Ch.472Prodigal Son (1)

The Empress’s magnificent creation, Kriger, possessed the most exceptional physical abilities among her sisters.

The red carapace covering her entire body could withstand even stellar heat, and her strength was formidable.

While individual strength means little to Outspacers who value the power of the swarm, Kriger had another important ability.

That was her unparalleled tracking ability.

Kriger’s sensory organs were superior to any other Outspacer. She could detect traces of FTL jumps long after they had disappeared.

That’s why she occasionally commanded reconnaissance teams for the swarm. Like now.

An asteroid field of large and small mineral fragments.

Kriger was floating among countless debris. Unlike her slowly hovering body, her antenna-like sensory organs moved busily.

And those constantly writhing organs suddenly stopped at one particular spot.

“Kruk? Found it.”

Someone had attempted an FTL jump from this location.

Having confirmed this fact, Kriger considered where they might have jumped to.

The enemy who jumped from here was incredibly powerful. A monster that had devoured the Empress’s lover in an instant despite his terrifying power.

Normally, the battle-hungry Kriger wouldn’t avoid fighting strong opponents. In other circumstances, she would have ignored caution and fought.

But this time, she couldn’t.

“Krurr. Moving.”

“Following your command.”

Having decided on a destination, Kriger jumped together with the queens she had brought along.

The place they arrived after crossing space was empty cosmic void.

It was quite far from where their powerful enemy had jumped, but this was intentional. Among the enemy’s kind was a being with abilities similar to Toders. To avoid detection by that being, they needed to approach carefully from a distance.

“Kruk. Where are we?”

In response to Kriger’s question, the queens emitted biowaves.

“All queens in the ‘human’ territory have assembled.”

“The Empress’s magnificent creation leads us.”

“Preparations to attack the ‘Predator’ are complete.”

“Krurr!”

Hearing the report, Kriger growled with satisfaction.

Immediately after learning of her lover’s death, the Empress had commanded them.

To mobilize all legions attacking humans and avenge him.

While Toders was gathering scattered legions from everywhere, Kriger had continued tracking that powerful enemy.

And finally, her mission was complete. All that remained was to receive her reward.

“Krurr. We move from here.”

“We follow the magnificent creation’s orders.”

“Gather here.”

Soon, a blue light reminiscent of a supernova descended behind them.

When I fought Akira Yujin before, his appearance was far from human. He had transformed into a monstrosity similar to AMorph using his Perk. He bears no resemblance to the black-haired man standing before me.

If this weren’t the garbage planet, I wouldn’t have recognized him as Akira.

‘Why is he here?’

Akira is the leader of the Dominants and Megacorp. He should be commanding the defense on Earth.

‘Surely he hasn’t fled.’

Unless Megacorp was clearly losing, which isn’t the case. Even if it were, staying on Earth would be much safer than being here.

“You seem curious about why I’m here.”

Akira spoke then.

“I moved a treasure that was hidden here.”

‘Treasure?’

He nodded toward the container behind him.

From the moment it was opened, cold air and electromagnetic waves had been flowing out. Inside were numerous mechanical devices, computers, and empty cryogenic test tubes.

“Too valuable to leave abandoned in a place like this.”

Strange way of putting it. He’s the one who hid the secret here. Yet he speaks as if his own actions were foolish.

‘…Well, that doesn’t matter.’

Why he moved a “treasure” he had hidden for so long isn’t important.

In this situation, I have only one thing to do. Take the knowledge he possesses.

“Wait. I didn’t come here to fight you.”

Just as I was about to use “Gluttonous Maw Pouch,” the enemy raised both hands. I can’t sense any hostility from him at all.

‘What’s going on?’

This attitude from someone who had suffered defeat at my hands. Very suspicious.

I stopped my attack and asked in a human voice.

“Are you stalling for time?”

“If I intended to fight, I would have attacked already. Would I risk facing an ‘AMorph’?”

He’s not the type to use himself as bait to lure enemies. Especially not against beings he fears.

Yet for someone saying that, his attitude is too calm.

“And the same goes for you.”

While I was suspicious, he continued speaking.

“You didn’t come here for combat. That’s not your objective.”

“You know my objective?”

“The information in my head.”

Akira pointed to his head as he answered.

My original plan was to turn Akira into a face-leech to extract information. I thought it better to kill him since he wouldn’t answer my questions while alive.

“Ask me anything. I’ll answer what I know.”

“You want to resolve this through conversation?”

“That would benefit you too, wouldn’t it?”

