Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Nightmare Horizon
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‘Nightmare Horizon.’
I double-checked the text box.
It was a typical high-risk, high-return trait, but what really piqued my curiosity was something else.
‘The ability to pilot spaceships.’
I knew of a similar trait.
It was one of the Outspacer’s unlockable perks: ‘Ship Hijacking.’
Just as Aimorphs grew stronger through stages, Outspacers unlocked various functions as their hive evolved.
One of them was Ship Hijacking—seizing another race’s vessel and turning it into a mobile colony.
Once they acquired this ability, the Outspacer queen could travel to other planets.
‘Stealing ships is something other races can do too, but...’
No other race could remake a ship into a living organism under their control.
It was just like how killing, devouring, and evolving was unique to Aimorphs.
‘Traits akin to a race’s unique abilities are supposed to be impossible to acquire.’
Yet the Transcendence System had shattered that rule.
The first one I’d obtained was Perfect Organism.
When I first transformed into Hunter’s Manifestation thanks to that trait, I’d thought it was similar to the Wolff’s abilities.
The beastman race known as Wolff had an innate technique that let them shift into a battle-optimized beast form under certain conditions.
Thanks to it, even as a mere Subadult, I could hold my own in close combat against formidable foes.
‘Perfect Organism resembles the Wolff’s transformation, and Nightmare Horizon mirrors the Outspacer’s Ship Hijacking.’
I’d only acquired two unique traits through the Transcendence System so far.
It was too early to conclude, but the thought lingered.
‘Is the Transcendence System trying to push past Aimorph limitations?’
If so, what lay at the end of transcendence? What was its purpose?
I was still stuck at Transcendence Stage 1.
I’d gained two unique traits using the system, but I hadn’t advanced to Stage 2.
I pulled up the message I’d received when I first got Perfect Organism.
Reaching Stage 2 might reveal clues about why the Transcendence System existed in the first place.
‘Come to think of it, there’s overlap between the evolution conditions and the Transcendence System.’
To evolve to Near-Adult, I needed to devour a sapient being and acquire 4 types. For Stage 2 Transcendence, I required 5 fusion traits tied to types.
Prioritizing evolution meant hoarding traits, delaying Transcendence Stage 2. Vice versa, advancing to Stage 2 first consumed traits, hindering evolution.
Whichever I focused on first would set the other back.
‘I thought it just broadened my options before.’
There might be more to it than I realized.
‘No point dwelling on it now.’
I wasn’t one to obsess over unsolvable puzzles.
I shook my head and decided to test the new unique trait, Nightmare Horizon.
‘Erosion Tentacles, huh. How exactly do they pilot a spaceship?’
At first glance, Nightmare Horizon seemed like a flesh-series trait due to the physical changes, but it wasn’t.
Surprisingly, it fell under nest enhancement. That unlocked all five type conditions for me.
‘So, it turns a spaceship into a mobile nest?’
Better to see for myself than speculate.
To draw out the Erosion Tentacles, I extended my combat arms fully.
I focused, but only my usual Bloodsuck Tentacles emerged.
‘Not these?’
I tested all four combat arms, but only Bloodsuck Tentacles came out.
I even tried the small arms from my chest, but all I saw were my cute little fingers.
I checked arms, legs, tail—even my mouth. Nothing.
‘Where could the tentacles come from...’
My thoughts settled on the most changed part: my carapace.
The eight holes covered by swirling dermal patterns. Maybe those were it.
I tensed my waist and back like when rearing up.
The membrane peeled back, and six tentacles burst out.
‘There we go.’
Unlike the red Bloodsuck Tentacles glistening with sticky mucus, these were pitch-black like crude oil.
Their form differed too.
Bloodsuck Tentacles resembled octopus limbs with serrated claws instead of suckers. Erosion Tentacles were sleek like a snake’s body.
Unlike the near-bare skin of Bloodsuck Tentacles, these were covered in small, tough scales, suggesting superior durability.
At the tips were pointed-toothed mouths and six starfish-like appendages.
They were much thicker too—nearly as girth as my tail.
‘This feels entirely alien.’
Controlling the six back-mounted tentacles was utterly bizarre.
Like the spine-tingling thrill of peering down from a glass-floor observatory, but constant.
The difference? It wasn’t creepy or unpleasant—just as natural as moving an arm.
I clenched my fist, feeling the appendages respond.
They brimmed with power—gripping strength surpassing my combat arms.
‘Let’s see.’
I grabbed a seat with an appendage. The alloy chair crumpled like an aluminum can.
‘Strong enough to use as weapons, not just for piloting.’
New limbs and weapons were always welcome.
Plus, I could feed through the tentacle mouths too. That made seven mouths total.
‘Synergizes well with Hunter’s Manifestation.’
Its duration had extended to 20 minutes thanks to Nightmare Horizon. Faster intake meant more Gene Essence harvested.
‘But why only six?’
There were eight holes—shouldn’t eight tentacles emerge?
These came only from the mid and lower carapace holes.
The shoulder ones remained sealed by swirling membrane.
‘Ah, got it.’
Hunter’s Manifestation spawned two bone-bladed arms, so those holes were for them.
That wrapped up examining the new organ.
Next: trait effects.
‘How do I use it?’
I waved the tentacles around, then brought a mouth near the bulkhead.
A new text box appeared.
Indeed.
Not just any ship—size mattered.
‘Probably scales with types acquired or evolution stage.’
Whether the escape pod was the max size controllable was unknown. Needed more ships to test.
‘Erosion takes a while.’
Infiltrating and hijacking enemy battleships mid-battle wouldn’t work. Though types or other means might shorten it.
