Ch.14Spider Web (1)

I linked my senses to the nest and spread them throughout the ship.

The ship’s structure and the movements of humans inside were transmitted to me without fail. My auxiliary organ swiftly analyzed their movements to fulfill its master’s will.

If we consider a spaceship drifting through space as a living organism, I’m essentially a parasite living in the brain of a creature made of inorganic material. I know everything happening on this ship as well as its owner does.

My auxiliary organ reported that the captain and team leaders were gathering at the bridge.

‘They’re probably planning to command from the bridge.’

Like them, I too am formulating plans from my nest above the cooling room.

‘How should I respond?’

Let’s first consider the enemies’ starting points.

There aren’t many ventilation ducts large enough for an adult male to pass through. The agricultural zone vent, hangar vent, and armory vent are the three largest, while the rest are slightly over 1m or smaller.

However, they’re unlikely to start from a single location, as that would slow down their search.

‘Conversely, they have too few personnel to start from all three locations simultaneously.’

So they’ll likely depart from two locations.

‘Six people. Not a large number, but not small either.’

The ventilation passages themselves are difficult to attack with large numbers. A small elite force strategy that compensates for fewer personnel with better equipment is quite valid.

‘They’ll probably be wearing mid-grade enhancement suits.’

The model is unknown, but likely the same grade as Arnold’s or lower.

If I fight them head-on, I’ll suffer significant damage too.

‘There’s a section where the passage narrows after a fork.’

Some facilities need good ventilation while others don’t. Places like the cooling room have well-equipped air circulation systems and wide ventilation passages, but most aren’t like this.

‘Narrow passages aren’t suitable for humans.’

The height is such that an adult male would need to crouch. Better than crawling, but combat effectiveness would drastically decrease. Not only is weapon use difficult, but the uncomfortable posture makes it hard to utilize the enhancement suit efficiently.

‘I’ll ambush them there.’

The main framework of my plan is set. I’ll need to adjust the details based on the enemies’ armaments and movements.

It seems they’re ready too. I can feel their movements.

As I expected, they’ve started from two locations: the hangar vent and the armory vent.

‘Then let’s go greet our guests.’

I disconnected from the nest and stood up.

Tonight, all who target my nest will die.

–

“This is A1. A team operation commencing.”

“B1, report.”

“This is zzzz, B1. B team operation commencing. Zzzz”

“B1. Radio conditions are poor, check your equipment.”

“Zzzz, B1. Understood.”

Bridge situation room.

The hologram in the center of the situation room displayed the soldiers’ movements divided into six screens. It was real-time transmission from tactical cameras mounted on the soldiers’ enhancement suits.

Crisis Management Team Leader Arnold watched the soldiers enter the ventilation ducts along with the other leaders.

‘The entity that killed Miss Kisaragi, it must be that thing.’

This should have been his job originally. While the plan itself hadn’t changed, he didn’t know what kind of variable the creature would be.

The creature was a dangerous life form that had killed eight people, including Kisaragi Yujin.

Others seemed to think the Material Management Team Leader was the culprit, but he could state with certainty.

The Material Management Team Leader had already been killed by the monster.

‘Monster. Eliminate variables as much as possible.’

This ship must reach Space Dog, no, its owner Siheyon Yujin without any issues.

Arnold’s master is preparing a grand plan. If successful, it will change the history of Megacorp.

Having Eusung’s ship fall into the hands of C-08 pirates is the first step in his master’s grand scheme.

‘You will die before tonight ends.’

As he glared at the hologram footage with cold eyes, a report came in from the field.

“A1. We’ve reached a fork. Moving to the right.”

“B1. We’ve also reached a fork. Moving to the right. Zzzz”

“B3. Zzzz. Radio conditions are poor. Will repair and follow. Zzzz”

“This is situation room. B3. Join immediately after repairs are complete.”

The passages were like a maze, resembling blood vessels within the ship. Both A and B teams had encountered forks.

“The route is complex. Everyone move carefully.”

“This is situation room. Take your time and search thoroughly.”

“A1. Understood.”

“B1. Understood.”

Five of the six white marks on the map moved slowly, searching carefully after receiving orders.

“Hmm?”

Arnold, watching the screen, felt something was off. B3’s camera, supposedly under repair, wasn’t moving.

“Check B3’s camera.”

“Understood. This is situation room. B3. Check your camera status.”

“……”

“B3. This is situation room. Repeat. Check your camera status.”

“It’s fine.”

With those words, the screen moved again. It shook slightly at first but soon stabilized like the other soldiers’.

“B3. How is your reception?”

“It’s fine.”

As B3 reported, there was no more static. His mark moved toward where the rest of B team was.

