Ch.352Meeting (1)

In the world of Space Survival, countless creatures exist. Players have documented thousands of animal species alone, and when including plants and fungi, that number more than doubles.

Among them are creatures confirmed to have crossed over from other universes. Outspacers belong to this category.

Their alien origin explains their unique mechanisms that differ from normal organisms—such as how entire swarms follow a queen’s command, and how they consume other creatures to apply those characteristics to their swarm.

However, if they were completely alien, they wouldn’t have adapted to this universe.

Like ordinary creatures, Outspacers prefer resource-rich planets. Diverse biospheres and organic matter needed for energy production allow their swarms to grow rapidly.

Of course, life-abundant planets are typically already conquered or targeted for conquest by sentient beings like humans, cyborgs, or Cult. Establishing a nest in such places often leads to raids before the swarm can fully develop.

In that sense, the Outspacer queen who built her nest on a barren planet in the Z-10 system could be considered both lucky and unlucky.

OW-33, where she was born, is a planet beyond the major powers’ attention—not an ideal environment for growth.

Outspacers migrate to new habitats after consuming all resources on a planet. If they fail to accumulate enough energy for migration before resources are depleted, the swarm collapses. Normally, the queen of OW-33 would have struggled with insufficient resources and eventually withered away.

That is, if she hadn’t possessed intelligence superior to other queens.

Now, 40 years after her birth, she leads the largest Outspacer swarm, becoming the Great Queen.

This being, called “Empress” by the swarm queens, is currently at her birthplace.

The Empress was conversing with an old companion in the depths of the contaminated planet.

“How much longer must we wait? How much longer must we watch our comrades die?”

A large computer stolen from Star Union was embedded in sticky mucus. Thin, long tentacles emerging from the mucus connected the computer to a diamond-shaped Monolith.

As the nest’s master entered a message into the computer with her tentacles, the Monolith emitted a red light.

“Message received.”

Soon, the other party’s thoughts were transmitted to her through the Monolith.

“You say not much longer? You said the same after our comrade’s death last time. But look at the result. Even Olivia, who was devoted to the plan, lost her life.”

The computer and Monolith conveyed the Empress’s anger to the other party. The Monolith flashed briefly, then went silent.

After a moment, the Monolith glowed again with the other’s response. Upon reading the message, the Empress’s irritation surged.

“You tell me to be patient? Patient? I’ve lived in this alien female body for 40 years. How much longer must I endure?”

“Message received.”

“He has far exceeded our expectations. As our comrades die, he only grows stronger—yet you still believe he can be controlled? I cannot understand.”

“Message received.”

“Yes. We must do our best. My patience has reached its limit.”

“Message received.”

“Communication terminated.”

As the connection ended, the tentacles linking the Monolith and computer detached.

‘…Bumho.’

The person she had just contacted was Bumho, leader of the Providences.

All the Providences’ plans originated from his mind. If everything went according to plan, they could return to the reality they so desperately desired.

‘If it goes according to plan.’

Recently, two major errors had occurred. Two comrades had lost their lives as a result.

Yet Bumho insisted they hadn’t deviated from the plan’s framework. While the deaths of comrades were regrettable, he claimed everything could be restored once the plan was completed.

In truth, no one in the Providences desired to return home more than the Empress.

Among Outspacers, queens are the only individuals players can choose. The Empress was the only ranker who had changed not only species but also gender.

With the identity of a 34-year-old German man, he had spent an additional 40 years in this other world as a monster queen. Producing countless offspring was just a bonus. No matter how many new bodies he created, he couldn’t eliminate the queen’s fundamental concept as the swarm’s mother.

Having no intention of living this way until death, he had made many efforts to reach the ending alone. If not for Bumho, who appeared suddenly 30 years ago, he would have attempted the ending much earlier.

‘Damn. I never thought it would take this long.’

The Empress knew Bumho was right about needing patience. He understood that achieving their plan required a long time.

But now, the time spent as a monster mother exceeded the time spent in reality. His sense of self remained solid, but no one knew how long that would last.

‘I should prepare for the ending even now…’

As he pondered this, the Monolith glowed red again.

Thinking it might be Bumho, he checked, but it wasn’t. Someone was broadcasting to everyone who possessed a communication Monolith.

‘Who could it be?’

Previously, Jason from the Innovatives had sent messages this way. Of course, he hadn’t bothered responding to communications from a mere 10th-ranked player.

But this time, he couldn’t ignore it. The sender was far too powerful to be compared with someone ranked 10th.

‘3rd rank?’

