Ch.130Beings of the Deep Sea (4)

“Then where should I start?”

There are countless ways to hunt the survivors of the research base. I could destroy the outer walls to ruin the internal pressure and kill them, or I could destroy the underwater elevator to slowly let them wither away.

The first method isn’t bad, but there’s a problem. If the base collapses and No. 26 gets hurt, that would be terrible.

‘Since I need to eat anyway, I should go with the traditional method.’

Track the survivors, torment them, and then kill them. It’s how I’ve always done things.

‘Before that, I should block the escape routes.’

Having decided how to cook the researchers, I moved together with No. 26.

The section we’re in doesn’t have a passage connected to the elevator. To reach the central section where the underwater elevator and submersibles are located, we need to cross through other sections.

‘I need to destroy the underwater elevator and submersibles before the survivors get there.’

Once those are damaged, this base will no longer be a place that saves humans but a prison that confines them.

‘Unless they’re Fishrians, humans haven’t been modified for this.’

Humans with no escape route have only two choices left.

Die by my hand, or take their own lives.

Even if they’re lucky enough to escape the base in another submersible, they have no future.

The Fishrian village that cooperates with the humans at the base is being attacked by the Sky Mother and Adhigh Orr. A Griffon that has reached a high level of Incarnate can easily clear a village of that size.

Plus, she’s a ranker. She must have experience fighting Fishrians, whether a lot or a little.

‘They show up constantly when fighting ocean monsters.’

Upper-tier players often hunt semi-boss level ocean creatures like Sea Demons or Pale Masks because the rewards are excellent. The Sky Mother, who has been a clan leader, must have considerable experience dealing with Fishrians.

‘She must have worked hard preparing for the raid alone.’

Ocean bosses possess many useful traits that AMorphs absolutely need to capture.

That’s why I often used the method of ambushing both the bosses and other players after they had nearly finished the job.

It was my only choice since I had to hunt alone what others hunted together, but I received plenty of insults because of it.

Anyway, one of the terrifying raid bosses who commands disgusting fish-people is right beside me, constantly sending out chatty vibrations.

“Big baby. Big baby. Did you meet little baby?”

[Zzzz zz zzzz z zzzz(Of course. Thanks to him, I was able to come here)]

“Little baby got hurt a lot, is he okay?”

[Zzzzzz z zzzz zzz zzzz(I treated Adhigh Orr. He’s fine now)]

“Treatment? What’s treatment?”

[Zz zzzz zzzz(It means I made something that was hurting better)]

“Wow, amazing! Big baby is cool!”

No. 26 has been chattering non-stop, perhaps because he’s happy to see me after a long time. I don’t particularly mind conversing with him either, so I’ve been responding.

“Humans who bully little baby are bad.”

[Zz(Yes)]

“Many of our kind died because of ugly humans.”

[Z(Huh?)]

“I tried to help the strongest friend before he died, but humans caught me. So I couldn’t help.”

No. 26’s next words were unexpected.

“My friend died, and his family is in big trouble! A bad one came and is bullying them!”

No. 26 calls me and Adhigh Orr “babies.” There’s only one being that could be called his family or kind.

‘His kind would be Bubble Amoebas.’

Since Bubble Amoebas can only be so strong, the “strongest friend” must be referring to a Sea Demon.

‘A Sea Demon died?’

Limiting it to this planet, there aren’t many beings capable of hunting a Sea Demon.

‘Could it be Muriel?’

I thought that for a moment, but that’s unlikely. From what No. 26 is saying, the Sea Demon seems to have died after we arrived on this planet.

‘That’s strange. I don’t see any weapons powerful enough to kill a Sea Demon.’

Even if there were weapons I couldn’t detect, it’s unlikely these people would have attacked a Sea Demon. If they had, the Fishrians wouldn’t be cooperating with them.

‘…Wait a minute.’

Let me reconsider.

Before Adhigh Orr came looking for me, the beings that severely injured him were a coalition of humans and Fishrians.

Until now, I thought the Fishrians worshipped the Sea Demon.

That the humans were using No. 26 as a hostage to demand cooperation from them.

That No. 26 had been lured to this base made of Black Silver and was helplessly captured.

That’s what I thought, but I was wrong.

‘I got it wrong from the start.’

Fishrians, who revere ocean predators as sacred, wouldn’t just stand guard while No. 26 was imprisoned. It made no sense that they would ignore No. 26 who was weakened and caged.

In other words, the Fishrian village in this archipelago doesn’t worship the Sea Demon.

‘Did humans and Fishrians form an alliance against a common enemy?’

But I still have questions.

Fishrians are an extremely aggressive species. When they see other creatures, their first thought is to offer them as sacrifices.

‘How did they manage to bring such creatures to their side?’

It’s unlikely they were tempted with weapons or equipment. They might have been given information about the Sea Demon’s weakness, but I doubt those ignorant fish would have been satisfied with just that.

