Ch.249Test Subject (4)

AMorph acquires a penalty each time it gains a type.

Every time it gains a different type, the number of traits required to acquire a new type doubles.

Once a penalty is applied, it cannot be removed by any means, making type acquisition increasingly difficult in the long run.

Therefore, one must carefully decide which types to acquire first. Often, unnecessary traits are collected just to meet the required number.

This alone is problematic, but the real issue lies elsewhere.

The inevitable drawbacks of unique traits create negative synergy with type penalties.

Unique-grade skills or traits disappear when a character dies. If you’re precariously maintaining just enough traits to avoid type penalties and then die? You lose both the unique trait and the type.

I’ve lost types several times after dying and losing unique traits.

‘But now that penalty is being mitigated.’

Thanks to this, I can freely combine traits from already acquired type series. Additionally, acquiring new types in the future has become easier.

The already unlocked “Special Defense Enhancement Type” and “Internal Organ Enhancement Type” each require 16 traits. Since they’re already unlocked, there’s no change in the required number.

‘Still, it’s fortunate that I don’t have to obsess over numbers anymore.’

I can freely use my traits as fusion materials or for trait enhancement. From now on, I can immediately combine unique traits once I gather the materials.

‘I can fulfill evolution conditions faster now.’

I need five more unique traits and two more types to become an adult.

Thanks to the Space Morph Stage 1 reward, penalties will be reset for future types, making it not too difficult to acquire new types. With luck, I might even acquire a new type before the existing special defense or internal organ types.

‘To do that, I need to leave this place.’

In a game, I would hunt in more difficult areas to acquire unique traits, but not now. Unique trait synthesis has become easier. Instead, it’s better to go somewhere I can obtain genetic essences from various creatures.

After confirming the type reward, I dismissed the text box. PS-111 should have finished its modifications by now. I should discuss when we should leave.

I moved my combat arms, which had elongated like spider legs, and my wing arms to exit the cargo hold. On the way, I peeked into the storage area where the kids were.

No. 26, Sky Mother, and Adhigh Orr were sleeping huddled together as usual. They seemed to have fallen asleep waiting for me.

‘They must be tired from fighting… huh?’

I was about to leave after a quick look, but I noticed red marks on Adhigh’s body. I thought they might be patterns from mixing with Red Gallergorn traits, but they were different. Judging from the peeled scales, they looked more like impact wounds.

‘Did this happen during the fight with Pyrrha Eleven?’

The ship seemed fine when it landed, but the wounds weren’t severe, so I must have missed them. They should heal within a day even without a nest.

‘Hmm. I’ll have to be more attentive next time.’

I quietly moved away from the storage area.

After gaining the “Great Infector” trait and transforming, my body felt much lighter. Combined with the “Stealth Movement” trait, the synergy was considerable. Despite walking on alloy plates with my 25m body, I made almost no sound.

I silently moved to the situation room.

There was PS-111, with cables attached to its spine as I had seen before.

It was so focused on viewing ship data that it didn’t notice me approaching.

“PS-111?”

“You’ve arrived?”

Only after I called did it open its eyes. The red camera lenses that replaced its eyeballs blinked and stared at me.

“Your form has changed significantly from the stored ‘AMorph’ data.”

“I’ve grown more.”

“I see.”

“What were you looking at that you didn’t notice me coming?”

At my question, it fell silent. The red camera lenses that met my gaze trembled slightly.

‘Huh?’

Though I know it’s a being mixed with machine and organism, its current attitude clearly showed agitation.

Averting its gaze from me, it hesitated briefly before speaking.

“Please look at this.”

As soon as it finished speaking, a large hologram appeared in the center of the situation room. The hologram showed a 3D blueprint of precise mechanical devices and some creature with amputated limbs.

“Mutant Screamer?”

“Yes. This is Pyrrha Eleven’s production guide for Mutant Screamers.”

The mechanical device was the Screamer’s life support system, and the amputated creature was the Hulk Mutant used as material.

Next to the creature were a few lines of small text. Looking at the words, they appeared to be genetic information of creatures used as Hulk Mutant materials.

‘The text is all corrupted and hard to read.’

Only a few words were recognizable; the rest were corrupted as if there was an error.

“What’s with the corruption?”

“The corrupted parts are from a defense system installed by a being superior to Pyrrha Eleven. I cannot break through it.”

The only being superior to Pyrrha Eleven would be the Archlord. He must have locked it.

While I was thinking about what the corrupted text might contain, the hologram screen changed. The newly displayed screen showed two videos.

“I looked into which organism or sentient being might be responsible for my memories. As a result, I was able to confirm the following records.”

As it finished speaking, the first video began playing.

The screen showed reptilian humans with insect features in several test tubes.

‘Coldblood?’

Judging by their identical appearances, they all seemed to be clones. A name starting with P was briefly visible below the test tubes, but it quickly passed.

As the first video ended, the second video began.

Dozens of corpses that appeared to be cloned Coldbloods lay on cold metal plates. Machines approached, extracted their brains, and transferred them to Screamer machines behind them.

Among dozens of Screamer machines, only one twitched and moved. Various machine chips were implanted in the brain that activated the Screamer machine. All the rest were discarded.

A metal skull with a single number printed on it covered the brain, which was half-replaced with machinery.

That number was 111.

“That’s you.”

“Yes. I was an experimental subject. Among numerous clones, only I succeeded in the experiment.”

Only then did I realize why it had been so distracted.

It was shocked after directly seeing how it was created.

‘…Understandable.’

