Ch.412Appetizer (5)

The house I built after a long time was quite nice.

Most of the pirates who entered the research complex were destroyed by the traps I had set. Except for those who fled, the rest became new homes for the adorable ‘Hiveformers.’

It was an anticlimactic ending for a cartel associated with a player.

‘Well, I expected this to some extent.’

Actually, it’s not incomprehensible. Who would dare imagine that everything surrounding them is a living organism?

While linked to the nest, I focused my senses on the buildings damaged during the fight against enemies.

The black liquid covering the structures moved to replace the broken parts. Soon, all traces of battle in the complex disappeared.

Those buildings were created using ‘Biogarden,’ a newly acquired general nest characteristic.

With this trait, I can create structures in the nest according to my imagination. The guard towers and research facilities visited by the pirates were all my creations.

‘In reality, only the shape changes, without any special effects.’

For instance, even if I mimic a plasma turret, it can’t actually fire plasma rounds.

Also, although they appear solid, their durability is identical to a regular nest. They break easily and are very vulnerable to fire.

To compensate for these weaknesses, other traits are needed, which I supplemented with the ‘Fortification’ characteristic.

Fortification is a fusion trait in the special defense category that makes the AMorph’s mucus condense much more firmly.

With this trait, the durability of cocoons and nests generated during growth increases significantly.

‘Using these two together makes it easy to disguise the nest as a city.’

In the game, after wiping out small towns on planets, I would decorate them like cities as I’m doing now. When observed from outside the planet, they look exactly like cities, making them good for luring enemies.

‘It would be perfect if I could change the color.’

Unfortunately, not even traits can change the color of the mucus. The nest’s color is fixed as black.

‘The climate here is terrible, so I don’t need to worry about that part.’

It rains frequently everywhere, and the ground is muddy. It’s very dark even during the day due to thick clouds. Even white buildings would appear black, making it difficult to distinguish whether something is a nest or not.

Moreover, the detail of the structures was much better than when I created them in the game. Thanks to the AMorph’s exceptional senses, I could decorate them down to the minute details to look like real buildings.

‘Even a player would find it difficult to tell whether this is a nest or not.’

How much worse for the pirates who entered without knowing anything? They fell right into the trap I set.

The traps I prepared for these visitors were mainly two: ‘Demon Tree’ and ‘Clown Thistles.’

I disconnected the link and opened my eyes. Throughout the deep underground shelter, vibrant red trees caught my eye. Under these trees with bright red branches like autumn foliage, black earthworms were busily moving around.

When you acquire the Demon Tree trait, carnivorous plants resembling haunted trees from Western horror movies are generated in the nest.

Normally, they stand like withered old trees, but they transform instantly when living creatures approach.

They stab enemies with their sharp branches extending everywhere and drink their blood. The branches contain bacteria that prevent blood from coagulating, causing victims to bleed more once stabbed.

Demon Trees become harder and their thorns sharper as they drink blood. The more enemies stabbed by the thorns, the stronger they become.

Additionally, part of the energy harvested by the trees is transferred to me through the nest. One of the Demon Tree’s components is ‘Human Sacrifice,’ and this is an inherited effect.

‘Next are the Clown Thistles.’

On the floor of the nest, colorful glowing thistles have taken root. Tiny particles emitted from these thistles float around nearby.

According to their settings, these particles cause extreme itching upon contact. The itching doesn’t stop until the affected area is torn off. They’re called Clown Thistles because they drive victims insane.

Of course, the particles are only effective when they directly contact skin, so they don’t work on enemies who don’t expose bare skin. They’re equally ineffective against enemies like androids that can’t feel itching.

But there’s nothing to worry about. The former issue can be solved with Demon Trees and Hiveformers.

Anyway, the intruders were annihilated. The remaining enemies are the leadership of the Sinoni Cartel who sent their subordinates here.

I had a Hiveformer turn on the communication device.

“How’s the preparation going?”

“It’s complete. All communication networks in the planet’s major cities are under my control.”

