Chapter 351
Chapter 351
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 351
Chapter Title: The Truth of the Illusions
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"I see."
She was staring intently at the clean severance around the neck when she suddenly snapped her fingers as if something had just occurred to her.
"Now I remember why I came here. I have something to say."
[Zuzu (What is it?)]
"According to PS-111, tuning Isabel will take about 30 hours."
30 hours. That's longer than expected.
There's no urgent crisis that needs immediate resolution, but having Isabel out of commission for an extended period isn't ideal. It means someone else has to stay by her side to protect her constantly.
Reading my thoughts, the Mother of the Sky continued.
"It said Gigacracker's facilities make fine-tuning difficult."
[Zuzuzu zuzuzu zuzuzu zuzuzu zuzuzuzuzuzu (So if the facilities were better, it could be done faster?)]
"Yeah. Probably."
Her words sparked an idea.
The 40 Coldbloods aboard Gigacracker. What if I sent them to the ice planet controlled by Adhai's swarm?
'And there's a Screamer support ship there.'
With the production facilities' help, PS-111's efficiency would improve dramatically.
[Zuzu zuzuzuzuzu zuzuzu (I have an idea)]
"Hm?"
I suggested sending the Coldblood slaves to live on the ice planet with the Gallerons while we were at it.
"This is something that'd never happen in a game, but it seems possible here."
[Zuzuzu (Right?)]
"The real concern isn't the Gallerons—it's the environment. I confirmed there's oxygen when I was there last time. Bacterial infection is a worry, but Coldbloods have resistance to most viruses..."
She stroked her beak with a finger, pondering if the ice planet was suitable for Coldblood habitation.
"Temperature's the issue. Coldbloods are vulnerable to low temperatures. They wouldn't survive the underground chill."
[Zuzu zuzuzu zuzuzuzuzu zuzuzu zuzuzuzuzuzu (The nest area is warm thanks to the sulfur river, though?)]
"A healthy one might endure it like you say, but their condition is too poor right now. They won't last until they recover their strength."
[Zuzuzuzu zuzuzu zuzuzu zuzuzuzuzuzu (That's where the reinforced suits come in)]
"Reinforced suits? Oh, the ones on Gigacracker."
Gigacracker has reinforced suits specialized for space activity. Equipping them would solve the temperature and infection problems.
'Of course, they can't wear them forever, so they need to recover quickly.'
From there, it's up to them. My role ends with relocating the Coldbloods to safety.
"I'll talk to them."
[Zuzu zuzuzuzuzu zuzuzu (I'll go see PS-111)]
After sending off the Mother of the Sky, I turned the crown of the 'left head' toward the main body.
'Might as well practice with this.'
To test what happens at a distance from the clone and visit PS-111 with the 'left head.'
While the main body lay resting in the hangar, I crawled along the corridor, still linked to the 'left head.' The alien sensations didn't change much even as the distance grew.
On the slow crawl to the fabrication plant, I ran a few experiments. What happens if I sever the link with the clone while connected to the main body? Can I reconnect without physical contact?
For the first, consciousness snapped back to the main body the instant I severed the link. Focusing solely on the 'left head' instead of the main body was impossible. Even if it had independent ego, it was still part of me.
When I willed control over the 'left head' again, sensations reconnected immediately—like blood rushing back to a limb after loosening a tight grip, with that pins-and-needles tingle shared between us.
'And there's an unexpected bonus.'
Interestingly, even while consciousness was severed, the 'left head' tried to act on my intentions autonomously. During that brief disconnection, it kept crawling toward the fabrication plant.
'Maybe these two heads are smarter than I thought.'
Their actions were instinctual, but as beings born from me, they'd likely mimic my combat style and strategies even without direct control. I could preload commands for strategic fighting in situations I couldn't micromanage.
'Need more tests to confirm.'
Other things to check: connection range with the main body, using complex traits like the mimicry organ or facehugger hosts. Plenty to verify.
Arriving at the fabrication plant mid-experiment, I saw PS-111 inside using its elongated hook claws to tend to the recumbent Isabel.
Claws that shredded enemies in battle now served as delicate surgical tools. Its sharp fingers danced like a pianist's over machinery. Around them, MPS series units bustled on short metal legs, aiding their creator.
Sensing my arrival amid the work, it looked up. The red camera lens replacing its visual organs turned toward me.
"82% similarity to subcontroller 'Aimorph.' Who are you?"
"It's Aimorph. I devoured Alshas and gained new power."
"New power?"
It tilted its head in confusion.
"Similar to how you sync with and control MPS units."
"Creating a short-term terminal resembling the original is highly intriguing. Permission to sample skin would advance MPS design significantly."
An interesting proposal, but I had priorities.
"More importantly, I have a question."
"What is it?"
"Mother of the Sky said tuning will take 30 hours. Couldn't Screamer support ship's facilities shorten that?"
I briefly relayed my conversation with the Mother of the Sky. PS-111 nodded after hearing me out.
