Ch.353Meeting (2)

“Empress?”

“Calling an Outspacer here. Akira, are you in your right mind?”

“Wow, I’ve never seen Rank 4 before. Hey, sorry about killing that queen last time. I needed the money, you know?”

Rank 4 Outspacer, commonly known as the “Empress.”

It was an arrogant nickname, but Cloe didn’t think so at all. The Empress was known to control about 80% of all Outspacers. If she wanted to, she could single-handedly bring down the Cult Empire.

She and Jubaka would stop the Empress through their trade with the Empire, but the outcome would be difficult to predict. Even if they won, enormous damage would be expected.

The reason the Empress remained passive in this situation was because there were powerful beings among the Dominants as well.

“Hmm, I called Bumho too, but he’s not responding as expected.”

“Would you respond to your enemy’s call?”

“I suppose you’re right.”

While everyone was surprised, the leader of the Dominants, Akira Yujin, was calmly conversing with the Empress.

“Akira, why call us instead of other Dominants? What are you up to?”

“You’re not suggesting merging factions, are you? I have absolutely no desire to return to that dog-eat-dog reality.”

Of course, Akira was the only one showing a calm reaction in this gathering.

‘Why suddenly the Empress… could it be?’

Suddenly, Cloe recalled the recent chaos in the Cult Empire. Beryan02, one of the pillars of the Empire’s economy, had been completely destroyed. None of the Dominant rankers were unaware of this fact.

However, what Cloe knew was slightly different from what others knew.

“Nonsense! The tide has already turned in our favor, why would I do that?”

“Hmm. Did you call us to condemn the recent bombing? I heard Beryan02 was destroyed.”

“Ha, there were many good routes there. Ah, thinking about it gives me a headache.”

House Garmelda maintained various connections within the Cult Empire, including the Innovatives, one of the two major factions in the Imperial Council.

The leader of the Innovatives, Kixos, had died in Beryan02. He wasn’t killed by some Outspacer.

Spies who barely survived the catastrophic disaster all said the same thing: a gigantic creature with three heads had destroyed his mansion.

The entity that brought down Beryan02 was the Rank 5, “AMorph.”

“Condemn? You didn’t call me for such a trivial matter, did you?”

“Of course not. It wasn’t your doing anyway.”

“What?”

“What do you mean?”

“Tsk, tsk, everyone’s information is so slow. The culprit behind this incident is AMorph.”

“…Tch.”

At Akira’s words, Cloe clicked her tongue quietly. The Innovatives controlled Beryan02. Cloe, being closest to them, should have had an advantage in gathering information.

The fact that Akira knew meant he had established his own intelligence network.

‘Damn that old man.’

“Huh? Wasn’t AMorph extinct? You’re not talking about ‘that kusomorph,’ are you?”

“Hmm, Shinobu must not know since he wasn’t present then. AMorph has also come to this world. Because someone did something unnecessary.”

“Don’t insult Bumho. Everything was calculated and decided.”

“…I think I know why you called us.”

Akira knowing it was AMorph’s doing made Cloe and Jubaka guess why they were summoned. There had been similar incidents in the game.

“You’re issuing a hunt order for AMorph.”

“That’s right, Cloe.”

Rank 5 was the most notorious player in Space Survival. Anyone who had played the game for a while had been victimized by him at least once.

As a result, various rankers and clans often joined forces to hunt AMorph. The rankers currently in conversation had also participated in AMorph hunts multiple times.

“I can’t stand watching my garden ruined by weeds. I’ve used tools before, but the results weren’t good. So I’m thinking of handling it myself this time.”

“Whether you fight AMorph or not is none of my concern. I’m not sure if it’s even possible.”

“Good point, Rank 4. I might fail alone. But…”

Akira paused briefly before continuing.

“What if you helped me?”

“Old man?”

“…Akira. The Returnees caused this mess, why would he follow you?”

“Jubaka, be precise. It wasn’t the Returnees but Bumho who acted independently. Isn’t that right, Empress?”

