Cyborg Dolphin
At the end of the deep sea, they found a door. Beyond it lay a passage made entirely of scrap metal from floor to ceiling. Shallow water flowed along the bottom, and sparks of electricity crackled here and there because of it.
─Pii! My feet feel so cool and nice!─
Splash, splash.
Ignoring the electrified water, Blood Jellyfish Princess kicked at the puddles and pressed forward. The other monsters did the same. They casually traversed what would have been a deadly deathtrap for any ordinary person. I could pass through unscathed now too. Back in the day, Min Hyung-seok—being just a regular guy—must've relied on his dominated monsters to get through, probably using something like Jellyfish to buff himself.
The exploration team pushed on relentlessly like that. Through the seemingly endless passage, for over a full day.
Labyrinth Day 54. The passage, which had stretched on forever, finally came to an end.
─Pii! We finally made it!─
─It really was long...─
The exploration team finally emerged from the passage. Iris's screen revealed a vast open space. Outside was a barren wasteland. Piles of discarded scrap metal formed massive mountains everywhere, like the ruins of a desolate future civilization.
Necro Puppeteer slowly turned his head, surveying the scrap mountains, then asked Neo Crystal.
─Is this the machine factory?─
─No. This is called the Machine Graveyard, where the corpses of dead machine-type monsters are dumped.─
─...Still not the factory? This is really damn far.─
─But we're almost there. One more day of travel, and we'll arrive.─
I'm not the one suffering, but I hope this expedition pays off for all their hard work...
Machine-type monsters that could not only modify bodies but even invent unique, wondrous gadgets. I silently prayed they'd be helpful to us—or at least tamable. So the team's efforts wouldn't be in vain.
"Crystal."
─Yes, Master.─
"Come to think of it, I haven't heard the danger level of that machine-type monster you mentioned."
─Ah, you mean Omega?─
Omega. The name of the machine-type monster Neo Crystal had spoken of.
─On a scale relative to you, Master, I'd rate it around SS-grade. From the memories I read, it was far stronger than the monsters you classify as S-grade.─
"Yeah? But it hasn't been tamed by an explorer with the Helper Trait before, right?"
─No, it hasn't been tamed. It was briefly dominated by the old me, after all. Though only for a very short time.─
"Dominated for just a short time? Why?"
─Omega broke free on its own. That was back when Min Hyung-seok's domination was still weak. Omega's mental strength and resistance played a part too.─
Seemed like Min Hyung-seok had encountered Omega early on, shortly after becoming an explorer.
"I see. But since he did dominate it, he must've already figured out the activation condition by then."
─Yes. He'd already grasped the condition and could wield the ability properly.─
Plus, contrary to my early guesses when I first arrived, Min Hyung-seok's Domination Trait activation wasn't about beating them to near-death.
Min Hyung-seok's domination condition: Spitting right on the back of the target's head.
For S-grades, a phlegm loogie usually hit once. Regular spit took about five direct hits on average.
─For Omega, I spat seven phlegm loogies on its head... So for SS-grade, probably at least five to seven. I once dominated another monster on Omega's level with just five.─
Neo Crystal's memories of Min Hyung-seok were just fragments. Not even his own true recollections, but a mishmash from countless monsters. Still, he recounted the past like fond anecdotes, happily trudging onward. I listened intently; his stories weren't boring.
About 30 minutes later.
─Everyone stop. Something's behind that scrap pile.─
Necro Puppeteer halted the team. Iris swiftly flew up, capturing the monster hiding behind the scrap on screen.
A mechanical body modeled after a human, topped with a fused dolphin head. Overall structure similar to a Snake Head monster.
"Doesn't look like it was hiding, up close."
The team spotted the dolphin too. Iris in the sky relayed the feed to the Iris near the team.
─Oh. A Cyborg Dolphin here of all places.─
Neo Crystal, staring at the shared screen, named it.
"You know it?"
─Yes. It knew Min Hyung-seok. Lucky break.─
"Lucky? Why?"
