Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Traces of the Monster
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The data stored on the drone consisted of analyses and summaries compiled by the Star Union ship's computer, along with internal footage recordings from the vessel.
However, some of the files had been corrupted, likely due to collisions with fine particles in the asteroid cloud.
Though the data was incomplete and heavily encrypted, it posed no real obstacle for Sihyun and Layla.
Sihyun, trained in espionage while serving as Akira Yujin's shadow operative, and Layla, the family's promising prodigy who had received elite training and donned an advanced suit.
Both were far from ordinary, allowing them to effortlessly decipher the contents.
"Unknown creatures—four species—wiped out the soldiers aboard an X2-class destroyer? How is that even possible?"
"It's data logged by the Star Union ship computer. The chance of distortion is low."
"True, and there's footage to back it up, so it must be real."
Star Union's AI capabilities far outstripped those of Mega Corp. There was little difference in ship operations like route calculations or energy output management, but when it came to analyzing given information like this, Star Union's AI was superior.
Even Sihyun Yujin's flagship ran on Star Union AI—proof enough.
Layla knew this too, but the reality was so unbelievable she couldn't help voicing her doubt.
Right now, the two were watching the drone's video logs directly.
Cyborgs and androids fell without resistance to the onslaught of the four monster types.
"That D-Type creature—is it a Bubble Amoeba? The size difference is huge, but it looks similar."
"Hard to say. I've never heard of Bubble Amoeba wielding psychic power like that."
"Maybe an experiment from Ezerton or Za'o. They were big into Bubble Amoeba research."
Sihyun's mind flashed to a memory at Layla's offhand remark.
'Bubble Amoeba, psychic power, experiments...'
The first thing Sihyun recalled upon awakening in the cloning facility was her final moments before death. She had been plotting to eliminate Kisaragi Yujin, Akira Yujin's granddaughter.
Kisaragi Yujin had achieved remarkable success in Psionium and Hulk Mutant research, making her crucial to Akira—who had seized power through the Hulk Mutant project—and thus a prime target for removal.
Sihyun planned to frame Kisaragi's death as a scheme by rival families.
True to plan, Kisaragi Yujin died. All that remained was for Sihyun to fabricate the scene.
That's when everything went critically wrong.
A monster aboard the ship carrying Kisaragi's corpse had interfered.
Sihyun had discerned it was a being far superior to Shadow, the pinnacle of gene manipulation tech.
She tried to capture it alive, but the monster exceeded her expectations in strength. After a fierce battle, an unforeseen variable led to her defeat.
'The Bubble Amoeba on the research vessel.'
She had dismissed it as harmless, yet in that pivotal moment, the powerless thing obstructed her—using psychic power, just like in the footage.
'Kisaragi's final research topic was the psychic potential latent in Bubble Amoeba.'
Gathering intel to kill her meant Sihyun knew her studies well.
'What are the odds a psychic-wielding Bubble Amoeba would be on that ship?'
Leaving Layla to the video, Sihyun double-checked the drone's data.
Of the four creatures, info on A-Type and B-Type was the most scant—likely due to stealth abilities, as they weren't even on the footage.
A-Type drew Sihyun's attention. She pulled up the computer's notes on it.
In summary: exceptional physical prowess, produces acidic fluids that melt ships, high intelligence, prefers ambushes.
Reading this, Sihyun thought of the monster that killed her—one that carried a Bubble Amoeba, leaked acidic blood, and possessed keen intellect.
It matched the A-Type that annihilated the Star Union troops, though it seemed much more grown now than when they clashed.
'The monster! So you survived!'
At the T&C special trade hub, she had sensed its presence. She was transporting a bomb then, so no direct encounter.
The city collapsed after, but Sihyun was certain it lived.
A highly intelligent being would escape somehow and lurk out there in space.
Her judgment had basis.
After the collapse, Sihyun rescued Layla's drifting medical ship and learned the full details from her: events in the city, and Layla's ambition to study the monster for next-gen Hulk Mutants.
Sihyun glanced at Layla.
'No need to mention it yet.'
As a Noble Capital, Layla obeyed Sihyun out of revenge and ambition.
