Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Clash with the Metallic Gremlin Horde
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Space Survival lives up to its name as a space-based game, featuring a wide array of species types.
Some intelligent species build civilizations and societies like humans do, while others, like Aimorphs, view every living thing as mere prey.
The charm of Space Survival lies in how choosing different species lets you experience an entirely different game.
That said, as previously mentioned, Space Survival is a space-based game. No matter which species you pick, venturing into space is essential to progress.
So, what poses the greatest threat when first stepping into the cosmos?
The community generally points to two major dangers.
One is the Space Dogs that spawn as NPCs.
These are hostile NPCs programmed to always target player ships. Plus, being NPCs, they respawn indefinitely no matter how many you kill.
For players just entering space, figuring out how to defend their ship from Space Dogs becomes a critical challenge.
The good news is that Space Dogs aren't backed by an upper-tier cartel. With a decent warship and proper armaments, they're not too hard to fend off.
The real menace to players roaming space isn't the Space Dogs.
It's the 'Metallic Gremlin swarm.'
This is a negative event that requires an entire fleet, not just a single ship, to handle.
Like Space Dogs, Metallic Gremlins are a playable species, but the ones in this event are all NPCs.
'Of all the times for this to happen...'
I knew there was a very low chance of a Metallic Gremlin swarm appearing in I-97—lottery odds, basically—so I hadn't worried much. But here we are.
'This is bad.'
The white cloud—no, the Metallic Gremlin swarm—is closing in fast.
It looks like a cloud, but that's just because it's packed with Metallic Gremlins covered in their silvery hides.
Judging by the size, it's at least mid-tier. No way a single ship can take that on.
'Should I just stay put?'
Right now, I'm in the process of assimilating and controlling the pirate ship Calvin.
Metallic Gremlins only go after metal, so if I'm lucky, they might pass me right by.
'...No.'
Too risky. If I let them get close and they suddenly swarm me, it's game over.
Sure, as a ship-fused entity, my defenses outclass a normal vessel, but their numbers are overwhelming. Thousands of them, at least—there's a limit to what I can defend against.
'Have to fight here.'
No choice but to battle and look for an opening to escape via FTL drive.
You might think, why not just FTL out now? But that's tricky, thanks to a higher species lurking in that swarm.
'Warp Boy.'
Among Metallic Gremlin variants, there's one called Warp Boy.
Warp Boy has no other abilities—just a unique special skill called 'Warp Guide,' and its effect is insanely powerful.
'Mass teleportation, no less.'
In this game, ship FTL jumps, the spirit tuning Code Black used, and other teleport abilities all have restrictions.
Spirit tuning can't be used solo; FTL guzzles massive energy, and so on.
But only two creatures can teleport large groups without any limits, and Warp Boy is one of them.
There's a Vortex One with unrestricted teleportation too, but you only encounter it in the late-game. Warp Boy, on the other hand, can show up early if you're unlucky, making it far more threatening.
'At least it's just mid-tier.'
Great Herds—large-scale or bigger swarms—have multiple Warp Boys, but mid-tier ones have just one.
If I can kill that one, I can shake the swarm off safely.
Less than five minutes until the swarm arrives.
I need to prep for the fight in that time.
First, I gave Adhai and No. 26 a quick rundown on how we'd tackle them.
Adhai, the only one among us capable of space dogfights, took on the role of intercepting enemies directly.
'And No. 26.'
No. 26's job was to halt or disrupt their movements.
Metallic Gremlins have incredibly tough bodies, but almost no resistance to psychic powers.
Larger swarms have ones that can resist psychics, but not this group.
I reshaped the hull to create cover and entry points for Adhai and No. 26 to hide or retreat inside if needed.
After sending them out, I moved all the stormguns the pirates had used to the exterior.
'Motion sensors for targeting should make them work fine.'
I replaced depleted ammo and low-battery units using assimilation tendrils.
With the new machine gun turrets complete, I crafted one infused with my traits.
A biochemical turret firing mold spores, leveraging my decay mold organ trait.
'Short range, so mid-to-close quarters.'
Finally checking the plasma turrets, I eyed the approaching Metallic Gremlin swarm.
They were about to enter plasma range.
I channeled energy into every plasma turret on the hull.
Destructive power capable of bisecting a ship that thrives in harsh space surged into the alloy barrels.
'Fire.'
Countless green beams lanced toward them, streaking like comets across the night sky.
Comets with green tails pierced the pristine white cloud. Numerous Metallic Gremlins oxidized on impact, but far more filled the gaps left by their fallen kin.
｢■■■!｣
The enraged Gremlin swarm hurtled toward me. I scanned for the Warp Boy within.
'Usually in the swarm's core.'
Would've been nice if my plasma shots got it, but no such luck.
As if to prove me wrong, a faint blue flash flickered at the edge before vanishing inward.
'There it is.'
Warp Boy is smaller than regular Metallic Gremlins—only 50cm—but sports blue stripes, making it stand out from afar.
'Hard to nail with plasma.'
That dodge showed it's way more agile than expected. Without someone pinning it down, it's a tough catch.
