Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: qiqi iykow gkk-92i
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Ambush at the Harbor
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At the time when Monument was under aerial assault from unidentified enemies, Denver Ezerton had evacuated alongside his retainers.
In the midst of everyone's frantic escape, he judged this to be the perfect opportunity.
'Right now, even if the monster's corpse gets stolen, no one would notice.'
The top brass of Monument, including the Chief Administrator, would be too busy dealing with the enemy.
They'd figure it out eventually, but by then, the Ezerton family's flagship would already be far from the city.
Having made up his mind, Denver summoned his newly appointed vice-captain Jacob and a few squad members.
"You're telling us to retrieve that thing's corpse?"
"Yes. Find it by any means necessary. Otherwise, it won't be worth the cost."
With the board of directors in this state, Saddam Chemberlin becoming CEO was off the table.
This had put Denver, who had supported T&C, in an awkward position within his own family.
'If we secure it, the project progress will jump several stages.'
Success in developing the new Hulk mutant would mean no more reliance on T&C. His position as patriarch would solidify.
With that, Denver left Jacob and his team behind and boarded the transport ship.
Upon arriving at the harbor district, the docks were packed with ships preparing to depart.
Besides the Zhao family spaceship that had come to greet the board, there were plenty of administrators from the administrative district trying to flee as well.
"Your Highness, the elders say they are departing first."
"I have business to attend to. Tell them to go ahead."
Soon after, the warships carrying the elders departed beyond the shield gate enveloping the city.
Denver sat on the throne in the flagship's command room, awaiting news from Vice-Captain Jacob.
He had nearly finished the wine brought by his attendant when the awaited contact came.
"Have you found it?"
｢There is no sign of the corpse here.｣
"What? Did you check everywhere else besides the lab?"
｢Yes.｣
Denver was shocked to hear it wasn't at the lab.
'In this chaos, they cleaned up the body?'
To him, the city had descended into disorder. With all the administrators who should protect it fleeing, who would bother with a monster corpse?
Instead, another possibility suddenly occurred to Denver.
'The attack on Monument... could it be?'
The monster might still be alive.
That thought sent chills down his spine.
'They didn't kill it—they captured it alive!'
It had seemed suspicious.
It wasn't enough to slaughter the Ezerton elite ground forces, the knight order; it had even killed the veteran of veterans, former Vice-Captain Vickers.
He knew full well that the planetary defense fleet's ground troops weren't heavily armed. With Gauss rifles as standard issue, they couldn't kill it.
'A thing that can withstand a plasma bolter.'
The defense forces probably subdued it with launcher fire and hauled it to Monument's scientific research institute.
The scientists there must have studied it enough to announce results during the board meeting.
'Something went wrong during that, causing this mess.'
"Seeing it's gone, I know who's behind this disaster."
｢Yes. The culprit behind this incident is probably...｣
Having grasped the full situation, Denver asked the most important question.
"Did you find any traces of it?"
｢Gene tracker shows it escaped outside the building. After that, traces are untraceable—likely erased.｣
Jacob said it was impossible to track further, but Denver wasn't particularly worried.
For now, it was certain the monster had survived and fled Monument.
"It could be camouflage. Keep tracking inside the building as best you can."
｢Understood.｣
"And transmit the gene data immediately."
｢Yes, sir.｣
Ending the call, Denver summoned his adjutant.
"The vice-captain will send gene data soon. Load it into the bio scanner and sweep the city."
"Your Highness, T&C will surely protest if we do that."
"Doesn't matter. Execute now."
The bio scanner detects a specific organism's location within range once gene data is input.
It can even track humans with just data, so Mega Corp law requires permission to use it in another family's territory.
That's why the adjutant cautioned him, but Denver ignored it.
Relations with T&C were already sour. How much worse could it get?
'If I get that monster, T&C will be the desperate ones.'
With the monster in hand, Ezerton could complete the new Hulk mutant in a month.
Then, unlike before, T&C would be begging to buy it.
Moments later, the bio scanner activated with the gene data from Jacob.
The results of the city-wide scan displayed on the large holographic monitor at the front of the command room.
"Target approaching the harbor district."
"As expected."
Denver nodded.
He had thought so.
The monster was a terrifying beast with demonic intelligence. It knew its own power and limits well.
'It plans to escape on a departing spaceship.'
"Alert the embarked knights. Prepare for combat."
Rising from the throne, Denver ordered his adjutant.
