Chapter 66
Chapter 66
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Into the Sewers
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“What the hell happened? Please explain.”
“…….”
“Is that invisible, ghost-like thing really a living creature?”
“…I don’t know.”
Laila demanded an explanation, but Denver had nothing to say.
Among everyone here, the one who wanted to know the most about that monster wasn’t Laila—it was Denver himself.
‘At least three abilities visible on camera alone. And they’re fused together so naturally. It’s a perfect upgrade over the Hulk Mutant.’
Denver was the lead on the New Hulk Mutant development project. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say his knowledge rivaled that of the Yujin Family.
‘Invisibility, flame breath, spine projectiles, and a tough exoskeleton. No creature with all those abilities has ever been discovered.’
There were plenty of creatures with diverse traits and abilities. But the ones the monster had shown were the kind that were incredibly hard to combine artificially.
If there was a being that could integrate all those powers without side effects, it would be nothing short of a god.
‘…Tempting.’
It didn’t matter if it was a product of nature or something someone had created. If the Ezerton Family succeeded in capturing it alive, they would instantly surpass the Yujin Family and claim the top spot in genetic engineering.
Then, ascending to Noble Capital status—a long-held dream of the family—would no longer be just a pipe dream.
Even as Denver licked his lips, the knights’ cameras kept scanning.
｢This is Jacob. Vice Captain, anything on Squad 3’s camera?｣
“It’s Vice Captain. Can’t see a thing through the smoke.”
｢This is Squad 2, Tennessee! We’re entering the station!｣
｢Negative. They might ambush us. Vice Captain Vickers, we need to search the subway with full force.｣
“…Your Highness, please decide.”
Denver shook his head at Vickers’ words.
“It’s a monster that killed six elite knights in seconds. Fighting unprepared in the confined underground is suicide. Retreat and regroup.”
｢Jacob, returning.｣
｢…Theris. Comms off.｣
“Chief Administrator Laila. Sorry. It doesn’t look like our deployed knights can catch it.”
“…We’ll seal all stations in the city. And contact the aides and the defense fleet.”
Laila showed no particular reaction to Denver’s apology.
This was no longer something that could be settled with a verbal sorry.
This was a matter for the family heads to discuss among themselves. He was the patriarch; she wasn’t. As the administrator of a single city, she couldn’t handle it unilaterally.
Denver knew that too, so he didn’t point out her refusal to accept his apology. He continued.
“The Knight Order’s honor is tarnished. Can you give us a chance to redeem it?”
“…….”
“This isn’t about the families—it’s my personal request. Let the Knight Order join the defense forces on the mission.”
“…If you’re offering help, I won’t refuse.”
“Thank you.”
At Laila’s approval, Denver looked relieved and gave her a light bow. She said nothing, but she seemed pleased at having the Ezerton patriarch in her debt.
What she didn’t know was that Denver had gained something too.
‘Perfect. Now I can capture it alive.’
Earlier, with Laila watching, he couldn’t order a capture. If she saw his obsession with the monster, she’d try to negotiate with him for sure.
But now things were different. He could pretend to join the defense operation and capture it separately.
The accompanying defense fleet soldiers might try to stop the knights, but that was no worry.
‘Accidents happen often in chaotic battles.’
With his head bowed, Denver chuckled silently.
‘Wow. Without the Endurance trait, I would’ve collapsed right there.’
Once the Avatar of the Hunt effect ended, I nearly passed out on the spot.
It was better than the monster’s tentacles forcing a shutdown against my will, but overwhelming lethargy and hunger hit me hard.
Thanks to the new Endurance trait I’d acquired, I could endure the lethargy, but the problem was the intense hunger that followed as a side effect.
I’d worried about the Avatar of the Hunt’s aftermath, but experiencing it firsthand far exceeded my expectations. My sense of self faded, leaving only appetite to dominate my mind.
‘If there hadn’t been corpses, I might’ve eaten those guys.’
