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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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Chapter 446
"How far has weapon development progressed?"
｢Currently at 71%.｣
"Hmm? Faster than expected."
｢The sample we secured four days ago was a great help.｣
Jacob, sipping from his glass, smiled as he listened to the report.
"Not long ago, you were barely past 20%. Impressive. I assume dissecting an actual Outspacer was what made the difference?"
｢Correct. Even if it was just a corpse, it greatly improved the precision of our simulations.｣
"How much longer until it's completed?"
｢At the current pace, about one more month.｣
"A month, huh..."
Jacob took a sip of his drink. The sweet aroma filled his mouth as he spoke again.
"You’ve likely heard about the unique specimen that showed up recently. As it stands, our current defense capabilities aren’t enough to stop them. If they strike again, the damage will be severe."
｢Yes. We're aware of that, which is why｣
"Good. Then you understand. One week. No later. It must be completed within that time frame."
｢One week?! That’s absolutely impossible! The only reason progress has accelerated is because we analyzed a new sample!｣
"So you're saying… if you had another sample, it could be possible?"
｢...Excuse me?｣
"We’ve secured a living Outspacer parasite and an infected subject. Far superior to any corpse, don't you think?"
｢I-I see. If that's the case, it would definitely help speed things up.｣
"Good. When the sample is delivered, I’ll also assign additional personnel. Finish it within the week. Understood?"
｢…Understood.｣
With a sigh from the researcher, the transmission ended.
"Things are going well."
A satisfied smile spread across Jacob’s face as he lifted his glass.
Development of the new anti-Outspacer weapon was progressing ahead of schedule. Soon, he’d seize the lead in the arms race.
Conveniently, the head of House Saint-Kai was scheduled to arrive at NEO-3 in five days. If he secured a weapon deal with Walter, he’d be raking in an astronomical amount of credits.
The only real threat left is another Outspacer incursion...
The swarm that invaded the system four days ago was currently gathering near the outer perimeter, not yet advancing. Presumably waiting for reinforcements which had bought them some time. If Jacob could hold out until Walter arrived, victory would be his.
"Huhu. Everything’s going exactly as planned."
He chuckled quietly, envisioning a bright future.
Just then, his terminal lit up. A message from one of the system’s gate cities Neo First Gate City.
"This is Jacob. What is it?"
｢Lord Jacob! It’s an emergency!｣
A panicked male voice echoed through the air the moment the transmission connected.
｢T-The base is under attack!｣
"What?! Don’t tell me it’s an Outspacer strike?"
｢No! T-The attackers... it’s a Star Union destroyer!｣
"...What?"
The word Star Union burst out of the terminal a name Jacob had never expected to hear.
｢It suddenly appeared inside the fortress and is indiscriminately bombarding everything! We need reinforcements immediately!｣
An unthinkable event was unfolding in Neo First Gate City.
***
‘It’s been a while since I consumed a ship.’
Ever since I gained faster-than-light travel, I hadn’t really needed to use the Nightmare Horizon anymore.
Even though the Monster’s Reinforced Wings had recently been sealed, thanks to its fusion with Prometheus and PS-111, the need for FTL travel had essentially vanished.
Instead, it had been making greater use of the Corrosive Tentacles, an ability that came packaged with the trait itself. Whether as auxiliary limbs or as close-combat weapons, they had proven useful.
Maybe that’s why using the tentacles as intended felt oddly refreshing.
The sensations are similar to when I’m linked to the nest, though.
I focused my awareness through the tentacles fused with the ship.
My consciousness traveled down the tentacles, transferring into a new body. Made from a blend of alloy and organic material, this new form currently resembled a warship.
A 250-meter-long, narrow, rectangular hull. Gun turrets lined the outer walls in dense clusters. Unlike the curvy, elegant aesthetics typical of Megacorp vessels, this one looked crude, focused solely on firepower projection.
Naturally because after the Corrosion was complete, I reshaped the exterior to look like a Star Union destroyer.
Any ship corroded by the Nightmare Horizon could be remodeled both internally and externally at will. That’s how an old cargo freighter had transformed into what now looked like a Star Union warship.
Of course, the gun barrels bristling like quills on a porcupine were purely cosmetic. Unless the original ship came equipped with real weaponry, there was no way to fire plasma beams or torpedoes from those dummy cannons.
As long as it looks like a Star Union ship, that’s all that matters.
There were two reasons I went through the trouble of altering the ship’s form before wreaking havoc.
First, to deceive those infected by Outspacer parasites.
Currently, the Outspacer ranked 4th has its eyes on the NEO-3 system. Given the number of infected wandering the area, the invasion preparations were likely complete.
‘But what if… a Star Union ship appeared and attacked?’
The 4th-ranked Outspacer, who was monitoring the situation through its infected hosts, would be thrown into confusion.
That entity knew very well that both Megacorp and Star Union were under the control of the dominant faction. And yet, out of nowhere, the Star Union was attacking a Megacorp fortress? It would have to assume it was a trap.
Even if it didn’t think it was a trap, it wouldn’t launch an immediate attack.
‘After all, cyborgs are a tough match for Outspacers.’
The Outspacers depended on genetic essence and organic matter. The Star Union, with its machine armies, was practically their hard counter. Even if they won a fight, they’d gain little from it.
A cautious figure like the 4th-ranked wouldn’t jump into combat recklessly. It would delay the invasion until it understood what was going on.
Which gave me all the time I needed to carry out my business in the NEO-3 system.
That was reason number one for my destructive antics.