He’s not wrong.

A face-leech’s memories are incomplete. If the part I want to know is missing, I might never find it. If he voluntarily answers important questions, that would be helpful for me.

“Fine. I’ll ask.”

It’s suspicious, but the potential benefit is great. I asked the question I most wanted answered.

“The modified ending mission. Explain it.”

“Ending mission? Ah, so that’s why you came. Very well. I’ll tell you.”

Akira nodded at my question.

“Currently, the master of the Ascension Altar is not the ‘Watching Shadow’ but an AMorph.”

His answer was surprisingly simple, making my difficult journey here seem pointless.

“Not an ordinary AMorph, of course. It can freely change its traits without restrictions.”

“What?”

“It has so many traits that their number is immeasurable.”

I was shocked to hear this.

In the vision shown by the Information Unit before, a monster resembling an AMorph had appeared. I had already guessed that the rankers had been defeated by this being.

But I didn’t know it was such an incredibly powerful entity.

‘An AMorph that can freely exchange traits at will…’

This means it can fully utilize traits with excellent performance but fatal risks, or traits that normally can’t be used together due to poor compatibility.

It’s truly the most ideal form of AMorph I could imagine, the ultimate monster.

‘So that’s why they lost.’

In terms of raw power, the rankers might have had the advantage. They even had powerful Perks.

But that difference could easily be reversed.

“It divided the rankers. Using methods impossible in the game.”

“I see you caught on quickly.”

Even just hearing about it, several ideas immediately came to mind. Strategies and trait combinations I never tried in the game. Including ways to make rankers fight each other.

The new boss is essentially an AMorph. It’s entirely possible it used tactics similar to what I’m thinking.

“You’re right. The rankers were toyed with and defeated. They barely avoided total annihilation by sealing it.”

“Sealing?”

Suddenly, an incomprehensible word appeared.

The former boss, the Watching Shadow, could only operate within the Ascension Altar. Naturally, the new boss should be the same.

“The AMorph tried to escape the altar by manipulating the rankers. Fortunately, it failed.”

“So it’s still at the altar?”

“Yes. It’s trapped there waiting for visitors. Prey that will release it.”

Unwelcome news.

This means I have to fight the AMorph boss to ascend.

Moreover, it’s impossible to retreat and regroup during the battle. I can’t do that when it’s obvious the unsealed boss would follow me.

“Who gave the AMorph such power?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Shrugging his shoulders, Akira looked upward.

“Mysterious power that transcends racial limitations, doesn’t it sound familiar?”

“Are you saying the entity that gave us Perks created the new boss?”

“Yes. And they’re the ones who brought us to this world.”

The black eyes were directed not at the ceiling made of garbage, but at beings beyond it.

“Who are they? And what’s their purpose?”

“I don’t know much except that they possess godlike power. But I’m certain about their purpose. They want us to be divided and fight each other.”

That’s right.

The visions we see as we approach the ending, the non-standard boss that blocked the united rankers. All are elements strongly influenced by the will of “them” that Akira and the Information Unit mentioned.

‘I don’t understand why they’re doing this, but…’

Thanks to this, I’ve learned one thing for certain.

“They,” whose identity remains unknown, have godlike power but aren’t omnipotent.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have resorted to cumbersome methods like visions or introducing a new boss to control us. I must assume they have limitations.

“AMorph. I make this proposal once and only once.”

While I was lost in thought, Akira called to me. His gaze, which had been directed at the ceiling, was now fixed on me.

“Cooperate with me. With your experience as an AMorph and my knowledge and power, we can clear this world and reach ‘them’.”

“What?”

He extended his hand toward me as he spoke.

‘He’s asking me to join forces?’

He and I are mortal enemies, both in the game and in this world. This is the first time we’ve even talked without fighting, and now he’s suggesting cooperation.

Moreover, he’s talking about working together to see the ending. That’s not something the leader of a faction that abandoned the ending to rule this world would say.

‘And this situation…’

Looking again, something’s off.

The reason Akira values this place is because it’s where he hid his treasure. But he’s already moved the treasure elsewhere.

In other words, he has no reason to stay here. Unless a new reason has emerged.

“Are you really Akira Yujin?”

At my question, the expressionless face of my opponent changed for the first time. He revealed his teeth in a broad smile.

“Come to think of it, I’m late with introductions. My name is Shin Bumho. Perhaps you know me as Rank 7?”

Akira, or rather Bumho who had taken over his body.

He bowed with an uncharacteristic smile.