Chapter 345
Chapter 345
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 345
Chapter Title: Starflame's Might
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‘Starflame!’
My prediction was spot on, as Adhai threw its head back. Its plump body slimmed down in an instant, and an energy sphere shot out from the tentacles in its mouth.
The purple sphere kept flying without stopping. In its path floated a cluster of rocks drifting through space.
The moment Adhai's small sphere collided with the rock cluster, a brilliant flash erupted. A massive explosion, like a shining sun, engulfed the rocks. From dozens of meters to several kilometers across, they were all swallowed by the violet energy blast.
After the light faded, only a scant amount of rock fragments remained.
It was hard to believe such destructive power came from a sphere smaller than Adhai's head. This was just a test on some rocks, but firing it at a dwarf planet hundreds of kilometers wide would yield similar results.
‘The power itself matches the Starflame I know.’
The Red Galleron's ‘Starflame’ packs about 0.8 times the punch of Gigacracker's ion cannon. It might seem weaker than a superweapon at first glance, but nothing could be further from the truth.
‘Because they can fire it rapidly.’
Unlike the long-charge Cosmic Bolt or the ion cannon—which needs a lengthy cooldown after each quick shot—Starflame has no restrictions whatsoever.
Its only real drawback is how vividly the beam's glow shines, visible even from extreme distances.
‘The issue is Adhai's version comes as a sphere.’
And it's as small as a compact exercise ball. No ship, even with cutting-edge detection, could dodge it easily.
‘Is it because it ate the Vortex Core, or a mutation? Hard to say.’
The former might have just acted as a catalyst for awakening, with the latter being the true cause. After all, its psychic breath isn't a purple beam but tiny energy projectiles.
｢Big Boss｣ ｢Power｣ ｢The same, right?｣
[Zu zu zu zu zu (Feels even stronger)]
｢Really?｣ ｢Really?｣
[Zu zu zu (Yeah. Good job)]
Having earned my praise, it bounced around excitedly on Gigacracker's outer hull. Its once-plump belly had already slimmed back down.
‘...But energy consumption is the tradeoff.’
Losing that much body mass per shot means it can't spam it like the game version of a Red Galleron. Rapid fire is possible, but at drastically reduced power.
‘Treat it as a trump card.’
Essentially carrying around a mini-Gigacracker—huge payoff.
‘Everyone gained a lot from hunting those Vortex Cores.’
Now, if PS-111 can just safely transfer Isabel into her new body, all my planned goals will be achieved.
[Zu zu zu zu zu (Shall we head back?)]
｢Me｣ ｢Big Boss｣ ｢Together｣ ｢Flying fun｣
[Zu zu zu zu (Flying fun?)]
Adhai scurried over to my side. It wanted to spend time flying alongside me.
‘PS-111 needs more time anyway.’
Circling Gigacracker with it would help digestion too—not a bad idea.
｢Why just you two playing?｣
That's when Number 26 emerged from the hangar. Its fins and tentacles undulated as it swam through the zero-gravity space.
｢Little Boss｣ ｢Food｣ ｢Storage｣ ｢Save｣ ｢Not gonna?｣
｢Save some for the little ones too, so do it together.｣
｢Me｣ ｢Busy｣
｢Storing's more important than play.｣
｢No｣ ｢Play｣ ｢More｣ ｢Important｣
[Zu zu zu zu zu zu zu zu (We'll do both, then head in)]
｢Yay.｣
｢That's｣ ｢Not it｣
Adhai clearly wasn't thrilled about Number 26 joining. But to help the still-awkward Number 26 fly as it wished, consistent practice was key.
‘Adhai's so fast, it probably doesn't like the drag.’
Here, accommodating Number 26 was the right call.
[Zu zu zu zu (I'll help)]
｢Great!｣
｢Wait｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Better｣ ｢Teacher｣
｢Gonna learn from big kid.｣
｢Me｣ ｢Flying｣ ｢Skill｣ ｢Top-notch｣ ｢Me｣ ｢Smart｣ ｢Teach well｣
[Zu zu zu (That's true)]
｢This way｣ ｢Fly｣
｢Yeah.｣
｢Pain!｣ ｢Why｣ ｢Hit?｣
｢Oops.｣
And so, under the guise of practice, we enjoyed a long flight before returning to the hangar.
“You're back?”
The familiar voice greeted me the moment I entered.
‘Finally succeeded... huh?’
For the first time since seeing the kids' changes, I was caught off guard by PS-111.
Its appearance had shifted dramatically from before I slept. Yesterday, its metal shell was packed with muscle and flesh, giving its legs and torso volume. Now? Not so much.
Like other mutant screamers, its body was gaunt, metal skeleton fully exposed—like it'd stripped out nearly all its innards.
But that wasn't the real reason for my shock.
“Experiments used more than planned. Apologies.”
It held a familiar-faced ‘lump’ in its hook claws.
“Sorry. Spare me. I won't do it again. Kill me instead. Please, not that part...”
The lump was Alshas—reduced to just his head and partial upper body.
Hooked up to life-support devices everywhere, he babbled apologies in a deranged stupor.
“I said keep the head intact.”
“Head untouched.”