The CEO of Megacorp, one of the powers ruling the universe.

The leader of the Innovatives, who had built a force as mighty as the Empress’s.

Akira Yujin was calling the rankers.

—

“Lee Zhao. How are the JS prototype test results?”

In the Garmelda family’s Mercury weapons research base, one of Megacorp’s seven houses, Cloe Garmelda was receiving a report from another house’s researcher in her residence for the head of the family.

“Quite interesting. Combat power, flexibility, and psychic power adaptability are excellent. Even in its shipped state, it’s expected to show strategic utility exceeding that of a Green Gallergorn.”

The new Screamer model, created with a new “material,” was nearing completion.

Lee Zhao, the chief researcher who led the Screamer development project with Cloe, was conducting final experiments at a Zhao family colony.

“Not bad. But it can’t be perfect. What are its weaknesses?”

“Its combat intelligence is inferior to the PS model. It has limited learning ability, making it vulnerable to unexpected situations.”

“Simply put, it’s dumber than the previous model?”

“That’s correct.”

“Hmm.”

Cloe tapped the armrest of her hovering chair with her index finger. After quickly organizing her thoughts, she spoke to the holographic Lee Zhao.

“That’s actually good. The other side cited high autonomy as a flaw. It’s fortunate we don’t need to take extra steps to lower its intelligence.”

“Understood. I’ll continue the experiment as planned.”

“Send me the related files. I’ll check them with Garmelda’s simulation program.”

“I’ve already sent them.”

“Good. Oh, and please thank the Zhao family head for lending us the testing grounds.”

“Of course. I’ll contact you again soon.”

The handsome Asian man bowed his head, and the hologram terminated.

“When I heard Cynthia had died, I was worried, but things are working out well.”

Humming a tune, she pressed buttons on her hovering chair. The files sent by Lee Zhao synchronized with the computer in her space and played as holograms.

Just as she was about to check the various graphs and data floating in the air, a red light flashed from the floor. Looking down, she saw a diamond-shaped Monolith with connected wires glowing.

“Huh? Is it Jubaka?”

Wondering why he would contact her when he always claimed to be busy, she checked the Monolith and immediately frowned.

“Ugh, it’s the old man?”

The caller was Akira Yujin, CEO of Megacorp.

She hadn’t contacted Akira via Monolith since Jason’s death. After debating whether to ignore it, she activated the Monolith.

“Old man, it’s been a while. I heard you’ve been busy—what’s up?”

“Oh, Cloe. How have you been?”

“I’ve been busy playing with toys on Mercury… Huh?”

While she was speaking to Akira’s Monolith in a fabricated voice, other Monoliths began activating one by one.

“Akira, I’m busy. Spare me the unnecessary talk.”

“Is this Monolith working properly? Hello? Can you hear me?”

From the newly activated Monoliths came the dignified voice of a man and the frivolous voice of a young man. She knew them both.

“What’s this? Jubaka and the kid? Who called everyone?”

“I called Jubaka and Shinobu, Cloe.”

“Oh, Cloe. Long time no see. How many years has it been? Two? Three? Time perception gets so vague in space. Speaking of which, I just remembered visiting a planet recently…”

“Hey, youngster. You’re noisy. Akira, why did you suddenly call the members?”

“Don’t be hasty. There are still more people coming.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a dust-covered Monolith floated into the air.

Cloe was startled when this Monolith, which had never activated before, lit up.

‘Could that Monolith be…?’

“You dare call me. You’ve got nerve, 3rd rank.”

“Haha, it’s been a while, 4th rank.”

The final participant was the Outspacer ranker, 4th rank—the greatest power of the Providences who opposed the Innovatives.

—

Thanks to my conversation with Isabelle, I have a new goal.

But before that, there’s something I need to handle. We’ve arrived at the planet where Adhigh Orr’s group resides.

This planet, called “White Stone” by the Gallergorn, is covered with ice layers tens to hundreds of kilometers thick. Though it seems devoid of life, a unique ecosystem unfolds beneath the ice sheet.

Under the frozen sky, plants resembling giant versions of mushrooms and rainbow grass abound. Animals adapted to underground life roam near these plants.

Beyond the widespread underground plant colony lies a long, split ravine. The Gallergorn are in that area, hidden by steam from the acidic river flowing through the center of the ravine.

Near the ravine, within a colony of plants resembling oyster mushrooms.

There, Adhigh Orr introduced the new immigrants to his kind.

“Cute dwarves” “Eggs” “Protect” “Will help”

Forty Coldblood who perceived Adhigh’s thought waves bowed to Ham Oort.

