Ch.394Variable (2)

The Metallic Gremlin isn’t very large. The biggest specimens reach about 80cm, so most are roughly the size of a child.

But one should never underestimate them because of their small size.

These small demons with metallic skin are the natural enemies of ships. Their nickname, “Space Plunderers,” is no empty title.

These terrifying beings that drift through the sea called space advance forward.

Metallic Gremlins can detect energy emitted by ships through tiny protrusions inside their mouths. These protrusions are so effective that they can easily locate even small spacecraft from great distances. They certainly won’t miss the fleet bombarding us.

The warships, appearing like distant stars, begin to move. They’re changing formation to counter the Metallic Gremlins.

And some battleships start firing from extreme range.

Just before the heat rays reach the silver cloud, the creatures vanish like smoke.

Then, Metallic Gremlins wrapped in blue light emerge near the enemy fleet. It’s a large-scale teleportation executed by the Warp Boys. Having instantly closed the distance, they immediately engage in close combat with the ships that were changing positions.

[Zzzzz zzzzzzz (Let’s move too)]

I follow along with the kids, approaching the enemy fleet.

Unlike before, there’s no suppressing fire coming our way. They’re too busy dealing with the plunderers that suddenly appeared and ambushed them.

The ravenous silver monsters attach themselves to any nearby ships. The auxiliary guns on each vessel move constantly, trying to shake them off. Heat rays and energy shells fired from the guns create a chaotic pattern across the black void.

One of them turns its main gun to target me. Just before the heat ray fires, the hull shakes violently. My clone born from “Hydra Division,” the “Right Head,” had rammed into it.

The collision makes the ship stagger, and the heat ray from its main gun hits another battleship behind me. Though the battleship sustains a large hole in its hull from the heat ray, it doesn’t sink.

But I don’t need to finish it off myself. The hungry pack of predators nearby will take care of the rest.

Just then, five destroyers in front explode almost simultaneously. From the silently spreading flames, a red star and a black storm emerge, charging toward another ship.

It was Adhigh Orr wearing “Red Armor” and Sky Mother transformed into a Griffon. The two fastest and most agile members of our group were toying with the enemy in aerial combat. They had literally become living torpedoes, piercing through ship after ship.

Ships that weren’t completely destroyed due to their large size were finished off by my clone “Left Head” and the Metallic Gremlins.

The Left Head clung to ships, using its sharp teeth and claws to tear off guns and thrusters. A ship without means of attack or movement is nothing more than bulky scrap metal. The well-prepared prey went into the stomachs of the silver demons following behind.

No. 26 was also actively using her unique abilities to launch offensives, just like the others. She twisted the trajectories of incoming torpedoes with her psychic power and crushed the battleships’ guns.

While everyone fought hard, I was busy searching for the command ship or one that might have an enemy ranker on board.

‘A war of attrition will never end.’

This kind of chaos won’t last long. Once the enemy adapts, we’ll be at a disadvantage.

Before that happens, we need to inflict maximum damage to disrupt the enemy lines. Either by killing a ranker or neutralizing their command.

[Zzzzz zz zzzz (Found anything?)]

“Ranker, not, visible. Need, to find, special, ship.”

“Searching, for command ship. Not, in vicinity.”

Isabelle’s perk “All-Seeing Eye” can only read information about creatures or objects she has directly seen. She cannot identify those aboard ships.

That’s why she’s looking for ships with characteristics different from ordinary ones. PS-111 was also helping Isabelle, checking if there were any unusually modified ships.

‘I need a target to use Void Dice.’

The duration of “Void Dice” is 3 minutes. That’s quite short. So I need to use it when I’m certain it will be most effective.

As I continued examining numerous ships, I noticed a change in their movements.

Ships with Metallic Gremlins attached broke formation and distanced themselves from the fleet. Once they were far enough away, other battleships attacked them. Ships hit by three or four heat rays exploded immediately.

Then other ships did the same. They ordered ships with Metallic Gremlins attached to move away from the fleet, then left the disposal to other ships.

‘They’re doing the same thing they do in the game.’

It’s very difficult to remove Metallic Gremlins once they’ve attached to a ship. That’s why fleet-operating players often sacrifice a few ships to eliminate the threat.

‘But that kind of approach would cause significant backlash here.’

While it might work in a game, this is reality. If a ranker carelessly sacrifices subordinates’ lives, there will inevitably be consequences.

‘Besides…’

Here, Star Union and Megacorp are conducting a joint operation just to catch me. Originally, these two forces are hostile to each other. Without the rankers’ orders, they wouldn’t be cooperating like this.

When I realized this, an idea came to mind.

A method that could inflict significant damage on the enemy if executed well.

‘Let’s try an experiment.’

I approached where the enemies were gathered.

Megacorp and Star Union ships were mixed together, attacking ships with Metallic Gremlins attached. Some noticed me and fired their auxiliary guns. I continued advancing while taking hits from the energy shells.

And when I was close enough to them, I activated “Herald of Chaos.”

Thin psychic power rose from the monster tentacles on my head. Deadly smoke that distorts cognitive abilities and drives people to madness seeped into the nearby ships.