─It's one of Omega's subordinates. Recruit it, and we get Omega's location easy. No need to scour the whole factory.─
"...Real lucky then. But could just be same species."
─No chance. There's only one Cyborg Dolphin in the entire Ancient Labyrinth.─
According to Neo Crystal, Cyborg Dolphins were originally a different species, reborn by Omega into this new one. No duplicates possible. If there were, it'd still be Omega's minion.
─I'll go talk first. Might not buy the Min Hyung-seok bit, though.─
Neo Crystal stepped forward.
"You can just casually reveal that? You're Min Hyung-seok?"
─It's fine. Aside from trying to force-dominate Omega, no bad blood. I even did a favor for it once, so no hostility.─
"What favor?"
─It asked me to release all the machine-type monsters I was dominating.─
"Min Hyung-seok honored that? Surprising."
─More blackmail than request, really. Threatened war if I didn't. I caved out of fear.─
Still, he did it. Counts as a favor. With that, Neo Crystal strode toward the Cyborg Dolphin.
Rounding the scrap, the two faced off.
─Long time no see, Cyborg Dolphin.─
Neo Crystal greeted first. The Cyborg Dolphin stopped scavenging, crouched and tilting its head up at him.
─Who're you?─
─Min Hyung-seok the explorer. Changed appearance due to circumstances... but I can prove it. Things between me and Omega only we'd know.─
He skipped mentioning he was a distinct entity, just sharing memories.
─Min Hyung-seok...?─
The Cyborg Dolphin stood, pondered briefly, then sighed softly, recalling.
─Oh. That incompetent, cowardly, backstabbing trash explorer? The heaven-defying bastard who spat phlegm on Lord Omega's head?─
─......─
─I remember who Min Hyung-seok is. But you claim to be him?─
─Yes.─
─Proof?─
─I spat seven phlegm loogies on Omega's head. That enough?─
─Hmm. Remembering the exact count... Guess you are Min Hyung-seok.─
The Cyborg Dolphin nodded. Just that convinced it.
Neo Crystal cleared his throat, gauging the reaction, then continued.
─Cyborg Dolphin. Straight talk: Repay the old favor and guide us to Omega.─
─Hm? You're looking for the Master? What's the goal?─
─My master's master—a new explorer—is desperately seeking it.─
─Hmm. Another explorer...─
─Not a Domination type, don't worry. The explorer I serve has the Helper Trait.─
─Helper? Ooooh!─
Suddenly, the Cyborg Dolphin's eyes flashed.
─Lord Omega mentioned wanting to meet a Helper Trait explorer once. Perfect timing!─
Didn't know why Omega wanted that, but one thing sorted.
The Cyborg Dolphin glanced around.
─Where's this explorer?─
─Couldn't come due to circumstances. But we can communicate via Iris even apart.─
As Neo Crystal finished, Iris smartly approached, beaming my current image at the Cyborg Dolphin.
I waved awkwardly. "Uh, hi..."
─You the Helper Trait explorer?─
Huh. Casual speech right off. It started polite, but matched my casual reply.
"Yeah."
─Really a Helper? Lie, and Lord Omega won't let you off.─
"I am, chill. Don't believe me? I can tame you right now to prove it."
─Aren't you elsewhere? How?─
"Ways exist. Want me to tame you for proof?"
─...Nah. That confidence screams truth.─
"You'll guide us then?"
─Of course! Lord Omega wants to meet a Helper too!─
─Follow me to Lord Omega right now!─
The Cyborg Dolphin scooped up scrap as it spoke. Less suspicious than expected.
Neo Crystal waved to the team behind. ─Come on out! Cyborg Dolphin's guiding us!─
At the shout, the watching team rushed over.
Then.
─...Eek.─
Machine-types felt fear too? The Cyborg Dolphin's body convulsed like a leaf in the wind at the sight.
─I-I'll guide you s-swiftly... P-please follow, hehe...─
Its speech turned obsequiously servile.