As soon as we arrived at AG-01, PS-111 set out alone to take control of the planet’s communication network. In the process, he seized control of satellites, putting all communication networks on this planet under his control. He can block communications within the planet and restrict communications sent outside the planet.

‘Blocking would be fortunate enough.’

Having received the ‘Disruption Needle’ from me, he can directly intervene in others’ communications. It proved useful this time as well.

The pirates thought they were receiving orders from their leadership, but that was an illusion.

All communications they received after setting foot in the nest were false orders manipulated by a third party. PS-111 acted as a subordinate to the leadership and as an executive to the field operatives, deceiving both sides.

‘I expected it to be useful, but I didn’t think he’d utilize it this skillfully.’

Even the organization members who escaped the traps and fled outside the nest were deceived by him and ran into minefields to their deaths. Meanwhile, the pirates at the port believe that the forces in the research complex are carrying out their mission without any issues.

“I didn’t know you’d be this good, impressive.”

“I was able to perform the disruption mission because I had a useful manual.”

“A useful manual?”

“Yes. I created a conversation algorithm based on the AMorph’s behavior and victim response data.”

In simple terms, he imitated me.

‘I’ve got a new disciple.’

He’s the first being since Adhigh Orr who wanted to learn my strategies.

“Please provide more data in the future as well.”

“I’ll try. Anyway, you said you’ve taken control of all communication networks?”

“Yes. I can restrict and modify communications as I wish.”

“Can you manipulate communications sent externally? Like messages or signals sent to other planets.”

“Since I’ve secured the communication satellites, it’s possible.”

Simply put, even if something happens here, nothing will leak to the outside.

“Are you planning to attack the port?”

“I won’t go personally.”

“?”

To be precise, ‘parts of me’ will go.

The heads on both sides of me began to move, reading my will.

–

“This is Josh. I’ve secured the northeast district management center.”

“Shepherd here. I’ve also captured the southwest district management center.”

Ventris smiled at the successive good news.

“What happened to the separatists?”

“They fought with the guards and mutually destroyed each other. Very few survived.”

“Hehe, everything’s going according to plan.”

The main objective of this plan was to make the planetary defense force and the separatist forces fight each other. They were obstacles to the Sinoni Cartel’s control of the planet.

“See? Didn’t I tell you?”

“……”

The executive beside him didn’t answer. He had been focusing on the hologram with an anxious face.

“Everything’s going well, so what are you dissatisfied with?”

“…It seems suspicious no matter how I look at it.”

“What exactly is suspicious?”

The executive pointed to the circular markers moving on the hologram map. There were three or four red markers indicating casualties, but most were moving around fine.

“Are you concerned about the strange positioning of our people?”

“They say the separatists are using disruption drones, but as far as I know, there are no weapons that only disrupt biosignals. And the range…”

“No, damn it. The guys confirmed it’s a new weapon received from the Star Union. What more explanation do you need?”

“But…”

Ventris frowned deeply at the executive’s persistent disbelief.

“Watching you, it seems you’re upset that not many of our people died?”

“What?”

“You’re pissed that the operation is going well when you expected it to fail, right?”

“N-no, that’s not it!”

The executive finally realized he had gone too far. He quickly bowed his head.

“Did I tell you I’m considering various aspects? Did I?”

“I-I was just concerned for the vice-boss’s safety…”

“Safety my ass. You think I’m easy because I’ve been lenient?”

Ventris glared at the executive with a cold gaze and waved his arm. An eerie metallic sound emanated from the power suit he wore.

It’s easy to forget because the Sinoni Cartel acts like an orderly military, but its essence is still a pirate group.

The same goes for Ventris. He only pretended to listen to the executive because of the important mission.

“I’m sorry—gack?!”

The executive’s words were cut short as the vice-boss punched him in the stomach.

He flew across the room and crashed into the opposite wall.

“I let you be because you seemed smart. How dare you.”

Ventris is currently wearing a high-grade power suit that has undergone all sorts of modifications. Even a light punch can turn an opponent into a bloody mess.

