Ch.66Evil Spirit (3)

“What’s going on here? Please explain.”

“……”

“Is that invisible, demonic presence truly a living organism?”

“…I don’t know.”

Though Lila demanded an explanation, Denver had nothing to say.

Among those present, the person who most wanted to know about the creature wasn’t Lila but Denver himself.

‘At least three different abilities visible on camera. And they’re perfectly integrated. It’s a complete upgrade from the Hulk Mutant.’

Denver is the chief director of the new Hulk Mutant development project. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say his knowledge rivals that of House Yugin.

‘Invisibility, flame breath, spine projection, and hardened skin. No creature has ever been discovered with all these abilities.’

There are many organisms with diverse characteristics and abilities. But the abilities shown by the monster are extremely difficult to artificially combine.

If there existed a being that could incorporate all these abilities into one organism without side effects, it would be no exaggeration to call it a god.

‘…I want it.’

Whether it was a product of nature or someone’s creation didn’t matter. If they succeeded in capturing the monster alive, House Egerton would undoubtedly surpass Yugin and become the leader in genetic engineering.

Then their family’s long-cherished wish of advancing to Noble Capital wouldn’t just be a dream.

While Denver was licking his lips, the knight’s camera continued to move.

“This is Jacob. Deputy Commander, can you see anything on Team 3’s camera?”

“Deputy Commander here. I can’t see anything because of the smoke.”

“This is Tennessee from Team 2! We’re entering the station!”

“Negative. They might ambush us. Deputy Commander Vickers, we need to gather our forces and search the subway.”

“…Your Excellency, please make a decision.”

At Vickers’ words, Denver shook his head.

“It’s a monster that killed six elite knights in an instant. Fighting unprepared in an underground, confined battlefield would be suicide. Retreat and regroup.”

“Jacob, returning.”

“…Teris. Ending communication.”

“Lila, General Manager. I apologize. It seems difficult to catch the creature with the knights currently deployed.”

“…We’ll seal off all stations in the city. And secretary, contact the defense fleet.”

Lila showed no particular reaction to Denver’s apology.

This was already beyond a matter that could be resolved with a verbal apology.

This issue needed to be discussed among the representatives of the houses. The other party was a head of house, but she wasn’t. As just a city manager, she couldn’t handle this arbitrarily.

Denver knew this too, so he didn’t point out the fact that she didn’t accept his apology. He continued what he was saying.

“The honor of the knights has been tarnished. Could you give us a chance to cleanse it?”

“……”

“This isn’t a matter between houses, but my personal request. Give the knights an opportunity to carry out the mission alongside the defense forces.”

“…If you’re offering help, I won’t refuse.”

“Thank you.”

Denver gave her a slight bow.

Though Lila said nothing, she seemed pleased to have put the head of House Egerton in her debt.

She didn’t know it, but Denver had something to gain as well.

‘Good. I can capture it alive.’

Earlier, with Lila watching, he couldn’t order the creature’s capture. If he showed his obsession with the monster, Lila would certainly try to negotiate with him.

But now it’s different. He could pretend to participate in the defense force’s operation while separately capturing the monster.

Of course, the defense fleet soldiers accompanying them might try to stop the knights’ actions, but that wasn’t a concern.

‘Accidents are common in the midst of battle.’

Denver silently laughed with his head bowed.

–

‘Wow. If I didn’t have the Endurance trait, I would have just collapsed.’

After the effect of the Hunter’s Emblem ended, I nearly fainted on the spot.

A tremendous sense of lethargy and hunger hit me, independent of my will—not as bad as the monster’s tentacles that shut down my mind, but still severe.

Thanks to the newly acquired Endurance trait, I could withstand the lethargy, but the problem was the hunger that came as an aftereffect.

I had worried about the aftereffects of the Hunter’s Emblem, but experiencing it firsthand far exceeded my expectations. My sense of self grew dim, and only appetite dominated my mind.

‘If there hadn’t been corpses, I might have eaten them.’

Fortunately, thanks to No. 26’s quick response, I didn’t end up attacking them. It noticed something was wrong with me and handed over the corpses.

Only after devouring an entire corpse on the spot was I able to regain my senses.

“Are you feeling better now?”

[Zzzzz (A bit better)]

“Want to eat another one?”

I waved my hand at No. 26 to indicate I was fine. As it was about to remove the corpse it was holding, a small light caught my eye.

‘What’s that?’

Currently, we’re standing on the tracks before the passage leading to the nest. Perhaps because it’s such a dark space, even a small light seemed much clearer.

[Zzzzz zzzzz (Can I have that for a moment?)]

“Sure.”

I took the corpse from No. 26 to check it.

