Ch.252Cradle of Monsters (3)

Siheyon Yujin had just left the atmosphere on a transport ship when an urgent report came from the flagship.

“The Star Union fleet has already arrived?”

She knew a fleet was approaching through satellites deployed at the outer edges of the star system. But she hadn’t expected them to arrive so quickly.

Moreover, the enemies had brought equipment that could monitor hyperspace travel movements—a Warp Finder. As if they had come to track someone.

‘Could they have discovered the hideout at Jax-01?’

Megacorp and Star Union were officially at war. To the cyborgs, Siheyon’s forces were merely enemies of the Star Union. Seeing a regular fleet equipped with Warp Finders coming to this remote location, there could be no other reason.

‘…This isn’t good.’

With the Warp Finder present, the flagship’s condition was essentially on borrowed time. Even if they tried to escape via hyperspace travel, the enemy would follow immediately.

Suddenly, her attention shifted to the “relics” stored on the transport ship.

The “Deep Destroyer”—a weapon that Bumho, briefly her mentor in the past, had used to wipe out Outspacers. And the crystal battery that supplied it with enormous energy.

‘With that thing, we could break through without much difficulty.’

She felt the desire to use the weapon, but shook her head.

She still didn’t properly understand the enemy’s purpose or the battle situation. It wouldn’t be too late to use the weapon after acquiring the necessary information.

“Any other unusual circumstances?”

“Well, that’s…”

Her subordinate hesitated before answering her question.

“According to communications from the flagship, they’re currently engaged in battle with what appears to be a group of Gallergorn!”

“Gallergorn?”

The answer was far from what she had expected.

‘Why Gallergorn?’

“Since the Gallergorn are attacking the fleet, the flagship is currently observing without engaging.”

“…Hmm.”

When they first set foot on the planet, they had struggled with the periodically appearing Gallergorn. In fact, the late entry into the volcano was largely due to the Gallergorn’s influence. They had deliberately changed their route multiple times to avoid the Gallergorn.

‘I don’t know what’s happening, but…’

Their anomalous movement was actually beneficial now.

“For now, let’s use this situation to our advantage. Return carefully to the flagship without getting caught in the battle.”

“Understood.”

Through the reinforced glass of the transport ship, she could see stars twinkling.

Some of them weren’t starlight.

–

‘What’s that?’

I had just removed the fourth Warp Finder. While discarding the now-functionless piece of metal into space, my eyes caught sight of an unfamiliar ship.

An oval-shaped battleship was floating alone at a considerable distance from the battlefield. Judging by its design, it wasn’t a Star Union vessel but a Megacorp ship.

‘Why is a Megacorp ship here…ah.’

Seeing the ship reminded me of something.

Before capturing Odd Grad, when I raided the Hellside Hornet’s nest, I had eaten a human. The human-faced beast said he had come here following Siheyon Yujin.

‘That must be the ship.’

Since Siheyon Yujin died by my hand, that ship must be led by forces that followed her.

‘What should I do?’

It’s been 20 minutes since the battle began. One Warp Finder still remains.

My initial time limit was 25 minutes. I’d like to hear the details from the crew of that ship, but I don’t have enough time for distractions.

‘I’ll deal with it if there’s time left.’

I turned my attention away from the ship and pursued the fleeing fleet.

The XAX Class 5 high-speed battleship carrying the Warp Finder seemed intent on buying time, focusing solely on escape.

‘It’s certainly fast, as expected of a high-speed battleship.’

It was only marginally slower than Adhigh. As I was about to finish it off with a psychic breath, the Gallergorn began to move.

Adhigh, with its visible red wings, closely pursued the battleship. The other Gallergorn didn’t follow but scattered in various directions.

Looking closely, I noticed the Gallergorn were spreading wide and then gradually narrowing toward the battleship’s path.

‘They’re herding it.’

Like when fighting formidable enemies such as Sky Whales, the Gallergorn were conducting a drive hunt against the battleship.

‘Then I should help too.’

Instead of targeting the battleship, I fired a psychic breath at the patrol ships blocking Adhigh’s path. The group of patrol ships, focused on their immediate targets, were sunk by my breath.

Adhigh, as if anticipating my attack, skillfully maneuvered to avoid the purple flames. It dodged the debris of patrol ships burning with psychic flames and accelerated further.

The red-winged dragon flew toward the battleship like a comet in the night sky. Transformed into a streak of light, it rapidly closed the distance to the battleship.

APDs poured out from the battleship for defense, emitting waves that neutralized psychic power. However, Adhigh’s speed was too fast for the drones’ waves to reach it.

It moved around within the wave’s range and unleashed psychic breath. As the energy-bullet-formed breath continuously hit the ship’s outer wall, the battleship had no choice but to retreat.

Adhigh was pushing back a battleship hundreds of times its size. Like David defeating Goliath with a sling.

And the Gallergorn that had been establishing an encirclement gradually narrowed their distance with the battleship.

The battleship carrying the Warp Finder tried to escape somehow, but the distance with the Gallergorn had already been sufficiently reduced.

Then all the Gallergorn simultaneously breathed dragon’s breath toward the battleship. Even with the impressive defensive capabilities of Star Union ships, it was impossible to defend against attacks from multiple Gallergorn, especially those at least at the White Gallergorn level.

‘That’s the end.’

I destroyed the last Warp Finder. Now nothing could prevent our escape.

Just as I was about to tell everyone to return to PS-111’s ship—

My auxiliary organ detected an intense energy wave.

‘!’

I instinctively turned toward the source of the energy wave.

