Became an Evolving Space Monster - Chapter 152



Only Noblemtl

Ep. 151

–

Officially, Megacorp and Star Union are at war.

Since the relationship between the two cannot be good, as it started with the Star Union rebelling on the Megacorp colony ship.

Although the level of armed conflict has been lowered significantly to the level of local provocations since a few years ago, the two forces fought fiercely until then.

Megacorp attacked Star Union with human wave tactics, deploying a large number of human soldiers and Hulk mutants. Star Union, on the other hand, mainly used terror tactics, attaching nanomachine bombs like gremlin torpedoes to androids and detonating them.

It may seem like the tables have turned for humans versus machines, but there’s a reason for that.

The core of Star Union is cyborgs. In order to create cyborgs, you need sane humans.

Of course, other races could be used as cyborg material, but there were some problems.

The Cult’s weak body made it impossible to withstand cyborg surgery. Humanoid species like Wolf are too few to mass-produce, and research on genetic modification has been limited, so the success rate of cyborg surgery has been greatly reduced.

Then you might say, why don’t we just create clones? But that technology had a serious flaw. Clones were all mentally unstable, so they weren’t good material to use as cyborgs.

In the end, there was no other race that could be made into cyborgs that were as good as normal ‘humans’ and cost-effective. So Star Union came up with a strategy of operating a small number of cyborg commanders and a large number of drones.

This strategy worked well in the early days of the war, until Megacorp deployed EMP weapons.

In space, EMP weapons are equally lethal to both sides, but Star Union, which is mostly comprised of machines, inevitably suffers greater damage. On the other hand, Megacorp was able to reduce damage by using Hulk mutants that can survive in space.

The emergence of EMP seemed to have brought an end to the war, but surprisingly, this was not the case.

Although the general public is unaware, there was a secret agreement between the leaders of Megacorp and Star Union.

They knew that if they could orchestrate the war, they could make enormous profits.

Star Union, which needs to capture a large number of intelligent beings to increase its population, and Megacorp, which knows that they can earn a lot of credits through human trade. The leaders who knew what each other needed commercialized the war between the two.

However, since we couldn’t do it openly, we hired a broker.

Spacedogs who lived off of plunder and crime, and cults that operated slavery served as middlemen.

Hundreds of years have passed since the ‘business’ involving the great powers of the universe began. Even today, cargo ships carrying ‘human resources’ are busily moving back and forth.

The JP-99 constellation located on the outskirts of the Cult Empire.

The cyborg cargo ship, having completed its transaction with the cult merchant, was heading home.

“Have you completed all cargo checks?”

“V100 has completed checking up to container number 50. All are normal.”

“Whew, number 50.”

Star Union’s cyborg Conjei has detached the link cable attached to his head.

With over 80% of her body converted to machines, she was now able to connect to the ship’s computer. The brain-assisting module was not powerful enough to pilot the ship, but it was enough to manage the cargo on board.

And inside the refrigerated containers of this cargo ship are involuntary consenters who will become cyborgs. Their racial makeup is diverse, but they will soon be united under the name of Star Union.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to meet my quota this time. This is a big problem.”

Conjey scratched his eyes as he looked at the data graphs printed on his eyeballs.

Originally, we planned to fill up to container number 70, but we failed because the cult traders brought in far fewer slaves than usual.

“You’re saying it’s difficult because the internal situation is not good? You’re talking nonsense. When did you ever care about that?”

If we continue like this, we will not be able to meet the quota set by the Population Management Department and will be severely punished. That is something we must absolutely avoid.

Conjei reattached the link cable to his head.

“MacFar. Is there a cartel that traffics people around here?”

“This is a cult area, what kind of crazy guy is doing business here?”

“Huh. I guess so?”

“There should be a space dog in a nearby constellation. Go there and rescue it.”

“Okay, I got it. Just in case we end up making a deal, arm the drones.”

“Pre-pressure.”

Conjei, who had ended the communication, checked the data of the Spacedog Cartel that might be in the surrounding constellations.

