regardless of which species you choose, you must venture into space to progress in the game.

So what poses the greatest threat when first venturing into space?

The community generally points to two things.

One is the Space Dog, which spawns as an NPC.

These are hostile NPCs programmed to always target player ships. Moreover, being NPCs, they respawn infinitely no matter how many you kill.

Therefore, figuring out how to protect your ship from Space Dogs becomes an important task for players who have just ventured into space.

Fortunately, unless they’re high-level cartels, Space Dogs aren’t difficult to eliminate if you have appropriate warships and armaments.

Thus, Space Dogs aren’t the greatest threat.

The real threat is the silver plunderers of space, swarms of Metallic Gremlins. The event where these spawn en masse as NPCs is what many players fear most.

‘Of all times, it had to happen now….’

I knew there was a very low probability of Metallic Gremlin swarms appearing in I-97. I hadn’t worried much since the odds were as low as winning the lottery, but here we are.

‘This is bad.’

The white cloud—no, the swarm of Metallic Gremlins—approaches rapidly.

It looks like a cloud, but that’s because it’s actually a mass of silver-skinned Metallic Gremlins clustered together.

Judging by the size, it’s at least a medium-sized swarm. Almost impossible to handle with a single ship.

‘Should I just stay still?’

Currently, I’ve infected and taken control of the pirate ship Calvin.

Since Metallic Gremlins only target metal, if I’m lucky, they might just pass me by.

‘…No.’

That’s too risky. If I allow them to approach and they attack, it’s over.

Of course, being integrated with the ship gives me better defensive capabilities than a normal vessel, but there are too many of them. Their numbers exceed thousands, which limits my defensive capabilities.

‘I have to fight here.’

There’s no choice but to fight and look for an opportunity to escape via FTL navigation.

One might wonder why not just flee immediately, but that’s difficult because of the higher species mixed in with the swarm.

‘Warpboy.’

Among the higher species of Metallic Gremlins, there’s one called “Warpboy.”

Warpboys possess only one unique special ability called “Warp Guide,” but its effect is extremely powerful.

‘Mass teleportation, no less.’

In this game, all teleportation abilities—like a ship’s FTL navigation or the astral tuning that Code Black used—have restrictions.

Astral tuning can’t be used alone, and FTL navigation consumes massive amounts of energy, and so on.

But only two creatures can teleport large groups without any restrictions, and Warpboy is one of them.

There’s also someone among the Voltex One who can use unrestricted mass teleportation, but you can only encounter that being in the extreme late game.

The Warpboy, which can be encountered even in the early game, is much more threatening.

‘At least it’s only a medium-sized swarm.’

Large-scale swarms or the even bigger “Great Herds” have multiple Warpboys, but medium-sized swarms only have one.

If I can kill it, I can safely evade the swarm.

[Zz zzzzz(Everyone help)]

“What’s wrong?”

[Zzzzzz(Enemy)]

The swarm will reach us in less than 5 minutes.

During that time, I need to prepare to fight them.

First, I briefly explained to Adhigh Orr and No. 26 how to fight these creatures.

[Zzzzzz zzzzz zzzzzzzz(Adhigh, keep them in check)]

“Understood”

[Zz zzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz(You’re still weak, so just fly quickly when evading)]

Adhigh, the only one among us capable of aerial combat in space, was assigned the role of directly engaging and intercepting the enemy.

‘And No. 26.’

[Zzzzzz zzzzzz(Frighten them)]

“I just need to scare them?”

No. 26’s role is to stop or disrupt their movements.

Metallic Gremlins have very hard bodies but almost no resistance to psychic power.

In large-scale swarms and above, there are creatures that can defend against psychic power, but not in this swarm.

[Zzzz zzzzzz zzzz zzzz(Both of you hide here if it gets dangerous)]

I altered the ship’s structure to create cover and entrances so Adhigh and No. 26 could hide or retreat into the ship if necessary.

After sending them off, I moved all the storm guns the pirates had used to the outside of the hull.

‘They’ll work well with motion detection sensors for firing.’

