Taming Omega and the Mechanic Hydra Threat
The Omega exploration team followed the cyborg dolphin into the building. In stark contrast to its grand exterior, the interior—made entirely of steel structures—was plain and utterly ordinary, save for its vastness.
"Ah. There you are."
The cyborg dolphin leading the way pointed in one direction. In the corner cluttered with scattered machine parts sat a single girl. Large ears poked out from her head, and her form was a bizarre fusion of machine and organic matter.
That's Omega.
Omega's face was deathly pale. Though it resembled a human's, it felt utterly alien. A bluish glow leaked from her pupils, and even focusing solely on her face, the uncanny sense of her being an android was immediate and overwhelming. The rest of her body went without saying.
Thick, elongated mechanical arms that didn't suit her slender frame. A reptilian tail sprouting from her back. Beside it, a mechanical tail made of thin bundled wires. At the end of the mechanical tail hung a round iron weight-like device, from which tiny claws extended, nimbly assembling machine parts with precision.
"Yeah, SS-grade for sure. Nerfed threat level is A-grade."
The cyborg dolphin took a deep breath before calling out loudly to Omega, who was tinkering with machines in the far corner.
"Omega! I've brought Min Hyung-seok and his group, as well as Iris, connected to the Explorer!"
"Pop?"
Only then did Omega pause her work and turn toward the exploration team. Neo Hyung-seok strode forward purposefully. Though he only carried Min Hyung-seok's memories, he seemed intent on at least greeting the figure from those memories.
"Long time no see, Omega."
"Who are you? Pop?"
"I'm the previous Explorer, Min Hyung-seok. Currently, Neo Hyung-seok, serving Puppetmaster's master and the Gauntlet Explorer—"
"I have no interest in trash like Min Hyung-seok. Pop."
Omega didn't even let Neo Hyung-seok finish before brushing past him. She quickly scanned the exploration team, her gaze soon locking onto Iris. The screen on the Iris she was looking at was currently broadcasting my appearance.
"Boing. You're the Explorer with the Helper Trait, right?"
"That's right."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Omega. Pop."
Omega showed considerable goodwill toward me. Thankfully, it seemed conversation would go smoothly.
While Centaurides was working on the codex, I had a brief conversation with Omega in the machine factory via Iris.
"The Loner Trait's predation ability and the Domination Trait's control ability. Those two are certainly powerful, almost absolute, but they're not particularly mystical or wondrous. Pop."
Omega first explained why she wanted to meet the Helper.
"Similar abilities are common in the labyrinth. Moreover, I could even fabricate machines with comparable abilities using my tech. Pop pop."
"But! The Helper's taming ability is different! No similar abilities exist in living beings, and I can't even comprehend its principles to replicate it mechanically!"
Omega's tone rose. Her expression remained unchanged.
"From what I know, the Helper's ability has nothing to do with mental manipulation! It's not brainwashing or charm! Yet it turns targets into true friends—this is mystical, wondrous, and ignites my research drive! If used well, it could create a world without conflict! Pop!"
"That's why I want to research it! The Helper's ability! Pop!"
"...Okay, I get why you wanted to meet the Helper. But how do you plan to study my ability?"
No way she'd say she wants to dissect me. If she did, I'd planned to restrain her forcibly and tame her.
"Dissect... I do want to, but you'd never agree. Pop."
"Of course not. I'm not some lab rat."
"Then tame me. If you do, I can learn what emotions it induces, what changes occur. Pop."
A request to tame her out of curiosity about tamed emotions. I welcomed it. I'd sent the team there to tame her anyway.
"But can you figure out the principles just from that?"
"No idea. We'll try it first. Purrong."
Omega extended her hand toward Iris, as if offering a handshake. But since we were essentially on a video call, shaking hands was impossible.
"What do you say? Tame me, then let's conquer this Ancient Labyrinth together? I don't like Dominators or Loners, but I'm all for teaming up with the Helper. Pop."
"Labyrinth conquest? Do you know how to become the dominator?"
"No idea, pop. Just proposing we build civilizations throughout the labyrinth. Purroring."
Building civilizations across the Ancient Labyrinth... Not a bad proposal. It was a world I'd have to dominate eventually, and establishing proper civilizations wouldn't hurt. Far better than the primitive ones now.
I couldn't exactly say I had no interest. Winning her favor would make taming easier. So I accepted Omega's proposal and attached the severed arm to her red spot. I'd already explained the conditions for my taming ability.
"So this is why your power was weakened. Using taming this way... Explorer, you're a tiny bit clever. Impressive. Pop."
"Clever? Anyone with a brain could think of it."
"True enough. Pop pop."
"......"
If you're gonna compliment me, finish the job. Don't leave me feeling awkward.
"Still, thinking it up is easy, but acting on it is hard. Most explorers fear injury and lack pain tolerance, so they never try. That's why you're impressive. Brutish... no, courageous even. Pop."
Omega gave a thumbs-up.
Omega stared at the severed arm now attached to her body, then suddenly shifted her gaze back to Iris as if struck by a thought.
"Ah. Also, even after taming, I can't come straight to you, Explorer. I have work to do."
"Work? What kind?"
"Someone to subjugate. A recently born mechanical lifeform that only destroys without reason. Planning to eliminate it. Pop pop."
"Strong one?"
"Strong. How strong? ...Ever heard of Solorbs, pop?"
"Yeah. That Bastet Daong there came from a world harbored by a Solorb."
"That's surprising and intriguing. Anyway, the one I'm targeting is the reincarnation of a being powerful enough to once exterminate a Solorb. Pop."
"...It beat a Solorb?"
"Yes. But that's ancient history. It's not the same individual—just the same species. And it's only recently born, so relatively very weak now."
Omega continued. If left alone, it would grow stronger by the day. Kill it in its infancy now, or there'd be no chance later.
I asked Omega the monster's name. She turned her gaze to the window, staring into the distance before murmuring softly.
"Mechanic Hydra. The name of the species subjugated by the Crocodile Merchant for trying to destroy this world."