“B2. Join with B3 behind you and move together.”

“B2. Understood.”

The B3 mark on screen approached the B2 mark. Just as they were about to overlap, a scream came through the communicator.

“B2! What’s happening!”

“Ugh, aaaagh! It appeared! It—click”

“B3. Contact with B2 has been lost. Report the situation.”

“It dragged B2 away.”

“Nothing is visible on screen. Explain in detail.”

“It attacked suddenly, couldn’t confirm.”

B2’s camera showed only darkness. The communicator was also broken, with no sound coming through.

Anxiety spread like a plague through the situation room. The captain and team leaders murmured about what was happening, while the communications officer continued trying to contact B2.

While everyone was panicking, Arnold gritted his teeth as he stared at the black screen.

‘It ended this quickly?’

Soldiers wearing mid-grade enhancement suits were taken down without any resistance. Even a skilled assassin wouldn’t dispatch them so quickly. He had thought it was just a somewhat dangerous wild animal, but he had completely misjudged.

The enemy was a much more agile killer than he had thought. After reassessing the monster’s abilities, Arnold instructed the communications officer.

“Tell everyone. Fire immediately if anything moves.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

The communications officer relayed Arnold’s order, and tense responses from the soldiers came through the communicator.

A team was continuing their search for the monster, while B team’s B1 and B3 were pursuing the missing B2. The screens showed them moving diligently, but there was no trace of B2.

‘At this rate, they’ll be picked off one by one.’

Arnold finally decided to abandon B2. The communications officer relayed Arnold’s words to B team.

“This is situation room. B3. Cease searching for B2 and join B1.”

“Understood.”

“B1. After joining with B3, begin searching for B2.”

“B1. Understood.”

B3’s mark headed toward B1. The distance between the two marks on screen gradually narrowed. When they were just a few steps away from seeing each other, a transmission came from B1.

“B1. I hear something.”

“This is situation room. Exactly what kind of sound?”

“B1. Not sure, but someone is approaching. Can’t confirm exactly because of the fork.”

“B3. Join B1 as quickly as possible. Repeat. Join as quickly as possible.”

“Understood.”

A tense situation. B1’s voice broke the silence in the situation room.

“B1. The sound is B3. I can hear his voice now.”

“Phew.”

Someone sighed in relief. Even Arnold, who had been straining his eyes not to miss any glimpse of the enemy, relaxed.

“Whew. This is situation room. B1. Report when you’ve joined with B3.”

“……”

“B1?”

“B3 was dragged away by the enemy.”

“What?!”

B1’s bad news drastically changed the atmosphere in the situation room.

Even Arnold, who was always calm, found it difficult to maintain composure as situations kept defying expectations. He pushed aside the communications officer and put on the headset.

“This is the Team Leader. Explain the situation in detail.”

“It happened so quickly I couldn’t confirm.”

“Damn it! How could you not see when it was right in front of you?”

“I’m sorry.”

Two people had already disappeared. Yet B1 and B3 kept repeating they hadn’t seen anything, which infuriated Arnold.

Throwing down the headset, he ignored the fidgeting communications officer and became lost in thought.

‘How could they not know when they were right next to each other? And neither B1 nor B3’s cameras caught anything. Unless they deliberately avoided filming the monster, it’s impossible… wait.’

Arnold suddenly had a terrifying thought. With a stiff face, he put the headset back on.

“This is the Team Leader. B1. State your name and rank.”

“What?”

“I repeat. B1. State your name and rank immediately.”

“……”

There was no answer from B1. The leaders, realizing what Arnold was trying to confirm, froze.

“Crackle, busted? Click”

B1’s communication channel was cut off. A black hand appeared in front of the camera, and then the screen went dark too.

“This is A1. What exactly is going on?”

“……”

“This is A1. Situation room, please respond.”

The perplexed voice of A team’s leader filled the situation room, but Arnold couldn’t say anything.

–

‘B team is finished.’

I crushed the signal device attached to B1’s enhancement suit under my foot. Beside me lay three headless corpses.

Originally, I had planned to attack at the narrow passage after the fork. While moving ahead of the enemies to prepare for the ambush, I had an idea.

To use my psychic organ.

I got the hint from my conversation with the bubble amoeba.

I can communicate with it through the special waves generated by my psychic organ. I thought I might be able to disrupt wireless communication equipment that operates on frequencies, and it worked quite well.

The waves I emitted caused static in B3’s equipment, who was at the rear. He had no choice but to fall behind to fix his equipment, making him easy prey.

‘After that, it was easy.’

