Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Blade Bee Contact
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Made contact with the Blade Bee.
The amount of information held by an individual Blade Bee is around level 3,500.
There are differences between individuals, but they don't deviate much from this.
‘Total 7,000. Back in the day, this would've taken 20 hours.’
Abilities grow stronger the more you use them.
Unable to make contact with Aliens, I'd raised my ability proficiency by repeatedly accessing myself.
Compared to the beginning, my information processing speed had more than tripled.
Even so, completion would still take about 7 hours.
That's too long.
‘I need to save time. Pull out only what I need.’
My goal is clear.
Sturdy Wrist [100% 11/29]
I need 18 more pieces to complete this trait.
Considering I got 11 pieces from one earlier, these two should be enough to finish it.
I fiercely analyzed the Blade Bee, searching for the info I needed.
- Venom Gland.
- Compound Eyes.
- Sturdy Blade Bone.
- Blood Conversion [Explosion]
Various traits obtainable from the Blade Bee appear.
None of them aren't tempting, but most are trap cards, essentially.
‘If looks didn't matter, my options would expand.’
The physical changes upon application are in an area where my intervention is minimized.
One body part overly developed, or a non-existent organ protruding.
Would people like looking at that?
Traits like compound eyes are especially fatal among them.
What world would accept eyes like a fly's?
Even in a future society with deep understanding of diversity, rejection is certain.
‘Found it.’
Got one.
Elapsed time on the panel: 7 minutes 22 seconds.
I immediately started on the remaining one and finished in about 6 minutes.
But I can't apply it right away.
If I did, the aftermath would leave me bedridden during the test.
"Done here. Let's proceed."
I don't forget the lesson and just save it temporarily.
Even in this state, insidious side effects creep in, but it's far better than the intense initial application shock.
‘This direction, huh. As expected of a high-score zone—it's expansive.’
This place is like the first mission I cleared: a research facility.
But on a scale 30 times larger.
Moreover, the number of Blade Bees crawling around and the range of Alien contamination expanding across the buildings is enough to mistake this for a real Alien-occupied zone, not a test site.
And honestly, it's worrying.
‘At this rate...’
It's pretty serious.
Recalling the Great Alien Countermeasures Manual, it's around the deadline for initial response.
As if backing my thought, a signal suddenly rang from the panel.
[Forced Mission Change.]
[Eliminate Alien contamination at this location.]
[Time Limit: 3:59:49]
[All other missions are canceled.]
[Additional points awarded based on contribution.]
[Penalty deduction applied to activity log on mission failure.]
As expected.
That's probably why the initial guidelines mentioned possible mission changes.
Even if artificial, Aliens are Aliens.
The admins were preparing for potential accidents.
"Heard that?"
-Roger! What's the plan?
"Let's clear some space. Charging in now would be stupid anyway."
Alien alertness is at its peak.
The dangers inside the research facility now would be on another level from outside.
Conveniently in a blind spot on a Blade Bee patrol route, picking them off to rack up contribution points isn't a bad choice.
I ended the comms and hid again.
Hunting time.
***
"It's entering the final stretch."
"How are they doing?"
"What do you think? All four of them."
Outside the atmosphere.
In the special-purpose ship 'Obsidian Eye,' prepared to observe the Academy practical test site, numerous observers were seated.
Their focus had narrowed to four cadets.
"I'd heard rumors, but not to this extent. Roze, was it? Already a master of her self-taught style at that age?"
"She's a tank through and through. Almost pitiful for the Aliens."
"More than that, I'm interested in that Barton Stingray kid."
The four names dominate the conversation.
Other cadets' names come up occasionally, but only for a fleeting moment.
Not everyone is like that, though.
Frontline commanders who would soon actually lead Academy cadets busily scanned with their eyes.
Heroes decide victory or defeat, but it's the many soldiers who maintain the momentum, as the saying goes.
What they truly needed to assess were the cadets beyond the Miracle Generation four.
"Still greenhorns. Over half a year since enrolling in the Academy, and they're rampaging drunk on power. Disappointing."
"That damn fool! What does he think a soldier's sacrifice means?"
With platoons of a thousand rampaging, all sorts of incidents occur.
Abandoning platoon members to act solo is almost conscientious by comparison.
From cadets cluelessly charging and endangering their platoon, to those who go further and mock the deaths of platoon members who sacrificed in their place.
The special-purpose ship Obsidian Eye witnessed and recorded it all.
This isn't mere recording.
Cadets acting against humanity's guardianship banner will face severe sanctions from the Human Alliance post-exam, and it will serve as basis for future activity judgments.
"Isn't that kid decent?"
"Leonard Monarch? From the Monarch family."
His recorded metrics so far are quite solid.
Judgment, boldness, leadership, tactical understanding, etc.
Leonard Monarch, balanced high across the board, was the exact type commanders favored.
"As expected of the Monarch family. Not direct lineage, but even the branch is rock-solid."
"Speaking of, didn't the Monarch family send observers to this event?"
"Look over there."
