Ch.344Twins (3)

“I can float too!”

“Slow” “I” “Much” “Faster”

“I’ll float faster too when I study.”

No. 26 gaining flight ability was a completely unexpected change. It swam smoothly through the hangar as if it were an ocean.

“Isn’t it amazing? Isn’t it great?”

[Zzzzzz (It’s impressive)]

When I expressed admiration, it glowed happily. The arm-like tentacles changed shape constantly according to their owner’s mood. They would become hand-shaped, then transform into the previous saw-blade tentacles. Each tentacle transformed at incredible speed.

‘That seems like a new ability too.’

Originally, there was a tentacle responsible for mutations, but it couldn’t change all tentacles like now. The transformation speed had also improved dramatically, allowing shapes to change rapidly with emotional shifts.

‘All tentacle transformation and flight ability.’

No. 26 had the lowest mobility among us, but that weakness has been compensated for. The ability to change tentacle shapes also has potential.

“I too!” “I too” “Will show you”

[Z (Okay)]

Having received permission, it spread its wings.

Adhigh, holding his inflated belly, took flight. It looked quite cute, but I didn’t laugh because of his serious attitude.

“Open it”

“Okay.”

No. 26, floating leisurely inside the hangar, lightly touched the switch next to the door. Adhigh nodded at me and went outside the Gigacracker.

‘What is he trying to show me?’

Has his flight ability been enhanced like No. 26’s? Or has he gained a new type of power?

I followed him out into space.

A pantheon of stars spread out like a vast ocean. In the center, a rose-colored nebula burned like a brazier.

Under the watching stars, Adhigh stood on top of the Gigacracker.

“Star power” “Obtained”

[Zz (Really?)]

“Before” “Unusable” “But” “Now” “Possible” “I’ll show you”

He concentrated with his wings spread. His white scales with red patterns turned red like when using Red Armor.

‘Has the Red Armor range increased… huh?’

The red radiance emitted by the wings and patterns gradually changed color. That light, a mixture of red and purple, reminded me of the color of the nebula watching us from afar.

‘Deep purple light, and…’

This flow of energy that tenses my auxiliary organs and entire body, I’ve felt it once before.

Odd Grad, the evil tyrant who oppressed Adhigh’s kind and was Adhigh’s father.

It was very similar to the attack the creature launched just before dying.

‘Starflame!’

Adhigh tilted his head upward. His previously plump belly slimmed down, and an energy sphere was fired from the tentacles in his mouth.

The purple sphere continued flying without stopping. In its path was a cluster of rocks drifting through space.

When the small sphere Adhigh had fired collided with the rock cluster, an intense flash erupted. A massive explosion engulfed the rock cluster. Rocks ranging from tens of meters to several kilometers in size were consumed by the purple energy explosion.

What remained after the light faded was nothingness.

It was hard to believe that a sphere smaller than his head could create such destructive power. Now he fired it at a rock cluster as a test, but firing at a minor planet would yield similar results.

‘The power is exactly the same as the Starflame I know.’

The Red Gallergorn’s “Starflame” has about 0.8 times the power of the Gigacracker’s ion cannon. It might seem weaker than a super weapon, but that’s absolutely not the case.

‘This one can be fired repeatedly.’

Unlike Cosmic Bolt which takes a long time to charge, or the ion cannon which charges quickly but needs a long rest after firing, Starflame has no such limitations.

The only drawback might be that the heat ray’s radiance is so bright it can be seen from a great distance.

‘But Adhigh’s Starflame is in sphere form.’

And it’s only about the size of a small exercise ball. With that, even ships with cutting-edge detection capabilities would find it impossible to avoid.

‘I wonder if it’s because he ate Voltex One, or if it’s a mutation.’

Perhaps the former merely acted as a kind of awakening trigger, and the latter is correct. The Psychic Breath he uses isn’t in the form of a purple heat ray but rather small energy bullets.

“Great one” “Power” “Similar, right?”

[Z zz zzzz (It seems even stronger)]

“Really?” “Really?”

[Z zzzz (Yes. Well done)]

He hopped around on the outer wall of the Gigacracker. His plump body had already returned to its previous slender form.

‘So energy consumption is the issue.’

If he loses weight after firing once, he can’t use it freely like the Red Gallergorn in the game. More precisely, rapid-fire might be possible, but the power would be significantly reduced.

Still, it’s a great advantage, essentially like having a small Gigacracker with us.

‘Everyone gained a lot from hunting Voltex One.’

If PS-111 successfully transfers Isabelle to her new body, all the goals I planned will be achieved.

