Ch.183Cult Priest (2)

Jason’s player group viewed everyone else except themselves as NPCs.

They were similar to groups aiming to clear the game, but with one important difference.

They had little interest in leaving this world. Unlike the real world, here they were kings, mythical beings themselves.

Jason had lived a fairly decent life in reality, but that didn’t mean he was more satisfied there than here. The same was true for others in his group.

In that sense, they could be considered similar to players who chose to assimilate into the Space Survival world.

Of course, what Jason’s group wanted wasn’t assimilation but domination.

And Jason had gotten off to an exceptionally good start within the group. Fortunately becoming an antlered Cult, which could be considered nobility in Cult society, he was able to adapt to this world very smoothly.

Not only that, but he also had a Perk that boasted excellent synergy with the Cult.

People around him revered him, and his own power transcended the limits of the Cult. Naturally, his self-awareness became excessively strong.

After learning this was the world of Space Survival, he lived like a protagonist from a manga or novel.

Like collecting unique characters in a game, he made useful NPCs his own and eliminated everything that stood in his way.

Occasionally when he found a woman he liked, he would cast mental control techniques like “Ultra Control.” Because of this, he had over 20 “lovers” within the Empire. The slaves who weren’t even treated as lovers were too numerous to count.

To him, this world was a playground within a game. Except for his group members, the rest were mere toys. When he got bored with toys, he handed them over to Cloe or Jubaka to become experimental materials.

A tyrant who viewed even his own kind not as equal beings but as slaves. That was Jason’s essence.

In fact, this lifestyle was evidence that he, who seemed to have everything, was actually a very lonely person, but he didn’t realize it.

Anyway, perhaps because he had lived without deficiency for so long, Jason was extremely displeased with the painful reality now confronting him.

Moreover, the one who instigated this situation was an AMorph, whom he despised most.

He had killed his 17th lover with his own hands, and the temple guardians he had carefully nurtured were about to be buried alive.

While he was busily blocking the collapsing ceiling, the opponent’s appearance was changing. Gray bones and carapace were sprouting from the creature’s previously all-black body, which was rapidly growing larger.

That trait was called “Bone Beast.” It was one of the combat traits AMorphs frequently used in the game.

Having fought the creature several times, he knew well how dangerous that trait was.

‘This won’t work.’

If he continued to be dragged along by the AMorph, it might become unmanageable. He decided to use his “third Perk.”

Four years ago, there was an incident known in Cult society as the Sect of Voltex One purification operation. While that was the official story, in reality, it was a war between players.

Jason, Cloe, and Cynthia joined forces to successfully hunt a Coldblood ranker, and in the process, Jason gained a new Perk.

‘It’s a bit early, but…’

While blocking falling rocks and ice with Reflection, Jason activated his third Perk.

Then, a golden translucent shadow-like entity appeared behind his back.

On the golden figure’s head, deer-like antlers sprouted wildly, making it look like it was wearing an elaborate crown. Around its arms, golden energy particles constantly fluttered like clothing. It had no lower body; instead, it was connected to Jason’s spine.

A purple single eye was embedded in the head of the figure that glowed entirely in gold. When that eye looked at the controlled temple guardians, something strange happened.

The Cults’ bodies transformed into golden particles and merged with the golden figure.

After absorbing all 11 Cults, the golden figure became much more distinct in color than before. When Jason raised his arm, the golden figure did the same.

And with tremendous light, their bodies soared upward.

–

‘What was that just now?’

As my body was transforming, my auxiliary organs detected an anomaly.

It was an energy type I was feeling for the first time since coming to this world. It felt similar to psychic power but seemed much more concentrated.

The enemy player used that power to break through the collapsing cavern head-on. He flew upward through the ceiling, leaving me alone underground.

‘I can’t sense the other Cults’ movements.’

Before the player left, the mysterious energy had absorbed all the surrounding psychic power. Judging by the absence of the Cult’s distinctive energy, I could easily guess what had happened to them.

‘An ability to absorb energy?’

Such creatures exist, but it’s not something a Cult can do. He clearly used means unknown to me.

‘I didn’t see any unfamiliar equipment.’

The equipment the player wore was the Dragonslayer set, obtainable as a quest reward. I detected no other equipment besides that.

‘I’ll have to go out and see for myself.’

It’s dangerous to fight recklessly when lacking information about the enemy. Especially if the opponent is formidable.

Despite his thuggish behavior, the player seemed skilled at using psychic power techniques. His player-exclusive Perk also appeared very powerful.

‘…But I can’t avoid this fight.’

He came all the way to this remote planet chasing me. Even if I ran, he would somehow follow.

‘So I’ll deal with him here.’

Having completed my transformation, I began breaking through the piled ice chunks with my arms, which had grown overwhelmingly larger than before.

The ice chunks that had seemed endlessly large before I activated Bone Beast now looked like snowballs clutched in a child’s hand. Even the Ice Horror’s bones, which had been large enough to cover my body, no longer seemed so overwhelming.

That’s natural. My body length was approaching nearly 100m. Not only had my size increased, but the thickness of the carapace covering my body and the densely packed synthetic scales had also grown enormous.