In the empty void where nothing had been, a blue sun was floating.

Though it looked like a sun, it was actually a concentration of extremely powerful energy. Energy massive enough to tear space and forcibly move objects.

‘Hyperspace travel!’

Moments later, the blue sun disappeared as if covered by clouds.

And in its place appeared a fleet. A massive fleet incomparable to the one we had been fighting.

[Zzz zzzzz (Everyone retreat)]

I retreated along with the Gallergorn to avoid the suddenly appearing enemies. The surviving ships of the reconnaissance unit flew toward the newly arrived Star Union fleet.

‘How?’

While PS-111’s synchronization with the ship’s computer might have missed the reconnaissance unit’s entry, this massive fleet’s arrival was a different matter entirely.

Hyperspace travel utilizes enormous energy. That’s why equipment like the Warp Finder, which tracks energy flows, can be effective. Under normal circumstances, PS-111 wouldn’t miss the movement of nearly hundreds of ships at once.

‘…Have they developed new technology?’

Even in the game, in space battles, who arrived first via hyperspace travel was crucial. Those who arrived early could more easily determine when and where enemies would enter.

It seems the Grand Duke was aware of this weakness and had put considerable effort into improving it.

And the results were right before my eyes.

At that moment, a support ship controlled by PS-111 approached. A thought wave came from Sky Mother aboard the ship.

“It seems they’ve applied technology that conceals hyperspace travel energy!”

[Zzz zzzzz (It seems so)]

“PS-111 says not the entire fleet has arrived. That’s the 5th Elite Fleet. The 2nd, 8th, and 9th fleets haven’t arrived yet.”

Come to think of it, the number of ships seemed too few to be four elite fleets combined. If all had gathered, there should have been hundreds of battleships, but the enemy’s scale wasn’t that large.

‘Moreover…’

I calmly observed the enemy fleet changing formation. Some ships had significant damage to their outer walls. Traces of clean destruction, as if cut by a blade. Those were traces of problems that occurred during hyperspace travel.

‘It seems the technology isn’t perfect yet.’

Despite the side effects, the reason for this sudden arrival wasn’t hard to imagine.

To jump sequentially and hold us back so we couldn’t escape. That must be the Grand Duke’s plan.

[Zzzzzz zzzz zzzz (How many Warp Finders are there?)]

“…At least 10 or more. Some ships have strong concealment equipment, making confirmation impossible.”

Engaging in battle without knowing how many Warp Finders there are would be suicidal. But fleeing isn’t a good choice either.

Like the Gallergorn did, they would use their numerical advantage to track us.

‘A dilemma.’

I looked back at the Gallergorn and ships behind me.

‘There’s only one way.’

The primary target of the enemies, or rather the Grand Duke player, is clear.

‘They’re after me. Then…’

[Zzz zzzzzz zzzz (Everyone return to the ship)]

“Great One?”

[Zzzzzz zz zzz zzzz zzzzz (Don’t worry. I have a good plan)]

I sent a wave to reassure the anxious Adhigh, telling it not to worry, and called for Sky Mother.

[Zzzzzz zzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz zzzz zzzz (You know where to go to raise the Incarnate level, right?)]

“What? You’re not planning to…?”

[Zzzz zzzz (Meet me there)]

“Are you crazy? You’re going to be bait against them?”

Strictly speaking, I’m not bait.

I plan to hyperspace travel to Cult or Megacorp territory while fighting them. That way, I can create a situation similar to when I made Cult and Star Union fight before.

‘The problem is being unable to attack during travel preparations, but it should be fine.’

Thanks to transforming into a “Bone Beast,” my defense has increased exponentially. It’s already been proven that enemy torpedoes can’t inflict fatal wounds on me. The energy for travel can also be substituted with psychic power that’s pumped almost infinitely due to the “Dragon’s Heart” trait.

The only issue is the Grand Duke.

My fate depends on what weapons he brings.

‘I’m not usually one to gamble.’

Still, it’s better than losing everything fighting them.

I flew forward, leaving everyone behind.

Since coming to this world, it’s always been a series of choices.

Some brought positive results, others didn’t. Looking back, there’s always been a mix of good and bad choices.

But I have no regrets.

Because I’m still alive. I don’t know how many more wrong choices I’ll make in the future.

But even then, I’ll still be alive. Just as I have been until now.

As I was flying with these thoughts, a red star flew beside me.

‘Adhigh?’

Not just it, but other Gallergorn also followed me instead of returning to the ship’s hangar.

The same was true for the ship PS-111 was controlling. The battleship, overwhelming me in size, hadn’t initiated hyperspace travel but had deployed numerous cannons externally and was above my head.

“Big baby will get scolded if you keep saying bad things!”

No. 26’s wave is heard from the ship.

“Adhigh” “Kin” “Won’t abandon”

I feel the thought wave from Adhigh beside me.

“Just like a Morph, always trying to fight alone.”

Sky Mother aboard the ship grumbles.

“PS-111 says to tell you they’ll find the Warp Finders as quickly as possible, so hang in there.”

I couldn’t say anything in response to their words.

Because my heart was full? No.

Fighting alone here is the rational choice. I’ve always fought alone and ultimately won.

But seeing those following me makes me think differently.

I’ve won fighting alone until now, but wouldn’t it be easier to win with these kids?

AMorph, Sea Demon, Gallergorn group, super-large battleship, Volf Ranker.

Isn’t this enough force to take on over 100 new model ships?

[Zzzzzz zzzzzzz (Torpedoes and breath first)]

After a thoroughly rational reasoning process, the choice I made was to “fight together.”