The fusion of machine and organism was developing a new sense of self. Its declaration to Pyrrha Eleven about being special was part of that change. Now that it realized it was no different from this ship, that thought was greatly shaken.

‘Hmm.’

There are many SF works where AI develops to the point of awakening self-awareness. Many characters struggle with whether they are merely programmed machines or autonomous, independent entities.

Although slightly different, PS-111’s concern follows the same vein. Who am I? A question about essence.

‘Though I’m hardly qualified to answer…’

After brief consideration, I spoke to it.

“Can you identify whose clone that Coldblood is?”

“Due to the defense system, complete identification is impossible.”

“Then let’s start there.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean finding out who the Coldblood that constitutes your brain is. I’ll help you.”

When you like monsters or creatures, you inevitably encounter various SF works. My suggestion was based on what I’d seen in those.

‘It unconsciously considers that brain to be close to its essence.’

It has received enough psychic power from No. 26 to contain a significant amount of Sea Demon genes. Other creature genes are also present in no small amount.

Yet it shows more interest in the brain’s owner, the Coldblood clone. Unconsciously, it must have judged that this significantly influences its thinking.

If so, it wouldn’t be bad to trace the footsteps of the original clone. Knowing what kind of being was an important element in constituting its self would help it reflect on itself.

‘…Though I’m not certain.’

In reality, I’m not a specialist in biology or neuroscience. I have no idea how its consciousness and thinking are structured and function. I’m just speaking based on media I’ve encountered.

Fortunately, my suggestion seemed to interest it. After hearing my proposal, its camera lenses expanded and looked at me.

Eventually, it nodded slightly.

“AMorph’s suggestion is an interesting approach. I will seriously consider this method.”

“That’s good.”

As always, it maintained an expressionless face, but it seemed somewhat satisfied with our conversation.

After deactivating the hologram by sending a signal through the cables connected to its spine, it casually asked:

“Is there anything you need? I’ll do whatever you ask.”

Hearing its words, I recalled my purpose for visiting the situation room.

“Check when Pyrrha Eleven requested support and what response came back.”

“Support request?”

“If a support fleet is coming, I need to know when they might arrive.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Upon hearing my request, it closed its eyes and began searching the ship’s computer.

The spine protruding through its back tissue trembled slightly. Light flashed whenever electrical signals passed through the multiple cables connected to the spine.

“The support request was made 5 weeks ago. It stated that Pyrrha Eleven had sustained significant damage, making mission execution difficult and communication exchange challenging.”

“5 weeks ago? What reason for the damage is recorded?”

“Interestingly, that part isn’t separately recorded. It’s presumed that Pyrrha Eleven concealed it.”

The Mechanical Committee’s androids possess high intelligence, making it very easy for them to deceive others.

But I couldn’t understand why it would behave that way even toward fellow High Councilors. Especially in a situation where it was requesting support.

“After that, there was no contact from Pyrrha Eleven, presumably due to damage repair, until 32 hours ago when another support request was made.”

“That was during the fight at Gallergorn’s Nest.”

“Yes. Information transmitted before the Screamers’ communication was blocked was attached and sent.”

Since I didn’t use unique traits at that time, it’s impossible for them to know my full capabilities. However, they discovered my relationship with the Gallergorn, meaning they know I have companions. When they fight me next time, they’ll come fully prepared.

“No response from their side?”

“Please wait a moment.”

It checked the records stored in the computer again. Checking received messages rather than sent ones seemed more difficult to neutralize the defense system, as it took quite some time.

After about 30 minutes?

It suddenly opened its eyes.

“This is serious, AMorph. Three weeks ago, Europa Two departed for this planet leading a support fleet.”

“What?”

“Nemea Five, Redtail Eight, and Arrow Nine’s elite fleets are participating in the support fleet.”

Hearing those words, my heart sank.

If they departed three weeks ago, they’ll arrive here within days from today.

‘They could arrive as early as tomorrow!’

If it’s the reconnaissance fleet under the support fleet, they might arrive tomorrow. I urgently asked:

“How long do you think it will take?”

“Assuming they use engines equivalent to this ship, the advance party will arrive in 18 hours.”

“Check if the ship can depart.”

“Understood.”

This time I can’t use Nightmare Horizon. This ship is too large and would take time to corrode. If the enemy arrives early, I won’t be able to respond at all.

So I’ll leave the piloting to it, while I prepare for contingencies.

After giving orders to it, I rushed to the storage area to wake the kids.

「Big one, is it all over?」

「What?」「What?」「What?」

「What’s with that appearance… Ah, this must be your newly transformed form.」

[That’s not important right now]

No. 26 asked if my growth was complete, while Adhigh was still dazed from just waking up. Sky Mother flinched, seemingly unfamiliar with my new appearance.

I quickly explained the situation to them.

「Four High Councilors are coming here?」

[Additionally, the Archlord might come too]

Sky Mother immediately understood my words and widened her amber eyes.

「What are you going to do? If players are involved too, it’s difficult for us to win now.」

[We’re not going to fight this time]

I might be able to handle two High Councilors somehow, but four is difficult. And if players get involved too, it’s certain defeat.

‘Even if I somehow survive…’

I’d lose all these guys here, including the newly acquired Gallergorns. Losing hard-earned Gallergorns once is enough.

I turned my gaze to Adhigh.

[Go to the nest and bring all the Gallergorns]

「Kin」「Together」「Leave?」

「You don’t mean…?」

[Yes. It’s time to move]

Finally, the time has come to leave this ice ball planet.