The second reason… was to draw attention to where it currently was Neo First Gate City.
‘Just in time.’
New prey entered my perceptual field.
The fortress’s internal defense forces had finally reacted to the sudden appearance of the Star Union warship and were now heading straight toward it.
I adjusted the launcher disguised as a turret and prepared to fire.
A regular ship might’ve loaded torpedoes here, but this case was different.
I had previously acquired the trait Heated Spine Spikes on a volcanic planet, a trait that allowed me to launch spines burning hot enough to melt through ship hulls.
‘It’s one of the traits sealed due to the Warped Abomination effect…’
But now that I have a brand-new body, things have changed.
Inside the vessel, a thermal spine the size of a grown man formed and loaded itself into the launcher. The spine’s surface rapidly turned the color of molten metal, glowing a fierce red. Once it reached the optimal temperature for destruction, the spine launched outward.
Hundreds of spines sprayed across the sky in every direction. Enemy fighters and ships closing in were struck mid-approach and fell from the sky in flames.
A few lucky fighters survived and clung to its hull.
They likely intended to attack at close range but that was a mistake.
I generated pincers and a massive mouth along the surface of my ship-body and snatched the nearest enemies. Then I consumed them whole.
The alloys comprising the fighters were absorbed into the ship, becoming nutrients and raw material for more thermal spines. The pilots inside were no exception.
Then, energy signatures flared from above the fortress’s inner dome turrets had begun firing.
But I wasn't worried.
The Warped Abomination, my latest unique trait, reduced my physical capabilities in exchange for granting me exceptional energy manipulation. Even while integrated with the ship, my core body continued projecting a formless energy field and my control over that energy remained intact.
I could sense where the plasma beams were being fired from, and where they were aiming. I could interfere.
That confidence quickly became controlled.
The plasma beams that entered my field twisted off course in unison. Under its influence, the captured energy scattered mid-air, exploding or fracturing into multiple streams that rained down harmlessly onto the city.
｢Wow! That was amazing!｣
Number 26, stationed to protect my main body, patted my head with a tentacle and praised me. Given how proficient Number 26 was at energy manipulation even more so than me, the compliment was genuine.
‘As expected… I still can’t reflect beams like it can.’
I had greater total energy capacity, but in terms of fine control and sustained manipulation, Number 26 held the edge. Twisting beams or dragging them around wasn’t within my skillset.
But I didn’t mind. There were things I could do that Number 26 couldn’t.
I focused my awareness downward on the burning city beneath the ship.
The heat of flames engulfing streets and buildings reached my senses. The drifting formless energy latched onto the fire and bent it to my will. At the same time, the energy transformed into bio-plasma, injecting life into the flames.
Pillars of fire, guided by my will, surged into the sky all at once.
Tornadoes of plasma invisible, but surely a breathtaking sight. The turret operators and approaching enemy ships stood frozen, stunned by the overwhelming display.
‘When finesse fails…Overwhelm them with firepower.’
I swung the massive fire pillars wildly.
The superheated plasma consumed enemies and turrets alike, an inferno, unstoppable and merciless.
The panels that had been simulating the artificial sky shattered under the flames.
These panels, affixed to the inner walls of the dome, served as vital light sources for the entire city. The more damage they took, the deeper the chaos would run.
｢This is fun! Boom boom!｣
Sensing the turmoil outside, Number 26 bounced around in excitement.
‘That should be enough.’
With no more enemies approaching, I released control over the fire pillars.
The hovering masses of flame collapsed into a downpour of fire, raining destruction over the city. I didn’t need to look to know exactly what kind of hell awaited below.
‘Did the city’s residents know that I had been deliberately holding back the pace of destruction?’
Since consuming the ship, I had already burned down nearly one-sixth of the fortress. But I had purposely avoided touching the central district and the port where the key facilities were located.
That was because PS-111 and Adhai were in the central district… and Isabel was at the port.
‘They should be deep into data extraction by now.’
PS-111 and Adhai had gone to investigate the docking logs of ships that had entered Neo First Gate City.
To access the NEO-3 system, a vessel had to pass through one of three gate cities including this one. There was a chance that the shipment sent by Pyra Eleven had passed through here, which was why they were checking.
‘There’s a higher chance nothing’s there’
I might have come through a different gate city… or the records could have been erased. Originally, the plan had been to investigate the system’s capital planet.
‘Well, that can wait.’
There was still a chance something useful could be found here.
And since I had already chosen to go on a rampage in this location, I agreed to let PS-111 do as it pleased.
‘Looks like they’ll need more time to finish.’
I turned my attention away from the central district and focused my senses outside the dome.
Just about time, I thought and sure enough, movement erupted beyond the thick walls of the dome. A swarm of signatures reinforcements, summoned by the fortress’s administrators.
‘New guests, huh? Let’s give them a proper welcome.’
At my command, the ship accelerated and shot toward the port.
The enemy fleet began to enter through a massive gateway located on the port side of the dome.
I unleashed a barrage of thermal spines in their direction. The lead ships were struck and crashed spectacularly.
As explosions rippled through the front ranks, the ships in the rear scrambled to retreat.
But they had tightened their formation to enter the dome now boxed in, with little room to maneuver.
I surged forward, rapidly accelerating and rammed straight into the fleeing ships.
The enemy vessels, shoved by the momentum of my impact, collided with one another and were destroyed in the ensuing chaos.
The fleet stationed outside the dome appeared caught off guard, clearly not expecting a ramming assault.
But their surprise had only just begun.
The fire-drenched chaos was just getting started.
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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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