Ch.2727. Hive Mind×7

What I confirmed was that there existed some kind of psychic flow between the seven Hive Mind cores.

At first, I thought they were simply fighting each other using psychic powers, but that impression didn’t last long.

I noticed that the flow of psychic energy repeated in a consistent pattern and originated from underground. Curious, I observed this phenomenon in detail—and was shocked by what I discovered.

‘…What the hell is this?’

What was happening underground was a flow of psychic energy moving at a constant speed, transmitting specific information.

Not only that, but I could detect them exchanging pure nutrients and energy—something that normally only occurs within areas already infiltrated by a Hive Mind.

In other words, these seven Hive Minds were essentially functioning as a single entity.

‘…What.’

Now that I knew the truth, looking back at the battlefield, I could sense a subtle incongruity that hadn’t been apparent before.

For what should be an all-out war with everything at stake, the number of monsters dying was far fewer than my calculations predicted, and the terrain and biological facilities remained largely undamaged.

The fact that the supposedly strongest Hive Mind wasn’t even moving in this situation confirmed my suspicion.

This Hive Mind was actually a single entity formed by the merger of seven Grade 1 Hive Minds.

‘…So that’s the main body.’

Having confirmed this, I used my detection ability to locate the core of the seven Hive Mind colonies, and I actually found it.

On the surface, it appeared to be just an ordinary Elder Hive Core-type Hive Queen… but that was merely a disguise. As both a monster and a Grade 10 Hive Mind myself, I could perceive what others couldn’t.

The energy concentrated within that body far transcended that of a Grade 1 monster, and even that physical form was nothing but a shell.

The entity—the true core of the Hive Mind collective—was the collective intelligence itself, formed through psychic energy and mental connections.

And this was far more dangerous than I could have imagined.

First, purely in terms of grade, it was Grade 0—a top-tier monster. Moreover, its true form was the Hive Mind itself.

As long as even one monster belonging to the Hive Mind survived, it could use that monster as a medium to reconstruct its body through psychic abilities and restore itself. And even if you tried to attack the main body, it was a psychic entity.

As a psychic life form composed entirely of psychic energy with no material components, its true form existed in the psychic dimension—what could be called the reverse side of reality.

‘Fuck, those damn developers! What the hell have they done to South Korea?!’

So I vented my rage at the game developers for this cursed Hive Mind, which was clearly set up as a crisis for the sixth installment.

…Not that my anger changed anything.

※ ※ ※

Despite my shocking encounter with the Hive Mind, I directed the Hive Flight, which was running low on energy, back to the underground hangar near our main base.

Upon returning, the Hive Flight immediately proceeded to the digestive gland, where it imprinted various information into the Hive Mind’s storage and began injecting it into the reforming Hive Flight.

With plenty of time remaining until the Hive Flight’s completion, I decided to look around the underground hangar after a long while—and discovered three types of monsters being produced there.

Their names were Hive Wyvern, Hive Gargoyle, and Hive Wing Drake.

Hive Wyvern

Grade :: 4

Level :: 83

Stats

Strength :: 165

Agility :: 195

Vitality :: 190

Intelligence :: 100

Resistance :: 100

Energy :: 195

Leadership :: 0

Traits

Monster Gene(E), Predator(C), Hive Mind(C), Subjugation(EX), Bio Core(B), Aerial Combat Specialist(B), Manifestation Psychic User(C), Armored Scales(C), Superhuman Strength(C), High-Speed Calculation(C)

Skills

Acrobatic Flight(B), Psychic Barrier(B), Explosive Psychic Construct(B), Precision Shooting(B)

Bio-weapons

Laser Blaster(C), Plasma Blaster(B)

First, the Hive Wyvern is a Grade 4 small aerial monster specialized for air combat, modified in my style from the Grade 5 aerial animal-type monster known as a wyvern.

In human military terms, the Hive Wyvern occupies the position of a fighter jet, though that doesn’t mean it’s literally the monster equivalent of one.

Being a biological entity, its speed is limited to around subsonic levels, but in exchange, the Hive Wyvern possesses defensive capabilities overwhelmingly superior to fighter jets.

The fighter jets of this world are equipped with bio cores that generate force fields and use lightweight yet durable monster materials for their exteriors, making them hundreds of times more durable than modern fighter jets—yet even they can’t match the Hive Wyvern’s durability.

Additionally, the Hive Wyvern possesses claws and fangs, giving it close-combat capabilities that fighter jets could never have, while its ranged firepower is nearly equal to that of fighter jets.

