Ch.451Secret Base (4)

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I tightened the corrosive tentacles wrapped around the submarine.

When the solid shield broke, everything inside was instantly crushed by water pressure. I tossed the crumpled wreckage to my right head.

“Grrrr”

“Gruk”

‘That makes twenty.’

My right head chewed the metal chunk like gum. The left head, having already eaten its share, licked its lips watching the other. I felt their sensations while looking at the base.

The base emitting light above the deep sea ice layer. The amount of light had decreased since earlier.

The darkened sections were all areas dominated by “Gremlin Moss.”

About half of those were in the communications facility sector where I personally planted the Gremlin Moss.

But the rest weren’t. Those were areas the Gremlin Moss had infected on its own without my direction.

‘Moving and finding targets on its own—how peculiar.’

It seems to operate on a mechanism similar to hive consciousness. When I designate a target, it executes using what it determines is the best method. If I had to compare it to something, it would be like a parasite.

The difference is that the moss absorbs energy beyond what it receives from me.

That’s why the occupied sectors have no lights. The newly transformed Gremlin Moss is sucking up the base’s energy as nourishment. Without that, attacking a base of this scale would have been impossible.

‘Gremlin Moss with independence.’

I’m not sure if this will be an advantage or disadvantage, but one thing is certain.

It shows considerable potential.

If used well, it could be quite useful when attacking the solar system.

‘Well, things seem to be wrapped up over there…’

Since there are no more submarines escaping, I should head inside now. I approached the base with the others hiding in the dark veil.

As I got closer, the Gremlin Moss occupying the sector responded. The door used by the escaping submarines opened.

[Zzzzzz zz zzzzzz(Adhigh. You can let go now)]

“Still” “Outside”

[Zz zzz zzzz zz zzzz zzzzzz zzzzz(That narrow place will be hard to pass through together)]

“Understand” “But” “Slightly” “Disappointed”

Adhigh Orr, who had been nestled in my arms, reluctantly pulled away like someone leaving a warm blanket in winter.

I aligned my head carapace and body in a straight line, throwing my arms and corrosive tentacles back. My surface area reduced just enough to fit through the door width. I managed to squeeze through in that state.

This is the launch tunnel used by submarines. After everyone entered behind me, the door closed and the water drained out. Gremlin Moss attached to various spots on the ceiling glowed, welcoming its master.

‘Oh?’

Is it because the distance has shortened? The Gremlin Moss’s activities are being transmitted to me through my energy field. I was surprised by the detailed reports I received.

‘It’s more intelligent than I thought.’

It didn’t just neutralize the base facilities.

After taking over the facilities, the Gremlin Moss forced malfunctions to attack the personnel inside.

Things like adjusting pressure in sectors to cause mass suffocation, or sabotaging hover buses to kill fleeing people.

From the survivors’ perspective, the machines that once protected them suddenly went berserk. It wouldn’t be easy to identify the cause. They wouldn’t suspect those glowing moss patches.

‘At this rate, they couldn’t stop it even if they wanted to.’

And there’s one more thing I learned while reading the moss’s movements.

The moss didn’t attack those who came in with me. It recognized them as friendly through the symbiotic spores on their bodies.

‘No need to worry about PS-111 and Isabelle.’

Both sisters are Mutant Screamers with mechanical body parts. I was concerned they might be affected by the moss, but it seems they’ll be fine.

Just as I was feeling satisfied with the performance of this new trait, the blast door on the opposite side opened. After passing through a few more narrow spaces, we finally reached a wider area.

‘A hover bus terminal?’

The space once used for base personnel transportation had become complete ruins.

Derailed buses were embedded in walls and ceilings in half-destroyed states, and severely damaged corpses were scattered across the floor.

“I’ll check where we need to go.”

“I’ll help.”

PS-111 and Isabelle began hacking into a terminal in the area as they usually do.

“Big one, can I eat this?”

“Me too”

[Zzzzzz(As much as you want)]

“Wow!”

While the Screamer sisters worked, the two predators sucked up the meat scattered around.

By the time the corpses had disappeared from the ruins, PS-111 finished her work and approached.

“There’s a restricted area in the center. All cargo has been moved there.”

The center, huh. I saw a hemispherical structure in the middle of the base when I was outside. That must be it.

[Zzzz zzzz(Let’s go, everyone)]

I moved toward the restricted area in the center with the others.

After walking along the hover bus tracks for about an hour, we were blocked by a massive blast door.

“Looks like some kind of bunker.”

“This place uses a closed circuit system and all facilities are built to proprietary specifications. Hacking from outside is impossible.”

The blast door looked crude and out of place for an advanced facility built in the deep sea. As Isabelle said, it had the atmosphere of a nuclear bunker from an apocalypse movie.

‘There’s not even a terminal for entry.’

It’s designed so it can only be opened from inside.

And I sensed movement behind the thick door. Through my energy field, I detected small amounts of plasma energy and faint sweat odor.

Survivors in the restricted area were guarding the door with weapons.

‘I’ll open the door first.’

The door is thick and solid, even more than a battleship’s hull, but it can’t stop me.

Just as I was thinking about breaking through, there was a strange reaction from inside.

The movements of dozens of people suddenly became violent. Simultaneously, plasma energy scattered throughout the area amplified and then disappeared.

“Did you hear that? Sounds like it came from inside.”

“81% match with plasma rifle firing sounds.”

“AMorph?”

The Screamer sisters looked at me simultaneously.

