Ch.379Mid-Term Check (2)

During the three days waiting for Sechan, I did various things.

Besides treating the Mountain Crawler, I built my nests all over the planet. This was to prepare for the possibility of other enemies infiltrating.

In the process, I preyed on several more creatures. Thanks to that, I was able to acquire another useful trait after “Destroyer Carapace.”

「Destroyer Carapace: Creates skin made of biometal material to protect the body. The carapace and body grow each time refined metal is digested.」

「Heat Spike Backplate: Spikes that generate high heat grow on the back. These spikes can be fired at specific targets.」

Both are general physical traits that significantly transform the body. So my current appearance is quite different from when I first arrived on the planet.

With the Destroyer Carapace applied, various body parts like arms, legs, and torso have generally thickened. And red patterns that look like flowing lava have appeared all over my body. Thanks to the carapace that resembles a burning furnace, I had a similar feel to the Magmasaur, the previous owner of this trait.

‘This was a trait I liked in the game too.’

Destroyer Carapace is a trait that must be acquired eventually, even without the Transcendence system. It’s because its effect is so good that it could be considered top-tier among general traits.

‘The more you fight, the stronger you get.’

As written in the tooltip, the effect of Destroyer Carapace is simple.

Every time you eat and digest artificially created alloys, like ships or buildings, your body continues to grow.

Since the growth effect applies as soon as digestion occurs, the body grows slightly each time you swallow an enemy ship during battle.

The growth rate is about 0.1cm when eating an entire large battleship. This might seem small, but by the time you acquire this trait, you’re usually fighting hundreds or thousands of ships. So after each battle, your body visibly grows larger.

As the body grows, the carapace thickness increases, improving survivability. Enhanced melee combat ability is just a bonus.

Moreover, theoretically, there’s no limit to how much you can grow with Destroyer Carapace. Unless you acquire traits like “Miniaturization” that limit physical growth itself, you can grow infinitely.

‘Actually, this aspect is both an advantage and disadvantage.’

Although this trait is powerful, it’s not without weaknesses.

If you mindlessly devour alloy chunks, your size will grow uncontrollably.

When your body becomes excessively large, your hit area increases accordingly, so it’s not entirely beneficial. There are many terrifying weapons in the world of Space Survival.

Therefore, from the point of acquiring this trait, you need to calculate how much alloy to consume. Or deliberately acquire traits like Miniaturization to forcibly reduce your body size.

‘Well, since I’ve experienced trial and error in the game, I should be careful about this part.’

Next to examine is “Heat Spike Backplate.” This is a trait I acquired from hunting the Elemental Hozer.

Currently, my back has a row of spikes with complex structures. These spikes are parts created by mimicking the Elemental Hozer’s defense mechanism.

Of course, they’re not exactly the same as the original, and there are several differences.

The AMorph’s spikes have a simpler structure than the Elemental Hozer’s. The original spikes had the power to freely control temperature. In contrast, the AMorph’s spikes only have the function of emitting high heat using internal heating elements.

‘It doesn’t have temperature control ability, but it has one good thing instead.’

Unlike the original, the AMorph can fire these spikes. The spikes themselves are large and sharp, and since they contain high heat, they have tremendous killing power. Humans melt immediately upon impact, and even ships get perforated when hit.

‘This is perfect since I needed an attack method with appropriate destructive power.’

Psychic Breath or “Black Devourer Cannon” are too powerful, so their usable situations are limited. Heat Spike Backplate doesn’t have such burden, so it can be used anytime.

That’s all the useful traits I’ve newly secured.

Actually, I acquired one more trait that isn’t very useful, but that part should be viewed together with the newly updated Transcendence system.

「’Transcendence’ Material List: Inorganic Digestion, Reaper’s Maw, Bone Beast, Infernal Phantom, Ultra Control (Not Acquired)」

「’Transcendence’ Material List: Demon Machine, Tyrantroid, Destroyer Carapace, Ether Core (Not Acquired), Hiveformer (Not Acquired)」

「’Transcendence’ Material List (NEW!): Miniaturization (Not Acquired), Hunger, Sensory Atrophy (Not Acquired), Slow Life (Not Acquired), Seclusion Orientation (Not Acquired)」

If there’s one thing that has changed the most since coming to this planet, it’s not my body but the unique trait synthesis formulas. Not only have the previously unlocked formulas been updated, but I’ve also secured a new synthesis formula.

‘Let’s first look at the synthesis formula that requires Apex traits.’

As expected, Destroyer Carapace was the key, as all the remaining materials to be used in the synthesis have been revealed. The two newly identified materials were also traits that must be obtained from Apex creatures.

‘Moreover….’

These materials for this synthesis formula have one more thing in common besides their acquisition source.

They are traits that transform my entire body.

Demon Machine that modifies the body to use Voltex One’s abilities, Tyrantroid that grows larger with each injury, Destroyer Carapace that grows when eating refined alloys.

“Ether Core” and “Hiveformer” are also traits that change the components and form of the entire body.

All the unique traits I’ve created with the Transcendence system so far have been influenced by the nature of the materials. I think the result of this synthesis formula will also be a trait that has a semi-permanent effect on my physical body.

‘It might be similar to a complete organism type.’

