Ch.33Monster (1)

She stared at the massive cocoon filling the living room.

The child who accompanied her said it would become an egg, but no matter how she looked at it, it wasn’t the size of an egg.

First it suddenly grew larger, and now it had become a cocoon.

Was it because she was still young? She couldn’t figure out what kind of creature the child was.

None of the animals she had seen in her life were like this.

Still, she didn’t mind much.

When she emerged from the prison of disgusting liquid, she had made a promise. That she would protect the child no matter what.

But so far, she had been protected by the child more often than she had protected it. That made her uncomfortable.

The child often begged for food as if very hungry, but there wasn’t much she could do.

Would things have been different if the tentacles that gave her strength were stronger?

Would things have been different if she were bigger?

With these troubling thoughts, she extended a tentacle to caress the cocoon. The moment the tentacle touched the cocoon, she was startled.

Unknown energy traveled through the tip of her tentacle and was absorbed into her body. She felt satiated as if she had eaten highly nutritious food, and strength surged within her.

She couldn’t detach her tentacle from the cocoon, as if addicted to the high-calorie energy.

–

‘This time is different?’

When I evolved from a Hatchling to a Morphlet, I could sense the changes around me while in the egg, but this time was different.

All sensations connected to my physical body were cut off, and I stood alone in darkness.

Looking down at my hands, I was greeted by human hands that now felt unfamiliar.

My clothes were exactly the same as what I had been wearing before entering the world of Space Survival.

‘This seems like my mental world.’

Looking around, there were no particularly threatening elements. Only pitch-black space spreading endlessly in all directions.

‘I’m used to dark places anyway.’

As a child, whenever my parents fought, I would always hide under the bed or in the closet. Curling up there with my ears covered made me feel more at ease.

‘Brings back old memories.’

Memories I’d rather not recall.

I shook my head to clear away unnecessary thoughts.

‘I wonder how much time is left.’

In the game, it takes 6 hours to become a Juvenile.

I don’t know how long it will take in reality, but since becoming a Morphlet wasn’t much different from the game, this should be similar too.

‘What were the developers thinking when they made it like this?’

I can’t understand why they would impose such a severe penalty on evolution, which is an essential element for operating an AMorph. It’s baffling.

In a game where PK happens in real-time for 24 hours, being incapacitated for 6 hours is a serious flaw that could almost be considered a bug.

Moreover, since AMorphs can’t cooperate, it’s impossible to ask companions to protect you during evolution. Unless you hide somewhere no one knows about, most get caught during evolution.

‘There are even players who hunt only AMorphs.’

Especially since many people came to hate AMorphs because of me, innocent AMorph users were attacked too.

Many AMorphs quit the game in rage after failing to evolve, which says it all. I also died many times after being caught by AMorph hunters during evolution.

There’s no particular penalty for failing to evolve. It’s just extremely inconvenient to find another hiding place. Plus, having to wait for a long time again is incredibly frustrating.

That’s why I tormented hunters who interrupted my evolution more viciously than usual.

‘Looking back, I was a bit extreme too.’

Once, a hunter recorded a video of being defeated by me and uploaded it to the community.

The reaction was explosive. To be precise, the resentment and criticism toward me were enormous.

People said all sorts of strange things, like how could a person do that, asking if I was really an AMorph, threatening to kill me, and so on.

‘Tsk.’

Maybe it’s the magic of this darkness-filled space, but unnecessary memories keep surfacing.

If I have time, I shouldn’t waste it but use it productively.

I should organize what to do first when I get out, since I have many tasks ahead.

‘Let’s think while walking.’

I took a step forward.

Ripples spread out as if I had placed my foot on a water surface.

From that point, I walked aimlessly across the black space.

‘After evolving, I should first eat the Volfs next door and on the fifth floor, which should take care of the transformation species to some extent…’

While I was contemplating how to approach the trade center after evolving, something dark brown appeared and blocked my path.

‘Huh?’

What appeared from the black space was a Morphlet AMorph.

I knew instinctively upon seeing it. This creature was the remnant of the AMorph remaining in my body.

It seems the AMorph’s instinct entered along with me as I fell into my mental world.

The creature bared its teeth and growled, but I wasn’t particularly scared. It felt rather familiar.

I reached out my hand toward it. The growling, threatening creature closed its mouth and lowered its head obediently.

The moment my hand touched its head, I woke up.

‘Where am I?’

As soon as I opened my eyes, I was blocked by a thin wall. A soft, sticky membrane was wrapped around me.

Sensation returned to my body.

Currently, I was curled up like a baby in the womb, arms wrapped around my legs. My long tail was coiled around like a belt. As I unfolded my combat arms and raised my body, the membrane tore with a sound like vinyl being ripped.

Standing on the torn cocoon, a text box appeared before me.

「Species: Unidentified Agressive Space Morph

Status: Juvenile

Objective: Survive (Successfully evolve 2 times).

Possessed Traits

-Physical (Type Applied): Wings, Chitinous Exoskeleton, Regeneration (Fusion), Neurotoxin Gland (Fusion), Monster Skeleton, Acidic Blood, Enhanced Limbs, Mimicry Organ (Fusion), Serrated Tentacles, Contamination Organ, Spine Projectile Organ

-Psychic: Predator Sense (Fusion), Monster’s Tentacles (Fusion), Humanity, X-ray Vision, Psychic Resistance

Type: Physical Enhancement Type

*You have received an unread new message. Would you like to view it?」

‘A message?’

This is the first time I’ve received a message for evolving. Since this never happened in the game, I accepted to view it with curiosity.

