Ch.465Monkfish (3)

Joy, born into a prominent business family, had never experienced want in her life.

Her parents provided everything she needed—the best education, useful connections, money—there was no deficiency in human Joy’s world.

But at some point, she began to feel sick of her perfect life. Walking the path laid out by her parents was stable but boring.

That’s why she became immersed in Space Survival.

In the virtual world, she didn’t need to pretend to be a good daughter or calculate her interactions with others.

The Outspacers, in particular, were a species that suited her needs well.

These hive creatures from another universe could freely transform according to the player’s will. In the process, they didn’t need to be bound by human rules.

Moreover, Joy was upper class from birth, someone who dominated others. The way the queen became the center of the hive was familiar to her.

Of course, that didn’t mean she wanted to completely abandon her human life to become an Outspacer.

Feeling freedom and gaming were merely realms of entertainment. Even when immersed in the game, she never forgot that fact.

Even after coming to this world, that thought hadn’t changed.

Despite gaining a beloved partner and power strong enough to shake the universe, she had only one goal.

To return to the real world.

She had lived until now with the belief that she wouldn’t die until that dream was fulfilled.

‘Where is this?’

Joy rolled her eyes to look around.

A pitch-black space without a single point of light. At first glance, it resembled outer space.

But she could tell that this place was fundamentally different from space.

Seeing the darkness undulate, it looked as if the space itself was alive.

‘What kind of trick is this?’

Right after seeing AMorph’s mouth, the space changed in an instant. It was clear that AMorph had sent her here.

‘Hmph. How stupid.’

It’s a place sent by that AMorph. Though it was likely an extraordinary place, she wasn’t worried.

With the power of “Sky Mother’s Wings,” she could fly instantly to anywhere in this universe.

‘This is actually better.’

Now that she’s away from AMorph, it’s the perfect opportunity to ask the Empress for help.

If she went to her lover and explained everything, she could receive forces to hunt AMorph.

‘Then I’ll quickly move…’

She tried to use a wormhole as usual. And soon realized there was a problem.

‘Huh?’

Until entering this space, she had been able to create wormholes freely.

But now she couldn’t remember how to use that ability at all. It was as if that part had been erased from her mind.

‘What is this?’

Having failed to recall the memory, Joy tried to leave that place.

The numerous wings attached to her body weren’t just decoration. She could fly much faster than the original Sky Mother’s Wings.

But contrary to her thoughts, her body remained motionless.

‘How did I fly again?’

Since implanting Voltex One’s genetic essence, wings had been like limbs to her. Flying was as natural to her as walking on the ground. Not something she would easily forget.

Only then did Joy realize that something was wrong with her.

This space was consuming her memories.

‘No! There must be a way…’

Her body contained essences from creatures other than Voltex One. If she could utilize them well, she could escape this place.

If those memories hadn’t disappeared from her mind.

‘No! Please save me…’

After devouring all memories of her abilities, the space’s next target was the elements that made up “human Joy.”

Her comrades in the Return Faction.

Her beloved partner.

Her real home and parents.

‘…’

In the end, even her name disappeared.

What was once the Outspacer Grand Queen and “Joy” vanished, leaving only an empty shell.

And even that remaining shell gradually melted away in the darkness.

–

“I, never, expected, this much.”

Isabelle, riding on my back, sent a thought wave filled with shock. She was expressing surprise at what had just happened.

I completely understand. I felt the same way.

“Restraining digestive fluid secretion in progress. Time remaining until natural digestion completes: 1 hour 29 minutes.”

Right now, my eyes are focused on the text box related to my newly acquired unique characteristic, “Gluttonous Maw Pouch.”

‘So this is how it works.’

With the Gluttonous Maw Pouch activated, I opened my mouth, and the ranker in front of me was instantly sucked in. Then it passed through my throat on its own and entered the pouch.

The pouch, having swallowed such large prey, swelled enormously. Even at a glance, it’s at least three times larger, completely hiding my torso.

‘But it’s strange that it’s not resisting despite being swallowed alive.’

You’d expect it to struggle after being forcibly trapped in the pouch, but there’s no reaction. It’s just quiet, as if asleep.

‘Restraining digestive fluid? Is that why?’

A digestive fluid that can immobilize even a creature with Voltex One’s body.

