Ch.105Jungle (1)

“I, I’ve told you everything I know! Please spare me!”

The human pilot, controlled by a parasite, begs me.

I was chewing on the Cult pilot’s arm and nodded to the tooth fairy swarm.

The flesh-eating fleas surrounding the pilots rushed toward their prey with delight.

“No, don’t do thiiiiiis!”

With that, all the pilots from the crashed carrier aircraft were taken care of.

I’m currently on the Saintopia02 continent of a planet called PH-101. The ecosystem is similar to primitive Earth, with conditions favorable for life.

But this planet is far from being as beautiful as it appears.

‘It’s a blue hell.’

The creatures inhabiting this planet are all so powerful that average users are more likely to be hunted than to hunt.

And around areas with precious resources live hostile Volf NPCs, among which Named Volfs occasionally appear.

‘They’re on a completely different level from the ones I’ve eaten.’

The rare Named Volfs are extremely powerful. Even I can’t easily guarantee victory against them.

Because of this, only players with ranker-level skills or large clans can tackle this planet.

On the other hand, even top players or large clans who can conquer the planet easily cannot monopolize it.

This is because PH-101 is, according to the setting, a planet protected by the Cult for religious reasons.

Even if other factions want to monopolize it, the game system doesn’t allow any construction activities or base building. Even Cult players can only stay here for a limited time.

‘That’s why I chose this planet.’

On PH-101, I could secure high-quality genetic essences without interference from other factions.

‘That’s how it should be, anyway.’

After interrogating the pirate pilot, I found something different from the game.

Currently, this place was occupied by a very powerful cartel among the Space Dogs.

The cartel’s name was ‘Humanity.’

Usually, Space Dog cartels are named after their boss’s surname, so this was unusual.

‘And Humanity, of all names.’

Before I quit Space Survival, there was a clan with a similar name led by a ranker.

Strangely, the clan leader was female but only accepted male members.

Because of this, the community called them the “queen bee clan” and other unflattering names, as I recall.

‘…Though I, as the community’s archenemy, shouldn’t be talking.’

Anyway, I could guess why the Humanity cartel could occupy this place.

As evident from the Cult pilot I’m eating now, most of Humanity’s members are Cult members.

Thanks to that, the Humanity cartel can freely come and go on this planet, according to him. This would have been impossible in the game, but it’s a variable that emerged in reality.

‘Plus, he said the boss has connections with the Cult ruling class.’

That means the Humanity boss is at least a high-ranking Cult member with Yak Horn status or higher.

I don’t know why such a person would engage in piracy, but I don’t need to know that.

‘Thanks to them, I can both collect genetic essences and fulfill evolution conditions—killing two birds with one stone.’

I finished swallowing the remaining Cult debris and retrieved my tooth fairies.

According to the pilot, Humanity periodically leaves this planet for smuggling operations.

‘If they have a ship, it would be easier for me to leave too.’

There are about 14 days left until the pirates depart.

I need to hijack a ship before they leave.

‘But first.’

I activated the translucent text box.

「Species: Unidentified Agressive Space Morph

Status: Juvenile (Transcendence Stage 1)

Objective: Survive (Successfully evolve twice).

Traits (Physical 14/Psychic 7/Infection 5/Special Defense 3/Nest 1)

① Physical (Type Applied): Acidic Blood, Metal Absorption, Complete Organism (Unique), Pheromone Enhancement, Suspended Animation, Bone Axe, Gliding Membrane, Wave Disruption, Enhanced Suction Cups

-Physical Fusion Traits: Regeneration, Neurotoxin Gland, Mimicry Organ (Unusable), Vampiric Tentacles, Spine-Shooting Tail

② Psychic (Type Applied): Humanity, Psychic Resistance, Insight

-Psychic Fusion Traits: Predator Sense, Monster Tentacles, Ghost Claws, Gaze of Terror

