Chapter 283

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 283

Chapter Title: Cleanup (2)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

'What’s this?'

The text box message was about the mark of a new formidable foe.

I'd gotten three perks from devouring and claiming Jason before. Two of them had merged with traits I already possessed, becoming 'Abyssal Hues' and 'Form Dominator' respectively.

Only one had remained as an incomplete Mark of a Formidable Foe, lacking a compatible trait to synthesize. I'd acquired countless traits before arriving at the fortress, but none resonated with it.

So I'd forgotten about it... only to obtain one here.

'If it's demanding a Warp Beast, then that must be it.'

I had one guess.

Jason's teleportation ability.

The bastard had his throat slit mid-use, so only his body had teleported.

There were no psychic techniques for long-distance instant relocation. They were limited to enhancing the body for rapid movement or pulling friendly targets to nearby points.

And as far as I knew, there was no personal gear for long-range teleportation—outside ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of something like the 'Tuner' from quest rewards. Unless Jason had invented brand-new equipment that didn't exist before, this perk had to be deeply tied to teleportation. Fittingly, the compatible trait was 'Warp Beast', which shortened prep time for FTL navigation.

'Whatever it is, better to see for myself.'

The Mark of a Formidable Foe was also a trait enhancement target. It could consume up to ten material traits to evolve into a stronger version.

'Perfect timing.'

Before acquiring the Internal Organ type, I'd scooped up every trait I could to maximize my count. Thanks to that, I had a stockpile.

The 'Essence Recombination' effect from the first stage of the Space Monster type ensured any acquired type was permanently retained. So it was fine to burn some unnecessary traits here.

'Not all of them, though. Maybe five.'

I still had two Unique traits to synthesize, so no need to dump everything here.

'Heat-dissipating Secretions and Heat Emission—useless. Digestive Fluid Enhancement is easy to replace, so toss that in. For the rest, Muscle Reinforcement and Bone Density Enhancement.'

I set the five material traits and hit confirm. The Mark of a Formidable Foe system activated instantly.

Perk from 'Jason (Jason Turningham)' fuses with 'Warp Beast' trait. 'Warp's ■⫯⪿⨕∬ Trait Enhancement System intervenes!' Evolves into 'Starlight Coordinates' trait! Starlight Coordinates: Instantly relocate generic objects or friendly organisms to specific coordinates, or enable FTL navigation.

*Caution: Cannot move for at least 1 minute after use. Larger objects extend immobilization time.

P.S.: Those who charted constellations never dreamed beings would traverse the stars themselves.

'Starlight Coordinates?'

It was teleportation-related, but not quite what I'd expected.

'A trait that moves other beings.'

In Space Survival, only two beings could relocate others solo. This new Mark of a Formidable Foe trait mimicked their ability.

'Time to test it.'

FTL was impossible to verify right now, so instant relocation first. I scanned around and picked up a broken gun.

'But how do I use it?'

Target set, but activation unknown.

Like 'Nightmare Horizon', maybe with erosion tentacles? No reaction. Wing membranes like for FTL? Nothing.

'How to...'

As I pondered, holding the gun near with my finger-claw, my sub-organ under the jaw twitched involuntarily. Aimed at the gun, a text box appeared.

'Designate with the sub-organ.'

Third role now: after fine sensory duties and future threat detection. I targeted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the gun with it and looked up.

'That spot should work.'

Destination: top of the shielded command center. I focused like for FTL, recalling the image. The sub-organ glowed blue. Resonating, the gun glowed too—then vanished from my fingers.

'Check... oh right.'

Tried looking up, but my body wouldn't respond. Mind clear, but paralyzed like a crushed nerve.

Moments later, a thud nearby—the gun hitting ground.

｢Big Guy｣ ｢Dwarf｣ ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠｢Object｣ ｢Vanished｣

｢Big baby sleepy? Why still?｣

｢Experimenting maybe. Wait a bit.｣

｢Yeah.｣

They found my stillness odd. Only Sky Mother intuited I was testing new power.

After a minute, control returned swiftly. I shook my head.