“Then why's he like this?”
“Witnessing dismemberment caused shock. Sedatives administered—should stabilize soon.”
Among us, PS-111 was the sharpest in genetic manipulation and biotech. With half its brain as a computer, it couldn't have overlooked Alshas's reaction.
‘Half experiment, half revenge.’
PS-111 had no memory of Isabel but seemed fond of her. Perhaps echoes of its true original, Rank 18 Penelope, lingered subconsciously.
That would explain turning Alshas into that. He was the enemy who enslaved and killed her ‘little sister’ Isabel.
‘Not quite what I expected, but at least he's alive.’
A gray area—not fully breaking or honoring the deal—but no urge to punish PS-111 over it. I handed Isabel over first; some responsibility's mine.
Besides, Alshas's thoughts or suffering? Irrelevant. Details aside, he's destined for my gut.
‘Interrogate if he snaps out of it; otherwise, eat and turn into a face worm.’
Deciding his fate inwardly, I turned to PS-111.
“Returning Alshas means Isabel's done?”
“Correct.”
“Huh?”
Its red camera lens wandered the air, then flicked sideways.
“What's wrong? Did it fail?”
“Body complete. Brain transplant successful.”
“Then?”
“......”
“Something go wrong?”
No answer despite my prodding. The lens blinked rapidly.
‘Never seen it act like this.’
Its metal-skinned face usually hid emotions well. Not today.
It was deeply anxious.
“No worries if there's an issue. We'll help.”
After long silence, it finally spoke.
“‘Little Sister’ refuses to awaken, reason unknown.”
“Refuses?”
“Yes. Adaptation tests, immune checks, vitals—all normal. Analysis indicates 88% chance she chose dormancy herself.”
Isabel, asleep in her new body and refusing to wake.
Something utterly unforeseen.
Right after PS-111's report, I headed to the modification factory where Isabel lay.
The mod factory combined unused medical bays and cargo holds. Built by PS-111 and me before Berzan-02. Meant for PS-111 and MPS-series maintenance—never dreamed it'd be used like this.
Mini screamers scurried busily down the wide corridor.
Wires, machine parts, blood, and flesh strewn about, I spotted something new.
‘It’ lay dormant, hooked to countless wires and cables. Utterly unlike standard screamers—or even its creator PS-111.
Body shape first.
PS-111 and mutants had human heads, spider-like torsos, scorpion tails. This? Snake or centipede vibes.
Its elongated body gleamed chrome under alloy plating. About 8m long—close to PS-111's 7m sans tail. Twin-like length.
Segmented body tapered toward the tail, ending in a white blade—likely a Galleron talon sword transplant.
Each segment sported a pair of thin arms covered in alloy scales. Made from Cult parts? Lengths and girths varied wildly. Only constant: four hook fingers each.
At the front of the slender body: a familiar woman's face. Eyes closed, but otherwise a near-match for PS-111's.
A woman's head on a snake—or centipede—body evoked mythic gorgon like Medusa or Lamia.
Fitting, perhaps. Cursed by cosmic devils, reborn in a new form after losing her old one.
Coldblood Ranker, PS-111's twin sister: Isabel.
Dormant in her artificially crafted body.
“Hasn't woken since transplant?”
“Correct. Electrical stimuli applied—no change.”
｢What's going on?｣
A familiar psychic ping from behind.
Mother of the Sky had followed, hearing my movements. In griffon beastkin form, she startled at sleeping Isabel.
｢That... no way?｣
“Yep. Isabel's new body.”
｢...Bit late for this, but she won't like it.｣
“Designed for survival in diverse environments. Sims confirm high strategic efficiency.”
She eyed me skeptically, clearly disagreeing.
Honestly, Isabel's new form wasn't bad. Tough-looking, as PS-111 said.
‘Ice Horror base, mixed with apex traits.’
Visually: Ice Horror silhouette, myriad arms mimicking Ring of Agony. Tail bore Galleron talon sword. Borrowed from her strongest foes, likely.
‘Looks good to me.’
Polished alloy scales, flawless surface. Sleek lines. Arms' varying lengths were tweakable later.
‘Personal taste, though—not universal.’
As Mother of the Sky's reaction showed, few women fancy snakes or centipedes. Loving a monstrous centipede makeover? Rarer still.
Isabel likely wouldn't embrace it calmly, but that's not the issue now.
｢Survival seems fine. What does the kid say?｣
“Don't know Isabel's thoughts yet. Not recovering from sleep state.”
｢Maybe the body's why?｣
“Doubt it. Hasn't woken once since transfer.”
｢...Not even once?｣
Post-transplant, constant dormancy—her opinion on the body unknown.
‘Cause unclear, but must wake her.’
Saving her via new body was to gain a long-term ally. Her Ranker intel files are nice, but ditching now wastes her info-reading talent's potential.
‘Prolonged state isn't good.’
PS-111's first centipede-screamer build. Undetected flaws possible. Longer sleep, bigger risks.
‘Can't lose her this far in.’
“Try a new body transfer?”
“Repeated short-term brain transplants risky. 72% failure rate estimated; 67% post-success complications.”
“Fine. Drugs?”
“All Gigacracker meds tested.”