It’s a trait made using Apex traits as materials. Perhaps it will be the most powerful trait among all my weapons.

‘I’ll know for sure once I see the result.’

Next to examine is the synthesis formula newly unlocked on Askha44.

Unlocking this formula was purely coincidental.

Among the creatures I hunted while waiting for Sechan was a Pyromancer.

Unfortunately, I didn’t acquire the trait of wrapping heat around arms, and instead got “Hunger.” It’s a trait that increases the maximum limit of energy that can be stored, but in return, the stored energy in the body continuously decreases.

The reason I acquired a trait close to a trap card is very simple. It was to prepare for potential attacks from the Returnist faction rankers.

Currently, the most destructive trait I have is “Black Devourer Cannon.”

The effect of this trait is to consume 50% of the storable energy in the body to fire a super-powerful shell. Then, when the storage capacity for energy is increased, the power would be much stronger.

As for the risk, it can be offset by the dragon’s heart. It would be difficult to spam Psychic Breath or use hyperspeed navigation recklessly like before, though.

The original plan was to use Hunger in conjunction with Black Devourer Cannon. I never imagined that information about a new synthesis formula would be unlocked.

Moreover, the materials required for this newly opened synthesis formula were very unique.

‘It’s demanding traits notorious for being garbage as materials.’

Miniaturization, Hunger, and the other three materials are all traits with defects. Hunger is relatively the best among them. You need to collect five traits that would cause significant survival problems even if you acquired just one.

‘I need to use a different strategy than the usual method.’

If I were to prey on each trait and apply them to my body like when making other unique traits, it would be disastrous. I need to use a method that allows me to use them as materials for unique traits without receiving their effects.

‘I need to synthesize them after collecting them in an incomplete trait state.’

“Demon Machine,” which I obtained from capturing the half-summoned “Ring of Agony,” can be used as a synthesis material even in an incomplete trait state.

The same applies to this synthesis formula. I just need to collect all the bad traits in an incomplete state and synthesize them.

‘To do that, I need to focus on collecting genetic samples.’

There are mainly two places where genetic samples are abundantly gathered.

The Outspacer’s nest and the Megacorp’s research facility.

I was able to obtain useful information about both places while interrogating Sechan.

While holed up on this planet, Salman commissioned various tasks to Sechan. One of them was to regularly recruit personnel and spaceships.

He thought Salman was requesting this to secure transport ships for interstellar trade.

But there are no large-scale mining facilities or factories on this planet. There are no signs of terraforming either.

‘What he was doing wasn’t trade.’

Salman’s ability is to control wild animals. He must have used that ability to transfer rare creatures from Askha44 to his colleague, the 4th ranker. That’s why he needed large ships and numerous crew members.

And the pirate Sechan used his Megacorp connections to supply Salman with employees and ships.

As the long-term deal continued, Sechan also learned where the ships he procured were going. He vaguely realized that it wasn’t for trade.

Of course, he didn’t know that it was the Outspacer’s nest.

Anyway, it’s certain that the ships Salman sent are important places for the 4th ranker.

So what should I do here?

‘Going to the Outspacer’s nest at this point is dangerous.’

After Salman died, his colleagues didn’t come here.

Because I destroyed the base so quickly that they missed the chance to contact? That could be.

‘But what if that’s not the case?’

The enemies might have deliberately not come here.

Let’s say I killed and ate Salman like I did with others.

The 4th ranker, a colleague in the same faction, would have realized that information known to Salman had been leaked when contact was lost. Clues about the 4th ranker’s abilities, or the location of the planet where rare creatures are delivered, and so on.

Then what action could he take from there?

‘Instead of attacking Askha44, he would try to lure me into his territory.’

His weakness has been exposed because of Salman. He intends to use that to his advantage by making me walk into his trap voluntarily.

‘By now, all areas under his control would be perfectly fortified.’

In the game, I fought a lot with the 4th ranker too. Just as I can read his thoughts, he can do the same. He must have prepared for all means and methods by which AMorph could infiltrate.

‘There’s no need to crawl into the enemy’s trap.’

Fighting the 4th ranker requires a lot of preparation. I want to secure at least two more unique traits before fighting him.

Therefore, what I’m aiming for here is the latter.

‘The Megacorp colony’s research facility.’

Sechan didn’t just deal with Salman. Among his clients was a research facility responsible for improving human resources in the colony.

If it were a research facility located in the solar system, it wouldn’t be easy to infiltrate, but a research facility attached to a colony is different. It’s not difficult to break through even by myself.

‘Let’s first solve the synthesis formula that uses incomplete traits as materials.’

Although the required materials are non-mainstream traits, they are relatively easy to obtain. I can complete them quickly by raiding the colony research facility.

Then I plan to create a unique trait using Apex traits as materials. This is because Ether Core and Hiveformer are not easy to acquire.

As I was checking the changes in the text box and my plans, an hour had already passed.

PS-111, who had collected important data stored in the ship, and No. 26, carrying a kit the size of a handbag, came out.

“I’ve collected all the data that seems useful.”

「Me too!」

[Zz Zzzz (Both of you did well)]

“Would you like to check it right now?”

[Zz (Yes)]

For the next few hours, I discussed the data that PS-111 had compiled.

As a result, I decided where to go after leaving this planet.