Chapter 14
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Counter Cognitive Hazards with Physical Disasters (1)
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‘That’ thing had appeared out of nowhere just a few days ago.
No one knew where it came from or why it had shown up.
But one thing was certain.
Wherever it passed, only silence remained.
According to the tales, it emerged amid flames, incinerating all life in its path.
The fiend spewed hellfire, slaughtering our sisters.
It wouldn’t rest until it stole the lives of even the youngest buds.
No spore was left behind in its wake.
All it left was destruction and death.
The story flowers called it this.
The devil.
A devil straight out of ancient legends and myths.
Before it appeared, the Star Flowers had been buzzing with excitement.
They’d succeeded in enslaving the Chiltoom, the galaxy’s mightiest race.
If only they could make contact with the Chiltoom homeworld.
They could spread the mental plague, enslave them, and use their fleet to scatter seeds across the entire galaxy.
If the whole galaxy knew his name and sang praises to him.
Then he would descend once more into this universe.
His return would fulfill our purpose.
Victory had been so close!
[Devil!!! The devil has appeared!!!]
[Too hot too hot too hot too hot too hot too hot too hot too hot]
[Just kill me already!!!]
The sudden arrival of the devil had thrown everything into chaos.
The communication spores left by our dying sisters were horrific.
Screams and wails no one wanted to hear again.
How could this have happened?
Did his divine power not work on that fiend?
No, that couldn’t be.
Something must have gone wrong.
The light wasn’t strong enough to shatter its mind.
Yes, that had to be it.
If it dared set foot in our colony.
We’d shine our starlight brilliantly and enslave its mind completely.
We vowed it over and over.
– Thud! Thud!
But when we finally faced that being.
“These fucking shitheads just won’t die no matter how much I beat on them.”
We were overwhelmed by its inexplicable aura of menace.
Why?
Its weapon was crude, its armor pathetic.
A pitiful, fragile creature.
[Light! Shine the light!]
[This can’t be! It’s not working at all?!]
[Then fire the tentacles!]
[Gaaah! That bastard!]
[Ah… no…! Get away! I said get away!]
[Save me!!! Please!!!]
But it was stronger than we could imagine.
It began tearing us apart alive and setting us ablaze.
All we could do was feel the pain and scream.
“Why are you doing this to us! What the hell for!!!”
“Get out! Just get the fuck out of here!!!”
“This is our garden!!!”
Despite our desperate cries.
Its eyes curved into joyful half-moons.
Only then did we realize, seeing the smile filling its eyes.
Ah, to this devil, our sisters’ screams were nothing but sweet songs.
Just as we pursued his song.
So too did it pursue its own.
Its smile transcended madness.
Pleasure.
Yes, pure pleasure.
What being could slaughter endlessly while wearing such an innocent smile?
– Whoosh!
Finally, the flames began climbing our bodies.
And we were cast into the abyss of despair.
‘Score! This is exciting. Gotta post on the gallery quick.’
Having taken care of another one, I opened the gallery to write a post right away.
Title: Woo, Newbie Burned Down Another Colony This Time
Author: Auto-Nickname 1582
(Pic of roughly charred black mold flowers)
This makes 14 colonies already.
Praise me quick, say I did good.
Feels like my position in this gallery is getting shaky.
Hilarious
If you’re feeling threatened by the newbie job-wise, massive upvote
But seriously, how is this guy still fine?
Newbie, any changes in your body or anything?
I hadn’t told the gallery folks out of worry, but.
Honestly, it wasn’t a good situation.
Back-to-back battles had reduced the Eggies to less than a third.
Some had even gotten infected, forcing me to kill them myself.
With fewer Eggies, firepower had dropped below half.
Ammo consumption was extreme too, so I couldn’t say how much longer we’d last.
As it was, we barely had enough left for one more fight.
But the biggest problem was something else.
‘Tend to the garden.’
‘The garden is tribute for him.’
‘Everything will be happy when the king returns.’
‘Greet him with song.’
‘Accept him rooted in your heart.’
