Ch.99Nightmare Beyond the Horizon (4)

–

Normally, Space Dog cartels make their money by raiding ships of other species. When they successfully plunder a superior vessel, they often abandon their old ship and switch to the new one.

As a result, most cartels focus only on their ship’s weaponry while neglecting other aspects.

However, the Ruslock Cartel was different.

Their main source of income was capturing and smuggling rare animals. Plundering was merely a secondary income stream.

This meant they had many other priorities beyond weaponry.

Facilities for safely storing captured animals, food storage for the animals, and carrier craft facilities for capturing creatures living in space, among other things.

With so many requirements, Ruslock Cartel’s ship was relatively massive compared to the cartel’s size.

At 300 meters long and 70 meters high, this spaceship was comparable in size to a Megacorp’s small destroyer.

The Ruslock Cartel’s ship was named the Calvin.

It was a name Milo had given long ago after capturing a Star Union trading vessel.

This massive predator was now approaching new prey.

“Ten minutes until we reach the signal.”

“We’re so close, why can’t we see it?”

The massive display at the front of the command center showed nothing but endless darkness.

Skywhales are creatures that emit light from their bodies like deep-sea animals. Their light is both beautiful and vivid, making them easily visible from great distances.

In the uniformly black expanse of space, they should be even more visible.

Milo ordered his subordinate:

“Check the signal again.”

“It should be visible by now…”

Just then, an emergency signal sounded in the command center. It was from the central AI computer controlling the ship.

“Collision warning! Collision warning!”

At that moment, a pitch-black ship appeared on the display. The distance between the ships was dangerously close.

Milo shouted in shock:

“Holy shit! Emergency evasion!”

“Everyone hold on!”

The ship’s hull shook violently from the evasive maneuver. The black ship visible on the display passed by them and disappeared beyond the screen.

All the pirates except Milo screamed and tumbled to the floor.

Milo, a wolf Volf and skilled warrior, maintained his posture and shouted at his subordinates:

“You lazy monkey bastards! Don’t just lie there, check if the merchandise is intact!”

“Yes, sir!”

At their captain’s angry shout, the subordinates quickly got up. They tapped at computers to assess if there was any damage inside the ship.

“Why wasn’t a ship right in front of us detected?”

“I’ll check, sir.”

First Mate Stax, rubbing his sore backside, operated a terminal in the command center. His expression soon turned strange.

“Captain.”

“What?”

“You know how Star Union ships are excellent at detecting energy flows, right?”

“Of course I know.”

“Well, there’s no electrical signal being detected from that ship.”

“What?”

The first mate displayed what he had confirmed on the terminal onto the main screen.

His statement was true, which confused Milo.

“What? So the ship we almost crashed into is already dead?”

“That’s not all. The signal we’ve been tracking is coming from that ship.”

“…”

In other words, the ship they had just passed was a contradictory existence—a vessel with no functioning machinery that was still emitting biological signals.

‘What kind of monkey balls situation is this?’

As Milo and Stax pondered, someone in the command center muttered:

“It’s… it’s a ghost ship…”

Milo frowned at those words.

“Which monkey bastard said that? There are no ghosts in space.”

“B-but Captain, you know! The D-Dvara Cartel was destroyed after encountering a ghost ship…”

A few months ago, the Dvara Cartel, once acknowledged as the ruler of the C-08 sector, had completely collapsed in a mysterious incident.

According to rumors, the captain and first mate of the Dvara Cartel had gone out plundering as usual but disappeared after encountering a ghost ship.

“W-we may be pirates, but we can’t fight ghosts!”

“We need to escape immediately!”

Milo stomped his foot on the command center floor. When his footprint was clearly imprinted on the solid metal panel, all the pirates fell silent.

“All of you, shut up. There are no ghost ships.”

“Captain! But…!”

“Think logically. C-08 is hundreds of light-years away from here. Are you suggesting a ghost ship traveled here using FTL?”

“B-but since it’s a g-ghost ship, wouldn’t it be possible?”

“Fucking hell, next you’ll say ghosts can fire plasma cannons and deploy shields. What nonsense.”

The captain’s calm attitude quickly restored the pirates’ composure.

After confirming the fear had left the pirates’ eyes, Milo gave his orders:

“We need to check what that ship is. Stax, take some men and go investigate.”

“What?”

“It would be more dangerous to send only these cowardly monkeys, so you need to command them directly.”

“…”

“Kid, I’ll be watching everything, so don’t worry.”

“Fine. Yes, sir.”

Stax nodded with a disgruntled expression.

