Ch.571Planetary Exploration is One of the Crowning Jewels of Science Fiction. (4)

Unlike others who were suffering through all sorts of strange experiences, I was, well…

Apart from being swallowed by a giant monster’s mouth and getting drenched in saliva, there wasn’t anything particularly problematic.

In fact, unlike other users who encountered traps springing out from inside, or regional spaces unfolding and whatnot…

I had absolutely no obstacles except for frozen corpse guys and some oddly-shaped monsters.

And surprisingly, the reason was the natural environment that made me want to curse the moment I arrived here.

“There’s something that clearly looks like a defense turret over there, but why isn’t it working?”

“That? Oh, all the defense systems inside the facility have been frozen solid for ages, Commander.”

“…They’re in a frozen state?”

“Yep, they’ve been exposed in that condition for at least hundreds of thousands, maybe even tens of millions of years. What circuits could possibly remain intact?”

That’s right.

Perhaps it was because they had been exposed for too long in an environment that was just too cold.

The defense systems inside the facility that should have shown sur-prises whenever my assault troops or superhumans entered were already frozen solid like frozen tuna.

Of course, in place of those defense systems, there were ice corpses and monsters that made me wonder, “How can mere corpses move normally in a place where machines couldn’t survive?”

-KWAGAGAGAK!

-KWADUK!

-“Processing complete, continue advancing.”

-“Yes!”

“Wow.”

Your ice corpse just turned into actual ice fragments.

Unfortunately for the ice corpse friends, we weren’t in a situation where just one engineer was running around with a plasma-spewing tool while shitting bricks.

We had nearly 10 SS to SSS-rank superhumans, along with five units of C to D-rank superhuman troops.

Plus special forces that would be considered corps-level in real-world numbers…

And finally, destroyers and cruisers waiting in orbit, ready to deliver orbital bombardments whenever necessary.

As a result of being mercilessly trampled by superhumans inside the facility and indiscriminate orbital bombardments outside…

Exactly three days after arriving on this ice planet.

As I was munching on a fish-shaped pastry, feeling my mouth water at the scent of the lemon tea Jessica had brought…

—————————————–

<Event>

<Reward Acquired from Planet ‘VXB-788r’!>

<Details>

<Nothing particularly noteworthy was found on the planet’s surface, making us think there might be nothing to see.>

<After searching facilities scattered across the surface, we discovered a vertical elevator shaft leading deep underground in one of them.>

<Going down through it, the search team found an incredibly massive and majestic underground fortress.>

<Although by the time Commander’s superhuman-led search team arrived, all systems in the fortress had long ceased functioning…>

<What the search team discovered were mostly data centers reduced to junk with completely evaporated data, and various corpses covered in ice.>

<Fortunately, however, one data chip still maintained power in the heart of the fortress.>

<The search team decided to immediately retrieve the data chip, keeping it powered with a separate power source as they brought it out.>

<Result>

<Event Reward Acquired: Ancient Empire’s Technology Enhancement Data Slate x1>

—————————————–

‘Oh.’

There were a lot of minor details attached, but to summarize, “Reward obtained anyway.”

“Commander, the search team will return in an hour.”

“This was really a smooth event. Let’s head back to base as soon as the search team returns.”

“Yes.”

With the acquisition of the ‘Ancient Empire’s Technology Enhancement Data Slate,’ or ‘Ancient Empire Enhancement Chip’ for short.

I realized I now had an opportunity to enhance Neranzara, my only ship of the ‘Ancient Empire’ line, and felt my mood improving considerably.

“Jessica, when that arrives, what would be best to enhance?”

“You mean for Neranzara?”

“Of course.”

“Well, I’m not quite sure at the moment.”

==========

But those pleasant thoughts were short-lived.

Eventually, when the search team returned from the underground facility to the command center, just as the destroyers had landed to pick up me and the superhumans and troops…

-KUGUGUGUGUGU…KUGUGUGUGUGU!!!!

“Ack.”

“Earthquake!”

We were hit by an earthquake that I had never experienced either before or after my possession.

Moreover, the cause of this earthquake wasn’t simply the planet’s tectonic movement…

-“Commander, a massive life form has been detected inside the crust!”

-“Confirming surface collapse! Evacuate!”

“Oh…ohhhh…”

An alien monster so enormous that it could swallow a destroyer that had just landed and started its landing procedure, along with all the troops inside, and still have room for more, suddenly emerged.

As if devouring a destroyer was nothing to it.

It proceeded to swallow the command center where I had been staying for days, along with the ground beneath it, leaving me feeling quite astonished.

Well, it made sense, considering the size of this “monster” breaking through the planetary crust was comparable to or “slightly” larger than our Kraken.

If other users were here instead of me, they’d probably be like, “Wow, that’s fucking huge!” and start taking pictures.

Of course, if this were reality, seeing such a monster would instantly send me into panic, making me go “pwueeeeng” as my mental state shattered…

“Commander, how should we deal with this Kraken knockoff?”

“To think that a monster merely sleeping within this planet would dare to swallow the Commander’s precious ship.”

“Commander~ can I capture and modify that thing?”

“Griyanar, we don’t have a ship capable of capturing that.”

“Hmm, then I guess I’ll just have to collect samples.”

“Looking at it makes me think of live octopus.”

Since we had superhumans with insane physical abilities capable of covering hundreds of kilometers in just minutes.

Ignis and Partia were seen running across the surface of the giant monster that had broken through the crust, creating “blade wounds” tens of kilometers long with their weapons.

Smeraghi, who dove into the gaps created by their attacks, was wreaking havoc inside, tearing everything apart with her nails.

Our Pashtra, despite wearing clothes that were practically the same as being naked, refused to succumb to the cold and fired beams wildly from aboard a destroyer.

Dornia, finding destroyers too small to deploy her ability-based bombardment.

Had to board a cruiser before creating orbital bombardment batteries to attack indiscriminately.

The monster, which had appeared so majestic at first, was now being one-sidedly sliced and pummeled, reduced to a pitiful stir-fried squid.

And the giant monster’s ordeal didn’t end there.

“Hyahat, Commander? I want to deploy a new chimera I created. Can I use it?”

“Uh…sure, do as you please.”

“Got it! Go! Ulari mk-88!”

After landing a massive assault pod from the cruiser onto the ground, she deployed a giant chimera monster named ‘Ulari mk-88’.

Instead of direct attacks, Grigri weakened the giant monster by injecting strange viruses or drugs.

With the addition of triple support buffs from Griyanar, Berial, and Decarabia, plus the superhuman troops and assault forces…

This poor giant planetary monster, having awakened from its long hibernation, just 30 minutes after emerging…

—————————————–

<Event>

<Boss Clear on Planet ‘VXB-788r’!>

<Details>

<You have successfully eliminated the ancient monster sleeping beneath the crust of VXB-788r!>

<Rewards will be granted for clearing the boss!>

<Result>

<Acquired Natural Healing Equipment with Bio-alloy Technology x1>

—————————————–

It ended its resentful life while dropping one piece of equipment as an additional reward for me.