Ch.236Labyrinth (2)

Screamers are controlled in all their activities by machines connected to the brain. While their pre-modification consciousness remains, all bodily control is held by the machine.

Despite their name “Those Who Scream,” they cannot make a single sound of their own will. They are essentially moving prisons.

This was also true for the new mutant Screamers.

Though there were differences—the identity of the modification subject was unclear, and they could modify organic parts through gene absorption—they were identical in being bio-weapons under machine control.

And the greatest advantage of AI-controlled combat weapons is their fearlessness.

They don’t waver even when a comrade beside them is hit by plasma rounds and disintegrates, or when they witness a Hulk Mutant tearing apart regular soldiers. They simply advance steadily toward their objective.

Of course, the consciousness of the organism serving as the Screamer’s material would feel fear, but that’s irrelevant. As long as the emotion control module connected to the head is active, the host’s emotions cannot influence movement.

In any case, Screamers don’t fear unexpected situations.

Even when space moves erratically or life signatures appear throughout the cave in succession—bizarre events like now.

“D-squad detection system requires modification.”

“B-squad switching to thermal detection system. Not useful as heat is detected throughout the passage.”

“C-squad confirms sonic detection system acquired from ‘Cave Gargoyle’ genes remains effective.”

“E-squad psychic detection sys…zzt, test…zzzzt”

“Reporting to Pyrrha Eleven. All standby…zzzzt”

“Psychic interference wave observed. Line recalibration required.”

At the mutant Screamer’s communication report, the other units entered standby mode. The monsters, covered with features from various creatures, used their respective detection organs to monitor the surroundings.

Just then, gray smoke began seeping from deep inside the cave. The lead Screamer detected this and reported.

“Toxic substance confirmed in air.”

“Connect anti-toxin tubes.”

Some tubes connected to the metal skeleton and life support system detached and forcefully inserted into their mouths.

“Kuuuu” “Analyzing harmful components in air.”

“Enemy attack probability 78%” “Kuuuu”

The D-squad Screamers communicated in mechanical voices, their mouths blocked by tubes.

Toxic fog flowing into the narrow passage meant enemy attack was imminent. The Screamers drew their weapons and watched the front.

“Kuuuu”

“Kuuuu”

Rough breathing echoed through the cave. Mixed within was another sound—footsteps, like walking through sticky mud.

Someone was approaching.

“Kuuuu” “Magmagator’s ignition organ confirmed effective.” “Kuuuu”

“Initiating preemptive attack.” “Kuuuu”

Screamers with abnormally swollen flesh stepped forward. Metal pipes between their bloated flesh moved to face forward.

Intense flames erupted from the pipes. Fire created from internally stored gas and flammable materials engulfed the passage.

At that moment, a purple energy round flew from deep inside the front passage, striking a flame-spewing Screamer. Flesh exploded, and the leaking flammable material covered nearby Screamers.

The mutant Screamers’ metal skeletons and mechanical devices have high heat resistance. Their organic external coverings are also genetically modified to resist high temperatures. Therefore, none of them paid attention to their burning bodies.

Of course, the original owners of those bodies were silently screaming in extreme burning pain.

“Confirmed as Gallergorn.” “Kuuuu”

“Initiating counterattack.”

The Screamers aimed their newly attached legs forward and fired translucent purple energy rounds. They had absorbed Gallergorn genes and reflected them in psychic rifle form.

As psychic energy rounds poured over the raging flames, the dark cave instantly brightened. A small, red-skinned Gallergorn at the end of the long passage quickly retreated.

“Initiating enemy pursuit.” “Kuuuu”

“Conf…”

Just as D-squad Screamers were about to pursue, a PS unit in the rear suddenly collapsed. Everyone’s attention turned to the fallen unit.

Its head had vanished without a trace.

Then another navy energy round flew from behind. This attack also targeted the head of the PS model serving as commander.

The D-squad commander blocked the attack with its metal leg. The leg vanished without a trace, as if hit by the Cult’s matter decomposition weapon.

“Effect determined similar to Cult’s matter decomposition weapon ‘Demolisher’.” “Kuuuu”

“Kuuuu” “Fire disruption substance rel…”

“Enemy attack from flank.”

“Enemy att…”

As they prepared to counter enemies from front and rear, the black walls on both sides where they stood simultaneously melted away. White-scaled Gallergorn leaped out from inside.

The Screamers had thought this passage was a straight cave, but that was incorrect.

Originally, this place was a fork in the road.

–

“Poor reception with D-squad. Line restoration in progress.”

“B-squad and C-squad entered large cavity after merging.”

E-squad continued attempting communication with the commanders of the squads that had gone ahead.

Communication interference was impossible for mutant Screamers synthesized with Sea Demon and various psychic creatures’ genes. They communicated using their unique psychic power rather than electronic devices—who could interfere with that?

A powerful psychic creature, like a Sea Demon, could disrupt the line, but that was impossible. The Black Gallergorn, this nest’s former owner, was already dead, and Sea Demons don’t live on this planet.

While two E-squad commander models struggled to find the cause of the interference, an order arrived from outside.

“Pyrrha Eleven transmitting order. Judged as trap, withdraw immediately.”

“Order confirmed. Withdrawing.”

There had been constant static, but they were lucky. E-squad prepared to exit the nest immediately.

They couldn’t contact D-squad’s Screamers, but that was Pyrrha Eleven’s problem. As mere terminal units, it wasn’t their concern.