The Empress’s monolith remained silent at Akira’s question. Probably because his words were true.

“We may be competing with different goals, but this case is different. Who knows how much damage will be caused if we leave him be.”

“He’s under Bumho’s arrangement.”

“Do you really think Bumho intended the destruction of Beryan02? I don’t think so. He’s human too, Empress. Weak and fragile human.”

“That’s…”

“If Bumho is a concern, we could consider keeping him alive but incapacitated. What do you think of my proposal?”

It was rare for Akira to make a respectful proposal to anyone. If the other side’s nickname was Empress, his could rightfully be Tyrant given his temperament.

While everyone held their breath…

“What do you need?”

The Returnee ranker’s monolith quietly glowed.

–

“The Dorane star system, where Askha44 is located, is presumed to be the system containing the red giant star ‘Olga’.”

“Y-yes! That’s right! The sun visible from that planet looks like that!”

The face-parasite nodded urgently as it looked at the large image of a star projected on the frozen wall.

PS-111 tapped its pointed fingers, calculating the distance.

“Considering ‘AMorph’s’ speed, it will take 3 days to reach the Dorane system from here, or 7 days if variables occur.”

[Zzzz (That’s good)]

As PS-111 turned off the hologram projector in the situation room, I gestured to Alshas.

[Zz Zzzz Zzzzzzz (Your role ends here)]

“N-no! I don’t want to go back there! Please! Please don’t send me back!”

Perhaps because it hadn’t been a face-parasite for long, Alshas was having a meltdown. Though it was just verbal—its body was actually moving closer to me, so it was meaningless.

‘Jason was like this too, and now this one.’

Parasites enjoy staying inside me, but face-parasites all react this way. Jason also made a fuss when I first took him out, though he’s calmed down recently.

‘Not that I’m planning to discard it.’

Like Jason, I plan to keep Alshas around. Its head still contains much useful information.

“N-nooooo!”

With that final scream, the face-parasite entered the nest near my back and tail. A mucous membrane formed over it, covering its entire body. It would stay there until I called for it.

[Zzzzzz (What about Isabelle?)]

“‘Little sister’ is outside with the main controller, testing her new body. I’ll call her now.”

[Zzzz Zz Zzz Zzzzzzz (It’s fine. I’ll go get her)]

“Then I’ll make a final check on the Screamer support ship before we depart.”

“Final. Check!”

“Final. Check!”

As PS-111 raised its large body, the small Screamers beneath it repeated the same words.

Leaving them behind, I exited the Screamer support ship.

Looking at the support ship embedded in the ground like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the front section—the part buried in ice—showed signs of repairs everywhere. The minerals from the Gigacracker had been used to patch up spaces for the Coldbloods to live in. They would stay there until they recovered enough to adapt to the planetary environment.

Near the support ship was a transport vessel repaired by PS-111. It was used by the Coldbloods staying in the support ship to commute to Gallergorn’s Nest or to gather food and materials.

Just then, the Sky Mother and some Coldbloods disembarked from the transport vessel, apparently returning from somewhere. She, in her therianthrope form, waved at me, while the Coldbloods beside her bowed deeply.

‘They’ll manage fine on their own.’

After acknowledging them with a nod, I focused on the auxiliary organ under my chin. My right head detected a faint familiar scent from a point quite far away.

‘The smell of metal and blood. Hunting again, I see.’

I kicked off the ground and spread my wings simultaneously. The ice sheet below cracked, and the snow powder on it scattered.

As I flew by moving my wing arms, the temperature gradually became warmer. Looking down, mushroom-like plants began to appear sparsely on the barren field.

And in the distance, a huge pink creature could be seen floating in the air. With a body shaped like a recumbent ring covered with a hemisphere, and numerous tentacles and fins hanging below, it was No. 26. It was floating in the underground world filled with atmosphere, undulating as if swimming in the sea.