Seeing a faint red light coming from inside the helmet, I realized the power in the enhancement suit was still alive.

‘Could it be?’

I quickly tore off the battery attached to the back of the enhancement suit. The light in the helmet flickered and soon disappeared.

After confirming the enhancement suit was completely shut down, I tore off the head of the corpse. I threw the head inside to Adhigh and looked inside the helmet.

‘Ha.’

A small chip connected inside the semi-transparent visor. I know what that is.

‘…A reconnaissance chip.’

It looks exactly like the parts that go into customizing mercenary enhancement suits in the game.

I’ve spent more time encountering Megacorp as enemies than playing as them. So at some point, I became as knowledgeable about their weapons and equipment as a Megacorp ranker.

‘People who send mercenaries for reconnaissance mainly use reconnaissance devices.’

In classic strategy games, sending workers to scout enemy territory was a basic strategy.

Among Megacorp players, there were often cases of implanting reconnaissance chips in mercenaries’ bodies to gauge the enemy’s strategy or armament level.

‘This case is slightly different, but…’

The problem is that the enemy might discover the location of my nest. I crushed the helmet in my hand.

‘The nest is as good as compromised.’

I noticed before entering the secret passage, but it was still too late.

The enemy is no pushover. Even if they don’t know exactly where the nest is, they’ll surely search every subway line in the city to find it.

‘Even if I abandon the nest, it’s difficult to go to another planet during the council period.’

Even if I safely boarded a ship, if the enemy mobilized the defense fleet to chase me, that would be the end. No matter how tough and powerful my body has become, I couldn’t survive the fleet’s bombardment.

‘Let’s think step by step.’

There’s no need to think negatively from the start.

‘What are the advantages and disadvantages of fighting in the nest?’

I told the kids to wait a moment while I considered my advantages and disadvantages.

First, my advantages:

‘The enemy is likely unaware of the structure of the secret passage.’

According to the setting, the place where I’ve made my nest is an improvised passage created by the city’s construction workers for rest and movement. There’s no way maps or records would remain.

If a worker who participated in the construction were still alive, that would be different, but according to the setting, this city is over hundreds of years old. Unless they’ve undergone genetic modification, the probability of them being alive is low.

‘Also, being underground means I don’t have to worry about fleet bombardment.’

Unless the enemy is crazy enough to order bombardment above their own home, I won’t have to fight warships.

‘Plasma weapons are a concern though…’

Now that the Hunter’s Emblem state has been deactivated, weapons beyond the plasma bolters carried by knights are a threat to me. The soldiers in this city likely possess plasma launchers as well.

Both weapons can inflict fatal wounds on me.

‘Being underground, they probably won’t fire readily, but…’

I can’t be certain about this. If they intend to bury me completely, they might order indiscriminate use of launchers.

‘I should consider this a disadvantage. Plus, the narrow, linear terrain is also unfavorable to me.’

The structure of the secret passage is a complex maze, but the passage itself is narrow and linear. With no structures to take cover behind, if they pour firepower at me, I’ll have difficulty evading.

‘Even if I plan a strategy based on ambushes, if they mobilize dozens or hundreds of soldiers, that too has its limits.’

I don’t know about the city’s defense forces, but the knights are veterans. They’re unlikely to fall for the same attack twice in a row.

‘Using darkness for disruption tactics would also be difficult.’

While the nest is so dark that not a single point of light enters, they’ll surely come fully prepared for limited visibility.

‘…Let’s change our approach.’

A place that’s underground and that I know well. And a place conducive to minimizing and defending against enemy attacks.

To my knowledge, there’s exactly one place that meets these conditions.

‘The sewers.’

When playing as an AMorph in the city, I mainly moved through the sewers.

When I first came to this city after the game became reality, I debated whether to go through the sewers or the subway. At that time, I chose this secret passage out of concern for the high security in the sewers.

‘I was weak back then.’

I was in a Morphlet state with only one type. And I hadn’t obtained the transcendence system, my trump card. So I chose the secret passage, and until now, I’ve been able to hide from the enemy’s eyes and build up my strength.

‘But not anymore.’

Among the traits I obtained from the hospital, there’s a weapon good for situations like this.

‘Space Bacteria.’

When this trait is applied, a bacterium called “Space Bacteria” is automatically produced in the body.

Space Bacteria is like a chronic cold virus that emerged as humans ventured into space. It’s something that keeps producing new strains even if you want to eliminate it, but it’s not particularly lethal.

‘Space Bacteria only has the effect of lowering immunity, but…’

What would happen if the enemy were infected with Space Bacteria in a place full of all kinds of contaminants and viruses? For example, in a sewer full of polluted water?

