Ch.449Secret Base (2)

‘As expected, they’re just passing by without noticing.’

Far away, a single small beam of light shines in the darkness.

A submarine the size of a small patrol ship was cutting through the deep sea currents. They had no idea what was following them from below.

‘Well, ordinary humans wouldn’t be able to see me anyway.’

Right now, I’m using two abilities simultaneously to hide myself.

First, the “Dark Veil” that spreads like smoke, concealing me and my companions.

This special substance expelled from my biological pipes has the effect of neutralizing mechanical detection systems. It should normally spread wider, but due to the water pressure, it was only covering the area immediately around me.

What makes up for this deficiency is my unique ability “Eerie Mimic.”

Besides enhancing the “Mark of the Mighty” ability, Eerie Mimic grants me powerful camouflage capabilities. Thanks to this, my body hidden within the Dark Veil has transformed to match the surrounding environment.

The material of the exoskeleton covering my entire body has become identical to the icy seafloor, while my massive head carapace and dorsal corrosive tentacles use the patterns on my outer shell to mimic the shape of ridge lines.

There are quite a few abilities that can imitate environmental features, but the camouflage effect of Eerie Mimic surpasses them all. It’s so precise that even PS-111 with its camera eyes couldn’t distinguish me.

‘Ordinary creatures could never spot me.’

Moreover, it reflects environmental changes in real-time. It perfectly replicates the flowing currents and the seafloor surface affected by them. Even when the submarine approached and checked several times, they didn’t detect me.

Thanks to this, I had no problem following the enemy.

‘Except for one thing.’

The only inconvenient part is that I have to move while tightly attached to my companions.

The ones who came with me either lack stealth abilities or have insufficient ones. To avoid Megacorp’s detection systems, they must stay within the range of the Dark Veil.

That’s why PS-111, Isabelle, and Adhigh Orr are all moving while sticking close to me.

PS-111 has folded its wings like a beetle and attached itself to my tail, while Isabelle, with her thin, elongated body, lies flat on the ground, using my body as cover as she moves.

Adhigh Orr has a slender body like Isabelle, but his situation is different due to his bulky wings. He’s especially noticeable since he’s using “Red Armor” to withstand the deep-sea pressure.

So I’ve tightly embraced him with my arms to ensure he’s not visible from outside.

[Zzzzz (Are you okay?)]

“Movement” “Impossible” “Stuffy” “Armor” “Concentration” “Maintaining” “Uncomfortable” “But still”

The one who was complaining suddenly stopped his thought waves. Then he rested his head deeply against my chest.

“Sometimes” “It’s fine”

I was worried, but fortunately, despite his complaints, his mood seems okay.

[Zzz (How about you two?)]

“No problem.”

“I am fine. Designed for extreme environment operations. Modified.”

The Screamer sisters responded by using psychic power to generate thought waves, just as they did in outer space.

Unlike her still inexperienced sister, PS-111’s waves were very clear. Her functions must have improved after the implantation of the Chairman’s brain.

After checking on the three, I lifted my head to look upward.

Near the boundary of the Dark Veil, a small pink jellyfish was leisurely swimming. It’s No. 26, the only one among us born and raised in the sea.

Perhaps because it’s been a while since he encountered an environment similar to his homeland, he looks much more comfortable than when on land.

‘Well, that makes sense.’

While Sea Demons can function on land, their primary habitat is still the deep sea. Just looking at their physiology, it’s not a structure suited for land activity.

Rather, No. 26, who moves well on land too, is the unusual case.

‘I’m glad he’s enjoying it.’

Seeing him swim happily gives me a strange feeling.

No. 26 has been helping me a lot, but there’s little I can do for him in return. Except for hunting prey he might like.

‘It would be nice if there was a sea near Adhigh’s home.’

Unfortunately, there’s no sea near the Gallergorn habitat. There is a hot spring filled with mineral water, but that can’t be called a sea.

‘Should I try to create one with my abilities?’

While I was thinking about whether I could do something with AMorph abilities, No. 26 swam over.

“Big baby. There’s no food here at all.”

He emitted waves conveying a sense of strangeness.

‘Indeed.’

As far as I know, Sea Demons don’t inhabit Nox, but other deep-sea predators do exist. Things like the “Pale Mask” we met before.

Besides those, there are many marine creatures living in the deep sea. Having descended this deep, we should normally see at least a few creatures.

However, the only living thing we’ve seen on our way here is the submarine ahead of us.

‘There are two possible reasons.’

Either that submarine is only traveling along safe routes, or Megacorp has eliminated all threat factors on Nox.

Neither is impossible.

The first thing Megacorp players do after building a base on a planet is to eliminate all wildlife. This is to remove as many risk factors as possible. And incidentally, to obtain genetic samples.

This base might have gone through a similar process.

“I wanted to give Big Baby a present.”