‘Good thing control duration is generous.’
Tied to my energy reserves—more nutrients meant longer control.
‘This’ll do. Time for FTL to Space Dogs territory.’
With the trait’s effects mostly grasped, I moved to retract the tentacles.
That’s when No. 26, emerging from the galley after finishing leftovers, spotted me.
[Hello]
｢Whoa?｣
Nightmare Horizon only restricted Hunter’s Manifestation—no limits on existing traits. My worry hadn’t come to pass.
No. 26 didn’t respond to my greeting. Its body flickered in shock at my changed form.
Adhai, following behind, fluttered its wings in surprise upon seeing me.
｢Adult｣ ｢Grown｣ ｢Done?｣
[Yeah]
｢Me｣ ｢Impressed｣ ｢Adult｣ ｢Cool｣ ｢Cool!｣
Adhai zipped over, circling me excitedly. Fascinated by the transformation, it poked my Erosion Tentacles with its forepaws.
｢Adult｣ ｢Mouths｣ ｢Many｣
[Zuzu zuzu (More now)]
｢Awesome｣
Adhai bobbed its head in admiration.
No. 26 approached too, extending a tentacle to stroke mine.
｢Big baby looks really cool.｣
[Thanks]
Its body glowed bright red as it touched me. Seed Demon through and through—it loved the extra tentacles.
‘Glad they approve.’
Their positive reaction lifted my mood.
‘In a game, players would call this grotesque.’
Humans would freak, but these creatures had different sensibilities.
With them satisfied, I retracted the tentacles into my carapace.
｢Aw.｣
No. 26 deflated—tentacles must’ve really captivated it. I patted its head and headed to the cockpit.
My larger body made the once-spacious cockpit feel cramped.
Especially with my hunched posture—piloting with the small arms was awkward now.
‘Once erosion finishes, check if FTL still works.’
I activated FTL via the terminal.
The ship’s heart—the compact reactor—roared, flooding the aft light-speed engine with power.
Our craft leaped beyond light, into the void beyond.
Beyond the reinforced glass, darkness rained light.
Multicolored specks danced across black canvas, intertwining in cosmic ballet.
As the stellar waltz transcended human time, we arrived in Space Dogs territory.
‘We’re here.’
Leaving the cockpit, I briefed the others on the plan.
Erode the ship, then hunt for a new one and food.
｢Okay. I’ll sleep then.｣
｢Agreed｣
With them on board, I headed to the cargo bay for energy replenishment.
I skipped stored ingredients, devouring calorie bars instead.
‘Need quantity for energy.’
Tasteless, but necessary.
After forcing down half the cargo’s stock, I activated Erosion Tentacles.
Control time jumped to 50 days.
‘Perfect.’
From the cargo bay, I went to the engine room.
A silver sphere hummed at the center—the light-speed engine enabling FTL.
I activated Erosion Tentacles before it.
‘Begin erosion.’
My six tentacles stretched, latching onto the walls.
Black mucus spewed from the mouths, seeping into the alloy.
Similar to nest-building slime, but spreading faster.
The engine room drowned in black waves. Even the defiant engine succumbed.
As mucus engulfed it, I felt a wholly new sensation.
Peak Mega Corp tech—the pinnacle of space engineering—reborn under Erosion Tentacle will.
It felt as vivid as changes within my own body.
｢Thump｣ ｢Thump｣
The black engine pulsed like a living heart.
I-97 Sector.
No resource-rich planets, no strategic value—just cosmic dead space.
Beyond the gaze of giants like Mega Corp, Cult, or Star Union.
No tigers? Foxes rule. Here, cosmic hyenas—Space Dogs—held sway.
The Ruthrak Cartel was one such pirate faction using it as a hideout.
Their mainstay: rare animal smuggling and ship raiding.
All members were ace hunters and smugglers.
Ruthrak Cartel’s infamous leader and mighty Wolff warrior, Milo Ruthrak, was in high spirits.
“Things went perfectly this time.”
A major deal with a Mega Corp high Capital had netted him a fortune.
Enough to buy every whore in the hideout and party for a year straight.
He grinned, imagining soft Wolff fur and cool-blooded females’ chilly tongues.
Stripping on his captain’s bunk, the comm buzzed—First Mate Stax.
｢Captain Milo.｣
“Busy.”
｢Signal detected en route to I-97.｣
“Other guys. Ignore.”
Milo brushed it off, but Stax wouldn’t let him enjoy.
｢Captain.｣
“Fuck, what?”
｢Biosign detected. Waveform similar to Skywhale.｣
“What?”
Snap-sober, Milo bolted up.
“Skywhale here?”
｢Unconfirmed.｣
“Shit—we grab it first!”
Skywhales: wildly popular, ultra-rare.
Even he, smuggling expert, had seen only a handful in his life.
“Set course. Be right there.”
｢Aye.｣
He hiked up his pants and stormed out.
‘Kukuku, Wolf God blesses me? Even a Skywhale?’
Live-capture one, and that deal’s credits were pocket change.
In the ops room, he checked Stax’s signal.
“Well?”
“Hm...”
Milo grunted.
‘Skywhale-like, but...’
He’d memorized the few he’d seen.
The monitor’s waveform was slightly off standard Skywhale.
‘Not like I’ve seen tons.’
Skywhales varied by individual—signals reflected that.
“We’ll see up close anyway.”
He shrugged, ordering course to the signal.
‘If it’s a Skywhale... what then? What to do?’
Black space stretched ahead, stars twinkling like whispers of fortune to Milo and his crew.