I know what’s causing the commotion inside. I’ve seen the same scene when entering other space cities before.

My energy field contaminates minds and induces madness. The humans affected by it are going insane and attacking their comrades.

‘If they become aware of my presence, the effect intensifies.’

When someone within my energy field’s range sees, hears, or senses me, they fall into madness more quickly. It seems some perceptive soldier inside must have sensed me.

‘It would be nice if I could control it.’

A few minutes later. The door opened with a thunderous sound.

“Hee, heehee, light! Heeheehee! Sa-save me… UWEEEEEK!”

Inside was filled with mangled corpses. Most died from plasma shots, but not all. About a quarter of the bodies were those who had been infected with madness and committed suicide.

The person who opened the door wasn’t in a normal state either. Covered in blood, he muttered incomprehensible words before his breath stopped.

“AMorph’s energy field has a negative effect on the minds of sentient beings. Eleven people experienced delusions and opened fire first.”

“I’ve seen it before, but at this level it’s practically like Voltex One.”

Isabelle left a comment that could have been either admiration or shock.

It feels strange to hear the term Voltex One from someone who was once a Coldblood.

‘Voltex One, huh.’

There is indeed a Voltex One that drives sentient beings into madness and confusion.

But even that creature doesn’t affect both machines and humans. As Isabelle said, to ordinary sentient beings, I must be no different from a cosmic demon.

‘And I’m going to get stronger.’

“Great one” “This” “Food” “Okay?”

“Big one eat too!”

The thought waves from No. 26 and Adhigh Orr woke me from my momentary contemplation. Thinking I might be hungry, No. 26 offered me a corpse.

‘Well, I still have a long way to go.’

There are still beings in this universe that could threaten me.

One of my original purposes for coming here was to prey on experimental organisms. To take their genetic essence and become stronger than I am now.

I swallowed the blackened corpse in one bite.

[Zzzz zzzzz zzzzzz(Let’s gather food and go in)]

We passed through the door and entered the restricted area.

The interior, like the entrance, had a different atmosphere from typical Megacorp facilities. The utilitarian corridors had no decorations, not even the ubiquitous terminals.

And some facilities in the area looked like they hadn’t been used for a long time. Some had their doors welded shut so they couldn’t be opened at all.

Of course, there were people who appeared to be caretakers, suggesting it wasn’t completely abandoned. Though they all died before we could meet them face to face.

“Food” “Plenty” “Tired of it”

“Full.”

Thanks to that, No. 26 and Adhigh Orr could eat their fill.

Anyway, continuing on, we arrived at the computer room of this sector.

“This one isn’t welded shut?”

“This facility is currently operational.”

“Seems that way. Let’s go in.”

Inside, we found multiple computers, data storage units, and a hologram projector.

“I’ll check what kind of work was done here.”

The computer turned on, and the connected hologram projector displayed a screen. The computer’s security program displayed consecutive warning messages, but PS-111 easily bypassed them one by one.

“Big one, I’m sleepy.”

“Me too”

The two who had filled their stomachs on the way lay down next to the data storage units emitting warm heat. I gently stroked them and turned my attention to the hologram.

“How is it? Did you find anything?”

“The security system is very complex. It’s an overly cumbersome method rarely used these days. However…”

PS-111 tilted her head, and the hologram screen changed. The computer room filled with numerous letters and numbers displayed in rigid formats.

“I can easily break through it now.”

“As expected.”

“Impressive.”

Isabelle and I praised her and checked the contents of the hologram.

‘There’s a lot here.’

For a facility that gives off the impression of being closed, there are many records stored in the computer room. They all seem to be project-related records, easily numbering in the thousands.

“Are these all projects?”

“No. Only two projects have been conducted here so far. This list contains all the experimental records of those projects.”

Looking at the dates when the records were stored, they were concentrated 10 years ago and 2 years ago. As she said, it seems to be a base that operates only when there are projects. It’s currently closed because there are no projects.

“What about the organisms used in the experiments?”

“There are no records of research organisms being disposed of or transferred elsewhere.”

“They must be kept as samples.”

“Yes. The probability they were refined into genetic samples for storage is 91%.”

Somehow I thought so. There were no living organisms here except the humans guarding the base. Still, it’s fortunate that samples remain.

“Sis, is this a Hulk Mutant testing facility?”

“The first project 10 years ago was, but not the one conducted 2 years ago. There are fewer combat simulations and more adaptation experiments.”

“Adaptation experiments? There would be no need to do that in secret.”

“We need to check the experimental records for details.”

With her words, the hologram list flipped through rapidly.

‘Project Director Danver Egerton? Was it related to the head of House Egerton? No wonder he seemed interested in Hulk Mutants… Huh?’

While scanning the list for useful information, I spotted a familiar name.

“Wait, stop.”

“What is it?”

PS-111 stopped the hologram at my words. I moved my auxiliary organ under my chin to operate the computer terminal.

“Experiment Title: Research on Triggering Radical Evolution Through Extraction of Genetic Variation Potential in Marine Organisms

Lead Researcher: External Invited Researcher Kisaragi Yujin

Special Note: Discontinued due to disappearance of Research Director”

“Kisaragi Yujin?”

“Do you know this person?”

It’s a name I could never forget, even after all this time.

The human who led to my meeting with No. 26, and the first prey I hunted after becoming AMorph.

Traces of the already dead Kisaragi Yujin were found in this unfamiliar secret base.