Ch.390Offensive (2)

The black clouds surrounding us flash repeatedly due to the light.

Plasma heat rays fired by the enemy fleet are penetrating the “Dark Veil.”

They haven’t hit properly yet, but I can’t afford to be complacent. The enemies are rankers who have fought me dozens of times in the past. They surely know how to break through the Dark Veil.

Before the enemies could breach the veil, I pulled out a powerful card first. The trait “Symbol of the Hunt” that dramatically increases combat power.

My vision darkens. Hard carapace covers my eyes and auxiliary organs beneath my jaw. As the carapace covering the auxiliary organs completes into a blade form, my detection range explosively expands.

Warships charging plasma far away, large and small aircraft approaching the Dark Veil, the movements of PS-111 and Isabelle on my back – the enhanced auxiliary organs capture every detail.

I could even vividly feel the process of my wounds healing. Focusing my senses, the changes in my body state were quickly transmitted to my brain through the auxiliary organs.

A body grown to easily exceed 100m in length, a mouth with pharyngeal jaws, bone scythe arms protruding near the waist – these changes were familiar as I’d experienced them several times before.

‘Good.’

After completing my mutation, I swept my body once with my bifurcated tail. The projectiles fired at me by Outspacers with bio-cannons fell right off.

“Physical enhancement, confirmed. Combat power, expected increase. However, increased volume, vulnerable to gunfire.”

“Don’t worry, sister. This one, specializes in, dodging.”

While Isabelle and PS-111 were talking about the Symbol of the Hunt, a sudden change occurred in the Dark Veil.

‘What’s this?’

An invisible force was compressing the black fog, pushing it into one place. As if trying to condense the Dark Veil into a smaller size.

The screamers made from Jason as material are using psychic power to reduce the veil’s range.

‘As expected.’

Areas affected by the veil appear as unobservable zones on detection systems, as if erased with an eraser. This means they can attack me with indiscriminate bombardment of the unobservable zone without special targeting.

As the veil’s size decreased, an intense energy reaction approached my head at very high speed. I slightly twisted my central head sideways to avoid the heat ray.

The accuracy has definitely improved. It’s time to pull out the next card.

[Zz zzzzzzz zzzzzz z(I’m about to move. Do as we discussed)]

After sending wavelengths to the kids by moving the monster’s tentacles, I used my next trait.

–

“Akira sir. Star Union’s screamers have successfully targeted the objective.”

Akira, seated on the throne prepared on the bridge, kept his gaze on the map implemented as a hologram. Among the normally rendered hologram, only one point appeared as if there was an error, showing nothing.

House Yugin’s flagship “Heavenly Sword” is equipped with a cutting-edge detection system. Unless it’s a special case like a black hole, nothing can escape the Heavenly Sword’s sight.

That’s why everyone was confused by that abnormally formed black fog. Everyone except Akira.

“I’ve struggled so much because of that ability of his.”

“Is that so?”

The newly appointed Code Black tilted her head at Akira’s words.

That being called the “Three-Headed Demon” by the Cult is unknown in all aspects except its name. Her superior was speaking as if he knew well about this creature that wasn’t even in the Megacorp database.

But Akira had no intention of resolving her doubts.

“Thanks to it, we were able to prepare our strategy, so I’m grateful.”

Besides screamers, he had prepared various means to neutralize the Dark Veil. To win regardless of what cards the creature might play.

After watching the hologram for a moment, he slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

“What about the shadows?”

“All are prepared to sortie immediately.”

“And the controlled Outspacers?”

“Lower entities are maintaining defensive formation, higher entity ‘Queen’s Guard’ has completed recovery. The special entity is deploying the warp barrier.”

Currently, a large army of Outspacers is moving together with the Megacorp fleet.

Before coming here, Akira announced that House Yugin had successfully controlled Outspacers with a secret technology they had prepared. So the fleet’s crew believes these are Outspacer troops secretly raised by House Yugin.

Of course, the truth is that they are forces supported by the 4th ranker Empress, but in this place, only Akira knows that fact.

“Akira sir. The target is moving.”

At that moment, a change occurred in the hologram map. Enemy markers began moving from the area marked as blank due to the Dark Veil.