If it worked by physically restraining, it would be completely overpowered, but that’s probably not the case.

It’s likely a substance that affects the prey’s mind. Something that forces them to sleep or otherwise prevents escape.

‘This exceeds my expectations.’

I was worried because the hard-to-obtain characteristic “Harvester’s Maw” was used as a material, but the result turned out quite good.

It can swallow prey as large as my body in one go, so I don’t need to specifically target just the head. The swallowing speed is also very fast, so I don’t need to waste time eating. Blocking the prey’s resistance is a bonus.

‘Thanks to this, I won more easily than expected.’

Normally, this wouldn’t have been such an easy opponent.

The enemy ranker possessed quite powerful perks. The transformation of its body to resemble Sky Mother’s Wings was also due to these perks.

A ranker with the body of a top-tier apex Voltex One. Plus, it was receiving support from an Outspacer legion. Not an opponent to take lightly.

In fact, I had to sacrifice my right head to make it lower its guard.

If it hadn’t fallen for my plan, and if I didn’t have this new characteristic, the result would have been different.

‘Well, that’s a meaningless assumption now.’

Anyway, the Outspacer ranker made the wrong choice and is now paying the price in my pouch.

“Grand Queen!”

Just then, my monster’s tentacles detected an unfamiliar wave. The characteristic “Hive Mind Terminal,” which reads Outspacer signals, activated and transmitted the content to my brain.

“The Empress’s lover has been destroyed!”

A cyan Outspacer that barely escaped the range of the Gluttonous Maw Pouch. A queen resembling a sea demon spread wave patterns like screams.

“Grrrr”

I opened my mouth with my remaining left head to swallow it.

Just as I was about to activate the characteristic, a black lightning bolt flew and collided with me.

“Gruk?!”

“Feedback activated!”

My left head, with its horn broken and entire snout scorched, closed its mouth. The Outspacer queen took advantage of this moment to quickly distance itself.

The special defense fusion characteristic “Feedback” activates when taking massive damage in a short time. To trigger Feedback with a single attack, you’d need a super weapon like a Gigacracker.

“Not only my siblings but even Mother’s lover, you dare kill them!”

And the black bat monster that launched that powerful attack comes flying, spreading waves of anger.

“AMorph.”

[Zzz zzzzzz(I know. It’s Ion Lightning)]

That lightning just now is similar to “Ion Lightning,” the unique technique of Magmasaur, a creature in the upper ranks of apex. That black bat monster must have the genetic essence of Magmasaur in its body.

However, its power seems stronger than the original. I’ve been hit by it before when fighting, and this is at least twice as powerful.

“Don’t hit Big Baby!”

“You?!”

No. 26 appeared behind the bat monster as it was about to shoot lightning again. He wrapped his tentacles around its snout to interfere.

“Annoying thing!”

The enraged enemy removed No. 26 and immediately spat out lightning.

No. 26 instantly shrank his body to avoid the attack. Then, with a blue light, he disappeared from that spot and appeared above my head.

“Operation, success, right?”

“Sister.”

PS-111, who had transported No. 26, also came to me. I carefully wrapped my tentacles around both of them and moved. Right behind me, black lightning struck immediately.

“Everyone must capture that entity!”

“Krieger! Stop playing around and help us!”

The cyan queen and black bat monster emit wave patterns as if shouting.

In response, all the Outspacers fighting the Megacorp fleet began rushing toward us.

“That form, success, fortunate.”

“Big Baby’s belly got big! Cute!”

“What, will, we do next?”

[Zzz zzzz zzzzzz(We need to clean up the remaining enemies)]

“Please wait, a moment. I have something to say.”

[Z zzz(Yes? What is it?)]

“Yes. Gigacracker 5 ships, including, large fleet, approaching.”

“What? Gigacrackers?”

Five Gigacrackers? Isabelle showed a bewildered reaction upon hearing my sister’s words.

I too was quite surprised by this unexpected situation.

[Zzzz zzzzzz zzz zzzz(They shouldn’t be able to enter here via FTL travel?)]

“Arrived before battle began. Waited and then moved.”

“Why, sister, didn’t know?”

“Stealth, new technology applied. Effective at disrupting detection.”

