Chapter 344
Chapter 344
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 344
Chapter Title: New Traits and Transformations
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Even when I shot down the Empire's mothership before and passed out, they fed me like this. Same then as now—these guys are consistent.
'Might as well take what they're offering nicely.'
During the fight, I'd already bitten into it several times and swallowed its core. But back then, I was too caught up in the battle to savor the taste properly.
I leisurely chewed the "Torment Ring" meat the kids had given me.
'Pretty good stuff, as expected.'
The shell was tough, but the inside was softer than jelly, giving wildly different textures. The outer layer felt like biting into hardened chocolate, while the core was closer to chocolate fudge cake. It had a sweet yet deep flavor that didn't get old no matter how much I ate.
'No wonder the two heads like it.'
My left and right heads were gobbling up the meat on their own without me even getting up. Even as I watched, the two heads ignored me and eagerly slurped down the food from Specimen 026 and Adhai.
Thanks to them, my energy was fully replenished. The wounds from the battle had mostly healed, leaving only faint scars.
[Zzzt zzzzz (What about the others?)]
｢My friend's family is sick, so I'm staying with them. Seems like the friend's family is really sick.｣
｢Ugly friend｣ ｢Scaly shorty｣ ｢Together｣ ｢Staying｣
PS-111 hadn't finished tuning Isabelle yet. It had been a full day since I fell asleep, longer than expected.
'Making a body for itself must be easier than this.'
PS-111 had created the MPS series before, but those were just terminals without independent thinking. Crafting a Screamer with its own ego was a first, so it was probably struggling.
'I handed over Alshas just in case...'
Before dozing off, I'd entrusted Alshas to it. I told it not to mess with his head and just keep him alive however it could.
'The model for PS-111, the Mutant Screamer, used a Ranker's body.'
More precisely, a clone of 18th-ranked Ranker Penelope had been the material for the Mutant Screamer. Its creators were in a position to acquire any number of Coldbloods. Yet they specifically cloned a Ranker for it—there had to be a reason.
'It didn't seem to get it, though.'
To it, regular Cults and Alshas were no different. It also didn't know much about Rankers.
Still, it tried hard to understand what I meant and obediently took Alshas. It would make good use of a Ranker's body.
Once his usefulness ran out, I'd interrogate him then.
'Nothing to do right now, so I'll wait.'
Perfect timing—I'd acquired quite a few new traits, so I should check them out while resting.
I chewed the meat from Specimen 026 and Adhai as I summoned the translucent text box.
Multidimensional Creature: Bio Plasma Synthesis (New!), Hive Mind Terminal (New!)-Multidimensional Creature Fusion Trait: Deep Space Plague (New!)
*Incomplete Traits (8): Gills, Giant Creature, Natural Healing, Radio Interference, Sawblade Tentacles, Mimicry, Catfish's Home, Demon Machine (New!)
'Adult' → 'Ascension' Evolution Conditions: Some FulfilledEssence of the Mind: Vortex Origin (0.5)(Unfulfilled)
'Transcendence' Material List (New!): Demon Machine, Tyrantroid, Unconfirmed, Unconfirmed, Unconfirmed
Besides these, I'd gained several other traits, but the highlights were the new type unlock and the unique trait synthesis recipe.
'Multidimensional Creature' traits mainly come from devouring Outspacers and Vortex Origins.
It takes 4 traits to acquire the type. Just one more, and it's mine.
'Would've been nicer to get it sooner.'
The timing was a bit off. All three were good traits, but not hugely useful right now.
'Bio Plasma Synthesis' absorbs external energies like plasma or psychic power and converts them to bio-energy. It's one way combat-class Outspacers sustain long fights.
With this, I could siphon energy leaking from a ship's reactor. Not bad, but I already have its superior, the Dragon Heart. Since I can pump out my own energy, it's redundant.
'Deep Space Plague. Good, but...'
Made from the infection trait 'Space Bacteria,' Deep Space Plague randomly debuffs anyone I touch. Set as a virus that mutates endlessly to adapt to space, its debuff effects keep shifting.
The changing nature makes it hard to cure. Armies would rush to enemy planet water sources upon acquiring it.
If I'd gotten it before Versan-02, it would've been great. Now that the planet's cleared and we're gone, it's lost its shine.
If I ever hit a Mega Corp or Cult planet, though, this could be fun.
'Next, Hive Mind Terminal.'
Despite the grandiose name, it's a passive support trait.
It lets me read Outspacers' conversations. They communicate via bio-electric signals, so without this or specialized gear, their words are gibberish.
'Essential for fighting Outspacers.'
High chance I'll clash with them again, so it'll pay off.
All useful, but situational. Better than nothing, sure.
'Truth is, missing out on the Demon Machine stings more than these.'
I was thrilled when Predation Effect triggered on the Torment Ring, but the result was half-baked.
Not a full summon, so 'Demon Machine' registered as an incomplete trait, like a gene sample.
Demon Machine enables use of Vortex Origin-exclusive tech tied to 'Abyss Power.' You need it to access their traits after eating other Vortex Origins.
Like how other intelligences need Psionic Organ for psychic powers—except Cults—Vortex Origins require Demon Machine to wield their power.
Take the Torment Ring: Predate it with Demon Machine active, and I could've gained traits for gravity manipulation or Abyss Power blasts. Without it, even acquired traits are unusable.