After smashing the annoying executive, he called the organization members on the lower floor.

“What happened?”

“Nothing. Have you completed the takeover of the anti-aircraft guns in the complex?”

“Yes. As soon as the transport ship arrives, we can move the goods anytime.”

“Good. Then right away…”

Just as he was about to say he would send a transport ship, the hologram flickered. Not only that, but the warehouse lights also blinked unstably.

And soon after, the lights went out completely.

“Damn it!”

It wasn’t just the warehouse that was plunged into darkness. The hologram device and communication equipment were all dead.

Ventris cursed roughly and put on the helmet attached to his power suit. He immediately contacted his subordinates who had gone to the research complex using the communicator on his power suit.

“The electricity in the warehouse is out. It will take some time to send the transport ship.”

“That’s, bzzt, not, bzzt, nece, bzzzzt”

“What did you say? I can’t hear you clearly.”

“Unnecessary, bzzt, unn, hahahahabzzzzzt”

“Damn it, what’s wrong with this now!”

The other person’s voice distorted eerily and then cut off. No matter how much he tapped the communicator, only loud static could be heard; it wouldn’t connect.

At that moment, subordinates from the first floor rushed up.

“Vice-boss, there’s a power outage!”

“I know that! Any of you have a communicator, give it to me.”

He took one from his subordinates and checked, but it was the same.

‘There’s a problem with communications too?’

He could understand a power outage. But the terrible state of communications was a different matter. It meant there was an error in the facility managing the network.

“What happened to the guys we sent to manage the communication network?”

“W-we can’t confirm since we can’t contact them…”

“You idiots! Then go check in person…”

Ventris’s shout was drowned out by a sudden loud noise. Simultaneously, the floor they were standing on shook violently.

“Is it an earthquake?!”

“No. This is…”

With experience hunting various dangerous creatures, Ventris instinctively knew this wasn’t a simple earthquake.

Especially that sound and vibration shaking the entire warehouse. Such phenomena occur when a massive creature moves and roars.

The spine-chilling sound soon subsided. Instead, small gunfire and screams from outside the warehouse broke the silence.

“You guys, gather everyone scattered around and bring them to the first floor.”

After giving orders to his subordinates, he gathered weapons and went down to the first floor. Pirates armed with power suits gathered around him.

“Is everyone here?”

“Yes. This is everyone in the building.”

The number of gathered members was about 50. With this many people, they could even hunt the space monster known as the ‘Green Gallergorn.’

“You guys, go open the door.”

Three subordinates who received the instruction slowly walked toward the large gate of the warehouse. Other pirates prepared their weapons to fire at any moment.

The three pirates operated the terminal attached to the wall to forcibly open the gate. While the alloy door opened with a loud metallic sound, Ventris and the pirates tensely stared outside.

The screams and roars heard earlier were not false. The state outside the warehouse was completely chaotic.

There was a large hole in the runway in front of the gate. Near the hole were bodies so mangled they were unrecognizable.

“…You three, go check it out.”

“What?”

“Don’t ‘what’ me. I’ll give you more guys, so hurry up.”

Ventris selected about 10 more pirates and ordered them to scout.

Although everyone knew it was very dangerous outside, they had no choice. The remaining personnel, including Ventris, were aiming weapons at them.

The hastily assembled reconnaissance team slowly moved forward step by step.

One step, one step forward the pirates went. Their figures grew smaller and smaller. Even when they were as small as a palm, the entity that had attacked the warehouse still hadn’t appeared.

The Sinoni organization members continued to watch the darkness without letting their guard down. Such standoffs often occur when hunting wild animals. They were accustomed to waiting to draw out hidden creatures.

However, there was something they didn’t anticipate.

The monster that attacked the warehouse wasn’t behind the black fog.

It was already close enough to them.

While everyone was staring beyond the wide-open gate, suddenly the wall on the opposite side collapsed. The pirates at the rear turned around in surprise.

As dust rose from the collapsing wall, a giant hand emerged and pounced on them.