“Then we shall move as well.”

“Do so.”

Code Black bowed her head respectfully and left the bridge. To command the other shadows waiting on the ship to hunt the enemy.

After she left, the vice captain took command.

“The enemy can spread fine particles that neutralize advanced equipment. Scout ships and carrier aircraft should focus on containment and luring, while battleships maintain long-range firing formation!”

Akira watched the hologram map with his hand on his chin.

The newly produced shadows are upgraded in many ways compared to their predecessors. They’ve been equipped with much more powerful gear. An astronomical amount of credits was spent to prepare this.

‘Of course, this alone won’t be enough.’

The current shadows could inflict considerable damage on AMorph, but killing it would be impossible.

But that doesn’t matter. He has already completed preparations for that part as well.

The shadows’ defeat will lead it into a fatal trap.

‘Well then, let’s see you struggle as much as… hm?’

Everything was proceeding according to plan. Just as he was about to smile, new markers appeared on the hologram.

“Multiple enemies confirmed!”

There were five red markers indicating enemies on the map, not just one.

‘Are those its pets?’

Thanks to the catastrophe that occurred on the Cult Empire’s Beryan02, he already knew that it wasn’t alone.

He had heard it keeps unusual-looking sea demons, a small deformed Gallergorn, and the Volf ranker that Jason had tried to hunt but failed to capture as slaves.

‘Were they hiding?’

Considering AMorph’s size, hiding pets would be very easy. The problem is why there are five enemies marked on the map.

Sea demons that inhabit the deep sea cannot space travel. Unless they’re riding on AMorph, they cannot move alone in this space.

So normally, only three should be marked: Gallergorn, Volf ranker, and AMorph.

Shortly after, video information recorded by carrier aircraft and scout ships synchronized with the flagship’s hologram. The image of enemies gliding through the zero-gravity world appeared in the center of the hologram.

“Enemy entities conf… Ah! A total of three identical entities confirmed!”

And there were a total of three AMorphs there.

‘…It divided?’

Three adult AMorphs, each with only one head, were charging toward the fleets of the three races.

–

‘They seem confused indeed.’

The enemies who had been concentrating their firepower on me are in disarray. It’s because their target suddenly split into three.

‘They probably didn’t know about Hydra Division.’

“Hydra Division,” which I obtained by devouring Alshas, has never been exposed to enemies before. Even rankers wouldn’t have properly prepared for replication abilities.

So I need to eliminate the targets while they’re confused. I accelerated toward the enemy’s main force.

Scout ships and carrier aircraft that had been keeping me in check at close range clung to me to block my way. Some of them launched objects much smaller than carrier aircraft.

‘Combat drones, I see.’

Combat drones aren’t a great offensive means against biological enemies like me, though they might be effective against ships.

Yet the fact that the enemies deployed them means they’re well-prepared. They’ll probably use gravity field generators to bind my movements or they’ve loaded “Blood River.”

“1 o’clock, 7 o’clock direction, three Rivers, be careful.”

Isabelle warned me while activating “All-Seeing Eye.”

I opened my mouth wide toward the direction she mentioned. The acidic fungal gland located inside my throat immediately activated. The highly acidic fungal liquid stored inside sprayed out, traversing space.

Seeing the acidic fungal spray flying like a heat ray, the enemies tried to scatter. However, some of them seemed unable to move properly, as if blocked by something. This was because invisible radio waves were causing malfunctions in the propulsion systems of drones and ships.

And those radio waves were flowing from the back of the “left head” behind me.

The time I can disable enemies with ‘radio interference’ is short, but it’s enough. Enough time for my acidic breath and for Adhigh Orr hiding behind the “left head” to attack.

The drones touched by the acidic breath instantly melted away. Some of them must have had bombs inside, as they caused large explosions. Other enemies struggled not to get caught in the drone explosions.

A red star rushed toward the side of the enemy distracted by evasion.

The dragon queen in a red dress dances among carrier aircraft and scout ships. She rams into carrier aircraft with her body to shoot them down, and clears small drones with psychic breath. The enemies were helpless against her movements that showed no waste.

The scout ships tried to retreat while firing suppressive shots at Adhigh Orr. However, that wasn’t a wise method.

