Chapter 253
Chapter 253
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 253
Chapter Title: Gremlin Clouds Unleashed
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The battle reignited.
Cyborg- and android-controlled ships swarmed in like hordes of ants. We all drew our weapons and countered them.
When the APDs closed in to intercept the Gallerons, the screamer support ships under PS-111's command moved to block them. Torpedoes loaded in the ship cannons launched, halting the drones' advance.
The patrol ships veered around the torpedo explosions, aiming to strike the support ships. With limited torpedoes aboard, the support ships couldn't fire recklessly at the patrol vessels. As the support ships fell into peril, a single fighter lifted off from the hangar.
It was Heaven's Mother, transformed into a gryphon beastkin, drawing the patrol ships' attention.
The fighter itself had standard specs, but the pilot was on another level. She executed skilled evasion maneuvers, breaking through the barrage of torpedoes. Not only that—she laid down suppressive fire on the patrol ships' bridges with the fighter's mounted storm gun.
The storm gun alone couldn't inflict serious damage on a patrol ship, but it was enough to draw their eyes. Several patrol ships broke formation to pursue Heaven's Mother.
The pilot's skill overwhelmingly favored the fighter, but the patrol ships' specs were superior. With enemies on her tail, her fighter was growing increasingly dangerous when a savior appeared out of nowhere.
The Red Queen, with red makeup on her head and wings. She accelerated like a comet, piercing through the patrol ships. The survivors fired torpedoes, but Heaven's Mother shot them all down with her storm gun.
While the patrol ships bought time, the destroyers entering effective firing range prepared a salvo.
I first unleashed a psychic breath at the patrol ships clustered around PS-111, then flew toward the destroyers.
The destroyers shifted targets to me, and a massive volley of torpedoes came raining down.
Thanks to the layered shells protecting me twofold and threefold, the pain wasn't severe. The only annoyance was the vibration in my sub-organ under the jaw from the successive blasts. I pressed forward, taking the barrage head-on.
Corrosion tentacles erupted from my back, latching onto different destroyers. I yanked them hard. Ships larger than my body mass shook from the tentacles before crashing into each other. Some overaccelerated in panic to flee and instead rammed into others.
Rear ships fired torpedoes, but I used the destroyers as shields to block them. The ensnared ships exploded, ejecting cyborg crew into space.
'They're holding up well.'
Everyone was showing combat prowess beyond expectations. Not a single Galleron was injured, and PS-111 and Heaven's Mother were fighting admirably.
Moreover, we weren't the only ones battling the Star Union fleet. I glanced at the flashing lights erupting far from the white planet.
The Mega Corp battleships that Sihyun Yujin's forces had brought. They too were under Star Union attack and locked in combat.
'Their diversion is lightening our load.'
But how long this advantage would last was uncertain.
We seemed to have the upper hand for now, but that wasn't the reality.
They still had numerous ships remaining, with even more reinforcements en route. It was fortunate the Grand Commander wasn't here yet—if he arrived, the tide would turn drastically against us.
'We need a breakthrough.'
Since the close-quarters fight with the 5th Fleet began, I'd destroyed four battleships carrying warpfinders. Confirmed ones still numbered six, plus hidden ones.
'Breath attacks aren't easy to land anymore.'
They weren't fools. After the first few hits, they scattered the moment I showed signs of using breath.
Charging in one by one as before would take too long. Even the warpfinder carriers were now dodging me erratically.
I hurled half-wrecked destroyers at the enemy while pondering. What other weapons did I have that could be effective against ships?
'Pass on Deep One's Colors.'
Psychic breath enhanced by Deep One's Colors specialized in destroying organics, and the boosted Gazer of Terror had little effect on non-living things. Psychic reflection armor was unreliable too, since the enemy favored torpedoes over energy weapons.
'Should I go back and devour the priest's golden spear now?'
The priest's golden spear grew exponentially stronger with more blood coated on it. Using the Plunderer's Irregular Polyhedron effect to predation it would likely grant its unique trait.
In this battle with massive casualties, I could gain devastating attack power.
'The issue is recovery from serious injuries would be tough.'
Dragon Heart ensured no energy shortages, but healing wounds was separate. For quick recovery from injuries, I needed the Predatory Leech Hand.
Eating the golden spear meant forgoing the leech hand.
'What's left is...'
I crunched a nearby battleship in my jaws while eyeing the text box.
'Great Infector.'
The 4th space monster type trait Great Infector could enhance three infection/nest traits each by type.
I hadn't experimented yet, so the boost level was unknown.
'Now's the time to test it.'
'Done?'
Despite the text box message, I felt no major changes in my body.
I activated the enhanced Gremlin Moss. Then, mutation occurred not inside but on the surface.
After acquiring the Great Infector trait, the blunt claws on my body vanished entirely. In their place, cylindrical bio-pipes sprouted.
Something began oozing from the pipe orifices that had shown no special effects until now.