From what I hear, the Gigacrackers and their escort fleet seem to have entered the system before the battle started. Additionally, they brought stealth equipment capable of evading PS-111’s surveillance network.

It seems Megacorp has thoroughly prepared to capture the Outspacers.

[Zzzz zzzz zzzz(How long until they arrive?)]

“Gigacracker ion cannon, effective range, entry, 3 minutes 13 seconds remaining.”

Including the Gigacracker here, that’s a total of 7 ships. Not an easy opponent.

Plus, we need to consider the fleet escorting the super weapons, as well as the Outspacers here. Continuing to fight in this position is disadvantageous.

‘No, wait.’

The Outspacers are still focused solely on attacking me. They don’t seem to know that the enemy is approaching.

‘If I disappear from here, they’ll end up fighting each other.’

There’s no need to fight them. I’ve already obtained what I needed anyway.

I couldn’t get Harvester’s Maw, but the performance of Gluttonous Maw Pouch is even better. No need to struggle to obtain it.

Having finished my business, it’s time to leave.

[Zzzzzz zzzzzz zzz zzzz(We’re getting out of here. Everyone get ready)]

I headed toward Adhigh Orr while wrapping the kids.

Behind me, the Outspacers followed. The Megacorp warships, having received communication from the Gigacrackers, began distancing themselves from us.

As the battlefield expanded with more empty space, numerous red lines became visible. These are afterimages created by Adhigh Orr and the Outspacer monster fighting.

Two crimson flashes cut through the dark universe, flying toward each other.

[Zeuuuu(Adhigh Orr!)]

Just before collision, the smaller of the two lights sharply veered to the side. Then it accelerated toward me.

“Kruk! Small worthy opponent! Escaping!”

“Negative””Big Elder””Me””Called”

“Krrrr!”

A red monster with a body as massive as the giant Mountain Crawler raised by the Sky Mother closely pursued Adhigh Orr. I opened my mouth wide toward it.

“Krieger! Don’t stand in front!”

“Kruk?!”

The enemy, charging fiercely, hastily changed direction after hearing its comrade’s words.

‘Got you.’

Sorry, but this was just a bluff.

The red monster is at least three times my size.

Unless my body grows larger here, I can’t swallow it with the Gluttonous Maw Pouch. Of course, the enemy doesn’t know this fact.

While it retreated, Adhigh Orr flew to me and embraced me.

“Jump, preparations, will make.”

“Hungersnot! We must prevent it from escaping!”

PS-111’s thought wave and the cyan queen’s wave pattern intersect.

The black bat monster, far away, shot lightning. As if what it fired earlier wasn’t at full power, the scale is now larger.

But this time, I have no intention of just taking the hit.

Following my will, the power spread throughout my body flows outward. The pure power, emitted like a heat haze, doesn’t scatter but gathers in the void.

The heat haze concentrated in one place instantly solidifies. A solidified octahedral power completely envelops my body. This is “Complex Spectral Body,” newly transformed thanks to “Twisted Abomination.”

A black spear formed by countless lightning bolts collides with the translucent octahedron. The black lightning slashes at the translucent barrier with enough force to tear through space.

Anyone would think the former would easily win, but the reality was the opposite. The lightning not only failed to penetrate the octahedron but scattered in all directions.

The effect of Complex Spectral Body is to reflect energy-based attacks that have hit me multiple times before.

I’ve been hit by Ion Lightning before when fighting Magmasaur. And now I’ve been hit once more.

Thanks to this, the spectral body can now reflect Ion Lightning.

The reflected lightning scatters in all directions, striking other Outspacers. Those without defensive abilities like mine turned to dust upon impact.

“Preparations, completed.”

“That barrier reflects energy!”

“Krieger! Capture Mother’s enemy!”

The red monster called Krieger comes flying at tremendous speed. It seems to intend to ram us directly with that massive body.

But by then, PS-111 had completed all preparations to leap through space. Our bodies, surrounded by the octahedron, glowed blue.

“Krrrr! Small worthy opponent! I will definitely…”

The red monster’s wave pattern was cut off midway. Instead of the densely packed Outspacers that were in front of us, blue light filled the world.

After the light disappeared, there was no one around.

A quiet universe with no trace of battle.

This was the first sight we saw after leaving the NEO-3 system of Egerton’s munitions factory.