Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Enhanced Screamers
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Mega Corp has Hulk Mutants, while Star Union has Screamers.
They're quite similar in that criminals are forcibly modified into combat weapons and boast grotesque appearances.
The difference is that Hulk Mutants are more often seen as allied mercenaries than enemies, whereas Screamers mainly appear as foes.
Unlike Hulk Mutants, who possess some intelligence, self-awareness, and a degree of freedom, Screamers have sound minds trapped in bodies controlled by machines.
'A prison of machinery, literally.'
Despite their name—"Screamer"—they can't even breathe properly without permission from the life-support AI embedded in their bodies.
The one charging at me with a deafening roar is no different. It shouted upon spotting me, declaring an enemy detected, but that was just automated dialogue triggered by the AI's programmed scenario.
Its pale skin bulging with veins comes into view up close as it swings its forelimb. A claw like a spider's leg, sharp and pointed, flies toward me to tear flesh from my bones.
I swung my combat arm to counter. As always, I expected its limb to bounce off harmlessly.
But.
With a thunk, its claw embedded into the plating of my arm.
'Huh?'
It wasn't deep, but I was startled. Since becoming a Near-Adult, no one had pierced my carapace in close combat except Muriel.
And it didn't end there. Its waist twisted grotesquely, and two metal legs on its rear targeted my eyes.
I whipped my head aside to block the claws with my carapace, then twisted my body, using the momentum to swing my tail in a wide arc.
My tail, covered in thick exoskeleton, swept across the floor. The pincer at its tip collided with the Screamer. Struck by the Swamp King-forged flail, it slammed into the corridor wall.
I'd swung with enough force to shatter it in one blow, yet it survived. A few metal bones were bent, but otherwise it looked fine.
'Why is it so tough?'
I've fought Screamers plenty of times—enough to know their capabilities inside out.
Yet this one's defense and attack power were off the charts.
'Not the Clever Weakling effect weakening it...'
Yes, my combat ability had dropped with my shrunken size, but even accounting for that, this mechanical beast was abnormally sturdy.
'It's been upgraded.'
Having gained some distance, the Screamer eyed me warily, breathing raggedly. After our exchange, it seemed to recognize I wasn't easy prey—its movements were now cautious.
I scanned the enemy carefully as well.
'No telling what other features they've added.'
Unlikely, but it might be hiding something that could threaten my life. I had to fight with caution.
Then it charged again.
This time, it didn't leap along the corridor floor. Instead, it scaled the walls and ceiling, stabbing its six metal legs into them with thunks.
'Trying to disorient me.'
I could climb walls too. Like it, I stuck to the walls and ceiling, racing toward it.
Our distance closed rapidly. Just before collision, it raised its two forelimbs high.
It aimed for my neck. An icicle-sharp blade targeted my throat.
Instead of blocking, I dropped from the ceiling. Its attack glanced harmlessly off my rear head carapace.
The Screamer didn't give up, lunging from above to claim my neck.
But my tail intercepted first. The pincer at the end seized its legs. Shrinking didn't erase all my strength. I clamped down.
It emitted a mechanical voice, struggling to escape, but firmly held, its resistance was futile. The metal legs snapped under the pressure. Fluid sprayed from tubes connected to the broken limbs, and its eyes bulged.
Its breathing grew harsher. I swung my combat arm.
It abandoned the gripped legs. My attack whiffed as it retreated.
After a few steps back, it bent its remaining legs and propelled itself fiercely. With its solid metal frame, it mounted my back. Its legs then constricted my neck and back carapace like a noose.
Was it trying to strangle me? No.
From near its hindquarters emerged a long, thin tail like a scorpion's—except ending in a triangular rotating sawblade instead of a stinger.
'Not on my watch!'
With it dangling from me, I slammed my back into the corridor wall hard. My weight plus full force made the entire ship shudder faintly.
The impact half-crushed its body. The legs gripping me loosened.
Yet in a final spasm, its tail sawed at my rear head carapace. Sparks flew on impact, illuminating the dark corridor.
'This is the real deal!'
I grabbed its tail and swung it like a baseball bat into the wall. Half-embedded, mechanical parts and life-sustaining fluids sprayed from it.
Mangled, it flailed its legs desperately to inflict damage. For the finisher, I impaled its body with the six horns on my head.
The life-support AI went silent after that. Tubes everywhere severed, legs all broken, tail ripped off and clutched in my grasp.
Soon, it spat out the tube fragment from its mouth. Its eyes had been bloodshot during our fight, but facing death, it looked almost peaceful.
"Tha... nk... you..."
Mid-sentence, gazing at me, its head drooped.
'Whew.'
This was the strongest Screamer I'd ever faced. The fight wasn't long, but it inflicted no small damage on me.
'Damaged my head carapace, of all things.'
A mere scratch, but not to be ignored. Further upgrades, and it'd be a mass-produced weapon lethal even to Aimorph Near-Adults.