I replaced the ones with depleted ammunition and low battery levels using my infection tentacles.

After completing the new machine gun batteries, I created new turrets incorporating my special traits.

I made biochemical weapon turrets that shoot fungal spores, utilizing my decay fungus organ trait.

‘This is for medium and close range since the range is short.’

Finally, after checking the plasma turrets, I observed the Metallic Gremlin swarm.

They would soon enter the range of the plasma turrets.

[Zzzzzzzz(Everyone ready)]

“Yes!”

“I” “am” “ready”

I channeled energy into all the plasma turrets installed on the hull.

Destructive energy capable of cutting a ship that operates effortlessly in the harsh vacuum of space in half charges up in the alloy turrets.

‘Fire.’

Numerous green beams shot toward them. The sight resembled comets illuminating the night sky.

The comets with green tails pierced the white cloud. Many Metallic Gremlins were oxidized by the plasma energy, but many more filled the places of their fallen comrades.

“■■■!”

The enraged Gremlin swarm flies rapidly toward me. I searched for the Warpboy within their midst.

‘Usually it’s deep in the swarm.’

It would be great if it died from the plasma fire earlier, but things are never that easy.

As if to prove me wrong, a small blue light appeared near the outer edge. It quickly disappeared into the inner part of the swarm.

‘There it is.’

Warpboys are smaller than regular Metallic Gremlins, only about 50cm, but they have blue stripes on their bodies.

This makes them quite noticeable even from a distance.

‘It’ll be difficult to catch it with plasma fire.’

Judging by its movements just now, it’s much more agile than I thought. Unless someone holds it firmly, catching a Warpboy won’t be easy.

‘I’ll have to wait until No. 26 can use Terror of the Deep.’

Of course, I don’t intend to let them approach easily. I recharged the plasma turrets.

As energy was building up, the Metallic Gremlin swarm suddenly began turning blue.

‘Warp Guide!’

I quickly focused my mind on the engines at the rear of the hull. The energy that was heading to the turrets diverted to the engines, and the entire ship lunged forward.

‘Advance while charging the turrets!’

From the darkness behind our ship, the Metallic Gremlin swarm emerged, emitting blue light. My turrets, which had anticipated a rear attack, spewed fire toward where they emerged.

Green and blue paints blend on a black canvas that absorbs all light.

The two lights clashed, but the blue cloud—the Metallic Gremlins—gained the advantage. They had achieved their purpose.

“■■!”

“■■■■!”

The Metallic Gremlins closely pursued my tail.

As they got closer, their shabby appearance was clearly revealed.

With smooth silver skin without a single hair and faces with only suction-cup mouths, the sight of them baring their teeth and charging wasn’t particularly pleasant.

As they entered effective range, the storm guns attached to the outer hull activated. A storm of depleted uranium rounds rained down on them.

Their skin is so hard that even laser weapons can’t scratch it, but storm guns are a different story.

Bullets the size of an adult man’s palm firing hundreds of rounds—they couldn’t withstand that. The Metallic Gremlins targeting me exploded one after another as they were hit. Their distinctive silver blood painted the darkness like the Milky Way.

“■■! ■■!”

However, the Metallic Gremlins showed no signs of giving up. Perhaps the blood of their comrades fueled their fighting spirit, as they pursued me with even more ferocious momentum.

‘Next, plasma turrets.’

The ship’s turrets fired first.

Having been hit twice in succession, they scattered instantly as if determined not to be hit a third time. Only a few slow-moving ones turned to ash in the plasma beams.

As the overheated turrets from firing plasma beams took a break, the creatures charged again.

‘Not over yet.’

Judging they were close enough, I prepared my next weapon.

Fungal spores shot out from the elongated turret holes on the upper hull.

“■■■?”

They seemed unsure whether the unfamiliar fungal spores were an attack or not. The spores entered the Gremlin swarm without any resistance.

The spores exploded like flour-filled balloons, and decay fungi attached to the creatures.

“■!”

“■■■!”

The ugly faces of the Metallic Gremlins infected with black fungi contorted. Those unable to bear the pain clung to their comrades, creating a vicious cycle where the fungi spread further.