Beside it, peacefully gliding through the air, was a new form of mutant Screamer. It was Isabelle, once a Coldblood, now an artificial life form.

If No. 26 resembled a jellyfish, Isabelle’s appearance was closer to a snake or centipede. With a long body and multiple arms, it was coiled in the air.

In the middle lay a dead cave goyle, a monster resembling a mix between a bat and a primate, with its tongue sticking out.

“If you squeeze too hard, it’ll be crushed.”

“You mean I should relax my body?”

Isabelle loosened her body at No. 26’s wavelength. As the cave goyle flowed down like liquid due to its completely crushed bones, she quickly caught it with her multiple arms. Seeing this, No. 26 glowed while waving its tentacles.

“Well done! Now you can eat it!”

“Thanks.”

No. 26 stroked Isabelle’s head with its tentacle shaped like a hand, just as I would. Seeming uncomfortable with being praised by the pink jellyfish, Isabelle tried to slightly avoid its head. Then she made eye contact with me.

[Zzzzzzz Zzzzzz Zzzz (I was worried, but you seem to be doing well)]

“Wow! It’s the big one!”

Finally noticing me, No. 26 approached me, undulating its fins in the air. It changed its body to its usual pink balloon shape and climbed onto my head.

[Zzz Z Zzzzzzz (Are you getting used to your body?)]

In response to my question, Isabelle didn’t answer but opened her mouth wide. Like a snake swallowing prey, her jawbone separated, opening her mouth wider than her body’s thickness. From inside her mouth, two hook-like teeth similar to spider chelicerae protruded outward.

In that state, she swallowed the cave goyle whole, which she had been holding with her multiple arms. Her numerous hands and the hook teeth from her mouth quickly pushed the prey inward.

Having instantly ingested the 3-meter prey, Isabelle calmly said:

“As you can see.”

[Zzzz Zzzzzzz Zzzzzzzz Z Zzzzzzz Zzzzzz (The Sky Mother expected it would take quite a while to adapt)]

“…Sigh. It’s a body my sister worked hard to make for me. How could I complain?”

No, rather than being calm, it was closer to resignation. Judging by the small sigh and the way she spoke, she didn’t particularly like her current body.

‘If I told PS-111, it would fix it.’

It might be a bit disappointed, but it could make her more human-like if needed.

‘Well, there’s no need to mention it.’

After all, her current body is much more advantageous for combat and survival than a human body. And from my perspective, her appearance is quite attractive.

Like looking at a snake with beautiful scales, there was a seductive and homogeneous beauty to her that felt completely different from my sister.

She seemed to dislike her body, but by my standards, it was perfectly fine.

Isabelle used an arm near her head to push the hook teeth that had protruded from her mouth back inside.

Most of her body was covered in metal, giving her an even cooler impression than PS-111, but seeing her act awkwardly like this was quite ironic.

How should I describe it? Like a girl pretending to be an adult to hide her inexperience.

Of course, I didn’t say this aloud as it would anger her.

“Thanks to my sister adjusting my sense of taste, eating isn’t a problem.”

[Zz Zzzz (It seems so)]

“Ah, being able to fly like this is quite convenient too.”

She flew by undulating her body like a sea snake swimming. Despite having no propulsion system or parts specifically for flight, her flying was remarkably natural.

‘I didn’t know Voltex One’s flesh had such effects.’

Isabelle, whose body was primarily made from the flesh of ‘Ring of Agony,’ could fly in defiance of physical laws. Just like No. 26, who gained flight ability after consuming meat.

While she couldn’t fly at tremendous speeds like Adhigh or the Sky Mother, she was about as fast as a green Gallergorn. Fast enough to be helpful in combat.

“Seeing AMorph here means it’s time to leave.”

“Little friend, where are we going?”

[Zzzzzz Zzzz Zzzz Zzzz (We’re going to a warm place this time)]

“A warm place? Is it fun?”

