Chapter 13
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Strategy Handed Down by the Veterans (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
– Fwoosh!
The Eggies spewed flames nonstop.
Since I couldn't snap out of it, Orca had switched us into combat mode herself.
Finally coming to my senses, I let out a yelp.
"That was a close one, seriously!"
"Get your head in the game! Do you have any idea how many times I called you?"
"Sorry, I'll stay sharp from now on."
Thanks to Orca, disaster was averted.
But the situation wasn't resolved.
The flames had definitely held them back.
They just hadn't fully destroyed them.
'Still, it's workable.'
Unlike before, when weapons did nothing.
These mycelial bodies could take real damage.
'No reason to run from a fight, then.'
With the Eggies laying down covering fire,
I charged straight to the front lines.
– Bang! Rat-a-tat-tat!
I shouldered my rifle and squeezed the trigger.
Recoil jolted through my body as bullets flew.
They pierced the mold flower’s head perfectly.
"Keeek!"
As its comrade collapsed, the others looked panicked.
But there was nothing they could do.
They couldn't even run.
'Way weaker than that Infection Lord, huh?'
They looked gross, sure.
But pure combat ability? Nowhere near the Infection Lord.
Confidence surging, I ramped up the assault.
Crack! Thwack!
Bullets punched clean through their heads.
As heads exploded one after another, the monsters' panic was obvious.
"Grrraaah... You bastard!!!"
"Kraaaak! What the hell!"
"Why are you so damn strong?!"
If they'd had legs, they'd be bolting right now.
Too bad they were legless lumps.
Meaning even if I ran up and beat them senseless, they couldn't dodge.
"I'll turn you into vegetables."
"You mad bastard! You think that's possible?!"
They weren't just taking it, though.
The mycelials formed branches into tentacles and lashed out.
A few Eggies got pierced in the barrage.
Sacrifices were inevitable on the battlefield.
I used their falls as cover to inch closer.
"Kraaak! Gutless freak! This time you're dead for sure!"
Spouting third-rate villain lines, they lashed tentacles again.
'Slow.'
First tentacle attack.
I twisted aside easily.
The second followed.
Angle was off for a dodge.
Instead, I smashed it away with my rifle butt.
It flopped to the ground.
I rushed in and stomped it flat.
"Kraaaaak! You monster!"
Were the tentacles linked to them?
They screamed like they felt the pain.
I aimed my muzzle to shut their yapping mouths.
– Bang!
The gunshot boomed as the bullet tore through.
It slammed its head into the dirt, squealing.
Under Eggies' covering fire, I advanced steadily.
The mycelials' faces twisted in terror at the sight.
"T-Time! We need more time!"
"Where's the garden manager?!"
"We need the manager! Where the hell is he?!"
'Manager?'
They probably meant the infected Chiltoom.
The mycelials themselves were weak enough for me to kill.
But the Chiltoom tending this garden? Different story.
My weapons wouldn't work on it.
'Gotta finish before it shows.'
No time to waste.
Time for a new tactic.
I snatched a flamethrower from the Eggies.
Then dove right into their midst.
"What the hell are you doing, psycho!"
"Finally lost your mind?!"
"Fine, you wanna die? We'll oblige!"
Sharp tentacles surged at me.
This time, head-on collision it was.
I pointed the flamethrower's nozzle dead at them.
– Fwoooooosh!
Explosive flames arced out, engulfing everything nearby.
The intense heat incinerated all life.
Mycelials burned clean away; contamination went up in smoke.
As fire ruled the field, their faces contorted hilariously.
"Kraaaaaaaaak!!! Manager!!! Where are you!!!"
They shrieked in horror, calling for their manager.
"Hey, fellas. Haven't figured it out yet?"
No savior was coming for them.
Just me.
Right now, I ruled this place.
I was ruler. Judge.
"You picked the wrong guy to mess with. Got it?"
I'd seen plenty of their atrocities here.
Time to judge them the most painful way.
"Burn you alive."
Nice and crispy.
"Open wide."
"W-Wait...! Can't we talk this out like civilized beings...!"
"Talk? Please."
I jammed the nozzle into their heads.
They flailed tentacles in resistance, but it was pointless.
I ripped those tentacles apart, crushing their will to fight.
– Fwoooooosh!
"Kraaaaaaaaak!!!"