"Authorize assault packs for all personnel."
"Assault packs, sir?"
There were 50 knights remaining on the flagship. Authorizing the expensive gear for all of them surprised the adjutant.
"It's no easy prey. This time, we're killing it—not capturing. Prepare launchers too."
"Understood, Your Highness."
"And since I'll command personally this time, prepare my reinforced suit."
Denver stared at the moving signal of the monster on the command room monitor.
'It's mine.'
He had no doubt he would win.
He always had, after all.
I dodged the barrage of plasma rounds and slipped deeper into the sewer.
Auxiliary organs confirmed the number of enemies targeting me had spiked in an instant.
'They were lying in ambush.'
Fifty detected foes.
The intense electrical flow on their surfaces indicated all wore advanced reinforced suits equipped with assault packs.
They must have waited at a distance beyond my detection, then jetted in using the assault packs' thrusters.
'How did they know?'
Defense fleet grunts, sure—but an Ezerton knight order ambush was unexpected.
To them, I should already be dead.
Considering the situation, though, I could roughly guess how.
The dissection team lead had analyzed my genes and presented at the board meeting just days ago. Easy to imagine how much the attending Ezertons coveted it.
Unlike the game lore, the real Ezerton family seemed deeply interested in genetic manipulation.
'They tried to steal my corpse amid Monument's chaos.'
Noble Capitals were all greedy sorts. They'd see this as their chance.
But I had escaped the Monument scientific research institute long ago.
Thus, it was now empty.
With my body cleanly gone, they realized I was alive.
'Then they probably used a bio scanner.'
Mega Corp warships mount bio scanners to detect life signs.
Input gene data, and it pinpoints the organism in range.
'Normally taboo in another family's territory.'
With gene data, it can track humans in real-time—perfect for espionage.
Using it in enemy turf is tantamount to declaring surveillance, so the families had an unspoken agreement against it.
Ezerton had broken that rule.
'They're desperate too.'
Post-board presentation, they were going all-out, just like me testing my upgraded body.
"Did you think I'd let you escape?"
A voice presumed to be the commander's echoed from outside.
Distorted by the reinforced suit, but the obsession and madness within were unmistakable.
'This won't be easy.'
Melee with 50 knights packing assault packs.
Assault packs shine in open fields. Last time, the narrow sewer limited them; not now.
'Without Hunter's Mark, my win odds are low.'
Luring to the sewer wasn't ideal either.
"Knights! Ready launchers!"
Five knights approached with plasma launchers on the commander's order.
The knight commander had no intent to capture.
Wise, considering their sewer drubbing.
Sequential launcher fire in this tunnel: impossible to block or dodge.
'If I dodge, the kids take the hits.'
Fine alone, but with No. 26 and Adhai.
26 could manage; Adhai's wounds weren't fully healed.
To protect them, I had to shield.
'What to do.'
This terrain favored them. Ambush useless if they didn't enter.
Exiting was problematic too.
'Limited exits.'
They arrayed firepower on the wrecked manhole. Exiting meant instant honeycomb.
Detour? Bio scanner on the warship would catch me.
'...Only one path left.'
Time for a gamble.
[Zzzt zztzzzt (Everyone fall back)]
｢Big baby?｣
｢?｣
I ordered 26 and Adhai far back, then prone on the floor. Raised head carapace like a shield, minimizing profile.
Focused all auxiliary senses in the flowing sewer water, waiting.
What I planned next, I'd done a few times in the game.
Problem: even I couldn't guarantee 100% success.
Game failure meant respawn; this was reality.
No room for error.
'No distractions. Focus.'
One launcher knight leaped in.
His steps rippled the water surface to my sensors. Then another, two more—pouring in.
They prepped attacks immediately.
"Launchers ready. Cover fire!"
｢Charging 10…30%｣
Others boltered me while the charger built up.
Refined plasma hammered my head carapace. Chunks sheared off; shock shoved me back.
｢Pain mitigation activated!｣
'Focus.'
I anchored combat arms into the sewer floor.
｢Charging 60…80%｣
'Wait.'
I sensed 26's worried waves amid the bolter hail. No reply; maintained focus.
｢Charging 90%…｣
The instant the lead launcher hit 100%.
My back bone plates shifted.
The twin ridges clashed, wave propagating through the tunnel.
Target: lead knight.
Precisely, his armor.
Psionic wave ensnared the reinforced suit.
Meant to protect wearer, now under my will.
