Ch.234Assault (3)

The forest moves. Amidst the sound of wind blowing between trees, an artificial metallic sound can be heard.

Hundreds of Screamers are coming this way.

“Great One” “Kin” “Will we be alright?”

Adhigh Orr, hiding behind me and using me as cover, asked worriedly.

‘They won’t all be dead.’

Where we and the Screamers are now is the forest on the opposite side of the cliff where the nest is located.

If you leave the forest and go to the sheer cliff, you’ll find a massive river flowing between them. This is the path Sky Mother and Ham Oort used to escape.

And on the cliff across that river, numerous caves are scattered throughout. Those caves are the entrances to the dragon’s nest.

The terrain itself is clearly a natural fortress that’s difficult to attack. Screamers without flight capabilities would have to accept considerable casualties to break through that place.

‘I suspect the Gallergorn are likely in defensive positions.’

I’m guessing that a significant number of Gallergorn in the nest have indeed died. At first, they probably came out to fight the Screamers, but as casualties became severe, they changed their strategy and chose to defend from inside the nest.

If all the Gallergorn had been wiped out, the enemies would have ambushed us in the nest, not here.

[Zzzzz zzz zzzzzz zzzz zzzzzz (Don’t worry. We’ll go to the nest when we see an opportunity)]

“Okay”

The Gallergorn, sensitive to psychic power, must have felt Adhigh’s arrival. Yet they haven’t come out, which means the situation inside the nest isn’t good either. Perhaps something bad has happened to Nel Germa, who’s in charge of the nest.

‘We need to rendezvous with the nest somehow.’

The distance to the nest from here isn’t that far. We should move when we get a chance while fighting them.

Even as I’m lost in thought, the enemies continue to move. The auxiliary organs under my jaw detect exponentially increasing movement.

While I’m contemplating when to strike, No. 26, who was nestled in the small arms on my chest, tapped me.

“Big baby.”

[Zzzzz (What is it?)]

“I feel something similar to a friend over there.”

[Zzzzz zzzzz zzzzz zzzz zzzzzzzz (They’re not friends, they’re bad enemies)]

The commander-class mutant Screamers, including PS-111, contain Sea Demon genes. That’s why No. 26 considers PS-111 as something similar to its own kind.

‘I scolded it severely last time, so it should be fine…’

I was about to caution it again in case it hesitated, but No. 26 sent out a wave first.

“The bad ones are talking to each other.”

[Zzz zzzzzzzz (Talking?)]

“Yes. They use difficult words so I don’t understand what they mean.”

I focused on my auxiliary organs again, but apart from faint electromagnetic waves from special machines, I couldn’t sense anything like psychic waves.

‘Is it a wave that only Bubble Amoeba or Sea Demons can detect?’

“No. 26 detected their conversation. Can you hear anything?”

When I asked, a voice came from above. It was PS-111, perfectly hidden among the branches.

“It’s impossible to use or detect the PS model-exclusive channel as it has been rebuilt with an independent line adjusted to the new main controller.”

“I see?”

If we could eavesdrop on their communications, we could properly counter the enemies’ plans. PS-111 says it’s impossible, so there’s nothing we can do. I asked No. 26 if it could relay exactly what it heard.

“Myongyong uwang? Uwang taeyong?”

[Zzzzz zzzzzzzz zzzz zzzzzz (Sounds like ‘command bypass strike’)]

“What’s a bypass strike?”

Unfortunately, while No. 26 can eavesdrop, it doesn’t understand what the words mean. It would be nice to have time to slowly interpret the information it intercepted, but that’s impossible.

‘No, wait a minute.’

While feeling disappointed, an idea suddenly occurred to me.

No. 26 can spread its psychic power widely to create an EMP-like effect. That power is strong enough to stop a spaceship navigating through space.

‘Then couldn’t it prevent them from communicating?’

When I asked if it was possible, it lit up its body, saying it could do it.

“I can make them quiet. Should I do it now?”

[Zzzzz zzzz zzzzz zzzz (No. When I give the signal)]

Using it right away wouldn’t be bad, but I decided to wait longer.

As you can see with PS-111, mutant Screamers are living weapons that learn through combat. Even if we block their communications, if one or two secretly escape, we’d be wasting a card.

‘We need to aim for a situation where we can take them all out at once.’

And this place has too many gaps for them to escape through.

At that moment, I could see them through the trees.

They had pale human faces attached to their heads, but below were mechanical parts, tubes, and hard metal skeletons all mixed together.

Eight elongated legs were attached to their biomechanical torsos. At the ends of these legs, which were a mix of exposed red muscle and metal tubes without skin, were three alloy claws.