The Laser Blaster(C) mounted on the hand portions of both wings functions as a machine gun and medium-caliber cannon, and while its Explosive Psychic Construct(B) may be inferior to missiles, it serves a similar purpose.

This monster is particularly notable for having a Plasma Blaster(B) bio-weapon in its head section, which, being the game’s most powerful spear-thrower, can be used as a means to counter larger monsters.

And while the Hive Wyvern serves as a versatile fighter jet equivalent, there’s another monster that plays the role of an attack helicopter or ground support aircraft (gunship).

Classified as a medium-large monster, larger than the medium-sized Hive Wyvern, I named this monster the Hive Gargoyle.

Hive Gargoyle

Grade :: 4

Level :: 83

Stats

Strength :: 215

Agility :: 125

Vitality :: 220

Intelligence :: 50

Resistance :: 200

Energy :: 205

Leadership :: 0

Traits

Monster Gene(E), Predator(C), Hive Mind(C), Subjugation(EX), Bio Core(B), Aerial Combat Specialist(B), Manifestation Psychic User(C), Medium Armor(C), Superhuman Strength(C), High-Speed Calculation(C), Psychic Flight(C)

Skills

Flight(B), Endurance(B), Psychic Barrier(B), Explosive Psychic Construct(B), Volley Fire(B), Telekinesis(C)

Bio-weapons

Laser Blaster(C), Psychic Blaster(B), Charge Fist(C)

Despite sharing a name derived from fantasy stone monsters and having similar skills and traits to the Hive Wyvern, the Hive Gargoyle’s appearance is completely different from both.

Its form resembles a gorilla with an oversized upper body and smaller lower body. However, its face looks like a mix between crustacean and reptilian features, and its entire body is covered in thick medium armor.

Additionally, a segmented tail like that of a centipede grows between its two legs, and as befitting a flying monster, it has two pairs of bat-like wings on its back.

…Though the wings aren’t particularly large and serve only as auxiliary support, with actual flight being achieved through psychic energy.

In any case, the Hive Gargoyle has a gorilla-like build with matching stats, and with its Charge Weapon(Fist)(C)—a Tier 1 blunt weapon that surrounds itself with energy before striking—built into both arms, it excels in close combat.

But the Hive Gargoyle’s true value comes from its ability to fly at low altitudes and attack ground targets.

It can launch missile-like Explosive Psychic Constructs(B) using its Psychic Blaster(B), and the firepower of the 18 Laser Blasters(C) mounted throughout its body is overwhelming.

The Hive Gargoyle is essentially a combination of attack helicopter and gunship, capable of concentrating dozens of powerful weapons on a single heavily armored target or sweeping away lightly armored infantry.

Hive Wing Drake

Grade :: 4

Level :: 83

Stats

Strength :: 225

Agility :: 95

Vitality :: 350

Intelligence :: 50

Resistance :: 300

Energy :: 155

Leadership :: 0

Traits

Monster Gene(E), Predator(C), Hive Mind(C), Subjugation(EX), Bio Core(B), Transport Specialist(B), Manifestation Psychic User(B), Composite Heavy Armor(B), Super Regeneration(C), Storage(C), Tireless Stamina(B), Psychic Resistance(C)

Skills

High-Speed Flight(B), Psychic Barrier(B), Projectile Interception(B), Transport(B)

Bio-weapons

Laser Blaster(B), Psychic Claw(B)

And the last of the three monsters is the large monster I named the Hive Wing Drake.

Its appearance is basically like a Hive Wyvern enlarged more than threefold, but there are definite differences.

Its body is covered with solid muscles, and complex shell-like structures resembling scales and plate armor are attached to its skin, giving it a much more massive feel compared to the Hive Wyvern.

Another distinctive feature is its swollen lower abdomen protected by a shell. This belly section can split open in the middle, making it perfect for storing things and then expelling them.

Therefore, I expect this monster to fulfill three roles: bombing, troop transport, and serving as an aerial carrier for humanoid flying monsters like Hive Starlights.

The storage space in its belly is divided into 10 compartments, with ample internal space, and most importantly, the ability to open each compartment separately makes these roles entirely feasible.

Even apart from its transport capabilities, the Hive Wing Drake is extremely powerful in close combat, being based on the drake, classified as a land dragon species.

Despite aerial monsters typically being at a disadvantage in close combat against ground monsters of the same grade and size, the Hive Wing Drake can hold its own against them using its weapons.

As a transport monster, its durability is specially enhanced to a level just slightly below that of a Hive Fortress, and the Psychic Claws attached to its tail and claws can achieve incredible cutting power when infused with psychic energy.