[Zz zzzzzz (Shall we go back then)]

“I” “Great one” “Together” “Flight play”

[Zzzzzz (Flight play?)]

Adhigh scurried over to my side. It seems he wants to spend time flying with me.

‘PS-111 probably needs more time.’

It wouldn’t be bad to fly around the Gigacracker with him, also helping with digestion.

“Why are you two playing alone?”

Just then, No. 26 came out of the hangar. It swam through the zero-gravity space, fluttering its fins and tentacles.

“Little elder” “Food” “Storage” “Preservation” “Not doing?”

“Little baby will eat too, so let’s do it together.”

“I” “Busy”

“Preservation is more important than play.”

“No” “Play” “More” “Important”

[Zz zz zzzz zzzzzz (Let’s stay together for a while and then go in)]

“Okay.”

“This” “Not right”

Adhigh didn’t seem pleased about No. 26 joining in. But to help No. 26 get accustomed to flying as it wishes, consistent practice is necessary.

‘Adhigh is naturally fast, so he probably doesn’t like it.’

It’s right to be considerate of No. 26 here.

[Zzzzzz (I’ll help you)]

“Good!”

“Wait” “I” “Better” “Teacher”

“I’ll learn from the big baby.”

“I” “Flight” “Skill” “Excellent” “I” “Study” “Teach well”

[Zz zzzz (That’s true)]

“This way” “Fly over”

“Okay.”

“Pain!” “Why” “Hit?”

“It was a mistake.”

After enjoying our flight disguised as practice for quite some time, we returned to the hangar.

“You’ve returned?”

As soon as we entered the hangar, a familiar voice greeted me.

‘Finally successful… huh?’

Looking at PS-111, I was surprised for the first time since seeing the children’s changes.

Its appearance was very different from what I had seen before falling asleep. Until yesterday, it had volume in its legs and torso as the metal shell was filled with muscles and flesh, but now that wasn’t the case.

Like other mutant screamers, its body was so emaciated that the metal skeleton was exposed. It was as if almost all the flesh inside had been removed.

But the real reason for my surprise wasn’t simply its condition.

“I used more than planned for the experiment. I apologize.”

It was holding a “lump” with a familiar face in its hook-like claws.

“I’m sorry. Please spare me. I won’t do it again. Just kill me instead. Please don’t cut that part…”

The lump was Alshas, with only his head and part of his upper body remaining.

With life support devices connected to various parts of his remaining body, he was muttering apologies in a deranged state.

“I told you to leave the head intact.”

“I didn’t touch the head.”

“Really? Then why is he in that state?”

“He was shocked seeing his body being cut off. I’ve administered an appropriate amount of sedative, so he’ll be fine soon.”

It’s an entity well-versed in genetic manipulation and bioengineering. There’s no way it wouldn’t have known Alshas would react like this.

‘Half experiment, half revenge, perhaps.’

PS-111 didn’t remember Isabelle, but it showed signs of caring for her. Perhaps the subconscious of the 18th ranker Penelope was reflected.

If so, it makes sense why it reduced Alshas to that state. He was an enemy who had enslaved Isabelle, who could be considered its younger sister, and led her to death.

‘It’s a bit different from what I expected, but at least he’s still alive.’

It’s an ambiguous situation, neither breaking nor keeping the promise, but I don’t want to scold it for this. After all, I was the one who handed Isabelle over to it, so I bear some responsibility.

Moreover, what Alshas thinks or what pain he suffered isn’t particularly important. One way or another, he’s destined to end up in my stomach.

‘When he regains consciousness, I’ll interrogate him, and if not, I’ll just eat him and turn him into a face parasite.’

Having decided on his fate internally, I turned to PS-111.

“Since you’ve returned Alshas, I assume Isabelle is complete?”

“Yes, but.”

“Huh?”

The red camera lens wandered through the air before tilting to the side.

“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me it failed?”

“The physical body is complete, and the brain transplant surgery was successful.”

“And?”

“……”

“Did something go wrong?”

Despite my persistent questioning, it remained silent. The camera lens that substituted for eyes kept blinking.

‘This is the first time I’ve seen such an attitude.’

Since its face is covered with metal skin, it’s usually difficult to read its emotions. But today was different.

It was anxious.

“Don’t worry if there’s a problem. We’ll help you.”

After maintaining silence for a long time, it finally spoke.

“‘Little sister’ is refusing to wake up for unknown reasons.”

“Refusing?”

“Yes. Adaptation tests, immune response checks, biosignal reception verification, all confirmed normal. Based on this, I’ve determined with 88% probability that little sister has chosen to remain asleep.”

Isabelle, asleep in her new body, refusing to wake up.

Something completely unexpected had occurred.