Ch.283Aftermath (2)

‘What’s this?’

The message in the text box was about the new Nemesis Token.

I had taken a total of 3 perks after devouring Jason. Two of them merged with characteristics I already possessed, becoming “Deep Coloration” and “Form Dominator.”

Only one remained as an incomplete Nemesis Token because I lacked a compatible characteristic to synthesize it with. Despite acquiring numerous characteristics before reaching the fortress, none were compatible.

I had forgotten about it until now, never expecting to find a match here.

‘If it requires a warp organism, could it be that?’

I had one suspicion.

Jason’s teleportation ability.

His head was severed during use, causing only his body to teleport.

No psychic power technique exists that can instantly transport something over extreme distances. At best, they can enhance physical movement speed or teleport friendly targets to nearby locations.

And as far as I know, there’s no long-distance teleportation equipment for individuals, only for ships. Perhaps the “Tuner” from quest rewards might be the closest thing?

If this isn’t some newly created equipment, it’s reasonable to assume this perk is closely related to teleportation abilities. Conveniently, the compatible characteristic is “Warp Organism,” which reduces preparation time for FTL navigation.

‘Whatever it is, seeing it firsthand will be fastest.’

The Nemesis Token is also subject to characteristic enhancement. I can consume up to 10 material characteristics to create a stronger “Nemesis Token.”

‘This works out well.’

Before obtaining the Internal Organ type, I had accepted every characteristic possible to maximize my total count. As a result, I had accumulated numerous characteristics.

Thanks to the “Essence Rearrangement” effect from the level 1 Space Monster type reward, once I acquire a type, it’s permanently maintained. So it’s fine to consume unnecessary characteristics here.

‘Though I shouldn’t use them all—maybe about 5.’

I still need to synthesize two unique characteristics, so there’s no need to invest everything here.

‘Heat Radiation Secretion and Heat Release—don’t need these two. Digestive Acid Enhancement is easy to obtain, so I’ll add that too. For the rest, let’s use Muscle Reinforcement and Bone Density Enhancement.’

After setting 5 material characteristics and selecting confirm, the Nemesis Token system activated immediately.

「Jason (Jason Tunningham)’s perk and ‘Warp Organism’ characteristic are fusing. ‘Warp’s ■⫯⪿⨕∬Characteristic enhancement system intervention!」

「Evolved into ‘Starlight Coordinates’ characteristic!」

「Starlight Coordinates: You can teleport ordinary objects and friendly organisms to specific coordinates, or initiate FTL navigation.

*Warning: You cannot move for at least 1 minute after using this characteristic. The larger the object, the longer you will be immobilized.

*P.S.: Those who named the constellations could never have imagined beings that travel directly between stars.」

‘Starlight Coordinates?’

It’s related to teleportation, but slightly different from what I expected.

‘A characteristic that moves other organisms.’

In Space Survival, only two creatures can move other beings by themselves. This new Nemesis Token characteristic had an effect similar to those two unique abilities.

‘I need to test this immediately.’

Since I can’t verify FTL navigation right now, I’ll check the teleportation first. Looking around, I picked up a broken gun.

‘But how do I use it?’

I’ve chosen the object to move, but I’m not sure how to actually teleport it.

I tried extending my corrosive tentacles, thinking it might work like “Nightmare Horizon,” but there was no response. I spread my wing membranes like when initiating FTL navigation, but again nothing happened.

‘Hmm.’

While pondering, the auxiliary organ under my jaw twitched as my fingers holding the gun drew closer to it. As the tip of the auxiliary organ pointed toward the gun, a text box appeared.

「Confirmed as transportable ‘object’. Will be immobilized for ‘1 minute’ after teleportation.」

‘Ah, I designate it with the auxiliary organ.’

This is the third role for this organ, after serving as a sensitive sensory organ and detecting future dangers. I designated the object to be moved with my auxiliary organ and lifted my head.

‘That spot should work.’

The destination was the top of the shielded command center.

I memorized the image and concentrated like when initiating FTL navigation. The auxiliary organ began to glow blue. Resonating with it, the gun also glowed blue before disappearing from between my fingers.

