Ch.343Twins (2)

When I woke up, the first sensation I felt was sweetness.

My mouth was filled with the taste of chocolate so rich it made my jaw ache.

“There’s still plenty left, so eat more.”

“Grrrr”

“Big one” “Young kin” “Similar”

“Grrrr?”

“Praise”

After the sweetness melting on my tongue, I realized that the heads on either side of me were moving.

I slowly opened my eyes.

“Big one” “Awake”

“Big baby eat this too”

As soon as I opened my eyes, a black lump of flesh was pushed into my mouth. It was a piece of Voltex One’s flesh that I had gathered before falling asleep.

No. 26 and Adhigh Orr were busily feeding me while I slept.

Judging by how little remained of the Voltex One corpses that had been piled high in the hangar, they must have been feeding me continuously while I was asleep.

‘This reminds me of before.’

They had supplied food this way when I passed out after shooting down the Imperial Mothership. Such consistent creatures.

‘Might as well accept what they’re offering.’

I had already bitten chunks out of the creature during our fight and directly swallowed its core. However, I was too focused on the battle then to properly savor the taste.

I leisurely chewed the “Ring of Agony” meat the kids gave me.

‘Delicious.’

The outer shell was firm, but the flesh inside was softer than jelly, creating distinctly different textures. If the exterior felt like biting into hardened chocolate, the interior was more like a chocolate fudge cake. It had a sweet yet deep flavor that didn’t become tiresome even after continuous eating.

‘No wonder the two heads like it.’

The heads on my left and right were eating meat on their own even though I hadn’t gotten up. Even now, they were eagerly accepting food from No. 26 and Adhigh Orr.

Thanks to them, I had received plenty of energy. The injuries I sustained during battle had almost completely healed, leaving only slight scars.

[Zzz zzzzz (Where are the others?)]

“Friend’s family is sick so they’re together. Friend’s family must be very sick.”

“Ugly friend” “Scaly dwarf” “Together” “Stay”

PS-111 must still be calibrating Isabelle. It’s been a day since I fell asleep, which is longer than expected.

‘I guess it’s more difficult than creating one’s own body.’

Although PS-111 created the MPS series, those were merely terminals without unique thinking abilities. This is the first time it’s creating a Screamer with an independent consciousness. No wonder it’s challenging.

‘I handed over Alshas just in case…’

Before falling asleep, I entrusted Alshas to it. I told it to do whatever it wanted as long as it kept him alive.

‘PS-111’s model used a ranker’s body.’

To be precise, a clone of the 18th ranker Penelope was used as material for the mutant Screamer.

Those who designed it were in positions where they could obtain Coldbloods easily. Yet they specifically chose to clone a ranker for use, which must have had a reason.

‘Though it doesn’t seem to understand that.’

From PS-111’s perspective, there’s no difference between an ordinary Cult member and Alshas. And it doesn’t know much about rankers either.

Still, it’s the type to try to understand what I say, so it quietly accepted Alshas.

Anyway, I plan to interrogate Alshas after PS-111 finishes its research.

‘I have nothing urgent to do right now, so I’ll just wait.’

I’ve acquired quite a few new traits. I should check them while I’m resting.

I brought up the translucent text box while munching on the meat No. 26 and Adhigh Orr handed me.

“Multidimensional Organism: Bio-Plasma Synthesis (New!), Hive Mind Terminal (New!)

-Multidimensional Organism fusion trait: Deep Space Plague (New!)”

“*Incomplete Traits (8)

Gills, Giant Creature, Natural Healing, Signal Jamming, Serrated Tentacle, Mimicry, Catfish Nest, Demon Machine (New!)”

“Some conditions for evolution from ‘Adult’ to ‘Ascended’ have been met.

Essence of Mind: Voltex One (0.5) (Not Achieved)”

“‘Transcendence’ Material List (New!): Demon Machine, Tyrantroid, Unidentified, Unidentified, Unidentified”

I acquired several other traits as well, but the most important parts are the unlocking of new type information and new unique trait synthesis formulas.

Traits in the ‘Multidimensional Organism’ category can primarily be obtained by preying on Outspacers and Voltex One.

Four traits are needed to acquire the type. I just need one more to get it.

‘It would have been better if I’d gotten it earlier.’

The timing of acquiring these traits is slightly disappointing. While all three are good traits, they’re not particularly useful at this point.

‘Bio-Plasma Synthesis’ is a trait that absorbs external energy like plasma or psychic power and converts it into bioenergy. It’s one of the means that helps combat-class Outspacers fight for extended periods.

With this trait, I could absorb and use energy flowing from a ship’s reactor. It’s not a bad trait, but I already have Dragon’s Heart, which is superior. Since I have an organ that pumps energy on its own, this trait is less necessary.

‘Deep Space Plague. This is good too, but…’

‘Deep Space Plague,’ obtained using the infection-related trait ‘Space Bacteria’ as material, is a trait that inflicts random debuffs on targets I come in contact with. Because it’s a virus that constantly mutates to adapt to space, the debuff effects keep changing.

Since the virus’s properties constantly change, it’s also difficult to cure. That’s why when I acquired this trait, I would immediately head to enemy planetary water sources.

If I had obtained this trait before going to Beryan02, I would have used it quite effectively. Now that the conquest is over and we’ve left the planet, its usefulness has diminished.