Suits too complex for full control, but I needed none.
Just turn his armed upper body rearward—simple.
"Gah!"
His body whirled, launcher muzzle swinging from me to comrades.
"What?!"
Rear knight reached to halt the imminent shot, but my invisible assault continued.
'Gaze of the Terror.'
Eye-like marking on head carapace gleamed ominously.
Fixed on lead knight.
Terror seized him; hand dropped. He spun like the first, launcher following.
Two of five now aimed at allies, not me.
"Fall bac—!"
｢Charging 100%｣
Rear knight's cry too late; charging complete.
Traitor knights unleashed warship-felling energy.
Plasma beams struck comrades' charging launchers.
Green energy met; blinding flash overwhelmed my vision.
Unprecedented quake shook me.
But minimal pain.
Plan succeeded: hijack launchers for chain explosion.
Auxiliaries reported: five targeting knights ceased to exist.
Recovered sight showed not dim sewer—but harbor district panorama.
No more tunnel before me.
Just fan-shaped devastation.
[Zzzt zzzt zztzzzt (Now. Everyone out)]
｢Yes!｣
｢Counter｣｢attack｣｢begin｣
We surfaced with the kids.
Few knights stood amid crumbled concrete.
Many vaporized in plasma chain-blast or buried in collapse.
"In-insane! Impossible!"
The sole black-armored silver knight screamed.
Voice confirmed: commander.
'High rank.'
Unique black suit screamed elder status in Ezerton.
'Use him.'
[Zzzt zzzt zzt (You two take the rest)]
｢I'll punish who hurt big baby!｣
｢Agreed｣
Left survivors to 26 and Adhai; charged black knight.
"Protect His High—Gurk!"
One knight tried shouting; transparent noose choked him.
26 tentacled from afar with Bind. Adhai soared, blasting purple lightning on knights.
Purple Lightning: new Green Galleron skill.
Piercing/power devastating; but AOE, and paralyzing shock.
Most in alloy suits—damage inevitable.
Some felled by Adhai's bolts; others jetted skyward.
"T-take that one fir—Hng!"
"Hiiik! Monster!"
Aerial knights plummeted screaming.
Chilling aura told me who: 26 twisting necks with Bind.
Sudden eyes glared from its body.
Deep-sea horror devoured them in lake-less space city.
"Hee hee! Hee hee hee! Die! Die!"
"Snap out of it!"
"Aaagh!"
While foes panicked under duo assault, I closed on black knight.
"Your Highness! Call flagship support!"
"We'll hold it here!"
Two more guarded him.
'Out of the way.'
Tentacle whipped one; hijacked the other.
"Kuh?! Wh-what!"
Forced his bolter arm to blast tentacle-felled comrade's head.
Plasma pulped it like microwaved egg.
"Shiiit!"
Hijacked knight's rage-scream; I turned him on black knight.
He resisted futilely against suit power. Fingers squeezed trigger per my will.
Bolter round slammed black knight's back.
"Kuhak!"
High status showed: armor barely dented.
But shock penetrated; he crumpled.
I gripped hijackee's helmet with combat arm. Futile struggles.
Suit now his prison.
"Y-your Highness, evacuate quic—Gaaaaah!"
Ghost Claw shredded helmet innards; body convulsed.
Red blood oozed suit gaps.
Released; corpse flopped.
"Gr, urgh!"
Black knight couldn't rise; shock lingering.
I approached.
Others occupied with 26 and Adhai.
"D-don't come closer!"
No protectors left.
Ripped off his helmet. Black-skinned man inside.
Blood trickled lips; terror-filled eyes stared up.
Razor teeth neared; he trembled.
｢You... are... com... man... der...｣
"It... speaks?!"
Eyes widened in shock.
Human speech stunned him.
"H-Hulk mutant? T-to think such tech exists!"
Hulk mutant, my ass.
No need to correct foe.
Bared teeth; he yelled desperately.
"W-wait! I'm Denver Ezerton! Spare me and..."
High status, different reaction.
Few negotiated before.
Thought speech meant bargaining; wrong.
'Still clueless after fights.'
Tore off pauldrons with combat arm; bit shoulder with fangs.
"Aak!"
Neurotoxin flooded veins. His blood filled my throat.
｢No... need...｣
"!"
Mimicry organ echoed his voice; pupils dilated hugely.
Re-helmeted his rigid, puppet-stiff body.
He didn't know? Time to teach.
Aimorphs don't negotiate.
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