“Grrrrrr”

The left head charged at the scout ships.

The replicas created by Hydra Division may have limited trait usage, but their physical abilities are by no means inferior.

The left head, which approached while enduring the shower of plasma bullets, began to devastate the enemies.

It used all parts of its body – the horns on its head, combat arms, tail, even its two legs – to shatter the ships into pieces. Wounds sustained in battle and depleted energy were replenished by eating enemy ships.

“Left adult” “other enemy” “will catch”

“Grrrr”

Just as Adhigh Orr spoke, an enormous amount of plasma heat rays flew in. The enemy’s main force had abandoned their allies here and fired a full barrage.

Of course, with my senses enhanced by the Symbol of the Hunt, I had already predicted the enemies’ movements. The left head, having received my thoughts, performed evasive maneuvers with Adhigh Orr, leading the battleships’ attacks.

Amid the plasma heat rays fired from the battleships’ main guns showering down like arrows, screamers and Outspacers blocked our way.

“Psychic, power, gravity, control, be careful.”

The screamers attacked first. Screamers made using Cult rankers as material released powerful psychic power.

I feel weight in the empty space. Judging by the increased pressure compared to before, they seem to have raised their output to match my body enhanced by the Symbol of the Hunt.

‘But we also have a psychic power expert on our side.’

Behind me is a mighty psychic power user that no Cult can surpass. No. 26, who had been following in a reduced body size, inflated his body to enter combat.

The psychic power flowing through his body spreads in all directions. Its quantity and concentration surpassed the output of dozens of screamers. The psychic power rushing toward me shattered silently.

Not stopping there, some of the screamers pressuring me had their heads completely burst. This was due to the shock they received when their techniques were forcibly broken by No. 26.

The remaining screamers concentrated their psychic power to create weapons. Various offensive psychic techniques including Pain Spear were implemented in the void.

Seeing this, No. 26 emitted wavelengths filled with irritation and anger.

“Get away!”

A massive wave of psychic power erupted along with the wavelength, sweeping the front.

‘Fighting well.’

Leaving the screamers to No. 26, I tried to advance, but this time Outspacers flew in.

A 40m-sized Outspacer with its severed arm restored to normal, and flying monsters trying to support it with bio-cannons are visible.

‘Sorry, but I’m not your opponent.’

While I and the left head were drawing attention, the “right head” that had bypassed and Sky Mother ambushed the flying monster group. The right head grabbed the Outspacers with its combat arms and legs, then tore at the enemies with its sharp teeth.

Seeing this, the large Outspacer changed direction to save its kind.

“K, Crystal Wing. Hellside, Hornet. Py,romancer. Genes. Be careful.”

[Zzzzz(Heard that?)]

As the large Outspacer approached the right head, Sky Mother, who had been clinging to the body behind the horn, revealed herself.

Pale blue flames formed in the eyes of the woman who had taken a therianthrope form. The Wendigo’s unique ability, “Ice Wraith,” which drives opponents mad and forces one-on-one confrontation, had activated.

“I heard you clearly, so don’t worry. I’ll take care of this one.”

The large Outspacer, possessed by the wraith, charged at the griffon wolf with a silent roar. Sky Mother, mounted on AMorph’s head, faced the enemy with the Golden Spear of Shaman drawn.

Now there are no more interruptions. I flew toward where the main force of the fleet was gathered.

The barrage from the Megacorp and Star Union fleets continued without pause, but I didn’t stop. Sometimes dodging, sometimes enduring with my body.

When I had gotten fairly close to the enemy’s main force, Isabelle suddenly warned me.

“Head, danger!”

‘Huh?’

I quickly turned my head sideways. An object that looked like a grenade dissolved and disappeared just before it touched my head.

Isabelle had shot it with a pistol imbued with the power of Voltex One.

“Jamming grenade. Careful.”

The enemy who fired the bullet at me disappeared between Megacorp battleships. Judging by its movement and size, it’s a human in powered armor.

‘Egerton’s Silver Lion Knights, or…’

“Yugin. Genetic, modified human.”

The identity of the one who attacked me is a shadow I fought before.

House Yugin’s elite assassins have come here to hunt me.