It resembled smoke billowing from a factory chimney. Thick smog-like clouds spewed from the pipes, spreading over my body and surroundings.
'What is this?'
I gained a similar trait upon becoming an Adult. Pipes like bio-tubes grow on the back, emitting smoke to protect the main body. As an Adult, the body enlarges—increasing hit area—so it's for protection even without special traits.
But this was leagues beyond the Adult trait.
The widespread smoke clouds clung to nearby ships. Their lights all winked out.
The darkened ships came to a complete halt, motionless. Even as I approached, they showed no reaction.
'It's spreading Gremlin Moss!'
It had evolved from temporarily disabling machines on contact to generating clouds that neutralized touched machines.
'This changes everything.'
Against machine-based foes in a dogfight, it was the ultimate trait. The downside? I couldn't directly control the smoke clouds' movement.
I smashed the stalled ships, then flew toward the battleships providing rear support fire.
They fired torpedoes at me, but it was meaningless. Advanced torpedoes under control went dead upon touching the smoke—no, Gremlin clouds.
I leisurely dodged torpedoes floating in space and plunged into the clustered ships, bringing lethal Gremlin clouds with me.
-
"Hull damage from torpedoes exceeds 25%!"
"Switch the ship maneuver program to Peter Ezerton style and allocate an extra 5% energy to thrusters."
"Understood!"
"Fighter D Team wiped out! Only 5 left in B Team!"
"B Team, return to base. Have any damaged fighters from A, C, E, F Teams withdraw sequentially."
"Roger! This is the flagship..."
The crew moved with crisp precision under Sihyun Yujin's orders.
At the situation room's center, a 3D hologram displayed the ship's status and the attacking Star Union fleet.
As subordinates bustled, Sihyun stared coldly at the hologram.
'This won't be easy.'
The flagship's stealth gear—stolen Ezerton secret weapon—boasted top performance, but the enemy had superior detection equipment. With multiple warpfinders too, hiding or fleeing was impossible.
'If they fall...'
The Galleron pack and mystery ship were buying time against the 5th elite fleet, but limits loomed. Once Gallerons were gone, they'd be next.
'Should I use it?'
Her eyes fixed on the hologram, but her mind was on the item under her chair.
Her father, Jungwoo Yujin's legacy.
She hadn't used the weapon yet. But acquiring it hinted at its danger.
The relic from the massive volcano interior consisted of two parts: the functioning Abyss Destroyer and a crystal battery supplying energy. Simple—mount battery to weapon, fire energy. The problem was that energy.
After retrieving the battery from the volcano, odd things happened. Dead comms recovered soon after, and no beasts encountered during escape—as if monsters avoided her group.
This alone proved the weapon's immense power.
Yet she hesitated for one reason: her analysis showed it targeted kills based on genetic info.
Cyborgs were humans with machines. Attacking cyborgs meant killing humans. Misuse could instantly slay her own fighter pilots mid-battle.
No fighters left with enemies remaining spelled doom. Thus, Sihyun had been watching for an opening.
Then a subordinate's voice jolted her.
"Emergency report! Massive energy convergence detected! Star Union reinforcements preparing FTL jump!"
"What?!"
She snapped alert. Her butler, Minseok Yujin, standing behind her, shouted urgently.
"Estimated arrival?"
"Within 5 minutes!"
No more time to hesitate. She had to decide.
Another subordinate rushed in.
"The enemy fleet is converging on one point!"
"Protecting the incoming FTL reinforcements?"
"It's odd! The convergence point is quite distant from..."
"An unidentified entity is gathering the ships! Connecting to fighter cameras!"
Soon, poor-quality footage appeared on the hologram.
Far from the fighters, countless battleships and destroyers clustered. Even to battle novices, their formation looked wrong.
Battleships needed distance due to size. But these were packed so tight collisions seemed imminent.
And stranger still:
"Why no lights? Stealth field?"
No light emanated from the tightly packed ships. As if power was forcibly cut.
"Uh, it seems the ships' functions have stopped."
"EMP? Who did this?"
As Minseok and crew panicked, Sihyun spotted something amid the ships.
Smoke-like clouds of unknown composition darted between ships. One battleship touched by cloud went dark, turning into scrap like the rest.
Seeing it, Sihyun bolted up.
"Recall all fighter teams to the flagship! Prep FTL engines for immediate jump on my return!"
"Sihyun, what are..."
"Minseok, you're acting captain."
Leaving ship ops to Minseok, Sihyun grabbed the relic beside her and exited the situation room.
｢Sihyun! What are you doing?! Return immediately!｣
Ignoring Minseok's speaker pleas, she dashed to the hangar.
'This is the only chance!'
Whatever that smoke-shrouded creature was, it handed her a golden opportunity.
At the hangar, instead of boarding a fighter, she opened the hatch and leaped into space.
In zero-G, her white reinforced suit White Maiden activated. A white helmet covered her face; wings with thrusters emerged from her back. The thrusters fired, propelling her forward.