Also, even if humans told the Fishrians about the Sea Demon’s weakness, it would be impossible for Fishrians to hunt a Sea Demon. They have nothing, so I can’t imagine how they killed such a powerful monster.

‘…I lack too much information. I should be cautious.’

What’s clear is that somewhere in these deep waters, there exists an ocean monster that the Fishrians worship, other than the Sea Demon.

‘If not a Sea Demon, then it’s most likely a Pale Mask.’

Dread Hydras also exist at the Sea Demon level, but they don’t leave their territory. Their physical structure makes it difficult to move in water. Dread Hydras only inhabit the deepest parts of the deep sea, so they wouldn’t have contact with Fishrians.

Pale Masks, on the other hand, are different.

They actively hunt for prey across a wide range, not just in the deep sea. Sometimes they hunt near the surface, so they occasionally encounter Fishrians.

‘If a Pale Mask is the enemy, that’s actually fortunate.’

Pale Masks are one tier below Sea Demons in the deep-sea predator hierarchy. Even someone like me, lacking in underwater combat traits, could fight against one.

‘And I have No. 26 with me.’

The Sky Mother might still be stronger in raw power, but No. 26 has a lot of experience fighting alongside me. If he assists me, we can definitely gain the upper hand against a Pale Mask.

[Zzzz z zzzz zzzz zzzz(Let’s find out who’s bullying the family after we punish the humans)]

“Yes. Good.”

When dealing with the humans, I should leave at least one alive.

Having organized my thoughts, I dove into the dark waters with No. 26.

–

“How much damage to the base do you predict?”

“Judging by the water entering Section A, I suspect additional damage has occurred in Section H.”

“After checking the elevator section, it’s currently operating normally.”

“Phew, that’s a relief.”

In a corridor within Section B.

Twenty researchers were moving through the flooded corridor.

After the major impact, water continuously poured into the First Situation Room, making it impossible to hold out. With no choice but to abandon the situation room, they decided to escape wearing emergency reinforced suits.

The reinforced suits worn by the researchers resembled spacesuits in appearance, and being designed solely for user safety and survival functions, they could withstand these cold waters.

But they couldn’t relax yet.

The most dangerous element where they were now wasn’t the temperature.

“However, with the large influx of water, the internal pressure has become unstable. The central section where the elevator is located is still fine, but I’m not sure how much longer it can hold.”

Sections A and B, which oversee the entire base, were already submerged. It was no longer possible to order the central computer to drain the water.

‘…Damn it!’

The mutant Sea Demon’s fate was unknown, and this precious research base was flooded.

As the chief research director and “captain,” Runahn knew all too well how expensive this research base was and what “various functions” it had.

No matter how great his achievements were, he should consider himself lucky if he avoided disciplinary action after making such a mess.

“Which sections aren’t flooded yet?”

“Sections C and D.”

“Since we’re in Section B, we should head there and then move to the elevator in the central section.”

“Not a bad idea.”

While Runahn was frantically calculating gains and losses, his team members had finished discussing what to do next.

“What should we do?”

“……”

“Team leader?”

Runahn, who had remained silent despite his team members asking for his opinion, finally spoke.

“…First, we move to Section C. We’ll recharge oxygen there and depart immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And as we go, manually close any unsealed bulkheads. That should buy us more time.”

Calculating losses and gains is only possible if you survive. An enormous amount of water was pouring into the base in real-time.

Moreover, it wasn’t just seawater chasing them.

“Closure complete.”

“Good. Let’s move again.”

Moving through the corridor of Section B, they had to stop at each unclosed door, which delayed them, but there was no choice.

The monster that caused this situation was following them.

Thud, thud, thud

“Damn, that sound again.”

“…It seems closer than before.”

“Hey, don’t say such ominous things.”

As evidence, a loud noise had been heard continuously. It was a periodic sound that had been heard since the initial collision with the base.

All the researchers knew what that sound was.

It was the sound of something colliding with the sealed bulkheads.

As one team member had muttered, the sound was getting closer.

“……”

“*gulp*”

Each time they heard that sound, the researchers felt their hearts constrict. This must be how a death row inmate feels climbing the steps to the gallows.

And there was another element fueling their anxiety.

“Eeeek?!”

“Wh-what?”

“A-a corpse….”

One team member fell backward after encountering a drowned corpse floating in the water-filled corridor.

A colleague who had dined with them and participated in meetings just yesterday was now a pale corpse floating around.

“You idiot! What are the rest of you doing? Help him up!”

Momentarily, Runahn almost shot the subordinate with the Gauss rifle he was holding for his stupid action. Barely restraining himself, he scolded the team members in irritation.

“Team leader, there’s something strange about the corpse….”

One team member noticed something odd about the corpse. Whether deep-sea fish had entered or not, there were marks on the corpses as if some small creatures had bitten them.

“Shut up! We don’t have time to delay! We need to move quickly!”

