Ch.132Beyond the Deep Sea (2)

“Indeed.”

I sorted through the information I’d collected while chewing on the MCAE pilot’s head.

“…I wondered how they killed the Sea Demon, but that’s how it happened.”

Strictly speaking, they didn’t kill the Sea Demon.

Instead, this research facility I’m standing on, this massive structure, inflicted fatal damage on it.

“A base with space navigation capabilities. I never imagined that.”

According to the pilot, all parts of this facility except the elevator extending upward—the central section and the ring-shaped areas—function as a spaceship. After landing on a planet, they use the MCAE and resources stored in the spaceship to build additional facilities.

“So that’s why they had MCAEs specifically for space exploration.”

I also thought the submarine had an unusual design, similar to an escape vessel, and it turns out it actually was an escape vessel. They had modified small spacecraft components to use as a submarine.

Anyway, the PH-101 research facility arrived here through FTL travel and landed on the seabed to research deep-sea creatures.

“And they collided with the Sea Demon during landing.”

Neither the facility’s central computer nor the Sea Demon beneath the sea could have anticipated their collision.

The central computer simply chose terrain suitable for the stable landing of a massive ring-shaped spaceship several kilometers in length. The problem was that the Sea Demon happened to be resting there, exhausted after fighting with Pale Mask.

This facility’s entire outer wall is made of BlackSilver alloy, making it undetectable to creatures sensitive to psychic power.

Also, just as the Fishrian wounded Adhigh Orr severely with a BlackSilver harpoon, weapons made of BlackSilver can pose a significant threat even to powerful beings like Sea Demons.

Given the size of this spaceship, it must have inflicted damage comparable to an orbital bombardment on the Sea Demon.

Of course, if the Sea Demon had been in good condition, it would have somehow avoided the collision or minimized the damage, but circumstances weren’t favorable. It was injured from fighting with Pale Mask, and according to reports, it was already quite old and deteriorating.

“Through a series of coincidences, the Sea Demon suffered injuries too severe for natural healing. And…”

The Fishrian village that witnessed this took a friendly attitude toward the humans who attacked the Sea Demon. This was because they worshipped Pale Mask, not the Sea Demon.

The humans at the research facility received food and guards from them in exchange for providing weapons made of BlackSilver.

Normally, such a deal wouldn’t be possible. Even if the Fishrians approached humans amicably, humans would refuse.

“But the situation changed.”

PH-101 is a planet monitored by the Cult. This research facility had sneaked in during a gap in surveillance, but for some reason, the monitoring network had strengthened considerably.

Probably because of Muriel. She appears to be a deer-horned Cult member, and one of the two players supporting her seems to be a high-ranking Cult member.

Anyway, as surveillance intensified, the humans at the research facility became isolated.

Essential supplies, including food, were running low, and they didn’t know when they could leave. They had no choice but to accept help from the Fishrian village.

While the humans at the research facility waited for rescue, the injured Sea Demon died.

The researchers tried to collect the Sea Demon’s corpse with the Fishrians’ cooperation, and that’s when No. 26 and Adhigh Orr appeared.

“The Sea Demon sent a signal to No. 26 before it died.”

Whether it called for help or warned to stay away from danger is unknown.

What matters is that No. 26 received the signal from the Sea Demon and tried to help it.

And in the process, both were captured.

Thanks to interrogating the pilot, almost all my questions have been answered. Plus, I obtained very important and useful information.

“So this facility is a spaceship.”

That means it can be controlled with “Nightmare Horizon.”

Although there’s still some cooldown time left, having a means to move to another planet is encouraging. I should try to take control once the cooldown ends and the situation stabilizes.

“Everything is satisfactory except for one thing.”

The pilots I interrogated left some words before dying.

“No. 26 escaped, so this place isn’t safe?”

The nuance didn’t seem to be pointing at me. The humans at the research facility feared something unclear.

How should I describe that reaction?

The awe and fear felt before an immense disaster.

“Should I catch a Fishrian and ask?”

Currently, the central section is the only area in the research facility that hasn’t flooded. People in other areas have all been caught and killed by me or drowned.

“No. 26 would have taken care of everyone coming to the central section.”

