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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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Chapter 466
Even after successfully escaping from NEO-3, we made several more jumps.
PS-111, empowered by Prometheus, could prevent any other ships from following but still, one never knows. There was always the risk of enemies trying to track us even belatedly, so we decided to remain as cautious as possible.
We finally arrived at a quiet planet.
[ZZZ (Any pursuit?)]
“No signs detected.”
While PS-111 spoke, loud mechanical noises sounded in the background. Behind it, I saw a container belt hundreds of meters long and all sorts of machines in motion.
The planet we’d landed on was a Megacorp Calorie Bar production outpost. This facility was an unmanned plant processing raw materials for use in Calorie Bar.
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Not even the system defense fleet has responded.)]
“It’s likely the air defense network has a gap; they probably pulled away troops due to the Outspacer incident.”
[ZZZ (That makes sense.)]
Megacorp operates countless Calorie Bar production bases. Losing one or two wouldn’t affect supply at all.
As PS-111 suggested, they’d likely redirected the system defense fleet to more strategic locations. Thanks to that, infiltration was easy for us.
“In that case, I’ll begin recharging now.”
PS-111 had expended a lot of energy during the journey here. It would need to refuel from what was available in the factory.
Unfurling several arms, it ripped open the floor and pulled up beneath it the buried cables, plugging them into a socket inside its palm.
The facility, which had bustled just a moment earlier, began to slow, then stopped altogether. The plant’s entire power supply was being diverted directly into PS-111.
Switching into hibernation for recharging, PS-111 was about to collapse where it stood, so I caught it carefully in my tentacle-arms and set it down gently.
Shortly after, as it lay there, a hatch opened on its abdomen and two MPS emerged.
“Resupply!”
“Resupply!”
The mini-Screamers, each a woman’s head with metallic legs, scurried rapidly across the container belt on their stilt-like limbs.
Their mission was to secure organic material for feeding the Creator’s power source: they intended to haul processed food supplies directly into PS-111’s mouth for energy storage.
‘Guess I should help?’
Just as I started to extend a tentacle to assist the mini-Screamers, the ones who’d gone out to check for humans returned.
｢Big Baby, look at this!｣
Number 26, holding in its tentacle a Calorie block as big as a small car, burst in. If you sliced and packed that down, it would become the same Calorie Bar you see everywhere in spaceships.
｢That｣｢Tastes｣｢Bad｣
Perched on Number 26’s back, Adhai was clutching a canister shaped like an oxygen tank. Her mouth-tentacles were plugged into it, slurping up the contents.
‘That’s probably meat juice.’
Meat juice was a high-calorie, gene-spliced liquefied protein, made by grinding up all kinds of bioengineered creatures. Its energy density was so high that only a little would be added to Calorie Bar or to power-armor stimulants.
｢This one｣｢Tastes｣｢Better｣
She seemed pleased with the liquid’s massive energy payload.
‘They both left with nothing and came back loaded.’
For what was supposed to be a simple recon, they certainly came back well supplied.
“Amorph. Is Sister recharging?”
[ZZ (Yeah.)]
Isabel, who’d gone with them, immediately checked on her sibling’s status after returning.
[ZZZ ZZZ (Anyone else around?)]
“No. I checked the control room and no logs have been written for several days. All the equipment here just keeps repeating the same cycles.”
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZ (Guess they ran off because of the Outspacers.)]
“Most likely.”
Truthfully, the odds of the Fourth ranker targeting this place were slim but humans wouldn’t know that. With even the defense forces gone, of course they’d want to run away.
Which means we should be safe for a while.
‘Perfect timing.’
Soon, any pain and fatigue I’d ignored thanks to the “Feedback” trait would start returning. It was time to recover from my wounds at a leisurely pace.
‘And there are some things I need to check over as well.’
｢Big Baby, eat this!｣
Lost in thought, I was surprised as Number 26 held out the Calori block.
[ZZZ (Thanks.)]
Extra energy is always welcome. I opened my mouth to swallow the block when I suddenly felt someone’s gaze on me.
“…….”
“…….”
The mini-Screamers, struggling as they carried the Calori blocks, all turned to look at me more precisely, at the Calori block held in my tentacle-arm.
Without a word, I handed it over.
“Thanks!”
“Thanks!”
The MPS expressing their gratitude poked the Calori block with their sharp metal legs, breaking it into small pieces.
｢Why aren’t you eating?｣
[ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (They say they’re hungrier than me.)]
｢Are the little friends hungry too?｣
“Resupply! Need!”
“Resupply! Need!”