Returning fighters, ship wreckage, torpedoes, energy beams crisscrossing—she weaved through obstacles, activating the weapon in hand.
The crystal battery inside emitted eerie light, spinning up.
-
5th Elite Fleet, Nemean Fleet—XAX01-class battleship carrying the fleet commander.
Atop the steel fortress throne sat Mechanical Committee member Nemean Five.
Twice the size of standard androids, with cable "hair" evoking lush locks. The imposing Nemean Five had eyes closed.
He controlled the entire fleet via dangling cables. His metal mind surged with data.
｢Nemean Five. Report from Arrow Nine. 9th Fleet FTL prep complete.｣
｢Europa Two, Redtail Eight report. 2nd, 8th Fleets energy at 80%.｣
｢Meneb report! Analysis of Special Target A's emissions failed!｣
｢Krzanskiye reporting. Suspected EMP equivalent.｣
｢Shimurabi requests! Permission to use main cannons!｣
｢Nemean Five. Denied. Special Target A resists energy weapons. Delaying until 2, 8, 9 Fleets arrive is optimal.｣
Nemean Five's focus was on Special Target A.
His 5th Fleet was shattering in real-time, like ensnared by Metallic Gremlins.
Or perhaps it was. It neutralized Star Union ships with EMP-like attacks. Any ship touched by its microparticles halted instantly.
Whether affecting machines directly or not, even AI-controlled torpedoes missed—the clouds around it stopped them mid-flight.
Damage to 5th Fleet was catastrophic. Without reinforcements, retreat would be necessary.
｢Arrow Nine report. 9th Fleet entering FTL in 1 minute 12 seconds.｣
｢Europa Two, Redtail Eight report. 2nd, 8th Fleets FTL ready.｣
In minutes, Nemean Five would win. Securing Special Target A's corpse promised deep research.
Then, a cyborg captain reported: unidentified flyer from unknown Mega Corp ship approaching.
Nemean Five deemed it an EMP torpedo. Patrol ships moved to intercept per his order.
The torpedo would be shot down; the Mega Corp ship sorted later.
Logical calculus—but what followed exceeded it.
｢Krzanskiye! Unknown flyer emitting unidentified wavelength...｣
The cyborg captain's report cut off. Reports and messages ceased instantly.
Silence reigned, like hearing loss. He reissued commands—no replies.
Something was wrong. Nemean Five urgently transferred consciousness to his body.
Awakening, he snapped open eyes like camera lenses. The scene was utterly changed.
Cyborg aides littered the situation room floor, functions stopped per lens analysis.
The room was a cyborg graveyard.
Perhaps the whole ship—or fleet.
He synced cables to external cameras. All XAX01 cams became his eyes.
Thus, he realized it wasn't just his ship.
Numerous 5th Fleet ships broke formation, moving erratically.
Cyborg captains had died suddenly; ship AIs repeated last orders blindly. As the final report stated, the 5th suffered near-annihilation from the Mega Corp's mystery weapon.
Nemean Five messaged other fleets: abort FTL, stand by. Especially, Grand Commander must not come.
Perplexed, Grand Commander's comm arrived.
｢What happened?!｣
｢Nemean Five reporting. Chairman. Unknown wavelength spread here. Fatal to cyborgs suspected.｣
｢What nonsense! Who did this?!｣
Through linked cams, he saw Special Target A. It paused at the chaos, then spewed immense flames.
Like facing the sun. Near-infinite psychic power turned ships to scrap. Interfering via ship AI was hard due to microparticle clouds.
Only after torching most battleships did it stop, dispel clouds, and turn away. Gallerons from other fights followed, retreating.
｢Nemean Five suggesting. Prioritize cause analysis. Recommend aborting operation.｣
｢Arrow Nine. Agree.｣
｢Redtail Eight. Agree.｣
｢Let it escape right in front of us? You think that's...!｣
Grand Commander Jubaka's rage cut short upon reviewing shared footage.
Second senior member Europa Two analyzed instantly.
｢Europa Two. Agree. Chairman. Lethal cyborg wavelength in sector. Recommend entry after your safety secured.｣
Threats threatened both androids and cyborgs: Special Target A neutralized androids/ships; Mega Corp flyer killed cyborgs. Together, casualties would be too high.
Thus, the four senior members decided to halt the mission.
Machines existing for Star Union's survival, duty-bound to protect vital Jubaka.
Of course, if he insisted, they'd follow. But none believed he would.
He wasn't foolish. He knew this anomaly was extraordinary. And what his compromise would unleash—better than anyone.
｢Th-this bastard Morph punk motherfucker there! Blyat!｣
With that scream-like comm, Grand Commander Jubaka fell silent.
Meanwhile, Nemean Five watched Special Target A, Galleron ship, and Mega Corp battleship engulfed in blue light.
Moments later, only blue particles remained where they had been.