The only survivors would be Fishrians, who can survive in water for extended periods.

“Let’s meet up with No. 26 first.”

I stuffed the rest of the pilot’s body into my mouth and went back the way I came.

In Section C, the corridors were now completely filled with water. My tail swayed from side to side behind me, propelling my body forward, while my webbed fingers parted the water in front, guiding my direction.

Unlike when I was tormenting my prey, I didn’t need to move slowly, so I quickly reached the corridor leading to the central section.

After easily breaking through the containment door between the central section and the corridor, I entered to find No. 26 and two Fishrians.

One was being eaten alive, caught in No. 26’s tentacles, while the other was dangling helplessly, unable to move.

“You’re here?”

[Wait]

“Why?”

As I entered, the water filling the corridor poured into the central section. The scattered flesh fragments and blood on the floor were washed away in an instant.

Riding the current toward No. 26, I examined the restrained Fishrian.

“Still alive.”

[I need this one]

“Ugly human is bad? They bullied little baby!”

[Just a moment. I’ll return it soon]

“Are you going to punish it? If you’re going to punish it, you can have it.”

[Yes]

No. 26 clearly disliked these Fishrians. For example, the Fishrian caught by it was being eaten slowly starting from the feet rather than the head.

“……”

I wonder how it feels to have your lower body dissolve while fully conscious. And it couldn’t even scream, as No. 26’s tentacle was covering its mouth.

“You reap what you sow.”

Seeing the harpoon floating nearby, I understood why No. 26 was doing this. I lost interest in the Fishrian with only bones and some muscle left in its lower body and looked at the restrained one.

Fear was deeply embedded in its eyes. After taking it from No. 26, I broke all its arms and legs with my combat arms.

“Kueek!”

“I·have·some·thing·to·ask.”

“Ki, kii! Demon of the deep! Those who oppose Father shall not be forgiven!”

Despite what must be excruciating pain, it didn’t cower and kept making noise.

“Be·quiet.”

“Kuiiik!”

“If·you·keep·talking·it·will·hurt·more.”

“…Kiik.”

It immediately quieted down when I squeezed its wrist.

Seeing its obedient attitude, I could start questioning.

“What·are·the·humans·here·afraid·of?”

“Kuruk. Father hates demons!”

“Father?”

‘Is it talking about Pale Mask?’

Pale Mask is a nickname used by humans. Naturally, the Fishrians would have their own name for it.

The creature didn’t answer my question and continued what it was saying.

“This nest is a prison for demons. If the captured demon escapes, Father will be angry!”

“Demon?”

“That pink horror! Horror!”

The Fishrian ranted while looking at No. 26. I hit the back of its head to quiet it down.

“Why is it like that?”

[It’s nothing]

Honestly, I wouldn’t call our communication smooth even as a white lie, but I could understand what these fish fanatics were saying.

‘Pale Mask is relaxed after winning the territorial competition with the Sea Demon. Of course it would be angry if a new Sea Demon appeared.’

Until now, this research facility made of BlackSilver acted as a kind of cloaking device, but when I broke part of the outer wall, the boundary between inside and outside became blurred.

Unlike the Sea Demon, which detects prey with psychic power, Pale Mask uses its tremendous sense of smell and wave detection organs to hunt.

‘Its detection ability far surpasses my auxiliary organs. It must have detected No. 26 by now.’

“Kuruk kuruk, the guards failed their duty. Soon Father will descend. Demons, you too shall receive Father’s judgment!”

The Fishrian snickered as if confirming my thoughts.

There was no more useful information to get from it. Not much time remained before the unwelcome visitor would arrive.

I opened my jaws wide and crushed the Fishrian’s head.

[It’s time to go]

“But there’s still more…”

[The one who killed our friend is coming. We need to get revenge]

“Friend? Friend! I’ll beat up the bad guy who killed our friend!”

No. 26, understanding my wavelength, waved its tentacles widely. It seemed very interested in avenging the death of one of its kind.

‘It will follow No. 26. Then there’s no need to fight here.’

I shouldn’t damage the outer wall any further since I might need to use this research facility as a spaceship later.