「New system ‘Transcendence’ has been unlocked! Would you like to check the guide?」

‘So there are changes in this new version.’

No such message appeared when I ate the Psyonium last time. It seems to be a new system that unlocks only after officially evolving.

When I selected confirm, a text window filled my vision.

「’Transcendence’ System: Fuse 3 or more traits you possess to transform them into a new ‘Unique’ trait. The newly acquired trait is completely new and doesn’t exist previously.

Available traits: Chitinous Exoskeleton, Monster Skeleton, Enhanced Limbs

*P.S.: It’s not always just advantages. Choose carefully.」

‘Transcendence system, huh.’

Originally in Space Survival, trait fusion was only possible on a one-to-one basis.

That’s why species that relied on traits had difficulty remembering what traits they had when the game progressed long-term.

By the time I reached the ending, I had over 500 traits, which was a pain to remember.

It was such a frustrating system that even I, a Morph enthusiast, shuddered at it, but I never expected it to be revamped like this.

‘What should I do?’

If this were the game, I would have accepted immediately, but this is reality. A wrong decision could lead to great danger.

If a new system I don’t know about has appeared, I should make a careful judgment before deciding, as the postscript suggests.

‘Being able to obtain a unique trait is a merit.’

In Space Survival, traits don’t have separate ranks. The efficiency of traits varies greatly depending on who uses them and how.

At most, fused traits are generally considered a bit stronger.

But among them, there are special traits that demonstrate overwhelming performance compared to others.

These are called ‘Unique’ traits.

Unique traits are very difficult to obtain, but their performance is excellent. Just one can completely turn the tide of an unfavorable battle.

‘But that doesn’t mean there are no disadvantages.’

Unique traits are very powerful, but they have one drawback.

While general traits remain even if the character dies, unique traits disappear completely upon death.

If you want a unique trait again, you have to obtain it from scratch. So you need to be very careful when using such traits.

‘But since this is reality, that’s not a disadvantage.’

In reality, if you die, it’s over. The fact that unique traits disappear is not a consideration.

‘But reducing the number of traits is a risk.’

More than the disadvantages of the unique trait itself, what I need to consider is the number of traits.

Currently, I have 11 physical traits. If 3 of them are removed, I won’t be able to meet the condition of 10 required for the Physical Enhancement Type.

One might think I could receive the unique trait first and gather physical traits later, but there’s a problem with that.

‘Even if the type is released in the middle, the trait penalty doesn’t disappear.’

Currently, the Psychic Enhancement Type has a type penalty of 6. What would happen if I reacquired the Physical Enhancement Type from here?

Unfairly, the penalty would be added, increasing the required number from 6 to 12.

‘…Let’s put the Transcendence system on hold.’

Physical traits are relatively easy to obtain.

Honestly, the unique trait is very tempting, but I need to be cautious at times like this. Even if it takes a bit longer, choosing the safe path will be beneficial.

The time to utilize the Transcendence system will be after I’ve secured enough physical traits.

I dismissed the text window and walked out of the cocoon.

‘I’ve definitely grown taller.’

After being in a spacious research ship, coming to this narrow house made the growth of my body very noticeable. As I was shaking off the cocoon fragments attached to my body, No. 26 approached.

「Wow!」

[Zzzzzz(Were you okay?)]

「It’s the big baby I saw before! You’re not going back this time?」

[Zz zzzz zzzz(No. That was just a temporary transformation)]

She waved her tentacles curiously.

‘Huh? Tentacles?’

Come to think of it, No. 26’s appearance had changed from before. Her body, which was slightly smaller than a human head, had grown larger. Plus, two tentacles had sprouted from her body.

[Zzzzzzzz(What’s that?)]

「This? It’s new!」

[Zzzz(When?)]

「It appeared when I touched the baby after it went into the egg.」

As she said that, she slightly shook her tentacles, and a purple energy wave briefly flowed out and disappeared.

Seeing that, I was certain.

‘Seed Demon.’

Those tentacles are probably serrated tentacles. Though small and cute compared to mine, I know.

Hidden inside are razor-sharp spines.

If she were to brush someone’s face with those tentacles, the flesh would be torn right off.

More than that, I was curious.

‘Why did she suddenly evolve?’

There shouldn’t have been any particular trigger. Did something happen while I was in the cocoon? Even sensing the surroundings with my auxiliary organs, I couldn’t find any special traces.

‘She said she touched the egg while I was evolving?’

I don’t know the exact cause, but she might have absorbed some of the energy generated during my evolution.

Given that the relationship between Bubble Amoeba and Seed Demon hasn’t been clarified, I can only speculate about the evolution conditions.

「Now I can protect the baby!」

No. 26 said confidently. I stroked her with appreciation.

‘As I expected, it was true.’

There was a time when I considered whether to eat her or not, but now I don’t have such thoughts.

‘She still looks weak, but as a Seed Demon, she’ll be helpful to our forces.’

The Seed Demons I’ve seen were over 20m in size with hundreds of tentacles. Even in the game, they were treated as mini-bosses. Having such a massive monster follow me would be incredibly helpful.

I don’t plan to share genetic essence, but I should consider passing on unnecessary food.

[Zzzz zzzzzz zzzz(Then let’s go eat)]

「Yes! Good.」

Perhaps because I just finished evolving, my stomach aches with hunger.

She must have been hungry too, as she immediately agreed. Well, having eaten only one sandwich for over 6 hours, she would naturally be hungry.

I placed No. 26 on my shoulder and opened the door.

Food that stimulates my appetite awaits next door.