Chapter 277
Chapter 277
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 277
Chapter Title: Collapse (2)
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The psychic power bursting from the deer-antlered Cult crushed down on my body with overwhelming force.
Specimen 026 had unleashed 'Restraint,' its primary technique, followed in rapid succession by the advanced psychic skill 'Gravity Control.' The intent was clear: seal my movements, then unleash a devastating attack.
Of course, I had no obligation to play along with their plans. I prepared to counter, but the Specimen 026 cradled in the arms on my chest acted first.
A explosive surge of the Seed Demon's psychic power shattered the binding energy enveloping me. Feeling my body lighten in an instant, I unfurled my wing-arms and soared up toward the top of the silo.
Almost simultaneously, rainbow-colored orbs streaked past beneath my tail. The narrowly missed projectiles slammed into the shield wall encircling the command center and dissipated.
The enemy's technique was Color Bomb—a skill that inflicted massive damage along with random debuffs on any target it hit.
Hanging upside down from the middle of the silo, I adjusted the angle of the bio-cannon on my back. My targets: the Cult Ranker and the transport ship. Two spores filled with volatile secretions plummeted downward.
But once again, my attack proved futile. The spores vanished the moment they collided with the purple mandala the enemy had deployed. It crumbled away like a sandcastle swept by the tide, just like when my Psychic Breath fizzled out.
'It's not just blocking energy.'
After exchanging a single volley, we fell into a stalemate.
The enemy knew my identity. Naturally, they would carefully analyze the information gleaned from that brief clash.
I was in the same boat. Clinging to the silo, I observed her intently.
'Why is a Cult Ranker here?'
According to rumors before arriving at Kessha Arma, this fortress had been in pirate hands for quite some time. It might make sense in a game if it were a Cult stronghold, but a Ranker being here now felt off.
'Doesn't seem like a pirate like Muriel.'
If she were, Kartun would have mentioned his boss was a Cult pirate.
'Maybe one of Jason's comrades he mentioned?'
Jason remembered two Cult Rankers. One belonged to a different faction, so he didn't know much, and the other operated alongside him in imperial territory.
This opponent was a deer-antlered Cult, too—high chance it was the one Jason knew.
'Name was Cynthia.'
The deer-antlered Cult, Cynthia, possessed superior defensive capabilities even compared to Jason. That's why she mainly played the supporter role whenever they teamed up.
Not all Rankers excelled in direct combat. While some players like Jason favored aggressive techniques, others specialized in ally support and protection.
'A Ranker specialized in defense.'
The purple mandala enveloped her, the pirates behind her, and even the transport ship.
Jason had said this ability outperformed his own defensive techniques.
In fact, the purple mandala hadn't just neutralized my energy-based Psychic Breath—it nullified the explosive spores too. From what I'd heard, it could block attacks of all types.
Moreover, the mandala could be freely adjusted by the user to defend against assaults from multiple angles. Right now, she had shaped it into a dome to shield herself and those around her.
'Like a deployable skill akin to Complex Spectrum?'
In games, deployable defensive skills or traits were exceedingly rare. Most belonged exclusively to boss-level creatures. Players had some deployable defenses, but they came with harsh limitations or underwhelming effects.
'The problem is its weakness...'
Unfortunately, Jason didn't know the full details of this female Cult's special traits.
Part of it was the memory glitches from becoming a Face-Stealer, but his arrogance meant he paid little attention to anyone weaker than him. Given his personality, he probably saw the deer-antlered Cult as little more than a convenient buff dispenser.
'Guess I'll have to figure it out myself.'
Quickly organizing my thoughts, I scanned the enemy's attire first.
'Armor looks ordinary.'
She wore something resembling a loose stola, typical everyday garb for Cult nobility.
From the looks of it, they hadn't expected me here, even knowing who I was.
Not surprising. In the game, Kessha Arma wasn't a prime spot for Aimorph evolution. I wouldn't have come either without intel from the slave market.
'At least I caught them when they're weakened.'
｢Big baby. That one's scary.｣
At that moment, Specimen 026 in my chest-arms whispered via faint psychic waves, like a secret murmur. It was more sensitive to psychic power detection and manipulation than I was.
