Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Short Interrogation
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I clasped my hands together and began concentrating my mana.
Rumble...!!!
Even indoors, a heavy thunder like that rumbling from storm clouds in the sky started to echo. The source was the crackling lightning spell circle writhing atop my hands.
Pizzip!!
The overly condensed lightning magic circle triggered an unexpected phenomenon: metal objects inside the warehouse began pulling toward me.
I twisted the trajectories of the flying metal scraps with a distortion field while pouring in even more mana.
Boom boom boom!!!
The warehouse wires still carrying electricity overloaded, spewing white sparks and exploding.
Groooan...
The metal frames of the shelves and the steel beams forming the warehouse structure began bending toward me.
*If I gather any more, this place is gonna collapse.*
But the mana was already condensed to its limit. I unleashed the rampaging lightning mana all at once—the monstrous energy demanding release.
[Thunder Field]
[Spell Enhancement: Maximization]
Pzat, pzzzzzt, pyagyagyagya!!
It wasn't mere lightning.
The electric net enveloping them resonated with the fresh surge of bolts, triggering a chain reaction.
The completed spell was a thunderbolt of unprecedented scale.
A white bolt of lightning spreading with the momentum to engulf everything. A horrific thunderclap belching so massively it made the vast warehouse feel cramped. An immense flash that could burn out your retinas just by looking.
Kwaaaaaaaaagya!!!!!!!
Lightning never lingers in one spot. So the massive flash vanished completely from the warehouse interior as if it had never been.
But the traces proving my thunder dragon had existed in reality were unmistakable.
The scene of devastation from less than 0.1 seconds of destruction was unbelievably horrific.
The shelves were smashed to blackened, twisted skeletons. Books and boxes scattered on the floor had skipped straight to ash without even burning.
And at the epicenter of that destruction were the parasites...
Reduced to ash, leaving only large lumps near their chests and heads, or bits of bone.
Some had left behind only pitiful traces pleading that a human-shaped organic form had once been there.
Pzzzzz... pzzzzz... pzzt, pzzzzzt.
Even after I stopped the spell, the shockwaves and electricity lingered for quite a while.
*If I'd been able to use something like this from the start, I could've settled things with Jemugyeong easily.*
It wasn't for nothing that I'd poured time and effort into deciphering the Dream-Weaving Net Scripture. Like mana absorption, this was a unique spell obtainable only through grimoire study.
Without even an artifact buff, I'd replicated the power of a spell I'd calculated and recalculated until my head throbbed.
"No, I'm still far from enough."
The limits of all these abilities and my transcendent talent I'd created weren't here.
If I'd gathered more, it could've activated even stronger. And I was certain that adding conversion and enhancement processes like before would realize something beyond this.
With more research... someday, I'd cast this level of power with a single spell, no tricks or loopholes needed.
Plus one more thing. A survivor.
"Kughhh..."
A parasite crawling out from the ashes of human flesh.
The adult specimen that had been playing leader. It had more mana than the others anyway.
It had maxed out its mana resistance and used its minions' bodies as meat shields to survive the critical moment?
But even out in the open, it had no tricks left... Once its host body shut down, instinct drove it to smash out of the head?
Either way, it was completely spent.
*Even if I wanted to save it, I couldn't.*
It had been inside human flesh, but the lightning pierced flesh and all. It was barely twitching, but from a parasite's view, its vital nerve clusters were all fried. Left alone, it wouldn't last five minutes.
Still, maybe enough for a quick chat?
I had questions.
"How's it going, alien buddy? Need a hand?"
"Y-you... monster... monster... s-save... save me..."
It kept calling me a monster.
No need to get mad. I replied in a friendly tone.
"Sure. Unlike you lot, I'm no sadist."
[Elation]
The Rank 2 support spell I'd cast on Chae Taewon too.
It wasn't a healing spell. Just one to boost vitality or battle spirit.
This must've injected a bit of vigor into its mind.
To repeat: I couldn't save it. It only created the illusion of temporary recovery.
"This mana, this power... impossible... A human casting magic like this... no way..."
"What impossible? You felt it on your own body."
"Y-you... really human...?"
"Hmm, human... well?"
I was human. Definitely human right now.
But... well? Would I stay that way?
As [Cthulhu World]'s late-game events kicked in, brutal, horrific incidents would unfold nonstop where no one could confidently claim to be human anymore.
Knowing that truth ahead of time, it was hard for me to declare myself human preemptively.
Anyway, no intent to waste time on useless chatter.
"I know you parasites don't just hop into any body. What'd you want with that kid?"
"Hnngh... hng... T-take over... the Three Heads Society..."
"Ah, Cheongho was the ultimate target."