‘Let me check… oh.’

I tried to look up to confirm if it had teleported properly, but my body wouldn’t respond. Like sleep paralysis, my mind was clear but I couldn’t move a single finger.

A moment later, I heard the sound of the gun hitting the ground nearby.

「Huh?」

「Big One」「Dwarf」「Object」「Disappeared」

「Big Baby sleepy? Why you not moving?」

「Seems like he’s experimenting with something. Let’s wait a bit.」

「Okay.」

The kids found it strange that I was completely motionless. Only Sky Mother seemed to intuit that I was testing a newly acquired power.

While everyone waited patiently, control of my body rapidly returned after one minute. I shook my head once.

‘A bit more than exactly one minute.’

I couldn’t move at all for one minute, and even after that time passed, it took a few more seconds for my stiffened body to recover.

‘I’ll need to use this carefully during combat.’

“Starlight Coordinates” was as risky as it was useful.

‘Should I test something else?’

According to the text box, the larger the object, the longer I’ll be immobilized. There didn’t seem to be other limitations.

‘I wonder if I could move this fortress?’

I lowered my body to bring my auxiliary organ close to the floor.

「Confirmed as transportable ‘object’. Will be immobilized for ‘6872 hours’ after teleportation.」

‘That’s not happening.’

I abandoned the idea completely. Beyond the time itself, being mentally aware but unable to move for 6,000 hours would be nothing short of hell.

Unless I find a way to reduce the time, moving enormous structures is out of the question.

‘Next is friendly organisms.’

By definition and system rules, no being can be friendly to an AMorph, with one exception.

‘It must mean targets implanted with symbiotic spores.’

Though not explicitly explained in the text box, that’s likely correct. I brought the auxiliary organ under my jaw close to the kids.

「Tickles!」

「What’s this?」「What’s this?」

「…Hey, wait. Why are you suddenly doing that?」

Just as they each showed different reactions, the text box messages also varied.

No. 26 and Adhigh Orr were classified as friendly organisms, but Sky Mother wasn’t. This was probably because the symbiotic spores were forcibly removed when she advanced to the Incarnate stage.

[Zz zzzz zz zzzzz zzzzz (Help me for a moment. I want to experiment)]

「If you’re going to do that, say something first.」

After reimplanting symbiotic spores in Sky Mother, I prepared Starlight Coordinates. Blue light washed over her golden fur, and she disappeared from in front of me.

Simultaneously, far away on top of a collapsed building, blue light flashed like during FTL navigation, and she emerged.

「This is similar to warp guide, isn’t it?」

「Wow! How did you do that?」

「Ugly friend」「Star power」「Can use?」「Amazing」

She spread her wings on the building and flew back toward us. No. 26 and Adhigh Orr chattered excitedly about the teleportation.

「But there’s a limitation.」

She slightly furrowed her brow as I remained motionless due to the penalty. After the one-minute penalty expired, I belatedly nodded.

[Zzzzzz zzzz zzzzzzz zzzz zzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzzz zzzzz (It’s a characteristic that teleports organisms or objects. It says FTL navigation is possible too)]

「And in return, you can’t move after using it?」

[Zzzzz (Exactly)]

「Hmm. Seems useful when we don’t have a ship or need to launch a surprise attack.」

As expected of a ranker, she quickly grasped the advantages and disadvantages.

As I was about to exchange more opinions about Starlight Coordinates with her, No. 26 poked me with his tentacles.

「Big Baby. Me too! Me too!」

[Z (Huh?)]

「I want to go poof too. Poof!」

「Me」「Curious」「Me too」

Seeing their reactions, it seemed I needed to experiment more with Starlight Coordinates.

After that…

The experiments with the new characteristic ended after the Bone Beast effect wore off.

The kids seemed thoroughly satisfied with the fun—no, with the experimental results.

‘As long as they’re happy.’

Thanks to this, I learned things not mentioned in the text box.

For example, the penalty after moving a target was affected by my body size. There was a difference in penalty time when comparing my extended 80m length as a Bone Beast to my original size.

‘Maybe I should find a way to increase my size.’

