Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Ep. 58
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‘Something felt off...’
No trait I knew of came with changes this prolonged and intricate.
‘In times like these, I need to check everything methodically.’
I scrutinized the changes in the text box as carefully as if I were reviewing a contract.
‘As I expected, the Transcendence System is tied to evolution.’
Next to Subadult, it said Transcendence Stage 1 in parentheses. I wouldn’t know the details until I evolved into Near-Adult, but I suspected the conditions for future evolutions were linked to Transcendence.
‘The problem is...’
Two key traits had been sealed.
Right after the change, I’d worried the heaviness throughout my body would make my wings unusable going forward—and sure enough, that was the case. It was a shame to lose my very first trait, one that had shone in critical battles.
‘And not being able to use the mimicry organ hurts even more.’
I activated the mimicry organ, but the fine pores across my body showed no reaction. Looking closer, most of the pores were blocked by the newly thickened exoskeleton. A few remained, but their shapes had changed slightly.
‘Come to think of it, there was that line about it exuding intimidation when Perfect Organic Body is active.’
One of Perfect Organic Body’s effects was intimidation. Maybe it overlaid the pheromones from the mimicry organ with its own overpowering ones.
Space Survival featured all sorts of traits, gear, and skills, some of which could restrict other abilities. True to its emphasis on realism, the game didn’t just outright ban them—instead, restrictions followed logical, believable reasoning.
For example, AP rounds contained a substance that disrupted psionic power flow, blocking an enemy’s use of it in a specific area for a set time.
The sealing of some of my existing traits upon acquiring Perfect Organic Body fell into the same category. My wings were unusable due to the massive weight gain, and the mimicry organ was out because the organ itself had changed to produce new pheromones.
‘Then voice mimicry should still work, right?’
Just in case, I tried making a sound with my mouth.
"A·ah·it·｢grrr｣wor·ks·bu·｢grrr｣t..."
A voice came out, but it wasn’t perfect like before. It sounded warped, like from a broken recorder, mixed with the distinctive Aimorph growls.
As if refusing any such loopholes, Perfect Organic Body had taken hold perfectly, even internally.
‘No fooling anyone with this voice.’
It might instill fear in enemies, but it was useless for deception.
‘Usually, when restrictions like this appear, they come with a way to lift them.’
Sure enough, a new message notification had arrived. I accepted it.
‘Transcendence Breakthrough.’
I checked Transcendence (Stage 2) Breakthrough.
‘Transcendence (Stage 2)’: Fuse 5 fused traits to unlock a new type-related trait. All material traits must be related to different types. Information on the new type will be unlocked. Available Traits: Regeneration (Fused), Predator Sense (Fused), Parasitic Swarm (Fused), ?(Fused), ?(Fused) Additional Reward: Restrictions from Transcendence Stage 1 will be lifted.
*P.S.: Material traits for the breakthrough can be swapped with others. Please note.
‘Hmm.’
A method to unlock it was provided, but it wouldn’t be easy. Creating fused traits wasn’t hard, but they all had to relate to different types.
‘I’ve unlocked conditions for 3 types so far.’
I still needed two more fused traits tied to types I hadn’t acquired yet. The difficulty rivaled evolution conditions themselves.
The silver lining was that any fused trait related to a type would do—no specifics like in Stage 1. Otherwise, reaching Stage 2 would take ages.
‘Not easy.’
It stung to lose traits I relied on often, but what’s done was done. When the environment changes, so must the strategy.
‘Ambushing one by one from hiding won’t work anymore.’
Clashing head-on with this city was out too—my power, trait count, and types were still insufficient.
‘The key is how strong this new trait really is.’
To test it, I approached the wall.
‘Before, I weakened it with acidic blood, then drilled through.’
Given it was the metal foundation of the city, toughness was expected. How much stronger had my body grown, now closer to evolution thanks to Perfect Organic Body?
I swung my combat arm lightly at the wall. A chilling whoosh cut the air, followed by a roar that shook the entire passage.
‘Impressive.’
The dusty, grimy wall now bore four gashes.
All over 20cm deep—matching my enlarged claws perfectly.
My claws were unscathed despite cracking solid metal.
‘Now for durability.’
I jabbed my reinforced exoskeleton with a claw. A light poke didn’t even dent it; only a hard scrape left a mark.
‘Strength, speed, exoskeleton hardness, claw sharpness—all vastly improved.’
With this defense, I could withstand plasma weapons to a degree. In other words, armed police and androids without plasma gear couldn’t kill me.