[Zz (Yes)]

Whether it will actually be fun or not, I’m not sure, but it does seem like an interesting place. Planet Askha44 is a planet I’ve never visited before, like the ice planet where Gallergorn’s Nest used to be.

‘Though I’ve been to many volcanic planets before.’

It might not be very different from what I expect, but that’s something I’ll have to see for myself.

I returned to the support ship with them.

A few hours later, Adhigh and the Sky Mother also returned. Having completed all preparations, we departed for the Dorane star system with its red giant.

–

A point of light crosses the space deeper than the deep sea.

The light was a medium-sized mining vessel produced by Megacorp.

The elongated oval hull had a large capture crane attached to its rear. The crane was firmly securing an asteroid chunk as large as the ship itself.

While House Saintkay is the core of mineral procurement in Megacorp, that doesn’t mean there are no civilian mining vessels. Recently, for unknown reasons, House Saintkay suspended Gigacracker operations, greatly increasing demand for civilian mining vessels.

Jin Chen, the owner of this mining vessel and a Middle Capital from Mars, was one of those who had jumped into the mining boom that had swept in recently.

Currently, he was tapping on a small pad in the old captain’s room on the ship.

“Let’s see. Comparing with Earth’s public price, how much is this? One zero, two…”

After calculating the price of the extracted minerals, he widened his eyes at the amount displayed on the pad.

“E-eight, nine? Ha, hahahahaha, hehehehehehe! I’m rich! Rich!”

Being a Middle Capital means a relatively high class in Megacorp, but that depends on the planet. Jin Chen, who had spent his life on Mars cleaning up after Prime Capitals, always dreamed of a better life.

And recently, an opportunity came his way. When the civil war ended and a recession hit Megacorp, a colleague revealed a secret: mineral prices were unusually high, so he should buy a mining vessel in advance.

As if possessed that day, Jin Chen rushed to the ship market as soon as work ended. He bought a used mining vessel using all his saved credits and even going into debt.

“What? You say I’m crazy? Well, who’s really crazy now?”

Prophets are inherently lonely. Everyone said he was crazy, but look at the number on the pad. It showed an amount several times more than what he had earned in his lifetime. If he made this route two more times, his debt would be completely cleared.

“With this as initial capital, I’ll reinvest the rest and… hehe.”

While grinning happily at his dreams, a light appeared at the top of the pad.

“What’s this?”

It was a communication from the situation room. Jin Chen pressed the light on the pad with his finger.

“Captain, there’s a ship in the same star system.”

“A ship? Whose is it?”

“I don’t know. You should come see.”

The mention of an unknown ship startled him.

In the vast ocean of space, nothing is more frightening than an unidentified vessel.

He acknowledged and hurried to the situation room.

Upon arrival, the atmosphere was quite chaotic. The crew members who had been tapping on computers gave awkward salutes as he entered.

He asked the middle-aged, balding navigation team leader:

“Navigation leader, where is the ship?”

“It’s quite far from here and not moving.”

“Are you sure it’s a ship?”

“Well, judging by the radio signals detected, it seems to be a ship.”

“Or could it be mining another planet?”

“There aren’t really any planets worth mining nearby…”

Seeing the navigation leader speak hesitantly with a timid attitude, Jin Chen sighed softly.

Having spent all his credits buying the mining vessel, he had no choice but to hire crew members cheaply. Most of the crew had less than a year of shipboard experience, or like Jin Chen, had jumped in hoping to make a fortune.

The navigation leader was hired for his experience, but there was a reason his employment cost was low.

“Keep watching and if it comes closer, tell—”

“Um, Captain? It’s moving.”

“What?”

As a crew member manipulated the computer, a holographic star system map appeared in the center of the situation room. Jin Chen’s mining vessel was at the center of the hologram, and at a distance, a small triangular marker was blinking.

That marker was moving closer to the central mining vessel.

Seeing this, Jin Chen felt his blood run cold.

Pirates who had been lying in wait for prey had spotted their target and revealed themselves.