Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Ep. 132
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‘Indeed.’
I sorted through the information I’d gathered while chewing on the head of the MCAE pilot.
‘...No wonder I wondered how they killed the Seed Demon. I never imagined it happened like that.’
Strictly speaking, these humans hadn’t killed the Seed Demon themselves.
Instead, this research base where I now stood—this massive structure—had dealt it a fatal blow.
‘A base with space navigation capabilities. I couldn’t even imagine it.’
According to the pilot, excluding the elevator protruding upward from this base, the central zone and the ring-shaped sections functioned as a spaceship. After landing on a planet, they used resources stored in the MCAE and the ship to construct additional necessary facilities.
‘That’s why there were MCAEs specialized only for space pioneering.’
Besides that, I’d thought the submersible’s design was unusual because it resembled an escape pod, but it turned out it actually was one. They’d repurposed parts from a small spaceship to make it into a submersible.
In any case, the PH-101 research base had arrived here via faster-than-light travel and landed on the ocean floor to study deep-sea lifeforms.
‘And it collided with the Seed Demon during the landing process.’
Neither the base’s central computer nor the Seed Demon lurking beneath the sea had anticipated the crash.
The central computer had simply selected terrain suitable for stably landing the kilometers-long ring-shaped spaceship. The problem was that the Seed Demon happened to be resting there, exhausted after battling Pale Mask.
This base’s entire outer hull was made of black silver alloy, making it undetectable to psychic-sensitive creatures.
Just as the Fishrians had gravely wounded Adhai with a black silver harpoon, weapons made of black silver posed a major threat even to mighty beings like the Seed Demon.
Given the size of this ship, it must have inflicted damage equivalent to an orbital bombardment on the Seed Demon.
Of course, if the Seed Demon had been in perfect condition, it would have dodged somehow and minimized the collision damage, but the circumstances didn’t allow it. It was already injured from fighting Pale Mask, and on top of that, it was extremely old and in a state of senescence.
‘Coincidences piled up, leaving the Seed Demon with wounds too severe for natural healing. And then...’
The Fishrian village that witnessed this took a friendly stance toward the humans who attacked the Seed Demon. Because they worshiped Pale Mask, not the Seed Demon.
In exchange for providing the humans with black silver weapons, the research base’s crew received food and guards from them.
Normally, such a deal would never happen. Even if the Fishrians were amicable toward humans, the humans themselves would refuse.
‘But the situation changed.’
PH-101 was a planet under Cult surveillance. The research base had sneaked in through a gap in the weakened surveillance net, but for some reason, the net had become far more stringent than expected.
It was probably because of Muriel. She appeared to be a deer-horned Cult at first glance, and one of the two players supporting her seemed to be a high-ranking Cult member.
With the surveillance tightened, the base’s humans found themselves isolated here.
Vital supplies like food were running low, and they had no idea when they could leave. They had no choice but to rely on the Fishrian village.
While the base’s humans waited for rescue, the wounded Seed Demon died.
The researchers tried to retrieve its corpse with the Fishrians’ cooperation, and that’s when Specimen 026 and Adhai appeared.
‘The Seed Demon sent a signal to 026 before dying.’
Whether it was a call for help or a warning to stay away, no one knows.
What matters is that 026 received the signal from the Seed Demon and tried to help it.
And in the process, both were captured.
Thanks to interrogating the pilot, nearly all my questions were answered. Plus, I gained some extremely important and useful information.
‘So this base is a spaceship.’
That means I can dominate it with ‘Nightmare Horizon.’
The cooldown has a bit left, but having a way to move to another planet is encouraging. Once the cooldown ends and things stabilize, I’ll try dominating it.
‘Everything’s satisfactory except for one thing.’
Before dying from my interrogation, the pilots left behind some words.
‘Since 026 escaped, this place isn’t safe anymore?’
The nuance didn’t seem to point at me specifically. The base’s humans feared something vague and undefined.
How should I describe that reaction?
The awe and terror felt before a colossal disaster.
‘Maybe I should catch a Fishrian and ask.’
The only flooded-free zone left in the research base is the central one. Everyone else either got caught and killed by me or drowned.