Whatever the case, capturing a ship usually brought more profit than loss.

All cargo on board would become their property.

‘Wonder what’s on it.’

After sending the first mate, Milo stared at the mysterious ship displayed on the screen.

–

‘They’re here.’

Sensing the approaching ship, I opened my eyes.

It’s been a week since I arrived in this I-97 sector.

During that time, I’ve been busy checking the functions of the infected ship.

‘The fact that FTL travel is possible is encouraging.’

The biggest advantage of infecting a ship is that I can utilize most of the functions of the infection target as if they were my own body.

Beyond basic navigation functions, FTL travel using the light-speed engine is also possible without issues. In this case, I can use the ship’s remaining energy instead of my own.

‘Otherwise, maintaining the ship for long wouldn’t have been easy.’

Since I can draw on plasma energy, I could similarly use turrets if they’re available.

Another advantage is that I can transform the ship’s structure into any form I want. I can create traps with my characteristics applied to the ship.

I can create spores on the ceiling that shoot decay mold, or transform parts of the floor into ghost claw traps. It’s essentially a second body.

‘I’ve made good use of the monster’s tentacles too.’

That ship looking for me came because I created large monster tentacles inside the ship and emitted waves.

They probably mistook it for a Skywhale or Gallergorn.

While this all sounds advantageous, like everything in life, there are clear disadvantages too.

‘It’s unfortunate that I can’t move while controlling the ship.’

The infection tentacles extending from my carapace are connected to the ship, making movement impossible.

In this state, I can call my children or move my body slightly, but travel is out of the question.

Also, physical characteristics are restricted and cannot be used.

‘If it were possible, the applications would be endless.’

I could attach wings to the ship’s exterior for planetary atmospheric travel, or combine bite force with metal absorption characteristics to bite other ships and strengthen the main body. It’s disappointing that all this is impossible due to restrictions.

And while infecting one ship, I cannot infect or control another.

Naturally, the tentacles on my body need to connect to the ship, so I can’t use them elsewhere. I can create new tentacles near the inner or outer walls, but these can’t be used for infection.

If I want a new ship, I must abandon the current one.

‘Still, the tentacles themselves aren’t bad.’

Even without special functions, I can use them to hunt enemies.

‘That ship is bigger than I expected.’

As the ship approaches, its size becomes clearly perceptible.

It’s almost three times larger than the ship I control.

Not many Space Dogs operate vessels of that size.

Usually only top-tier cartels or those primarily engaged in smuggling run such large ships.

‘Judging by the detectable personnel, it’s not a top cartel. There are too few of them.’

My guess is they’re smugglers. And not just any smugglers, but skilled ones.

‘Their facilities for smuggling are well-equipped. They also have carrier craft, though not many.’

It resembles a Star Union trading vessel or a Megacorp assault ship, but I’m not certain.

‘I’ll need to board that ship to confirm the details.’

If it’s the ship I think it is, it wouldn’t be bad to switch to it.

‘If it’s a smuggling vessel, there should be plenty to eat.’

Moreover, targeting a smuggling ship would give me access to information about smuggled animals stored in the ship’s computer.

What lives on which planet, which routes allow safe infiltration to planets, and so on.

‘Considering Transcendence Level 2, I need to capture wild animals too, not just sentient beings.’

In fact, not just for Transcendence Level 2, but also for evolution conditions—transitioning from subadult to adult requires various animal genes.

‘Seems like my next destination is decided.’

Of course, I need to secure control of that ship first.

Conveniently, their ship is attempting to dock with ours.

Before welcoming guests, I should check if domination is possible.

I concentrated and created infection tentacles on the outer wall of the ship I control.

A long docking port emerged from the enemy vessel and attached to my ship.

During this process, the infection tentacles secretly attached to the lower part of the docking port.

A translucent text box appeared, guiding me when selecting infection targets.

As I already knew, immediate domination wasn’t possible. Still, I could check whether to target it for infection.

‘Let’s see.’

The infection tentacles completed their check and reported the results to me.

‘Good news that domination is possible.’

It’s promising that a pirate ship three times larger can be infected, but there are also some issues.

First, the time required for infection is longer than it was for this ship.

‘Five hours until completion.’

Additionally, the time I can maintain domination is only ten days.

‘As the size of the domination target increases, the energy required to maintain it also increases.’

So I need to consume as much energy as possible before starting the infection. That will extend the domination period.

‘I need to move carefully.’

I withdrew the infection tentacles from the outer wall.

‘It’s been a week already, so changing ships isn’t a problem.’