As she was going through the data, the fleet computer V sent her a message of guidance.

“Vital signs?”

This area is a road that ships do not travel.

Star Union always emphasizes that citizens become cyborgs by ‘voluntary choice’. There should never be a ship hanging around with a bunch of cyborg candidates.

Of course, that’s why this ship was equipped with a high-performance detection system specially supported by the Mechanical Committee. It was meant to obtain information before the opponent and evade on its own.

“Can you confirm what it is?”

“The appearance is presumed to be that of a Jasville 02-class Zama-class frigate. The level of armament is unknown.”

“Isn’t this an outspace?”

“Comparison with Starlink database reveals inconsistencies.”

“Phew, that’s a relief. Is that a ship with special paint? Just in case, upload the exterior and bio-signals.”

“check.”

While V uploaded data on the mysterious ship into the Star Union database, Conjei examined the virtual representation of the enemy ship.

“What level of bio-signals are leaked to the outside?”

“It is estimated that more than 700 people were on board.”

“700?! What the hell. Why did you fill it up so full?”

When Conje heard that, he suddenly had a different idea.

‘No matter how I look at it, that side also looks like a slave ship.’

This cargo ship operated by Conjei is about 1.5 times larger than its counterpart, but it carries fewer people. It carries 500 people, 30 cyborgs, and 70 combat drones.

‘Suspicious.’

This is not a normal slave ship. Conjey contacted MacEph again.

“Why do you keep calling? I’m working.”

“Hey. Get all the drones ready.”

“What? Why?”

“I think I might be able to get something if I do it well.”

If the other side’s weapons are of a high level, I plan to retreat without attacking.

If not… .

“V. Activate the jamming system and stealth system.”

“System start-up.”

700 people should be more than enough to fill her quota.

–

It wasn’t as easy as I thought to use superluminal travel continuously. I’d used superluminal travel before when I took control of a Megacorp spaceship, but never for this long.

It was a tough task to maintain superluminal speed for a period of several weeks or more, because it required concentration during the voyage.

‘It’s not that I lack energy, though.’

For a number of reasons, the time it takes to maintain control is ample. It’s just not easy to focus during a boring voyage.

Imagine driving a car for over a month without rest or sleep, not knowing when a deer might jump in. Even for an Aimov with super senses and the support of auxiliary organs, it would be difficult.

Inevitably, they had to stop their superluminal voyage every so often and take a break.

And now I’m taking a month off.

‘But we’re halfway there.’

In about a month, we will reach the planet where the dragon’s nest is.

I used my erosion tentacles to swallow the stored meat.

The tentacles covered with thick, hard shells digest the food in an instant, supplying my body with the energy it needs. As my body becomes more energetic, my fatigue disappears and my mood improves slightly.

‘By the way, do you need more meat?’

Every system on this ship is under my complete control, so I am taking care to ensure that the stored food does not spoil.

‘It’s hard to stop it from rotting away.’

There isn’t much left. I have a huge appetite, but even No. 26, who is close to becoming an adult, is consuming much more food than before. Adhai, which sucks blood and body fluids, is also not suitable for eating meat that has been stored for a long time.

‘Even the mother in heaven eats a lot.’

It seems like there will be a need to replenish food in the middle.

I know that the JP-99 system, where we are, is not a place where spaceships often travel. It is a cult territory, but I have never seen another ship on my way here.

‘If you go to the next constellation, there will be a lot of ships… Hmm?’

As I was planning my feeding, something clicked with my senses.

It’s not the movement of 26 and Adhai running around the ship while dribbling the spores I made.

The waves I detected came from outside the ship, from space.

I stopped eating and focused all my senses on where the waves had come from.

Like rice grains spilled on black paper, the universe where starlight is the only light. There is something in that place that seems like an empty space with nothing.

I can feel the special energy that was created to hide the ship flowing in multiple layers.

‘Is it a warship?’

It looks like they detected me first. That’s why they probably have all sorts of functions activated, like stealth and jamming.

‘It’s ambiguous whether it’s hostility or not.’