③ Infection: Space Bacteria, Enhanced Infection

-Infection Fusion Traits: Parasitic Colony, Decay Fungus Organ, Tooth Fairy Nest

④ Special Defense: Pain Reduction, Resistance

-Special Defense Fusion Traits: Protective Coloration

⑤ Nest: Horizon of Nightmare (Unique)

Types (2)

Physical Enhancement Type, Psychic Enhancement Type

Types Available for Specialization (3)

Infection Enhancement Type (5/8), Special Defense Enhancement Type (3/4), Nest Enhancement Type (1/4)

* Incomplete Traits (5)

Energy Absorption, Robust Vitality, Dwarfism, Gills, Fins

I’ve secured many useful traits by hunting the Hulk Mutants of the Calvin and the Metallic Gremlins of Sector I-97.

For example, there’s the ‘Protective Coloration’ trait created by combining traits from the Rhinoceros Hulk Mutant and Metallic Gremlins.

Currently, my outer skin and carapace are covered with small scales that are hard to see unless viewed up close. If I curl up and remain motionless for 10 seconds, these scales automatically move to change my body color.

The change makes me blend in with the surrounding environment. When I was hiding under a giant tree after the crash, the carrier aircraft couldn’t spot me thanks to this protective coloration.

‘It doesn’t change my body, so detection equipment can still find me, but…’

I now have the Wave Disruption trait. Unless they detect me from a distance beyond my wave disruption effect, it won’t be easy for nearby enemies to find me.

Additionally, I have the Bone Knife trait from the gorilla-like Hulk Mutant, the Enhanced Infection trait, and Enhanced Suction Cups from the Metallic Gremlins.

I flexed my upper right combat arm. Normally, vampiric tentacles would shoot out from the palm, but instead, a strangely curved bone blade protruded.

It’s similar to the arms on my back when using the Hunter’s Mark, but there are differences.

The bone blades on my back arms are thin but sharp, good for slashing and stabbing, while the bone axe is thick and heavy, specialized for crushing enemies like a kukri or axe.

‘As I always say.’

New weapons are always welcome.

After retracting the bone axe, I climbed up a giant tree using my combat arms and legs.

AMorphs originally have insect-like adhesive pads on the insides of their feet.

However, the Horizon of Nightmare effect had made my body too heavy to climb walls easily, but fortunately, I acquired a good trait.

The tiny suction cups on my hands and feet helped me climb the tree easily.

The trees on this continent are much larger than Earth’s redwoods, so the one I’m climbing can easily support my weight.

When I reached the treetop, an endless jungle spread out before me.

In the cloudless sky, pterosaur-like creatures flew, and from the jungle below came the sounds of beasts.

Seeing a depression where the blue sky meets the green jungle, I was certain the cruiser that fired the main gun was located there.

Looking in the opposite direction, I could see blue filling the horizon.

No. 26 and Adhigh Orr should be in that sea.

‘…I’ll pick them up after it’s safe.’

There are many dangerous creatures on PH-101, so they could easily get injured if they travel with me.

I need to focus on fighting pirates and dangerous creatures, and trying to protect them might actually jeopardize the mission.

‘In the past, I would have used them as bait, but…’

Now I’ve grown attached to the children.

If No. 26 and Adhigh Orr were seriously injured or killed, honestly, I’m not sure I could maintain my composure.

‘In the jungle, the one with patience wins.’

Emotional disturbance leads directly to defeat.

‘The sea is No. 26’s home ground, so it should be safer than here.’

Adhigh Orr would also find it more comfortable on open beaches or islands rather than in the dense jungle with many obstacles to flight.

‘…They’re both smart.’

I’ll definitely come back for them after dealing with all the pirates.

After organizing my thoughts, I descended from the treetop.

There’s a small pirate camp nearby.

Halfway down the tree, I extended my corrosive tentacles to move to another tree.

Using corrosive tentacles and enhanced suction cups to move between giant trees, I sensed creatures moving below.

All sorts of monsters roamed the forest, from dog-sized insectoid creatures to dinosaur-like beasts over dozens of meters long.

The term “monster” is not an exaggeration. On PH-101, even small creatures the size of newborns can easily kill armed soldiers.