‘26 must have taken care of anyone coming to the central zone.’
If there are any survivors left, it’d only be Fishrians who can survive long-term in water.
‘For now, let’s link up with 026.’
I shoved the remains of the pilot into my mouth and retraced my steps.
By now, the corridors in Zone C were completely flooded. My tail swayed side to side behind me, propelling my body forward, while my hands—webbed between the fingers—parted the water ahead, steering my course.
Unlike when tormenting prey, I didn’t need to move slowly, so I reached the corridor leading to the central zone in an instant.
I easily smashed through the bulkhead separating the isolation zone between the central area and the corridor, and inside were 026 and two Fishrians.
One was being eaten alive while gripped by 026’s tentacle, starting from the feet. The other dangled helplessly from a tentacle, unable to move.
｢You’re here?｣
[Zzzt zzzt (Wait a sec)]
｢Why?｣
As I entered, the water filling the corridor poured into the central zone with me. The scattered flesh chunks and blood on the floor were swept away in an instant.
Riding the current toward 026, I examined the bound Fishrian.
‘Still alive.’
[Zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt (I need this one)]
｢Ugly human bad guy? He bullied little baby!｣
[Zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt (Just for a bit. I’ll give him back soon)]
｢You gonna punish him? If you’re punishing, take him.｣
[Zzzt (Yeah)]
026 seemed to really dislike these Fishrians. For example, the one it caught was being eaten slowly from the feet up, not the head.
“......”
What must it feel like to have one’s feet and lower body melting away while fully conscious? Not that it could scream. 026’s tentacle was sealed over its mouth.
‘Self-inflicted.’
Seeing the harpoon floating nearby, I understood 026’s intent. I turned away from the Fishrian with only bits of bone and muscle left in its lower half and looked at the bound one.
Its eyes were thick with fear. Taking it from 026, I snapped all its arms and legs with my combat arms.
“Kweaaak!”
“I·have·ques·tions·to·ask.”
“Kii, kiii! Devil of the deep sea! Father won’t forgive those who oppose him!”
Despite the agony, it didn’t cower and kept yelling noisily.
“Be·quiet.”
“Kweeeek!”
“Keep·yap·ping·and·it·hurts·more.”
“...Kiik.”
I crushed its wrist, and it quieted down immediately.
With that obedient attitude, it seemed ready for questions.
“What·are·the·hu·mans·here·a·fraid·of?”
“Guruk. Father hates devils!”
“Fa·ther?”
‘Referring to Pale Mask?’
Pale Mask is just what humans call it. Naturally, the Fishrians have their own name for it.
Ignoring my question, it kept rambling.
“This nest is the devil’s prison. If the captured devils escape, Father will be angry.”
“De·vil?”
“That pink terror! Terror!”
The Fishrian bared its teeth at 026. I smacked the back of its head to shut it up.
｢Why’s it acting like that?｣
[Zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt (It’s nothing)]
Honestly, it wasn’t smooth communication even as empty flattery, but I could understand what these fish zealots were saying.
‘Pale Mask won the territory battle against the Seed Demon and let its guard down. If a new Seed Demon shows up now, of course it’ll be pissed.’
Until now, this black silver research base had acted as a stealth device, but breaking part of the outer wall blurred the boundary between inside and out.
Unlike the Seed Demon, which detects prey via psychic power, Pale Mask uses an incredible sense of smell and vibration organs to hunt.
‘Its detection ability far surpasses my auxiliary organs. It’s probably already aware of 026 by now.’
“Guruk guruk, the guards failed their duty. Soon Father will descend. Devils, you too shall face Father’s judgment!”
The Fishrian cackled, as if confirming my thoughts.
No more useful info from it. Time until the uninvited guest arrives is short.
I spread my mandibles wide and crushed its head.
[Zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt (Time to go now)]
｢Still some left...｣
[Zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt (The one who killed your friend is coming. Gotta get revenge)]
｢Friend? Friend! Gonna beat up the bad guy who killed my friend!｣
Understanding my waves, 026 shook its tentacles excitedly. It seemed eager to settle the score with the killer of its kin too.
‘It’ll follow 026. No need to fight here then.’