These creatures, reminiscent of mechanical spiders with human heads, glowed their eyes red.

In that red glow, I could sense nothing but the goal of tearing apart enemies.

I opened my jaw wide and activated my acidic fungal gland. An oval-shaped green mass shot out of my mouth and hit the base of a tree some distance away.

The tree, with its upper roots instantly dissolved, fell in the direction the enemies were coming from. Some of the approaching Screamers launched themselves into the air.

And I fired a psychic breath toward those floating in the air. Literally, a dragon’s breath like in movies poured down on them.

“Bl, black metal def, defense imposs…”

The Screamers floating in the air turned to dust before finishing their words. The Screamers following behind chattered as they saw this.

“Special Target A. Confirmed using extremely dangerous psychic breath.”

“Recording.”

As expected, they were recording their battle with me. That information would probably be transmitted immediately to their leader, “Pyrrha Eleven.”

‘It doesn’t matter.’

The number of traits I possess isn’t just one or two. And some can have their effects changed according to my will.

‘Sometimes knowing can be worse than not knowing.’

After deliberately revealing information to the enemies, I continued to pour out psychic breath. The purple flames devoured the densely grown trees, but the Screamers dodged well.

“Confirmed that improved cluster bombs are ineffective. Switching to high-speed impact shells.”

“Switch order confirmed.”

Meanwhile, other Screamers approached our position. As they got close enough to be visible to the naked eye, the Screamers prepared to fire. Their legs twisted and transformed into something similar to RPG-7 barrels.

Then their muzzles aimed precisely at my head.

As light flashed like lightning in the dark forest, I felt a stinging pain in my head.

‘High-speed impact shells, huh.’

Just as Megacorp deploys plasma launchers when facing heavily armored enemies, Star Union has similar weapons.

HSB (Heavy Shock Blaster), commonly known as “Shocker.” It’s equipment developed to counter heavily armored bioweapons like Megacorp’s Hulk Mutants and boasts considerable lethality.

This is because Shocker’s shells, instead of penetrating the enemy, cause ultra-vibrations upon impact, damaging the inside of the armor. For instance, if a creature with thick armor like a Mountain Crawler is hit by a high-speed impact shell, the inside would be completely ruined even if the outside remains intact.

That’s why, despite having no visible damage where I was hit, I was feeling a stinging pain.

‘They’ve responded quite intelligently, but.’

Unless they have thousands of high-speed impact shells built in, they won’t be able to kill me. Even if my insides are shaken up, I have many means to quickly recover my body, including the regeneration trait.

‘Besides, Shockers have a weakness.’

The enemies fired high-speed impact shells again. Alloy masses flew from all directions with acrid smoke, aiming to shatter my head.

But none of the high-speed impact shells reached my head.

“Incomprehensible situation occurring.”

“Presumed physical law distortion due to massive psychic power. Analysis required.”

The bullets hang in the air as if time has stopped. Beings sensitive to psychic power would know that these bullets are caught in an invisible net made of threads.

“I really hate those who hit Big Baby!”

The owner of the transparent net vigorously waves its tentacles.

The high-speed impact shells changed direction and began to explode as they flew back to their owners. The Screamers, not expecting this, couldn’t dodge in time and were blown apart.

Meanwhile, I pulled out two cards to disrupt them.

‘Time to work. All of you, come out.’

The tooth fairy nest located just before where the carapace begins from my tail, and the human-faced insect host that nests on my back when not in hunting form, were both activated.

Fleas with large teeth tear through the nest on my body and fall to the ground. From my back, human-faced insects with intelligent faces and insect bodies emerge, tearing through a membrane resembling human faces.

‘Tooth fairies, disrupt them; human-faced insects, check the commander-class individuals.’

The insect army moves according to my orders.

“Enemy entity proliferating.”

“Small size. Unable to respond with high-speed impact shells.”

The tooth fairies crossed the battlefield with shallow snow and clung to the Screamers’ legs. Then they gnawed at the metal skeletons with teeth hard enough to destroy carrier aircraft.

“Ignore small entities. Switch from firing to close combat… gik?!”

The commander-class PS models positioned at the rear flinched as they were attacked by human-faced insects during command. Their entire bodies were paralyzed by the sound waves emitted by the human-faced insects.

‘If they were machines, it wouldn’t work, but they’re not.’

Mutant Screamers are a fusion of organism and machine. And while they’re controlled by machines, they still have hearing, making them susceptible to paralyzing sound waves.

“Attack presumed to target hearing. Everyone, deactivate auditory function… gik!”