Even as his head was completely ripped off by my combat arms, B3 couldn’t move a finger. This was due to my newly acquired fusion trait, “Neurotoxin Gland.”

With Neurotoxin Gland, everything from nails, claws, teeth, to bodily fluids becomes extremely poisonous. Anyone affected by this poison goes into shock or has their muscles paralyzed, rendering them unable to act.

While it seems like a powerful debuff trait, it was unpopular in the game. With so many creatures possessing transcendent physical abilities, it didn’t get much attention.

‘But not here.’

Unless a human has received special modifications, it’s impossible to resist the neurotoxin. If caught alone, they’re as good as dead.

After that, everything went smoothly. I used the “Mimicry” trait to approach other team members while pretending to be B3.

They were all vigilant, but they never imagined an AMorph would approach claiming to be an ally. Thanks to their poor imagination, I was able to happily fill my stomach.

‘Next is A team.’

I put B1’s head in my mouth and set off. As the cerebral cortex burst in my mouth like fresh juice, strength surged through my body.

For the first time in a while, all four combat arms worked together with my legs to crawl through the narrow passage. Even while crawling, my auxiliary organ under my jaw constantly checked A team’s movements.

Having received instructions from above, they were moving slowly, seemingly ready to investigate even a speck of dust on the alloy.

‘They’re completely on alert.’

Unlike B team, who knew nothing about me when they were taken, these ones are different. They must know I can mimic human voices, so it’s natural.

‘Let’s try using their information against them this time.’

Many say knowledge is power, but is it really? Knowing just enough can actually be poison.

I hid myself not far from a fork. The enemies would pass by soon.

Light descended on the dark steel passage. The helmet light from the lead soldier illuminated the fork brightly.

“A1. We’ve reached a fork. Moving to the right.”

They didn’t know I was hiding nearby. If they don’t know, I should let them know. I shouted loudly in B1’s voice.

“Over here! Help me!”

“Enemy! Open fire!”

As expected, A1 immediately ordered to fire. Three team members began shooting lasers in my direction with their laser guns.

While they poured firepower at where I had been, I slipped into another passage to the side. Going straight down this path would take me behind them. I quickly moved to the enemy’s rear using all six limbs.

“Cease fire!”

“This is situation room. Confirm the enemy’s status.”

“A1. Understood.”

Unaware that I had already escaped, A1 walked forward. The other soldiers watched his back, afraid he might be attacked.

I pounced on A3, who was neglecting rear security.

“Aaaagh!”

“Behind! The enemy is behind!”

“S-stop firing! Our ally is captured!”

“Damn it! Fire! Shoot now!”

The ventilation passage was filled with A3’s pain-filled screams, the terrified shouts of his teammates, and Arnold’s yelling from the situation room. Not wanting to stay in such a noisy place for long, I paralyzed A3 and retreated.

“A1! Fire immediately! That’s an order!”

“F-firing! Opening fire!”

Belatedly, the enemies fired their laser guns. A network of pure energy filled the passage. Even with my agility, I couldn’t dodge everything and took a few hits.

It was beyond painful, but I gritted my teeth and left the area.

“A2! Reporting to situation room! We have a casualty!”

“Retreat is not permitted! You must capture it.”

“Damn it! Squad leader, what should we do?”

“…Damn, give A3 first aid and then pursue.”

Hidden in darkness, I could hear their voices. No matter how good their medical kit is, it won’t be easy to neutralize my neurotoxin.

While the enemies took time to regroup, I checked my condition.

‘Thanks to my chitinous exoskeleton, there’s no major injury. But it hurts like hell.’

Since the enemies were trained soldiers, they hit my chest and head. This was due to the enhancement suit’s accuracy correction.

‘The enhancement suit correction actually worked in my favor.’

A normal animal would have died from that attack, but I’m an AMorph. The hardest parts of an AMorph juvenile’s body are the forehead and the exoskeleton covering the chest.

Moreover, they’re currently reinforced with chitinous exoskeleton. These two areas are as tough as the ship’s titanium alloy, making them impenetrable to laser weapons.

Thanks to the enemies shooting as they were trained to do, despite their panic, I suffered little damage beyond pain. If they had shot at my tail or arms, it would have been dangerous.

‘One down.’

Two prey remain. Since they won’t likely fall for another ambush, I need to try a different method.

Come to think of it, there’s a perfect place to slaughter them. The place I had in mind when first planning—the narrow passage.

‘Let’s lure them there.’

I raised my claws and made a small wound on my arm. Black blood dripped, causing smoke to rise from the passage floor with each drop.

This is a spider web. A trap laid by a spider to catch prey.

The prey following mindlessly will finally realize they’ve been caught in a web of destruction.