It doesn’t look like a cult warship. This is cult territory. If an unauthorized ship were to wander around, they would immediately fire a warning shot.

Instead of attacking, the opponent was approaching us at a slow pace.

‘If it’s not a cult warship, then I’m fine.’

It doesn’t matter if the opponent is a space dog or an unidentified ship. Either way, it means I can eat it without any repercussions.

I moved, pretending not to notice that there was an opponent.

The mysterious ship approached without even realizing that there was a spider web in front of it. The opponent, who had been closing the distance, suddenly stopped moving.

It was probably trying to scan my ship. I also strained my nerves to detect the occupants of that ship.

‘hmm.’

Hundreds of creatures making slight movements, 30 humanoid creatures emitting a strong metallic smell, and 70 machines sending out strong electrical signals are felt.

‘Aha, I see what you mean.’

This is Star Union’s manpower supply line.

Star Union is a community established by machines such as cyborgs, humanoids, androids, and drones. Due to the nature of the race that makes it difficult for them to leave behind descendants, Star Union purchases slaves from other forces to increase the number of citizens.

‘Most are cyborgized, and a few special ones are for human experimentation.’

The Star Union is a group that claims that the physical body is weak and should be replaced by machines. There is nothing more ironic than that such a group secretly buys humans to maintain the community.

Therefore, such human resource supply lines are operated in the utmost secrecy. Transactions are also conducted secretly with third parties such as cults or space dogs.

‘In this respect, Megacorp and Star Union are similar.’

In Space Survival, Star Union is classified as a neutral force, but it is not completely free of darkness. It is a place where a different form of disregard for human life and black humor run rampant than Megacorp.

At that time, they started firing aircraft from that side.

The exterior of this frigate is identical to the original model, except that the ship’s outer hull is a dark purple to match the color of its outer skin, and its weapons are hidden rather than visible.

The fact that this ship doesn’t have any plasma batteries or psychic power cannons must have been confirmed by the scans just now. It was clear that they thought I was an easy opponent.

‘Are you after me?’

I can guess why they do that. They either missed their quota or they are trying to prepare for a future when they miss their quota.

‘But what should I do? This ship isn’t run by a cult.’

Just like the other side’s helpless actions, I also have no intention of just letting the food come to me.

‘What should I do this time?’

I could use Nightmare Horizon to switch to a new ship like before, but I feel it would be a waste to use the escort ship I currently control. It has been modified with the advice of the Human-faced Beasts, so it is much faster than a normal ship, and the energy consumption rate for superluminal travel is also low.

‘Don’t just think about robbing, let’s apply it.’

So far I’ve only used Nightmare Horizon in a one-dimensional way, like when enemy crews invade the ship, or adding weapons to the ship to fight off metallic gremlins and such.

‘There was nothing I could do before.’

Because while the ship was under control of Nightmare Horizon, all physical attributes could not be used.

But not now that we have entered the second stage of transcendence.

｢*’Erosion Tentacles’: Eroses the spaceship, turning it into a composite creature controlled by the user’s consciousness. While connected to the spaceship, you can ‘use some of the physical system characteristics’. The characteristic effect is automatically canceled when the user’s stored energy runs out. Erosion Tentacles can only be used once per spaceship, once every 7 days.

*Available Physical Traits: Regeneration, Mimicry, Spike-shooting Tail, Reinforced Large Tail, Reaper’s Jaws, Claws

‘From now on, you can use physical characteristics even while taking control of the spaceship.’

With the ban lifted due to Transcendence Stage 1, there have been changes to the effects of Nightmare Horizon.

Originally, the phrase “physical traits cannot be used” was removed. Instead, an item called “physical traits that can be used” was added.

In other words, this means that it is possible to add organs such as pincers or a mouth to this ship.

‘I used to be jealous of the outspacers swallowing entire spaceships.’

Now I can swallow all the beings in the spaceship in one bite.

‘Before that, let’s prepare to welcome the guests first.’

The aircraft circling the area try to board the ship.

The special prey that volunteers to be eaten first.

We should welcome you with a glad heart.