“Y-yes, sir!”

But Runahn, whose mental state was already at its limit, dismissed the team member’s observation.

‘What sin did I commit to suffer such misfortune!’

According to the Cult, those who don’t follow providence and commit sins go to hell. One type of hell tortures sinners in ice water, which perfectly matched his current situation.

Perhaps thanks to moving continuously without rest in this rapidly deteriorating atmosphere?

The end they hoped for approached. One team member shouted loudly.

“Team leader! Only 20m left to Section C! We’re almost there!”

“Oh, thank goodness!”

“Phew, finally we can rest a bit.”

Thinking the goal wasn’t far, everyone moved with renewed energy. Thanks to the reinforced suits that enhanced physical abilities, they could barely step forward even in high water pressure.

As they pushed through the water, one team member at the very back felt an itching sensation at his waist.

“Huh?”

He had felt his legs itching since he fell earlier, but now the intensity was stronger.

It felt like something was moving up his back. He thought it was just an itch, but that thought didn’t last long.

“Uh, uhhh? Uhhhhggh!”

“Hey? What’s wrong?”

When the colleague following from behind suddenly screamed, all nineteen researchers turned around simultaneously.

“S-something got inside my suit!”

“What?”

“Get it out, get it ouuuut! Aaaaargh! They’re eating my body!”

The researcher writhed in pain, screaming hysterically.

To an outsider, it might have looked comically ridiculous, but no one here was laughing at the sight.

“Damn it! Hold on!”

“Huh?! Wh-what is this?”

Two other team members checked the terminal on his wrist. After confirming the foreign substance that had entered the reinforced suit through the terminal, they were horrified.

Several palm-sized organisms were clinging to his waist area.

The unidentified organisms continued to crawl upward even during the check, biting the researcher wearing the reinforced suit.

“Kuheck!”

Thud

Shortly after, blood the researcher vomited soaked his helmet. The inside of the helmet turned crimson in an instant, and the team member’s body went limp.

“W-wait? Hey? N-no way?”

“I-I’ll check his status!”

“You idiots! Don’t open it!”

Runahn shouted belatedly, but another researcher had already slightly opened the helmet of his collapsed colleague. Inside were five or six black flea-like insects, wriggling and covered in blood.

“Aaaaargh!”

“Eeeeeek!”

While the researchers were in shock, the creatures jumped out of the helmet and disappeared somewhere into the water.

Unfortunately for the survivors present, this was just the beginning. Right after the insects disappeared into the darkness, a tremendous noise was heard.

The bulkhead they had passed through earlier had been breached.

“Everyone run!”

Runahn shouted. Hearing his voice, the team members began running like madmen, as if they had just awakened.

“Huff, huff, huff, huff!”

“Heck, heck!”

While only the sound of panting could be heard through the communication devices connected to the reinforced suit helmets, “it” was rapidly approaching.

“Huh?!”

“Huuk!”

Brief gasps of surprise from the two people at the rear were heard through the communicators. And those were their last words.

“Crack, snap”

The communication cut off with the sound of breaking bones. Everyone with their communicators on heard that sound.

They silently ran and arrived at the bulkhead of Section C.

“Open it quickly!”

“W-we don’t have time!”

“Damn it! You, you, and you—the three of you! Go and stop that thing right now!”

“What? Are you fucking crazy?”

“How are we supposed to stop that thing?”

Seeing the protesting team members, Runahn aimed his Gauss rifle at them.

“A sacrifice for your colleagues, I won’t forget it. Go and stop it.”

“You son of a bitch!”

“If you shoot that thing with that weapon…”

“I’ll say it one last time. Go and stop it quickly.”

While Runahn was sending the researchers as bait, another team member succeeded in opening the bulkhead.

When an isolation space similar to an airlock appeared between sections, sixteen people entered. Since the space wasn’t large, it quickly filled up with people wearing reinforced suits resembling spacesuits.

‘That’s why I sent three people.’

Runahn briefly congratulated himself on his experienced judgment, even in this urgent situation.

The other team members also seemed relieved, sighing.

But their misfortune wasn’t over yet.

“T-team leader!”

“What is it?”

“Th-that….”

A team member called Runahn and pointed at the door. Runahn swallowed hard when he saw where the finger was pointing.

Beyond the small reinforced glass in the airlock.

“Its” eyes were there.

Its white eyes moved slowly, examining the inside. As if it was memorizing how many people were inside, without missing a single one.

Startled by the creature’s persistence, Runahn shouted almost like a scream.

“D-drain the water! Drain it now!”

“Yes, sir!”

A team member hurriedly operated the airlock terminal. Only after the water that had filled the isolation space was discharged outside could they enter Section C.

“What? This place is flooded too!”

“Team leader, what should we do?”

Thud

“Damn! It’s following us!”

“Everyone run!”

They ran down the half-submerged corridor of Section C without time to remove their reinforced suits.