"Just shoot us!!!"
"You demon!!! You cursed freak!!!"
The monsters writhed in agony, spewing every curse imaginable.
Killer this, demon that.
"Unbelievable. You guys got no mirrors?"
The ugliest things here, badmouthing the one normal-looking dude.
Ridiculous.
"Keheek…!"
The last mycelial turned to ash.
The mold piles, thick as snow, were gone.
I strolled out leisurely, flames raging behind me.
Hey bro
Whoa lolololol the vibe is insane lololol
At this point, isn't this guy the villain...?
Slaughtering the ones who even infected a 1-Tier civ like Chiltoom this easily...? Newbie, you really human? Or packed with implants?
Surprisingly, not a single one~
What the hell even happened...?
Remember those molds that infected the Chiltoom?
Yeah, obviously.
Those bastards tried their crap on me too, so I chewed 'em up, ripped 'em apart, tasted 'em, and enjoyed.
?????? It worked?
Did he pick up some new weapon?
Nah, regular weapons worked fine? Unlike Chiltoom, the mold mycelials themselves aren't that strong.
No way lololol even the ones that infected Chiltoom? And he wrecked them like that? Possible?
Don't expect common sense from this newbie...
But no cognitive hazards or anything?
Research log said those molds had cognitive hazard powers. You okay on that front?
No hypnosis or info injection attempts?
Oh yeah, that was there. The mold flowers emitted some light, and looking at it made my mind go hazy and seductive-like.
Dude, don't describe it specifically.
Why?
Cognitive hazards spread through thoughts, not physical contact. Spreading info about it can infect other galleries too.
That's why Rahaltoom said ignore all distress signals from that ship. Just perceiving the info spreads it.
Reading the veterans' comments, I couldn't hide my shock.
(OP) [Auto-Nickname 1582]: Wait, I talked to them and listened to their stories while charmed. Does that mean I'm already hit by the cognitive hazard?
Research log said don't look at it with your eyes. Did you?
Pretty sure that's the light the mold flowers emitted, and yeah I saw it ;;;
A brief silence fell over the gallery.
Then comments poured in.
Think we should block this guy quick?
What the fuck why!
Anything keep popping into your head nonstop?
Come to think of it, ever since talking to those mold flowers, some voice had been lingering in my mind.
'Please tend the garden.'
'Wanna hear the song?'
'Sing along, and you'll learn about 'Him'!'
(OP) [Auto-Nickname 1582]: Wait, is this mental contamination?
Yeah ;;; Keeps nagging at you even if you try to ignore?
Holy shit... So what happens to me now?
If it's started, no other way. Gotta take out the Anomaly's source ASAP.
Here's what to do for now
Ignore it as much as possible.
Cognitive hazards can't be stopped once started, but you can delay.
Trying hard to ignore makes it worse, so stay focused on something else.
Like exercise, or chatting about stuff you like.
Exercise? In this situation?
Just an example. Any mental contamination is best countered by keeping your body moving so other thoughts can't creep in.
Lucky research log says it takes time to fully take over the mind. Finish the Anomaly before then.
Time attack, got it.
Keep moving to buy time.
But it's just a stopgap.
To end this disaster for good, eliminate the Anomaly's source, they said.
Thought of a good exercise method
Infected Chiltoom too strong for my weapons, but these mycelials were weaker than expected?
So dodge the Chiltoom while killing all the mycelials—should slow the mental contamination, right?
Newbie, be real with me. You ain't human, right?
Just a regular human?
Where's "regular" in any of that...
This dude just loves ripping and smashing lololol
Not a bad plan, but watch for their light. Other data says it accelerates contamination.
Noted. So just close eyes then, right?
Better to dodge, but if you wanna try... go for it.
With the gallery's worried cheers, I set off again.
The mood grew eerier the closer I got to my goal.
"Kraaaak!!!"
"Manager!!! Where are you?!"
"What did we do to deserve this torture!!!"
Mold mycelials appeared in greater numbers.
I torched every one that showed.
Their screams summoned the infected Chiltoom.
I razed the mycelial clusters before it arrived, then bolted—destroying nests one by one.
After repeating the tactic over a dozen times...
"Aaaagh! It's him! He's here!!!"
"Save us!!!"
"Stay away!!! Not here!!!"
They screamed at the mere sight of my face.