Ch.247Test Subject (2)

While AMorph is a representative non-mainstream race in Space Survival, it’s not completely terrible from start to finish.

The rewards obtained after hunting powerful NPCs or players.

The joy of accidentally discovering a trait fusion formula I didn’t know.

The sense of achievement when incorporating a new trait into hunting strategies.

There’s nothing more enjoyable than experiencing these things accumulating like a snowball, bringing me closer to perfection.

In truth, after Ascension, such joys became relatively scarce. Most players avoided me.

As my position in the game rose, the pleasure of discovering new creatures and traits diminished. Naturally, the sense of achievement decreased as well.

But today, I was able to experience that past joy once again.

I stared at the faintly glowing translucent text box.

「’Transcendence’ Material List: Contaminated Worm Host, Tetanus Vine, Tooth Fairy Nest, Human Sacrifice, Red Acid」

「’Transcendence’ Material List (New!): Insight, Observer of Fear, Auditory Hallucination Worm, Mental Parasitic Pustule, Mimic Organ (Not Acquired)」

「Mental Parasitic Pustule: Partially inherits the Tetanus Vine trait. Plants a psychic power pustule in the mind of sentient beings. When it explodes, it deals psychic power damage to surroundings and has a low chance of transferring pustules to other sentient beings.

*P.S.: Who on earth created such a sadistic trait?

「Harvester’s Maw: Inherits and enhances the Essence Harvester’s Jaw trait. Adds saw-toothed fangs to the mouth.

*P.S.: Eating is the most fundamental instinct.」

「’Jason (Jason Tunningham)’s Perk and ‘Second Brain’ trait have fused. ‘Second Bra■∬∬⨸⫱ Trait Enhancement System Intervention!」

「Trait Modification in Progress」

「Evolved into ‘Form Dominator’ trait!」

「Form Dominator: When activated, amplifies the effects of traits that influence the thoughts of other beings.

*Applicable to: Mimicry Organ, Parasitic Colony, Mental Parasitic Pustule

*P.S.: Wearing an appropriate mask for the situation is one of the virtues of an excellent hunter.」

‘One unique trait formula achieved, one unlocked, multiple new fusion traits acquired, new nemesis token obtained, and…’

Plus numerous common traits.

After the Hunt Manifestation ended, I almost forgot my hunger while thinking about which trait text boxes to review first among the flood of traits.

I examined the text boxes carefully while chewing on one of the stored corpses.

‘Let’s look at the new nemesis token first.’

The newly acquired nemesis token, ‘Form Dominator,’ is the result of converting one of the perks I got from killing Jason earlier.

I obtained a total of 3 player perks when I killed Jason before.

He had one originally, and two that he had stolen from other players after killing them.

At the time of acquisition, I only converted one into a trait. His Coldblood ranker perk, the ability to summon golden forms, became ‘Abyssal Chromatics.’

The reason I couldn’t convert all three into nemesis tokens was that I lacked the material traits needed for conversion.

Until now, to use perks stolen from other players, I always needed traits that matched those perks.

‘A perk and a trait. I need both to obtain a nemesis token.’

The remaining two, apart from Abyssal Chromatics, were stored in my body in an incomplete state.

Then the opportunity came when I raided the Screamer support ship. I acquired a large number of traits at once, and among them was a trait that matched the perk, allowing me to obtain a new nemesis token.

‘And I also got quite a few common traits.’

Besides the traits shown in the translucent text box I’m displaying now, I acquired many common traits.

In fact, most were traits I already possessed or ones with disadvantageous effects like ‘Energy Absorption’ or ‘Dwarfism,’ but that didn’t matter. Useless traits could be used as materials for ‘Trait Enhancement.’

「Trait Enhancement: When fusing traits through a special process, common traits can be used as materials to enhance them. The maximum number of materials is 10, and fusion and unique traits cannot be used as materials.

Applicable to: ‘Unique Trait Synthesis System’, ‘Nemesis Token System’, Unidentified」

‘This would have been impossible without this system.’

If this were just a game, I wouldn’t have accepted traits that are disadvantageous to possess. Once a trait is acquired, it’s impossible to remove it until it’s used as fusion material.

But thanks to the Trait Enhancement system, unlocked as the second-tier perk of the transcendence system along with the ‘Space Monster’ type, there’s now limited use for unnecessary traits.

