Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: Even the Great Leader is a Player
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'Even the Great Leader is a player.'
I knew of four players up to now.
The Space Dogs player Muriel, a cyborg who could transform into other species; Sky Mother, the Wolfkin mother of the skies; and the two players from Mega Corp and Cult who supported her.
And now, a Star Union player had been added to that list.
'If Star Union is an enemy, that's going to be a pain.'
Since they primarily operated machines, they had poor synergy with Aimorphs like me, who gathered Gene Essence. No matter how many enemies I devoured, I couldn't grow stronger against them.
Besides, unlike fighting Mega Corp or Cult, I couldn't exploit their complex political structures with deception tactics against Star Union.
Mega Corp had power shared among various families, and Cult was rife with competing political factions. But Star Union had only one power structure.
'The Machine Committee.'
And the head of that Machine Committee was the Great Leader. Becoming enemies with him was tantamount to antagonizing all of Star Union.
'No. It's not confirmed yet, so no need to worry prematurely.'
There was a more pressing issue.
Who exactly was the Mega Corp player collaborating with him?
'Someone with Hulk Mutant manipulation tech, able to easily access Star Union's upper echelons.'
Suddenly, the Mega Corp player supporting Muriel came to mind.
'No way?'
I'd assumed the player aiding her was a high-ranking member of the Garmelda family. Upgrading and supplying gear to other players was a hallmark of Garmelda players.
But on second thought, all the equipment she used was Star Union-made.
Psionium was officially a Mega Corp black-market awakening agent, but it had been developed by Star Union. Blood River was gear only cyborgs could produce, too.
At the time, I'd thought Muriel the cyborg had acquired it, and the Garmelda player had upgraded it.
But if it was actually a Star Union player, a Garmelda player, and Muriel—three entangled players...
'No. Not enough evidence.'
Blood River was high-end gear, but producible as long as you covered the costs. For a cyborg pirate like Muriel who could disguise as other species, it wouldn't be hard.
Even if there was another Star Union player helping Muriel, no guarantee they were the Great Leader.
'Better to see them as separate factions.'
The ones supporting Muriel, and the Screamer affiliates. It made sense to assume two distinct groups.
If I was really unlucky, the factions might be collaborating. Then I'd have to fight not just Muriel's supporters, but the Screamer crew too.
'Still not certain.'
I forcibly cut off the endless speculation.
Being cautious was good, but excessive paranoia could hinder sound judgment—like shackles.
Back to basics: The Mega Corp player involved in creating Screamers was at least Prime Capital level. Gene manipulation tech demanded it.
And someone who could mass-produce Hulk Mutants narrowed it further. Like the Ezerton knights I'd seen before, Prime Capitals could only gene-mod up to enhanced humans. Hulk Mutants required Noble Capital status.
'And among Noble Capitals, the Yujin Family excels most at gene modification procedures.'
Sihyun Yujin and Code Black, whom I'd fought before—they were Yujin Family creations.
They harbored multiple genes without notable side effects.
Other Noble Capitals couldn't match that.
'But this Screamer doesn't seem to require such advanced tech.'
I examined all the Screamers. Cyborg exteriors, but closer inspection revealed differences.
'This part's ripped from Coldblood's hardening genes, and this looks like muscle enhancement changes.'
All Hulk Mutants synthesized from two, maybe three genes. Other Noble Capitals could manage that level.
'Confusing.'
Impossible to guess the Screamer affiliate in this state.
I shared my deductions with Sky Mother, another player.
｢The Great Leader could be a player since cyborgs need it for their ending.｣
[Zuzz(That's right)]
｢Maybe the Garmelda ranker you suspected allied with the Great Leader.｣
[Zuzzuzz(Why?)]
｢Screamers are half-biological, half-machine. Mass-producing Hulk Mutants for them requires machine and weapon tech knowledge too.｣
Valid point. For mechanical weapons over bioweapons, Garmelda outshone Yujin Family.
｢Or maybe both families colluded.｣
[Zuzz zuzzuzz zuzzuzzuzz zuzz(Players in both families?)]
｢Low chance, but possible. Even if not, a player from one could sway the other.｣
[Zuzzuzz zuzzuzzuzz zuzzuzz(Be cautious, though unlikely)]
｢I'll report any clues I find.｣
No concrete info on Screamer production. Just speculation of player involvement.
'What's left...'
The fresh prey Specimen 026 had gathered.
｢Big baby, eat up quick. It'll go bad.｣
｢Deny｣｢Just｣｢Tasteless｣
｢Shut it.｣
In the game, killing Screamers yielded no Gene Essence. Half-bio, half-machine, but system-classed as machine.
'Not here.'
Hulk Mutants were Gene Essence goldmines. Killing these live Screamers would claim their traits intact.
'Use Manifestation of the Hunt?'
It massively boosted Predation spawn chances. The only way to secure lots of Gene Essence.
Downside: massive energy drain post-effect caused ravenous hunger. Even I struggled to stay rational.
'That one Hulk Mutant has a decent Gene Essence.'
One Screamer body held Coldblood Gene Essence.
'Coldblood has lots of organ-related traits.'
I'd acquired 4 organ types so far, unlocked 3 more via conditions. Originally Special Defense and Space Monster types, but devouring a Star Union manpower ship unlocked new ones.
