Chapter 12
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Chapter 12
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Veterans Spoon-Feeding the Strategy Guide (4)
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Post List
[Cognitive hazards are way too brutal for newbies]
[Kinda felt like there'd be something tricky]
[Ha... Of all things, had to lay eyes on that]
[Don't think, don't think, don't think...]
[Fuck, was it the absolute worst kind of cognitive hazard?]
[Never look at the pic the newbie posted]
[GRAAAAAH!!!]
The true nature of the anomaly that devoured Chiltoom.
It was a cognitive hazard-type anomaly.
The gallery users couldn't hide their shock at the anomaly's identity.
This reaction was perhaps inevitable.
A monster that spreads through mere perception, without any physical contact.
Wasn't this difficulty level way too insane?
Title: Cognitive hazards are tricky, but...
Author: Ragna Rothburg
It's not like it's completely unbeatable.
If you're the type who leads with your fists more than your brains, like this newbie, it might actually be pretty easy to clear.
Plus, there's a ton of info in the research log, so you could probably skip extra searching and just head straight for the boss.
Seems like a decent situation since we've got almost all the info on the monster right from the ultra-early game?
Just speculation, but maybe it's a kind of balance patch.
Balance patch?
Ah, so the monster that shows up is ridiculously strong, but it gives tons of info to balance it out?
Yeah. Considering how anomaly missions have been pretty uniform in difficulty so far, this guess feels right.
Veteran Ragna's new theory started drawing interest from the other gallery users.
Title: The balance patch theory sounds plausible
Author: Ether Explorer
Usually, finding a single clue takes days.
But this newbie got all the key info almost right at the start.
Sure, it could be luck, but thinking about how Alpha Universe has operated so far, it feels like a balance patch.
If so, this might actually be an easier event than expected?
Yeah, cognitive hazard anomalies rely most on info, and we've got pretty much all we need already.
Yeah, could resolve surprisingly easily.
Not to think too easy—newbie's weapons don't work on Ancients.
Exactly, what's the point of info if you can't land a hit?
Situation's tough, yeah. Better if it hadn't given info and Chiltoom never showed up at all— a hundred, thousand times better.
True.
Of course, the situation was still tough.
Because my weapons didn't work on Chiltoom, a Tier-1 civilization being.
They'd found a breakthrough, but lacked the tools to make it happen.
Title: Then just get a new weapon and problem solved?
Author: Auto-Nickname 1582
If what you guys say is right, can't we just farm a new weapon that can hit Chiltoom?
Saw in the research log earlier that there were soldiers here too.
So doesn't that mean their weapons are still around?
Newbie... Chiltoom aren't idiots. Their weapons have safety systems to prevent aliens from using captured gear.
What's that?
Guns auto-scan user's genetic info and decide access.
Even easier then. Just chop off a Chiltoom hand and use it myself?
What'd you say, you psycho?!
No... wtf lololololol
Disgusting!
Thank god this guy's on our side...
This newbie keeps surprising me lololol
I thought it was a pretty solid idea.
But there was one problem with that line of thinking.
Are you dumb? We need Ancient weapons because we can't destroy Ancient bodies, but to get an Ancient weapon, you're saying destroy an Ancient body?
Yeah, when you put it like that.
Total contradiction.
So what do I do?
Only way is a Chiltoom granting direct access.
But haven't all the Ancients been checked already?
Ehilaatoom's message said she's still alive, so maybe survivors are out there?
Go check it out. You mentioned a computer—hook it to the ship AI and search.
Saw a computer access code in your file upload. Uploading it now—grab it and try.
Sounded like a good plan.
I put it into action right away.
[Connecting to external computer]
[Accessing...]
[Access code verified]
[Connection permitted]
Doing exactly as the gallery said worked—the connection went through.
'Gallery really has some talented folks.'
I asked Orca to check for any living survivors on the ship.
She reported back soon after.
"Scan complete. Survivor signals detected aboard the ship."
"Survivors?"
Survivors in the middle of all this chaos?
"Can you pinpoint locations?"
"Displaying location data."
The screen switched to a map.
A cluster of green dots appeared in one corner.
Closer than I'd thought.
Made sense—this was a residential area, so a shelter nearby wasn't odd.
"How long to get there on foot?"
"Assuming walking speed, approximately 3 hours."
No reason to hesitate.
I resumed the march.