‘Though I can’t use it with just any trait.’

The downside of Trait Enhancement is that it can only be used in a limited way with traits related to the transcendence system.

As written in the Trait Enhancement tooltip, traits can be consumed as materials only in specific situations, such as when synthesizing unique traits or fusing nemesis tokens. So it’s still problematic to accept negative traits anytime.

‘Still, it’s better than nothing.’

I looked at the tooltip of the newly acquired nemesis token.

‘Form Dominator, huh.’

The two fusion traits I just acquired are ones I remember using several times while playing the game. In contrast, ‘Form Dominator’ is a trait I’ve never seen before.

‘Enhancement of mimicry organ effects. I’ve never seen a trait with such an effect.’

In the game, the mimicry organ was practically my exclusive trait since no one else knew the fusion formula. Also, no other player utilized the parasitic colony as effectively as I did.

‘It’s like a trait made just for me.’

So far, all the nemesis tokens have shown incredible performance. Compared to other traits, the tooltip description is extremely simple, but perhaps because of that? It makes me even more expectant.

‘I’ll experiment with this slowly.’

I checked my transformed body.

Most of the common traits obtained from raiding the storage were used as Trait Enhancement materials. So my body didn’t completely transform into a new form like other times.

The most significant change is in my muzzle area.

The Hellside Hornet’s trait fused with my existing ‘Essence Harvester’s Jaw’ to become ‘Harvester’s Maw.’ Accordingly, my oral structure has changed.

Previously, my lower jaw split into two parts, but now it no longer does. It has changed to the facial form I had before becoming a subadult, something like the muzzle of an alligator or boa constrictor.

The jaw structure has become simpler like before, but instead, two large fangs protrude from the lower jaw. The fangs are as sharp and hard as the bone blades that appear during the Hunt Manifestation state.

‘In terms of sturdiness, it’s beyond the head carapace.’

Also, the fine saw teeth grown on the surface of the fangs boast sharpness almost at the level of a monomolecular cutter. They can cut through almost anything. Unless it’s something with special power like the Red Gallergorn’s ‘Red Armor.’

Thanks to the fangs that developed for cutting and slicing, the method of taking an enemy’s head has changed from before. Previously, I would widely open my lower jaw to swallow the enemy whole, but now I just cut off and take the head with my fangs.

‘And this helps with that.’

I slightly opened my mouth and extended my tongue. A faintly black tongue, similar to a snail’s tentacle, can be seen wriggling.

‘Well, rather than a tongue, should I call it a tentacle in the mouth?’

According to the setting, AMorphs have taste buds widely distributed inside their mouths, so they don’t need tongues. Therefore, an AMorph’s tongue is used for purposes other than tasting.

For instance, snatching and swallowing an enemy’s head, or…

「It tickles!」

I lightly licked No. 26, who was eating a stored corpse beside me. My tongue absorbed all kinds of bacteria and viruses attached to its body surface.

On the surface of my tongue is the newly acquired infection-related trait, ‘Microorganism Storage Organ.’ It’s a trait that detoxifies poisonous organisms or removes microorganisms that have beneficial effects on the opponent.

「What was that just now? Do it again!」

[Zu (Yes)]

「It tickles! That’s fun!」

No. 26 glowed brightly, seemingly intrigued by the new sensation. Adhigh Orr, who was dining alongside us, also showed curiosity.

「I」「curious」「me too」「do it」

[Zu (Okay)]

After licking as requested, it trembled its tail as if electrocuted.

「What is?」「What is?」「What is?」

「Fun, right?」

「Interesting」「very」「interesting」

Seeing them both enjoying it like children, I can’t help but feel good.

I don’t remember the last time I played so innocently with them. After recovering Adhigh, it was a continuous series of battles, so there was no time to play with them.

‘I should spend more time with them from now on.’

They are useful beings who help me and also my friends.

As I was thinking this, I made eye contact with the Sky Mother. The griffon with magnificent golden mane was in the middle of dry heaving while watching us.

[Zuzu zu zuzuzu (Want me to do it to you too?)]

「No. I’ll pass.」

Perhaps because the griffon state has higher poison resistance than the Volf state. She firmly rejected my goodwill.

Anyway, apart from the muzzle, other parts didn’t change much. To be precise, they changed but disappeared after being consumed for Trait Enhancement.