Fortunately, Specimen 026 reacted quickly, so I didn’t attack them. It sensed something was off with me and handed over a body.
I only snapped out of it after swallowing a whole corpse right there.
｢You okay now?｣
[Zuzuzuzu (A bit better)]
｢Want another one?｣
I shook my hand at 026 to signal I was fine. As it moved to dispose of the body it was holding, a faint light caught my eye.
‘What’s that?’
We were on the tracks before the passage to the nest. In the pitch-black space, the small light stood out sharply.
[Zuzuzuzu (Can I see that for a sec?)]
｢Sure.｣
I took the body from 026 and checked it.
A dim red glow from inside the helmet—the powered suit’s power was still alive.
‘No way.’
I hurriedly ripped off the battery on the suit’s back. The helmet light flickered and went out.
Confirming the suit had fully shut down, I tore off the head. I tossed the brain inside to Adhai and peered into the helmet.
‘Hmm.’
A small chip connected inside the semi-transparent visor. I knew what it was.
‘…Recon chip.’
It looked exactly like the part used to customize mercenary powered suits in the game.
I’d spent more time fighting Mega Corp as an enemy than playing them. At some point, I knew their weapons and gear as well as any top Mega Corp ranker.
‘They use recon chips mainly when sending mercenaries for scouting.’
In classic RTS games, sending workers to scout enemy bases was basic strategy.
Some Mega Corp players would implant recon chips in mercenaries to gauge enemy strategies and armament levels.
‘Slightly different case here, but…’
The problem was they might pinpoint my nest’s location. I crushed the helmet in my grip.
‘The nest is compromised anyway.’
I’d noticed before entering the secret passage, but it was too late.
The enemy wasn’t pushovers. Even without the exact spot, they’d comb every inch of the subway lines underground and find it.
‘Even if I abandon the nest, during the board meeting period, fleeing to another planet is tough.’
Even if I boarded a ship safely, if they mobilized the defense fleet to chase me, it was over. No matter how tough and strong my body got, I couldn’t survive a fleet’s concentrated barrage.
I hadn’t acquired that trait yet, so fighting a fleet head-on was impossible.
‘Let’s think step by step.’
No need to think negatively right away.
‘If I fight from the nest, what are the pros and cons?’
I told the others to hold on and calculated my advantages and disadvantages.
First, advantages.
‘They probably don’t know the secret passage layout.’
By lore, my nest was in a makeshift passage built by city construction workers for breaks and movement. No maps or records would exist.
Unless a worker from back then was still alive—but this city was centuries old by setting. Without gene mods, no chance.
‘Win or lose, no fleet bombardment worries.’
Unless they went insane and ordered fire on their own city, no warships involved.
‘Plasma weapons are a concern, though…’
Now that Avatar of the Hunt was off, any knight’s plasma bolter or higher was a threat. City soldiers likely had plasma launchers too.
Both could deal lethal damage to me.
‘Underground, so they might hesitate to fire recklessly.’
Not certain. If they wanted to bury me alive, they’d order launcher spam.
‘Count that as a disadvantage. Plus, the narrow, straight terrain works against me.’
The secret passage was a complex maze, but the paths themselves were narrow and linear. No cover, so if they laid down fire, dodging would be hard.
‘Even ambush-focused tactics have limits against dozens or hundreds of soldiers.’
Didn’t know about city defense forces, but knights were veterans. They wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice.
‘Disruption via darkness won’t work easily either.’
The nest was pitch black, but they’d come fully equipped for visibility.
‘…Change perspective.’
Underground, familiar terrain. Minimizes enemy attacks, easy to defend.
One place fit perfectly.
‘Sewer.’
When playing Aimorph in the city, I always used the sewers.
First time in the city after game became reality, I debated sewer vs. subway. Worried about sewer security, chose secret passage.
‘I was weak then.’
