Ch.161Clue (2)

“Even the Grand Archon is a player.”

So far, I’ve known a total of 4 players.

The Space Dog player Muriel who is a cyborg capable of transforming into different species, Sky Mother who is a Volf, and two Megacorp and Cult players who help Muriel.

Now a Star Union player has been added to that list.

‘It would be troublesome if Star Union becomes an enemy.’

Since they’re a faction that primarily operates with machines, they don’t match well with AMorphs who collect genetic essences. No matter how many enemies they devour, they can’t get stronger.

And against Star Union, it’s impossible to employ deception tactics by exploiting complex political structures like when fighting Megacorp or Cult.

Unlike Megacorp where multiple houses share power, or Cult where various political factions are in disarray, Star Union has only one power structure.

‘The Machine Committee.’

And the head of that Machine Committee is none other than the Grand Archon. In other words, becoming his enemy would be equivalent to opposing the entire Star Union.

‘No. Nothing’s confirmed yet, so there’s no need to worry already.’

There’s a more important issue at hand.

Who exactly is the Megacorp player cooperating with him?

‘Someone who possesses Hulk Mutant manipulation technology and can easily access Star Union’s upper echelons.’

Suddenly, I recall the Megacorp player who was supporting Muriel.

‘Could it be?’

I had assumed the player helping her was a high-ranking official from House Garmelda. Upgrading and supplying equipment to players was characteristic of Garmelda players.

But thinking about it again, all the equipment she used was Star Union-made.

While Psyonium is technically traded secretly within Megacorp according to the setting, it’s still a drug developed by Star Union. Blood River is also equipment that only cyborgs can produce.

At the time, I thought Muriel, being a cyborg, had obtained it and the Garmelda player had upgraded it.

If that’s not the case, and there are three players involved—a Star Union player, a Garmelda player, and Muriel…

‘No. There’s not enough evidence.’

Blood River is a unique-grade equipment, but it’s not difficult to produce if you can cover the production costs. A ranker like Muriel could easily secure it.

Even if there is another Star Union player helping Muriel, there’s no guarantee that player is the Grand Archon.

‘Shouldn’t they be considered separate factions?’

It’s more reasonable to view them as two separate forces: those supporting Muriel and those involved with the Screamers.

I don’t know if the two factions are cooperating with each other. If they are, then I’d have to face not only Muriel’s support group but also those involved with the Screamers.

‘It’s still not certain.’

I forcibly cut off the endless stream of speculation.

Being cautious about everything isn’t bad, but being overly cautious isn’t good either.

Going back to the original point, the Megacorp player who cooperated in creating the Screamers is at least a Prime Capital. You need that to use genetic manipulation technology.

And if they can produce Hulk Mutants, the range narrows further. Like the knights from House Egerton I saw before, Prime Capital can only create enhanced humans through genetic manipulation. To create Hulk Mutants, you need to be a Noble Capital.

‘And among the Noble Capitals, House Yugin is the most proficient in genetic manipulation procedures.’

Siheyon Yujin and Code Black, whom I fought before. They are creations of House Yugin.

They carried multiple genes in one body without showing any signs of suffering from side effects. Other Noble Capitals can’t create such perfect specimens.

‘But I don’t think creating these Screamers requires such high technology.’

I examined all the Screamers. They appear to be cyborgs, but upon closer inspection, several differences are noticeable.

‘This part seems to be extracted from Coldblood’s hardening gene, and this looks like a change due to muscle enhancement genes.’

They’re all Hulk Mutants synthesized with two or three genes. Other Noble Capitals can also create Hulk Mutants of this level.

‘This is confusing.’

In this state, it seems impossible to guess who’s involved with the Screamers.

I shared my speculations with Sky Mother, another player.

“The Grand Archon might be a player since cyborgs are a necessary condition for seeing the ending.”

[Zz (That’s right)]

“Maybe, as you guessed, a ranker from Garmelda has colluded with the Grand Archon.”

[Zzzzzz (Why?)]

“Screamers are classified as half biological, half mechanical. If you’re going to mass-produce Hulk Mutants for Screamer materials, you need an understanding of mechanical and weapon technology.”

That’s a valid point. In terms of mechanical weapons rather than biological weapons, Garmelda is superior to House Yugin.

“Perhaps both houses have colluded.”

[Zz zzzz zzzzzz zzzzz (You mean there are players in both houses?)]

“Honestly, I think that possibility is low, but just in case. Even if that’s not the case, a player from one side might have persuaded the other house.”

[Zzzzzz zzzzzzzz zzzzz (I think that’s a stretch, but I’ll keep it in mind)]

“I’ll let you know right away if I remember anything or find any clues.”

In the end, I couldn’t get specific information about the production of Screamers. I can only speculate that players were involved.