[Zzzzz z zzzzzz (It’s okay. Let’s keep looking)]

“Okay.”

If the base owners have cleaned this area, it will be difficult to find wildlife. Instead, there should be plenty of edible things at the base where the submarine is heading.

‘Though I can’t expect to hunt.’

Regrettably, we’ll have to look forward to the battle with the Outspacers later for that.

So we quietly followed the submarine.

After about three or four hours, tiny grain-like lights appeared in the darkness of the deep sea.

‘Is that it?’

As we got closer to the light, the submerged base gradually came into view.

Dozens of kilometers deep under the sea, there was a human-made structure. That’s the deep-sea research base.

The research base consisted of a ring-shaped structure surrounding a hemispherical structure. It would look like Saturn cut in half.

‘Quite large?’

Though not as big as Saturn, the base’s size was extraordinarily large. Looking at the outer ring, its diameter seemed to be at least twice that of a space city.

“Never seen, a base, this big before.”

“Scale. Exceeds standard Megacorp research complex.”

Isabelle and PS-111 each made a comment after seeing the city. I feel the same. I’ve never seen such a large undersea city, even in games.

‘And the shape is different too.’

Typical undersea bases install super-large elevator towers and communication towers for interaction with surface bases. However, this base had none of those.

It seems they didn’t include elevators to control access since it’s a secret facility.

‘Let’s approach first.’

I stopped tracking the submarine and slowly moved toward the base.

That’s when PS-111 spoke to me.

“AMorph. Problem detected.”

[Zzz (What’s wrong?)]

“Base communication network. Security system thorough. External interference impossible.”

[Zzzzzzz zzzz (Not even with the disruption needle?)]

“No. Impossible. Direct connection. Only method.”

This is someone who easily hacks into battleship communication networks and satellites. If even she says it’s difficult, the base’s security must be at a very high level.

‘What should we do?’

Sneaking into the interior from here is impossible. If they can monitor the entire ocean, would they miss damage to their base? If problems arise, they’d immediately request external support.

‘Using infected individuals is also difficult.’

Those infected with parasites are currently at the surface base, far from here. Bringing them here and infiltrating them would be unreasonable by any measure.

Rather than that, finding a way to infect personnel inside the base would be faster.

‘Wait.’

Suddenly, an idea occurred to me.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t used it since the Great Infector changed.’

The unique ability “Great Infector,” which selects infection and nest-related abilities to grant special effects.

Thanks to this, I could shoot acidic fungi in breath form or disperse machine-damaging microorganisms in cloud form.

The Great Infector has also changed due to the influence of “Twisted Abomination.”

Until now, I could enhance a total of six abilities, three each from infection and nest-related categories.

But now it has changed to selecting up to three abilities from both categories to grant a special effect called “Mental Contamination Enhancement.”

With this change, all the abilities that previously received enhancement effects, such as “Parasitic Swarm” or “Acidic Fungal Gland,” were reset.

Since then, I haven’t reassigned them. I didn’t particularly need to, so I just thought I’d use them when the opportunity arose.

‘This seems to be that opportunity.’

I activated the text box.

“Great Infector: You are one and many. You can select up to 3 abilities from infection and nest enhancement types to grant special effects.

* ‘Mental Contamination’ Enhancement: Unset, Unset, Unset

* Note: Once all enhancement effects are granted, you cannot apply effects to other abilities until the enhanced abilities disappear.

*P.S.: Depending on perspective, an individual can also be a collective.”

Unlike before, the text box shows “Unset.” I’ve decided which ability to apply.

[Zzzzzz zzzz zzzzz zzzzzzzz (Can you tell where the communication equipment is located?)]

“Precise estimation impossible.”

[Zzzzzz zzzzz zzzzz (Just the approximate location and area will do)]

“That much is possible.”

I slowly circled around the base. During this, PS-111 pointed out places where communication equipment was likely to be located.

After identifying the locations, I set the ability I had in mind for the Great Infector. The fusion ability “Gremlin Moss” that I used effectively against machines.

‘It would be good if it spread as a cloud like before.’

Or perhaps there might be a psychic-related change, as the name “Mental Contamination” suggests.

‘Whatever it is, I’ll find out when I use it.’

[Zzz zzzz zzzzzzzz (Both of you stay away for a moment)]

They might get caught up in it. After creating a slight distance from the Screamer sisters, I approached the point PS-111 had indicated.

And I used the Gremlin Moss with its new ability.

A strange cluster of light flowed from my body and was exposed outside the Dark Veil.

The particles of light, shining densely in the darkness like fireflies, immediately settled on the icy crust.

“Wow! Sparkly and pretty!”

As No. 26 exclaimed, the Gremlin Moss glowing at the bottom of the deep sea was indeed beautiful.

But that’s only in appearance. The Gremlin Moss detected by my energy field was far from beautiful.

The ominous fireflies move slowly. Then they gradually spread over the human-made structure.