Though the Coldblood all wore Megacorp enhancement suits that made them quite tall, they still looked like dwarves to the Gallergorn, who were tens of meters in size. Ham Oort, a female with beautiful obsidian scales, looked down at the new visitors with cool eyes.

“Dwarves” “Plunderers” “All” “Must be killed”

“Refuse” “Cute dwarves” “Good”

“Dwarves” “Lies” “Skilled at” “Kin” “Dangerous”

“Deny” “Cute dwarves” “Family” “Protect” “Promised”

“Family?”

Ham Oort’s gaze turned to me. I nodded in response.

“Dwarves” “Adhigh’s companion” “Offspring?”

“Deny!” “Absolutely” “Deny!”

[Zzzzzz zzzzzz (They’re new friend’s family)]

Ham Oort tilted her head, looking back and forth between me and Adhigh. Then, seeming to understand something, she nodded.

“Adhigh’s companion” “Friend” “Kin” “Friend”

[Zzz (Yes)]

The acting leader, Ham Oort, had accepted. There was no longer any concern about Gallergorn attacking indiscriminately.

The Coldblood who were prostrated on the ground carefully stood up. Sky Mother, transformed into a griffon beastkin, approached them and handed over a shoulder bag-sized mechanical device.

“This is a translator PS-111 made by analyzing Adhigh’s thought waves. I taught you how to use it before, but if you don’t remember, ask now.”

“Friend of the Savior. We remember perfectly.”

“If there’s any problem…”

Sky Mother taught the Coldblood how to survive in the Gallergorn’s nest.

For four days since arriving, we’ve been helping the Coldblood migrate safely.

‘Strictly speaking, PS-111 did most of the work.’

While its main body was handling Isabelle’s calibration, MPS-01, which remained to manage this planet, created equipment and tools for the Coldblood.

Unlike MPS-05, which specializes in communication and hacking, MPS-01 is a mini-Screamer specialized in facility maintenance and modification. Synchronized with the main body, MPS-01 converted the carrier aircraft remaining on the Screamer support ship into transport vessels and created Gallergorn thought wave translators.

26 and I handled what the mini-Screamer couldn’t do. Thanks to that, everything was completed quickly.

‘Isabelle’s calibration is almost finished too.’

“Everyone seems enthusiastic, so I think we can rest easy.”

Sky Mother approached me.

“Communication is still an issue, but Ham Oort said she’d help with that, so I’m relieved.”

[Zzzz zzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz (It would be nice if you had more of those necklaces)]

“This?”

Hearing my words, she pointed to the sapphire necklace around her neck.

The necklace that Muriel had forcibly put on her during a past attack doesn’t exist in the game. Thanks to it, she could communicate via thought waves like a Gallergorn even while transformed into a divine beast.

“As you know, this is something Subin… I mean Muriel brought. If it was made by a player, mass production would probably be difficult.”

[Zzzzzz (That’s too bad)]

“Maybe the equipment manager of the Providences has more.”

[Zzzzzz zzzzzz (That would be nice)]

My next destination is Askha44, a planet where the Providences’ equipment manager is said to be hiding.

‘It’s a volcanic planet, right?’

There are also several apex creatures that can be encountered on volcanic planets. It would be perfect to collect characteristics while hunting down the Providence ranker.

[Zzzz zzzzzz (Shall we go back then)]

“Great one” “I” “Nest” “Will visit”

[Zzzzzz (Alright)]

Adhigh, seemingly intending to check on his kin in the nest, left for the ravine with Ham Oort. I spread my wing arms wide after loading the Coldblood.

My massive body rose into the air. I could feel the Coldblood on my back tightening their grip on my scales. The oldest Coldblood, though fearful, offered me words of gratitude.

“Great Three-Headed Dragon. Thank you for giving us sanctuary.”

[Zzz zzzzzz zzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz (Yes. But could you change that nickname?)]

“If you command, we will change it.”

[Zzz zzzzzz zzz (Just call me AMorph)]

“We will follow your command, Great AMorph.”

I clicked my tongue at the embarrassing nickname. The two heads on either side of me seemed to like the new name, holding their necks stiffly even during flight.

“Why? It seems like a good nickname. Isn’t ‘Great Three-Headed Dragon’ much better than Morph-boy?”

[Zzzz zzzz (No. Not at all)]

The griffon flying beside me with wings spread wide was clearly delighted by my embarrassment, clicking her beak repeatedly.

‘Tsk. I need to wrap this up and leave quickly.’

With that thought, I headed toward the Screamer support ship with Sky Mother.