‘What’s left is…’

Just the fresh prey that No. 26 brought.

“Big baby, eat quickly. It gets tasteless as time passes.”

“Denial” “Just” “Tasteless”

“Shut up.”

In the original game, killing Screamers wouldn’t yield genetic essences. Although they were half biological and half mechanical, they were classified as machines in the system.

‘But not here.’

Hulk Mutants are a treasure trove of genetic essences. If I kill the still-living Screamers, all the traits inside them will become mine.

‘Should I use the Mark of the Hunt?’

Using the Mark of the Hunt greatly increases the chance of triggering Predation. It’s the only means available when trying to secure multiple genetic essences.

However, the drawback is the side effect that occurs after the mark’s effect ends. This transformation consumes a large amount of energy, so after the transformation ends, an immense hunger strikes. Even I would find it difficult to maintain my sanity.

‘That Hulk Mutant, there’s just one genetic essence that looks good.’

From what I checked earlier, one of the Screamers contained Coldblood’s genetic essence.

‘Coldblood has many traits related to internal organs.’

So far, I’ve acquired a total of 4 types, and unlocked conditions for 3 types. Originally, there were 2 types: special defense type and space monster type, but thanks to devouring an entire Star Union personnel supply ship a few hours ago, I unlocked a new type.

“⑦ Internal Organ Related: Muscle Reinforcement, Heat Release, Enhanced Digestive Fluid Secretion

-Internal Organ Related Fusion Trait: Revenant Organ”

The personnel supply ship I ate had quite a variety of sentient beings on board. Thanks to that, I was able to obtain so many internal organ traits that are not easily acquired.

‘Internal organ’ traits, unlike general physical traits, focus on strengthening and transforming various organs inside the body. It’s a type specialized in supporting traits from other categories rather than being directly used in combat.

‘Most traits in this category are useless, but some are very effective.’

Among the internal organ traits I currently possess, the only useful one is “Revenant Organ” made using “Death State” as a material, but there are quite a few other useful traits included.

‘Especially traits that transform the nervous system have good synergy with psychic-related traits.’

Just as infection-related traits have synergy with nest-related traits, psychic-related traits have synergy with several internal organ-related traits.

Moreover, the traits I’ve been looking for that improve energy consumption efficiency are also classified as internal organ traits.

‘But there’s no guarantee I’ll get them just by eating these.’

I looked at the still-living Screamers with conflict.

‘Come to think of it, there was something about Cunning Weakling preserving energy.’

That’s what the description said. After a moment of contemplation, I made a decision.

‘Let’s experiment this time.’

I might need to use the Mark of the Hunt in the Cunning Weakling state later. I should check it now in a situation where I’m not in immediate danger to avoid problems later.

I warned the kids that I might lose my mind again. If that happens, they should quickly pass me another corpse.

“Big baby must be very hungry. Poor thing.”

“Big adult” “Glutton”

No. 26 sent a wave of sympathy, while Adhigh sent a teasing thought wave. After glancing at them, I finally looked at Sky Mother.

She nodded silently. It was a sign that she would help, so I shouldn’t worry.

Only then did I feel reassured and activated the Mark of the Hunt.

–

“Damn it!”

Captain Keinzcu of Ship No. 98 kept cursing as he watched the biosignal window where black fires kept appearing. Since the attack by an unknown monster began, communication with the cyborgs had been cut off one after another.

Not only that, but the Screamers received from the Machine Committee were also dying rapidly. Keinzcu knew that Screamers were made from criminals, but he also knew that these war machines were very effective in combat.

The fact that such powerful weapons were being helplessly defeated meant that the enemy was not ordinary.

“Activate cameras using emergency power.”

No. 98 delivered what could be considered good news, but Keinzcu couldn’t feel relieved.

‘Damn it, it’s not just one!’

Because the drone management facility was destroyed, video information from cameras attached to drones cannot be viewed from a distance, but that’s not the case with androids.

Unlike ship cameras, he can’t adjust camera options from here, but he can at least see what the androids are looking at.

Synchronized with the views of dozens of androids, Keinzcu could see the monsters that had boarded this ship.

Two invisible monsters, a four-legged furry beast, and a pink balloon monster using an unknown power.

He had never seen such monsters even in Star Union’s beast fighting arena.

“How’s the analysis on them going?”

“Analyzing unidentified creatures Type C and D. Type C has very agile movements, possessing high-strength claws and beak. Type D is estimated to use high-density prophet-level psychic power.”

“What about A and B? Why can’t I see those bastards?”

“Type B is identified to possess the ability to fly at high speeds. Based on the damage level when androids were attacked, estimated speed is above that of carrier aircraft.”

“…How many drones capable of automatic navigation do we have on this ship?”