'The kids are in danger!'
At least three Screamers on this ship. Tough for even me—what chance did the kids have?
Unlike my sturdy defenses, Specimen 026 and Adhai's were lackluster. One graze from that rotating saw tail meant death.
Leaving the corpse, I hurried on.
The gunfire echoing noisily during my fight had ceased. The battle was over. Unease washed over me.
Racing to Adhai—the nearest—I hit a fork. Right turn led straight to him.
I sped up, checking the right corridor.
There lay multiple corpses and the Mother of the Sky. Among the fallen, a mangled Screamer.
One downed creature had massive wings and a long tail.
'Adhai!'
Seeing him sprawled, my heart sank. But he lifted his head.
Adhai scratched at the tentacles serving as his mouth with a forelimb. After vigorously shaking off the gunk, he spotted me.
[Zuzu Zuzuzu (Everyone okay?)]
The Mother of the Sky, preening her feathers with her beak, glanced at me and responded nonchalantly.
[Zu (Yeah)]
Apparently, she'd taken on this Screamer.
Its head was severed from its body. Likely beheaded by her talons—precisely targeting the soft flesh over the sturdy metal parts.
[Zuzuzu Zuzuzu Zuzu Zuzuzu (Seemed reinforced metal parts. Nice work handling it)]
[Zuzu Zuzuzu (What do you mean?)]
Her cryptic words. She raised a talon, pointing at the dead Screamer.
The spot: its neck. Scratches marred the back—failed attempts to sever it.
[Zu (What?)]
She lightly scratched its skin with her talon. A griffon's claws are razor-sharp—even a graze should flay flesh.
Yet only a shallow scratch on the Screamer's hide.
Normally, a Screamer's head and torso differ little from standard cyborgs. The metal skeleton provides durability; organic tissues aren't specially modified.
Thus, in games, their weakness is the vulnerable torso. Heads vary—sometimes helmeted like gas masks—but torsos are consistent.
'Come to think of it, the one I fought was tough too.'
I slammed it into the wall while it clung to my back. Given my strength, its body should've been pulverized, not just tubes and legs crushed. Yet it didn't die instantly—landed a solid hit with its tail before perishing.
Only one answer.
[Zuzuzuzu (Hulk Mutant)]
She nodded silently.
'Made Screamers from Hulk Mutants.'
Though I said it, even I could hardly believe it.
Mega Corp and Star Union were at war. Core tech like Hulk Mutant production wouldn't easily leak to Star Union.
And even if obtained via espionage, converting them straight to Screamers wasn't simple.
'Star Union's gene manipulation tech isn't advanced.'
Excluding cloning, their tech and infrastructure lag behind Mega Corp's in every field. Tech alone doesn't guarantee production.
'Check if 026's safe first...'
A psionic wave hit me. From 026.
Bouncing sounds echoed in the dim corridor; soon, it appeared.
The Mother of the Sky and I were stunned by 026's form.
Enlarged, it filled two-thirds of the passage. Using the psychic skill 'Binding,' it held two Screamers captive.
Both Screamers were alive, despite their metal frames and legs twisted like pretzels.
Adhai fired a thought wave at the sight.
[Zuzu Zuzu Zuzuzu (Wait. No need for that)]
As Adhai's wave ended, I saw the two Screamers' heads twist oddly and quickly stopped 026.
[Zu Zuzu Zuzuzu Zu Zuzuzu (I need to grow fast, so I'll eat well)]
[Zu (Yeah)]
[Zuzuzu (Thanks)]
Releasing Binding, the Screamers flopped to the floor. They tried attacking 026, but with every leg component twisted, they were immobile.
'No black silver alloy, I guess.'
Had it been black silver, 026 couldn't have subdued them so easily. Praising it, I stroked the larger creature's body.
[Zuzuzu (Good job)]
It glowed faintly with joy, rubbing against me.
After petting 026, I approached the immobilized Screamers.
'Let's check right away.'
I had a tool for identifying unknowns: the psionic trait 'Insight.'
Acquired from hunting a space city cop named William, it randomly reveals enemy info.
'Just need the species name.'
Activating Insight, purple light gleamed from my eyes, illuminating the dark hall.
A translucent text box appeared before me.
Insight confirmed our suspicions.
Screamers made from Hulk Mutants.
What did this mean?
'Traitors collaborating between Star Union and Mega Corp.'
Their war spanned centuries. I'd seen Mega Corp humans despise machines.
Sure, some brass sold employees to Star Union for credits on the sly.
But leaking vital war tech? That's another level. Defeat in war would make credits irrelevant.
'Only one entity capable of this.'
A player in both factions crafting advanced Screamers.
And Star Union's player? I could guess.
'Machine Committee member—or higher. Otherwise impossible.'
Top Machine Committee seats are android-only. No players.
Thus, someone above: Star Union's supreme leader.
'The Great Leader.'
The current one maintains close ties with a Mega Corp player.