Chapter 334
Chapter 334
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 334
Chapter Title: Outspacer Legion Assault
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A massive creature with hundreds of eyes emerged from the pit where the mansion once stood. Covered in countless sensory organs, it scooped up Alshas and Isabelle onto its back before rising into the air.
"It's a real shame to lose Berzan 02, but Her Majesty insists, so there's no helping it."
"I know. I get it. Then let's get started."
As soon as Alshas finished speaking, they emerged from the pit.
Thousands of 5-meter monsters that looked like a mashup of wasps, snakes, and scorpions took to the skies all at once. The shattered dome's sky filled instantly with the deafening buzz of wings.
While the flying monsters encircled me, the 30-meter behemoths on the ground aimed their organic cannons right at me.
These monsters had no names.
Because individuality meant nothing to them.
A multitude existing solely for the one.
Beings from somewhere far beyond this universe.
The horde of Outspacers that Alshas had summoned came crashing down on me.
In the Surveillance Bureau located in the Aour Star System near the red jewel Berzan 02.
The Surveillance Bureau oversaw the safety of the entire star system. As such, it was perpetually swamped, never catching a break.
But not today.
An urgent dispatch had thrown the entire bureau into high alert.
"B-Bio portal traces confirmed across Berzan 02!"
"Outspacers are pouring out!"
"Lost contact with Water Fortress!"
"R-Rescue requests flooding in! What do we do?"
Every situation room in the bureau was in chaos from the incoming reports. The interiors were crammed with psychic images projected by Cults, making it hard to even see each other's faces.
The Surveillance Chief, receiving updates from his subordinates in the situation room, wished desperately that this was all a dream.
Despite his long career cycling through key positions in the Empire, he'd never faced a crisis this dire.
An Outspacer invasion of Berzan 02. It was a catastrophe for the history books.
"Chief! What are your orders?"
"Give us instructions!"
"......"
The Knowledge Managers awaited commands, but the Chief couldn't bring himself to speak rashly.
The Imperial Council was locked in fierce opposition between the Providence and Innovation factions. As an Innovation supporter, one wrong move here could spell disaster for him.
Of course, he couldn't stay silent forever.
"F-First, ensure Governor—"
"Please wait a moment."
A familiar voice interrupted him then. Turning, he saw the silver-haired female Cult he'd met recently.
"Captain Alshas?"
The one who'd appeared in the situation room was the captain of the Empire's mothership, Defender of Berzan 02.
"I barely escaped just before disaster struck Water Fortress."
"What about the Governor? No, more importantly, is Elder Kisos safe?"
"I'm sorry. Providence itself claimed them."
"No, it can't be!"
Hearing the bad news, the Chief nearly collapsed on the spot. Elder Kisos, the Innovation faction's leader, was his political mentor. Losing such a figure to Providence's side shook him to his core.
"Chief, this isn't the time. One misstep, and we could lose Berzan 02."
"R-Right! We need to muster the fleet—!"
As the Chief pulled himself together and was about to issue orders, Alshas sidled up close to him.
"You look exhausted. Let me help."
"What...?"
She whispered suddenly into his ear.
He tried to push her away in panic, but his body wouldn't move.
At the same time, the scene in the situation room before his eyes darkened abruptly. The bustling Cults seemed oblivious to the encroaching shadows.
Realizing what was happening, the Chief understood.
Alshas had used 'Ultra Control'—the mind domination technique—on him.
'Why?'
He couldn't comprehend it, and no one was there to explain.
"Perfect. Striking when off-guard works like a charm."
Seeing the Chief turned into a living puppet, Alshas smirked faintly.
Ultra Control didn't work well on those with strong psychic power. Had the Chief not been in turmoil, it wouldn't have taken hold.
'Time to deploy the elite fleet.'
"Prepare to scramble the Surveillance Bureau's elite fleet. We're striking the enemies at Water Fortress."
"Understood!"
Alshas began issuing orders to the Knowledge Managers through the Chief's mouth.
'Morph freak. You're done for.'
On top of the 4th-ranked Queen's legion came the Bureau's elite fleet and the Empire's motherships.
Not even the #1 could win against this lineup.
Confident of victory, she laughed silently.
In Space Survival, only two races used 'gene essence' as a resource.
The Outspacers, who absorbed essence to evolve as a hive, and the Aimorphs, who devoured it to endlessly evolve themselves.
The former drew from the monster race 'Zerg' in classic RTS games, the latter from the space monster in classic creature horror flicks 'Alien'.
One might think they're similar, both branching from insectoid alien races in famous sci-fi novels.
But few who saw them in-game felt that way. Their essence-derived traits and playstyles differed sharply.
Unlike the solitary, self-evolving Aimorph, Outspacers focused on upgrading the legion, not individuals. A legion's strength hinged on how you designed its components.