Truth be told, I shared its sentiment. Her shabby outfit didn't mean I could let my guard down. Even a support-specialized Ranker was still a Ranker—no pushover.
Staying vigilant, I asked Specimen 026,
[Zuzuzu zuz zuzuzu zuz zuzuzu zuzuzuzu (Can you restrain her like the others?)]
｢I'll try.｣
Its psychic power seeped out stealthily, infiltrating the silo's metal walls. Like a predator lurking in the reeds, it crept silently before suddenly blanketing the dome from above.
But just like the previous attempts, the Specimen's psychic power dissipated upon hitting the dome.
[Zuzuzu (No good)]
｢That flickering thing's interfering.｣
I stroked the dejected creature with a small arm.
'Same attack type, but internals pass while externals fail.'
Whether Specimen 026's Restraint or the enemy's, the mechanisms were identical—only the output differed. Yet it only allowed the user's attacks through.
'Nothing's perfect.'
This command center had a shield tough enough to withstand my Psychic Breath, but I'd pierced it anyway. The same went for that defensive skill. No matter how absurdly powerful, it had to have a flaw somewhere.
I spread the membrane of my folded wings wide once more. My body detached from the metal wall, gliding freely inside the silo.
Time to inspect Cynthia's fortress for any vulnerabilities.
"Wh-what the hell is that?"
"...The monster attacking this fortress."
"D-damn it! Where did that freak even come from...?"
"It's a very powerful enemy. You must not step outside this energy field under any circumstances."
"Isn't there anything we can do to help?"
"Staying put is the best help you can give me."
While reassuring the astonished Montana behind her, Cynthia's mind was in turmoil.
'Damn it...'
She tried to stay calm, but the dire situation made it hard to compose herself.
She'd clashed with the No. 5— the Aimorph Ranker—only twice before. This was her third encounter.
Her direct experience was limited, but she'd heard enough about its legendary infamy to make her ears bleed.
Jason, hunted relentlessly for months without respite for interfering with its evolution, eventually posting an apology on the community boards.
Akira, who lost three colony planets and suffered defeat in a fight against it.
Zubaka, unable to promote to Grand Chieftain for two weeks because it wiped out the Machine Council.
All members of the 'Dominion Faction' harbored a fear bordering on hatred toward the Aimorph.
The problem was that it wasn't just them. Members of her true faction, the 'Returners,' had warned her too.
Never cross paths with it.
If a fight seemed inevitable, run without fail.
The one who issued that warning had battled the Aimorph more times than anyone. His ranking was below No. 5, but he'd outsmarted it multiple times with genius-level tactics.
Even that elite had said to run unconditionally.
'If I could run, I would have by now.'
The moment it appeared, it targeted the transport ship. Whoever owned it, the Aimorph aimed to cut off their retreat.
Without her special trait, 'Mantra of Phase Defense,' she couldn't have blocked it so easily.
The Mantra of Phase Defense deployed a protective barrier of purple mandalas over a designated area—a tremendously powerful defensive skill. It blocked not only physical attacks but energy-based ones, unavoidable strikes like Vortex Orbs, everything.
Thanks to this, Cynthia often supported Dominion Faction members during player hunts. The shield's maximum radius was 10 meters—not vast—but enough for a small group.
Of course, it wasn't flawless. Besides the limited range, the Mantra had one fatal weakness.
She wasn't worried about that, though. Even players she'd teamed with only realized it much later. The odds of the Aimorph figuring it out in mere minutes were slim.
Right now, she had bigger concerns than the Mantra.
Her hands held the ultimate shield, but her weapons were lackluster. Killing it with her own power wouldn't be easy.
'And that pet it's carrying.'
The small pink creature nestled against the Aimorph's chest resembled a Bubble Amoeba but was actually a Seed Demon.
Pitting her psionics against a quasi-boss creature masterful in psychic control was sheer folly.
In fact, though she relentlessly bombarded the Aimorph with psychic techniques, the Seed Demon neutralized them all.
Meanwhile, it assaulted her barrier with every trait at its disposal.
Bio-bombs from the cannon on its back, venomous spines from its tail pincer—these were familiar from the game.