'Wait until No. 26 can cast Fear of the Deep Sea.'
But I'm not letting them close in easily. I recharged the plasma turrets.
As energy built, the Gremlin swarm suddenly glowed blue.
'Warp Guide!'
I hurriedly focused on the rear thrusters. Energy diverted from the turrets to propulsion, rocketing the ship forward.
'Reload while advancing!'
From the darkness astern, the Gremlins burst forth in a blue haze—just as I'd predicted. My turrets unleashed hell on their emergence point.
On black canvas that swallowed all light, green and blue paints collided.
The beams clashed, but the blue cloud— the Gremlins—gained the edge. They'd achieved their goal.
｢■■!｣
｢■■■■!｣
The Metallic Gremlins tailed me relentlessly.
Up close, their ragged forms were stark: sleek silver skin devoid of fur, sucker-like mouths baring teeth—not a pretty sight.
As they entered effective range, hull-mounted stormguns activated. Depleted uranium rounds poured out like a tempest.
Their hides shrug off laser weapons, but stormguns are another story.
Palm-sized slugs hammering by the hundreds? No surviving that. Gremlins targeting me exploded on impact, their signature silver blood painting the void like a galaxy.
｢■■! ■■!｣
Yet the Gremlins showed no sign of retreat. Their kin's blood seemed to fuel their fury as they pursued with even greater ferocity.
'Next, plasma.'
The ship guns fired first.
Twice-burned, they scattered instantly on the third volley. Only the sluggish stragglers turned to ash.
While overheated plasma turrets cooled, the Gremlins charged again.
'Not done yet.'
Judging them close enough, I prepped the next weapon.
Elongated barrels atop the hull spat mold spores.
｢■■■?｣
Unfamiliar with the spores, they didn't react at first. The cloud drifted unhindered into their midst.
Like flour balloons bursting, spores exploded, decay molds clinging to the Gremlins.
｢■!｣
｢■■■!｣
Their ugly faces twisted in agony from the black infection. Unable to endure, some latched onto allies, spreading the mold in a vicious cycle.
'Perfect. If this keeps up... Damn!'
It was working better than hoped, but Warp Boy countered. Infected Gremlins glowed blue and teleported far into space.
Even some uninfected got warped away, but Warp Boy didn't care.
｢■■! ■■■■!｣
I fired more spores, but they'd heeded the warning—staying clear of their trajectory.
'...Smarter than in the game.'
Warp Boy's sharper than expected: great situational awareness, top-tier swarm control.
'Annoying, but...'
I still had aces up my sleeve.
Mid-stormgun and plasma barrage, a green flyer launched from my ship.
｢Hunt｣ ｢Begin｣
Green Galleron Adhai. It zipped faster than the slugs, blasting foes with purple lightning.
Psychic-weak Gremlins convulsed under the psionic bolts. Paralyzed ones fell to uranium rounds and plasma.
｢■■!｣
Warp Boy tried warping part of the swarm near my ship. As some glowed blue, the awaited moment arrived.
'Here it comes.'
Terror from the abyss gripped me.
Beneath the hull, tentacles rivaling planetary scale erupted—hundreds of them. Overwhelmed by the sheer mass, the Gremlins froze.
Beyond the tentacles, in the galaxy's depths, a massive eye emerged, fixating on them.
｢■■!｣
｢■■■!｣
Panicked shrieks erupted. Eyeless, they wouldn't see what I did—but Fear of the Deep Sea hits the mind directly.
They'd feel those planet-crushing tentacles with their entire bodies.
'Way scarier without seeing it.'
｢■■■...｣
As predicted, dozens broke from the swarm, hearts stopped by the awe-inspiring dread.
Not because they're cowards—I know the feeling, even aware of its nature, chills ran down my spine as they rose below.
The tentacles vanished in an instant.
No. 26 had adjusted so it spared me and Adhai.
But No. 26's skill was still raw; some Gremlins snapped out, Warp Boy included.
｢■■■■!｣
Warp Boy dodged inward, expecting beams.
No more delays. I fired the guns.
Green beams sliced through. Warp Boy's arm vaporized, but it lived.
｢■■■!｣
It glowed blue—probably fleeing.
'Not yet!'
The hull reshaped instantly at my will. Thick tentacle bundles sprouted from the prow.
They glowed purple in unison.
Draining my mental energy, vitality, and the ship's reserves, immense power converged at the bow, forming a purple orb far grander than my normal form.
The essence of psionic power gleamed in my grasp.
Gremlins freed from illusion stared blankly at the radiant sphere, like moths to flame.
Adhai, spotting the sun-like psionic orb, rushed back to the ship to avoid the breath range.
｢■?!｣
Clever Warp Boy realized my intent and prepped FTL—for its allies instead.
Simultaneously, the purple sphere streaked as a line, cleaving space.
Half the white cloud ahead vanished without trace, as if never there.
But no time for joy.
'Damn it!'
Warp Boy, before dying, had FTL'd its kin.
Dust now, but its swarm leaped space successfully.
｢■■■!｣
Half the Metallic Gremlins latched onto my hull.
The fight wasn't over.