In other words, the pursuing enemies would have to fight a dual enemy: me and the Space Bacteria in their bodies.

‘The truly fearsome enemy is the one within.’

Incoming bullets can be blocked with armor, but attacks that eat away from the inside are hard to defend against.

Lower-grade enhancement suits have built-in remedies, but they can’t perfectly block viruses or diseases in contaminated water.

Higher-grade suits are no exception. They might have prepared antidotes, but that would only buy them a bit more time. The end result would be the same for both.

They would all suffer and die in the sewer’s filthy water.

‘There’s another advantage for defense. The sewer is also a critical infrastructure.’

In an artificial structure floating in the middle of space, a malfunction in water-related infrastructure is a very serious problem. Water is essential for the survival of organisms.

Of course, a damaged sewer wouldn’t immediately kill many people, but it would undoubtedly deal a significant blow to the city’s operation.

‘So they’ll also try to minimize the use of plasma weapons.’

The final advantage is that the sewer is half-filled with water.

The enemy’s detection systems I’ve confirmed so far are heat detection and vibration detection. Both are not suitable for dealing with enemies hiding in water. They wouldn’t easily respond even if I hide and ambush them.

‘Though they’ll have maps of the sewers, so I’ll need to be careful about that.’

Considering everything, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The sewer is not a bad place to make a new home and battlefield.

Having decided to move to the sewers, I called the kids.

[Zzzzz zzzzz (Kids, this way)]

“That’s not home?”

“?”

[Zzzzz zzzzz zzzzz zzzzz (We’re not going home, we’re going to a different home)]

“Different home?”

[Zz zzzzz (Yes. New home)]

To get to the sewers, we first need to go outside. If we go through the station, we’ll be spotted by enemies, but that doesn’t matter. They already know I’m moving underground because of the signal device attached to the enhancement suit.

I took No. 26 and Adhigh across the tracks to another station. Along the way, I shot spines to destroy all the cameras.

‘Knowing that I move underground and knowing my identity are separate matters.’

The metal absorption extended by the Hunter’s Emblem effect has now ended. Since stealth has been deactivated, I need to be careful of cameras.

I quickly destroyed cameras while rushing with the kids to the station gate. Perhaps because it was late at night, the gate was closed. Before security and androids could arrive, I broke the gate and hurried outside.

‘The square manhole connects to the sewer.’

After coming out onto the street, I examined the shapes of manholes on the road. Most were round, but there was one square-shaped manhole.

[Zzzzzzz (This way)]

“Okay.”

“Hungry”

[Zzzzz zzzzzzz zzzz (You two eat as we go)]

“Can I eat too?”

[Zz (Yes)]

Since the Hunter’s Emblem effect has ended, I don’t urgently need food right now.

With my permission, No. 26 tore off an arm from the corpse and gave it to Adhigh, while it started dissolving and eating the leg part.

While the kids were snacking, I lifted the square manhole to check below.

‘There’s no alarm device at the entrance.’

There are no alarm devices within a 50m radius of the underground sewer. Assured of safety, I crawled underground with the kids.

“Wow! Water!”

After sending them in first, I turned the manhole cover back to its original position and jumped into the water.

‘It’s dirty.’

AMorphs don’t have noses, but they have very sensitive auxiliary organs instead. I can feel what the components of this black water are and what those floating mucous substances are.

But thanks to the AMorph’s incredible tolerance, it was bearable.

“Big one, I think it’s nice here.”

“Water” “Not bad”

Unlike me, No. 26 and Adhigh seemed to like this contaminated water. It makes sense for No. 26 since its home is the deep sea, but Adhigh was unexpected. It was floating on the water using its wings and tail.

I had planned to hide Adhigh separately if enemies invaded here, but seeing how well it’s adapting, that doesn’t seem necessary.

Finally, I checked once more for any alarm devices or monitoring androids in the vicinity.

‘I don’t know about other places, but there aren’t any here.’

As the thought that we’d finally arrived at a safe place sank in, the tension drained from my body.

It was a short time, but I felt fatigue from fighting strong enemies without rest, and lethargy from the aftereffects of the Hunter’s Emblem.

For the first time since becoming an AMorph, I felt tired.

‘Let’s apply the trait I got from the predation effect earlier and then sleep.’

I still have one trait left from eating the knights of Team 3 who were guarding the station. I accepted the trait application and then laid my body on the water.

[Zz zzzzzzz (I’m going to rest a bit)]

“Okay. You worked hard. Get some sleep. If something happens, I’ll wake you up.”

[Zzzzzzz (Thanks)]

After entrusting the rest to No. 26, I fell into a deep sleep in the contaminated water.