[Zzzzz zzzzz zzzzz zzzzz zzzz (Target the paralyzed and fallen ones)]

Mutant Screamers can self-destruct if necessary. If their functions aren’t stopped, they might explode at any time and harm us.

Hearing my wave, Adhigh quickly fired psychic breath. Specializing in rapid-fire, it quickly disposed of the incapacitated Screamers.

“Special Target B confirmed to possess special shield.”

“Cannot disable with current equipment. Must target areas without shield.”

The enemies tried to target Adhigh when it exposed its head to fire breath, but it was completely useless.

That’s because it can protect its head with Red Armor. No matter what weapon they bring, they can’t destroy Adhigh’s head.

Naturally, there were quite a few Screamers trying to target its body or wings, but each time, I spread my wing arms to protect it.

In other words, unless they kill all of us simultaneously, the Screamers have little chance of victory.

‘The same goes for us though.’

I had estimated there would be about a hundred bodies when we were attacked from the sky, and sure enough, their numbers were excessive.

Moreover, their responsiveness is improving over time. At this rate, they might find a way to defeat us.

‘If they decide to self-destruct, we can’t counter that.’

The fight needs to stop here, and we should move to the nest soon.

I moved little by little while facing them. Some of the Screamers gave up firing and approached me.

Each time, I pulled out corrosive tentacles to respond. Long tentacles like snakes shot out from my back and struck them. Then one Screamer luckily dodged the tentacles and got inside.

Just as it aimed to shoot No. 26 with a cluster bomb, a navy energy bullet flew from the tree. The Screamer, with its head blown off by the bullet, collapsed on the spot.

“I will not forgive those who touch the main controller.”

“Enemy in the tree needs to be checked.”

“Confirmed as discarded PS model. Estimated series is 100s. Weakness confirmed.”

The enemies seemed to have changed their target from me to PS-111, as they poured bullets toward the tree. During that gap, I ran toward the nest with Adhigh on my tail.

“Based on enemy movement path prediction, they are moving toward Gallergorn’s nest.”

“Must block before they join… gik.”

The Screamers, quickly understanding my intention, tried to attack me. But due to the interference from tooth fairies and human-faced insects following my orders, and the active defense of the children, they couldn’t properly block us.

“Main Controller Pyrrha Eleven’s order modified. Retreat and regroup. Additional response measures being prepared.”

“Confirmed.”

“Confirmed.”

As if orders had come from their leader, the Screamers stopped pursuing us.

During that gap, PS-111 and I escaped to the cliff where the nest was located.

As soon as we left the forest, I spread my wings without hesitation on the cliff. The human-faced insects, who had stopped their defense and flown over, also clung to my back and returned to where they had emerged.

“Thank you.”

Holding PS-111, who was following behind, with the pincers on my tail, I glided and entered one of the nest entrances.

Not long after setting foot in the cave, a Gallergorn appeared from inside. It was Sha Belmarg, the thin white Gallergorn who first rebelled when fighting Odd Grad.

“Sha Belmarg” “Great Adhigh” “Welcome”

Its condition wasn’t good. Its wings were torn here and there, and all its hind legs had been blown off, forcing it to crawl on its front legs.

Seeing this, Adhigh shot a thought wave filled with surprise.

“What” “Happened?”

“Smelly enemy” “Attack” “White kin” “Power” “Combined” “Barely” “Drove away” “Kin” “Many” “Dead”

“What about Nel Germa?”

“Nel Germa” “Injured” “Serious” “Activity” “Impossible”

Gallergorn are important combatants. We can’t afford to lose them all like this.

I picked up Sha Belmarg with my combat arms.

[Zzzzz (Guide us)]

“Path” “That way”

Following its guidance, we entered the dragon’s nest.

The entire cliff must be the dragon’s nest, as the cave was very long with many forks. The width of the passage was wide enough for me to move around without problems, and it wasn’t dark due to minerals that had absorbed psychic power scattered throughout.

Honestly, if it weren’t an urgent situation, I would have liked to observe it leisurely, as it was beautiful enough for that.

After passing through the long and complex natural maze, we came to an open cavity. The light from minerals twinkling like stars illuminated numerous fallen Gallergorn.

“All” “Injured” “Severely!”

It was just as Adhigh said.

In the center of the cavity was a shallow lake, which looked like a lake of blood due to the Gallergorn blood flowing into it.

‘This won’t do.’

There’s only one way to heal so many Gallergorn. I put down Sha Belmarg and crawled into the lake.

Soon, black mucus began to pour out from my body.