“Periodic structural changes make map recording meaningless.”

“Based on current position, breaking through wall is most effective.”

“Confirmed. Preparing breakthrough.”

A Screamer with many legs stepped forward. Those with Hellside Hornet genes had very large claws attached to their legs.

Hellside Hornets dig out cave soil with their sickle-clawed front legs. Like the originals, the Screamers planned to dig through the wall.

Screamers with sickle-shaped front legs began excavation. With each movement of the sharp sickle claws, the solid wall crumbled like sand.

“Soil contains unidentified substance.”

“Life response detected from substance.”

The sickle claws were covered in thick black material.

Perhaps this substance was interfering with their communications. The PS models in the rear immediately reported this externally.

“Confirmed alien substance not found in Gallergorn’s Nest. Drones unusable, sending relevant information first.”

“Zzzzt, substance, zzzt, confirmed, zzzzt, confirmed…”

“Discovered new substance, transmitting information. Please confirm.”

The previously fine communication rapidly deteriorated. As E-squad commanders tried to report again, a transmission arrived.

“Zzzzt, zzzzt, confirmed, zzzzt, bad, zzzzt”

“Poor communication status. Please confirm.”

“Zzzzt, bad, zzzzt, bad, bad, zzzt, bad, bad”

“PS-005?”

“badbadbadbadbadbadbadbadbadbadbadbadbadbadbadbadbadbadbadbad…”

The PS models quickly terminated communication after the sudden transmission overload. They tried reconnecting, but it was completely dead.

That wasn’t all. Simultaneously with the communication cutoff, they sensed massive psychic power flow behind them. Even the Screamers digging the wall detected this and turned around.

A pink balloon-like object sat on the black passage.

Even to Screamers, this object didn’t belong here, but the commander-level units immediately recognized what “it” was. It was something that absolutely couldn’t—shouldn’t—exist on this planet.

“Enemy disc…gack?!”

The PS model about to give orders froze. The units rushing toward the pink balloon also stopped.

As if time had stopped, every Screamer present ceased movement. Then their bodies slowly rose into the air.

Their bodies began compressing together as if crushed by something invisible.

High-strength alloy metal skeletons bent like rubber, and mechanical devices connected to organic parts crushed with sparks. The mutant Screamers transformed as if thrown into the deep sea with tremendous pressure.

“Dan, dan, dan, danger, danger, danger.”

Some Screamers fired psychic energy rounds, but it was useless. Like taxidermied specimens in midair, the energy rounds also stopped in flight.

“Co, conc, concentrated, round, ch, change…”

“Re, response, response, response, im, im, im…”

“Retreat, re, reeeeeek!”

They tried switching to physical firing means instead of energy rounds, but it was impossible. With their internal modules and metal skeletons ruined, they had no options.

Except to scream their death throes.

After several minutes, the passage fell silent.

The dozens of Screamers no longer existed. Instead, a massive blood-red sphere floated in midair.

As the pink balloon that had finished everything disappeared into darkness, the sphere split and spilled its contents.

Blood and flesh, finely shattered metal fragments, chemical substances emitting foul odors—all these remains scattered on the floor were absorbed by the black slime covering the cave walls.

Shortly after, nothing remained.

–

While others were under attack, B-squad and C-squad continued deeper into the cave.

Before communications were cut, their last orders were to search the nest interior and eliminate Special Target A. They proceeded with exploration to gather maximum information necessary for achieving the objective.

After advancing for some time, they encountered a massive cavity unlike anything they’d seen before.

“Cavity discovered. High moisture content detected in air.”

“Evidence of multiple organisms having stayed here confirmed.”

Inside the cavity was a substantial swamp. One Screamer approached and inserted a leg. The high temperature indicated this was undoubtedly a resting place for Gallergorn.

“Given surrounding environment characteristics, swamp location is unnatural.”

“Verification required.”

“Initiating swamp interior search.”

“Confirmed.”

S-model Screamers from B and C squads entered the swamp. Outside, commander-level units waited in passages connected to the cavity. This was to allow retreat while lower units bought time if necessary.

“Multiple life signatures detected.”

“No movement detected.”

A peculiar situation—life signatures detected but no movement. Other detection functions yielded only contradictory results.

During the search, one unit noticed unnatural ripples on the water surface. Waves periodically flowed from the swamp center, disturbing the surface.

The Screamers quickly dispersed to form an encirclement. The unit that discovered the anomaly slowly approached the wave source.

Pushing through the sticky black liquid, it saw the edge of a black rock. The surface rippled slightly around the rock, perhaps the source of the waves.

“Dive required for confirmation.”

“Permitted.”

The Screamer plunged its head deep into the swamp lake filled with unknown substance. Thanks to aquatic creature genes, it could easily read the situation inside.

What lay before it was less a rock and more like a greatly enlarged tumor. Several elongated stems extended from the rock-like object. The stems were quite long, reaching under the feet of the Screamers surrounding the rock.

After checking the stems, it turned its gaze to the rock. And upon seeing it, realized:

The rock—no, the thing that looked like a rock—had opened its eyes and was staring at it.

“Special targ…”

It tried to report about the enemy, but “it” moved faster.

A massive arm hidden under the swamp shot out and grabbed it. The organic parts of the Screamer that touched the creature’s hand rapidly shrank and shattered.

After consuming the Screamer’s energy, “it”—no, “Special Target A”—slowly raised its body submerged in the swamp.