Ch.3Survive (3)

Day 4 as an AMorph, and there have been many changes.

First, my nest is complete.

Above the mineral-composed corridor, a fruit of impure life has formed. The mucus I secreted has hardened into solid matter, with some parts clumping together to form spores. Mucus periodically flows from the holes in these spores. Even without my intervention, the nest is slowly expanding its territory.

‘Now I can monitor the entire ship.’

Events occurring throughout the 200-meter diameter oval research vessel are transmitted to me in real-time. While I can’t monitor creatures as small as cockroaches, I can at least perceive most human activities.

And second.

While traveling between the cargo hold and my nest, hunting cockroaches and spiders, I acquired another new trait.

「Species: Unidentified Agressive Space Morph

Status: Hatchling

Objective: Survive.

Traits: Hypersensitivity, Wings, Chitinous Exoskeleton, Robust Vitality, Paralyzing Stinger」

‘Paralyzing Stinger’ was a trait obtained from spiders. This ability becomes useless in later stages when facing monsters composed of energy or inorganic materials, but it’s quite useful in the early phase.

‘It’s perfect for me, who must hunt stronger beings with a weak body.’

Concentrating my consciousness on my tail as if tensing my buttocks, a drop of yellow liquid fell from the stinger at the tip. With this, I can easily subdue an adult. Though it only lasts about 5 minutes, that’s enough time to kill someone.

After giving thanks to the spider for providing not only daily sustenance but also this precious gift, I contemplated my path forward.

Now that I’ve nearly met the conditions for hunting humans, it’s time to find a target.

Currently, there are 222 crew members aboard the research vessel. Of these, 96 are soldiers and officers responsible for ship defense, and 21 are high-ranking personnel in the command division. The rest are civilians like researchers, mechanics, and cooks.

‘The question is who to target.’

Initially, I considered targeting the captain to disrupt command. However, upon further reflection, this didn’t seem ideal. There were deputies who could replace the captain, making it difficult to cause significant damage.

‘Someone weak but irreplaceable on the ship.’

Two individuals satisfied both conditions.

‘The Medical Team Leader and the Research Team Leader.’

Of these, my priority target is the Research Team Leader.

The reason the Research Team Leader made my hit list instead of the Medical Team Leader, who is responsible for the crew’s lives, was simple.

‘Because she poses a threat to my survival.’

This was the conclusion I reached after spying on the laboratory for several days.

The Research Team Leader’s name is “Kisaragi Yujin.” She is the only person who could immediately create a tracking device if I committed murder.

Two days ago, when an experimental subject escaped, she created a tracking device within two hours and successfully captured it.

‘I almost got caught because of that thing.’

If it had used the ventilation ducts, I would have been in danger too, but thanks to it fleeing elsewhere, I was able to safely avoid the crisis.

After the experimental subject escape incident, Kisaragi Yujin rose to the top of my mental danger ranking.

‘And for a human, she has unusually good intuition.’

Once, she looked up at the ventilation duct where I was hiding, and I nearly got caught.

Although I moved to different locations to monitor her afterward, I had to frequently change positions because she seemed to sense my presence and look in my direction.

‘Does she have psychic power talent?’

Psychic Power. A concept similar to commonly known supernatural abilities like telekinesis, telepathy, and mind control.

With Psychic Power, one could do everything from simple telekinesis to magical feats like warping light to make a ship stealthy.

‘When I played the game, I hunted Cult extensively because of Psychic Power.’

The Cult were my primary targets for acquiring Psychic Power, as their species inherently possessed this ability from birth.

However, rarely, some humans are born with the potential for Psychic Power. Perhaps Kisaragi Yujin also possesses a slight psychic talent.

Anyway, from a hunter’s perspective, intelligent and sensitive prey is challenging.

Even if she doesn’t know my identity, if she discovers my traces, she’ll surely create some kind of tracking device.

‘If I’m using hit-and-run tactics, I need to avoid being tracked as much as possible.’

When an AMorph evolves into a Morphlet, it becomes incomparably stronger than a Hatchling. However, it’s not strong enough to engage in direct combat with the ship’s soldiers.