For instance, frontline fighters evolved for max damage even at cost of survivability. Commanders specialized in support despite combat weakness.
The wasp-like flying monsters charging me now, the 'Harvester Bugs', were the same. Their role: collect essence on the Queen's orders. Optimized for zipping across battlefields, stealing lives and essence.
｢Sssssss｣
｢Sssss｣
Countless Harvester Bugs latched onto my body. They spewed potent stomach acid from their mouths, melting my carapace.
By lore, Outspacers couldn't use psychic powers. Queens or guards might evolve energy use, but not every Harvester Bug.
Still, no room for complacency. They had no limits on physical evolutions.
Even now, their acid was pitting my carapace—the same that shrugged off plasma weapons.
'Mixed Metallic Gremlin genes with acid-spitting organism DNA.'
Individually weaker than my acid breath, but their numbers made them deadly.
'Can't let this slide.'
I spun in midair with hundreds clinging to me. The g-force shook them loose in droves.
｢Stay on!｣
｢Ss?!｣
Specimen 026's tentacles lashed out at the fallen Harvesters. Thorn-tipped like chestnut burrs, they impaled them.
Dozens died in seconds, but far more remained. Fresh bugs filled the gaps.
Judging 026 more dangerous than me, they targeted its tentacles.
｢Ow, hot!｣
The Seed Demon, with raid boss-level strength, boasted high defenses too. Yet these bugs melted even my tougher carapace. Tough for it to hold out.
Plus, lacking ego—like living machines—they were barely fazed by 'Terror of the Deep'. No need for it to bulk up.
Following my cue, it shrank to 10 meters. Meanwhile, I whipped my erosion tentacles at the bugs swarming it. Some got devoured, others turned to quartz lumps via 'Medusa Organ'.
｢Flies｣｢Too many｣
｢More like wasps, though!｣
"Wasps. Suspected ancestors of Earth's carnivorous insect 'Devil Bee'. Last sighted 400 years ago."
Not just me—Adhai, Mother of the Sky, and PS-111 buzzed around, thinning the enemy ranks.
Adhai used 'Red Armor'-enhanced wings like dual blades to slice Harvesters. Survivors tailed it, eyeing unarmored rear legs or tail.
As they bared acid-dripping fangs, agate-colored particles engulfed them from nowhere. Touched bugs crumpled midair like cans in a crusher.
Behind them fluttered Mother of the Sky, wings aglow. She'd saved Adhai and lured foes away.
｢Sssss｣
｢Ss｣
Hundreds of flying monsters kept distance from the griffon, spraying acid.
No ranker could fully dodge omnidirectional acid barrages. Golden fur blackened where hit.
Rescuing her was PS-111 atop my head. It swung Galleron-claw hook talons for sword winds while firing disintegration rounds from its tail gun.
Outspacers lacked psychic powers but resisted them innately. Sword winds alone did minimal damage.
Knowing this, it targeted thin wings over bodies.
Harvester Bugs, wasp-bodied, slowed drastically from wing damage. We or 026 mopped up the sluggish ones.
My massive tentacles danced with its pink ones in the aerial waltz. Erosion tendrils bisected some; pink saw-toothed whips crushed others.
'Synced well enough, but...'
We killed dozens per second. Yet their numbers showed no sign of thinning.
'That pit.'
I glared at the pit where Alshas's mansion had been. Bugs kept pouring out endlessly. Surely a Bio Portal lurked below.
'Smash the portal, or...'
The monster ferrying Alshas and Isabelle kept nagging at me.
'New design I've never seen.'
Its body was wrapped in thin, small tentacles, each tipped with eyes. They blinked and swiveled ceaselessly—true sensory organs.
Unseen in-game. Unknown genes or abilities.
Advanced sensors, rear positioning? Likely the Queen.
As I eyed it, 3-meter stakes flew from the ground at me.
The 30-meter titans that wrecked the mansion—'Stake Worms'—were pounding away diligently.
Stake Worms were among the few energy-users in the legion. Unlike me, they didn't spit it.
Instead, they circulated vast energies internally nonstop. Using that force, they fired 'Bio Piles'—organic projectiles. Gun-like principle.
The problem: insane penetration. Perfect for heavy armor or ships.
In other words, a huge pain for my armored, flying self.
'No good.'
More would cross via portal over time. Had to hit Queen or portal—something.
And I had the perfect weapon for organic foes.
'Time for Colors of the Abyss.'
For a legion that's basically bioweapons incarnate? Nothing deadlier.
｢You?｣
With Harvesters everywhere, allies could get caught in the crossfire. Solo, no issue—so I sent them all groundside.
｢Fine. I'll check on the Coldbloods while I'm at it.｣
｢Big guy｣｢Be careful｣
The moment they left, I activated Colors of the Abyss.