The direction the commander pointed had a woman with bright golden hair identical to Leonard Monarch's.
The Human Alliance's top ten families.
The Monarch family had long enjoyed its radiant fame.
Had the Monarch star system—their home base—not been shattered by Aliens, they'd likely still hold that seat.
Even in ruin, occupying a top 100 spot hints at their former glory.
‘Leonard.’
The woman caressed the screen showing Leonard with an inscrutable gaze.
On the screen, Leonard charged a ferocious Alien without fear, seizing a small victory.
***
[Time Limit: 1:31:22]
The number of Blade Bees patrolling for alerts had sharply decreased.
They must have judged further losses too risky.
‘A shame...’
I dumped the last of the supplied compressed rations into my mouth for calorie replenishment and crunched them down.
Even this tasteless meal is done.
Nutrition topped up, I scaled the adjacent building's wall to the rooftop.
‘They're swarming in thick.’
Cadets approaching close by came into view.
All the cadets testing in this sector must have gathered.
At this point, two options.
Sit and watch, or push into the research facility before it gets more chaotic.
‘Ah, damn...’
This wouldn't have been a dilemma earlier.
Isn't my motto ‘Avoid unnecessary risks’?
But after fighting, my guts swelled, leaving me hesitating.
‘Not like I can aim for first anyway.’
This test's top spot is as good as decided.
Sahim Mohaim or Barton Stingray, one of the two.
Roze lacks tactical judgment for efficient scoring, and Merdi acts on whims, no chance.
In contrast, both Sahim and Barton are exceptional without flaws.
‘If I had to pick one...’
Barton Stingray.
He knows how to make the cold choices Sahim can't.
Bolder too.
Sahim may edge in stability, but in this aggressive test format, Barton has the higher odds for top score.
‘Let's go for it.’
I shelved the dilemma.
Thinking about those four made me feel my own inadequacies anew.
Honestly, where else could I take risks this safely?
Time to advance.
Push as far as I can.
As I resolved and moved to act, a voice grabbed me.
"Hey?"
Flinch!
My body jolted at the familiar voice.
Turning, the face was as expected.
"Hey? No reply?"
"Uh, hi."
It's Merdi.
The woman I'd desperately avoided so far.
The incarnation of a time bomb!
Merdi, in her usual flashy attire, stood behind me.
When did she get here?
"What're you doing? Trying to head in there?"
"Yeah... uh, yes. That was the plan."
"Really? Hmm..., our trash...mon has grown a lot."
She almost said trash!
I heard it clear as day.
No.
She switched mid-sentence, so maybe her view of me improved a tad?
Still deadly if she blows, but a tiny positive sign to cling to.
"Still, if Lemon gets badly hurt or dies, our Roze would be sad..."
Merdi pursed her lips, feigning worry.
Her expressions still vivid and varied.
To strangers, she'd seem genuinely concerned.
But knowing it's performative mischief, I couldn't relax.
"Alright. I'll watch over you."
"Huh?"
"I'll protect you. If Lemon looks like he's in trouble, I'll help, so go on in worry-free."
"No need for that..."
I shut my mouth before finishing.
What pierced me was unmistakably killing intent.
"Haha. That's reassuring. Thanks for your help."
My body faithfully followed rule one, the overriding principle: ‘Survival.’
Live first, figure it out later.
Satisfy her somehow, and maybe shake this thrill-seeker.
In the end, I entered the research facility with Merdi in tow.
‘Deeper in?’
Thanks to Merdi, my forcibly heightened senses clearly tracked the Blade Bees flying inside the facility.
Proceeding carefully like this, I could reach the core where Aliens cluster without issue.
Merdi was following unusually quietly, unlike before.
I swiftly subdued a nearby Blade Bee and smashed its head.
Having faced Blade Bees the most in this world, plus the analyzed info, I had them down pat—beyond perfect.
Exaggerating, I could sense even a single down hair's twitch.
Blade Bee specialist, you might say.
"For a Lemon, you fight well?"
Surprised tone.
I ignored it deliberately and pressed on.
After about 50 minutes of cautious infiltration, we reached the exploration point.
‘A lot.’
My face hardened with tension.
Hundreds of Blade Bees at least, gathered.
They swirled in one direction around a horrific, pulsating bio-structure at the center, with one Alien markedly larger than normals perched atop it.
‘...That.’
That's the ‘Hatchery.’
Just on the verge of completion.
Once the Hatchery activates, it'll spew incomparable numbers of Aliens.
I decided to retreat here.
No matter the high points, challenging that is reckless.
I lack the capacity to face hundreds of Blade Bees at once.
"Merdi, I'm hiding here... fi-first, you hide too!"
But maybe because she'd been quiet for 50 minutes.
I underestimated Merdi.
"Hmm? Why~?"
"If we're spotted here, those guys will... ha, too late."
Merdi revealed herself brazenly, as if oblivious to stealth.
In the end, one Blade Bee spotted her.
On purpose.
Absolutely on purpose.
Her gleeful expression confirmed it.