The ship, like a vast city, was shrouded in eerie silence.
I walked warily with the Eggies, eyes scanning everywhere.
About an hour in.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically.
"What's with this place?"
Buildings looked bombed out, shattered.
Debris littered the roads everywhere.
It felt like... a battlefield after heavy combat.
But something was off.
After fighting that intense, there should be bodies.
Yet not a single corpse in sight.
'Better hurry through here.'
I quickened my pace, relying on the map.
The Eggies looked uneasy too, faces grim.
A nameless dread chased me onward.
"Huh?"
Ten minutes later.
A new space opened up ahead.
Utterly different vibe from before.
Like a post-apocalyptic abandoned city where plants had taken root.
– Shhh shhh shhh!
White plants of unknown origin glimmered with dreamlike alien light, breathtakingly beautiful.
Impossible to look away; their allure was indescribable.
'What the hell are these doing here?'
They blocked the path to my destination.
Had to pass through to proceed.
No choice—I stepped forward cautiously.
As I approached the plant-lined passage, they glowed brilliantly, like a welcoming greeting.
They seemed delighted to see me.
My wariness eased a bit.
Didn't look harmful on second glance.
No need to worry much.
First testimony said harmful only to machine lifeforms.
So maybe safe to observe closer?
"Captain, that's not the way."
"I know. Just checking it out quick."
"Captain?"
They greeted me; manners to greet back.
I approached for a friendly hello.
"Nice to meet you all."
"Welcome."
"We welcome you."
They greeted me so kindly.
A smile crept onto my face unbidden.
"Welcome to the garden."
"Garden?"
"Yes. We are the garden's flowers."
Her words reframed everything.
"This place... it's a garden."
Now I saw the truth.
It had never been empty.
Just the owners changed—from Chiltoom to flowers.
"Look this way, please."
Her voice called me.
I turned toward the sound.
A stem moved toward me.
A bud formed, then a new flower bloomed.
"This is your flower."
The fresh bloom poured out stellar light.
Its heavenly glow mesmerized me further.
A flower that shed starlight.
No such beauty anywhere in the world.
'I want to see more light.'
The flowers, hearing my thought, spoke.
"Share our beauty with more people."
"We can't do anything ourselves."
"We need a caretaker."
"Someone to water the sprouts with soul-water and nurture them."
"Show us the wider world."
They yearned to spread across the ship to broader realms.
A pure desire, like a child's curiosity for new worlds.
"Will you help us?"
"How?"
"Become the garden's caretaker."
"Caretaker?"
At my question, the flowers radiated even brighter starlight.
"As caretaker, you'll be with us."
"In return for tending us, we'll show you more starlight."
"Accept the starlight, and a flower will grow in your heart."
"Become a flower like us."
Become a flower.
Emit starlight like them.
Such an alluring tale.
"Sing the song of starlight with us."
"So all in the universe learn the song."
"Make everyone shine like us."
Everything about them felt beautiful.
Their voices, their light.
All sang of heaven.
"What do you say? Will you help us?"
"We need more ships."
"How about turning your ship into a garden like this?"
"Let us take root on your ship."
"We'll sing for you then."
"Our song will reach more people."
"“Will you make a pact with us?”"
Right then.
"I absolutely won't tolerate some bitch invading my house!"
Orca's voice suddenly blared.
At the same moment, intense heat surged.
Startled by the blaze, I stumbled back.
"W-What?!"
Snapping to, I saw flames engulfing everything.
From the Eggies' flamethrowers.
Fire consumed the flowers, spreading into an inferno.
"What are you doing?! Run!"
Orca's voice hit again.
It jolted me fully awake.
'What the hell?'
I looked back at where the flowers had been.
Mere moments ago, radiant with starlight.
"Gah! What is this?!"
But now, sane again.
I could only scream.
No flowers there.
Mangled, unrecognizable alien corpses impaled on the walls.
Mold blanketed them, emitting an ominous glow.
That's what I'd mistaken for flowers.
"Kyahahahaha!"
Engulfed in flames, they laughed grotesquely.
Then mocked me.
"Too late~!"
"A seed's already taken root in your heart!"
"Soon you'll crave the song!"
"And praise Him!"
"Ahahaha! Foolish sapient!"
Revulsion surged to my throat.
Fury boiling, I grabbed my gun.
"Get the fuck out of my sight right now, you bastards!!!"
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