'A bit over a minute delay.'

Full immobility for one, plus seconds to loosen up.

'Gotta time it right in combat.'

'Starlight Coordinates' was high-risk, high-reward.

'Test more than guns?'

Text said larger objects meant longer lockdown. No other limits noted.

'Could I move this fortress?'

I lowered, sub-organ to floor.

'Nope.'

Six thousand plus hours? Hellish. Abandon unless penalty reduction found.

'Next: friendly organisms.'

No friendlies for an Aimorph per system—except one exception.

'Symbiote Spore implants.'

Not explicit, but likely. I brushed the sub-organ near the kids.

｢Tickles!｣

｢What?｣ ｢What?｣

｢...Hey, hold up. What's this sudden?｣

Different reactions, different classifications. No. 26 and Adhai were friendlies; Sky Mother not—her deification released the spores forcibly.

[Zuzu zuzuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu (Hold on, help me. Got an experiment.)]

｢Say so first then.｣

Reimplanted spores in Sky Mother, prepped Starlight Coordinates. Blue light over her golden fur—she vanished.

Simultaneously, blue flash atop rubble like FTL emergence—she appeared there.

｢Like warp guide, but off somehow?｣

｢Whoa! How?!｣

｢Ugly friend｣ ｢Star power｣ ｢Usable?｣ ｢Cool｣

She spread wings, flew back. No. 26 and Adhai chattered excitedly.

｢But penalties, huh.｣

She frowned at my stillness. Minute later, freed, I nodded.

[Zuzuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu (Trait for instant-relocating organisms or objects. Says FTL too.)]

｢Price: stuck after?｣

[Zuzuzu (Spot on.)]

｢Hm. Useful sans ship or for ambushes.｣

Ranker instincts caught pros/cons quick.

Exchanging thoughts on it, No. 26 poked me with a tentacle.

｢Big baby. Me too. Me too!｣

[Zu (Huh?)]

｢Wanna poof too. Poof!｣

｢Me｣ ｢Curious｣ ｢Me too｣

More tests needed.

Afterward.

Bone Beast effect ended; experiments wrapped.

They seemed thrilled—not just playing.

'Happy's good.'

Learned unlisted bits too.

Like penalties scaling with my size. Bone Beast at 80m vs. normal showed time diffs.

'Find size-up methods.'

Adulthood enlarges me, but not fortress-scale. Need breakthroughs for big cuts.

Analysis of new Mark here for now.

'Work left.'

Shrunk, crawled into shield wall.

[Zu zu zuzu zuzu zu zu (Anyone left inside?)]

｢Dwarf｣ ｢Still｣ ｢Here｣

[Zu zu zuzuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu zuzuzu (Clean up, then fetch PS-111)]

｢Yup! Friend might be hungry—pack food!｣

[Zuzuzu zuzuzu zuzu zuzu zuzu zu zuzuzu (Food, huh. Check supply depot here.)]

｢Supply depot?｣ ｢Meaning?｣

｢I know! Tasty food spot!｣

｢Whew. Human chow after ages.｣

[Zu zu zuzu zu zu (Load rest on ship.)]

｢Thanks.｣

We chatted, scoured command center.

Hidden pirates, survivors attacked—futile. First or third center, same end. All movers purged but us.

Kasha Arma, once Cult Empire's glory.

Less than a day to leave no human.

Cleanup done, we boarded and left.

Post-departure, fortress plummeted to nearby mining planet. PS-111 wrecked reactor pre-flight; orbit unsustainable.

All my traces gone—no culprit found.

Behind exploding fortress, pirate ship under PS-111 control hit FTL.

I sprawled in cargo hold, sensing ship energies.

Cargo transformed since arrival—new containers. Giant freezer packed with command ingredients. Petrified humans shoved aside.

'Now for the rest...'

Munched a statue like candy, opened translucent text box.

Complete these two, and Adult conditions met.

'Adulthood's right there.'

Last hurdle pre-evolution. Fed materials—two Uniques plus reinforcements—hit synthesize.

Mucus poured from my body.

My consciousness sank into the flowing slime.