Together, No. 26 and I could gain the upper hand against Pale Mask, but the chance of winning without damage is low. Also, if the facility gets badly damaged in the fight, I’d lose the opportunity to use Nightmare Horizon.

‘Let’s go up instead of staying here.’

If we fight together with Sky Mother and Adhigh Orr up there, we could subdue Pale Mask without major damage.

[Let’s go outside]

“Okay.”

No. 26 replied while squeezing the tentacle holding the Fishrian. The fish-person’s body was torn into pieces, and No. 26 grabbed only the head, put it inside its body, and followed behind me.

“Let’s go!”

‘Hmm.’

Watching it cheerfully call out while dissolving and eating the fish head, I could understand how others might view me.

‘…I’ll think about useless things later.’

I approached the massive cylinder in the center of the section, the underwater elevator. The cylinder had a gate installed for submarines to enter and exit.

Going through here would take us straight up.

[Be careful, it could be dangerous]

After warning No. 26, I grabbed the gap in the gate with my combat arms and applied force. The massive BlackSilver alloy containment door groaned, followed by a storm-like gust of air hitting my outer skin due to the pressure difference between the elevator interior and the section.

Then all the seawater filling the section shot upward like an ascending dragon. I grabbed No. 26 and crawled into the underwater elevator.

Water rapidly filled the wide cylinder, and we were quickly moved upward.

“Wow! It moves by itself, so amazing! Fun!”

As a deep-sea predator, No. 26 seemed fine with pressure issues.

As we ascended, my auxiliary organs detected something. A large creature was approaching the underwater elevator at very high speed.

‘Pale Mask is following us.’

Simultaneously, I felt subtle vibrations from the elevator walls.

It wasn’t because of the water. It was the shockwave created by Pale Mask’s roar hitting the elevator’s outer wall.

‘We’re almost there.’

While ascending in the elevator, I bent my tail sharply and then straightened it. My body shot upward, propelled by the fins and claws on my tail.

Then my head carapace collided with the closed elevator door. By smashing the exit gate with my horns, we were able to escape the research facility.

“That was fun just now!”

Finally truly free, No. 26 pulled out all its fins.

Its body glowed with a mysterious light, and its purple-pink fins danced gracefully.

No. 26, expressing joy with its entire body, swam through the dark depths. The sight was as beautiful as a celestial maiden descending to earth in a feathered robe.

‘I never knew a Sea Demon could look like this.’

“Big baby! It feels so good to be free!”

It was truly pleasant to see No. 26 enjoying its freedom. If we had more time, I would have swum through the sea with it, but now wasn’t the time.

‘Not visible yet, but…’

Looking down below my tail, I couldn’t see Pale Mask yet, but I could sense it with my auxiliary organs. A furious monster was approaching at tremendous speed.

[We’ll play together later. Now we need to go]

“Okay. Let’s play later.”

I moved with No. 26 toward the island. Since No. 26 was much faster than me in water, it adjusted its pace to match mine.

While swimming, it sent me a wavelength.

“Big baby! The bad guy is following us!”

[Ignore it and keep going]

I heard a roar behind me. As that sound grew closer, the distance to the island where Sky Mother and Adhigh Orr were also decreased.

“Go away!”

Then No. 26 pulled out one tentacle and shot something toward what was behind me.

A psychic power technique different from the “Restraint” ability was directed backward, and the roaring sound we’d been hearing mixed with painful groans.

Thanks to No. 26, the pursuing Pale Mask slowed down slightly, and we safely reached the island.

Sky Mother and Adhigh Orr had finished dealing with the Fishrian village and were waiting for us.

“Adult” “Little adult!”

“Little baby! You’re safe!”

“AMorph… huh? What’s that behind you?”

[It’s Pale Mask. Everyone prepare for battle]

The moment I sent the wavelength, a massive creature raised its head behind me. Sky Mother was shocked at the sight.

“What? Pale Mask? This fu—!”

“Adult” “Enemy” “Scary”

“That bad guy killed my friend! I’m going to beat it up!”

“I” “Hear” “Little adult” “Words”

Everyone prepared for battle against the powerful new enemy that had appeared.