‘Unless the defense fleet shells me from above, my odds of dying are low.’
Good news, but the issue was the Cult with psionic powers.
My body had high physical defense, but poor psionic resistance. I had Psionic Resistance, but it didn’t benefit from type enhancement, excluding it from Perfect Organic Body’s effects.
‘Using Hunting Manifestation grants resistance to all attacks. That should block psionics to some extent... wait?’
I reread the Hunting Manifestation entry.
‘Hunting Manifestation. Once per day, 10-minute limit, but boosts predation chance.’
Tight restrictions, but extraordinary effects.
‘Kill a Cult while using Hunting Manifestation, and I can snag psionic traits easily.’
Only one more trait needed for Psionic Enhancement type. Acquiring the type would make it eligible for Perfect Organic Body, massively boosting psionic defense.
Plus, securing many traits quickly would let me lift the Transcendence restrictions soon.
Quantity over quality for Stage 2 breakthrough. Gather, fuse, and use as materials.
‘Either way, the commercial district is key.’
The board of directors meeting was approaching.
It would draw diverse alien species for tourism, flocking to consumption and entertainment hubs.
‘Target the influx of new visitors.’
Genetic essences clustered in one spot. Strike at the right time, and they’d be mine easily.
Crowds would bring petty criminals too, tightening security—but that cut both ways. Too many targets for them to focus solely on me.
They’d hunt me if I killed, but committing full forces wouldn’t be simple. By the time they saw me as a major threat, I’d have enough traits for breakthrough.
‘Finish the nest work I postponed before the board meeting too.’
Entertainment and commercial districts. Build new nests there.
As I planned ahead, No. 26 woke and sent a wave.
[Zzzt zzt(It's nothing)]
I said it was fine, so it started settling back to sleep—then jolted awake upon seeing me.
It seemed puzzled by how I’d changed since it last saw me before bed. Lights flickered on its body.
My standing height now exceeded 3 meters—1.5 to 2 times larger than before, when I’d been under 2m. My tail was a bit shorter proportionally but still over 4m.
No wonder it was confused after sleeping through my growth.
[Zzzt zzt zzt(I grew)]
Grown smarter with age, No. 26 questioned. I gave a simple reply.
[Zzzzt zzt(Still a baby)]
Satisfied, No. 26 stopped asking. As we chatted, Adhai woke too.
It took one look at me and leaped up in shock.
[Zzt(What’s wrong?)]
[Zzzt(Thanks)]
Adhai seemed thrilled with my new form. Like an excited puppy wanting to play, it circled me repeatedly, glancing back each time. Its back wings fluttered oddly in tandem.
‘Huh?’
Adhai was clearly smitten with me.
I stayed silent, so No. 26 extended a tentacle and smacked its head.
No. 26 smacked it again. Only after two hits did Adhai snap out of it, stopping its circles and calming down.
‘...Nothing’s known about Galleron mating.’
Adhai’s behavior looked like courtship displays. Galleron fans present would’ve fainted.
Honestly, I was curious about Galleron reproduction too. Killing many would be key to evolution—knowing how they bred and grew would help immensely.
‘But that’s for later.’
Catching Gallerons was far off. Nests came first.
[Zzzzt(Heading out)]
[Z(Yeah)]
[Zzzt zzt(Boring, though?)]
No. 26 aside, Adhai wanted to tag along too.
‘No real reason to leave them.’
I took them to build the nests.
I’d just finished two in the entertainment district when a familiar wave hit me.
The parasite in William, far off, sent a signal.
‘What’s this?’
Hours remained until replacement. He couldn’t be dead already.
As expected, the parasite’s wave wasn’t about his death.
‘Suicide attempt?’
More precisely, he ‘hadn’t’ died yet. Per the parasite, he was comatose, speeding toward somewhere in the commercial district.
‘Hospital? No way...’
Then it clicked what William was after.
He aimed to reveal the parasite via hospital scans.
Many detective team cops knew a parasite came from Sander’s body. I’d ordered William to prevent them linking it to Sander’s death.
They’d lost interest, merely storing it.
But if the same parasite emerged from William now?
‘They won’t sit idle.’
The parasite had an organ for sending me waves. If they analyzed it, they might deploy administrative district Cults to track me via psionics.
‘Cults have tracking psionics.’
William hadn’t figured that far, but it was clear resistance.
‘Guess I’ll visit the hospital.’
My commercial district plan needed advancing.