But the bubble mass launched while its body shifted to an ominous hue chilled her to the bone. Fortunately, the sinister bubbles vanished against the barrier.
As if anticipating this, it pressed on without pause. The instant the orbs dissipated, it dove into close range. One of its wing-arms swapped for another clawing at her shield.
｢Grrrrr｣
The Aimorph's claw touching the barrier melted away like ice cream.
First injury inflicted since the fight began—but too soon to relax. She swiftly extended her left hand toward it. A massive scythe of purple energy plummeted toward its head.
The scythe was 'Reaper's Hand'—a psychic technique specialized for slicing heavily armored foes, capable of cleaving battleship prow plating. This should shatter its head carapace easily.
Just as the scythe descended to bisect its skull, the Aimorph tilted its head slightly aside. The blade collided with its asymmetrical horn and disintegrated.
'Galleron horn!'
She'd thought it only neutralized defensive psychic skills, not that it could adapt like this. Flustered, she prepared a counter, but it was a step faster.
Its grotesque maw gaped wide, spewing green liquid like a fountain. The pus-like globs raining down made her flinch.
"Fuck, what the hell is that?!"
"...Disgusting."
Regardless of their visceral revulsion, the Mantra of Phase Defense held firm. Not a single drop touched her, splattering harmlessly on the surrounding floor.
The unprotected metal flooring hissed with toxic fumes as it melted away.
'...Acidic liquid.'
Acidic Breath was a new trait even for Cynthia. Committing it to memory, she unleashed another Reaper's Hand.
This time targeting its legs. The purple scythe sliced through the acrid fog. The Aimorph spread its massive wings and retreated backward, dodging the strike.
'Gotcha!'
She'd predicted the retreat. The moment Reaper's Hand launched, she followed with a Color Bomb. It tried to evade, but its bulk prevented a clean miss. The orb struck its abdomen, shattering part of the carapace.
｢Grrr!｣
"Well done!"
"That bastard!"
The Aimorph's brief groan mingled with cheers from behind. Staggering slightly from the Color Bomb, it clung to the silo.
'Good. If I keep this up...'
Her brief elation faded as she noticed something off about its posture.
'No Seed Demon?'
The pink creature it had cradled was gone.
The realization hit just as the floor beneath her shuddered violently.
'No way?!'
Melted hole in the floor. Missing Seed Demon.
It was targeting the one spot the barrier couldn't protect.
Spotting the ploy, she hurriedly readjusted the Mantra of Phase Defense. In that split-second window, cracks spiderwebbed the floor, and debris erupted upward.
Head-sized holes punched open, pink tentacles surging from below. Just before they could ensnare her legs, the barrier realigned.
A sickening slice of flesh tearing rang out as the tentacles went limp and collapsed. The dome-shaped shield had morphed into spheres, severing the intruders within.
'That was close...'
Relief was short-lived—a sharp pain stabbed her abdomen. Looking down, she saw the fabric around her stomach soaked red.
"Crazy bastard! What the fuck do you think you're doing?!"
"M-Master, I-I have to kill, have to kill, kill kill kill!"
Turning dazedly, she saw Montana wrestling desperately with the bodyguard.
The guard gripped his Gauss rifle, babbling madly, while Montana strained to hold him back.
Without hesitation, she cast Restraint, shoving the bodyguard outside the barrier.
"Gonna kill! Kill? Ki-kill, kill, gotta kill! Hehehe! Hahaha!"
The deranged guard charged the barrier and vanished in a puff.
Ignoring him, Cynthia quickly activated a recovery skill. Bleeding stopped, the puncture wound knit shut, and the pain ebbed.
"Wh-what the hell just happened?"
"...That thing's doing, I suspect."
Gritting her teeth, she glared at the monster clinging to the silo.
From the tentacles sprouting like a mane around its head and neck, rippling as if in wind, then stilling.
"What a shame."
The first words it'd spoken since the battle began.
A voice so commonplace it could belong to anyone—stolen from someone, Cynthia knew. She'd witnessed it once before in her prior fight.
But hearing it firsthand ignited a swift emotion deep within her.
It was fear.