Juvenile stage, one type only. No Transcendence System ace up my sleeve. Chose passage over sewer, hid from eyes, built strength.
‘Not anymore.’
One trait from the hospital was perfect now.
‘Space Bacteria.’
Activating it auto-produces ‘Space Bacteria’ from my body.
Space Bacteria was like a chronic cold virus humans got expanding into space. Kept mutating, not eliminable, not super lethal.
‘Space Bacteria only lowers immunity, but…’
What if enemies got infected in a place full of pollutants and viruses? Like a sewer brimming with contaminated water.
Pursuers would fight me and the space bacteria inside them.
‘The true scary enemy is from within.’
Bullets can be blocked with armor, but internal rot is hard to stop.
Basic powered suits had built-in meds, but not perfect against sewer viruses and filth.
Advanced suits weren’t exempt. Might have antidotes, but just buys time. Same end.
They’d all groan and die in the sewer sludge.
‘Defensive advantages too. Sewers are critical infrastructure.’
On a space station, water-related facilities failing is dire. Water’s essential for life.
Sewer damage wouldn’t kill masses instantly, but major operational hit to the city.
‘So they’ll restrain plasma use as much as possible.’
Last pro: Sewers half-filled with water.
Enemy sensors so far: thermal and vibration. Neither great against submerged foes. Ambushes from water harder for them to counter than on land.
‘They’ll have sewer maps, so watch that.’
Overall, pros outweigh cons. Good new nest and battlefield.
I decided on sewer, called the others.
[Zuzuzuzu (Kids, this way)]
｢That’s not home?｣
｢?｣
[Zuzuzuzuzuzuzuzu (Not going home, to a new one)]
｢New home?｣
[Zu zuzuzu (Yeah. New nest)]
To reach sewer, out first. Through station risks detection, but irrelevant. They already knew I was underground via suit signals.
I led 026 and Adhai across tracks to another station, firing spines to smash all cameras.
‘Knowing I’m underground ≠ knowing my identity.’
Extended Metal Absorption from Avatar of the Hunt ended. No stealth, so cameras priority.
I smashed them fast, rushed to station exit with kids. Late night, doors closed. Before guards and androids, I broke out.
‘Square manholes connect to sewers.’
On street, checked manhole shapes. Mostly round, one square.
[Zuzuzuzu (This way)]
｢Okay.｣
｢Hungry｣
[Zuzuzuzuzuzuzu (You two eat on the way)]
｢Can I?｣
[Zu (Yeah)]
Avatar effect over, no urgent feed need.
At my okay, 026 tentacled off an arm for Adhai, melted leg for itself.
While they snacked, I lifted square manhole, checked below.
‘No alarms at entrance.’
No alerts within 50m of underground sewer. Safe confirmed, we crawled in with kids first.
｢Whoa! Water!｣
After them, replaced manhole, jumped in.
‘Filthy.’
No nose as Aimorph, but sensitive auxiliary organs. Felt every component of black water, floating slime.
Still, Aimorph stomach tolerance beyond imagination—bearable.
｢Big guy, this place good.｣
｢Water｣ ｢Not bad｣
Unlike me, 026 and Adhai liked polluted water. 026 from deep sea, makes sense; Adhai surprising. Swam naturally with wings and tail.
Planned to hide Adhai if enemies came, but no need now.
Finally, double-checked for alarms or sentry androids.
‘None elsewhere maybe, but not here.’
Relief hit as we reached safety. Tension drained.
Short time, but fatigue from nonstop elite fights, Avatar aftermath lethargy.
First true tiredness since becoming Aimorph.
‘Last, apply the trait from Predation Effect, then sleep.’
One trait left from station knights. Accepted application, floated on water.
[Zu zuzuzuzu (Gonna rest)]
｢Yeah. Good work. Sleep. I’ll wake you if trouble.｣
[Zuzuzu (Thanks)]
Handed off to 026, slept soundly in contaminated water.