Revenge on the monster that ruined her, and using its corpse to claim T&C patriarchy.
Those two goals kept her alive, even in her half-dead state.
'...In that way, she's like me.'
Shaking off the thought, Sihyun checked the data's timestamp: exactly 10 days ago.
Too much time had passed; tracking the launch ship would be tough.
'Study this intel first.'
She didn't know when she'd face it again. She needed to absorb everything about it beforehand.
'If I just get that weapon...!'
The ancient relic they were heading for. With it, even a clever monster could be hunted.
Quiet flames kindled in Sihyun's eyes.
-
"Destroyer 98 located!"
Sanada Ef, acting fleet commander of the Nemea Fleet, shouted in high tension.
Usually sloppily dressed while piloting the flagship, he now wore a black military uniform adorned with a red insignia on his chest.
The emblem—a fist encircled by twelve stars—was the Star Union symbol.
"Search complete! Captain confirmed alive inside!"
He donned the uniform—rare even for combat—and the insignia because two entities watched him.
"Question. Sanada Ef. Are there other cyborgs?"
"Uh, ahem! Nine more survivors confirmed!"
The questioner was Nemea Five, one of Star Union's twelve supreme councilors and Sanada Ef's direct superior—a hyper-advanced android.
Nemea Five was a tough boss, but not what truly rattled him.
"Nemea Five reporting. Chairman, shall we commence the operation?"
"Proceed."
The Machine Council's chairman and Star Union's great leader, Jubaka, observed from capital world Sacks-01.
Hearing the mythical supreme dignity's voice nearly made Sanada Ef faint.
"Orders received! Initiating docking! Combat units, stand by for entry!"
"Order. Prepare. Other ships."
"Arrow Fleet acting commander! Orders received! Target locked!"
"Redtail Fleet acting commander! Orders received! Target locked!"
He issued commands, barely holding back tears. The other captains echoed him, yelling into comms—likely sharing his dread.
They were on a search mission for Destroyer 98, missing for 10 days.
After arriving in AD-100 system for FTL repairs, it went dark and rogue—even performing multiple FTL jumps despite reported damage.
Normally handled by Nemea Five alone, but Jubaka's interest drew three elite fleets in pursuit.
Finally, in a neutral sector trade hub, they found it—adrift amid bustling freighters.
Known bio-ship infected, it retained the X2 destroyer's shape but was pitch-black, mimicking surrounding space—clearly in severe contamination.
"Docking complete! Breaching now!"
"Order. Permitted."
Sanada Ef's flagship docked beside 98. Punished for failing to manage subordinates, his ship led the interior search.
Other fleets kept distance, weapons trained. Any anomaly, and they'd fire.
"All signals detected from the bridge. Vitals nominal across the board. No anomalies."
"Search every corner. Who knows what we'll find."
"Gr-Great Lea— ahem, understood, sir!"
Androids and workers boarding 98 streamed footage live to all ships and Jubaka. Sanada Ef monitored via neck cable.
Interior choked with toxic chemical mist. Camera adjustments revealed throbbing flesh everywhere.
Jubaka muttered at the sight.
"...Nemea Five. Archive everything without fail."
"Nemea Five responding. Archiving now. No worries, Chairman."
Field teams, unaware of the exchange, swept the ship quickly. They soon reached the bridge.
"Wh-what is that?!"
Sanada Ef recoiled at the feed.
The stark, utilitarian bridge was gone—replaced by tentacle-vines, bulging spore sacs bursting open, repulsive pipes spewing toxic fog.
Not a bridge, a nest. A horrific, loathsome creature's lair.
In its profane heart: Destroyer 98's captain Kaines Q and eight cyborgs, bound tight by rigid tentacles, dangling from walls and ceiling.
"C-Captain Kaines Q and eight crew! All accounted for! No casualties so far!"
"Order. Verify."
A worker approached the wall-stuck Kaines Q to prod him. As it neared, Kaines Q thrashed wildly.
"Wh-what? Why's it suddenly...?"
"What's happening?"
"98's captain—heart rate spiking."
Face wrapped in tentacles, he forced his mouth open and screamed.
"Get everyone out now! This ship has... guh!"