Herald of Chaos is a unique characteristic specialized in mass mental manipulation and crowd control. If I maximize its range, it can affect intelligent beings within a 500m radius.

‘It’s not particularly suitable for space combat.’

The battleships I’m fighting have an average size of several hundred meters. Even approaching closely like now, only two or three ships fall within the effect range.

But that’s fine. The crew aboard will take care of the rest.

With Herald of Chaos activated, I continued approaching the concentrated enemy position. I didn’t attack. Even when carrier-based aircraft swarmed around me annoyingly, I ignored them all.

[Zz zzzzzz zzzzzzzz (Don’t attack those fighters)]

“What?”

“AMorph, psychic, power, detected. Are you, contaminating, enemy, minds?”

“Mental, contamination?”

Isabelle, the only one among us who had never seen Herald of Chaos before, expressed her doubt.

‘This should be enough.’

It’s about time for the seeds I’ve sown to bear fruit. Rather than explaining verbally, it’s better to show directly. I stopped Herald of Chaos and retreated.

Shortly after, some enemy ships began showing strange movements. Gun turrets mounted on their hulls targeted allies instead of enemies, especially Star Union ships.

The cyborg-crewed ships were focused on attacking us, unaware of anything else—until Megacorp vessels started firing at them.

‘Success.’

Star Union ships are hit by plasma heat rays and sink one after another. As allies continue to fall, the cyborg warships also show signs of confusion.

It wasn’t just Star Union’s cyborgs who were bewildered by the sudden betrayal. Humans were equally confused.

‘Of course they would be.’

Ships and carrier aircraft that had been fighting alongside them were suddenly charging at them.

Two destroyers simultaneously ram into a battleship. The white battleship, looking as if made of marble, is engulfed in explosions.

A ship that collided with carrier aircraft sustained only external damage, nothing major. But I guarantee that while the exterior might look fine, the interior is in chaos right now.

‘They must be in disarray with people suddenly going insane.’

Those affected by Herald of Chaos are randomly given a “Madness Bomb” effect. Subjects implanted with the bomb become crazed cannibals, focused solely on devouring others.

However, hastily eliminating bomb carriers only worsens the problem. When a host dies, the Madness Bomb infects the nearest intelligent being.

‘In a confined space like a spaceship, it would spread instantly.’

It’s only a matter of time before hell breaks loose inside those battleships.

As Megacorp warships continued their erratic behavior, the enemy offensive weakened.

The same was true for Star Union ships. The black, boxy rectangular vessels were gradually distancing themselves from the white streamlined ships. Their behavior clearly showed they were wary of their allies.

As confusion among the enemies intensified, Isabelle, who was on my back, sent me a thought wave.

“Unusual, ship confirmed. 2 o’clock ahead.”

In the direction she pointed, there was a white spacecraft that looked slightly different from ordinary warships. Its elongated hull with a sharply narrowing front section resembled a giant sword.

‘I feel like I’ve seen this before.’

Despite its unusual appearance, it somehow seems familiar. I strongly felt I had seen this ship before.

“Similar, to super, weapon ion cannon, equipped.”

[Zzzzzzzz (Ion cannon?)]

Ion cannons, ranked above plasma weapons, are mainly used as the primary armament of Megacorp super weapons like the Gigacracker.

Of course, that ship is much smaller than the Gigacracker. It’s unlikely to demonstrate power comparable to a super weapon.

‘A ship equipped with an ion cannon.’

In the game, ion cannons couldn’t be mounted on regular warships for balance reasons.

[Zzzz zzzzzz (Anything else?)]

“Has device, called ‘High-speed, Response Warp, Engine.’ Makes, hyperspace, navigation faster. Many, other devices, too.”

That’s when I suddenly remembered where I’d seen that ship.

Previously, when leaving the T&C Special Trade Center, my predator sense had unexpectedly activated at the port. Unlike usual, I saw a future filled with noise.

‘That’s why I chose a different escape ship.’

The ship I avoided then looked very similar to the one over there now.

“Target, House Yugin’s flagship, ‘Heavenly Sword’ confirmed. Probability, of family head, aboard, over 80%.”

PS-111 confirmed my suspicion.

The 3rd-ranked ranker, Akira Yujin, is on that ship.

‘Good.’

Now that I’ve found my target, there’s no need to hesitate anymore. I immediately used “Void Dice.”

The moment I cast the dice, I felt a sensation like a shallow flame rising from my chest.

What started as small embers grew until it became a fire burning throughout my body. As if it wasn’t just a feeling, the silver pattern on my chest spread in all directions.

“What is this?”

“Detected, massive energy, release, from within, AMorph.”

The Screamer sisters were startled by the changes in my body.

I know what happens when this pattern covers my entire body. I’ve experienced it once before.

When the silver pattern reminiscent of the Milky Way completely engulfed my body, a strange sensation seized my consciousness.

A peculiar feeling mixing vitality, vigor, and liberation. As long as this state continues, I can freely use all my characteristics without cooldown or restrictions.

Among the many weapons stored in my body, the first two I chose were:

‘Bone Beast and Symbol of the Hunt.’

Two characteristics that normally could never coexist.

In my body, “Gigantification” and “Perfection” harmonize.