｢⑦ Organ-related: Muscle Reinforcement, Heat Emission, Digestive Fluid Secretion Enhancement
-Organ fusion trait: Revenant Organ｣
The manpower ship carried diverse sapients, granting rare organ traits en masse.
'Organ' traits focused on enhancing/deforming internal organs, unlike general body traits. Few direct combat boosts, but specialized in supporting others.
'Most are duds, but some are excellent.'
Among mine, only Revenant Organ (from 'Dormancy') was standout, but others were usable.
'Especially neural mods synergize great with psionic traits.'
Like infection with nest traits, psionics synergized with certain organs.
Energy efficiency traits I sought were organ-classed too.
'No guarantee eating grants them.'
I eyed the live Screamers, conflicted.
'"Preserve energy against clever weaklings," it said.'
Decided after pondering.
'Test it now.'
Might need it later in Clever Weakling state. Better check while safe.
I warned the kids I might lose it again—pass me other corpses quick.
｢Big baby's so hungry. Poor thing.｣
｢Big｣｢Adult｣｢Glutton｣
26 sent pity waves; Adhai teasing thoughts. Glared, then looked to Sky Mother.
She nodded silently. She'd help; no worries.
Reassured, I activated Manifestation of the Hunt.
"Damn it!"
Ship 98 Captain Kanezcute spat curses at the blacked-out biosignals. Contact with cyborgs severed since the unknown monster attack began.
Even the Machine Committee-issued Screamers were dying fast. He knew they were made from criminals, but damn effective war machines.
Them falling helplessly meant the enemy was no ordinary foe.
｢Emergency power to reactivate cameras.｣
98's semi-good news didn't ease him.
'Goddamn, not just one!'
Drone bay wrecked, no remote drone cams, but androids worked.
Couldn't adjust cams here like ship ones, but saw what androids saw.
Syncing dozens of android views, he spotted the boarded monsters.
Invisible pair, four-legged furry beast, pink balloon with unknown powers.
Not even in Star Union beast arenas.
"Analysis on them?"
｢Analyzing C, D-type unknowns. C: highly agile, tough claws/beak. D: estimated prophet-level psychic density.｣
"A and B? Why invisible?"
｢B: high-speed flight. Damage suggests carrier-jet speeds.｣
"...How many auto-nav drones left?"
｢Drone bay gone; 6 viable.｣
"Tch. Transmit all data to them."
｢Transmitting.｣
"Post-launch: auto-nav, signal rescue in 10 hours."
｢Confirmed.｣
He yanked his neck cable. To relay info to Nemean Fleet somehow.
'Targeting key facilities—they're not just brute monsters.'
Strategic enough to predict carrier escape. No flight anyway; fight to the end.
'Nemean Fleet will avenge me, beast!'
Grabbed situation room weapons, armed up. Heading out, 98 reported.
｢Set.｣
"...Good work."
｢Safe travels.｣
Usual exit message, but sounded supportive now.
Kanezcute entered the dark corridor.
Despite wrecked cyborgs/androids, pre-situation room hall silent.
Pulse Gun (Stormgun lightweight) in one hand, he controlled drone terminal. Sleek orb drone hovered overhead.
Androids/Screamers wiped; his lesser arms unlikely to win.
'Doesn't matter.'
Revenge plan launched. Lips tight, he watched ahead.
Staring into dark, sudden vibration hit.
Long-time crewman, but this floor rumble unfamiliar. Steady rhythm shook alloy walls.
'It's coming!'
Gripped Pulse Gun hard. Soon, rough low sound—like Screamer breath, but fiercer. Like hyperdrive, but savage.
Monster growl, obvious.
'Damn! Where?'
Noise/vibes neared; no sight. Scout drone circled blindly.
'Footsteps audible, no thermal... Wait, sound?'
Quick-adjusted drone/self to vibration/wavelength detection.
End of hall: the monster, corridor-filling terror.
Huge, six thick horns ceiling-high. Skull-like face. Elongated maw gripped severed Screamer head. Eye spots: jagged spines/plates, angle-illusory eyes amplifying dread.
Jaw-below: four threatening bone blades, twitching ready to slice.
Body fur-shrouded. Breathing glimpses showed multi-legged.
"......"
Facing it, Kanezcute lost all will to fight.
Buying time? Sick joke.
｢Enemy spotted.｣
Without drone, dead frozen. Snapped to, bolted opposite way.
It swallowed Screamer head, pursued. Massive steps boomed.
Desperate sprint; neck chill—ducked. Blade jaw sliced hall. Alloy walls paper-cut clean.
"Hek!"
Dodged, but tumbled down soon after.
"Hii, hiik!"
Sensing doom, eyes shut tight.
Time passed; alive. Peeking: its face nose-close.
"You're the captain, right?"
"......"
Female voice from maw. Too tense to reply.
It asked again to shivering him.
"Last chance. Are you the captain?"
"Y-yes!"
Satisfied, it pulled head back.
Like dud suicide trigger. Survived, sighed.
But next act froze him.
"Almost killed a useful one."
Extended arm. Thick fur inside writhed outward.
"From now on, Star Union isn't who you serve."
Seeing black wriggling worm from fur, Kanezcute wished to faint.