Doesn't sound great so far, but no other race—Coldbloods aside—can use Vortex Origin powers. Aimorphs can wield acquired traits freely, so long-term, it's a huge edge.
Even if drop rates are abysmal, I have Mark of the Hunter. With Demon Machine, snagging other Vortex Origin traits won't be hard.
'Tch. Would've been perfect to get Demon Machine here.'
Too bad, but can't be helped.
I'll fight Vortex Origins again anyway. The weird 0.5 unfulfilled evolution condition demands a full one.
'Never fought an incomplete one before, and exceptions keep popping up.'
Last up: the new unique trait info.
Demon Machine must be key—it unlocked a new unique synthesis recipe.
'Tyrantroid's already mine, Demon Machine half-acquired as incomplete.'
The other three materials are 'Unconfirmed.'
'...I can guess what's needed.'
'Tyrantroid' and Demon Machine are both 'common' traits from Apex creatures. The rest are likely common traits from Apexes too.
'Not just any Apex—top-tier ones.'
Tyrantroid didn't unlock it alone; Demon Machine did. Killing high-rank Apexes might reveal more.
'A unique trait synthesized from Apex traits.'
Previous transcendences were influenced by materials. One forged from Apex traits? Power level unknown.
Once I get intel from Isabelle and Alshas, targeting Apexes could be next.
'Hold on.'
Thinking of Apexes reminded me of the little monsters right in front of me.
'They both ate Vortex Origin too, right?'
Specimen 026 and Adhai, diligently feeding me. They'd eaten Torment Ring meat—what changes came for them?
I closed the text box and asked them.
[Zzzzt zzzzzz zzzzt (You two don't need more?)]
｢Ate lots and lots!｣
｢Food｣ ｢Too｣ ｢Much｣ ｢Full｣
Now that I looked, Adhai definitely seemed stuffed—his slim frame had a belly swollen like a tail. Specimen 026 looked unchanged as always.
'Appearance the same, but...'
In the game, Sea Demons and Gallerons almost never ate Vortex Origins. Different habitats meant they rarely crossed paths.
Exceptions: rare event overlaps spawning Red Galleron and Vortex Origin together, or Coldbloods summoning Vortex Origins during Sea Demon/Galleron assaults.
Even then, Vortex Origin usually won. Only once did I see a fully powered Red Galleron tie with one.
So, Sea Demons and Gallerons that killed a space devil and ate its meat? Specimen 026 and Adhai are the first.
[Zzzt zzzzzz zzzzt (Any changes?)]
No visible shifts, but who knows. When I asked closely, they answered eagerly, like they'd been waiting.
｢Me! I have change!｣
｢Me too!｣ ｢Me too!｣
[Zzzzt zzzzt (Changes, huh?)]
｢Yeah! I'll show you!｣
With that, Specimen 026 bounced away from me. Once distanced, its body began to grow.
'Combat mode?'
In battle, it turns into a massive pink jellyfish covered in eyes. But this form was different from what I knew.
From balloon-like puff to a ring-shaped base topped by a hemisphere, with long fins and tentacles sprouting from the center.
Fins unchanged, but tentacles were quite different—small tendrils branched like fingers at the tips, resembling human arms.
And the changes weren't just visual.
'It's flying?'
The new form floated midair. No psychic power detected, so some principle I didn't grasp.
Like the Torment Ring.
｢I can float too!｣
｢Slow｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Much｣ ｢Faster｣
｢If I practice, I can float fast too.｣
Flight ability for Specimen 026 was totally unexpected. It swam smoothly through the hangar like it was the ocean.
｢Cool, right? Amazing, right?｣
[Zzzzt zzzz (Impressive)]
I praised it, and it glowed happily. The arm-like tentacles shifted forms with its mood—hands, then old sawblade tentacles. Each deformed at blinding speed.
'That's a new ability too.'
It had mutation tentacles before, but not all of them, and not this fast. Now they morphed instantly with emotions.
'Full tentacle transformation and flight.'
Seems minor at a glance, but no. Specimen 026 had the worst mobility among us—now fixed. Tentacle shifting has real potential.
｢Me too!｣ ｢Me!｣ ｢Show you｣
[Zz (Go ahead)]
I nodded, and it spread its wings. Adhai lifted off, pudgy belly and all. It was kinda cute, but his serious vibe kept me from laughing.
｢Open it｣
｢Okay.｣
Specimen 026, drifting leisurely through the hangar, nudged the switch by the door. Adhai nodded at me and headed out of the Gigacracker.
'What's it planning to show?'
Flight upgrade like 026? Or something new?
I followed it into space.
A vast sea of stars, pantheon eternal. At center, a rose nebula blazed like wildfire.
Under watching stars, Adhai stood atop the Gigacracker.
｢Got｣ ｢Star power｣
[Zzzt (Really?)]
｢Before｣ ｢Couldn't use｣ ｢But now｣ ｢Can｣ ｢Watch｣
Declaring so, it focused, wings spread. White scales with red patterns flushed crimson, like Red Armor activation.
'Red Armor range expanded...? Huh?'
Wings and patterns scattered red glow shifting hue. Crimson mixed with purple, evoking the distant nebula's gaze.
'Deep violet light, and...'
This energy flow tensing my auxiliary organs and body—I'd felt it once before.
The wicked tyrant who oppressed Adhai's kin, his father: Ord Grad.
Uncannily like the final attack it unleashed before dying.