I might need this research base as a spaceship later, so I shouldn’t damage the outer hull further.
Combining forces with 026, I could gain the upper hand against Pale Mask, but winning without injuries is unlikely. Fighting here and wrecking the base would mean losing my chance at Nightmare Horizon.
‘Not here. Let’s head up.’
With Sky Mother and Adhai joining from above, we can subdue Pale Mask without major losses.
[Zzzt zzzt zzzt (Let’s get out)]
｢Yeah.｣
As it replied, 026 tightened the tentacle holding the Fishrian. The merfolk’s body shredded into chunks; 026 swallowed the head and followed behind me.
｢Let’s go!｣
‘Hm.’
Watching it cheerfully shout while dissolving a fish head made me feel like I knew how others viewed me.
‘...Save pointless thoughts for later.’
I approached the massive cylinder at the zone’s center—the underwater elevator. It had a gate for submersibles to enter and exit.
Exiting through here would take us straight up.
[Zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt (Might be dangerous, so be careful)]
Warning 026 first, I gripped the gate’s seam with my combat arms and pulled. The massive black silver bulkhead groaned, and then a storm-like blast of air hit my carapace from the pressure difference between the elevator interior and the zone.
The seawater filling the entire zone surged upward like an ascending dragon. Grabbing 026, I crawled into the underwater elevator.
The wide cylinder filled rapidly with water, carrying 026 and me swiftly upward.
｢Whoa! It moves on its own! So cool! Fun!｣
As expected of a deep-sea predator, 026 seemed unaffected by the pressure changes.
Mid-ascent, my auxiliary organs detected something. A large creature was approaching the elevator at extreme speed from outside.
‘Pale Mask is following.’
Matching that, faint vibrations rippled through the elevator walls.
Not from the water. Pale Mask’s roar outside was slamming waves against the outer hull.
‘Almost there.’
As we neared the top, I curled my lower tail tightly then snapped it open wide. Propelled by the fins and claws on my tail, my body shot upward.
My head carapace then smashed into the closed elevator door. My horns shattered the exit gate, freeing us from the research base.
｢That was fun just now!｣
Finally truly free, 026 plucked all its fins from its body.
Its form glowed with mystical light, pinkish-purple fins fluttering lightly like dancing in the sky.
Expressing joy across its whole body, 026 swam through the dark ocean depths.
It looked like a celestial nymph descending to earth in winged garb.
‘Who knew Seed Demons had such a form.’
｢Big baby! Feels so good, I love it!｣
026’s joyful frolicking was a sight to behold. If time allowed, I’d swim with it, but not now.
‘Not visible yet, but...’
Looking down at my tail, I couldn’t see Pale Mask, but my auxiliary organs felt it. The rage-filled beast was closing in at tremendous speed.
[Zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt (Let’s play together later. Gotta go now)]
｢Okay. Play together later.｣
I swam with 026 toward the island. In water, 026 was much faster than me, so it matched my pace.
Suddenly, it sent waves my way.
｢Big baby! Bad guy’s following!｣
[Zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt (Ignore it and keep going)]
A roar echoed from behind me. As the sound grew closer, so did the distance to the island where Sky Mother and Adhai waited.
｢Over there!｣
Then 026 shot something from a detached tentacle strand toward my rear.
A psychic power technique different from ‘Binding’ headed backward, and the roars mixed with pained groans.
Thanks to 026, Pale Mask’s pursuit slowed slightly, letting us reach the island safely.
Sky Mother and Adhai had finished with the Fishrian village and were waiting.
｢Adult｣ ｢Little adult!｣
｢Little baby! You’re safe!｣
｢Morfpark... Huh? What’s that behind you?｣
[Zzzt zzzt zzzt zzzt (Pale Mask. Everyone, battle stations)]
The moment I sent my waves, a massive creature emerged behind me. Sky Mother recoiled in shock at the sight.
｢What? Pale Mask? This fucking...!｣
｢Adult｣ ｢Enemy｣ ｢Scary｣
｢That bad guy killed my friend! Gonna beat him up bad!｣
｢I｣ ｢Little adult｣ ｢Heard｣
Facing the new formidable foe, everyone readied for battle.