"Screamer support ship's facilities could complete tuning in under 10 hours."
"Really?"
"Affirmative. Pausing tuning to mobilize Gigacracker."
"Thanks."
"Please monitor 'little sister' in the meantime."
True to its half-machine nature, it acted swiftly once decided. It left the plant with the mini Screamers to launch the ship.
'Then here...'
"Aimorph."
As I thought to experiment with facehuggers, a voice came from below.
Isabel, wires and cables plugged into her head, had opened her eyes and was gazing up at me.
'She's awake?'
I'd assumed deep sleep during PS-111's tuning, but no.
Thanks to the transplanted Coldblood eyeball, her eyes gleamed ocean-blue. Coincidentally opposite her twin sister's glaring red mechanical gaze.
Fixing those sapphire eyes on me, she spoke.
"You ate that flesh—Alshas."
"Yeah."
Her reaction confirmed she hadn't lost her ability to read others despite the body change. I'd insisted on transplanting the eyes to PS-111 for that reason—good call.
"This is the perk I got coming to this world, 'Heavenly Eye of All Things.' As the name implies, it requires eyes to use."
"A perk, as expected."
"Funny saying it now, but I figured you'd kill me for it no matter what."
Honestly, a faint urge lingered even now. Reading others' info was that tempting. But I'd chosen differently, deeming her alive more beneficial.
Of course, no need to admit that.
"Your sister PS-111 begged me to save you. I just obliged."
"I knew it, but hearing it still feels different."
She muttered, impressed by how my game-self and real-world self acted differently.
'She seems fine conversing.'
Part of her long body disassembled, head festooned with wires, yet her mind seemed intact.
Time before ice planet arrival—perfect for questions.
"With info-reading, you know more than most, right?"
"Yeah. I'll answer what I can."
I cut straight to it with the compliant Isabel.
"All the players I've met, including me—we've seen weird visions nearing the ending. Know what they mean?"
The visions' secret, long a mystery without clues. No ranker I'd met explained clearly.
Perhaps why she didn't answer immediately, just staring silently with sapphire eyes.
Moments later, her small mouth opened with the reply.
'What?'
And it was unexpected.
"The visions brainwash rankers?"
"Yes. Every player I've observed underwent mindset shifts from 'memories.'"
I'd suspected from Alshas.
Killing one's 'real self' or 'this world's self' in visions—what it meant.
Visions like a leash on us outsiders? Just a hypothesis without proof.
Isabel's words turned it to conviction.
"Not just Cynthia and Alshas, huh."
"Right. With big sis Penelope, under Cynthia's control—I met many rankers. Saw them change from 'memories.'"
I'd gathered vision info from rankers too, but not before/after changes. Mother of the Sky advanced a divinity stage without much shift. My case exceptional anyway.
'Still, surprising.'
Isabel knew things I didn't. Info-reading aside, self-awareness of change is separate.
Sensing my curiosity, she elaborated.
"I realized 'memories' were off thanks to big sis Penelope."
"Learned from rank 18? How?"
"We were close. Did everything together till she went independent. Spotted it quick—'memories' altering her thoughts."
Space Survival mixes global players; real-life bonds rare. Mostly same clan/country glimpses.
'But Penelope and Isabel are exceptions.'
Real-world twins, close family—easy to notice changes.
"Events we shared, she remembered totally different."
"Memories altered?"
"Yeah. Post-vision, she distorted her real-world life perception. Wasn't like that before."
Explains her 'memories' over 'visions,' and brainwashing.
'Memories alone anchor our changed bodies' identity.'
Childhood scars, family/friend ties—proof of 'me' absent here. Only 'real-life' memories define 'me.'
'If manipulated?'
No real-world contrast here. Can't prove one's changing.
"How much did Penelope change?"
"She always liked this world, but visions intensified obsession."
"That's why she'd risk life for Coldblood slaves."
Rank 18 Penelope's known Space Survival fanatic, dubbed Galleron maniac like my Morphbak. Caring for kin not odd.
'But excessively so.'
Visions don't fully rewrite personality—just steer toward goals. Brainwashing fits.
'But why?'
That's the crux.
Nearing ending, semi-forced self-overhaul—what's it mean?
"Someone wants to change us."
"Probably."
"Their goal? What do they want?"
"Dunno. But I suspect who."
"The one who dragged us here."
Isabel nodded instead of answering.
No player I met entered voluntarily.
I agreed to beta mail, woke here—middle blank.
"Mysterious entity's reshaping us, got it. But why different visions? Some face 'this world me,' others 'real me.'"
"From info gathered, real-world life influences it."
"Real-world life, huh."
Jason (facehuggered) had rough family. Mother of the Sky's tough life implied.
'Me too.'
"You and your sister?"
She hesitated slightly before answering real-life query.
"You might've guessed from sis talk—our lives weren't peaceful. Sis or I wouldn't have endured without each other."