I also acquired traits that change the body like ‘Contaminated Worm Host,’ but they’re all deactivated because higher-tier traits are already applied to my body.

I stopped licking No. 26 and looked back at the text box.

Because I consumed many traits, two unique trait synthesis formulas are now open.

One is the fusion formula I opened when I caught the Hellside Hornet, requiring infection-type traits and nest-type traits.

I can create this unique trait right now.

‘I originally expected it would take quite a while.’

I thought it would take considerable time to acquire it because it required traits from Hellside Hornet and Glacier Fiend.

But surprisingly, the Screamer support ship had quite a few samples of them.

Especially the Hellside Hornet. There were many genetic samples, as if they had raided a habitat somewhere.

And the Glacier Fiend, an apex creature rarer than the Hellside Hornet. Its genetic samples, seemingly collected from another planet, were stored deep inside the repository.

‘I wish there had been a bit more.’

When an AMorph acquires the Glacier Fiend’s narcotic substance production trait, it becomes the ‘Red Acid’ trait. It’s a trait that turns AMorph blood into a narcotic substance, and when combined with ‘Smogtop,’ it becomes a powerful fusion trait.

‘It’s a very effective trait in group battles.’

If there had been more Glacier Fiend samples, I could have obtained both the fusion trait and unique trait based on Red Acid, but unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.

Either Pyrrha Eleven also had difficulty with Glacier Fiends, or perhaps like the Hellside Hornet, they couldn’t find its habitat, but there were only two Glacier Fiend samples. If there had been just three, I could have obtained both the fusion trait and unique trait, which is regrettable.

‘For now, the unique trait takes priority over the fusion trait.’

There’s the evolution condition to fulfill, but there’s something more important.

If I create just one more unique trait using the transcendence system, the Space Monster type will also rise from level 0 to level 1. No matter how powerful the Red Acid-based fusion trait is, it can’t compare to a unique trait.

‘Besides, I’m curious about the effect of Space Monster type level 1.’

Having given up on fusion, I’ve perfectly matched the conditions for the unique trait made with infection-type and nest-type traits. I’ve also adjusted the number of traits so that the effects of both types don’t disappear, so I can create it anytime.

‘Then what should I do with this?’

「’Transcendence’ Material List (New!): Insight, Observer of Fear, Auditory Hallucination Worm, Mental Parasitic Pustule, Mimic Organ (Not Acquired)」

The newly opened fusion formula required multiple psychic-related traits. Except for one, I’ve acquired all the rest.

‘I can’t get the Mimic Organ here.’

Even on the Screamer support ship, there are no samples to acquire that trait, so I need to move to another location.

‘It’s about time to leave.’

Before dying, Pyrrha Eleven said that she had requested support, so the Machine Council’s fleet would come.

‘Since a member has died, at least half of the high councilors will come to catch me.’

Perhaps even a Grand Sovereign player might come along.

‘There’s the option of hiding and ambushing them, but…’

I’m still not prepared enough. Fighting the Machine Council means engaging in an all-out war with the Star Union. While my power has increased, it doesn’t extend that far yet.

‘Not yet, that is.’

Anyway, to fulfill the type condition among the conditions for evolving into an adult, I need to go to the next location.

A place not as barren as this, but teeming with various races and creatures. If I go there, I can grow significantly once more.

‘I should ask PS-111 to access the ship’s records.’

The one who brought the necessary metals from the dragon’s nest is not here at the moment. It’s currently modifying machine parts in the production line located next to the storage area. It said it would take several hours to complete.

‘So in the meantime…’

[Zuzu zuzu zuzuzu zuzuzuzu zuzuzu (I’m going to become an egg again. So protect me)]

Those here have seen me enter a cocoon several times. So none of them were surprised or questioned it.

After telling them, I left the storage and entered a nearby cargo hold.

‘It’s been a while.’

The place where I first opened my eyes when I came to this world. Of course, unlike then, there weren’t many items that could be called cargo on this ship, but the feeling was similar.

Coiled on top of the cargo hold, I reactivated the translucent text box.

「’Transcendence’ Material List: Contaminated Worm Host, Tetanus Vine, Tooth Fairy Nest, Human Sacrifice, Red Acid」

「Do you want to use the Transcendence System?」

This is the fourth time I’m seeing this question in the text box.

As always, my answer is predetermined.