If I hadn't intervened, Jeong Hyeon-ah would've become one of them. By the time Cheongho fell into their hands, it'd be unstoppable.
Good. Next order of business.
"From how Chae Taewon didn't know about you, looks like the parasites themselves had a low spawn rate anyway. You the First, by any chance?"
"......"
Now it was mumbling at whisper volume.
"What?"
"......"
"Speak up."
"......"
I sighed and approached closer.
It opened its mouth again. But not a whisper this time—a clear voice.
"Give me your body!!"
With hidden tendrils, it lunged ferociously.
But predictable. I'd approached because I was prepared for this.
"Block it."
Splat!!
Flesh lumps lurking nearby flew in and latched onto the charging parasite.
"Gaaahk!! What... what the hell is this!!"
"That's a gift from the [Black Goat that Birthes Madness]."
"Lies! Liiiies! The [Goddess of Corrupted Bounty] wouldn't lend power to a freak like youuuu!"
"Yeah, you're right. Think what you want."
The flesh lump began devouring it the same way it'd eaten the parasite larvae before. More precisely, assimilation. I'd lose its knowledge, but some of its power and genetic info would merge with the flesh and be preserved.
"Aw, too bad. Would've been nice if you'd confirmed you were the First."
That info came from the wrong guy.
[Achievement Unlocked! You've thwarted the Parasite (First)'s scheme.
You've obtained the 'Advanced Achievement: Advance Scout.'
As achievement reward, you obtain 'Necklace of the Body Snatcher' and bonus experience.]
"Parasite in brackets, First..."
Funny situation, but good info.
And that meant I probably wouldn't see parasites much anymore.
"First" was the title for the initial entity infiltrating a specific planet.
When a First breeds and its offspring goes independent to form a new hive, that's a Second. Like how bee or ant colonies multiply.
A Second's offspring making a new hive are Thirds, and after that, they spread too fast for generations to matter.
That's the trigger for one of [Cthulhu World]'s major branches: [Parasite War].
Endless battles against parasites taking over human society. Parasites themselves aren't tough, but constantly suspecting if NPCs are infected makes it one exhausting branch.
No rule saying there's only one First, so can't fully relax, but I'd blocked a big one.
And one more thing. Why it being the First mattered.
[To claim your achievement reward, inspect the parasite corpse.]
Right, that reward.
An artifact only from catching a First.
But parasite corpse?
"Hey, where'd you two go? Come here."
Squelch, glorp glorp...
Two flesh lumps crawled out from a warehouse corner, wriggling.
Both bloated from gorging, bigger now—each the size of the original single lump.
"Which one is it? Eat the meat if you want, but give me any foreign objects."
They wriggled like a dance for a moment, then one spat out a small pendant.
At a glance, a metal piece smaller than a thumb, shaped like a quince. Picking it up, it gleamed with a mystical sheen no Earth metal could match. Like translucent particles forming a mysterious color.
Pulling the end stretched the metal into a thin, flexible loop for the neck.
[Necklace of the Body Snatcher (S-rank Accessory): A special accessory embodying alien technology. It stores diverse records from star to star, but research is needed to access the info.
Thought of Domination: Enables unique ability [Mind Whip]. However, each use lets the necklace's stored thoughts nibble at your mind.
Enhanced Mind: Mental Power +2]
An artifact granting [Mind Whip], a unique ability only adult parasites could use.
Plus Mental Power +2.
With this, mental power worries were minimal around my current level.
But more importantly, this necklace-shaped thing was a kind of grimoire. Not a book, so prep needed, but unlike Earth's degraded translations—this was the original. Successful decoding promised massive gains.
Anyway, great haul. Rare for something like this to appear so early, but luckily tied to Cheongho's daughter quest, making it easy pickings.
This time, perfect surprise timing let me fight my way, but normally they hijack politicians or tycoons, plotting petty schemes or setting insidious traps.
Fight at their pace, and headaches galore.
Bounties on your head, accounts or homes seized...
"Whew... Dodged a bullet there."
Other gains too.
From the ashes of their burned bodies: mana stones and minor artifacts. Nothing amazing. Standouts?
[Brainwave Stone (B-rank Catalyst): A stone emitting waves similar to human brainwaves. Enhances mental magic or psychic-based abilities...]
[Moon Fragment (A-rank Magic Tool): A magic tool crafted from moonstone. Repels approaches from certain alien-derived monsters...]
[Flesh Enhancement Coating (B-rank Consumable): A special device made with alien tech. Usage releases skin-hardening mucus for temporary...]
No need to check every minor artifact's data.
Skimmed key info and pocketed them.
*Many damaged from the electrocution, but pocket change earned.*
Wait... hold on? That thing's still there?