Until I secure enough genetic essence, I must rely on thorough guerrilla warfare.

Therefore, Kisaragi Yujin is someone I must eliminate, even if not for my evolution.

‘So how should I hunt her?’

I scratched my head with my forelegs while lying in my nest, pondering.

The Research Team Leader is a female civilian. In a one-on-one situation, killing her wouldn’t be difficult.

However, there’s one complication.

‘Bodyguards.’

Wherever she goes, soldiers assigned to protect her follow. Even at night when she sleeps in her room, security personnel take turns guarding her.

Though she herself is weak, the numerous people protecting her make targeting Kisaragi Yujin challenging.

‘Just thinking about it won’t yield an answer.’

I’ll have to continue monitoring and look for an opening.

Using my small body to think intensely made me hungry. I left my comfortable nest and headed toward the dreary cargo hold.

From the ventilation duct in the corridor in front of the cargo hold door, I checked if anyone was around. Seeing no one, I opened the grate and jumped down.

Landing softly on the floor, I climbed onto the terminal next to the door.

‘I can’t keep avoiding the ventilation fan blades every time.’

I’m not a cat, so I don’t have nine lives. Risking my life every time I need to eat is certainly not desirable.

And unlike other major facilities, the cargo hold didn’t have a system monitoring entrants.

I checked with my enhanced senses from the nest and found that apart from the manager, no one entered. The manager visited once a day for regular inspection, so I could enter and exit without being caught if I avoided that time.

‘Open sesame.’

After entering the number on the terminal, the solid iron door opened wide with a hissing sound. Entering the dark cargo hold, I headed for the plastic box I always visited.

The cargo hold residents stirred at the sudden intrusion of a predator. The musty smell of corroding metal, pheromones released by small insects warning of a predator’s presence, and the sound of sixteen small, sharp claws walking on a mesh-patterned alloy plate all mixed together.

Enjoying the stimuli from the hidden world that only an AMorph could detect, I climbed onto the box. Opening it as usual, I took out two calorie bars.

I devoured one on the spot and just unwrapped the other, holding it with my forelegs.

‘Let’s go then.’

Carefully placing the remaining wrapper in the box, I left the cargo hold. Returning to the corridor the same way I came, I headed toward the laboratory.

Upon arriving at the laboratory, I immediately went to experimental container No. 26.

The drooping Bubble Amoeba greeted me with wavelengths when it saw me. It not only greeted me but also flashed its body to express joy, which made me feel good too.

‘I brought food again today.’

「Food.」

It trembled and glowed even more strongly than before. I inwardly smirked and prepared to feed it.

After monitoring Kisaragi Yujin for two days and frequently visiting the laboratory, I discovered one thing.

The laboratory was conducting experiments to artificially awaken unknown potential traits in the Bubble Amoeba. I don’t know what abilities this harmless mascot might have, but the researchers seemed quite confident.

‘It didn’t have any special abilities in the game. Is this one different, or has the species changed?’

For some reason, experimental subject No. 26 was receiving special treatment. Therefore, I also judged it necessary to build a positive relationship with it.

Even if not immediately useful, it might help when I eventually conquer the ship.

‘Well, it’s partly a hobby.’

I went to the feeding tube connected to experimental container No. 26 and opened the lid. Inside was a nutrient solution that provided only the minimum sustenance for survival.

Since putting the whole bar in would clearly clog it, I cut it into small pieces with my forelegs and dropped them into the tube. The pieces passed through the tube connecting the two containers and were delivered to it. The Bubble Amoeba enveloped the calorie bar pieces with its entire body. I watched it and repeated the same process once it seemed to have digested them.

After consuming the entire calorie bar, it slowly pulsed its light, indicating it was full.

‘Seems like it enjoyed it.’

I didn’t realize while playing the game why people sought Bubble Amoebas, but now I understand. Watching it emit light in rhythm underwater makes me want to stare at it mindlessly.

‘Humans?’

Just then, someone entered my awareness range. Researchers were about to enter the laboratory.

I quickly climbed into the ventilation duct and hid.

Shortly after, they entered the research lab.