Hearing that, Number 26 flashed briefly, as if to say “Leave this to me!”
｢I’ll help the hungry friends!｣
It transformed one of its tentacles into a hammer shape and started tapping the block. The little Screamers gathered the broken crumbs and carried them to PS-111’s mouth.
“This alone won’t be enough. I’ll go to the freezer and bring some back.”
｢Wait｣
Adhai, who had been sitting like a famous drink company’s polar bear mascot, sipping meat juice on Number 26’s back, climbed down.
｢I’m coming｣
｢I need more juice to drink｣
“But I have to give some to Sister, so not all of it. Leave half.”
｢Half｣
｢Too much｣
“Then a third.”
｢Agreed｣
Without delay, the two headed right back out again.
‘Maybe I should get to work too.’
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ (I’m going out again.)]
｢Where are you going? Come with us.｣
[ZZZ ZZ ZZZZ (Trying to make a nest nearby. Helping the kids.)]
｢Okay!｣
I waved a tentacle in farewell to Number 26 and stepped outside the factory.
After organizing my thoughts, I checked the message that appeared following the update on my Ascension conditions.
‘I didn’t expect to get the Essence Reaper’s Maw.’
In this fight, I couldn’t use the “Symbol of the Hunt.” I had used it during the secret base raid, so it was still on cooldown. I had practically given up on it, but an unexpected outcome emerged.
‘Good.’
At this point, I already have a better trait called the “Gluttonous Maw Pouch,” so the need for the Reaper’s Jaw is lessened but it’s still better to have it than not. I accepted the new trait immediately.
Normally, when the Essence Reaper’s Jaw applies, two physical changes occur. The jaw joint develops, and when opening the mouth, the lower jaw splits into two parts. Like a snake or crocodile, the mouth can open wide, allowing large prey to be swallowed with ease.
However, my current body already has the more advanced Gluttonous Maw Pouch trait applied. Perhaps because the jaw is already highly developed, there was no significant change to the joint area, only the lower jaw split.
｢Grrk?｣
The left head beside me, curious about the split jaw, kept opening and closing its mouth repeatedly.
｢Additional trait compatible for fusion with the Mark of Formidable Foe!｣
｢Can be fused with possessed ‘Biological Garden’ and ‘Essence Reaper’s Jaw.’ Please select a trait. The outcome depends on the traits used as material.｣
｢P.S.: You stand at a critical crossroads. Choose wisely.｣
｢Time left to choose trait: 23:59:55｣
‘Huh?’
Upon completion of the body alteration, a new message arrived. The Essence Reaper’s Jaw was added as a candidate trait for fusion with the Mark of Formidable Foe.
‘Biological Garden and Essence Reaper’s Jaw, huh.’
I have a rough idea what the latter might produce. It might create a trait similar to the privileges held by the ranker named Joy.
His privilege was to flawlessly apply the powers and characteristics of other beings directly to his body. His body resembling the Wings of the Heavens was also due to that privilege. It was literally a trait made for the Amorph.
‘Except for one major drawback.’
Joy lost the Outspacer’s unique hive control system as the cost of obtaining that privilege. He became a one-man legion. The Outspacer we fought was, after all, under the dominion of the Fourth rank.
Of course, for an Amorph who doesn’t form a hive, this is not a weakness. Unlike the former owner of the privilege, I only gain the advantages.
‘I wish it were that simple.’
Of course, it is not.
No trait in Space Survival exists without drawbacks. Any trait with power strong enough to shake a planet carries a corresponding risk. The Mark of Formidable Foe makes no exception.
What worries me here is the part about “losing the unique system as a cost.”
For Outspacers, the hive is the symbol of their species’ identity and individuality. For the Amorph, the ability to fuse gene essences occupies a similar position.
If the risk the enemy ranker had because of the privilege fully transfers to me, it could be a serious problem. If there’s any disadvantage affecting gene essence fusion, I’d have to completely change all my strategies.
‘It’s an extreme high-risk, high-return situation.’
Then how about a Biological Garden?
I have no clue what result it might bring.
‘Since Biological Garden belongs to the nest category, I imagine it would be a supportive trait.’
This is just speculation, though not certain.
One choice promises powerful but dangerous traits; the other an unpredictable unknown.
Choosing between the two isn’t easy.
While I pondered over this, three hours passed.
After long deliberation, I reached a decision.
｢Are you sure you want to select ‘Biological Garden’ as the material? This choice is irreversible.｣
｢Trait Enhancement System ready for use. Would you like to proceed?｣
The choice I made was Biological Garden, the path leading into an unknown future.
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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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