Mental corruption was worsening over time.
Forcing it out by burning colonies was reaching its limit.
‘I’m really gonna lose it.’
As the erosion progressed, I started grasping what their “song” was.
The king and the song.
Concepts that made no sense at first were now vaguely settling in my mind.
Still blurry for now, but.
If a bit more time passed here…
I might fully understand what they meant.
‘And that’d mean I’m completely taken over by them.’
I had to find a solution before then.
I started typing a comment.
TBH, not a good situation. I can feel myself getting eroded bit by bit…. Gotta find clues fast.
After my honest confession, comments poured in.
We’re in trouble. Gotta do something, right?
Any ideas? Colony-burning game’s hitting its limit.
Found the way to the shelter yet?
Almost there. Just gotta pass this part.
The map signal confirmed uninfected Chiltoom beyond the shelter.
To end this, meeting them and getting help was essential.
– Thud! Thud! Thud!
Then, footsteps echoed.
At the familiar sound, I hid first.
‘Chiltoom.’
The late-arriving Chiltoom inspected the wreckage.
I’d already pulled back, so they’d find nothing.
Guys, Chiltoom showed up, hiding now.
Mold colonies were easy to destroy.
But Chiltoom steel bodies were still beyond my weapons.
Thus, I couldn’t even approach the ship’s core areas.
Guarded by Chiltoom sentries.
“Uwooo…!”
The Chiltoom moved on.
Once they were gone, I followed.
‘Almost there.’
Walking the path, something finally came into view.
A building with a different vibe.
I approached the sealed steel door.
– Whirr!
Then, a blue flash.
Barrels popped from the walls, aiming at me.
[Ship is sealed]
[You lack access privileges]
[Further approach will result in immediate fire]
The computer threatened with guns from the start.
I raised my hands to show no fight.
“Hold on, I came to help you guys!”
Then I pointed to where the colony had been.
“Remember that colony? I destroyed it! Check it out! I’ve smashed over 14!”
A new voice spoke up.
[Alien, I am Exploration Captain Suhariltoom. I know you’ve destroyed multiple colonies]
[Why board the ship? Didn’t you hear to ignore all rescue signals?]
Exploration Captain Suhariltoom.
A familiar name.
Mentioned in the research logs.
But his tone was arrogant.
Made me suddenly not want to help.
“You talk like you don’t need my help. Fine. I’ll just leave.”
As I turned.
[W-wait!]
Suhariltoom urgently stopped me.
[I don’t know why you boarded, but good timing]
[Since you’re here, help us]
Yeah, that’s more like it.
“What exactly do you need?”
He answered.
[Ship is beyond repair]
[As you saw coming here, crew turned to monsters long ago]
[We don’t care if we die, but can’t let this mental infection spread galaxy-wide]
[Mycelium keeps sending fake rescue signals. Leave it, and some alien will board someday]
[If they hijack a new ship, galaxy-scale disaster]
Then, with grim resolve.
[Everything alive on this ship must die]
[Even knowing about them spreads it]
[Self-destruct the ship to wipe mycelium and all info]
[Human, granting you access]
[Go to bridge, activate self-destruct]
A blue light flashed.
The light particles swirled together.
Forming a shape.
[Giving you the power you need]
[Use it to end our suffering!]
It was a gun and combat suit.
The tale of the devil appearing on the ship was already famous.
But devils weren’t invincible.
Destructive, but not strong.
Crude weapon, flimsy suit.
That’s why it couldn’t touch this core colony, guarded by Chiltoom overseers.
Core colony under 24/7 Chiltoom sentry watch.
No weapon to destroy Chiltoom meant no attack possible.
[This place is safe, sisters]
[Don’t worry! With overseers, it can’t touch us]
It rampaged only in colony outposts.
Never reach this core.
– Thud! Thud!
So we relaxed.
But.
When that being emerged from the eerie blue glow.
“Kuhahaha!!!”
The Star Flowers finally realized.
As long as it had a gun and ammo.
“Guts!!! Hand over your guts!!!”
Nothing could stop that devil.