Mid-sentence, he vomited blood and slumped. His vitals flatlined black on Sanada Ef's display.
"Destroyer 98 captain—dead!"
"Dead? Suddenly why—wait. No way?"
Jubaka, seeing the death, realized something and yelled urgently.
"All units, withdraw! Disengage from 98—"
Before Jubaka finished, a massive light erupted from 98's engine room.
Sanada Ef never learned it was a bomb.
-
'Hmm?'
"Biggie, what's wrong?"
I jerked my head, prompting 26 on my crown to ask.
[Zzuzzuzzu zzuzzu zzuzzuzzu (Nothing. Don't worry)]
"Okay."
[Zzuzzuzzu zzuzzuzzu (Cramped, right?)]
"No way! Being all squished together with Biggie, Midgie, and Lil' Me is the best!"
[Zzuzzu (Good)]
As 26 said, my massive frame had Adhai and Mother of the Sky pressed tight against it.
'Definitely cramped.'
No choice to evade Star Union pursuit.
Three days ago, I ditched Destroyer 98 for a new ride.
Reason: while eroding the ship and combing logs, I found Captain Kaines Q had fired a rescue drone.
'His dumb stunt complicated things.'
To shake pursuit, I had to swap ships right after 'Nightmare Horizon' cooldown.
Finding a ride mid-void space is no picnic, so I rerouted to a busy trade sector.
'Cost me extra time beyond plan.'
Wasted a week, nearly killed Kaines Q in rage—but held back. Instead, devised fitting punishment.
Parasite booby-trap op.
Ordered cyborgs to build bombs, then implanted heart sensors: stop beating, boom.
Day I ditched, bound all nine cyborgs in the bridge, planted bomb in engine room.
'If Star Union shows...'
Infested cyborgs would scream to flee. But that's against my will—enhanced parasites punish instantly.
'Cyborg dies? Kaboom.'
Infection Enhancement let parasites last 5-6 days sans swap; added symbiotic spores as grub insurance.
Only then ditched 98 safely.
Today, three days on, I sensed new parasites regenerating inside. Nine dead simultaneously—bomb triggered.
Plan worked.
'Took 'em longer than expected. Should've snagged a better ship.'
Current vessel: freighter bought in neutral sector, unclaimed by any faction.
Mother of the Sky, Volf-shifted, handled purchase. Funds from selling ship's drones and androids.
Could've hijacked a passerby, but nah.
'They think I'm a bio-ship. No way I'd buy and switch to normal ones.'
Even if players track me, no issue—worse for them.
'They know me as Aimorph.'
Aimorphs don't chat or bargain. Dream not I'd roll with three pals.
'Plan's smooth, but ship sucks.'
Rushed buy fearing pursuit—barely 60m long.
'I'm over 25m myself, so...'
Plus rations: cyborg combat packs, energy drinks from neutral sector—stuffed full.
Space so tight, we're sardined four abreast.
'Lucky 26 can shrink.'
Down to 50cm, dozing on my head.
"Big" "adult" "hungry"
[Zzuzu zzuzzu (Hold on)]
Galleron navigator Adhai coiled on my tail. I spawned tendrils, grabbed energy drinks, passed 'em over.
"Thanks"
Quick thanks, then slurped via tendril. Unlike calorie bars or cyborg rations, energy drinks tasted apple cider-ish—decent.
"Should've gotten a bigger ship."
Mother of the Sky last—back to Volf form, glued to my flank. Claws and spines irked her; she fidgeted.
'Help her out.'
Tweaked ship structure for a comfy nook.
[Zzu (Better?)]
"Thanks, but won't this cramp you?"
[Zz zzuzzu zzuzzu zzuzzuzzu zzuzzu zzuzzuzzu zzuzzuzzuzzu zzuzu (Fused with ship—no biggie)]
"Kinda jealous."
[Zzuzzuzzuzzu zz zzuzzu (Tight, but bear 1.5 months)]
She sighed softly. Convo ended.
Refocused on FTL—then she murmured.
"Thanks for caring."
[Zzu (Sure)]
She thanked awkwardly, shut eyes. Soon, even breaths.
Leaving sleeping Mother of the Sky, I pressed on with FTL.