My body will grow larger when I become an Adult. Still, moving enormous structures like the fortress would remain challenging. To significantly reduce the penalty time, I’ll need to find another method.

For now, I decided to conclude my analysis of the newly acquired Nemesis Token.

‘I still have things to do.’

I crawled back inside the shielded wall with my now smaller body.

[Zz zzzz zz zzzz (Are there any people left inside?)]

「Dwarf」「Still」「Here」

[Zz zzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzzz (Let’s clean up here and go get PS-111)]

「Yes! Let’s bring food too because our friend might be hungry!」

[Zzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz zzzz zzzzz zzzzz (Food, huh. There should be a food storage here, let’s look for it)]

「Food storage?」「What meaning?」

「I know! It’s a place full of delicious food!」

「Sigh. Finally I’ll get to eat human food again.」

[Zz zzzz zz zzzz (Let’s load the rest onto the ship)]

「Thanks.」

We chatted while searching through the command center.

Pirates and survivors who were hiding attacked us, but the outcome remained unchanged. Whether it was the First Command Center or the Third, it didn’t matter. Every moving entity except us was purged.

Kesha Arma, which once elevated the glory of the Cult Empire.

It took less than a day until not a single human remained in the great space fortress.

After finishing the cleanup, my kids and I left the fortress on a ship.

Shortly after our departure, the fortress crashed onto a nearby mining planet. Before leaving, PS-111 had damaged the fortress’s reactor, making it unable to maintain its planetary orbit.

All traces I left behind were gone. No one would be able to find the culprit who collapsed Kesha Arma.

With the exploding fortress behind us, the pirate ship under PS-111’s control entered FTL navigation.

I lay down on the cargo hold floor, feeling the energy flowing through the ship.

The cargo hold looked very different from when we first arrived at Kesha Arma. New containers had been added. Those massive freezer containers were filled with food ingredients taken from the command center. Because of them, the vitrified human statues were pushed to a corner.

‘Now, what’s left is…’

I casually consumed one of the statues like candy and opened a translucent text box.

「’Subadult’->’Adult’

APEX 30/30 (Completed)

Unique Characteristics Possessed 8/10 (Incomplete)

Types Possessed 6/6 (Completed)」

「’Transcendence’ Material List: Reinforced Skull, Gallergorn’s Horn, Spine-Hair Launcher Tail, Protein Anabolism, Cluster Skin Tissue」

「’Transcendence’ Material List: Reinforced Large Tail, Bioelectric Discharge Tube, Explosive Fluid Launcher, Destructive Sound Wave, Spore Cannon」

Completing these two characteristics will fulfill all conditions for Adult evolution.

‘Adult stage is right in front of me.’

This is the final gateway before evolution. After inputting the materials for the two unique characteristics plus enhancement materials, I selected synthesis.

Mucus poured from my body.

My consciousness gradually sank into the flowing mucus.

–

Massive flames rose from a dead planet. The metal sky fortress that had been orbiting the planet had met its end.

Hundreds of sensory organs watching this simultaneously turned their gaze.

Those who killed the sky fortress left only a small blue light in the endless darkness before departing.

Hundreds of sensory organs stared at the lingering blue light. The being with numerous thin external organs remained motionless.

Despite appearing as still as a rock fragment drifting in space, the being’s mind was complex. A large volume of opinions was being exchanged through their unique communication system.

[His seed is dead.]

[The one who killed the seed is dangerous.]

[Is it a ‘Predator’?]

[It is a ‘Predator’.]

[‘Predator’, shall we pursue?]

[The ‘Empress’ has spoken. The ‘Predator’ is stronger than the ‘Queen’. So we do not pursue.]

[Report the seed’s death to the Empress.]

[The Queen is important to the hive. Return.]

Having received the desired answer, the ‘Queen’ retracted the sensory organs protruding from her outer skin—the “hundreds of eyes”—back into her body. After withdrawing all eyes, the Queen’s body began to glow blue.

Her kind came from beyond the endless universe.

Humans call them beings that exist outside, or “Outspacers.”

Only a blue light cluster remained where the Outspacer Queen had departed.