‘If I eat those, I’ll have no problem reaching my next evolution.’

Of course, I frequently visited this place in the game, so I know what creatures live here and how to deal with them.

While moving between trees, a creature that looked like a cross between a monkey and a bat pounced on me from above.

It’s a creature called a Wood Devil, which hides in dead trees like this and ambushes creatures passing below.

Though it’s on the lower end of this planet’s food chain, its quick movements, powerful muscles, and relatively high intelligence have earned it the nickname “newbie killer.”

‘The problem is, I’m not a newbie.’

I knew it was targeting me all along.

Without even turning my head, I flicked my tail to shoot spine darts.

“Keek?!”

The creature froze mid-jump and began to fall to the ground. Corrosive tentacles shot out from my back and caught it.

Then I extended vampiric tentacles from my combat arm and swung them toward the opposite tree.

“Keeeeek!”

A Wood Devil that had been camouflaged as leaves struggled as it was caught by my vampiric tentacles. I squeezed the tentacles, crushing its bones and deforming its entire body.

While leisurely consuming one with my corrosive tentacles and draining the blood from the other with my vampiric tentacles, I remained vigilant.

‘There should be one more.’

Wood Devils always hunt in groups of three. As expected, I spotted the third one fleeing in a diagonal direction up in the trees.

“Kik kik!”

Still holding the two captives, I kicked off from the tree. My body glided between the giant trees as I flew toward the escaping creature.

“Keeeek?!”

The Wood Devil shrieked as it saw me rapidly approaching.

The bone axe from my upper right hand smashed its head. As the headless creature began to fall, I quickly wrapped my tail around it.

‘Easy.’

I opened my mouth wide and bit into the headless Wood Devil.

Although my jaw strength has decreased since I used the Crushing Jaw trait as material, it was still strong enough to tear apart a Wood Devil.

‘…Tastes healthy.’

The Wood Devil’s meat tasted like cheap soy meat.

Just like when I ate the Plant Lizard in the space city, creatures with “plant” or “wood” in their names all have this taste.

‘I thought Wood Devils were carnivores, so why do they taste like soy meat?’

Soy meat is only meat in name; it contains no animal ingredients at all.

I continued eating the remaining carcass while pondering such trivial thoughts.

After finishing, as I was about to eat the one attached to my vampiric tentacles, another predator appeared, attracted by the smell of blood.

Its name was Night Stalker, with a body like a black panther and spider legs.

It possesses the material trait for my Spine-Shooting Tail feature.

It charged at me, rapidly moving its eight legs.

‘Poison won’t work on it.’

I need to fight differently than with the Wood Devils I immobilized with spine darts.

I remained still, offering no resistance. The creature lunged at me in an instant, baring its thick venomous fangs to bite my neck.

Or rather, it tried to bite.

If my outer skin hadn’t been so tough, I would have been fighting for my life after being bitten by its venomous fangs.

The Night Stalker’s venom is more lethal than my neurotoxin. It spreads so quickly that even antidotes are difficult to use in time. Without immunity to the poison itself, death is almost inevitable.

‘But even such powerful venom is only useful if it enters the target’s body.’

The Night Stalker’s teeth aren’t sharp enough to penetrate my outer skin, which is tougher than a ship’s hull.

“Krung?”

It finally realized something was wrong and tried to retreat, but it was too late. My four combat arms were already holding its body.

I squeezed with all four arms. Under my powerful grip, the Night Stalker crumpled like an empty plastic bottle.

Its innards spilled out from its rear, but I sucked them up completely using my corrosive tentacles.

‘Coming here definitely keeps me busy.’

While my corrosive tentacles sucked up the innards, my mouth chewed on the Night Stalker’s body.

Interestingly, this one tasted like a croissant.

My corrosive tentacles have no sense of taste, so I don’t know what the innards tasted like, but it probably would have been like a croissant sandwich.

After licking up even the blood splattered on the tree, I set off again.

After breaking through several more ambushes, I finally reached the pirate camp.

Just then, the sun was setting over the jungle.