Additionally, an exoskeleton made of the same material as bone covered my body in a second layer. Gray exoskeletal carapace protected my black carapace underneath.

The gray exoskeleton was densely studded with sickle-like bone spikes, making me look quite threatening even to myself.

To summarize my current appearance simply, I looked like the original AMorph wearing an exoskeletal armor made of animal bones.

‘And with this increased size on top of that.’

I truly had an appearance worthy of being called a giant monster. Though I had seen Bone Beast countless times in the game, experiencing it firsthand was definitely a new feeling.

‘I’d like to examine this more, but…’

A battle with a formidable opponent awaits me ahead.

I climbed upward, breaking through ice and rocks. The blunt bone spikes protruding all over my body served as pickaxes or shovels, making it easy to dig through the ice.

I reached the ice plain above much faster than when I had descended.

Outside, gray clouds heavily covered the sky. The snowfield I stepped on could no longer be called an ice plain. It had become severely uneven with a sunken middle.

Amid the undulating snow and ice piles, under the dark sky, he stood.

The player with the strange golden figure attached to his back. He was waiting for me.

‘So that’s it.’

What caught my attention more than the player himself was that strange entity on his back.

Composed of golden particles, it seemed like a shadowless entity yet somehow felt three-dimensional. Thanks to the AMorph’s highly developed senses, I could tell it was energy concentrated to the extreme, forming a single entity.

While the golden figure’s body resembled the player’s, deer antlers sprouting from its temples were tangled together, making it look like it wore a laurel wreath.

On its face, there was nothing but a single eye glowing bright purple. Around its arms, particles wavered like a mirage, resembling long silk robes.

‘Seems like a summoning technique.’

In Space Survival, “summoning techniques,” despite the term, are closer to possession or descent of higher-dimensional beings. Coldblood or heretic Cults who took the Sect of Voltex One route can draw upon the power of Voltex One.

‘The price for materializing to that extent must be enormous.’

Summoning is an extremely high-risk, high-return technique, making it difficult to use casually. The opposing player glares at me with murderous intent, but he doesn’t appear to have paid a tremendous price to summon that entity.

‘Is it an equipment effect? Or…’

Is it due to a special ability?

Either way, it seems extraordinary.

‘…So he had an ace up his sleeve.’

Even when I used God’s Rod, he seemed composed. He must have been confident.

‘Generally, summoned entities integrated with their users can’t move independently.’

It’s likely a type specialized in supporting Cult combat or specialized in ranged combat. Perhaps both.

That’s not the only problem.

While the golden figure was so alien that it drew my attention, the Dragonslayer set the opponent carried is also difficult to deal with.

For example, that black armor protecting his body. Made from Black Gallergorn scales and leather, it has considerable defensive power.

Although it’s rated one level below the Ice Horror’s carapace, being compared to something with such extremely high defense is impressive in itself.

‘I don’t have the means to destroy that armor in one blow right now.’

Unless I use Hunter’s Mark, Bone Beast, or King of Monsters to enhance my body.

Moreover, the Dragonslayer set isn’t just armor.

The player who was glaring at me drew a silver rod from his waist. The golden figure also mimicked drawing something from around its waist.

In that state, as he gripped the rod and pressed it with his thumb, black flames erupted from the end of the rod. The blazing black flames gradually subsided and refined into the form of a thin blade.

That torch-like weapon is “Purification,” the weapon part of the Dragonslayer set. It’s equipment modeled after a space weapon that appeared in a famous space opera film before I was born.

I wish it ended there, but of course not.

The arm of the golden figure behind him changed, transforming into a form similar to Purification.

Having drawn his weapon, he immediately swung the sword diagonally toward where I was. The golden figure moved exactly like the player. Then the figure’s sword extended, flying toward me to cut me down.

‘Tsk!’

I quickly twisted my body to avoid the attack. The blade of energy flying in the form of golden particles grazed the upper arm area of my combat arm.

The double-layered carapace that had formed in the Bone Beast state was cleanly cut. The blade didn’t stop after cutting me but flew far behind.

Having avoided the first attack, I charged toward him.

Every time I stomped the ground with my combat arms, snow and ice fragments piled on the floor flew upward. A tsunami of snow and ice created by the movement of my 100m-sized body rushed toward the player along with me.

‘How will you respond?’

Reflection, or another psychic power technique?

But the Cult player took an action completely different from what I expected.

Or more precisely, not him but the golden figure behind him.

‘Ugh?!’

Feeling an eerie sensation from the monster’s tentacles at the back of my head, I immediately ducked forward. A whip-like golden arm slashed above my head.

Ducking my head forward as if falling, I spat acidic fungus toward where he was standing.

The green fungus flying mixed with snow and ice was blocked by a brilliantly shining golden shield.

Beyond the scattering snowstorm, I could see the golden figure protecting the player with sword and shield. The Cult player, protected by the summoned entity, was looking at me with a raised corner of his mouth.

‘…Indeed.’

It seems the fight with him won’t be easy.