‘Good. At this rate…oh no!’

I was pleased that it was working better than expected, but the Warpboy responded. The bodies of the infected ones glowed blue, and they were suddenly dropped in the middle of space far away.

There were some uninfected ones too, but the Warpboy didn’t seem to care.

“■■! ■■■■!”

I fired spores again, but they must have been warned by the Warpboy, as they completely avoided the trajectory of the spores.

‘…Smarter than in the game.’

The Warpboy is quite intelligent. Its ability to respond to situations is not bad, and its command over the swarm is top-notch.

‘Still….’

I still have secret cards left.

While the storm guns and plasma beams are firing, a green flying object shoots out from my ship.

“Hunt” “begin”

It’s the green Gallergorn, Adhigh Orr. It flew at a speed faster than the storm gun bullets and unleashed Purple Lightning on the enemies.

The Metallic Gremlins, with no immunity to psychic power, trembled as they were hit by the psychic lightning. The depleted uranium rounds and plasma beams took care of those unable to move.

“■■!”

The Warpboy is trying to move part of the swarm near my ship. As the bodies of several Gremlins begin to glow blue, what I’ve been waiting for arrives.

‘It’s here.’

Terror crawling up from the deep sea tightens around me.

From the space below the hull, hundreds of tentacles the size of planets rise up. The Metallic Gremlins, overwhelmed by the immense size, all freeze in place.

And beyond the tentacles, from the depths of the galaxy, a giant eye appears and begins to watch them.

“■■!”

“■■■!”

The startled creatures begin to wail. Since they have no eyes, they’ll perceive this differently than I do.

But Terror of the Deep acts directly on the mind. They’ll feel the overwhelming size of those tentacles, which could easily crush planets, with their entire bodies.

‘It must be much scarier than seeing it directly.’

“■■■….”

As I expected, dozens of the frozen Gremlins detached from the swarm. They died of heart failure from encountering such awe-inspiring terror.

It’s not because they’re cowards. Even I, knowing what it was, felt chilled to the bone when the tentacles rose from beneath me.

Then the image of the tentacles disappeared in an instant.

No. 26 had adjusted “Terror of the Deep” so it wouldn’t affect me and Adhigh.

However, due to No. 26’s still inexpert use of the ability, some of the Metallic Gremlins awoke from the illusion. The Warpboy was among them.

“■■■■!”

The Warpboy, thinking I would fire a beam, tried to hide deeper within the swarm.

I couldn’t delay any longer. I quickly fired the turrets.

Long green beams penetrated the swarm. The Warpboy’s arm was completely incinerated by a passing beam, but it wasn’t dead yet.

“■■■!”

The Warpboy’s body glows blue. It’s probably trying to escape.

‘Not over yet!’

The hull transforms instantly according to my will. Thick, elongated tentacle bundles form at the front of the infected ship.

The newly formed tentacles simultaneously glow purple.

The monster tentacles sprouting from the ship consumed not only my mental energy but also drew on the energy stored in the ship.

An enormous amount of energy concentrated at the front of the hull, forming a purple sphere. Its size was on a completely different scale than when I used it in my original body.

The essence of psychic power, brilliantly glowing purple, is in my hand.

Even the Metallic Gremlins who had escaped No. 26’s illusion stared blankly at the beautiful energy sphere I created, as if shocked. They looked like moths flying toward a flame.

Adhigh, seeing the psychic power sphere glowing like the sun, quickly returned to the hull to avoid the range of the psychic breath.

“■?!”

The intelligent Warpboy, realizing what I was about to do, prepared for FTL travel.

Instead of its body glowing, the bodies of nearby Gremlins glowed blue.

Simultaneously, the purple sphere became a line that split the universe.

Half of the white cloud in front of me vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.

But I had no time to rejoice.

‘Oh no!’

Before dying, the Warpboy had initiated FTL travel for its comrades.

It turned to dust from the psychic breath, but its comrades succeeded in jumping through space.

“■■■!”

Half of the Metallic Gremlins attached themselves to my hull.

The battle wasn’t over yet.