If I need to conquer planets belonging to Megacorps or the Cult, I could have some fun with this then.

‘Next is Hive Mind Terminal.’

Despite its grand name, it’s a passive support trait.

Its effect is to help read conversations between Outspacers. Since they communicate using unique bioelectric signals, without this trait or specialized tools, it’s impossible to understand what they’re saying.

‘It’s an essential trait if you’re going to fight Outspacers.’

The probability of clashing with them someday is high. Having this will definitely be worth it.

‘Finally, Demon Machine. I should have eaten this before anything else.’

Unfortunately, the spoils obtained from the Ring of Agony were incomplete.

Perhaps because it wasn’t a complete summoned entity, ‘Demon Machine’ was displayed as an incomplete trait, similar to when consuming genetic samples.

Demon Machine is a trait that allows the use of Voltex One’s unique ability, ‘Power of Deep.’ Only with this trait can you eat other Voltex Ones, acquire their traits, and use them.

Just as other sentient beings except the Cult need an ‘Psychic Organ’ to use psychic powers, the Demon Machine trait is necessary to use Voltex One’s power. Without it, even if you acquire Voltex One abilities, you can’t use them.

For example, if you want to use the Ring of Agony’s gravity manipulation ability, you need to first acquire Demon Machine and then obtain the gravity manipulation-related trait.

While the conditions seem strict, this is actually quite advantageous. Among other species, only Coldbloods can use Voltex One’s abilities.

Moreover, AMorphs can use that powerful ability without any cost if they just acquire the trait. From a long-term perspective, it’s much more beneficial.

Of course, the probability of acquiring Voltex One traits is extremely low, but I have the Mark of the Hunt. Once I secure Demon Machine, acquiring Voltex One traits won’t be a problem.

‘Tsk.’

It’s extremely unfortunate, but there’s nothing I can do.

I’ll have to fight Voltex One again anyway. The evolution condition remains in a strange state of 0.5 incompletion. To change this to completion, I need to kill a complete Voltex One.

‘Since I’ve never fought in an incomplete state before, exceptional cases keep popping up.’

Next is the part about the new unique trait.

Demon Machine must have been a key trait, as a new unique trait combination formula has opened.

‘I already have Tyrantroid, and Demon Machine is in an incomplete state, having acquired only half.’

The remaining three materials are marked as ‘Unidentified.’

‘…I think I can guess what might be included.’

The common point between ‘Tyrantroid’ and Demon Machine is that they are ‘common’ traits obtained from Apex creatures. The other three traits are likely also common traits obtained from Apex creatures.

‘And not just any Apex, but top-tier Apex.’

It didn’t open when I acquired Tyrantroid, but it did after I got Demon Machine. More information might be revealed if I kill higher-ranking Apex creatures.

‘A unique trait combined from Apex traits.’

The unique traits I’ve created using the transcendence system so far have been somewhat influenced by their materials. I can’t imagine how powerful a result crafted from Apex traits would be.

Once I get information from Isabelle and Alshas, I should consider targeting Apex creatures as my next goal.

‘Wait.’

Thinking about Apex creatures reminded me of the small monsters in front of me.

‘They both must have eaten Voltex One too?’

No. 26 and Adhigh Orr were diligently feeding me. They must have eaten the Ring of Agony too—I wonder if they experienced any changes?

After closing the text box, I asked them.

[Zzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz (Aren’t you two going to eat?)]

“We ate lots and lots!”

“Food” “Too” “Much” “Full”

Looking at them now, Adhigh Orr definitely seems to have eaten more than usual. Its usually slim body now has a belly as plump as its tail. No. 26, as always, showed no visible changes in appearance.

‘Their appearance remains the same, but…’

In the game, Sea Demons and Gallergorn rarely eat Voltex One. They inhabit different environments, so they hardly ever encounter each other.

The exceptions are when events coincidentally overlap, causing Red Gallergorn and Voltex One to appear simultaneously, or when Coldbloods summon Voltex One during Sea Demon or Gallergorn conquests.

Even on the rare occasions they meet, Voltex One usually emerges victorious. I’ve only seen a fully capable Red Gallergorn fight Voltex One once, and that ended in a draw.

In other words, No. 26 and Adhigh Orr are the first Sea Demon and Gallergorn to kill the demon of space and eat its meat.

[Zzz zzzzzz zzzz (Neither of you has changed?)]

While there were no visible changes in appearance, it was worth asking. Upon my detailed inquiry, No. 26 and Adhigh Orr eagerly responded.

“Me! I have something different!”

“Me too!” “Me too!”

[Zzzzz zzzzz (You say you’ve changed?)]

“Yes! I’ll show you!”

With those words, No. 26 bounced away from me. Once at a suitable distance, its body began to grow.

‘Combat mode?’

When it enters combat, it transforms into a giant pink jellyfish covered in countless eyes. But its current appearance was different from what I knew.

Its inflated balloon form changed into a body shaped like a recumbent ring with a hemisphere covering it, with long fins and tentacles extending from the center of the ring.

While the fins remained the same, the appearance of the tentacles had changed quite a bit. Small tentacles branched out from the tips, resembling human arms.

Moreover, the changes weren’t just in appearance.

‘It’s flying?’

In its new form, it was floating in the air. Since I couldn’t sense any psychic power, it seemed to be floating using principles I couldn’t understand.

Just like the Ring of Agony.