However, since I don’t have much energy, I’ll need to prepare after transferring to that ship.

‘I should hunt and gather energy first.’

Devouring the smugglers and smuggled animals on that ship should provide enough energy to dominate the ship for an extended period.

After that, when the opportunity arises, I can complete the infection and the vessel will be mine.

‘But first, let’s deal with those who have boarded this ship.’

A group, possibly an exploration team, started crossing over through the docking port. I weakened the door connected to the port to allow them easy entry into the ship.

<What’s this? Why is it so weak?>

<At least we don’t have to waste time, that’s good.>

<Stop chattering and get in.>

The voices of the pirates entering the ship are transmitted into my mind.

This ship is my nest and essentially my body, so I can know everything they say, do, and even their physical condition.

‘They’re wearing spacesuits.’

The pirates already knew this was a dead ship and came prepared with spacesuits. They also brought various weapons to respond to potential crisis situations.

They even brought bombs, perhaps intending to destroy the ship if they deemed it problematic.

‘Not that it matters.’

The weapons they carry might be useful for capturing dangerous wild animals, but what awaits them now is not a simple creature.

Who could imagine that the ship they’re standing on would be targeting them?

<Let’s split up and search.>

<Yes, sir.>

<Ah, Justin. Go check the engine room.>

<Engines are expensive. Got it.>

The pirate group began to split up to quickly search the ship.

‘Good.’

Before they arrived, I radically altered the internal structure of the ship. It’s practically a maze now.

‘Plus, there are many traps.’

I closed my eyes again.

One of the intricately twisted corridors in the ship connected to the engine room where I was.

<Mother fucker, this is creepy as hell.>

Justin, the one called earlier, was walking toward the engine room through the suddenly transformed corridor, completely unaware.

–

“Huh? This should definitely be the engine room.”

Justin, an engineer working for the Ruslock Cartel, was well-versed in ship structures, whether Megacorp or Star Union.

The passenger ship they had entered had a three-level structure, with the engine room located on the lowest level.

Normally, stairs leading down should be visible by now, but all that was before him was a corridor so long he couldn’t see its end.

“What is this?”

This ship isn’t as massive as the Ruslock Cartel’s vessel, the Calvin. Having walked continuously until now, he should have reached the opposite side of the ship by now.

‘Something’s wrong.’

With a sense of foreboding, Justin activated the communicator in his spacesuit.

“First Mate Stax?”

“*static* What *static* this *static*”

“First Mate?”

“*static* monster *static* retreat *static*”

Only unintelligible words and unpleasant static came through the communicator.

“N-nothing’s wrong, right?”

The Calvin is standing by outside. If something had happened on this ship, they would have taken measures already.

Forcibly reassuring himself, he continued forward.

In the corridor filled with blackness, the light attached to his spacesuit was the only illumination.

Darkness, and more darkness.

Even the light from his lamp seemed like it would be absorbed into these eerily black walls.

As he walked, Justin heard something.

“Kyarrrrrk.”

“!”

He turned around in shock.

Though it was clearly the corridor he had walked through, it felt strangely unfamiliar. As if the passage had moved on its own while he was walking.

“I-I must have misheard. That must be it. Yes, definitely.”

After muttering awkwardly to himself, he continued walking.

The moment Justin took a step, he heard the sound again.

“Kyahahaha.”

“W-who the fuck is there?”

In space, and on a non-operational ship no less, what he heard was clearly the laughter of a young girl.

Despite wearing a spacesuit, he could distinctly feel goosebumps rising all over his body.

‘M-motion detector! If I turn that on…!’

He hurriedly took out a small device from the tool pack attached to his waist.

It was a motion detector that senses the movement of living beings and displays it on the radar attached to the device.

When he activated the motion detector, a green light came on.

“It works… huh?”

Looking at the results on the radar, he doubted his eyes.

Signals were being displayed from the entire surrounding area.

“W-what is this?”

A signal was displayed right in front of him. In shock, he looked up and faced ‘them’.

Eyes appeared throughout the entire corridor where he stood, staring at him.

Purple glowing eyes on black walls.

Meeting those eyes, Justin found himself screaming.

Escaping the downpour of gazes, he ran like mad.

A door is visible ahead. A door leading to the engine room that had been completely invisible until now. It was waiting for him.

“COME.HERE.”

Was it an auditory hallucination caused by extreme fear? Or was it the heart of the ship calling him?

Justin couldn’t tell who was calling him.

It didn’t matter to him anyway, as he was desperately seeking someone’s guidance.

Following the call, Justin opened the door to the engine room.