“With the drone management facility destroyed, only 6 are currently available.”

“Tch, first, transmit all the information we’ve gathered so far to those drones.”

“Transmitting.”

“After I leave, launch them in automatic navigation mode, set to send a rescue signal after 10 hours.”

“Confirmed.”

With those words, Keinzcu unplugged the cable from the back of his head. The reason he did this was to somehow deliver information to his fleet, the Nemea Fleet.

‘Judging by how they target key facilities first, these aren’t just monsters with brute strength.’

Monsters that move this strategically would anticipate him trying to escape on a carrier aircraft. If there was no way to escape anyway, he intended to fight to the end.

‘The Nemea Fleet will avenge me, monster!’

After getting up, he gathered weapons deployed in the situation room. As he was about to go outside after arming himself, No. 98 reported:

“Setting complete.”

“…Good. Good job.”

“Have a nice journey.”

It was a message that always appeared when leaving the situation room, but why did it sound like it was encouraging his resolve?

Keinzcu stepped out into the darkened corridor.

Despite the destruction of numerous cyborgs and androids, the corridor in front of the situation room was eerily quiet.

Holding a pulse gun, a lightweight version of the storm gun, in one hand, he controlled a drone terminal. A clean, spherical drone rose above his head.

With even androids and Screamers annihilated, the chances of him, with inferior armament, defeating the monsters were slim.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

His revenge plan was already in motion. He tightly closed his mouth and watched the corridor ahead.

As he was staring into the darkness of the corridor, he suddenly felt a certain vibration.

Having spent a long time on this ship, the vibration he felt under his feet was quite unfamiliar. This unfamiliar resonance vibrated the alloy walls surrounding the corridor in a uniform rhythm.

‘It’s coming!’

Keinzcu tightly gripped the pulse gun in his hand. Not long after feeling the strange vibration, he heard a sound.

It was similar to the breathing sound of a Screamer but much rougher and lower. It was similar to the sound of a hyperluminal engine moving, but more fierce.

Keinzcu could easily tell that the sound was the monster growling.

‘Damn! Where is it?’

The sound and vibration were getting closer, but the monster was nowhere to be seen. The exploration drone also continued to circle around without finding it.

‘I can hear footsteps but can’t see it even with thermal vision… wait, sound?’

Keinzcu quickly adjusted the options of the exploration drone and his own vision. To a mode that identifies the enemy’s appearance through vibration and waves.

Doing so revealed the monster standing at the end of the corridor.

The appearance of the monster filling the corridor passage was truly terrifying.

The face of the monster, with six long and thick horns reaching the ceiling, resembled an animal’s skull.

Its elongated snout held the severed head of a Screamer, and where eyes should be, there were spiky thorns and bone plates. The thorns and bone plates sometimes looked like eyes depending on the angle, making it even more frightening.

Below the jaw were four pointed bone blades as threatening as the horns. The bone blades kept twitching as if ready to cut down enemies at any moment.

The body below was covered in long fur, making it difficult to see properly. Only when the monster breathed could one glimpse its legs, suggesting it had multiple legs.

“……”

Facing the monster’s appearance, Keinzcu completely lost his fighting spirit.

The idea of buying time against such a monster was nothing short of a bad joke.

“Enemy found.”

If the drone hadn’t reported, he would have died without moving a muscle. Coming to his senses, he ran like mad down the corridor in the opposite direction from the monster.

As he fled, the monster swallowed the Screamer’s head in one gulp and moved. Each time the massive creature took a step, the corridor resonated loudly.

Running with all his might, Keinzcu quickly ducked his head at the eerie feeling approaching the back of his neck. Simultaneously, the blade attached to the monster’s jaw sliced through the corridor. The solid alloy wall was cleanly cut as if scissors through paper.

“Huk!”

He avoided the attack just now, but his posture collapsed. Keinzcu couldn’t go more than a few steps before falling flat.

“Hi, hiik!”

Anticipating the imminent death, he tightly closed his eyes.

However, even as time passed, he didn’t die. When he slightly opened one eye, he saw the monster’s face right in front of him.

“You, are you the captain?”

“……”

A woman’s voice coming from the monster’s mouth. He was too tense to answer properly.

The monster asked him once more as he trembled.

“I’ll ask one last time. Are you the captain?”

“Y-yes!”

Satisfied with the answer, the monster pulled its head back.

Is this how it feels when you try to commit suicide with a gun but it misfires? Keinzcu, who had nearly died, exhaled.

But the monster’s next action froze him.

“I almost killed a useful one.”

With those words, the monster extended its arm. Something could be seen wriggling inside the monster’s thick fur, trying to come out.

“From now on, the one you serve is not Star Union.”

Seeing the black worm that emerged from between the fur and wriggled, Keinzcu wished he could just faint.